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Arkansas students outperform national average after universal school choice expansion, governor says

Tue, 14 Jul 2026 13:06:20 -0400

Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders pointed to emerging results as evidence that the state's universal school choice program is bolstering student outcomes after a new report indicated students participating in the program scored above the national average in math and English following the overhaul.

"In every single subject, last year we saw a 20% increase for our student performance," Sanders said Tuesday.

"Arkansas is investing in education where it matters, and it's paying off, and we're seeing a big difference."

CALIFORNIA EDUCATION LEADERS SOUND ALARM OVER NEWSOM’S ‘BRAZEN POWER GRAB’ STRIPPING SUPERINTENDENT POSITION

Discussing the initiative on "Fox & Friends," the Republican governor credited Arkansas' Education Freedom Account program with giving families more control over their children's education while pairing universal school choice with increased investments in public schools, teacher pay and literacy programs.

Sanders said that under the program, eligible families receive roughly $8,000 per student each school year to help pay for private school tuition, charter schools or homeschooling, while the state simultaneously increased funding for public schools and salaries for more than 12,000 educators.

"We had about 50,000 kids that have participated in last year's school year and that have signed up for the upcoming year," she said.

AMERICA'S NEXT 250 YEARS BEGIN IN THE CLASSROOM

"That means that the money is truly following the students. We are empowering parents to make the best decisions about where and how their kids can be educated."

The state is also deploying "literacy coaches" to struggling schools while raising starting pay for teachers and ensuring current teachers receive at least a $2,000 raise.

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While touting the tailored approach's success, Sanders cited her experience as a mother of three to emphasize the inadequacies of a "one-size-fits-all" system, stressing that "different kids need different environments" to reach their full potential.

"Parents should be allowed and empowered to figure out what that is. I believe that every single kid can learn when given the right resources, the right environment and the right opportunity, and in Arkansas, we're making sure that's happening," she said.

Conor McGregor launches 'World's Baddest Man' fighting tournament series on Fox Nation with eight-figure prize

Tue, 14 Jul 2026 13:03:59 -0400

MMA superstar Conor McGregor and Fox Nation are teaming up to find the baddest man in the world.

McGregor is set to host "World's Baddest Man," a new original documentary competition series premiering in summer of 2027. Created in partnership with Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC), of which McGregor is a co-owner, the series will provide unprecedented access to the fighters entering the ring, chronicling their training, sacrifices, personal struggles and relentless determination as they compete for the coveted title of World's Baddest Man and an eight-figure prize pool.

"Conor McGregor is one of the most recognizable figures in combat sports, and we're excited to partner with him on a bold new original series unlike any other," said Lauren Petterson, president of Fox Nation.

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"'World's Baddest Man' combines premium documentary storytelling with world-class competition, providing Fox Nation subscribers unprecedented access to unique athletes while showcasing the grit, determination and heart required to compete for one of the biggest prizes in combat sports."

Conor "The Notorious" McGregor will be heavily featured in the series as he follows a diverse roster of Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship athletes through a grueling elimination tournament toward a winner-take-all live championship event.

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"BKFC has changed the game of combat sports, and I couldn’t be more excited to partner with FOX Nation and unleash the 'World’s Baddest Man' tournament," the Irish fighter said.

"This tournament will bring together the toughest fighters on the planet in a true test of heart, grit and willpower, and I’m proud to be part of something that will set a new standard for what it means to be the baddest man in the world."

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The announcement comes just days after McGregor’s long-anticipated return to the UFC on Saturday night against fellow MMA star Max Holloway in the main event of UFC 329 in Las Vegas. McGregor appeared to injure his leg early in the bout, prompting the referee to stop the fight just over a minute after it began and awarding Holloway a TKO victory.

The new series will put McGregor at the center of a different kind of combat sports showcase, as elite domestic and international fighters compete in a high-stakes, bracket-style tournament next summer on Fox Nation for the title of "World’s Baddest Man."

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Fox News Digital's Chantz Martin contributed to this report.

'McDonald's changed the course of my life': Congressman sells business he built since his teen years

Tue, 14 Jul 2026 13:02:56 -0400

A North Carolina congressman who started working at McDonald's as a teenager has sold the restaurant business he and his wife spent decades building, bringing a nearly 50-year chapter with the fast-food chain to a close.

Rep. Chuck Edwards, R-N.C., and his wife, Teresa, announced on Monday that they have sold their McDonald's restaurant business to longtime friends and fellow franchisees Christine and Chris Nevant of Asheville, North Carolina. Financial terms of the sale were not disclosed.

Edwards said the transition marks the end of a journey that began when he took his first job at McDonald's when he was 16 years old.

REGIONAL BURGER CHAINS ARE BEATING FAST-FOOD GIANTS IN ONE KEY MEASURE

Years later, he purchased that same restaurant, eventually increasing his ownership into multiple locations across western North Carolina.

"McDonald's changed the course of my life," Edwards said in a statement. "It taught me the value of hard work, personal responsibility, teamwork and serving others."

The sale allows Edwards to fully step away from business ownership and devote more time to serving western North Carolina in Congress.

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"While leaving a business that has meant so much to our family is bittersweet, this transition allows us to dedicate even more time and energy to the work of serving our communities and fighting for the people of our mountain region," Edwards said.

The buyers are longtime friends of the Edwards family and have owned McDonald's restaurants in the Asheville area for years, according to a news release announcing the sale.

The announcement did not disclose how many restaurants were included in the sale.

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After Edwards was elected to the North Carolina Senate in 2016, Teresa Edwards took over the day-to-day management of the McDonald's restaurants.

"There is no question that Teresa made this possible," the 65-year-old congressman said.

"She carried the responsibility of managing our business for nearly a decade while I served in elected office. Her dedication, leadership and countless sacrifices gave me the opportunity to serve our communities. I couldn't be more grateful."

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The couple thanked their employees, customers and the surrounding communities for supporting the business over the years.

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"We will always be thankful for the friendships we've made and for the opportunity to have been part of so many lives through our restaurants," Edwards said.

University of Alabama student, father of 3 killed; suspect found hiding in attic, police say

Tue, 14 Jul 2026 12:52:18 -0400

An Alabama man accused of gunning down a University of Alabama student, a father of three and a family dog was captured hiding in an attic crawl space just hours after the victims were found inside a home, authorities said.

De'Kendrick Crawford, 24, is charged with capital murder in the July 6 killings of Jazmine Alexis Bates, 22, and Jose Felix Alvarez-Duenas, 31, according to the Tuscaloosa County Violent Crimes Unit.

The investigation began after a homeowner, who was out of the country, became worried when she couldn't reach Alvarez-Duenas, whom she had asked to house-sit and care for her dog.

POLICE IDENTIFY TWO TEEN SUSPECTS AFTER PENN STATE STUDENT SHOT DEAD OVER STOLEN PHONE

After checking her doorbell cameras, she spotted a man acting suspiciously on her back porch during the overnight hours and asked her landlord to contact police.

When Brookwood officers arrived for a welfare check, they found Alvarez-Duenas dead just inside the front door.

As they cleared the home, they discovered Bates dead inside a bedroom closet. Both had been shot. The homeowner's dog had also been killed.

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

Bates, Alvarez-Duenas and the homeowner all knew each other from working at a local business, investigators said. Crawford had also previously worked there and knew all three.

Doorbell camera footage, electronic evidence and other physical evidence quickly led detectives to Crawford, who was tracked to a relative's apartment in nearby Northport.

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Rather than surrender, Crawford barricaded himself inside the apartment, prompting a large response from local, state and federal law enforcement.

NATIONAL GUARDSMAN PLEADS GUILTY TO FATAL SHOOTING OF SOLDIER HE FOUND IN BED WITH HIS EX-GIRLFRIEND

Officers eventually breached the apartment and found him hiding in an attic crawl space roughly 10 hours after the victims were discovered.

According to jail records, Crawford was booked July 7 on charges of capital murder involving two or more persons and discharging a firearm into an occupied building.

The homicide investigation also uncovered that Crawford was already wanted on an unrelated felony warrant tied to a May shooting near the University of Alabama.

Police allege Crawford fired several rounds into an occupied office building near Coleman Coliseum after being fired from a contractor job on campus.

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Authorities emphasized that the contractor position was unrelated to the local business where he had worked alongside the victims.

The killings stunned friends and former coworkers at Buffalo Phil's Wings, where Bates, Alvarez-Duenas, the homeowner and Crawford had all previously worked together.

"It is with shattered hearts that we share the unimaginable loss of two beloved members of our work family," the restaurant wrote in a Facebook tribute. "Felix and Jazmine were more than employees—they were family."

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The restaurant remembered Alvarez-Duenas as "a devoted single father to three beautiful children," adding that "nothing in this world made him prouder than being their dad."

Bates, who moved to Alabama from Chicago, was expected to graduate from the University of Alabama in December. The restaurant said she "came here with big dreams and was determined to build a bright future," remembering her as someone with "a beautiful heart, and a smile that made everyone around her feel welcome."

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"Our hearts are with Felix's three children, both of their families, their friends, and everyone whose lives they touched," the restaurant wrote. "Felix and Jazmine...you will never be forgotten."

The University of Alabama also mourned Bates' death.

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"We extend our deepest sympathy to family and friends of Jazmine Bates after this tragedy," the university said in a statement to Fox News Digital. "UA staff have contacted her family to offer support. Counseling and support resources are available to impacted students through the Office of Student Care and Well Being."

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The university also thanked local law enforcement and the University of Alabama Police Department for their response.

GoFundMe pages have been created to help support Alvarez-Duenas' three children and to assist Bates' family with funeral expenses and transportation costs to return her to her hometown of Chicago.

Folarin Balogun admits that red-card reversal affected USA World Cup teammates: 'A lot of outside noise'

Tue, 14 Jul 2026 12:36:21 -0400

The United States Men's National Team had all the momentum when Folarin Balogun's red card from the Round of 32 was suspended, giving him a chance to play in the Round of 16 — at least, that's what American soccer fans thought.

The day before the USMNT's Round of 16 game against Belgium, which Balogun was originally supposed to miss because of a red card in the previous game, FIFA ruled that he would be eligible.

The ruling added to what was already a huge controversy, as it was argued Balogun should not have been red-carded in the first place. Nonetheless, Balogun was active despite an appeal and strong reaction from Belgium.

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However, it was hardly a needle-mover, as Belgium embarrassed the Stars and Stripes with a 4-1 win. If anything, the needle might have moved the wrong way, Balogun himself said.

"My initial reaction was I was happy to be back in the team, but when I kind of started to reflect, I knew it was going to cause a lot of controversy, and I could almost see within my teammates a bit of nerves, because it is something that is so unique," Balogun told CBS on Tuesday.

"The closer we got to the game, I tried to just focus as best as I could, but it was difficult. A lot of outside noise and that’s hard to avoid."

Balogun said the entire situation was "confusing," as the team was initially practicing without him. But the team found out on the bus to practice that Balogun would be active.

"Everybody was screaming and shouting," Balogun said.

BELGIUM MANAGER PRAISES CLASSY GESTURE BY FOLARIN BALOGUN AFTER RED CARD CONTROVERSY: 'I REALLY LIKED THAT'

But that did not change the whirlwind of emotions, which may or may not have contributed to the loss.

"It's more just being able to separate the emotion from the job at hand. We're all professionals, so it's not something I think was too difficult to be able to separate once we got over the initial announcement. You saw it was a difficult game against Belgium and that can kind of overshadow whether we were focused or not. From me being inside the camp and inside the setup, I know we had full concentration going into the game," he said.

President Donald Trump admitted to calling FIFA President Gianni Infantino to ask for a review of the red card.

"All I did was, I asked for a review, because I didn’t think it was a foul," Trump said. "And again, I’m good at this stuff. I didn’t think it was a foul. I thought it was two great athletes who crashed into each other and got entangled. That was not a guy punching somebody in the face or anything, that would be different.

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"I think it’s a terrible… if they wouldn’t allow a top player, maybe the best, maybe among the best on the team, to play, I think it would have had a big stain. I relayed it. I didn’t tell him what to do. I don’t believe he made the decision. I think it was a committee that made the decision, and they made the right decision because, No. 1, it wasn’t a foul, and you want to see a game with your best players."

Belgium was knocked out by Spain in the quarterfinals, and Spain will face France in the first semifinal match Tuesday in Atlanta.

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English referee will miss out on massive World Cup final bonus due to controversial ban

Tue, 14 Jul 2026 12:30:32 -0400

While the FIFA World Cup semifinal between England and Argentina has fans excited for reasons both soccer and history related, the matchup means a premature end for one of the best officials at the tournament.

Premier League referee Michael Oliver, along with fellow countryman Anthony Taylor, will not be permitted to officiate the semifinal thanks to England punching their ticket to the final four of the 2026 World Cup.

Whether the Three Lions advance to the finals or not is a moot point as well, as Oliver and Taylor's World Cup journey has come to an end because of something out of their control.

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Referees are forbidden from officiating a match involving their home country, and, because they cannot be assigned to a match that has a direct consequence for their home country in the next round, the two Englishmen are exempt from officiating the Spain and France semifinal as well.

For Oliver, the ban means missing out on a massive payday, as referees who made it through the entire tournament would be in line to make off with a sum north of $100,000 with bonuses added for officiating matches in the final stages of the World Cup.

Oliver has officiated four matches at this year's World Cup, including his most recent fixture being the Spain vs. Belgium quarterfinal.

MESSI, ARGENTINA AVOID A SHOCKING UPSET IN WILD KNOCKOUT STAGE MATCH AGAINST CAPE VERDE

England's opponent adds a little extra gasoline to the fire as well, given the geopolitical implications between the two nations stemming from the Falklands War of the early 1980s.

Though the conflict is over four decades old, the subject is a touchy one whenever England and Argentina have taken the pitch for the last 40-plus years.

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Between that and the controversial 1986 World Cup quarterfinal, when Argentina's Diego Maradona led his country past England with his "Hand of God" goal, the two countries will look to write the next chapter in their unlikely rivalry on Wednesday afternoon.

Mississippi teen accused of killing elderly couple had worked for them before shooting: family

Tue, 14 Jul 2026 12:07:12 -0400

A teenager in Mississippi knew the elderly couple he's accused of killing before sparking a standoff with law enforcement, according to new testimony in court.

Cordarius Hobbs, 17, is charged with killing 74-year-old Billy Blair and his 71-year-old wife Virginia Carol Blair during a home break-in on June 3 in Mendenhall, Mississippi. Family members of Hobbs testified during the Thursday preliminary hearing that he knew the couple.

Family members testified that Hobbs did work for the Blairs for things like cleaning around the house before the alleged shooting, according to WAPT. Billy Newsome, Hobbs’ grandfather, said he believes his grandson was called to work on the day of the alleged shooting but believes he's innocent.

"My grandson used to work for the man, why you gone rob a man that you work for," Newsome said. "Why you gone stay there that long and you know the police out there, and then you gone wait until everybody gets there to run, it just ain’t adding up, something just ain’t right here."

MISSISSIPPI TEEN ALLEGEDLY KILLED ELDERLY COUPLE IN THEIR HOME BEFORE FIRING ON DEPUTIES IN STANDOFF

On June 3, three contractors installing a generator at the Blairs' home discovered Carol Blair's car door open with several guns on the seats around 10 a.m., prompting them to call the Simpson County Sheriff's Department for a welfare check at 11:30 a.m, according to a Mississippi Bureau of Investigation investigator.

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By noon, the investigator said that officers arrived and were met with shots fired at them, starting a nearly two-hour-long standoff. Hobbs was captured after trying to run away from officers, the official said, adding that the teen was unarmed when he was caught.

Carol Blair was found in a bedroom curled in the fetal position and had three gunshots to the back of her head. Bill Blair was found lying on his back in the kitchen with three gunshot wounds to his face.

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The state investigator said three firearms were found inside the home as well as 280 shell casings, all owned by Bill Blair.

Hobbs' defense attorney, Zachary Vaugh, argued that there's a lack of direct forensic evidence connecting the teenager to the shooting.

"There was nothing to say he’s a principal, he’s the one that pulled the trigger on these things," Vaugh said. "One of the things alone was, one of the victims was shot twice on one side of the head and once on the other. I think that’s pretty compelling that somebody else may have been in there. There’s a lot of things that are possible, just a tremendous amount of things."

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"When you have an officer say there’s no one that can identify him at the time of the shooting, I just don’t see how that adds up," he said.

Hobbs is charged with two counts of capital murder and one count of burglary, in addition to 10 other charges. He was denied bond.

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In a statement on Facebook, the couple's family previously said, "We are crushed in spirit, bruised, and brokenhearted, but we are not alone."

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Jason Busby, who was friends with the couple, remembered them as being extremely selfless when speaking with WLBT.

"The man would’ve given you the shirt off his back, his wife is the same, and they’re just great people. It’s just a tragedy," Busby said. "Everybody around here is still in shock. They were just good people."

National League pitching depth makes them the smart moneyline pick for MLB All-Star Game

Tue, 14 Jul 2026 12:06:22 -0400

The MLB All-Star Game is here. We bet on the Home Run Derby last night and won some cash on that, so why would we skip the main game? I know that the All-Star Game has lost some luster in the past years, but if we cash a ticket, it pays the same way any regular MLB game would pay.

Last year, we hit Schwarber as the MVP, so let’s try to get some more money.

Total and Moneyline

Looking at the rosters is always the first place to start for the All-Star Game. In the American League, there are some very familiar starters – Mike Trout, Cody Bellinger, Yordan Alvarez, and some newer names – Shea Langeliers, Ben Rice, and even Junior Caminero. I like the balance of new and old. Those starters probably will get two at-bats. Looking at the reserves, I’m fairly unimpressed. I get that they are all having good seasons, but I don’t love the options to fill out the remainder of the game.

WHAT TO WATCH FOR DURING THE 2026 MLB ALL-STAR GAME AT CITIZENS BANK PARK IN PHILADELPHIA

For the National League, they have a fairly similar makeup with Freddie Freeman, Ozzie Albies, Juan Soto, and Kyle Schwarber as the veteran presence. Guys like Drake Baldwin, CJ Abrams, and Andy Pages are the younger dudes. However, I really like the bench from the National League. Need a base hit? Luis Arraez. Need a clutch moment? Bryce Harper. Defensive replacement or stolen base? Pete Crow-Armstrong. I think the National League is deeper.

For pitching, the American League is turning to Dylan Cease to start. He should be solid, and I like the rest of the American League starters. There is also some heat coming out of the bullpen if they want actual relief pitchers.

The National League is having home starter Christopher Sanchez take the ball. Sanchez is a dominant pitcher and should be fired up to make this start. Imagine being the National League Manager and going Sanchez-Chris Sale-Jacob Misiorowski-Paul Skenes-Logan-Webb- Jhoan-Duran-Raisel Iglesias-Riley O’Brien-Mason Miller. That doesn’t include most of their pitching options either.

As you can probably expect, I’ll bet on the National League to win this one. I just think their roster and their pitchers are better. Who actually will play in this game is a tough question to answer, though. We never seem to know it for certain. Some guys show up but don’t want to play (other guys just opt out beforehand). I’ll take the National League at -135, and I’ll skip the total, but lean to the under 7.5.

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MVP

I really don’t have a great vote for MVP. I picked Harper yesterday, and I think he is worth it to pick here as well. However, I do think we get some sort of longball early in a game from a starter. I think it is worth picking Freeman as a shot is a decent look as well. At +3000 he has power to get the homer, and should get two at-bats. If we are going to take a different reserve, Pete Crow-Armstrong at +2500 seems to have a bit of value because he can make highlight plays, has been on a tear, and could steal a couple of bases.

I've only named National League players, and even though I think they win, we probably should pick a couple of American League guys as well. Yordan Alvarez has been ridiculous this season and could put a ball over the ball in this one no matter who is pitching. I will also take Willson Contreras at +4500 for the same reason as last night - he is extra motivated to bring some positivity to him and Venezuela.

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Officially, I'll take the National League to win at -135. For MVP, I'm going to put a quarter unit on Freeman, Harper, Crow-Armstrong, Contreras, and Alvarez each. Just like yesterday, none of these are big bets. This is an exhibition, I just want to make it fun for us.

For more sports betting information and plays, follow David on X/Twitter: @futureprez2024

Trump reveals who he's eyeing to replace Lindsey Graham

Tue, 14 Jul 2026 12:01:57 -0400

President Donald Trump teased who he may like to see as a long-term replacement for the late Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., as a special election to lock in a candidate for the seat fast approaches.

Private and public jockeying is already underway to snag Trump’s coveted endorsement in the special election, which is slated for Aug. 11, with two lawmakers already expressing interest in launching a campaign.

And as members of the South Carolina GOP congressional delegation and beyond line up for the race, the president hinted that he may already have a favorite: Rep. Russell Fry, R-S.C.

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"I think Russell Fry, a young congressman, is outstanding, and that could happen. I could see that happening," Trump told Newsmax on Monday night. "I think he’s a very, very talented person."

Trump backed Fry in his first bid for Congress in 2022, where he toppled former Rep. Tom Rice, R-S.C., in the primary. Rice was one of 10 House Republicans to vote to impeach Trump following the Jan. 6, 2021, riots on Capitol Hill.

'THE HALLS OF THE SENATE ALREADY FEEL EMPTY': TEARFUL THUNE HONORS LINDSEY GRAHAM AS SISTER TAKES HIS SEAT

"He took the place of somebody that was — I mean, he’s doing much better than the person that preceded him," Trump said. "He's been very popular in the state, so I think a name like Russell Fry is somebody you can watch out for and there are probably some others."

Trump’s comments on Fry come after Politico reported that the lawmaker has been communicating with the White House about a run and was viewed as a top contender for the president’s stamp of approval. Fox News Digital did not immediately hear back from the White House or Fry on whether he’s being eyed for the special election.

LINDSEY GRAHAM’S SISTER APPOINTED TO SENATE AS GOP RUSHES TO PROTECT FRAGILE MAJORITY

In the meantime, Trump threw his support behind Graham’s sister, Sen.-designate Darline Graham, to take over the lawmaker’s seat for the remainder of his term. South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster appointed her on Monday, and she’ll be sworn in to the role Tuesday afternoon.

Trump said that he believed Graham would be there "only on an interim basis."

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Meanwhile, Reps. Nancy Mace, R-S.C., and Ralph Norman, R-S.C., are eyeing the race, too. Norman has gone so far as to ask Trump for his endorsement.

Both Mace and Norman failed to clinch the GOP nomination for governor in South Carolina, which ultimately went to South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson, who toppled Trump-backed South Carolina Lt. Gov. Pam Evette.

'The View' co-host Sunny Hostin doubles down on American flags making her feel 'unsafe'

Tue, 14 Jul 2026 12:00:44 -0400

"The View" co-host Sunny Hostin stood by her previous comments on Monday saying that she feels "unsafe" in neighborhoods with many American flags.

While appearing on the "Behind the Table" podcast, Hostin told the show's executive producer, Brian Teta, "I stand by that."

"I was going to say what's interesting is that this is not a new conversation in the Black community," Hostin said.

She then recounted a time she visited White friends at a beach house in North Carolina and felt "nervous" after spotting a Confederate flag.

TEXAS BAKERY SAYS IT'S 'EMBARRASSED' BY AMERICA, CALLS MAGA 'A CULT' IN JULY 4 MESSAGE

"I'm in the South," Hostin recalled. "I've got these two kids with me. I look the way that I look, and I'm walking past a Confederate flag with a group of dudes in a pickup truck on the beach. And I scurried back to the house and I said to the hosts, 'Do you know that there's a Confederate flag out there? You know, it didn't feel great.' And they had seen the flag for years, but it didn't have the same effect on them as it would have on me."

During "The View" last week, while discussing celebrations of America’s 250th anniversary, Hostin recalled a previous occasion in 2021 when she said on the show that she feels uncomfortable in neighborhoods with numerous American flags.

"I said this on this show many, many years ago, because this is my tenth year on the show," she said. "I said there are times when I walk into a community and I see American flags all over the community and I suddenly feel unsafe because there’s a section of this country that has co-opted the American flag, and they equate being an American or an American flag with White supremacy and that should never be the symbol of White supremacy, but they have weaponized."

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On Monday's podcast, she emphasized that she does not have a problem with the American flag on its own but rather when she sees a community with "flags everywhere."

"Unfortunately, at this point in our country, the American flag has been co-opted by the far right. They call themselves patriots, people that storm the Capitol with Confederate flags and American flags. And they've weaponized the American flag. That is something that is happening in this country. And to deny that is ridiculous to me," Hostin said.

She also voiced support for liberal efforts to "reclaim" the American flag.

"I would be very happy to be part of a take the flag back, reclaim the American flag as a symbol of what it should be, which is, I think, justice, which I think is freedom. I think it's equality. It's sort of... the promise of this country," Hostin said.

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In 2021, Hostin spoke on "The View" about Black Americans feeling uncomfortable in neighborhoods with American flags, defending MSNBC analyst Mara Gay for her controversial admission that she found it "disturbing" to see American flags, Trump flags and signs criticizing then-President Joe Biden in Long Island, New York.

Humanoid robots perform live surgery in world first

Tue, 14 Jul 2026 11:42:25 -0400

Humanoid robots have officially stepped up to the operating table, helping complete two surgeries for the first time. During the preclinical trial, surgeons remotely guided the machines through two gallbladder removal procedures. The robots copied the surgeons' movements rather than making medical decisions, and no human patients were involved.

Unlike bulky robotic systems fixed in place, these five-foot machines used standard surgical tools and worked inside an operating room built for people. The experiment offers an early look at how a specialist could someday operate through a mobile robot in a rural clinic or another place where surgical care is hard to reach. Here is what the team accomplished and what still needs to happen before this technology reaches human patients.

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Two humanoid robots completed live surgeries

Researchers from the University of California San Diego reported the results in the journal Nature earlier this month. The team tested its system during two laparoscopic gallbladder removal procedures on pigs.

During one operation, a humanoid robot handled surgical instruments while a human surgeon assisted beside it. During the second procedure, two humanoid robots stood next to each other and worked as a team. Surgeons remotely controlled both robots throughout the operation. The experiment involved delicate tasks used during minimally invasive gallbladder surgery. The robots moved tissue and dissected around the gallbladder. They also helped place clips before removing it.

Researchers designed the trial as a proof of concept. They wanted to learn whether a general-purpose humanoid robot could handle standard surgical tools with enough control to complete an operation. It could. However, the trial also exposed problems that researchers must solve before testing the system on humans.

The trial marked the first time teleoperated humanoid robots successfully completed live gallbladder surgeries. Robotic gallbladder procedures have been performed before, but this experiment was the first to use general-purpose humanoid machines. The work builds on UC San Diego's earlier research with the same type of robot. CyberGuy previously covered how a remotely controlled humanoid performed seven medical procedures, including physical exams and ultrasound-guided injections.

How these humanoid robots fit into a standard operating room

The researchers created Surgie by modifying commercially available Unitree G1 humanoid robots. Each machine stands about 5 feet tall and weighs around 60 pounds. That makes Surgie dramatically smaller than many existing robotic surgery systems, which can weigh approximately 1,800 pounds.

Large surgical robots may require extensive setup and take up considerable space. Hospitals sometimes need to retrofit an operating room before installing one. Surgie can stand in a room designed for human medical workers. Researchers added adapters to its hands so the robot could grip standard laparoscopic instruments.

A surgeon then controlled the robot from a remote console. When the surgeon moved the controls, Surgie copied those movements at the operating table. That human-like design is important. A hospital may be able to bring the robot into an existing room instead of rebuilding the space around it. A medical team could also move it between rooms or transport it to a smaller facility. "We were surprised at how well Surgie meshed with our workspace and workflow," said Nikita Thareja, MD, a general surgery resident at UC San Diego School of Medicine and a co-author of the study.

Unitree currently lists the base G1 at $13,500 before taxes and shipping. However, that price does not include the surgical adapters, instruments or remote-control equipment used in the study. The price still points to a potentially significant difference between a general-purpose humanoid and today's specialized surgical systems. Da Vinci surgical robots can cost from about $700,000 to more than $3 million, depending on the model and configuration. Researchers have not disclosed the total cost of the complete Surgie setup.

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Why use a humanoid instead of a surgical robot?

Modern robotic surgery systems already help doctors perform highly precise procedures. However, those machines usually stay in one location and depend on specialized equipment. A humanoid robot offers more flexibility because it can operate in spaces built for medical workers. It can also hold tools designed for human hands.

Researchers believe future versions could retrieve an instrument during surgery. The robot might also help prepare or clean the room after a procedure. Most importantly, a mobile system could potentially bring a specialist's skills to an area where surgeons are difficult to find.

Michael Yip, a professor in UC San Diego's Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, said remotely operated humanoids could expand access to critical procedures. Researchers envision sending the robots to communities with limited medical staffing or temporary field hospitals.

The goal isn’t to hand medical decisions to a machine. A trained surgeon would remain in control while the robot carried out those movements at the patient's location. That could give a trauma team on a battlefield access to a specialist located far away. The same approach could help a patient in a remote town avoid a long trip to a major medical center. Researchers have even discussed using the technology during future space missions.

That idea is already moving beyond the laboratory with traditional surgical robots. In March, we reported on a London surgeon who remotely removed a patient's prostate cancer from 1,500 miles away. The difference is that the London procedure used a specialized surgical platform. Surgie could eventually offer a smaller system that works inside a standard operating room.

The robots still needed plenty of help

The successful procedures do not mean hospitals are ready to start using humanoid robots on patients. Researchers had to recalibrate the robots several times during surgery. The operations also took much longer than procedures performed with established surgical systems.

Latency presents another concern. Latency is the delay between a surgeon moving a controller and the robot responding. A slight lag may feel annoying during a video call. During surgery, even a small delay could affect precision. That challenge becomes more serious when the surgeon and robot are separated by a long distance.

Researchers will need to improve the robot's reliability and response time. They must also prove that the system can repeat its performance safely across many procedures. Hospitals would need a backup plan as well. A qualified surgical team would have to remain ready to step in if the robot stopped responding or the remote connection failed.

Could a humanoid robot eventually operate on its own?

For now, human surgeons control Surgie's movements. The UC San Diego researchers eventually want to develop what they call an autonomous surgical assistant. That type of robot could recognize which tool a surgeon needs or complete a limited task under supervision.

Researchers elsewhere are already testing a different approach to autonomous surgery. CyberGuy previously covered an AI-powered robot that independently completed a key phase of gallbladder removal on a lifelike surgical model. However, operating on a living patient presents a much greater challenge. Bleeding can begin without warning. A patient's condition can also change in seconds.

A robot would need to recognize the problem and respond safely. Medical workers must also be able to take control immediately. Autonomous surgery raises difficult questions about responsibility. Hospitals would need clear rules covering who makes each decision and who is accountable when something goes wrong. Remote operation introduces another concern. Hospitals would have to protect the robot's software and communications from unauthorized access. At the same time, the system would need to continue operating safely during a connection problem.

WOULD YOU PAY $8,000 FOR A ROBOT TO FOLD LAUNDRY?

What this means to you

You will not see a humanoid robot independently performing your next surgery. This research remains at the preclinical stage, and the team tested the system on pigs rather than humans. Still, the experiment offers an early look at where robot-assisted medicine may be headed.

A mobile surgical robot could eventually give you access to a specialist without requiring a long trip. It may also help a smaller hospital offer procedures that currently require transferring patients elsewhere. However, access should never come at the expense of safety. Before agreeing to a robot-assisted procedure, you should know who controls the machine. You should also ask what happens if the connection fails and whether a qualified surgical team will remain in the room. The robot may hold the instrument, but human judgment remains the most important part of the operation.

Kurt's key takeaways

Watching two humanoid robots work over an operating table may make you uncomfortable. Still, the technology could address a serious healthcare problem if researchers can make it reliable and safe. Many communities struggle to attract enough surgeons. A compact robot that works with standard instruments could let a distant specialist enter the operating room without physically traveling there. The comparatively low starting price of the base robot could also make this approach easier to deploy than some specialized surgical systems. This experiment remains an early milestone. The robots needed recalibration, and the operations took longer than usual. Communication delays also remain a concern. The researchers now need to prove that Surgie can perform consistently before anyone considers human trials. Hospitals will also need strict safety protections and trained medical workers ready to take over.

Would you let a surgeon operate through a humanoid robot if it cut months off your wait for care? Let us know by writing to us at CyberGuy.com.

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Kagan recalls Lindsey Graham's vote that helped seal her Supreme Court confirmation

Tue, 14 Jul 2026 11:52:08 -0400

Supreme Court Justice Elena Kagan opened her testimony before the House Appropriations Committee by offering condolences following the death of Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-Ky., who died Saturday from a ruptured aorta.

"I wish to express the entire court's condolences to his, his sister, the rest of his family, his many friends and colleagues here in the House, in the Senate and elsewhere on behalf of the entire court," Kagan said Tuesday.

Kagan spent the majority of her tribute to Graham reflecting on Graham's role in her 2010 confirmation, noting that he was one of just five Senate Republicans to vote in favor of her nomination after she was selected by then-President Barack Obama. Graham's bipartisan support stood out at the time and has become even more notable as Supreme Court confirmation votes have grown increasingly polarized along party lines.

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"Not many Republicans vote for the nominees of somebody selected by a Democratic president, and not many Democrats do the same for someone selected by a Republican president," Kagan said. "And one would not expect such a cross-party, if you will, vote, certainly from somebody from a deep red or deep blue state. And yet, Senator Graham voted for me."

"And I vividly remember, because he was a vivid person. The conversation that we had in his office prior to my hearing, where he got to know me, it was a long conversation," Kagan continued. "He took the opportunity to get to know me."

She shared that although she did not know Graham well that he would be remembered for his sense of humor.

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"I think Al Franken said he was the funniest man in the Senate, but what I remember about that hearing was that somehow Senator Graham made me look funny, which is a harder thing entirely, by asking me what I had done on Christmas the following year," said Kagan, who is Jewish. "And I'll skip the, the back and forth. But many people said to me afterwards, that exchange with Senator Graham was the moment my confirmation was sealed."

Kagan said she remained grateful for the way Graham handled her nomination.

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"I want to express my gratitude toward him, not only for his support, but for approaching the confirmation process, with the kind of seriousness that he did and and the kind of respect he did," Kagan said.

Graham served 23 years in the Senate and eight years in the House of Representatives.

He died Saturday at age 71.

His sister, Darline Graham, was appointed by South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster to finish the rest of his term, which ends in January 2027.

Adam Scott and Michelle Monaghan star in Netflix thriller 'The Whisper Man' arriving August 28

Tue, 14 Jul 2026 11:31:06 -0400

Netflix released the preview for "The Whisper Man."

Basic info:

Streaming platform: Netflix
Plot: Based on the New York Times bestselling novel by Alex North. When his eight-year-old son is abducted, a widowed crime writer looks to his estranged father, a retired former police detective, for help, only to discover a connection with the decades-old case of a convicted serial killer known as "The Whisper Man."
Cast: Adam Scott, Michelle Monaghan, Robert De Niro, John Carroll Lynch and Hamish Linklater.
Release date: August 28
Source material: Novel written by Alex North.

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Netflix releases preview for "The Whisper Man."

There has been a very solid content run recently on streaming, and it now appears to be continuing with "The Whisper Man."

The trailer released on Tuesday paints a very dark and sinister picture about a mysterious killer, a missing child and messages that will send a chill down your spine.

Give it a watch below, and let me know your thoughts at David.Hookstead@outkick.com.

First off, that trailer is absolutely incredible from start to finish. Perfectly dark tone, a sinister mystery and a looming sense of total dread.

The cast is also stacked. Yes, Robert De Niro is nutty with his politics, but teaming up with Adam Scott and Michelle Monaghan is a very powerful lineup.

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People are craving great entertainment, and it feels like Hollywood is finally starting to release a lot of great stuff to enjoy.

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Just judging from the trailer, early indications are that "The Whisper Man" is going to be a film worth checking out.

What do you think of "The Whisper Man" trailer? Let me know your thoughts at David.Hookstead@outkick.com, and check it out starting August 28th on Netflix.

WWE star Lyra Valkyria's new look stuns pro wrestling fans

Tue, 14 Jul 2026 11:25:26 -0400

A bond between two friends on the "Monday Night Raw" roster appeared to shatter when Bayley called out Lyra Valkyria during the show in Dallas, which set the pretext for a match at the forthcoming Saturday Night’s Main Event in New York City.

Valkyria snapped in recent weeks. She turned on Bayley a few weeks ago when the two lost their chance at the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship against Brie Bella and Paige. Since then, Valkyria’s character has gone under a radical transformation.

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On Monday, Valkyria looked a little worse for wear. She appeared to be leaning into the character of a wrestler who looked broken by the string of recent missed opportunities.

Pro wrestling fans took notice of the character change.

Valkyria unleashed on Baley when she was on the mic.

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"You should be the one apologizing to me," she told Bayley, "For holding me back for an entire year. This is what you always do. You come out here and you make it look like you’re this victim. Oh, poor Bayley. Poor Bayley. Bayley’s friends always leave her in the dust. I’ve been stabbed in the back too. I just don’t come out here and make it my entire personality.

"And maybe, maybe if you weren’t so obsessed with all your past friendships’ failures, you’d be able to take a step back and see all of your problems. When I say this, I want to look you in the eye and say this. Everything I’ve ever made you feel good about, I was lying. You’re not a locker room leader. You are a doormat. Your face does not belong on the posters. You do drag down every single person you work with and you have always been the worst of The Four Horsewomen."

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The back-and-forth will eventually culminate in a match on Saturday at Madison Square Garden.

MLB players, owners at odds over potential Olympic participation, including punishment for declining: report

Tue, 14 Jul 2026 11:17:49 -0400

As the 2027 MLB season remains in limbo due to the ongoing collective bargaining agreement, an issue two years from now is also at the forefront.

According to ESPN, owners have supported the idea of MLB players participating in the Olympics for the first time, but not without plenty of wrinkles.

While the owners are already set to shut down the season for nearly two weeks, there are disagreements over logistics, including hotels, tickets and a mandatory-participation agreement, the outlet said.

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The latter proposal, ESPN said, aims to force some of the game's biggest stars to play in the Olympics, and if someone declined, they could be placed on the restricted list for nearly a month and not get paid.

The MLB Players Association, according to the report, strongly opposes the idea, saying that MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred would be able to discipline players "for just cause."

Ian Penny, a special advisor at the MLBPA, said in an email last month that the organization is "seeking fair treatment for its members in consideration for the substantial financial value they would bring to LA28."

"Ideally, that consideration would closely align with the value created and include direct compensation. However, what these proposals are largely designed to accomplish is to prevent our members from losing money by participating, whether due to expenses incurred or commercial rights lost, both individually and collectively. Given the significant financial benefits flowing to non-athlete stakeholders in the Games, we view these proposals as particularly modest and imminently reasonable," Penny added.

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Many players, including Aaron Judge, Bryce Harper, Kyle Schwarber and Mike Trout, all of whom have represented the USA in the WBC, have expressed high interest in playing at the Olympics.

It also remains to be seen who would stay where if the deal goes through. The LA28 committee has also told players they could purchase two tickets per game in which they are participating but could "unlock" the potential to purchase more.

The LA28 committee has offered 435 hotel rooms, while Major League Baseball has already reserved 200 — 100 for its own players and another 100 for the Japanese national team, which is expected to qualify late next year. ESPN cited four players saying they would stay at the Olympic Village on UCLA's campus, while the hotel rooms would be for their families.

The six-team Olympic baseball tournament will take place at Dodger Stadium. The United States has already qualified as the host nation, while the Dominican Republic and Venezuela qualified during the World Baseball Classic earlier this year.

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The six teams will be divided into two groups, with the winner of each receiving a bye into the semifinals. The league would shut down for 11 days to accommodate the tournament as well as the preceding All-Star Game.

The United States has played in three consecutive WBC finals, winning in 2017 over Puerto Rico but losing in 2023 to Japan and this year to Venezuela.

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New York college professor celebrates Lindsey Graham's death in social media post, later apologizes

Tue, 14 Jul 2026 11:11:24 -0400

A St. Bonaventure University professor is facing backlash on social media after appearing to celebrate the death of South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham in a social media post before deleting it less than 12 hours later, prompting renewed scrutiny of political rhetoric on college campuses.

A social media account identified as belonging to Ibrahim Zabad, a political science professor at the private university in western New York, posted a message late Saturday evening celebrating Graham's death, using inflammatory language and ending with the phrase "Rest in Hell," according to Campus Reform.

By early the next day, at 5:09 a.m. according to Campus Reform, the same account had deleted the post and published an apology acknowledging the message was inappropriate, disrespectful and not compassionate.

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A screenshot of the Saturday X post dated at 11:56 p.m. reads, "He was a certified anti-Palestinian, anti-Arab, anti-Muslim bloodthirsty bigot. He personified belligerence and evil. He supported every savage war Israel launched against the Palestinians and the Lebanese and the Syrians and the Iranians and the Iraqis and the Yemenis."

The post added, "He genuinely endorsed Israel's genocidal war and unabashedly supported the ethnic cleansing of the Palestinians from their native lands. He wholeheartedly and passionately supported the project of Greater Israel along with all the massacres, occupation, dispossession and savagery and barbarism that this entails. He was a merciless warmonger and bigot. Rest in Hell."

The account bearing Zabad’s name and photo, which no longer appears to be active, posted an apology that read in part, "I want to sincerely apologize for the post regarding the passing of Senator Lindsey Graham. My words were inappropriate and disrespectful and failed to show compassion during time of loss and grief. I regretted the post and the words I used."

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A spokesperson for St. Bonaventure University told Fox News Digital in a statement that "we are aware of the post and subsequent apology by Dr. Zabad. His post about Sen. Graham was clearly not aligned with our university mission and values and we will be addressing the situation with him to ensure that Franciscan values are maintained and lived out at St. Bonaventure."

Graham, 71, died Saturday night. An autopsy performed on Sunday suggested that Graham died from aortic dissection due to arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease. The news stunned Washington, as Graham was one of the body's most active members and was even scheduled to appear on "Meet the Press" Sunday morning.

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A statement from Graham’s office read, "The death certificate will be PENDING until all the toxicological and microscopic testing are finalized, and at that point the death certificate will be updated to reflect the cause of death and appropriately classify the manner of death."

Fox News Digital reached out to Zabad and Graham’s office for comment.

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How one YouTuber helped save ‘College Football 27’ players from microtransactions — at least for now

Tue, 14 Jul 2026 11:01:41 -0400

College Football 27, EA Sports' latest edition of the popular pigskin video game series, was released last week to both massive fanfare and scathing critiques.

The big sticking point for a number of college football and gaming fans was the introduction of microtransactions, a practice involving paying real money to unlock features in the game.

Microtransactions have become increasingly prevalent in modern video games, but the idea of putting them into the latest College Football game seemed absurd even a year ago.

YOUTUBER BORDEAUX GOES IN DEPTH ON EA SPORTS COLLEGE FOOTBALL 27'S 'MICRO TRANSACTIONS'

Many fans pushed back on the concept of microtransactions and voiced their displeasure on social media, and none were more vocal than YouTuber Bordeaux.

The content creator became the tip of the spear in a grassroots campaign to get EA to remove microtransactions from the game entirely, even adopting the hashtag #CFBPlayDontPay.

Bordeaux wasn't the only content creator attempting to hold EA Sports accountable, but he was one of the biggest and earliest to do so, a move that could have been disastrous for his career as a college football video game YouTuber.

I asked him whether that had any impact on his decision to lead the charge against EA in our conversation last week, but Bordeaux insisted it never entered his mind.

"No matter what, I have never needed a partnership to do something," Bordeaux said, referring to his multi-year collaboration with EA. "The game is good, I'm never going to backtrack on that opinion. It's just the fact that they're putting those microtransactions in, is where I have to draw the line and say, 'Do not spend money on this.'"

It would appear as though Bordeaux's efforts paid off, as EA announced that it will be doing away with microtransactions for this year's version of their game in a lengthy post on X late last week.

While the move was (and should be) seen as a win from the online community - prompting Bordeaux himself to post a video on his YouTube channel titled "We Won" - the language used by EA with regard to "providing service plans for CFB28" could mean this victory is short-lived.

Regardless, for the time being, it looks like Bordeaux accomplished what he set out to do when this whole crusade started.

"I wanted to speak my mind on how I felt, and raise some awareness to it," Bordeaux said last week. "Because I felt like it was unfair, a lot of us creators were blindsided... I wanted to say my piece, draw my line and say 'I can't work with them after this.'

"I was hoping that they would address it and listen to the community."

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With the news that EA will roll back microtransactions, there's a chance Bordeaux will find his way back to them for a partnership somewhere down the line.

When I asked him what a road back to EA would look like, Bordeaux laid it out simply.

"Take out microtransactions completely, bring back all of the features that they removed, and never go in the direction of making "Dynasty" and "Road to Glory" a mode with microtransactions, especially offline.

"If they really took that stance, I'm okay again," he said.

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For the time being, it looks like Bordeaux got his wish, and he can confidently declare victory for the gaming community.

His impressive crusade against a nearly universally hated practice in the gaming community should be lauded, and shows the power we have as consumers.

ICE agents instructed to end most vehicle stops in major policy shift

Tue, 14 Jul 2026 10:59:44 -0400

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents are being instructed to end "most" vehicle stops nationwide in a major policy shift, effective immediately.

According to multiple federal sources, ICE agents will cease making traffic stops, which have played a significant role in the agency’s operations until now. A federal source told Fox News that ICE will continue conducting vehicle stops only for those considered to be the most egregious targets with serious or violent criminal histories.

This comes after two people were killed in ICE officer-involved shootings in Maine and Texas in the last week.

A senior ICE source remarked to Fox News that the change is "horrible but needs to happen."

MAINE ICE SHOOTING VICTIM WAS NOT TARGET OF ARREST WARRANT, SEN. KING’S OFFICE SAYS AFTER EARLIER DHS ACCOUNT

Another senior ICE source said this policy change will be temporary. According to the source, the new policy will remain in place until new training on vehicle stops is approved by Department of Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin and given to agents operating in the field.

Until now, ICE agents have commonly carried out vehicle stops as part of the agency’s regular immigration enforcement operations. The stops, however, have grown increasingly controversial with incidents such as last week’s shootings.

This Monday, an ICE agent shot and killed a man in Biddeford, Maine, leading to hundreds of protesters marching by the shooting site. According to Sen. Angus King, I-Maine, Mullin told him in a phone call that the man killed in the shooting was not the intended target of the arrest warrant federal agents were executing.

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."

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An individual believed to be the illegal alien ICE was tracking departed the residence in a vehicle. When ICE agents attempted to conduct a vehicle stop, the vehicle attempted to flee the scene and "fearing for public safety, an officer discharged his weapon," the agency said.

According to the spokesperson, "the driver of the vehicle was struck, and emergency services were immediately contacted. He passed away from his injuries."

The week before, Lorenzo Salgado Araujo, a Mexican citizen who authorities said was in the country illegally, was shot and killed in Houston after he tried to ram an ICE officer with his vehicle during a traffic stop, the agency said.

Araujo was struck and taken to a hospital, where he later died.

His family has disputed ICE's account of the shooting and called on the agency to release any available video evidence.

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However, when asked whether the officers involved were wearing body cameras, DHS told Fox News they "had not been issued body-worn cameras due to back-to-back Democrat shutdowns."

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Both shootings are being investigated by federal and local authorities.

Fox News Digital's Paul Steinhauser, Kailey Schuyler, Jessica Sonkin, Sarah Rumpf-Whitten and Kelly Phares contributed to this piece.

Mbappe, Dembele and Olise give France the edge over Spain in the 2026 World Cup semifinals

Tue, 14 Jul 2026 10:56:32 -0400

It has been a couple of days without soccer, and it felt a bit strange. I wonder how I will feel after this World Cup is complete in a few days. We are down to just four games remaining (including today's matchup). It has been a really engaging and entertaining World Cup so far, and I think FIFA has to be very happy it got the remaining four teams in the Final Four. Let's see how we should play the first semifinals game of the 2026 World Cup.

There have been at least two players who have said that France is the team to beat or that will win the whole thing. As someone with a French ticket, I am hoping that comes to fruition. Getting to the final game will be quite a challenge. I don't know a ton about soccer, but I can tell you that after watching these games, it seems like one small mistake can change the entire game. France has been fortunate not to have made many mistakes so far. They have a strong defense, three great offensive players, and much more, so perhaps their team is just good at covering any mistakes that are made.

In their World Cup games, France has barely had to sweat. Their worst game was against Paraguay when they still won 1-0. In their most recent game, they took down Morocco 2-0. Throughout this tournament, they have not allowed more than one goal in any game, and they have outscored their opponents 16-2. Their leader, Kylian Mbappe, and his counterpart, Ousmane Dembele, have combined to score 13 of those goals. The third person of their trio, Michael Olise, has five assists as well.

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This will be a tough game for Spain to win, but that doesn't mean that there is no pressure on France. Spain is one of the best teams in the world and they beat France last year in the UEFA Nations League semifinals. That game saw Spain win 5-4. Spain opened their World Cup with a draw over Cape Verde. At the time, it seemed like that was Spain underperforming, but that Cape Verde team proved to be very talented and a tough matchup. To get out of the Group Stage, they beat Saudi Arabia with ease, then Uruguay in a close matchup.

Once they got to the knockout round, things were a bit more difficult. They beat Austria 3-0, but struggled to beat Portugal, winning 1-0. Then, against Belgium, that game was a tightly contested 2-1 victory. They never trailed in that game, but both teams scored in the first half. A very late Spanish goal gave them the lead that would never be relinquished. It was more of an error on Belgium's part than anything that led to this goal for Spain. Mistakes cost people games in all sports.

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A lot of people are billing this as the Championship matchup. I guess they don't feel all that strongly about Argentina or England. Perhaps it is true, but if you see two teams beating each other before they face a different opponent, that can hurt them for the next game. The advantage either team has is that they will have extra rest before the final.

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I think Spain has been a bit luckier than France, but they also have nothing to lose. An interesting fact is that Spain comes into this unbeaten in regulation time in their past 36 international competitions. It seems like they are due to lose, right? As mentioned, I have a ticket on France to win the World Cup already, if I didn't, I would still take them here. I will take the over 2.5 goals here, though. I think the final will be France 2-1 and I think they win in 90 minutes.

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For more sports betting information and plays, follow David on X/Twitter: @futureprez2024

American biologist shot dead in his home in the Philippines

Tue, 14 Jul 2026 10:54:53 -0400

American biologist Kent Carpenter, 73, was shot and killed at his home in the Philippines on Sunday in what authorities are calling a murder.

Carpenter, an adjunct professor at Silliman University's Institute of Environmental and Marine Sciences in Dumaguete City, was in his home with a 34-year-old girlfriend when authorities say three men broke in at 11:30 p.m.

One of the men allegedly shot Carpenter in the head during what police believe was a robbery. The men also allegedly tied up Carpenter's girlfriend and sexually assaulted her, the government-affiliated Philippine News Agency (PNA) reported.

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The men took a laptop, cash and a backpack before fleeing, police spokesperson Col. Allen Rae Co told reporters.

All three of the suspects are still at large, though local police have initiated a special investigation to find the culprits, PNA reported.

Local investigators began "conducting backtracking and forward tracking operations, including the review of possible CCTV footage, witness interviews, intelligence validation, and reconstruction of the suspects’ movements before and after the incident," police wrote in a statement.

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"We strongly condemn this senseless act of violence. I have directed our investigators to exhaust all legal means to identify and apprehend those responsible at the soonest possible time," Regional Director Police Brig. Gen. Romano Cardiño said in the statement.

"We assure the victim’s family, the community, and our foreign visitors that this case is being treated with utmost urgency, and no effort will be spared until justice is served," he also said.

Carpenter was a highly renowned scientist who studied fish, co-authoring a 2005 study that crowned the Philippines' Verde Island Passage as "the center of marine shore fish biodiversity."

He spent decades working as an ichthyologist, collaborating with Silliman University in some capacity since 1976.

"Dr. Carpenter made groundbreaking contributions that transformed global understanding of Philippine marine biodiversity," Silliman University said in a statement.

"Dr. Carpenter's contributions to Philippine marine science were profound and enduring," a statement the Philippine Association of Marine Science posted Tuesday read.

"As a U.S. Peace Corps volunteer in the 1970s, he worked with the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources and helped train the country's first coral reef science team. His early papers on Philippine coral reef fisheries resources, including his work with National Scientist Angel C. Alcala on muro-ami and kayakas reef fisheries, were landmark contributions that shaped the country's understanding of reef fisheries and the urgent need for science-based management," the statement continued.

"In the wake of this devastating loss, PAMS strongly condemns this act of violence. We call upon the Philippine National Police, the local authorities in Negros Oriental, and appropriate national investigative agencies to conduct a swift, thorough, and transparent investigation. Those responsible for this heinous crime must be held fully accountable under the law," the statement added.

"Dr. Carpenter devoted his life to protecting the Philippines' marine heritage. We owe it to him to honor that legacy by continuing his work and demanding justice for his tragic and untimely death," the statement concluded.

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Fox News Digital contacted the U.S. Embassy in Manila for further comment.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Air Force helicopter makes emergency landing in DC

Tue, 14 Jul 2026 10:37:53 -0400

A U.S. Air Force helicopter was forced to make an emergency landing in the nation's capital on Monday after pilots heard "strange mechanical sounds" while in flight.

Air Force public affairs chief Ann Stefanek confirmed the landing in a statement, adding that no one was hurt during the incident. Multiple law enforcement groups responded to the incident, including the FBI and Metropolitan Police Department.

"It was on a routine training mission when it identified a potential mechanical issue. The crew landed out of an abundance of caution as they are trained to do after hearing some strange mechanical sounds. No damage or injuries," Stefanek said in a statement.

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

The UH-1N helicopter was assigned to the First Helicopter Squadron out of Joint Base Andrews and had four personnel aboard.

The incident came the same day that police arrested an armed man after he drove to a security barricade outside the U.S. Capitol.

U.S. Capitol Police said officers arrested the man at the North Barricade after discovering he had a firearm.

SUPREME COURT JUSTICES HEAD TO CAPITOL HILL FOR FIRST CONGRESSIONAL APPEARANCE SINCE 2019

Firearms are prohibited on Capitol Grounds, and authorities immediately closed the area while investigators processed the scene.

"Our investigators are working to learn more about the suspect and why he drove to the U.S. Capitol," Capitol Police said in a statement.

Police remained at the scene throughout Monday afternoon, where officers were seen removing items from a Ford Bronco parked diagonally in front of the barricade.

NATIONAL GUARD SHOOTING SUSPECT IN 'DIRE,' 'SELF-INFLICTED' HEALTH CONDITION AFTER REFUSING TO EAT: FILING

Fox News obtained video showing the suspect's Ford Bronco being towed away from the North Barricade following the arrest.

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The SUV, which displayed Florida license plates, was removed from the scene by authorities as investigators continued processing evidence and working to determine why the armed man drove to the U.S. Capitol.

Fox News' Stepheny Price contributed to this report.

Ella Langley tells fans to stop measuring themselves against social media in viral concert video

Tue, 14 Jul 2026 10:17:07 -0400

Ella Langley could care less about nonsense on social media.

As our loyal readers know, Langley has become the most recognizable woman in the country music world, and there's not a close second at this point.

She dominates the charts, racks up awards and is authentically herself. It's that last part that has helped build her an incredible following.

COUNTRY SUPERSTAR ELLA LANGLEY PULLS OFF INCREDIBLE CAREER ACCOMPLISHMENT ON THE MUSIC CHARTS

Now, she's sharing an important message about ignoring what's on social media.

Ella Langley rips the inauthenticity of social media.

We all know that social media can be a very toxic place. It's also full of people pretending to be something they're not in order to keep with the Joneses.

It's comically stupid, and the country music star has had enough.

ELLA LANGLEY FANS RALLY TO HER DEFENSE AFTER MORGAN WALLEN DUET SPARKS POLITICAL BACKLASH

"I think with social media and how you get to see into everyone’s life, and you feel behind, or you feel not good enough, or not pretty enough, or not cool enough. Or you can’t sing this way, or you can’t dance this way. Who gives a sh*t? This is who I am, and that’s what you get," Langley told the crowd in a viral video from a recent show, according to Whiskey Riff.

You can watch her comments in the video below, and let me know your thoughts at David.Hookstead@outkick.com.

Well said, Ella. Very well said. Let's just be honest with each other. Social media is about as far from reality as you can get.

VIRAL GERMAN SOCCER FAN WHO CAPTIVATED AMERICA FLEES SOCIAL MEDIA AS STORY TAKES A PREDICTABLE TURN

Many people present a picture that is borderline delusional. I personally know people who are completely different behind closed doors than what they show to the public.

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Here's one thing I can promise you. You'll never see photos of me on the internet in private jets or at mansions. Why? Because it's unnecessary and tacky, among other reasons we don't need to get into here.

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Langley is right to tell people to not care because the internet is literally meaningless when it comes to living a happy and full life.

What do you think about Langley's comments? Let me know at David.Hookstead@outkick.com.

Director of new ‘Lord of the Rings’ rejects ‘politically correct’ casting after suggestions film is too White

Tue, 14 Jul 2026 10:15:03 -0400

"Lord of the Rings" director and Gollum actor Andy Serkis drew a firm line against critics demanding more diversity in the beloved franchise, arguing that his new film will reject "politically correct" casting.

Speaking with the BBC, the filmmaker defended the predominantly White cast in the highly anticipated film "The Hunt for Gollum." Serkis said original author J.R.R. Tolkien’s universe was widely inspired by Norse mythology and that diversity should be a focus "where relevant," not simply to satisfy what he described as industry box-ticking.

"The Shire feels very, very much like a very, a very White, you know…" Serkis told the BBC, where they note he "trails off" before continuing.

MORE HOLLYWOOD HYPOCRISY: VARIETY DEMONIZES CRITICS OF CHRISTOPHER NOLAN'S CASTING IN 'THE ODYSSEY'

"They're not very concerned about what goes on beyond the borders of The Shire, but they know they don't want people coming in," he said.

Debate over Middle-earth’s diversity has simmered for years, as the original trilogy, directed by Peter Jackson and starring Elijah Wood and Viggo Mortensen, was also accused of being too White. Some critics have argued the original trilogy used problematic racial coding, associating the heroes with Whiteness while the villains relied on dark-skinned tropes.

Serkis acknowledged the criticism of the decades-old franchise to the BBC but said they don’t plan on injecting more diversity into the films just to tick boxes.

CHRISTOPHER NOLAN CALLS CRITICISM OF 'THE ODYSSEY' CASTING DECISIONS 'IRRELEVANT'

"This particular film is somewhat acknowledging that. But we don't think we will be doing a politically correct just-casting-for-the sake-of-casting-and-ticking-boxes version of the film. So, it's only where relevant basically," he said.

The actor, however, has spoken out in favor of diverse casts in Hollywood, noting that his time as one of the few White actors in the "Black Panther" film helped show him what it was like on set.

The BBC included that in 2018, he said the film gave him a new understanding of what it meant to be the minority on set. He told the Radio Times in 2018, "[Director] Ryan Coogler said to me and Martin, 'Guys, I have to tell you this, but this is the first scene I've directed with two White actors in it.' That's an incredible perspective to find yourself in."

BELOVED 'LITTLE HOUSE ON THE PRAIRIE' FACES WAGONLOAD OF 'WOKE' ALLEGATIONS OVER NETFLIX REBOOT

The "Lord of the Rings" franchise expanded its diversity with Amazon's spinoff "The Rings of Power," which some viewers criticized as being too "woke." The show included some of the franchise's first Black Elves and Dwarves, along with other characters portrayed by actors of color. Billionaire Elon Musk even weighed in on the show, posting on X in 2022, "Tolkien is turning in his grave."

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Only days after that post, several actors from the original franchise posed for a photo wearing T-shirts with different elf ears that featured different skin tones with the caption, "You Are All Welcome Here."

"The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum" is expected to premiere in December 2027 and is set to take place between the prequel "The Hobbit" films and the first "The Fellowship of the Ring" film of the main trilogy.

Scammers exploit Nancy Guthrie case with QR code money requests, Pima County sheriff warns

Tue, 14 Jul 2026 10:12:59 -0400

The Pima County Sheriff's Department is warning people about a new scam using Nancy Guthrie.

In a statement on social media, the Pima County Sheriff's Department said it's "aware" of posts about the Guthrie investigation that include a QR code requesting money.

"PCSD will never ask for money related to this case, or any investigation," the department said.

NANCY GUTHRIE MYSTERY EXPOSES NEW THREAT TARGETING UNSUSPECTING AMERICANS LETTING DOWN THEIR GUARDS

The agency advised people to "not send money to people you do not know or scan QR codes requesting payment," and asked that they report such posts if they see them.

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Nancy Guthrie, the mother of Savannah Guthrie, an anchor on NBC's "Today" show, has been missing for over 164 days.

LISTEN TO THE NEW 'CRIME & JUSTICE WITH DONNA ROTUNNO' PODCAST

Savannah Guthrie in late June pleaded with viewers on the "Today" show to come forward with any new information after reports that one of the ransom notes sent to her family declared her mother dead.

SAVANNAH GUTHRIE PLEADS FOR TIPS AS RANSOM NOTE CLAIMS MOM IS DEAD: 'SOMEBODY KNOWS SOMETHING'

"I just want to take the opportunity to ask people, to really to beg people to come forward. Somebody knows something. This is a new story today that is on your radar, but this is the life that my sister lives, I live, my brother lives, our extended families live, our children live every day. We are in agony," Savannah Guthrie said

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"We cannot be at peace no matter how much I try to come out here every day and smile and find that joy, and I will, I promise I will, this is the moment to tell you that we need your help. We’re begging for your help. I’m not going to miss that opportunity. And so please, if you’re watching, no matter how small the reward is there, you can tell us. It can be anonymous. Please do the right thing for us, for our family, for our children. We love our mom. We’ll never stop looking for her, never," Savannah Guthrie added.

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Anyone with information about Nancy Guthrie's disappearance can call the Pima County Sheriff’s Department at 520-351-4900 or 88-CRIME at 520-882-7463. Digital photos, video or doorbell-camera footage can be submitted through the FBI at fbi.gov/findguthrie.

Kathie Lee Gifford details the pelvis fracture and spine misdiagnosis that pushed her to 'rock bottom'

Tue, 14 Jul 2026 10:04:57 -0400

Kathie Lee Gifford said years of debilitating physical pain became so overwhelming that she reached a point where she felt ready to "go home" to heaven, opening up about one of the darkest periods of her life on a new episode of Sean Hannity's podcast.

"I was done," Gifford said, adding later that she "just wanted to go home to Jesus."

The broadcasting legend reflected on the health challenges that nearly broke her spirit during a wide-ranging conversation with Hannity, touching on her decades-long career, Christian faith, family and the resilience she found after enduring years of physical setbacks.

KATHIE LEE GIFFORD ADMITS SHE 'WANTED TO DIE' AFTER MISDIAGNOSIS AND MULTIPLE SURGERIES FOR CHRONIC PAIN

In the process, Gifford opened up about living "10 lives" and surviving the intense physical agony that left her crawling across her floor.

"And I've been so blessed in my life. I had five grandchildren within three years. My son had three, and my daughter had two children, and thus making me a bubby, which is the Yiddish for grandma. And as joyful as that was, I couldn't even hold them."

CARRIE ANN INABA SHARES HER STRUGGLE TO MANAGE HIDDEN, INVISIBLE ILLNESS: 'IT'S REAL'

From a catastrophic medical misdiagnosis to harrowing falls that left her pelvis fractured, she revealed how hitting "rock bottom" physically tested and ultimately strengthened her faith.

"I thought I had the best doctors in the world," she said. "And they kept saying to me, 'It's not your hip, it is your spine.'"

Gifford disagreed with their assertions, saying she knew her body was telling her a different story. At the time, she couldn't walk, and a doctor's misread of an X-ray further delayed treatment.

"I was crawling to the bathroom by the time I finally had my hip replaced," she said, recalling that one physician was stunned by the condition she had been living in.

Gifford said she ultimately made a call to the doctor about her misdiagnosis and threatened to sue.

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"I don't want anybody else to ever have to suffer like that," she said.

Hannity's full conversation with Gifford is available on iHeart, YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts and other major podcast platforms.

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