INTERNACIONAL
Virginia Democrats’ $70M redistricting gamble backfires after court defeat, ignites blame game
Virginia Supreme Court strikes down Democrats’ redistricting map
Former Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares explains why the Virginia Supreme Court’s decision to strike down the Democratic redistricting map was a «win for the rule of law.» Miyares notes the proposed map would have drastically shifted power for Democrats, citing the court’s emphasis on adhering to the state’s constitutional amendment process.
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Virginia Democrats’ redistricting push was meant to lock in an advantage. Instead, it’s unraveling after a costly court defeat—triggering a growing blame game inside the party.
The high-stakes effort to redraw congressional maps, backed by tens of millions of dollars and significant political capital, briefly delivered a narrow on-paper win. But in a 4–3 ruling, the Virginia Supreme Court struck down the maps, citing legal deficiencies, and forced a redraw—wiping out those gains.
Democrats are left arguing over whether party leaders ignored legal warnings and pushed a strategy that was always at risk of collapsing.
DAVID MARCUS: VIRGINIA DEMOCRATS STEP ON A $70M RAKE AND NOW THEY’RE CRYING
In hindsight, critics say the outcome was avoidable. Republicans had urged an earlier court review before votes were cast and money spent, a step they argued could have clarified the maps’ legality.
Democrats pressed ahead anyway, betting the strategy would hold.
«Violating the Virginia Constitution and bypassing the rule of law to further one’s own political power is wrong,» Rep. Jen Kiggans, R-Va., said in a statement to The Hill. «Had [Democratic Gov.] Abigail Spanberger and the rest of Virginia’s Democrats succeeded, they would have caused irreparable harm to our democracy and disenfranchised millions of Virginians.»
Allies of Spanberger say legal concerns were raised early and not fully heeded, pointing to state lawmakers for pushing forward. Lawmakers and other Democrats counter that litigation was inevitable and the maps were defensible.
DEMS WHO RAN ON AFFORDABILITY NOW FACE BACKLASH AS COSTS CLIMB IN NY, VIRGINIA
Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger delivers a response to President Donald Trump’s State of the Union address. (Steve Helber/Reuters)
The dispute reflects a broader divide within the party over how aggressively to pursue redistricting. Some Democrats argue such efforts are necessary to counter Republican-led maps nationwide.
«I feel like the system is fundamentally broken, but let’s be clear. Republicans began the redistricting arms race,» Rep. Jason Crow, D-Colo., told Fox News Digital in an earlier interview. «And so Democrats are left with no choice but to level the playing field for the sake of democracy.»
«Look, in a perfect world, we wouldn’t have political gerrymandering,» Rep. Christian Menefee, D-Texas, added. «But because we don’t live in that world, we’ve got to fight fire with fire.»
Others, however, are more blunt in assigning blame.
«I put this all on Democrats,» Rep. Marc Veasey, D-Texas, said, arguing the party failed to respond forcefully to earlier GOP redistricting efforts and is now facing the consequences.
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Voters attend an Arlington Democrats redistricting vote watch party during a special election in Arlington, Va., on Tuesday, April 21, 2026. (Valerie Plesch/Bloomberg)
The fallout is landing at a difficult moment.
A federal raid on May 6 on the office of a powerful state senator has added to a sense of instability, while former Gov. L. Douglas Wilder has suggested the turmoil could give Spanberger an opening to reset and impose discipline on a still-fractured political operation.
The episode underscores the growing role of courts in redistricting fights—and the risks of pushing legal boundaries in a high-stakes environment, with potential implications for control of Virginia’s congressional delegation.
In retrospect, even with the narrow 4–3 decision, it’s a steep price: roughly $70 million and much of Spanberger’s political capital spent on a campaign that won the battle but lost the war.
Democrats are left to sort out not just what went wrong—but who’s responsible.
Fox News Digital’s Leo Briceno contributed to this report.
abigail spanberger, congress, virginia, republicans elections, midterm elections
INTERNACIONAL
Los cancilleres del BRICS se reunieron en India con la guerra en Irán y la crisis petrolera como ejes centrales de la agenda
En paralelo a la reunión entre el presidente de Estados Unidos, Donald Trump, y el líder de China, Xi Jinping, en Beijing, los ministros de Asuntos Exteriores de los BRICS, incluidos los de Irán y Rusia, se reunieron el jueves en Nueva Delhi, donde India advirtió sobre una “considerable inestabilidad” por la incertidumbre económica e inseguridad energética generadas por el conflicto en Medio Oriente y la crisis del combustible.
India, que ocupa la presidencia del bloque este año, recibió a los jefes diplomáticos del BRICS ampliado, que ahora incorpora a Irán, Arabia Saudita y Emiratos Árabes Unidos, países enfrentados por el conflicto iniciado el 28 de febrero por Estados Unidos e Israel.
“Nos reunimos en un momento de considerable inestabilidad en las relaciones internacionales”, afirmó el ministro de Asuntos Exteriores de la India, Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, en la apertura de la sesión, antes de las reuniones a puerta cerrada.
Entre los asistentes figuraron Abbas Araghchi (Irán) y Serguéi Lavrov (Rusia). “Irán insta a los Estados miembros de los BRICS y a todos los miembros responsables de la comunidad internacional a condenar explícitamente las violaciones del derecho internacional cometidas por Estados Unidos e Israel, incluida su agresión ilegal contra Irán”, declaró Araghchi frente a sus homólogos.
Jaishankar señaló que “los conflictos en curso, las incertidumbres económicas y los desafíos en materia de comercio, tecnología y clima están configurando el panorama mundial”. Añadió que existe una “creciente expectativa, sobre todo por parte de los mercados emergentes y los países en desarrollo, de que los BRICS desempeñen un papel constructivo y estabilizador”.
Los ministros de Asuntos Exteriores mantendrán además un encuentro con el primer ministro Narendra Modi. A la reunión ampliada del grupo también asistieron representantes de Cuba, Uzbekistán, Kazajistán y Nigeria, países socios invitados.
Las interrupciones en las rutas marítimas del Golfo y el bloqueo iraní al estrecho de Ormuz mantienen la volatilidad en los mercados de petróleo y gas, lo que incrementa la presión sobre las economías importadoras de energía, incluida la India.
“Los temas de desarrollo siguen siendo fundamentales”, añadió Jaishankar. “Muchos países continúan enfrentando desafíos en materia de energía, alimentos, fertilizantes y seguridad sanitaria, así como en el acceso a la financiación”.
“La paz y la seguridad siguen siendo centrales para el orden global. Los conflictos recientes solo resaltan la importancia del diálogo y la diplomacia. También hay un profundo interés compartido en fortalecer la cooperación contra el terrorismo”, agregó en su discurso de apertura Jaishankar.
China fue el único país fundador de los BRICS que no envió a su ministro de Relaciones Exteriores a la reunión en Nueva Delhi. El canciller Wang Yi no asistió a las sesiones debido a la coincidencia con la visita del presidente estadounidense, Donald Trump, a Beijing.
El ministro de Asuntos Exteriores de Rusia, Serguéi Lavrov, llegó el miércoles y se reunió con su par indio para “intensificar la cooperación energética y garantizar el suministro a la India” ante las presiones occidentales.
BRICS se fundó en 2009 como un foro para las principales economías emergentes que aspiraban a una mayor influencia en instituciones globales dominadas por potencias occidentales.
El grupo, integrado originalmente por Brasil, Rusia, India, China y Sudáfrica, se ha expandido con el objetivo de fortalecer su peso político y económico en el escenario internacional.
El encuentro ministerial de los BRICS, programado para este 14 y 15 de mayo, funcionará además como preparación técnica para la próxima cumbre de líderes del bloque, prevista para septiembre en Nueva Delhi. India buscará posicionar al grupo como una plataforma de coordinación del Sur Global, pese a las tensiones existentes entre algunos de sus miembros.
(Con información de EFE y AFP)
International,Relations,Asia / Pacific,Diplomacy / Foreign Policy
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The Senate cleared Kevin Warsh on Wednesday to lead the Federal Reserve, ushering in a new era at the central bank under President Donald Trump’s nominee.
The Senate confirmed Warsh, 54–45, concluding a monthslong search that began last summer for a successor to Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell as his term neared its end. The vote was largely along party lines, with only Pennsylvania Democrat Sen. John Fetterman crossing over in support.
Earlier in the week, Warsh was confirmed to the Fed’s Board of Governors, a 14-year appointment and a required step before serving as chair. He previously served on the board as its youngest member at age 35 and now returns to lead the central bank at a pivotal moment.
FROM MORTGAGES TO CAR LOANS: HOW AFFORDABILITY RISES AND FALLS WITH THE FED
Though the Federal Reserve operates largely out of public view, its decisions shape borrowing costs, job growth and interest rates for millions of Americans, making Warsh’s confirmation a pivotal moment for how that influence will be wielded.
Warsh, a lawyer and financier, steps into the role at a particularly volatile time.
Kevin Warsh is a former Morgan Stanley banker who became the youngest member of the Fed’s Board of Governors in 2006. (Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)
The central bank is grappling with persistent inflation, the economic fallout from the war in Iran and a looming Supreme Court decision involving Fed Governor Lisa Cook, all while political pressure builds ahead of the midterm elections in November.
The 56-year-old multimillionaire has already signaled a clear break from the central bank’s current approach.
In testimony before lawmakers on April 21, Warsh pledged to keep monetary policy «strictly independent» and said he intended to keep the central bank «in its lane,» warning that the Fed had become too involved in social policy.
He has also taken aim at what he sees as a complacent central bank, warning that large institutions are prone to inertia and that clinging to the «status quo» in a fast-moving economy is not just outdated but dangerous.
WATCH: SEN WARREN UNLOADS ON TRUMP’S FED NOMINEE KEVIN WARSH IN EXPLOSIVE HEARING SHOWDOWN
Kevin Warsh, incoming chairman of the U.S. Federal Reserve, has called a government-issued digital currency a «bad policy choice.» (Graeme Sloan/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
At the same time, he has signaled openness to closer coordination with elected leaders and to work with the White House and Congress on non-monetary matters, an approach that could reshape how the Fed operates in Washington.
How that balance is struck could define not only Warsh’s tenure, but the future direction of the institution that plays a major role in the financial lives of millions of Americans.
Warsh will take the reins from Powell, whose eight-year tenure as Fed chair concludes Friday. Powell, widely considered the most crisis-tested Fed chair, is not leaving the central bank entirely.
Powell’s term on the Fed board runs through 2028, and he has indicated he plans to remain in place until all investigations into a renovation project at the Fed’s headquarters are complete.
POWELL WILL REMAIN AT THE FED FOR NOW, SETTING UP POTENTIAL CLASH WITH TRUMP
Powell, who holds one of the most influential posts in U.S. economic policymaking, has made clear he won’t step down until his term is up in May 2026. (Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images)
If Powell stepped aside entirely, it would have opened a seat for Trump to fill, giving him another opportunity to shape the Fed’s leadership. By staying on, Powell retains influence over U.S. monetary policy, potentially intensifying tensions with the president.
«I plan to keep a low profile as a governor. There is only ever one chair of the Federal Reserve Board. When Kevin Warsh is confirmed and sworn in, he will be that chair,» Powell told reporters at a news conference at the Federal Reserve on April 29.
Powell said that decision ultimately depends on the outcome of the investigation.
«I will not leave the board until this investigation is fully resolved with transparency and finality,» Powell said. «I’m encouraged by recent developments, and I am watching the remaining steps in this process carefully. My decisions on these matters will continue to be guided entirely by what I believe is in the best interest of the institution and the people we serve.»
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The Senate cleared Kevin Warsh on Wednesday to lead the Federal Reserve. (Al Drago/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
Powell’s tenure at the central bank dates back to 2017, when he was selected by Trump to succeed Janet Yellen. He was reappointed to a second four-year term by President Joe Biden in 2022, which expires on May 15.
The White House and Federal Reserve did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.
congress, donald trump, white house, federal reserve, senate elections, politics
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