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Don’t let Black Friday become Scam Friday

WASHINGTON — Acting Secret Service Director Ronald Rowe Jr. touted multiple changes and improvements on Thursday to his agency in the wake of two assassination attempts against Donald Trump earlier this year. Rowe testified before the bipartisan congressional task force investigating the two separate attempts on the now president-elect’s life. The hearing wrapped up the task force’s months-long probe, and members voted unanimously to release the panel’s final report — although a screaming match that erupted between Rowe and a Texas congressman also showed some underlying tensions. The Secret Service, which is housed within the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, has been under intense scrutiny after a gunman opened fire at a July rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, striking Trump’s ear, killing one person and wounding two others. The gunman was killed at the scene. Authorities then investigated a second apparent assassination attempt against Trump just two months later near Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach, Florida. The suspect has pleaded not guilty to the charges against him. The July shooting prompted a slew of federal investigations and the creation of the task force, which expanded its focus following the Florida incident. Rowe — who quickly stepped into the temporary post in July after Kimberly Cheatle resigned as director — again acknowledged the agency’s “failure” to “adequately secure the Butler Farm Show site and protect President-elect Trump.” “That abject failure underscored critical gaps in Secret Service operations, and I recognize that we did not meet the expectations of the American public, Congress and our protectees, and they rightly have that idea based on how we performed,” he said. Agency improvements Rowe detailed several actions the agency is taking, such as expanding the use of “unmanned aerial systems for aerial observation at venues” and “counter-unmanned aerial systems technologies.” He also said applications to the agency are up and they have “really turned the tide” on their hiring. In his written testimony, Rowe said they recently onboarded a “chief wellness officer” as part of efforts to prioritize mental health and wellness programs at the agency. He noted a need for a “paradigm shift” that centers on “elevating protection, prioritizing training, strengthening our workforce and increasing accountability.” He also wants to “reconstitute” the agency’s culture so that “training is routine and expected.” Hearing grows tense At one point, the hearing escalated into a screaming match between Rowe and Texas GOP Rep. Pat Fallon. The congressman brought in a large image of Rowe standing behind President Joe Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris, Trump, Ohio GOP Sen. J.D. Vance and other leaders during a 9/11 memorial ceremony in New York City. Fallon questioned why Rowe stood there when the person standing closest to the president is usually the special agent in charge, or SAC, of the detail. “Actually, congressman, what you’re not seeing is the SAC of the detail out of the picture’s view, and that is the day where we remember the more than 3,000 people that have died on 9/11,” Rowe said. “I actually responded to Ground Zero. I was there going through the ashes of the World Trade Center. I was there at Fresh Kills.” “I’m not asking you that,” Fallon shouted at Rowe, proceeding to press him again on whether Rowe was the special agent in charge. “Do not invoke 9/11 for political purposes!” Rowe yelled back, later adding that he was representing the Secret Service and his presence “did not affect protective operations.” Fallon accused Rowe of being at the event because he’s “auditioning for this job” that he’s “not gonna get.” Trump has yet to disclose whom he wants to run the agency. The director of the Secret Service is not subject to confirmation by the Senate, although some members of Congress want to change that.

LANDOVER, Md. (AP) — Austin Seibert missed his second extra point of the game with 21 seconds left after Washington’s Jayden Daniels and Terry McLaurin connected on an 86-yard touchdown, Dallas’ Juanyeh Thomas returned the ensuing onside kick attempt for a touchdown, and the Cowboys pulled out a 34-26 victory Sunday that extended the Commanders’ skid to three games. Seibert, who missed the previous two games with a right hip injury, was wide left on the point-after attempt following a low snap. Thomas then took the kick back 43 yards as the Cowboys (4-7) ended their losing streak at five in improbable fashion. Part of that was the play of backup Cooper Rush, who threw for 247 yards and two TDs in his third start in place of starter Dak Prescott. Part was also the defense forcing two turnovers, as Chauncey Golston ripped the ball out of Brian Robinson Jr.’s hands for what was called an interception of Daniels in the second quarter, and Donovan Wilson stripped John Bates midway through the fourth. KaVonte Turpin provided the fireworks with a spinning, 99-yard kickoff return TD seconds after Daniels found Zach Ertz in the end zone and scored on a 2-point conversion to cut the deficit to three with 3:02 left. In the final three minutes alone, the Commanders (7-5) scored 10 points and allowed Thomas' TD. All that after the score was 10-9 through three quarters before madness ensued. Washington's playoff hopes that looked solid not long ago are now in serious jeopardy after losing to Pittsburgh, Philadelphia and Dallas. Before the scoring outburst late, much of this defeat had to do with Daniels and the offense not being able to find any kind of a rhythm. The Cowboys did, despite playing without their two best offensive linemen, top cornerback and starting tight end. Rush's 6-yard pass to Jalen Tolbert was Dallas' first third-quarter TD of the season, and his 22-yarder to Luke Schoonmaker came after Wilson's forced fumble. Daniels finished 25 of 38 for 274 yards, including his second interception of the game on a failed Hail Mary as the clock expired. Rico Dowdle ran 19 times for 86 yards to spring the upset for the Cowboys, who were 10 1/2-point underdogs on BetMGM Sportsbook. Cowboys: LG Tyler Smith was inactive with ankle and knee injuries. ... RG Zack Martin (ankle), CB Trevon Diggs (groin/knee) and TE Jake Ferguson (concussion) were ruled out prior to game day and did not travel for the game. Commanders: RB Austin Ekeler was injured on a kickoff return in the final seconds. ... Robinson left with an ankle injury in the first half, returned and then left again. ... RT Andrew Wylie was concussed in the third quarter and did not return. ... C Tyler Biadasz was evaluated for a concussion in the fourth. ... (hamstring) missed a third consecutive game at the trade deadline from New Orleans. Cowboys: Host the New York Giants on Thursday in the traditional Thanksgiving Day game in Dallas. Commanders: Host the Tennessee Titans next Sunday in Washington’s final game before its late bye week. AP NFL:

MEXICO CITY (AP) — Over 18,000 people in Mexico have registered online to run for Supreme Court seats and federal judgeships in the country's contentious new selection process , but a random drawing in the end will determine who gets on the ballot, officials said Monday. The ruling party pushed through a constitutional reform in September to make all federal judges stand for election, replacing the system where court employees and lawyers mainly move up through the ranks. Current court employees and their supporters have staged dozens of demonstrations against the reforms, calling them part of a ruling-party campaign to weaken checks and balances and eliminate independent regulatory and oversight bodies. Now, candidates for Supreme Court seats and federal judgeships need only a law degree, a grade point average of 3.2, “five years of professional experience” and five letters of recommendation from neighbors or friends. That, and some luck in the final drawing. Officials rejected criticism that has called the process rushed or amateurish for the often highly technical posts that can hear cases including intellectual property, organized crime and Constitutional law. “The results have been spectacular,” said Arturo Zaldivar, a top advisor to President Claudia Sheinbaum. According to the plan, evaluation committees will have just over a month to review thousands of resumes and whittle the field to about 10 candidates or less for each for the 881 judgeships and nine seats on the Supreme Court. Then 1,793 names chosen at random from those selected will appear on the ballot on June 1. Critics warn that many who land on the ballot will be unknowns who perhaps have never argued a case in the courts they seek to run. “You don’t elect a doctor or a surgeon for an operation based on their popularity, you elect them based on their technical expertise, their ability, their knowledge,” said Sergio Méndez Silva, the legal coordinator for the civic group Foundation for Justice. “That also applies for a judge.” With candidates now having to run election campaigns, critics warn there's a chance drug cartels or political parties could finance them to get friendly judges onto the bench. There are also concerns that the evaluation committees deciding who makes the cut for the selection to appear on ballots may not be impartial. Most committee members were appointed by the legislative or executive branches, controlled by the ruling Morena party. Some critics argue that the current justice system, which is riddled with nepotism, corruption and a lack of accountability, needs to be changed. “We need a justice system that gives results,” said Martínez Garza, an academic and former head of the human rights commission in the northern border state of Nuevo Leon who has registered to run for a Supreme Court seat. Trials in Mexico can last for years, and the ruling party has added to the growing list of crimes for which bail is not allowed, meaning that a large percentage of the prison population is people awaiting trial. Follow AP’s coverage of Latin America and the Caribbean at https://apnews.com/hub/latin-america

WEC Energy's CEO Scott Lauber sells $677,998 in stockRep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C., responds to criticism over her transgender bathroom ban resolution on 'Fox & Friends Weekend.' South Carolina lawmaker Nancy Mace sparked a wildfire from critics like Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., when she proposed a resolution to ban transgender women from using women’s restrooms at the U.S. Capitol. After the progressive Democrat claimed Mace and supporters of the bill were "endangering women and girls," Mace fired back. "It's really the height of hypocrisy," Mace said on "Fox & Friends Weekend," Sunday. "It just goes to show [Democrats'] lie. They don't want to protect women. They never have wanted to protect women, and their policies will only endanger more women and girls." NANCY MACE'S EFFORT TO BAN TRANSGENDER DELAWARE DEMOCRAT FROM CAPITOL WOMEN'S RESTROOMS GAINS SUPPORT Mace, who has vocalized being a survivor of rape and sexual abuse, introduced the resolution last week. She told Fox News Digital, "the sanctity of protecting women and standing up against the Left’s systematic erasure of biological women starts here in the nation’s Capitol." The measure will prohibit "members, officers, and employees of the House from using single-sex facilities other than those corresponding to their biological sex, and for other purposes," according to text previewed by Fox News Digital. "It's just ludicrous to me that women who are victims of abuse should be forced to undress or go to the bathroom next to a man," Mace told co-host Rachel Campos-Duffy. It comes just before the first openly transgender lawmaker, Rep.-elect Sarah McBride, D-Del., is set to join Congress in January. Mace's legislation would charge the House sergeant at arms with enforcing the rule. MACE FACES BACKLASH OVER EFFORT TO BAN NEW TRANSGENDER MEMBER OF CONGRESS FROM WOMEN'S BATHROOMS AOC heavily criticized the legislation while speaking to reporters on Capitol Hill, Wednesday. "What Nancy Mace and what Speaker Johnson are doing are endangering all women and girls. Because if you ask them, 'what is your plan on how to enforce this?' They won't come up with an answer," she said. "What it inevitably results in are women and girls who are primed for assault...because people are going to want to check their private parts in suspecting who is trans and who is cis and who's doing what... Because she wants to suspect and point fingers at who she thinks is trans is disgusting." The New York lawmaker even accused Mace of wanting women to "drop trow" to enforce the resolution. Mace rejected that notion, saying, "[AOC's] not telling the truth. No one has ever said that women should drop trow. That's really disgusting." Since announcing the resolution , Mace has endured a slew of threats and even public accostation. "It's sad and surprising that in 2024 I have to go on TV and on social media to explain to the radical left that men shouldn't be allowed in women's restrooms, that women shouldn't be forced to undress in front of men." CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP Fox News' Elizabeth Elkind and Charles Creitz contributed to this report. Madeline Coggins is a Digital Production Assistant on the Fox News flash team with Fox News Digital.