Latest & Breaking News | Fox News

America’s next 250 years depend on passing faith and freedom to our children

Thu, 02 Jul 2026 05:00:46 -0400

As America reaches a major milestone this July 4th, there will be elaborate fireworks, long parades and plenty of speeches about what this nation has accomplished and endured. All of that is worth celebrating.

But if we're honest, the more pressing question isn't what we're commemorating, it's what we're handing down. What we teach the next generation of Americans will determine what this country looks like at its next great milestone.

Right now, we are in danger of handing them a version of America that has been stripped of the very thing that made it extraordinary in the first place: faith.

SECRETS OF REVOLUTIONARY WAR BATTLEFIELDS EMERGE 250 YEARS AFTER AMERICA'S FOUNDING

Let me start with something that gets misquoted almost daily in our culture. The First Amendment does not say that God has no place in American public life. It says Congress shall make no law establishing a religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof. It was written by brave leaders who quoted Scripture and opened the Constitutional Convention in prayer.

America wasn’t born out of a desire to eliminate religion and become some sort of aimless, secular utopia. Instead, our founders built a nation where no single church would be compelled by the state, precisely because they believed faith was too important to be weaponized by government.

The Declaration of Independence references God four times. Our rights are described as endowments from a Creator. These rights don't come from a king, a parliament or a constitution. They come from God. Government doesn't grant them. Government is merely charged with protecting them.

THE FOUNDING FATHERS WOULD SOUND THE ALARM ON AOC, MAMDANI AND OUR SLIDE INTO SOCIALISM

This is where we have lost the plot.

Over the last several decades, we've allowed "separation of church and state" — a phrase that doesn't appear anywhere in the Constitution — to be wielded as a crowbar to pry faith out of public life entirely. We've taught a generation of young people that patriotism and faith don’t blend, that loving America means setting religion aside and that the public square must be scrubbed clean of anything that looks spiritual or sounds like a prayer.

The result? A generation of people who are ashamed of their country and unmoored from their God.

GOV SANDERS REVEALS 'MAJOR BREAKTHROUGH' ON EDUCATION AS RED STATE POSITIONS ITSELF AS 'BLUEPRINT' FOR NATION

I've learned a lot in 30 years of working with girls, many of whom left the Girl Scouts because of the ways the organization has stripped faith and God-given identity from its program, as so many other organizations have over the years. When a young woman doesn't know who she is in Christ, she won't know what to make of her country either. She'll be told by one group to love America uncritically, and by another to be ashamed of it. She'll waffle between identities, trying to figure out which version of herself is acceptable in which room.

That is not freedom. It’s confusion dressed up as progress.

Genuine freedom — the kind our Founders recognized and Scripture promises — isn't something any government invented. It existed before the Constitution was drafted, before the Declaration was signed, before anyone fled Europe for this continent. It's woven into how God made human beings. America's genius was not that it created freedom. It was that it acknowledged freedom as something already bestowed by God, and built a government designed to protect it.

That distinction matters, especially for the kids we are raising right now.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE FOX NEWS OPINION

If we want America to look like America at its next great milestone, we have to teach the next generation that their identity as Christians and their identity as Americans are not in conflict. They are complementary. A girl confidently rooted in her faith, who knows she is first a citizen of heaven and second a citizen of this republic, is exactly the kind of person a free nation needs. She doesn't need the government to tell her what is true or good. She can hold the complexity of her nation's history, the beauty and the scars alike, without being shaken, because her foundation isn't the nation, it's the God who placed her in it!

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

America’s birthday parties will be spectacular this July 4th. I hope they are. My own backyard will be filled with family, friends and more food than any hostess should prepare. I love the joyful, celebratory spirit of this time of year. But when the fireworks fade, the real work will be the same work it has always been, which is raising children who know the God who made them free, and who understand that freedom comes with the responsibility to pass it on.

That is how we commemorate 250 years. And that is how we earn the next.

Micron's $250 million bet on kids is a blueprint for America's future

Thu, 02 Jul 2026 04:45:36 -0400

Two hundred and fifty years ago, a band of visionaries bet everything on a radical idea: that ordinary people, given liberty and opportunity, could build a great and innovative nation. As we approach America's 250th birthday, it's time to make another bold bet on our workforce and the next generation.

Idaho-based Micron Technology has committed more than $200 billion to expand semiconductor manufacturing and R&D right here in the United States. One of the largest private investments in the country’s history, it will generate more than 90,000 U.S. jobs.

But Micron's investment in America never stopped at fabs. Micron has more than $300 million planned nationally over the next 20 years for education, community, veteran and workforce development programs. Micron announced today that it is once again leading the way for the private sector by committing $250 million to seed Trump Accounts for 1 million American children, in addition to matching our employees’ contributions to these accounts.

HERE'S HOW MUCH TRUMP ACCOUNT BALANCES COULD GROW OVER TIME

These tax-advantaged savings vehicles, passed by Congress and signed into law by President Trump, help parents, guardians and other donors invest in families’ futures. Micron is putting real money behind them with two new programs. This investment — both an employee benefit and a community initiative — is the largest corporate commitment of its kind.

First, an employee match. Micron employs more than 10,000 Americans, and starting now, current and future team members who open Trump Accounts for their children will receive a company match of up to $1,000 per child. After contributing $1,000 of their own, a Micron team member with one newborn child could receive an additional $1,000 match from Micron, combined with the government's $1,000 seed contribution. This collective $3,000 in tax-advantaged dollars could, based on historical market averages, grow to more than $20,000 by the time that child turns 18.

Second, community seed funding. In communities where Micron operates and in counties with median incomes of less than $150,000, families who open a Trump Account for their child will receive a one-time $250 deposit per child from Micron. These are communities in Idaho, New York, Virginia, California, Colorado, Minnesota and Texas — places where hardworking Americans are constructing the fabs and engineering the chips that serve as the foundation of AI in data centers, smartphones, PCs and consumer electronics, automotive technology and several other markets. Micron’s investment in our communities is aimed at reaching up to 1 million children.

The global AI boom is driving unprecedented demand for Micron's advanced memory and storage technology, and the company is expanding production rapidly. Every medical device screening for cancer, every system predicting weather patterns to save lives, every tool helping farmers forecast crop yields and optimize irrigation, every vehicle getting safer on the road, and every smartphone running on-device AI will depend on chips of the type Micron is building right here in America.

TRUMP ACCOUNTS TOUTED AS ANTIDOTE TO ‘ANTI-CAPITALIST’ IDEOLOGY, FINANCIAL ILLITERACY GRIPPING US: REGULATOR

The company’s U.S. investment of more than $200 billion comes as AI has made American-made semiconductors more critical than at any point in history. President Trump's push to onshore chip manufacturing created the conditions for companies like Micron to advance U.S. economic and national security through domestic semiconductor supply chains and to reinvest in American communities at a historic scale.

Micron's chips power AI, and AI is driving our growth — growth that is creating tens of thousands of American jobs in communities across the country. And now it’s supporting Trump Accounts for children in Boise, Syracuse and beyond. That is American business at its finest.

Micron’s investment proves what we have always known: The private sector is ready to amplify public initiatives that help build prosperity from the ground up..

CLICK HERE FOR MORE FOX NEWS OPINION

By investing in the next generation of American inventors, engineers, technicians, construction workers, craftspeople and entrepreneurs, Micron’s commitment builds on the founding spirit of this nation. The children who benefit from these accounts today could be the ones designing the breakthroughs that keep America ahead of the global competition tomorrow. The chips we build today will help build the futures of America’s children and tomorrow’s workforce.

More than $200 billion in American manufacturing. $250 million for American children. $250 per child. In America's 250th year. That symmetry is no accident.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

I invite every American company to follow this lead. The Trump Account is the vehicle. The opportunity is now. Years from now, when a young American opens that account and sees how it’s grown, he or she will know somebody believed in him or her.

That is the America worth building for the next 250 years.

SEN TIM SCOTT: My family's journey shows America's founding promise is alive and strong

Thu, 02 Jul 2026 05:00:17 -0400

Only in America can a family go from cotton to Congress in one lifetime. My grandfather saw his grandson win elections in the birthplace of the Confederacy. A state that once pledged allegiance to the Confederate states elected a Black man to the United States Senate.

In one lifetime, by the grace of our Almighty God and the evolution of the southern heart, we saw the change America was destined for and a future that expanded the promise of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness to all Americans.

As we come together to celebrate our nation’s 250th birthday, we must remember the progress we’ve made and the struggle we must undertake for our nation to continue to prosper. If in the last 250 years we have made America great, we need to remember what made us great in the first place: faith, freedom, and opportunity.

WORLD CUP SOCCER FANS ARE DISCOVERING AMERICA’S GREATNESS. IT’S TIME AMERICANS DID, TOO

Even in our country’s struggles, faith and freedom have always been at the core of who we are as Americans.

With the first beats of America’s heart in 1776 came the soul of a nation defined by its rare proposition that all men are created equal and endowed by their Creator, not their government.

Our founders knew that when we lived up to our highest ideals and viewed one another as beings created by God with inherent value, then we would point to our true north and fulfill the promises of our Declaration of Independence.

CIVIL RIGHTS HEROES LOVED AMERICA. TODAY'S GRIEVANCE PEDDLERS JUST HATE IT

Dr. King called America back to that same promise. He did not lead from merely a podium - he led from the pulpit. His dream was not a political speech. It was a sermon. He said, "But let justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a never-failing stream!" (Amos 5:24). He called America not to be a new nation, but to honor its founding promise, echoing the words of Frederick Douglass in 1852 in the face of slavery, "The principles contained in the [Declaration of Independence] are saving principles. Stand by those principles, be true to them on all occasions, in all places, against all foes, and at whatever the cost."

They didn’t want a different America. They wanted America to be all that we said we were meant to be.

It took conviction, courage, and a willingness to stand up for the truth to transform this ideal into a reality for all Americans. Thank God Almighty for brave men and women of good conscience who committed themselves to advancing these principles. They did not abandon our founding principles; they challenged America to live up to them.

YOUNG MEN ARE RETURNING TO CHURCH — AND IT COULD RESHAPE AMERICA’S FUTURE

America needs those same convictions today. We must recommit ourselves to the Judeo-Christian values that have made our nation great in the pursuit of a more perfect union. Those enduring principles are what make America the greatest nation on God’s green Earth, and that foundation will never fail, no matter what challenges we face.

Nothing good ever comes easy, and America is no exception. Only by the grace of God and leaders who unapologetically speak the truth can we ever make progress and more fully realize America as the land of opportunity where every American has the chance to reach their God-given potential.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE FOX NEWS OPINION

For America to continue to flourish, we must humble ourselves and remember the truth and values that our nation was founded upon. It doesn't mean attacking those around us, but as Ephesians 4:15 says, "speaking the truth in love."

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

Love is a commitment to what? To truth. Therefore, love does not mean that we compromise our ideals or sugarcoat the truth.

It means we encourage what is right, confront what is wrong, and remain open to correction ourselves. When we put God first, rededicate ourselves to our founding ideals, and stand up for what is right, we can surely experience the blessings of faith, freedom, and opportunity in South Carolina and the whole of the United States today, tomorrow, and for the next 250 years.

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM SEN. TIM SCOTT

MORNING GLORY: Celebrate the Supreme Court, our Constitution and America at 250

Thu, 02 Jul 2026 05:00:12 -0400

The Supreme Court ended its 2025-2027 term Tuesday and many of its members will soon leave the Beltway for the summer. There are courses to teach, lectures to give and seminars to lead — and perhaps a book to work on as they enjoy their annual break. The justices long ago adjusted their rhythms to the facts of the District of Columbia’s summer, but this year, they, like many other Americans will also be celebrating our nation’s 250th birthday.

Robes, gavels and the necessary secrecy aside, the Court is a very human institution peopled by Americans of exceptional accomplishment and dedication. Even when followers of the Court are disappointed or even outraged by this or that decision, the Court continues to outpace the other branches of government when it comes for respect for the institution and its long and steady support for the Constitution.

On three occasions, the Court has left terrible stains on American history. The "anti-cannon" trio of terrible decisions — Dred Scott, Plessy v Ferguson and Korematsu v. United States — have all been reversed, with members of the Court repeatedly expressing shame for their predecessors that penned or signed on to those decisions.

SECRETS OF REVOLUTIONARY WAR BATTLEFIELDS EMERGE 250 YEARS AFTER AMERICA'S FOUNDING

Many people quarrel with this or that decision every time one is issued. Of the seven most controversial decisions rolling out from One First Street, NE at this term’s end — decisions dealing with status of appointees atop federal administrative agencies, the tenure of governors of the Federal Reserve, "Temporary Protected Status" of immigrants inside the country and the availability of asylum to immigrants outside of it but at the border, the First Amendment and spending by political parties, state laws prohibiting biological boys participating in girls’ sports and birthright citizenship — very few approved of the majority in all seven cases. (I did, but that’s the scorecard of an outlier in the lists of punditry, the result of having taught Constitutional Law for 30 years to law students at the Fowler School of Law at Chapman University. My perspective is that of an institutionalist who prizes text, history and tradition as well as the much overlooked virtue of common sense.)

The passionate folks who are activists on one or two issues — gun rights, abortion access, religious liberty, who is "an American" are at least entitled to stay in the country — are often the most vocal in the aftermath of a decision they don’t like. The results are occasional days of rage on X, periods of anger which too shall pass. What ought to remain as we approach our 250th birthday is an appreciation for the institution that is the embodiment of our commitment to the rule of law.

The Declaration of Independence is, as President-elect Abraham Lincoln put it long ago (borrowing from the Book of Proverbs in the Bible) the "apple or gold" at the heart of our country’s being. Lincoln added —continuing to borrow from Proverbs — that the Constitution was the "frame of silver" protecting the Declaration’s promises of freedom and equality before the law.

Every decision the Court renders ought to be issued to advance the polishing and strengthening of that frame. Certainly the majorities in every case of constitutional significance (as opposed to, say, interpretations of bankruptcy statutes) quest to "get it right." Dissenters are often very explicit in their arguments about every decision. But whether writing for a majority or dissenting from one, the justices all reduce their arguments to writing and let the public judge the results.

It is far from an easy job and particular cases like that of President Trump’s executive order on "birthright citizenship" produce avalanches of words and, in that case, six different opinions explaining the various justices’ views. It’s a lot for a layman to take in. So they don’t. Many take their cues from social media. Rarely, if ever, can even the longest series of posts explain even one serious opinion.

Step back from any particular decision and the online reactions to it, however, and every citizen should take deep pride and satisfaction in the structure of our government and the requirement that even its highest court —and the final word on how it operates is obliged to explain itself to the people over whom it exercises such immense control. (Those "final words" can sometimes be reversed or modified but even the quickest return trip to the Court for a precedent takes many years and that’s if a turn in the settled law is moving exceedingly fast.)

SUPREME COURT RULES ON MAIL-IN BALLOTS RECEIVED AFTER ELECTION DAY

"We the people" are owed answers and "in the course of human events" we get them — whether or not any particular decision generates applause or boos from the 330 million Americans they bind.

What a glorious thing, this "rule of law" which we too often take for granted because it has almost always been there in our lifetimes. Only rarely in the 53 years since Roe v. Wade (overturning all state laws on abortion) and the 48 years since University of California v. Bakke (upholding the use of race to award benefits or inflict penalties) has the Court been so tragically wrong as to set back dramatically the march of ordered liberty based on equality before the law in our carefully constructed system of checks and balances and federalism which are designed to preserve, first and foremost, individual liberty. The Supreme Court is not perfect, of course, but it gets most things right and it carefully and surely corrects its errors over time.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE FOX NEWS OPINION

Tempers are blazing right now over this decision or that, depending on the deeply held beliefs of partisans from left or right.

The Supreme Court remains, however, despite its annual roller-coaster of controversy, the glory of our American system. The Court embodies the rule, not of kings or despots or even this Congress or that President, but of our laws — collectively argued about until adopted — and our Constitution, which is intentionally difficult to amend but capable of dealing with brand new technologies and unforeseen scientific advances.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

We are uniquely blessed of all the people in recorded human history to have such an institution so empowered and so populated with decent, hard-working people of good faith and a patient, enduring commitment to offer their best assessments of what "the law" requires.

Toast the Declaration on Saturday of course, but add another for "this honorable Court" which labors in every case and controversy that comes before it to protect that "apple of gold" and that "frame of silver."

Hugh Hewitt is a Fox News contributor and host of "The Hugh Hewitt Show" heard weekday afternoons from 3 PM to 6 PM ET on the Salem Radio Network, and simulcast on Salem News Channel. Hugh drives Americans home on the East Coast and to lunch on the West Coast on over 400 affiliates nationwide, and on all the streaming platforms where SNC can be seen. He is a frequent guest on the Fox News Channel’s news roundtable, hosted by Bret Baier weekdays at 6pm ET. A son of Ohio and a graduate of Harvard College and the University of Michigan Law School, Hewitt has been a Professor of Law at Chapman University’s Fowler School of Law since 1996 where he teaches Constitutional Law. Hewitt launched his eponymous radio show from Los Angeles in 1990. Hewitt has frequently appeared on every major national news television network, hosted television shows for PBS and MSNBC, written for every major American paper, has authored a dozen books and moderated a score of Republican candidate debates, most recently the November 2023 Republican presidential debate in Miami and four Republican presidential debates in the 2015-16 cycle. Hewitt focuses his radio show and his column on the Constitution, national security, American politics and the Cleveland Browns and Guardians. Hewitt has interviewed tens of thousands of guests from Democrats Hillary Clinton and John Kerry to Republican Presidents George W. Bush and Donald Trump over his 40 years in broadcasting. This column previews the lead story that will drive his radio/ TV show today.

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM HUGH HEWITT

Border agents uncover $3.7M in cocaine masquerading as a cucumber delivery

Thu, 02 Jul 2026 05:00:05 -0400

Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents discovered and seized over $3.7 million worth of cocaine in what was supposed to be a shipment of cucumbers last Wednesday.

Agents at the Pharr International Bridge near the southernmost point of Texas discovered 112 packages in a tractor-trailer after a canine inspection and a subsequent nonintrusive imaging system scan revealed anomalies in the vehicle.

CBP officials seized the load, totaling 278.88 pounds — a haul with a $3,723,654 street value, according to the agency.

HIDDEN TUNNEL DISCOVERED IN TIJUANA MAY HAVE SUPPORTED CROSS-BORDER TRAFFICKING OPERATIONS

The stopped shipment, just one of many shipments traffickers have tried to mask as other merchandise, highlights how smuggling remains a challenge for law enforcement along the U.S. border — even as illegal border crossings have plummeted to record lows.

According to Port Director Carols Rodriguez, who manages the Hidalgo Port of Entry, it’s one of the many reasons CBP must maintain high levels of scrutiny.

"This interception is a powerful reminder that our CBP officers are on duty 24/7, employing every resource to detect and deter those who attempt to exploit our borders," Rodriguez said in a statement to Fox News Digital.

TRUMP ADMINISTRATION NAMES ROSARIO 'PETE' VASQUEZ TO SERVE AS NEXT US BORDER PATROL CHIEF

Since the end of 2024, border crossings have plummeted, going from over 144,000 encounters in December 2024 to just 10,000 in April.

Even so, CBP has reported several high-profile smuggling attempts.

In February, CBP detained a truckload of "roses" concealing over 515 pounds of cocaine. Just a little later, on April 2, CBP reported seizing 298 pounds of cocaine worth roughly $2.6 million in another commercial truck allegedly carrying carrots.

And the smuggling efforts haven't been limited to drugs, either.

FEDS DISMANTLE ALLEGED GUN TRAFFICKING RING THAT FUNNELED DOZENS OF FIREARMS FROM GEORGIA TO CHICAGO GANGS

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

Later in April, CBP announced it had prevented a car carrying a rocket-propelled grenade launcher, 16 AK rifles, 24 rifle magazines, 16 rifle stocks, 20 pistol grips, and other weapon parts from crossing the border.

"The threat of illicit narcotics is constant, but so is our vigilance," Rodriguez said

DeSantis announces plans to use new state law to target dozens of alleged terrorist groups

Thu, 02 Jul 2026 02:47:43 -0400

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, a Republican, announced on Wednesday the state's intention to use a new state law to designate dozens of groups as terrorist organizations, a move that would still require approval by the Florida Cabinet, prompting legal objections from at least one of the groups.

HB 1471 was signed into law earlier this year and went into effect on Wednesday.

The governor said the state plans to implement its new statutory authority to "identify, designate, and combat terrorist organizations operating in Florida" in the first use of powers established under the legislation.

Florida officials plan to designate more than 90 groups as terrorist organizations, including the Council on American-Islamic Relations the Muslim Brotherhood and Antifa, though the proposed designations must be approved by the governor and Cabinet before they are finalized under the statute.

FLORIDA'S CAIR THREATENS LAWSUIT AGAINST DESANTIS AFTER HE LABELS GROUP A 'FOREIGN TERRORIST' ORGANIZATION

"Last December, I signed an Executive Order to eliminate the influence of radical terrorist ideologies and the organizations that promote them in Florida. This year, I signed legislation to strengthen those protections and give Florida permanent statutory tools to combat terrorism while defending the Constitutional rights of our citizens," DeSantis said in a statement. "Today, we are officially designating terrorist organizations under Florida law. In addition to CAIR and the Muslim Brotherhood, we are adding Antifa to the list—along with more than 90 Foreign Terrorist Organizations, including cartels."

However, under HB 1471, the Chief of Domestic Security may designate qualifying organizations as domestic or foreign terrorist organizations, but the governor and Cabinet may approve or reject those designations by majority vote before they are published in the Florida Administrative Register.

Some of the foreign organizations added to the list include the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and gangs such as Cartel de Sinaloa, Tren de Aragua, Cartel del Noreste and Cartel del Golfo.

The new law allows the governor and Cabinet to approve or reject designations initially made by the chief of domestic security within the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.

"Keeping our community safe starts with identifying the threat," Florida Department of Law Enforcement Commissioner Mark Glass said. "The safety of our community is strengthened by that knowledge every day, and reinforced by the collaboration between our officers, our federal partners, and—most importantly—the people we serve."

HB 1471 directs agencies to deny groups public support and taxpayer funding. The law also establishes state enforcement mechanisms and criminal penalties for providing material support to designated terrorist organizations.

More specifically, the law restricts certain public benefits, funding and institutional support connected to designated groups, and creates criminal penalties for knowingly providing, attempting to provide or conspiring to provide material support or resources to a designated domestic terrorist organization.

The law also ensures that foreign or religious legal codes cannot override the U.S. or Florida Constitutions in state courts.

CAIR, a Muslim civil rights group, condemned the move and said it would continue challenging the state’s actions, following the governor's announcement on Wednesday, saying the organization does not engage in "terrorist activity" and has not been charged or convicted of a crime. CAIR and CAIR-Florida have also previously sued over DeSantis’ December executive order targeting CAIR and the Muslim Brotherhood.

"Throughout CAIR’s long history, our civil rights organization has worked to protect the Constitution’s guarantees of free speech, religious freedom and equality under the law," the group said in a statement. "We have also pursued justice for all people, including American Muslims impacted by hate. This is exactly why Gov. DeSantis has repeatedly targeted our organization. We see through Gov. DeSantis’ latest biased attempt to punish us for our views and our values. We look forward to fighting these baseless attacks in court and proving once again that the Constitution is stronger than any politician’s bigotry."

FLORIDA DESIGNATES MUSLIM BROTHERHOOD AND CAIR AS FOREIGN TERRORIST ORGANIZATIONS, DESANTIS SAYS

Critics, including CAIR and civil liberties groups, argue the designations are politically motivated and threaten First Amendment-protected speech and association. DeSantis and state officials have argued the law is aimed at preventing taxpayer support for groups they say promote or support terrorism.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

CAIR and civil liberties groups said they would challenge the designation as baseless and unconstitutional.

"Florida’s imminent designation of our clients is both dire and unmoored from reality. CAIR and CAIR-Florida’s speech and advocacy are protected by the First Amendment, which includes their right to criticize the governor, other officials, and their policies. We’re asking the court to protect our clients’ cardinal freedoms," Hina Shamsi, director of the ACLU’s National Security Project, said in a statement.

The designations, if approved by the Cabinet, would operate under Florida law and would not be the same as a federal foreign terrorist organization designation, which is made by the U.S. State Department.

Acting AG Todd Blanche says Newsom's DOJ claims are not 'grounded in fact'

Thu, 02 Jul 2026 02:45:36 -0400

Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche on Wednesday rejected California Gov. Gavin Newsom's claims that the Justice Department is politically targeting him, saying the governor's assertions are not "grounded in fact."

Blanche responded to comments made by Newsom, who said last month that the Justice Department is investigating him and his wife, Jennifer Siebel Newsom, under orders from President Donald Trump.

While Blanche declined to comment on any ongoing investigations, he dismissed the governor's claims.

GAVIN NEWSOM CLAIMS TRUMP ORDERED DOJ PROBE TARGETING HIM AND HIS WIFE

"The only thing I'll say about what he chose to do and what he chose to say is, I'm not sure his words are in any way grounded in fact," Blanche said during a news conference.

"He'd have to address that," Blanche added.

Newsom claimed June 15 that Trump had directed the Justice Department to investigate him and his wife in an effort to undermine a potential White House campaign.

The California governor has described the investigation as a politically motivated "fishing expedition" by Trump's DOJ, saying he and his wife have "nothing to hide." Newsom has also argued the inquiry is aimed at him because he is considering a presidential run, saying, "To get me, he's coming after my wife."

WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT THE NEWSOM-LINKED CHARITIES REPORTEDLY CAUGHT IN DOJ’S SIGHTS

"Donald Trump isn’t just coming after me because of my mean Tweets. He’s coming after me because I am considering running for President," Newsom said. "Because he hates that I’ve consistently called him out – over and over again – for his lies and deceit. Donald Trump is simply the most corrupt President in American history."

Blanche also rejected Newsom's broader characterization of the situation.

"He can choose to say whatever he thinks helps him," Blanche said. "It doesn't make it true."

NEWSOM UNDER FIRE AS CALIFORNIA GAS TAX HIKE SENDS PUMP PRICES EVEN HIGHER

Sources previously told Fox News the investigation has been ongoing since 2025 and is based on whistleblower complaints related to Newsom and his wife's personal finances. The matter is being handled by the U.S. Attorney's Office in Sacramento.

Federal sources confirmed to Fox News there are investigations involving Jennifer Siebel Newsom, but Fox News has not learned of any federal investigation directly targeting Gov. Newsom himself.

The Justice Department has not publicly confirmed any investigation involving Newsom or his wife.

Jennifer Siebel Newsom is a documentary filmmaker who runs The Representation Project, a nonprofit organization that seeks to advance feminism through media production. Fox News Digital previously reported the charity has faced "pay-for-play" allegations, with critics claiming corporations with business interests in California donated to the organization in an effort to gain influence with Newsom.

"There are clearly no boundaries to what Donald Trump will do to get his way or to challenge those who get in his way. This is not presidential behavior, and the Governor and I will continue to speak truth to power because the American people deserve so much more," Jennifer Siebel Newsom said in a previous statement to Fox News.

Following Blanche's remarks Wednesday, the governor's office posted a meme on social media with the caption, "Why you always lyin."

The governor's press office also wrote, "Trump goons know that it’s not a crime to lie to a reporter."

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

Fox News Digital has reached out to Newsom's office for additional comment.

Fox News Digital's Bonny Chu and Robert Schmad contributed to this report.

Mexican national sentenced in border child smuggling case involving THC-laced candy

Thu, 02 Jul 2026 02:30:01 -0400

A Mexican national was sentenced Wednesday to five years in federal prison after admitting to participating in a human smuggling operation that prosecutors say used THC-laced candy to sedate children as young as 5 before bringing them across the U.S.-Mexico border.

Federal prosecutors said one child suffered THC poisoning and was hospitalized after being given the drug-laced candy during one of the smuggling operations.

Manuel Valenzuela, 35, pleaded guilty last November to one count of conspiracy to transport aliens, three counts of bringing aliens into the United States for financial gain and one count of aiding and abetting.

WATCH: TRUMP DHS ESCALATES PRESSURE OVER MIGRANT CHILD WARNINGS IT SAYS BIDEN IGNORED: ‘MOVE HEAVEN AND HELL’

Valenzuela was one of four people charged last year in the alleged smuggling scheme. Prosecutors accused the group of transporting unaccompanied children between the ages of 5 and 13 from Juárez, Mexico, into the United States.

According to court documents, the smugglers presented U.S. identification documents to border officers while falsely claiming the children were their own parents.

Prosecutors said the children were then transported to El Paso after crossing the border.

TRUMP ADMINISTRATION NAMES ROSARIO 'PETE' VASQUEZ TO SERVE AS NEXT US BORDER PATROL CHIEF

Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department's Criminal Division condemned the scheme, saying, "Needing to sedate children with THC under the guise of giving them candy shows just how heinous crimes like this are."

"Smuggling unaccompanied children into the country, pretending to be their parents, and then lying to U.S. immigration officials shows the lengths to which criminals like this will go to smuggle children across our borders," Duva continued. "The Criminal Division and our law enforcement partners will put an end to this conduct. Protecting children and keeping our borders safe go hand-in-hand."

Acting Special Agent in Charge Ryan McRae of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) El Paso said using children in smuggling operations shows a "total disregard for human life and safety."

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

"Using THC-infused candy to facilitate the smuggling of children across the border into the United States is reprehensible and cruel and puts vulnerable minors at serious risk," McRae said. "HSI will relentlessly pursue transnational criminal organizations responsible for these heinous tactics and bring them to justice."

According to the criminal complaint, the smuggling events took place between May 1 and Oct. 18, 2024.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

Prosecutors said proof-of-life photographs of some of the children were recovered from the suspects' cellphones.

Fox News' Brooke Taylor contributed to this report.

Virginia officer placed on administrative leave after malicious wounding charge tied to off duty incident

Thu, 02 Jul 2026 00:00:38 -0400

A Virginia police officer was arrested this week after allegedly assaulting a person he knew while off duty, authorities said.

Vincent Baglio, 31, of Arlington, was arrested on charges of malicious wounding, according to the Arlington County Police Department.

Police said the alleged assault took place inside a residence on May 24 while Baglio was off duty. Authorities said Baglio and the alleged victim knew each other.

MINNEAPOLIS POLICE CHIEF RESIGNS AFTER INTERFERING WITH INVESTIGATION, MAYOR SAYS

"During a conversation, the suspect allegedly physically assaulted the victim and made statements threatening harm to them," police said in a statement.

The incident was reported to police on June 30, and Baglio was arrested after detectives investigated the allegations.

Baglio has since been placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of the criminal and internal administrative investigations, police said.

FEDS DISMANTLE ALLEGED GUN TRAFFICKING RING THAT FUNNELED DOZENS OF FIREARMS FROM GEORGIA TO CHICAGO GANGS

Arlington County Police Chief Andy Penn said the allegations against Baglio do not represent the values of the department.

"I want to assure our community that the serious criminal allegations in this case represent conduct that is wholly unacceptable and fundamentally inconsistent with the values, standards and responsibilities of our agency," Penn said. "Such actions are in direct contradiction to the oath we take and the professional expectations we place on every law enforcement officer.

Penn said the department will conduct both a criminal investigation and an internal administrative review and vowed to hold officers accountable based on the findings.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

"We remain steadfast in our commitment to holding ourselves accountable and taking appropriate action based on the findings of those investigations," Penn added.

Baglio joined the Arlington County police force in June 2024, according to the department.

Two arrested at Costco after alleged fraudulent credit card shopping spree

Wed, 01 Jul 2026 22:09:01 -0400

Two suspected shoplifters were arrested at a Costco location Sunday after allegedly attempting to use fraudulent credit cards to steal merchandise, authorities said.

The incident occurred around 3 p.m. in South Windsor, Connecticut, the South Windsor Police Department (SWPD) said Monday.

Police said the pair are suspected serial Costco shoplifters and identified them as 35-year-old Brittany A. Howard of the Bronx, New York, and 34-year-old Kasheem M. Williams of Brooklyn.

"Officers responded to Costco (1220 Tamarack Ave) for reports of two shoplifters actively stealing from the store and attempting to pay at the self-checkout with fraudulent credit cards," SWPD said.

WEST COAST STATE SHERIFF'S BAIT BIKE STING SNARES DOZENS OF ALLEGED THIEVES IN JUST MONTHS

According to authorities, store staff had been warned that the same suspects had allegedly attempted a similar scheme at a Costco location in Enfield, roughly a 30-minute drive north.

Responding officers later discovered 28 stolen financial documents, all under different names, inside the suspects’ vehicle, along with goods believed to have been stolen from the other Costco location, police said.

CALIFORNIA COUPLE SAYS MOVING COMPANY DOUBLED THEIR PRICE AND IS NOW HOLDING BELONGINGS 'FOR RANSOM': REPORT

After the suspects were taken into custody, authorities said both individuals were found to have active out-of-state warrants.

Williams had an extraditable warrant out of Suffolk County, New York, on multiple charges including burglary, strangulation and assault.

Howard was found to have an extraditable warrant out of Hudson County, New Jersey, on credit card theft charges.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

Both suspects now face additional charges, including 28 counts of payment card theft, larceny, identity theft and conspiracy.

Police said the pair were held on $250,000 surety bonds and were scheduled to appear in Manchester Superior Court Monday morning.

USA advances in World Cup after controversial red card vs Bosnia and Herzegovina

Wed, 01 Jul 2026 22:08:04 -0400

The United States men’s national soccer team is heading to the Round of 16, defeating Bosnia and Herzegovina, 2-0, on Wednesday night in Santa Clara, California.

It’s just the second time in Team USA history that they won in the knockout stages. Their only other came in 2002 when they beat Mexico, 2-0, in the Round of 16.

Now, the USMNT will head back to Seattle to face Belgium, who came back from a 2-0 deficit against Senegal in the second half to win in extra time, in the Round of 16.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM

Usually, when the USMNT enters the knockout stage in the World Cup, they’re considered the underdogs, hoping to be scrappy to force an upset. This time around, in an expanded tournament format that begins with a Round of 32, the country on home soil was the overwhelming favorites.

Their play proved why, even in the face of adversity in the second half.

It was an inauspicious start for the USMNT after Bosnia and Herzegovina secured a couple corner kicks, and goalkeeper Matt Freese, who hasn’t really been challenged much in this World Cup, had to scramble to save one that was destined for the back of the net if he didn’t punch it away.

USA WORLD CUP STAR FOLARIN BALOGUN RECEIVES CONTROVERSIAL RED CARD DURING ROUND OF 32 MATCH

From there, though, the USMNT got to work in the first half, and controlled the match. It seemed like it was only a matter of time before they scored, and Falorin Balogun, who has had a tremendous tournament in terms of goal scoring, did he striker job when he received a pass on a turnover and put it in the back of the net in the 29th minute.

However, the sideline referee threw his flag in the air – offsides. Video replay showed Balogun was clearly off, and there wasn’t much debate from head coach Mauricio Pochettino and his sideline staff either in this case.

Balogun got another chance in stoppage time, and in this instance, he was onside and still lethal.

With Bosnia and Herzegovina defenders draped all over him, Balogun turned and swung his left foot into the ball just inside his opponent’s box and it slipped through the goalkeeper’s legs for the first goal of the match.

The U.S.-heavy crowd went into a frenzy, and Balogun celebrated with an ode to LeBron James, doing his signature stepping move as his teammates congratulated him on his third goal at the World Cup.

But the second half saw a massive moment occur in favor of Bosnia and Herzegovina when Balogun was called for a red card after VAR review determined so following a foul where he stepped on a defender’s ankle. It was a controversial call that changed the complexity of the game with the USMNT down to 10 men to Bosnia and Herzegovina’s 11.

Also, despite the hard-fought win, Balogun will have to miss the Round of 16 due to the decision, which is an obvious loss for the U.S.

The red card came in the 64th minute, and the USMNT had to "suffer," as FOX Sports color commentator Stu Holden said during the broadcast, to pull out a victory with a one-goal lead. While they had to defend with more tenacity, the USMNT still created chances to score despite their situation.

One was called back when Christian Pulisic found the back of the net, but was offsides. But Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Stjepan Radelijic held back Sergiño Dest just outside the box, forcing the referee to pull out a yellow card and give the USMNT a grade-A opportunity to pull away a bit in the 80th minute.

Enter Malik Tillman, the German-born son of a U.S. military veteran, who had the perfect free kick, dipping over the five-man wall in front of the net and going past the outstretched arms of goalkeeper Nikola Vasilj.

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

The goal put the U.S. up 2-0, and the momentum Bosnia and Herzegovina had following Balogun’s red card decision, was wiped out. They had desperation attempts to get back into the match, but the U.S. slammed the door shut to the satisfaction of the sold-out crowd at San Francisco Bay Area Stadium and the millions watching at home.

There will be tons of debate about how the U.S. deals with the loss of Balogun in the next round, but the job got done in this match where the home-country favorites kept their title hopes alive.

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

USA World Cup star Folarin Balogun receives controversial red card during Round of 32 match

Wed, 01 Jul 2026 21:37:47 -0400

U.S. men’s national team star Folarin Balogun received a red card in the second half of their Round of 32 World Cup matchup against Bosnia and Herzegovina on Wednesday night.

Balogun was making a challenge on a ball when he stepped on an opposing player’s leg. When there was a pause in the action, referee Raphael Claus stopped the match to look at VAR to determine whether Balogun committed a foul worthy of a red card.

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

After a few minutes, Balogun was given a red card.

Social media erupted in fury over Balogun being sent off.

The U.S. men’s national team is down to 10 players for the rest of the match. If the U.S. holds their 1-0 lead, Balogun will have to miss the Round of 16 game.

2026 FIFA WORLD CUP GOLDEN BOOT RACE TRACKER: MBAPPÉ MATCHES MESSI; HAALAND LURKING

Balogun scored for the U.S. in the first half.

Bosnia and Herzegovina appeared to feel some kind of momentum from the red card as they increased the offensive pressure on the U.S. men’s national team.

Balogun started the game with a few shots on goal and had one taken away because he was ruled offside. He later buried one off a touch from Malik Tillman. He’s been one of the more exciting players for the U.S. in the tournament.

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

Tillman later scored on a free kick to make the match, 2-0.

Los Angeles Dodgers reportedly donate $1.1 million to pro-immigration groups after 2025 federal enforcement

Wed, 01 Jul 2026 21:50:38 -0400

The Los Angeles Dodgers made headlines in 2025 for a number of reasons. Their front office once again built a dominant roster full of star players. They won back-to-back World Series, becoming the first team since the New York Yankees more than two decades ago to do so.

But the Dodgers organization seems to always find itself in the middle of other off-field controversies, and last season was no exception. When federal immigration officials surged enforcement into Los Angeles, which has long been a hotbed of illegal immigration, the Dodgers inexplicably got themselves involved.

Some Customs and Border Patrol agents parked their cars briefly in the Dodger Stadium parking lot as they prepared to move to a different location. The Dodgers, then, issued a completely false statement saying they'd denied ICE agents access to the parking lot. Except ICE agents, the agency confirmed, never went to Dodger Stadium.

ICE DENIES SENDING AGENTS TO DODGER STADIUM AS TEAM SAYS THEY WERE TURNED AWAY

They left the post up regardless, apparently out of a desire to receive praise from the political left and local far-left sportswriters. It worked, as they received widespread support despite being factually wrong. At the time, OutKick reached out to the team's Vice President of Communications, Jon Weisman (he/him), to find out why they had not issued a correction. He never answered.

But as part of their virtue signaling efforts, the team announced that as a result of quite literally nothing happening, they would make a donation to pro-immigration groups to satisfy those who oppose enforcing the United States border. And a new report from the Los Angeles Times has confirmed that they followed through on their ridiculous promise to make "direct financial assistance for families of immigrants impacted by recent events in the region."

Per the Times, "...The Dodgers donated $1.1 million, representatives for California Community Foundation and Labor Community Services" told them.

WATCH: ANGEL MOM TURNS TABLES ON SANCTUARY POLITICIANS WITH BASIC QUESTION ABOUT THEIR PRIORITIES

What does this have to do with a Major League Baseball team? Nothing, of course. Why should a Major League Baseball team have any interest or impact in federal immigration law enforcement? It shouldn't; it has nothing to do with them or their sport. Regardless of how many illegal aliens live in Los Angeles and support the Dodgers. There are many Catholics who support the Dodgers, and they still felt it wise to give an award to a group of men who dress in drag like nuns and mock their faith.

So what do these organizations do? Well, per their website, the California Community Foundation in 2025 "established a new fund" to support LA County NGO's because immigration raids to arrest violent criminals here illegally was a "humanitarian crisis."

They also frequently issue statements of support for illegal aliens, though, of course, using the preferred progressive dogma language of "undocumented immigrations." Similarly, the Labor Community Services organization is designed to support immigrant groups with a "pathway to citizenship," per their website.

OUTKICK IS NOW ON THE FOX APP: CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD

There's little doubt that the Dodgers organization excels at providing a positive experience for their players. They excel at finding and developing talent. And they've done an outstanding job upgrading Dodger Stadium, retaining the character of the building and modernizing it, despite its age. But the ownership group is overwhelmed by left-wing politics. Ironic, since primary owner Mark Walter is the exact type of person the progressive left hates, thanks to his estimated net worth of around $15.5 billion.

It's embarrassing that such a historic organization has sunk so low. But that's what happens when you only care about one side of the political spectrum.

CNN journalist jumps ship to MS NOW over fears of new leadership after merger: report

Wed, 01 Jul 2026 21:32:54 -0400

CNN journalist Paula Reid is leaving the network for MS NOW out of concerns over Paramount Skydance's acquisition of the network, according to a Variety report Wednesday.

"Reid turned down a chance to renew her current contract at CNN, according to two people familiar with the situation, in part because CNN’s next era appears chaotic," Variety reported.

The article noted that Reid's decision allegedly came because of concerns over Paramount CEO David Ellison taking over the network and potentially installing CBS News editor-in-chief Bari Weiss as head of CNN.

JAKE TAPPER RUEFULLY REVEALS CNN WILL BE AFFECTED BY PARAMOUNT'S LOOMING TAKEOVER OF NETWORK

"Paramount has made some indications that it sees Bari Weiss, the editor in chief of CBS News who has generated several public controversies, as the next steward of CNN," Variety reported.

Reid initially joined CNN in 2021 after previously working as a White House correspondent for CBS News.

Neither MS NOW nor CNN confirmed the news to Fox News Digital.

"As a general matter of practice, we don’t comment on personnel matters," an MS NOW spokesperson said in a statement. "As everyone in Washington knows, Paula Reid is an exceptional reporter, and any news organization would be fortunate to showcase her journalism."

RACHEL MADDOW INVITES FIRED CBS CORRESPONDENT SCOTT PELLEY TO JOIN HER NETWORK AFTER '60 MINUTES' EXIT

CNN declined to comment.

A Fox News Digital report in February found that the mood inside CNN was "horrific" as parent company Warner Bros. Discovery prepared to sell all of its assets to Paramount. In the report, a CNN insider suggested the possibility of talent fleeing CNN ahead of the Ellison takeover if they can afford it.

A second insider said the two main concerns are "job loss" and "editorial indifference," noting the former "greatly outranks" the latter. Specifically, CNN staffers worried about a potential "bloodbath" if CBS News and CNN were to merge.

Other CNN personalities have also publicly denounced the merger. CNN journalist Kara Swisher previously vowed to leave the network if Ellison took charge in March.

CNN BOSS MARK THOMPSON INSISTS HE'S ‘REALLY COMMITTED’ TO NETWORK AMID LOOMING OWNERSHIP CHANGES

Veteran CNN journalist Christiane Amanpour described feeling "concerned" over new leadership in May, pointing to past issues regarding CBS News' "60 Minutes" anchors.

"I’m concerned based on what’s happened to the other things that he’s taken over already, like CBS News, right?" Amanpour said. "I mean, do I have to list what’s happening there? I mean, hemorrhaging viewers, probably hemorrhaging money, this ideological realignment of CBS and the destruction, potentially, of ‘60 Minutes.’"

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

Wild video captures apartment complex electrical room explosion as firefighters investigate smoke call

Wed, 01 Jul 2026 21:23:19 -0400

Dramatic video captured the moment an explosion erupted inside a Washington state apartment complex electrical room, sending flames and debris toward firefighters as they investigated reports of smoke Sunday.

The wild footage from Tacoma showed a crew of firefighters forcing open the door to the electrical room before thick smoke billowed out. Seconds later, a powerful explosion blasted through the doorway, shattering windows and sending vertical blinds and debris flying as firefighters quickly retreated from the building.

The person recording the incident briefly turned the camera away after the blast. When the video refocused, firefighters could be seen checking on one another and moving away from the damaged building.

'PARCEL BOMB' EXPLODES IN MONACO RESIDENTIAL AREA, LEAVING 2 CRITICALLY INJURED: REPORTS

The Tacoma Fire Department (TFD) later said no firefighters or residents were injured.

Firefighters responded around 5:37 p.m. to an apartment complex at 6400 S. 12th St., after receiving reports of an explosion and smoke coming from an electrical conduit, according to the department. Fire alarms sounded after a resident pulled the alarm, prompting crews to evacuate buildings as a precaution.

"Eight buildings evacuated indefinitely. No active fire," the TFD said in an update on X.

'PARCEL BOMB' EXPLODES IN MONACO RESIDENTIAL AREA, LEAVING 2 CRITICALLY INJURED: REPORTS

Officials said an electrical transformer malfunction pushed smoke into multiple buildings while Tacoma Public Utilities and fire investigators worked to determine the cause. Apartment residents were temporarily sheltered at Hunt Middle School.

In a later update, the department said the explosion occurred inside the electrical room after firefighters shut off power to the building.

'PARCEL BOMB' EXPLODES IN MONACO RESIDENTIAL AREA, LEAVING 2 CRITICALLY INJURED: REPORTS

"Explosion occurred in the electrical room where firefighters shut power off to the building," the Tacoma Fire Department wrote on X. Tacoma Public Utilities continued investigating the cause of the blast.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

The utility later cleared residents to return to every building except the 600 building while crews worked to restore power. The American Red Cross assisted residents displaced from that building.

The Tacoma Fire Department said the explosion remained under investigation.

DC settles with left-wing protester who tailed National Guard while playing Darth Vader theme song

Wed, 01 Jul 2026 21:10:40 -0400

The District of Columbia has agreed to settle a lawsuit filed by a protester who tailed an Ohio National Guard patrol while playing Darth Vader’s theme song from "Star Wars" on his cellphone before being arrested.

Sam O’Hara will receive $50,000 after alleging he was unlawfully detained and subjected to excessive force, according to a Thursday court filing obtained by The Associated Press (AP).

O’Hara, who works in the hospitality industry as an artist, said he is satisfied with the settlement but conflicted that taxpayers are covering the cost.

"Those who actually violated my constitutional rights should be the ones paying the price, like taking the money from their pensions. That’s what real accountability looks like," he said in a statement, according to The AP.

DC GUARD SHOOTING SUSPECT STARES DOWN DEATH PENALTY IN FIRST COURT APPEARANCE

On Sept. 11, 2025, O’Hara reportedly walked behind several National Guard troops down a street and played "The Imperial March" from "Star Wars" on his phone.

He alleged that his protest, which the lawsuit characterized as satire, was aimed at President Donald Trump’s deployment of National Guard troops patrolling D.C. neighborhoods

According to the lawsuit, one of the National Guard members called police, who stopped O’Hara and kept him handcuffed "tightly" for 15 to 20 minutes before releasing him without charges.

NFL STAR'S BROTHER CHARGED WITH MURDER OF MOTHER AFTER POLICE FOUND HIM SELF-BARRICADED NEAR BODY

The following month, O’Hara sued Washington, D.C., four Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) officers and an Ohio National Guard member.

In court documents, O’Hara alleged the defendants violated his First and Fourth Amendment rights, accusing them of unlawfully restricting free speech and initiating an unlawful seizure while using excessive force.

The lawsuit sought compensatory and punitive damages for claims including false imprisonment, battery and constitutional retaliation.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

Last August, Trump began deploying National Guard members after declaring a crime emergency in the nation’s capital.

The increased federal presence heightened tensions among some residents in the heavily Democratic district who criticized the deployment as an overreach of federal authority.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

USA World Cup star Folarin Balogun pays tribute to LeBron James after scoring in Round of 32 match

Wed, 01 Jul 2026 21:08:50 -0400

U.S. men’s national team star Folarin Balogun thought he had gotten the Americans on the board against Bosnia and Herzegovina in their World Cup match on Wednesday earlier than he did

The first shot that Balogun put into the back of the net was called back for offside. On his next opportunity, he would not be denied.

FOX ONE’S NEW WORLD CUP VIEWING EXPERIENCE

As halftime neared, Balogun found a hole in the Bosnian defense and received a nice pass from Malik Tillman. Balogun made the most of his opportunity and scored. Balogun paid tribute to LeBron James, celebrating with the NBA star’s "silencer" move.

The U.S. took a 1-0 lead into the half and were only 45-plus minutes away from moving on to the Round of 16.

Balogun has three goals in the tournament so far.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM

The U.S. came in with some momentum even though they lost their final group-stage match against Turkey last week. Balogun spoke of the mindset the team had going into the Round of 32 matchup.

"The game is going to be about us and what we're prepared to do, and what we have to do to advance," Balogun said. "It’s crunch time. This is the business end, and this is the stage where, in my opinion, the big players step forward and the big players carry the pressure and make things happen."

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

The U.S. reached the semifinals in the inaugural World Cup in 1930 when they won their group. Their only knockout victory came in the 2002 tournament when they beat Mexico in the Round of 16. The tournament expanded to 48 nations this year, which meant an extra knockout stage.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

America wasn't 'really founded' until 1965, MS NOW guest historian argues ahead of 250th birthday

Wed, 01 Jul 2026 21:00:08 -0400

MS NOW guest and presidential historian Jon Meacham made the case on Wednesday that the U.S. as a "multiracial, multiethnic democracy" was not founded until 1965 in the days leading up to the Fourth of July.

"You know, we talk about, directly to your point, we talk about this as the 250th anniversary, which it is, of the Second Continental Congress passing the Declaration of Independence, fully beginning the Revolutionary War, which ultimately leads in 1787-1789 to the framing of the Constitution, the inauguration of George Washington, and the beginning of what we would see as a recognizable experiment in self-government, except that a lot of people weren’t included in that," Meacham said on MS NOW's "Morning Joe."

He continued, "And in that important sentence about 'all men being created equal,' men had a very particular application in that era. There’s a very good case to be made, I think, that we were really founded in 1965, that that’s when a multiracial, multiethnic democracy came more fully into being, with the Immigration and Nationality Act, with the Voting Rights Act. And so we’re really about 60 years old, and we’re a developing democracy in a lot of ways."

MS NOW GUEST ADMITS 'GREAT TREPIDATION' ABOUT CELEBRATING AMERICA'S 250TH, CLAIMS COUNTRY IS BEING DESTROYED

However, Meacham, who has previously written speeches for former President Joe Biden, revered America's Founding Fathers as proof that "imperfect people can push us toward more perfect outcomes."

"Let’s remember that we have to honor them by following them. We can’t just preach. We have to practice," Meacham said.

MS NOW HOST ROASTED FOR QUESTIONING IF MIKE JOHNSON IS PUTTING 'GOD OVER THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE'

In the months leading up to the 250th anniversary of America's founding, several current and former MS NOW hosts have expressed trepidation about the holiday over the nation's history with slavery.

"They're going to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the country July 4th, but that's not our celebration," Rev. Al Sharpton said in April. "We were slaves then, and they celebrate signing the Declaration of Independence 1776. We were not even emancipated until 1863. So I don't know what everybody getting ready for a celebration [for]. You know that it seems crazy for me to have on the birthday hat at your birthday party. That ain't my party."

CLICK HERE FOR MORE COVERAGE OF MEDIA AND CULTURE

Joy Reid, who previously worked for the network, noted last month that no one she knows who is Black will celebrate Independence Day, adding that Juneteenth is the real beginning of America.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

"Whereas Juneteenth to me is the real thing that Fourth of July is, because we really were not a democracy until we ended slavery," Reid said. "And then we were really not a democracy until the people who lost the Civil War were finally forced to affirm and act upon the 13th, 14th, and 15th amendments, which they were not forced to do until the '60s."

Illegal alien on the run after allegedly ramming ICE vehicle in Pennsylvania, prompting agent to fire weapon

Wed, 01 Jul 2026 20:54:07 -0400

An illegal immigrant with a criminal history that includes a hit-and-run remains on the run Wednesday, after he allegedly rammed his car into a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) vehicle in Pennsylvania, prompting a federal agent to open fire, authorities said.

ICE officers were trying to take Clemente Lara-Hernandez, a Mexican national, into custody in Harrisburg at around 6:15 a.m. when he resisted, ICE told Fox News Digital.

At one point, Lara-Hernandez "weaponized his car" and rammed an ICE vehicle, the agency said.

FLEEING SUSPECT IN NEW JERSEY STRIKES ICE AGENT, WHO OPENS FIRE

"The illegal alien then dangerously drove in the wrong direction on a one-way street and crashed into a civilian vehicle," an ICE spokesperson said.

An ICE agent fired his weapon and another sustained a cut to the hand, authorities said. No one appeared to have been struck. Lara-Hernandez remains at large.

HEROIC ICE OFFICERS, STAFF MEMBER OPEN UP ON GROWING DANGERS: ‘AM I GOING TO DIE?'

The FBI is leading the investigation into the incident. The Harrisburg Police Department had no involvement other than responding to secure the scene, a police spokesperson told Fox News Digital.

The FBI said it responded to the scene but that "Justice Department policy prevents us from commenting on the nature of any investigations that may or may not be occurring."

In addition to a hit-and-run, Lara-Hernandez's criminal history includes an assault and a domestic violence incident, ICE said. ICE noted that its officers are facing a significant uptick in attacks as they carry out immigration enforcement operations nationwide.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

"Our ICE law enforcement officers are facing a more than 1,300% increase in assaults, 3,300% increase in vehicular attacks, and an 8,000% increase in death threats against them as they put their lives on the line to arrest the worst of the worst," ICE said.

Novice climber survives 1,500-foot drop on California's Mount Shasta after helicopter rescue delayed by clouds

Wed, 01 Jul 2026 20:52:43 -0400

A 31-year-old novice climber survived a roughly 1,500-foot slide down California's Mount Shasta after worsening weather forced rescuers to abandon plans for a direct helicopter rescue, sending climbing rangers scrambling up the mountain on foot before she could be flown to a hospital.

The woman was climbing the Left of Heart variation of the popular Avalanche Gulch route Sunday with two other novice climbers when she slipped near the 13,000-foot elevation and ultimately came to rest roughly 1,500 vertical feet lower, according to the U.S. Forest Service.

Cloud cover prevented a California Highway Patrol helicopter from reaching the injured climber directly, forcing the rescue to unfold in stages.

RESCUERS FREE CLIMBER TRAPPED BENEATH 16,000-POUND BOULDER ON OREGON'S MOUNT HOOD IN COMPLEX OPERATION

"The weather complicated the issue," a California Highway Patrol Office of Air Operations official with the Redding Air Unit told Fox News Digital.

Unable to reach the woman, the helicopter instead dropped U.S. Forest Service climbing rangers lower on Mount Shasta, where they hiked to the patient while the air crew waited for weather conditions to improve.

Once rangers stabilized the climber, they carefully lowered her by rescue litter to Lake Helen, where a CHP helicopter was finally able to land and fly her to Mercy Medical Center Mount Shasta at approximately 5:37 p.m.

RESCUERS FREE CLIMBER TRAPPED BENEATH 16,000-POUND BOULDER ON OREGON'S MOUNT HOOD IN COMPLEX OPERATION

The rescue took roughly five and a half hours from the initial emergency call until the helicopter evacuation.

Although the distance sounds extraordinary, Shasta-Trinity National Forest officials said the incident was not a straight free fall.

Stokesbury said the climber's descent was a long slide down the steep snow slope rather than a straight free fall, with the terrain gradually becoming less steep farther down the mountain.

RESCUERS FREE CLIMBER TRAPPED BENEATH 16,000-POUND BOULDER ON OREGON'S MOUNT HOOD IN COMPLEX OPERATION

"It starts steep and then kind of levels out a little bit," Stokesbury told Fox News Digital. "It does enough for them to stop."

Officials said climbers are taught to perform a self-arrest with an ice axe after slipping, but novice climbers often struggle to execute the maneuver before picking up speed.

The woman suffered a suspected fractured ankle along with additional injuries but remained alert and in good spirits when rescuers reached her, according to the Forest Service.

A CHP aviation official also described the terrain as particularly unforgiving.

"That particular portion of the mountain is extremely steep and it kind of funnels into a little bit of a chute," the official told Fox News Digital. "People take a smaller slide on the upper end, there's nothing to really arrest that descent for quite a while."

Forest Service officials said the incident follows a familiar pattern seen during the latter part of Mount Shasta's climbing season.

"Slips and falls happen all the time at that level," Stokesbury said, adding that April, May and early June generally provide the safest climbing conditions.

As summer arrives, snow begins melting, ice hardens and rocks loosen, increasing the risk of falls and rockfall.

"This is not a normal hiking trail," Stokesbury said. "You need to make sure you're in shape, you have your proper gear."

The Forest Service urges climbers to carry mountaineering equipment including an ice axe and crampons when conditions require, monitor changing weather and route conditions, climb with experienced partners and have an emergency plan before attempting the 14,179-foot volcano.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

"Before attempting a summit, be honest about your experience and physical conditioning," the U.S. Forest Service's Facebook post reads.

The rescue was carried out by Mount Shasta's specialized climbing ranger program, which spends each climbing season educating visitors, monitoring mountain conditions and responding to emergencies on one of the nation's busiest high-altitude climbing routes.

Stephen A Smith shows his privilege by mocking Lakers' roster for having too many 'White dudes'

Wed, 01 Jul 2026 20:50:20 -0400

ESPN host Stephen A. Smith says the Los Angeles Lakers have too many White guys to succeed in the NBA.

On Wednesday, he mocked the team's trade for Walker Kessler, pairing him with Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves.

"Where the hell the Los Angeles Lakers think they are going with a bunch of White dudes?" he asked on his podcast. "Your three top players are White dudes. Really? This is basketball."

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

He then asked, "In NBA history, when has a team led by three White dudes ever gone to the promised land? Somebody gotta say it."

To answer his question: Larry Bird, Kevin McHale and Danny Ainge.

Smith then declared, "You ain't going anywhere with three White dudes. Ain't no way."

OutKick asked Smith via email why he believes White basketball players are inferior and whether he believes there are any cases in which Black athletes are inferior. He did not respond by the time of publication. We will update this story if he does.

We want to stress that Smith not only made these comments on-air but also had his team post the clip on social media. He and his team appear proud of his racist remarks. Like many Black members of sports media, Smith takes pride in his anti-White bigotry.

And that's exactly what this segment was: anti-White bigotry.

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

Imagine the outrage if Smith heard someone question how far an NFL team could go with a Black quarterback, Black head coach and Black general manager. In fact, Smith has long argued that the NFL has overlooked Black candidates at those positions because of racial bias.

Yet in this case, he's the one reducing athletes to their race. Apparently, that's okay, so long as the athletes who are reduced are White.

The comments also make Smith look uninformed.

Luka Doncic led the NBA in scoring this past season at 33.5 points per game. Austin Reaves averaged 23.3 points. Walker Kessler averaged 14 points and 10 rebounds.

While this newly formed Big Three is hardly LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh, the Lakers' trio compares favorably with the top three players on most NBA teams, including teams led by three Black players.

More broadly, the idea that White players are inherently inferior no longer matches reality. While the race idolaters had hoped Victor Wembanyama would surpass him, Nikola Jokic is still the best player in the NBA. He's White. Cooper Flagg is a highly promising rookie. He's White. Caitlin Clark is a phenom. She's White.

This reality seems to bother people like Stephen A. Smith, who appears uncomfortable with the infusion of White star players in basketball. He's not alone. Kendrick Perkins, Jemele Hill, Monica McNutt and Gilbert Arenas have all made comments suggesting a similar discomfort at various points.

We would add Sheryl Swoopes to that list, but as she once told us, "Black people can't be racist."

Yes, they can. Look at the racial hostility that Caitlin Clark faces from Black players and media members on a nightly basis.

The worst part is that there are no repercussions for directing blatant racism toward White people. Nothing will happen to Smith. It's called privilege.

But imagine the message ESPN could send by suspending him for remarks that, by any ordinary definition, are racist.

It would certainly make others think twice before making similar comments about White athletes.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

Finally, as OutKick has reported, "First Take" has posted sluggish ratings for months compared to other ESPN programming. Pat McAfee has surpassed Smith as the face of the network. Uninformed, low-IQ commentary like this is a big reason why.

We predicted that ESPN could soon regret agreeing to give Stephen A. Smith a five-year, $100 million contract last year. We suspect that is now officially the case.

Khamenei body in cold storage as feared Basij mobilizes ahead of historic Iran funeral

Wed, 01 Jul 2026 20:20:55 -0400

Tehran is preparing for the July 9 burial of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, more than four months after his death, as authorities mobilize the Basij militia and mount a massive security operation ahead of what is expected to be a "historic" turnout.

The lengthy delay to the funeral has raised questions about how Khamenei's remains have been preserved, as Islamic tradition, anaylsts say, generally calls for prompt burial and discourages chemical embalming.

"The mechanism is almost certainly refrigerated cold storage, not embalming, as Islam bars chemical embalming," counterterrorism expert Dr. Mohammed Omar told Fox News Digital.

MOJTABA KHAMENEI USING ‘BIN LADEN TEMPLATE’ TO SURVIVE, LEARNED FROM ABBOTTABAD: ANALYST

"Shia law allows delayed burial and preservation by cold in exceptional cases, and a clerical exemption for a Supreme Leader is easy to get," he added.

"Iran's forensic morgues already hold bodies for months, so four months in freezing is not exotic. That is what 'religious and legal standards' cover," Mohammed said.

Operation Epic Fury began on Feb. 28 with a targeted U.S. strike that killed Khamenei at his compound in Tehran. He had ruled the Islamic Republic for 36 years.

"There may not be much of a body to present. Khamenei was killed by a bunker-penetration strike, and others killed with him were recovered weeks later and identified by DNA," Mohammed explained.

"A regime holding an intact body does not cancel the farewell, shift the burial site repeatedly, and confirm that he can be buried only days out.

"It reads less like reverence and more like remains they could preserve but not display," he said.

WAVE OF ATTACKS ON IRAN'S IRGC RAISES QUESTIONS ABOUT RENEWED KURDISH INSURGENCY

With that, Iranian authorities are portraying the funeral as both a farewell to the leader and a show of strength under the slogan "We Must Avenge."

According to Iranian state media, Yaqoub Soleimani, deputy for cultural and educational affairs at the Martyrs Foundation and one of the funeral's organizers, said Wednesday the ceremony would be conducted "with full grandeur."

Soleimani said a turnout of 1 million people would make the event "a historical occasion" and "a national epic in the memory of the Islamic Republic of Iran."

The schedule starts with public viewings Saturday and Sunday in Tehran. A funeral procession is scheduled for July 6, where local authorities estimate 15 million to 20 million people could attend.

Another procession is planned the following day in Qom, one of Shiite Islam's holiest cities.

"The numbers the regime is putting out — up to 20 million mourners in Tehran, 35 million nationwide, more than 90 countries represented, 14,000 journalists credentialed — are not logistics," Mohammed, of the George Washington Program on Extremism, said.

"They are the message. Tehran is spending everything it has to project continuity and strength because after the war both are in question."

IRAN'S UNPRECEDENTED 'WHOLE-REGIME' DELEGATION AT US DEAL TALKS SIGNALS ONE GOAL: EXPERT

According to Iran International, Tehran is also preparing a massive security operation for the funeral.

"The Basij and the IRGC running this is the story, not a detail," Mohammed said.

"The Basij is coordinating logistics — highways turned into parking, each Tehran district assigned a province, five public holidays declared — and the Guard has crowd control.

"This is a mobilization dressed as a funeral. The same apparatus organizing the grief this week is the apparatus that put down the January protests and denied funerals to the families of the people it killed then. American readers should hold those two facts next to each other," he added.

While senior Iraqi officials will attend the funeral, representation from other major powers will be limited.

Although Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian personally invited Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India will instead send a lower-level official delegation.

Reports on June 30 also confirmed that Georgian President Mikheil Kavelashvili will attend the ceremony.

"No major power is sending its top leader," Mohammed said.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

"For a regime that claims to lead a front stretching from Beirut to Sanaa, a regional turnout at its founder-successor's funeral is the isolation showing through the pageantry.

"For Washington, it is a useful readout: the war left Tehran's axis smaller and more regional than the regime advertises," he added.

Mexican soccer fans celebrate advancing in the World Cup by wailing on each other in impromptu boxing match

Wed, 01 Jul 2026 20:08:29 -0400

One of the best parts of the World Cup has been watching all the fanbases having the time of their lives, and while there have been some real standouts (shoutout Tartan Army), I don't think anyone celebrates like they do down in Mexico.

It's no secret that Mexican fans are about as passionate as they come — speaking from experience having watched a Mexico-Brazil 2014 World Cup match in a Cancun bar — and they love a good celebration.

On Tuesday night, after harassing them the night before at their team hotel, Mexico sent Ecuador packing in a Round of 32 match at Mexico City Stadium. It was their first knockout-stage win since 1986.

FORMER MAYOR ISSUES STATEMENT ABOUT HER BOOBS AFTER HER WORLD CUP CELEBRATION GOES VIRAL

If that isn't a cause for celebration, then I don't know what is.

And what better way to celebrate than by having two women throw on boxing mitts and wail on each other in the middle of a street?

Yeah, I can't think of one either. Maybe dunking your head in a cotton candy machine, but it's been done.

At first, given the way those two women squared up, I thought maybe they actually knew how to box.

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

Then, after the first punch, it became clear this was probably the first time either one had ever put on a pair of boxing gloves.

It was obvious that No. 22 won that one, but I don't think there were any losers last night in Mexico. The place was electric.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

The celebration can't go on forever (or maybe it can, who knows?) because Mexico has a big match coming up against England, which defeated DR Congo on Wednesday to advance to the Round of 16.

That match will take place on July 5 at Mexico City Stadium.

What the SCOTUS Title IX ruling could mean for lawsuits seeking damages for women impacted by trans athletes

Wed, 01 Jul 2026 20:07:32 -0400

The Supreme Court’s Tuesday decisions on trans athletes in women's sports did not award damages to any female athletes impacted.

But for women suing the NCAA, universities and athletic conferences over past transgender-athlete policies, the ruling may prove to be an important turning point.

Riley Gaines' lawsuit against the NCAA and Brooke Slusser's lawsuit against San Jose State and the Mountain West Conference each cases seek damages for female athletes who say they lost equal opportunities, privacy, safety or fair competition under policies that allowed transgender-identifying male athletes to compete in women’s sports.

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

Bill Bock, an attorney leading both cases for the Independent Council on Women's Sports (ICONS), said the Supreme Court ruling is "huge" because it "absolutely shredded" the reasoning used by lower courts and athletic bodies that had argued Title IX required schools to allow biological males who identify as female to compete in women’s sports.

All nine Supreme Court justices agreed that Title IX and its regulations allow federally funded schools and states to separate athletic teams based on biological sex and to exclude transgender females from participating on girls' and women's teams.

Bock said that because of that sentiment by all nine justices, the NCAA, Mountain West and the institutions his side is suing now "had no basis for what they did to women."

"In all of their arguments, they said, 'We had to, we had to do this because Title IX required us to do this,'" Bock told Fox News Digital. "The NCAA's first defense is, 'Well, Title IX doesn't apply to us.' The second defense is, 'Well, we had to do it because Title IX required us to.' They're wrong on both counts."

Bock said he will account for the ruling when filing future briefs in the lawsuits.

"We'll be submitting a brief relatively soon in the Mountain West case, that will be required. In the Georgia case, we're waiting for the judge's ruling on the first question, which is whether Title IX applies to the NCAA."

LAWYERS FIGHTING SJSU OVER VOLLEYBALL SCANDAL RESPOND TO FEDERAL TITLE IX PROBE FINDINGS

He described the NCAA’s position as twofold: "Title IX doesn’t apply to us" and "we had to do it because Title IX required us to."

"They’re wrong on both counts," Bock said.

For Gaines' lawsuit, current and former female athletes sued the NCAA and others over the 2022 NCAA Division I Women’s Swimming and Diving Championships, where former UPenn trans swimmer Lia Thomas competed in women’s events. The plaintiffs sought compensatory and punitive damages, along with other relief, on behalf of themselves and a proposed class of women who competed at those championships.

That case has already been narrowed. A federal judge dismissed claims against Georgia defendants and Georgia Tech Athletic Association, finding that the challenged policy decisions came from the NCAA. What remains are Title IX claims against the NCAA, and the next key question is whether the NCAA is covered by Title IX because of alleged federal funding ties, including a concussion-research partnership with the Department of Defense.

For Slusser's lawsuit, female volleyball players sued over San Jose State and Mountain West policies tied to a transgender player on San Jose State’s women’s volleyball team. A federal judge dismissed the Mountain West defendants and most claims, but Bock said he will appeal that decision. The judge left pending Title IX damages claims against the California State University Board, which oversees SJSU, and specifically delayed ruling on those damages claims until after the Supreme Court decided B.P.J.

That delay now looks significant.

In March, the federal judge, S. Kato Crews, wrote that his earlier preliminary-injunction ruling had relied in part on Bostock v. Clayton County, the 2020 Supreme Court employment case involving gay and transgender workers. He said that reading of Bostock was "now called into question and might be upended" by the Supreme Court’s women’s-sports case.

The Supreme Court has now said Bostock does not control the Title IX sports issue. The majority said Title VII employment law and Title IX athletics are "vastly different" contexts, and that Title IX authorizes separate men’s and women’s teams.

Former University of Arizona swimming star Marshi Smith, co-founder of ICONS, said the Supreme Court ruling was a "huge battle won," but not the end of the fight.

"We’re lacking accountability still," Smith said, pointing to women and girls who say they lost "titles, national championships, even up to world championships, records, roster spots, scholarships."

CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM

The California State University system provided a response to Fox News Digital in response to Bock's statements.

"The U.S. Supreme Court’s June 30, 2026 decision serves to clarify federal law going forward and the California State University will continue to follow all applicable federal and state laws. San José State complied fully with the law in effect in 2024 and prior. The ruling establishes the legal standard going forward and does not change the law that applied previously. The CSU remains unwavering in its commitment to fostering an inclusive, respectful, and safe environment for all students, faculty, and staff," the statement read.

Fox News Digital reached out to the NCAA and the Mountain West Conference for comment.

Former University of Kentucky swimmer and Gaines' old teammate Kaitlynn Wheeler, a plaintiff in Gaines, said the ruling was "a super validating moment" after female athletes had been "asking for fairness for years."

"I think a lot of women, including myself, woke up today feeling an immense amount of hope," Wheeler said.

Kaylie Ray, who is involved in the Mountain West case, said the ruling felt "incredibly validating" after athletes in the conference felt their leaders had not protected them.

"Women do matter," Ray said. "Their spaces do matter. Equality does matter. And their opportunities deserve to be protected."

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

For female athletes seeking damages, the ruling does not guarantee victory. But it does give them a new answer to one of the central defenses they have faced for years: that institutions had no choice.

The next stage of the fight will be whether courts treat that answer as enough to hold the NCAA, universities or other athletic bodies financially accountable for past seasons.

White House fires back after 'slob' JB Pritzker says Trump is suffering from 'dementia'

Wed, 01 Jul 2026 20:00:29 -0400

Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker attributed President Donald Trump’s attacks on the growing influence of socialists within the Democratic Party to "dementia."

Pritzker’s remarks come after Trump classified socialism as the "biggest threat" to America since its founding – including World War I, World War II and the 9/11 terrorist attacks.

"Look, the man is continually suffering from dementia. I don't think he really understands what he's saying," the Illinois governor told CNN’s Kaitlan Collins.

TRUMP MARKS 80TH BIRTHDAY, NOW SECOND OCTOGENARIAN SITTING PRESIDENT: 'SEEMED TO UTTERLY DEFY AGE'

"I’m not a doctor. I haven’t diagnosed anything," he continued. "I’m just suggesting to you that just look at the way he puts words and sentences together and thoughts and they’re almost divergent in the same sentences."

Pritzker pointed to what he described as a decline in Trump’s public appearances to support his dementia assertion.

"Look at any of the videos from 2015 or 2016 and look at how he responded to questions and how he was at press conferences and then you fast forward and look at him now, I really think that there's something genuinely wrong with him," he said.

In a statement to Fox News Digital, the White House called Pritzker's comments a "desperate" attempt to stay relevant.

BILL MAHER'S DIRE MIDTERM ELECTION WARNING TO DEMS AFTER 'REALLY CRAZY' SOCIALISTS WIN PRIMARIES

"JB Pritzker is a slob and an incompetent governor who pushes blatantly false narratives like this in a desperate attempt to stay relevant. Instead of lying in media interviews, Pritzker should focus on fixing his broken state and do his job," a White House spokesperson said.

The White House also defended Trump's health, telling Fox News Digital in part: "Unlike the Biden White House, President Trump and his entire team have been fully open and transparent about the President’s health, which remains exceptional."

Trump recently reupped warnings of socialism’s growing influence within the Democratic Party after several socialist candidates secured primary victories, indicating an increasing acceptance of the far-left movement within the party.

All three congressional candidates endorsed by New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani – Brad Lander, Claire Valdez and Darializa Avila Chevalie – won their respective Democratic primaries.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

"It’s too easy to get elected, giving everything away," Trump said Monday. "It’s easy for them to get followers because they make promises they know they can’t keep."

Pritzker also slammed Trump for "regularly" threatening to use the powers of the federal government to target political opponents and said the president often speaks without thinking.

"[Trump] has these concepts in his head and he blurts them out without really thinking," Pritzker said.