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Biden warns climate change is 'greatest threat' to US security: 'This is not a joke'
President Biden warned military service members Wednesday that top Pentagon officials consider climate change to be the "greatest threat" to America’s national security in the coming years.

"When I went over to the tank in the Pentagon when I was first was elected vice president with President Obama, the military sat us down and let us know what the greatest threats facing America were, the greatest physical threats," he said. "This is not a joke. You know what the Joint Chiefs told us the greatest physical threat facing America was? Global warming. 

"There will be significant population movements, fights over land, millions of people leaving places because they’re literally sinking below the sea in Indonesia, because of the fights over what is arable land anymore," he added.

Biden issued the warning during a speech to Air Force personnel stationed in the United Kingdom. The president will participate in meetings with G-7 and NATO leaders this month during his first overseas trip since entering the White House.

He made the declaration amid pressure from Republican lawmakers regarding his policy toward Russia in the wake of ransomware attacks that targeted key U.S. infrastructure, including his administration’s decision to waive sanctions on the Russia-backed Nord Stream 2 pipeline.

The president said he would speak to key European allies about a unified approach to combating climate change, which he has identified as a priority for his administration. CLICK HERE FOR MORE ON OUR TOP STORY.

In other developments:
- Harris staff says climate, economy among 'main drivers' of migration after Guatemala president blames US
- Biden reinstates climate official dumped by Trump
- Powell says Fed does not seek to set climate policy for US
- Oil and gas industry trolls North Face with new billboard campaign

Virginia county official backs school board on Critical Race Theory, calls opposition ‘racism evolved’
A county official in Virginia has expressed support for a local school board as it faces heat from some parents and teachers for promoting Critical Race Theory (CRT) in the district’s schools.

In a letter to the school board – a copy of which was obtained by Fox News – Loudoun County Supervisor Juli Briskman slams the district’s "low level of racial consciousness" and describes resistance to the CRT curriculum as "racism evolved."

"Being on the right side of history isn’t always easy," Briskman writes, in an apparent attempt to buck up the spirits of board members as they deal with community outrage.

Briskman’s letter is dated Tuesday, though it was unclear whether the letter was written before or after Tuesday’s raucous Loudoun County school board meeting – which included a fiery speech from Fairfax County teacher Lilit Vanetsyan, who urged parents to push back against any lesson plans for their children that they don’t agree with.

Vanetsyan accused proponents of CRT of attempting to turn local school districts into "indoctrination camps," with White students taught to "hate yourself because of your skin color." CLICK HERE FOR MORE.

In other developments:
- 'Army of moms' leading charge against Critical Race Theory in Virginia schools: Ian Prior
- Virginia teacher says colleagues 'afraid' to oppose critical race theory
- Virginia school board meeting explodes as members face backlash for suspension of Tanner Cross

Residents of ritzy Atlanta suburb push for separate police force as crime rages in 'war zone': neighbor
A seemingly unprovoked weekend violence spree through Atlanta’s ritzy Buckhead neighborhood has highlighted what area officials see as a need for more security and public safety protocols, as the recent crime jump has made some residents too scared to even pump gas at some places, Fox News has learned.

On Thursday, the Buckhead City Committee, formerly the Buckhead Exploratory Committee, will be demanding emergency hearings as part of its ongoing effort to become a separate entity from the city of Atlanta, said Bill White, the group’s CEO and chairman. 

"Given everything that's been going on here, it's getting worse and worse and worse," White told Fox News on Wednesday. "So what we're doing because of the murders going through the roof and the attempted murders, and the lack of leadership and nothing changing – the insanity continues – is we're demanding emergency hearings on our cityhood bills."

White continued: "I say we have three major issues and that's all we have … crime, crime and crime." CLICK HERE FOR MORE.

In other developments:
- San Francisco market owner loses eye in stabbing attack, daughter blames ‘spike’ in violence
- Father of Michigan boy, 6, allegedly shot by neighbor blasts low bond for suspect
- Miami man chases on scooter after his $200,000 Lamborghini allegedly stolen by teenager
- Los Angeles homicide, kidnapping suspect arrested; ex-girlfriend found alive

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TODAY'S MUST-READS:
- Ilhan Omar slammed by fellow House Dem for 'outrageous and clearly false' statements about US, Israel
- 'Whiteness' a 'parasitic-like condition' with no cure, medical journal article claims
- Casey Anthony calls 911 over 'bar drink,' but not when daughter Caylee goes 'missing'
- Arkansas woman suing police after PIT maneuver flips her car going 60 mph while she was pregnant
- CMT Music Awards 2021 sees Carrie Underwood and John Legend take home top award, Chris Stapleton perform

THE LATEST FROM FOX BUSINESS:
- Biden's vaccine marathon hits roadblocks with July 4 goal now in doubt
- China, US commerce chiefs to cooperate on handling differences, Beijing says
- House Republicans request emails between Facebook’s Zuckerberg and Dr. Fauci
- WH budget office approves Biden's plan to retract insulin, epipen discounts
- UPS exploring same day delivery

#TheFlashback: CLICK HERE to find out what happened on "This Day in History."

SOME PARTING WORDS

Newt Gingrich was a guest Wednesday on "The Ingraham Angle" where he blasted what he called the new generation of "left wing" Democrats whom he said have ‘contempt’ for the Constitution.

"This is enormously danger and I suspect it’s going to lead to a whole series of lawsuits because you have governors who are clearly violating the U.S. Constitution," Gingrich said, "The Constitution was written to guarantee our rights against the government. And now you have governments out here that are blocking churches from having sessions, or whether it’s dictating to people or saying which businesses can open up or which schools can open up.

"There’s something about being a liberal Democrat that just loves power," he added.

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Fox News First was compiled by Fox News' Jack Durschlag. Thank you for making us your first choice in the morning! We’ll see you in your inbox first thing Friday.