House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., is no "big fan" of hiking the tax rate for America's wealthiest to 40%, an idea reportedly being mulled by Republicans to offset some costs of their in-progress tax package.
"We're the Republican Party, and we're for tax reduction for everyone, and that's a general principle that we always try to abide by," Johnson told Fox News' Maria Bartiromo on Sunday.
Though there are many discussions, thoughts and theories on how to get all the GOP's goals accomplished, Johnson said he wouldn't "put any money on any of [those] yet."
"I would say just stay tuned. The next five to six weeks are going to be critical as all these negotiations happen in the committees of jurisdiction," he continued.
"You'll hear lots of rumors and lots of talk, but we'll see where it all lands."
Johnson voiced the need for consensus on the package, eyeing the 218 votes needed in the House and the 51 votes needed in the Senate for successful passage, assuring viewers that the bill will have reached an adequate "comfort level" before heading to the floor.
According to Bloomberg, the floated 39%-to-40% tax rate would affect those earning $1 million or more annually, a two-to-three percentage increase from the current 37% rate.
A new survey finds dramatic growth in church attendance among young adults in the United Kingdom and should challenge the idea that religion is dying in Britain, its author says.
The survey entitled "Quiet Revival" found a 12% rise since 2018 among 18-24-year-olds who say they attend church at least monthly.
Among young men, that number has skyrocketed from 4% to 21% over the past six years.
More young women are also attending church, according to the survey, increasing from 3% to 12%.
Attendance is also up among older members of Gen Z, the Millennial generation, and those above 65 years old in the UK.
Among those 25-34-years old, attendance has shot up from 4% to 13%, and among 35-44-year-olds, attendance has increased from 5% to 8%. There's also been a 5% increase in attendance among the oldest generation, from 14% to 19%.
Overall, church attendance has risen by 50% in the UK over the past six years, the survey claims, and the church has grown more ethnically diverse, with one in five people coming from an ethnic minority.
The survey was commissioned by the Bible Society and conducted by YouGov.
Dr. Rhiannon McAleer, who co-authored the report, said the findings will challenge the popular notion "that the Church in England and Wales is in terminal decline."
"While some traditional denominations continue to face challenges, we’ve seen significant, broad-based growth among most expressions of Church — particularly in Roman Catholicism and Pentecostalism. There are now over 2 million more people attending church than there were six years ago," she said.
The survey also found more men than women go to church, with 13% of men overall saying so compared to 10% of women overall.
The UK survey mirrors an emerging trend about the religious views of young people in the United States.
A 2023 survey by The Survey Center on American Life found that among Gen Z adults, more women than men said they had left their childhood faith.
The survey found 54% of Gen Z adults who left their formative religion were women while 46% were men.
It was the opposite among older Americans, however. Among the Baby Boomer generation, 57% of people who left their religion were men, while 43% were women, the survey said.
ESPN host Stephen A. Smith was pressed by ABC News' Jon Karl on Sunday about whether he was really considering a run for the presidency — prompting the ESPN host to say that he had no choice but to consider a potential run.
"I have no choice, because I’ve had elected officials — and I'm not going to give their names — coming up to me. I’ve had folks who are pundits come up to me. I've had folks that got a lot of money, billionaires and others, that have talked to me about exploratory committees and things of that nature. I’m not a politician. I’ve never had a desire to be a politician," Smith said, noting his contract with ESPN.
"People have walked up to me, including my own pastor, for crying out loud, who has said to me, ‘you don’t know what God has planned for you, at least show the respect to the people who believe in you, who respect you, who believe that you can make a difference in this country to leave the door open for any possibilities two to three years down the line.’ And that’s what I’ve decided to do," the ESPN host said. "So, I would hope somebody else would step up that’s more qualified than me, but if it has to come down to me, it is something I would consider. Yes, I would. Because I don’t mind tussling with these folks at all on the left or the right. All of them disgust me, to be quite honest with you."
Smith also took aim at the Democratic Party during the interview and said that the party's failures were the reason why he, a sports analyst, was even being polled as a potential 2028 Democratic contender.
"The bigger picture here is Elizabeth Warren was just on with you. You’re going to have a multitude of Democratic representatives on with you. They talk, and they talk, and they talk, but what can they do? They position themselves to do absolutely nothing. I didn’t hear anything about tariffs from Democrats before the election. Trump had been preaching about this for the longest time," he added.
He argued that Democrats focused on woke culture, cancel culture and abortion rights, and that its focus was not going to win an election.
"It’s an indictment against the Democratic Party that doesn’t have leadership and doesn’t have a vision, and it’s sad," he said.
"Time to stop messing around. Life is great. Especially at ESPN/Disney. Hate the thought of being a politician. But sick of this mess. So I’m officially leaving all doors open," Smith posted on April 7, including an article noting his thoughts on the matter.
Speaking of the future at the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) convention in Las Vegas, Smith suggested, "If it comes in late 2026, 2027, where I look at this country and think it’s an absolute mess and there’s legitimate reason to believe — whether it’s via exploratory committees or anything else — that I indeed have a legitimate shot to win the presidency of the United States, I am not going to rule it out, and I'm not playing."
Fox News' Alexander Hall contributed to this report.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth fired back at House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries Sunday after the New York Democrat called him and other Trump appointees "Dumb Effing Individuals," a play on the DEI acronym, in an X video on Saturday.
"That's how far they have fallen. It's astonishing, not surprising," Hegseth told Fox News' Maria Bartiromo.
"Of course, they don't like the fact that we're ripping DEI out of the military and making it colorblind and merit-based."
"If their whole strategy is… minute-long videos on TikTok to call us names while we secure the southern border, kick out Chinese influence, revive the warrior culture inside our military, that's why they lost in a historic fashion to President Trump last time, and their future looks bleak as well."
Jeffries' remarks criticized Hegseth's instruction to purge the U.S. Naval Academy's library of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI)-related content.
He vowed to keep pressure on "extremists" behind the move.
Hegseth shared the latest news from several foreign policy arenas — a historic deal to deter Chinese influence in the Panama Canal and President Trump's "dead serious" effort to prevent a nuclear Iran in this week's "Sunday Morning Futures" exclusive.
Rather than focusing on DEI, he said he remains focused on "rebuilding America's military" with "peace through strength" policies, cutting out waste and investing in new technologies like the F-47 fighter jet.
"We're looking at all the ways in which our military academies educate and giving guidance to get rid of DEI, and I think the American people appreciate that," he added.
Hollywood superstar Will Smith opened up on a new podcast about the spiritual journey he's been on since his fall from grace after slapping comedian Chris Rock on stage at the 2022 Academy Awards.
During a conversation with Christian rapper Lecrae on the April 4 "The Deep End with Lecrae," Smith was candid about the "inward work" he's done over the past few years to reach a "brand new" version of himself, both professionally and personally.
The "Independence Day" star told Lecrae that he had to "trust himself and God" to "let go" of things in his life that weren't serving him and believe there was a bigger plan.
Smith confessed that he also realized all the fame and success he earned didn't bring life meaning.
"It is such a rare gift to reach the end of the material world, to reach the end of money. To get to the point where you can buy anything you want, and you sit in your house and there’s nothing else to buy. Whereas buying things used to scratch an itch," he said.
"Now there's nothing else to buy… To have had all the sex that you wanted. How many more number one movies do I need? How many more Grammys do I need?" Smith said. "It’s such a rare gift to get to the end of the material world and a place where only God is left."
Smith said he came to realize that the "material world" only had so much to offer.
"People usually do that when they hit rock bottom. But there’s a corresponding place to rock bottom which I call cliff top. Where you actually pop out of the material world and you [realize] there’s nothing left here," he continued. "And inward is the only place left."
"There’s no country you can go to. There’s no relationship you can start. No new job that’s going to do it… You get to the end of it. It’s excruciating, but I would wish that on everybody. I wish everybody could get everything they want to see that it doesn’t satisfy," he added.
Later in the interview, Smith said that while he was raised by a Christian grandmother, his current views on spirituality have been shaped by other religions, including Islam, Hinduism, and Buddhism.
"My religion is love," he said. "I believe in the oneness and possibility of harmony of people who are reaching for the one truth."
Smith said he recognized that he lived a "blessed" life and said he doesn't view himself as better than those who may have to make different life choices because of where they grew up or the situations they've been put in.
Smith is currently promoting his newest music album, "Based on a True Story," which is his first full album in twenty years.
Washington Post columnist Josh Rogin accused "Real Time" host Bill Maher in a testy exchange on Friday of having "fallen into the trap" by meeting with President Donald Trump the previous week.
Maher, a longtime Trump critic who's nonetheless stood out on the late-night circuit with his criticism of leftist excess, said Trump was "gracious and measured" during his visit to the White House, acknowledging his warm words might not be well-received by progressives.
Rogin, however, pushed back on Maher's decision to visit the White House and suggested that he had been used as part of a "PR stunt."
"I think you've fallen into the trap, and I think I represent 99% of the internet when I say this:you've played the game of proximity is principle," Rogin said. "I'm not questioning your motivation, I'm questioning Trump's, OK?"
Rogin emphasized that both he and the audience trusted that Maher met with Trump in good faith, but questioned Trump's motives for the dinner.
The praise seemed to have struck a nerve with Maher, who told Rogin, "You don't have to patronize me, dude. I don't know you. I've never met you."
"Not everybody has to like it. That's what we said. There are people who didn't want it to happen at all. You sound like one of them, it's OK."
Rogin attempted to talk over the late-night host but was abruptly cut off by Maher asking, "Did you hear what I said? What is the alternative to not talking? Just sit at your lunch table and don't talk to anybody?"
In his response to Maher, Rogin claimed that Trump saw this meeting as a "PR stunt," and used Maher as a "prop in that PR stunt."
Piers Morgan, a guest on the panel, also pushed back on Rogin's interpretation of the meeting, pointing out that most Americans aren't as tribal as social media might lead some to believe.
"If you go on social media for five minutes now, you just have this tribal fury raging all day long. Everyone's got to be implacably there, implacably there, and actually, most Americans and most Brits; they're not like that," Piers explained, adding, "And then, the idea that Bill Maher is now going to stop criticizing Donald Trump… is preposterous!"
Maher then affirmed Piers' idea, noting that he didn't hold back on Trump during his opening monologue or during his interview with former Trump advisor Steve Bannon earlier in the show.
Not giving Rogin a chance to respond, Maher jumped right back into challenging his interpretation of the Trump meeting.
"The fact that you began your little rant with ‘the internet,’ that tells me everything. You take your cues from the internet. Good luck," he told Rogin.
Rogin attempted to push back on Maher, questioning whether the late-night host believed that Trump would be "changed" after the meeting. Maher quickly shut him down.
"I said in the piece I did not think that was going to happen!" he sternly told Rogin, to which the columnist replied, "In that case then, go with God and enjoy."
President Donald Trump is an “aspiring dictator,” likened to both Nazi leader Adolf Hitler and Roman emperor Augustus Caesar, according to a Presidents Day Salon piece that warns his presidency is leading to the downfall of American democracy.
Former FBI assistant director Frank Figliuzzi said on Monday's broadcast of MSNBC's "Deadline" that those who voted for President Donald Trump should question whether they are American anymore.
MSNBC host Nicolle Wallace said on Monday's broadcast of "Deadline" that President Donald Trump had dropped "any and all pretense" of wanting to be president and was instead attempting to be an "emperor."
The far-left Politico, a regime outlet that has been subsidized with millions of taxpayer dollars, is half-correct in its look at how Democrats — and their regime media allies like Politico— are being crushed online by MAGA.
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 Defense Department maintained a $9,147,532 contract with Reuters between 2018 and 2022 for a "large scale social deception" and "active social engineering," according to a purchase order posted by Elon Musk.
FIRST ON FOX -- President Donald Trump’s legal team continued to dial up the pressure on CBS and parent company Paramount Global on Thursday with a massive discovery demand for 107 different forms of communications.
Trump is seeking $20 billion in a lawsuit against CBS, alleging election interference over its handling of a "60 Minutes" interview. The president has accused CBS of aiding his Democrat rival Vice President Kamala Harris through deceptive editing one month before they faced off in the presidential election. The saga began when Harris was widely mocked for a "word salad" answer she gave to "60 Minutes" correspondent Bill Whitaker during a preview of the interview on "Face the Nation," as CBS aired a more coherent answer to the same question during a primetime special.
In a letter obtained by Fox News Digital, Trump’s legal team has requested "all documents in CBS Interactive’s possession, custody, or control, wherever located, including documents in the possession of its representatives, attorneys, or other persons directly or indirectly retained by CBS Interactive, or anyone else acting on its behalf or otherwise subject to its control" pertaining to the interview.
The demand includes all communications between CBS and the FCC, The Biden administration, the Harris campaign and the DNC from September 22, 0224 through February 11, 2025. Trump’s legal team also asked for all communications about the interview involving "60 Minutes" executive editor Tanya Simon’s, executive producer Bill Owens, "Face the Nation" anchor Margaret Brennan or Whitaker, along with "any documents containing communications about interviewing or potentially interviewing President Trump for the Election Special."
Trump’s legal team has demanded "any documents containing communications" about the unedited exchange between CBS staffers and the Biden administration, Harris campaign and the DNC.
The 27-page list of discovery demands also asks for all internal communications "60 Minutes" honchos had with editors, journalists and correspondents during the controversy, along with any communications with the Harris campaign.
Any communications pertaining to the lawsuit between CBS and Paramount employees have also been requested, along with any communications about advertising or commercials during the programs that aired the Harris interview.
Shari Redstone, Paramount’s controlling shareholder, is also named and Trump’s legal team wants to see her interactions with "60 Minutes" employees, too.
Critics accused CBS News of editing Harris' "word salad" answer to shield the former vice president from further backlash. The discovery request comes after Trump secured a legal victory earlier this week when a judge deemed CBS and Paramount’s motion to dismiss "moot."
CBS did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
New FCC Chair Brendan Carr ordered CBS News to hand over the unedited transcript as part of its investigation into whether the network violated the FCC's "news distortion" policy after a complaint was filed. CBS had refused to release the unedited transcript until the FCC got involved.
Last week, Trump’s legal team led by attorneys Ed Paltzik and Dan Epstein amended the original lawsuit after the release of the unedited transcript and raw footage of its controversial "60 Minutes" interview. The lawsuit added CBS News' parent company, Paramount Global, as a defendant, citing how the "60 Minutes" election special was platformed on its Paramount+ streaming service. The lawsuit added Rep. Ronny Jackson, R-Texas, as a plaintiff and increased the damages claim to $20 billion.
CBS parent company Paramount Global is reportedly considering settling the suit ahead of a planned merger with Skydance Media in hopes of preventing potential retribution by Trump's FCC, which has the authority to halt the multibillion-dollar transaction. Redstone is reportedly in favor of settling with the president.
The case against CBS and Paramount Global is one of the many legal fronts, criminal and civil, being coordinated by Trump’s Senior Counsel Boris Epshteyn.
Fox News Digital’s Joseph A. Wulfsohn contributed to this report.
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