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Harvard-China links unearthed as Congress finds 140 papers co-authored by CCP military universities

Thu, 13 Aug 2026 05:00:40 -0400

FIRST ON FOX: Harvard allegedly failed to adequately safeguard research collaborations with Chinese institutions, including universities tied to Beijing’s military and defense-industrial base, according to a report from the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party.

Researchers affiliated with the New England Ivy League co-authored more than 140 publications with other researchers affiliated with a group of Chinese universities, according to the report reviewed by Fox News Digital ahead of its public release.

The "Seven Sons of National Defense" are a group of Chinese universities identified by the Pentagon and other U.S. officials as central to China’s defense research and military modernization efforts. The House Committee created to crackdown on China argues that Harvard’s approach to research security opened the door for collaborations that could advance technological and military capabilities of the hostile nation.

Harvard also reportedly received more than $600 million from China under the federal Section 117 foreign-gift disclosure system — more than any other American university, according to the Education Department dashboard cited in the report. The committee argues the U.S. university's financial ties to China heighten the need for strict oversight of its research partnerships and foreign-funding disclosures.

HARVARD TOPS NATION IN FOREIGN CASH HAUL AS COTTON DEMANDS PROBE INTO CHINA FUNDING

The stakes in the latest report extend far beyond Harvard. U.S. officials have warned for years that China uses academic partnerships and access to Western research to advance CCP strategic capabilities in military, surveillance and other areas.

The House Select Committee on China argues that universities receiving U.S. taxpayer funding must do more than meet the narrowest legal requirements when collaborating with institutions embedded in China’s military research system, particularly when it comes to technology with potential defense or military uses.

The report highlights a 2023 paper on bio-inspired soft robots for deep-sea exploration co-authored by a Harvard-affiliated researcher and a researcher from Beihang University, one of the Seven Sons institutions. Beihang, also known as Beijing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, has appeared on the Commerce Department’s Entity List since 2001.

The committee report argues the work examined in the paper has potential military applications, including underwater detection, while Harvard’s research-compliance office characterized the project as nonmilitary research.

FOREIGN ROBOT BAN TARGETS CHINA OVER SECURITY FEARS

Harvard researchers also co-authored a 2023 paper with a researcher at China’s National University of Defense Technology, another institution on a U.S. restricted list, according to the report. That study involved magnetic materials and acknowledged partial support from the U.S. Army Research Office.

The committee said it reviewed publications spanning dozens of disciplines and found that engineering accounted for the largest share of Harvard-affiliated research involving Seven Sons institutions.

"From allowing violence against anti-China protestors to collaborating with entities linked to the PLA, Harvard has made serious mistakes and must act now to prevent more. It should use this investigation as a catalyst for significant reforms that end CCP influence on campus and prioritize secure American research," Committee Chairman Rep. John Moolenaar, R-Mich., said in a statement.

In a statement to Fox News Digital, Harvard said it "shares the Committees’ concern about geopolitical risks, including threats posed by the Chinese Communist Party, and is committed to continuing to conduct research and academic programming with protections that prioritize U.S. interests and national security."

"Harvard follows national security standards and guidance set by the federal government for its international collaborations," a university spokesperson said. "Additionally, where appropriate, federal agencies who are best able to assess real-time national security risks work with Harvard to put in place agency approved risk mitigation measures for federally funded research."

"Harvard disagrees with mischaracterizations that fail to reflect the University’s documented record of compliance, cooperation, and commitment to protecting and advancing U.S. interests, national security, and global standing," the spokesperson continued.

The report also examines Harvard’s executive education program with China’s National Healthcare Security Administration, which trained Chinese health officials on international health-insurance systems.

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According to the report, attendance and registration records show officials affiliated with the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps, or XPCC, were listed in connection with some sessions. The Treasury Department sanctioned XPCC in 2020 over human-rights abuses against Uyghurs and other ethnic minorities in Xinjiang.

The report acknowledges it is unclear whether XPCC officials ultimately attended every program in question.

It alleges, however, that Harvard had advance participant information for a 2020 online session that included XPCC-affiliated officials and did not take further action.

Harvard professor Winnie Yip, who helped organize the executive education program, told committee investigators she did not know XPCC was a sanctioned entity at the time and had not received training on sanctions compliance, according to the report.

The report further alleges Harvard’s research-security practices focused too narrowly on technical legal compliance and failed to account for broader national-security risks posed by work with Chinese military-linked institutions.

It cites testimony from a Harvard research official, who said the university evaluates research collaborations case by case and does not prohibit all work involving robotics or Chinese institutions. The committee criticized that approach, arguing research with entities embedded in China’s military-civil fusion system can have military applications even when the research is unclassified and intended for publication.

The committee's report also raises questions about Harvard Global Research and Support Services, a nonprofit affiliated with the university that can accept awards when Harvard is unable to accept a sponsor’s terms directly. The panel alleges the entity could be used to circumvent federal foreign-gift reporting requirements, an allegation Harvard will likely dispute.

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The report recommends that Harvard prohibit research relationships with entities on U.S. government restricted or sanctioned lists and centralize its research-security oversight. It also urges Congress to strengthen foreign-funding disclosure requirements for universities.

Trump admin marks 15 straight months with zero border releases as apprehensions plunge 94%

Thu, 13 Aug 2026 12:26:00 -0400

President Donald Trump's administration says it has gone 15 straight months without a single release at the border as of Thursday.

Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin's office says daily apprehensions at the border are down 94% compared to former President Joe Biden's administration and are at the lowest level seen in 30 years.

"Again this month, the results are clear: President Trump’s border security agenda is restoring order and putting the safety of the American people first," Mullin said in a statement.

"DHS remains focused on enforcing our immigration laws, securing the border, and ensuring those who enter our country illegally are removed swiftly. Thanks to the strong leadership of President Trump, we have the most secure border in history," he added.

'AMERICA FIRST' IMMIGRATION OVERHAUL BILL WOULD CODIFY TRUMP'S CAMPAIGN PROMISES ONCE AND FOR ALL

Meanwhile, seizures of contraband at the border in July were 26% higher than under Biden, with authorities seizing cocaine, methamphetamine, heroin, fentanyl and marijuana.

INSIDE UNDERGROUND EL PASO STORM DRAIN SYSTEM BORDER PATROL SAYS CARTELS EXPLOIT TO SMUGGLE ILLEGAL MIGRANTS

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) also helped enforce Trump's tariff policies, flagging $23 billion in duties identified for collection in July alone.

"Clear policy, strong enforcement, and dedicated frontline personnel are delivering results at our borders," CBP Commissioner Rodney Scott said in a statement.

"With the support of President Trump and Secretary Mullin, CBP is securing our nation against illegal crossings, dangerous individuals, and illicit drugs while keeping lawful trade and travel moving. These results show what is possible when border security is treated as a national priority," he added.

The Trump administration is still moving to increase its immigration enforcement efforts. Last month, the House of Representatives moved toward codifying several of Trump's immigration orders.

The Permanent Trump Secure Border Act would criminalize visa overstays and increase penalties for unlawful entry, would effectively end "catch and release" policies by requiring most illegal migrants to be detained or returned while their cases are pending and tighten asylum eligibility and humanitarian parole, among other provisions.

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The measure would also bolster the CBP by directing the DHS to modernize border facilities, expand staffing and workforce planning and deploy more surveillance technology, including drones, radar systems, biometric screening and DNA collection.

Fox News' Adam Pack contributed to this report.

Warren’s ancestry saga roars back after Dem ally touts Native Senate first: ‘Arrows fired’

Thu, 13 Aug 2026 12:17:26 -0400

Minnesota Democratic Senate nominee Peggy Flanagan is pitching donors on the prospect of becoming the first Native American woman to serve in the U.S. Senate — drawing attention to one of her prominent endorsers, Sen. Elizabeth Warren, whose past claims of Native American identity became a yearslong political controversy.

"In almost 250 years, there’s never been a Native woman serving in the US Senate. It’s time to change that," the email reads. "I am Ojibwe and a proud member of the White Earth Nation. My family is the Wolf Clan. The mission of my clan is to never leave anyone behind — and that’s been my guiding principle … Right now, there are no Native voices in the US Senate. If I win this race, we can change that."

Throughout her career, Warren identified herself as a Native American, writing "American Indian" on her Texas bar-registration card and describing herself as a minority in the Association of American Law Schools directory. Since 2019, Warren has walked back her indigenous identity, clarifying that she is not a person of color nor a citizen of a tribe, and stating that she should not have identified herself as an American Indian.

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"Wow, arrows fired," podcast host Michael Duncan wrote of the email.

Warren supported Flanagan in Minnesota's Democratic Senate primary.

"The Democrat nominee for Senate in Minnesota, Peggy Flanagan , just sent out a fundraising email on the DNC list that admits that Elizabeth Warren is NOT Native American," conservative commentator Steve Guest posted to X, adding, "tough break for Fauxcahontas."

"Has anybody checked on Elizabeth Warren?" the Republican Party quipped on X.

"Elizabeth Warren just took her peace pipe and went home to throw a tantrum," another user replied.

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President Donald Trump famously lampooned Warren’s claimed ancestry by labeling her "Pocahontas." The feud between the two culminated in Warren taking a genetic test in 2018, which found she was between 0.1% and 1.6% Native American.

"Excuse me? How dare she disrespect Elizabeth Warren like that?" libertarian commentator Brad Polumbo wrote, ironically.

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Multiple X users posted AI-generated images of Warren in Native American garb looking dejected or angry in response to the fundraising email.

"Elizabeth Warren is doing a land acknowledgement on Flanagan's head," New York Post columnist Kirsten Fleming quipped.

"I can say this because I am part of the Cherokee Nation, but these two should powwow over this," podcaster Dave Van de Walle joked.

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The Flanagan campaign and Warren’s office did not respond to requests for comment when reached by Fox News Digital on Thursday.

Soccer host and model Eva Murati skillfully extends a middle finger to those itching for fall in her bikini

Thu, 13 Aug 2026 12:14:15 -0400

I may never have written a more accurate headline than the one I wrote last summer when I brilliantly announced, "Nobody Bikini Vacations Harder Than Champions League Host & Model Eva Murati."

It was true then and it's true now. It was at the exact same time that it is now. It was August, we were waiting for football season to kickoff, and the Albanian actress, model, and host was going as hard as someone can go on a vacation.

There was intent, beyond making sure she remained the internet's favorite Champions League host. That intent, I should mention and to Murati's credit, remains in her latest vacation effort.

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It's a testament to her. She's skillfully extending a middle finger to those out there itching for fall to arrive. She's doing something she says is "Summermaxxing," whatever that is in her bikini.

While I'm not going to try to figure out "maxxing," I get what Eva Murati is doing here. She's taking summer down to the wire. She's not reaching for the pumpkin spice. Fall can wait.

It's how she's able to extend herself beyond the soccer world. Speaking of that and of brilliant headlines, calling for Murati to cover college football is another great call.

THREE COLLEGE FOOTBALL STORYLINES TO FOCUS ON INSTEAD OF LSU COACH LANE KIFFIN THIS OFFSEASON

Shortly after I scouted the vacation last year, Joe was pushing for that. That hasn't taken place yet, but sometimes it takes a while for the ball to get rolling on those sorts of game-changing moves.

Not everyone is moving at the same pace. The talent is there. It's getting the right people to open their eyes and recognize it, that's the trick.

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I let important moves like Eva Murati working college football work themselves out. All I really have control of is properly identifying content at the right moment in time. The rest is out of my hands.

Eva Murati and her summer vacations moving to college football would be great for her brand.

El-Sayed invokes Jesus while accusing Mike Rogers of hiding behind ‘simulacrum of faith’

Thu, 13 Aug 2026 12:12:33 -0400

Michigan Democratic Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed drew sharp Republican rebukes after invoking Jesus Christ to question GOP opponent Mike Rogers' Christian faith during an "I've Had It Podcast" interview, escalating a personal clash in the pivotal race for Michigan's open Senate seat.

Michigan Republican Party spokesperson Ted Goodman told Fox News Digital Wednesday that El-Sayed had no standing to dismiss Rogers’ faith while lecturing Christians about their religion.

"It's quite something for Mr. El-Sayed to lecture Christians on the teachings of Jesus while dismissing a man’s sincere faith as somehow, 'simulacrum,'" Goodman said.

DEM ATTORNEY BACKS GOP HOPEFUL IN MICHIGAN RACE AGAINST EL-SAYED, 'JUMPING SHIP' FROM HIS PARTY'S 'LUNATICS'

"Whether one is a practicing Christian or not, no serious person can minimize the profound contributions of Christian teaching, morality, and philosophy to the founding principles and enduring greatness of America, or to the character of public servants like Mike Rogers who live them out," he added.

El-Sayed made the remarks after host Jennifer Welch raised questions about members of Rogers' campaign faith coalition and their connection to Living Word Church. El-Sayed accused Rogers of invoking religion without following what he described as Christ's eternal message.

"He’s going to hide behind this simulacrum of faith, which clearly, you know, if you followed the teachings of Jesus Christ, it was about upending the system against the richest and most powerful in the ways that they used their power and their money to subjugate other people," El-Sayed said. "Like, that was the essential teaching."

In a Wednesday statement to Fox News Digital, RNC national spokesperson Natalie Baldassarre responded by questioning El-Sayed's compatibility with American culture.

MICHIGAN SENATE RACE: EL-SAYED’S TIES TO EXTREMIST FUEL ANTISEMITISM CONCERNS AMONG JEWISH VOTERS

"He's fundamentally incompatible with Western values and invoking Jesus' name isn't going to change that," Baldassarre said.

Rogers broadened the cultural dispute during an appearance on "Hannity," accusing El-Sayed of opposing American traditions popular with Michigan voters.

"When I go back, I want to, you know, make sure we're protecting our faith, and our families, and our factories, while he’s advocating… doing away with our fireworks, football, the 4th of July," Rogers said. "This guy spent hours hating on what most Michiganders would enjoy in their pastimes, and he should be held into account for that."

El-Sayed answered Rogers' criticism Wednesday by challenging him on X to play football without protective equipment.

MICHIGAN DEM SENATE NOMINEE COMES UNDER FIRE OVER RESURFACED BLOG POST LINKING FOOTBALL TO 'TOXIC MASCULINITY'

"Since you're too afraid to debate me, how about you ‘hold me accountable’ on a football field instead. Tackle, no pads like we used to play when we were kids. I'd be happy to show you how much I love football," El-Sayed said.

El-Sayed defeated establishment-backed Rep. Haley Stevens, D-Mich., in last week's Democratic primary and will face Rogers in November for the seat vacated by retiring Democratic Sen. Gary Peters.

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Fox News Digital reached out to El-Sayed and Rogers for comment, but did not immediately receive a response.

WATCH: Top House Republican brands El-Sayed, Mamdani 'hair tonic salesmen' in brutal jab

Thu, 13 Aug 2026 12:05:54 -0400

The No. 3 House Republican is arguing that fringe Democrats who are fast becoming top figures on the left are selling Americans a false bill of goods.

"Unfortunately, you've got these hair-tonic salesmen like [Michigan Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed] and [New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani] that are selling them literally the same thing that Pinocchio was sold when he was taken to the island, that you're going to get everything and of course everybody turns into a donkey," House Majority Whip Tom Emmer, R-Minn., told Fox News Digital.

A far-left insurgency has gripped the primary election season this year, toppling establishment Democrats in multiple states across the country.

It's provided fodder for Republicans, who are fighting an uphill battle to keep control of Congress and who are arguing that Democratic Socialists of America (DSA)-linked candidates are further to the left than what most people in the country are comfortable with.

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DSA-linked candidates in New York, Colorado and Michigan have already defeated four sitting House Democrats and will likely ascend to the House of Representatives next year.

El-Sayed, who has denied being a Democratic socialist but aligns closely with groups and people who do identify with the label, defeated an establishment-backed moderate in Michigan's Senate primary.

"Somebody who's talented and works hard can actually achieve in this country. They object to that, because you know what? Everybody should have the same in their book, regardless of their abilities, regardless of their effort," Emmer said. "It's never worked anywhere else in the world in history. Their way doesn't work. Unfortunately, we got a lot of young people who have been done a disservice with the education. They may have to learn this firsthand."

DEMOCRATS LURE ‘POLITICALLY HOMELESS’ GEN Z TOWARD SOCIALISM — A COUNTERATTACK IS TAKING SHAPE

"There are challenges in this country that we cannot ignore, right? People are struggling to make ends meet. This generation has more bills than any generation before them, because of their cell phones and the streaming services and all the things that they have that they have to deal with every day," Emmer said.

He said younger Americans are feeling "frustration" at those challenges, but that the socialist left is pushing solutions that are untenable.

Visitors to the DSA website are asked to envision a world largely free of bills and a "future without capitalism," where, "you work as much as you are able and no more than needed."

It's a similar tone to Karl Marx's infamous phrase describing a communist utopia, "From each according to his ability, to each according to his needs."

But Emmer pointed out that Marx's theories have rarely, if ever, played out as a successful government system.

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"There is nothing democratic about socialism," he said.

And while they are hundreds of miles apart in geography, El-Sayed and Mamdani's links to the DSA and popularity among young left-wing voters have made them top bogeymen for the right. Mamdani is a DSA member. El-Sayed is not, but has been backed by prominent figures in the organization.

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Fox News Digital reached out to El-Sayed's campaign for comment.

Alarming study finds top chatbots more likely to repeat falsehoods from the left: ‘Truly astonishing’

Thu, 13 Aug 2026 12:00:44 -0400

Three of the world’s four leading artificial intelligence (AI) chatbots are more likely to fall for political falsehoods from the left than the right, while frequently backing their answers with sources that don’t support their claims or don’t exist, according to a comprehensive new study.

The study, conducted by Just Facts, tested paid versions of ChatGPT, Gemini, Grok and Claude using 100 questions on immigration, abortion, climate change, elections, crime, gun control, COVID-19 and other key issues. The questions were "designed to elicit falsehoods" from the left and the right, with each chatbot required to provide sources for its answers.

The study found ChatGPT correctly answered 94% of questions designed to elicit falsehoods from the right, compared with 75% from the left. Gemini scored 91% on the right and 76% on the left, while Claude scored 91% on the right and 81% on the left.

Grok moved in the opposite direction, scoring 73% on questions designed to elicit falsehoods from the right and 84% on those from the left, according to the study.

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"This study goes a lot deeper than political bias," Jim Agresti, president of the nonprofit research institute Just Facts, told Fox News Digital.

"It is meant to show how often these AIs are propagating misinformation. Now, you can be biased without being misinformed. This is a much deeper study because many studies have been done on AI political bias, and they uniformly find that they're biased to the left. But that doesn't necessarily mean they're wrong. So what I wanted to ascertain is: Are they wrong, or are they right?"

ChatGPT was the only chatbot whose difference in accuracy on questions designed to elicit falsehoods from the political left versus the political right was statistically significant at the 95% confidence level, the study found.

Notably, the study cautioned that its precisely worded questions may have given the chatbots "clear roadmaps to find the correct answers," meaning they could "perform significantly worse" on broader questions where "critical thinking is necessary to answer correctly."

"ChatGPT was effectively a C student," Agresti said. "Gemini was a C student. Claude was a B student. Grok, on the other hand, was the reverse. It was better at vetting falsehoods from the left than the right."

But Agresti said an even bigger concern was the sources the chatbots cited to support their answers.

"The thing that really jumped out at me when I started going through the sources they provided is that roughly half of the sources were illegitimate," he said.

The four chatbots cited 419 sources for their 400 answers, but many were flawed, according to the study. Among them were 104 webpages that did not exist and 77 sources that failed to answer the questions they were cited to support.

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Overall, the study found that just 46% of the sources cited by the chatbots were valid. ChatGPT had the highest rate at 57%, followed by Gemini at 49%, Claude at 44% and Grok at 32%.

"This was truly astonishing to me, and when I started digging deeper, I noticed that other studies had come to this conclusion as well," Agresti said.

Pointing to a 2026 study published in The Lancet and cited in the report, Agresti said that previous research found 30% to 69% of AI-generated references in biomedical contexts were "fabricated," which the report called a "well-documented failure mode" of AI models.

"The consequences of this are astonishing because we're talking about biomedicine, in other words, people's health," he said. "They're equally important in the realm of public policy because many issues have life or death implications whether we're talking about health care, crime, abortion, war and peace. The decisions people make can kill people or allow people to live."

A question designed to elicit a falsehood from the left prompted all four chatbots to say the U.S. violent crime rate was near a 50-year low in 2023. The study cited Justice Department data showing violent crime rose 37% from 2020 to 2023. By contrast, all four rejected President Donald Trump’s claim that "crime is worse than it’s ever been."

ChatGPT and Gemini also said Vice President JD Vance called school shootings a "fact of life," which the study classified as a falsehood from the left. Vance was referring to "psychos" who "want to make headlines" as a "fact of life," the study said.

In other examples classified as falsehoods from the left, all four chatbots said the Obama administration altered intelligence assessments to downplay the threat of ISIS and that men and women generally earn equal pay for equal work. The chatbots cited nonexistent or faulty sources for those answers.

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On the other hand, Grok incorrectly said all illegal immigrants have committed a crime "by virtue of their presence" in the U.S., while all four chatbots correctly said the Earth’s lower-atmosphere temperature has risen about 1.1 degrees Fahrenheit since the 1980s, according to the study.

Agresti warned users against treating AI chatbots as experts, referring to OpenAI CEO Sam Altman’s description of GPT-5 last year as being like having a "team of Ph.D.-level experts in your pocket."

"What my study definitively showed is it's more like having a B student in your pocket, because that's how well they scored on these tests," he said.

Agresti also highlighted AI sycophancy, the tendency of chatbots to validate users and "feed into" their biases, calling it a "recipe for disaster." To minimize the influence, the study used a freshly installed browser and new accounts to prevent prior interactions from influencing its results.

"If you have a certain political bias, AIs are going to feed into that, and they're going to state it with very strident confidence that will make you believe you're right," he said.

Still, Agresti acknowledged he doesn’t "have enough knowledge" to explain what’s happening inside the models to produce the results.

"That's a question for programmers and the people who make them, and I would hope that they would answer them and fix these models and make them better because they are powerful, they can read at the speed of light, but they are incredibly sloppy, dishonest, politically misinformed, and this is a danger," he said.

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Agresti said the takeaway isn’t to abandon AI, but to "never blindly trust the results" and ensure its sources exist and support its claims.

"When Ronald Reagan was negotiating nuclear disarmament with the Soviet Union, he famously said, 'Trust but verify,'" Agresti said. "I think the take-home from this study is even stronger, and it's this: Don't trust, verify."

Other research on AI political bias has painted a different picture in the past. Fox News Digital previously reported that Dartmouth College's Polarization Research Lab ranked Gemini as the least political in 2025, while an early 2025 Manhattan Institute report found Grok a close second to Gemini in terms of political bias.

"Gemini is designed to provide neutral, accurate responses that do not favor any political viewpoint, and we rigorously test our models to ensure they stay that way," a Google spokesperson said in a statement to Fox News Digital, adding that they were unable to replicate all of the responses in the study.

An Anthropic spokesperson pushed back on the study’s methodology, telling Fox News Digital in a statement its multiple-choice format does not reflect typical Claude conversations and highlighting the company’s efforts to ensure political neutrality through training, testing and evaluations.

"We train Claude to treat different political viewpoints equally and test extensively for bias before every model launch," the spokesperson said. "We've open-sourced those evaluations, so anyone can check our work, and welcome independent testing of our models. We understand that this study limited each model to multiple-choice answers on 100 questions, which doesn't reflect how people normally use Claude, particularly on political topics. In a real conversation, Claude is designed to respond at a natural length, with room for important context and multiple perspectives."

An OpenAI spokesperson told Fox News Digital that ChatGPT "is designed to be objective by default," adding that its tools "surface relevant information from a range of sources, and clearly show those sources so that you can explore and assess the reliability of the information directly yourself."

"We continually measure our political bias evaluations and disclose our findings," the spokesperson said in a statement.

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

Florida father gunned down while intervening in fight after dropping daughter off for first day of school

Thu, 13 Aug 2026 12:00:40 -0400

A Florida father who had just dropped off his daughter for her first day of elementary school was shot and killed after trying to intervene in a fight between a man and a woman, police and reports said.

Daryl Hill, 56, now leaves behind his wife, two adult children and his 10-year-old daughter following the incident Tuesday morning near Wolf Lake Elementary School in Apopka, according to FOX 35 Orlando.

"He’s got the biggest heart in the entire world," Damon Hill, his son, told the station. "He loved everybody... He just loved his fellow person, and he was very non-judgmental."

The Orange County Sheriff’s Office said the shooting unfolded after witnesses described seeing a man and woman fighting inside a vehicle, before the vehicle crashed and the brawl spilled outside.

BYSTANDER SHOT DEAD AFTER INTERVENING IN FLORIDA MAN, WOMAN'S ROADSIDE FIGHT; MURDER SUSPECT WAS OUT ON BOND

"Witnessing that altercation, a Good Samaritan attempted to intervene and was shot. That man, 56-year-old Daryl Alexander Hill, later died at the hospital," the sheriff's office said.

"Mr. Hill was simply trying to help someone who appeared to be in distress when he was shot by 26-year-old Raul Lionel Vazquez. Vazquez was arrested on a charge of Second-Degree Murder," it added.

Suzanne Hill, Daryl’s wife, told Spectrum News 13 that her husband was a "friend, family and stranger: he cared for everybody and helped everybody and always stepped in, which I think is ultimately what took his life."

Police said the shooting happened at Plymouth Sorrento and West Ponkan roads in Apopka, which is down the road from the elementary school.

Before Hill was shot, Vazquez and a woman, Kaidy Honaker, were seen by multiple witnesses fighting inside their white Chevy Silverado pickup truck when it crashed into a black Lexus, according to an arrest affidavit obtained by Fox News Digital. The two continued their heated altercation on the sidewalk.

VIDEO SHOWS MOMENTS BEFORE ARMY VETERAN WAS FATALLY SHOT IN WALMART PARKING LOT DISPUTE

Vazquez, who was seen shirtless and wearing no shoes, got in Honaker's face and appeared to be yelling and pointing at her, the affidavit said.

Two witnesses said they saw Hill riding a bicycle nearby and told authorities that he got involved in the argument, which led to Vazquez and Hill tackling each other into the bushes, per the affidavit.

According to the affidavit, Honaker joined the fight as well, later saying she did so to pull Hill off Vazquez.

After the fight in the bushes, Hill began running away from Vazquez and Honaker, yelling "help" with his hands in the air, the affidavit said.

Vazquez retrieved what was later determined to be a shotgun from his pickup truck and fired one round, hitting Hill and causing him to fall to the ground, according to the affidavit.

In an interview with investigators, Vazquez offered "many different accounts" of what happened but said that Hill "was fighting him and getting the better of him," according to the affidavit.

At the time of the shooting, Vazquez was out on bond for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.

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FOX 35 reported that a judge has since revoked that bond and ordered him held without bond in that case and for the second-degree murder charge.

DiJonai Carrington hits two players across the face, receives technical foul after Sophie Cunningham drama

Thu, 13 Aug 2026 11:56:41 -0400

Chicago Sky guard DiJonai Carrington swears that she isn't a dirty player, but her actions on the court aren't exactly helping that narrative.

Carrington made major headlines last week by committing a very hard foul on Sophie Cunningham during a layup attempt that left the Indiana Fever star with a bloody mouth. Carrington was ejected from the contest after the foul was determined to be a Flagrant 2, and shortly after being tossed from the contest, posted "WHITE PRIVILEGE" on her Instagram Threads account, insinuating skin color played a role in the decision.

Fast-forward just four days after the foul and controversy involving Cunningham, and Carrington was back on the floor making contact with players' faces.

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During Chicago's 91-71 loss to the Golden State Valkyries on Wednesday, Carrington was guarding Cecilia Zandalasini on the perimeter, and while swiping at the ball, caught the Golden State forward in the eye.

The hand movement from Carrington on the play was odd. While she was clearly using her right hand to attack the ball, her left hand was in a position where it was physically impossible for her to reach the ball unless it went through Zandalasini's face.

Players being poked in the eye or catching a finger across the face while being closely defended is a typical play in basketball, but the same can't be said for Carrington's second above-the-neck hit against Golden State.

As Tiffany Hayes made a mid-air move on a layup attempt, Carrington jumped with her and threw her arm down, failing to hit the basketball, and instead caught the Valkyries' guard in the mouth.

Neither of Carrington's fouls to the face against Golden State resulted in flagrant or technical fouls, but she did pick up what was her second technical of the season for arguing with a referee during the third quarter.

With Carrington now hitting three separate players in the face in just a four-day stretch, it's worth revisiting the message she posted on X during the 2025 season about not being a dirty player.

"Yall fAnS swear i’m such a dirty player. I’m SO over this narrative bc if u really know bball, u know I jus play hard asf & never give up on a play," Carrington wrote in June 2025. "&yup, we challenged the last couple flagrants & got em rescinded bc I’m ALWAYS tryna make a play on the ball nun more, nun less."

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Carrington did not receive any form of repercussions for her Flagrant 2 foul on Cunningham or for posting "WHITE PRIVILEGE" on social media. The WNBA did not address the situation publicly and did not issue a comment to OutKick upon multiple requests.

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According to Carrington, folks who assumed that her post about white privilege played a role in the foul on Cunningham or her ejection had it all wrong.

"I’ve never once claimed that the assessment of the foul was white privilege (that was your assumption)," Cunningam wrote on X, two days after her hard foul on Cunningham.

"Furthermore, I’m the LAST thing from ignorant or asinine when it comes to speaking on 'white privilege,' do ya research on that one," she continued. "I actually went to school, one of the top universities might I add, to educate myself on this exact subject," Carrington, who attended Stanford for four years before grad-transferring to Baylor, added. "I would never use that term as a rhetorical weapon knowing the historical and social weight it holds without having the proper evidence to substantiate it."

Cunningham came off the bench for Chicago against Golden State on Wednesday, scoring three points while shooting 1-for-9 from the floor in 24 minutes of action.

California law puts digital fingerprints on AI fakes

Thu, 13 Aug 2026 11:27:03 -0400

California now wants artificial intelligence-made images, videos and recordings to carry a traceable history. The California AI Transparency Act took effect Aug. 2. It requires large generative AI providers to embed hidden provenance information in covered media created by their systems.

That means a suspicious recording may carry clues about which AI system produced it and when. You will no longer have to rely only on how convincing it looks or sounds. Still, these digital fingerprints come with limits. They can reveal details about a file's history, but they cannot determine whether the message inside it is true.

The law also adds requirements for large online platforms beginning in 2027. Newly produced phones, cameras and voice recorders face another set of rules in 2028. Here is how the system will work, where it may fall short and why other states could soon follow California's lead.

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How the California AI transparency law works

California enacted the original AI Transparency Act in 2024. State Sen. Josh Becker authored the legislation, known as SB 942. Lawmakers later expanded its reach through AB 853. The law applies to companies that create generative AI systems with more than 1 million monthly visitors or users. Those systems must also be publicly accessible in California.

California calls these companies "covered providers." They must include a hidden disclosure in AI-generated images, video and audio created by their systems. The law calls this a latent disclosure. When technically feasible and reasonable, the disclosure must convey the provider's name, the name and version of the AI system, the date and time the content was created or altered and a unique identifier.

The disclosure must follow widely accepted industry standards. It must also remain permanent or extraordinarily difficult to remove when technically feasible. The law focuses these hidden disclosure requirements on images, video and audio. It does not require the same embedded disclosure in AI-generated text. Covered providers must also offer users the option to add a visible AI label. That notice must clearly identify the content as AI-generated.

California AI law requires free detection tools

Covered AI providers must offer a detection tool at no cost. The tool must let you upload an image, video or audio file. You can also submit a link to content stored online. It then checks whether that provider's own AI system created or altered the material. The tool must display any system provenance information it finds.

However, a detection tool from one AI company may not identify media produced by another company. Therefore, a negative result does not prove that a human created the content. The law also places privacy limits on these tools. Providers generally cannot collect personal information from users. They cannot keep submitted content longer than necessary either. A violation can bring a $5,000 civil penalty. Each day of noncompliance can count as a separate violation for covered providers, large platforms and device manufacturers.

What California's AI digital fingerprints reveal

Provenance data acts like a history attached to a digital file. It may identify the system that produced the content. It can also record when someone created or changed the file.

The Coalition for Content Provenance and Authenticity, commonly called C2PA, has developed an open technical standard for this purpose. Its Content Credentials system can preserve information about a file's source and editing history. For example, someone may send you an audio recording that appears to feature a public official. A compatible verification tool could reveal that an AI system generated the recording.

That information might stop you from sharing the clip too quickly. It could also help expose a scammer using a cloned voice. However, provenance data does not judge whether a statement is accurate. C2PA says its system provides evidence about a file's origin and history, but that information alone cannot prove the content is truthful. A real photograph can still appear beside a false caption. Someone can also edit authentic footage to remove important context.

TOP MEDIA OUTLETS FAIL TO DISCLOSE WHO IS BANKROLLING THEIR AI REPORTERS

When California's AI platform rules begin

The next major phase starts Jan. 1, 2027. Large online platforms will have to detect compatible provenance data embedded in content they distribute. The law covers public-facing social media services and file-sharing platforms. It also includes qualifying mass messaging services and stand-alone search engines. A service falls under this section if it exceeded 2 million unique monthly users during the previous 12 months.

Covered platforms must tell users when system provenance data is available. They must also show the name of the AI system or capture device connected to the file, when applicable. In addition, the platform must indicate whether digital signatures are available. Users must have an accessible way to inspect the information. A platform can display the data directly or let the user download a copy that retains it. The platform can also send the user to a separate verification service.

Finally, platforms cannot knowingly strip compatible system provenance data or digital signatures when preserving them is technically feasible. This phase could bring the most noticeable change for everyday users. Most people will not visit a separate verification website for every questionable post. A notice built into a social platform could make checking suspicious content much easier.

California AI law will reach phones and cameras

Another phase begins Jan. 1, 2028. It covers recording devices first produced for sale in California on or after that date. This includes mobile phones with built-in cameras or microphones. Traditional cameras and voice recorders also fall under the definition. Manufacturers must give users the option to include a hidden disclosure in captured content. They must also embed the disclosure by default when doing so is technically feasible.

The information can include the manufacturer and device model. It may also record the date and time when the device created or altered the content. That could establish a starting point for authentic media. For example, the credential may show that an image began as a photograph captured by a real camera. Later information could reveal whether compatible editing software altered it. Still, the requirement will not update every phone or camera already in use. It applies to covered devices first produced for sale in California beginning in 2028.

Why California is targeting AI deepfakes

Artificial intelligence can produce realistic voices and convincing video faster than lawmakers can update most regulations. Cybercriminals can now fake faces and voices in real time. As CyberGuy previously reported, AI deepfake scams can impersonate trusted executives during live video calls. One documented attack convinced an employee to transfer millions of dollars.

Scammers can also imitate someone you love. An AI voice scam can clone a family member from only a few seconds of public audio. Personal information found online can make the fake emergency even more convincing. California lawmakers have also raised concerns about election misinformation and abusive deepfakes. Generative AI can create fake political audio or video that appears to show a candidate saying something that never happened. It can also help bad actors produce false social media posts quickly. CyberGuy has previously examined how AI and other technology can fuel election-related scams, including deepfake videos and fabricated news.

Federal lawmakers are responding too. Sen. Adam Schiff and Rep. Ro Khanna reintroduced the AI Ads Act on July 27. The proposal would prohibit fraudulent misrepresentation of political candidates or committees through AI-generated content. However, it has not become federal law. A separate bipartisan proposal called the AI Labeling Act was introduced on June 24. It would require visible and machine-readable disclosures on covered AI-generated content. That bill would also require major social platforms and AI developers to work together on authenticity tools. It has not become law either. California's system places identifying information inside compatible files. That data may continue traveling with the content as people download or repost it. However, that protection depends on websites and editing tools preserving the credentials.

BABYLON BEE SUES NEW MEXICO OFFICIALS OVER LAW REQUIRING AI DISCLAIMERS ON POLITICAL SATIRE

Will other states follow California's AI law?

Yes, other states are likely to move in the same direction. However, they may not copy California's entire system. Many states already regulate AI-generated political content. Their laws often require a visible disclaimer or restrict deceptive deepfakes near an election. Colorado goes further by requiring metadata in certain political deepfakes. That metadata must identify the tool used and when the content was created. Utah requires tamper-evident digital provenance for some synthetic political media. Its rules can identify who created the content and whether other parties changed it.

Louisiana added disclosure requirements in 2026 for AI-generated telephone campaign communications, including calls that use the voice of a public figure. Other states have chosen narrower rules focused on specific election periods. California's law reaches beyond campaign advertising. It places requirements on major AI providers now, followed by large platforms and newly produced recording devices. The European Union is moving in a similar direction. Article 50 of the EU AI Act became applicable on Aug. 2. Covered AI providers must add machine-readable marks that allow people to detect generated or manipulated content. Deployers also face disclosure requirements for deepfakes.

That overlap may push large technology companies toward broader adoption. A company may find it easier to use one provenance system across its products than to maintain a special version for California. As a result, people nationwide could see some benefits before their own state passes a similar law. Still, that outcome isn’t guaranteed. Enforcement will matter, along with whether popular platforms preserve and clearly display the information.

Limits of the California AI transparency law

The new law creates a helpful signal, but several gaps remain. First, missing provenance data does not prove that a human created the file. The media may come from an AI provider that falls below California's size threshold. It could also have been generated before the law became operative. In addition, some editing programs may fail to preserve the information. A scammer could play an AI-generated video on one device and record it with another. That new recording might not retain the original credentials.

Screenshots can also lose embedded information. The same problem may affect compressed copies shared through messaging services. C2PA notes that provenance records can be incomplete. It also warns that a file without Content Credentials should not automatically be treated as untrustworthy. Most importantly, a valid credential does not certify that the message is true. You still need to consider who posted the content and whether another reliable source confirms the claim.

What California's AI law means to you

The California AI transparency law gives you another tool when a recording or image feels suspicious. Look for a Content Credentials icon or another provenance notice when a platform displays one. When possible, inspect the original file instead of relying on a screenshot. You can also use a detection tool offered by the AI provider. However, remember that the tool may recognize only content created by that company's system. For messages involving money, contact the person or business through a number you already trust. Do not use contact information included with the suspicious content.

For a claimed political statement, check the official account or website connected to the person shown. Then look for independent reporting from a credible source. Also, watch for pressure to react immediately. Urgency can keep you from noticing that a voice sounds slightly wrong or a video contains visual glitches. For more warning signs, CyberGuy's article on how to spot and stop AI phishing scams explains how to check suspicious messages, voice clones and deepfake video. Finally, do not treat the absence of an AI label as proof that something is real.

Kurt's key takeaways

California's AI transparency law gives you a practical way to investigate synthetic media. Hidden provenance information may reveal which AI system created a file and when that happened. The platform requirements could have an even greater effect. A built-in notice is easier to use than expecting everyone to locate a separate verification website. Still, digital fingerprints will not eliminate deception. Scammers will look for tools outside the law's reach. Older media will also continue circulating without credentials. California is now testing whether transparency can restore some trust in digital content. Other states are already taking related steps and more are likely to follow.

If an AI-generated recording can influence an election or empty someone's bank account before anyone checks it, should every state require a traceable digital identity? Let us know by writing to us at CyberGuy.com.

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Slain NJ mom Brooke Hanlon's family backs investigators two months after her stabbing death

Thu, 13 Aug 2026 11:16:52 -0400

"Brooke was a truly beautiful soul."

More than two months after New Jersey mother Brooke Hanlon, 35, was found stabbed to death inside her Chester home, her family is sharing more details about the beloved wife, daughter, sister and friend that she was, as her killing remains unsolved.

A new obituary for the slain psychotherapist says she "is survived by her beloved daughter, Avery, her sister, Paige Haggerty, her parents, Melissa and Joseph Haggerty, and her husband, James 'Conor' Hanlon."

SLAIN NEW JERSEY THERAPIST’S GRAD SCHOOL ROOMMATE RECOUNTS FRIENDSHIP WITH COUPLE DURING TIME IN BOSTON

Hanlon was found dead on June 6, and the Morris County Prosecutor's Office has been investigating the case as a homicide with "multiple sharp force injuries" as her cause of death.

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The Prosecutor's Office is the lead investigative agency over the case and has not yet revealed a suspect or person of interest.

NJ WOMAN FOUND WITH MULTIPLE STAB WOUNDS AT HOME IN AFFLUENT COUNTY, HUSBAND ARRESTED

Regarding the ongoing investigation, the Haggerty family said in a statement sent to Fox News Digital, "We have full and unwavering confidence in the investigative efforts of law enforcement."

Conor Hanlon was the person who called 911 to report he found his wife unconscious and not breathing on the floor of their home.

NJ HUSBAND BEGS FOR CPR HELP IN 911 CALL AFTER WIFE FOUND DEAD WITH STAB WOUNDS: AUDIO

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In the frantic call, he is heard asking the operator to give him "CPR instructions," then says "there's a laceration" on his wife's body.

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Conor and Brooke were married nearly five years before she was killed.

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"While in Boston, Brooke met and fell in love with her future husband, Conor Hanlon. Brooke and Conor were married in June 2021 and lived in the Boston area until they moved to Chester, New Jersey in September 2023. They purchased a home in Chester in September 2024 and welcomed their beloved daughter, Avery, in July 2025," the obituary said.

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Brooke was a therapist who "loved her work," and "had tremendous compassion" for her clients.

Before the start of her career, she graduated from Villa Walsh Academy in 2009.

She earned her bachelor’s degree in psychology from Wake Forest University in 2013, and then her master’s from Northeastern University in 2015.

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"Brooke was a truly beautiful soul. Everyone who has ever known her will always remember Brooke's extraordinary kindness, friendship, loyalty, empathy, compassion, humility, generosity, and passionate desire to help and support family, friends, and all those she counseled," according to her obituary.

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Fox News Digital has repeatedly reached out to Conor Hanlon for comment. He has not been charged with any crime or wrongdoing.

Postpartum mom Lindsay Clancy on trial for murder brings court to a halt with sudden breakdown

Thu, 13 Aug 2026 11:14:43 -0400

Lindsay Clancy broke down in court on Wednesday when a medical examiner was testifying about the autopsy of her 5-year-old daughter.

Not long after medical examiner Dr. Barbara Olson took the stand and began describing the autopsy of Cora Clancy, Lindsay Clancy, the 5-year-old's mother, broke down and began sobbing.

"I can’t do this," Clancy said.

HEATED LINDSAY CLANCY COURTROOM EXCHANGE OVER 911 CALL, CRIME SCENE PHOTOS SETS STAGE FOR MOM’S MURDER TRIAL

Clancy faces first-degree murder charges in connection with the deaths of her three children — 5-year-old Cora, 3-year-old Dawson and 8-month-old Callan.

Clancy, 32, took the lives of her three children before attempting suicide on Jan. 24, 2023.

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

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Clancy does not dispute that she killed her children. Instead, her defense contends she was suffering from severe postpartum depression brought on by being overmedicated on prescriptions.

According to evidence and testimony presented in court, five doctors prescribed Clancy with the following medication before she killed her three kids:

LINDSAY CLANCY’S EX-HUSBAND DETAILS PILL USE AS EXPERT SAYS EVIDENCE COULD SHAPE MURDER TRIAL

Zoloft
Valium
Trazodone
Prozac
Lamictal
Seroquel
Remeron
Klonopin
Buspirone
Ativan
Amitriptyline
Ambien

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Following Clancy's breakdown, Judge William Sullivan ordered a recess and excused the jury from the courtroom.

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Two women could be seen appearing to console Clancy while she was crying inside the courtroom.

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Sullivan was also forced to call a break on Wednesday after Clancy began crying while a different medical examiner, Renee Stonebridge, gave testimony about her examination of some body parts of Clancy's three kids.

Kenny Omega warns Will Ospreay that his loose alliances has made him 'sloppy' ahead of AEW All In title clash

Thu, 13 Aug 2026 11:14:26 -0400

Will Ospreay kicked off Wednesday’s edition of All Elite Wrestling’s (AEW) "Dynamite" with a heartfelt promo about his upcoming world championship match against Kenny Omega at All In.

Ospreay called out Omega to come face him in the ring, but it was Don Callis who answered the call instead. Callis recalled the damage his group did to Omega and said that Ospreay "owed everything" to him before Rocky Romero, Trent Beretta, Mark Davis and Jake Doyle came out to attack Ospreay.

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Omega came out and took out the Don Callis Family members and addressed Ospreay, who was licking his wounds in the corner.

"Will, I felt that. You see, when you talk from the heart, you have this way with words. I feel everything that you say," Omega said. "But the problem is, Will, you wear your heart on your sleeve and as much as you feel, you never think. What did you think would happen, Will? I warned you about Don Callis. I warned you about Jon Moxley. We both knew about the guy who’s running around calling himself the real world champion. He’s both of our problems. But Will, it’s made you sloppy. It’s made you a fool. And you will lose everything.

"But this isn’t the man I want to fight at Wembley Stadium," Omega continued, reaching his hand out toward Ospreay to pick him up off the canvas. "But Will, I hope you understand, I can’t help you like this again. From here on in, it’s just me and you."

Ospreay grabbed the mic from Omega and said he appreciated Omega’s help but, "I didn’t ask for it."

"And I’m not going to need your help, thank you," Ospreay added.

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Omega will defend the AEW World Championship against Ospreay in London at All In on Aug. 30. It’s the marquee event for what is AEW’s biggest night of the year.

Ospreay earned the title shot when he won the Owen Hart Foundation Men’s Tournament. Omega won the AEW title from MJF in July.

All In 2026’s card already stacked

Omega vs. Ospreay may be the likely main event for All In, but the card itself is going to be immensely stacked.

Willow Nightingale is defending the AEW Women’s World Championship against Mercedes Moné, who returned to the ring and won the Owen Hart Foundation Women’s Tournament. Adam Copeland and Christian Cage will defend the AEW World Tag Team Championship against the Young Bucks – Matt and Nick Jackson.

Meanwhile, four other championship matches are on the docket as well.

Lena Kross and Megan Bayne take on Alex Windsor and Jamie Hayter for the AEW Women’s World Tag Team Championship.
Kevin Knight defends the TNT Championship against Darby Allin in a Falls Count Anywhere match.
Kyle Fletcher takes on Konosuke Takeshita and Kazuchika Okada in a triple-threat match for the AEW International Championship.
The AEW Continental Championship match will feature the two finalists from the Continental Cup Tournament.

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Elsewhere, the Casino Gauntlet match will determine the No. 1 contender for the AEW World Championship. Andrade El Idolo and MJF are the first two entrants.

JD Vance calls on DOJ to prosecute alleged fraud in teen transgender treatment

Thu, 13 Aug 2026 11:13:30 -0400

FIRST ON FOX: Vice President JD Vance is calling for the Department of Justice to investigate a bombshell Health and Human Services (HHS) report alleging some hospitals and healthcare providers fraudulently subjected children to lucrative sex-change procedures.

The new report, titled: "Wolves in White Coats: How Doctors and Hospitals Pushed and Profited from the Fraud of 'Gender Medicine,'" revealed more than $60 million in insurance claims for treatments including puberty blockers for adolescents as young as 13 billed from 2015 to 2025.

According to HHS, some providers aggressively treated children who presented with hormonal issues, endocrine system problems, or early onset puberty with transgender care, billing insurance companies. HHS also blamed Biden-era policies promoting transgender treatments for expanding access gender surgery coverage.

MEDICAID ENDS FUNDING FOR CHILD SEX-CHANGE PROCEDURES AS TRUMP ADMIN SLAMS 'EXPERIMENTAL' TREATMENTS

Fox News Digital obtained a letter from Vance to Attorney General Todd Blanche which detailed Vance’s concerns surrounding the report, and called for criminal prosecution of anyone who has intentionally misled children to get transgender treatment.

"One study showed that only about 4.7 percent of patients diagnosed with "endocrine disorder, unspecified," had that actual condition," Vance wrote in the letter to Blanche. "Another notes a 30 percent increase in the number of endocrine disorder diagnoses, despite it being unlikely that that there has been a substantial increase in pediatric endocrine disorders."

The average healthcare cost for a minor is roughly $3,000, but transgender treatments can push that to $75,000 without surgery and nearly $170,000, if surgery is involved, according to the report.

The report also details how some healthcare providers profit from life-long medical costs, including prescriptions, surgeries and medical interventions years after a minor reaches adulthood.

About 225 hospitals and health systems across the country have established pediatric gender programs. Vance charged in his letter to Blanche that health care providers knowingly pushed their misdiagnoses to insurance companies, using billing codes to compel coverage.

VANCE REFERS TIM WALZ, MINNESOTA ATTORNEY GENERAL TO DOJ FOR CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION OVER STATE'S ALLEGED FRAUD

"When providers miscode treatment in order to secure insurance coverage for gender-transitioning interventions that insurance would not otherwise cover, they should be held accountable," read Vance’s letter. "If they have done so intentionally, thereby perpetrating a fraud on Medicaid or on private insurers, they should go to prison."

"Rather than allow the proliferation of harmful, sex-rejecting procedures on our children, we must send a clear message that any hospitals and providers that have participated in these practices will face justice."

The HHS report cited peer-reviewed scientific literature, hospital records, whistleblower testimony, nationwide insurance claims analyses and interviews with patients and parents.

Hours after President Joe Biden was sworn into office in 2021, he signed Executive Order 13988, titled: "Preventing and Combating Discrimination on the Basis of Gender Identity or Sexual Orientation."

COLORADO SUPREME COURT ORDERS CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL TO RESUME GENDER TRANSITION TREATMENTS FOR MINORS

"Children should be able to learn without worrying about whether they will be denied access to the restroom, the locker room, or school sports," the executive order read. "People should be able to access healthcare and secure a roof over their heads without being subjected to sex discrimination."

The executive order’s mandate took effect, and in May of 2021, Biden’s HHS said its Office of Civil Rights would enforce an Affordable Care Act nondiscrimination provision, which includes sex discrimination.

In a March 2022 notice, the department "unequivocally" confirmed "that gender affirming care for minors, when medically appropriate and necessary, improves their physical and mental health."

In a separate executive order signed by Biden in June of 2022, Biden directed the federal government, including his HHS, to "address the discrimination and barriers that LGBTQI+ individuals and families face by expanding access to comprehensive health care."

LARGEST CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL IN US TO OPEN ‘DETRANSITION CLINIC’ AFTER $10M SETTLEMENT WITH TRUMP DOJ, STATE

Fox News Digital also obtained a letter from HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. to HHS Inspector General Thomas March Bell that included a sizable list of individual hospitals and clinicians that Kennedy says exhibit "potentially anomalous billing patterns."

The report calls for additional review of insurance coding practices that enable hospitals and clinicians to file claims for gender medicine.

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Fox News Digital reached out to the Justice Department but did not receive a response in time for publication.

Jayden Daniels tells LSU to keep his name out of its mouth in wild No. 5 jersey feud involving NIL

Thu, 13 Aug 2026 11:10:56 -0400

Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels has decided to start a legal war with his former school, LSU, over the rights to his name, image and likeness — and it all stems from the use of his former college jersey number.

Yes, the Heisman Trophy winner is trying to distance himself from the LSU football program and prevent the school from using promotional material related to his time in Baton Rouge.

Why?

Because LSU is allowing current cornerback D.J. Pickett to wear the No. 5 jersey this upcoming season, a number Daniels believes should not be worn due to what he accomplished during his time on the Bayou.

Earlier this month, an attorney representing Daniels sent a cease-and-desist letter to the LSU athletic department detailing a list of demands regarding the school's use of Daniels' NIL.

In the letter, first reported by ESPN and confirmed by Fox News Digital-OutKick, attorney Adam Kenner was very specific about what he expects from LSU moving forward.

"Accordingly, LSU must immediately cease and desist from any further issue use, display, publication, distribution, promotion, commercialization, or other exploitation of Mr. Daniels' NIL in any manner or medium," Kenner detailed in a letter to AD Verge Ausberry. "Any use of Mr. Daniels' NIL occurring after LSU's receipt of this notice will be deemed knowing and willful and will be pursued vigorously through all available legal and equitable remedies, without further notice."

I think it's pretty easy to tell that this kerfuffle is not going away any time soon.

How did we get to this point between LSU and Jayden Daniels?

After Daniels won the 2023 Heisman Trophy, the clock started ticking on when LSU could potentially retire his jersey number. Under LSU's policy, there is a five-year waiting period before that discussion can take place.

But that doesn't mean LSU can't allow another player to wear the number in the meantime. According to the athletic department's protocol, that decision comes down to the head coach's discretion.

Legendary halfback Billy Cannon, who wore No. 20 while playing at LSU, had his number permanently retired, meaning it cannot be worn again. Other legendary Tigers have had their jerseys retired while their numbers remain available for current players.

So, with the clock still ticking on when LSU can even discuss retiring the No. 5 that Daniels wore after transferring in from Arizona State, former head coach Brian Kelly told ESPN that he promised the number to current cornerback D.J. Pickett during the recruiting process.

Yes, I promise you, this is a thing in college athletics — and has been for years. If a school is heavily recruiting an athlete who wants to wear a certain number, the program can promise that number as part of the recruiting process to entice an athlete to sign.

But Daniels was apparently under the impression that LSU should have asked him beforehand whether he was OK with another player wearing No. 5 for the first time since he left Baton Rouge for the NFL.

It should also be noted that Joe Burrow, who won the 2019 Heisman Trophy and led LSU to a national championship, has not had his No. 9 worn by another player in Baton Rouge since leaving for the NFL.

So, is Daniels upset that his number is being handed to another player while Burrow's has remained untouched?

That's likely part of the equation, especially given the statement provided by a spokesperson for Daniels.

"The Daniels family is deeply disappointed and feels profoundly disrespected by LSU's decision to give Jayden's number to another player," Jayden Daniels' spokesperson said. "Jayden and his family had every reason to believe that his number would remain a meaningful part of his LSU legacy and would be honored and protected in recognition of his extraordinary contributions to the university."

It appears Daniels is upset that, while former coach Brian Kelly held off on allowing someone else to wear the number, current head coach Lane Kiffin is honoring a promise made to a player during the previous regime's time in Baton Rouge.

Lane Kiffin is only doing what was promised to DJ Pickett

This is obviously a no-win situation for the LSU head coach.

Either he's going to accommodate DJ Pickett or upset former Heisman Trophy quarterback Jayden Daniels.

LANE KIFFIN KNOWS THERE AREN’T EXCUSES AT LSU. NOW COMES THE TEST OF MAKING IT WORTH THE PRICE OF ADMISSION

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When asked about the situation during a recent news conference at LSU, Lane Kiffin was adamant that he's simply keeping a promise the previous staff made to Pickett.

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"DJ is in No.5, and that was a situation that was promised to him in recruiting here, for him to sign here," Kiffin told reporters. "I've done a lot of research on that with the family and the representatives and the people, so really I didn't have a decision to make. It was promised to the kid. It wasn't done for whatever reason. I'm not going to get into that.

"I'm not going to judge something [that was done] when I wasn't here. But when a kid is promised something to come to a school, he should wear it. So at that point, I don't think that's really my decision. We should honor what he was told."

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So, this ultimately comes down to a former player who feels disrespected by his old school and a current head coach caught in the middle of an increasingly messy dispute between Daniels and LSU administrators.

Best Labor Day mattress deals: Save up to 64% on Saatva, Helix, Nectar and more

Thu, 01 Jan 2026 00:01:05 -0500

We found early Labor Day deals on mattresses for side, back and stomach sleepers from DreamCloud, Saatva, Bear and more, plus options for couples and combination sleepers. You can also save on sheets, pillows and mattress toppers and other bedding essentials.

Trending mattress accessories deals

Niagara Sleep Solution Bamboo mattress topper: $37.89 (46% off)
Bedsure Queen Comforter Set: $26.57 (34% off)
Cooling waffle blanket: $36.99 (33% off)
Queen storage bed frame: $123.99 (23% off)
Chilipad Bed Cooling System: $594 (15% off)
Cozy Earth Bamboo Bedding Deluxe Bundle: $758 (10% off)

Best mattress bundle deal

Save on everything you need for a better night’s sleep, including a mattress, bed frame and sheets.

Nectar Premier adjustable bed and mattress set: $1,398 (64% off)

Original price: $3,934

What we love: The adjustable base has a number of useful features, including head and foot elevation, a soothing massage function and pre-programmed positions like Zero Gravity and Anti-Snore.

What to be aware of: The adjustable base is not compatible with all headboards.

Nectar's Premier Adjustable Bed and Mattress bundle adds head and foot elevation plus built-in massage, and includes the mattress, bedding essentials and even a 365-night trial. Shoppers can save up to 50% on mattresses and up to 64% on bundles right now, including the popular all-foam Nectar mattress.

Mattresses for side sleepers

If you sleep on your side, look for a mattress that cushions pressure points — typically in the medium-soft to medium-firm range.

Nolah Original Mattress: $942 (35% off)

Original price: $1,449

What we love: The quilted top adds a luxurious cooling layer.

What to be aware of: This is a heavy mattress, so it may be difficult to move.

The Nolah Original mattress — and all other Nolah products — are currently discounted by 35% during the site's Labor Day Sale. Six pressure-relieving foam layers support side sleeping positions, while a pillow top, zoned support and cooling technology promote a more comfortable sleep. If you want a firmer option, try the Nolah Evolution.

Saatva Contour5: $2,699 (12% off)

Original price: $3,049

What we love: This mattress has excellent pressure relief.

What to be aware of: It's an all-foam mattress with very little bounce compared to innerspring or hybrid mattresses.

The all-foam Saatva Contour5 mattress comes in medium and firm options and delivers targeted pressure relief with zoned support. Cooling gel and heat-regulating materials help keep you comfortable, while memory foam contours the shoulders and hips. Saatva makes each mattress to order and delivers it full-size and uncompressed with free white glove delivery.

Siena Signature Memory Foam Mattress: $294 (64% off)

Original price: $812

What we love: All-foam construction contours around the body.

What to be aware of: If you prefer a springier feel, this mattress may not feel responsive enough.

If you prefer a softer, sink-in feel, consider this 10-inch foam mattress. It includes two inches of contouring memory foam for full-body, medium support and delivers comfortable sleep without straining your budget. You can save up to 64% on mattresses during the sale.

Mattresses for back pain

Back pain can disrupt sleep, and the wrong mattress only makes it worse. The right one can help keep your spine aligned with balanced support and comfort.

NELL mattress: $1,959.30 (30% off)

Original price: $2,799

What we love: The four-layer coil system helps promote proper spinal alignment.

What to be aware of: Because this mattress prioritizes support, it may feel firmer than some all-memory-foam options.

NELL's only mattress is designed to provide extra support for sleepers with back pain. Its four-layer coil system helps deliver long-lasting support, while thin comfort layers add cushioning without sacrificing stability. Reinforced edge support also makes it easier to get in and out of bed. Take 30% off with code SUMMER30.

Saatva Classic Mattress: $1,879 (16% off)

Original price: $2,229

What we love: A soft surface with lumbar zone coils that are comfortable for various sleeping positions.

What to be aware of: Even the "Luxury Firm" option might feel too stiff for some side sleepers.

Saatva's Classic mattress is designed for sleepers seeking added back and joint support. Its lumbar zone is intended to promote healthy spinal alignment across different sleep positions. The mattress includes a one-year home trial. Each mattress is made to order and delivered full-size with white-glove service. Right now, you can get up to $350 off on purchases over $1,000 with a mattress in your cart.

PlushBeds organic latex mattress: $1,499 (50% off)

Original price: $2,999

What we love: The latex offers gentle contouring that cushions pressure points without the deep hug feeling of memory foam.

What to be aware of: This mattress is heavy and difficult to move.

Combining support and pressure relief, the PlushBeds Botanical Bliss Organic Latex mattress is a smart choice for sleepers with back discomfort. The organic latex makes this mattress buoyant and responsive, critical to keeping your hips from sagging. PlushBeds offers a 100-night trial period for all of its mattresses, and right now you can get up to $1,500 off all mattresses and 25% off bedding.

Bear Elite Hybrid mattress: $1,484.60 (35% off)

Original price: $2,284

What we love: Zoned support coils and pressure-relieving foams help maintain spinal alignment and alleviate pressure points.

What to be aware of: Lightweight sleepers might find the mattress to be too firm.

The Bear Elite Hybrid mattress is built with back support in mind, especially for back sleepers dealing with pain or stiffness. It comes in soft, medium and firm options, so you can pick the feel that best supports your spine and eases pressure points. The Bear mattress comes with a 120-night sleep trial, after which you can return the mattress at no cost. Use code LABORDAY35 at checkout to get 35% off sitewide.

Mattresses for back sleepers

Back sleepers need a mattress that balances support and comfort to keep the spine aligned.

Casper Snow mattress: $2,175 (20% off)

Original price: $2,720

Casper's Snow mattress offers a medium feel that may appeal to back and stomach sleepers. Its Snow Technology is designed to help dissipate heat for a cooler night's sleep, while the hybrid construction combines memory foam and coils to provide pressure relief and responsive support.

Aurora Luxe Cooling mattress: $1,098.75 (25% off)

Original price: $1,465

What we love: The GlacioTex cooling cover helps draw away excess heat.

What to be aware of: There is a $99 return fee if you don't like the mattress after the 120-night sleep trial.

Back sleepers will have strong foundational support from Brooklyn Bedding's Aurora Luxe Cooling mattress. The coil system prevents the midsection from sinking too deeply, and the coils respond independently to pressure for targeted support where needed. It comes in soft, medium and firm options, so you can choose the level that suits you best. Get 25% off mattresses and 30% off dorm essentials at checkout. The mattress ships in a box and comes with a 120-night comfort trial.

Awara Natural Luxury Hybrid Mattress: $999 (31% off)

Original price: $1,445

What we love: The excellent support and spinal alignment this mattress provides.

What to be aware of: Sleepers who weigh less may find this mattress firmer than they prefer.

Awara's Natural Luxury Hybrid Mattress is a solid choice for back sleepers. Individually wrapped coils provide firm, consistent support, while responsive natural latex adds bounce and keeps the spine aligned. Awara backs the mattress with a 365-night trial. Save up to 50% during the Labor Day sale.

Mattresses for couples

If you share your bed with a partner, child or pet, choose a mattress that boosts comfort and reduces motion transfer.

Sleep Number Climate360 mattress: $8,199.20 (20% off)

Original Price: $10,249

What we love: Each side customizes your preferred temperature setting.

What to be aware of: The app and adjustable features may take some getting used to.

If you tend to sleep hot or cold, the Sleep Number Climate360 mattress is worth considering. It uses ceramic gel designed to help draw heat away, offers targeted support for pressure points and lets you adjust the temperature on each side. You can also track your sleep in the app, and it includes a 100-night trial. Save up to 25% off mattresses for Labor Day.

DreamCloud Classic Hybrid Mattress: $699 (63% off)

Original price: $1,892

What we love: The reinforced perimeter makes it easier to sit or sleep near the edge without sagging.

What to be aware of: The hybrid design may make it too firm for some sleepers.

DreamCloud builds its Classic Hybrid Mattress with six layers, a quilted cover and supportive memory foam, while wrapped springs reduce motion transfer and cooling fibers help regulate temperature overnight. Save up to 60% on mattresses and up to 66% on bundles during the Labor Day sale.

DreamCloud Premier mattress: $1,199 (48% off)

Original price: $2,316

What we love: The superior motion isolation makes it easy to share your bed with a restless partner or pets.

What to be aware of: Memory foam can take a bit longer to adapt when you change positions.

Made for pressure relief, the 13-inch DreamCloud Premier is an all-memory-foam mattress with a breathable CloudQuilt top. It’s also designed to isolate motion and suit a range of sleep preferences. DreamCloud has a 365-night sleep trial, and if you're unhappy with the mattress, you can request a return and receive a full refund.

Birch by Helix latex mattress: $2,099 (20% off)

Original price: $2,624

What we love: The Birch mattress is comfortable for all sleeping positions.

What to be aware of: If you have a latex allergy, this mattress is not for you.

Latex mattresses feel similar to memory foam but are firmer and sink less. This eco-friendly mattress from Birch by Helix is made with organic cotton that contributes to a cooler sleeping surface. Take 20% off with code LDW20 for Labor Day.

PlushBeds Kathy Ireland luxury hybrid mattress: $969 (61% off)

Original price: $2,469

What we love: This mattress is wrapped in a cooling material made for hot sleepers.

What to be aware of: Decorative finishes are pretty but don't change performance.

Save $1,500 on PlushBeds' Kathy Ireland Luxury Hybrid Mattress, which pairs body-cradling foam with supportive coils and luxe details like faux leather trim and a Swarovski-accented monogram. It ships in a box with a 365-night trial, and you can also get discounts on other mattresses during the Summer Sale.

Mattresses for stomach sleepers

If you sleep on your stomach, go with a firmer mattress to help keep your spine aligned and your hips from sinking too far.

Layla The Essential Mattress: $599 (20% off)

Original price: $749

What we love: All-foam construction helps absorb movement.

What to be aware of: The all-foam build, even with cooling features, can feel hot.

Layla's Essential Mattress is an all-foam design that balances support and softness. It offers a medium-firm feel that gently cushions pressure points without excessive sink while built-in cooling features can help reduce heat buildup overnight.

During Layla's Labor Day sale, you get two free pillows with every mattress purchase and an extra 10% off everything in your cart, saving up to $428 on mattresses. Use code FOXKAPOK40 for 40% off Layla's Kapok Pillows or code FOX150 for an extra $150 off all mattresses. Use code FOX20 for $20 off orders over $100.

Layla Hybrid Mattress: $1,549 (11% off)

Original price: $1,749

What we love: You can flip this mattress to change the firmness level.

What to be aware of: This mattress is heavy, so you will likely need some help if you plan to flip it.

For most stomach sleepers, the firm side of the Layla Hybrid mattress will be the preferred option, as it keeps the hips from sinking too deeply into the mattress. All mattress purchases come with two of Layla's award-winning memory foam pillows. Shop Layla's summer sale now and use code FOXKAPOK40 for 40% off Layla's Kapok Pillows or code FOX150 for an extra $150 off all mattresses. Code FOX20 will get you $20 off orders over $100.

Mattresses for combination sleepers

If you switch positions at night, a hybrid mattress can give you the right mix of support and pressure relief.

Zoma Hybrid mattress: $974.25 (25% off)

Original price: $1,299

Made in the U.S., Zoma's hybrid mattress is crafted with CertiPUR-US certified foams for added peace of mind. Cooling gel memory foam and supportive layers are designed to promote spinal alignment and adapt to a variety of sleep positions, making it a popular choice for athletes and active sleepers. Take 25% off with code SLEEP25.

Glacier Original Hybrid Mattress: $764 (15% off)

Original price: $899

What we love: The pressure relief, lumbar support and cooling make this an ideal choice for most sleepers.

What to be aware of: This bed-in-a-box is priced on the higher end.

The Glacier Original Hybrid Mattress provides medium-firm support for stomach, back, side and combination sleepers, as well as couples. The mattress ships roll-packed for easy setup and includes a 365-night trial. Save up to $650 on mattresses for Labor Day.

Helix Midnight Luxe Mattress: $1,194 (20% off)

Original price: $1,492

What we love: The Helix Midnight has adequate support and contouring for spinal alignment.

What to be aware of: The mattress may be too hot for some sleepers.

The Helix Midnight Luxe offers a medium-firm feel with lumbar and side-sleeper support, making it a strong fit for back and side sleepers. Its cover can help regulate temperature, while foam layers and individually wrapped coils can reduce motion transfer – a helpful feature if your partner tosses and turns. Helix includes a 100-night trial. Get 20% off with code LDW20.

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Mattresses for heavy sleepers

Heavier sleepers should look for a durable, well-built mattress in the medium-firm to firm range.

Titan Plus Luxe mattress: $699 (25% off)

Original price: $932

What we love: The mattress is built with higher-density foams and thicker, more durable coils.

What to be aware of: It may feel too firm for lighter individuals.

The Titan Plus Luxe is an excellent mattress for sleepers weighing more than 230 pounds who need robust support. It delivers a comfortable, medium-firm feel and strong pressure relief. Titan's mattress is shipped in a box and with a 120-night comfort trial. Use promo code SCHOOL25 to get 25% off your mattress purchase.

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

Wisconsin Democratic candidate for governor David Crowley reveals he won't campaign with Hasan Piker

Thu, 13 Aug 2026 11:03:37 -0400

Democratic Wisconsin gubernatorial candidate David Crowley said he would not be campaigning with far-left socialist Twitch streamer Hasan Piker during an interview released on Wednesday.

Crowley said he didn't want to lend credibility to platforms that further divide the Democratic Party, in an interview with WISN 12 News.

"I don’t want to lend credibility to platforms, if you will, that I believe further divide us as a community, further divide Democrats, or further divide this country. But, I do know that we have to focus on bringing everybody under this tent," Crowley said.

MEET THE DEMOCRAT WHO NARROWLY DEFEATED SOCIALIST RIVAL IN KEY SWING-STATE BATTLE OVER THE PARTY’S FUTURE

"So, I’m always willing to have those tough conversations. But we also have to utilize not just myself —there are many community members, there are many voters, there are many supporters that we can empower to bring people to be a part of this big tent we call the Democratic Party," he said.

WISN 12 News' Matt Smith asked Crowley directly if he was talking about Piker specifically, and if he was planning to campaign with the streamer.

"I’m talking about anybody who focuses on divisive language," he said, adding, "I don’t plan on campaigning with Hasan, if that’s what you’re asking me. No."

Piker campaigned alongside Francesca Hong, a democratic socialist who ran against Crowley in the Wisconsin gubernatorial primary.

HASAN PIKER CALLS FOR DEMOCRATS WHO OPPOSE ABDUL EL-SAYED TO BE 'PUNISHED'

The streamer reacted to Crowley's remarks on X.

"this is devastating news for me, i however wish crowley the best of luck for the wisconsin trifecta. hope he takes some of the great policies that brought out 300k wisconsinites into consideration as the dems work to defeat tom tiffany as a unified front!" Piker wrote.

Piker said Wednesday that "the knives will be out" for the socialist left after Hong's loss in the Wisconsin primary.

Piker argued during his livestream that Democratic establishment figures will work harder to stop insurgent candidates because they no longer underestimate the progressive movement.

"It will be more difficult, though, because the establishment will not underestimate us. It will continue to undermine us, but they will not underestimate us," Piker said. "So, the knives will be out."

Eric Ham, a political analyst, told Fox News Digital in a statement that Crowley's comments "fuel division within the Democratic Party and only makes it harder for the party to be a viable check on the Trump administration.

"Moreover, as the economy falters and the war in Iran grows more unpopular, Democrats have a very real shot at tangible pickups, not just in Washington, but in state and local races. Wisconsin is a clear example of this. Now is the time for the party, left and center, to unify behind its candidates and chart clear messaging and contrasts versus Republicans. Otherwise, Democrats risk squandering tremendous gains in November," Ham continued.

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The Democratic Socialists of America did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment.

‘X-Men’ star Tyler Mane says wife ‘saved my life’ after seemingly harmless lump led to breast cancer diagnosis

Thu, 13 Aug 2026 11:30:02 -0400

Tyler Mane, who was recently diagnosed with breast cancer, believes his wife may have saved his life.

The actor is teaming up with his wife, Renae, for a candid new podcast, "Mane AF," tackling the realities of "midlife, marriage and mayhem." The couple will also open up about one of their most personal challenges yet: navigating his diagnosis of invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC).

Mane made his feature-film debut as Sabretooth in 2000's "X-Men" and later reprised the role as Wolverine's nemesis in 2024's "Deadpool & Wolverine." He also starred as Michael Myers in 2007's "Halloween" and 2009's "Halloween II," and appeared as Ajax in 2004's "Troy."

FORMER WRESTLER, ACTOR REVEALS BREAST CANCER DIAGNOSIS: 'ONE IN 750 MEN'

"She just kept insisting," the former wrestler told Fox News Digital about seeing a doctor. "I kept talking about it, 'I have this lump here still, and it's hard.' And she was very insistent because women are trained from a certain age that if they feel something in their breast area, go get it checked out."

"I have to thank her," he said. "She saved my life by saying, 'Get in there and get tested.'"

When the 59-year-old first noticed a lump in his breast area, he assumed it was a lipoma — a soft, fatty growth he'd had removed before. But this lump felt different. Mane initially brushed it off, but Renae kept urging him, "Go in and get checked." Eventually, he listened.

WATCH: TYLER MANE SAYS WIFE ‘SAVED MY LIFE’ AFTER CANCER DIAGNOSIS

"To be honest, even my doctor said, 'Oh, it's probably nothing. It's probably just a lipoma,'" Mane recalled. "And then, when I went in for the [surgery], he said, 'You probably want to get that removed, but it's probably nothing.' It's just dismissed so much that you have to be an advocate for your own body. And I'm just so thankful that she was an advocate for my body. Otherwise, it could have been a whole different story."

Mane said a 28-millimeter tumor was removed.

"It was removed, I think, on a Thursday," Mane said. "I went on a trip and thought nothing of it. I came back, got up and started working at 6am, and then I got the news: invasive ductal carcinoma. I went and woke my wife up. She's like, 'This is not good.' She was half-asleep but woke up very quickly. And that's when our journey began."

Because breast cancer is predominantly associated with women, many men are unaware that they are also at risk. The American Cancer Society estimates that in 2026, about 2,670 men in the U.S. will be diagnosed with invasive breast cancer and about 530 will die from the disease.

According to the American Cancer Society, the average lifetime risk of breast cancer for men is about 1 in 755.

The most common symptom of male breast cancer is a firm, usually painless lump under or near the nipple, according to experts. Other signs can include skin dimpling, nipple retraction and nipple discharge. Mane said the lump was the only symptom he experienced before his diagnosis.

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Male breast cancer is rare, accounting for fewer than 1% of breast cancers in the U.S. Screening mammograms are not usually recommended for men, even those at increased risk, according to the National Cancer Institute.

"This is a cancer that anyone can get," Mane said. "If you feel something different in your chest than the norm, you have to go get it checked out and tested. You have to insist on getting tested and checked. You have to be the best advocate for yourself."

"For sure, I wanted to keep my diagnosis private at the beginning because I felt a bit ashamed," Mane admitted. "I was like, 'How can I have breast cancer?' But then I quickly turned to, 'No, I got to talk about this because this is a very serious issue that men don't usually deal with.'"

While male breast cancer can occur at any age, the risk increases with age, according to the American Cancer Society. Treatment usually starts with surgery, while other common treatments include chemotherapy, hormone therapy and radiation therapy, according to Mayo Clinic. Treatment depends on factors including the cancer's stage and the patient's overall health.

"I was a Stage 1, so we got it early," Mane said. "Now we're into the chemotherapy ... to make sure that it's completely out of my system ... and then after the chemotherapy, I have some radiation to make sure we hit that area specifically."

For Mane, some days are easier than others.

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"Chemotherapy is hard on your system," he said. "Unless you've gone through it, you can't even imagine what it does to your body, and it's a repetitive cycle. It's not like you get an injury, and you rehabilitate it, or like when I had my hips replaced, and it's one and done. With chemotherapy, it's ongoing. You have your chemo treatment, where they put all of the chemicals into you."

"You feel like c--- for about the first week, and then you have a couple of weeks where you're like, 'I'm just getting back to normal now,'" he continued. "And then you have to go in, sit in that chair again and have that pumped into your body again to kill off the cancer cells. It's about the hardest thing to psych yourself up for."

"Right now, I want to take a nap, but I've got the metal mouth. And that's one thing: every round I've had something different thrown at me. I couldn't lift my shoulder over my head. One time I broke out in hives. But it's just your body trying to kick it out and get ready for the next round."

Known for playing some of Hollywood's most intimidating characters, Mane said he's bringing that same fighting spirit to his cancer treatment, with Renae by his side every step of the way.

"I knew I had it in me," he said with a smile. "You have to have a positive attitude, and I've stayed positive no matter what. You have to stay positive. As soon as you let yourself get down, then it's a downhill slide from there. And I need to stick around for my wife and my family. It's time to step up and do what I have to do."

As Mane continues to talk publicly about his diagnosis, he hopes to use the podcast to raise awareness about breast cancer in men, including by bringing his oncologist on as a guest. But he wants other men to take another lesson from his experience to heart: listen to your wife. She just might save your life.

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"All you guys out there, listen to your wives when they tell you to get checked," he said.

Fox News Digital’s Khloe Quill contributed to this report.

House Republican urges new Trump AG Blanche to shut down Biden-era NYC heroin injection sites

Thu, 13 Aug 2026 10:53:06 -0400

Rep. Nicole Malliotakis, R-N.Y., slammed Biden administration-funded heroin injection sites in New York City in an interview with Fox News Digital.

At the heart of Malliotakis' complaints are two Overdose Prevention Centers (OPCs) in Manhattan — one in East Harlem and the other in Washington Heights — that, until recently, funneled federal funds to "supervised consumption services," including the supervised use of illicit drugs such as heroin, a Schedule I controlled substance.

"People literally go there like it's a community center, hang out, and shoot up drugs. It's signaling to drug dealers where their clients are located and attracting a criminal element in and around the facility," Malliotakis told Fox News Digital.

"We don't want to see this spread throughout the City of New York or the rest of the country, which is why it's critical for the Department of Justice to step in now to stop these illegally operating heroin injection centers — to make an example of what's taking place in New York City so other municipalities throughout the country don't think about opening them," she continued.

EX-EMPLOYEE OF TAXPAYER-FUNDED NONPROFIT CAUGHT SELLING FENTANYL NEAR LA PARK: DOCS

Malliotakis wrote a letter to newly-confirmed U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche on Tuesday, requesting that he take "swift action" to shut down the centers.

She accused the nonprofit OnPoint, which runs the centers, of "operating in clear violation of federal law under Title 21 of the United States Code Section 856 which states it is unlawful to '...knowingly open, lease, rent, use, or maintain any place, whether permanently or temporarily, for the purpose of manufacturing, distributing, or using any controlled substance...'"

A Justice Department spokesperson said in a statement to Fox News Digital that "the DOJ can confirm receipt of the letter and is ensuring the appropriate personnel within the Department are reviewing it carefully."

President Donald Trump's administration, in a July 2025 executive order, ordered the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to redirect funding from "recipients of Federal housing and homelessness assistance that operate drug injection sites or 'safe consumption sites,' knowingly distribute drug paraphernalia, or permit the use or distribution of illicit drugs on property under their control."

TRUMP’S DC LAW-AND-ORDER BLITZ MARKS ONE YEAR WITH EYE-POPPING HAUL OF SUSPECTS

Malliotakis praised the decision while arguing that the OnPoint facilities fall under that definition.

"Thankfully, President Trump last year signed an executive order prohibiting any federal funds from going to such facilities. There was a $2 million grant that Joe Biden's administration had approved for these facilities in New York, and President Trump's executive order canceled that," she told Fox News Digital.

Malliotakis also introduced a bill in 2025 that would further defund injection centers nationally.

"We don't know who will be president in a few years, so we need that codified in statute. I'm very pleased to see the President took action via executive order to stop $2 million of taxpayer money from going to a heroin shooting gallery, which is an absolutely insane use of taxpayer funds," she told Fox News Digital.

"We're hopeful that under the new Trump administration, we will see these heroin sites finally shut down because what they're doing is enabling addiction," she continued. "It is really unsavory activity that's taking place. You see the quality of life deteriorate, all in full view of the school children attending surrounding community schools," Malliotakis said.

Malliotakis also slammed New York's Democratic socialist Mayor Zohran Mamdani, who visited one of OnPoint's locations in March.

"The new mayor, Zohran Mamdani, did go visit one of these facilities and was praising the work they're doing, which is ludicrous. It's enabling drug addiction instead of helping people who are clearly addicted," she told Fox News Digital.

"These are people addicted to these substances, and instead of helping them fight their addiction and get off drugs, they're literally enabling them and giving them a community center to do it in — when we could use community centers for our youth and our seniors. It's really, really disturbing to see tax dollars go to this" she continued.

"We need long-term treatment. I've been a constant supporter of funding long-term treatment. Unfortunately, here in New York City, when they make a drug-related arrest, it's a quick turnaround — you're in and you're out, even if you're the dealer perpetrating these crimes on people," Malliotakis said.

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Fox News Digital contacted the White House, Mamdani's office and OnPoint for further comment.

John Rich warns Nashville's famed Broadway could go dark as businesses face tax ‘death nail’

Thu, 13 Aug 2026 10:51:45 -0400

Country star John Rich is warning that Nashville’s Lower Broadway, the iconic entertainment district famous for its glowing neon signs, packed honky-tonks and live country music, could soon begin going dark.

In a video that Rich shared on Facebook last week, the 52-year-old Big & Rich member sounded the alarm, declaring that "the lights are going out on Broadway" as Nashville businesses struggle under mounting property tax bills.

Speaking to Fox News Digital, Rich, who owns Redneck Riviera Bar & BBQ on Lower Broadway, argued that sharply higher property assessments along with increased taxes have pushed longtime Broadway establishments to a breaking point, which he said threatened not only the businesses themselves but the live music culture that earned Nashville its "Music City" nickname.

"It was a one-two punch," Rich said. "So the first thing he did was they reappraised everybody's property in the county, in the city, and as soon as they got that done, which was an extremely inflated appraisal rate, then they come in and raise the taxes aggressively on top of these extremely inflated appraisals."

COUNTRY STAR JOHN RICH JOINS TRUMP ADMINISTRATION ADVOCATING FOR LANDOWNERS' RIGHTS

"And with those two things, what you've done is you've now put a death nail in a vast majority of the businesses," he continued. "It's only a matter of time before you're going to see large percentages of the businesses downtown turning out the lights."

"We've already had three in the past two weeks have to shut down. I'm talking major, major, major places that have been there for decades," Rich added.

Though Rich blamed Nashville Mayor Freddie O’Connell for the overall tax burden, the city's regularly scheduled four-year reappraisal, which took place in 2025, was conducted by the independently elected Davidson County assessor of property.

WATCH: JOHN RICH WARNS TAX ‘ONE-TWO PUNCH’ THREATENS BROADWAY

The 2025 reappraisal resulted in a 45% median increase in property values countywide. Under Tennessee law, the reappraisal itself is revenue-neutral, meaning the tax rate is adjusted so higher property values don't automatically generate additional revenue for local government.

However, O’Connell and the Metro Council subsequently set the Urban Services District tax rate at $2.814 per $100 of assessed value, 26% above the revenue-neutral certified rate, according to the assessor’s office.

The increases were particularly steep on Lower Broadway, where a 400% increase in real estate values was common, according to a report by Axios Nashville. The outlet also reported that many honky-tonk operators rent their buildings and are responsible for the property taxes under their leases, leaving them to shoulder rising tax bills without benefiting from the increased equity in the properties.

Rich pointed to several Lower Broadway establishments while describing what he sees as a broader threat to businesses in the district.

He cited Nashville Underground, which permanently closed in May after roughly eight years in business, and Acme Feed & Seed, whose owner, Tom Morales, has warned it could close amid a steep increase in its property tax bill. Rich also said he has heard Hard Rock Cafe Nashville, a Broadway fixture since 1994, is considering closing, though Fox News Digital has not independently confirmed that claim.

Acme Feed & Seed, in particular, has emerged as a flashpoint in the debate over the rising tax burden. In February, Morales said the popular four-story restaurant, bar and live music venue's annual property tax bill had jumped from $129,000 to nearly $600,000.

Morales told Nashville's NewsChannel 5 that Acme Feed & Seed ended 2025 about $500,000 "in the red," while he and his daughter Lauren Morales later told the Nashville Scene that closure was "imminent" if they could not find a solution to the tax increase.

O’Connell addressed Morales' warnings at the time during an interview with Nashville's Fox 17.

"It’s not up to me whether he keeps that business open," O’Connell told the outlet. "The market evolves. New businesses start even as beloved old businesses close."

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The comments drew criticism, including from Metro Councilmember Jacob Kupin, who told Fox 17 he was "appalled" by the mayor's response. O’Connell’s office later accused the station of selectively editing and misrepresenting his remarks and released a longer version of the exchange.

In the fuller answer, O’Connell said the state comptroller had reviewed downtown valuations and determined they reflected market value. He called Acme's location "an incredibly valuable piece of property" and said it was up to the owner to determine how to capture that value.

Rich argued that Acme’s concerns are far from isolated, pointing to a recent meeting he attended with other Lower Broadway business owners.

"Then we had this meeting with all the business owners down there," Rich told Fox News Digital. "And in that meeting, all the ownership of Broadway was represented down there, and every single person said it's only a matter of time before we literally have to just close the doors because we're running at a deficit."

"We'd have to charge $50 a beer, which you can't do that," he continued. "I mean, there is no business model that exists that allows the businesses down there to stay open."

WATCH: JOHN RICH SAYS NASHVILLE BARS WOULD NEED TO CHARGE ‘$50 A BEER' TO SURVIVE

Rich emphasized that the bar and restaurant operators sounding the alarm include some of the most experienced in the city.

"You're not talking about a bunch of amateurs here," he said. "You're looking at the best of the best, and they can't survive it."

For Rich, however, the bigger concern is what the financial pressure could ultimately mean for Nashville’s identity.

"The bigger story to me is live music in Nashville. I mean, it's called Music City," he said.

Rich described the unique concentration of live music along Broadway, where honky-tonks line both sides of the street and bands perform throughout the day and into the early morning hours.

"You walk down Broadway, the doors are all open to all the honky-tonks, you're hearing music from the right side of your head and the left side of your head for five blocks in a row," Rich said. "There's 60, 70, 80 live music venues in that one concentration. It's the only place like it in the world."

"The French Quarter doesn't have that. Las Vegas doesn't have that. Times Square doesn't have that," he continued. "There's nowhere in America that has what downtown Nashville has when it comes to live music. And it is absolutely under threat."

Rich painted a dire picture of what he fears the entertainment district could eventually look like when Nashville hosts the 2030 Super Bowl.

"Can you imagine when the Super Bowl comes to Nashville here in a few years, and everybody's packed in on Broadway and there's only 30 or 40% of the neon signs that are even still lit up, if you're lucky?" he said. "That's what you're looking at happening. I mean, what a travesty that would be."

Rich, an outspoken conservative and longtime supporter of President Donald Trump, placed much of the blame for the situation on O’Connell, a Democrat, suggesting the mayor's approach to the issue is driven by ideology. However, Rich maintained that concerns among Broadway business owners cross political lines.

"This is not just a bunch of conservatives yelling about it," Rich said. "The group of business owners that I sat with were from both sides of the aisle."

"There's all kinds of things we don't agree on amongst each other," he continued. "But this right here brought unity amongst left and right and middle. It's that bad."

Rich also accused O’Connell of using tax policy to reshape the character of Nashville, offering his own view of the mayor's motivations.

"It is a tactic to tax things out of existence that you don't like and replace them with things that you'd rather have there," Rich said. "Can you imagine the neon signs on Broadway replaced with government buildings and corporate offices? I think that's what he wants."

Fox News Digital has reached out to O’Connell’s office for comment.

The five-time Grammy Award nominee is now calling on Tennessee state leaders to intervene.

Rich said Broadway business owners have appealed to Tennessee House Speaker Cameron Sexton and Senate Majority Leader Jack Johnson and urged Gov. Bill Lee to work with lawmakers on a solution. He told Fox News Digital that the governor has the opportunity to become a "honky-tonk hero."

WATCH: JOHN RICH FEARS NASHVILLE’S NEON LIGHTS COULD GO DARK BEFORE SUPER BOWL COMES TO MUSIC CITY

"Governor Lee, who's still here, has an opportunity to do a special session with the Senate, with the House, and come with some solution that, if nothing else, will buy us some time until we can go in and make the more permanent moves," Rich said.

State leaders are considering taking action. Sexton's office confirmed to Axios Nashville on Wednesday that the House speaker has spoken with Lee's office about the issue and that they are "looking at all possible solutions," including the possibility of a special legislative session.

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Despite his warnings, Rich said the culture that draws crowds to Broadway has not changed, at least not yet.

"The culture on Broadway hasn't changed at all," he said. "The crowds that come there, the bands that play there, the owners of those businesses, they're the same as they've always been."

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"It is all about the music," Rich continued. "It's all about people coming to town to have a good time and look at what some of the most talented people you've ever seen in your life play on these tiny little stages."

El-Sayed argued against the Second Amendment in unearthed social media videos

Thu, 13 Aug 2026 10:49:41 -0400

A controversial progressive Democrat who has campaigned with high-profile socialists and is running to be the state's next U.S. senator from Michigan responded after hidden videos on his YouTube channel trashing the Second Amendment resurfaced.

"Abdul respects the Second Amendment, and also believes that access to healthcare is a right," Abdul El-Sayed spokeswoman Roxie Richner told Fox News Digital when reached for comment about comments made in the now-secret videos.

"What if we tweaked the Constitution, amended the amendment, and instead of the right to bear arms, we change it to the right to have health care?" he said in a YouTube video posted on April 6, 2023.

He claimed altruism in the proposal, saying more people would live. In that video, El-Sayed said that stripping Second Amendment rights and implementing a right to healthcare policy would lead to "fewer people dying by gun and more people living because they have healthcare."

MICHIGAN SENATE CANDIDATE ABDUL EL-SAYED DODGES QUESTION ON WHETHER HE STILL SUPPORTS DEFUNDING THE POLICE

YouTube offers a feature to hide videos previously posted publicly without deleting them.

Though the hidden videos can't be viewed, rough transcripts can be found on an internet archive site first revealed by CNN in a Monday report. The outlet reports that El-Sayed hid about 100 videos before launching his Senate campaign.

In one video from May 26, 2022, the transcript of which was viewed by Fox News Digital, El-Sayed made the argument that the Second Amendment does not apply to individual Americans and only applies to a regulated militia. He claimed that the stipulation written in the key constitutional right "couches the entire idea of not infringing on the right to bear arms in the idea of maintaining a well-regulated militia."

He argued against individuals owning firearms, instead suggesting that only designated community-based groups, like police forces, should be issued firearms. Paradoxically, El-Sayed has also argued in favor of defunding the police.

UNEARTHED CLIP EXPOSES MORE ANTI-POLICE RHETORIC AS EL-SAYED GETS GRILLED FOR DELETING SOCIAL MEDIA POSTS

That argument against the Second Amendment was roundly rejected in a famous Supreme Court case from 2008, District of Columbia v. Heller.

"The Second Amendment protects an individual right to possess a firearm unconnected with service in a militia," the nation's highest court decidedly held.

El-Sayed's campaign did not respond when asked which, if any, of his views on the Second Amendment had changed since posting the 2022 and 2023 videos.

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Among the many other hidden videos, El-Sayed also raged against President Donald Trump's closed borders policies, argued against the use of fireworks and compared the "ethos" of football to slavery.

The Democrat candidate has campaigned with socialist darling streamer Hasan Piker, known for saying "America deserved 9/11," praising Mao Zedong and Communist China, arguing that capitalists should be murdered in the streets and spewing a litany of antisemitic bile.

The two palled around at a pre-primary election day party earlier this month.

PureTalk keeps phone plans simple — and FOX News readers can choose any plan for $15 per month

Thu, 13 Aug 2026 10:45:48 -0400

Finding a phone plan that fits your budget can feel like more work than it's worth. Luckily, PureTalk keeps things simple, offering five plans at prices lower than many major carriers. Right now, FOX News readers can try any plan for just $15 per month by clicking this sign-up link. The offer lasts three months, giving you time to see if it works for you before paying the regular monthly price.

PureTalk savings

With no activation fees and no cancellation fees, PureTalk offers phone plans without all the extras that drive up monthly costs — while using the same network as major carriers. According to PureTalk, the average family of four saves more than $1,000 a year. And with promotional pricing starting at $15 per month, FOX News readers can shave a few dollars off their monthly phone bill.

Every plan includes unlimited talk and text, and four of the five plans include unlimited data. Once the three-month offer ends, unlimited plans start at $34.99, offering shoppers significant savings without giving up the basics.

Get any plan for $15 per month for the first three months

Every PureTalk plan is just $15 per month for the first three months when you sign up here. After that, plans range from $24.99 to $64.99 per month. The plans are designed to cost less than those from major carriers, making this a budget-friendly deal for those looking to cut down on their phone bill. Four of the five plans include unlimited talk, text and data, and all plans include mobile hotspot access ranging from 2GB to 30GB.

Switching is simple too: bring your own phone, keep your current number and avoid contracts and hidden fees.

PureTalk gives back to veterans

In addition to low-cost phone plans, PureTalk is a veteran-led company that proudly supports military communities. To celebrate America250, the company donated $250,000 to America's Warrior Partnership, an organization that connects veteran-serving groups with resources for veterans and their families. To date, PureTalk and its customers have donated over $809,000 to the cause.

The company also offers 100% U.S.-based customer service, helping support American jobs while giving customers access to representatives based in the United States.

PureTalk plans include hotspot access and spam call protection

PureTalk’s limited-time $15 per month offer comes with more than just discounted pricing. Each plan comes with spam call protection, and the top three plans include international roaming.

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For shoppers who want PureTalk’s simplest option, the entry-level plan still covers the basics. It includes unlimited talk and text, plus 7GB of data, for just $24.99 per month after the three-month promotional period.

Three states prepare to execute killers Thursday in same-day event not seen since 2010

Thu, 13 Aug 2026 10:43:09 -0400

Three men in three different states are scheduled to be executed by lethal injection on Thursday in an unusual same-day cluster of executions across the U.S.

Tennessee is set to execute Anthony Darrell Hines for the murder of a motel maid, while Alabama plans to put Jeremy Williams to death for raping and killing a 5-year-old girl after paying her mother $2,500 to let the child perform a sexual act. Oklahoma is also scheduled to execute Carlos Cuesta-Rodriguez for killing his girlfriend.

The Associated Press reported that three states last carried out executions on a single day on Jan. 7, 2010, when prisoners were put to death in Louisiana, Ohio and Texas.

TWO FLORIDA INMATES DIE IN RARE DOUBLE EXECUTION AFTER SCOTUS DENIES STAYS

Three executions were also set to happen on the same day in 2018, though only one took place after Alabama officials struggled to place an IV line and Texas granted a reprieve.

Florida executed two men in one day in July, bringing its total number of executions since the beginning of 2025 to 31.

Eleven states carried out executions last year. If Tennessee and Alabama proceed on Thursday, six states will have put prisoners to death in 2026.

Hines, 66, is set to die for the 1985 killing of Catherine Jean Jenkins, a 54-year-old motel maid in Kingston Springs. Prosecutors said Hines stabbed Jenkins while she was at work.

JUDGE BLOCKS ALABAMAS NITROGEN GAS EXECUTION METHOD, RUES IT IS UNCONSTITUTIONALLY CRUEL

He was first sentenced to death in 1986, won a new sentencing hearing on appeal and was sentenced to death again in 1989.

His execution is scheduled three months after Tennessee stopped another inmate’s lethal injection when officials could not establish an IV line.

Hines has asked the governor and the courts to intervene, arguing that the doctor involved in the May procedure was unqualified and could cause the same problems during his execution. He also said muscular atrophy and weight loss after two strokes could make it difficult to place an IV.

Officials were able to establish Tony Carruthers’ first IV line quickly during the May attempt. But they spent more than an hour trying to place a second line, his lawyer said, after witnessing the procedure. The team tried Carruthers’ arm, hand and foot before moving to a central line.

ALABAMA DEATH ROW INMATE INSISTS INNOCENCE, URGES GOVERNOR TO MEET HIM BEFORE NITROGEN-GAS EXECUTION

Lee stopped Carruthers’ execution and delayed it for a year. Tennessee has not said whether the doctor involved in that procedure will participate in Hines’ execution.

In Alabama, Williams is set to be executed for the 2021 rape and murder of 5-year-old Kamarie Holland of Georgia.

Williams pleaded guilty, gave up his appeals and asked to be put to death.

Prosecutors said the 42-year-old paid Holland’s mother $2,500 before sexually assaulting and strangling the girl. They said he recorded the attack and kept her body so he could continue abusing it.

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"To see on video what he did to this baby, what a grown man could do to a child, it’s shocking, it’s horrible, it’s disgusting," Russell County District Attorney Richard Chancey said. "It’s just a level of evil."

Williams was also investigated in Alaska in 2005 in connection with his infant daughter’s death, though no charges were filed until 2022.

Alabama has not carried out an execution this year. If Williams is put to death, he would be the first. A federal judge halted a planned nitrogen gas execution in the state back in June after finding the method unconstitutional.

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Oklahoma is also scheduled to execute Cuesta-Rodriguez on Thursday for the 2003 murder of his girlfriend, Olimpia Fisher, at their Oklahoma City home.

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Cuesta-Rodriguez has expressed regret over Fisher’s death but did not ask for clemency.

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Fisher was preparing to leave Cuesta-Rodriguez when he shot her through one eye. He left her to scream for help for about eight minutes, then shot her through the other eye, killing her.

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"He made her suffer because she dared to live beyond his control," Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond told the state’s Pardon and Parole Board on July 14.

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The board rejected clemency in a 3-1 vote last month. Cuesta-Rodriguez’s lawyers had urged the board to let him remain in prison for life, pointing to his difficult childhood in Cuba, brain damage, post-traumatic stress disorder and major depression.

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If Oklahoma carries out the execution, Cuesta-Rodriguez would be the state’s third execution this year and the 20th under Republican Gov. Kevin Stitt.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Man who carried Clinton nuclear 'football' reveals what 'scares the hell out of me' about Air Force One story

Thu, 13 Aug 2026 10:41:43 -0400

A retired Air Force lieutenant colonel who carried the nuclear "football" for former President Bill Clinton says the extraordinary Air Force One shell game departing Ankara, Turkey, last month to protect President Donald Trump from a potential attack was hardly unprecedented.

"It was brilliant," retired Lt. Col. Robert "Buzz" Patterson told Fox News Digital. "I wish I had been a part of it. That's how well done it was."

But Patterson is warning that exposing the vital national security secrets behind such operations could put presidents, military personnel and the White House press corps in danger for years to come.

Patterson served as Clinton's senior military aide for a period of two years and was responsible for the president’s emergency satchel, and in a 20-minute interview Wednesday, he explained how presidential decoys, aircraft swaps and other acts of deception are longstanding tools used to protect the commander in chief, his senior officials and the "privileged" Air Force One press corps.

TRUMP USED CATERING TRUCK, AIR FORCE ONE DECOY TO EVADE IRAN THREAT: REPORT

What alarms him, Patterson said, is not that Trump’s security team used the tactic — including the catering truck sleight of hand he was intimately a part of during the Clinton administration — but that details of how it was done are now spilling into public view.

"I hope that they prosecute this to the fullest," Patterson said. "Whoever leaked that, in my opinion, and having been involved in this, was highly placed in that process."

"There’s only a few people who actually know exactly what’s going down, and that’s by design," he added. "So if somebody leaked it, it was somebody involved in the process, and that scares the hell out of me."

'DECOY' AIR FORCE ONE WAS PROTECTED BY US FIGHTER JETS, OFFICIAL SAYS

His warning comes as Fox News reported Wednesday that the legacy presidential 747 used as a decoy after Trump secretly switched planes in Ankara, Turkey, last month was not sent into the sky unprotected.

A senior Trump administration official told Fox News that U.S. fighter jets protected the aircraft on its flight to the United Kingdom. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent were also aboard with members of the traveling press corps, according to the official. Reporters had been instructed to keep their window shades closed.

Patterson said the fighter escort was exactly the sort of protection he would expect in a high-threat environment.

TRUMP SAYS HE'S IRAN'S 'NO. 1' TARGET AS RENEWED CONFLICT RAISES ASSASSINATION FEARS

"Yes, especially into war zones," Patterson said, when asked whether presidential aircraft are customarily escorted by fighter jets in such circumstances.

"We damn sure always do when we’re going to a theater of high threat," he said. "We did it with President Clinton in ’97. And we did it with Trump just a couple weeks ago, and we’ll do it with whoever the next president is."

TRUMP’S SLY PLANE SWITCH RAISES EYEBROWS OVER SAFETY OF PASSENGERS LEFT BEHIND ON BOARD

‘We use decoys all the time’

Trump’s July 8 departure from the NATO summit in Ankara involved a carefully staged deception.

Trump publicly boarded the familiar blue-and-white presidential 747 before being moved out of sight in an airport catering vehicle and transferred to a smaller Air Force C-32A. The legacy 747 then departed for Britain while Trump traveled separately. He later reunited with the presidential aircraft in the United Kingdom before continuing his journey aboard the newer, Qatari-donated 747.

Trump said Tuesday that he was following the direction of the Secret Service and the military.

Patterson said the broader concept of confusing potential attackers about the president’s movements is routine.

WHITE HOUSE PUSHED FOR PROTOCOL TO PRESERVE CORRESPONDENTS' CREDIBILITY AFTER TRUMP'S SECRET PLANE SWITCH

"We use decoys all the time," he said. "We use decoy in the motorcade routes."

"You'll sometimes see the two beasts will switch out under bridges and overpasses. We do the same thing with airplanes, especially in international trips. There's always two Air Force Ones that go. Obviously, one's a decoy and it's also a spare for spare parts in case something happens to the primary.

"So we've been doing it for years.

"It works," he added, "and for people to want to have visibility into actually how it works would be particularly troubling and it would cause reverberations in our American system for years."

SECRET SERVICE AGENT ON JD VANCE'S DETAIL INVESTIGATED FOR ALLEGEDLY LEAKING OPERATIONAL SECURITY INFO

That is why, he argued, demands to expose the mechanics of the latest operation risk doing more damage than the public scrutiny is worth.

Patterson said the protections are intended not merely for Trump, Clinton or any individual president, but to ensure continuity of the presidency itself.

"President Trump's only got two more years," he said. "These programs are going to be in place for the foreseeable future, and they've been in place in our past for quite a while. So it's not just about Trump. These programs exist to protect no matter who the president is and the team around him."

Patterson, who is a conservative and outspoken New York Times bestselling author highly critical of the man he carried the nuclear football for, warned divisive politics against Trump is dangerous for U.S. national security.

TWO YEARS AFTER BUTLER, THREATS AGAINST TRUMP KEEP ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT IN SHARP FOCUS

"Like I was with President Clinton — I wasn't a huge President Clinton fan, but they hired me into that position, the White House did — and I swore an oath to the office of the presidency, and I did it," Patterson said. "And I think that the people that are working for President Trump right now, whether they like him or don't like him, or agree with his politics or don't agree with this politics, they have to understand that we're there — the Secret Service guys, the apparatus is there — to protect the human being and the office."

Clinton’s own catering truck maneuver

Patterson also revealed that Trump was not the first president he knew of to use an airport catering vehicle as part of a clandestine movement: "As far as I know, President Clinton was the first one to do it."

Decades before Trump was moved between aircraft in Ankara, Patterson said a catering truck was used to discreetly move Clinton aboard a presidential aircraft during an episode that was never publicly reported at the time.

"I won't go into a lot of detail, but, President Clinton was incapable of going up the front steps," he said. "So we used a catering truck to get them onto the back of the airplane, unbeknownst to anybody else that was there except for a few of us. And we never told anybody and nobody ever reported it."

TRUMP HAS BECOME AMERICA'S MOST TARGETED LEADER, FACING THREATS EVERY FEW MONTHS

"And we flew back to D.C. kind of unannounced. And we've done it before. I was on with President Clinton in 1997 when we did the surprise visit to Bosnia. So he went to Bosnia on Christmas Eve to surprise the troops. So we didn't tell anybody then. I was all on that trip the entire way, 36 hours nonstop that day. And we didn't tell anybody, and the press didn't know, and they never complained about it.

"And it was important. We wanted to get President Clinton into a war zone without anybody else knowing about it. And that's kind of what was happening to Trump. They wanted to him out of a potential war zone, without anybody knowing about it.

"We do it all the time. It's safe, it's reliable, and the public does not need to know."

Past presidents have repeatedly used secrecy and deception for travel into dangerous areas. Clinton used decoy aircraft during a 2000 trip to Pakistan, while subsequent presidents have made covert or tightly held trips to Iraq, Afghanistan and Ukraine. The precise circumstances and level of knowledge afforded to traveling reporters have differed between administrations.

‘Incredibly dangerous’ to expose the playbook

Patterson pushed back against criticism that Trump’s operation improperly endangered the reporters and officials who continued aboard the legacy presidential aircraft.

He noted that the aircraft was carrying not only journalists but an Air Force crew and senior government officials — and, as Fox News has now reported, was protected by fighter aircraft.

"We’re not going to put those people at risk either," Patterson said flatly of the Air Force personnel.

He argued that some of the media criticism has lost sight of the wider security apparatus involved in presidential travel.

"A lot of what is being spouted on social media and in our mainstream media is factually incorrect," Patterson said, "and it’s actually troubling because it’s going to endanger not only President Trump, but future presidents to come."

Patterson called efforts to expose the procedures "incredibly dangerous" and "irresponsible."

The danger, he said, extends beyond the president.

"It endangers everybody in the process — Secret Service guys, military aide guys, Air Force guys that are on alert, Army guys that are on alert," Patterson said.

The retired officer said presidential protection plans are deliberately compartmentalized so that very few people know the full operation.

That is what makes the source of the disclosures particularly concerning to him.

Patterson says exposure could make future war-zone trips impossible

Patterson warned there could also be a longer-term cost to revealing too much about presidential deception tactics: Future commanders in chief could lose the ability to make surprise visits to troops or enter high-threat regions at all.

If the tactics become predictable, he argued, planners would have to devise entirely new security procedures.

"If we were to expose everything, we would have to overhaul the entire security apparatus of the United States of America," Patterson said, warning that doing so could put "the presidency and the Cabinet members in incredible danger."

Asked whether overexposing such programs could effectively prevent Trump or future presidents from making some high-risk overseas trips, Patterson agreed.

"That’s correct," he said.

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For Patterson, that makes the argument over the Trump flight bigger than one president, one press corps or one flight out of Turkey.

The tactics being publicly dissected today, he warned, may be the same ones needed to save a future president — and everyone traveling with that president — tomorrow.

"We just need to leave them alone," Patterson said.

BZZR 'cutting out the noise' from sports social media space great for creators, sportscaster Jon Alba says

Thu, 13 Aug 2026 10:40:59 -0400

Social media can be a tricky place.

If you fire off the wrong hot take, you could subject yourself to endless notifications for messages that might make you lose some sleep. BZZR, a social media platform dedicated solely to sports content, is hoping to change that.

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Jon Alba, an Emmy Award-winning sportscaster who co-hosts "The Extreme Life of Matt Hardy" with the legendary professional wrestler, told Fox News Digital he believed that there was a space missing for sports fans to connect online without the hate and vitriol. He said it’s what makes BZZR the place to be for those who have cemented themselves as reputable content creators and those looking to get reps in.

"I have always felt like there was a spot in the sports media space that was unoccupied where a virtual sports bar could meet people who wanted to engage in that space specifically," he said. "When I was 15 years old, back in the early days of podcasting, podcasting didn't even exist. It was like online sports talk radio. There was a platform called YouCaster, and it was essentially a bunch of sports fans, wannabe sports broadcasters, creating content and congregating around each other's content. And the platform didn't last very long, but it was such a great idea.

"And now in the age of access for all of these creators to have a space that is dedicated to solely creating instantaneous, engaging sports content and cutting out the noise, I think that's awesome for the space, and it's a great way for anyone to get an opportunity to get reps and get better at creating content in the sports space. So, I think it's a great arena for that."

BZZR has made it a point to block out the noise and stick solely to sports, and it’s what drew Alba to the platform. The social media platform has partnered with the Texas Rangers, John Bradshaw Layfield, MVP, Dwayne Swayze and Kayla Becker — to name a few.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM

"There's so much trash out there today, whether it's AI garbage or engagement bait, rage bait, where people just say things for the sake of saying things, and it's been one of my least favorite evolutions of the sports media space in the last decade where people who want to make noise get rewarded for doing so without any substance to what they're saying," he said. "And I think the advantage of a place like BZZR is that you have people on the platform who are there for the right reason, who want to create good, engaging content that furthers conversation that gets them better at creating sports content and creates a space that people actually want to talk about sports in, as silly as it sounds.

"I don't think we have that many of them right now that do so in a way that has integrity and is genuinely fun to sort through. So that's why I've really gone behind the idea of BZZR and I think it's cool to see that it has grown in a short period of time."

Hardy agreed that the concept of having a place solely for sports was a good idea.

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"The best thing about social media is it gives everyone a voice. The worst thing about social media is it gives everyone a voice and that very much holds true," Hardy added.

Hardy and Alba’s podcast drops every Friday morning as they look back at Hardy’s career and swap stories about some of the most important moments in pro wrestling history.