INTERNACIONAL
Mamdani’s education plan’s ‘lack of merit’ could fundamentally change student outcomes: GOP leader warns
NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
NEW YORK, N.Y. — New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s education agenda might be the most concerning of his administration and would have a damaging impact, a local GOP leader told Fox News Digital, arguing that schools will be shifting away from merit-based achievement under Mamdani’s tenure.
Mamdani has proposed phasing out the city’s gifted and talented programs for younger students over inequity concerns, a move critics argue could limit academic opportunities for high performers from low-income families.
«That’s my biggest concern,» Forte told Fox News Digital. «The lack of merit and the lack of competitiveness…is going to lead to test scores declining and the quality of our education declining significantly.»
MAMDANI CONFRONTED ON ‘THE VIEW’ OVER APPOINTEE WHO CALLED HOMEOWNERSHIP ‘WEAPON OF WHITE SUPREMACY’
Zohran Mamdani, mayor of New York, speaks during a Bloomberg Television interview at City Hall in New York on Jan. 29, 2026. (Michael Nagle/Bloomberg)
Forte went on to caution that Mamdani and the people he appoints would «gut» the entire program.
«He’s going to gut the gifted and talented program. He said this already,» he said. «Who he’s put into the Department of Education here in New York, gonna gut the program.»
He said Mamdani would transform the system into one «based on race and racial quotas,» undermining academic fairness in schools.
«It’s not going to be about merit anymore,» he said. «It’s going be about what is somebody’s skin color? What is their race? They’re going to make this an equity-based system based on race and racial quotas, and a lottery system. That is no way to have education. That is no way to educate students.»
But he said this would backfire, with Mamdani’s plan ultimately harming students.
«What this is going to do is lower test scores across the board, it is going to lower expectations across the board, and students are going to suffer because of it.»
‘ZOHRANOMICS’: NYC MAYOR ZOHRAN MAMDANI’S SOCIALIST MATH DOESN’T ADD UP
Turning to the new curriculum, he said teachers will eventually lead students to «hate their history.»
«We don’t know what he’s going to be implementing as curriculum,» he said. «We don’t know what he is going to do with American history. We don’t know what’s he’s gonna do with the history of New York.»
«Is that going to be standard operating procedure for all of New York schools? Is that what they’re going to be teaching? That they hate their history?» he added.
Shortly after taking office, Mamdani appointed Kamar Samuels, a longtime New York City educator and Manhattan superintendent, as the city’s next schools chancellor, which many critics took issue with given Samuels’ history of attempting to dismantle the gifted and talented program.
Teacher unions and their potentially increasing power under Mamdani are another issue Forte raised, saying they «will play a more active role.»
«The teachers’ union is the most, I don’t even want to call them progressive. They’re more than that,» he said. «The most socialist, militantly woke organization in the country. That doesn’t make sense. That’s not good.»
He said American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten is going to be «a very powerful figure in Mamdani’s New York.»
«That is going to be what is educating the next generation of Americans and they’re not keeping their politics out of the classroom,» he added.
Forte also targeted teacher training programs. He said they are shaping how future educators will think and teach.
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP
Zohran Mamdani announces new members of his team at the Brooklyn Public Library Greenpoint Branch in Brooklyn, Wednesday, Dec. 17, 2025. (Shawn Inglima/ New York Daily News/Tribune News Service via Getty Images)
«We have to do something about the teacher colleges where they are teaching the next generation of educators how to be Marxist, how to be liberals…and how to indoctrinate the next generation of students.»
Fox News Digital reached out to Mamdani’s office and the American Federation of Teachers for comment.
Mamdani found himself in hot water on education last week when he announced that his first veto as mayor was to derail a bipartisan bill aimed at combating antisemitism by expanding protest security safeguards for places of education.
curriculum, dept of education, zohran mamdani, controversies education, teachers, campus radicals
INTERNACIONAL
American rescue teams pull infant alive from rubble in Venezuela days after devastating twin earthquakes
NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
American search-and-rescue teams pulled an infant alive from beneath the rubble in Venezuela days after the country’s devastating earthquakes, the U.S. Department of State said Saturday.
The State Department shared video on social media showing U.S. personnel pulling the infant from the rubble as rescue crews continued searching for survivors more than 72 hours after two powerful earthquakes struck the South American country.
The rescue came as emergency crews raced against time to locate survivors before the critical rescue window closes.
«Against impossible odds, hope endures,» the State Department posted on X.
TRUMP SAYS VENEZUELA EARTHQUAKES LEFT ‘DEVASTATING NUMBER OF DEATHS’ AS US READIES AID
American search-and-rescue teams rescued an infant trapped beneath the rubble following this week’s deadly earthquakes in Venezuela, according to the State Department. (Department of State)
«American search and rescue teams rescued an infant from beneath the rubble following the earthquake in Venezuela,» the post continued. «Every life saved is a victory.»
The White House also shared the video, calling it «America at its best.»
«Thank you to the American search and rescue teams providing assistance in Venezuela,» the White House wrote.
PLAYERS, FANS FLEE STADIUM AS POWERFUL EARTHQUAKES STRIKE DURING VENEZUELA BASEBALL GAME
Rescue workers search through the rubble three days after earthquakes struck Catia la Mar, Venezuela. (AP Photo/Fernando Vergara)
Round-the-clock rescue efforts have continued since magnitude 7.2 and 7.5 earthquakes struck Venezuela’s northern coast Wednesday.
As of Saturday evening, officials said the death toll from the twin earthquakes had reached 1,430.
Earlier Saturday, officials reported that 243 people had been rescued.
FORMER METS PITCHER NARROWLY ESCAPES DEATH IN VENEZUELA EARTHQUAKES THANKS TO ELEVATOR MALFUNCTION
Rescue personnel with a rescue dog assist in rescue efforts after earthquakes hit the country, in La Guaira, Venezuela, Saturday. (REUTERS/Leonardo Fernandez Viloria)
According to The Associated Press, more than 68,000 people remain missing across the country.
Aid groups consider the first 48 to 72 hours after a disaster to be the most critical window for finding survivors, though access to food and water can extend that period.
Venezuelan officials said 17 flights carrying more than 1,600 rescue personnel had arrived Saturday to assist with search-and-rescue efforts.
US RESCUE TEAMS TO DESCEND ON HARD-HIT CARIBBEAN AFTER CATASTROPHIC HURRICANE MELISSA’S IMPACT
Members of the County of Los Angeles Fire Department’s international urban search and rescue team (USA-2) prepare to leave for Venezuela, in Pacoima, Calif., on Thursday. (Blake Fagan/AFP via Getty Images)
Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) teams from Virginia, California and Florida were dispatched to Venezuela on Friday to help search collapsed buildings.
According to the State Department, the three USAR teams include 312 personnel and 18 canine teams, including firefighters, physicians, structural engineers and canine search specialists. The teams also deployed more than 200,000 pounds of specialized rescue equipment.
The Los Angeles County team includes 73 members equipped with concrete-breaking equipment and specialized listening devices used to detect survivors trapped beneath debris.
COLORADO AVALANCHE VICTIM RESCUED IN DRAMATIC VIDEO
Responders search for victims in a demolished building in Caracas, Venezuela, after a magnitude 7.2 earthquake and a 7.5 aftershock struck the region. (Jesus Vargas/Getty Images)
Rescuers have fanned out across La Guaira, where the worst destruction occurred, and parts of Caracas, where families and volunteers have spent days pulling survivors and victims from the rubble.
The United States has pledged $150 million in emergency assistance and support for international relief organizations responding to the disaster.
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP
Fox News Digital has reached out to the State Department for additional information on the rescue.
Fox News Digital’s James Cirrone, and The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report.
aftermath disasters, aftermath, disaster response disasters, missing persons, virginia, earthquakes, world
INTERNACIONAL
La policía de Austin arresta a dos sospechosos por el asesinato de un mecánico nicaragüense
La Policía de Austin reportó la detención de dos hombres como presuntos responsables del asesinato de José Salgado Amador, un mecánico nicaragüense que falleció tras recibir un disparo durante un intento de robo en un estacionamiento de la ciudad.
La investigación por la muerte de José Salgado Amador, ocurrida el pasado 15 de junio en Austin, continúa bajo la supervisión de la Unidad de Homicidios del Departamento de Policía de Austin (APD). De acuerdo con la información divulgada por las autoridades y recogida por Univisión, Israel Medina, de 19 años, y David Pérez, de 26, fueron arrestados como sospechosos del crimen que sacudió a la comunidad nicaragüense en Texas.
Según informó Univisión, los hechos se registraron alrededor de las 22:47 horas en el estacionamiento de una tienda AutoZone situada en East Riverside Drive. Salgado Amador se encontraba realizando reparaciones mecánicas cuando uno de los agresores se le acercó y presuntamente intentó despojarlo de sus pertenencias. Tras el forcejeo, el sospechoso disparó contra la víctima y huyó del lugar antes de que llegaran los servicios de emergencia.
La policía de Austin detalló que Salgado Amador fue trasladado a un hospital cercano, donde falleció poco más de una hora después a causa de las heridas. El caso se convirtió en el homicidio número 27 registrado en la ciudad durante 2026, según los datos oficiales citados por Univisión.
De acuerdo con el reporte de las autoridades, Israel Medina enfrenta cargos de asesinato capital, una figura penal que en Texas contempla la posibilidad de pena de muerte o cadena perpetua sin libertad condicional. Medina se encontraba en libertad bajo fianza tras una acusación previa por robo de automóvil cuando ocurrió el homicidio. Por su parte, David Pérez está acusado de robo agravado.
El Departamento de Policía de Austin no ha confirmado si existen más personas vinculadas al caso ni ha proporcionado información adicional sobre el móvil del crimen, más allá del intento de robo señalado en las primeras diligencias. Las autoridades cuentan con grabaciones de cámaras de seguridad y han solicitado colaboración ciudadana para fortalecer la investigación.
La muerte de José Salgado Amador provocó conmoción entre quienes integran la comunidad nicaragüense en Texas. Según reportó Univisión, la familia del mecánico, que deja a una esposa y una hija de cuatro años, inició los trámites para la repatriación de sus restos a Nicaragua. El velatorio se programó para el 25 de junio en Austin, antes del traslado final al país de origen del fallecido. Univisión informó que los familiares esperan poder sepultarlo junto a sus padres y allegados en su ciudad natal.
La comunidad nicaragüense en Estados Unidos alcanza unas 839,600 personas, una cifra que integra tanto a residentes de larga data como a migrantes que han arribado en los últimos años por distintas vías, incluyendo programas migratorios y rutas irregulares. La distribución geográfica de esta población muestra una concentración destacada en dos estados principales:
Florida representa el principal destino para los nicaragüenses en el país. El área metropolitana de Miami y, en particular, la ciudad de Sweetwater —conocida popularmente como “Little Managua”— reúnen a una parte significativa de esta comunidad, que ha establecido una red social, cultural y económica sólida.
California acoge al segundo grupo más numeroso de nicaragüenses, con presencia relevante en ciudades como Los Ángeles, San Francisco, San Diego y San José. En estos centros urbanos, la población nicaragüense ha conformado comunidades activas, manteniendo tradiciones y vínculos con su país de origen.
El crecimiento reciente de la comunidad responde a factores migratorios y a la búsqueda de mejores oportunidades. Esta dinámica ha reforzado la presencia nicaragüense en el panorama migratorio de Estados Unidos, con un impacto notable en la vida social y económica de las regiones donde se asientan.
manos,esposas,prisión,barrotes,encarcelamiento,reclusión
NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
He wasn’t on the ballot, but President Donald Trump was a winner in Louisiana’s GOP Senate runoff election.
That’s because Trump-backed Rep. Julia Letlow defeated state Treasurer John Fleming to capture the Republican nomination, The Associated Press reported on Saturday.
Six weeks after denying Trump-targeted GOP Sen. Bill Cassidy a third six-year term in the Senate, a majority of Republican voters in the solidly red Gulf Coast state backed Letlow. Her victory in the runoff is seen as another victory for Trump as he works to fill the halls of Congress with loyal lawmakers for his final two years in the White House. And it’s another sign of the power of a Trump endorsement in Republican primaries.
Five years after he voted to convict Trump in his second impeachment trial, Cassidy was sent packing.
WATCH: CASSIDY DETAILS NEW BEHIND CLOSED DOORS CLASH WITH TRUMP
Sen. Bill Cassidy of Louisiana fist bumps a supporter during a campaign stop at a gun retailer and firing range in Baton Rouge on May 15, 2026, the eve of the state’s Senate primary. (Paul Steinhauser/Fox News)
Letlow, who was backed by Trump even before she entered the race in January, finished first in the primary, double digits ahead of Fleming, with Cassidy in third place. Since no candidate cracked 50% of the vote, Letlow and Fleming advanced to the runoff for the Republican nomination and Cassidy became the first elected Republican senator to lose renomination since Sen. Richard Lugar of Indiana in 2012.
Trump, celebrating Cassidy’s defeat, said on social media that «it’s nice to see that his political career is OVER!»
Cassidy, in a speech to supporters after conceding, took a jab at Trump, saying, «When you participate in democracy, sometimes it doesn’t turn out the way you want it to. But you don’t pout, you don’t whine. You don’t claim the election was stolen… You don’t manufacture some excuse.»
President Donald Trump stands with Rep. Julia Letlow during the Congressional Ball at the White House Grand Foyer in Washington, D.C., on Dec. 11, 2025. (Alex Wong/Getty Images)
Letlow, who was backed by Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry, a top Trump ally, won her congressional seat in 2021, after her husband, Luke Letlow, died five days before being sworn into the U.S. House after his 2020 election victory for the seat she now holds. She highlighted her support from Trump throughout her Senate campaign.
Fleming, who spent eight years in Congress before serving as a White House deputy chief of staff during Trump’s first term, argued he was the most conservative candidate in the GOP Senate primary.
DEMOCRACY ’26: STAY UP TO DATE WITH THE FOX NEWS ELECTION HUB
Letlow will be considered the clear frontrunner in the midterm election against either farmer Jamie Davis or Navy veteran Gary Crockett, who are facing off in the Democratic Party runoff.
The brute force of the president’s endorsement power has been on display in GOP primaries over the past two months, with his candidates ousting incumbents he targeted in showdowns in Indiana, Kentucky and Texas, as well as the Louisiana primary.
But Trump’s endorsement streak in statewide and congressional Republican primaries was snapped three weeks ago when his last-minute endorsement of Republican Rep. Randy Feenstra of Iowa in the race to succeed retiring GOP Gov. Kim Reynolds wasn’t enough to propel the three-term congressman to victory.
Feenstra was narrowly edged by Zach Lahn, a businessman, farmer and former political strategist who was backed by the political wings of MAHA — the acronym for the Make America Healthy Again movement aligned with Trump’s Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. — and Turning Point USA, the powerful conservative organization co-founded by the late Charlie Kirk.
Zach Lahn raises his fist in celebration after defeating his primary opponent in Iowa’s GOP gubernatorial race on Tuesday, June 2, 2026. (Zach Lahn for Governor via Facebook)
The president rebounded three weeks ago in South Carolina, as Trump-backed Lt. Gov. Pam Evette finished first in the GOP gubernatorial primary and longtime Trump ally Sen. Lindsey Graham won a majority of the vote in the Republican Senate primary, and avoided a runoff.
Graham, who was endorsed by Trump, was facing primary challenges from five candidates, including conservative businessman Mark Lynch, who took aim at the senator over his support for the war in Iran. Lynch was backed by some MAGA leaders who have been critical of the president.
Two weeks ago, Trump-backed candidates won two of the three top races in Georgia and Alabama, with the one setback coming against a billionaire businessman who shelled out over $100 million of his own money to boost his campaign.
Rep. Barry Moore, a House Freedom Caucus member and longtime Trump supporter who was endorsed by the president, comfortably defeated rival Jared Hudson, a former Navy SEAL sniper who was supported by some top names on the right, in solidly red Alabama’s GOP Senate runoff.
In battleground Georgia’s Republican Senate runoff, an 11th-hour endorsement by Trump helped boost Rep. Mike Collins, a MAGA champion, to victory over former college football coach Derek Dooley, who was backed by popular conservative Gov. Brian Kemp.
TRUMP’S ENDORSEMENT FAILS TO SAVE MAGA CANDIDATE AS BILLIONAIRE ADVANCES IN KEY GOVERNOR RACE
Collins will face Democratic Sen. Jon Ossoff in the general election in a race that’s among a handful that will likely decide if the GOP holds its slim majority in the chamber in the midterms.
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP
But in Georgia’s GOP gubernatorial runoff, the candidate Trump backed, Lt. Gov. Burt Jones, who was also endorsed by Kemp this past weekend, was defeated by billionaire businessman Rick Jackson, who ran as an outsider.
On Tuesday, Trump-backed first-time candidate Anthony Constantino, a businessman and former boxer, defeated Robert Smullen, a retired Marine Corps colonel and New York Assembly member who had the backing of the state party, in the upstate New York race to succeed retiring GOP Rep. Elise Stefanik.
Meanwhile, in South Carolina’s Republican gubernatorial runoff, Trump couldn’t lose.
That’s because, besides backing Evette, he also gave a last-minute endorsement to state Attorney General Alan Wilson, who ended up winning the showdown in a landslide.
donald trump, republicans elections, elections, midterm elections, senate elections, louisiana
El gol de tiro libre de Lionel Messi ante Jordania en el Mundial: el efusivo festejo de Anto Roccuzzo con sus hijos
American rescue teams pull infant alive from rubble in Venezuela days after devastating twin earthquakes
Karina Milei agradeció a Manuel Adorni tras dejar su cargo: “Persona íntegra y valiosa”
La carta completa de renuncia de Manuel Adorni a la jefatura de Gabinete
Lionel Messi y Cristiano Ronaldo podrían verse las caras en la final del Mundial 2026
Así vivieron las mujeres de la Selección el partido ante Jordania: apoyo incondicional, selfies y chaquetas decoradas
Desesperación y burocracia: Pacientes con cáncer denuncian esperas de más de 20 días en PAMI para recibir su medicación
Nuevos controles a las devoluciones de 30% por gastos en el exterior: cómo pedir el reembolso del dólar tarjeta ante ARCA
El CEO de Epic Games tiene claro por qué fracasan los nuevos juegos multijugador, y el culpable puedes ser tú y tus amigos
Far-left surge: Mamdani-backed candidates oust Dem establishment incumbents
INTERNACIONAL3 días agoLíderes mundiales ofrecieron ayuda humanitaria y equipos de rescate a Venezuela tras los devastadores terremotos
- POLITICA3 días ago
El Gobierno le ofreció asistencia humanitaria a Venezuela por los terremotos: «Acá no hay ideología que nos separe»
- POLITICA2 días ago
El oficialismo hizo caer la sesión del Senado para evitar la interpelación a Manuel Adorni
