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Democrats target more GOP House seats after socialist victories rock left-wing primaries

Tue, 28 Jul 2026 05:15:28 -0400

House Democrats' campaign arm is bolstering five new candidates with less than 100 days to go until the November midterm elections.

It comes as Republicans are seizing on a slate of victories by candidates linked to the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), a far-left party that's been successful in toppling at least three incumbent House Democrats.

But the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) is still spreading its map and getting behind party hopefuls in five districts it believes are within reach, an apparent sign of confidence as both parties fight for control of Congress in the latter half of President Donald Trump's final term.

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The five candidates are physician Amish Shah in Arizona's 1st congressional district, former high school principal Pia Dandiya in Florida's 22nd congressional district, former chaplain Lindsay James in Iowa's 2nd congressional district, math teacher and union leader Jake Johnson in Minnesota's 1st congressional district, and firefighter Sam Forstag in Montana's 1st congressional district.

One of those districts is currently being represented by a House Republican who is running for his seat again, Rep. Brad Finstad, R-Minn.

Three others are open seats being represented by House Republicans: Rep. David Schweikert, R-Ariz., who recently lost the GOP gubernatorial primary in Arizona, Rep. Ashley Hinson, R-Iowa, who is running for U.S. Senate, and Rep. Ryan Zinke, R-Mont., who is retiring at the end of this year.

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The Florida seat is represented by Rep. Lois Frankel, D-Fla., but was redrawn by Sunshine State Republicans to be more competitive for Republicans than it currently is. Frankel is running in the nearby 23rd congressional district.

It's part of the DCCC's "Red to Blue" program, which is aimed at bolstering candidates who Democratic leaders consider competitive by providing money and resources for their campaigns.

"Whether in suburban, rural, or redistricted seats, the American people have soured on Republicans’ broken promises and failure to lower costs," DCCC Chair Suzan DelBene, D-Wash., said in a statement. "Voters are outraged by higher prices on everything and a war of choice spiraling out of control. They are eager for change and new leaders who will fight for them, not be a rubberstamp for Donald Trump."

Republican leaders are readying to criss-cross the country in August in the hopes of bucking years-long political trends and retaining control of the House.

The president's party traditionally faces significant losses in Congress during the midterms.

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Part of their argument is pointing to the recent DSA victories in Colorado and New York, as well as DSA candidates on the rise elsewhere, as evidence that the Democratic Party is shifting to a far more radical place than where most Americans are.

But House Democratic leaders have largely shrugged off the attacks and accusations of an intraparty civil war, instead arguing that Republicans have done nothing to lower living costs for everyday Americans.

MORNING GLORY: A mind-reader at the WHCA dinner? The press finally found its perfect act

Tue, 28 Jul 2026 05:00:54 -0400

Mentalist Oz Pearlman was featured this past weekend at the White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner. The choice of a "mentalist" for the entertainment portion of the program was apt. Performers in that category combine psychology, suggestion, observation, misdirection and showmanship to create the illusion of mind reading. "The Amazing Kreskin," aka George Joseph Kresge Jr., entertained television audiences for years with the same repertoire of illusions and stunts, appearing upward of 80 times with Johnny Carson on "The Tonight Show" during their parallel heydays in the 1970s.

Pearlman was an appropriate choice to display his talents for reporters on the White House beat. That could even be categorized as continuing education. Increasingly, members of the legacy media stationed at either end of Pennsylvania Avenue are relying on the practices employed by Pearlman and Kreskin to draw conclusions about President Donald Trump and, more recently, Vice President JD Vance.

Keep your eyes and ears open for reporting in print or on broadcasts that relays what the president or vice president is "thinking" or "feeling," as opposed to what they have said or done. There is no shortage of the former. Sometimes, these opinions and predictions dressed up as reporting are preceded by "sources close to Mr. Trump" or "White House aides who were granted anonymity because they are not authorized to speak on the record say Mr. Vance believes. …" A favorite construction is "sources with knowledge of his position."

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Increasingly rare is the story that simply provides direct quotes or descriptions of actions taken. Though President Trump is by far the most accessible of presidents, reporters looking for scoops and clicks still retreat into the shadows of the "sources say" genre.

Between 1,500 and 2,000 people work in the Executive Office of the President, about half of whom are political employees. There are another 3,000 political appointees across the executive branch. There are between 150 and 200 generals and admirals in the Pentagon’s E-ring, and each has a staff. There is a roughly similar number of civilians in Senior Executive Service billets.

Of the 535 members of the United States Senate and House of Representatives, only a handful of Republicans can be trusted to have regular conversations with the president. The 8,000 to 9,000 staff members employed by members of Congress may hear or surmise things from their bosses or their friends in other offices, just as the political staff members of the 15 Cabinet secretaries may hear or surmise things. But only a handful actually speak to the president or the vice president.

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President Trump and Vice President Vance also have friends and advisers who aren’t on the payroll but with whom they talk and from whom they might solicit advice or opinions.

Add up all those numbers, and you can see how many people might offer themselves as "sources" to a reporter who has to file something on most workdays.

Why "sources" want to pass along alleged conversations or arguments is easy enough to tease out. Everyone has preferred outcomes they would like to see advanced or supported through media narratives. Most people have career paths that track the rise and fall of the various officials they serve. And it isn’t unheard of for reporters to put a shiv into a handy target for the benefit of a storyline.

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These are just some of the categories of sources for stories about what President Trump and Vice President Vance think or intend to do. The wholly speculative 10-paragraph print story or the predictive podcast is a feature, not a bug, of Beltway journalism. Both can be based on "sources close to the president," patterns of past behavior or opinions pulled from longtime observers with decent records of past performance.

But as investment advisers are always careful to note in their pitches: Past performance is no guarantee of future results.

That goes double or triple with President Trump, and given that Vice President Vance works for President Trump, it applies to the vice president as well.

The best "mentalists" are superb performers. While the best reporters reject the techniques of prediction, projection and speculation — especially when mixed with political bias or personal prejudice — there are 900 members of the White House Correspondents’ Association and thousands more journalists inside the Beltway with careers to advance and families to feed. It is an extremely competitive business. The temptation to step out of the reporter’s role and into the mentalist’s — or even the fabulist’s — is ever-present.

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Ever get irritated by someone who tells you, "I know what you are thinking" or "I can guess your reaction"? Those are verbal tricks used to preempt conversation or sidestep objections and reasoned argument. No one can read minds, so anyone who deploys those constructions is doing so to score a point or avoid an actual response. To pull from the "You are going to say" bag of tricks is to concede insecurity about the direction of a discussion. It’s an escape hatch or an ejection seat, and often a sign of arrogance, insecurity or both.

Applied to political figures by journalists, speculation about their "state of mind" represents an especially absurd departure from the highest and best standards of the craft, which are supposed to include the careful collection and arrangement of substantiated facts. It’s perfectly acceptable for anyone to relay an opinion about any subject, especially a controversial one, but that is not "reporting."

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But the legacy media and online influencers are overflowing with speculation dressed up as reporting. It’s not "reporting," of course. It is guessing.

The appearance of a mind-reader among the Beltway’s news business elites on Saturday night was just so "on the nose." Did any of the assembled reporters even notice the mirror in the room?

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Republican and Democratic coalitions put to the test in unusual elections on Tuesday

Tue, 28 Jul 2026 05:00:41 -0400

Two races in politically disparate parts of the country set the stage for one of the most unusual split-screen election days of the year on Tuesday.

Rep. David Scott’s death in April at age 80 created a vacancy in a heavily blue district encompassing the southern and eastern Atlanta suburbs of Stockbridge, Conyers and Snellville.

With the general election ballot already decided, Tuesday’s contest will determine who will finish out Scott’s term. Scott was notably related by marriage to Braves slugger Hank Aaron.

Across the country in South Dakota, Republicans vying for the Mount Rushmore State’s safely red governor’s seat have created the state's first gubernatorial runoff between incumbent Gov. Larry Rhoden and self-made millionaire bitcoin investor Toby Doeden.

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Rhoden originally took the reins in Pierre after President Donald Trump chose former Gov. Kristi Noem to be Homeland Security secretary in his second term. He was unable to garner enough support in the June primary to secure the nomination outright in his first statewide election as governor.

South Dakota’s runoff is expected to be a classic establishment-versus-outsider race, with Rhoden heavily favored in the polls but Doeden hoping for a Sioux Falls-fueled upset.

Minnehaha County, home to Sioux Falls, is a key county to watch Tuesday after helping propel Doeden to a first-place finish in the June primary.

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Pennington County, on the state’s western side, will also be closely watched after contributing to Doeden’s top finish in June.

In contrast to what is expected in Scott’s district in November, Republicans are heavily favored because South Dakota has not elected a Democratic governor since the 1970s.

Then-Gov. Richard Kneip served nearly two terms before President Jimmy Carter nominated him as ambassador to Singapore. Gov. Harvey Wollman completed the final six months of Kneip’s term, and is the state’s last Democrat to hold the office.

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Shifting back to the Deep South, Georgia Democrats are expected to hold Scott’s seat in the fall by a wide margin.

Efforts to replace Scott grew in recent months, particularly among the party's progressive wing, as the 12-term, often-combative lawmaker drew increasing frustration from Democrats.

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Last year, Scott made waves in Washington media when he shouted expletives at a Politico photographer as he was wheeled through the Capitol by staff.

"Who gave you the right to take my picture, a—hole," Scott shouted at photographer Francis Chung in late 2025.

That demeanor was similar to what led Everton Blair to launch his primary bid against Scott, in what his campaign page calls a "voice for a new generation."

Blair previously told Fox News Digital it was a run-in with Scott at a Gwinnett County town hall, where the lawmaker gave insufficient answers to questions and then reportedly became confrontational, that led him to explore a bid.

Blair had said he would "love to just hear a little bit more of the congressional and legislative strategy, congressman, that you have for this administration, particularly as it pertains to safeguarding federal funds," according to Semafor, when Scott replied "hold on," before becoming agitated:

"I don’t know who sent y’all, but we got these folks here who are providing answers. And I’m doing this. That’s what I’m doing," Scott said, according to the outlet.

Blair responded by launching a primary bid, while remarking to Fox News Digital at the time that two other elderly Democratic members had recently died in office "at a time when every vote counts."

The wave of millennial candidates seeking to replace aging Democrats was at the time dubbed the "Biden effect" — Democratic lawmakers retiring or facing potential primary challenges following the octogenarian Delawarean’s disastrous debate performance, which led to his decision to step aside for Kamala Harris in the 2024 presidential election.

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"Change can’t wait, and Democrats need a new bench of leaders who are committed to solving real problems for working people," Blair said in a previous press release.

Meanwhile, Scott’s daughter is hoping to replace her late father in Congress, remarking that she wants to continue his legacy.

"That is my thing, is to finish out his year strongly, make sure that this money gets down to the district, and just make sure the 13th district is taken care of, constituency-wise, and making sure the projects go into finalization," she told the Georgia Recorder, while adding she would retain her father’s staff locally and at the Capitol for added stability.

"[W]hen he first got into politics, I wasn’t even born, so I ran for some type of office or campaign every two years of my life, so this is just my norm, I’m just picking up where we left off with him," she told the outlet.

A third candidate, former Mississippi judge Carlos Moore, also criticized Rep. Scott’s tenure, telling the Mississippi Free Press he wants to be a "leader who actually shows up."

Moore had been suspended from the bench for one year in 2024 after a bar tribunal found he mishandled a wrongful death settlement, according to the outlet.

When asked by the press about the infraction, he pointed to Trump’s 34-count indictment in New York. He also pledged, if elected, to be a leader who understands "how to defend our democracy and Constitution" from the president.

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The winner of Tuesday’s special elections will serve only until January.

Georgia state Rep. Jasmine Clark, D-Tucker, won the Democratic nomination for the full term earlier this year and is heavily favored against Republican Air Force veteran Jonathan Chavez in November. Trump lost the district by about 43 points in 2024.

LIZ PEEK: Trump is starving the machine that creates America's socialist revolutionaries

Tue, 28 Jul 2026 05:00:35 -0400

Socialism is metastasizing like a cancer throughout our country. Though collectivism will inevitably fail, because it always does, it is already causing significant damage to our nation’s political and social fabric. It must be stopped.

It is not enough to defeat Socialism at the ballot box. The factories producing this infection — the far-left faculties of our colleges and universities — must be starved of taxpayer money. Thankfully, the Trump White House has taken measures to start that process.

As of July 1, the Department of Education implemented new limits on student loans. Instead of letting young people pile up unlimited amounts of debt in pursuit of a degree of questionable value, the government has now capped what students and their parents can borrow to finance (primarily) graduate programs.

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Why does this matter? Because the young people who have rallied to the TikTok "vibe" campaigns of politicians like New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani are disproportionately white liberals with college and graduate degrees who are up to their eyeballs in student debt. Many are angry that their advanced degree in poetry or social work hasn’t paid off; they can’t afford to repay their student loans, start a family or buy a house. They feel cheated, they’re angry, and they want to tax the "wealthy" to underwrite their poor choices.

We can sympathize with them. Our government has handed out an unending torrent of money to finance college education for decades, driving up the cost of schooling and total student debt, which now stands at $1.9 trillion, up from $520 billion in 2006. Just like too much money spewed by the Biden administration into the Covid-constrained economy sparked decades-high inflation, too much money pouring into our higher ed institutions over the past fifty years has driven college costs through the roof.

According to research from the Education Data Initiative, "The average annual cost of college tuition, public and private, is more than 32 times what it was in the 1963-64 academic year." Taking inflation into account, "college tuition has increased 229.8% over the same time frame.

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Even as taxpayers provided a gusher of financing, no one monitored where the money was going — or the value of graduate degrees. This has led to bad choices, with young people and their parents investing in programs that leave students struggling to make ends meet.

Over many decades, as students started drowning in debt, administrations and Congress wrestled with how to lighten the loan burden. Most of the fixes involved lowering interest costs or loan forgiveness (Joe Biden, overturned by the Supreme Court) or reducing loan balances for those entering certain careers like teaching (George W. Bush) or capping payments relative to income (Obama.)

The Trump administration is the first to put a choke hold on the total dollars that can be borrowed. Now, the total that students may borrow to fund a graduate degree is $20,500 per year or $100,000 in total and $50,000 per year or $200,000 max for professional programs like medical school. The White House has also capped the Parent Plus program, under which families can borrow to finance undergraduate or graduate degrees for their children, at $20,000 per dependent student per year and a total limit of $65,000 per child.

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Limiting graduate school debt is important because borrowing by graduate students is gobbling up an increasing share of student loans; almost half of all new federal loans made in the 2021-2022 academic year went to graduate students.

Researchers have found that raising the loan dollars available to graduate students failed to increase attendance by minorities, which was one of the goals. Moreover, it turns out that schools basically "captured" the increase in funds by raising tuition.

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This is not shocking. When the federal government gets involved, it usually creates more problems than it solves. Bottom line: the tsunami of taxpayer-funded higher ed dollars has led to more kids owing more money and earning more degrees that are effectively worthless.

Socialism will not fix the problem. Cynical politicians like Mamdani will pretend that taxing the rich can lower the cost of housing, childcare and groceries for his angry, overeducated, white liberal followers. But it’s not true. Unhappily, despite their advanced degrees, his followers remain gullible, and ignorant about the history of such failed promises.

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Limiting the amount of money available for grad students will help control the spiraling debt (and grievances) of those seeking useless degrees. While borrowings for undergraduates average less than $30,000, graduate students on average owe $103,000. They claim they are victims of a rotten system, and they are correct. But it’s not that the wealthy are not paying their fair share; the top ten percent pays more than the bottom 90% combined, as the U.S. has the most progressive tax system in the developed world.

They are victims of an absurd education system in which taxpayers fund worthless degrees and reward schools for driving up costs. No wonder they’re angry; no wonder they fall for charlatans like Zohran Mamdani.

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SEN TIM SCOTT: Lindsey Graham was a patriot, a statesman and my dear friend

Tue, 28 Jul 2026 05:00:34 -0400

America lost a true statesman in the passing of Lindsey Graham, and I lost a good friend. Through his service in the military, the United States Senate, and in his own personal life, Lindsey showed what it means to be an upstanding man. He always led with faith, family, and South Carolina first.

Lindsey came from humble beginnings. He was born into a working-class family and suffered tragedy at an early age. When he was in his early 20s, his mother died of cancer, and just 15 months later, his father died of a heart attack. In these trying times, Lindsey raised his 13-year-old sister and later adopted her so she could receive his medical benefits.

It is that same sense of duty and sacrifice that led Lindsey Graham to public service. He wanted to help people and make sure nobody felt invisible. Through his office’s casework and his work on the Senate floor, Lindsey fought to help those who couldn’t help themselves. No matter where he was, Lindsey was always looking for people who felt like they were not seen. That is the mark of a true statesman.

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His statesmanship was defined by his commitment to the people of South Carolina, and it cannot be stated enough. Lindsey knew that we work for our bosses: the people of South Carolina. We should serve them, not lead them. Lindsey took that approach to his job every single day, and it is that fighting attitude that cemented his legacy as a champion for American safety and security. He wanted every American to be safe wherever they were in the world, and he leaned into his beliefs because he knew he had a responsibility and an opportunity from God to make a difference.

There is nobody I can think of more committed to public service than Lindsey Graham, and his military service was evidence of that. Through his time in the Air Force, South Carolina Air National Guard, and Air Force Reserve, Lindsey displayed what true patriotism and love of country look like. He spent his life in public service because he loved America and felt like his story was not possible anywhere else.

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Much like Lindsey, my story was not possible anywhere else, but when I joined the South Carolina Senate family, Lindsey was one of the first to welcome me with open arms. He knew my path was different, but he also understood the power of change in South Carolina. From that moment onward, I knew that I not only had a colleague whom I could trust, but I also had made a lifelong friend.

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Throughout our friendship, I greatly enjoyed his levity and wit. Lindsey knew how to make you laugh all while making a brilliant point. One of my favorite moments in our friendship came when I started my annual South Carolina prayer breakfast, which starts at 8:30 AM. I called Lindsey and told him, and he said, "I’m not coming even if Jesus comes back before 10 a.m." But in true Lindsey Graham fashion, at 8:31 a.m. on the day of the prayer breakfast, the door opened and there stood Lindsey Graham. Through his public service and personal life, Lindsey always put others first.

South Carolina will never fill the hole in our state’s heart that is left by the passing of my dear friend, Lindsey Graham, but we will carry his legacy and his commitment to protecting every American forward. America will never forget his service, his sacrifice, and his love for our country. I will miss my friend greatly, but I know he cemented his legacy in the American story.

Mamdani sparks fears of violence after doxing wealthy NYC property owners: 'Outright dangerous'

Tue, 28 Jul 2026 05:00:29 -0400

Mayor Zohran Mamdani opened a new front in his ongoing battle with New York City's wealthy after his administration published a searchable database identifying affluent property owners who could be subject to the city's proposed pied-à-terre tax, a move critics say could expose them to harassment and public safety risks

The database, released by the city's Department of Finance, allows users to search properties and view the names and addresses of owners whose non-primary residences could be subject to the proposed tax. A spokesperson for the department said the publication of the property roll was required by state law.

"As per State law, a property roll was released for public inspection. From this list, DOF will identify properties that may be subject to the new non-primary residence property surcharge," the spokesperson told Fox News Digital.

A person familiar with the process, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said the city has publicly released similar property tax rolls every year for many years in accordance with New York state law. The person said new taxes and surcharges follow the same process: The state passes legislation, a public property roll is published, and the Department of Finance identifies the properties subject to the levy using criteria established by the state.

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However, critics argue the database goes well beyond traditional public records by compiling the names and addresses of affluent property owners into a single, easily searchable location, potentially creating new privacy and security risks. The debate carries added weight in America's largest city, where public safety remains a persistent political issue and affluent residents have long cited crime as a top concern.

While property ownership records have long been public, opponents say the city's decision to aggregate them into a dedicated database could make wealthy homeowners more vulnerable to harassment and potential violence. City Hall has defended the database as a transparency tool designed to help property owners determine whether they could be affected by the proposed tax and understand how to seek an exemption.

"Nobody wants this database more than Mamdani’s band of communist social media agitators salivating to harass Americans at every turn," "Ruthless" podcast co-host John Ashbrook warned, pointing out the database could easily become a tool for Mamdani’s online supporters to target landlords and other property owners.

"They attack anybody who questions his decisions, and there’s no question they’ll harass every New Yorker who provides housing for a living," he continued.

Meanwhile, the Real Estate Board of New York President James Whelan argued that the database also illustrates how broadly the proposed tax could reach beyond the ultra-wealthy residents its supporters have emphasized. Although Mamdani initially promoted the proposal as a tax on secondary homes worth more than $5 million and owned by the "ultrawealthy and global elites," the final rules use different Department of Finance valuation thresholds depending on the type of property. According to the New York Post, over 960,000 residences could be listed in the database, which makes it possible to search and download property owners’ information, including their names and addresses.

"By publishing a database of properties that might be subject to this tax before the tax has even been enacted, City Hall has only added to the confusion surrounding this proposal," Whelan told Fox News Digital.

"What this database really demonstrates is that the second-home tax is far broader and more complicated than its supporters have suggested," he continued. "Policymakers should take a hard look at the many homeowners who could be swept in despite not fitting the profile of the ultra-wealthy residents this tax was supposedly designed to target."

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The database marks the latest flashpoint in Mamdani's increasingly contentious relationship with the city's wealthiest residents.

Earlier this year, the mayor stood outside Citadel founder Ken Griffin's 24,000-square-foot Central Park South penthouse, purchased for a record $238 million, to promote his proposal to raise taxes on second homes worth more than $5 million after previously criticizing the billionaire hedge fund manager over his personal wealth. The video singled out Griffin by name.

Griffin later called the video "creepy and weird," arguing it put him in harm's way because it highlighted his residence while promoting higher taxes on the wealthy.

Longtime Republican strategist Colin Reed argued that the database and Mamdani’s broader rhetoric against wealthy New Yorkers could carry dangerous consequences amid heightened concerns about political violence.

"In this era of heightened political violence, this type of inflammatory and divisive rhetoric is not only reckless, but outright dangerous, especially from a public official who not that long ago pledged to be a mayor for all New Yorkers," Reed told Fox News Digital.

"It’s bad enough that the mayor is demonizing success and upward mobility that has so long defined the American dream, and doing so within the city that has defined American capitalism," Reed continued. "But to do so by pitting various classes against one another is beneath the office he holds."

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The clash has also revived a broader debate over whether New York risks driving away the wealthy residents and businesses that have long underpinned its economy. Griffin, whose fortune Forbes estimates at roughly $50 billion, moved Citadel's global headquarters from Chicago to Miami in 2022 after years of criticizing the Windy City's tax policies, crime and business climate.

The departure marked Griffin's break from Chicago, where he built one of the world's largest hedge funds and helped cement the city as a global financial hub. He has since warned that New York could face similar consequences if policymakers pursue an agenda he believes is hostile to high-income residents and businesses.

The latest controversy comes as business leaders closely watch whether New York's political climate is becoming less welcoming to the financial industry and wealthy taxpayers that have long anchored the city's economy.

At the center of the debate is whether the city can ask more of its wealthiest residents without weakening the tax base that helps fund municipal government.

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Fox News Digital reached out to Mamdani's office asking why the administration chose to publish the searchable database rather than notify affected property owners privately and whether it conducted a legal or privacy review before making the information available online. The office did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

America's No. 1 state is crowned again — find out who's on top and where your state ranks this year

Tue, 28 Jul 2026 05:00:21 -0400

Utah isn't giving up its crown.

The Beehive State came in at America's No. 1 state for the fourth consecutive year in U.S. News & World Report's 2026 Best States rankings, holding onto the top spot overall while Texas claimed the nation's highest-ranked economy.

The list points to a notable regional trend, with Mountain West, Midwest and Sun Belt states claiming many of the country's highest overall rankings. Four of the top five states are located in the Mountain West or Upper Midwest, with Utah, South Dakota, Minnesota, North Dakota and Nebraska leading the overall rankings in order. New Hampshire, Idaho, Florida, Washington and Vermont rounded out the Top 10.

U.S. News Executive Chairman and CEO Eric Gertler said the results reflect what he called "a broader realignment of American economic growth," with states in the Midwest and South gaining ground as businesses and workers increasingly gravitate toward faster-growing, lower-cost regions.

"States in the Midwest and South generally moved up the rankings, while several Northeastern states fell substantially, showing how human and financial capital are actively migrating away from high-cost areas into more affordable regions," Gertler told Fox News Digital.

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Texas climbed to the No. 1 spot in the economy category after the Lone Star State ranking the year prior. U.S. News credited the state with leading the nation in job growth while posting among the country's strongest performances in GDP growth, net migration and youth population growth.

South Dakota, meanwhile, posted one of the year's biggest gains, climbing from No. 8 overall to No. 2, while North Dakota jumped from No. 12 to No. 4, driven by improvements in health care, education, fiscal stability and economic performance.

Gertler described 2026 as the "Year of the Midwest," pointing to the Dakotas' rapid ascent as evidence of a broader shift in economic momentum.

"Low cost of living combined with strategic manufacturing investments are making these states prime destinations for young workers and expanding businesses," Gertler said.

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Utah, meanwhile, maintained its dominance by placing in the Top 10 across five of the report's eight major categories, including No. 2 in the economy and fiscal stability and No. 4 in infrastructure.

Gertler attributed Utah's sustained success to the state's overall consistency.

"Utah's No. 1 ranking comes down to consistency," he said, pointing to the state's strong economy, fiscal stability and education system, along with its young and growing workforce.

One of the report's most striking findings was that the nation's top-ranked state also placed 48th in natural environment, underscoring that no single category determines the overall standings.

No state dominated every category. Colorado climbed to No. 1 in education, Hawaii topped the nation in health care, Nevada ranked first in infrastructure, Wyoming led in fiscal stability, New Hampshire earned the highest marks in crime and corrections, Vermont ranked first in opportunity and Hawaii also claimed the top spot in natural environment.

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Among the nation's largest states, Florida was the only one to crack the overall Top 10, finishing eighth. Texas paired its top-ranked economy with continued population and job growth, while California and New York did not finish among the top 10 overall.

The annual U.S. News Best States rankings compare all 50 states across eight categories that include the economy, education, health care, infrastructure, opportunity, fiscal stability, crime and corrections, and natural environment.

Dems clash over AIPAC money, ‘ogre’ attack and electability during crucial Senate debate

Tue, 28 Jul 2026 04:00:57 -0400

The battle between the Democratic Party's far-left flank and establishment wing spilled onto the stage Monday night during battleground Michigan's fiery Senate debate.

The debate took place one week ahead of the pair’s Aug. 4 primary battle, with both candidates using the final face-off to sharpen their competing arguments over who could best represent Michigan — and defeat Republican candidate, former Rep. Mike Rogers, in the November 3 general election.

During Monday night's clash of the Democratic Party's competing wings, El-Sayed doubled down on his "ogre on a pike" remark and declined to apologize, but clarified it was not specifically directed at Stevens but rather a different moderate Democrat in Congress. Meanwhile, El-Sayed also repeated his attacks on pro-Israel and corporate spending supporting Stevens, while he also rejected the "socialist" label some have given him, describing himself as a "just a capitalist who understands how capitalism works."

Stevens, on the other hand, questioned what El-Sayed was "hiding" by not releasing his full tax returns, an attack she carried over from the pair's first one-on-one debate earlier this month, and portrayed his rhetoric, outside income and national political ambitions as potential general-election liabilities when it came to taking on Rogers and trying to win the U.S. Senate seat they are vying for.

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El-Sayed confirms Fetterman was the ‘ogre,’ declines to apologize

El-Sayed stood by the substance of his controversial "ogre on a pike" remark when pressed by the moderator about whether he regretted the rhetoric, which earned him backlash from his own party, but clarified it was about Sen. John Fetterman, D-Penn., not Stevens as some had speculated.

"I was referring to a guy named John Fetterman," El-Sayed said, accusing the Pennsylvania Democrat of getting elected on one set of values before "completely throwing those values in the mud."

El-Sayed did not apologize for or retract the metaphor. Instead, he argued that he had previously pushed back against unkind treatment of Stevens, including after she was booed at a Michigan Democratic Party convention.

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Stevens later offered a pointed response: "Thank you for clarifying that you didn’t call me an ogre."

The controversy stemmed from comments El-Sayed made during a recent Zoom meeting with donors, Politico reported, adding that El-Sayed was discussing how to use his victory in Michigan’s upcoming Aug. 4 primary and the November election to build a national platform to move the Democratic Party further left and support future primary challenges, such as against Fetterman.

"Ideally, you put one ogre on a pike, and then everyone else gets the message," El-Sayed said, according to audio obtained by Politico. El-Sayed did not name Stevens in the recording; however, some Democrats interpreted the remark as referring to her. Rep. Hillary Scholten, D-Mich., who has endorsed Stevens, called the remark a "violent, vulgar" threat and said candidates should be working to lower the political temperature.

Neera Tanden, a former Biden administration official who leads the left-wing think tank the Center for American Progress, connected the remark to broader accusations of sexism that have roiled the primary.

"Calling your female opponent an ogre you want to put on a pike is not beating the rap that this race has some serious sexism," Tanden wrote on X.

AIPAC money and Israel fuel fierce confrontations

Tens of millions of dollars in outside spending supporting Stevens became a central flashpoint, with the moderator repeatedly pressing the congresswoman on whether pro-Israel groups would influence her conduct in office.

Asked whether the more than $46 million in AIPAC-related spending cited by the moderator should concern voters that she would do the group’s "bidding," Stevens responded, "Absolutely not," and defended her support for a two-state solution.

"I have been very clear, consistent and transparent," Stevens said. "I want to see long-term peace."

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El-Sayed argued that the spending exposed a fundamental difference between the candidates, claiming AIPAC-backed groups supported Stevens because "they know that she’ll be a reliable vote."

"The difference between us is $46 million of AIPAC spending," El-Sayed said. "They’ve set a record in this race to help elect my opponent."

He then tied that spending directly to Stevens’ recent vote supporting additional aid to Israel, accusing the Israeli government of working to "foreclose on the possibility of Palestinian self-determination."

"I want your tax dollars spent in Michigan to provide schools in Michigan, to build health care in Michigan, to build roads in Michigan," El-Sayed said. "And I think that money sent over there to kill kids and women is the worst use of our tax dollars. And yet that’s exactly what $46 million in spending will buy you."

El-Sayed later added that the United States should not be "fighting stupid wars that AIPAC wants us to fight in the first place."

Stevens countered that outside groups were supporting both campaigns and accused El-Sayed of benefiting from a super PAC funded in part by his father-in-law.

Stevens presses El-Sayed over unreleased tax returns and outside income

Stevens continued to question El-Sayed’s financial transparency, as she did in their debate earlier this month, accusing him of refusing to release his full tax returns while earning approximately $300,000 in outside income.

"You have not released your full tax returns — $300,000 in other income while you sat in the podcast chair and you hawked junk health care cures that RFK Jr. would thumbs up," Stevens charged.

"You talk about getting money out of politics and putting money in people’s pockets, but still, no one knows who’s putting the money in your pocket," she added, continuing a debate-long effort to portray El-Sayed as more interested in podcasts, high-profile political allies and building his national celebrity than doing the unglamorous work of representing Michigan.

El-Sayed responded that he had released his required financial disclosures, drawing a distinction between those filings and the full tax returns Stevens had demanded.

"We released all of our financial disclosures," El-Sayed said, calling the issue "a distraction" before turning the transparency argument back on Stevens and questioning the donors behind outside organizations supporting her campaign.

Stevens described herself as "the only non-millionaire in this race" and argued that El-Sayed’s finances could give Republicans additional material to use against him in November.

"What are the Republicans going to uncover in the general election that they will use against him?" she asked.

El-Sayed brands the Senate filibuster ‘anti-democratic’

Asked to identify the most important thing Senate Democrats were failing to do, El-Sayed immediately targeted the legislative filibuster and the 60-vote threshold it often imposes.

"I oppose the filibuster," El-Sayed said. "I think the filibuster has been anti-democratic for a lot of reasons."

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El-Sayed argued that eliminating the filibuster would help Democrats pass the PRO Act, which would expand union-organizing and collective-bargaining protections, impose tougher penalties for labor-law violations and override state right-to-work restrictions on mandatory union fees. He said it could also clear a path for stronger antitrust enforcement, which El-Sayed said needs to be more aggressive, as well as a wealth tax on billionaires and Medicare for All.

"Right now, the biggest risks to our democracy are the filibuster — it’s anti-democratic in the Senate — and money in politics," he said.

ICE clash exposes sharp divide between the Democratic rivals

The candidates also battled over the future of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, with Stevens calling ICE a "rogue agency" while El-Sayed labeled it "tyrannical" and called for abolishing it altogether.

Stevens said she was leading an effort in Congress to redirect $70 billion allocated to ICE toward health care, food assistance and local communities. "Not a penny more for this rogue agency that is wreaking havoc," Stevens said, accusing ICE of abusing its power and frightening immigrant families.

Meanwhile, El-Sayed accused Stevens of hypocrisy, alleging that she had previously voted four times to increase ICE funding and had praised its personnel.

"I’ve said that we need to abolish ICE," El-Sayed said. "ICE is about normalizing paramilitary force on our streets."

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Pressed on whether the phrase "abolish ICE" carried the same political baggage as "defund the police," El-Sayed argued that the government could still enforce immigration laws and secure the southern border through a replacement agency.

He escalated the criticism moments later, calling ICE "a tyrannical agency."

"I think there is no way to get past that except to undo the agency and then build from scratch," El-Sayed said.

Stevens rejected his approach as focused more on rhetoric than governing.

"Complaints and slogans aren’t solutions," she said, pointing to her visit to an ICE detention facility and her efforts to change the agency through Congress.

Gunman fired at US consulate in Toronto, second time building was shot at this year

Tue, 28 Jul 2026 02:53:37 -0400

A gunman fired at the U.S. Consulate in Toronto on Monday, marking the second time this year someone shot at the building, according to authorities.

A single shell casing was found at the scene, and there was damage to the building's facade.

No injuries were reported in the incident.

"The U.S. Embassy and Consulates in Canada are open and operating normally, though some routine U.S. citizen services in Toronto are being rescheduled," the consulate said in a statement.

GUNFIRE SHATTERS TORONTO LATIN STREET FESTIVAL, LEAVING AT LEAST 2 DEAD AND MULTIPLE WOUNDED

Toronto Deputy Police Chief Frank Barredo said there was a high-speed chase after the shooting that lasted an hour. However, no arrest was made and Barredo committed to continuing the search for those involved.

"We will approach this investigation with great seriousness," Barredo said at a news conference. "We will bring the people responsible for this to justice."

Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow described the shooting as a "brazen attack."

"I want to say to the person or persons responsible, we will get you," she said.

This was the second shooting targeting the U.S. Consulate this year, with the first coming on March 10, when two suspects allegedly fired multiple shots at the building before driving away in a stolen vehicle.

Sheldon Tracy-Stewart, 18, and Zara Jabbi, 19, were arrested last month and charged with multiple offenses in connection with the March shooting. The allegations have not been tested in court.

A police presence has been seen at the consulate since the first shooting.

Barredo said a patrol vehicle was outside the consulate with its lights on when the shooting happened. Two security personnel were also in the building.

Last month, police said they believed multiple shootings, including the one in March, could be tied to "multilayered" gun-for-hire networks that have also targeted Toronto synagogues.

Two popular Jewish-owned bakeries were targeted by gunfire over the weekend.

US CONSULATE IN TORONTO STRUCK BY GUNFIRE, POLICE SAY; NO INJURIES REPORTED

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Barredo said police had not ruled out a connection between Monday's consulate shooting and the attacks on the bakeries. The motive for the consulate shooting remains under investigation.

"Investigators will follow the evidence to where it leads," he said.

Doug Ford, the premier of Ontario, said he was "disgusted" by the recent violence in Toronto.

"I’m totally disgusted by the shootings and vandalism that took place in Toronto over the last few days, including at two Jewish-owned businesses over the weekend and near the U.S. Consulate this morning," he said on X. "In all cases, active police investigations are underway. I expect all those responsible to be found, prosecuted and punished to the fullest extent of the law."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Lindsay Clancy’s ex-husband details ‘big spiral’ as expert says one part ‘scared me’ in mom’s murder trial

Tue, 28 Jul 2026 00:00:09 -0400

If you or someone you know is having thoughts of suicide, please contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255).

Patrick Clancy, the father of three young children strangled inside their Massachusetts home, became the first witness Monday in his ex-wife’s murder trial, offering jurors a harrowing account of the mental health decline he witnessed before their deaths.

He was the first witness called in the trial of Lindsay Clancy, who faces murder charges in the deaths of the couple's three children in January 2023. Prosecutors argue she acted deliberately, while defense attorneys contend severe mental illness drove her actions.

Patrick described watching his then-wife fall into a "big spiral" after she began taking Seroquel, testifying that she lost weight, became severely depressed and began expressing suicidal thoughts.

"Awful," he said when asked how Lindsay was doing physically after starting the medication. "That was really where her big spiral started. She started to lose a lot of weight, and she became very depressed, and she was having a really hard time."

LINDSAY CLANCY’S HUSBAND COULD TESTIFY FOR HER AT TRIAL OVER DEATHS OF THEIR THREE CHILDREN

Patrick also testified that Lindsay told him she was experiencing intrusive thoughts about harming their children, although she denied having a plan and said the thoughts disturbed her.

"I never saw Lindsay harm the kids," he told jurors.

Margaret McLean, a former criminal prosecutor and trial attorney who teaches law at Boston College’s Carroll School of Management, said Patrick’s measured delivery did little to conceal the anguish of a father being forced to retrace the months preceding his children’s deaths.

"I think his demeanor on the stand is really quite clinical. He’s telling it as it is," McLean told Fox News Digital. "You can see the anguish within this man’s eyes, his facial expressions. You can tell he’s anguished up there, and it’s a horrible thing to have to relive and talk about."

McLean said Patrick appeared to be compartmentalizing his emotions as he listened carefully to the questions and provided straightforward answers.

"He’s got to get through this," she said. "He’s got to listen to the questions and provide the answers as best he can, and I think that he’s doing that."

HEATED LINDSAY CLANCY COURTROOM EXCHANGE OVER 911 CALL, CRIME SCENE PHOTOS SETS STAGE FOR MOM’S MURDER TRIAL

Patrick testified that he was not concerned for the children’s safety when Lindsay first shared that the intrusive thoughts were telling her to hurt herself as well as her children. Moments after discussing the thoughts, he said, she could be seen making the children lunch, playing with them or preparing them for bed.

Patrick told jurors that he became alarmed after Lindsay was prescribed 13 psychiatric medications in the months prior to the murders and that he pushed for an in-person appointment because he believed there was a "disconnect" between the seriousness of her condition and the brief telehealth sessions she was receiving.

"It seemed like most of her telehealth appointments were pretty quick, and there just wasn’t, like, a lot of attention," he said.

Patrick also described taking Lindsay to hospital emergency departments and helping her enter McLean Hospital after she continued expressing suicidal thoughts.

He testified that he "would have paid anything" if insurance had become an obstacle to keeping her hospitalized.

The testimony could leave jurors asking whether the warning prompted an adequate response, McLean said, while cautioning against placing blame on Patrick or family members who may not have understood the severity of the risk.

"So many people don’t understand mental health today, so I’m not blaming him at all," McLean said. "Anybody might have done what he did, but that’s the part that scared me."

WATCH: Lindsay Clancy clutches tissues as jurors hear about her three children

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Patrick’s testimony followed starkly different opening statements from prosecutors and the defense.

Assistant District Attorney Shanan Buckingham told jurors that Cora, 5, Dawson, 3, and Callan, 8 months, were "deliberately and meticulously killed" by their mother on Jan. 24, 2023.

Buckingham alleged that Clancy deliberately sent Patrick from their Duxbury home to pick up medication and takeout food, giving herself enough time to strangle each child with an exercise band before attempting to kill herself.

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McLean said Buckingham gave jurors a "roadmap of cold, calculated intent" while humanizing each child's interests and focusing on the time and physical effort required to carry out three separate strangulations.

"The prosecution did that because she [Buckingham] wants the jury to remember that the act of strangulation takes time and physical effort," McLean said. "It requires a conscious choice to continue three separate times."

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The Commonwealth’s strategy, she said, is to reject the defense’s bid that Clancy suffered a sudden psychotic break and instead portray her as organized, purposeful and controlled.

During opening statements, defense attorney Kevin Reddington conceded that Clancy killed the children but argued that the only meaningful dispute is what was happening inside her mind.

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"She knows that she killed these children," Reddington told jurors. "The issue for consideration is what was going on in that woman’s mind."

McLean described the concession as a calculated move by a veteran trial attorney.

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"By doing that, he is attempting to strip the prosecution of their shock value and force the jury to look purely at Lindsay Clancy’s mental capacity," she said.

Reddington argued that Clancy had no motive to kill children she had loved and nurtured. He also displayed graphic hospital photographs showing Clancy with injuries to her neck and wrists.

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McLean said the defense was framing Clancy’s paralysis "not as a consequence of a crime, but as the tragic final symptom of a complete postpartum psychotic break."

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Clancy, a former labor and delivery nurse at Massachusetts General Hospital, has pleaded not guilty to three counts each of murder and strangulation. Her attorneys do not dispute that she killed the children but argue that she lacked criminal responsibility because of severe postpartum psychosis.

Judge William Sullivan told jurors that the Commonwealth must prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Clancy was criminally responsible when the children were killed.

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"It’s going to be black and white for some people, gray area for other people," McLean said. "It is going to be one of the hardest things that this jury, or any jury, will ever have to decide."

Heroic 16-year-old lifeguard rescues child from monster surf in heart-stopping video

Mon, 27 Jul 2026 22:06:28 -0400

A frantic rescue unfolded at a Santa Cruz beach when a child was swept into powerful, tsunami-like waves, prompting a teenage lifeguard to dive into the life-threatening surf.

The lifeguard — whom witnesses said carried out one of the most heroic rescues they had ever seen — was identified as just a 16-year-old high school student, according to local outlet NBC Bay Area. A woman who claimed to be the teenager’s mother said on social media that the lifeguard's name is Ryder.

The young child Ryder rescued is believed to be about 10 years old, according to the report.

Video capturing the terrifying rescue shows multiple beachgoers, along with a second lifeguard, trying to enter the water. Many appeared to be quickly overwhelmed as the massive waves engulfed everyone.

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"It caught a lot of people off-guard," Vander Dussen, who filmed the video, said. "Unfortunately, this young man was overwhelmed and swept out in just a moment’s time."

In the video, the 16-year-old lifeguard was seen diving into the water and battling powerful swells to bring the child back to shore.

Wave after wave, Ryder appeared to strategically gulp air before ducking beneath each crashing breaker.

He would then emerge each time still gripping tightly to the child.

As the pair kept getting swallowed by the waves, multiple beachgoers attempted to help, often without success.

‘HERO' MOM DIES AFTER USING LAST STRENGTH TO SAVE 4-YEAR-OLD SON FROM FLORIDA RIVER

The lifeguard ultimately pulled the boy onto shore. According to NBC Bay Area, the child was reunited with his family and was evaluated by paramedics.

Witnesses commenting on the video said the struggle against the waves lasted much longer than the footage shows, adding that Ryder never let go of the child despite the relentless surf.

Ryder's mother, thanking supporters for the outpouring of praise, responded to requests for a GoFundMe page by saying her son was simply doing what he loves.

"I am blown away by the love, kindness, gratitude and respect you're sending his way!" she said.

"A few people have asked about a GoFundMe - but honestly he was just doing the job that he absolutely loves."

Instead, she encouraged those wishing to support Ryder to donate to the Santa Cruz County Parks Department's Junior Guards program, where she said Ryder and many of his fellow lifeguards trained before becoming old enough to serve.

She also argued that lifeguards should be recognized as first responders because of the dangerous surf conditions they face along the Santa Cruz coastline.

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Eric Trump also reposted the rescue video with praise.

"Give this 16-year-old lifeguard the highest civilian honor. This is truly the best of America! Well done!," he said.

California family members claim they were attacked at luxury Maui resort during violent melee

Mon, 27 Jul 2026 21:33:54 -0400

A California family claims it was targeted in a racially motivated attack at a luxury Maui resort after a group allegedly hurled chairs and beat relatives ranging from teenagers to senior citizens during a chaotic poolside brawl.

Maui police confirmed to Fox News Digital that officers responded to the Kaanapali Alii resort in Lahaina on July 17 around 10 p.m. for a disorderly incident involving approximately 30 people. Police said when officers arrived they found 10 to 15 people still gathered near the pool, several with visible injuries.

Police confirmed the preliminary investigation identified seven California victims between the ages of 17 and 62 who reported that a large group of juveniles assaulted multiple members of their party before fleeing.

According to Maui police, one victim told investigators he and his family were near the pool when an unknown male ran toward them asking for help. Moments later, several juvenile males allegedly chased the individual into the area before turning their attention to others nearby.

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"The group allegedly began throwing chairs and physically assaulting numerous people in the area, indiscriminately attacking individuals of all ages, including elderly family members who were struck during the incident," Maui police told Fox News Digital.

Family members told Hawaii News Now the alleged attackers repeatedly threatened to "beat up the haole boys" before the violence erupted.

Merriam-Webster defines "haole" as a Hawaiian term used to describe a foreigner or person of non-Hawaiian descent.

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The family told the outlet it wants the assault investigated as a hate crime. Maui police have not classified the incident as a hate crime.

One of the most seriously injured victims was a relative who was struck in the head with a chair while trying to protect family members, suffering a severe head wound that required 13 staples, according to the family.

Police told Fox News Digital that the investigation led to the arrest of a 20-year-old Makawao man on suspicion of second-degree assault. He was later released as the investigation continues. The case is currently classified as an assault/riot, and detectives have interviewed those involved while continuing to gather evidence.

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In a statement to Fox News Digital, Kaanapali Alii said the safety and well-being of its guests, residents and team members "remains our highest priority" and that resort security responded immediately after the violence broke out.

"Upon learning of the altercation, our security team responded promptly, contacted the Maui Police Department and emergency medical services, and remained on scene to assist until first responders arrived," the resort said. "We have provided surveillance footage and are cooperating fully with law enforcement as their investigation continues."

The resort said it is also conducting its own internal review of the incident.

Addressing the family’s allegation that they were targeted because of their race, the resort said it takes claims of racial bias seriously but cautioned against drawing conclusions before detectives complete their investigation.

"We take allegations of this nature seriously," the statement said. "At this time, allegations regarding motive or the circumstances surrounding the incident have not been substantiated, and it would be inappropriate to speculate or draw conclusions while the investigation remains ongoing."

The resort also acknowledged that staff received reports of threats, harassment and disruptive behavior involving individuals connected to the incident before the violence erupted, but declined to discuss those complaints further because of the active criminal investigation.

"Because this remains an active criminal investigation, we cannot comment on specific security actions, witness accounts or other details that could compromise the investigative process," the resort said.

The property said it remains committed to supporting investigators and those affected by the violence.

"Our focus remains on the well-being of our guests, residents and team members, and on assisting law enforcement in every way possible," the statement said.

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Anyone with information or video related to the incident is asked to contact the Maui Police Department’s Criminal Investigation Division at (808) 244-6425.

Fauci's diary shows he fed questions to journalists, built friendships with media figures

Mon, 27 Jul 2026 21:30:40 -0400

Dr. Anthony Fauci opened up about his relationships with various media personalities in a series of controversial diary entries that put a spotlight on the former White House COVID advisor's cozy relationship with the press.

Fauci’s diary entries were released on Saturday by Senate Homeland Security Committee Chairman Rand Paul, R-Ky., detailing the doctor’s role during the COVID-19 crisis through conversations with President Donald Trump, governors, world leaders, media appearances and his personal observations as the pandemic unfolded in 2020. The stunning diary entries reveal that Fauci made fast friends with members of the liberal media who were tasked with covering the pandemic.

Fauci’s closest media ally appeared to have been CNN anchor Jake Tapper, who was mentioned 41 times in the eyebrow-raising diary.

ABC, NBC, CBS, CNN AND MS NOW IGNORE FAUCI DIARY ENTRIES THAT REVEAL FIXATION ON FAME DURING COVID

According to the diary, Tapper texted Fauci to mock rival cable news hosts and other doctors. On one occasion, Tapper called to check on Fauci after an appearance on his show irked Trump supporters.

"Jake wanted to make sure the interview did not cause me any problems," Fauci wrote on April 13, 2020.

In July 2020, Fauci gushed that he was forming a friendship with Tapper.

"Had dinner over Jake Tapper and Jen Tapper’s home in DC. Terrific couple. Friendship building," Fauci wrote, according to the diary.

Later that month, Fauci wrote that he "gave Jake some questions to ask" pediatrician Brett Giroir during an interview on CNN’s "State of the Union." But Tapper would later express frustration, waking Fauci up in the process.

"Tapper woke me up at 11:23 AM (I went to bed early) furius [sic] at POTUS for tweeting about the fact that Jake severly [sic] questioned Brett Giroir on SOTU CNN show today. Jake was really pissed at the craziness of it all," Fauci wrote.

The late-night tirade couldn’t have bothered Fauci too much, as he invited Tapper to dinner at his home months later.

"Had dinner at my home with Jake and Jennifer Tapper. Relaxed, good time. Jake clearly believes that Trump is totally nuts," Fauci wrote on Oct. 23, 2020.

FAUCI'S NEWLY RELEASED COVID DIARIES REVEAL BIZARRE FIXATION ON FAME AS PANDEMIC DEATHS MOUNTED

CNN’s Dana Bash sent Fauci a text message in April 2021 after a contentious House Select Subcommittee hearing over COVID-19, according to the diary. The CNN star complimented Fauci and informed the doctor that her CNN colleague also picked a side.

"Dana Bash sent me a text: ‘I just watched the whole Jordan thing. Again, you’re a better man than I …. As our friend Wolf Blitzer said to me yesterday — no one would have blamed you if you said simply ‘Mr. Jordan, go f--- yourself,’" Fauci wrote.

Tapper and Bash went on to moderate the CNN Republican Presidential Primary Debate between then-President Biden and President Trump in 2024.

Meanwhile, Andrea Mitchell celebrated July 4, 2020, by offering a mea culpa to Fauci, who believed the White House was limiting his TV exposure.

"Andrea Mitchell called my cell very apologetic about not being able to have me on the show since they already booked a couple of governors who were giving exclusives to NBC. I mentioned to her my concern about them keeping me off the air. She was shocked and thought that when I did not come on after requests that it was because I did not want to go on a show," Fauci wrote.

INSIDE FAUCI'S PRIVATE DIARY: WHAT HE WROTE ABOUT TRUMP, TV PERSONALITIES AND CELEBRITIES

Fauci also had a texting relationship with then-NBC News host Chuck Todd.

"I had a really nice conversation with Chuck Todd this morning. He had texted me to ask what I thought of the interview yesterday. I told him that I thought it was absolutely terrific, but I wanted some advice from him. I asked him whether he thought that I should pull back from publicly defending myself against the slanderous attacks since that might call more attention to them," Fauci wrote.

Fauci also revealed that ABC’s George Stephanopoulos texted him following an interview on "Good Morning America" in July 2020. Apparently, Stephanopoulos was impressed that Fauci dismissed a mean tweet from Trump.

"Thank you, Tony. So impressive," Stephanopoulos wrote, according to the diary.

Fauci boasted early in the diary that he prepped CBS News chief medical correspondent Dr. Jonathan LaPook for a TV appearance.

"Also, Jon LaPook was interviewed on CBS Morning News and mentioned me several times since he e-mailed (sic) me over the weekend to prep him for his interview on Universal Flu vaccine and HIV vaccines," Fauci wrote.

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Representatives for NBC News, ABC News and CBS News did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's requests for comment. A spokesperson for CNN declined to comment.

Brian Harman flips the bird after 3M Open finish, gets a laugh from Scottie Scheffler

Mon, 27 Jul 2026 21:18:01 -0400

Brian Harman had one final message for a TV camera after the 3M Open, and Scottie Scheffler couldn't stop laughing.

After wrapping up play at TPC Twin Cities in Minnesota, Harman and Scheffler headed to the scoring area to sign their scorecards.

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Scheffler had just fired a bogey-free 8-under 63 to finish solo second at 22 under, while Harman posted a final-round 65 to finish tied for third at 20 under.

Both golfers ultimately finished behind 21-year-old Jackson Koivun, who carded a tournament-record 25 under to secure his first PGA Tour victory in just his third start as a professional.

With the round over, the two veterans settled in to sign their scorecards.

A TV camera positioned directly in front of them captured what happened next.

JACKSON KOIVUN ARRIVES IN STYLE, LUCAS GLOVER TAKES OFF HIS SHOES, AND THE GREATEST GOLF DAD MOMENT

Harman looked into the lens and raised his middle finger. Scheffler immediately burst into laughter, punctuating the moment with a fist pump.

JORDAN SPIETH SAYS GAMBLING IS FUELING ROWDY GOLF CROWDS AND WANTS THE SPORT TO ADDRESS IT SOON

The exchange stood out because it unfolded in one of golf's most routine settings, with both players simply signing their scorecards after the round.

The moment caught Scheffler by surprise, with the World No. 1 immediately laughing and pumping his fist after Harman flashed the camera.

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It was a brief departure from golf's usual buttoned-up atmosphere and an amusing finish to an otherwise routine afternoon at the 3M Open.

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RFK Jr says Fauci prioritized 'getting on TV' over public health after revealing diary release

Mon, 27 Jul 2026 21:17:55 -0400

Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. condemned Dr. Anthony Fauci on Monday after revealing personal diary entries revealed the doctor’s fixation on fame during the COVID-19 pandemic.

"[Fauci’s] focus was on promoting himself, on getting on TV and not doing public health," Kennedy said on "The Ingraham Angle."

The journals, released by Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., chronicle Fauci's day-to-day life during the COVID-19 pandemic, detailing Fauci’s obsession with his newfound fame and his belief that it was "not hyperbole" to say he was "the most famous and talked about person in the country."

Kennedy, who said he is traumatized by Fauci’s falsehoods, said the former director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases did "incalculable" damage to public health and dismantled the public’s trust.

FAUCI'S NEWLY RELEASED COVID DIARIES REVEAL BIZARRE FIXATION ON FAME AS PANDEMIC DEATHS MOUNTED

"[Fauci] was the expert that they elevated. And anybody who did not give complete blind faith to these expert opinions – which we now know were lies – was marginalized, vilified, demonized, censored," the HHS secretary told host Laura Ingraham.

Fauci, 85, became largely revered as "America’s doctor" as the public looked to him for guidance during 2020 COVID-19 shutdowns.

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RFK Jr. strongly criticized the doctor’s "mismanagement" of the pandemic, emphasizing his role in placing the United States at the highest mortality rate in the world at 3,000 deaths per one million people.

"Because of Dr. Fauci's leadership and other reasons, we had the highest mortality rate from COVID of any country in the world," he told Fox News. "We literally did worse than any nation in the world."

The HHS secretary recalled being de-platformed over questioning Fauci’s assertions about the origins of COVID-19, lamenting how many were "vilified" over spreading "misinformation" that was later deemed to be true.

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"I pointed out that [COVID-19] almost certainly came from the Wuhan lab and… my Instagram was canceled with a million followers for misinformation," Kennedy explained. "I never put any misinformation up. I put up all the things that we now know are true and it was called misinformation."

Kennedy pointed fingers at Fauci, saying he is to blame for Americans’ lack of trust in public health and added that "they shouldn’t" because they were "lied to."

He also took aim at legacy media organizations for what he described as suppressing dissenting views and vehemently defending Fauci.

"The press was part of this collaboration," RFK Jr said. "It was corrupt, and it did tremendous damage to the media in this country and to Americans’ faith in that very important democratic institution. It also did incalculable damage to public health."

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Kennedy argued Fauci could potentially face perjury prosecution as the doctor faces congressional testimony Wednesday about his diary entries and handling of the COVID-19 pandemic.

"There are many things that [Fauci] said that we know are lies, and Rand Paul presumably is going to ask him about those things, and if he lies again, then he could be subject to perjury prosecution," he said.

Biden's classified docs narrative crumbles amid release of ghostwriter tapes: 'Be careful'

Mon, 27 Jul 2026 19:00:35 -0400

Former President Joe Biden's recordings from interviews with his memoir ghostwriter — obtained during special counsel Robert Hur's classified documents investigation — have been released to the public.

After a months-long fight from Biden’s attorneys to block the release of the tape, they abandoned their lawsuit calling for a dismissal Friday, in which a judge accepted Monday.

The plaintiff, Mike Howell formerly with conservative think tank Heritage Foundation and now at Oversight Project, has fought for more than two years to obtain the materials through FOIA requests, arguing that the public has an interest in reviewing the recordings and transcripts on which Hur based his decision.

BIDEN'S HUR INTERVIEW TAPES COULD NOW GO PUBLIC AFTER HIS ATTORNEYS WAVE WHITE FLAG

The Oversight Project published hours of recordings from Biden's 2016 and 2017 conversations with his "Promise Me, Dad" ghostwriter, Mark Zwonitzer, in which the then-former vice president frequently pauses, speaks haltingly and struggles to recall events — reinforcing Special Counsel Robert Hur's characterization in his report.

"Joe Biden didn’t want these tapes to come out. But now they have — after two years of painful delay. There is no joy in Bidenville today. Robert Hur’s and Merrick Garland’s decision to give Biden a free pass for keeping and disclosing classified information must now be reexamined from top to bottom," Oversight Project Vice President of Litigation Jeff Clark exclusively told Fox News Digital.

The House Judiciary Committee announced there were 2 hours and 45 minutes of recordings released.

Hur investigated Biden’s handling of classified documents dating from his time as vice president in the Obama administration and as a U.S. senator from Delaware. He declined to pursue criminal charges because he concluded prosecutors could not prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Biden willfully retained or disclosed the material.

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In his report, Hur wrote that Biden’s conversations were "painfully slow" and said Biden was "struggling to remember events and straining at times to read and relay his own notebook entries."

"Mr. Biden's memory was significantly limited, both during his recorded interviews with the ghostwriter in 2017 and in his interview with our office in 2023," wrote Hur.

He also said, in shocking reasoning for the lack of prosecution, that Biden could appear to a jury as a "sympathetic, well-meaning, elderly man with a poor memory" rather than an intentional violator of classified document laws.

The interview recordings show instances where Biden takes long pauses, forgets names, and can't recall specific days.

Biden warned Zwonitzer while discussing a 2014 Situation Room meeting, "Some of this may be classified, so be careful," and added, "I'm not sure. It isn't marked classified, but...."

In one instance, on April 24, 2017, Biden struggled to recall two economic advisers.

"I’ll think of his name," said Biden, and then, "I should write the names down because I keep forgetting them." A long pause follows before Zwonitzer says Alan Krueger’s name.

On the same day, Biden fails to recall where he was on a certain date, later remembering he was at a memorial for a fallen service member – and forgot his name.

"I think I went to that memorial service in Wilmington. It says [REDACTED] December the 4th, but I don't -- I know what this means. Memorial service -- [REDACTED] gets names really f---ed up," said Biden. "So it says memorial service for [REDACTED]. I don't think her name was [REDACTED]. Or I forget [REDACTED]."

Zwonitzer responded, "Okay," and Biden said he would "make a note of that too."

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"But at any rate, back to -- there was -- I had a meeting with Ron Klain, and I don't know when," Biden added.

Biden also appeared to struggle in recalling a lunch with former United States Secretary of the Treasury Larry Summers.

"When he, when he came to me — and I’ll get the date. Remind me when did Summers come to me to have lunch to — it was when I was thinking about running."

He later goes on to say, "Here’s what happened, before I forget. Don’t mind my train of thought. He also pledged to support me in 2016."

Fox News Digital reached out to the Office of Joe Biden for comment.

Kelsey Grammer admits it's 'exhausting' when movies try to alter history to fit modern tastes

Mon, 27 Jul 2026 21:00:49 -0400

FIRST ON FOX: "Frasier" star Kelsey Grammer spoke on "The Katie Miller Podcast" about how modern Hollywood keeps getting in its own way.

Podcaster Katie Miller, the wife of White House deputy chief of staff for policy Stephen Miller, observed, "Hollywood seems determined to reinvent nearly every classic, like ‘The Odyssey,’ and distort it just a little bit to fit their views. Have you watched ‘The Odyssey’?"

"I haven't seen ‘The Odyssey,’ so I'm not really too aware of that," Grammer admitted, but added that there are times when certain entertainment "hits me over the head" to the point where, "it's a little exhausting."

He noted that the past was less multicultural than Hollywood would like to portray it, saying, "I think old England is probably full of White people" and that "I think historical significance should be respected a little bit, culturally."

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"Do you think Hollywood will ever get back there?" Miller asked.

"Yeah. Hollywood isn't very good at telling people what they have to see, you know, because then they flop,’ Grammer replied.

"But they've had, like, successive years of just flops," Miller replied.

One prominent example of a controversial adaptation that flopped was "Snow White," which reportedly netted Disney an approximately $170 million loss. Pixar — under parent company Disney — has tried to pivot away from a series of flops by cutting LGBTQ themes and warning not to make films inspired by the creators' own life stories.

Pixar Chief Creative Officer Pete Docter told The Wall Street Journal that he chose this pivot because "We’re making a movie, not hundreds of millions of dollars of therapy."

"Yeah. They're probably figuring it out. I think eventually flopping doesn't work so well," Grammer said. "We're not shooting a lot of movies these days. But I mean, I'm glad they made ‘The Odyssey.’ I mean, I don't know if they've, you know, pitched it too far in to our particular culture to divorce you from the idea of what actually happened."

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In recent years, there have been numerous movies in the culture-war spotlight, ranging from remakes like "The Little Mermaid" and "Snow White" to adaptations of ancient history like "Cleopatra" and "The Odyssey."

Emily Wilson, who famously wrote what some call a feminist translation of Homer’s "The Odyssey" that helped influence the film, panned director Christopher Nolan’s adaptation for missing the spirit of the original heroic epic. The film has also been criticized for using modernized Americanized dialogue, reshaping the character of Odysseus as a more traumatized rather than heroic figure, and for removing many of the mythological aspects.

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In contrast to other controversial adaptations of beloved works, Nolan’s adaptation of "The Odyssey" has managed to become a box office hit, though audiences and critics remain divided over whether its bold creative choices improved the story or missed the mark.

Grammer's full interview with Miller will be published Tuesday night on the show's YouTube page.

NY Times reporter admits Trump's 'delusional' foes have wrongly written his political obituary many times

Mon, 27 Jul 2026 21:00:16 -0400

New York Times reporter Jonathan Swan suggested during a "60 Minutes Australia" interview released last week that President Donald Trump has "Napoleonic" ambition and a political survivability that should humble journalists.

Swan and fellow Times reporter Maggie Haberman discussed their new book, "Regime Change: Inside the Imperial Presidency of Donald Trump," and Swan offered speculation on the rest of the president's term and cautioned other journalists to have some humility.

"So there's still a sense that, even if Democrats take the House from Trump, they really can't touch him," Swan said in the interview. "And, like you said, his family's made a lot of money. He's wealthier than he's ever been. He has immunity conferred by the Supreme Court. And there's no prospect, even if he does get impeached, there's no prospect of a conviction."

"I think Donald Trump's obituary has been written so many times — his political obituary — by so many people," Swan continued. "And by this point, if you don't have some humility around that, I think, you know, you're operating in a fairly delusional way. This is someone who has incredible survival capacities, who's able to regenerate himself, and he's still got two and a half years left as the most powerful man on the planet, with no intention of receding at all."

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As he spoke about the future of Trump’s term, he noted that the president's next step may be taking on the Cuban regime.

"So there are many things he could do," he said. "The most obvious in foreign policy is Cuba. They've been looking at potential regime change in Cuba, but who knows? It's a big world out there, and we don't want to start being pundits and prognosticating."

Swan also described a past encounter at the White House that he suggested speaks volumes about Trump’s personal mindset and policies. As Trump met with Swan and Haberman, he had purportedly shown them a document he claimed was written by a historian.

"So it opens by saying Donald Trump is the most powerful man who's ever existed, ever lived on the planet, by far," Swan said. "And then it goes on to compare him to what Donald Trump said was, to us, the top ten. And it was Stalin, Mao, Hitler, Napoleon, Attila the Hun, Genghis Khan, the Caesars, Alexander the Great, Tamerlane ... there's probably one I'm missing."

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"And it had nothing to do with morality," Swan continued. "The document didn't mention morality. It was about power and raw power."

The premise of the document, Swan said, was that Trump is the most powerful leader in history and is willing to use power in a way no previous president has done within their lifetime, which he noted was remarkably similar to the book he wrote about the administration.

Swan added further, "I think it's also that he wants to be a sort of Napoleonic ... you know, the person who only needs to be known by one name, who is the defining figure of our age. And so, when Trump thinks about himself in history, I don't think he's comparing himself to Bill Clinton or, you know, name your U.S. president — Eisenhower. I think it is to figures like Napoleon and that he wants to be the defining global figure of our age."

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In response to Swan's comments, White House spokeswoman Olivia Wales told Fox News Digital that "President Trump is fighting every day to deliver the strong, safe, and prosperous country that we all deserve. The only legacy President Trump is concerned with is making America greater than ever before."

White House fires back after John Mellencamp mocks Trump's Gulf of America during concert

Mon, 27 Jul 2026 20:17:36 -0400

The White House is hitting back after John Mellencamp took direct shots at President Donald Trump's Gulf of America.

Mellencamp paused his Saturday night show Holmdel, N.J. to mock Trump's executive order to rename the "Gulf of Mexico" to "Gulf of America."

On Monday, Davis Ingle, WH Spokesman, shared a statement with Fox News Digital. "Nobody in their right mind cares what out-of-touch, woke Hollywood celebrities have to say," Ingle said.

As part of his "Dancing Words" Tour, Mellencamp was singing the first few verses of his hit "Pink Houses," before he addressed the crowd directly.

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"Well, there’s people and more people/ What do they know, know, know?/ Go to work in some high rise/ And vacation down at the Gulf of Mexico," the rock icon sang before adding, "Wait a minute," according to USA Today.

While Mellencamp's band kept playing, the musician said sarcastically, "The Gulf of Mexico? Is that right? It’s not the Gulf of America? What a stupid f–----g idea."

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Mellencamp then picked right back up and finished performing "Pink Houses."

Released in 1983, Mellencamp's "Pink Houses" became one of his signature hits, reaching No. 8 on the Billboard Hot 100.

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While many listeners initially embraced it as a patriotic anthem, Mellencamp has said the song is actually a sharp commentary on the American dream, exploring themes of class, inequality and the gap between ideals and reality.

The song was inspired by Mellencamp spotting a man sitting outside a small pink house along an Indiana highway, an image that sparked the iconic chorus, "Ain't that America."

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Third suspect emerges in deadly Seattle mass shooting, one alleged gunman found dead

Sun, 26 Jul 2026 22:22:19 -0400

Police now believe three suspects may have been involved in Sunday's mass shooting at Seattle Center that left three people dead and four others wounded, with a 15-year-old arrested in connection with the violence.

One of the suspected shooters was among those killed in the violence, according to The Associated Press (AP), citing a document filed in juvenile court in Seattle.

While police previously said they believed there were two gunmen, the document revealed that the 15-year-old, along with an acquaintance found dead at the scene, may have engaged in a gunfight with at least one other unknown suspect.

An active manhunt remains underway for the suspected shooter.

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Just hours earlier, officials said the 15-year-old was booked into juvenile detention on suspicion of firearms violations and first-degree assault.

While the juvenile was expected to make an initial court appearance Monday, The AP reported that the teen waived the hearing.

No homicide charges have been filed against the teen.

"We believe this teenager opened fire in the crowd, but details are still under investigation," Mayor Katie Wilson said.

Seattle Police Department Chief Shon Barnes said investigators believe gunfire was exchanged outside the Seattle Center Armory, leaving multiple bystanders caught in the crossfire.

Police believe the shooting stemmed from a conflict between small groups who appear to be at odds with each other.

Officials said a 19-year-old man and a 44-year-old man died at the scene despite life-saving efforts by first responders.

A 56-year-old woman was also transported to a local hospital in critical condition, where she later died.

Four other victims were injured, including a 2-year-old boy, a 23-year-old man, a 39-year-old woman and a 40-year-old woman. Officials said these victims either suffered minor injuries or have been discharged from the hospital.

Police are also investigating whether a 27-year-old man who self-transported to a hospital was an eighth victim. His involvement has not yet been confirmed.

Harborview Medical Center spokesperson Susan Gregg previously said the injuries to four patients involved an arm, abdomen and legs.

Wilson called the shooting "an act of horrific violence."

"Impacted families are living through the worst moment of their lives, and an entire community is trying to understand how a gathering built around culture, connection, and joy ended in gunfire," Wilson said in a statement. "No one should have to weigh the risk of being shot before attending an event, gathering with friends, or experiencing their city."

The venue was hosting the Bite of Seattle food festival over the weekend.

"Our first responsibilities are supporting grieving families, caring for the injured, and providing clear and accurate information for the public," the mayor said.

Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson previously said he was receiving briefings and State Patrol SWAT officers responded to the scene to assist Seattle Police.

"My prayers are with the families of the victims, and the responders as they work to keep people safe," the governor said on X.

Fox News Digital reached out to the Seattle Police Department for additional information.

Rep. Pramila Jayapal, D-Wash., said she was "absolutely horrified" by the shooting.

"My heart goes out to the victims and their families, and all those impacted by this senseless violence."

"I am grateful to the officers and first responders who are at the scene and working to protect our community, as well as the frontline medical professionals who are treating survivors," she said on X. "Tonight, we grieve with our community in Seattle as well as those around the country affected by gun violence and mass shootings."

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King County Executive Girmay Zahilay similarly said he was "horrified" by the violence.

"As someone who grew up in this community, I know what this event means to so many families, young people, and neighbors across our region," he said in a statement. "For years, the Bite has been one of Seattle's signature summer traditions. To see violence at a place that brings so many people together is heartbreaking and unacceptable."

Kayla Carris, 22, said she was sitting outside the Armory at the Bite of Seattle when people began to scream and run for cover inside the Seattle Center Armory.

"Everyone was just throwing stuff and running," Carris told The Seattle Times. "Like everyone."

Todd Behrends, 59, said he heard what appeared to be several rounds of shots.

People began running and jumping over each other to escape, Behrends told the outlet. One woman fell, and someone stepped on her leg.

Behrends said he saw a woman on the ground and a man on a stretcher as he ran toward an exit.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Trump's $15B lawsuit against The New York Times carries on as judge gives his attorneys chance to amend filing

Mon, 27 Jul 2026 19:49:38 -0400

President Donald Trump took a victory lap Monday after a judge granted his legal team a chance to amend his $15 billion defamation lawsuit against The New York Times.

"BREAKING NEWS: The Failing New York Times, after 10 years of harassment, slander, and libel, just failed again in their desperate attempt to have our powerful Defamation Lawsuit against them dropped," Trump wrote on Truth Social. "As we requested, the Highly Respected Judge has called for an updated complaint, which will lay out, in extreme detail, all the ways in which The Times has repeatedly and consistently acted, with actual malice in defaming me, my family, our Great MAGA Movement, and America, itself."

"We will continue to hold The Times and their 'comrades' in the Mainstream Media accountable for publishing, promoting, and dealing in Fake News. Thank you for your attention to this matter!" Trump added.

TRUMP THREATENS TO ADD NY TIMES' 'TREASONOUS' IRAN WAR COVERAGE TO $15B DEFAMATION LAWSUIT

According to a filing in the U.S. District Court for Florida’s Middle District in Tampa, Trump's attorneys have until August 27 to amend the lawsuit.

The New York Times did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment.

The suit alleged decades of defamation and libel by the Times over everything from how it reported on "The Apprentice" to its stories claiming he'd engaged in suspect tax maneuvers.

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The named defendants are The New York Times Company, reporters Susanne Craig, Russ Buettner, Peter Baker and Michael S. Schmidt, and Penguin Random House, which published "Lucky Loser: How Donald Trump Squandered His Father’s Fortune and Created the Illusion of Success," which was authored by Craig and Buettner.

A spokesperson for The Times previously told Fox News Digital, "As we said when this was first filed and again after the judge’s ruling to strike it: this lawsuit has no merit. Nothing has changed today. This is merely an attempt to stifle independent reporting and generate PR attention, but The New York Times will not be deterred by intimidation tactics."

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19 cadets rushed to hospitals after mystery illness strikes military-style youth academy in DC area

Mon, 27 Jul 2026 19:46:53 -0400

At least 19 cadets at a military-style youth academy in the Washington, D.C., area were sent to area hospitals Sunday after reporting symptoms of an unknown illness, prompting a mass casualty response, officials said.

Emergency crews responded to the Capital Guardian Youth Challenge Academy in Laurel, Maryland, after cadets began experiencing symptoms following lunch, the DC National Guard said, according to FOX 5 DC.

The academy, which is operated by the DC National Guard, is a military-style life intervention program for at-risk teens, according to the institution.

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One mother told FOX 5 that blood tests at a hospital showed her son had elevated carbon monoxide levels. He reportedly developed delayed symptoms hours after other cadets were taken for treatment, including dizziness, headaches and nausea.

The mother added that the youth academy decided to temporarily close following the incident.

However, Anne Arundel County Fire Department officials said they conducted a carbon monoxide investigation and did not detect elevated levels of the gas, according to the local station.

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Officials have not confirmed the cause of the illness but said it could be related to food.

DC National Guard officials said the health and safety of cadets and staff remain their highest priority and that they are working with emergency medical personnel and public health authorities as the investigation continues, according to FOX 5.

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Officials added that while 19 cadets were sent to area hospitals, one adult was evaluated at the scene and declined further medical treatment.

Fox News Digital reached out to D.C. National Guard for more information.

'Baywatch' star Brooks Nader suffers wardrobe malfunction during Saint-Tropez getaway

Mon, 27 Jul 2026 19:26:00 -0400

Brooks Nader has seemingly been everywhere this summer.

Between filming Fox's upcoming "Baywatch" reboot in Los Angeles and hopping from one European hotspot to another, the 29-year-old model has kept fans updated every step of the way.

This week, Nader added another memorable moment to the itinerary.

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After spending the afternoon dining at the iconic Club 55 in Saint-Tropez and cooling off with a swim, Nader experienced an unexpected fashion mishap. As she made her way back across the sand, her leopard-print halter playsuit briefly slipped, exposing her chest before she quickly adjusted the look.

Despite the fashion mishap, Nader appeared unfazed as she continued enjoying the glamorous beach day.

Nader gave followers a behind-the-scenes look aboard a luxury yacht through a series of Instagram Stories, including one that showed her posing in the same leopard-print halterneck playsuit after sunset.

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Kneeling across cream-colored lounge cushions, Nader flipped her blonde hair over one shoulder while overlooking the Mediterranean. Another shot captured her sitting on the yacht with the sparkling coastline behind her, showing off the plunging animal-print look accented with a colorful jeweled brooch at the waist.

A change of scenery also meant a change of outfit.

In another Instagram Story, Nader traded the leopard-print ensemble for a casual white two-piece while walking barefoot up an elegant wooden staircase. She paired a fitted white tank top with cheeky white shorts that read "Saint-Tropez French Riviera" across the back.

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Before leaving France, the model admitted she wasn't ready for the trip to end.

Sharing another Story as she departed the yacht, Nader filmed her friends waving goodbye before writing, "Torture leaving my fave place & peeps, back to work I go."

She also documented the vacation on TikTok, including a playful video filmed aboard the yacht set to a trending Melania Trump sound.

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As it turns out, wardrobe malfunctions have become somewhat of an unexpected trademark for the model.

Last year, Nader made headlines after unexpectedly bleeding through a white skirt while attending Wimbledon. Rather than hide the mishap, she leaned into the viral moment, sharing it on TikTok, where the video amassed nearly 200,000 likes before ultimately leading to a partnership with U by Kotex.

Her latest European getaway comes during an especially busy stretch in both her personal and professional life.

According to People, Nader is currently single after previously being linked to actor Taron Egerton. A source told the outlet that while she's been enjoying dating, her attention is firmly on work.

"Brooks is totally single right now. She's been going out on dates and having fun, but her main focus is Baywatch," the source told People.

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The insider added that Nader is currently balancing production on Fox's upcoming "Baywatch" reboot alongside filming the second season of her Hulu and Freeform reality series, "Love Thy Nader."

Nader also recently dismissed romance rumors herself, telling TMZ she and Egerton "never were" dating and insisting she's "just single, having fun, always."

Before that, the model dated her former "Dancing with the Stars" partner Gleb Savchenko following the end of her marriage to advertising executive Billy Haire. She has also been linked to tennis stars Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner.

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Pro Bowl player requests trade from Tampa Bay Buccaneers on eve of training camp amid contract dispute

Mon, 27 Jul 2026 19:22:32 -0400

As negotiation tactics go, asking for a trade the day before training camp opens is the NFL equivalent of reaching for the nuclear codes before deciding to type them in. But that's exactly what Tampa Bay Buccaneers nose tackle Vita Vea has done.

The two-time Pro Bowl player has grown so frustrated with contract discussions this offseason that he's decided he doesn't see a future with the team, and has asked to be traded, a league source confirmed to Fox News Digital.

That doesn't mean a trade will happen. Vea is under contract for the 2026 season and is scheduled to make up to $18 million if he can play all 17 games in the final year of his current contract.

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The Bucs aren't simply going to hold a fire sale to avoid the trade talk distraction, per a source.

Vea wants more money and points to the fact he is currently the 19th-highest-paid interior defensive lineman in the league. And he believes he is much better than the 19th-best defensive lineman in the league.

Vea is, for all intents and purposes, the structural centerpiece of the Tampa Bay defense. He is arguably the team's best run defender and, as all NFL defensive coordinators often note, if a defense cannot stop the run it is unable to do much of anything else.

Vea provides a rare combination of size, power to movement to control the middle of the formation from his nose tackle spot. At 6-foot-4 and 347 pounds, Vea has anchored against double-teams for much of his recent years.

Despite this attention, he is able to clog interior rushing lanes and prevent offensive linemen from climbing cleanly to the second level of Tampa Bay’s defense. Since becoming a full-time starter in 2019, he has helped the Buccaneers establish one of the NFL’s most consistently productive run defenses.

From 2019 through most of the 2024 season, Tampa Bay ranked first in the NFL in rushing yards allowed per game at 94.1, first in yards allowed per carry at 4.0 and finished in the top five against the run in five of six seasons, including No. 1 finishes in 2019 and 2020.

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Vea played only five games in 2020 due to a fractured ankle, but he's proven durable ever since. He has started 78 games in the past five seasons.

Vea’s individual production shows he is more than a traditional space-eating nose tackle but he set a career high with seven sacks in 2024, then added 4.5 sacks, seven tackles for loss and 13 quarterback hits in 2025.

His 2024 pass-rush production made Tampa Bay one of only three teams that season with two defensive tackles recording at least seven sacks, as Vea and Calijah Kancey both reached that mark.

Vea was selected to the Pro Bowl following the 2021 and 2024 seasons, earned a place on the NFL Players Association’s Top 100 list entering 2025 and was a key member of Tampa Bay’s Super Bowl LV championship team.

This trade request creates issues for the Bucs.

It's possible Vea, who reported but did not take part in the teams mandatory minicamp and missed the rest of the offseason program, might decide to simply hold in to start training camp – that is to say, he shows up but doesn't practice.

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No coach likes that. No team wants that.

The Buccaneers are already managing the high-stakes contract negotiations with quarterback Baker Mayfield as their top contract issue. So dealing with a very large star defender who has publicly let it be known he wants out is not great for the team.

WNBA love feud explodes as NaLyssa Smith fires back at DiJonai Carrington's cheating claims

Mon, 27 Jul 2026 19:11:00 -0400

Las Vegas Aces forward NaLyssa Smith went live on Twitch to respond after ex-girlfriend DiJonai Carrington accused her of a multi-player cheating scandal.

During a livestream, Smith refused to confirm or deny the allegations, instead questioning why the Chicago Sky guard chose to air their private history a year after their breakup.

Carrington launched the feud on Threads by alleging Smith cheated on her with Aces teammate Deja Kelly, Atlanta Dream guard Aaliyah Nye and others.

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"Whether she cheated on me and I cheated on her, why are we bringing that to the internet a year later when nobody did anything to anybody? Whether she cheated on me or I cheated on her, that has nothing to do with anybody," Smith said. "Like what? That don't even make sense. And to bring it to the internet a year later, is crazy. Just for fun? That's ridiculous, especially when you're in a happy, healthy relationship."

Smith also criticized Carrington for dragging Kelly and Nye into the public dispute.

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"Then, to bring up folks name that has nothing to do with anything. These folks is minding their business. These folks woke up to this s**t on a random Sunday night of these type of allegations," Smith said. "I think that's very weird."

Detailing the in-person confrontation that preceded Carrington's social media outburst, Smith claimed Carrington started an argument that ended with security stepping in.

"Here goes DiJonai. 'You talkin to that b*tch. You talkin to that b*tch.' B*tch this. B*tch that. I'm like 'Why I gotta be a b*tch?' Literally on my grandmother's grave, I'm like 'Damn why I gotta be a b*tch.' That's how the whole thing started," Smith said. "I'm literally like 'Who's a b*tch?' So, then it causes commotion and I'm just like 'Damn now what?' I look like the problem. So, then security come and he's like 'Alright y'all gonna have to leave.' Mind y'all, I'm the victim."

Smith also denied online claims that she showed up uninvited to keep tabs on Carrington.

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"I didn't do 'none.' I'm sitting on the couch posting, minding my business. I didn't do nothing to nobody," Smith said. "So, the fact that people are trying to create this narrative of 'Lyss came somewhere uninvited and she came here just to spy on folks. Y'all gotta stop all that lying."

Smith suggested alcohol contributed to Carrington's outburst.

"I guess the liquor, the cameras, her crowd, I guess she got some type of, somebody boosted her up to gain some confidence," Smith said. "But at the end of the day, that was some bulls–t. We came to the spot. Folks was chilling. Nobody did nothing to nobody."

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The former Baylor teammates will meet on the court Aug. 1, when Carrington's Sky host Smith and the Aces in Chicago.

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