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Bombshell report exposes healthcare fraud schemes as taxpayers lose up to $521 billion annually

Tue, 29 Sep 2026 14:30:00 -0400

FIRST ON FOX: House GOP lawmakers are rolling out a slew of new bills after a bombshell report found that hundreds of billions of taxpayer dollars are potentially being targeted by fraudsters every year.

As people across the U.S. are battling high costs that make it hard to make ends meet, a report released Tuesday by the House Energy & Commerce Committee warns that federally subsidized healthcare programs are rife with fraud and abuse — "impacting every single American, in one way or another."

While no estimate for Medicare and Medicaid fraud exists specifically, the report noted, a 2024 estimate by the Government Accountability Office said $233 billion to $521 billion taxpayer dollars going to federal programs are lost to fraud every year. Federal healthcare programs accounted for 24% of federal spending in 2024, according to the Center on Budget Policy and Priorities.

Medicaid specifically is rife with vulnerabilities making it susceptible to fraud, the report said, which is why House Republicans are rolling out 14 bills aimed at closing loopholes in the system, shrinking bureaucracy, and making it easier for states to recoup lost dollars while also incentivizing them to go after potential fraudsters.

"Taxpayers that fund benefit programs with federal and state taxpayer dollars are cheated by fraud, inflating healthcare costs that are passed along to everyone," the committee's report states. "Every dollar stolen from federal health care programs is a dollar that is not spent on high quality healthcare for those that need it most."

WHITE HOUSE PUSHES 'WATERSHED' FRAUD-FIGHTING REFORM IN CONGRESS AS VANCE CONVENES TASK FORCE

"The amount of fraud that the Biden-Harris Administration allowed to go unchecked in government health programs is unacceptable. Every dollar stolen by fraudsters or wasted on improper payments is a dollar that cannot be used to support families in need who rely on these programs," House Energy & Commerce Committee Chairman Brett Guthrie, R-Ky., told Fox News Digital.

REPUBLICANS DECLARE WAR ON 'ORGANIZED THEFT' WITH GOVERNMENT FRAUD CRACKDOWN

Republicans' new bills can be lumped into three categories: legislation aimed at improving identification of fraud in state and federal health programs, legislation aimed at enforcing anti-fraud rules, and legislation to hold states that allow fraud to run rampant accountable.

One bill led by Republican Study Committee Chairman August Pfluger, R-Texas, for example, would force states to designate a single role for internal financial controls of state Medicaid programs.

READ: DR. OZ PUTS ALL 50 GOVERNORS ON NOTICE OVER BILLIONS LOST TO MEDICAID FRAUD

A bill by Rep. Mike Rulli, R-Ohio, would force each state to annually report to the federal government on any potential Medicaid fraud vulnerabilities and their plan to fix it.

And legislation by Rep. Nick Langworthy, R-N.Y., would require states to check whether someone enrolling for Medicaid was removed from another taxpayer-funded healthcare program.

The report released on Tuesday said that Medicaid spending accounts for an average 30.7% of states' budgets, and that those outlays have increased exponentially in recent years.

States like New York and California are also projected to see costs spike, the report said.

TOP FEDERAL PROSECUTOR CALLS CALIFORNIA A 'FRAUDSTER'S PARADISE,' WARNS STATE OFFICIALS COULD FACE CHARGES

The Golden State is expected to see annual Medi-Cal spending, its state healthcare program, rise from $83 billion per year in 2014 to $219.7 billion by 2027, the report said, adding, "New York is projected to spend 11% more on Medicaid from all funding sources in 2027 — a total of $124 billion."

The report noted that federal healthcare is ripe for fraud given its size and complexity, as well as the traditional enforcement model of "pay and chase," which relies on law enforcement to investigate fraud suspicions after a false claim has already been settled.

Provider fraud is also a common area of losing tax dollars, with healthcare providers being known to submit multiple claims for a single service or bill services and equipment for patients that they have never seen at all, the report said.

Transnational criminal groups have also profited from U.S. healthcare fraud, the report said, alleging that hardworking Americans are seeing their tax dollars not only lost to fraud at home but overseas as well.

TRUMP ADMIN’S FRAUD CRACKDOWN TARGETS FOREIGNERS ACCUSED OF INFILTRATING US FEDERAL PROGRAMS

The Department of Justice's (DOJ) "Operation Gold Rush" uncovered that Russian organized crime actors billed over $10 million in false claims made via 30 medical supply companies they purchased in a years-long scheme, the report said.

It highlighted further foreign healthcare schemes that saw malign actors in Hong Kong, Georgia, Estonia, Pakistan and elsewhere attempt to steal billions more in U.S. taxpayer dollars.

The fraud reports come at a time when millions of Americans across the country are struggling with high living costs that have made it a challenge to make ends meet.

Guthrie said the House GOP legislative package amounted to "commonsense steps" to ensure states can recoup lost fraud dollars and incentivize them to close loopholes in the future.

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It comes as the Trump administration is also prioritizing healthcare fraud crackdowns. Vice President JD Vance announced last week that 760,000 enrollees under the Affordable Care Act, also known as ObamaCare, would be removed over fraud claims.

Mike Tomlin's coach criticism makes him better TV analyst but raises question whether he's eyeing Cowboys job

Tue, 29 Sep 2026 14:25:46 -0400

Mike Tomlin knows how to win in the NFL because he never suffered a losing season in any of his 19 years as the Pittsburgh Steelers head coach. He's also winning as a TV analyst on NBC's Sunday Night Football pregame show.

And it could be he's winning so much that he's using the latter to return to the former.

Tomlin on Sunday night did something most former-coaches-turned-broadcasters not named Rex Ryan rarely do: He criticized a current coach.

SUPER BOWL-WINNING COACH MIKE TOMLIN LANDS NBC ROLE ON 'FOOTBALL NIGHT IN AMERICA' BROADCAST

Tomlin analyzed the end of the Baltimore Ravens 34-31 victory over the Dallas Cowboys and laid the loss at the feet of the coaching staff, which obviously is led by head coach Brian Schottenheimer.

"The sequence played by the Dallas Cowboys at the end of the game in Rio was somewhat negligent, to be quite honest with you," Tomlin said.

Tomlin explained how a game that was tied at 31 with seven seconds remaining in regulation should not have turned into a loss until "strategically, Dallas helped [Baltimore] in that circumstance."

How? The Cowboys' disaster began with the fact their kickoff went into the end zone for a touchback rather than remaining on the field, where precious seconds would have ticked off the clock.

"Baltimore gets the ball on the 35-yard-line, and they had this really significant play down the middle of the field to their No. 1 receiver, Zay Flowers," Tomlin said. "But let's really analyze it for a minute. Man, the Dallas Cowboys are playing outside leverage man-to-man.

"They got caught in some one-on-ones, Zay Flowers won, and they put them in position to kick that game-winning field goal."

The ultimate decision on what coverage the defense plays and whether to avoid coverage that doesn't make sense, falls on Schottenheimer.

DEBUT OF FORMER STEELERS COACH MIKE TOMLIN ON NBC HAD HIGHLIGHT MOMENTS

Following the loss, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones requested (demanded?) an explanation of what exactly his coach was thinking. Is Jones satisfied with the explanation he got?

"Well, there is no explanation you're satisfied with," Jones said during his regular Tuesday appearance on 105.3 The Fan in the Metroplex. "None. Let's be sure that we all understand that."

Uh-oh.

"They don't have one that they're satisfied with. We made mistakes during that time. There's no question about it. So there is no explanation..."

This is where the possibility that Tomlin highlighting his fellow coach's mistake to millions of people on TV's most popular weekly broadcast makes him look good. Because being able to explain what should have happened, sends the message that's how he would have handled it as the Cowboys coach.

We are not reporting that Tomlin is focused on putting himself in position to be the next Cowboys coach. But he surely didn't hurt himself with this segment, if that is his intent.

Tomlin hasn't said he wants to get back into coaching next year. Then again, he hasn't said he doesn't.

But if he does eventually want a coaching comeback, one way to help, is by highlighting that he wouldn't lose a game another coach, who displeased ownership, just lost.

Anyone reading this might doubt a former coach would use his position as a broadcaster to help himself land a job he covets. Except, it has happened before.

In 1995, former Cowboys coach Jimmy Johnson would often comment on the Fox pregame show about how talented the Miami Dolphins were and how they should be performing better and winning more.

The obvious implication was that then-coach Don Shula should be doing better than the 9-5 record he eventually milked out of his team.

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People in Miami saw through it. They understood Johnson, who had coached at the University of Miami and lived in Key West, liked the idea of returning to coaching with the Dolphins.

And it worked. Johnson's work on TV fed a public relations campaign that painted him as an upgrade. Shula was ultimately forced out in January 1996 and Johnson was hired one week later.

Shula, believing he had been undermined, never forgave Johnson.

The question now is whether Tomlin will continue to critique Schottenheimer and his staff, adding to more speculation that he's focused on their job.

That would make him a more interesting analyst and maybe even the next Dallas Cowboys coach.

FOLLOW ARMANDO SALGUERO ON X: @ARMANDOSALGUERO

Chris Hansen rips Robert Pattinson’s ‘Primetime’ as ‘complete fiction,’ reveals how he’s fighting back

Tue, 29 Sep 2026 14:22:05 -0400

Chris Hansen is pushing back against Hollywood's portrayal of his career in the new A24 film, "Primetime," saying the movie fictionalizes the work that made "To Catch a Predator" a television phenomenon.

"Nothing in that trailer except for the actor saying my name and ‘have a seat’ ever happened in real life. It’s complete fiction," Hansen said during an interview on the "Planet Tyrus" podcast.

The A24 feature, released Friday, offers a dramatization inspired by Hansen's hit "To Catch a Predator" investigations, including events surrounding the death of Bill Conradt, a Texas chief felony assistant district attorney who died by suicide as police arrived at his home to execute search and arrest warrants stemming from an online sting.

The film stars Robert Pattinson as Hansen, portraying the television host as he pursues greater exposure for the program while its increasingly high-stakes investigations propel him toward greater fame and, ultimately, the Conradt incident.

'PRIMETIME' STAR ROBERT PATTINSON SHOCKS FANS WITH CHRIS HANSEN TRANSFORMATION IN 'UNSETTLING' TRAILER

Hansen said the film distorts the work he and others have done to expose adults seeking to sexually exploit children, arguing that Hollywood is using his name and the popularity of the franchise to sell a fictionalized version of events.

"It’s shocking and a bit of an insult, based upon what I’ve seen in the trailer, based upon what other people have told me about the film… It’s an insult to turn something that’s been so positive and so important into a dark, over-dramatized [portrayal]…" he told Tyrus.

"It's Hollywood twisting what happened..." he added.

Hansen said he had not seen the film at the time of the interview and had no input in its production. He said he had no issue with Pattinson, adding that he considers him a "good actor" who has been "very gracious" to him.

Instead, Hansen directed his criticism at the filmmakers and Hollywood more broadly, invoking former film producer and convicted sex offender Harvey Weinstein.

"What do you expect out of an industry that was led for years by one of the most prolific predators to walk the face of the earth, Harvey Weinstein?" he asked.

To combat what he views as an inaccurate portrayal, Hansen said he purchased ad slots before showings of "Primetime," in which he will "walk into [a] kitchen, tell everybody in the theater to have a seat" and remind them that the "real work continues every day" on his true-crime streaming service, TruBlu.

CHRIS HANSEN URGES PARENTS TO TEACH CHILDREN ABOUT ONLINE PREDATORS BEFORE ALLOWING INTERNET ACCESS

Hansen said the 30-second ads will run on 3,500 screens nationwide during the film's first month, which he said will allow him to use the movie's release to direct audiences toward the work he says Hollywood misrepresented.

Meanwhile, Hansen is also preparing to tell his side of the story through a documentary titled "I’m Chris Hansen," which he said recently finished production and is being shopped to streaming platforms. Unlike "Primetime," Hansen said he cooperated with that project and knew the filmmakers involved.

Director Lance Oppenheim has defended his decision not to involve Hansen in the production of "Primetime."

When asked by W Magazine why he did not consult Hansen while making the film, Oppenheim said he believed Hansen's existing work and public record provided what he needed.

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"I felt like I had everything I needed with the Cameo," Oppenheim said, referring to a $30 personalized video Hansen recorded for him in 2024 after the director's wife purchased it as a gift.

Oppenheim said he also read Hansen's book and blog and spoke with Mitchell Wagenberg, a hidden-camera operator who worked with Hansen on "To Catch a Predator."

"It almost felt like we were adapting the Internet's version of Chris Hansen rather than the real Chris Hansen," Oppenheim said. "You can self-mythologize all you want, but at a certain point it becomes part of culture."

"The Odyssey wasn’t told by Odysseus. This movie shouldn’t be told by Chris Hansen. It should be told by the fans of Chris Hansen, which is us," he added.

Lady A's Charles Kelley diagnosed with rare blood cancer after painful health scare

Tue, 29 Sep 2026 14:16:34 -0400

Lady A's Charles Kelley revealed he's been diagnosed with a rare blood cancer.

Kelley shared his diagnosis in a video posted to Instagram, explaining that doctors discovered he had multiple myeloma after finding the cancer in his blood.

The musician said he had suffered several "random rib fractures," leading his doctor to order tests that ultimately uncovered the disease.

"I think in the same spirit of the way we've kind of shared a lot of my sobriety journey, just getting this stuff off your chest is so freeing, and it takes the power away from it a little bit that we wanted to let y'all know what was going on," he told fans in the video shared on Instagram. "And we're going to get through it.

LADY A'S CHARLES KELLEY SHARES BEFORE-AND-AFTER PHOTOS SHOWING HOW SOBRIETY TRANSFORMED HIS LIFE

"In sobriety, it's all about one day at a time and that we're not in control, and, so, that's the way we're looking at it."

Kelley assured fans he was going to work through the first six months of treatment.

"I believe it's not going to be too super invasive. I can still work," he said. "I think, physically, I will feel like myself. I'll have tough days, but you know, I want to keep working."

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Kelley said continuing to perform and spend time with his loved ones would remain a priority throughout his treatment.

"I need to be happy and doing what I love to do and spending and soaking up as much time with my family as I can as well," he said.

Kelley remained determined to face the challenge head-on.

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"It's just another hurdle, and I'm pretty confident that we're going to get through it," he explained.

Lady A became one of country music's biggest crossover acts, particularly after the release of "Need You Now." Outside the trio, Kelley has pursued solo music as well, including his Grammy-nominated collaboration "The Driver" with Dierks Bentley and Eric Paslay.

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This isn't Kelley's first health issue. In 2022, Lady A postponed its "Request Line Tour" so Kelley could focus on his sobriety journey.

Kelley later said he entered treatment and credited his wife, Cassie, and his Lady A bandmates with supporting him.

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Man found dead on tracks at Brooklyn subway station after his bag reportedly gets stuck in closing doors

Tue, 29 Sep 2026 14:03:47 -0400

A 57-year-old man was killed in Brooklyn Monday evening after his bag reportedly became trapped in closing subway doors, dragging him beneath the train.

After a 911 call, Yaw Boahene was found "unconscious and unresponsive" on the tracks of a northbound A train at the Utica Avenue station in Brooklyn's Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood shortly after 6 p.m., according to the New York Police Department.

Responding paramedics pronounced Boahene dead, and an investigation has been launched into the cause of his death.

NYC SUSPECT FREED FROM PSYCH HOLD HOURS BEFORE FATAL SUBWAY SHOVING OF 76-YEAR-OLD FORMER TEACHER

Boahene, of Brooklyn, was exiting a train at around 6 p.m. when his shopping bag got stuck in the doors, The New York Times reported.

Incidents involving commuters being caught and dragged by subway trains are exceedingly rare, but they do happen.

In October 2022, Joseph Ancona, 20, was killed in the Columbus Circle station when his bag was caught in a door, dragging him onto the tracks before he was fatally struck by the train, FOX 5 New York reported at the time.

WOMAN ALLEGEDLY CHOKED SUBWAY RIDER, YELLED ANTISEMITIC REMARKS IN ATTACK CAUGHT ON VIDEO: POLICE

Months earlier, 37-year-old Marcus Bryant was at a station in Brooklyn, where he got caught between a Q train and the platform. He was killed after falling onto the tracks.

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In 2019, Vicente Alatorre, 39, died after he was dragged into a tunnel by a train at Grand Central Station.

Authorities initially believed Alatorre's clothing or a bag had become caught in the train doors, but later said that was not the case, The Times reported.

Fanatics Sportsbook Promo Code FOXNEWS350: Bet $20, Get $350 on White Sox vs Astros, AL Wild Card Series

Tue, 29 Sep 2026 14:00:59 -0400

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The Chicago White Sox had a resurgent year this season. After multiple years of being one of the worst teams in baseball, all the young talent seemed to click. The White Sox ended the season 84-78 and took the final Wild Card spot, losing out to the Guardians in the division.

This is a bit like the White Sox playing with house money, as no one really expected them to be in this position this year. Still, their team is balanced in the lineup and has some fairly reliable arms. It would be a bit shocking to see them win the championship, but they have a chip and a chair, so anything is possible.

The Houston Astros were in a battle themselves just to make the postseason. They ended the year exactly average with an 81-81 record, but did have a losing record in home games. This was a year most expected the Mariners to run away with the division, but the Astros narrowly beat out the Rangers in the final weekend of the season.

Now they have to figure out a way to battle a confident and young White Sox team. They have an MVP candidate in Yordan Alvarez, who could be the difference-maker in the series. Most likely, this will come down to whichever team is better on the mound.

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New York Giants release Odell Beckham Jr, ending his anticlimactic return to former team

Tue, 29 Sep 2026 13:58:50 -0400

Odell Beckham Jr.'s reunion with the New York Giants was fun while it lasted, sort of.

The 33-year-old wide receiver signed with the Giants in June in a nostalgia-filled move that reunited him with the franchise that drafted him 12th overall in the 2014 NFL Draft, but the three-time Pro Bowler is now set to be released three games into the season.

The NFL shared the news of Beckham's expected release on social media.

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Beckham's release comes just a few days after the Giants' win over the Tennessee Titans, a game in which he received his first target of the regular season. His second stint in New York will come to a close without hauling in a catch.

OBJ spent the first five seasons of his career with the Giants as a face of the franchise alongside quarterback Eli Manning and recorded more than 1,000 receiving yards in four of five seasons to begin his career.

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The Cleveland Browns acquired Beckham ahead of the 2019 season, which is where he spent three seasons before single-season stints with the Los Angeles Rams, Baltimore Ravens and Miami Dolphins from 2021-2024.

The Giants, particularly their offense, find themselves in a difficult spot in the early stages of the season, having lost starting quarterback Jaxson Dart for the season after he suffered a knee injury during a loss to the Rams.

Veteran signal caller Jameis Winston helped lead the Giants to a 12-7 win over Tennessee in what was a nasty, rain-plagued contest at MetLife Stadium.

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On Monday, the Giants acquired Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy in exchange for a fifth-round pick in the 2027 NFL Draft.

Sheriff's department aware of possible new ransom note in Nancy Guthrie kidnapping case

Tue, 29 Sep 2026 13:42:29 -0400

The Pima County Sheriff's Department (PCSD) announced Tuesday that PCSD and the FBI's task force investigating the disappearance of Savannah Guthrie's mother, Nancy, have been made aware of a possible new ransom note in relation to Guthrie's disappearance.

"The PCSD/FBI Guthrie Task Force was recently made aware of a new possible ransom note related to the Nancy Guthrie investigation," PCSD wrote in a Tuesday post on X.

"Investigators are also aware of social media comments regarding the note and are looking further into the information to determine its credibility," the post concluded.

NANCY GUTHRIE'S SUSPECTED ABDUCTION: TIMELINE OF EVENTS IN DISAPPEARANCE OF 'TODAY' HOST'S MOM

A law enforcement source close to the case tells Fox News there are no new notes being treated as credible.

Nancy Guthrie was taken from her Tucson, Arizona, home in the early hours of Feb. 1 and hasn't been seen since, according to the FBI and PCSD.

Guthrie was last seen shortly before 10 p.m. local time on Jan. 31 after a relative dropped her off at her home in the Catalina Foothills neighborhood of Tucson.

NANCY GUTHRIE CASE: UNCLAIMED $1.2M REWARD SUGGESTS 'VERY SMALL CIRCLE' OF SUSPECTS, RETIRED FBI AGENT SAYS

Authorities have struggled to identify a suspect or person of interest in her disappearance, despite a masked man appearing on Guthrie's Ring doorbell camera.

Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos, in the days following Guthrie's disappearance, confirmed that she was taken, telling reporters during a news briefing, "She did not leave on her own. We know that."

NANCY GUTHRIE INVESTIGATORS SEE UPTICK IN TIPS AFTER RANSOM NOTES RELEASE: SHERIFF

Authorities had previously released two ransom notes related to Guthrie's kidnapping in July.

The first, which was sent on Feb. 2, reported that Guthrie was unharmed and demanded that her captors be sent $4 million in cryptocurrency to secure her release.

NANCY GUTHRIE RANSOM NOTES MAY BE FAKE AS RENOWNED PROFILER SAYS CASE LOOKS MORE LIKE BURGLARY GONE WRONG

The second, sent four days later on Feb. 6, said Guthrie had died shortly after she was kidnapped.

Authorities released the ransom notes in late July, noting they were written with a unique writing style, asking anyone who recognizes the patterns to share any information with PCSD and the FBI.

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Anyone with information is asked to dial 1-800-CALL-FBI or, to remain anonymous, call 520-88-CRIME.

‘Superman’ star Christopher Reeve’s son reveals 'shock' cancer diagnosis at age 34

Tue, 29 Sep 2026 13:31:50 -0400

Will Reeve, son of the late famed "Superman" actor Christopher Reeve, announced that he recently battled cancer.

The "Good Morning America" correspondent, 34, shared during Tuesday’s show that he was diagnosed with testicular cancer earlier this year, assuring viewers that he is "OK."

"The diagnosis was a shock and the treatments were a slog," he said. "Today, though, I am relieved to announce that we arrived at our destination and this cancer is in the rearview mirror. But what a journey."

WILLIAM SHATNER SAYS DOCTOR DISMISSED KEY WARNING SIGN BEFORE STAGE 4 CANCER DIAGNOSIS

Reeve said he found a "hard, tender lump in [his] left testicle" just a few months after his wedding to luxury event planner Amanda Dubin.

An ultrasound revealed that he had "a mass that had to come out." After undergoing surgery to remove the testicle (an orchiectomy), Reeve discovered the mass was embryonal carcinoma.

The aggressive subtype of testicular cancer can spread more quickly than some other forms, according to the American Cancer Society.

Reeve later underwent a second surgery to remove lymph nodes from his abdomen after some cancer cells had spread there.

The surgery took place at Memorial Sloan Kettering, which is where his mother, Dana Reeve, died from lung cancer in 2006 at age 44. His father died in 2004 at the age of 52.

Reeve shared that he also underwent two rounds of chemotherapy to lower the risk that the cancer would return. He said he experienced several side effects from the medication, including ringing in the ears, bone pain, night sweats, blood clots and constant headaches.

He did not lose his hair because he used a method called "cold capping," which is used during certain chemotherapy treatments to help reduce hair loss by cooling the scalp and constricting blood vessels.

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After finishing his second round of chemotherapy on July 31, Reeve said he received "clean scans" on Sept. 8.

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In an interview with People, Reeve said he is "going to be fine," although it has been "one heck of a chapter."

"I’m fortunate that I caught this early," he said. "Yes, I had to jump through some flaming hoops to get to the other side, but it could have been much worse had I ignored it or delayed going to the doctor."

Reeve also praised his wife for serving as his "caregiver," similar to how his mother helped care for his father after a 1995 horseback-riding accident left him paralyzed.

"I learn[ed] more about what it was like to be my dad in the final nine years of his life, where he had my mom and our family taking care of him," Reeve said.

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He added that the experience taught him how to "repurpose [adversity] into something hopeful."

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Testicular cancer is among the most treatable cancers, particularly when detected early, according to the American Cancer Society. Experts recommend seeing a doctor promptly for any lump, swelling, pain or change in a testicle.

Fox News Digital reached out to Reeve’s representatives requesting comment.

Office of Personnel Management uncovers $500M in fraud and waste in federal health benefits programs

Tue, 29 Sep 2026 13:28:57 -0400

FIRST ON FOX: The Trump administration announced $500 million in waste and fraud findings at the Office of Personnel Management – revealing a recovery of potentially fraudulent funds for federal health benefits programs.

Health insurance carriers in the Federal Employees Health Benefits and Postal Service Health Benefits programs reported preventing nearly $510 million in losses before or during payment and recovering an additional $21.9 million after claims were paid, according to the Office of Personnel Management.

"OPM runs health insurance for about 8.9 million retirees and federal employees, and we spend about $80 billion a year," Office of Personnel Management Director Scott Kupor told Fox News Digital. "The $500 million, a little more than half percent, is a good number, but certainly we have a long way to go here to root out more fraud, waste and abuse."

FIRST ON FOX: TRUMP ADMIN OPENS NEW FRONT IN FRAUD CRACKDOWN TARGETING HEALTH INSURERS, DRUG MIDDLEMEN

The White House anti-fraud task force led by Vice President JD Vance has reported $260.7 billion in fraud uncovered since Trump took office, and $72 billion in fraud stopped on an annualized basis.

Kupor said his agency is conducting its own review of health insurance claims data for the first time, allowing the agency to analyze billing patterns across providers and health plans to identify unusual prescribing habits, surgery rates and other anomalies that could signal overuse, misuse or potential fraud.

TRUMP ADMIN BLOCKS MORE THAN $1.6B IN POTENTIALLY IMPROPER MEDICARE LAB PAYMENTS, AGENCY SAYS

He said the agency will use those findings to remove providers from federal health programs when warranted and will refer cases involving suspected criminal conduct to the agency’s Office of Inspector General and the Justice Department for further investigation.

Kupor leads the agency responsible for overseeing the federal workforce while managing key employment and benefits programs for millions of current and former federal employees. One of the most prominent examples of his work stems from Elon Musk and the Department of Government Efficiency’s (DOGE) targeting of a mine in Pennsylvania.

EXCLUSIVE: INSIDE THE SECRETIVE MINE DOGE HELPED DRAG OUT OF A DECADES-OLD BUREAUCRATIC BLACK HOLE

Last April, Fox News Digital first reported that the United States government applied the use of artificial intelligence for federal employee recordkeeping – the first time the federal government implemented AI at scale.

The movement was led by Kupor and Musk, and Musk didn’t hide his shock that federal records were being stored and managed solely on paper at the time.

TRUMP UNLOADS ON TECH TITANS PUSHING FOR SLOWDOWN ON EMERGING INDUSTRY: ‘WHOEVER WINS AI, WINS!’

"The speed at which the mine shaft elevator can move determines how many people can retire... And the elevator breaks down and then nobody can retire," Musk said last February. "Doesn't that sound crazy?"

When asked for an update on progress made on modernizing the mine, Kupor said it is now fully operational on an electronic system.

"This past year, we did 180,000 electronic online applications for retirement, which is just unprecedented," he said. "That's almost double the production that we've had in any prior year. Electronic applications can get solved in less than half the time today that a paper one does."

"We will take something that has been a six-month, nine-month, 12-month horrendous process for retirees, and I think we will be able to do it in as little as 15 days with the continued development of technology."

WHITE HOUSE PUSHES 'WATERSHED' FRAUD-FIGHTING REFORM IN CONGRESS AS VANCE CONVENES TASK FORCE

Kupor’s previous experience working with artificial intelligence has led to his name being floated to serve as the AI czar in the Trump administration – a role cast into the spotlight as data center development and artificial intelligence have become midterm election talking points.

After working as an investment banker at Credit Suisse, Kupor worked at Loudcloud, which was co-founded by Marc Andreessen and Ben Horowitz, in 1999. He was then hired as the first employee by Andreessen and Horowitz at the duo’s venture capital firm. Kupor also served as the chair of the National Venture Capital Association from May 2017 to May 2018.

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When asked about whether he has had any conversations with the White House about the role, Kupor said he had seen the reports he was being floated, and discussed President Donald Trump’s views on artificial intelligence broadly.

"I’ve read all the same reports you've read and don't have anything to add there," he said. "What the president has said is exactly 100% right, which is that AI is the most important piece of technology that will determine economic growth for us, national security, sovereignty for our country."

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"One of the things that I know, again, having spent all my life in the venture world, is there is no limit to the intellect and inventiveness of entrepreneurs in this country. And we just need to make sure that the conditions around, you know, regulatory controls and others continue to allow the U.S. to flourish in the way that it's always done."

Kupor did not rule out accepting the role if Trump should offer it to him, saying that while he is focused on his job as director of the agency, he serves "at the will of the president."

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Reports had suggested that Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent was being considered for the AI czar position, but last week Trump said he would not be selecting him for the role.

Bucks go toe-to-toe in man's yard, manage to avoid his truck & boat during antler-locking combat

Tue, 29 Sep 2026 13:27:32 -0400

It's that time of year when bucks are out preparing to establish their dominance in hopes of catching the eye of the does in the area. They square up with one another whenever and wherever the mood hits.

A couple of bucks decided to go toe-to-toe or antlers-to-antlers, if you will, in the yard of Lynn Smith, who calls himself a "deer whisperer." His yard, as he shares on Instagram, is often covered in deer.

With the rut approaching, these bucks are using his yard to do some sparring. All he asks as he documents these backyard brawls is that they leave the truck and the boat alone.

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It's not too much to ask from a guy who allows and even encourages the wild animals to roam around on his property. They do fight near the truck, but politely avoid doing any damage to it or the boat.

Now for the non-deer whisperers out there, you don't want to get too close to this kind of action, especially in peak rutting season when the horned-up bucks are cranking the battles up a couple of notches.

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The truck and the boat probably aren’t safe during that time of year either. The bucks aren't playing around and will do some damage to anything that is in the area. I'd assume that anyway. I don't have a yard full of deer.

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Nor do I have bucks squaring up to do battle either. They could have some sort of understanding with the deer whisperer in place, for all I know.

I doubt it and I wouldn’t get too close to the action myself. Getting tangled up in antlers isn't my idea of an enjoyable afternoon.

Ross Chastain calls Ryan Blaney's fight with Carson Hocevar at Bristol Motor Speedway 'NASCAR 101'

Tue, 29 Sep 2026 13:26:51 -0400

While Joey Logano celebrated at Bristol Motor Speedway last week, Ryan Blaney went to fight Carson Hocevar.

Blaney, ticked off after finishing 33rd following a crash that resulted from contact with Hocevar’s car, took a couple of swings at Hocevar. NASCAR star Ross Chastain called the incident "NASCAR 101."

"But seeing Ryan be upset and go to Carson and seeing Carson defend himself when he gets grabbed, I think that's NASCAR 101. I think that's what's made our sport," Chastain told OutKick in a recent interview.

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Chastain referenced the infamous fight between Cale Yarborough and Donnie Allison at the end of the 1979 Daytona 500 as a moment when the sport took off. Chastain said that fight had a lot more "horsepower behind it" than Blaney and Hocevar’s dust-up.

The driver of the No. 1 car said NASCAR security decides whether to break up a fight.

"I was glad to watch it, and I think security did a good job to let it happen, but then, NASCAR security gets to decide what they want to do and they decide to step in when they think it's time," Chastain told OutKick.

Chastain said he had no idea what was happening in the moment or whether Blaney had intended to go after Hocevar from the moment the crash happened.

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"No, I have no idea. I don't think Carson had any idea that Ryan would be coming over there like that. I don't even know if Ryan really knew 'cause he had some time to think about it. He had to go to the care center, do interviews, walk back over to the holler, and then he waited on the race stand and walked over," Chastain said.

Chastain has been in a few fights, and while they are part of the fabric of the sport, he said he hopes his fighting days are over.

"It won't take much of a YouTube search to see. I've had my fair share of (fights) as well. I'm not saying anybody should fight, and, and I hope — I'm 33. I hope my fighting days are long behind me. Because getting punched is not something that I ever want to feel again. I don't want to feel that. I've made it to a spot in life where I hope I'm done with it," Chastain said.

After a race, Chastain would much rather drink a beer than get into a fight.

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"There's bad races where we crash, we're out early, and it's like, you know what, the work's done. All the prep, all the focus, all the pressure of racing in the Cup Series is done. OK, let's have a beer. Let's just take a moment. All right, let's get out of here. Now, we're loaded up, we're done, done with the weekend. I'll rehydrate later," Chastain said on behalf of Busch Light.

"Then in the wins, definitely a Busch Light. And that's where you see me as soon as physically possible when I get out of the car and I'm done driving, that's when I want it. I'm hollering at my crew to bring me a beer. I don't want to even walk to the cooler. I want, as soon as I get out, I wanna have one 'cause the work's done. And, and if we've won, that's a big reward."

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Soros nephew divulges how family's power helped bankroll El-Sayed's education during secretive fundraiser

Tue, 29 Sep 2026 13:21:13 -0400

FIRST ON FOX: Jeffrey Soros, the wealthy nephew of billionaire Democrat mega-donor George Soros, detailed his yearslong connection to Michigan Democratic Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed during a Monday night fundraiser, according to footage obtained by Fox News Digital.

The Soros nephew, a wealthy Hollywood producer, hosted El-Sayed at his home Monday night for a fundraiser that attracted controversy given the emphasis the candidate has placed on getting money out of politics. During remarks, Soros noted that he played a key role in helping El-Sayed get his career off the ground, according to footage obtained by Fox News Digital.

"I just wanted to welcome you here and express my appreciation for coming. And it's been a privilege," Soros said while standing next to El-Sayed during the event, the footage showed. "Speaking of privilege, I've had the pleasure of knowing Abdul since 2012. I got to interview him as a finalist for my parents. Fellowship, the Paul and Daisy Soros Fellowship for New Americans."

The El-Sayed campaign and the Los Angeles Media Fund, where Soros serves as CEO, did not respond to requests for comment when reached by Fox News Digital on Tuesday.

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Attendees were asked not to record the event, a common practice at many political fundraisers, organizers said in footage reviewed by Fox News Digital.

The Paul and Daisy Soros Fellowship for New Americans, which is designed to help immigrants and the children of immigrants get a leg up in the United States, pays out tens of thousands of dollars in stipend and tuition support to winners. El-Sayed won the fellowship in 2012, and it is touted on its website as one of its success stories.

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The financial and political ties come as El-Sayed has made the influence of wealthy donors a recurring theme of his campaign.

"The fundamental corruption of our politics has been the system that allows corporations and would-be oligarchs and billionaires to buy politicians," El-Sayed said during a 2025 local news interview.

"I want to get money out of politics, put money in your pocket, pass Medicare for All," he said during a follow-up interview.

A flyer promoting the Soros fundraiser, which was attended by Hollywood notables, stated that attendees could donate up to $57,800 to the Abdul for Michigan Victory Fund, Fox News Digital previously reported. The Soros family’s political machine has also dumped millions into political committees that are supporting El-Sayed’s run for Senate.

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"Abdul El-Sayed raising dark Soros money in California after begging Chuck Schumer for money in DC is the least surprising thing he’s done all cycle," Alyssa Brouillet, communications director for GOP nominee Mike Rogers' campaign, previously told Fox News Digital. "That’s what a conman does — says one thing and does another. Michiganders can’t trust this guy."

El-Sayed’s campaign has defended itself by arguing that "corporate special interests are spending millions of dollars in dark money to try to buy Rogers a Senate seat because he’s spent his entire career making himself and his billionaire donors richer while Michiganders pay the price."

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ICE confusion ignites MAGA backlash: ‘I would have called for impeachment’

Tue, 29 Sep 2026 13:19:14 -0400

Reported guidance directing some ICE offices to pull back on arrests of illegal immigrants without criminal histories triggered backlash from policy hawks, raising questions whether the Trump administration is sending conflicting signals on enforcement.

The guidance was rescinded within hours, and Trump told Fox News there had been no change in an enforcement posture that prioritizes — but is not limited to — the "worst first." The verbal guidance had been relayed to ICE field offices around the country, according to multiple sources familiar with the matter, though it remains unclear who initially issued the instruction.

Administration officials later characterized it as a misunderstanding rather than a formal policy change, and new guidance reaffirming there had been no change in enforcement policy was sent within hours. The episode nevertheless reinforced concerns among some immigration hawks who say recent public messaging from administration officials has suggested a narrower approach to interior enforcement than Trump campaigned on.

Mike Howell, a leader of the Mass Deportation Coalition and president of The Oversight Project, argued public criticism helped force the reversal but said the episode also fit what he views as a broader pattern of mixed messaging from DHS on interior immigration enforcement.

"[The guidance] was walked back, allegedly, which is great, and I think it was in large part walked back because people spoke out very, very loudly," Howell said, while adding there is a troubling undercurrent to some of DHS' messaging on the greater matter:

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As an example, Howell pointed to a tweet from DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin posted one day before the ICE guidance news broke, in which the secretary said the department was "not conducting worksite operations in Kansas" but was targeting criminal illegal immigrants and those facing removal.

The post followed ICE operations in Kansas that prompted complaints from Sen. Roger Marshall, R-Kan., who said DHS had failed to coordinate with local authorities during operations in cities including Liberal.

"I've never seen a secretary put anything like that in writing," Howell said. "[If it were] an Obama or Clinton or Biden DHS secretary, we would have called for impeachment if they said that."

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Asked to put a finer point on it, Howell stated outright: "If Mayorkas tweeted that, I would have immediately called for his impeachment: for flagrant admission that they are not enforcing the laws and faithfully executing them -- It was amnesty by another means."

Howell emphasized that he was not calling for Mullin’s impeachment, but using the comparison to underscore how seriously he views any pullback from broad immigration enforcement.

He further argued that shifting signals are unfair to rank-and-file ICE agents who served during the Biden administration.

It remained unclear who originated the guidance, but Fox News was told it was a "misunderstanding" and that the person responsible would likely face reprimand.

A source told Fox News Digital on Sunday evening that the order "definitely went out" and that some immigrant-heavy Republican districts have seen anger over family members being caught up in worksite-enforcement removals. The source pointed to Kansas as an illustration.

"This type of ping-pong is deeply unfair to ICE, the men and women there tasked with actually deporting these people," he said. "They watch the news, they read X, they see these mixed signals and it's affected operations."

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White House spokeswoman Lauren Bis pushed back, saying Trump has been clear that "no one is off the table."

"DHS continues to deliver results for the American people including the most secure border in history and three straight months of a record number of ICE arrests," she said, citing more than 3 million deportations thus far.

An ICE report also put arrests-per-month at a record high of 51,000 in August, while a source familiar confirmed that ICE guidance that went out was a "miscommunication" and not from the top.

Mark Krikorian, executive director of the Center for Immigration Studies, which advocates for tighter immigration controls, said the situation is uniquely instructive because it comes at a time when factions of the Republican Party are at odds, whether silently or not, over the immigration enforcement issue.

"All of this comes on the backdrop of conflicting goals and messages within the administration on immigration," he said.

Krikorian said the administration may have contributed to that confusion by repeatedly emphasizing its focus on the "worst of the worst," even as officials including border czar Tom Homan have said immigrants without criminal records are not exempt from enforcement.

"The administration does need to get its story straight internally so that they can then present a consistent message externally," Krikorian said.

He argued the larger unresolved issue is worksite enforcement, which he said is critical to encouraging self-deportation but creates political tension between business interests seeking labor and working-class Republicans demanding tighter enforcement.

Republican donors who favor the "loose labor market" that low-wage migrants bring clash with the working-class Republican bloc demanding tighter labor markets and stricter enforcement, Krikorian said.

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Krikorian said he had hoped Trump or Mullin would clarify after the Kansas controversy that the administration was not "randomly" cracking down on employers, but conducting worksite enforcement based on intelligence about businesses employing illegal immigrants.

Several Republicans, including Marshall and Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar, R-Fla., have criticized aspects of the administration’s immigration push ahead of the midterms. Krikorian argued that conflicting signals could also carry political consequences with Trump voters focused on enforcement – citing competing pressures between big-business and the base.

"You don’t tweet out that you’re not doing what voters want you to do," he said.

Krikorian praised the administration’s border policies but argued interior and worksite enforcement create more complicated political tradeoffs for the Trump coalition.

After the Wire report broke, DHS responded in part "this is false. No one is off the table."

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Fox News Digital reached out to Salazar and DHS for further comment.

Fox News' Bill Melugin contributed to this report.

Hollywood actress’ performative rant about son’s sexuality at LGBT gala fuels online backlash frenzy

Tue, 29 Sep 2026 11:08:16 -0400

A Hollywood actress used her platform on stage at a far-left Human Rights Campaign (HRC) event to performatively joke that despite her best efforts, her son turned out to be heterosexual.

Camryn Manheim, best known for her role as Ellenor Frutt in the late 1990s and early 2000s drama series "The Practice," introduced and presented her friend and fellow actress Marcia Gay Harden with the Ally for Equality Award at the HRC's National Dinner on Sunday.

"For Marcia, of course, this is deeply personal to her," said Manheim of this year's recipient of the prestigious award. "She has three remarkable children who all align with the LGBTQ+ community, which is another thing that deeply irritates me about her, because I always wanted a gay son."

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She then launched into a tirade about how her son is heterosexual.

"I love that relationship between gay sons and their mothers," she said from the stage. "I wanted to be the picket sign-holding mom who would beat the s--- out of somebody for her kid. I mean, let's just admit it, gay sons are the best, right? Right!"

"I have photographs of my son in high heels, in full drag, he knows every word to every musical ever written, his fairy godfather, Aaron Walton, is here with us tonight. I mean, truly, I thought I had this f---ing thing locked up, but no, no, he's the only straight guy in his entire musical theater company," Manheim complained.

Manheim's only child, Milo Manheim, 25, is an actor best known for his starring role as Zed in the Disney Channel film franchise "Zombies." He played Joseph in the 2023 Christmas musical, "Journey to Bethlehem," and in 2018 came in second place on season 27 of "Dancing with the Stars."

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Manheim, during her recorded remarks, relayed a story about Harden, a 2021 Oscar winner for best supporting actress in the 2000 film "Pollock," calling her a decade ago to tell her that her son was gay.

"All I said was, 'Oh my God, you are so f---ing lucky!" Manheim said, yelling into the microphone and drawing a round of applause from the crowd.

And about a week later, I was at Marcia's house for dinner when an Amazon package was delivered, and inside, I'm not kidding you, was a pair of thigh-high patent leather boots, like kinky boots," Manheim continued. "And I thought, 'oh come on, now she is just showing off!"

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HRC is America's largest civil rights group dedicated to "engaging and mobilizing millions of pro-equality voters and supporters to elect pro-equality leaders and to demand equity-based policies and legislation." The organization was founded in 1980 by gay rights lobbyist Steve Endean and today boasts 4 million members.

Sunday night's dinner was part of the Human Rights Campaign's events program, which it says reaches more than 20,000 people each year through 30 fundraising dinner events. It allows the group to "elevate LGBTQ+ candidates around the country, keep volunteers engaged, amplify our work in the local community, and solicit corporate sponsorships and donations through our auctions."

Online, reactions ranged from dismayed to disgusted.

"How do any straight males survive mothers like this? It's a miracle some of them come out normal," said a right-wing commentator who goes by Peachy Keenan.

"These people are mentally ill. They need to be institutionalized or thrown in prison for trying to groom children," said Andy Froemel.

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"It’s the entertainment industry mothers who are the psychos," online personality @shipwreckedcrew, who boasts more than 180,000 followers, said.

"These people are sick," radio show host Joe Pagliarulo said.

"Liberalism is a performative sickness," said Jon Nanjarian.

Fox News Digital reached out to HRC and representatives for Manheim but did not hear back at time of publication.

Which college football coaches improved or tanked their hot seat status four games into the season?

Tue, 29 Sep 2026 12:44:05 -0400

If you're not in a headspace to receive sensitive information then plug your ears, but the college football season is officially a third of the way through.

As hard as that is to believe, it also means that we have some significant data to draw from that will help paint a clearer picture of the landscape of college football for 2026.

Some teams are already outperforming their preseason expectations while others are greatly disappointing thus far, as is the case with every season.

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With that, we also have four games worth of data on head coaches and where they stand on the "hot seat" conversation, so I thought it would be interesting to look at a few coaches who entered 2026 with a target on their back and how they've done to either improve or worsen their standing.

Think of it as a "hot seat report card."

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With all the preamble out of the way, let's begin.

Dave Aranda - Baylor

Dave Aranda's path at Baylor has been a circuitous one, to say the least.

It was looking like a classic rags to riches story for the former LSU defensive coordinator early on, as he guided the Bears to a Big 12 championship and a 12-win season in just his second year on the job.

Since then, the results have fluctuated between middling and downright putrid, and entering this year, Aranda was said to be on his last leg.

So far, though, I don't really think he's done anything to change that for better or for worse, but he has set himself up nicely to buy a little more time in Waco.

Outside of a neutral site opener against Auburn, in which the Bears had a chance to win on the last play even with a hobbled DJ Lagway, Baylor has taken care of business and is 3-1 through four weeks.

Their next few conference games are winnable though not automatic, which sets up an absolutely brutal last three games where they have to play BYU, Texas Tech, and Houston, essentially the best the Big 12 has to offer.

If he can hold serve and maybe even steal one of those three games at the end of the year, I believe 8-4 or 9-3 will land Aranda in the "safe for now" category as 2026 comes to a close.

Status: Hold

Luke Fickell - Wisconsin

Coming into the season, it was basically a forgone conclusion that Wisconsin head coach Luke Fickell would be gone by the end of the year; essentially a dead man walking.

After getting blasted pretty handily by Notre Dame to start the season, it looked like nothing would change, and maybe he's still gone by the end of the year, but Saturday's massive win on the road against a top-15 Penn State might go a long way in determining Fickell's fate.

It was the Badgers' first road win over a ranked opponent under Fickell, and with a more manageable schedule - Wisconsin avoids having to play Indiana, Oregon, and Ohio State this season - a bowl game could be well within range for their embattled head coach.

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I'm not confident simply making a bowl game will save Fickell, but an 8-4 record is certainly on the table and I'm sure that would give boosters some pause about paying his nearly $20 million buyout.

It's still "wait and see" for Fickell, but Saturday might have been his first attempt at digging out of a massive hole in Madison.

Status: Trending slightly up

Lincoln Riley - USC

This might surprise a lot of people who just paid attention to the preseason polls, but Lincoln Riley was under a lot of scrutiny heading into his fifth year in Los Angeles.

The Trojans have yet to make a College Football Playoff under Riley's watch, causing some of the natives in Southern Cal to stir a bit.

This was seen as the year it could all come together for USC and Riley, and after holding serve the first few weeks of the season, their week four showdown with Oregon was supposed to be the first test of that theory.

Consider that test failed, as the Trojans dropped one at home to a Ducks squad playing with a backup quarterback for the majority of the contest.

Losing to a stacked Oregon team in a vacuum is nothing to hang your head about, but the fact that this was supposed to be a Playoff season for USC means the magnifying glass gets brought out after every result.

There's still plenty of season left to get it right, but things aren't getting any easier for Riley and the Trojans with teams like Ohio State, Penn State, Indiana, and a resurgent UCLA still on the schedule.

Until USC can wash the taste of this one out of their mouth, the temperature on Riley's office chair will feel uncomfortably warm moving forward.

Status: Trending down

Mike Norvell - Florida State

It could be argued that no one had a hotter seat coming into 2026 than Mike Norvell, and the Florida State Seminoles didn't exactly do anything to change that through the first third of the season.

The Noles are 2-2 through four games, and their two losses might actually be more inspiring than their two wins.

A three-point home loss to then-ranked SMU and a competitive road loss to Alabama might signify progress, but the fans in Tallahassee have long run out of patience.

Luckily for Norvell and unfortunately for those fans, they don't make the decisions, and after firing athletic director Mike Alford a few weeks ago, the prevailing theory coming out of the Florida panhandle is that their coach is likely safe for 2026.

That might seem almost unfathomable to anyone familiar with the last few years of FSU football, but there's still the lingering questions of Norvell's buyout now coupled with a new AD trying to get his footing in an absolute mess of a situation.

The Seminoles still have a shot at a winning season and a bowl game, and there is some talent at spots on this roster.

I wouldn't be shocked at all to see the Noles pull a 6-6 or 7-5 season out of their hats and keep their lame duck coach in Tally for another season.

I'm sorry, FSU fans. Even you don't deserve a fate this cruel.

Status: Hold

Shane Beamer - South Carolina

Back in July, I wrote an article about the hot seat status of every coach in the SEC, and South Carolina coach Shane Beamer's seat was so radioactive that it needed its own section all by itself.

Not to toot my own horn, but that is looking downright prophetic four games into the 2026 season.

The Gamecocks took care of the two scrubs on their schedule to start the year before getting their tail feathers handed to them in back to back weeks to begin SEC play.

First, the world was finally introduced to the magic of Mississippi State's Kamario Taylor, as the Bulldogs hung a 41-spot on South Carolina's head in Williams Brice Stadium.

Then Beamer and his boys went on the road and got clobbered by Alabama to the tune of a 49-18 beatdown.

What's worse, their best player, edge rusher Dylan Stewart, had a generational crashout on the field and was sent to the locker room with his status with the team in question, prompting many to opine whether Beamer had "lost the locker room."

Regardless of what becomes of the Stewart situation, the schedule doesn't lighten up at all for South Carolina.

Kentucky, Florida, Tennessee, Oklahoma, and Georgia all await in conference play, and the Gamecocks also have to travel to Clemson to play the Tigers to end the season.

A schedule like that presents opportunities to land some impressive wins, but it also acts as a minefield that could sink the goodship Beamer in the process.

I have a hard time seeing Beamer surviving this season barring a miracle from above.

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Status: Trending down

Motorcycle patrols swarm Iranian cities, checkpoints rise as regime braces for unrest

Tue, 29 Sep 2026 12:44:03 -0400

Iranian security forces have stepped up their presence in Tehran and other cities, with motorcycle patrols, checkpoints and forces positioned across major urban areas as authorities brace for possible unrest, multiple sources inside Iran told Fox News Digital.

The security buildup comes as university students have returned to the streets in Tehran, protesting compulsory hijab rules, rising education costs and political repression, videos published on Iran International show.

Sources inside Iran confirmed to Fox News Digital that motorcycle units have been operating across Tehran and other cities during events surrounding Iran’s annual "Sacred Defense Week," while members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Basij and law enforcement have been positioned at major squares and other locations.

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The sources also said security personnel have stopped pedestrians, searched some individuals and examined mobile phones, including material authorities consider "anti-regime."

The accounts follow a report from the National Council of Resistance of Iran’s (NCRI's) Committee on Security and Counterterrorism alleging that Iranian authorities ordered a "100%" state of readiness for the Army, IRGC, Basij and law enforcement and canceled leave through Sept. 27. The NCRI also claimed 51,000 personnel had been deployed across Greater Tehran, including 30,000 IRGC and Basij members and 21,000 law enforcement personnel. The reported preparations are taking place as signs of public unrest have begun resurfacing on university campuses. Fox News Digital has not independently confirmed those claims.

One source in Tehran told Fox News Digital that the heightened security presence extends beyond what is visible on the streets.

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"Motorcyclists taking photos of shops, and prisoners being threatened and forced to tell their families not to physically participate in any protests that might arise," the source said.

The source said Basij members who previously received military training have been placed on alert and are being housed or assembled at educational facilities and large properties on the outskirts of Tehran.

The measures were not limited to the capital. "This situation exists in all cities, but the nature of the presence and the way things are organized differ," the source told Fox News Digital, citing information received from Borujen, Isfahan and other cities.

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"In those places, plainclothes agents are more prevalent and try to remain out of public view; however, in Tehran, they appear openly on the streets in military uniforms and gear specifically to instill fear and terror," the source said, adding that leave had also been canceled in smaller cities and claimed shops, telephone communications and everyday activities were under increased surveillance.

Iranian journalist Mehdi Ghadimi, who lives outside Iran after years of opposition activity, separately told Fox News Digital that he had received similar accounts.

"I’ve received reports of new checkpoints being set up in Tehran, and there have also been reports of military forces being put on alert, as well as civilians who had previously been trained by the regime for urban repression being called up," Ghadimi added that people are being detained on espionage charges simply because they communicate with people outside of Iran.

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Ghadimi also said he had received reports that individuals with serious criminal records had been released from prison in exchange for reporting to local Basij bases and participating in the suppression of demonstrations.

Students at Allameh Tabataba’i University in Tehran held a protest Monday against compulsory hijab, rising tuition and university living conditions, according to videos reported by Iran International on Sept. 28 and 29. Students were recorded chanting against the morality police and political repression.

Iran International reported that the protest began over tuition, dormitory and food costs before expanding into broader political chants. The outlet, citing the student publication Amirkabir, reported that Basij members attempted to disrupt the gathering and threatened students.

IRAN'S REGIME CAME FOR TEENAGE TWINS. THEIR FATE OFFERS A GLIMPSE OF TEHRAN'S WIDENING DEATH CAMPAIGN

The protests also come amid renewed pressure over compulsory hijab rules on university campuses. On Sept. 8, Iran International reported that a senior official in the office representing Iran’s supreme leader at universities said a new compulsory-hijab directive for universities had been drafted and was expected to be issued by the ministries overseeing higher education.

Separately, the IRGC escalated its rhetoric toward Washington on Tuesday, with spokesman Hossein Mohebbi calling on Americans to pressure President Donald Trump’s administration. "This lying administration must be changed," Mohebbi said at a Tehran press conference, according to Reuters video distributed Sept. 29.

His remarks came as U.S. and Iranian officials continued indirect contacts through mediators in an effort to end the seven-month conflict, Reuters reported.

The combination of visible security preparations and renewed demonstrations is fueling speculation among Iranians about whether the country could face another broader wave of unrest.

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"The reality is that nobody knows what’s going to happen," Ghadimi told Fox News Digital. "Everyone I talk to says that this situation cannot continue and that, somehow, it has to come to an end."

Trump unveils America.gov as AI-powered hub for passports, Medicare enrollment and more

Tue, 29 Sep 2026 12:41:46 -0400

President Donald Trump on Tuesday unveiled America.gov, an AI-powered website designed to consolidate information from tens of thousands of federal webpages into a single searchable database.

After delivering brief remarks at the Andrew W. Mellon Auditorium in Washington, D.C., Trump signed an executive order that directs all federal agencies to make their websites "integrate directly" with America.gov as soon as possible.

The site is live as of Tuesday and allows users to type questions into a search bar that generates AI chatbot-style responses.

"Anyone who has used Grok or Gemini or ChatGPT will understand instantly how to use America.gov," Trump said.

TRUMP ANNOUNCES NEW 'AI FORCE,' VOWS TO PROTECT INDUSTRY AS AI CZAR ANNOUNCEMENT NEARS

Currently, the site can only answer questions and direct users on how to complete various tasks themselves.

U.S. Chief Design Officer Joe Gebbia, who helped create America.gov, said that by 2027, citizens will be able to use the site to complete government forms and track the status of various applications.

In his speech, Trump highlighted several ways the site could streamline interactions with the federal government, including simplifying the paperwork involved when a woman changes her last name after getting married.

"Very soon, all she'll have to do is ask America.gov and it'll fill out the forms, track the progress and send her a new Social Security card, passport and insurance card in the mail," Trump said.

UNITED ARAB EMIRATES PLANS AI-RUN GOVERNMENT WITHIN TWO YEARS

"Whether you're a scout leader who wants to reserve a campsite at a national park, a senior citizen trying to choose a Medicare plan, or an American veteran trying to get the benefits that you've earned and so justly deserve, America.gov will be there to help," he added.

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Administrator Mehmet Oz followed Trump's remarks with a demonstration of how America.gov could simplify prescription ordering and other services.

Oz brought a woman named Lisa onstage who said she had spent more than a year trying to enroll in Medicare before revealing her newly issued beneficiary card on a large banner.

Oz said America.gov "explains what applies to Lisa's situation and guides her through the decisions."

At the same event Tuesday, Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced that beginning in 2027, Americans will be able to use America.gov to apply for their first U.S. passport.

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"Today, if you need your first passport, you start at the State Department's website," Rubio said. "There's a lot of information up there, but if you actually want to apply, that is where the maze starts."

Rubio said the site will allow users to upload their own passport photos, eliminating the need to visit a pharmacy or retail store to have one taken.

"No printing forms, no drugstore hostage photo, no appointment, no line, no middleman that you're paying to do something that should be available to you," Rubio said. "You tell America.gov what you're trying to do and it walks you through every single step."

More federal services are expected to be added over the coming months as agencies begin to integrate with America.gov.

Vape store clerk near Ole Miss campus warned buyer 'people were dying' from kratom pills, affidavit says

Tue, 29 Sep 2026 12:33:31 -0400

An Oxford, Mississippi vape store clerk told a confidential informant that "people were dying" from the kratom being sold there, according to court records showing that one of the two Ole Miss students found dead had bought products from the same store.

Ole Miss students Aidan Hamilton, 18, and Robert Strang, 20, were found dead on Sept. 21, both with similar packages of kratom or synthetic kratom found to be in their possession, according to the court documents. Officials detailed that Hamilton "could have died due to a Pulmonary Edema," which would be consistent with a drug overdose. Strang was found "cold to the touch" when first responders arrived at his house near campus.

Packaging on the kratom items found near both men were labeled "Smax, Pseudo-DHM" tablets, which is a "Kratom like substance at gas stations or tobacco shops" that people buy for the "narcotic like effect," according to the court documents.

OLE MISS NAMES STUDENTS FOUND DEAD AS OFFICIAL ADDRESSES POTENTIAL FOR FOUL PLAY

Hamilton made several purchases in September at Puffs Vape, Tobacco and Beer Store in Oxford, where workers Yahya Mohamed Mosleh, 51, and Islam Mohamed, 18, were arrested and face a charge of possession of a controlled substances with intent to distribute. Officials did not say in the court documents that the kratom found near him when he died came from that store. One of the purchases was made one day before Hamilton was found dead.

A confidential informant to law enforcement went to Puffs Vape, Tobacco and Beer Store and asked if they sold "7 O Kratom based pills," to which a store clerk said "yes" and opened a drawer from under the register and pulled out a package of kratom, according to the court records.

Mosleh allegedly told the informant to "be quiet" about the pills and to be careful taking them because "people were dying from them."

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Over 500 units of kratom was seized from the vape store along with THC cartridges, gummies, pre rolls, and other suspected THC substances.

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Hamilton's roommate told officers that Hamilton often smoked marijuana but that he did not know him to use any hard drugs.

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One hour after finding Hamilton dead, police were dispatched to a house near campus and found Strang dead. A package of the "Smax, Pseudo-DHM" tablets were found on his night stand, along with 20 to 30 Nitrous Oxide cans, known as "whippets," which Strang's roommates said he used daily. Strang's roommates told officers that he was watching football and took a Xanax bar the day before being found dead.

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Officials said the synthetic kratom-derived product Strang had bought was purchased at a gas station about 30 minutes away from Oxford.

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It remains undetermined what role kratom played in Hamilton and Strang's death.

Drug cartel kingpin among targets in sweeping Trump crackdown on alleged Mexican corruption network

Tue, 29 Sep 2026 12:29:34 -0400

FIRST ON FOX: The Trump administration is seeking to disrupt with a sweeping set of sanctions a sprawling Sinaloa cartel network accused of corrupting Mexican officials just across the U.S. border.

Los Mayos, a powerful faction of the Sinaloa cartel, and its U.S.-born leader are accused of funneling fentanyl and drug money through California and hiring hitmen to kill rivals on American soil.

The Treasury Department, according to material exclusively obtained by Fox News Digital ahead of their public release on Tuesday, will sanction 21 individuals and 25 entities in a crackdown against Los Mayos and their alleged illegal activity within U.S. borders.

The targets of the sanctions include Ismael Zambada Sicairos, known as "Mayito Flaco," a dual U.S.-Mexican citizen born in Anaheim, California, whom Treasury describes as the "undisputed head" of Los Mayos.

MEXICAN GOVERNOR FACING US DRUG CHARGES SEEKS LEAVE JUST ONE DAY AFTER RETURNING TO OFFICE

The action lays out how one of Mexico’s most powerful cartel factions allegedly maintains its grip on two critical trafficking corridors along the U.S. border — through political and police corruption, money laundering and violence that Treasury says has extended into Southern California.

It also exposes what Treasury describes as deep cartel penetration of government and law enforcement in Baja California, the Mexican state bordering California.

The Treasury says Sinaloa-linked "narco-corruption has reached the highest levels" of the state government, alleging that the ex-husband of Gov. Marina del Pilar Ávila Olmeda used his political influence to protect cartel operations and that a former Mexicali public security chief accepted bribes to allow the cartel to exert control over municipal police.

The allegations shed new light on a controversy that erupted last year when the U.S. revoked the visas of both Ávila and her then-husband, Carlos Torres Torres.

The State Department revoked Torres’ U.S. visa in May 2025 over what Treasury now describes as his "cartel affiliation and work on behalf of the Sinaloa cartel." Olmeda’s U.S. visa was also revoked around the same time, though U.S. officials did not publicly disclose a reason for the action against her.

The Department of War also played a role in the effort through Joint Interagency Task Force-Counter Cartel, which works with federal law enforcement, intelligence agencies and Treasury to identify cartel financial and facilitation networks.

"These sanctions reflect the impact of sustained interagency collaboration and intelligence fusion in identifying and disrupting the networks that enable violent transnational cartels," Brig. Gen. Maurizio Calabrese, director of JIATF-Counter Cartel, told Fox News Digital.

Calabrese said the task force contributed analysis and operational insight on cartel-linked financial and facilitation networks to support the broader effort behind the sanctions.

POTENTIAL SECURITY THREAT PROMPTS US TRAVEL SUSPENSION FOR BORDER CITY ON ALERT

Treasury also alleges the cartel’s reach extended directly into California.

Lorenzo Castillo Maldonado, an associate in Mayito Flaco’s network, allegedly hired hitmen on the cartel leader’s orders to kill rival cartel members in Southern California. Another part of the network allegedly worked with complicit Southern California money exchanges to collect bulk cash from U.S. drug sales and move the proceeds back to Mexico.

The sanctions are aimed in part at disrupting Los Mayos’ grip on the Tijuana and Mexicali "plazas," strategic corridors Treasury says the cartel uses to move fentanyl and other narcotics into the U.S.

"Today’s action underscores that no cartel kingpin, corrupt Mexican government official, or financial facilitator is beyond the reach of Treasury’s authorities," Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said. "Our message is clear: the Trump administration will identify and disrupt any cartel actor who threatens our security or the integrity of our financial system."

The designations effectively cut the targets off from the U.S. financial system, blocking property and assets under U.S. jurisdiction and generally barring Americans from doing business with them. Foreign financial institutions that knowingly facilitate significant transactions for sanctioned individuals could also face U.S. sanctions.

At the center of Tuesday’s action is Mayito Flaco, who Treasury says has emerged as the undisputed leader of Los Mayos following the July 2024 arrest of his father, longtime Sinaloa cartel kingpin Ismael "El Mayo" Zambada Garcia.

SINALOA CARTEL BOSS 'EL MAYO' SENTENCED TO LIFE, ORDERED TO PAY $15B IN DRUG TRAFFICKING PROFITS

El Mayo’s arrest set off a violent struggle between Los Mayos and Los Chapitos, the Sinaloa faction led by sons of Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman. Treasury says the two factions remain locked in a costly internal war that has forced both sides to rebuild their leadership and alliances.

Mayito Flaco, 44, was born in Anaheim in 1982 and later filed a U.S. name change to Fernando Sicairos Aispuro, according to Treasury. He was federally indicted in California in 2014 on drug trafficking and money laundering charges and remains a fugitive in Mexico.

The Treasury says he now commands Los Mayos’ drug trafficking, murder, extortion, corruption and kidnapping operations.

The sanctions also target Torres’ brother, Luis Alfonso Torres Torres, whom Treasury accuses of collecting bribes and laundering illicit funds through companies and political campaigns.

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Former Mexicali Public Security Director Pedro Ariel Mendivil Garcia is also being sanctioned. The Treasury alleges Mendivil accepted bribes from Los Rusos leader Juan Jose Ponce Felix, known as "El Ruso," in exchange for allowing the cartel to exert control over municipal police, facilitate drug trafficking and carry out enforcement operations.

A'ja Wilson and Breanna Stewart put Las Vegas Aces and New York Liberty on brink of series sweeps

Tue, 29 Sep 2026 12:01:00 -0400

The WNBA Playoffs are upon us, and all eight teams played on Sunday. Instead of sending all of them back tonight, we have two games and four teams taking the court. I am going to share a play in both games. I know that the WNBA has a lot wrong with it, but I feel like the opening round being just a best-of-three is a bit rough (I feel the same about the MLB). Playoffs should be at least five games, and with these matchups, I want as many as I can get.

Aces vs. Fever

The Las Vegas Aces are defending champions and still turned in one of the better regular seasons this year. They have the best player on the planet, A'ja Wilson. They hosted the Fever in Game 1 and beat them by 17 points. It was an ugly game for Indiana, but it was a very impressive performance from Las Vegas. The Fever had no answer for Wilson, who poured in 38 points and hauled in 16 rebounds. She did it on an incredibly efficient 15-for-19 shooting as well.

WNBA PLAYOFFS PREVIEW: WHY THE FEVER AT +145 COULD BE THE BEST BET AGAINST DEFENDING CHAMPION ACES

The starting lineup for the Fever just couldn't get much going. Caitlin Clark had 15 points, but wasn't overly efficient from the field, and she didn't even get to the free-throw line. She chipped in 10 assists, but also had six turnovers. Single-season scoring leader Kelsey Mitchell had 12 points, but she was just 4-for-16 from the field. If the Fever want to stay alive, they need to double Wilson and make someone else beat them, and they need to be much more efficient on offense. I think the right play here is to take the Aces at -102 on the moneyline. I just don't think the Fever have enough answers for the Aces, even though I picked them to win the series.

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Lynx vs. Liberty

Stealing a road game is almost always a requirement for teams looking to win a series. Getting a road victory is definitely a requirement for anyone who is an underdog in a series. The New York Liberty are the 8th seed, but as I mentioned in my preview of the series, the Liberty were picked preseason as the favorite to win the WNBA Championship. Now they are one game away from ending the season of the best team in the league (at least via regular-season record).

Game 1 went to the Liberty, even though they won the game on the road. It wasn't just a win; it was kind of a blowout, with the Lynx losing by 16. Breanna Stewart showed why she is one of the best in basketball and poured in 34 points. The Lynx didn't get much from their two best players, Napheesa Collier and Olivia Miles. They combined for just 23 points and 9-for-26 shooting. With their backs against the wall, I think the Lynx will get the win, but I do think it could be a very close game. The Lynx are 18-4 on the road this season so winning on the road shouldn't be new to them. I expect defense to be key for Minnesota tonight. Give me the under 173.5.

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Cam Schlittler and Payton Tolle set up a potential pitching masterclass as MLB playoffs open at Yankee Stadium

Tue, 29 Sep 2026 11:54:30 -0400

As a fan, I'm bummed that football is over until Thursday, but as a sports bettor, I'm happy to see it go after a brutal NFL week. Rather than focus on the bad, let's look toward the good things happening today.

We have the MLB playoffs starting today, the NHL has its regular season beginning, and the WNBA has more playoff games. It will be a great day, and it starts early with the Phillies and Braves playing at 2 p.m. ET. However, I have my eyes set on the game between the Red Sox and Yankees, starting at 8 p.m. ET.

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The Boston Red Sox found a way to make it to the postseason after a disastrous start to the season. They were just 9-17 on Friday, April 24, and that was their fourth straight loss, all to AL East opponents. They ended up firing their manager, but things really didn't improve all that much. They were 29-43 around the middle of June. Then, almost like a light switch, they found a way to start winning.

From June 25 until the end of the season, the team went 55-29. Over the course of a full 162-game season, that would give them almost 110 wins. It was one of the best runs in their history.

Now they have the tough task of making it worthwhile against the Yankees. In order to try to get the first game of the series, they are sending out Payton Tolle. For the season, Tolle went 9-6 with a 3.03 ERA and a 1.10 WHIP. He isn't one of the more well-known arms in the rotation, but he did turn in a solid performance. He was better on the road than he was at home with a 2.50 road ERA and a .202 opposing batting average. He was also spectacular against the Yankees this season, going 13.0 innings in two starts and allowing just four hits and one earned run while striking out 18 hitters.

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The Yankees didn't have any super hot streaks. Instead, they used a consistently successful approach this year, and even weathered the storm when there were injuries. The Yankees ended the year with a 93-68 record, and they were 12 games above average at home. This season saw the Yankees have success without Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton for a large portion of the year. They got great performances from guys like Ben Rice and Cody Bellinger instead. Rice led the team in homers and RBIs, turning in the best performance of his career.

Speaking of guys who turned in the best performance of their career, Cam Schlittler is likely to be the American League Cy Young winner. Schlittler went 14-6 with a 1.95 ERA and a 0.92 WHIP for the year. He was dominant in every facet of the pitching game. However, if you were going to get to Schlittler, it was probably at Yankee Stadium instead of on the road.

He had 16 starts, one fewer than on the road, and had a 2.98 ERA at home, allowing 28 earned runs over 84.2 innings. For reference, he allowed 14 earned runs over 109 innings on the road.

Schlittler was also great against the Red Sox this season, holding them to just two solo homers in 24.1 innings against him this season. That's good for a 0.74 ERA in four starts. With both of these pitchers, we can see how good they've been all season, but especially against their opponent. We will see what happens and if they can keep this going in the postseason. I personally believe we can and see this game going under 6.5 runs.

I think this is likely to be a low-scoring game, but I don't have much confidence in either side. Give me the under 6.5.

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Men who claim they experienced hell reveal terrifying encounters with demons and the afterlife

Tue, 29 Sep 2026 11:39:52 -0400

Three men who say they visited hell are sharing chilling accounts of what they believe they encountered, sitting down with Fox News host Sean Hannity to describe their terrifying experiences with the afterlife.

"I had no idea how I got there, why. Nothing was explained until the way back," said Bill Wiese, author of "23 Minutes in Hell," on Tuesday's episode of the "Hang Out with Sean Hannity" podcast.

"But I was in this actual dungeon, and there were demons in this cell, reptilish in appearance, bumps and scales all over the one's body, huge jaw, sunken in eyes, claws about a foot long. And these particular two are about 12 or 13 feet tall," he recalled.

COLTON BURPO DESCRIBES MEETING JESUS AND HEARING ANGELS SING DURING NEAR-DEATH EXPERIENCE

Wiese joined pilot Jim Woodford, author of "Heaven, an Unexpected Journey," and former Buddhist monk Steve Kang, now a pastor and author of "Eight Hours in Hell," for an exclusive conversation with Hannity about their accounts of the afterlife.

Wiese said he experienced a vision.

"I got up at three o'clock in the morning to get a glass of water and, suddenly, I was pulled out of my body... and I found myself falling through the air down this long tunnel, and I was getting hotter and hotter, and I landed on an actual stone floor in a prison cell in hell... a dungeon..." he said.

"I never asked for this. I've never gone to dark movies. I have never drank. I've never taken drugs, and I had never had a vision before."

After the experience, Wiese said he consulted Scripture, eager to learn whether it described what he said he had seen.

FATHER CARLOS MARTINS RECOUNTS CHILLING EXORCISM, CLAIMS WOMAN MOVED OBJECTS WITHOUT TOUCHING THEM

"It doesn't matter if people believe my experience. I'm just a signpost to point them to the scriptures and by those be persuaded," he said.

"There's 132 verses in the Bible about hell. Jesus mentioned hell [in] 46 different verses, and because it's a message of warning. He's letting people know there really is a hell, and it's far worse than our minds can even conceive."

Woodford said his experience began after he took more than the prescribed amount of pain medication he was using to manage severe pain from Guillain-Barré syndrome. He said his previous ambivalence toward faith changed dramatically.

Woodford said he believed he was dying inside his truck one evening and called out for God's forgiveness, which he later credited with helping lead to his survival.

Woodford recalled being above his truck and traveling through what he described as a tunnel of light before arriving at a place of extraordinary beauty.

He said he then approached a chasm where he encountered a towering creature that appeared to emerge from what he believed was hell.

"It knew me," Woodford said of an alleged demon. "It said my name. ‘Jim, Jim, this is your time with us. Come to us, Jim. We have been waiting.’"

Terrified, Woodford said he cried out three words: "God help me."

SITE WHERE JESUS WAS CRUCIFIED AND BURIED REVEALS NEW EVIDENCE THAT BACKS BIBLICAL ACCOUNT

Woodford said Jesus spoke to him and told him to "go back" before he eventually regained consciousness in a hospital.

Kang's story was different still.

The former Buddhist monk was 19 when, after using marijuana that he said was laced with heroin, cocaine and PCP, he attempted suicide and underwent an eight-hour operation. Kang said he experienced what felt like an eternity in hell.

"Anything is better on earth," Kang said. "Any suffering on earth is better than the pain I felt in hell."

Kang said he awoke after the ordeal surrounded by Christian prayer warriors who had come to pray for him. He later converted to Christianity, became a pastor and said he has devoted his life to sharing his faith.

Though Wiese, Woodford and Kang described different circumstances surrounding their experiences, all three said they came away believing they had been given another chance at life for a reason and felt a responsibility to tell others about what they believe lies beyond.

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"Hannity" fans can watch or listen to the Fox News host's full conversation with Wiese, Woodford and Kang on iHeartRadio, YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts or wherever they get their podcasts.

If you or someone you know is having thoughts of suicide, please contact the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988.

Underdog Promo Code FOXNEWS: Get a $1k Deposit Match in Time for the MLB Wild Card Series

Tue, 29 Sep 2026 11:25:27 -0400

The Wild Card round of the MLB Playoffs is here, and we have some excellent matchups for us to enjoy! Underdog has an offer for new users to enjoy as well, with up to a $1,000 deposit match using promo code FOXNEWS.

Each team has at least one key to winning their series. One player doesn’t normally carry a team, but we’ve picked out at least one player (and a manager) to watch in each series and see what happens in the Wild Card round.

Philadelphia Phillies: Kyle Schwarber is the engine that makes the Phillies offense run. He has been spectacular for them, batting .232 with 45 homers and 97 RBIs this season. If he can connect for a homer against the Braves, it could be the difference-maker.

Atlanta Braves: Chris Sale is the primary option in the rotation, a Cy Young-caliber pitcher, and if he throws the way he needs to, it could give them the start they need in the series.

Chicago White Sox: Munetaka Murakami has been the power behind the White Sox lineup this season. If he can have a great series against the Astros, the White Sox could pull this out.

Houston Astros: Yordan Alvarez is going to be a finalist or the winner of the MVP award in the American League. He is the heartbeat of this offense; the question is if he will even see any pitches to hit in this series.

Boston Red Sox: Sonny Gray has been the best pitcher in the rotation this season, and he will need to be elite in his start for them if the Red Sox want a chance to win the series.

New York Yankees: Ben Rice has carried the Yankees offense all season. With the pitching getting more difficult moving forward, can he still do it?

Chicago Cubs: Craig Counsell was paid a lot of money to manage this team and situations like this. His pitching staff is full of guys who are hard to trust right now. How he navigates a tough Padres lineup will make the difference.

San Diego Padres: Manny Machado’s turnaround helped spark the Padres' success in the second half. If he can keep it going, the Padres could find themselves in the Division Series.

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Odds for Phillies vs Braves

*Odds are subject to change*

Odds for White Sox vs Astros

*Odds are subject to change*

Odds for Red Sox vs Yankees

*Odds are subject to change*

Odds for Cubs vs Padres

*Odds are subject to change*

Caesars Sportsbook Promo Code FOXNEWSDYW: Get 10x 100% Profit Boosts for the MLB Wild Card Series

Tue, 29 Sep 2026 11:21:59 -0400

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We will soon have the answer to the future trivia question of "Who won the 2026 MLB World Series?", but before we get there, each of these teams has questions to answer. Below is a question that faces each of these first eight teams as they fight to hoist the trophy.

Philadelphia Phillies: Can they be the team that was dominating in the middle of the season, or are they going to be the one that has struggled the past few weeks?

Atlanta Braves: Do they have enough pitching to navigate the playoffs outside of Chris Sale?

White Sox: They are young, naive, and playing with house money; do they have calm enough nerves to make a great season last a bit longer?

Houston Astros: Will anyone outside of Yordan Alvarez be able to make a difference for the Astros, specifically on the mound?

Boston Red Sox: Will baseball’s hottest team be able to knock out their arch rival in one of the most intriguing matchups of the postseason?

New York Yankees: Can they survive the series without Aaron Judge, and is their pitching enough to carry them to the next round?

Chicago Cubs: Do they have enough pitching to support their offense, and if they do, can their pitchers keep the ball in the yard?

San Diego Padres: Can one of the hottest teams in baseball keep it going for yet another series and slow down the Chicago offense?

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How to Watch Phillies vs Braves

When: Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2026, at 2:00 ET
Where: Truist Park, Atlanta, Georgia
TV/Streaming: NBC

How to Watch White Sox vs Astros

When: Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2026, at 5:00 ET
Where: Daikin Park, Houston, Texas
TV/Streaming: NBC Sports/Peacock

How to Watch Red Sox vs Yankees

When: Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2026, at 8:00 ET
Where: Yankee Stadium, Bronx, New York
TV/Streaming: NBC

How to Watch Cubs vs Padres

When: Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2026, at 10:00 ET
Where: Petco Park, San Diego, California
TV/Streaming: Peacock/NBC Sports Network