INTERNACIONAL
Alabama AG makes Supreme Court play that could deal decisive blow in redistricting war
NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
Alabama’s top law enforcement officer filed a Supreme Court challenge aimed at overturning a prior ruling that limited Republicans in decennial redistricting, after a recent Louisiana case raised questions about how the court previously ruled there.
Louisiana’s «Callais» ruling struck down the state’s map, including districts centered on New Orleans and a narrow majority-minority corridor from Baton Rouge. Alabama leaders said the decision conflicts with or calls into question Supreme Court precedent affecting their state by requiring racial factors to be considered when drawing congressional districts.
«Now they have a framework for Alabama to directly defend what the legislature did both in 2021 and 2023,» said Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall, telling Fox News Digital he was «thrilled» to see where the court came down on Callais at the end of April.
«And that is, drawing maps based on historical redistricting principles that now I think Callais makes clear were constitutional exercises of that authority,» Marshall said, highlighting SCOTUS’ analysis that race should not predominate when drawing congressional districts.
SUPREME COURT RULES ON KEY VOTING RIGHTS ACT RULE AS REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS WAGE REDISTRICTING WAR
«And then unlike Louisiana, which was able to get direct relief through that decision, we now have to be removed from the injunction [against Alabama’s prior map] by the three-judge panel in order to either go back to the map that is being challenged or give the legislature the authority to draw a new map.»
A previous Supreme Court ruling, Allen v. Milligan, invalidated Alabama’s prior redistricting effort, with critics saying the decision wrongly weighted racial factors in creating what became a second Democratic-favored district in the ruby-red state.
If Alabama is able to get out from under Milligan, it could have national implications for Democrats’ attempts to gain enough seats in the slim GOP-majority U.S. House this fall, as Montgomery’s so-called Livingston map, originally struck down in the 2023 case, would see new life.
Marshall, who is also running to succeed retiring Sen. Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala., this fall, said urgency before the court is important with the May 19 primary approaching.
«Because the lower court’s injunction cannot stand in light of the Supreme Court’s ruling, we have asked the court to lift the injunction. Alabama deserves the right to use its own maps, just like every other state.»
The AG said he is working separately from state lawmakers, who are in special session through Friday to address the legislative side of the fight, and that his office is «singularly focused» on getting legal relief from the Supreme Court.
GOP SPEAKER CLAPS BACK AFTER BOOKER STUMPS AGAINST BID TO ERADICATE RED STATE’S LONE DEMOCRAT-HELD DISTRICT
He also said that, regarding race, the Alabama of the 2020s is not the Alabama of the 1960s and that there are few, if any, barriers to minority suffrage in the Yellowhammer State.
«You saw some of that sentiment from Justice Kavanaugh in a concurrence in the [Milligan] case that Alabama had there a few years ago, saying there’s a point in time in which we have to acknowledge that circumstances have changed,» he said, as the prior case forced Alabama to draw a second district where Black voters have a meaningful opportunity to elect a candidate of their choice.
The YellaWood 500 at Talladega Superspeedway in Alabama – one of the state’s premier attractions. (Chris Graythen/Getty Images)
For Democratic critics like New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker, who descended on Alabama to push back — as he did at a counter-redistricting forum in Birmingham with the city’s Mayor Randall Woodfin and Democratic gubernatorial candidate Doug Jones — Marshall suggested they get their own house in order up north.
«[They’re] arguing for proportional representation, which is basically what they are saying, they make that same argument in Maine, in Rhode Island, in New Hampshire — where you don’t see a single congressional member there from the Republican Party.»
Underlining that New England states have large blocs of «unaffiliated» or independent voters, gerrymander critics often point to the region because those who are Republican essentially have no voice in Washington.
Maine is considered the most moderate of the states, with an estimated Republican bloc of about 30%, while Vermont’s more vague registration system resulted in about the same percentage of vote share going to President Donald Trump in 2024.
VIRGINIA CONGRESSMAN SAYS SPANBERGER WANTS TO ‘TURN US INTO NEW ENGLAND’
Connecticut, Rhode Island and Massachusetts all have between 10% and 40% Republican vote share, presuming a bloc of the «unaffiliated» group votes at times for Republican candidates. Those states have more than 40% of their people registered unaffiliated or similar.
Fox News Digital reached out to Booker earlier this week on similar criticism but did not receive a response.
Marshall said his work is not necessarily in concert with the legislature, but the two are on similar tracks.
«While we’ll obviously watch what the legislature is doing, our job is to secure the relief from the [2023 redistricting] injunction as quickly as possible.»
«And the other thing, not only are we working on the state congressional map, but it’s also, we have a state Senate district [map] likewise that was subject to redrawing based upon a [Voting Rights Act] Section 2 challenge,» he said.
Steve Marshall, Alabama’s attorney general, speaks during a Senate Judiciary Committee confirmation hearing for Ketanji Brown Jackson. (Al Drago/Getty Images)
His office is also involved in the New Orleans-based 11th Circuit Court of Appeals to challenge the state’s senatorial map while seeking Supreme Court review on the congressional front.
While Marshall spoke to Fox News Digital before the Supreme Court of Virginia struck down the Democratic-led redistricting map there, he called Richmond’s move «clearly [done] for hyper-political reasons that kept none of the traditional principles in mind.»
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP
Alabama’s redistricting efforts have aimed to follow the letter and spirit of the law, and the attorney general said he hopes to have a real chance of receiving favorable corrective action from the nation’s highest court and remedying a fight the Yellowhammer State previously lost.
Secretary of State Wes Allen indicated the May 19 primary will go on as expected, meaning Marshall’s motions may come just in time to give Republicans another incremental advantage in a nationally relevant electoral landscape.
supreme court oral arguments, state and local primaries, alabama, appeals, republicans elections
INTERNACIONAL
«¿Has visto a mi hijo?», la pregunta que se repite entre las familias marroquíes en medio de la crisis migratoria en Ceuta
INTERNACIONAL
US companies win billions in African data center deals in direct competition with China
NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
JOHANNESBURG: The U.S. is beating China in a high-tech trade war over data centers in a fierce battle being waged across Africa.
Major new deals have been engineered in a public-private partnership between the Trump administration and U.S. companies in Africa, while States across the U.S. clamp down on the centers over their massive reliance on electricity.
The administration’s Bureau of African Affairs has reported it has worked on 37 commercial transactions that have closed since the beginning of President Donald Trump’s second term — representing $25.67 billion in total value, with more still being reported.
RESOURCE-RICH NATION PRAISES US TIES AMID WASHINGTON-BEIJING CRITICAL MINERALS RACE
A rendering of BESS battery storage facilities, to be constructed in Lesotho by U.S. company Convalt Energy, as part of a $6.2 billion deal with the government of Lesotho facilitated with the assistance of the U.S. government. (Convalt Energy)
Data centers are at the heart of today’s global economy — fueling the massive demand for AI and hosting everything from video streaming to housing cloud networks.
In Lesotho, with U.S. help, an American company has won a $6.2 billion deal for a data center and hydropower plant. It is the largest transaction in this Southern African country’s history.
In Gabon, the U.S. Embassy helped win $600 million in business for American companies in 2025. And this year, the embassy in this central African country has assisted in securing a $100 million contract to supply two data centers and a gas-to-power plant, in the face of strong competition from China.
Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Frank Garcia told Fox News Digital, «Under President Trump’s leadership, the United States is assisting U.S. companies to find new markets and flourish in Africa.»
The main strategic competitor in Africa is China. While American goods traded with Africa last year were valued at $83.4 billion by the Office of the United States Trade Representative, Beijing’s General Administration of Customs claimed bilateral trade between China and Africa reached $348 billion for the same period.
But Garcia called out China for giving African countries a raw deal, saying «there are others (notably China) that trap, coerce and undermine. The choice to me is clear — partner with the United States for prosperity.»
Rendering of the Kobong, Lesotho Pumped Hydro project, which is to be constructed in Lesotho by U.S. company Convalt Energy, as part of a $6.2 billion deal with the government of Lesotho facilitated with the assistance of the U.S. government. (Convalt Energy)
To drive this initiative, the State Department, through the Bureau of African Affairs, launched the Commercial Diplomacy Strategy in early 2025, with Garcia telling Fox News Digital the U.S. «is working worldwide to advance a level playing field for U.S. companies and address disparities in trade practices.»
The playing fields in Lesotho are not level: Geographically because this is a mountain kingdom. Financially because China is historically deeply entrenched in life there. Beijing has dropped all tariffs on Lesotho’s exports. Payments between the two countries have been simplified, with Lesothans able to bank directly with the State-owned Industrial and Commercial Bank of China.
Beijing has canceled debt on major projects in Lesotho, and among other major projects is building a new fire station, a solar power plant and even completed a police fingerprint examination laboratory.
CHINA IS BUILDING AN AI WAR MACHINE. WASHINGTON MUST WAKE UP BEFORE IT’S TOO LATE
This makes it all the more remarkable that, with the administration’s help, primarily through the local embassy, U.S. company Convalt Energy has secured a $6.2 billion agreement with the government of Lesotho.
Garcia told Fox News Digital that the «project includes a 1,200MW pumped-storage hydropower facility and a 900MW AI data center, increasing Lesotho’s electricity generation capacity by approximately 1,600% and transforming the country into a net exporter of electricity. The project is expected to generate approximately $2 billion in U.S. energy equipment exports.»
Convalt Energy’s president and CEO, Hari Achuthan, in Lesotho at the site of where the new data center and pumping station will stand. July 29, 2026. (Convalt Energy)
Convalt Energy’s president and CEO, Hari Achuthan, told Fox News Digital how U.S. companies such as his are beating China on their traditional turf: «American companies can compete successfully by innovating faster, integrating hardware and software, and remaining intensely focused on the needs of the end customer.»
A new data center, Achuthan believes, is not only at the heart of the project, but is essential for any country’s growth. «The next major cycle of economic growth will increasingly be driven by artificial intelligence, digital infrastructure and the energy systems required to support them. AI cannot scale without physical infrastructure. Every data center requires reliable power, water, fiber connectivity, land, cooling systems and resilient transmission infrastructure.»
«The Trump administration’s emphasis on trade and private-sector investment, rather than relying primarily on grant funding, is closely aligned with our approach in Africa,» Achuthan continued. «In Lesotho, we are pursuing a commercially sustainable infrastructure platform built around long-term investment, bilateral trade with a durable, sustainable operating business.»
«At the same time,» Achuthan added, «the project can create meaningful economic benefits in the United States. Convalt’s U.S. manufacturing facilities are being developed to serve domestic customers as well as international markets, particularly Africa, where demand for power, manufacturing capacity and digital infrastructure is growing rapidly.»
Rendering of U.S. company Cybastion’s projected data center in the Ivory Coast, West Africa. The U.S. Embassy in Abidjan helped facilitate a $170 million contract with the government of the Ivory Coast that includes the provision of the data center. (Cybastion)
The construction of two data centers is part of the $100 million deal Assistant Secretary Garcia says administration officials have helped American company Cybastion secure. Garcia added, «Notably, the U.S. company prevailed over Huawei (a Chinese company) in a direct competition for the project.»
Cybastion CEO Dr. Thierry Wandji believes U.S. companies can and are now coming to the fore. Earlier this month, the U.S. Embassy in the Ivory Coast confirmed an even larger deal for Cybastion. The $170 million contract will bring a data center, government digitalization platform and a cutting-edge border surveillance system to this West African country.
Wandji told Fox News Digital, «We believe we are the better option compared to other global competitors. Cybastion brings a unique understanding of the African context and local business environments.»
A recent site visit to the construction zone for a new data center in the Ivory Coast, which is part of a $170 million contract facilitated by the U.S. Embassy for development by the U.S. company Cybastion. (Clement Djakey for Cybastion)
«Africa has some of the world’s fastest-growing economies,» Wandji continued. «Across the continent, countries are prioritizing sovereign data centers, modernizing their government services through digitalization, and digital workforce development as part of their national development plans.
«The U.S. tech sector offers global competitiveness unparalleled to any country in the world,» Wandji added. «We deliver innovation, transparency and accountability in our business offerings, while creating new markets for U.S. companies.»
Convalt’s Achuthan told Fox News Digital what’s working for U.S. business in Africa, «American companies must clearly communicate the value of quality, transparency, safety, responsible business practices and long-term community partnership. Competing solely on price is not enough going forward. Companies from the United States should compete on performance, reliability, innovation, institutional trust and the ability to create sustainable local economic benefits.»
africa, trade, state department, china, national security
Trump orders warning signs outside Smithsonian over ‘woke’ exhibits
President Donald Trump orders warning signs outside the Smithsonian, alleging politicized exhibits that emphasize activism over history. The institution faces scrutiny for promoting racial reparations and for a 2020 infographic criticizing ‘white culture.’ A congressional hearing further ignited debate over the museum’s ‘woke’ displays and their historical accuracy, highlighting the growing tension.
NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
President Donald Trump’s effort to remake the Smithsonian is reaching the institution’s bottom line, with the administration proposing its smallest budget request in years while pushing to eliminate what it calls «woke» ideology from federally funded museums and programs.
A Fox News Digital analysis of Smithsonian budget requests found the institution submitted steadily larger funding requests during the Biden administration, with annual requests rising from $1.11 billion in fiscal year 2021 to a record $1.24 billion in fiscal year 2024.
The fiscal year 2025 request also exceeded $1 billion before the Trump administration proposed reducing the institution’s request below that threshold in its fiscal year 2026 and 2027 budgets—the first time since fiscal year 2020 that the Smithsonian’s annual request has fallen below $1 billion.
The proposed funding reduction comes as the White House expands one of its most ambitious efforts to reshape a federally funded cultural institution, arguing the Smithsonian has promoted ideological narratives at odds with its mission and directing it to change its exhibits, programming, leadership and spending priorities.
FORMER DEMOCRATIC STAFFERS, DEI LEADERS SHAPE SMITHSONIAN LEADERSHIP AMID POLITICAL FIRESTORM
President Donald Trump launched a sweeping White House review of the Smithsonian, arguing the institution had promoted «divisive» ideological narratives. (Maxine Wallace/The Washington Post/Getty Images)
The White House’s effort to root out what it calls «woke» ideology at the Smithsonian has grown into one of the most extensive reviews of the institution in decades.
Over the past 16 months, the administration has examined museum exhibits, educational programming, internal records and leadership statements, issued multiple document requests, interviewed curators and conducted on-site museum walkthroughs.
That review culminated in a 162-page White House report recommending sweeping reforms and a new round of executive actions aimed at implementing those recommendations.
The administration has ordered the Smithsonian to promote what it describes as a more accurate portrayal of American history while scrutinizing exhibits, programming and leadership across the museum complex.
INSIDE THE BEHEMOTH SMITHSONIAN MUSEUM NETWORK DRAWING FIRE FROM THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION
The Smithsonian, the nation’s largest museum and research complex, is at the center of a White House campaign to overhaul its presentation of American history. (J. David Ake/Getty Images)
The Smithsonian oversees 21 museums, the National Zoo and nearly 157 million objects and specimens while receiving more than $1 billion annually in federal funding, in addition to private donations and other trust revenue.
The taxpayer-supported institution has become the latest battleground in a broader national debate over patriotism, historical interpretation and the role of federally funded cultural institutions in shaping how Americans understand the nation’s past.
TRUMP ORDERS SIGNS OUTSIDE SMITHSONIAN MUSEUM AMID ROW OVER ITS DEPICTION OF AMERICAN HISTORY
Whether Congress adopts the administration’s proposed funding levels remains to be seen.
But alongside executive orders, museum reviews and a sweeping White House report, the budget proposal signals that the administration intends to use both policy and federal funding to reshape one of the nation’s largest cultural institutions.
The Smithsonian Institute did not immediately respond to Fox New Digital’s request for comment.
smithsonian, white house, donald trump, woke, politics
Fopea condenó el hackeo que sufrió el periodista Daniel Santa Cruz en su cuenta de X
Un muerto y tres heridos al chocar un colectivo de turismo y un auto en Mendoza
Por primera vez en el siglo XXI, hay un desacople entre la evolución del PBI y del consumo: causas y expectativas
Los criterios del Gobierno para elegir al candidato a vicepresidente tras la ruptura con Villarruel
Diputados de Misiones se rebelan contra Carlos Rovira: denuncian que los hacía firmar la renuncia antes de asumir
«¿Has visto a mi hijo?», la pregunta que se repite entre las familias marroquíes en medio de la crisis migratoria en Ceuta
Trump admin invokes 30-year dormant terror court as it seeks to deport Afghan woman tied to Election Day plot
“Vamos a acelerar con todo”: el objetivo del Gobierno por las reformas y la agenda electoral de cara al 2027
“Casta”, “parásito” y “sea democrático”: fuerte respuesta de Victoria Villarruel a Diego Santilli
Dem senator swipes credit for bill he opposed amid heated reelection bid: ‘Disturbing pattern’
-
POLITICA9 horas ago“Vamos a acelerar con todo”: el objetivo del Gobierno por las reformas y la agenda electoral de cara al 2027
-
POLITICA2 días ago“Casta”, “parásito” y “sea democrático”: fuerte respuesta de Victoria Villarruel a Diego Santilli
-
CHIMENTOS7 horas ago¡Chau Luck Ra! La salida de soltera de La Joaqui, muy bien acompañada, a días de su separación