Ritchie Torres

It's been over 20 years since a Republican was elected governor of New York. Could Rep. Mike Lawler end the losing streak in 2026? The two-term congressman talks with Fox News Digital.

A House Democrat's long-shot bill to criminalize the sharing of classified information through unsecured messaging systems like Signal will be called the "HOUTHI PC SMALL GROUP Act," Axios has learned.Why it matters: It's a sign of just how eager Democrats are to seize on the Trump national security team's blunder in accidentally adding a journalist to a Signal chat in which high-level military operations were discussed.The scandal, which some outlets have dubbed "Signalgate," has dominated a pair of congressional intelligence hearings this week.House Judiciary Committee ranking member Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) sent Attorney General Pam Bondi and FBI Director Kash Patel a letter asking if the DOJ is investigating the stunning breach.Democrats have also lined up to call for Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, National Security Advisor Mike Waltz and others to be ousted.Driving the news: The bill, which is being drafted by Rep. Ritchie Torres (D-N.Y.) would ensure the Espionage Act's prohibition on disclosing classified information includes sending it through unsecured channels.Violators would be subject to up to 5 years in prison and a $250,000 fine, Torres' office told Axios.The name is an acronym, which stands for "Homeland Operations and Unilateral Tactics Halting Incursions: Preventing Coordinated Subversion, Military Aggression and Lawless Levies Granting Rogue Operatives Unchecked Power."

Trump administration officials' use of a Signal chat that included the editor-in-chief of The Atlantic, Jeffrey Goldberg, rocked Washington this week, raising questions about possible violations of the Espionage Act.Why it matters: The Signal chat's revelation of sensitive information about airstrikes on Houthi targets in Yemen threatens to wreck dire political consequences on members of President Trump's national security team.The big picture: The saga has sparked speculation over whether Trump officials violated the Espionage Act by coordinating by coordinating "national defense" plans in such a careless manner.The incident has also proven a political boon to Democrats, who have zeroed in on calls to oust Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and National Security Adviser Mike Waltz from their positions.Rep. Ritchie Torres (D-N.Y.) plans to introduce legislation that would ensure the Espionage Act's prohibition against disclosing classified information would extend to transmitting it over unsecured channels, like Signal, Axios' Andrew Solender scooped Tuesday.What is the Espionage Act?The Espionage Act was enacted in 1917 — as the U.S. was embroiled in World War I — and criminalized unauthorized retention and dissemination of sensitive information that could undermine U.S. national defense or aid a foreign nation.The most high-profile use cases of the Espionage Act have pertained to the leaking of classified government information, as in the case of Wikileaks founder Julian Assange. The FBI's seizure of classified documents from Mar-a-Lago in 2022 raised questions about whether Trump had violated the Espionage Act.What's the punishment for violating the Espionage Act?Individuals charged with violating the Espionage Act stand to face heavy fines and possible imprisonment.The Espionage Act specifies that violators could face a fine of up to $10,000 or up to 10 years in prison, or both.Did the Signal chat violate the Espionage Act?Trump administration officials' decision to communicate military plans via a messaging app — let alone one that included a journalist — has sparked concerns from national security lawyers of possible Espionage Act violations.However, while the saga represents a "clear breach of security protection" standards, "actual criminal liability is far murkier," Bradley Moss, a national security attorney, told Axios.Zoom in: "The government historically has only brought prosecutions under the Espionage Act or related provisions if there is evidence of deliberate intent to disseminate or mishandle classified information in an unauthorized way," Moss noted.Prosecuting Hegseth would be difficult without proving he knew of both Goldberg's presence and the classified nature of the information, he said.While Hegseth "should have known this information was classified, and he should have known it was not appropriate for a conversation on Signal, proving intent would certainly not be a given in a criminal case," Moss added.However, the officials' use of Signal — which is not authorized for discussions of classified information — would have sparked concerns about Espionage Act violations even if Goldberg hadn't been present.What does the act mean for The Atlantic?The Atlantic is unlikely to face legal liability, since news publications typically aren't prosecuted for publishing leaked classified information, according to Moss.Additionally, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard and CIA Director John Ratcliffe both testified before the Senate Tuesday that none of the information shared in the chat was classified.It's therefore "difficult to imagine" how the information published by the magazine would qualify as "national defense information" while simultaneously before unclassified, Moss said.Go deeper: Calls for Hegseth, Waltz ousters grow in Congress over leaked chat

Columnist David Marcus likens Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez to George Burns and Gracie Allen, and says their tour of progressive poliitcs is hilarious - for all the wrong reasons.

The screaming headline was prophetic: “Trump’s Policies Shake Academic World and May Reshape U.S. Culture.”

Democrat Kristen McDonald Rivet is the latest House member to receive Senate buzz in Michigan. (Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call file photo)

House Democrats from across the party's ideological spectrum — united in their fury at Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) — are engaged in a campaign to get Senate Democrats to defy their leader.Why it matters: House lawmakers feel that there is a glimmer of hope, however faint, that they can actually persuade their Senate counterparts to reject a Republican-led government spending bill."There is a massive effort going on with people reaching out to their senators ... still happening this morning," one House Democrat told Axios on Friday. "We just need to pick off four or five" senators, the lawmaker said. What we're hearing: House Democrats are circulating a draft letter to Schumer, a copy of which was obtained by Axios, voicing "strong opposition" to passing the spending measure."The American people sent Democrats to Congress to fight against Republican chaos," they wrote."Instead of capitulating to their obstruction, we must fight ... we urge you to reject the partisan continuing resolution."The letter has been signed by more than 50 House Democrats, one lawmaker told Axios. It was first reported by the Washington Post.State of play: Schumer sent House Democrats into fits of rage on Thursday by announcing that he would vote to allow Senate Republicans to pass their stopgap government spending bill.Democrats have pushed for language in the bill to stop DOGE from cutting congressionally approved spending, but Schumer argued that Democrats would ultimately lose a shutdown fight.The announcement came after all House Democrats except Rep. Jared Golden (D-Maine) voted against the bill, which passed the chamber virtually along party lines Tuesday. Now they feel they walked the plank for nothing.President Trump on Friday praised Schumer's "courage" in backing the bill. The intrigue: It's not just the left pressuring Schumer. "A lot of it is being led by [former Progressive Caucus chair Pramila] Jayapal and AOC, but there are frontliners too trying to whip," one House Democrat told Axios.The draft letter is being led by Rep. Derek Tran (D-Calif.), who represents one of the most competitive districts in the country, according to multiple House Democrats and aides familiar with the matter.A centrist House Democrat who represents a battleground district stressed to Axios that "this is NOT an ideological battle. I've never seen our caucus more united around an issue."What they're saying: Centrist Rep. Jared Moskowitz (D-Fla.), asked by Axios about Schumer's decision to support the stopgap bill, quipped, "Amy Schumer was great in that movie 'Trainwreck.'"Rep. Ritchie Torres (D-N.Y.) said in a statement that Senate Democrats are "making a strategic calculation that we as a party might live to regret.""The CR represents the best (and possibly only) leverage that we as Democrats will have to halt or impede Donald Trump's systematic decimation of the social safety net—particularly Medicaid," he added.The bottom line: "The anger from yesterday has not subsided at all," a House Democrat told Axios, adding that members feel "let down.""At the end of the day, because this is the only opportunity where we matter, we needed to get more from it, and we got nothing," the lawmaker said.The Democrat noted that swing-district House lawmakers already see themselves getting roasted by Republicans for opposing a bill that could now pass anyway: "The NRCC ads are already happening."

Rep. Jared Golden, D-Maine, told Salon that he thinks "a shutdown will make things worse, not better"

Approximately 46% of Democrats would support Hochul’s bid in a 2026 primary against potential contenders, Lt. Gov. Antonio Delgado and U.S. Rep. Ritchie Torres, D-Bronx, a poll from the Siena College Research Institute found.

Approximately 46% of Democrats would support Hochul’s bid in a 2026 primary against potential contenders, Lt. Gov. Antonio Delgado and U.S. Rep. Ritchie Torres, D-Bronx, a poll from the Siena College Research Institute found.

Approximately 46% of Democrats would support Hochul’s bid in a 2026 primary against potential contenders, Lt. Gov. Antonio Delgado and U.S. Rep. Ritchie Torres, D-Bronx, a poll from the Siena College Research Institute found.

Kingsley Wilson has pushed conspiracy theories about Leo Frank and Haitian migrants, and argued against U.S. support for Israel and Ukraine.

Lt. Gov. Antonio Delgado announced Monday that he will not be Gov. Kathy Hochul's running mate in 2026 as he considers his own run for governor.

Welcome to the Fox News Politics newsletter with the latest updates on the Trump administration, Capitol Hill and more Fox News politics content.

Trump doubled down on the Napoleon reference on Sunday, reposting an image of the French emperor riding into battle with the text "He who saves his country violates no law" overlaid.

New York Rep. Mike Lawler, here at a campaign rally in Congers in October, is weighing a bid for governor. (Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call file photo)

In our analysis, the likeliest scenario is an old-school matchup between Adams and Cuomo, two politicians who thrive on transactional politics, not left-wing purity tests.

Primary battles are already underway in key Senate and gubernatorial races ahead of the 2026 midterms, an election that will determine not only control of Congress but also the governorships in several states. Retirements and term limits have triggered wide-open contests that are poised to become packed with candidates, while a few potentially vulnerable incumbents [...]

Releasing murderers like Walker from prison serves no public interest at all. It only serves to re-victimize the loved ones of the murder victims.

After New York Mayor Eric Adams announced plans for a 2,000-bed migrant shelter in the Bronx, Rep. Ritchie Torres slammed the decision, accusing Adams of creating an immigrant “dumping ground."

Congress' long-simmering debate over the age of its members has resurfaced over revelations that Rep. Kay Granger (R-Texas) has been living in an independent living facility in Texas.Why it matters: The retiring former House Appropriations Committee chair's absence from votes since July has led some of her colleagues to raise concerns.The latest: Granger acknowledged in a Sunday statement to Axios that she has "been navigating some unforeseen health challenges over the past year.""Since early September, my health challenges have progressed making frequent travel to Washington both difficult and unpredictable."Granger's son Brandon told the Dallas Morning News that she has been "having some dementia issues late in the year."Yes, but: Brandon Granger pushed back on a report from the Dallas Express – whose CEO Chris Putnam ran against Granger in 2020 – that his mother was living in a memory care facility.Instead, he said, she resides in the independent living facility of Tradition Senior Living in Fort Worth, which advertises itself as a "luxury senior living community."A source familiar with the matter told Axios that Granger moved into the independent senior living facility around July.What they're saying: Rep. Ritchie Torres (D-N.Y.) told Axios in a statement that the public "is entitled to far greater transparency about the health of the elected officials who represent them.""The incapacitation of an elected official is a material fact that should be disclosed to the public, rather than concealed by staff," he added.Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) called for term limits in a post on X, saying Granger's absence "reveals the problem with a Congress that rewards seniority & relationships more than merit & ideas."Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) said in a post on X responding to the Dallas Express report that he is "more concerned about the congressmen who have dementia and are still voting."Zoom in: A House Republican, speaking on the condition of anonymity regarding Granger's absence, says it's "absolutely" worrying because her constituents "don't have a vote."The lawmaker said there's not enough political will yet to address Congress' age issue, but "there should be."What we're hearing: The first source told Axios that Granger would have made different preparations had she known she would be unable to vote towards the end of the session, citing the unforeseen progression of her illness.Granger was also clear with leadership about her situation and said she would return to D.C. to vote if she was needed, the source said.The source also argued that her resignation would have left the seat vacant until January and still created a representation issue.Zoom out: Granger stepped down as the Appropriations Committee chair in April and will retire on Jan. 3 when her term expires.Granger's status was highlighted by her missing a vote on Friday to avert a government shutdown, despite her past leadership of the panel that deals with government funding.She was, however, present at the Capitol in November when her portrait was unveiled to honor her long-standing work as a member of the House Appropriations Committee.Granger said in her statement on Sunday that, while in D.C. last month, she was able to hold "meetings on behalf of my constituents, express my gratitude to my staff, and oversee the closure of my Washington office."Between the lines: While leadership may have been kept in the loop, several rank-and-file House members from both parties told Axios they were unaware of Granger's living situation until this weekend.Rep. Tony Gonzales (R-Texas), a member of Granger's delegation, said Sunday on CBS News' "Face the Nation" that he was not aware of Granger's condition but acknowledged there was "no doubt a lot of us knew she was gaining in age like a lot of members do." Go deeper: Charted: Baby Boomers rule Congress

The committee’s working group on critical minerals policies holds its final meeting today.

Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul's approval and favorable ratings are edging up, but a new poll indicates a majority of New Yorkers would prefer someone else to win the 2026 election for governor

Rep. Greg Casar, D-Texas, was elevated to the highest-ranking leadership position for progressives in the House of Representatives following a unanimous vote from his peers on Thursday.

The Fox News Politics newsletter, with the latest updates on the Trump transition, exclusive interviews and more Fox News politics content.

Democratic Rep. Ritchie Torres described New York Gov. Kathy Hochul as "the new Joe Biden" and warned of a possible 2026 gubernatorial election loss.

Staten Island: The City of Yes zoning plan was approved by key committees last week. I’m hoping the full City Council sees this legislation for what it is: a pro-development initiative dressed as housing policy.

He’s not focused on solving the real problems Californians face—he’s focused on positioning himself as the new standard-bearer for the far-left wing of his party.

U.S. lawmakers from both parties condemned the ICC's move to issue arrest warrants against Israeli figures Benjamin Netanyahu and Yoav Gallant.

Democratic support for the bill dwindled as critics warned it would let Donald Trump crack down on political foes.The post The House Just Blessed Trump’s Authoritarian Playbook by Passing Nonprofit-Killer Bill appeared first on The Intercept.

Welcome to At the Races! Each week we bring you news and analysis from the CQ Roll Call campaign team. Know someone who’d like to get this newsletter? They can subscribe here. House Democrats voted this week to keep their top leaders in place for the next Congress, as the race to lead the national party [...]The post At the Races: DNC, or the Democrats’ Next Campaign appeared first on Roll Call.

Legislation that would have handed President-elect Donald Trump sweeping power to investigate and shutter news outlets, government watchdogs, humanitarian organizations, and other nonprofits was defeated in the House of Representatives on Tuesday after a coalition of progressive advocacy groups and lawmakers mobilized against it, warning of the bill's dire implications for the right to dissent.But 52 Democratic lawmakers—including Reps. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), Henry Cuellar (D-Texas), and Ritchie Torres (D-N.Y.)—apparently did not share the grave concerns expressed by the ACLU and other leading rights groups, opting to vote alongside 204 Republicans in favor of the bill.One Republican, Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky, joined 144 Democrats in voting no.The measure ultimately fell short of the two-thirds majority needed to approve legislation under the fast-track procedure used by the bill's supporters, but progressives wasted no time spotlighting the Democrats who supported the measure."If you're looking for a handy list of Democrats who have no fucking clue what is about to hit and need their spines stiffened ASAP, this is a good place to start," wrote Leah Greenberg, co-executive director of the advocacy group Indivisible.Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.), who vocally opposed the legislation, wrote that "these 52 Democrats voted to give Trump the power to shut down any nonprofit he wants.""The NAACP, ACLU, Planned Parenthood, no organization would be safe," Tlaib added. "Shameful."If passed, the Stop Terror-Financing and Tax Penalties on American Hostages Act would grant the Treasury Department—soon to be under the control of a Trump nominee—the authority to unilaterally strip nonprofits of their tax-exempt status by deeming them supporters of terrorism.The bill could be revived in the next Congress, which is likely to be under full Republican control.Kia Hamadanchy, senior policy counsel with the ACLU, toldThe Intercept late Tuesday that "we will continue our sustained opposition."It is already illegal under U.S. law to provide material backing for terrorism, and the executive branch has significant authority to target groups it considers terrorist-supporting."This isn't just an attack on our communities; it's a fundamental threat to free speech and democracy."The ACLU noted ahead of Tuesday's vote that while the bill contains "a 90-day 'cure' period in which a designated nonprofit can mount a defense, it is a mere illusion of due process.""The government may deny organizations its reasons and evidence against them, leaving the nonprofit unable to rebut allegations," the group said. "This means that a nonprofit could be left entirely in the dark about what conduct the government believes qualifies as 'support,' making it virtually impossible to clear its name."Opponents of the bill warned that Palestinian rights organizations would be uniquely imperiled if it passed."This bill dangerously weaponizes the Treasury against nonprofit organizations and houses of worship—Christian, Jewish, or Muslim—that dare to support Palestinian and Lebanese human rights or criticize Israel's genocidal actions," said Robert McCaw, director of government affairs at the Council on American-Islamic Relations."Allowing such sweeping, unchecked power would set a chilling precedent, enabling the government to selectively target and suppress voices of dissent under the guise of national security," McCaw added. "This isn't just an attack on our communities; it's a fundamental threat to free speech and democracy."Georgia State Rep. Ruwa Romman (D-97), a Palestinian American, echoed that sentiment following Tuesday's vote and condemned the legislation's 52 Democratic supporters."Every single Democrat who voted for this is not taking the threat of Trump remotely seriously and should be disqualified from any leadership positions moving forward," Romman wrote on social media. "This is no longer business as usual. To agree to give him this kind of power is beyond egregious."

Progressives are urging Democrats to pursue a path forward that prioritizes America’s working-class population, the coalition that overwhelmingly rejected their party and supported President-elect Trump for a second term. Leftists believe moderates have failed to uplift economically marginalized people, deviating from their decades-old mandate and leaving that group open to Republicans’ message. Failing to keep [...]

The House nixed a bill empowering the Treasury Department to revoke nonprofits’ tax-exempt status over alleged ties to “terror.”The post Lawmakers Reject Bill That Would Let Trump Destroy Nonprofits appeared first on The Intercept.

Prominent antisemite Mehdi Hasan blames the Jews for the pogrom they faced in Amsterdam. Torres is dead right to call him and his backers out.

Rep. Seth Moulton, D-Mass., is facing progressive backlash for comments about transgender youth athletes while discussing dissent on the left.

The lithium-ion battery fire problem is one more instance of technology and society advancing too quickly for regulation and prevention to meaningfully keep up. The proliferation of app-based delivery has exploded the popularity of these lithium-ion battery-powered bikes and scooters, which in turn has driven workers — who are by and large lower-income folks looking to ameliorate the steep up-front costs of getting set up to do the work — to cheaper, less well-manufactured and more dangerous batteries. These are simple market dynamics, but unfortunately ones where the triumph of the cheaper product is leading to injury and death.

The Hillsborough County Democratic Hispanic Caucus of Florida is holding a press conference to address remarks made about Puerto Rico during a rally for former President Trump in New York City on Sunday.

A speaker at former President Donald Trump's rally in Madison Square Garden on Sunday spent a portion of his time attacking Puerto Rico, drawing backlash from Democrats and the Harris campaign.

The Intercept followed AIPAC’s money trail to reveal how its political spending impacts the balance of power in Congress.The post How Does AIPAC Shape Washington? We Tracked Every Dollar. appeared first on The Intercept.

The following is a transcript of an interview with Rep. Mike Lawler, Republican of New York, on "Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan" that aired on Oct. 20, 2024.

Trump’s campaign is betting millions of dollars that most sports fans don’t want their taxes spent on providing gender-affirming surgeries for prisoners, including undocumented immigrants.

The bill would require the Secret Service to use the same standards for assessing protection requirements for candidates as it does for the President.

The Secret Service was not made aware that a local agency that was providing support to the Secret Service, according to the report.

The bill's passage follows two apparent assassination attempts on former President Donald Trump. It is unclear if a Senate version will advance.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Lawmakers are scrambling to ensure that the U.S. Secret Service has enough money and resources to keep the nation’s presidential candidates safe amid repeated threats of violence. It’s unclear, though, how much they can do with only weeks before the election, or if additional dollars would make an immediate difference.

The House unanimously passed a bill on Friday that seeks to bolster former President Trump’s security, the first legislative move the chamber has made in response to the second apparent assassination attempt against the Republican presidential nominee. The House cleared the legislation — titled the Enhanced Presidential Security Act — in a bipartisan 405-0 vote, sending it [...]

Trump does not have the same level of Secret Service protection as a sitting president, Palm Beach County Sheriff Ric Bradshaw said Sunday.

'They're tired of DEI, they're tired of the campus protests'

In AIPAC's absence, a Samuels campaign staffer and pro-Israel super PAC donors strategize to oust another Squad member.The post Inside the “Zionists for Don Samuels” WhatsApp Group Raising Big Money to Oust Ilhan Omar appeared first on The Intercept.