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Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., took the Coachella stage on Saturday to deride President Donald Trump and "billionaires" to the crowd of luxury music festival-goers.
Sanders, a self-described Democratic socialist, introduced the performance of Clairo, praising the 26-year-old artist, whose real name is Claire Cottrill, for her political activism. He was joined by Rep. Maxwell Frost, D-Fla., who the 83-year-old Sanders noted is the youngest member of Congress, and "in my view, one of the best members."
"This country faces some very difficult challenges and the future of what happens to America is dependent upon your generation. Now you can turn away and you can ignore what goes on but if you do that, you do it at your own peril. We need you to stand up, to fight for justice. To fight for economic justice, social justice, and racial justice," Sanders told the crowd.
"Now we got a President of the United States…" Sanders continued, as the crowd booed.
"I Agee," Sanders said of their opposition to President Donald Trump.
"He thinks that climate change is a hoax. He is dangerously wrong," Sanders said. "You and I are going to have to stand up to the fossil fuel industry and tell them to stop destroying this planet."
"All over this country, not in California, not in Vermont where I’m from, but in Florida where Maxwell is from, many other states, politicians are trying to take away a woman’s right to control her own body," Sanders went on. "We need you to stand up and fight for women’s rights. We have an economy today that is working very well for the billionaire class but not for working families. We need you to help us to create an economy that works well for everybody, not just the 1%. We have a healthcare system that is broken. We are the only major country not to guarantee healthcare to all people. We need you to stand up to the insurance companies and the drug companies and understand that healthcare is a human right."
Sanders said he was there to support Clairo because the artists has used her "prominence to fight for women’s rights, to try to end the terrible, brutal war in Gaza, where thousands – thousands of women and children are being killed."
The former Democratic presidential primary candidate’s remarks against "billionaires" were condemned by critics online who noted tickets to watch Clairo’s set started at around $600.
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Coachella attendees typically shell out thousands of dollars to camp in the desert for the weekend in Indio, Calif.
"Bernie Sanders making a surprise appearance at Coachella to sermonize on the evils of wealth in front of a crowd of people who paid at least $600 per ticket to be there is peak 21st century Democratic Party," one X user wrote.
Sanders posted on X about introducing Clairo, saying, "These are tough times. The younger generation has to help lead in the fight to combat climate change, protect women’s rights, and build an economy that works for all, not just the few."
"Do you know the avg ticket price to attend this event bro?" Ryan Fournier, National Chairman for Students For Trump, responded.
"Bernie, America doesn’t want your socialism. We’ve made that clear for decades now," another user wrote. "Just retire already. Go enjoy your mansions and private flights."
Sanders traveled to the music festival after appearing with fellow progressive Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., for their "Fighting Oligarchy" event in Los Angeles.
Both Sanders and AOC condemned "billionaires" and the Trump administration, namely criticizing the president's relationship with top Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) adviser Elon Musk.
Green Day is catching some heat for their use of pyrotechnics during their performance at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in Indio, California.
On Saturday, the legendary punk rock band took the stage to deliver a noteworthy set. However, the show was met with some outrage after a palm tree caught fire due to the fireworks ignited by the band's pyrotechnics.
In a video obtained by People magazine, concertgoers gathered around a palm tree which was engulfed in flames.
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"After all the California wildfires, they are using pyrotechnics??! It's fine. They will host a benefit concert," a user commented on the video, referencing the catastrophic LA wildfires earlier this year.
"Can't believe they are allowed to launch fireworks when it's like 100 degrees in LA," another wrote.
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"They just set the entire coachella on fire," one user added.
A representative for Green Day did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment.
During their set, lead singer Billy Joe Armstrong also took aim at President Donald Trump and his administration after changing the lyrics in their hit song, "American Idiot."
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In a video obtained by Billboard, Armstrong sang, "I’m not a part of a MAGA agenda," instead of the original, "I’m not a part of the redneck agenda."
This isn't the first time Armstrong has taken such a political stance.
Earlier this year, Armstrong sang the same lyrics during a performance for "Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve" on ABC, just weeks before Trump's inauguration.
EXCLUSIVE: Former Oakland City Council member Loren Taylor said former Rep. Barbara Lee's ties to the political establishment could help him to win over Oaklanders who are "fed up" with the status quo ahead of the April 15 special election.
A self-described political outsider who only served one term as a city council member after unseating a 16-year incumbent, Taylor shared his plans to bring change to the "struggling" Bay Area city in an interview with Fox News Digital.
"I am running as a political outsider who has just enough experience inside of City Hall to understand what's going on, but not so much that I'm entrenched in the political establishment. That is what Oaklanders are looking for," Taylor said.
While Lee – a former member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus and 2024 Senate primary candidate – has name recognition and national experience, Taylor has made waves in Oakland's special election as campaign finance reports reveal he has outraised the career California politician.
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"We have raised more money than other candidates in this race from local residents," Taylor said. "Over 80% of our contributions come directly from people who live right here in Oakland, compared to less than 50% for my primary component. That speaks volumes about who this campaign is. We are powered by Oaklanders, locals who are impacted by the decisions that are being made. The campaign is surging. Huge momentum these final days fueled by that overwhelming grassroots support."
Oakland's staggering $129.8 budget deficit for Fiscal Year 2024-25 forced some Oakland firehouses to close their doors earlier this year. The City Council passed a resolution to reopen those firehouses, preventing tragedy from financial mismanagement.
The liberal-run city has had four different mayors in a four-month period after former Mayor Sheng Thao was recalled this November and subsequently indicted on eight counts of bribery. Oakland has been without a clear leader this year as the city continues to grapple with a homelessness crisis.
Alameda County Health's January 2024 Point-in-Time (PIT) report found there were 5,490 homeless individuals in Oakland in 2024, a 9% increase since 2022.
"Oaklanders are frustrated," Taylor explained. "We are upset that we have not been getting what we deserve, what we should be getting from our local government. The status quo continues to fail us when we see crime rates rising out of control, we see homelessness still growing when it's shrinking in neighboring cities, we see our city facing the largest fiscal budget deficit in our history – a number of failures that show that what we have is not working."
While the Oakland Police Department reported a decrease in violent crime in 2024, 2025 began with a crime surge plagued by five recorded homicides within a 48-hour period. By Jan. 3, The San Francisco Chronicle reported Oakland's third homicide of the year and seventh since Dec. 30, 2024.
Taylor has called for equipping more police officers on the ground with technology to prevent violence and lawlessness.
"We are struggling as a city, and that is what this campaign is speaking to. I am ready to make the hard and necessary decisions in order to fix the mismanagement, in order to address the corruption head on, restore trust in City Hall, make sure that we're delivering as Oaklanders want," he said.
Just across the Bay, San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie has hit the ground running since assuming office in January. He launched the San Francisco Police Department (SFPD) Hospitality Task Force and passed the Fentanyl State of Emergency Ordinance as he works to clean up San Francisco's streets and restore what he describes as commonsense policies to the city.
"I'm absolutely watching what's going on in San Francisco right across the Bay and even in the South Bay, in San Jose, with Mayor Matt Mahan, whom I am proud to have his endorsement," Taylor said. "I think both of those mayors are political outsiders, just like me. They didn't grow up within the ranks of government. They had careers, were making a significant impact outside and saw the gaps that existed with local government. I think that we share a bond in that in terms of bringing a data, results-driven approach to moving things forward."
Lee did not respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment by deadline.
A former high school classmate of Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass has written to the L.A. Times to defend the mayor's conduct during the Palisades Fire -- which broke out when Bass was abroad at Ghana's presidential inauguration.
The post Karen Bass’ Classmate Defends Fire Response After Mayor Broke Promise Not to Leave Country appeared first on Breitbart.
Los Angeles residents are furious at an announcement by the Army Corps of Engineers that there will be no testing of local soil for toxins after the first six inches of topsoil are taken away during debris removal that began this week.
The post L.A. Residents Outraged After Army Corps Abandons Soil Testing in Burn Areas appeared first on Breitbart.
The Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) could have pre-deployed ten engines to the Pacific Palisades ahead of the deadly Palisades Fire on January 7, but chose not to, according to former fire chiefs quoted by the Los Angeles Times.
The post Report: L.A. Fire Dept. Could Have Pre-Deployed 10 Engines to Palisades, but Did Not appeared first on Breitbart.
In what must surely rank as a triumph of hope over experience, former Vice President Kamala Harris leads the Democratic field of contenders for governor of California if she entered the Golden State’s 2026 race to replace Gov. Gavin Newsom (D), polling shows.
The post Poll: Kamala Harris Is Lead Democratic Contender for 2026 California Governor appeared first on Breitbart.
A fishing charter boat captain who rescued two parachuting Navy pilots after witnessing their unmanned fighter jet plummet into San Diego Bay described what he saw as something from a movie.
The U.S. Navy electronic-warfare aircraft, a Boeing EA-18G Growler, crashed into San Diego Bay near Naval Air Station North Island just after 10:15 a.m. Wednesday.
Capt. Brandon Viets of Premier Sportfishing had 12 people on board his boat for recreational fishing nearby on what he called a "normal day," when everything suddenly went south.
"Normally we hear jets taking off, because North Island is right there next to us, less than a half mile away," Viets told Fox News Digital.
However, on Wednesday's trip, he said, a nearby jet was louder than usual, capturing his attention.
"We were cruising out, and when I looked back, I saw a jet at almost eye level, about a few hundred yards off the back of the boat," he said. "I looked to the right of that jet, and I saw two parachutes with two guys falling down."
Viets described the surreal feeling of watching the fighter jet flying, not knowing if anyone was onboard piloting it.
"At that point, I'm like, ‘Holy moly,’" he said. "Like, this is what we see in movies."
Without hesitation, Viets took to the PA system to notify the crew.
"I was telling them, 'Hey, we're going. We've got to go help,'" he said. "'We don't know if they are injured or not or if there are people in the water, and we need to get them out of there.'"
The crew turned the boat around and sped toward the pilots.
Viets said the boat was going as fast as the engine allowed, and they were soon next to the two soaked service members.
The plane was still in the air.
"As soon as I pulled up to them, I was yelling to them, just to make sure they were OK," he said. "Then I heard this loud noise, boom, and [the jet] hit the water less than an eighth of a mile away from us."
The military aircraft crashed on the other side of the channel, Viets said.
He described a "plume" of sand, muck and water, at least 80 feet high, shooting up from the bay.
Viets' crew retrieved all the boat's safety gear, including safety ladders, and positioned the boat near the pilots in the water.
Both pilots were pulled from the water and were coherent, according to Viets.
"I didn't ask anything about what happened or the plane. I was just worried about them," he said. "I asked about how they were, and their composure was pretty good for what just happened. They were pretty calm and collected about it, but you could still see a lot of [things] going on in their brains."
Crew members instructed the pilots to sit down and later were met by the Coast Guard.
A Navy vessel then picked the pilots up and took them to a nearby dock, Viets said. The fishing boat joined and stayed with the authorities for about 45 minutes.
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The Coast Guard San Diego Office confirmed the service members were then transferred to U.S. Customs and Border Patrol Air and Marine Operations.
"Then the Coast Guard said, ‘OK, you guys are good to go,'" Viets said. "We went fishing after that and caught a few fish for a couple of hours."
Both pilots were taken to a hospital and were reportedly in stable condition, according to the Coast Guard.
Viets said the crew assisted a few small private boats in the past that sank, but Wednesday's incident was unique.
"We have assisted smaller vessels, helping someone get off their boat or if they need a pump or something small like that, but nothing involving an aircraft that crashed — or pilots with parachutes in the water," he said. "Nothing like that."
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He added it took a while for the gravity of the day's events to sink in.
"It took me a little while to take it in and just to think, 'I'm glad that plane landed somewhere where it didn't hurt anyone,'" Viets said. "I'm still thinking, ‘Luckily, it landed somewhere safe, not on land, and those two pilots seem to be OK.’"
The cause of the crash has not yet been released by Naval Base Coronado’s Emergency Operations Center, which is investigating.
However, H&M Landing, a fishing company, provided a statement to Fox News Digital claiming the aircraft experienced a "mechanical failure."
A Navy official told Fox News Digital it is unclear if a distress signal was sent out prior to the crash, and the pilots have not been publicly identified.
As of Thursday, the Navy is continuing efforts to safely remove the aircraft from the bay as quickly as possible, while minimizing environmental impact, according to a statement. Weather conditions may delay the timeline.
In a statement Thursday, the Naval Air Forces said it is leading efforts to assess and coordinate the jet's retrieval, and Explosive Ordnance Disposal Group One is the tactical commander for salvage operations.
"Some pieces of debris may resemble weapons or classified components and may present a hazard if handled," it said in the statement.
The public is strongly advised not to approach, touch or collect any debris that may wash ashore. They are also asked to remain clear of the area and not interfere with the recovery.
The wreck came after a recent string of fatal plane crashes across the country.
An Army Black Hawk helicopter collided midair with a commercial passenger plane near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport Jan. 29, killing 67 people.
In the following days, plane crashes in Pennsylvania and Alaska claimed the lives of 17 people.
Most recently, a private jet owned by Mötley Crüe lead singer Vince Neil was involved in a fatal crash Monday at Scottsdale Airport in Arizona.
A California budget official revealed this week that taxpayers in the Democrat-run state are paying billions of dollars more on healthcare for illegal immigrants than previously known.
Guadalupe Manriquez, the California Department of Finance program budget manager, told the state Assembly Budget Committee Monday the state is "spending $9.5 billion total funds" to "cover undocumented individuals in Medi-Cal" in the current year.
Manriquez explained that this is a "revised number based on the governor’s budget-updated estimates," adding the earlier figure was from the earlier "budget act."
"Of the $9.5 billion, $8.4 billion is general fund," she said.
Republican Assemblyman Carl DeMaio noted that the cost of healthcare for illegal immigrants could be enough to help solve some of the state’s budget woes and "avoid going into the rainy day fund," The Center Square reported. He said the number originally floated was roughly $6 billion.
A new state law enacted at the start of 2024 ensures that "immigration status doesn't matter" for those looking to apply for taxpayer-backed insurance, according to the state's health department website.
California Assembly Minority Leader James Gallagher told Fox News Digital in a statement that gutting the insurance availability for illegal immigrants would make a significant dent in the state’s deficit.
"California’s budget is $30 billion in the red, but instead of tightening its belt, Sacramento is doubling down on reckless spending," the Republican said.
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"The state is shelling out $9.5 billion on healthcare for illegal immigrants while emergency rooms overflow, hospitals teeter on the brink and working Californians struggle to see a doctor," he continued. "Rather than making responsible choices, leaders are raiding the rainy-day fund to keep the spending spree going. This isn’t just a budget crisis — it’s a complete failure of leadership."
Democratic Assemblywoman Pilar Schiavo said during the hearing that healthcare costs are a major target of the new administration, which leads to uncertainty for the state.
"We know that today unelected Elon Musk and DOGE have taken their sights to Medicare and Medicaid, which is Medi-Cal here in California. And that is, you know, well over half of our budget," the lawmaker said.
The spending discussion comes at a time when the federal government is conducting a major crackdown on illegal immigration, including raids done by Immigration and Customs Enforcement and much stricter policies at the border itself.
Steve Hilton, founder of Golden Together and a Fox News contributor, said it's "yet another example of California Democrats' totally wrong priorities."
"Here's yet another example of California Democrats' totally wrong priorities. They have nearly doubled the state budget in the last ten years, yet over a third of Californians cannot meet their basic needs," Hilton said.
"We have the highest poverty rate in America. We pay the highest taxes and get the worst results. People are asking, "Where did all our money go?" And here's the answer: ideological obsessions like this — free healthcare for people who are here illegally. People have had enough of all this. There's going to be change in California sooner than people think."
President Donald Trump could claw back $4.3 billion in unspent federal funds for California's high-speed rail project, just as he froze $1 billion for the perpetually delayed and derailed project during his first term as president.
The post Report: Trump Could Claw Back $4.3 Billion in Unspent High-Speed Rail Funds from California appeared first on Breitbart.
Gov. Gavin Newsom plans to stage a photo-op Tuesday afternoon to mark the start of debris removal after the Palisades Fire -- even though the state government has little to do with it.
The post California Gov. Gavin Newsom to Stage Photo-Op to Mark Start of Federal Debris Removal; Update: No Newsom appeared first on Breitbart.
Steve Hagerty, the founder of Hagerty Consulting, which Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass chose behind closed doors to lead the city's rebuilding effort, had a disastrous tenure as mayor of the liberal college town of Evanston, Illinois.
The post Steve Hagerty, Head of Firm Karen Bass Chose to Rebuild L.A., Was Disaster as One-Term Mayor of Evanston, Illinois appeared first on Breitbart.
Developer Rick Caruso slammed the Los Angeles city government for an apparent delay in construction at a venue that is to be used during the 2028 Summer Olympics that officials are blaming on the recent Palisades Fire.
The post Caruso Slams L.A. After Olympics Construction Delayed over Fire appeared first on Breitbart.
Two former disaster recovery experts at Hagerty Consulting, which L.A. Mayor Karen Bass appointed to lead rebuilding efforts after the recent wildfires, pleaded guilty in 2022 and 2023 to defrauding New York City of Hurricane Sandy relief funds.
The post Former Lead Recovery Consultants at Hagerty, Firm Hired by Bass, Pleaded Guilty to Stealing Disaster Funds appeared first on Breitbart.
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