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

House Republican Thomas Massie suggests Obamacare could now be labeled 'Trumpcare'

Thu, 09 Jul 2026 06:02:03 -0400

Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., criticized President Donald Trump and Republican lawmakers over Obamacare on Wednesday, suggesting that it could now be referred to as "Trumpcare."

"Might as well call it Trumpcare now. Our party has made no serious effort to repeal Obamacare and legalize affordable health insurance after taking control of the House, Senate & White House," Massie wrote on a post on X.

"Why? Because the current system enriches insurance and hospital companies," he added.

MASSIE LASHES OUT WHEN PRESSED ON EX-GIRLFRIEND'S ALLEGATIONS OF AFFAIR WITH GOP FIREBRAND

A user responded to the congressman's comments by asking, "How can things get done without votes. Is trump able to do something on his own?"

Massie replied that the president has "endorsed literally every Republican who wants to keep Obamacare."

MASSIE POSITIONS HIMSELF FOR POTENTIAL POLITICAL FUTURE AFTER PRIMARY DEFEAT: 'I WON'T BE GOING AWAY SILENTLY'

Fox News Digital reached out to the White House early on Thursday morning.

Massie lost the Republican primary in Kentucky's 4th Congressional District in May to President Donald Trump-backed challenger Ed Gallrein, a former Navy SEAL.

TRUMP ADMIN CRACKS DOWN ON ESTIMATED $10 BILLION IN OBAMACARE FRAUD, BOOTS MILLIONS FROM ROLLS

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Massie has served in the U.S. House of Representatives since late 2012.

Prince William 'no longer recognizes' Prince Harry as security battle leaves duke 'close to tears': expert

Thu, 09 Jul 2026 06:00:56 -0400

Prince Harry’s security battle may have left him "close to tears," but the royal family is said to have little sympathy for his emotional ordeal.

The claim was made by multiple experts who spoke to Fox News Digital after a source told Vanity Fair's Katie Nicholl that the Duke of Sussex "was devastated and close to tears."

The U.K. government declined his request for police protection for his family outside royal residences, prompting the prince to return to the U.K. alone on July 6. He is expected to remain there through July 11 for events highlighting the Invictus Games.

PRINCE HARRY'S UK TRIP OFF TO ROCKY START AFTER FIRST MAJOR SETBACK

It is unclear whether he will meet with his father or whether his family will join him later in the week.

"My understanding is that Harry was deeply emotional," Kinsey Schofield, host of YouTube's "Kinsey Schofield Unfiltered," told Fox News Digital. "[For the royal family], there is exhaustion. The king is frustrated, Prince William is detached, and the broader family has very little appetite for another round of Sussex drama."

Schofield called William the family's "biggest realist."

WATCH: KING CHARLES WENT 'ABOVE AND BEYOND' FOR PRINCE HARRY: EXPERT

"He's the future of the monarchy, so he views every decision through the lens of protecting the institution he will inherit," she said. "That naturally makes him more cautious than sentimental. He is a good judge of character, and I'm told he no longer recognizes Prince Harry."

"King Charles still has the instincts of a father. William has increasingly had to think like a future king. Those are very different perspectives, and history suggests heirs are often less willing to take institutional risks than reigning monarchs."

"William, in particular, seems grateful to be removed from the soap opera," Schofield said. "His priority is Princess Catherine, their children and protecting the peace of his household. We have seen plenty of the Wales family this week, and they look blissful and carefree. They aren't giving the Harry drama a second thought."

Harry's troubles only deepened after he arrived in the U.K.

On July 7, the Duke of Sussex lost his yearslong privacy lawsuit against Associated Newspapers Limited, publisher of the Daily Mail and the Mail on Sunday. The case involved Harry and six other claimants, including Elton John and Elizabeth Hurley. The High Court dismissed their claims after finding they failed to prove unlawful information gathering.

Associated Newspapers Limited called the ruling an "overwhelming victory" and a "magnificent vindication." Harry said the court denied him the justice and accountability he sought. The publisher has long denied the allegations, calling them "preposterous" and maintaining the articles were based on lawful sources, including friends, royal aides and publicists.

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British royal expert Hilary Fordwich told Fox News Digital that "the debacle" over security and Harry's "self-inflicted court case" has been "stressful" for the king. Harry has said the litigation became a primary source of his falling out with his father and brother. In pursuing the case, he broke with royal family tradition by taking the dispute to court.

"Members of the royal family don't file such lawsuits, let alone lose on all counts in a highly public court case that Harry himself chose to file," she said.

"With everything dismissed, he, along with the other claimants, will now be responsible for court costs. Harry initially being in tears wouldn't be surprising at all. Everything is of his own doing, which must make it even more painful. He chose to leave royal life."

"Harry's emotions are likely to leave the royal family cold," royal expert Richard Fitzwilliams told Fox News Digital.

"His visit has turned into an overhyped mess. ... This trip was supposed to have been planned months ago. ... We still don't know whether he will see his father or, if so, where and with whom, but it's certain to reinforce William's belief that his approach — ignoring the Sussexes — is the right one."

The Sussexes lost their taxpayer-funded security after they stepped back as senior working royals. Harry was denied restoration of that security by the Executive Committee for the Protection of Royalty and Public Figures (RAVEC).

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

Harry's spokesperson told People that an offer for the Duke of Sussex to stay at Buckingham Palace during his London visit was withdrawn after he had formally accepted it. Palace sources, however, disputed that account, saying Harry failed to respond by the deadline and that his later acceptance came only after arrangements could no longer be made.

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

It's been reported that Harry wants his children to know their British heritage and have a relationship with King Charles, who continues to undergo cancer treatment. In a 2025 BBC interview, he said he hoped to reconcile with his family because "there's no point continuing to fight anymore." He also said his father was no longer speaking to him over the ongoing security dispute.

Harry has long argued the British press damaged his relationships, leaving him "paranoid beyond belief." He blames the media for the death of his mother, Princess Diana, and coverage of Meghan Markle before the couple stepped back as senior working royals in 2020.

"They continue to come after me; they have made my wife's life an absolute misery," he testified as he choked back tears in the witness box during the trial in January.

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"Constitutionally, the king has no role in this security decision, and Buckingham Palace cannot be seen interfering with government or legal processes," Schofield said.

"But Harry understands emotional leverage. By tying security to whether his children can visit the U.K. or see their grandfather, he creates a narrative in which the palace appears cold, even though the decision is not the palace's to make."

"This visit has likely deepened the rift because it has once again turned a family issue into a public pressure campaign," Schofield said. "Instead of building trust privately, Harry's team appears to brief and litigate through the media. That makes reconciliation almost impossible."

Taxpayer-funded security is determined on a case-by-case basis by RAVEC, Vanity Fair reported. The magazine noted that it is generally provided only to full-time working members of the royal family. A Home Office spokesperson confirmed to the outlet that the government's position remains unchanged.

"[Harry] had assumed that because he was bringing the children, and the king had made a royal residence available to them, he would get what he had been seeking all along — full-time police protection," a source told the outlet.

"That has not been the case. The king has made it clear that while he wants to see his estranged son and grandchildren, he will not intervene in security matters."

As Harry's rift with the royal family shows little sign of healing, Schofield believes his ongoing security battle has become about more than personal safety.

"I'm told there is frustration that he still wants the freedom of private life with the infrastructure of public duty," Schofield said. "That is the contradiction at the heart of this entire fight. Harry wants the world to believe he left the institution, but not the importance that came with it."

Restaurant owners reveal the biggest mistake diners make before ordering

Thu, 09 Jul 2026 06:00:40 -0400

Choosing an entrée isn't always easy, especially at a restaurant with an extensive menu.

Many diners find it helpful to ask their server, "What's your favorite?", or simply, "What should I order?"

Restaurant professionals, however, say those questions may not always lead to the best recommendation.

AUTOMATIC TIP OR SERVICE CHARGE? NEW STATE LAW REQUIRES RESTAURANTS TO TELL DINERS BEFORE THEY ORDER

Instead, they recommend asking questions that help reveal what a restaurant does best and allow servers to tailor recommendations to your preferences.

Two hospitality experts spoke with Fox News Digital about the best questions to ask before ordering.

Go beyond a server's personal favorite

Diners can get more useful recommendations by asking questions that go beyond a server's personal preferences, said Stephanie Mell, owner of Alabama-based ChurchStreet Family Restaurant & Hospitality Group.

"I always find it interesting when someone asks, ‘What’s your favorite thing on the menu?' Because what I like isn't necessarily what you're going to like," Mell told Fox News Digital.

CUSTOMERS HIT WITH AUTOMATIC 20% GRATUITIES AS RESTAURANTS COMBAT TIPPING CONFUSION

"I think what people are really asking is, "What's exciting?' or ‘What should I experience while I'm here?'"

Mell recommends one of two simple questions to get a better recommendation: "What are you known for?" or "What's your specialty?"

"Those kinds of questions are great because they start a conversation," she noted.

"Then we can learn more about what you're in the mood for and help guide you from there."

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Mell said that her servers don't necessarily steer people toward their own personal favorites; rather, the focus is "the guest and the experience they're looking for."

"Are you looking for something light? Are you in the mood for seafood? Are you having a bold red or a crisp Sauvignon Blanc? Do you have any allergies or dietary preferences?" she said.

"A good server is trained to understand every dish on the menu, how it's prepared and who it's best suited for. The recommendation should be based on what the guest wants, not what the server wants."

While Mell recommends asking what a restaurant is known for, another restaurant owner suggests a different approach: asking your server what he or she would order that night, since the answer may reflect what's freshest or being prepared especially well.

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Robert Mahon, owner of Mahon Hospitality in New York and Dublin, told Fox News Digital that servers "know which dishes guests consistently love, what's being executed particularly well that day and what fits different tastes."

"Their goal is usually to help guests have a great experience, not just sell the most expensive item," he said.

"One common mistake diners make is ordering what they're familiar with instead of trying the dishes the restaurant is actually known for," Mahon said.

Start a conversation

Ultimately, Mell said, the best thing diners can do is have a conversation with their server.

"The more information you give us, the better we can guide you," she said.

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"Tell us what you are thinking about ordering, what you usually drink, whether you are looking for something heartier or lighter … even if it's your first time dining with us."

Mell added that the conversation shouldn't be one-sided. At a good restaurant, she said, "the server should be asking those questions, too."

"The goal isn't to tell you what to order. It's to figure out what is going to create the best experience for you," she said.

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"That's where the best recommendations come from."

US hurtling toward population decline even as Americans say they want bigger families, new report warns

Thu, 09 Jul 2026 06:00:38 -0400

The Institute for Family Studies (IFS) is warning in a new report that the U.S. could be headed for population decline within the next few decades. Researchers say the looming demographic shift isn't because Americans no longer want families, and that, in fact, most people aspire to have more children than they actually have.

Americans still say they want to have roughly 2.4 children while actual fertility has fallen below 1.6 children per woman, one of the widest gaps between desired and actual family size in modern history. Lyman Stone, Director of IFS' Pronatalism Initiative and co-author of the report, told Fox News Digital that the discrepancy is closely tied to family formation.

Stone said Americans haven't given up on having children. Instead, as more people delay marriage or forgo it altogether, many fall short of the family size they envisioned.

ERIKA KIRK HITS BACK AT NY TIMES NEWSLETTER ABOUT MARRIAGE AND KIDS, ACCUSES WRITER OF MISSING THE POINT

"What most people want is family," Stone said.

He noted that people who marry earlier are far more likely to reach their family size goals.

"Conditional on marrying early enough, people almost always hit their fertility desires," he said. "The main factor shaping undershooting is just not getting married."

Stone pushed back on the idea that the decline in birth rates was linked to an increase in medical infertility, saying that Americans have delayed starting their families. According to a 2025 statement from the U.S. Census Bureau, the median age at first marriage increased to 30.8 for men and 28.4 for women, compared to 1975 when the ages were 23.5 and 21.1.

"There's not been a dramatic decline in health or reproductive ability. Humans are able to reproduce like we always have, but the choice to delay is exposing more people to the difficulty of age, and it does change their biological options in an adverse way," he said. "It's better to start earlier."

OPINION: AMERICA'S NEXT 250 YEARS BEGIN IN THE CLASSROOM

IFS also found "peer culture" to be a key factor in fertility. Young Americans with highly supportive friendships reported wanting larger families. The report noted that for Americans under 30, respondents with more supportive friends said they would like to have roughly 2.8 children, compared with 1.7 children among those with the least supportive friend groups.

Stone said the researchers have yet to analyze whether having friends who are married and have children makes someone more likely to start a family, though he suspects there is likely a connection.

Delayed family formation and the social influences highlighted in the report explain why Americans are having fewer children than they want, according to the report. The IFS believes this trend could reshape the country's demographic future.

AGE OF FIRST-TIME MOTHERS HITS RECORD HIGH IN BLUE STATES AS BIRTH RATES KEEP FALLING

The report warns that if things do not change, the U.S. could hit peak population in the 2050s before sliding into a steady decline. Stone told Fox News Digital that he found that "growth will basically fall to nearly zero by like the late 2030s."

"We kind of do this like long, slow plateau type of thing. But then in the late 2050s and into the 2060s decline becomes fairly rapid. And by end of century, we could be looking at nearly a one percentage point population decline every year," he said.

The IFS report projects that if fertility rates continue to decline, the U.S. population will peak at 351 million before it starts declining in the 2050s. However, if fertility rates stabilize, the population is projected peak at 366 million and will begin declining in the 2080s, according to the report.

Stone argued that fixing the trend in birth rates would likely require policymakers to make family formation a higher priority. The report makes several recommendations, including eliminating marriage penalties in tax and welfare programs, expanding family-friendly housing and creating more financial incentives that encourage Americans to have children. Stone said the broader debate should focus less on whether government should intervene in family life and more on how it can improve the way it already intervenes.

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"I'm not arguing that the government should go from non-intervention to intervention," he said. "We're arguing we've got to wake up and be honest, the government is already intervening on family life and it's time to stop intervening against family life."

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Stone warned that the consequences of declining birth rates go beyond population numbers and said that strong families are essential to the long-term success of the U.S.

"Families are the bedrock of a functional society. It's family growth that built this country. It his family growth that will keep this country going. And if we do not have families growing, liberty will not long last," he warned.

Trump holds Washington hostage over SAVE Act as midterm clock ticks on GOP control

Thu, 09 Jul 2026 06:00:24 -0400

President Donald Trump is turning the stalled SAVE America Act into a leverage fight on Capitol Hill, tying the bill to unrelated Republican priorities as the party races to use its congressional majorities before the midterms.

The fight now stretches across defense spending, housing legislation, Senate primary politics and the filibuster, as Trump pushes Republicans to move the stalled elections bill before the party’s midterm window narrows.

The latest pressure point came Tuesday, when Trump tied the stalled elections bill to a proposed "Reconciliation 3.0" package seeking $350 billion in new defense spending.

"The SAVE AMERICA ACT, which everyone is asking for, paired with the full funding of our Great Department of War, can be passed, very quickly, ensuring that the United States of America stays FREE for Generations to come," Trump wrote on Truth Social Tuesday.

TRUMP'S SAVE AMERICA ACT SHOWS SIGNS OF LIFE IN THE SENATE DESPITE REPUBLICAN REVOLT

The SAVE America Act includes Trump’s long-sought voter ID and citizenship verification, which has faced obstacles in the Senate. Trump has warned about the need for voter ID laws for years, including from the 2016 campaign trail.

In late June, Trump announced a last-minute cancellation of the signing of the 21st Century ROAD Act of Housing, while issuing an ultimatum to get the SAVE Act passed.

The housing bill had bipartisan support and would have expanded the supply of homes and lower costs while also giving individual buyers a leg up by banning large institutional investors from purchasing single-family homes.

The cancellation came as a shock to members on both sides of the aisle, with Republican Maine Sen. Susan Collins saying the decision "made no sense," while Massachusetts Democratic Sen. Elizabeth Warren said Trump refused to sign at the "11th hour."

"The SAVE America Act has always been a top priority for President Trump, and it remains one. This is commonsense legislation, supported by the vast majority of Americans, that will secure our elections for generations to come," White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson told Fox News Digital.

"The President knows how critical this issue is for the American people, and he will not stop fighting until it is passed," Jackson added.

Democratic lawmakers have argued the SAVE Act would create unnecessary barriers for eligible voters, disenfranchising them.

"In fact, he won’t sign our bipartisan bill to finally bring relief to the housing market until he gets his SAVE Act to rig the midterms and kick millions of American citizens off the voter rolls. America First," said New York Sen. Chuck Schumer, referencing the housing act.

"Donald Trump thinks that passing a voter suppression law is the most important thing for our country," posted House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries on X.

TRUMP SUFFERS MAJOR SUPREME COURT DEFEAT AS JUSTICES UPHOLD BIRTHRIGHT CITIZENSHIP

The SAVE Act also became entangled in the Texas Senate fight between Attorney General Ken Paxton and incumbent Sen. John Cornyn, where the filibuster and Trump’s endorsement became part of the same pressure campaign.

Texas Republican Senate nominee Ken Paxton previously sounded the alarm on the importance of getting the bill passed during his campaign in March.

"I would consider dropping out of this race if Senate Leadership agrees to lift the filibuster and passes the SAVE America Act," he wrote on X at the time.

Cornyn declined to back the SAVE Act even as he signaled he could reconsider his longtime support for the filibuster, sharpening the Texas primary pressure before Trump ultimately endorsed Paxton.

Trump also diverted his attention back to the SAVE Act in another move to push his immigration agenda after a Supreme Court ruling on birthright citizenship.

After the Supreme Court ruled that children born in the United States to parents unlawfully or temporarily present are citizens at birth under the 14th Amendment, Trump turned back to the SAVE Act as part of his broader immigration and elections push.

"The Supreme Court upheld Birthright Citizenship, which is too bad for our Country, but we can easily make it up in Congress through Legislation, with the support of the President, that has now been determined during this process," Trump wrote on Truth Social at the time.

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

Senate Majority Leader John Thune has cast doubt on the bill’s path forward, saying Republicans do not have the 60 votes needed to overcome a Democratic filibuster.

Trump has pushed Senate Republicans to change the rules and pass the bill by a simple majority, while pressing Democrats to publicly defend their reliance on the filibuster.

Trump has sounded the alarm that the SAVE Act may never pass if it doesn't cross the finish line before November.

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Republicans and administration officials have joined Trump's crusade by using their speaking engagements to help push the SAVE Act.

Vice President JD Vance said by passing the legislation to get voter ID, Republicans will stop talking about election fraud.

"We are the only advanced democracy anywhere in the entire world that doesn't require you to show a voter ID to vote. It's simple. Just give us election integrity laws, give us voter ID, and then we will have the confidence to say the American people, there's no cheating," said Vance. "So stop it and give the American people voter ID."

The Senate is scheduled to return from its Independence Day recess the week of July 13.

The surprising hidden cost quietly adding nearly $132K to new home prices revealed

Thu, 09 Jul 2026 06:00:20 -0400

Government regulations are adding nearly $132,000 to the cost of newly built houses, according to a new report released as Americans struggle to become homeowners.

The findings that more than one-quarter of the final prices of newly constructed homes come as housing affordability remains a top concern nationwide, with elevated mortgage rates and limited inventory putting homeownership out of reach for many families.

The issue is also expected to be a key focus heading into the 2026 midterm elections, as lawmakers face growing pressure to address high housing costs and the affordability crisis overall.

AMERICA'S HOUSING MARKET COULD RUN OUT OF SOMETHING MORE IMPORTANT THAN HOMES

The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), which commissioned the report, argues that regulations imposed by federal, state and local governments have become a major driver of the nation's housing shortage and affordability challenges.

The study found regulations add an average of $131,734 to the cost of a newly built home, representing 26.4% of the final sale price. The estimate, based on the average new-home price of $499,500, marks the largest increase between consecutive NAHB surveys since the organization began tracking the data in 2011.

Regulatory costs have climbed a whopping 40% since 2021.

"We update our study every five years and this reinforces what we have been saying all along — that the cost to build a single-family home in this country continues to escalate and exacerbate the housing affordability crisis," NAHB President and CEO Jim Tobin told Fox News Digital. "We're up 40% over the last five years, and now regulatory burdens at every level of government are totaling more than $130,000 for the cost of a new home."

NAHB estimates the U.S. faces a structural housing shortage of 1.2 million homes, arguing rising regulatory costs make it more difficult to increase supply.

Tobin said regulatory costs vary across the country, with states in the Southeast, including Texas, Florida and the Carolinas, generally maintaining a lower-cost regulatory environment than states such as California, New York, New Jersey and Illinois.

AMERICANS KEEP MOVING TO TEXAS AND FLORIDA — BUT ONE OTHER RED STATE IS GROWING EVEN FASTER

He also said he expects regulatory costs to continue rising, but believes policymakers can help slow the pace through reforms.

"Anything we can do to lower that cost, I think would be really important," Tobin said.

He pointed to the bipartisan 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act, which would streamline permitting, reduce barriers to new construction and expand financing tools intended to increase the nation's housing supply.

The White House and the Department of Housing and Urban Development did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment on the report's findings.

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NAHB said the study is not intended to argue that all regulations should be eliminated but to quantify their cumulative effect on housing affordability.

"While regulations are important, they can go too far," Tobin told Fox News Digital. "We need to make sure health and safety are protected while getting rid of the more onerous and costly regulations that do nothing more than drive up costs and keep Americans out of homeownership."

The analysis is based on surveys of 54 land developers and 337 single-family builders conducted in March 2026.

Slain NJ therapist's husband hires lawyer as investigators confirm ongoing contact in homicide probe

Thu, 09 Jul 2026 06:00:01 -0400

FIRST ON FOX: CHESTER, N.J. – The husband of Brooke Hanlon, who was found stabbed to death inside her Chester, New Jersey home, has obtained a lawyer, authorities confirmed to Fox News Digital.

Investigators with the Morris County Prosecutor's Office Major Crimes Unit confirmed to Fox News Digital that Conor Hanlon has been communicating with investigators following his wife’s killing.

The new mother was found dead on June 6 with "multiple sharp force injuries" confirmed by the medical examiner the Morris County Prosecutor's Office said.

'THAT WAS THE LAST I HEARD FROM HIM': SLAIN NJ THERAPIST’S NEIGHBOR RECALLS LAST CONTACT WITH HUSBAND

The agency said it has been in touch with "several" family members throughout the investigation.

When asked whether Hanlon has been cooperative throughout the probe, authorities chose not to comment.

FOX TRUE CRIME IS NOW ON FACEBOOK

Fox News Digital obtained a Computer-Aided Dispatch (CAD) log of a 911 call made at the home on June 6 that was initially reported as a "Cardiac or Respiratory Arrest."

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

According to the log, the 911 call came in at 4:29 p.m., and within 13 minutes at approximately 4:42 p.m., a dispatcher enters the note "suspicious death" to the log.

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Within the hour, Major Crimes Unit detectives were notified.

The log also indicates several days of investigative activity at the home following the initial call.

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

Detectives, investigators and the medical examiner, among others, were recorded on the log from June 6 through June 12, when the log was officially closed out.

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It was not immediately clear who Hanlon's lawyer is. Hanlon has not been accused of any crime or wrongdoing.

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Fox News Digital previously made calls to Hanlon that were not returned.

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The investigation is active and ongoing.

Drone offensive hits Russian oil tankers and refineries at 'industrial scale' as Moscow bans diesel exports

Thu, 09 Jul 2026 05:48:58 -0400

Ukraine launched one of its broadest recent drone offensives against Russia’s maritime and energy networks this week, claiming strikes on 21 vessels in three days as attacks on major refineries deep inside Russia intensified pressure on Moscow’s fuel supplies.

The wave of attacks offered a striking display of Ukraine’s growing long-range capabilities.

On Wednesday, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met President Donald Trump at the NATO summit in Ankara, where Trump said the United States would allow Ukraine to manufacture Patriot air-defense interceptors and the two leaders discussed a potential drone agreement.

TRUMP SAYS US WILL LET UKRAINE MAKE PATRIOT MISSILES IN MAJOR POLICY SHIFT

Zelenskyy made air defense his top priority during the bilateral meeting and said the two governments had also begun working on a separate drone agreement.

"Air defense is the priority," Zelenskyy said. He described the emerging drone deal as "a very good beginning" and said he hoped to discuss additional details with Trump.

The timing allowed Zelenskyy to arrive at the summit with evidence that Ukraine’s domestic drone industry can threaten Russian assets far beyond the conventional battlefield.

UKRAINE’S BATTLEFIELD IS TRANSFORMING THE FUTURE OF NATO

Trump praised Zelenskyy as "very effective" and credited Ukrainian forces with successfully operating American weapons against Russia’s much larger military.

"He’s had the best equipment because he had our equipment," Trump said. "But somebody has to use that equipment. And you have a lot of brave people that are using that equipment."

Ukraine is increasingly forcing Russia to defend refineries, airfields, shipping routes and other infrastructure far beyond the front. Kyiv has not achieved a comparable breakthrough in the grinding ground campaign, and Russia continues to bombard Ukrainian cities. But repeated long-range strikes have begun disrupting fuel production and maritime logistics while imposing costs on parts of Russia that were once largely insulated from the fighting.

WATCH: FIGHTS BREAK OUT AT RUSSIAN GAS STATIONS AS PUTIN ADMITS FUEL SHORTAGES

On Tuesday, Ukraine’s Unmanned Systems Forces said nine Russian-linked vessels were struck in the Sea of Azov on Wednesday, bringing the number targeted over 72 hours to 21.

Commander Robert "Magyar" Brovdi said the targets included 19 oil tankers, a cargo ship and a ferry operating near Russian-occupied Crimea, according to East2West news agency. He described the campaign against the fleet as reaching an "industrial scale."

Ukrainian and Russian officials confirmed that the overnight offensive targeted tankers, refineries, pipeline facilities and a military airfield across several Russian regions.

Ukraine says many of the vessels were part of Russia’s so-called shadow fleet and were being used to transport fuel to Crimea, the Black Sea peninsula Moscow seized and illegally annexed in 2014.

The maritime strikes were accompanied by attacks on the Saratov refinery and energy facilities in the Russian regions of Tatarstan and Bashkortostan. Russian authorities said one person was killed in Saratov.

Ukraine also said it struck the Borisoglebsk military airfield in Russia’s Voronezh region. The base has been used by Russian combat aircraft involved in attacks against Ukraine, according to Kyiv.

The latest wave followed a Ukrainian strike Monday on the Omsk refinery in Siberia, approximately 1,700 miles from Ukrainian-controlled territory. The facility is Russia’s largest oil refinery and processed about 460,000 barrels of crude per day last year, according to Reuters.

UKRAINE LAUNCHES WHAT APPEARS TO BE ONE OF ITS LARGEST DRONE ATTACKS AGAINST RUSSIA: REPORT

Two industry sources subsequently told Reuters that the Omsk facility had halted oil processing following the attack.

The disruption comes as parts of Russia face gasoline and diesel shortages attributed in part to repeated Ukrainian attacks on refineries and fuel depots.

Long lines have formed at filling stations in several cities, while some regions have introduced purchasing restrictions. Russia announced Wednesday that it was temporarily banning diesel exports through July 31 to protect domestic supplies.

The shortages have become one of the most visible ways the war is reaching ordinary Russians.

Margarita Simonyan, editor-in-chief of the Kremlin-funded RT network, acknowledged the hardships during an appearance on Russian state television and urged Russians not to respond by challenging the country’s leadership.

"There is no petrol," Simonyan said in a translated clip distributed by regional media.

Recalling food rationing after the collapse of the Soviet Union, she said: "We endured it. And we will endure it now."

Simonyan argued that Russia’s enemies wanted the population to react as it had during the 1917 revolution and "run off to overthrow" the czar.

"Yes, it is hard, yes, very hard," she said, urging Russians to remain calm.

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The pressure on Russia’s energy infrastructure formed the backdrop to Zelenskyy’s Wednesday meeting with Trump at the Beştepe Presidential Compound.

Russia continued its bombardment of Ukraine during the summit, striking Kyiv and other cities with missiles and drones. Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said storage facilities were burning in the capital’s Desnyanskyi district and reported another fire in the Sviatoshynskyi district.

Bonnie Tyler, singer of chart-topping hit 'Total Eclipse of the Heart,' dead at 75

Thu, 09 Jul 2026 05:45:09 -0400

Bonnie Tyler, the Grammy-nominated Welsh singer whose soaring 1983 hit "Total Eclipse of the Heart" became one of pop music's most enduring anthems, has died. She was 75.

Tyler died unexpectedly at a hospital in Portugal, where she had been receiving treatment for an illness, her family announced Thursday. She had been hospitalized in May for emergency intestinal surgery and was later placed in an induced coma. Her family had said last month that she was no longer in a coma but remained critically ill.

Born Gaynor Hopkins in Skewen, Wales, Tyler rose to international fame with her signature raspy voice and a string of hits including "It's a Heartache," "Holding Out for a Hero" and "Total Eclipse of the Heart," which spent four weeks atop the Billboard Hot 100 in 1983.

The Jim Steinman-produced power ballad enjoyed a resurgence during the solar eclipses of 2017 and 2024, helping the song surpass 1 billion streams, while its iconic MTV-era music video also crossed the 1 billion-view mark.

Tyler earned three Grammy nominations during her career, represented the United Kingdom at the 2013 Eurovision Song Contest and was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) by Queen Elizabeth II in 2023 for her services to music.

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She is survived by her husband, Robert Sullivan, a property developer and former Olympic judo competitor. The couple had been married since 1973.

MORNING GLORY: Graham Platner proves candidates can’t outrun secrets and scandal

Thu, 09 Jul 2026 05:00:49 -0400

Do you want to run for an office that will be heavily contested in the general election? Begin considering your decision with the Bible.

Really. Specifically, the Gospel of Luke, chapter 8, verse 17: "For nothing is secret that will not be revealed, nor anything hidden that will not be known and come to light." (The New King James Version.)

Roman Catholics have long been urged to reflect often on "the four last things": death, judgment, heaven and hell. The "judgment" comes along with the consideration of a man’s or woman’s entire life. The fundamental premise about the nature of God is that God knows all things — that he is omniscient (as well as omnipresent and omnipotent).

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That has not always been the case with political media. Sometimes the national and even local press were complicit in hiding facts known to some but not widely shared. President John F. Kennedy’s escapades were well known to many in the Beltway’s elite media and perhaps in Massachusetts, but those who knew and liked or even loved him were not about to tell. That is perhaps the most famous example of media complicity in burying scandals, but it’s a bipartisan tradition to not launder some dirty garments in public.

That era is over. President Obama is said to have believed "if you can win, you should" as an explanation for playing hardball in politics. Lots of Republicans live by the same rule. Politics is far, far from actual war or even life-and-death struggles, but as Finley Peter Dunne’s famed creation Mr. Dooley put it, "politics ain’t beanbag" either. It’s a rough-and-tumble game, and lots of lives get upended, if not even more seriously wrecked, when national attention turns to the backstory of every candidate on whom the searchlights turn.

Now more than ever, every candidate must be warned again and again that Luke 8:17 is very much true and indeed inevitable for every candidate in every race in which any opponent has the means to dig deep. As the number of media platforms has grown and grown, so too has the number of reporters eager for a "scoop" or anything close to one.

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Producing the soiled linen on any candidate — "R" or "D" — produces clicks and thus heightens the profile of the journalist with the byline. No rumor is too outrageous to check out. And every old girlfriend or boyfriend, business competitor or colleague, and even family member with a score to settle views campaigns as an opportunity not to be missed.

Which is why every would-be candidate ought to subject himself or herself first to self-scrutiny and then to a gauntlet of "friendly" professionals who specialize in digging up "opposition research."

If an unflattering story exists, it can be found, and it will be found. And it will be on every front page.

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Which brings us to the people who recruited Maine Democratic Senate nominee Graham Platner. Platner dropped out of the race for Senate in Maine on Wednesday night. Platner owns his own life story. Whatever he did and didn’t do cannot be undone or made up for. It’s just the facts of every life, and no life is going to emerge unscathed from searching — and often searing — reviews.

This is what candidates have to fully grasp. It will all come out. Every bit of the bad and not much of the good. Forewarned is forearmed.

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In his classic book, "Hardball," former MSNBC host Chris Matthews brought up this old but true bit of wisdom: If you have a political problem, hang a lantern on it.

Call attention to the very worst parts of your life and bio at the start of a campaign. If your candidacy can’t survive self-disclosure and apology, your candidacy will fail, and the failure will be all the more painful when it arrives.

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But if his one-time backers didn’t lay out these tough facts about the hard realities of politics in 2026, the now former candidate may be more angry with them than he is with himself at this point.

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If he was misled about what could be papered over, it wouldn’t be an irrational response.

But Platner's saga is already a tale worth telling every candidate in every race coming down the road in the years ahead: "[N]othing is secret that will not be revealed."

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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Iran’s Strait of Hormuz scheme could derail one Gulf nation’s bright future

Thu, 09 Jul 2026 05:00:19 -0400

In the maelstrom of noise over Iranian action in the Strait of Hormuz, there has been much less discussion of the country on the other side of the contested waterway: Oman.

Over the course of the conflict in Iran, Oman has been a somewhat enigmatic actor. While cooperating with the United States as a mediator, it has also displayed an openness to Tehran’s schemes to impose tolls on shipping through the Strait.

That would be a significant mistake. Unlike Iran, Oman has a bright, promising future due to recent effective economic reforms and the opportunity to join the growing regional cohesion against the Islamic Republic. For the sake of the Omani people, Muscat should embrace this path to greater freedom, opportunity, and prosperity.

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Despite the accident of geography that put them on either side of the Strait, there are plenty of reasons a rapprochement with Iran makes no sense for Oman. In the 2026 edition of The Heritage Foundation’s Index of Economic Freedom, an annual benchmark report that compares entrepreneurial competitiveness and resilience environments of countries around the globe, Oman made a splash by achieving the second-best score improvement (behind Javier Milei’s Argentina) and moving up by an impressive 19 places to rank 39th globally.

This transformative advancement reflects the country’s ongoing economic expansion and strength under the Oman Vision 2040 framework. Fiscal consolidation and more effective management of public finance have helped reduce the debt level to less than 40 percent of GDP. Legal reforms focused on ensuring greater transparency and accountability have impressively combated corruption.

In addition, opening up Omani businesses to greater foreign investment has also contributed to the country’s success. As a result, the International Monetary Fund estimates Oman’s GDP per capita at $21,645 — a 19% increase over 2025.

This happy state of affairs could not be further from the disastrous economic dysfunction playing out in Iran. Despite having the world’s second-largest proven oil reserves (to say nothing of significant natural gas reserves), due to systemic mismanagement by the regime, Iran’s economy was in a compounding free fall long before Operation Epic Fury. Things are now far worse.

Ten years ago, after Barak Obama’s JCPOA gave Tehran an economic lifeline, inflation was around 7%. It is now around 50%, with prices for food closer to 100%. Poverty levels have risen dramatically, with millions more projected to fall into poverty in coming months. Official estimates put unemployment at about 10%, but independent assessments put it over 25%, with young people bearing the brunt of the job losses. As a result, Iran’s GDP per capita is a dismal $3,415 — less than half of Oman’s and a six percent decrease from 2025.

All of which makes Oman’s recent equivocation over Iran confounding. The two countries recently had high-level discussions in Muscat to assert their joint sovereignty over the waterway, and so ability to demand payment for ships to pass. While dressed up in diplomatic language in official statements as security and environmental fees, the reality is a state-sponsored blackmail imposed on the vital energy flows from the Gulf.

Such money-grubbing schemes, while understandable for an increasingly impoverished and desperate Iran, are beneath the aspirations of Oman. Instead of teaming up with a global pariah and running the risk of U.S. economic sanctions or even military attack, Muscat should build on the hard work it has already done to transform its economy for greater future.

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The next pragmatic step should be to further embrace the principle of economic freedom to offer passage through their side of the Strait independent of Iranian threats, which would only increase the attractiveness of their ports as ports of call for everything from international tankers from Gulf nations to U.S. Navy vessels. Oman could also be an integral part of the regional race to establish an alternative infrastructure around the Strait, which will eventually — and inevitably — leave Iran out in the cold.

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Going into business with Iran to impose restrictions and tolls on Hormuz would fatally undermine this opportunity for Oman, which could wind up isolated from the rest of the region along with Iran. The recent show of unity in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) in Bahrain with Secretary of State Marco Rubio offers a much better alternative for Oman.

Rather than becoming a junior partner to Tehran, Muscat has the unique geoeconomic opportunity to coordinate with far more productive and prosperous regional partners in conjunction with the United States for the greater good. Now is the time for Oman to seize that moment to ensure its transformative trajectory.

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Democratic socialists have lots of ideas, but how are we supposed to pay for them?

Thu, 09 Jul 2026 05:00:02 -0400

As a Certified Financial Planner, I've spent more than three decades asking people one simple question before they make a major financial decision.

"How are you going to pay for it?"

It's a question every bank asks before approving a loan. It's a question every family should ask before buying a home. And it's the question every voter should ask as democratic socialism gains momentum across America. You can vote for someone as president of student council who promises free lunch, no school on Fridays, and unlimited recess, but will those policies actually be put into place and will they be successful.

Because every promise has a price tag.

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Over the past few weeks, Democratic Socialist candidates have captured national attention with proposals that include government-funded childcare, free public transit, city-owned grocery stores, tuition-free college, universal healthcare, rent freezes, expanded public housing and significantly higher taxes on wealthy Americans.

Many of these ideas sound compassionate. Some may even solve real problems.

But good intentions have never balanced a budget, and we are woefully behind on that already.

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The United States is already carrying nearly $40 trillion in national debt. We continue to run trillion-dollar annual deficits. Interest on that debt is now one of the fastest-growing expenses in the federal budget, meaning taxpayers are spending hundreds of billions of dollars every year simply paying interest on yesterday's borrowing while not building roads, improving schools or strengthening our military.

Now we're being told the answer is ... more spending?

Let's look at what happens when government promises more than it can sustainably fund.

In New York City, progressive leaders have proposed policies ranging from city-owned grocery stores and free buses to major expansions of public housing and government-funded childcare. In Seattle, policymakers have pursued higher business taxes, expanded tenant protections and broader public spending to address housing affordability and inequality.

Supporters believe these policies make life more affordable.

Critics argue they increase long-term financial obligations, discourage business investment and create budget pressures that future taxpayers must absorb. Reasonable people can disagree on which side is right, but no one can disagree with one basic principle.

Eventually, the bill comes due.

Here's what worries me most. America became the most prosperous nation in history because we rewarded people who created value. Entrepreneurs risked their savings to build companies. Small business owners hired employees before they knew if customers would show up. Investors funded ideas that changed the world. Workers believed that hard work and personal responsibility could improve their lives. That system wasn't perfect.

But it created more opportunity, more innovation and more wealth than any economic model in history.

When government continually expands its role, raises taxes and promises more benefits without clearly explaining how they'll be funded, we should ask whether we're creating more opportunity or simply redistributing what others have already created and stunting future generations to want to build and innovate.

As a financial advisor, I never tell clients they can spend money they don't have. That’s just common sense. I don't tell them debt doesn't matter. I don't tell them someone else will eventually pay their bills. Washington shouldn't either.

If politicians want to propose new programs, great. Show us the numbers. Show us how they'll be funded over the next decade and not just next year's election cycle. Show us what gets cut if revenues don't materialize. Show us how much additional debt we're willing to leave our children.

That's not a Republican question.

That's not a Democratic question.

That's an American question.

Compassion and fiscal responsibility are not opposites. In fact, lasting compassion depends on sound finances. Families know it. Businesses know it. And you know it. The federal government should know it too. America doesn't have a shortage of good ideas. It has a shortage of leaders willing to admit that every promise comes with a price tag.

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Before we embrace bigger government, let's demand something remarkably simple to understand.

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Don't just tell us what you're going to give us.

Tell us who's going to pay for it. How’s that for a democratic idea?

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Caitlin Clark's return falls flat after Fever coach limits her in loss to shorthanded Sparks

Thu, 09 Jul 2026 00:45:31 -0400

All eyes were on Caitlin Clark on Wednesday night as she made her anticipated return from injury in a road matchup in Los Angeles.

But instead of a triumphant comeback, the Fever spent the entire night chasing the Sparks as Clark's rough return fueled a 106-92 rout.

The superstar never found a groove, looking completely out of sync in her return from a back injury.

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Much of that disjointed performance falls squarely on head coach Stephanie White, who kept Clark on a ridiculously tight leash by limiting her to just 16 minutes. The stop-and-go approach could have sabotaged any chance for the phenom to establish a rhythm.

Clark finished with just 9 points, 4 rebounds and 3 assists. Her minus-16 plus-minus told the story.

The Los Angeles Sparks were severely shorthanded, taking the floor without stars Kelsey Plum and Cameron Brink.

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Yet while a depleted Sparks roster played to win, Indiana spent the night over-managing its biggest asset.

With Clark on a minutes restriction and Aliyah Boston out of the lineup, Kelsey Mitchell was forced to shoulder the entire offensive burden.

Mitchell did her part, pouring in 29 points while shooting 5-of-9 from beyond the arc.

But one hot hand couldn't stop an efficient LA squad.

The Sparks shot 45% from three-point range, going 9-of-20 from deep to cruise to the 106-92 victory.

White's next move is to sit Clark against the Mercury on Thursday while Boston returns.

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After Wednesday's loss to a shorthanded Sparks team, it's fair to question whether Indiana's cautious approach is working. The Fever dropped to 12-9.

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

Justin Baldoni and wife Emily break two-year silence on Blake Lively lawsuit and 'injustice'

Wed, 08 Jul 2026 22:30:26 -0400

Justin Baldoni is breaking his silence two years after the Blake Lively legal drama began.

On Wednesday night, Baldoni and his wife, Emily, sat down and filmed a lengthy video for Instagram. The couple detailed the last two years being filled with "injustice" and "trauma."

"We have not spoken publicly for the better part of the last two years, and it’s not because we haven’t had anything to say," Justin began the video.

He added, "Because Lord knows we have, but it just felt like every time we went to make a video like this, we wanted to speak, something was telling us not to. It just didn’t feel like the right time, and we were talking about it and feeling into it and praying about it."

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Emily said: "This feels like the moment," and "There’s so much to say."

The legal battle between Lively and Baldoni stemmed from the production of the 2024 movie "It Ends With Us." Rumors of tension surfaced during the movie's press tour when Baldoni promoted the movie separately from Lively and the rest of the cast.

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In December 2024, Lively filed a complaint and later a federal lawsuit alleging Baldoni sexually harassed her on set and, after she raised concerns, orchestrated a campaign to damage her reputation. Baldoni denied the allegations and responded with lawsuits against Lively, Ryan Reynolds, The New York Times and others, accusing them of defamation, extortion and attempting to destroy his career.

Over the following year, both sides engaged in a highly public legal fight that included the release of text messages, behind-the-scenes footage, subpoenas and multiple amended court filings. Rather than proceed to trial, Lively and Baldoni reached a confidential settlement in May 2026 without either side admitting wrongdoing or paying damages to the other. The only remaining issue before the court is Lively's request for approximately $8 million in attorney's fees and litigation costs, which Baldoni is contesting.

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In the video uploaded on Wednesday, Justin shared that they wouldn't cover everything and his wife agreed, adding that they have "immense gratitude for ... so many people and so many things that have happened to us."

"Gratitude has saved us," Justin added.

Emily noted that despite the gratitude that they both have, it doesn’t "negate the injustice and the pain that we have also felt in the last few years."

"We’ve had to wrestle with so many things and try to understand so many things, like how could something like this even happen? Let alone disguised as a fight for women. So much to unpack," she continued.

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Emily said that the couple experience "a lot of trauma" and it is difficult for them to discuss it.

"We don’t even know if this is the right thing to say. We just know we need to share something," Justin said. "What I will say is that there have been so many painful things that have been spoken into existence over the last couple of years. That created so much noise, and we didn’t want to add to the noise. So we just wanted to let the justice system run its course."

Emily added that "the truth and the facts have spoken for themselves."

The couple, who tied the knot in 2013, gave an update to fans about how their lives are two years after the legal battle began.

"We are healing," Justin said. "If you’ve ever been through something traumatic, you know that healing isn’t linear. It looks different every day. We have had to rethink for ourselves what is real, and what matters. It’s this. It’s our family, it’s our friends, it’s our community, who have been there for us, it’s our faith."

He said that this situation has led to him and Emily growing "closer, more devoted, and steadfast in our faith than we’ve ever been."

Justin said that Emily prayed "people would have discernment" while he thanked viewers for their support.

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"So many of you had discernment, and you used your intuition, and you trusted that. You have given your time to fight for us. Thank you does not feel like enough. But we’re here, in large part, because of so many of you, and all of our friends and family," Justin said.

To wrap up the video, Justin said the biggest lesson they have learned throughout this journey. "When God presses the reset button, and everything else is stripped away, that’s when love shows up," he said.

Emily added, "And it did. There’s so much more to say. The time will come. But for now, we are going to focus on continuing the healing and hanging out with our kiddos and enjoying life."

Although the courtroom battle between Baldoni and Lively has largely concluded, the dispute remains one of Hollywood's most talked-about legal sagas because of its impact on the movie, the celebrities involved, and the broader conversation about workplace conduct and reputation management.

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Tyler Robinson preliminary hearing: Judge orders redactions to ex-lover’s video testimony

Wed, 08 Jul 2026 22:27:39 -0400

PROVO, Utah — Video testimony from Lance Twiggs, the former lover of suspected Charlie Kirk assassin Tyler Robinson, will be played in court Thursday morning as a weeklong preliminary hearing nears its end.

Prosecutors intended to play it Wednesday, but after a series of objections from the defense, Judge Tony Graf Jr. called for redactions, and prosecutors said they’d rather wait until the morning to ensure they could comply with the court order before playing it.

Kirk’s widow, Erika Kirk, shared several emotional embraces with her mother-in-law, Kathy Kirk, and was also wiping tears when the family attorney, Jeff Neiman, asked the court to play the unredacted video for "all the world to see."

From the gallery, she appeared to urge the lawyer to approach the podium for the first time since the hearing began Monday.

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Playing only a redacted version would create "doubt and distrust in the judicial system," Neiman argued.

"The Kirk family believes strongly that if the evidence is being admitted in this preliminary hearing, it should be made public for the world to see no redactions," he told the judge. "This court has tools at its disposal to make sure the defendant receives a fair trial. You'll use them if you find that you need to."

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Graf, however, agreed to redactions of about 16 minutes of the roughly 37-minute video statement from Twiggs, as suggested by the defense, after Robinson attorney Richard Novak raised constitutional concerns about televising a "confession" before trial.

The full video is expected to show Twiggs discussing texts, chat logs and a note that the defense said prosecutors and the public would consider a "confession" from Robinson.

Novak said the defense does not characterize them as a confession.

Robinson appeared visibly uneasy at times during the hearing, especially during mentions of Twiggs, his lover at the time of the shooting — taking deep breaths, fidgeting and adjusting his suit jacket.

Some of the alleged texts between Robinson and Twiggs have been made public already, in which prosecutors claim the defendant mentions being "stuck in Orem," where the shooting took place — and appears to take responsibility for being "the one who did it."

Mention of the texts are expected to be redacted from the video played Thursday, but the judge said he will consider them when he makes his probable cause decision.

Graf also said the preliminary hearing will end by 5 p.m. Friday, squelching speculation that the planned five-day hearing could run longer.

At the end of the hearing, as everyone stood, Erika and Kathy Kirk shared a tearful hug.

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Robinson has not yet entered a plea. He could face the death penalty if convicted.

Fox News’ Adam Sabes contributed to this report.

Who is Valli Geiger? Meet the Maine Dem that Platner urged to run for Senate

Wed, 08 Jul 2026 19:40:16 -0400

Maine state Rep. Valli Geiger, a Rockland Democrat, former nurse and former mayor, is drawing sudden national attention after saying now-former Democratic Senate nominee Graham Platner encouraged her to consider taking his place on the ballot in the Maine Senate race.

While Geiger has not been named the replacement nominee, her name entered the Maine Senate scramble after she told local outlet WMTW that Platner called her Monday night, praised her as a "fighter" and asked whether he could put her name forward. Platner’s campaign told the outlet he had not made an endorsement decision but confirmed he encouraged Geiger to consider running if he stepped aside.

After Geiger said Platner called her about potentially putting her name forward, Geiger posted Tuesday she would not "throw Graham under the bus," while also saying she would not "slander or accuse" Jenny Racicot, the woman who accused Platner of rape, "of anything more than telling the truth as she experienced it."

By Wednesday, local outlets were reporting that Geiger said Platner had encouraged her to consider running if he withdrew. Platner, who suspended his campaign Wednesday night, has denied the claim.

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"For the movement to continue, it can’t be me. For that reason, we are suspending campaign operations," Platner said in a video posted to social media.

Geiger is a third-term Democratic state representative from Rockland, according to her legislative biography, representing a coastal House district in Maine that includes Rockland, Criehaven Township, Matinicus Isle Plantation, the Muscle Ridge Islands, North Haven and part of Owls Head. Her biography says she serves on the Labor Committee and the Energy, Utilities and Technology Committee.

Before entering the state legislature, Geiger served six years on the Rockland City Council, including one year as mayor and four years on the Rockland Comprehensive Planning Commission, three of them as chair.

Her biography says she holds a master’s degree in sustainable design and built her own passive-solar, net-zero-energy house. It also describes her as a former nurse at Pen Bay Medical Center who later worked as a health policy analyst and health administrator, including as director of the Healthreach Hospice program and clinical director for Federally Qualified Health Centers around Maine.

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Geiger’s connection to Platner predates the latest replacement speculation. Local reporting has described her as a close Platner supporter, and WMTW reported she previously stood with him and credited him with helping secure funding for rape kit tracking in Maine.

In her Facebook post responding to Racicot’s allegation, Geiger wrote that Racicot’s story "seems credible" but added that "none of us knows the truth nor will we ever." She also described Platner as "a man becoming a better man" and said she had hoped he would lead the political movement his campaign had built and will not "throw Graham under the bus."

In the post, Geiger also praised Platner’s "passion for economic populism" and said she had granted him "an enormous amount of grace" for his behavior during what she described as his "dark years" after multiple deployments.

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The Maine state representative is not the only Democrat whose name has surfaced as Maine Democrats prepare for the possibility that Platner exits the race against Republican Sen. Susan Collins.

Several Democrats have expressed interest or are considering bids, including former gubernatorial candidate Troy Jackson, Secretary of State Shenna Bellows and former Maine CDC Director Nirav Shah.

Under Maine law, the Maine Democratic Party can replace him on the general election ballot by selecting a new nominee through its party process, with the replacement required to be chosen by July 27.

Fetterman unloads on scandal-plagued Platner after rape allegation ends Senate bid: 'Adios, trash bag'

Wed, 08 Jul 2026 22:04:37 -0400

Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., said Graham Platner was always a "dead man walking" after the scandal-plagued Democratic candidate dropped out of the Maine U.S. Senate race following a rape allegation.

"The trash took itself out tonight. And now, finally, people in Maine have a chance to really vote on someone that's not a total piece of trash," Fetterman said on "Jesse Watters Primetime" Wednesday.

"[Platner] will only be remembered as the accused rapist that got pushed out of your election. That's your legacy, bro. And you are a guy that cheats on your wife. You're the guy that roughs up your ex-girlfriend."

PLATNER DROPS OUT OF CRUCIAL SENATE RACE AFTER BOMBSHELL RAPE ALLEGATION TORPEDOES CAMPAIGN

After facing a multitude of scandals, including sexual misconduct and domestic abuse allegations, Platner dropped out of the Maine race Wednesday.

He announced his exit in an 11-minute video posted to X Wednesday evening, calling the rape allegation from a former partner "false." (Platner has not been criminally charged for the allegation.)

"To give that weird long speech and pretend like people will miss you?" Fetterman said. "No one's going to forget you other than [as] the guy that was pushed out of the election because a woman credibly accused you of raping her. So that's his legacy."

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"No one wants you anymore. I'm like, bro, you are an accused rapist," the senator continued. "Adios, trash bag."

Platner, a military veteran and oyster farmer, spent much of his campaign on the defensive as multiple scandals rocked his candidacy, including a chest tattoo resembling a Nazi symbol and abuse allegations from former girlfriends.

The allegation that triggered Platner's exit from the race came from Maine resident Jenny Racicot, 41, who told CNN's Jake Tapper that "by dictionary definition" Platner "raped" her.

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Racicot alleged that Platner entered her home uninvited and forced her to have unprotected sex despite her repeatedly telling him to stop.

Her allegation was the latest in a series of controversies that have dogged Platner.

"He's always been a dead man walking," Fetterman said.

Fetterman blasted his left-leaning colleagues like Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., who endorsed Platner in the Maine Senate race, saying they owe voters an apology.

"What did [Democrats] see in this guy? Was it the Nazi tattoo, was it the gross messages online, the way he roughs up women?" Fetterman questioned.

"Bernie Sanders needs to apologize to the voters of Maine and to everyone that donated to that train wreck of a campaign," he added.

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Republicans currently control the chamber 53-47 and flipping the Senate seat in left-leaning Maine is a key part of the Democrats' path to retake the majority.

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Platner’s exit from the race will make the math harder for Democrats vying for the Senate majority.

"Go back under that rock that you came from," Fetterman said of Platner.

Is another team ready to take over the top of the Big Ten from Indiana and Ohio State?

Wed, 08 Jul 2026 21:45:18 -0400

After years of unchecked dominance from the SEC, the Big Ten Conference cemented its place as the best in college football in the 2025-2026 season.

The Indiana Hoosiers completed a remarkable 16-0 season by winning a National Championship, beating Ohio State in the conference championship game, dominating Alabama in the Rose Bowl, then blowing out Oregon in the College Football Playoff semifinal.

That completed a Big Ten trifecta, with the Michigan Wolverines winning a championship in 2024, then the Buckeyes following it up by beating Notre Dame to win the title in 2025. While the SEC might have better depth overall, it's no question that the top of the Big Ten is as good or better than anyone.

SEC, BIG TEN ARE DOMINATING COLLEGE FOOTBALL THANKS TO MASSIVE ADVANTAGES OVER OTHER CONFERENCES

And a new program might be ready to take their turn at the top of the Big Ten: those same Oregon Ducks.

One of the most predictive measures of a team's strength from year to year is how much production they return from the previous season. It makes sense; the more key players that stay with the team, the better it is for continuity and development.

The Big Ten, oddly enough, has several teams that return much of their production on both sides of the ball. ESPN's Bill Connelly ran the numbers, finding that teams like Maryland, Nebraska, Minnesota and UCLA all ranked in the top 10 nationally in returning value. Though given how these teams played in 2025, that's less important. Number 12, though? The Oregon Ducks.

And that carryover production is coming from a team that lost just two games all season, both to Indiana. They handled a very good USC team, 42-27, overcame miserable conditions to outlast the Iowa Hawkeyes on the road, beat the rival Washington Huskies, and most impressively, shut out an elite Texas Tech team 23-0 in the College Football Playoff. And they bring back the players responsible for 66% of their overall production, including star quarterback Dante Moore.

Just behind them at 65%? USC, heading into a pivotal season under Lincoln Riley.

Here's where Oregon has the advantage, however. They bring that percentage back from a team that was significantly better than USC. It's no surprise then, that per Connelly's SP+ projections, Oregon is expected to be the No. 2 team in the country, by efficiency on offense, defense and special teams.

IF YOU'RE LOOKING FOR A BIG 12 WINNER NOT NAMED TEXAS TECH OR BYU, CONSIDER THE HOUSTON COUGARS

What about the other Big Ten schools, though?

USC is the biggest wildcard. They sit at No. 13 in the SP+ projections, thanks to an elite offense and a defense that's expected to be solid, if unspectacular. But their special teams projections are all the way down at No. 100 in the country, thanks to a series of disastrous mistakes in 2025. Special teams, though, should be the easiest area to improve upon. So if the Trojans can make some adjustments, they could exceed the eight game win expectancy.

Ohio State and Indiana, the two most recent champions, have a bit of a tougher hill to climb, though their roster composition is far from disastrous. The Buckeyes bring back 60% of their production, while Indiana is at 56%, even with several huge departures. That ranks at No. 31 and No. 52, respectively. Important, but not enough to push either team out of the top 5 in the national projections. And Ohio State sits at No. 1, thanks to consistently elite recruiting and key players like Julian Sayin and Jeremiah Smith returning.

But if there is an upset brewing at the top of the conference, Oregon might be the place to look. The question then becomes, can they put it all together against a difficult schedule? The Ducks play USC on the road, host Nebraska, travel to Illinois, play Ohio State on the road, host Michigan and have their rivalry game against Washington at Autzen.

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It won't be easy, but don't be surprised if at the end of the season, Dan Lanning and the Ducks are right back in the mix.

Social media influencer and model, 22, killed in violent highway crash

Wed, 08 Jul 2026 21:42:16 -0400

A popular 22-year-old social media influencer and model was killed in a weekend car crash that also claimed the life of another passenger, authorities said.

Officials identified one of the victims as Ayzia J. Toledo, a Philadelphia-area resident known for her modeling work and lifestyle content under the handle "AYZIA J."

Toledo was driving a BMW with two other passengers late Sunday night when she lost control of the vehicle on a New Jersey freeway, police told Fox News Digital on Monday.

The vehicle veered off the roadway, overturned and crashed into a tree in Deptford Township, about 12 miles south of Philadelphia.

"Toledo lost directional control of the vehicle, ran off the roadway to the left, overturned and struck a tree," New Jersey State Police said.

Both Toledo and her front-seat passenger "sustained fatal injuries," according to authorities.

The second victim was identified as Henrietta F. Carter, a 22-year-old woman from Darby, Pennsylvania, a Philadelphia suburb.

A third passenger who was seated in the rear of the vehicle suffered minor injuries and was transported to an area hospital, authorities said.

Officials said the crash remains under investigation.

FITNESS INFLUENCER STEPHANIE BUTTERMORE DEAD AT 36, FIANCÉ CONFIRMS IN HEARTBREAKING POST

Toledo was a popular social media influencer who frequently shared content about beauty, fashion and her life in the Philadelphia area. She had amassed more than 300,000 followers across her social media accounts, including more than 250,000 followers on TikTok and about 87,000 on Instagram.

Following news of her death, fans flooded her social media pages with messages of grief and condolences.

According to a GoFundMe page dedicated to Toledo, she had been "building an incredible future for herself."

"Ayzia was deeply loved by her family, cherished by her close friends, and admired by many throughout her community," the fundraiser said.

"Ayzia has gone home to Heaven to rest peacefully alongside her beloved mother and grandmother."

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Her death came on the same day another young influencer was killed in a drive-by shooting while riding in a Lamborghini SUV in Miramar, Florida.

Officials identified the woman as 21-year-old content creator Brianna Johnson, who was known to her followers as DreamDoll Brii.

Jewish House Democrat recalls colleague saying there is no antisemitism because 'all the Jews are rich'

Wed, 08 Jul 2026 21:30:41 -0400

Rep. Becca Balint, D-Vt., described to CNN Tuesday an instance of a fellow House Democrat appearing to dismiss antisemitism because "all the Jews are rich."

Balint was one of multiple Jewish Democratic politicians who spoke to CNN about concerns regarding a growing sense of antisemitism among grassroots campaigns that have begun affecting established political figures like California state Sen. Scott Wiener.

She told CNN she was "shaken to [her] core" after seeing Wiener heckled by anti-Israel activists for his past support for Israel and Jewish heritage.

JEWISH CALIFORNIA CONGRESSIONAL CANDIDATE SAYS HARASSMENT FROM GAZA AGITATORS WENT ‘BEYOND FREE SPEECH’

"She described a familiar ache," the article read. "Like, the people who tell her that homophobia doesn’t exist and then ask her what it means that she’s a lesbian. Like, the House Democratic colleague she wouldn’t name who she says came to a bipartisan antisemitism task force meeting and said, 'I didn’t really think there was any antisemitism anymore because all the Jews are rich.' Like the people who accuse Jewish politicians of having dual loyalty."

Though Balint has agreed with progressive Democrats claiming that Israel was guilty of "committing a genocide" in Gaza, she told CNN that she still fears a "day of reckoning" for her because of her support for the Jewish state.

"I know at some point there will be a day of reckoning because I still believe that Jews should have a homeland," Balint said. "There will be people — I think some of my own supporters — who will turn on me because I still believe in a two-state solution. I still do. I still believe that Israel should be safe and secure. I believe that the Palestinians have been so ill-treated for so long and deserve a safe and secure homeland. I do not believe Israel should be dismantled."

BATYA UNGAR-SARGON EXPLAINS WHY SO MANY AMERICAN JEWS BECAME DEMS — AND WHY SOME NOW FEEL POLITICALLY HOMELESS

Fox News Digital reached out to Balint's office for comment.

Other Jewish Democrats expressed concerns that Israel is becoming a political "litmus test" for them despite their support for other progressive causes and criticism of the Israeli government.

"The experience of being a Jewish Democrat is to feel like … no matter what the topic — it can be affordable housing — it’s just a matter of time before someone links it to Israel," New York City comptroller Mark Levine said. "What is the list of litmus test issues.

"As far as I know, at this point, it is exclusively a list of questions on Israel. We’re progressives. We’re absolutely willing to criticize the actions of the current government of Israel. And we are. But we’re feeling excluded from many spaces right now, and it’s hard to conclude it’s not because we’re Jewish."

WATCH: HOUSE DEMS UNLOAD ON TEXAS DEMOCRAT OVER ‘DEMENTED’ ANTISEMITIC COMMENTS

Michigan state Rep. Noah Arbit told CNN he believed antisemitism is being perpetuated under the guise of criticizing Israel.

"After I leave office, I’m not sure I’ll ever call myself a Democrat again," Arbit said. "I don’t know how Jews can feel like you can align yourself with any political movement when the grassroots are so hostile to who you are and your community."

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Fox News Digital also reached out to Arbit and Levine for comment.

Stepdad accused of sex assault as cops widen probe into girl’s lethal Benadryl ingredient dose

Wed, 08 Jul 2026 21:16:38 -0400

A Connecticut man is accused of sexually assaulting his 12-year-old stepdaughter who was found dead in her home with a lethal dose of diphenhydramine — the active ingredient in Benadryl — in her system, according to authorities.

Anthony Federline, 39, was charged in April with first-degree sexual assault and risk of injury to a minor after the death of Eve Rogers, according to the Enfield Police Department.

Authorities are now looking to search Federline’s Facebook and Snapchat accounts, the family’s CVS Caremark account and two Amazon accounts as part of a probe into the girl's death, court documents show, according to WFLA.

Rogers was found dead in her home on March 18. According to court documents, her mother found her on her bedroom floor partially unclothed with a blanket covering her lower body. Blood and other fluids were running down from her nose, the documents stated.

NORTH CAROLINA COLD CASE HEATS UP WITH STEPMOTHER ACCUSED OF KILLING MISSING TEEN

A sexual assault kit was performed on the girl before her autopsy, and Federline was determined to be one of the "contributors from a DNA swab," an arrest warrant said, according to WFLA. No charges have been filed in the girl’s death.

The medical examiner told police that toxicology testing indicated a lethal dosage of diphenhydramine in the girl's system. Fluoxetine, also known as Prozac, was also found in her system despite it not being prescribed to her, search warrants state, the outlet reported.

The report showed a diphenhydramine level of 23,000 ng/ml in Rogers’ blood, WFLA reported. Lethal concentrations are listed at 4,390 ng/ml for children and 14,720 ng/ml for adults, according to the report. The medical examiner said Rogers would have had to ingest about 1.8 liters of liquid diphenhydramine to reach the level found in her blood.

Investigators said it is unclear how she ingested the large dosage found in her system.

Rogers’ mother told detectives she used her Amazon account to buy medication, Sleep Aid capsules and a "sexual pleasure device" for her 12-year-old daughter, the outlet reported. However, investigators said no dyes were found in the girl’s system to indicate she had ingested Sleep Aid capsules despite the high level of diphenhydramine detected in her blood.

Her mother also said she had found inappropriate conversations between her daughter and unknown people on the internet, but police did not find these conversations during their searches.

TEACHER ACCUSED OF SEX WITH STUDENTS WAS ALLEGEDLY BLACKMAILED FOR BETTER GRADES: WARRANTS

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Federline told detectives he used applications such as Facebook and Snapchat to speak with his stepdaughter but claimed the conversations were not sexual.

New search warrants show that investigators are probing Federline’s online activity for the months leading up to the girl's death.

Federline has pleaded not guilty to the sexual assault and risk of injury to a minor charges. He is due back in court later this month.

More than 30 injured after Maryland transit bus crashes into building near Baltimore

Wed, 08 Jul 2026 21:10:32 -0400

More than 30 people were injured Wednesday when a public bus crashed into a building just outside Baltimore, Maryland, and one critical patient was extricated and taken to a hospital, authorities said.

First responders were on scene after a Maryland Transit Administration bus crashed on Reisterstown Road in Pikesville, Fox 45 News reported.

Baltimore County officials said "numerous civilian vehicles" were involved in the crash, including one that overturned.

DC POLICE OFFICIALS FACE TERMINATION AFTER FEDERAL PROBE UNCOVERS ALLEGED MANIPULATED CRIME DATA BY DEPARTMENT

One person was trapped inside the bus, and another in a car was rescued by responding crews, authorities said.

A building engineer was en route to the crash, the Baltimore County Fire Department said.

WATCH: COAST GUARD VIDEO REVEALS SEIZURE OF BRIAN HOOKER'S SAILBOAT AFTER WIFE'S BAHAMAS DISAPPEARANCE

FLORIDA MAN GIVES AN INCREDIBLE INTERVIEW ABOUT HOW HE FOUGHT OFF AN ALLIGATOR WITH A FISHING POLE

A second mass casualty incident alarm was issued shortly after the crash, officials said.

Maryland Gov. Wes Moore said he was monitoring the situation.

"Dawn and I are keeping everyone impacted in our hearts and prayers. We are deeply grateful for our first responders who acted with speed and skill to ensure the safety of our neighbors," he wrote on X. "We’ve been in close coordination with local officials to provide any support needed on the ground."

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The Maryland State Highway Administration said roads near the crash were closed as crews responded. Drivers were urged to use alternate routes.

Carville blasts Dems amid Platner scandal, warning they ignored a classic rule of politics and paid the price

Wed, 08 Jul 2026 21:00:13 -0400

Veteran Democratic strategist James Carville blasted Democrats for failing to properly vet Graham Platner during a podcast on Wednesday.

Democratic Party leaders and liberal commentators who once defended Platner amid previous scandals ranging from controversial rhetoric to a Nazi-associated tattoo have since denounced him over new sexual assault allegations.

Maine resident Jenny Racicot accused Platner of rape in interviews with Politico and CNN on Monday, alleging the Senate hopeful entered her home uninvited while intoxicated nearly five years ago and forced himself on her. Platner has denied the allegation.

Carville spoke about the election on Wednesday’s episode of "Politics War Room" as a clear case of younger Democrats failing to observe the tried and true political wisdom of the past.

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

"The Platner rise was also a rise of a different attitude set," Carville said. "It was the consultants of like 27, 28 years old, and they were not sort of straitjacketed by the old rules of politics, and it looked like they had some real success. I mean, they won. They knocked the incumbent governor — couldn’t even run — and they were kind of ahead in the polls.

"If I look back on this … you didn’t vet your own candidate? You mean you didn’t know?" Carville rhetorically asked of Maine Democrats. "OK, we used to get our own oppo researchers to do an oppo research book on us. It’s the most important research you do.

"And so they took off in this campaign, and all of this was recent. It wasn’t way back in some other godforsaken time. I don’t think they knew. I don’t think they wanted to know," Carville said. "It’s so, so '80s to do a briefing on your own candidate to find out what’s wrong with him. But, you know, there are certain rules in politics."

The denouncement was a stark contrast from Carville’s previous rhetoric in defense of Platner amid his previous scandals just over a month before.

PLATNER’S THREE-DAY VETTING JOB COMES BACK TO HAUNT DEMS AS RAPE ALLEGATION ROCKS SENATE BID

"He’s f---ed up. He’s been shot at. He’s a veteran. He’s a little bit weird. He’s an oysterman," said Carville, who, like Platner, served in the United States Marine Corps. "Maybe we need a combat veteran right on that Senate floor who is f---ed up."

One noteworthy part of the previous defense was his World War II comparison, arguing, "And you know if Franklin Roosevelt and Winston Churchill could work with Joseph Stalin — who, by the way, well, I'll tell you this, he was a bad guy, a really bad guy, all right — then I can overlook a tattoo."

But one of Carville’s defenses of Platner, who has now been denounced by multiple past girlfriends, has aged particularly poorly.

"I don’t know how to tell The New York Times this, but boy puts hand on girl’s t---y, girl moves hand, boy walks away rejected and despondent. It happens," Carville said.

Fox News Digital reached out to Platner's campaign and did not receive any immediate reply.

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Fox News' Adam Pack and Paul Steinhauser contributed to this report.

Candace Parker tells Caitlin Clark haters to 'go to therapy' after shocking WNBA player rankings

Wed, 08 Jul 2026 21:00:02 -0400

Caitlin Clark is at the center of the WNBA universe for a reason: she's the best.

Names like A'ja Wilson can challenge Clark on an MVP level, but at her position, no one can score and assist like Clark.

Clark's WNBA cohorts beg to differ, voting her the 11th-best guard in the league.

CAITLIN CLARK'S PEERS MAKE IT CRYSTAL CLEAR THEY HATE HER WITH INSULTING ALL-STAR GAME VOTE

Now it's no secret that fellow WNBAers have been jealous of Clark's popularity and appeal. The list was another example of the league-wide anti-Clark campaign.

Take it from WNBA legend Candace Parker, who made the point while speaking with Clark's Fever teammate, Aliyah Boston.

Parker went off on Clark's 11th spot in the peer-voted survey, saying the league ought to quit being disrespectful to Clark and give her some flowers.

She said, "It's also kinda crazy. I wholeheartedly believe that there need to be some rules with the WNBA players, because this is getting out of hand. Caitlin Clark [being] voted 11th-best guard by WNBA players, that's crazy."

Parker called out the insecurities that continue to poison the well in the WNBA, where too many players have chosen resentment over respect.

The WNBA media is most guilty of this.

"I think people need to look at themselves in the mirror and realize you've got some insecurities, if you're sitting down and putting Caitlin Clark as the 11th-best guard.

WNBA WANTS A BIGGER STORY THAN CAITLIN CLARK, BUT TV RATINGS KEEP POINTING BACK TO HER

"Y'all need to go to a therapist and figure out what childhood issues you have, 'cause if you're sitting there, and looking at yourself in the mirror, and putting her at the 11th-best guard like c'mon."

Parker led a celebrated career with three championships, two MVP awards, a Finals MVP and Defensive Player of the Year honors. She was also a seven-time All-Star and two-time Olympic gold medalist.

In Parker's view, she would never have tried to launch an anti-campaign against some of the biggest stars from her days in the league.

"When I sat down, as much as I did not like Diana Taurasi, there ain't no way I'm not going to write her as an All-Star."

"As much as I did not like anyone on the Lynx because they used to whoop our a**, I'm not going to not put Maya Moore or Sylvia Fowles."

Fans account for 50% of the All-Star vote, while players and media each make up 25%.

Heading into a Wednesday night matchup with the Sparks, Clark is averaging 21.2 points, 8.2 assists, 4.0 rebounds and 0.8 steals in 30.8 minutes per game.

Clark finished second overall in fan voting and earned a starting spot thanks to fans and the media, not her fellow players.

To tamp down the Clark hype, WNBA players, former players and media have aimed at the Fever guard, believing she's been "overhyped," disregarding the phenomenon that's followed her since college.

Her appeal should be championed, even if WNBA players don't see it that way.

Since Clark entered the WNBA, the league has shattered attendance and viewership records. The WNBA averaged 9,807 fans per game in 2024, a 48% jump from the previous season. Total attendance topped 2.35 million, sellouts skyrocketed from 45 to 154, and the league followed that by setting another single-season attendance record in 2025.

She's been rocket fuel for the league, the sparkplug behind the Fever alongside All-Stars Aliyah Boston and Kelsey Mitchell, and a solid leader in her own right.

Clark's most ardent supporters have called for her to switch leagues to really put a squeeze on the WNBA.

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Without Clark, the WNBA would be back to inventing promotional nights just to fill seats.

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