Midwest
'Concise’ Trump-approved GOP platform not crafted with Biden, Dem disarray in mind
EXCLUSIVE – Republican Tennessee Sen. Marsha Blackburn celebrated her successful leadership overseeing the panel charged with crafting the platform for the Republican National Committee, touting the GOP’s 2024 platform as a “concise” document that “will draw more Americans to the Republican Party.”
“The reason it earned the adoption so quickly is because people got it this morning. They were able to quickly read through it – because it is a total of 16 pages. And as they looked through it, they thought, ‘This is really good. It is solid. It is hitting the issues that the American people are talking about.’ And one of the complaints that we have heard from people is, well, ‘Look, that platform is so long, nobody reads it, it gets used against our candidates, by their opponents, and it is time for us to be simple, concise and specific about what we’re going to do,” Blackburn told Fox News Digital in a phone interview Monday evening.
The Republican National Committee’s Platform Committee, which Blackburn served as chairwoman, overwhelmingly passed its draft party platform Monday in an 84-12 vote. The draft, itled the “2024 GOP PLATFORM: MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!,” walks voters through 20 promises former President Trump, as well as other Republican officials, are making to voters ahead of November, including sealing the border and ending the “migrant invasion,” ending inflation, preventing “World War Three” and uniting the U.S. “by bringing it to new and record levels of success.”
Blackburn explained to Fox News Digital that the platform was crafted to address top voter concerns Trump has personally heard from the American people, brushing off questions regarding whether the platform was written with the Democratic Party’s disarray in mind, or whether President Biden would actually be the party’s nominee come November.
TRUMP FOCUSED ON CAMPAIGNING, AS DEMS ARE ‘IN DISARRAY’ AMID BIDEN CHAOS
Then-President Trump looks on Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), who is running for U.S. Senate, speaks during a rally at the Nashville Municipal Auditorium on May 29, 2018 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Getty Images)
“We’re going to let the Democrats sort their issues out,” Blackburn said when asked about the Democratic Party’s current disarray. “What I can say is this platform is going to be well received by so many people. We’ve already heard from so many people how well received it is. And that they’re so pleased to see instead of an 80-page, 60-page, 100-, 200-page document, that this is something that they can take to lunch, to their coffee group, to their Bunco group, their Sunday school class, and they can read it and discuss it, and use it to get people involved in the process and voting in November.”
When asked if the platform was crafted with the intention of defeating Biden in November or perhaps another nominee as calls mount for Biden to bow out of the race over concerns regarding his mental acuity, Blackburn said it was designed with a focus on the American people.
BIDEN SURROGATE NEWSOM SAYS CALLS BY DEMOCRATS FOR PRESIDENT TO STEP ASIDE ‘NOT HELPFUL’
“This platform is crafted to make certain that the American people know what Republicans are for, and they know what President Trump is for. This platform is simple, concise, easy to read, and it will be used from candidates from your local, state and federal elections. And it is a document we will use to send President Donald Trump back to the White House.”
Former President Trump speaks to supporters at a rally to support local candidates on Sept. 3, 2022 in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. (Spencer Platt/Getty Images)
Blackburn said that Trump personally had input on the platform, noting he “read it, reviewed it, edited it, and approved it,” and also called into the platform comittee’s meeting on Monday.
“As we got started on today’s activities, President Trump called in, and wished everyone well, thanked everyone for volunteering to be there and serving on the platform committee. And talked about some of the issues that he is hearing and the broad net that they cast,” she said.
SOME TOP HOUSE DEMOCRATS URGE BIDEN TO STEP ASIDE
Blackburn pointed to Trump’s recent vow that if re-elected, workers in the service industry would no longer face taxes on their tips, pointing Fox Digital to point number six of the platform, which reads: “LARGE TAX CUTS FOR WORKERS, AND NO TAX ON TIPS!”
“That gives you an idea of how granular this was to what he is hearing, what many of us who are in elected office are hearing. And what the American people are saying: ‘Would you please put some attention on these issues that affect us.’ And I think that really is one of the primary points … this election is about them. It’s not about the bureaucrats. It’s not about elected officials. It is about them and their way of life,” she said.
Sen. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., blasted President Biden’s Title IX expansion, saying the administration continues its assault on opportunities for young women. (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)
Blackburn touted that, unlike previous party platforms that dragged on for dozens of pages, the 2024 platform is “simple” and easily digested by the American people.
“I am one of those that has for years said we need to make this simple. It doesn’t have to be long. It needs to be concise. It needs to be simply stated, and it should be something that people look forward to printing out and reading and sharing with their friends,” she said.
The platform this election cycle notably only mentions abortion once, instead focusing on the preservation of life and returning power to the states when developing laws surrounding abortion. Blackburn said that when the platform was drafted, committee members had to take into account the Dobbs decision of 2022, which overturned Roe v. Wade, effectively ended the recognition of a constitutional right to abortion and ruled that individual states have the power to allow, limit or ban abortion procedures.
EX-OBAMA ADVISER SAYS BIDEN CAN’T BEAT ‘FATHER TIME’ AND IS ‘NOT WINNING THIS RACE’
“And so, having as we do with all other issues, whether it’s defending religious liberty, or protecting free speech, or working to end the gender insanity – this left-wing gender insanity – and protecting our rights and freedoms. What the platform says is we proudly stand for families and for life.”
“We believe that the 14th Amendment to the Constitution of the United States guarantees that no person can be denied life or liberty without due process, and that the United States are, therefore, free to pass laws protecting those rights. And that was a very appropriate way to approach this. This responsibility has come back to the states. The states are in the lead on this,” she continued.
BIDEN’S ‘DISASTER’ DEBATE PERFORMANCE SPARKS MEDIA MELTDOWN, CALLS FOR HIM TO WITHDRAW FROM 2024 RACE
Trump touted the platform on his Truth Social account on Monday as a “forward-looking Agenda with strong promises that we will accomplish very quickly” while thanking Blackburn and Florida Rep. Michael Waltz, who served as vice chair on the committee, for their “tireless work to PUT AMERICA FIRST.”
Former President Trump speaks during a rally at the Dayton International Airport on Nov. 7, 2022 in Vandalia, Ohio. (Drew Angerer/Getty Images)
“We are, quite simply, the Party of Common Sense! America needs determined Republican Leadership at every level of Government to address the core threats to our very survival: Our disastrously Open Border, our weakened Economy, Inflation, crippling restrictions on American Energy Production, our depleted Military, attacks on the American System of Justice, the Weaponization of Politics, and much more,” he wrote.
TRUMP APPROVAL RATING TOPS 50% AS HE LEADS BIDEN ON VOTERS’ TOP TWO ISSUES: POLL
Following its committee passage Monday, the platform will go to a full vote Tuesday before it is officially approved at the Republican National Convention next week in Milwaukee.
“This is something that will draw more Americans to the Republican Party. I quite honestly believe that when they print this document off and look at it, they’re going to open that first page and see that the Republican National Committee has dedicated this document to the forgotten men and women of America. And then, in the preamble, we talk about common sense, and we end with citing those 20 promises that people want to see activity on: energy issues, border issues, crime issues, making certain that we are dealing with rebuilding our military, being strong at home and abroad, protecting our freedoms, dealing with the weaponization of government.”
“Those are things that we all hear about every day.”
Get the latest updates from the 2024 campaign trail, exclusive interviews and more at our Fox News Digital election hub.
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Milwaukee, WI
LSU baseball vs Milwaukee live updates, start time for Opening Day
BATON ROUGE — LSU baseball’s path to a repeat College World Series championship officially begins Friday, Feb. 13.
Opening Day for the 2026 season has arrived and coach Jay Johnson and his preseason No. 1-ranked Tigers will kick things off against Milwaukee at Alex Bos Stadium. First pitch is schedule for 2 p.m.
LSU opens up the season with a barrage of games, playing nine over the first 12 days of the campaign.
The Daily Advertiser is providing live updates during LSU baseball’s season opener against Milwaukee. Follow along.
LSU baseball vs Milwaukee probable pitchers
- LSU – RHP Casan Evans (5-1, 2.05 ERA)
- Milwaukee – LHP Matthew Mueller (1-2, 5.23 ERA)
Evans will start Opening Day for LSU. The righthanded sophomore has just three starts under his belt coming into 2026 but is expected to be among the top pitchers on the Tigers’ staff. For Milwaukee, Mueller will get the ball. He is one of the most experienced starters on the Panthers’ club with six starts a season ago.
What time does LSU baseball vs Milwaukee start?
- Date: Friday, Feb. 13
- Time: 2 p.m. CT
- Where: Alex Box Stadium in Baton Rouge
What TV channel is LSU baseball vs Milwaukee on today?
- TV: N/A
- Streaming: SEC Network+
- How to watch online: ESPN app
LSU baseball 2026 schedule
| Date | Opponent |
| Feb. 13 | Milwaukee |
| Feb. 14 | Milwaukee |
| Feb. 15 | Milwaukee |
| Feb. 16 | Kent State |
| Feb. 18 | Nicholls State |
| Feb. 20 | Indiana (Jacksonville, Florida) |
| Feb. 21 | Notre Dame (Jacksonville, Florida) |
| Feb. 22 | UCF (Jacksonville, Florida) |
| Feb. 24 | McNeese State |
| Feb. 27 | Dartmouth |
| Feb. 28 | Northeastern |
| March 1 | Dartmouth |
| March 2 | Northeastern |
| March 4 | at Louisiana |
| March 6 | Sacramento State |
| March 7 | Sacramento State |
| March 8 | Sacramento State |
| March 10 | Creighton |
| March 13 | Vanderbilt* |
| March 14 | at Vanderbilt* |
| March 15 | at Vanderbilt* |
| March 17 | at Grambling State |
| March 19 | Oklahoma* |
| March 20 | Oklahoma* |
| March 21 | Oklahoma* |
| March 24 | Louisiana Tech |
| March 27 | Kentucky* |
| March 28 | Kentucky* |
| March 29 | Kentucky* |
| March 31 | Southern |
| April 3 | at Tennessee* |
| April 4 | at Tennessee* |
| April 5 | at Tennessee* |
| April 7 | Bethune-Cookman |
| April 10 | at Ole Miss* |
| April 11 | at Ole Miss* |
| April 12 | at Ole Miss* |
| April 14 | Northwestern State |
| April 17 | Texas A&M* |
| April 18 | Texas A&M* |
| April 19 | Texas A&M* |
| April 21 | New Orleans |
| April 24 | at Mississippi State* |
| April 25 | at Mississippi State* |
| April 26 | at Mississippi State* |
| April 28 | Southeastern Louisiana |
| May 1 | South Carolina* |
| May 2 | South Carolina* |
| May 3 | South Carolina* |
| May 5 | Tulane |
| May 8 | at Georgia* |
| May 9 | at Georgia* |
| May 10 | at Georgia* |
| May 14 | Florida* |
| May 15 | Florida* |
| May 16 | Florida* |
Cory Diaz covers the LSU Tigers for The Daily Advertiser as part of the USA TODAY Network. Follow his Tigers coverage on Twitter: @ByCoryDiaz. Got questions regarding LSU athletics? Send them to Cory Diaz at bdiaz@gannett.com.
Minneapolis, MN
ICE drawdown in Minneapolis: No deals made with federal government, sheriff says
MINNEAPOLIS (FOX 9) – The Hennepin County sheriff says her office has not entered into any new deals with the federal government, “despite what some influential leaders have conveyed.”
This comes after White House Border Czar Tom Homan announced a major drawdown of federal immigration agents.
Hennepin Co. Sheriff on ICE surge ending
What they’re saying:
Hennepin County Sheriff Dawanna Witt said in a news conference Friday that even though Operation Metro Surge is winding down, trust in law enforcement has been “eroded.”
Witt defended how her deputies handled Operation Metro Surge, calling the immigration operation “unprecedented” and said her deputies didn’t have a “template.”
She continued to thank her deputies for doing their job, but said her office will be addressing “all issues” and seeing what can be improved.
The sheriff did reiterate her office has not “entered into any new agreements with the federal government, despite what some influential leaders conveyed.”
“Communication and relationships will be critical as we move forward. I’ve always said that leaders at the local, state and federal level must come to the table together,” Witt said. “A real leader, a real leader prioritizes understanding, communication, reflection, and conveying truthful information responsibly, not just based off of your limited views.”
Witt went on to say that if anyone is “confused” about policies her office has adopted, they should “ask.”
Hennepin Co. board told sheriff to not alter ICE policy
The backstory:
The Hennepin County Board of Commissioners passed a resolution urging the Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office not to change its policy on Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations.
READ MORE: Hennepin Co. board tells sheriff not to alter ICE policy
The board passed the resolution Thursday afternoon, stating they support the Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office’s current policy regarding cooperating with ICE, which is not honoring detainer requests from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
According to the resolution, the board is telling the sheriff to not make “substantive changes to the policy to voluntarily increase cooperation with federal immigration enforcement.”
The board goes on to ask the sheriff to notify the public and the board if there are any changes to the policy that would increase cooperation with federal immigration enforcement.
Operation Metro Surge ending: Minnesotans react
After more than two months of an increased immigration enforcement presence in Minnesota, Border Czar Tom Homan announced on Thursday that Operation Metro Surge would be drawing to a close, with most federal agents leaving by next week. FOX 9’s Soyoung Kim is live at the Alex Pretti shooting memorial site with reactions from Minnesotans.
Indianapolis, IN
Man sentenced in 1993 cold case murder of Indianapolis woman
INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — A man convicted in the 1993 cold case murder of an Indianapolis woman has been sentenced to 45 years in prison.
Dana Shepherd, 53, was convicted of one count of murder Friday morning. Other charges of rape and an additional count of murder were dismissed.
News 8 previously reported on Shepherd following his arrest in September 2024.
Carmen Van Huss was found dead in her apartment on March 24, 1993. She’d been found by her father, who came to check on her after she’d missed several phone calls.
Following some time of investigation, her case ran cold. Through genetic testing and advanced analytics, IMPD announced they’d identified Shepherd as a suspect 31 years later.
Marion County Prosecutor Ryan Mears on Friday said his hope is Shepherd’s sentence will provide justice to Van Huss’s family.
“While no passage of time can ever heal the unimaginable loss Carmen’s family has endured, we are grateful to secure a Murder conviction more than 30 years after this heinous crime,” he said. “Our hope is that this resolution brings a measure of justice and peace to her loved ones, after three decades of waiting for answers.”
Shepherd will serve his sentence in the Indiana Department of Correction. Court records did not indicate if or when he’d be eligible for parole.
Help is available for victims of domestic violence, child abuse, and sexual assault. Below is a list of suggested resources, both national and local:
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