Midwest
Michigan Democrat won't caucus with her 'disconnected party': 'Better off by myself'
A Michigan Democrat is refusing to caucus with her own party in the state legislature, citing a major “disconnect” from voters after refusing to pivot on key issues following the party’s 2024 loss.
State Rep. Karen Whitsett revealed why she refuses to caucus with the Democrats for the 2025-2026 legislative session during “The Faulkner Focus” Thursday.
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“I’m not going to caucus with them because of their talking points and the fact that they are disconnected,” Whitsett told Harris Faulkner. “They’re still using the same rhetoric that lost in the race, so why am I going to caucus with a group that’s totally disconnected?
“I know how to read a bill, so I don’t need someone to tell me how to vote,” she continued. “Clearly, they have messed up the whole entire voting system as it is, so why would I do that? I’m better off just being by myself, read my bills and get things done for my district.”
Then-Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump visits The Great Commoner cafe on November 01, 2024 in Dearborn, Michigan. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
Whitsett also told The Detroit News another reason she won’t caucus with the Democrats is because she has a close working relationship with Matt Hall, the Republican House speaker.
She noted that her left-wing colleagues might accuse her of leaking information to the Republicans if she did caucus with them, and she hasn’t caucused with her own party regularly before.
Whitsett, who formerly endorsed President Biden but met with President-elect Donald Trump previously, told Faulkner she “completely understands” how Trump received historic support from communities of color, which historically vote deep-blue, in the 2024 election.
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“I completely understand,” Whitsett said. “Now, do people like it or expect it or accept it? Absolutely not. Because you’re a Black woman in Lansing really in an old White man’s world. So to be able to work on the other side of the aisle is not heard of. No one really likes the fact that you’re doing that. But if I was a White man, they would just pat me on the back and they would say, ‘Great job.’”
A Fox News Voter Analysis showed Trump’s crossover appeal to Democratic constituencies was foundational to his success. He improved on his 2020 numbers among Hispanics (41%, +6 points), Black voters (15%, +7 points), and young voters (46%, +10 points).
These rightward shifts were particularly notable among Hispanic men (+8 points), Black men (+12 points), and men under 30 (+14 points) from 2020.
Fox News’ Chris Pandolfo contributed to this report.
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Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem warned California Gov. Gavin Newsom that federal investigators are headed west after uncovering what she described as massive fraud in Minnesota public programs.
“We’re going to come to you, Governor Newsom, and we’re going to arrest every single individual that has ties to this kind of stealing of taxpayer dollars, and we will hold them accountable,” Noem said on “Jesse Watters Primetime” on Tuesday.
“We’ll bring them to justice.”
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Secretary Kristi Noem said she intends to investigate fraud in California under Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom. (Nelvin C. Cepeda/The San Diego Union-Tribune; Arnold Jerocki/Getty Images)
Noem’s warning came one day after President Donald Trump called California “more corrupt than any place,” including Minnesota. Newsom responded Monday, saying he welcomes “partnering” with the president on the issue.
“If he has some unique insight and information, I look forward to partnering with him. Can’t stand fraud, can’t stand waste and abuse,” he told MS NOW.
Recent Homeland Security operations in Minnesota revealed widespread fraud tied to public assistance programs and saw “hundreds and hundreds” of arrests.
Noem said she thinks the scandal is “just the tip of the iceberg.”
“It is leading us to networks all over the country and overseas, and we’re gonna follow every single one of them.”
The fraud, which Noem called “unprecedented,” involved criminals allegedly siphoning money meant for Medicaid and developmental services to fund “luxury homes and vacations.”
She accused Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz of ignoring warnings from state employees who raised concerns about fraudulent businesses and nonprofits collecting government funds, and said Democrats attempted to cover it up.
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Secretary Kristi Noem claims Democratic Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz ignored state employees raising red flags about fraud. (Christopher Mark Juhn/Anadolu via Getty Images)
The largest case, known as the “Feeding Our Future” scandal, centers on a Somali-linked nonprofit accused of exploiting federal child nutrition programs. More than 70 defendants have been charged to date.
Additional cases involve alleged fraud in Minnesota’s Housing Stabilization Services program, an early autism services program, and the Integrated Community Supports program, which provides assistance and training to people with disabilities living independently in the community.
The investigations are being led by the FBI, IRS Criminal Investigation, Homeland Security Investigations, the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General, and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, according to the Justice Department.
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Noem said the Minnesota operations also led to arrests for violent crimes, including murder and sexual assault.
“We arrested a murderer, someone who was extorting money in other countries and also sexual assault perpetrators, individuals who were attacking children,” Noem said.
Fox News Digital’s Charles Creitz contributed to this report.
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DETROIT — Former Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Michael Lorenzen has signed a one-year, $8 million contract with the Colorado Rockies.
It’s the first signing of the offseason for the Rockies under new president Paul DePodesta. The deal includes a $9 million club option for 2027.
It’s the fifth straight winter that Lorenzen has signed a one-year deal following a seven-season tenure with the Cincinnati Reds.
Lorenzen, who turned 34 this week, signed a free-agent deal with the Tigers before the 2023 season. He made 18 starts and was selected for his first appearance in the All-Star Game before being dealt to the Philadelphia Phillies at the trade deadline for infield prospect Hao-Yu Lee.
After a strong start with his new team that included a no-hitter, Lorenzen was moved to the bullpen and pitched sparingly in the postseason.
He found a quiet reception on the free-agent market, agreeing to a discounted one-year deal with the Texas Rangers before the 2024 season. He was traded to the Royals at the deadline and pitched well down the stretch, going 2-0 with a 1.57 ERA in 28 2/3 innings with his new team.
He re-signed with the Royals in 2025 and put together another solid season, posting a 4.64 ERA in 141 innings with 127 strikeouts and 39 walks.
Colorado is known as an unforgiving home for pitchers, and the Rockies lost a league-worst 119 games in 2025.
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Milwaukee Police Department
MILWAUKEE – One person was taken to the hospital after a stabbing in Milwaukee on Wednesday night, Jan. 7.
What we know:
According to Milwaukee police, a 26-year-old was stabbed around 7 p.m. near 40th and McKinley.
Milwaukee police arrested a suspect on the scene.
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What you can do:
Anyone with any information is asked to contact Milwaukee police at 414-935-7360 or to remain anonymous, contact Crime Stoppers at 414-224-Tips or P3 Tips.
The Source: The information in this post was provided by the Milwaukee Police Department.
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