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Tyler Robinson hearing: Top moments from explosive Lance Twiggs interview played in court

Fri, 10 Jul 2026 00:55:45 -0400

PROVO, Utah — The former lover of Charlie Kirk’s accused assassin told Utah prosecutors that the suspected killer "wishes he hadn't done it," according to a video played in court Thursday.

"I just asked him in person if what he said was true the night before, and he said it was, started crying a little bit and said he wishes he hadn't done it," Lance Twiggs told investigators in a video interview.

The night before, according to text messages prosecutors displayed later, Robinson allegedly took credit for Kirk's shooting in a conversation with Twiggs.

TYLER ROBINSON PRELIMINARY HEARING: JUDGE ORDERS REDACTIONS TO EX-LOVER’S VIDEO TESTIMONY

The video was played on the fourth day of Tyler Robinson’s preliminary hearing — a procedural step to determine whether the case can go to trial.

Prosecutors had attempted to play it Wednesday, but the defense asked the judge to order redactions.

After some back and forth over what could and couldn’t be included, it was shown in court Thursday morning, and Robinson appeared to watch it closely.

TYLER ROBINSON'S AND LANCE TWIGGS' DNA BOTH ALLEGEDLY FOUND ON KEY EVIDENCE IN CHARLIE KIRK'S ASSASSINATION

Twiggs, who is cooperating with investigators and hasn’t been charged with a crime, was also Robinson's lover and roommate, according to prosecutors. He said that he identified as "Luna" to some associates, including Robinson.

Twiggs was briefly placed under FBI protection and has since left the state.

After the shooting, Twiggs allegedly received a text message from Robinson telling him to look under his keyboard. There, according to prosecutors, he found a note that he said he took a picture of.

CHARLIE KIRK ASSASSINATION: TIMELINE OF UTAH CAMPUS SHOOTING, TYLER ROBINSON CHARGED

Prosecutors showed it in court, but the judge said it could not be photographed. It was a full page, written by hand.

"I had the opportunity to take out Charlie Kirk and I’m going to take it," it read at one point.

After seeing the note, Twiggs then allegedly texted Robinson asking if he was joking.

CHARLIE KIRK'S FAMILY COMES FACE TO FACE WITH ACCUSED ASSASSIN FOR FIRST TIME

"I am still ok my love, but am stuck in orem for a little while longer yet," Robinson replied — allegedly. "Shouldn’t be long until I can come home, but I gotta grab my rifle still. To be honest I had hoped to keep this secret till I died of old age. I am sorry to involve you."

"You weren’t the one who did it right????" Twiggs replied.

"I am," Robinson allegedly wrote back. "I’m sorry."

Twiggs also alleged in the video that Robinson began engraving bullets roughly a month before the shooting.

"I don't remember exactly when, but he had said he was planning to go hunting with his family," Twiggs told prosecutor Ryan McBride in the recorded interview. "And he asked me...if we had a Dremel tool, because he said he wanted to create messages on bullets."

Prosecutors have said that cartridges and a spent casing recovered from the suspected murder weapon had been engraved with several messages. Another casing with a similar engraving had been recovered from the home Robinson and Twiggs shared, according to testimony Thursday.

Several times when the Dremel tool allegedly used to engrave the bullets came up Robinson appeared uncomfortable in the courtroom, fidgeting in his chair.

Twiggs said he told Robinson where to find the tool and warned him not to accidentally discharge a bullet while engraving — then didn’t think of it again until after Kirk was killed.

CHARLIE KIRK'S PARENTS, WIDOW TO ATTEND TYLER ROBINSON'S PRELIMINARY HEARING NEXT WEEK

Mention of the tool also appeared to have an impact on Robinson's family in the first row of the gallery in court.

As the Dremel discussion continued, Robinson’s brother was bent over with his head down, with his mother rubbing his back, and the father's arm around her.

Later in the hearing, when the court saw a text message conversation between Robinson and Twiggs, Erika Kirk could be heard crying as the texts were read in court of Twiggs asking Robinson questions about the gun, which by the time they were sent had been recovered by police in a wooded area just off campus.

UTAH VALLEY UNIVERSITY SCRAPS CONTROVERSIAL COMMENCEMENT SPEAKER WHO CRITICIZED CHARLIE KIRK AFTER HIS MURDER

According to Twiggs' video interview, Robinson allegedly told him that he had a "long drive to work" on the morning of the shooting.

"I don't know an exact time," he said. "I just know he left early. I heard him leaving, and he just said he had, like, long drive to work that day. So he was leaving early."

That was on Sept. 10, the day of Kirk's assassination at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah. Robinson allegedly lingered in the area until after midnight on Sept. 11.

When Twiggs said he woke up at around noon to 1 p.m. on the day of the shooting, members of Kirk's family scoffed from the third row of the gallery.

Robinson reached up and scratched his throat when Twiggs talked about the last time he saw Tyler before he went to surrender.

In another portion of the video interview, Twiggs told investigators that Robinson looked like the man circulated on an FBI wanted poster connected to the shooting, which showed a person of interest on campus.

"They do look like Tyler Robinson," Twiggs said.

He had downplayed the identification, however.

"I wouldn't say with 100% certainty just because of camera quality, but that looks like him in terms of the shoes he's wearing, the sunglasses," Twiggs said. "I don't think I'd specifically seen him wearing that hat, but he was usually wearing a hat, and the jeans."

Twiggs did not testify in person at the preliminary hearing but may be asked to do so if the case goes to trial.

Near the end of Thursday's hearing, Judge Tony Graf Jr. indicated that he would not make a decision at the end of the preliminary hearing this week. Instead, he agreed to a defense request to allow briefs to be filed by both sides before he listens to oral arguments at a hearing scheduled for Sept. 1.

Only after that would he make a decision on where there's enough probable cause to send Robinson's case to trial.

The 23-year-old accused assassin has not yet entered a plea and won’t do so unless the judge agrees with prosecutors that the charges are warranted.

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The September hearing will be nearly a year after a sniper's bullet killed Kirk during a Turning Point USA event at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah.

Robinson could face the death penalty if convicted.

Caitlin Clark haters got some additional ammo as Fever win again without their star guard

Fri, 10 Jul 2026 00:45:48 -0400

PHOENIX – The Caitlin Clark haters got some additional ammunition on Thursday night as the Fever defeated the Phoenix Mercury 92-89 to move to 4-0 without Clark this season.

Kelsey Mitchell scored 29 points, including a go-ahead layup with 10 seconds left, to lead all scorers. Aliyah Boston returned from injury and scored 21 points. Rookie Raven Johnson saw extended minutes with Clark sidelined but only managed to score 6 points in the star's absence.

Sophie Cunningham, who produced perhaps the most viral moment of the WNBA season when the Mercury and Fever met on June 22, hit two clutch free throws in the final seconds to seal the win.

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Alyssa Thomas, who was suspended for one game for a Flagrant 2 foul on Clark when the two teams met on June 24, scored 22 points in the loss.

The Fever ruled Clark out for Thursday night's game against Phoenix despite the guard playing 16 minutes on Wednesday against the Los Angeles Sparks and saying afterward that her "body feels great."

Stephanie White said prior to Wednesday's game that Clark and Boston would split the back-to-back, with Clark active against Los Angeles and Boston active against Phoenix.

Indiana is 9-9 in games Clark has played this season, but is now 4-0 without her. However, there's important context. Only one of the teams the Fever have defeated without Clark has a winning record, the Las Vegas Aces.

FEVER HEAD COACH LECTURES AMERICA ON RACISM AND HOMOPHOBIA AS CAITLIN CLARK NARRATIVE STARTS TO SHIFT

That might sound impressive, given that the Aces are the defending WNBA champions. However, four-time MVP A'ja Wilson missed the game with an injury.

The other wins came against the expansion Portland Fire on May 20, the currently 9-11 Los Angeles Sparks on June 27 and the now 8-15 Mercury on Thursday.

While many Clark haters on social media like to say that she is a liability defensively (even though the data suggests that's not entirely true), the team didn't exactly put on a defensive clinic without her. Especially in the first half.

CANDACE PARKER TELLS CAITLIN CLARK HATERS TO 'GO TO THERAPY' AFTER SHOCKING WNBA PLAYER RANKINGS

The Mercury scored 53 points across the first two quarters, shooting 55% from the field.

Regardless, there's a certain section of people out there who root for Clark to fail. A fourth straight win in games that she has missed is certain to provide them with additional fuel.

Logan Webb deletes X account after lashing out at reporter, Giants fans following embarrassing loss

Thu, 09 Jul 2026 23:38:39 -0400

The San Francisco Giants' season-long struggles are weighing heavily on Logan Webb, and the frustration spilled onto the internet for everyone to see.

On Wednesday, following a blowout loss to the Blue Jays at Oracle Park, the All-Star pitcher started trading shots with critics on X before eventually deleting his account.

The back-and-forth began after KNBR's Jack Loder posted a video criticizing the Giants' "leadership void" and questioned whether Webb had consistently lived up to his billing as the team's ace.

SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS ASKED TO RETIRE 'THRUSTING' CELEBRATION A DAY AFTER TAKING THE LEAGUE BY STORM

"When someone is supposed to be your ace, you think that they're going to give you the best chance to win every week," Loder posted. "Logan Webb had an awesome June, he was bad in April, he missed most of May. I've said over the years that he's been a great Giant, like I've really appreciated his Giants tenure. But there's always been a little bit lacking."

Webb lost control, going after Loder, posting: "You know what's sad is they allow people like you in the locker room."

When KNBR host Adam Copeland chimed into the thread, Webb shut him down with a quick side swipe:

"Who are you?"

When one user called his public replies embarrassing, Webb snapped, "Do you get paid by KNBR?"

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To another critical account, he fired off: "Honestly you probably don't know anything about anything some loser on the couch that couldn't make his little league team."

Whether Webb returns to X or not, he'll have plenty of explaining to do.

The social media back-and-forth followed a miserable night on the mound.

Webb surrendered five first-inning runs, including a grand slam to Kazuma Okamoto. He settled in to finish seven innings, but the bullpen unraveled, and the Giants' offense was nearly no-hit by Dylan Cease in a 10-0 shutout.

First-year manager Tony Vitello, fresh off a successful run at Tennessee, is navigating a difficult first season, and his intense college coaching style has come under increasing scrutiny as the losses have piled up.

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Webb is heading to the All-Star Game next week.

But instead of fielding questions about his season, he'll likely be answering for his social media meltdown.

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

Fever coach Stephanie White dodges question on GOP letter about Caitlin Clark’s treatment in WNBA

Thu, 09 Jul 2026 23:10:24 -0400

PHOENIX – Indiana Fever head coach Stephanie White showed little interest in addressing a recent letter sent by 11 Republican members of Congress to WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert over the treatment of superstar Caitlin Clark.

OutKick asked White prior to Thursday night's game against the Phoenix Mercury what her reaction was to the letter, which stated that the Republican lawmakers were concerned about "physical hostility" and "violence" that Clark faces and suggested it might be "racially motivated."

"Our team made a statement yesterday so you can find that statement," White said.

FEVER HEAD COACH LECTURES AMERICA ON RACISM AND HOMOPHOBIA AS CAITLIN CLARK NARRATIVE STARTS TO SHIFT

"I understand that, I just mean as a coach when you hear that one of your players is being mentioned in a letter from members of Congress to the commissioner of the league, how do you handle that?" I pressed.

"Again, that's not something we can control," White said, sidestepping the question a second time before echoing some of the language from the team's statement.

"We're not affiliated with those groups. We try to keep the main thing the main thing and focus on the things we can control."

The Fever released a statement on Wednesday that said, "Our organization nor Caitlin has had any interaction with anyone in this congressional group and we were unaware of their letter."

The statement continued: "We have been clear in our public comments and in our ongoing dialogue with the League about the priority of player safety. Our players and our fans know where we stand on those issues, and we will continue to stick up for our team and a standard of excellence across the league."

In other words, the Fever and White are willing to broadly discuss "player safety" but neither directly addressed whether race has anything to do with how Clark specifically is treated.

Of course, Clark is the league's biggest star by a wide margin and it behooves everyone involved to protect her at all costs. However, it seems that many of the players in the WNBA might not have gotten that memo.

As the letter states, "Clark has been hip-checked, poked in the eye, and struck in the throat during games. These incidents go far beyond routine physical play, yet the WNBA and its officiating have too often failed to address these unacceptable incidents and hold players accountable."

CANDACE PARKER TELLS CAITLIN CLARK HATERS TO 'GO TO THERAPY' AFTER SHOCKING WNBA PLAYER RANKINGS

The Fever ruled Clark out for Thursday night's game against Phoenix despite the guard playing 16 minutes on Wednesday against the Los Angeles Sparks and saying afterward that her "body feels great."

White did not address whether the decision to sit Clark had anything to do with Thursday's opponent, the Mercury. She did say prior to Wednesday's game that Clark and Aliyah Boston would split the back-to-back, with Clark active against Los Angeles and Boston active against Phoenix.

The last time the Fever and Mercury met, on June 24, Phoenix forward Alyssa Thomas drove her fist into Clark's throat area during a scramble for a loose ball.

No foul was called on the play in real time, but the WNBA announced the following day that Thomas had received a Flagrant Foul 2 penalty and a one-game suspension after a postgame review.

Many fans were eagerly anticipating a rematch between the two teams, since their June 22 meeting also spawned the now famous Sophie Cunningham pointing meme.

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While Cunningham took the court on Thursday night in Phoenix, Clark did not.

Maybe the Fever are taking player safety seriously after all and not subjecting her to the team that, according to White, delivered "two cheap shots" to Clark.

Of course, it would be better if teams stopped taking cheap shots at Clark altogether. Baby steps, though.

Florida man who contacted police about 1987 killing arrested in connection to cold case

Thu, 09 Jul 2026 22:15:21 -0400

A Florida man who contacted authorities saying he had information about a 1987 killing was instead arrested and facing a murder charge, investigators said Thursday.

The Jacksonville Sheriff's Office announced that Gary Edward Glowacz, 70, was arrested Wednesday in connection with the killing of 20-year-old Melissa Ellison.

Police said Glowacz contacted the sheriff's office Wednesday and told investigators he wanted to provide information about Ellison's death.

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Detectives interviewed Glowacz before obtaining an arrest warrant.

He was booked into the Duval County Jail on charges of murder and burglary with battery.

Officials celebrated the arrest, which comes nearly four decades after the case went cold.

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

"Television shows condition us to believe that homicide cases that are not solved within the first 48 hours will not be solved," Jacksonville Sheriff T.K. Waters said during a news conference. "That is patently false."

"While his arrest cannot fill the enormous void left in the hearts of Melissa Ellison's loved ones, I hope that this arrest is another step in the healing process," he added.

Police responded to a home on Colejean Road at about 4:40 a.m. on Dec. 28, 1987, after receiving a report of a deceased person.

Ellison's body was found by authorities in her bed with injuries consistent with blunt force trauma, according to police.

Investigators said Ellison's roommates checked on her after hearing her toddler crying on the living room couch.

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The sheriff's office thanked First Coast Crime Stoppers, the State Attorney's Office, Project Cold Case and the Clay County Sheriff's Office for their work on the investigation.

Donald Trump Jr argues Charlie Kirk murder evidence puts conspiracy theories 'at rest'

Thu, 09 Jul 2026 22:13:09 -0400

Donald Trump Jr. said Thursday that unsealed evidence from the preliminary hearing in Charlie Kirk’s murder case puts to rest "conspiracy theories" surrounding his death.

Trump Jr., a longtime friend of Kirk, was in the courtroom in Provo, Utah, this week, hearing arguments and viewing unsealed evidence against Kirk’s accused killer, Tyler Robinson.

"Based on everything that I saw in that courtroom, it's very clear to me that Tyler Robinson did this," he said on "Jesse Watters Primetime."

DONALD TRUMP JR SAYS EVIDENCE IN TYLER ROBINSON PRELIMINARY HEARING 'MORE CUT AND DRY' THAN HE THOUGHT

Robinson, 23, is accused of fatally shooting Kirk, 31, at Utah Valley University on Sept. 10, 2025, and could face the death penalty if convicted.

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His preliminary hearing began Monday, with prosecutors attempting to establish probable cause to allow the case to proceed to trial on a series of charges.

Robinson allegedly admitted to killing Kirk in unsealed text messages to his roommate after the shooting, saying he "had enough of his hatred," according to testimony from Thursday’s hearing.

TYLER ROBINSON'S AND LANCE TWIGGS' DNA BOTH ALLEGEDLY FOUND ON KEY EVIDENCE IN CHARLIE KIRK'S ASSASSINATION

"This stuff is very cut-and-dry at this point," Trump Jr. said.

"The DNA evidence, the fact that… he turned himself in… to me, it puts so much of this at rest," he added.

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Trump Jr., a regular speaker at Turning Point USA events, questioned the lack of security presence at Kirk’s Utah Valley University event.

"The biggest question in my mind at this point is not whether Tyler Robinson did this, or if it was some people from a foreign land, or another planet — it was, why were there only six police officers active at a major event on a university campus?" he asked.

ACCUSED CHARLIE KIRK ASSASSIN TYLER ROBINSON FIGHTS BACK AS PROSECUTORS' SPRAWLING CASE COMES INTO FOCUS

Trump Jr. added that TPUSA college campus events usually draw a heavier law enforcement presence, noting they attract "thousands" of people.

"These are big events," he said. "I've done 100 of them with Charlie Kirk on college campuses all over the place... That there wasn't an all-hands-on-deck kind of operation to prevent this very thing from happening is truly scary."

Trump Jr. argued that questions surrounding Kirk’s death had once been a "50–50" issue, but said the unsealed evidence has shifted public sentiment to "90–10," adding that most believe Robinson is guilty.

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He dismissed "conspiracy theories" surrounding Kirk’s death while saying he understands why people could be skeptical.

Prosecutors are expected to present more evidence during Friday’s hearing. A trial date has not been set.

LA Galaxy coach Greg Vanney says Team USA was 'too naive,' explains Christian Pulisic's struggles

Thu, 09 Jul 2026 21:40:28 -0400

CARSON, Calif. — On a hot Thursday in Carson at Dignity Health Sports Park, LA Galaxy head coach Greg Vanney stood on the practice field answering questions.

When we asked about Team USA's World Cup exit just days earlier, Vanney pointed to one problem: the Americans were too naive.

Later that afternoon, Belgium, fresh off eliminating the United States, was scheduled to train at Dignity Health Sports Park ahead of Friday's World Cup quarterfinal against Spain, prompting heightened security around the Galaxy's training complex.

AFTER BLOWOUT LOSS TO BELGIUM, MANY ARE WONDERING IF TEAM USA IS BETTER OR WORSE THAN IT WAS A DECADE AGO

"Collectively, the team entered that final match entirely too naive from top to bottom," Vanney said.

"It immediately put us on our heels. Against world-class opponents, it is incredibly difficult to recover your rhythm once you fall behind like that. We have to be less naive in a World Cup knockout setting."

The Galaxy coach expanded on why Team USA fell short, why Christian Pulisic never found his footing and what North American soccer must change before the next World Cup.

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We also asked Vanney about Christian Pulisic, whose World Cup never fully got off the ground.

"It was a difficult tournament for Christian because he arrived sharp but picked up an injury in the opening match," Vanney said.

LANDON DONOVAN JOINS CHRISTIAN PULISIC CRITICISM FOLLOWING USA'S WORLD CUP EXIT WITH HARSH OBSERVATION

"The World Cup waits for no one; it gets progressively harder every round, and he didn't have the time to find his rhythm. When you carry a knock in an unforgiving tournament, you risk losing your form and your connection to the system. He is a world-class player who belongs on this stage, but he was simply unlucky."

For Vanney, Pulisic's struggles reflected a larger issue. Against Belgium, Team USA simply wasn't ready for the demands of a World Cup knockout match.

Then came Belgium's arrival.

As the media session wrapped up and vehicles exited Dignity Health Sports Park, a bus bearing a massive Belgium flag rolled through the gates.

Belgium only ended up at Dignity Health Sports Park after FIFA approved a last-minute venue change. Extreme heat and heavy use had damaged the turf at the team's original base at Loyola Marymount University, creating an injury risk ahead of Friday's World Cup quarterfinal against Spain.

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While Vanney reflected on Team USA's shortcomings, his attention will soon return to the Galaxy, who host cross-town rival LAFC next weekend.

The Galaxy will look to defend home turf following the departures of Gabriel Pec and Mauricio Cuevas when El Tráfico arrives.

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

GLAAD releases 'particularly concerning' report showing shrinking LGBTQ representation third year in a row

Thu, 09 Jul 2026 21:30:37 -0400

The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation's (GLAAD) latest report on LGBTQ representation in film on Thursday revealed that the percentage of "LGBTQ inclusive films" has decreased for the third year in a row.

In 2023, GLAAD reported a record 28.5% —or 100 out of 350 films released in 2022—featured LGBTQ characters. The number dropped to 27.3% for 2023 films before plunging to 23.6% in 2024.

In 2025, the number dropped to only 20.4%, or 46 out of 225 films, featured LGBTQ characters with a total of zero transgender characters across theatrical and streaming releases.

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GLAAD also found that out of the 19 films on the list classified as animated/family films rated PG and under, there were zero LGBTQ characters, compared to two "inclusive" films out of 26 one year prior. The organization called this finding "particularly concerning" as the "Federal Communications Commission (FCC) under this administration opened a public inquiry about whether to create new TV ratings that would apply warning labels to television programming featuring transgender and nonbinary characters."

"Audiences across the board are seeking out original and inclusive stories," GLAAD President & CEO Sarah Kate Ellis said in a statement. "Our study found LGBTQ stories in film that are both commercially and critically successful. In fact, every theatrically released LGBTQ-inclusive horror film made back over double the film’s production budget. If the industry doesn’t prioritize investing in films with LGBTQ characters, it risks losing a generation that will go elsewhere to find entertainment that does include our community."

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However, GLAAD added that there were some "success stories" in 2025, particularly through horror films like "I Know What You Did Last Summer," "The Parenting," "Companions" and "Weapons." The organization found that every horror film that featured LGBTQ characters with publicly available production budget information earned more than twice its budget back upon theatrical release.

GLAAD also found that independent studios and mid-budget films continued to be the driving force of representation compared to big-budget releases.

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In a statement, GLAAD Senior Director, Entertainment Research & Analysis Megan Townsend emphasized the importance of LGBTQ representation to reach Gen Z audiences, remarking that approximately 23% of Americans under 30 were LGBTQ.

"If studios want to stay relevant with younger audiences and bring in box office dollars, they can’t afford to ignore nearly one-quarter of their most enthusiastic ticket buyers," Townsend said.

In a comment to Fox News Digital, Newsbusters Senior Research Analyst Bill D'Agostino celebrated the report as a win for ordinary moviegoers.

"For anyone who actually likes movies, this is a positive sign. It means fewer filmmakers feel pressured to shoehorn gay characters into their scripts to appease the likes of GLAAD. If far-left activist groups are struggling to force artists to comply with their demands, that's categorically a win for the art consumers," D'Agostino said.

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GLAAD's report followed a similar trajectory to a Gallup poll released last month that showed declining support for same-sex marriage or gay relationships. Gallup reported that moral acceptance of gay and lesbian relationships dropped to 62%, the lowest percentage recorded since 2016.

London descends into disorder as Morocco fans flood streets after World Cup elimination by France

Thu, 09 Jul 2026 21:13:50 -0400

Public unrest began in parts of London late Thursday night, and it appears Morocco’s exit from the 2026 FIFA World Cup at the hands of France is the reason.

France took down Morocco 2-0, eliminating the African country for the second consecutive tournament, this time in a quarterfinal match.

As a result, many feared Paris would erupt into riots, especially after the chaos that followed Paris Saint-Germain's UEFA Champions League victory over Arsenal in May.

Instead, images and videos from Edgware Road in northwest London showed police clashing with large crowds as smoke billowed through the streets and debris littered the roadway.

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Riot police, equipped with shields and body armor, tried to contain the crowds as they clashed with people launching fireworks and throwing debris. One video also appeared to show an officer down.

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It’s unknown what happened to the officer who was down on the asphalt or how he was injured.

Fans waved Moroccan flags in the middle of the streets, which held up traffic. Some even jumped on top of vehicles trying to get through the area.

Similar scenes unfolded after Egypt's World Cup exit, when Argentina rallied for a controversial 3-2 victory that featured several disputed officiating decisions.

Paris, on the other hand, looked more like a city celebrating than one on the brink of a riot. Supporters of both France and Morocco flooded the streets, slowing traffic in several parts of the city.

One video showed horns blasting from cars with French and Moroccan flags out the windows on the L'avenue des Champs-Élysées in Paris. Supporters on the side of the road, waving their own flags, joined in on the celebration.

France’s Kylian Mbappé scored his eighth goal of this World Cup, which ties him for the most with Argentina’s Lionel Messi. Ousmane Dembélé also scored in the second half for France in the 2-0 win over Morocco.

It’s the third straight semifinal appearance for France, while Morocco still made World Cup history despite the loss. After becoming the first African country to reach the quarterfinals and semifinals in World Cup history in 2022, Morocco added to that by becoming the first-ever African nation to reach more than one quarterfinal.

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Morocco’s exit means there are no more African nations alive in the World Cup. France will be taking on the winner of Spain and Belgium, while England and Norway and Argentina and Switzerland face off in the quarterfinals.

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Dramatic bodycam video captures NYPD officer rescuing woman from top of Brooklyn Bridge after emotional plea

Thu, 09 Jul 2026 21:13:15 -0400

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

Dramatic bodycam video shows the moment New York City police officers rescued a woman perched atop the steel cables of the Brooklyn Bridge above the East River on Wednesday.

The NYPD said its Emergency Service Unit responded to the bridge around 7:38 p.m. to reports of a person in distress.

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Newly released video shows officers climbing the bridge to reach the woman, whose feet dangled over the edge of one of the bridge's steel cables.

"I just wanna talk," one officer tells the woman. "What’s happening today?"

The officer continued speaking with the woman, urging her to accept help.

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"I wanna help you, that’s why I’m up here right now," the officer said. "I genuinely care, I do. It’s a permanent solution to a temporary problem. It really is. I don’t know what you’re going through, but I want to understand. We have services we can get you to.

"The strongest thing you can do right now is accept help, I promise you," he continued. "That’s the strongest thing you can do."

As the woman stood on the cable while holding onto another support cable with one arm, an officer moved close enough to wrap his arms around her and pull her to safety.

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"Don’t do it. Don’t do it, please. Please, please," the officer said. "I got you. You’re OK, I promise. I got you, I promise. Everything’s gonna be OK. You’re not in trouble."

Police said officers spent nearly an hour talking with the woman before safely bringing her down the bridge.

NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch shared the bodycam video on social media and praised the responding officers.

"This video of a rescue last night on the Brooklyn Bridge will take your breath away," Tisch wrote.

"High above the East River, NYPD ESU officers climbed onto the Brooklyn Bridge to reach a woman in crisis who was threatening to jump," she continued. "For nearly an hour, they stayed with her, spoke with her, and waited for the moment they could safely pull her back from the edge. The care, courage, and compassion these officers showed was just extraordinary. May God bless them."

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Officials said the rescue unfolded during rush hour and forced the closure of all eastbound lanes on the bridge for several hours.

Queens man arrested with Molotov cocktails after alleged arson attacks on Ozone Park and Woodhaven churches

Thu, 09 Jul 2026 21:08:21 -0400

Yogesh Sayrange, 36, is accused of throwing Molotov cocktails at two Queens houses of worship and a nearby commercial building late Wednesday night before officers arrested him carrying additional incendiary devices, according to police and law enforcement sources.

Sayrange allegedly targeted Iglesia Bautista El Mesias in the Ozone Park neighborhood shortly before 11 p.m., where surveillance video appears to show him speaking with three other men before lighting a Molotov cocktail and throwing it over the front gate toward the church's entrance.

The bottle ignited near the front door before Sayrange walked away, according to surveillance video published by the New York Post.

MAN ARRESTED AFTER ALLEGEDLY THROWING MOLOTOV COCKTAIL AT PERSON IN WHEELCHAIR NEAR OKC POLICE HEADQUARTERS

The FDNY confirmed to Fox News Digital that it received a call at 11:57 p.m. Wednesday for a reported incendiary device thrown at a church on 75th Street in Ozone Park. Fire marshals and the NYPD are investigating.

Police said Sayrange then walked less than a mile to a Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses in nearby Woodhaven, where he allegedly threw another Molotov cocktail at the building's front entrance, sparking a second fire.

The FDNY also confirmed to Fox News Digital that it received a second call at 12:08 a.m. Thursday for a reported incendiary device thrown at a church on 78th Street in Woodhaven. Fire marshals and the NYPD are investigating.

MANHATTAN BUILDING DEVELOPER SAYS COLLAPSE FEARS WERE OVERBLOWN, CALLS BUCKLING COLUMNS 'LOCALIZED SITUATION'

Police said no injuries or significant damage were reported at either church.

Investigators later determined Sayrange also allegedly threw a third Molotov cocktail at an ambulance service building on Rockaway Boulevard near 77th Street in Woodhaven around the same time, police said.

No injuries or damage were reported there, police said.

Officers took Sayrange into custody at about 12:10 a.m. Thursday and recovered two additional Molotov cocktails from his backpack, according to police sources.

Investigators are also examining whether Sayrange may be connected to several similar incidents dating back to last month, according to law enforcement sources. Authorities have not publicly announced any additional cases tied to him.

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Sayrange appeared in federal court Thursday on charges he threw an incendiary device into a Brooklyn business June 25.

Fox News Digital has reached out to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of New York for additional information about the Queens investigation.

Support your team with these World Cup must-haves, from jerseys to collectibles

Tue, 07 Jul 2026 17:04:32 -0400

The World Cup quarter-finals have begun, but there's still time to show your team spirit before the tournament ends. Shop FIFA T-shirts, celebrate your favorite players with collectible figurines and score officially licensed jerseys.

Official FIFA World Cup Merch

Although the U.S. is no longer in the tournament, you can still show your team spirit with this FIFA-themed merch.

2026 FIFA World Cup sticker box: $50

Collectors and soccer fans can get 25 official World Cup stickers in this one box. Inside includes national teams, popular players, federation logos, stadiums and more. With more than 10,000 bought in the last month, you can join other fans in celebrating the tournament.

adidas FIFA World Cup 26 soccer ball: $24.99

Get your very own FIFA-branded soccer ball for just $25. It has the officially licensed World Cup trophy and 2026 branding throughout. The seamless surface offers a better touch when you're on the pitch and the ball holds its shape during play.

FIFA World Cup 2026 T-shirt: $50

Catch all the matches in this colorful World Cup T-shirt. The back features a bold design highlighting the cities where the tournament is taking place, while the front gives a nod to FIFA. Its lightweight fabric keeps you comfortable all day.

World Cup gear from top soccer players

This World Cup marks the final tournament for legends like Cristiano Ronaldo and Guillermo Ochoa, making now the perfect time to shop their jerseys and gear from other soccer superstars.

USMNT home Nike jersey: $235

The U.S. may be out, but Christian Pulistic left his mark on the game. You can select from his jersey, or any of the other U.S. players. If you like the navy Away jersey, you can get Pulistic's number, or choose another favorite player for $155. You can also find a classic USA home jersey T-shirt for just over $60. It has Dri-FIT technology that wicks away moisture, keeping you cool during outdoor watch parties.

adidas Argentina home replica Messi jersey: $130

Lionel Messi is considered one of the greatest soccer players of all time and remains one of the most recognizable players at the 2026 World Cup. Show your support for Argentina with this replica jersey that displays for the first time the team's third star after its win in the last World Cup.

Cristiano Ronaldo tribute soccer T-shirt: $19.89

Celebrate the career of Cristiano Ronaldo with this tribute tee. It highlights some of his most legendary moments on the field throughout the years. Available in more than a dozen colors, it costs less than $20, making it an affordable way to rep one of soccer's all-time greats.

Ochoa Mexico T-shirt: $17.99

Ochoa announced his retirement after Mexico's loss to England, so grab this T-shirt to celebrate his incredible career. It's machine-washable and lightweight for all-day comfort. The simple black tee pairs with almost anything, and you can choose from dozens of colors.

Erling Haaland Manchester City mini figure: $21.10

If you're a fan of Erling Haaland, this mini figurine is for you. It features him in his Manchester City uniform, complete with his signature hairstyle. It's a simple way to cheer on the Norwegian star.

For more deals, visit www.foxnews.com/deals

Kylian Mbappé Real Madrid jersey: $184.99

France forward Kylian Mbappé is having quite the tournament, so grab his Real Madrid jersey and show your support for one of the sport's biggest stars. The authentic jersey helps wick away moisture to keep you comfortable whether you're at the stadium or cheering from your living room.

If you're an Amazon Prime member, you can get these items sent to your door ASAP. You can join or start a 30-day free trial to start your shopping today.

Disney faces another box office shipwreck with 'Moana' remake on track to follow 'Snow White' to the bottom

Thu, 09 Jul 2026 21:00:28 -0400

Disney's live-action "Moana" remake heads to theaters amid poor early reviews and soft opening projections.

Industry experts project the film could debut at around $60 million in North American theaters this weekend, though some analysts expect an opening closer to $40 million against a reported $250 million production budget, according to Variety. It comes on the heels of last year's "Snow White" remake, which also received widespread criticism and had similar box office projections.

The film officially hits theaters July 10, but early reviews have already landed the remake in rough seas.

"Moana" debuted with a 32% Rotten Tomatoes critics score, according to Forbes.

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While the score has since increased to 39%, it remains one of the studio’s lowest-rated adaptations, sitting just above 2022’s "Pinocchio" and tied with the 39% scored by "Snow White."

Critics have questioned why the film was made in the first place, with the original animated version of "Moana" debuting less than a decade ago and its sequel premiering just two years ago in 2024.

A reviewer for the San Francisco Chronicle called the film a simple "money grab," adding, "What’s a real head-scratcher is how it can feel so lifeless with real people as compared to the animated original."

CHRISTOPHER NOLAN'S 'THE ODYSSEY' GETS OVERWHELMINGLY NEGATIVE REACTIONS AFTER CONTROVERSIAL CASTING CHOICES

The Daily Telegraph (U.K.) gave the film two out of five stars, writing that the final product felt as if it were created by artificial intelligence.

"This was, by all appearances, an incredibly costly and labour-intensive production, yet there is barely a moment in it which feels as if it couldn’t have been achieved by typing: ‘What if this scene from Moana was remade in live action?’ into a video generator’s prompt box," it wrote.

While a writer for the Substack publication Girl Culture said it isn't the worst of Disney’s remakes, she argued it exemplifies what’s going wrong at the studio.

'SUPERGIRL' SUFFERS CATASTROPHIC 73% DROP, GETS OBLITERATED AT BOX OFFICE BY PATRIOTIC 'YOUNG WASHINGTON'

"[Moana] isn’t necessarily the worst of these remakes the studio has churned out, but somehow feels most representative of the rot at the core of this artistic project."

The plot of the original "Moana" centered around a Polynesian teenager who works with the demigod Maui to save her dying island. The new version follows the exact same premise, and Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson reprises his role as Maui, only this time wearing a long, curly wig that drew criticism from some viewers online.

Several of Disney's live-action remakes have delivered mixed financial results. The studio's 2019 adaptation of "Dumbo" opened to $45 million domestically, while 2025's "Snow White" opened to around $43 million.

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However, "Snow White" was met with multiple controversies at the time, including criticism of its portrayal of the characters with dwarfism, the film’s lead actress Rachel Zegler’s comments on the 1937 film and its "weird" love story and her comments on the situation in Gaza.

The studio did find success with the live-action version of "Lilo & Stitch," which crossed the $1 billion mark after its release last year.

Fox News Digital reached out to Walt Disney Studios for comment but did not immediately hear back.

Airplane passenger goes viral for streaming Argentina's miraculous World Cup comeback for the entire plane

Thu, 09 Jul 2026 20:53:03 -0400

We've seen some stellar fan performances all World Cup long, but I'm not sure we've seen an MVP quite like a fan who has gone viral for starting an impromptu watch party on a flight.

Because is there anything that will make you popular faster than ponying up for airplane Wi-Fi so everyone can watch one of the most shocking comebacks of the tournament?

No. No, there is not.

TOM BRADY COMPARES ARGENTINA'S DRAMATIC WORLD CUP RALLY TO PATRIOTS' SUPER BOWL COMEBACK

The video shows a man with a laptop standing toward the front of an airline cabin, holding it up so the rest of the passengers could watch this week's Argentina-Egypt match.

Not all heroes wear capes.

I have no clue what airline this is, but I'm guessing it doesn't throw you a bone with live TV that freezes every couple of minutes.

FITNESS INFLUENCER SAYS LUFTHANSA TOLD HER SHE LOOKED ‘NAKED,’ FORCED HER TO ZIP UP BEFORE BOARDING FLIGHT

That drives me nuts, by the way. I can appreciate the wonder of being able to watch an IndyCar race while going hundreds of miles per hour through the sky, but I feel like we should have this figured out to get seamless streaming on planes.

And then, if you want the good internet, that's going to cost you. That's where this dude is a hero. He bit the bullet so everyone else could enjoy a match for the ages that saw Lionel Messi and Argentina come back from two goals down to win 3-2.

The only ones who probably weren't thrilled were the airline, which clearly didn't account for one brave soul with a MacBook discovering the cheat code to free midair internet.

Had this been on Spirit, they would've tackled that dude the second he stepped out of the jetway just to send a message.

As was the Spirit way (RIP).

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It's a great example of how the World Cup brings people together, and that's a very cool thing.

Especially if they can stick it to the airlines that keep nickel-and-diming all of us.

Live-action remake of 'Moana' gets ravaged by critics in latest blow to Disney Studios

Thu, 09 Jul 2026 20:17:28 -0400

Who was asking for this? That's become the most repeated response to most new release movies and trailers, as Hollywood and the entertainment industry seem to be rapidly running out of ideas or creativity.

The latest example? The tepid response to The Walt Disney Company's latest attempt at a "live-action" remake of one of their animated films, "Moana."

The original "Moana" was widely enjoyed by critics and audiences, with popular songs that are still frequently played today, even as the film approaches its 10-year anniversary. Its animation style was also praised for the colorful, lush representation of a Pacific island. While it didn't reinvent the wheel, there was some level of creativity and originality to the presentation of a familiar coming of age story.

CHRISTOPHER NOLAN'S 'THE ODYSSEY' GETS OVERWHELMINGLY NEGATIVE REACTIONS AFTER CONTROVERSIAL CASTING CHOICES

Unsurprisingly, it was a huge financial success. It grossed $248.7 million at the domestic box office, adding a whopping $394 million internationally. That $643 million total adjusted for inflation is now nearly $900 million.

And Disney, never one to leave well enough alone, didn't. Fast-forward to 2026, and trailers for the live-action remake of "Moana" hit theaters and the internet to well, mixed reactions would be an understatement. Instead of the vivid, colorful world of the animated film, every background seemed washed out, desaturated, and uninteresting. Dwayne Johnson, reprising his role as Maui, wore a wig that was comically, laughably amateurish.

Even in just two minute increments, it was clear and obvious that most people involved in the production had little interest in it. Still, small sample sizes can be deceiving, raising hopes that it might make for a better film than trailer. Yet now that its July 10 release date is approaching, the first critical reviews have been published. And... pretty much confirmed everyone's worst fears.

'SUPERGIRL' PRE-RELEASE TRACKING LOOKS DISASTROUSLY BAD FOR HOLLYWOOD AFTER LEAD ACTRESS' BIZARRE COMMENTS

It debuted on Rotten Tomatoes with just a 38% positive rating, with many top critics issuing similarly negative reviews. Robbie Collins from The Telegraph summed it up by comparing it to AI-generated content: "Disney’s awful live-action Moana could have been made by a ChatGPT prompt."

The Associated Press review from Jake Coyle roasts Johnson's "Fabio hair," with the opening paragraph describing it as "purposeless."

"Say what you will about them," he writes. "But the Disney live-action remakes have at least given us a choice. Which would you rather see? A spirited, soaring, animated 'Moana,' or a purposeless remake featuring Dwayne Johnson with Fabio hair?"

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Others called it "pointless," "lifeless," or compared it to the "uncanny valley" effect when video games become too realistic. Not what you want to hear if you're Disney.

But therein lies the problem. Major studios, particularly modern Disney, have mostly abandoned any pretense of creativity or originality. They're happy to rehash the same tired formula, as long as it makes a profit. For the first few remakes, it worked. Audiences, though, quickly caught on that the level of quality in films like the live-action "Beauty and the Beast" or "The Lion King" were far below that of the animated classics. The choice becomes spending money on going to the theater to see a worse version of a movie you've seen many times before.

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Disney may still sell enough tickets to turn a profit on "Moana." But based on the reactions we've seen, the live-action remake well might be drying up sooner rather than later.

Israel shares intelligence warning Iran plotted new assassination attempt against Trump: report

Thu, 09 Jul 2026 20:08:44 -0400

Israel recently shared intelligence with the United States indicating Iran had developed a fresh plan to assassinate President Donald Trump, according to a Wall Street Journal report Thursday citing people familiar with the matter.

The reported intelligence would mark an escalation in the longstanding threats against Trump, who Iran has repeatedly vowed to retaliate against over the 2020 U.S. strike that killed Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Gen. Qassem Soleimani.

The White House referred Fox News Digital to Trump's remarks Wednesday when asked about the report.

TRUMP FACES UNPRECEDENTED THIRD ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT

"They want to take out the U.S. leader — me. I’m on whatever list. I saw this morning I’m on every single one of their lists," Trump said. "And, so far, I guess I’ve been a bit lucky, but maybe that doesn’t last very long. These are evil, sick people. And we have to root out that cancer. That cancer. You know what you do? You’ve got to cut out cancer early. And that’s the way I feel."

Fox News Digital has also reached out to Israel's Embassy in Washington and Iran's Mission to the United Nations for comment.

The Journal reported the intelligence surfaced as Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have diverged in recent weeks over how to proceed after last month's conflict with Iran. Netanyahu has advocated for continuing military pressure on Tehran, while Trump has sought to preserve a fragile ceasefire after U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear sites.

NETANYAHU REJECTS REPORTS OF A RIFT WITH PRESIDENT TRUMP, SAYS THE TWO REMAIN ALIGNED ON IRAN

Trump and Netanyahu spoke Thursday and agreed to continue coordination between the two countries, according to a statement from Netanyahu's office, which said Trump also updated the Israeli leader on recent U.S. activity in the Gulf.

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Iranian mourners at the funeral for Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei chanted for Trump's death and displayed a banner that said, "We Will Kill Trump," according to the Journal.

Iran has publicly vowed for years to retaliate against Trump over the U.S. operation that killed Soleimani, the former commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps' Quds Force, in Baghdad in January 2020.

Bernie-backed Maine Democratic Senate hopeful squirms over past Graham Platner support

Thu, 09 Jul 2026 20:00:26 -0400

Former Maine gubernatorial candidate and potential Democratic Senate candidate Troy Jackson struggled to answer for his past support for Graham Platner during an MS NOW interview Thursday.

Before Platner officially suspended his campaign amid a rape allegation, Jackson filed paperwork with the Federal Election Commission to potentially replace Platner as the Democratic nominee for the U.S. Senate. Prior to the recent allegation against Platner, Jackson was one of his earliest supporters and previously campaigned with Platner during his gubernatorial campaign.

MS NOW's "The Moment" host Katy Tur questioned him on his longtime support for Platner, pointing out he maintained his support through several other scandals.

PLATNER ACCUSER RECALLS 'GASLIGHTING,' ‘BETRAYAL’ FROM NY TIMES AS SHE CAME FORWARD WITH HER ALLEGATIONS

"You supported him," Tur began. "You bragged about being one of the first supporters of him. Why did you stick with him for so long? Why did you stick with him after the Nazi tattoo? Why did you stick with him after The New York Times article and the aggressive women stuff, stick with him after the Reddit posts that were arguably racist and sexist? I know he denies the sexual misconduct allegations, but why did you stay with him for so long?"

"Well, the Nazi tattoo and the Reddit posts, I mean, I didn’t know — I mean, I haven’t ever been on Reddit, but, you know, when people talked about those things, and then he turned around and said, you know, that these were times whenever they were dark for him and, you know, he’d grown and all this stuff," Jackson said.

"I mean, they were, you know, a different time period for him. And I understood, you know, that people can change."

GRAHAM PLATNER EX REVEALS REACH-OUT BEFORE CAMPAIGN, SAYS HE WAS TRYING TO 'TAKE MY TEMPERATURE'

Jackson added that he was more focused on Platner's political issues, such as his push for Medicare for All and a desire for change.

"You know, he had plausible reasons that he said that they happened. But when it came to a credible sexual assault, it became clear that that was — that was it. It was, you know, a red line that I wasn’t going to cross. And, you know, the other thing about it was Graham told me point-blank that there was nothing in his past that I had to worry about. And he, you know, he lied to me, and he lied to a lot of us," Jackson said.

Fox News Digital reached out to Jackson for comment.

GRAHAM PLATNER'S MOST PROMINENT PRESS ALLIES ABANDON HIM AS RAPE ALLEGATION ROCKS MAINE SENATE RACE

Though Jackson referred to a "credible sexual assault" as a "red line" for him, Jackson continued to support Platner after a New York Times report last month described Platner being physical with his ex-girlfriend Lyndsey Fifield during their time together. Fifield described Platner grabbing her wrist and forcefully yanking her out of a cab in one instance and pushing her into a bedroom and while holding the door shut in another.

Jackson has also been a longtime ally of Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt. He was one of the few Democratic National Committee superdelegates to endorse Sanders over Hillary Clinton during the 2016 Democratic presidential primary and later served as Sanders' Maine political director, introducing him at campaign rallies across the state.

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Sanders has yet to endorse another candidate for the Maine Senate seat, though there's still time before an official candidate can be named. Under Maine law, Platner has until Monday, June 13, to withdraw if Democrats hope to replace him on the November ballot. If he steps aside before the deadline, the state Democratic Party will have until July 27 to choose a new nominee.

Fever coach Stephanie White rules out Caitlin Clark despite star saying she feels 100 percent physically

Thu, 09 Jul 2026 19:55:59 -0400

Caitlin Clark says she feels great. Stephanie White still kept her on the sidelines.

Thursday night's decision ahead of the Fever's road matchup against the Phoenix Mercury raises more questions than answers.

After returning Wednesday night from a lingering back injury and logging 16 carefully managed minutes against the Los Angeles Sparks, Clark felt encouraged by how her body responded.

STEPHANIE WHITE GIVES CAITLIN CLARK STATUS UPDATE AHEAD OF FEVER-SPARKS, BUT HER NEXT MOVE RAISES QUESTIONS

"I told our trainers after the game that it stinks we didn't win, and we didn't play very well, but I'll take it as a win how my body feels and how I really felt out there," Clark said (via Indy Star's Chloe Peterson) after Wednesday's loss to the LA Sparks.

"I didn't even feel very winded."

Before that game even tipped off, the Fever ruled her out against the Mercury. The official injury report listed the reason as "rest."

Fever head coach Stephanie White revealed before Wednesday's game that the plan all along was to split the back-to-back between Clark and All-Star forward Aliyah Boston.

"Yeah, [Boston] just did some of the shooting," White said before the game.

"She's gonna be out tonight, again, with the back-to-back. ... Caitlin's gonna be active tonight, AB's not, and then they'll flip-flop tomorrow."

CAITLIN CLARK DEFENDS COACH STEPHANIE WHITE AFTER SIDELINE CONFRONTATION SPARKS DEBATE

Clark's own assessment gave the Fever new information, but the original plan never changed.

The Fever are entitled to be cautious.

Clark is the face of the franchise and the engine behind Indiana's offense. Protecting her is understandable.

She played only 16 minutes Wednesday. Coach White's strategy was to put out Caitlin for three-minute spurts throughout the game.

The approach didn't work.

"It’s just really hard when you’re playing three minutes, (sub) out, three minutes, three minutes, then you’re on the bench," Clark added Wednesday night.

"It’s really, really hard to get into a flow. For the most part, I got good looks, some of them went, some of them didn’t. I probably didn’t get to have a feel for the game as I usually do, like it’s just really, really hard for me to play in that scenario, but overall, my body feels great, so that’s the positive I can take from today."

Thursday's matchup against the Mercury presents another test, with the Fever (12-9) short their best playmaker.

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Perhaps White's plan will pay off in the long run. That still doesn't explain the jump from a 16-minute restriction to a full night off.

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

Grand Canyon mystery illness reportedly triggers NPS investigation after rafters report alarming symptoms

Thu, 09 Jul 2026 19:54:51 -0400

The National Park Service (NPS) has launched an investigation into a mysterious illness affecting multiple rafters who took separate Grand Canyon trips in recent weeks.

Several people took to social media last week to report a cluster of unexplained illnesses that they say have left doctors searching for answers. The rafters said they embarked on two-week trips beginning as early as mid-May and developed conditions after returning home.

Paddling Magazine reported that park officials are now leading the investigation as rafters report experiencing severe and painful symptoms.

Speculation about the potential cause has spread online, with some healthcare professionals and others weighing in on possible explanations, including mosquito-borne illnesses such as dengue fever and chikungunya.

PARASITIC INFECTION CAUSING ‘EXPLOSIVE’ STOMACH ILLNESS EXCEEDS 1,000 CASES IN NORTHERN STATE

According to a Facebook group, Grand Canyon Private Boaters, four people became sick after a group of 16 embarked on a two-week rafting trip in mid-June.

In a July 1 post, user Steven King described a range of symptoms among members of the group, including fever, chills, fatigue and pneumonia. He said some individuals experienced more severe complications, including fluid in the lungs and loss of consciousness.

"One person briefly lost consciousness in their doctor's office then was subsequently hospitalized," King said.

King also described another person who developed what he called "cobblestoning," an infection or cellulitis-like condition, on a bruised area of the shin that "feels like a broken bone."

"X-ray doesn't show a break, and it doesn't seem to be healing at all but rather getting worse," he said.

YOSEMITE, GRAND CANYON LEAD NOTABLE LIST OF NATIONAL PARK CAMPGROUNDS FOR AMERICA'S 250TH

He said additional precautions were taken by some individuals because officials have yet to determine the cause of the alleged illnesses.

"One person started receiving the rabies vaccine in an abundance of caution even though they are not really showing symptoms of rabies specifically," the user said.

King reported that the group did not encounter any ticks during the trip but reported seeing mosquitoes on several nights while in the canyon.

Separately, Matthew Wappett, who said he went to the emergency room with a swollen knee and "bone-crushing" joint pain after a two-week trip in mid-May, also reported experiencing mosquito bites during the rafting trip.

"We slept out every night and did get some mosquito bites," Wappett said in a July 2 post.

An infectious disease epidemiologist reportedly told Facebook user Dan Squire that the illnesses could potentially be linked to mosquito-borne viruses such as dengue fever or chikungunya.

"Based on the symptoms and the reports of mosquito bites (together with the lack of GI symptoms and no reports of tick bites), it’s sounding viral and symptoms are a good match for both Dengue and Chikungunya. (Hanta should also be ruled out)," Squire wrote, citing his friend.

Squire said the expert noted that dengue and chikungunya are uncommon in the U.S. compared to other parts of the world, but Arizona is home to mosquitoes capable of transmitting both viruses.

"If someone who had been exposed to these viruses (like during international travel) went into the canyon while still carrying the virus, they could have transmitted to local mosquito populations," Squire wrote.

The healthcare professional also suggested doctors could have difficulty identifying the cause if patients do not report recent international travel, potentially leading to delays in testing for certain viruses.

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"People reporting symptoms like this but without recent international travel are highly unlikely to be tested for these viruses in Arizona," Squire added.

The NPS and the Arizona Department of Health Services did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.

AEW star Thunder Rosa talks pro wrestling journey from social worker to women's champion

Thu, 09 Jul 2026 19:43:51 -0400

Thunder Rosa is one of the best women’s professional wrestlers in the world, but the journey to get to the top of the mountain is one that is never-ending.

Rosa, whose real name is Melissa Cervantes, performs for All Elite Wrestling (AEW) and Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre (CMLL), two of the major promotions in North America. But while most professional wrestlers started their path to the ring at a school, Rosa was a social worker before wrestling caught her eye.

"I became a pro wrestler 13 years ago after making a decision to stop being an activist. I was a social worker, so, one day, I decided that I wanted to be a wrestler after going to a wrestling show and just attending a couple of the shows there and feeling that was the next step to take," she told Fox News Digital in a recent interview.

"I feel like the call was like — it was going to be a bigger platform. I just decided to go and do a tryout, and after I did the tryout, I fell in love with professional wrestling."

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Rosa said the aura of pro wrestling is what got her hooked in the first place, everything from the theatrics to the sport.

She said she was up for the challenge even though she never played many sports in her life.

"It's everything. It's all the details, all the different things that the sport entails, which is, you know, the theatricals, the level of athleticism," she said. "It's just like the fact that you could travel with it and also because it's very challenging. It was going to be very challenging for me physically because I never done, like, sports, and I just felt like I could do it at the time."

Rosa said she had to start from scratch, "learning how to roll, learning how to exercise, learning how to build my body, learning, like, body control, a lot of like gymnastics, basics on many different sports, and I think I just had to like really pull it together and then really be realistic with myself."

She said she needed to work harder than anyone in her training classes because most of the time she was the only woman in the class if not the room.

She said there was never one moment she could point to where she knew taking a chance on pro wrestling was the right move. It wasn’t until she noticed she didn’t have time to go to her day job that she thought she could make a career out of wrestling.

"There’s not really a moment because I feel like when you're getting and you're earning things, sometimes you feel like you have an imposter syndrome. And no matter what you have done, like, it's just like not enough, right?" Rosa told Fox News Digital

"I feel like that even when big opportunities came, it was like, ‘Oh, I'm so lucky that this happened to me.’ No, I wasn't lucky. It's just people saw that I had the skills and I had the talent and I had the ‘it’ factor, and they gave me an opportunity.

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"I feel like once things started rolling with bigger opportunities in professional wrestling, that's when I was like, 'OK, I think I can leave my full-time job and become a professional wrestler.’ I think it was my first contract with Lucha Underground when I just noticed that I didn't have enough time to go to work.

"That was the time where it was it was time for me to move my next chapter of my life and my career. So, that's when I think I was like, ‘OK, I think I can do this. I think it's feasible. It's going to be hard, but it's feasible.’"

Rosa joined AEW in 2020 and started to defend the National Wrestling Alliance Women’s Championship on "Dynamite." She lost the title to Serena Deeb. She would gain AEW World Women’s Championship gold for the first time when she defeated Britt Baker in a cage match.

She was the fifth woman to hold the title. However, she had to relinquish it due to a back injury.

Rosa told Fox News Digital she took pride in helping women’s wrestling grow.

"It's been really beautiful to see the journey that a lot of us have taken in the last six years here in AEW or even seven because we’ve seen something small grow so big to the point where we have had shows that have had 80,000 people," she said.

"The way that we or I was able to help the women's division and grow and given a bigger platform with opportunities that have a lot at stake. I take that with a lot of pride. There was a lot of things that happened in 2021-2022 that really broke a lot of barriers for a lot of the women that are now in the women's division, and they all have done a tremendous job on continuing to open more doors for everyone that is coming in the future.

"It's been also incredibly interesting to see how different companies have worked together, and now they are symbiotic of each other. They exist and subsist with each other's collaboration, and that, I think, has changed the landscape of professional wrestling forever because we're not living on an island.

"I feel like this subculture or this culture of professional wrestling has subsisted within this niche, but I feel it's becoming bigger and bigger and bigger. So, that has been very interesting to see how AEW has been pivotal for that stuff."

Rosa vowed to continue to use her voice to advocate for women and children, which she stressed was important to her. She also said she is focused on the latter part of the year with Grand Slam Mexico.

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"I have a lot of things planned. I continue to work extremely hard every single day to be better at my craft. I continue to work really, really, really hard outside of professional wrestling to advocate for women and for young children because I think that's something very, very important, and to advocate for my community. I continue to focus on the opportunities that are in front of me," she said.

"Right now, we're going to focus, like, laser focus, on Grand Slam in Mexico City. Then, there's some big things happening in September, October during Dia de Los Muertos and, like, all that stuff. There's a lot of opportunities to come during that time. So, I’m taking everything day by day and, of course, I want gold, but that is not on me. I'll just have to continue to work harder and continue to knock on doors.

"Even when I lose, I always win. And the last Forbidden Door, we had a tremendous match with Divine Dominion and with Olympia. We always leave something for the fans to remember. Again, I will continue to work extremely hard to hopefully have gold in the future, but if not, I will enjoy the journey just as much."

Megan Rapinoe blames Trump for distracting US players ahead of World Cup loss to Belgium

Thu, 09 Jul 2026 19:16:12 -0400

The post-mortems on the U.S. men's national team's exit from the 2026 FIFA World Cup are rolling in, and former U.S. women's national team player Megan Rapinoe is offering her take.

And you'll never believe where she's placing the blame...

Nah, you guessed it, she's blaming President Trump.

MEDIA FIGURES MELT DOWN OVER TRUMP INVOLVEMENT WITH FIFA AS US STAR FOLARIN BALOGUN SET TO PLAY

One of the biggest stories going into Monday's match against Belgium had to do with the red card and suspension of U.S. star Folarin Balogun.

Of course, pretty much everyone agreed it was a lousy call, and when the President phoned up FIFA, they allowed Balogun to play using the same rule that allowed Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo to play under similar circumstances.

But, obviously, because Trump was involved, the usual suspects were not happy about it, and Rapinoe argued on her podcast, "A Touch More: The Beautiful Game," that the distraction doomed the team. By the way, the bookshelf behind her featured pretty much exactly what you'd expect.

"I think the distraction got to the team for sure in some type of way. Whether it was, you know, this red card situation, whether it was being in a public discourse with this president, all of the, you know, shenanigans and chaos that comes with the feelings on both sides of that. Whether you agree with it or not it's, it's just like it's a lot to contend with," Rapinoe said.

Well, that's certainly a take.

Rapinoe — who knows a thing or two about off-field distractions — argued the problem was that the U.S. doesn't have enough players willing to create off-field distractions by yammering about politics, as she has often done herself.

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"So, not only does this team not have like a core of older players who are used to that, but none of these players talk about anything ever, like for the most part," she said. "I think in men's football, just like in general, there's not a lot of players who are choosing to use their platform or to, you know, broaden their scope of pressure and responsibility."

So, there you go, fellas. It wasn't that you ran into a tough Belgian team or that maybe it just wasn't your day.

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You just need to be much more annoying and create distractions, so when there is a bit of an off-field distraction, you're used to it.

Not sure if Rapinoe wants to get into coaching at some point, but this method may not land her too many gigs.

Jessica Alba posts multiple bikini photos from Italian vacation with boyfriend Danny Ramirez

Thu, 09 Jul 2026 19:02:52 -0400

Jessica Alba is soaking up the summer sun during her Italian vacation with her boyfriend.

In a recent Instagram post, the 45-year-old actress shared snippets from her recent vacation to Tuscany with her boyfriend, Danny Ramirez, featuring many shots of her lounging in her bikini.

"Ciao, Italy," the actress, who flashed her toned abs in a striking bikini, wrote as the caption for the Instagram carousel she shared.

One of the photos featured Alba and Ramirez lying next to each other on lounge chairs on the beach, with Alba giving the camera a big smile as Ramirez gave her a kiss on her shoulder.

JESSICA ALBA STUNS IN RED CORSET AND LACE MINI DRESS AS SHE CELEBRATES HER 45TH BIRTHDAY

In the photo, the "Fantastic Four" actress showed off her tan and toned abs in a strapless brown bikini top and matching bottoms, which she paired with sunglasses and jewelry, including hoop earrings and a necklace.

A second photo shows Alba looking off into the distance as she lounged in another bikini while in the middle of the ocean on a paddleboard.

She also shared a clip of her and Ramirez lounging next to each other while on a boat off the coast of Tuscany. Alba was all smiles in a patterned red bikini, while Ramirez snacked on chips.

"You look amazing and happy. Enjoy your vacation. ❤️🙌," one fan wrote in the comments section, while another added, "She doesn’t age!!! 🔥" A third wrote, "Looooking VERY happy girly!!! 🥰."

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Ramirez and Alba first sparked relationship rumors in July 2025 and continued to do so after they were photographed together on multiple occasions throughout the rest of the year.

They confirmed their relationship when they attended the Baby2Baby Gala together in November 2025. Since then, the two have been featured on each other's Instagram posts, with Alba calling him "my love" in a post celebrating her birthday, and thanking him "for loving me through every chapter."

The two were recently spotted showing some PDA during a trip to Miami, Florida. They were photographed with their arms wrapped around each other and sharing multiple passionate kisses as they cooled off in the water.

In a separate Instagram post, Alba shared that she and Ramirez were in attendance at Madison Square Garden when Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce got married, sharing photos of the two of them prior to the event.

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"We love love 🥰💒🫶🏽 Congrats to T&T - such a beautiful night celebrating you," she captioned the post.

The photos showed Alba in a floor-length dress featuring a black bodice with a plunging neckline, which transitioned into a sequined gold skirt.

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DHS plans costly crackdown on states that don’t cooperate on election security

Thu, 09 Jul 2026 19:01:57 -0400

FIRST ON FOX: The Department of Homeland Security will withhold billions in preparedness grant funding from states that refuse to adopt new election security measures, including voter citizenship verification, post-election audits and expanded use of paper ballots.

The push comes as President Donald Trump and many Republicans slam states that do not want to let the federal government audit their voter rolls, while also criticizing the snail's-pace, widely criticized vote tabulations in states like California.

FEMA, a sub-agency of DHS, is making more than $1 billion in taxpayer funding available to states that want to participate in its Homeland Security Grant Program, but with a catch.

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To qualify for grants, states must submit plans to transition away from "unsecure electronic voting systems" that employ QR codes or barcodes instead of hand-marked paper ballots.

By doing so, the agency said, it provides a paper trail to quickly assess any alleged irregularities.

After each federal election, states seeking preparedness grants must conduct a manual audit of at least 5% of all ballots cast with the agency arguing a manual, random review will confirm voting-machine tabulations’ synthesis with paper ballots and identify any "manipulation."

States must also match the number of voters who participated in the election with the number of ballots cast and, within 120 days of any grant award, use the SAVE database — brought to the fore amid numerous illegal immigrant truckers getting in fatal crashes — to verify the citizenship of every listed voter in the state.

SAVE, the Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements system, has been criticized by some Democratic governors for being insufficiently maintained, an assertion DHS has denied.

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DHS told Fox News Digital that threats to election systems continue to evolve and that Secretary Markwayne Mullin has made critical infrastructure protection a top priority. A spokesperson suggested elections fall within that critical infrastructure and remain susceptible to foreign attacks.

"Under President Trump’s leadership, we are taking decisive action to protect election systems from threats like foreign interference, insider threats and cyberattacks," the DHS spokesperson said. "These new requirements for homeland security grant recipients will preserve election integrity and ensure that Americans can trust the results."

The new rules come as the Trump administration had a major loss in court while seeking to force the issue of election security.

An Obama-appointed federal judge in Pittsburgh sided with the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania after the Justice Department sued more than 25 states seeking voter records that included Social Security numbers.

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Judge Cathy Bissoon ruled the feds lack authority to demand "highly sensitive" state information after Secretary of the Commonwealth Al Schmidt, a Philadelphia Republican appointed by Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro, balked at a demand to turn over data last fall.

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Schmidt reportedly offered a redacted version of the state voter file without the sensitive data, telling the DOJ in his response that such "broad data" collection is a "concerning attempt to expand the federal government’s role in our country’s election process," according to The Philadelphia Inquirer.

DHS’ new tact may or may not be tested in a similar fashion.

Just 1 in 10 Ivy League trustees are Republican; Yale has none, report finds

Thu, 09 Jul 2026 19:00:46 -0400

Only about one in 10 Ivy League trustees identifies as Republican, while Yale has no Republican trustees at all, according to a new report fueling debate over ideological diversity at the nation's most elite universities.

"Yale is a leader in many things, but ideological homogeneity shouldn’t be one of them," Lauren Noble, Buckley Institute founder and executive director, said in a statement.

"Looking at the dramatic ideological imbalance across Ivy League governing bodies, it’s little surprise that so much has gone awry on campus," Noble continued. "If America’s top universities truly want to fix the echo chamber in the classroom, they will need to address the echo chamber among their own leadership."

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The report, "The Echo Chamber on Top: Governance in the Ivy League," found that Democrats outnumber Republicans 6 to 1 among Ivy League trustees.

The report said that, of the 233 total Ivy League trustees identified, 155, or 67%, were registered Democrats; 52, or 22%, were unaffiliated; and 26, amounting to 11%, were Republicans.

In total, the report said, it found a 6-to-1 ratio of Democrats to Republicans on Ivy League trustee boards and highlighted that Yale’s sole governing body, the Yale Corporation, had zero registered Republicans in its membership.

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The report also found a comparable discrepancy among political donations.

"Though a small number of individuals accounted for the bulk of political donations on several boards, total political giving to Democrats outnumbered political giving to Republicans at a 4-to-1 rate," the Buckley Institute said in a press release on the report.

"In total, Ivy League trustees gave $85.5 million to Democratic causes and campaigns and only $22.4 million to Republican causes and campaigns."

In this area as well, the report found that Yale trustees gave $5.8 million to Democrats and a little more than $102,000 to Republicans, highlighting it as a 50-to-1 ratio.

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The report also found that, among Ivy League schools, Cornell stood out as the only university whose trustees donated more money to Republican causes than Democratic ones, although more individual trustees gave to Democratic candidates and organizations than to Republicans.

"Members of the Yale Corporation draw on a wide range of knowledge, including experience in professional leadership; expertise in higher education, non-profit and for-profit organizations, and investments; and a commitment to furthering Yale’s mission and priorities, independent of political views," a spokesperson for Yale told Fox News Digital in a statement.

"Trustees connect regularly with Yale faculty, alumni, students and staff to hear their direct input and ensure a broad perspective is reflected in their guidance to Yale’s leaders. Yale is committed to fostering open debate, preserving freedom of expression and creating an environment in which a wide range of ideas can be expressed and heard civilly — principles articulated in Yale’s landmark Woodward Report and advanced through a wide range of campus initiatives.

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A January report from Yale Daily News found that professors at the Ivy League school overwhelmingly donated to Democrats and essentially donated nothing to Republicans last year, with 97.6% of donations going to Democrats and the remaining 2.4% going to independent candidates or groups.

Fox News Digital reached out to Cornell for comment.

Kylian Mbappé, Ousmane Dembélé fire France into World Cup semifinals with win over Morocco

Thu, 09 Jul 2026 18:46:52 -0400

For the second straight World Cup, France has sent Morocco home with a 2-0 victory.

In 2022, it was a historic semifinal as Morocco became the first-ever African team to reach that stage of the tournament. But France defeated Morocco to reach the World Cup Final in Qatar.

Four years later, history repeated itself in the quarterfinals, and Kylian Mbappé and Ousmane Dembélé scored second-half goals to send France back to the semifinals.

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France awaits the winner of Spain and Belgium, who face off Friday at 3 p.m. ET in Los Angeles.

Much like Paraguay in the Round of 16 against France, Morocco was clearly focusing on its defense, making sure the likes of Mbappé didn’t have easy lanes to score.

It was working to start the match, though France was immediately on the offensive and stayed there throughout. However, Morocco faltered when a foul was committed in its own box, forcing a penalty kick.

KYLIAN MBAPPÉ'S SEVENTH GOAL OF THE WORLD CUP LIFTS FRANCE PAST PARAGUAY IN PHYSICAL ROUND OF 16 MATCH

Mbappé stepped right up to the ball, but the head referee was waiting for the signal to see if a VAR check was needed before the penalty could be taken. The referee called it a penalty on the pitch, but he had Mbappé frustrated because he had to continue redoing his routine multiple times before finally getting the chance.

Morocco goalkeeper Yassine "Bono" Bounou read Mbappé like a book as the French superstar tried to bait him into moving before his kick. But Bounou stood like a statue before pouncing to his left and keeping the scoreboard silent in the first half.

Morocco didn't register its first real scoring chance until stoppage time, underscoring France's control of the match. It felt like only a matter of time before Les Bleus finally broke through.

After getting back to its offensive ways in the second half, it was left to Mbappé to find just enough space inside Morocco’s box with defenders draped all around him, to fire a perfectly placed kick past a diving Bounou for his eighth World Cup tournament goal.

Mbappé is tied with Argentina’s Lionel Messi for the lead in this World Cup, while scoring 20 for his career. Messi, who broke the all-time World Cup goals record earlier in the group stages, is up to 21 goals.

With Morocco finally conceding, France began finding more space as its opponent was forced to open up in search of an equalizer. Dembélé exploited one of those gaps to perfection.

In the 66th minute, Dembélé, using his weaker right foot, kept a screamer low toward Bounou’s net. Though the Morocco keeper got a hand on it, he didn’t get enough, and it trickled into the back of the net.

At this point, France knew it had the space it needed on the scoreboard to ride out the match. Though Morocco tried, it couldn’t get anything going, and Didier Deschamps’ squad once again proved how dominant it can be during this World Cup as it moved on to the semifinals.

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France will play July 14 at 3 p.m. ET in Dallas, where it could face a Spanish team that has yet to allow a goal in this tournament or a Belgium squad that took out Team USA to reach the quarterfinals.

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