Democrats have been stockpiling ideas for months on how to retaliate against companies and figures that have aligned themselves closely to President Donald Trump’s political agenda, telegraphing that merger breakups and committee investigations will play a central role in their efforts to push back against the administration should they regain power.

Most recently, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., took to social media to highlight his most recent entry on that list.

«Brendan Carr is a corrupt political hack and fake chair of the FCC,» Jeffries said in a post to X. «This guy (and the entities he promotes) will find himself on the wrong side of a congressional investigation in short order.»

Jeffries’ comments were made in response to a post from Carr, suggesting the administration would more closely review license renewals for broadcasters perpetuating «fake news.»

FCC BOSS VOWS TO ‘REBALANCE’ MEDIA, URGES MORE PRO-AMERICA PROGRAMMING

The struggle over political alignment isn’t unique to Carr.

The comments have piled up as the nation inches closer to the November midterms — a critical opportunity for Democrats to break a Republican governing trifecta and more visibly push back against the Trump administration. Even regaining control of just one chamber of Congress could enable Democrats to carry out their list of retaliation.

Democrats like Sen. Ruben Gallego hope to pressure companies that have received approval for mergers under Trump’s watch.

«Once we take power, whoever the president is, we’re going to break up your companies,» Sen. Ruben Gallego, D-Ariz., told Semafor.

«So, all the investment you did to create these mergers are going to be for naught. Your investors are going to be pissed at you, and you’re likely going to end up getting fired as the CEO because you wasted so much money and corrupted yourself in the process,» Gallego said.

EX-BIDEN OFFICIAL FACES BACKLASH OVER THINLY VEILED WARNING TO COMPANIES WHEN DEMS ARE BACK IN CHARGE

Sen. Ruben Gallego, D-Ariz., has a steep price for his vote to avert a partial government shutdown: fire White House Deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller.  (Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)

Under Trump’s administration, notable mergers have included Paramount’s $82.7 billion acquisition of Warner Bros., Capital One’s $35 billion acquisition of Discover and Nippon Steel’s acquisition of U.S. Steel for $14.9 billion.

Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., similarly echoed Gallego’s thinking in a X post.

«Paramount should enjoy its growing news monopoly while they have it, because when Democrats win back power we are going to break up these anti-democratic information conglomerates,» Murphy wrote. «All of them.»

Skydance Media, the parent company of Paramount, has close ties to the Trump administration through its CEO, David Ellison — a figure who appeared as a Republican guest at the 2026 State of the Union and who has been a frequent guest at the White House.

TRUMP ‘THRILLED’ AS FCC CHAIR WARNS NEWS ORGANIZATIONS TO CORRECT COURSE OR LOSE LICENSES

Susan Rice, a former top official in the Biden and Obama administrations, also recently caused a stir after she appeared to vow political retribution during a Vox interview last month against companies once Democrats regain control of Congress and the White House.

«They’re going to be held accountable by those who come in opposition to Trump and win at the ballot box,» Rice said.

«I think whether you’re a law firm, whether you’re a university, whether you’re a media entity, whether you’re a big corporation, whether you’re big tech, you need to play a long game, not this short game that has been so detrimental,» Rice added.

Subpoena powers also make up a part of how Democrats will also look to pursue their objectives if they regain power.

Rep. Pete Aguilar, D-Calif., the third most powerful Democrat in the House of Representatives, noted that using the subpoena powers to bring in former President Bill Clinton likely clears the way for lawmakers to compel high-profile testimony from Trump’s orbit.

«It sets an interesting precedent on who is subject to come into Oversight, and we will see what the next year holds for Trump Inc. and the Trump family,» Aguilar said, alluding to the requests Democrats might make if they hold a majority in 2027.

U.S. President Donald Trump speaks to members of the media before boarding Marine One at the White House in Washington, D.C. on January 31, 2025. (BRYAN DOZIER/Middle East Images/AFP via Getty Images)

The targets for Democrats extend to the private sector as well.

During a House Oversight Committee hearing last year, Rep. Jasmine Crockett, D-Texas, interrupted proceedings to demand lawmakers subpoena billionaire Elon Musk over his work with the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). 

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«The motion was to subpoena Elon Musk, who is heading DOGE who is the one who made the recommendations for these [spending] cuts,» Crockett said. 

Her calls were taken up in the Senate where Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., introduced a very similar motion, citing Musk’s closeness to the president and influence in efforts to slim down government operations.

«Mr. Chairman, if we are serious about exercising our constitutional responsibilities, which I hope all of us are, it is critical for our committee to hear from the person who is in fact in charge of the federal government,» Sanders said in committee. 

Democrats reached by Fox News Digital did not respond to a request for comment on their plans to implement their past comments.

La refinería Mina Al Ahmadi en Kuwait fue blanco de ataques con drones en la madrugada del viernes, según informaron medios estatales que citaron a la empresa petrolera nacional.

De acuerdo con la Agencia Oficial de Noticias de Kuwait, los ataques provocaron incendios en varias unidades de la instalación: “La refinería Mina Al Ahmadi (…) sufrió esta madrugada varios ataques hostiles con drones, lo que provocó incendios en algunas de sus unidades”.

Mina Al-Ahmadi, con capacidad para procesar 730.000 barriles de petróleo diarios, es una de las tres refinerías clave de Kuwait, país que depende casi exclusivamente del crudo para sostener su economía.

La empresa petrolera indicó que “varias unidades de la refinería fueron paralizadas” debido a los incendios, aunque no se reportaron víctimas como consecuencia de los ataques.

En Kuwait, un comunicado del Ejército indicó que las defensas aéreas estaban “respondiendo a amenazas hostiles de misiles y drones”, mientras que los medios estatales de los Emiratos Árabes Unidos informaron de “amenazas entrantes de misiles y drones procedentes de Irán”.

El ataque del viernes contra la refinería Mina Al-Ahmadi se produce en un contexto de creciente presión del régimen iraní sobre las instalaciones energéticas de los estados árabes del Golfo.

La empresa estatal Kuwait Petroleum Corp. comunicó el cierre de las plantas afectadas tras el ataque con drones. Durante la guerra, Kuwait ha visto interrumpidas sus exportaciones petroleras, ya que el transporte a través del Golfo Pérsico y el Estrecho de Ormuz ha sido un objetivo recurrente de los ataques iraníes.

En paralelo, el Ministerio de Defensa de Arabia Saudita informó el viernes por la madrugada que sus fuerzas “interceptaron y destruyeron más de una docena de drones en el este del país y otro en el norte” en un lapso de aproximadamente dos horas. El Ministerio del Interior de Bahréin reportó que la metralla de una “agresión iraní” causó un incendio en un almacén, el cual fue controlado sin que se produjeran heridos.La

La Oficina de Medios de Comunicación de Dubai informó que “las autoridades de Dubái confirman el éxito de todas las operaciones de interceptación aérea, sin que se hayan reportado heridos”. El ataque coincidió con la primera llamada a la oración del día en las mezquitas, con motivo del Eid al-Fitr, que marca el final del mes sagrado del Ramadán.

Las defensas aéreas y los equipos de bomberos del Golfo se mantienen en alerta máxima frente a la escalada de ataques del régimen iraní, que pusieron en riesgo instalaciones petroleras, depósitos y centros logísticos estratégicos.

Durante el fuego cruzado entre el régimen iraní e Israel, y en medio de la defensa de los países del Golfo, el Departamento de Seguridad del Estado de Emiratos Árabes Unidos (EAU) anunció este viernes el desmantelamiento de una “red terrorista” financiada y operada por Hezbollah e Irán.

Las autoridades emiratíes detuvieron al menos cinco de los miembros de la célula. Según el comunicado oficial, la organización funcionaba en el país bajo la apariencia de una entidad comercial ficticia, con el objetivo de infiltrarse en la economía y llevar a cabo planes que amenazaban la estabilidad financiera del Estado.

La red habría ejecutado una estrategia premeditada en coordinación con entidades externas vinculadas a Hezbollah e Irán, incurriendo en lavado de dinero, financiación del terrorismo y actividades que ponían en peligro la seguridad nacional.

El régimen de Irán lanzó el jueves doce oleadas de misiles contra distintos puntos de Israel, incluidos proyectiles de racimo, en una nueva jornada de ataques dentro de la actual ofensiva.

La última oleada se registró a las 22:42 hora local (20:42 GMT), con sirenas antiaéreas activadas en varias regiones del norte, centro y sur del país a lo largo del día.

El servicio de emergencias Magen David Adom (MDA) de Israel reportó que los ataques iraníes causaron cinco heridos leves, con lesiones provocadas por metralla y fragmentos de vidrio.

Esta más reciente ola de misiles, que según el Ejército israelí incluyó proyectiles de racimo, se produjo una hora después de que el primer ministro Benjamín Netanyahu afirmara en conferencia de prensa que Irán, tras veinte días de campaña militar, “ya no tiene capacidades para enriquecer uranio ni misiles balísticos”.

(Con información AFP)

A Virginia state bill passed along party lines directing state agencies to consider the race and sex of small businesses’ ownership when distributing discretionary funds for procurement and contracts is likely to face major legal headwinds, experts told Fox News Digital.

The Small SWAM Business Procurement Enhancement Program Act «provides that executive branch agencies and covered institutions are required to increase their small SWAM business utilization rates by three percent per year until reaching the 42-percent target or, if unable to do so, to implement achievable goals to increase their utilization rates,» according to its text. 

SWAM stands for small, women-owned and minority-owned.

Purchases between $10,000 and $200,000 must be set aside to be awarded to SWAM businesses as well, according to the text of the bill drafted by Delegate Jeion Ward, D-Hampton.

INVESTIGATION OF NIKE’S DEI PRACTICES COULD HAVE MAJOR NATIONWIDE IMPACT ON HIRING, SAYS ALAN DERSHOWITZ

As the bill approaches Democrat Gov. Abigail Spanberger’s desk, Oversight Project Vice President of Legal Kyle Brosnan told Fox News Digital it appears par for the course for the way Richmond is moving.

Brosnan said the bill constitutes «clearly intentional discrimination against White men.»

«Since reclaiming total control of state government, Virginia Democrats have shown their true colors as nothing short of radical ideologues,» Brosnan said.

«By setting race and sex quotas for 42% of the state discretionary spending on government contracts, Gov. Spanberger and her far left enablers in Richmond are showing their true colors as radicals.»

Zack Smith, a former federal prosecutor for the Northern District of Florida, added that whenever the government proposes to treat people differently based on race and gender, it is unconstitutional.

«I think we saw the Supreme Court speak explicitly to this with its Harvard and UNC decisions banning the use of race in admissions in higher education,» he said.

VIRGINIA DEMS INTRODUCE CLASSROOM DEI CURRICULUM LAW ON DAY 1 OF LEGISLATIVE SESSION

«As a result of that Students for Fair Admissions decision, we’ve seen some federal courts apply that same logic to other federal government programs that seek to prioritize minority-owned businesses (that) are treating people differently based on their race, and so I would certainly think the same logic would apply to this state law action as well.»

Chief Justice John Roberts authored the majority opinion in that Supreme Court case, and Justice Clarence Thomas wrote a concurrence in a historic decision ending affirmative action in college admissions.

«While I am painfully aware of the social and economic ravages which have befallen my race and all who suffer discrimination, I hold our enduring hope that this country will live up to its principles [that] all men are created equal … and must be treated equally before the law,» Thomas said at the time.

DEM GOVERNOR-ELECT TAPS CROCKETT’S FORMER ‘CHIEF BRAND STRATEGIST’ FOR TOP DEI ROLE

Smith said that, even prior to this, the Supreme Court found quotas «impermissible» and that if Spanberger signs the bill there will be business owners who are outraged and will demand accountability.

«I do think there is likely going to be litigation surrounding this because this would involve a federal constitutional issue in addition to other legal claims that may be raised,» Smith said Wednesday.

«This could be brought in federal court,» he said, suggesting arguments against it will fall on 14th Amendment grounds.

CORPORATE AMERICA HAS DECIDED THAT DEI NEEDS TO DIE

A welcome sign is posted in the grass near the intersection of Lee Highway, Key Bridge and the George Washington Memorial Parkway in Rosslyn, Arlington County, Va. (Universal Images Group/Getty Images)

Brosnan agreed, criticizing the bill’s section requiring Virginia taxpayers to fund $1 million for system updates, staffing and reporting to «institutionalize discrimination» in his words.

«It also ‘sets aside’ government contracts of up to $200,000 for women- and minority-owned businesses so long as their bids are no more than 5% higher than the lowest «noncertified» — read ‘White male-owned’— business.

«Did Virginians expect to get this institutionalized wokeism when they voted for the ‘moderate’ governor?» 

The conservative outlet The Federalist said the bill instituted «racial rigging» and reported a section of the bill authorizes the director of the Department of Small Business and Supplier Diversity to conduct a «disparity study» every five years, which the outlet said translated to determining how to reduce the number of White males winning government contracts.

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Fox News Digital reached out to Spanberger for an indication whether she will sign the bill. Fox News Digital also reached out to Ward, who is also the chairwoman of the Labor & Commerce Committee on Capitol Square.