President Trump speaks to members of the five branches of the military by video conference on Christmas Day, Tuesday, Dec. 25, 2018, in the Oval Office. (Associated Press)
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Developing now, Friday, Dec. 28, 2018
- Trump blasts Democratic ‘obstruction’ of border wall, as shutdown lingers
- Sarah Sanders, viewers slam CNN for trashing Trump’s visit to troops, criticizing soldiers for bringing MAGA hats
- Disinformation campaign against GOP Senate candidate Roy Moore may have violated laws, Alabama AG says
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THE LEAD STORY – TRUMP CALLS OUT DEMOCRATS FOR ‘OBSTRUCTION’ ON BORDER-WALL FUNDING: President Trump continued making his case Thursday for funding a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border, saying the project is “desperately needed” for the U.S. to combat drugs, crime and other ills.
"The Democrats OBSTRUCTION of the desperately needed Wall, where they almost all recently agreed it should be built, is exceeded only by their OBSTRUCTION of 350 great people wanting & expecting to come into Government after being delayed for more than two years, a U.S. record!" he tweeted, referring to the alleged slowness of Senate confirmation for appointments.
The president also suggested it was in the Democrats’ self-interest to end the partial government shutdown, which started nearly a week ago and threatens to force many federal employees to go without paychecks for an uncertain period.
“Do the Dems realize that most of the people not getting paid are Democrats?” Trump asked. – Reported by Adam Shaw
- Suspect in fatal California cop shooting is in US illegally, authorities say
- ICE releases hundreds of migrants in Texas, New Mexico, reports say
SARAH SANDERS FIRES BACK AFTER CNN REPORT TRASHES TRUMP’S VISIT TO TROOPS IN IRAQ: There was barely a kind word toward the president regarding his trip overseas this week — at least on CNN. Politics reporter Eli Watkins, in a report headlined, “Troops bringing Trump hats to sign may violate military rule,” drew the ire of White House press secretary Sarah Sanders, who wrote on Twitter that the network “will attack anyone who supports President Trump, including the brave men and women of our military who fight everyday to protect our freedom.”
Then CNN anchor Jim Sciutto blasted Trump for his “routine lying,” while CNN military analyst Mark Hertling criticized Trump for getting “political” during his visit. Former Obama State Department spokesman John Kirby even dinged the president for not visiting with Iraqi security forces, who are also part of the fight against ISIS.
CNN Politics’ verified Twitter account was ratioed when Watkins’ story was sent out, which is typically a sign that the majority of readers don’t agree. As of Thursday morning, the tweet received over 3,300 comments and only 826 likes. – Reported by Brian Flood and Joseph A. Wulfsohn
- Lisa Boothe on Trump’s Iraq visit: He ‘just can’t win – ever – with the media’
- MSNBC’s Joe Scarborough rips Trump’s visit with the troops, calls president a ‘quivering coward’
- Daniel Hoffman: Back from Iraq, Trump must devise a new strategy for conflicts there, in Syria and in Afghanistan
DISINFORMATION CAMPAIGN AGAINST ROY MOORE ‘CONCERNING,’ ALABAMA STATE ATTORNEY GENERAL SAYS: Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall stopped short of calling it an actual investigation Thursday, but told the Washington Post that his office was looking into disinformation tactics waged against Republican Roy Moore during last year’s Alabama Senate special election amid concerns that they may have run afoul of campaign finance laws.
“The impact it had on the election is something that’s significant for us to explore, and we’ll go from there,” Marshall said. “We’re planning to explore the issue further.”
Democratic operatives are said to have created thousands of fake Russian accounts on Twitter that began following Moore, prompting attention from local and national media that falsely suggested Russia was backing Moore’s candidacy. - Reported by Greg Norman
- Liberal billionaire apologizes for funding ‘false flag’ effort to link Kremlin to Republican in Alabama Senate race
- Facebook suspends accounts tied to Dem disinformation scheme in Alabama race
THE SOUNDBITE
OCASIO-CORTEZ: NEW FACE OF DEMOCRATIC PARTY? – “I hope Nancy Pelosi gets to her and says she'd do better for herself to be silent for a while, because she is not the face or the voice of the Democratic Party that I grew up with, know and continue to support.” – Doug Schoen, former Clinton adviser, sharing his views about U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez during an appearance on “The Five.” WATCH
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MINDING YOUR BUSINESS
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STAY TUNED
On FOX News:
FOX & Friends, at 6 a.m. ET: Guests include: U.S. Rep. Louie Gohmert, R-Texas; Dr. Darrin Porcher, U.S. Army veteran and former New York City police officer; James Robbins, author of "Erasing America: Losing Our Future by Destroying Our Past"; Sean Parnell, retired U.S. Army Ranger, CEO of Branding Freedom and author of “Outlaw Platoon”; Mick Mulvaney, acting White House chief of staff and director of Office of Management and Budget; Jim Bridenstein, NASA administrator.
The Story with Martha MacCallum, at 7 p.m. ET: Tammy Bruce, president, Independent Women's Voice, and FOX News contributor; Jenna Ellis, attorney and Washington Examiner contributor; Kelsey Harkness, senior reporter for the Daily Signal and host of "Problematic Women" podcast.
On FOX Business
Mornings with Maria, at 6 a.m. ET: Guests include David Kudla, Mainstay Capital Management CEO and chief investment strategist; U.S. Rep. Brad Wenstrup, R-Ohio, member of House Ways and Means Committee and House Intelligence Committee; Andy Puzder, former CEO, CKE Restaurants; former Labor Secretary nominee and author of “The Capitalist Comeback”; U.S. Rep. Michael Burgess, R-Texas, a medical doctor and member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee.
Varney & Co., at 9 a.m. ET: Kim Cowser, Amazon FireTV spokesperson
Cavuto: Coast to Coast, at Noon ET: U.S. Rep. Mark Walker, R-N.C., incoming vice chairman of the GOP Conference.
On FOX News Radio:
The FOX News Rundown podcast: Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen heads to the U.S.-Mexico border after reports of an “uptick” in the number of migrant families crossing into the U.S. illegally. Former ICE Director Tom Homan discusses the situation and FOX News’ Claudia Tristán joins us from the El Paso, Texas, port of entry. FOX News' Lisa Brady looks back at one of her favorite interviews of the year, and FOX's Dana Perino remembers the late President George H.W. Bush and first lady Barbara Bush. Plus, commentary by Jason Chaffetz, a former Utah congressman and FOX News contributor.
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The Tom Shillue Show, 3 p.m. ET: Fox News Headlines 24/7 reporter Carley Shimkus and comedian Jimmy Failla look back at “The most important stories of 2018.”
#TheFlashback
2017: Officials in Alabama certify Democrat Doug Jones as the winner of a special U.S. Senate election over Republican Roy Moore, who charged that the election was "fraudulent.”
2008: The Detroit Lions complete an awful 0-16 season — the NFL's worst ever — with a 31-21 loss to the Green Bay Packers.
1981: Elizabeth Jordan Carr, the first American "test-tube" baby, is born in Norfolk, Va.
1972: Kim Il Sung, the premier of North Korea, was named the country's president under a new constitution.
1945: Congress officially recognizes the Pledge of Allegiance.
FOX News First is compiled by FOX News' Bryan Robinson. Thank you for joining us! We'll see you in your inbox first thing Monday morning!
