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WNBA media predictably embarrasses itself again by ignoring Sophie Cunningham story over All-Star Weekend

Tue, 28 Jul 2026 17:05:28 -0400

The WNBA media had every opportunity to show it could cover the league like a serious professional sport over All-Star Weekend in Chicago.

It blew it.

Reporters had access to the league’s biggest players and Commissioner Cathy Engelbert just days after Sophie Cunningham said biological males should not compete in girls' and women's sports. Yet not one public answer emerged from the weekend about whether the league’s stars agreed with her.

SOPHIE CUNNINGHAM SPEAKS OUT TO PROTECT GIRLS AS WNBA ALL-STAR INITIATIVE BACKS ‘GENDER-EXPANSIVE’ GROUP

The outcome was, sadly, predictable.

Before the event, I wrote on X:

It did not.

One important disclosure: OutKick and Fox News Digital attempted to cover All-Star Weekend in person, and I planned to ask the players and Commissioner Cathy Engelbert about Cunningham’s comments (if given the chance). We applied for a credential through the NBA/WNBA credential portal, but the league denied the request because it was submitted 10 days after its June 16 deadline.

The portal was still open and accepted the application, which was submitted four weeks prior to the event.

I had not received the WNBA’s original credential advisory or either of the two reminder emails the league said it sent. We asked the league to reconsider, noting that OutKick and Fox News Digital were approved to cover last year's All-Star Game, but the WNBA stood by its decision.

So, no, OutKick did not ask the players in Chicago because we didn't have access to do so.

That left the job to the reporters who received credentials.

After reviewing the publicly available press conferences, interview videos, transcripts and coverage from All-Star Weekend, I could not find one instance of a WNBA All-Star or Commissioner Cathy Engelbert being asked about Cunningham’s statement.

Sophie Cunningham created an obvious story for WNBA reporters

Cunningham’s comments came in an ESPN profile published just before the All-Star break.

"I got a lot of negative feedback about me hating trans. And I’m like, ‘I never once said that,’" Cunningham said. "I think that I am here to extend love. But I also think with that love is truth, being honest. And I want to protect young girls in a locker room, or young girls in sport who shouldn’t have to go against biological men."

Reporters grilled Cunningham just before the break. She did not retreat.

"I said what I said. I think it’s kinda common sense," Cunningham said.

The story quickly moved beyond Cunningham.

Las Vegas Aces forward Brianna Turner publicly defended transgender participation in women’s sports. The White House backed Cunningham. The Associated Press identified the transgender-athlete debate as one of the major cultural issues hanging over All-Star Weekend.

In other words, this wasn't an obscure social media controversy that reporters could credibly claim they hadn't seen.

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An active WNBA player had taken a clear position on one of the biggest debates in women’s sports. Her comments drew a response from another player and reached the White House. The league’s most prominent athletes were about to gather in the same city for several days of media availability.

The questions practically wrote themselves.

Do you agree with Cunningham?

Should women’s sports be reserved for biological females?

Do Cunningham’s comments conflict with the values of the WNBA?

Apparently, that was too much to ask.

WNBA All-Stars were available, but no one produced an answer

The WNBA assembled 22 All-Stars in Chicago, including Caitlin Clark, A’ja Wilson, Breanna Stewart, Paige Bueckers and Cunningham’s Indiana Fever teammates Kelsey Mitchell and Aliyah Boston. Players participated in practice interviews, informal scrums and official press conferences throughout the weekend.

There is always a chance that a reporter asked someone about Cunningham during a scrum that was not recorded or published. It is impossible to prove that the topic never came up once over the weekend.

But journalism is not a private conversation between a reporter and an athlete. The point is to provide information to the public.

No outlet appears to have produced an answer from an All-Star. No videos surfaced, no quote appeared in a story and no reporter posted a player’s response on social media.

If someone asked, the answer apparently was not important enough to publish. The practical result is the same.

The public still has no idea what the WNBA’s most prominent players think about trans-identifying biological males competing in women's sports and using women's locker rooms.

The irony is that All-Star Weekend included the inaugural WNBA Media & Innovation Summit. The event’s stated theme was "From Participation to Power," and organizers promoted it as a discussion about who will shape the future of women’s sports.

Evidently, asking female athletes whether women’s sports should be reserved for females didn't fit the program.

Cathy Engelbert was standing in front of the entire WNBA press corps

The failure to question Engelbert was particularly glaring.

The commissioner began her All-Star press conference by addressing racism, misogyny, homophobia, harassment and threats against players. She said the league is built on "inclusion and respect" and pledged to make every player feel safe and supported.

That provided a natural opening to ask about Cunningham.

Does the commissioner believe Cunningham’s comments are consistent with the WNBA’s values?

What is the league’s position on transgender eligibility?

Does Engelbert believe supporting a female-only athletic category is exclusionary?

No one asked.

Instead, reporters questioned Engelbert about the new replay center, international games, the Las Vegas Aces investigation, the relationship between the league and its players, officiating, security, her future as commissioner, coaching diversity, HBCU internships and her communication style.

Several were legitimate questions. The problem is not that reporters asked about officiating or league operations. The problem is that the full press conference ended without anyone addressing the controversy involving one of Engelbert’s players.

Engelbert even talked about young girls viewing WNBA players as role models.

Cunningham’s entire argument was that young girls deserve protection in locker rooms and athletic competition. Still, no one in the room made the connection. Or, possibly, no one in the room wanted to make the connection.

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WNBA media was comfortable judging Cunningham from a distance

Some reporters had plenty to say about Cunningham. They just didn’t appear interested in asking WNBA players about her.

The Guardian published an All-Star Weekend feature that characterized Cunningham’s comments as "transphobic language." The story included fresh quotes from Courtney Williams, Becky Hammon, Jessica Shepard and A’ja Wilson on other subjects.

Yet the published article contained no response from any of them about Cunningham’s comments.

That captures the problem with much of the media covering this league.

A reporter was comfortable delivering a moral judgment about Cunningham’s statement. Getting a prominent WNBA player on the record about that statement was apparently less important.

The Associated Press also included the controversy in its scene-setting story from Chicago. But the article relied on Cunningham’s previous ESPN quote and Turner’s social media comments rather than producing a response from an All-Star attending the weekend.

The media knew it was a story. They wrote about it. They just decided not to do any actual reporting.

This is what passes for WNBA journalism

None of this should be surprising.

In 2024, Caitlin Clark went through a massive media tour before entering the WNBA. Reporters asked her the same safe questions repeatedly, but no one asked the most influential young woman in American sports what she thought about transgender athletes competing against females.

Later that year, USA Today reporter Christine Brennan asked DiJonai Carrington whether she intentionally poked Clark in the eye. It was a completely reasonable question about something that happened during a basketball game.

The WNBA Players’ Association responded by calling on USA Today to discipline Brennan and suggesting that she should lose access.

Then came the Brittney Griner controversy last season. A viral video showed Griner saying something after fouling out against the Indiana Fever. Many viewers believed she made a racially charged remark.

For nearly three weeks, no WNBA reporter asked Griner what she said. OutKick sought credentials specifically to ask the question and was denied by multiple teams before the Washington Mystics eventually granted access.

When we finally asked Griner, she denied using the phrase attributed to her. The controversy largely died because an athlete finally answered the actual question.

That should have been a lesson for everyone covering the league.

Instead, All-Star Weekend showed that nothing has changed.

The WNBA and its players say they want the attention, revenue and stature afforded to major professional sports leagues. That comes with real media coverage. Sometimes athletes have to answer questions they would rather avoid.

A reporter didn't have to agree with Sophie Cunningham to ask about her comments. In fact, anyone who believed her statement was offensive or harmful had an even stronger reason to ask other players for their views.

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OutKick sought access because we intended to ask.

The league denied our credential request, and the reporters who were admitted apparently decided the answer was better left unknown.

The WNBA and its media cheerleaders spent All-Star Weekend celebrating the growth of women’s sports while avoiding the most basic question about who should be allowed to compete in them.

Ex-FDA commissioner confronted on 'outrageous' Fauci diaries by CNBC host

Tue, 28 Jul 2026 17:00:57 -0400

Scott Gottlieb, a former FDA commissioner, was confronted about former National Institutes of Health (NIH) Director Anthony Fauci's diaries on Monday in a back-and-forth on CNBC, which host Joe Kernen called "outrageous."

"How about your buddy Fauci, that I've asked you about in the past. You've defended him quite a bit," Kernen said. "I've asked about whether he orchestrated a cover-up of the lab origin because of his involvement in making gain-of-function research possible again in China, which he did. He knew that would come back to haunt him and then basically told his colleagues go with the natural origin. It was obvious three years ago, Scott, to me anyway, and everybody else, that he orchestrated that."

Fauci’s diary entries were released on Saturday by Senate Homeland Security Committee Chairman Rand Paul, R-Ky., detailing the doctor’s role during the COVID-19 crisis through conversations with President Donald Trump, governors, world leaders, media appearances and his personal observations as the pandemic unfolded in 2020.

"Well look, and I've looked through the emails, some of them have been online, I think it's disappointing to see him trying to suppress alternative opinions, and that clearly was evidence from the emails. I thought it was disappointing. The part of it that also disappointed me was how much he enjoyed the media associated with the event and his own appearances," Gotlieb said.

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"I think a lot of us went on to media out of a sense of obligation," he continued. "It was a hard time for all of us. I know it was a hard time for you. I think a lot of us felt an obligation to inform the public. And it wasn't particularly enjoyable. I mean, I got a lot of threats, others did as well, associated with that, and so to see those emails where he is evidencing some pleasure in the notoriety that he achieved, that's disappointing."

Kernen pushed back and said it was "outrageous."

"Does having a reputation totally in the toilet at 85 years, does that hold him to account for what he was responsible for?" Kernen asked.

Gottlieb said the Fauci he knew over the years was not the one he saw in the emails, and said the former NIH head was always careful and thoughtful.

Kernen specifically brought up Fauci's relationship with members of the liberal media. Fauci’s closest media ally appeared to have been CNN anchor Jake Tapper, who was mentioned 41 times in the diary.

FAUCI'S DIARY SHOWS HE FED QUESTIONS TO JOURNALISTS, BUILT FRIENDSHIPS WITH MEDIA FIGURES

"Did you figure out the obsession with mainstream media in defending him and Jake Tapper having multiple dinners and best friends? What did that come from? And I know people around here that would call Tony Fauci a hero," Kernen said.

Gottlieb said he couldn't dissect the relationship, but again said he was disappointed by the emails.

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

According to the diary, Tapper texted Fauci to mock rival cable news hosts and other doctors. On one occasion, Tapper called to check on Fauci after an appearance on his show irked Trump supporters.

"Jake wanted to make sure the interview did not cause me any problems," Fauci wrote on April 13, 2020.

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In July 2020, Fauci gushed that he was forming a friendship with Tapper.

"Had dinner over Jake Tapper and Jen Tapper’s home in DC. Terrific couple. Friendship building," Fauci wrote, according to the diary.

Later that month, Fauci wrote that he "gave Jake some questions to ask" pediatrician Brett Giroir during an interview on CNN’s "State of the Union." But Tapper would later express frustration, waking Fauci up in the process.

"Tapper woke me up at 11:23 AM (I went to bed early) furius [sic] at POTUS for tweeting about the fact that Jake severly [sic] questioned Brett Giroir on SOTU CNN show today. Jake was really pissed at the craziness of it all," Fauci wrote.

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Fox News' Brian Flood and Joseph Wulfsohn contributed to this report.

Philadelphia Eagles lock up Jalen Carter through 2031 with record $152M contract extension

Tue, 28 Jul 2026 16:57:29 -0400

The national stage wasn't kind to Jalen Carter at the start of the 2025 season when we saw him get kicked out of the regular-season opener for spitting at Dak Prescott, but the start of this season is getting off on much brighter note.

As in, a Brink's truck full of $100 notes.

That's because Carter has agreed to a four-year contract extension worth a reported $152 million with $106 million guaranteed that makes him the highest-paid defensive tackle in NFL history.

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The deal, negotiated by agents Drew and Jason Rosenhaus, will pay Carter $38 million in new money on an annual average basis.

The average vaults Carter past Tennessee Titans defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons ($35.2 million), and Kansas City Chiefs lineman Chris Jones ($31.75 million) as the league's only interior linemen exceeding $30 million per season.

That's, shall we say, nothing to spit at.

Carter is now under contract with Philadelphia through 2031.

The No. 9 overall pick of the 2023 draft, Carter finished second in the Defensive Rookie of the Year voting behind Will Anderson Jr.

Carter was instrumental in helping the Eagles win Super Bowl LIX to cap the 2024 season. Last year he only played in 11 games until he required shoulder surgery in both shoulders.

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But he played at least 90 percent of the snaps in four of those 11 games and his 55.9 snaps per game was the most among defensive tackles.

Carter is two-time Pro Bowler and the Eagles obviously believe his best days are ahead because that's exactly what $38 million per season should deliver.

Especially in games played on the national stage.

FOLLOW ARMANDO SALGUERO ON X: @ARMANDOSALGUERO

Dakota Johnson stuns as Marilyn Monroe in first look after director doubted casting

Tue, 28 Jul 2026 16:56:26 -0400

Forget Dakota Johnson — the actress looked every bit the blonde bombshell as she transformed into Marilyn Monroe.

A new set photo offered fans a first glimpse at Johnson's striking new role in "Flesh Impact." The short film, written and directed by Maggie Gyllenhaal, will premiere at the Venice Film Festival in September.

The shocking transformation is just one piece of Gyllenhaal's fresh take on the Hollywood legend.

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Instead of a traditional biopic, "Flesh Impact" imagines Monroe beyond the platinum hair and red lipstick, exploring the woman behind one of pop culture's most enduring personas.

Gyllenhaal first worried Johnson didn't look enough like Marilyn Monroe to play the part.

"Then I thought, ‘That’s ridiculous. Who cares?’" she told Vanity Fair. "I don’t know that anyone even really totally knows what Marilyn looks like because she’s been so commodified and made into this myth, and she’s very blurry in my mind."

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For "Flesh Impact," Johnson portrayed Marilyn Monroe at age 36, the age at which the Hollywood icon died in 1962, while Ellen Burstyn played a fictionalized older version of the blonde bombshell.

The 17-minute short film aims to explore Monroe beyond her enduring public image. Rather than being a traditional biopic, the film blends reality and imagination to examine her identity, legacy and the experience of being an actress in honor of her 100th birthday.

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"I’ve always been fascinated by Marilyn Monroe," Gyllenhaal said in a press release. "So, when Genesis first came to me with the idea of a celebratory project for her centennial, I knew I wanted to work together on bringing this story to life.

"With ‘Flesh Impact,’ we showcase the timeless icon we know and love through a modern lens that reclaims her story," she added.

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ESPN's Dan Orlovsky weighs in on Florida coach Jon Sumrall's pedicure preferences, immediately gets roasted

Tue, 28 Jul 2026 16:54:10 -0400

While last week's SEC Media Days saw plenty of coaches putting themselves in the spotlight with a litany of quotes, one coach from the Southeastern Conference rose above the rest.

Florida's Jon Sumrall made quite a name for himself in Tampa last week during his inaugural spin as a head coach in the SEC, creating a bit of a stink on social media with his comments regarding a reporter's cell phone going off.

Sumrall apparently wasn't done hogging the limelight, though this time it was his wife generating the headlines when she dropped the bombshell that one of the toughest coaches in the conference loves getting pedicures.

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The internet once again reacted in kind, with fans and media members arguing both sides of the issue.

Some saw no problem with a man taking care of his feet - especially feet that used to play linebacker in the SEC - while others said the revelation that Sumrall gets his toes worked on pokes holes in his "tough guy act."

A few fans even suggested his wife was in the wrong for airing out his dirty laundry (and clean feet) and giving his rivals ammo to use against him.

One man who isn't necessarily a rival coach is ESPN analyst and former NFL quarterback Dan Orlovsky.

Orlovsky was asked about "Pedicuregate" on the show "Get Up" Tuesday morning, and the ex-Detroit Lion did not mince words.

"I have never gotten a pedicure, and I never will," said Orlovsky. "I am completely against pedicures for dudes."

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Sumrall is pretty clearly a dude, so it sounds like Orlovsky is against the new Gators head coach getting a pedicure.

Orlovsky was roundly mocked by all of his co-hosts on "Get Up" during the segment, but that was nothing compared to what fans on X had in store for him.

One subset of fans - both Florida and otherwise - correctly pointed out that Orlovsky calling a guy out for getting pedicures while he wears makeup on the set of a TV show feels a tad bit hypocritical.

Another subset of fans took things on a bit more of a personal route, and brought up Orlovsky's very infamous trip out of the back of the end zone during the 2008 NFL season (a season in which the Lions notoriously completed an 0-16 campaign).

I also have to say, it is relieving that fans of teams other than the Florida Gators are hopping to Jon Sumrall's defense.

I thought I was going to have to defend this take as a massive Gator homer like that one scene in "Game of Thrones" where Jon Snow has to take on hundreds of soldiers all by himself in The Battle of the Bastards.

In all seriousness, I'm not a pedicure guy. I really don't like strangers touching me in general so that rules out massages, too.

But I am in no way going to shame a man for getting his feet taken care of.

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Manicures, though? That's a different story.

I have to draw the line somewhere.

Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert and pop star Madison Beer announce engagement with romantic post

Tue, 28 Jul 2026 16:51:19 -0400

Regardless of what happens with the Los Angeles Chargers this season, star quarterback Justin Herbert and pop star Madison Beer have already won.

The couple announced their engagement Tuesday in a joint social media post.

"Meet my fiancé," they captioned the joint post.

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The couple posted 12 pictures from the big day, the first showing them sharing a kiss.

Among the pictures in the slideshow, Herbert is shown carrying an ebullient Beer over his shoulder, while another shows him on one knee proposing to her. Another picture shows a wooden sign that read "Mr. and Mrs. Herbert."

The couple was first linked together in August 2025 when Herbert was seen with the singer on the set of one of Beer’s music videos in Los Angeles. They seemed to confirm the dating rumors when they were pictured together on the sideline of a Chargers game at SoFi Stadium in October.

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The couple attended a Los Angeles Lakers game later that month and sat courtside. They went viral as Herbert blocked an errant basketball from hitting Beer.

Herbert is 28, and Beer is 27. The couple’s birthdays are just five days apart. In March, each of them posted romantic messages to the other for their respective birthdays.

Herbert is heading into his seventh season as the Chargers quarterback.

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Last season, in 16 games, Herbert led the Chargers to an 11-5 record, completing 66.4% of his passes for 3,727 yards with 26 touchdowns and 13 interceptions. The former Oregon star also ran for 498 yards and two touchdowns.

He made the Pro Bowl for the second time in his career.

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Leading economist warns of rise of 'Gen Z affordability socialism'

Tue, 28 Jul 2026 16:50:42 -0400

Artificial intelligence is fundamentally transforming the global economy at breakneck speed, but Diogo Costa argues that the real threat to prosperity isn't technological disruption; it's the return of bad economic ideas.

As the president of FEE (the Foundation for Economic Education), America's oldest free-market think tank, Costa is concerned that the affordability crisis is providing the perfect opportunity to tempt the next generation with the ideas of socialism, and argues that economic education is the antidote.

Recently, he sat down with Fox News Digital at Freedom Fest in Las Vegas for a discussion about the intellectual defense of free markets, the intersection of freedom and technology, and how his upbringing in Brazil brings a unique perspective to today's economic policy debates.

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"The biggest challenge today is the different ways that ‘anti-economics’ keeps reappearing. And this time, it's reappearing through a new kind of socialism. So through the 20th century, we had different flavors of socialism, labor union socialism, environmental socialism, anti-globalization socialism. Now we see this cost-of-living socialism, affordability crisis socialism."

While young people are aware that they are better off in a market economy, Costa argues, they still want heavy-handed intervention if they perceive it benefits them.

"Young people, they want to live in a market economy. They don't want to move to Venezuela or Cuba, but they want price controls in everything. They want to freeze the rent, they want free rides in buses, they want to make sure that groceries are either run by the government or price controlled somehow. And this is not just a phenomenon in New York City or California. This is something that's happening globally.

"And this is the new kind of ‘anti-economics.’ So, Leonard Read [founder of FEE] understood that economics is always one generation away from turning prosperity into poverty. The good ideas need to keep being recycled, they need to be reframed, and this is a challenge that we have right now, the rise of this Gen Z affordability socialism."

He further argues that while the technology produced by vibrant market economies has incredible potential, the ideological foundation of capitalism is under attack like never before:

"We're in a golden age for technology, not necessarily for the ideas behind it…the ideas behind the market economy are not as well understood. And when you talk about AI, people are thinking all the jobs are going to be gone. Humanity is on the verge of extinction.

"So there is a lot of pessimism at the same time that you have these wonderful technologies. So the ideas that help us explain and help us work with technology are what's missing."

Costa's studies of the Austrian school of economics lead to separating the economic power of the free-market from its cultural power:

"Joseph Schumpeter, the Austrian economist, said that capitalism would be economically powerful and at the same time culturally weak because you have companies that will be doing amazing things, but capitalism makes things more abstract…and at some point people stop seeing exactly how they are part of this amazing complexity.

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"That's why with FEE we sometimes go back to a pencil. We just ask people ‘do you understand how a pencil is made?’ Because if you see the complexity, the network, the amazing, marvelous market system around... Just building a single pencil, you start to understand how you are part of the complexity and you benefit from it."

Costa's own experience growing up in Brazil during the economically chaotic 1990s was pivotal in shaping his outlook on policy and the need for economic education.

"I grew up in a country that had hyperinflation. When I was 10 years old, 11 years old, yearly inflation was above 1000%, 1200%, 1300%. That meant the prices were changing literally every day. And it's hard to understand how if you live in a society that is that economically chaotic all your life is designed around those problems.

"So as a child, when I was going to the grocery store because my mom gave me a $1,000 bill to buy a bag of chips, I had to think, ‘Oh, I need to get there before the price tagger starts changing the prices’."

"My parents had to turn a bedroom in our house into a pantry because when they got their paychecks the first thing they did was go to the grocery store and buy everything you can…So your life starts to be designed around these big issues. And this is something that some people take for granted."

But it was not only hyperinflation that opened Costa's eyes about economic education; he also first hand the effects of a fundamentally protectionist economic system:

"It's the same thing with protectionism…as a young boy in the early 90s, I wanted video games. Brazil had strict protectionism. So I could buy these dupe video games, but I couldn't get the real deal. And this was something that people now take for granted, but this was how the Brazilian economy was being shaped.

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"And Milton Friedman has this saying that he thinks that we never actually learn economics as humanity, we learn as individuals, we learn maybe as generations, but now that we don't live under hyperinflation people forget what that's like, now that we don't live under hyperprotectionism people forget what it's like. So it's very easy to drift towards inflation, to drift towards protectionism, to drift towards anti-economics and economics needs to be re-taught every generation."

SEE IT: Mark Kelly blames Trump's agenda for boosting AOC as Dems presidential pick

Tue, 28 Jul 2026 16:47:35 -0400

Sen. Mark Kelly, D-Ariz., argued that President Donald Trump is driving Democratic voters toward far-left candidates like Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez after the New York Democrat topped a recent 2028 presidential primary poll.

A recent New Hampshire poll found Ocasio-Cortez was the top choice among likely Democratic voters for the party's 2028 presidential nomination. Kelly placed third with 9% support, behind Ocasio-Cortez and former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, while ahead of California Gov. Gavin Newsom and former Vice President Kamala Harris. The poll comes as several self-described Democratic Socialists have defeated more moderate Democrats in recent primary elections, showing the growing influence of the party's progressive wing.

Kelly has teased a run for president in 2028, recently saying in an NBC interview that it is part of an ongoing discussion with his family that he has "plenty of time" to decide on.

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"I don't know about her message, but people are really struggling," Kelly told Fox News Digital about why Ocasio-Cortez was Democrats top 2028 pick.

Fox News Digital asked Kelly why Ocasio-Cortez and other candidates associated with the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) are resonating with the Democratic voters ahead of upcoming election seasons.

"The policies of this president — supporting billionaires over hardworking people," Kelly said. "1% of the country now owns more wealth than the middle class, and I think it's a response to that."

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In 2021, Federal Reserve data showed the top 1% of households now hold more wealth than the bottom 60% combined for the first time since the central bank began tracking the data in 1989.

Trump has defended his economic agenda as aimed at boosting middle-class Americans through tax relief and lower costs, pointing to efforts to extend the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, eliminate taxes on tips and overtime pay and lower energy costs.

Kelly said voters' frustration with Trump's policies is driving support for candidates like Ocasio-Cortez, while also criticizing the president more broadly.

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"It's unfortunate we have people like this running the government and I think people are really frustrated," Kelly said about Trump to Fox News Digital.

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"I mean this president doesn't prioritize anybody but him and his family," Kelly said. "The corruption is just off the charts. "

Rumors Devin Booker and supermodel Irina Shayk are dating heat up after supposed sightings in the Hamptons

Tue, 28 Jul 2026 16:35:16 -0400

Devin Booker, an elite scorer both on and off the court, is rumored to be dating supermodel Irina Shayk. Those rumors are heating up after claims that the two were spotted hanging out in the Hamptons over the weekend.

TMZ was the first to run with the rumors that appeared on the celebrity gossip account Deuxmoi. The first of the two alleged sightings shows a man who resembles Booker with the claim from a tipster that he and Shayk were at Tutto in East Hampton, New York.

A blurry video then followed that on the gossip account and claimed to confirm the 29-year-old Phoenix Suns star and the 40-year-old Russian model "potentially being something." It supposedly shows the two at Delilah's Chase party.

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

It also includes a story about her being all over him and him being all over two other girls. You can't make out anything that's going on in this video.

Now, if you're not convinced by a picture of a guy's back and an extremely blurry video that Devin Booker and Irina Shayk are an item, you're not alone.

Thankfully, for the tipsters and anonymous sources (we'll get to those in a second), there's more so-called evidence. How about a couple of pictures from what appears to be close range that doesn't show their faces?

Those have to help along with what has already been presented. They couldn’t hurt, right?

Still not convinced? Can I interest you in some of those anonymous sources I mentioned? It wouldn't be rumors that are heating up without those now, would it?

People has those sources, and they're claiming that the NBA star and model have been hanging out. The source says, "Devin Booker and Irina are dating. It's very new, but they like each other a lot."

CHRISTIAN PULISIC RECOVERS FROM HIS WORLD CUP INJURY BY HANGING OUT WITH MEGAN MORONEY IN NASHVILLE

Shayk is into Booker, the source claims, and after mutual friends introduced them, they're "trying to spend a lot of time together this summer before Devin has to start training for the season."

Is she going to be seen at a Suns game next season? If the source is telling the truth, she will be.

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I have to admit that until the source, I wasn't entirely sold on this rumor. The picture of the back of someone who resembled Booker, the almost flip phone quality video, and the cutoff pictures didn't do it for me.

Now, I'm rooting for these two. They know how to navigate this type of relationship. They've both been linked to well-known people; Booker to Kendall Jenner and Shayk, more recently to Tom Brady.

Why not have a supermodel pay a visit to the desert next season for a few games to watch one of the league's stars?

Nolan Wells mystery deepens as email indicates teen drank heavily before vanishing

Tue, 28 Jul 2026 16:31:20 -0400

The mysterious death of 18-year-old Nolan Wells has taken another turn after a newly obtained document listed the missing teen's alcohol intake as "heavy" as authorities searched for him on Horn Island over the Fourth of July weekend.

The document, a July 5 Mississippi Department of Marine Resources Marine Patrol email obtained by Fox News Digital, was sent to the U.S. Coast Guard as authorities searched for Wells.

Along with his physical description and last known location, the email lists "Alcohol intake: Heavy," but does not identify the source of that information.

Wells, an Ole Miss freshman from Jackson, Mississippi, disappeared while on a boating trip to Horn Island with friends. An extensive multi-agency search ended July 6 when his body was discovered.

SEARCH CALLED OFF AFTER BODY MATCHING MISSING TEEN NOLAN WELLS FOUND OFF MISSISSIPPI COAST

Authorities have not publicly identified a cause or manner of death, and the Mississippi State Medical Examiner's autopsy and toxicology results remain pending.

The newly reported details come days after a private autopsy commissioned by Wells' family concluded his cause and manner of death were "undetermined pending investigation."

NOLAN WELLS INDEPENDENT AUTOPSY DOESN'T POINT TO FOUL PLAY, FORMER MEDICAL EXAMINER SAYS

During a July 22 news conference, civil rights attorney Ben Crump said an area of "red discoloration" was found on the back of Wells' head but said Dr. Roger Mitchell, who performed the independent autopsy, could not determine a cause or manner of death pending further investigation.

"Crime Stories with Nancy Grace" host Nancy Grace later discussed the findings on her show, where she raised additional questions about the investigation.

She pointed to what she described as deep red tissue beneath the skin at the back of Wells' head and said the independent pathologist did not receive Wells' lungs or throat when conducting the second autopsy.

Grace also questioned whether those findings could be significant but emphasized that she did not know what caused Wells' death and noted there were "many accidental possibilities."

"There is deep, red, subcutaneous tissue" on the back of Wells' head, Grace said, adding that the discoloration was localized rather than consistent with postmortem blood pooling.

Grace then questioned why the lungs and throat were unavailable during the independent examination.

"When the second autopsy got the body, the lungs and the throat were missing," Grace said. "I understand why they took the lungs to determine if he had drowned, but why was the neck missing? What about the interior of the throat sparked the initial medical examiner's concern?"

She stressed that those questions remain speculative until investigators release additional findings.

"I don't know," Grace said. "There are many accidental possibilities."

The Jackson County District Attorney has defended the investigation amid growing public scrutiny, saying authorities are following standard procedures and awaiting forensic testing before drawing conclusions.

Authorities have not announced whether foul play is suspected.

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Fox News Digital has reached out to the Jackson County Sheriff's Office and the Mississippi State Medical Examiner's Office for comment.

Ella Langley's 'Choosin' Texas' spends 15 weeks at number one on the Billboard Hot 100

Tue, 28 Jul 2026 16:30:03 -0400

Ella Langley has pulled off another incredible career accomplishment.

The country music icon has established herself as unstoppable force in the music industry, and most importantly, she's not slowing down.

This year has been a banner year for the "Nicotine" singer.

COUNTRY SUPERSTAR ELLA LANGLEY PULLS OFF INCREDIBLE CAREER ACCOMPLISHMENT ON THE MUSIC CHARTS

One of the biggest explosive moments was the release of "Choosin' Texas," and the song has now set an impressive record.

Ella Langley's 'Choosin' Texas' makes history

Billboard reported Monday that the hit country music has been #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 for a staggering 15 weeks.

That's the most weeks in the top spot "among non-holiday titles by women with no co-billed acts," according to Billboard.

MORGAN WALLEN AND ELLA LANGLEY HOLD THE TOP TWO ALBUM SPOTS IN AMERICA FOR FIRST HALF OF 2026

The only song featuring only a female singer that has been in the number one spot longer is Mariah Carey's "All I Want for Christmas Is You."

Carey's song has been number one for a total of 22 weeks over the course of its existence. That means Langley trails just seven weeks for the top spot overall, regardless of qualifiers.

Just in case anyone had any doubts, Langley is here to stay, and the rocket ship is only going up from here for the talented 27-year-old singer.

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It's also been incredible watching her explosion in popularity on social media. Head on over to X and search her name.

The viral tweets are endless.

What do you want to see next from Langley? Let me know at David.Hookstead@outkick.com.

Folk icon Linda Perhacs reportedly missing as friends seek answers after months of silence

Tue, 28 Jul 2026 16:26:42 -0400

Friends of legendary folk singer Linda Perhacs are asking the public for help, claiming the 82-year-old artist went missing after leaving a residential care facility about eight months ago.

In a statement shared with Fox News Digital by Perhacs' former manager, Laurel Stearns, friends and collaborators said the acclaimed singer-songwriter was discharged from the facility under the supervision of her legal guardian and has not been heard from directly since.

They said repeated attempts to reach both Perhacs and her guardian have gone unanswered.

MICHAEL J. FOX SAYS GOING PUBLIC WITH PARKINSON'S WAS 'HELL' ON WIFE TRACY POLLAN

"Concern is growing among friends, collaborators, and members of the music community regarding the well-being and current whereabouts of acclaimed singer-songwriter Linda Perhacs," the statement read.

According to the statement, "she was discharged from a residential care facility approximately eight months ago under the supervision of her legal guardian. Since that time, numerous friends and longtime collaborators report they have been unable to establish direct contact with her. Repeated attempts to communicate with her guardian have also, they say, gone unanswered."

Those issuing the statement emphasized they are not accusing anyone of misconduct, but rather "seeking confirmation that Linda is safe, well, and receiving appropriate care, while expressing concern over the prolonged absence of communication with a beloved public figure."

The apparent disappearance of Perhacs has prompted both an Adult Protective Services case and a police report, according to the folk icon's friends. With the investigation ongoing, additional details are being withheld.

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Perhacs' friend Mark McNeill also urged the public to help locate the influential musician in an Instagram post.

"Linda Perhacs our dear friend and legendary singer-songwriter was discharged from a residential care facility approximately eight months ago under the supervision of her legal guardian… Please help us locate Linda to ensure her wellbeing."

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Perhacs' decades-spanning career took an unexpected turn when her 1970 album "Parallelograms" — initially overlooked upon release — was rediscovered decades later and transformed into a cult classic. The singer-songwriter later experienced a career resurgence with the release of "The Soul of All Natural Things" in 2014 and "I'm a Harmony" in 2017.

After months without direct contact, friends said they decided to speak out in hopes of confirming Perhacs is safe and receiving appropriate care.

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"As a public artist whose work has profoundly influenced musicians and listeners around the world, Linda's well-being is of genuine concern to a broad community of admirers and colleagues," the statement continued.

"Those issuing this statement respectfully request that anyone with verified information regarding Linda Perhacs' current condition or means of contact reach out to her authorized representatives or designated point of contact. The intention is not to intrude upon her privacy, but simply to ensure that she is safe and to re-establish communication with someone whose artistic contributions continue to resonate across generations."

Landon Donovan says soccer has arrived in America after record-breaking World Cup summer

Tue, 28 Jul 2026 16:18:41 -0400

The World Cup did not go exactly how the United States Men's National Team expected, but the sport was the talk of the country this summer.

Nearly 7 million people flooded stadiums in North America to catch World Cup action, and the final between Spain and Argentina peaked at 52 million viewers, averaging at around 38 million.

Landon Donovan was an analyst for FOX throughout the event and said this year's World Cup was an unforgettable memory.

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"I'm sad it's over now. It really did go by so fast. Maybe for people at home, not so fast. But for us, it was just travel, game, work, game, travel, appearance, travel, meet-and-greet, travel, game. It was honestly the time of my life, and I'm sad it's over," Donovan told Fox News Digital in a recent interview.

"The superstars showed up and scored goals. The fan bases were incredible. The infrastructure and the stadiums, of course, are amazing in this country. The fans filled the stadiums. It broke records in every way on TV and social. It was a phenomenal World Cup, and I'm really just sad it's over."

It remains to be seen what kind of growth will occur in the U.S. after the World Cup, but if it's anything like what occurred in 1994, the sport is in a good spot – just in time for Major League Soccer's All-Star Game in Charlotte on Wednesday.

Donovan partnered with longtime MLS sponsor AT&T for the festivities to bring fans closer to the action.

"They've been supporters of ours for a long time. Soccer, to most people, is relatively new, but I've been in this game for a long time. So when you have people and companies that want to support in a real way and not just throw money at it, but actually be involved, then it means a lot to us because we've been ambassadors for this game forever," Donovan said. "They're helping us connect people to this game that we love, and that means a lot. They're great with our podcast with me and Tim Howard. Great to me personally, individually, all the All-Star Games. They love the sport. They genuinely do, and it's been really nice to have them."

IOC DECLINES TO INVESTIGATE GIANNI INFANTINO OVER TRUMP'S CALL ABOUT FOLARIN BALOGUN RED CARD

Donovan recalled the ovation he got when he returned to MLS after the 2002 World Cup.

"I lived it, right? At the end of these tournaments, there's so much energy and excitement around soccer and the sport, so you'll see an uptick in viewership. You'll see an uptick in the stadiums. People now know these guys' names, and it's a really, really awesome opportunity to grow as a player, but also to grow your brand," he said.

"When I came back in 2002, I literally got off the plane from Korea and went straight to the stadium at noon, maybe 2:00. We had a game that night, and I got to play for 10 minutes at the end of the game. The excitement in the stadium for the fans to see someone who, 24 hours earlier, had been on a field in Korea was awesome. So these guys coming back into the league a week before the All-Star Game, and then a lot of them at the All-Star Game, it's a really awesome opportunity to be recognized and appreciated. It's really cool."

While a deeper USMNT run would have done wonders for the sport, Donovan, though, is done talking about when soccer will arrive – because he thinks "soccer is here."

"There has been study after study, they asked people to name their favorite sport. The NFL was one, the NBA was two and soccer was three — soccer in general, right? So people do love this sport in this country," he said. "I know anecdotally, I drop my kids off at school every day. I don't see NFL jerseys. I don't see baseball jerseys. I see soccer jerseys. The kids are all wearing soccer jerseys. They're all in. So soccer is here.

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"Now, how you quantify it in a real way via Major League Soccer or U.S. Soccer, I don't know. That's harder to do. But this sport is mainstream now. When you turned on the TV this summer, people were talking about soccer... So, it is here. It's not where we all want it to be yet, but that takes time, man. These other sports have had decades, if not centuries, of a head start on soccer. So we'll just keep going."

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Ex-NHL star Ron Duguay hospitalized after losing consciousness amid Stage 4 cancer battle

Tue, 28 Jul 2026 16:10:31 -0400

Former New York Rangers center Ron Duguay had a scary incident this past week as his daughter, Shay Thomas, revealed he fell unconscious at home and suffered injuries.

Thomas posted on Instagram Monday, where she revealed her father passed out after being "extremely dehydrated."

Duguay, who was diagnosed with Stage 4 cancer earlier this year, also had "varices, portal hypertensive gastropathy, internal bleeding, and an ulcer," after seeing doctors.

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"Our dad @ronduguay10 continues to show us just how strong he is," Thomas wrote on her post on Instagram. "On Friday, he fainted at home, was unconscious, injured a few parts of his face, and knocked out a few teeth in the fall…this time, it wasn’t from hockey. He was taken by ambulance to the hospital."

Duguay’s cancer is in his liver, and Thomas revealed that "pressure has built up inside the liver" after "surgery, chemotherapy, and the pump."

"That pressure can back up into the stomach and cause bleeding. The ulcer still needs further evaluation, but the bleeding and liver pressure are the major concerns right now," Thomas added.

Thomas’ post also had video of Duguay entering the back of an ambulance on a stretcher.

"He is still admitted to the hospital and receiving blood transfusions while the doctors continue to monitor closely," Thomas wrote in her post.

"Through it all, our dad remains strong, positive, and trusting God every step of the way. We will continue to keep everyone updated. Please keep him covered in prayer."

Duguay wasn’t discouraged by the incident, saying "Found my teeth on the bedroom floor," in an Instagram Story that showed a picture of him without some teeth.

Duguay revealed his cancer diagnosis in February, issuing a heartbreaking plea for help as he pursued treatment "in hopes of giving him the best possible chance."

Duguay, 68, first opened up about his health to Page Six, telling the outlet that seeking financial support has been a challenge for him as someone who has used his platform to try to help others.

"I find it extremely hard asking for funds for all these costs I’m going through," he said. "Normally, I’m helping others."

RANGERS GREAT RON DUGUAY'S FAMILY MAKES HEARTBREAKING PLEA AS HE BATTLES STAGE 4 CANCER

Duguay was diagnosed with colon cancer more than a year ago, losing his appendix and gallbladder during his treatment as a result. His family started a GoFundMe campaign to share the details of his condition and plans for additional treatment.

"Our dad has never been someone who asks for help …especially when it comes to money. He has always tried to handle everything on his own and didn’t want to burden anyone else with what he’s going through. But after many conversations as a family, we decided to create this fundraiser for him because we’ve seen firsthand the weight this battle has placed on him, both physically and financially," the family wrote on the campaign post.

"Because of his cancer, he hasn’t been able to work the way he normally would, yet he continues to fight with everything he has. Earlier in his treatment journey, the care he received in Florida nearly cost him his life. That led us to bring him to Orange County, where my sister and I live, so he could receive treatment here … and thankfully, it has helped him so far."

Duguay was one of the Rangers’ most recognizable players of the late 1970s and early 1980s after getting drafted 13th overall in 1977. He was an instrumental part of the team’s run in the 1979 Stanley Cup Final.

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He played in 864 games during an 11-year NHL career, recording 274 goals and 346 assists. He also played for the Detroit Red Wings, Pittsburgh Penguins and Los Angeles Kings.

Duguay is in a relationship with former Republican vice presidential nominee and former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, who has been a strong supporter of the former NHL player throughout his cancer battle.

Fox News’ Paulina Dedaj contributed to this report.

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Trump reflects on infamous phone-number stunt that sparked friendship with Graham

Tue, 28 Jul 2026 16:07:22 -0400

In an emotional farewell Tuesday, President Donald Trump paid tribute to the late Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., recounting how their relationship evolved from fierce political foes into close allies and friends.

Trump said the turning point came after he publicly revealed Graham's cellphone number during a campaign rally in Bluffton, S.C., in 2015 — a decision he acknowledged Tuesday was a mistake.

"As you remember, Lindsey and I did not exactly get off to the best of starts," Trump said during his eulogy address at the Washington National Cathedral, adding that Graham had said something "nasty" when they were both running for the 2016 presidential nomination.

"So naturally, I did something that I shouldn't have done," the president continued. "I shared his personal cellphone number with the millions of people that happened to be watching that particular day as I made a speech, a very important speech."

FROM 'DISGRACE' TO 'FAMILY': TRUMP'S REMARKABLE JOURNEY WITH LINDSEY GRAHAM

"And I remember the number (202) 228-0292 if anybody wants to give it a shot," Trump went on, sparking laughter in the room.

"His phone exploded. He said, ‘I had that number for 20 years.’ His phone totally — I don't know what he did with it. But it exploded," Trump said. "That was the beginning of a friendship, in a way."

"But it was Lindsey who had the last laugh, because while I blew up his phone all for one day, we became great friends and Lindsey did not stop calling me for the next 10 years," Trump continued.

The unlikely friendship grew to include frequent rounds of golf and late-night phone calls as Graham became a leading advocate for Trump’s legislative agenda.

Since Graham's death earlier this month, Trump has repeatedly spoken about the senator's constant presence in his life.

LINDSEY GRAHAM'S FINAL MISSION NEARS FINISH LINE AS WORLD LEADERS GATHER TO HONOR HIM

And before the service began, before the cameras began rolling, before the speeches, and before Graham’s casket arrived, the Washington National Cathedral became a gathering place for those who the late lawmaker knew, worked alongside, advocated for, and, at times, fought.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, two of Graham’s closest allies on the world stage, both attended — holding court separately among the sea of lawmakers and Cabinet members filing into the cathedral.

Much of the Senate attended, too, including Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., who wore a suit. A rare sight not seen even at Trump's second inauguration.

Meanwhile, Trump’s affection for Graham was visible throughout his remarks.

He called him a "beloved friend, a devoted brother, a respected statesman, a giant of the United States Senate, and a true American original who left us much too soon."

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"For more than 30 years, nothing of consequence happened in this Capitol without Lindsey Graham knowing about it," Trump reflected. "Nothing of significance happened anywhere in the world without Lindsey Graham having a view on it. And no bill became law… without Lindsey Graham having a say in it. He was a man who gave America the full measure of his good and mighty heart."

Japan mall rebuilt after deadly 2016 earthquake destroyed in major temblor weeks after 'fresh start' reopening

Tue, 28 Jul 2026 16:05:52 -0400

A shopping mall in southern Japan that had just reopened after years of reconstruction following a devastating 2016 earthquake was destroyed Tuesday after a powerful earthquake struck the region and was followed by a massive explosion, leaving dozens of workers unaccounted for.

The Aeon Mall in Kumamoto Prefecture celebrated its grand reopening on June 13 after years of rebuilding meant to mark the region's recovery from the 2016 disaster.

Just weeks later, a magnitude 6.8 earthquake struck near Kumamoto, according to FOX Weather, citing the U.S. Geological Survey. Japan's Meteorological Agency measured the same quake at magnitude 7.1 using its own seismic scale.

EARTHQUAKE SHAKES PERU'S ANDES REGION, KILLING AT LEAST 5, DISPLACING HUNDREDS

About 200 shoppers were safely evacuated after the earthquake, officials said. Roughly an hour later, a powerful explosion ripped through the building, blowing off exterior walls and exposing its steel framework. NHK reported that about 20 to 30 mall employees remained unaccounted for, while police said rescuers could not immediately enter because of the risk of aftershocks.

The mall had become one of the most visible symbols of Kumamoto's recovery after the magnitude 7.3 earthquake that devastated the region in April 2016. Aeon said the redevelopment included seismic reinforcements and other safety improvements designed to make the complex more resilient.

Witnesses reported smelling gas before the explosion, according to Reuters. An Aeon spokesperson said employees immediately helped evacuate visitors after the quake, while prefectural officials confirmed about 200 people were guided safely outside before the blast.

EXCLUSIVE: FRANKLIN GRAHAM VISITS EMERGENCY HOSPITAL TREATING VENEZUELA EARTHQUAKE VICTIMS

According to FOX Weather, the earthquake struck just before 4:30 p.m. local time about 9 miles north of Kumamoto at a depth of roughly 6 miles. Japan's Meteorological Agency briefly issued and later lifted a tsunami advisory for parts of Kyushu. NHK reported at least 50 people were injured, while Japan's Fire and Disaster Management Agency said the quake sparked at least eight fires. Kumamoto Airport also temporarily closed.

Reuters reported the mall welcomed more than 8 million visitors annually after Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. opened a factory nearby in 2024.

The complex housed about 200 stores, a movie theater and parking for roughly 5,000 vehicles. It also became known locally after a supermarket inside sold 10-yen onigiri to help survivors following the 2016 earthquake.

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When the mall reopened in June, Aeon described the project as a "'re-start' initiative" marking both the shopping center's 21st anniversary and the region's recovery from the 2016 earthquake.

As night fell Tuesday, rescue operations remained on hold because of continuing aftershocks as families awaited word on the employees still believed to be inside.

Soft exosuit helps people walk without bulky motors

Tue, 28 Jul 2026 16:00:41 -0400

Walking through an airport or around a large store can take more energy as we get older. Researchers in China are now testing a soft robotic suit that could someday help your legs do some of that work.

The experimental soft exosuit assists the hips using thin artificial muscles instead of conventional motors and gearboxes. The research, published in the peer-reviewed journal Science Advances, describes a 4.2-pound prototype that fits around the waist and thighs like a lightweight harness.

In a small treadmill test, six healthy adults used an average of 13.9% less energy while the powered assistance was active. Sensors also showed that their leg muscles worked less.

So, how does the soft exosuit actually work, and what still needs to improve before you could ever wear one?

SELF-DRESSING CLOTHES COULD HELP OLDER ADULTS

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How the soft exosuit helps people walk

Many robotic exoskeletons rely on rigid motors to move a person’s joints. Others use compressed air, which requires pumps, valves and an air tank. Those components can make an exoskeleton heavy or noisy. They can also restrict how naturally your body moves.

The new soft exosuit takes a different approach. It uses flexible muscle-like fibers positioned near each hip. As you walk, the fibers pull at the right point in your stride to help move your leg forward. Straps transfer that pulling force from the artificial muscles to the wearer’s hips and thighs. The flexible design allows the suit to move with the body rather than enclosing the legs inside a rigid frame. "Motor-free" refers to the lack of traditional motors and gearboxes. The suit still uses a compact battery pack and electrical power system to activate its artificial muscles.

Artificial muscles replace heavy motors

The artificial muscles use a rubber-like material called a dielectric elastomer. The material changes shape when exposed to an electric field. Researchers have studied dielectric elastomers for years. However, earlier designs lacked the force needed to help move a human leg. Many were also too bulky for a comfortable wearable device.

Wei Yu and his colleagues at Hebei University of Technology changed the molecular structure of the material to improve its performance. They then rolled thin layers into long fibers. Next, the team grouped several fibers into bundles. The arrangement works somewhat like human muscle, where many smaller fibers pull together to create greater force.

The researchers also created modular connectors that allow them to add more fibers when an application requires additional pulling power. According to Hebei University of Technology, the actuators completed more than 100,000 cycles during laboratory testing. Longer studies will need to show how well the materials hold up during daily wear.

COULD A PAINT-ON ELECTRONIC TATTOO SPOT HEART ATTACKS?

Soft exosuit trial cut walking energy use by 13.9%

The researchers tested the soft exosuit on six healthy volunteers. Each participant walked on a treadmill under several conditions. They walked without the suit. They also wore it with the artificial muscles turned off. During another round, the electrical assistance actively supported their hips.

A metabolic testing system measured how much oxygen each person used. Sensors attached to their legs also tracked muscle activity. When the assistance was active, the volunteers used an average of 13.9% less energy than they used while walking without the suit. Lower muscle activity also suggested that their legs needed less effort to complete each step.

That reduction could feel meaningful during a long walk. However, this study involved a controlled treadmill setting and a very small group. The volunteers were also healthy adults. Researchers still need dedicated studies involving older people and those with mobility challenges.

Why a soft exosuit could help older adults

A wearable device that reduces walking effort could help people stay active longer as their leg strength changes. Think about walking through a large grocery store or spending the day with family. A lightweight suit that takes some strain away from your hips could make those outings feel more manageable.

The design may also feel less intimidating than a rigid robotic frame. Its artificial muscles resemble cords built into clothing, while the supporting straps fit close to the body. People recovering from surgery could also benefit from this type of assistance one day.However, future clinical trials will need to determine who can use the suit safely and how much support each person needs. Balance presents another important consideration. The current study focused on the energy required for walking rather than fall prevention or stability.

What the soft exosuit still needs before everyday use

The current prototype remains an early research system. Battery life limits how long the suit can provide assistance. The researchers want future versions to operate longer without adding much weight.

The control system also needs to respond automatically when a person speeds up or slows down. Walking across grass or climbing a slope would create additional challenges. Voltage presents another hurdle. Dielectric elastomer actuators often require more than 1,000 volts. The current stays very low, but any wearable consumer product would need strong insulation and extensive safety testing.

Researchers will also need to study how the fibers respond to sweat and changing temperatures. Repeated bending during everyday activities could affect long-term performance as well. No consumer price or release date has been announced.

FDA TO REVIEW 7 POPULAR PEPTIDES TOUTED FOR WEIGHT LOSS, HEALING AND LONGEVITY

What this means to you

You will not be buying this soft exosuit anytime soon, but the research shows where mobility support could be headed. A lighter system that moves with your body could feel far more natural than today's bulky powered exoskeletons.

The nearly 14% drop in walking energy use is encouraging. Still, the test involved only six healthy adults on a treadmill, so we need much more evidence about comfort, safety and real-world use.

The next big step is testing the suit with older adults and people who already have trouble walking. That is where we will learn whether these artificial muscles can truly help people stay active and independent. For now, anyone noticing changes in mobility should talk with a doctor or physical therapist about the support that makes sense today.

Kurt’s key takeaways

What grabs me here is how much walking support the researchers created without loading someone down with bulky motors. A 4.2-pound suit that cut energy use by nearly 14% is worth watching. Still, this was a very small lab test with only six healthy adults. The battery needs to last longer, and the high-voltage system will need serious safety testing. The bigger test comes next. I want to see how this soft exosuit performs with older adults on real sidewalks and over longer periods before we call it a true mobility breakthrough.

Would you wear a powered exosuit to keep walking farther as you get older? Let us know by writing to us at CyberGuy.com.

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Tyler Hubbard stays calm as wife pulls fish hook from his scalp on family camping vacation

Tue, 28 Jul 2026 15:59:21 -0400

Family vacations are all about making memories.

Some families come home with photos and souvenirs. Others come home with a hole in the back of their head. And by "others," I mean country star Tyler Hubbard.

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The Florida Georgia Line singer found himself in a painful predicament during a recent four-day camping trip when a fish hook got lodged in his scalp, forcing his wife, Hayley, to perform some backwoods surgery.

"Breakfast had to wait…" Hubbard wrote alongside an Instagram video of the removal.

In the clip, Hayley inspects the hook while the couple’s three children offer encouragement from nearby.

"Wow, those little barbs really work," she said.

Hubbard never explained exactly how the hook ended up in his head, but he stayed impressively calm as Hayley worked to free it with a pair of pliers.

When one of the kids asked how badly it hurt, Hubbard admitted, "Kinda does."

OK, tough guy.

Hayley eventually pulled the hook loose, prompting a relieved, "Oh, we got it!"

WHAT A FOURTH-GENERATION FISHING CAPTAIN HAS LEARNED FROM NEARLY 100 YEARS ON THE GULF

Despite the unexpected medical procedure, the family appeared to enjoy the rest of the getaway, which included fishing, swimming, boating, rafting and a bald eagle sighting.

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"We got 4 days off with @tylerhubbard in the middle of this crazy summer and decided to go camping in the airstream," Hayley wrote in a separate post. "All the memories made were worth the shlepping and loading up and unpacking and fun that comes along with camping. next time we’ll try to avoid fish hooks in the head."

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That seems like a reasonable goal.

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Blackburn unveils bill to keep biological men out of Daughters of the American Revolution

Tue, 28 Jul 2026 15:55:27 -0400

FIRST ON FOX — Sen. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., is introducing legislation Tuesday that would prohibit biological males from joining the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR), saying the historic women's organization should be reserved for biological women.

"The Daughters of the American Revolution was founded by women for women, and its founders would be appalled that the organization is now allowing biological males to become members and undermine the legacy of real women who helped build our nation," Blackburn told Fox News Digital in a statement.

"The Daughters of the American Revolution Membership Integrity Act would amend the DAR’s federal charter to stop the organization from erasing biological reality and ensure it is reserved for the real daughters of the American Revolution," Blackburn added.

MED SCHOOL DEANS COME UP EMPTY IN TENSE HEARING WHEN ASKED POINT BLANK IF MEN CAN HAVE BABIES: 'RIDICULOUS'

Blackburn’s bill would amend the organization's federal charter to require that members be biological women, according to bill text first obtained by Fox News Digital. Blackburn's office said the legislation is intended to preserve the group's mission and ensure eligibility standards reflect its identity as a women's organization.

The bill follows similar efforts by Republicans to draw legal distinctions based on biological sex in athletics, prisons, shelters and other single-sex spaces.

Earlier this month, Rep. Ben Cline, R-Va., introduced legislation in the House that would require the DAR to limit membership to biological women, saying the historic organization's congressional charter should reflect its original mission after the group adopted a policy interpreted as allowing transgender applicants.

WASHINGTON MOTHER SAYS SHE FOUND ADULT MALE SHOWERING IN WOMEN'S LOCKER ROOM DURING CHILDREN'S SWIM MEET

Blackburn’s bill is cosponsored by Sens. Katie Britt, R-Ala., Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala., Mike Lee, R-Utah, Tand Kevin Cramer, R-N.D.

The Daughters of the American Revolution, founded in 1890, is federally chartered and made up of women who are direct descendants of American Revolutionary War patriots.

The group voted 1,481 to 984 on June 26 against a measure to keep membership for those "born female," the New York Post reported.

NBC ANCHOR FORCED TO EXPLAIN USE OF TERM 'BIOLOGICAL MALE' DURING COVERAGE OF SUPREME COURT RULING

"The Daughters of the American Revolution are called ‘Daughters’ for a reason—this organization is meant to honor the legacy of American women and their ancestors, not pander to a distorted sense of reality manufactured by far-left radical Democrats," Britt told Fox News Digital in a statement.

"Whether in women’s locker rooms or time-honored organizations like DAR, it is our job to protect women and girls in spaces that are rightfully theirs. I’m proud to cosponsor this commonsense legislation," she said.

In a statement to Fox News Digital, Lee said, "It’s right there in the title: ‘DAUGHTERS’ of the American Revolution. Congress created this group in 1890 to recognize the American women preserving our history, but their D.C. chapter is now admitting biological men. The woke invasion of every feminine space has to stop – there’s already a group for Sons of the American Revolution! Our bill will reverse this needless policy to give the women who built this organization the protection and legitimacy they deserve."

Tuberville said, "There’s a reason the founders of this group named it the DAUGHTERS of the American Revolution. They had the common sense to recognize what a woman is; unlike the woke Left that apparently doesn’t understand the differences between female and male anatomy. Alabama has over 4,000 members in the DAR, and they shouldn’t have to be putting up with this woke nonsense. Amending the eligibility requirements to reflect the founders’ vision is something all of my colleagues should be able to get behind."

Cramer told Fox News Digital in a statement that the "Daughters of the American Revolution was founded specifically for women to honor our patriotic forbears."

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He added, "Today’s Daughters meticulously research their genealogy to prove direct lineage to the heroes of the past, drawing inspiration from the accounts of the women who came before them. Their stories and heroism are rooted in their lives as women, and as a federally chartered organization, the Daughters of the American Revolution should reflect and honor this biological reality. Our legislation ensures membership eligibility is crystal clear."

Fox News Digital reached out to the Daughters of the American Revolution for comment.

World-famous Catholic shrine torched, 'Devil in a skirt' scrawled on Virgin Mary statue

Tue, 28 Jul 2026 15:52:42 -0400

A man has been arrested after one of the world's most famous Catholic pilgrimage sites was vandalized and partially set on fire, with a statue of the Virgin Mary defaced and the words "Devil in a skirt" scrawled across its pedestal in black, according to reports.

Bosnian police arrested a suspect Tuesday in connection with the overnight vandalism and arson at the Shrine of Our Lady in Medjugorje, according to Vatican News.

Authorities have not released the man's identity as investigators work to determine a motive and whether he was responsible for other incidents reported at the shrine that same night, the outlet said.

NIGERIAN PASTOR HIGHLIGHTED BY TRUMP SAYS HE’S NEXT AFTER MILITIA KILLS HIS RELATIVES

Police were called around 4:30 a.m. on July 27 after the face and hands of the statue of the Virgin Mary on Apparition Hill, also known as Podbrdo, were found covered in black paint.

The pedestal at the foot of the statue was spray-painted with the English phrase "Devil in a skirt," while other graffiti and the statue's hands were painted black.

An outdoor altar nearby was also set on fire near St. James Church, the outlet said.

Surveillance footage reportedly at that location showed a man pouring what investigators believe was gasoline onto the altar before setting it ablaze. The fire was extinguished.

REPORT DETAILS RISING PRESSURE ON UNDERGROUND CATHOLICS AS CHINA DENIES CRACKDOWN

The two attacks came just days before Medjugorje's annual youth prayer festival, which is expected to draw more than 50,000 pilgrims from around the world.

In a statement Tuesday, the Medjugorje Parish Office condemned the vandalism and urged Catholics to respond with "prayer, fasting, and forgiveness" rather than anger.

"It is with great sadness that we received the news of the act of vandalism," the parish said.

Church officials also said cleanup and repairs began immediately so the damaged prayer sites could once again welcome pilgrims.

"The affected areas are being cleaned and restored as quickly as possible," the parish said, thanking volunteers for helping preserve the shrine as "a place of encounter with God, a place of peace."

CATHOLIC NUNS SUE NEW YORK, SAY ASSISTED SUICIDE LAW FORCES THEM TO VIOLATE THEIR FAITH

Rather than calling for retribution, the parish urged the faithful to pray for those responsible.

"We pray for the conversion of the hearts of those who committed this act," the statement said, asking that God "touch them with His grace and lead them on the path of goodness."

The parish also appealed for peace, encouraging Catholics "not to return evil for evil," but instead to bear witness through "love, forgiveness and hope."

Despite the attack, officials said the shrine remains open, and its regular schedule of Mass and prayer services will continue as planned.

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Located about 85 miles southwest of Sarajevo, Medjugorje became one of the world's best-known Catholic pilgrimage destinations after six children and teenagers reported seeing apparitions of the Virgin Mary there in 1981.

The Vatican gave the green light for Catholics to continue flocking to Medjugorje offering its approval for devotion at one of the most contested sites of Roman Catholic practice in recent years, The Associated Press reported Tuesday.

Spanish soccer player makes good on his promise to get tattoo of team's manager after World Cup win

Tue, 28 Jul 2026 15:41:29 -0400

Spain is still taking a well-deserved victory lap after locking up the World Cup title earlier this month, and for one player, that involved getting some fresh ink.

And what better way to commemorate the win than by getting the World Cup trophy permanently drawn on your body?

I'll tell you one: getting your manager's big ol' mug holding the World Cup trophy permanently drawn on your body, which is what Spain's Marc Cucurella did.

SPAIN BEATS ARGENTINA TO WIN 2026 FIFA WORLD CUP BEHIND FERRAN TORRES' EXTRA-TIME GOAL

Even before the tournament started, Cucurella pledged to get a tattoo of his manager's face if the team went all the way.

He may have thought he was in the clear when Spain opened the tournament with a 0-0 draw against Cape Verde, but that turned out to be the only blemish on their World Cup record.

Spain defeated reigning champs Argentina for the title on July 19, and now Cucurella is making good on his promise.

There had to be a point, as Spain was closing in on the final, where Cucurella was hoping everyone had forgotten about all of this tattoo business.

FERRAN TORRES SPORTS 'MAKE SPAIN GREAT AGAIN' HAT SIMILAR TO TRUMP'S SLOGAN AT WORLD CUP HOMECOMING PARADE

Unfortunately for him, the internet doesn't forget.

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But it's a unique memento from Spain's World Cup run, and good on him for sticking to his word.

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I think he's going to get irritated in a hurry when he has to keep fielding the questions, "Who is that old guy on your arm?" over and over and over.

Hell, he might just want to get a second tattoo right under that just says, "Before you ask me, it's Spanish national soccer team manager Luis de la Fuente."

Trump says heroic teen lifeguard who saved boy from towering waves deserves White House honor

Tue, 28 Jul 2026 15:41:18 -0400

President Donald Trump on Tuesday praised the teenage lifeguard who went viral after rescuing a young boy from towering waves in Santa Cruz, California, saying he wants to invite the teen to the White House and potentially award him a high civilian honor.

The lifeguard, identified as 16-year-old Ryder on social media, was captured in a heart-stopping video Saturday battling massive surf as he repeatedly disappeared beneath crashing waves while maintaining a relentless grip on the child he was rescuing.

After seeing the dramatic rescue, Trump said the teen deserved national recognition.

"We’re going to bring this heroic young man, and his family, into the White House with, perhaps, the boy he saved, to give him a High Civilian Honor. Very brave, he deserves it!" Trump said in a post on X.

HEROIC 16-YEAR-OLD LIFEGUARD RESCUES CHILD FROM MONSTER SURF IN HEART-STOPPING VIDEO

Hours earlier, Eric Trump also praised the rescue on social media, calling for the teen to receive the nation's highest civilian recognition.

"Give this 16-year-old lifeguard the highest civilian honor. This is truly the best of America! Well done!" he said.

The rescue drew thousands of reactions online, with many praising Ryder for battling powerful waves that appeared too dangerous even for bystanders who attempted to help.

One person claiming to have witnessed the rescue said it lasted far longer than the viral video showed. Beachgoers reportedly formed a human chain in an effort to help before it was eventually broken apart by the pounding surf, according to social media users.

MAN, WOMAN KILLED IN RIP CURRENT AS LIFEGUARD SHORTAGE LEAVES DANGER ZONES IN BEACH DESTINATION

After pulling the child safely onto the beach, Ryder reportedly sprinted past his lifeguard tower to get aid as paramedics arrived to evaluate the boy, the witness said. Despite the dramatic rescue, Ryder later returned to duty and continued watching over beachgoers for the rest of the evening.

The rescue may have come during Ryder's first season as a lifeguard. California State Parks requires state lifeguards to be at least 16 years old.

Another social media user who said she knew Ryder emphasized how extraordinary the rescue was.

"I’m not sure how many people know how hard it is to hold onto someone like that in the ocean, during these heavy conditions and pounding shore break. This lifeguard handled it like a pro, pulled him in most of the way solo and never gave up. Taht is a feat in itself, especially in those conditions. A true Hero & waterman. I seriously hope he gets recognized for this," the user said.

Other people claiming to have witnessed the incident said the surf had initially appeared relatively calm, with many beachgoers standing at the water's edge when a massive wave suddenly crashed ashore.

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"It was so big it nearly reached us by our things all the way up the beach!" the witness said.

Seabright Beach is known for its powerful shore break, with waves shaped by swells arriving from multiple directions, creating hazardous conditions even for experienced swimmers.

Hot bobsledder Desi Johnson gets in touch with nature, ‘Shark Lady’ breaks world record & woke brewery busted

Tue, 28 Jul 2026 15:30:04 -0400

'Nightcaps' is a daily column that catches you up on the biggest sports, news and culture stories you may have missed while pretending to do work at your desk. It runs Monday-Friday on OutKick.com.

It's a beautiful day, Nightcaps family.

You know why? I'll tell you. Because as of today, Tuesday, July 28 in the Year of our Lord 2026, all 32 NFL teams have reported to Training Camp.

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That means in just a couple short weeks (well, one week if you count the Hall of Fame Game), preseason football will be on our TV screens. And shortly afterward, college ball will consume our Saturdays. As God intended.

Not trying to wish away anyone's summer — my colleagues Joe Kinsey and SeanJo would be very disappointed in me if I did that — but MAN. Call me Hank Jr. because I am ready for some football.

Speaking of summer, I'm still in Minocqua, Wisconsin, at my mother-in-law's house. Nashville feels like the devil's sweaty armpit this time of year, so it's nice to get a little bit of cooler weather up here in the Northwoods.

Last week, we shot up to the Minnesota North Shore for some hiking. Goodness, it's beautiful up there. And they have some great local breweries, too.

My dog is way too cool for his own good.

But you didn't come here for my family photos. You came to find out what's going on on the internet today. So let's get to it, shall we?

Pop open a Fulton 300 IPA, chuck your work laptop into Lake Superior and let's go.

An update on the wackos at Minocqua Brewing Company

Speaking of beer...

If you've been reading my Nightcaps for a while, you might remember me talking about the Minocqua Brewing Company. It's "downtown" Minocqua (I'm using that term loosely) inside an old gas station from the 1930s.

Actually, a pretty cool little building. Perfect spot for a brewery. Shame the owner, Kirk Bangstad, is a certified nutcase.

Now, I pride myself in my ability to get along with people who don't agree with me, but I assure you Kirk has no desire to get along with me. Or likely anyone reading this, for that matter.

He's as far left as they come. There are signs plastered all over the outside of the joint that say "least popular place in town," "drink MAGA tears" and "Antifa parking only."

The beers are named things like "AOC IPA," "The Resistance," "Choice," "Fascist Tears" and their Mexican lager, "It'll Always Be the Gulf of Mexico to Me." They also sell their own coffee and coffee stout, called "WOKE."

To their credit, that's actually a pretty clever name for coffee.

I digress. This guy isn't insufferable because he's a lib. I know lots of libs, and I like them just fine. He's insufferable because he's awful.

Kirk is always at war with the city and other local businesses, and he's been charged with multiple legal offenses, including criminal defamation, harassment, bail jumping, disorderly conduct, and (last but not least) defrauding donors to his super PAC by funneling thousands of dollars to himself to pay for his legal fees. Last year he tried to hijack the 4th of July parade. I don't have the time or patience to list his whole rap sheet.

But if it tells you anything, this dude is such a turd he even named one of his beers after his lawyer. It has the guy's face on the can and everything.

Well, this week, his permit got pulled. Turns out, Kirk has been illegally transporting beer from Illinois without securing the proper permits or paying the appropriate taxes.

Not paying taxes! Imagine that.

The revocation is effective Aug. 4 — next Tuesday. Still, he has no intention of shutting down.

"They’ll have to pry me out of my taprooms before I stop selling beer to thirsty progressives who come to visit us," he wrote, per the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

So I'll be sure to walk by the brewery today and wave to ol' Kirk before he likely gets hauled off by the authorities.

I'm sure his lawyer, Fred Melms (aka "Grateful Fred Red Ale") will be on the case.

Bobsledder Desi Johnson gets in touch with nature

I'm not the only one escaping the hustle and bustle of the city. Desi Johnson — a Team Australia bobsledder who went viral during the Winter Olympics for being hot, as one does — got away on a nature retreat in rural Kyrgyzstan this week.

Gotta admit, Kyrgyzstan is not a country I've ever thought twice about. Or once, actually. But it looks beautiful.

I have no idea what the bobsledding season looks like. As far as I know, people only bobsled once every four years. But I'm sure there's some sort of training or competitions involved in the interim.

Regardless, Desi seems to be keeping busy traveling, getting outdoors, running sprints and selling workout clothing.

Someone's ready for French Alps 2030!

'Shark Lady' breaks record for most shark tattoos

Hold on, let me clarify: She has broken the world record for "most sharks tattooed on the body (female)" with 106.

I know what you're thinking: Amber, does that mean some dude out there has 107 shark tattoos?

And the answer is no. Or if he does, he hasn't come forward. I guess the folks over at the Guinness Book of World Records wanted to specify female body just to leave the door open for a man who wanted his own shot at glory.

I swear there is a Guinness World Record for everything. Somewhere out there, someone just broke the world record for "most Busch Lights (corn can) drank in a northern Illinois garage on an overcast Monday in July."

And yes, I have one specific person in mind for that one.

SHARK WEEK HOST FORREST GALANTE EXPLAINS WHY CRUSHING BEERS IN THE OCEAN IS A BAD IDEA

True story, though, remember a couple of weeks ago when I was telling y'all about the mountain of dumb PR pitches that end up in my email inbox daily?

Case in point: I got an email from an organization (a movement? a nonprofit? a cult? I truly have no idea) called "World Clap Day" — proudly announcing that its founder, Andrea, completed 24 consecutive hours of live clapping, setting a new world record. That's 149,216 claps!

I bet her hands hurt so bad.

You know, when I first read that email, I thought to myself, Why in the hell would these people think I would write about this? And here I am, writing about it.

Touché, clapping cult.

Wow, I really got in the weeds there. Back to the shark tattoo chick.

Her name is Emily Morrison, and she goes by "Shark Lady Emily" on social media.

A fitting moniker, to be sure.

And don't you dare try to tell Emily to stop getting shark tattoos. Because you know what she has to say about that?

"I will not stop getting shark tattoos."

If you're really into this sort of thing, Emily will be featured on My Strange Addiction as part of Discovery's "Shark Week."

I've only watched that show one time, and it was an episode about a lady who can't stop eating toilet paper. So when you look at it that way, Emily's actually killing it.

Let's open the mailbag.

📩 Email: amber.harding@outkick.com (Send your thoughts, stories, tips, rants and photos of your dog.)

🐦 Twitter/X: @TheAmberHarding

📸 Instagram: @amberharding

Dogs with mistaken identity

Fred H. writes: When it gets hot the cows go in the pond. One of these is not a cow.

Amber:

I don't know what you're talking about. That's obviously just a very small cow. Who barks.

HYROX or DEKA?

Jon C. writes: Haven’t done a Hyrox race, yet. Had some friends do the one in Houston earlier this year and we were looking at doing the Nashville one together. Tickets might seem to be an issue.

However, if you want something very similar and more accessible, do a DekaFit race. It is a 5k with a workout station every 500m. So just like Hyrox except the workout stations are different. To me, Hyrox has more aerobic stations while Deka has more strength stations. I’ve done a few DekaFits and they are tough. For what it’s worth, Deka is an off shoot of Spartan Races, the trail running obstacle course race.

Amber:

For those who missed it, last week I explained that a friend of mine asked me to do a HYROX race with her. Apparently, it's hella impossible to get tickets to compete in HYROX events, though — especially the upcoming Nashville race in December.

Everybody wants to come to Nashville.

So maybe we'll look into DEKA instead. From what I've seen (and from how Jon described it), DEKA is more up my alley anyway. I'm more of a lifter than a runner.

But I still do the latter, begrudgingly.

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Dramatic readings of Luke Bryan lyrics

Caitlin R. writes: I mean, it sounds so artsy when you put it like this.

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Amber:

Next up, soft-spoken "Country Girl (Shake It for Me)" with finger snaps and bongo drums.

Stuff I Liked

Minnesota Vikings suspend defensive backs coach Gerald Alexander after DWI guilty plea

Tue, 28 Jul 2026 15:22:40 -0400

Another NFL assistant coach is being disciplined by his team after facing driving under the influence allegations, this time with Minnesota Vikings defensive backs coach Gerald Alexander being suspended by the team.

The Vikings announced Tuesday that Alexander has been suspended for three weeks after he pleaded guilty to driving while intoxicated earlier this month. Alexander's blood alcohol level was 0.169, or more than twice Minnesota's legal limit, on an initial breathalyzer test, according to the charging statement.

Alexander, hired in February as the team's passing game coordinator as well as defensive backs coach, was arrested in April, and his guilty plea came on July 16.

NFL SUSPENDS ARIZONA CARDINALS EXECUTIVE FOR VIOLATING GAMBLING POLICY, LEAKING DRAFT INFO

Alexander pleaded guilty to third-degree DWI, a misdemeanor, and paid $603 in fines and fees. He was assigned 48 hours of community service and will be on probation for two years.

Alexander's club suspension began on July 24, although it was not announced then. It will run through Aug. 13.

"Following Gerald’s arrest earlier this spring, we remained in communication with the NFL while awaiting the outcome of the legal process," the Vikings said in a statement. "We take these situations seriously and believe this disciplinary action is appropriate."

The NFL tells Fox News Digital the club suspension will close the matter and Alexander will not be subject to additional league discipline under the personal conduct policy.

Alexander, who previously worked under Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores in Miami when Flores was the head coach, also released a statement through the team.

"I take full responsibility for the situation I put myself in and apologize for not meeting the mark," Alexander said. "I know it’s unacceptable. I understand the suspension and am committed to learning from the matter and ensuring I come back a better version of myself."

TONY ROMO ARRESTED IN MILWAUKEE FOR ALLEGED OWI OFFENSE: REPORT

Alexander is the second NFL assistant coach to face team discipline for offseason troubles with DWI.

The Washington Commanders on Monday announced the firing of assistant coach Ben Steele just days before the start of training camp.

Steele, who was serving as the team's tight ends coach, was hired by the Commanders this offseason.

"We are parting ways with tight ends coach Ben Steele. The team will have no further comment at this time," the Commanders said in a statement.

The Athletic reported that Steele was arrested on suspicion of DWI in June. He is facing an additional charge for refusing a blood/breath test and obstructing or resisting an officer without force, per the report.

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Steele had previously been under suspension by the Commanders.

These two issues coming to light in the same week suggest some coaches may need more extensive training or onboarding to make clear the pitfalls of drinking — even away from the club.

FOLLOW ARMANDO SALGUERO ON X: @ARMANDOSALGUERO

40% off or more: Save on Amazon beach essentials before summer ends

Mon, 06 Oct 2025 00:01:59 -0400

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