INTERNACIONAL
Trump administration cracks down on Brazil’s biggest drug gangs with ‘global terror’ designation
Trump targets drug cartels in Ecuador
Dana Perino reports on former President Donald Trump’s initiative to combat drug cartels in Ecuador. The U.S. is providing military and intelligence assistance to the South American nation, which is grappling with significant drug-related violence and has become a major cocaine exporter. This joint effort reflects a broader strategy to reassert U.S. influence and target transnational criminal groups, aiming for enhanced security in the region.
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The Trump administration increased pressure on crime cartels operating out of Brazil on Thursday by moving to classify two of the country’s biggest drug gangs as foreign terrorist organizations.
The two syndicates — First Command of the Capital (PCC) and Red Command (CV) — likely have more than 50,000 members combined, according to The Associated Press.
«Today, the U.S. Department of State is designating Comando Vermelho (CV) and Primeiro Comando da Capital (PCC) as Specially Designated Global Terrorists (SDGTs) and intends to designate both groups as Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTOs), effective June 5, 2026,» the State Department said in a statement.
«CV and PCC are two of the most violent criminal organizations in Brazil. Together, they command thousands of members and have orchestrated brutal attacks against Brazilian police officers, public officials and civilians. Their influence and illicit networks extend far beyond Brazil’s borders, across our region and into our country,» the statement said.
US GOVERNMENT TAKING ‘DRAMATICALLY DIFFERENT APPROACH’ USING TERRORISM CHARGES AGAINST DRUG CARTELS: FBI ALUM
Police oversee the incineration of 20 tons of drugs seized during operations by the Brazilian Federal Police at the Companhia Siderurgica Nacional ovens in Volta Redonda, Brazil. (Ernesto Carrico/NurPhoto, File)
The Trump administration, the department added, will continue to utilize all available tools to protect the nation and U.S. national security interests by keeping illicit drugs off American streets and disrupting the revenue streams funding violent narco-terrorists.
«Today’s action taken by the State Department further demonstrates the Trump Administration’s unwavering commitment to dismantling cartels and criminal organizations in our region and ensuring the safety of the American people,» the department said in a statement.
The new designation also came after conservative Brazilian Sen. Flávio Bolsonaro met with President Donald Trump in Washington to urge the administration to formally designate the gangs as terrorist entities.
BOLSONARO DYNASTY EYES COMEBACK AS BRAZIL’S SOCIALIST PRESIDENT FACES CHALLENGE FROM JAILED RIVAL’S SON
Senator Flávio Bolsonaro entered the 2026 Brazilian presidential race following his father’s prison endorsement. (Evaristo Sa/AFP)
The 45-year-old senator and presidential hopeful shared a photo Tuesday standing by Trump’s side in the Oval Office, flashing a thumbs-up sign as he seeks to bolster his image amid a political scandal at home.
«I went specifically to ask him to designate the CV and PCC as terrorist organizations, because that’s what they are,» he told reporters in Washington.
With Brazil’s presidential election slated for October, supporters of former President Jair Bolsonaro have campaigned for the U.S. designation to target the public security failures of current leftist President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.
FEDS CHARGE DOZENS OF ALLEGED TREN DE ARAGUA MEMBERS WITH DRUG TRAFFICKING AND MURDER-FOR-HIRE
The Trump administration increased pressure on Brazilian crime cartels Thursday by moving to classify two of the country’s largest gangs — Primeiro Comando da Capital (PCC) and Comando Vermelho (CV) — as foreign terrorist organizations. (Photo by Fabio Teixeira/picture alliance via Getty Images)
Proponents argue that the PCC and CV operate across international borders through drug trafficking, money laundering, weapons smuggling and territorial control, making them comparable to other transnational groups already labeled as terrorist organizations by the U.S.
Lula da Silva’s government strongly opposes the designation, arguing the gangs are heavily armed criminal enterprises rather than ideologically motivated terrorist groups. Lula is also seeking re-election.
Brazilian authorities launched a major anti-gang financial crackdown this week targeting fraud and money-laundering networks allegedly linked to PCC operations, The Associated Press reported.
Prosecutors revealed that the investigation uncovered billions of reais moved through fintech firms and shell structures.
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Last year, Brazilian authorities also uncovered a sprawling criminal network that had infiltrated parts of the fuel industry and connected to the financial sector through money-laundering schemes involving members of the PCC.
At the time, authorities seized 1.2 billion reais (approximately $220 million) in assets, the outlet said.
narco terror, counter terrorism, organized crime, terrorism, state department, donald trump, politics
INTERNACIONAL
Reforma fiscal de Luis Abinader queda lista para promulgación tras su aprobación de urgencia en el Congreso dominicano
La reforma fiscal impulsada por el presidente Luis Abinader fue aprobada de urgencia por la Cámara de Diputados y el Senado, convertida en ley y enviada al Poder Ejecutivo para su promulgación u observación. La norma busca sumar RD$50.000 millones al Presupuesto General del Estado, equivalentes aproximadamente a 850 millones de dólares estadounidenses (USD), mediante un aumento de la carga tributaria, según medios locales.
La norma deroga los anticipos para las microempresas, crea una amnistía para deudas tributarias y reduce de 25% a 10% el Impuesto Sobre la Renta por ganancia de capital en la venta de inmuebles, según Diario Libre. También elimina las leyes de los fósforos y del control a las estampillas, de acuerdo con el mismo diario.
Entre las medidas incluidas, el texto indexa los salarios para que solo quienes ganen más de 39.900 pesos mensuales (unos 678 dólares estadounidenses) paguen el impuesto sobre la renta y eleva la deducción de gastos educativos de 25% a 30%, según Diario Libre. Además, restablece el impuesto selectivo sobre el alcohol etílico usado en la fabricación de medicamentos y sube a 30% la tasa del impuesto sobre la renta empresarial para los grandes contribuyentes, según ese medio.
El proyecto fue presentado como una ley de medidas pro crecimiento económico, simplificación fiscal y mitigación de la crisis internacional, según Diario Libre. Según Listín Diario, su objetivo central es elevar la recaudación tributaria con mayores cargas sobre distintos sectores de la sociedad.
En la comisión bicameral, la primera reunión estuvo dedicada a la lectura íntegra del proyecto y en la segunda se escucharon observaciones del ministro de Hacienda y Economía, Magín Díaz, y de representantes de la Asociación de Industrias de la República Dominicana, según Diario Libre. Al cierre de ese encuentro, la comisión aprobó un informe favorable que luego pasó al Senado para su votación, de acuerdo con el medio.
Entre las propuestas de cambio impulsadas por la oposición figuraban eliminar impuestos a las telecomunicaciones en zonas rurales, mantener sin cambios la tasa por transferencias bancarias, indexar los salarios inferiores a 52.000 pesos mensuales (alrededor de 885 dólares estadounidenses) y aplicar la eliminación del anticipo a las pequeñas empresas, según Diario Libre. Ninguna de esas sugerencias prosperó en la votación final.
El presidente de la Cámara de Diputados, Alfredo Pacheco, defendió la aprobación y afirmó ante Diario Libre que las medidas responden a “la consecuencia de todos estos años de crisis”. También pidió “comedimiento” a la oposición al recordar que durante la presidencia de Leonel Fernández se aprobaron dos reformas fiscales.
Desde la comisión que estudió el proyecto, el diputado Francisco Javier Paulino dijo a Diario Libre que las medidas benefician a más del 90% de la población porque muchas disposiciones están dirigidas a los grandes contribuyentes. Desde la oposición, el diputado Rafael Castillo, vocero de Fuerza del Pueblo, cuestionó ante el mismo medio la rapidez del trámite y dijo que otras reformas estructurales no recibieron la misma urgencia.
El opositor Carlos de Pérez afirmó a Diario Libre que solo en mayo la nómina pública creció en alrededor de 3.180 millones de pesos (unos 54 millones de dólares estadounidenses) y cuestionó que la reforma termine destinada al pago de gastos corrientes como viáticos y publicidad.
Luis Abinader,Rendición de Cuentas,Congreso Nacional,República Dominicana,política,gobierno,evento,oficial,Presidente,Dominicana
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As artificial intelligence (AI) companies race toward IPOs and scramble to construct data centers, a new Fox News Poll finds voters now view Big Tech — not Big Government — as the greater threat to the nation’s future, a striking turnaround from seven years ago.
By a 5 percentage-point margin, more see Big Tech as the greater threat to the outlook of the country rather than big government (52% vs. 47%). That’s a 28-point reversal since 2019 — three years before ChatGPT burst onto the scene — when more were concerned about the government (58%) than tech companies (35%).
FOX NEWS POLL: VOTERS DOUBT NEW AGREEMENT WILL STOP IRAN FROM DEVELOPING NUKES
The swing toward a greater dread of Big Tech can be seen across most groups, with only a few exceptions, like very conservative voters (by 11 points) and moms (+8), who view big government as the bigger villain. Republicans and independents are split on which is worse.
«As AI integrates into daily life, voters are reevaluating where power resides,» says Democratic pollster Chris Anderson, whose firm Beacon Research conducts the poll with Republican Daron Shaw. «Concerns about government overreach are shifting toward tech companies, as voters question whether rapid growth has concentrated too much power in institutions largely outside of public accountability.»
Feelings on AI remain a mixed bag. Equal numbers describe it as either innovative or helpful or a bad idea (14% each). Another 12% are cautious, 10% say afraid or dangerous, 9% have mixed feelings, while excitement and curiosity/interested sit at 7% each. Fewer mention threats to jobs (5%), general confusion (4%), potential for abuse (3%), more research and privacy and regulation issues (2% each), fears of science fiction (1%), and preventing data centers (1%).
FOX NEWS POLL: MOST RATE THE ECONOMY NEGATIVELY, INCLUDING HALF OF REPUBLICANS
The share saying they’re afraid of AI, or it is dangerous has dropped from 16% in 2023 to 10% today, as most demographics feel less negative about AI. The clear exception is voters ages 65 and up, who mostly still feel afraid, concerned, or just don’t like it.
There is also a modest rise in those who feel cautious or distrust the booming technology: from 8% in 2023 to 12% today.
On the flip side, the number saying they find AI to be innovative and helpful has doubled from 7% in 2023 to 14% today. While most demographics feel more positive toward AI compared to 2023, this tendency is especially pronounced among voters under age 30 and nonwhite voters, each seeing double-digit increases in positive sentiment.
Daily AI usage is on the rise: 18% of voters say they use the technology every day, up from 11% last June.
The increase mainly comes from more men (+10 points since June 2025) and independents (+13) saying they use AI daily. Despite their skepticism, voters 65 and over say they are using it more as well (+4). Daily usage for voters under 30 is up 8 points since last summer.
Still, many say they rarely (21%) or never (32%) use it, roughly the same as last summer.
Voters balk at building AI infrastructure in their backyard. Two-thirds (67%) oppose having data centers in their area, including 43% who strongly oppose it, while one-third favor it (32%).
Most groups oppose data centers, but the strength of opposition varies. Fewer than 6 in 10 men, Hispanic voters, voters under 30, and Republicans oppose them, while opposition increases to roughly 7 in 10 or more among women, White voters, those ages 65+, and Democrats.
Some of the only groups to favor data centers being built are those who find AI innovative (68% favor) and those who use AI at least weekly (54%).
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«AI data centers emerging as a political issue is one of the most intriguing storylines of 2026,» says Shaw. «Opposing them is a short-term win, but attitudes about AI efficacy and regulation remain fluid.»
Even with mixed views on AI, a large majority remain confident they control technology (79%), rather than tech controlling them (20%) — the same as nearly 30 years ago.
Women, voters ages 65+ and Republicans are slightly more likely to feel they have a grip on technology compared to men, those under 30, and Democrats.
Conducted June 12-15, 2026, under the direction of Beacon Research (D) and Shaw & Company Research (R), this Fox News survey includes interviews with a sample of 1,002 registered voters randomly selected from a national voter file. Respondents spoke with live interviewers on landlines (101) and cellphones (644) or completed the survey online after receiving a text (257). Results based on the full sample have a margin of sampling error of ±3 percentage points. Sampling error for results among subgroups is higher. In addition to sampling error, question wording and order can influence results. Weights are generally applied to age, race, education, and area variables to ensure the demographics are representative of the registered voter population. Sources for developing weight targets include the most recent American Community Survey, Fox News Voter Analysis, and voter file data.
fox news poll, politics, artificial intelligence, technologies, republicans, democratic party, understanding ai
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