Birmingham mayor trashes Trump's DEI executive order, calls it the 'Alabama-fication' of US government

Birmingham Mayor Randall L. Woodfin criticized President Donald Trump's Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) executive orders on Thursday, suggesting that Americans are now seeing the "Alabama-fication" of the United States federal government.

During an appearance on "CNN This Morning," Woodfin claimed that White women and veterans benefit most from DEI policies – not just Black Americans and other minority groups.

"What message and who are you trying to communicate? And so it's beyond frustrating and disappointing. It just goes to show you that 47 told us what he would do, and he's doing it," Woodfin said.

WHITE HOUSE OPM ORDERS ALL DEI OFFICES TO BEGIN CLOSING BY END OF DAY WEDNESDAY

The Birmingham mayor also disagreed with critics who have claimed that DEI programs have gone too far in some areas.

"Look, we've made the words diversity, we've made the words equity, we've, as in others, have made those words inclusion, bad words. Inclusion is not a bad thing. There is no such thing as going too far as it relates to being inclusive," he said.

"There's no such thing as going too far as it relates to equity. This is America. Equity is the right thing to do. There's no such thing as diversity being bad. America is a very diverse place. I think Diversity, Equity and Inclusion has been weaponized for some to use to say it's taken away from others," Woodfin continued.

TRUMP'S DISMANTLING OF DEI IS DEEPER AND BIGGER THAN YOU EVEN KNOW

Trump signed an executive order on Monday to eliminate all DEI programs from the federal government.

Trump issued two other executive actions on Tuesday targeting DEI — an executive order to end discrimination in the workplace and higher education through race- and sex-based preferences under the guise of DEI and a memo to eliminate a Biden administration policy that prioritized DEI hiring at the Federal Aviation Administration.

Just two days into his term, Trump is making waves in Washington, and a new Fox News poll shows that the voters are behind him. Almost one-third of voters, 29%, agreed that it is "extremely important" that Trump focuses on getting DEI out of the government. When broken down by party, 44% of Republicans, 16% of Democrats and 24% of independents want the president to axe federal DEI initiatives.

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Alabama's GOP-controlled legislature passed sweeping legislation in March 2020 to prohibit state funding of diversity, equity and inclusion programs at public colleges and universities, local boards of education and government agencies, and that would limit teachings on "divisive concepts" at public colleges and universities.

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Referencing his state's laws, Woodfin said Americans have "seen this dance before" concerning DEI restrictions.

"Listen, the unfortunate part of this conversation of stripping DEI--Americans are witnessing the Alabama-fication of federal government," he said.

source https://www.foxnews.com/media/birmingham-mayor-trashes-trumps-dei-executive-order-alabama-fication-us-government

House GOP firebrand invokes Trump while mulling gubernatorial run in South Carolina: ‘I’m a fighter’

Rep. Nancy Mace says if she moves ahead and launches a 2026 Republican run for South Carolina governor, she'll aim "to lock down support" from President Trump.

"I had Pres. Trump's endorsement in the House and I am working hard to lock down support in this race. He said I am a strong conservative voice, he knows I'm a fighter," Mace said Thursday in a statement to Fox News Digital.

A day earlier, Mace took to social media to reiterate what she first told the AP, that's she's seriously considering a gubernatorial run in the race to succeed GOP Gov. Henry McMaster, who is term-limited.

WHY NANCY MACE CHALLENGED DEMOCRATIC CONGRESSWOMAN TO ‘TAKE IT OUTSIDE’ 

"President Trump needs bold leaders to implement his agenda in every state across the nation. It will take grit. It will take strength. It will take hard work. I can confirm, affirmative, yes, we are considering a run in 2026. South Carolina First," Mace said in her social media post.

Mace, who was first elected to the House in the 2020 election, didn’t vote to impeach Trump for inciting the Jan. 6, 2021 storming of the U.S. Capitol by right-wing extremists and other Trump supporters who aimed to disrupt congressional certification of former President Biden’s 2020 election victory.

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But she later blamed Trump for the attack on the U.S. Capital, and in 2022 faced - but survived - a Republican primary challenge from a rival backed by Trump.

Mace endorsed the former president as he ran for the 2024 GOP presidential nomination and campaigned for him in South Carolina’s crucial early voting presidential primary. 

Trump returned the favor, backing Mace as she ran for re-election last year.

Mace told Fox News Digital that "I’ve proven my leadership, from the state legislature to Washington, my bold conservative policies are rooted in the Constitution, liberty, small government, and common sense."

"I believe in a government small enough to fit into the Constitution," she added.

2026 GOVERNORS RACES: RAMASWAMY DONE AT DOGE, EXPECTED TO LAUNCH OHIO GUBERNATORIAL CAMPAIGN IN DAYS

And Mace emphasized that "I kick a-- and take names from South Carolina to DC and back. That's the leadership the Palmetto State is looking for."

Mace recently made headlines by introducing a resolution to ban transgender women from using women’s bathrooms at the U.S. Capitol or the adjoining House office buildings. It's an issue of high interest to many voters on the right.

Trump is very popular in Republican-dominated South Carolina, and his endorsement in a GOP gubernatorial primary would be immensely influential among the state's conservative electorate.

Attorney General Alan Wilson, Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette, and state Sens. Josh Kimbrell and Sean Bennett are among those also considering gubernatorial bids.

It's going to be a crowded field, veteran South Carolina-based Republican consultant Dave Wilson told Fox News. "There's going to be a lot of people who are going to throw their hat in the ring."

"It's going to be a battle of the conservatives - how conservative you can be in South Carolina," Wilson emphasized.

McMaster, another top Trump ally, is on track to become South Carolina's longest serving governor. The then-lieutenant governor succeeded Gov. Nikki Haley in 2017 when she stepped down to become ambassador to the United Nations in Trump's first term. McMaster went on to win election in 2018 to a full four-year term, and re-election in 2022.

source https://www.foxnews.com/politics/house-gop-firebrand-invokes-trump-mulling-gubernatorial-run-south-carolina-im-fighter

Benjamin Netanyahu comes to defense of Elon Musk: 'falsely smeared'

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has defended Elon Musk after media outlets described a gesture that the Tesla CEO made at President Donald Trump’s inauguration rally on Monday as a Nazi salute.

Netanyahu took to X on Thursday to post that Musk is "being falsely smeared."

"Elon is a great friend of Israel," the prime minister said. "He visited Israel after the October 7 massacre in which Hamas terrorists committed the worst atrocity against the Jewish people since the Holocaust. He has since repeatedly and forcefully supported Israel’s right to defend itself against genocidal terrorists and regimes who seek to annihilate the one and only Jewish state." 

Netanyahu went on to thank Musk for his support.

MEDIA OUTLETS ACCUSE ELON MUSK OF GIVING ‘FASCIST SALUTE’ AT TRUMP INAUGURATION RALLY

Musk made the gesture in question while speaking to a crowd of MAGA faithful at the Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C.

"This is what victory feels like! And this was no ordinary victory, this was a fork in the road for human civilization… I just want to say thank you for making it happen, thank you. From my heart to yours," an ebullient Musk said as he placed his hand over his own heart and reached out to the crowd.

PBS News Hour fired out a post on X that said the Tesla CEO "gave what appeared to be a fascist salute," while the Jerusalem post wrote, "US billionaire Elon Musk appeared to make a Heil Hitler salute at the Washington DC Trump parade on Monday, following Trump's inauguration."

CNN host Erin Burnett played the clip of the gesture and called it an "odd salute."

ELON MUSK JOINS TRUMP AT DC RALLY: 'LOOKING FORWARD TO MAKING A LOT OF CHANGES'

Musk addressed the controversy Wednesday on X, which he owns, writing, "The radical leftists are really upset that they had to take time out of their busy day praising Hamas to call me a Nazi."

On Thursday, Musk poked fun at the reports in another post on X.

"Don’t say Hess to Nazi accusations! Some people will Goebbels anything down! Stop Gőring your enemies! His pronouns would’ve been He/Himmler! Bet you did nazi that coming," Musk wrote, adding a crying laughing emoji.

The Anti-Defamation League also defended Musk in a statement saying that the tech billionaire had made an "awkward gesture in a moment of enthusiasm, not a Nazi salute."

"In this moment, all sides should give each one another a bit of grace, perhaps even the benefit of the doubt and take a breath," the statement said. 

Fox News Digital's David Spector contributed to this report.

source https://www.foxnews.com/world/benjamin-netanyahu-comes-defense-elon-musk-falsely-smeared

‘Mob Wives’ star Natalie DiDonato reported missing: police

The search for "Mob Wives" star Natalie DiDonato remains ongoing after she was reported missing, the Las Vegas Police Department confirmed with Fox News Digital.

The 44-year-old, who appeared on season five of the reality show, was officially reported missing on Tuesday, Jan. 21. 

DiDonato’s mother, Denise Fuoco, told Fox News Digital that her family has not spoken to her since last Thursday. 

'MOB WIVES' STAR RENEE GRAZIANO OVERDOSED ON FENTANYL: 'I WAS DEAD'

Fuoco shared that her daughter was in Las Vegas at the MGM Grand Hotel & Casino, and a staff member verified that she checked out with an unknown man after one night.

DiDonato’s former "Mob Wives" co-star Drita D’Avanzo shared on social media that she was missing. She posted a screenshot of a news article saying that her friend had disappeared.  

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"I pray Natalie is safe! I can’t imagine what her family is going through," D’Avanzo wrote in her Instagram caption. 

The reality star’s last post was five weeks ago, on Dec. 12, 2024, when DiDonato appeared to be in good spirits. 

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"Not bad for 44. I love me some me. 44 sitting on 24’s still. (it’s not my bday…I’m just feelin myself, dropped 10 lbs…hit that goal weight)," she shared with a photo of herself, as she sat on a lounge chair.

"Getting older is a blessing, can't believe I made it this far. I'm embracing my age because to me it's a badge of honor to have made it to 44."

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DiDonato wore a black long-sleeved crop top with matching bottoms and knee-high boots as she posed for the photo in sunglasses and hoop earrings. 

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The reality show "Mob Wives" first aired on VH1 in April 2011, with the final season of the franchise, "Mob Wives: The Last Stand", ending in 2016. 

Fox News Digital's Larry Fink contributed to this report.

source https://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/mob-wives-star-natalie-didonato-reported-missing-police

California police arrest two in Palisades Fire evacuation zone after 'suspicious' behavior

Following several arrests in recent weeks of individuals who authorities say impersonated firefighters, officials now say two more people have been taken into custody for pretending to be members of the media to enter a fire zone.

Authorities say the two suspects allegedly forged press passes to unlawfully enter a Palisades Fire evacuation zone. 

Officers stationed at road closures for the Palisades Fire came into contact with "two suspicious individuals," who were at separate roadblock locations, California Highway Patrol said in a press statement on Sunday.

COUPLE WITH FAKE FIRE TRUCK BUSTED FOR IMPERSONATING FIREFIGHTERS NEAR PALISADES FIRE IN LOS ANGELES: SHERIFF

"These individuals had been coming and going from the closures while using what appeared to be Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department (LASD) press passes, and their behavior raised suspicion," the statement continued.

California Highway Patrol officers confirmed with the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department that the press passes were both fake, and both individuals carrying the passes were arrested. 

A search of their belongings revealed more fraudulent press passes. 

LOS ANGELES WILDFIRES: ARMED HOMEOWNERS PATROL FOR LOOTERS INSIDE EVACUATION ZONE

The latest arrests follow several others in recent weeks of individuals accused of attempting to enter fire zones by using deception. 

An Oregon couple was arrested on Saturday for allegedly impersonating firefighters after they attempted to enter an evacuation zone with a fake firetruck. 

Last week, a burglary suspect disguised as a firefighter was arrested, the Los Angeles Police Department previously confirmed with Fox News Digital.  

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"These arrests underscore the strength of our partnership with LASD as we work together to secure and protect the communities affected by the wildfires," CHP said in the latest statement. 

"Criminal activities such as unlawful entry into evacuation zones, forging press passes, and looting will not be tolerated." 

source https://www.foxnews.com/us/california-police-arrest-two-palisades-fire-evacuation-zone-after-suspicious-behavior

John Sykes, Whitesnake and Thin Lizzy guitarist, dead at 65

Musician John Sykes, the guitarist for Thin Lizzy, Whitesnake and more, has died. He was 65.

Sykes passed away after battling cancer, according to a post shared on his verified social media accounts.

"He will be remembered by many as a man with exceptional musical talent but for those who didn’t know him personally, he was a thoughtful, kind, and charismatic man whose presence lit up the room," the statement read.

"He certainly marched to the beat of his own drum and always pulled for the underdog. In his final days, he spoke of his sincere love and gratitude for his fans who stuck by him through all these years."

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"While the impact of his loss is profound and the mood somber, we hope the light of his memory will extinguish the shadow of his absence."

Sykes began his music career with the band The Tygers of Pan Tang in 1980. He went on to audition for Thin Lizzy. While the band was already popular, Sykes performed during the group's farewell tour and played for the last two albums, "Thunder and Lightning" and "Life."

The guitarist then joined Whitesnake, founded by David Coverdale. Sykes played for the group's album "Slide It In" before co-writing some of the band's greatest hits including, "Still of the Night" and "Is this Love."

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Coverdale shared a tribute to Sykes on Instagram.

"Just heard the shocking news of John's passing… My sincere condolences to his family, friends & fans…" he wrote alongside a handful of photos from their time together in Whitesnake.

Despite co-writing the album, Sykes, along with bassist Neil Murray and drummer Aynsley Dunbar, were all thrown out of the band before the album was released.

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Sykes went on to form Blue Murder with Tony Franklin and drummer Carmine Appice, who also shared a tribute to Sykes.

"We played such great music and had such great times together," he wrote on Facebook. "Check out Blue Murder 1, and The Cry of Love albums. John’s playing, writing and singing were amazing… I loved him like a brother. We lived close to each other when we were in Blue Murder we hung out everyday. He was an amazing guitarist and together with Tony Franklin on bass we had a great rock trio."

"He will be missed."

source https://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/john-sykes-whitesnake-thin-lizzy-guitarist-dead-65

Stefanik looks back to fiery exchanges with college leaders in Senate confirmation hearing: 'watershed moment'

Republican New York Rep. Elise Stefanik touted her fiery grillings of college administrators on Tuesday when she appeared before Senate lawmakers as part of her confirmation process to serve as the ambassador to the U.N., saying it was a "watershed moment" that exposed "antisemitic rot" in the U.S. colleges. 

"My oversight work led to the most viewed testimony in history, in the history of Congress. This hearing with university presidents was heard around the world and viewed billions of times because it exposed the antisemitic rot in colleges and universities, and was a watershed moment in American higher education," Stefanik said Tuesday while speaking before the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations,

Since 2023, Stefanik has served as a conservative firebrand who has repeatedly grilled "morally bankrupt" college leaders over their handling of antisemitism on campus following Hamas attacking Israel on Oct. 7, 2023. 

During last year's college school year, agitators and student protesters flooded college campuses nationwide to protest the war in Israel, which also included spiking instances of antisemitism and Jewish students publicly speaking out that they do not feel safe on some campuses. 

AS A HARVARD JEWISH STUDENT, I KNOW ELISE STEFANIK IS THE RIGHT PERSON TO FIGHT ANTISEMITISM AT THE UN

Most notably, Stefanik grilled Ivy League college administrators from Penn and Harvard, her alma mater, in December 2023 regarding whether "calling for the genocide of Jews" violates the respective school’s codes of conduct. The school leaders, however, waffled in their responses. 

"It can be, depending on the context," Harvard’s then-President Claudine Gay responded when asked if "calling for the genocide of Jews" violated school conduct rules. 

STEFANIK PLANS TO PUSH TRUMP'S 'AMERICA FIRST' AGENDA AT UN, MAKE SURE IT 'SERVES THE INTERESTS' OF US PEOPLE

"Antisemitic speech when it crosses into conduct that amounts to bullying, harassment, intimidation – that is actionable conduct, and we do take action," Gay said when pressed to answer "yes" or "no" if calls for the genocide of Jews breaks school rules. 

Both Gay and Penn’s then-President Liz Magill resigned from their high-profile positions shortly after the hearing, while footage of the exchanges spread like wildfire on social media. 

WHAT STEFANIK'S HOUSE TENURE REVEALS ABOUT WHAT TYPE OF UN AMBASSADOR SHE MAY BE

President Donald Trump nominated Stefanik to serve as ambassador to the U.N. back in November, celebrating her as an "incredibly strong, tough, and smart America First fighter." 

Stefanik said in her opening remarks on Tuesday that Trump sees "great promise" for the United Nations if it returns to its roots of promoting peace around the globe. 

"When discussing this nomination with President Trump, the President shared with me that he sees great promise in the United Nations if it focuses on its founding mission of international peace and security. President Trump has long advocated for peace and no new wars," she said. 

source https://www.foxnews.com/politics/stefanik-looks-back-fiery-exchanges-college-leaders-senate-confirmation-hearing-watershed-moment