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Rep. Jim Banks introduces bill to increase American universities’ transparency regarding foreign gifts

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Rep. Jim Banks introduces bill to increase American universities’ transparency regarding foreign gifts

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FIRST ON FOX: Rep. Jim Banks, R-Ind., launched a invoice Friday that might pressure American universities to be extra clear about overseas presents and contracts.

The Schooling Division in 2019 and 2020 started cracking down on faculties’ acceptance of overseas presents beneath Part 117 of the Larger Schooling Act in an effort to trace the scope of cash from nations like China and Qatar within the U.S. schooling system.

That modified when President Biden took workplace. U.S. faculties reported $1.6 billion in overseas presents between July 1, 2020, and Jan. 20, 2021. Between Jan. 20, 2021 and November 2021, nevertheless, faculties reported simply $4.3 million in presents over an extended time interval, prompting questions from lawmakers about reporting necessities.

Consultant Jim Banks, a Republican from Indiana, listens throughout a information convention in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday, July 27, 2021. (Al Drago/Bloomberg)

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“Democrats are attempting to trick People into one other decade of cozy relations with the [Chinese] Communist Get together. Their faux China invoice does nothing to face as much as China. It’s legislative fraud,” Banks advised Fox Information Digital in a press release, referencing Democrats’ China competitiveness invoice, the America COMPETES Act, which incorporates quite a lot of Democratic provisions that critics say don’t belong in such a bit of laws and will result in abuse by Chinese language nationals.

REPUBLICANS PRESS EDUCATION SECRETARY ON CHINESE FOOTHOLD IN AMERICAN UNIVERSITIES

“Speaker Pelosi’s CONCEDES Act makes use of a basic sleight of hand to keep away from standing as much as China. It proposes a ‘evaluate’ of presents from Chinese language nationals, but when they’re illicit, it doesn’t really do something to cease them,” the Indiana Republican continued. “My invoice gives a easy resolution to hostile overseas affect at universities. Not like Democrat’s invoice, my invoice acknowledges that Americans can act on behalf of hostile overseas governments too and critiques after which blocks all presents from dangerous actors.”

Banks’ invoice, referred to as the Safeguard Our Universities From Overseas Affect Act, would cut back the reporting threshold for disclosure of overseas presents and contracts from $250,000 to $50,000. It additionally requires the Division of Schooling to put up complete disclosure-related paperwork on-line for the general public to evaluate, topics presents associated to essential know-how to elevated scrutiny and defines donors who generate substantial income or earnings from a overseas supply as “overseas sources.”

Representative Jim Banks, a Republican from Indiana, right, speaks during a news conference following an all member House briefing on Afghanistan at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., U.S., on Tuesday, Aug. 24, 2021. Photographer: Stefani Reynolds/Bloomberg

Consultant Jim Banks, a Republican from Indiana, proper, speaks throughout a information convention following an all member Home briefing on Afghanistan on the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., U.S., on Tuesday, Aug. 24, 2021. Photographer: Stefani Reynolds/Bloomberg

Moreover, the laws establishes an workplace on the Division of Schooling to evaluate overseas presents and contacts with the Committee on Overseas Funding in america (CFIUS) and permits that workplace to dam and undo overseas presents and contracts deemed to compromise U.S. competitiveness or nationwide safety.

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CHINESE PROPAGANDA PROGRAM IN US SCHOOLS QUIETLY CHANGES HEADQUARTERS NAME TO AVOID SCRUTINY

Former President Trump proposed a change to Part 117 that would develop overseas present reporting necessities throughout his first 12 months in workplace. President Biden withdrew these modifications and has not initiated his personal modifications to Part 117 since taking workplace. 

The nonprofit Protection of Freedom Institute for Coverage Research, Inc., beforehand advised Fox Information Digital that it observed a spike in reported overseas presents to the College of Pennsylvania after the institution of the Biden Heart for Diplomacy and World Engagement in 2017. DFI claims that the college obtained $21 million in reported overseas presents between February 2017 and September 2020. 

University campus with few students during Fall 2020, University of Pennsylvania, in Philadelphia. (Jumping Rocks/Education Images/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)

College campus with few college students throughout Fall 2020, College of Pennsylvania, in Philadelphia. (Leaping Rocks/Schooling Pictures/Common Pictures Group through Getty Pictures)

DFI wrote in a FOIA request that after the Biden Heart formally opened in 2018, the following 12 months “UPenn obtained an astonishing 389% larger reportable overseas contributions 2019 in comparison with 2018.”

As well as, a 2020 investigation by the Philadelphia Inquirer discovered that Penn obtained a staggering $258 million in overseas presents since 2013, principally from Chinese language sources. College spokesperson Stephen MacCarthy advised The Each day Pennsylvanian final 12 months that the “Penn Biden Heart has by no means solicited or obtained any presents from any Chinese language or different overseas entity.”

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Some lawmakers and political watchdogs have taken difficulty with hefty donations from China to U.S. academic entities, arguing that the donations may make U.S. schooling a goal for Chinese language propaganda.

In a Jan. 31 speech on threats posed by Chinese language affect within the U.S., FBI Director Christopher Wray warned that the Chinese language Communist Get together was exerting affect on U.S. college students and Chinese language college students learning in America from overseas.

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“In a latest incident at one Midwestern college, for instance, a Chinese language-American pupil posted on-line reward for these college students who have been killed within the Tiananmen Sq. bloodbath in 1989,” Wray remarked. “And virtually instantly, his mother and father referred to as from China, saying that Chinese language intelligence officers had proven as much as threaten them due to his put up.

Rep. Mike Gallagher, R-Wis., pressed Schooling Secretary Michael Cardona on the difficulty final 12 months. 

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The Schooling Division didn’t reply to his questions on the time, however mentioned “data of overseas presents and contracts reported to the Division by establishments can be found in a searchable format right here: https://websites.ed.gov/foreigngifts.”

Fox Information’ Adam Shaw and Timothy H.J. Nerozzi contributed to this report.

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Georgia activist steals the show after being introduced by Trump at Atlanta rally: 'Incredible'

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Georgia activist steals the show after being introduced by Trump at Atlanta rally: 'Incredible'

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A Georgia activist stole the show after being introduced by former President Trump at his rally in Atlanta Saturday.

Trump invited Michaelah Montgomery up on stage toward the end of his speech at the Georgia State University Convocation Center. He introduced Montgomery by explaining he met her at a restaurant this year.

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Trump said Montgomery, who attended Clark Atlanta University, had recognized him in public and commended him for funding historically Black colleges and universities.

“She looks at me, says ‘It’s President Trump. You saved my college.’ And I said, ‘How the hell do you know that?’ … This one is so smart, so sharp,” Trump recalled.

ALINA HABBA ACCUSES KAMALA HARRIS OF ‘COMMITTING A CRIME,’ COVERING UP BIDEN’S HEALTH

Michaelah Montgomery stole the show after being introduced by former President Trump at his Atlanta rally Saturday. (Getty Images/Fox News)

“She grabbed me. She gave me a kiss,” he added. “I said, ‘I think I’m never going back home to the first lady.’” 

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“You were supposed to keep that quiet,” Montgomery laughed.

The former president commended Montgomery, describing her as “incredible” with a “tremendous future,” and told her he would do “whatever I can to help you,” before giving her the podium.

“I do want to add on to some of the remarks that were made by others,” the conservative activist began. “And we do need to do our best to get the message out there. The fight is nothing if all we do is talk about it amongst ourselves.”

Montgomery added that she was a founder of an organization called Conserve the Culture, which helps “mobilize the HBCU students so that they may get this [conservative] message.”

THE ‘WEIRD’ CAMPAIGN: THE STUNNING DIFFERENCE BETWEEN HARRIS AND VANCE COVERAGE

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Montgomery smiling at stage

Montgomery attended Clark Atlanta University and had recognized him in public recently. (Fox News)

“Nobody needs this message more than my folks, so do y’all care for real?” Montgomery said to the cheering audience. “Are y’all with us for real?

“I’ma give it back to Big T.”

The rally took place days after Trump was criticized by the White House for statements he made at the recent National Association of Black Journalists convention about Vice President Kamala Harris’ racial identity.

“She was always of Indian heritage, and she was only promoting Indian heritage,” Trump said. “I didn’t know she was Black until a number of years ago when she happened to turn Black. And now she wants to be known as Black. So, I don’t know, is she Indian or is she Black?”

Montgomery waving

At the end of her speech, Montgomery mentioned her organization, Conserve the Culture. (Fox News)

On Wednesday, Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson praised Trump for “answering tough questions” at the conference.

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“I commend my friend @realdonaldtrump for going into a hostile environment at @NABJ today and answering tough questions,” Carson said in a post on X.

Fox News Digital reached out to the Trump campaign, but did not immediately hear back.

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Opinion: Trump proved himself unfit to be commander in chief

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Opinion: Trump proved himself unfit to be commander in chief

When I was an officer in the U.S. military, I abstained from voting in national elections, one small way to keep the armed forces nonpartisan. Now, to uphold that same value and prevent the military from becoming a political tool, I believe that in November, everyone — civilians, service members, veterans, everyone — should vote for whoever has the best chance to keep Donald Trump out of office.

This is not a political statement. This is a strategic judgment based on fitness to lead — both to defend the United States and to protect the civilian-military balance that has enabled our nation to become the greatest in history.

Today’s U.S. military is the world’s most powerful weapon, and in the wrong hands it could become a potent political tool as well. This weapon must not be placed under an unfit commander in chief, as the former president showed himself to be during the previous administration and as he has vowed to be again if he regains power.

I am neither a Democrat nor a Republican, but an American who has fought in the forces that guard our country and our way of life, in the words of our military’s Code of Conduct. I fought in Iraq, earned two Bronze Stars and taught military strategy at West Point. My commitment to military values and nonpartisanship hasn’t changed since I rejoined civilian life. What’s changed is the choice presented in American politics. There really isn’t one, because one of the two major-party presidential candidates is clearly, demonstrably, irredeemably unfit to serve as commander in chief.

Only one candidate has suggested the execution of a former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

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Only one candidate has called our war dead — specifically, the Marines who fell at Belleau Wood in France during World War I — “suckers” and “losers.”

Only one candidate has suggested putting NASCAR drivers and college coaches in critical national security positions now held by lifelong military professionals who serve as generals and admirals.

All those are awful enough.

But what settles the question altogether is the certainty that former President Trump would end the military’s bedrock contract with the American people: nonpartisanship. He tried last time and came dangerously close.

Nonpartisanship isn’t simply a nice tradition. It’s the two-factor authentication that’s been at the heart of our nation’s defense for decades. The former president instead wants military leadership that mimics the Nazi high command.

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“You f— generals, why can’t you be like the German generals?” Trump complained to his chief of staff, retired Gen. John Kelly, in 2018. Trump clarified that he wanted generals who were “totally loyal” and “yes-men,” like the Nazi commanders under Adolf Hitler.

Since America’s founding, there’s been a tension between the military and the rest of the nation’s leadership. The monopoly on violence is necessary. But monopoly means placing immense lethal power in a small, select group.

James Madison worried that “armies kept up under the pretext of defending, have enslaved the people.” But the Revolution persuaded George Washington that a competent standing military was necessary for the country’s survival.

Over time a bargain solidified. America permitted a professional military, not loyal to a party or a president, but to all the people through an oath to uphold the Constitution. The country even granted a certain amount of autonomy in strategic matters. In exchange, the military would remain nonpartisan. It would work to earn the nation’s trust and subordinate itself to civilian leadership. Military leaders engage in an “unequal dialogue” with their civilian superiors, in scholar Eliot Cohen’s phrase. This preserves the best military advice possible while staying deferential to America’s civilian leaders. There is, of course, occasional friction between presidents and generals — well worth it to maintain this pillar of national defense.

Trump wanted to destroy that pillar. Given a second term, he probably would. In its place he would enforce a subservience that would end the ability of America’s military to provide its best (or much of any) advice on peace and war. Trump would deploy the military as a political prop in service of his own brand, as he already tried to do. And he would reshape the military and the national security apparatus so that Trumpists would rise and others would not. His second term would be staffed by those prepared to “rigorously review all general and flag officer promotions” based on pro-Trump partisan qualifications, as described in the Project 2025 playbook.

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This very same mistake was an enormous Nazi failure: Hitler broke the German generals, and so his decisions went unchecked and included some of the worst strategic moves in the history of warfare.

The immediate threat of a modern commander in chief who favors the Nazi approach would be the inappropriate use of military force on America’s streets (and perhaps even at polling places). The longer threat for this kind of recklessness is unknowable but foreseeable: eroding remaining trust in the military, eviscerating the civilian-military balance, ending America’s centuries-long success story.

“It is easy to destroy an organization,” wrote retired Adm. William McRaven, former commander of U.S. Special Operations Command, “if you have no appreciation for what makes that organization great.” McRaven penned those words five years ago, during the former president’s first term in office, and ended by suggesting that if nothing were to change, someone else must serve as commander in chief.

Nothing about Trump has changed. There is only one choice on Nov. 5.

ML Cavanaugh recently retired after 25 years in the U.S. Army. He co-founded the Modern War Institute at West Point. @MLCavanaugh

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JD Vance calls Trump's offer to debate Harris on Fox News ‘masterstroke’

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JD Vance calls Trump's offer to debate Harris on Fox News ‘masterstroke’

Sen. JD Vance, R-Ohio, on Saturday called former President Trump’s offer to debate Vice President Kamala Harris on Fox News in September a “masterstroke.”

“I think it’s great,” Trump’s vice presidential pick told SiriusXM’s “Breitbart News Saturday.”In some ways, it’s a masterstroke because, of course, the Kamala campaign has been saying for a long time that President Trump is afraid to debate Kamala Harris, which, of course, is absurd because the last time he debated their nominee, that nominee withdrew two weeks later.” 

President Biden pulled out of the race and endorsed Harris as the nominee last month after his weak debate performance in late June drew concerns from Democrats.

Late Friday night, Trump wrote on Truth Social, “I have agreed with FoxNews to debate Kamala Harris on Wednesday, September 4th. The Debate was previously scheduled against Sleepy Joe Biden on ABC, but has been terminated in that Biden will no longer be a participant, and I am in litigation against ABC Network and George Slopadopoulos, thereby creating a conflict of interest. 

KAMALA HARRIS FACES A DIFFICULT DECISION WITH VP PICK: STRATEGIST MATT KEELEN

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“The FoxNews Debate will be held in the Great Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, at a site in an area to be determined. The Moderators of the Debate will be Bret Baier and Martha MacCallum, and the Rules will be similar to the Rules of my Debate with Sleepy Joe, who has been treated horribly by his Party – BUT WITH A FULL ARENA AUDIENCE!”

Sen. JD Vance on Saturday called former President Trump’s offer to debate Vice President Kamala Harris on Fox News in September a “masterstroke.” (Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

Trump and Biden had previously been scheduled to debate on Sept. 10 on ABC. 

Vance said Trump has “fairly” said about the previously scheduled debate, “I’m not going to do a debate before the Democratic National Convention because maybe they’ll switch out their nominee again.” 

The Democratic National Convention is scheduled for Aug. 19-22. 

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The Ohio senator added that Trump was “throwing down the gauntlet of ‘I was willing to go to CNN,’ which is far more hostile to him than any network would be to Kamala Harris, and ‘Kamala Harris, why don’t you come and agree to a debate.

“The thing that we’ve learned about Kamala, Matt, over the last four years, is she’s incredibly bad if she’s not scripted, right?” 

13 DAYS: KAMALA HARRIS HAS NOT HELD A PRESS CONFERENCE SINCE EMERGING AS PRESUMPTIVE DEMOCRATIC NOMINEE

Kamala Harris speaking

On Saturday, Harris hit back at Trump’s offer for a new debate on X, writing, “It’s interesting how ‘any time, any place’ becomes ‘one specific time, one specific safe space.’ I’ll be there on September 10th, like he agreed to. I hope to see him there.” (Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)

Vance added that the final reason he’s thinks “it’s so smart for the president” to want an audience at the debate is “he really feeds off of human beings, which is like natural and normal for a political leader.

“You’re supposed to lead people, and to lead people you actually have to sort of like people and engage with them well,” he said. “So, him having a crowd for this debate, I think, is really important because it will show his natural leadership ability. And it also shows, frankly, that people are kind of turned off by Kamala Harris. So, I think it’s good. Hopefully, it happens, and hopefully Kamala Harris agrees to it. If she doesn’t, then, clearly, she’s the one who’s afraid to debate.”

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Trump and Biden debating on June 27

President Biden dropped his bid for re-election after a weak debate performance against former President Trump June 27.  ( Eva Marie Uzcategui/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

Harris hit back at Trump’s offer for a new debate on X Saturday, writing, “It’s interesting how ‘any time, any place’ becomes ‘one specific time, one specific safe space.’ I’ll be there on September 10th, like he agreed to. I hope to see him there.”

In the spring, Trump had called on Biden for a debate “any time, any place.” 

“Donald Trump is running scared and trying to back out of the debate he already agreed to and running straight to Fox News to bail him out,” Harris campaign communications director Michael Tyler told Fox News Digital. “He needs to stop playing games and show up to the debate he already committed to on Sept 10.”

Tyler said Harris would be at the previously scheduled ABC debate “one way or the other to take the opportunity to speak to a primetime national audience. We’re happy to discuss further debates after the one both campaigns have already agreed to. Mr. Anytime, anywhere, anyplace should have no problem with that unless he’s too scared to show up on the 10th.”

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