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Will Platner controversy sink Democrats in a crucial U.S. House showdown?

Tue, 14 Jul 2026 05:00:57 -0400

EXCLUSIVE - AUGUSTA, Maine - Graham Platner is gone, but the trail of debris left from the mounting controversies that brought down his nearly year-long insurgent Senate campaign is giving Republicans ammunition to use against a Democrat on the ballot in another equally crucial midterm race in Maine.

Former two-term Maine Gov. Paul LePage, the GOP nominee in the high-stakes battle for the state's 2nd Congressional District, one of roughly two-dozen races that may determine the House balance of power, says that Matt Dunlap, the Democratic Party's nominee, "miscalculated" by aligning himself with Platner.

LePage is aiming to flip the Democrat-controlled open seat in a mostly rural district President Donald Trump carried in the past three presidential elections. And the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) is heavily targeting the race as it works to hold onto its razor-thin House majority in the midterms.

"Way, way too close to Platner. Way too close to Bernie. Way too close to AOC. That whole gang," LePage said of Dunlap as he spoke exclusively with Fox News Digital on Tuesday and pointed to Platner as well as progressive champions Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York.

DEMOCRATS RUNNING TO REPLACE PLATNER IN KEY SENATE RACE CALL FOR ABOLISHING ICE

Dunlap campaign manager Harry Burke, firing back, called LePage's criticism "desperate and weak."

Platner, a populist Democrat backed last September by Sanders and later by other top progressives, was challenging longtime Republican Sen. Susan Collins in a combustible and very expensive race in Maine, which is one of a handful that will determine if the GOP holds onto its slim Senate majority in November's midterm elections.

Platner's exit from the race came days after an explosive report contained an allegation of rape from a woman he previously dated. It was only after that report when a chorus of calls emerged from top Democrats across the country for him to immediately drop out.

But Platner, the combat veteran and oyster farmer whose campaign caught fire, steamrolling the Democratic establishment, had already been forced on defense ahead of his primary victory last month.

PLATNER EXITS SENATE RACE AMID SCANDALS AND CHORUS OF CALLS TO DROP OUT

Past inflammatory online comments made on a now-deleted Reddit account came back to haunt him at the same time he was already reeling from revelations of a now covered-up tattoo on his chest that resembled a Nazi symbol. Then reports that Platner exchanged sexually explicit messages with several women while married came right before allegations from ex-girlfriends of a history of rape fantasies, heavy drinking and violent episodes were made public.

Platner repeatedly called the allegations of violence untrue and dismissed his tattoo and Reddit posts as actions taken by a younger man who has now changed.

And addressing the latest rape allegation, a visibly irritated Platner claimed in his campaign suspension video last week: "This is all false. The things that have been claimed did not happen. It is not real."

Republicans see an opportunity to use Platner's toxic baggage as a cudgel against some Democrats on the ballot in key races this year — especially those who once backed the Maine candidate or defended him against previous allegations.

"Every Democrat that endorsed Graham Platner endorsed a rapist, and every Democrat that stayed silent was complicit," Republican National Committee Chair Joe Gruters argued in a statement last week. "Democrats rolled in the mud with Platner, and now they are completely stained by their association with this sick monster."

Dunlap endorsed Platner and appeared with him at a campaign event days before Maine's June 9 primary.

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"Out of touch freak Matt Dunlap might be okay with Nazi lovers and men who abuse women, but in November, he'll see for himself that Mainers aren't. Dunlap's embrace of this vile human is disqualifying," NRCC Spokeswoman Maureen O'Toole charged last week.

A week ago, amid a wave of Democrats calling on Platner to call it quits, Dunlap said in a statement, "The allegations reported today are serious, and they deserve to be treated with the gravity they warrant. As such, I am calling on Graham Platner to withdraw from the race for Senate so we can all come together behind a nominee who can successfully carry the torch in November."

Burke, Dunlap's campaign manager, is pushing back against the GOP's incoming fire.

"Paul LePage is an absolute fraud. He abandoned Maine, moved to Florida, and pocketed a Florida homestead tax break every year since he left," Burke charged, as he pointed to past scrutiny LePage faced after he and his wife utilized a Florida homestead tax break on their Ormond Beach property for several years.

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Burke argued that "LePage might as well start packing his bags for Florida now — these so-called attacks are desperate and weak."

Democrats also question how effective any concerted push by the GOP to use Platner as ammunition may be with voters this autumn.

"Battleground district voters don't care about Graham Platner, CJ Warnke, communications director at the House Majority PAC, the top super PAC supporting congressional Democrats, told Fox News Digital in a statement.

Warnke, pivoting to affordability, argued that voters "care about how Republicans broke their promise lower costs by passing a toxic agenda of tariffs, new wars, and devastating health care cuts. Meanwhile, Democrats are running on making life more affordable and rooting out corruption, and in November we're going to win."

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Three top nonpartisan political handicappers currently give the advantage in the Maine congressional showdown to LePage.

The Cook Political Report and Inside Elections rank the race as Likely Republican, with Sabato's Crystal Ball at the Center for Politics rates it as Leans Republican.

MAJORITY LEADER THUNE: Lindsey Graham was the GOP’s glue, binding us together with courage and grace

Tue, 14 Jul 2026 05:00:47 -0400

In the tragic and sudden loss of Sen. Lindsey Graham, America has lost one of its greatest patriots. I have lost a dear friend. And the Republican Party has lost a champion.

Much will rightfully be written about Lindsey’s strong advocacy on behalf of the United States and freedom-loving people around the world. There was no bigger believer in America’s role in the world. In uniform and in Congress, Lindsey dedicated his life to the mission that America was a singular force for good.

I was blessed to travel with Lindsey on several occasions, and while there was always a lot made of his support for American hard power, he also was a big believer in the use of soft power — America’s economic, diplomatic, and political solutions to the world’s problems.

LINDSEY GRAHAM, SOUTH CAROLINA SENATOR WHO ROSE FROM SMALL-TOWN ROOTS TO GOP POWER BROKER, DIES AT 71

Lindsey was a statesman, and he will be mourned the world over. I expect that nearly every living American president has taken advice from Lindsey Graham, whether they care to admit it or not. Heads of state came to respect his opinion and seek his counsel because of his undeniable influence on American foreign policy.

But the most profound sting of this great loss will be felt here at home and within the Republican Party. Lindsey was our glue. He spoke fluently to every corner of our big-tent party, and to those of us who had the privilege of serving with him, we were blessed to call him a friend first and a colleague second. Even in the most stressful situations, Lindsey was adept at bringing out a laugh and putting a smile on your face.

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If you were putting together a dinner of colleagues, Lindsey was the first person you called. He was always entertaining and never pretentious. To me, he was a loyal friend, a trusted adviser and someone who always called them as he saw them.

He was as transparent as they come — he never minced words or pulled punches. When he was against you, he let you know. When he was on your side, he was your greatest ally. And if his convictions demanded that he stand on an island, he did that too. What you saw was what you got. He was respected for it.

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And when Lindsey set his sights on a goal, watch out — because nothing was going to stand in his way. His relentless work ethic paved the way for generations of conservative policy victories.

One doesn’t need to look far to see Lindsey’s remarkable contributions to our party and his outsized role in passing the Republican agenda.

In this Congress alone, he and his team at the Budget Committee shepherded three budget resolutions and two reconciliation bills through laborious, all-night vote-a-rama sessions. No Senate has ever held more vote-a-ramas in modern history, and that wouldn’t have been possible without Lindsey’s persistence and determination. He and his team led our conference through incredibly high-stakes, fraught negotiations and floor processes. And because of that, generations of Americans will have greater national, economic and financial security.

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But this was the leadership that we knew to expect from Lindsey Graham. As a former chairman of the Judiciary Committee, Lindsey was passionate about the rule of law and an independent judiciary. His influence on the judicial system will undeniably last for generations. After all, virtually every judicial nominee for the last 20 years has had to withstand his questioning and work to earn his support.

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I am grateful for all the ways Lindsey gave to America and Americans. His mark on history and his impact on the conservative movement will be well documented, but I will be equally, if not more, grateful for the mark he left on my life. Thank you, Lindsey, for being a true and loyal friend, and thank you for always making me laugh.

Rest in peace, my friend.

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM SENATE MAJORITY LEADER JOHN THUNE

LIZ PEEK: Democrats’ affordability scam collapses in states they actually run

Tue, 14 Jul 2026 05:00:44 -0400

Democrats are lying to voters, claiming to be the party that can deliver "affordability." Nothing could be farther from the truth.

In January, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer promised the nation that if Democrats capture the majority in the Senate, "lowering costs will be our North Star."

In February, the chair of the House New Democrat Coalition rolled out its "Affordability Agenda," proclaiming, "That's why we are committed to taking on the cost-of-living crisis to make it easier for people to afford their home, pay for health care, keep the lights on, and build a better future."

WE ASKED AMERICANS TO GRADE THE ECONOMY. THEN WE ASKED IF IT WOULD CHANGE THEIR VOTE

Where were these inflation hawks during Joe Biden’s four years in the White House, when the Consumer Price Index soared above 9%, the highest in more than 40 years, and the cost of living rose more than 20%?

After winning New York City’s Democratic mayoral primary last year, Zohran Mamdani claimed, "We have won because New Yorkers have stood up for a city they can afford." He forgot to mention that Democrats have been in charge of New York for decades, helping make the city unaffordable.

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This is a fact: Democrat-run cities and states are, with few exceptions, the most expensive in the nation. The reasons include pro-labor rules that drive up wages and costs, regulatory overreach that creates hurdles and delays, energy policies that inflate electricity and gasoline bills, and reckless spending, which leads to high taxes. High taxes, another Democrat specialty, inflate the price of everything as they are passed along to the consumer.

A new study from CNBC ranking states on the cost of living proves the point. The report is part of its bigger analysis of which states are the most business-friendly. The inclusion makes sense. If your company wants to compete, you’ll need to hire people who will balk at moving to a state where everything costs more. Your bottom line will reflect not only the need to pay higher wages but also local expenses. In other words, a state that lets costs spiral out of control hurts its residents directly and indirectly; in addition to punishing consumers, a higher cost of living will drive businesses away, meaning fewer jobs and income opportunities for those who remain.

CNBC finds that nine out of 10 of the most expensive states are run by Democrats, while Republican-led states are the most affordable. Included in the top 10 costliest states are California, Colorado, Hawaii, Oregon, New York, Rhode Island, Connecticut, Washington and Illinois. All have above-average rents and other costs. All have Democratic governors, and most have Democratic supermajorities in their state legislatures.

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While the high cost of living in some states, like Hawaii, can be excused as partly the fault of geography, the most expensive states mainly earned that ignoble title because Democrat policies have pushed prices for housing and other necessities higher.

The only GOP-led state to make the list is Florida, which has become a victim of its own success. Millions of people and thousands of companies have moved to the Sunshine State in recent years, drawn to its low-tax, business-friendly climate. The influx, combined with several destructive hurricanes that have battered the state, has sent rents and insurance costs soaring.

California, not surprisingly, is the most expensive state in the nation. Monthly housing costs are the highest in the U.S.; 40% of Golden State residents pay more than 30% of their incomes on housing. Why? According to RAND researchers, "California’s affordable housing costs $640 per square foot to build, compared with $228 for market-rate housing in Texas."

That cost differential stems in part from California’s slow permitting timelines; the typical California development takes 49 months, compared with just 27 months in Texas. In building, time is money. RAND concludes those delays impose "a substantial ‘time tax’ of $1,284 per unit, per month."

CNBC analysts award California an "F" for its cost of living and its business-friendliness. The monthly energy bill in the Golden State averages $373, compared with $149 in Colorado, for instance, or $276 in New York. The price of gasoline is $5.39 per gallon, far higher than the national average of $3.87.

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It is not an accident that California has high energy costs, any more than it is simply coincidence that rents in Democrat-run Illinois are 40% higher than in neighboring GOP-run Ohio. Policies matter. California has tried to shift consumers to electric vehicles and away from fossil fuels, abandoning the state’s abundant supply of oil and gas. To that end, the state has imposed a 92-cent-per-gallon tax on gasoline, the highest in the U.S.

Nearly all Democratic states impose higher rents on residents because they favor strict local zoning laws and pro-union rules that drive up the cost of construction. In addition, many have high property taxes, which are passed on to renters.

High wages mandated by minimum wage laws and restrictions on nonunion labor would seem to be a good thing, but not when they lead to above-average unemployment. California, which has passed legislation driving up wages for hourly employees, has an unemployment rate of 5.3%, compared with the national average of 4.2%. All the top 10 most expensive states have unemployment rates above the U.S. average except Hawaii and Colorado. Getting paid more is great, but only if you have a job.

Which states are the most affordable? Missouri, Ohio, Indiana, Alabama, West Virginia, Kansas, Iowa, Wyoming, South Dakota and North Dakota. What do they have in common? Most, including Kansas, have Republican supermajorities in their state legislatures; all but Kansas have a Republican governor.

The late Daniel Patrick Moynihan, a longtime U.S. senator from New York, famously said, "Everyone is entitled to his own opinion, but not to his own facts."

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The next time a Democrat campaigns on "affordability," remember who oversees the most expensive communities in the country.

Facts matter, and so do policies.

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Notable figures who died from the same heart condition linked to Lindsey Graham's death

Tue, 14 Jul 2026 05:00:44 -0400

Sen. Lindsey Graham's sudden death has renewed attention on a rare but often deadly cardiovascular emergency known as aortic dissection.

The cause of death was identified as an aortic dissection due to arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease, according to a statement released by Graham's office on Sunday, citing preliminary findings from the District of Columbia's Office of the Chief Medical Examiner.

"It occurs when the layers of the aorta (the body's largest artery) come apart and the inner one tears," Fox News senior medical analyst Dr. Marc Siegel, who did not treat Graham, told Fox News Digital.

HEART CONDITION TIED TO LINDSEY GRAHAM'S DEATH CAN STRIKE WITHOUT WARNING — WHAT TO KNOW

"It can come on in minutes or days and may be hard to recognize," added the doctor, noting that while dissections can evolve over time, symptoms often appear suddenly.

Graham, 71, is not the only notable figure to have died from an aortic dissection. Below are three other celebrities and public officials whose deaths were linked to the same life-threatening condition.

1. John Ritter

Actor John Ritter, best known for his role in the hit sitcom "Three’s Company," died from an aortic dissection on Sept. 11, 2003.

According to The John Ritter Foundation for Aortic Health, the actor was taken to the hospital after experiencing symptoms later identified as a type A aortic dissection. The nonprofit, founded in his honor, later said Graham's death has brought "needed attention" to the condition.

Type A dissections involve the ascending (upper) aorta near the heart, which typically require emergency surgery.

At the time of his death, Ritter was filming the sitcom "8 Simple Rules…for Dating My Teenage Daughter," co-starring Kaley Cuoco.

MEDICAL EXAMINER RELEASES PRELIMINARY FINDINGS IN LINDSEY GRAHAM'S DEATH AS DEATH CERTIFICATE REMAINS PENDING

The actor was initially treated for a presumed heart attack, but passed away that night as his condition worsened.

In a press release, The John Ritter Foundation (JRF) – a nonprofit founded in his honor to fund research and raise awareness for the condition – extended its condolences to Graham’s family.

"These deaths underscore that aortic dissections are not a rare cause of death," Meredith Ford O'Neal, CEO of The John Ritter Foundation for Aortic Health, shared with Fox News Digital. "Deaths due to aortic dissections are preventable if individuals at risk are identified and properly treated."

"We hope this moment encourages people to learn the warning signs of aortic dissection, which includes an increased risk for family members of individuals who have had an aortic dissection."

2. Rep. Doug LaMalfa

Rep. Doug LaMalfa, R-Calif., died on Jan. 6, 2026, at age 65 from complications of an aortic dissection, according to the Butte County Sheriff's Office. Cardiomegaly (an enlarged heart) was listed as another significant condition, and his death was ruled natural.

LaMalfa, who represented California’s First Congressional District, was taken into emergency surgery but passed away during the procedure, according to a statement from the Butte County Sheriff’s Office.

A month later, the Butte County Sheriff's Office confirmed to People that his cause of death was complications of an aortic dissection. Cardiomegaly, or an enlarged heart, was also listed as a significant condition.

3. Alan Thicke

"Growing Pains" actor Alan Thicke died from an aortic dissection on Dec. 13, 2016, at the age of 69.

Thicke reportedly experienced chest pain while playing hockey with his son and was taken to the hospital.

The Los Angeles County coroner later determined that Thicke died from a ruptured aorta caused by a type A aortic dissection, according to ABC News.

Raising awareness

In a 2016 HCA Healthcare article, Nashville-based heart surgeon Dr. Grayson Wheatley reflected on Thicke’s "unfortunate" case.

YOUR RESTING HEART RATE COULD REVEAL MORE ABOUT YOUR HEALTH THAN YOU THINK, DOCTORS SAY

"I am sharing with you my expert thoughts based on limited information about Mr. Thicke’s case, but in light of an extensive career of treating hundreds of patients with aortic dissections, I can connect the dots in Mr. Thicke’s case from patterns that have emerged from treating similar patients with aortic dissections," he said.

Chest pain is often the first sign of a sudden tear or rip in the aorta, which can develop "within a few heartbeats," according to Wheatley.

"The pain associated with an aortic dissection is extreme," he said. "My patients describe it as so intense and sudden that it drops them to their knees. They literally fall to the ground and feel an intense tearing or ripping in their mid-upper back and/or chest."

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Once the dissection occurs, it becomes a "race against time" as the condition worsens, the doctor said.

Dr. Neel Mansukhani, a vascular surgeon at Northwestern Medicine in Chicago, shared why this condition can become life-threatening so quickly.

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"The aorta is the main blood vessel that comes off of the heart, and it runs like a pipe through your body," he told Fox News Digital. "Smaller blood vessels branch off to go to all your internal organs, arms, legs and brain."

"The aorta itself has three layers," the surgeon went on. "A tear in the lining of the aorta causes those layers to separate. It’s similar to paint peeling off a wall. And that brings a lot of consequences depending on where the tear is."

An enlarged aorta or damage to the vessel wall from cardiovascular disease can increase the likelihood of an aortic dissection, although age and high blood pressure remain the leading risk factors, Mansukhani said.

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"As we get older, blood vessels can weaken, and over time the constant pressure of blood flow can make the wall of the aorta more vulnerable to a dissection," he shared.

Type A dissections are "immediately life-threatening," as they are "right by the heart," according to the doctor.

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"It’s an emergency that usually needs surgery within 24 hours if a patient can tolerate that," he said. "A type B dissection is located further down from the heart. It can also be life-threatening, but does not usually need immediate surgery."

Although an aortic dissection often strikes without warning, maintaining cardiovascular health and monitoring conditions such as high blood pressure can help lower the risk, Mansukhani advised.

MORNING GLORY: The VP’s new book 'Communion' is not what the Beltway expected

Tue, 14 Jul 2026 05:00:13 -0400

Father Henry Stephan is one of the heroes of "Communion," the new book from Vice President J.D. Vance. Father Stephan was integral to the Vice President’s journey into the welcoming pews of the Catholic Church.

Even if you don’t buy "Communion," if you pass it displayed in an airport shop or find yourself in our dwindling number of actual bookstores, turn to page 163 and read the good Father’s additional explanation to the statement that "for most of us, grace is not something that happens in a moment."

"You don’t feel God’s presence and then change in an instant," begins Father Stephan’s longer explanation. But to quote him further would be to rob you of some of the surprising clarity of his explanation of "the road map to God." More of Father Stephan’s full reflection on grace might discourage you from actually reading the whole of Communion — which is actually four stories, artfully woven into one book.

'THE VIEW' CO-HOST WARNS AGAINST VANCE INTERVIEW BECOMING 'FREE-FOR-ALL' TO SELL BOOKS

The first story, and the one which stretches across all of its pages, is the Vice President’s lifelong quest to either accept or reject the idea of God and, having accepted it, the further account of how he landed in the Roman Catholic Church. Mass-attending "cradle Catholics" are likely to know at least a few converts, and their stories are often unique and uplifting. This one is most definitely that.

The second story is simply a love story. The Vice President recounts in loving detail how he fell — hard — for his wife Usha and how the beer-drinking Marine/Ohio State Buckeye-turned-Yale Law School hyper-ambitious-striver tricked the future clerk to Chief Justice John Roberts into moving to Cincinnati and marrying him.

There is also a third portion, a short but disquieting sharp meditation (at least to this Boomer because the VP may be right) on how Boomers may be overly attached to the assumptions about the West they were born into and have long believed and defended.

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That vision of the West actually succeeded in its long contest with the Soviet Union. That the principles and assumptions behind that success may now be an unconscious burden a that older generation, is a disquieting thought. The Boomer generation is well represented in the Senate from which the Vice President came, even after the sad passing of Senator Lindsey Graham. The Vice President suggests we ought to at least consider the cost of over-valuing the prized "the rules-based world order", which may in fact be gone and not coming back. A reader doesn’t have to be persuaded by that mediation to at least give it some much-needed consideration.

The Vice President’s succinct critique of what may be the sunk costs weighing on my generation may actually stop and oblige some "Reagan conservatives" to wonder for the first time about that possibility. That clutch of pages punches hard.

Most of my generation was indeed blind to what the global economy was doing to America’s heartland even as it super-charged China’s totalitarian quasi-empire expanded its power and unveiled its ambitions. The battle with the Soviet bloc was indeed existential, but it was also conclusively won.

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The collective sigh of relief and joy over the liberation of tens of millions when the Wall came down in 1989 and the USSR dissolved in 1991 may have, indeed, blinded those in the front rank of the fight as well as those at the tail end that the struggle to preserve "Western Christian civilization" had not ended with the fall of the wall, and that the rules of that long twilight battle may have changed if not evaporated. The recent and ongoing battle with Iran’s fanatical theocrats is a sharp reminder of the never-ending effort to preserve that treasury of that civilization unique to the West, one anchored in the Judeo-Christian worldview, but the threats it and its senior partners, China and Russia, are at least different in degree and maybe in kind.

Then there are occasional political riffs effortlessly woven into the book, each of which is integral to the story, but could each stand alone as the proposition for an Oxford Union debate, e.g. "Resolved: Western Civilization’s embrace of unrestricted immigration may have been, if not suicidal, then at least deeply and recklessly dangerous to its foundations." These are more reflections of a Catholic Christian than of a Republican politician, as is the brief but essential reflection on the widespread substitution of economic theory in the places where faith traditions once provided worldviews.

"One of the jobs of a Christian statesman," the Vice President writes, "is to preserve the social cohesion that makes charity and generosity possible." That is not the rhetoric of a stump speech, but the sort of conclusion one would expect from contemporary Christian essayists Rod Dreher or Ross Douthat, who are featured in the book.

As are St. Augustine, G.K. Chesterton, Rene Girard, and Pope Leo XIII. Who knew that a symposium on "Theology and Falsification" between Anthony Flew, R. M. Hare, and Basil Mitchell would challenge the reader to slow down and take a few passes over the text (and to look up and bookmark for later the transcript)?

This book is not the work of ghostwriters on a campaign timeline, but a spiritual biography that could actually spur many in the Vice President’s generation to actually articulate and grapple with the problems of meaning in an achievement-driven world, one that is changing at a pace so dizzyingly fast that young parents especially can be excused the raft of genuinely new fears that are additions to those fears felt by every generation of young parents. (You don’t actually have to have taken an 18 hour plane flight with three smalls to understand the Veep’s quip that there are more modern descriptions of Hell than a "lake of fire.")

For many recent decades, the heavy lifting of accessible writing about faith and public life has come from Douthat, Dreher, Ryan Anderson, Fran Maier, George Weigel and especially the now retired Archbishop of Philadelphia Charles Chaput.

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Before Archbishop Chaput and these elegant writers, there was Michael Novak and before him there was even the extraordinarily successful, in hindsight, Bishop Fulton Sheen’s television program. Pope (now Saint) John Paul II and Pope Benedict launched a thousand essays with their book-length works and their encyclicals inspired a new generation of vocations. Vice President Vance does not for a moment consider himself a theologian, but he is in the tradition of writers about faith who spur others to consider that, just perhaps, they ought to look further into this particular world.

(The Vice President, it is important to note, does not shy away from the horror of the Church’s awful scandal of the sexual abuse of children by priests but is rightfully outraged by it and persuasively condemnatory of those complicit in it and its cover-up. Good for him.)

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Throughout the book, though, there is a much-needed reminder that the marriages, children and multi-generational families that most likely to flourish in this wildly spinning world are those deeply rooted in the traditional Christian practice that has long defined America. And might yet again. Especially if more public figures thought as deeply and wrote as honestly about Jesus and the Church as does the Vice President.

The Vice President’s book tour did not often even pause on the substance of the book and the eternal questions of the purpose of man. For the benefit of would-be readers: "Communion" is not a book about political platforms or policy prescriptions. It is for Catholics, the Catholic-curious, or anyone interested in what comes after this one. If only to understand how such a search can unfold, "Communion" is an excellent addition to your nightstand.

Hugh Hewitt is a Fox News contributor and host of "The Hugh Hewitt Show" heard weekday afternoons from 3 PM to 6 PM ET on the Salem Radio Network, and simulcast on Salem News Channel. Hugh drives Americans home on the East Coast and to lunch on the West Coast on over 400 affiliates nationwide, and on all the streaming platforms where SNC can be seen. He is a frequent guest on the Fox News Channel’s news roundtable, hosted by Bret Baier weekdays at 6pm ET. A son of Ohio and a graduate of Harvard College and the University of Michigan Law School, Hewitt has been a Professor of Law at Chapman University’s Fowler School of Law since 1996 where he teaches Constitutional Law. Hewitt launched his eponymous radio show from Los Angeles in 1990. Hewitt has frequently appeared on every major national news television network, hosted television shows for PBS and MSNBC, written for every major American paper, has authored a dozen books and moderated a score of Republican candidate debates, most recently the November 2023 Republican presidential debate in Miami and four Republican presidential debates in the 2015-16 cycle. Hewitt focuses his radio show and his column on the Constitution, national security, American politics and the Cleveland Browns and Guardians. Hewitt has interviewed tens of thousands of guests from Democrats Hillary Clinton and John Kerry to Republican Presidents George W. Bush and Donald Trump over his 40 years in broadcasting. This column previews the lead story that will drive his radio/ TV show today.

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Deputy US Marshal fatally shot while serving arrest warrant in Louisiana

Tue, 14 Jul 2026 02:58:09 -0400

A Deputy U.S. Marshal was shot and killed on Monday while serving an arrest warrant in Alexandria, Louisiana, according to the U.S. Marshals Service.

The Rapides Parish Sheriff's Office said the incident happened at around 3 p.m. in the Rutland Road area, where authorities were attempting to arrest a wanted fugitive.

"Sheriff’s Detectives, along with members of the U.S. Marshals Violent Offender Task Force, were conducting a law enforcement operation in the Rutland Road area to arrest a wanted fugitive where an Officer Involved Shooting occurred," the sheriff's office said.

SUSPECT ALLEGEDLY GUNS DOWN DEPUTY IN AMBUSH DURING ROUTINE CALL THAT ROCKED QUIET TOWN, POLICE SAY

The suspect was taken into custody after a lengthy standoff, according to the sheriff's office.

Deputies said the suspect sustained injuries during the encounter and was transported to a local hospital for treatment.

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The FBI is leading an investigation into the killing of the deputy, while the sheriff's office is probing the shooting. Louisiana State Police are also assisting.

"The FBI responded to an incident this afternoon in Alexandria with the Alexandria Police Department, Rapides Parish Sheriff's Office, and Louisiana State Police," the FBI New Orleans Field Office said in a statement. "The FBI is now leading the investigation into an assault on a federal officer. Louisiana State Police is also investigating potential violations of state law. The subject, now under investigation, was taken into custody and there is no ongoing threat to the public. Because this is a very active and ongoing investigation we cannot comment further at this time."

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FBI Director Kash Patel said: "FBI is investigating and offering full resources to the Rapides Parish Sheriff’s Office and our brave partners the @USMarshalsHQ after one of their deputies was tragically killed today while serving an arrest warrant in Alexandria, Louisiana. Suspect is in custody. Please pray for the deputy’s family and friends."

Dog accidentally turns on toaster, sparking Maryland house fire that killed 3 family pets

Tue, 14 Jul 2026 01:15:32 -0400

A dog accidentally turned on a toaster inside a home in Maryland, igniting a fire and killing three other pets in the home, according to officials.

Fire crews responded to a house on 4319 Foxglove Court in Belcamp for a single-family dwelling fire shortly after 5:30 p.m. on Friday, according to the Abingdon Fire Company.

The crews were able to control the blaze in about 20 minutes.

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The owners were not home at the time of the fire, and no people were harmed, fire officials said, according to Fox 45.

Neighbors rescued two dogs from the home, but a third dog and two cats died in the fire, the outlet reported.

The family's bearded dragon was later found alive and survived after 24 hours in critical care.

Fire officials said the fire started in the kitchen before spreading to other parts of the home.

It was determined that one of the family's dogs jumped onto the kitchen counter and accidentally turned on the toaster, igniting nearby combustibles. The dog that switched on the toaster was one of the two that were rescued by neighbors.

The fire was recorded on a Ring home security camera, which showed the dog jumping on the counter and pawing at items and assisted deputy state fire marshals in determining the fire's point of origin, Fox 45 reported.

Deputy state fire marshals officially ruled the cause of the fire as accidental, according to the outlet.

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The house sustained extensive damage from fire, soot, smoke and water.

Officials estimated that about $150,000 worth of structural damage and $50,000 worth of damage to the contents of the home were caused by the blaze.

FBI, Atlanta police target unauthorized drones flying near World Cup venues

Mon, 13 Jul 2026 23:27:11 -0400

ATLANTA — The FBI and Atlanta Police Department are getting ready for a massive security operation ahead of the World Cup semifinals between England and Argentina at Atlanta Stadium.

Both agencies have used drones to search for potential threats on the ground and in the sky. The FBI is enforcing the Federal Aviation Administration's Temporary Flight Restrictions around the venue.

The FBI has confiscated more than 600 drones nationwide since the World Cup began. Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Atlanta Field Office Marlo Graham said 86 of those drones were seized in Atlanta.

Graham said the FBI uses a "mechanism" that allows agents to see unauthorized drones in restricted airspace. Agents then work to mitigate the threat posed by unknown drones.

"We've been able to safely land drones that have been unauthorized in the flight restricted area," Graham said.

While the FBI treats every drone as a potential threat, Graham said the threat level can increase depending on the size of the drone and how close it gets to the stadium.

"Obviously, the closer to the venue, the larger the crowd. We are fortunate here in Atlanta that we have a closed dome stadium," Graham said. "We don't want the game to be impacted because a hobbyist couldn't control their drone, and it lands right when one of our star players was getting ready to score a goal."

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The Atlanta Police Department's Drone Unit has helped the FBI track down people suspected of flying in restricted zones.

Sgt. Kindu Franklin said most of the people caught flying drones around World Cup venues are hobbyists with no intent to harm the crowd of soccer fans below.

"In some cases, they just recently bought a drone just for FIFA to get some of the cool footage that they want to put up on their social media," Franklin said. "There are different ways that you can weaponize these drones. So, we're operating in a proactive manner."

The Atlanta Police Department's drone mission is focused on surveillance. Officers are looking for potential threats, traffic issues and people the FBI suspects are flying drones illegally.

"So, what we want to do is give our command staff a view that they can't get from the ground," Sgt. James Cunningham with APD's Drone Unit said.

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Cunningham's unit can launch drones remotely from handheld controllers. Other drones are launched from docking stations strategically placed across the city, and officers control them from the back of an SUV using a computer and a PlayStation controller.

The drone docks are used year-round to help the police get an aerial view of emergency situations before officers arrive. The computer shows the drone pilot where all the police body cameras and vehicles are in the area, allowing them to communicate better with officers on the ground.

For the World Cup, the drone docks let the department have more eyes in the sky and respond to emergencies faster.

"It's going to cut down time. We're going to get there quick. And then you're going to get an aerial perspective of what you can't see on the ground," Cunningham said.

Cunningham said the drone unit has completed more than 1,400 flights and logged more than 550 flight hours since the beginning of June.

"Some people haven't even done that in years or haven't even reached those numbers in the life of their drone unit," Cunningham said.

"We train for the environment. We live here, so we know what to expect," Anais Paredes, an APD drone pilot, said.

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The FBI is asking that hobbyist drone pilots know the Temporary Flight Restrictions in their area before taking off.

There is a one-mile restriction around World Cup stadiums on non-match days, and a three-mile restriction on game day.

Cardinals' Jordan Walker stuns Philadelphia crowd with Home Run Derby walk-off over Phillies' Kyle Schwarber

Mon, 13 Jul 2026 23:00:04 -0400

St. Louis Cardinals budding star Jordan Walker broke the hearts of the Philadelphia Phillies faithful on Monday night, defeating Kyle Schwarber on a walk-off blast to win the 2026 Home Run Derby.

Walker hit 12 home runs in his final round, edging out Schwarber’s 11 in a new format from MLB. With his parents watching, Walker’s final home run hit the left field seats and he celebrated in the only way you do when you win the Home Run Derby to be crowned the league’s best slugger during All-Star weekend.

Once again, MLB introduced a new format to the Home Run Derby, this time giving all eight contestants 20 swings to hit as many home runs as possible. The one caveat: if your final swing results in a home run, you continue swinging until it doesn’t leave the yard.

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In this format, players didn’t have to battle a clock or focus on how far they hit balls to enter a bonus round. They could lock in and take their time if need be.

Boston Red Sox star Willson Contreras, who has been paramount in the team’s turnaround this season prior to hitting the All-Star break, set the tone with 13 homers in his 20 swings. But Walker matched him, as they both were the bar to reach to make it to the semifinals.

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Kansas City Royals’ Jac Caglianone hit the third deck in right field, but his eight homers weren’t enough to propel him to the next round. And Chicago White Sox new fan favorite Munetaka Murakami hit nine to at least give himself a chance.

But Tampa Bay Rays’ Junior Caminero belted 12 home runs following New York Yankees’ Ben Rice seven-homer showing. With three hitters in double digits, the hometown favorites, Schwarber and Bryce Harper, knew they could punch their own tickets to the next round.

Schwarber was first, hitting 10 home runs, which put some pressure on Harper. His Phillies teammate could either hit more than 10 to move on, or fall out himself.

Harper was only able to crush eight homers, leaving Schwarber as the final semifinalist. But he didn’t disappoint.

In the semifinals, 15 swings was now the cutoff, and Schwarber started to find his groove. The left-handed slugger was mashing balls into the stratosphere, bashing nine to set the tone against Contreras. The Red Sox star came close with eight homers, but it wasn’t enough as the Phillies star entered the finals to the delight of the Citizens Bank Park crowd.

In the other matchup, Walker continued his run, edging out Caminero 6-5 to put him in contention for the Home Run Derby trophy.

But once again, Schwarber, using the cheers from his crowd in Philly, was unstoppable. He bashed 11 of his 15 swings over the fence, putting immense pressure on Walker, who took swings second.

Walker was up to the challenge when it was his time to hit, hitting four homers to start things off. But with only seven left, Walker knew he needed to be perfect to reach Schwarber.

With just one swing left and seven homers, Walker had to make a run. The suspense was killer for all watching, as Walker managed to get to 10 home runs.

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As he took a couple pitches, Walker found every stitch of the blast that tied him with Schwarber, as the Phillies-heavy crowd murmured. Then, Walker, patient again, hit a moonshot to left field to ice his victory.

Walker is tied 10th in MLB this season with 22 home runs, while hitting .294 for the Cardinals with 74 RBI.

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WWE's Paul Heyman takes swipe at Conor McGregor injury on 'Monday Night Raw'

Mon, 13 Jul 2026 22:07:10 -0400

WWE legend Paul Heyman took a parting shot at UFC star Conor McGregor during a segment on "Monday Night Raw" as he welcomed The Vision back to the locker room.

Austin Theory, Maxxine Dupri, Bron Breakker and Logan Paul walked to the back glowing as the group embarrassed Otis and Akira Tozawa in the ring a few moments before. Heyman, who appears to be on the outs with the group, praised them for what they did.

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In Heyman’s speech, he praised Paul’s recovery time.

"Now that’s what I call a vision for the future," Heyman told the group. "Happy? Ecstatic. I’m more than proud, especially, of all of you. Bron Breakker showed everyone tonight you don’t mess around with Bron Breakker. Logan Paul is healing faster than Conor McGregor.

"You (Theory) stand by your woman, which makes me very proud of you young man. And Maxxine, wow."

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Paul has been recovering from a tricep injury he suffered earlier this year.

McGregor suffered a leg injury on Saturday night at UFC 329 when he tried to hit his opponent, Max Holloway, with a roundhouse kick. The fight was called in the first round. It was McGregor’s first fight in the Octagon in five years.

"My head gasket is gone. Destroyed," McGregor wrote on X after the fight. "I had no injury / injuries going into the fight. I was throwing kicks, planted and jumping, all throughout camp as well as backstage before the fight. This came out of nowhere. I am beyond dark here. I can only describe it as hell."

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He added, "I was so sharp and so ready for this fight I cannot believe what has happened. The talk of me being off while walking in to the fight is nonsense. I was calm, ready, and confident. I am in shock what has taken place. The devil is literally staring at me right in front of my face here. I am not engaging. I will be at church tomorrow. I will overcome this. I will not be deterred. I will return."

Hegseth announces joint task force with DOJ to prosecute leaks to journalists 'with the full force of the law'

Mon, 13 Jul 2026 21:13:26 -0400

Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth on Monday announced the creation of a joint task force with the Department of Justice to identify and prosecute officials who leak "sensitive information" to the media.

Hegseth said the Pentagon's Office of General Counsel (OGC) may request and receive all information, support and records across the department regarding news media leak investigations.

"To combat the dangers that leaks pose, effectively immediately, I have delegated tasking authority to the war department’s ‌office ⁠of general counsel, empowering OGC to request and receive all information, ⁠records and support across the department concerning media ⁠leak investigations," he said in a video shared on X.

"Leaked information risks lives, these new tools and processes will greatly assist us in protecting our joint force," Hegseth continued. "The security of our nation cannot be a bargaining chip for those who seek momentary headlines, access to confidential and secret information is a sacred trust, and those who betray that trust will be met with the full force of the law."

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The secretary also thanked Acting U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche for his support, adding that he was "proud that our departments are working together closer than we have ever before."

Hegseth's announcement comes just days after the DOJ issued subpoenas to four reporters at The New York Times, attempting to force them to testify before a federal grand jury after the newspaper reported on the security concerns involving the plane gifted to President Donald Trump by Qatar that he flew on to Turkey for a recent NATO summit.

The subpoenas were widely criticized by The New York Times, journalists at various news outlets and press freedom groups, arguing that the Trump administration is attempting to intimidate reporters conducting legitimate news-gathering about the government.

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"The appearance of federal law enforcement agents on the doorstep of news reporters should shock the conscience of any American who believes in the Constitution and the press freedom it protects," an attorney for the newspaper, David McCraw, said in a statement.

"Our journalists report the facts and advance the American public’s right to know how their government is operating and their taxpayer dollars are being used," McCraw added. "This brazen act should be seen as nothing more than an attempt to prevent the public from knowing what is happening in their country by intimidating journalists from doing their jobs."

Since taking over as head of the Pentagon last year, Hegseth has sought to crack down on leaks to the media.

Last year, the department opened investigations into those accused of leaking classified information to the press and threatened to conduct polygraphs to identify leakers.

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Hegseth has also attempted to impose restrictions on reporters covering the Pentagon. He had forced them to sign a pledge stating that they would not solicit any unauthorized material, even if the information was unclassified. Most Pentagon reporters turned in their press badges rather than accept the department's restrictions on news-gathering.

That policy is facing lawsuits, and a judge last month granted a preliminary injunction, ruling that the department's requirement that journalists be accompanied by an official chaperone at all times violated the First Amendment in response to a case brought by The New York Times.

CNBC survey mocked after ranking all red states as top 10 'worst places to live'

Mon, 13 Jul 2026 21:00:57 -0400

CNBC faced a wave of online mockery Monday after releasing its annual quality-of-life rankings, which exclusively placed conservative red states in all 10 spots of the "worst places to live" — even as official U.S. Census data shows some of those states are leading the nation in population growth.

Critics quickly took to social media to call out the outlet for what they alleged as blatant liberal bias embedded in its ranking criteria.

Counting down from the tenth-worst place to the first, CNBC ranked the bottom ten states as Arkansas, Oklahoma, Alabama, Missouri, Utah, Georgia, Louisiana, Indiana, Texas, and Tennessee. All 10 states are Republican-led and voted for President Donald Trump in 2024.

"CNBC is placing increasing emphasis on Quality of Life, one of the 10 categories of competitiveness in our annual America’s Top States for Business study," CNBC's report states. "It is our annual ranking of every state’s business climate, now in its 20th year. Under this year’s methodology, the category makes up 11.6% of a state’s overall score, up from about ten percent last year. To score the states for quality of life, we use hard data on factors like crime rates, air quality and healthcare. We also consider the cost and availability of childcare, inclusiveness of state laws, and reproductive rights."

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The list is a subset of CNBC’s annual "America’s Top States for Business" study. To determine its "Life, Health and Inclusion" category, the outlet utilizes criteria such as crime rates, air quality, healthcare, and childcare availability. The metric also factors heavily in ideological policies, explicitly penalizing states for lack of protections against discrimination and restrictive abortion laws.

"Some states offer exemplary quality of life. But these ten states do not make the grade," the CNBC report stated.

"CNBC just dropped their 2026 ‘10 Worst States to Live In’ list … and it’s pure comedy," conservative commentator Reverend Jordan Wells wrote on X. "Shocking. All deep red, conservative states. But somehow California and New York — with the highest taxes in the country, insane cost of living, and endless progressive policies — didn’t crack the top 10?"

"This is correct. Please believe this. Tennessee is HORRIBLE. You definitely shouldn’t move here…," conservative Newsmax contributor Chrissy Clark wrote with sarcasm.

The corporate media outlet took direct shots at local conservative legislation across the board.

Tennessee was dinged for the state's "bathroom law" — which requires transgender individuals to use facilities corresponding with their biological sex at birth — as well as a law barring localities from passing their own local antidiscrimination ordinances. The outlet also took aim at a joint resolution signed by Gov. Bill Lee this past April designating June as "Nuclear Family Month," while also noting it had low rankings for crime and drug deaths.

Utah, ranked sixth-worst, was hit for its $7.25 minimum wage, low availability of childcare providers and air quality. Georgia, the fifth-worst in the survey, was explicitly called out for offering "few protections for LGBTQ+ people, making it one of America's least inclusive states."

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Democratic California Gov. Gavin Newsom immediately seized on the study, taking to X to point out that every single state on the list leaned red.

"Notice something in common?" Newsom posted. "All led by Republicans — many suffering from California Derangement Syndrome."

However, conservatives and independent commentators noted that everyday Americans are "voting with their feet" against progressive governance.

"If you hate not paying income taxes, law and order, parental rights, smaller government, school choice, the Second Amendment, and criminal illegal aliens being arrested ... Here's another garbage list from the mainstream media!" Rep. Lance Gooden, R-Texas, posted.

"Actually I noticed something else: The list is a bulls••t list that has nothing to do with quality of life for sane people," countered conservative activist Robby Starbuck, a Tennessee resident. Starbuck, known for successfully leading major corporate boycotts against over-the-top DEI policies, added, "It’s all predicated on far left BS... Our states all gained population while YOUR state lost a record amount."

Media personality Patrick Bet-David cited the net migration gains of the states CNBC criticized, noting that Texas added over 67,000 residents and Tennessee added over 42,000. Georgia and Alabama also saw population influxes.

"'10 worst states' based on what? CNBC had ‘inclusivity’ as one of its criteria," Bet-David noted. "The numbers tell a different story."

The demographic shift highlights a broader post-pandemic exodus from historically blue strongholds. While regions across the South and Sun Belt experience economic and population booms, major progressive cities like Boston, Chicago, New York, and Los Angeles continue to bleed residents due to high taxes, rising crime, and astronomical costs of living.

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U.S. Census Bureau data reveals that Los Angeles County alone has watched its population shrink from roughly 10 million in 2020 down to about 9.7 million today, losing over 56,000 residents in just a single one-year stretch. Similarly, a recent study by the Citizens Budget Commission confirmed that New York City continues to suffer net negative migration, losing far more domestic residents than it gains.

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Fox News Digital reached out to CNBC for comment but did not immediately receive a response.

Singer Dave Matthews pauses concert to condemn ICE 'a--holes' for Houston death

Mon, 13 Jul 2026 20:53:50 -0400

Dave Matthews, lead singer of the Dave Matthews Band, condemned Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents as "a--holes" during a Friday concert.

"I don’t know why we let people make excuses for why we should kill each other, you know?" Matthews said. "There’s always reasons that we should kill each other. They tell our children and use their words when they — when they grow up. I wonder what’s wrong with us. I don’t know why we lost our way. So it feels — but maybe we’ve always been like this, we just got better at making things that can kill each other," he said in a viral video clip of the concert.

"Anyway, I wanted to say his name. I wrote it down so I didn’t forget it, this young man who was — well, old man, but we’re all young — this father and grandfather who was murdered by ICE in Houston, Texas. And then they say he’s not even the guy — he’s not even the guy they were looking for. Well, then don’t pull the trigger, you a--holes."

"So I just wanted to say, I’m sorry if that language offends his family or his friends or his community, but it’s just making me mad anyway, so I want to send this to the memory of Lorenzo Salgado Araujo, who was killed a few days ago in Houston by ICE," he added.

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Illegal immigrant Lorenzo Salgado Araujo, a Mexican citizen, was shot and killed in Houston after he allegedly tried to ram U.S. ICE officers during an operation, the agency said Tuesday. ICE officers were attempting to conduct a traffic stop at around 6:50 a.m., an ICE spokesperson told Fox News Digital.

Araujo tried evading the ICE officers when he "weaponized his vehicle in an attempt to run over an ICE law enforcement officer, resulting in our officer firing his weapon in self-defense."

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Matthews has condemned ICE agents before. After the killing of activist Renee Good in Minneapolis amid an altercation with ICE agents in February, he spoke out in a video on his Instagram.

"I don’t want my taxes to pay for ICE, to masked thugs to roam our streets and terrorize our communities and rip families apart. We should be taking care of each other. We should be minding each other. We should be housing the homeless. We shouldn’t be, you know, throwing people to the ground," he said.

"Which brings me to Renee Nicole Good," he continued. "Murdered in front of her fellow citizens in Minneapolis, murdered in the streets, and no matter what narrative this administration is trying to sell us, we can see the videos."

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Fox News Digital contacted ICE for comment but did not receive an immediate response.

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Fox News Digital's Louis Casiano contributed to this report.

Mamdani offers few answers as massive homeless encampment sprouts in west Manhattan

Mon, 13 Jul 2026 20:38:47 -0400

Mayor Zohran Mamdani on Monday offered few specifics about a sprawling homeless encampment that has grown near the Intrepid Museum despite repeated complaints from New York City residents.

The encampment stretches roughly 12 blocks along Manhattan's West Side, from 34th Street to 46th Street on 11th Avenue, according to the New York Post. The area is reportedly lined with tents, furniture, used needles and suspected stolen goods, while residents have also complained of open drug use and prostitution.

Asked about the encampment, which sits near a major tourist destination as the city welcomes visitors for the FIFA World Cup, Mamdani said the city was "going to look into the details of that."

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He said that under city rules, homeless encampments can be cleared only after the city's Department of Homeless Services (DHS) conducts daily outreach for seven days following an initial notice.

"The goal of that outreach is to ensure that we're building trust that we're actually able to connect those New Yorkers with services and that we can connect them with any other things that they need, whether it be medical care or whether it be housing support. And then by the 7th day, following the notice, the encampment will be cleared," Mamdani said.

"We are focused on connecting New Yorkers to shelters and on establishing a pipeline to stable housing, not just moving New Yorkers from one place to another place," he added.

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According to The Post, the encampment has been growing for weeks, with nearby workers saying the population has steadily increased.

"These people have been here forever," one employee at the Intrepid Museum told the outlet.

A maintenance supervisor at the nearby Jacob K. Javits Convention Center told the outlet that despite repeated efforts to clear sections of the encampment, the camp continues to spread.

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"This is crazy," the worker said. "The cops and the sanitation guys and the outreach guys, they clean up one spot and after that day, the next day they’re over here. Then they’re over there. They’re kind of just spreading around."

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"We kicked them out, now they’re over here," the worker added. "One thing is for sure though, there are more today than there were last month, that’s for sure."

City records show there were 48 complaints related to homelessness along the affected stretch of the West Side through the city's 311 system this year, including 30 filed last month alone, the Post reported.

Caitlin Clark helps WNBA hit historic late-night cable number despite limited return in LA

Mon, 13 Jul 2026 20:21:18 -0400

The WNBA has another Caitlin Clark television number to celebrate.

And this one might be even more impressive than some of the bigger ones.

Clark and the Indiana Fever helped deliver an average audience of 1.04 million viewers for Wednesday night’s game against the Los Angeles Sparks, according to USA Sports PR.

The Fever lost, 106-92, and Clark played just 16 minutes in her return from a back injury that had kept her out for the previous two weeks. But that feels secondary to the bigger story here.

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One million viewers is a monster number for the WNBA under almost any circumstance.

But these weren't exactly favorable circumstances.

The game aired across USA Network and CNBC. Clark has drawn much bigger numbers on broadcast television, but this was cable-only.

Additionally, this was not a weekend showcase game. It didn't even air in a friendly weeknight window. The game, played in Los Angeles, started on a Wednesday night at 10 p.m. ET.

And it still averaged more than one million viewers.

According to USA Sports PR, citing Nielsen Big Data + Panel data, Fever-Sparks was the network’s most-watched WNBA game on record, up 149% compared to the 2025 cable average. The network also said it marked the first time in WNBA history that a game with a 10 p.m. ET start averaged at least one million viewers.

That’s a pretty big deal.

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Indiana’s opening-weekend game against the Dallas Wings averaged 2.49 million viewers on ABC, making it the league’s fourth-largest audience, including playoffs and All-Star Games, since 2000. Clark and the Fever later averaged 2.56 million viewers for a CBS game against the New York Liberty, the third-largest WNBA audience of any kind since 2000.

Those were massive numbers, obviously, and they speak to Clark's immense popularity.

While the Fever-Sparks number says something different, it shouldn't be considered any less important. In a way, it's more impressive than those previous highs.

This data shows that Clark can drag the WNBA to a seven-figure TV audience even in a brutal East Coast television window, on cable, in the middle of the week.

Before Clark arrived, the WNBA went nearly 16 years without a single game averaging a million viewers. The previous seven-figure game came in 2008, when Candace Parker’s professional debut averaged 1.07 million viewers on ABC.

That was the old ceiling, and it took a highly-anticipated rookie debut airing at 3:30 p.m. ET on a Saturday afternoon on a major broadcast network.

Now, when Clark is involved, one million viewers on cable at 10 p.m. ET is apparently in play.

The game itself wasn't even great for Clark or the Fever. The star guard returned from a back injury aggravated during the June 24 game against the Phoenix Mercury and scored just nine points in 16 minutes. Indiana trailed the entire second half and never got closer than a nine-point deficit in the fourth quarter.

The WNBA and its media supporters continue trying to sell the league’s boom as a broader women’s basketball story. There's some truth to that. The league is clearly in a better position now than it was a few years ago. The product has more visibility than ever.

But the biggest television numbers continue to point to Clark.

Sports Media Watch noted that the five most-watched WNBA games this season have all featured Indiana.

There is an interesting wrinkle there, too. The Fever have started to draw strong numbers even when Clark is not playing.

Indiana’s July 5 game against the Las Vegas Aces, without Clark, averaged 1.55 million viewers on ESPN’s "Women’s Sports Sundays," making it the biggest cable or streaming WNBA audience of the season at the time.

But that isn't the anti-Clark argument some people seem to think it is.

It’s actually the opposite.

Clark has turned the Fever into the WNBA’s most important television brand. The team now carries national interest in a way it never did before she arrived. If anything, it's more of a pro-Clark argument. She generated so much interest in the Fever that people are willing to watch even when she's not playing.

Fever games without Clark are drawing bigger numbers than non-Fever games, too. So this isn't simply a case of the entire WNBA drawing bigger audiences.

The 1.55 million viewers on July 5 was more viewers than the previous two "Women’s Sports Sundays" on ESPN drew combined. Neither of those games, Liberty-Valkyries (743,000 viewers) and Liberty-Sparks (778,000), included the Fever.

The WNBA is growing. Even drawing over 700,000 viewers for non-Fever games is a massive increase over the pre-Clark era.

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But every time the league gets another historic TV rating, there's a common denominator.

Her name is Caitlin Clark.

Ivy League professor rips university for lackluster response to alleged mass AI cheating

Mon, 13 Jul 2026 20:10:20 -0400

Brown University economics professor Roberto Serrano criticized his school on Sunday for its slow response to a massive artificial intelligence (AI) cheating scandal among his students earlier this year.

In an op-ed for The Free Press, Serrano recounted that he announced that after a deadly shooting took place on campus in December, he opted to move his in-class midterm and final exam to an online, take-home format for the upcoming semester. As a result, he saw his course enrollment jump to 86 students, beating the course's previous record of 30 students enrolled at one time.

Serrano reported that the average grade of the online midterm was 96, significantly higher than the previous years' average of between 65 and 80. He also found that 40 students achieved a perfect score and detected answers that resembled responses provided by ChatGPT.

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As a result, he announced that the final exam would return to an in-person format and that the midterm scores would be declared void if they did not resemble the average final scores. After this decision, Serrano found that only 59 students took the final exam, leading to an average grade of 48.6 with a maximum score of 95 and minimum of zero.

Of the 27 students who dropped the course and the final exam, Serrano noted, 22 had received a perfect score on the midterm exam.

Despite providing his findings to Brown University's Committee on the Academic Code and the campus paper, The Brown Daily Herald, which previously reported on campus-wide cheating in April, Serrano wrote that he did not receive any acknowledgment from the school regarding his evidence until the story went viral last month.

95% OF FACULTY SAY AI MAKING STUDENTS DANGEROUSLY DEPENDENT ON TECHNOLOGY FOR LEARNING: SURVEY

"Academia is supposed to be one of our great beacons of truth," Serrano wrote. "We cannot afford to tolerate or reinforce such appallingly low moral values among many of our best young minds. What happened in my class should be a lesson to all: In our new AI era, if you do not expose and punish cheating, you will encourage it. We must all have the strength to choose otherwise."

In a comment to Fox News Digital, Brown University maintained that it has been "consistently responsive" to Serrano's concerns regarding AI cheating.

"Multiple academic leaders from Brown were in touch in May 2026 with the professor to provide details about how the allegations raised could be formally adjudicated. On July 8, the professor provided the necessary details to the Standing Committee on the Academic Code to pursue this path toward resolution. With the required information now in hand, the committee is now moving forward according to its procedures," the statement read.

AI-DRIVEN SCHOOL EXPANDING TO MAJOR US CITIES DESPITE UNION PUSHBACK

Serrano originally shared his story and evidence with El Pais on June 28. Three days after the story was published, he said he received contact from the Brown University committee on his claims, asking for more evidence. Serrano wrote that after his story was shared by Inside Higher Ed last week, the school committed to investigating his claims and the students involved.

"I am very grateful that they finally took this step. But there is no doubt in my mind that nothing would have happened if I had not decided to go public. Brown, like other schools, is struggling with how to integrate AI so that it advances rather than compromises the university’s mission," Serrano wrote.

When reached for a comment by Fox News Digital, Serrano referred to his op-ed.

In his piece, Serrano addressed concerns of students using AI to cheat in classes, dismissing suggestions that they were using it to relieve pressure.

"A competitive environment has existed in society since the dawn of civilization," Serrano wrote. "There is no plausible reason to use it as a cheap excuse for cheating. Moreover, my midterm exam gave students virtually unlimited time. They were not using AI as a last resort to handle immense pressure; they were engaging in a deliberate act of cheating — in some cases, to take their grade all the way to 100 percent."

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He added, "Of course, we cannot be so naive as to think that people are never going to cheat when given the opportunity. Particularly these days, AI has dramatically reduced the difficulty of cheating, making it much easier to succumb to the temptation to do so. The only solution, then, is to impose the right incentives to influence behavior in a better direction."

Nikki Bella throws out the bat signal again and says she's still willing to risk it all for Batman

Mon, 13 Jul 2026 20:04:13 -0400

Nikki Bella once confessed to having a crush on Batman, if you can call it that. She said she would risk it all, including removing certain articles of clothing for the superhero.

That offer, she revealed during a recent episode of "The Nikki & Brie Show", still stands. She flipped the switch on the bat signal during a segment on the podcast called "Who said it?"

The twins try to guess which one of them made a memorable quote during past episodes. The fifth quote was, "Okay, well I would 1,000 percent risk it all and panty drop for Batman."

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Before Brie could even finish reading it, Nikki was smiling. She knew the quote belonged to her, and she knew that the offer to risk it all and panty drop for The Caped Crusader still stands.

"Obviously, that was me because it went everywhere. So, yeah, me," Nikki said after listening to the quote. "Guess what? Still would... Where's Batman?"

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Any Batman answering the bat-signal should keep it classy

Where is Batman? And an even better question to ask is which Batman is she referring to? Are we talking strictly about the comics? Is there a certain actor who played the role that this bat-signal is meant for?

She is a WWE Hall of Famer and, because of that, I'm assuming it's one of those options. I doubt risking it all applies to just anyone deciding that they want to pick up a costume to try and answer her bat-signal.

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Having said that, I'm sure several attempts will be made by those very people and I wish those who keep it classy well. I'd say be realistic about your chances, but I know that isn't going to happen.

Good luck to Nikki on her quest to find Batman and, hopefully, she's back in the ring soon making outrageous statements there and not just on her podcast.

Bill Belichick's daughter-in-law faces arrest order in North Carolina after skipping court appearance: report

Mon, 13 Jul 2026 19:55:14 -0400

A North Carolina judge reportedly issued an order of the arrest of Bill Belichick’s daughter-in-law on Monday after she allegedly failed to show up for court over a speeding violation.

Jen Belichick, the wife of North Carolina Tar Heels football defensive coordinator Steve Belichick, was stopped by the North Carolina State Highway Patrol on May 21 for allegedly driving 88 mph in a 70 mph in Brunswick County, the California Post reported, citing court records.

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She was cited for misdemeanor speeding and was due to appear in court Friday.

Belichick didn’t show up to court, which led to the order for her arrest. A court official told the California Post that she has three options, now. She could file a motion to recall the order, hire an attorney to defend her in the case or turn herself in to authorities.

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She has not commented on the order. Fox News Digital reached out to a Brunswick County clerk for comment.

She’s been married to Steve Belichick for about 10 years and the two have multiple children together. For more than a year, she’s seemingly been in a feud with Bill Belichick’s girlfriend, Jordon Hudson.

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Jen Belichick slammed Hudson over her decision to cut off an interview question when Bill Belichick sat down with CBS News in May 2025. She reportedly had a confrontation with Hudson inside the Tar Heels head coach’s office over a number of issues.

Donald Trump accuses 'fake news' of wanting US to lose Iran war, blasts NYT reporting

Mon, 13 Jul 2026 19:22:30 -0400

President Donald Trump accused the "fake news" media of wanting the United States to lose its war with Iran during a Monday interview with conservative radio host Hugh Hewitt, as he defended the military campaign and threatened another wave of strikes against Tehran.

Trump argued that Iran's military had been decimated but continued to receive favorable news coverage.

"All they do is talk and they have fake press. They do very well with the fake press, but because the fake news wants us to lose," Trump said.

TRUMP HAS IRAN ON THE ROPES — AND CRITICS STILL DON’T GET HIS EDGE

The president singled out The New York Times while claiming the newspaper had recently reported that Iran was in a stronger position than it had been before the U.S.-Israeli military campaign began.

"It’s not even, I mean, The New York Times, they actually said a week ago — I can’t imagine they say it now, but think of it. They have no Navy, have no Air Force, have no anything. They have no military, they have nothing," Trump said.

He also cited what he described as surging inflation in Iran while continuing his criticism of the Times.

TRUMP’S 'ECONOMIC FURY' SQUEEZES IRAN — BUT CAN TEHRAN OUTLAST THE PRESSURE?

"And the Times said, and their inflation, by the way, just hit 301%, from 5%. They said, ‘Oh, they’re in better shape now than they were four months ago before I started,’" Trump said.

Trump did not identify the specific Times article or author he was referencing.

The president warned that additional American attacks were imminent following renewed exchanges of missile and drone strikes between the two countries.

"We’re going to hit them very hard tonight, and we’re going to hit them hard tomorrow, and there’s not a damn thing they can do about it," Trump said.

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Trump specifically floated striking Pickaxe Mountain, a heavily fortified underground complex near Iran’s damaged Natanz uranium enrichment facility.

"Pickaxe is a possible, you know, a possible target for a nice big fat shot right near the front door," he said.

The president said American surveillance capabilities were tracking the location and claimed Iran had not resumed nuclear development there.

"We’re watching it closely. We see no activity there. They’re not doing well with their nuclear. Every time we hear about it, we blow it up, so they don't like talking about it, but we'll probably give Pickaxe a shot relatively soon," Trump said.

Pickaxe Mountain contains two deeply buried tunnel complexes that experts assess may be beyond the reach of the powerful bunker-busting bombs in the U.S. arsenal, according to Reuters.

International Atomic Energy Agency inspectors had never been granted access to Pickaxe Mountain. Analysis of satellite imagery from late June showed vehicle activity near the site's western tunnel entrances and possible continuing construction or fortification work.

Trump also argued that Iran’s leaders could not be trusted with nuclear weapons.

"And frankly, if they ever had a nuclear weapon, they’d use it within one day," Trump said.

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Trump’s remarks came as U.S. Central Command announced that it would resume its blockade of vessels traveling to or from Iranian ports Tuesday. The military said humanitarian shipments would be allowed through but warned that force could be used against ships that failed to comply.

Bryce Harper blames FanDuel for Cameo controversy after reading sportsbook's name on camera

Mon, 13 Jul 2026 19:16:58 -0400

Philadelphia Phillies star Bryce Harper is scrambling to explain his role in Major League Baseball's latest sports betting controversy.

Harper finally broke his silence over a controversial Cameo video he recorded in November 2024 for gambler Terry Thompson.

Harper says he believed he was recording a holiday greeting.

Instead, the message landed in the middle of a lawsuit alleging FanDuel targeted Thompson, who wagered $18.5 million with sportsbooks and lost more than $1.5 million on the platform alone.

Thompson's lawsuit against FanDuel and several other defendants has now dragged Harper into the middle of the controversy.

FANDUEL, BRYCE HARPER VIDEO TO LOSING GAMBLER REINFORCES THE GREED OF THE MLB, SPORTSBOOKS AND THE UNION

Facing intense public scrutiny, Harper released a statement on his Instagram Stories and attempted to distance himself from FanDuel.

"I joined Cameo to engage with fans through paid personalized videos," Harper wrote. "What happened here went beyond anything I knew about or approved."

BRYCE HARPER VIDEO TO FANDUEL USER WITH GAMBLING ADDICTION UNDER REVIEW BY PENNSYLVANIA OFFICIALS

Harper claimed he received what appeared to be a personal request, rather than a corporate business order, to wish "Terry" a happy Thanksgiving.

"FanDuel then put its own logo on the video and used it as a gambling promotion," Harper wrote. "I did not know FanDuel would do this, I did not consent to it, and FanDuel had no right to do it."

There is a glaring problem with Harper's explanation.

The instructions he received, and the exact script he read on camera, explicitly mentioned the sportsbook.

In the footage, Harper looks into the lens and tells Thompson he is reaching out because "your host Bryttanni from FanDuel" wanted to ensure he had an extra-special holiday.

It is difficult to claim complete ignorance when you actively read the words "from FanDuel" out loud.

Harper said he read the script "in good faith."

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But for a superstar like Harper, reading a sportsbook's name in a paid video without asking a single question is a tough look.

Now, attention turns to whether Major League Baseball takes a closer look.

The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board is already investigating FanDuel's use of celebrity messages to target high-roller VIP bettors.

Whether Major League Baseball believes Harper crossed any line remains to be seen. While Harper did not bet on baseball, the situation is likely to draw attention because it involves a promotional message tied to a sportsbook.

Fox News Digital/OutKick reached out to FanDuel, the Phillies and Harper's rep for comment.

At best, Harper was incredibly naive.

He failed to recognize that a script referencing a "FanDuel host" amounted to a gambling promotion.

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At worst, he accepted a paid request without asking enough questions and is now backtracking after the ugly reality of sports betting addiction landed in the spotlight.

Either way, it is a bad look for one of baseball's biggest stars. Next time, Harper might want to read the fine print before hitting record.

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

FIFA eyes World Cup format expansion from 48 to 64 teams: Should the US be the permanent host?

Mon, 13 Jul 2026 19:06:07 -0400

After widespread complaints and consternation around the 2026 FIFA World Cup from European fans, commentators, and certain domestic sportswriters, there's no question that this year's tournament has been a gigantic, tremendous success.

The group stage alone set an attendance record for any World Cup, as fans from around the world traveled to the United States to see their teams play. Local fans turned out in full force as well, with neutral fans spending gigantic sums of money on tickets just to see the top level of international soccer.

Ratings have been massive, with the U.S. men's national team breaking records for most-watched English-language soccer broadcast during their loss to Belgium.

USA-BELGIUM BECOMES MOST-WATCHED SOCCER TELECAST IN US HISTORY WITH STAGGERING VIEWERSHIP NUMBERS

One of the changes to the format in 2026 was the expansion to 48 teams from the traditional 32. While many purists were skeptical, for the most part, it's been viewed as a success. Though it limits the likelihood of a major tournament favorite going out in the Group Stage, it's allowed smaller countries to participate and in some cases, become surprising fan-favorites. Cape Verde, for example, not only advanced past the first round, but pushed Argentina to the brink.

And FIFA, an organization never shy about looking to enhance its financial picture, wants to take advantage. Gianni Infantino, FIFA's president, acknowledged that discussions will start immediately about future expansion.

"This is certainly an issue that will be looked at and discussed in the relevant committees after this World Cup," he told Swiss broadcaster Blue Sport when asked about reports of a 64-team format. "When you organize a World Cup, it's important that you organize it for the whole world. It's not just Europe and South America, but the entire world, effectively. Every nation should be able to dream of taking part in the World Cup.

"We can see that the quality of the teams is extremely high, and it's getting higher and higher everywhere in the world. If you don't give smaller countries the chance to participate in the World Cup, they also lose the incentive to keep improving."

That makes some sense, both competitively and financially. More teams means more games. More games means more broadcasts, higher fees, and more fans buying tickets. But Infantino is also correct that, for soccer's international governing body, encouraging more participation and investment is important and valuable.

That said, there are two other major issues that arise from a 64-team format. The years-long qualifying format will become a bit of a farce, as virtually every big country would now qualify easily. And, for those same angry Europeans, how many countries have the number of venues necessary to hold a 64-team tournament in just over a month?

DEMOCRATS REPORTEDLY FORCED TO 'GRAPPLE UNCOMFORTABLY' WITH WORLD CUP SUCCESS UNDER DONALD TRUMP

The answer? Well, it's pretty much just the United States. A World Cup that large could have 128 matches, if FIFA continues with a 32-team second round. And if they want to keep the current length, a necessity given the club season schedule, that's 128 matches over just 38 days. FIFA used 16 venues to host the current 104 match tournament. Expansion would likely mean another four stadiums, pushing it to 20.

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The United Kingdom has 11 stadiums with a capacity of more than 60,000 seats. Spain has just five, with one just over 60k. Germany has four, while Italy and France have just two each. So you'd have to combine the UK, Spain and Germany to reach 20 large venues.

The US, meanwhile, has roughly 75 stadiums with a 60,000 seat capacity. It has the advantage of being one country, minimizing travel hassles between the UK and continental Europe. And with that many large, modern stadiums that don't require significant updates, FIFA can sell the most tickets while minimizing costs to the host nation.

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So should the US become the permanent World Cup site? Other countries and federations would surely object, but the story of the 2026 event has been that America and its people have been fantastic hosts to visiting fans. Maybe the USMNT's missed opportunity in a home tournament won't be as big of a frustration as it seemed.

Democrats running to replace Platner in key Senate race call for ICE to be 'abolished'

Mon, 13 Jul 2026 18:59:28 -0400

PORTLAND, Maine - Some of the leading contenders in the race to replace former candidate Graham Platner as the Democratic Senate nominee in Maine are amplifying calls to abolish ICE after a fatal shooting by federal immigration officers in the northern New England state.

Hours after U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents on Monday shot and killed a man in Biddeford, which is located about 15 miles south-west of Portland, four of the candidates joined hundreds of protesters who marched by the shooting site.

The shooting comes as the battle to replace Platner is heating up, and will likely boost immigration as an issue in a crucial Senate race that may determine the Senate majority.

"I think we are at the point where ICE needs to be abolished," Nirav Shah, the former director of the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention, told Fox News Digital. "ICE in its current form has shown itself incapable of doing its job."

PLATNER EXITS SENATE RACE AMID SCANDALS AND CHORUS OF CALLS TO DROP OUT

Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows, speaking with reporters, said, "This is not acceptable in America. A young man, a dad, has been killed by ICE...This must stop. We need to get ICE out of the streets."

Troy Jackson, a former state Senate president, took to social media immediately after the shooting to write, "Abolish ICE."

Jackson held a sign at the protest that called for abolishing ICE, and reiterated that he's been calling for the dismantling of the agency for months.

Paige Loud, a social worker and former congressional candidate who has also launched a Senate bid, also attended the protest.

"We must abolish ICE and prosecute the leaders of these operations that are destroying communities," she said in a social media post.

The incident in Maine is the second in a week when ICE agents have used deadly force, following the fatal shooting during a traffic stop in Houston, Texas.

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The latest incidents are reigniting protests and scrutiny of federal agents months after the shooting deaths in Minneapolis, Minnesota at the beginning of the year of Renee Good and Alex Pretti. Those shootings drew weeks of national coverage and sharp debate over President Donald Trump's ramped-up deportation efforts amid his administration's crackdown on illegal immigration.

The Maine attorney general's office, which is investigating Monday's shooting along with the FBI, said initial statements suggest the motorist who was the target of the enforcement operation was attempting to flee in the direction of an ICE agent.

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Two immigration advocacy groups said the man who was killed was authorized to work in the U.S. and had a Social Security number.

The shooting in Maine came three days after Platner ended his campaign amid mounting controversies and allegations of sexual misconduct that he had repeatedly denied, and a chorus of calls from top Democrats in Maine, the nation's capital, and across the country to drop out of the race immediately.

A populist Democrat who was backed last September by progressive champion Sen. Bernie Sanders, Platner was challenging longtime Republican Sen. Susan Collins in a high-profile, combustible and expensive race in Maine, which is one of a handful that will determine if the GOP holds onto its slim Senate majority in November's midterm elections.

Seven Democrats have filed to run for the nomination, which will be determined by roughly 600 voting delegates at a July 25 convention held by the Maine Democratic Party.

Collins said in a statement following the shooting that "a full and impartial investigation of what happened" was needed.

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Hours later, Collins said in another statement that Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Markwayne Mullin "informed me that the Boston office of the DHS Inspector General has taken over the investigation of the Biddeford shooting in cooperation with the FBI."

One of Collins' Senate offices is located in Biddeford, and protesters marched to the office to chant, "Vote her out."

Maine ICE shooting victim was not target of arrest warrant, Sen. King’s office says after earlier DHS account

Mon, 13 Jul 2026 18:50:07 -0400

A man fatally shot by an ICE agent in Maine on Monday was not the intended target of the arrest warrant federal agents were executing, Sen. Angus King’s office said, marking a shift from what the senator had told reporters hours earlier after speaking with Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin.

In an interview with Fox News, King, I-Maine, confirmed that Mullin later informed the senator the "victim was not the target of the warrant."

"When I first talked to him, he said the person was the target of the warrant. He called me back. He initiated a call to me to say he had learned subsequently that he was not the target of the warrant," King said. "So he corrected the information he had."

King had said earlier Monday afternoon that Mullin told him the man who was killed in Biddeford, a coastal city roughly 15 miles southwest of Portland, was the target of an immigration enforcement operation and had been ordered to leave the country.

ICE SAYS OFFICER SHOT AND KILLED ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT WHO TRIED TO RAM HIM WITH CAR IN HOUSTON

"About 20 minutes ago, I talked to Secretary Markwayne [Mullin] of the Department of Homeland Security about the incident in Biddeford," King told reporters Monday afternoon.

"The individual who has been killed is a male in his 20s. That's all I know about him," King continued. "He had been given an order to leave the country. He was in a vehicle – pulled out in the vehicle, and the term the secretary used was ‘weaponized’ the vehicle and was shot by an ICE agent."

King said at the time that, based on what Mullin had told him, the man who was shot was the target of the immigration enforcement operation.

"He had given me incorrect information," King told Fox News. "Once he learned it was incorrect, he let me know which I respect."

In a statement to Fox News Digital, an ICE spokesperson said that agents were conducting "targeted surveillance on the last known address of an illegal alien with a final order of removal."

"An illegal alien departed the residence in a vehicle. ICE law enforcement attempted to conduct a vehicle stop. The vehicle attempted to flee the scene and fearing for public safety an officer discharged his weapon," they said. "The driver of the vehicle was struck, and emergency services were immediately contacted. He passed away from his injuries."

"The Biddeford Police Department and FBI responded to the scene," the spokesperson continued. "DHS OIG has been notified and like all discharge of firearms this will be investigated. This is a developing situation, and we will update the public when more information is available."

Earlier on Monday, King said in a press conference that he pressed Mullin for a "full, transparent and open investigation" into the fatal shooting, which he said would be led by the FBI because it involved a federal operation.

"What I said to the Secretary was, we want a full, transparent and open investigation of this matter," King said. "And one of the problems is apparently – and again, everything I'm saying is what I know now, certain facts may come out – but apparently there are no cameras. Body cameras were not on the agents. So we have no video evidence of what occurred in this case."

NEW YORKER SUING ICE AFTER OFFICERS WENT TO HIS HOME TO WARN HIM OVER CRITICISM OF AGENCY

King said Mullin committed to him that the investigation would be fair and transparent.

"It's a tragedy whenever there's a loss of life. We don't know the circumstances at this point, but my statement to Secretary [Mullin], I said, ‘I'm going to say that you have committed to me that this investigation will be full, fair and transparent. Can I say that?' He said, ‘Yes, absolutely.’ So that's the status of this matter right now."

King said he intends to monitor the investigation closely.

ILLEGAL ALIEN ON THE RUN AFTER ALLEGEDLY RAMMING ICE VEHICLE IN PENNSYLVANIA, PROMPTING AGENT TO FIRE WEAPON

"And that's why I was so explicit with the secretary. I know him from working with him in the Senate before he became secretary. I have no reason to think that he's not telling me the truth. But my motto, as with Ronald Reagan, is trust but verify," King said. "And I intend to stay on this. And to be sure that we can verify what happened and also whether the investigation is proceeding in a full, comprehensive and transparent way."

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King said investigators must determine whether the man’s actions with the vehicle justified the use of deadly force.

"And the question is, what did he do with his vehicle? Were officers threatened? Was this were the threats rising to the level that justified deadly force? That's what this investigation is all about," King said. "And I certainly intend to, stay after it, to do everything I can to be sure the investigation is as transparent and thorough as possible, and that our state and local officials aren't frozen out from the involvement with this project, with this investigation."

Following the incident, protesters rallied outside of Sen. Susan Collins’, R-Maine, office and entered through the front doors, chanting "vote her out." Several people were also seen hanging anti-ICE signs in the windows.

King said the community had a right to demand answers.

"I think the community has every right to ask questions and to bring pressure to bear on, on the federal government for straight answers and honest answers," King said. "And whatever evidence there is should be made public and should be made public soon. And, I think the role of the community is to express concern."

"We don't yet really know what happened, but to ensure that we find out what happened and that if there were actions that were unjustified, that those who committed those actions will be held accountable," he added.

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In a statement, Collins said the FBI is investigating.

"The shooting in Biddeford requires a full and impartial investigation of what happened," Collins said.

Gov. Janet Mills, D-Maine, said in a statement that she had been briefed on the fatal incident "involving Federal law enforcement." She added that state police were cooperating with local and federal officials.

The Biddeford Police Department said it responded to calls about an occurrence at Pool and Hill streets that "involved U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) personnel."

GOT A TIP?

The Maine Immigrants’ Rights Coalition and Presente! Maine identified the man who was killed as a 26-year-old Colombian man.

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"He was a member of our community, a neighbor, and a human being whose life was cut tragically short. We extend our deepest condolences to his family, loved ones, and everyone now grieving this unimaginable loss," the groups said in a joint statement.

"A 26-year-old man came to Maine to live and work, and now his family is mourning his death following an incident involving ICE," the statement continued. "This is devastating, enraging, and unacceptable. His loved ones deserve answers, and the public deserves a full and transparent account of what happened."

Fox News Digital has reached out to Sen. King's office and the FBI for additional details.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Super Bowl champion Greg Hawthorne dead at 69

Mon, 13 Jul 2026 18:55:59 -0400

Greg Hawthorne, a Super Bowl champion running back with the Pittsburgh Steelers has died, his family announced on social media. He was 69.

The Steelers selected Hawthorne with the No. 28 overall pick out of Fort Worth Polytechnic in the 1979 NFL Draft. He was a rookie when the Steelers defeated the Los Angeles Rams in Super Bowl XIV.

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"On behalf of the Hawthorne family, it is with deep sadness that our brother Gregory Dale Hawthorne passed away last night," a Facebook post read. "Please keep his mother and his children, his brother and sisters as well as the whole family in your prayers."

A cause of death was not made known.

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Hawthorne played five years with the Steelers, splitting time between running back and a wide receiver. He appeared in 59 games, had 522 rushing yards and seven rushing touchdowns. He also had 55 catches for 710 yards and three touchdown catches.

He played three seasons with the New England Patriots and one more with the Indianapolis Colts. He made a game-changing play in the 1985 AFC Championship for the Patriots, recovering a fumble on the opening kickoff of the second half. New England won the game and advanced to Super Bowl XX.

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He finished his career playing in 105 games with 11 total touchdowns and 1,639 yards from scrimmage.

Trump-backed Daylight Saving Time bill clears key House hurdle

Mon, 13 Jul 2026 18:51:08 -0400

A bipartisan push to make Daylight Saving Time permanent is heading for a chamber-wide vote after clearing a key House hurdle.

The House Rules Committee on Monday teed up a floor vote on the Sunshine Protection Act, which would allow states to enact Daylight Saving Time year-round — with an option to opt out. The committee approved the rule in a 6-4 vote.

The measure has the support of many coastal lawmakers and President Donald Trump, who has repeatedly urged Congress to make Daylight Saving Time permanent and end the twice-a-year ritual of changing clocks — a practice currently observed by every state except Hawaii and most of Arizona.

Proponents argue that resetting clocks has negative health impacts, while permanent Daylight Saving Time would boost outdoor recreation, tourism and economic activity, among other benefits.

CONGRESS EYES RARE BIPARTISAN HOUSING WIN WITH OR WITHOUT TRUMP'S HELP

Most Americans already set their clocks forward one hour each spring to preserve more evening daylight before "falling back" one hour in November.

"Americans are overwhelmingly supportive of this policy and want to end the practice of ‘springing forward’ and ‘falling back.' Locking the clock all year long would have positive impacts on sleep schedules, energy conservation, motor vehicle safety, and our economy," Chairman Brett Guthrie, R-Ky., said in an opening statement Monday.

"In practice, this change would mean more time for people to exercise outside, visit family, attend concerts and sporting events, attract customers to their retail businesses, and more."

"Floridians and Americans across the country are tired of the biannual time change, and the evidence is clear that permanent daylight saving time can improve public health, reduce traffic accidents, lower crime and encourage more outdoor activity," Rep. Vern Buchanan, R-Fla., who authored the measure, previously said in a May news release.

"Ending the clock change is a commonsense reform that will improve everyday life for millions of Americans," he added.

The legislation’s momentum comes after the House Energy and Commerce Committee overwhelmingly passed the measure 48-1 in May.

"It’s time that people can stop worrying about the ‘Clock,’ not to mention all of the work and money that is spent on this ridiculous, twice-yearly production," Trump wrote following the Sunshine Protection Act’s advancement out of committee. "It will also be a very nice WIN for the Republican Party. Take it! We are going with the far more popular alternative, Saving Daylight, which gives you a longer, brighter Day — And who can be against that — This is an easy one!"

SLEEP DOCTOR REVEALS THE BRUTAL HEALTH DOWNSIDE OF DAYLIGHT SAVING TIME

Roughly 20 states have already passed legislation that would make Daylight Saving Time permanent if Congress were to authorize the practice. Alabama, South Carolina, Oregon, Maine and Florida are among those places.

But opponents, including several medical organizations, argue that permanent standard time — which provides more sunlight in the morning — would be the healthier option because it would more closely align with the body’s natural circadian rhythms.

Rep. Mary Gay Scanlon, D-Pa., proposed amending the bill with language from her co-sponsored Sunshine for Our Kids Act, which would make standard time permanent nationwide. The amendment was quickly rejected.

Scanlon argued that permanent daylight saving time would pose significant health and safety risks by leaving more Americans — particularly children — in darkness during morning hours. She also pointed to the nation's brief experiment with year-round daylight saving time in 1974, which Congress abandoned after widespread public backlash.

Rep. Nanette Barragán, D-Calif., was also the lone lawmaker to oppose the legislation during the Energy and Commerce Committee markup in May, citing concerns that year-round daylight saving time could negatively affect children’s health and sleep schedules.

Some conservative lawmakers have also argued that GOP leadership should be focused on what they describe as more pressing legislative issues, including legislation codifying Trump's border security executive orders and the stalled SAVE America Act.

"Republicans are majoring in the minors — fiddling with the clocks while the country burns," Rep. Keith Self, R-Texas, a member of the conservative House Freedom Caucus, wrote Monday.

The House has already passed versions of the SAVE America Act multiple times, but the measure has struggled to overcome the Senate's legislative filibuster.

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The Senate unanimously passed a version of the Sunshine Protection Act in 2022, but it died in the House amid opposition, including from lawmakers who voiced concerns about darker morning hours in parts of the country during the winter.