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MS NOW issues correction after reporting Kash Patel 'landed in Russia' while he was actually in Virginia

Wed, 14 Oct 2026 15:56:37 -0400

The FBI accused MS NOW of incorrectly reporting FBI Director Kash Patel was in Russia on Wednesday when he was actually in Virginia, forcing the network to issue a correction.

"We do have some breaking news we want to get to here on MS NOW. This is about the FBI Director, Kash Patel. MS NOW has learned that Patel has landed in Russia for a meeting scheduled to take place there," MS NOW anchor Peter Alexander told viewers, citing "two people familiar with the matter."

MS NOW then brought on Justice and intelligence reporter Ken Dilanian to analyze the situation. Dilanian fretted that his FBI sources were concerned because they didn’t know why Patel was in Russia and suggested the trip would "raise a lot of eyebrows," in part due to his potential hosts being the FSB, Russia's security service.

JEN PSAKI MOCKS TRUMP’S NEW PRESS SECRETARY, QUESTIONS IF SHE’S A 'POTENTIALLY FAKE LAWYER'

The FBI quickly eased those concerns.

Shortly after MS NOW’s breaking news was announced, the FBI Rapid Response X account mocked the liberal network, noting that Patel was actually in Virginia for a law enforcement appreciation event at Liberty University.

"MS Now’s ‘sources’ are ‘familiar’ with NOTHING," the FBI Rapid Response account wrote.

Patel responded, "Facts over clickbait."

Later in the day, MS NOW corrected its on-air gaffe.

"I want to correct reporting from earlier today. I reported that two sources had told us that FBI Director Kash Patel had landed in Russia for a planned trip that had been reported about recently. We've since learned that Patel did not, in fact, land in Russia today and remains in the U.S. The FBI did not answer our questions when they asked them about it," Dilanian told MS NOW viewers.

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"But we do know now that he has not already landed in Russia, as we reported earlier. The timing of any potential trip remains unclear," he continued. "Again, we regret this error, and we are transparent about when we make errors."

When reached for comment, MS NOW directed Fox News Digital to Dilanian's on-air remarks.

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Politico reported in July that Patel had a planned trip to Russia that would include stops in Moscow and St. Petersburg.

Cartels use drones to scout border agents and map smuggling routes, expert warns

Wed, 14 Oct 2026 15:51:45 -0400

MEXICO CITY: Mexican cartels are said to be using commercial and modified drones to watch U.S. security personnel, map patrol routines and support smuggling corridors along the southern border as authorities expand efforts to disable the aircraft.

The U.S. military detected 378 drone incursions along the border during the previous 30 days, Brig. Gen. Brian Filler of Joint Task Force-Southern Border recently told reporters. He said the trend was increasing, and the aircraft were typically commercial drones with cameras used for surveillance tied to smuggling and human trafficking.

"On the border, the most common application is surveillance and reconnaissance as cartels look to establish a pattern of life for U.S. security personnel and support smuggling outcomes across the border," Austin Doctor told Fox News Digital. Doctor directs strategic initiatives at the National Counterterrorism Innovation, Technology and Education Center and teaches criminology and criminal justice at the University of Nebraska at Omaha.

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A U.S. Customs and Border Protection spokesperson confirmed the growing threat, telling Fox News Digital that "Rapidly advancing Unmanned Aircraft System technology presents persistent threats, including counter-surveillance, illicit cargo movement, and potential kinetic attacks. Cartels increasingly exploit UAS for surveillance, illicit activities, monitoring law enforcement, scouting crossing points and coordinating smuggling operations. CBP detected over 42,000 near-border UAS flights in FY25 and over 37,000 in FY26, underscoring the scale of this challenge."

The spokesperson added that "Under congressional authority (6 USC 124n), the Department of Homeland Security has approved Counter-UAS authorities for CBP. U.S. Border Patrol C-UAS operations, with DHS Secretary approval, cover the entire Southwest border and areas extending 100 miles inland for detection, identification, monitoring, and tracking of UASs. USBP C-UAS operates in all Southwest border sectors to detect, track, and mitigate these threats."

Doctor explained how the cartels are using drones. "Most cartels and cartel associates still rely on commercial-off-the-shelf drones," he said. More sophisticated aircraft are emerging, however, including "larger agricultural drone devices." He added, "Cartels continue to innovate their drone designs, often focused on increasing payload sizes, improving resistance to countermeasures and boosting operational capabilities."

He identified surveillance and logistics as the dominant border roles, with weaponized use more frequently documented inside Mexico.

"Cartels and cartel affiliates use drones for a wide range of tactics and operations… That includes kinetic attacks on rival factions, civilians in Mexico and local security forces." Doctor said NCITE research identified the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, or CJNG, as "a key driver of drone innovation and adoption within the Mexico cartel ecosystem," although drone use has spread among cartels and across Mexican states.

FBI WARNS BATTLEFIELD-STYLE DRONE ATTACKS COULD REACH US: 'ONLY A MATTER OF TIME'

A 2025 seizure in Reynosa, Tamaulipas, shows how border regions can support those programs. Mexico’s security cabinet said soldiers and state police detained a man and seized 18 drones, 151 explosive objects, two improvised explosive devices a drone detector and three counter-drone devices. The official announcement did not identify a cartel. Doctor said the safehouse "was reported as linked to the Los Metros faction of the Gulf Cartel."

Weaponized drones have also reached a Mexican border city. In Oct. 2025, Baja California’s prosecutor said a drone dropped homemade explosive devices at an anti-kidnapping prosecutor’s office in Tijuana, damaging four vehicles but causing no injuries. Authorities described it as criminal retaliation but did not publicly identify a cartel.

Doctor said Tijuana was among the exceptions to the pattern of attacks occurring farther inside Mexico. Border regions, he said, remain "critical facilitation hubs," and the risk of increased kinetic attacks there "remains credible."

Mexico says it is responding with interdictions, counter-drone equipment, military operations and new criminal penalties. During last month's Águila Alta operation in the Tijuana-San Diego area, the defense ministry said Mexican forces neutralized five drones, detained one person, seized a firearm, magazines and ammunition.

One aircraft was initially detected in the U.S. and later neutralized in Mexico following information-sharing with Customs and Border Protection. Officials said the operation deterred criminal activity and strengthened coordination but released no before-and-after data showing whether drone traffic subsequently declined.

Mexico made certain drone-related conduct a federal crime in 2024, including dropping explosives, adapting aircraft to carry weapons or drugs and surveilling public officials.

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Earlier this month Mexico deployed 500 soldiers and National Guard members, two helicopters, drones and mobile and fixed counter-drone systems in five Tamaulipas municipalities. The Navy separately reported 159 personnel, 11 vehicles and two drones under Operation Sable.

In response to Fox News Digital questions, a Department of War spokesperson said Joint Task Force-Southern Border, CBP and the Department of Homeland Security use layered monitoring and detection systems to "observe, evaluate and, if needed, engage threats."

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What remains unknown is the number of cartel-operated drones, which groups control individual flights and whether Mexico’s countermeasures are producing results.

Doctor said that increased counter-drone resources are important but cautioned that "it is almost certain that cartels will continue to innovate and adapt."

Every WNBA network's biggest regular-season audience in 2026 featured Caitlin Clark's Fever

Wed, 14 Oct 2026 15:51:33 -0400

The WNBA sent out a news release Wednesday celebrating its record-setting 2026 season. Television audiences grew, attendance increased and the league had plenty of accomplishments to promote.

But read through the television section and you’ll notice the same team keeps showing up. ABC’s biggest regular-season game featured Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever. So did the biggest games on CBS, ESPN, ION, NBC and Peacock, USA Network and Amazon Prime Video.

CAITLIN CLARK'S LOWEST-RATED PLAYOFF GAME STILL OUTDREW EVERY NON-FEVER FIRST-ROUND BROADCAST

The league highlighted seven platforms and every one had its biggest regular-season audience with the Fever on the court.

I’ve written quite a bit about Clark’s impact on WNBA viewership, including how Indiana’s 10 regular-season games on ABC, CBS and NBC averaged twice the audience of the two semifinal openers. This time, the league supplied a network-by-network breakdown that makes a pretty good case for giving the Fever as many television windows as possible.

The Fever gave every platform something to celebrate

Here are the biggest regular-season games on the seven platforms noted in the WNBA’s report:

NBC and Peacock: Indiana–Chicago on Aug. 23 averaged 3.31 million viewers combined, the largest WNBA regular-season audience since the league’s inaugural weekend in 1997.
ESPN: Indiana–Atlanta on Aug. 16 averaged approximately 2.6 million, setting a WNBA viewership record for cable television.
CBS: Indiana–New York on July 18 averaged 2.58 million, the network’s most-watched WNBA game ever.
ABC: Indiana–Chicago on Aug. 8 averaged 2.56 million, its largest regular-season WNBA audience of 2026.

ION: Indiana–Dallas on Aug. 14 averaged 1.62 million, the network’s most-watched WNBA game ever.
USA Network: Indiana–Golden State on July 15 averaged 1.14 million, its biggest regular-season WNBA audience.
Prime Video: Indiana–Dallas on Aug. 20 averaged 1.07 million, its most-watched regular-season WNBA game.

NBC’s section also included Indiana’s July 12 game against Las Vegas, which drew 2.64 million viewers across NBC and Peacock. That was the second-most-watched regular-season game of the year, behind the Fever’s August matchup with Chicago.

Then there’s ESPN and ABC. The Disney-owned networks had five regular-season games exceed two million viewers and, unsurprisingly, Indiana played in all five.

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Put yourself in the position of someone buying WNBA television rights. You’d want Clark on your schedule as often as you could get her. The people selling advertising around those games probably wouldn’t need much convincing, either.

And fans didn’t need every Fever game handed to them on a major broadcast network. They found Indiana on cable and paid streaming services, too.

More people are watching the rest of the WNBA

The league reported that 51 regular-season telecasts averaged at least one million viewers, up from 19 last year. Nine topped two million, compared with four in 2025.

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Games without Indiana also gained viewers. Non-Fever regular-season broadcasts on ESPN and ABC averaged 984,000 viewers, up 24% from last year, according to Sports Media Watch.

I’ve said before that the WNBA’s opportunity is to turn people who show up for Clark into people who keep watching other teams. I’d be interested to know how many of those additional viewers first started following the league because of her. These numbers don’t answer that question, but a reasonable person might conclude she certainly didn't hurt overall viewership.

Go back to 2023, the year before Clark entered the league. WNBA regular-season games across ESPN’s networks averaged 440,000 viewers, and that was their best regular-season audience in 17 years. Then Clark arrived in 2024, and the average jumped to 1.2 million, an increase of 170%, according to ESPN.

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That 17-year high wasn’t even half the average audience ESPN drew in Clark’s rookie season. Now, three seasons into her career, the Fever delivered the biggest regular-season audience on all seven platforms in the league’s celebratory press release.

Indiana’s season is over, but the WNBA is still using its games to sell the success of its television business.

White House confirms appeal as Trump-appointed judge extends ruling restoring CNN, MS NOW, Politico access

Wed, 14 Oct 2026 15:49:35 -0400

A federal judge appointed by President Donald Trump extended an order blocking the administration from banning CNN, MS NOW and Politico reporters from the White House, finding the restrictions likely violated the outlets' First Amendment rights.

U.S. District Judge Timothy Kelly issued a preliminary injunction Tuesday night allowing journalists from the three organizations to retain their White House press credentials while their lawsuit proceeds, according to The Associated Press.

A White House official confirmed to Fox News Digital that the administration intends to appeal the ruling, criticizing the decision and defending the restrictions on the outlets' access to the president.

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"The Fake News has no place demanding a spot in the President’s Oval Office. The lies they smear are a disservice to the American public and tear at the very fabric of our Democracy. They’re completely capable of reporting from directly outside. We intend to appeal this misguided decision," the official said.

Theodore Boutrous Jr., an attorney representing CNN, MS NOW and Politico, welcomed the ruling in a statement provided to Fox News Digital.

"We are grateful that the Court ruled in favor of our clients CNN, MS NOW and POLITICO and secured access to the White House for these news media organizations and their journalists," the statement read.

Boutrous accused Trump of restricting the outlets' access to punish unfavorable reporting and said the ruling protects the organizations' constitutional rights.

The ruling expands Kelly's Sept. 24 temporary restraining order, which found the outlets were likely to succeed on their Fifth Amendment due process claims. Kelly now also determined the restrictions likely violated the First Amendment because they were motivated by Trump's objections to the outlets' coverage rather than national security concerns, the AP reported.

Kelly also rejected the administration's request to suspend his ruling pending an appeal, according to the AP.

WHITE HOUSE TV POOL TO SUSPEND COVERAGE OF TRUMP EVENTS

Trump announced the ban in September, criticizing the three organizations' reporting. White House officials subsequently deactivated or confiscated reporters' credentials, prompting the outlets and three journalists to sue over alleged First Amendment and Fifth Amendment violations.

Justice Department attorneys argued that White House press access is a privilege, not a right, and defended the president's authority to determine which journalists receive credentials.

Fox News Digital reached out to the Justice Department for comment.

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The lawsuit remains pending, with the preliminary injunction keeping the three outlets' White House credentials in place while the legal battle continues.

Fox News Digital's Michael Sinkewicz and the Associated Press contributed to this report.

Lindsay Clancy mistrial holdout says he thought she was 'methodical' in the 'execution' of her children

Wed, 14 Oct 2026 14:10:23 -0400

EXCLUSIVE: The lone holdout juror who wanted to convict Massachusetts mom Lindsay Clancy of murder in the strangling death of her three young children told Fox News in his first televised interview he had "a lot of evidence" in mind when he refused to fall in line with 11 others who wanted to find her not criminally responsible.

Michael Desronvil told Fox News' Kayleigh McEnany Wednesday he thought Clancy was "methodical" in what he called the "execution" of her children.

"That was really big for me, you know, from watching the video and also listening in the courtroom," he said. "The thought process that goes behind… to fulfill the commitment of doing that."

However, he declined to go into specifics, and the next steps for Clancy's case remain unclear. Desronvil was the only deliberating juror on the 12-person panel who voted to convict Clancy. Eleven others said she was not criminally responsible for the crime due to mental disease or defect.

LINDSAY CLANCY HOLDOUT JUROR ASKS FOR ONE THING IN NEW VIDEO AFTER MISTRIAL DRAMA

He has previously said he wants the public to focus not on him but on Clancy's children — Cora, 5, Dawson, 3, and Callan, 8 months — each of whom she strangled with exercise bands. He now refers to them as "the three angels."

"I have a daughter myself that's five years old," he said. "So seeing these three kids, it's emotional. You can see the innocence, the pure joy in them. It's hard to just take that away."

In a series of interviews after the mistrial on Sept. 4, other jurors accused Desronvil of wanting to find Clancy guilty despite harboring his own reasonable doubts about the prosecution’s case.

LINDSAY CLANCY JUROR ADMITTED 'REASONABLE DOUBT' BUT STILL REFUSED INSANITY VERDICT, FOREPERSON SAYS

He has denied those claims and did so again Wednesday.

ATTORNEY FOR LONE HOLDOUT JUROR IN LINDSAY CLANCY MISTRIAL PUSHES BACK ON CLAIMS OF REFUSING THE LAW

"I had a lot of evidence to back up my claim," he said. "But because out of respect of the other jurors in the court system, I will put that to sleep for now until, you know, they go through the process."

He did explain that the 911 call from Clancy's husband, Patrick Clancy, left an impact on him.

"Hearing the pain in his voice, hearing the desperation from that clip — it was surreal," he said.

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Clancy's defense lawyer, Kevin Reddington, has called for an inquiry into the holdout juror, whom he has labeled an "obstructionist."

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He has asked Judge William Sullivan to preserve juror records from all 12 panelists and six alternates, including their questionnaires, courthouse hallway surveillance video taken outside the deliberation room and sign-in sheets for the jurors' cellphones.

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LINDSAY CLANCY DEFENSE FILES MOTION TO DISMISS UNDER DOUBLE JEOPARDY GROUNDS, WITH FOCUS ON HOLDOUT JUROR

He's also seeking the holdout's juror questionnaire and any supplemental filings, probation records and "Juror Doe's record from the statewide domestic violence registry." He is asking the judge to require prosecutors to divulge whether it has had any contact with the holdout as a defendant, complainant or subject going back to January 2021.

And he asked for Desronvil's phone records between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. on each deliberation day.

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CLANCY HOLDOUT JUROR TAPS FORMER TRUMP LAWYER TO FIGHT BACK AS HE’S ‘DRAGGED THROUGH THE MUD’: ATTORNEY

A hearing on his motion seeking an inquiry has been postponed after Desronvil retained a Massachusetts attorney.

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Clancy's trial was declared a mistrial Sept. 4 after the deadlock.

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Prosecutors argued that she acted deliberately and understood that strangling her children one by one with exercise bands was wrong. Her defense countered that she was suffering from postpartum psychosis, repeatedly sought help to no avail and was not criminally responsible.

Tune into "FOX & Friends" at 8 a.m. ET Thursday for the full interview or catch the replay on "Outnumbered."

Elon Musk blames Trump, US military for SpaceX restrictions Ukraine warns could have deadly consequences

Wed, 14 Oct 2026 13:32:17 -0400

Elon Musk pointed to the Trump administration Wednesday after Ukraine scrambled to reverse new Starshield restrictions put in place by the trillionaire's company that disrupted military operations and threatened Kyiv's ability to intercept Russian attack drones.

While Starshield is built and operated by Musk's company SpaceX, individual satellites and infrastructure are owned and controlled by the U.S. government — which he made clear in a post to X on Wednesday.

"Any limits on speed or usage are decided by the US military and ultimately POTUS," the SpaceX, Tesla and X CEO wrote in his post.

A source familiar with the situation told Fox News Digital that Ukraine received no advance warning before the restrictions took effect overnight, despite relying on the service under arrangements contracted through the U.S. government until May 15, 2027.

Ukrainian forces discovered the change after experiencing connectivity problems and contacting SpaceX customer support. They were told Starshield service would be restricted on platforms traveling at speeds of 100 miles per hour or higher, the source said.

Musk did not say whether President Donald Trump, War Secretary Pete Hegseth or another U.S. official personally authorized the new restriction or explain why it was imposed.

RUSSIA MAY BE USING HIDDEN 'LUNCHBOX-SIZE' DRONE DEVICES TO COUNTER UKRAINE DEFENSES: EXPERT

He also sought to distinguish the government-controlled Starshield service from SpaceX's commercial Starlink network, which he said cannot be used for offensive military operations.

The distinction comes amid growing tensions between Washington and Kyiv over Ukrainian strikes on Russian energy infrastructure. Musk criticized Zelenskyy over those attacks days earlier, writing on X that the Ukrainian president had "gone too far."

Hours after the change was reported, Ukrainian Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov said connectivity at speeds below the new threshold was being restored, while making clear that Kyiv was still seeking removal of the speed restriction itself.

"Starlink connectivity at speeds of up to 160 km/h is being restored," Fedorov wrote on X Wednesday. "Removing Starshield’s speed limit entirely is now critical for Ukraine’s defense."

"Thank you, @elonmusk," Fedorov added. "We hope for your continued support."

Serhii Beskrestnov, an adviser to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on defense technology, warned that the change could particularly hamper Ukraine’s efforts to intercept Russia’s newer, jet-powered Shahed attack drones, saying it threatened "one of our few chances to defend the country" against them.

Ukrainian forces have also begun documenting effects on the battlefield. Ukraine’s 7th Rapid Response Corps said one unmanned systems unit on the Huliaipole front had already been forced to cancel missions because of connectivity problems. The unit reported interruptions even while drones were traveling below the stated 100 mph threshold.

Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., pressed SpaceX for answers on X. "I'm confident this does not reflect a change in SpaceX policy because if so, intentionally degrading Ukraine's ability to defend itself might be construed as aiding and abetting a mass murderer. Can you confirm that's not SpaceX’s intent?"

Starshield is SpaceX's national security satellite service, based on technology developed for the company's better-known Starlink network.

The change could affect Ukrainian drones, aircraft and helicopters that rely on Starshield connectivity while moving at high speeds, including drones used to intercept Russian Shahed attacks. Ukrainian units had reported performance problems even at speeds below the stated threshold, according to the source.

UKRAINE SEEKS MORE US PATRIOT INTERCEPTORS AS BOMB SHELTER PROBE DEEPENS

Ukraine has contacted SpaceX seeking an explanation for the restrictions and asking the company to restore its previous service capabilities, the source familiar with the move told Fox News Digital.

They said Ukraine communicated to Musk's company that the restriction had not previously applied to its terminals and was creating significant operational problems for Ukrainian forces in its continued war with aggressor Russia.

Kyiv also noted that its current service arrangements, contracted through the U.S. government until May 15, 2027, cover land-based mobile and fixed uses, including mobile platforms, according to the source.

SpaceX had not responded to Ukraine’s request as of Wednesday morning, the source said.

PENTAGON CONSOLIDATES DRONE OVERSIGHT AS TRUMP ADMINISTRATION PUSHES RAPID UNMANNED WARFARE EXPANSION

Polish Foreign Minister Radislaw Sikorski tore into Musk over the restrictions.

"Hey @elonmusk, big man, are you playing politics with your products again? As your European customers, wea are watching you," he wrote on X.

Poland pays for more than 2,900 Starlink terminals operating in Ukraine.

Sikorski and Musk clashed last year over Ukraine’s dependence on Starlink, with Musk telling Sikorski, "Be quiet, small man."

Fox News Digital has reached out to the Pentagon, White House and SpaceX for details. There’s been no public confirmation that Musk personally ordered the restrictions.

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The Pentagon, through Space Force, contracts with SpaceX for Starshield services, giving the department a direct role in administering the government’s agreements with the company. But the existence of a Pentagon contract does not establish whether the military or SpaceX has authority over specific operational restrictions, including the new speed limit.

Trump-backed GOP candidate who ousted scandal-plagued incumbent warns against 'never-ending war' with Iran

Wed, 14 Oct 2026 15:38:56 -0400

For 14 years, Ryan Elijah reported on Central Florida’s biggest stories from the television newsroom. Now, he is on a mission to represent the same community in Congress.

Elijah stepped into a contentious GOP primary in which he warned that incumbent Cory Mills was at risk of losing the Republican-leaning district to the Democrats, following a series of personal and professional scandals.

Elijah won a convincing victory in the August 18 Republican primary, receiving 47% of the vote to Mills' 34%.

Trump, who had originally endorsed Millls, later claimed that he had privately encouraged the embattled congressman to withdraw from the race.

REP CORY MILLS DRAWS FIRST REPUBLICAN CHALLENGER AS SEXUAL MISCONDUCT ALLEGATIONS, EXPULSION THREAT MOUNT

Recently, the veteran television journalist sat down with Fox News Digital to discuss his views on Iran, affordability, and immigration, while pledging to remain an independent voice in Congress, and a strong advocate for Volusia and Seminole counties.

Elijah did not take the decision to leave working in media lightly, but felt a call to leadership:

"I love my job. It's something I could have retired from TV and been perfectly happy. But I think we all look for the time you're asked to step up and lead. And for me, that was this time. When we saw how the primary was playing out, it just became clear that we were going to lose this election in November.

"And I decided that we had the connections in this community to throw our hat in the ring. We had the trust from the community and the primary played out a lot like we thought it would, where people wanted a choice. I think that's what primaries are all about in Seminole County and Volusia County spoke really loud. In that primary, and now I think they put us in a great spot to hold this seat in November."

Elijah pledges to put transparency and accountability front and center for the constituents of the seventh district:

"Well, I think transparency and accountability are huge issues. I think when I talk to people, they don't feel like they're heard very much in Washington. And I think that you have to be transparent about whatever you can. And first of all, if you have nothing to hide, that's the best way to be transparent because you can exactly show your business dealings and how your life dealings are.

"And that's something we've talked about a lot…and then in terms of accountability, no one is above the law. And that's a message that Americans want to hear, whether you're a Democrat or Republican, there are laws for a reason, and we have to make sure those laws are upheld."

As the military engagement with Iran is rattling global energy markets and pinching American's pocketbooks, Elijah concedes the need to thwart a nuclear Iran, but also is wary of another forever war:

GOP RISING STAR HELPED TOPPLE TRUMP-BACKED INCUMBENT. NOW HE'S CAUGHT LEADERSHIP'S EYE

"This is a decade-long issue and a conflict between Iran and its proxies, where they have targeted and they have killed Americans. So the U.S. military right now is trying to end that conflict. But as representatives, we have to listen to the American people. We have to listen to central Floridians.

"And they have been very clear on this. They're concerned about it. They are concerned this is going to be a never-ending war. They don't want that. I don't want that either. I share that belief, which is why I think we need to draw this conflict down. And we need to make sure that Iran is not a nuclear threat."

On the immigration issue, Elijah cites improvement under GOP leadership on the issue, but argues that enforcement focus should remain on criminals:

"This is another issue where I think you have to look at where we've come from. When you let tens of millions of illegal people into this country, you're going to have issues that take a long time to fix. And I think if you look at the way there has to be a federal, a local, and a state cooperation with immigration, that's what it takes to work. Which is why when I talk to all the sheriffs in our district that are endorsing us, they're handling immigration much better than other parts around the country because they have that cooperation.

"We need to start with the criminals. We have got many criminals still here illegally in the United States. That's what they focused on in central Florida. That's what ICE needs to focus on, removing the criminals. And there's a compassionate way to handle this as we've got an issue that is not going to be fixed in just six or 12 months."

Elijah consistently emphasizes that he will be an independent voice for the district, not a partisan rubber stamp:

"Well, I've said a lot. Look, I ran in this primary without the president's endorsement. I've been an independent voice in this and I've told a lot of people that ask me that question.

"As you can imagine, I go to a lot of doors. That's a question: ‘Will you support the president? Will you not support the president?’ And what I tell them is, if it's a policy that supports our country and supports our district, I'm going to support that policy.

"More often than not, I will because I'm a Republican. I like a lot of those policies. If there's a policy I disagree with, we won't. So in that situation, that's where things are at."

Finally, Elijah acknowledges that affordability, while lacking a quick and easy fix, is the defining 2026 issue for much of the electorate:

"I think the number one thing that we hear from people, and that's affordability, and that's not an easy fix, but I think what they want out of government is accountability. We talked about that before, that government is going to be accountable on its spending, on its policies, and getting inflation down, which is going to lower interest rates. It's going to lower the cost of living.

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"People in Central Florida, people around the country, they want to be heard. And what they're saying in a very clear tone right now is make sure that you control government spending and protect the future of our children. That's probably the biggest thing I want them to notice."

Elijah will be facing Navy veteran and former NASA employee Bale Dalton in the November 3 general election.

Powerade takes nasty shot at Sydney Sweeney's nude gambling ad, MLB fans fume & have commercials gone too far?

Wed, 14 Oct 2026 15:35:37 -0400

'Nightcaps' is a daily column that catches you up on the biggest sports, news and culture stories you may have missed while pretending to do work at your desk. It runs Monday-Friday on OutKick.com.

Middle Hump Day of October, and it's a big one.

We've got postseason baseball tonight. We've got college football tonight. I hear there's a big cold front headed south for the first time this fall.

Sure, it's gonna stop just short of Florida as they always do, but I'm happy for everyone else. You all deserve it. It's been a long, hot summer. There's nothing like that first real cold front of the fall. It was my favorite part of living in Boston when I was there a decade ago.

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You can just smell it. You can feel it. That first crisp morning of the fall? It's the best. We have to wait another month for ours, but I know it's right around the corner.

We're close, folks. Soak it all in. Best time of year.

Let's roll.

Welcome to a Hump Day Nightcaps — the one where Sydney Sweeney catches a stray from the marketing folks over at Powerade because people weirdly think her naked GAMBLING ads are some sort of shot at women's sports.

For the life of me, I still don't get that one. But, that same outrage mob is also pissed at Shane Gillis today for making a joke on "SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE."

There's just no helping these people. It's pointless to even try.

COMEDIAN TIM DILLON SLAMS SYDNEY SWEENEY CRITICS UPSET WITH STEAMY AD: 'HOW INSANE IS THAT? '

What else do y'all wanna talk about? I've got a high school coach out in Oregon getting canned for running up the score. Wait till you see what he did!

Also, MLB fans are PISSED at the league for moving tomorrow's ALCS game up five hours, and while we're on the subject of naked Sydney Sweeney ads, I'd like to ask the class a question about commercials on the way out.

Sound good? Good!

Grab you your favorite dessert for National Dessert Day, and settle in for a Hump Day 'Cap!

Powerade dips their toe into the Sydney Sweeney drama

Easy one. Key lime pie. Maybe it's the Florida Man in me, but there's nothing better than a solid piece of key lime pie. And yes, the one from Publix absolutely counts as a solid piece.

I got an email from a reader a few months ago berating me for saying Publix key lime pies were elite, and it was just nonsense. If you really think that, you've clearly never had one. They will change your lives. Trust me.

And that concludes the culinary portion today's class.

You're welcome!

Now, let's al take a swig of Powerade to wash it down, and check in with the ongoing drama surrounding the provocative Sydney Sweeney ad:

Was this a fireable offense?

Amazing. Silly, yet amazing.

So, Powerade is apparently waging war on Sydney Sweeney and Novig because, as you can see, they took Sweeney's nearly nude gambling ad as a shot at women's sports.

They've slapped a brand new ad campaign entitled Never Just Sports right next to Novig's, and it's just a compilation of female athletes doing athletic things. And that's fine. There is absolutely nothing wrong with the ad. It makes sense.

Here's where Powerade looks dumb ...

Sweeney's campaign has NOTHING to do with women's sports. Nothing. Nada. They aren't connected at all. Her ad is for a GAMBLING company and is geared towards men. It's literally about betting on sports, which is why it's aptly titled Just Sports.

The whole point of the ad was to get dudes to sign up for a Novig account and start hammering parlays this football season. And it worked, by the way.

The left, of course, took this completely out of context because most things fly over their heads, and instead viewed it as Sweeney somehow demeaning women's sports.

It makes no sense. It's never made any sense. They're trying to create a narrative that simply doesn't exist, which is funny because that's what they accuse us of doing with the whole transgender athlete issue.

The whole thing is silly. Powerade's response is, of course, silly. But, we live in really silly times right now.

Oh well.

Speaking of silly things to do, let's head out to Oregon and check in on the Marist Catholic High School football team:

MLB makes a move & are commercials getting out of hand?

Whoaaaaaaaa Nellie! That onside kick rivals Sean Payton's infamous onside kick in the 2009 Super Bowl. Stunning. Nobody saw it coming, which is fair given A) it was the second quarter, and B) the score was 57-0.

According to boots on the ground, the game was halted at halftime and never resumed. The play was so egregious, they just ... stopped the game entirely. The coach was fired the next day.

Fair or foul? I think the firing, on the surface, is a bit much. But, as is usually the case with these things, I'd imagine there's some more meat on this bone. There HAS to be more to the story, right? You don't just fire a coach because he called an onside kick up 57-0.

Was it in bad taste? Sure. No argument from me. But I also once played for a coach who warned us before a game to "give them a good, old-fashioned country a**-kicking" or we'd spend the entire next morning running stairs, so I've seen worse.

OK, let's rapid-fire this Hump Day class into a big Hump Day night. First up? Get to sleep, Indians fans — you guys are playing at 1 p.m. tomorrow!

Let's check in on the comments to get a pulse at how Tribe fans are handling the news!

I’m genuinely sick to my stomach right now. Why would you move the game up and not back? Move it back a day. It doesn’t make sense. These need to be night games. What are we doing?
Y’all laughing at the Rays being so "empty" last night, under a dome, then you get rugpulled from a 6PM to 1PM game.
Day playoff baseball in October is a gift. Unless you have a job.
Livid.
All 12 people will be watching.
Sports are scripted so therefore fans come first and they pull this s–t. Lmao. This is why I laugh at ppl that worship these clowns, they don’t care about anyone but themselves. This game should be postpoened and made up the next day.

I could go on and on. Fans are PISSED right now. I don't blame them. A 1 p.m. start time for an ALCS game ... on a THURSDAY? Come on. Feels like a massive advantage for the Rays.

Disgusting behavior here from Rob Manfred.

On the way out — as promised — I want to leave the class with a question:

Hey @MLB - wanna get more kids watching baseball? Maybe start with the commercials. Watching the playoffs tonight with my kids and here's the rundown:

- Megan Fox selling ED pills in a red bodysuit

- The scariest movie trailer you've ever seen

- Sydney Sweeney in zero clothes promoting betting on sports Leagues can't figure out why kids don't watch.

You don't need a Nickelodeon game. You're not the Savannah Bananas. Just show baseball in a way I can leave on in my house.

My wife actually brought this up a few weeks ago when the Braves were still in it ...

Are commercials getting out of hand during sporting events? I understand marketing. I get it. But I tend to agree with this rant. The naked Sydney Sweeney ad isn't even my biggest gripe.

I can't stand the horror movie trailers during these events. They drive me NUTS. I love scary movies. LOVE them. You know who doesn't? My 5-year-old daughter, who is also a huge sports fans.

If I see that stupid "Other Mommy" trailer one more time during one of these games, I'm going to lose it.

Can we at least tone those down a touch? Feel like that's not a big ask, right?

Let me know!

And, as always, see y'all tomorrow.

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Have commercials gone too far? Zach.Dean@OutKick.com.

WATCH: Georgia Senate debate erupts over white supremacy allegations, Epstein ties in fiery exchange

Wed, 14 Oct 2026 15:34:36 -0400

Georgia's contentious U.S. Senate race erupted into a heated confrontation Tuesday night as Sen. Jon Ossoff, D-Ga., accused GOP challenger Rep. Mike Collins, R-Ga., of allowing the dissemination of "neo-Nazi propaganda" inside his own home, prompting Collins to fire back over Ossoff's financial support from a billionaire with ties to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

The exchange unfolded during the candidates' second and final debate ahead of the Nov. 3 general election, which was hosted by the Atlanta Press Club and broadcast by Georgia Public Broadcasting network.

During the debate, Ossoff sought to tie his GOP opponent to White nationalism and repeatedly demanded that Collins commit to stopping the dissemination of hateful rhetoric involving his campaign staff, in particular Collins' son-in-law, which Ossoff alleged has continued despite blowback. Meanwhile, Collins accused his Democrat opponent of fueling threats against his family, refusing to return campaign support connected to LinkedIn co-founder Reid Hoffman and questioned Ossoff over his support for candidates linked to controversial streamer Hasan Piker.

DEM ‘EPSTEIN CLASS’ ATTACK BACKFIRES AS TOP CANDIDATES FUNDED BY EPSTEIN-TIED BILLIONAIRE

"How weak a person do you have to be to be unable to stop someone under your own roof from disseminating neo-Nazi propaganda while you run for the Senate?" Ossoff asked, referencing reporting about his opponent's son-in-law, David Alan Scheer II, who was the subject of a CNN investigation about sharing Nazi propaganda imagery, promoting antisemitic conspiracy theories and polling his online followers about whether he should produce a video titled "Why Gen-Z Doesn't Hate Hitler."

"How about this, Mike? We can shake hands on it," Ossoff continued to press. "Will you commit tonight that for the remainder of this campaign, it's just three weeks, Mike, you won't allow any more neo-Nazi propaganda to be produced from your house? Can you make that commitment?"

Collins responded by accusing Ossoff of inflaming hostility toward his family, pointing to threats he said he and his son-in-law had received.

"I'm a little tired of this, Jon," Collins said. "There's a crazy person in jail right now because of your rhetoric," he alleged, before saying he had received another threat just the previous day.

JON OSSOFF SILENT ON SPLC INDICTMENT AFTER TAKING MORE THAN $700K FROM AFFILIATE OF INDICTED GROUP

"You have not denounced, you've not condemned Reid Hoffman, one of your largest donors out there, one that's been supporting you with over $1 million," Collins shot back. "Why don't you denounce that? Why don't you return that money?"

Collins was referring to Reid Hoffman, the billionaire LinkedIn co-founder and major Democratic donor whose past relationship with Epstein has drawn scrutiny. Hoffman has acknowledged meeting with Epstein after the financier's 2008 conviction for sex offenses and visiting his private island. Hoffman also contributed $7,000 directly to Ossoff's campaign and $1 million to a political action committee supporting the Georgia Democrat, according to previously reported campaign finance records.

Earlier in the debate, Collins went further, accusing Hoffman of sending Epstein ice cream with a message referencing girls, while again pressing Ossoff to reject his financial support.

"Jon Ossoff, his number one donor, one of his largest donors, is Reid Hoffman, the same guy that's in the same files, the same guy that sent ice cream, ice cream to Jeffrey Epstein on his birthday and said, 'This is for the girls,'" Collins said during an earlier exchange in the debate.

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The Wall Street Journal previously reported that Hoffman sent Epstein ice cream in 2014 with a message indicating it was intended for him or "for the girls." Hoffman has apologized for his association with Epstein, which he said stemmed from fundraising activities involving the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and has not been accused of wrongdoing in connection with Epstein's crimes.

Ossoff rejected the Hoffman comparison, however, arguing that the allegations against Collins involved someone living in the congressman's home rather than a political donor.

"Mike, if any of these folks were based in my house, then I'd understand you to ask me to take responsibility for them," Ossoff said. "What I asked you, Mike, was, can you commit for just three weeks to stop the production of neo-Nazi propaganda from your home?"

Earlier in the debate, Collins was directly questioned about concerns from Black Georgians over allegations of White-nationalist ties involving members of his political operation.

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"I condemn any sort of hate speech, antisemitism, hate of any kind. It's abhorrent," Collins responded, adding that he had fired staffers when controversies arose.

Collins also sought to turn the accusations back on Ossoff by criticizing his support for Michigan Democratic Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed and invoking left-wing streamer Hasan Piker, who Collins blasted for saying the U.S. deserved 9/11, and promoting anti-Semitism.

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"He hangs his hat on this Abdul El-Sayed, you know, the guy that hates Israel — best friends with Hasan Piker, who said that America deserves 9/11," Collins said Tuesday night.

Ossoff has previously condemned Piker's rhetoric, telling The Atlanta Journal-Constitution through a spokesperson that he "unreservedly rejects reckless and dangerous rhetoric" suggesting political advocacy justifies violence against Jewish Americans or any other community.

Pregnant influencer 'just so shocked' when flight attendant refuses to lift her bag

Wed, 14 Oct 2026 15:34:01 -0400

A pregnant influencer’s awkward luggage spat has ignited a heated debate over flight attendant responsibilities.

Influencer Dominique Elissa recently recalled asking a male flight attendant to place her bag in an overhead bin while she was traveling.

Speaking on the "Big Small Talk" podcast Oct. 7, Elissa said she explained to the flight attendant that she was pregnant and had been told not to lift the bag herself. The bag weighed nearly 9 pounds, according to Elissa.

TRAVELERS RAGE AS BUDGET AIRLINE PLANS OVERHEAD BAG FEE: 'HIGHWAY ROBBERY'

She said the flight attendant declined to lift it. She told her that if she could not put the bag in the overhead bin herself, it would need to be checked. The airline involved in the incident was not identified.

"I was just so shocked," the influencer said on the podcast.

Another passenger eventually noticed the situation and offered to help her with the luggage, she said.

"I feel this lack of respect for pregnant women at the moment," Elissa added on the podcast.

Fox News Digital reached out to Elissa's team for further details.

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Diane Gottsman, a national etiquette expert and founder of the Protocol School of Texas, told Fox News Digital travelers should not assume a flight attendant will be able to handle their luggage.

"They're customer service providers," said Gottsman. "They want to make your travel comfortable and safe. They're not baggage handlers."

Gottsman said policies vary by airline, with some airline and union rules discouraging or prohibiting flight attendants from lifting heavy bags due to safety and injury concerns.

She also noted that the flight attendant offered Elissa an alternative by suggesting she check the bag.

While fellow passengers often help pregnant travelers, Gottsman says moms-to-be shouldn't assume they'll get assistance.

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If someone nearby is able and chooses to help, it should be viewed as "an act of kindness and generosity," Gottsman said.

For travelers who know they cannot lift their own carry-on, Gottsman recommended considering checking those bags instead.

The cabin clash drew quick responses online.

"I was under the impression flight attendants aren't allowed to lift bags into the overhead bins," one Reddit user commented.

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Some commenters said they had seen flight attendants voluntarily step in to help.

"I didn't know this. I've had multiple flight attendants help me with this when I'm traveling alone," one person wrote. "I don't even ask. They just see me struggling and intervene."

Other commenters thought the traveler should be responsible.

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"Not their job! If you cannot lift your bags, then you should politely [ask] another passenger," one user wrote.

Nuggets and Rockets offer the best long-shot value in the NBA championship futures market

Wed, 14 Oct 2026 15:20:07 -0400

The NBA Season is just around the corner. If you haven't been watching preseason, I can't really blame you. However, I will say the NBA preseason is better than most of the other major sports leagues because the starters and teams actually play a reasonable amount of time in the games, even if they don't mean anything.

Once the games start to have meaning, we will have great betting opportunities. I looked at season-long individual awards yesterday; let's take a shot at who will win the NBA Championship this season.

Eastern Conference

The New York Knicks took home the crown last season, and have run back the same team. However, I am not expecting them to get back-to-back championships. We haven't had the same winner in two straight years since the Golden State Warriors had Kevin Durant on their team. He's been on three different teams since then. So, why not the Knicks? Winning championships is hard. I'm not taking anything away from New York, but it seemed like everything went their way last year. They beat the Hawks, then the 76ers, and finally the Cavaliers before beating San Antonio in five games. They are still the cream of the crop, but they've played a lot of basketball, and it does eventually catch up with you.

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The easy choice in the East is the 76ers. They have Tyrese Maxey running point guard, Joel Embiid at center, and they won a playoff series last year. Then they went out and added Jaylen Brown and some guy named LeBron James.

Seemingly defying Father Time, James continues to be an elite player. Embiid will always be a question mark with his health. The team no longer has a great backup behind him, but you could conceivably put James at center, Brown at power forward, Edgecombe at small forward, and slip Anfernee Simons into shooting guard. Dean Wade and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope are solid bench pieces as well. They are clearly the two best teams in the East, but that doesn't mean they finish 1-2 in the regular season. Some teams just care more about it.

I'll take the 76ers to win at +900, because I genuinely don't think anyone else from the East has a real shot outside of the Knicks, and I don't see them winning two in a row.

LEBRON JAMES SHUTS DOWN JOEL EMBIID RIFT RUMOR, BUT SIXERS LEADERSHIP TENSION IS REAL

Western Conference

The Western Conference is also a bit of a two-horse race. The Spurs made it to the Finals last season, and they lost to the Knicks. Victor Wembanyama seemingly disappeared in that series, and they couldn't close out games. I'm not sure that changes this season. The Spurs are deep, but unless Wemby takes another leap forward (which is more likely than not), they won't represent the West again. The Thunder are still the deepest team in the league. They are both +270 to win the championship, and I just don't see the value in wagering on either.

The West is better for taking a long shot. My first choice here is the Nuggets at +2500. They still have the best player in the league. Jamal Murray is one of the best heatwave scorers in the league, and now their bench, which sucked for years, is a bit deeper. They have DeMar DeRozan, who is one of the best scorers in the league. They also have Marvin Bagley III, and it seems like this team, if healthy, could be extremely tough for any team to match up with.

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I also think the Rockets are worth taking a flyer on at +5000. The team hasn't really added anyone significant to the team via trade or free agency, but the reason I like them is that they will have an actual point guard this year. Fred VanVleet is 32 and coming off a torn ACL, but if he can play at a reasonable level, it may be the difference-maker for the Rockets. I like the depth of the bench, but I acknowledge everything would need to go right for the Rockets to win the championship.

One note on the Lakers: I know some will think they are the right pick for the West, but I don't see it. I love Luka, and he already took the Mavericks to one Finals. However, I just don't see this team having the defense, even with Walker Kessler, to win the championship.

Overall, I'll take the 76ers at +900, Denver at +2500, and a small wager on the Rockets at +5000. The exact matchup option of Thunder vs. Knicks at +1300 is the favorite and kind of fun, but I still don't love it.

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

Sleeper GOP candidate puts blue-leaning state in play as fraud scandal shadows Dems

Wed, 14 Oct 2026 15:20:05 -0400

Republicans are eyeing a rare Senate pickup opportunity in Minnesota, where GOP nominee Michele Tafoya is narrowing the gap with Democratic Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan, prompting Fox News to move the race toward Republicans less than three weeks before Election Day.

It's been nearly a quarter-century since Republicans last won a Senate election in the blue-leaning state. But Tafoya, a former longtime NFL sideline reporter, is aiming to break that losing streak by flipping the seat held by retiring Democratic Sen. Tina Smith.

A new Minnesota Star Tribune/KARE 11 poll shows Tafoya trailing Flanagan by just four percentage points. On Tuesday, the Fox News Power Rankings shifted the race to the right, from Likely Democrat to Lean Democrat.

GOP SENATE HOPEFUL SOUNDS ALARM AFTER TERROR PLOT THWARTED

"The more that Minnesotans learn about me and my opponent and see what my opponent has failed to do over the last eight years alongside [Democratic Gov.] Tim Walz, they're understanding Minnesota needs change. We need fresh ideas, we need an independent thinker and they're jumping on board," Tafoya said in a Fox News Digital interview.

Fox News Digital reached out to the Flanagan campaign for comment but didn't receive a response at the time this story was published.

The race is unfolding against the backdrop of Minnesota's massive welfare assistance fraud scandal, which has attracted national attention for nearly a year and prompted Democratic Gov. Tim Walz to abandon his 2026 re-election bid. The scandal has also become a central issue in Tafoya's campaign against Flanagan.

Tafoya noted that "there has been historic fraud under this administration, where Peggy Flanagan, my opponent, has been the second-in-charge in this state. And not only was the money stolen, it hollowed out these programs that were supposed to be getting help, like kids' meals or autistic kids or seniors who were supposed to be getting visits, health visits, wellness visits. And, so, that's been hollowed out.

DEMS SEE NEW CHANCES TO FLIP SENATE SEATS BUT GOP'S MASSIVE CASH ADVANTAGE AN OBSTACLE

"Walz understood that he was not going to win another term as governor with these conditions, but my opponent thinks she deserves a promotion. I think people are starting to realize she deserves a pink slip."

Flanagan has said she is "incredibly angry with the fraud," has acknowledged public frustration over the scandal and said more could have been done sooner to catch and prevent the fraud. The lieutenant governor has noted that she was not in charge of the state agencies at the center of the scandals or steering the daily state response. She has also distanced herself from Walz, who has accepted blame for the fraud.

DEMOCRATS THINK A BLUE WAVE IS BUILDING - HERE ARE THREE FACTORS THAT COULD STOP IT

"It's wall-to-wall coverage on every nightly news program here for months and months. We're seeing it in polling," Minnesota-based veteran national Republican strategist Kirsten Kukowski told Fox News Digital.

Pointing to Flanagan, Kukowski said she has "a lot of fraud baggage ... and it's really made the Senate race really tight here."

Tafoya is also highlighting a recent spate of gang-related shootings in the Minneapolis-St. Paul suburbs and on Monday announced a five-point-plan to combat the violence.

"We will do more in our first eight weeks as a U.S. Senator than Peggy Flanagan has done in eight years as the second in charge," she told Fox News Digital.

WHO'S UP AND WHO'S DOWN IN THE LATEST FOX NEWS MIDTERM POWER RANKINGS

"First of all, we've got to name the problem, and even Somali lawmakers and law enforcement have named this problem. We have a Somali gang violence problem. We've got to name it. She refuses to name it. You can't fix it if you don't name it," Tafoya emphasized as she referred to Flanagan.

Flanagan, a progressive candidate backed by left-wing champions, Sens. Bernie Sanders Elizabeth Warren and Rep. Ro Khanna, topped more moderate Democratic Rep. Angie Craig by roughly 20 points in the August Senate primary.

Tafoya grabbed over 50% of the vote in the GOP Senate primary as she topped a crowded field of rivals. She was heavily recruited by national Republicans, including Sen. Tim Scott, the National Republican Senatorial Committee chair.

"We did a really good job of recruiting the most independent-minded Republican who understands why it's important to win in Minnesota," Scott said in an interview on Fox News' "Hannity."

"Michele Tafoya has a story to tell. She's doing a really good job. This is a race that will come down to the wire."

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Senate Majority Leader John Thune, the top Republican in the chamber, recently teamed up on the campaign trail in Minnesota with Tafoya. But the Thune-aligned Senate Leadership Fund, the top super PAC backing GOP Senate candidates, has yet to make a major investment in the race.

Asked about national Republican support, Tafoya said, "We are getting small dollar donations from all over the country. We're getting donations from every county in this state, and I am a happy warrior. And I will deal with the circumstances I'm given. ... We're going to win this campaign on ideas."

Democrats are hopeful that popular Democratic Sen. Amy Klobuchar, who is running for governor this year, may help push Flanagan over the finish line.

"Our latest poll has Flanagan with a strong lead, and we fully expect her to be elected to the U.S. Senate," Lauren French, communications director for the Senate Democrat-aligned Senate Majority PAC, told Fox News Digital.

French argued that "Republicans are spending in deep red states and watching the battleground map extend around them. Their desperate last-minute attempt to push Minnesota into play is a political ploy."

DEMOCRACY ’26: STAY UP TO DATE WITH THE FOX NEWS ELECTION HUB

Flanagan has repeatedly tied Tafoya to President Donald Trump, whose approval ratings are well underwater in Minnesota.

"Michele Tafoya is all in for Donald Trump — and he's all in for her," Flanagan reiterated Monday in a social media post.

Flanagan, who is Native American, also wrote on X, "My Ojibwe name is Gizhiiwewidamookwe, which means ‘Speaks in a Loud and Clear Voice Woman.’ I’m going to be Minnesota’s voice in the U.S. Senate — not Donald Trump’s."

But Tafoya appears to be putting some daylight between herself and Trump, as she highlights her support for abortion rights.

"I’m a pro-choice Republican not afraid to stand up to my party," Tafoya says in a new campaign commercial. "When Trump is right, I will work with him. When he is wrong, I will stand up for Minnesota."

The ad was quickly criticized by leaders on the right.

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Among them was Mercedes Schlapp, a senior fellow at the Conservative Political Action Conference, who said on social media, "Pro-life Republicans will stay home after watching this ad."

But hours later, Trump gave Tafoya a plug, telling the crowd at an Ohio rally he headlined, "You have to vote for Michele Tafoya, who’s a very respected person."

This 65-inch Hisense TV is near an all-time low — more than $500 off

Thu, 10 Sep 2026 15:40:01 -0400

With football and MLB postseason games dominating the TV schedule, now's your chance to upgrade your game-day setup. The Hisense 65-inch Mini-LED ULED U7 Google TV is near its lowest recorded price, dropping from $1,500 to $998 — a 33% discount. Shop it while the deal lasts.

Hisense 65-inch Mini-LED ULED U7 Google TV: $997.99 (33% off)

Original price: $1,499.99

Why is this TV deal worth it?

According to price tracking data, Hisense 65-inch Mini-LED ULED U7 Google TV is near its lowest price ever. Reviewers praised its value even at a higher price, making this record-low deal an especially worthwhile time to buy.

The U7 model features:

4K resolution and 165Hz refresh rate
Built-in subwoofer
A glare-free screen
Built-in Google TV
The latest connectivity technologies, including Bluetooth, HDMI, Ethernet, USB and Wi-Fi

These features make it a compelling option for anyone looking to upgrade to a larger, game-day-ready TV.

What do reviewers think?

As a recently launched 2026 model, it has just under 400 Amazon reviews so far but has maintained a strong 4.4-star rating.

"This Hisense model really caught me by surprise," says one reviewer. "In terms of picture quality and overall performance, it's an excellent value for a mini-LED TV. The brightness is impressive, HDR content looks fantastic, and the colors are vibrant without looking overdone."

Another praised the sound quality, saying it is "better than expected for a built-in TV speaker system, and the smart TV interface is fast and easy to use.

The mini-LED performance really stands out, and the motion handling is smooth for gaming and fast-action content," another reviewer writes.

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What could be better?

Some reviewers report that you get lots of advertisements and promotions with the included Google interface, which can be annoying. To get around that, you can also buy the 65-inch version with Amazon Fire TV built in, but at 20% off, it's not as heavily discounted.

More TV deals worth shopping

Toshiba 43-inch Class M450 QLED Series 4K TV: $199.99 (39% off)
Toshiba 55-inch C350 Series LED 4K TV: $249.99 (38% off)
TCL 65-inch QM6K Series 4K TV: $649.99 (35% off)

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.

Christmas gifts she'll actually use (and love)

Tue, 07 Oct 2025 03:01:16 -0400

It's never too early to start holiday shopping for the women in your life. From cute pajamas and a Le Creuset heart-shaped spoon rest to a classic perfume and diamond earrings, we handpicked Christmas gifts she’ll actually use and appreciate.

Trending Christmas gifts

Anthropologie Donut Marble Trinket: $40.60 (30% off)
Pandora bracelet: $61.60 (30% off)
adidas sneakers: $84 (30% off)
Lavender shower steamers: $24.99 (17% off)
Papier The Minimalist photo book: $36
Kiehl's gift set: $29
Reading lamp: $15.99

Le Creuset heart spoon rest: $31.95

Heart-shaped and finished in red, this Le Creuset spoon rest adds a festive touch to your kitchen holiday decor or to use all year round. It's cute enough to double as a small serving plate.

Yankee Candle Christmas Eve scented candle: $34.99

This Christmas Eve Yankee Candle helps set the mood for a cozy night in. Smell candied fruits, spices, amber and vanilla for a nostalgic and festive scent you'll love all season long.

Cozy Earth long-sleeve pajama set: $168

If you’re giving pajamas for Christmas, they should feel like an upgrade. This Cozy Earth bamboo set is breathable, ultra-soft and comfortable enough to wear long after the holiday.

LEGO Christmas tree: $49.95

A fun activity for the whole family during the holiday season, this LEGO Christmas tree will look beautiful displayed on a shelf or mantel after it's built.

Anthropologie striped stoneware monogram mug: $16

This red-and-white-striped Anthropologie mug is a natural fit for Christmas. Add your recipient's initial for a personalized touch.

With Clarity diamond stud earrings: $308 (30% off)

Original price: $440

These lab-grown diamond earrings make a statement without overdoing it. The two-carat stones shine in classic four-prong settings, available in 14k white, yellow or rose gold, as well as platinum.

MZ Wallace medium metro deluxe tote: $275

Quilted with silver accents, this MZ Wallace medium tote has enough room for a weekend's worth of clothes or everyday commuter essentials. A detachable shoulder strap also gives her flexible carry options.

Bala Bangles wrist weights: $55

If she has a workout routine (or wants to start one), these Bala Bangles are a smart holiday gift. The adjustable cuffs can be worn on the wrists or ankles to add extra resistance to workouts or walks.

Amazon Kindle Scribe Colorsoft: $679.99

For someone who loves reading and jotting things down, the Kindle Scribe is a thoughtful gift that brings both together. It feels like writing on paper and makes it easy to read, annotate and take notes comfortably.

Aura Carver digital picture frame: $179

Give the gift of family memories with an Aura digital picture frame. Your recipient can upload photos right from her phone and watch the continuous slideshow all day.

Nextmug temperature controlled coffee mug: $129.95

Shopping for a coffee lover who never finishes their drink before it goes cold? This self-heating mug keeps hot drinks at the right temperature from first sip to last. With simple one-button controls, a spill-resistant lid and a charging coaster, it’s a gift they’ll use daily.

Shark FlexStyle: $259.99 (26% off)

Original price: $349.99

Help her simplify her hair routine with the Shark FlexStyle. This powerful hair dryer transforms into a versatile styling tool, letting her straighten, curl or enhance her natural texture while drying quickly with gentle heat in a lightweight, compact design.

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

Chanel Chance perfume: $124

Chanel's Chance fragrance is soft and feminine. The blend of musk, cedarwood, iris and amber makes it ideal for daytime and nighttime wear.

Williams Sonoma 'Twas the Night Before Christmas embroidered napkins: $69.95

These dainty embroidered napkins add a charming touch to your Christmas table. Each one features a different holiday icon, including nutcrackers, reindeer and sleighs.

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French newspaper claims climate change is fueling child marriages, including girls as young as 12

Wed, 14 Oct 2026 14:49:29 -0400

A French newspaper claimed Tuesday that climate change is accelerating child marriages in developing countries, including among girls as young as 12, citing research suggesting that natural disasters are pushing impoverished families to marry off their daughters at increasingly younger ages.

Le Parisien's report, "She was only 12: Climate change, a new accelerator of child marriage," directly linked weather-related disasters to early marriages in Bangladesh, Kenya and other countries.

"In Bangladesh, Kenya and elsewhere, climate disasters are worsening child marriages," the newspaper said in a passage translated from French. "By destroying incomes and homes, they push some families to marry off their daughters at increasingly younger ages."

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The article drew criticism from Moms for Liberty CEO and co-founder Tina Descovich, who told Fox News Digital attributing child marriage to climate change shifts responsibility away from those exploiting children.

"Blaming climate change for the abhorrent practice of marrying off girls as young as 12 sounds absolutely wild … but it’s just the latest absurd excuse for disgusting behavior, shifting responsibility onto the environment instead of the people and ideologies that choose to exploit children," Descovich said.

"At Moms for Liberty, we see this same mentality every day in America, where activists blame society, systems or external factors for harming kids rather than demanding strong families, parental rights, and personal accountability that actually protect our children."

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The French newspaper based much of its reporting on Plan International's 2026 report, which examined the relationship between climate-related disasters and child marriage.

Researchers surveyed 5,000 girls and young women across Bangladesh, Kenya, Peru, Senegal and Zimbabwe. According to Le Parisien, 36% reported observing increased child marriage after climate-related disasters, while 11% said they had personally experienced child marriage.

Fox News Digital reached out to Le Parisien and Plan International for comment but did not immediately receive a response.

The newspaper highlighted the case of a 12-year-old Bangladeshi girl who was reportedly married off four days after boys harassed her inside a cyclone shelter. According to a teenage friend interviewed by the outlet, the girl later gave birth to a baby who died, leaving her with serious health complications.

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Another case involved Runa, a 15-year-old Bangladeshi girl whose widowed mother arranged her marriage after a cyclone destroyed a family's livestock and income.

Runa described during a July interview with Australia's ABC News how the marriage interrupted her education.

"I did not want to get married," Runa said. "I wanted to continue my education. The decision made me feel very sad and helpless."

However, Runa was eventually allowed to return to school with assistance from aid organizations after her husband's family agreed to let her resume her education, according to ABC News. Now 17 and a mother, Runa said returning to her studies had given her renewed hope for the future.

Child marriage was already widespread in Bangladesh before the latest report. According to UNICEF's 2025 survey, 47.2% of women ages 20 to 24 were married before turning 18, down from 51.4% in 2019.

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UNICEF identifies poverty, entrenched gender norms, harmful traditional practices, barriers to education and climate-related disasters among the factors contributing to child marriage.

Bangladesh's 2017 Child Marriage Restraint Act generally prohibits marriage for girls younger than 18, although the law includes an exception allowing underage marriages with parental consent and court approval under special circumstances.

Plan International maintains that climate-related disasters created additional financial pressures on families, particularly those dependent on agriculture and livestock. Tanushree Soni, a Plan International representative, previously explained the economic circumstances behind child marriages during an interview with ABC News.

"Financial stress is the trigger," Soni said. "The families look to lessen the burden because they don't consider girls to be part of their own families."

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The research describes a relationship between weather-related disasters and child marriage, although the survey findings alone do not establish that human-caused climate change directly caused the individual marriages described in the newspaper's report.

Dem AG targets Trump on voting while his state sends rights letters to dead people

Wed, 14 Oct 2026 14:49:00 -0400

President Donald Trump and his election security efforts were a central target in Virginia Democratic Attorney General Jay Jones' rollout of a "Voter Protection" unit, but Republican critics say the announcement overlooked voting- rights controversies unfolding in his own backyard.

Jones formed the Voter Protection Section on Tuesday to enforce state voting-rights laws as Virginia faces scrutiny over restoration letters sent to deceased felons amid Gov. Abigail Spanberger's restoration of voting rights to more than 66,000 Virginians.

Jones "launched this section to address the continued erosion of the federal Voting Rights Act, Donald Trump’s relentless attacks on our democracy, and his administration's efforts to impede access to the ballot," his office said in a statement.

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Jones' announcement did not identify specific Trump administration actions, but the president signed a March 2025 order seeking stricter proof-of-citizenship requirements for voter registration and changes to mail-ballot rules and backed the SAVE Act to mandate voter ID.

"At a time when the Trump administration has sought to push the federal government further into the administration of state elections, we will work closely with the Department of Elections and the Federal Accountability Unit to protect Virginia’s authority, the integrity of our elections, and every eligible voter’s right to be heard," said Ajay Saini, the OAG official Jones named to lead the division.

However, critics quickly faulted the unit for overlooking controversies within Virginia's own government after the felon rights-restoration scandal broke earlier this month.

"‘Two Bullets’ Jay Jones is now worried about ‘misinformation’ after just this year telling Virginians that Democrats’ illegal gerrymandering power grab was about ‘fairness’," the Republican Party of Virginia (RPV) said in a statement, referencing Jones’ previous reported text messages envisioning shooting a prior GOP House speaker twice instead of former German Chancellor Adolf Hitler or Cambodian dictator Pol Pot.

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"The top priority for this new division should be finding out how many dead felons have had their rights restored, and how that happened in the first place," current Virginia House Minority Leader Terry Kilgore, R-Gate City, told Fox News Digital.

Several Virginians reported receiving restoration notices addressed to deceased relatives. Fredericksburg resident Howard Lambert confirmed to Fox News Digital a letter addressed to his late daughter indicated officials had reviewed her case before restoring her rights.

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Kim Taylor, a former Republican delegate from the Petersburg area, told Fox News Digital on Wednesday that Jones' pledge to protect Virginians’ votes ignores his silence on both the "dead felons" scandal and a Democrat-supported November ballot measure that would take restoration rights away from the governor and automatically empower formerly incarcerated felons to vote.

"Jay Jones can create all the fancy new ‘voter protection’ units he wants to make himself feel better, but it’s nothing more than an empty political gesture when Richmond is mailing voting rights restoration letters to dead felons," Taylor said.

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"With three critical constitutional amendments on the ballot, including one fundamentally changing felon voting rights, Virginians need real election integrity instead of another taxpayer-funded political stunt."

When pressed on those issues and on Republicans’ claims that the SAVE Act provides protections itself, a spokesperson for Jones declined to elaborate beyond an initial statement:

"I was raised by people who understood that the right to vote was never simply given. Generations of Americans had to sacrifice, organize, and show extraordinary courage to claim that right," Jones said. "That history is personal to me, and it reminds us that the work of civil rights and voting rights is never finished."

"That is why we created a dedicated Voter Protection Section within the Office of the Attorney General. This work now has a permanent home, and a team focused every day on defending voting rights and enforcing Virginia law," he added, calling protection of voting rights a "year-round" responsibility.

Virginia Beach attorney Tim Anderson, who has focused on Richmond’s legal maneuvers regarding both immigration enforcement and voting rights, said Tuesday that Jones’ plan raises a separate question about enforcement against noncitizens who vote illegally amid Virginia's restricted cooperation with DHS.

Anderson previously discussed the dead-felons case with Fox News Digital and noted Tuesday that Gov. Abigail Spanberger previously restricted ICE’s use of public property, including through guidance involving encounters at polls.

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"Now Attorney General Jay Jones says his office will enforce Virginia’s election laws. Then answer this, Attorney General: Does that include prosecuting noncitizens who knowingly vote illegally—with the same enthusiasm you bring to protecting access to the polls? We know this is a big fat ‘No’. Enforce the whole law," he said.

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The Democratic Party of Virginia, however, backed Jones’ new unit, arguing that Trump is "attacking voting rights [and] Virginia is not backing down," as election security remains a prominent issue heading into the midterms.

Mamdani accuses Blakeman of 'bigotry and racism' in breakout debate that mayor didn't watch

Wed, 14 Oct 2026 14:41:31 -0400

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani accused Republican gubernatorial candidate Bruce Blakeman of "bigotry and racism" Tuesday night despite admitting he didn't watch Blakeman's debate with Gov. Kathy Hochul live.

Mamdani made the statement in comments to reporters Wednesday after Blakeman and Hochul squared off Tuesday night. A reporter asked Mamdani whether he was bothered that Hochul hadn't responded to Blakeman's claims that the NYC mayor is an antisemite.

"So, I think, you know, it is hard for anyone to keep up with all of the bigotry and racism that Bruce Blakeman exhibits on a regular basis. So, I think that the governor did a good job. And I'll never fault someone for not being able to catch all of it because that is a fool's errand when it comes to Bruce Blakeman," Mamdani said.

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"And I think the governor also made clear, you know, I've said that I, I didn't watch the debate beyond the clip, but I think the governor has made clear time and time again what her vision is. It's a vision of a more affordable New York," he continued.

"And when it comes to Bruce Blakeman, his vision seems to be making life harder for working people. When the governor and I announced putting our city on a pathway to universal childcare, Bruce Blakeman went on television and said this was rewarding lazy parents who would sit at home and watch 'The View.' When we were speaking about concerns about what HR1 was going to do with regards to healthcare access across the state, Bruce Blakeman went on television and said that he would cut Medicaid in half."

The debate opened with the candidates being asked about the conduct of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), which last week drew outrage in New York City after the shooting of a 28-year-old Dominican national whom the Department of Homeland Security said refused to comply with lawful orders during a targeted operation in the Bronx. A 5-year-old boy inside Oscar Bergal's vehicle was unharmed.

"Kathy Hochul appealed to ICE to let this criminal out. The question that New Yorkers have to ask is what was this guy doing in New York in the first place? It's because Kathy Hochul has made us a sanctuary state," Blakeman said.

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"Think about it. This guy came into the country illegally. He's been convicted of a crime. He's got pending charges for dealing drugs, poison to our children. And he's a gang banger. This is who Kathy Hochul is defending?" Blakeman continued.

"I have a cooperative agreement with ICE until Kathy Hochul said we could no longer cooperate with ICE. We got over 2,000 illegal migrants out of my county with criminal records ranging from rape, attempted murder, robbery, burglary, drug dealing, carjacking, gang activity.

"And that's because we cooperated with ICE, and we didn't raid one school, one hospital, one daycare center or one church. If you cooperate with federal law enforcement, it makes for a safer community. That's what I did. Kathy Hochul is taking that ability away from us. That's why things like this happen."

Hochul called Blakeman's response a "non-answer" because "he refused to condemn what ICE did."

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"So, he basically says in the state of New York, he'd be fine if ICE agents shoot into cars, shoot guns into vehicles, not knowing who's inside and could have killed a 5-year-old child. If that doesn't shock the conscience of everybody — and it should shock his conscience as well — that he says, 'That's OK, that's how ICE is supposed to do it,'" Hochul added.

"I'll tell you what. I oversee over 500 policing agencies in the state of New York. Over half a million arrests every year. That's not how you conduct yourself. ICE is out of control. It's out of control in Nassau County."

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Blakeman pushed back, saying, "It never would have happened" but for Hochul's "sanctuary policy."

Fox News' Greg Norman contributed to this report.

Robert Saleh assures Cam Ward is in 'a good headspace' amid Titans embarrassing start to season

Wed, 14 Oct 2026 14:38:15 -0400

The Tennessee Titans are 0-5 to start the season, they have the lowest-scoring offense in the NFL and second-year quarterback Cam Ward has not taken anything even resembling a positive step in his development. This is also a franchise that has not beaten a team in its own AFC South division since November 2024.

The Titans are objectively an awful football team, but their fans shouldn't have to wait too much longer for something, anything positive to happen, according to the message head coach Robert Saleh is relaying this week.

Tennessee is coming off a 26-3 home loss to what was a winless Houston Texans team that managed to sack Ward four times. During his Wednesday press conference, Saleh was asked how his young quarterback could not let pressures and sacks affect him moving forward, which is when the coach offered up some questionable comments.

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"Really cool conversation with Cam this week," Saleh said. "He's in a good headspace, and he's got a lot of confidence in the o-line."

Saleh claiming that he had a "cool conversation" with Ward and presenting that as some sort of selling point for his team's fanbase would be one thing if the Titans were winning football games. You add that on top of his comment that Ward is in "a good headspace," and it's hard to come up with a more disingenuous message that will assuredly fall on deaf ears.

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Ward is 3-19 as a starting quarterback, which includes a 0-7 mark against AFC South foes, and is staring another loss to a divisional rival in the face with the Titans traveling to Indianapolis to take on the Colts on Sunday.

While Saleh must do everything in his power to instill confidence in a quarterback that the Titans' front office views as the face of the franchise for years to come, flipping the narrative and sharing that Ward is angry yet motivated wouldn't make the situation worse.

The reality is the situation in Nashville couldn't possibly be any worse, with the franchise firmly sitting at rock bottom.

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Since firing Mike Vrabel as head coach in January 2024, the Titans have gone 6-33 and are on their second general manager and second head coach across that time frame.

With Saleh beginning his Tennessee tenure at 0-5, his head coaching record in the NFL sits at 20-41 overall after a multi-season stint with the New York Jets.

40 Days For Life CEO Shawn Carney on 'College GameDay' religious sign ban: 'Nobody's for this'

Wed, 14 Oct 2026 14:37:00 -0400

For years, one of ESPN's most popular original programs has been "College GameDay."

The show, which features some of college football's most prominent personalities traveling to different campuses across the country, has been a fan favorite for well over three decades now.

One of the best parts about "GameDay" is the students and fans piling into a small area on campus to express themselves and cheer on their team, and one way they've done that since the show started was to bring handmade signs.

They've featured everything from clever jokes to insults to opposing mascots, but last weekend in Tuscaloosa, the "GameDay" executives took a stand and introduced a "no religious signs" ban ahead of the Crimson Tide's top-ten showdown with Georgia.

This took pretty much everyone by surprise, including 40 Days For Life CEO Shawn Carney.

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Carney's company focuses on holding peaceful vigils outside of abortion facilities, offering pregnant women alternatives as well as a last chance to "choose life."

To say faith is near and dear to his heart is an understatement, and when he first heard the news about the religious sign ban, he was perplexed.

"We've done this and it doesn't work," Carney said when discussing the ban. "It's called 2020 and all of the companies that decided to go in that direction, it just backfired. It's so stupid."

Carney reveals that he's a huge fan of "College GameDay" and a diehard Texas A&M Aggie, and ESPN trying to muzzle what he calls their largest demographic of fans doesn't make sense in his eyes.

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"Football is religion in the South," he explains. "You look at the SEC and you can throw in the Big 10, these are religious people that follow college football. That's a huge market that is college football."

And it isn't just the fans, either.

Coaches and players alike are very faith-based and give credit to Christianity with helping guide them through trying times.

It's a clear case of Disney and ESPN not understanding who they're appealing to with these decisions.

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For the ban to take place at the University of Alabama, of all places, was even more stupefying to Carney.

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"It's shocking that (Alabama) would be the location," he admits. "It's the heart of the Bible Belt unapologetically, and Nick Saban definitely had a theme of his faith and faith in God when he was a coach."

"Bear Bryant is definitely rolling over in his grave."

Make no mistake about it either, the rule may have said "no religious signs," but as Carney points out, the only religion ESPN - or any big corporation - cares about is Christianity.

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"They're not going after Muslims, they're not going after Hindus... It's dumb corporate America doing what they often do all the time, which is decide that they just want to ban a group, and it's almost always Christians."

The amount of backlash that Disney and ESPN have received in the wake of their decision is a sign that things are trending in the right direction, though.

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"Nobody's for this. Nobody likes it," Carney says. "Do you think atheists watching "GameDay" are offended that somebody has a sign that says John 3:16?

"It's embarrassing."

10 health conditions may be linked to Alzheimer's, years before diagnosis

Wed, 14 Oct 2026 14:35:40 -0400

Certain medical conditions may signal early-onset Alzheimer’s disease several years before diagnosis, a new Finnish study suggests.

Researchers found that depression, vertigo, headaches and other conditions were more common during the five years preceding diagnosis, potentially offering clues for earlier detection.

The researchers analyzed medical records from 407 people with early-onset Alzheimer’s disease and 4,035 people of similar age and sex without the diagnosis, focusing on the 15 years prior to diagnosis.

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The average age at diagnosis was 60. Early-onset disease is diagnosed in people under 65.

The findings were published in the journal Alzheimer’s & Dementia.

The following conditions were found to be significantly more prevalent among those who were ultimately diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s.

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Vertigo (5.9% of those with diagnosis, vs. 2.1% of those who were not diagnosed)
Depression (5.7% vs. 2.3%)
Headache (4.9% vs. 1.6%)
Stroke (4.4% vs. 2.0%)
Alcohol-related disorders (3.4% vs. 1.4%)
Brain disorders (2.9% vs. 0.9%)
Thyroid disorders (2.5% vs. 0.8%)
Epilepsy (2.2% vs. 0.7%)
Delirium (1.5% vs. 0.1%)
Ear, nose, and throat disorders (5.2% vs. 2.9%)

Differences in medical conditions were most pronounced in the five years before an early-onset Alzheimer's diagnosis, the study showed.

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The researchers also found that healthcare visits increased substantially among early-onset Alzheimer’s patients immediately before and during the time of diagnosis, which may indicate emerging symptoms.

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"It is well-known that the neuropathological changes associated with Alzheimer’s disease begin at least 15 to 20 years before clinical cognitive symptoms appear," Suvi-Johanna Krüger, M.D., Ph.D., study co-author and clinical lecturer at University of Oulu, said in a press release.

"Most previous studies have focused on late-onset Alzheimer’s disease, and considerably less is known about early-onset Alzheimer’s disease."

Study limitations

Because the study was observational, it only establishes associations and cannot demonstrate that these conditions can reliably predict Alzheimer's disease.

"Our study cannot determine whether these conditions cause early-onset Alzheimer’s disease or whether they are consequences of the underlying disease process," Krüger noted.

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"Some conditions may represent risk factors, while others may reflect early symptoms or changes occurring during the prodromal phase of the disease."

It is also possible that genetics, lifestyle and socioeconomic factors played a role in the patients’ outcomes.

Also, the researchers could not independently verify all medical diagnoses or assess the severity of the patients’ disease. Additionally, the findings may not apply to populations outside Finland.

Larger studies looking at disease biomarkers, genetics and clinical assessments could help determine whether there is a casual relationship between the medical conditions and Alzheimer’s incidence and whether these medical patterns could be used to improve early detection.

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For people experiencing any persistent medical symptoms, including issues with memory or cognition, experts say it’s important to see a healthcare provider.

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"Early diagnosis is important because more treatment and support options are available in the early stages of the disease," Krüger advised.

"Early diagnosis also gives individuals and their families more time to plan for the future and access appropriate support services."

Florida State releases top recruit after he gets hit with felony charges from 150 mph police chase

Wed, 14 Oct 2026 14:33:03 -0400

The Florida State football program is sending a clear message to one of its top recruits after he was arrested earlier this week.

Chuck Kennon, the program's top-ranked recruit of this year's class, is no longer with the team after being arrested on charges of two felonies.

Officers said Kennon was traveling 79 mph in a 50-mph zone in Tampa early Sunday morning, according to UPI, and when officers approached the vehicle, they suddenly found themselves in a chase at speeds over 150 mph.

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Kennon's Dodge Durango got a flat tire, which led to Kennon attempting to flee on foot and into an industrial plant. While searching for Kennon, police found his phone and a woman in a bodysuit "covered in dirt stains, blood and grass" with lacerations on her arm. She told officers she asked Kennon to exit the vehicle more than 10 times and was detained.

Kennon, who is currently being held in Falkenburg Road Jail, was released from the program due to conduct detrimental to the team, the school said.

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He turned himself in on Monday night and is facing three charges: aggravated fleeing to elude ( a second-degree felony), false imprisonment (a third-degree felony) and resisting an officer without violence (a misdemeanor), records show.

Kennon was the sixth-best cornerback in the nation in his class and the 51st-ranked overall recruit. He chose FSU over 30-plus offers.

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Florida State has struggled this season, going 3-3 thus far. They will face No. 3 Miami, who are 5-0, on Saturday.

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Hochul deflects when pressed on ties to 'anti-Christian' Mamdani in fiery debate moment: 'Shame on you'

Wed, 14 Oct 2026 14:32:25 -0400

New York Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul declined to directly defend socialist New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani during Tuesday night's gubernatorial debate after her Republican challenger accused him of being antisemitic, anti-Christian and un-American.

"With all the issues that face New York City, the first thing he did was sign an executive order to water down the definition of antisemitism, shame on you, mayor," Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman said on the debate stage before pointing his attention at Hochul over her endorsement of the socialist New York City mayor.

"You are campaigning around the state with a guy who doesn't believe in American values," Blakeman said. "He talks about collectivism. That means you take personal property rights away. You take other people's property rights. This is a guy that's anti-Christian, couldn't find an hour out of his day to attend the installation of a new archbishop here in New York City, the biggest religion in the city of New York. Look, if you want to campaign with him, that's fine. But I will tell you right now, I think Zohran Mamdani is an antisemite. I believe he's anti-Christian. And I don't think he has American values."

Hochul responded by turning to the moderator and deciding to answer a previous question about comments, reported by the New York Times, Blakeman made in a "secret meeting" related to whether the NYPD under Mamdani would respond if far-left protesters were causing violence against the Jewish community. Blakeman disputed her characterization of that meeting before complimenting Mamdani for selecting and keeping Jessica Tisch as NYPD commissioner.

"Let's move on," the moderator then said.

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"Antisemitism is on the rise, and it's occurred under your watch, and Zohran Mamdani is fueling it," Blakeman added before the conversation moved to another topic.

Republicans quickly highlighted the exchange on social media.

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"Zohran Mamdani is an antisemite, he’s anti-Christian, and he’s anti-American. And Kathy Hochul is campaigning with him," Kristin Cianci, Northeast Comms Director for the Republican National Committee (RNC) posted on X. "What an utter disgrace. New York deserves better."

"Zohran Mamdani is an antisemite, anti-Christian and anti-American," the New York Republican Party posted on X. "And he's Kathy Hochul's best friend. "

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Hochul was asked about the exchange and why she "didn't defend the mayor" by a reporter on Wednesday morning during a press conference on the state's investment into the first-ever community center in Jackson Heights.

"I’m not going to take the bait from someone who’s throwing out such insane arguments," Hochul said.

"He had a litany of things that were either false or so absurd that I’m not going to dignify them with a response from me, the governor. So, everyone knows I reject that, his description of the mayor. The mayor and I are great partners, we’re working hard together. And I’m not gonna give him the dignity of responding to those kind of crazy comments. And that’s pretty consistent how I’ve been."

The two New York politicians clashed on a variety of issues on Tuesday night, including President Donald Trump, a recent ICE-involved shooting, energy prices, and inflation.

Democrats outnumber Republicans by a roughly two-to-one margin in blue-leaning New York state, but polling in September indicated that Blakeman has cut his deficit against Hochul to single digits.

Hochul, who is running for a second full four-year term steering the nation's fourth most populous state, stood at 50% support among likely voters in New York, with Blakeman at 41%, according to a Siena College poll conducted Sept. 11-17.

By a 50%-30% margin, voters said Mamdani's support for Hochul is a plus for the governor's bid for re-election.

Fox News Digital's Paul Steinhauser contributed to this report

Man posing as NFL player accused of conning women out of $1.3M

Wed, 14 Oct 2026 14:30:00 -0400

A man claiming to play for the San Francisco 49ers matches with you on a dating app. His Instagram has 85,000 followers and a blue checkmark. There are videos showing what appears to be his football lifestyle. He drives luxury cars and seems to have plenty of money. So, would you believe him?

Domonique DuBose had her doubts. When she joined me on The CyberGuy Report podcast, she explained how she became suspicious of a man who allegedly used a fake NFL identity to pursue women and promote fraudulent investments. Federal prosecutors say Daejon Labrayae Love and an alleged accomplice received approximately $1.3 million from at least 26 women.

Love pleaded not guilty Tuesday to a felony charge of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, and a public defender representing him did not reply to a request for comment. Magistrate Judge Jolie A. Russo ordered Love detained as a flight risk.

DuBose recognized warning signs and avoided losing any money herself. "Basically, I caught on right away," DuBose told me. What she uncovered raises serious questions about how easily someone can fake an identity online and how you can spot the warning signs before it's too late.

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How the fake 49ers player made his story believable

According to DuBose, Love's Instagram account looked like something you might expect from a professional athlete. His posts showed him wearing San Francisco 49ers clothing and enjoying an expensive lifestyle. There were also videos from football-related locations, including footage that appeared connected to the Super Bowl in New Orleans.

"It looked valid. I mean, he had 85,000 followers. He had a blue check," DuBose recalled. She even contacted a friend who had played for the 49ers.

Surprisingly, she says that friend initially supported Love's story. Still, she continued investigating. "I looked at everything from the NFL roster for the Niners to IR to practice squad," she explained.

She also searched his college football history, looking for evidence that he had actually played at the professional level. Another detail bothered her. Nearly every photo seemed to feature 49ers clothing. To DuBose, who knew professional football players, that constant display of team merchandise seemed unusual. Federal investigators later confirmed with representatives of the NFL and the 49ers that Love had never been employed by either organization. That's what makes this case so troubling. A convincing social media profile can make someone seem credible long before anyone checks the facts behind it.

The dating app red flags that caught her attention

DuBose said she met Love on Hinge. His profile described him as an NFL receiver, but their first interactions made her uncomfortable. "It was really fast how he wanted to get my number," she told me.

Instead of sharing her personal number, she took a precaution that limited how much information he could access. "I gave him my work cell phone number instead of my own phone number, and he started texting me."

Then came an unusual flood of attention. Love sent several videos and voice recordings almost immediately. One recording played during our podcast interview included this opening: "So what's up, beautiful? I had to shoot my shot with you." The messages also included extravagant claims about his wealth and how much he wanted to spend time with her. For DuBose, the pace of the attention felt strange. "And it was just so fast. It was so rapid," she recalled.

Some of his other claims raised even more questions. DuBose said he talked about coming from a wealthy Swiss family and having ownership interests involving Gucci stores. She struggled to reconcile those stories with his supposed NFL career. Rather than accepting the explanation, she kept checking.

The many identities behind the alleged $1.3 million scam

Love's supposed football career was only one part of the alleged operation. During our podcast conversation, I asked DuBose about his different identities. She explained that he appeared to have more than two, with different names and professional backgrounds depending on whom he approached. According to federal investigators, Love used several names, including Jon Love, Daejon Love, Avril Lyto Love and Jordan Love. His professional identity also changed depending on the person he approached. "He was a real estate investor. He was a day trader," DuBose explained.

Prosecutors say Love used those claims to convince women that he had access to lucrative investment opportunities. His alleged accomplice, Taylor Jamie Chan, posed as a financial advisor who helped manage Love's fortune, court records allege. Together, they allegedly used fake bank and investment accounts showing enormous balances. They also staged FaceTime calls displaying fabricated investment gains. Some women even took out personal loans after Love promised they would quickly be repaid, the affidavit says.

READ THE AFFIDAVIT – APP USERS, CLICK HERE:

DuBose told me that some women appeared to receive early investment returns, which encouraged them to invest more. However, federal investigators say none of the victims they interviewed reported receiving actual returns after sending money. When women ran out of money or started asking too many questions, prosecutors allege Love cut off contact.

More women come forward in the fake NFL player case

The federal investigation has grown since the arrests. On Sept. 18, the FBI reported that 35 additional women had come forward claiming they were defrauded. Investigators were still working to verify those allegations. If confirmed, the number of identified victims would rise from 26 to 61. For DuBose, the emotional damage described by women who say they encountered Love has been particularly painful. She told me that some women described relationships lasting years. Others said they became deeply involved with someone whose identity they never fully understood. "There's some that dated him for 11, 12, 13 years off and on," she said.

Those longer timelines reflect what women reportedly told DuBose. They extend beyond the February 2022 start date of the alleged financial scheme documented by federal investigators. "It breaks my heart," she told me during our interview. She was especially disturbed by the emotional vulnerability that someone could exploit when a person believes a relationship is genuine. "And using that to your advantage is just sick."

DuBose also told me that she would like to confront Love about his alleged actions. After hearing so many stories, there's one answer she still wants. "I want to know why." The FBI has encouraged potential victims to come forward, even if they feel embarrassed about what happened. Investigators say reports from additional people may help them understand the full scope of the alleged scheme.

Can dating apps do more to stop fake identities?

One of the biggest questions raised by this case involves the platforms where these relationships begin. A blue checkmark and a large online following can make an account appear trustworthy. However, verification features vary by platform, and confirming an account holder's identity does not establish that their claimed career or wealth is genuine. DuBose expressed frustration about how easily someone can construct a false life on dating apps. "As far as the dating apps go, you can be whoever you want on those dating apps. And that's the scary part."

She acknowledged that some platforms offer identity checks. However, she questioned whether those checks could ever guarantee that someone was telling the truth about their background. That's a concern worth considering. A person can use their real name and still make false claims about their job. They can also provide authentic photographs while exaggerating their wealth. For anyone meeting a stranger online, independent verification remains an important safeguard.

LUTHER DAVIS ALLEGEDLY WORE DISGUISES TO POSE AS NFL PLAYERS IN MULTI-MILLION DOLLAR LOAN FRAUD SCHEME

How to protect yourself from fake dating profiles

You can still meet people online while taking precautions against fraud. These steps can help you identify suspicious behavior before a relationship becomes financially risky.

1) Verify someone's claimed career independently

If someone says they play professional sports or hold a prestigious position, check official organizational records. Don't rely on social media search results alone. For example, NFL teams publish player rosters that you can check against someone's claims.

2) Be cautious when someone rushes intimacy

Excessive attention early in a conversation may be an attempt to establish trust before introducing a financial request. Pay attention if someone immediately wants to move off the dating app or begins discussing a serious relationship before you've had time to get acquainted.

3) Keep your personal phone number private initially

Communicate through the dating app until you feel comfortable. A separate phone number can help limit exposure, although it won't eliminate every risk. Avoid sharing your home address or workplace details with someone you have only recently met online.

4) Reverse-search photos and phone numbers

Look for inconsistent names or multiple profiles using the same images. A reverse image search may reveal whether someone has copied photographs from another person's account. Our CyberGuy article explains how to avoid dating app scammers.

5) Never invest money based on an online relationship

Be especially skeptical of guaranteed returns or requests to take out personal loans. Independently check any financial opportunity before considering it. Someone who genuinely cares about you should respect your decision to keep your finances separate.

6) Question stories that don't add up

Conflicting information about someone's background deserves a closer look. Give yourself time to verify details without pressure. If the person becomes defensive or tries to discourage you from checking their claims, consider that another warning sign. DuBose continues taking precautions when meeting new people. She told me that she checks phone numbers and tries to establish whether someone is using a legitimate identity. "If you text me the moment you text me, I'm reverse checking your number. I'm making sure your name is valid." A reverse lookup can provide useful clues, although scammers may use spoofed numbers or accounts registered under other people's names.

A SCAMMER HAS YOUR NAME, PHONE NUMBER AND ADDRESS. WHAT CAN THEY ACTUALLY DO?

What to do if you already sent money to a scammer

If you suspect someone has deceived you through a dating app, act quickly. Your chances of recovering money may depend on how you paid and how soon you report the transaction.

Contact your bank or payment provider immediately

Explain what happened and ask whether it can reverse or recall the payment. If you sent money through a wire transfer or payment app, contact that service's fraud department as soon as possible. Speed can be important when attempting to recover funds.

Preserve the evidence

Save screenshots of messages and dating profiles. Keep financial transaction records that could help investigators. Don't delete conversations before documenting them, even if the experience is upsetting.

Report the fraud to the FBI

File a complaint through IC3.gov and provide as much information as possible. Include the person's usernames, phone numbers and payment details. You can also report suspected fraud to the Federal Trade Commission at reportfraud.ftc.gov.

Notify the dating app

Report the suspicious account so the platform can investigate and take appropriate action. Include any evidence showing that the person misrepresented their identity or requested money.

Watch for recovery scams

Criminals sometimes contact fraud victims again, claiming they can retrieve stolen money in exchange for an upfront payment. Be skeptical of anyone promising guaranteed recovery, especially if they request additional payments or sensitive financial information. If you have information involving Daejon Love or Taylor Chan specifically, the FBI requests tips through tips.fbi.gov or 1-800-CALL-FBI.

Kurt's key takeaways

What stayed with me after speaking with Domonique DuBose on The CyberGuy Report podcast was how convincing this alleged deception became. We're talking about someone who reportedly built an entire lifestyle around a career he never had. He used the credibility of a major NFL team and social media to get people to believe him. Some allegedly trusted him with significant amounts of money. During our conversation, I raised a question that I think deserves a serious answer. These social media companies can collect an extraordinary amount of information about us. As I put it on the podcast, "these social media companies know what toothbrush we're using and when we're going to buy a loaf of bread." So why does it remain so difficult to identify someone who builds a false professional identity and uses it to target people? I also admire how thoroughly DuBose investigated the situation. Even when someone she knew appeared to validate the story, she continued asking questions. Her experience is a reminder that you should never feel pressured to trust someone simply because their online life looks convincing.

If a dating app verifies someone's identity but that person turns out to be lying about who they are, should the platform share responsibility for the damage? Or do you believe people should be entirely responsible for protecting themselves? Let us know by writing to us at CyberGuy.com.

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Vance takes aim at soft-on-crime Dems as GOP faces uphill midterm battle: ‘Lost their minds’

Wed, 14 Oct 2026 14:27:25 -0400

EXCLUSIVE: TYLER, Texas — Faced with an uphill battle in November's midterms as costs soar for Americans, Vice President JD Vance is making a pitch that the alternative is not better and argued that Democrats would only make existing problems like street crime worse.

"It sort of drives home how the Democrats have kind of lost their minds," Vance told Fox News Digital Tuesday when asked about a recent rash of Somali gang violence in Minnesota.

"And if you elect Democrats, you're fundamentally electing people who will invite criminals into your state, into your communities and make your communities less safe."

In typically blue Minnesota, Democratic Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan is vying for a seat in the U.S. Senate but is facing a tough challenge from Republican Michele Tafoya.

100-SHOT SOMALI GANG GUN BATTLE ROCKS MINNESOTA AS SHERIFF WARNS 'WE'RE IN TROUBLE'

"If you elect Republicans, you may not agree with us on everything, but we agree on some basic principles," Vance continued. "Like, for example, everybody should be safe. Everybody should be secure in their communities, and we don't want let violent criminals come into our country.

"So, I do think that contrast is driven a little bit more starkly given what's happening in Minnesota."

Fox News Digital spoke with the vice president after a campaign rally in the town of Tyler, Texas, about 100 miles east of Dallas, Tuesday. There, Vance rallied for Republican Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton who is also in a tight U.S. Senate race with Democrat state Rep. James Talarico.

FOX NEWS POLL: IT’S A LONE STAR SENATE SHOWDOWN BETWEEN TALARICO AND PAXTON

The progressive candidate recently returned from a two-week campaign absence, which Vance described as "odd."

"How old is he? Thirty-five? Forty?" Vance asked about Talarico. "You've got to have the energy to do the job, and taking two weeks off the campaign in October — that's the meat of the campaign — I just think it's a very, very bizarre thing."

The vice president added that he hopes Talarico's health is OK but that Texans must weigh whether he has the energy to do the job as a U.S. Senator.

TALARICO DISAPPEARANCE HAS DEM VOLUNTEERS WORRYING AND TRUMP ASKING, 'WHAT IS GOING ON?'

In that race, Talarico has demanded a debate with Paxton, who has yet to oblige. President Donald Trump said the two should debate, posting to Truth Social that Paxton is "ready, willing, and able." Vance took a softer stance when asked about a potential debate.

"That's ultimately something Ken Paxton and James Talarico are going to decide," Vance told Fox News Digital, adding that Paxton will make a "great senator."

"Obviously, those are some … things the campaigns have to negotiate," he continued. "But I'll let Ken Paxton and James Talarico make that decision. Ultimately, they each have to make their case to the people of Texas."

Nationwide, Republicans are underwater when it comes to the economy and cost of living, along with the war in Iran, according to Fox News polling.

REPUBLICANS FACE BRUTAL MIDTERM HEADWINDS. SIX FORCES COULD HELP THEM DEFY HISTORY.

Of those polled in September, 61% say gas prices are a major problem, up from 48% from two years ago, while 52% say the same for healthcare costs, up from 44%. Majorities also view housing costs (54%, down from 60%) and grocery prices (62%, down from 66%) as major problems ahead of the November election.

In a similar poll, 71% of respondents said the Trump administration lacks a concrete strategy for ending the ongoing war in Iran.

The two issues are closely related after gas prices spiked sharply from a national average of $2.98 per gallon at the start of the war earlier this year to an average of $4.33 per gallon today.

"Well, we obviously want gas prices to be as low as they possibly can," Vance said. "And I think voters have to ask themselves, ‘Who has affirmatively taken steps to lower gas prices in the face, of course, of the Iranians terrorizing international shipping?’"

REPUBLICAN LAWMAKERS BREAK WITH TRUMP ON DIESEL DEAL WITH RUSSIA

Vance accused Democrats of complaining about the problem without offering solutions.

"We saw the president's announcement, with Russian diesel being allowed to come into the market," he said. "We have massive refinery capacity that we're announcing that we're going to build upon here. So, we're doing everything that we can, recognizing that building out energy refining capacity takes some time.

"I'm very cognizant that a lot of Americans are struggling with high gas prices," he acknowledged. "We're doing as much as we can to address as much of the pain as possible."

The 50th vice president stopped short of providing a definitive end date or marker that would signify an end to the war but said Iran must commit "not to rebuild [uranium enrichment] capacity and to stay off a pathway of nuclear weapons."

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"They're going to stay off the pathway that's developing a nuclear weapon, and I think the president's been quite clear about that. I think the entire administration has been quite clear about that."

Kamala Harris calls to expand Supreme Court, add states if Dems take Congress

Wed, 14 Oct 2026 14:15:41 -0400

Former Vice President Kamala Harris called for institutional changes to the Supreme Court and the Electoral College during an interview Tuesday, calling for more justices on the highest court in the nation.

"The work that we can do about winning back the House and the Senate is going to be on a number of things. For example, I believe that we need to expand the Supreme Court. We need more justices on the Supreme Court so that we can have a court that actually reinforces the spirit and principles behind the Constitution of the United States," Harris told podcast host Keke Palmer on her "Baby, This is Keke Palmer" podcast.

"I believe that we should be pushing for what is possible around changing the Electoral College. Right?

"It's about, the popular vote has to matter, right? You know, all the things that make people feel, like, overwhelmed, and does their vote matter? We have, you know, listen, if the folks there want it, we should be pushing for statehood for Puerto Rico and D.C., right? These are some of the things that are structural that we need to do, but we need to reestablish affordable child care," Harris added.

KAMALA HARRIS FACES DEMOCRATIC DOUBTS OVER 2028 AS ALLIES PUSH BACK ON CLAIMS SHE’S SQUANDERED HER CHANCE

Harris lost both the Electoral College and the popular vote to President Donald Trump in 2024. She told Palmer she still remains undecided about a 2028 presidential run.

Y. David Scharf, chairman of Morrison Cohen LLP and head of its government strategies & controversies practice, told Fox News Digital that Harris' proposed changes could set a "dangerous precedent."

"Kamala Harris says she wants to defend democracy, but her solution is to rewrite its rules when Democrats don't like the results. That's a dangerous precedent," he said. "Nine justices have been the number since 1869. FDR tried to pack the Supreme Court, and even his own party pushed back. Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg herself warned that expanding the court would make it look partisan.

GAVIN NEWSOM EXPRESSES 'OPENNESS' TO PACKING SCOTUS, CALLS ELECTORAL COLLEGE SYSTEM 'PERVERTED'

"The Electoral College is written into the Constitution. Eliminating it requires a constitutional amendment, not a Democratic majority in Congress. You don't get to change the referee because you don't like the calls. Harris may think this is a winning message for the Democratic base, but it's a much tougher sell to the independent and swing voters her party needs."

The former VP also spoke about the midterm elections during the interview.

"On the first Tuesday in November, the midterms are going to happen," Harris said. "And our ability to put people in Congress who will say no, when they do things like cut $1 trillion out of Medicaid will be powerful and affect people right away.

"Our ability to put people in Congress who will say enough of the corruption, enough of ending the funding for research on issues like fibroids, which they have done under the guise of attacking DEI, can be stopped. There are things that are not only about what will be helpful, but also stopping what is harmful, that we can do right away with these midterm elections."

Her comments come days after her 2024 vice presidential running mate, Gov. Tim Walz, warned of a reckoning among Democrats if the party fails to deliver on promises should they take back Congress and potentially the presidency in 2028.

Harris was called out by Democratic advisors Tuesday for failing to reinvent herself politically as she weighs another White House run, Politico reported.

The report, based on interviews with nearly 20 California-based Democratic donors and strategists, highlighted growing skepticism among some party insiders about Harris' political future and whether she has done enough to distinguish herself from her unsuccessful 2024 campaign.

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Longtime Democratic strategist Doug Herman, a veteran of former President Barack Obama’s 2008 and 2012 campaigns, told Politico that Harris "totally blew it. … She hasn’t gotten into the mix."

Former Gov. Jim Hodges of South Carolina, the leadoff state in the Democratic Party's 2028 presidential nominating calendar, told the outlet, "I don’t see anything different myself. It seems like more of the same to me."

Veteran Democratic strategist Maria Cardona, an outside advisor to Harris, pushed back against the criticism highlighted in a new Politico report and called the story "infuriating" in a previous statement to Fox News Digital.

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"How can you state that she hasn’t done anything new or groundbreaking or talked about new initiatives or policies and then lay out exactly those policies — like proposing an expanded Supreme Court, lowering the voting age to 16, making D.C. and Puerto Rico states. Those are pretty groundbreaking policies," Cardona told Fox News Digital, as she pointed to some of Harris' moves since the end of former President Joe Biden's administration.