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Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez shrugs off past 'defund the police' comments, joking 'Woke 1 was crazy'

Sun, 09 Aug 2026 20:56:11 -0400

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., dismissed her and other socialist politicians' past extreme controversial comments on ABC's "This Week" Sunday, joking that the "Woke 1" era was "crazy."

Host Jon Karl asked Ocasio-Cortez to comment on Wisconsin gubernatorial candidate Francesca Hong and her controversial comments, such as calling for Thanksgiving to be canceled or for prisons to be abolished. Hong has sought to backtrack on some of her past views as she seeks the Democratic nomination in her state.

"I have a local city councilman that has this saying, 'Woke 1 was crazy,'" Ocasio-Cortez said laughing, adding, "And I think that what’s important is that we have to assess what a candidate is saying now."

SOCIALIST FRONTRUNNER IN THE HOT SEAT AFTER 'CANCEL THANKSGIVING' POST EMERGES ONLINE

Karl followed by asking if there was a point when the socialist movement went "too far," remarking that Ocasio-Cortez had previously supported defunding the police as well. Ocasio-Cortez clarified that most of these comments were made during the height of the COVID shutdowns with people more open to change.

"And I think that the doors were really open in trying to entertain any and every policy that was going to get us to a better place. And I actually think that the discussions that were had in that time were quite fruitful," Ocasio-Cortez said.

She added, "I think that when we talk about crime today, it’s fundamentally different than the way that we talked about crime in bringing crime down, right? And I think that we all share the goals of having as low a crime rate as possible. I think that during lockdown, of course, rhetoric in that time is not rhetoric that we would use today. And I’m grateful that these candidates have the opportunity to present who they are to their electorate, and what they’re campaigning on in this moment."

DSA CO-CHAIR PUSHES BACK ON SOVIET UNION COMPARISONS, WANTS PRISONS TO BE 'LESS NECESSARY'

Karl added that the national program for the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), an organization behind several rising Democratic politicians, including AOC, still lists abolishing the police as a position. Ocasio-Cortez responded that she is currently a member of the New York City chapter of the DSA rather than the national organization and does not agree with all its positions.

Fox News Digital reached out to Ocasio-Cortez and the DSA for comment.

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Though Ocasio-Cortez was previously endorsed by the DSA throughout her political career, the democratic socialist has now caused infighting among the organization in recent years.

In 2024, the group withdrew its endorsement of Ocasio-Cortez’s re-election, citing that she had not met its conditions, including opposing all funding to Israel and publicly supporting boycott and sanctions for the country.

More recently, the group was split on whether to offer an early endorsement of Ocasio-Cortez for the 2028 presidential election, according to Canary Mission.

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Despite tensions within the DSA about Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, a spokesperson for Canary Mission told Fox News Digital last month that an AOC presidency would still "give that movement more than influence: it would give its agenda access to the full power of the executive branch."

Joan Jett cancels remaining 2026 concerts after undergoing surgery for 'fractured vertebrae'

Sun, 09 Aug 2026 20:54:50 -0400

Joan Jett is stepping away from the stage after suffering a serious injury that required surgery.

In a since-expired post shared to Jett's Instagram Story on Tuesday, the 67-year-old rock icon's team announced that her band Joan Jett & the Blackhearts had canceled their two remaining scheduled 2026 concerts in September.

"Following a recent injury, Joan Jett has undergone orthopedic surgery on a fractured vertebrae and will begin the necessary healing process," the statement read, via Rolling Stone.

JON BON JOVI ABRUPTLY ENDS MADISON SQUARE GARDEN SHOW AFTER HEALTH SETBACK

"In close consultation with her doctors, Joan will not be able to perform at her forthcoming September scheduled shows in Costa Mesa, California, on Sept. 5 and Louisville, Kentucky, on Sept. 24," it continued.

"While Joan hates to disappoint fans, she will be taking this time to focus on physical therapy and healing. She's looking forward to delivering tremendous concerts for many years to come."

No additional details about Jett's injury were provided. Fox News Digital has reached out to Jett's representatives for comment.

The Pacific Amphitheatre in Costa Mesa, where the singer was set to perform on Sept. 5, shared Jett's statement on their webpage along with an update.

KACEY MUSGRAVES ABRUPTLY CANCELS CONCERT DATES FROM 'MIDDLE OF NOWHERE' TOUR

"While we understand this is a disappointment to all of you, we are happy to announce that Cheap Trick will be performing in her place, with X opening the show," the statement read.

"If you wish to attend the Cheap Trick / X show on Sept. 5, do nothing and your tickets will be valid. We look forward to seeing you," it added.

"If you wish to get a refund, please contact your point of purchase and we hope to see you at another show in the future."

Jett's concert in Louisville was scheduled to take place on the opening day of the four-day Bourbon & Beyond festival at the Highland Festival Grounds at the Kentucky Exposition Center. The festival's lineup includes Foo Fighters, Queens of the Stone Age, Mumford & Sons, Chris Stapleton, Kacey Musgraves and others.

Jett first rose to fame in the 1970s as a founding member of the all-female rock band The Runaways. She later found international success after she founded Joan Jett & the Blackhearts in 1979.

The band released 10 albums between 1981 and 2013, scoring major hits including "I Love Rock ’n Roll," "Bad Reputation" and "I Hate Myself for Loving You." Joan Jett and the Blackhearts were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2015.

In 2022, Joan Jett & the Blackhearts released their first acoustic album, "Changeup," followed by their six-song EP "Mindsets" in 2023.

Joan Jett & the Blackhearts have stayed active on the road since they first formed. In recent years, they have toured alongside artists including Def Leppard, Mötley Crüe, Bryan Adams, Alanis Morissette and Billy Idol. The band completed their first U.K. headline tour in 16 years in July.

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Last Monday, Jett shared an Instagram post featuring a compilation of clips from their U.K. tour, writing, "Thanks for the summer love Europe, can’t wait to come back."

Joan Jett & the Blackhearts' current lineup includes Jett, Dougie Needles, Hal B. Selzer, Michael McDermott and Kenny Laguna. The band currently have no scheduled upcoming shows.

Jett has previously acknowledged that decades on the road have taken a physical toll and explained how she has adapted her fitness routine as she has aged.

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JANE SEYMOUR, 75, SHARES HOW SHE APPROACHES AGING WITH VITALITY: 'BEST I CAN BE'

"I never had to work out my whole life," she told USA Today in 2025. " I was just lucky I had an athletic body. But now it’s a different story. I see an arm and am like, ‘Whose arm is this with the crepe-y skin?’"

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"But I try to walk every day and I do some weights," she continued. "I had a shoulder operation so it’s important to keep my muscle strength up and I do a lot of core work. And you know, traveling, walking through airports and venues, that’s my exercise. But the traveling, that’s the one part of my job that I don’t love. It’s all wear and tear on your body."

Aces coach Becky Hammon benches 3 starters in what looks like WNBA scheduling protest in national TV game

Sun, 09 Aug 2026 20:40:59 -0400

It was a nationally televised WNBA matchup between the Las Vegas Aces and New York Liberty on Sunday afternoon in Brooklyn, a battle of two championship hopefuls.

But Aces head coach Becky Hammon had a starting five nobody expected, and it could be viewed as a protest for having to play back-to-back games on the road this weekend.

Hammon didn’t play four-time MVP A’ja Wilson, Chelsea Gray or Jackie Young – three usual Aces starters – with Jewell Loyd, Dana Evans and Brianna Turner taking their spots instead. It wasn’t just for the start of the game either, as all three of those players didn’t step foot on the court other than to cheer their teammates on.

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For a nationally televised ABC game against a rival, it was a curious move by Hammon, but the load management move is one that she defended following a 111-71 rout by the Liberty on their home Barclays Center court.

"The health and safety of players comes first," Hammon said, per Yahoo Sports. "Wherever we end up, we end up, and we’ll play whatever hand is dealt to us. To me, this was a just a bigger picture type (of) scenario, so you take the ‘L,’ understanding that it pays dividends on the back end."

The Aces fell to the Minnesota Lynx, 98-87, on Saturday, where Wilson (33 minutes), Young (33) and Gray (36) all played their usual workloads.

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But the short turnaround, especially on the road, led Hammon to sit her stars. And national TV game or not, it was a move she likely would’ve done considering her stance.

"Not going to put (players) in any kind of jeopardy to get hurt when we’ve been expending a lot of energy and traveling a lot of miles back and forth, crisscrossing the country," Hammon said as she continued defending her decision.

"It is what it is. I know these are big matchups, and these are what people want to see, but you should ensure that it’s fair."

As per the WNBA’s new collective bargaining agreement, which was agreed upon by both the league and player before the start of this season, has language stating the league will "make reasonable and good faith efforts" to provide at least 20 hours between the scheduled start of a team’s first game of a back-to-back and the scheduled start of its second game.

Meanwhile, the WNBA has a guideline that gives teams a minimum of 22 hours between back-to-back games, where travel mustn’t be more than one time zone. It’s similar to what the NBA does during its own schedule.

For this weekend back-to-back, the Aces tipped off on Saturday at 1 p.m. ET, and they were slated for Sunday’s game at 12:30 p.m. ET. Also, the Lynx played their second game of a back-to-back themselves on Saturday afternoon, but both games were at home as they played the Dallas Wings at 3:30 p.m. ET.

The Liberty obviously didn’t mind not facing key starters for the Aces in what was an easy victory, but even Jonquel Jones couldn’t blame Hammon for thinking about the future.

"Obviously, they have to do what’s right for their team," she said, via Yahoo Sports. "They have to do what’s right for their bodies. But as competitors, we really wanted to match up against them."

The WNBA schedule will only grow as the seasons continue and its popularity expands. Next season, there will be a 50-game slate for the first time in league history – up six games from 2026.

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But what Hammon did on Sunday afternoon in Brooklyn could be more than just focusing on her team’s health and safety moving forward with important games left to play closer to a playoff push.

Perhaps this was her way of telling the WNBA that, while it fell within the guideline of a minimum of 22 hours between games, she doesn’t care if the game is on national TV or not.

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Bernie Sanders demands Democrats ban super PACs from primaries, blasts AIPAC, ‘corrupt system’

Sun, 09 Aug 2026 20:00:33 -0400

Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., is urging Democratic leaders to restrict super PAC involvement in party primaries, arguing that wealthy outside groups have too much influence over Democratic nominations.

In a post on X on Sunday, Sanders singled out the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, or AIPAC, while criticizing outside spending in Democratic primaries.

"It is insane that the Democrats allow super PACs like AIPAC to spend millions in their primaries — only for those same special interests to help elect Republicans in the general election," Sanders wrote. "My message to Democratic leaders: Ban super PACs from Democratic primaries NOW."

Sanders also shared an Aug. 8 letter addressed to Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., and Democratic National Committee Chairman Ken Martin.

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In the letter, Sanders said AIPAC and affiliated groups spent more than $30 million in Michigan’s Democratic primary in an effort to defeat Dr. Abdul El-Sayed. He also said the group plans to spend tens of millions more to support Republican Mike Rogers in the general election.

"AIPAC is not the only super PAC or outside organization playing this role. Corporate super PACs — including crypto, AI and online betting special interests — have already spent a record $517 million this election cycle, shattering the record set in 2024," Sanders wrote.

His criticism focused not only on the amount of outside spending, but also on groups that he said try to influence Democratic primaries and then support Republican candidates if their preferred Democrat loses.

"What is particularly obscene is not only the outrageous amount of money coming into Democratic primaries from billionaire-funded super PACs, but the reality that these special interests have no particular desire to see Democrats win," he said.

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"It is absurd that they spend tens of millions of dollars to try to determine who the Democratic nominee is and, if they fail, then proceed to support the Republican candidate in the general election."

AIPAC says it supports pro-Israel candidates from both parties, according to its website.

"AIPAC is a grassroots membership organization with a PAC that supports pro-Israel Democratic and Republican candidates for Congress," as noted on its website. "The AIPAC PAC is funded by individual American citizens who care deeply about helping elect leaders who want to strengthen the partnership between the United States and Israel."

AIPAC is affiliated with United Democracy Project, a super PAC that says it works to help defeat "detractors — both Republicans and Democrats — of the U.S.-Israel relationship," its website states.

Sanders again called for a constitutional amendment overturning Citizens United and for public financing of elections.

"Right now, the Democratic Party has the power to prohibit super PACs from participating in its primaries. That can be done. That must be done," Sanders wrote. "I urge you to take action and make clear that the Democratic Party will no longer maintain this corrupt system."

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Sanders added, "While there are ideological differences of opinion within the big tent of the party, I would hope that we can all agree that Republican special interests should not play a role in determining the outcome of Democratic primaries. The time to act is now."

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In May, Sanders and Rep. Summer Lee, D-Pa., introduced the Abolish Super PACs Act, which would cap individual contributions to super PACs at $5,000 and effectively eliminate them.

AIPAC, Sanders, Schumer, Martin, Jeffries and Rogers could not immediately be reached by Fox News Digital for comment.

Flock Safety cameras need constitutional guardrails before further deployment, Tennessee mayor argues

Sun, 09 Aug 2026 19:53:41 -0400

Knox County, Tennessee, Mayor Glenn Jacobs called for a "nationwide pause" in the deployment of Flock surveillance cameras on "The Sunday Briefing," arguing the technology raises constitutional, privacy and safety concerns and lacks sufficient safeguards.

Jacobs said law enforcement should have access to tools that help solve crimes, but argued newer Flock technology goes beyond conventional license plate readers and should not be deployed broadly until guardrails and an updated regulatory framework are in place.

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"This is not about depriving [law enforcement] of the tools. It's about figuring out how these tools can be used in an appropriate manner that is consistent with the Constitution," said Jacobs, pointing to "dozens of cases" of abuse.

"There is no federal regulatory framework in place that governs [Flock cameras]. The laws regarding license plate readers in Tennessee date from 2014 with one very minor update in 2021. The technology has advanced significantly since then. So we want [law enforcement] to have the tools they need. At the same time, those tools have to conform to the Constitution."

LICENSE PLATE CAMERAS ARE TRACKING DRIVERS EVERYWHERE

Flock Safety, one of the leading vendors of automated license plate readers, has exploded in popularity with law enforcement, municipalities and businesses in recent years.

The ACLU estimates that there are between 80,000 to 100,000 Flock cameras deployed nationwide.

Flock’s own marketing claims that it is present in more than 6,000 communities, working with more than 1,000 businesses, and more than 5,000 law enforcement agencies nationwide, resulting in billions of vehicle scans per month.

In part of a statement to Fox News, Flock said the data it collects is automatically deleted after 30 days by default unless an agency establishes a different retention period.

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The surveillance system, which Jacobs characterized as "notoriously erroneous," has increasingly become the subject of debate across the country, including in West Virginia, where lawmakers in the state's Freedom Caucus are seeking to ban the AI-powered cameras statewide, arguing the technology violates citizens' Fourth Amendment right to privacy.

Fox News Digital's Kerri Kupec Urbahn contributed to this report.

Trump doubles down on reflecting pool vandalism allegations, cites new witness account

Sun, 09 Aug 2026 19:53:09 -0400

President Donald Trump escalated his criticism Sunday over the dismissed Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool vandalism case, pointing to a National Park Service employee’s account that former Olympian David Hearn "violently" ripped and tugged at the pool’s coating before authorities arrived.

Trump shared a screenshot from court documents on Truth Social that detailed interviews with two National Park Service employees who were cleaning the interior of the Reflecting Pool when Hearn approached the area.

According to the document, one employee, identified as W-1, said Hearn initially used his cellphone to take what the employee believed were photos or video of damage to the pool.

WHITE HOUSE CONDEMNS 'TARGETED SABOTAGE' OF REFLECTING POOL AS REPAIRS PUSHED PAST JULY 4 CELEBRATION

The employee then alleged Hearn "knelt, placed both hands into the reflecting pool, below the surface of the water, and started to ‘violently’ rip and tug at a large portion of the blue pool coating," according to the document Trump posted.

The filing further states that W-1 asked a second NPS employee to contact police and told Hearn not to touch or pull at the coating. Hearn allegedly responded that NPS personnel were "awfully sensitive about the pool" and continued tugging at the coating until National Guard soldiers arrived.

Trump pointed to the witness account Sunday as he continued pressing his case after federal prosecutors moved to dismiss the felony charge against Hearn earlier this month.

"ALERT: A National Park Service career employee, a highly credible witness, saw David Hearn (ActBlue) in broad daylight vandalize the Reflecting Pool by ‘violently’ ripping and tugging at the Pool’s somewhat delicate coating," Trump wrote.

TRUMP URGES JEANINE PIRRO TO REVISIT DROPPED LINCOLN MEMORIAL REFLECTING POOL VANDALISM CASE

The president said the employee provided the account to the U.S. Attorney’s Office in early July and argued that the statement bolstered his claim that at least some of the damage was caused deliberately.

Trump also alleged that other incidents occurred around the Reflecting Pool, including the use of an "acid like material" on newly installed grass beside the pool, where "86 47" was allegedly written.

"There was substantial other damage to the Reflecting Pool, also but, unfortunately, there is no video or proof, other than the damage, itself," Trump wrote.

Trump acknowledged in the same post that contractors were responsible for a portion of the problems at the pool, saying there was "some contractor error" as crews rushed to finish the renovation ahead of July 4, but he described that damage as limited.

TRUMP SHARES NEWS OF 'CRYSTAL CLEAR' REFLECTING POOL, CALLS FOR VANDALISM SUSPECT'S ARREST

"We are working on the Pool, and it will reopen shortly," Trump said, adding that security cameras have been and are being installed.

The latest post comes days after Trump urged U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro to revisit the case after prosecutors dropped the charge against Hearn.

Hearn was indicted July 2 on one count of felony destruction of property after U.S. Park Police alleged he grabbed and pulled at a loose portion of the pool coating on June 19 and continued after being told to stop by a National Park Service employee. Officials initially alleged the damage exceeded $1,000.

Pirro’s office later said prosecutors had received only "barebones" reports from the Department of the Interior before seeking the indictment and were not initially given records documenting broader problems with the pool coating’s installation.

FORMER US OLYMPIAN DAVID HEARN INDICTED IN ALLEGED REFLECTING POOL VANDALISM

Prosecutors said documents produced after the indictment showed that some of the Reflecting Pool damage was tied to flawed installation by contractor Atlantic Industrial Coatings and a push to finish the project before events surrounding the America 250 celebration.

"Had DOI been forthcoming with the information clearly in its possession, the government would not have sought a grand jury indictment," prosecutors wrote in seeking dismissal.

The government said the newly disclosed evidence made it difficult to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Hearn caused the damage alleged in the indictment. Prosecutors asked for the case to be dismissed without prejudice, leaving open the possibility that charges could be brought again.

OLYMPIAN CHARGED IN REFLECTING POOL VANDALISM DONATED THROUGH DEM FUNDRAISING GIANT

Trump has repeatedly challenged Pirro’s decision, saying last week that he "disagree[d] 100%" with the U.S. attorney and later accusing her of having "choked" under pressure in the case.

Hearn’s attorneys, Norm Eisen, Mary Dohrmann and Steve Levin, previously said the case "should never have been brought" and accused the administration of wrongly arresting and charging a man they said "did nothing wrong."

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Trump, however, argued Sunday that the witness account shows the Reflecting Pool damage wasn't caused by faulty construction alone, pointing to the government's own court filing to support his claim.

Fox News Digital's Brie Stimson and Jackson Thompson contributed to this report.

RNC warns socialists push Democrats ‘off cliff’ after DSA co-chair offers no tax rate

Sun, 09 Aug 2026 19:30:26 -0400

EXCLUSIVE — Republican National Committee (RNC) national spokesperson Natalie Baldassarre warned Sunday in a statement to Fox News Digital that socialists were steering Democrats toward political disaster after Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) co-chair Megan Romer failed Friday on "The New Yorker Radio Hour" to identify a rate or threshold for taxing millionaires, as the movement's primary gains intensify debate over what Democrats must defend in November.

"The Democrat Party is being driven off a cliff by socialists who are driving blindfolded while arguing about the view," Baldassarre said.

"Unless Democrats hit the brakes, every candidate on the ballot will have to answer for socialists’ outrageous beliefs that will bankrupt our country and strip every American of safety, sanity, and freedom," she added.

Romer endorsed steep taxes on wealthy Americans during her interview with The New Yorker editor David Remnick, although she said she was more concerned about billionaires because she believed most had accumulated their wealth by exploiting workers.

PROGRESSIVES WANT TO TAX BILLIONAIRES FIRST, AND YOU'RE NEXT ON THE LIST

"I think most billionaires got their wealth because they exploited the working class in some very significant way usually," Romer said. "Are we exploiting people is the bigger question, as opposed to some sort of arbitrary red line of you can have this much money or not have that much money. But we do believe in taxing the hell out of millionaires, yeah, absolutely."

When Remnick asked Romer to define what that policy would mean, she began responding without identifying a proposed tax rate, income cutoff or wealth threshold.

"Yeah, you know, again, I don’t have, like, a solid – " Romer said, before Remnick interrupted her.

"But shouldn’t you? If you’re the co-chair of the DSA, shouldn’t you be more specific than ‘taxing the hell’ out of something?" Remnick said.

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Romer said the group would determine its tax policy dramatically by examining spending priorities and the revenue needed to support them.

"So, yeah, we need to look at what we need to pay for in the interim, what sort of tax base we need for that to happen, and build from there," Romer said.

The DSA's official 2026 program, drafted by a committee formed through its 2025 national convention, similarly does not identify a tax rate or define which individuals and companies would be subject to its proposed wealth taxes.

"Enact aggressive wealth taxes on the richest individuals and corporations to spend on public goods and infrastructure," the program said.

SOCIALIST VICTORIES SHOW DEMS' DESCENT DOWN 'DEADLY PATH OF COMMUNISM,' JOHNSON WARNS

The exchange came after DSA-backed and progressive-aligned candidates secured major Democratic primary victories.

Melat Kiros defeated longtime Democratic Rep. Diana DeGette in Colorado, while Darializa Avila Chevalier ousted Rep. Adriano Espaillat and Claire Valdez won the nomination for an open New York congressional seat.

Progressive Abdul El-Sayed also narrowly defeated establishment-backed Rep. Haley Stevens in Michigan’s Democratic Senate primary last week.

Romer, however, distinguished El-Sayed from the organization during the interview because he identifies as a capitalist.

"He’s not a DSA candidate," Romer said.

The centrist Democratic organization Third Way announced Friday that it would spend $15 million through 2028 on opposition research, polling, social media and outreach aimed at weakening the DSA's influence.

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Third Way co-founder Matt Bennett framed the effort as a defense of Democrats competing against Republicans.

"We believe the DSA poses a serious threat to Democrats. Their ideas are dangerous and their politics are toxic. If we are to beat MAGA Republicans, we cannot allow our party to be defined by radicals," Bennett said.

Romer dismissed Third Way's planned campaign in a previous statement to Fox News Digital.

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"$15 million to tell working-class people that a better world isn’t possible? We believe in people power, and our vision for a better future is winning. We will keep building our movement, and they will waste their money," Romer said.

Fox News Digital reached out to Romer, the Democratic National Committee and the DSA for comment, but did not immediately receive a response.

AOC documents egg-freezing journey, takes aim at Trump admin over women's reproductive choices

Sun, 09 Aug 2026 19:07:38 -0400

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., revealed that she is freezing her eggs, opening up about the deeply personal decision in a series of Instagram Story videos while saying the procedure will give her more control over her future and using the announcement to criticize the Trump administration's policies on women's reproductive health.

The progressive "Squad" member posted the videos Saturday, explaining that she had spent years considering the procedure and saving for it before deciding to undergo fertility preservation.

Ocasio-Cortez said she wanted to be open about the process because women are often not taught enough about their reproductive health or family-planning options.

AOC SAYS MAHA ADVOCATES' FIGHT 'ISN'T PARTISAN' AS SHE BLASTS HEALTHCARE SYSTEM FOR FUELING 'A TON OF ANXIETY'

"I have made the decision to start freezing my eggs," Ocasio-Cortez said.

"I was weighing it for a very long time, and I think that I was saving for it for a very long time."

Ocasio-Cortez, who was first elected to Congress at 28, said serving in office at a young age meant navigating major life decisions publicly in a way many people do not.

"When you get elected young, you have to grow up in the public eye in a time that most people usually get to grow more privately," she said.

MELINDA FRENCH GATES SAYS IT TOOK 3 DOCTORS TO DIAGNOSE THE CONDITION SHE WAS SUFFERING FROM

The New York Democrat said she hoped sharing the experience would help normalize conversations about fertility, pregnancy, menopause, perimenopause, PCOS and other aspects of women's health that she believes are too often overlooked.

"As women in general, we are not taught about our bodies," Ocasio-Cortez said, referencing puberty, pregnancy, perimenopause, menopause and conditions including PCOS.

"I think we need to show more depictions of women having full lives in every context and every choice," she added.

Ocasio-Cortez framed the move as an effort to take more control over her future.

NEW JERSEY DEMOCRATS ADVANCE BILL CRIMINALIZING INTERFERENCE WITH ABORTION, TRANSGENDER HEALTHCARE

"This is a choice that I am making to feel more in control of my life," she said. "If people want to make assumptions about my decision, let them make those assumptions. I feel empowered to make this choice."

She acknowledged that being able to undergo the procedure was a privilege and said advances in technology had helped make egg freezing more financially accessible.

Ocasio-Cortez then pivoted to politics, saying she was aware there could be a "political tax" associated with disclosing such a personal decision and arguing that female politicians face scrutiny around marriage, pregnancy and family planning that male politicians often do not.

She also blamed the Trump administration for what she described as an increasingly hostile environment for women's reproductive choices.

LATE-TERM ABORTION TAKES FRONT SEAT AS BLUE STATE RUSHES TO EXPAND ACCESS BEFORE SESSION ENDS

"In the political context that we're in, in an administration that is dedicated to politicizing women's bodies and taking our choices away from us and punishing us around decisions to be pregnant or not be pregnant," she said.

"Frankly, this administration has made pregnancy more dangerous than probably at any point in the last 30-plus years," Ocasio-Cortez added.

"We're going to take our power back," she said. "And we have to talk about it."

Fox News Digital reached out to the White House for comment on Ocasio-Cortez's remarks.

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The announcement quickly drew criticism from some conservatives on social media, including Turning Point USA spokesman Andrew Kolvet, who argued that Ocasio-Cortez's decision reflected what he described as a broader progressive message prioritizing careers over starting families.

"This is the message progressives spread when it comes to family formation, and one of the reasons why fertility rates are cratering," Kolvet wrote on X.

"Just freeze your eggs, kids! Pursue that career, even if you've been engaged for 4 years to a man you've known since college," he continued.

"AOC turns 37 in a few weeks so if she got pregnant tomorrow it would already be a geriatric pregnancy. This is not female 'liberation,' it's a cautionary tale."

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Ocasio-Cortez has been engaged to longtime partner Riley Roberts since May 2022.

Her egg-freezing announcement comes roughly seven years after the New York Democrat famously warned in 2019 that "the world is gonna end in 12 years if we don't address climate change," leaving about five years remaining under that timeline.

Ocasio-Cortez said she plans to take viewers through parts of the egg-freezing process, including the hormone injections required ahead of egg retrieval.

She said she had already filmed herself unboxing her medications and administering her first shot.

The congresswoman said she would even give herself one of the injections in the green room before appearing on an ABC morning show.

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"I'm gonna take my shot in the green room before my interview," Ocasio-Cortez said. "Because women can do anything."

"I think it's bad--- that I'm gonna be, you know, giving myself shots in the green room, get my glam on, roll out, talk about international events, domestic policy, elections, pop out, live my life, do my thing."

Buffalo Bills fans at the brand new $2.2 billion Highmark Stadium are finding their views are obstructed

Sun, 09 Aug 2026 18:54:48 -0400

The old Highmark Stadium, home of the Buffalo Bills', was not especially popular towards the end of its lifespan. It was cold, dreary and outdated, and overdue to be replaced.

It seemed like good news, then, when the Bills started construction on the replacement, their sparkling new $2.2 billion facility just across from the old building. They were adamant that the new construction would be a showpiece for the region, a key part of securing a record-setting taxpayer contribution from New York state. And sure enough, Highmark is loaded with new technology and supposedly thoughtful design touches.

Instead of a roof, the Bills new home retains the outdoor element that's an integral part of the NFL experience. But to protect against the elements, roughly 65% of the seats are still covered by the stadium's awning. There are infrared heaters under the seating areas to keep fans comfortable in the frigid Buffalo winters. The natural grass field is also heated, and the canopy incorporates a snow-melt system.

NY GOVERNOR KATHY HOCHUL TRIES TO GET BILLS CHANT GOING AT NEW STADIUM, COMPLETELY FAILS

All sounds great, right? Stadium designers and the team clearly thought through the details of a modern NFL stadium in the Buffalo area. Retain the outdoor character and intimate seating, but update the technology and concourses for a better fan experience.

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There's just one problem: you can't actually watch the game from a number of the seat locations.

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The Bills held their return of the Red and Blue practice at Highmark on Saturday, and posts on social media started flooding in, racking up millions of views and engagements, showing the frankly inexcusable views from some seats at the new stadium.

Some have a pane of glass blurring views, including at the 50-yard-line. Some in the upper deck legitimately block most of the red zone on the far side of the field, specifically the end zone. Expensive seats, in the lower level about 30-40 rows up at the 12-13-yard line have their view of the other side of the field blocked by a standing platform.

Another post showed off how the view of a field from a higher level seat is almost completely through glass with staircase railings.

Other fans said they felt misled by Bills personnel after being assured that the railings wouldn't impede their view of the game.

That's not great!

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Some obstructed views in a modern stadium are unavoidable, and staircases always present an issue for designers trying to incorporate fan movement and pack in as many seats as possible. And at least some of those obstructed views are through mostly glass.

But then again, for the cost of these seats, the "personal seat licenses," and so on, it's not unreasonable to expect better.

Still, if Josh Allen and new head coach Joe Brady can lead the Bills to a Super Bowl, no one will be complaining that their seats weren't good enough.

WWE's Chelsea Green dealt more bad luck, reveals broken orbital bone less than week after winning title

Sun, 09 Aug 2026 18:18:50 -0400

Chelsea Green has overcome serious obstacles to get to the top of the WWE women’s division.

She’s suffered numerous injuries over the last 12 months or so, including a heart issue that landed her in the hospital and in need of a procedure. Still, she managed to put those problems in the rearview to become the interim WWE women’s champion last weekend at SummerSlam.

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On Friday, Green was in a tag team match with Tiffany Stratton as they went up against Fallon Henley and Lainey Reid. Green told her followers that she suffered a broken orbital bone during the match as her string of bad luck continues.

"I did get injured last night. Stuff happens. It’s live television. It’s wrestling. It’s an occupational hazard," Green said in a video posted to her Instagram. "I ended up in the emergency room and I have a broken orbital bone. It looks amazing all things considered. It feels awful but looks pretty amazing."

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"I have no idea what that means for me. Usually, you guys have seen me play into every single injury but this feels different, obviously. This feels very different. It feels frustrating. I’m upset. I feel like if I didn’t have bad luck, I’d have no luck at all. So, I just need to take a bit more time to process and to heal from, obviously, the head trauma that is going on right now and then we’ll see what happens. We’re just gonna take it day by day. So, world domination continues. We’ve just had a minor blip."

It’s unclear whether Green will be forced to relinquish the interim championship already. She outlasted four other women in a ladder match at SummerSlam to win the title.

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Meanwhile, Rhea Ripley also revealed last week that she underwent knee surgery and could be out for a few more months. Ripley is the WWE women’s champion, which was why the interim belt was introduced going into SummerSlam.

Lions announce Teddy Bridgewater has retired again, leaving team in middle of training camp

Sun, 09 Aug 2026 18:04:19 -0400

NFL veteran quarterback Teddy Bridgewater has once again retired from the game.

Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell told reporters on Sunday that Bridgewater, who was competing for the backup role to Jared Goff in the quarterbacks room, has decided to step away from the team in the middle of training camp.

The Lions officially placed Bridgewater on the reserve/retired list ahead of their Sunday practice.

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Campbell added that he believes retirement could stick this time for Bridgewater, who had previously retired following the 2023 season. But he quickly rejoined the Lions for the 2024 season.

"I think he can only truly answer that, but I feel like this is where it’s at for sure right now," Campbell said, via ESPN. "This is where it needs to be and where he felt. And his biggest worry was letting us down. That’s the type of guys he is, and he’s not.

RUSSELL WILSON ANNOUNCES RETIREMENT FROM NFL AFTER 14 SEASONS

"That’s as far as it can get. He meant a lot."

As a result, the Lions were reportedly quick to sign another journeyman, Josh Dobbs, to a $1.425 million contract with $475,000 fully guaranteed, per NFL Network. Dobbs is familiar with Detroit, having been on the team’s practice squad during the 2022 campaign.

Dobbs has also recently backed up Drake Maye with the AFC-winning New England Patriots a season ago. He is a dual-threat quarterback, having the ability to use his legs to pick up crucial yardage, which is the opposite of Goff’s game as a true pocket-passer.

As for Bridgewater, he joined the Lions again as an unrestricted free agent in March after backing up Baker Mayfield with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2025. Bridgewater was expected to back up Goff this year, but the Lions have to pivot now.

One of the many reasons Bridgewater remains someone NFL teams want in their locker room is due to his mentorship abilities, understanding his role as a backup and helping the starter on a weekly basis before, during, and after the season. That includes working with Goff in 2023 and 2024, as he developed into one of the best pure passers in the league in an explosive Lions offensive scheme.

Bridgewater, who was a first-round pick to the Minnesota Vikings in 2014 out of Louisville, was a Pro Bowler early in his career. In just his second season, he got the nod after going 11-5 with 3,231 passing yards, 14 passing touchdowns, while rushing for 192 yards with three scores.

But Bridgewater’s career was derailed, as a starter at least, when a horrific knee injury led to a left knee dislocation and a torn ACL during a practice just before the start of the 2016 season.

FERNANDO MENDOZA REVEALS TOM BRADY'S NO-NONSENSE MENTORSHIP PLEDGE AHEAD OF NFL DRAFT

Bridgewater would move on to the New Orleans Saints in 2018, getting six starts across two seasons before getting a heavier workload with the Carolina Panthers in 2020. He went 4-11 in Carolina before going 7-7 with the Denver Broncos the following year.

Bridgewater also played a season with the Miami Dolphins in 2022, going 0-2 in his only two starts with the franchise.

If this is officially Bridgewater’s last time on an NFL football field as a quarterback, he threw for 15,182 yards with 75 passing touchdowns over 83 games. He owned a 33-32 record as a starter across 11 seasons.

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"I've known Teddy a long time and the human being is unbelievable," Campbell said. "Certainly, the player, everything that he's about. The type of teammate he is, the way he prepares ... always played the game up here and had a huge heart.

"He's going to be missed."

Hasan Piker stands by 'intentionally provocative' claims that Hamas is 'a thousand times better' than Israel

Sun, 09 Aug 2026 17:57:48 -0400

Far-left Twitch streamer Hasan Piker defended his rhetoric calling Hamas "a thousand times better than the fascist settler colonial apartheid state" of Israel on Sunday despite acknowledging it was "intentionally provocative."

"I say that on purpose," Piker told Rolling Stone Magazine. "I want to force people to really think about what I’m saying. I want to challenge them to think about it a little bit."

Piker made the comment in an X post from January and has since doubled and tripled down on the claim while facing backlash. Though he conceded that he would likely alienate fewer people by simply saying Israel was "worse" than Hamas, Piker told the magazine that it wasn't his style.

MARK HALPERIN CALLS HASAN PIKER A 'HORRIBLE PERSON' AS DEMOCRATS FACE PRESSURE TO DISTANCE FROM STREAMER

"First of all, everyone says that," Piker said. "I’m not interested in the many bad things Hamas has done. I’m trying to get people to understand why someone becomes Hamas. Do I agree with everything they do? Of course not. I’ve called out their war crimes myself. But the point is to make people identify from their perspective. Palestinians have lived under this brutal occupation for 75 years. Put yourself in their shoes."

In the same article, Rolling Stone Magazine reported that the Democratic Party had a more favorable opinion of Palestinian people than the Israelis with the Israeli government ranking only three points higher than Hamas, suggesting Piker's opinions were more mainstream than they appeared. Piker joked that the backlash he faced for his comments were a result of "having the correct position too early."

CONTROVERSIAL STREAMER HASAN PIKER'S LECTURE AXED BY UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON AMID FREE SPEECH QUESTIONS

Still, he didn't regret his hyperbolic comments made on his livestreams or elsewhere.

"In some ways it is a performance. But existence is a performance," Piker said. "I could speak in sanitized, academic language all day — but that wouldn’t be as entertaining or reach as many people. So, I speak in a way that people understand. And sometimes I push buttons."

Fox News Digital reached out to Piker for comment.

During an April appearance on "Pod Save America," Piker doubled down on his Hamas comparison despite pushback from co-host Jon Favreau.

"I've also said I'm a harm-reduction voter," Piker said. "I'm a lesser-evil voter and, therefore, I would vote for Hamas over Israel every single time because I'm looking at the situation as a paramilitary organization that has a political party as well, a political bureau as well that is entirely comprised not as an alien force but of orphaned children that have, you know, had their parents killed by an apartheid state that has been dominating the lives of Palestinians for 80 years at this point and have done a genocide at this point as well."

DAVID MARCUS: DON'T BLAME CONSERVATIVES. IT WAS THE LEFT THAT CANCELED HASAN PIKER

During an interview with CNN last week, Piker denied that he supported all of Hamas' actions but insisted that Palestinians "have a right to resist militarily."

"Well, I wouldn't say I express support for all of Hamas's actions or anything," Piker said. "I do say that the Palestinian resistance largely does have an internationally recognized right to resist. Do they violate that sometimes with war crimes? Absolutely. And Hamas certainly has as well. But at the end of the day, Palestinians do have a right to resist militarily."

In a previous comment to Fox News Digital, the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) condemned Piker's comments along with Democratic officials who continue to ignore them.

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"Hasan Piker repeated multiple times that ‘Hamas is a thousand times better than Israel,’ while also shrugging off ‘war crimes.’ That is a person with more than 11 million followers sincerely expressing support for a designated terrorist organization, on a mainstream platform, to thunderous silence from the Democratic officials who continue to campaign and appear alongside him," an ADL spokesperson said.

Credit to the QVC host who went viral for a live NSFW slip-up for handling it like a pro 'the show must go on'

Sun, 09 Aug 2026 17:53:41 -0400

Saying the show must go on when you make a mistake live and actually doing it are two different things. Credit to QVC's Toni Brattin for pulling it off like a true professional. As a result, she gave the internet a gift.

The host was taking the QVC audience through a live demonstration of her "Salon Select" wig when she accidentally let "blow job" fly out of her mouth instead of "blowout" while describing the look the product provides.

Almost 30 years under your belt can't fully prepare you for everything. But she did a decent job of keeping it together. She was talking texture and wave pattern when she let slip, "It looks like you went and got a blow job... a blowout at your salon."

VALERIE BERTINELLI APOLOGIZES AFTER DROPPING F-BOMB ON LIVE TV

She caught the mistake immediately, whispered "Oh my God," and managed to collect herself enough so that she could finish her thought and hand it off to her co-host.

After handing it off, Brattin couldn’t help but shake her head and kneel down behind the display table. It's one of those moments that brings everyone together and a relatable moment that the internet can't help but run with.

Brattin told TMZ of her viral blooper that she was hoping the producers were going to switch to another camera. That would have been helpful, but when it didn't happen, she powered through.

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QVC was very understanding of the mistake. They were able to laugh about it and knew that she wasn’t dropping words like "blow job" on their customers on purpose with any sort of malicious intent.

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The company even showed up in the comments of the viral clip. They wrote on Instagram, "Kuddos to @terriconnqvc for handling this like a pro. Is there an award for Best Live Blooper Recovery??"

I agree. Credit to Toni Brattin for handling her "blow job" slip-up like a pro. It's a funny moment and there's no need to overreact.

CNN stands by Iran war reporting after retired general challenges ‘unnamed sources’ on air

Sun, 09 Aug 2026 17:43:05 -0400

CNN stood by its reporting in a statement to Fox News Digital on Sunday after retired Brig. Gen. Mark Kimmitt challenged the network during a Saturday interview over its anonymous sourcing on the Iran war, including claims involving negotiations and Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Dan Caine.

"We stand by our reporting," a CNN spokesperson told Fox News Digital.

Joseph Holstead, public affairs adviser to the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, declined to comment on CNN’s report or Kimmitt’s assessment but agreed with Fox News Digital’s characterization that CNN’s sources lacked firsthand knowledge of the conversations described in the report.

"We are not going to comment on it nor the opinion of a commentator," Holstead said to Fox News Digital in a statement.

US OFFICIAL SAYS JD VANCE MADE 'GREAT PROGRESS' IN IRAN TALKS, CALLS SNUB REPORTS 'FOREIGN PROPAGANDA'

CNN did not respond to Fox News Digital's questions about how it vetted the anonymous sources or Kimmitt’s claim that earlier anonymously sourced information about the negotiations was inaccurate.

Kimmitt raised the accuracy concern after CNN anchor Omar Jimenez asked about the network’s report that Caine was privately seeking an "off-ramp" because further military escalation could backfire.

"I read the CNN article and I saw quotes from unnamed sources that last week were saying there were no negotiations going on, and that proved not to be true," Kimmitt said.

By the time Kimmitt appeared on the network, President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance had publicly confirmed that negotiations were underway.

Trump said Thursday that he was personally involved in the discussions, while Vance told Fox News Digital on Saturday that American officials were speaking with Iran about restoring oil and gas traffic through the Strait of Hormuz.

RNC national spokesperson Natalie Baldassarre defended Trump’s approach in a statement to Fox News Digital, portraying his Iran policy as effective and politically popular.

"President Trump’s ‘Peace through Strength’ foreign policy has been effective in preventing Iran from developing a nuclear weapon – something voters overwhelmingly support," she said. "The American people trust President Trump and voters will continue to gravitate toward our candidates who are in line with his efforts to strengthen our national security and keep American communities safe."

TRUMP SAYS IRAN'S MISSILES 'AREN'T THE PROBLEM' AFTER WHITE HOUSE MADE THEM CENTRAL TO WAR RATIONALE

CNN’s Friday article did not report that negotiations were nonexistent. Citing three sources familiar with the matter, it reported that Caine had privately told senior Trump administration officials that airpower alone was unlikely to accomplish Trump’s objectives and that some options for escalating the conflict carried substantial risks.

One of the unnamed sources summarized Caine's position in the CNN report.

"Caine is looking for an off-ramp," the source said.

TRADE VESSEL STRUCK BY PROJECTILE IN STRAIT OF HORMUZ AMID US-IRAN TALKS

The article also included an on-the-record response from Caine spokesman Joseph Holstead, who rejected anonymous descriptions of the chairman’s private discussions while declining to disclose what Caine had told Trump and other senior officials.

"We do not discuss the Chairman’s confidential conversations with the President, the Secretary, or other senior leaders, nor do we comment on anonymous, agenda-driven characterizations of those conversations by sources who were not privy to them," Holstead said.

Kimmitt's criticism extended beyond CNN's sourcing. The former general said the United States had not yet accomplished its central objectives involving Iran's nuclear program, missile capabilities and support for regional proxies.

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"Look, I think it’s fair to say that we are not close to achieving our strategic objectives of ending the nuclear program, ending the missile program, and cutting off support for the proxies," Kimmitt said. "We do have the situation with the Strait of Hormuz. Those issues are undeniable."

Kimmitt also said Caine had to consider the threat from China, continued support for Ukraine and the military resources available to other combatant commanders while advising the president about Iran.

Jimenez responded that CNN reporters also preferred officials to attach their names to information.

"Hey, General, you said something that we preach all the time. I sure wish more folks would go on the record, too. But that’s me as a reporter," Jimenez said.

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The sourcing dispute unfolded as the Trump administration continued negotiations intended to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

Fox News Digital reported Friday that U.S. Central Command had halted attacks after 13 consecutive days of strikes against Iranian military targets while Washington and Tehran pursued an agreement.

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

Braves' Chris Sale ejected before game sees first pitch for yelling at umpire over Saturday balk call

Sun, 09 Aug 2026 17:35:17 -0400

Atlanta Braves starter Chris Sale was ejected on Sunday afternoon at Yankee Stadium, and he wasn’t even scheduled to pitch.

Before the game even started, Sale was still fuming about a balk call on Saturday night against the New York Yankees that he decided to unload on the umpire who called him for it.

As umpires took the field for the series finale between the Braves and Yankees in the Bronx, Sale started to yell toward umpire Dan Merzel before Yankees starter Cam Schlittler threw an official pitch.

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Merzel clearly didn’t like what he was hearing, and who can blame him after the ordeal occurred the night before. Merzel quickly ejected Sale, but the veteran left-hander continued to get his money’s worth as he shouted something toward crew chief Dan Bellino.

Sale rarely balks. In fact, he did it only twice prior to Saturday night for his entire career.

ROYALS MANAGER MATT QUATRARO EJECTED BEFORE TEAM THROWS A SINGLE PITCH VS YANKEES

But Merzel called him for that third career balk in the fifth inning on Saturday night, which allowed Yankees rookie Spencer Jones to score after hitting an RBI triple the at-bat prior.

In the end, the run proved costly with the Yankees picking up the victory, 5-4. Braves manager Walt Weiss was tossed from the game, but he likely did so because Sale was barking at Merzel and he stepped in between to continue the argument.

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After the game, Bellino said to a pool reporter that Sale was called for the balk after not declaring he was going to be pitching from the windup. He said Sale was pitching from the windup when he struck out José Caballero, but he didn’t do so before facing Austin Wells.

Sale’s night in the Bronx ended with three runs allowed on five hits across six innings in what was his first loss since late June. He has enjoyed quite the season with the NLEast-leading Braves, owning a 2.20 ERA across 21 starts.

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The Braves managed to salvage the series on Sunday, as they defeated the Yankees, 2-1, in extra innings. But Sale couldn’t watch it from the dugout all game long after being tossed.

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Moscow, Kyiv assassins hunt weapons bosses as Ukraine war spills beyond the battlefield

Sun, 09 Aug 2026 17:29:47 -0400

A dangerous new front is emerging in the Russia-Ukraine war as attackers and alleged intelligence operatives increasingly target executives and engineers developing the cutting-edge drone technology that is reshaping the battlefield, industry experts warned Sunday.

The attacks include an Aug. 4 car bombing near Yekaterinburg that critically injured Vladimir Tkachuk, head of Russian drone manufacturer Uraldronzavod, and killed his driver, according to Russian state news agency TASS, The Associated Press reported.

His company produces the "Upyr," or "Ghoul," a first-person-view attack drone used by Russian forces in Ukraine.

'A NEW KIND OF WAR': INSIDE UKRAINE'S HIDDEN FACTORIES MASS-PRODUCING COMBAT DRONES

Days earlier, Andrei Cherezov, head of another Russian drone company, was shot three times in Tula overnight July 28-29 in an apparent assassination attempt, according to Ukrainian outlet Pravda. Authorities have not publicly attributed either attack to Ukraine.

Draganfly CEO Cameron Chell told Fox News Digital that the rise in attacks comes as Russia and Ukraine race for an edge in drone warfare, making the relatively small number of people responsible for developing new technology increasingly important targets.

"When you can't take out all the distributed infrastructure, drone manufacturing leadership becomes the primary target," Chell said.

"These strikes in Russia and Ukraine and Germany on founders, leaders, engineers of defense and, in particular, drone-type companies are down to drones and these companies having such an impact themselves."

UKRAINE’S BATTLEFIELD IS TRANSFORMING THE FUTURE OF NATO

"Because drone technology evolves rapidly — often with significant iterations occurring every 10 to 30 days — targeting a key engineer, founder, or product lead creates immediate operational disruptions on the battlefield."

"Taking out a particular engineer or taking out a particular leader can set a very important weapons program back quite some time and disrupt shipments to the front line," Chell added.

German authorities have also arrested two suspected operatives accused of spying on a Bavarian drone manufacturer for Russian intelligence, while reports this month said the alleged operation included preparations to target company executive Stefan Thumann, according to Germany’s Die Zeit.

The case follows a reported 2024 plot disrupted by U.S. and German intelligence to target Rheinmetall CEO Armin Papperger.

ZELENSKYY ANNOUNCES 'THE FUTURE IS HERE' AFTER WAR'S FIRST ALL-ROBOT CAPTURE

Chell said as Ukraine and Russia push toward artificial intelligence and autonomous weapons systems, engineers developing those technologies are more strategically important.

"What we see in the Ukraine-Russia conflict is nobody in the loop — total autonomy is the direction things are going because it moves with more speed and precision," Chell said.

"AI and total autonomy are the big innovations for the next 18 months, so a potential reason we could see more targeted activity against leaders is because Ukrainians have that technology advantage."

"Targeting small drone companies is a relatively easy operation compared to targeting individuals in state-run weapons programs," he said.

"It is a fairly inexpensive, low-risk tactic for intelligence agencies that yields an immediate impact on the battlefield, and that's why we've seen this tactic."

"It is a very interesting turn or tactic that's being played by both sides here."

Chell highlighted how Russia and Ukraine approach such plots differently.

"I wouldn't suggest one side has an advantage over the other in terms of tactics, but psychologically, it has a deeper effect on the Russian side," Chell said.

UKRAINE UNLEASHES MORE THAN 400 DRONES NEAR MOSCOW IN ONE OF WAR'S BIGGEST ATTACKS

"The volume of drone advantage will remain with the Russians for the foreseeable future, but the innovation of drones, tactics, and technology lies with the Ukrainians right now."

"Ukraine faces an existential threat, so they are ready for anything. Their tactics tend to be much more blunt — a direct shooter in a hallway or a car bomb," he added.

"The Russian tactics tend to be much more state-organized, using old Cold War tactics: low-level contacts, extensive intelligence and surveillance ahead of time, and inserting into other countries like Germany," he said.

"The Russians have a long-standing, well-established intelligence infrastructure dating back to World War II and the Cold War."

TRUMP IS PROVING THAT THE WAY TO BETTER OUR MILITARY IS TO SECURE OUR SUPPLY CHAINS

As the drone manufacturing industry takes greater precautions, Chell maintained that threats against companies and individuals in the defense supply chain are receiving increased scrutiny.

"We are very cognizant of it, and we're in contact with the proper authorities to make sure we're taking precautions on both a cyber and physical level to ensure we're at less risk," he said.

"We certainly don't take anything for granted."

"There are training and programs in place to ensure executives have a level of safety, primarily around awareness, cybersecurity, and physical location protection," Chell added before stating that the attacks and attempted assassinations have "heightened the conversation around it."

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"We as an industry are taking it with a measured amount more seriously," he said.

WNBA media defends DiJonai Carrington after dangerous Sophie Cunningham hit reveals glaring bias

Sun, 09 Aug 2026 17:06:46 -0400

WNBA media wasted no time jumping to DiJonai Carrington's defense after her dangerous hit on Sophie Cunningham earned her a Flagrant 2 and an early shower Saturday.

Carrington got the boot after catching Cunningham above the neck as the Fever guard went airborne for a transition layup.

But instead of taking her lumps, Carrington retreated to the locker room and immediately pulled out her phone, posting "WHITE PRIVILEGE @indianafever" on Threads.

Just like that, Carrington turned punishment for her own reckless play into an accusation about race. If anything, that response warranted even greater scrutiny. Instead, WNBA media circled the wagons around Carrington, downplaying the hit.

ESPN quickly joined the defense when analyst Andraya Carter rationalized the hit as little more than a product of Carrington's aggressive style of play.

ESPN BURIES DIJONAI CARRINGTON DIRTY FOUL ON SOPHIE CUNNINGHAM, 'WHITE PRIVILEGE' POST

"These are plays we've seen from DiJonai, right? So getting in the right position, jumping over the top, getting these transition blocks," Carter explained.

"She's always gonna make that effort. So even for some of these, she's behind the offensive player coming over the top. So again, she was behind Sophie Cunningham. She wasn't able to get over the top. Had she got over the top and made that play, we wouldn't have been talking about it. She was too far behind the play. The contact above the head was too much. But that's what DiJonai Carrington does. Like, this wasn't, to me, because it was Sophie Cunningham making the layup."

Carter's own analysis undermined the defense she was making.

She acknowledged that Carrington was behind the play and that the contact above the head was "too much," only to excuse it with a familiar refrain: "that's what DiJonai Carrington does."

JD VANCE PRAISES SOPHIE CUNNINGHAM FOR 'SAVE WOMEN'S SPORTS' ACTIVISM

It's clear that Sophie Cunningham is in the WNBA's crosshairs for speaking out against male athletes competing in women's sports and refusing to toe the league's preferred line.

That stance has created an environment where she carries a target on her back, leaving players like Carrington to expect their aggression toward her to be rationalized after the fact.

SOPHIE CUNNINGHAM SPEAKS OUT AGAINST DIJONAI CARRINGTON AFTER FLAGRANT FOUL AND 'WHITE PRIVILEGE' POST

The response to Saturday's incident exposes a persistent imbalance within WNBA coverage.

When physical aggression is directed at White players such as Cunningham or Caitlin Clark, commentators have repeatedly shown a willingness to search for explanations that soften the actions of the offending player.

The disparity becomes even harder to ignore when the circumstances are reversed.

Imagine a White player drilling a Black opponent above the neck, getting tossed and then immediately posting a racial accusation aimed at the opposing team.

Saturday was not Carrington's first go at controversy. During the 2024 postseason, Carrington struck Clark directly in the eye, leaving the league's signature star with a visible black eye, then mocked the ensuing public outrage online.

REPUBLICAN LAWMAKERS PRESS WNBA COMMISSIONER CATHY ENGELBERT TO PROTECT CAITLIN CLARK

Less than two years later, another dangerous play involving Carrington has produced another controversy, followed by another effort to shift the conversation away from her own responsibility.

The facts from Saturday are straightforward. Carrington delivered a dangerous hit that officials deemed serious enough to warrant a Flagrant 2 and an ejection, then responded by invoking race.

Rather than scrutinize both actions, prominent voices within WNBA media devoted their energy to explaining her conduct.

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Player safety cannot depend on who delivers the hit, just as media scrutiny should not depend on the racial identities of the players involved.

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

Teen burglary ring linked to nearly 80 Bay Area break-ins dismantled after months-long investigation: PD

Sun, 09 Aug 2026 17:00:31 -0400

A gang of teenage burglars accused of targeting nearly 80 Bay Area homes and vehicles is behind bars after investigators unraveled a months-long crime spree that included stolen firearms, high-speed chases and an alleged fencing operation that netted roughly $250,000 in suspected stolen property.

Concord police also released surveillance video of the burglary spree, dubbing the compilation "Teamwork Leads to Arrests in Regional Armed Burglary Series."

The video shows the suspects breaking into parked vehicles in the early morning hours before using stolen garage door openers to gain access to attached garages, where investigators said they stole power tools, firearms and other valuables.

NEW WARRANTS EXPOSE CHILLING, DISTURBING DETAILS IN GREG BIFFLE HOME BURGLARY

In one of the most brazen moments captured on camera, investigators said the suspects pointed a firearm at the interior door connecting a garage to a home, apparently waiting for a homeowner to emerge. During another burglary, the crew allegedly stole 14 firearms from a single residential garage.

By the time the investigation wrapped up, detectives had linked the suspects to 37 vehicle and residential burglaries in Concord and approximately 40 more across Contra Costa and Solano counties. Police said the group also stole multiple vehicles, which they allegedly used to commit additional crimes.

The suspects repeatedly slipped away from officers as the burglary spree unfolded.

In May, an officer spotted a possible suspect vehicle and attempted a traffic stop, but the driver allegedly sped away. Police launched a pursuit before calling it off over public safety concerns.

OREGON BURGLARY SUSPECT NABBED AFTER CRASHING SUV DURING POLICE CHASE: VIDEO

During another string of burglaries in June, officers located a different suspect vehicle, but the suspects again escaped.

Later that month, the juveniles allegedly fled another burglary, crashed a vehicle and ran from the scene on foot. They evaded capture once again, though officers recovered a firearm.

The break in the case came in late June, when Concord detectives working with the Richmond Police Department identified four juveniles believed to be behind the burglary spree.

One suspect was already being held in juvenile hall in connection with an unrelated case. Investigators then obtained arrest and search warrants for the remaining three.

In July, the Concord Police Department SWAT Team executed simultaneous warrants with assistance from the Antioch Police Department, Pittsburg Police Department, Central County SWAT and the U.S. Marshals Service.

All three outstanding suspects were arrested.

Searches of their residences led to the recovery of two firearms stolen during the burglaries, police said. A third stolen firearm had previously been recovered by the Richmond Police Department during a separate investigation.

As detectives dug deeper, they uncovered what prosecutors describe as an organized fencing operation.

CHICAGO POL SAYS WALGREENS SHOULD BE CHARGED WITH 'FIRST-DEGREE CORPORATE ABANDONMENT' OVER CLOSURE OVER THEFT

Investigators identified 37-year-old Wuillian Cordova-Cubias of Oakland as the alleged buyer of stolen property, accusing him of purchasing power tools from the juvenile suspects, often shortly after the burglaries occurred.

On Aug. 5, detectives with the Concord Police Department, Oakland Police Department and the U.S. Marshals Service executed a search warrant at Cordova-Cubias' Oakland home.

Police said the search uncovered what investigators believe was the hub of a regional fencing operation. Inside, detectives found at least 500 suspected stolen power tools, along with a stolen ATV, a stolen forklift, an unregistered firearm and numerous other high-value items. Authorities estimated the recovered property was worth approximately $250,000.

The Contra Costa County District Attorney's Office charged Cordova-Cubias with receiving stolen property, two counts of receiving stolen motor vehicles, unlawful firearm activity and conspiracy with juvenile co-conspirators. Prosecutors also filed sentencing enhancements that could increase any potential penalties if he is convicted.

"As organized theft offenses have increased, my office has responded by building an effective Organized Theft Unit that works closely with law enforcement to file strong cases we believe we can prove beyond a reasonable doubt in court," Contra Costa County District Attorney Diana Becton said in a statement. "Concord Police Department's thorough investigation into these burglaries and the fencing operation reflects the kind of collaboration that holds individuals accountable."

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Cordova-Cubias remains in custody at the Martinez Detention Facility and is scheduled to be arraigned Monday afternoon in Contra Costa County Superior Court.

The Contra Costa County District Attorney's Office also filed complaints against the three juvenile suspects. Their identities have not been released under California law.

Cyclospora fears are sending shoppers to farmers markets for local produce

Sun, 09 Aug 2026 16:45:16 -0400

Concerns surrounding the ongoing Cyclospora outbreak are changing how some consumers shop for produce — with farmers markets reporting a surge in shoppers seeking homegrown greens.

Demand for locally grown lettuce has increased across Ohio, with some vendors at farmers markets selling out within 30 to 60 minutes of opening, Ohio news publication Axios Columbus reported.

The increased interest comes as shoppers pay closer attention to where their food comes from amid concerns about produce distributed through larger commercial suppliers.

CRUISE SHIP HIT WITH THIRD STOMACH ILLNESS OUTBREAK IN TWO MONTHS, REVIEW UNDERWAY

Grocery store lettuce sales and visits to restaurants with produce-heavy menus have declined this summer, while farmers markets are seeing increased demand for locally grown alternatives, according to Axios.

Locally grown produce, however, is not immune from Cyclospora.

Local greens typically have a shorter journey from farm to consumer than produce handled through larger commercial supply chains, which may mean fewer opportunities for contamination, the publication said.

The shift in shopping habits comes as federal health officials continue investigating the outbreak and encouraging consumers to take precautions when preparing produce.

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The CDC advises consumers to wash their hands and rinse fresh fruits and vegetables thoroughly under running water before preparing or eating them.

Washing produce, however, does not guarantee that Cyclospora will be eliminated, according to the agency's food safety alert.

Concerns about the outbreak have also spread online, where some consumers say the uncertainty has left them anxious about what they eat.

"I've been coping by pretty much only eating things that are cooked," one Reddit user wrote.

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Another commenter pointed to the time between exposure and potential symptoms as a source of worry.

"The incubation period is what's making me anxious," the user wrote.

"Any time I feel a little off, I absolutely panic that I have this parasite," another user commented.

The concerns come as the outbreak has grown to thousands of confirmed cases across the country.

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Fox News Digital previously reported that over 6,300 cases had been confirmed across 15 states, resulting in 278 hospitalizations and two deaths.

Taylor Farms de Mexico recalled all iceberg lettuce sourced from central Mexico on July 17 after health officials linked the product to the outbreak.

The recalled lettuce reached consumers, restaurants and retailers in at least 27 states.

People who develop Cyclosporiasis can experience diarrhea, loss of appetite, weight loss, cramping, bloating, nausea and fatigue.

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Symptoms most often develop about a week after infection, although they can begin as early as two days after exposure or take two weeks or longer to appear, according to the CDC.

Fox News Digital's James Cirrone contributed reporting.

Florida AG James Uthmeier says Fauci probe could uncover grounds for criminal liability despite pardon

Sun, 09 Aug 2026 16:17:02 -0400

Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier said on "Sunday Morning Futures" that his office is examining potential claims ranging from fraud and deceptive trade practices to public nuisance as part of its investigation into Dr. Anthony Fauci, adding that the probe could uncover grounds for criminal liability.

Uthmeier said Florida investigators plan to use "every tool under Florida law" as they examine whether Fauci engaged in any self-dealing or profited from COVID-era policies.

FAUCI HELD IN CONTEMPT AS COVID CELLPHONE LANDS IN HANDS OF SENATE INVESTIGATORS

Asked whether he believes Fauci committed a crime, the attorney general said, "I can't say that right now."

"We follow rules of procedure and evidence. I mean, I could say generally, I think what he did to the American people was horrific. People died because of him. People got hurt because of him. People couldn't be there for the birth of their first child or the loss of a loved one because of him," he added.

"If he is making money on the side while perpetrating this fraud, there could very well be criminal liability," he said. "But we're going to start with civil, criminal, everything from public nuisance to deceptive trade, to fraud. We're going to look at every aspect of Florida law and do everything in our power to seek truth and accountability."

Uthmeier's investigation is ongoing. Criminal wrongdoing has not been established at this time.

Former President Joe Biden issued Fauci, who served as the principal architect for the government's COVID-19 guidelines, a full and unconditional pardon for all actions taken between Jan. 1, 2014, and Jan. 19, 2025. This pardon does not protect Fauci from prosecution under state law, however.

Uthmeier's comments follow Fauci's congressional hearing, during which he declined to answer questions, instead invoking the Fifth Amendment, more than 100 times.

CAN FAUCI HIDE BEHIND THE FIFTH? GAME-CHANGING BIDEN PARDON MAY NOT PROVIDE COMPLETE COVER, EXPERTS SAY

The Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee voted on sharp party lines to charge the former chief medical advisor to the president with contempt after he refused to answer questions from both sides of the aisle over fear of self-incrimination.

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"I don't know why you need a pardon if you didn't do anything wrong," Uthmeier said.

"Dr. Fauci clearly doesn't want to answer questions, but the American people still have a lot of questions, especially Floridians."

Fox News Digital reached out to Dr. Fauci but did not immediately receive a response.

Is cyberbullying hiding in your child's group chat?

Sun, 09 Aug 2026 16:00:07 -0400

"It was only a joke." Those five words can stop an important conversation before it begins. Maybe your child or grandchild posted a rude comment in a group chat. Another kid added an embarrassing picture. Soon, classmates were sharing it and piling on with laughing reactions.

To the children taking part, it may feel like ordinary online drama. To the child being targeted, every notification can feel like another person joining the attack. The warning signs of cyberbullying are not always obvious. Some children hide what they are experiencing. Others take part without realizing their behavior has crossed a line.

That is why cybersecurity education needs to go beyond strong passwords, antivirus software and password managers. Those protections remain essential. However, children also need guidance about empathy, privacy and the consequences of what they post. Parents play a central role. Grandparents can also become trusted listeners, especially when a child feels nervous about telling Mom or Dad. Share this article with the adults in your family. Then use it to start a conversation before a child needs help.

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JEWISH STUDENT TARGETED WITH ANTISEMITIC ABUSE, LAPTOP CORD ATTACK AT COLORADO SCHOOL, ADL ALLEGES

Cyberbullying can hide inside ordinary online behavior

Cyberbullying rarely arrives with a warning label. It may appear as a cruel joke, an altered photo or a rumor inside a private chat. Someone might create a fake account to embarrass a classmate. A group may deliberately exclude one child and then share screenshots of the conversation.

The CDC defines bullying as unwanted aggressive behavior that involves a real or perceived power imbalance. The behavior repeats or has a strong chance of being repeated. Cyberbullying occurs when children use texting, social media or other technology to carry out that behavior. That definition can become confusing online.

One person may post something only once. However, dozens of other people can save and share it. The child who created the post may call it a single joke, while the person being targeted watches it circulate for days. Children may also believe they are only watching. Yet forwarding a humiliating image or adding a laughing reaction can make the attack feel much larger. Adults need to help children connect an online action with the real person receiving it.

What the latest cyberbullying data tells families

The latest available research shows that online harassment remains part of daily life for many young people. The CDC reports that more than one in six U.S. high school students experienced electronic bullying during the previous year. That includes bullying through texting and social media. Female students reported it more often than male students.

A World Health Organization study involving 44 countries and regions found that 15% of adolescents had experienced cyberbullying. Meanwhile, 12% admitted cyberbullying someone else. Both figures had increased compared with the organization's earlier research. A 2026 Pew Research Center study offers a closer look at the social platforms teenagers use. Roughly three-quarters of teen TikTok, Instagram and Snapchat users said harassment and bullying were problems on those platforms for people their age.

Nearly three in 10 teen Snapchat users said they had personally experienced at least one form of harassment covered by the survey. Those behaviors included offensive name-calling, rumor spreading or physical threats. The figure was about one in five among teen Instagram and TikTok users. These numbers do not mean every disagreement counts as bullying. Still, families should not wait for an online situation to become severe before discussing it.

Your child may not realize they joined the bullying

Ask a child whether they have bullied anyone and the answer will probably be no. Ask whether they have forwarded an embarrassing screenshot and you may hear a different response.

Children often picture a bully as one openly cruel person who targets someone weaker. Online harassment can look far less organized. A teenager may add an emoji without thinking. Someone else may share the post because everyone at school has already seen it. Another child may remain silent because speaking up could make them the next target.

Each action can increase the pressure on the person being humiliated. Parents and grandparents should avoid starting this conversation with an accusation. Instead, use an example your child can understand.

Ask how the person in the picture might feel. Find out whether they gave permission for the post. You could also ask what your child would want a friend to do if someone shared the same content about them. These questions help children examine their decisions without immediately feeling attacked.

Why telling a child to go offline may not solve it

I recently spoke with a high school senior and her mother, who works in education. The student explained that bullying often looks very different from the scenes adults remember from movies. Much of it happens in private chats, anonymous apps and social media accounts that hide the person posting.

Rumors can spread across a school before the person being discussed knows they exist. AI tools can also produce altered photos, fake audio and convincing videos of a classmate. When I asked whether leaving social media could provide some relief, the student explained that her phone connected her with friends and much of her school life. That response stayed with me.

Adults often see putting down a phone as a break. A teenager may see it as disappearing from their social circle. Leaving an app can also mean missing plans or school updates while everyone else continues discussing the situation.

Pew Research Center found that 74% of teens said social media helped them feel connected to what was happening in their friends' lives. At the same time, 39% said social media made them feel overwhelmed by drama. Nearly one-third said it sometimes left them feeling excluded. "Delete the app" should not be the only advice a child hears.

Parents may feel ready to talk before children feel ready to answer

Adults often assume their children know they can come to them. Children may feel differently. A 2025 Pew Research Center survey found that 80% of parents felt highly comfortable discussing their teenager's mental health. Only 52% of teens felt equally comfortable having that conversation with a parent. That gap should get every parent's attention.

A parent may believe the door is wide open. Meanwhile, the child may worry about losing a phone or being blamed for what happened. The child may also fear that an adult will immediately call the school and make the situation more public.

Grandparents can sometimes help bridge that distance. A teenager may reveal something during a car ride or while visiting for the weekend. The conversation may begin casually instead of during a serious family meeting. Listen closely when a child suddenly asks what you would do in a "hypothetical" situation. They may be testing whether it feels safe to tell you more.

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AI deepfakes are raising the stakes for children

Generative AI has made a painful form of online abuse much easier to create. A classmate can take an ordinary social media photo and use an AI tool to create a fake nude image. Someone can also clone a voice, produce a false video or build a convincing impersonation account. The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children received more than 400,000 CyberTipline reports with a generative AI connection during 2025.

NCMEC also identified more than 275 direct victims of AI-generated child sexual abuse material during 2024 and 2025. In many cases, the person responsible had direct access to the child. Those reports involve child exploitation rather than cyberbullying alone. However, NCMEC warns that classmates can use AI to create fake images and videos for bullying.

The content can circulate through schools and cause severe emotional harm. AI fakes may also be used for blackmail or sextortion. Parents should never dismiss an altered image because it is fake. The humiliation can feel painfully real. Copies may also keep circulating after the original post disappears. A child may fear that teachers, classmates or future friends will believe the image is genuine.

Tips for talking to kids about cyberbullying

One serious lecture will not prepare a child for every app, friend or group chat. Instead, return to this conversation as your child's online habits change. These steps can help you begin.

1) Ask about their online life before mentioning screen time

Opening with "You spend too much time on that phone" will probably lead to an argument. Ask which game they have been playing. Find out what their friends are sharing. You could also ask whether a group chat has started feeling uncomfortable or stressful.

The goal is to understand where your child spends time online. You probably know the names of their closest school friends. Try to learn about the people they interact with online too. That interest can make it easier for a child to describe a problem later.

2) Explain when a joke crosses the line

Children need examples they can recognize. A joke becomes harmful when the person asks for it to stop and the group keeps going. Sharing someone's picture without permission can also cross a boundary.

Spreading a rumor or creating a fake account to embarrass someone can cause lasting harm. Ask your child whether they would make the same comment with the other person sitting beside them. That pause may stop an impulsive post from growing into a much bigger problem.

3) Promise to listen before taking the phone away

Many children stay silent because they fear losing access to their device. Tell your child that showing you a troubling message will not automatically lead to punishment.

You may eventually need to restrict an app or change how the device is used. However, your first response should focus on what happened and whether the child feels safe. Listen before contacting another family. When possible, explain what you plan to do next. A child is more likely to keep talking when they feel included in the response.

4) Teach children to pause instead of retaliating

An angry reply can create another screenshot for people to share. Tell your child to stop responding when an exchange becomes heated. They can mute the conversation and show the device to a trusted adult. They should also avoid forwarding the content.

Even a reaction emoji can keep the post active and encourage more children to join. Federal bullying guidance advises children not to reply to or forward cyberbullying messages. It also recommends blocking threatening or questionable accounts.

5) Save evidence before deleting anything

The first instinct may be to erase a cruel post immediately. Take screenshots first. Capture the username, date and complete conversation.

Save emails, links and text messages. Write down when the behavior happened and whether anyone else saw it. You can use that evidence when reporting the account to the platform or school. StopBullying.gov recommends saving screenshots, emails and messages before reporting cyberbullying.

6) Block and report the account

After saving the evidence, block the person responsible. Report the post through the app or platform. Choose the category that most accurately describes what happened. If students from the same school are involved, contact an administrator and ask for the school's cyberbullying policy.

Tell the school what you already reported to the platform. Share enough evidence to explain the situation without spreading the harmful content further. Direct threats or stalking may require contacting law enforcement. Seek emergency help when anyone faces immediate danger.

7) Review privacy settings with your child

Make your child's social media accounts private when the platform offers that choice. Review the follower list together. Remove accounts your child does not recognize or no longer trusts.

Check whether posts reveal a school name or regular location. Look for phone numbers and home addresses too. Family members should review their own accounts.

A grandparent may proudly share a school photo without noticing the logo on a uniform. A relative might post a practice schedule or tag the child's exact location. Before sharing, ask what an angry classmate or stranger could learn from the post.

8) Protect social media and gaming accounts

A stolen account can quickly become a cyberbullying tool. Someone may impersonate your child, publish private conversations or send cruel messages to classmates.

Use a different password for every account. A password manager can create and store strong passwords so children do not reuse one login across several apps. Turn on multifactor authentication wherever it is available.

Children should also avoid sharing passwords with friends. Friendships can change, and access given today may be abused after an argument. Check out the best expert-reviewed password managers of 2026 at CyberGuy.com.

STUDY FINDS MORE AI PRAISE FOR BLACK STUDENTS, SOFTER TREATMENT OF FEMALES

9) Set family rules for apps and game downloads

Require children to ask before installing an unofficial gaming client, mod or computer program. A convincing video can promote a download that hides malware. Once installed, malicious software may steal passwords or allow someone to access private files.

Tell children never to disable security software because an online creator says a warning is harmless. They should download mods only from established communities recognized by the game's developer.

Strong antivirus software can help detect malicious files and block dangerous websites. Get my picks for the best 2026 antivirus protection winners for your Windows, Mac, Android and iOS devices at CyberGuy.com.

10) Use parental controls openly

Parental controls can help manage app downloads, content access and time spent on a device. Apple's Screen Time allows parents to set app limits and restrict certain content on a child's iPhone or iPad.

Google Family Link can manage apps and set screen-time limits on supported Android devices and Chromebooks. Microsoft Family Safety includes screen-time settings and content filters across supported devices. Some web filtering features require Microsoft Edge.

Tell children which controls you use and why. Secret monitoring can damage trust. A child who understands the rules has a better chance of respecting the boundaries.

You can also review my top child monitoring programs if built-in settings do not provide enough support at CyberGuy.com.

11) Treat AI-generated abuse as real harm

Do not tell a child to ignore an explicit deepfake because people know it was created with AI. Save the evidence without forwarding it. Report every account distributing the content.

Contact the school when students are involved. You can also report suspected child sexual exploitation to NCMEC's CyberTipline. Its Take It Down service creates a digital fingerprint of eligible images or videos so participating platforms can detect copies without the image leaving the device.

Do not download or ask someone to send you an explicit image of a minor to make a report. NCMEC specifically warns against downloading or sharing the content for submission.

12) Reduce the personal information bullies can find

A bully may send a child their home address or the names of relatives to frighten them. That information could come from public social media posts, people-search websites or data brokers.

Limit the family details you publish publicly. Ask relatives to do the same. A data removal service may reduce the information available through people-search and broker sites. No service can erase every detail, but ongoing removal can make sensitive information harder to locate. Check out my top picks for data removal services and get a free scan to find out if your personal information is already out on the web by visiting CyberGuy.com.

13) Know when the situation needs immediate help

Contact the school when classmates are involved or the online harassment begins affecting attendance. Report credible threats to law enforcement. Seek immediate help when a child appears to be in danger.

Do not try to negotiate with someone who claims to control a child's account, camera or computer. Disconnect the device from the internet. Then run a full security scan.

Change passwords from another device that you know is safe. Most importantly, reassure the child that asking for help was the right decision.

14) Adults teach online behavior through their own posts

Children notice how adults behave online. They see angry arguments on Facebook. They notice when family members share humiliating memes or attack someone in the comments.

An adult may view that behavior as blowing off steam. A child may see permission to act the same way. Before posting, ask whether you would say those words with your child sitting beside you.

Grandparents can set a powerful example too. They often have close relationships with grandchildren and may hear something a child hesitates to tell a parent. Let your grandchild know they can show you a troubling message without being blamed. Then involve the parents unless doing so could place the child in immediate danger.

Families preparing for the school year can also review my updated best back-to-school supplies and tech for students at CyberGuy.com.

15) Share this conversation before a child needs help

You do not have to wait for a crisis. Send this article to another parent. Share it with grandparents, relatives and anyone who regularly cares for your child.

Then agree on how the adults will respond if a child reports an online problem. A child should hear the same message from every trusted adult: Tell us what happened. We will listen before reacting.

That response may stop a child from hiding something because they fear punishment or embarrassment. It may also give a bystander the confidence to speak up when someone else is being targeted.

Kurt's key takeaways

Cyberbullying may begin with a joke, rumor or altered picture. Within minutes, it can follow a child across several accounts and into the classroom. Recent research shows that many teenagers see harassment as a serious problem on the platforms they use. AI has also made humiliating fake content easier to create and harder to contain. Security tools can protect accounts and devices. Parental controls can create useful boundaries. However, children still need adults who will listen before taking over. Parents and grandparents should keep the conversation going as apps and friendships change. Share these tips with the people who care for the children in your family. Then make sure every child knows which trusted adult they can approach when something feels wrong.

If your child or grandchild saw a humiliating post about a classmate today, would they join the crowd, stay silent or come tell you? Let us know by writing to us at CyberGuy.com.

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Israel's new $634M German-built 'doomsday' sub gives major boost to Iran deterrence

Sun, 09 Aug 2026 15:34:09 -0400

Israel has taken delivery of its most advanced and expensive submarine from Germany, expanding its fleet amid escalating regional threats, according to reports.

The handover of the INS Drakon is expected to significantly bolster Israel's underwater strike and reconnaissance capabilities, The Algemeiner reported. The warship had been scheduled to be delivered in 2025.

A statement following the submarine's naming ceremony in Kiel in 2024 said the INS Drakon is of the Dolphin AIP class and "equipped with unique systems, including groundbreaking technologies that expand the range of the IDF's capabilities across various arenas."

Built specifically for the Israeli Navy by Germany's ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems (TKMS), the submarine is said to provide a vital sea-based layer of "deterrence and retribution," amid the war with Iran, defense analysts say.

Dr. Ehud Eilam, an Israeli national security expert and former researcher for Israel’s Ministry of Defense, told Fox News Digital that maintaining a continuous undersea presence is paramount for the nation's national survival.

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"Some of them would have to be at sea, on high alert, around the clock, if Iran suddenly attacked Israel in such a way that would cripple the IDF, including its strategic capabilities," Eilam said.

"In such a drastic scenario, Israel’s submarine/s that would be at sea could respond," he added.

"Israel’s other submarines might be in Haifa harbor at the time. They might be attacked and unable to operate. This demonstrates how important it is to always have submarines at sea."

TKMS reportedly handed over the INS Drakon—the sixth Dolphin-class vessel and third modified Dolphin II-class submarine in Israel's fleet—at its shipyard in Kiel, Germany, in late July.

US MOVES AIRBORNE TROOPS, MARINES AS IRAN REJECTS CEASEFIRE, RAISING GROUND WAR POTENTIAL

Measuring more than 70 meters (230 feet) in length with a displacement exceeding 2,000 tons, the vessel is reported to be the largest submarine constructed in Germany since World War II, carrying an estimated price tag of $634 million, according to The Algemeiner.

According to Israeli outlet Ynet , Israel's Dolphin-class fleet also provides the nation with a critical sea-based second-strike capability in its defense program.

"Everything is going according to plan with the new program for Israel," TKMS CEO Oliver Burkhard told Ynet Global.

"That also applies to the handover of the last boat of the previous series, including the homecoming in Israel," he said of the expansive submarine program.

The INS Drakon’s arrival comes as Israel projects increasing military power across distant operational theaters, Eilam said.

TRUMP IS PROVING THAT THE WAY TO BETTER OUR MILITARY IS TO SECURE OUR SUPPLY CHAINS

"Israel has been acquiring submarines for several purposes. One of them is for deterrence and retribution, such as if Iran manages to develop nuclear weapons," Eilam said before adding that "Israel has to be ready."

While submarines on active deployment carry out intelligence and reconnaissance missions across the Mediterranean Sea, their primary objective remains readiness for "doomsday scenarios," Eilam noted.

"Israel’s new submarine is bigger than others, which suggests Israel wants to have more options, such as increasing the range of the submarine's missiles so they can reach every target in Iran, even if the Israeli submarine is in the Mediterranean Sea," Eilam said.

"That way the submarine does not have to get closer to Iran, which requires crossing the Suez Canal, and this could be very risky, if not impossible in some situations," he added. "The other alternative is to bypass all of Africa, which would take a long time."

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The new submarine was named INS Drakon (Dragon) — a mythical sea creature symbolizing strength, uniqueness and power — was chosen because it contains the Hebrew letters ד׳, ק׳, ר׳ (Dakar), thus commemorating the legacy of the submarine INS Dakar and its crew, the Ministry of Defense said.

Fox News Digital has reached out to the Israeli Navy, the Ministry of Defense, TKMS and the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) for comment.

Tarik Skubal says he was emotional leaving Detroit Tigers for LA Dodgers, would love to return: 'I'm crying'

Sun, 09 Aug 2026 15:32:30 -0400

Through no fault of his own, Tarik Skubal has become the center of discussion around Major League Baseball.

Skubal spent his entire career with the Detroit Tigers and, over the last four seasons, has turned himself into one of the best pitchers in baseball. Thanks to the Collective Bargaining Agreement and its handling of a player's first six seasons, he's been paid well below market salaries for a pitcher of his caliber. But Skubal's ready to reach free agency after this season, providing his first opportunity to finally cash in on his hard work and success.

Despite the Tigers' playoff appearance in 2025 and their willingness to spend to try and reach the postseason in 2026, a series of bad breaks, injuries, underperformance, and poor bullpen performance put them well under .500 heading into July. Given the higher prices teams are willing to pay for talent midseason, and the middling return organizations receive if a player leaves in free agency, the Tigers faced a choice. Keep Skubal, hope their season turns around, and potentially watch him leave for just a draft pick this winter, or trade him to a contender for top prospects, years of control, and the certainty that you haven't let your star leave for nothing.

DODGERS REPORTEDLY ACQUIRE ACE TARIK SKUBAL FROM TIGERS IN TRADE THAT STIRS UP MLB WORLD

They traded him. Makes sense, right? Sure, if they'd picked a different team.

But because Detroit chose the offer from the Los Angeles Dodgers, Skubal has unwittingly become a villain around the league. Even worse, he echoed the position shared by players across baseball, like Bryce Harper and Manny Machado, that the Dodgers are not bad for the sport because their owners are willing to accept lower profits in exchange for winning more games.

Many have assumed that the trade means Skubal will spend the rest of his career in Los Angeles. A complete misunderstanding of how midseason trades for free agent rentals work, and an inaccurate assumption that the Dodgers automatically keep every player they trade for.

Well, maybe they'll be happier hearing what Skubal had to say about his upcoming free agency and leaving the only team he's ever known.

TARIK SKUBAL'S DODGERS DEBUT ENDS IN DECISIVE 5-1 LOSS TO CUBS AS L.A. DROPS FIFTH STRAIGHT GAME

"I would love to play my whole career in Detroit. I would love to," Skubal explained in an interview with Pardon My Take. "And hopefully those negotiations can pick back up in November once the playoffs are done. We’ll see where that goes. Hopefully they’re involved with everything. I would love to return."

Skubal also said that his departure was emotional, even as someone who doesn't get emotional easily.

"You start saying goodbye to teammates…a lot of those guys are my best friends," he added. "It’s a bunch of men, and I’m crying. I hate crying. I don’t cry a lot."

CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM

He too felt that the Tigers had a legitimate chance at winning a championship after signing Framber Valdez, Kenley Jansen and bringing back Jack Flaherty and Justin Verlander, among others.

"This wasn’t the way the season was supposed to go. Going into the offseason, [with] the people that we acquired through free agency and who we signed, I’m like, ‘This is the World Series team,’" Skubal said. "This is the team that I’m gonna go and win a World Series and beat anybody. It doesn’t matter what’s going on."

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So even after making his first start with his new team, and incorporating the fact that he was traded away, Skubal wants to return to Detroit. Guess everyone can put down their pitchforks now, right?

Well, no, of course not, because that's not how fans think or operate. But Skubal is correct about what this trade actually means and how the open free agency market works.

The Dodgers could approach Skubal and his agent, Scott Boras, with an extension offer for the remainder of the regular season. They also have a five-day exclusive negotiating window the day after the World Series ends, before free agency starts. But for a player like Skubal, who's expected to get between $300-400 million, reaching the open market carries immense value. More teams bidding increases prices, after all. Especially with big market teams like the Mets or Giants desperate for pitching and capable of making big salary commitments.

So while it's possible he signs with LA, it's unlikely. But the point is that, should Tigers ownership decide they're willing to spend in to bring him back, there's a near certainty they'll have the opportunity. That's how free agency works. And it's why the wailing and gnashing of teeth over this trade was always an exaggerated overreaction.

The Dodgers traded for Yu Darvish in 2017, and let him leave. They traded for Manny Machado in 2018, and saw him sign with San Diego. They traded for Trea Turner and Max Scherzer in 2021, only for Scherzer to leave after that season, while Turner went to Philadelphia in free agency in 2022. They traded for Jack Flaherty in 2024, and he signed with the...Detroit Tigers after winning a World Series in LA.

In fact, outside Tommy Edman, they've never re-signed a player brought in via midseason trade. And Edman is hardly the type of superstar player fans associate with the Dodgers.

Skubal knows that Boras is known for taking advantage of the open market. He knows there's every possibility that he's simply a rental for LA in hopes of a three-peat. And by the way, even after the trade, the Tigers are one of the hottest teams in baseball.

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They've won seven of their last 10 games, have passed several teams and are now just two games back of the third wild-card spot in the American League, and three and a half out of first place in the division. They're tied for the best run differential in the AL at +85, and just got top prospect Jackson Jobe back from Tommy John. Imagine if they make a run to the playoffs, bring in Zyhir Hope and River Ryan, and sign Skubal back anyway. Well, none of that would matter because the Dodgers would still have "ruined baseball" regardless.

Indian national accused of Arizona girlfriend's murder entered US on student visa: federal sources

Sun, 09 Aug 2026 15:30:48 -0400

The man accused of murdering his teenage girlfriend in Arizona allegedly tried to cover his tracks, flee the country and vanish overseas.

Federal law enforcement sources told Fox News the accused killer, 20-year-old Varun Batchigari, is an Indian national who entered the United States through Los Angeles International Airport on Jan. 8, 2024, on an F-1 student visa.

After the alleged killing, authorities say Batchigari boarded a flight from Houston bound for India with a layover in Germany, where he was arrested after the FBI alerted local authorities.

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The FBI is now working to extradite him back to Arizona to face a first-degree murder charge.

Batchigari is charged with murdering his 19-year-old girlfriend, Julissa Salazar, who Tucson police say was strangled Thursday inside an off-campus apartment near the University of Arizona.

Investigators allege Batchigari stole Salazar's cellphone and credit cards after the killing, then sent a series of text messages to her mother while posing as the victim in an apparent attempt to conceal the crime. The messages raised concern among Salazar's family, prompting a welfare check that led officers to discover her body.

A felony warrant paints a picture of escalating violence, a deteriorating relationship and mounting personal troubles in the months leading up to Salazar's death.

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According to the warrant, obtained by KOLD-TV, Batchigari had previously been involved in an assault case investigated by the University of Arizona Police Department.

Witnesses interviewed by investigators said Salazar moved out after experiencing problems with Batchigari in late 2025 and had planned to end the relationship because of an alleged history of domestic violence.

The warrant also includes allegations from multiple witnesses describing prior violent behavior. One witness told investigators Batchigari sexually assaulted her at a Halloween party but said she never reported the allegation to law enforcement.

Another witness told investigators Batchigari had been expelled from the University of Arizona following a fight and later lost his job, leading to financial problems and concerns about his student visa status and ability to pay rent.

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Federal records reviewed by Fox News show Batchigari remained in lawful immigration status at the time of the alleged murder despite his reported expulsion from the University of Arizona.

Because international students on F-1 visas are generally required to remain enrolled to maintain their legal status, it is unclear why his immigration status had not yet changed.

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A Tucson Police Department spokesperson told Fox News Digital there were no updates beyond the information already released publicly. Fox News Digital also reached out to the University of Arizona to confirm Batchigari's enrollment history and whether Salazar was a student, but did not immediately receive a response.

'The Odyssey' inspires surging travel interest in real-world locations behind the blockbuster

Sun, 09 Aug 2026 15:10:36 -0400

Christopher Nolan's blockbuster film "The Odyssey" takes moviegoers on an epic journey throughout the ancient world — with many of the scenes shot in notable locations all over the world.

Filming took place at spectacular spots in Greece, Italy, Morocco, Scotland and Iceland — continuing Nolan's longtime preference for practical filmmaking and in-camera effects.

The film, after just four weekends, has become Nolan's highest grossing movie ever at the global box office, with $1.1 billion pulled in, according to Deadline. ("The Odyssey" is also the highest grossing R-rated movie of 2026 both in North America and around the world, the same source said.)

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The locations were transformed into a variety of settings, including ancient Troy, Odysseus' homeland of Ithaca and the cave in which the hero encounters the Cyclops.

Travelers have been showing a strong interest in taking in some of these locations for themselves. A recent analysis from Nibble, a learning app, found that Google search interest in traveling to Troy jumped 3,421% after the movie's mid-July release, while searches for "flights to Troy" increased 966%, as Travel + Leisure reported.

Searches about whether Troy is a real place or not also surged, the same source noted — "suggesting that many viewers left the theater wondering whether Homer’s legendary city is somewhere they can actually visit," Travel + Leisure said.

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Moviegovers may recognize the following five locations in the film — and may find a way to see these locations with their own eyes in the days, weeks and months ahead.

1. Voidokilia Beach, Greece

Voidokilia Beach is located in Messenia, in the southwestern Peloponnese region of Greece.

The uniquely shaped beach, which served as one of the film's Greek filming locations, is about 10 miles from the coastal town of Pylos.

2. Nestor's Cave, Greece

Nestor's Cave sits above Voidokilia Beach.

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The cave was used to film scenes with Polyphemus, the Cyclops who traps Odysseus and his crew in his cave before devouring several of the men.

Visitors can reach Nestor's Cave on foot via a hiking trail above Voidokilia Beach, though the climb is rocky and steep.

3. Favignana, Sicily

The largest of Sicily's Egadi Islands, Favignana was used to represent Ithaca in "The Odyssey."

Also known as the Aegadian Islands, the archipelago consists of three main islands known for their crystal-clear waters.

Favignana is about a 30-minute ferry ride from Trapani on Sicily's western coast.

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The waters surrounding the Egadi Islands have also yielded remarkable archaeological finds.

In September 2025, Sicilian officials announced the discovery of a well-preserved bronze helmet near the site of the 241 B.C. Battle of the Aegates, along with weapons.

4. Aït Benhaddou, Morocco

Aït Benhaddou is a fortified settlement in southern Morocco, with structures dating back to the 17th century.

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In "The Odyssey," Aït Benhaddou serves as part of ancient Troy at the end of the Trojan War.

The UNESCO World Heritage Site remains open to visitors and is a roughly 30-minute drive from Ouarzazate.

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Marrakech, a popular tourist destination, is roughly 110 miles from Aït Benhaddou.

As for the beach where the Trojan Horse is found and brought ashore — that took place on the beaches of Essaouira, Morocco, on the Atlantic coast, according to multiple reports.

5. Findlater Castle, Scotland

Nolan filmed scenes at Findlater Castle in Aberdeenshire, on Scotland's northeast coast, last summer, according to several sources.

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The castle overlooks the Moray Firth, a large inlet of the North Sea. Visitors can explore the castle, which features ruins dating back to the 14th century, though the first documented fortification at the site dates to 1246.

"For nearly eight centuries, Findlater Castle has stood witness to the ebb and flow of history — from Viking occupation to royal sieges," officials from Findlater Castle said in a statement.

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"Now, thanks to Christopher Nolan's vision, these ancient ruins will introduce millions of cinema-goers around the world to the raw beauty of the Banffshire coast."