The GOP’s campaign message about a porous border resonated with voters in 2024. Voters routinely listed border security as the first or second most important issue to them in multiple polls ahead of the last election.

But how about ahead of the midterms?

Well, the border is sealed. The nation’s economic outlook is shaky as the war in Iran drags on. Gas prices are skyrocketing. And the hallmark of President Donald Trump’s legislative agenda — The One Big Beautiful Bill — hasn’t materialized as a campaign juggernaut.

HEALTHCARE, ECONOMY AND THE ‘ONE BIG BEAUTIFUL BILL’: WELCOME TO THE MIDTERMS

So Republicans are seeking an issue they hope will connect with voters this fall.

They may have settled on fraud. And returned to a favorite old punching bag.

«I’m just going to give you a couple facts,» declared House Republican Conference Chairwoman Lisa McClain, R-Mich., at the GOP’s weekly press conference Wednesday morning. «The Biden Administration thought it was really important to spend $20 million for Sesame Street in the Middle East. They gave $8 million to make mice transgender.»

McClain continued about the Biden Administration providing «free housing and cars for illegals,» adding that «under Biden federal agencies handed out taxpayer dollars with weak oversight, loose control and almost no accountability.»

The government weaponization fund waylaid Congressional Republicans. They’re still trying to figure out what to shove into some sort of an economic package which they can pitch to the voters this fall. So for now, Republicans are focusing on fraud.

«Crazy says fraudsters should be protected. Crazy says the American people’s hard earned tax dollars should be given to criminals who are stealing their money. That’s crazy,» said McClain.

TRUMP SAYS ANTI-FRAUD EFFORTS ARE UNCOVERING BILLIONS IN WASTE, CLAIMS SAVINGS COULD BALANCE BUDGET

Rep. Lisa McClain, R-Mich., leaves a House Republican Conference meeting at the Capitol Hill Club on Feb. 28, 2023. (Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call)

House Republicans planned debate on three bills this week to root out fraud in government programs. One bill would enhance oversight over childcare block grants. Another bill would help prevent people from bilking a program which provides emergency aid to society’s most needy. A third measure would target «ghost students» and crack down on fraud in student aid programs.

«The integrity of the programs matter because the taxpayers are not going to support them when they’re filled up with fraud. And it doesn’t matter if it’s child care or SNAP. The American citizens want the fraud eliminated from the system,» argued Rep. Austin Scott, R-Ga.

Some Democrats found the anti-fraud message to be a little absurd.

«They’re not dealing with affordability. The President is saying he’s not concerned. Second, all of us are against fraud. I’ve yet to meet any politician who, when asked ‘Are you for fraud?’ says ‘Yes.» We’re all against it,» said Sen. Peter Welch, D-Vt.

Another Democrat believes Republicans are focusing on the wrong things with fraud.

«What I would love to see is an investigation of fraud and corruption involving the Trump administration, and the Trump family. There’s not a day that goes by that there’s another story about Trump kids benefiting from some government contract,» said Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va.

On Wednesday, Republicans launched a hearing probing alleged Medicaid fraud in Ohio. This came after they unearthed various forms of fraud in Minnesota. Rep. Brandon Gill, R-Texas, claims that bad actors from the Somali community operate in both states.

I’M OHIO’S STATE AUDITOR — MEDICAID FRAUD IS NOT JUST A WASHINGTON PROBLEM

Rep. Brandon Gill, R-Texas, leaves a House Republican Conference meeting in the U.S. Capitol on June 4, 2025. (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)

«You’ve got the largest Somali population in the United States is in Minnesota. The second largest in the United States is in Ohio. Now, it’s not politically correct to say, but the reality is this fraud is coming predominantly from that community,» said Gill.

 At the hearing, Gill charged that Somalis «are moving from Ohio to Minnesota and back to Ohio.» He added that «it certainly seems to have some overlap.»

Gill tangled with Democrat Ohio State Sen. Nickie Antonio.

«Would you like to see more immigration from Somalia?» Gill asked the state lawmaker.

«As far as I’m processing your question, I have to say that I was almost brought to tears just now,» replied Antonio.

The two yelled over one another.

«Seventy percent of Somali immigrants are on welfare,» said Gill.

«The rate and the level of hateful rhetoric is based on false information is shocking to me,» responded Antonio.

«They’re defrauding your state at an astounding rate. Most Ohioans have a problem with that,» piled on Gill.

But Antonio pushed back, arguing that Republicans have controlled key positions of power in the Buckeye State for the past 15 years.

«[Republicans] hold the House, the Senate, the governor’s office and four statewide offices. If there is fraud in Medicaid, it has happened on the Republican majority’s watch. Perhaps it’s time to clean Ohio’s house,» rebutted Antonio.

MINNESOTA FRAUD HEARING SPARKS IMMIGRATION CLASH AS GOP LAWMAKER SPOTLIGHTS SOMALI WELFARE DATA

House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, joined by House Majority Whip Tom Emmer and Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, holds a news conference after a House Republican Conference meeting at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., on Jan. 13, 2026. (Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)

A recent Fox poll found that more than 70 percent of those surveyed believe fraud is «very common» in government welfare programs. Since it’s an election year, Republicans hoped to dare Democrats to oppose their anti-fraud efforts when the bills hit the floor.

«For some of the Democrats who might vote against the fraud bills today, will you guys try to weaponize and boomerang those on members who vote no today?» yours truly asked House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, R-La.

«I think their own voters are going to be questioning that,» replied Scalise. «If Democrats vote no on that, it’s going to a hard vote to explain.»

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y, opposed the GOP’s anti-fraud efforts. But he gave Democrats from battleground districts a wide berth to decide what to do.

«Democrats are going to make a decision based on what’s the right thing to do for the district that they represent. And I trust every single Democrat, particularly those who are in swing districts, to do the right thing for the people that they’re privileged to represent,» said Jeffries.

On Wednesday afternoon, the House passed the childcare fraud bill. Only four Democrats voted yea.

GOP MUST RACE FOR NEW ‘BIG, BEAUTIFUL BILL’ TO SLASH COSTS BEFORE MIDTERMS, TOP HOUSE REPUBLICANS WARN

Rep. Hakeem Jeffries holds a news conference at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., on March 19, 2026. (Daniel Heuer/Bloomberg)

But Republicans yanked the bill focused on fraud in the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) bill. The reason? One senior House GOP leadership source said the bill lacked the votes and «needed a little work.» Another Republican source said attendance issues among Republicans might inhibit passage of the bill.

So what about the ghost student bills? Well, that measure was a legislative phantasm. The House didn’t conduct votes until Wednesday this week. The House then ghosted everyone on Friday, leaving the Capitol a day earlier than planned.

This trio of fraud measures are «messaging» bills in Congress. It’s doubtful that these plans will become law. But the leadership believes it’s important to «message» a subject like this to voters. And also point to votes where Democrats opposed such efforts.

But for all of the focus on fraud by House Republicans, they only managed to pass one of their three messaging bills this week.

That’s a .333 average. Baseball old-timers Paul Waner and Eddie Collins both boasted .333 batting averages for their career. They’re in the baseball Hall of Fame. But a .333 average isn’t Cooperstown-worthy on Capitol Hill.

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That said, Republicans will tee up several other anti-fraud measures next week. So there’s a reprieve. However, if the GOP doesn’t bat 1.000 on their fraud bills next week, some voters may designate them for assignment.

Or maybe ghost them at the polls.

Former National Counterterrorism Center Director Joe Kent endorsed South Carolina U.S. Senate primary candidate Mark Lynch, calling incumbent GOP Sen. Lindsey Graham a «war hawk, neocon.»

South Carolinians who would like to «stop sending billions of dollars overseas» and «stop us from getting entangled in endless foreign wars in the Middle East,» have the opportunity «to do all of us a great service and vote to get Lindsey Graham out of office this Tuesday, June 9th,» Kent declared in part of a video message posted to social media on Thursday.

«Vote for Mark Lynch,» Kent urged, calling Lynch «the America First candidate» and asserting that Lynch «is the best postured right now to get the war hawk, neocon, Lindsey Graham out of office.»

Graham campaign press secretary Abby Zilch said in a statement to Fox News Digital, «Mark Lynch is touting an endorsement from a man that President Trump called a ‘SLEAZEBAG,’ ‘LEAKER,’ and a ‘LOSER.’»

EX-COUNTERTERRORISM CHIEF WARNS OF ‘MAJOR PROBLEM’ THAT COULD FORCE US ‘BACK INTO THE WAR ON IRAN’S TERMS’

«This is to be expected since Lynch wants ‘more Massies’ in Congress,» Zilch wrote. «Senator Graham is proud to have the complete and total endorsements of President Trump, Governor McMaster, Senator Tim Scott, Congressman Russell Fry, Congressman Joe Wilson, Congressman William Timmons, National Right to Life, SC Citizens for Life, Tea Party Express, and Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America.»

Fox News Digital reached out to Lynch’s campaign on Friday. The candidate noted in a Thursday post on X that he was «honored» to have Kent’s endorsement.

Trump, who endorsed Graham for re-election last year, blasted Lynch in a Truth Social post earlier this year.

«Senator Lindsey Graham is doing a fantastic job. He is running against a LUNATIC named Mark Lynch, who supports perhaps the Worst Congressman in the History of our Country, Thomas Massie, of the Great Commonwealth of Kentucky. I don’t have to go into great detail, but needless to say, Mark Lynch would be a DISASTER for the Republican Party, and Lindsey Graham just, GETS THE JOB DONE. VOTE FOR LINDSEY ALL THE WAY. MAGA!» Trump declared in the April Truth Social post.

Lynch has previously expressed support for Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., who lost his GOP primary in Kentucky last month.

«We need more MTGs and Gaetzes and Massies. Zero question about it,» Lynch wrote in a March post on X, referring to former Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, former Rep. Matt Gaetz and Massie.

Massie, who has served in the U.S. House of Representatives since late 2012, lost the Republican congressional primary in Kentucky’s 4th Congressional District last month to Trump-endorsed challenger Ed Gallrein, a former Navy SEAL.

In part of a Thursday Truth Social post, Trump declared, «This Tuesday, June 9th, all Republicans in South Carolina should vote for Lindsey Graham — HE HAS MY COMPLETE AND TOTAL ENDORSEMENT, AND WILL NOT LET YOU DOWN!»

FOUR SENATE REPUBLICANS AGAIN UNITE WITH DEMS TO BLOCK TRUMP’S SAVE AMERICA ACT

Republican U.S. Senate candidate Mark Lynch speaks at a Freedom Friday event in at Momma Rabbit’s Nibbles and Sips in Lexington, S.C., on June 25, 2025. (Tracy Glantz/The State/Tribune News Service via Getty Images)

Kent quit his government post back in March, citing his opposition to the Iran war.

«I cannot in good conscience support the ongoing war in Iran. Iran posed no imminent threat to our nation, and it is clear that we started this war due to pressure from Israel and its powerful American lobby,» Kent wrote in his resignation letter.

Trump said in part of an April Truth Social post that Kent «was really a SLEAZEBAG, and some would say, on top of it all, A LEAKER!» The president added he didn’t «know whether or not that was true» and called Kent «a LOSER.»

LINDSEY GRAHAM WARNS REPUBLICANS, DEMOCRATS TRYING TO ‘DESTROY’ TRUMP IS A LOSING GAME AFTER CASSIDY DEFEAT

Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., reacts as President Donald Trump speaks during an event at the Kennedy Center on Aug. 13, 2025, in Washington, D.C. (Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)

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Graham has served in the U.S. Senate since 2003.

Una beba de 16 meses murió tras sufrir graves quemaduras mientras la bañaba la pareja de su mamá. La mujer dijo a la prensa que cree que lo hizo intencionalmente porque tenía celos de la atención que ella le dedicaba a la nena.

El dramático caso ocurrió en Sevilla, España. La beba pasó dos meses internada en el hospital Virgen del Rocío hasta que finalmente el pasado viernes murió como consecuencia de una infección derivada de los injertos de piel que intentaron hacerle.

“Como los injertos no eran suyos, eran de piel fallecida, se infectaron e inmediatamente esa infección se le fue a la sangre”, explicó Andrea Burdalo en una entrevistada brindada a los medios locales.

De acuerdo con la información publicada por el portal español 20 Minutos, la nena ingresó al centro de salud con el 60% de su cuerpo quemado. La mamá contó que al principio creyó que se había tratado de un accidente pero con el correr de los días asimiló que el hombre había lastimado a su hija a propósito.

El duro testimonio de la mamá de la beba

Según contó Burdalo, su pareja se dispuso a bañar a la beba, algo que hacía con frecuencia. En un momento, ella la escuchó llorar e inmediatamente él empezó a decir “la niña se ha quemado, la niña se ha quemado”.

“Inmediatamente fui al cuarto de baño y la veo quemada de arriba a abajo, lo único que no tenía quemado eran las manos y los pies y la parte de la boca”, recordó y detalló: “Lo único que recuerdo es que me fui con mi niña en brazos al dormitorio, vino mi tía y le puso el body como pudo”.

Sobre la reacción de su pareja en ese momento, señaló: “Él estaba totalmente desencajado, decía ‘qué he hecho, me estoy volviendo loco’”. Según relató, el hombre le dijo que se distrajo un momento al intentar buscar una toalla y que fue ahí cuando la nena se acercó al agua caliente y se quemó.

Burdalo explicó que ella no tiene bañera, tiene una ducha plana, y que su hija no caminaba. “El primer día me dijeron los médicos que si hubiese sido un accidente se hubiese quemado un brazo, una manito, no se hubiese quemado las córneas. Mi niña se quedó sin párpados, en la cabeza no le iba a crecer el pelo, se había quedado con una secuela muy grave», relató con la voz entrecortada.

En un principio ella se negaba a creer que su pareja le había hecho daño intencionalmente: “Al principio no me entraba en la cabeza que le podía haber hecho eso a mi hija, pero desde el primer momento el hospital activo el protocolo de maltrato infantil”.

“Los médicos me dijeron que seguramente él la había agarrado de las manitos o que le había tapado la boca para echarle agua. Mi niña no tenía ni jabón, como que él tenía ya la idea de hacer lo que ha hecho”, indicó.

Leé también: Los insólitos detalles de la mujer que se hizo pasar por una nena de 12 y vivió todo un año con una familia

Burdalo dijo que el hombre era muy celoso del tiempo que ella le dedicaba a la beba: “Al principio de la relación todo iba muy bien, pero después empecé a ver actitudes conmigo, el tema de los celos, me decía que me implicaba mucho con mi niña y con el padre de mi niña”.

“No era la primera vez que él la bañaba, la había bañado millones de veces. Yo estuve con él un periodo de seis o siete meses, cuando yo me iba a trabajar él se quedaba con mi niña y nunca hubo ningún problema”, recordó.

Ella no lo creía capaz de tal atrocidad: “Al principio yo tenia contacto con él porque no me entraba en la cabeza que esto podría haber sido intencionado. Al principio tanto él como su familia me preguntaban como estaba todo, pero después dejaron de preguntarme”.

“Se han enterado del fallecimiento de mi hija y lo único que he recibido es un mensaje de la madre, que me habló diciéndome si a mi no me daba pena llamar a su hijo asesino, y yo simplemente le he dicho que a mí la única pena que me da es haber enterrado a mi hija un domingo”, contó.

Burdalo presentó una denuncia contra quien entonces era su pareja y el hecho se encuentra siendo investigado por la Policía Nacional. “Lo único que quiero es que acabe como hija o que lo encierren. Es lo único que pido”, concluyó la mujer.