Governor Gavin Newsom (D) pushed back last week on accusations that Panera Bread is exempt from California’s new $20 minimum wage for fast-food restaurant employees. Republicans have accused Newsom of giving the chain special treatment because a high school classmate and donor to Newsom’s campaigns‚ Greg Flynn‚ runs two dozen Panera Bread restaurants in California. Bloomberg News first reported that Panera appeared to be exempt from the new minimum wage law‚ which takes effect in April and raises the minimum wage for fast-food workers from $16 to $20. The law carves out an exception for businesses that produce their own bread on the premises. The exemption was added late in the bill’s process‚ and Newsom’s administration has not explained the reason for it — but now his team contends that Panera won’t be exempt from the law. “The Governor never met with Flynn about this bill and this story is absurd. Our legal team has reviewed and it appears Panera is not exempt from the law‚” Newsom spokesman Alex Stack said. Previously‚ Assembly Republican Leader James Gallagher called for an investigation and accused Newsom of setting his special interests up with “favors at the expense of regular Californians.” “This type of crooked dealmaking is wrong and exactly why our constituents think the government isn’t looking out for them‚” Gallagher said. “Campaign contributions should not buy you exemptions in legislation. The public deserves to know the truth about the allegations of Governor Newsom’s crony capitalism‚” Senate Minority Leader Brian Jones (R) said in a statement. Bloomberg reported that Newsom had fought for Panera’s exemption. Newsom’s office argued that Panera is not exempt since the restaurants do not technically “produce” their own bread. The law says the minimum wage increase does not apply to businesses with a bakery that “produces for sale on the establishment’s premises bread.” Panera locations do not make their own dough on the premises‚ although they do bake their own bread. Bloomberg’s reporting also named Paris Baguette and Great Harvest Bread Co. as exempt from the minimum wage hike. It is unclear whether those companies produce their own bread entirely on the premises. Flynn reportedly donated $100‚000 to Newsom in 2021 to help him fight a recall effort‚ as well as $64‚800 in 2022 for Newsom’s re-election campaign. Flynn said that while he opposed the minimum wage bill‚ he never asked for special treatment. CLICK HERE TO GET THE DAILYWIRE+ APP “To be clear‚ at no time did I ask for an exemption or special considerations. In fact‚ the idea never even occurred to me and I was surprised when the exemption appeared in the final legislation. I also never met with Governor Newsom about this bill‚ though I did meet with his staff in a group meeting with other restaurant owners‚” Flynn said. Thanks to the law‚ some fast food will become more expensive in California. McDonalds and Chipotle‚ which are not exempt from the minimum wage increase‚ have already announced plans to raise prices.

A federal appeals court will allow the Texas immigration law permitting law enforcement to arrest illegal immigrants to go into effect this week after a federal judge had previously blocked it. Senate Bill 4 was passed and signed into law by Republican Governor Greg Abbott in December before Judge David Alan Ezra blocked it last week‚ ruling that states “may not exercise immigration enforcement power except as authorized by the federal government.” The appeals court’s stay on Ezra’s order‚ which came down over the weekend‚ means the law can now go into effect on March 9 unless the Supreme Court intervenes in the case and keeps it on hold‚ CNN reported. SB 4 allows law enforcement officers to arrest and jail illegal immigrants and also grants state judges the power to order deportations. The law drew harsh criticism from the Biden administration‚ which argued that the state law interfered with federal immigration law. The Texas law was initially scheduled to go into effect on Tuesday‚ March 5‚ but the appeals court put a hold on its ruling for seven days to allow time for the Biden administration to take the case to the Supreme Court. Abbott responded to the appeals court decision on Monday‚ writing‚ “Law enforcement officers in Texas are now authorized to arrest &; jail any illegal immigrants crossing the border.” “Obviously this is the case unless the Supreme Court intervenes by March 9‚” the governor added. Abbott had previously vowed that his administration would fight to enforce the law all the way up to the Supreme Court. He said the law was necessary because of President Biden’s lax border policies‚ adding that “Texas has the constitutional authority to secure our border through historic laws like SB 4.” Shortly after Abbott signed SB 4 into law‚ the ACLU filed a lawsuit against Texas‚ arguing that the law was discriminatory and would target minorities‚ and a month later‚ the U.S. Department of Justice sued the state. The Biden administration’s and ACLU’s lawsuits have since been combined. Opponents of the law argue that it violates the Supremacy Clause of the U.S. Constitution which prohibits states from interfering with the federal government using its Constitutional powers. CLICK HERE TO GET THE DAILYWIRE+ APP In Ezra’s ruling blocking the law from going into effect‚ the judge disagreed with the attorney for Texas‚ who argued that the law was necessary to curb the massive influx of illegal immigrants crossing from Mexico into the state‚ saying the crisis constitutes an invasion. Ezra said he did not see that Texas was under any sort of “military invasion.” “I haven’t seen‚ and the state of Texas can’t point me to any type of military invasion in Texas‚” Ezra said‚ according to The Texas Tribune. “I don’t see evidence that Texas is at war.” In the first four months of fiscal year 2024‚ which accounts for October through January‚ Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents recorded nearly one million migrant encounters along the U.S. southern border. That number is on top of 2.4 million border encounters in 2023‚ 2.3 million in 2022‚ and 1.7 million in 2021. It does not account for illegal immigrants who crossed the border without being detected.

The No. 2 Republican in the Senate‚ Minority Whip John Thune (R-SD)‚ revealed on Monday that he is interested in replacing Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY) as leader of the Senate GOP. Thune follows Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX) in stating that he intends to compete for the position that McConnell has held for 16 years. During an interview with KELOLAND News‚ a local CBS affiliate in South Dakota‚ Thune was asked whether he wants to be Senate majority or minority leader. “I hope to be. And I’m going to do everything I can to convince my colleagues. They’re the voters. They’re the ones who will ultimately make the decision‚” Thune said. SD's @SenJohnThune‚ currently the Republican Party's whip in the Senate‚ says he is aiming for a higher role in that chamber in the wake of McConnell's planned departure. Much more coming later today on @keloland and on social media‚ but here's part of today's interview: pic.twitter.com/Sap33Ah1IT — Dan Santella (@KELODanS) March 4‚ 2024 Thune has served in the Senate for nearly two decades‚ winning his first term in the 2004 election. He was elected GOP whip in 2018 and took over the position from term-limited Cornyn. Like Cornyn‚ Thune has endorsed former President Donald Trump in this year’s White House race. Thune voted in line with Trump’s position 91.4% of the time when Trump was in office‚ according to FiveThirty Eight‚ slightly below the score received by Cornyn. Other Republicans who are being talked about as potential candidates for GOP leader include Senate Republican Conference Chairman John Barrasso (R-WY)‚ Sen. Rick Scott (R-FL)‚ and NRSC Chairman Steve Daines (R-MT). An election is expected in November and the winner will take over for McConnell in January of next year. When McConnell announced his plans to step aside last week‚ the 82-year-old said‚ “It’s time for the next generation of leadership.” The Kentucky Republican also indicated that he plans to stay in the Senate until his term ends in early 2027. “I still have enough gas in my tank to thoroughly disappoint my critics and I intend to do so with all the enthusiasm with which they’ve become accustomed‚” McConnell said. In his interview with KELOLAND News‚ Thune took aim at President Joe Biden and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY). “As we look at a new generation of consistent‚ principled‚ conservative leadership in the United States Senate that empowers our Senate Republicans‚ that puts a check and balance against the Schumer‚ what has been a very liberal Schumer/Biden agenda‚ I’m prepared to lead that effort‚” he said.

The Biden administration has empowered a professional activist to travel the globe on the taxpayer’s dime to push transgenderism and gender ideology. From Australia to Brazil‚ South Africa to Sweden‚ Jessica Stern travels across the world attending so-called Pride events as the State Department’s Special Envoy to Advance the Human Rights of Lesbian‚ Gay‚ Bisexual‚ Transgender‚ Queer‚ and Intersex Persons. Stern‚ who has boasted that she is the highest ranking lesbian woman‚ is paid an annual salary of over $180‚000 and tasked with promoting far-left views on sex and gender‚ lobbying foreign governments‚ and assisting activist organizations. Appointed by President Biden in September of 2021‚ Stern’s work has gone largely unnoticed by the media as she bolsters the president’s broader effort to leverage the might of the federal agencies and their bureaucracies in service of a far-left agenda. In Biden’s first weeks as president‚ he tasked all federal agencies to work to “advance the human rights of LGBTQI+ persons abroad” — Stern has been tip of the spear in that effort‚ and has stated that this mission is “U.S. foreign policy priority.” Stern’s travels as Special Envoy have taken her to at least 22 countries on all six of the world’s habitable continents‚ including Argentina‚ Australia‚ Brazil‚ Botswana‚ Canada‚ Germany‚ Greece‚ India‚ Lithuania‚ Malaysia‚ Mauritius‚ Mexico‚ Nepal‚ the Netherlands‚ Panama‚ Peru‚ the Philippines‚ South Africa‚ Sweden‚ Switzerland‚ Thailand‚ and Vietnam. “Good foreign policy is inclusive foreign policy‚ and that means having senior experts on LGBTQI rights‚” Stern contended in an interview with the Council on Foreign Relations. LGBTQI+ Health 🤝 LGBTQI+ Human RightsProud to work alongside @StateDept Special Envoy Jessica Stern to advance health equity and human rights for all! pic.twitter.com/mIr1MTPCrB — ADM Rachel Levine (@HHS_ASH) March 16‚ 2023 Stern’s primary way of advancing her priorities — which include establishing “legal gender recognition based on the principle of self-determination” and addressing the “vulnerability of LGBTQI asylum seekers and refugees” — has been through global travel‚ which she uses to attend both official government events and local celebrations. Stern attended a pride parade in Lithuania in summer of 2022‚ for example‚ where she rejoiced at the number of children she saw in the crowd. “I saw a lot of kids at pride parades. They didn’t really know what it was about. They knew that somebody gave them a flag and there were a lot of people playing music and they got to dance along the street wearing stickers‚” Stern celebrated. “And I see that as an incredibly positive thing‚ because when we’re teaching children a message of acceptance from a very early age‚ it changes their lives.” Stern also traveled to Brazil in January 2024  to take part in a “trans visibility” march organized by Brazil’s National Association of Transvestites and Transsexuals. Stern met with a transgender Brazilian government official who refers to himself as a “transvestite sl*t.” “We march for a future in which every trans person can live proudly and fearlessly‚” Stern posted on X. I joined @larratsymmy &; Coordinator for Indigenous LGBTQI+ Policy Larissa Pankararu at @AntraBrasil's 1st National 'Marsha' for Trans Day of Visibility celebrating all trans &; nonbinary Brazilians. We march for a future in which every trans person can live proudly and fearlessly. pic.twitter.com/XMOBizCmya — Special Envoy Jessica Stern (@US_SE_LGBTQI) January 29‚ 2024 A State Department spokeswoman said it is “committed to promoting and protecting the freedom‚ dignity‚ and equality of all persons – including transgender‚ non-binary‚ and gender non-conforming persons – around the world.” “Teaching messages of acceptance is vital for both recognizing the humanity of and combating violence and discrimination against LGBTQI+ persons‚” the spokeswoman added. While in Brazil‚ Stern talked to civil society organizations about “the importance of excluding gender markers from the national ID system‚” as well as “tackling conversion therapy practices‚ and uniting with Indigenous and Afro-descendant LGBTQI+ persons to end intersecting forms of discrimination.” The State Department Special Envoy also met with Brazil’s Minister of Human Rights‚ Foreign Affairs‚ Health‚ Labor‚ Justice‚ and Native People. The South American country was just one of her many travel destinations. Just months earlier in October‚ Stern traveled to Stockholm‚ Sweden to “meet with members of the Swedish Ministry of Foreign Affairs‚ the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency‚ and members of Swedish Parliament.” While in Stockholm‚ Stern also attended a meeting of the Global Equality Fund (GEF)‚ a public-private partnership between government entities like the State Department and private sector entities that exists to provide “critical resources to civil society organizations (CSOs) and human rights defenders‚ including those working to increase the visibility and empowerment of queer women‚ transgender‚ intersex people‚ and members of other marginalized LGBTQI+ communities.” The GEF funds activists across the globe to “counter anti-gender ideology” and‚ in the words of Stern‚ “allows brave activists to continue working for change and to create more inclusive democracies.” The jet-setting Stern also went to South Africa and Mauritius‚ a small island nation off the coast of Africa‚ in August 2023 to meet with “civil society‚ officials from the Government of Mauritius‚ and likeminded international partners.” The Special Envoy joined a South African television program to discuss a conference she attended in Mauritius‚ stating that activists in the country are fighting for “legal gender recognition based on the principle of self-determination” and “national actions plans for LGBTQI rights that have adequate funding and staff.” In July 2023‚ Stern traveled to Mexico City‚ Mexico to meet with activists and deliver a keynote address at the Victory Institute’s Conference of LGBTI Political Leaders of the Americas and the Caribbean‚ where she boasted that she is the highest ranking lesbian woman at the State Department. She also criticized bills in the United States that sought to shield children from sexualized drag performances and from medical interventions that seek to change their sex. “What an absolute tragedy‚” Stern complained. It was a busy summer for the Special Envoy‚ who also ventured to Toronto and Ottawa in June to receive a reward recognizing Stern for “her commitment to 2SLGBTQI+ persons in Canada and around the world.” In Ottawa‚ she met with “members of Parliament and Global Affairs Canada senior officials to discuss their commitment to jointly advancing respect for human rights for LGBTQI+ persons.” The State Department official traveled to Australia‚ Argentina‚ Peru‚ and Panama‚ speaking at a pride festival and meeting with government officials and activists. Before joining the State Department‚ Stern was previously the Executive Director of Outright International‚ a New York-based LGBT activist organization. The organization was at the forefront of pushing transgender ideology in the United Nations‚ hosting a United Nations Women event in 2019 called “Gender Diversity: Beyond the Binary‚” the “first high-level meeting on gender diversity and non-binary identities held at UN headquarters.” Stern’s position‚ first created under President Obama‚ was left vacant under President Trump before being reestablished by Biden‚ who has pushed transgender ideology and the diversity‚ equity‚ and inclusion agenda throughout the federal agencies. While the Biden administration has leveraged the federal bureaucracy to advance leftwing dogmas across agencies‚ former Trump officials are crafting plans to fire those who would obstruct the president’s agenda and hire new officials. Under another Trump administration‚ the president could reimpose an executive order called Schedule F‚ an action that would enable the president to fire thousands of bureaucrats who have influence over policy. “We will pass critical reforms making every executive branch employee fireable by the president of the United States‚” Trump said at a rally‚ touting the plan. Others are preparing to fill in the gap left by outgoing officials‚ assembling a personnel database of those who might serve in the next administration through the Project 2025 Presidential Transition Project‚ an initiative from the Heritage Foundation that seeks to “pave the way for an effective conservative Administration.” “It is not enough for conservatives to win elections. If we are going to rescue the country from the grip of the radical Left‚ we need both a governing agenda and the right people in place‚ ready to carry this agenda out on day one of the next conservative administration‚” Project 2025 states. In addition to creating a personnel database‚ the initiative has also established a policy agenda‚ training for its talent pool‚ and a 180-day plan for the next administration‚ all while assembling a coalition of over 100 conservative organizations. But Stern is aware of efforts to discontinue her position‚ explaining in an interview how the State Department hopes to permanently enshrine a focus on LGBT ideology. “We act with an eye on the question of how do we institutionalize and depoliticize this agenda.” “People are policy‚ so we need people who are inside the institution‚” the Special Envoy added. “I believe that scrappy LGBT human rights defenders deserve power.” Stern openly addressed the possibility that the next administration could remove her position‚ letting her go in the process. “We can’t say for sure that we’ll exist in two years‚” Stern lamented. “Our eye is always on the clock.” 

Allen Weisselberg‚ the former chief financial officer for the Trump Organization‚ pleaded guilty on Monday to perjury‚ admitting that he lied to investigators in former President Donald Trump’s civil business fraud case in New York. Weisselberg pleaded guilty to two counts of first-degree perjury‚ both felonies‚ at the Manhattan Criminal Court‚ the New York Post reported. He will serve a five-month prison sentence as part of his plea deal‚ and a sentencing hearing is set to take place on April 10. During the Monday hearing‚ the 76-year-old former CFO admitted that he lied during deposition testimonies in July 2020 and May 2023 and while on the stand during the trial on October 10‚ 2023. Specifically‚ Weisselberg lied to investigators about when he knew the former president had inflated the size of his Midtown Trump Tower triplex. According to the plea agreement‚ Weisselberg claimed a 2017 Forbes article had led to his discovery that Trump had said the 11‚000-square-foot triplex was nearly three times larger‚ but Forbes had a tape of Weisselberg being told the actual size of the building before the article was published‚ the Post reported. Evidence also showed that Weisselberg was told about the inflated size of the triplex in a 2012 email. In Weisselberg’s plea deal‚ he agreed to only plead guilty to charges related to his 2020 testimony‚ and prosecutors promised they would not charge him with other potential crimes related to his work with the Trump Organization‚ the Associated Press reported. Weisselberg spent 100 days behind bars last year after pleading guilty to tax evasion. Last year‚ New York Attorney General Letitia James‚ a Democrat‚ charged Trump and Weisselberg‚ among others‚ for scheming to deceive banks and insurers about the former president’s wealth. Judge Arthur Engoron sided with James and the prosecution last month‚ ordering Trump to pay $350 million‚ which has increased to $454 million including interest‚ and barring Trump and his sons from running their business in New York for two to three years. CLICK HERE TO GET THE DAILYWIRE+ APP Trump has appealed Engoron’s decision‚ suggesting that Engoron “committed errors of law and/or fact” and abused his discretion or “acted in excess” of his jurisdiction. The case will go before a New York Appeals Court later this month. The former president has maintained throughout the case that he and his business did nothing wrong‚ arguing that his assets had even been undervalued.

Jamie Foxx has promised to open up in an upcoming stand-up special about what exactly he went through a year ago when he had to be hospitalized after a near-death health scare. During the 56-year-old actor’s appearance on Sunday at the African American Film Critics Association (AAFCA)‚ Foxx accepted the Producer’s Award and told everyone to “cherish” life and your loved ones‚ People magazine reported. “I’m so thankful and I get emotional because it’s beyond the scope‚” Foxx said. “I had some people in my life that really made sure I was here because it was dire straits.” “I take things differently now because you just don’t know‚” he added. “Everybody wants to know what happened and I’m gonna tell you what happened but I got to do it in my way.” EXCLUSIVE VIDEO: Jamie Foxx says he will share details of his mystery health crisis‚ as he declares he’s a changed man at the AAFCA Special Achievement Awards Luncheon. 🙏 pic.twitter.com/dGcsRoOHqf — ExtraTV (@extratv) March 4‚ 2024 “I’m going to do it in a funny way. We are going to be on stage‚” Foxx continued. “We are going to go back to the stand-up roots. If you want to have a good time and laugh … come see me when we go take this thing out.” The comedian promised that his upcoming special will have some things “people will love” but said there’s going to be other things that are guaranteed to “pull at your heart string.” In December‚ the “Ray” actor took the stage for the first time since being hospitalized in April 2023 and admitted six months earlier he “couldn’t actually walk to [the stage]. And I’m not a clone‚ I’m not a clone” “I know a lot of people saying that I was cloned out there‚” Foxx said‚ referencing some conspiracy theories that had been circulating online.  “It feels good to be here‚” he added. “I cherish every single minute now‚ it’s different. I wouldn’t wish what I went through on my worst enemy because it’s tough when it’s almost over‚ when you see the tunnel. I saw the tunnel‚ I didn’t see the light. It was hot in that tunnel‚ too; I don’t know where I was going. ‘S***‚ am I going to the right place?'” “I have a new respect for life‚ I have a new respect for my art‚” he added. “I watched so many movies and listened to so many songs trying to have the time go by. Don’t give up on your art‚ man‚ don’t give up on your art. When you realize that it could be over like that… I got to tell you don’t give up on your art and don’t let them take the art from you either.” Since the actor was hospitalized‚ very little has been released as to what the health scare was that he had to deal with. His daughter‚ actress Corrine Foxx‚ first announced the news on Instagram. In Corrine’s original post‚ she wrote‚ “From the Foxx Family: We wanted to share that‚ my father‚ Jamie Foxx‚ experienced a medical complication yesterday. Luckily‚ due to quick action and great care‚ he is already on his way to recovery. We know how beloved he is and appreciate your prayers. The family ask for privacy during this time. Much love‚ The Foxx Family.”

Philadelphia Eagles center Jason Kelce called fatherhood the “greatest gift” during his official press conference announcing his retirement from the NFL after 13 seasons. During a lengthy press conference at Eagles headquarters on Monday‚ Kelce got emotional as he thanked his parents — whom he called his inspiration for being the best father he could be to his three young daughters with wife Kylie Kelce.  “I am a product of my upbringing‚” Kelce said. “I think one of the best things a person can be in this world is a father. A father who is present‚ loving‚ devoted‚ just might be the greatest gift a child could ask for in our society.” “And I have a damn good one‚” he added. “My father believed in me more than anyone. He believed in my brother and whenever my own insecurities would arise or self doubt would come in he would stifle them with the warm embrace of belief‚ unwavering love‚ and belief … He was the man and continues to be the man and father I strive to be.” Jason Kelce talking about the importance of fathers in his retirement speech: “I think one of the best things a person can be in this world is a father. A father who is present‚ devoted‚ and loving is the greatest gift a child could ask for in our society.” pic.twitter.com/6covemvotz — Greg Price (@greg_price11) March 4‚ 2024 “I like to think I got my toughness‚ aggression &; lunch-pail mentality from my father‚” Kelce continued. “And from my mother I learned the all-too-important lesson of never letting anyone tell you what you can’t do.” The Philadelphia star also gushed about his wife and said that it is “no coincidence” that he’s “enjoyed” the “best years” of his career because Kylie was by his side.  “Every accolade I have ever received has come with her in my life‚” Kelce said. “She has brought the best out of me through love‚ devotion‚ support‚ honesty‚ intelligence‚ and of course a swift kick in the a** from time to time.” “She has also given me three beautiful girls and a life that increasingly brings me more fulfillment off the field than it does on‚” he added. “We’ve had a great run Ky.” At the start of the presser‚ Kelce addressed why he “chose football” and what drew him to the game in the first place so long ago. “The best way I could explain it is what draws you to your favorite song … your favorite book‚” Kelce said. “It’s what it makes you feel. The seriousness of it. The intensity of it. Stepping on the field was the most alive and free I had ever felt. There was a visceral feeling with football‚ unlike any sport. The hairs on my arms would stand up. I could hit somebody‚ run around like a crazed lunatic and then get told‚ ‘Good job.’ I love football.” He then closed out his presser by saying‚ “I’m retiring from the NFL after 13 seasons with the NFL … That’s all I’ve got.” The six-time All-Pro center was picked in the sixth round (No. 191 overall) by the Eagles in the 2011 NFL Draft by former Philadelphia head coach Andy Reid before Reid joined Kansas City in January 2013. The Philadelphia player helped lead the Eagles to a Super Bowl LII victory in 2018 against the New England Patriots.