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Democratic strategist James Carville says the late Lindsey Graham's career was 'defined by duplicity'

Fri, 17 Jul 2026 14:21:34 -0400

Veteran Democratic strategist James Carville said Wednesday that while he takes no joy in the late Senator Lindsay Graham’s death, he will remember his career as one of "duplicity."

"Let's give him all the credit in the world. He was one of the [Bill Clinton] impeachment managers. Remember the great moral titan Henry Hyde and that whole crowd. And yeah, he was a little bit more than just for impeachment. He was the most aggressive," Carville said.

"I knew him. He could be personable, but I don't think the man has had a... sorry, I don't want anybody to get sick or die, that's not it," Carville said. "But I think his political career is mostly defined by duplicity. Just my own view."

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

MEDIA GHOULS, COMMENTATORS ACROSS POLITICAL AISLE MOCK LINDSEY GRAHAM’S DEATH WITH ‘GOOD RIDDANCE’ POSTS

The reaction to Graham’s death, as one of the most vocal and visible Republican senators, has sparked headlines as people share hot takes about his career.

"He was a character," co-host Al Hunt said. "Somewhat controversial, different stages of his life. I first met him right after he won the House seat in 1994, and I felt he was different than most southern Republicans back then, 30-some years ago. Young, kind of funny."

Hunt recalled that Graham was a close ally of John McCain in terms of policy, and managed to be witty and funny to the point he himself chose him for the John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Committee when told to find somebody "smart and fun."

"Then as McCain was dying, he turned to a new leader, a new guru because he always wanted to be a player, and that was Donald Trump," Hunt recalled. And I think his influence was exaggerated, but he was a very constructive force on Ukraine and a very, very bad influence on the war in Iran and actually on his policy towards Israel."

TRUMP'S FIERCEST GOP CRITIC BECAME HIS MOST INFLUENTIAL VOICE ON WAR AND PEACE

He concluded, "I just think Lindsey Graham was a force in American politics for 30-some years and, like most people, if you get too close to Trump, you get soiled."

Carville offered a harsher assessment, but nonetheless acknowledged how personable he could be.

Graham served in the House of Representatives from 1995 to 2003 and was a key figure in the impeachment trial of Carville's old boss, former President Bill Clinton.

Graham was elected to the U.S. Senate in 2002 and re-elected three more times; he was seeking a fifth term in 2026 when he died.

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Rubio's call to combat global funders of far-left terrorism could put Singham in crosshairs

Fri, 17 Jul 2026 14:07:35 -0400

Secretary Marco Rubio’s call for global cooperation to combat far-left political terrorism could implicate Neville Roy Singham, a Marxist nonprofit financier who is currently facing a federal grand jury probe in New York.

Singham, a 72-year-old American who sold his tech company for $785 million in 2017 and now lives in Shanghai, is known to fund pro-Chinese Communist Party groups that operate in the U.S. He has funneled $278 million into the broad network of nonprofits since 2017, according to a Fox News Digital investigation. These groups regularly organize and participate in anti-ICE, anti-Israel and pro-Iran demonstrations.

At a State Department summit held in Washington, D.C., Thursday, Rubio urged more than 60 countries to treat far-left global terrorism as a counterterrorism priority.

DOJ LAUNCHES GRAND JURY PROBE INTO MARXIST MOGUL NEVILLE ROY SINGHAM'S FUNDING OF LEFTIST GROUPS

"For far too long, however, our counterterrorism doctrine has had a blind spot – a blind spot when it comes to extremist violence from the political left, Rubio said. "Even today, the very idea that far-left terrorism could be a serious threat is treated as a right-wing fever dream, or worse, as a dangerous fascist conspiracy."

Rubio noted that networks are coordinating across multiple countries, providing training instructions and using encrypted communication to facilitate unrest. He said that international cooperation is critical to disrupting the financing of dangerous organizations, and that some are working with hostile foreign states.

Rubio did not mention Singham by name and State Department officials did not respond to a request for comment.

Singham’s web of nonprofits are known to promote communist and Marxist ideals on social media platforms and on the ground at demonstrations across the country. Code Pink, which was co-founded by Singham’s wife, Jodie Evans, regularly protests in the U.S. Capitol, confronting lawmakers and openly admits that "China is Not Our Enemy."

RUBIO PUTS ENTIRE WORLD ON NOTICE AGAINST RISE OF 'POISONOUS' FAR-LEFT TERROR 'MASKED AS EQUALITY'

Rubio mentioned the dangerous influence Marxist beliefs can have when tied to acts of terrorism. He said the left often seems to excuse violence carried out by its own extremists.

"A bomb planted by a neo-Nazi group was a nefarious and murderous act of evil," Rubio said. "But a bomb planted by a Marxist revolutionary – well, that’s just merely a tragic excess of idealism. Perhaps its means were misplaced or overzealous, but its ends were virtuous and just. That’s the implication of how they treat it."

Congress has also taken note of Singham’s activities. House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Jason Smith, R-Mo., launched an investigation into the Singham nonprofit network last year, and members in the upper chamber are also sounding the alarm on Singham’s ties to China.

"Chinese-funded, anti-American billionaires like Neville Roy Singham are instigating far-left chaos across our country," Sen. Jim Banks, R-Ind., told Fox News Digital. "This needs to stop, and Secretary Rubio is rightly taking action to confront this transnational scourge head-on."

INTEL EXPERT SAYS SINGHAM NETWORK IS MORE THAN A NONPROFIT SCANDAL—IT'S A SECURITY THREAT

Last month, Fox News Digital reported that the Department of Justice has launched a grand jury investigation into alleged financial crimes. Singham hasn’t responded to repeated requests for comment from Fox News Digital.

According to sources familiar with the matter, the grand jury in Manhattan has issued subpoenas as part of a probe launched by U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York Jay Clayton for the Southern District of New York, one of the country's most powerful districts for federal prosecutions. Acting U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche authorized the investigation as the Trump administration seeks to crack down on fraud, money laundering and other financial crimes in the multibillion-dollar nonprofit industry.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent met privately with Goldman Sachs Chairman and CEO David Solomon in New York earlier this year, where, according to sources familiar with the discussion, he warned that the firm could come under scrutiny over its alleged role in the movement of funds tied to Singham.

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During the meeting, Bessent encouraged Solomon to fully cooperate with the Justice Department's investigation, telling him that Goldman Sachs' handling of the Singham-linked funds could become part of the federal probe should they choose not to cooperate.

A source with knowledge of the conversation told Fox News Digital that the exchange was cordial, and that Solomon indicated Goldman Sachs would aid investigators.

"All distributions from Mr. Singham's donor-advised fund were made to legal nonprofits, as determined by the IRS," a Treasury spokesperson said. "There have been no distributions from the account since August 2023, and it was closed in early 2024."

Reds' moneyline pick offers value against Rockies despite Brady Singer's road ERA

Fri, 17 Jul 2026 13:56:10 -0400

Baseball can be very humbling at times, not just for sports bettors but also for the teams.

Each team tends to win about a third of its games, lose a third, and then make the difference in its season with the remaining third. I come back to that idea a lot as I put together bets, because some are very streaky, others are consistent, and some are wild, where you can't tell which third they are lumping into at the time. I'm hoping not to get humbled and find the right spot for this game between the Cincinnati Reds and the Colorado Rockies.

The Reds may be in one of their worst moments of the season. They are 43-52 for the year, and that has to be frustrating considering they started the year strong and have had some really nice stretches. They were 20-11 going into May; since then, they've gone 23-41. That's obviously a really tough portion of the year, but perhaps that's the stretch where they are losing the majority of the games. They were better at the All-Star break last season and made the postseason, but perhaps they can make a run this year. This is not a team that should be losing two of every three games for the remainder of the year.

Looking to get them back on track to start the second half of the year is Brady Singer. For the year, Singer is 3-9 with a 4.72 ERA and a 1.47 WHIP. Those aren't overly strong numbers, and he has struggled to a 6.75 road ERA, but Singer is a fairly reliable starter. He is also pitching the best baseball of his season with just 12 earned runs allowed over his past 38.2 innings in June and July. He hasn't faced the Rockies this season, but collectively, the team is 11-for-49 against him.

REDS ANNOUNCERS FUME AT 'MIDDLE SCHOOL MISTAKE' VS DIVISION RIVAL CUBS AS HORRID LOSING STREAK CONTINUES

The Rockies are not a team that I talk about a lot. They are a club that hasn't been relevant in years, and I think we are unlikely to see them be relevant any time soon. They don't have a ton of young talent, and they don't have a chance of signing big-name free agent pitchers. They are 20 games under .500, but I suppose ownership can be happy they didn't spend a boatload of money on their team to end up in the same spot like the New York Mets have.

Stray bullets for the Mets aside, this is not a very good team, but as they've been in other seasons, they have been about .500 at home.

Looking to get them closer to that mark is their starter Gabriel Hughes. We haven't seen much of Hughes, but he has done fairly well in his outings. He doesn't have a win or loss on his record, but owns a 3.00 ERA and a 1.00 WHIP. He did make one appearance at Coors Field this season, and went three innings, allowing two hits, one walk, and striking out one hitter while allowing no runs. He has never faced the Reds before.

I think we are getting a bit of value here on the Reds. I'm not really sure what to expect out of Hughes, which does make this a tougher game to predict. I normally avoid the younger guys, but I think the Reds are undervalued right now. Singer hasn't looked great when you look at his full season, but recently, he does look solid.

PADRES VS ROYALS PITCHING MATCHUP FAVORS THE UNDER 10.5 AS THE SECOND-HALF OF THE MLB SEASON STARTS

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I'm going to back the Reds on the moneyline in tonight's game. The Rockies are better at home, but this is more me trying to back the Reds lineup, Singer on the mound lately, and fade a guy who hasn't had a ton of experience. Give me Cincinnati at -105 for tonight's game.

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White House dishes out new election security jab over Olive Garden's pasta pass ID policy

Fri, 17 Jul 2026 13:34:40 -0400

After a popular Italian restaurant chain dished out an online response to a curious diner about its new unlimited pasta pass, politically-minded social media users, including those at the top of the food chain, are taking a stand.

Olive Garden took to X on Wednesday to promote its new deal, which offers customers the chance purchase a "Never Ending Pasta Pass" for $100 plus tax, giving the first 10,000 people to purchase their pass 13 weeks of unlimited pasta.

A user posed a question to the iconic American restaurant chain, asking whether they could purchase the unlimited pasta pass and share it with their family.

WATCH: ELISSA SLOTKIN SAYS SAVE AMERICA ACT WOULD MAKE IT 'HARD FOR ANY DEMOCRAT' TO WIN AN ELECTION

"No. The Never-Ending Pasta Pass is only for use by the Passholder whose name is printed on the Pass," Olive Garden replied. "Passes are personalized and non-transferable."

"Passholders must present a valid photo I.D. along with the Pass at the time of ordering," the chain instructed from its X account.

Immediately, the political right seized the the opportunity to prove a point — that Olive Garden appears more strict about its unlimited pasta promotion than Democrat-run states are about voting. The timely post comes as Trump continues to push for what would be a signature legislative victory — the SAVE Act — which, if passed, would require photo identification to vote. It has faced fierce pushback from the left-wing, who have argued against requiring proof of identity to cast a ballot in elections.

"Olive Garden takes their Pasta Pass security more seriously than Democrats take election security," White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson told Fox News Digital. "It’s sad but true."

"The SAVE America Act is a commonsense police, supported by the vast majority of Americans, that will secure our elections for generations to come. The only people opposed seem to be Democrats in Congress… I wonder why?" she added.

WATCH: MCCARTHY SAYS TRUMP WILL USE 'EVERYTHING HE CAN' TO FORCE SENATE ACTION ON SAVE AMERICA ACT

The social media post quickly caused an online feeding frenzy.

"PUT OLIVE GARDEN IN CHARGE OF OUR ELECTIONS!!!" one popular X account quipped.

"I hope you understand that this is extremely discriminatory towards minorities and married women," one user said, parroting talking points that the political left has used in opposition of the SAVE Act.

MEMPHIS PIZZA JOINT SPARKS BACKLASH AFTER OWNER REFUSES TO SERVE NATIONAL GUARD TROOPS

Another user also mockingly used the common parlance of the political left in response to Olive Garden's strict policy.

"I’m sorry, but this sounds incredibly racist to me, a requirement ID and some sort of proof of being a passholder will negatively affect marginalized communities ability to access Olive Garden," wrote the sarcastic user. "Do better Olive Garden."

"Are you saying that if photo ID is not presented, it could lead to cheating the system?" another social media user asked.

"Good grief, Olive Garden is more secure than our elections," said yet another.

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Since Republicans in the House of Representatives passed the SAVE Act in February, the bill has faced major obstruction by Democrats in the Senate, as the conservative lawmakers don't have the 60 votes required to overcome a filibuster.

Earlier this week, SAVE Act language was attached to a State Department appropriations bill in a creative attempt to pass the law.

Darline Graham considering running for full a Senate term as memorial services set for Lindsey Graham: report

Fri, 17 Jul 2026 13:52:00 -0400

Darline Graham has privately expressed interest in running for a full Senate term, a report said, as memorial services have been announced for her late brother Lindsey Graham.

Three people familiar with the deliberations told The Associated Press that Darline Graham has started having conversations about a potential campaign. She was appointed to fulfill the remainder of her brother’s term on Monday by South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster and was sworn in on Tuesday.

The filing period for a special primary runs from July 21 to July 28, and the primary is scheduled for Aug. 11. Several other noteworthy politicians — including Reps. Russell Fry, Nancy Mace and Ralph Norman, as well as Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette — have been eyeing a run, the AP also reported.

LINDSEY GRAHAM'S SISTER CARRIES ON LATE SENATOR'S WORK, BECOMING SOUTH CAROLINA'S FIRST FEMALE SENATOR

Meanwhile, the late Graham’s communications director said Friday that the late senator's "life and legacy" will be celebrated on Tuesday, July 28, in Washington, D.C., and on Wednesday, July 29, in Columbia and Pickens County, South Carolina.

Darline Graham is the first female senator from the Palmetto State and the first sister ever appointed to the upper chamber.

LINDSEY GRAHAM'S FINAL ACT REVERBERATES IN SENATE AS SISTER IS URGED TO 'KEEP PEDALING'

"Lindsey has always been there for me, and now I will be there for him," Darline Graham said during her appointment ceremony this week. "My brother was the most amazing person, outstanding leader and just a genuinely good man."

She is expected to act as a caretaker for the seat, finishing off the remainder of Lindsey Graham’s term through January.

Lindsey Graham died Saturday at age 71.

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A statement released by Graham's office on Sunday cited preliminary findings from the District of Columbia's Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, identifying the cause of death as an aortic dissection due to arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease.

Fox News Digital’s Melissa Rudy, Alex Miller and The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Truth Social plan to sell early access to Trump posts ‘makes me want to puke,’ CNBC reporter fumes

Fri, 17 Jul 2026 13:47:34 -0400

CNBC senior economics reporter Steve Liesman blasted Trump Media & Technology Group's new Truth API on Friday, arguing that selling financial firms faster access to potentially market-moving Truth Social posts from President Donald Trump undermined the government's efforts to distribute sensitive economic information fairly.

"For me, this announcement by the president makes me want to puke, literally puke," Liesman told MS NOW anchor Stephanie Ruhle.

In a statement to Fox News Digital, a Truth Social spokesperson dismissed Liesman's criticism.

"It’s ill-informed at best," the spokesperson said. "Financial firms routinely pay for these types of feeds from social media platforms, including X and Reddit."

WHITE HOUSE CONDEMNS STAFFER ACCUSED OF BETTING ON TRUMP SPEECH AS A 'DISGRACE'

"It’s milliseconds sooner. The reason for that is because we’re closing the latency gap for financial services firms that put a premium on immediate access."

Liesman said the plan was among the most troubling developments he had encountered because federal agencies work to release major economic reports to the public simultaneously.

"It is one of the most upsetting things I have ever heard," Liesman said.

Ruhle questioned whether the proposed service could create opportunities for investors to profit from information unavailable to people who did not pay for the data feed.

WHITE HOUSE CONDEMNS STAFFER ACCUSED OF BETTING ON TRUMP SPEECH AS A 'DISGRACE'

"Is this insider trading or is it just another grift?" Ruhle asked.

Dan Nathan, co-founder of RiskReversal and a CNBC "Fast Money" contributor, said the time advantage would matter more to professional traders than long-term investors because algorithmic and high-frequency trading systems react to information almost instantly.

"So milliseconds make a lot. They mean a whole heck of a lot, right?" Nathan said. "So I don’t think this really matters much for investors as far as their ability to transact in the market. It’s very important for traders."

Ruhle countered that the controversy extended beyond its immediate effect on investors because Trump's family could financially benefit from selling faster access to posts issued by the president.

WHITE HOUSE CONDEMNS STAFFER ACCUSED OF BETTING ON TRUMP SPEECH AS A 'DISGRACE'

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"The fact that our White House, our president is engaging in this and making a buck off of it." Ruhle said. "We’re barely hearing from the biggest names on Wall Street."

Trump Media announced Thursday that Truth API would begin serving institutional customers Aug. 1. The company said it had already signed customers and was continuing to onboard additional partners. Pricing was not disclosed.

"Markets already move on Truth Social posts," interim CEO Kevin McGurn said. "As adoption grows, we expect Truth API to become a meaningful, ongoing source of revenue for the company, creating lasting value for shareholders."

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DOUG SCHOEN: Trump put 2026 election officials on notice. Now he needs a clear agenda

Fri, 17 Jul 2026 13:44:59 -0400

Perhaps the most important point that President Donald Trump made in his White House address on Thursday night was that we need to be vigilant about foreign involvement and intrusion in our election process. While the president specifically singled out Russia, China, Iran and North Korea, I would argue that our concern must be global.

Yes, of course, the president’s allegations about the People’s Republic of China not only need to be taken seriously; they need to be followed up on — by law enforcement and both chambers of Congress. Indeed, the issue is not only whether foreign actors were able to rig the outcome of an election, but also whether malign actors, wherever they come from, attempted to intrude upon or influence a process that must remain sacrosanct.

What the president’s speech did not accomplish — nor, I believe, was that its main goal — was to influence the outcome of the midterm elections through a sustained policy argument. He did speak at the beginning of his address about economic growth, lower inflation and a stock market that has hit record highs. But there was no sustained argument about affordability, nor did he present any clear evidence that the war in Iran would be over soon.

'SHADOW GOVERNMENT': TRUMP CLAIMS INTEL COMMUNITY BRAGGED ABOUT HIDING CHINESE MEDDLING

What he did do was put election officials around the country on notice that the 2026 midterms would face close scrutiny and that he would personally hold them accountable.

The challenge for the president now is to develop a narrative for the midterms that underscores Republican successes domestically and internationally and argues that the Democratic Party, particularly its socialist wing, is unable to meaningfully improve American life.

DEMOCRATS’ MIDTERM PUSH CLOUDED BY INFIGHTING OVER PARTY KEEPING 2024 AUTOPSY UNDER WRAPS

One other point is worth noting: We are experiencing a profound crisis of confidence in our system of government. Voters in both parties have less confidence in our leaders and in our ability to meaningfully address the problems facing society.

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I very much hope the president and congressional leaders will address, on a bipartisan basis, affordability, our challenges overseas and, most importantly, our responsibility as a nation to serve as a beacon of freedom and liberty in the world.

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At this point in our politics, Republicans have yet to offer a compelling agenda. But as a Democratic strategist, I would make a profound mistake if I failed to acknowledge that my party remains divided, polarized and without an affirmative agenda of its own.

Hopefully, the next five months will bring competing agendas from both parties, as well as greater bipartisanship in Congress. But I wouldn’t bet on it.

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Tyler Robinson's father runs thriving hometown business as taxpayers face possible $10M defense bill: report

Fri, 17 Jul 2026 11:09:50 -0400

Tyler Robinson's father was back running his local business days after standing beside his son in court, where prosecutors laid out a mountain of explosive evidence at last week's preliminary hearing, according to a report.

Matthew Robinson has stood by his son through the court proceedings and was the one who helped turn him in to police after he allegedly confessed to killing conservative icon Charlie Kirk. While the father has stood by Tyler Robinson's side, Utah taxpayers are on the hook for his defense, which experts told the New York Post could go beyond $10 million.

Matthew Robinson was seen shuttling between his $600,000 southern Utah home and the masonry business he runs, just days after his son's preliminary hearing, the New York Post reported.

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

According to sources who spoke with the outlet, the business relies almost entirely on referrals and long-standing client relationships to stay afloat.

After his son was accused of killing Kirk, most of Matthew Robinson's clients have decided to keep doing business with the company. Only on rare occasions does Matthew Robinson mention his son, according to a colleague.

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Matthew Robinson was sued by his brother and a co-founder of the company, claiming $100,000 was embezzled over two years, according to a 2014 lawsuit. The lawsuit alleged that Matthew Robinson concealed financial records and bartered work in exchange for personal favors.

TYLER ROBINSON HEARING ENDS WITHOUT RULING AS EVIDENCE DISMANTLES CHARLIE KIRK CONSPIRACY CLAIMS

The brothers would eventually reach a confidential settlement.

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The total cost of prosecuting Tyler Robinson has yet to be finalized, but his defense team has requested an additional $2 million in state funding, a figure experts believe could ultimately balloon past $10 million overall.

During the preliminary hearing, prosecutors played a recorded video interview with the Kirk assassination suspect's ex-roommate and lover, Lance Twiggs, who said Tyler Robinson confessed to the killing.

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

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

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

Texas dentist accused of fatal mistakes after 4-year-old dies during dental procedure

Fri, 17 Jul 2026 13:39:38 -0400

A Texas dentist has been arrested after investigators found a 4-year-old girl died from a toxic dose of an opioid following what was supposed to be a routine dental procedure, with officials alleging the child's distress went unrecognized until it was too late.

Dr. Chrishelle Hemphill, 48, was arrested Wednesday and is charged with recklessly causing serious bodily injury to a child, a second-degree felony, after investigators claimed her actions during an April 1 dental procedure resulted in the death of Aithana Rodríguez-Arriaga, 4.

Police said months of interviews with witnesses, medical experts and state dental investigators led to her recent arrest.

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Jail records reviewed by Fox News Digital show Hemphill was booked into jail Wednesday afternoon before being released on a $10,000 surety bond.

According to the Fort Worth Police Department, firefighters responded to Cuddle Kids Dental after staff reported the 4-year-old had become unresponsive following the procedure. She was taken to a nearby hospital, where she was pronounced dead.

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"The Crimes Against Children Unit (CACU) began an investigation into this case," police said in a statement provided to Fox News Digital. "Upon their findings, it was determined by the investigators that an offense had occurred and that the doctor that was performing the procedure on the victim was responsible."

According to an arrest warrant affidavit obtained by Fox News Digital, Aithana's mother told investigators she felt rushed into signing paperwork before the procedure and watched as Hemphill handed her daughter a cup containing liquid medication, encouraging her to drink it before she was taken into the treatment room.

Aithana's mother said she was not allowed to remain with her daughter during the procedure.

About an hour later, she was brought back into the room and found her daughter unresponsive while Hemphill attempted to wake her with a popsicle, according to investigators. Emergency crews were then called.

The tragic case has since prompted police to encourage parents to advocate for their children during medical procedures.

"The last thing you would expect as a parent," Fort Worth Police Department spokesperson Brad Perez told affiliate FOX 4 Dallas.

DAYCARE OPERATOR ARRESTED AFTER 3-YEAR-OLD WAS LEFT UNCONSCIOUS IN POOL FOR 20 MINUTES, DIED

"The one thing I would suggest is, if you feel like you want to be there when your child is having a procedure, insist on that," Perez told the outlet. "I believe this mother wanted to check on the child but was unable to do so as the procedure occurred. Perhaps the mother could have seen signs that the doctor did not at the time."

The Tarrant County Medical Examiner later ruled Aithana's death an accident caused by meperidine toxicity, according to records obtained by Fox News Digital.

The arrest affidavit alleges the 4-year-old had 793 ng/mL of meperidine in her system — a level investigators say medical experts believed would have been toxic even for an adult.

As detectives dug deeper into the case, they consulted with the Texas State Board of Dental Examiners, reviewed the board's investigation and sought opinions from outside medical specialists.

According to the affidavit, Aithana received chloral hydrate, hydroxyzine and meperidine in addition to nitrous oxide gas. While each medication individually fell within recommended limits, investigators allege Hemphill failed to account for the powerful combined effect of the drugs.

Police also allege Hemphill failed to recognize signs that Aithana was slipping into respiratory distress and administered flumazenil, which reverses benzodiazepines, instead of naloxone (Narcan), the medication used to counter opioid overdoses.

The affidavit notes no benzodiazepines were found in the girl's system.

MATTHEW PERRY'S ASSISTANT SENTENCED TO PRISON AS FAMILY REVEALS HEARTBREAKING BETRAYAL

Investigators also cited findings from a board-certified anesthesiologist, who concluded Aithana was not properly monitored during the critical recovery period after sedation and that the emergency response failed to address opioid-induced respiratory depression.

Perez told FOX 4 that Hemphill had no prior disciplinary actions and that her dental license remained active with the Texas State Board of Dental Examiners at the time of her arrest.

The investigation uncovered additional concerns inside the dental office. According to court documents, investigators found syringes containing leftover medication that staff allegedly intended to save for future patients, as well as confusion over where Narcan was kept during the emergency.

"Throughout this investigation I have learned from Hemphill's own statements, her staff's statements and from medical professionals, that there was evident neglect on Hemphill's part that led to Aithana's death," a detective wrote in the arrest affidavit.

For Aithana's family, the arrest comes more than three months after they lost what a GoFundMe describes as a "beautiful 4-year-old girl, filled with life and kindness" whose presence "always lit up a room."

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"She was sweet, loving, and touched the lives of all who knew her," the fundraiser says.

It adds that donations will help cover funeral expenses, support her grieving parents and bring Aithana home to Mexico for burial.

She is survived by her parents, an older sister and a younger sister.

The Tarrant County District Attorney's Office confirmed to Fox News Digital that Fort Worth police submitted the case Wednesday and that prosecutors are currently reviewing it.

Fox News Digital has reached out to Hemphill's attorney and the Texas State Board of Dental Examiners for comment.

Wildfire smoke is invading more than 20 states — doctors reveal who should worry most

Fri, 17 Jul 2026 13:36:24 -0400

Canadian wildfire smoke is drifting across parts of the U.S., prompting doctors to warn that even healthy people may face risks from prolonged exposure to polluted air.

More than 180 wildfires are burning in Ontario alone, while nearly 850 are active across Canada, sending smoke into the Midwest and Northeast, according to NASA.

More than 20 states have been affected, prompting widespread air quality alerts from the Upper Midwest to the East Coast.

DOCTORS WARN YOUR 'STOMACH BUG' MAY ACTUALLY BE A PARASITE THAT'S HARDER TO DETECT

The greatest concern comes from fine particulate matter (PM2.5), which is about 30 times smaller than the width of a human hair. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), these microscopic particles can penetrate deep into the lungs and even enter the bloodstream.

"The main concern is fine particle pollution, known as PM2.5," Dr. Fernando Safdie, director of endoluminal and airway surgery and a lung cancer specialist in Miami Beach, Florida, told Fox News Digital. "These particles are small enough to get deep into the lungs, and the smallest can pass into the bloodstream."

"Smoke also carries irritant gases," he added. "That combination is what triggers symptoms."

IS LETTUCE STILL SAFE TO EAT AMID TACO BELL ILLNESS PROBE? DOCTORS ANSWER

The EPA considers an Air Quality Index (AQI) above 100 unhealthy for sensitive groups, while levels above 150 are unhealthy for everyone.

Smoke-related health risks

The most common effect of wildfire smoke is irritation to the respiratory system.

"Most people notice burning or watery eyes, scratchy throat, runny nose or coughing," said Safdie.

"It can progress to chest tightness, shortness of breath, wheezing, headaches, fatigue and a faster heartbeat."

For anyone with asthma, COPD or chronic bronchitis, smoke can set off a flare or make existing symptoms noticeably worse, the doctor cautioned.

Wildfire smoke can also strain the cardiovascular system, according to the American Heart Association. It has been linked to increased emergency room visits for ischemic heart disease, irregular heart rhythm, heart failure, pulmonary embolism and stroke.

THINK YOUR CORTISOL IS TOO HIGH? EXPERT REVEALS THE TRUTH BEHIND VIRAL WELLNESS CRAZE

Short-term exposure to wildfire-related fine particulate matter can also worsen heart failure and contribute to premature death, the EPA notes.

Studies have linked long-term exposure to an increased risk of premature death, chronic heart and lung disease, lung cancer, cognitive decline and dementia, as well as pregnancy complications such as preterm birth and low birth weight, according to the EPA and recent research.

Who is most at risk?

Children are at the highest risk because their lungs are still developing and they breathe more air for their body size, according to Safdie.

Older adults, pregnant women, and and anyone with a heart or lung condition, such as asthma, COPD or heart disease, are also especially vulnerable. Other high-risk groups include those with compromised immune systems and chronic kidney failure, the doctor said.

"Outdoor workers are exposed simply because of where they spend the day," Safdie added.

Protecting against smoke dangers

The doctor emphasized that outdoor air quality dangers may not always be visible.

"When you don't see the fires, you could still be exposed to the smoke and breathing that highly polluted air," he told Fox News Digital.

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The CDC and EPA shared the following protective measures to prevent smoke-related health risks.

Monitor air quality. Check air quality at AirNow.gov before spending time outdoors. Sensitive groups should limit outdoor activity when AQI exceeds 100, and everyone should reduce exposure at levels of 150 and higher.

Stay indoors when smoke levels are high. Keep windows and doors closed. If using air conditioning or central HVAC, set the system to recirculate to reduce the amount of smoky outdoor air entering the home.

Clean indoor air. Run a portable air purifier with a HEPA filter or use a highest-efficiency filter. Experts also recommend avoiding activities that worsen indoor air pollution, such as burning candles, smoking, frying food or vacuuming while smoke levels remain elevated.

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Wear an N95 respirator if necessary. If you must spend time outside when smoke levels are high, a well-fitting N95 respirator can filter out most harmful fine particles.

Reduce strenuous outdoor activity. Heavy exercise causes people to breathe faster and deeper, increasing the amount of fine particulate matter that reaches the lungs. Consider moving workouts indoors until air quality improves, experts advise.

When to seek help

"Don’t tough it out if breathing is genuinely hard," Safdie advised. "Get medical care if you have shortness of breath that doesn’t ease with rest, a cough that won’t settle, wheezing, chest tightness, dizziness or heart palpitations."

Those who have asthma or COPD should follow their doctor-provided action plan.

"Don’t wait if your rescue inhaler isn’t doing the job," Safdie said. "Call 911 for severe difficulty breathing, chest pain or confusion. When in doubt, get checked."

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Although short-term exposure is unlikely to cause long-term damage, "very intense" exposure can generate chronic issues, he said.

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"For example, firefighters who are in the eye of the problem should definitely be very well-protected with the appropriate equipment, because the concentration of the smoke and the PM25 particles will be extremely high and could cause chronic problems," Safdie said.

"But for the general population, it is unlikely that they will have such an exposure. I think that it would be more of an acute problem."

WATCH: Minnesota fraud scandal takes absurd new twist as veteran blows whistle

Fri, 17 Jul 2026 13:29:13 -0400

EXCLUSIVE: Navy veteran and GOP Senate candidate Adam Schwarze is blowing the whistle on new voter fraud evidence uncovered in the state of Minnesota.

What tipped him off? The state says that he voted in person at the polls in the 2012 presidential election. The only problem is that Schwarze says that "it was physically impossible for that to occur."

Schwarze said that at the time he was nearly 2,000 miles away in the California mountains attending BUD/S, the Navy’s elite training course for SEALs. In fact, Schwarze recalled "I got my a-- beat" specifically for not voting.

"All the instructors, the morning after the election, we woke up, Obama won the election, and they said, ‘Who didn't do their absentee voting?’ And of course it was like a gotcha, none of the SEAL candidates had gone to do their absentee voting. We were all in SEAL training, right? So, they beat the snot out of us for three hours."

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Despite this, Minnesota state records reviewed by Fox News Digital indicate Schwarze voted in 2012. The records, however, do not say who he supposedly cast a ballot for. This has led Schwarze to raise serious voter fraud questions in the already-scandal-ridden state and ask if it happened to him, how many others have "voted" without knowing it.

Minnesota does not require ID to vote, something that Schwarze believes would have made it easy to vote under his name in 2012. He was completely oblivious to this fraud against him until he launched his Senate campaign.

After a reporter fact-checked him for saying he had only ever voted for President Donald Trump, he was shocked to find that records on the Minnesota Department of State's website indeed indicate he voted in person in 2012. Further, records indicate an unknown person registered him to vote the day of the 2009 Minneapolis mayoral election, which was the city’s first election using ranked choice voting. His voter registration became active the day after the 2009 Minneapolis mayoral election.

In response to Fox News Digital's request for clarification on Schwarze's voting record, a spokesperson for the office of Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon simply said that "Minnesota’s election system is governed by extensive state and federal laws to ensure it is honest, secure, and accurate."

"Minnesotans fundamentally trust our election system, which is why we are consistently number one in voter turnout," the spokesperson said, adding that "In 2026, Minnesota ranked #1 by Election Data and Science Lab at the MIT on the Election Performance Index is a non-partisan, biennial survey and analysis comparing election administration policy and performance across the country."

The spokesperson encouraged "anyone who wants to learn more about the election security measures in Minnesota" to visit the state's election security webpage.

The website also asserts that "Minnesota elections are the envy of the nation," and states, "We are proud of our strong voter turnout, laws that ensure access to the ballot, robust security measures, and the transparency that's an essential part of maintaining trust in the system."

Meanwhile, Schwarze believes that this shows that "just like the fraud goes back decades, so does the voter integrity issues."

Schwarze commissioned as a Navy officer in May 2012. He was sent to Naval Amphibious Base Coronado for training the next month. Fox News Digital reviewed a copy of Schwarze’s BUD/S orders, which show his report date for the roughly six-month course as June 12, putting his graduation from the course in December.

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

Come November, when the presidential election took place, Schwarze said: "I was on a mountain in Mount Laguna, California."

"It was physically impossible for that [vote] to occur," he said.

This comes after Minnesota has been rocked by a widespread Medicaid fraud scandal that was uncovered earlier this year and potentially amounted to billions of stolen tax dollars. Minnesota’s top leaders, including Democratic Gov. Tim Walz and Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan, who is also running for the U.S. Senate, have been criticized nationwide for having allowed the fraud to spiral out of control during their watch.

To Schwarze, the tax and election fraud go hand in hand.

"The fraud of your tax dollars is not happening in a vacuum. It's connected to other forms of fraud, like election integrity," he said. "Just like the fraud is an iceberg, the tax fraud, once we start rolling that iceberg over, we don't know how big it gets until we fully investigate it."

"We just don't know how deep this goes," he continued.

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Since he discovered his mysterious vote, Schwarze said that his requests to state officials for more information have yet to be fulfilled. He said he does not even know who he is marked as having voted for.

"This clearly shows that we have an election integrity issue in our state," he said. "So, let’s solve the problem. Let's open up the voting log: [Minnesota Secretary of State] Steve Simon, Tim Walz, Peggy Flanagan, Keith Ellison. Let's have same-day voting in person with paper … with an ID; the American citizens want that as well. That's my plea."

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"I've fought my entire life for the United States of America. I fought for democracy all over the world," he continued. "And one of the pillars and foundational principles of democracy is free, fair and transparent elections, and we don't have any of those things right now in the United States of America."

Fox News Digital reached out to Walz, Flanagan, Simon and Ellison for comment.

Olive Garden becomes unlikely face of voter ID fight after restaurant's policy goes viral

Fri, 17 Jul 2026 13:22:16 -0400

Olive Garden's Never-Ending Pasta Pass sparked an unlikely political firestorm after conservatives applauded the restaurant's photo ID requirement, arguing the policy is stricter than voting laws in some Democrat-led states.

"Olive Garden requires ID to use their never ending pasta pass but most Democrat run states don’t require your ID to vote. So in America, our pasta deals are literally more secure than our elections. Maddening and hilarious at the same time," one conservative commentator, Robby Starbuck, wrote on X.

Olive Garden's Never-Ending Pasta Pass gives customers unlimited meals, but the restaurant requires passholders to present a valid photo ID matching the name printed on the pass when ordering. Conservatives swiftly shared the restaurant's X post announcing the policy, praising it and drawing comparisons to the broader debate over voter ID requirements.

"The Never-Ending Pasta Pass is only for use by the Passholder whose name is printed on the Pass. Passes are personalized and non-transferable. Passholders must present a valid photo I.D. along with the Pass at the time of ordering," the restaurant posted to X on Thursday.

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Fourteen states and Washington, D.C., do not require most voters to present identification when voting in person.

The SAVE Act includes President Donald Trump's long-sought voter ID and citizenship verification guardrails — which Republicans say is key to ensuring elections are safe and secure.

"We really live in a nation where Olive Garden's Never-Ending Pasta Pass is more secure than our elections! Make it make sense. Pass the SAVE America Act," Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita wrote on X.

"Olive Garden takes pasta pass security more seriously than Democrats take election security," wrote White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson on X.

"American elections should not be less secure than Olive Garden’s endless pasta. Pass the SAVE America Act," wrote Utah Sen. Mike Lee on X.

WATCH: HAWLEY FUMES AFTER 4 GOP SENATORS HELP SINK TRUMP-BACKED VOTER ID LAW

"Only in America do you need a photo ID for bottomless pasta at Olive Garden, but not to vote," said conservative influencer Isabel Brown.

"If you have to show ID to eat pasta at Olive Garden, you should have to show ID to vote," posted the official RNC Election Integrity account.

"Olive Garden’s never-ending pasta pass is more secure than our federal elections. Make sense to anyone? Pass the SAVE America Act," wrote Arizona Rep. Eli Crane.

REPUBLICAN SAYS TRUMP'S TOP ELECTION PRIORITY 'DEAD' IN SENATE AS GOP FRACTURES AHEAD OF MIDTERMS

President Donald Trump addressed the nation Thursday evening on "free and fair" elections urging Congress to pass the SAVE Act.

"I ask you to pick up your phone tomorrow, call your representatives and the House and Senate, and demand that they pass the Save America Act without delay. Together, we will restore faith and confidence in our country, and we will be bigger, better, and stronger than ever before," said Trump.

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Trump has tried to attach the stalled election legislation to defense spending, holding housing legislation hostage and playing Senate primary politics.

Republicans are running against the clock to pass the stalled elections bill before the party’s midterm window narrows.

Oscar-winner Brenda Fricker, 'pigeon lady' from 'Home Alone 2,' dead at 81

Fri, 17 Jul 2026 13:21:12 -0400

Oscar-winning Irish actress Brenda Fricker, whose decades-long career included an Academy Award-winning performance in "My Left Foot" and a memorable role in "Home Alone 2: Lost in New York," has died. She was 81.

Fricker died Thursday night in Dublin following a period of declining health, her agent, Phil Belfield, confirmed in a statement.

"We will never see her like again and the world is lesser for the lack of her," Belfield said. "I was honored to know, love and work with her… she will always have a place in my heart and in the heart of so many film and TV fans the world over."

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The actress made history at the 1990 Academy Awards when she became the first Irish woman to win an Oscar, taking home the best supporting actress trophy for her performance as Bridget Fagan Brown in "My Left Foot."

The film starred Daniel Day-Lewis as Christy Brown, an Irish writer and painter born with cerebral palsy who could control only his left foot. Day-Lewis also won the Academy Award for best actor.

Although Fricker earned widespread acclaim for her work, she remains instantly recognizable to millions of fans for portraying the gentle "Pigeon Lady" in 1992's "Home Alone 2: Lost in New York."

Her character, a lonely woman living among the pigeons in New York City's Central Park, forms an unexpected bond with Kevin McCallister, played by Macaulay Culkin, in one of the film's most emotional storylines.

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Fricker's film and television credits included more than 90 projects between 1964 and 2024. She was part of the original cast of the BBC medical drama "Casualty" and later appeared opposite Cate Blanchett in "Veronica Guerin," the biographical drama about a slain Irish investigative journalist.

Born in Dublin in 1945, Fricker began acting on stage before transitioning to television in the 1960s with roles in Ireland's first soap opera. Her breakthrough eventually led to an international career that included acclaimed performances in both independent dramas and Hollywood productions.

American audiences also remember Fricker from the 1994 baseball fantasy "Angels in the Outfield," where she starred alongside Danny Glover and Joseph Gordon-Levitt.

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Earlier this year, Dublin recognized Fricker's contributions to Irish arts by awarding her the Freedom of the City, the capital's highest civic honor.

In her 2025 autobiography, "She Died Young: A Life in Fragments," Fricker reflected on both the triumphs and hardships that shaped her life. The memoir detailed her childhood in Dublin alongside her sister, Grania, while also revealing her experiences with sexual violence and mental health struggles that led to multiple institutionalizations. The book became a bestseller on the Irish Sunday Times list.

Ireland's deputy prime minister, Simon Harris, led tributes following news of Fricker's death, remembering the actress as one of the country's defining cultural figures.

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"She truly was among the greatest exports this country has ever produced and an ambassador for Irish talent on the world stage," Harris said. "Quite simply, we will never see the like of her ever again."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Battleground Democrat said traditionally White outdoor spaces 'will no longer be White'

Fri, 17 Jul 2026 13:17:45 -0400

A vulnerable Democrat seeking re-election in a battleground district repeatedly complained that outdoor recreation has long been dominated by White males and called for "equitable access" to those spaces, according to unearthed podcast appearances reviewed by Fox News Digital.

Rep. Gabe Vasquez, D-N.M., who previously referred to New Mexico as "stolen land," praised national conservation organizations during a June 2020 appearance on the "Mountain & Prairie" podcast for adopting what he described as more "equitable" policies aimed at expanding access to the outdoors for people of color.

"People of color are getting outdoors," Vasquez said in remarks first reported by The Daily Wire. "There’s amazing organizations out there that are just promoting diversity amongst the outdoors and big national organizations that are slowly and finally starting to get it and actually promote policies that create more equitable access and opportunities."

"Spaces that have been traditionally White will no longer be White," Vasquez continued. "Secret spots will no longer be secret. And hunters and anglers and hikers and everybody in between will look different. And so, not only should you be OK with that, not only should you tolerate that, but you should embrace that."

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"It's up to us to be the change that we want to see," he said.

Later in the interview, the New Mexico Democrat criticized conservation groups that he said lacked diversity.

"Today, I think every single executive director of the New Mexico Wildlife Federation up until today has been a White male," he said. "There’s no cultural connection, there’s no authentic desire to communicate or connect with Hispanic communities."

Vasquez in 2017 co-founded Nuestra Tierra Conservation Project, a left-leaning organization devoted to making the outdoors more "equitable" and advancing environmental justice. He first won election to the House in 2022.

The remarks come as Republicans have pointed to Vasquez’s comments on race and previous criticism of law enforcement to cast him as out of step with his majority-Hispanic district, which President Donald Trump carried by two points in 2024.

Earlier this year, Vasquez voted against a GOP-authored resolution honoring law enforcement during National Police Week. The measure notably contained language criticizing the Defund the Police movement and sanctuary city policies.

"This DEI-fueled racism is the exact woke nonsense New Mexico's Second District rejected in 2024 when it elected President Donald Trump, and it will cost Vasquez at the ballot box in November as voters choose common sense over crazy," Republican National Committee spokesman Zach Kraft said in a statement to Fox News Digital.

Fox News Digital reached out to the Vasquez campaign for comment.

In a 2020 interview, Vasquez argued that racism was ingrained into "just about every part of life," Fox News Digital previously reported. In the same interview, Vasquez, who was then serving as a Las Cruces city councilmember, voiced openness to licensed psychologists taking over some of the police’s responsibilities.

He also sharply criticized "White rich men" in a June 2020 tweet shortly after the death of George Floyd.

"Black lives matter. Until we deconstruct and rebuild the systems of oppression that keep Black people in perpetual harm, justice will not be served," he wrote.

"That includes law enforcement, the economy, and the disgusting wealth inequality that keeps white rich men in power."

Vasquez also appeared to back rioting during the Black Lives Matter protests in 2020 in a since-deleted tweet, CNN’s KFile first reported.

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

His focus on race also extended into conversations about outdoor recreation.

In a June 2022 interview with "The Trail Ahead" podcast, Vasquez described Nuestra Tierra as "being led by people of color with an all-people-of-color board."

He told an anecdote where he claimed to have experienced racism and claimed White people received special treatment in conservation on the podcast.

"I have missed out on a whole lot of opportunities just because I've asked for compensation, and it shouldn't have to be that way," he said. "Because if I was a White consultant working with a major brand or a major nonprofit, and they were seeking a solution they would pay me for my services. They would pay me for my advice."

"But it's not the same the other way around," he added. "People just expect people of color … what you have to say and what your thoughts are not of monetary value."

Vasquez will face Republican Greg Cunningham, a Marine veteran and retired police officer, in November's general election. Cunningham is part of the National Republican Congressional Committee's flagship MAGA Majority program, which backs top recruits seeking to flip Democratic-held seats.

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The nonpartisan Cook Political Report shifted the race in Vasquez’s favor from "Toss Up" to "Lean Democrat" in January, citing Trump’s declining poll numbers and Democrats’ election wins in 2025.

Trump's 60-day Iran deal reaches halfway mark as ceasefire collapses into escalating war

Fri, 17 Jul 2026 13:11:32 -0400

Thirty days after the U.S. and Iran entered a two-month negotiating period intended to produce a final peace agreement between the two countries, they appear closer to a widening war than to a diplomatic breakthrough.

Friday marks the halfway point of the 60-day window established under the June 17 memorandum of understanding between the U.S. and Iran, which called for negotiations for Iran’s nuclear and missile programs, sanctions and freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz.

Friday marks the halfway point of the 60-day window established under the June 17 memorandum of understanding deal between the U.S. and Iran, which called for negotiations over Iran’s nuclear and missile programs, sanctions and freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz.

But the first half of that period has been marked by repeated Iranian attacks on commercial vessels, hundreds of U.S. strikes on Iranian military targets and retaliatory missile and drone attacks across the region, and President Donald Trump declaring the ceasefire "over."

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The Trump administration also has withdrawn one of the most significant concessions it offered Iran under the agreement — a temporary waiver allowing Iran to sell oil — and restored a naval blockade that had been lifted after the memorandum was signed.

With only 30 days remaining, the administration is increasingly relying on military and economic pressure in an effort to bring Iran back to substantive negotiations before the window closes. Failure would leave the two sides without a clear diplomatic path to address Iran’s nuclear and missile programs or restore safe passage through one of the world’s most important shipping lanes.

Trump nevertheless said Thursday that Iran had made a fresh overture to the U.S.

"We received a call just as I was coming here, and they want to meet," Trump said during a Fox News interview Thursday.

"They don’t like what we’re doing, and they do want to settle," he added in remarks later that day. "We’ll find out whether or not we settle with them, or we just finish it off."

The Iranian mission to the United Nations could not immediately be reached for comment on the status of negotiations.

The White House referred to press secretary Karoline Leavitt's comments in a news briefing Thursday: "Iran very much continues to talk to the United States of America and expressed that they want to make a deal with us because they are suffering devastating blows. On behalf of our United States military. The reason and this is important for the American people to understand the reason for the recent strikes over the course of the last several days is because Iran violated the memorandum of understanding that we struck with them."

The agreement initially provided Iran with an immediate economic incentive to remain in the process. On June 22, the Treasury Department issued a general license authorizing the production, delivery and sale of Iranian crude oil, petrochemicals and petroleum products through Aug. 21.

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But the administration revoked that authorization less than three weeks later after Iran attacked three commercial vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz.

A U.S. official said at the time that the agreement was "entirely performance-based" and warned that Iran would receive benefits only if it demonstrated "good behavior."

"Iran’s actions in the strait were wholly unacceptable to the United States and will be met with consequences," the official said. "Our negotiators continue to work in good faith toward a final deal."

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Iran accused Washington of violating the memorandum, arguing that Tehran was complying with its obligations by managing passage through the strait. Iranian officials blamed shipping companies for using routes that had not been coordinated with Tehran.

Gregg Roman, executive director of the Middle East Forum, argued that Washington and Tehran entered the negotiating period with fundamentally different objectives.

"The U.S. saw it as an opportunity to get a long-term agreement," Roman told Fox News Digital. "The Iranians saw it as an opportunity to rearm."

Roman said the renewed fighting suggests the administration now views military pressure as a prerequisite for diplomacy.

"You have to hit them hard before you get an agreement," he said.

Former Trump Defense Secretary Mark Esper, however, questioned whether an expanded bombing campaign would force Iran to change course.

"I’m not confident that if we picked up the bombing the way we did months ago and sustained it for a period of time, that that would have a big change," Esper told the Financial Times.

Esper instead argued for "comprehensive" economic pressure backed by international support, though he acknowledged that approach would require time and impose costs on American consumers.

"How do you pressure them?" Esper said. "One option is you resort to full military onslaught. The other one is you strangle them economically."

Esper said the strategy would require "time, patience (and) discipline" and could mean higher gasoline prices in the short term.

The sanctions reversal coincided with a dramatic expansion of U.S. military operations against Iran.

The fighting resumed within days of the agreement and accelerated sharply in early July after Iran attacked commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz. CENTCOM said U.S. forces subsequently struck more than 300 Iranian targets over three nights, including air defenses, missile and drone sites, coastal radars and naval capabilities.

The campaign has since expanded deeper into Iran.

The sixth consecutive night of U.S. strikes marked a new phase in the campaign, with roads, bridges and military bases around Bandar Abbas among the targets, Fox News has learned. The strikes were aimed at cutting Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps forces off from resupply routes and further isolating them around the strategic port city, which is central to Iran’s ability to exert control over the Strait of Hormuz.

The U.S. also reinstated its blockade of Iranian ports and disabled the Curaçao-flagged tanker Belma after CENTCOM said it ignored warnings while sailing toward Iran’s primary oil-export terminal.

Iran has responded with missile and drone attacks against countries hosting U.S. forces across the Gulf. On Friday, an Iranian strike damaged a major power and desalination plant in Kuwait, while Qatar, Bahrain and other regional states reported additional incoming attacks.

"All the infrastructure in the region will be crushed under the steel blows of the powerful armed forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran" if the United States carries out those attacks, Iranian military spokesman Col. Ebrahim Zolfaghari said in remarks carried by Fars news agency.

"Under no circumstances and in no way will we allow America, as a foreign and extraregional country, to interfere in the Strait of Hormuz," he added, calling the waterway Iran’s "invincible red line."

Despite the escalating threats, Trump has continued to argue that a diplomatic resolution remains possible.

"They don’t like what we’re doing, and they do want to settle," Trump said Wednesday. "We’ll find out whether or not we settle with them, or we just finish it off."

One potential sign that communication remains open came Wednesday, when Iran allowed U.S.-Iranian citizen Dena Karari to leave the country after preventing her departure since December 2024. Trump thanked Iran for what he described as a "gesture of goodwill."

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Salvaging the agreement would now require the two sides to move beyond preliminary contacts, halt the widening cycle of retaliation and return to negotiations over the nuclear, missile and sanctions issues at the heart of the memorandum.

The next 30 days will determine whether the renewed military pressure creates leverage for that diplomacy — or ensures the negotiating window closes with the United States and Iran again at war.

Fox News' Jen Griffin contributed to this report.

DSA member says she has no problem supporting ‘secret Nazis’ under one condition

Fri, 17 Jul 2026 12:58:54 -0400

Far-left podcaster Emma Vigeland raised eyebrows this month with her reaction to Maine oysterman Graham Platner’s political collapse.

Vigeland, a former Young Turks correspondent who now co-hosts The Majority Report With Sam Seder podcast, said on a separate Vox podcast that she doesn’t care if a progressive or socialist candidate has "Nazi" skeletons in their closet.

"I am wary of over-focusing on an individual's personal character over their platform. You know, I've said this before. I don't really care if say like Bernie Sanders or AOC go home and they're a secret Nazi, but they go out and they vote for the right things. Like we're talking about politicians…" the Democratic Socialists of America member said during the podcast, which published earlier in July.

"You don’t care?" Vox host Astead Herndon cut in as Vigeland trailed off.

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Vigeland added that that was an "extreme example" but that candidates and politicians are a representation of a party’s platform such as "taxing billionaires [and] bringing material differences to people’s lives."

"And that’s what I value more than anybody’s individual conduct because … how many horrible people are in Washington right now who are centrist or center-right."

DEMOCRATS WANT US TO FOCUS ON GRAHAM PLATNER’S POLICIES. HE FAILS MAINE THERE, TOO

Herndon later said some voters do view moral character of a candidate as a qualification for office, while Vigeland replied that people taking a "victory lap" over Platner’s fall also supported former President Bill Clinton and ex-New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo – both of whom were previously accused of sexual misconduct, which they denied.

Reaction on X was fierce, as one user posted an image of Vigeland in a Schutzstaffel uniform, writing "In the 1940s, Emma Vigeland would have volunteered to the SS."

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Another critic called socialism and communism a "dark road these people are going down," noting the party platform includes extremist proposals like abolishing the U.S. Senate and branches of federal law enforcement.

SOCIALISM’S RISE INSIDE THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY NOW THREATENS THE AMERICAN DREAM

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"It is sold to the people with false claims and utilizing those base instincts that are powerful but difficult to manage in a civil society."

Vigeland’s comments come after years of socialist and far-left groups and individuals repeatedly derogatorily branding conservatives and Trump supporters "fascists" – a political movement invented by then-Italian "Duce" Benito Mussolini; a close ally of German Chancellor Adolf Hitler during World War II.

Fox News Digital reached out to Vigeland via her Majority Report program and to Platner's campaign for comment.

Florida wildlife officials confirm 13-foot gator killed Orlando woman with 'death roll' on river

Fri, 17 Jul 2026 12:57:40 -0400

DNA from a Florida woman has been positively linked to the genetic material of a monstrous 13-foot alligator captured after a fatal river attack last month, wildlife officials confirmed.

According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation (FWC), laboratory testing confirmed DNA from Brittany Clark, 31, matched a 13-foot alligator captured after the deadly attack on the Econlockhatchee River on June 28.

Clark, of Orlando, was swimming near the Barr Street Trailhead in the Little Big Econ State Forest when the assault happened. She was taken to a hospital as a trauma alert but died from her injuries on the way, officials said.

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According to a preliminary report from the Orange County Medical Examiner's Office obtained by Fox News affiliate WOFL-TV, Clark was swimming in shoulder-deep water with her boyfriend, Chance Allison, and another friend when the alligator grabbed her arm and began what investigators described as a "death roll."

"[Allison] grabbed the alligator trying to get it to release [Clark] … when it took them both underwater releasing [Clark] for a moment and then grabbing her other arm," the report said.

Once the alligator let go, Allison brought Clark to shore and called 911, the report said. Brief body camera video captured a Seminole County deputy responding to the attack.

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An alligator's "death roll" is when the reptile latches on to potential prey and violently spins in the water to subdue or dismember it, according to the National Institute of Health.

After the attack, FWC trappers captured and killed two huge alligators — 12.5-foot and 13-foot gators — and sent their DNA to a lab to determine if either animal was the one that killed Clark.

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DNA TECHNOLOGY LEADS TO ARREST IN 1988 KILLING OF ORLANDO WOMAN AFTER NEARLY FOUR DECADES

According to the FWC, bite marks found on Clark's arm were consistent with the front row teeth of the 13-foot alligator found at the river.

"The FWC’s investigation into this incident remains active," the agency said.

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Serious alligator attacks remain rare

The FWC said serious injuries caused by alligators are uncommon in Florida, although alligators can be found in lakes, rivers, ponds and other freshwater bodies across all 67 counties.

Officials said they are not speculating about what prompted the attack but noted that alligators can become more territorial during their mating season, which typically runs from April through June.

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A few safety recommendations for individuals coming into contact with an alligator, according to the FWC: "Keep a safe distance" and "keep pets on a leash and away from the water’s edge."

"Pets often resemble alligators’ natural prey," officials warned. "Swim only in designated swimming areas during daylight hours and without your pet. Alligators are most active between dusk and dawn."

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Also, "never feed an alligator; it’s illegal and dangerous."

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"When fed, alligators can lose their natural wariness and instead learn to associate people with the availability of food," the FWC added. "This can lead to an alligator becoming a nuisance and needing to be removed from the wild."

People with concerns about an alligator should call FWC’s toll-free Nuisance Alligator Hotline at  866-FWC-GATOR.

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Fox News Digital's Eric Mack contributed to this report.

AEW star Kenny Omega blasts social media user over Charlie Kirk comment

Fri, 17 Jul 2026 12:56:39 -0400

All Elite Wrestling (AEW) star Kenny Omega blasted a social media user over a remark made about Will Ospreay and Charlie Kirk.

The X user made a critique about Ospreay’s mic skills on Thursday, writing, "Will Ospreay is as bad on the mic as charlie kirk, but can't sell the neck as well as he did."

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Omega, who is friends with Ospreay inside and outside the ring, slammed the poster.

"What the f--- is wrong with you? It isn’t hard to try having some class," he wrote in response.

"A dear friend battles back from a career threatening injury, is no doubt still fighting pain today, and is somehow mocked and compared to a dude that was murdered. I get that a joke is a joke but these things should really be kept separate in my opinion."

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When one X user came to the defense of the commenter, Omega responded once more.

"Please extend my apologies, genuinely. Perhaps I’ve become too sensitive after my own brush with death. I also know of Will’s efforts behind the scenes more than most so it was sad to see such a harsh comparison," the current AEW champion added.

Kirk, a conservative commentator and the founder of Turning Point USA, was shot and killed during an event on the campus of Utah Valley University in September. Tyler Robinson was arrested in Kirk’s murder.

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Robinson’s trial is currently ongoing.

FOX World Cup announcer says Trump's appearance at final is 'fun, unique thing' despite potential backlash

Fri, 17 Jul 2026 12:49:54 -0400

President Donald Trump will be at MetLife Stadium for Sunday's World Cup Final, in all likelihood joined by FIFA president Gianni Infantino.

It is hardly the first time a head of state has attended the World Cup, but with today's political landscape, this one may just be the most polarizing.

Trump has attended numerous sporting events over the years, including some of the most prestigious events since becoming president a second time. Each time, the president is of course shown on the big screen and broadcast, and depending on the location has gotten different receptions.

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This time around, FOX broadcaster John Strong is prepared to report on Trump's attendance and knows that it will be both heavily praised and scrutinized.

"Certainly when it comes to President Trump, there are no neutral opinions. But that means there are a lot of people in the audience who are super excited to see him at the game, and there are going to be a lot of people in the audience who maybe are less thrilled to have him on their TV screen," Strong told reporters in a Zoom call Friday.

"As ever, it’s my job to play it down the middle and acknowledge the fact that the United States president being engaged with the sport, being at the game, that’s a fun, unique thing... Whatever I say, the tone of my voice will be scrutinized. It will be what it is. That’s the nature of it.

"But at the end of the day, I don’t think it needs to overshadow the wonderful sport, the wonderful event that this is, even as I say, at the same time, half of America is going to be thrilled to see him there, be so excited that he’s a part of it. And we’ll obviously see what happens with the trophy ceremony and all that as well."

Infantino first said last month on "Fox & Friends" that Trump would attend the contest, but it is now official after Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed Trump's attendance, calling it "a fitting conclusion to a tournament that showcased America's ability to host the world on the grandest stage."

Infantino said he and Trump will deliver the FIFA World Cup trophy to the winning team's captain on the field.

"We will be together with the president enjoying the final and handing the trophy to the winner, of course, together," Infantino said.

IF AIR QUALITY IS POOR, ARGENTINA COULD BE HURT BY SPAIN'S STYLE IN WORLD CUP FINAL, FOX ANALYST SAYS

Trump and Infantino did the same last year for the FIFA Club World Cup final, also at the New Jersey stadium, when Chelsea defeated Paris Saint-Germain, 3-0. The appearance came one year after an assassination attempt on President Trump in Pennsylvania.

The president participated in the trophy presentation and handed out awards to the players and referees after Chelsea won the match. Trump remained on stage for the celebration, causing some confusion.

Trump got involved in one of the World Cup's biggest controversies, calling Infantino and requesting a review of Folarin Balogun's red card. Balogun was suspended for Team USA's Round of 16 match, but he was later ruled eligible for the game.

Trump has yet to attend a World Cup match, but Secretary of State Marco Rubio was spotted at the U.S. Men's National Team's opener against Paraguay, a 4-1 win on June 12.

The president was awarded the first FIFA Peace Prize at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., during the World Cup final draw in December.

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Trump recently attended Game 3 of the NBA Finals at Madison Square Garden, while the White House played host to UFC Freedom 250 last month. An IndyCar race will take place in Washington, D.C. next month.

Fox News' Ryan Gaydos, Paulina Dedaj and The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.

Dean Cain says Hollywood's woke era is ending: 'We'll look back and say that was stupid'

Fri, 17 Jul 2026 12:35:00 -0400

Over 30 years later, Dean Cain still believes that Superman's values epitomize the American experience. As the star of the hit ABC series "Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman," Cain brought the superhero to life for millions of Americans.

But he almost ended up in Hollywood by accident. He originally planned to play professional football and was signed by the Buffalo Bills in 1988, but a devastating knee injury ended his NFL career before the regular season.

Over the past decade, Cain has emerged as an outspoken conservative, and has not shied away from criticizing Hollywood and going against the grain in the entertainment business.

DEAN CAIN DEFENDS JOINING ICE AFTER LEFTISTS 'SHRIEKED' TO DEFUND POLICE

"We're the most giving, most compassionate nation in the history of mankind. And so, for me, it is truth, justice and the American Way, and I believe in the American Way. We're not perfect, we are always striving for a more perfect union, but I love this country," Cain told Fox News Digital.

"There's no place like the United States of America. And so I'm 100% in on keeping this republic, as Benjamin Franklin said, ‘a republic if you can keep it.’ And we've had some ups and downs as of late. I'm very happy with the current administration, and I think we're headed in the right direction."

WATCH: DEAN CAIN: ‘HOLLYWOOD'S KIND OF DIED'

Cain argues that Hollywood is on the ropes and its woke chickens have come home to roost.

"Well, Hollywood's kind of died … I mean, when I first started … there were three networks back then. My dad was a film director, so I knew everything about the business being around him. He said, ‘You can be an actor in television or you can be an actor in film’ … you had to pick one. That's changed.

"Then there was a time where you had to be a television actor to become a film actor. George Clooney. Johnny Depp. And then it was make a sex tape and you get a shot to make a movie. That was the Kardashian thing."

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"But it's changed in that it has become very woke in that sense. It's hurt the box office. Hollywood's dying. I left Hollywood three years ago. Nobody lives in California anymore. Everybody leaves. The last movie I shot in California, I wrote, produced, and directed, and I shot it in California.

"I just shot a movie in Alabama, I just got back from a movie in Texas. You know, it's everywhere else. Hollywood's behind the curve. And the ability to make these smaller independent films has been wonderful."

He continued, "And all these different platforms to put things on, it's always changing, it's always evolving. Right now, I like the direction it's in, because I think we're coming out of the woke epic, if you will. And we'll look back at this time and go, that was stupid. I hope we do."

Cain argues that it is Superman's small-town American values that make him a meaningful character.

"At the time, he was supposed to be the best part of America. He was hope. He was raised by a small-town couple with small-town American values, and that's why he was the most moral guy on the planet.

"There's other versions of Superman where he was raised in Soviet Russia, and became this horrible, awful thing. And there's other versions that have him as sort of a Jesus figure. I like the idea of him being raised with small-town American values because I happen to think they're the best."

Cain put his money where his mouth is when it comes to Hollywood, recently relocating to the Silver State.

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"So the reason I left California was politics. It was the horrible regulations, the onerous taxes, it was insane. California … I could see it going off a cliff. Nevada, my parents had moved here two and a half years before I did, and they were loving it. They were having a great time, they weren't paying state income taxes, prices for everything were so much lower. I was like, man, this seems great."

He explained, "It's the entertainment capital of the world, there's sports, there are concerts, there is everything in the world here. I love it. And there's a film industry here as well."

Now that Cain has found a new home, his career may be pulling him in an entirely different direction.

"I got a chance to meet with Governor Lombardo. I think he's done a fantastic job here. I have been asked to run for Senate here. I've been asked for governor here. If I think I can make Nevada better, perhaps I'll do it, but I don't want to be a politician, which is the exact thing that would make me or somebody like [Nevada third Congressional district nominee] Marty O'Donnell run for politics.

"We were supposed to be citizen politicians, not career politicians, and so if I thought I could come in, do some good for this state of Nevada and for this country, I would do it and get out."

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He added, "If I feel like I can help people, I think that should be the metric for why people get into politics. Unfortunately, I think they get into politics for power, for money, and for prestige. I don't need any of those things."

Morgan Wallen and Ella Langley hold the top two album spots in America for first half of 2026

Fri, 17 Jul 2026 12:33:13 -0400

Morgan Wallen and Ella Langley continue to torch the competition.

The two country music stars, who tour together, are almost certainly the two most recognizable faces in the genre at this point.

I'm not sure what argument could be made for anyone else, but I'm sure some will try. What's undeniable is the run they've been on.

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

Langley dominates the awards and Wallen sells out stadiums wherever he tours. Now, they're also dominating album sales.

Morgan Wallen and Ella Langley dominate 2026 albums

Billboard reported this week that Wallen's "I’m the Problem" and Langley's "Dandelion" are the top two albums in America for the first half of 2026, according to Luminate data.

"I'm the Problem" is number one with 2.035 million album units and Langley's "Dandelion" is number two with 1.638 million units.

Luminate defines an album unit as "one album sale, or 10 individual tracks sold from an album, or 2,500 ad-supported on-demand official audio and video streams generated by songs from an album, or 1,000 paid/subscription on-demand official and audio streams generated by songs from an album," according to the same report.

Bad Bunny, who did the Super Bowl halftime show this year, is third with "DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS" at 1.543 million units.

Seems like my argument Morgan Wallen should actually do the halftime show has some serious merits to it.

COUNTRY MUSIC SENSATIONS TEAM UP FOR NEW SONG, SET INTERNET ON FIRE: WATCH

The success of Langley and Wallen shouldn't surprise anyone. They're both mega-stars who make the most popular music in country music.

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Seeing them at the top of the album rankings is great news for country music fans. It goes to show that country music continues to experience a revival and is absolutely booming.

Now, fans wait to see what the two cook up next. I have no doubt it will be epic. Let me know your thoughts at David.Hookstead@outkick.com.

The best Amazon weekend deals: Up to 77% off Apple, Levi's, Nike and more

Fri, 20 Mar 2026 16:36:12 -0400

Another summer weekend brings a fresh round of Amazon deals. Save up to 77% on everything from powerful floor fans and short-sleeve pajama sets to Carhartt T-shirts starting at just $10. Several deals have reached their lowest prices in months, but they may not last long.

Trending Amazon weekend deals

Shark Matrix robot vacuum and mop: $299.98 (57% off)
Portable air conditioner: $414.98 (43% off)
Portable charger: $28.48 (38% off)
Pillows, set of 2: $16.99 (26% off)
Breville Barista Express espresso machine: $549.95 (21% off)

Deals on FOX readers' favorite picks

These are the products FOX readers can't stop buying.

Wireless sports bra: $8.99 (77% off)

At 77% off, this wireless sports bra ranks among Amazon's best deals of the year and is a FOX News reader favorite. The stretchy fabric gives you a barely-there feel, while wider straps deliver comfortable support.

Bluetooth tracker tags: $35.99 (64% off)

Original price: $99.99

Tracker tags are a simple way to monitor your luggage, keys and other frequently misplaced belongings. Pair one with your iPhone or Android device, then use Apple's Find My or Google's Find Hub to locate it. If an item goes missing, Lost Mode can notify you when the tracker is detected.

Short-sleeve pajama set: $14.99 (58% off)

Original price: $35.99

Stay comfortable on warm nights with this short-sleeve pajama set. The button-up top looks more polished than a standard sleep tee, while the matching shorts feature a stretchy fabric designed for lounging. More than 2,000 Amazon shoppers bought a set this month, and it's a sleepwear pick our team also recommends.

Levi's men's 505 regular fit jeans: $26 (65% off)

Original price: $74.95

Stock up on Levi's 505 jeans while select washes are discounted up to 65%. The classic fit provides room in the thigh and a straight cut past the ankle. Pair them with T-shirts, button-downs and more year-round.

OXO Brew 9-cup coffee maker: $150 (40% off)

Original price: $249.99

Skip the coffee shop and brew at home with OXO's top-rated drip coffee maker. It's designed to brew at an ideal temperature and extraction time for a balanced cup, while the nine-cup capacity makes it a practical choice for households with multiple coffee drinkers.

Best Amazon home deals

Refresh your home with discounted upgrades on mattress toppers, fans and more.

High velocity floor fan: $219.99 (56% off)

Original price: $499.99

Keep large spaces cool with this high-powered fan, designed to circulate air in areas up to 970 square feet. Three speed settings let you adjust the airflow, while the anti-vibration stand helps reduce rattling during use.

Niagara Sleep mattress topper: $37.97 (46% off)

Original price: $69.99

Give your bed a softer feel with this plush mattress topper. The cushioned design adds an extra layer of comfort to firmer beds, while deep pockets fit mattresses up to 20 inches thick. It’s also machine-washable for easier care and maintenance.

iRobot Roomba robot vacuum and mop: $169 (47% off)

Original price: $319.99

Take one chore off your to-do list with this iRobot Roomba vacuum and mop. The two-in-one design vacuums and mops in a single pass, while smart navigation helps it clean efficiently around your home. Its slim profile also allows it to reach beneath couches, beds and other furniture.

Air purifier: $99.99 (47% off)

Original price: $252.99

Designed for whole-home use, this air purifier covers rooms up to 2,600 square feet. Its washable filter helps reduce maintenance, while the built-in display monitors air quality in real time and automatically adjusts settings as needed.

Best Amazon outdoor deals

Head outside more this summer with deals on camping gear, beach chairs and more.

Coleman Sundome tent: $87.99 (25% off)

Original price: $117.99

Coleman's Sundome tent offers a straightforward setup for campers. Designed to sleep up to four people, it includes a rainfly for wet weather and a frame built to withstand winds up to 35 mph. Large windows and a floor vent help improve airflow, making it a solid choice for summer camping trips.

10-foot solar lighted umbrella: $44.99 (57% off)

Original price: $104.99

Light up your patio while adding shade with this solar-powered umbrella. LED lights line the underside of the canopy and provide up to 7 hours of illumination on a full charge.

Solar bug zapper: $65.99 (34% off)

Original price: $99.99

This solar-powered bug zapper lets you spend more time outdoors and less time swatting pests. It attracts mosquitoes, flies and moths with a blue light before eliminating them on contact. The waterproof design is ideal for patios, decks and backyards.

Best Amazon kitchen deals

Refresh your kitchen for summer with discounts on countertop favorites and prep gear.

Temp Pro digital meat thermometer: $9.99 (50% off)

Original price: $19.99

Take the guesswork out of grilling with this digital meat thermometer, which delivers temperature readings in seconds on an easy-to-read display. More than 10,000 Amazon shoppers purchased one in the past month, making it one of the site's most popular grilling tools. It's also currently discounted by 50%.

Ninja blender system: $149.99 (32% off)

Original price: $219.99

Refresh your countertop with Ninja's Kitchen System. It includes a full-size blender, a food processor attachment and two single-serve smoothie cups for drinks on the go. The powerful blades crush nuts, frozen fruit and ice with ease.

Vacuum sealer machine: $24.99 (72% off)

Original price: $89.99

Make meal prep and food storage easier with this vacuum sealer, designed for leftovers, freezer meals and bulk ingredients. Separate moist and dry settings work on everything from meats and seafood to nuts, cereal and other pantry staples.

Best Amazon tech deals

Save on power and audio tech from brands like Jackery and Apple.

Jackery Explorer 1000 v2 portable power station: $429 (46% off)

Original price: $799

Jackery's Explorer 1000 portable power station can run small appliances while charging devices like phones and laptops, with up to 1,500 watts of output. When it's time to recharge, simply plug it into a wall outlet for a full charge in about an hour.

Apple AirPods Pro 3: $199.99 (20% off)

Original price: $249

These AirPods pack many of Apple's most popular features into a more affordable model. Active Noise Cancellation helps reduce background distractions, while Spatial Audio creates a more immersive listening experience. With up to eight hours of battery life, they're a practical choice for commuting, travel and workouts.

Soundcore by Anker Bluetooth headphones: $41.99 (7% off)

Original price: $44.99

This weekend, score these Soundcore by Anker headphones for just $42. They deliver rich audio, active noise cancellation and up to 40 hours of battery life. At this price, they're a great option for budget-friendly headphones.

Best Amazon back-to-school deals

Find deals on school essentials, including bed risers, calculators and backpacks.

Bed risers: $21.99 (24% off)

Original price: $39.95

Create extra dorm room storage with these adjustable bed risers. Stack the risers to choose from 3-, 5- or 8-inch height settings, making room for clothes, shoes, storage bins and even a mini fridge underneath.

Texas Instruments TI-84 calculator: $94.99 (14% off)

Original price: $110.59

Graphing calculators are often one of the biggest back-to-school expenses. Right now, Amazon has the Texas Instruments TI-84 — a model commonly required for math classes — for less than $100. More than 9,000 shoppers purchased this calculator on Amazon last month, making it worth considering before school starts.

Portable printer: $89.99 (27% off)

Original price: $122.99

Take care of homework assignments from anywhere with this portable printer, now just $90. It connects to a phone or laptop via Bluetooth and uses thermal paper instead of ink, making it a practical choice for students and parents on the go.

Best Amazon clothing deals

Save on everyday staples for men and women, from Carhartt tees to comfortable bras.

Under Armour men's golf polo: $24.98 (38% off)

Original price: $39.99

Under Armour's quick-dry polo is down to just $25. The versatile shirt works just as well for golf outings and backyard barbecues as it does for everyday wear. Lightweight, moisture-wicking fabric helps keep you comfortable when temperatures climb.

Carhartt T-shirt: $13.68 (32% off)

Original price: $19.99

Carhartt's classic T-shirt is down to just $14 this weekend. The relaxed fit provides plenty of room to move, while the tagless design helps keep you comfortable throughout long workdays. Whether you're on the job, tackling projects at home or just looking for a durable everyday tee, it's hard to go wrong at this price.

Hanes hoodie: $13 (54% off)

Original price: $28

With more than 80,000 positive reviews on Amazon, this Hanes hoodie has earned a loyal following among shoppers. The lightweight cotton-blend construction makes it a versatile layer for cool summer evenings.

Seamless bra: $34.56 (36% off)

Original price: $54

This seamless bra is down to just $26, saving you $28 off the regular price. Designed for everyday wear, it pairs comfortably with everything from casual tees to dressier outfits. Multiple colors, including black, pink, gray, blue and tan, are now at their lowest prices since May.

Best Amazon shoes and accessories deals

Complete any outfit with deals on flip-flops, belts and slip-on shoes.

Project Cloud flip-flops: $19.90 (26% off)

Original price: $26.90

These best-selling flip-flops pair a cushioned memory foam footbed with a non-slip outsole for comfortable everyday wear. The lightweight, breathable design helps keep feet comfortable on warm days, whether you're heading to the beach or running errands.

HeyDude Wendy canvas slip-on loafers: $29.74 (54% off)

Original price: $64.99

Slip into summer with these HeyDude shoes. The lightweight, easy-on design makes them a convenient choice for travel, while the flexible canvas upper adapts comfortably to your foot. A removable foam insole adds cushioning and support for long days on the move.

Nike men's web belts, 3-pack: $17.25 (28% off)

Original price: $24

Nike's web belts offer an easy alternative to traditional leather belts, with an adjustable design that eliminates the need for belt holes. The clamp-style buckle tightens with a simple pull and can be swapped between included straps. It fits waists up to 42 inches.

Best Amazon beauty and personal care deals

Stock up on discounted personal care must-haves like sunscreen and teeth whitening strips.

Neutrogena SPF 70 sunscreen lotion: $9.88 (26% off)

Original price: $13.32

With more than 80,000 purchased on Amazon in the past month, Neutrogena's Ultra-Sheer Dry-Touch sunscreen remains a popular warm-weather staple. The formula combines broad-spectrum sun protection with moisturizing ingredients, including vitamin E, while the oil-free finish is designed to feel lightweight and non-greasy on the skin.

Electric shaver: $49.99 (70% off)

Original price: $166.99

This electric shaver uses seven floating heads to help deliver a close, even shave. The magnetic blade assembly detaches easily for quick rinsing and hassle-free cleaning after each use.

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

Medicube neck cream: $22.90 (34% off)

Original price: $34.90

Smooth this neck cream onto your skin with the built-in gua sha applicator for a quick massage as part of your morning or nighttime routine. The mess-free design eliminates the need for a separate tool and makes application easy.

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.

New bank scam laws could stop suspicious payments

Fri, 17 Jul 2026 12:30:46 -0400

Your phone rings, and the caller says your bank account is under attack. To protect your savings, you must move the money right now. The caller sounds calm. The instructions feel official. However, the "safe account" belongs to a scammer. That pressure can turn years of savings into an irreversible transfer. Georgia now gives some banks and credit unions another chance to interrupt the payment before the money leaves.

House Bill 945 took effect July 1, 2026. The law lets financial institutions pause certain transactions when they reasonably suspect financial exploitation. It protects adults age 65 or older. It also covers adults with qualifying physical or mental incapacities, Alzheimer's disease or dementia. The idea sounds simple. Yet the details matter because your bank's power may depend on your state, your account and the institution's own policy.

YOUR FAMILY COULD BE ONE PHONE CALL FROM A BANK SCAM

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Georgia's new bank scam law can pause a suspicious payment

Under Georgia's law, a financial institution may place a hold on a transaction linked to suspected exploitation. The law can cover an eligible adult's account or an account where that adult is a beneficiary. It can also reach an account belonging to someone suspected of carrying out the exploitation. That last provision gives the law extra reach. In practice, it could help when suspicious money arrives in another customer's account. The institution may have room to stop the payment from moving farther when the facts support concern.

However, the law gives banks discretion. It says a financial institution may place the hold, but it does not require one. Therefore, a worried teller or fraud analyst still has to notice the warning signs and act. The law also focuses on the suspicious transaction. It does not automatically shut down every payment or withdrawal connected to the account.

A possible 30-day delay comes with limits

A Georgia hold initially expires after 15 business days. The bank may add up to 15 more business days if its review still supports the exploitation concern. A court may shorten or extend that period. The bank must notify authorized account parties and any trusted contact within three business days. It can skip someone it reasonably suspects of taking part in the exploitation. The institution must also begin reviewing the facts behind its decision.

Before using this power, the institution must train the employees involved. It also needs written procedures for reviewing suspected exploitation. The law gives institutions liability protection when they act in good faith and use reasonable care.

A trusted contact can help without controlling your money

Georgia's law also allows an eligible adult to name a trusted contact for an account. That person could be a relative, friend or another adult the account owner trusts. The bank may contact that person when it suspects exploitation. It may also ask for help confirming contact information, health status or the identity of someone holding power of attorney. In some cases, the institution may share only that it suspects exploitation.

A trusted contact does not automatically gain access to your balance. The role also does not grant authority to move your money or make decisions for you. Federal regulators describe the contact as a backup person whom the institution can alert when something looks wrong.

Which states let banks pause suspected scam payments?

Georgia is part of a much larger shift. As of today, at least 33 states have enacted laws that let banks, credit unions or other covered financial institutions delay certain transactions when they suspect financial exploitation.

The FTC's most recent nationwide chart identified 24 states with these laws.

However, the agency warned that its chart was only a snapshot and advised readers to check current state statutes.

However, the agency warned that its chart was only a snapshot and advised readers to check current state statutes. Since that report, nine additional states have enacted protections.

These 33 states have enacted transaction-hold protections

The states are:

Alabama, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia and Idaho
Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi and Montana
Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon and Rhode Island
South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington and Wyoming

The laws do not give every bank the same power. Some let an institution pause a payment on its own. Others require a report to law enforcement or adult protective services. The protected age can also vary, while several states include younger adults with qualifying disabilities. Hold periods differ even more. A delay may last only a few business days in one state. Elsewhere, an investigation or court order can keep the payment on hold much longer.

HOW FLORIDA RETIREE LOST $200K IN FAKE PAYPAL REFUND SCAM

Nine states have joined the list since the FTC's last review

Here is what the newer state laws do.

Colorado

Colorado's HB 26-1110 created the Adults' Security and Safeguards from Exploitation in Transactions Act, known as the ASSET Act. It lets a bank or credit union delay a disbursement when it reasonably believes a vulnerable adult faces financial exploitation. The institution must notify law enforcement or adult protective services. A decision generally must be made within 90 days. That period can reach 180 days when an agency investigation remains underway. The law takes effect August 12, 2026.

Georgia

Georgia's HB 945 lets a financial institution place a hold on a suspicious transaction involving an eligible adult. The law also reaches accounts where the adult is a beneficiary. In some cases, it can cover an account belonging to the suspected perpetrator. The initial hold lasts up to 15 business days. A bank may extend it for another 15 business days when its review continues to support the concern. The law also includes trusted contacts, employee training and written notice requirements.

Idaho

Idaho enacted HB 182, known as the Report and Hold law, in 2025. It covers a broad range of financial businesses, including banks, credit unions, lenders, money transmitters and investment firms. Covered professionals may temporarily pause suspicious transactions and report suspected exploitation. The law also gives them liability protection when they act in good faith.

Maine

Maine's 2025 law covers adults age 65 or older and people protected by the state's Adult Protective Services Act. A bank or credit union may delay a disbursement when it reasonably believes the payment could result in exploitation. The institution must notify the Maine attorney general within two business days. The hold generally ends within 15 business days unless a court extends it. Customers may also be able to designate a trusted contact.

Maryland

Maryland's Vulnerable Adult Banking Protection Act covers residents age 65 or older and vulnerable adults who cannot provide for their daily needs. A financial institution may delay or deny a suspicious disbursement. An initial delay can last 15 business days. The institution or an investigating agency can extend it for up to 25 business days from the original request date. The law takes effect October 1, 2026.

North Carolina

North Carolina's SB 595 gives financial institutions broad authority to delay or refuse transactions involving suspected exploitation of older or disabled adults. The law covers withdrawals, transfers and some requested account changes. An initial delay can last up to 30 business days. The institution may extend it for another 30 business days if it continues to believe exploitation is occurring. Banks may also alert a trusted contact.

Oklahoma

Oklahoma's SB 2067 requires financial institution employees to report suspicious activity internally and notify an appropriate agency. Banks and credit unions may place a temporary hold on a reported account. They can also contact someone previously designated by the account holder. The law takes effect November 1, 2026.

South Dakota

South Dakota's HB 1238 lets a financial institution delay or refuse certain transactions when it reasonably believes exploitation may have occurred or is being attempted. The law protects senior and vulnerable adults. It also covers a consenting adult who asks the institution to take protective action.

Vermont

Vermont's Act 106 lets covered financial institutions delay a transaction when they reasonably believe a customer faces financial exploitation. The initial delay can last 15 business days. The institution may add another 15 days when it believes the exploitation may continue. Vermont approved the law on May 20, 2026.

Why bank scam protections vary by state

The federal Senior Safe Act encourages financial professionals to report suspected exploitation. It also offers liability protection to covered institutions and trained employees who make qualifying reports. However, the law does not create one nationwide transaction-hold rule for checking and savings accounts. Investment accounts follow a different framework. FINRA Rule 2165 lets a brokerage firm temporarily hold certain disbursements or securities transactions when it reasonably believes an eligible adult faces financial exploitation.

The rule generally covers adults age 65 or older along with some younger adults who have qualifying impairments. As a result, a brokerage firm may have national regulatory authority to pause a suspicious request. A bank handling your checking account may depend more heavily on the law in your state.

A state law still cannot guarantee your payment will stop

Most state laws give a bank permission to act rather than requiring it to block every suspicious payment. The institution still needs to recognize the warning signs and have enough information to reasonably suspect exploitation. Your protection may depend on your age, the account involved and where you live. Your bank's internal policies and employee training also play a role. Even in a state with a transaction-hold law, a payment may go through before anyone realizes a scam is underway.

Scammers know speed works in their favor

CyberGuy has reported on grandparent scams that use urgent calls, stolen details and AI-cloned voices. We have also covered crypto kiosk scams where frightened victims followed a caller's instructions while the money moved beyond easy recovery. Georgia also used HB 945 to add safeguards for virtual currency kiosks, another payment method scammers use to move money quickly.

In both cases, the scammer wants to keep you isolated. They may warn you not to call your family or bank. They might claim that an employee is part of the investigation. A transaction hold attacks that pressure tactic. It adds time, which gives someone a chance to ask a basic question: Does this story make sense? Of course, no law will catch every scam. A payment can move through a different state, another financial service or a crypto wallet. Also, a bank may miss the warning signs or choose not to place a hold.

THE GIFT THAT PROTECTS YOUR DAD FROM SCAMMERS

Do these bank scam transaction hold laws work?

An ABA Foundation survey commissioned from 158 banks offers an early view. Half of the responding banks in states with hold laws said they had used the authority to delay, refuse or hold transactions. Nearly 90% of respondents in states without such laws supported adopting them. The survey reflects the banking industry's experience rather than a nationwide independent study. Even so, it shows that banks see value in having time to investigate.

That time can also create a difficult balance. Banks need enough authority to stop a devastating payment. Yet they must avoid blocking legitimate transactions based on age alone. Georgia tries to address that concern with a reasonable-cause standard. It also requires notice, employee training and an internal review. Whether the law succeeds will depend on how institutions use those tools.

How to protect your money from bank scams

You should not assume your bank can reverse a scam payment. You also cannot count on it pausing every suspicious transaction. The safest approach is to put protections in place before an urgent call, text or email catches you off guard.

1) Ask your bank about trusted contacts and transaction holds

Call your bank's fraud department and ask whether you can add a trusted contact to your account. Then ask what the bank does when an employee suspects financial exploitation. You should also find out whether your state allows the bank to delay a suspicious transaction. The answer may differ between your checking account and your brokerage account.

2) Turn on instant alerts for account activity

Enable notifications for withdrawals, transfers and card purchases. Choose the lowest available dollar threshold so you hear about unusual activity quickly. Also review your bank's daily transfer and wire limits. Lower limits can make it harder for a scammer to move a large amount of money in one transaction.

3) Make sure your trusted contact understands the role

Choose someone who will answer quickly and question an unusual request. Make sure that person knows your bank may call if something appears wrong. A trusted contact does not automatically gain access to your money. The role gives your bank another way to reach someone you trust during a possible emergency.

4) Create a family code word for emergencies

Choose a private word or phrase that family members can use to verify a real emergency. If someone calls claiming a loved one needs money, ask for the code word. Then hang up and contact your relative through a phone number you already have. Never call a number provided by the person demanding payment.

5) Never transfer money to a so-called safe account

A bank, government agency or law enforcement officer will not tell you to protect your savings by transferring them to another account. Scammers often use the phrase "safe account" to make a fraudulent transfer sound official. Do not send money through a wire transfer, cryptocurrency kiosk or payment app while someone is pressuring you to act immediately. End the conversation and call your bank using the number on the back of your card or its official website.

6) Use strong security software on your devices

Strong antivirus software can help detect malicious links, fake websites and downloads that scammers use to steal financial information. Keep the software updated on your phone and computer. Security software cannot stop every phone scam. However, it can block some of the digital tools criminals use before they reach your bank account. Get my picks for the best 2026 antivirus protection winners for your Windows, Mac, Android and iOS devices at CyberGuy.com.

7) Reduce the personal information scammers can use

Scammers may pull your age, relatives' names, phone number and address from data broker and people-search websites. They can use those details to make a fake emergency sound convincing. A data removal service can help reduce how much personal information appears on these sites. It cannot remove every record from the internet, but it can make it harder for criminals to build a detailed profile around you or your family. Check out my top picks for data removal services and get a free scan to find out if your personal information is already out on the web by visiting CyberGuy.com.

8) Act quickly if money starts moving

Call your bank's fraud department as soon as you suspect a scam. Ask the institution to stop, recall or flag the transaction. Change your online banking password from a trusted device and review recent account activity. If you shared login details, ask the bank whether it should lock online access or issue new account numbers. Next, report the incident to local law enforcement and the appropriate fraud agency. For suspected elder financial abuse, you can also contact Adult Protective Services in your state.

Kurt's key takeaways

Georgia's new law gives financial institutions explicit authority to pause certain transactions when they suspect financial exploitation. However, the hold remains optional, and the protection applies only in qualifying situations. The issue reaches far beyond Georgia. At least 33 states have enacted some form of transaction-hold authority for banks or credit unions, although several newer laws have later effective dates. The protections still vary, so your state and financial institution can shape what happens during the most urgent minutes of a scam. Add a trusted contact where available. Talk with your family about how to verify an emergency and learn how your bank handles suspicious payments. A five-minute conversation today could create the pause that saves someone's life savings later.

Should a bank have the power to delay your payment when it believes a scammer is directing you, even if you insist the transfer is legitimate? Let us know by writing to us at CyberGuy.com.

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Fox News AI Newsletter: IBM's AI warning sends 'shockwave'

Fri, 17 Jul 2026 12:28:47 -0400

Welcome to Fox News’ Artificial Intelligence newsletter with the latest AI technology advancements.

IN TODAY’S NEWSLETTER:

- IBM sends 'shockwave' through tech industry with AI warning

- Dimon urges calm over fear about AI's impact on jobs: 'Stop being breathless over it'

- AI is changing modern dating, but experts warn it's making people 'relationally stupid'

MARKET JOLT: Shares of IBM were down more than 23% when the market opened on Tuesday, raising fresh questions about whether companies are seeing enough near-term returns from artificial intelligence spending.

COOL DOWN: JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon on Wednesday said there is still a lot of uncertainty over how AI will impact the workforce and people shouldn't be "breathless" in their concerns as new technologies have historically created new jobs.

PLUG PULLED: New York's decision to pause the construction of large artificial intelligence data centers is drawing criticism from some lawmakers and energy officials, who argue the move could weaken the United States' ability to compete in the global AI race while encouraging investment to move elsewhere.

RARE PRAISE: Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., praised the late Sen. Lindsey Graham for backing legislation that would allow victims of nonconsensual AI-generated deepfake pornography to file civil lawsuits.

'RELATIONALLY STUPID': Artificial intelligence has seeped into almost every aspect of modern life, helping users plan vacations, create workout routines and tackle countless everyday tasks. Some have resorted to using it for their love lives by asking chatbots to help them write witty responses to messages, craft dating app profiles and work out relationship issues. However, relationship experts fear that the increased use of AI in dating could lead to disastrous results.

DIGITAL AXE: A group of 26 Meta employees sued the tech giant over accusations that it used AI-powered software to choose people for mass layoffs, disproportionately targeting workers with disabilities or those who took medical, parental or family leave.

LOCAL LIFT: Meta is expanding its massive data center project in Richland Parish, Louisiana, to 5 gigawatts of compute capacity, making it one of the largest data centers in history, the company announced Monday.

ACCOUNT CONTROL: There are few emails that make your stomach drop faster than one about "new privacy settings." That usually means a company has moved another data switch, renamed a control or tucked a new choice inside an account menu you rarely visit. Google is now rolling out one of those changes for Search services. The setting is called Search Services History. It controls whether Google saves your activity from Search services when you are signed into your Google Account.

SCREEN FREE: A major university is taking aim at tech in a sweeping ban against electronic devices in an effort to "ensure students actually learn to think critically, strategically and independently without relying on AI," according to administrators.

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Tony Dokoupil clashes with Mark Warner after the senator ripped CBS for airing Trump speech ‘as news’

Fri, 17 Jul 2026 12:22:09 -0400

CBS News anchor Tony Dokoupil clashed with Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va., during a live special report Thursday night after President Donald Trump's White House address, as Warner accused the network of presenting disputed election claims without enough pushback.

"I was embarrassed that the President of the United States went before our whole country, and networks like yours carried this as news, as opposed to a rehash of falsehoods," Warner said. "And it is incumbent upon you and any responsible journalist to push back on these falsehoods."

Dokoupil attempted to interject, but Warner, the top Democrat on the Senate Intelligence Committee, continued and appeared to refer to the November midterms.

ABC, NBC, CNN AVOID AIRING TRUMP'S PRIMETIME ELECTION SECURITY ADDRESS LIVE

"He’s going to lose a free and fair election," Warner said.

After Warner finished, Dokoupil pushed back, arguing CBS had brought the Virginia Democrat on specifically to scrutinize the president's assertions and had provided fact-checking and analysis throughout its coverage.

"You are calling for context and analysis and pushback," Dokoupil said. "You are on the show right now giving it, and acting as though it’s not happening."

'SHADOW GOVERNMENT': TRUMP CLAIMS INTEL COMMUNITY BRAGGED ABOUT HIDING CHINESE MEDDLING

Trump opened his roughly 25-minute address by touting the economy, border security and prescription drug prices before turning to elections. He announced the release of the previously classified intelligence that he argued exposed weaknesses in election infrastructure.

"Tonight, I’m announcing the immediate declassification and release of critical intelligence revealing shocking vulnerabilities in our election infrastructure," Trump said.

The White House posted materials on China's acquisition of American voter data, electronic voting systems, a Michigan voter-registration investigation and non-citizens on state voter rolls. Trump alleged China acquired 220 million U.S. voter files beginning during the 2020 election cycle.

TRUMP RELEASES DECLASSIFIED ELECTION INTELLIGENCE, SAYS IT REVEALS 'SHOCKING VULNERABILITIES'

"First, they show that over a period of years, starting during the 2020 election cycle, the People’s Republic of China carried out what is believed to be the largest compromise of election data in history," he said.

CBS later published a fact check characterizing the claim as misleading, noting much voter information is public and citing a 2020 CISA-FBI bulletin that said acquiring voter-registration data did not affect voting or election results. The network also challenged Trump’s allegations about voting machines, non-citizens and mail ballots.

Trump used the disclosures to urge Congress to pass the SAVE America Act, which he said would require photo identification and proof of citizenship for federal elections and sharply restrict mail voting.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE COVERAGE OF MEDIA AND CULTURE

"Most importantly, addressing this crisis of election security demands that Congress must pass the Save America Act," Trump said.

Fox News Digital reported the measure passed the House in February but stalled in the Senate in March when a 53-47 vote fell short of the 60 votes required to advance it.

Warner closed by again challenging journalists to reject claims he described as disconnected from the truth.

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"If we don’t step up and you guys as journalists and people across the political aisle stand up and say, our election integrity is too important to mess around with, then shame on all of us," he said.

Fox News Digital reached out to the White House for comment, but did not immediately receive a response.