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‘Flip flop’: Democrat firefighter in tight House race blasts popular Trump policy his national union supports
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A swing-district Democrat disparaged Trump’s landmark overtime tax break despite his national firefighters union’s support, prompting his GOP opponent to accuse him of a «flip flop.»
Nazareth, Pennsylvania’s Bob Brooks — running against Rep. Ryan Mackenzie, R-Pa., in a toss-up seat — is the president of the commonwealth’s firefighters union, setting up an apparent discrepancy with the national council, though the Democrat’s campaign says his concerns about the cuts are more nuanced and that it is the Republican who is harming first responders on the issue.
The One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBB) provides a maximum annual deduction of $12,500 on qualified overtime compensation, phasing out after $150,000 of gross income or $300,000 for joint filers, according to the Internal Revenue Service.
Brooks, president of the Pennsylvania Professional Firefighters Association — which is a subsidiary of the International Association of Firefighters (IAFF) — criticized the OBBB’s provisions during an appearance on the progressive «Meidas Touch» podcast in May.
«Donald Trump just did it here [in Pennsylvania]. He was up at the [Mount Airy] casino. But literally, he brought a guy up on stage and claimed he was a fireman and profiting from the no-tax-on-overtime, which 90 percent of our guys didn’t get the benefit from anyways, but the guy wasn’t a paid fireman,» Brooks said, referring to a Stroudsburg-area first responder whom Trump introduced at a Mount Pocono rally in December.
FIREFIGHTERS UNION BOSS WINS HOTLY-CONTESTED DEM PRIMARY IN A KEY PENNSYLVANIA SWING DISTRICT
«I just don’t understand how they keep spewing the garbage,» added Brooks, a former Bethlehem firefighter of many years who notably served in top union roles.
The man Trump introduced was indeed a volunteer firefighter but also a paid police officer in Monroe County who would therefore qualify for the no tax on overtime provision in his other first responder role.
Conversely, the IAFF came out in support of Republicans’ tax policies that included the elimination of levies on qualified overtime pay.
«Firefighters and emergency medical workers shouldn’t be penalized for choosing a career in public service,» IAFF president Edward Kelly previously told the New York Post.
Kelly called the new overtime rule a «needed fix» for his 350,000 members whose jobs demand «long hours.»
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«President Trump respects the contributions lAFF members make to our country and recognizes the importance of ensuring these brave men and women can keep more of their hard-earned money,» Kelly told the paper.
Meanwhile, the Fraternal Order of Police also wrote an April letter to Reps. Nicole Malliotakis, R-N.Y., and Emilia Sykes, D-Ohio, expressing support for House legislation ending taxes on overtime, noting it positively affects law enforcement officers nationwide.
President Donald Trump dances at a campaign event at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre in Atlanta on Oct. 15, 2024. (John Bazemore/AP)
In response, a spokesperson for Brooks said the Democrat «ran into burning buildings for 20 years [and] knows what hard work is, and he knows that first responders deserve to keep more of their hard-earned money.»
The spokesperson said Brooks does support «no tax on overtime» and «no tax on tips,» saying that instead it is Rep. Ryan Mackenzie, R-Pa.; his opponent; who doesn’t understand the issue.
«Ryan Mackenzie is a life-long politician who wouldn’t know a hard day’s work if it hit him in the face,» Brooks’ spokesperson said.
A source familiar with the matter said that, despite the IAFF’s endorsement of Trump’s policy, Brooks’ comments to Meidas Touch reflect how some firefighters do not qualify for the benefit, adding that Brooks supports fixing that discrepancy.
They added that Brooks would however not actually support any effort to repeal such no-tax-on-overtime benefits.
In a statement on his website about rural Carbon County being hurt by Washington policies, Brooks said that he would «work to repeal» the OBBB to restore higher SNAP funding, which also included the overtime policy.
The source also accused Mackenzie of voting to cut funding for first responder support through Community Project Funding Grants (CFP) – a contention Mackenzie’s camp denies.
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Rep. Ryan Mackenzie, R-Allentown, speaks at a Trump rally at Mount Airy Casino near Mount Pocono. (Adam Gray/Getty Images)
The grants plan preceded Mackenzie’s entering office in 2025, and there was later bipartisan agreement to forgo the spending bill that included the grants in favor of a continuing resolution (CR) to keep the government funded rather than adopt a new framework. The Republican voted in favor of it along with several Democrats.
«No CPF funding was allocated in FY 2025 as a result of the decision by congressional leaders on both sides to support a clean, bipartisan continuing resolution,» Mackenzie said in a statement, noting that Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., supported the same CR.
«Bob Brooks is a proven conman who was found by a court to have stolen over $100,000 from his own family,» Mackenzie said in response to the attacks.
«His latest flip-flop proves once again that this fraudster is only in it for himself.»
«Instead of standing with firefighters and the over 29 million Americans who saw record refunds from tax relief on overtime, Bob Brooks supported repealing these tax cuts and advocating for massive tax increases on everyone. Now he is now trying to trick voters by changing his unpopular position and thinking no one will notice.
The House Republicans’ campaign arm told Fox News Digital that voters can proverbially see the truth through the controversy.
Bob Brooks campaigns in Allentown, left; President Donald Trump campaigns in front of a No Tax on Overtime sign in Georgia, right. (Joe Lamberti/Getty Images; John Bazemore/Associated Press)
«Bernie Bro Bob Brooks’ radical high-tax agenda would devastate working-class Pennsylvanians. Voters know Brooks wants them to keep less of their hard-earned money.» National Republican Congressional Committee spokesman Reilly Richardson said.
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Brooks’ website indicated the IAFF has also endorsed Brooks — who enjoys support from Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., Pennsylvania Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro, and former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg.
Fox News Digital reached out to IAFF for comment.
midterm elections, taxes, bills, republicans, elections, pennsylvania, politics
INTERNACIONAL
El Salvador, segundo país más dependiente de importaciones alimentarias, según la Mesa por la Soberanía Alimentaria
El Salvador se ha convertido en el segundo país más dependiente de importaciones alimentarias en Centroamérica, solo superado por Panamá. Esta condición, expuesta durante una entrevista en Radio YSUCA, fue advertida por Adalberto Blanco, representante de la Mesa por la Soberanía Alimentaria.
Según el especialista, esta dependencia “implica una supeditación a los precios internacionales de algunos alimentos que nos llegan”, lo que deja al país expuesto tanto a variaciones del mercado global como a fenómenos externos como sequías o conflictos internacionales.
De acuerdo con lo señalado por Blanco, el modelo económico salvadoreño privilegia la compra de alimentos en el extranjero frente al fortalecimiento de la producción local. Esta estructura limita la capacidad del país para controlar sus propios precios y genera una vulnerabilidad creciente ante crisis internacionales o desastres naturales.
El fenómeno de El Niño, que ha retrasado el inicio de la época de siembra en varias regiones, ha puesto en evidencia la fragilidad de la seguridad alimentaria nacional. El censo agropecuario 2025 confirma una reducción drástica en la producción de cultivos esenciales.
La producción de maíz cayó de casi 17 millones de quintales a poco más de 11 millones, mientras el frijol pasó de más de 2,5 millones de quintales a menos de un millón. Solo la caña de azúcar incrementó su área cultivada en la última década, mientras el resto de los principales cultivos registra una disminución sostenida, según comentó el representante.
Blanco explicó que esta tendencia responde a varios factores, tales como:
- El incremento de los costos de los insumos agrícolas
- La migración de la población rural hacia las ciudades o el extranjero
- Cambios en los apoyos estatales (como la sustitución del paquete agrícola por bonos)
- La falta de incentivos para los productores
- La migración rural ha reducido la disponibilidad de mano de obra, lo que complica aún más la capacidad de mantener la producción nacional ante los retos climáticos.
La agricultura salvadoreña enfrenta una vulnerabilidad creciente debido a factores climáticos, altos costos y escasez de mano de obra. Solo el 3% de los cultivos cuenta con acceso a sistemas de riego, de acuerdo con datos mencionados por Blanco. El resto depende completamente de las lluvias, lo que incrementa el riesgo ante sequías prolongadas como la actual.
El fenómeno de El Niño ha provocado retrasos en la siembra y afectaciones en los cultivos, con advertencias de posibles pérdidas superiores al 50% si las condiciones climáticas no mejoran en los próximos días.
La persistencia de la sequía y la baja producción incrementan el riesgo de que El Salvador dependa aún más de las importaciones para cubrir la demanda interna. Blanco advirtió que “muchos productos importados son subsidiados en sus países de origen, y eso compite de una manera desleal con la producción nacional”, enfatizó Blanco.
Un informe de la FAO estimó que más de 732 mil personas en El Salvador se encontraban en situación de inseguridad alimentaria en 2025. La combinación de baja producción, precios elevados y dependencia del exterior obliga a muchas familias a reducir comidas, vender activos o migrar. Las reservas de granos básicos en áreas rurales resultan insuficientes para amortiguar una crisis prolongada y la capacidad de almacenamiento no alcanza para compensar la baja producción nacional.
El especialista propuso que se requiere asistencia alimentaria directa para las familias más afectadas, la actualización de la canasta básica y una política pública que fomente la producción nacional de alimentos clave.
También planteó necesidad de coordinación interinstitucional para pronósticos y manejo de riesgos climáticos, junto con la promoción de prácticas agrícolas sostenibles y el fortalecimiento del cooperativismo.
granos básicos,supermercado,precios,desigualdad,vulnerabilidad alimentaria,consumo
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FIRST ON FOX: Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, is doubling down on his bill that would strip the tax-exempt status of individuals and organizations that funnel funds to nonprofits engaging in political violence as the Justice Department probes the finances of far-left financier Neville Roy Singham.
Fox News Digital learned that Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche authorized the investigation by U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York Jay Clayton into the financial workings of a network of nonprofits funded by Singham.
«I’ve long said that Democrat billionaires are funding left-wing political violence to push anti-American and foreign-aligned interests through tax-exempt entities,» Cruz told Fox News Digital. «The DOJ is absolutely right to investigate Neville Roy Singham’s funding network, which has been critical in bankrolling those efforts.»
Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) holds a press conference with families who lost loved ones in the January 29, 2025 DCA plane crash on December 15, 2025 at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, DC. The bipartisan press conference addressed the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) language, which changes military airspace policy. (Heather Diehl/Getty Images)
PROBE INTO ‘SUBVERSIVE’ ANTI-AI SINGHAM NETWORK IS ‘ENORMOUS,’ FORMER TREASURY ADVISOR SAYS
In March, Cruz introduced the Stop Proxy Organizations Nurturing Subversive Operations and Riots Act, or SPONSOR Act, which would amend the Internal Revenue Code to expand the liability of 501(c)(3) nonprofits for the groups they fund or sponsor. Under the legislation, such nonprofits would be criminally and civilly liable for violations of the law by their sponsored entities.
Critics allege that nonprofits in the Singham network use fiscal sponsorships so projects can avoid detection by law enforcement agencies and tax authorities. Cruz said he introduced the SPONSOR Act to «give law enforcement the tools they need to follow the money, close these loopholes and enforce accountability.»
According to a Fox News Digital investigation, Singham, a U.S. tech tycoon now living in Shanghai, has funneled $278 million into the broad network of nonprofits since 2017. The nonprofits regularly mobilize agitators for demonstrations across the country, including anti-ICE protests and anti-Israel protests, Fox News Digital has reported.
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Singham hasn’t responded to repeated requests for comment that Fox News Digital has sent him over the past several months.
Singham routed his financial contributions through Goldman Sachs Donor Advised Philanthropy Fund For Wealth Management Inc., a donor-advised fund, including $22.44 million to People’s Forum Inc., a 501(c)(3) nonprofit hub for far-left activity in Manhattan.
People’s Forum is connected to a slew of proxy organizations, such as Venceremos Brigade, a controversial organization that has worked with Cuban government officials for decades to bring American activists to Cuba for political and labor solidarity work. The donation page for the Venceremos Brigade identifies it as a fiscally-sponsored project of the People’s Forum.
The People’s Forum Inc. set up signs in Union Square to protest the war with Iran in New York, N.Y., on Saturday, March 7, 2026. The signs are marked with the website for the Party for Socialism and Liberation. (Rashid Umar Abbasi for Fox News Digital)
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ICE Out of New York, which is known for rallying agitators to protest ICE operations, also hosts events at the People’s Forum and has participated in a number of demonstrations with People’s Forum coordinators.
Cruz chairs the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Federal Courts, Oversight, Agency Action and Federal Rights, which oversees grants to the Justice Department and is responsible for the regulation of the court system. The committee regularly holds hearings with Justice Department officials.
«Loopholes in the Internal Revenue Code allow radical groups to use tax-exempt funds to bankroll violent, anti-American activity opaquely and therefore with impunity,» Cruz said in a statement when the bill was introduced. «The violence that has spread in recent years in our cities and on our college campuses is not organic. It is enabled by funding from well-resourced organizations that exploit such loopholes, including and especially through fiscal sponsorships.»
The bill is co-sponsored by Sen. Ted Budd, R-North Carolina, and the House version was introduced by Rep. Nathaniel Moran, R-Texas.
«Congress has a duty to safeguard the integrity of our nonprofit system and ensure our tax laws are not exploited by extremist or radical groups operating in the shadows,» Moran said in a statement when the legislation was introduced.
Cruz is joined by a host of GOP lawmakers who have criticized Singham’s pro-CCP influence in the U.S., with Sen. Jim Banks, R-Indiana, going as far as to call Singham a «traitor.»
Banks sat down with Fox News Digital on Tuesday, where he said that Singham’s nonprofit network poses a threat to the country. He highlighted CodePink, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that Banks said has targeted and confronted him directly on Capitol Hill.
Property records show a nonprofit funded by tech tycoon Neville Roy Singham purchased a Manhattan building for $5.15 million as part of operations under congressional scrutiny. (Michael Dorgan/Fox News Digital; Dave Kotinsky/Getty Images for V-Day)
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Fox News Digital has identified direct funding from Singham to CodePink, which Singham’s wife Jodie Evans co-founded.
«Neville Singham is a traitor to our country. He has ties to the CCP,» Banks said. «He is an American citizen, but all of his loyalties lie with the Chinese Communist Party. And when you begin to untangle the web of his massive fortune and his philanthropic activities, the money that he sends to left-wing groups in America, and not just groups that espouse ideologies, but espouse violence.»
politics, fox news investigates, tom steyer, ted cruz, congress
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