: Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin defended U.S. restrictions on long-range missiles in Ukraine and insisted the war-ravaged nation ‘absolutely’ can defeat Russia even without such capabilities in an interview with Fox News. 

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky visited the U.S. earlier this month to present his ‘victory plan’ – a key provision of which was lifting restrictions on ATACMS and other U.S.-provided long-range missiles to strike military targets inside Russia. 

Ukraine claimed the long-range missiles could thwart Russia’s deadly glide bombs – and many U.S. lawmakers turned up the pressure on President Joe Biden to unleash the long-range missile capability. 

‘Isn’t this just extending the war by not giving them those permissions?’ Fox News’ Jennifer Griffin asked Austin. 

Austin said that Russia had already moved the aircraft it uses for glide bombs out of ATACM range – 300 kilometers from the Ukrainian border. 

‘I think they have the ability to continue to conduct long range strikes, and they will,’ Austin reasoned, ‘Ukraine has a lot of capability that we provided in terms of drones.’

‘They also have the ability to produce their own drones right now. They’re highly effective. As a matter of fact, we’ve seen them conduct attacks or operations that are some 400 kilometers beyond, beyond the border and even further.’

Austin insisted he and his military counterparts are working to develop a plan of action to implement Zelenskyy’s ‘victory plan.’ 

‘You know, we’ve said all along that Ukraine will be a part of NATO at some point in the future … We’re really developing an action plan … to support President Zelenskyy’s strategic plan.’ 

In the wide-ranging interview, Austin admitted that he is ‘of course’ concerned about the growing trend of isolationism in the U.S. 

‘We are a global power. We have interests all around the globe, and we’re going to need to continue to do what’s necessary to protect those interests,’ said Austin. 

‘There’s no question in my mind that if Putin is successful, he will continue to do what he’s done. And, of course, all of the Baltic states are very concerned about, about that they rightfully feel that they would be next on the menu.’

And as the conflict barrels toward the three-year mark in February, Austin said he believes Ukraine can win – and offered his definition of victory. 

‘Ukraine absolutely can win,’ said Austin.  ‘And we define winning as Ukraine being a sovereign state that can defend its territory and deter aggression in the future.’

The defense secretary did not define whether that meant Ukrainian territory should be defined by its pre-2022 borders, whether it should include the Crimea region Russia annexed in 2014 or whether Ukraine would give up territory Russia has captured in exchange for peace. 

As some Republicans grumble about the $100 billion worth of resources the U.S. has offered Ukraine, Austin insisted aid to Ukraine has not affected U.S. readiness – and provides jobs in the U.S. 

‘Every grenade that we take out of our inventory, that’s got to be replaced by something else. Either that type of munition or something better. Now, every time that we draw capability of our inventory and we replace it with something, and those munitions, those weapons are made in the United States of America. And that means good jobs for people, in a number of states in this country. And I think this is an investment that we actually benefit from.

‘We do not send cash over to Ukraine. We draw down equipment, whether it be vehicles or weapons or munitions, and replace those weapons or munitions with something that’s probably a little bit more modern and more effective.’

Austin’s comments come as Ukraine’s defense chief Kyrylo Budanov announced that some 11,000 North Korean troops are in Russia and will be ready to fight Ukraine by November 1. 

‘Our intelligence analysts are really looking hard at this,’ said Austin. ‘If this is true, this is very concerning, and if it is true, it speaks to the point that Putin must be weakened to a greater extent than most people think.’

South Korea’s spy agency said last week it had confirmed that North Korea sent 1,500 special operation forces to Russia this month. Both North Korea and Russia have denied the movements. 

Austin also responded to concerns that European NATO members are not paying their fair share of aid to Ukraine. 

‘They’re contributing a lot … I convene a group every month. It consists of 50 countries from around the world … And that group has together contributed some $51 billion of direct security assistance to Ukraine. Germany has committed $31 billion worth of security assistance. And I think that’s remarkable. And there are some smaller countries as a percentage of GDP that have contributed more than the United States.’ 

Gov. Tim Walz, D-Minn., blasted billionaire X and Tesla CEO Elon Musk, calling him a ‘dips—‘ during a rally in swing state Wisconsin on Tuesday with former President Barack Obama. 

‘I’m not going to waste all the time on him,’ Vice President Harris’ running mate told the crowd in Madison, Wisconsin.

‘I’m going to talk about his running mate,’ he said. ‘Elon Musk.’

The remark was met with laughs from attendees. 

‘Seriously? Where is Sen. Vance?’ Walz asked. 

‘Elon’s on that stage, jumping around, skipping like a dips— on these things,’ he said, likely referencing Musk’s appearance at a rally for former President Donald Trump. 

‘That guy is literally the richest man in the world, spending millions of dollars to help Donald Trump buy an election,’ the Minnesota governor told the crowd. 

According to Walz, Trump is ‘promising corruption’ in front of Americans, claiming he has promised to put Musk in charge of the regulatory bodies that oversee his businesses.

The Minnesota Democrat was seemingly referring to a report that Trump plans to create a government efficiency commission and tap Musk to run it, according to the Wall Street Journal. 

Trump reportedly said the commission would conduct ‘a complete financial and performance audit of the entire federal government.’

Musk has been increasingly involved in politics and the 2024 election in particular, working to help Republicans win races down ballot. The billionaire has spearheaded a voter turnout PAC, donated substantial amounts to other groups, and started a controversial million dollar giveaway to battleground voters, among other things.

‘Here’s the good news, Madison,’ Walz said on Tuesday. ‘Donald Trump is never going to be president. Elon Musk is never going to run anything.’

A small business owner who has successfully sold millions of infant sleepwear products tells Fox News Digital that her business was derailed by Biden administration actions cracking down on her product category, which she has called ‘anti-science.’ 

We had been successfully in business for more than 10 years when we first heard about any rumblings with the government,’ Manasi Gangan, owner of Nested Bean, told Fox News Digital about her infant sleepwear company. ‘We had sold more than 2 million products successfully to families across America and when we heard that the line of products were broadly categorized as unsafe, we couldn’t believe it.’

Gangan, an immigrant small business owner, told Fox News Digital that she started her ‘innovative line of sleepwear’ that ‘mimics a parent’s gentle touch’ after she had trouble getting her second child to sleep. 

‘All we’re trying to do is lend a helping hand to parents who much deserve the rest and sleep and we’ve been very successful in helping these parents get some good night’s rest,’ Gangan said. 

In May, Nested Bean’s products, along with similar products made by Dreamland Baby, were pulled from shelves at major retailers like Amazon and Target after a letter from the Consumer Product Safety Commission warning of potential dangers of the weighted sleepwear products. 

Gangan told Fox News Digital that the CPSC has not done the necessary due diligence. She said she’s done extensive safety research, commissioned a study that showed her weighted products did not hinder infant breathing, and that there has not been a single fatality associated with her product. 

‘They’re claiming that the product is not safe and we are again at a loss as to why, because in the 13 years that we have been developing and delivering these products, their safety has been our number one priority,’ Gangan said. ‘We established these products and this innovation into the industry after speaking with safety experts, after taking inspiration and advice from research, neonatal care research, and yet, when we shared this information with this commission, they refused to take heed and are claiming that these categories of products are not safe.’

Some lawmakers, including Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., have gone as far as promoting legislation to ban the category of sleepwear altogether, saying earlier this year, ‘The stakes are simply too high to allow weighted infant sleep sacks and swaddles to stay on the market without evidence that they are safe.’

When reached for comment, Blumenthal told Fox News Digital, ‘What concerns me most is that these companies may be putting children’s lives at risk. They’ve sold millions of units of products while marketing them as safe in the face of strong opposition from child safety experts.’

‘Parents and caretakers of newborns are notoriously hard-pressed for rest due to the intermittent sleep patterns of infants, and they need transparent information. Encouraging parents to use these products without clear evidence of their safety and against expert recommendations is dangerous and flat-out irresponsible.’

Gangan said she has shared information with Blumenthal’s office and met with his staff to show that her product is not hazardous, but that has ‘fallen on deaf ears’ in what she suggested could be a politically based effort to promote a message that Democrats are looking out for families. 

Intentionally, the senator is providing disinformation to his constituents based on a political agenda,’ Gangan said. ‘That’s the only thing that I can surmise, that it’s an election year.‘

Blumenthal’s office suggested they were open to looking at a ‘more comprehensive’ study from Nested Bean. 

Critics of the sleepwear company have cited a study from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) warning of potential dangers of weighted sleepwear products and the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has claimed that multiple infant deaths have occurred due to weighted sleepwear products.

The AAP study, CBS News reported, did not test the products in question in real world conditions for extended periods and only tested weights on five babies for two minutes.

Gangan has argued that CPSC Commissioner Richard Trumka Jr. has ‘inaccurately attributed multiple infant deaths’ and cited one coroner’s report in particular that didn’t mention Nested Bean or a weighted product and appears to be related to ‘a tragic combination of multiple proven-unsafe sleep practices.’

‘While associations like the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) have raised theoretical and hypothetical concerns regarding the potential dangers of added weight, there are no studies or incident data that show how, under what circumstances or under how much weight these potential dangers might manifest in weighted products on the market,’ Gangan wrote in a February letter to Trumka. ‘On the other hand, there are studies showing effective and safe use of weighted products in hospital settings with the most vulnerable of infants. Nested Bean and other companies are supporting independent studies that will be peer reviewed, to help develop a better understanding of the potential issues involved.’

Gangan told Fox News Digital she has met with every CPSC commissioner except Trumka, who she says ‘does not take meetings,’ and pleaded her case to no avail. 

‘We met with the chairman and other commissioners of the CPSC, shared our data research tests that we had successfully completed even before bringing out a single product into the market and since then, the tests that had been completed, to share how a safe product can be brought into the market, how innovation can be brought into the market, hoping to influence regulation, hoping to give data, facts, science to guide regulation,’ Gangan said. ‘And instead we were shocked that we were being shut down. So as recently as April of 2024. Despite our multiple attempts at sharing information, being open and honest, Commissioner Trumka wrote letters to retailers pressurizing them to stop the sales of our products and this has been based on no data or science. It’s an anti-science attempt to spread misinformation based on personal bias.’

A study published in Advances in Neonatal Care journal in 2020 concluded that ‘no adverse events’ occurred with babies sleeping under weighted blankets in 30-minute trial sessions.

In another letter to Trumka, Gangan wrote, ‘In April 2023, CPSC’s own internal Compliance staff completed an investigation of Nested Bean’s products, sending the company a closing letter stating that no further action was warranted.’

Trumka’s actions on the infant weighted sleepwear category have prompted pushback from the Republican-led House Small Business Committee, which echoed Gangan’s concern.

‘Commissioner Trumka failed to take ‘reasonable steps’ to meet the requirements of the statute before he disclosed the identities of the manufacturers of the weighted blankets,’ Committee Chair Rep. Roger Williams, R-Texas, wrote in a July letter to the CPSC. ‘First, he failed to ensure that the information is accurate. Next, he made allegations without the information being backed up by scientific research.’

‘The Committee is concerned that a single CPSC Commissioner is exerting undue pressure on entities and forcing them to improperly remove small business’ products from their shelves to the detriment of those small businesses. Small businesses deserve a chance to fairly compete in the marketplace without undue influence from the federal government – whether that be through rulemaking or letters from a rogue CPSC Commissioner. America’s small businesses deserve to have their voices heard and considered.’

In a statement to Fox News Digital, the CPSC said, ‘Commissioner Trumka’s activities in this matter were conducted in his individual capacity as a member of the Commission, and not on behalf of the Commission itself.’

Gangan told Fox News Digital that starting her business was a pursuit of the ‘American Dream’ and the regulations from the government have crippled that dream and has her questioning the narrative that Democratic administrations support immigrant and minority businesses. 

America is the land of possibilities, that’s what the whole world knows America for, so when I came to this country, an immigrant just with a degree and a pocketful of dreams, did very well in my career, decided to take a chance and start this business to help more parents like myself and the values that I have stood for supporting women, supporting small businesses, supporting truth, supporting science data, have been significantly challenged by this action,’ Gangan said.

‘So on one hand, when we hear, ‘supporting immigrants, minorities, small businesses and standing for science’ and on the other hand, when the administration of the exact same party that I believed in is now threatening, my business, has been devastating for my business. I’m questioning my own beliefs right now. It has been devastating. We have lost 80% of our sales and it has stoked so much fear in our consumers that we are left sharing the same information that was never questioned by our customers before.’