Latest & Breaking News | Fox News

Former LeBron James teammate breaks down NBA star's free-agent options, warns him about Cavs return

Wed, 15 Jul 2026 07:28:49 -0400

The sports world awaits LeBron James’ decision as to where he will sign during the NBA offseason.

If the rumor mill is correct, James is deciding among the Golden State Warriors, Miami Heat, Cleveland Cavaliers and Philadelphia 76ers. He spent the last eight years with the Los Angeles Lakers, bringing the team a championship during the coronavirus pandemic-affected season.

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

Iman Shumpert, one of James’ teammates with the Cavaliers, gave his take on where he should sign.

"If this is about a ring, go to Philly," he said on the "Shump Street" podcast. "If this is about selling tickets Miami. If this about ending your career the way it should go, go to Cleveland. Just don’t go to Cleveland trying to be happy about a win because you not going to win there. You’re not going to be happy. This is about the return tour. This is not about winning. Don’t you dare go over there thinking it’s rolling with the winners.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM

"I don’t know what’s up with them during the playoffs, don’t do it. I’ve been on a team with LeBron when he was frustrated and he felt like he got too much going on. He going to start shipping s--- out of there, man. LeBron works for UPS, I’m telling y’all."

It’s unclear when James will make his decision. It’s also unclear what James is truly looking for in a team and how long he will play for that organization.

He’s proven he could still play at a high level. But by the end of the year, he will be turning 42 and the longevity he’s used to having on the court may deteriorate at any moment.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

Last season, James gave the Lakers 60 games. He averaged 20.9 points, 6.1 rebounds and 7.2 assists per game. He ended up leaving Los Angeles in the offseason.

Trump AG pick Todd Blanche faces Senate test and more top headlines

Wed, 15 Jul 2026 07:12:45 -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 AG pick faces Senate test in first major confirmation fight

2. House passes Trump-backed daylight saving time reform

3. US launches new strikes on Iranian military targets

MAJOR HEADLINES

RULES OF THE ROAD — Dem lawmaker says Constitution barred police from stopping her after alleged 100 mph speeding. Continue reading …

HIDDEN CLUE — Missing Mississippi teen search leader shares theory behind tragic outcome. Continue reading …

FRANTIC SEARCH — Deadly boat disaster unfolds in San Francisco Bay near iconic Alcatraz Island. Continue reading …

VANISHING POINT — Southern California nurse vanishes while driving to pick up daughter from camp. Continue reading …

SHIFTING GROUND — Voters fuel a 'San Francisco comeback' as mayor soars to 74% approval. Continue reading …

POLITICS

'IS THIS FOR REAL?' — Social media erupts with mockery as Dem Senate candidate's pep talk goes viral. Continue reading …

'ABUSE OF POWER' — Biden special counsel’s ’runaway train’ scooped up sensitive lawmaker info. Continue reading …

LEGAL PARACHUTE — Illegal immigrant ‘pirate’ who hijacked plane to US freed by Clinton-appointed judge. Continue reading …

'THIS IS RIDICULOUS' — Med school deans come up empty in tense hearing when asked point blank if men can have babies. Continue reading …

Click here for more cartoons…

MEDIA

SURVIVAL MODE — Seattle residents say they are in 'survival mode,' selling homes as high prices squeeze middle class. Continue reading …

'HUGE PROBLEM' — Far-left podcaster Jennifer Welch calls homeschooling ‘trickle down stupidity.’ Continue reading …

NO APOLOGY — Jimmy Kimmel mocks hospitalized Mitch McConnell with health photo troll. Continue reading …

NOT BACKING AWAY — 'The View' co-host doubles down on American flags making her feel 'unsafe'. Continue reading …

OPINION

BRENDAN PHILIBIN — You shouldn’t need a permit to pray in your own home — the Supreme Court should agree. Continue reading …

SEN. BLUMENTHAL, REP. TAKANO — Congress can fund veterans’ care without taking benefits from disabled heroes. Continue reading …

IN OTHER NEWS

FLASH POINT — Social media erupts amid new broadcast guidelines on how to photograph female athletes. Continue reading …

HOMESICK HARRY — Prince longs for his old royal life as America isn't what he expected. Continue reading …

DEADLY DIET — Fast food chain faces federal investigation as parasitic outbreak spreads across nation. Continue reading …

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

LISTEN

Tune in as we examine whether rising tensions with Iran and America's role abroad could reshape the issues driving this year’s midterm elections. Check it out ...

FOX WEATHER

What's it looking like in your neighborhood? Continue reading…

Thank you for making us your first choice in the morning! We'll see you in your inbox first thing Thursday.

Leader of firm that won SCOTUS women's sports cases opens up on dealing with liberal media, Title IX lawsuits

Wed, 15 Jul 2026 07:02:48 -0400

Fox News Digital sat down with Alliance Defending Freedom president, CEO, and chief counsel Kristen Waggoner after her law firm won a historic Supreme Court victory in the battle to "save women's sports."

Waggoner spoke about her experience in dealing with mainstream media, and leading the ongoing legal battles against the Democrat-run states that continue to let biological male trans athletes play in women's sports.

On handling interviews with outlets like CNN and MSNBC

Waggoner: "I've been delighted because I know where we began. It was a tough go 10 years ago, to be able to talk about these things. But I think now as Americans have seen in real time the differences between men and women, they already knew that, but the media has also begun to shift a little bit as well in recognizing that eight of 10 Americans support the right of women to have fair play, and more and more we are seeing the real harm that comes from trying to blur distinctions between men and women and boys and girls.

"I will say we've had some tough interviews, and it has been an absolute delight to see courageous young women athletes stand up for truth.

"Over the years, we've done everything from CNN to MSNBC to other outlets as well, and I will say, first of all, I'm grateful for the opportunity that we can come in and share a different perspective and especially on CNN. But they do ask the tough questions and sometimes some unfair ones, and it's a real privilege to be able to answer those questions honestly and to ensure that the message gets out to those audiences."

On pending and potential future litigation in the 23 states that don't have laws to protect women's sports

Waggoner: "You can expect that we will uproot gender ideology from the law, and we will not stop until we do. It harms women and girls, it harms children, it harms parental rights. There's no right that gender ideology has not touched in terms of protecting those rights, and it harms children. We know that from the science. The science is now catching up with the truth. We have several lawsuits that are already ongoing in those 23 states, and we will continue to work to protect women and girls.

"And it does take all of us. I think that's so important. This isn't just something that it can be won in the courtroom. It has to be won in the culture as well, and the two go hand in hand, so all of us have a role to play."

On ADF's newest Title IX lawsuit in Washington state after a female wrestler was allegedly sexually assaulted during a match against a trans athlete

Waggoner: "Kaylee [Keeler's alleged] experience is not just unfortunate, it is devastating to any girl. To wrestle as a 16-year-old in a sport and believe that you're wrestling a girl, and then learn that it not only is a boy, but to be [allegedly] sexually assaulted... that is... it's horrendous... But I have to tell you, it's not the only time that threats like sexual assault have been made in these types of contexts.

"I wish it was an isolated case, but it's not, and the fact that the state has essentially said there was consent because the girl was wrestling is especially egregious. We will work until we win that case for her."

On the coverage and conversation of concerns over similar incidents to the one in Washington state

ADALEIA CROSS PROMPTS VIRAL CONVERSATIONS WITH NEW CLAIMS IN SCOTUS TRANS ATHLETE SEXUAL HARASSMENT SCANDAL

Waggoner: "I think that it's sad that it has to be a part of the conversation, first of all. I mean, it's horrific, it's criminal, and there should be a price to be paid for sexual assault and threats of sexual assault. But the fact that we even have to bring those things up to demonstrate the real harm that comes to women is also, it's grievous in the sense of women and girls deserve their right to privacy and their right to physical safety. And so you shouldn't have to even have to talk about sexual assault as a consequence of this because we know that differences matter between the sexes.

"But I will say that there are more and more stories like this coming up. What do you think will happen when a boy comes into a girl's locker room? As our client Adelaide [Cross], for example, has said, looking at her experience, the comments that were made to her, the threats that were made to her, no girl would ever talk like that, and yet that is what our girls are experiencing every day when boys come into their private spaces."

On ADF's Title IX lawsuit in Minnesota over a trans pitcher that won a girls' softball state championship in 2025, after the case was dismissed by a federal judge

Waggoner: "We're used to tough, hard stances and going uphill. Sometimes we even say we win by losing. You might lose in the lower courts, but you keep going until you win the day, and we will do that in Minnesota.

"Again, having boys come into girls' sports take away not just their trophies, but not just their scholarships, but actually even their ability to even be on the team. I mean, there are limited spots, as the Supreme Court has already said, and I do believe that the Supreme Court has laid the groundwork for future victories in states like Minnesota because the court recognizes that this is a zero-sum game.

"Every time a boy takes a spot on a team, he takes that spot from a girl, and that's wrong."

On ADF's recent legal victory and settlement for a Christian school in Vermont that was banned from competing in the state for refusing to compete against a team with a trans athlete, and potential future cases in Vermont to challenge its law that allows trans athletes in girls' sports

Waggoner: "We will continue fighting for Vermont and every other state that is not recognizing not only the rights of women and girls and biological differences, but the rights of Christian schools and Christians across this country. This is also an issue of religious freedom, and it's not even limited to the Christian faith. The Abrahamic faiths all recognize that they should have the right to be able to raise children in their faith, consistent with their faith, and they believe that God created male and female. Not only do they believe that according to their religious doctrine, but that is the truth.

"Science backs that up."

On ADF's Title IX lawsuit in Connecticut over a trans track runner, which dates back to 2018

Waggoner: "We have a case in Connecticut, which was actually the first case filed in the United States. We filed it on behalf of three high school track athletes. And again, just wanna go back to these are high school girls that had to stand up, not the adults, not the coaches, not the school principals. They had to stand against all of those individuals to say, ‘Hey, wait a minute. These two boys competed as boys three weeks before they came and competed against us, and they took more than four, four state championships from our client alone and displaced many.’ Up to 85 opportunities were lost by girls, as these boys competed.

"So that case is continuing on. As you mentioned, we have a Minnesota case that's continuing, the assault violation in Washington. So I think there are plenty of cases that are being filed, but we also need to go back to how many girls are gonna be injured before we can win this. This has taken more than 10 years to get to the place where 27 states are protected. We need parents, we need school officials, we need all of us to stand up and say, ‘This is enough.’"

On ADF's plans for future lawsuits in other states

Waggoner: "Well, yes, but I wouldn't be able to talk about that now. What I can tell you is that Alliance Defending Freedom is privileged to stand. We have a strategic plan. We follow that plan to have the most impact, and we are executing on it."

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

Message to other women who are considering stepping up in the battle to "save women's sports"

Waggoner: "My message would be that there's no room for cowardice. There's only room for courage, and that it's never too late to speak out on behalf of women and girls. The equal opportunities that so many of those athletes have benefited from because of Title IX should be available to those who come behind, and I think there's nothing but good to come from being a person of courage and speaking boldly on behalf of all women and girls."

Popular diet trend could boost mental health among older adults, study finds

Wed, 15 Jul 2026 07:00:47 -0400

Eating a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, fish and olive oil may help keep the mind strong even into old age, according to new research.

Older adults in England who followed a Mediterranean diet — which is primarily composed of the above foods — during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic reported higher psychological well-being than peers who did not.

The researchers tracked more than 3,000 adults between the ages of 50 and 90 to determine how their daily food choices related to their long-term outlook on life, according to a press release.

COMMON VITAMIN MAY INFLUENCE BRAIN AGING IN WAYS SCIENTISTS DIDN'T EXPECT

The participants filled out specialized surveys that measured positive psychological traits, including their sense of autonomy, life satisfaction, purpose and control over daily routines.

Each participant also received a score based on how closely their eating habits matched a traditional Mediterranean dietary pattern.

Adults who stuck closely to the Mediterranean diet reported a significantly stronger sense of overall well-being.

This finding held even after researchers accounted for factors like income, education, physical activity, smoking habits and general physical health.

The boost in well-being did not appear to be driven by differences in caloric intake, which suggests the specific types of food played an important role.

LONELINESS MAY BE SILENTLY ERODING YOUR MEMORY, NEW RESEARCH REVEALS

As the researchers tracked the participants over several years, they were able to measure how their well-being shifted during the early months of the pandemic.

While emotional well-being and happiness dropped across the entire group during the lockdowns, the study – which was published in BMJ Open – showed the decline was less intense for people who stuck to the Mediterranean diet.

Previous research points to a few explanations for this.

"This study shows what we’ve been seeing in other research," Kim Kulp, registered dietitian nutritionist and owner of the Gut Health Connection in the San Francisco Bay Area, told Fox News Digital.

'LONGEVITY GENE' MAY PROTECT THE BRAIN FROM ALZHEIMER'S BY BOOSTING DNA REPAIR, STUDY FINDS

The Mediterranean diet is naturally rich in anti-inflammatory nutrients, including omega-3 fatty acids from fish and antioxidants called polyphenols found in extra-virgin olive oil.

These nutrients help to lower inflammation in the brain and support a healthy gut microbiome, which is directly linked to the chemical production of mood-regulating hormones, experts say.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE HEALTH STORIES

"Since the Mediterranean diet is loaded with a variety of plant foods, it provides an increase in nutrients for the body and brain, special compounds that reduce inflammation, and prebiotics to feed the good gut microbes," said Kulp, who was not involved in the study.

Researchers noted some limitations to the data, including the fact that the study relied on self-reported dietary surveys, which can sometimes be inaccurate.

TEST YOURSELF WITH OUR LATEST LIFESTYLE QUIZ

Additionally, the participants who completed the tracking tended to be healthier and wealthier than the general public, meaning the results might not fully apply to more diverse or vulnerable populations.

"There were only two days of dietary data, and the psychological well-being test was only administered on two occasions, both early on during COVID," Kulp noted. "Two days of data may not be enough to form conclusions."

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR HEALTH NEWSLETTER

Because the study was observational, it could not prove a direct cause-and-effect relationship between the diet and improved mental health, the researchers acknowledged.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

"Eating a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, seeds and legumes provides the ultimate combination of nutrients to improve overall health as we age," said Kulp.

"Together, this diet can help reduce stress and depression and improve a sense of well-being, even during the toughest times."

Tiny microphones, fake podcast ads and AI videos are everything wrong with online videos

Wed, 15 Jul 2026 06:51:57 -0400

It’s Wednesday, which means it’s time for another edition of the biggest thing to happen to complaining since Yelp, The Gripe Report!

This week we're going to talk about videos.

There’s no denying that video is a major part of our lives. Gone are the days of three networks, and in its place is non-stop video being force-fed into our eye holes thanks to social media.

DETECTIVES' TRUE CRIME PODCAST TAKES FRESH SHOT AT KILLER WHO VANISHED AFTER CAUGHT-ON-CAMERA MURDER

However, there are certain things about videos that I see on social media and elsewhere that absolutely drive me up a wall.

You’ve probably seen these too, so consider this some form of group therapy session.

No, you’re not alone.

Sending someone a video then realizing it’s AI

Social media is rife with AI video. Some of it’s cool. Like one of my favorite genres of social media video is AI clips meant to look like you’re eating at a Pizza Hut in 1998 or cruising through a mall in 1984.

It’s awesome, but I’m cool with it because I know it’s AI.

I recently sent my wife a video I saw of a French bulldog wearing some kind of dog life-preserver. I thought it was cool, until my wife was like, "Y’know that’s AI, right?"

I didn’t, and I felt a lot of shame (even though dogs wearing life-preservers in a pool is a wild thing to make with AI).

IT'S BEYOND TIME FOR SOMEONE TO LAY DOWN SOME SOCIETY-WIDE GROUND RULES FOR HANDSHAKES

Why does getting called out for not being able to suss out AI feel like getting pantsed on stage in front of your high school?

You wind up getting pinned with a scarlet A, which stands for "A-hole who doesn’t know something is AI when he sees it."

Unfortunately, the only way to really avoid this is to go in assuming that everything is AI — and therefore not real — which is really a strange, dystopian place to be.

But if that's what it takes to not look like some rube who doesn't know a phony clip when he sees it, I can deal with it.

Tiny Microphones

I think the proverbial toothpaste is out of the proverbial tube on this one, but it still makes my eye twitch with rage every single time I see it.

If you watch some videos on social media, you are bound to see someone using a small lavalier microphone.

Those are supposed to be clipped to your clothing — often to one's lapel if you've got one — which is why they're sometimes referred to as lapel mics.

I know this sounds obvious as hell, but in the age of social media, I always see people holding them between their thumb and forefinger, and it drives me insane that no one just clips it to their clothes or just gets a regular-sized stick mic.

I don’t know why this triggers me, but it does, and I’ve spent more time thinking about this than I’d really care to admit.

WAIT... WHO IS ACTUALLY USING REST STOP BBQ GRILLS?

Why do people do this? Half the time they hold these mics with the clip still attached. Does it not occur to them that it should, y’know, be clipped to something?

And on top of that, I usually see people holding tiny mics like this up to other people's mouths, meaning their nasty fingers are just centimeters from the person's mouth.

How does nobody say, "Bro, get an adult-sized mic or get your fingers away from my face?"

I’ve kind of just concluded that, like a lot of things on the internet, people are just emulating what they’ve seen because the Internet doesn’t really reward creativity or proper mic technique.

Everyone jumping on the same trends.

This week, anytime I hopped on social media, my feed was full of people pretending they were sitting down to be interviewed for a Netflix documentary.

Why? Because that was the trend this week, and next week the same unoriginal dopes will be onto something else.

For some reason, people feel like they have to get in on every single trend ever, lest they… I’m not even sure. Cease to exist?

I just don’t like that following these trends means a complete lack of originality. You’re just copying someone who actually came up with something that was, when it started, unique or clever or funny.

Now, don’t get me wrong, the way things are created is by taking inspiration from the past.

Black Sabbath took elements of blues, made it scary, added more distortion, and — voila! — heavy metal.

There are examples of that everywhere, but it seems like more and more people just copy stuff directly.

Sure, social media rewards those who catch the wave that comes when something trends, but by the time people you went to high school with get on board, that wave has crashed on the beach.

So, let’s all agree to be more original.

Mostly so I don’t have to see dozens of versions of the same video over and over and over.

Commercials that pretend to be podcast clips

My wife and I watch a lot of what are called FAST, or "free ad-supported streaming TV" channels because we watch "I Love Lucy," "The Twilight Zone," and "Unsolved Mysteries" all day. We even leave it on for the dog when we leave.

Which is great except for the part where we also pay for cable… that kind of p—-s me off.

But FAST channels have a lot of weird ads because not too many people are watching the Universal Monsters channel at one in the afternoon on Wednesday unless they work from home, as we do here at Reigle Manor.

I’ve seen a lot of ads on there, but also on YouTube and social media, that are meant to look like clips from podcasts, but clearly aren’t because they’re talking about a brand of deodorant or a slot machine app in a very Madison Avenue way.

It’s always two random guys sitting in a studio, with one being like, "Dude, tell me about this new deodorant you’ve been using." Then the other guy is like, "Yeah, it’s called Dudebro, and it keeps my pits dry all day and destroys odor at the source by killing off 99.99% of funkigens and sealing your stink glands," or some other pseudoscientific line of BS.

What a terrible podcast that would be if it were real, which it isn’t.

Just get the message out. Why does it have to be on a make-believe podcast?

Is it because people like watching clips from podcasts? That’s true, but those are clips from real, entertaining (well, sometimes) podcasts, not two dudes with unplugged mics swapping deodorant war stories.

I’ve seen this bleed into network TV too.

There’s a personal injury attorney who advertises during the morning news that I watch, and I’m fascinated because he started doing commercials where he wears a "cool" shirt and sits behind a microphone and tells people to check out his podcast where he talks about ambulance chasing.

What fascinates me is that, from what I’ve found, that podcast just doesn’t exist outside of the 30-second clips that air on TV.

And I looked. Boy, did I look all over the place.

This is just the weirdest thing to me. It would be strange if a personal injury attorney or a deodorant company did a podcast, but it’s infinitely weirder when they pretend to do fake podcasts.

It’s kind of the same as people jumping on trends. They see something that’s popular, but don’t bother to unpack why it’s popular and reverse engineer it for their needs.

No, they just go, "Hey, Joe Rogan clips do some serious numbers, so let’s just copy that, and we’ll get a bunch of rubes to download our mobile slot machine game."

...

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

That's it for this week!

Be sure to send in your gripes for a future edition of The Gripe Report!

Montana Dem running as blue-collar smokejumper spent years lobbying for far-left groups

Wed, 15 Jul 2026 06:30:52 -0400

A Democrat running in a key Montana House race as a "smokejumper" and working-class outsider previously worked as a registered lobbyist opposing state-level bills that would have restricted drag performances in public schools and libraries, banned gender-transition procedures for minors and cracked down on sanctuary policies, records reviewed by Fox News Digital show.

Sam Forstag, the Democratic nominee in Montana’s 1st Congressional District, has leaned into a blue-collar campaign message, saying constituents like him "know how to work" and "know how to swing a tool."

His campaign has focused heavily on affordability, corruption and working-class frustrations, but his lobbying record puts him on the record on several hot-button issues that could undercut his effort to appeal to more centrist voters in an already heavily Republican state.

Between 2021 and 2023, Forstag was listed as a registered lobbyist for groups and entities including the American Civil Liberties Union, Planned Parenthood, the Montana Library Association and the City of Missoula. During that time, he testified against or was tied through lobbying records to opposition against bills involving drag performances in schools and libraries, transgender-related medical treatments for minors, boys competing in girls’ sports, voter ID and local cooperation with federal immigration authorities.

FOUR MONTHS TO MIDTERMS: 12 RACES THAT WILL DETERMINE THE SENATE MAJORITY

"This bill is the latest of a series that I expect you’ll see that are intended to stir up fear and distrust of our fellow citizens," Forstag told Montana lawmakers in 2023 as Republicans considered a bill restricting minors from attending drag performances in public schools and libraries. Forstag argued the measure was overly broad and could affect people who are transgender or nonbinary participating in library programming, saying he hoped lawmakers did not intend to "prohibit an entire class of people" from serving in public libraries.

Forstag also opposed SB 99, a bill banning certain gender-transition procedures and medications for minors. In testimony on the bill, Forstag urged lawmakers to "leave personal and medical decisions to families and their chosen health care providers."

While representing the ACLU of Montana, Forstag was tied to opposition against HB 112, which required student athletes to compete based on biological sex, and SB 169, a measure to increase scrutiny around voter ID protocols.

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

Forstag also opposed bills involving sanctuary policies and local law enforcement cooperation with federal immigration authorities, including measures aimed at requiring local officials to comply with immigration detainers.

Forstag did not directly dispute the lobbying record when asked by Fox News Digital, instead defending his work in the state capitol as a fight for working people and individual freedom.

"Between fire seasons, I fought for working people in a state capitol that too often ignores us," Forstag told Fox News Digital. "Instead of accepting a system where the extremes and the rich have the loudest voice, I worked my tail off to defend Montanans’ constitutional rights and freedoms and fight for policies that actually improve our lives."

Forstag framed his opposition to bills involving transgender medical procedures as part of a broader belief that government should stay out of personal decisions.

UNEARTHED RECORDS REVEAL DEM MAYOR SOUGHT TAX HIKE TO FUND DEI ROLE AHEAD OF KEY HOUSE RACE

"I believe the government’s got no place getting involved in peoples’ private, personal decisions," he said. "Politicians have no place coming for our guns, and no place inserting themselves into medical decisions that should be up to patients, parents, and doctors."

On immigration, Forstag, who is backed by Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., and Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., said local police should not be forced to carry out federal immigration responsibilities.

"Laws that force local law enforcement to do the federal government’s bidding make our communities less safe and put police in a bad spot," he said. "Immigration enforcement should be left to federal officials so our local police can keep Montanans safe."

Jake Eaton, a longtime Montana Republican strategist whose clients have included Gov. Greg Gianforte and Attorney General Austin Knudsen, told Fox News Digital that Forstag’s lobbying record could undercut his effort to appeal to blue-collar and swing voters in the district, noting that issues involving transgender policies, schools and immigration "cut across" demographics.

RED-STATE SENATOR DROPS HAMMER ON DEM MAYOR OVER NEW ‘WOKE’ DEI ORDINANCE WHILE VIOLENT CRIME SURGES

Meanwhile, Eaton described Forstag as emblematic of the leftward shift of Montana Democrats.

"There aren’t a lot of moderate Democrats, if any, left," Eaton said. "The days of Brian Schweitzer, when you had Democrats that were pro-gun and pro-coal, they don’t really exist anymore."

But Eric Koch, a longtime Democratic consultant, rejected that criticism, arguing that Forstag’s record fits his broader message about keeping government out of personal decisions.

"Sam’s record is about keeping government out of your business,"Koch told Fox News Digital. "No amount of divide-and-distract will change that." The consultant argued Republicans would rather focus on culture-war issues than Forstag’s economic contrast with his Republican opponent Aaron Flint.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

Forstag will face Flint, an Army veteran and conservative radio host, in the November 3 general election for the open western Montana seat currently held by GOP Rep. Ryan Zinke, who announced earlier this year he would not seek re-election.

Forstag won the Democratic primary after defeating former 2024 gubernatorial nominee Ryan Busse, Russell Cleveland and Matt Rains, while Flint emerged from a Republican primary field that included Montana Secretary of State Christi Jacobsen, former state Sen. Al Olszewski and educator Ray Curtis.

MLB All-Str Mike Trout shuts down idea of leaving LA, says doubters fuel push to get Angels back to playoffs

Wed, 15 Jul 2026 06:45:45 -0400

Los Angeles Angels outfielder Mike Trout opened the 2026 MLB All-Star Game with a strikeout in his first plate appearance.

Trout is making his 12th All-Star appearance near home, with Philadelphia's Citizens Bank Park sitting roughly 40 miles from where he was born and raised in New Jersey. But the Angels entered the break once again at the bottom of the AL West standings.

The Angels have not reached the postseason since 2014, the longest active playoff drought in MLB, with the Pittsburgh Pirates next on the list after last playing October baseball in 2015.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM

At 38-59 entering the break, Los Angeles faces long odds of reversing course and mounting a playoff push, but Trout said the doubt surrounding the team has only fueled his motivation.

"I think the fuel of people doubting us kind of makes it more of a fire for me to try to get back to the playoffs," Trout told the Los Angeles Times. "I think that's the biggest key for me."

Trout made his big league debut with the Angels in 2011, but the franchise has reached the postseason just once during his tenure.

WHAT TO WATCH FOR DURING THE 2026 MLB ALL-STAR GAME AT CITIZENS BANK PARK IN PHILADELPHIA

The lack of team success has raised questions about whether he would consider playing elsewhere in the twilight of his career. But ahead of Tuesday’s All-Star Game, the three-time AL MVP said he still has unfinished business in Southern California.

"Could I take the easy way out and just leave? Yeah," Trout said.

"But I think - I said this last year around this time, but it's the same feeling I've been having - I really haven't sat down and talked to anybody about it specifically, but I know there's a time where, if things change, who knows? I don't know. But, for me, right now, my focus is on trying to get this club back in the playoffs."

If Trout’s playoff hopes are going to become reality this season, the Angels must make up 10 games in the wild-card race or close an 11.5-game deficit behind the first-place Texas Rangers in the AL West.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

Trout’s long-term future remains tied to the Angels after he signed a record-breaking extension in 2019 that runs through the 2030 season and includes a full no-trade clause. Injuries have interrupted much of his otherwise stellar career, but he entered the All-Star break having played in 78 of Los Angeles’ 97 games while hitting 18 home runs.

Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.

Sports cartoons of the day

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

Trump derailed his intel chief pick's confirmation. Now he gets another shot.

Wed, 15 Jul 2026 06:30:24 -0400

President Donald Trump’s pick to lead the nation’s intelligence agencies will get a second shot in the Senate on Wednesday, weeks after the president sabotaged the initial confirmation hearing.

U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton, who currently serves in the Southern District of New York, was tapped by Trump to be the permanent nominee as the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) after former DNI Tulsi Gabbard stepped down from the role last month.

He’ll get his shot before the Senate Intelligence Committee on Wednesday at 9:30 a.m.

TRUMP'S DNI PICK WILL HAVE TO WAIT FOR HIS CONFIRMATION HEARING AFTER TRUTH SOCIAL BOMB

"Jay Clayton is a patriot and highly qualified nominee," Senate Intelligence Committee Chair Tom Cotton, R-Ark., said on X.

"In his service to the people of New York, Mr. Clayton has deep experience combatting a wide range of national security threats," he continued. "I look forward to his hearing before the Senate Intelligence Committee tomorrow."

But Clayton, who previously served as chair of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) during Trump’s first term, was caught in a political firestorm roiling through the Senate last month that he had no part of.

SENATE PUSH TO REAUTHORIZE NATION’S SPY POWERS STUMBLES OVER CONTROVERSIAL TRUMP DECISION

And if he survives the process — several Democrats still serving in the Senate voted to confirm him as SEC chair — lawmakers are hopeful that it will again set up a path to turn a key counter-terrorism tool back on.

Democrats were enraged at Trump for tapping Federal Housing Finance Agency Director Bill Pulte to be the acting DNI, arguing that he was unqualified and could weaponize the nation’s 18 intelligence agencies at Trump’s bidding.

"Why is Mr. Pulte being promoted? Beyond the fact that just the kind of outright insult to the intelligence community, that he can suddenly do the mortgage banking job and the intelligence job at the same time, it's absurd," Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va., said at the time.

TRUMP NAMES BILL PULTE ACTING DIRECTOR OF NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE

In return, they refused to support reauthorization of the nation’s top counter-terrorism tool, Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA), causing the program to gradually go dark.

Clayton’s nomination was seen by Democrats as an olive branch from the administration designed to ensure that Pulte would never get into the DNI role, and that consideration of a FISA reauthorization could restart.

But then Trump blew up the process, demanding that the hearing be halted in a fiery Truth Social post.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

He argued that Democrats "broke the deal" with FISA, and that until Clayton’s replacement in the Southern District, James McDonald, was confirmed, the nomination would not go forward. And to "add a slight bit of intrigue," Trump demanded that Republicans tie the SAVE America Act to FISA, effectively killing the legislation for Democrats.

"Not complicated, actually, the Republicans fell into a trap," Trump said at the time.

Social media erupts with mockery as Dem Senate candidate's pep talk goes viral: 'Is this for real?'

Wed, 15 Jul 2026 06:00:47 -0400

In an attempt to inject some energy into her Senate campaign during a recent campaign stop, Rep. Haley Stevens, D-Mich., inadvertently created a moment that sparked online mockery.

"I am going to be working on our behalf. I am going to be telling the stories on our behalf. And you better believe I’m going to bring it with a little bit of enthusiasm, a little bit of energy and a little bit of stick-it-to-them," Stevens said.

"Because that’s the Michigan way, right?"

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

The remarks, which come just three weeks until Michigan’s Senate primaries, are raising criticisms that Stevens is not charismatic enough to take on progressive 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.

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.

It’s unclear whether El-Sayed or Stevens will benefit more from McMorrow’s exit.

DEMOCRATS' CIVIL WAR HEADS TO MICHIGAN WHERE PROGRESSIVES FACE BIGGEST TEST YET IN HIGH-STAKES SENATE SHOWDOWN

Despite El-Sayed having drawn criticism for stances such as abolishing Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), demanding that the U.S. reconsider its partnership with Israel, and past calls to defund the police, he has mounted a campaign that has gained national attention and momentum among progressives.

While Stevens has largely avoided controversy of her own, her presentation on the campaign trail continues to raise skepticism among critics.

"Is this for real?!" Fox News Political Analyst Lisa Boothe wrote on X.

"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. "Stevens’ ads from 2018 sound like an entirely different person. Make it make sense."

"Again, national press, you gotta stop calling this a Michigan accent," he added in another X post. "It’s offensive."

Mario Nawfal, a social media personality, also pointed out the awkwardness of the Saturday clip.

"Republicans are trolling Michigan Rep. Haley Stevens HARD, saying she sounds just like Chris Farley. If she wins, they say they’ll be forced to live in a van, down by the river," Nawful wrote.

"Move over, David Goggins, I’ve got Haley Stevens in my headphones," Nathan Brand, a communications advisor for the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC), said sarcastically, referring to a famous motivational speaker.

Meghan McCain, another political commentator, compared the display to a moment that might appear on a sitcom.

WATCH: SURFACED VIDEOS OF DEM SENATE CANDIDATE BACKING 'DEFUND THE POLICE' CONTRADICT RECENT DENIALS

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

"How is this not a character from Parks & Rec?" McCain said, referring to the political comedy based in Indiana.

Once having cleared the primary on Aug. 4, either Stevens or El-Sayed will advance to the state’s general election on Nov. 3.

You paid for it. So why is your device showing ads?

Wed, 15 Jul 2026 06:02:00 -0400

You paid for the product. So why does it feel like the company still controls the screen? That is the question more of us are starting to ask as smart devices get updated long after we bring them home. A refrigerator can show ads in your kitchen. A car can flash offers on the dashboard. Even a Windows 11 computer can surface promotions before you get to work.

The frustrating part is that this often happens through software updates. You tap update because you want your device to stay secure and work properly. Then one day, the product you bought starts acting like a billboard. This is also why it pays to understand the hidden privacy clauses and settings that come with smart products before those screens start doing things you never expected.

GOOGLE TURNS OLD PHONES INTO CLOUD SERVERS

Free live CyberGuy class: Sick of Spam? Join us July 22.

Join us Wednesday, July 22, at 1 p.m. ET for a free CyberGuy Live class that will help you cut down on robocalls, spam texts, junk email and other unwanted messages. Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson will walk you step by step through simple ways to filter spam, clean up your inbox and recognize the messages that could put your personal information at risk. No technical experience is needed. You’ll also receive our spam-stopping checklist, and every registrant will get a link to the class recording afterward.

Reserve your free spot today at CyberGuyLive.com.

Samsung Family Hub refrigerators started showing ads

Samsung Family Hub refrigerators are sold as connected kitchen hubs. You can use the screen for weather, calendars, grocery lists and other household features. But as we discussed on The CyberGuy Report podcast at CyberGuy.com, that same screen can also become a place for ads after a software update. Samsung began showing ads on some Family Hub refrigerator Cover Screens in the U.S. We reached out to Samsung about this, and a spokesperson provided us with this statement:

"Last year, Samsung piloted a new Cover Screen widget on Family Hub refrigerators in the U.S. The widget rotates through useful information like weather, news, calendar events, and curated ads. After the pilot concluded in March, the widget was launched fully with the same user experience.

Users can turn off the Cover Screen widget, including ads, in the Advertisements tab of the Settings menu (Settings > Advertisements > Cover screen Ads) without impacting any other features or functions. Ads can also be dismissed on the Cover Screens where shown, meaning that the dismissed ad will not appear again during that specific ad's campaign period. Since the start of the pilot program last October, our review has indicated consumers are finding value in this new widget. The percentage of users who have turned off the feature is in the low single-digits.

A Cover Screen appears when the Family Hub screen is idle, and the widget only appears on the Weather, Color, and Daily Board themes. The widget does not appear on the Cover Screen's Art or Album themes."

That answer is important because Samsung says you can turn the Cover Screen ads off without losing other features. Still, the larger point remains. You bought a refrigerator, then a later update added an ad experience to the screen in your kitchen.

How to turn off Samsung Family Hub Cover Screen ads

On the Family Hub screen:

Tap Settings
Tap Advertisements
Tap Cover Screen Ads
Turn the switch off

You can also change the Cover Screen theme. Samsung says the widget does not appear on Art or Album themes.

Car screen ads appeared in Jeep, Ram and Chrysler vehicles

Now move from the kitchen to the driveway. Some Jeep, Ram and Chrysler drivers previously saw promotional messages on their infotainment screens through Stellantis' Uconnect system.

Stellantis, the automaker behind Jeep, Ram, Chrysler and Dodge, says its In-Vehicle Message technology, or IVM, is designed to help the company stay in contact with owners at important points during ownership. The company says it uses IVM for important messages, such as vehicle recalls and vehicle health monitor alerts. Stellantis also confirmed that the earlier pop-up promotions were part of its in-vehicle messaging or Uconnect communication system. However, the company says it has not run the promotional in-vehicle messages referenced in those reports since mid-fall 2025 and has nothing planned for future in-vehicle promotional messages.

At the time those promotional messages were active, Stellantis says owners could opt out by calling customer service or by updating their profile or Message Settings on their vehicle brand's website account, such as a Ram owner account. That update is important. There are no current promotional in-vehicle messages to opt out of, according to Stellantis. Still, the larger concern remains: modern vehicles are software-driven, and the screen in the middle of your dashboard can be changed long after you drive off the lot.

10 SMALL HOME UPGRADES THAT CAN LOWER YOUR MONTHLY BILLS

Why dashboard messages feel more intrusive

A car screen is different from a phone app or website. You use that display for directions, music, climate controls and vehicle settings. So when a promotional message appears there, it can feel more personal than an ad on a webpage.

To be fair, in-vehicle messaging can serve an important purpose. Recall notices and vehicle health alerts can help owners respond to safety or maintenance issues faster.

However, promotional messages hit differently. You are sitting in a car you paid tens of thousands of dollars for. That screen should help you drive, maintain your vehicle and get where you are going without feeling like another place for a sales pitch.

Windows 11 ads can appear in several places

Then there is your computer. Windows 11 can show promotional content in places that feel like part of the operating system. That includes the lock screen, the Start menu and account-related notifications.

The lock screen can use Windows Spotlight, which displays rotating images along with tips, tricks and notifications. Start menu settings also include areas where Microsoft can show recommendations and account prompts.

Some of these messages may look like helpful notices. Others can feel like upsells. The most annoying ones are the alerts that look urgent, then steer you toward a Microsoft service such as OneDrive backup. Microsoft declined to comment for this story.

How to reduce ads and suggestions in Windows 11

You can cut down on much of this in Settings.

Change the lock screen:

Go to Settings
Click Personalization
Click Lock screen
Change Windows Spotlight to Picture
Turn off Get fun facts, tips, tricks and more on your lock screen

Reduce Start menu suggestions:

Go to Settings
Click Personalization
Click Start
Turn off any available toggles for recommendations, tips, suggestions or personalized offers

FIVE DATA BROKER OPT-OUT MYTHS THAT LEAVE RETIREES EXPOSED

Limit account-related prompts:

Go to Settings
Click Personalization
Click Start
Turn off Show account-related notifications

Microsoft may change wording over time, so look for anything tied to recommendations, tips, suggestions, offers or account notifications. For more Windows settings help, see these Windows 11 tips.

Device screen ads are spreading after you buy

The real problem isn’t one ad on one screen. It is the fact that software gives companies a way to change products after you buy them. A refrigerator used to stay a refrigerator. A car dashboard used to do what it did on the day you drove off the lot. A computer operating system used to feel like the tool you used to get things done.

Now those screens can change later. A company can add a widget, promote a service or push an offer through an update. That does not mean every update is bad. Security fixes are essential. Bug fixes help. New features can be useful. However, ads feel different when they arrive after you already paid for the product. That is why you should keep your devices updated, but also check what changed after the update installs.

What this means to you

Before you buy a smart appliance, connected car or computer, think beyond the hardware. Ask what kind of software controls the screen. Check whether ads, recommendations or promotional content can be turned off.

After setup, go through the settings before you assume the default experience is the only option. Look for menus labeled ads, recommendations, notifications, tips, offers or personalization. If you are setting up a new device, this new electronics setup guide is a good place to start.

Also, pay attention after updates. If a new widget or pop-up appears, do not assume you have to live with it. There may be a buried toggle that turns it off. Most of all, remember that a screen in your home, car or office has value. Companies know that. You should know it too.

Kurt's key takeaways

This is exactly why we covered this on The CyberGuy Report podcast at CyberGuy.com. It hits a nerve because you already paid for these products, yet companies can still use software updates to claim space on the screens you see every day. Samsung says Family Hub Cover Screen ads can be turned off. Stellantis says its vehicle promotions stopped in the fall of 2025. Windows 11 gives you some settings that reduce tips, suggestions and account prompts. Still, the pattern is hard to ignore. Companies are learning how to keep making money from a product after the sale. That may be great for them, but it can feel pretty lousy when the screen is inside your kitchen, your car or your computer. When you pay thousands of dollars for a product, that screen should work for you instead of becoming another place for a company to sell to you.

Which screen ad would bother you most: one on your refrigerator, one on your computer or one in your car? Let us know by writing to us at CyberGuy.com.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

Sign up for my FREE CyberGuy Report

Get my best tech tips, urgent security alerts and exclusive deals delivered straight to your inbox.
For simple, real-world ways to spot scams early and stay protected, visit CyberGuy.com – trusted by millions who watch CyberGuy on TV daily.
Plus, you'll get instant access to my Ultimate Scam Survival Guide free when you join.

Trump AG pick Todd Blanche faces Senate test in first major confirmation fight since Graham’s death

Wed, 15 Jul 2026 06:00:53 -0400

Attorney general nominee Todd Blanche will face senators Wednesday in a high-stakes confirmation hearing that will test Republican unity on the Senate Judiciary Committee in the first major nomination fight since the sudden death of Sen. Lindsey Graham.

"My colleagues and I are working to fill Senator Graham’s seat on the Senate Judiciary Committee before the Committee votes on Todd Blanche’s nomination next week," Tennessee Republican Sen. Marsha Blackburn told Fox News Digital.

"I look forward to confirming Mr. Blanche as Attorney General so he can continue his great work to crack down on crime, eradicate the two tiers of justice, and wipe out fraud. That’s exactly what Lindsey would’ve wanted us to do to honor his legacy," she added.

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

Republicans are navigating their first major nomination battle without Graham—a former Judiciary Committee chairman whose courtroom-style questioning and command of confirmation fights made him one of the GOP's most influential voices.

Blanche has been a staunch ally of President Donald Trump, first serving as his personal defense attorney before helping lead his criminal defense against cases Trump and his allies denounced as politically motivated.

He was appointed by Trump as deputy attorney general when the president returned to office before being tapped to fill former Attorney General Pam Bondi’s shoes.

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

"When the Corrupt Biden ‘Injustice’ Department and Radical Left Prosecutors tried to throw me in jail, and interfered in our Historic 2024 Presidential Campaign, Todd stood by my side and fought off the Lawfare," Trump posted in part on Truth Social Tuesday.

Twenty conservative leaders penned a letter to Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, urging him to confirm Blanche, arguing that he has already proven he will "fight back."

The letter, exclusively shared with Fox News Digital and spearheaded by the Article III Project, was signed by conservative legal figures including Article III Project founder Mike Davis, America First Legal Executive Director Gene Hamilton, John Eastman of the Claremont Institute, and others. The signers cited Blanche’s clerkships, his time as a federal prosecutor and his work in private practice.

"Blanche made a tremendous sacrifice, walking away from a massive salary as a partner at a premier law firm to defend President Trump when almost no one else would," read the letter.

"He stood in the arena. Most importantly, he won. Blanche fought back against the most nakedly partisan prosecution in modern American history: Alvin Bragg’s absurd attempt to transform a lawful nondisclosure agreement into 34 felony counts," it continued.

DEMOCRAT POLITICOS RERUN UNDERHANDED LEFTIST PLAYBOOK IN EFFORT TO TORPEDO TRUMP’S AG NOMINEE

Democrats have already signaled strong opposition to making Blanche’s acting appointment permanent, citing his close ties to Trump.

"He's got a record. It's not what he says. It's what he's done and what he's consistently done is put Donald Trump above everything else. So his actions, this is a person who's got a very clear record," Vermont Sen. Peter Welch said Tuesday. "His actions speak much louder than whatever he says in the hearing."

"40+ civil rights organizations just came out against Todd Blanche. Todd Blanche is indicting civil rights champions, protecting insurrectionists, and firing prosecutors. All to protect Donald Trump—not YOU," Senate Judiciary Democrats wrote on X.

"Acting AG Todd Blanche has spent this confirmation fight doing what he's always done for his client Donald Trump: Denying the obvious, defending the indefensible, and lying under oath. He's already made it clear that we can’t trust a word that comes out of his mouth," said Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said Monday.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

As for the conservative leaders who are urging Grassley to swiftly confirm Blanche, they say the "case for confirmation is simple."

"Blanche already knows the job. He already knows the department. He is already executing the Trump agenda. Forcing a new nominee through the confirmation process would squander months of irreplaceable momentum–months the deep state would use to run out the clock. There is no reason to delay and every reason to act. The undersigned urge you to confirm Todd Blanche now," they wrote.

The hearing begins Wednesday at 9 a.m. ET.

Fox News’ Caroline Miller contributed to this report.

Prince Harry longs for his old royal life as America isn't what he expected, experts say

Wed, 15 Jul 2026 06:00:52 -0400

Prince Harry will always have a soft spot for his home country, even as he continues to navigate life in America.

The claim was made by Dan Wakeford, founder of the weekly pop-culture newsletter Celebrity Intelligence. A veteran celebrity media editor, Wakeford previously led People, Entertainment Weekly and Us Weekly.

Wakeford told Fox News Digital that, according to sources who spoke with Celebrity Intelligence, the Duke of Sussex continues to greatly miss the U.K. and the role he once held there as he tries to carve out a meaningful role for himself in California.

PRINCE HARRY'S INVICTUS GAMES SHOW THE 'ASSET' THE BRITISH ROYAL FAMILY LOST: EXPERTS

"Harry particularly doesn't love the life he has in America," Wakeford said. "He misses his family, his friends and his former existence in the U.K. Sources say he would be content to downsize and have a smaller life instead of living on such a grand scale, but I think that is more Meghan [Markle]'s [style]."

Archewell, which handles the offices of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, told Fox News Digital, "It's all unfounded speculation, of which we don't comment."

While Wakeford described Harry as longing for aspects of his former life in Britain, the duke recently took a step toward reconnecting with his family.

WATCH: PRINCE HARRY'S CALIFORNIA LIFE ISN'T WHAT HE EXPECTED: EXPERT

On July 10, Harry, Meghan and their two children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, met with King Charles III and Queen Camilla at Highgrove House, Buckingham Palace confirmed. Fox News Digital reached out to the palace and Archewell for comment.

The family gathering came after Harry arrived in the U.K. on July 6 for several charity events that were overshadowed by speculation about whether he would meet with his father.

The meeting marked the first time in years that King Charles had hosted Harry and his family, amid a rift that began after the Duke and Duchess of Sussex stepped back as senior royals and moved to California in 2020.

"I think it's important to make the point that Harry's marriage is a happy one," royal expert Richard Fitzwilliams told Fox News Digital.

"The problem is that Harry is without a proper role. He has the Invictus Games, yes, but I do think he misses aspects of life in the U.K. and the friends he has kept there. He has charities he supports there, and his mother is buried there. While he had a difficult week during his visit, the meeting with the king and his family was a positive."

"Seeing the 'good ol' Harry' playing wheelchair rugby with Invictus Games participants showed him grinning ear to ear," British royal expert Hilary Fordwich told Fox News Digital. "He was so happy in his element. Meeting with his father also would have reminded him of the prominent life he once led."

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE ENTERTAINMENT NEWSLETTER

"Harry and Meghan's life is very different from what they expected in America, from what they hoped for," Wakeford said. "What has shifted significantly is the gap between what they said they were building and what they actually built. They left the royal family to become financially independent."

"The headline numbers of $100 million from Netflix deals and $20 million for Spotify always obscured what the real figures were," Wakeford said, referring to the deals the Sussexes initially secured to lead financially independent lives.

"The Netflix deal was closer to $60 million, and the Spotify deal was $5 million to exit early," he claimed. "That's a significant amount of money, but their costs are also extremely high, and they don't have a sustainable business model."

Questions about the Sussexes' long-term future come as Harry has increasingly spoken publicly about wanting to repair his relationship with his family while continuing to build a life in California.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex stepped down as working royals in 2020, citing relentless intrusions by the British press and a lack of support from the palace.

LIKE WHAT YOU’RE READING? CLICK HERE FOR MORE ENTERTAINMENT NEWS

Tensions within the House of Windsor have remained high since the couple stepped away from royal duties and moved to California to pursue media ventures outside the monarchy. Harry's bestselling 2023 memoir, "Spare," further strained his relationship with the royal family.

In a 2025 interview with the BBC, Harry said he "would love reconciliation with my family" because "there's no point in continuing to fight anymore."

"I miss parts of the U.K., of course I do," he said. "And I think that it's really quite sad that I won't be able to show, you know, my children."

"He misses what he knows," British broadcaster and photographer Helena Chard told Fox News Digital. "His titles give him status and a sense of achievement and credibility. His royal connection is everything he knows and, I'm sure, what he pines for deep down."

Harry and his father met briefly for tea in September during the prince's short visit to London, marking the first time they had seen each other in well over a year. Harry has also wanted his children to spend more time with the monarch, whom they first met during celebrations marking Queen Elizabeth II's Platinum Jubilee in 2022.

"Folks close to them say that within five years, they need to figure out what their strategy is," Wakeford said. "They're not bankrupt, and those headlines aren't true. They're not running out of money. But they do have to balance their costs against their future income."

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

On Harry's 40th birthday in 2024, Roya Nikkhah, royal editor of The Sunday Times, reported that the prince's friends suggested he spent much of his time "looking back."

"I know how important it is for him to have a happy, settled family life, but you need to do more than that if you’re him," a source who has known Harry since his teenage years told Nikkhah. "He has ended up isolated from his family and most of his old mates, in an environment where your friendships are not like the ones you forged as a young man."

"He used to love a night out in the pub and hanging out in the country with friends," said the source. "Maybe he has grown into a different person, but do I think he’d really suit the Californian lifestyle? No. Now that we’ve seen it all play out, what has that left him with? On the surface, an enviable lifestyle — but for the Harry I know, I can’t imagine that gilded exile in California is where he wanted to end up."

Fox News Digital reached out to Archewell for comment at the time.

"He loves his family life out in the States," Nikkhah later told Fox News Digital. "He’s thrilled to be a dad. I suppose for him, it’s just finding a role — a really meaningful role going forward. The Invictus Games are fantastic, and he does great work there, and that will continue. But I think for him going forward, it’s finding a meaningful role for himself living out in the States on the global stage."

In his 2022 Netflix series, Harry admitted, "I miss my friends… I’ve lost a few friends in this process."

MEGHAN MARKLE RETURNS TO BRITAIN WITH PRINCE ARCHIE AND PRINCESS LILIBET FOR FIRST TIME IN YEARS

"There is so much about America to love, and he has embraced so much so quickly," Fordwich previously told Fox News Digital.

"There is nothing he has ever said or done that could be seen as bad-mouthing England. His family, yes. The 'Firm,' yes. But not his beloved England. He has certainly wavered over becoming an American and has shared his nostalgia with close friends, telling them he misses England. Many of them believe he's desperately lonely in California."

"I would not be surprised to see him return, if only for a short time each year," Fordwich added.

Scientists may have found a way to make sausage rolls and flaky pastries much healthier

Wed, 15 Jul 2026 06:00:42 -0400

A healthier version of the classic sausage roll could eventually become a reality as Scottish researchers develop a plant-based alternative to traditional pastry fats.

Scientists at Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh, Scotland, recently reached a new milestone toward making a healthier sausage roll without sacrificing flaky pastry by moving their experiment from the lab to their food industry partner's kitchen, the university announced in a news release.

"By taking innovative food science out of the lab into the kitchen and testing it with everyday consumers, it has the potential to make the nation's favorite snacks healthier and make a genuine difference to our health and wellbeing," said Stephen Euston, a professor working on the pastry research.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

Sausage rolls are a British favorite that consist of seasoned sausage meat baked in puff pastry.

"Around 10-15 million sausage rolls are sold a week in the UK, and the bestselling version contains 11 to 12.4 grams of saturated fat," Euston said. "That's more than 60% of the recommended daily limit for adults."

The scientists' goal, Euston said, is to produce a pastry with the same flavor and texture people are used to, but with less saturated fat.

"We're focused on sausage rolls, but this also applies to other baked goods that contain laminated pastry, such as croissants, Danish pastries and sweet or savory turnovers," he said.

Making flaky pastry is a notoriously tricky process that typically involves butter or lard layered between sheets of dough.

TEST YOURSELF WITH OUR LATEST LIFESTYLE QUIZ

"When the pastry bakes, steam forces those layers apart and gives you that flaky texture people expect," Euston said. "Simply replacing the fat with a healthier oil doesn't work, because liquid oils lack the structure needed to separate the pastry layers."

Plant-derived oils – such as sunflower and rapeseed – are normally liquid at room temperature. Euston and his team are using a process called oleogelation to make the plant-based oils mimic traditional solid fats while offering reduced saturated fat.

"We're interested in oils from crops that can be grown sustainably in the U.K. in order to minimize the impact on the environment," Euston said.

While the early findings are promising, Skaneateles, New York-based dietitian Kelly Springer told Fox News Digital it's too soon to conclude whether the technology will ultimately produce a healthier food product.

"There is not quite enough research behind this product to either say if it's good or better for you," Springer, who was not involved in the research, said. "It seems promising; however, we would need to have more research to support the claims."

The research comes as seed oils have become the focus of a heated political and nutritional debate in the United States.

Critics, notably followers of the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) movement, allege that consuming large quantities of refined seed oils, commonly found in highly processed foods, leads to increased inflammation and other health problems.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE LIFESTYLE NEWS

U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has referred to seed oils as "poison" and advocates for replacing them with animal fats, such as beef tallow and butter.

Others argue there is limited scientific evidence to support MAHA's claims about seed oils and say they are healthier because they contain less saturated fat.

"We are aware of the concerns on social media of the supposed health risks from consuming seed oil," Euston told Fox News Digital. "We do not agree with these concerns and would refer you to the reports by highly respected, scientifically credible institutions such as the British Heart Foundation and Johns Hopkins University."

The Heriot-Watt University researchers' oleogelation technology promotes the use of cold-pressed seed oil, Euston noted.

"In this process, the only processing is through a mechanical press followed by filtration," Euston said. "This does not involve any form of chemical processing."

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR LIFESTYLE NEWSLETTER

An advantage the Heriot-Watt scientists said their research could bring to bakers is the reduced need to chill pastry dough repeatedly.

"We are hoping our oleogels will stay stable at higher temperatures, which means manufacturers may not have to chill the pastry as much," Euston said. "If we are lucky, they might not need to chill it at all."

'The wind and drift patterns tell a story,' Cajun Navy official says of missing Mississippi teen found dead

Wed, 15 Jul 2026 06:00:38 -0400

Questions remain in the death of Mississippi teen Nolan Wells, who disappeared during a weekend of partying with friends on a boat trip.

Wells was found dead on Horn Island two days after he went missing from the boat on the Fourth of July.

An official with the United Cajun Navy, a search and rescue organization, confirmed to Fox News Digital that Wells' body was discovered on July 6.

MISSING CANADIAN HIKER FOUND DEAD 2 WEEKS AFTER VANISHING DURING MOUNTAIN TREK IN WASHINGTON

"It was actually a ranger from the National Park Service that discovered his body and called it in," said vice president Brian Trasher.

He said he joined the mission to try and find the teen when his organization was contacted on social media.

"Throughout the morning, we were talking with locals, trying to get any kind of intel on the last sighting or anything that could help," he said.

NAVY SUSPENDS SEARCH FOR SAILOR WHO WENT MISSING WHEN HELICOPTER WENT DOWN IN ARABIAN SEA

He says the search effort relied on the help of boats and an aircraft. "We were in the air about two hours before we noticed the activity on the beach," he goes on to say, "We were searching where the wind and drift patterns were taking the current."

Rumors are swirling online as to the circumstances that led up to Wells' becoming separated from his friends and the boat.

Trascher said, "There’s no evidence to suggest that he was dumped on an island and left for dead."

AMERICAN 'LOOKSMAXXING' INFLUENCER CONNOR MURPHY DEAD AT AGE 32 AFTER APPARENT LAKE DROWNING

"The working theory is that he drowned," he said.

He told Fox News Digital Wells' body was found "washed right back" close to where he was last seen.

Trascher said, "That tells me he didn’t go that far out." He went on to say, "The wind and drift patterns tell a story."

It's important to note that the organization is not leading the investigation, the Jackson County Sheriff's Department is.

"I’m not a medical professional. I’m not a professional investigator. I’m a search-and-rescue guy," Trascher said.

The official cause of death has not yet been announced by authorities.

The Jackson County Sheriff's Department continues to investigate Wells' death and has asked the public to come forward with any information.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

Wells' family has hired attorney Ben Crump to represent them.

"The family is calling for a thorough and transparent investigation into how Nolan died," the firm said.

Inside MLB CBA negotiations as Manfred, players union exec discuss issues as sides attempt to save 2027 season

Wed, 15 Jul 2026 06:00:15 -0400

The 2026 MLB All-Star Game may have been the last we see for quite a while — and, unfortunately for baseball fans, that is not hyperbole.

The clock has been ticking for a while, but now, an impending MLB work stoppage is upon us. The current collective bargaining agreement expires on Dec. 1, and even this one took numerous leaps and hurdles to reach an agreement.

The 2022 season was delayed due to an owners' lockout after the expiration of the previous CBA the prior December. However, the sentiment at the time among baseball experts was, if you thought that was bad, wait until 2026.

Well, 2026 is here, and they weren't kidding.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM

In the days of the largest contracts in the history of the sport, baseball has reached an impasse of large-market teams taking over players, dollars and — in more recent years — titles, while small-market teams are being left out to dry more than ever.

The history of every ripple effect stretches back to even before Marvin Miller ever held a baseball, but the writing for these contentious talks has been on the wall since the negotiations five years ago.

And with baseball potentially seeing a fourth straight year of increased attendance for the first time since 2004 to 2007, the game cannot afford any missed opportunities that will deter the fans away from the diamond.

So, here is everything to know about the negotiations, what each side wants, and what could happen as the negotiations play out.

Salary cap/floor

One side would argue this is all the Los Angeles Dodgers' fault. They signed Shohei Ohtani to a $700 million contract ahead of the 2024 season, which was the first contract in baseball to surpass even $500 million, and 98% of that deal is deferred until after the contract is up. In total, the Dodgers' current AAV payroll is over $440 million, a far cry from the Miami Marlins' $81 million, all while dozens of millions are deferred.

TRUMP SAYS IT'S 'SHOCKING' MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL STILL HASN'T IMPLEMENTED A SALARY CAP

In this world of insane contracts, only a handful of teams are constantly in the conversation to sign star free agents. The Dodgers and New York Yankees have always been in it, and the New York Mets have recently joined the fray thanks to Steve Cohen, who signed Juan Soto to a $765 million contract. Other teams are sometimes in the mix, but it's normally unrealistic to consider them true threats for those types of megadeals.

The other side, however, may blame the small-market teams, who have multi-billionaire owners, but their payrolls are just a fraction of that. The bottom five payrolls in the league add up to just over $500 million, which is less than what the Dodgers will be spending post-luxury tax penalties.

Case in point, there are extremes on both sides — two teams don't even have payrolls of nine figures. The Marlins' payroll is actually roughly half of what it used to be in 2017, despite a sale of the team and everyone in the league making more money than ever. The Dodgers have already committed more money in 2030 than 12 teams have this season.

The league wants a salary cap, and not much is going to get in its way.

"I have an ownership group that is more united than any group in my entire time in baseball," MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred said on Tuesday ahead of the All-Star Game.

Manfred added that owners are simply "listening to our fans" regarding a salary cap and said it "defies human experience ... to think that the bottom end of that [payroll] gap has the same opportunity to win the top end." The owners are even willing to split their local television rights deal if there is a cap.

"What our fans in a number of our markets are telling us, better than half of them, is there's a lack of competitive balance in the game. And everything we propose is directed at addressing that fan concern," Manfred said. "I believe that in order for this game to reach its full potential, we need to continue to address concerns that our fans have, particularly concerns that go to the core of what we're about — that is, competitive balance. We need to make sure that fans in markets at the beginning of the season have a realistic belief that their team has a chance to win.

"I think that we need a system where fans, particularly in smaller markets, can have some hope that the players that are signed and developed by their organizations can actually stay there through free agency. And honestly, I think we need a system where there is a more robust free-agent market. So, if you don't want to go to New York or Los Angeles, you have a realistic opportunity to get a viable free-agent contract."

The players, however, will not budge. A salary cap, which has never existed in the league, is a non-negotiable. They want the owners to spend a minimum and have no maximum.

"Salary cap is the ultimate excuse not to compete. It's the ultimate excuse for an owner to say, 'Gee, I would like to make the team better, but you know I can't,'" interim MLBPA executive director Bruce Meyer said Tuesday. "Salary caps are bad for fans. Salary caps prevent teams from doing the things that they believe are in their interest to make the team better."

MLB COMMISSIONER SAYS TRUMP 'INTERESTED' IN MLB CBA NEGOTIATIONS BUT 'WILL PASS' ON POTENTIAL HELP

"Every team in baseball can afford to compete, many are choosing not to," Meyer added. "To me, that's the biggest problem right now."

Service time/free agency

Players want to, and owners are willing to let them, become free agents earlier. As of now, players are typically under team control for six years, barring service-time manipulation (more on that soon).

The first three years are pre-arbitration, meaning the players receive the league minimum each season. Then, in each of the following three seasons, the player and team essentially agree on one-year contracts, but those discussions can grow contentious.

Now, teams can turn those six years into almost a full seven. A famous example is Kris Bryant, who in 2015 was optioned to the minor leagues for less than two weeks in order for the Chicago Cubs to get almost an extra full season of control, prompting a lawsuit.

The current CBA tries to combat the tactic in that if a prospect starts the year on the Opening Day roster and wins certain major awards, i.e., Rookie of the Year, that team could receive draft picks. Also, if a player finishes in the top two of Rookie of the Year voting, he would get a full season of service time no matter when he was called up. Pre-arbitration players can also make more money based on their in-season success.

But some teams are still willing to take the risk in an effort to hold onto their players longer. The players' wish to become free agents earlier, especially for those who don't hit free agency until after they are 30 years old, will certainly help their case.

MLB owners recently proposed a salary cap for the first time since 1994, and we all know how that went. They have also offered strict contract limits, capping the length of deals at six years at 16% of their proposed salary cap for players re-signing with clubs and five years at 15% for those who sign with different teams. That would be quite the major change, as there have been 29 contracts in MLB history totaling 10 years or longer, and it's been nearly 60 years since Al Kaline signed the first seven-year deal.

The players, on the other hand, recently offered a 28-man roster instead of the normal 26 for the first 15 days of the regular season to continue avoiding service-time manipulation.

If the long-held speculation is correct, the owners are likely going to lock out the players if a deal is not reached. As long as the players refuse a salary cap, the start of next season, at the very least, is in jeopardy.

Manfred, though, remains "an optimist."

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

"I truly believe that if people engage in the process, that you find ways through things," he said.

Baseball has not lost games since 1995, as the season had to be shortened by 18 games due to the players' strike that cost the 1994 postseason. But if neither side is willing to budge on essentially its top priority, unfortunate history could be made at a time when baseball is booming once again.

Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.

Dem lawmaker says Constitution barred police from stopping her after alleged 100 mph speeding

Wed, 15 Jul 2026 06:00:12 -0400

A Democratic New Hampshire lawmaker accused of driving more than 100 mph in one case and 92 mph in another argues a centuries-old provision of the state constitution protected her from being stopped while traveling to or from legislative session, according to court documents obtained by Fox News Digital.

State Rep. Ellen Read argues police unlawfully stopped and detained her because the New Hampshire Constitution protects lawmakers from being "arrested, or held to bail" while attending, traveling to or returning from the General Court. She contends the charges stemmed from an unconstitutional stop and should therefore be dismissed.

Read was first stopped in December 2024, after authorities alleged she drove more than 100 mph on Interstate 93 in Windham. A second case followed in June 2025, when authorities accused her of driving 92 mph in a 65 mph zone in Londonderry.

BILL BELICHICK'S DAUGHTER-IN-LAW FACES ARREST ORDER IN NORTH CAROLINA AFTER SKIPPING COURT APPEARANCE: REPORT

In both cases, Read argued she was driving a vehicle displaying a New Hampshire state representative license plate and told officers she was returning from a legislative session.

"At the time of the stop, Ms. Read was a sitting member of the New Hampshire House of Representatives," her petition states. "She was traveling in a vehicle bearing a New Hampshire State Representative license plate. Upon being stopped, Ms. Read informed the deputy that she was returning from the General Court."

In response to questions from Fox News Digital, Read said she is not arguing the Constitution shields lawmakers from prosecution, but instead protects them from being stopped while traveling to or from legislative duties.

JACKSON SCOLDS COLLEAGUES IN SOLO DISSENT AFTER COURT JUMPS INTO ROUTINE POLICE-STOP CASE

"The plain reading of the Constitution says that legislators cannot be stopped on their way to or from their duties," Read said. "It says nothing of being ticketed or arrested at the end of the commute, and nothing about prosecution."

"Under the plain language of the New Hampshire Constitution, defendant was unlawfully detained/seized/arrested in violation of her Legislative privilege," one motion states. "All evidence illegally obtained should be suppressed, and the charge dismissed."

At the center of Read's defense is a 1784 provision of the New Hampshire Constitution that states, "No member of the House of Representatives, or Senate shall be arrested, or held to bail, on mesne process, during his going to, returning from, or attendance upon, the Court."

Read said the provision was intended to prevent local officials from delaying lawmakers and interfering with legislative votes, not to exempt legislators from criminal liability.

FORMER WISCONSIN JUDGE HANNAH DUGAN AVOIDS JAIL TIME FOR OBSTRUCTING ARREST OF ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT

"It was always the commute itself that was meant to be protected... Not the legislator protected from breaking the law," she said.

Read's petition argues the New Hampshire Supreme Court has never interpreted the scope of the provision in the roughly 240 years since it was ratified, calling it a constitutional question of first impression that the state's highest court has never squarely addressed.

"The question is not whether a sitting legislator is 'above the law,'" the petition states.

Instead, Read argues, lawmakers traveling to and from legislative duties should receive the same "functional analysis" applied to police officers or emergency medical technicians who violate traffic laws while performing official duties.

A judge rejected that argument in Read's first speeding case.

Court records show she was found guilty of negligent driving in August 2025 and fined $1,240, with half the fine deferred.

She was also allowed to keep her license as long as she maintained good behavior for two years, completed a safe-driving course and avoided additional moving violations.

Read later asked the New Hampshire Supreme Court to take up the constitutional question before the second speeding case proceeded. The court declined, denying her petition without prejudice and allowing her to raise the arguments again in a future appeal that complies with court rules.

Read defended her handling of the case in an Instagram statement, saying she accepted the reduced negligent driving charge "to end the case" and did not appeal the constitutional issue.

In the same statement, Read's office disputed allegations that she exceeded 100 mph, arguing the 2009 Toyota Yaris she was driving, which she said has more than 440,000 miles on it, "simply cannot go that fast."

Her office also said the officer did not use radar or clock her speed and instead estimated it while accelerating to catch up to her vehicle. Read's office further claimed a State House employee who was on the phone with her during the traffic stop later testified to an account that conflicted with the officer's version of events.

Read's office also criticized the lack of body-camera footage from the stop and said she now encourages motorists to use dashboard cameras.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

Read said her challenge focuses on the legality of the traffic stops rather than the underlying charges.

"The unconstitutional manner of the stops, and not the charge, therefore, was the topic of discussion in the case," she said.

Gen Z is working hard, but the economy is putting the American dream out of reach for many

Wed, 15 Jul 2026 06:00:06 -0400

Young people are working. They're just waiting longer for the "American dream" that work was supposed to buy.

Labor force participation among Americans in their prime working years remains near its highest level in decades. Yet younger adults are buying homes later, delaying marriage and putting off having children as housing prices, elevated interest rates and other household expenses continue to outpace wage growth for many households.

The economic backdrop has come under renewed scrutiny after White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt suggested Gen Z's frustrations stem in part from "laziness."

Once her comments drew backlash, Leavitt said critics had taken her remarks out of context, arguing she was referring to young people embracing socialism and communism — not a blanket statement regarding all of Gen Z. She added that "many Gen Z Americans are hardworking, entrepreneurial, and deeply patriotic."

Generation Z, often shortened to Gen Z, includes Americans born between 1997 and 2012, and is emerging as a growing force in both the labor market and U.S. politics.

Leavitt also claimed the Trump administration's economic agenda — including tax cuts, deregulation and other affordability-focused policies — is intended to strengthen economic conditions for younger Americans.

WE ASKED AMERICANS TO GRADE THE ECONOMY. THEN WE ASKED IF IT WOULD CHANGE THEIR VOTE.

While her remarks sparked debate, economists say today's young people entered adulthood during one of the most challenging economic environments in decades, marked by high inflation, soaring housing costs and a cooling white-collar job market.

The labor market data paint a more nuanced picture. Labor force participation among Americans ages 25 to 54 stood at about 83% in May, hovering near its highest level in decades, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics data. Participation among Americans ages 20 to 24 has also remained above pre-pandemic levels.

"There's lazy people in every generation," Heritage Foundation Chief Economist EJ Antoni told Fox News Digital. "It doesn't matter if you're talking about the boomers, Gen Z or anybody in between."

Richard Stern, vice president of the Plymouth Institute for Free Enterprise at Advancing American Freedom, said the data suggests Gen Z's preference for flexible work should not be confused with a lack of work ethic.

"Labor participation rates for 16- to 19-year-olds, for 20- to 24-year-olds are all high," Stern said. While younger workers may prefer flexible or remote schedules, "that's not a work ethic thing. I think it's actually a preference thing," he added.

A PROBLEM HIDING IN PLAIN SIGHT IS KEEPING AMERICANS FROM BUYING HOMES

Antoni pointed out how "the monthly mortgage payments on a median-priced home literally doubled during Biden's four years in office."

"You don't have to ascribe any pejoratives to young people to realize that that is completely unsustainable."

Housing affordability has deteriorated sharply over the past several years. The average 30-year fixed mortgage rate climbed from roughly 3% in early 2021 to about 6.5% today, while the median U.S. home price rose from roughly $329,000 to more than $400,000, dramatically increasing the cost of buying a home.

Stern said higher borrowing costs have made it dramatically harder for younger Americans to purchase homes and vehicles — two traditional markers of financial independence.

"Interest rates have tripled on things like cars and mortgages," Stern told Fox News Digital. "So for new workers and young families, higher inflation and much higher interest rates have made it tremendously less affordable to buy a home or a car."

Those affordability pressures have delayed more than just homeownership. The median age of a first-time homebuyer reached a record 38 years old in 2025, according to the National Association of Realtors.

Paul Teller, a conservative strategist who previously served in the Trump-Pence White House, said Leavitt's comments surprised many conservatives because they don't reflect what he sees from young workers.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

"Folks are working hard," Teller told Fox News Digital. "We're Americans, so this is what we do in our nature. Americans don't have to be told to work hard."

Teller said younger Americans are discovering that the same path to the middle class no longer delivers the same results. "The same education that their older siblings got or their parents got isn't taking them this far," he said. "The same relative wage isn't taking them as far."

The numbers suggest the challenge for many younger Americans isn't participating in the workforce. It's that work no longer buys the same milestones it once did.

Trump won’t rule out Kharg Island takeover: What a US assault could look like

Wed, 15 Jul 2026 05:50:03 -0400

Hundreds of U.S. Marines storm ashore as helicopters thunder overhead, Navy warships and fighter jets establish overwhelming air and sea superiority, and commanders issue one final warning to Iranian forces: surrender or be overrun.

That is how military experts envision the opening hours of a potential U.S. operation to seize Iran's Kharg Island — the tiny but strategically vital island that handles roughly 90% of the Islamic Republic's crude oil exports and has become the centerpiece of Washington's economic pressure campaign against Tehran.

The scenario was thrust back into the spotlight Tuesday after President Donald Trump declined to rule out taking the island. "I can't say that to you because if I did, it would be foolish," Trump told Fox News chief foreign correspondent Trey Yingst during an exclusive interview on ‘Special Report’ when asked directly whether he planned to seize Kharg island. He added that previous U.S. strikes intentionally avoided the island's oil facilities because they are "a chunk of the world economy."

TRUMP HAS 3 CHOICES TO DEFINE VICTORY IF HE WANTS TO BEAT IRAN. NONE OF THEM ARE EASY

"There are a lot of ways to skin this cat," retired Vice Adm. Robert Harward, former deputy commander of U.S. Central Command, told Fox News Digital in an interview.

Harward explained a Marine Expeditionary Unit could conduct an amphibious assault while U.S. naval and air forces establish complete control over the battlespace, giving Iranian defenders an opportunity to surrender before major fighting begins. The goal, he said, would not simply be to capture the island but to preserve the oil infrastructure that could one day serve a post-Islamic Republic government.

"The real objective at the end of the day is to minimize risk," said Harward. "Not only to your own forces, but to the people you're coming in contact with," while also limiting damage to facilities that could eventually be handed over to "a government of Iran that is focused on supporting its people, as opposed to proliferating the Islamic Revolution."

Trump's remarks echoed Harward's assessment that preserving Kharg's oil facilities would likely be a key military objective. Trump said he had instructed U.S. forces during previous strikes to "hit everything, but the oil," explaining that damaging the export terminal could have significant consequences for the global economy.

HOW IRAN ATTACKS ARE FORCING THE PENTAGON TO RETHINK ITS DECADES-OLD MIDDLE EAST BASE STRATEGY

But military experts say capturing Kharg may be the easiest part of the mission.

Located just 16 miles off Iran's Gulf coast, the eight-square-mile island sits well within range of Iranian missiles, drones and shore-based anti-ship weapons. While analysts believe U.S. forces could likely seize the island within hours, holding it against sustained retaliation from the nearby mainland could require a far larger and longer military commitment—raising the risk of direct war with Iran itself.

Kharg's strategic importance predates Iran's modern oil industry. British forces briefly occupied the island during confrontations with Persia over Herat in 1838 and again during the Anglo-Persian War in 1856, using its location near the Iranian coast to apply pressure on Tehran. Nearly a century later, Iran selected Kharg as a deep-water oil terminal because its sheltered waters could accommodate large tankers. Construction began in the late 1950s, and the terminal entered service in 1960, transforming the island into the principal outlet for Iranian crude.

"Everybody talks about seizing Kharg," Nicholas Carl, assistant director of the Critical Threats Project at the American Enterprise Institute, told Fox News Digital. "Iran has spent decades investing in denial capabilities designed specifically to keep U.S. forces away from its shores." Those capabilities include anti-ship cruise missiles, drones, naval mines and hundreds of fast attack craft designed to overwhelm superior naval forces.

IRAN'S BIGGEST WEAPON AGAINST THE US MAY BE SLIPPING AWAY, EXPERTS SAY

Military planners have long viewed Iran's anti-access strategy as one of the most sophisticated in the Middle East. Rather than matching the U.S. Navy ship for ship, Tehran has invested heavily in asymmetric weapons intended to make any amphibious assault costly.

Harward, a former member of the National Security Council and current member of the Jewish Institute for National Security of America's Iran Policy Project, acknowledged that once American forces were on Kharg, the primary danger would shift from conventional naval combat to missile and drone attacks launched from the nearby mainland.

"Iran doesn't really have air power," Harward said. "The concern is whether they launch missiles and drones at the island with U.S. forces on the ground. That's the biggest risk."

Harward said the viability of the operation would ultimately depend on intelligence about the number and disposition of Iranian forces, whether they had prepared booby traps or improvised explosive devices, and how Tehran might respond once American troops were ashore.

Still, he argued, such retaliation would come at a price for Tehran.

"If they start striking Kharg itself, they become accountable for damaging their own economic lifeline," he said.

The challenge illustrates the distinction between tactical success and strategic success. Seizing an eight-square-mile island is one military problem. Defending it against sustained attacks only a short distance from Iranian territory is another.

Harward suggested Washington still has several options short of launching an amphibious assault.

With the U.S.-led blockade, reinforced Tuesday, already constraining Iran's oil exports, he argued that additional economic pressure could target overland transportation routes, border crossings and air traffic instead of committing ground troops.

"There is still a lot you could do to enhance the economic challenges to Iran," Harward said. "Synchronizing military, economic and political pressure is really the strategy."

Some strategists have also questioned whether Kharg is the most valuable military objective.

Mark Fox, a retired vice admiral and a former commander of the 5th Fleet, previously told Fox News Digital that Kharg is fundamentally an oil terminal rather than a military fortress. Instead, he argued, smaller islands such as Greater Tunb, Lesser Tunb and Abu Musa — disputed islands near the Strait of Hormuz — could present more manageable military objectives while creating a significant strategic dilemma for Tehran because of their location along one of the world's most important shipping lanes.

For Harward, however, the larger question extends beyond any single island.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

"I think the only real end state to ensure long-term stability and security in the region is a government of Iran that renounces the Islamic Revolution and focuses on the Iranian people," he said. That would require ending Tehran's nuclear ambitions, halting support for proxy groups, protecting freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz and ending the regime's domestic repression.

Whether Washington ever decides to seize Kharg, military planners agree on one point: Capturing Iran's economic lifeline would likely be measured in hours, but successfully holding it — and managing the regional escalation that could follow — would be a far longer and more complex campaign.

Docs expose horrific strangling, kidnapping charges against anti-ICE lawyer championed by Dems

Wed, 15 Jul 2026 05:30:40 -0400

An immigration lawyer representing two illegal immigrants who were involved in a recent fatal ICE shooting in Houston has prior domestic abuse and kidnapping charges, documents reveal.

Hugo Balderas-Ibarra, a private practice attorney in Texas, represents two of the three passengers who were in a van when Lorenzo Salgado Araujo was fatally shot by a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent last week.

At a press conference after the shooting, Balderas-Ibarra ripped the agency, demanding an immediate release of his clients and accusing ICE agents of lying about the shooting and of "racial profiling." He said that his clients "will forever be physically and emotionally scarred by this killing," adding, "None of these families will ever be whole again."

However, a Harris County District Court charging document obtained by Fox News reveals that Balderas-Ibarra is currently out on a $20,000 bond on a felony assault family violence by impeding breathing charge stemming from a 2024 incident.

ICE SAYS OFFICER SHOT AND KILLED ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT WHO TRIED TO RAM HIM WITH CAR IN HOUSTON

The document states that the alleged assault took place in 2024 when the victim and Balderas had a dating relationship. According to the victim, they got into an argument the day she was set to take a flight over something she had seen on his phone. This caused her to pack all her belongings, which Balderas-Ibarra found and took. The woman took an Uber to the airport.

While Balderas-Ibarra agreed to bring her luggage to the airport, once there, the document says he "threw her luggage on the ground," and when she went to pick it up, he "grabbed her by her neck with his left hand." She told investigators that he held her thus for several seconds, and when he noticed people getting close to them, he "squeezed harder and twisted her throat."

She said she was unable to breathe during the strangulation and felt dizzy and disoriented. Afterward, she said she had nausea, a headache and felt faint. The document states that photos taken by authorities after the incident show redness and swelling on the woman’s neck.

After this incident, Balderas-Ibarra was charged with felony assault family violence – impeding breathing.

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

Further, a Harris County bond motion shows that at the time of the strangling incident, Balderas-Ibarra was already on bail for a separate domestic violence charge, kidnapping and false imprisonment in Seminole County, Florida.

Fox News Digital reached out to Balderas-Ibarra’s office for comment.

According to the website for the State Bar of Texas, Balderas-Ibarra is eligible to practice law in the state with a "probationary license."

He spoke at a press conference on the ICE shooting last Friday alongside Rep. Al Green, D-Texas, Rep. Sylvia Garcia, D-Texas, and Harris County District Attorney Sean Teare, who is also a Democrat.

Salgado Araujo, a Mexican citizen who authorities said was in the country illegally, was shot and killed in Houston after ICE said he tried to ram an ICE officer with his vehicle during a traffic stop. Araujo was struck and taken to a hospital, where he later died.

At the press conference, Balderas-Ibarra said that ICE’s accounts of the shooting have "varied" and that his clients’ versions of the events are "extremely different from what ICE agents are saying or what the agency is saying."

MAINE ICE SHOOTING VICTIM WAS NOT TARGET OF ARREST WARRANT, SEN. KING’S OFFICE SAYS AFTER EARLIER DHS ACCOUNT

"All three of my clients reiterated that at no point was there ever an agent standing in front of the vehicle, nor was an agent ever placed in the line of danger. That is simply false. And I believe my clients are telling the truth," said Balderas-Ibarra.

He demanded ICE release his clients to ensure they are not deported, which he said would preserve the "integrity" of the investigations into the shooting.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

"I am calling for drastic changes to the way ICE conducts their immigration enforcement," he said, adding, "This is not immigration enforcement. This is racial profiling."

Fox News Digital also reached out to the offices of Green, Garcia and Teare for comment.

You shouldn’t need a permit to pray in your own home — the Supreme Court should agree

Wed, 15 Jul 2026 05:00:54 -0400

A zoning technicality is being used to lock Americans out of court when the government chills their First Amendment rights. The Supreme Court should put a stop to it.

When the government threatens you for exercising a constitutional right, can it force you to run a bureaucratic gauntlet before a federal court will even hear your case? On June 30, 2026, the Supreme Court agreed to answer that question in its next term in Grand v. City of University Heights. It should answer no.

A prayer group and a cease-and-desist letter

ARKANSAS TAKES HOME TOP RANKING FOR RELIGIOUS FREEDOM AFTER GOV SANDERS EXPANDS KEY PROTECTIONS

Daniel Grand is an Orthodox Jew in University Heights, Ohio. His faith calls him to pray with a minyan, a quorum of 10 men, and forbids driving on the Sabbath. This makes attending a distant synagogue impractical. So, he invited a dozen neighbors to pray at his home, but someone complained. Days later, on Jan. 21, 2021, the city of University Heights sent Grand a cease-and-desist letter. The city told Grand he’d have to get a special use permit to use his home as "a place of religious assembly." If he didn’t get the permit and continued to host a minyan, he could be cited for code violations and fined. All this while his neighbors were free to host friends to watch a ball game, play poker or socialize.

Grand canceled his next prayer meeting and applied for the permit through University Heights’ zoning process. Yet that process was hostile as it was Kafkaesque. Grand was heckled at a zoning board hearing, with one neighbor voicing fear that the neighborhood would "be labeled as Jewish." And that special use permit? Grand learned that if he obtained the required permit, it would change his home to a "house of worship" under the zoning code. That meant Grand could pray there, but he couldn’t sleep there since it would no longer be considered a residence. Grand abandoned the permit process and instead filed a civil rights lawsuit to protect his First Amendment right to pray in his own home.

When Grand sued under the First Amendment and the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act (RLUIPA), the courts never reached the merits. A unanimous Sixth Circuit panel threw the case out as unripe. Because Grand withdrew his permit application, a "final decision" had not been reached. And under the 1985 takings case Williamson County Planning v. Hamilton Bank, a land-use claim isn’t ripe until government officials reach a final decision through the prescribed administrative process. The Sixth Circuit took a rule about property takings and used it to shut the courthouse door on a First Amendment claim.

MORNING GLORY: THE SUPREME COURT OFFICIALLY CLOSES THE BOOKS ON ANOTHER TERM

The finality rule makes sense in a takings case because the injury depends on the administrative process. You don’t know if a regulation took too much of your property’s value until you know how far it reaches. But a First Amendment case is different. Grand was injured the moment he received that cease-and-desist letter. He read the threat by the city. He didn’t pray. He canceled his minyan. As the Supreme Court held in Susan B. Anthony List v. Driehaus, a credible threat of enforcement is itself an actionable injury. Making Grand exhaust a zoning process does nothing to sharpen an injury that has already occurred.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

The Sixth Circuit handed the government a nefarious playbook. Any city that wants to shut down a house of worship, a bookstore or an unpopular meeting can order it stopped, demand a permit, and then hide behind its bureaucratic boards and hearings to lock the courthouse door. The split among the circuits only makes it worse: the same coercion is reviewable in one part of the country and untouchable in another, so your right to pray in your own home depends on your zip code.

The principle Grand is standing for is… grand. The Constitution does not make Americans ask permission before they gather and pray in their own home. When an official demands a permit to pray, we should be able to walk into court right away. We should not have to first accede to the unconstitutional permit request by subjecting ourselves to a zoning process. The finality rule belongs in takings law. It has no business locking the courthouse door to First Amendment claims. When the court hears argument this fall, it should say so plainly.

SEN. BLUMENTHAL, REP. TAKANO: Congress can fund veterans’ care without taking benefits from disabled heroes

Wed, 15 Jul 2026 05:00:24 -0400

This week, the House will vote on the Take Care of America’s Veterans Act. This legislation includes nearly 60 bills, including several bipartisan priorities that we have authored and fought to advance as the top Democrats on the Senate and House Veterans’ Affairs Committees — most notably the Major Richard Star Act. Unfortunately, Republicans have chosen a partisan path to advance this legislation, and we have a serious problem with how they are proposing to pay for it.

To cover the costs of the Take Care of America’s Veterans Act, Republicans want to slash benefits for disabled veterans. This reduction would come in the form of devastating cuts for millions of veterans currently eligible to receive disability benefits for tinnitus and sleep apnea.

The Republican insistence on offsetting new investments in veterans is both absurd and cruel. The cost of war includes the human cost of caring for our veterans. We make a promise to care for these men and women after their service, and a great nation keeps its promises.

TRUMP-ALIGNED HOUSE HOLDOUTS ACCUSED OF HOLDING 'LIFE-SAVING' VETERANS BILL 'HOSTAGE' OVER SAVE AMERICA ACT

Frustratingly, the Republicans’ insistence on using this funding mechanism, known as an offset, is applied inconsistently and selectively. For instance, they spent $3.4 trillion to deliver tax breaks for the ultra-wealthy in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act last summer, with no regard to offsetting those costs. Despite this reality, Republicans claim the only viable path forward for the Take Care of America’s Veterans Act is enacting unprecedented cuts to disabled veterans’ benefits.

We are here to say that is simply not true. Those cuts are not acceptable to congressional Democrats or to the growing list of veterans service organizations and stakeholders who have publicly and forcefully opposed them. In fact, 46 Senate Democrats recently communicated their opposition to this offset in a letter to VA Secretary Doug Collins — a clear and public affirmation that the Republican proposal does not have the support it needs to clear the Senate.

While we do not believe an offset is appropriate or necessary, we are willing to compromise with our Republican colleagues to advance critical bipartisan legislation that should not be delayed any longer. There is nearly $100 billion for the Department of Defense that remains unobligated and unspent from H.R. 1, a law enacted more than a year ago. A small portion of those funds could easily be redirected to cover the human costs of war reflected in the Take Care of America’s Veterans Act.

DEMOCRATIC SOCIALISTS HAVE LOTS OF IDEAS, BUT HOW ARE WE SUPPOSED TO PAY FOR THEM?

H.R. 1 also lowered the tax rate for the richest Americans from 39.6% to 37%. Restoring that rate to 39.6% only for the top 0.1% of all income earners — those making over $25 million — would generate enough revenue to cover the costs of the Take Care of America’s Veterans Act. Both proposals would be widely supported by the American people and would allow us to avoid a partisan and contentious debate that divides the veteran community by pitting veterans against veterans.

We, and our Democratic colleagues, are ready to find a solution. We want to see many of the priorities in the Take Care of America’s Veterans Act signed into law. We want to get the Major Richard Star Act across the finish line. But we cannot accept a Republican "take it or leave it" approach — or the false narrative that cutting veterans’ benefits is the only way to get the job done.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE FOX NEWS OPINION

There are other viable ways to pay for this legislation, and Republican leaders must come to the table and engage in a meaningful bipartisan process. The longer they pursue their current partisan path, the less time we have to identify a workable solution to enact the Major Richard Star Act and the other bipartisan priorities in this package.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

The Veterans’ Affairs Committees have long been among the most bipartisan committees in Congress. We worked together to enact the PACT Act — the largest expansion of health care and benefits for veterans exposed to toxic substances in generations — without cutting benefits for other veterans. We can achieve something similarly historic again if we follow that same bipartisan approach today.

Veterans deserve meaningful results from a grateful nation — not empty promises. And they should never be handed an invoice when the costs of war come due.

Democrat Mark Takano represents California's 39th Congressional District in the United States House of Representatives.

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM SEN. RICHARD BLUMENTHAL

JOHN YOO: Barrett and Kagan’s safety plea exposes the left’s war on the Supreme Court

Wed, 15 Jul 2026 05:00:06 -0400

"Maybe I lack imagination, but I didn’t expect that performing this service was going to put me in the position of explaining to my children what a bulletproof vest was and why I had to wear one," Justice Amy Coney Barrett told Congress on Monday.

Justice Barrett was explaining in vivid terms why the Supreme Court had requested an additional $14.6 million, as part of its $228 million budget request, for enhanced security.

SUPREME COURT JUSTICES HEAD TO CAPITOL HILL FOR FIRST CONGRESSIONAL APPEARANCE SINCE 2019

Her fellow witness, Justice Elena Kagan, observed that threats against the Supreme Court had risen 38% this year. Justice Barrett herself had suffered a "swatting" attack earlier this year, in which someone falsely reported an armed shooter at her house. More alarmingly, an assassin attempted to kill Justice Brett Kavanaugh after the 2022 leak of the court’s Dobbs opinion, which overturned Roe v. Wade and its creation of a constitutional right to abortion.

While the justices are often willing to write hundreds of pages setting out their opinions on constitutional law, they left unanswered the question of why threats have risen so sharply.

The answer seems clear. Left-wing activists and leaders have waged war against the court. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., for example, warned Justices Kavanaugh and Neil Gorsuch against overruling Roe. He appeared on the front steps of the Supreme Court and threatened that they would "pay the price" and "won’t know what hit [them]."

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

Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I., has attempted to raise ethical doubts about the justices because they allegedly accepted gifts from wealthy benefactors.

Virtually all the major leaders of the Democratic Party agree with the idea of packing the Supreme Court because they disagree with its decisions. Former Vice President Kamala Harris declared in May that Democrats should consider expanding the court with liberals and punishing conservatives. "This is a moment where there are no bad ideas," the 2024 Democratic presidential candidate said on a podcast.

These attacks stem from the left’s larger attack on the Supreme Court as an agent of the Trump administration. Schumer, for example, often criticizes what he dubs "the MAGA Supreme Court" for transforming government agencies into "members-only clubs for his golf buddies and cronies." House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., decries "the corrupt conservative majority on the Supreme Court appointed by Donald Trump" for taking "a blowtorch" to civil rights laws.

MORNING GLORY: THE SUPREME COURT OFFICIALLY CLOSES THE BOOKS ON ANOTHER TERM

But the Supreme Court term that just ended demonstrates — yet again — that the court does not decide cases with an eye to partisan winners and losers. President Trump lost on several of his signature policies: in Learning Resources, the court struck down the White House’s universal tariffs as beyond the delegation of international economic power; in Barbara, a 6-3 majority affirmed birthright citizenship over a Trump executive order; in Cook, the justices blocked Trump’s removal of a governor on the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System.

Trump only prevailed when his positions aligned with the Roberts court’s long-term agenda. In Slaughter, Trump won the power to fire the heads of administrative agencies, but the justices had been steadily expanding the president’s removal power for the last 15 years. In RNC, the court struck down more limits on the ability of parties to spend campaign funds in coordination with candidates, but only because the justices have steadily treated campaign funding as speech. In Callais, the Trump administration won the end of the use of race in congressional redistricting, but only because the Roberts court has steadily ended the government’s ability to use race in making decisions.

The court does not think in terms of Republicans and Democrats. It instead fights over much deeper differences between conservatives and progressives on constitutional interpretation.

The conservative justices generally believe that the court should interpret the Constitution based on the original understanding of its ratifiers; the liberal justices would allow contemporary ideals — whether political, economic or philosophic — to govern as well. These are the types of disputes appropriate to the Supreme Court, and to allow it to interpret and apply the Constitution free from political influence, the Framers gave federal judges lifetime tenure with undiminished pay.

But to make short-term political gains, the left would sacrifice the independence of the courts. Manipulating the size of the court in response to its decisions is just an attempt to dictate the desired outcomes to the justices.

Threats against them are merely another political tool to pressure the court to change its ways. These threats, encouraged by the heated rhetoric of Democratic leaders, along with court-packing, are themselves of a piece with the broader progressive attack on constitutional structure.

Democrats also want to abolish the Senate filibuster, which bolsters the constitutional structure by slowing legislative speed and enhancing deliberation and bargaining, so that the Senate will more closely resemble the House; add the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico as states, unbalancing the Senate; and enact nationwide voting legislation, thereby undermining federalism.

Progressives believe that they hold the keys to an enlightened socialist utopia. Because they are convinced that they know the only true political ends of society, they will not allow the structural limits on mob democracy, imposed by the Framers, to stand in their way.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE FOX NEWS OPINION

If the court will not permit the Constitution to be used to impose liberal theories of rights nationwide, progressives are happy to do away with the court’s independence. If the Senate will filibuster a wealth tax, then expand the Senate with blue states. If the president follows a restrictionist immigration agenda, then do away with the Electoral College, too.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

Progressives, however, err in their attacks on the Framers’ restraints on pure democracy, embodied in a Supreme Court that interprets a written Constitution. If the last 10 years should have taught them anything, it is that they do not have the permanent support of the majority of the American people. When a majority of Americans support a president and Congress who will narrow or reverse the favored rights of progressives — witness the birthright citizenship case — they will be fortunate that an independent Supreme Court will hear their pleas. But that would require progressives to weigh the long-term benefits of a written Constitution against short-term partisan gains.

That may be hoping for far too much.

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM JOHN YOO

Illegal immigrant sentenced after fiery California semitruck crash killed 3

Wed, 15 Jul 2026 02:45:18 -0400

A 21-year-old Indian national who federal authorities said was in the U.S. illegally was sentenced Tuesday to four years and eight months in prison for causing a fiery Southern California crash that killed three people last year.

Jashanpreet Singh pleaded guilty to three felony counts of vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence stemming from the October 2025 crash, according to NBC Los Angeles.

Authorities said Singh was driving a semitruck that plowed into slow-moving traffic on Interstate 10 in San Bernardino County, killing three people and injuring several others.

DEADLY ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT TRUCK CRASH EXPOSED FAILURES ON THE ROAD AND AT THE BORDER: KEY SENATOR

Fox News Digital previously reported that Singh is an illegal immigrant from India who crossed the southern border in 2022 and was released into the United States by the Biden administration.

According to federal sources, Singh was first encountered by Border Patrol agents in California's El Centro Sector in March 2022 and released pending an immigration hearing.

The crash, which was captured on dashcam video, showed Singh never applying the brakes before slamming into traffic, according to investigators.

OUT OF CONTROL, UNQUALIFIED ILLEGAL ALIEN TRUCKERS ENDANGERING KIDS ON US ROADS, INSIDER WARNS: ‘JUST MADNESS’

Singh obtained a California commercial driver's license in June 2025, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation.

In September, federal officials warned California they had uncovered compliance issues involving commercial driver's licenses and directed the state to make corrections, including pausing the issuance of new licenses to noncitizens and reviewing existing licenses to ensure they complied with federal requirements.

Anyone who did not meet the criteria was supposed to have their license revoked.

FEDS SAY RAPE CONVICT LIED HIS WAY INTO US CITIZENSHIP BY HIDING SEX ASSAULTS

Federal officials said Singh should have been disqualified under an emergency Department of Transportation policy. California officials said Singh’s CDL eligibility was based on federally approved employment authorization documents, while federal transportation officials said he should have been disqualified under new emergency rules. However, on Oct. 15, after he turned 21, a restriction on his commercial driver's license was removed.

Just six days later, authorities said Singh was driving the semitruck involved in the deadly crash.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

Toxicology testing later confirmed Singh was not under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

Fox News Digital's Greg Wehner, Jasmine Baehr and Michael Ruiz, along with Fox News' Bill Melugin, contributed to this report.

American League stars outshine National League in 96th MLB All-Star game

Wed, 15 Jul 2026 00:25:03 -0400

The 2026 MLB All-Star Game arrived in Philadelphia with the feel of a 250th birthday bash for the United States, complete with plenty of red, white and blue and a roster full of stars who had earned their stripes.

But Citizens Bank Park, long known as a hitter-friendly backdrop, produced fewer fireworks than expected as the American League shut out the National League 4-0 in the 96th Midsummer Classic.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM

Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Dylan Cease struck out the side in the first inning, setting the tone for a dominant AL pitching performance as 10 relievers helped finish a three-hitter in Tuesday night’s shutout of the NL.

New York Yankees outfielder Cody Bellinger hit a two-run single and Ben Rice followed with an RBI single in the first against Cristopher Sánchez of the host Philadelphia Phillies.

Chicago White Sox infielder Miguel Vargas added an eighth-inning home run off the Los Angeles Dodgers’ Justin Wrobleski, who was pitching on his 26th birthday, for the game’s only extra-base hit. The AL won for the 18th time in 23 games and holds a 49-45-2 advantage overall.

Singles by Juan Soto in the fourth, Pete Crow-Armstrong in the eighth and Otto Lopez in the ninth were the only hits by the NL, which failed to advance a runner past first.

Pitchers combined for 27 strikeouts, 15 by AL hurlers.

MLB ALL-STAR GAME SCARE AS RAYS SLUGGER JUNIOR CAMINERO EXITS AFTER TAKING 98 MPH FASTBALL TO HAND

Phillies slugger Kyle Schwarber, last year’s hero in the first-ever swing-off tiebreaker, led off for the NL. Schwarber replaced designated hitter Shohei Ohtani, who skipped the showcase to undergo a knee procedure ahead of the season’s second half.

Detroit Tigers outfielder Riley Greene and two New York Yankees, first baseman Ben Rice and Bellinger, gained American League starting spots because of injuries.

Tampa Bay Rays' Junior Caminero was hit on the outside of his left hand by a 97.6 mph sinker from St. Louis Cardinals closer Riley O’Brien in the third inning and immediately left the game. The 23-year-old, fourth in the major leagues with 28 home runs, stayed down for a few moments before he popped up and ran straight into the clubhouse. X-rays were negative.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

Players across the majors will have the day off Wednesday before the Phillies host the New York Mets on Thursday. Action across the rest of the league resumes Friday.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.

Latest & Breaking News | Fox News

Former LeBron James teammate breaks down NBA star's free-agent options, warns him about Cavs return

Trump AG pick Todd Blanche faces Senate test and more top headlines

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

MAJOR HEADLINES

MEDIA

OPINION

IN OTHER NEWS

LISTEN

FOX WEATHER

FOLLOW FOX NEWS ON SOCIAL MEDIA

SIGN UP FOR OUR NEWSLETTERS

DOWNLOAD OUR APPS

WATCH FOX NEWS ONLINE

Leader of firm that won SCOTUS women's sports cases opens up on dealing with liberal media, Title IX lawsuits

On handling interviews with outlets like CNN and MSNBC

On pending and potential future litigation in the 23 states that don't have laws to protect women's sports

On ADF's newest Title IX lawsuit in Washington state after a female wrestler was allegedly sexually assaulted during a match against a trans athlete

On the coverage and conversation of concerns over similar incidents to the one in Washington state

On ADF's Title IX lawsuit in Minnesota over a trans pitcher that won a girls' softball state championship in 2025, after the case was dismissed by a federal judge

On ADF's recent legal victory and settlement for a Christian school in Vermont that was banned from competing in the state for refusing to compete against a team with a trans athlete, and potential future cases in Vermont to challenge its law that allows trans athletes in girls' sports

On ADF's Title IX lawsuit in Connecticut over a trans track runner, which dates back to 2018

On ADF's plans for future lawsuits in other states

Message to other women who are considering stepping up in the battle to "save women's sports"

Popular diet trend could boost mental health among older adults, study finds

Tiny microphones, fake podcast ads and AI videos are everything wrong with online videos

Sending someone a video then realizing it’s AI

Tiny Microphones

Everyone jumping on the same trends.

Commercials that pretend to be podcast clips

Montana Dem running as blue-collar smokejumper spent years lobbying for far-left groups

MLB All-Str Mike Trout shuts down idea of leaving LA, says doubters fuel push to get Angels back to playoffs

Sports cartoons of the day

Trump derailed his intel chief pick's confirmation. Now he gets another shot.

Social media erupts with mockery as Dem Senate candidate's pep talk goes viral: 'Is this for real?'

You paid for it. So why is your device showing ads?

Samsung Family Hub refrigerators started showing ads

How to turn off Samsung Family Hub Cover Screen ads

Car screen ads appeared in Jeep, Ram and Chrysler vehicles

Why dashboard messages feel more intrusive

Windows 11 ads can appear in several places

How to reduce ads and suggestions in Windows 11

Change the lock screen:

Reduce Start menu suggestions:

Limit account-related prompts:

Device screen ads are spreading after you buy

What this means to you

Kurt's key takeaways

Trump AG pick Todd Blanche faces Senate test in first major confirmation fight since Graham’s death

Prince Harry longs for his old royal life as America isn't what he expected, experts say

Scientists may have found a way to make sausage rolls and flaky pastries much healthier

'The wind and drift patterns tell a story,' Cajun Navy official says of missing Mississippi teen found dead

Inside MLB CBA negotiations as Manfred, players union exec discuss issues as sides attempt to save 2027 season

Salary cap/floor

Service time/free agency

Dem lawmaker says Constitution barred police from stopping her after alleged 100 mph speeding

Gen Z is working hard, but the economy is putting the American dream out of reach for many

Trump won’t rule out Kharg Island takeover: What a US assault could look like

Docs expose horrific strangling, kidnapping charges against anti-ICE lawyer championed by Dems

You shouldn’t need a permit to pray in your own home — the Supreme Court should agree

SEN. BLUMENTHAL, REP. TAKANO: Congress can fund veterans’ care without taking benefits from disabled heroes

JOHN YOO: Barrett and Kagan’s safety plea exposes the left’s war on the Supreme Court

Illegal immigrant sentenced after fiery California semitruck crash killed 3

American League stars outshine National League in 96th MLB All-Star game