Plus: Meta officially kills encrypted Instagram DMs, the Trump administration targets “violent left wing extremists,” leaked documents reveal Russia's school for elite hackers, and more.View the full article

I am having a tough week. I was recently compelled to write a column expressing skepticism about the prosecution of former FBI Director James Comey for shell art posted on social media, despite being one of his longest and most vocal critics. Now, I find myself having to write a column in defense of former Northwestern University President Morton Schapiro, who was just dumped as the commencement speaker for Georgetown Law School. I have criticized Schapiro for years as a major force in destroying the intellectual diversity in higher education. The problem with believing in free speech is that you have to believe in free speech even for those whose speech you abhor. The irony in both cases is crushing. Comey, who targeted President Donald Trump in a baseless Russian collusion investigation manufactured by the Clinton campaign, is now complaining about lawfare against him. Schapiro is even less compelling as a victim in a cancel campaign. While Northwestern president, Schapiro pandered to the left and showed little support for free speech on campus. Schapiro denounced what he called "absolute" free speech positions and endorsed speech sanctions, including treating speech as a form of assault. Under Schapiro, a wide array of speech was deemed "microaggressive" or intolerable in the interests of harmony and inclusion. He did little to quell the viewpoint intolerance at Northwestern and the virtual purging of faculty ranks of conservative or Republican faculty. Now the mob has come for Schapiro. GEORGETOWN LAW STUDENTS SUCCEED IN GETTING PRO-ISRAEL COMMENCEMENT SPEAKER TO DROP OUT He was selected to speak at the law school commencement and immediately triggered an outcry. A Jewish academic, Schapiro is viewed as pro-Israel. He was immediately labeled a "Zionist" and an offensive choice by students and faculty. A petition called on the administration to remove Schapiro, stating "Schapiro is not a lawyer, has no connection to Georgetown, and holds controversial, Zionist, and harmful opinions." Of course, past commencement speakers such as Henry Louis Gates Jr. were also non-lawyers with no connection to Georgetown, but there were no protests. That was just last year. HARVARD'S LEFT-LEANING HISTORY OF COMMENCEMENT SPEAKERS AMID DEBATE ABOUT LACK OF VIEWPOINT DIVERSITY Every year, commencements remain a virtual lock for liberal and Democratic speakers. After eliminating most conservative faculty members from departments, universities have made commencements the final lessons of ideological indoctrination for students. This year’s speakers include figures ranging from Nancy Pelosi (Notre Dame de Namur University) to Jamie Raskin (American University and Goucher College) to candidates like James Talarico (Paul Quinn College). There is no subtlety in their selection or their messages. As expected, Pelosi slammed the GOP and Trump while Talarico gave effectively a stump speech on fighting the billionaires. Schapiro fits within the narrow ideological bandwidth of permissible liberal speakers with one notable complication: he supports Israel. ANTISEMITIC ‘VENOM’ INFECTING CAMPUSES GETS WORSE AS UNIVERSITIES PLAY ‘ROPE-A-DOPE’ WITH TRUMP ADMIN: EXPERT Accordingly, Schapiro was unceremoniously dumped and replaced with a Georgetown law professor who has opposed investigations into antisemitism on campuses. For his part, Schapiro wrote campus leaders: "I have presided over 28 commencements as a president and dean, and those ceremonies are about celebrating the graduates and their supporters. I was looking forward to giving a talk about humility and gratitude, but I don’t want my presence to distract from the day’s festivities. I wish the law school graduates the best of luck in the days ahead." It was a gracious and mature response to an adolescent and irrational campaign. MY UNIVERSITY FIRED ME OVER MY VIEWS. NOW IT’S PAYING THE PRICE It was, regrettably, the product of the very same cringing-concession policies I previously criticized Schapiro for enabling at Northwestern. During his tenure, the university abandoned academic integrity and control to student mobs. One example that I previously discussed involved a Sociology class taught by Professor Beth Redbird that examined "inequality in American society with an emphasis on race, class and gender." Redbird invited both an undocumented person and a spokesperson for the Immigration and Customs Enforcement. It was precisely the type of balanced discussion that we once valued in higher education, exposing students to vastly different views to allow them to consider the underlying social and political realities. Various student groups organized protests to stop their fellow students from hearing from the ICE representative. They were greatly assisted by the university itself. As protesters screamed "F**k ICE" outside of the hall, the Dean of Students appeared and told these students that they would be allowed into the class if they promised not to disrupt it. The university simply asked them to stop screaming profanities and told Redbird that they promised to sit quietly in her class. I'M A CONSERVATIVE STUDENT AND THE NO. 1 QUESTION I GET IS: 'HOW DO I SURVIVE LEFTIST PROFESSORS?' Of course, they immediately stopped the class, the ICE official had to be removed, and Redbird was forced to cancel her class. What was most unnerving was not just the passivity of Northwestern (which took no action against the students) but also the sense of entitlement at the university that prevented others from speaking. Sophomore April Navarro rejected the notion that faculty should be allowed to invite such speakers to their classrooms for a "good, nice conversation with ICE." She added, "We’re not interested in having those types of conversations … We’re not engaging in those kinds of things; it legitimizes ICE’s violence, it makes Northwestern complicit in this." Now, it is Schapiro himself being canceled. In my book Rage and the Republic, I write about how academic and political figures are ignoring history as they pander to radical groups. Democratic leaders like Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries believe that they can ride a rage wave back into power. What they ignore is how these revolutions ultimately "devour their own." Today’s revolutionaries become tomorrow’s reactionaries. Schapiro is only the latest victim of viewpoint intolerance in higher education. Of course, his detractors can quote Schapiro himself in dismissing objections as reducing free speech to mere "slogans or free speech at all costs." It appears that he is now one of the prohibitive costs to be avoided in our academic echo chamber. 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Democrats accused the Trump administration of political prosecution after powerful Virginia Senate President Pro-Tem L. Louise Lucas’ Portsmouth office and cannabis dispensary was raided by the FBI. However, reports surfaced after the raid that the investigation into the 81-year-old, three-decade senator was started under former President Joe Biden’s administration. Scandal-plagued Attorney General Jay Jones — whose comments about envisioning the murder of the commonwealth’s former GOP House Speaker roiled his ultimately successful campaign – cast aspersions on President Donald Trump and "failed prosecutions" of his political "enemies." "We simply do not have sufficient information about the reported FBI activity in Portsmouth. However, several previous actions of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia have undermined public confidence in that office," he said of the Alexandria-centered prosecutor’s office that handles cases in Lucas’ region. POWERFUL DEM’S JABS AT TRUMP COME BACK TO HAUNT HER AFTER OFFICE RAIDED BY FBI: ‘AGED WELL’ "These include the failed prosecutions against President Trump’s stated political enemies, former FBI Director James Comey and New York Attorney General Letitia James that were both dismissed by a judge well before trial. I urge everyone to exercise restraint in judgment until the relevant facts are known in this matter," Jones said, referring in part to allegations of wrongdoing in connection to a home linked to James in nearby Norfolk. Rep. Bobby Scott, a Newport News Democrat who has represented Lucas’ area for 33 years, slammed Trump after the raid. "While we await the full facts of the investigation, it must be acknowledged that this FBI raid occurs in the broader context of President Trump’s repeated abuse of the Department of Justice to target his perceived political opponents," Scott said, before adding the raid’s timing following Virginia voters approving Lucas’ redistricting bid is notable. "Senator Lucas helped lead the successful effort by Virginia voters to reject President Trump’s attempt to rig the midterm elections," he said, going on to echo Jones’ concerns about recent Trump-era prosecutions like those of James, Federal Reserve Chair Jay Powell and ex-G-Man James Comey. "Like all Americans, Senator Lucas has a right to due process and a presumption of innocence," Scott said. One of Lucas’ top allies in Richmond and a fellow Portsmouth lawmaker also expressed outrage and pointed the finger at the White House. "Let’s start with this: Senator L. Louise Lucas has not been charged with anything! I am deeply concerned by today’s FBI raid," fumed Virginia House Speaker Don Scott Jr. "Given the politicization of this administration — an FBI led by Kash Patel and a Justice Department run by President Donald Trump’s former personal attorney — I think people should take this with a grain of salt and allow the facts to come out before jumping to conclusions," he said. Speaker Scott said "theatrics and speculation" are overpowering verifiable information about the case before also criticizing Fox News’ reporting of the matter. THE 6 BIGGEST FBI SCANDALS UNDER THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION The Associated Press, New York Times and other outlets reported several sources within the federal government telling them the probe that sparked the raids began under the octogenarian Delawarean. "One of the people said the investigation into Democratic Sen. L. Louise Lucas was opened during Democratic former President Joe Biden’s administration. Both spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss an ongoing criminal investigation," the AP reported. Another official told News of the United States (NOTUS) that the probe into Lucas was "financial" in nature and also that it began under Biden, while the New York Times characterized the origination similarly and suggested "corruption and bribery" concerns. Lucas’ deputy in Richmond also fired off a missive lambasting Trump, claiming he has proven his intent to "target the Commonwealth of Virginia" because it voted for Kamala Harris in 2024. "Senator L. Louise Lucas is an outspoken and historic figure in Virginia politics and has not been charged with a single crime," said Senate Majority Leader Scott Surovell, D-Mount Vernon. Surovell, an attorney in Fairfax County, said Trump "obliterated" the Justice Department’s independence and said the president wrongly removed ex-U.S. Attorney for Western Virginia Todd Gilbert – the same official Jones envisioned the murder of – and "purged" prosecutors’ offices of career staff members. "Every Virginian should be very worried about the rule of law and how it will be applied in this Country and our Commonwealth," Surovell said in a statement. Meanwhile, Lucas fired back in a statement obtained by Richmond conservative radio host John Reid, the 2024 GOP lieutenant gubernatorial nominee. "Today’s actions by Federal agents are about far more than one state senator; they are about power and who is allowed to act on behalf of the people. What we saw fits a clear pattern from this administration: when challenged, they try to intimidate and silence the voices who stand up to them," Lucas said. "I was proud to help lead [the redistricting] effort and I have never been afraid to stand up to Donald Trump or anyone else that has tried to undermine our democracy," she said, before going on to say she is not backing down and will continue fighting for and representing Portsmouth. "LOL, sure Louise," Reid said in response on social media. "Everyone knows you’re as honest and pure-hearted as the day is long." Reid said that casting blame on Trump is the "best play" in this situation because "lots of TDS (Trump Derangement Syndrome) zombies will believe you immediately." No further information has been released by the FBI about any charges against Lucas, who was not detained in the operation. The raid began a 48-hour period for Virginia Democrats, who on Friday saw Lucas’ redistricting effort implode in court, giving Republicans nationally a major boost in their efforts to hold the House majority. View the full article

President Donald Trump’s border czar, Tom Homan, responded to a question about how many more deportations are needed to bring the U.S. back to a country of legal citizens, saying, "millions." Speaking with Fox News’ Will Cain on Thursday, Homan pushed back on rumors that the administration is ramping down its immigration enforcement surges, saying he expects the deportation numbers to actually increase. "We’re going to continue to surge resources, especially to sanctuary cities, because we know we have a problem there," he said. "So, I expect the numbers to increase while the border numbers continue to decrease." Asked how many more deportations are needed, Homan said, "Millions. Look … I see it all the time, there’s 12 million illegal aliens in the country, we used 12 million 25 years ago, I think its well over 20 million. So, we’re going to do everything we can to arrest as many people as we can." BORDER CZAR HOMAN VOWS TO 'FLOOD' NEW YORK WITH ICE AGENTS DESPITE HOCHUL'S RESISTANCE Pressed on whether the logistics of such large-scale deportation operations are possible, Homan responded, "I’ll give it one hell of a shot." "I mean, bottom line is we’re not going to give up on President Trump’s promise to the American people on mass deportations," he continued. Homan confirmed that the administration is hiring 10,000 more immigration enforcement agents. He said there are about 7,000 "on board" and 3,000 more going through training. TRUMP BORDER CZAR TOM HOMAN WANTS POPE LEO XIV TO RIDE ALONG WITH ICE AGENTS: 'THEY DON'T UNDERSTAND' The border czar said he expressed his opinion to Department of Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin that the "vast majority" of these agents "need to go to sanctuary cities." "Why is that? We go to Florida, every sheriff, every [police] chief is working with us. They honor detainers, we’ve got less of a problem in states like that, Florida and Texas," he explained. "However, in states that want to lock us out of jails, that refuse, sheriffs and chiefs, to work with us in any capacity, that’s where we know it's a problem, because we know they are releasing public safety threats, illegal aliens every day." Homan recently issued a warning to New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, vowing to "flood the zone" with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers despite her efforts to block federal operations. EX-BIDEN OFFICIAL'S CAMPAIGN FACES HEAT AS MISSING CHILDREN SCANDAL RESURFACES: 'VOTERS DESERVE BETTER' He responded to Hochul’s claim that federal agents aren’t welcome in her state without permission and that she is not asking for help, by saying, "Well, Governor Hochul, I’m not asking either. I said it. We’re going to do it." "This is what we have to do because she forces this position. And we're going to do it. They're not going to stop us. They can put all the roadblocks they want, but we're [going to] do this job," he said. Fox News Digital's Madison Colombo contributed to this report. View the full article

EXCLUSIVE: TUCSON, Ariz. — Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos, who is leading the investigation into the suspected abduction of Nancy Guthrie, told Fox News Digital Friday that the task force handling the case is making progress nearly 100 days after she vanished from her home in the Catalina Foothills. Asked whether investigators are closer to solving the case nearly 100 days in, Nanos replied, "We are." He nodded, adding that the developments are "really great" as he got into his white Corvette. He did not elaborate. NANCY GUTHRIE DISAPPEARANCE: SHERIFF SAYS AUTHORITIES LOOKING INTO CAR CAUGHT ON RING CAM, HAVEN'T MADE ID YET WATCH: Sheriff Nanos gives Nancy Guthrie update VID ID: 6395009037112 Guthrie is the 84-year-old mother of "Today" show co-host Savannah Guthrie. GENEALOGY COMPANY EXEC SLAMS PIMA SHERIFF'S 'DEVASTATING' MOVE TO SHIP NANCY GUTHRIE EVIDENCE TO FLORIDA LAB He declined to answer another question about Mother's Day, which is Sunday. Late last month, a private forensic lab in Florida sent a hair sample to the FBI for more advanced analysis. Experts have told Fox News Digital the hair could be used for investigative or forensic genetic genealogy if it doesn’t match anyone known to have been in Guthrie’s home, potentially pointing a task force of county detectives and FBI agents toward a suspect. FOLLOW THE FOX TRUE CRIME TEAM ON X Relatives and workers who had reason to be at Guthrie's home have previously given voluntary DNA samples, so the hair could point to a suspect if it doesn't match any of them. "Building DNA profiles from hair or other forensic evidence does not necessarily take long," said Dr. David Mittelman, co-founder of Othram, a leading private forensics laboratory. SIGN UP TO GET TRUE CRIME NEWSLETTER "In the 'Idaho Four' murders, for example, the DNA profile was developed within days. The challenge in forensic genetic genealogy is not simply generating a DNA profile, but generating a high-quality profile. Poor-quality or incomplete DNA profiles can make genetic genealogy difficult, ambiguous, or even impossible." TIMELINE: NBC HOST SAVANNAH GUTHRIE’S MOTHER DISAPPEARS AS SHERIFF SAYS SHE MAY HAVE BEEN 'ABDUCTED' That's because an incomplete profile can lead researchers to miss potential familial connections that could help find a suspect. SEND US A TIP HERE "If you don't have a good profile, you may not see all the genetic relatives," he added. "It can be harder to resolve how people are related or not." Nanos said previously that investigators believe Guthrie was taken from her home around 2:30 a.m. on Feb. 1. LISTEN TO THE NEW 'CRIME & JUSTICE WITH DONNA ROTUNNO' PODCAST Deputies arrived around noon that day after her daughter and son-in-law called 911 to report her missing. Since then, the FBI obtained Nest doorbell imagery with the help of Google that shows a masked man of average height and build carrying a holstered pistol at Guthrie's front steps around the time of her abduction. LIKE WHAT YOU'RE READING? FIND MORE ON THE TRUE CRIME HUB A man in similar clothing was spotted about three weeks earlier approaching her door again. He has not been publicly identified, but retired FBI profiler Jim Clemente told Fox News Digital this week that he believes the suspect made a number of mistakes that could help investigators identify him, if someone in his inner circle doesn't come forward first. There is a combined reward of more than $1.2 million to solve the case. To remain anonymous, contact Tucson's 88-Crime tip line at 520-882-7463. The Guthrie family is urging anyone with information to dial 1-800-CALL-FBI. View the full article