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House GOP recruits candidates in Ohio, Michigan Trump districts held by Democrats
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EXCLUSIVE: From Toledo to Flint, Republicans are targeting two Democratic-held congressional seats in the industrial Midwest that President Donald Trump won last year.
With a razor-thin 219-212 majority in the U.S. House, Republicans are eyeing crossover districts – the 13 congressional districts where Trump won at the top of the ticket, but Democrats held on down-ballot.
Top of mind for Republicans ahead of the midterm elections is Ohio’s 9th Congressional District, held by the longest-serving woman in Congress, Rep. Marcy Kaptur, and Michigan’s 8th Congressional District, represented by freshman Rep. Kristen McDonald Rivet.
Freshman GOP Rep. Brian Jack of Georgia, Trump’s former political director who is now leading candidate recruitment for House Republicans as deputy chair of the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC), visited those crossover districts this week.
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Rep. Brian Jack, R-Ga., speaks to supporters of President Donald Trump at an event hosted by Vice President JD Vance on Aug. 21, 2025 in Peachtree City, Georgia. (Megan Varner/Getty Images)
In a phone interview with Fox News Digital from Toledo, Ohio, while «looking out on the Maumee River,» Jack said Kaptur and McDonald Rivet are out of step with the constituents they represent.
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«Kaptur has represented Toledo for 42 years, which is longer than some of our candidates have been alive,» Jack said.
Jack described how Kaptur has seen a «significant decline in her vote percentages.» In 2016, Kaptur won with 68% of the vote. Last year, in 2024, the Democratic congresswoman received just 48% of the vote.
«I believe that’s because, over the past seven, eight years, voters have become familiar with her posture toward President Trump,» Jack said. «President Trump carried this district with 53%, a clear majority, and yet she still voted twice to subvert the will of her voters, by voting to twice impeach President Trump and remove him from office against the will her own constituents.»
While Kaptur remains in line with the Democratic Party on key issues, like rejecting Trump’s «big, beautiful bill,» his marquee legislation – which includes tax cuts, green energy reform and border security – Ohio has shifted red in recent election cycles.
Rep. Marcy Kaptur, D-Ohio, speaks at the VFW Post 2529 Annual Corn Roast in Sandusky, Ohio on Saturday, Aug. 20, 2022. (Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)
«This used to be the perennial bellwether swing state,» Jack said. «As we have seen from 2016 through 2024, it has increasingly aligned with President Trump and voted overwhelmingly to send President Trump to the White House three separate times. That accurately reflects the will of the people of this incredible state.»
Candidates for Ohio’s 9th Congressional District include former GOP nominee and four-term state Rep. Derek Merrin, Ohio state Rep. Josh Williams, Air National Guard Lt. Col. Alea Nadeem, and retired Air Force Lt. Col. Wayne Kinsel.
State Senate President Sen. Rob McColley is also considered a potential candidate. Jack met with local party officials, the four declared candidates and the potential candidate in the race while visiting the Buckeye State.
Jack said Republicans are excited and inspired by these candidates, telling Fox News Digital, «When you look at the districts that are seeking a change in elected office, Ohio’s ninth is one of the first districts that comes to mind.»
U.S. Navy veteran and Flint-native Amir Hassan launched his Republican campaign for Michigan’s 8th Congressional District. (Amir Hassan’s campaign)
In McDonald Rivet’s crossover district, Jack also met with U.S. Navy veteran Amir Hassan, who is the only declared Republican candidate.
«As voters continue to learn about the Rep. McDonald Rivet’s voting record, I suspect that they’re going to raise questions about why she’s voting against the president, who the district overwhelmingly elected,» Jack said.
Jack said when he hosted Vice President JD Vance in his hometown of Peachtree City, Georgia, more than a thousand voters showed up in 90-degree heat, drawing a sharp contrast to the fewer than 50 people who were protesting in the swing state.
And as Democrats campaign against Trump’s «big, beautiful bill,» and Medicaid cuts take center stage for Democrats ahead of the midterms, Jack told Fox News Digital, «It’s incumbent upon us to continue to promote, not just the victories of the bill, but the details within it, because it is an encapsulation of everything on which Trump campaigned.»
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When reached for comment, McDonald Rivet’s campaign spokesperson, Tom Grandon, told Fox News Digital that she is «working every day to make life more affordable for working families.»
«She has proven countless times throughout her career that she will work with anyone, regardless of party, to accomplish that, and she has bipartisan bills that will lower key costs, like medicine, taxes, and eggs. However, she will also fight tirelessly against any agenda that prioritizes billionaires over lower costs for working people,» the campaign added.
Kaptur and the Democratic National Congressional Committee (DCCC) did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.
midterm elections,elections,republicans,donald trump,ohio,michigan
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Estados Unidos anunció la destrucción de 16 embarcaciones iraníes utilizadas para minar el Estrecho de Ormuz
El Comando Central de Estados Unidos (CENTCOM) anunció este martes que fuerzas estadounidenses destruyeron 16 buques minadores iraníes cerca del Estrecho de Ormuz, en una operación militar que se produce en medio de informaciones de que Teherán está intentando desplegar explosivos navales en uno de los corredores energéticos más importantes del mundo.
Según informó el propio CENTCOM en una publicación difundida en redes sociales, la acción estuvo dirigida contra varias embarcaciones vinculadas con operaciones navales iraníes en la zona.
“Fuerzas estadounidenses eliminaron múltiples embarcaciones navales iraníes, el 10 de marzo, incluidos 16 buques minadores cerca del estrecho de Ormuz”, indicó el comando militar estadounidense.
El organismo acompañó su comunicado con un video en el que se observan ataques contra varias embarcaciones en el mar, seguidos de explosiones que destruyen los barcos. Las imágenes muestran proyectiles impactando contra los objetivos y columnas de humo elevándose desde los buques alcanzados.
El Estrecho de Ormuz conecta el Golfo Pérsico con el océano Índico y constituye uno de los puntos más sensibles del sistema energético global. Aproximadamente una quinta parte del petróleo que se consume en el planeta circula diariamente por esa estrecha vía marítima, utilizada por grandes productores de crudo de la región para exportar sus recursos a los mercados internacionales.
La posibilidad de que se coloquen minas en el área genera preocupación por el impacto que podría tener en la seguridad de la navegación y en el suministro energético mundial. Incluso interrupciones limitadas del tráfico en ese corredor pueden provocar efectos inmediatos en los precios del petróleo y en las cadenas logísticas internacionales.
Horas antes del anuncio del CENTCOM, el presidente de Estados Unidos, Donald Trump, había informado que el ejército estadounidense había destruido varias embarcaciones relacionadas con estas actividades. En un mensaje difundido en redes sociales, el mandatario aseguró que las fuerzas estadounidenses habían atacado y destruido diez barcos utilizados para colocar minas.
“Me complace informar de que, en las últimas horas, hemos atacado y destruido por completo diez buques o embarcaciones minadores inactivos. ¡Y seguirán otros!”, escribió Trump.
Trump también lanzó una advertencia a Irán sobre las consecuencias de desplegar minas navales en esa ruta estratégica.
“Si por cualquier motivo se colocaran minas y no se retiraran de inmediato, las consecuencias militares para Irán serán de un nivel jamás visto”, afirmó el presidente estadounidense.
En el mismo mensaje, el mandatario añadió que la retirada de cualquier artefacto explosivo que haya podido ser colocado sería interpretada como un gesto positivo.
“Si, por el contrario, retiran lo que hayan podido colocar, será un paso gigantesco en la dirección correcta”, señaló.
Además, Trump indicó que las fuerzas estadounidenses están preparadas para actuar contra cualquier embarcación que participe en operaciones de minado en el estrecho. Según explicó, los buques implicados serían atacados con el mismo tipo de misiles utilizados por Estados Unidos para interceptar embarcaciones del narcotráfico en otras regiones.
“Serán tratados de forma expedita y violenta. ¡CUIDADO!”, advirtió el presidente.
El anuncio sobre la destrucción de los buques minadores se produce en un contexto de guerra regional que ha elevado significativamente las tensiones en Medio Oriente durante las últimas semanas. Desde el inicio de las hostilidades, Irán ha lanzado ataques contra Israel y contra intereses estadounidenses en varios países de la región.
En paralelo, el tráfico marítimo en el Estrecho de Ormuz se ha reducido considerablemente ante el aumento de los riesgos para la navegación, mientras los gobiernos y las compañías navieras siguen de cerca la evolución de la situación en uno de los puntos más estratégicos del comercio global.
(Con información de AFP)
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Entre los misiles de Irán y los ataques de Hezbollah: cómo se vive en el kibutz Hanita, el territorio israelí que limita con Líbano
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Russia has turned to its so-called «shadow fleet» to carry out a roughly $29.3 million «semi-dark» ship-to-ship oil transfer in the Gulf of Oman, deliberately sidestepping Western sanctions, according to reports.
Maritime intelligence firm Windward AI reported on March 8 that the Russian-flagged tanker M/V TRUST, a vessel already blacklisted by the U.S., European Union and United Kingdom, carried out a «high-probability» covert crude transfer in Omani territorial waters.
Based on an estimated price of about $90 per barrel on March 10, the cargo involved in the transfer was valued at roughly $29.3 million.
«The timing of the operation coincided with heightened military escalation in the Gulf following Operation Epic Fury, suggesting the vessel exploited regional instability to conduct the transfer under reduced scrutiny,» Windward said.
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A crude oil tanker sits anchored in Muscat during the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran in Muscat, Oman, March 6, 2026. (Reuters/Benoit Tessier)
The tanker had previously loaded approximately 325,000 barrels of Russian crude oil at the Russian port of Ust-Luga, Windward said.
Windward described the operation as a «semi-dark» activity, meaning one of the vessels transmitted its automatic identification system (AIS) signal while the other did not.
According to the firm, the M/V TRUST had anchored and switched off its AIS transponder while holding what it called a «prolonged stationary meeting» with another tanker, likely producing an anonymous vessel to transfer cargo process.
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Russian President Vladimir Putin meets the Russian delegation and some officials ahead of the Istanbul talks May 14, 2025, in Moscow, Russia. (Kremlin Press Office/Handout/Anadolu via Getty Images)
A fully «dark» meeting, Windward said, typically involves two vessels not transmitting, but, in this case, only one ship appeared to be broadcasting, creating partial visibility that still complicates tracking efforts.
Such tactics are part of a broader strategy by Moscow to continue exporting crude despite sweeping Western sanctions imposed after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
The semi-dark oil transfer comes amid heightened volatility in global energy markets tied to the escalating conflict in the Middle East and limited traffic in the Strait of Hormuz given the joint U.S.-Israeli military action against Iran.
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A navy vessel sails in the Strait of Hormuz, a vital waterway through which much of the world’s oil and gas passes, March 1, 2026. (Sahar Al Attar/AFP via Getty Images)
Oil topped $100 a barrel March 9 as traders priced in the risk that the conflict was disrupting flows through the Strait, which carries about a fifth of global supply, CNBC reported.
Russian President Vladimir Putin said on March 9 that Russia, the world’s second-largest oil exporter and holder of the largest natural gas reserves, stands ready to resume long-term energy cooperation with European customers if they choose to return, Reuters reported.
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Meanwhile, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth said Tuesday that Russia «should not be involved» in the escalating conflict between the U.S., Israel and Iran.
His comments followed reports suggesting Moscow may be providing intelligence support to Tehran, though the Kremlin has not publicly confirmed the claims.
On Russia’s ship-to-ship semi-dark cargo transfer amid the ongoing conflict, Windward highlighted «operational blind spots that enable illicit maritime activity to proceed largely uninterrupted.»
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