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DOJ says 11 migrants indicted in multi-state sex trafficking, drug, firearms case

Tue, 30 Jun 2026 22:26:40 -0400

Federal prosecutors have charged 11 Venezuelan and Colombian nationals — 10 of whom the Justice Department says are currently unlawfully present in the United States — in a sweeping, multi-state criminal case alleging the defendants trafficked a minor and an adult woman for sex while also dealing drugs and illegally trafficking firearms, the Justice Department announced Tuesday.

Ten of the defendants were arrested Tuesday during coordinated law enforcement operations in Ohio, Tennessee, North Carolina and Florida, while one remains at large. Prosecutors said 10 of the 11 defendants are currently in the United States illegally.

A 30-count federal indictment, returned June 11 and unsealed Tuesday, alleges four defendants conspired between July and August 2025 to sex traffic a minor and an adult woman. The Justice Department’s announcement appears to contain conflicting references to the minor’s age, describing the alleged victim as 17 in one section and 14 in a quote from the U.S. attorney.

DHS HAS ONLY 7 CHILD EXPLOITATION ANALYSTS, HAWLEY MEASURE WOULD FUND 200 INVESTIGATORS

According to the Justice Department, the defendants traveled across state lines to promote prostitution and created online commercial sex advertisements in the central Ohio area.

Beyond the alleged sex trafficking scheme, prosecutors say members of the group also sold ecstasy and trafficked firearms, including at least nine guns. Some defendants are additionally accused of illegally possessing firearms while in the country.

"These defendants — ten of whom are currently illegally present in this country — allegedly engaged in a panoply of illicit trafficking activity, from drugs to firearms to human beings," U.S. Attorney Dominick S. Gerace II said. "We have no tolerance for anybody who commits such crimes in our communities, and we will prosecute them to the fullest extent of the law."

KASH PATEL TOUTS FBI 'FULL-THROTTLE MISSION' AFTER OPERATION SPRING CLEANING YIELDS 615 INDICTMENTS/COMPLAINTS

The charges stem from an investigation led by a Homeland Security Task Force.

"We will continue to work hard to keep Ohio safe and get narcotics, firearms, and violent criminals off the streets," FBI Cincinnati Special Agent in Charge Jason Cromartie said.

Acting Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Detroit Special Agent in Charge Jared Murphey said the indictment demonstrates the task force's commitment to protecting communities from transnational criminal organizations accused of exploiting vulnerable victims while trafficking drugs and firearms.

BIDEN JUDGE OVERRULED ON KEY TRUMP IMMIGRATION POLICY

Among those charged are six defendants living in Ohio. They include Venezuelan nationals Jean Pierre Alejandro Guillen Salcedo, 30, and Taidin Adreina Ferrer Guillen, 34, both of Hilliard; Venezuelan nationals Pedro Angel Colls-Flores, 34, and Alismar Daniela Contreras-Arevalo, 20, both of Columbus; and Colombian nationals Briyi Daniela Ordonez-Iter, 21, of Hilliard, and Julian David Patino Pena, 33, of Columbus.

Two additional defendants are Venezuelan nationals living in Tennessee: John Alexandre Fajardo-Ulzcategui, 27, and Jose Ruben Sanchez-Pena, 34, both of Smyrna.

The remaining defendants are Venezuelan national Keivar Elian Guillen Salcedo, 26, of Charlotte, North Carolina; Venezuelan national Therry Brayant Leon Gavida, 34, of Jacksonville, Florida; and Venezuelan national Dervin Alejandro Colmenares Quintero, 29, whose residence is listed as Mexico.

The Justice Department said the case is part of the Homeland Security Task Force initiative established under President Donald Trump's Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The initiative is intended to target transnational criminal organizations, foreign gangs, human trafficking networks and violent criminal aliens operating in the United States.

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An indictment contains allegations only. All defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.

Fox News Digital has reached out to the Justice Department seeking clarification about an apparent discrepancy in its announcement regarding the age of one of the alleged trafficking victims and will update this story if a response is received.

Anti-Trump senator defeated by far-left rival after heated gubernatorial primary

Tue, 30 Jun 2026 22:22:18 -0400

Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser defeated Sen. Michael Bennet, D-Colo., in Colorado’s Democratic primary for governor Tuesday, blocking Bennet’s attempted move from the Senate to the governor's residence and putting Weiser in position as the favorite to replace term-limited Democratic Gov. Jared Polis.

Weiser’s win over Bennet, a three-term senator and former 2020 presidential candidate, marked a major upset in one of the most closely watched Democratic primaries of the year. The winner of the Democratic nomination is favored in November in a state where Democrats have dominated recent statewide elections.

The result also means Bennet is expected to remain in the Senate, avoiding what would have been a major vacancy fight had he won the governorship in November.

COLORADO DEPUTY COULD FACE MASSIVE FINE FOR SHARING INFORMATION WITH IMMIGRATION AUTHORITIES

"Phil has dedicated his life to the law, justice, and public service," says Weiser's campaign website. "As your Governor he will continue to advance the rule of law, protect our democracy, and promote justice for all. Phil Weiser will continue to defend and protect every Coloradan across the state."

The primary battle pitted two high-profile Colorado Democrats against each other — Bennet, a three-term senator and former 2020 presidential candidate, and Weiser, the state’s two-term attorney general.

Polis, a Democrat, is barred by term limits from seeking another term after eight years in office.

MAMDANI-BACKED SOCIALISTS LOOK TO TAKE NEW YORK PLAYBOOK NATIONWIDE AFTER PRIMARY VICTORIES

Bennet entered the primary with support from much of Colorado’s Democratic establishment, with his campaign listing endorsements from more than 200 Colorado leaders, including Sen. John Hickenlooper, D-Colo., Reps. Joe Neguse, D-Colo., Jason Crow, D-Colo., and Brittany Pettersen, D-Colo., along with state legislative leaders and labor groups.

Weiser’s campaign, meanwhile, touted support from former Colorado Gov. Roy Romer, former Rep. Ed Perlmutter, former Denver Mayor Federico Peña, former Sen. Tim Wirth and a long list of local officials, state lawmakers and progressive organizations.

Bennet argued during the race that he could be more effective fighting Trump and advancing policy as governor, while Weiser leaned on his experience as Colorado’s attorney general and his legal background as he made the case for his own campaign.

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Barb Kirkmeyer was leading the Republican primary for governor Tuesday evening as the Dem primary was called.

Whether Kirkmeyer or one of her trailing opponents, Victor Marx or Scott Bottoms, the GOP nominee faces an uphill battle against Weiser in November.

Ex-talk show host will take on former chief advisor to Kamala Harris’ husband

Tue, 30 Jun 2026 22:06:23 -0400

Jessica Killin won the Democratic primary in Colorado’s 5th Congressional District on Tuesday, setting up a November match-up against incumbent Rep. Jeff Crank, R-Colo., for the Colorado Springs-based seat.

Killin, a former Army captain and former chief of staff to second gentleman Doug Emhoff, defeated fellow Army veteran and nonprofit leader Joe Reagan, according to the Associated Press. The result means she will take on Crank, who ran unopposed in the Republican primary and is seeking a second term representing the district, which is centered on Colorado Springs and most of El Paso County, including several military-heavy communities.

Killin entered the race as a first-time candidate with national support and strong fundraising, while Reagan, who ran for the seat in 2024, leaned on his local roots, combat service and nonprofit work helping veterans open businesses.

PROGRESSIVE MOMENTUM HITS SPEED BUMP AS VETERAN DEMOCRAT FENDS OFF CHALLENGER IN COLORADO

MAMDANI-BACKED SOCIALISTS LOOK TO TAKE NEW YORK PLAYBOOK NATIONWIDE AFTER PRIMARY VICTORIES

The general election will test whether Democrats can make gains in a Republican-leaning district that includes Fort Carson and the Air Force Academy, along with fast-growing Colorado Springs suburbs.

The race drew national attention from Democrats because the Colorado Springs-based district, long a Republican stronghold, has shown signs of becoming more competitive. The Colorado Sun reported that Trump’s margin in El Paso County, which largely overlaps with the 5th District, fell from 22 points in 2016 to 10 points in 2024, while Republican margins in the House race have also narrowed over the past decade.

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) added Killin to its Red to Blue program, signaling national Democrats viewed the Republican-held seat as a potential pickup opportunity, even though the district remains GOP-leaning.

The district's current incumbent, Crank, is a former Capitol Hill staffer of seven years, who subsequently moved back home to Colorado where he served as Vice President for the Colorado Springs Chamber of Commerce, Chief Operating Officer at nonprofit Americans for Prosperity and president of his own real estate investment company, according to his campaign website.

Crank's background in broadcasting includes hosting both The Jeff Crank Show in Colorado and the American Potential Podcast.

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Killin aligned herself with a centrist Democratic push shortly before the primary, signing onto an initiative that described its signatories as "capitalist, not socialist" and emphasized public safety, fiscal responsibility, secure borders and national pride.

Meanwhile, Killin said during an online news conference that candidates aligned with the Democratic Socialists of America "should not be the face of our party," according to local news outlet Colorado Politics.

State Department congratulates Keiko Fujimori as Peru's president-elect following razor-thin vote count

Tue, 30 Jun 2026 22:00:35 -0400

The State Department on Tuesday congratulated conservative candidate Keiko Fujimori after she was declared the winner of Peru’s presidential runoff election by a razor-thin margin.

The statement marked a significant milestone in Latin American relations, with Washington signaling it expects to work closely with Fujimori’s administration on shared priorities.

"The United States congratulates President-Elect Keiko Fujimori of Peru on her important electoral victory," the department said.

"The Trump Administration looks forward to deepening collaboration with the Fujimori Administration to advance security cooperation and to strengthen bilateral cooperation on investment and trade in our region."

TRUMP ADMIN WARNS PERU IT COULD LOSE SOVEREIGNTY AS CHINA TIGHTENS GRIP ON NATION

Her victory comes as Washington seeks to strengthen ties with pro-market allies in Latin America amid growing Chinese economic influence in the region.

Beijing recently completed the Chancay deepwater port in Peru — a $1.3 billion mega-project that serves as China’s key logistics hub on the Pacific coast.

Fujimori’s tough stance on organized crime also aligns with U.S. efforts to expand regional security and anti-trafficking cooperation.

BIDEN, XI TO MEET ON SATURDAY IN PERU, US OFFICIALS SAY

Fujimori was declared the winner Monday by Peru’s National Office of Electoral Processes (ONPE), the electoral authority responsible for reporting vote count results. The country’s final authority on election matters, the National Jury of Elections (JNE), has yet to issue its official proclamation, according to Reuters.

According to the ONPE, Fujimori secured 50.1% of the vote, winning by fewer than 50,000 votes out of roughly 18 million ballots cast.

Her victory over leftist challenger Roberto Sánchez marks her fourth presidential bid and makes her Peru’s first female president-elect.

The result caps a deeply divisive election cycle in a country that has gone through nine presidents in the past decade.

Fujimori is also the daughter of former Peruvian President Alberto Fujimori, who ruled the country during the 1990s.

TRUMP VICTORY BOOSTS CONSERVATIVES IN LATIN AMERICA, WAKE-UP CALL TO DICTATORS: 'THERE WILL BE CONSEQUENCES'

Fujimori’s presidency marks a return of her family’s political brand to Peru’s highest office — a movement that has long carried a complicated relationship with the United States.

While Washington once backed her father for his fight against communist guerrillas and economic reforms in the 1990s, the U.S. later condemned his government over the dismantling of democratic institutions and allegations of human rights abuses.

Keiko Fujimori has since spent more than two decades attempting to reshape "Fujimorismo" into a modern conservative, law-and-order political movement.

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Peruvians voted in favor of Fujimori amid a surge in violent crime, extortion and years of political instability.

Fujimori campaigned on an "iron fist" approach to security and a pledge to protect Peru’s free-market economy, while her opponent focused on rural economic grievances.

Reuters contributed to this report.

Mamdani comparisons follow Colorado Democrat into pivotal House race after primary win

Tue, 30 Jun 2026 21:56:55 -0400

Manny Rutinel, a Democratic candidate for Congress in Colorado’s 8th Congressional District, won a primary race on Tuesday evening, securing his party’s bid to challenge incumbent Rep. Gabe Evans, R-Colo.

Rutinel, a member of the state’s House of Representatives, faces one of the country’s most competitive races that could help decide the balance of power in Washington, D.C., where Republicans hold a governing trifecta across the House, Senate and Oval Office.

Democrats see seats like this district as a prime opportunity to pry away the GOP’s narrow grip on the House, where they have a slim majority.

Evans, the current seat holder, won the election in 2024 by just 0.8%.

REPUBLICAN GABE EVANS WINS COLORADO'S 8TH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT, BEATING INCUMBENT YADIRA CARAVEO

Rutinel, a former state legislator, has pitched himself as a Democrat ready to protect government programs against GOP cuts and protect minorities against government overreach.

On his website, he lists protecting Social Security and Medicaid, expanding tax credits, ending Trump’s immigration crackdown, and lowering housing costs among his top priorities.

"I was raised on Medicaid. It's deeply personal for me and now Donald Trump and Gabe Evans are trying to destroy it to give tax breaks to their billionaire buddies," Rutinel said in a campaign video posted to Instagram.

"I’m afraid of Donald Trump continuing to destroy our democracy and our economy and making life impossible for working people and Latino immigrants across the country."

REPUBLICANS TARGET 2 KEY DEMOCRATIC RACES WITH MAMDANI CONNECTION STRATEGY

Because his platform includes elements like expanding taxes on the rich and universal healthcare, Republicans have made efforts to paint Rutinel as in the same vein as New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani.

"Those policies may sell in New York, but Coloradans aren’t buying it," a spokesperson for Gabe Evans told Fox News Digital when asked about the similarities back in November.

Moreover, the Congressional Leadership Fund, an arm of the House Republican fundraising apparatus, highlighted a video posted to Instagram of a Mamdani campaign rally, offering it as proof that Rutinel belongs in the same bucket as Mamdani.

The video briefly shows someone who appears to be Rutinel standing behind Mamdani.

SCOOP: HOUSE REPUBLICANS LINK MAYOR-ELECT MAMDANI TO VULNERABLE CONGRESSIONAL DEMOCRATS

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"What does the CO-08 race have in common with the NYC Mayoral Race? Democrat Manny Rutinel is campaigning in both," CLF pointed out in one of its ads.

Having secured his party’s nomination, Rutinel will face off against Evans in the general election on Nov. 3.

State Department announces 'total compliance' from Venezuelan government in relief efforts after Maduro arrest

Tue, 30 Jun 2026 21:48:48 -0400

The Trump administration says it has complete support from the Venezuelan government amid humanitarian efforts just months after the removal of former dictator Nicolás Maduro, which sparked rage among the president's opponents.

After magnitude 7.2 and 7.5 earthquakes struck the northern part of the South American nation last week, the American government stepped in to help in a move that the administration says has been welcomed by the Venezuelan government and citizenry alike.

"We have seen total compliance from the interim authorities in Venezuela as a result of the unprecedented response by the United States to these deadly earthquakes," a State Department official told Fox News Digital Tuesday.

US MILITARY TOUTS WORK TO ASSIST IN VENEZUELA FOLLOWING DEADLY EARTHQUAKES

The death toll from the natural disaster stands at nearly 2,000 and continues to rise.

"Every request we have made has been immediately granted and in turn, we have seen an incredible outpouring of support from the Venezuelan people towards Americans on the ground," the official continued.

TRUMP 'SERIOUSLY CONSIDERING' PLAN TO MAKE VENEZUELA AND ITS $40 TRILLION IN OIL PERMANENT PART OF USA

On Jan. 3, U.S. special forces successfully took Maduro into custody after a daring nighttime mission that overwhelmed the dictator's armed guards. After penetrating Maduro's palace, they took him into custody. He was relocated to the United States where he remains in jail awaiting trial on narco-terrorism and gun charges.

The progressive political left rushed to the defense of the brutal socialist authoritarian in the wake of his capture.

US CAPTURE OF MADURO THROWS SPOTLIGHT ON VENEZUELA’S MASSIVE OIL RESERVES

Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., warned that the event risked violating international law, while Rep. Rashida Tlaib, D-Mich., called the United States a "rogue state."

"Trump’s illegal and unprovoked bombing of Venezuela and kidnapping of its president are grave violations of international law and the U.S. Constitution. These are the actions of a rogue state," Tlaib wrote on social media.

"The American people do not want another regime change war abroad," she added.

"Maduro's illegitimate election does not give the president the power to invade without congressional approval, nor does it create a national security justification. That contention is laughable," said Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn.

The Trump administration has taken swift action to help the Venezuelan people amid the crisis, including mobilizing $150 million in humanitarian relief.

It has assembled a Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART) composed of more than 250 people, including three specialized Urban Search-and-Rescue (USAR) teams. The administration says the teams have conducted critical life-saving measures.

The U.S. military has assisted with logistics.

Venezuela's Supreme Court installed Delcy Rodríguez as the country's interim president.

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Since then, diplomatic relations with the country have been restored, though officials in Washington have made it clear that such cooperation is temporary, while emphasizing the U.S. does not view her presidency as a permanent solution.

Progressive momentum hits speed bump as veteran Democrat fends off challenger in Colorado

Tue, 30 Jun 2026 21:44:40 -0400

A moderate Democrat mounting his last campaign staved off a progressive challenger in Colorado, marking a small speed bump in the rapid far-left evolution of the Democratic Party.

Sen. John Hickenlooper, D-Colo., a longtime fixture in Colorado politics, overcame a challenge from state Sen. Julie Gonzales, his progressive challenger, who has argued that Democrats need to be more aggressive in their pushback against President Donald Trump.

Hickenlooper, who is vying for a second term in the upper chamber, said this would be his final campaign for the Senate. Gonzales hoped to speed up his exit with a campaign that went after the lawmaker’s moderate position and votes in favor of some of Trump’s nominees.

DEMOCRATS TORN BETWEEN PROGRESSIVE FIRE AND CENTRIST CAUTION AS NOVEMBER ELECTIONS LOOM

"John Hickenlooper has been in office for over 20 years," Gonzales said in her campaign launch ad. "I know that we’re not fooled by his so-called ‘commonsense approach,’ cause there is no sense in voting for Donald Trump’s nominees."

Still, Gonzales’ defeat Tuesday night was a stumble for the progressive wave that has swept the Democratic Party during this midterm election cycle, which has seen new blood hungry for change challenging the old guard and party leadership in Washington, D.C.

Hickenlooper, 74, who served two terms each as Denver’s mayor and Colorado’s governor before launching a failed bid for president, has been a stalwart fixture in the Centennial State, while Gonzales, 43, positioned herself as part of the new wave.

THE PLOT TO STOP MAMDANI: DEMOCRATS SCRAMBLE TO BLOCK FAR-LEFT TAKEOVER IN NEW YORK

Their battle for the Democratic nomination came just a week after a trio of progressive candidates backed by New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani clinched their Democratic nominations. Notably, Mamdani-backed Darializa Avila Chevalier, a community organizer and socialist, toppled five-term incumbent Rep. Adriano Espaillat, D-N.Y.

And the battle between Hickenlooper and Gonzales was not the only intraparty fist fight between a moderate incumbent and progressive in Colorado.

'IT'S A MESS': GOP TURNS ON HOUSE CONSERVATIVES AS VOTER ID BLOCKADE STALLS TRUMP'S AGENDA

Melat Kiros, a socialist, is squaring off against longtime Rep. Diana DeGette in Colorado's 1st Congressional District. Kiros also sported the endorsement of one of Hickenlooper’s colleagues: Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt.

Meanwhile, Hickenlooper will now face state Sen. Mark Baisley in November. Baisley, who ran unopposed in the Colorado GOP primary, initially launched a campaign for governor in the race to replace term-limited Gov. Jared Polis but dropped out of the contest to run for the Senate.

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Fox News Digital did not immediately receive comment from the Hickenlooper and Gonzales campaigns.

Trump-backed incumbent survives right-wing primary challenge after endorsement drama in Colorado

Tue, 30 Jun 2026 21:36:44 -0400

Rep. Jeff Hurd, R-Colo., clinched the GOP nomination against a right-wing challenger Tuesday, as the freshman lawmaker seeks to hold a competitive House district Democrats are seeking to flip in November’s midterm elections.

Hurd defeated former state Rep. Ron Hanks, R-Colo., in the Republican primary for a sprawling House district covering nearly all of western and southern Colorado, according to The Associated Press.

Hurd ran with President Donald Trump's endorsement after the president initially revoked his support, following Hurd joining Democrats in support of a largely symbolic measure terminating Trump’s Canada tariffs in February.

TRUMP PULLS ENDORSEMENT FROM GOP LAWMAKER OVER ALLEGED LACK OF SUPPORT FOR ADMINISTRATION'S TARIFF AGENDA

Trump later re-issued his endorsement in March and asked Navy veteran Hope Scheppelman, who was challenging Hurd from the right, to suspend her campaign and join his administration. Scheppelman, a former vice chair of the state's Republican Party and acute care nurse, now serves as a senior advisor on substance abuse in the Department of Health and Human Services.

"I will be fully supporting Jeff’s Re-Election to the House of Representatives, giving him my Complete and Total Endorsement!" Trump wrote on Truth Social. "Every true MAGA supporter and Republican, if they truly care about saving our Country, will do everything in their power to unify together, and defeat the Crazed Radical Left Democrats this November."

Following Scheppelman's exit, Hanks entered the Republican primary to challenge Hurd. He previously ran against Hurd in the 2024 GOP primary, where the now-incumbent lawmaker won with just over 40% of the vote.

Hanks, an Air Force veteran, has alleged, without evidence, that former President Joe Biden was "fraudulently elected." He was also present during the Jan. 6 riots, though he said he did not enter the U.S. Capitol complex and was not criminally charged.

Rep. Lauren Boebert, R-Colo., previously represented the Republican-leaning district before moving across the state in 2024 to run for a more Republican-leaning seat in eastern Colorado.

GOP FIREBRAND LASHES OUT AT REPORTER OVER MASSIE ALLEGATION: ‘F--- YOU, FIRST OF ALL!’

Businessman Alex Kelloff and Army veteran Dwayne Romero are seeking the Democratic nomination.

Democrats are hoping to unseat Hurd after he won Colorado’s 3rd Congressional District by just five points in 2024. The GOP-leaning district contains Democratic strongholds concentrated in several wealthy ski towns and Pueblo.

Hanks cast Hurd as a "fake conservative" in an interview with The Grand Junction Daily Sentinel and insufficiently loyal to the president.

Hurd has bucked Trump on tariff policy and a Russia sanctions package, but he has voted with the president on most high-profile pieces of legislation.

He also joined Boebert in a failed vote to override Trump’s veto on a water pipeline project in Colorado’s Arkansas Valley.

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Hurd is a lawyer who previously served as chair of the Grand Junction Area Chamber of Commerce. He is a vice chair of the Western Caucus and is a member of the House Natural Resources and Transportation and Infrastructure Committees.

Kirk Herbstreit goes off with complaints about modern Major League Baseball, gets everything wrong

Tue, 30 Jun 2026 21:35:35 -0400

Major League Baseball, sometimes despite its best efforts, is in the best place that it's been in decades.

Attendance has grown each year for the past several seasons, with some teams, like the White Sox, Blue Jays and Mariners seeing huge increases in 2026. Ratings are up, with the 2025 World Series being the most watched domestically since 2017 and Game 7 drawing a whopping 51 million viewers between the US, Canada and Japan.

National television broadcasts have seen significant increases, pace-of-play is up, the new ABS challenge system has been mostly well-received and small market teams are outperforming big spending clubs through the first half of the season, undermining parity concerns.

BREWERS HUMAN HOWITZER JACOB MISIOROWSKI BREAKS HIS OWN RECORD FOR HARDEST PITCH THROWN BY A STARTER

Highlight reels are dominated by exceptional athletes doing exceptional things. Jacob Misiorowski hit 105 mph as a starting pitcher. Shohei Ohtani is dominating as a hitter and a pitcher, something virtually unprecedented over such a lengthy time frame. Kyle Schwarber is threatening home run records, even as pitching continues to improve. Mason Miller has been virtually unhittable. Young stars in small markets, like Jackson Chourio, Konnor Griffin, Bobby Witt Jr., Jackson Merrill, Kevin McGonigle, Colt Emerson and Samuel Basallo, are locked up for most of their primes, ensuring fans can go years without worrying over free agency.

But if you ask football commentator Kirk Herbstreit, baseball is dying. Because there aren't enough athletes, apparently.

In response to a complaint from former Yankees catcher Jorge Posada, Herbstreit posted a lengthy diatribe on X completely misunderstanding the modern game.

"THANK YOU!!!!! Where did the athletic ability go?," he said. "Clutch hitting in the 8th and 9th inning? Starting pitching that goes 8 or 9 innings? Base stealing-hell just good base running and SPEED?!? Sac bunts-moving runners over late in a game? Where’s Tony Gwynn? Rod Carew? Wade Boggs? Ichiro? Those guys wouldn’t exist in today’s ridiculous HR or K 'launch angle' game! The game has been dying with the youth of America for YEARS and now is losing the core fanbase as well with this ridiculous product we’ve had to digest for the last 7-10 years. Bring back Small Ball and athleticism…this s*** dreadful!!!"

There's just one problem; virtually all of this is wrong.

Athleticism in baseball has never been higher, which is why you see pitchers like Misiorowski and Mason Miller sitting well over 100 mph. And why hitters are still able to be successful when facing an average fastball velocity that's steadily increased year-over-year.

ROYALS PITCHER DRILLED IN HEAD WITH TERRIFYING 107 MPH LINER, AND THE BATTER WHO HIT IT PULLED A RARE MOVE

As recently as 2008, average fastball velocity was just 90.4 mph. Today? It's roughly 95mph. That increase is because pitchers have become more athletic thanks to improvements in training, nutrition, and biomechanical development. It's harder to hit now than it's ever been, yet Ohtani, Aaron Judge, Cal Raleigh and others have had historically successful offensive seasons. So that's wrong.

Pitchers don't go eight or nine innings because, over time, after analyzing years of data, it became clear that as pitchers tire and face the same hitters more times, they become less effective. That's regardless of their pitch mix, velocities, or athletic ability. The "third time through the order penalty" is very real, and has always been real, as hitters adjust to what they see, and front offices and managers realized that their best chance of winning games was to bring in fresh relievers instead of letting exhausted pitchers continue to prove some sort of point.

Despite catchers specifically trying to optimize "pop times," stolen bases are also up. In 2024, there were 3,617 stolen bases league-wide. The most in any year during the 1980s was 3,585. But, to be fair, slightly larger bases have helped. Teams, though, have again realized that stolen bases are only valuable if you don't get caught. Take 1986, for example. That season, there were 3,312 stolen bases and 1,620 runners caught stealing. That's an atrocious 67% success rate. In 2024, the success rate was 80%. Teams in the 1980s gave away outs at an astonishing rate.

Herbstreit is also wrong about the 1980s stars, too. Those types of players are still enormously valuable because many of their skills are always valuable. Boggs' career on base percentage is .415. Gwynn had a .388 OBP and .459 career slugging percentage. That's an .847 OPS, over his entire career, which would put Gwynn ahead of Witt Jr., Pete Alonso, Cody Bellinger, Ketel Marte and Elly De La Cruz this season. Along with many other stars. Does Herbstreit think a player who hit .370/.447/.511 with 56 stolen bases, as Gwynn did in 1987, wouldn't have a job in 2026? Because they absolutely would. They'd probably win an MVP, in fact.

The issue is that hitting now is harder than it's ever been because pitchers are better than they've ever been. And teams have realized that home runs are more valuable than other types of hits because they guarantee that runs score. Sacrificing some singles is worth it because home runs create more runs.

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In 1989, the time period Herbstreit lionizes, the league averaged 8.26 runs per game. Thus far in 2026, the league is averaging 9 runs per game. So scoring is up, athleticism is up, prior era stars would still be valuable today, small ball doesn't lead to more runs and baseball is not losing fans, but gaining them. Other than that, he nailed it.

Ironically, the product that's actually tough to watch is the modern NFL, which Herbstreit broadcasts. Quarterbacks are protected to an absurd degree, to the point that late-hit penalties on Patrick Mahomes have become a running joke among fans. There's 10-11 minutes of in-game action over a 185-190 minute broadcast. Teams averaged 353 yards per game in 2015. In 2025? Just 326.6. Why doesn't the NFL lose fans? Gambling.

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Herbstreit going full "old man yells at cloud" is one thing, but do it at the NFL. Nobody ever will, though, because that league is somehow above criticism despite its clear and obvious decline in excitement.

Conservative firebrand cruises to primary win despite clash with Trump

Tue, 30 Jun 2026 21:10:12 -0400

Lauren Boebert, R-Colo., clinched her Republican primary after running unopposed to represent Colorado's 4th Congressional District on Tuesday evening, setting herself up to pursue a fourth term.

Despite notable clashes with House GOP leadership and President Donald Trump, Boebert emerged from her primary largely unscathed, separating herself from the three other Republicans who voted with Democrats to advance the Epstein Files Transparency Act.

If reelected in the state’s Nov. 3 general election, she will be the only one remaining next Congress among fellow GOP rebels Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky.; Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga.; and Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C.

Greene, a once-outspoken backer of the president, resigned her seat at the beginning of the year when the two split on foreign aid, government transparency and federal spending.

THE REVOLT OF MARJORIE TAYLOR GREENE, NOW DONALD TRUMP’S FIERCEST CRITIC

Although he’s presently still in office, Massie lost a primary bid to a Trump-backed challenger earlier this year.

And Mace, who ran for governor in the Palmetto State, fell woefully short of capturing the GOP nomination after Trump declined to endorse her.

Despite outlasting her fellow GOP colleagues, Boebert hasn’t fully escaped Trump’s wrath. The president noted that Boebert had changed districts to run for a considerably safer seat and appeared ready to test the waters against her.

TRUMP THREATENS TO PULL BOEBERT ENDORSEMENT, CALLS CONGRESSWOMAN ‘WEAK MINDED’ OVER MASSIE SUPPORT

"Is anyone interested in running against weak-minded Lauren Boebert in Colorado’s fourth congressional district?" Trump said in a post to Truth Social in May.

"You remember Lauren moved to the district when it became obvious that she couldn’t win in her original congressional district. Boebert is campaigning for the worst ‘Republican’ congressman in the history of our country, Thomas Massie. Even though I long ago endorsed Boebert, if the right person came along, it would be my honor to withdraw that endorsement and endorse a good and proper alternative."

Boebert announced her decision to switch districts in December 2023, before her vote on the Epstein Files.

Despite her disagreements with the White House, Boebert has said she remains an ally to Trump.

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"Below is my friend Thomas Massie," Boebert said in a post to X, posting a picture of Massie alongside Trump.

"He loves America and is fighting to save it. Also below is my friend and President Donald Trump. He’s put his life on the line to save this great country. I support both of these men. I’ve worked with both to preserve freedom and liberty. And if that makes you angry, bless your heart," Boebert wrote.

Polls close in Colorado as socialists target Dem establishment out west

Tue, 30 Jun 2026 05:00:28 -0400

The polls have closed in Colorado as the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) set their sights on the Democratic establishment in the state.

A handful of Tuesday's primaries in the Democrat-dominated Rocky Mountain state are the next battleground in the fight between the far left and the center-left establishment over the future of the Democratic Party.

"Today, the East Coast, next week the Mountain West," the DSA wrote in a social media post last week, hours after their ballot-box victories in a handful of congressional primaries in New York City.

The post came after DSA-aligned Darializa Avila Chevalier, a 32-year-old far-left community organizer, ousted incumbent Democratic Rep. Adriano Espaillat, chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, and state Assembly Member Claire Valdez, another democratic socialist, won a congressional primary by defeating an establishment-backed candidate.

VICTORIES BY MAMDANI-BACKED CONGRESSIONAL CANDIDATES SPOTLIGHTS GROWING RIFT IN DEMOCRATIC PARTY

The victories by Chevalier and Valdez, who were heavily supported by democratic socialist New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, further emboldened the far left as it takes on the center-left establishment in a high-stakes battle for the future of the Democratic Party.

The DSA is now looking to replicate its playbook across the country, starting Tuesday in the Democratic primary in Colorado's 1st Congressional District, a solidly blue seat anchored in Denver that then-Vice President Kamala Harris carried by a whopping 56 points in the 2024 election.

Democratic Rep. Diana DeGette, who was first elected to Congress three decades ago, is facing two primary challengers, including DSA-backed Melat Kiros, a first-time candidate and former attorney born four months after DeGette first took office.

Kiros, who lost her job as a lawyer in New York after writing an essay critical of Israel, is also supported by Justice Democrats, the nearly decade-old political group known for heavily supporting "Squad" members Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Ilhan Omar, Ayanna Pressley and Rashida Tlaib as they toppled entrenched incumbents in their initial elections to Congress.

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"ELECT ANOTHER SOCIALIST TO CONGRESS ON JUNE 30TH," a DSA social media post states as it urges supporters to lend a hand to the Kiros campaign.

The Democratic Party divide will also play out in the primary in the neighboring 8th Congressional District, which stretches along the I-25 corridor north of Denver.

State Rep. Manny Rutinel is running to the left of former state Rep. Shannon Bird, with the winner taking on Republican Rep. Gabe Evans, who flipped the seat in the 2024 cycle. The race is considered one of two or three dozen that will determine if the GOP holds onto its razor-thin House majority in the midterms.

Immigration has been a top issue in the Democratic primary in a district where roughly 40% of the population is Latino. Rutinel has criticized Bird for a vote she cast last year opposing a measure limiting cooperation between local and state law enforcement and ICE.

MAMDANI-BACKED SOCIALISTS LOOK TO TAKE NEW YORK PLAYBOOK NATIONWIDE AFTER PRIMARY VICTORIES

Another primary showdown highlighting the split between progressives and moderates, as well as the party's generational divide, is the Senate nomination battle between incumbent Sen. John Hickenlooper, 74, and former state Sen. Julie Gonzales, a 43-year-old progressive. Hickenlooper, a former Denver mayor and two-term governor, has seen his once-large advantage over Gonzales, a one-time DSA member, narrow.

The winner will face Republican state Sen. Mark Baisley, who is unopposed in his primary.

Shannon Jackson, a longtime progressive political strategist and grassroots organizer best known for his leadership roles in Sen. Bernie Sanders’ 2016 and 2020 presidential campaigns, pointed to last week's results and told Fox News Digital that "people are frustrated."

"The key message of the victors: Medicare-for-All, the importance of affordability and a living wage. Progressives have long fought for these values and I expect the primary victories to continue," he emphasized.

Meanwhile, the state's expensive and combustible Democratic gubernatorial primary pits Sen. Michael Bennet against state Attorney General Phil Weiser.

Bennet or Weiser will be considered the clear favorite in the race to succeed two-term Democratic Gov. Jared Polis, the first openly gay man elected governor in the nation's history.

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Weiser, who is running to Bennet's left on certain issues, closed the gap with the senator as he spotlighted his efforts to take on President Donald Trump, including suing Trump 66 times as attorney general.

The winner will face either state Rep. Scott Bottoms, state Sen. Barb Kirkmeyer or pastor and Marine Corps veteran Victor Marx as the Republican nominee.

Royal Family faces backlash from critics after Queen Camilla hosts J.K. Rowling

Tue, 30 Jun 2026 21:00:07 -0400

Queen Camilla faced a backlash on Tuesday after she posted a photo of herself with "Harry Potter" author J.K. Rowling.

"With a shared passion for books and a deep commitment to children reading for pleasure, The Queen and author J.K. Rowling have met at the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh," the caption on the royal family’s Instagram page said. "Her Majesty and Ms Rowling discussed the importance of ensuring that young people have access to books and the vital part reading plays in opening doors for future generations."

One critic wrote in the comments: "As an admirer of the Queen and her Reading Room I’m deeply disappointed in her giving a platform to JKR, any month but especially during Pride Month. There are many other admirable individuals to spotlight who champion reading for children and young people."

KATE MIDDLTON SCALES UK'S 3 HIGHEST PEAKS IN 24 HOURS WITH A DEEPLY PERSONAL MESSAGE FOR CANCER SURVIVORS

Rowling has put herself at odds with the transgender community in the past for comments she made about trans women not being women.

In 2023, she captioned a photo on social media that said "Repeat after us: Trans women are women" with "No" and said she would "happily do two years — [behind bars] if the alternative is compelled speech and forced denial of the reality and importance of sex."

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This came after fans encouraged her to vote for the Labour Party, which was reportedly at the time considering making attacks on gender identity a criminal offense.

In a 2020 essay, Rowling wrote: "So I want trans women to be safe. At the same time, I do not want to make natal girls and women less safe."

PRINCE WILLIAM REFUSES TO QUIT HOBBY THAT TERRIFIES KATE MIDDLETON: EXPERTS

After explaining that she was a victim of sexual assault, she added, "When you throw open the doors of bathrooms and changing rooms to any man who believes or feels he’s a woman...then you open the door to any and all men who wish to come inside."

Another person commented on Tuesday: "During pride month, is a statement" and a third wrote: "Trans rights are human rights!"

"Not during gay pride month," another commenter wrote. "If tone deaf was a picture," someone else quipped, and another called it "deplorable."

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Others posted trans pride flags in the comments and: "protest trans youth."

Still, the billionaire author had plenty of support in the comments.

"J.K. Rowling is just as entitled to her opinion as anyone else," someone said, and other fans called the photo: "Beautiful," "Two remarkable and inspiring women," and another said that Rowling deserved a DBE, the female version of a knighthood.

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"She encouraged a whole new generation of children to read again, and she is such a supporter of women’s rights," the person wrote.

Rowling previously revealed to fans she turned that honor down because she didn't want a title.

Another fan added, "Rowling has done so much good for the UK and world. Few could ever dream of having that impact."

Rowling has also been criticized in the past by some of the actors from the "Harry Potter" movie franchise, including Daniel Radcliffe and Emma Watson, although Watson said she still treasures the time she spent with Rowling.

Detroit City Council narrowly votes to renew ShotSpotter gunshot detection contract despite opposition

Tue, 30 Jun 2026 20:52:45 -0400

The Detroit City Council on Tuesday narrowly voted to renew the city’s contract with SoundThinking for its ShotSpotter gunshot detection system.

The decision will allow the California-based company to continue providing crime-fighting technology through the end of March 2027.

The system will deploy acoustic sensors mounted above city streets to detect gunfire-like sounds and automatically alert law enforcement when a suspected shot is fired.

According to Michigan Advance, the measure passed by a 5–4 vote, with several councilmembers and critics citing high costs and privacy concerns during Tuesday’s hearing.

NORTHEASTERN CITY VOTES TO END SHOTSPOTTER CONTRACT FOR GUNFIRE-DETECTION TECH DESIGNED TO FIGHT CRIME

Council President James Tate, who has historically supported ShotSpotter in Detroit, reportedly opposed the renewal, arguing that the $2.1 million price tag was difficult to justify.

"I have a challenge with that dollar amount. It’s not about the technology," Tate said.

"When asked, would they renegotiate the contract, the answer was no, because we’ve been giving you a deal in the first place, so that leads me now to a situation where I cannot support this particular amendment."

HOW SURVEILLANCE TECH LED POLICE TO ACCUSE THE WRONG PERSON

Councilmember Gabriela Santiago-Romero, who voted against the measure, said her opposition stemmed from a lack of data showing the technology’s effectiveness, Michigan Advance reported.

"Frankly, I still have not heard enough support from the public, have not seen data that shows that this is working for the cost and that it’s actually protecting our information," Santiago-Romero said.

Gabrielle Dresner, a policy strategist for the ACLU of Michigan who testified against the extension, said false alerts can lead to unnecessary police responses and reinforce perceptions that minority communities are inherently dangerous, according to the outlet.

SCHOOLS TURN TO AI GUN DETECTION FOR SAFETY

Critics also questioned whether acoustic microphones monitoring public spaces could amount to a form of surveillance, as well as who would have access to any audio data collected.

However, the ShotSpotter technology has reported successful cases.

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According to Assistant Chief Franklin Hayes, a ShotSpotter alert on Detroit’s west side led officers to a gunshot victim who was found alive in a case where no one had made a 911 call, Michigan Advance said.

The technology has drawn public controversy since Detroit first signed a contract covering certain police precincts in 2020, and again in late 2022.

Vance calls SCOTUS birthright citizenship ruling a 'major mistake,' warns of more birth tourism

Tue, 30 Jun 2026 20:45:29 -0400

Vice President JD Vance condemned the Supreme Court’s "atrocious" birthright citizenship ruling, warning it could encourage more people to exploit the nation’s immigration system during an interview with "The Ingraham Angle" on Tuesday.

The Supreme Court ruled against President Donald Trump’s effort to end birthright citizenship, finding that the Constitution guarantees automatic American citizenship for most people born in the United States.

"This is a very disappointing ruling from the Supreme Court," Vance said. "Of course, we respect it, but we also think that it was a major, major mistake."

"One of the things that might invite is people to come here quite literally on a vacation, give birth and then all of a sudden, the child and their family have the full benefits of American citizenship. It's just a preposterous ruling."

THESE 11 UPCOMING SUPREME COURT DECISIONS COULD MAKE OR BREAK TRUMP'S SECOND TERM AGENDA

The Supreme Court struck down Trump’s Executive Order 14160, holding that it conflicted with the 14th Amendment’s guarantee of birthright citizenship.

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The ruling means most children born in the United States will continue to receive citizenship regardless of their parents’ immigration status, an idea the Trump administration opposes.

SUPREME COURT'S LATEST IMMIGRATION RULING WILL CAUSE AMERICANS TO 'DIE AND SUFFER' ATTORNEY WARNS

Vance identified a "silver lining" in the ruling, arguing the court’s narrow opinion suggests that birthright citizenship is on thin ice.

"A lot of legal experts expected this case to go the wrong direction by 7–2, or even 8–1," Vance said.

He added that the outcome of the case "effectively means that the concept of birthright citizenship, which is an absurdity to the 14th Amendment — that concept is hanging by a thread."

Vance voiced his dissent toward birthright citizenship, which has been a constitutional right in the United States for more than 150 years, claiming it rewards illegal immigrants.

MISSISSIPPI LAW COULD CREATE STATEWIDE REGISTRY OF UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS

"I hate to call it birthright citizenship," he told Fox News. "It's fundamentally a loophole that now exists in our immigration system that rewards illegal aliens just because they have a baby in the United States while they're in our country illegally."

Vance said the administration is considering "a number" of strategies to respond to the Supreme Court’s decision.

Among them are potential restrictions involving U.S. territories such as the Northern Mariana Islands, which are located in the western Pacific near Asia.

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Senior administration officials have raised concerns over China sending women to the islands solely to give birth and secure U.S. citizenship for their children in a so-called "birth tourism" scheme.

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"We actually have an opportunity to reverse this decision, just as we reverse so many bad decisions throughout the generations," the vice president said.

"We've got to fix the immigration system even more," he continued. "We have to be even more aware of who's coming into our country to make sure that they're not benefiting from this atrocious Supreme Court ruling."

BlackRock CEO Larry Fink 'worried' about NYC under Mamdani, floats investing elsewhere under weaker conditions

Tue, 30 Jun 2026 20:37:54 -0400

ASPEN, COLORADO — BlackRock CEO Larry Fink expressed concern about the future of New York City under its Democratic Socialist Mayor Zohran Mamdani, suggesting he'd do business elsewhere under "weaker" conditions.

"I'm worried about New York," Fink said Tuesday at the Aspen Institute's Ideas Festival.

Fink, who told CNN host Fareed Zakaria that he hadn't spoken with Mamdani since he was only mayor-elect, cited what he called a "great statistic" showing that 47% of the taxes that go into New York City come from the top 1%.

"So if we lose 5,000 1-percenters, that's gonna offset all the other stuff this administration is going to do. And the look of it, we're gonna lose the 5,000 or more," Fink warned.

NYC MAYOR MAMDANI CALLS THREAT OF REACH PEOPLE LEAVING NYC OVER TAXES 'IMAGINED'

The billionaire CEO panned the city's "13 years of weak administrations," naming Michael Bloomberg "the last best mayor" of the Big Apple, which he calls his "adopted home."

"The quality of life that's showing up in so many different areas, and it's sad to watch," he lamented. "I always said I have never had a problem with paying my full load of taxes as a New Yorker. But it's now asymmetric. I do not believe the amount of taxes I'm paying I'm getting the appropriate services."

MAMDANI'S WALL STREET COURTSHIP SPARKS CRITICISM OF ANTI-BILLIONAIRE AGENDA

Fink pointed to the tax system in the Netherlands where the highest wagers pay 50% in taxes but get free medical care and education, telling the Aspen crowd, "I don't get that in New York, nobody does," and that "mismanagement is the issue."

"And here's one thing I tell every Democrat and every Republican, I tell it every administration, it is not about taxes. We need to find a way to grow the economy," Fink said. "The greatest problem we have in this country is we have just ungodly deficits... Both parties are guilty. And fortunately, we have a global capital market. We have AI. We're the engine of growth that people want to invest in this country. But if there's ever a moment where that value proposition is not here, then we have severe issues."

"Are you thinking at BlackRock of moving jobs out of New York or of growing new jobs in other places?" Zakaria asked.

"We have globally about 25,000, 26,000 employees. We have about 8,000 in New York. So we have systematically grown," Fink responded. "If the environment gets weaker in New York City, like other businesses, we will think about not moving, but even in deploying more of our U.S. resources to a different location."

Mamdani's office did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment.

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Federal judge blocks blue state's law prohibiting ICE agents from wearing masks on the job

Tue, 30 Jun 2026 20:19:57 -0400

A federal judge on Tuesday blocked Virginia from enforcing a new law that would prohibit federal agents — U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Border Patrol — from wearing masks while carrying out enforcement operations, siding with the Trump administration in a dispute over federal authority.

Senior U.S. District Judge Robert E. Payne granted the Department of Justice's (DOJ) request for a preliminary injunction, preventing the law from taking effect Wednesday while the legal challenge proceeds. The injunction will remain in place while the case is litigated.

Payne found the federal government is likely to succeed on the merits because Virginia's law attempts to regulate how federal officers enforce immigration laws, violating the Constitution's Supremacy Clause.

MINNESOTA SENATE VOTES TO BAN ICE FROM WEARING MASKS, ALLOW RESIDENTS TO SUE FOR CONSTITUTIONAL VIOLATIONS

The judge also found the government demonstrated it would likely suffer irreparable harm because enforcing the law could expose federal employees to "real risk of physical harm" while carrying out immigration enforcement duties.

The ruling stems from a lawsuit the DOJ filed last week challenging two laws signed by Democrat Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger.

The DOJ argued the measures would subject masked federal agents to criminal penalties and threaten agreements between federal immigration authorities and local law enforcement.

DOJ ESCALATES BLUE-STATE ICE STANDOFF AFTER STATES REFUSE KEY FEDERAL REQUEST

"Law enforcement officers risk their lives every day to keep Americans safe, and they do not deserve to be doxed or harassed simply for carrying out their duties," Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said when the lawsuit was filed.

"Virginia's anti-law enforcement policies regulate the federal government and are designed to create risk for our agents," he added. "These laws cannot stand."

The lawsuit argued Virginia was attempting to dictate how federal officers carry out law enforcement operations by restricting when they may wear face coverings, requiring them to display identifying information and placing conditions on cooperation agreements between local agencies and ICE.

MINNESOTA SENATE VOTES TO BAN ICE FROM WEARING MASKS, ALLOW RESIDENTS TO SUE FOR CONSTITUTIONAL VIOLATIONS

According to the DOJ, federal officers who violated Virginia's mask and identification law could have faced a Class 1 misdemeanor punishable by up to 12 months in jail, a fine of up to $2,500, or both.

The lawsuit names Virginia Attorney General Jay Jones and Fairfax County Commonwealth's Attorney Steve Descano as defendants.

Payne's order applies only to Virginia's mask and identity law. The judge noted the Justice Department's separate challenge to another provision governing immigration enforcement agreements will proceed on a different briefing schedule, with a hearing scheduled for Aug. 3.

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Spanberger, Jones and Descano have all taken steps to counter the Trump administration's ICE agenda in Virginia.

In February, Spanberger rescinded an executive order issued by former Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin directing state law enforcement agencies to cooperate with federal immigration authorities.

Fox News Digital has reached out to Spanberger’s office for comment on the development.

Fox News Digital's Ashley J. DiMella contributed to this report.

Fitness influencer says Lufthansa told her she looked ‘naked,’ forced her to zip up before boarding flight

Tue, 30 Jun 2026 20:12:49 -0400

Fitness influencer Edda Elisa Pilz says she was prevented from boarding a Lufthansa flight from Berlin to Austria until she covered up her athletic outfit, alleging an airline employee repeatedly called her "naked" during the encounter as temperatures reached 30 degrees Celsius (86 degrees Fahrenheit).

Pilz, 24, who boasts more than 500,000 followers on both Instagram and TikTok, shared a video describing the confrontation while preparing to board the Lufthansa flight during the summer heatwave. The video has since circulated widely on social media, where Pilz questioned whether the airline has a dress code for passengers and criticized what she described as the employee's treatment of her.

Pilz said she was waiting to have her boarding pass scanned when a Lufthansa employee stopped her from boarding.

According to Pilz, the employee told her, "You cannot board like that," before repeatedly telling her she was "naked."

Pilz said she was wearing a matching athletic top and shorts and questioned why the outfit was considered inappropriate in the summer heat.

"What am I supposed to put on?" she said in the video. "What should I wear? It is clothing."

According to Pilz, the employee told her she was not wearing "normal clothes" and instructed her to put something over her outfit before she would be allowed to board the aircraft.

Pilz said she put on a jacket but was then told she also had to zip it completely before being allowed to proceed.

She alleged the employee then blamed her for delaying the boarding process.

PASSENGER ALLEGEDLY BOARDS FLIGHT WITH FAKE BOARDING PASS, FORCING PLANE BACK TO GATE

According to Pilz, the employee told her, "Because of you, we are now delayed. Because of you, the whole flight is delayed, because you are holding up all the traffic here."

Pilz said she replied that she had simply asked for an explanation because she had never heard of an airline dress code.

She also claimed men wearing shorts were allowed to board the same flight without being stopped.

The influencer said the incident was less about whether Lufthansa has a clothing policy than the way she said she was treated by the employee.

"I can accept rules," she said. "But the attitude was unacceptable."

Pilz ended the video by directly questioning Lufthansa and asking whether the airline condones that type of customer service, adding that she was waiting for an official response.

Lufthansa's General Conditions of Carriage do not appear to include a specific passenger dress code. The airline says it may refuse transportation under certain circumstances, including when a passenger's conduct could significantly affect the "safety and security, the health or wellbeing of other passengers," or for other operational or security reasons, but the policy does not specifically address athletic clothing.

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Pilz and Lufthansa did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment.

Fox News Digital's Christina Shaw contributed to this report.

NPR reveals how a misheard announcement led to it falsely claiming Justice Alito was retiring

Tue, 30 Jun 2026 20:00:35 -0400

NPR was forced to retract a story on Tuesday after it falsely reported that Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito was retiring. The story, headlined "Justice Samuel Alito, who wrote the opinion overturning Roe v. Wade, retires," apparently started with a misheard announcement.

The outlet said NPR legal affairs correspondent Nina Totenberg was reporting on the final day of the Supreme Court session when, as she was leaving the court, she misheard Chief Justice John Roberts' announcement about upcoming retirements. NPR explained that it had a lengthy story about Alito's career already prepared, a practice that is common in the news industry that is often done ahead of notable retirements and deaths of important figures.

Totenberg joined "All Things Considered" on Tuesday to explain what happened. The reporter said that the error was "entirely on me" and something she called a "rookie mistake."

The reporter then read on-air a letter that she wrote to Alito apologizing for the mistake. She noted that she had not heard back from the justice, adding that she did not expect to.

NPR RETRACTS FALSE REPORT CLAIMING JUSTICE SAMUEL ALITO IS RETIRING FROM THE SUPREME COURT

"Dear Justice Alito, there are no words to adequately apologize for today's error in reporting your retirement. It was entirely my fault," she said.

"I rushed out of the courtroom after the opinion announcements, and when I realized that the usual rush of folks after a few minutes had not happened, I asked somebody was going on inside, to which the answer was, 'retirement announcements.' I didn't hear the 's' on 'announcements,' and I assumed, something no reporter should ever do, that you were retiring. It was the worst professional mistake of my more than 50 years in journalism. I could go on, but I don't know what else to say, except that I am so, so sorry," she added.

"We profoundly regret the error and the confusion that this has caused and Nina has reached out to Alito to apologize personally," NPR Executive Editor Krishnadev Calamur told NPR Public Editor Kelly McBride.

SUPREME COURT'S LATEST IMMIGRATION RULING WILL CAUSE AMERICANS TO 'DIE AND SUFFER' ATTORNEY WARNS

Calamur's statement about Totenberg's apologizing to Alito was echoed by top NPR editor Thomas Evans, who told Fox News Digital something similar on Tuesday.

"Due to a misunderstanding, NPR’s Supreme Court and Legal Affairs Correspondent Nina Totenberg incorrectly reported that Justice Samuel Alito had retired. Neither Justice Alito nor the Supreme Court Public Information Office has announced his retirement," Evans told Fox News Digital.

In April, a source told Fox News Digital that Alito "is not stepping down this term and is in the process of hiring the rest of his clerks for the next term." Two other sources have told Fox News that Alito is not retiring this term, which lasts until the Supreme Court begins its new term in October.

Evans said that once the outlet realized the error, which had been published on NPR's website and announced on its airwaves, there was a swift correction online and on the air.

McBride said that NPR published the story on its website at 10:51 a.m. ET and that it was "live for about 5 minutes," though the outlet noted that the story remained live on some member station websites for longer periods of time.

"It was taken down and replaced with an editor's note by 10:57 a.m. The error was corrected on the broadcast at 11:07 a.m. ET," the outlet reported.

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Totenberg is a seasoned reporter who has been covering the Supreme Court for NPR since 1975. Calamur told NPR that Totenberg's status led him to believe what she reported was accurate. However, following the incident, Calamur said he would be reviewing the breaking news process.

McBride admitted that "while there's really no excuse for this kind of error, it was a result of an honest mistake and a rush to publish. Had it been true, NPR, The New York Times, The Washington Post and many other newsrooms all would have published their stories within minutes of each other."

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Alito, a 2005 appointee of then-President George W. Bush, has fueled speculation about his retirement because of two factors: his age and the length of his tenure on the bench. The 76-year-old justice has been part of the Court for more than 20 years. Some have suggested that he may be waiting to make sure a conservative successor is confirmed by the Republican-led Senate before the upcoming midterm elections.

Fox News Digital’s Julia Bonavita, Alec Schemmel and Ashley Oliver contributed to this report.

How to watch USA vs Bosnia and Herzegovina: Live stream the 2026 FIFA World Cup round of 32

Tue, 30 Jun 2026 20:00:01 -0400

The United States men’s national soccer team (USMNT) did its job to begin this 2026 FIFA World Cup on home soil, winning Group D and moving on to the knockout stages.

Now, the real run they’ve been looking forward to for the past four years begins on Wednesday night in the San Francisco Bay Area.

The USMNT will be pitted against Bosnia and Herzegovina, one of the great stories of this World Cup, in the round of 32 to determine who is moving on in the tournament, and who will be heading home.

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For the "visitors" in this case, Bosnia and Herzegovina’s journey not only knocked off Italy, an iconic country in terms of soccer, to get into this World Cup, but they’ve done enough to become a third-place team that moves on in this inaugural expanded format.

WATCH USA VS BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA ON FOX ONE

Their 3-1 win over Qatar on June 24 gave them the necessary three points needed to move on after drawing against Canada, a fellow host country alongside the U.S. and Mexico, which earned them one point. They fell to Switzerland, 4-1, as the winners of Group B moved on in their own right.

But Bosnia and Herzegovina knew what they needed to do against Qatar, and now they carry momentum into a matchup against a Team USA squad that was hoping for a bit more themselves when they faced Türkiye in their final Group D matchup last week.

Of course, the game meant nothing, but Türkiye’s late goal in stoppage time gave them a 3-2 victory that soured what appeared to be a 2-2 draw in Los Angeles. Granted, U.S. manager Mauricio Pochettino wasn’t taking any chances, leaving many on his usual starting XI on the bench, though Christian Pulisic made his return in the second half after missing time due to a calf injury.

However, that’s looking at it from the pessimist’s point of view. The patriotic optimist viewed that game as nothing because the USMNT already punched their ticket to the knockout stages with a 4-2 win over Paraguay, which just upset Germany on Monday afternoon in Boston with a penalty-shootout victory to move on to the round of 16, and a 2-0 win over Australia to win Group D.

Now, with many starters well rested and the home crowd still on their side out in the Bay Area, the U.S. are strong favorites to get the job done against Bosnia and Herzegovina to cement their own spot in the round of 16.

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Here's how to watch the game, including start time, TV information and streaming options.

How to watch United States vs Bosnia and Herzegovina

When: Wednesday, July 1 at 8 p.m. ET Where: San Francisco Bay Area Stadium, Santa Clara, California

TV: FOX

Stream: Watch on FOX One and FOX Sports

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Wild video shows inmates rioting inside jail after frustrations over access boil over

Tue, 30 Jun 2026 19:57:09 -0400

Missouri officials have released video and a 100-page report documenting a February riot inside a local jail, where 34 inmates briefly took control of a housing unit and damaged property following phone and Wi-Fi connectivity issues.

Surveillance cameras captured the February 7 incident, which began when inmates at the St. Louis County Justice Center expressed anger over phone access, Wi-Fi connections, and their allocated time outside of their cells, while refusing to return to them, FOX 2 Now reported.

The incident began as a peaceful mass refusal of inmates to return to their cells before they became more physically disruptive, the report states. Officials directly blamed the unrest on severe staffing shortages.

"This incident shows how unpredictable conditions are inside a jail and how important the role corrections officers play," said Captain Tim Ware, acting director of the St. Louis County Department of Justice Services. "The discontent of residents that resulted in this incident is all due to our understaffing in corrections officers which required limitations on the residents' movements."

TWO CORRECTIONS OFFICERS HELD HOSTAGE AFTER INMATES TAKE OVER PORTIONS OF NORTH CAROLINA DETENTION CENTER

As corrections officers tried to de-escalate the situation, inmates barricaded the entrance of the housing unit with common area furniture.

"They tried to de-escalate with the residents and that was not working; the residents moved some furniture and barricaded the door," Ware said.

ESCAPED NORTH CAROLINA INMATE HAS HISTORY OF TRYING TO FLEE LAW ENFORCEMENT

At one point, an inmate used a basketball to knock down a mounted security camera. The inmates also broke televisions, a commissary kiosk, and parts of the ceiling, Spectrum News reported.

Total damages climbed past $30,800, according to St. Louis County records.

Authorities eventually deployed chemical agents to safely secure the area. Out of the 34 inmates involved, criminal charges for four "main actors" have been turned over to the Clayton Police Department and the county prosecutor for review, Ware noted.

In response to the incident, county leaders approved $3 million in emergency funding for medical services to better support the nearly 1,200 inmates housed in the facility.

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In addition, officials are actively looking to fill approximately 80 correctional officer vacancies.

To prevent future disturbances, the jail is shifting its operational approach. "We have started extra training... tabletop exercises and physical exercises... so the officers will be prepared to make decisions when something similar happens," Ware said.

Riley Gaines and MyKayla Skinner send message to Simone Biles on women's sports debate after SCOTUS ruling

Tue, 30 Jun 2026 19:54:11 -0400

Just over a year ago, Simone Biles came at Riley Gaines.

In now-infamous X posts, Biles called out Gaines for speaking up about a transgender pitcher who won a Minnesota girls' softball championship, and mocked Gaines' body saying "bully someone your own size, which would ironically be a male." It ignited the biggest pop culture flashpoint in the "Save Women's Sports" movement.

Now just over a year later, Gaines has a close ally in Biles' former US Olympic gymnastics team teammate, MyKayla Skinner. Gaines and Skinner celebrated the Supreme Court's decision to uphold state laws that protect women's sports on Tuesday, and sent a message to Biles one year after the infamous social media feud.

SUPREME COURT MAKES RULING ON TRANS ATHLETES IN WOMEN'S SPORTS

"Just being able to try to find my voice and how I could use my voice after Simone had come out against Riley, it had really affected me," Skinner said. "I have a little daughter, and we are hoping to put her in sports soon, and I just really want her to have everything that I got to have, all the opportunities."

Skinner, who won an Olympic silver medal in vault at the Tokyo Games, said her own athletic career shaped her view of the issue.

"I’ve broken records, I’ve been an Olympian, I was a college athlete, and I want her to have the opportunities that I had," Skinner said of her daughter. "And so this, for me, was a way that I felt like this is the time for me to come up and stand for what I believe in, stand with Riley, and to join in on this fight."

Skinner then turned her attention directly to Biles.

"I think it would just be really cool to see Simone stand with us," Skinner said. "She’s one of the best athletes in the world."

Skinner said she wants to see more elite female athletes join Gaines, XX-XY Athletics founder Jennifer Sey and others in the movement.

"To be able to see her as my teammate, as an Olympian, as an amazing athlete that she is, to be able to stand with us and fight alongside Riley and everyone else on this road," Skinner said. "I would just love, love to see my teams, especially Simone, in step with us."

Gaines, a former University of Kentucky swimmer who became one of the most prominent advocates against transgender athletes in women’s sports after tying transgender swimmer Lia Thomas at the 2022 NCAA championships, previously called on Biles to stand with her on the issue in a March interview with Fox News Digital, months before Biles' social media attack.

Gaines renewed her call to Biles, alongside Caitlin Clark and Sophie Cunningham, to stand on her side, after Tuesday's SCOTUS ruling.

"Let this be a clarion call, not just to Simone, but to every, I think especially elite female athlete, professional female athlete, the likes of Caitlin Clark and Sophie Cunningham, Serena Williams, to link arms," Gaines said.

Gaines added that the ruling made her feel "absolutely vindicated."

"I feel, of course, excited, I feel optimistic about the future," Gaines said. "But I think the feeling that I feel the most of is vindicated.

"Being a mom, I look at her and I think of the country and the world that I want her to inherit," Gaines said of her daughter. "It’s a more fair, more safe, more prosperous, more opportunistic world, country."

"Let it be known that you also think young girls are worthy of calling themselves champions one day," Gaines added.

Biles’ feud with Gaines began June 6, 2025, after Gaines drew attention to a biologically male transgender softball pitcher who helped a Minnesota girls’ team win a state championship. Biles called Gaines "truly sick," a "straight up sore loser" and a "bully," and later suggested Gaines was the "same size" as a male, according to Fox News Digital. Biles later deleted the posts and apologized.

The feud also became a turning point for Skinner.

Skinner had already endured her own public clash with Biles after she posted a video about the 2024 U.S. Olympic women’s gymnastics team and made comments about the team’s "talent and depth." Biles responded at the time with the post, "Not everyone needs a mic and a platform," and Skinner later apologized while saying her remarks were misinterpreted. Skinner told Fox News Digital last year that the backlash included death threats and messages saying she "shouldn’t be a mom."

Skinner later joined XX-XY Athletics as an ambassador in the brand’s "Gold Medal Campaign," aligning herself with Gaines, Sey, Olympic swimmer Nancy Hogshead and other prominent activists in the "Save Women’s Sports" space.

'SAVE WOMEN'S SPORTS' 2025 CULTURE WAR TIMELINE — THE YEAR THE TIDES TURNED

When asked whether she believes Biles truly meant what she said to Gaines last year, Skinner did not hesitate.

"100% yes," Skinner said. "I’ve known Simone since I was 13 years old, and we’ve had our moments. There’s times where she has belittled me as an athlete, as a person, bullied. And so this wasn’t a shock to me when she came out against Riley."

Skinner said she believes Biles "stands firm" in her position, but hopes that can change.

"Being at this level and being a mom, we look up to these amazing athletes," Skinner said. "I really think that she’s not on this side with us, and I really would love to see her come forward and maybe change her mind."

Gaines agreed that Biles’ initial comments reflected her real views, while suggesting the apology that followed felt more like public-relations cleanup.

"You could even notice the very obvious tone switch between the initial tweet or two and the very ChatGPT-coded apology," Gaines said.

Gaines said she accepted Biles’ apology and would still be willing to "link arms" with the Olympic gymnastics legend.

"That’s kind of like water off the duck’s back to me," Gaines said.

But Gaines said she believes the backlash Biles faced after her posts may have revealed a cultural shift on the issue.

"I think it took that for her to realize, ‘Oh dang, I think I was living in my own little bubble here,’" Gaines said. "Maybe the people I surrounded myself with think this, but majority of Americans don’t."

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The Supreme Court’s ruling does not force every state or school to adopt bans on transgender athletes in girls’ and women’s sports. The court said the cases did not present the separate question of whether schools may allow biological males who identify as female to compete on girls’ and women’s teams.

But for Gaines and Skinner, Tuesday’s decision marked a defining legal victory — and another chance to pressure some of the biggest names in women’s sports to pick a side.

Suspended Alyssa Thomas blasts WNBA's silence after Caitlin Clark foul, offers no accountability

Tue, 30 Jun 2026 19:32:35 -0400

Phoenix Mercury forward Alyssa Thomas took aim at WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert on Tuesday after receiving a one-game suspension for a flagrant hit to Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark's throat.

Thomas said she learned of the suspension moments before it became public and accused Engelbert of abandoning players while remaining silent amid the backlash.

She said, "Honestly, I didn't even know I was being suspended until 10 minutes before it was put on social media. We still have yet to hear anything from Cathy. It's no surprise.

WNBA SUSPENDS ALYSSA THOMAS FOR 'RECKLESSLY' HITTING CAITLIN CLARK IN THROAT DURING SCRAMBLE

"You can see what's being said on social media. Yeah, I mean, it's unfortunate, but as usual she remains silent, and that's unfortunate when our lives are being threatened."

WATCH:

Thomas's comments came just days after the WNBA suspended her for the flagrant sequence involving Clark, a play the league office determined warranted additional discipline.

Thomas continued, "It's crazy, you know, playing the game, being suspended, just the whole narrative that's being painted out there. It's unfortunate that it's come to this over basketball. A lot of us, myself included, didn't even know the play took place until after the game and now we're being painted as thugs.

"And death threats out on us, so it's really unacceptable. It is something that needs to change in this league, and I'm just really sick and tired of it."

The lack of accountability in Thomas' remarks is difficult to ignore.

Rather than acknowledging the reckless play that earned her suspension, Thomas immediately shifted the focus to herself, portraying her punishment, rather than the hit on Clark, as the real injustice. It's a curious defense from one of the WNBA's most physical players, whose reputation has long been built on imposing her will and delivering punishing contact.

SOPHIE CUNNINGHAM CALLS OUT WNBA REFS FOR NOT PROTECTING CAITLIN CLARK AFTER STARTING FIGHT TO PROTECT HER

The comments also underscore the debate over how Clark has been officiated and protected.

For months, Clark has absorbed hard fouls, excessive contact and increasingly dangerous plays while the league has struggled to respond consistently to physical play involving the player responsible for driving its biggest television audiences, attendance figures and surge in popularity.

Yet when one of the veterans finally receives meaningful discipline, the conversation suddenly pivots away from Clark's safety and toward sympathy for the player who committed the foul.

CAITLIN CLARK HARD CONTACT TIMELINE: WNBA'S GROWING HISTORY OF BRUTAL HITS AGAINST THE FACE OF THE SPORT

None of that excuses actual threats. But those allegations don't change why Thomas was suspended in the first place.

Clark, meanwhile, continues to do what she's done throughout her career ... get up, say little publicly and keep producing despite becoming the league's biggest target, absorbing the kind of physical treatment few superstars in professional sports would be expected to endure while driving record television ratings, attendance and unprecedented interest in the WNBA.

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Thomas had every opportunity to acknowledge the play warranted discipline.

Instead, she chose to cast herself as the victim.

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

Investing in prodigy Jackson Koivun and four other golfers at the 2026 John Deere Classic

Tue, 30 Jun 2026 19:26:12 -0400

We are officially in the closing stretch of the PGA TOUR 2026 season, with last week's Travelers Championship being the final "signature event" of the year. This week, the TOUR heads to Silvis, Illinois, aka the Quad Cities, for the 2026 John Deere Classic at TPC Deere Run.

This is a relatively soft field since most of the best players on TOUR are skipping this tournament to get ready for the next two weeks overseas for the Genesis Scottish Open and golf's final major, The 154th Open Championship in England.

Historically, the John Deere has been a showcase for up-and-coming stars, longshots and veterans. Jordan Spieth became the youngest PGA TOUR champion when he won the 2013 John Deere at 19-years-old and won it again in 2015. Bryson DeChambeau won his first PGA TOUR event here as well.

JORDAN SPIETH SAYS GAMBLING IS FUELING ROWDY GOLF CROWDS AND WANTS THE SPORT TO ADDRESS IT SOON

That said, I'm leading my 2026 John Deere Classic card with one of the best amateur golfers ever making his first start as a full-time TOUR pro. Otherwise, I'm allocating 2.46 units (u) on my five outrights and 1.25u on their top-fives "including ties." Here's who I'm riding with at TPC Deere Run.

2026 John Deere Classic Betting Card

The following odds are based on my previous bets on the golfers listed below. Subject to change.

🇺🇸 Jackson Koivun +2700 (0.74u) and Top-5 with ties +530 (0.25u), both at DraftKings

🇺🇸 Jacob Bridgeman +3300 at BetMGM (0.61u) and Top-5 with ties +573 at Kalshi (0.25u)

🇰🇷 Tom Kim +3500 at DraftKings (0.57u) and Top-5 with ties +755 at Kalshi (0.25u)

🇺🇸 Denny McCarthy +6566 (0.30u) and Top-5 with ties +1073 (0.25u), both at Kalshi

🇦🇷 Emiliano Grillo +8400 (0.24u) at DraftKings and Top-5 with ties +1240 at Kalshi (0.25u)

Jackson Koivun

This is Koivun’s first start as a full-time PGA TOUR pro, earning his status through the PGA TOUR University’s accelerated program. He is the first golfer ever to win all four collegiate awards this year while playing for Auburn.

ZERO BS. JUST DAKICH. TAKE THE DON'T @ ME PODCAST ON THE ROAD. DOWNLOAD NOW!

Koivun has made the cut in eight of his 10 PGA TOUR events, including T23, and the low amateur score at the 2026 U.S. Open with Ryder Cowan his last time out, T4 at the 2025 Procore Championship, T5 at the 2026 Wyndham Championship, T6 at the ISCO Championship (an alternate event) and T11 at last year’s John Deere.

He has gained strokes with his driver in those five starts, and he has gained strokes with the putter in eight straight tournaments with ShotLink data. It would be insane for Koivun to win his first tournament as a full-time pro, but he is a generational talent, and that’s good enough to get my money in this god-awful field.

Jacob Bridgeman

If the John Deere were in April, Bridgeman’s odds would be shorter than +2000. He looked like the GOAT to start the season, finishing T18-or-better in the first eight events of 2026, featuring a win at The Genesis Invitational and a T5 at THE PLAYERS Championship.

After struggling since The Masters, Bridgeman finished T11 at the RBC Canadian Open and T39 at the U.S. Open in his past two starts. His putter cooled off, but he is still second in Strokes Gained (SG): Putting on TOUR this year.

Bridgeman picked up 4.58 strokes on the greens at Shinnecock for the U.S. Open, which has some of the toughest green complexes in the world. Last year, he tied for fifth at the John Deere while gaining strokes across the board: Driving, on approach, around-the-green and putting.

Finally, most of the approach shots at TPC Deere Run are from 100-150 yards, and Bridgeman has been dialed in with his wedges this season. He ranks ninth on TOUR this year in proximity to the hole on approach shots from 100-125 yards and 12th in the 125-150-yard range.

Tom Kim

These odds are disrespectful. There is no way Eric Cole, Pierceson Coody and Michael Thorbjornsen should have better odds to win the John Deere. None of those guys have won on the PGA TOUR, whereas Kim has three wins, and he is younger than all of them.

Coming off a T15 at the RBC Canadian Open and a third at the U.S. Open in his last two starts, Kim is starting to look like the player who burst onto the scene with two wins in his first six months on TOUR.

Over the last 20 rounds, Kim leads the field in SG: Approach, per Bet The Number. The 24-year-old has gained strokes on the greens in four of his last five starts, and he is one of the most accurate drivers on TOUR. Based on this weak field, his lead-in form and resume, Kim's odds should be lower than +3000.

Denny McCarthy

Even though it's been a down year for McCarthy, I'm taking a flier on him because of his strong course history. He finished T11 in last year's John Deere Classic, T7 in 2024, T6 in 2023 and T6 in 2022.

McCarthy was one of the top five betting favorites in the last four John Deere Classics. His shortest closing odds over that span were +1550 in 2023 when he was the betting favorite.

TPC Deere Run is an easy tee-to-green test and a "birdie fest," so you have to make putts. McCarthy is one of the best putters on TOUR and pounds fairways when he is playing well. He has gained strokes on the field in driving accuracy and putting in six of his seven John Deere Classics.

McCarthy showed some life last week, finishing T14 at the Travelers Championship and gaining strokes across the board vs. a star-studded field. If he builds off last week's performance, McCarthy's odds shouldn't be four times higher this year than the previous four, given how well he plays at TPC Deere Run.

Emiliano Grillo

The Argentinian’s juju is probably solid because his native country is the reigning World Cup champion and has a realistic chance of going back-to-back this summer. In his three career John Deere Classics, Grillo lost in a playoff to Brian Campbell last year, missed the cut in 2023, and tied for second in 2022.

Grillo missed the cut two years ago while carding a -2, so it wasn’t like he played that badly. TPC Deere Run strongly favors driving accuracy over distance, and Grillo has gained strokes on the field in driving accuracy in 11 consecutive starts, according to DataGolf.com.

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He finished T20 at the RBC Canadian Open and a respectable T23 at the U.S. Open in his last two outings. Again, this is a weak field; Grillo is a two-time PGA TOUR winner, and he is coming into the John Deere in decent form. Hence, Grillo has more win equity than his +8400 odds indicate.

2026 John Deere Classic 'One-and-Done' Pick: Jacob Bridgeman

Mayo Cup season standings: 4,391st with $4,853,780

_____________________________

Follow me on X @Geoffery-Clark, and check out my "OutKick Bets Podcast" for more betting content and random rants.

Republican Party to host historic midterm convention in Dallas, Trump announces on Truth Social

Tue, 30 Jun 2026 19:23:26 -0400

President Donald Trump took to Truth Social on Tuesday to announce the Republican Party will host its very first "Midterm Convention" this fall in Texas.

The two-day event, scheduled to take center stage on Sept. 9 and Sept. 10 in Dallas, aims to celebrate the "great American comeback" and highlight the ongoing achievements of the administration's America First Agenda, the president said.

"It will be in Dallas, Texas — One of my favorite places in the World," Trump wrote in the announcement. "It has never been done before, and will be a truly Historic Event."

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In his post, the president touted a list of policy victories and economic milestones that will serve as the focal point of the convention, including eliminating taxes on tips, overtime, and Social Security, as well as securing stronger borders and safer communities.

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He also highlighted American energy dominance alongside dropping oil prices, progress on denuclearizing Iran, and driving affordability for Americans.

"We are delivering on the promises that politicians talked about for decades, but never got done," Trump wrote.

The president said the "rally like none other," will feature "lots of great entertainment" and spotlight the nation's first responders, innovators, entrepreneurs, manufacturers and job creators.

National political conventions, where party delegates from around the country formally nominate their party's presidential candidates, normally take place during presidential election years.

But with Republicans aiming to protect their narrow control of the Senate and their razor-thin House majority in this year's elections, Trump announced last September that the GOP would hold a convention ahead of the midterms "in order to show the great things we have done" since recapturing the White House.

The Republican National Committee in January approved a change to the party's rules that would allow Chair Joe Gruters to convene a convention during a midterm election year.

In a statement after Trump's announcement on Tuesday, Gruters emphasized, "This historic Midterm Convention will highlight President Trump’s many accomplishments and unwavering commitment to restoring America.

"This convention will be a Trumpapalooza, where we will showcase the America First agenda, which has delivered the largest tax cut in history and made communities safer. President Trump will unite Republicans around our shared vision, build momentum, and deliver an incredible convention for our Party," Gruters added, as he repeated a description of the confab he first used in January.

And Gruters told Fox News Digital earlier this year, "I think the President of the United States is our secret weapon."

But the president's approval ratings remain well underwater, with many Americans giving him a big thumbs down on the job he's doing with the economy and the issue of affordability.

Democratic National Committee (DNC) Director of Rapid Response Kendall Witmer told Fox News Digital on Tuesday evening, "The American people can’t afford their bills or to fill up at the pump because of Donald Trump, and Republicans’ response is to throw a multi-million dollar televised celebration for Trump that will only remind Americans of his failed promise to them and tie already flailing Republican swing-seat candidates to a historically unpopular president."

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The DNC, which significantly trails the RNC in fundraising, last year considered a midterm convention, but earlier this year decided against going forward with holding what is an expensive event.

Witmer emphasized that "Democrats are already hitting the trail and speaking directly with American voters about our plans to cut costs and make health care affordable."

Thousands of police deployed across South Africa as deadly anti-immigration protests spread to multiple cities

Tue, 30 Jun 2026 19:22:05 -0400

Thousands of police officers were deployed across South Africa after large-scale protests against illegal immigration erupted Tuesday, with destructive clashes spreading across multiple cities.

The unrest, involving thousands of protesters, broke out ahead of a June 30 deadline set by some organizers demanding the departure of all illegal migrants, according to Reuters.

The marches reportedly drew thousands of mostly poor or unemployed South Africans, who say foreign migrants have taken jobs by accepting lower wages while also fueling higher crime rates.

At least four people have been killed as violence and looting spread across the country, Reuters reported.

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The clashes mark the largest migration-related protests since anti-migrant violence erupted in South Africa in 2008.

While thousands of foreign nationals from other African countries had already fled ahead of Tuesday’s so-called deadline, tensions have remained high, Reuters said.

Multiple businesses and properties were vandalized in several areas, according to reports.

In anticipation of further attacks, many shops reportedly closed, with foreign workers staying home.

Landlords in Durban and Johannesburg also evicted foreign tenants illegally to avoid further trouble, witnesses alleged.

Reuters added that 100 Congolese nationals were reported sleeping on the streets of Durban.

SOUTH AFRICA'S HIGH VIOLENCE AND LAND DEBATES CLASH WITH WESTERN MEDIA VIEWS

While many marches were considered peaceful, police reported that they arrested several looters and fired rubber bullets to disperse crowds.

National broadcaster SABC added that protesters looted shacks belonging to foreign nationals in the Soweto township.

In Thembisa, a suburb of Johannesburg, rioters reportedly threw stones at police and suspected migrants, with witnesses saying sporadic gunfire was heard.

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Police deployed tactical vehicles and fired shots in Benoni, east of Johannesburg, after being confronted by a group of roughly 500 protesters, Daily Maverick reported.

Thousands of police officers have been deployed nationwide, while the military was placed on standby, a defense spokesperson said in a statement.

"To those who intend to break the law tomorrow, our message is simple: do not test the resolve of the State," Lt. Gen. Tebello Mosikili said.

The "March and March" group, one of the more prominent organizations behind the unrest, addressed the violence, saying it cannot be held responsible for spontaneous incidents breaking out during the demonstrations.

"Unfortunately, we can't be in every single community telling them ... how to behave," Jacinta Ngobese, leader of the March and March group, told Reuters two weeks ago.

Ngobese said the group plans to hold weekly marches until its demands are met, despite the government rejecting the deadline and saying only authorities can enforce immigration laws.

"For the next six months, we are asking for our national resources to be used to take the illegal immigrants out of this country. From building to building -- they must go," Ngobese said, according to ZimLive.

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Despite South Africa’s high unemployment rate, the country remains Africa’s largest economy and continues to draw migrants.

The immigrant population stands at about 3 million, or roughly 4% of the total, according to StatsSA.

Reuters contributed to this report.