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Government watchdog targets 'weapons of mass reproduction' after Supreme Court ruling

Wed, 01 Jul 2026 15:09:28 -0400

A top government watchdog group released a multipoint plan to protect the homeland and the integrity of U.S. citizenship after the Supreme Court's 6-3 ruling affirming birthright citizenship as enshrined in federal law.

Conservatives across the country criticized Chief Justice John Roberts, Associate Justices Amy Coney Barrett and Brett Kavanaugh, along with the court’s three liberal justices, arguing that the ruling opens the door to citizenship for children born to foreign nationals illegally present in the U.S. and dilutes American citizenship.

The Oversight Project shared its "Keeping Families Together Plan" with Fox News Digital, arguing the ruling did not grant legal status to the parents of so-called anchor babies, a premise central to its proposal.

"Now that the illegal alien community has achieved weapons of mass reproduction… you need to turn off that multiplying effect. And if the goal of mass deportation is quantitative, which of course it is, you need go [to] places where legal immigration spreads the most or is concentrated the most," said Mike Howell, an attorney and president of the Oversight Project.

SUPREME COURT’S LATEST IMMIGRATION RULING WILL CAU.S.E AMERICANS TO 'DIE AND SUFFER' ATTORNEY WARNS

"That's why I've advocated so long for worksite enforcement," he said, noting farms and factories need enforcement rather than "playing onesies and twosies" in sanctuary cities.

An increase in deportations, particularly of the parents of potential anchor babies, is key now that unfettered naturalization is a real possibility, he added.

BIDEN JUDGE OVERRULED ON KEY TRUMP IMMIGRATION POLICY

"Go to ‘red’ places and deport."

By deporting parents of so-called "anchor babies," in most cases the child would be deported with the parent — and if not, that parent would have the "moral onus" of abandoning the child, Howell said.

"If you are truly committed to the idea that birthright citizenship is absurd in its application, then it should be preventative," he added, saying part of the plan to keep foreign families together would entail throwing roadblocks up to pregnant foreigners having children in the U.S.

Positioning ICE at certain hospitals would help prevent that, he said.

Turning to combating "birth tourism" — in which organizations help foreign nationals travel to the U.S. for the purpose of giving birth to U.S.-citizen children — Howell said China is the biggest source of the practice and other economic threats.

Asked how to thread the needle with the U.S.’ economic reliance on Beijing, Howell said Tuesday’s ruling shows it is time to play "hardball."

He criticized President Donald Trump’s blessing of thousands of Chinese students continuing to study in America, which, in Howell’s words, would "prop up our failing university system."

"The elite regions of [China's] upper class love access to the U.S. financial system and coming here and taking advantage of it. And so if you're negotiating and it's the art of the deal… take away the thing they want."

Howell claimed one Chinese billionaire has been "shipping his sperm" to California to inseminate women, resulting in children being born with U.S. citizenship.

"What kind of serious country allows [that]," he said. Reports from outlets including Fortune have described wealthy Chinese businessmen engaging in repeated surrogacy arrangements involving American women.

Howell said that despite talk of President Donald Trump’s "mass deportation" agenda, the numbers don’t match the boasts so far.

"The fact remains there isn't a mass deportation campaign underway. And that's why we've been pushing this Mass Deportation Coalition, which has so many members across the country and a policy framework for them to do it," he said, acknowledging that Trump has had "special interests" buffeting his attempts because they don’t want their workforces deported, and setbacks like the public outcry over agent-involved shootings in Minneapolis that led to "cold feet."

Asked about the Oversight Project's plan and Howell's comments, the White House said Trump remains "totally committed" to protecting the "value of natural-born citizenship."

"[That] is why, following yesterday’s ruling, he directed Congress to take immediate action to address this. Simultaneously, the administration will double down on our efforts to keep the border secure and deport illegal aliens."

Spokesperson Abigail Jackson added that the DOJ will prioritize birth-tourism schemes, some of which Howell laid out.

Howell’s plan also includes a veiled shot at Roberts — who, despite being a Republican’s appointee, is often the swing vote in favor of the court’s liberal minority as he was Tuesday.

The George W. Bush appointee famously roiled Republicans after deeming ObamaCare constitutional by defining its no-insurance penalty as a "tax," while writing in the same 2012 ruling that Congress could not force Americans to buy insurance.

"The question is not whether that is the most natural interpretation of the mandate, but only whether it is a ‘fairly possible’ one," Roberts wrote in NFIB v. Sebelius.

Howell said lawmakers could therefore create a mechanism through congressional reconciliation to punish birth-tourists — but define the penalty as a "tax."

"Much like the ObamaCare plan being upheld as a tax by the Supreme Court, this would survive constitutional scrutiny," the Oversight Project’s plan read.

The plan also goes farther, calling on DHS to suspend all visas for countries like China that engage in birth tourism.

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The key, Howell said, is to start ignoring the noise from the left and from critics and power through the end of the congressional term with attainable goals in mind no matter how controversial critics say they are.

"We took a hit today, a big hit, but the damage can be mitigated and the overall problem can be solved with a lot political backbone and using the money from the Big Beautiful Bill quickly and without fear of what the left-wing media might say about it," he said.

"Reconciliation is a beautiful vehicle to achieve those kind of cost-cutting measures. ObamaCare was a tax. The rule is a tax, so why can't we use a tax here? I'm sure the legal pundits will have much to say about that one," Howell remarked.

"But by any hook, nook, or cranny, we need to fight this policy," he went on, adding the mainstream media and some moderates will be lambasting the social repercussions of the plan.

"If the administration's going to take to the airwaves and say this is like a disgraceful ruling that undermines our sovereignty, then they need to act."

"The suburban moms will be angry. They will say all that kind of stuff. But I want them to follow through because there's 77 million Americans who sent Trump back to the White House after everything we went through."

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In the interim, Rep. Andy Ogles IV, R-Tenn., and Sens. Eric Schmitt, R-Mo., and Rand Paul, R-Ky., have unveiled constitutional amendment proposals to overturn the court's ruling, though observers say the efforts appear politically untenable at present.

When asked about characterizations of DHS' efforts, an agency spokesperson told Fox News Digital, "we disagree with the ruling. Congress must get to work to end birthright citizenship immediately."

"In President Trump’s first year back in office, more than 3 million illegal aliens have left the U.S. because of the Trump administration’s crackdown on illegal immigration including an estimated 2.2 million self-deportations. As of June 24, we have now deported over 948,000 illegal aliens and arrested over 981,000 illegal aliens," the spokesperson said, adding that since the first day of Trump's administration, DHS has been delivering on the promise to "Make America Safe Again" and more than 3 million have been deported.

"Our message is clear: if you come to our country illegally, we will find you, we will arrest you, and we will deport you."

Court keeps ‘Decoy Dan’ on Alaska ballot as expert warns ranked-choice system creates voter ‘traps’

Wed, 01 Jul 2026 15:01:54 -0400

Alaska’s highest court ruled that a same-name Republican challenger to Sen. Dan Sullivan can remain on the ballot, a decision an election expert says exposes glaring flaws in Alaska’s ranked-choice voting system and top-four primary.

The Alaska Supreme Court ruled Monday that Dan J. Sullivan, a retired teacher, is eligible to appear on the Republican primary ballot alongside incumbent Sen. Dan Sullivan, affirming a lower court's decision keeping him on the ballot despite Republicans and the Division of Elections arguing that Dan J. Sullivan’s candidacy is a "sham" attempt orchestrated by Democratic operatives to potentially trip up voters and siphon off votes from the incumbent.

"It very clearly is an attempt to mislead voters," Jason Snead, executive director of the Honest Elections Project, told Fox News Digital. "When you look at the facts, they've been pretty clearly established."

Snead pointed to Alaska’s ranked choice voting (RCV) and jungle primary as especially vulnerable to any nefarious tactics with same-name candidates because, unlike a traditional partisan primary, Alaska advances the top four finishers from a single primary election to the general election, regardless of party.

DAN SULLIVAN ACCUSES SAME-NAME CHALLENGER OF TRYING TO 'RIG' ALASKA SENATE RACE

Snead argued that under a conventional Republican primary, a candidate he described as a "decoy" would be unlikely to eliminate a legitimate contender before the general election.

Instead, he said, voters face a crowded top-four primary ballot in this year's Alaska Senate race, roughly 16 candidates are running, and confusion over nearly identical names could have significant consequences.

GOP FIGHTS TO STOP MULTIPLE DAN SULLIVANS FROM APPEARING ON ALASKA BALLOT, CALLS CANDIDACY A 'SHAM'

"You've really got two problems in one," Snead said. "You don't have any party primary. There's no Republican nominee or Democratic nominee. You have this jungle primary where everybody runs together, and the top four candidates advance to the general election."

Snead argued that under a traditional partisan primary, a candidate he described as a decoy would have little chance of preventing a legitimate Republican nominee from advancing to the general election. Instead, he said, Alaska's crowded all-party primary creates more opportunities for voter confusion.

"If enough of them pick the wrong Dan Sullivan, then he makes it into the general," Snead said. "Now you've got two people named Dan Sullivan on the ballot."

Snead said the ranked-choice system can compound the problem because ballots are redistributed as candidates are eliminated.

"If you only rank one person, then your ballot is eliminated if that person is eliminated," he said.

ALASKA'S BLOCKBUSTER SENATE RACE THROWN INTO CHAOS AS SAME-NAME CHALLENGER FIGHTS DISQUALIFICATION IN COURT

He said another possibility is that voters could mistakenly rank the wrong Dan Sullivan first and Democrat Mary Peltola second, causing those votes to transfer to Peltola if the decoy candidate is eliminated during tabulation.

"There are lots of different traps here," Snead said. "At a minimum, I think this speaks to the fact that ranked-choice voting plus jungle primaries is especially vulnerable to these sorts of games."

"It is definitely not an idea that is ready for prime time, no matter what the people that push ranked choice are trying to sell us on."

The Alaska Supreme Court did stipulate that election officials could add additional identifying information to the ballot to distinguish between the two candidates, leaving those design decisions to the Division of Elections.

Dan J. Sullivan, known to his critics as "Decoy Dan," has come under scrutiny over ties to Democratic consultant Amber Lee, who was revealed as the author of his campaign launch announcement in metadata reviewed by Fox News Digital. Lee has notably supported Peltola’s prior runs for office and expressed optimism to The Hill in January that the Alaska Democrat would unseat the incumbent Sullivan.

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According to Alaska Director of Elections Carol Beecher, Dan J. Sullivan requested to appear on the primary ballot under the name "Dan Sullivan" despite previously registering as "Daniel J. Sullivan, Jr." Beecher also noted that his campaign materials are visually similar to the incumbent Republican's campaign and that he had no affiliation with the GOP prior to jumping into the race shortly before the filing deadline.

The fate of his candidacy could prove decisive in the state’s hotly contested Senate race in which Sen. Dan S. Sullivan is seeking a third term in the Republican-leaning state. Democrats are hoping that former Rep. Mary Peltola, D-Alaska, whom Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., helped recruit into the race, will unseat Sullivan in November.

In a statement to Fox News Digital, Dan J. Sullivan's campaign said, "Mr. Sullivan has been buoyed by yesterday’s decisive victory at the Alaska Supreme Court. To the extent that the Division of Elections is still grappling with how it will properly effectuate ballot design in a manner consistent with Alaska law and past practice, he has no comment, and looks forward to running his campaign."

Fox News Digital’s Adam Pack contributed to this report.

Rock star Sly Stone's 20,000-guest MSG wedding set the precedent for Taylor Swift, Travis Kelce nuptials

Wed, 01 Jul 2026 15:00:29 -0400

Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce's wedding may potentially mirror nuptials by another world-famous rock star.

The "Lover" singer and her professional football player fiancé are reportedly hosting 1,000 of their closest friends and family at Madison Square Garden on July 3 for a multi-day extravaganza.

Nearly 50 years ago, Sly Stone made his own vision come to life at MSG and transformed the venue for his star-studded wedding, which included 20,000 guests and a live concert with The Family Stone.

In June 1974, Sly and his bride, Kathy Silva, said "I do" at the legendary venue before his own concert on the same evening.

TAYLOR SWIFT, TRAVIS KELCE NUPTIALS CALLED A 'ROYAL WEDDING' BY NFL PALS DROPPING MAJOR TIMING HINTS

Stone recalled the idea behind planning the big day at the arena in his memoir, "Thank you (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin)."

"I could do a gig, get paid, and get married at the same time," he wrote.

"We set the date for June 5, a Wednesday. We’d have a ceremony just before the concert, right there on the stage. Then a concert, then a party afterward at the rooftop lounge of the Waldorf Astoria."

Fashion designer Halston agreed to dress the bride, groom, and members of the wedding part in glittering gold ensembles to the tune of $10,000, according to the New Yorker.

TAYLOR SWIFT, TRAVIS KELCE WEDDING BUZZ GROWS AS STEVIE NICKS AND TIM MCGRAW ARE TAPPED TO PERFORM: REPORT

Following the on-stage nuptials, Sly and Katie hosted guests at the Starlight Roof of the Waldorf-Astoria with guests including Diane von Furstenberg, Andy Warhol and Judy Garland's daughter Lorna Luft.

"We had twenty thousand guests at least, with some of the estimates as high as twenty-five," Stone wrote. "Years later I saw a picture of a ticket someone kept: $8.50 for a wedding and a concert both. A bargain."

Nestled in the heart of midtown Manhattan above Penn Station, "The World's Most Famous Arena" hosts millions of visitors each year through sports, concerts and special events.

With a capacity for upwards of 20,000 people, the home of the New York Knicks has hosted a number of significant cultural events through the years.

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In 1971, MSG set the scene for arguably the most famous sporting event, the Fight of the Century between Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier.

Both heavyweights walked in undefeated to a packed arena including Frank Sinatra, Woody Allen, Burt Lancaster, and Diana Ross in the stands. Frazier won by unanimous decision after knocking down Ali in Round 15.

In 1985, WrestleMania launched its first annual event and established itself as a global entertainment brand.

Marilyn Monroe famously sang "Happy Birthday, Mr. President" to John F. Kennedy at MSG in 1962, while John Lennon's final live performance was at the legendary venue in 1974.

Elvis Presley's only New York shows were over a four-concert series at MSG in 1972, which reportedly drew in 80,000 guests.

Billy Joel holds the record for most performances at the garden with a decade-long residency which wrapped in 2024. The "Uptown Girl" singer has more than 150 performances under his belt at MSG with approximately two million tickets sold.

TAYLOR SWIFT, TRAVIS KELCE WEDDING BETTING FRENZY REVEALS ONE OVERWHELMING PREDICTION

New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani seemingly confirmed the nuptials during a press conference Tuesday as he addressed the sweltering weather conditions heading into the holiday weekend.

"My recommendation to all New Yorkers is to stay inside and stay cool," Mamdani said. "And if you happen to be getting married at Madison Square Garden, you will be staying inside and you will be staying cool."

The couple's potential July 3 wedding would come weeks after Forbes announced the global pop star had surpassed a net worth of $2 billion after becoming a billionaire in 2023. Swift's fortune included roughly $800 million earned directly from her music and touring along with a $600 million music catalog, according to the outlet.

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The Swift-Kelce wedding festivities will reportedly kick off with an intimate gathering of about 100 people before a much larger celebration for roughly 1,000 guests on July 3.

The New York Times reported that a permit was filed to close streets around Madison Square Garden from July 2 through July 4, alongside additional arrangements suggesting a multi-day private event.

Music legends Stevie Nicks and Tim McGraw are set to perform at what insiders are calling a "Wedding-palooza" reportedly planned at Madison Square Garden, according to Page Six.

"There's going to be multiple performances" at the reported Friday MSG event, sources said. Some even floated the possibility of a surprise appearance by Paul McCartney, who previously shared the stage with Swift during the "Saturday Night Live" 40th anniversary celebration in 2015.

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Two NYPD officers patrolling Madison Square Garden on June 24 confirmed to Variety that they had been warned about a possible influx of Swift fans and paparazzi during the alleged wedding weekend.

Neither Swift nor Kelce has publicly commented on the latest wedding rumors, but that hasn't stopped fans from scrutinizing every potential clue.

Fox News Digital's Lauryn Overhultz contributed to this report.

FBI official pushes back on claims that Nancy Guthrie kidnapping ransom demands are fake: report

Wed, 01 Jul 2026 14:53:34 -0400

Apparent ransom demands and other notes sent in the wake of the unsolved abduction of 84-year-old Nancy Guthrie may still be real, according to a new report, despite recent claims to the contrary.

As Fox News Digital reported previously, sources close to the investigation appear split regarding the notes' potential authenticity — or lack thereof.

Now, an unnamed official is telling ransom demand recipient TMZ that some investigators view the demands as potentially "more legitimate than not."

EMAILER IN NANCY GUTHRIE CASE CLAIMS TO POSSESS VIDEO OF 'MAIN GUY' WITH SAVANNAH GUTHRIE'S MOTHER

"It is more likely than not that the two ransom notes are real," TMZ's executive producer Harvey Levin said Wednesday, citing an unnamed FBI official with knowledge of the case. "Further in that conversation, this person said, 'They are more legitimate than not.' That's a quote."

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He made the remarks in a video in response to a new report suggesting that the FBI deemed all of the ransom demands in the Guthrie investigation inauthentic.

Some investigators said they were confident that the ransom demands are all bogus, while others are cautious about reaching that conclusion while Guthrie's whereabouts remain unknown, federal law enforcement sources told Fox News and Fox News Digital last week.

NANCY GUTHRIE RANSOM NOTES DON'T MATCH SUSPECT'S BEHAVIOR, PROFILER SAYS: 'I DON'T BELIEVE THEY'RE REAL'

"They definitely have not determined it is, for sure, fake," Levin said.

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Authorities have not publicly confirmed the legitimacy of the first two notes that have been deemed possibly authentic — or a series of separate emails believed to be unrelated claiming to have knowledge about what happened to Guthrie.

"It is less likely that those letters are real, but they have not discounted that either," Levin added.

SAVANNAH GUTHRIE PLEADS FOR TIPS AS RANSOM NOTE CLAIMS MOM IS DEAD: 'SOMEBODY KNOWS SOMETHING'

Guthrie's daughter, "Today" co-host Savannah Guthrie, has said she believes at least two of the notes could be real. She and her siblings responded to those on videos posted to her Instagram back in February.

Meanwhile, state and local authorities have both declined to discuss the latest developments regarding the ransom demands publicly.

When asked about the new reporting at a news briefing Wednesday, FBI Director Kash Patel declined to comment.

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"I'm not going to comment on that," he told reporters during a Justice Department news briefing. "We are continuing to assist that investigation. We've always been in an assist role. It's a state matter being led by the state authorities."

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Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos, whose agency is leading the investigation into Guthrie's suspected abduction, told Fox News Digital last week that it was the FBI at the forefront of the probe into whoever sent the ransom demands.

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"All ransom notes are being handled by the FBI," he said. "We’ve been pretty consistent with that. So I would have to defer you to them."

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The family is asking anyone with information on Guthrie's case to dial 1-800-CALL-FBI. Tips can be provided anonymously to Tucson's Crime Stoppers affiliate, 88-Crime, at 1-520-882-7463.

DOJ says 11 migrants indicted in multi-state sex trafficking, drug, firearms case

Tue, 30 Jun 2026 22:26:40 -0400

Federal prosecutors have charged 11 Venezuelan and Colombian nationals — 10 of whom the Department of Justice (DOJ) says are currently unlawfully present in the United States — in a sweeping, multi-state criminal case alleging the defendants trafficked a minor and an adult woman for sex while also dealing drugs and illegally trafficking firearms, the DOJ announced Tuesday.

Ten of the defendants were arrested Tuesday during coordinated law enforcement operations in Ohio, Tennessee, North Carolina and Florida, while one remains at large. Prosecutors said 10 of the 11 defendants are currently in the U.S. illegally.

A 30-count federal indictment, returned June 11 and unsealed Tuesday, alleges four defendants conspired between July and August 2025 to sex traffic a minor and an adult woman.

The DOJ told Fox News Digital on Wednesday the indictment names the younger victim as someone between the ages of 14 and 18.

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

According to the DOJ, the defendants traveled across state lines to promote prostitution and created online commercial sex advertisements in the central Ohio area.

Beyond the alleged sex trafficking scheme, prosecutors say members of the group also sold ecstasy and trafficked firearms, including at least nine guns. Some defendants are additionally accused of illegally possessing firearms while in the country.

"These defendants — 10 of whom are currently illegally present in this country — allegedly engaged in a panoply of illicit trafficking activity, from drugs to firearms to human beings," U.S. Attorney Dominick S. Gerace II said. "We have no tolerance for anybody who commits such crimes in our communities, and we will prosecute them to the fullest extent of the law."

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

The charges stem from an investigation led by a Homeland Security Task Force.

"We will continue to work hard to keep Ohio safe and get narcotics, firearms, and violent criminals off the streets," FBI Cincinnati Special Agent in Charge Jason Cromartie said.

Acting Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Detroit Special Agent in Charge Jared Murphey said the indictment demonstrates the task force's commitment to protecting communities from transnational criminal organizations accused of exploiting vulnerable victims while trafficking drugs and firearms.

BIDEN JUDGE OVERRULED ON KEY TRUMP IMMIGRATION POLICY

Among those charged are six defendants living in Ohio. They include: Venezuelan nationals Jean Pierre Alejandro Guillen Salcedo, 30, and Taidin Adreina Ferrer Guillen, 34, both of Hilliard; Venezuelan nationals Pedro Angel Colls-Flores, 34, and Alismar Daniela Contreras-Arevalo, 20, both of Columbus; and Colombian nationals Briyi Daniela Ordonez-Iter, 21, of Hilliard, and Julian David Patino Pena, 33, of Columbus.

Two additional defendants are Venezuelan nationals living in Tennessee: John Alexandre Fajardo-Ulzcategui, 27, and Jose Ruben Sanchez-Pena, 34, both of Smyrna.

The remaining defendants are Venezuelan national Keivar Elian Guillen Salcedo, 26, of Charlotte, North Carolina; Venezuelan national Therry Brayant Leon Gavida, 34, of Jacksonville, Florida; and Venezuelan national Dervin Alejandro Colmenares Quintero, 29, whose residence is listed as Mexico.

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The DOJ said the case is part of the Homeland Security Task Force initiative established under President Donald Trump's Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion.

The initiative is intended to target transnational criminal organizations, foreign gangs, human trafficking networks and violent criminal aliens operating in the United States.

The indictment contains allegations only. All defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.

Ex-CIA chief John Brennan sues Trump administration, demands court preserve investigation records

Wed, 01 Jul 2026 14:49:30 -0400

Former Central Intelligence Agency Director John Brennan is suing the Trump administration and demanding a court order to require officials to preserve records of the criminal investigations against, which he alleges amount to "phantom criminal conduct."

According to the lawsuit reviewed by Fox News Digital, Brennan, who served as CIA director from 2013 to 2017, is seeking preliminary injunctive relief to "protect his constitutional rights as the current target of two federal investigations that the U.S. Department of Justice."

Brennan asserts that the DOJ has launched its investigations "at the direct urging of President Trump."

FEDERAL JUDGE BLOCKS BLUE STATE'S LAW PROHIBITING ICE AGENTS FROM WEARING MASKS ON THE JOB

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The suit says that, "Regrettably, some in the current DOJ and Federal Bureau of Investigation leadership have acceded to that direction, and are converting the Justice Department into a tool of retribution against Director Brennan and the President’s other perceived adversaries."

Fox News' Jake Gibson contributed to this report. This is a developing story. Check back for updates.

Republican accuses SCOTUS of betraying US, pushes bill restricting birthright citizenship, pregnant visitors

Wed, 01 Jul 2026 14:46:40 -0400

Rep. Andy Ogles, R-Tenn., accused the U.S. Supreme Court of betraying the nation on Tuesday and introduced a proposal to crack down on birthright citizenship.

The nation's high court on Tuesday ruled against an executive order President Donald Trump issued last year that took aim at the notion that infants born on U.S. soil are entitled to American citizenship.

The 14th Amendment states, in part, "All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside."

VANCE CALLS SCOTUS BIRTHRIGHT CITIZENSHIP RULING A 'MAJOR MISTAKE,' WARNS OF MORE BIRTH TOURISM

Trump's order declared it to be U.S. policy "that no department or agency of the United States government shall issue documents recognizing United States citizenship, or accept documents issued by State, local, or other governments or authorities purporting to recognize United States citizenship, to persons: (1) when that person’s mother was unlawfully present in the United States and the person’s father was not a United States citizen or lawful permanent resident at the time of said person’s birth, or (2) when that person’s mother’s presence in the United States was lawful but temporary, and the person’s father was not a United States citizen or lawful permanent resident at the time of said person’s birth."

Ogles slammed the Supreme Court ruling on Tuesday, asserting in part of a post on X that the Supreme Court had "betrayed America."

In a statement that his office provided to Fox News Digital on Wednesday, Ogles asserted, "Yesterday, the Supreme Court cheapened the most valuable thing on planet Earth: U.S. citizenship. Not only is birthright citizenship clearly not in the U.S. Constitution, but this broken system has allowed foreign nationals to take advantage of our country, our benefits, and our generosity. These foreigners have embedded themselves into our society and are being trained by foreign governments to corrupt our culture."

SUPREME COURT LAMBASTED OVER 'DESTRUCTIVE' AND 'OUTRAGEOUS' BIRTHRIGHT CITIZENSHIP DECISION

He added, "I refuse to let these anchor babies colonize our country. Save our sovereignty. Anchors away!"

The congressman's "Anchors Away Act" aims to crack down on the issue.

The proposal would amend U.S. law — which states that those born in the U.S. and subject to its jurisdiction are citizens at birth — to stipulate that for a child to be considered under U.S. jurisdiction one of the parents must be "a citizen or national of the United States," " an alien lawfully admitted for permanent residence in the United States whose residence is in the United States" or "an alien with lawful status under the immigration laws performing active service in the armed forces (as defined in section 101 of title 10, United States Code)."

TRUMP SUFFERS MAJOR SUPREME COURT DEFEAT AS JUSTICES UPHOLD BIRTHRIGHT CITIZENSHIP

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The measure would also amend U.S. law to stipulate, "Any alien seeking admission to the United States as a nonimmigrant who is pregnant and is not married to a citizen of the United States is inadmissible." Though it also notes, "Nothing in this subparagraph may be construed to render inadmissible an alien seeking legitimate medical treatment relating to childbirth."

DOJ charges 8 alleged Tren de Aragua members in Texas, Illinois murder and kidnapping cases

Wed, 01 Jul 2026 14:32:19 -0400

The Department of Justice announced murder and kidnapping charges on Wednesday against eight illegal migrants who are allegedly members of Tren de Aragua, a Venezuelan gang.

The charges were filed for two separate crimes. In one case, four men allegedly murdered a father in front of his teenage daughter outside Dallas, Texas, said acting Attorney General Todd Blanche.

In the other case, three men were accused of kidnapping a man in Chicago before beating and shooting him to death.

The defendants crossed the U.S.-Mexico border between December 2021 and April 2024, according to Blanche.

TRUMP SAYS US MILITARY ELIMINATED ‘INFAMOUS’ TREN DE ARAGUA LEADER IN LETHAL STRIKE

"None of these men should have been in this country. The father in Texas should be alive today. His daughter and nephew should have never been kidnapped. The young victim in Chicago should be alive," Blanche said, before placing blame at the feet of the Biden administration for its "open border" policies.

U.S. Attorney Ryan Raybould, who leads Texas' Northern District, said the victims outside Dallas were a man, his 13-year-old daughter and his 12-year-old nephew.

On Aug. 24, 2024, the four alleged TdA members kidnapped them all in the middle of the night and demanded money from the father, Raybould said.

"Once the TDA members realized the man could not pay them any money, they pulled over by a bridge in Dallas and told the man to jump off. When he refused to do so and attempted to flee, a TDA member gunned him down execution style in front of the two children," Raybould said.

VENEZUELAN GANG MEMBERS WHO ENTERED US ILLEGALLY PLEAD GUILTY TO GUNNING DOWN TWO UNARMED AMERICANS

Local police found the man on the side of the road, bleeding through a single gunshot wound in the head, Raybould said.

A Texas grand jury indicted the four men involved — as well as a fifth man involved in other related crimes — for murder, kidnapping and ATM jackpotting.

One of the men indicted was a high-ranking TdA official, Raybould said.

Separately, the U.S. Attorney's office in Chicago filed charges against three alleged TdA members who are accused of murdering a man in May.

Andrew Boutros, the top prosecutor in the Northern District of Illinois, said at the Wednesday news conference that the three defendants forced the victim into their car while he was walking in a park.

ICE ARRESTS ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT ILLINOIS TEACHER LINKED TO TREN DE ARAGUA MASS SHOOTING

They drove him to a Chicago apartment, Boutros said, where they tied his wrists and left him for hours. After that, the men transported him to an abandoned building, where they shot him in the head and body, Boutros said.

"I want you to think about those facts for a moment. A man kidnapped from a park in Chicago in broad daylight, beaten, held against his will, taken to an abandoned building and shot multiple times and left in a bathtub. All in the name of Tren de Aragua," Boutros said.

Boutros added: "And to show just how brutal and merciless this gang is — someone then went and called the victim's mother and told her where she could find her lifeless son's body."

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FBI Director Kash Patel, also present at the news conference, praised federal law enforcement in his remarks for increasing arrests of violent gang members under President Donald Trump's second administration.

"We've arrested 29,000 violent gang members since President Trump was sworn in," Patel said. "We have seen, specifically as it relates to Tren de Aragua, a 519% increase in arrests."

According to the federal government, Tren de Aragua was formed around 2014 inside the Tocorón Prison in Aragua, a state in Venezuela. It has since grown into a transnational criminal organization.

U.S. authorities have tied the gang to sex trafficking, drug trafficking, kidnappings, murders and other crimes. TdA has been designated a foreign terrorist organization by the State Department since February 2025.

Alito warns Supreme Court made 'serious mistake' that could have national security consequences

Wed, 01 Jul 2026 14:30:13 -0400

Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito warned that the court's ruling in Trump v. Barbara, which upheld birthright citizenship for most people born in the United States, threatens America's national security by extending citizenship to children born to illegal aliens and temporary visitors, including "birth tourists."

"This is one of the most important decisions in the history of the Court, and in my judgment, the Court has made a serious mistake," Alito wrote in his dissent.

On Tuesday, the Supreme Court ruled 6-3 to strike down President Donald Trump's executive order, issued on his second day in office, restricting automatic United States citizenship for people born in the United States whose parents did not have permanent legal status in the country.

Alito railed against the majority's ruling in a forceful dissent, arguing the justices misinterpreted the 14th Amendment. He wrote that only people who owe their full allegiance to the United States, and not another country, should automatically receive citizenship at birth.

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But beyond his constitutional objections, Alito warned the ruling could be exploited by foreign nationals from enemy nations seeking U.S. citizenship for their children.

"The Court's interpretation is not only contrary to the original meaning of the Fourteenth Amendment, it produces grotesque results," Alito wrote. "While foreigners who wish to immigrate lawfully must sometimes wait for many years, a child born here to a birth tourist is automatically a citizen."

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Alito described a hypothetical scenario in which a foreign national gives birth in the United States before promptly returning to her home country as part of a larger plot to eventually harm the United States.

"Suppose the child never visited the United States while growing up and was inculcated with hatred of this country," Alito wrote. "According to the Court, that person is a citizen of the United States. He can enter and leave the country as he pleases. He can travel the world on a United States passport. Even if he plots to harm this country, he cannot be deprived of his status as a citizen, at least under current precedent."

Michael Hough, co-president of NumbersUSA, sided with Alito, arguing that expanding birthright citizenship risks diluting the value of U.S. citizenship and exposing the United States to foreign adversaries.

He pointed Fox News Digital to a Wall Street Journal investigation reporting that a Chinese tech billionaire fathered roughly 100 children born in the United States through surrogacy, despite never having entered the country.

"Look at what's happening with Chinese birth tourism and IVF. The people who drafted the 14th Amendment in the 1860s obviously weren't contemplating wealthy foreign nationals creating children in the United States through modern reproductive technology," Hough said. "Those kinds of questions should be left to Congress, not decided by judges stretching constitutional language."

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Border czar Tom Homan echoed Alito's concerns over national security to Fox News, calling for greater investigations into birth tourism.

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"I agree with Judge Alito," Homan told Fox News. "Birthright citizenship has always been a major driver for illegal immigration."

"But more importantly, it's a national security concern," Homan said. "We have nationals from China and Russia coming in the thousands, having a baby and leaving. Now we have citizens in the thousands, and if this continued, in the millions in countries that I think are adversaries to us. That could come here and have an impact on how this country is run."

16 children found living in 'deplorable' Ohio home conditions, 4 arrested: 'Pure evil'

Wed, 01 Jul 2026 14:24:21 -0400

Four people have been arrested after 16 children were found living in "deplorable" conditions and in need of medical treatment in a rural Ohio home, officials said Wednesday.

The children were found during a search of the home in Hamden, 60 miles southeast of Columbus, Ohio, state Attorney General Andy Wilson said at a news conference.

"Conditions you cannot even imagine people being in, let alone children being in," Wilson said.

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The children were removed from the home. Wilson called it the worst scene he had encountered in his career, describing it as "pure evil." Several were in serious condition when found, and two were flown to Level 1 trauma centers because of their injuries.

"If they had waited 24 hours, there is a very high probability that we’d be dealing with a death, or multiple deaths, of these children," Wilson said.

Vinton County Sheriff Ryan Cain described horrid conditions, saying there was a high presence of feces and bacterial matter.

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"Most of the livestock was kept in better condition than the children," Cain said.

The suspects — Gary Siders Sr., Gary Siders Jr., Christina Siders and Elizabeth Siders — were charged with 16 counts of second-degree child endangering. A judge entered not guilty pleas on their behalf during a Wednesday court hearing and set a $300,000 bond for all four.

Officials didn't confirm if the children were related, but said they ranged in age from 18 months to 18 years old and included both boys and girls.

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"Justice will be served for these children," Wilson said.

Vinton County Prosecutor William Archer clarified that the suspects are not originally from Vinton County.

"This is an intra-family situation. This is not human trafficking. There is nothing to put our other children at risk," Archer said.

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On Tuesday, Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine said he was being kept informed on the case.

"It is heartbreaking to learn the conditions that these children were living in, and to learn of their medical conditions," he said. "Attorney General Wilson is an experienced prosecutor, and he has told me he has never seen anything like what he saw today. Fran and I pray for these children, and thank the children's services workers, law enforcement officers, and medical personnel who are helping them."

Jewish California congressional candidate says harassment from Gaza agitators went ‘beyond free speech’

Wed, 01 Jul 2026 14:14:15 -0400

California state Sen. Scott Wiener, D-San Francisco, a Jewish Democrat who is running for the congressional seat long held by Nancy Pelosi, said Monday that Gaza activists who surrounded him at the city's Trans March crossed the line from protest into intimidation.

"This went beyond free speech," Wiener told CBS News' Major Garrett on his podcast "The Takeout."

Wiener was confronted Friday in Dolores Park while trying to attend a trans-led Pride Shabbat service before the Trans March, an event he said he had attended every year since its 2004 launch. Video aired by CBS showed activists screaming and cursing at the longtime LGBTQ advocate over Gaza as he walked away.

"You’ve been wonderful for trans people, and you’ve been terrible," one protester said. "You’ve been terrible at Gaza."

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Garrett asked Wiener whether the confrontation was protected First Amendment speech or something menacing.

"People will challenge my views. We’ll have conversations. People will sometimes record me. And that’s all fine," Wiener said. "That’s all protected First Amendment speech."

Wiener said Friday's confrontation was different because protesters ran toward him, surrounded him and made physical contact with him.

"A few of them touched me, and they were, you know, screaming at me while they were doing it and trying to bully me and intimidate me out of the park," Wiener said.

"I decided just to keep walking through and out of the park because if I stayed in the park, I was fearful for my own safety."

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The protesters accused Wiener of being insufficiently critical of Israel. Wiener told Garrett the confrontation included language he viewed as antisemitic.

"They were also lying about my record on Gaza," Wiener said. "They were talking about how I have, quote, unquote, ‘Israeli handlers,’ which is a classic antisemitic trope about Jews having dual loyalty."

"Targeting Jewish elected leaders in ways that you are not targeting non-Jewish elected leaders and saying that they have, quote, unquote, ‘Israeli handlers.’ That is definitely antisemitic."

San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie condemned the confrontation over the weekend.

"As mayor, I can never accept hate directed at a member of our community," Lurie said. "This language directed at Sen. Wiener yesterday was targeted, hateful and antisemitic."

The California Senate Democratic Caucus and California Legislative LGBTQ Caucus also condemned the "verbal harassment and attacks" against Wiener.

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Wiener defended Israel's existence while criticizing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government and opposing U.S. military funding for Israel.

"Israel is home to half of all Jews on Planet Earth. It matters to Jews globally. I want it to exist and to be successful," Wiener said.

Wiener then described the Israeli government as an "abomination" and said he believed its actions in Gaza amounted to genocide.

"I don’t think that we should be funding the Israeli military," Wiener said. "We shouldn’t be funding the destruction of Palestinian communities."

Wiener finished first in the June 2 top-two primary for California’s 11th Congressional District, with 40.7% of the vote. Connie Chan finished second with 29.7%, setting up an all-Democratic November race.

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

Tourists shown in stampede for pool lounge chairs after endless wait at holiday resort

Wed, 01 Jul 2026 14:10:10 -0400

In a wild and viral moment, dozens of vacationers can be seen sprinting for poolside lounge chairs at a Spanish resort after waiting in line for an hour before the gates even opened.

A man named Chris, 34, from Glasgow, Scotland, witnessed the early-morning rush while vacationing in Salou, Spain, last week, according to news agency SWNS.

Video taken on June 24 shows more than 40 hotel guests gathered outside the pool entrance before it opened at 9 a.m.

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Moments after the doors were unlocked, the crowd is seen hurrying toward the loungers, racing to claim the most desirable spots with their towels and bags.

The scene was not unique to one morning, Chris told SWNS. During his week-long stay, he noticed guests lining up outside the pool entrance every day, often arriving an hour before the opening.

Many would reserve a lounge chair before returning to their hotel rooms or heading inside for breakfast, leaving rows of loungers occupied long before anyone actually used them.

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"It was a manic race and scramble for the sunbeds surrounding the pool at the hotel," Chris said.

"I don't judge, but found it funny, so had to film it," he also said.

The process quickly became part of the morning routine — with many guests seemingly following the same strategy each day.

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"Some people just rolled out of their bed, queued up, mad-dashed to secure the bed — then they were seen going back to their hotel rooms or off for breakfast," Chris said.

While he found the spectacle entertaining, the same source said he couldn't help but feel for guests who chose not to join the line.

"It doesn't leave room for those who don't queue for an hour," he said.

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The scramble for poolside loungers has become a familiar sight at many resorts during the busy summer travel season.

Fox News Digital previously reported that cruise lines have also been dealing with a similar battle over poolside loungers, as passengers use towels, bags and other belongings to reserve chairs for hours without actually using them.

Norwegian Cruise Line recently began enforcing its no-reserving policy by placing time-stamped stickers on unattended loungers and removing personal items if guests did not return within about an hour.

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The crackdown drew praise from many travelers, who said the policy helped free up poolside seating and discouraged so-called "chair hogs" from monopolizing the most desirable spots.

Jessica Mekles of Fox News Digital contributed reporting.

Red-state capital city sparks conservative fire over Somali flag-raising at city hall: ‘Excuse me?’

Wed, 01 Jul 2026 14:01:49 -0400

The city of Columbus, Ohio, home to one of the largest Somali populations in the United States, is facing backlash on social media over a now-deleted post celebrating the raising of the Somali flag.

"Happy Somali Independence Day!" The Columbus Recreation and Parks Department posted on X on Wednesday. "As we celebrate the unification of the Trust Territory of Somaliland and the State of Somaliland into the Somali Republic in 1960, City Hall will be raising the flag of Somalia. "

The post was quickly picked up by conservatives on social media, with many wondering why the city of Columbus would celebrate Somali independence so strongly, particularly given the proximity to the 250th anniversary of American independence.

"Columbus, Ohio raising the flag of Somalia for America 250," White House deputy chief of staff for policy Stephen Miller posted on X.

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"No American government building should ever be raising another country's flag," journalist Mark Hemingway posted on X. "Ugh."

"City Hall is not a foreign embassy," attorney and political commentator Mehek Cooke posted on X. "As an Ohioan, I am repulsed by the anti-Americanism here. Our leaders treat foreign nationalism as sacred while treating American patriotism as controversial. America’s public buildings should honor America."

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"This is AMERICA, not Little Somalia," ACT for America founder Brigitte Gabriel posted on X. "Flying the Somali flag at City Hall isn’t ‘celebration.’ It’s cultural surrender. Other nations aren’t parallel cultures here to dominate ours. Remove that flag. Remove the officials who demand it."

"Excuse me?" Daily Wire investigative reporter Luke Rosiak, who has reported extensively on emerging fraud concerns within the Somali community in Columbus, posted on X.

"Why the f--- is Columbus, Ohio celebrating ‘the unification of the Trust Territory of Somaliland…’ when America turns 250 this week?" Federalist reporter Brianna Lyman posted on X. "They all need to go back. They love their third world country so much, send them back. Denaturalize and deport."

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"If Somalia is such a failed state that we need to take in tens of thousands of its citizens as ‘refugees,’ then we really don’t need to be celebrating its supposed ‘independence’ with patronizing posts on social media," Ohio Republican state Rep. Brian Stewart posted on X. "One more way in which we encourage the refusal to assimilate."

Fox News Digital reached out to the city of Columbus for comment.

The post from the Recreation and Parks Department was deleted shortly after Fox News Digital reached out.

Dunkin's America 250 eagle cup sparks collector frenzy as fans race to snag one

Wed, 01 Jul 2026 13:57:10 -0400

Dunkin' is celebrating America's 250th birthday by offering a limited-edition Dunkin' eagle cup, designed with a clear base topped with a sculpted eagle lid.

"Whether you're sipping a vibrant Refresher or a classic iced coffee, this collectible turns every drink into a celebration," Dunkin' said in a news release.

The cup quickly gained traction online. Even before it appeared in stores, Dunkin' announced that guests "may have already spotted the eagle cup taking flight across social media."

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"Run to Dunkin' because today is the day!" Instagram user @rebeldealz captioned a clip showing a visit to Dunkin' to secure a cup.

Multiple other users on the platform commented on the post saying they bought several of the cups.

"I also got 3 because they are already reselling on eBay for 50 bucks," one user wrote.

A Reddit thread focused on users missing out on the limited-edition Barbie pink pineapple cup that Dunkin' dropped earlier this summer showed many celebrating getting their hands on the eagle cup.

"When the pineapple cup dropped, my job had me away from my usual Dunkin' (or any Dunkin' really), and every location I tried after work were long sold out," one Reddit user wrote. "My job did the same thing to me today, but I managed to get to my morning Dunkin' spot today and snag one. Hurray."

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Dunkin' is having fun with the cup's rollout. A company Instagram post comparing facts about a real eagle with the eagle cup garnered 21,000 likes and more than 400 comments.

"Dunkin' eagle cup can be spotted across any room," the Massachusetts-based company wrote alongside a picture of the cup, next to a picture of an actual eagle and the message, "The bald eagle can spot prey from over two miles away."

"Thankfully, I read this before poking my straw into a bald eagle. Whew," an Instagram commenter wrote.

Dunkin' has rolled out a special "star-spangled lineup of limited-time beverages and bakery treats inspired by the flavors, colors and traditions of summer's biggest holiday," the company announced. It's also selling an "Americana-themed summer merch collection."

"Dunkin' is bringing the energy of America's 250th birthday to every part of the menu," Anthony Epter, vice president of menu innovation at Dunkin', said in a news release.

"Inspired by Fourth of July traditions, we've created a lineup of beverages, bakery treats and the collectible eagle cup that make every Dunkin' run a little more festive and every sip a celebration."

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The "Star-Spangled Sips and Summer Flavors" features "nostalgic flavors, colorful toppings and indulgent twists," according to Dunkin'. Some of the offerings include variations of fruity lemonades and a selection of flavored frozen coffees.

The Dazzleberry Coolatta, which is blue-raspberry-flavored, is topped with whipped cream and "patriotic sprinkles."

Dunkin's bakery case is filled with limited-time treats, including doughnuts and Munchkins (doughnut holes), dressed in red, white and blue.

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The Rocket Pop Donut features "a star-shaped yeast shell with Rocket Pop-flavored filling, topped with blue icing and a stars-and-stripes sprinkle blend," while the Stars & Stripes Donut is "dipped in blue icing and topped with festive red, white and blue sprinkles."

The eagle cup is priced at $10.99 and available nationwide while supplies last. Twenty cups are available at each location, according to Dunkin'.

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Each eagle cup purchase includes a medium beverage.

Fox News Digital reached out to Dunkin' for comment.

Angel mom warns Democrats 'we're not going to stop' after emotional House hearing on sanctuary policies

Wed, 01 Jul 2026 13:47:00 -0400

Angel mom Tammy Nobles warned lawmakers Wednesday that families of Americans killed by immigrants in the country illegally will continue confronting Congress until lawmakers take action on sanctuary city policies and illegal immigration.

"If you guys don't do anything, it will continue to happen, and we will continue having those meetings, and we'll not be quiet and shut up about our children that were killed by illegal immigrants," she said on "America's Newsroom."

"We're not gonna stop, and you're gonna listen to us every single time if you want to or not."

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Nobles' remarks came after fellow angel mom Jessica Gorman drew media attention for her tearful testimony before a House Judiciary subcommittee Tuesday.

Gorman's daughter, 18-year-old Loyola University Chicago freshman Sheridan Gorman, was allegedly shot and killed by an illegal immigrant after going to the Chicago lakefront with friends to see the Northern Lights earlier this year. Sheridan's grieving mother accused sanctuary city leaders and politicians of failing to protect her daughter and begged lawmakers to "choose" American citizens over illegal immigrants.

"I'm just asking you to choose us. We choose you," Gorman pleaded.

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"Why does my child matter less than an illegal immigrant...? Every day, I wake up with unimaginable pain. I wake up in the middle of the night and I think, 'Did my daughter cry for me?' She made it 40 feet... running for her life. Did she cry out for me? She died on that pavement all by herself, lonely, bleeding on that pavement, and I will never, ever rest..."

Nobles expressed similar pain and frustration with the status quo. Her daughter, Kayla Hamilton, was raped and strangled by an MS-13 gang member in 2022. Since then, Nobles has advocated for families like hers and appeared before Congress to challenge lawmakers she says have been flippant about the policies she believes contribute to such crimes.

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"I had been sharing Kayla's story to prevent this from happening, and the Democrats on the panel just say the same thing: 'I'm sorry for your loss' and 'We're tired of being [there].' Well, I'm sure you're tired of being in there. It's going to continue to happen [unless something changes]."

Fox News' Elizabeth Heckman and Alec Schemmel contributed to this report.

Public library removes children's Pride display after local official sounds alarm on 'sexual grooming'

Wed, 01 Jul 2026 13:37:36 -0400

A Pennsylvania public library removed a Pride Month display from its children's section after local officials requested it be taken down, prompting criticism from some community members and reigniting debate over who should influence library programming.

"On Friday, I received word from the library that the municipal manager had directed our library director to take down the display in the children's room," Kelly Meredith, president of the Monroeville Public Library Board of Directors, said in a statement, local ABC affiliate WTAE reported Monday.

The outlet reported that the Pride display had been up since June 1 and was removed last week despite opposition from Meredith.

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In a June 19 Facebook post resharing the library's photo of the Pride display, Monroeville Councilmember Bill Krut wrote, "Should these books be available for children at the Monroeville Library? I think not… I don’t care what adults do. This is child, sexual grooming."

Some of the books featured in the Pride display shown in the photo shared by Krut included "The GayBC’s," "A Kid’s Book About Gay Parents," "Pride Puppy!," "Rainbow: A First Book of Pride," "My Two Moms," and "Sparkle Boy."

Lindsay White, a pastor at Crossroads Presbyterian Church in Monroeville and a parent, called Krut’s comments "incredibly offensive."

"We utilize the library every week, and the Pride display is an incredible resource in helping my children learn about the reality of the world that we live in. And we are very supportive of the LGBTQ community," White said during a library board meeting.

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In a statement posted on Facebook Monday, Monroeville Mayor Dennis Biondo Jr., said, "As Mayor, I represent all residents of the Municipality of Monroeville, and I affirm our community’s values of safety, dignity and respect for all residents, including the LGBTQIA+ community. The Monroeville Public Library has served this municipality and surrounding communities for over 60 years, and we are blessed to have such a trusted public institution and its employees, locally accessible for information, community gathering, and literacy."

He added, "Libraries must remain safe, welcoming spaces free from intimidation or censorship, so that all patrons have access to the books and resources that they need or want. I will continue to support the library, the Library Board, and the library’s employees to use their expert discretion in creating displays and activities that represent this community."

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WTAE reported that Monroeville Municipal Manager Alex Graziani said the display could be removed due to the upcoming July 4 holiday.

"I advised that the June Pride Month display in the children’s section of the Monroeville Public Library could be removed and replaced with a patriotic America 250 display in advance of the Independence Day holiday and our community celebration," Graziani said.

Meanwhile, Meredith said that library staff, not public officials, make decisions regarding displays, WTAE reported.

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In a statement to Fox News Digital, Meredith said, "On Friday, June 26, I was notified of a directive from the municipal manager to the library director to remove the 'Love is Love' display in the children's room. This was following pressure from some members of council, who wanted the display removed. While we do not want to set a precedent that allows council or the municipality to dictate library displays, we ultimately decided to take the display down early to ensure a safe and comfortable working environment for the library staff."

Meredith added, "Library displays fall under the library's board-approved collection development policy. The display met all criteria and standards set forth in this policy. The Board of Directors is grateful for all the support the library has received from community members and patrons throughout this."

Fever head coach lectures America on racism and homophobia as Caitlin Clark narrative starts to shift

Wed, 01 Jul 2026 13:35:09 -0400

Well, the narrative has officially been changed. Well done, WNBA. Well done, Alyssa Thomas.

Well done, Indiana Fever head coach Stephanie White.

One day after Alyssa Thomas played the predictable victim card — saying she's received death threats over the incident with Clark — White further fueled that narrative during her opening statement to the media on Wednesday.

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And by "statement," I mean a three-minute lecture on how racist and homophobic people are being towards Thomas, and the WNBA.

That's right. Nothing on Clark. Nothing on the non-call. Nothing on the league's refusal to do anything about these incidents.

A statement, from the opposing team's coach, about inclusivity.

Amazing.

The WNBA continues to botch the Caitlin Clark situation

"Before we start with questions I just want to address what is going on with AT," she said, referring to Thomas. "It's absolutely unacceptable. As a league, as a whole, there's been so much more toxicity, racism, homophobia. Straight out nonsense. Hate-nonsense. It's absolutely unacceptable. Most of this coming from the online community.

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"Most of this, in my heart of hearts, I believe, not coming from WNBA fans, Indiana Fever fans, I believe it's coming from people using our league, using our players to further divisive agendas. It's not acceptable."

Goodness, gracious. Like I said, the story has completely changed. And it's so predictable.

This was always the path forward, right? Lord knows the WNBA couldn't allow the Caitlin Clark empathy to continue on for much longer. Nope. If the last few days have taught us anything, it's that we are the problem. The fans. The media. Not Alyssa Thomas. Not the refs. Not the WNBA turning a blind eye.

Us.

Or, as White put it, the "online community."

So, trolls. Internet trolls. That's what Alyssa Thomas and Stephanie White are focused on. Keyboard warriors who mean nothing, and have been around since the dawn of social media, are now the focus.

"It's crazy, you know, playing the game, being suspended, just the whole narrative that's being painted out there," Thomas said earlier this week. "It's unfortunate that it's come to this over basketball. A lot of us, myself included, didn't even know the play took place until after the game and now we're being painted as thugs.

"And death threats out on us, so it's really unacceptable. It is something that needs to change in this league, and I'm just really sick and tired of it."

Give me a break. Internet trolls are a dime a dozen. Social media is a toxic place. I get it. I hate it. But playing the victim card and acting like the WNBA is the only place that deals with this behavior is absurd.

It's also, unfortunately, so predictable.

This was always where this story was going to go. First Alyssa Thomas puts it out there. Then, WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert dusts off the boilerplate statement that every league has saved on their computer:

"The WNBA vehemently condemns any and all forms of hate."

Right on cue, she put that out yesterday evening. And now today, Indiana head coach Stephanie White opens up her presser with a lecture on how America is racist and homophobic.

Perfect. Right on schedule.

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Don't be surprised if we get an apology from Caitlin Clark next. Spoiler alert: That's how this movie always ends.

Two people taken into custody after climbing to the top of Empire State Building with massive banner

Wed, 01 Jul 2026 12:29:43 -0400

Two masked people climbed on top of the Empire State Building at noon Wednesday holding a banner reading "when the power of love beats the love of power, the world knows peace."

Following a response by the New York City Police Department (NYPD) Emergency Services Unit, the pair, who later identified themselves on social media as Netflix stars Angela Nikolau and Ivan Beerkus, appeared to take down the banner and climb down from the antenna to a lower platform.

Beerkus then appeared to pull an engagement ring out of a backpack, get down on one knee and propose to Nikolau.

The couple was later taken into custody and charges are pending, NYPD officials told Fox News Digital. No injuries were reported.

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Roughly 40 police officers responded to the front of the building and directed traffic.

The entrance on Fifth Ave., between West 33rd and 34th streets, was blocked off.

Pedestrians were seen gathering on every corner surrounding the building watching the situation unfold.

An Empire State Building spokesperson described the incident as "unauthorized," noting NYPD helped to resolve the situation.

"There was at no time danger to tenants, visitors, and Empire State Building Observation Deck guests," the spokesperson said. "It is to be emphasized that the Empire State Building Observation Deck, atop the World's Most Famous Building in the center of New York City, does offer a practical way for the most memorable marriage proposals…"

MAMDANI ALLOCATES $500K FOR REPARATIONS TALKS AS NYC FACES $5.4B DEFICIT

It remains unclear how Nikolau and Beerkus, previously featured on Netflix's "Skywalkers: A Love Story," were able to scale the building.

They later posted photos of the engagement ring on Instagram from atop the tower.

Netflix did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment.

Counting the spire and antenna, the skyscraper stands 1,454 feet tall.

It is currently the fourth-tallest building in New York City, the sixth-tallest in the U.S. and the 43rd tallest tower in the world.

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New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has yet to publicly respond to the public stunt. His office did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment.

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

Southern Poverty Law Center's leaders allegedly used major bank to fund pay-to-hate operation

Wed, 01 Jul 2026 13:32:35 -0400

FIRST ON FOX: A pair of former top executives at the Southern Poverty Law Center used a network of checking accounts to secretly funnel $4.1 million to extremists, including one nicknamed "The Aryan Barbarian," in a long-running pay-to-hate scheme, federal officials told Fox News Digital.

The SPLC's former chief financial officer Teenie Hutchison and ex-Intelligence Project chief Heidi Beirich allegedly created the accounts at Synovus Bank in 2008, making the beleaguered nonprofit’s trusted bank a hub for diverting supporters' donations to sketchy groups, sources said. The network ultimately supported secret payments to as many as 50 confidential "field sources," called "Fs," embedded within extremist organizations around the country. Some 13 field sources have so far been identified in court filings.

"The SPLC found its niche, and its leaders built a fiefdom with donations they got like crazy," former NYPD intelligence official, attorney and Fox News contributor Paul Mauro said.

Former SPLC Chief Executive Officer Margaret Huang allegedly signed a letter acknowledging the operation to Synovus bank officials in September 2021 before ending her tenure at the SPLC in July 2025.

SPLC supporters have characterized the payment recipients as "informants," and they included a right-wing extremist behind the infamous 2017 "Unite the Right" protests in Charlottesville, Va.

"The government can run informants," said Mauro. "Private industry cannot."

The new revelations show the federal investigation of the SPLC is significantly larger than initially reported and was orchestrated at the organization's highest level. Beirich was previously believed to be involved in the alleged payments, but this is the first time federal officials have confirmed her involvement.

The new details about the SPLC case emerge as the Trump administration's Justice Department intensifies scrutiny of influential nonprofit organizations. Earlier this week, Fox News Digital reported exclusively that federal prosecutors launched a grand jury investigation into Shanghai-based Marxist tech mogul Neville Roy Singham over possible illegality in his funding of left-wing activist groups. Together, the two federal investigations signal an aggressive effort by the administration to examine whether certain organizations are using their nonprofit status to conceal financial operations.

A spokesperson for Synovus Bank told Fox News Digital that the lender, based in Columbus, Ga., is working with federal investigators in the "ongoing investigation."

"As a matter of policy, we do not comment on specific client relationships," the spokesperson said. "We have cooperated fully with the ongoing investigation and will continue to do so."

Hutchison, Beirich and Huang didn't respond to repeated requests for comment. In late May, the SPLC filed a motion to dismiss the case. On June 9, days after the U.S. government filed a superseding indictment against the SPLC, the nonprofit's interim president and chief executive officer, Bryan Fair, denied any wrongdoing by the SPLC during a fiery hearing before the House Judiciary Committee.

The allegations sit at the center of a federal case accusing the SPLC of bank fraud, wire fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering. Sources familiar with the investigation say additional charges will likely be filed against individual executives and former executives of the nonprofit.

Fox News Digital's investigation unpacks the government’s theory of the alleged operation through the traditional three stages of money laundering: placement, layering and integration. In the first stage of placement, U.S. officials say Hutchison and Beirich created and controlled a hidden financial infrastructure at SPLC that became the entry point for $4.1 million in allegedly illicit payments made to so-called field sources.

In the second stage, layering involves moving money through multiple accounts, transactions and entities, like a series of bank accounts Hutchison and Beirich allegedly set up for fake companies, designed to obscure the money's origin. Finally, in the third stage, integration occurs when the proceeds or products of an operation become absorbed into legitimate activities, like the organization's "Extremist Files," and become difficult to distinguish from ordinary business operations.

According to federal prosecutors, the SPLC's alleged operation involved all three stages.

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Without naming the finance and intelligence chiefs, a grand jury indictment made public in April revealed that "Employee-1" and "Employee-2" in 2008 created a secret network of nine bank accounts at "Bank-1" and "Bank-2" that funneled millions of dollars to far-right extremists from 2014 through 2023. The initial indictment put the amount at $3 million, but it was increased to $4.1 million in a superseding indictment.

The indictment notes that "individuals at the SPLC" were the ones who "secretly funneled donated money to the Fs," including "Employee-1," a "person who would become the Chief Financial Officer, and "Employee-2," a "person who would become the Director of the Intelligence Project."

Federal officials told Fox News Digital that Hutchison, who moved from the position of treasurer and corporate secretary to chief financial officer, is "Employee-1." They said "Employee-" 2 is Beirich, who started in 1999 as a newly-minted Ph.D. student, and was named deputy director of the Intelligence Project in 2004 and later director of the Intelligence Report.

The duo allegedly created a banking account structure under names that didn’t identify the SPLC. The nine shell entities were dubbed "Center Investigative Agency," "Fox Photography," "Imagery Ink," "J&J Electronics," "Kelly's Marine," "North West Technologies," "Tech Writers Group" and "Turner Personnel" and "Rare Books Warehouse."

Federal prosecutors allege the accounts were used to pay informants while concealing the source of the money. The government's theory is that the accounts became the financial infrastructure supporting a sprawling money laundering operation.

Federal prosecutors allege the accounts remained active for years, surviving leadership transitions and internal turmoil at one of the nation's most influential civil-rights organizations.

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Over two decades, Beirich became one of the nonprofit’s most influential figures, shaping how "far-right extremism," "White supremacy" and "neo-Nazi hate" were documented, defined and communicated.

She testified before Congress, and appeared regularly on television and radio. Journalists, academics and policymakers frequently turned to her for analysis of White-nationalist groups, anti-government movements and domestic extremism. By 2017, ABC News described her as "the woman tracking hate in America."

In contrast, Hutchison maintained a low profile and was rarely photographed, working quietly behind the scenes. In 2017, she was on the renewal document for the nonprofit’s "Mississippi Charitable Registration" as the SPLC’s treasurer and secretary, the custodian of financial records and one of the nonprofit’s two "check signers."

The SPLC listed its official bank as Sterling Bank, a Synovus Bank subsidiary based in Montgomery.

In October 2019, Beirich co-founded a new 501(c)(3) nonprofit, "Global Project Against Hate and Extremism," with a mailing address just three miles away from SPLC headquarters in Alabama's capital.

Two months later, Beirich left SPLC after 20 years, according to her LinkedIn profile, just as the dragnet was closing in on the alleged pay-to-hate operation she’d been running for years. According to the SPLC's tax filing that year, she last earned a salary of $173,090 and a bonus of $25,721.

The alleged violations continued after Beirich's and Hutchison’s tenures at SPLC.

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One of the alleged recipients of secret SPLC payments was Erich Gliebe, the former chairman of a neo-Nazi organization, National Alliance. Known as "The Aryan Barbarian" during his time as a boxer, Gliebe allegedly received more than $140,000 from the SPLC between 2016 and 2023.

At the same time he was allegedly collecting payments, Gliebe was featured in SPLC materials describing extremist figures and organizations. An SPLC "Extremist Files" profile dedicated to Gliebe contained a link through which visitors could donate to the organization.

Gliebe didn't respond to requests for comment.

Daniel Harvill, a Virginia attorney who represented National Alliance members in litigation involving Gliebe, described Gliebe as an ineffective leader.

"Gliebe was a joke," Harvill told Fox News Digital. "He didn't know how to run a business or political organization. There was a large pile of stupid among them."

Harvill said bitterness from that litigation may have contributed to Gliebe becoming an SPLC informant.

Court filings indicate that larger accounts associated with the alleged operation remained active until August 2020, when the hidden account structure finally drew scrutiny from bank officials. Synovus Bank did an internal investigation, according to court filings. That review became a pivotal moment in the government's case.

According to the indictment, around Sept. 9, 2021, the SPLC "President and Chief Executive Officer" and the SPLC "Board Chair" admitted in writing to Bank-1 – Synovus Bank – that the fictitious accounts were "opened for the benefit of the Southern Poverty Law Center operations and operated under the Center’s authority."

They signed a document also stating that "pursuant to the discussion we had earlier this week…the accounts had been opened and operated for the benefit of the organization." The CEO was Huang, federal sources told Fox News Digital.

Huang's acknowledgment now sits near the center of the government's legal theory that the account structure wasn’t the work of rogue employees but operated under organizational authority.

The nonprofit and its sister organization, the SPLC Action Fund, had hired Huang the year earlier, describing her as an "internationally renowned human and civil rights leader," previously serving as executive director of Amnesty International USA.

It isn’t clear who the board chair was at the time of the signing, but former Goldman Sachs executive Bennett Grau was a board member at the time. Grau didn't respond to repeated requests for comment.

Huang’s role in signing the admission hasn’t been publicly disclosed before.

SPLC INDICTMENT BUILDS MOMENTUM FOR BESSENT'S TREASURY TO PROBE PARTISAN NONPROFITS

SPLC last listed Hutchison on its IRS 990 filing for the period ending on Oct. 31, 2022. According to that IRS filing, she last earned $237,749 and a bonus of $32,697.

In early July 2025, Huang announced her resignation as president, stepping down "to prioritize family life." The board of directors named constitutional scholar and former SPLC Board Chair Bryan Fair as interim president and CEO.

The role of senior SPLC officials in this alleged operation raises significant red flags for law enforcement, federal officials told Fox News Digital, saying the alleged activity reflects a structured ecosystem directed from the top. Investigators describe an operation in which financial flows, informants, public content and political work by the SPLC and its sister organizations were closely linked, with senior officials like Hutchison and Beirich positioned to control the money, narrative and influence of the SPLC.

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The court proceedings represent a form of vindication for some targets of the SPLC.

Back in October 2017, the SPLC and three other groups – Media Matters, ReThink Media and the Center for New Community – released a publication titled "Field Guide to Anti-Muslim Extremists." In interviews at the time, Beirich confirmed that Democratic billionaire George Soros's Open Society philanthropy had provided funding for the production of the report.

The report included Maajid Nawaz, a British Muslim reformer who founded the Quilliam Foundation to combat Islamist extremism. The next year, in 2018, he sued the SPLC for defamation, winning a $3.375 million settlement and a public apology.

Nawaz recently told Fox News Digital that the SPLC’s alleged system of paying extremists is corrupt, and he feels vindicated by the federal prosecution against the nonprofit.

"They were funding both sides," Nawaz said. "If you control the rules of the game… you’re able to control where the hate comes from… and then control the reaction."

"They were taking money to fight hate," he said, "and then funding the very hate they took money to fight."

As the SPLC mounts its defense, Nawaz said, "This indictment demonstrates clearly that the SPLC should now cease to exist. It should come to an end."

Fox News Digital's Bonnie Chu and Adriana James-Rodil contributed to this report.

Ex-Democrat reveals why he ditched party and is running as Republican in blue stronghold

Wed, 01 Jul 2026 13:32:00 -0400

Micah Jones, a former self-described JFK Democrat-turned-Republican, hopes to capitalize on a "once-in-a-lifetime" opportunity as he looks to flip Massachusetts' 6th Congressional District.

"The last time this seat was open was 47 years ago," Jones said.

"I think that Massachusetts suffers when we have a one-party congressional delegation that, in my opinion, is less inclined to work across the aisle than representatives of other states."

Jones’s campaign is a bet that the district’s independent voters — and maybe some Democrats — will see the benefit Massachusetts could reap from having even just one Republican representative. Coupled with the precedent of the occasional Republican success is the Bay State, Jones believes his race can beat past odds and help decide the balance of power in the House of Representatives.

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Before running for Congress, Jones served in the military in the 82nd Airborne Division, deploying on a tour in Afghanistan from 2014 to 2015. Later, after going to law school, he became an attorney.

It was in law school that he began to have doubts about the Democratic Party's direction, describing a "shock" at its trajectory.

"This was back in 2016. That was kind of the incubator before everything that we've now dealt with the last few years in regards to more progressive ideologies," Jones recalled.

"In particular, when it came to support for law enforcement — this was during the defund the police movement. When it came to a worldview that tried to classify people between oppressors and oppressed, I felt that was fundamentally different than President Kennedy's vision. And at that point, I left the Democratic Party, became an independent."

Although Jones believes a portion of the state’s 63% registered independents may share that view, his pitch to them is more pragmatic.

He believes Massachusetts is missing out on Republican representation that can coordinate with the GOP administration and Congress.

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"Our two senators, our nine congressional members — none of them are Republicans. And I think that they have taken a resistance-only mindset," Jones said, referring to their posture toward the Trump administration.

"And so, I think that we lose out on significant federal funding, billions of dollars in federal funding. I could be the sole Republican on that delegation, to work with the administration when it makes sense, push back when it doesn't, call balls and strikes, really focus on what's best for not only my district, [and] advocate for Massachusetts as a whole."

When asked about the Republican label and why not just run as an independent, Jones said he believes he needs the party’s campaign infrastructure to meaningfully wage a campaign to flip the district.

"You do need a party apparatus. And I am a Republican. I would say I’m center-right, especially on fiscal issues," Jones said.

"The ‘R’ next to my name is going to be challenging. I fully acknowledge that. I do, however, think there is another 15% to 20% [of voters] that really are independents and really do care about candidate quality."

As evidence, Jones pointed to other Republicans who have run successfully in Massachusetts.

"People forget, Gov. Mitt Romney was governor of Massachusetts. You have Gov. Bill Weld; you have Gov. Charlie Baker. And so, I think that the Massachusetts Republican model is one to emulate and one that works very well here," Jones said.

DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE APOLOGIZES FOR PAST PRO-POLICE, PRO-GUN POSTS IN KEY BATTLEGROUND RACE

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The district’s current occupant, Rep. Seth Moulton, D-Mass., announced he would pursue a Senate seat rather than re-election. He last won re-election in a 62.9% to 35.2% victory over Republican challenger Robert May Jr., a mechanical engineer.

Jones, who is running unopposed in the state’s Sept. 1 primaries, will likely advance to the general election on Nov. 3.

JK Rowling confronts the BBC for pushing 'propaganda' over its transgender sports headline

Wed, 01 Jul 2026 13:30:38 -0400

"Harry Potter" author J.K. Rowling publicly called out the BBC on Tuesday for pushing "propaganda" in its coverage of the U.S. Supreme Court’s landmark ruling upholding bans on transgender athletes participating in women’s and girls’ sports.

Replying on X to a BBC News headline about the high court’s ruling, Rowling argued the British broadcaster was pushing an ideological position that the public "overwhelmingly rejects."

The BBC headline read: "US Supreme Court upholds bans on transgender women in female school and college sports." Rowling immediately pushed back on the framing.

"You mean men, men who claim to be women," Rowling wrote, taking issue with the network's refusal to use biological terms in its headline.

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"You are a national broadcaster that consistently obfuscates facts around sex because you’ve taken an ideological position the public overwhelmingly rejects. This isn’t news, it’s propaganda," she added.

In a statement to Fox News Digital, a BBC spokesperson defended the network's reporting by pointing to the context provided within the story itself. "This article states clearly that a transgender woman is a biological man who identifies as a woman," the spokesperson said.

The BBC spokesperson also added that the organization recognizes the strong feelings around the subject, and said it continues to review coverage to reflect legal developments, like the Supreme Court ruling.

In a 6-3 ruling authored by Justice Brett Kavanaugh, the Supreme Court ruled in favor of West Virginia and Idaho, which were being sued by transgender athletes to gain access to girls’ sports.

The court upheld state laws requiring student athletes to compete on teams and in leagues that match their biological sex, not gender identity, a move that secures similar protections passed in over two dozen other states.

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Rowling has faced criticism for her views on biological sex, frequently calling for the exclusion of transgender athletes from girls' and women’s sports. She has donated to campaign group For Women Scotland, which legally challenged how the word "woman" is defined by law in the United Kingdom.

The BBC article later explained that, "Under those state bans, a transgender woman — a biological male who identifies as a woman — is not permitted to compete in female sports at schools and colleges."

On Tuesday, LGBTQ+ advocates and social media users criticized Queen Camilla for posting a photo alongside Rowling with the caption on the Royal family’s Instagram page reading:

"With a shared passion for books and a deep commitment to children reading for pleasure, The Queen and author J.K. Rowling have met at the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh."

"Her Majesty and Ms Rowling discussed the importance of ensuring that young people have access to books and the vital part reading plays in opening doors for future generations."

Social media users criticized the decision to meet Rowling during June, which is widely recognized as Pride Month.

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Earlier this year, Rowling praised the International Olympic Committee’s decision to ban transgender women from competing in women’s sports.

"Today's ruling by the IOC means a welcome return to fair sport for women and girls, but I'll never forget the scandal of Paris 2024, when people who consider themselves supremely virtuous and progressive publicly cheered on men punching women," she wrote on X.

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Her outspoken views on the issues of transgender athletes have frequently put her at odds with other celebrities. Daniel Radcliffe, who played Harry Potter in the original films, and his co-star, Emma Watson, who played Hermione Granger, have both condemned Rowling’s opinions.

NPR’s Alito retirement blunder raises eyebrows after reporter's ‘not plausible’ explanation stuns media world

Wed, 01 Jul 2026 13:26:50 -0400

The strange explanation surrounding NPR’s erroneous story about Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito's retirement has raised more questions about the journalism debacle.

NPR was forced to retract a story Tuesday by legal affairs correspondent Nina Totenberg, who wrongly reported that Alito was retiring. NPR published the story headlined, "Justice Samuel Alito, who wrote the opinion overturning Roe v. Wade, retires," but quickly replaced it with an editor’s note insisting it was "erroneously published."

NPR top editor Thomas Evans issued a statement calling the botched report a "misunderstanding" and said Totenberg would appear on "All Things Considered" to explain how the gaffe occurred.

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But NPR Public Editor Kelly McBride addressed the situation before Totenberg appeared on-air and wrote that Totenberg "misheard" an announcement by Chief Justice John Roberts and simply thought he said Alito was retiring.

Totenberg then appeared on "All Things Considered" Tuesday and provided a different explanation for the "rookie mistake" that contradicted her own public editor. The 82-year-old Totenberg, who has been a working journalist for over five decades, read a letter she wrote to Alito apologizing for the mistake.

"Dear Justice Alito, there are no words to adequately apologize for today's error in reporting your retirement. It was entirely my fault," Totenberg said.

"I rushed out of the courtroom after the opinion announcements, and when I realized that the usual rush of folks after a few minutes had not happened, I asked somebody what was going on inside, to which the answer was, 'retirement announcements.' I didn't hear the 's' on 'announcements,' and I assumed, something no reporter should ever do, that you were retiring," Totenberg continued. "It was the worst professional mistake of my more than 50 years in journalism. I could go on, but I don't know what else to say, except that I am so, so sorry."

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NPR was then forced to issue its second correction of the day, this time to McBride’s story about Totenberg’s misstep. McBride initially wrote that Totenberg misheard Justice Roberts, but the veteran reporter admitted on-air that she instead heard "somebody" say a retirement was being announced.

"This story was updated to include Totenberg's description of her error, as broadcast on ATC. She did not personally hear the announcement from the chief justice," the correction stated.

Alito's retirement would have massive implications if it happened, as President Donald Trump would be in position to have a fourth Supreme Court pick over his two terms.

Totenberg's puzzling explanation not only contradicted McBride but also stunned media observers from across the industry. CNN media reporter Brian Stelter posted her apology on X and was promptly met with confusion.

Axios reporter Alex Thompson replied, "I don’t understand," to which Stelter added, "I don’t either." Others suggested that Totenberg might have jumped the gun on a looming announcement and many wondered why a veteran journalist would have published a pre-written bombshell without clear confirmation.

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Bethany Mandel added, "Her version of events is not plausible. She heard the word retirement and assumed Alito and published a whole story?"

"That is not an explanation. It's either a lie or unforgivable incompetence for which she must be fired," journalist Miranda Devine responded.

Former CBS News reporter Scott MacFarlane wrote, "This is staggering. Just… gobsmacking."

"The Press Box" host Bryan Curtis added, "This is a different level of screw-up than a pre-write accidentally getting pubbed."

Many others took to X with thoughts:

NPR has said the process for posting breaking news will be reviewed. In the meantime, McBride blasted her colleague.

"As Totenberg said on air later in the day, ‘It was a rookie mistake.’ But had a rookie made such a mistake, he or she would have been dismissed. To make such an assumption is inexplainable," McBride wrote.

NPR did not immediately respond to a series of Fox News Digital questions, including whether Totenberg would be disciplined and how the process for posting breaking news will change.

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Alito, an appointee of President George W. Bush, has fueled speculation about his retirement because of two factors: his age and the length of his tenure on the bench. The 76-year-old justice has been part of the court for more than 20 years.

Republicans currently control the U.S. Senate and White House, so a hypothetical Trump nominee wouldn't need Democratic support to get confirmed.

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Fox News Digital’s Rachel Wolf, Alec Schemmel and Ashley Oliver contributed to this report.

Florida woman tells police she knows nothing about drugs that allegedly fell out of her ‘jail purse’

Wed, 01 Jul 2026 13:20:34 -0400

How did that get there? That's what police in Florida say a woman asked over the weekend after the jail scanner picked up an abnormality in her "lower region" and a baggie of cocaine allegedly hit the floor while she was in a change out room.

The Brevard County Sheriff's Office reported that Reagan Cox was arrested on charges of resisting an officer without violence during a traffic stop. There's not a mention of why she was stopped in the first place, but that's neither here nor there.

The story picked up after she was transported to jail and the scanner noticed something in what Sheriff Wayne Ivey described in a Facebook post about the alleged incident as her "Jail Purse."

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"Our Corrections Deputies moved Cox to a change out room where she was observed trying to cover her buttocks area with her hand," the sheriff wrote about what took place after the abnormality was picked up by the scanner. "After moving her hand, a baggie dropped to the floor containing approximately 3.8 grams of cocaine!!"

Cox is alleged to have said that "she knew nothing about the drugs." She then, according to Ivey, pointed the finger at someone who "must have put it in there during an 'intimate encounter!!'"

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The Brevard County Sheriff's Office handed the Florida woman another charge

The accuracy of that version of how the alleged baggie of drugs made its way into the jail will more than likely have to be decided during a court proceeding of some kind, because Cox picked up another charge.

On top of her resisting without violence charge, she was charged with introduction of contraband into a detention facility.

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Ivey ended the Facebook post with some knowledge for the public to keep in mind as they're navigating their way through daily life.

He wrote, "Folks, if not realizing that someone left cocaine in your 'Jail Purse,' is not a good enough reminder to not do drugs, then I don’t know what is!!"

Big Medicare change slashes weight-loss drug costs for eligible seniors

Wed, 01 Jul 2026 13:19:02 -0400

Millions of Medicare beneficiaries struggling with obesity could soon see the cost of weight-loss drugs plummet, as a new federal pilot program launching July 1 expands access to GLP-1 medications like Wegovy and Zepbound for eligible seniors.

Through a new trial called Medicare GLP-1 Bridge, the federal government is now offering a selection of the brand-name medications to certain Medicare and Medicare Advantage beneficiaries for $50 a month, The Associated Press reported.

The covered medications include drugmaker Eli Lilly’s Foundayo tablets and Zepbound KwikPens and Novo Nordisk’s Wegovy injections and tablets, all of which have been FDA-approved for weight loss, according to the report.

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The temporary program is set to run until the end of 2027.

This is the first time GLP-1s (glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists) will be covered by insurance when used solely for weight loss.

Prior to this new Medicare pilot, seniors who wanted to access GLP-1s for obesity alone paid about $1,350-$1,650 per month for Novo Nordisk’s Wegovy (semaglutide) and about $1,086 monthly for Lilly’s Zepbound (tirzepatide). However, both manufacturers offered some cash-pay options that significantly reduced those prices for eligible patients.

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There are some parameters surrounding the coverage — older adults must have had a body mass index (BMI) of 35 or higher when they started GLP-1 therapy, or a BMI of 27 or higher alongside another health condition, such as a past heart attack or stroke or prediabetes.

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Those who already have insurance coverage for other diseases, such as diabetes and sleep apnea, are not eligible for the program.

There are more than 70 million Americans currently enrolled in Medicare, 10 million of whom are overweight or obese, according to Juliette Cubanski, vice president and director of the program on Medicare policy at the healthcare research nonprofit KFF.

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"For many older Americans living with obesity, this is a moment they and their families have been waiting for," Jamey Millar, Novo Nordisk’s executive vice president of U.S. operations, said in a press release.

"The Medicare GLP-1 Bridge program offers a new, affordable path to an FDA-approved treatment that was previously not covered."

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Dr. Mehmet Oz, administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, said he hopes the program can help his agency collect data to potentially work toward longer-term coverage, while providing immediate relief to cash-strapped older Americans, AP reported.

"The sheer cost of these medications is a huge barrier to access," he said in a call with reporters. "That ends today."

Oz told reporters that CMS plans to "carefully track participation and outcomes" to see whether an extension of the Bridge program or another solution is the best way to move forward. He told AP a federal law permanently allowing the coverage is "not essential right now" but something "for Congress to debate amongst themselves."

"We can’t decide what’s going to happen long term with Bridge until we see some of the data," he said, adding that there are ongoing talks with drug companies to lower costs.

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One potential concern is that older patients tend to have more adverse effects to medication in general , according to Dr. Micah Eimer, a clinical assistant professor of cardiology at the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine.

"Specifically, in our research, older patients on blood pressure medications were more likely to experience hypotensive side effects, such as fainting and dizziness, after starting a GLP-1," he said in a statement.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Police identify two teen suspects after Penn State student shot dead over stolen phone

Wed, 01 Jul 2026 12:58:48 -0400

Philadelphia police have issued arrest warrants for two 16-year-olds who allegedly killed Billy Schmidt on June 6 while he was walking home from an NBA Finals watch party.

A spokesperson for the Philadelphia Police Department told Fox News Digital that the warrants were issued for two boys who are both 16. Fox News Digital is withholding their names because they are minors and haven't yet been charged.

Schmidt, 22, was killed during an armed robbery attempt that happened June 6 at about 1:30 a.m. Officers found the Penn State student with a gunshot wound to his chest. He was taken to a local hospital but pronounced dead at 1:47 a.m.

The teens are not yet in custody.

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In surveillance video, Schmidt can be heard saying, "Give me my phone," before a gunshot could be heard moments later. The video shows a man throwing a cellphone before another individual can be seen running around a corner being chased by Schmidt, who was then shot in the chest.

The shooter was described by police as a Black male between 5’3″ and 5’5″ "wearing all dark (black) clothing with a light gray camouflage-colored facemask." Officials said this person was armed with a handgun.

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The second suspect was described by police as 5’8″ with braids and was "wearing a light gray colored custom designed "KONFUSED" brand hooded sweatshirt with a design on the front that includes three skulls and crossbones with a bejeweled halo above each skull."

The U.S. Marshals Service has also joined the search for the teens, offering $5,000 for information leading to their arrest.

MANHUNT UNDERWAY AFTER COLLEGE STUDENT FATALLY SHOT CHASING ROBBERS WHO ALLEGEDLY STOLE HIS PHONE

Bill Schmidt, the victim's father, told ABC7 that his son was on his way home from a bar where he was watching the NBA Finals with friends.

"He was a really good person who cared about everybody and never hurt or bothered a soul, never bothered anyone and for him to get shot like that is a travesty," Bill Schmidt said. "I'm shocked when they stole his phone that he chased them."

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Anna Schmidt, Billy's sister, told reporters she doesn't know how anyone could have killed her brother.

MANHUNT UNDERWAY AFTER COLLEGE STUDENT FATALLY SHOT CHASING ROBBERS WHO ALLEGEDLY STOLE HIS PHONE

"I miss him so much, and I don't understand how someone can do this," Anna Schmidt said.

Schmidt was a student at Penn State World Campus studying journalism, where he was set to graduate in December.

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"We are heartbroken over the tragic death of William Schmidt and we share our deepest condolences with his family and friends," the university said in a statement to Fox News Digital.

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Police are urging anyone with information on the suspects' whereabouts to contact 215-686-TIPS.

Fox News' CB Cotton contributed to this report.