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Rams' Alaric Jackson catches surprising break despite damning allegations involving pregnant girlfriend

Wed, 08 Jul 2026 06:37:46 -0400

Los Angeles Rams offensive lineman Alaric Jackson has dodged criminal charges, but his NFL career remains in serious jeopardy.

Just weeks after his late-night domestic violence arrest, the 27-year-old left tackle is walking away without facing a single charge.

According to the New York Post, prosecutors have declined to pursue the case stemming from Jackson's June 9 arrest in Los Angeles.

ATTORNEY FOR DENVER BRONCOS DEFENDER JONATHON COOPER PLAYS RACE CARD IN DOMESTIC ABUSE CASE

While the District Attorney's Office previously declined to file felony charges, the city attorney has now passed on misdemeanor charges as well.

The Post also reported that Jackson's pregnant girlfriend voluntarily dismissed her temporary restraining order.

According to police, the dispute began after Jackson believed she was secretly recording him on her cell phone. During an alleged struggle over the device, Jackson allegedly left scratch marks on her arm. He was arrested on suspicion of domestic violence and later released on $50,000 bond.

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Jackson, who signed a three-year, $57 million contract extension last year, allegedly became enraged over being recorded without his consent.

The allegation drew comparisons to Jackson's previous NFL suspension for secretly recording a woman during a sexual encounter without her consent.

That incident led to a federal lawsuit that was settled and dismissed in April.

JETS' GENO SMITH UNDER ACTIVE INVESTIGATION IN FLORIDA FOR ALLEGED ASSAULT AT HIS HOME: POLICE

Even though prosecutors declined to pursue charges, the NFL operates under its own Personal Conduct Policy and is conducting an independent investigation.

Because the league does not need a criminal conviction to impose discipline, Jackson could still face a suspension before the season kicks off.

Send us your thoughts: alejandro.avila@outkick.com / Follow along on X: @alejandroaveela

Are airline miles still worth it?

Wed, 08 Jul 2026 06:34:28 -0400

Airline miles used to feel like a secret travel weapon. You saved them, watched the award chart and then pounced when the right seat opened up.

Now? You may search for a flight and see a price so ridiculous that it makes you want to close the laptop.

That is exactly why I sat down with David Fleming, a travel rewards consultant known online as The Miles Guy. His job is helping travelers squeeze more value out of airline miles, hotel points and credit card rewards without getting fooled into bad redemptions.

FAKE BOOKING.COM TRAVEL CREDIT SCAM TARGETS TRAVELERS

And here is the big takeaway: airline miles can still be valuable, but the old tricks no longer work the same way.

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Why airline miles feel harder to use now

Years ago, many airlines used fixed award charts. That made it easier to know what a flight should cost in points. Now, that predictability is mostly gone. "The airlines and their frequent flier programs went to something called dynamic pricing, which basically ties the cost of the ticket to the number of points you use," Fleming told me during our conversation on the CyberGuy Report podcast.

He gave one eye-popping example. Air France Flying Blue business class from Los Angeles to Paris used to show up for around 67,500 points one way. Now, on some days, that same type of redemption can balloon to an outrageous level. "Some days you're now seeing them for 700,000 points one way," Fleming said. "Which is bananas."

That is the kind of number that should make you pause before clicking "book." If you want a broader refresher on how travel rewards work, CyberGuy's guide on how to rack up points and miles for travel is a helpful read at CyberGuy.com.

Flexibility is still your best travel hack

If you have any wiggle room in your schedule, use it before you spend your miles. "The key really is to book your trip around your flights," Fleming said. "Find the dates that have the best mileage redemptions available, and book those and let that be your guide."

That may sound annoying if you already picked your vacation dates. However, shifting by a day or two, or flying from a different airport, can save you a huge number of points.

This approach works best when you are traveling alone or with one other person. It gets harder with kids, school schedules, work calendars and family obligations. Still, even a little flexibility can help. The goal is to stop treating every mileage price as a good deal just because it uses points instead of cash.

Book a refundable ticket as a backup

One of my best strategies is to book a refundable cash ticket as insurance while watching for mileage seats. Here is how it works. You book a refundable fare, so you know you can get where you need to go. Then you keep checking for award seats. If a better mileage redemption becomes available, you can cancel the refundable ticket and book with points.

Fleming said that strategy still has value, even though it worked better before dynamic pricing became so common. "If you book a refundable ticket, you know if something does open up, you always can cancel that refundable ticket, get your money back, and book the mileage ticket," Fleming said.

There is another version of the same idea. If a good mileage ticket doesn't appear, you can look for a cheaper, nonrefundable cash fare closer to the trip. Then you cancel the refundable ticket and buy the cheaper fare instead. It takes effort, but it gives you options.

Ask about paid upgrades before you board

Paid upgrades can be hit-or-miss. Still, Fleming says asking at the counter or gate can sometimes pay off. "You might have to be a little proactive and ask the gate agent or the person at the ticket counter, 'Hey, do you have any upgrades available? And if yes, how much are they?'" Fleming said.

He shared the story of a friend who was flying economy on a transatlantic flight. At the counter, the airline offered him a business class upgrade for $140. If he had bought that upgrade online earlier, it would have cost more than $1,200. That will not happen every time. Airlines may have no seats, no deal or no interest in discounting the upgrade. Even so, the question costs nothing. Ask politely at check-in, at the ticket counter or at the gate: "Are there any paid upgrades available, and what would the cost be?" You can always say no.

Know when points are a bad deal

This may be the hardest part for many travelers. Sometimes the smartest move is to keep your miles. Fleming uses a rough benchmark of about 2 cents per point. So, if 100,000 points would cover a ticket that costs about $2,000, that can be a fair deal.

"On average, you might say that a point is worth $0.02," Fleming said. "I just kind of set the goal at $0.02 a point." However, if an airline wants 100,000 points for a $500 ticket, you may want to pay cash and keep the points for something better. That is where people get burned. They see "free flight" and forget that points have value. Those points took spending, flying or credit card bonuses to earn. Burning them on a weak redemption can cost you later.

Compare points before you book

Airline miles and hotel points can both be easy to waste. Before you redeem either one, compare the points or miles price with the cash rate. That helps you see whether you are getting strong value.

One tool CyberGuy has covered before is Awayz. It can help you compare cash prices with award pricing so you can decide when to use points, miles or cash. Its hotel search can be especially helpful if you have rewards spread across programs like Hilton, Hyatt, Marriott, IHG, Accor, Choice or Wyndham. Awayz can also help you look for award availability and spot better dates. That can save time when you are planning a trip with flexible travel dates.

Still, treat any travel search tool as a starting point. Prices and award availability can change fast. Before you transfer points or book, confirm the final price, taxes, fees, cancellation rules and availability directly with the airline, hotel or loyalty program.

BOOKING A SUMMER TRIP? HERE'S WHAT YOU'RE GIVING SCAMMERS

Track every loyalty account in one place

You cannot use your rewards well if you do not know what you have. Fleming says that starts with keeping your travel accounts organized.

"I created a spreadsheet which basically lists my program, American Airlines, my account number, my password, when the points expire and how many points I have," Fleming said. "Then you know what you have to work with."

I use a phone contact called "Travel Profile." In that contact card, I store airline, hotel and rental car loyalty numbers in alphabetical order. So, when I am checking into a hotel or renting a car, I can quickly find the right number.

Here is how to set one up:

iPhone: Open the Contacts app > tap the + button > enter Travel Profile as the name > scroll to Notes > type your airline, hotel and rental car loyalty numbers in alphabetical order > tap Done.
Samsung Galaxy : Open the Contacts app > tap the + button > choose where to save the contact, such as Phone or Google > enter Travel Profile as the name > tap View more if needed > add your loyalty numbers in Notes > tap Save.

One important warning: do not store passwords in this contact card. Use it for loyalty numbers only. Keep account passwords in a secure password manager instead.

The trade-off is that a phone contact will not show your current point balances or expiration dates. That is where a spreadsheet or password manager can help, especially if you have dozens of travel accounts.

Watch expiration dates before points disappear

Some airline miles no longer expire. Fleming noted that United MileagePlus miles and Delta SkyMiles do not expire. However, other programs still have expiration rules. Flying Blue, the loyalty program for Air France and KLM, now uses a single 24-month validity period for miles, with qualifying activity able to extend that date. That means you should check each program before assuming your miles are safe forever.

Also, do not ignore small balances. A few thousand points may not buy a long-haul ticket, but they may help with a hotel night, upgrade or short flight later.

Airline status may not go as far as it used to

I asked Fleming whether airline status still means anything. His answer was blunt. "Unless you have the top tier status, I don't think so," Fleming said.

I get it. There was a time when top-level status could feel special, especially when flights were delayed or canceled. You could call a dedicated number, find the right person at the airport and sometimes get real help getting where you needed to go.

That still happens, but it feels less dependable than it used to. Planes are packed, upgrades are harder to clear and airlines often sell premium seats instead of handing them to loyal flyers.

Status can still help with free bags, preferred seats and priority support. However, I would not chase it blindly unless the perks still match how often you fly and what you are spending to get them.

Use travel tech to get ahead of delays

One of my favorite travel apps right now is Flighty. It tracks your aircraft before it becomes your flight, which can give you an early warning when trouble is starting to build.

For example, your plane may still be in another city with several flights to complete before it ever gets to you. If one of those earlier flights gets delayed, Flighty can often show the ripple effect before the airline sends an official alert. Flighty can send real-time alerts for delays, gate changes and cancellations.

You can also track a flight right inside the Messages app on your iPhone. Send yourself, or someone else, the airline name and flight number , such as Delta 1234 or American 456. You can also try the airline code and number, such as DL1234 or AA456. Once the flight number appears underlined, tap it and select Preview Flight. You should see details such as flight status, departure time, arrival time, terminal, gate and baggage claim when available.

One low-tech trick I still swear by is carrying a UK plug adapter. Some airplane outlets get loose from heavy use, especially with standard U.S. plugs. A UK adapter may fit more securely in certain universal airplane outlets, but it will not work on every aircraft or every seat. Also, treat it as an adapter, not a voltage converter, and use it only with chargers that support the power range printed on the charger.

Protect your miles like money

Airline miles and hotel points have real value. That makes them attractive to hackers. A thief who breaks into a loyalty account can drain your miles, book travel or sell access before you notice. Since many people rarely check old airline and hotel accounts, fraud can sit there longer than it should.

CyberGuy has covered how hackers can hijack travel rewards programs and drain miles. To protect yourself, use strong, unique passwords for every travel account and store them in a secure password manager. Turn on two-factor authentication (2FA) when available and review your balances often.

You should also keep strong antivirus software on your devices to help block malicious links, phishing pages and other threats that can lead to account theft. Get my picks for the best 2026 antivirus protection winners for your Windows, Mac, Android and iOS devices at CyberGuy.com.

Also, consider using a data removal service to reduce how much personal information is floating around online, since scammers can use exposed details to make travel-related phishing messages look more believable. Check out my top picks for data removal services and get a free scan to find out if your personal information is already out on the web by visiting CyberGuy.com.

Finally, be careful with any email claiming your miles are expiring or offering a too-good-to-be-true travel deal. Go directly to the airline or hotel site instead of clicking links in surprise messages.

Pick travel credit cards carefully

Travel credit cards can still unlock value, but only if the perks match how you actually travel. If you fly one airline often, a co-branded card may help with bags, boarding or award discounts. If you want flexibility, a transferable points card may give you more options across different airlines and hotel partners.

Before you chase a welcome bonus, read the annual fee, spending requirement and redemption rules. A giant bonus can lose its appeal if you have to overspend to earn it. CyberGuy's best airline credit cards guide at cyberguy.com/ can help you compare travel cards, perks and earning structures before you apply.

Watch the CyberGuy Live replay: Lock Down Your Phone in 30 Minutes

Your phone holds your email, passwords, photos, banking apps and personal data. In this free CyberGuy Live replay, Kurt the CyberGuy walks you step by step through simple phone security fixes you can do at your own pace. You’ll learn how to improve your privacy settings, spot the latest phone scams, use trusted security tools and walk away with a simple checklist to stay protected. Watch the replay and get our checklist here: CyberGuyLive.com

Kurt's key takeaways

Airline miles are still worth collecting, but you have to be more careful than ever about how you spend them. Dynamic pricing means the same seat can cost a reasonable number of points one day and an outrageous number another day. That is why flexibility, research and patience can make such a big difference. Before you redeem, compare the cash price against the point price. If the value looks weak, save your miles and buy the ticket instead. Also, organize your loyalty accounts now, not when you are standing at a rental car counter or rushing through an airport. A spreadsheet, secure password manager or travel profile in your phone can keep your rewards from becoming a pile of forgotten numbers. And next time you fly, ask about paid upgrades. You may get nothing. Or you may hear a price that makes the whole trip feel like you beat the system. For more of my conversation with David "The Miles Guy" Fleming, you can watch the full podcast episode at CyberGuy.com.

Do you still think airline miles are worth chasing, or have airlines made the rewards game too confusing to trust? Let us know by writing to us at CyberGuy.com.

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America 250 attendees fire back at critics of Trump's July 4 speech: 'What we needed to hear'

Wed, 08 Jul 2026 05:00:25 -0400

Two days after President Donald Trump's Fourth of July address, attendees at the Great American State Fair told Fox News Digital they saw the speech as patriotic, not partisan.

"He's talking about taking down communism," David from New Jersey said.

"That's the definition of our whole country. Built on capitalism, that's our whole country. If that's what he was talking about, I don't think that's political at all. It's just about the freedom that we have here. If it wasn't for that, we wouldn't be here."

Thousands of Americans packed the National Mall on Saturday to celebrate the nation's 250th anniversary, touring exhibits from all 50 states despite sweltering heat and severe thunderstorms that temporarily paused celebrations.

TRUMP SET TO DELIVER 'HISTORIC' SPEECH CELEBRATING AMERICA'S 250TH ANNIVERSARY

Hours later, President Donald Trump delivered his 37-minute address, honoring veterans and the nation's founding while declaring that "no dream in history is bigger" than the American experiment and adding, "We don't want communists in our country," before a record-setting fireworks display.

Despite hitting on major historical themes and railing against communism, critics quickly accused Trump of being divisive and delivering a partisan July 4 speech over the weekend.

Matt from Florida said that while others may have disliked Trump's speech, he saw it as a tribute to veterans and Medal of Honor recipients.

"It's really nice to see him share the stage instead of just giving a speech and going away like most presidents do," he said. "It was just nice to actually see him treat the whole thing as a giant event as opposed to just a limelight on himself."

MEDIA ATTACKS DONALD TRUMP'S FOURTH OF JULY CELEBRATION, CLAIMING IT 'SULLIED' AMERICA 250

Ed and Linda from Ohio said they missed Trump's speech while waiting for the fireworks, but Ed said he supports the president "100 percent," while Linda added, "You should be able to rise above your political opinion and still enjoy the country's Fourth of July."

Doug and Karen from Texas said they approved of President Trump's message.

"It wasn't too political, it was what we needed to hear," Doug said.

"It was good," Karen added. "People need to hear it."

LEE GREENWOOD SAYS HE'S 'VERY PROUD' TO STAND NEXT TO TRUMP DURING AMERICA'S 250TH CELEBRATION

Kim from Michigan called July 4 "a political holiday," saying people will always find something to criticize.

"Throughout our history, it's been about our politics and what we stand for as a people, and what we believe in and what we're willing to fight for," she said.

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Priya from California said politics naturally belongs in a Fourth of July speech, adding that America must change course "from a very negative direction that the country has gone."

"I think there's an intricate part that politics play obviously in the 250 years that we have been a nation," she said. "For it to last another 250 and hopefully beyond, we have to pay attention to that. We have to understand the political climate and what it's going to take for this nation to last and be prosperous."

Team USA issues statement in English and Spanish after disastrous World Cup exit

Wed, 08 Jul 2026 06:30:57 -0400

It's not an exaggeration to say that the U.S. men's national team's 4-1 loss to Belgium in the Round of 16 at the 2026 FIFA World Cup was shocking.

Not just because of the result, which was a deserving win for the Belgian team, but because of how poorly the USMNT played. Former players, coaches and analysts have all, correctly, blasted the team's poor effort, lack of fundamentals and inexcusable mistakes.

The loss not only ended their run and put an abrupt halt to the momentum the team had built up, but it once again threw into question the entire US Soccer development program and the player pool. Starting 38-year-old Tim Ream at center back against Belgium's world-class strikers always looked like a mismatch. And boy, it didn't take long for those concerns to be validated.

AFTER BLOWOUT LOSS TO BELGIUM, MANY ARE WONDERING IF TEAM USA IS BETTER OR WORSE THAN IT WAS A DECADE AGO

For fans who saw visions of the quarterfinals, or perhaps an even deeper run, it was a stark reminder of how far US soccer has to go to be truly elite. And the team addressed those obvious concerns in their post-cup statement. Which, confusingly, was also posted in Spanish.

"Dear America, We believed," the statement says. "So did you. When we asked, 'Why not us?' you answered. You filled stadiums. You brought the game into your homes, bars, parks and communities across the country. Every time our players stepped onto the field, they carried your support with them. Wearing the crest is a privilege, and hearing your voices throughout this tournament is something we will never forget.

"We'll learn from this. We'll get better to compete with the world's best. And we'll keep doing the work because that's what this team and this country expects of us. To every kid who watched this team and dreams of wearing this crest one day: keep playing or start playing today. We'll be cheering for you. Keep believing. Keep showing up."

TOP FIVE MEMORABLE MOMENTS FROM TEAM USA'S MAGICAL 2026 FIFA WORLD CUP RUN

The statement continues by explaining that the team and program intend to "make sure" that everyone who wants to play soccer, can.

"Support your local soccer teams, they need their community. We'll keep doing the work to make sure every child who wants to play can do so. That means more places to play, more great coaches, referees and mentors, and a game that's welcoming, affordable and fun for everyone. There's a home for everyone in soccer. Thank you for standing with us and for believing in this team. Thank you for believing in the future of soccer in this country.

"Country roads, take us home. We'll see you there."

CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM

It's interesting that the statement goes so far as to address the U.S.' problem with pay-to-play youth soccer. While many, including former USMNT head coach Jurgen Klinsmann, have spoken about the difference in the development of young players in the U.S. and Europe, for example, it's a tacit acknowledgment that the players coming out of the U.S. are not good enough or prepared well enough.

Most of the stars on the current roster, such as Malik Tillman and Folarin Balogun, were trained in Europe. Tillman joined Bayern Munich's youth system in 2015 and Balogun was trained in Arsenal's youth program. But that's a much broader, structural issue that will take years and concerted effort to reform, which is why mentioning it in a post-World Cup statement is so odd and so telling.

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Many fans were upset that the U.S. Men's National Team posted this statement in Spanish too. But even more upsetting? That they went out in humiliating fashion against a team that should have been a reasonable matchup. And that there are years of growth and talent building required, by their own admission, to compete with the Belgiums of the world, let alone Spain or France.

2026 Genesis Scottish Open betting preview at The Renaissance Club, featuring outright picks and top-5/10 bets

Wed, 08 Jul 2026 06:27:45 -0400

The 2026 Genesis Scottish Open returns to The Renaissance Club in North Berwick, Scotland, this week, serving as the ultimate links golf tune-up. Co-sanctioned by the PGA TOUR, and DP World Tour, this elite event brings together a powerhouse international field right before the year's final major championship.

Tom Doak's modern coastal design relies heavily on unpredictable winds, deep pot bunkers and massive, undulating greens to protect par. Reigning champion Chris Gotterup looks to defend his title after holding off a heavyweight leaderboard to win at 15-under here last year.

To get reps for next week's 154th Open Championship, LIV Tour players Jon Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton join the three major champions this season, World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler and No. 2 Rory McIlroy, in a stacked field.

PGA STAR SAHITH THEEGALA'S FIANCÉE FEUDS WITH SPORTSCENTER HOST OVER 'UNCOMFORTABLE' INTERACTION

For the record, I'm risking 2.17 units (u) on outrights and 2u on top-5 and top-10 bets for the Scottish Open. Here are my horses for the course at The Renaissance Club and my "one-and-done" pick for this week.

2026 Genesis Scottish Open bet slip

The following odds are based on my previous bets on the golfers listed below. Subject to change.

🇸🇪 Ludvig Åberg +2464 at Polymarket (0.81u) and Top-10 with ties +228 at Kalshi (0.75u)

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Tyrrell Hatton +3633 at Polymarket (0.55u) and Top-10 with ties +312 at Kalshi (0.5u)

🇩🇰 Nicolai Højgaard +5163 at Polymarket (0.39u) and Top-5 with ties +770 at DraftKings (0.25u)

🇺🇸 Jake Knapp +9245 (0.22u) and Top-10 with ties +624 (0.25u), both at Kalshi

🇪🇸 Eugenio Chacarra +10000 at DraftKings (0.2u) and Top-10 with ties +656 at Kalshi (0.25u)

Ludvig Åberg

The golf betting world clowns on Ludvig because of all his Sunday collapses this year. Yet, if you don’t harp on that, he is having an objectively good season, has great course history, and is due for a win. Åberg has six T8-or-better finishes this year, including T5 at THE PLAYERS Championship and T4 at the PGA Championship.

He tied for eighth at last year’s Scottish Open and tied for fourth two years ago, gaining strokes across the board (driving, approach, around-the-green, and putting) in both.

The Renaissance Club is a "bomber’s paradise," and Ludvig is a top-five driver of the golf ball in the world. Plus, he ranks second on the PGA TOUR this season in approach shots from 200+ yards.

Lastly, his odds at Bookmaker are +1755, which is significant because that’s a sharp sportsbook for golf betting. So, since Åberg’s odds at Bookmaker are lower than the legalized U.S. sportsbooks', he must be taking sharp action.

Tyrrell Hatton

One of the best links golfers in the world, Hatton has 14 professional wins, including one on the PGA TOUR, two on the LIV Tour and eight on the DP World Tour, and has won the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship in Scotland three times.

LPGA LEGEND ANNIKA SORENSTAM SAYS LIV GOLF INTERRUPTED THE GAME OF GOLF, FORCED PGA TOUR TO MAKE CHANGES

He is playing well entering the Scottish Open, winning his last start on the LIV Tour in Andalucia, Spain, and cashing a top-20 bet for me by finishing T7 at the 2026 U.S. Open last month.

Hatton did miss the cut at the 2026 PGA Championship, but he finished T3 at The Masters, T16 at the 153rd Open Championship and T4 at last year’s U.S. Open in his four previous majors.

Tyrrell has gained strokes tee-to-green (driving, approach and around-the-green) in seven consecutive majors and finished T6 in his last Scottish Open in 2023 while gaining strokes across the board.

Nicolai Højgaard

The Dane gave me a "weekend sweat" at last year’s Scottish Open by finishing T4. Højgaard tied for sixth in the 2023 Scottish Open and has gained strokes on the field with his irons in three straight visits to The Renaissance Club, per DataGolf.com.

After a strong start to his season, Nicolai fell off with three straight missed cuts at the Memorial, RBC Canadian Open and U.S. Open before tying for 14th in his last start at the Travelers.

Højgaard’s best finishes this year were T2 in the Truist Championship at Quail Hollow and second at the Texas Children’s Houston Open at Memorial Park.

Those are good comp courses to The Renaissance Club: Quail Hollow is another driver-heavy course and Doak, who designed this place, also renovated Memorial Park.

That said, the top of last year’s Scottish Open leaderboard was bombers, and Nicolai pummels the ball off-the-tee, ranking fourth on the PGA TOUR this year in driving distance. Like Åberg, Højgaard’s Bookmaker odds (+3511) are much shorter than his odds at the U.S. sportsbooks.

Jake Knapp

Before his last three starts — T74 (RBC Heritage), missed cut (U.S. Open) and T55 (Travelers Championship) — Knapp was having one of the best seasons on the PGA TOUR. He had seven T11-or-better finishes in his first eight events of the year, featuring a sixth at The Genesis Invitational and an 11th at The Masters.

Knapp finished T22 in his first Scottish Open last year despite gaining the fifth-fewest strokes on approach that week, thanks to picking up nearly 11 strokes putting and 3.35 strokes with his driver.

With that in mind, Knapp is a good fit for this course. Putting and driving are the two most important skills for The Renaissance Club, and he ranks second in putting on the PGA this season and seventh in Club Head Speed.

Maybe his season has been ruined by injury, or maybe Knapp will bounce back and finish the year strong. At these odds, with how well his game fits The Renaissance Club, I’m willing to find it.

Eugenio Chacarra

He was Ludvig’s rival in college and the second-ranked amateur in the world, but their careers went in separate directions when Åberg joined the PGA TOUR out of college and Chacarra took the money and signed with the LIV Tour.

Chacarra won once on the LIV Tour in three years, then joined the DP World Tour full-time in 2025, where he has won three times, including twice in his last three starts entering the Scottish Open. The Spaniard is another dominant driver and ranks 10th on the DP World Tour this season in driving distance.

Most casual golf fans don’t know much about Chacarra because he plays in Europe, but he’s got the talent to win any tournament in the world and has the chance to prove that in this co-sanctioned event between the two biggest tours in golf.

2026 Genesis Scottish Open 'One-and-Done' Pick: Tyrrell Hatton

Mayo Cup season standings: 4,444th with $4,919,969

It would make sense to pick either the winner of last week's John Deere Classic, Chris Gotterup, or Wyndham Clark, who is on a heater with two recent wins, including his second U.S. Open.

Plus, Gotterup and Clark have shorter betting odds than Hatton; hence the market gives them more win equity. But I'm not betting those guys, and I don't want to use some for one-and-done if I don't have an outright bet on them.

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I already used Åberg for the RBC Heritage, where he tied for fourth and added $823,333 to my Mayo Cup earnings. Finally, I'm saving Jon Rahm, the third-betting favorite, for The 154th Open Championship next week.

_____________________________

Follow me on X @Geoffery-Clark, and check out my "OutKick Bets Podcast" for more betting content and random rants.

Golf legend Annika Sorenstam credits Caitlin Clark with bringing a new demographic to women's golf

Wed, 08 Jul 2026 06:20:07 -0400

While some in the WNBA may not recognize it, LPGA legend Annika Sorenstam certainly does: Caitlin Clark is great for women’s sports.

In a recent interview with Fox News Digital, Sorenstam talked about how Clark has helped bring a new demographic into golf.

"She's obviously very popular. She brings a new demographic to the game, and when she's there playing the pro-am, I mean we have a lot of people attending and wanting her autograph. Following her and every shot, and she's just great for women's sports and we love to have her a part of it," Sorenstam told Fox News Digital.

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Sorenstam is playing in the American Century Championship on Friday and is one of the contenders to win the tournament. Clark cannot play in the celebrity golf tournament because of the WNBA schedule, but believes Clark would do well.

Clark has played in the ANNIKA Pro-Am, and Sorenstam has been impressed with her game.

LPGA LEGEND ANNIKA SORENSTAM SAYS LIV GOLF INTERRUPTED THE GAME OF GOLF, FORCED PGA TOUR TO MAKE CHANGES

"I think she would do quite well (at the American Century Championship.) I mean, she's quite an athlete, as you know. That's kind of stating the obvious. But she loves golf. She's played golf for many years, and I know every time she gets a chance, she goes to the course," Sorenstam told Fox News Digital.

Sorenstam is one of the favorites to win the tournament. Sorenstam, who won 72 LPGA Tour tournaments, including 10 majors, during her illustrious career, will raise awareness for the Annika Foundation.

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"We try to empower and advance young women through the game of golf, but also in life, different life skills, and it's been really rewarding and satisfying to see how far women's golf has come and how many of these young women are pursuing their dreams. It's been a lot of fun, and just watching the difference we're making in these young women's life," Sorenstam said.

With the Stableford scoring format, Sorenstam talked about needing to be more aggressive, and pursue more birdies and eagles. The tournament will be broadcast on NBC and Peacock.

Will Cain challenges Stephen A Smith on 'racist' claim about 'White dudes' in the NBA

Wed, 08 Jul 2026 06:15:33 -0400

ESPN host Stephen A. Smith tried to defend his claim that the Los Angeles Lakers could not win a championship built around "three White dudes" during an appearance on Fox News' The Will Cain Show on Tuesday.

Cain confronted Smith, calling his remarks about the trio of Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves and Walker Kessler "racist."

"If I came out and said anywhere, anyplace, anytime that a Black quarterback couldn't win the Super Bowl, I'd be wrong, and you would also say, 'Will, that is racist,'" Cain told Smith. "You wouldn't accuse me of being a racist, but you would say that statement is racist. And I can say the same to you now when it comes to basketball."

ESPN MUST HOLD STEPHEN A ACCOUNTABLE AFTER DOUBLING DOWN ON RACIST REMARKS ABOUT WHITE BASKETBALL PLAYERS

Smith called Cain's characterization "fair" and said he wasn't "offended" by the criticism. Still, he doubled down on his underlying argument.

"I'm going to repeat it again: a trio of White players in the NBA has never led a team to a championship," Smith said. "The top three players on a basketball team being White in the NBA has never led an NBA franchise to a championship since the Minneapolis Lakers did it between 1949 and 1955."

Cain countered that a trio of Nikola Jokic, Luka Doncic, and Cooper Flagg would be more than capable of winning an NBA championship.

He also pointed out that Smith's standard is conveniently narrow. Larry Bird and Kevin McHale, two White stars, led the Boston Celtics to three championships in the 1980s. Smith's argument survives only because Hall of Famer Robert Parish, who is Black, happened to be the team's third-best player.

At this point, Smith's defense amounts to little more than a technicality. Whenever he's challenged, he argues that he needs to see three White stars lead a team to a championship before he'll believe it's possible.

But that's not the claim he originally made. There's a meaningful difference between saying something hasn't happened and saying it cannot happen, as Smith initially did.

As OutKick has argued, Smith's reasoning simply doesn't hold up. If a White player can be the best player on a championship team, as Jokic was in 2023, and two White players can anchor a dynasty, as Bird and McHale did, there's no logical basis for claiming three White stars can't win a ring together. The far more reasonable conclusion is that the right trio of White dudes simply hasn't existed yet.

SKIP BAYLESS PUSHES BACK ON STEPHEN A.'S CLAIM THAT 'THREE WHITE DUDES' CAN'T WIN AN NBA CHAMPIONSHIP TOGETHER

For one, it's a numbers game. The NBA is roughly 75 to 80% Black, meaning there are naturally fewer elite White players available to build around.

The same logic applies elsewhere.

Just because an NFL team has never won a Super Bowl with a Black quarterback, Black head coach, and Black general manager doesn't mean it can't happen. It just means that, because of the racial makeup of those positions, it hasn't.

Of course, there is the racial double standard that Cain referenced. If a White commentator argued that a team couldn't win a Super Bowl because its leaders were Black, Smith would be among the first to denounce the comment as racist and call for that person's job.

Yet Smith is unlikely to face any repercussions from ESPN despite making what is, by the same standard, a racist argument.

Credit to two of Smith's former debate partners, Will Cain and Skip Bayless, for pushing back on his comments about the Lakers' potential trio.

Max Kellerman next? (Just joking.)

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Still, Smith's argument has only grown weaker with each attempt to defend it. Tuesday's interview did nothing to strengthen his case.

His comments about the Lakers' new trio remain illogical and, quite frankly, racist.

Trump demands end to trade with key US ally, calls it a 'wasted cause'

Wed, 08 Jul 2026 06:13:37 -0400

President Donald Trump threatened Wednesday to end U.S. trade with Spain after criticizing the NATO ally for refusing to commit to the alliance's new defense spending target.

Speaking during the NATO summit, Trump repeatedly singled out Spain, calling the country a "wasted cause" and urging an end to trade with one of America's European allies.

"Spain is a wasted cause," Trump said. "We don't want to do any trade business with Spain anymore, by the way."

Trump went further, saying, "Cut off all trade with Spain, please, including visits."

MOST TRUMP SUPPORTERS STILL BACK NATO DESPITE YEARS OF TRUMP'S CRITICISM, NEW POLL FINDS

The president's comments came after NATO leaders backed a new defense spending benchmark calling on allies to invest 5% of gross domestic product in defense and defense-related expenditures. Spain was the lone member of the alliance to publicly reject committing to the full target, instead negotiating flexibility in how it will meet NATO capability goals.

Trump argued Spain has benefited from the alliance while failing to contribute its fair share.

"They don't participate, they don't pay. I don't want anything to do with Spain," Trump said.

He later added, "I don't want to do any more trade with him. All right? Take it immediately. Don't even talk to them."

Trump also predicted Spain would eventually seek to restore trade ties with the United States.

TRUMP'S PERSONAL FEUDS WITH ALLIES FROM ITALY TO ISRAEL REVEAL HOW PERSONALITY DRIVES HIS FOREIGN POLICY

"They're hostile about it, and let's see how hostile they remain when they call up and they, 'Please, please, we want to trade with you, sir,'" Trump said. "They make so much money with us and we're going to see that they make a lot less. I want no business with them."

The remarks represent an escalation of Trump's longstanding criticism of NATO allies that spend less on defense.

Throughout both of his administrations, Trump has argued that countries failing to meet alliance spending commitments unfairly rely on the United States for their security.

Any effort to significantly restrict trade with Spain, however, could present legal and diplomatic hurdles. Spain is a member of the European Union, which negotiates trade policy as a customs union rather than through separate bilateral trade agreements with individual member states.

It was not immediately clear whether Trump was announcing a formal policy or expressing his frustration with Spain's position on NATO spending. The White House had not immediately provided details on whether the administration is considering trade restrictions targeting Spain.

The U.S. and Spain maintain a significant trading relationship.

The two countries traded roughly $47 billion in goods in 2025, with the United States exporting about $26 billion worth of goods to Spain and importing about $21 billion from Spain, according to U.S. Census Bureau data. Spain exports pharmaceuticals, machinery, chemicals, food products and vehicles to the U.S., while the United States exports energy products, machinery, aerospace equipment and chemicals to Spain.

Fox News Digital has reached out to the White House, the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative and the Spanish embassy for comment.

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Trump's criticism of Spain also comes after months of growing friction between Washington and Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez over national security and foreign policy.

Earlier in 2026, Sánchez condemned the U.S.-Israeli military campaign against Iran as an "extraordinary mistake" and called for de-escalation, while Spain refused to allow the U.S. to use the jointly operated Rota Naval Base and Morón Air Base to support offensive operations against Iran under Operation Epic Fury.

Spanish officials argued the strikes lacked international legal backing and said the bases could not be used for unilateral military action.

Gen Z eats nearly twice as many snacks as boomers, with experts warning they're replacing real meals

Wed, 08 Jul 2026 06:00:39 -0400

Americans may love to snack, but younger adults appear to be taking the habit to another level, according to a new European survey that highlights broader shifts in eating habits.

The survey of 2,000 adults, commissioned by European Mushrooms and reported by news agency SWNS, found that Gen Z respondents consumed an average of 81 snacks each month, nearly twice as many as baby boomers, who averaged 45.

Experts say the findings reflect a broader trend in how younger adults approach meals, with convenience increasingly replacing traditional breakfast, lunch and dinner.

DOCTORS SAY 8 FORGOTTEN HABITS COULD HELP FIGHT STRESS, OBESITY AND CHRONIC DISEASE

Many of those snacks, however, are not the healthiest choices.

Eight in 10 respondents said they eat foods such as chips, cookies and chocolate every week.

Many also reported feeling sluggish, bloated or fatigued afterward. Among those who noticed negative effects, 91% said they experienced an energy crash.

For many, that slump arrives during the afternoon. Researchers found the average "crash time" was 3:06 p.m., with tiredness, boredom and low energy among the most common reasons people reached for another snack.

California-based food policy expert and author Darin Detwiler, who was not involved in the survey, told Fox News Digital that today's snacking habits reflect broader changes in how people consume food.

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"The bigger story is that the definition of a 'meal' has changed," Detwiler said.

Many younger adults no longer organize their day around traditional breakfast, lunch and dinner, Detwiler said. Instead, protein bars, smoothies, frozen meals and packaged foods increasingly serve as meal replacements rather than simply snacks.

Convenience is one of the biggest drivers behind that shift, with younger consumers balancing busy schedules, tighter budgets and the need for quick, ready-to-eat options, Detwiler said.

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"The real question is not whether Gen Z snacks more," he said. "The better question is whether those snacks are adding nutrition or replacing nutrition."

That shift may also help explain why Gen Z is embracing snacks over traditional meals.

The survey found 41% of Gen Z respondents said they prefer snacks to full meals, compared with 31% of all respondents. More than one-third also said having snacks to look forward to throughout the day gives them something to anticipate.

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Despite those habits, many respondents said they would actually prefer healthier options.

Carrie Ruxton, an England-based dietitian, told SWNS that making smarter snack choices can help people avoid the afternoon energy slump.

"Timing snacks properly can help prevent energy crashes and boost essential nutrients," Ruxton said.

Blood sugar levels naturally fall a few hours after eating, which can contribute to fatigue, brain fog and reduced concentration, she said.

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"Snacking cleverly can help stabilize energy and prevent those dips," Ruxton said.

The goal isn't to stop snacking altogether but to make more thoughtful choices that provide longer-lasting energy throughout the day, Ruxton said.

Dem Senate hopeful pocketed massive taxpayer-funded cash while skipping hundreds of votes

Wed, 08 Jul 2026 06:08:40 -0400

FIRST ON FOX: Josh Turek, a two-time Paralympic gold medalist, a state legislator and Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate in Iowa, has taken over $20,000 in per diem payments while missing more than half of his 2026 votes, records reveal.

From Jan. 12, 2026, through May 3, he missed 261 of the chamber’s votes, accounting for nearly 60% of his votes.

The absences, some of which were clustered around campaign events and spanned several high-profile bills, suggest Turek has struggled to balance his role as a legislator and candidate as he wages an uphill battle to fill the seat being vacated by Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa., who is retiring.

Throughout his campaign, Turek has framed himself as a classic example of the American underdog story, having overcome being born paralyzed from the waist down to play basketball for the U.S. in the Paralympic Games, winning championships in 2016 and 2020.

DEMOCRATS TURN TO PARALYMPIAN IN BID TO FLIP KEY GOP-HELD SENATE SEAT

As a candidate for Senate, Turek has pledged to defend the government programs that made his journey possible.

"I wouldn’t have gotten that far without VA health coverage from my dad’s service, free summer lunch programs when my parents were struggling and the local AEA that made sure I had access to a good education," Turek said in a campaign video.

Despite a powerful message that has drawn national attention, Turek has struggled to raise capital for his campaign, having accumulated $3.4 million from July 2025 through the end of May, according to FEC records.

The sum is on the lower end of campaign contributions for a campaign to flip an empty Senate seat.

By comparison, Sherrod Brown, a former U.S. senator trying to reclaim his seat in Ohio, has raised nearly $26 million since last November.

Records show that Turek skipped critical votes to raise campaign cash across the country — while at the same time maxing out the daily $201 tax-free per diem that Iowa offers its legislators to cover costs of the job. For Turek, that amount reached $20,100, according to the Chief Clerk of the House of Representatives.

Legislators in Iowa may collect the per diem 100 times per legislative session, according to state law.

DEMOCRATS TURN TO PARALYMPIAN IN BID TO FLIP KEY GOP-HELD SENATE SEAT

He missed a set of 12 votes while, between March 25 and March 31, raising $43,000 in donations from residents of Southern California. Campaign payments for hotels in Los Angeles suggest Turek’s campaign had been in the area at the time.

Among the twelve, Turek was absent for a vote on a rural health and medical licensing bill. In another similar case, Turek raised $36,500 from donors in Washington, D.C., between February 17 through March 23, missing 16 votes during that time, including consideration of an educational standards bill.

During that time, campaign expenses suggest he was there in person. In one such entry, his campaign reported hosting an event at 800 Maine Ave, paying $250 for an "event venue rental."

At one point in March, Turek missed 30 consecutive votes.

In response to an inquiry from Fox News Digital, Turek’s campaign pointed out that the pattern isn’t unique to him and that other candidates — including Turek’s Republican challenger, Rep. Ashley Hinson, R-Iowa — also miss votes to fundraise.

"Just last week, Ashley Hinson skipped votes on the annual defense funding bill to attend a ritzy D.C. fundraiser. Meanwhile, Josh Turek is ranked one of Iowa’s most bipartisan and effective lawmakers and has regularly worked with Republicans to cut taxes for Iowa families and keep dangerous criminals off the streets," a spokesperson for his campaign said.

Hinson was absent for a portion of the 2027 defense bill markup while at a fundraiser on June 24.

"While Josh continues his ‘go everywhere’ approach to meet directly with Iowans, Ashley Hinson has not held a single town hall since launching her campaign while repeatedly voting to hurt Iowa families," the spokesperson added.

TRUMP-ENDORSED HINSON SECURES IOWA SENATE NOMINATION AS DEMOCRATS EYE GOP SEAT

Hinson's campaign responded by noting that she has a 98.8% lifetime voting record since her election to the House of Representatives in 2020 while also lambasting Turek's record.

"Not only did Josh Turek skip the vote to fund the Iowa Department of Veterans Affairs while fundraising with a Schumer-aligned Super PAC, he also skipped votes on the Iowa Farm Bill, rural health funding, child abuse investigations, and, in 2023, gender transition procedures for minors. Josh Turek is an absentee legislator who doesn’t deserve the promotion he’s trying to get," Billy Fuerst, Hinson's campaign communications director, said in a statement.

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Turek convincingly defeated Iowa Democratic Sen. Zach Wahls in the party primary earlier this month.

He will face off against Hinson in the state’s Nov. 3 general election.

Sports cartoons of the day

Mon, 22 Jun 2026 11:08:52 -0400

What happens next if Platner drops out? Here's who could replace him on the ballot and how it would work

Wed, 08 Jul 2026 06:00:51 -0400

Several Democrats are speculated to be options to replace Maine Democratic Senate candidate Graham Platner on the ballot if he ends his campaign, which many expect him to do following an ex-girlfriend’s allegation of rape on Monday.

Under Maine law, if Platner formally withdraws as the Democratic nominee by 5 p.m. on July 13, the Maine Democratic Party can replace him on the general election ballot by selecting a new nominee through its party process, with the replacement required to be chosen by July 27.

A handful of Democrats in the state are being discussed as viable options to challenge incumbent Republican Sen. Susan Collins.

Platner’s campaign, the New York Post reported, is deliberating about potentially dropping out, but that any potential replacement would need to align with the same political platform as Platner.

GRAHAM PLATNER'S CHANCES OF DROPPING OUT SKYROCKET TO 94% AFTER PARTY REVOLT: KALSHI

Troy Jackson

Former state Senate President and gubernatorial candidate Troy Jackson is a name circulating on social media as someone who could potentially jump into the race a month after his failed primary bid for governor.

"This is something I never considered, but if Graham’s stepping away, I am very, very interested and think I’m the best person to replace him," Jackson told the Bangor Daily News on Monday.

Jackson, who, like Platner, is backed by Vermont independent Senator Bernie Sanders, came in third in the Democratic gubernatorial primary last month.

On Tuesday, the Bangor Daily News reported that Jackson filed paperwork to explore a Senate run, the first potential candidate to do so.

FOX NEWS POLL: MAINE SENATE RACE IS TIGHT, WITH CONCERNS ABOUT BOTH CANDIDATES

Jared Golden

Democratic Rep. Dan Golden, who represents Maine’s right-leaning and mostly rural 2nd Congressional District since first winning election to the U.S. House in 2018, passed on launching a Senate run last year.

Golden, a Marine veteran who served in combat in Afghanistan and Iraq, also decided against seeking re-election and is retiring from Congress when his term ends at the beginning of next year.

Golden, a moderate, has often been at odds with his party leadership over policy.

On Tuesday evening, a Golden spokesperson distanced the congressman from speculation he would run for the seat.

Angus King III

The 56-year-old son of Sen. Angus King and 2026 Democratic gubernatorial candidate who finished at the bottom of the pack in the single digits in last month’s primary is considering a bid for the Senate if Platner exits the race.

In a statement to News Center Maine, King said: "Right now, I'm taking time to reflect, spend time with my family, and think carefully about how I can make the greatest contribution to the state I love. I’ve never been motivated by holding office. If I decide to run again in any capacity, it will be because I believe I have something meaningful to offer and because it's the right way to help Maine move forward—not because of the office itself"

Janet Mills

Mills, the current Democratic governor of the state until her term expires in January, suspended her Senate campaign in April citing anemic fundraising after jumping into the race in October 2025 with the backing of Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer.

The 78-year-old governor remained on the ballot in the June primary and received 19.2% of the vote compared to Platner’s 72.1%.

EXPLOSIVE SEXUAL ASSAULT ALLEGATION ROCKS PLATNER CAMPAIGN AHEAD OF KEY DEADLINE IN CRUCIAL SENATE RACE

Shenna Bellows

Attention is also focused on Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows, who was a leading contender in the gubernatorial primary.

Bellows, the first woman to serve as Maine’s Secretary of State, grabbed national attention during the 2024 election cycle for attempting to remove President Donald Trump from the state’s ballot.

"While Graham ignited a powerful movement to challenge the status quo, given the seriousness of the allegations, he needs to step down," Bellows said of Platner in a social media post Monday.

Sara Gideon

Former Maine House Speaker Sara Gideon was the Democratic Senate nominee in the 2020 election.

Polls indicated Gideon leading longtime GOP Sen. Susan Collins, but Gideon ended up losing to the incumbent by nine points.

Paige Loud

Loud, a social worker, finished fourth out of four candidates in the Democratic primary for Maine's 2nd Congressional District earlier this year, finishing with 10% of the vote.

"Paige has filed as a Senate candidate for the 2026 midterm in light of the Platner situation," a spokesperson for Loud said on Tuesday. "In the event Platner drops out, Paige is being proactive in keeping options open for supporters across the state who have voiced a desire for a woman to be considered as the nominee."

Nirav Shah

Dr. Nirav Shah, who came second in Maine's Democratic gubernatorial primary, is also being looked at as a potential Platner replacement.

Shah served as director of the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention from 2019 to early 2023 and steered the state’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. He later served as principal deputy director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) during former President Joe Biden’s administration.

"In the past 24 hours, my team and I have received hundreds of encouraging messages, as Graham Platner signaled he will withdraw from Maine’s U.S. Senate race," Shah said in a statement Tuesday.

He added that he has been having conversations and evaluating "whether I should enter the Senate race."

Shah, who is viewed as more moderate than Platner, emphasized, "I’m not an establishment politician, and I’m not an insider."

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Jordan Wood

Wood, who served as chief of staff to then-Rep. Katie Porter of California, last year launched a bid for the Senate in Maine. But as Platner’s political star started to rise, Wood switched his bid to the U.S. House in the race in the state’s 2nd Congressional District to succeed retiring Democratic Rep. Jared Golden.

Wood, who vowed to take on the establishment and battle corruption, ended up finishing third in last month’s Democratic primary.

"I am continuing conversations with voters across Maine if I should enter an open Senate race," Wood wrote in a social media post on Tuesday. "If my fellow Maine Democrats decide through an open and democratic process that I am the best candidate to defeat Susan Collins, I would be humbled by your trust."

David Costello

Former Deputy Secretary of the Maryland Department of the Environment David Costello was the Democratic Senate nominee in Maine in the 2024 election, coming in a distant third to incumbent independent Sen. Angus King.

Costello ran a second straight cycle, coming in a distant third to Platner in last month’s Democratic Senate primary.

In a social media post on Tuesday, Costello wrote, "I’m back in, if Graham Platner withdraws," and he touted that he believes he's "the best candidate to defeat Susan Collins."

Dan Kleban

Maine Beer Company co-founder Dan Kleban is also considered a potential candidate. A source in Kleban’s camp said the former candidate has been receiving calls and encouragement to run again.

State law does not require a new primary election or specify how the replacement must be chosen, leaving the process to the Maine Democratic Party’s internal rules. Party leaders said in a Monday press release that they intend to use an open and inclusive process, though they have not yet announced exactly how a replacement would be selected.

Late Tuesday night, the Maine Democrats X account posted a video reacting to the situation.

"As you know, the Maine Democratic Party has been working around the [clock] and we are committed to ensuring that Democrats across [Maine] [have a voice in the process]," Maine Democratic Party Executive Director Devon Murphy-Anderson said.

"Unfortunately, Graham Platner's team has repeatedly reached out to us in an attempt to put their thumb on the scale of determining our next Democratic nominee for the U.S. [Senate]. We have also reiterated [that the focus] in Maine can [now] focus on defeating Susan Collins this November as soon as Graham Platner formally withdraws from this race."

'That was the last I heard from him': Slain NJ therapist’s neighbor recalls last contact with husband

Wed, 08 Jul 2026 06:00:50 -0400

After 35-year-old Brooke Hanlon was found stabbed inside her home in Chester, New Jersey, her husband has not been seen nor heard from in weeks.

In fact, one of the few people to speak publicly about the case is her sister, Paige Haggerty.

While she first spoke at length exclusively with Fox News Digital about the loss of her sister, Haggerty remained tight-lipped about her brother-in-law.

SLAIN NEW JERSEY THERAPIST'S SISTER SAYS FAMILY IS LIVING A 'NIGHTMARE' ONE MONTH LATER

Records indicate 36-year-old James "Conor" Hanlon, who goes by Conor, grew up in the Brighton neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts.

Speaking about the possibility of Hanlon being a suspect, Haggerty said, "It's a homicide, and there are a lot of details that my family and I don't know, and a lot that we can't comment on publicly. As much as I'd like to scream from the rooftops about how I feel, I have to protect the integrity of the case."

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Investigators responded to the couple's home on June 6 after receiving a 911 call. The Morris County prosecutor's office said, "An examination by the Morris County Medical Examiner’s Office determined the cause of Brooke's death to be multiple sharp force injuries and the manner of death as homicide."

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A neighbor of the Hanlons spoke with Fox News Digital and said, "There was a lot of activity out there on the 6th. I'd talked to Conor a few times before. We mostly texted. We've lived here about a year, and he'd text me whenever bears were around."

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He said the pair were texting back and forth about bears in the area days before Brooke's killing.

"We were actually doing that just the other day — I think around [June] 2nd — when he reached out because a bear had gotten into his trash. That was the last I heard from him."

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The neighbor said he texted Conor concerned about all the police activity and said, "I saw a lot of cops out there that Saturday. I texted him, saying, 'Hey man, I saw all the police at your house. If you guys need anything, let me know.' He never responded after that."

The prosecutor's office has yet to reveal who called 911 on that day in June, who was inside the home at the time of the discovery, and whether Conor and the couple's baby were present at the time of the murder.

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Haggerty said the couple's baby is staying with family, but no other details were immediately available.

Court records indicate Conor has no prior arrests or criminal history. He has not been accused of any crime or wrongdoing.

Authorities have yet to reveal any information about a suspect or person of interest.

MISSOURI MOM OF 5 FATALLY SHOT WHILE BUYING SLUSHIES WITH CHILDREN; POLICE SEARCH FOR GUNMAN

"Everything we do now is about preserving her legacy. That's all we really can do. You never think something like this will happen to your family until it does. I never imagined Brooke's life ending in such a violent, tragic way," Haggerty said about her slain sister.

There is a reward of up to $1,000 for anyone who can provide information about the case.

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Fox News Digital made calls to Conor Hanlon that were not immediately returned. It is unclear if he has retained a lawyer.

Brazil parents face prison sentence for homeschooling after court accuses them of 'intellectual neglect'

Wed, 08 Jul 2026 06:00:47 -0400

A Brazilian court has sentenced a couple to 50 days in prison for "intellectual neglect" after they homeschooled their two daughters without a state-approved curriculum.

A São Paulo criminal court ruled against Audato and Ieda Denardi, alleging they had failed to include programs on "gender and sex education" and "tolerance and diversity" in the curriculum for their daughters, aged 15 and 11, Alliance Defending Freedom ("ADF") International said.

According to the legal group, the court also ruled that the parents failed to properly integrate their children into Brazilian culture, citing the girls' preference for religious and classical music over popular trap or "sertanejo" (folk) music.

WASHINGTON SCHOOL BOARD DIRECTOR, SEX SHOP OWNER HOST SEX ED EVENT FOR KIDS AS YOUNG AS 9

Isabel Monteiro, the defense attorney representing the family, said the judge made an "ideological decision to convict them" based largely on the older daughter's preference for sacred music over mainstream music that often features explicit lyrics.

The Denardis were sentenced to 50 days in prison by a lower court in April. They remain free while appealing the ruling, which is believed to be the first criminal prosecution of its kind in Brazil.

The Denardis told Fox News Digital they began homeschooling the girls in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic after realizing their schools were failing to give them a proper education. Ieda said the girls thrived in homeschooling, and so she decided to continue educating the girls at home.

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After officially withdrawing their daughters in 2022, state officials began conducting home visits and pressuring them to re-enroll the girls.

The couple told Fox News Digital they were surprised by the ruling and never expected to be sentenced to prison for trying to provide a better education for their daughters, who are both accomplished pianists and speak multiple languages.

Even the state's own prosecutors urged the court to acquit the parents, concluding after an evaluation by an independent educational psychologist that the girls showed no signs of neglect and were thriving socially and academically.

ORTHODOX JEW ASKS SUPREME COURT TO HEAR CASE AFTER CITY ALLEGEDLY TARGETED HIS HOME PRAYER GROUP

The Denardis provided more than 3,000 pages of evidence showing they hadn't intellectually abandoned their children, Monteiro said.

However, the judge rejected the prosecution's recommendation. According to ADF International, which is providing legal support for the family, the judge accused the parents of "using their daughters as pawns in an ideological struggle, subjecting them to a form of unregulated education, the effectiveness and quality of which lack adequate metrics within the Brazilian legal system, while completely excluding the State’s involvement."

The sentence has placed an immense emotional burden on the family, Audato Denardi said.

"It has affected a lot... Now we have to sleep and wake up every day thinking about that we can go to prison," he told Fox News Digital, noting that a 50-day sentence would force them away from their jobs and their city. Their biggest concern is what will happen to their children.

"That is our biggest problem in all this stuff, because we're going to have to stay 50 days without them and who's going to stay with them?" he said.

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The case highlights the legal ambiguity surrounding homeschooling in Brazil. In 2019, the nation's Supreme Court ruled that homeschooling was not unconstitutional but required to be regulated by the legislature. While the House of Representatives passed a regulatory framework bill in 2022, it stalled in the Senate, putting homeschooling families in legal limbo.

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The family's appeal will be heard by the 7th Criminal Chamber of the Court of Justice of the State of São Paulo, ADF International said.

"We are waiting for real justice and the court to give us this acquittal that we think we deserve because the state can't change law [based on] ideology," Audato said.

Kate Middleton refuses to pull Prince William back into Prince Harry's 'circus': expert

Wed, 08 Jul 2026 06:00:35 -0400

Kate Middleton has zero interest in trying to make peace during Prince Harry’s chaotic visit to the U.K.

The claim was made by multiple royal experts who spoke to Fox News Digital after a source told Us Weekly the Princess of Wales was "trying to convince" her husband, Prince William, to meet with his estranged brother.

"Kate is no longer in the business of trying to reunite the brothers," Christopher Andersen, author of "Kate!," told Fox News Digital. "It really is a year of magical thinking when people seriously suggest that the Princess of Wales has the emotional bandwidth to cope with the Sussexes."

PRINCE WILLIAM’S ‘RUTHLESS SIDE’ EMERGES AS HE VIEWS PRINCE HARRY AS ‘UNTRUSTWORTHY': EXPERTS

"Unfortunately, my sources do not believe Princess Catherine is pushing for Prince William to meet Prince Harry," British broadcaster and photographer Helena Chard also told Fox News Digital. "She isn’t pushing for a meeting. She is, however, the one royal who could soften things emotionally, hence the reason Princess Catherine, 'the peacemaker,’ keeps rearing her head."

"The feeling inside the Wales camp is that Catherine will not allow her family, and especially William, to be sucked back into the Sussex drama," Chard shared. "The Sussex circus of briefings, counter-briefings and public spectacle is seen as tiresome and, frankly, not good for the Wales family’s well-being."

Harry's trip to his home country sparked controversy before it even began.

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On July 6, Harry's spokesperson told People magazine that an offer for the Duke of Sussex to stay at Buckingham Palace during his London visit was withdrawn after he had formally accepted it.

However, palace sources disputed that account, saying Harry failed to respond by the deadline and that his later acceptance came only after arrangements could no longer be made.

Harry had also hoped to bring his wife, Meghan Markle, and their two young children to Britain for the first time since 2022. But after learning the family would receive police protection only while on royal property — and not throughout the visit — it was reported on July 4 that Harry decided they would not accompany him.

On July 6, the prince arrived in London alone. He is expected to be in the U.K. through July 11. It's unclear whether he will meet with his father or whether his family will join him later in the week.

Russell Myers, royal editor of the Mirror, reported that King Charles "has no plans to alter his diary this week" to see Harry after his son decided not to bring his grandchildren. Myers pointed out that the king, who is still seeking cancer treatment, has only met Prince Archie "a handful of times" when Harry and Meghan lived in the U.K. and has met Princess Lilibet only once, in the summer of 2022.

Fox News Digital reached out to Buckingham Palace for comment.

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"Harry has made a song and dance out of this visit," said Chard. "If reconciliation was truly the goal, you would think he would have flown Meghan, Archie and Lilibet over quietly to see King Charles. A warm family reunion without the leaks or press involvement. Instead, Harry remains a wild card. He’s unpredictable to the establishment."

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex stepped back as senior royals in 2020, citing what they described as unbearable intrusions by the British press and a lack of support from the palace.

Harry has also been denied restoration of taxpayer-funded security by the Executive Committee for the Protection of Royalty and Public Figures (RAVEC).

People magazine reported that Harry's team spent several days exploring ways to make the visit safe through enhanced private security arrangements. Palace sources claimed Harry initially declined the invitation to stay at a royal residence before accepting it on Saturday.

British royal expert Hilary Fordwich told Fox News Digital that William has zero interest in reuniting with his brother — and Kate will stand by her husband.

"King Charles has always been hopeful regarding a form of reconciliation, while Prince William remains resolute in opposition to any such thawing," said Fordwich.

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"Given Prince William’s stance, it is highly unlikely that Princess Catherine has been pressing him for a reconciliation. She, too, suffered from all of Harry’s disclosures in ‘Spare.’ She, along with many, is beyond frustrated at Harry’s shenanigans, given the debacle around his stay."

"The trip was a mess before Harry arrived," said royal expert Richard Fitzwilliams. "Princess Catherine would support whatever William decided in dealing with his brother. Looking at the chaos the visit has become, it isn’t difficult to see why William and Catherine are certain to stay out of it. If the Sussexes were sincere, it would be private."

Chard stressed that the position of Kensington Palace, which handles the offices of the Prince and Princess of Wales, hasn’t changed.

"The optics of a meeting right now are damaging to the institution," she said. "Peace is wanted. But not at the cost of stability."

In May, Andersen told Fox News Digital that Kate refused to stop trying to mend William and Harry’s relationship. However, Harry’s remarks about the king’s mortality became the breaking point. Kensington Palace told Fox News Digital it does not comment on books.

"She would not give up," said Andersen. "Even after Harry threw William under the bus in his memoir ‘Spare,’ she was willing to keep trying. And the final break came.

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"The final straw came really shortly after the king was diagnosed with cancer, when Harry [essentially] said, ‘I’d like to mend fences because we just don’t know how long [my father] has to live.’ Well, that kind of statement can be very hurtful to somebody who doesn’t really want to consider their own mortality and is battling cancer."

"It was hurtful to Kate as well, I believe," said Andersen. "And, of course, it just ignited this firestorm of speculation about how sick the king really was at this point. And Kate pretty much felt that would be it.

"She wasn’t going to try anymore. So she has not. And as a result, there has been no chance of any … As a matter of fact, I don’t think we’re ever going to see them make amends. At least it’s not on the horizon now."

In May 2025, Harry told the BBC he wanted to reconcile with his family after losing a court battle over his publicly funded security, which he said led to his father no longer speaking to him.

"I would love reconciliation with my family," said the 41-year-old. "There’s no point in continuing to fight anymore. I don’t know how much longer my father has."

Andersen wrote that Kate, 44, was "disappointed" with Harry, while William, 44, was "apoplectic" with rage over the remarks, a courtier claimed. Andersen also wrote that Kate told William she "was done with Harry."

"Princess Catherine is the sweetest, most loving person you could ever know," a Sandringham staffer told Andersen. "But like everyone else, she has her limits."

Inside Trump's unprecedented battle plan to expand Second Amendment rights through Justice Department

Wed, 08 Jul 2026 06:00:27 -0400

Last week, the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division took the unusual step of suing California and Virginia over their gun laws, marking what officials say is an unprecedented effort to enforce Second Amendment rights.

The Justice Department is pursuing a coordinated legal strategy to expand Second Amendment protections, with Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division Harmeet Dhillon telling Fox News Digital the department has launched more than a dozen challenges to firearm restrictions across the country as it seeks to establish broader constitutional precedent.

"Since we started the Second Amendment section last year and even before that we filed over a dozen lawsuits challenging different restrictions in different jurisdictions," Dhillon said, pointing to challenges involving Denver's AR-15 ban, Colorado's large-capacity magazine restrictions, concealed carry permit delays in Los Angeles County, firearm regulations in the U.S. Virgin Islands and gun restrictions in the District of Columbia.

"This is a really historic amount of activity from the Department of Justice to protect the Second Amendment," Dhillon told Fox News Digital. "It's never been done before."

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Previous administrations, including the Bush administration, defended individual gun rights through Supreme Court filings, such as District of Columbia v. Heller, but did not use the Civil Rights Division to file affirmative lawsuits challenging state or local gun laws on Second Amendment grounds. The department's current litigation strategy marks a departure from that approach.

Dhillon said the litigation is designed to produce lasting legal precedent rather than simply challenge every firearm restriction enacted by states.

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"There are a lot of people out there in the Second Amendment community who would like us to challenge every restriction on guns," she said. "That's really not our approach. We have an approach that tries to make law for the land and that's got some appellate strategy in it."

The latest phase of that effort came last week, when the Justice Department filed lawsuits against California and Virginia challenging newly enacted gun restrictions. The filings followed the Supreme Court's recent decision in Wolford v. Lopez, which reaffirmed that the Second Amendment should not be treated as a "second-class right."

The Virginia lawsuit challenges Senate Bill 749, which prohibits the manufacture, sale, transfer and purchase of certain semiautomatic firearms classified under state law as assault weapons. The California lawsuit targets two separate firearm regulations: a new restriction affecting the sale of Glock-style semiautomatic pistols and the state's longstanding handgun roster system.

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She said the Virginia lawsuit targets the state's assault weapons ban because differing rulings among federal appeals courts make the issue likely to receive Supreme Court review.

In California, Dhillon said the Justice Department is focusing on two provisions it believes conflict with Supreme Court precedent: the state's restrictions affecting Glock pistols and its handgun roster requirements, which she argued have prevented Californians from purchasing firearms that are otherwise widely available across the country.

The California lawsuit was filed after Attorney General Rob Bonta declined to negotiate with the Justice Department over the state's firearm regulations. Bonta defended the challenged laws as "commonsense handgun design safety laws" intended to reduce accidental shootings and prevent illegal firearm modifications.

Gov. Gavin Newsom's office also defended the regulations, arguing California's firearm safety measures have contributed to one of the nation's lowest gun death rates while respecting the rights of lawful gun owners.

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Virginia officials similarly defended their law, with Gov. Abigail Spanberger's office saying firearms designed to inflict mass casualties "do not belong in our communities" and that the legislation was intended to protect families, children and law enforcement from gun violence.

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Dhillon said the Justice Department's actions reflect a broader commitment within the administration to treat the Second Amendment as a core civil right.

"This is a pioneering effort by this Department of Justice," she said. "We view the Second Amendment as a very important, indeed fundamental civil right."

US urges donors to abandon UNRWA funding as UN defends agency's mission

Wed, 08 Jul 2026 06:00:19 -0400

The United Nations defended its appeal for countries to keep funding the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) after the United States argued that donors should stop supporting an agency it claims has been infiltrated by Hamas and instead direct its money toward the Security Council-backed Board of Peace.

Speaking at UNRWA’s annual pledging conference in early July, U.S. Ambassador Jeff Bartos accused member states of repeating a failed approach and said the agency had become a "subsidiary of Hamas."

"Doing the same thing over and over, expecting a different result is the definition of insanity," Bartos said. "And yet, here we are again, another annual pledging conference for UNRWA. Same speeches … same condemnation of Israel, same failures to condemn Hamas."

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Bartos urged governments to stop funding UNRWA schools in Gaza, which he accused of indoctrinating children in hatred of Jews and glorifying terrorism. He also cited allegations that UNRWA employees participated in the Hamas-led Oct. 7, 2023, attack against Israel.

"You can choose to fund incitement, terrorism and stagnation, or you can choose to fund the Board of Peace, giving Gazans a path to peace, prosperity and real, durable change," Bartos said.

The Board of Peace is a U.S.-led body created under President Donald Trump’s Gaza plan to oversee transitional governance, reconstruction and long-term development alongside a Palestinian technocratic administration. The administration argues it offers a better alternative to UNRWA by shifting aid away from what it says is a Hamas-infiltrated system and toward accountable governance and economic recovery.

Asked by Fox News Digital why U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres was asking countries to put additional money into UNRWA rather than support the Board of Peace, U.N. spokesman Stéphane Dujarric defended the agency’s record and mandate.

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Dujarric said Wednesday that UNRWA officials, including former Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini and acting chief Christian Saunders, had taken "strong action" when presented with facts concerning possible infiltration by people aligned with terrorist organizations.

"UNRWA doesn’t operate through a sort of immaculate conception," Dujarric said in a press briefing. "It is there because there is a mandate given to it by the General Assembly, and we continue to fulfill that mandate. It has a very important role to play on the humanitarian front."

Dujarric added that the Security Council resolution supporting the Board of Peace also calls on the United Nations to deliver humanitarian assistance and lead humanitarian activities in Gaza.

"UNRWA is part of that system," he said.

The U.S. position contrasted sharply with those of several European governments.

At the same pledging event, the United Kingdom announced £23 million in support for UNRWA.

British Ambassador James Kariuki called the agency "indispensable" to providing essential services to Palestinian refugees across Gaza, the West Bank, Syria, Lebanon and Jordan.

France also reiterated what its representative described as "full support" for the agency, saying UNRWA continues to provide indispensable assistance despite growing obstacles. France said it had provided €123 million to UNRWA since 2023 and would announce its 2026 contribution soon.

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The French representative said allegations against UNRWA had been taken seriously and argued that the agency was implementing recommendations from the Colonna review intended to strengthen neutrality and transparency. France also supported an eventual, gradual transfer of UNRWA’s responsibilities to reform and strengthen Palestinian institutions as part of a broader political settlement.

The funding dispute comes as UN Watch is demanding that Guterres waive any immunity enjoyed by Lazzarini, whose term has ended, so national authorities can investigate allegations that he ignored repeated warnings about Hamas infiltration.

In a June 30 letter, the Geneva-based watchdog claimed that it had provided Lazzarini and his administration with evidence involving teachers, school principals, union leaders and other employees who allegedly supported or were affiliated with Hamas and other terrorist groups. It argued that the claims create grounds for an independent criminal investigation.

Hillel Neuer, executive director of UN Watch, told Fox News Digital that his organization told Lazzarini "that there are supporters of terrorism — in some cases, actual members of Hamas — working as teachers, working as school principals," Neuer said, "Not one bad apple, not a few rotten apples, but the problem of support for terrorism … was systematic."

Neuer said waiving Lazzarini’s immunity would not amount to a finding of guilt but would allow prosecutors to test the evidence.

"The investigation may prove there’s no evidence, and it’s over," Neuer said. "But at least you should waive immunity to allow an investigation. The U.N. said that if anyone was found involved, ‘we will cooperate.’ Now is the test."

Asked whether Guterres would consider waiving Lazzarini’s immunity, Dujarric did not answer directly.

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"As far as I know, UN Watch is not a judicial authority," he said. "We have always, as a matter of principle, cooperated with investigations by national authorities."

UN Watch’s letter argues that immunity exists to protect the interests of the United Nations rather than provide a personal benefit to an official, and that it should be waived where it would obstruct justice without harming the organization.

Fox News Digital contacted UNRWA for comment but did not receive a response.

The CCP’s new ‘unity’ law turns China’s repression into a global threat

Wed, 08 Jul 2026 05:00:57 -0400

The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) wants to consume. For decades, the regime has systematically targeted anyone who dares to exist outside its rigid ideological mold. Under Xi Jinping, this obsession has reached a fever pitch. We are witnessing a relentless campaign to completely erase the civilizations and freedoms of Uyghurs, Tibetans, Southern Mongolians, and Hong Kongers.

Now, the regime has codified this cultural erasure into law. On July 1, 2026, the so-called "Law on Promoting Ethnic Unity and Progress" took effect. Do not be deceived by its Orwellian title. This is not about unity; it is an attempt to dismantle civilizations. It is a blueprint for genocide set in stone, designed to flatten every distinctive element of individual identity until nothing remains but forced devotion to the State.

This legislation is a totalizing dragnet designed to permanently silence every group under Beijing’s shadow. Beyond Uyghurs and Tibetans, it actively targets the cultural preservation of Southern Mongolians, the basic rights of Hong Kongers, the existence of Falun Gong practitioners, and the survival of independent Chinese interfaith communities who refuse to bow to state-mandated ideological conformity.

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Furthermore, this internal erasure is a direct precursor to external aggression. This same totalitarian playbook poses an existential threat to the vibrant democracy of Taiwan and stands as a warning to free societies everywhere. If the world fails to recognize that domestic subjugation is the foundation for global authoritarian expansion, it risks validating a blueprint meant to challenge freedom far beyond Asia. Under this law, for Uyghur girls, refusing to intermarry with Han Chinese can be treated as a criminal act. Education in one’s mother tongue is effectively outlawed, replaced entirely by state-mandated Mandarin. Parents are legally obligated to program their children to "love the CCP," while citizens are incentivized to spy on their neighbors and report any deviation from state-approved thought.

For me, this nightmare is not an abstract political concept. It is a bleeding, personal wound.

In September 2018, just six days after I spoke out on a panel in Washington, D.C., exposing the reality of China’s concentration camps, the CCP retaliated. They abducted my sister, Dr. Gulshan Abbas, a retired medical professional who has never committed a crime in her life. She was sentenced on baseless, fabricated charges in a secret sham trial. She had just turned sixty-four years old, two weeks ago. For nearly eight agonizing years, my family has been forced to sit and count the days of her wrongful detention, enduring her absence as a direct consequence of my freedom of speech.

My sister’s stolen life is the true face of the CCP’s "ethnic unity."

Yet, Article 63 carries a global threat to free speech and sovereignty, stating that "Organizations and individuals outside the territory of the P.R.C." who undermine its version of ethnic unity will be pursued. This brazen power grab grants the CCP the absurd right to target anyone, anywhere on Earth. Speak out against genocide or defend basic human rights from Washington, London, or Tokyo, and Beijing now claims the authority to freeze your assets or place a bounty on your head.

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Just three months ago, on March 30, the terrifying reality of China's transnational repression targeted my husband, Abdulhakim Idris, a U.S. citizen and the executive director of the Center for Uyghur Studies. He landed in Malaysia for a lawful academic trip to launch the Malay-language edition of his book "Menace: China’s Colonization of the Islamic World and Uyghur Genocide" exposing the CCP’s crimes against Uyghur people. Under intense pressure from the Chinese government, Malaysian authorities seized him. He was detained in an airport detention cell for almost 22 hours, denied sufficient food and water, stripped of his American passport, and finally forced onto a plane back to the United States under escort.

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If this is what the CCP can orchestrate before Article 63 takes effect, it is deeply alarming how emboldened they will become once they claim a legal pretext to hunt dissidents globally. We have already seen them place bounties on Hong Kong activists using similar extraterritorial clauses. This law will rapidly accelerate that danger, casting a chilling shadow over international academia, journalism, and human rights advocacy. The United Nations High commissioner for human rights, Volker Türk, Human Rights experts, and democratic leaders around the world have raised alarm bells over this law, warning that it violates the fundamental tenets of international law and state sovereignty. Condemnation is not enough.

On July 1, the CCP dropped the mask, declaring war on diversity, truth, and global freedom. We cannot wait for the next activist to be extradited or silenced. Democratic governments must act immediately to issue a collective warning to Beijing: we will not tolerate totalitarian laws on our soil, and we will protect our citizens from transnational repression. The world must stand firm, because when something this wicked comes, silence is complicity.

ROBERT MAGINNIS: Trump’s Ankara remarks reveal a grand strategy hiding in plain sight

Wed, 08 Jul 2026 05:00:55 -0400

Seated beside Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on the eve of the NATO summit in Ankara, President Donald Trump did more than field reporters’ questions. His remarks ranged across Iran, Ukraine, NATO, Turkey, Greenland and China, touching nearly every front of American strategic interest.

To most commentators, the press conference looked like another freewheeling exchange with reporters. To a strategist, it looked like something else entirely: the public emergence of an American grand strategy.

I spent years working on strategy and policy at the national level in the Pentagon. Grand strategies rarely announce themselves in formal National Security Strategy documents; more often, they emerge through repeated decisions and presidential statements that gradually expose an underlying logic, and that logic was unusually visible in Ankara this week.

TRUMP CALLS OUT NATO AHEAD OF SUMMIT, CALLING IT 'RIDICULOUS' FOR US TO PERSIST ON 'ONE SIDED PATH'

Deterrence before diplomacy

The first principle is deterrence before diplomacy. Trump's frustration with NATO allies over the Iran war was unmistakable. He told reporters that "Italy turned us down and Germany turned us down and France turned us down," then asked why the United States should keep spending hundreds of billions of dollars on allies who "are not there for us."

That was classic Trump, but it was more than a grievance. It revealed how he measures alliances: not by communiqués or polite statements, but by whether allies show up when America acts. In Trump's mind, loyalty is operational, not sentimental.

The broader point is sound: Diplomacy without credible power rarely succeeds. Force restores deterrence, deterrence creates leverage, and leverage creates the conditions for negotiation. Tehran, Moscow, Beijing and Pyongyang are all watching whether America still has the will to act.

The same logic carried into Trump's discussion of Ukraine. If credible strength creates diplomatic leverage with Iran, he appears to believe it can also help end Europe's bloodiest conflict since World War II.

Ending wars from strength

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The second principle is that wars must be concluded from positions of strength rather than managed indefinitely. Trump said he had spoken with both Vladimir Putin and Volodymyr Zelenskyy. "I think they both want to make a deal," he told reporters, adding that he hoped the war would be settled "hopefully soon."

No serious strategist should assume peace is simple, imminent or cost-free. Russia remains the aggressor, and any settlement that rewards conquest would invite more danger, not less. Still, grand strategy seeks outcomes rather than endless commitment; the real question is whether diplomacy is backed by enough leverage to produce a durable and just settlement.

Alliances as multipliers, not dependencies

The third principle is that alliances must become multipliers, not dependencies. NATO remains indispensable, but no alliance stays healthy if one nation carries a disproportionate share of the burden while others expect permanent American underwriting.

That is why NATO's defense-industrial announcements in Ankara matter. European allies sought to show Trump they are turning higher defense spending into real military capability. The Netherlands, for instance, is investing with Britain in new amphibious ships, joining 10 allies to replace aging AWACS aircraft, and leading European production of American Stinger, AMRAAM and PAC-3 missiles. That is more than accounting. It is strategic capacity.

The Ukraine war has exposed an uncomfortable reality: Modern wars are won by industrial endurance, not tactics alone. Missiles must be replaced, interceptors manufactured, and production automated for speed rather than headlines. Grand strategy requires factories and the political will to sustain output; defense spending that never becomes deployable combat power is merely a budget line.

Geography still shapes strategy

The fourth principle is that geography still shapes strategy, even in an age increasingly defined by advanced computing systems, cyber operations and space capabilities. Turkey is a difficult ally, but it is also strategically indispensable, sitting at the crossroads of the Black Sea, the Middle East and NATO's southern flank.

That explains Trump's willingness to revisit U.S.-Turkish defense issues. He said the United States is "going to be taking the sanctions off," referring to penalties imposed after Turkey purchased Russia's S-400 system, and called the question of selling Turkey F-35 fighter jets "certainly something we will consider." Turkey's Russian purchase created real security problems, and Israel and Congress both have objections. But the strategic logic is plain: Geography has consequences.

The same is true in the Arctic. Trump's renewed Greenland remarks were controversial, but they fit the same pattern. He said Greenland "should be controlled by the United States, not by Denmark," arguing Denmark does little for a territory vital to American security. Greenland once anchored America's Cold War shield against Soviet bombers; today, it sits astride Arctic sea routes contested by Russia and eyed by China, making its geography more consequential, not less.

Strategic prioritization and the China question

Every successful grand strategy requires disciplined prioritization. America cannot do everything everywhere forever. Every carrier strike group, Patriot battery and trained brigade committed in one theater is unavailable somewhere else. Grand strategy is the disciplined ordering of finite national resources.

That brings the discussion back to China. As Europe assumes greater responsibility for its own defense, America gains the flexibility to focus on the defining competition of this century: Communist China, which may become the most consequential objective of Trump’s emerging strategic framework.

Beijing is fusing machine-learning systems, autonomous platforms, cyber capabilities and advanced manufacturing into a strategy to challenge American leadership. In "Preparing for World War III," I argued that Ukraine, the Middle East, the Arctic, North Korea and China's military rise cannot be viewed in isolation; they are connected demands on finite American power. In "The New AI Cold War," I argued that machine intelligence is becoming the central arena of that competition, and America cannot prevail if it stays overextended while capable allies underinvest in their own defense.

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The future balance of power will not be determined by rhetoric alone. It will be shaped by industrial capacity, technological advantage, alliance reliability and national will.

Whether one supports President Trump's policies or not, strategists should recognize what is taking shape. Grand strategies rarely announce themselves in a single speech; they emerge through repeated decisions that gradually reveal an underlying logic. Ankara suggested that such a logic now exists: deterrence backed by industrial strength, alliances built on reciprocity, geography respected rather than ignored, and American power organized around the defining competition of this century.

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America may be witnessing the emergence of a grand strategy before it has been formally written. Grand strategies are not ultimately measured by speeches, summits or press conferences. They are measured by whether they preserve peace, deter aggression, strengthen alliances and secure the nation for the generation that follows.

Ankara offered a glimpse of that strategy. History will determine whether it succeeds.

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All hands on deck: The unlikely workforce that can rebuild America’s fleet

Wed, 08 Jul 2026 05:00:46 -0400

America's shipbuilding industry is facing a crisis of terrifying proportions. In a recent stark warning, Senator Tim Sheehy exposed just how far we have fallen behind, noting that China is currently building ships 230 times faster than the United States and completing repairs 90% faster.

While a depleted military branch like the Army might be rebuilt in a year or two, Sheehy correctly pointed out that resurrecting our maritime industrial base is a much deeper, long-term challenge. Over the last three decades, we have allowed our shipbuilding capabilities to atrophy, trading vital heavy industry and shipyard space for waterfront condos and short-term financial optimization.

President Donald Trump took a critical first step to reverse this dangerous trend by signing the Executive Order Restoring America's Maritime Dominance in April 2025. This bold directive demands equally bold, innovative ideas to rapidly develop the next generation of American shipbuilders. To meet this national security imperative and answer the president’s call, we must look to an untapped, yet highly viable, labor pool: the thousands of individuals currently in our state prison systems who are ready to reintegrate into society and contribute to the American Dream.

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If turning to incarcerated individuals to rebuild our naval capabilities sounds overly radical, we need only look across the Atlantic to see the concept already in action. The United Kingdom has recently recognized that conventional labor markets cannot meet the urgent demands of modern defense manufacturing, and is evaluating plans for prisoners to potentially help build warships to bolster British defenses. Facing their own acute workforce shortages and the pressing need to recapitalize the Royal Navy, British defense planners could tap into the prison population to manufacture essential components for their fleet.

Here at home, the proposal is straightforward yet deeply strategic: train inmates in high-demand, highly specialized maritime trades, such as welding, pipefitting and fabricating, and strategically deploy them to shipyards. By uniting public safety and corrections leaders, the maritime industry, and the workforce sector, we can rapidly field the labor necessary to rebuild our fleet.

A coordinated, multi-state effort across regions with established shipbuilding footprints could realistically yield 10,000 new, skilled employees following initial training rounds. This breaks down to an average of just 575 rigorously screened candidates per maritime state, an entirely manageable figure for state correctional agencies.

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Critics may immediately point to security regulations as an insurmountable roadblock, specifically the Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC). Anyone requiring unescorted access to secure areas of a shipyard, which are governed by the Maritime Transportation Security Act, must hold a TWIC card administered by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA). Because a criminal record can serve as an interim or permanent disqualifying factor, candidates for this shipbuilding initiative would require a targeted TSA waiver.

However, the profound national security and defense implications of restoring our maritime dominance provide the flexibility needed to pilot this program. Ironically, the candidates selected for this initiative would undergo far more rigorous screening, documentation and continuous supervision by law enforcement than nearly any other group of standard TWIC applicants.

To ensure the utmost security and productivity, this initiative must be structured as an elite "honors program" behind prison walls. In partnership with the TSA and the maritime industry, participating prisons would select only the most dedicated, lowest-level offenders to enter these specific training verticals. Correctional agencies would provide the necessary administrative support, helping inmates secure birth certificates, Social Security cards and TWIC applications utilizing their earliest possible release dates.

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The logistics of deployment are also imminently solvable. In some locations, a "work detail" model could be established, similar to existing programs where inmates are transported to work on military bases. Furthermore, prisons could partner with scalable training providers and organized labor, such as boilermakers and pipefitters, to ensure that the instruction aligns perfectly with the precise labor needs of major shipyards.

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Beyond addressing the sheer arithmetic of our labor shortage, this "second chance hiring" initiative promises profound public safety benefits. By equipping incarcerated individuals with a skilled trade and long-term career options, we will dramatically reduce recidivism and crime in our communities. The prevailing wages earned by these workers will enable them to pay court-ordered restitution and child support, frequently leading to family reunification. Ultimately, this program will remove the crushing anchors of unemployment and poverty that typically burden people with criminal records, transforming them into vital contributors to our national defense.

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The United States cannot afford to remain complacent while adversaries rapidly outpace our naval capabilities. The maritime workforce shortage is a severe vulnerability, and traditional recruitment methods alone will not close the gap fast enough. As Great Britain is already proving, the workforce we need may be waiting right behind our prison walls. When the maritime industry, correctional leaders, and the federal government convene to eliminate operational barriers, we can forge a solution that is additive to shipyard productivity.

This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to uplift America and secure our shores. By granting a second chance to those who have earned it through rigorous screening and hard work, we can rebuild our fleet, restore our maritime dominance, and prove that American resilience is as strong as ever. It is time to get to work. We need all hands on deck.

Trump says Iran ceasefire is 'over' after Iranian attacks trigger massive US response

Wed, 08 Jul 2026 04:39:33 -0400

President Donald Trump said the tentative ceasefire with Iran is "over" after an intense bombing campaign overnight that followed Iranian attacks on commercial shipping.

"For me? I think it's over," Trump told reporters during a meeting with Secretary-General Mark Rutte at the NATO Summit in Ankara, Turkey, Wednesday. "I don't want to deal with them anymore, they're scum."

He said talks with Iran could continue, but they're a waste of time. "They're liars, they're cheats. They're sick people."

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The comments may signal an end to weeks of talks that followed both sides signing a memorandum of understanding, in which they agreed to allow traffic to resume in the Strait of Hormuz and spend 60 days negotiating a long-term peace deal.

But Iran struck at least three commercial vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz on Monday and Tuesday, and the U.S. military responded with strikes on more than 80 targets in Iran.

"We attacked very powerfully last night the very dangerous people from Iran," Trump said.

He noted that the U.S. had given Iranians a week off from negotiations for the funeral of slain Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.

"We said, go and do your funeral stuff," he said. "And instead of that, they started shooting rockets at ships yesterday."

He continued to insist the U.S. would "denuclearize" Iran and likened the country's leadership to cancer. "You know what you do? You've got to cut out cancer early."

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On Tuesday, the U.S. clawed back oil sanctions waivers — a key concession offered to Iran as part of the memorandum of understanding.

British maritime authorities confirmed a vessel was struck by a projectile near the coast of Oman Monday, while Iranian state media reported the ship had ignored warnings from Iranian forces. The attack reportedly caused a fire on board, but there were no immediate reports of fatalities.

A second vessel, the Saudi-flagged crude tanker Wedyan, also sustained damage near the Strait of Hormuz, a U.S. official confirmed.

On Tuesday, the U.K. Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) reported that another tanker transiting the Strait of Hormuz had been struck by an unidentified projectile.

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Iran has insisted it should play a leading role in managing traffic through the Strait of Hormuz and has sought to collect fees from commercial vessels transiting the strategic waterway. The Trump administration has rejected that position, insisting the strait remain open to free international navigation.

Dem civil war hits primary debate stage in fiery battleground showdown: 'What are you hiding?'

Wed, 08 Jul 2026 04:30:18 -0400

The high-stakes fight between the left-wing and the center-left establishment for the future of the Democratic Party took center stage Tuesday in battleground Michigan.

That's where moderate Rep. Haley Stevens, who is backed by Senate Minority Leader Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and the party establishment, faced off in a fiery Senate nomination debate against former Wayne County Health Department Director Abdul El-Sayed, a far-left candidate endorsed by progressive champions Sen. Bernie Sanders I-Vt., and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y.

The sharpest exchanges centered on campaign money, outside spending and U.S. policy toward Israel, with El-Sayed repeatedly accusing Stevens of benefiting from millions of dollars in outside spending from pro-Israel and corporate-aligned groups.

"If you want your politics dictated by AIPAC or Chuck Schumer, then I'm not your guy," El-Sayed said, arguing the Democratic Party would not change if it continued to elect leaders who take money from corporations. Stevens countered by accusing El-Sayed of benefiting from Republican efforts to boost him in the primary. "What my opponent needs to answer is, why is the GOP spending thousands of dollars to prop up his campaign, saying that he will make Mike Rogers the next U.S. senator?" Stevens said.

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The showdown came four weeks before Michigan's primary, with the winner taking on former Republican Rep. Mike Rogers, who is on a glide path to the GOP nomination, in the crucial midterm battle to succeed retiring Democratic Sen. Gary Peters.

The rare open Senate seat is a top Republican target and is a must-hold for the Democrats as they aim to win back the Senate majority from the GOP, which currently controls the chamber with a slim 53-47 margin.

The anti-establishment El-Sayed, who has been sharply critical of Israel, blamed AIPAC's influence in American politics and accused politicians, like Stevens, of being "bought off by AIPAC" on Tuesday night. "So long as our politicians continue to be bought off by AIPAC do not be surprised when we fight wars that are in their best interest," El-Sayed said.

LEFT-WING ACTIVISTS HECKLE PRO-ISRAEL DEMOCRAT HALEY STEVENS AT MICHIGAN CONVENTION

Stevens, meanwhile, sought to flip El-Sayed’s attacks over outside spending back onto him, pressing the progressive candidate to release his tax returns and accusing him of being less than transparent about who was funding his own campaign and career.

"Well, look, transparency is also important, and this is why I have released my tax returns. My opponent, Abdul, he said that transparency is key, but yet he hasn't released his tax returns," Stevens said. "Abdul, you talk about getting money out of politics and putting money in people's pockets. But who is putting money in yours? What are you hiding?"

Stevens, who agreed with El-Sayed on an immediate end to U.S. involvement in Iran, also drew a contrast between herself and her opponent by emphasizing her support for a two-state solution.

"The difference between my opponent and myself on this issue is that I believe in a two-state solution," Stevens said. "I can say that Israel has a right to peacefully exist alongside the people of Palestine and in Gaza."

Immigration enforcement also became a flashpoint during the debate, with El-Sayed saying ICE needed to be abolished and accusing Stevens of shifting her tone to be more aggressive towards the agency Tuesday night than she has in the past.

Stevens responded by accusing El-Sayed of using "Republican tactics," saying a House vote El-Sayed referenced, claiming Stevens "voted to thank ICE and increase their budget," was a "cynical" move by the GOP to include condemnation for an antisemitic terrorist attack in Boulder, Colorado, alongside funding for the federal immigration agency.

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"There was a bill on the House floor to condemn an antisemitic terrorist attack that in Boulder, Colorado, that killed an individual and injured a Holocaust survivor. Instead of bringing us together, Republicans put in a cynical point about thanking ICE," Stevens said in response to El-Sayed's claims she is a supporter of ICE. "I am always going to stand up to violence, and I just wish my opponent wouldn't pursue the cynical approaches of Republicans when we do need to be united."

On childcare, Stevens pointed to expanding grants and paid family leave, while El-Sayed called for making childcare "100% free" and paying for it by taxing billionaire wealth. The debate also featured a lengthy exchange on artificial intelligence and data centers. El-Sayed called for stricter federal guardrails, union labor requirements, community benefit agreements and an "FDA for AI's," while Stevens said data centers should be forced to pay utility and water bills, so Michigan families are not stuck with higher costs.

Tuesday night's debate was held two days after progressive state Sen. Mallory McMorrow, once the third major Democrat in the primary, suspended her campaign.

McMorrow, who has seen her national profile expand in recent years and was running as a progressive in an ideological space between El-Sayed and Stevens, suspended her campaign amid faltering poll numbers and fundraising that weren't keeping pace with her two main rivals.

McMorrow pledged to fully support whichever Democrat wins the primary and will ultimately face-off with Rogers, who is running for the Senate for a second straight cycle after losing in 2024 to now-Sen. Elissa Slotkin by a razor-thin margin.

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Following McMorrow's exit from the race, Stevens praised her fellow Democrat by calling her an "important voice" for policies that benefit Michigan families. Stevens, who has been backed by millions in super PAC spending, including big bucks from Israel-aligned groups, argued that she is the strongest Democratic candidate to win the primary and defeat Rogers in November.

El-Sayed praised McMorrow for having the "courage" to challenge what he described as a rigged political system, accusing Democratic Party insiders of spending millions to influence the primary. While he did not name specific groups, his remarks appeared to reference corporate PACs and establishment party leaders such as Schumer.

El-Sayed, who, if elected, would make history as the nation's first Muslim senator, is an epidemiologist who unsuccessfully ran for governor as an insurgent candidate in 2018. He has made support for "Medicare-for-all" a major component of his campaign.

The far-left candidate has also called for abolishing Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and is a vocal critic of Israel amid its war with Hamas — even characterizing Israel's actions in Gaza as "genocide" against Palestinians. And El-Sayed, who served as a top surrogate on Sanders' 2020 presidential campaign, has vowed not to accept PAC donations.

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Schumer and the party establishment view Stevens as more electable than El-Sayed, who has sparked controversy with his past comments. They worry that El-Sayed as the party's nominee would jeopardize the Democrat-controlled Senate seat by pushing the party too far to the left in a state that President Donald Trump carried two years ago by just over one percentage point.

A victory by El-Sayed over Stevens in next month's primary would give the far left a major win on a statewide stage, and likely further boost their momentum in the battle for the Democratic Party's future.

On Tuesday night, Stevens leaned into her congressional record, tenure in the Obama administration's U.S. Auto Rescue Task Force, her manufacturing background, and bipartisan efforts in Congress, including work on legislation aimed at blocking Chinese cars from undercutting American automakers.

"We can build affordable cars here in Michigan without having the Chinese come in and eat our lunch. Not on my watch," Stevens said.

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El-Sayed leaned on being a political outsider who refuses corporate and Super PAC donations, while he pointed to his UAW endorsement and argued that Democrats need to be more aggressive in confronting Wall Street and corporate influence across many areas.

"There's a reason that the UAW has endorsed me in this race," El-Sayed said, arguing that corporations are "a lot more interested in a quarterly bottom line than they are in the long term sustainability of manufacturing."

Trump enters final NATO summit day as Ukraine, defense spending take center stage

Wed, 08 Jul 2026 03:47:26 -0400

President Donald Trump enters the final day of the NATO summit Wednesday as alliance leaders seek to project unity on defense spending, support for Ukraine and the future of transatlantic security following a series of headline-making announcements and bilateral meetings during the opening day of the gathering.

Trump will join fellow NATO leaders for the summit's only plenary session before holding bilateral meetings with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa. He is expected to conclude the summit with a press conference before departing Ankara, Turkey, for Washington.

The final day comes after Trump used Tuesday's bilateral meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan to announce the United States would lift sanctions on Turkey, saying, "We don't sanction friends." Trump also signaled he is prepared to move forward with the sale of F-35 stealth fighter jets to Ankara despite years of U.S. opposition stemming from Turkey's purchase of the Russian-made S-400 air defense system.

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Wednesday's agenda is expected to focus on the alliance's efforts to strengthen collective defense as members continue implementing higher defense spending commitments and coordinate support for Ukraine more than four years after Russia's full-scale invasion.

Trump's meeting with Zelenskyy will be among the day's most closely watched events as Kyiv continues pressing allies for military assistance and air defense capabilities while seeking to maintain Western backing for its war effort against Russia.

Kyiv has warned it is running critically low on Patriot interceptor missiles, which Ukrainian officials describe as the country's most effective defense against Russia's ballistic missile attacks. Ukrainian officials said none of the ballistic missiles launched during a massive barrage this week could be intercepted because of dwindling supplies.

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Ahead of the summit, Ukrainian officials appealed to nearly 40 partner nations to immediately transfer Patriot interceptors from their existing stockpiles while longer-term production catches up. Kyiv also has secured European backing for hundreds of Patriot missiles financed by Germany, though many of those deliveries are not expected for months or years, underscoring Ukraine's push for allies to bridge the gap with existing inventories.

Trump also is expected to meet with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa, whose government has sought closer engagement with Washington following the collapse of Bashar al-Assad's regime, a shift that has reshaped the security landscape in the Middle East and created new opportunities for U.S.-Turkish cooperation.

Trump is expected to cap the summit with a press conference outlining the administration's priorities for the alliance and any agreements reached during the two-day gathering before departing Turkey Wednesday afternoon.

Wednesday's discussions also are expected to focus on how allies turn 2025's landmark commitment to spend 5% of gross domestic product on defense and defense-related investments into tangible military capabilities.

NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte has urged member nations to present "clear, concrete and credible plans" for meeting the target, arguing the alliance must accelerate the production of weapons, ammunition and military infrastructure to deter Russia.

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The final day also follows another round of criticism from Trump aimed at European allies. Speaking Tuesday, the president again questioned whether NATO members were doing enough to support the United States and suggested he could withdraw U.S. troops from Europe as he renewed his push for U.S. control of Greenland.

"With all the money we spend to help them with Russia … we don't have to spend any money. We could remove all of our soldiers out of Europe," Trump said. He also complained that despite America's investment in European security, "you would think they'd be very willing to do something to help us, and they really weren't."

Tyler Robinson's and Lance Twiggs' DNA both allegedly found on key evidence in Charlie Kirk's assassination

Wed, 08 Jul 2026 00:30:22 -0400

PROVO, Utah — A towel and screwdriver recovered during the investigation into Charlie Kirk’s assassination allegedly had his suspected killer Tyler Robinson’s DNA on it — along with that of his former lover and roommate, Lance Twiggs.

Robinson, 23, allegedly used the towel to conceal the suspected murder weapon in the woods near Utah Valley University on Sept. 10, 2025.

He is accused of fatally shooting the 31-year-old Kirk during a Turning Point USA event at the school that day.

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It’s unclear what the screwdriver was for, but police testified at Robinson’s preliminary hearing this week that they found it near an alleged sniper’s perch overlooking the TPUSA event.

Both Twiggs and Robinson provided buccal swabs to law enforcement that were used to build their full DNA profiles.

Robinson's preliminary hearing began Monday and is expected to take all week. Prosecutors must establish probable cause in order for the judge to green-light the path to trial on a slew of charges, including aggravated murder, which carries the potential death penalty.

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David Hull, of the Utah Department of Public Safety, returned to the witness stand Tuesday morning as prosecutors played surveillance video they allege shows Robinson making his way around campus before and after the shooting, as well as coming and going in his Dodge Challenger.

The second witness of the day, Sgt. Jennifer Faumuina with the State Bureau of Investigations, led the evidence response team processing the scenes at UVU after the shooting.

Faumuina testified that her team recovered a screwdriver from the campus’ Losee Center rooftop, where Robinson is alleged to have fired the shot that killed Kirk.

She also testified that her team recovered the suspected murder weapon, a Mauser 98 bolt-action rifle wrapped in a dark-colored towel nearby. It had been retrofitted to fire .30-06 rounds, consistent with the caliber of bullet fragments recovered during Kirk’s autopsy.

Faumuina testified that both the towel and the screwdriver had DNA consistent with the same two males — Robinson and Twiggs.

In a handwritten note and text messages, Robinson is alleged to have confessed to the crime to Twiggs, who lived with him at the time and is cooperating with investigators. Twiggs has not been charged with a crime, and the alleged presence of his DNA on the evidence is expected to strengthen the case against Robinson.

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Later Tuesday, FBI forensic analyst Amanda Bakker testified that Robinson is likely the majority donor in mixed DNA samples found on both items. Twiggs is believed to be the minority contributor on both.

Prosecutor Ryan McBride objected multiple times during Bakker’s lengthy questioning from defense attorney Michael Burt, arguing that the defense went well "beyond the scope of determining probable cause."

At one point, Judge Tony Graf Jr. asked how far he intended to go in a line of questioning, to which Burt responded he had one more question before moving on.

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"I’ll hold them to that," McBride said, prompting laughter inside the courtroom.

As the DNA questioning dragged on for much of the afternoon, Erika Kirk at one point shook her head as she listened to Burt grilling Bakker.

Observers in the gallery, including Erika Kirk, intently watched as Bakker explained a graph displaying specific DNA markers.

Kirk leaned forward and tilted her head as she listened to testimony.

Robinson was also listening and fidgeting. A member of Robinson’s family yawned.

Kirk’s father occasionally took notes.

Robinson has not yet entered a plea.

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If prosecutors prevail in establishing probable cause, which experts say is widely expected, he would be asked to do so.

"Barring the prosecutor somehow forgetting how to get to the courthouse, there's no realistic chance the state fails to establish probable cause," Maryland attorney Randolph Rice, who represented the family of Rachel Morin, told Fox News Digital Tuesday.

US Navy identifies sailor lost in Arabian Sea after helicopter's emergency water landing

Tue, 07 Jul 2026 23:57:25 -0400

The U.S. Navy on Tuesday identified Cmdr. Gabriel Edwards as the sailor lost at sea after an MH-60S helicopter made an emergency water landing in the Arabian Sea last week.

Edwards, the commanding officer of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 5 (HSC-5), went missing after the helicopter assigned to USS George H.W. Bush made an emergency water landing on July 1, according to the Navy.

Three of the helicopter's four crew members were successfully recovered, but the Navy suspended its search for the missing sailor on Sunday.

NAVY SUSPENDS SEARCH FOR SAILOR WHO WENT MISSING WHEN HELICOPTER WENT DOWN IN ARABIAN SEA

According to the Navy, the search for Edwards lasted more than 102 hours and covered more than 14,000 square miles.

"The thoughts and prayers of every member of the Carrier Strike Group 10 team are with the Edwards family," Rear Adm. Todd Cimicata, commander of Carrier Strike Group 10, said in a statement.

"While we are far from home, our heartfelt support remains at your side," Cimicata continued. "Gabe’s legacy as a husband, father, friend and fearless leader will never be forgotten. We are thankful to each who carry a unique and indelible part of Gabe’s memory with us as we continue this important mission."

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Acting Secretary of the Navy Hung Cao said he has directed that Edwards be posthumously promoted to the rank of captain.

"I am deeply grateful to every sailor and airman who took part in the search and who continue to support his family, friends, and shipmates," Cao said in a statement.

Edwards, a native of Oakland, Oregon, graduated from Norfolk State University in 2006 before earning his Wings of Gold as a Navy helicopter pilot in 2008, according to the Navy. He assumed command of HSC-5 in July 2025.

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Edwards is survived by his wife, Rebecca, and two children, the Navy said.

"We are profoundly grateful to every Sailor, aviator, and Airman who devoted countless hours, extraordinary skill, and unwavering determination in the effort to bring Gabe home," Rebecca Edwards said in a statement.

"Gabe has dedicated his life to serving his country with honor, courage, and commitment," she continued. "He led with humility, integrity, and compassion, always putting his people before himself. To those who served alongside him, he was a respected leader and mentor. To our family, he is the love of my life, an extraordinary father to his children, and the foundation of our home. His greatest joy was always his family."

During his career, Edwards logged more than 2,000 flight hours on multiple Navy helicopter platforms and had been selected for promotion to captain, according to the Navy.

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HSC-5 is currently deployed to the Middle East aboard USS George H.W. Bush. The Navy said mental health professionals, chaplains and other support personnel are assisting members of the squadron and the ship's crew.

The Navy said the cause of the incident remains under investigation and that there is no indication the emergency water landing resulted from hostile action.