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Reporter’s Notebook: Tlaib forces rare House procedure after Republican accuses her of defending terrorists
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«Words taken down.»
That term of art may not mean much off Capitol Hill. But it’s a phrase which usually signals there’s a ruckus in the House of Representatives.
The House witnessed one such melee recently. Lawmakers debated a war powers resolution for Lebanon. Rep. Rashida Tlaib, D-Mich., pushed the measure, hoping to restrict President Donald Trump’s conflict in Iran. Especially as other places in the region emerge as flashpoints.
Tlaib, a Palestinian-America, is one of only two Muslim women in Congress. She is one of the most controversial members of Congress. And she often speaks out against Israel.
«We must end U.S. participation in the Israeli apartheid regime’s invasion of Lebanon. The Israeli military continues to target journalists like Amal Khalil and use our tax dollars to commit war crimes,» said Tlaib.
RASHIDA TLAIB HIT WITH HOUSE CENSURE THREAT, ACCUSED OF ‘CELEBRATING TERRORISM’ IN PRO-PALESTINIAN SPEECH
Rep. Rashida Tlaib, D-Mich., is pushing the federal government to recognize and enforce numerous rights for the homeless population, including the right of «freedom from harassment» from law enforcement and property owners. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)
But the House floor devolved into a verbal fracas when Rep. Max Miller, R-Ohio, tore into Tlaib, attacking her personally and mentioning Hezbollah during the floor debate.
«Its members are butchers that you like to hang out with to a certain extent,» charged Miller, who is Jewish. «Yes, you advocate for terrorists on a daily basis. You advocate for a terrorist regime every single day.»
Tlaib hollered at Miller from across the chamber, but it wasn’t clear what she said since the Michigan Democrat wasn’t on mic.
«Oh, I’m sorry. Are we getting a little emotional?» chided Miller.
Tlaib erupted, at that, shouting even more loudly at Miller.
Rep. Jay Obernolte, R-Calif., presided over the debate from the dais. Obernolte had enough of the verbal judo and slammed down the gavel.
«Colleagues, this is a serious topic. We will debate it respectfully and deliberately,» admonished Obernolte. «Is the gentlewoman from Michigan making a motion?»
NANCY MACE CHALLENGES DEM REP TO ‘TAKE IT OUTSIDE’ AFTER ‘CHILD, LISTEN’ COMMENT SPARKS CHAOS
Rep. Jay Obernolte, R-Calif., attends a House Natural Resources Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests, and Public Lands hearing on the 9/11 Memorial and Museum Act and other legislation in the Longworth Building on Dec. 7, 2021. (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc/Getty Images)
Tlaib had made it to one of the mics in the chamber by this point.
«Yes, Mr. Speaker, I am. That is a direct attack on my character. I please request to strike the words down,» said Tlaib.
And there it was. «Words taken down.»
Tlaib may have garbled the precise verbiage of the parliamentary request. But her motion brought debate on the war powers resolution and all other business before the House to a screeching halt.
«The gentleman from Ohio will be seated,» Obernolte instructed Miller.
In effect, Tlaib’s motion is the parliamentary equivalent of pulling someone over for speeding. You might get a ticket. Maybe not. Especially if you’re cooperative with the officer. But the authorities will first investigate. And that’s what unfolded on the House floor.
During this stasis, the House conducts no business. The House suspends speeches. Amendments. Votes. Nothing happens on the floor until they figure out if someone broke the rules.
The phrase «words taken down» refers to the process of the House’s institutional staff and stenographers to document or «take down» language uttered by a member that may violate House rules. The House prohibits members from personal attacks on fellow lawmakers, impugning the motives of their colleagues or «engaging in personalities.» One member can’t disparage another personally.
Tlaib clearly believed that Miller broke House rules by saying she would «like to hang out» and «advocate for terrorists.» Tlaib also believed the line about her «getting a little emotional» may have crossed the line, too.
‘SQUAD’ MEMBER DELIVERS REAL-TIME WHITEBOARD RESPONSES TO TRUMP: ‘NO KING!’
Rep. Max Miller, R-Ohio, said he stood by his remarks associating Rep. Rashida Tlaib, D-Mich., with Hezbollah «butchers.» (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images; Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)
If it’s pretty clear that a member broke the rules of decorum, someone from leadership or key staff may ask offending lawmaker to withdraw the language in question and apologize. But if the member resists, the House has no alternative but to rule that member out of order. The House then expunges the speech and he or she is suspended from speaking on the House floor the rest of the day.
If the chair rules that member violated the rules, it’s possible that someone could appeal the ruling of the chair. That would entail a roll call vote, where the entire House votes yes or no on whether they believe their colleague broke the rules. Or, another member might move to «table the appeal of the ruling of the chair.» In that scenario, the House votes on whether to kill or set aside the appeal. Thus, the vote is a step removed from actually voting on appealing the chair’s ruling.
After an hour of delay, it was clear that Miller wouldn’t apologize or withdraw his statement.
«The words of the gentleman from Ohio contain an allegation that the gentlewoman from Michigan is a ‘butcher’ and affiliated with a terrorist organization,» said Obernolte. «Such remarks impugn the patriotism and loyalty of the member of the House.»
Obernolte added that «the remarks contain personalities and are not in order. Without objection, the offending words are stricken from the record.»
So the House sanctioned Miller for breaking the rules and benched him for the remainder of the day.
House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Brian Mast, R-Fla., managed the Lebanon war powers debate on the floor for the GOP. Since the House muted Miller, Mast spoke on his behalf.
«I’m going to deliver a message from Rep. Miller of Ohio,» said Mast, who quoted this Republican colleague. «‘Yes, I said it. I own it. And I stand by it.’»
CHAOS ERUPTS DURING IMMIGRATION HEARING AS DEMOCRAT LUNGES AT CHAIRMAN’S GAVEL: ‘I’M TIRED OF YOU’ ‘
Rep. Brian Mast, R-Fla., said supporters of the Lebanon war powers resolution are acting as «proxies for Hezbollah.» (Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call, Inc)
The Florida Republican then asked the House if he could submit for the record an article entitled ‘Rashida Talib, member of secret Facebook Group where Hamas Terrorists glorified.’»
Tlaib objected.
Mast then tried to submit into the record a transcript about Tlaib allegedly speaking about genocide.
Tlaib objected to that as well.
Yours truly first encountered a parliamentary donnybrook like this in 1994 while working at C-SPAN. Rep. Maxine Waters, D-Calif., tangled with then-Rep. Pete King, R-N.Y. The House ruled Waters out of order. Then-House Speaker Tom Foley, D-Wash., came to the floor to mete out the punishment, not leaving the umpiring to a more junior lawmaker.
The day after the Tlaib/Miller brouhaha, Obernolte released a bipartisan framework to help establish guardrails for AI.
I pressed Obernolte on how an AI chatbot might handle the dust-up if it were presiding over the House.
«AI is actually very good at this. You give it a rules manual and then you give it a specific instance and say ‘Is this in compliance with rules or is this a violation of the rules?’» said Obernolte. «I think last night was obviously someone engaging in personalities. And, I think I made the correct ruling. I think AI would have also made the correct ruling.»
It wasn’t that long ago that the actual Speaker of the House came to the floor to sort out a kerfuffle between two members. Could the House ever delegate such refereeing to AI?
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Taking down words? Ruling members out of order? Suspending members for additional speeches that day if they get out of line?
One can imagine that members will say a lot of words worthy of being taken down if AI ever becomes the parliamentary umpire in the House of Representatives.
congress, politics, wars, foreign policy senate, house of representatives politics, rashida tlaib
INTERNACIONAL
SEE IT: Maine voters sound off on Platner’s divisive campaign as crucial primary nears: ‘He’s a disgrace’
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PORTLAND, Maine — Voters in Maine are just one day away from deciding which Democrat they want to represent them in the U.S. Senate, and residents who spoke to Fox News are mixed on whether Graham Platner’s swirling controversies disqualify him from seeking the office.
«He’s a disgrace to every veteran that has PTSD like I do, because he’s using it as an excuse to cover up his own personal failings,» Bill, a Peaks Island resident and military veteran, told Fox News, referencing Platner leaning into his PTSD struggles as a combat veteran.
«You do not abuse women because you were in combat. You do not say things about trans people. You do not wear Nazi symbols because you were in combat. That is because of who you are,» Bill said. «He’s a little bitty, well-to-do guy hiding behind his status as a veteran and not acknowledging himself as a failed human being.»
WATCH: MAINE VOTERS DIVIDED ON PLATNER AS SCANDALS SHADOW DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY
Maine voters are divided over Democratic Senate candidate Graham Platner as he heads into Tuesday’s primary amid a series of personal controversies. (Fox News)
As the primary nears, Platner is facing criticism from both the left and the right over allegations of abuse from former girlfriends, sexually explicit messages allegedly sent to women during the early days of his marriage, a Nazi-linked tattoo and online comments mocking a Purple Heart veteran.
Mike, a Maine voter, said Platner’s tattoo made his decision a «no-brainer,» saying it was difficult to believe the candidate did not know the Totenkopf symbol on his chest had been used by Nazi death camp guards.
«Nothing good about him,» Mike said. «Anybody with a Nazi tattoo, and it’s not a Bugs Bunny tattoo, okay? It’s like, ‘Oh my God, I got a tattoo, I didn’t know what it was.’ If he was honest about it, and said, ‘Hey, it was a mistake. I got a Nazi tattoo, and it’s stupid. I was drunk and I was in the service,’ then maybe that’s one thing. But at that point, it’s a no-brainer for me.»
DEMOCRATIC MAINE SENATE CANDIDATE GRAHAM PLATNER CONFRONTED BY MS NOW HOST ABOUT TATTOO CONTROVERSY
Graham Platner, Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate, speaks to an overflow crowd outside a campaign event Sunday, June 7, 2026, in Portland, Maine. (Robert F. Bukaty/AP Photo)
When asked if Democrats should drop Platner, Mike said, «Of course they should,» adding that Democrats are standing by Platner because they see him as their best chance to unseat Sen. Susan Collins.
«I mean, it’s like they’re locked in now. This has nothing to do with being a Democrat or Republican. They want to get rid of Susan Collins, take over the Senate, and that’s the bottom line. He could be Adolf Hitler. It doesn’t matter who he is. It’s just the fact that they want to take over the Senate, and that’s their only option right now.»
Karen, a Rockland resident, also questioned whether Platner’s scandals should be overlooked, saying they reflect on his character.
«I think it’s crazy,» Karen said. «I think there’s a lot of things about him that people should understand. They say, ‘Oh, it’s personal,’ but then that also indicates his character.»
Other Mainers who spoke to Fox News struck a different tone, including Holly, a Belfast resident.
«Nobody’s perfect. Everyone makes mistakes,» Holly said. «He’s apologized for the mistakes he’s made, and he’s taken action about it. If you listen to what he’s about in terms of policy, he is very much saying the right things for Maine and the right thing for the country more broadly, and I think he’s a very good candidate.»
GRAHAM PLATNER BLASTS NEW ALLEGATIONS AS ‘FALSE ACCUSATIONS’: ‘MAINE, YOU HAVE MY BACK’
Graham Platner, a Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate in Maine, points to a covered tattoo that was previously recognized as a Nazi symbol during an interview in Portland, Maine, on Oct. 22, 2025. (WGME via AP)
Claire, a Brooklin resident, said voters should focus less on Platner’s past and more on his candidacy, saying, «He’s the best candidate by far, and probing into the minutiae of his personal relationships when you don’t do that for any other candidate is ridiculous.»
One voter argued that working-class candidates should not be expected to have spotless records.
«If we want folks who are representing us from the working class, they’re not necessarily going to have a groomed and perfect political record coming into politics,» Paul, a Bar Harbor resident, said.
Kathy, a Rockland resident, said she was willing to look past Platner’s «baggage,» saying «He’s got new ideas, and he’s saying things for the people and about the people.»
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Platner, widely believed to be the presumptive Democratic nominee for Senate, heads into a Tuesday night primary election where Democratic Gov. Janet Mills and former senior government official David Costello are on the ballot.
If victorious, Platner will square off against incumbent Republican Sen. Susan Collins in November.
democrats elections, ptsd, battleground voters, graham platner, senate elections
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‘You’re destroying your countries’: Is Europe finally heeding Trump’s warning on illegal immigration?
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Earlier in June, the European Union appeared to finally react to concerns raised by President Donald Trump and many European voters over illegal immigration by introducing tougher border entry rules for the 27-nation bloc.
The EU agreed on new, stricter rules regarding migration and asylum. The laws are specifically designed to ensure that illegal/undocumented migrants who enter the bloc are processed and, where necessary, quickly sent to deportation centers in countries outside the EU.
People seeking asylum will be screened for identity, security, and their health before even entering any asylum system. The border officials will now track and record non-EU citizens entering and exiting the bloc. Plus, it will use biometric data such as fingerprints and facial recognition. And all member states must now help one another and share information.
The Associated Press reported that the provisional deal struck by the EU’s three main institutions is expected to go to EU lawmakers and governments, where approval is expected.
EUROPEAN NATIONS DEMAND POWER TO DEPORT ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS WHO COMMIT CRIMES
Mostly illegal migrant men are gathered by Greek coast guard officers after disembarking from a cargo ship, in the port of Lavrio, south of Athens, on July 10, 2025. The migrants were rerouted from Crete, where more than 2,000 people have arrived from Libya in recent days, sparking anger among local authorities and tourism operators. (Aris Messinis/AFP via Getty Images)
Alan Mendoza, founder and executive director of the Henry Jackson Society, told Fox News Digital that «The EU’s demography is changing Europe’s culture. We are now having to deal with people who are not integrating with the local customs.»
While the U.K. is not part of the EU, he said, «Britain’s efforts are behind the new EU rules.» Noting the country has «not managed to have offshore migrant holding centers, which would make sure Britain is not seen as a soft touch.»
Illegal migrants try to board smugglers’ boats in an attempt to cross the English Channel off the beach of Gravelines, northern France on Sept. 27, 2025. (Sameer Al-Doumy/AFP via Getty Images)
Other experts say the longer countries take to fix the problem, the harder it will be to deal with. Some say it’s already too late.
While Europe’s workaday men and women have clearly seen the problems of illegal immigration for years, their leaders are only just getting the message.
President Donald Trump delivers remarks to the United Nations General Assembly at the UN headquarters in New York City on Sept. 23, 2025. (Timothy A. Clary/AFP via Getty Images)
President Donald Trump told world leaders about the damage caused by a flood of undocumented migrants into Europe during his speech to the United Nations General Assembly last year. «You’re destroying your countries,» he said. «Europe is in serious trouble; they’ve been invaded by a force of illegal aliens like nobody’s ever seen before.»
JD VANCE’S WARNING ON EUROPE’S FUTURE SHINES SPOTLIGHT ON CONTINENT’S GROWING LIST OF PROBLEMS
Migrants from Tunisia and Libya arrive on an Italian Coast Guard boat at the Pelagie Island of Lampedusa, Italy, on Aug. 1, 2020. (Alberto Pizzoli/AFP via Getty Images)
Just last week, Vice President JD Vance commented on the stabbing death of the 18-year-old British man who was stabbed to death.
In part, Vance posted, «Henry Nowak died the same way a civilization dies: abandoned, handcuffed by authorities who neither trusted nor cared for him, and accused of hate crimes he did not commit. His murder is as tragic as it is enraging. He should still be alive today, and he would be if the last few generations of European elites had stood their ground against the politics of self-hatred and the mass invasion of migrants, many of whom despise the West and the people who love it.»
Secretary of War Pete Hegseth also made reference to the topic during a speech to commemorate D-Day in France on the weekend. «Sadly, today, different European beaches are stormed by different dangerous ideologies. Beaches in Spain and Italy and Greece and Bulgaria, boats and men arrive. When will European capitals do something about that invasion? Or is it too late? I pray not, and I believe not,» he said.
Elsewhere in the EU, Spain seems to have broken with the rest of the bloc on its new stance on undocumented immigration. The country decided to legalize half a million undocumented migrants.
A migrant walks by a makeshift settlement where migrants evicted from a former high school last week are camping outdoors in the middle of winter in Badalona, Spain, Dec. 26, 2025. (Bruna Casas / Reuters)
«When undocumented migrants arrive, they get papers, and they get social security,» Javier Negre, owner of the La Derecha Diario newspaper, told Fox News Digital. He says a lot of the push to house migrants has come via nongovernmental organizations. «NGOs had a big business, and they promoted illegal immigration,» he says.
Another problem is that many undocumented migrants don’t choose to integrate into their new domicile. «They don’t have the same values,» Negre said. «We import a lot of people, and some realize they can steal iPhones and wallets,» he said, commenting on the rise in crimes.
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Critics of the move mostly came from the European left and NGOs. Mélissa Camara, from the French Green party, said the deal was «a historic setback» for human rights in the bloc,» the Associated Press reported.
«The legalization of return hubs outside the European Union, the green light for the detention of minors, home visits inspired by ICE practices: the legal arsenal serving a xenophobic ideology is now complete,» she said.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
the european union, deportation, illegal immigrants, spain, border security, france
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