Trump Gains Ground in Citizenship Fight as Court Limits Judicial Oversight

The Republican-led US Senate rejected a Democratic-led bid on Friday to block President Donald Trump from using further military force against Iran, hours after the president said he would consider more bombing.

The Senate vote was 53 to 47 against a war powers resolution that would have required Congressional approval for more hostilities against Iran.

The vote came after Trump said he would not rule out further attacks on Iranian nuclear sites. Asked if he would order such strikes again, he said, "Sure, without question, absolutely."

California Governor Gavin Newsom on Friday filed a $787 million defamation lawsuit against Fox News. The suit was filed in Delaware, where Fox is incorporated.

Newsom said the right-wing outlet lied about a phone call he had with President Trump regarding his immigration crackdown.

Newsom's lawsuit charges that Fox exhibited a "willingness to protect President Trump from his own false statements by smearing his political opponent Governor Newsom in a dispute over when the two last spoke during a period of national strife."

At issue is a false or erroneous claim by Trump regarding a phone call that took place around the time he deployed National Guard troops to Los Angeles against the governor's wishes. Newsom claims Fox intentionally broadcast incorrect information "to provoke outrage and cause Governor Newsom significant [political] harm."

"Enough of their lies," said Newsom in a video posted on X.

Newsom offered to drop the lawsuit if Fox would retract its claim that he lied about the call and if Fox and host Jessie Watters, who made the claim during a broadcast, both apologized on air.

"Governor Newsom's transparent publicity stunt," retorted Fox in a statement, "is frivolous and designed to chill free speech critical of him. We will defend this case vigorously and look forward to it being dismissed."

The governor, seen by many as a potential 2028 Democratic presidential contender, says Fox acted in malice and he is therefore seeking damages. To win the case, he must prove Fox acted with actual malice, meaning it knew its statements were false, or had reckless disregard for the truth.

Newsom's damages request is almost identical to the $787.5 million Fox was ordered to pay Dominion Voting Systems in 2023, after it lied about alleged vote-rigging in the 2020 US presidential election.

"If Fox News wants to lie to the American people on Donald Trump's behalf, it should face consequences — just like it did in the Dominion case," Newsom said in a statement.

"I believe the American people should be able to trust the information they receive from a major news outlet."