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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.

MELAT KIROS BECOMES 28TH FAR-LEFT CANDIDATE TO WIN A DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY THIS YEAR AS SOCIALISTS AMASS POWER

"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."

COLORADO SOCIALIST CANDIDATE CALLED 9/11 TERROR ATTACKS 'INEVITABLE' DUE TO US FOREIGN POLICY

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.

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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.

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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."

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"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."

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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.

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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.

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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.

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"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.

The tallest player ever selected in the NHL blew minds in his debut with the San Jose Sharks

Fri, 03 Jul 2026 15:06:48 -0400

This year's NHL Draft was fun. Lots of great stories, from Gavin McKenna going to the Leafs, Caleb Malhotra getting drafted by his old man's Vancouver Canucks, and Ottawa selecting Jaxon Cover with the 32nd pick, a player who hails from the Cayman Islands and only started playing ice hockey five years after starting in inline puck.

Then there's Alexander Karmanov out of Moldova, who became the tallest player ever selected in the NHL Draft at a towering 7'1".

That's a full three inches taller than the great Zdeno Chara, so, in other words, he's downright a giant.

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Karmanov was selected by the San Jose Sharks in the seventh round after playing last season in the OHL's North Bay Battalion. In 2027, he's committed to playing for one of the most up-and-coming programs in college hockey at Penn State

But, there are some questions about his NHL readiness, and we got our first taste of what that could look like at the San Jose Sharks development camp.

The big knock on Karmanov — as is the case for pretty much any big fella — is his skating. Sure, I get that's a big part of being a hockey player, but also if you're drafting a guy as tall as Shaq, you're not expecting Connor McDavid-like rocket boosters on the back of his skates.

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And while some clips of Karmanov's skating got clowned on social media, you've got to see what he did in the Sharks' prospect game, because while his skating may not be fast and it's certainly not pretty, it sure seems effective.

He's easy to spot, and I certainly didn't expect to see him start chugging 200 feet up the ice, but when he did, there was no stopping him.

How does an average-sized NHLer go at him?

He's got a mile-long reach, and if he shields the puck with his body, you may as well skate to the bench for a line change because you're not getting the puck.

If he leans into his strengths like that, I think he could actually work out in the NHL.

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I know it's a prospects game and something like that wouldn't likely work against NHL regulars, but remember, he's still a couple of years away from being an NHLer himself.

I think Karmanov is going to continue to be a problem for every team he plays against in the OHL, and then at Penn State in '27.

Police swarm Michigan shopping center after 'significant' shooting incident; at least 2 dead

Fri, 03 Jul 2026 15:01:39 -0400

At least two people are dead after a "significant" shooting Friday afternoon inside the Fairlane Town Center mall in Dearborn, Michigan.

Dearborn Police Chief Issa Shahin confirmed two people were killed, and an innocent bystander was shot.

One of the victims suffered a gunshot wound to the head, while another was shot in the abdomen, according to a report from affiliate FOX 2 Detroit.

Law enforcement has not yet released suspect information, though Shahin noted the shooting was "not a random act of violence."

"It was between two parties that knew each other here at the mall, and a fight began that escalated in[to] gunfire," Shahin said. "It appears that both parties had firearms. We have a number of the people involved at the station and we're interviewing them to better understand what led to this escalation."

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The Dearborn Police Department issued an urgent warning to the public on social media, instructing all residents and visitors to avoid the area while officers work to secure the active scene.

"We are asking residents and visitors to avoid the area while officers secure the scene and investigators conduct their work," the department said.

The mall will be closed for at least a few hours as police wrap up the investigation, according to officials.

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"These kinds of acts of violence are completely unacceptable," Shahin said. "I mean, for it to happen anywhere is unacceptable. The idea that it would happen in a public space, a mall where people are shopping, is unconscionable."

Michigan State Police confirmed to Fox News Digital it is assisting with the investigation.

This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.

US military deploys MTVRs, airlifts aid to Venezuela following deadly earthquakes

Fri, 03 Jul 2026 14:57:23 -0400

The U.S. military continued relief efforts in Venezuela on Friday with the delivery of the last of 10 U.S. Marine Corps Medium Tactical Vehicle Replacements (MTVRs) to assist victims of last week's deadly earthquakes in addition to providing other humanitarian assistance.

On Friday, a U.S. Air Force C-17 Globemaster cargo aircraft transported the last of the 10 MTVRs being used to assist disaster victims and relief personnel.

The MTVR crews will support the logistics efforts to deliver urgently needed assistance to local communities, according to U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM).

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More than 1,000 MTVRs have been in service in Iraq and Afghanistan and have been heavily used in contingency operations as well as missions supporting humanitarian operations, according to the Marine Corps.

At Simón Bolívar International Airport, which serves the capital of Caracas, the U.S. military’s Humanitarian Assistance Coordination Center (HACC) was working with local authorities, the State Department and other agencies on the ground to support disaster relief assistance.

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Marine, Navy and Army vertical-lift and rotary-wing aircraft were also conducting airlift and transport flights, including delivering pre-packaged, self-contained meals for earthquake survivors and displaced citizens, SOUTHCOM said in an update Friday.

The USS Fort Lauderdale remains at the Port of La Guaira, supporting communications efforts and serving as a distribution point.

The Trump administration has moved in to support the South American nation after 7.2 and 7.5 magnitude earthquakes last week, mobilizing $150 million in humanitarian relief.

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The administration has also assembled a Disaster Assistance Response Team composed of more than 250 people, including three specialized Urban Search-and-Rescue teams.

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

Trump floats inviting Obama, Biden, Bush to the White House to watch football

Fri, 03 Jul 2026 14:46:32 -0400

President Donald Trump suggested during Friday's episode of "Storytime with the Second Lady" podcast that former presidents should have a reunion with him at the White House to watch football.

As Trump flipped to a page showing a president hosting a live viewing of the Super Bowl at the White House, he told second lady Usha Vance that it gave him an idea.

"Maybe I should invite Barack Hussein Obama, Joe Biden, with the Bushes — or Bush. Maybe I should invite some of those people to watch a football game together," he suggested. "Wouldn't that be a nice story? The press would go wild."

"A president reunion? That would be fun!" the second lady agreed.

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The podcast features Vance, the wife of Vice President JD Vance, interviewing guests as they narrate books to children via YouTube. Visitors have ranged from race car driver Danica Patrick to the Artemis II astronauts and, most recently, Trump.

Trump narrated a book, "Presidents Play!" published by the White House Historical Association, which showed what presidents throughout American history liked to do in their spare time.

Trump, rather than read the text, offered humorous commentary on various past presidents as he flipped to their pages, such as that of William Howard Taft as he tossed a baseball.

"He was a large man, very large. And he loved baseball. He'd go to baseball games, loved the hot dogs at the baseball games," he said. "He was our heaviest president, and I have to be careful 'cause I don't want to supersede his record. And a thing like that would be possible if I allowed it to happen."

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He encouraged those watching to stay in good shape.

On another page, he showed former President Bill Clinton jogging on a track that was built for him during his tenure at the White House.

"That's nice. I didn't even know that until recently, but he had a track built at the White House," Trump said. "I don't think I'll ever do that. I don't see myself doing that. I don't know. But he actually was a nice guy. I like Bill Clinton a lot. I still do."

Trump's living presidential predecessors, including Republican George W. Bush, Clinton and Biden, gathered at Obama's presidential center grand opening last month. Trump, who has been harshly critical of Obama and vice versa, was not invited.

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Knicks champion says he hopes 'truth comes out' after leaving team for Eastern Conference rival

Fri, 03 Jul 2026 14:43:12 -0400

The New York Knicks' first championship team in 53 years is now starting to look a little bit different.

They were able to hang on to Jose Alvarado, but the first domino to fall was defensive big man Mitchell Robinson, who signed a three-year deal with the Boston Celtics.

Several of Robinson's former Knick teammates, including Jalen Brunson, Josh Hart and OG Anunoby, commented on his farewell post on Instagram, but Robinson's response to Anunoby was rather telling.

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Anunoby commented with a sad emoji, and Robinson said he "tried" to get back with the Knicks, hinting the feeling was not mutual.

"I tried brother I didn't want this to happen hopefully the truth comes out at some point. I'm gonna miss you big dawg! Keep being great," Robinson replied.

Team owner James Dolan said almost immediately after the Knicks won the title that he had no interest in approaching the NBA's second apron of payroll, calling it "suicidal."

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That alone was enough to tell fans that a roster reconstruction was looming, especially with Brunson about to make up for the massive pay cut he took to help the Knicks win it all.

Robinson grabbed the final offensive rebound off a missed free throw that all but clinched the Knicks' title against the San Antonio Spurs last month.

Robinson saw both the good and the bad with the Knicks as a second-round draft pick in 2018; in his first season, they were 17-65.

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Now, he heads to an apparently retooling Celtics team as a champion.

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NYC rent board dissenter warns Mamdani-backed freeze could hurt affordable housing over time: 'Slow burn'

Fri, 03 Jul 2026 14:32:01 -0400

Arpit Gupta, the only member of New York City's Rent Guidelines Board (RGB) to vote against the rent freeze, told Fox News Digital the policy could gradually push older rent-stabilized buildings into disrepair by depriving landlords of revenue needed for capital improvements.

Gupta is also worried the freeze, a central campaign promise from Mayor Zohran Mamdani, could make it more difficult for landlords to pay their bills.

"It's a little bit of a slow burn," said Gupta, an associate finance professor at New York University’s business school. "The risk is that the buildings do go under more distress. There are a variety of responses. One is ... deferred maintenance, which will worsen the physical conditions of buildings.

"There are other avenues of distress, like going behind on mortgage payments, insurance payments, eventually property taxes, which leaves the property to be transferred in ownership to a bank or to the city, possibly for a tax lien sale."

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RGB Chair Chantella Mitchell, whom Mamdani appointed in February, acknowledged in her statement after the June 25 vote that landlords are facing soaring property tax and insurance costs but argued that most "remain able to meet rising costs."

Gupta, first appointed to the board by former Mayor Eric Adams in 2022, does not dispute Mitchell's claim that many landlords are doing fine.

Rather, he argues that the financial strain on the city's rent-stabilized housing stock is not the same all around, with older buildings that rely almost entirely on regulated rents facing a much greater burden than newer, mixed-income properties.

The board under Mamdani went further than it did under former Mayor Bill de Blasio, whose administration froze rents three times — in 2015, 2016 and 2020 — but only for one-year leases. The current freeze will affect roughly 1 million rent-stabilized apartments and applies to one- and two-year leases that run from Oct. 1, 2026, to Sept. 30, 2027.

As a result, landlords could, in the longest possible case, have to wait until late September 2029 before they can legally raise rents.

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Gupta considers the blanket rent freeze a blunt tool that doesn't adequately address the affordability crisis. Instead, he favors targeting aid to struggling tenants while allowing financially-strained buildings to continue raising rents.

"About 30% of the tenants in rent-stabilized housing make six figures or more. At the same time, many individuals in market-rate housing are below the poverty line," Gupta said. "So, to have a system that provides so many benefits for one sector of the housing stock while completely leaving out the market-rate tenants — whose rents might actually go up because of the dynamics of freezing one part of the housing stock — means that we have an incompletely targeted program."

New York City already has programs that freeze rents for qualifying senior citizens and disabled individuals. Gupta said these programs should be expanded to low-income residents more broadly, rather than limiting relief to rent-stabilized tenants.

Another worry Gupta has is that the rent freeze will incentivize landlords to leave units vacant.

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In early June, Gothamist reported that more than 57,000 stabilized apartments were vacant in April 2025. At the time, state housing officials said this number did not offer a complete picture since some of the units included in the count were in the process of getting new tenants.

But Gupta argued that some of those apartments are being left vacant because owners cannot recover the cost of rehabilitating them before renting them again, a problem he believes will be exacerbated by the rent freeze.

Many landlords point to the 2019 Housing Stability and Tenant Protection Act as the main catalyst for falling revenues. The law eliminated the so-called "vacancy bonus," which allowed owners of stabilized units to raise the rent by up to 20% after a tenant left. Landlords say the change made it harder to recoup the cost of renovating apartments before renting them to a new tenant.

Gupta told Fox News Digital he sees where Mitchell and his colleagues are coming from and acknowledged that many tenants are struggling to pay their rent despite the board’s past efforts to ease affordability pressures.

"In the five years I’ve been on this board … we have set rents below our estimate of building cost increases, we have set rents below CPI and we've even set rents below wage growth in the city," Gupta said.

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Despite that, the city's spending on one-shot deals to cover tenants' back rent more than quintupled between 2022 and 2025, rising from $102 million to $555.8 million, according to the rental board’s income and affordability study.

The same study found that, last year, 62% of evictions occurred in buildings with rent-stabilized units, a key data point the board used to bolster its case for a rent freeze.

While Gupta disagrees with the board's policy choice, he rejected the notion that the outcome was preordained after Mamdani reshaped the municipal body. The mayor appointed six of the nine members of the board in February, and all of his picks voted for the rent freeze.

"From my understanding, the administration did not direct or try to influence the vote directly," Gupta said. "My fellow board members tell me that they were independently appointed.

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"What I also hear from board members who joined is that in the vetting process, as they were entering the board, they weren't asked or pressured on their position on the rent freeze," Gupta said.

Gupta’s view is not shared by Christina Smyth, another Adams appointee who resigned from the board shortly before the vote. In an open letter posted to social media, she said the board was "rebuilt," was no longer a "fact-finding body" and that it was "required to deliver a rent freeze."

Going forward, Gupta’s main concern is that the rent freeze will be extended far beyond what he believes is reasonable, given that Mamdani promised that he would "freeze the rent every year I’m in office."

"I've had many discussions with other members of the board, and I've asked, ‘If you vote for the rent freeze now, what are the conditions under which you would vote for rental increases?’" he said.

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Up to this point, he said, he has not gotten a clear answer on that question, and some board members told him they need to wait for future data to make an informed decision.

"I'm not sure whether all the board members believe that's the future or if maybe the future is just more freezes. Freeze after freeze for four years, as Mamdani campaigned on. That's a very different picture."

Fox News Digital asked Mitchell whether she viewed the rent freeze as a temporary measure and about concerns that it could worsen the financial condition of some rent-stabilized buildings. She declined to comment beyond the statement she issued after the vote.

Philadelphia Salute to Independence parade canceled Friday as blistering temperatures slam the city

Fri, 03 Jul 2026 14:28:27 -0400

As Americans around the nation celebrate the nation's 250th anniversary this week, a parade that had been slated to take place in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Friday was called off due to scorching temperatures expected in the city.

Welcome America Inc. noted the cancellation in a post on X, which the city of Philadelphia reposted.

"Due to the extreme heat, the Salute to Independence Semiquincentennial Parade is cancelled," the post noted.

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The X account for the National Weather Service Philadelphia/Mount Holly noted in a morning post Friday, "If Philadelphia Int'l Airport reaches our forecast high of 104° today, it will be the hottest temp recorded there since July 3, 1966."

City Health Commissioner Palak Raval-Nelson extended an ongoing "Heat Health Emergency" through 8 p.m. Sunday, according to the city's Department of Public Health.

The parade had been slated to include floats and marching bands, according to an event description.

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Welcome America Inc. President and CEO Michael DelBene noted that the organization's first duty is people's safety.

"As much as this decision pains everyone inside our organization, we simply cannot host an event of this size and scale under these dangerous heat conditions. Todd Marcocci and Under the Sun Productions, along with all the parade groups, have been working tirelessly to design something truly historic, and having to cancel it at the last minute is heartbreaking for all of us," DelBene noted in a statement obtained by Fox News Digital.

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"While large-scale celebrations and community events may be our mission, our first responsibility will always be to the safety and security of our staff, our guests, and our event participants."

Olivia Dunne had a wild 'White Party' while Paul Skenes got shelled, rooftop fight & Jutta Leerdam fires heat

Fri, 03 Jul 2026 15:30:07 -0400

Hello? Anyone out there? Is anyone in class today?

For those of you who didn't skip, congrats! That's dedication. I'll be be honest, if I wasn't working today, I'd be so far from the internet I'd probably forget it even existed.

Nothing like Fourth of July Eve, right? An underrated mini-holiday. Christmas Eve is the GOAT. The night before Thanksgiving is a good one. But the day before the Fourth, especially on the magical year when it falls on a Friday? Elite stuff. This is why we grind in June and keep our heads down during Pride month.

For days — and weekends — like the one we're about to get. Happy 250th, America. Let's roll.

Welcome to a Friday Nightcaps — the one where Olivia Dunne parties her tail off while Paul Skenes get lit up like a firecracker.

What else? I've got the best of the rest from a big week of #content, the WNBA ladies sent Caitlin Clark a DISGUSTING message this week, and how about we end the day with some patriotism, courtesy of Dale Earnhardt Jr.?

DALE EARNHARDT JR. BROUGHT NASCAR BACK TO LIFE 25 YEARS AGO THIS WEEKEND, BUT THE PAIN IS BACK

Any objections? Of course not! This is America, after all.

Grab you a rum punch because the internet tells me that was the most popular drink back in 1776, and settle in for a Friday 'Cap!

Olivia Dunne had herself a big night at the white party, which always sounds hilarious

From the wokes over at Google:

In 1776, colonists drank a staggering amount of alcohol, with rum serving as the most popular spirit. Because water was frequently unsafe and tea was politically boycotted, everyday favorites included rum punch, hard cider, and ale. Coffee and hot chocolate were also highly popular.

Rum was the undisputed king of colonial spirits. Because it was distilled from Caribbean molasses, it was deeply tied to the "taxation without representation" protests that sparked the war. People drank rum punch at almost every gathering, often sharing from a single communal bowl.

There you have it! Can't wait to grab me a ladle and dig into a nice bowl of rum punch this weekend. That stuff is dangerous, by the way. One can turn into five fairly quickly if you're not paying attention. Trust me.

OK, that's enough history for today. It's a holiday Friday. We don't need a history lesson. We need a white party!

No, it's not what you think. Fanatics founder Michael Rubin throws an annual "White Party" every year, which is basically just a party for the richest people in America and they all have to wear white.

Why? I have no idea. Seems a little cultish to me. As always, the stars were OUT at Rubin's Southhampton house, including Olivia Dunne, who was there solo because Paul Skenes was busy getting shelled in Philadelphia.

Brutal.

What a fight!

Goodness gracious. What in the world has happened to Paul Skenes this year? He got rocked in his first start of the season against the Mets, but settled in nicely after that and everything seemed rosy. But the last two weeks have been atrocious, to the tune of 11 earned runs in his last nine innings.

Olivia Dunne, meanwhile, is up in Southhampton partying her tail off with Jake Paul's fiancee, Olympian Jutta Leerdam.

Don't love the vibes right now around Paul. Some say his velo is down, which always makes me queasy with these young pitchers who throw 100 mph every pitch. I don't want to say it, but ... we're all thinking it.

Let's hope this is just a blip. America is better when Paul Skenes is embarrassing hitters with Livvy in the stands pounding Miller Lites.

OK, let's get to the best content from a big week. First up? Let's head up to the rooftop and smash some SKULLS:

Caitlin Hate Tour & Dale at Daytona

What a week! And goodness, what a fight. Never quite seen that before. How about that one guy who gets thrown off the roof like a ragdoll? Just humiliating. I'd run for the hills after that and pray I never saw any of them again.

OK, let's quickly rapid-fire this Friday class into a big weekend and get outta here. We've all checked out at this point, right? It's all performative.

First up? Let's check in on the Caitlin Clark Hate Tour as it continues to roll on through on another week:

Incredible. Those insufferable girls voted Caitlin Clark the 11th-best guard in the WNBA.

Eleventh!!!

The fans voted Clark as the second-best guard in the league, behind Paige Bueckers. That's fair. The media voted Clark as the third-best guard in the league. Again, pretty fair.

Her fellow WNBA players, amazingly, ranked her 11th, which is somehow worse than last year when they put her ninth.

They really hate her, don't they? REALLY hate her. It's remarkable, especially given she has made these scornful women richer than they ever thought possible. A rising tide lifts all boats, right?

Wrong, apparently.

There is no world that exists where Caitlin Clark is the 11th-best guard in the WNBA. It's not possible. Have you all watched a WNBA game recently? Heaven help you if you have to watch Angel Reese play for five minutes.

And you're telling me that Caitlin Clark isn't one of the best players in the league? Come on!

Disgusting.

PS: Clark spoke today for the first time since getting mugged, for those interested:

Shockingly, Caitlin was the most well-spoken out of everyone whose talked! Didn't see that one coming.

And no, that was NOT OutKick or FOX who wrote that stupid headline. It was the wokes over at the New York Times.

Again, shocking.

OK, that's it for today — and this week. Happy Fourth of July, everyone. Happy 250th, America.

Take us home, Dale Jr.

Twenty-five years ago this weekend! Nuts.

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OutKick Nightcaps is a daily column set to run Monday through Friday at 4 p.m. (roughly, we’re not robots).

How are you celebrating the big 2-5-0? Email me at Zach.Dean@OutKick.com.

Interpol issues red notice for Ukrainian woman wanted for Monaco apartment bombing targeting oligarch

Fri, 03 Jul 2026 14:18:53 -0400

The International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) issued a red notice Friday for Anastasiia Berezovska, a 39-year-old Ukrainian national suspected of bombing a Monaco apartment building that reportedly targeted a Russian-linked Ukrainian oligarch.

The June 30 apartment building explosion, according to numerous media reports, injured Vadym Yermolaiev, a Ukrainian-born construction magnate.

While declining to identify any of the victims by name, Monaco public prosecutor Stéphane Thibault also revealed the explosion injured a woman and a 13-year-old child in the apartment who media reports widely claim to be members of Yermolaiev's family.

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

Berezovska, according to Interpol, is now wanted on charges of attempted murder, depositing an explosive device on a public highway with criminal intent and criminal association.

Interpol identified the Ukrainian national as a dark-haired German-speaking woman who possibly has a tattoo of a snake on her arm.

The 39-year-old suspect was initially believed to be a heavy-set man. Monaco Deputy Prosecutor Morgan Raymond even initially referred to the suspect in masculine terms.

"He stood up a few meters ahead of the victims, placed an explosive device taken from his shopping bag on the entrance steps of the building, then turned to confirm the presence of the three victims before triggering the explosion using a remote control," Raymond said at an initial news conference after the incident.

RUSSIA UNLEASHES NEARLY 600 MISSILES AND DRONES ON KYIV IN DEADLIEST STRIKE SINCE MAY

Prosecutors reviewed footage of the days leading up to the explosion, finding that a man wearing a fishing hat repeatedly cased the apartment building and surrounding area. However, on June 28, the man was absent from security footage. Instead, a woman — who prosecutors now believe to be Berezovska — followed the same patterns as the man.

"The repeated reconnaissance operations and the pauses made in front of the building clearly demonstrate the intention to specifically target the three victims," Raymond said.

Investigators tracked her escape across the Monaco-France border, through Italy and into Germany, where authorities are now actively looking for her. They raided her Frankfurt apartment Thursday.

Raymond noted that the sophistication of her explosive device gives prosecutors reason to believe she did not act alone.

"The relative sophistication of the explosive device and the modus operandi appear to indicate that the person who placed the device was not acting alone," Morgan said.

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Though authorities have provided no motive, Yermolaiev's status as a sanctioned former Ukrainian is notable.

The 58-year-old construction tycoon renounced his Ukrainian citizenship in 2017, Ukrainian media reported, and has been a citizen of Cyprus since 2019.

In 2023, the Ukrainian government sanctioned him for allegedly continuing to engage with Russia, paying taxes to Moscow and facilitating business transactions through his liquor business in Crimea, a Ukrainian peninsula which Russia annexed in 2014.

FBI announces 305 arrests, 24 missing children recovered in Chicago during Operation New Dawn

Fri, 03 Jul 2026 13:59:11 -0400

FBI Director Kash Patel detailed a historic cross-agency operation that resulted in the arrest of over 300 suspects in the Chicago area over 60 days.

"Operation New Dawn represents a massive, whole-of-government approach under President Trump’s leadership to cracking down on violent crimes and crimes against children in great American cities," Patel told Fox News Digital in an exclusive statement.

"This was a sweeping operation in Chicago that brought together 11 different federal agencies across the government who worked together to execute 305 arrests and recover 24 children — many of whom had been reported kidnapped or missing — as well as charging subjects with robbery, kidnapping, drug trafficking, child exploitation and more.

"The success of this op and more to come through initiatives like Summer Heat 2.0 should be a clear message that this FBI, our partners and the Justice Department led by AG Todd Blanche are full throttle on crushing criminal networks in this country no matter where they are."

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

The agencies involved included the FBI, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), according to a statement from the United States Attorney's Office of the Northern District of Illinois.

Aside from the robbers, kidnappers and drug traffickers Patel detailed, other suspects swept up in the operation included those involved in gun trafficking, gun offenses and immigration violations, according to the U.S. attorney's statement.

The statement described the operation as "badgeless," noting that the numerous federal agencies collaborated "under the banner of the United States flag as opposed to the shield of any agency."

U.S. Attorney Andrew S. Boutros said the operation and the collaboration it induced represented a new era of law enforcement in America.

"It is my view that to combat violence, federal law enforcement must move at the speed of violence," Boutros said in a statement. "The remarkable success of Operation New Dawn resoundingly proves that point. Chicago’s federal anti-violence apparatus united under one banner — the United States flag and not the shield, badge, banner or logo of any agency — to make their presence felt on the streets of Chicago and make it known that they are a force to be reckoned with in the battle against violence."

ATF Special Agent in Charge in Chicago Christopher Amon concurred.

DOJ SAYS 11 MIGRANTS INDICTED IN MULTI-STATE SEX TRAFFICKING, DRUG, FIREARMS CASE

"Law enforcement has always been, and always will be, a team sport," Amon said in a statement. "The success of Operation New Dawn reflects the leadership of the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the trust, commitment and collaboration among our Chicago federal law enforcement partners. Together, we made a meaningful impact by removing shooters and other violent offenders from our streets, making Chicago safer for all."

The cooperation enabled the agencies to sweep up criminals like Felipe Dejesus Gomez Ramirez, who HSI noted is a convicted murderer and illegal alien.

New Dawn operators also arrested David Collins and Tyrone Thomas, who authorities say are members of Chicago's Traveling Vice Lords criminal gang who were deeply involved in drug trafficking. Both were federally charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute heroin and fentanyl.

"Operation New Dawn demonstrates the power of coordinated law enforcement efforts to address the interconnected threats of violent crime and drug trafficking," Todd C. Smith, special agent in charge of the DEA Chicago Field Division said in a statement.

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"Through the Homeland Security Task Force and in partnership with the U.S. Attorney’s Office, federal, state and local law enforcement agencies combined intelligence, resources and expertise to target individuals and criminal networks that threaten public safety. Reducing violent crime remains one of DEA’s top strategic priorities, and the significant drug seizures resulting from this operation underscore the close relationship between violence and drug trafficking activity. By working together to disrupt criminal organizations, remove dangerous drugs from our communities and hold offenders accountable, we are enhancing public safety while advancing our commitment to a Fentanyl Free America."

The operation, which began in earnest May 1, has so far resulted in 179 criminal defendants being charged in federal court in 140 newly-filed criminal cases.

Twenty-four children, many of whom were kidnapped, were located and safely returned home, according to the statement.