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Beer, BBQ and America: lawmakers share their favorite traditions for the nation's birthday

Sat, 04 Jul 2026 05:00:26 -0400

America’s 250th birthday is a milestone in the nation’s history that, in Washington, D.C., was marked by thunderous fireworks, flyovers and a fair on the National Mall.

But at the granular level, families across the country have celebrated July 4 in their own way for generations, crafting traditions that they revisit year after year. Trips to the lake, sizzling hot dogs, bottle rockets, picnics in the park and burgers — all hallmarks of America’s celebration of independence.

Lawmakers, when the partisan barbs end, the floor speeches quiet, and Congress ditches Washington for the weekend every year, like the everyday working American, have their own traditions, too.

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Rep. Derrick Van Orden, R-Wis., said his favorite tradition was "loving America."

"So all of our children, we raise them to love this country, because we tell them the truth about this country, and they understand that America is the most awesome place that has ever existed in the history of the planet," Van Orden said. "So we get together, we barbecue some hot dogs, and then we watch some fireworks. It's great."

And of course, there’s beer.

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"I'm from Wisconsin," he said. "Of course. Miller Lights and Hebrew National hot dogs are great. They're all beef and wonderful. Don't get me wrong, I don't mind a mix of, you know, pork and beef for a hot dog, but I like the Hebrew Nationals myself."

Geography does play a factor in some lawmakers' traditions. Like Rep. Troy Downing, R-Mont., whose family heads to the tiny town of Harlowton, Mont., to a friend’s ranch, where a lake and ranch hand routine take center stage.

"We all camp there. The kids play in the water. And, you know, usually that's right around branding [season]," Downing said. "So branding is usually when you castrate. And so I'm usually in charge of doing all the calf fries after the castrations."

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Then there’s the barbecue, which is a staple in Rep. Ralph Norman’s home state of South Carolina.

"Eatin' barbecue and relaxin," Norman said.

When pressed if there was any beer in between, Norman quipped, "I'm not old enough to drink beer."

"I have to get a – I've got a fake ID I've gotta show," he said. "No, drinking beer, barbecue, and having a good time with family."

Others take the opportunity to celebrate President Donald Trump alongside their year in and year out traditions.

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"My neighbor, nice guy, great guy, my twin brother Trevor, are going to come over, we've got flags flying in our backyard, we're going to have some lobster tail, maybe some nice, fat ribeyes, a lot of fat on the ribeyes," Rep. Troy Nehls, R-Texas said.

"We like the marbling on the ribeyes — and just celebrate the 4th and just look at the birds and the flowers and just be thankful that we were born in the greatest country on earth, right," he continued. "And celebrate the greatest president in the lifetime of this great country, Donald J. Trump. That's what I'm thankful for, and that's what I'll be celebrating."

House Dems dodge questions on SCOTUS trans athlete ruling, shift blame to 'culture wars'

Sat, 04 Jul 2026 04:00:42 -0400

House Democrats mostly sidestepped questions on the Supreme Court ruling that now allows states to ban student-athletes from competing on sports teams or in leagues that correspond with their gender identity rather than their biological sex.

" I think we spend far too much time obsessing over that," Rep. Jim McGovern, D-Mass., told Fox News Digital when asked for his opinion on the ruling. "And what people should be focused on right now is the dysfunction here in Washington."

" I think the focus should be on this economy and getting us out of this war of choice and bringing down gas prices so that folks do not have to make real decisions about if they're going to put food on their table or gas in their tank, to take their kids to the hospital or to school," Rep. Sydney Kamlager-Dove, D-Calif., said.

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She continued, "I think that the culture wars that we allow to divide us don't do anything to feed our kids."

The Supreme Court's 6-3 decision marked a major victory for supporters of laws restricting transgender athletes from competing in girls' and women's sports, upholding state laws challenged by transgender student-athletes who argued the policies violated the Constitution.

But when asked about the landmark ruling, several House Democrats didn’t know about the decision or pivoted to talking about what they deemed as more important issues like the economy and dysfunction in Congress.

"This place is a disaster," McGovern said. "And, you know, and the incompetence here is... I've never seen this before. "

"I think what people should be focused on is that Washington is not working, and it's really sad."

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Despite the ruling leaving the decision up to the states rather than a nationwide ban, Rep. Seth Magaziner, D-R.I., argued the issue should be dealt with at an even lower level — locally.

"Let like the school athletic associations, let parents, let people at the local level decide which sports and which age groups should be co-ed or what the rules should be."

Like several of his Democratic colleagues, Magaziner quickly shifted the conversation to broader issues he said Congress should prioritize.

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"I frankly like don't think that this is something that politicians in Washington should be involved in," Magaziner said. "We should be focused on lowering inflation, we should be focused on ending the war, we should be focused on preserving our democracy."

"Congress should be focused on the big picture things," he added.

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Rep. Sarah Elfreth, D-Md., was among the few Democrats to offer a direct criticism of the ruling, calling it "unfortunate."

"Unfortunate for a lot of folks in across this country," Elfreth said. "Like I said, they didn't get a lot right today."

Al Green responds to July 4 question with renewed call to impeach Trump

Sat, 04 Jul 2026 04:00:23 -0400

Democratic lawmakers said they believed the U.S. is still an extraordinary country despite expressing disagreements with President Donald Trump when asked by Fox News Digital if they were proud to be American citizens.

"The freedoms that we have and the fact that anyone should be able to get ahead for them and their family based on the laws we have every now and then — in general, it's sound," Rep. Mark Pocan, D-Wisc., said.

The answers, which came ahead of the country’s 250th Independence Day celebration, highlight the deep distrust Democrats have of the administration’s leadership even as they expressed confidence in principles that have made U.S. prosperity possible.

Just one, Rep. Al Green, D-Texas, declined to expand on why he was proud to be an American.

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"I am very proud to tell you that impeachment is an option to remove a reckless, ruthless, lawless president," Green answered when asked if he was proud to be an American.

"I’m proud that it exists," Green added.

Rep. Lloyd Doggett, D-Texas, echoed his thinking.

"I believe Americans are ready to defend our democracy and oppose authoritarianism so that we can celebrate our 251st birthday in this country instead of turning all power over to a would-be king," Doggett said.

Despite his disagreements with the Trump administration, Doggett clarified that his views were distinct from his feelings about the nation itself.

"We’re the greatest country on earth. We’re innovative, we’re smart, we make sure that we promote our values, our liberties and justice and freedom. We’re always trying to perfect our union, but at the same time, we were the great experiment of democracy and it’s been a rousing success," Doggett said.

Other Democrats, like Rep. Shri Thanedar, D-Mich., agreed with U.S. exceptionalism.

"This is a great country. You know, we are a country of immigrants. Immigrants have contributed so much to our country, and you know this is the greatest country on earth. I am so proud to call myself an American citizen, although there are some concerns with the new administration," Thanedar said.

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Thanedar, who was born in India, immigrated to the United States in 1979.

For their own part, Republicans, who readily affirmed their pride in the country, articulated that they believed the founding ideas were the reason for the country’s success.

Rep. Glenn Grothman, R-Wisc., said he believed the Constitution had given citizens the latitude to thrive.

"I guess our Constitution and all the freedoms we have that other countries don't have, which results in us being so much wealthier than other countries — not that that's the main thing. But you look at your average American with a front yard and backyard, they don't even have that in Western Europe, they don't have that in Israel, they have it in other top countries. We've got it here in the United States," Grothman said.

"So, I think the combination between the material wealth which impresses you and a Christian nation which is also so tremendous."

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Rep. Cory Mills, R-Fla., said he believes it’s that success that has made Americans proud and zealous for protecting its interests.

"We’re a nation who’s willing to understand peace through strength. And we’re a nation that has been willing to go ahead and pledge our lives to keep the freedoms that we have here that no other nation like ours has seen," Mills said.

Trump hails America as 'most exceptional nation ever to exist' in Mount Rushmore speech

Sat, 04 Jul 2026 00:38:13 -0400

President Donald Trump marked the eve of America's 250th anniversary with a sweeping patriotic address at Mount Rushmore on Friday, declaring the United States the "most exceptional nation ever to exist" and vowing that it would "never be a Communist country."

Speaking beneath the granite likenesses of four of his predecessors — George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln and Theodore Roosevelt — Trump touted American exceptionalism as festivities marking the nation's 250th anniversary ramped up across the country.

"In all the chronicles of the ages, never before has any nation celebrated so magnificent a triumph as this one," Trump told the crowd.

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"At 250 years, America is the oldest republic on earth," he continued. "We are the freest people on earth. We have the most righteous and enduring Constitution on earth. We are the strongest and most powerful country on earth. And by the grace of God, the United States of America is the most successful, most accomplished, most exceptional nation ever to exist in human history."

Trump praised the nation's history and argued that no other country had achieved as much as the United States.

"The birth and survival of the American nation under God is, quite simply, the best and most incredible thing ever to happen on this planet by human hands, ever," he said. "No other country has done more good for this world than the United States of America."

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Before Trump took the stage, the new Air Force One flew over Mount Rushmore as spectators cheered. After his remarks, the president stayed to watch a fireworks display over the Black Hills.

Trump argued the country was facing what he described as a growing communist movement that sought to undermine America's "exceptional character" and "alienate us from our history."

The president said the movement had raised the question, "What does it mean to be an American?"

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Trump described communism as "the greatest threat" facing the United States.

"It is the greatest threat to our country, including World War I, World War II, Pearl Harbor, or even 9/11," Trump said. "We're not going to let this happen to us. Believe me, we're not letting it happen, because communism is the enemy of free people."

"Communism is the exact opposite of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness — it is death, tyranny and the pursuit of evil," he continued.

"But we will not let them win," he added. "They have no chance against us."

Trump issued a clear directive: "You can be loyal to Karl Marx, or you can be loyal to America. You can be a communist, or you can be a patriot. You cannot be both."

As Americans face those choices, Trump pointed to the nation's past sacrifices as a guide for its future.

"Our American ancestors did not shed their blood at Concord and Trenton, Gettysburg and Shiloh, Midway and Normandy, just so that a band of thieves, radicals and lunatics could come in and loot, pillage our nation," he said.

Trump also highlighted the four presidents carved into the mountain behind him, saying they represented America's founding ideals.

"They were men of action, men of ambition, men of daring, men of destiny, and men of truly great intelligence," he said. "Above all, they were great men of history. Tonight, on the threshold of our 250th year, we stand beneath the monument of these heroes, a true group of unbelievable people. And we rededicate ourselves to being a nation as big, bold, noble, and as great as these American giants."

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Trump is scheduled to deliver another speech Saturday on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. before a fireworks display celebrating the nation's 250th anniversary.

"We know that this is not an ending," Trump said. "This is only the beginning of the golden age of America."

Fourth of July app guides spectators through nine-hour air show from NASA jets to B-1 bombers

Fri, 03 Jul 2026 22:13:58 -0400

Hours before U.S. military aircraft are set to take flight over Washington, D.C., an app was launched to help Americans track the monumental Fourth of July aerial flyovers in real-time.

Created by senior White House official Shawn Chittle, the "4th of July Fly Over" app is designed as a companion guide for spectators watching along the National Mall and Washington Monument grounds.

To keep up with the fast-moving aerial acts, the app features an adjustable countdown timer set to the official schedule.

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If the flyovers run late or fast, users can manually adjust the timer, and the app will automatically display which aircraft is coming up next.

Spectators can also use the tool to access photos, history and basic facts about the legendary aircraft roaring overhead.

The app will serve as an essential tool for navigating the "Freedom 250" schedule, which spans over nine hours of demonstrations.

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The aerial showcase begins at 1:14 p.m. local time with a NASA F-5 flyover, followed by a series of fleet reviews spanning the Coast Guard, Army, Air Force, Marines and Navy.

Crowd favorites will take the stage later in the afternoon, with the Navy Blue Angels scheduled for 4:59 p.m. and the Air Force Thunderbirds demonstration at 6:25 p.m.

Just after 7 p.m., Air Force One will fly over, followed at 7:17 p.m. by a "HUGE 1" flyover led by the newly renovated Air Force One.

In the evening, there will be a U.S. Stealth Airpower flyover at 7:38 p.m. An F-22 Raptor afterburner display will follow at 7:53 p.m. and B-1 bombers in afterburner at 8:07 p.m.

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For spectators staying out late, a B-1 afterburner night pass will light up the sky at 10:36 p.m.

Observers can bookmark the app or add it directly to their mobile home screens to ensure they do not miss a single moment of the patriotic event.

Sports world turns out for Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift's Madison Square Garden wedding festivities

Fri, 03 Jul 2026 22:00:02 -0400

Various athletes and sports personalities were among the high-profile guests who attended Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce's wedding Friday night at Madison Square Garden.

Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford and his wife, Kelly, were spotted leaving their hotel en route to the celebration, while Fox Sports personalities Erin Andrews and Charissa Thompson were also seen arriving for the event.

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OutKick reported earlier Friday that Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel and his wife, Jen, were on the guest list as well.

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Page Six posted a video of the two on social media, showing them leaving the hotel and getting into a car early Friday evening.

ESPN play-by-play commentator Joe Buck attended alongside his wife, Michelle Beisner-Buck.

Kelce's football circle was also well represented. Former Chiefs teammate Kareem Hunt and San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle were both in attendance to celebrate.

Beyond the guest list, Fox News Digital provided additional details about the ceremony on Friday. Representatives confirmed to People Magazine that the couple's friend Adam Sandler officiated the night.

Sandler and Kelce developed a friendship after the Chiefs tight end appeared in Happy Gilmore 2. Swift and Kelce did not have bridesmaids or groomsmen, according to a statement shared with People.

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As for what the bride and groom wore, the statement noted that the "ceremony looks have been created by Christian Dior Haute Couture. They are designed by Jonathan Anderson, Creative Director of Dior Women’s, Men’s and Haute Couture Collections, in close collaboration with the Bride and Groom. This is the designer's first couture wedding dress for a world-renowned celebrity. Their shoes were custom-made by Christian Louboutin and the bride wore Cartier jewelry."

There have not yet been any public sightings of Chiefs head coach Andy Reid or quarterback Patrick Mahomes, though both were expected to attend.

Messi, Argentina avoid a shocking upset in wild knockout stage match against Cape Verde

Fri, 03 Jul 2026 21:30:04 -0400

On Friday, Argentina looked to continue its quest for back-to-back World Cup titles, and to do it, they had to get through one of the darlings of this year's tournament, Cape Verde.

The small island nation off the coast of West Africa came into the match as the No. 64-ranked team in the world, and they managed to hold Argentina — the No. 2 team behind France at the moment — scoreless for almost thirty minutes.

But in the 29th minute, Lionel Messi scored to give Argentina the lead.

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That was the 20th World Cup goal of his career, and it also made him the first player to score seven or more goals in multiple World Cups, having done it in Qatar as well.

It was also Messi's eighth-straight World Cup match with a goal.

Well, typically when Argentina takes the lead, they don't cough it up, but early in the second half, Cape Verde's Deroy Duarte pulled off a stunner and tied the game at 1-1.

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While there was some late pressure from Argentina, that included an always-dangerous Messi free kick from just outside the box that Cape Verde managed to stop.

And with that, it was off to extra time.

However, it only took moments for Cape Verde to find themselves once again battling from behind.

Lisandro Martinez found the twine in the 92nd minute to give Argentina the lead.

It looked like that would be all she wrote... but Cape Verde had other plans.

They stuck with the defending World Cup champs, and in the 103rd minute, Sidny Lopes Cabral scored an unbelievable goal to tie the game again.

Coming into this game, Argentina had given up just two goals in their ten-match World Cup winning streak.

Cape Verde did that in one match.

But in the 111th minute, Messi took an Argentina corner kick and put it in the perfect spot for Cristian Romero to head it to the back post and into the back of the net.

This was eventually updated to an own-goal, as it went off the Cape Verde defender's arm, but it counts the same on the scoreboard.

Despite a late flurry of chances, Argentina held on to avoid what would have been potentially the biggest upset in World Cup history.

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What a match, and what a run Cape Verde had in the tournament.

Argentina will now have to recompose and get ready for a tough Round of 16 match against Egypt, which will take place on Tuesday in Atlanta.

Three dead, 7 rescued in boating tragedy as severe holiday weekend storm ravages Wisconsin tourist hot spot

Fri, 03 Jul 2026 20:58:38 -0400

A fast-moving, destructive storm ripped through southern Wisconsin Friday, leaving three people dead after their boat overturned on Geneva Lake during the busy Fourth of July holiday weekend.

The tragedy unfolded as a powerful storm system swept across Walworth County starting at roughly 12:10 p.m.

Amid the chaos, local dispatchers received urgent 911 calls reporting that a boat had capsized on Geneva Lake with multiple people struggling in the water.

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A City of Lake Geneva police boat and the Geneva Lake Law Enforcement Agency successfully rescued seven people from the water, but three people could not be saved, Walworth County Undersheriff Tom Hausner said during a news conference.

Emergency crews later recovered their bodies.

Authorities have not yet released the identities of the three victims who died, though sources told CBS News Chicago they were all children.

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The capsizing is under joint investigation by the Geneva Lake Law Enforcement Agency and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR).

Hausner said that while the county's permanent population sits around 106,000, it surges to more than 200,000 visitors on holiday weekends like the Fourth of July.

"Our resources, not just the sheriff's office, but all law enforcement resources and fire and EMS are stressed, and this compounded that to levels unprecedented," Hausner said.

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The sheriff's office initiated an emergency call-in of all off-duty deputies and requested mutual aid from Rock, Kenosha and Jefferson counties and the Wisconsin State Patrol and DNR.

City of Lake Geneva Mayor Todd Krause issued an emergency declaration at 12:18 p.m. after the high winds and heavy rains knocked down power lines, shattered trees, damaged buildings and left cars crushed.

Numerous storm-related injuries have been reported, forcing area hospitals to enact diversions due to the overwhelming volume of patients.

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The Geneva Lake Law Enforcement Agency, City of Lake Geneva Police Department, Walworth County Sheriff's Office and Walworth County did not immediately respond to additional inquiries from Fox News Digital.

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources referred all inquiries to the City of Lake Geneva Police Department.

USA's Folarin Balogun criticizes referee's red card in first comments since controversial ruling

Fri, 03 Jul 2026 19:57:02 -0400

The United States is currently gearing up to play its biggest game in program history without arguably its top performer of this World Cup.

Folarin Balogun will have to sit out Monday's Round of 16 matchup against Belgium after receiving a red card on an incidental, yet ugly-looking, play.

In going for a loose ball, Balogun and an opponent got incidentally tangled up to the point where Balogun stepped on the opponent's ankle, causing it to roll awkwardly. The video assistant referee (VAR) ordered the play to be looked at, and Balogun's transgressions were deemed "serious" enough for the red card.

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The red card not only ejected Balogun from the game and forced the USA to play the rest of the match with 10 men, but it also meant he would miss the team's Round of 16 match against Belgium on Monday.

In his first public comments since the ejection (and suspension), Balogun said he disagreed with the ruling.

"First and foremost, it was totally unintentional, which I'm sure a lot of people know. But, you know, I think the choice of the referee was, of course, his choice, but I don't think it was the correct call," he told reporters on Friday. "I think a yellow card would have been fair due to it not being intentional. There's not many places I can place my foot in such a scenario. But it's happened, and it's something that I have to accept and move forward from."

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"There’s been lots of different emotions. I’ve been upset, I’ve been happy, it’s been surreal to be honest," he added. "But for me it was just important to stay calm. I never want to react out of anger and emotion. There’s still lots of people we’re inspiring. Little kids, boys and girls are watching. We have to show them the correct way to handle things even when you think it’s unjust, so I felt I did that. I’m happy with the support, not just I’m receiving but the team. I think we’re all looking forward to seeing what we can do against Belgium."

Despite the controversial ruling, there was nothing the USMNT could do. Article 9.6 of the 2026 World Cup regulations reads, "No protests may be made about the referee’s decisions regarding facts connected with play. Such decisions are final and not subject to appeal, unless otherwise stipulated in the FIFA Disciplinary Code."

"If a player or team official is sent off as a result of a direct or indirect red card (second caution), they will automatically be suspended from their team’s subsequent match," Article 10.5 states.

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FIFA did confirm that Balogun would only miss the Belgium game, so he is eligible to return to the quarterfinals if the USA wins on Monday.

Taylor Swift marries Travis Kelce

Fri, 03 Jul 2026 19:53:57 -0400

Taylor Swift found her happily ever after.

Swift married NFL star Travis Kelce July 3 at a ceremony held at Madison Square Garden. The couple reportedly hosted around 1,000 guests after renting the arena for multiple days.

The "Love Story" singer began dating Kelce in summer 2023.

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Another A-list star served as the officiant for the couple's wedding. "The ceremony joined both families together and was officiated by friend Adam Sandler," reps confirmed to People magazine.

Sandler and Kelce bonded after the tight end appeared in "Happy Gilmore 2," and later on the Kelce brother's podcast, "New Heights."

"He was so cool, he was just like you (Jason Kelce), just like you when you took over with announcing. You guys just go, ‘All right if I’m doing this I might as well be great at this,’" Sandler said last year.

"Anyways, yeah you were cool as s---, Travis was locked in, he kind of had to be a bad guy, he was just there."

Swift and Kelce did not have bridesmaids or groomsmen for their big day, according to the statement shared with the outlet. The pop star's brother, Austin Swift, was her "Man of Honor" and Kelce's brother, Jason, was the NFL player's "Best Man."

Swift's notoriously private about her relationships, and while their exact timeline is unclear, she was first spotted at a Chiefs game Sept. 24, 2023.

She revealed in an interview with Time magazine that they actually began dating long before she appeared in the stands.

"This all started when Travis very adorably put me on blast on his podcast, which I thought was metal as hell," she said. "We started hanging out right after that. So, we actually had a significant amount of time that no one knew, which I’m grateful for, because we got to get to know each other.

"By the time I went to that first game, we were a couple."

In July 2023, Kelce joked on his "New Heights" podcast that he missed the opportunity to give Swift a friendship bracelet in person when The Eras Tour rolled through Kansas City.

"If you’re up on Taylor Swift concerts, there are friendship bracelets, and I received a bunch of them being there, but I wanted to give Taylor Swift one with my (phone) number on it," Kelce told his brother, Jason.

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Swift and Kelce appeared on his podcast Aug. 13, 2025, and they shared more details of how they met.

When asked why she chose to appear on the podcast, she joked, "This podcast got me a boyfriend ever since Travis decided to use it as his personal dating app.

"This dude didn't get a meet-and-greet, and he's making it everyone's problem. That's what I thought at first. ... You realize he didn't even reach out to our management. He came with Pat [Mahomes], and he thought that, because he knows the elevator lady, that he could talk to her about just getting down to my dressing room."

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Kelce admitted Swift's music actually gave him a roadmap on how to win her over.

"I was sitting there at the Eras Tour listening to every single one of those songs being like, ‘I know exactly what she wants me to do,'" he said. "I'm the luckiest man in the world."

Thirteen days after the "New Heights" podcast episode featuring Swift dropped, the two announced their engagement on Instagram.

"Your English teacher and your gym teacher are getting married," Swift wrote, sharing photos of Kelce down on one knee during the intimate moment.

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Socialist Colorado candidate blames Israel for 'putting Jewish people in great danger'

Fri, 03 Jul 2026 19:00:36 -0400

Socialist Colorado congressional candidate Melat Kiros blamed Israel’s activity in the Middle East for inspiring attacks on Jewish people in other countries during an interview on Wednesday.

Kiros is part of a wave of anti-Israel, far-left candidates gaining popularity in the Democratic Party. She won her primary in her Denver-area district this week, ousting longtime incumbent Diana Degette after far-left candidates won their primaries in New York last month.

Colorado Attorney General and Democratic gubernatorial candidate Phil Weiser recently condemned her hesitance to answer whether a deadly attack on a pro-Israel rally in Boulder last year could be described as antisemitic, something a 9News host brought up to Kiros earlier this week.

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"I just spoke with Attorney General Phil Weiser, who won the Democratic primary for governor last night. He is very likely to be Colorado's next governor in the same way that you are very likely to be a member of the Colorado congressional delegation come next year," the host noted.

"He has some real concerns about things that you have said about Israel and, in particular, about the firebombing of Jewish people in Boulder, and he told me that he would like to sit down and have a conversation with you so that you can hear where he's coming from and he can hear where you're coming from. Are you open to that?"

"Absolutely," she said to the prospect of having a conversation with Weiser. "You know, at the end of the day, what happened in Boulder was a horrific attack on a group of Jewish people that were peacefully protesting, and we are seeing that the actions of Israel are putting Jewish people in great danger. And the hate and the antisemitism that's rising as a result of it is one that I have every intention of prioritizing and combating.

"I really look forward to sitting down with Phil Weiser to figure out how we can work together to combat that hate."

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In the aforementioned interview, Kiros had said of the convicted bomber, "I don't know what was in the heart of the perpetrator. All I know is that he went and attacked innocent people because of what they might have believed, and I don't even know what the people that were at that protest believed, too. In fact, most of them were probably just there to, you know, ask that the people who were kidnapped during Oct. 7 be returned home to their families. That's not a political statement in and of itself."

The attack by Mohamed Soliman happened June 1, 2025, targeting a pro-Israel demonstration in Boulder. Eighty-two-year-old Karen Diamond was killed, and about a dozen others were injured.

Soliman appeared to disguise himself as a gardener before springing into action, hurling two flaming projectiles at demonstrators, according to prosecutors.

He pleaded guilty in May to state charges, including murder, and was sentenced to life in prison with no chance of parole. Soliman expressed regret for his crime and even said he deserved the death penalty, The New York Times reported. He denied being motivated by hatred of Jews but launched into what the Times called a "rambling diatribe against Zionism, which he described as 'the enemy.'"

He could still face the death penalty on federal hate crime charges.

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Kiros made her opposition to Israel a centerpiece of her successful primary campaign. In her victory speech after clinching the nomination, she said one of her chief goals was to "end the genocide in Palestine."

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

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Fox News' Lindsay Kornick and Robert McGreevy contributed to this report.

ESPN makes right decision by removing Rich Eisen from play-by-play amid NFL Network acquisition

Fri, 03 Jul 2026 18:55:16 -0400

Rich Eisen confirmed he will no longer call NFL games as a play-by-play commentator following ESPN's acquisition of NFL Network.

"I believe I am done," Eisen told Sports Illustrated when asked if he would continue calling games this upcoming season.

Eisen had called games for NFL Network since around 2018, including most of the network's international slate. Kurt Warner often served as the color analyst alongside him.

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Sources tell OutKick it was ESPN's decision to remove Eisen from game broadcasts. Dave Pasch is expected to replace him on NFL Network-exclusive games.

Pasch, who is leaving his role with the Arizona Cardinals, will be a significant upgrade. He is one of ESPN's best play-by-play voices.

Eisen never reached that level.

His game-calling drew consistent criticism from fans and media observers. He relied too heavily on clichés and talked over replays and the natural sounds of the game. He too often defaulted to the same phrases. Critics frequently pointed to his limited vocabulary, such as repeatedly referring to midfield as "the shield," and his tendency to call games in the passive voice.

During the interview, Eisen attributed those struggles to instincts he developed as a studio host.

"I enjoyed doing it a lot, man. I enjoyed doing it a lot. But it's so counter to what I normally do," Eisen told SI. "Sitting in this chair on this set, three-hour radio TV simulcast game day morning on Sunday morning, if there's dead air, if there's blank space, if there's no talking, my first thought is to jump in and fill the void. It's the exact opposite when you're calling a game. Your job is to shut the f up after the big moment happens."

Fair.

Not everyone can excel as both a studio host and a play-by-play announcer. NBC's Mike Tirico is one of the few exceptions.

Still, Eisen's standing at ESPN is hardly in jeopardy. Even before the acquisition of NFL Network, he signed a separate deal with ESPN to carry his daily radio show on ESPN Radio and Disney+. He has also hosted several special editions of SportsCenter.

ESPN MUST HOLD STEPHEN A ACCOUNTABLE AFTER DOUBLING DOWN ON RACIST REMARKS ABOUT WHITE BASKETBALL PLAYERS

Around the industry, Eisen is a polarizing figure.

Most people view him as a talented studio anchor and a recognizable face for casual sports fans. However, he also draws criticism for his fixation on his own nostalgia from the 1990s. It's difficult to watch one of his shows without hearing him reference himself from 20 or 25 years ago.

He's also more political than ESPN appears to want to be at this stage. Some of the guests on his radio show have included Doug Emhoff, Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, Tim Walz and CNN host Jake Tapper.

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At least he's still capable of talking sports without belittling "white dudes" or defending hard fouls on Caitlin Clark.

Eisen still has value — just not as a play-by-play commentator. ESPN recognized that before its first season operating NFL Network.

US Coast Guard saves 8, including infant and child, after vessel capsizes off Fort Myers Beach

Fri, 03 Jul 2026 18:39:26 -0400

A quick-thinking crew from U.S. Coast Guard Station Fort Myers Beach saved eight lives, including an infant and a child, after a boat capsized Friday afternoon near the Sanibel Causeway in Florida.

Responders rushed to the capsized vessel, executing a rapid, coordinated effort that resulted in every person being safely recovered from the water.

Officials credited the success of the operation to the crew's "relentless" preparation and teamwork.

AT LEAST 6 PEOPLE INJURED AFTER BOSTON DUCK BOAT OVERTURNS NEAR ENTRANCE TO POPULAR TOURIST ATTRACTION

"A successful mission is measured by the lives brought home safely," U.S. Coast Guard Station Fort Myers Beach wrote in a statement on Facebook.

The Coast Guard emphasized the high-stakes rescue serves as a powerful reminder of why its crews train constantly and remain ready to respond at any hour of the day or night.

CBP, COAST GUARD INTERCEPT MIGRANT VESSEL HEADING FOR PUERTO RICO; 40 APPREHENDED INCLUDING UZBEK NATIONAL

"When seconds matter, preparation, communication, and teamwork make all the difference," the Coast Guard station wrote. "We are grateful for the opportunity to serve our community and thankful that this incident ended with everyone returning home safely. Our thoughts are with those involved, and we’re proud of every responder who played a role in this successful rescue."

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The Sanibel Causeway is in southwest Florida, just west of Fort Myers on the Gulf Coast.

Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel, wife spotted en route to Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce's wedding

Fri, 03 Jul 2026 18:08:46 -0400

Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce's wedding is drawing an interesting crowd of some of the biggest names in sports and entertainment to Madison Square Garden.

That includes New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel, fresh off Super Bowl LX, who was spotted in New York City arriving and then later departing a hotel with his wife, Jen.

Page Six posted a video of the two on social media, showing them leaving the hotel and getting into a car early Friday evening.

TAYLOR SWIFT AND TRAVIS KELCE'S WEDDING OF THE YEAR: EVERYTHING WE KNOW SO FAR

Vrabel — who previously coached the Tennessee Titans — has never coached Kelce, but it's not exactly a surprise to see some of the biggest names in the NFL on hand for the evening.

AJ BROWN TRADE OUTCOME: DIANNA RUSSINI PAID A HEAVY PRICE WHILE MIKE VRABEL EMERGED UNSCATHED

There is, of course, a gigantic elephant in the room: These photos from Friday also marked the first time Vrabel and his wife had been seen in public together since the coach became embroiled in a scandal involving former The Athletic NFL reporter Dianna Russini.

Vrabel and Russini were photographed together at a resort in Sedona, Arizona, and after that, additional photos and videos — some from several years earlier — came to light.

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While Vrabel stayed at the helm of the Patriots, Russini resigned from her position with The Athletic shortly after the scandal broke.

Military allies, historic tall ships converge on New Jersey shores to launch America 250 celebrations

Fri, 03 Jul 2026 17:57:31 -0400

An international fleet of tall ships arrived on the shores of New Jersey Friday to mark a once-in-a-generation celebration of America’s semiquincentennial.

Organizers and officials gathered in Sandy Hook to outline the scope of the historic Sail4th 250 tribute.

"Nearly 250 years ago, it was here at Sandy Hook that George Washington's army drove the British from New Jersey," said Gov. Mikie Sherrill, a former naval officer. "It was from this day that the last British ships of the Revolutionary War departed."

NEW ORLEANS HOSTS FIRST STOP OF SAIL 250 AS FLEET BEGINS EAST COAST JOURNEY

The site is also home to the country's oldest continuously lit lighthouse, which has guided maritime navigators since 1764.

The area is now preserved as part of the Gateway National Recreation Area, a 27,000-acre national park spanning New York and New Jersey that welcomes more than 9 million visitors annually.

YOSEMITE, GRAND CANYON LEAD NOTABLE LIST OF NATIONAL PARK CAMPGROUNDS FOR AMERICA'S 250TH

Roughly 20 nations have dispatched their premier tall ships to participate in the celebration, with vessels arriving from as far away as Italy, India, Peru, Poland, Spain and Sweden.

The legendary U.S. Coast Guard cutter Eagle, which was acquired as a war reparation from Nazi Germany, will lead the official parade of ships.

It is the only active square-rigged sailing vessel in federal service and has been sailed by every Coast Guard Academy cadet.

EUROPE'S $116B FIGHTER JET 'FAILURE' RAISES FRESH DOUBTS ABOUT ABILITY TO DEFEND ITSELF WITHOUT US

Sherrill said the presence of the international crews represents something far deeper than a simple tourist attraction, noting the event is a testament to the strength of global security alliances.

"America never fights alone because we fight alongside our friends and allies," Sherrill said. "Today, it's a joy to be here to celebrate with all of our allies and friends."

Planning for the monumental maritime review has been underway since April 2020, when organizers first began coordinating with foreign military attachés, according to Christopher O'Brien, president of Sail4th 250.

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The main festivities will kick off Saturday morning and will include the Tall Ships Parade, International Naval Review and a coordinated International Aerial Review.

"Fifty years ago, people lined the Hudson to cheer [on] hundreds of ships from around the world," Sherrill said, referring to the country’s 1976 bicentennial celebration. "This week, millions will turn out again for another massive boat parade, united by a shared love of country, pride in our history and hope for the future."

Conservative Keiko Fujimori officially declared winner of Peru's presidential runoff election

Fri, 03 Jul 2026 17:52:18 -0400

Keiko Fujimori, the conservative politician and daughter of the former president, was declared the winner Friday of Peru's presidential runoff election.

Fujimori, 51, will take office later this month as Peru's ninth president in 10 years. This was her fourth bid for the position following years of political instability in the country.

Fujimori thanked her supporters in a post on X announcing the conclusion of the election.

STATE DEPARTMENT CONGRATULATES KEIKO FUJIMORI AS PERU'S PRESIDENT-ELECT FOLLOWING RAZOR-THIN VOTE COUNT

"I receive with profound gratitude the trust that millions of Peruvians have placed in me. A new stage begins. We assume it with responsibility, humility, and a deep sense of duty," she wrote. "Each day of this transition process is an opportunity to listen, engage in dialogue, and arrive prepared at the start of the new government. Through these accounts, we will share the progress of this stage and the work we have been carrying out. I invite you to join us."

Peru's top election authority certified the results Friday. Fujimori received 9,223,000 votes, or 50.14% of the total, while nationalist Congressman Roberto Sánchez earned over 9,173,000 votes, or 49.87%, The Associated Press reported.

Fujimori made it to the runoff after defeating 33 other candidates in April.

TRUMP ADMIN BACKS BOLIVIA STATE OF EMERGENCY AS LEFTIST EX-LEADER'S LOYALISTS FRACTURE NATION

Her election came amid concerns from voters about surging crime, especially extortion by violent organized crime gangs. Fujimori has pledged to act tough on crime with an "iron fist."

She is the daughter of the late Alberto Fujimori, the former president whose government in the 1990s defeated the Shining Path extremist rebel group but also took an authoritarian turn.

He was convicted in 2009 of human rights abuses in the fight against the rebels and, later on, corruption charges. His legacy within Peru remains deeply divisive.

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On Tuesday, the State Department congratulated the younger Fujimori.

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

Flyers make stunning offer sheet for Ducks star Leo Carlsson in blockbuster NHL move

Fri, 03 Jul 2026 17:43:28 -0400

One of the most fun things about the NHL is the specter of offer sheets hanging over teams with highly-prized restricted free agents, as was the case this year for the Anaheim Ducks and 21-year-old Swedish superstar Leo Carlsson.

While the Ducks have maintained they'll match any offer sheet, they may not have been prepared for the monster offer Philadelphia Flyers GM Danny Briere was willing to make.

Five years with an AAV of $18 million, which would make Carlsson the highest-paid player in the league.

ALEX OVECHKIN SIGNS A ONE-YEAR DEAL TO RETURN FOR ANOTHER NHL SEASON WITH THE CAPITALS

Now, here's where the fun begins: the Ducks have a week to match that offer. If they decide they don't want to, Carlsson will become a Flyer, and the Ducks will receive Philadelphia's first-round draft picks in each of the next four seasons.

It's about as high-risk, high-reward as it gets.

The Flyers had a surprisingly strong season in 2025-26, and clearly Briere thinks that trend will continue. So, he's willing to push all of his chips to the center of the table for a top-line center, something the Flyers really need.

THE TALLEST PLAYER EVER SELECTED IN THE NHL BLEW MINDS IN HIS DEBUT WITH THE SAN JOSE SHARKS

Of course, coughing up draft picks like that, should things go sideways, is a real gamble.

Anaheim is in a similar bind here. They may not want to part with Carlsson just after the team returned to the postseason.

However, according to Puckpedia, they've got just over $17 million in projected cap space (I suspect Daniel Briere was acutely aware of this), meaning to match the offer sheet, they'll have to move some money around.

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Do they want to do that? Or do they think they can continue without Carlsson while bringing in a haul of draft picks they can also use in trades?

We'll have to see what the Ducks decide, but this is exactly why offer sheets are quietly one of the wildest things the NHL has to offer.

Caitlin Clark named Eastern Conference Player of the Month despite only playing 10 games

Fri, 03 Jul 2026 17:05:02 -0400

Caitlin Clark has spent a lot of time in the headlines this season for reasons that have nothing to do with her play on the court. But it's worth remembering just how dominant she's been whenever she's healthy.

Just one day after being named an All-Star starter for the third consecutive season, Clark was named the WNBA Eastern Conference Player of the Month for June. It's the second time in her career she's earned the honor after also winning Player of the Month and Rookie of the Month in August 2024. She joins Hall of Famer Tamika Catchings as the only players in Indiana Fever history to receive the award, with Catchings winning it three times.

CAITLIN CLARK HIGHLIGHTS 3 FEVER PLAYERS NAMED AMONG 2026 WNBA ALL-STAR GAME STARTERS

Clark was sensational throughout June, averaging 21.9 points, 8.2 assists and 4.0 rebounds over 10 games while shooting 45.6% from the field and 35.1% from beyond the arc. She ranked fourth in the WNBA in scoring and second in assists, leading Indiana to a 7-4 record while powering the league's highest-scoring offense at 95.5 points per game.

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One of her best performances came on June 11 against Chicago, when she exploded for 32 points and 10 assists. Clark and Aliyah Boston became the first teammates in WNBA history to each record a 30-point double-double in the same game. Five days later, she followed that up with 21 points and a season-high 14 assists in a win over Toronto.

From June 11-22, Clark also set a new WNBA record by recording at least 20 points and five assists in six consecutive games. It was the third time in her career she has put together a streak of at least five straight games reaching those marks—something every other player in league history has combined to do just three times.

That streak ended only because a back injury forced Clark to leave Indiana's June 24 game against Phoenix in the third quarter after she had already piled up 19 points and eight assists. It was also the game in which Alyssa Thomas made contact with Clark's neck during a play that resulted in a flagrant foul.

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Clark continues to rewrite the WNBA record books. She enters July needing just nine assists to reach 600 for her career and only five three-pointers to become the fastest player in league history to make 200 career threes.

Trump grants pardons to 'persecuted' mechanics in right-to-repair crackdown: 'I am setting them all free'

Fri, 03 Jul 2026 17:04:43 -0400

President Donald Trump on Friday announced full executive pardons for more than half a dozen people he claims were "persecuted" by the Biden administration for simply "fixing their car."

In a Truth Social post Friday afternoon, the president took aim at federal prosecutions he characterized as part of the "Weaponization and Stupidity" of the prior administration, saying, "I AM SETTING THEM ALL FREE, RIGHT NOW!"

Those who received clemency were charged after circumventing emissions control regulations that are no longer in effect, a White House official told Fox News Digital.

They include: Joshua Davis; Matt Geouge; Jonathan Achtemeier; Tim Clancy; Ryan and Wade Lalone; Barry Pierce; Aaron Rudolf; and Mackenzie Spurlock.

FORMER INDIANA REP STEPHEN BUYER RECEIVES FULL PARDON FROM TRUMP FOR 2023 INSIDER TRADING CONVICTION

The pardons align with Trump’s broader push to defend the "right to repair."

Earlier in the week, he signed a presidential memo designed to make it easier for Americans to repair their own vehicles by protecting self-repair rights and opening up options for aftermarket parts.

"It came to my attention because I noticed they were arresting people for fixing their car," Trump said during an Oval Office news conference. "We rule by common sense."

The executive clemency follows the high-profile federal environmental case involving Elite Diesel Service Inc. and its owner, Troy Lake Sr.

Lake received a full and unconditional pardon Nov. 7, 2025, wiping away his conviction in the case United States v. Elite Diesel Service, Inc. et al.

WATCH: TRUMP EPA CHIEF SPARKS EXPLOSIVE HEARING SHOWDOWN OVER GLOBAL WARMING ALARM FROM DEMS: 'I'M TALKING'

According to federal plea agreements, Elite Diesel had instructed employees to disable computerized on-board diagnostic systems on at least 344 heavy-duty commercial trucks between January 2017 and December 2020.

The diagnostic systems are federally mandated under the Clean Air Act to monitor emissions control systems.

Lake was sentenced on Dec. 5, 2024, to more than a year in prison and a $2,500 fine. The company was put on probation for five years, ordered to pay a fine of $37,500 and required to make a $12,500 payment to a Colorado Department of Public Health and the Environment program designed to repair emissions systems for low-income drivers.

REPUBLICANS DECLARE WAR ON 'ORGANIZED THEFT' WITH GOVERNMENT FRAUD CRACKDOWN

Government prosecutors also argued that Elite Diesel's co-conspirators, other diesel truck garages and fleets, hired Lake's company to manipulate the computers so that emission system malfunctions would go undetected, according to a statement from the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Colorado.

The EPA’s sprawling investigation ultimately swept up eight alleged co-conspirator garages and fleets across seven states, including Kansas, North Dakota and Oklahoma.

The businesses were ordered to pay heavy fines and fund local community service projects, such as buying clean school buses or electric groundskeeping equipment to offset environmental impacts, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.

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At the time, Biden administration officials defended the criminal prosecutions as essential for public health.

EPA Criminal Investigation Division Special Agent Lance Ehrig accused the defendants of leading a "large-scale conspiracy" that "diminished air quality."

A study cited by the prosecution claimed the tampered trucks collectively released more than 1,300 tons of excess nitrogen oxides and other pollutants into the air.

Democrats' 'pathetic groveling' for fundraising bashed in New York Times column

Fri, 03 Jul 2026 16:46:56 -0400

New York Times opinion writer Michelle Cottle blasted the Democratic Party Friday, warning "few people are excited to invest in an insecure loser."

Cottle specifically skewered the Democratic Party’s fundraising messaging in a piece headlined, "This Pathetic Groveling Is No Way to Rebuild a Party."

"Not infrequently, I open my email to find a fund-raising request from the Democratic Party with a subject line that reads as though it was sent by a contrite boyfriend," she wrote, claiming it has reportedly sent messaging like "’Can I explain?’ ‘You deserve an explanation’ ‘Sorry to reach out on a Sunday, ‘Let me try to convince you, ‘Please.’"

JOE SCARBOROUGH GOES OFF ON 'HORRIBLE' DNC CHAIR, 'CRAZY' DEMOCRATIC PARTY IN SCATHING ON-AIR CRITIQUE

Her point, she said, "is that, right up front, these messages telegraph insecurity, pleading, chagrin. Hardly the vibe of a confident political team fighting the good fight. My overriding impulse is not to give the party campaign cash but to offer to pay for group therapy."

While she recognized that Democrats feel humiliated by having been defeated by President Donald Trump, she urged "enough with the public hand-wringing and self-flagellation, especially when it comes to asking people for money." She argued instead, "The blue team needs to claw back some self-respect and reassure voters that they aren’t being asked to back a bunch of losers."

Things aren’t much better across the political aisle, she said, joking that GOP fundraising messaging to its voters amounts to, "Give us $20 right now or Barack [Obama], Hillary [Clinton] and [Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez] will send their baby-eating, terrorist-coddling, devil-worshiping minions to your house to imprison your family and turn your dog into a Communist."

FOX NEWS POLL: 'RESILIENT DISCONTENT' DEFINES THE US MOOD AT 250TH ANNIVERSARY

But one aspect that Republicans have going for their messaging, she said, is a primal sense of belonging.

"One point in the Republicans’ favor: Scratch away the toxic layers of fear and hysteria in their solicitations and, if you squint hard enough, you can sometimes catch a glimmer of something constructive. Many of the messages are peddling a sense of pride and belonging — primal impulses at the heart of the MAGA movement."

Even so, this tribalism, she said, is based on exclusion, something she said Democrats cannot tap into.

"A core problem — maybe the core problem — with Trumpism in general is that it relies on divisiveness and hate to foster that sense of community. This only makes it more crucial for Democrats to hawk a strong, confident, appealing counteroffer," she said.

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By contrast, she noted that Democrats "can skip the ‘Patriot’ palaver. Its voters don’t roll that way. Likewise, bullying commands are unlikely to resonate in a party not trained to follow a strongman."

She went on to note that as dated as some of the Obama-era optimistic messaging was, it at least gave people a sense of hopefulness, and with that in mind, "The Democrats should be focused on making voters proud to support their team again."

FIFA makes final ruling on US soccer star Folarin Balogun's controversial red card suspension

Fri, 03 Jul 2026 16:20:30 -0400

The United States Men's National Team is coming off of a massive victory on Wednesday night over Bosnia and Herzegovina, but there is a big cloud hanging over them for the next match against Belgium.

That's because the team will be without star striker Folarin Balogun after he was dealt a wildly controversial red card in the second half of the match.

That, of course, means a suspension is coming his way, but the U.S. got some good news on Friday when FIFA confirmed that the suspension would be for just one match.

MAJOR SOCCER GOVERNING BODY NIXING FIFA'S MOUTH-COVERING RED CARD MANDATE FOR FUTURE GAMES

While it was always pretty unlikely that FIFA could add extra games to Balogun's suspension, they've formally decided not to, and that's the best possible outcome for the U.S. in this scenario.

There is no mechanism through which the U.S. could appeal this decision, so all it could do was hope the suspension would be limited to one match.

Balogun himself gave his first comments on the incident on Friday, shortly after FIFA's decision to keep the suspension at one game was made public.

ALEXI LALAS RIPS REFEREES AFTER FOLARIN BALOGUN RED CARD IN TEAM USA WIN: 'AN ABSOLUTE JOKE'

"It’s important for me to say, first and foremost, it was totally unintentional," he said Friday. "The choice of the referee was his choice. I don’t think it was the correct choice. I think a yellow card would’ve been fair, due to it not being intentional."

"It’s something that happened; we have to move forward, and I have to accept it."

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Balogun will certainly be missed for Monday's match against Belgium in Seattle, seeing as he's leading the team with three goals in this tournament.

But now, if the Americans are able to pull off a bit of an upset over the Belgians, they'll be relieved to know that he'll be back in action in the quarterfinals.

Glizzy Gambling: Best bets for the 2026 Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest in Coney Island, Brooklyn

Fri, 03 Jul 2026 15:50:46 -0400

Fireworks, flags and BBQs are Fourth of July staples, but America’s 250th birthday brings an extra helping of absurdity to Coney Island. Yet, none capture the nation's spirit quite like the legendary Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest, a Coney Island spectacle dating back to 1916.

As ridiculous as it may sound, my favorite Red, White and Boom tradition is betting on the Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest. Since joining OutKick in 2022, I've won money in two of my three on the Super Bowl of Major League Eating (MLE).

Elite eaters face a brutal new opponent this year: A scorching Brooklyn weather forecast climbing into the upper 90s. Extreme heat is set to significantly affect swallowing speed, completely shaking up the oddsmakers' lines. Welcome to "Glizzy Gambling," your ultimate betting guide to cashing in on this Independence Day.

JOEY CHESTNUT WILL DEFEND NATHAN'S HOT DOG EATING CONTEST TITLE ON JULY 4 WHILE SERVING PROBATION SENTENCE

These odds are the best available at the time of writing and are subject to change.

Total Hot Dogs Eaten by Joey Chestnut: UNDER 70.5 (-165) via DraftKings

First of all, the Glizzy GOAT has eaten 71+ hot dogs and buns (HDB) five times and finished with exactly 70.5 HBD last year. Not to get too nerdy here, but since five out of 16 is 31% and the implied probability of -165 is 62%, I’m getting a good number for the UNDER 70.5 HBD.

Yet, when you factor in the projected heat, I’m getting a great price on that Under. Temperatures in Brooklyn for July 4th are forecasted to be in the upper 90s, and it’s harder to down glizzies in the extreme heat. Sweating in the heat leads to dehydration and makes it tougher to juggle all of those hot dogs. Buns become stale and harder to eat.

JOEY CHESTNUT REFLECTS ON RETURN TO HOT DOG EATING CONTEST AFTER CONTRACT DISPUTE, TEMPORARY BAN

The 17-time Mustard Belt winner ate a personal-low 54 HBD in 2010, and it was 96° outside. When Chestnut downed a record-setting 76 HBD in 2021, the weather was in the mid-70s, which he considers perfect weather for the contest. In 2020, the hot dog eating contest was moved indoors due to the COVID pandemic, and Chestnut ate a then-record 75 HBD.

Winner Without Joey Chestnut: James Webb (+650) via FanDuel

Patrick Bertoletti is the odds-on favorite in this market at -300 based partially on the fact that he won the 2024 Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest when Chestnut was banned from competing because of his sponsorship deal with Impossible Foods. But last July 4th, Bertoletti only ate one more HBD than Webb (46.5-45.5).

Bertoletti’s implied win probability at -300 is 75%, and Webb’s implied win probability is 13% on the +650 odds. Simply put, Bertoletti isn’t 62% more likely to down more HBD than Webb, who is second behind Chestnut in MLE with three wins this season.

That includes two record-breaking performances by Webb in the ManorPalooza World Texas Sausage-Eating Championship (55 Texas sausages) and Kickoff To Summer Blackberry Moonshine Wing Championship (256 wings).

Gideon Oji (-145) > Radim Dvořáček

In his two Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contests, Dvořáček has downed 23 HBD in 2024 and 30.5 last year. Oji, on the other hand, has eaten 31+ HBD in eight of his 10 career glizzy contests, including three straight.

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Dvořáček is 12th in MLE's rankings, and Oji is ninth. Oji won the 2026 National Sweet Corn Eating Championship, whereas Dvořáček doesn’t have a win this season.

_____________________________

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

Waltz calls out Iranian diplomat at UN following drone strikes on Bahrain and Kuwait

Fri, 03 Jul 2026 15:47:15 -0400

U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz scolded Iran during this week's U.N. Security Council meeting, saying Tehran "will not silence" the body following claims by the Islamic Republic's representative that council members were spreading falsehoods about its recent attack targeting neighboring Gulf states.

"Let me remind you where you are," Waltz told Iranian diplomat Amir Saeid Iravani. "This is the United States of America. This is the United Nations Security Council. You will not silence this body."

Waltz's remarks came during an emergency meeting of the council in response to drone and missile attacks targeting Bahrain and Kuwait Sunday after new U.S. airstrikes against Iran.

GULF COUNTRIES STRONGLY CONDEMN IRAN'S DRONE ATTACK ON BAHRAIN AS RISING TENSIONS THREATEN MOU

During his remarks, Iravani argued the council should not have met, while accusing the U.S., Bahrain and other members of lying.

"Once again, the representative of the United States has resorted to lies and disinformation against Iran in a desperate attempt to justify the US's unlawful acts of aggression," Iravani said.

He also rejected the "unfounded accusations made by certain Western members of the Council and the representative of Bahrain."

IRAN HARDLINER BEHIND US DEAL WARNS TEHRAN WON’T HONOR AGREEMENT IF TRUMP FAILS TO DELIVER

"Instead of addressing the root cause of the current crisis, they have ignored the unlawful aggression committed against Iran and sought to shift blame onto the victim," he added. "Their double standards and hypocritical behavior have deprived them of any credibility to lecture others."

In a post on X, Waltz reiterated his position.

"Iran will not silence us on our own soil," he wrote. "That might work in Tehran, but not in the UN Security Council. We will tell the truth."

HOW IRAN ATTACKS ARE FORCING THE PENTAGON TO RETHINK ITS DECADES-OLD MIDDLE EAST BASE STRATEGY

During the exchange, Waltz held up what he said were images of the aftermath of the Iranian attacks, including a family whose home in Bahrain was destroyed by a Shahed drone, a hotel full of tourists that was also hit and a building used by first responders that Waltz said was deliberately targeted.

"Are they lying?" Waltz said of the victims of the attack. "Is this hypocrisy? Is this what this council is here to denounce today? I ask the representative, are these lies? … I'd say not."

Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani, Bahrain's minister of foreign affairs, said that, since Feb. 28, the island nation has been subjected to 808 attacks comprising 203 ballistic missiles and 605 armed drones.

"These attacks deliberately targeted civilian facilities, critical infrastructure and residential areas, resulting in the deaths of three innocent civilians and injuries to 465 others," he said, disputing Tehran's claim that its aggression is directed solely against military objectives.

Washington and Tehran have repeatedly accused each other of violating a fragile ceasefire agreement. On June 27, President Donald Trump said U.S. forces struck Iranian missile and drone storage locations and coastal radar sites after Iran violated the deal.

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The exchanges of fire began when an Iranian drone struck a merchant vessel off Oman last week and the U.S. military retaliated, officials said.

"It is very possible that they will never learn! There may come a point when we are no longer able to be reasonable, and will be forced to militarily complete the job that we very successfully started," Trump wrote on Truth Social. "If that happens, the Islamic Republic of Iran will no longer exist!"

Experts ‘deeply’ concerned over Iran’s work at underground nuclear site

Fri, 03 Jul 2026 15:29:04 -0400

One of the leading American institutes devoted to research on the Islamic Republic’s nuclear program sounded an alarm this week over the regime's uninspected underground site in the Zagros Mountains.

Inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) have not been allowed to visit the secret site, known as Pickaxe Mountain.

The highly fortified facility is casting serious doubt on Iran’s willingness to abide by the terms of the memorandum of understanding (MOU) reached with the Trump administration. The United States, together with Israel, launched Operation Epic Fury Feb. 28, 2026, targeting Iran’s nuclear and missile capabilities.

Experts from the Washington-based Institute for Science and International Security (ISIS) argue that halting work at Pickaxe Mountain and allowing IAEA inspectors access would be a key good-faith measure to test whether Iran is prepared to abandon its pattern of deception.

OBAMA-ERA INSPECTION FLAWS IN IRAN COULD PERSIST AS EXPERTS WARN OF NUCLEAR BLIND SPOTS

Spencer Faragasso, a senior fellow with the group who covers Iran, North Korea, illicit trade, and nuclear issues, wrote on X: "Important update by us at @TheGoodISIS. The ongoing work at Pickaxe Mountain is deeply concerning. This work has continued steadily since at least 2020. In my view, this is a hedge by Iran in case negotiations fail — they will then have a nuclear facility in a late stage of construction. We assessed that Pickaxe is likely large enough to hold an enrichment plant."

Iran has used facilities at Natanz, Fordow and Isfahan to enrich uranium, the key material for a nuclear weapons program.

Faragasso added, "If Iran is serious about negotiating, it should halt construction at Pickaxe Mountain as a token of good faith. But what can be expected from a regime as brutal and conniving as Iran’s?"

The institute posted a detailed analysis of new satellite imagery from late June 2026 showing continued activity at Pickaxe Mountain.

TRUMP ADMINISTRATION UNVEILS SWEEPING TERMS OF PROPOSED IRAN AGREEMENT

The institute wrote that "at Pickaxe Mountain, vehicle activity can be seen on the roads leading to the open set of Western tunnel portals, indicating that construction inside the tunnel complex, as well as hardening of the tunnel entrance, are ongoing. The MOU signed between the United States and Iran requires that Iran maintain the status quo, which should prohibit construction at any nuclear-related facility, including Pickaxe Mountain."

In late June, the IAEA declined to answer a detailed Fox News Digital query on whether it would seek access to the Pickaxe Mountain facility. According to the satellite imagery obtained by the institute, "at Natanz, little activity can be seen. The access points to the below-ground enrichment halls have not been repaired.

"The personnel entrances remain destroyed, and vehicle entrances remain severely damaged. A single vehicle can be seen on the road outside of the Pilot Fuel Enrichment Plant (PFEP), which was destroyed in June 2025 but was later covered by Iran."

The institute also reported, "As of June 29, 2026, there is no observed activity at Esfahan. The tunnel portals remain backfilled with dirt." ISIS tracked developments at the Fordow site, buried inside a mountain north of the holy Islamic city of Qom.

"At Fordow, as earlier reported by the Institute, between May 10 and May 18, Iran added passive defensive measures in the form of earthen/rocky mounds and other objects on the roads leading to the tunnel entrances. The alternating placements of the piles/objects are very precise, which creates a series of chicanes, indicating they are not intended as obstructions but rather to prevent rapid ingress and egress by any vehicle toward the tunnels."

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The institute added, "The June 21 Vantor image shows that the objects along the road remain there. The tunnel portals also remain backfilled with dirt" at Fordow.

Fox News Digital sent questions to the State Department and the Iranian Mission to the United Nations.

Erika Kirk hits back at NY Times newsletter about marriage and kids, accuses writer of missing the point

Fri, 03 Jul 2026 15:24:25 -0400

Erika Kirk, widow of Charlie Kirk and head of Turning Point USA, responded to a New York Times newsletter Friday on X, accusing it of missing the point on marriage and children.

"This @nytimes op-ed completely misses the point on the purpose of marriage and children and completely misrepresents my views in the process. The entire article is laced with viewing family through the lens of money and career as if those things bring fulfillment and purpose," Kirk wrote.

"When you’re on your death bed, your money and your career won’t be whispering in your ear 'I love you' as you take your last breath. The material goods and fortune of this world mean nothing when we go to our eternal resting place."

New York Times opinion writer Jessica Grose wrote the piece, "The Gap Between the Families We Have and the Ones Conservatives Want," and specifically cited Kirk's comments at the Hillsdale College commencement ceremony in May.

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Kirk said if her late husband were alive, he would have encouraged them to get married young, according to Grose.

She also said Charlie would have said, "Have more kids than you can afford." Grose pointed to backlash over Kirk's statement due to elevated gas and grocery prices.

"Kirk pitches her message as countercultural, and in a sense, it is. A 21-year-old married speaker at Turning Point’s Women’s Leadership Summit in June said she was going against the culture by proclaiming her husband as the head of her household and feminism as a 'psyop.' But a young marriage isn’t what most Americans want," Grose wrote.

Kirk said in her post that the author "conveniently leaves out the part of my Hillsdale commencement speech where I said "marry young, not rushed, but young."

"Encouraging more Americans to have families doesn’t have to involve a stubborn, unwanted return to a patriarchal, midcentury Christian idea of marriage," Grose argued. "By casting the ideal 21st-century relationship in antiquated terms, conservatives are ignoring the glaring reality of how Americans actually want to live and are living their lives."

Kirk said in her response that people shouldn't put off having kids.

YOUNG MEN ARE RETURNING TO CHURCH, AND IT COULD RESHAPE AMERICA’S FUTUREs

"We serve a God of order and when you live a life ordered there’s a double portion of grace. Meaning marriage first, then kids, and everything else. Timing matters because life is shorter than you might think, and you never know what could happen. The point is, don’t put it off. Don’t rush it or force it if it’s not right, but don’t put it off," Kirk wrote in her response to Grose's piece.

Kirk married her husband in 2021 at the age of 32 — Charlie Kirk was 27 at the time — which she neither viewed as too old nor too young but said she wished they met sooner and were able to start their family sooner.

"There is no such thing as perfect timing to have kids. Financial struggles are a part of life, but the problem is a lot of Americans are self-surviving, not self-sacrificing, and they expect to live a very distinct lifestyle based on what they see online. When Charlie encouraged young people to have more kids than they can afford, he wasn’t saying to recklessly bring a child into this world and have them on welfare. He was saying children aren’t a luxury item to have once you meet a certain tax bracket threshold. You don’t need a mansion in order to build a family," she said.

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Grose cited Stephanie Coontz’s book, "For Better and Worse," throughout the piece, which argues that marriage varies across cultures and eras.

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"I take conservatives at their word that they want more people to get married and for those people to have more children than they are currently having. But it makes absolutely no sense to create a definition of marriage that excludes the desires and ideals of a substantial majority of Americans," she said.

The New York Times did not immediately return Fox News Digital's request for comment.