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Coalition of 25 states sues Trump admin over Medicaid work rule designed to prevent fraud

Wed, 01 Jul 2026 19:48:16 -0400

A coalition of blue states and jurisdictions is suing the Trump administration over new Medicaid work requirements designed to prevent fraud, arguing the policy unlawfully restricts access to health care coverage.

The lawsuit, filed by at least 25 states and the District of Columbia, alleges the newly implemented Interim Final Rule (IFR) — issued by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) — violates federal law and departs from Congress' original intent and early CMS guidance.

The IFR requires certain individuals to provide documentation proving they are exempt from Medicaid rules requiring enrollees to work, volunteer or attend school due to severe medical conditions.

Before the rule was issued in early June, highly vulnerable Medicaid recipients were set to be automatically exempt from such requirements. Agencies would have granted those exemptions by reviewing existing health records, without requiring individuals to complete additional paperwork ahead of the requirements taking effect in January 2027.

DR. OZ UNVEILS MEDICAID OVERHAUL, CLAMPS DOWN ON $2B FOR ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS AND MANDATES WORK FOR ABLE-BODIED

The lawsuit names Dr. Mehmet Oz, administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), which issued the IFR, and Robert F. Kennedy Jr., secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS), as defendants.

Oz previously argued that such guardrails are designed to prevent programs from being "defrauded into a turmoil," adding that able-bodied enrollees receiving American tax dollars should contribute to society.

"If you can work, you should get up and work," Oz said.

"If we put guardrails around these programs, we'll allow them to thrive. I'm here because I love Medicaid. The president has already said he loves and cherishes Medicaid and Medicare. … We cannot allow these programs to be defrauded into a turmoil that they cannot pull up from. If we love these programs, we will make the difficult decisions."

The new rule would require able-bodied individuals to work 20 hours a week, volunteer, or pursue education while enrolled in free healthcare coverage.

Fox News reached out to the White House and HHS for comment.

FED AUDIT, EMERGENCY MEDICAID UNDERCUT DEMS ON ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT HEALTH COVERAGE

The plaintiffs involve California, Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington, Arizona, Colorado, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Mexico, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Wisconsin and Kentucky.

"People with disabilities, patients in the middle of cancer treatment, or those struggling with another serious or complex health condition, shouldn’t be at risk of losing the care that helps maintain their health," the suit stated.

REPUBLICANS PRAISE 'BIG, BEAUTIFUL BILL’S' WORK REQUIREMENT FOR MEDICAID: ‘WE’VE GOT TO GET BACK TO WORK’

According to the suit, CMS’s own projections estimate that 2.3 million enrollees will lose Medicaid coverage in the first year alone.

The agency also estimates that 7% of enrollees who are working or qualify for an exemption will lose coverage due to confusing paperwork requirements, strict deadlines or missing documentation, according to the document.

Beginning in 2028, enrollees who do not have immediate medical records on file would be limited to a single opportunity to submit a "self-attestation" form declaring, under penalty of perjury, that they are too sick to work.

Under previous guidance, enrollees were allowed to use self-attestation multiple times as their medical needs evolved.

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In addition, plaintiffs said the new rules would force states to abandon automated systems they have already invested in and instead build more complex and costly manual review processes.

As the Aug. 31 deadline to mail notices to Medicaid enrollees approaches, the plaintiffs are seeking a temporary stay and a preliminary injunction to block CMS and HHS from enforcing the rules.

Captain Aaron Judge calls out Yankees' 'lack of focus' before team drops 7th straight game

Wed, 01 Jul 2026 19:43:32 -0400

New York Yankees captain Aaron Judge may not be able to play for his squad right now, but that doesn’t mean he’s looking away from the poor performances they’ve had of late.

Judge was straight-forward with his response to the Yankees dropping six games before their series finale against the Detroit Tigers on Wednesday afternoon in the Bronx.

"Well, it’s not great," he said after his team’s woes. "Just a little lack of focus. We just gotta dial it in. Our ultimate goal is to win a World Series. I think guys have to remember that every single day they show up here, we’re here to win a World Series."

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Judge didn’t specifically go into what the lack of focus is, but he followed up by saying, "I think you guys see it."

Judge, who has been on the injured list with a rib injury, believes getting that elusive 28th world championship for the franchise should be enough motivation to right the ship.

ANTHONY RIZZO CALLS OUT JAZZ CHISHOLM'S 'IMMATURITY' AFTER EJECTION DURING YANKEES' FENWAY PARK SWEEP

"That should motivate you every single day you step on that field, no matter what happens, no matter what happens the day before," he added. "I got a job to do. We’ve got an important sign when you walk out on the field. It’s the last sign you see before you’re out there: it says 'do your job.' Guys are here to do their job."

Unfortunately for the Yankees, Judge’s pre-game speech didn’t result in snapping that losing streak on Wednesday. They fell to Detroit 6-2 in 11 innings, where four runs were scored in the top of the 11th by the Tigers.

The Yankees have dropped seven straight and eight of their last 10 games to fall three games back of the Tampa Bay Rays for the lead in the AL East.

Yes, the Yankees remain in clear playoff position, sitting atop the American League Wild Card standings despite the skid. But, while the AL has been mediocre this season, it’s still a tight race as other teams are starting to get right.

New York could certainly use their captain back on the field, but there’s no timetable for his return and he didn’t have anything positive to say about his rehab in terms of putting the pinstripes back on soon.

"You know how it goes around here — guys can feel good, feel bad, but you’ve got to wait on images," Judge said about his rib. The Yankees said when he was diagnosed with the injury that they would get additional imaging done roughly four-to-six weeks later.

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"There’s no need to talk about this now," Judge said. "I know it’s an important topic and a big issue, but I want to give you guys the full story."

The story right now for the Yankees is a bleak one, but there’s a lot of season left to play. Perhaps the All-Star break, which begins July 13, could be a good reset as they look to get back to their winning ways.

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DNA from soda bottle allegedly links Massachusetts woman to 1985 murder of 'Baby Boy Doe'

Wed, 01 Jul 2026 19:40:51 -0400

DNA from a soda bottle allegedly has linked a Massachusetts woman to the 1985 death of her newborn son, who was found dead in the woods by a father and son hunting rabbits, authorities said this week.

Dianne Curry Peck, 59, appeared in court on Tuesday, where she pleaded not guilty to a murder charge in connection with the death of her son, who became known as "Baby Boy Doe" of Mansfield, Massachusetts.

"Few cases are more heartbreaking than one involving a newborn baby, allegedly abandoned and left to die in the woods by his mother, deprived of the care, love and protection every child deserves," FBI Boston Special Agent-in-Charge Ted Docks said outside the courthouse. "For 41 years, this child was known simply as Baby Boy Doe. He entered this world with limitless promise, but was denied the most basic right to live."

COLD CASE CRACKED AS ILLINOIS SUSPECT CHARGED IN BRUTAL 1993 KILLING OF MOTHER FOUND SLAIN IN FIELD

The newborn's body was discovered on Jan. 26, 1985, by a father and son who noticed a set of footprints in the snow. The pair initially thought the child was a doll before realizing it was a naked infant lying on the ground, WCVB reported.

An autopsy determined the child was born alive before dying a short time later.

"It was naked, lying on its back; the umbilical cord was still attached to the baby," Kenneth Martin, who at the time was working as a Massachusetts State Police trooper assigned to the Bristol County District Attorney’s Office, told the outlet.

The Mansfield Police Department, along with former New England Patriots quarterback Steve Grogan, paid for the baby's funeral, Boston 25 News reported.

The case went cold until Bristol County investigators reopened it in 2022, partnering with the FBI and state authorities.

DNA FROM CHEWING GUM NAILS LONGTIME SEXUAL PREDATOR DECADES AFTER REIGN OF TERROR: REPORT

Using forensic genetic genealogy, investigators analyzed the baby’s DNA, which eventually led them to Peck.

DNA recovered from a soda bottle taken from her trash ultimately linked her to the child, authorities said.

At the time of the birth, Peck was a 17-year-old student at Mansfield High School. She allegedly admitted to investigators that she had given birth to a child in the back seat of her ex-boyfriend’s car, Boston 25 reported.

She claimed she gave the baby to him because he said he knew someone who would adopt the infant. Peck told investigators she believed she had given birth to a girl and never spoke to her ex-boyfriend again. He died in 2020, according to the FBI.

COLD CASE CRACKED AS ILLINOIS SUSPECT CHARGED IN BRUTAL 1993 KILLING OF MOTHER FOUND SLAIN IN FIELD

Prosecutors also noted there is no evidence that anyone — including Peck’s ex-boyfriend — knew she was pregnant, according to the news outlet.

Peck allegedly told police she gave birth on Jan. 20, 1985, but prosecutors argued in court that the timeline is inconsistent with the condition of the baby’s body and the freezing temperatures at the time.

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According to a medical examiner, the infant had likely been in the woods for only about 12 hours before being discovered.

Fox News Digital has reached out to the Bristol County District Attorney's Office and Peck's attorney.

Internal emails expose how July 4th bash is being derailed by Dem-run county: 'Offensive'

Wed, 01 Jul 2026 19:30:56 -0400

San Diego County's officials and its Democratic-led Board of Supervisors are facing backlash after an America 250 Fourth of July celebration originally pitched as a tribute to the Declaration of Independence was reshaped with DEI-focused sponsorship rules.

The celebration's main programming is expected to feature a tribal blessing, a land acknowledgment, and nearly two-hours of community-story segments centered on "historically underserved populations."

Bill Wells, the mayor of San Diego County's City of El Cajon, and other critics pointed out that America's founding appeared to be sidelined in tentative plans for the upcoming countywide Fourth of July event held along a San Diego-area waterfront. The event, which is lacking funds needed for a full setup, saw at least one sponsor drop after it was mandated they attest to a series of DEI principles as a condition of participating, according to county board materials and internal county emails obtained by Fox News Digital.

"I have an alternative plan: 1. Acknowledge America and its greatness. 2. Celebrate with fireworks and the American National Anthem," Wells posted on X, alongside a copy of the 4th of July celebration's planned schedule, which matches an internal county "run of show" obtained by Fox News Digital.

CALIFORNIA DEMS ACCUSED OF PUTTING SANCTUARY LAW OVER MIGRANT CHILD WELFARE CHECKS: ‘REAL CHILDREN’

The rundown obtained by Fox News Digital lists a "Tribal Intimate blessing welcoming to land" shortly after guest arrival and sound check, followed by a "Welcoming and Land Acknowledgment" led by the emcee, then a "Tribal Invocation," the Black national anthem and regular national anthem, and then nearly two hours of community-story segments focused on local tribal, Latino, Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, LGBT, and Black and African communities.

The event, which will also feature music, food trucks, booths and other "cultural presentations," then concludes with closing remarks, fireworks and clean-up.

"The official government July 4th itinerary of San Diego reads like the opening ceremony of the Democratic Socialists of America convention," quipped David McIntosh, President of the conservative political advocacy giant Club for Growth.

DEMS PUT ON BLAST OVER POLL THAT SHOWS RECORD-LOW PATRIOTISM IN US: ‘TEAR OUR SOCIETY APART’

Back in February, Jim Desmond, a Republican San Diego County Supervisor, introduced an agenda item to bring forward a Fourth of July event "commemorating the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence," citing the area's "deep-rooted relationship to the nation’s defense and civic institutions."

Subsequently, the board, which is controlled by a 3-2 Democratic majority, introduced and passed a motion to amend weeks later, which directed the county’s chief administrative officer to coordinate with the Office of Equity and Racial Justice and the county’s Tribal Liaison to incorporate community engagement focused on tribal nations, immigrant communities, LGBT communities and other "historically underserved groups."

"Supervisors Desmond and Anderson brought forward a 250th celebration for the whole region. The three Democrats rewrote it, tied it to the county's ‘equity, inclusion, and racial justice goals,’ and handed planning to the Office of Equity and Racial Justice," Wells explained on X, posting images of the meeting minutes that showed the Democrats' amendments.

"Independence Day, especially this one, is about celebrating and honoring America," the mayor added in comments to Fox News Digital. "What the county of San Diego has created ignores this in favor of grievance and a sense that our country is not great or worthy of pride. That’s just offensive, especially in light of the fact that they’re using taxpayer money to do so."

‘JESSE WATTERS PRIMETIME’ QUIZZES BEACHGOERS ON AMERICAN HISTORY FOR JULY 4TH

Among the changes was a requirement for event donors and sponsors to commit themselves to supporting the county's woke DEI principles, which led at least one to drop out, according to internal county emails obtained and reviewed by Fox News Digital.

The sponsor's pending $2,500 donation did not move forward after the donor declined to complete a required form mandating they show alignment with the county's values on DEI and support for immigrant communities, the county staff emails indicated. Meanwhile, staff separately said in the emails that the event was short thousands of dollars needed for a full stage, lighting and sound setup.

"Democrats are essentially excluding White community members from the Fourth of July" anti-DEI activist Robby Starbuck contended in response to the event's planned schedule and "equity" focus on "underserved populations," describing it as "vile."

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Fox News Digital reached out to San Diego County, as well as its Department of Parks and Recreation, for comment on the criticism, but did not hear back.

Service member among 2 arrested after missing man probe leads cops to body dump site on Army base

Wed, 01 Jul 2026 19:28:58 -0400

A missing person investigation in Washington state has escalated into a homicide probe after human remains were discovered on military property, leading to the arrest of two people, including an active-duty service member.

The investigation began on June 12, when the Tacoma Police Department received a missing person report for local resident Caelick Bradley, 28, who was last seen June 8, according to Washington State Patrol.

Tacoma detectives soon discovered an unauthorized person was actively using Bradley's credit card, which led them to a suspect identified as Humberto Rodriguez Hernandez.

During police questioning, Hernandez provided details about a murder that took place on Addision Street SW in the neighboring city of Lakewood, Lakewood Police Department (LPD) officials told Fox News Digital.

HIKER DISCOVERS BODY OF MISSING NEW MEXICO NUCLEAR LAB WORKER, POLICE SAY

He subsequently led detectives to human remains in a publicly accessible training area on Joint Base Lewis-McChord (JBLM) property near Spanaway, Washington.

Authorities said Hernandez also implicated a second suspect, Aydee Casado-Dominguez, who was later detained outside her home.

NAVY SAILOR SENTENCED TO 44 YEARS FOR STRANGLING FELLOW SERVICE MEMBER IN VIRGINIA BARRACKS ROOM

Both Hernandez and Casado-Dominguez have been charged with homicide and booked into the Pierce County Jail, LPD officials said.

In a statement provided to Fox News Digital, Joint Base Lewis-McChord confirmed the discovery of the remains and revealed that one of the two suspects taken into custody by the Tacoma Police Department is a service member currently assigned to JBLM.

The Army Criminal Investigation Division is now working closely with both the Tacoma and Lakewood police departments on the ongoing investigation.

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While the remains were found following the investigation into Bradley's disappearance, official identification and the cause of death are pending an examination by the Pierce County Medical Examiner’s Office.

The exact date of the homicide remains unclear.

Here's why the Toronto Maple Leafs work is far from over after signing Sergei Bobrovsky

Wed, 01 Jul 2026 19:07:36 -0400

The first few hours of NHL free agency saw a flurry of signings, but one of the most intriguing involved the Toronto Maple Leafs putting pen to paper with two-time Stanley Cup champion Sergey Bobrovsky.

The 37-year-old is headed to Toronto on a three-year deal worth $7 million a year, which, for a goalie who has won two Cups in the last three years, is one heck of a deal.

However, this deal may not be as foolproof as you'd think given Bobrovsky's resume, which includes a pair of Vezina Trophies.

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For starters, Bobrovsky is coming off what was statistically the worst season of his career. His .877 save percentage this year was the lowest of his career, while his 3.07 GAA was tied for the highest.

Of course, that's not a total surprise considering the banged-up Panthers missed the playoffs this season. However, according to Statmuse, they were still in the top third of the league in limiting shots.

MAPLE LEAFS TOP PICK GAVIN MCKENNA KICKS OFF HIS TIME IN TORONTO WITH A ROUGH CEREMONIAL PITCH

The problem, though, is that Bobrovsky is headed to the Leafs, who led the league in shots allowed last season.

It stands to reason that Bobrovsky got at least a little help from playing behind a fairly solid defensive team, and still, the numbers were pretty rough.

The Leafs have to know that this is an issue.

Bobrovsky should still have tread on the tires, and maybe last season was an anomaly. But, regardless, the Leafs can't just say, "We've got a Stanley Cup-winner in net; mission accomplished!" and then dust off their hands.

Nope. They've got to beef up their blue line and make sure that they have some defensively responsible forwards in the mix too.

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If they can do that, then this could work out nicely, especially if they use a tandem of Bobrovsky and fellow former Panther Anthony Stolarz.

If they don't? Well, it's hard to imagine next season — the rookie campaign for top pick Gavin McKenna — being kind to the Leafs.

Belgium completes stunning World Cup comeback against Senegal to set up potential showdown with USA

Wed, 01 Jul 2026 19:04:30 -0400

The United States now knows which team could be waiting in the Round of 16 at the 2026 World Cup.

Belgium rallied from a two-goal deficit to defeat Senegal, 3-2 in extra time, in Wednesday's World Cup Round of 32 match, earning a potential matchup with the Americans if the United States takes care of Bosnia and Herzegovina later in the night.

HOW TO WATCH USA VS BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA: LIVE STREAM THE 2026 FIFA WORLD CUP ROUND OF 32

A win over Bosnia would not just send the Americans into the Round of 16 for the second straight World Cup. It would set up a meeting with a Belgium team that just completed one of the wildest comebacks in the tournament.

Belgium finished third in the 2018 World Cup and failed to advance past the group stage in 2022, but the roster still had the star power to make another deep run. Kevin De Bruyne, Jérémy Doku, Romelu Lukaku and Thibaut Courtois gave the Belgians the kind of skill that makes a team dangerous in any tournament. It's why Belgium was favored to defeat Senegal.

But games aren't played on paper.

Senegal got on the board first in the 25th minute, when Habib Diarra cleaned up a rebound after Ismaila Sarr hit the post to give Senegal a 1-0 lead.

The match was briefly interrupted in the 32nd minute when at least three pitch invaders made their way onto the field, forcing officials to stop play while security responded.

Security personnel swarmed the field during the interruption as Belgium defender Maxim De Cuyper held onto the ball while the scene unfolded.

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Photos from the match showed multiple people being apprehended or escorted away by security during the bizarre stoppage.

It was a strange interruption in the middle of a match Senegal had largely controlled. And it didn’t do much to change the flow of the game.

Senegal doubled the lead early in the second half. Sarr, who had already helped create Diarra’s opener by hitting the post, made Belgium pay again in the 51st minute off a pass from Moussa Niakhaté to put Senegal firmly in control.

At that point, Senegal seemed like a lock to advance to the Round of 16 for the second straight World Cup.

But the talented Belgium squad refused to go down easily.

Lukaku cut Senegal’s lead in half in the 86th minute, finishing off a setup from Thomas Meunier to give Belgium life.

Moments later, Youri Tielemans completed the comeback, scoring off a pass from Leandro Trossard to make it 2-2 and throwing what looked like a Senegal upset into complete chaos.

Perhaps surprisingly, Belgium mounted its wild comeback without two of its stars on the field. De Bruyne and Doku were both subbed off in the 56th minute with Belgium trailing 2-0.

The immediate replacements did not factor directly into either goal, but Belgium’s bench still played a major role: halftime substitute Lukaku scored the first, and Thomas Meunier, who came on in the 78th minute, assisted it.

After scoring the equalizer late in regulation, Tielemans stepped to the penalty spot in the 120+5th minute and buried the go-ahead goal to complete Belgium’s stunning comeback.

Senegal went from leading 2-0 in the 86th minute to watching its tournament run come to an end less than an hour later.

Now the focus shifts to the Americans.

The U.S. enters Wednesday night's match at Levi’s Stadium with a chance to keep its World Cup run alive in front of a home crowd. The reward is clear: beat Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Belgium is next.

The USMNT was favored to advance to the quarterfinals on its side of the Round of 32 draw, with Belgium as the second favorite. For most of the match, it looked like the Americans might avoid Belgium altogether.

Not anymore.

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The Belgians survived and are riding high off a heroic comeback, perhaps making the U.S. path that much more difficult. But before the Americans can even think about that, they have to take care of business against Bosnia.

If they do, their Round of 16 opponent is set.

Belgium will be waiting.

Boyfriend accused of stabbing defense tech engineer 15 times denied bond after 911 call played in court

Wed, 01 Jul 2026 19:04:05 -0400

A Florida man is accused of stabbing his girlfriend 15 times inside their home before later admitting to killing the defense technology engineer in a recorded 911 call played in court, according to local reports.

Kyle Sanchez, 35, has pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder with a weapon in the death of his girlfriend, Amanda Roark, 37, the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office said.

Deputies were called just after 3 p.m. June 19 to a home on Tuscan Loon Drive in the Palm River area after a 911 call reported an emergency at the residence, authorities said.

'HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER' ACTOR NICK PASQUAL CONVICTED OF ATTEMPTED MURDER FOR STABBING EX-GIRLFRIEND

When deputies arrived, they found Roark dead with upper-body trauma. Sanchez, who was also at the home, was taken to Tampa General Hospital with minor injuries and was listed in stable condition, the sheriff’s office said.

Detectives later determined Sanchez killed Roark while the two were inside the home together, according to authorities.

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FOX 13 Tampa reported that Sanchez is accused of stabbing Roark 15 times. During a pretrial detention hearing, prosecutors played Sanchez’s 911 call, in which he told a dispatcher, "I murdered my girlfriend."

After hearing arguments from both sides, the judge denied Sanchez bond. He will remain in custody as the first-degree murder case moves forward.

Authorities have not released a motive or additional details about what led up to the fatal attack.

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Roark worked at SOFWERX, a Tampa-based technology organization that describes itself as "an innovation platform for the United States Special Operations Command," which remembered her as a cherished teammate and "a light in the Tampa community."

"We are heartbroken by the loss of our Teammate Amanda Roark," SOFWERX said in a statement. "Amanda was a cherished member of the SOFWERX family and a light in the Tampa community. Her warmth, her dedication, and the genuine care she brought to everyone around her made a lasting impact that words cannot fully capture."

NFL STAR'S BROTHER CHARGED WITH MURDER OF MOTHER AFTER POLICE FOUND HIM SELF-BARRICADED NEAR BODY

Roark’s college friend, Talia Landman, told FOX 13 that Roark was "an absolute light" who welcomed everyone with a "gigantic smile."

"She was taken from us in such a horrific, tragic, and just, I mean, terrible, scary way," Landman told the station.

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Landman said Roark was a talented engineer who mentored young women pursuing careers in math, technology and engineering. She told FOX 13 that she believed Roark could have had a future with NASA missions to the moon in the next decade.

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"He didn’t just kill or murder his girlfriend. He took away Amanda Roark," Landman said. "He took her life as this woman who had so much going for her."

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The sheriff’s office said the case appeared to be domestic-related.

Couple facing slew of charges after climbing to the top of Empire State Building with massive banner

Wed, 01 Jul 2026 12:29:43 -0400

An East Orange, New Jersey, couple is facing a slew of criminal charges after climbing on top of the Empire State Building Wednesday while holding a banner reading "When the power of love beats the love of power, the world knows peace."

Following a response by the New York City Police Department (NYPD) Emergency Services Unit, the masked pair, later identified as Netflix stars Angelina Nikolau, 33, and Ivan Kuznetsov, 32, appeared to take down the banner and climb down from the antenna to a lower platform.

Kuznetsov then appeared to pull an engagement ring out of a backpack, get down on one knee and propose to Nikolau.

The couple was taken into custody and is charged with burglary, reckless endangerment, criminal mischief, violation of local law, possession of burglar's tools, criminal tampering, criminal trespass and disorderly conduct, NYPD officials told Fox News Digital.

No injuries were reported.

MAMDANI ALLOCATES $500K FOR REPARATIONS TALKS AS NYC FACES $5.4B DEFICIT

Bodycam video shared by NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch Wednesday afternoon showed at least two officers trekking up the skyscraper and meeting Nikolau and Kuznetsov, who appeared to be unharnessed.

"How you doing?" one of the officers asked the couple. "You can't be up here."

"I'm OK," Nikolau replied, noting she and Kuznetsov speak Russian.

In addition to the officers who climbed the tower, roughly 40 police officers responded to the front of the building and directed traffic. The entrance on Fifth Ave., between West 33rd and 34th streets, was blocked off.

Pedestrians were seen gathering on every corner surrounding the building watching the situation unfold.

An Empire State Building spokesperson described the incident as "unauthorized," noting NYPD helped to resolve the situation.

"There was at no time danger to tenants, visitors, and Empire State Building Observation Deck guests," the spokesperson said. "It is to be emphasized that the Empire State Building Observation Deck, atop the World's Most Famous Building in the center of New York City, does offer a practical way for the most memorable marriage proposals…"

MAMDANI ALLOCATES $500K FOR REPARATIONS TALKS AS NYC FACES $5.4B DEFICIT

It remains unclear how Nikolau and Beerkus, previously featured on Netflix's "Skywalkers: A Love Story," were able to scale the building.

They later posted photos of the engagement ring on Instagram from atop the tower.

Netflix did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment.

Counting the spire and antenna, the skyscraper stands 1,454 feet tall.

It is currently the fourth-tallest building in New York City, the sixth-tallest in the U.S. and the 43rd tallest tower in the world.

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New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has yet to publicly respond to the public stunt. His office did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment.

This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.

Liberal faculty still hugely outnumber conservatives in higher education: report

Wed, 01 Jul 2026 19:00:07 -0400

FIRST ON FOX: Liberal faculty members continue to vastly outnumber their conservative colleagues on college campuses, according to a new report exclusively obtained by Fox News Digital.

The report, released by the America First Policy Institute (AFPI), revealed that liberal faculty members outnumber conservatives nearly 7-to-1 nationwide — a massive shift from 1969, when the ratio sat at less than 2-to-1.

"Having helped build a university founded on open inquiry, I've seen what higher education is supposed to be, and this report documents how far the academy has drifted from its primary purpose," said Michael Shires, Ph.D., vice chair of Center for Education Opportunity at America First Policy Institute.

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"When an institution weaponizes academic freedom to purge the views it dislikes, it forfeits the very principle it claims to defend. Reviving genuine viewpoint diversity isn't an attack on academic freedom — it is its restoration," Shires added.

According to AFPI, the left-wing dominance over campus culture carries deeper implications for academic freedom and hiring practices. The data shows that 40% of surveyed faculty members openly admitted they would oppose hiring a Trump supporter, while over 80% of Ph.D. students acknowledged they would discriminate against a conservative job candidate.

"At many elite universities, registered Republican faculty are now more underrepresented than African American faculty," the AFPI report states. "More than half of conservative professors say they hide their views to keep their jobs."

CAMPUS GRADUATION CHAOS SHOWS HIGHER EDUCATION NEEDS A SERIOUS MORAL RESET

The findings come amid a broader push by the Trump administration to rein in viewpoint discrimination, antisemitism, and diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) practices across higher education.

The administration previously identified civil discourse as one of four key areas of "national need" through its competitive grants program. Following that directive, the Department of Education unveiled seven priorities under the Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education (FIPSE) for the FY 2025 competition cycle to target those needs.

As part of the initiative, $60 million in federal grants is being distributed under "one absolute priority" specifically titled "Promoting Civil Discourse on College and University Campuses."

Colleges and universities qualifying for the FIPSE funding are required to support initiatives designed to "foster respectful deliberation and debate on college and university campuses, where free expression has too long been eroded by censorship, harassment, and even violent unrest."

The approved campus programs include seminars, speaker series, conferences, debates, and alternative learning opportunities designed to welcome a broader range of political viewpoints and encourage open dialogue.

TEXAS’ LARGEST SCHOOL DISTRICT SEES TEST SCORES SOAR AFTER STATE TAKEOVER DESPITE RACISM CLAIMS

AFPI argues that aggressive policy interventions are necessary to break the current ideological monopoly, pushing back against critics who argue federal involvement threatens university independence.

"Many well-meaning reformers nonetheless oppose government-led efforts to address viewpoint discrimination on ‘academic freedom’ grounds," the AFPI report states. "In practice, this elevates institutional autonomy over individual academic freedom, allowing one of higher education’s means to obstruct its ends."

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The report concludes by urging a shifting of priorities to protect vulnerable faculty: "Education reformers should instead prioritize the public interest in higher education by defending individual academic freedom and supporting all viable efforts —internal and external — to restore viewpoint diversity and equal treatment to viewpoint minority scholars and students."

One of the most prominent pro-mask mandate studies during the COVID pandemic was a misleading failure

Wed, 01 Jul 2026 18:55:05 -0400

One of the lasting side effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and our catastrophically incompetent response to it is the decrease in trust in public health experts and their advice.

The media has repeatedly warned about the dangers of "doing your own research" or not blindly following whatever those experts claimed. Despite the long list of examples of those same scientists either purposefully misleading the public — for instance, Anthony Fauci and his efforts to downplay U.S. government involvement in gain-of-function research under his leadership — or getting major policy decisions completely wrong, the assumption has long been that subject matter health researchers are essentially infallible.

When revisiting some of the most important and influential research on major policies like mask mandates, it’s easy to see why those institutions no longer deserve the reverence they’ve been enthusiastically handed by their media partners.

One such study came within the first few months of the pandemic, and was used to inform and create masking policy for years to come. Even though a closer look at their methodology and outcomes shows how inaccurate and misleading this research proved to be.

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This study, published in June 2020, was quite literally used by the CDC to inform public policy and masking recommendations. It covered the supposed effects of mask mandates on the growth rate of COVID cases in the post-mandate period through the early part of the pandemic. The Association of American Medical Colleges referenced it in their "Consensus Guidance on Face Coverings" document. Several other research papers by pro-mask advocates referred to it as "proof" that masks were effective. And it's hopelessly wrong.

Essentially, the two authors attempted to arrive at some sort of evidentiary basis for justifying the policy they supported. They, however, failed. Yet the CDC supported it anyway, using the ridiculous and disproven conclusions to then enthusiastically promote masking.

The first flaw in this study? How they chose to calculate the data.

"The reference period for estimating the face cover mandate effects was 1–5 days before signing the order. We examined how effects change over five post-event periods: 1–5, 6–10, 11–15, 16–20, and 21 or more days," they explain.

This is an absurd way to calculate the impact of a policy on outcomes.

You might recall during the pandemic that we were repeatedly told that the effect of a policy or mandate wouldn’t actually be visible for several weeks afterward. Remember the "wait two weeks" mantra?

So why would the post-event period include 1-5 days, 6-10 days, or even 11-15 days afterward? What possible justification can there be for using those date windows, when there’s no reasonable way to ascribe any of the trends to a policy that has not yet been able to see results, due to the lengthy incubation period? The data coming from the 1-5 or 6-10 day window would reflect people who got sick with COVID before the order was even signed.

This would be the first bit of data malpractice. There’s plenty more.

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Sure enough, researchers setting out to prove masks work were able to torture the data to show what they wanted the public to see.

"State policies mandating public or community use of face masks or covers in mitigating the spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) are hotly contested," they write. "This study provides evidence from a natural experiment on the effects of state government mandates for face mask use in public issued by fifteen states plus Washington, D.C., between April 8 and May 15, 2020. The research design is an event study examining changes in the daily county-level COVID-19 growth rates between March 31 and May 22, 2020.

"Mandating face mask use in public is associated with a decline in the daily COVID-19 growth rate by 0.9, 1.1, 1.4, 1.7, and 2.0 percentage points in 1-5, 6-10, 11-15, 16-20, and 21 or more days after state face mask orders were signed, respectively. Estimates suggest that as a result of the implementation of these mandates, more than 200,000 COVID-19 cases were averted by May 22, 2020. The findings suggest that requiring face mask use in public could help in mitigating the spread of COVID-19."

What the decline in daily COVID-19 growth rate in that 1-5 or 6-10 day post-signing period actually shows is that it’s likely COVID spread was decreasing before the mandate was signed. They are also hopelessly confounded by other policy changes that occurred in that window. The authors even acknowledge that limitation, accidentally.

"The early declines in the daily growth rate over the course of five days after signing the order are broadly consistent with the timing of the effects of other social distancing measures such as business closures," they say.

Then there’s another problem. That several large counties within the mask mandate states they examined already had such policies in place before a statewide expansion. They used county-level trends to estimate the effect size, based on statewide mandates. It’s absurd.

So, if other polices were enacted around the same time, it takes two weeks to account for major changes in policy, the data is confounded, there are seasonal effects that were not considered, and they were unable to account for the importances in county-level mandates, what value does this study have? The answer, of course, is none.

But there’s more.

"We were unable to measure face cover use in the community (that is, compliance with the mandate)," they admit. "As such, the estimates represent the intent-to-treat effects of these mandates—that is, their effects as passed and not the individual-level effect of wearing a face mask in public on one’s own COVID-19 risk. Related, we did not measure enforcement of the mandates, which might affect compliance. We also did not have data on county-level mandates for wearing face masks in public."

Essentially, they acknowledge that virtually all important ancillary factors were spuriously ignored or downplayed. Most of these early mandate states were centered around the Northeast, where viral spread started decreasing as a result of normal season patterns.

For example, in New York state, the mask mandate on April 15th came after COVID cases had already started declining.

A decline in growth rate does not reflect any impact in policy if the decline in growth rate had started before the mandate came into effect.

Not to mention that this supposed collective effect was visible in states that did not have mask mandates. And did not remain consistent over time.

No mandate states, predominantly centered around the South, had lower COVID case rates initially, then saw more spread over the summer, patterns that remained consistent over several years. In spring 2021, for example, northern states with mask mandates performed worse than southern states without mandates. Just like they did in spring 2020, despite having likely higher levels of natural immunity thanks to being hit harder earlier on.

And overall numbers throughout the pandemic were remarkably similar.

While Hawaii is included in the "early mandate" states, in April 2020, being situated on an island made for wildly different COVID outcomes than the rest of the country. Still, those early mandate states averaged roughly 327,000 cases per million over the pandemic period. States that never had mandates averaged around 335,000 cases per million.

Removing Hawaii, a significant outlier, compresses the data even further.

The early mandate states in that set then averaged around 335,000 cases per million. Nearly an identical number to the never mandate states. And wound up with a higher mortality rate.

Even when focusing in on 2020 specifically, while the early mandate states enjoyed the benefits of seasonality throughout the summer, by December, they had once again passed the states that never had mandates in daily population adjusted case rate.

Not to mention that their estimate of 200,000 prevented cases is false, considering COVID is an endemic virus that infects everyone.

To sum up, then, this "study" was woefully misleading. It inaccurately attributed effects to mask mandates without considering other ancillary factors and used cherry-picked dates. There was no supporting data afterward that aligned with their results, and no mandate states performed similarly throughout the pandemic.

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That’s one of the sources of research the CDC used to justify further masking. And that’s why, despite the media’s best efforts, trust in public health is at an all-time low.

Because it deserves to be.

Walz, Minnesota Board of Pardons clears convicted illegal alien child sex offender facing deportation

Wed, 01 Jul 2026 18:49:51 -0400

Minnesota officials, including Democrat Gov. Tim Walz, last month pardoned an illegal immigrant who was previously convicted of sexually assaulting a 10-year-old girl and who was slated to be deported.

With the recommendation of the Minnesota Clemency Review Commission (CRC), the Minnesota Board of Pardons — led by Walz, state Attorney General Keith Ellison and state Chief Justice Natalie Hudson — granted a pardon for Laos national Tou Lue Vang, 42, at its June 10 meeting, according to a letter informing Vang of the decision from Carli Stark, the executive director of the state CRC.

The pardon essentially gives Vang a clean slate.

"Being granted a pardon is a notable achievement and a reflection of the work you have done since your conviction," Stark wrote in her letter to Vang.

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Vang was convicted in 2006 of first-degree criminal sexual conduct. Between 2002 and 2006, he repeatedly sexually assaulted the girl.

At one point, he offered her $10 to keep quiet about the abuse, according to DHS.

He pleaded guilty to first-degree criminal sexual conduct in a plea deal that spared him from going to prison.

"Governor Tim Walz's decision to pardon an illegal alien convicted child rapist so he can remain in our country is disgusting," DHS Acting Assistant Secretary Lauren Bis said in a statement. "These are the criminal illegal aliens he and his Minnesota sanctuary politicians are protecting."

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Bis noted that Vang lost his legal status following his conviction.

Fox News Digital has reached out to Walz, the White House and the Ramsey County Attorney’s Office, which prosecuted Vang for the assaults.

When he was arrested on charges in 2005, Vang admitted to having sexual contact with the girl but blamed cultural norms in Thailand, according to the complaint obtained by the New York Times.

The CRC, which includes nine members, voted to approve Mr. Vang’s petition in April. Four members voted in favor, two voted against, and three were absent, the Times reported.

The board takes the commission’s review into account but retains the ultimate authority to grant or deny pardons.

In his application, Vang cited his years of rehabilitation and argued that he has taken full responsibility for his actions.

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Vang entered the U.S. through California in 1994, and was granted legal status by the Clinton administration. That status was revoked upon his conviction and final order of removal in 2006.

He was detained by federal authorities last year as part of the Trump administration’s "Operation Metro Surge" in Minnesota.

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President Donald Trump has repeatedly criticized Walz and Minnesota officials over sanctuary policies that protect illegal immigrants, even those convicted of violent crimes, from federal authorities.

DHS noted that the Review Commission has granted pardons to undocumented immigrants before.

In May, the state pardoned Jai Vang, a Laotian citizen whose criminal history includes convictions for robbery, armed robbery of a business, and driving under the influence of liquor.

Celtics agree to send Jaylen Brown, 2024 Finals MVP, to 76ers in blockbuster NBA trade: report

Wed, 01 Jul 2026 18:49:41 -0400

Jaylen Brown is being traded by the Boston Celtics after all.

The Celtics and Philadelphia 76ers reportedly reached an agreement to send Brown to the Sixers in exchange for veteran All-Star Paul George, two first-round picks and two second-round picks, according to ESPN.

Trade rumors were heating up earlier this offseason, as Brown was already at the center of a potential trade with the Milwaukee Bucks for Giannis Antetokounmpo before the Miami Heat landed "The Greek Freak." Since then, the Celtics were reportedly increasing efforts to get a deal done involving Brown.

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Brown was named Finals MVP just two years ago, helping Boston secure yet another NBA title for their vast trophy case. But the Celtics were reportedly close to getting something done, and were actively shopping the dynamic 6-foot-6 guard to 8-10 teams across the NBA.

"The Celtics have actually started strongly shopping Jaylen Brown, soliciting offers from a market of about eight to 10 teams in the last several days," ESPN’s Shams Charania said on "First Take" Wednesday morning. "It is unclear whether a deal is close or where they necessarily stand, but there has been a high price threshold."

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Charania added that it was his "understanding" Brown never requested a trade, making this a move the Celtics wanted to get done.

They do so with an Eastern Conference rival that gets a tremendous boost on an exciting roster that could have their own "Big Four" locked in now.

Brown arrives in Philly with former league MVP Joel Embiid, All-NBA guard Tyrese Maxey and 2025-26 All-Rookie guard VJ Edgecombe already in place. All four players have a knack for scoring no matter the situation and will surely be a problem for defenses next season.

Brown is in the middle of his five-year, $285.39 million extension he signed with the Celtics, carrying a $57.08 million cap hit for the 2026-27 season.

While Brown has been a five-time All-Star during his 10 years in Boston, including four straight since the 2022-23 campaign, there has been some controversy surrounding him this offseason.

Brown said that this past season was his "favorite year" despite blowing a 3-1 First Round series lead to the 76ers in the NBA Playoffs. It was a comment that didn’t sit well with some, including ESPN personality Stephen A. Smith, and his public thoughts on the matter ultimately led to a back-and-forth feud between the two.

It’s unknown if that has anything to do with the Celtics wanting to move forward from Brown, but his inclusion in the failed trade with the Bucks for Antetokounmpo showed how willing they were to switch up the roster.

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Boston has been active prior to the trade, signing New York Knicks backup center Mitchell Robinson to a four-year deal, shoring up their frontcourt. Robinson likely falls into the Celtics’ starting five as of now, which includes Jayson Tatum, Derrick White, Sam Hauser and perhaps Payton Pritchard at point guard.

For the 76ers, they add more firepower with a player in Brown coming off a career year with 28.7 points, 6.9 rebounds and 5.1 assists per game to lead the Celtics.

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FBI says Nancy Guthrie abduction demands may be ‘legitimate’ as case still probed as kidnapping for ransom

Wed, 01 Jul 2026 14:53:34 -0400

FBI Phoenix said that apparent ransom demands and other notes sent in the wake of the unsolved abduction of 84-year-old Nancy Guthrie may still be real, despite recent claims to the contrary.

"The FBI and its task force partners have received several ransom notes over the course of this investigation," the FBI's Phoenix office said in a statement on Wednesday. "Some have been deemed to be extortion attempts without legitimacy. Other ransom demands may potentially be legitimate and are still being investigated as such. This case continues to be investigated as a kidnapping for ransom case. The FBI has and will continue to offer all assistance possible in the investigation — however local authorities remain the lead."

As Fox News Digital reported previously, sources close to the investigation appear split regarding the notes' potential authenticity — or lack thereof.

Earlier Wednesday, an unnamed official told ransom demand recipient TMZ that some investigators view the demands as potentially "more legitimate than not."

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"It is more likely than not that the two ransom notes are real," TMZ's executive producer Harvey Levin said Wednesday, citing an unnamed FBI official with knowledge of the case. "Further in that conversation, this person said, 'They are more legitimate than not.' That's a quote."

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He made the remarks in a video in response to a new report suggesting that the FBI deemed all the ransom demands in the Guthrie investigation inauthentic.

Some investigators said they were confident that the ransom demands are all bogus, while others are cautious about reaching that conclusion while Guthrie's whereabouts remain unknown, federal law enforcement sources told Fox News and Fox News Digital last week.

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"They definitely have not determined it is, for sure, fake," Levin said.

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Authorities have not publicly confirmed the legitimacy of the first two notes that have been deemed possibly authentic — or a series of separate emails believed to be unrelated claiming to have knowledge about what happened to Guthrie.

"It is less likely that those letters are real, but they have not discounted that either," Levin added.

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Guthrie's daughter, "Today" co-host Savannah Guthrie, has said she believes at least two of the notes could be real. She and her siblings responded to those in videos posted to her Instagram in February.

Meanwhile, state and local authorities have both declined to discuss the latest developments regarding the ransom demands publicly.

When asked about the new reporting at a news briefing Wednesday, FBI Director Kash Patel declined to comment.

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"I'm not going to comment on that," he told reporters during a Justice Department news briefing. "We are continuing to assist that investigation. We've always been in an assist role. It's a state matter being led by the state authorities."

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Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos, whose agency is leading the investigation into Guthrie's suspected abduction, told Fox News Digital last week that it was the FBI at the forefront of the probe into whoever sent the ransom demands.

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"All ransom notes are being handled by the FBI," he said. "We’ve been pretty consistent with that. So I would have to defer you to them."

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The family is asking anyone with information on Guthrie's case to dial 1-800-CALL-FBI. Tips can be provided anonymously to Tucson's Crime Stoppers affiliate, 88-Crime, at 1-520-882-7463.

Families sue Maduro in US, accuse ex-president of directing police unit tied to extrajudicial killings

Wed, 01 Jul 2026 18:44:06 -0400

Former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro is facing a new legal challenge in the United States after the families of five Venezuelan men filed a civil lawsuit accusing him of overseeing a Venezuelan police unit responsible for extrajudicial killings and torture during his presidency.

The complaint alleges Maduro created Venezuela's Special Action Forces, known as FAES, and exercised command over the unit as it allegedly carried out a campaign of extrajudicial killings between 2017 and 2021. The families are seeking compensatory and punitive damages under the Torture Victim Protection Act.

The lawsuit opens a second legal front for Maduro in the United States, where he is already awaiting trial on federal drug trafficking and weapons charges. The complaint says venue is proper in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York because Maduro is currently detained at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn.

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According to the complaint, FAES officers routinely entered homes before dawn wearing black clothing and face coverings, separated young men from their families, forced many to their knees, executed them and then staged crime scenes to make it appear the victims had "resisted authority." Plaintiffs also allege officers looted homes, planted weapons and transported victims to hospitals after they had already died in an effort to conceal the alleged killings.

The lawsuit details five incidents between 2017 and 2021 involving six victims and also accuses FAES officers of torturing three relatives by beating, detaining or forcing them to witness the killings before they were denied justice through Venezuela's judicial system.

Attorneys representing the plaintiffs, Maduro's attorney Barry Pollack and Amnesty International did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment.

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The lawsuit alleges Maduro established FAES in 2017 as a special tactical unit within Venezuela's National Bolivarian Police and later publicly defended the force despite criticism from the United Nations and other human rights organizations. It cites reports from the United Nations, Human Rights Watch and the U.S. State Department documenting allegations of widespread human rights abuses by the unit.

The families argue they have been unable to obtain justice in Venezuela because prosecutors either refused to pursue investigations or failed to hold senior officials accountable, leaving them without an effective legal remedy in their home country.

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The Torture Victim Protection Act allows civil claims in U.S. courts over alleged torture and extrajudicial killings committed under the authority of a foreign government.

Maduro served as Venezuela's president from 2013 until 2026, according to the complaint. He has pleaded not guilty in his criminal case and has previously described himself as a "prisoner of war."

ICE surges enforcement, makes 10,000 arrests in five days amid Supreme Court birthright citizenship decision

Wed, 01 Jul 2026 18:36:18 -0400

FIRST ON FOX: U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is ramping up arrests as a Supreme Court ruling on birthright citizenship delivered a blow to the Trump administration’s efforts to curb immigration policy.

Fox News Digital obtained figures from a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) source that showed more than 10,000 arrests have been made in the last five days alone.

On Tuesday, the Supreme Court rejected President Donald Trump’s bid to end birthright citizenship, upholding the long-standing policy that most children who are born in the U.S. will automatically become citizens, even if the child’s parents are living in the country illegally.

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A source familiar with ICE operations said the agency is currently ramping up operations using funds from the One Big Beautiful Bill as the passage of the legislation nears its one-year anniversary.

The court cited the Fourteenth Amendment of the Constitution as the basis for the decision, saying "Children born in the United States to parents unlawfully or temporarily present are 'subject to the jurisdiction' of the United States and are citizens at birth under the Fourteenth Amendment's Citizenship Clause."

Trump punched back at the ruling, urging Congress to amend the Constitution to pave a path to abolishing birthright citizenship.

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"No long and unwieldy Constitutional Amendment is necessary! Congress should start TODAY to work on ending expensive and unfair to our Country, Birthright Citizenship," Trump posted on Truth Social. "They will have my Complete and Total Support!"

As ICE seeks to increase arrests, agitators have been mobilizing across the country, demanding better living conditions for those detained in federal facilities and calling for reforms to ICE operational protocols.

In late May, agitators flooded the Delaney Hall ICE facility in Newark, New Jersey, in a violent clash between rioters and ICE agents alongside local law enforcement officers.

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A Fox News Digital investigation, based on reporting from the ground in Newark, in secret Signal group chats, a number of tax filings, strategy documents, and social media posts, found that the protests outside Delaney Hall were not a spontaneous grassroots uprising. Instead, they were the product of years of coordinated planning by a network of well-funded, highly organized groups that used a local controversy as a platform to challenge federal immigration policies and, more broadly, the United States.

The network behind the Delaney Hall protests includes about 100 groups, some of them big names like the ACLU, Indivisible and Democratic Socialists of America. Together, these organizations report collective annual revenues of about $825 million, approximately equal to the annual budget of Newark.

Despite the organized resistance, ICE operations continued, and DHS Assistant Secretary Lauren Bis said in a statement that a majority of arrests involve illegal migrants who have previously been charged or convicted of a crime.

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"Since Day One, DHS law enforcement has been delivering on President Trump’s promise to the American people to arrest and deport criminal illegal aliens including murderers, rapists, pedophiles, gang members, and terrorists," Bis explained.

"Nearly 70% of ICE arrests are of illegal aliens charged or convicted of a crime in the U.S. More than 3 million illegal aliens are out of the country and counting. Our message is clear: if you come to our country illegally, we will find you, we will arrest you, and we will deport you," she added.

DSA co-chair pushes back on Soviet Union comparisons, wants prisons to be 'less necessary'

Wed, 01 Jul 2026 18:35:08 -0400

Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) co-chair Ashik Siddique defended the organization against comparisons to the Soviet Union while outlining a vision to make police and prisons "less necessary" in the United States.

"Our goal is democratic socialism, which we think is distinct from the Soviet Union, which ended decades ago," he told "The Will Cain Show" Wednesday.

Siddique's comments come as socialism surges in influence within the Democratic Party, with socialist candidates securing major primary victories and unseating established Democrats.

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All three congressional candidates endorsed by New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani – Brad Lander, Claire Valdez and Darializa Avila Chevalier – won their respective Democratic primaries, reflecting an increasing acceptance of the far-left movement within the party.

"We're winning candidates all over the country and uniting people across differences. The DSA is led by working-class people across the country," Siddique told host Will Cain.

President Donald Trump recently renewed warnings about socialism’s growing influence within the Democratic Party, labeling it the "biggest threat" to America since 1776.

Meanwhile, many prominent Democrats have embraced candidates aligned with the movement, arguing the Democratic Party is a "big tent" coalition.

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"We have a big tent of all sorts of ordinary people who have many different ideas about what the pathway is or what the horizon is," Siddique said.

The DSA advocates for Medicare for all, tuition-free college for all and a 32-hour work week.

When asked whether the DSA supports open borders, Siddique asserted the U.S. has "open borders for capitalists" and CEOs.

"We have people who've run major companies that have hollowed out cities all over the country, taking jobs out of communities, outsourcing jobs, pushing trade deals that are bad for workers," the DSA co-chair said.

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The DSA states on its website, "Capitalism is a system designed by the owning class to exploit the rest of us for their own profit. We must replace it with democratic socialism."

"We would not have open borders tomorrow, but we want a world in which all working people are taken care of," Siddique said.

The DSA co-chair went on to address whether America’s "destruction" is the left-wing organization's goal, arguing that the movement advocates for improving the lives of working Americans.

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"Our goal is to expand possibility in America and expand the promise of America. So many people have come to the United States for centuries in search of a better life, in search for opportunity," Siddique said.

"Today the United States is the wealthiest country in the history of the world and yet more people than ever are struggling to get by," he continued. "So we believe that workers deserve more in the United States. Everybody deserves a basic floor for a good life."

American F1 team just did the funniest thing ever with their British Grand Prix livery

Wed, 01 Jul 2026 18:21:57 -0400

This weekend, we'll be celebrating the 250th anniversary of our independence from Great Britain, and one Formula 1 team is celebrating with one heck of a troll move, whether it was intentional or not.

The British Grand Prix takes place this weekend at Silverstone. It's one of the marquee races on the F1 calendar that just so happens to fall on Independence Day weekend, with the Sprint race and Grand Prix qualifying taking place on the fourth.

Of course, Cadillac, F1's newest team, is American and leaning into it, so, naturally, they want to celebrate their first Fourth of July on the grid.

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They're doing that with a special stars-and-stripes livery — their second of the season after running a black-and-white one in Miami — all weekend long.

It looks spectacular, and let's not pretend that running it all weekend long in Great Britain on the U.S.'s 250th birthday isn't absolutely hilarious.

That's a great splash of red, white and blue on the grid, and I feel like decking the car out in an American-ified livery and letting it cruise around Silverstone is a nice victory lap for the U-S-of-A.

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Unfortunately, the last lap laugh might go to the British, because there's a very good, almost certain chance that this car — as lovely as it is — will not be anywhere near the front in any session.

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Even for a team with substantial backing like Cadillac has, starting an F1 team from scratch is a tall order, and there have been plenty of growing pains. In fact, just this past weekend, both cars retired from the Grand Prix — Valtteri Bottas after just two laps, and Sergio Perez after four — and that came after a weekend of reliability issues.

But Cadillac is not the only American team on the grid. Haas — which has been in F1 since 2016 — is the other American team, and started the season strong, only to cool off as of late. They're currently sitting P7 in the constructors' standings.

McConnell was found 'unconscious' in home last month as condition remains unknown

Wed, 01 Jul 2026 18:09:34 -0400

Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., was reportedly found "unconscious" in his Washington, D.C. home last month before being taken to the hospital, as his condition and timetable to return to the Senate remain a mystery.

Audio from an emergency dispatch from a call on June 14, the day McConnell was sent to the hospital, released Wednesday by reporter Desirée Townsend and later reported by PunchBowl News revealed that the longtime Senate Republican was "unconscious," and that the dispatcher requested an Advanced Life Support (ALS) response.

McConnell, 82, has been absent from the Senate ever since, and it is unclear when he will return. His office did not return a request for comment on his condition, why he was hospitalized and when he would return to the upper chamber.

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The day of McConnell’s hospitalization, his office released that the lawmaker "was admitted to the hospital this morning" and was "receiving excellent care." David Popp, his spokesperson, later said that McConnell was "working closely with staff on Senate business and Kentucky matters as he continues his recovery."

Senate Republican leadership said they had spoken with McConnell after the incident, too.

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Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., who replaced McConnell after his historic run as leader of the Senate GOP, said that he "is clearly dialed in to what’s going on."

"He’s following along with stuff we are doing this week up here," Thune said. "Very much so."

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McConnell, who is retiring from the Senate at the end of this year, is in his second stint in the hospital of 2026 — he was hospitalized for eight days in February dealing with flu-like symptoms.

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And over the last few years, he’s suffered medical episodes publicly and privately.

He fell and cracked his rib and got a concussion in 2023. He fell again in July of that year and shortly after had two different episodes where he froze up in front of cameras. In 2024, he fell at a Senate Republican lunch, and last year he tripped and fell in the Senate basement.

DOJ targets Spanberger, Newsom gun laws with twin lawsuits after SCOTUS affirms Second Amendment rights

Wed, 01 Jul 2026 16:23:02 -0400

The Justice Department escalated its push against state gun restrictions Wednesday, filing lawsuits against California and Virginia just a week after the Supreme Court reaffirmed that the Second Amendment is not a "second-class right" in its decision in Wolford v. Lopez.

The coordinated legal challenges target Democratic-backed firearm laws in both states, with the department seeking to block California's restrictions on the sale of new Glock-style semiautomatic pistols and Virginia's ban on the manufacture, sale, transfer and purchase of certain semiautomatic firearms classified as assault weapons.

The California lawsuit was filed hours after the state's new handgun restrictions took effect, following Attorney General Rob Bonta's refusal to negotiate with the Justice Department over what federal officials contend are unconstitutional limits on gun rights. Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Harmeet Dhillon said the administration is taking alleged infringements of the Second Amendment seriously.

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"This lawsuit is yet another example of this Justice Department enforcing the Second Amendment by protecting citizens against unconstitutional state regulation of firearms," Dhillon said in a press release.

Bonta revealed Tuesday that the Justice Department had sent California a notice of intent to sue, arguing the law violates the Second Amendment. In a response letter, Bonta rejected the Department's legal position and refused to negotiate.

"The Unsafe Handgun Act and Penal Code section 27595 are commonsense handgun design safety laws that help to prevent accidental discharges by experienced and non-experienced firearm users as well as the conversion of semiautomatic pistols into deadly automatic firing weapons," Bonta wrote.

"If the U.S. Department of Justice decides to file the lawsuit described in your letter, it will not be breaking any new ground."

Dhillon responded on X with a brief message: "See you in court."

The Justice Department soon afterward announced its lawsuit against California, naming Dhillon and Deputy Assistant Attorney General Jesus Osete as counsel.

SPANBERGER'S LATEST 'GUN-GRABBING NONSENSE' PROMPTS ACTION FROM TRUMP DOJ: 'STAY TUNED!'

Gov. Gavin Newsom's office accused the Trump administration of attempting to dismantle California's gun safety laws.

"Our response is simple — these laws save lives," Newsom spokeswoman Diana Crofts-Pelayo said. "California has proven that strong, evidence-based gun safety measures can reduce gun violence while respecting the rights of responsible gun owners."

Crofts-Pelayo said California would not be "intimidated" by what she called politically motivated litigation and would continue enforcing laws designed to keep dangerous weapons off the streets.

California has some of the nation's strictest firearm regulations, which state officials credit with helping produce one of the country's lowest gun death rates.

The Golden State's top elected Republican, however, appeared to agree with the DOJ that the law erodes Californians' rights.

"The Second Amendment applies to every American, even those living in California. Unfortunately, California Democrats find that fact inconvenient, so they ignore it in their efforts to erode and ultimately eliminate Californians’ lawful access to firearms," said Senate Minority Leader Brian Jones, R-San Diego.

"For decades, the Democrats in California have trampled the constitution with complete disregard for the rights of everyday Californians and banning the most popular firearm on the market is just the latest example," he told Fox News Digital.

"That’s why action like this is needed and I’m grateful that the DOJ has decided to join the fight and help preserve our constitutionally guaranteed freedoms in California."

The California lawsuit came shortly after the Justice Department sued Virginia over a newly enacted ban on so-called assault firearms.

The lawsuit challenges Senate Bill 749, sponsored by state Sen. Saddam Salim, D-Dunn Loring, and signed by Gov. Abigail Spanberger in May. The ban took effect Wednesday, making it a misdemeanor to import, sell, manufacture, purchase or transfer certain semiautomatic firearms defined as assault weapons under state law.

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Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said the Constitution "is not a suggestion" and that the Second Amendment is not a "second-class right."

Dhillon said she warned Spanberger in April that the Justice Department would sue if she signed the legislation and said Wednesday the administration was following through on that pledge.

A spokesperson for Spanberger defended the law, saying the governor "firmly believes that firearms designed to inflict maximum casualties do not belong in our communities, near our kids and schools, or on Virginia's streets."

"The Governor signed this commonsense legislation to save lives and protect law enforcement officers, kids, and families from gun violence — and the Governor remains committed to making the Commonwealth a safer home for every family," the spokesperson said.

Virginia House Minority Leader Terry Kilgore, R-Gate City, welcomed the lawsuit, saying the state is now using taxpayer dollars to defend "an unconstitutional gun ban against the United States itself."

"That is where the Richmond Democrats' agenda has led — into court, on the wrong side of the Constitution," Kilgore told Fox News Digital.

"House Republicans said this law could not stand. A Virginia court has already blocked it, and now the Justice Department agrees. It should be repealed."

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The National Association for Gun Rights also praised the department's actions.

"Thank God a small number of committed individuals in DC realize we only have a few years of opportunity to make moves like this, and they're seizing it," the group said.

Hannah Hill, executive director of the National Foundation for Gun Rights, said the Supreme Court's ruling in Wolford v. Lopez, which she said strengthened Second Amendment protections, gave the Justice Department additional legal support for its latest lawsuits against California and Virginia.

"The timing is perfect for the Department of Justice to begin to be filing these lawsuits to strike out gun bans all across the country, it's a really bad time to be a gun grabber," Hill told Fox News Digital.

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The lawsuits came the same day the Supreme Court agreed to hear two Second Amendment cases next term challenging state and local bans on certain semiautomatic rifles.

Fox News Digital reached out to Virginia Attorney General Jay Jones for comment.

Fox News Poll: A close Senate contest is brewing in Iowa

Wed, 01 Jul 2026 18:00:05 -0400

The race to succeed Iowa’s retiring Republican Sen. Joni Ernst is on track to be one of the closest Senate contests in 2026. Ernst, the first woman senator to represent the Hawkeye State, won by 6.5 points in 2020, and President Donald Trump carried it by 8 points that year and by 13 in 2024.

A new statewide Fox News survey finds Iowans now view Trump negatively by 13 points (42% favorable vs. 55% unfavorable). That’s a 19-point swing compared to his +6 rating (52-46%) in the November 2024 Iowa Fox News Voter Analysis (FNVA) election survey.

The last time Iowa elected a Democratic senator was Tom Harkin nearly 20 years ago (2008). As it stands, Democrat Josh Turek has an early 4-point advantage over Republican Ashley Hinson: 50% vs. 46%. It’s an edge that’s within the poll’s margin of error.

Among voters who say they are extremely motivated to vote, Turek holds a 15-point lead, coming largely from greater enthusiasm among Democrats (67% extremely motivated) than Republicans (53%).

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

Hinson’s net favorability is more positive than Trump’s, yet still negative by 7 points (42% favorable, 49% unfavorable) while Turek is much more popular with a net positive rating of 18 points (51%-33%). Sixteen percent have no opinion of Turek while 9% say the same of Hinson.

In the head-to-head, Turek benefits from the support of women with a college degree (65%), independents (59%), urban voters (59%), and voters under age 30 (55%).

Hinson’s backing comes from White evangelical Christians (67%), men ages 45 and over (55%), veterans (52%), and men without a college degree (52%). Her support is strongest among MAGA Republicans, who are 23 points more likely to back her than non-MAGA GOPers (95% vs. 72%).

Overall, by 8 points, more Democrats support Turek (96%) than Republicans back Hinson (88%).

FOX NEWS POLL: LOOKING AHEAD TO AMERICA'S 250TH ANNIVERSARY

By a 10-point margin, more of Turek’s supporters (82%) than Hinson’s (72%) say they are certain to support their candidate in November. Nearly 3 in 10 Hinson supporters say they may change their mind.

More Hinson supporters say their vote is for her rather than against her opponent compared to Turek supporters (77% vote is for Hinson vs. 60% for Turek).

Trump endorsed Hinson last September and voters are divided over her ties to the president: 50% say they are extremely or very concerned she’s too close to Trump, while 48% say they’re not very or not at all concerned.

Fewer voters are worried Turek’s positions on the issues are too liberal: 37% concerned vs. 59% not concerned.

"Iowa has turned red during the last decade, but these data suggest a reversion to swing status," says Republican Pollster Daron Shaw, who conducts the Fox News Poll with Democrat Chris Anderson. "A trifecta of issues helps Democrats: Iowans have been hit hard by rising prices, they are notoriously skeptical about foreign engagements, and the agricultural community isn’t happy about tariffs."

In the 2024 FNVA, 31% of Iowans said they were falling behind financially. That number is now 42% — nearly 4 times as many as those saying they are getting ahead (11%). Nearly half say they are holding steady (46%).

Four in 10 Iowans say the most important issue to their Senate vote will be inflation (39%). Healthcare (14%), immigration/border security (13%), and political divisions (13%) lag behind, and even fewer say abortion (6%), jobs/unemployment (6%), Iran (4%), and crime (2%).

Turek has the edge on voters who say their most important issues are inflation (+15 points), healthcare (+53), and political divisions (+20). Hinson has a whopping 88-point advantage on the issue of immigration.

Like Ernst, Iowa Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds opted not to seek a third term.

The new survey finds Democratic nominee Rob Sand with a 9-point lead over Republican challenger Zach Lahn in the race to succeed Reynolds.

Sand benefits from some crossover support, as 11% of Hinson supporters favor him for governor compared to 7% of Turek supporters backing Lahn.

More Sand supporters say they’re certain of their choice than Lahn backers (81% to 74%).

Sand enjoys a +21 personal rating: 54% favorable, 33% unfavorable. Lahn’s ratings are negative by 3 points, with 20% unable to rate him (38% favorable, 41% unfavorable, 20% no opinion).

CLICK HERE FOR CROSSTABS AND TOPLINE

Conducted June 23-27, 2026 under the joint direction of Beacon Research (D) and Shaw & Company Research (R), this Fox News Poll includes interviews with a sample of 1,003 Iowa registered voters randomly selected from a statewide voter file. Respondents spoke with live interviewers on landlines (104) and cellphones (662) or completed the survey online after receiving a text message (237). Results based on the full sample have a margin of sampling error of ± 3 percentage points. Sampling error for results among subgroups is higher. In addition to sampling error, question wording and order can influence results. Sources for developing weight targets include the most recent American Community Survey, Fox News Voter Analysis, and voter file data. Weights are generally applied to age, race, education, and area variables to ensure the demographics of respondents are representative of the registered voter population. Results among subgroups are only shown when the sample size is at least N=100.

Fox News Poll: An early look at the Georgia Senate race

Wed, 01 Jul 2026 18:00:02 -0400

Georgia Democratic Sen. Jon Ossoff narrowly won his Senate seat in a January 2021 runoff, defeating Republican David Perdue by just over a percentage point. New Fox News polling suggests a different dynamic this time, as Ossoff holds a double-digit lead over GOP challenger Mike Collins in the 2026 Georgia Senate race.

After receiving a last-minute endorsement from President Trump in the June GOP primary runoff, Collins defeated Derek Dooley, who was backed by Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp. Trump carried the Peach State by about 2 points in 2024 after losing it by less than a point in 2020. He won the state by more than 5 points in 2016.

The Fox News survey, released Wednesday, finds Ossoff receives 56% support from Georgia registered voters compared to 43% for Collins.

The incumbent Democrat enjoys strong support from Black voters (87%), those under age 30 (68%), independents (68%), moderates (66%), and women under 45 (66%). Among the 82% of Georgia voters who say they are motivated to vote, Ossoff leads by 11 points (55% vs. 44% Collins).

Collins’ best groups include White evangelical Christians (79%), White men without a college degree (65%), and rural voters (55%). About half of gun-owner households (53%) and veterans (50%) also favor him.

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

Ossoff benefits from greater party loyalty, as nearly all Democrats (96%) back him and more than 8 in 10 of his supporters say their vote is for him rather than against Collins.

For Collins, 9 in 10 Republicans back him (89%) but only 56% of his supporters say their vote is for him, while 44% say it is primarily against Ossoff.

FOX NEWS POLL: LOOKING AHEAD TO AMERICA'S 250TH ANNIVERSARY

Notably, nearly a quarter of non-MAGA Republicans say they will back the Democrat compared to just 4% of MAGA supporters.

Ossoff is mostly matching his numbers among demographics in the 2021 Georgia Senate Runoff Fox News Voter Analysis (FNVA) election survey, while Collins is underperforming Perdue.

There are similar levels of enthusiasm for both candidates. About 8 in 10 Ossoff supporters say they are certain to vote for him (81%) and are extremely or very motivated to cast a ballot (81%). Among Collins supporters, 78% are certain to back him and 84% are motivated to vote.

Nearly 6 in 10 voters have a favorable opinion of Ossoff (58%), much higher than the 4 in 10 for Collins (44%) and Trump (42%). Trump’s favorable rating is down 5 points from 47% in the 2024 Georgia FNVA.

Georgians are 6 points more likely to say they are extremely or very concerned that Collins is too close to Trump (53%) than that Ossoff is too liberal (47%).

Inflation dominates voter concerns, with 40% saying the issue will be most important to their Senate vote. Healthcare ranks a distant second (13%), followed by political divisions (11%), immigration (11%), and jobs and unemployment (11%). Fewer say the Iran conflict (5%), crime (5%), or abortion (3%).

Ossoff holds large advantages among voters who are most concerned about inflation (+21), healthcare (+40), and political divisions (+18), while Collins has a significant lead among those focused on immigration (+45).

"As Brooklyn Dodgers’ announcer Red Barber used to say, Ossoff is ‘sitting in the Catbird seat’" says Daron Shaw, a Republican who conducts the survey with Democrat Chris Anderson. "My hunch is the race will become much more competitive, but Collins has work to do convincing Republicans and independents that he and the president can make things more affordable for rank-and-file Georgians."

Despite concerns about inflation, half say their finances are holding steady (51%), while 35% say they are falling behind. Only 14% feel they are getting ahead financially.

In the Georgia governor’s race, Democrat Keisha Lance Bottoms has a 5-point edge, with 52% support compared to 47% for Republican Rick Jackson. That is within the poll’s margin of error.

The results show some ticket splitting: 11% of Ossoff supporters cross party lines to back Jackson for governor, while 5% of Collins supporters back Lance Bottoms.

Lance Bottoms' supporters are more certain of their vote than Jackson's (80% vs. 75%).

Both candidates have net-positive personal favorability ratings. Lance Bottoms is viewed favorably by 52% and unfavorably by 38%, while for Jackson it is 43% favorable and 38% unfavorable. Roughly 1 in 10 voters have never heard of each candidate.

CLICK HERE FOR CROSSTABS AND TOPLINE

Conducted June 23-27, 2026 under the joint direction of Beacon Research (D) and Shaw & Company Research (R), this Fox News Poll includes interviews with a sample of 1,002 Georgia registered voters randomly selected from a statewide voter file. Respondents spoke with live interviewers on landlines (39) and cellphones (710) or completed the survey online after receiving a text message (253). Results based on the full sample have a margin of sampling error of ± 3 percentage points. Sampling error for results among subgroups is higher. In addition to sampling error, question wording and order can influence results. Sources for developing weight targets include the most recent American Community Survey, Fox News Voter Analysis, and voter file data. Weights are generally applied to age, race, education, and area variables to ensure the demographics of respondents are representative of the registered voter population. Results among subgroups are only shown when the sample size is at least N=100.

Rams' Sean McVay and his model wife put the rest of the NFL on notice with nothing but swimsuits on

Wed, 01 Jul 2026 17:58:24 -0400

Sean McVay is still the head coach of the Los Angeles Rams thanks to his model wife Veronika Khomyn McVay. She challenged him on the kind of leader he wanted to be after he started contemplating calling it quits.

He was burned out. The Rams were coming off of a rough 5-12 season following the franchise's Super Bowl LVI win, and he almost quit coaching, he told Bussin' With The Boys back in May.

That's when McVay says Veronika got him back on track and made him realize that he would only be walking away from the NFL because he couldn't handle losing. He said, "She’s like, 'You know, that never really sounded like the kind of leader you wanted to be.' Boom. It hit me like a ton of bricks."

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That forced McVay to take a look at the kind of leader he wanted to be. He didn’t want to be the guy who ran to the broadcast booth for a bunch of money due to the fact that he lost a few games.

He wanted to bounce back and turn the Rams around. He also wanted to be the kind of leader that was in phenomenal shape and could hop on a boat and hold his own with his bikini-clad wife.

McVay has accomplished that. Veronika posted a picture on Instagram of the two on a boat, which has since gone viral, and it's put the rest of the NFL on notice.

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Sean McVay and his wife Veronika are holding the Rams to a high standard

McVay is in incredible shape and there's probably not a head coach-significant other duo in the NFL that can compete with these two. This is a whole new level of winning and of leadership.

To think he was seriously thinking about leaving it behind for the comfort of a broadcast booth. McVay, at 40, looks like he could take a few snaps still if his team needed him to.

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That's setting a standard. That's the type of leadership that can only come from being challenged when you're the head coach of a five-win team. The Rams are going to be a team to contend with this season.

Pro wrestler Scarlett Bordeaux shares advice she tells women's wrestlers about online safety

Wed, 01 Jul 2026 17:58:14 -0400

Major League Wrestling (MLW) star Scarlett Bordeaux has been in the industry for quite some time.

She previously talked to Fox News Digital about how she ditched prom to go to a pro wrestling show, fell in love with the sport and has been making her way to the top since then. In any business, the rise of fame and talent comes with rabid fans who may sometimes cross the line.

COMPLETE PRO WRESTLING COVERAGE ON FOX NEWS DIGITAL

Ring of Honor and All Elite Wrestling star Deonna Purrazzo recently mentioned a scary situation she had to deal with in a post on X. WWE star Jordynne Grace sent a message to anyone trying to come to her house that she has "seven dogs and a gun."

In a recent interview with Fox News Digital, Bordeaux shared some advice she gave to some of her fellow women’s wrestlers to help protect their privacy.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM

"This is something I would tell all of the girls in the locker rooms when they would say they were having an issue where it’s some fan that’s crossing the line," she said. "I would tell them there’s different websites where you can actually have them remove your info off the internet. So, they would remove your phone number, they’ll remove your address.

"I had recommended to all of my friends that way fans cannot send you mail, they can’t find where you live because I feel like with our data being sold right now it’s easy to find people. It’s easier than it’s ever been. So that’s just something I’ve recommended to many of the girls who have been having issues. That’s the main thing I think I would recommend to everyone. Just get your data off the internet."

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Bordeaux is one of the leaders in the women’s division in MLW. She, and her husband Killer Kross, re-joined the company following their departures from WWE.

She’s among the top contenders for the MLW Women’s World Championship. She previously expressed that while she has love for current champion, Shotzi, she’s not going to back down from a fight.

Fox News Channel leads CBS and NBC in weekday primetime, dominates cable viewership in second quarter ratings

Wed, 01 Jul 2026 17:56:54 -0400

Fox News Channel dominated all of cable among viewers across total day and primetime and also finished June by leading CBS and NBC with weekday primetime viewers.

Fox News was the only basic cable option to surpass the one-million viewer benchmark, crushing the competition with an average audience of 1.6 million during the second quarter. ESPN finished second with 664,000 average viewers, followed by MS NOW’s 655,00 and 496,000 for CNN.

During primetime, Fox News averaged 2.5 million viewers to finish No. 1 in all of basic cable by a wide margin, as runner-up ESPN managed only 1.7 million average viewers during the sports-heavy quarter. MS NOW managed 1.1 million average viewers and CNN settled for 711,000.

FOX NEWS CHANNEL DOMINATES ABC IN WEEKDAY PRIMETIME, DELIVERING HIGHEST-RATED MAY FOR A MIDTERM ELECTION YEAR

Fox News has now finished No. 1 among primetime viewership for 98 consecutive quarters, dating back to the first quarter of 2002. Along the way, Fox News attracted nearly 60% of cable news viewers among both total day and primetime.

Fox News also obliterated MS NOW and CNN among the advertiser-coveted demographic of adults ages 25-54, averaging 149,000 total day viewers from the key group, compared to 75,000 for CNN and only 67,000 for MS NOW.

It was much of the same during primetime, as Fox News averaged 230,000 demo viewers to outdraw CNN’s 120,000 and MS NOW’s 107,000 combined.

Throughout Q2, FNC delivered 13 of the top 15 shows on cable news with "The Ingraham Angle," "Jesse Watters Primetime," "Hannity" and "FOX News @ Night with Trace Gallagher" leading the competition in their respective hours.

FOX NEWS CHANNEL WALLOPS CNN, MS NOW VIEWERSHIP DURING FIRST QUARTER OF 2026

"Special Report with Bret Baier" scored more than 2.7 million viewers and 245,000 in the 25-54 demo, beating "CBS Evening News" in 18 major markets including New York, Chicago, and Washington, D.C. while continuing to close its gap with the CBS series.

"Gutfeld!" continued its strong performance during the quarter, averaging 2.8 million viewers and 299,000 adults ages 25-54 during the 10 p.m. ET hour, outdrawing every broadcast late-night show, including CBS' "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert," CBS' "Comics Unleashed," NBC's "The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon," ABC's "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" and NBC's "Late Night with Seth Meyers."

"The Five" remained the highest-rated show in cable news for a 19th consecutive quarter, extending its record as the first non-primetime program to do so. "FOX & Friends" also remained the most-watched morning lineup in cable news for the second quarter.

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Fox News maintained its lead over the weekend, with Kayleigh McEnany’s "Saturday in America," "Fox News Live," "The Big Weekend Show" and "My View with Lara Trump," the latter coming in as the most-watched show in primetime. "FOX News Saturday Night with Jimmy Failla" and "Life, Liberty & Levin" also followed with approximately 1.3 million viewers each.

Maria Bartiromo’s "Sunday Morning Futures" also became the top-rated show of the weekend with 1.9 million viewers. "The Sunday Briefing," hosted by Peter Doocy and Jacqui Heinrich, also earned 1.6 million viewers with "Sunday Night in America with Trey Gowdy" averaging 1.7 million viewers. "Life, Liberty & Levin" and "One Nation with Brian Kilmeade" each also saw 1.5 million viewers.

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During June, Fox News averaged 2.6 million weekday primetime viewers to outdraw both NBC and CBS. Fox News also secured the top spot in cable among Hispanic, Asian and upscale audiences in total day for both second quarter 2026 and the month of June.