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African growth boom follows Trump push to replace aid with trade

Thu, 16 Jul 2026 07:23:19 -0400

FIRST ON FOX: Many African economies are accelerating – booming – since the Trump Administration shifted policy focus from aid to trade, a senior State Department official told Fox News Digital.

In some African countries, doom was forecast when the Trump administration severely cut back USAID funding, but instead there’s been unprecedented economic growth, credited to the Commercial Diplomacy Strategy, introduced at the beginning of President Trump’s second term.

Now, "nine of the 20 fastest-growing economies (in the world) are in Africa," Assistant Secretary for the Bureau of African Affairs Frank Garcia told Fox News Digital.

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Garcia added, "African economies are responding positively to the shift from aid to trade. In 2025, U.S. exports to sub-Saharan Africa increased by 23% to $22.6 billion. And continue to grow this year."

When the Administration cut USAID by 83% early last year, "The predictions were catastrophic: economies heavily dependent on foreign donors—from Ethiopia to South Sudan and Malawi — were expected to collapse. Instead, something quite different happened," Anna Mahjar-Barducci, Project Director at the Middle East Media Research Institute (MEMRI), told Fox News Digital.

"The African continent proved far more resilient than expected, citing Ethiopia, which revised its 2026 growth forecasts upward despite the funding cuts," Mahjar-Barducci continued. "According to projections by the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Sub-Saharan Africa is expected to grow between 4.3% and 4.6% in 2026, outpacing Asia as a whole, whose growth is forecast at around 4.1%. Growth is propelled by massive hydroelectric investments, construction, mining and expanding coffee exports."

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"This is no minor detail," she continued. "For decades, we were told that without international aid Africa would collapse. Now that aid is genuinely drying up, much of the continent is not only avoiding collapse —i t is accelerating. This is precisely the argument that a long-standing school of African economic thought, now more relevant than ever, has advanced for years: aid is not the solution. In many cases, it is part of the problem."

Assistant Secretary Garcia explained how the strategy works:" We see this economic acceleration in Africa. In order to best capitalize on it, the United States is focused on driving private investment, sustainable growth in terms of partnership and treating African nations not as aid recipients, but as capable commercial partners."

He added "Our embassies (in Africa) work directly with the private sector to identify the policies, laws, and regulations constraining U.S. trade and investment. We then work with partner governments to develop practical reforms, identify the officials responsible for implementing them and determine where technical assistance may support implementation."

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It's a strategy that appears to be working, with Garcia adding, "The Bureau of African Affairs has worked on 37 commercial transactions that have closed since the beginning of the (current) Trump Administration, representing $25.67 billion in total value, with more still being reported. Embassies across the continent are actively working to close hundreds more. Top sectors include Energy 24%, ICT 19%, Critical Minerals and Mining 11%, Aerospace 8%, Agriculture 8%, Infrastructure 8%."

Mahjar-Barducci criticized the way USAID worked, telling Fox News Digital," When aid flows to governments rather than markets, it tends to finance projects designed in Brussels, Rome, or Washington which are not responding to the actual needs of local economies. Poverty cannot be overcome by treating people as permanent recipients of charity. Poverty can be reduced by recognizing people as entrepreneurs, workers and economic partners capable of building their own prosperity."

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Trade, rather than aid works, Mahjar-Barducci claimed. "The Trump administration's more transactional approach to aid — access to critical minerals, or to citizens' health data, in exchange for funding — should not be dismissed as merely cynical. Unconditional transfers have long been the deeper flaw in the traditional aid model: money with no strings attached removes any incentive for a recipient government to reform and often entrenches the same officials responsible for the underlying poverty."

Enter the America First Global Health Strategy. A senior State Department official told Fox News Digital this week that the administration "has signed 34 bilateral global health Memoranda of Understanding(MOU) representing more than $24 billion in new health funding, including more than $14.3 billion in U.S. assistance, alongside more than $9.6 billion in co-investment from recipient countries."

"24 of these MOUs were signed with sub-Saharan African countries," the official continued. "These new bilateral MOUs are designed to continue life-saving care, build resilient healthcare systems, reduce dependency on American taxpayers and strengthen country ownership."

The administration has also decided to cut funding for a U.S. anti-AIDS program known as PEPFAR. Africa has been hit hard by the HIV/AIDS pandemic. UNAIDS, the United Nations program that deals with the virus, reports that South Africa has the highest infection rate in the world.

But the State Department official Fox News Digital spoke with says South Africa must take some of the blame for cutting help to its own people. "The United States has decided to initiate a phased drawdown of PEPFAR programming in South Africa, following South Africa’s failure to make demonstrable progress on policy requests by the administration. The United States communicated to [the] South African government multiple times at many levels that PEPFAR funding would be terminated if they failed to address President Trump’s concerns."

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"PEPFAR was never intended to be permanent," the official added. "Its success is measured by countries' ability to sustain and build upon these gains. South Africa is a middle-income country and is more than capable of supporting its own health programs."

Fox News Digital reached out to the South African government, but received no response.

Kai Trump says politics is 'not my thing,' hopes to inspire next generation through her vlogs

Thu, 16 Jul 2026 07:17:19 -0400

Kai Trump, the granddaughter of President Donald Trump who is set to play collegiate golf for the Miami Hurricanes, spoke at the ESPYs on Wednesday about showing her life through her video blog.

Trump has given her followers and supporters of the president and inside look at what it’s like to be a part of the first family while she navigates her own life.

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"Honestly, I kind of stay out of politics completely. It’s just not my thing," she told Sportico. "I just like showing my life and showing how you can still be an athlete and you can still do a ton of other things and enjoy a ton of other things.

"So, I just kind like showing people that everything’s possible and I love just showing the new generation my progress through college, eventually, but obviously how I got to where I am today."

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When asked what she thought about politics intersecting with sports, Trump said again she tries to stay out of the political realm.

"Honestly, I just stay out of politics. It’s not my thing," she said. "But I think the UFC event was great and it was really cool being there and especially having veterans in the stadium as well, that’s where you can kinda combine the (America) 250 point of view on it. But I thought it was great."

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Trump is set to make her collegiate debut soon. She is one of two freshmen on the team, which also includes Bella Dovhey.

Trump teases major reveal during White House address and more top headlines

Thu, 16 Jul 2026 07:06:11 -0400

Good morning and welcome to Fox News' morning newsletter, Fox News First. And here's what you need to know to start your day ...

TOP 3

1. Trump teases major White House address

2. Todd Blance faces second day of testimony for AG confirmation

3. Tim Walz offers strange defense for pardoning convicted child rapist

MAJOR HEADLINES

RAISING EYEBROWS — Iran draws 'red line' after Trump threatens expanded military campaign. Continue reading …

OUT OF SIGHT — Slain N.J. woman, missing Bahamas boater's spouses lawyer up but only one disappears. Continue reading …

FOLLOW THE MONEY — FEC filings expose a suspicious payment trail following Swalwell's resignation. Continue reading …

SHORE SHOWDOWN — Canadian woman accused of slapping girl over Trump, ICE clothing gets agency surprise. Continue reading …

TROUBLING CLUES — 'Top Gun: Maverick' actor's death takes grim new turn after autopsy findings. Continue reading …

POLITICS

PACK & PROSPER — Billions in taxpayer income are leaving two iconic states — as a new economic map emerges. Continue reading …

FLASHBACK — Michigan Dem’s awkward pep talk echoes cringey pink-gloved House floor moment. Continue reading …

‘NEVER WAVERED’ — Pence reveals Graham's last words to him in a vivid airport encounter. Continue reading …

PAPER CUT — Ex-Dem fundraiser turns on Biden as book rollout backfires on social media. Continue reading …

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MEDIA

CREDIBILITY CRISIS — Media swooned over Graham Platner for months despite Dem's brewing controversies. Continue reading …

OUT OF TOUCH — Maher calls out wealthy liberals for pretending to be in solidarity with average people. Continue reading …

‘TERRIFYING’ — Los Angeles reporter goes viral after staying unfazed during live-shot nightmare. Continue reading …

CONSTITUTIONAL LAW — Viral run-in between police and street preacher draws federal First Amendment heat. Continue reading …

OPINION

HUGH HEWITT — I asked Trump if he was prepared to remove Iran’s new leaders. Continue reading …

CHAD WOLF — Canada can't expect free trade while leaving our northern border vulnerable. Continue reading …

IN OTHER NEWS

THE REAL STORY — Inside Princess Diana and JFK Jr.'s secret meeting that fueled romance rumors for decades. Continue reading …

HORNS DOWN — Yellowstone reaches decision on bison after grandfather thrown in frightening attack. Continue reading …

LESSON LEARNED — Florida school principals wind up behind bars after July 4 night out. Continue reading …

AMERICAN CULTURE QUIZ — Test yourself on World Cup wins and burger breakthroughs. Take the quiz here …

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Credibility crisis: Graham Platner received glowing media coverage before dramatic exit from Senate race

Thu, 16 Jul 2026 07:00:36 -0400

Before Graham Platner's dramatic exit from the Maine Senate race last week, the Democratic hopeful received glowing coverage from the legacy media that pushed the narrative that he was a salt-of-the-earth oyster farmer who could win back male voters and unseat longtime Republican incumbent Susan Collins.

Now out of the race after multiple scandals, including a rape allegation from a former girlfriend that he's denied, the friendly coverage he received is getting a second look.

The Guardian was among the first outlets to publish a profile on Platner, running a story last August headlined, "This Maine oysterman thinks Democrats are doing ‘jack’ about fascism. So he’s running for US Senate."

The outlet told readers how Platner doesn't present like a "stereotypical progressive," listing his titles as "a veteran, an oysterman and a competitive shooter," adding that he spends his weekends "at the local gunnery."

GRAHAM PLATNER'S MOST PROMINENT PRESS ALLIES ABANDON HIM AS RAPE ALLEGATION ROCKS MAINE SENATE RACE

"Platner believes the party needs an outsider. He believes that pedigreed, establishment Democratic candidates have failed repeatedly to appeal to working-class Americans, hastening the rise of MAGA," The Guardian wrote. "As he surveys the American political scene, Platner is enraged by a Democratic party he sees as more interested in raising money than helping people, a party willing to appease Maga, to meet it in the middle, instead of fighting it."

The New Yorker praised Platner's campaign launch video in its own profile, saying it portrayed him as a "rugged and likable working-class Democratic candidate" but that it "could just as easily have been the opener for a reality-TV show called 'Oyster Man.'"

"A macho pastiche with a Jeep-commercial soundtrack, it shows him diving in his wetsuit, chopping wood, hauling oyster cages, and doing kettlebell swings. There are closeups of his tattoos, along with shots of him holding hands with his wife," Lisa Wood Shapiro wrote in the New Yorker piece.

Shapiro hyped that he was "drawing support from both sides of the aisle," alleging "several [Donald] Trump supporters said that they would vote for him" despite his left-wing platform.

"I’ve had Platner’s number for years, and have picked up oyster orders from his boat. I’ve seen him shuck oysters at parties, fund-raisers... Soon, my friends were discussing over gin-and-tonics how they always knew he would be famous," Shapiro gushed.

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The Washington Post put a spotlight on Platner in a September report called "Meet the Rugged Guys of the 2026 Midterms."

"They are scruffy, solidly built, middle-aged White military veterans who work with their hands and look like they’re way more comfortable in plaid flannel than pinstripe suits. And they are banking that the antiestablishment populism that Republicans have embraced during the Trump era can work the other way, too," the Post wrote about Platner and other Democratic hopefuls.

Journalist Ross Barkan authored a Platner profile for GQ in October titled, "Marine Turned Oysterman Graham Platner Is Ready to Fight Trump. Will MAGA Men Join Him?"

"In the battle for the soul of the Democratic Party, Senate candidate Graham Platner might be the perfect soldier: The virile, earthy working man many male politicians wish they were, with the committed lefty beliefs many voters are now demanding," Barkan began the profile.

Barkan boasted Platner's "friendly growl" and how he's "deeply alluring" to progressive Democrats in their effort to win back men.

"The oysterman joins a roster of antiestablishment candidates across America: men—yes, they are mostly men—who’ve channeled the growing rage at the status quo," Barkan wrote. "Trump voters, Platner argues, can still return to the Democratic coalition. He has just handed me an oyster straight from the water. The taste is salty, and then sweet. If he does get elected, he’s unlikely to attend many DC soirees or campaign fundraisers in wine caves."

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Liberal New York Times columnist Michelle Goldberg penned multiple pieces praising Platner's candidacy and how it was able to weather controversies like his Nazi tattoo and his offensive Reddit posts, saying he's "nothing like the edgelord caricature I encountered online" when she flew out to Maine to meet him in October, stunned at the crowds he gathered she said many locals claim they haven't seen since Barack Obama. She also said Platner was "largely convincing" about his claim that he didn't know that his skull and crossbones tattoo was the Totenkopf symbol despite reports alleging he knew.

"Onstage, Platner is magnetic. Like Obama, he seems to promise a politics that is fundamentally progressive while going beyond debased partisan sniping. He shows his audience the respect of at least seeming to level with them," Goldberg wrote at the time. "A major difference with Obama, though, is that Platner is visibly angry... That anger resonates with a base that is both terrified and enraged."

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In a separate piece published in April, Goldberg recalled, "I could feel the charge in the air — that rare alchemy born when a politician is able to pull a crowd into a shared vision of the future," telling Times readers a voter she met linked him to Obama during his 2008 presidential bid and that he was a "natural on the stump."

"One lesson of the Democratic Senate primary in Maine is that no one should underestimate the white-hot fury of the party’s voters," Goldberg said. "Maine Democrats, many of whom saw Platner in person as he tirelessly barnstormed across the state, seemed ready to look past the negative stories."

Goldberg later said she "deeply" regretted being impressed by Platner after he was accused by his ex-girlfriend Jenny Racicot of sexual assault, something he firmly denied.

Just in May, Time Magazine featured him on its cover declaring him the "Party Crasher."

"Platner’s story feels a lot like a pat movie plot: With Democratic voters yearning for outsiders to shake up the system, along comes a rough-hewn, gravelly voiced Marine Corps veteran from Sullivan, Maine—pop. 1,300—as their new national star," Time wrote. "He barnstorms the state with a pugilistic brand of economic populism, building a following so quickly that he forces his central-casting opponent, the two-term Democratic governor, Janet Mills, out of the race before voters can cast a ballot. Even in this antiestablishment, unabashedly ageist political moment, Platner’s rise has been remarkable."

TIME MAGAZINE COVER ON GRAHAM PLATNER RAISES EYEBROWS ONLINE

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Time marveled how voters "gravitated toward Platner" despite his various controversies, writing, "After decades of nominating buttoned-up technocrats with glittering résumés, many Democrats want candidates with flaws, faded ink, and redemption arcs that resemble their own. Platner’s past, in other words, may actually be his path."

"Platner swept a hand across his auburn beard and launched into his pitch: He doesn’t want to join the Senate to be part of a system. He wants to rip that system apart and build a better one. But that, he acknowledges, requires a leap of faith for voters to believe that he won’t betray their values and has truly transformed. 'There’s also an element of this,' Platner admits, 'Where I really have to say: ‘Just trust me, bro,'" the Time piece concluded.

Doctors reveal hidden danger for some Ozempic, Wegovy users with brain disorders

Thu, 16 Jul 2026 07:00:29 -0400

Neurologists are warning that popular weight-loss medications could have severe negative effects on neurodegenerative conditions like ALS.

Jinsy Andrews, MD, a neurologist and director of NYU Langone’s ALS Center, says the very mechanism that makes these drugs popular — rapid weight loss — can go against the biological needs of patients with neuromuscular disorders.

GLP-1 agonists have shown to be highly effective at managing diabetes and obesity, which are major health concerns across the population. However, the doctor emphasized that the clinical rules shift when dealing with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).

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In addition to mitigating some of the inflammation related to obesity and diabetes, GLP-1 medications have been linked to other protective effects.

The therapies have been helpful in reducing cardiovascular disease, stroke risk, liver disease and addiction, according to Andrews.

However, when it comes to an incurable neurodegenerative disease, losing weight and body fat can accelerate a patient's physical decline.

For an ALS patient, losing weight can cause the condition to progress faster, Andrews said, because the disease's unique traits make it dangerous to be in a caloric deficit.

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In fact, standard clinical care guidelines for ALS often recommend that patients actively maintain or even gain weight to help preserve their remaining nerve and muscle function.

"In certain conditions where hypermetabolism is something that negatively affects the disease […] losing weight actually makes the disease worse and move faster," Andrews told Fox News Digital..

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"So, in the setting of a person with ALS — whether they have diabetes or not — using GLP-1s may actually worsen the disease and make for a rapid progression."

In a 2025 case report published in the medical journal Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Degeneration, a 52-year-old ALS patient was prescribed semaglutide to treat her type 2 diabetes.

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Prior to starting the medication, her physical functions were declining at a predictable rate on the standard ALS rating scale.

According to the case report, the patient lost 25 pounds in three months. At the same time, she experienced a sudden, dramatic shift in her disease trajectory, with symptoms worsening significantly.

Once the semaglutide was discontinued at the advice of medical professionals, the patient's rapid physical decline stabilized.

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Andrews pointed out that this published documentation, alongside retrospective cohort data of ALS patients with diabetes, provides growing evidence that clinicians must be careful and thoughtful about who they treat with GLP-1 receptor agonists.

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While weight-loss medications offer significant benefits for many patients, experts say maintaining body weight and muscle mass remains an important consideration for people with neurodegenerative diseases.

NFL quarterback Will Grier retires at 31

Thu, 16 Jul 2026 06:39:04 -0400

Will Grier, a former West Virginia Mountaineers star quarterback who played two games in the NFL, decided to retire from the sport at the age of 31.

Grier made the announcement on his social media on Wednesday and the Carolina Panthers put out a news story on his decision.

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"Retired today," Grier wrote in a post on Instagram.

He signed a deal with the Panthers in April and reportedly received a coaching opportunity with the Dallas Cowboys, but decided to walk away from the game altogether.

Grier shared messages of support on his Instagram Stories with Dak Prescott, Jake Ferguson and Kenny Pickett paying tribute to the quarterback.

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"Never retired, just switching lanes," Prescott wrote in his post. "Congrats my brother."

The Panthers selected Grier in the third round of the 2019 NFL Draft after he played college football for the Mountaineers and the Florida Gators. He would spend time with the Cowboys, Cincinnati Bengals, New England Patriots, Los Angeles Chargers and Philadelphia Eagles.

He only played two games in the NFL – both with the Panthers during his rookie season.

Grier had 228 passing yards and four interceptions in his career.

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The Panthers now have three quarterbacks going into camp, including Pickett, Bryce Young and Haynes King.

Red state governors blast CNBC's 'worst states to live' list, point to booming population growth

Thu, 16 Jul 2026 06:30:15 -0400

Republican governors are firing back at CNBC after the financial news outlet released its annual quality-of-life rankings, which placed conservative red states in all the bottom-10 spots on the list, even as official U.S. Census data shows those very states are leading the nation in population growth.

CNBC faced a wave of online mockery and conservative backlash Monday following the release of its 2026 "America’s Top States for Business" study. Critics quickly took to social media to call out the outlet, alleging a blatant liberal bias embedded in its ranking criteria, which heavily penalize conservative legislation.

"Somebody must have forgotten to tell the tens of thousands of new Arkansans who have moved to our state in the last few years about this CNBC report, because they’re voting with their feet and voting overwhelmingly for the commonsense, conservative leadership Arkansas offers," Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders told Fox News Digital.

CNBC SURVEY MOCKED AFTER RANKING ALL RED STATES AS TOP 10 'WORST PLACES TO LIVE'

Counting down from the tenth-worst quality-of-life ranking to the absolute worst, CNBC ranked the bottom ten states as Arkansas, Oklahoma, Alabama, Missouri, Utah, Georgia, Louisiana, Indiana, Texas, and Tennessee. All ten states are Republican-led and voted for President Donald Trump in 2024.

The list is a subset of CNBC’s broader business study, which is now in its 20th year.

"CNBC is placing increasing emphasis on Quality of Life, one of the 10 categories of competitiveness in our annual America’s Top States for Business study," CNBC's report states. Under this year's methodology, the "Life, Health and Inclusion" category makes up 11.6% of a state’s overall score, up from about 10% last year.

To determine the rankings, CNBC said it utilizes "hard data on factors like crime rates, air quality and healthcare." However, the metric also factors heavily in ideological policies, explicitly penalizing states for a lack of protections against discrimination and restrictive abortion laws.

"Some states offer exemplary quality of life. But these ten states do not make the grade," the CNBC report stated.

A spokesperson for Texas Gov. Greg Abbott told Fox News Digital that CNBC’s list "does not reflect reality."

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"CNBC’s ranking is flawed and does not reflect reality. Texas’ low taxes, strong economy, abundant energy, and commitment to freedom deliver the quality of life and opportunity that millions of Americans choose every year," said Andrew Mahaleris, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott's press secretary. "Governor Abbott will continue to work to keep Texas the best place to live, work, and raise a family."

Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp’s office also dismissed the rankings as "baseless" and politically driven.

"As was made clear by the baseless ‘qualifications’ they used for their report, CNBC has prioritized trendy politics over affordability and the issues that actually matter to real Americans," a spokesperson for Kemp's office told Fox News Digital.

Kemp's office added: "Instead of publishing these laughable rankings that no one believes, CNBC should talk to any of the more than 500,000 Americans who have moved to Georgia in the last five years — many of them no doubt fleeing Democrat-run states like New York and California for a red state run by common sense and fiscal responsibility."

AMERICANS KEEP MOVING TO TEXAS AND FLORIDA — BUT ONE OTHER RED STATE IS GROWING EVEN FASTER

In its report, the media outlet took direct shots at local conservative legislation across the board.

Tennessee, which was crowned the single worst state to live in, was dinged for the state's "bathroom law" — which requires transgender individuals to use facilities corresponding with their biological sex at birth — as well as a law barring localities from passing their own local antidiscrimination ordinances. The outlet also took aim at a joint resolution signed by Gov. Bill Lee designating June as "Nuclear Family Month," while also noting the state's high rate of drug deaths.

Utah, ranked sixth-worst, was hit for its $7.25 minimum wage, low availability of childcare providers, and air quality. Georgia, the fifth-worst, was explicitly called out for offering "few protections for LGBTQ+ people."

Democratic California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s press office immediately seized on the study, taking to X to point out the partisan split.

"Notice something in common?" the governor's office posted. "All led by Republicans — many suffering from California Derangement Syndrome."

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However, official population shifts highlight a broader, post-pandemic exodus from historically blue strongholds toward the very red states criticized by CNBC. While regions across the South and Sun Belt experience economic and population booms, major progressive hubs continue to bleed residents.

According to U.S. Census Bureau data, Texas gained a net of over 67,000 residents through domestic migration alone between mid-2024 and mid-2025, while Tennessee added over 42,000 and Alabama picked up more than 23,000.

By contrast, Los Angeles County watched its population shrink by more than 53,000 residents over the same one-year stretch— the largest numeric decline of any county in the nation. Similarly, a recent study by the Citizens Budget Commission confirmed that New York City lost a net of 114,000 residents to domestic outmigration over that period.

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

Trump AG pick hangs by a thread as key GOP senators refuse to commit

Thu, 16 Jul 2026 06:30:36 -0400

Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche is headed for a second straight day of grilling in the Senate, and his path to confirmation still remains cluttered with two key Republicans keeping tight-lipped on whether they’ll support him.

Blanche’s first day was fraught with questions about the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) handling of millions of documents related to the late, convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, known as the Epstein Files, the now-defunct anti-weaponization fund and whether he would operate the DOJ as a tool of retribution for President Donald Trump.

Two Republicans on the committee hold the key to Blanche’s success, Sens. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., and John Cornyn, R-Texas, and so far, neither has committed to voting for him.

TRUMP'S DOJ PICK IN TROUBLE AS GOP CONCERNS THREATEN CONFIRMATION

Cornyn, who has taken issue with the nearly $1.8 billion anti-weaponization fund and the underlying settlement reached by Trump and his family and the IRS, which Blanche acknowledged was still "enforceable" but was not moving forward, was noncommittal on how he would vote.

Cornyn, who has taken issue with the nearly $1.8 billion anti-weaponization fund, created under Trump's IRS settlement to compensate people who claimed they were victims of government "weaponization," which Blanche acknowledged was still "enforceable" but not moving forward, was noncommittal on how he would vote.

"Well, I don't know what other information's gonna be coming in," Cornyn said. "The hearing is not even halfway done. And so, you know, I don't have to make a decision now, so I'm not."

Blanche received heat throughout the hearing for being Trump’s former personal defense lawyer, and quickly corrected himself when asked by Sen. John Kennedy, R-La., if he considered himself the president’s friend.

TRUMP'S AG NOMINEE RACKS UP MASSIVE SUPPORT AHEAD OF CONFIRMATION HEARING: 'REAL RESULTS'

"I’m his lawyer — was his lawyer, and now I’m the deputy attorney general," Blanche said.

When asked about the slip-up, Cornyn said, "I think he's trying to walk the line."

"I think he's trying to walk a very difficult line," he said.

Tillis’ primary concern, similar to Cornyn’s, is the anti-weaponization fund and whether it is truly dead and gone.

He declined to say whether he would support Blanche, but noted that when asked if he was willing to work on legislation to put a permanent end to the fund, Blanche said, "Yes."

TRUMP DOUBLES DOWN ON $1.8 BILLION 'SLUSH FUND' THAT KILLED HIS AGENDA, SPURRED REPUBLICAN REBELLION

"I think that's a pretty strong indication that he and the administration are OK with [it]," Tillis said. "Does anybody really believe that the nominee for attorney general would answer that question if he didn't think that he had the support of the president to end this?"

Meanwhile, Senate Democrats on the panel are dug in against him.

Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., the top-ranking Democrat on the committee, browbeat Blanche for his handling of the Epstein Files release and whether he would actually meet with Epstein survivors.

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"Anyone who can represent a known pathological liar like Donald Trump can have no integrity," Durbin said. "You can't have integrity if you represent Donald Trump, because he is such an inveterate liar. And that person, of course, should never, never, never be attorney general."

And Sen. Chris Coons, D-Del., admitted that Blanche was, "qualified … as someone who has been a prosecutor."

"But given his legal experience, he should have known better than to be willing to tolerate or support the weaponization of the department," Coons said. "Using it as a tool not to follow the facts and the law, to pursue justice, but to carry out a retribution agenda by President Trump."

Caitlin Clark calls out referees for failing to call foul on play she says gave her a contusion

Thu, 16 Jul 2026 06:19:02 -0400

Caitlin Clark directly called out a referee for missing a call against her after a loss on Wednesday night.

Clark was seen yelling demonstratively in the face of a referee after a play against Golden State veteran Kiah Stokes. Clark said she was "kneed in the quad" after the game and suffered a contusion.

"I got kneed right in the quad, that hurts, the ref can’t miss that," she told reporters.

STEPHANIE WHITE GIVES CAITLIN CLARK STATUS UPDATE AHEAD OF FEVER-SPARKS, BUT HER NEXT MOVE RAISES QUESTIONS

"And then I have to play with a contusion in my leg for the rest of the game. Ridiculous, you can’t miss calls like that."

Clark was seen taking a brief trip to the locker room after the play, as she continues to work her way back to full strength and health after suffering a back injury in June.

Clark was asked if she got an explanation on the no-call, and said she told that she herself initiated the contact.

"You can’t knee me in the leg and knock me over," Clark said.

Indiana Fever coach Stephanie White addressed the explanation herself.

"Seems to always be initiating the contact," White said sarcastically of the decision.

Footage of Clark yelling at the referee went viral on social media, sparking debate and opposing critcisms, as some fans condemned the referee for missing the call while others questioned Clark's behavior.

Clark finished with 13 points and six assists, going just 4-for-14 from the field and 1-of-8 from three-point range. She scored 11 points after coming back from the locker room with the apparent contusion.

Tensions have been high in the WNBA in recent weeks after Clark was punched in the throat by Phoenix Mercury star Alyssa Thomas, and referees did not call it a foul in the moment.

Thomas was later suspended for one game, but the WNBA put out a statement in defense of Thomas from alleged harassment and threats she had apparently been receiving since punching Clark in the throat.

Clark meanwhile is playing while still not fully healthy, as she played on a minutes restriction for three straight games in her return from injury.

76ers orthopedic consultant Dr. Nicholas DiNubile previously told Fox News Digital that he is "concerned" with the amount of contact Clark has been taking from other players.

"The type of contact and the amount of contact that she gets is concerning to me. It’s troubling to me," DiNubile said.

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"I don't think there's anything she can do...It's hard to protect yourself with those type of... And that's why they're flagrant fouls, right? You just... There, there's no way to really protect yourself in those instances... she takes it in stride. I don't think she brings any of it on herself."

DiNubile's opinion is that the league has to do a better job of actively protecting Clark, via the referees, in order to avoid disaster.

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"I think they should be calling things," he said. "They can officiate better... I mean, how do they miss this?"

Dem Senate hopeful's pink-gloved meltdown resurfaces after viral pep talk ignited mockery

Thu, 16 Jul 2026 06:15:21 -0400

Rep. Haley Stevens’ awkward campaign pep talk that went viral this week is not the first time the Michigan Democrat has made waves for an unusual public speaking moment.

Stevens, who is now running for Michigan’s open Senate seat, was mocked online this week after a video of her cringey stump speech telling supporters she would bring "a little bit of enthusiasm, a little bit of energy and a little bit of stick-it-to-them … because that’s the Michigan way" went viral and garnered reaction online.

The viral moment hearkened back to a separate cringey 2020 House floor episode, when Stevens wore pink latex gloves during comments about the coronavirus pandemic and was repeatedly gaveled down after her time expired.

SWING-STATE POLL SPELLS TROUBLE FOR FAR LEFT AS SCHUMER-BACKED CANDIDATE DOMINATES WITH CRITICAL VOTING BLOCS

"I rise for every American who is scared right now," Stevens said during the March 2020 floor speech, after requesting additional time while pointing to the gloves she was wearing, her voice raising as her testimony progressed. The Speaker Pro Tempore, residing on the House floor, tried to gavel Stevens out repeatedly, to which she ignored.

Eventually, House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer yielded her 30 more seconds, at which time Stevens continued addressing doctors and nurses despite the calls to order.

"You will see darkness. You will be pushed. And our society needs you to stand together at this time. Our country loves you – to our doctors and our nurses, I wear these latex gloves to tell every American to not be afraid," Stevens continued before once again being cut off by the Speaker Pro Tempore residing over the House floor.

MICHIGAN DEM SENATOR THROWS SUPPORT BEHIND CANDIDATE TO REPLACE HIM IN CONTENTIOUS PRIMARY

"The gentlelady's time has expired … the gentlelady from Michigan is out of order," the speaker pro tempore said repeatedly, even as Stevens refused to cease her enthusiastic remarks. "The gentlelady from Michigan is out of order. The gentlelady from Michigan is no longer recognized."

Stevens' viral moments come just three weeks until Michigan’s Senate primaries, at which time she will take on Democratic challenger Abdul El-Sayed.

"Maybe Abdul El-Sayed is winning hearts and minds in liberal Michigan… or maybe he’s just running against this?" Brent Scher, editor-in-chief for the Daily Wire, said in a post to X, referring to Stevens awkward stump speech.

"I just want to know why, and when, she chose to adopt this fake accent?" Chris Gustafson, the communications director for the Senate Leadership Fund wrote on X after the stump speech. "Stevens’ ads from 2018 sound like an entirely different person. Make it make sense."

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In recent weeks, the Michigan primary has drawn national attention as it pits El-Sayed, a candidate pushing the party further left on issues like healthcare and international affairs, against Stevens, an establishment figure with the backing of Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y.

Those lines grew clearer as a third Democratic candidate, Mallory McMorrow, dropped out of the race earlier this month, taking away a third, more middle-of-the-road option.

Sports cartoons of the day

Mon, 22 Jun 2026 11:08:52 -0400

Celebrity chef says if you can drive to McDonald's, you can cook healthy meals at home

Thu, 16 Jul 2026 06:00:51 -0400

A Michelin-starred chef wants people to know that a lack of effort — not distance — is what's stopping American families from eating healthily. He argues that advances in technology have made fresh food more accessible than ever, shifting the conversation from access to personal habits.

Celebrity chef Geoffrey Zakarian spoke with Fox News Digital at the Great American State Fair about all things nutrition, but one hot take stood out from the rest.

"You're not in a food desert — this is the United States of America," he said during a live cooking demonstration with Dr. Mehmet Oz.

MORE AMERICANS NOW EAT IN THEIR CARS THAN EVER BEFORE AS EXPERT REVEALS WHAT IT SAYS ABOUT MODERN LIFE

"You've got Instacart. You can get anything you want all the time."

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) defines food deserts as communities with "low levels of access to retail outlets selling healthy and affordable foods." The agency's designation is based on income and proximity to supermarkets.

Instacart, one of many modern grocery delivery apps, was created in 2012, one year after the USDA's food desert map launched. Zakarian pointed to these advances in technology as evidence that today's barriers to healthy eating are increasingly behavioral rather than geographic.

'MASTERCHEF' FINALIST SAYS BUSY FAMILIES ARE LOSING SOMETHING MORE IMPORTANT THAN HOME-COOKED MEALS

"Everyone has an iPhone. Everyone has an ability to order food," Zakarian told Fox News Digital, suggesting that online ordering has effectively bridged the geographic gaps highlighted by federal data.

Fox News Digital reached out to the USDA for comment.

Still, affordability remains a challenge for many families. Grocery prices have risen 32% over the past five years, according to the Urban Institute.

The Food Network star said families should focus less on what they lack and more on planning meals, arguing that convenience often costs more than cooking at home.

BUTTER, BEEF TALLOW DEBATE ISN'T OVER AS HEART EXPERTS WARN OF RISKS AND US GUIDELINES DIFFER ON FATS

"If you can drive to McDonald's, you can go find some place that has fresh food or canned food, or you can order it online," Zakarian said.

"It's possible. It's what's great about our culture."

Consistently eating wholesome meals comes down to making cooking a priority, Zakarian said.

"There really is no reason to not cook for yourself and cook for your family," Zakarian said. "Part of doing this and staying healthy is you've got to put effort in."

With so many working families, Zakarian advocated for a structured approach to grocery shopping and meal preparation rather than tackling the kitchen daily without a plan.

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He recommends shopping twice a week and planning meals in smaller blocks instead of trying to cook day by day.

"Break it up, and then you have leftovers once in a while sprinkled throughout," Zakarian said.

"You'll be shocked that you have five meals for your kids, plus leftovers. It's not that hard, but it does take work."

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Zakarian said cooking together creates emotional benefits for families because the kitchen naturally becomes the center of the home.

"You go to any house, any party, where do we end up?" Zakarian said. "Everyone's in the kitchen."

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Investing in the heart of the home helps build a sense of pride that kids carry with them even after they leave the house, Zakarian said.

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"When they open that food up, I guarantee you the other kids around are jealous that they got good food cooked by mom," he said.

Trump keeps 'really big' address under wraps as White House says ‘nobody knows’ what he’ll reveal

Thu, 16 Jul 2026 06:00:50 -0400

President Donald Trump announced he will deliver a Thursday night address that he suggested will focus on "free and fair elections," teasing what he called one of the most important speeches of his presidency while offering few details about what he plans to unveil.

"As usual, anonymous sources are speculating about what President Trump will say during his speech on Thursday evening," White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told Fox News Digital. "The truth is, nobody knows yet what President Trump will ultimately say, which is why everyone should tune in."

Trump has teased the contents of his speech without fully revealing what it will be about. "It will be a potpourri," a senior advisor told Axios, adding that Iran is something the president "wants to address."

The address is expected to begin at 9 p.m. ET from the White House.

TRUMP HOLDS WASHINGTON HOSTAGE OVER SAVE ACT AS MIDTERM CLOCK TICKS ON GOP CONTROL

Trump has touted his speech as being "really big news" and called for the country to "to shape up."

"Thursday is, it doesn't get bigger because without free and fair elections, you don't have a country," Trump said while in the Oval Office Tuesday. "We'll be discussing other things too. But it's going to be a very big announcement."

The White House did not respond to questions about which administration officials are expected to attend the speech. Fox News Digital also reached out to the FBI and CIA about whether FBI Director Kash Patel or CIA Director John Ratcliffe will be present.

TRUMP THREATENS TO EXPAND STRIKES ON IRAN, SAYS POWER PLANTS ARE NEXT TO GO: 'HIT THEM HARD'

The address also comes against a volatile foreign policy backdrop, after negotiations over an Iran memorandum collapsed and the U.S. resumed strikes on Iranian targets.

CENTCOM announced another round of strikes on Iran on Wednesday morning, marking the fifth straight day the U.S. launched attacks on the country.

Iran has fired back with numerous attacks on U.S. allies in the Middle East, including Kuwait, Bahrain and Jordan.

U.S. forces reinstituted a naval blockade on Iran Tuesday afternoon.

TRUMP TAKES UNUSUAL STEP, LETS BIPARTISAN HOUSING BILL BECOME LAW UNSIGNED AMID SAVE PRESSURE CAMPAIGN

Gas prices surged during the early days of the Iran conflict, then fell in June as crude oil slipped to roughly $69 a barrel before climbing again to nearly $80 a barrel Monday.

While Trump also suggested Iran would be addressed, he repeatedly indicated Tuesday that election integrity would be a centerpiece of his remarks.

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Trump has been laser focused on passing the SAVE America Act which includes Trump’s long-sought voter ID and citizenship verification --- which Republicans say is key to ensuring elections are safe and secure.

Slain N.J. woman, missing Bahamas boater's spouses lawyer up; one disappears while other recently spotted

Thu, 16 Jul 2026 06:00:09 -0400

Brian Hooker, the husband to missing Michigan mother Lynette Hooker, has kept a low profile for months following her mysterious disappearance.

Comparatively, in a separate high-profile case, Conor Hanlon, the husband to slain New Jersey therapist Brooke Hanlon, has been spotted twice in one week.

In both cases, these husbands have kept quiet as questions remain unanswered about their wives. Both men have lawyered up. Neither has been charged with a crime

LYNETTE HOOKER MISSING IN BAHAMAS: TIMELINE OF MICHIGAN WOMAN’S DISAPPEARANCE, HUSBAND’S ARREST

"If I was the criminal defense attorney for either one of these individuals, I would advise them to keep a low profile," says criminal defense attorney and FOX News contributor Ted Williams.

In Brian Hooker's case, his wife Lynette vanished from the Bahamas on April 4 while the couple was on a boating vacation.

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Brian told investigators that she fell from their dinghy while they were at sea.

COAST GUARD ASKS PUBLIC TO IDENTIFY SAILBOAT MOORED NEAR VESSEL WHERE LYNETTE HOOKER VANISHED IN BAHAMAS

Following her disappearance, he was arrested and subsequently released by Bahamian authorities after questioning.

He returned to the U.S. without his wife in mid-April. He has not been seen or heard from in the months following.

The U.S. Coast Guard Investigative Service (USCGIS) has been leading the investigation into Lynette's disappearance.

WATCH: COAST GUARD VIDEO REVEALS SEIZURE OF BRIAN HOOKER'S SAILBOAT AFTER WIFE'S BAHAMAS DISAPPEARANCE

In early June, USCGIS relied on divers, underwater vehicles, drones and a cadaver dog while searching an area of Hope Town, Bahamas where Lynette was last seen alive.

They concluded the search and returned to the U.S. with the couple's dinghy.

Brian's attorney Matt Borgula previously told Fox News Digital, "We have been in communication with investigators and prosecutors on the case and will not discuss facts in the media while the investigation is ongoing."

In the case concerning Conor Hanlon, his wife Brooke Hanlon, was found fatally stabbed inside the couple's Chester, New Jersey home on June 6.

"Stabbing is a very personal direct attack where there may be physical evidence or where the person who was stabbed attempted to defend themselves," Williams said.

He goes on to say, "I'm sure that that is certainly something that the authorities are looking into."

The Morris County Prosecutor's Office Major Crimes Unit is investigating her death as a homicide.

Hanlon has been spotted twice in both Chester, New Jersey and in his childhood neighborhood of Brighton in Boston, Massachusetts.

Fox News Digital spotted Hanlon moving a recycling bin in a driveway then jump into a white pickup truck in Boston last week.

Days later, Hanlon's possible vehicle, a white Volvo SUV, was spotted by a neighbor in his Chester, New Jersey driveway this week.

Conor has a lawyer and has been in communication with investigators, they confirmed to Fox News Digital. Repeated calls to Hanlon hav not been returned.

In one situation, a woman has been gone without a trace for more than three months, and her husband has not been seen or made a public statement since April.

In the other case, a woman's butchered body was discovered inside her home and her husband called 911; he was seen twice in the last week following his wife's June death.

Williams said, "The one question that we don't know, and really in either one of these cases, is how cooperative they are. Are they actually cooperating with the authorities?"

He says its likely the husbands are following advice from their hired counsel.

"Law enforcement is clearly continuing to look at both of these individuals, yet they have not found sufficient evidence to date to make an arrest. The fact that they have gone underground that could very well be because their lawyers have told them to keep a very low profile," Williams said.

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Neither Brian Hooker nor Conor Hanlon have been accused of any crime or wrongdoing.

Apple AirDrop, Android Quick Share flaws put phones at risk

Thu, 16 Jul 2026 06:00:09 -0400

Apple AirDrop and Android Quick Share are the kind of phone features you probably use without thinking much about them. You want to send a photo across the room. You want to move a file from your phone to your laptop. So you tap share, pick a nearby device and move on.

Now, new security research shows those handy nearby-sharing tools can also create a wireless opening around your phone.

Researchers at the CISPA Helmholtz Center for Information Security examined Apple AirDrop and Android Quick Share. They found six vulnerabilities across Apple, Samsung and Google implementations. The flaws include AirDrop crash bugs, Samsung Quick Share protocol issues and a Google Quick Share for Windows bug that could potentially lead to remote code execution.

BEFORE YOU CONNECT ANOTHER SMART TV, TABLET OR PHONE, LOCK IT DOWN

That can affect you in a very everyday way. Your phone may be sitting in your pocket at an airport gate, in a coffee shop or inside a packed conference room while it listens for nearby sharing requests. If a bad actor gets close enough, they could try to take advantage of that open wireless doorway before you even realize anything happened. So, before you leave AirDrop or Quick Share open again, here is what the research found and the settings worth checking now.

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AirDrop Quick Share security flaws explained

The researchers call this a proximity problem. AirDrop and Quick Share are built to find nearby devices without the usual setup of pairing first. That convenience is the whole point. It also means the sharing software has to listen before it fully trusts the other device.

According to the research, the affected protocols are used by more than five billion devices. Apple reports more than 2.2 billion active devices running the sharing service tied to AirDrop. Google reports more than 3 billion Android devices with Quick Share available system-wide or used as a default sharing tool on many phones.

The study found three AirDrop issues that could be triggered before authentication. It also found two Samsung Quick Share protocol flaws. In addition, researchers found one Google Quick Share for Windows use-after-free bug. Apple, Samsung and Google acknowledged the reports, according to the researchers.

Why AirDrop and Quick Share can expose your phone

Most phone attacks we talk about involve bad links, fake login pages or shady apps. This research points to a different kind of risk because it starts with physical proximity. A nearby attacker may not need your password. They may not need you to open a website either. In some cases, the target device only needs to be discoverable or in a sharing mode that listens for nearby devices.

That does not mean someone can grab every photo on your phone by standing next to you. The known flaws are narrower than that. Still, the research shows that file-sharing features sit closer to sensitive parts of the system than many of us realize. AirDrop interacts with Apple's sharing service, which supports features beyond file transfers. Quick Share also moves through low-level networking and device-to-device connection steps. That is why bugs in this area deserve your attention.

How nearby hackers could abuse AirDrop and Quick Share

The most immediate risk is disruption. Researchers found AirDrop bugs that could crash Apple’s sharing service. That service supports AirDrop and other continuity features.

On Samsung Quick Share, researchers found protocol weaknesses that could let an attacker manipulate connection behavior before full authentication. Another issue could allow certain control messages to be injected during an active transfer.

The Google Quick Share for Windows bug is more serious on paper. Researchers described it as a heap use-after-free issue and said Google awarded a bug bounty for it. The paper says this type of bug could potentially be developed into a full remote code-execution exploit.

Google told CyberGuy it has addressed the Windows issue. "We've patched the flaw identified for Quick Share for Windows. As a best security practice, users should always ensure they apply the latest security updates available for their device," a Google spokesperson said.

For most phone owners, the daily takeaway is clear. Nearby sharing is useful, but you should avoid leaving your device open to everyone when you do not need it.

Who faces the biggest AirDrop and Quick Share risk

You should be extra careful with AirDrop or Quick Share when you are around a lot of strangers. That includes airports, trains, hotels and large events. These are places where a nearby attacker could sit close enough to reach many devices at once.

The risk goes up when your phone is set to receive from everyone. On iPhone, Apple says the "Everyone for 10 Minutes" setting reverts after 10 minutes if you are signed in to your Apple Account. If you are not signed in, it reverts to Receiving Off. That time limit helps. Even so, you should treat "Everyone" as a temporary setting. Turn it on only when you need it.

Ways to stay safe from AirDrop and Quick Share risks

The good news is that a few quick settings checks can make your phone much harder for nearby strangers to reach. You can also review these iPhone and Android security settings for more ways to lock down your device.

1) Update your phone and computer

Start with regular software updates. The researchers responsibly disclosed the findings, and fixes are underway across vendors. Install iOS, iPadOS, macOS, Android, Samsung updates, Google Play system updates and Quick Share for Windows updates as soon as they become available. Also check the apps or utilities tied to sharing on your computer. Quick Share for Windows was part of this research, so remember the PC side if you use Android-to-Windows transfers.

2) Lock down AirDrop on iPhone

On iPhone, keep AirDrop limited unless you are actively using it. The safest everyday choice is Receiving Off or Contacts Only.

To check AirDrop from Control Center on most newer iPhones, wake up your iPhone and unlock it. Look at the top-right corner of the screen where you see the battery icon. Place your finger near that corner and swipe down toward the middle of the screen. If Notification Center opens instead, try again from farther to the right.
Next, look for the box in the top-left area with the Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and airplane icons. Touch and hold that box until it expands.
Then tap AirDrop. Choose Receiving Off if you do not want anyone nearby to send you files. Choose Contacts Only if you only want people saved in your contacts to reach you.
You can also use the Settings app. Tap Settings, then General, then AirDrop. From there, choose Receiving Off, Contacts Only or Everyone for 10 Minutes.
Use Everyone for 10 Minutes only when you are expecting a file from someone nearby. After that, go back to AirDrop and switch it to Contacts Only or Receiving Off.

3) Limit Quick Share on Samsung

On a Samsung phone, Quick Share controls who can see your device and send you files nearby. The safest everyday choice is No one or Contacts only.

GOOGLE TURNS OLD PHONES INTO CLOUD SERVERS

To check it from the Quick panel, wake up your phone and unlock it. Place two fingers at the very top-right area of the screen and swipe down. This opens the full Quick panel. If that feels tricky, swipe down once from the top of the screen, then swipe down again to see more buttons.
Look for the Quick Share button. If you do not see it, swipe left across the Quick panel to see more buttons. Tap Quick Share.
A menu should appear that says Who can share with you. Choose No one if you do not want nearby people to find your phone. Choose Contacts only if you only want saved contacts to share with you. Avoid Everyone or Anyone nearby unless you are expecting a file from someone you trust.
You can also use the Settings app. Tap Settings, then tap the search bar at the top. Type Quick Share. Tap Quick Share, then tap Who can share with you. Choose No one or Contacts only.
Use Everyone or Anyone nearby only when you are actively receiving a file. After that, go back into Quick Share and switch it to No one or Contacts only.

4) Decline random file requests

A file request from a stranger should be a red flag. Even if the file name looks harmless, decline it. Attackers often rely on curiosity. They may use a funny photo name or something that looks like it came from a nearby event. If you did not ask for the file, decline the request.

5) Turn off nearby sharing in crowded places

If you are traveling or sitting in a packed public place, turn receiving off. This is especially helpful at airports, train stations and large events. You can still turn AirDrop or Quick Share back on when you actually need it. That small habit gives you more control over when your phone is visible.

6) Be careful with personal files

If you use AirDrop or Quick Share to send personal files, slow down before you tap send. Check the recipient name carefully. When possible, confirm the device in person before sharing. Be extra careful with photos, tax documents, travel confirmations, medical forms, school paperwork or anything that includes your address, phone number or financial details. Avoid sending private files to devices with generic names like "iPhone," "Galaxy" or "Laptop." For sensitive documents, use a trusted cloud storage or file-sharing service where you can confirm the recipient, manage access and add password protection when available.

7) Keep Bluetooth and Wi-Fi under control

Nearby sharing often relies on Bluetooth and Wi-Fi to discover and transfer between devices. You do not need to turn both off all day. However, it is smart to disable sharing features when you are done. Also, skip random public Wi-Fi networks just because they look familiar. Your phone can do a lot in the background. Give it fewer chances to talk to strangers.

8) Use strong security software

Strong antivirus software can help detect malicious files if you accidentally accept something you should not have. This is especially important on computers, since Quick Share for Windows was part of the research. Keep your security software updated and scan any file that looks suspicious before opening it. Get my picks for the best 2026 antivirus protection winners for your Windows, Mac, Android and iOS devices at CyberGuy.com.

Kurt's key takeaways

AirDrop and Quick Share are useful, and most of us will keep using them. I know I will. But this research is a good reminder that nearby sharing should not stay wide open by default. The issue comes down to convenience. Phone makers made file sharing feel effortless. That is great when you are sending vacation photos to family or moving a file to your laptop. It feels different when the same feature is listening in a packed airport, coffee shop or hotel lobby. What stands out to me is the range. A bad actor may only need to be close by. So, my advice is straightforward. Update your devices. Keep AirDrop and Quick Share limited to people you trust. Turn off receiving when you are in a crowd. And never accept a file request you were not expecting.

Should phones make nearby sharing harder to leave open in public places? Let us know by writing to us at CyberGuy.com.

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Billions in taxpayer income are leaving two iconic states — as a new economic map emerges

Thu, 16 Jul 2026 06:00:03 -0400

As Americans continue relocating across state lines, California and New York remain at the center of the nation's migration story.

The latest IRS data show the top 10 counties with the largest net losses of taxpayers to other states were all located in California and New York. Compiled from federal tax returns, the figures offer one of the clearest snapshots of where Americans are relocating — and where their income is moving with them. Economists say those migration patterns help explain broader shifts in state economies, tax bases and housing markets as families weigh affordability, taxes and job opportunities when considering where they want to put down roots.

The movement of taxpayers and their income can also affect state and local tax collections, which help fund schools, public safety and infrastructure.

Los Angeles County, home to Hollywood and one of the nation's largest economic engines, led the nation with a net loss of 17,496 tax filers. Those departing taxpayers took nearly $1.9 billion in income with them as they moved to other states.

THE RED STATES RACING AHEAD IN AMERICA’S POWERFUL WEALTH BOOM — AND THE STATES FALLING BEHIND

FLOURISH MAP SHOWING COUNTY MIGRATION: 29696985

Other major counties in California and New York saw similar outflows. The next-largest taxpayer losses were recorded in Queens County, New York (-17,109), the Bronx (-16,319), Orange County, California (-11,618) and Suffolk County, New York (-10,434).

One New York county stood out for a different reason.

Manhattan gained more interstate tax filers than any other county in the nation while simultaneously losing nearly $1 billion in adjusted gross income, suggesting many of the newcomers earned less than those who left.

Compiled from federal tax returns, the IRS migration data provide one of the clearest snapshots of where Americans are relocating—and where their income is moving with them. Economists say the figures offer insight into the economic forces reshaping states, from taxes and housing costs to job opportunities and the long-term health of local tax bases. The latest data continue to point to a shift away from many of the nation's largest coastal counties toward fast-growing destinations in the Sun Belt and Mountain West.

"It's very, very clear that people ultimately vote with their feet and when they feel like they're getting taxed too much, they go somewhere else where they will be taxed less," Heritage Foundation chief economist E.J. Antoni told Fox News Digital.

"If you look at where these people are going, they're not going to Massachusetts or Illinois or California," Antoni said. "They're going to Texas. They're going to Tennessee. They're going to Florida — places with low or no income taxes and low overall levels of taxation."

AMERICANS KEEP MOVING TO TEXAS AND FLORIDA — BUT ONE OTHER RED STATE IS GROWING EVEN FASTER

The remaining counties rounding out the top 10 for taxpayer losses were San Diego County, California (-9,401); Nassau County, New York (-9,130); Riverside County, California (-8,968); San Bernardino County, California (-8,462); and Kings County, New York (-6,924).

While those two states dominated the counties with the largest taxpayer losses, other parts of the country continued attracting new residents. The counties with the largest net gains in interstate tax filers were Maricopa County, Arizona (+9,353); Harris County, Texas (+8,955); King County, Washington (+8,297); and Clark County, Nevada (+7,524).

"The 'vote with your feet' movement, is real," Paul Teller, a conservative strategist who previously served in the Trump-Pence White House, told Fox News Digital.

THESE STATES ARE 'AHEAD OF THE GAME' IN BRINGING DOWN HOME PRICES, TRUMP'S HOUSING CHIEF SAYS

Teller said Americans continue leaving high-tax, highly regulated states for places where they can keep more of what they earn and face lower costs of living, arguing the migration patterns should serve as a warning for policymakers in states that continue losing residents.

"What baffles me, especially as a former New Yorker is that there doesn't seem to be a lot of concern in the states that are losing people," Teller told Fox News Digital.

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Teller argued the trend could carry long-term fiscal consequences if affluent taxpayers continue leaving. He said the debate has taken on renewed attention as New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani advances an agenda that includes higher taxes on top earners, rent freezes for stabilized apartments, free city buses and city-owned grocery stores.

California has likewise remained at the center of debates over taxes on high-income earners, maintaining one of the nation's highest top marginal income tax rates.

"Let's see what happens when the wealthy keep moving out of big blue states like California and New York," Teller said. "We'll see what happens to tax revenue. We're already seeing it. It's going down significantly."

Swalwell campaigns drop eye-popping cash to celeb defense attorney weeks after resigning

Thu, 16 Jul 2026 05:35:41 -0400

Disgraced former Rep. Eric Swalwell, D-Calif., paid one of his attorneys over $360,000 combined from his congressional and gubernatorial campaign accounts just weeks after dropping out of the gubernatorial race and resigning from Congress, a Fox News Digital review found.

A $50,000 payment, which was made on April 24 to celebrity lawyer Sara Azari for "Legal [and] Accounting Services," raises questions about what the payment was for and whether Swalwell was intending to try to salvage his public image amid the sexual abuse allegations that had derailed his gubernatorial campaign and ultimately cost him his congressional seat. The payment came 11 days after he resigned from Congress.

Three other payments appear to have been made by Swalwell's gubernatorial campaign the following month to Azari, including a $250,000 payment in early May for "campaign legal compliance," according to California state records.

After weeks of allegations circulating on social media, bombshell reporting from CNN and the San Francisco Chronicle forced Democrats to reckon with allegations from several women, who provided detailed accounts of how Swalwell had allegedly pursued intoxicated women, pressured employees into intimate situations and asked for explicit images from female contacts.

SWALWELL ATTORNEY DENIES MISCONDUCT, SAYS CONGRESSMAN TOOK ACCOUNTABILITY FOR 'LAPSES IN JUDGMENT'

The allegations immediately took their toll.

In the aftermath, even as high-ranking Democrats pulled their support for Swalwell, Azari, who runs a law office with locations in Los Angeles and New York, was one of the few voices to defend Swalwell after his resignation.

"The fact that, you know, a day later, years later, or whatnot, you maybe had shame around what you did, or maybe you were in a relationship and shouldn’t have done what you did, doesn’t make it rape," Azari said in an interview with NewsNation.

She also released a long statement defending Swalwell on X in April, claiming the "timing, nature, and coordinated rollout of these vile and heinous allegations speak for themselves."

"This is a ruthless and shameless attempt to smear Congressman Swalwell," she added.

Notably, Swalwell apologized for past "mistakes" in his resignation announcement despite denying the allegations.

SWALWELL CALLS SEXUAL MISCONDUCT ALLEGATIONS 'FLAT OUT FALSE,' SAYS HE WILL FIGHT THEM 'WITH EVERYTHING'

"I am deeply sorry to my family, staff, and constituents for mistakes in judgment I've made in my past. I will fight the serious, false allegations made against me. However, I must take responsibility and ownership for the mistakes I did make," Swalwell said in a statement.

Azari said she admired Swalwell for confronting the allegations and for removing himself from Congress — as well as the race for governor.

GAVIN NEWSOM SETS AUGUST 2026 SPECIAL ELECTION TO FILL ERIC SWALWELL'S VACANT CONGRESSIONAL SEAT

"I think it demonstrates a tremendous amount of accountability, not because he’s done these things and he’s stepping down, but because how could he properly defend himself and represent his constituency with these serious allegations pending," she added.

Swalwell is facing criminal investigations in New York and Los Angeles in addition to a Justice Department inquiry into alleged sexual misconduct.

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Azari did not respond to questions about the payments or what services it covered.

MORNING GLORY: I asked Trump if he was prepared to remove Iran’s new leaders

Thu, 16 Jul 2026 05:00:57 -0400

"Can you or the American military or the Israeli military get to what’s left of their third string and their fourth string and their fifth string? Do you know where they are? Can you kill them?"

I posed those questions to President Donald Trump Monday, July 13.

"Yeah, I do, but we don’t want to talk about that," the president replied.

TRUMP SAYS HE LEFT INSTRUCTIONS TO 'BOMB' IRAN 'AT LEVELS' NEVER SEEN IF HE IS ASSASSINATED

"But we certainly are watching, yeah," he added. "I know a lot about that subject. I know a lot, but I don’t think it’s appropriate to talk about it right now."

Trump’s restraint about clearing the bench of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) is interesting.

The public faces of the rump regime in Iran — President Masoud Pezeshkian and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi — don’t have any authority over the killers with the guns. (Trump puts the number of Iranians massacred by the regime over two days in January at 52,000, so we know the ruthlessness of the men in charge.) When the campaign against Iran by the U.S. and Israel opened on Feb. 28, those strikes devastated the first and second tiers of "leadership" in Iran. Pezeshkian and Araghchi were not important enough to be in the command bunkers.

TRUMP CALLS TERRORIST IRANIAN A ‘CANCER.’ IS HE FINALLY THE ONE TO REMOVE IT?

Sixty-eight-year-old Ahmad Vahidi emerged from the wreckage and his "retirement" after the wipeout of the senior leadership of the Islamic Republic to take command of the IRGC. Imagine how utterly ruthless a benched and passed-over killer must be, and how many grudges he must hold against those who put him out to pasture in the first place.

Eli Lake is among the most respected national security reporters in the U.S. On Tuesday, July 14, Lake wholly agreed with what Trump told me Monday: It is unrealistic to expect the Iranian people to rise up only months after such a traumatic mass murder.

Instead, Lake explained, students of the history of regime collapses tell us we ought to be watching for splits within the ranks of the men with guns. That’s how revolutions against dictators and their henchmen at the top begin and then gain momentum. The lower levels of security services or a cadre within the military become unwilling to join in the killing anymore. They see the end game and they don’t want to be around or on the wrong side when everything falls apart. Sometimes they flee. Sometimes they turn the weapons on the top men. When that begins, Lake added, it can accelerate quickly.

US CLAWS BACK KEY CONCESSION TO IRAN AFTER FRESH ATTACKS ON COMMERCIAL SHIPS IN STRAIT OF HORMUZ

With the first Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) torn up by the IRGC, all bets were off. I’ve called the MOU the equivalent of "halftime" in the battle with Iran since it was inked, but was surprised when the rump regime came out of its locker room first and began shooting at ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz. Iran received a thin lifeline of oil revenue from the MOU when we lifted the blockade. The blockade is back, as are the bombings. If the president does indeed ratchet up the air campaign, the already tattered Iranian economy will struggle to meet basic needs.

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The suffering of the population doesn’t matter to Vahidi et al. They can loot the country (and will) and assign whatever imports are getting in to themselves, just as the Hamas terrorists did in Gaza. They may be living underground, but the IRGC bosses won’t be hungry.

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The vast masses of Iranians know the truth — though they dare not speak it. But if even a handful of colonels or even junior officers decide the time has come for them to rule and save the country (and themselves), they can act. If they succeed, they can shrug off the awful burden of "Twelver" theology and rule as normal juntas rule: with absolute power but without making war on the world.

It only takes a few people to crack the whole of the IRGC tyranny. Trump says to the public that he isn’t going to rush that takeover. But who knows what he and the Israelis see and hear courtesy of their intelligence communities. The allies certainly had all the information they needed on Feb. 28. Don’t doubt that they have more and add to their collection every day.

Hugh Hewitt is a Fox News contributor and host of "The Hugh Hewitt Show" heard weekday afternoons from 3 PM to 6 PM ET on the Salem Radio Network, and simulcast on Salem News Channel. Hugh drives Americans home on the East Coast and to lunch on the West Coast on over 400 affiliates nationwide, and on all the streaming platforms where SNC can be seen. He is a frequent guest on the Fox News Channel’s news roundtable, hosted by Bret Baier weekdays at 6pm ET. A son of Ohio and a graduate of Harvard College and the University of Michigan Law School, Hewitt has been a Professor of Law at Chapman University’s Fowler School of Law since 1996 where he teaches Constitutional Law. Hewitt launched his eponymous radio show from Los Angeles in 1990. Hewitt has frequently appeared on every major national news television network, hosted television shows for PBS and MSNBC, written for every major American paper, has authored a dozen books and moderated a score of Republican candidate debates, most recently the November 2023 Republican presidential debate in Miami and four Republican presidential debates in the 2015-16 cycle. Hewitt focuses his radio show and his column on the Constitution, national security, American politics and the Cleveland Browns and Guardians. Hewitt has interviewed tens of thousands of guests from Democrats Hillary Clinton and John Kerry to Republican Presidents George W. Bush and Donald Trump over his 40 years in broadcasting. This column previews the lead story that will drive his radio/ TV show today.

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CHAD WOLF: Canada can't expect free trade while leaving our northern border vulnerable

Thu, 16 Jul 2026 05:00:56 -0400

The longest international border in the world has a security problem, and Canada is not treating it with the urgency it deserves.

Recently, Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin laid out a sobering picture of how people from 78 nations have been apprehended crossing the northern border. U.S. agents are now arresting a terrorist on the watch list nearly every week at the northern border, and over the past year alone, enough fentanyl to kill 17 million Americans has been seized coming through Canada. Cartels, squeezed by the intensified enforcement operations and physical infrastructure along our southern border, are pivoting north.

Federal prosecutors have unsealed a string of recent cases documenting organized smuggling networks operating directly through the northern border. They are the front edge of a corridor that cartels and transnational criminal organizations are actively developing.

CANADA'S PRIME MINISTER REFERS TO US ECONOMIC TIES AS A WEAKNESS

Congressional Republicans are rightly raising the alarm, holding hearings and pressing Canada for action. And the Trump administration is recognizing exactly what leverage it holds.

On July 1, the United States declined to renew the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) in its current form, opting instead for annual reviews until the agreement expires in 2036. Ottawa and Mexico City wanted the 16-year extension. Washington said no. Canada's economy is deeply woven into American markets. Roughly $900 billion in trade moves across this border every year. Canada wants predictability and a long-term framework. The Trump administration holds the pen.

Canada has long been a country that enjoys open access to American markets while keeping its own rigorously walled off. Canada’s bad trade behavior must be called out.

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Canada's dairy supply management system often functions as a government-sanctioned cartel, setting production quotas, controlling prices and throttling foreign competition behind tariff walls that can exceed 200%. U.S. dairy producers have filed repeated USMCA dispute complaints over Canada's manipulation of tariff-rate quotas, arguing that Ottawa deliberately underfills import access in ways that violate the agreement's terms.

Canada's illicit cigarette market is one of the most sophisticated contraband networks in North America, and it runs directly through the same corridors being used to move hard drugs and people. When law enforcement executed Manitoba's largest drug bust in history in May 2026, police found 1.35 million contraband cigarettes sitting in the same evidence locker.

Investigators with decades of experience tracing illicit tobacco networks have noted that contraband cigarette revenues are a consistent funding stream for the same organized crime networks moving fentanyl south. Ottawa has known for years that the illicit tobacco pipeline and the drug pipeline share infrastructure, financing and personnel. The enforcement response has not matched the scale of the problem.

NEW MEXICO AG LAUNCHES CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION INTO DEA OVER ALLEGATIONS AGENTS LET FENTANYL FLOOD STATE

In telecommunications, Canada has maintained legislative restrictions on foreign ownership for its Big Three carriers since 1993. Bell, Telus and Rogers operate in a market legally shielded from American or other foreign competition, producing some of the highest wireless prices in the developed world for Canadian consumers. American telecom companies cannot meaningfully compete in Canada. That door swings in only one direction.

The same dynamic governs Canadian aviation. Roughly 78% of domestic Canadian flights are operated by Air Canada or WestJet, with foreign carriers locked out by restrictions that prevent American airlines from serving routes within Canada. Canada's own Competition Bureau has recommended opening the market. Ottawa has not acted.

This is the pattern: Canada extracts the benefits of a rules-based trade relationship with the United States while maintaining sector-by-sector protections that no serious economic partner would defend.

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The northern border is becoming a genuine national security concern, and Canada has neither the resources nor the political urgency to treat it as one on its own. The Trump administration is direct about the trajectory. What happened on the southern border, where cartels have immense power and control nearly every crossing point, will come north unless the cooperation deepens and hardens fast.

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The Trump administration has made it plain that a new USMCA framework, and the trade certainty Canada badly wants, is available. The price is serious border enforcement, real resources, closed loopholes on small-package drug shipments and accelerated passage of the legal tools Canadian law enforcement needs. Trade sectors that have operated as protected monopolies for decades should be on the table too.

Canada is a close ally and the relationship is worth protecting. But close allies do not get permanent exemptions from accountability, especially when fentanyl is flowing, cartels are scouting and the border remains vulnerable. The United States has leverage. The question is, will Canada finally take action?

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SEN ELIZABETH WARREN: The housing bill is law without Trump. Families need Congress to keep sprinting

Thu, 16 Jul 2026 05:00:11 -0400

The biggest housing bill in more than 30 years is finally law. For more than two weeks, President Donald Trump refused to sign the bill — not because he had a problem with it, but because he cared so little about the squeeze families are facing that he sat on the bill for so long, it became law without him.

President Trump calls the affordability crisis a "hoax" and has called this landmark legislation "minor." But overwhelming numbers of Americans understand that the affordability and housing crises are anything but minor. The 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act is an important step toward doing something about it.

This new law establishes powerful federal incentives to get communities across the country to build more housing. It removes outdated rules, so that housing can be built more quickly. It makes it cheaper to build manufactured housing.

CONGRESS EYES RARE BIPARTISAN HOUSING WIN WITH OR WITHOUT TRUMP'S HELP

The bill also stops private equity from buying up single-family homes. For years, I’ve been raising the alarm about private equity taking over industries, stripping them for parts, and running businesses into the ground. Congress had never before held private equity accountable for anything. That changed with the passage of this major bipartisan bill. Nearly 90% of voters support this law, and it wouldn’t have happened without the leadership of Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C., Rep. Maxine Waters, D-Calif., mayors across the country, and everyone who helped push it across the finish line.

There is much more we need to do to lower housing prices. I’ve proposed dozens of additional ideas, from ending tax benefits for private equity landlords to making more investments to build housing, and we should start moving forward on them. This legislation is proof that when faced with a crisis this severe, even with a disinterested president, Congress can act. But the affordability crisis doesn’t end with housing. So rather than pat ourselves on the back, it’s time to start sprinting.

Let’s start by capping credit card interest rates at 10% — something President Trump promised to do last January. Nearly two-thirds of Americans across party lines support this. Families have already paid $368 million every single day for Trump’s broken promise. They cannot afford to wait a day longer.

STEVE MOORE: POLITICIANS ARE BLAMING THE WRONG VILLAIN FOR AMERICA’S RISING FOOD PRICES

Let’s tackle grocery costs — the No. 1, week after week, financial pressure for families. Dominant corporations across the highly consolidated food industry, from beef to eggs, have been caught engaging in anticompetitive tactics that are driving up grocery prices. Democrats and Republicans support cracking down on grocery store price gouging. Congress can give antitrust regulators more tools to crack down on unfair pricing by major food corporations. And my Price Gouging Prevention Act, which builds on price gouging laws in dozens of red and blue states, would do just that.

Let’s take on the crushing burden of healthcare costs. Trump and Republicans have ripped healthcare away from millions, and Democrats will keep fighting to reverse those devastating cuts. But voters want more.

President Trump and Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. say they don’t want Americans paying more than the rest of the world for prescription drugs? Let’s pass legislation to get it done. Another area of bipartisan agreement? Cracking down on giant corporations that gobble up every part of our healthcare system — from insurers to pharmacy benefit managers to your doctor’s office — and then jack up prices. My bipartisan Break Up Big Medicine Act would address rampant consolidation and help make healthcare more affordable.

SANDERS-AOC BACKED PROGRESSIVE DEBUTS FEDERAL $25 MINIMUM WAGE BILL WITH COALITION OF 100+ ORGANIZATIONS

Another idea that is popular with the vast majority of Americans is lifting the Social Security payroll tax cap to save Social Security for the next generation. With prices skyrocketing, the last thing seniors need is their benefits slashed in 2032 if Congress fails to act. Majorities of Democrats, Republicans and independents favor eliminating the payroll tax cap so the wealthiest Americans contribute the same percentage of their income as a factory worker or a firefighter. I am working on bipartisan legislation to get this done.

We should also act to increase wages — starting with raising the minimum wage. Under President Trump, inflation is at its highest level in three years, which means more and more families who work full-time jobs earning the minimum wage still live in poverty. Meanwhile, Congress has sat on its hands for almost 20 years. Across the country, more than 80% of Democrats, independents and Republicans think the current federal minimum wage is too low. They’re right. It’s decades past time for Congress to act.

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The skyrocketing cost of childcare is another concern for Americans across party lines. A whopping 82% of voters say federal childcare funding would help lower costs. We should cap the cost of childcare at no more than 7% of income, expand childcare supply, and boost wages for childcare workers.

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There are so many more ideas to address the affordability crisis that Democrats, Republicans and independent voters support — like investing in domestic drug manufacturing, stopping data centers from driving up electricity bills and taking on corporate profiteering across the economy. With ROAD to Housing, we’ve proven that Congress can act to lower costs. Now it’s time to build on the housing law’s momentum and make life more affordable for all Americans.

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BRET BAIER: Lindsey Graham was a true defender of America and a bridge builder

Thu, 16 Jul 2026 05:00:00 -0400

Lindsey Graham was a consequential senator. If there was an important issue, he was right there on top of it. But that’s not the whole story. The essence of his character, the shaping of his background, the joy he found in people and in the political process, and the joy he brought to those around him, is the big story.

Over the years I had an opportunity to see Lindsey at work on many occasions, and to hear his passion for the issues. He could be the most entertaining person at any dinner table, but his wit was matched by a razor-sharp mind that was always considering how to solve the next problem. He never stopped working. The night he died he’d just returned from Kyiv, Ukraine, where he’d met with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

Lindsey’s love for people shined through. He had a special appeal and was socially gifted. Maybe that came from his early years hanging out in the back room of his parents’ bar, where he learned the fine art of schmoozing. People from every walk of life crossed his path, and he was interested in them all.

LINDSEY GRAHAM'S SISTER CARRIES ON LATE SENATOR'S WORK, BECOMING SOUTH CAROLINA'S FIRST FEMALE SENATOR

Lindsey also learned early in life the meaning of commitment. His mother died when he was 20, followed by his father months later. Lindsey became the legal guardian for his 13-year-old sister Darline, who once called him "a brother, a father and a mother rolled into one." He raised her to adulthood, and they have always been extremely close. With Lindsey’s death, Darline has been appointed by South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster to finish her brother’s term, which expires at the beginning of 2027.

Lindsey’s death on July 11 at the age of 71 capped a congressional career that began in 1992 in the South Carolina House, then the U.S. House for eight years, and the U.S. Senate since 2003. From 1995-2015 he simultaneously served in the Air Force Reserves. His passing brought a flood of tributes, including tearful memories from his colleagues on both sides of the aisle. Their disputes melted away as they recalled their friend. What struck me most was how so many of them had stories about Lindsey’s passion for finding common ground so he could get things done.

I often observed that Lindsey loved to make a deal. He could work with anybody and threw himself into the most challenging public issues, laboring alongside people with whom he differed on other issues. He never let the differences get in the way—although he never pulled his punches when he disagreed, and he did passionately disagree with the left on many occasions.

'THE HALLS OF THE SENATE ALREADY FEEL EMPTY': TEARFUL THUNE HONORS LINDSEY GRAHAM AS SISTER TAKES HIS SEAT

Yet those same people summoned up sincere praise for him in the days following his death. Illinois Democrat Dick Durbin spoke with obvious fondness when he recalled emotionally, "Lindsey, for many years, was the only Republican willing to co-sponsor the Dream Act, a bill that I introduced over 20 years ago and reintroduced in successive Congresses, providing protection to undocumented immigrants brought to this country as children, his support took guts. At a time when issues surrounding immigration were becoming politically toxic, Lindsey stuck his neck out for me and for these young people. I will never ever forget."

New Jersey Democrat Cory Booker shared a similar experience, recounting their collaboration on important legislation. He admired Lindsey and appreciated his uniqueness. Booker recounted how a White House negotiator had once told him that "Lindsey Graham was like an unguided missile. That God, he never knew which way he was going to go, whether he would come back and hit you, but when he was aligned, when he would be in the right place at the right time, man, he could get things done that other people couldn't, and bring a lot of light and new possibilities to the efforts."

The day after Lindsey’s death, Senate Majority Leader John Thune spoke in the Senate. With tears in his eyes he said, "I come to the floor today with a heavy heart. I look to my right, and I see a desk which we in the Senate refer to and know as the John Calhoun desk is covered with a black shroud, and on top of that shroud is a bowl of white roses. That is present at Lindsey Graham's desk. It's difficult to believe that Lindsey Graham is no longer here with us. That we won't run into him at a media day or share a joke with him at this afternoon's vote. The halls of the Senate already feel empty without him, and I know I'm not alone in that feeling. He was a friend to so many of us on both sides of the aisle."

KAGAN RECALLS LINDSEY GRAHAM'S VOTE THAT HELPED SEAL HER SUPREME COURT CONFIRMATION

One of my favorite interactions with Lindsey came in 2022 at the Edward M. Kennedy Institute in Boston, where an exact replica of the U.S. Senate chamber had been erected. There I hosted a debate between Bernie Sanders and Lindsey Graham, who were fierce ideological rivals, but who shared that common chord of civility and respect.

I remember well Lindsey’s opening remarks: "This place is awesome!" he declared, looking around the Senate chamber replica. He explained, "We’re here to honor Ted and Orrin—Ted Kennedy and Orrin Hatch, who were great friends. They fought like tigers, but they could work together. And I have a different take on things than Bernie, but I like Bernie." I was struck by Lindsey’s reference to Kennedy and Hatch. They were lions in the Senate, and Lindsey was too, all belonging to an era when legislative disputes did not carry over into personal grudge matches.

People like Lindsey were working toward a return to that idea, and the debate with Sanders was a step in that direction. The debate displayed their differences, but also surprising areas of commonality, such as on gun control. At the end, they were both smiling, and they agreed that the debate had been fun.

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Lindsey was a big believer in getting along, no matter what it took. During his short-lived campaign for president in 2015, he noted approvingly how Republican President Ronald Reagan and Democratic Speaker of the House Tip O’Neill met together regularly for drinks at the White House, even though they were on opposite sides. "That’s the first thing I’m going to do as president," he promised. "We’re going to drink more."

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Those who knew Lindsey understood that one of his great loves was golf. I played with him many times.

Was he a good golfer? Not particularly. But he was extremely fun to play with. He recognized the importance of the game as a social bonding activity. He’d make you feel good to be with him. Which is one of the most important qualities of a golf partner, a friend and a statesman.

It’s a big reason we’ll miss having him in our lives.

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Two families sue North Dakota hospital on allegations babies were switched at birth

Thu, 16 Jul 2026 02:55:41 -0400

Two families are suing a North Dakota hospital, alleging hospital staff mistakenly switched two baby boys at birth more than 36 years ago.

Kyle Bylin and Jeremy Morrison were the only two babies born at Unity Medical Center in Grafton, North Dakota, on Jan. 26, 1988, the men and their families said in the lawsuit, according to KVLY. Christian Unity Hospital Corporation, doing business as Unity Medical Center, was named as the defendant.

The plaintiffs allege hospital staff switched the infants and sent them home with the other child’s biological parents, the outlet reported. The two men were then raised by each other’s biological families, allegedly without anyone's knowledge.

The lawsuit says the switch was not discovered for more than 36 years.

FAMILY OF TODDLER FOUND ALIVE IN MORGUE AFTER BEING DECLARED DEAD PLANS LEGAL ACTION

Two years ago, Morrison, who now lives in Colorado, took a DNA test and learned the parents who raised him were not his biological parents. Morrison told KKTV that his aunt provided DNA, and Bylin matched as her nephew. Morrison said he does not have any cousins.

Morrison told the outlet that he always felt different from the family he grew up with.

"I didn't have anyone that looked like me in my family," Morrison said. "I was that blonde-haired kid that stood out in a family full of brown-haired people."

"I know I definitely wouldn't be here in Colorado today if I went home with the right parents," he said. "I would have been working the farm with my older brother that I never knew I had."

Both sets of parents have met their biological sons, but the two men have not met each other, according to KKTV.

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Unity Medical Center denied the allegations and asked the court to dismiss the case with prejudice.

Attorneys for the hospital argued that its staff "possessed and exercised the appropriate degree of skill and learning" and "at all times used reasonable care, judgment, and diligence," according to KVLY.

The hospital also claims the lawsuit may be prohibited by the statute of limitations, pointing to "the length of time that has passed between the alleged incident and the service of this lawsuit."

The plaintiffs are seeking more than $50,000 in damages and have asked for a jury trial.

The hospital also raised comparative fault as a defense, arguing that damages, if any, could be attributable to parties other than the hospital.

The hospital has also demanded a jury trial.

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Unity Medical Center said in a statement to KKTV that it is "currently working to better understand a highly unusual situation involving two men who apparently were separated from their biological parents at some point during their lives," adding: "Both men were born at our hospital on the same day in 1988, and we recognize the profound impact this discovery has had on them and their families."

"Unfortunately, because of the passage of nearly four decades, the medical and staffing records that might have provided additional clarity no longer exist, and no members of the delivery team from that time are still employed by the hospital," the statement continued. "While we deeply sympathize with the men and their families, we have found no evidence to support claims that Unity Medical Center or its staff were responsible for what occurred."

ICE arrests record 238 illegal immigrants in one day during South Texas enforcement operation

Thu, 16 Jul 2026 01:10:35 -0400

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement announced Tuesday that its Harlingen, Texas, field office, working with law enforcement partners, arrested 238 illegal immigrants in a single-day operation that the agency said set a record for targeted arrests in the Rio Grande Valley.

ICE said the arrests marked the highest number of targeted arrests in a single day for Enforcement and Removal Operations Harlingen.

The June 18 operation resulted in the arrests of illegal immigrants with convictions including attempted kidnapping, sexual battery and drug possession, according to the agency.

BIDEN JUDGE OVERRULED ON KEY TRUMP IMMIGRATION POLICY

"The ICE mission continues to focus on enhancing public safety and restoring integrity to our nation’s immigration system," ICE Harlingen Field Office Director Juan Agudelo said in a statement.

"We will stop at nothing to keep our American communities safe by removing one criminal illegal alien at a time," he added.

The arrests come as the Trump administration continues its crackdown on illegal immigration and seeks to remove criminal illegal immigrants from communities across the country.

ABIGAIL SPANBERGER’S VIRGINIA A ‘HOTBED’ FOR ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT CRIME, DHS SAYS AFTER LATEST RAPE CHARGE

Among those arrested was Manuel Morales-Geronimo, a Mexican national whom authorities identified as a Paisas gang member.

Morales-Geronimo was previously convicted of assault causing bodily injury, possession of a controlled substance, possession of marijuana, driving while intoxicated, illegal entry into the United States and three counts of illegal reentry, according to ICE.

Jose Alfredo Castillo-Mendoza, also a Mexican national, was arrested during the operation. According to ICE, he was previously convicted of attempted kidnapping, sexual battery and illegal reentry.

ICE AGENTS INSTRUCTED TO END MOST VEHICLE STOPS IN MAJOR POLICY SHIFT

The announcement came the same day President Donald Trump pushed back on a reported DHS move to pause most ICE traffic stops, calling them "one of ICE's most important and effective Crime Fighting tools."

The reported pause followed scrutiny over recent fatal encounters involving immigration enforcement traffic stops.

In a social media post, Trump wrote, "We CANNOT give up one of ICE's most important and effective Crime Fighting tools, THE TRAFFIC STOP!"

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The president added that the DHS policy shift would be "playing right into the criminal’s [sic] hands."

Fox News Digital's Peter Pinedo contributed to this report.

Marcello Hernández roasts Jake Paul, Tiger Woods and Bill Belichick in ESPYs monologue

Thu, 16 Jul 2026 00:06:41 -0400

The ESPYs brought some of the biggest names in sports and entertainment to New York City on Wednesday night, a day that typically ranks among the slowest on the sports calendar.

But this year’s ceremony was preceded by a World Cup semifinal match in Atlanta that was already being described as an instant classic. Lionel Messi and Argentina punched their ticket to a second straight World Cup final with a win over England. The defending champions will meet Spain on Saturday in nearby New Jersey, just a short trip across the Hudson River from where comedian Marcello Hernández opened the ESPYs.

The "Saturday Night Live" star wasted little time taking a few jabs at Jake Paul, Tiger Woods and other sports figures.

ESPN'S JOHN BUCCIGROSS NAMES HIS MOUNT RUSHMORE OF ALL-TIME SPORTSCENTER ANCHORS

"Mike Tyson ripped my watch off. Welcome to the ESPYs!" Hernández joked after making a boxing-style entrance in a robe with Tyson as part of his entourage.

"I must say, it's an honor to be here among so many great athletes, and Jake Paul," Hernández began in his roughly 10-minute monologue.

Paul appeared to take the joke in stride, laughing and applauding as cameras cut to him in the crowd. Hernández then stayed on the YouTube star-turned-boxer, needling him over his history of fighting older opponents.

"Jake, that's just a joke. Don't fight me," Hernández continued. "My dad and my stepdad are both here. They're over 50, and I know that's how you like them. So, fight them instead."

Paul kept laughing as Hernández’s bit played out, eventually closing with the comedian shifting attention to his father and stepfather, who were shown in the audience.

Hernández later used Caleb Williams’ "Madden 27" cover as a lead into Woods.

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"I want to congratulate Caleb Williams, the quarterback for the Chicago Bears, who will be on the cover of the new Madden video game. Congratulations to Caleb," Hernández said, before adding, "And Tiger Woods will be on the cover of Grand Theft Auto."

Woods was arrested in Florida in March on charges of DUI after a car crash. The arrest report said a deputy found pain pills in his pocket and observed signs of impairment at the scene. Woods later announced he would take time away from golf to seek treatment.

Hernández also worked North Carolina football coach Bill Belichick into the monologue, using the 74-year-old’s relationship with Jordon Hudson as part of a joke about the New York Knicks’ title drought.

"The Knicks won their first championship since 1973. And to put into perceptive how long ago that was, in 1973 hockey players didn't wear helmets, basketball had no three-point line. And in 1973, Bill Belichick was the age his girlfriend is now."

The Knicks later took home the ESPY for Best Team.

Jalen Brunson, Karl-Anthony Towns, OG Anunoby and other members of the 2025-26 Knicks championship team took the stage to accept the award, but Josh Hart was noticeably absent. Brunson drew laughs when he joked, "I want to say thank you to the ESPYs for pulling Josh Hart’s invite."

Earlier in the night Brunson received the "Best Championship Performance" award.

Former NBA player Jason Collins, who died in May at age 47 following a battle with Stage 4 glioblastoma, posthumously received the Arthur Ashe Award for Courage. Former MLB pitcher Jim Abbott received the Jimmy V Award for Perseverance, while Scott Ruskan was honored with the Pat Tillman Award for Service.

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Lindsey Graham’s final act reverberates in Senate as sister is urged to 'keep pedaling'

Thu, 16 Jul 2026 00:00:46 -0400

It was 2:35 a.m. ET Sunday.

The phone rang, yanking me out of deep slumber.

Calls like these are never good.

In the split second before I answered the phone, my mind traveled to the obvious place for any journalist who covers Capitol Hill and gets a call at that hour.

LINDSEY GRAHAM, SOUTH CAROLINA SENATOR WHO ROSE FROM SMALL-TOWN ROOTS TO GOP POWER BROKER, DIES AT 71

Surely it was about former Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky.

McConnell has been out of service and nowhere to be found for weeks — after being hospitalized with an unspecified illness. The internet was rife with conspiracy theories and conjecture. And, considering the dearth of information, I suspected the worst.

My longtime colleague Jodie Curtis was on the line when I picked up. Jodie is a senior figure at Fox, forced into weekend overnight assignment editor duty because of an illness. Jodie was calling to tell me that Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., was dead.

"Graham?" I asked incredulously. "Not McConnell?"

Emerging from my stupor, I instinctively presumed this might be about the infirm, Kentucky Republican. You’d have better odds presuming that overnight call was about McConnell than hitting an exacta wheel at Churchill Downs.

My instincts immediately kicked in.

What if this was psy-ops by the Russians, Chinese or Iranians. A ruse. A hoax. A hack.

I told my colleague to just wait a moment while we confirmed. It would be easy to get this wrong.

Back in the 1990s, lawmakers "killed" comedian Bob Hope on the House floor, prematurely announcing his death during special orders speeches. Yours truly – and everyone else in Washington – prematurely reported the death of the late Rep. Stephanie Tubbs-Jones, D-Ohio. She suffered from a catastrophic brain aneurism. Yet after they removed the congresswoman from life support, she continued to live for a few hours before dying.

However, it became clear that Lindsey Graham was indeed dead. I was quickly on the air. When asked about the shock of Graham passing, I invoked a Native American adage: Death comes. And it’s always out of season.

Lindsey Graham was gone. But who would succeed him on Capitol Hill?

Think all in the family. At least for now.

Sens. Katie Britt, R-Ala., and Tim Scott, R-S.C., both implored the late senator’s kid sister Darline Graham to follow her brother. President Donald Trump believed it would be a fitting tribute to the senator. So did Republican South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster – who was in charge of the appointment.

"It’s my honor to ask his sister to finish his work now," said McMaster.

Darline Graham is a political neophyte. Lindsey Graham adopted his sister after their parents died – and Darline was a teenager.

"Lindsey has always been there for me. And now I will be there for him," said now Sen. Darline Graham, R-S.C.

Lindsey Graham was his sister’s caretaker. Now she’s the caretaker of his Senate seat until January.

But who’s next?

South Carolina has a small congressional delegation. Rep. Joe Wilson, R-S.C., quickly excluded himself from the immediate running, noting the importance of remaining in the House. Plucking one of South Carolina’s House GOP members and appointing them to the Senate is a problem for the narrow Republican majority. The Constitution bars appointments to the House. So McMaster would have diminished the GOP’s slim majority had he picked a House member to fill in for Lindsey Graham. It would take months to conduct a special election to fill the vacant House seat.

Appointing Darline Graham solves that problem.

Reps. Russell Fry, R-S.C., Nancy Mace, R-S.C., and Ralph Norman, R-S.C., are all interested in running for the full term. South Carolina will hold a snap primary in mid-August. The winner will face Democrat Annie Andrews in November. Lindsey Graham had just secured the Republican nomination for a fifth term last month.

President Trump’s influence will play an outsized role in who gets the nod. He’s already singled out Fry.

But the election will look a little different this fall. November will mark the first time since the mid-1950s that either Lindsey Graham or late, legendary Sen. Strom Thurmond, R-S.C., isn’t on the ballot in the Palmetto State.

The Senate met for the first time Monday afternoon since Graham’s passing.

"Lord, we remember with gratitude his commitment to the responsibilities entrusted to him and the many ways he sought to serve the people of this country. Give comfort, strength and peace to his family, friends, colleagues and all who mourn his passing," prayed Senate Chaplain Barry Black.

The Senate shrouded Graham’s desk with a black cloak. A bouquet of white roses rested on the desk, signifying a new beginning without a Senate titan.

"The halls of the Senate already feel empty without him," said Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D.

'THIS IS NOT NORMAL': AOC UNLOADS ON MCCONNELL'S PROLONGED ABSENCE

Well-wishers left notecards and flowers outside Graham’s office in the Russell Senate Office Building.

Senators praised Graham’s tenacity.

"He didn't want to just argue about things. He wanted to actually solve things," said Sen. James Lankford,R-Okla., on Fox.

Even until the end.

Over the weekend, Graham appeared to forge a deal on a Russia sanctions measure.

"This could be well, this could well be the end of the war in Ukraine. It could put all the pressure on Russia to finally end their illegal war of aggression," predicted Sen. Angus King, I-Maine.

Lindsey Graham first won a seat in Congress in 1994 as part of the "Republican Revolution." That’s the historic class that flipped control of the House for the first time in 40 years. Graham and Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Roger Wicker, R-Miss., were the only members from that 1994 class still serving in Congress.

Graham earned a national profile barely four years after arriving in Washington. House GOP leaders tapped Graham to serve as one of the House "managers," prosecuting articles of impeachment for President Bill Clinton in the Senate.

"Impeachment is not about punishment," argued Graham before the Senate in January 1999. "Impeachment is about cleansing the office."

Three years after that, Graham left the House. He became one of 100 in the Senate. But his colleagues conceded that the institution felt hollow at just 99.

"I am comforted by the knowledge that in the end, he has just changed his address. And that one day, Mr. President…." said Thune on the floor, pausing for 10 seconds. "We will laugh together again."

The Leader’s voice then cracked as he fought back tears.

"Mr. President, I yield the floor," Thune whispered.

By Tuesday afternoon, Darline Graham became the 2,022nd senator in American history. But the first to immediately succeed her brother.

"He always said that his greatest accomplishment was the way that Darline turned out," said Britt.

"I'm glad that there will be another Sen. Graham and that Darline will serve with us," said Sen. Chris Coons, D-Del. "That'll allow for some continuity."

Graham’s passing leaves a congressional chasm.

"It will be difficult to pass anything without Sen. Graham because he's been such a significant voice in the Senate," said Sen. Cynthia Lummis, R-Wyo.

It’s unclear if any of that will fall to the Senate’s newest member.

LINDSEY GRAHAM'S SISTER CARRIES ON LATE SENATOR'S WORK, BECOMING SOUTH CAROLINA'S FIRST FEMALE SENATOR

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Darline Graham joined her brother’s side when he briefly ran for president in 2015. She says Lindsey taught her how to ride a bike while growing up.

"He would hold on to the bicycle as I pedaled. And he'd run along beside of me. Give me a big push and shout ‘Keep pedaling! Keep pedaling!’" said the new senator. "And then he was the one who comforted me when I stopped pedaling and fell off the bicycle."

Today, Darline Graham is again hopping onto that bicycle to finish Lindsey Graham’s term.

You can almost hear the late senator, in his "upstate" twang, shouting to his sister, "Keep pedaling! Keep pedaling!"

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Lindsey Graham’s final act reverberates in Senate as sister is urged to 'keep pedaling'