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This week's best deals: $100 off a Keurig coffee maker, 40% off adidas socks and more

Wed, 22 Oct 2025 13:22:30 -0400

This week's standout deals span everyday tech, fashion and home upgrades. Score Apple AirPods 4 for $99, get $100 off a popular Keurig coffee maker, and save 40% on adidas cushioned no-show socks, plus plenty of other worthwhile markdowns below.

Best-selling deals worth shopping this week

Save on FOX reader-favorite clothing, tech and home upgrades from Levi's, Apple and more.

MeUndies underwear and bras (50% off)

Refresh your drawer for less with 50% off select MeUndies underwear, bras and other favorites, including everyday essentials and sets.

Adidas athletic cushioned no-show socks (40% off)

Stock up on cushioned adidas no-show socks for 40% off, making it easy to grab multiple for workouts, errands and more.

Rain showerhead (34% off)

Turn your bathroom into a spa with a rain showerhead. The overhead design provides full-body coverage while giving your bathroom an easy upgrade.

Levi's men's 505 Regular Fit jeans (30% off)

Save $35 on these Levi's jeans, designed with a roomy thigh for extra comfort and a classic straight-leg fit. Choose from dozens of washes and a wide range of sizes.

Apple AirPods 4 (23% off)

These 2024-released AirPods 4 have solid sound quality, a comfortable fit and are currently the cheapest Apple earbuds on the market right now (just $99). You get up to five hours of battery life, or 30 hours when you store them in the case.

Women's high-waisted leggings (7% off)

These high-waisted leggings are ideal for both workouts and lounging. Amazon reviewers appreciate the deep side pocket and secure high-waist design.

Deals we love

These standout deals include everything from tools to patio furniture.

Hisense 65-inch MiniLED 4K Smart Fire TV: $549.99 (Orig. $899.99)

Upgrade movie nights, sports and gaming with this 65-inch Hisense TV, currently on sale at Best Buy for $300 off. It pairs 4K resolution with a glare-free matte screen. Built-in Fire TV and Alexa+ make it easy to stream shows, search for movies and control compatible smart-home devices.

Brick: $50.15 (Orig. $59)

If your phone is constantly pulling your attention away, the Brick gives you a physical way to block distracting apps. Tap your phone to the device to lock selected apps, then tap again to regain access, with custom modes for work, studying, sleep and more. The best part? It doesn’t require charging or a subscription. Take up to 25% off for their back-to-school sale, depending on how many you buy.

iRobot Roomba 105 robot vacuum and mop: $169.99 (Orig. $319.99)

Save on the iRobot Roomba 105, now down to just $170 on Amazon. More than 1,000 shoppers bought one last month. Smart mapping helps it navigate hardwood and carpet efficiently. It can vacuum pet hair and debris, mop hard floors or handle both jobs in one cleaning session.

Breescape cooling sheets: $119.98 (Orig. $199.99)

Hot sleepers can refresh their bedding with this cooling sheet set, made with the brand's breathable BlendTek fabric to help wick away moisture and release heat throughout the night. The set includes a fitted sheet with deep pockets for mattresses up to 18 inches, a flat sheet and two pillowcases.

Laura Geller Baked Blush-n-Brighten Marbleized Blush: $15 (Orig. $32)

Laura Geller is making it easier to refresh your makeup bag with savings of up to 64% on bestselling products. The Baked Starter Kit is $121 off, while the Baked Blush-n-Brighten Marbleized Blush has earned more than 10,000 reviews. Plus, use code BLUSH10 for an extra 10% off and get a free angled blush brush with the purchase of a blush.

Brooks men's Adrenaline GTS 24 sneakers: $99.95 (Orig. $139.95)

A podiatrist recommends the Brooks Adrenaline GTS 24, now at its lowest price in 30 days on Amazon. Dr. Gregory Alvarez, DPM, FACFAS, at Ankle & Foot Centers of America, calls the shoes "a great choice for those who need a bit more stability," adding that they offer "good cushioning," while the GuideRails support system "helps limit excess motion that can put stress on the plantar fascia, making it a solid option for walking, running or all-day wear."

Up to $1,100 off the Google Pixel 11 Pro XL: (Orig: $1,299.99)

Upgrade to Google’s new Pixel 11 Pro XL and you may be able to get the phone for only $199, courtesy of T-Mobile. Through September 9, shoppers can get up to $1,100 off with a new line or an eligible trade-in in any condition when they sign up for an Experience Beyond plan; the discount is delivered through up to 36 monthly bill credits. The 256GB model starts at $1,299.99 before promotional credits.

Tornado Pro: $79.99 (Orig: $99.99)

Tackle quick cleanup jobs without dragging out a full-size leaf blower with the compact Tornado Pro. The cordless 4-in-1 tool works as a blower, air pump, flashlight and power bank, with a rechargeable battery that lasts up to 45 minutes per charge. Right now, one unit is $79.99, while bundle deals include buy one, get one 50% off or buy two, get one free.

T-Mobile student plans: Starting at $30 per month

T-Mobile's student-friendly plans start at just $30 per month. For $65 per month, the Experience More plan includes Netflix with ads, while Apple TV+ is available for an extra $3 per month. If you're shopping for a new phone, you can also get an iPhone 17 Pro on them with the Experience Beyond plan, no trade-in required. The plan includes unlimited talk, text and data, plus streaming perks like Netflix and Hulu.

DeWalt LED work light: $35.49 (Orig. $84)

Brighten your garage or workshop with DeWalt's work light, now $49 off. The integrated hook makes it easy to hang overhead for hands-free illumination, and the battery (sold separately) lasts up to 25 hours on a single charge.

Chilipad: $1,499 with code (Orig. $1,599)

Hot sleepers can upgrade their bed with the Chilipad 2.0, a water-powered mattress topper that lets you adjust the temperature from 55 to 115 degrees. Choose a single-zone system for one sleeper or a dual-zone option for couples who prefer different temperatures. Right now, you can save $100 on a single-zone system or $200 on a dual-zone system when you sign up and use code LABORDAY26.

The Pets Table by HelloFresh: 50% off your first box

Give your dog's mealtime a fresh upgrade with The Pets Table by HelloFresh, which offers preportioned meals designed to make feeding easier. New customers get 50% off their first box, which includes two weeks' worth of food to help transition your dog to the new meals. You can also save 20% on your second box.

Get any PureTalk plan for $15 for the first three months

Thinking about switching carriers? Through Sept. 8, FOX News readers can try any PureTalk plan for just $15 per month for three months. Choose from five plans with no activation or cancellation fees, and enjoy mobile hotspot access on every plan.

NELL queen-size mattress: $1,959.30 (Orig. $2,799)

NELL's queen-size mattress combines a supportive four-layer coil system with thin foam comfort layers for a balanced feel. Reinforced edge support adds stability and makes it easier to get in and out of bed. It's designed for sleepers looking for extra back support.

Avenlur Date 4-in-1 Kitchen Tower and Desk: $119 (Orig. $199)

Save $80 on the Avenlur 4-in-1 Kitchen Tower and Desk, plus an extra 15% with code FOX15. The Montessori-inspired helper tower gives toddlers a supported place to join kitchen activities, then converts into a desk, play seat or chalkboard for use long after mealtime. Built from non-toxic wood, it features safety rails and an anti-tip design and comes in six colors.

Wicker patio conversation set: $299.99 (Orig. $820)

Save $520 on this three-piece patio conversation set. The durable wicker frame and fade-resistant cushions are designed for outdoor use. The glass-topped coffee table provides space for snacks and drinks.

Thrive Market membership: $60 off and a free gift

Get organic and non-GMO groceries delivered with Thrive Market. Personalized recommendations and flexible delivery scheduling let you shop when it's most convenient. New members can also save $60 on their first order and receive a free gift for a limited time.

Deals ending soon

Grab these deals before they're gone.

Made In carbon steel griddle set: $199 (Orig. $258)

Cook smash burgers, pancakes and grilled cheese on this lightweight carbon steel griddle. It heats evenly and moves easily from the stovetop to the grill.

Skechers slip-on loafers: $42 (Orig. $75)

Slip into these hands-free loafers for all-day comfort and reliable traction. Memory foam cushioning provides lasting support. A padded collar also helps reduce rubbing during long walks.

Bedsure cooling throw blanket: $18.98 (Orig. $43.98)

Keep this lightweight throw nearby as summer gives way to cooler fall evenings. The soft fabric makes it an easy extra layer for the couch or bed.

End-of-summer home refresh deals

Give your home a seasonal upgrade with Keurig coffee makers, Cozy Earth sheet sets and more.

Keurig K-Supreme coffee maker: $89 (Orig. $189.99)

Save $100 on the Keurig K-Supreme, a single-serve coffee maker that makes 6- to 12-ounce cups of coffee. It also accommodates taller travel mugs when you remove the drip tray.

LED bathroom mirror: $85.49 (Orig. $159.99)

Give your bathroom a modern refresh with this LED mirror. The bright backlight makes shaving and applying makeup easier, while the built-in defogger helps keep the mirror clear.

Cozy Earth Bamboo Deluxe bundle: $758 (Orig. $844)

Treat yourself to a Cozy Earth bedding bundle that includes a sheet set, duvet cover and comforter. Bamboo-derived fibers create a soft feel and are designed to help keep you comfortable as the seasons change.

For more deals, visit www.foxnews.com/deals

Best sales from FOX News Deals favorite brands

T-Mobile: College students can get the Essentials Saver plan for just $30 per month, a 40% savings on one line compared with AT&T and Verizon

Kohl's: Score up to 70% off select items during the Ultimate Clearance Event

Cozy Earth: Save up to 50% on bedding, towels, robes and more

Chico's: Save up to 40% on tops, bottoms and activewear

Stührling: Save up to 63% on select watches

Columbia: Shop Columbia's back-to-school picks, with savings of up to 30%

Backcountry: Save up to 60% on outdoor and hiking gear from Patagonia, Osprey and more

Under Armour: Save up to 25% on backpacks before back-to-school season

FAQs

What brands are having the best sales this week?

FOX-favorite retailers and brands, including Amazon, Kohl's and Cozy Earth, are rolling out late-summer deals on everything from back-to-school gear to DeWalt tools. This week's standout offers include T-Mobile phone deals, Apple AirPods 4 and Brooks sneakers.

If you're an Amazon Prime member, you can get these items sent to your door ASAP. You can join or start a 30-day free trial to start your shopping today.

Surprise election upset shows hating Trump is no longer enough as Democratic voters turn to new playbook

Fri, 21 Aug 2026 11:33:36 -0400

A growing number of Democrats who grabbed national attention as they led the resistance to President Donald Trump during his first term in the White House are the latest casualties in this year's primary battle between the party's left-wing and the establishment.

The latest victim: Alexander Vindman, who gained national prominence nearly a decade ago as the then-Army lieutenant colonel and National Security Council official who served as a key witness against Trump during the president's first impeachment trial.

Vindman, who made resisting Trump a key part of his Senate bid, was upset Tuesday in Florida's Democratic Senate primary by state Rep. Angie Nixon. A Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) member, Nixon landed a double-digit victory over Vindman despite being outspent by a roughly 10-to-1 margin.

DEMOCRACY ’26: STAY UP TO DATE WITH THE FOX NEWS ELECTION HUB

His defeat, as well as losses to challengers from the far-left by other one-time resistance stars such as Reps. Diana DeGette of Colorado and Dan Goldman of New York, appear to point to shifting priorities for a Democratic base moving left, starving for change and eager to use midterm election victories to escape the political wilderness.

Also falling short so far this primary season are Reps. Shri Thanedar of Michigan and Al Green of Texas, who led the Trump impeachment pushes. They both went down to younger challengers. Meanwhile, Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi of Illinois, who was a member of key committees handling Trump's second impeachment in 2021, fell short as he bid for the Senate.

A congressional run by longtime Trump critic George Conway, a co-founder of the anti-Trump Republican group the Lincoln Project, failed to ignite. And former U.S. Capitol Police Officer Harry Dunn, who was honored for his efforts during the Jan. 6, 2021 attack on the Capitol, lost for a second straight cycle as he campaigned for a congressional seat in Maryland.

WHO'S UP AND DOWN IN THE LATEST FOX NEWS MIDTERM ELECTION POWER RANKINGS

Billionaire Tom Steyer, an environmental and political activist and former Democratic presidential candidate who helped bankroll the resistance during Trump's first term, unsuccessfully ran for California governor this year. And Rep. Eric Swalwell of California, who along with DeGette was a manager of the 2021 Trump impeachment, dropped his gubernatorial bid and quit Congress amid mounting sexual assault and harassment allegations, which he denied.

Veteran Democratic political commentator Ben Rhodes, who served as a leading official in former President Barack Obama's administration, has repeatedly argued that opposition to Trump is insufficient to build a lasting political movement. He has emphasized that to win at the ballot box, Democrats must articulate how they'll help address voters' economic concerns and day-to-day frustrations.

Shannon Jackson, a longtime progressive political strategist and grassroots organizer best known for his leadership roles in Sen. Bernie Sanders’ 2016 and 2020 presidential campaigns, told Fox News Digital that "it’s not enough anymore just to oppose Trump."

Referring to the onetime resistance leaders who lost their primaries this year, Jackson said, "They’ve stood up to Trump, but the fact is it’s not enough anymore. We need to recognize why Trump won, we need to recognize the failings of the Democratic Party and the Democratic leaders who have gotten us to this point, and we need to improve upon it."

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Jackson, a top consultant for progressive leader Rep. Ro Khanna of California, a potential 2028 Democratic presidential contender, said, "what really happened is that we’ve seen the progressive movement succeed… it’s an entire wave that’s coming across the country."

While progressives and socialist-aligned candidates have bested establishment-backed contenders in a slew of nomination showdowns this spring and summer, including high-profile Senate primaries this month in Michigan, Minnesota, and Florida, moderates are also scoring victories.

The center's latest wins came in Florida, where Rep. Jared Moskowitz crushed a DSA-backed challenger on Tuesday. The same day, longtime Democratic Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz of Florida, a former Democratic National Committee (DNC) chair, won renomination in a dramatically altered district against four candidates, including a socialist.

MEET THE FAR-LEFT INSURGENTS WAGING WAR ON THE DEMOCRATIC ESTABLISHMENT

Longtime strategist and political commentator Maria Cardona, a DNC committee member, told Fox News Digital she doesn't buy the narrative that "huge heroes of Trump resistance one are just not cutting it anymore."

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"Voters want someone who is going to fight for them. Whether or not you call yourself establishment, a moderate, a progressive, or DSA, voters don’t care. Voters want to see you fighting for them," Cardona emphasized.

Cardona said "whether you are a Abdul El-Sayed, who is new on the scene, or a Debbie Wasserman Schultz, who has been there for decades but who has delivered for her community and is still seen as a fighter, you’re going to win. You have to deliver. That’s the secret."

NCAA wins Tenth Circuit 'stay', but faces more eligibility lawsuits from 2022 class athletes in chaotic time

Fri, 21 Aug 2026 11:47:59 -0400

The chaotic off-season in college football has continued to play out in court rooms across the country, as athletes are suing the NCAA on a daily basis pertaining to their eligibility as part of the 2022 class.

When the NCAA released a statement last week harping on its decision to not grant a blanket-waiver to members of the 2022 class that were left out of conversation regarding the new 'five-for-five' eligibility guidelines, the floodgates were opened for athletes who felt as though they were being kicked to the curb.

NFL To NCAA? Courtroom Chaos Is Giving Pro Athletes A Bizarre Path Back To College, And It's Only Just Begun

On Friday morning, the Tenth Circuit court granted the NCAA its motion for a 'stay', which puts a pause on athletes using the blanket waiver granted by Judge Sweeney to athletes from the 2022 class that had a year of eligibility left.

Although this puts a little bit of the chaos on hold, there will now be a further influx of lawsuits filed in state court, who have been presenting different arguments in their filings.

NCAA IGNORED THE WARNINGS. NOW IT'S FIGHTING FOR SURVIVAL IN COURTROOMS ACROSS AMERICA OVER ELIGIBILITY

While the NCAA should see this as a win, the cases against them will only increase from here, now that we have witnessed plaintiffs winning more often at the lower levels.

Those same athletes who were being denied an extra season of competition, based on the NCAA's decision to exclude them, began filing lawsuits in courtrooms from California to South Carolina, arguing they should receive the same benefits as those covered under the new eligibility structure.

NCAA ROCKED BY COLORADO JUDGE'S 2022 CLASS ELIGIBILITY RULING THAT COULD RESHAPE COLLEGE SPORTS THIS YEAR

And from what we've seen from injunctions and temporary restraining orders being granted on what has felt like a daily basis, a very large number of judges are in agreement with the athletes who have decided to fight the NCAA in a court of law.

NFL to NCAA, the plaintiffs are winning in lower courts

One of the latest wrinkles came on Wednesday, when the 19th District Court of Louisiana granted a TRO to a plethora of athletes who filed the same lawsuit that judges in other states have been ruling on over the past two months.

In the ruling, it allows for plaintiffs to return to college from the NFL, if they do so before a Sept. 1 deadline. But, in this case, only the athletes who were part of the lawsuit can take advantage of a seven-day transfer portal window ordered by the court.

NCAA has no plans to surrender, as eligibility lawsuits for 2022 class turn into an all-out legal war

Yes, there are players who are currently in NFL camps that were part of this lawsuit, and technically have the court’s blessing to return for another season of college football. No, you aren’t going crazy, this is actually taking place.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL IS FINALLY BACK AFTER MONTHS OF NCAA LAWSUITS, NIL DRAMA AND CONGRESSIONAL FIGHTS

In response to the latest ruling, NCAA Vice President Tim Buckley released the following statement, taking aim at the courts granting these orders, along with the lawyers filing them.

"Courts across the country granting relief to ineligible athletes who already had every opportunity to compete in college — sometimes without even having a hearing — are failing to appreciate the destabilizing effect their rulings are having on college sports," Buckley said. "The lawyers bringing these cases seemingly won't be satisfied until every professional athlete can treat college sports as a fallback option, regardless of the opportunities it strips from those who will never have a chance to begin their collegiate sports experience."

While there are plenty of people who agree with the NCAA's stance regarding athletes trying to get out of an NFL contract to return for one more season of college ball, this still falls on the organization who decided to exclude the 2022 class from their new guidelines.

For that, even though this has turned into something out of a John Grisham novel, it's hard for the NCAA to garner empathy.

Tenth Circuit Court decision now throws a wrinkle into everything

When U.S. District Judge Charlotte Sweeney of Colorado granted a class-wide blanket waiver for athletes in the 2022 class, by way of an injunction, the entire college athletics world started scrambling for answers.

Would a school decide it was in their best interest to bring an athlete back, just days before the college football season is set to begin?

TENNESSEE COACH UNLOADS ON NCAA'S 'BULLS–T', AFTER STAR LINEBACKER SUSPENDED FOR OUTDATED RULE

Well, that hasn’t been a problem for some schools, like Indiana. If there is a spot available, programs are going to use it.

They all knew that the entire ordeal could come to an end if the NCAA won their motion for a 'stay' while the Tenth Circuit court dealt with the appeal filed by the organization.

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Now, with the Tenth Circuit agreeing to administer a 'stay', this will only lead to lawyers filing additional cases in state court.

I served as Trump’s NSA. SCOTUS need to stop courts putting the president's security at risk

Fri, 21 Aug 2026 11:42:29 -0400

"Where is the president? He’s got to move."

Those are words a national security advisor (NSA) never wants to hear.

Unfortunately, I heard them more than once during my term as NSA. In those instances, we are quickly hustled out of the Oval Office to a rendezvous with the First Family and top presidential aides and taken somewhere safe. It all occurred in a matter of minutes.

TRUMP HAS BECOME AMERICA'S MOST TARGETED LEADER, FACING THREATS EVERY FEW MONTHS

I served as President Trump’s last national security advisor in his first term and was honored to have done that and was his special envoy for Hostage Affairs for two years before my two years in the corner office of the West Wing. Being with President Trump in the Situation Room for the mission to kill Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi or the first meeting of the COVID-19 task force after the outbreak from China are memorable, history-making moments.

TRUMP PULLS BACK CURTAIN ON WHITE HOUSE BALLROOM’S FORTRESS-LIKE DEFENSES ABOVE AND DEEP BELOW

If I had ever had to advise him from the bunker in the East Wing, I wouldn’t be able to write about that still. For many reasons, the travels of presidents between secure, undisclosed locations is classified. In fact, the worst part of the East Wing case is its public airing. Until the unfortunate decision of U.S. Senior District Court Judge Dick Leon to order construction halted, most of the public and world thought the project was about a long-needed ballroom.

Now, because of litigation which ought never to have passed the "standing" requirement for reasons, Judge Neomi Rao laid out in her dissent from the 2-1 decision of a panel of the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals to uphold Leon’s partial injunction against construction.

I cannot read District Judge Leon’s mind, but the filings from the Department of Justice ought to have persuaded him and the Appeals Court that this is an urgent matter of national security. What will be below the ballroom is best left undisclosed. The Pentagon and the Secret Service will go to great lengths to shield from satellites and conventional spyware that will be on the roof of the ballroom.

But it should go without saying that the White House is much more than the Executive Mansion. It is the Commander-in-Chief’s principal command center as well as his home. It is also a target for every terrorist and lunatic in the world and the state sponsors of such would-be assassins.

The Constitution's grant to the president of the power of commander in chief implies many other powers, but basic among them is the headquarters from which to operate and the security arrangements to protect it. In this era of extremely advanced surveillance equipment, the entire White House complex has to be hardened against prying eyes. It must be made defensible against all manner of attacks. And should the worst-case scenario develop, it must have rooms from which continuity of government will be assured.

We are in the age of hypersonic missiles. Did any level of review by the court pause to consider the threat matrix at the center of which the Oval Office must be found? Was expert testimony collected on how long it would take to get the president and Vice President to the famed "secure undisclosed location?"

As we approach the 25th anniversary of 9/11, the justices of the Supreme Court should be taking judicial notice of the world as it is. 25 years ago, then Vice President Cheney was rushed from his West Wing office to where, exactly? The White House Mess? The Red Room? The Vice President was taken to an undisclosed location in the compound that I’m still not at liberty to discuss.

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The Supreme Court has many excellent reasons to deny the plaintiff standing. The Department of Justice has laid them out.

But the beating heart of this case is the beating heart of this president and all future presidents. There won’t be time some day to chopper away on Marine One. The president down the road is going to have to shelter in place. What a tragedy for this country if efforts to secure our most sensitive building are hampered by architectural enthusiasts and judges with expansive views and long experience on the judicial doctrine of "standing" and de minimis views and experience on often the need to instantly move the president, vice president, families and closest aides to secure locations.

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The injunction should be stayed indefinitely. And soon.

Jacob Misiorowski's MLB-leading ERA and WHIP make Milwaukee Brewers the pick against Atlanta Braves

Fri, 21 Aug 2026 11:30:29 -0400

As we get closer and closer to the baseball postseason, we will see some alterations in rotations. Teams will know who is important to start in which games, and teams will also adjust to get their rotation set up for the postseason. Today has some great pitching matchups on the slate, but none is better than the one we get as the Braves take on the Brewers.

The Atlanta Braves have been one of the best teams in baseball this season. Last year was a bit of a disaster when the Braves finished in the bottom portion of their division. This was mostly due to injury, and this year has seen a lot more health from the club. It also helps that their hitters are having strong seasons once again. Matt Olson has 36 homers, but only 77 RBIs, so it probably would help for them to get on in front of him a bit more. If there is one area the team has struggled, it is probably on the road. They are still over .500 with a 33-30 record for the year, but compared to their home performance, this is a bit underwhelming.

The team gets their ace throwing today as Chris Sale takes the hill. Sale is 12-8 for the season with a 2.16 ERA and a 1.02 WHIP. He also has 160 strikeouts for the year. If you're looking to see how well he is doing compared to the rest of the league, he is ninth in wins, second in ERA, 11th in strikeouts, and seventh in WHIP. So, he's basically pitching at a Cy Young level. He has been better at home than on the road, though, so maybe there is an opportunity to get to Sale. However, to be clear, he has allowed 19 earned runs all year on the road, and six of them came in one game against the Angels. He faced the Brewers earlier this season and allowed five hits and two unearned runs in 5.2 innings of work.

The Milwaukee Brewers are the best team in baseball - at least in terms of record. Believe it or not, they also own the best run differential in baseball. If you can, without looking, name the players leading the team in hits, homers, RBIs, and even batting average, I'd be shocked. This isn't a team that gets a ton of attention, but they just keep winning games, year after year. The small market doesn't seem to bother them (take note, other GMs). They are also 20 games over .500 at home this season.

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One of the reasons for their success is certainly their pitching staff, led by the eventual Cy Young winner, Jacob Misiorowski. As of right now, Misiorowski is leading the league in ERA, strikeouts, and WHIP. He has a 1.75 ERA, a 0.75 WHIP, and 210 strikeouts. His record is 12-5, and if he can get a few more wins, he might have a chance to lead the league in every major pitching category, finishing a season for the ages. How good has he been? In his almost 140 innings and 23 starts, he hasn't allowed more than three earned runs in any outing. In fact, for a month, the most runs allowed were 11. He threw six innings, allowing two earned runs on five hits in a 3-2 loss.

This is one of those games where it doesn't matter what the total is; you will be sweating out an over. It is entirely possible that both teams go six or seven innings with somewhere between zero and five baserunners. I'm not advocating that you take the over 6 runs, but I really don't know how you comfortably play the under, either. The Brewers are actually playing better baseball right now, and I think it is worth it to take a shot on them winning this one at -135. You won't get a ton of chances to pay that low of a price with Misiorowski so I'll take a shot here.

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For more sports betting information and plays, follow David on X/Twitter: @futureprez2024

Pentagon officials mulling the firing of military newspaper Stars and Stripes publisher

Fri, 21 Aug 2026 11:28:55 -0400

The Pentagon is considering the removal of the publisher who oversees the military newspaper Stars and Stripes, Fox News Digital has confirmed.

Max Lederer, who has led the paper for 19 years, announced his retirement to staff on Tuesday, saying he intends to step down at the end of September.

However, Pentagon leadership may terminate him beforehand. One U.S. official familiar with the matter told Fox News Digital his "poor job performance" as publisher is the main factor but that "insubordination pushed it over the edge." CBS News first reported on the potential ouster.

"Max has wasted two decades as publisher while the Stars and Stripes languished under his lethargic, lazy leadership," one Pentagon employee who works closely with Lederer told Fox News Digital. "He’s a typical slob of a bureaucrat who wastes taxpayer money, never gets held accountable for doing a bad job, and cannot even handle basic tasks like attending meetings or responding to emails. He should’ve been removed years ago, but that’s government in a nutshell."

PENTAGON VOWS TO REFORM MILITARY NEWSPAPER STARS AND STRIPES, REMOVE 'WOKE DISTRACTIONS'

Lederer, an Army veteran who joined Stars and Stripes in 1992, told staff he was choosing to retire due to "fundamental" differences he had with Pentagon leadership on the direction of the paper.

"I have thought a great deal about the right time to step aside, and I have concluded that this is it," Lederer wrote, according to a Stars and Stripes report on his retirement. "I leave with real pride in what we have accomplished together and with complete confidence in what you will accomplish next."

"For decades, Max Lederer championed the interests of service members and their families by supporting their access to credible reporting, independent of the military chain of command," Stars and Stripes editor-in-chief Erik Slavin said in a statement.

WASHINGTON POST OPINION EDITOR TO EXIT PAPER AFTER JUST ONE YEAR, STAFF COMPLETELY 'BLINDSIDED'

There are competing narratives about whether Stars and Stripes is struggling. Pentagon sources allege a decline both digitally and in print — claiming from 2019 to 2024, unique visitors to its website fell 30% from 20 million per year to 14 million. They also say print deliveries also declined in that same period from seven million annually to 6.2 million. The 2019 stats stem from a 2021 congressional letter sent by Rep. Jason Crow, D-Colo., and then-Rep. Ruben Gallego, D-Az., and were juxtaposed with the 2024 stats listed on Stars and Stripes' website.

However, a source familiar with Stars and Stripes operations disputed the paper's digital struggles, citing 42 million page views from August 2025 to July 2026 as well as "strong growth in video and social engagement." The source also cited 23 million unique visitors during that same period, according to its Google Analytics, and noted that the 6.2 million printed copies only account for the U.S. weekly edition of the paper, which does not include the copies distributed to service members abroad.

The source claimed that 2024 was specifically an "unusual year" due to systemic outages and tech issues that plagued the outlet.

There was also a discrepancy regarding how much of its budget comes from federal funds, as a Pentagon source claims up to 65% comes from taxpayer dollars, while the source familiar with the paper's operations insists it's just roughly half. The annual budget is between $27–$29 million.

Sources tell Fox News Digital that Lederer faces criticism for failing to modernize the paper and the outlet's overreliance on newswire services instead of original reporting, allotting $411,000 of its budget toward them in 2026. However, the paper has since cut back on wire service spending, Fox News Digital has learned.

"Max Lederer has served his country for 40 years as a former Army officer and Stars and Stripes employee. The characterization being circulated about him does not reflect the leadership he has provided in running a global, 24/7 news operation across multiple continents," a source close to Stars and Stripes told Fox News Digital.

Neither Lederer nor Stars and Stripes responded to Fox News Digital's requests for comment.

NEW YORK TIMES LOSES DEFAMATION LAWSUIT, ORDERED TO PAY $9.25M TO FORMER ALABAMA BASKETBALL PLAYER

The Pentagon kicked off 2026 by announcing its overhaul of the long-running newspaper.

"The Department of War is returning Stars & Stripes to its original mission: reporting for our warfighters," chief Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell posted on X in January. "We are bringing Stars & Stripes into the 21st century. We will modernize its operations, refocus its content away from woke distractions that syphon morale, and adapt it to serve a new generation of service members."

Parnell continued, "Stars & Stripes will be custom tailored to our warfighters. It will focus on warfighting, weapons systems, fitness, lethality, survivability, and ALL THINGS MILITARY. No more repurposed DC gossip columns; no more Associated Press reprints. Stars & Stripes has a proud legacy of reporting news that’s important to our service members. The Department of War is committed to ensuring the outlet continues to reflect that proud legacy."

The Pentagon previously fired the Stars and Stripes ombudsman in April after being an outspoken critic of the Trump administration's oversight of the paper.

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Sneaky raccoon seen helping itself to ballpark fare at Citi Field as bewildered Mets fans look on

Fri, 21 Aug 2026 11:21:27 -0400

It's been pretty rough sledding for the New York Mets and their fans for most of this season.

While their team has the highest total payroll in MLB this year, the Mets have subjected their loyal supporters to last-place baseball and a losing record on their home field.

While the play on the diamond has been particularly tough to watch, the lone constant that everyone can rely on is the ballpark food, which one furry fan found to be the case when the Mets took on the San Diego Padres on Wednesday.

A SQUIRREL INVADES MLB GAME, JUMPS INTO OUTFIELDERS GLOVE AND CAUSES CHAOS IN HILARIOUS SCENE

A video captured by fan Scott Reynolds shows a stealthy raccoon grabbing leftover concession stand food from a hole in the bleachers at Citi Field.

It starts with broken peanut shells discarded by fans until a group notices the distinct paw reaching up through the opening.

YANKEES FANS SWARM VIRAL 'FRIED CHICKEN' ICE CREAM AS $10.99 DESSERT VANISHES IN ONE INNING

Then the raccoon gets the gift of a lifetime when another fan hands him a full hot dog.

Reynolds said that he and his family were eating peanuts and dropping the shells in the stands when they noticed a paw appearing from a small hole in the concrete.

"We soon realized that it was a raccoon," Reynolds said. "We laughed and enjoyed the extra show."

"Extra show" might be underselling it a little bit, as most Mets fans would argue the 30-second clip of the ballpark scavenger is probably more entertaining than anything the team has put on the field so far this season.

METS REPORTER DISSECTS TEAM'S MISERABLE SEASON WHILE PRIDE NIGHT MR. MET DANCES BEHIND HIM

Last year, I wrote about how scientists discovered that raccoons are becoming increasingly more domesticated, so it won't be long before our furry Mets fan can emerge from the shadowy underground and come to the ballpark legally.

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We already have "Bark at the Park" nights all over Major League Baseball, what's the harm in adding a few raccoons to the mix?

The Mets would end up winning the game against the Padres 4-2, so perhaps sacrificing a few glizzies to the rally raccoon will catch on.

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I can't think of anything more apropos for the city of New York than that.

Kelly Ripa, Mark Consuelos share blunt advice for couples planning a big wedding

Fri, 21 Aug 2026 11:20:59 -0400

Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelos, who have been married for 30 years, are urging people to avoid having a big wedding.

"Weddings are having a micro trend in 2026," Ripa said in a prerecorded segment that aired Thursday, according to People magazine. "Live with Kelly and Mark" is currently on summer break, with live episodes returning after Labor Day.

"Tiny. A quirky cake. No big ceremony. Candles over flowers. Cost-effectiveness. This is the year of the cost-effective wedding. Ceremonies are out, parties are in," Ripa said.

KELLY RIPA SAYS SHE HAS A SECRET SIGNAL THAT TELLS MARK CONSUELOS SHE'S NOT IN THE MOOD

"So they’ll do a small ceremony and then a big party. Buffets are back on the menu, for cost-effective reasoning. They’re cheap, they’re cheerful, and they’re returning to wedding venues. Brides are opting on buying secondhand wedding dresses. Because let’s face it: nothing’s been worn less than a wedding dress. Unless it’s my wedding dress, which now doubles as a beach cover-up. And they’re saying they’re getting rid of the wedding ring slash engagement ring. You know how a man would propose? Now just one ring, one nice ceremony ring."

The couple’s May 1996 Las Vegas elopement cost under $200.

"I loved our wedding," Ripa told Consuelos, who agreed. "Our wedding was great. $179, including airfare, thank you!"

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Ripa then joked that they should start a "wedding service."

"Oh, I like that," Consuelos said. "They want a big wedding, and they come to us for counseling. We’re like, ‘Don’t do it.’"

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Ripa added, "You could buy a house, you could have equity in your future!"

After Ripa joked that Consuelos’ "second wedding" would be a micro affair, Consuelos added, "The money spent on these parties and flowers and rings and dresses, it just doesn’t make sense to me. It never made sense to me, which is why we eloped. At the time, it didn’t make sense to either one of us. We’re like, ‘That’s ridiculous.’"

In June, Ripa revealed her only regret from their inexpensive wedding.

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"I'm still sorry that we didn't spring for flowers because I always think my hands look awkward," the 55-year-old said on the June 12 episode, according to E! News. "Flowers are extra. And somebody didn't want to spring for flowers."

KELLY RIPA'S PAINFUL SURGERY LEAVES HER UNABLE TO SPEAK

Ripa continued, "The one photo that I never show is the photo where I'm awkwardly posing with my hands because I don't have flowers. It's a very awkward photo."

Ripa and Consuelos frequently joke about their marriage on the show, with Consuelos quipping earlier this month that he would rather stay in a "loveless marriage" to his former "All My Children" co-star than risk losing their dog, Lena, in a divorce.

Consuelos said he would "stay up all night wondering what she was doing."

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"Wondering if there was some other man petting her," Ripa joked.

Rosie O'Donnell hammers Trump repeatedly in Kimmel guest-host gig as White House fires back

Fri, 21 Aug 2026 11:00:28 -0400

Rosie O'Donnell wrapped up her week on "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" with more digs at President Donald Trump Thursday night, ending her brief guest-hosting stint.

"I’ve really enjoyed my time here thanks to everyone who’s been watching this week, especially the hungry, hungry hypocrite in the White House," O'Donnell said during her monologue Thursday. "Most of all, I'd like to thank Jimmy Kimmel for inviting me to do this and for reminding everyone that we have the right to free speech in this country, whether orange Voldemort likes it or not."

O'Donnell guest-hosted Kimmel's show while the late-night host was on summer break.

ROSIE O'DONNELL’S RETURN TO LATE NIGHT REIGNITES DECADES-OLD FEUD WITH DONALD TRUMP

White House spokesperson Davis Ingle fired back, telling Fox News Digital, "Rosie O’Donnell is a nasty woman and a total slob whose brain has been completely destroyed by Trump Derangement Syndrome."

The comedian name-dropped Natalie Harp during her monologue Wednesday, referring to remarks Democratic Georgia Sen. Jon Ossoff made at a Georgia rally Sunday.

"A special hello to those of you watching from home — and from the White House," she said. "But I do have some bad news for President Petty Roosevelt. That’s all I’m going to say about you tonight, sweetheart. Time to go nighty night."

"You got to realize it’s time to hang up your wig and let Natalie tuck you in," O’Donnell continued, drawing gasps and applause from the Kimmel audience. The White House and Republicans criticized Ossoff's remarks earlier this week.

During Tuesday's monologue, O'Donnell thanked the president for her reignited fame. O'Donnell left the country after Trump won the 2024 election and moved to Ireland.

In a 2025 TikTok video, O'Donnell said she would think about returning to America "when it is safe for all citizens to have equal rights there." O'Donnell has since returned to the U.S. to guest-host "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" and appear on several podcasts.

ROSIE O'DONNELL PUSHES CONSPIRACY THEORY THAT TRUMP DIDN'T REALLY WIN 2024 ELECTION, SAYS ‘I THINK KAMALA WON’

"I’m back in the spotlight all thanks to President Oompa J. Loompa, who is watching us this evening from inside a catering cart," O’Donnell said. "You know, I couldn’t have done it without you, sweetie. You brought me back just like you did with fascism and the measles."

O'Donnell explained her move to Ireland during her first episode as a guest host Monday.

JIMMY KIMMEL REVEALS HE ASKED MAJOR TRUMP CRITIC TO GUEST HOST WHILE HE'S ON VACATION AS A 'SPECIAL TREAT'

She began her monologue by poking fun at Trump’s longtime distaste for the show, telling the audience, "The president hated ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live!’ when it was hosted by Jimmy Kimmel. Buckle up, people."

"I read that Project 2025 and said, ‘Got to get myself out of here, you know,’ and I decided to go to Ireland, a place where people are driven to drink regardless of who's running their country," O’Donnell said.

ROSIE O'DONNELL WON'T WORRY ABOUT FCC, BRENDAN CARR AHEAD OF KIMMEL HOSTING, DOESN'T 'PAY ANY HEED TO THEM'

O’Donnell then recalled how her teenager delivered the news that they would be moving abroad to their classmates, telling the audience her child said, "‘I’m very sorry. I won’t be able to graduate sixth grade with you. I’m being forced to move to another country because the president of the United States hates my mother. But in all fairness, I believe my mother hates him more.’"

Without mentioning Trump by name, O’Donnell then smiled directly into the camera and addressed the president, telling him, "Hi, I know you’re watching."

O'Donnell and the president have traded barbs for years, and Trump threatened to revoke the comedian's citizenship after she fled to Ireland in 2025.

During an appearance on the Irish radio show, "Sunday with Miriam," in 2025, O'Donnell opened up about the contentious back and forth with the president of the United States and explained why she's "very proud" to stand up against him after all these years.

"He still uses me as a punching bag and a way to sort of rile his base," O'Donnell, 64, said. "And I'm very proud to be opposed to every single thing he says and does and represents. I think he's a racist, and he's misogynistic, and he's sexist, and he is a danger to women and children all over the world."

The decades-long feud stems back to 2006 after O'Donnell criticized him when she was a host on "The View" about his decision to be lenient toward a Miss USA winner who had been accused of drug use and other bad behavior.

O'Donnell — who was a co-host on "The View" at the time — said Trump was "not a self-made man" but a "snake-oil salesman on ‘Little House On The Prairie.’"

Trump responded to the criticism by calling O'Donnell a "real loser" and "a woman out of control."

O'Donnell told People in 2014 that the criticism she received from Trump was the worst bullying she had experienced.

"Probably the Trump stuff was the most bullying I ever experienced in my life, including as a child," O’Donnell said. "It was national, and it was sanctioned societally. Whether I deserved it is up to your own interpretation."

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Trump responded to her comments by tweeting, "Rosie—No offense, and good luck on the new show, but remember, you started it!"

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Fox News' Julia Bonavita, CJ Womack and Christina Dugan Ramirez contributed to this report.

Karmelo Anthony fights for new trial as lawyers clash over unwritten deal that shaped case

Fri, 21 Aug 2026 11:00:01 -0400

Karmelo Anthony’s bid to overturn his murder conviction returns to court in McKinney, Texas, Friday after his former lawyer testified that a dispute over an unwritten agreement helped keep Anthony from taking the stand.

Retired District Judge Michael Chitty is hearing Anthony’s request for a new trial. Judge Sid Harle removed Judge John Roach, who presided over Anthony’s murder trial, from the remaining trial-court proceedings earlier this week.

Harle found that a reasonable outside observer could question whether Roach appeared impartial after the judge publicly said the jury "got it right" and defended several of his trial decisions.

TEXAS JUDGE WHO PRESIDED OVER KARMELO ANTHONY MURDER TRIAL REMOVED FROM CASE OVER 'GOT IT RIGHT' COMMENT

Anthony, 19, was convicted in June of murdering 17-year-old Austin Metcalf, whom prosecutors said Anthony fatally stabbed during an altercation at a Frisco track meet. A Collin County jury sentenced Anthony to 35 years in prison.

At the center of the new-trial hearing is an oral agreement between Anthony’s original defense team and prosecutors to keep potentially damaging character evidence about both sides from the jury.

UNTAPPED KARMELO ANTHONY EVIDENCE CACHE SHOWED HE STALKED EX-GIRLFRIEND, HAD 'KNIVES' OBSESSION: PROSECUTORS

Former lead defense attorney Mike Howard testified Thursday that he understood the agreement to allow Anthony to testify if his testimony remained focused on the confrontation under the tent at the track meet.

Howard said that changed on the final day of trial, when prosecutors told the defense the agreement would not apply if Anthony took the stand and that the defense had already opened the door to character evidence.

KARMELO ANTHONY STAYS SILENT AS ANALYSTS WARN DEFENSE FACES UPHILL BATTLE IN TRACK MEET STABBING TRIAL

He said the dispute led to a heated break in the proceedings and made Anthony unwilling to take the stand.

Under cross-examination, Howard acknowledged the lawyers never expressly agreed on whether a testifying defendant was covered by the arrangement. He said he could not say whether prosecutors acted in bad faith.

KARMELO ANTHONY DEFENSE RESTS, ATTORNEYS PREP FOR CLOSING ARGUMENTS BEFORE JURY DELIBERATES IN MURDER TRIAL

Lead prosecutor Bill Wirske said the agreement was mutual and that the parties were aligned on the need to keep character evidence out of the trial. Wirske said the state did not believe the agreement applied to Anthony’s testimony.

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Wirske said the agreement kept jurors from hearing allegations involving Anthony’s history with knives and violence. Anthony’s new legal team has argued it also excluded school records, social-media posts and videos that they say could have supported his self-defense claim by showing prior aggressive behavior by Metcalf and his twin brother, Hunter Metcalf.

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The court has not made findings on those allegations.

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Anthony’s motion also argues that courtroom-access restrictions violated his Sixth Amendment right to a public trial and that jury instructions limited jurors’ ability to consider his self-defense claim.

KARMELO ANTHONY FOUND GUILTY OF MURDER IN TEXAS TRACK MEET STABBING

Howard testified that the lawyers and Roach held more than a dozen off-the-record meetings before trial. He said no pretrial motions were formally filed because the parties used what he described as an "old-school" system of filing materials directly with Roach.

GOT A TIP?

Howard also said the defense discussed waiving some public-trial access because of security concerns, but that no Sixth Amendment waiver was made on the record. He testified that the decision not to use an overflow room was tied to technology concerns, not a specific security threat.

Former defense attorney Toby Shook testified Friday that the original defense team understood the agreement to allow Anthony to testify about the confrontation under the tent at the Frisco track meet.

Shook said prosecutors raised the issue on the final day of trial, arguing that a reference to Anthony’s chess club in opening statements had opened the door to character evidence and that the agreement did not cover Anthony taking the stand. Shook said he was taken aback because the defense had always expected Anthony to testify in support of his self-defense claim.

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Wilson also introduced a training presentation that Wirske had used in continuing legal education courses on self-defense. One slide advised defense lawyers that the client "(probably) needs to testify," and Shook agreed that a defendant’s testimony is often important in a self-defense case.

Shook said the defense updated Anthony about the dispute during a break and explained that Roach said he could not enforce the unwritten agreement. Shook testified that Roach said he would rule on any objections based on the evidence presented at trial.

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The former defense attorney said that left Anthony unsure whether taking the stand would allow prosecutors to introduce the character evidence the agreement was meant to keep out. Shook said Anthony ultimately decided not to testify because he feared prosecutors would "find a reason to open the door" to that evidence.

Chitty must rule on the motion by Monday under Texas rules. If he does not grant it by then, the motion will be denied by operation of law and Anthony’s direct appeal will continue.

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Fox News Digital has reached out to Anthony’s defense team for comment.

Texas AG Ken Paxton sends message to WNBA amid 'concerns' over treatment of Sophie Cunningham supporters

Fri, 21 Aug 2026 10:32:57 -0400

EXCLUSIVE: Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton expressed cautious optimism about the WNBA’s treatment of Sophie Cunningham’s supporters Thursday while reaffirming his commitment to keeping biological males out of women’s sports.

Paxton attended the Indiana Fever’s game against the Dallas Wings at American Airlines Center with his daughter Mattie. The two wore matching XX-XY shirts as women’s sports advocates rallied outside the arena before the game.

When asked whether Cunningham’s supporters had received fair treatment from the WNBA, Paxton stopped short of condemning the league.

"Look, I think they’re working on it," Paxton told Fox News Digital. "I have concerns ... but I’m hopeful that things are getting better in that regard."

Paxton answered a question on whether he would become involved if supporters face unfair treatment, saying he was "looking" into the issue. He did not indicate any plans for any formal action.

"Look, we’re looking at it," Paxton said. "We wanna make sure that they are treated fairly"

Paxton’s measured response came after Cunningham supporters raised concerns about their treatment at WNBA games in multiple cities. The league recently acknowledged that security personnel should not have instructed a mother and daughter to cover their XX-XY shirts at an Atlanta Dream game.

WNBA ADMITS SECURITY IN ATLANTA WAS WRONG TO MAKE FANS COVER SHIRTS AT DREAM-FEVER GAME

"This should not have happened," the WNBA said in response to that incident.

Paxton showed little willingness to compromise on the underlying issue.

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

"In Texas, we know what we’ve passed," he said. "We have laws here that protect against men in women’s sports and boys in girls’ sports, and it’s pretty important to, I think, the people of Texas."

Texas law requires athletes at public schools and public colleges to compete based on biological sex. The state’s laws do not directly control WNBA eligibility. Paxton has still used his office to pursue the issue, including a lawsuit against the NCAA over its previous transgender athlete policy.

Paxton praised Cunningham for publicly opposing the inclusion of biological males in women’s sports. Her comments inspired supporters to hold rallies outside WNBA arenas and attend games wearing shirts promoting sex-based competition.

"Look, I admire her," Paxton said. "She’s got tremendous courage. It’s what we need in our country, more courage, standing up for what is right, and actually standing up for young women that want the opportunity to compete in sports."

"Obviously, we have these policies where men compete against women, which makes it very difficult for these women to compete in sports."

Paxton encouraged Texans to support Cunningham instead of attacking her for expressing her position.

"Instead of criticizing her, how about we admire something of great courage, which is what she has accomplished as a young woman," he said. "Standing up is very difficult. Very few people are willing to do it, and I have a lot of admiration. I hope a lot of Texans have a lot of admiration for what she has accomplished at such a young age."

Paxton also addressed former NBA players Enes Kanter Freedom and Royce White announcing plans to enter the 2027 WNBA Draft. Both men have described their announcements as attempts to challenge the league to clarify its transgender eligibility policy.

THE WNBA HAS LIMITED OPTIONS AFTER TWO MEN DECLARED FOR THE DRAFT, AND THOSE OPTIONS AREN'T GREAT

"Look, it highlights the crazy insanity of this whole transgender movement," Paxton said. "When these guys can declare, and it’s under the rules, they’re perfectly within their rights to do it. So I think they’re just highlighting the ludicrousness of what the WNBA is promoting here."

When asked what Texas might do if either former NBA player reached a WNBA roster and played in Dallas, Paxton declined to address the hypothetical.

"We’ll just have to see," he said. "We don’t know how the WNBA is gonna handle this. But we certainly, we in Texas, we are promoting no boys in girls’ sports because it’s completely unfair."

Brooke Slusser’s mother, Kim, also attended the game. Slusser, a former San Jose State volleyball player, became a national advocate for women’s sports after saying she was required to share living and sleeping spaces with a transgender teammate without initially knowing the player’s sex.

"I think that they are the epitome of what real Texans are about," Paxton said of the Slusser family. "Fighting against, you know, a young woman that’s supposedly have to live with a man, and it’s ridiculous and ludicrous. And the fact that she had to go through that is awful and appalling."

"But look, I admire her for her stand, that they’re standing up and fighting back."

Paxton also made clear that the night was about more than politics. He said he looked forward to spending time with his daughter and watching the game, which Dallas won 91-85.

Paxton’s appearance came as he campaigns for a promotion from the Texas attorney general’s office to the U.S. Senate. Paxton defeated four-term incumbent Sen. John Cornyn in the May Republican runoff, winning about 64% of the vote after receiving President Donald Trump’s endorsement. He will face Democrat state Rep. James Talarico in November after choosing not to seek another term as attorney general.

The debate over women’s sports has become a prominent part of Paxton’s record as attorney general. Texas adopted laws requiring athletes in public K-12 schools and public colleges to compete based on their biological sex. Paxton has used his office to defend and enforce those laws while targeting athletic organizations with policies that he believes undermine sex-based competition.

Paxton sued the NCAA in December 2024, accusing the organization of violating the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act by marketing events as women’s competitions while allowing biological males to participate. After the NCAA changed its policy in February 2025 to restrict women’s competition to athletes assigned female at birth, Paxton argued the organization still needed a system for verifying athletes’ sex.

A state judge later denied his request for a temporary injunction requiring sex screening, but the ruling did not resolve the underlying lawsuit.

Paxton’s office also secured an agreement with the Dallas Independent School District requiring compliance with the state’s girls’ sports law. He later pursued investigations involving U.S. Masters Swimming and the Texas branch of the United States Tennis Association.

Those actions have helped Paxton present himself nationally as one of the Republican Party’s most aggressive legal advocates for sex-based athletic categories as he seeks a seat in Washington.

That record has placed Paxton alongside the growing network of athletes, parents and advocacy groups that have rallied around Cunningham. Some of those supporters have reported hostile treatment after bringing their message inside WNBA arenas, prompting the league to discipline one team executive and acknowledge that its own security personnel acted improperly in another incident.

The first major confrontation occurred during the Fever’s July 28 game in Seattle. Two teenage girls sitting courtside held signs thanking Cunningham for "speaking up for girls."

Seattle Storm minority co-owner Celeste Keaton allegedly approached them, used profanity and called them "f—ing insane."

The Storm apologized, and the WNBA later suspended Keaton from five home games and issued an undisclosed fine.

Another controversy followed during the Fever’s Aug. 16 game against the Atlanta Dream. WNBA security personnel told at least three fans to cover shirts containing messages about transgender participation in women’s sports. Two wore XX-XY shirts supporting sex-based athletic categories, while another wore a shirt supporting transgender participation.

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A mother and her 17-year-old daughter said security brought them Dream shirts and instructed them to cover their XX-XY clothing or leave the arena.

The WNBA subsequently admitted that security personnel were wrong.

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"This should not have happened," the league said, adding that the fans should have been free to wear the shirts. The Dream said its employees had no involvement in the decision and that the actions by league security "fell short" of the team’s standards.

Top JPMorganChase exec warns regulatory proposal could squeeze credit for millions of small businesses

Fri, 21 Aug 2026 10:30:34 -0400

FIRST ON FOX: A top executive at JPMorganChase warned that proposed federal bank capital rules could damage small businesses across the country, airing caution that Main Street may have less access to credit from banks.

As regulators move to finalize Basel III Endgame, one of the most important global financial regulatory standards to date, Chase Business Bank CEO Stevie Baron said in a memo obtained by Fox News Digital that the current framework could potentially have unintended consequences for small businesses as capital requirements could prevent lending.

"The latest revisions to the 2023 proposal are a step in the right direction, but as we reiterated to regulators, more work is needed to ensure the final rules do not increase the cost of lending or reduce access to credit for small businesses," Baron explained.

Baron specifically noted proposed changes to the Global Systemically Important Bank (GSIB) surcharge, saying that formula could encourage trading over lending, raising borrowing costs for millions of small business owners.

JAMIE DIMON SAYS HE WOULDN’T BUY STOCKS OR TREASURYS AT CURRENT PRICES

JPMorganChase is considered a GSIB, and is required to adhere to higher loss-absorbing equity and capital requirements than other smaller banks.

"The Fed should reconsider the proposed changes to the GSIB surcharge calculation, and, in particular, retain the current approach to the short-term wholesale funding factor that accounts for the size and funding diversification benefits of universal banks," Baron added. "Regulators should ensure the surcharge framework does not penalize the everyday lending and banking services relied on by small businesses."

He also argued that "capital requirements should not increase just because the economy is growing, or routine activity is expanding," and that "policymakers should ensure the capital framework operates as a coherent whole, rather than layering multiple requirements on top of the same risks."

Baron oversees more than 7 million small and medium-size businesses and over $19 billion in business banking average loans in FY2025. The American Dream Initiative, which was announced by JPMorganChase CEO Jamie Dimon on Fox News’ "Fox and Friends" in March, seeks to expand the total number of small and medium-sized businesses to 10 million in additional to a number of changes at the bank to promote growth in the U.S. economy.

A senior JPMorganChase executive told Fox News Digital that acting Labor Secretary Keith Sonderling visited JPMC headquarters last week to discuss the initiative and steps the bank is taking to implement changes under the Trump administration.

After the 2008 financial crisis, global regulators developed the Basel III regulatory package to ensure banks have enough capital and financial cushion to weather economic volatility to protect taxpayers. U.S. regulatory agencies, including the Federal Reserve, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation and the Office of the Comptroller, initially proposed the framework, dubbed Basel III Endgame in 2023 but withdrew the draft for revision after pushback.

SURVIVING SINCE LINCOLN: HOW SIX GENERATIONS BEAT THE SMALL BUSINESS CURSE

In March, Trump administration regulators proposed the latest draft of Basel III Endgame, with a comment deadline of July, though banks are still lobbying for changes as regulators move to enact permanent policy.

Top lawmakers, like Senate Banking Committee Chairman Tim Scott, R-South Carolina, have also warned about potential lending shortfalls if the framework is enacted.

"I have long said that overly complicated capital rules can slow economic growth without making our financial system safer," Scott said in a March statement. "The Biden administration’s plan would have made it harder to get a mortgage, harder to start a business, and more expensive to make ends meet. That is the wrong direction when families are already feeling squeezed. There is still more work to do. We need rules that keep our financial system strong while making sure banks can lend, and our economy can grow."

Baron aligned with Scott’s view that there needs to be assurance that banks will be able to lend freely, stating in his memo that small businesses could be restricted from expansion and investing in growth should there be limited access to capital.

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His memo is part of a new JPMorganChase series titled "from the desk of," where top executives, including Dimon, have shared their takes on various economic and political policies and how they affect America’s largest bank.

Tourists get dangerously close to massive bison in stunning nature video posted online

Fri, 21 Aug 2026 10:10:51 -0400

Ladies and gentlemen, we have another truly stunning nature video.

As we've talked about too many times to count, absurd nature videos are among the best things on the internet.

It's honestly nothing short of incredible how dumb people are when it comes to wild animals. They watch a Disney movie and think every wild animal is a house pet.

WOMAN TESTS FATE BY GETTING TOO CLOSE TO A MASSIVE BISON, FACEPLANTS WHILE RUNNING AWAY

That's not reality at all, and the evidence is overwhelming.

Tourists get way too close to massive bison.

The YouTube page T. Lyn Neufeld Photography posted a video this week of a group of tourists doing the one thing you never should with a bison:

BULL BISON SENDS YELLOWSTONE VISITOR FLIPPING THROUGH THE AIR IN CAMPGROUND ATTACK CAUGHT ON VIDEO

Get extremely close.

Bison can be aggressive animals when they feel threatened, and unlike a little puppy, a bison has the size and power to ruin your day.

BISON VICTIM SPEAKS OUT AFTER WILD ATTACK: ‘THEY MOVE FASTER THAN YOU COULD EVER IMAGINE’

Yet, people keep doing it!

Watch the stunning footage below, and let me know your thoughts at David.Hookstead@outkick.com.

As you'd expect, the comments section on YouTube was absolutely incredible. One person wrote, "Can't fix stupid."

Fact check: 100% true.

Another added, "People being STUPID!!"

A third wrote, "Amazing. I don't know how some people find their way out of bed in the morning."

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Stay away from wild animals, folks. It's not hard to understand, but apparently is incredibly difficult for some people to actually execute. Let me know your thoughts at David.Hookstead@outkick.com.

AOC blasted as too moderate by Maoist DSA faction as 2028 buzz grows

Fri, 21 Aug 2026 10:05:08 -0400

The Democratic Socialist of America (DSA) Liberation Caucus is rejecting Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., as a potential candidate for Democrats in the 2028 presidential election, arguing she is too far removed from the socialist agenda.

"Liberation condemns Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's continued retreat from socialist politics and rejects any effort to present her as the future presidential standard-bearer for DSA, or for the broader socialist movement," the DSA Liberation Caucus wrote in the statement.

DSA slammed Ocasio-Cortez as an "opportunist" and condemned her vote to defend Israel’s right to exist and for not holding firm as an anti-Zionist.

"In short, it was determined that she had failed to meet conditions concerning Palestine solidarity," the statement said.

DEMOCRATIC SOCIALISTS ERUPT OVER 2028 ENDORSEMENT AS AOC SPECULATION GROWS: 'DANGEROUS PATH'

After withdrawing a conditional endorsement of the "Squad" Democrat in 2024, DSA’s National Political Committee "determined" that Ocasio-Cortez hosted a public panel with an alleged Zionist organization — the Jewish Council for Public Affairs.

She was also trashed for joining a group of House Democrats to co-sign a statement — after voting against providing Israel with supplemental weapon funding — that voiced support for Israel’s right to have defensive systems.

The statement continued to attack her, pivoting to her recent remarks in an interview with ABC, where Ocasio-Cortez walked back on her support for the movement to defund the police and the language used around policing in 2020, calling the 2020 "Woke 1" era for progressives "crazyyyyy."

"She has dismissed the mass radicalization around policing and abolition as part of the supposed excesses of 'Woke 1', seeking to reduce the historic Black-led uprising of 2020 to an embarrassing political phase," the statement reads.

It continues, "Ironically, her first electoral victory came in the heat of 'Woke 1', where she trafficked in the language of abolition. Now that she feels that she no longer needs it, she condemns it. This is the action of an opportunist dilettante, devoid of any principles whatsoever, not a socialist."

ALEXANDRIA OCASIO-CORTEZ SHRUGS OFF PAST 'DEFUND THE POLICE' COMMENTS, JOKING 'WOKE 1 WAS CRAZY'

The DSA’s rejection of Ocasio-Cortez comes shortly after the organization recently announced its new program that calls for the complete elimination of the Senate, president and Supreme Court. The DSA said this program, "Workers Deserve More," must be accepted and promoted by all candidates in order to receive a formal DSA endorsement.

"This is why the current rumblings for and prospects of an AOC presidential campaign should be met with a clear answer from the socialist left: No," the group said in the statement. "We will not endorse or give succor to a campaign to put a social democrat at the head of an empire, where she will make even more capitulations to the imperialists, and drag our organization into antagonistic contradiction after antagonistic contradiction."

While the national DSA does not endorse Ocasio-Cortez, and vehemently opposes her presidential bid, the New York City DSA chapter has routinely endorsed Ocasio-Cortez throughout her races. The statement claims that the NYC DSA chapter has hinted at "splitting away" from the DSA over disagreements similar to endorsing Ocasio-Cortez.

HASAN PIKER VOWS NEVER TO CRITICIZE MAO ZEDONG IN RESURFACED VIDEO, HAILS HIM AS ‘GREAT LEADER’

"This is not the behavior of socialist cadres," the Liberation Caucus said in the statement.

There has been widespread speculation that Ocasio-Cortez will run for president or Senate in 2028, and is polling as the leading choice among Democrats. But she has not yet formally announced if she will run.

Formed in 2025, the DSA Liberation Caucus openly describes itself as a "Marxist-Leninist-Maoist caucus in Democratic Socialists of America." The group's website has a page dedicated to a list defending Maoism that includes labeling the period of mass starvation and disaster as "misconception 4" on the list.

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Both the DSA Liberation Caucus and Ocasio-Cortez’s office did not respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.

AOC endorses Sen Ed Markey as incumbent faces Dem US Senate primary challenge from Rep Seth Moulton

Fri, 21 Aug 2026 09:50:16 -0400

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., endorsed Sen. Ed Markey, D-Mass., as the incumbent senator faces off against Rep. Seth Moulton, D-Mass., in the Massachusetts Democratic U.S. Senate primary.

"At a time when powerful special interests are making life harder for everyday Americans, Massachusetts working families need a champion in the U.S. Senate to stand up for them and fight corporate greed," Ocasio-Cortez said in a statement released by Markey's campaign.

"Ed Markey has spent his career doing exactly that, from our partnership on the Green New Deal to running his campaign without accepting a dime of corporate PAC money. His work is an inspiration to many of us who are committed to building a better future for all, and that’s why I’m proud to endorse him," the congresswoman added.

AOC DOCUMENTS EGG-FREEZING JOURNEY, TAKES AIM AT TRUMP ADMIN OVER WOMEN'S REPRODUCTIVE CHOICES

The House lawmaker previously backed Markey during his last election cycle.

"The toughest fights need the most inspiring leaders, and that’s Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. She’s got vision, she knows what’s at stake, and she never backs down," Markey said in a statement. "We introduced the Green New Deal to tackle the climate crisis, lower costs, and build an economy that works for working people, not corporations and billionaires. I am incredibly proud to have her endorsement and look forward to continuing to fight alongside her for the livable future we deserve."

BOMB-THROWER DEM MAKES SHOCKING PROMISE TO KICK SCHUMER TO CURB DURING SENATE DEBATE

Markey, who turned 80 this year, has served in the Senate since mid-July 2013, but he had previously served in the House for more than 36 years.

Moulton, who is 47 and will turn 48 in October, has served in the House since 2015.

DEMOCRATIC SENATOR CLAIMS GOP 'STOLE' TWO SCOTUS SEATS IN 2016, 2020, CALLS FOR EXPANSION

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The Massachusetts Democratic U.S. Senate primary is on Sept. 1, and early voting is Aug. 22–28.

Videos show three suspects in shooting death of Tucson police recruit Carlos Ramirez

Fri, 21 Aug 2026 09:45:04 -0400

The Pima County Sheriff's Department is now on the hunt for three men in connection with a Wednesday morning shooting that left a Tucson police recruit dead and his corrections officer fiancée hospitalized with a gunshot wound.

Authorities say they've obtained an arrest warrant for Alex James Barnett, 33, one of the three suspects. The other two men have not yet been publicly identified as of Friday morning.

Surveillance video released Thursday night shows at least two other men wearing black in separate clips — one at a gas station at 5405 West Valencia Road around 5:20 a.m. on Wednesday and later in a parking lot near South Palo Verde Road and East 33rd Street at around 10:50 a.m.

SUSPECTS AT LARGE AFTER TUCSON POLICE RECRUIT KILLED, PIMA COUNTY CORRECTIONS OFFICER WOUNDED IN SHOOTING

The suspect vehicle, a gray Acura MDX SUV, was abandoned there and recovered by police Thursday, authorities said.

One of the unidentified men appears to have tattoos on his arms and legs. He had short, dark hair and a short beard. The person seen dropping off the Acura was pictured only in grainy video and appeared to be wearing a shirt without sleeves.

The murder victim has been identified as 23-year-old Carlos Ramirez, who was due to graduate from the police academy on Aug. 27 and previously worked as a corrections officer for the sheriff's department.

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His fiancée, also 23, was taken to a hospital in stable condition. Authorities did not immediately release her name.

MASS SHOOTING ROCKS CROWDED DOWNTOWN TUCSON DISTRICT, LEAVING 10 WOUNDED

"The Tucson Police Department is deeply saddened by the passing of Carlos Ramirez, a member of Basic Recruit Class 26-1," a spokesperson told Fox News Digital. "Carlos was fatally shot early this morning. His fiancée was also injured and is currently receiving medical care. Our thoughts are with Carlos's family and loved ones, his fiancée, and his classmates, instructors, and academy staff during this difficult time."

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Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos previously said the suspects were wearing all black clothing and ski masks at the time of the shooting — which happened around 6 a.m. Wednesday.

It happened at Ramirez's home in the 7700 block of South Enchanted Spring Drive, about 17 miles southwest of Tucson.

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Anyone with information is asked to call 911 or 520-88-CRIME.

NFL to NCAA? Courtroom chaos Is giving pro athletes a bizarre path back to college, and it's only just begun

Fri, 21 Aug 2026 09:34:46 -0400

Just as the college football season is set to begin next weekend, there has been an influx of NFL players being given the chance to enter the transfer portal in hopes of joining a college roster over the next few weeks.

Are you confused or baffled by any of that?

Trust me, you aren’t alone.

But thanks to one particular ruling in Louisiana this week, players who have at least signed some type of contract with an NFL team now have the opportunity to return for an additional season at the collegiate level.

NCAA IGNORED THE WARNINGS. NOW IT'S FIGHTING FOR SURVIVAL IN COURTROOMS ACROSS AMERICA OVER ELIGIBILITY

While most, if not all, of this sounds absurd right now, it can be traced back to the NCAA establishing new eligibility guidelines that afford athletes five years to play five seasons of college sports.

What we're seeing play out in courtrooms across the country centers on the NCAA's decision not to include the 2022 class under its new rules. That left players declaring for professional drafts under the impression that they had exhausted their collegiate eligibility, which they technically had under the old rules.

NFL players hoping to return to college, thanks to courtroom rulings

On Thursday, former Ole Miss tight end Dae'Quan Wright reportedly created a first, of many to come, in college football: He entered the NCAA transfer portal while under contract with an NFL team.

Wright is currently participating in training camp with the Cleveland Browns after initially signing a free-agent contract with the Philadelphia Eagles.

But, one of the bigger questions is who is actually pulling the strings for him to enter the transfer portal, without actually being enrolled at a school? Yes, these questions are being answered on the fly, which seems par for the course during this madness.

Technically, the court order from the Louisiana judge noted that a 'member institution' would have to enter his name into the database. Does that mean Ole Miss would accommodate Dae'Quan Wright, knowing he's not enrolled in school?

Also, don’t forget, the SEC has a rule in-place that does not allow athletes to transfer within the conference outside of the portal period.

So, is Wright actually in the portal or is he planning to enter?

INDIANA TAKES FULL ADVANTAGE OF NCAA COURTROOM CHAOS WITH STUNNING ROSTER MOVE AMID ELIGIBILITY FIGHT

Dae'Quan is one of a number of players who are either participating in NFL preseason camps or went through the draft process before being invited to camps across the league.

In this particular case, one of many currently unfolding across the country, 19th Judicial District Court Judge Will Jorden in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, granted the plaintiffs a temporary restraining order in their lawsuit against the NCAA.

The order also allows them to use a makeshift transfer portal that will remain open for seven days.

There have been other cases as well, from California to South Carolina, with most of them going in the favor of athletes suing the NCAA over the eligibility guidelines enacted in June.

"The evidence in the record demonstrates that the NCAA has applied its rules inconsistently and arbitrarily, applying certain eligibility rules to certain athletes but not to others," Chancellor I'Ashea Myles wrote in her recent ruling that denied an NCAA appeal in a Tennessee court.

Those types of statements from judges across the country have become increasingly common, leading to more lawsuits being filed against the NCAA by athletes hoping to receive similar relief while their underlying cases play out.

NCAA Has No Plans To Surrender, As Eligibility Lawsuits For 2022 Class Turn Into An All-Out Legal War

You can also add former LSU starting defensive lineman Jack Pyburn to that list. He is currently battling for a spot on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' 53-man roster.

And no, it probably shouldn’t shock you that the latest victory for plaintiffs suing the NCAA came in the same city LSU calls home.

Meanwhile, colleges are toeing the line between abiding by rules they voted to enact and trying to navigate a legal system that could allow them to add a few weapons to their rosters.

No, schools aren't allowed to file these lawsuits on behalf of athletes. But the way things are going, the day might not be far off when a school sues its own conference over enforcement of rules pertaining to intra-conference transfers.

Schools are protected from retribution and future penalties for adding these players

These athletes are not eligible under current NCAA rules. But judges granting them the opportunity to return to college athletics are also shielding schools that add them to their rosters from punishment by the organization.

Essentially, if a school adds one of these players under the protection of a court order, it is not at risk of NCAA punishment for doing so.

But here's where things get even more awkward: For an athlete who has received money during the NFL process to take the field again in college, that money may have to be repaid.

Remember Tennessee linebacker Arion Carter?

The Vols starter declared for the NFL Draft but withdrew his name from consideration after discovering a few weeks into the process that a foot injury would prevent him from participating in pre-draft workouts.

Tennessee Coach Unloads On NCAA's 'Bulls–t', After Star Linebacker Suspended For Outdated Rule

So, he returned to Tennessee.

But to regain his eligibility, Carter had to repay $427 that was provided for a plane ticket.

Seems pretty small compared to what we're seeing right now, huh?

Carter was also suspended for the first two games of the 2026 season because he initiated the NFL process. For now, Arion has not filed a lawsuit against the NCAA in hopes of having that suspension overturned.

NCAA Suspends Tennessee Linebacker For $427 Plane Ticket, as College Sports Hands Out Millions In NIL

Going forward, expect more lawsuits from athletes looking for an additional year of college eligibility.

"This is just the second quarter, and we're all having to make decisions on how to deal with this," one Big Ten personnel staffer told OutKick. "If the NCAA wins their appeal in Colorado, then it will just lead to more lawsuits filed at the state level. If they (NCAA) lose, then you could see teams adding players to their rosters as late as October.

"Have a spot open up because of injury or you move the chess-pieces around with roster limits, there are players you could potentially add from an NFL practice squad. I wish I was kidding."

If you haven’t figured it out yet, the college athletics world has been turned upside down over the past few months.

Will the NCAA finally tap out and grant a blanket waiver to everyone in the 2022 class who technically has another year of eligibility under the new guidelines but was excluded from the recent rule change?

The pressure is clearly mounting as the NCAA continues fighting these cases across the country, while more players with NFL "experience" contemplate filing lawsuits of their own for the chance to return to college.

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At this point, the idea of going from an NFL practice squad back to a college football roster doesn't sound nearly as crazy as it would've just a few months ago.

AT&T star Milana Vayntrub shows off her arm during first pitch at Mets game, WNBA flying object & LLWS grass

Fri, 21 Aug 2026 09:17:39 -0400

It's Friday, we've all made it to the end of another week of life and I've made it to my 12th consecutive day of pumping out a fresh edition of Screencaps. The normal Substack guys will write like twice a week and act like they're overworked.

Meanwhile, this column just keeps humming along day after day. For those of you who are new here, I want you to give Screencaps a chance for at least an entire week. After a week, if you hate it, then by all means, move along. I'm betting after seven straight days, you'll find a new home.

Let's get into it.

RAIDERS' FERNANDO MENDOZA FACES CRITICISM FROM COLLEGE FOOTBALL COACH OVER NFL READINESS

• How long can Fernando Mendoza go with the Leave It To Beaver persona before it wears out its welcome? This season is a hall pass. He just won a national title and is still relatively unknown to NFL fans. I predict by November 2027, Mendoza will either show he's ready to be a star or he'll be headed to the scrap heap like so many other No. 1 picks.

That said, if Mendoza wins, you are looking at an advertising & media machine. He's going to make billions if he can put together 10-11 win seasons. And if he ends up in some sort of wholesome, Tebow-like marriage, while putting together an AFC title game run, watch out.

• What a night it was in the WNBA. Watch how Angel Reese reacts to the sex toy thrown on the court in Los Angeles. I can't read lips. You guys tell me what she said.

Was this the guy who threw the green sex toy? I have no idea. All I can go off of is what the woke WNBA reporters who can actually get a press pass are reporting.

AMERICANS CLASH OVER TRANSGENDER ATHLETES AS DEBATE HEATS UP: ‘JUST GETTING OUTRAGEOUS'

• Eric P. in the PnW wants to know if I'm aware of the guy who quit his Seattle Times job over the woke newsroom (allegedly) refusing to run his work on trans in sports: I read this guys column every day. He’s fair and enjoys going against the grain. Even when I disagree with him, I can see his points , which makes a good writer. He would fit at OK in my opinion. Matt Calkins claims the Seattle Times refused to publish his column on two student-athletes who oppose transgender athletes in women's sports.

Kinsey: I have some good news, Eric. We let Calkins have his say on the matter. I don't know if there's a conversation on working more closely with Calkins, but I can say that you're not going to find a site more dedicated to this topic of keeping biological males out of female sports.

INSIDE THE SUPREME COURT BATTLE TO 'SAVE WOMEN'S SPORTS'

Search Fox News for the OutKick Sports story on why the Seattle Times sports columnist resigned after 11 years:

Seattle Times columnist resigns after paper allegedly refused to run 'Save Women's Sports' column

Our track record speaks for itself. In December, it will be five years since I became the first writer to talk to a Lia Thomas teammate, who turned out to be Paula Scanlan. For at least 2-3 years, before she revealed herself, the only people who knew the source to my story was my wife and Clay Travis.

SOPHIE CUNNINGHAM SPEAKS OUT ON PROTECTING GIRLS FROM COMPETING AGAINST 'BIOLOGICAL MEN'

OutKick has been on the right side of history on this topic since day one. I can tell you that Fox News Digital is incredibly committed to this subject. Just take a look at where our reporters have been around the country. Dan Zaksheske and Jackson Thompson have literally criss-crossed the U.S. covering this topic.

We'll see if Calkins fits into the coverage. I was at a junior high open house last night. I'm not sure where we stand as of this morning.

📩 Email: joe.kinsey@outkick.com

Send photos, stories, tips, rants—whatever you've got.

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PIZZA HUT BRINGS BACK VINTAGE VIBES AS FRANCHISEES EMBRACE NOSTALGIC MAKEOVERS

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Remember AT&T Lily?

Talk about a Screencaps and Nightcaps legend. Between Paige Spiranac, Mikayla Demaiter and Milana Vayntrub, you have three Mount Rushmores of this website. Do you know how many millions of people have clicked on headlines associated with these three?

We have scientific data from AI researchers that tell us these three are the most-clicked on personalities in OutKick history.

Milana, 39, surfaced this week –– she rarely posts on Instagram these days –– at a Mets game where she threw out the first pitch. It was news to me that she even cared about sports.

Every single time Fox or some other website writes about retro Pizza Huts, you guys email me

And I love it every single time. Every email. Every tweet where you praise me for being early on Pizza Hut Classics.

– Bill C. emails: I bet this wasn’t on your bingo card today.

https://www.foxnews.com/food-drink/retro-pizza-hut-draws-customers-from-hours-away-1980s-nostalgia-sends-sales-soaring

Kinsey: Bill, it never shocks me when I see Hut Classic headlines. These posts do millions of pageviews. The nostalgia associated with Pizza Hut as we all remember is one of the strongest nostalgia plays on the Internet right now. Go on TikTok or Instagram. Hut content is undefeated. It's like Screencaps posting AT&T Lily or Pageviews Spiranac. Part of this job is to just play the classics.

– Drew in Katy, TX emails: In a prior email to you on August 12th I had stated. "If they will put dine-in restaurants with all of the Pizza Hut nostalgia in towns where boomers live, they will thrive again." Well, the nostalgia is not just attracting the boomers according to the article which states, "Sparks said he encountered skepticism early on from those who believed the concept would primarily cater to Baby Boomers." "That's where they were dramatically wrong," he said. "When we started to get a lot of traction with social media, these weren't 50- and 60-year-olds coming in and doing TikToks, right? These were [people in their] teens and 20s coming in and doing them." Interestingly, Pizza Hut started this process back in 2017, but apparently never got fully behind it. Yum Brands sold off Pizza Hut recently. If the new owners of Pizza Hut will invest in this business model, I predict success.

Kinsey: Pizza Hut is No. 2 behind Domino's as America's top pizza chain in terms of sales. One thing to keep an eye on is this "Total Change in Units from 2024" stat. Pizza Hut has had to clear out stores.

Can Pizza Hut get Americans to sit inside and eat a pizza again? I have my doubts, but if there's a Classic nearby, you need to give it a shot. Trust me. You'll feel like you were transported back to simpler times.

I can't get enough of the grandson who narrates his 88-year-old grandpa's golf rounds

The grandson is tough, but fair.

#################

That's it this morning. You're not going to get many more summer weekends. Get out there and go nuts this weekend. I'll see some of you tonight at the National Tractor Pull Championships in Bowling Green, OH for some FULLLLLLLL PULLLLLLLL action.

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Let's go get after it.

Numbers from :

Stuff You Guys Sent In & Stuff I Like :

Socialism surges among Democrats as party leaders reject DSA agenda: ‘Pack of fools’

Fri, 21 Aug 2026 09:16:19 -0400

The top Democrat in the House is making it clear that he doesn't support the Democratic Socialists of America's (DSA) agenda.

But even though House Democratic Leader Rep. Hakeem Jeffries of New York doesn't back the DSA's far-left policy proposals, a majority of Democrats hold favorable views of socialism, according to two national polls released in recent weeks.

That's not the case for most Americans, and especially Republicans, who hold negative views of socialism, according to the surveys.

"I don’t support the DSA agenda, as has been articulated by the DSA itself," Jeffries said during an interview this past weekend on NBC News' "Meet the Press."

CHECK OUT THE LATEST FOX NEWS POWER RANKINGS IN THE MIDTERM RACES

Jeffries wasn't the only major Democrat taking aim at the socialist agenda on the Sunday talk shows.

Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear, a potential 2028 Democratic presidential contender, called socialism a "failed experiment" during an appearance on CBS News' "Face the Nation."

Longtime Democratic strategist and pundit James Carville was less diplomatic.

"They're a bunch of silly people... a pack of fools," Carville said as he referred to DSA members, during a Monday appearance on Fox News' "Jesse Watters Primetime."

DEMOCRACY ’26: STAY UP TO DATE WITH THE FOX NEWS ELECTION HUB

The DSA's agenda includes defunding and abolishing police and prison systems, ending Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) deportations and detentions, abolishing borders, granting voting rights to noncitizens and implementing a single-payer "Medicare for All" health system. The DSA's new platform also calls for abolishing the Senate, and replacing the presidency and Supreme Court with leadership chosen by and subordinate to Congress.

Candidates backed by or aligned with the DSA, as well as other left-wing progressives, have won a series of victories over more moderate incumbents and candidates supported by the party establishment in primary showdowns this spring and summer, including high-profile wins this month in crucial Democratic Senate primaries in Michigan, Minnesota and Florida.

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Ahead of those victories, a Fox News national poll conducted last month indicated 52% of Democrats but just 11% of Republicans held positive views of socialism. According to the poll, Democrats had more favorable opinions of socialism that capitalism. A CBS News survey in the field earlier this month had similar findings.

The poll results come in the wake of years of pessimistic views of the nation's economy, as Americans have struggled with persistent inflation for most of this decade.

"Health insurers have acted irresponsibly making access to affordable and quality care beyond challenging for Americans, wages aren’t keeping up with soaring inflation and there is no plan to reconcile any of these issues. Voters are looking for a solution to the affordability crisis," longtime Democratic strategist Joe Caiazzo told Fox News Digital.

Caiazzo, a veteran of progressive champion Sen. Bernie Sanders' 2016 and 2020 presidential campaigns, emphasized that "progressives are winning primaries around the country because the electorate is desperate for leaders that will address the affordability crisis that has swept the country."

Sanders' marathon battle with former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton for the 2016 Democratic presidential nomination has had a lasting impact on the party.

"Since 2016 and the Bernie Sanders campaign, there are lots of Democrats, particularly younger ones, who don't think socialism is scary and wouldn't mind seeing more of it in U.S. policy-making," political scientist Chris Galdieri told Fox News Digital.

SOCIALISTS ACCUSED OF 'MOTOR MOUTH' RHETORIC AS LONGTIME DEM STRATEGIST UNLOADS ON FAR-LEFT CANDIDATE

It's a different story for Republicans.

"For Republicans, 'socialism' has been a boogeyman for almost a hundred years, and it was used as a criticism of everything from the New Deal to Obamacare," Galdieri, a politics professor at Saint Anselm College, said. "Republicans take it as a matter of fact that socialism is a bad thing and polls reflect that."

Polling from Gallup conducted late last year also highlighted that "socialism starts from a much less favorable position in Americans' minds" compared to capitalism or free enterprise.

"Republicans are far more likely than Democrats or independents to say there is nothing good about socialism," a release from Gallup noted. It also pointed out that a majority of Democrats "praise socialism either for providing access to basic services and strengthening the social safety net or for promoting greater economic equality."

New England College President Wayne Lesperance, a veteran political scientist, points to a different reason for the ongoing socialist surge.

"Most Americans do not know what socialism means in theory or in practice," Lesperance argued. "I'd wager that the votes for democratic candidates identifying as socialists has much more to do with being young and new, and not the same as establishment candidates that have dominated elections for years."

"That is the bigger story here — voters participating in democratic primaries want new options, and they will even vote for self-described socialists to force the change they want to see," Lesperance told Fox News Digital.

Regardless of the contributing factors, Republicans see the leftward lurch in the Democratic primaries as ammunition they can use to try and save their congressional majorities in the upcoming midterm elections as they face a rough political climate.

"I'm absolutely convinced we're going to defy the historic trend and keep and grow the House majority for Republicans," House Speaker Mike Johnson said Monday in an exclusive campaign trail interview with Fox News Digital.

Referring to Republicans, Johnson said, "I'm so grateful we have common sense on the ballot. This really is a contrast election between commonsense candidates... and crazy, and that's what the other side represents."

President Donald Trump has repeatedly referred to Democrats as "communists." And this week, referring to socialist politicians, the president charged, "They're driving out the middle class. You're not going to have anybody left to pay any taxes. And if you don't pay taxes, you know what happens. Squalor, squalor, filth."

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But Democrats discount the GOP attacks.

"It’s an attempt by Republicans to try to frame the debate around labels rather than the failed policies of Donald Trump and MAGA Republicans," Caiazzo argued.

Another sex toy was thrown during a WNBA game, and Dream's Angel Reese absolutely lost it

Fri, 21 Aug 2026 09:07:03 -0400

I've got good news and bad news for the WNBA ...

The good news? The trans drama has subsided, at least for now. All has been quiet on that front for a few days. A nice little summer break, I guess.

The bad news? The sex toy drama has returned. That's right. Remember the drama from last summer, when there was a serial sex toy thrower on the loose? Man, those were the days. Simpler days. Simpler times.

Everything is so serious now. We've spent all summer fighting about very serious issues (despite the left swearing it's not), and, while important, it's also been exhausting.

Sometimes, you just need a break from the real stuff, and you need to get back to basics.

And that's what happened last night in Los Angeles (shocker), where a sex toy appeared to make its way to the court in the third quarter of the Dream-Sparks game.

Guess who was QUICK to point out the perpetrator, too? Angel Reese!

What a night:

Old WNBA drama resurfaces

My goodness. Sometimes, you think the perfect video(s) doesn't exist, and then the content Gods throw you a softball right down the middle of the plate. Amazing sequence here.

The green sex toy that we all grew very familiar with last summer returning to the court. Angel Reese's reaction. The video of the alleged man fleeing the scene.

It was all perfect. It certainly brought me back to last summer.

For those who forget — or blocked it from their minds — the WNBA had a serious sex toy problem for about three weeks last year. Purple and green ... sex toys ... were being tossed onto the court at various WNBA games on random nights, and it was all anyone could talk about.

We were all on high alert. All on edge. At one point, betting markets were allowing you to wager on the next color sex toy to hit the floor. It was the Wild Wild West.

There were two (!!!) arrests eventually made by August, and Sophie Cunningham was even hit by one back before she became a household name.

SOPHIE CUNNINGHAM TAKES VICIOUS ELBOW TO FACE, AND FANS FUME AT WHAT REFS DID NEXT

Take a look:

"Stop throwing dildos on the court… you’re going to hurt one of us," Cunningham jokingly posted just days before getting hit by the projectile.

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"This did NOT age well," she added in the aftermath.

See? She was even likable last summer when nobody really knew who she was!

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Doesn't seem like Angel Reese had the same sense of humor last night.

Lindsay Clancy's ex-husband has quietly remarried and started over amid her murder trial

Fri, 21 Aug 2026 00:00:47 -0400

If you or someone you know is having thoughts of suicide, please contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1—800-273-TALK (8255).

When Patrick Clancy took the stand in his ex-wife's murder trial, he had already begun building a new life in New York City, more than four hours away from the Duxbury, Massachusetts, home where Lindsay Clancy killed their kids.

Lindsay Clancy, 36, faces three counts of first-degree murder in the deaths of her children — Cora, Dawson and Callan, all under age 6 — who were found strangled at the family's home in January 2023. The prosecution concluded its case Monday morning, and her defense attorney has since begun presenting arguments, asserting that she was in the grip of postpartum psychosis when she killed her children.

LINDSAY CLANCY PROSECUTORS ‘SQUEEZE’ TIMELINE FROM EX-HUSBAND AS JURY WEIGHS ‘MURDER VERSUS MADNESS’: EXPERT

Patrick Clancy, a business applications sales executive at Microsoft, has since divorced Lindsay, relocated to New York City and wedded Dr. Rachel Danis in a Central Park ceremony in spring 2026. She reportedly moved into Patrick's Upper East Side apartment in 2025.

He moved to New York City in spring 2023, just months after Lindsay Clancy killed their three children, according to public records obtained by the New York Post, and filed for divorce in February 2024.

Kevin Reddington, Lindsay Clancy's defense attorney, said in court that Patrick "suffered one of the worst tragedies that anyone could ever suffer."

"How that guy is not an emotional basket case is beyond me, and he is trying hard to move on with his life. As the court is aware, they’re divorced, he’s remarried, he has a family," Reddington said.

Danis and Patrick Clancy have no children together, though she has spoken publicly about wanting to become a mother.

LINDSAY CLANCY’S EX-HUSBAND DETAILS PILL USE AS EXPERT SAYS EVIDENCE COULD SHAPE MURDER TRIAL

"I remember when I first froze my eggs, I felt like, I mean, even sometimes still, feel like this black sheep," she said on the "Fertility Forward" podcast in September 2024. "I think for women, it’s just really hard. We have so much pressure to balance career and personal growth, but like, we’re riddled with this fertility stuff."

Patrick Clancy was seen with his wife, Rachel Danis, on Aug. 13 at an apartment in Manhattan, a source told TMZ.

A shared passion for hiking and fitness brought the couple together, Men's Journal reported.

Patrick Clancy, along with family members, founded the Heard Foundation, which seeks to "change how parents are cared for — so no parent faces perinatal mental illness in silence and no family is left behind."

According to the foundation's website, it was "founded in memory of Cora, Dawson, and Callan Clancy."

Just days after Lindsay Clancy killed her kids in January 2023, Patrick wrote on a GoFundMe page, "I want to ask all of you that you find it deep within yourselves to forgive Lindsay, as I have...The real Lindsay was generously loving and caring towards everyone - me, our kids, family, friends, and her patients."

"The very fibers of her soul are loving. All I wish for her now is that she can somehow find peace," he wrote.

Patrick Clancy remained composed while testifying in his ex-wife's murder trial, though he struggled to hold back tears as he spoke about his children.

LINDSAY CLANCY JURORS VISIT CRIME SCENE IN KAREN READ-STYLE MOVE TO TEST TIMELINE: RETIRED JUDGE

"Cora was into princesses, and she had a lot of friends," Patrick Clancy said. "She just liked taking care of people."

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He said that Callan, the youngest child, "was just a happy baby."

LINDSAY CLANCY JUDGE SHIELDS 911 CALL, AUTOPSY PHOTOS IN MOM’S TRIPLE-MURDER TRIAL

Patrick Clancy said Dawson "liked the television show ‘Paw Patrol’" and was into firefighters and trucks.

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Donna Rotunno, a criminal defense attorney, noted in an interview with Fox News Digital that Patrick Clancy's own mother, Susan Clancy, was a witness for the defense.

PROSECUTOR CORNERS LINDSAY CLANCY'S CATHOLIC MOTHER-IN-LAW WITH 'MORTAL SIN' QUESTION

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"She is extremely sympathetic to what Lindsay was going through. And if you thought that, you know, anybody would wanna be upset about the loss of their grandchildren, it would be her, correct? She's the father's mother, and she's there supporting Lindsay so much so that she nodded to her as she walked out of the courtroom in this unbelievable, I think, show of humanity," Rotunno said.

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Sheila Cavanaugh, a board-certified chaplain at Brigham and Women's Hospital, testified Thursday that during her visit with Lindsay Clancy on Jan. 31, 2023 — just days after she killed her children — the woman accused of murder told her, "I am so glad my children are safe."

LINDSAY CLANCY DESCRIBED A MALE VOICE ORDERING HER TO ‘KILL HER CHILDREN AND KILL HERSELF’: TESTIMONY

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Cavanaugh said she responded that the children were safe in heaven with God, and the two prayed together.

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Judge William Sullivan ended court early on Thursday after one witness testified, sending jurors home until Friday.

As a US attorney, I see fentanyl's horrifying toll up close. Congress must act now

Fri, 21 Aug 2026 09:00:51 -0400

As U.S. Attorney, I have a lot of heavy days. There is no joy in sending people to prison, no matter how much they deserve it. But the greatest weight comes from meeting families who have lost someone they love. More often than not, the killer is not a person. It’s fentanyl.

Fentanyl is a ruthless killer, targeting the very young. It is now the leading cause of death for Americans between the ages of 18 and 45. Think about that: if you have reached age 18, but are not yet 45, you are more likely to die of fentanyl than anything else. Every day, fentanyl claims the lives of more than 100 Americans with only a tiny amount — a lethal dose fits on the tip of a sharpened pencil.

In my office, fentanyl has become a daily reality in all types of cases. Other drugs are laced with fentanyl — making it more potent and addictive, driving more business to drug dealers — and counterfeit pills marketed as prescriptions for sleep or focus are nothing more than fentanyl in disguise. Fentanyl has been found in fake candy and baby bottles. I even met a mother who lost her daughter after taking a sip from a water bottle that had been contaminated with fentanyl. It is an epidemic.

TRUMP 'DRUG CZAR' WARNS OF DEADLY 'RHINO TRANQUILIZER' KILLING AMERICANS AS CARTEL CRACKDOWN ESCALATES

President Trump has recognized the problem and taken extensive executive action — five executive orders in addition to other proclamations and determinations. Those efforts, along with stronger border security, have produced measurable results. Less fentanyl is making it to the streets and drug dealers are using less of it in their products, resulting in lives saved. The number of fentanyl pills containing a lethal dose has dropped dramatically, from 76% in 2023 to just 29% now. The same is true in powder form, where purity dropped from 19.5% to 10.3%.

But to truly dismantle drug trafficking organizations, prosecutors must have the tools to remove the most dangerous dealers from the streets and deter others from entering the trade. The best way to do that is lengthier mandatory minimum sentences.

Currently, there is no federal mandatory minimum sentence for trafficking up to 40 grams of fentanyl — enough to kill 20,000 people. After that, the minimums are low — just five years. The minimum only rises to 10 years for 400 grams, which could kill 200,000 people.

Despite the death rate associated with fentanyl, those minimum sentences pale in comparison to other drugs. Federal prosecutors often prioritize methamphetamine charges because the mandatory minimum for selling just 50 grams is 10 years. It would take eight times as much fentanyl to trigger the same mandatory sentence, but fentanyl kills twice as many people.

We know that higher mandatory minimums produce results because states have already conducted the experiment. In my state of North Carolina, mandatory minimums begin at just 4 grams. Traffic 28 grams of fentanyl, and you face a mandatory 19 years in prison. Alabama has gone even further: trafficking just 4 grams there carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 25 years, while anything over 8 grams requires life imprisonment. In other words, what requires a life sentence in Alabama carries no minimum in the federal system; five times that would require just a 10-year federal sentence.

States with strict minimum sentences have shown results. In both Alabama and North Carolina, drug overdose deaths are down 25% over the last year.

FEDS SEIZE MOUNTAIN OF FENTANYL FROM 'OPEN-AIR DRUG MARKET' IN MASSIVE CRACKDOWN TARGETING GANG CREWS

West Virginia has taken a different approach. Although its mandatory minimum sentences are less severe than those in North Carolina or Alabama, they apply at even smaller quantities — less than one gram, the lowest threshold in the nation. There, fentanyl deaths fell by nearly 20% in a year.

In early 2025, Senator Kennedy and five colleagues introduced a bill to lower the fentanyl thresholds for federal mandatory minimums, but the bill has not gained meaningful traction.

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Meanwhile, more than 38,000 Americans died from fentanyl in 2025. Their graves would stretch across nearly 30 football fields. Imagine standing at one goal line and looking across row after row of headstones until they disappeared into the distance. It is difficult to comprehend how anyone can look at that devastation and conclude there are more pressing priorities.

American tourist stranded after volcano eruption sparks mass flight cancellations

Fri, 21 Aug 2026 09:00:13 -0400

FIRST ON FOX: An American traveler's vacation in Sicily turned into a travel nightmare after volcanic activity from Mount Etna disrupted flights and left her scrambling to find another route back to New York.

Julie Sagoskin, editor-in-chief of Park Magazine in New York City, told Fox News Digital that she arrived in Sicily through Catania International Airport on Aug. 1 and spent more than a week traveling around the Italian island.

The trouble began when it was time to return home Aug. 10. Sagoskin said her flight from Catania was canceled amid ongoing volcanic activity.

CARIBBEAN HOT SPOT GRIPPED BY WATER CRISIS, AND TOURISTS SCRAMBLE TO RESCHEDULE PLANS

"Right when we arrived at the airport, we did get a notice that our flight was canceled," Sagoskin said.

She said another traveler in her group who had reached the airport earlier described the scene as "total chaos."

Sagoskin's group knew volcanic activity was affecting travel. Friends who had planned to fly out two days earlier had their flight canceled and returned to stay with the group, she said.

Sagoskin hoped conditions would improve by her scheduled departure.

VACATION NIGHTMARE UNFOLDS AS FERRY PASSENGERS BATTLE SEASICKNESS AT ISLAND HOT SPOT

Instead, she found herself weighing whether to wait for flights to resume or find another way off the island.

"You're in a foreign country, first of all," Sagoskin said. "It's obviously a big ... natural disaster. So there's nothing anybody can do about this."

The cancellation came amid widespread disruption at Catania's airport. Between Aug. 6 and Aug. 12, more than a third of the 1,974 scheduled flights were canceled, Reuters reported.

The disruption affected thousands of travelers during the busy summer season, with some passengers spending days waiting for a way out, according to Reuters.

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Sagoskin and others gathered at a hotel near the airport. Some discussed waiting another couple of days, while others began looking for flights from different cities.

Sagoskin decided to head to Rome hoping there would be more flights there.

She quickly booked a ticket for an approximately 11-hour overnight train ride from Catania to Rome as seats began filling up.

The journey brought another unexpected twist when the train was transported across the water by ferry.

"The trip really turned into a trip upon a trip," Sagoskin said.

The journey was made more challenging by stretches without air conditioning, she said.

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After days of uncertainty, Sagoskin said seeing that her flight from Rome wasn't delayed brought a sense of relief.

She finally flew home from Rome on Aug. 11, one day after her original return date.

Other members of her group took different approaches. Some traveled through Palermo, while others dealt with additional flight cancellations, overnight stays and lost luggage, Sagoskin said.

"I think you have to come up with one plan and stick to it," Sagoskin said, noting that it would be easy to second-guess her decisions afterward.

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Mount Etna's activity was visible during the ordeal, Sagoskin said. She recalled seeing the volcano while traveling toward the airport.

She saw ash around the hotel near the airport, including near the pool area, where guests were temporarily told to leave.

Despite the difficult journey, Sagoskin said the ordeal did not overshadow her positive experience in Sicily.

"It was memorable," she said. "We will remember this for a lifetime."

She said the experience reinforced the importance of staying flexible.

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"We got out safely," Sagoskin said.

"Things can happen in life at any time. You just have to ... make decisions, be prepared and move on."

Hayden Panettiere's final PETA campaign captured weeks before her death marked lifetime of advocacy work

Fri, 21 Aug 2026 09:00:11 -0400

Hayden Panettiere was remembered as more than just an actress in her final campaign with PETA, a project that was captured in Los Angeles weeks before her sudden death at 36.

In an image shared earlier this week, Panettiere posed from a bathtub to protest marine parks like SeaWorld, "who sentence dolphins to a lifetime of suffering and loneliness in captivity," the organization said.

Panettiere's quest for marine life conservation was a life-long pursuit, beginning when she was just a teenager advocating for animals with the Whaleman Foundation.

HAYDEN PANETTIERE'S MOTHER POINTS FINGER AT BRIAN HICKERSON AFTER 'NASHVILLE' STAR'S DEATH AT 36

Her advocacy work involved protesting, lobbying and fundraising for animal welfare efforts. Most recently, the "Heroes" actress begged for an end to marine life captivity.

"Can you imagine their frustration, their trauma, their depression? All that is important and crucial for their well-being is ripped away. … We can end this. You and me," Panettiere pleaded in her last PETA campaign.

"In their ocean homes they can be with their families, dive deep to escape the hot sun and enjoy the rain on their backs… all of that is taken from them when they are confined to small tanks."

The "Remember the Titans" star became a prominent spokesperson at a young age for the Whaleman Foundation and the Save the Whales Again! campaign.

HAYDEN PANETTIERE DEAD AT 36

In 2007, Panettiere, along with actress Isabel Lucas and a number of activists, traveled to Taiji, Japan, to protest the slaughter of dolphins by Japanese fishermen.

Panettiere donned a wetsuit and entered the water on a surfboard to help form a memorial circle for dolphins that had already been killed that morning.

The peaceful demonstration turned violent when the fishermen attacked the floating protesters with poles and spinning propellers, the foundation reported.

Footage from the protest appeared in "The Cove," a documentary about the Taiji dolphin hunts, which later won the 2009 Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature.

She later returned to Japan with Whaleman Foundation founder Jeff Pantukhoff and attempted to meet with local leaders to discuss alternatives to dolphin hunting, but was prevented from entering town hall.

HAYDEN PANETTIERE AND THE CHILD STARS WHOSE RELATIONSHIPS WITH THEIR MOMAGERS TURNED COMPLICATED

"I wasn’t sure what to expect on my trip back to Japan," Panettiere said after returning. "I think a lot of people assume that I hate Japan, or would want to boycott Japanese products because of my issues with their dolphin hunting policies. But really, nothing could be further from the truth.

"It’s a beautiful place — the people there have such an intense appreciation for nature. I absolutely love it. I think the media likes to paint a picture of West vs. East — Us vs. Them. But I think we all have more in common than that."

She added, "I wanted to take this trip to reach out to people in Japan that feel the same way. You see, the majority of people living there don’t know about the dolphin hunts, and would never condone them if they did. And for the few who do eat dolphin meat, there is a serious human health concern. Dolphin meat is highly toxic and isn’t safe for people to eat."

Panettiere was able to meet with officials and political leaders in the area, and despite tense times, she had "never been more hopeful" for the future.

"The word is getting out in Japan, and I have faith that the people there will ultimately be the ones to shut down the cove for good," Panettiere said at the time.

HAYDEN PANETTIERE: A LIFE IN PICTURES

Her advocacy work helped land her a spot on the Time's celebrity "do-gooders" list, and in 2008, Panettiere earned The Humane Society's Wyler Award for her efforts against the slaughter of dolphins in Japan. Past recipients of the award include Paul McCartney, Ellen DeGeneres, Portia de Rossi, Ian Somerhalder and Kesha.

That same year, Panettiere stood alongside Senator John Kerry for a joint press conference on Capitol Hill to urge the government for strong leadership in opposing commercial whaling and protecting marine life.

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"Dolphins and whales are some of the most contaminated animals on the planet and, like canaries in a coal mine, they are telling us that something is seriously wrong with our oceans," Panettiere said.

"We are poisoning the oceans' food chain and ultimately poisoning ourselves and I think that it is vitally important to get this truth out to the younger generations who, after all, will be the ones to face up to the problems that are occurring today."

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The "Nashville" actress died Sunday in Greenville, South Carolina. Brian Hickerson and his brother, Zach Hickerson, were with Panettiere at the time of her death, according to a police report.

Hickerson was among those at the Greenville apartment when Panettiere was found, and authorities executed a search warrant at the residence, according to the report. Police also conducted a welfare check Wednesday at a South Carolina home linked to the Hickerson brothers, but no one answered the door.

Preliminary autopsy results found no signs of trauma that contributed to her death, Fox News Digital confirmed.

"First responders and Emergency Medical Services arrived on scene and located a female in cardiac arrest," the Greenville County Coroner’s Office said in a statement. "EMS personnel initiated advanced cardiac life support measures; however, resuscitation efforts were unsuccessful, and the individual was pronounced deceased at 2:32 PM."

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The Greenville County Coroner’s Office and Greenville City Police Department launched parallel investigations into her death.

"At autopsy no signs of trauma were discovered that would have contributed to the death," the coroner's statement continued. "The cause and manner of death remain pending further investigation and the completion of additional studies.

"This investigation remains active and ongoing. No further details are available for release at this time."

On Wednesday, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) was contacted and is assisting in the investigation.

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Panettiere is survived by her daughter Kaya, who was born in 2014, with her ex-fiancé, Ukrainian boxer Wladimir Klitschko.

AEW star Willow Nightingale shares how she's able to keep her joyful personality going

Fri, 21 Aug 2026 08:49:41 -0400

When Willow Nightingale is coming out to the ring, you know it.

The fun music hits, the fans in the crowd go crazy and Nightingale comes down the aisle with complete joy and a big smile. And there’s plenty for her to be happy about right now.

Nightingale defeated Thekla at Redemption to become the All Elite Wrestling (AEW) women’s world champion and she’s set to be in one of the marquee matches at the company’s biggest show of the year, All In, when she squares off against Mercedes Moné in a title defense (as long as she doesn’t lose to Maya World on "Collision" this Saturday).

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But how does Nightingale keep that joy when it feels like the world is falling apart? She explained to OutKick in a recent interview that it’s not always easy to keep smiling but her upbringing and knowing what her mother went through helps her stay resilient.

"I mean the truth is — it's not always like that. I am a person," Nightingale said. "Human beings experience human emotion and I'm no exception. I think the difference is I was really fortunate in growing up in a household that had a lot of love and support. I saw my parents struggle with a lot. My mom moved to this country when she was 24 years old with no other family. She had two kids already. She was pretty alone when she came here, but she did it for better opportunity.

"And even when I saw my parents struggle financially or through whatever, my mom was like, ‘We always have each other. No matter what happens in this world, you guys are going to be there for each other. There's always something to look forward to. There's always something ahead, even if things are tough right now.’ And so, for me, that is how I always think about it."

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Sometimes, it’s the little things that help Nightingale remind herself that nothing is too big to overcome.

She recalled a moment on a roller coaster at Disney World where the universe seemed to be telling her all is well.

"It's like when I'm in a really, really good moment — this is going to sound funny or maybe not as heavy as everything else I'm saying — but I was just on the ‘Guardians of the Galaxy’ ride at Disney this past weekend and I got ‘Everybody Wants to Rule the World,’ and it was my second time getting that song like I got a few years ago," she said. "But that experience is something that moves me and makes me feel just like I'm left in awe. So being on that ride for those few moments, I remember thinking to myself, ‘Hold on to this feeling because in a week's time, you're probably going to be kicking your own butt and you're going to be feeling terrible. But you have to remember that there's little moments like this.

"Something as silly as being on a roller coaster to one of your favorite songs. It's going to be so beautiful and you will experience something like this again. Hold on to this. Enjoy it now.’ And I try to do that when I wrestle because this is what I love. This is what I've dedicated my adult life to. And I get to see how I impact people and other people impact me. And that is the thing that brings the smile of ‘nothing matters, smile anyway’ smile of Willow Nightingale."

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As of now, Nightingale will defend the AEW Women’s World Championship against Moné on Aug. 30 at All In. The show is set to take place at Wembley Stadium in London.