INTERNACIONAL
Viral Marco Rubio clip on his vision for America sparks more 2028 speculation
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A viral clip of Secretary of State Marco Rubio delivering a hopeful vision for America’s future while answering a question this week at the White House is stoking more buzz about a possible 2028 presidential bid.
Rubio, in his debut performance at a White House briefing, gave an uplifting answer that noted America’s «story of perpetual improvement» when asked about his hope for the country in the years ahead.
Recordings of the secretary of state’s 53-second answer, including a campaign-style video put out by Rubio’s team, grabbed tons of views on social media.
The frenzy is understandable, as every move and each comment Rubio makes is often seen as a possible prelude to a potential White House run in the race to succeed his boss, term-limited President Donald Trump.
RUBIO GAINS MOMENTUM IN HYPOTHETICAL 2028 GOP PRESIDENTIAL NOMINATION RACE AS VANCE REMAINS CLEAR FRONT-RUNNER
Secretary of State Marco Rubio walks out to speak to reporters at the James S. Brady Press Briefing Room in the White House in Washington on May 5, 2026. (Jacquelyn Martin/AP Photo)
Rubio, briefing reporters ahead of his current overseas trip, including Thursday’s meeting with Pope Leo XIV at the Vatican amid strained relations due to recent critical comments of the U.S.-born pontiff from Trump, said his «hope for America is what it’s always been. I think it’s the hope I hope we all share. We want it to continue to be the place where anyone from anywhere can achieve anything, where you’re not limited by the circumstances of your birth, by the color of your skin, by your ethnicity, but frankly, it’s a place where you are able to overcome challenges and achieve your full potential.»
«I think that should be the goal of every country in the world, frankly, but I think in the U.S. – we’re not perfect. Our history is not one of perfection, but it’s still better than anybody else’s history,» Rubio said. «And ours is a story of perpetual improvement. Each generation has left the next generation of Americans freer, more prosperous, safer, and that is our goal as well.»
The secretary, who is a devout Catholic, added, «But it is a unique and exceptional country and, as we come upon this 250-year anniversary, I think we have a lot to learn and be proud of in our history. It is one of perpetual and continuous improvement, where each generation has done its part to bring us closer to fulfilling the vision that the founders of this country had upon its founding.»
A clip of the comments grabbed over 6 million views on X.
Rubio’s team also put out a minute-long vertical video of the soliloquy that included voice-over video of the secretary of state, Trump, jets flying over the White House, a diverse mix of Americans, the late President Ronald Reagan and the American flag being raised.
The video, on the secretary’s X account, was viewed over 3 million times and grabbed the attention of some of the biggest names in MAGA world.
Right-wing activist Laura Loomer, who is close to Trump, retweeted the video and said, «Wow! This looks like it could be a launch video for a Presidential campaign. Amazing production quality and vibes.»
Meanwhile, Elon Musk retweeted a separate video of the Rubio comments.
Vice President JD Vance has long been seen as the heir apparent to Trump and his MAGA and America First base. While Vance remains the hypothetical clear frontrunner ahead of the start of the 2028 White House race, which won’t ignite until after this year’s midterm elections, Rubio appears to be on the rise.
WHITE HOUSE RACE UNDERWAY: WITH 2026 LOOMING, BOTH PARTIES ARE ALREADY PLAYING FOR 2028
Secretary Marco Rubio meets with Pope Leo XIV at the Vatican, on Thursday, May 7, 2026. (Simone Risoluti – Vatican Media via Vatican Pool/Getty Images)
Thanks to an increase in his responsibilities and public profile, more recently around the U.S. operation in Venezuela and the war against Iran, Rubio has seen speculation and support for a possible presidential bid soar in recent months.
Among the most notable evidence is Rubio’s strong second-place finish in March in the 2028 Republican presidential nomination straw poll at the annual Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC).
Rubio, who was one of more than a dozen Republican contenders who ran and lost to Trump in the tumultuous 2016 presidential race, grabbed 35% of the vote at CPAC when the straw poll results were announced this past weekend, up from a mere 3% a year earlier.
Vance, who is popular with MAGA and America First groups, finished first at 53%. While the vice president saw his support slightly edge down from 61% last year, Vance’s numbers are higher than anyone else in CPAC presidential straw poll history other than Trump.
Rubio insists he’ll support Vance if the vice president launches a White House campaign.
«If JD Vance runs for president, he’s going to be our nominee, and I’ll be one of the first people to support him,» Rubio told Vanity Fair late last year.
MARCO RUBIO SPOTTED BEHIND DJ BOOTH AT FAMILY WEDDING AS SOCIAL MEDIA REACTS TO VIRAL CLIP
President Donald Trump, Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio in the Oval Office of the White House on April 7, 2025. (Saul Loeb/AFP)
Vance, who like Rubio has highlighted his Catholic faith, will likely get plenty of chances next month to spotlight his devotion amid the release of his new book, «Communion: Finding My Way Back to Faith.»
VANCE IN ‘CATBIRD SEAT’ FOR 2028 GOP PRESIDENTIAL NOMINATION, BUT THESE REPUBLICANS MAY ALSO RUN
Partially fueling Rubio’s rise has been Trump, who has lavishly praised his secretary of state.
The president recently declared that Rubio would go down as «the greatest secretary of state in history.»
Trump has also promoted a Vance-Rubio ticket — calling it «unstoppable» a few months ago — but has not said who should be at the top of the ticket.
But the president said last year that Vance is «most likely» his heir apparent. «In all fairness, he’s the vice president,» Trump added.
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And Trump, in an interview on NBC News’ «Meet the Press» last year, called Vance a «fantastic, brilliant guy.»
Trump, who has yet to say whom he would endorse in the race for the 2028 Republican presidential nomination, added in that interview, «certainly you would say that somebody’s the VP, if that person is outstanding, I guess that person would have an advantage.»
presidential, donald trump, white house, marco rubio, secretary of state, jd vance, presidential primaries
INTERNACIONAL
California county finds nearly 600 unopened ballots months after Newsom-backed redistricting measure passed
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Nearly 600 unopened ballots were discovered in a California county months after voters approved a statewide Democratic redistricting measure, with local election officials admitting they failed voters.
The Humboldt County Office of Elections said in a Wednesday press release that the 596 sealed but uncounted ballots did not impact the outcome of the Nov. 4 statewide special election, which centered on Proposition 50, a redistricting ballot measure pushed by California Gov. Gavin Newsom and Democrats.
The ballots were found Monday inside a locked drop box, prompting county officials to say they had not been tampered with because the box was locked, and the ballots remained sealed. Officials said the error stemmed from a miscommunication over whether the drop box had been fully emptied before certification.
«While the mistake occurred after an election worker did not follow proper procedures, the responsibility for what happened ultimately sits with me. I did not have strong enough controls in place to prevent this, but we do now,» Humboldt County Clerk-Recorder and Registrar of Voters Juan Pablo Cervantes said in the news release. «We have taken corrective action and already updated our protocols. A new lock out, tag out procedure has been implemented for every ballot drop box to ensure each box is physically verified as empty and secured before election results are finalized.»
SUPREME COURT SHUTS DOWN CALIFORNIA GOP BID TO BLOCK NEWSOM’S NEW MAP
An elections official prepares to count mail-in ballots on the first day of tabulation, on Wednesday, Oct. 23, at the Maricopa County Recorder’s Office in Phoenix. (AP/Matt York)
While the ballots will not change the outcome of the November election, Humboldt County officials said they are still endeavoring to ensure all ballots get counted, apologizing to voters that they «fell short» of their duties.
«I promise you that we are taking this seriously,» Cervantes added. «We will strengthen our processes and continue pushing toward the standard our community expects and deserves.»
Proposition 50, championed by Newsom and California Democrats, allowed the state to temporarily use legislature-drawn congressional maps for the 2026, 2028 and 2030 elections instead of maps created by California’s independent redistricting commission.
REDISTRICTING BATTLES BREWING ACROSS THE COUNTRY AS PARTIES COMPETE FOR POWER AHEAD OF 2026 MIDTERMS
The California Voter ID Initiative would amend the state constitution to require voter ID when casting a ballot, require election officials to verify citizenship of registered voters and mandate the state maintain accurate voter rolls if passed. (Christina House/Los Angeles Times; Emily Elconin/Reuters)
The measure came amid a national mid-decade redistricting fight, with Newsom and California Democrats arguing the state needed to counter GOP-led map changes in states such as Texas.
California’s normal redistricting process is handled by an independent commission, but Prop 50 created a temporary voter-approved exception allowing the state to use legislature-drawn congressional maps through 2030.
After the Supreme Court last week narrowed Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act in a Louisiana redistricting case, a ruling that could open the door for Republican-led states to pursue new maps that undercut Democratic redistricting gains in California and potential gains in states such as Virginia, California Democrats have faced pressure to consider going even further in response.
California Republican gubernatorial candidate Steve Hilton said the GOP has a chance to win this year due to what he called the «complete failure» of Gov. Gavin Newsom and Democrats. (Carlin Stiehl/Los Angeles Times)
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However, The Los Angeles Times reported Thursday that despite this urging for additional action, even after voters approved Prop 50, California Democrats have no intention of making an attempt to redraw the maps again before the midterms.
California Democratic Party Chair Rusty Hicks pointed out Democrats need to win the seats created under the state’s existing Prop 50 map they redrew last year.
«We have yet to fully win the seats in the map that was drawn in 2025. It seems a step too far to say we’re going to go back to the drawing board and redraw the map,» Hicks said, according to The Los Angeles Times.
«You all should pick up some seats. Let’s all do this together, because California cannot do it alone, it will take the rest of the country,» Hicks added, referring to pressure on Democratic-led states to counter Republican redistricting efforts nationwide.
gavin newsom, democrats elections, california, voting, elections state and local
INTERNACIONAL
Israeli police say Iran using WhatsApp, Facebook, blackmail to recruit spies as latest attempt foiled
Fmr Mossad counterterrorism head discusses Israeli intelligence on Iran
Oded Ailam, a former Mossad counterterrorism head and JCSFA Senior Researcher, reveals Israeli intelligence’s strategy to harness internal Iranian dissent. Mossad has issued a message in Farsi, asking Iranian citizens to provide photos and videos of oppressive regime forces. Ailam notes Israel’s 2,200+ strikes against Iran-connected targets this week, including a natural gas field and Hezbollah assets in Lebanon.
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The arrest of two Israeli Air Force personnel on allegations of espionage has underscored Iran’s expanding efforts to penetrate Israel’s military by recruiting operatives from within.
Over the past year and a half, Israeli police, working alongside the Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency), have investigated more than 20 cases involving an estimated 40 to 50 suspects. Most remain in custody, though investigators believe additional suspects are still at large.
Capt. Sefi Berger of the Israel Police’s Lahav International and Major Crimes Unit, which investigates Iranian espionage cases, told Fox News Digital that Tehran primarily seeks intelligence that could aid attack planning, along with information on high-profile individuals and other sensitive targets.
IRAN ARRESTS DOZENS ACCUSED OF SPYING FOR ISRAEL IN NEW INTERNAL CRACKDOWN
Ami Gaydarov was arrested on March 9 by Israeli authorities on suspicion of working with Iranian handlers to harm a high-ranking official. (Israeli Police)
Payments vary widely. One network of seven suspects reportedly received about $300,000, while an Iron Dome reservist was allegedly paid $1,000 — and in some cases, even less.
«People may think they will get rich, but the money is not life-changing,» Berger said. «In one case last year involving two soldiers, one received just $21 and has been in prison for a year and a half.»
Iranian recruitment tactics include infiltrating WhatsApp and Facebook groups used by Israelis seeking freelance work, as well as pornography websites, where agents allegedly use compromising material to blackmail individuals into cooperating. Recruitment also relies on emotional manipulation of individuals whose moral judgment may be compromised.
«When recruiting a person, a relationship can develop between the handler and the spy. Sometimes the asset is looking for a father figure or a friend — someone who listens without judgment,» Berger said.
Former Shin Bet handler Gonen Ben Itzhak, who spent years recruiting sources within Palestinian society, told Fox News Digital that the issue is particularly serious, saying he has not previously seen so many attempts — and some successful cases — of spying against Israel.
IRANIAN REGIME SPREADING ANTI-ISRAEL PROPAGANDA ACROSS DOZENS OF SOCIAL MEDIA ACCOUNTS: REPORT
Israel Police arresting a suspect in relation to Iranian espionage in Haifa. (Israel Police Spokesperson)
«The million-dollar question is who makes a good recruit. We don’t have a clear answer. There are certain indicators that someone may be more susceptible. The Iranians use social media — something we didn’t have in the same way —and it’s a powerful tool to identify potential motives,» he said.
As a handler, Ben Itzhak said he sought to recruit as many viable candidates as possible while avoiding individuals likely to attract suspicion, such as known criminals. He described the process as gradual and often uncertain.
«At first, they need to agree to meet in secret. Sometimes they come but won’t share information. I would start with simple questions — who leads Hamas in their village,» he said.
«Sometimes it takes time. Some refuse to cooperate, some may even act as double agents. In many cases, they are trained to collect information without being exposed. It’s a process,» Ben Itzhak added.
In March, 22-year-old Haifa resident Ami Gaydarov was arrested on suspicion of manufacturing explosives intended to target a senior Israeli figure at the direction of an Iranian agent.
A billboard depicting Iran’s supreme leaders since 1979: (L to R) Ayatollahs Ruhollah Khomeini (until 1989), Ali Khamenei (until 2026), and Mojtaba Khamenei (incumbent) is displayed above a highway in Tehran on March 10, 2026. Iran marked the appointment of Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei to replace his father as its supreme leader on March 9, 2026. (AFP/Via Getty Images)
Last month, a man from the Israeli-Arab city of Qalansawe was detained on suspicion of allegedly spying for «a hostile actor, mediated through the Al Jazeera channel.» According to the investigation, Miqdad Moder Hosni Natur made contact with his handler after being introduced while searching for job opportunities through the Qatari-owned news organization.
Under Israeli law, contact with a foreign agent carries a sentence of up to 15 years in prison. Providing intelligence can result in more than 10 years’ imprisonment, while aiding the enemy during wartime carries a minimum sentence of life imprisonment and, in extreme cases, the death penalty.
Berger also warned against attempts by Israelis to deceive foreign agents, stressing that any contact is a serious offense.
DANISH NATIONAL WANTED IN GERMANY ARRESTED AFTER ALLEGEDLY SPYING ON JEWISH TARGETS FOR IRAN
«We had a hotel worker near the Dead Sea who falsely told Iranians that a group of Israelis would arrive. He said it was a lie, but I explained he had effectively put a target on that hotel, its staff and guests, and encouraged an attack,» Berger said.
«People unfamiliar with this world should not engage in it. Contact is an offense, providing information is an offense, and aiding the enemy is the most severe,» he added.
Israeli citizen Moti Maman stands in a courtroom after he was accused by Israeli security services of involvement in an Iranian-backed assassination plot targeting prominent people including Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in Beersheba District Court in southern Israel, Sept. 19, 2024. (Reuters/Stringer )
While most suspects remain in custody awaiting trial, some cases are advancing through the courts.
One concluded case involved 70-year-old Moti Maman, who was convicted and sentenced to 10 years in prison after twice entering Iran, where he met with intelligence agents to discuss carrying out terrorist activity in Israel. He also discussed the possibility of assassinating Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
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Former Mossad operative Gad Shimron told Fox News Digital that while the espionage efforts have caused damage, their impact appears tactical rather than strategic. However, he cautioned against complacency.
«The electronic Iron Dome is trying to catch Israelis willing to work for the Iranians, and I believe it is quite efficient,» he said. «But one should never underestimate the enemy. I am sure they are investing a lot of effort and that they have some successes we don’t yet know of.»
war with iran, israel, counter terrorism, iran
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