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Justin Baldoni and wife Emily break two-year silence on Blake Lively lawsuit and 'injustice'

Wed, 08 Jul 2026 22:30:26 -0400

Justin Baldoni is breaking his silence two years after the Blake Lively legal drama began.

On Wednesday night, Baldoni and his wife, Emily, sat down and filmed a lengthy video for Instagram. The couple detailed the last two years being filled with "injustice" and "trauma."

"We have not spoken publicly for the better part of the last two years, and it’s not because we haven’t had anything to say," Justin began the video.

He added, "Because lord knows we have, but it just felt like every time we went to make a video like this, we wanted to speak, something was telling us not to. It just didn’t feel like the right time, and we were talking about it and feeling into it and praying about it."

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Emily said: "This feels like the moment," and "There’s so much to say."

The legal battle between Lively and Baldoni stemmed from the production of the 2024 movie "It Ends With Us." Rumors of tension surfaced during the movie's press tour when Baldoni promoted the movie separately from Lively and the rest of the cast.

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In December 2024, Lively filed a complaint and later a federal lawsuit alleging Baldoni sexually harassed her on set and, after she raised concerns, orchestrated a campaign to damage her reputation. Baldoni denied the allegations and responded with lawsuits against Lively, Ryan Reynolds, The New York Times, and others, accusing them of defamation, extortion, and attempting to destroy his career.

Over the following year, both sides engaged in a highly public legal fight that included the release of text messages, behind-the-scenes footage, subpoenas, and multiple amended court filings. Rather than proceed to trial, Lively and Baldoni reached a confidential settlement in May 2026 without either side admitting wrongdoing or paying damages to the other. The only remaining issue before the court is Lively's request for approximately $8 million in attorney's fees and litigation costs, which Baldoni is contesting.

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In the video uploaded on Wednesday, Justin shared that they wouldn't cover everything and his wife agreed, adding that they have "immense gratitude for ... so many people and so many things that have happened to us."

"Gratitude has saved us," Justin added.

Emily noted that despite the gratitude that they both have, it doesn’t "negate the injustice and the pain that we have also felt in the last few years."

"We’ve had to wrestle with so many things and try to understand so many things, like how could something like this even happen? Let alone disguised as a fight for women. So much to unpack," she continued.

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Emily said that the couple experience "a lot of trauma" and it is difficult for them to discuss it.

"We don’t even know if this is the right thing to say. We just know we need to share something," Justin said. "What I will say is that there have been so many painful things that have been spoken into existence over the last couple of years. That created so much noise, and we didn’t want to add to the noise. So we just wanted to let the justice system run its course."

Emily added that "the truth and the facts have spoken for themselves."

The couple, who tied the knot in 2013, gave an update to fans about how their lives are two years after the legal battle began.

"We are healing," Justin said. "If you’ve ever been through something traumatic, you know that healing isn’t linear. It looks different every day. We have had to rethink for ourselves what is real, and what matters. It’s this. It’s our family, it’s our friends, it’s our community, who have been their for us, it’s our faith."

He said that this situation has led to him and Emily growing "closer, more devoted, and steadfast in our faith than we’ve ever been."

Justin said that Emily prayed "people would have discernment" while he thanked viewers for their support.

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"So many of you had discernment, and you used your intuition, and you trusted that. You have given your time to fight for us. Thank you does not feel like enough. But we’re here, in large part, because of so many of you, and all of our friends and family," Justin said.

To wrap up the video, Justin said the biggest lesson they have learned throughout this journey. "When God presses the reset button, and everything else is stripped away, that’s when love shows up," he said.

Emily added, "And it did. There’s so much more to say. The time will come. But for now, we are going to focus on continuing the healing and hanging out with our kiddos and enjoying life."

Although the courtroom battle between Baldoni and Lively has largely concluded, the dispute remains one of Hollywood's most talked-about legal sagas because of its impact on the movie, the celebrities involved, and the broader conversation about workplace conduct and reputation management.

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Tyler Robinson preliminary hearing: Judge orders redactions to ex-lover’s video testimony

Wed, 08 Jul 2026 22:27:39 -0400

PROVO, Utah — Video testimony from Lance Twiggs, the former lover of suspected Charlie Kirk assassin Tyler Robinson, will be played in court Thursday morning as a week-long preliminary hearing nears its end.

Prosecutors intended to play it Wednesday, but after a series of objections from the defense, Judge Tony Graf Jr. called for redactions, and prosecutors said they’d rather wait until the morning to ensure they could comply with the court order before playing it.

Charlie’s widow, Erika Kirk, shared several emotional embraces with her mother-in-law, Kathy Kirk, and was also wiping tears when the family attorney, Jeff Neiman, asked the court to play the unredacted video for "all the world to see."

From the gallery, she appeared to urge the lawyer to approach the podium for the first time since the hearing began Monday.

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Playing only a redacted version would create "doubt and distrust in the judicial system," Neiman argued.

"The Kirk family believes strongly that if the evidence is being admitted in this preliminary hearing, it should be made public for the world to see no redactions," he told the judge. "This court has tools at its disposal to make sure the defendant receives a fair trial. You'll use them if you find that you need to."

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Graf, however, agreed to redactions of about 16 minutes of the roughly 37-minute video statement from Twiggs, as suggested by the defense, after Robinson attorney Richard Novak raised constitutional concerns about televising a "confession" before trial.

The full video is expected to show Twiggs discussing texts, chat logs and a note that the defense said prosecutors and the public would consider a "confession" from Robinson.

Novak said the defense does not characterize them as a confession.

Robinson appeared visibly uneasy at times during the hearing, especially during mentions of Twiggs, his lover at the time of the shooting — taking deep breaths, fidgeting and adjusting his suit jacket.

Some of the alleged texts between Robinson and Twiggs have been made public already, in which prosecutors claim the defendant mentions being "stuck in Orem," where the shooting took place — and appears to take responsibility for being "the one who did it."

Mention of the texts are expected to be redacted from the video played Thursday, but the judge said he will consider them when he makes his probable cause decision.

Graf also said the preliminary hearing will end by 5 p.m. Friday, squelching speculation that the planned five-day hearing could run longer.

At the end of the hearing, as everyone stood, Erika and Kathy Kirk shared a tearful hug.

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Robinson has not yet entered a plea. He could face the death penalty if convicted.

Fox News’ Adam Sabes contributed to this report.

Who is Valli Geiger? Meet the Maine Dem that Platner urged to run for Senate

Wed, 08 Jul 2026 19:40:16 -0400

Maine state Rep. Valli Geiger, a Rockland Democrat, former nurse and former mayor, is drawing sudden national attention after saying now-former Democratic Senate nominee Graham Platner encouraged her to consider taking his place on the ballot in the Maine Senate race.

While Geiger has not been named the replacement nominee, her name entered the Maine Senate scramble after she told local outlet WMTW that Platner called her Monday night, praised her as a "fighter" and asked whether he could put her name forward. Platner’s campaign told the outlet he had not made an endorsement decision but confirmed he encouraged Geiger to consider running if he stepped aside.

After Geiger said Platner called her about potentially putting her name forward, Geiger posted Tuesday she would not "throw Graham under the bus," while also saying she would not "slander or accuse" Jenny Racicot, the woman who accused Platner of rape, "of anything more than telling the truth as she experienced it."

By Wednesday, local outlets were reporting that Geiger said Platner had encouraged her to consider running if he withdrew. Platner, who suspended his campaign Wednesday night, has denied the claim.

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"For the movement to continue, it can’t be me. For that reason, we are suspending campaign operations," Platner said in a video posted to social media.

Geiger is a third-term Democratic state representative from Rockland, according to her legislative biography, representing a coastal House district in Maine that includes Rockland, Criehaven Township, Matinicus Isle Plantation, the Muscle Ridge Islands, North Haven and part of Owls Head. Her biography says she serves on the Labor Committee and the Energy, Utilities and Technology Committee.

Before entering the state legislature, Geiger served six years on the Rockland City Council, including one year as mayor and four years on the Rockland Comprehensive Planning Commission, three of them as chair.

Her biography says she holds a master’s degree in sustainable design and built her own passive-solar, net-zero-energy house. It also describes her as a former nurse at Pen Bay Medical Center who later worked as a health policy analyst and health administrator, including as director of the Healthreach Hospice program and clinical director for Federally Qualified Health Centers around Maine.

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Geiger’s connection to Platner predates the latest replacement speculation. Local reporting has described her as a close Platner supporter, and WMTW reported she previously stood with him and credited him with helping secure funding for rape kit tracking in Maine.

In her Facebook post responding to Racicot’s allegation, Geiger wrote that Racicot’s story "seems credible" but added that "none of us knows the truth nor will we ever." She also described Platner as "a man becoming a better man" and said she had hoped he would lead the political movement his campaign had built and will not "throw Graham under the bus."

In the post, Geiger also praised Platner’s "passion for economic populism" and said she had granted him "an enormous amount of grace" for his behavior during what she described as his "dark years" after multiple deployments.

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The Maine state representative is not the only Democrat whose name has surfaced as Maine Democrats prepare for the possibility that Platner exits the race against Republican Sen. Susan Collins.

Several Democrats have expressed interest or are considering bids, including former gubernatorial candidate Troy Jackson, Secretary of State Shenna Bellows and former Maine CDC Director Nirav Shah.

Under Maine law, the Maine Democratic Party can replace him on the general election ballot by selecting a new nominee through its party process, with the replacement required to be chosen by July 27.

Fetterman unloads on scandal-plagued Platner after rape allegation ends Senate bid: 'Adios, trash bag'

Wed, 08 Jul 2026 22:04:37 -0400

Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., said Graham Platner was always a "dead man walking" after the scandal-plagued Democratic candidate dropped out of the Maine U.S. Senate race following a rape allegation.

"The trash took itself out tonight. And now, finally, people in Maine have a chance to really vote on someone that's not a total piece of trash," Fetterman said on "Jesse Watters Primetime" Wednesday.

"[Platner] will only be remembered as the accused rapist that got pushed out of your election. That's your legacy, bro. And you are a guy that cheats on your wife. You're the guy that roughs up your ex-girlfriend."

PLATNER DROPS OUT OF CRUCIAL SENATE RACE AFTER BOMBSHELL RAPE ALLEGATION TORPEDOES CAMPAIGN

After facing a multitude of scandals, including sexual misconduct and domestic abuse allegations, Platner dropped out of the Maine race Wednesday.

He announced his exit in an 11-minute video posted to X Wednesday evening, calling the rape allegation from a former partner "false." (Platner has not been criminally charged for the allegation.)

"To give that weird long speech and pretend like people will miss you?" Fetterman said. "No one's going to forget you other than [as] the guy that was pushed out of the election because a woman credibly accused you of raping her. So that's his legacy."

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"No one wants you anymore. I'm like, bro, you are an accused rapist," the senator continued. "Adios, trash bag."

Platner, a military veteran and oyster farmer, spent much of his campaign on the defensive as multiple scandals rocked his candidacy, including a chest tattoo resembling a Nazi symbol and abuse allegations from former girlfriends.

The allegation that triggered Platner's exit from the race came from Maine resident Jenny Racicot, 41, who told CNN's Jake Tapper that "by dictionary definition" Platner "raped" her.

PLATNER'S LATEST ACCUSER CLAIMS THE DEMOCRATIC SENATE CANDIDATE 'ABSOLUTELY' RAPED HER

Racicot alleged that Platner entered her home uninvited and forced her to have unprotected sex despite her repeatedly telling him to stop.

Her allegation was the latest in a series of controversies that have dogged Platner.

"He's always been a dead man walking," Fetterman said.

Fetterman blasted his left-leaning colleagues like Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., who endorsed Platner in the Maine Senate race, saying they owe voters an apology.

"What did [Democrats] see in this guy? Was it the Nazi tattoo, was it the gross messages online, the way he roughs up women?" Fetterman questioned.

"Bernie Sanders needs to apologize to the voters of Maine and to everyone that donated to that train wreck of a campaign," he added.

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Republicans currently control the chamber 53-47 and flipping the Senate seat in left-leaning Maine is a key part of the Democrats' path to retake the majority.

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Platner’s exit from the race will make the math harder for Democrats vying for the Senate majority.

"Go back under that rock that you came from," Fetterman said of Platner.

Is another team ready to take over the top of the Big Ten from Indiana and Ohio State?

Wed, 08 Jul 2026 21:45:18 -0400

After years of unchecked dominance from the SEC, the Big Ten Conference cemented its place as the best in college football in the 2025-2026 season.

The Indiana Hoosiers completed a remarkable 16-0 season by winning a National Championship, beating Ohio State in the conference championship game, dominating Alabama in the Rose Bowl, then blowing out Oregon in the College Football Playoff semifinal.

That completed a Big Ten trifecta, with the Michigan Wolverines winning a championship in 2024, then the Buckeyes following it up by beating Notre Dame to win the title in 2025. While the SEC might have better depth overall, it's no question that the top of the Big Ten is as good or better than anyone.

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And a new program might be ready to take their turn at the top of the Big Ten: those same Oregon Ducks.

One of the most predictive measures of a team's strength from year to year is how much production they return from the previous season. It makes sense; the more key players that stay with the team, the better it is for continuity and development.

The Big Ten, oddly enough, has several teams that return much of their production on both sides of the ball. ESPN's Bill Connelly ran the numbers, finding that teams like Maryland, Nebraska, Minnesota and UCLA all ranked in the top 10 nationally in returning value. Though given how these teams played in 2025, that's less important. Number 12, though? The Oregon Ducks.

And that carryover production is coming from a team that lost just two games all season, both to Indiana. They handled a very good USC team, 42-27, overcame miserable conditions to outlast the Iowa Hawkeyes on the road, beat the rival Washington Huskies, and most impressively, shut out an elite Texas Tech team 23-0 in the College Football Playoff. And they bring back the players responsible for 66% of their overall production, including star quarterback Dante Moore.

Just behind them at 65%? USC, heading into a pivotal season under Lincoln Riley.

Here's where Oregon has the advantage, however. They bring that percentage back from a team that was significantly better than USC. It's no surprise then, that per Connelly's SP+ projections, Oregon is expected to be the No. 2 team in the country, by efficiency on offense, defense and special teams.

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What about the other Big Ten schools, though?

USC is the biggest wildcard. They sit at No. 13 in the SP+ projections, thanks to an elite offense and a defense that's expected to be solid, if unspectacular. But their special teams projections are all the way down at No. 100 in the country, thanks to a series of disastrous mistakes in 2025. Special teams, though, should be the easiest area to improve upon. So if the Trojans can make some adjustments, they could exceed the eight game win expectancy.

Ohio State and Indiana, the two most recent champions, have a bit of a tougher hill to climb, though their roster composition is far from disastrous. The Buckeyes bring back 60% of their production, while Indiana is at 56%, even with several huge departures. That ranks at No. 31 and No. 52, respectively. Important, but not enough to push either team out of the top 5 in the national projections. And Ohio State sits at No. 1, thanks to consistently elite recruiting and key players like Julian Sayin and Jeremiah Smith returning.

But if there is an upset brewing at the top of the conference, Oregon might be the place to look. The question then becomes, can they put it all together against a difficult schedule? The Ducks play USC on the road, host Nebraska, travel to Illinois, play Ohio State on the road, host Michigan and have their rivalry game against Washington at Autzen.

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It won't be easy, but don't be surprised if at the end of the season, Dan Lanning and the Ducks are right back in the mix.

Social media influencer and model, 22, killed in violent highway crash

Wed, 08 Jul 2026 21:42:16 -0400

A popular 22-year-old social media influencer and model was killed in a weekend car crash that also claimed the life of another passenger, authorities said.

Officials identified one of the victims as Ayzia J. Toledo, a Philadelphia-area resident known for her modeling work and lifestyle content under the handle "AYZIA J."

Toledo was driving a BMW with two other passengers late Sunday night when she lost control of the vehicle on a New Jersey freeway, police told Fox News Digital on Monday.

The vehicle veered off the roadway, overturned and crashed into a tree in Deptford Township, about 12 miles south of Philadelphia.

"Toledo lost directional control of the vehicle, ran off the roadway to the left, overturned and struck a tree," New Jersey State Police said.

Both Toledo and her front-seat passenger "sustained fatal injuries," according to authorities.

The second victim was identified as Henrietta F. Carter, a 22-year-old woman from Darby, Pennsylvania, a Philadelphia suburb.

A third passenger who was seated in the rear of the vehicle suffered minor injuries and was transported to an area hospital, authorities said.

Officials said the crash remains under investigation.

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Toledo was a popular social media influencer who frequently shared content about beauty, fashion and her life in the Philadelphia area. She had amassed more than 300,000 followers across her social media accounts, including more than 250,000 followers on TikTok and about 87,000 on Instagram.

Following news of her death, fans flooded her social media pages with messages of grief and condolences.

According to a GoFundMe page dedicated to Toledo, she had been "building an incredible future for herself."

"Ayzia was deeply loved by her family, cherished by her close friends, and admired by many throughout her community," the fundraiser said.

"Ayzia has gone home to Heaven to rest peacefully alongside her beloved mother and grandmother."

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Her death came on the same day another young influencer was killed in a drive-by shooting while riding in a Lamborghini SUV in Miramar, Florida.

Officials identified the woman as 21-year-old content creator Brianna Johnson, who was known to her followers as DreamDoll Brii.

Jewish House Democrat recalls colleague saying there is no antisemitism because 'all the Jews are rich'

Wed, 08 Jul 2026 21:30:41 -0400

Rep. Becca Balint, D-Vt., described to CNN Tuesday an instance of a fellow House Democrat appearing to dismiss antisemitism because "all the Jews are rich."

Balint was one of multiple Jewish Democratic politicians who spoke to CNN about concerns regarding a growing sense of antisemitism among grassroots campaigns that have begun affecting established political figures like California state Sen. Scott Wiener.

She told CNN she was "shaken to [her] core" after seeing Wiener heckled by anti-Israel activists for his past support for Israel and Jewish heritage.

JEWISH CALIFORNIA CONGRESSIONAL CANDIDATE SAYS HARASSMENT FROM GAZA AGITATORS WENT ‘BEYOND FREE SPEECH’

"She described a familiar ache," the article read. "Like, the people who tell her that homophobia doesn’t exist and then ask her what it means that she’s a lesbian. Like, the House Democratic colleague she wouldn’t name who she says came to a bipartisan antisemitism task force meeting and said, 'I didn’t really think there was any antisemitism anymore because all the Jews are rich.' Like the people who accuse Jewish politicians of having dual loyalty."

Though Balint has agreed with progressive Democrats claiming that Israel was guilty of "committing a genocide" in Gaza, she told CNN that she still fears a "day of reckoning" for her because of her support for the Jewish state.

"I know at some point there will be a day of reckoning because I still believe that Jews should have a homeland," Balint said. "There will be people — I think some of my own supporters — who will turn on me because I still believe in a two-state solution. I still do. I still believe that Israel should be safe and secure. I believe that the Palestinians have been so ill-treated for so long and deserve a safe and secure homeland. I do not believe Israel should be dismantled."

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Fox News Digital reached out to Balint's office for comment.

Other Jewish Democrats expressed concerns that Israel is becoming a political "litmus test" for them despite their support for other progressive causes and criticism of the Israeli government.

"The experience of being a Jewish Democrat is to feel like … no matter what the topic — it can be affordable housing — it’s just a matter of time before someone links it to Israel," New York City comptroller Mark Levine said. "What is the list of litmus test issues.

"As far as I know, at this point, it is exclusively a list of questions on Israel. We’re progressives. We’re absolutely willing to criticize the actions of the current government of Israel. And we are. But we’re feeling excluded from many spaces right now, and it’s hard to conclude it’s not because we’re Jewish."

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Michigan state Rep. Noah Arbit told CNN he believed antisemitism is being perpetuated under the guise of criticizing Israel.

"After I leave office, I’m not sure I’ll ever call myself a Democrat again," Arbit said. "I don’t know how Jews can feel like you can align yourself with any political movement when the grassroots are so hostile to who you are and your community."

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Fox News Digital also reached out to Arbit and Levine for comment.

Stepdad accused of sex assault as cops widen probe into girl’s lethal Benadryl ingredient dose

Wed, 08 Jul 2026 21:16:38 -0400

A Connecticut man is accused of sexually assaulting his 12-year-old stepdaughter who was found dead in her home with a lethal dose of diphenhydramine — the active ingredient in Benadryl — in her system, according to authorities.

Anthony Federline, 39, was charged in April with first-degree sexual assault and risk of injury to a minor after the death of Eve Rogers, according to the Enfield Police Department.

Authorities are now looking to search Federline’s Facebook and Snapchat accounts, the family’s CVS Caremark account and two Amazon accounts as part of a probe into the girl's death, court documents show, according to WFLA.

Rogers was found dead in her home on March 18. According to court documents, her mother found her on her bedroom floor partially unclothed with a blanket covering her lower body. Blood and other fluids were running down from her nose, the documents stated.

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A sexual assault kit was performed on the girl before her autopsy, and Federline was determined to be one of the "contributors from a DNA swab," an arrest warrant said, according to WFLA. No charges have been filed in the girl’s death.

The medical examiner told police that toxicology testing indicated a lethal dosage of diphenhydramine in the girl's system. Fluoxetine, also known as Prozac, was also found in her system despite it not being prescribed to her, search warrants state, the outlet reported.

The report showed a diphenhydramine level of 23,000 ng/ml in Rogers’ blood, WFLA reported. Lethal concentrations are listed at 4,390 ng/ml for children and 14,720 ng/ml for adults, according to the report. The medical examiner said Rogers would have had to ingest about 1.8 liters of liquid diphenhydramine to reach the level found in her blood.

Investigators said it is unclear how she ingested the large dosage found in her system.

Rogers’ mother told detectives she used her Amazon account to buy medication, Sleep Aid capsules and a "sexual pleasure device" for her 12-year-old daughter, the outlet reported. However, investigators said no dyes were found in the girl’s system to indicate she had ingested Sleep Aid capsules despite the high level of diphenhydramine detected in her blood.

Her mother also said she had found inappropriate conversations between her daughter and unknown people on the internet, but police did not find these conversations during their searches.

TEACHER ACCUSED OF SEX WITH STUDENTS WAS ALLEGEDLY BLACKMAILED FOR BETTER GRADES: WARRANTS

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Federline told detectives he used applications such as Facebook and Snapchat to speak with his stepdaughter but claimed the conversations were not sexual.

New search warrants show that investigators are probing Federline’s online activity for the months leading up to the girl's death.

Federline has pleaded not guilty to the sexual assault and risk of injury to a minor charges. He is due back in court later this month.

More than 30 injured after Maryland transit bus crashes into building near Baltimore

Wed, 08 Jul 2026 21:10:32 -0400

More than 30 people were injured Wednesday when a public bus crashed into a building just outside Baltimore, Maryland, and one critical patient was extricated and taken to a hospital, authorities said.

First responders were on scene after a Maryland Transit Administration bus crashed on Reisterstown Road in Pikesville, Fox 45 News reported.

Baltimore County officials said "numerous civilian vehicles" were involved in the crash, including one that overturned.

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One person was trapped inside the bus, and another in a car was rescued by responding crews, authorities said.

A building engineer was en route to the crash, the Baltimore County Fire Department said.

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A second mass casualty incident alarm was issued shortly after the crash, officials said.

Maryland Gov. Wes Moore said he was monitoring the situation.

"Dawn and I are keeping everyone impacted in our hearts and prayers. We are deeply grateful for our first responders who acted with speed and skill to ensure the safety of our neighbors," he wrote on X. "We’ve been in close coordination with local officials to provide any support needed on the ground."

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The Maryland State Highway Administration said roads near the crash were closed as crews responded. Drivers were urged to use alternate routes.

Carville blasts Dems amid Platner scandal, warning they ignored a classic rule of politics and paid the price

Wed, 08 Jul 2026 21:00:13 -0400

Veteran Democratic strategist James Carville blasted Democrats for failing to properly vet Graham Platner during a podcast on Wednesday.

Democratic Party leaders and liberal commentators who once defended Platner amid previous scandals ranging from controversial rhetoric to a Nazi-associated tattoo have since denounced him over new sexual assault allegations.

Maine resident Jenny Racicot accused Platner of rape in interviews with Politico and CNN on Monday, alleging the Senate hopeful entered her home uninvited while intoxicated nearly five years ago and forced himself on her. Platner has denied the allegation.

Carville spoke about the election on Wednesday’s episode of "Politics War Room" as a clear case of younger Democrats failing to observe the tried and true political wisdom of the past.

EXPLOSIVE SEXUAL ASSAULT ALLEGATION ROCKS PLATNER CAMPAIGN AHEAD OF KEY DEADLINE IN CRUCIAL SENATE RACE

"The Platner rise was also a rise of a different attitude set," Carville said. "It was the consultants of like 27, 28 years old, and they were not sort of straitjacketed by the old rules of politics, and it looked like they had some real success. I mean, they won. They knocked the incumbent governor — couldn’t even run — and they were kind of ahead in the polls.

"If I look back on this … you didn’t vet your own candidate? You mean you didn’t know?" Carville rhetorically asked of Maine Democrats. "OK, we used to get our own oppo researchers to do an oppo research book on us. It’s the most important research you do.

"And so they took off in this campaign, and all of this was recent. It wasn’t way back in some other godforsaken time. I don’t think they knew. I don’t think they wanted to know," Carville said. "It’s so, so '80s to do a briefing on your own candidate to find out what’s wrong with him. But, you know, there are certain rules in politics."

The denouncement was a stark contrast from Carville’s previous rhetoric in defense of Platner amid his previous scandals just over a month before.

PLATNER’S THREE-DAY VETTING JOB COMES BACK TO HAUNT DEMS AS RAPE ALLEGATION ROCKS SENATE BID

"He’s f---ed up. He’s been shot at. He’s a veteran. He’s a little bit weird. He’s an oysterman," said Carville, who, like Platner, served in the United States Marine Corps. "Maybe we need a combat veteran right on that Senate floor who is f---ed up."

One noteworthy part of the previous defense was his World War II comparison, arguing, "And you know if Franklin Roosevelt and Winston Churchill could work with Joseph Stalin — who, by the way, well, I'll tell you this, he was a bad guy, a really bad guy, all right — then I can overlook a tattoo."

But one of Carville’s defenses of Platner, who has now been denounced by multiple past girlfriends, has aged particularly poorly.

"I don’t know how to tell The New York Times this, but boy puts hand on girl’s t---y, girl moves hand, boy walks away rejected and despondent. It happens," Carville said.

Fox News Digital reached out to Platner's campaign and did not receive any immediate reply.

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Fox News' Adam Pack and Paul Steinhauser contributed to this report.

Candace Parker tells Caitlin Clark haters to 'go to therapy' after shocking WNBA player rankings

Wed, 08 Jul 2026 21:00:02 -0400

Caitlin Clark is at the center of the WNBA universe for a reason: she's the best.

Names like A'ja Wilson can challenge Clark on an MVP level, but at her position, no one can score and assist like Clark.

Clark's WNBA cohorts beg to differ, voting her the 11th-best guard in the league.

CAITLIN CLARK'S PEERS MAKE IT CRYSTAL CLEAR THEY HATE HER WITH INSULTING ALL-STAR GAME VOTE

Now it's no secret that fellow WNBAers have been jealous of Clark's popularity and appeal. The list was another example of the league-wide anti-Clark campaign.

Take it from WNBA legend Candace Parker, who made the point while speaking with Clark's Fever teammate, Aliyah Boston.

Parker went off on Clark's 11th spot in the peer-voted survey, saying the league ought to quit being disrespectful to Clark and give her some flowers.

She said, "It's also kinda crazy. I wholeheartedly believe that there need to be some rules with the WNBA players, because this is getting out of hand. Caitlin Clark [being] voted 11th-best guard by WNBA players, that's crazy."

Parker called out the insecurities that continue to poison the well in the WNBA, where too many players have chosen resentment over respect.

The WNBA media is most guilty of this.

"I think people need to look at themselves in the mirror and realize you've got some insecurities, if you're sitting down and putting Caitlin Clark as the 11th-best guard.

WNBA WANTS A BIGGER STORY THAN CAITLIN CLARK, BUT TV RATINGS KEEP POINTING BACK TO HER

"Y'all need to go to a therapist and figure out what childhood issues you have, 'cause if you're sitting there, and looking at yourself in the mirror, and putting her at the 11th-best guard like c'mon."

Parker led a celebrated career with three championships, two MVP awards, a Finals MVP and Defensive Player of the Year honors. She was also a seven-time All-Star and two-time Olympic gold medalist.

In Parker's view, she would never have tried to launch an anti-campaign against some of the biggest stars from her days in the league.

"When I sat down, as much as I did not like Diana Taurasi, there ain't no way I'm not going to write her as an All-Star."

"As much as I did not like anyone on the Lynx because they used to whoop our a**, I'm not going to not put Maya Moore or Sylvia Fowles."

Fans account for 50% of the All-Star vote, while players and media each make up 25%.

Heading into a Wednesday night matchup with the Sparks, Clark is averaging 21.2 points, 8.2 assists, 4.0 rebounds and 0.8 steals in 30.8 minutes per game.

Clark finished second overall in fan voting and earned a starting spot thanks to fans and the media, not her fellow players.

To tamp down the Clark hype, WNBA players, former players and media have aimed at the Fever guard, believing she's been "overhyped," disregarding the phenomenon that's followed her since college.

Her appeal should be championed, even if WNBA players don't see it that way.

Since Clark entered the WNBA, the league has shattered attendance and viewership records. The WNBA averaged 9,807 fans per game in 2024, a 48% jump from the previous season. Total attendance topped 2.35 million, sellouts skyrocketed from 45 to 154, and the league followed that by setting another single-season attendance record in 2025.

She's been rocket fuel for the league, the sparkplug behind the Fever alongside All-Stars Aliyah Boston and Kelsey Mitchell, and a solid leader in her own right.

Clark's most ardent supporters have called for her to switch leagues to really put a squeeze on the WNBA.

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Without Clark, the WNBA would be back to inventing promotional nights just to fill seats.

Send us your thoughts: alejandro.avila@outkick.com / Follow along on X: @alejandroaveela

House Dem back in the spotlight as brother faces up to 10 years in prison if convicted

Wed, 08 Jul 2026 20:46:08 -0400

The efforts of Rep. Henry Cuellar, D-Texas, to move past his indictment and subsequent pardon by President Donald Trump are clashing with his brother's legal troubles.

Martin Cuellar, sheriff of Webb County, Texas, faces a court hearing Thursday over accusations of having misappropriated county funds. The case, coupled with the closeness of the Cuellar family, is complicating Henry Cuellar’s political outlook as he wages a campaign to continue his congressional career in one of the country’s most competitive districts.

It’s been over half a year since Trump pardoned Cuellar from an indictment on charges of bribery, conspiracy and money laundering.

"This pardon gives us a clean slate. The noise is gone. The work remains," Cuellar said in a post to X, announcing that very same day that he would pursue re-election.

FORMER INDIANA REP STEPHEN BUYER RECEIVES FULL PARDON FROM TRUMP FOR 2023 INSIDER TRADING CONVICTION

Cuellar was accused of accepting nearly $600,000 in bribes from an oil and gas company controlled by the government of Azerbaijan and a Mexican bank.

Although those charges are gone, Cuellar’s case is still very much in the public eye as his brother fends off accusations of siphoning funds.

Martin Cuellar, who has pleaded not guilty, faces up to 10 years behind bars and a possible $250,000 maximum fine for allegedly using county employees and resources to run his own disinfecting business, Disinfect Pro Master.

Martin allegedly took home about $175,000 in illegal proceeds between 2020 and 2022, according to the Department of Justice.

"They allegedly opened Disinfect Pro Master in April 2020 and entered into service agreements with local businesses and restaurants despite having no employees or supplies of their own," the U.S. attorney’s office wrote.

SWALWELL FRIEND GALLEGO DEFENDS CAMPAIGN-FUNDED SUPER BOWL, MIAMI TRIPS: ‘GO WHERE THE MONEY IS’

"The indictment alleges WCSO employees handled the company’s day-to-day operations from the sheriff’s office, where they picked up schedules and equipment to conduct disinfecting services both on and off the clock with the county."

Connections between Cuellar and his siblings are further strengthened by their closeness. In the past, Cuellar has used his campaign fundraising apparatus to bolster his family’s chances in their own official pursuits, records show.

According to FEC filings, Cuellar’s campaign and his leadership PAC have paid $11,000 to his sister Rosie Cuellar for doing work for the campaign in 2022 and then donated $1,200 to her bid to become a judge. He has similarly donated $8,400 to his brother, Martin Cuellar, and his campaign to become sheriff in 2008 and 2020.

To at least one onlooker, the family’s woes look interconnected.

"The latest legal trouble surrounding Henry Cuellar's family proves one thing: The scandals didn't end with Henry. They simply moved down the family tree," Christian Martinez, the national Hispanic press secretary for the National Republican Congressional Committee, said in a statement.

"The Cuellar family's culture of corruption has turned South Texas into a case study of what happens when one self-serving family holds power for too long."

SWALWELL PAL ACCUSED OF USING CAMPAIGN CASH TO BANKROLL ‘LUXURY LIFESTYLE’ — INCLUDING SUPER BOWL TICKETS

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Cuellar’s campaign did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Fox News Digital.

Having cleared the Texas primary in March, Cuellar now heads to the general election on Nov. 3. Cuellar last won re-election in a 52.8% to 47.2% victory over Republican challenger Jay Furman in 2024.

Platner accuser recalls 'gaslighting,' ‘betrayal’ from NY Times as she came forward with her allegations

Wed, 08 Jul 2026 20:46:07 -0400

Betrayal.

That's the word that comes to mind for Lyndsey Fifield following her interactions with The New York Times, saying the paper had "tainted" her story about embattled Democratic Maine Senate candidate Graham Platner.

A bombshell report published Monday by Politico rocked the political landscape, accusing Platner of sexual assault by one of his exes. Jenny Racicot alleged in 2021 that Platner drunkenly entered her home uninvited and had sex with her despite her repeatedly telling him to stop. Platner has firmly denied her claims.

The claim, which Racicot has said was rape, prompted prominent Democrats to call for him to step aside, and Platner officially dropped out of the race Wednesday night.

NEW YORK TIMES UNDER SCRUTINY OVER GRAHAM PLATNER COVERAGE AS ACCUSERS SPEAK OUT AGAINST PAPER

Both Racicot and Fifield were interviewed by the Times in a story published last month about Platner's "unsettling" behavior with women, but the report included a focus on Fifield's conservative politics.

"The New York Times piece … people are looking back at that with absolute horror and just saying like, ‘Holy crap, this is like terrible. This is truly gruesome what you've done to these women,’" Fifield told Fox News Digital in an interview Wednesday before Platner dropped out of the race.

Fifield, who dated Platner between 2013-2015, said it started when Times reporter Katie Glueck contacted her in April, saying the paper was trying to reach those who Platner had relationships with after hearing "some really serious things" from other women. Times reporter Lisa Lerer, who co-authored the story, was also intensely involved.

"They said … very insistently, ‘Wait, wait, there are other women who are very afraid to come forward. They do not want to tell their stories because of how vulnerable they are, and you can help them, and we can protect you,’" Fifield told Fox News Digital.

"I didn’t want to do this," she said. "They made me feel guilty that if I didn’t go on the record, then Jenny and the other unnamed woman, that their stories wouldn’t get told."

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

Before the story was published, the Times reporters connected Fifield with Racicot. She found it strange but was told by the reporters that Racicot "had no one" and was "totally isolated" because of Racicot's far-left social circle that was supportive of Platner's campaign.

"They said she really needs a friend, and you will understand her ... and they were right about that. We have become friends," Fifield said.

Racicot wasn't the only alleged victim who faced sexual abuse at the hands of Platner. Fifield initially told the Times off the record that Platner repeatedly removed his condom during sex without her knowledge or consent, an action known as stealthing, which has been made illegal in certain states. She initially did not want to share that publicly due to the "gross" nature of it, in addition to her current life as a wife and mother of young children.

Inspired by Racicot going on the record with her assault claim with Politico, Fifield went on the record about it Tuesday with The Washington Post.

NYT COLUMNIST SAYS SHE 'DEEPLY' REGRETS PRAISING SENATE HOPEFUL AFTER RAPE ALLEGATION

Fifield was aghast by the Times' published report that prominently featured her after the reporters gave her the impression that allegations from the other women would be included.

"I'm out here on my own, I'm the only one photographed and there's 11 paragraphs of my work history. Like, what is this?" Fifield reacted.

Racicot initially told the Times about her alleged assault off the record. The incident was alluded to roughly 70 paragraphs deep into the story, which read, "Ms. Racicot also said that in 2021 he arrived at her house drunk, after she had asked him not to come over. She declined to elaborate, but said she cut off contact soon after that episode and found his behavior 'reckless' and 'unsettling.'"

During the reporting process, Fifield recalled the Times asking numerous questions about her career. She said the reporters made it feel like they were seeking information to protect her from the Platner campaign, suggesting her claims were tied to her political affiliation. Instead, Fifield said the Times weighed her story down with pointless details about her work history, insisting she’s "not some political operative" despite the framing.

The Times' story described Fifield as a "Virginia conservative who has worked for right-leaning groups and Republican campaigns" and harped on her ties to a women’s conservative group. Her claim that Platner once "twisted her arm behind her back, shoved her into a bedroom and held the door closed from the other side so she couldn’t get out" was mentioned in the 24th paragraph.

"I want to blame the editors at The New York Times," Fifield said. "I almost don't want to blame these journalists because they became like friends. I felt like we had a friendly relationship, and maybe that's me being really naïve. I don't know, it doesn't make any sense."

HASAN PIKER TURNS ON PLATNER, SAYS HE BELIEVES SEXUAL ASSAULT ACCUSER AND PREDICTS 'CURTAINS' ON CAMPAIGN

Fifield was puzzled when the Times reporters urged her to avoid the public's response to the story shortly after it was published as she peppered them with questions about the finished product. Some left-wing allies of Platner suggested Fifield's story was tainted because of her personal views.

"They were like, ‘Oh, Lyndsey, just stay off social media. Don't listen to people who are being critical of you. Don't listen to them. Put your phone away. Go to the lake. ... Go on vacation, enjoy your babies. ... You did a brave thing. This was so huge. You're so brave for doing this, and we really appreciate it. We're here if you need anything.' And it was just, like, gaslighting," Fifield recalled.

Fifield doesn’t want to think of Glueck and Lerer as "villains" but feels what occurred was "pretty evil" in the wake of the Politico story.

"They were like slow walking it to the week of the primary. They contacted us on April 15. There was no reason in hell that they shouldn't have been able to get that story out that week," she said. "It makes me sick to realize that that's what they were doing now."

The Times story last month claimed it "could not independently corroborate Ms. Fifield’s account of the altercations." Fifield said this is simply "not true," and the Times reporters knew it was false before the article was published, telling the Times she had confided in a friend about the abuse and other "toxic elements" of her relationship with Platner, but her friend was never contacted by The Times.

"They only called the sources that didn’t know anything about the abuse," Fifield said. "There was a conversation where they were saying, ‘We're going to include this line about ‘could not corroborate,’ and that was when I started to get really panicked. And I was like, ‘Wait a minute, what do you mean? I thought that you called.’"

She was "horrified" when the Times told her that "it wasn’t enough" and attempted to downplay the disclaimer that her account could not be corroborated.

"They were like, ‘Actually, it's fine. You know, women don't often come forward, so it's actually normal for women not to tell anyone,’" Fifield said.

Emily Zanotti, one of Fifield's friends, was willing to speak with the Times to corroborate Platner's mistreatment of her. She wrote on X that she was never contacted.

Conservative critics on social media have accused the Times of using "catch and kill" tactics to shield Platner so allegations of sexual misconduct would never see the light of day, a notion Fifield agreed with.

"They tainted our story," Fifield told Fox News Digital.

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A spokesperson for The New York Times stood by its reporting and strongly pushed back against critics.

"The Times's June 4 reporting on Graham Platner and his patterns of behavior was a powerful and original piece of journalism that presented deeply personal accounts and many new facts for the first time," the Times spokesperson said. "As a result of what this original article broke open, The Times and other outlets continued to produce groundbreaking, independent reporting that revealed even more new details about the sensitive and upsetting experiences that women who knew Platner went through.

"In the ensuing weeks, partisan commentators and politically-aligned media have put forward false allegations and criticism about The Times's journalism process. The story carefully reported what we could confirm at the time, was factually accurate and fair, and it alerted the public to important new information about a candidate for the Senate."

Platner drops out of crucial Senate race after bombshell rape allegation torpedoes campaign

Wed, 08 Jul 2026 20:17:21 -0400

Graham Platner, the embattled Democratic Senate nominee in Maine, suspended his campaign on Wednesday amid mounting controversies and growing calls from top Democrats in his home state, in the nation's capital, and across the country for him to immediately quit the race.

Platner, a populist Democrat backed last September by progressive champion Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., was challenging longtime Republican Sen. Susan Collins in a high-profile, combustible and expensive race in Maine, which is one of a handful that will determine if the GOP holds onto its slim Senate majority in November's midterm elections.

"For the movement to continue, it can’t be me. For that reason, we are suspending campaign operations," Platner said in a video posted to social media.

Platner's exit from the race comes five days before a crucial deadline, which, if he had missed, would have prevented Maine Democrats from replacing him with a new nominee on the general election ballot.

The suspension of his campaign took place one month after Platner won a landslide victory in Maine's June 9 Democratic Senate primary, but just two days after an explosive report on Monday afternoon contained an allegation of rape from a woman he previously dated.

SCANDAL-PLAGUED PLATNER CAPTURES DEMOCRATIC SENATE NOMINATION DESPITE MOUNTING CONTROVERSIES

Addressing those allegations, a visibly irritated Platner charged, "This is all false. The things that have been claimed did not happen. It is not real."

And Platner, who has run an outsider, anti-establishment campaign for nearly a year, pointed to the political class and argued, "the brutal political reality is they are going to take everything away from us."

Platner said that if he continued his bid, he’d lose the ability to raise money and access crucial voter data, essential elements to any campaign.

"Those in power who have the ability to do so are using these allegations as an excuse to take away all the things that we need to run a campaign," he charged.

Longtime Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer, following Platner's announcement, said in a post on X, "Democrats are going to defeat Susan Collins, win Maine, and take back the Senate."

The Marine Corps combat veteran and oyster farmer became the all-but-certain party nominee in the spring, after two-term Gov. Janet Mills, who had been backed by Schumer and the Democratic establishment, suspended her bid after significantly trailing Platner in fundraising and polling.

Platner's suspension of his campaign comes ahead of a 5 p.m. deadline on Monday, July 13, set by state law, for candidates to withdraw from the race.

Since Platner dropped out ahead of the deadline, the Maine Democratic Party will be able to replace him on the general election ballot. The party needs to select a new nominee by July 27.

The Maine Democratic Party on Tuesday night, in a stunning announcement, said that party officials were working "around the clock" to determine a replacement process, but claimed that Platner and his team were trying "to put their thumb on the scale of what this process looks like."

Platner's team, responding, said they had reached out to the party but denied they were trying to put any "finger on the scale."

A couple of hours before Platner dropped out, the state party announced it would hold a nominating convention to choose a new Senate nominee, if Platner were to exit the race.

That didn't appear to sit well with Platner, who in his video said, "What comes next needs to come from the people. Needs to come from the people of Maine. Needs to come from the voters who on June 9….said no to this kind of politics. Voted for a politics that would actually represent them. Vote against the political system. Against the donor class. Against the entrenched forces."

"I’m not asking for how this process is going to work. I’m not trying to dictate to anyone how it should be or how we get there," he emphasized. "But I will say this, it needs to be open, transparent, and democratic. It needs to be reflective of the will and the values of the people that built this movement, the people that showed up on June 9. People in DC should stay in DC. Decisions should not be made in backrooms by people in places of political power."

The allegation that triggered Platner's exit from the race came from Maine resident Jenny Racicot, 41, who told CNN's Jake Tapper that "by dictionary definition" Platner "raped" her.

"I thought, here's a man who was drunk and who, by dictionary definition, raped me. And he's blaming drunk women," Racicot said. "So I just felt like that was a very odd take to have on that. And I also feel like with all of the comments that he made about women, sexual assault, rape, even, um, you know, the comments that he had made that was in The New York Times article about, you know, threatening people with rape, like, why does this person have this issue, like scattered throughout their life, throughout their commentary, like it‘s on their mind?"

Racicot also said over the course of three interviews with Politico that Platner forced her to have sex five years ago against her will, a claim that Platner denied in the Politico story. Additionally, the report says that a man Racicot dated afterward confirmed she had told him about the incident, which was also corroborated by emails between Racicot and her therapist.

"I remember him grabbing my pelvis and being really forceful of me," Racicot told the outlet about the incident, which allegedly took place while Platner was "almost blackout drunk." "I remember the specific moment where I thought to myself, like, ‘This is no longer my choice.’"

Racicot alleged that Platner entered her home uninvited and forced her to have unprotected sex despite her telling him to stop multiple times.

Racicot said in the report that "one of the reasons" she didn't come forward until now was the "huge moral conflict" she had between her support of Platner's politics and not supporting him "as a person."

"I just want the truth out there," Racicot said. "I just want people to have a whole scope of who he is as a person."

In a statement to Politico, Platner said, "These allegations are troubling, serious, and false. Any accusation of non-consensual behavior is categorically untrue."

The Platner campaign also posted a video on X shortly after the Politico story published where Platner again called the allegations "false" and that he was going to "reflect" on the best path forward.

"So, regardless of the inaccuracy of the reporting, but mindful the political reality it will inflict, we are taking the time to reflect on the best path forward for the state that I love, the people that I love, the movement I belong to, and the goal of defeating Susan Collins," Platner says in the video. "Those were the goals when we launched this campaign, and they remain my goals today."

Platner was hit with a second explosive allegation of sexual impropriety on Tuesday. In a report published by The Washington Post, Platner was accused of removing condoms during sex with his ex-girlfriend Lyndsey Fifield after she explicitly directed him to wear them.

Fifield, 41, previously accused Platner of physical misconduct during their relationship, saying that he sometimes grabbed her hard enough to leave marks on her body and that one time he twisted her arm around her back, pushed her into a bedroom and held the door shut until she "calmed down."

In a statement to The Washington Post, the Platner campaign said that Fifield's latest allegations were "categorically false and politically motivated," as they pointed to her previous work for the conservative Heritage Foundation.

And in his Wednesday night video, Platner reiterated that he wasn't suspending his campaign "because of allegations. We’re doing it because of structures that are being taken away from us by those in power."

One of the party organizations Platner railed against, the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC), pledged in a statement that it would "work tirelessly to ensure the new Democratic nominee has the infrastructure and resources to immediately turn their focus to the general election, and in November we will defeat Susan Collins and win a Senate majority."

Meanwhile, Republicans quickly pounced after Platner's announcement.

"Maine Democrats elected a rapist Nazi to be their nominee for Senate, and regardless of who they anoint next, Susan Collins will be re-elected in November," National Republican Senatorial Committee Regional Press Secretary Samantha Cantrell charged in a statement.

Alex Latcham, executive director of the Senate GOP-aligned super PAC Senate Leadership Fund, argued that "at the 11th hour, the Democrat Establishment has tipped the scales against Maine voters in an attempt to salvage their failing midterm strategy. Regardless of who Washington Democrats install, Senator Susan Collins will win in November."

Moderate Democratic Sen. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania, a vocal Platner critic, said in an interview Wednesday night on Fox News' "Jesse Watters Primetime" that "the trash took itself out tonight."

As he moved towards capturing the nomination, Platner was forced to play defense the past couple of months amid multiple controversies that muddied the final days of his primary campaign and overshadowed his victory.

Past inflammatory online comments made on a now-deleted Reddit account came back to haunt him at the same time he was reeling from revelations of a now covered-up tattoo on his chest that resembled a Nazi symbol. Then reports that Platner exchanged sexually explicit messages with several women while married came right before allegations from ex-girlfriends of a history of rape fantasies, heavy drinking and violent episodes.

Platner repeatedly called the allegations of violence untrue.

A day before the primary last month, a former high-level staffer from the Platner campaign wrote in a Washington Post op/ed that Platner "is not someone who would be good for Maine or for the country."

The mounting controversies grabbed plenty of attention, gave Republicans more ammunition to use against him and triggered some Democrats in the nation's capital to question whether Platner was damaged goods.

But the allegations didn't stop him from riding a populist wave to capture the nomination.

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Platner, who had acknowledged his battle with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) from his three tours of duty in the war in Iraq with the Marines and one tour with the Army National Guard in Afghanistan, apologized for his controversial Reddit posts after some of them made headlines last fall soon after he launched his Senate campaign.

And Platner said he got the skull and crossbones tattoo in 2007, while drinking with fellow Marines stationed in Croatia. He said that he covered up the tattoo with a new design after learning last year that it resembled a Nazi symbol.

But allegations from an ex-girlfriend raised questions about Platner's timeline regarding knowledge of the tattoo.

In his primary night victory speech, Platner emphasized that he was a changed man.

"If you believe, as I do, that we can change our politics and change our country, then you must also believe that people can change," Platner told the crowd. "And the reason I believe that is because I have lived it. And the reason that I have lived it is because of my wife."

THE TEN RACES THAT WILL DETERMINE THE SENATE'S MAJORITY

Rumors about Platner potentially dropping out started swirling this past weekend, as multiple events by the candidate were canceled without an official explanation. The Bangor Daily News reported on Monday that one organizer said an event was canceled due to Platner "not feeling well."

The news of the canceled events led conservative outlets and pundits to speculate whether there was an underlying reason for the cancelations or an impending end to his campaign.

Collins said in a statement, "These allegations are appalling. Nevertheless, it is not up to me to choose the Democratic nominee for Senate."

As Monday afternoon turned into Monday evening, a growing chorus of leading Democrats called on Platner to quit the race.

Schumer called the allegations in the Politico report "incredibly disturbing – violence, abuse and sexual assault are absolutely unacceptable."

In a statement with DSCC Chair Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, Schumer emphasized, "Graham Platner needs to immediately withdraw as the Democratic nominee for Senate and allow Maine Democrats the opportunity to choose a new candidate who can defeat Susan Collins. The DSCC will not invest in the Maine Senate race if Platner remains on the ballot."

Senate Majority PAC, the Schumer-aligned top super PAC backing Senate Democratic incumbents and candidates, said it was "redirecting resources away from the Maine Senate race in light of the latest allegations against Graham Platner."

The leadership of the Maine Democratic Party, in a statement, said it "is calling Graham Platner to withdraw as the Democratic nominee for the U.S. Senate."

One of Platner's top supporters in Congress, Rep. Ro Khanna of California, rescinded his endorsement.

"I’ve been very clear that sexual assault or violence against women is a red line. These allegations are very serious and credible. Graham Platner should drop out from the race. I am withdrawing my endorsement," Khanna wrote in a social media post.

Khanna, a top progressive leader in the House, told Fox News Digital as he campaigned with Platner in Maine days ahead of the primary that he was "concerned about making it clear that we’re opposed to misogyny, those relationships were toxic and volatile, there’s no excuse for that."

"I talked to Graham, and he says he was at a very dark period. He had come back from two tours of duty in Iraq as an infantryman seeing violence and death. That doesn’t excuse it," Khanna said last month.

Also dropping their endorsement on Monday was Democratic Sen. Ruben Gallego of Arizona, who along with Khanna is considered a potential 2028 White House hopeful.

"The allegations against Graham Platner are troubling and deeply serious," Gallego wrote on X. "I am rescinding my endorsement."

So did progressive champion Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, who had endorsed and appeared with Platner.

Our Revolution, a progressive political action organization founded by Sanders, announced it was withdrawing its endorsement of Platner.

On Tuesday, Sanders put out a statement.

"I have spoken with Graham Platner about the best path forward for Maine. In light of these very serious allegations, I have recommended that he step aside," the senator wrote.

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Platner, who launched his bid for U.S. Senate last August, quickly started drawing large crowds and built a healthy fundraising war chest earlier this year, thanks, in part, to Sanders' early support and the candidate's tireless efforts on the trail.

Two polls conducted late last month indicated a close general election contest. A Fox News poll gave Collins a three-point edge, while a New York Times/Siena survey indicated Platner holding a two-point margin.

But beating Collins hasn't been easy. Six years ago, public opinion polls indicated the senator was headed to defeat, but Collins defied expectations and won re-election by defeating then-Democratic state House Speaker Sara Gideon by nine points.

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Collins, a moderate Republican who at times votes against President Donald Trump's agenda, is running for a sixth six-year term in the Senate.

Republicans currently control the chamber 53-47 and flipping the Senate seat in left-leaning Maine is a key part of the Democrats' path to retake the majority.

Fox News' Olivia Palombo and Matthew Donnell contributed to this report

Justin Verlander's retirement announcement comes with a well-earned hat tip to SI Swimsuit legend Kate Upton

Wed, 08 Jul 2026 20:30:21 -0400

Justin Verlander announced on Wednesday that this season would be the last of his career. His return to the Detroit Tigers hasn't gone as planned.

He's given up five earned runs in just three and two thirds innings of work due to injury. Even more disappointing than those numbers was the wasted bikini welcoming Sports Illustrated Swimsuit had for him ahead of what was supposed to be his first home start back in April.

Verlander missed that start and hasn't pitched in a game since his first start of the season in Arizona back in March. His retirement announcement came after Major League Baseball revealed that he had been selected to his 10th All-Star Game as a "Legend Pick."

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The game of baseball has told him it's time to hang it up. The All-Star and retirement announcements have come, as you would expect, with a look back at his Hall of Fame-worthy career.

The 2006 AL Rookie of the Year and 2011 MVP has three Cy Young Awards to his name. He has two World Series rings and three no-hitters to go along with his other accolades.

PHILLIES STAR SAYS 'BS RULE' IS KEEPING HIM FROM BEING NAMED ALL-STAR IN FRONT OF HOME CROWD

Verlander is also eighth on the all-time strikeout list with a real shot at seventh place, needing only 21 more strikeouts to pass Don Sutton.

As with any mention of his career achievements, the internet, as you would also expect, has made sure to give a well-earned hat tip to his wife, Kate Upton. A legend in her own right.

You really can't tell the full story of Justin Verlander's remarkable career without a mention of the four-time SI Swimsuit cover model.

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She's been there through every high and low. And as he pointed out in his announcement, he couldn't have done it without her.

What a career, even if it doesn't end how one of the best to ever lace up a pair of cleats hoped it would. Again, you're not sneaking a retirement announcement by the internet without a round of applause for Mrs. Verlander.

Saints' Cam Jordan eyes Super Bowl glory in what he expects to be final NFL season

Wed, 08 Jul 2026 20:08:30 -0400

New Orleans Saints legend Cam Jordan hopes the door to his career isn’t cracked an inch.

And he plans to slam it shut after year 16 in the NFL this upcoming season.

Jordan, coming off a 10½-sack 2025 campaign, re-signed with the Saints for one more year. And though the word "retirement" has not yet been uttered, Jordan has made it known he is going into this season expecting it to be his last in the league.

"I’ve been doing this since year 10," Jordan told Fox News Digital over the phone, while also discussing his excitement to work alongside fellow pass rushers at the annual Sack Summit in Las Vegas this week alongside third-year official sponsor Raising Cane’s.

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"Do I feel good? Absolutely. Do I feel better not being part of OTAs? Physically, yes," Jordan said.

One of Jordan’s superpowers, other than getting after the quarterback, setting the edge and doing what a future Pro Football Hall of Fame defensive end can do, is being candid no matter the situation.

After seeing what first-year head coach Kellen Moore and defensive coordinator Brandon Staley had in place for him last year, Jordan knows his role on the Saints defense, saying he "can do whatever needs to be done" for his team. People questioned him playing a two-point stance (an upright position with no hands on the ground at the line of scrimmage), but it clearly worked out when you view his numbers.

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Jordan knows he can help this Saints team that’s filled with potential, and that fire in his gut still burns to make a difference in the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans. There’s also one last run in him to achieve his dream.

"The ultimate dream is to win a Super Bowl," Jordan said. "You go into childhood, coming out of childhood, like, ‘Man, I want to be just like the greats.’ For some reason, we accumulate the idea of success in football to winning a Super Bowl because it’s the ultimate team sport. That’s the ultimate team dream."

The personal accolades have been abundant for Jordan since he came out of the Cal Bears' system as the 24th overall pick of the 2011 NFL Draft. The Saints took him, and he hasn’t left Louisiana, showcasing loyalty on and off the field while racking up 132 sacks, the 17th most all time.

Jordan's goal during his final season in the black and gold will be to accumulate enough sacks to make it eight seasons in double digits. If he does so, he’ll be top 10 all-time in sacks.

"You look at year 16 — this is who I am. This is my body of work. It has never changed," Jordan added.

But, again, Jordan believes his Hall of Fame worthiness is etched in stone already. He could write his speech for Canton, Ohio, now before playing his final season.

Will that speech include the words "Super Bowl champion?"

Jordan certainly hopes so because what else is there to chase when you believe you've already done enough to earn a bust in the Pro Football Hall of Fame?

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"I was sitting there this offseason, and I was like, ‘Man, what is it I want to accomplish?’ A Super Bowl. Personally speaking, I’ve done it all. All-Pro, Pro Bowls. Hell, I put together a Pro Bowl-esque season last year."

Jordan, who turns 37 Friday, is ready to give his all one last time before that door closes.

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Left-wing host presses El-Sayed over 'physician' claim, questions honesty of Michigan Dem Senate hopeful

Wed, 08 Jul 2026 20:07:42 -0400

Left-wing host Mehdi Hasan pressed Michigan Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed on Wednesday over why he called himself a "physician" despite not having a valid state medical license as the Democrat competes in a closely watched primary.

"You got attacked by your rivals for calling yourself a physician, not just a doctor, even though you don’t have a valid state medical license in New York or Michigan, which apparently is what you need legally to call yourself a physician," Hasan said during a Zeteo interview. "Do you wish you’d just stuck to calling yourself a doctor, which you are, to avoid all of this controversy and attacks on your physician status?"

"You know, at the end of the day, it’s not about whether or not I’m a physician or a doctor," El-Sayed said. "It’s not about my education. It’s about whether or not your kid gets a good education."

"That’s a good line, but people would say it’s also about did you tell the truth?" Hasan said.

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Hasan raised the question after noting that El-Sayed’s rivals had attacked him for calling himself a "physician" rather than a doctor.

After El-Sayed initially tried to steer the exchange toward healthcare access and education, he defended his public health record, saying he had helped more people through government service than many doctors do in clinical practice.

"Well, I would say that I was the health director for the city of Detroit, and I’ve done more to provide more people healthcare or eliminate their medical debt than most doctors have done in their practice career," El-Sayed said. "So, I’m proud of the work that I did."

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El-Sayed said he changed course with his medical training after graduating from Columbia University.

"I took my medical education in a different direction," El-Sayed said. "And I did graduate from a school that’s literally called Columbia College of Physicians and Surgeons. So, you know, you can go have that argument with Columbia University if you’d like."

El-Sayed has repeatedly described himself as a "physician" on the campaign trail and in public biographies despite records showing he never held a medical license in Michigan or New York.

El-Sayed's campaign did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital for comment.

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

Hasan also pressed El-Sayed on his personal finance disclosure, noting that Rep. Haley Stevens, D-Mich., had attacked him and Republican Mike Rogers over their finances.

"You sought an extension through Aug. 13, I believe, which is after the primary," Hasan said. "Was this to avoid transparency with your voters? Why not release them before the election?"

El-Sayed said the delay was related to family finances and overseas property.

"No, just taxes get complicated," El-Sayed said. "My wife and her family own property abroad, and, so, getting all those tax forms is a thing."

Bridge Michigan reported that El-Sayed filed an extension to delay his 2026 personal financial disclosure until after the Aug. 4 primary and that the report is now due Aug. 13. Bridge also reported that Stevens had requested 90-day extensions for her personal financial disclosures each year from 2019 to 2025, though she did not seek one this year.

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Stevens’ campaign told Fox News Digital El-Sayed pledged on camera after a WOOD-TV debate to release his personal financial disclosures before the Aug. 4 primary after Haley Stevens pressed him over his decision to file an extension.

"Now, the clock is ticking. Abdul needs to make good on his promise to Michiganders and release his PFD immediately. What is he hiding?" Haley Stevens for Senate communications director Arik Wolk said.

Chicago Blackhawks dealt devastating blow with Connor Bedard expected to miss start of season

Wed, 08 Jul 2026 19:42:39 -0400

It's the middle of the summer, which means there isn't a ton of NHL news to sift through, but there is some, and, in the case of the Chicago Blackhawks, it's very bad.

That's because the team just learned their franchise centerpiece, Connor Bedard, will be out of action four months after getting injured while training.

That means he won't be back in the team's lineup until November.

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Bedard was training in Vancouver last week when video started making the rounds showing him falling during a drill and leaving the ice in clear discomfort.

Well, that discomfort was real, and, on Wednesday the Blackhawks announced the 2023 first overall pick had undergone surgery on his left shoulder and is expected to make a full recovery.

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He will miss some action early in the upcoming season.

The Blackhawks will be happy to have him back a month or so into the season as opposed to having him miss four months of the regular season, but that is going to make Chicago's start to the season critical.

The Blackhawks play in a tough Central Division, and they have to keep pace with the likely playoff teams in it — squads like the Avalanche, Stars, Wild, Mammoth and maybe Jets — so that they don't have to dig out of a hole when Bedard returns to action.

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Bedard is no stranger to injuries. He battled an injury to his right shoulder last season, and in his rookie campaign in 2024-25, he broke his jaw.

When he's healthy, he has averaged a little under a point per game, something the Blackhawks will need as they continue to work their way back to being perennial playoff contenders.

NHL star says signing Leo Carlsson at record $18 million a year could end up being a steal

Wed, 08 Jul 2026 19:21:37 -0400

The talk of the NHL has been all about the Philadelphia Flyers swooping in and offering Anaheim Ducks RFA Leo Carlsson a behemoth, five-year deal with an $18 million AAV.

That's a hefty price to pay, and it will make Carlsson the highest-paid player in the league whether he heads to Philly or the Ducks match.

However, Florida Panthers star Brady Tkachuk thinks that whoever takes on the 21-year-old center's $18 million cap hit could be getting a deal.

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Brady and his brother, Matthew, talked about the offer sheet on their "Wingmen" podcast as the Ducks' window to match the offer sheet continues to close.

"Eighteen million is not an overpay whatsoever," Brady said, to which his brother and teammate, Matthew Tkachuk, agreed. "Unbelievable; he comes as advertised. Eighteen million is probably going to be underpaid. That's how good this player is."

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Tkachuk is probably right, especially as the cap continues to go up. When stars like San Jose's Macklin Celebrini and Chicago's Connor Bedard become eligible for new contracts, they could easily surpass Carlsson's deal.

Of course, the Ducks' problem isn't whether Carlsson is worth $18 million a year — if GM Pat Verbeek thought he wasn't, this offer sheet never would've materialized. The real issue is whether Anaheim has the cap space to match it.

The bind Flyers GM Danny Briere created is that the Ducks had just under $18 million in projected cap space when the offer sheet arrived. They then re-signed defenseman Pavel Mintyukov, leaving them with roughly $9 million.

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But they also have to consider extensions for future RFAs Cutter Gauthier and Beckett Sennecke, which makes matching Carlsson not only harder, but riskier.

The Ducks have until Friday to make a decision, and if they don't match it, they will receive a boatload of first-round picks from the Flyers as compensation.

Stephen Colbert rakes record number of Emmy nominations after 'Late Show' series cancellation

Wed, 08 Jul 2026 19:00:25 -0400

The final season of "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert" earned nine Emmy nominations on Wednesday, the largest haul for the series since Colbert took over the show.

In addition to Outstanding Variety Series, the late-night talk show is nominated for Outstanding Writing for a Variety Series, Outstanding Directing For A Variety Series, Outstanding Production Design For A Variety Or Reality Series, Outstanding Technical Direction and Camerawork For A Series, Outstanding Lighting Design/Lighting Direction For A Series, Outstanding Sound Mixing For A Variety Series Or Special, Outstanding Picture Editing For Variety Programming and Outstanding Music Direction.

The show's previous record was five nominations in 2024, when it was nominated for production design, directing, lighting, talk series and technical direction. Colbert's show also received five nominations in 2021 and 2022.

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In Colbert's 11-year tenure at "The Late Show," the program received over 40 nominations but only two wins for Outstanding Talk Series and Outstanding Directing for a Variety Series. Both wins were from 2025, months after CBS announced the show's cancellation last year.

"Sometimes, you only know how much you love something when you get a sense you might be losing it," Colbert said during his acceptance speech. "I have never loved my country more desperately. God bless America."

In a comment to Fox News Digital, CBS referred to an Instagram post congratulating the series for its nominations.

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The 78th Primetime Emmy Awards will air Sept. 14.

CBS canceled "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert" last year for what it described as financial reasons with reports claiming the series was losing the network $40 million per year.

However, several liberal commentators, along with Colbert himself, have accused the network of canceling the show to appease President Donald Trump ahead of a massive merger requiring FCC approval. Colbert spent several episodes in his final season and in the public eye attacking the network and its parent company, Paramount, for the decision.

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"This is not the 1950s," Colbert said at the Writers Guild Awards in March. "This is not the Red Scare. And, as far as I can tell, no one in late night is fomenting a revolution. As we know, the revolution will not be televised. It was going to be televised, but then Paramount bought it."

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"The Late Show with Stephen Colbert" aired its final episode on May 21. The finale helped earn the show five out of the nine nominations.

England soccer players bomb off diving board like a teammate wasn't just injured in a freak accident

Wed, 08 Jul 2026 18:53:15 -0400

England is gearing up for a massive World Cup quarterfinal match against Norway. Of course, they're going to be preparing for the match, but they also took some time out to chill and have some fun.

This included a team diving competition that the squad posted on social media.

A daring choice considering you just lost a guy to injury after he tried to hop an advertising board during the post-match celebration.

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I don't mean to be Captain Safety First over here, but bombing off diving boards ahead of a World Cup quarterfinal is wild.

Can you imagine the (*Desi Arnaz voice*) 'splainin' they would have to do if someone got injured during that? You think it's bad to lose a guy to a freak advertising board-related incident — how about losing one because he slipped on takeoff trying to lay down the best can opener of the afternoon?

Also, we've got to address fullback Djed Spence wearing socks in the pool.

That's a wild choice. First of all, I'm not sure anything makes me as angry as having wet socks. It will wreck my day, and doing it on purpose is unfathomable.

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Happened to me the other night. I'm still mad about it.

Maybe the thought was that it would give him more traction on the diving board, but that can't possibly be right. If it did, wouldn't every Olympic diver be wearing a pair of Hanes crews?

There has been a rash of strange athlete pool behavior. About two months ago, Colorado Avalanche star Nathan MacKinnon was seen cruising around the hotel pool with flippers and goggles.

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I mean, at least he's not going to get hurt doing that, but man, I wouldn't want it getting out that I'm a goggles-in-the-hotel-pool guy (which I'm not, for the record).

But, hey, maybe this airborne bonding sesh is just what England needs to win a tough match against Erling Haaland and Norway.

If you're looking for a Big 12 winner not named Texas Tech or BYU, consider the Houston Cougars

Wed, 08 Jul 2026 18:30:07 -0400

With Big 12 Media Days wrapping up on Wednesday afternoon, there is no doubt who the heavy favorites of the conference are.

Most media members are in agreement that this year's version of the Big 12 appears to be a two horse race, or rather, a Red Raider and Cougar race.

That's right, the two darlings of the conference in 2026 are none other than Texas Tech and BYU.

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The Red Raiders had their fair share of controversy throughout the offseason thanks to the Brendan Sorsby gambling saga, but they still have far and away the most talented roster in the Big 12 and will be expected to take the title by brute force.

Joining them in the favorites circle is BYU, a team that was a stone's throw away from the College Football Playoff and played for the Big 12 title last year, ultimately falling to the aforementioned Red Raiders of Texas Tech.

Some of you might not be too keen on picking heavy favorites to win a conference, so what if I told you there was another team a little further down the list that might have a chance to unseat the incumbent champs?

I am speaking of none other than the Houston Cougars, a program on the rise that might be flying criminally under the radar in 2026.

The Cougs are entering year three of the Willie Fritz era, and that's usually when many coaches reach their stride (Fritz included).

Fritz is coming off of a ten-win season in 2025 and had the Cougars ranked in the final AP Poll for the first time since the end of the 2021 season.

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Houston also has both of its coordinators returning in 2026, including young and up-and-coming defensive coordinator Austin Armstrong, who had the unit rolling last season and finished with a defense ranked in the top-50 in scoring (22.9 ppg) and top-40 in average yards per rush allowed (3.7 ypa).

The schedule is manageable, even by Big 12 standards, as the Cougars avoid playing BYU, Arizona, and Arizona State this coming season, and have a very forgiving back stretch.

Most importantly, Houston gets Texas Tech in September to open conference play, meaning there's a chance they could catch the Red Raiders early before their team gels or they have a chance to figure out their quarterback situation.

If the Cougars can spring the upset, they would be in the driver's seat for the rest of the season in conference play.

Speaking of gelling, Houston ranks second in the Big 12 in returning production, and rank top-ten in the country in returning offensive production, so this should be a well-oiled machine from the jump.

While Houston’s transfer portal returns on the whole aren’t anything to write home about, I loved the pick up of running back Makhi Hughes from Oregon.

He didn’t yield a ton of production last season, but his 2024 season at Tulane was incredibly impressive, putting up over 1,400 yards on the ground and finding the end zone a total of 17 times.

Overcoming the conference's Goliath in Lubbock won't be easy, but I really like the makeup of this team.

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The returning coordinators, veteran leadership, and forgiving schedule could be the perfect storm needed to send Houston to the big dance in December.

Buy stock in the Cougars now, because the price will only go up from here.

Florida TV boss rips 'cringeworthy' posts as anchor's bikini-clad social media posts spark buzz

Wed, 08 Jul 2026 18:00:18 -0400

A Miami news station director admonished staff in a memo to stop posting "foolish nonsense" to their social media accounts, which came back to light as an anchor’s bikini-clad posts sparked discussion of whether they violated the policy.

WPLG Vice President of News Bill Pohovey blasted his staff in an internal memo over influencer-like content that distracted from their journalistic mission, according to a report by FTVLive.

"I have emailed about this numerous times in the past, but we seem to be going in the wrong direction again," Pohovey reportedly wrote.

The memo was released as a series of Instagram posts were made by WPLG anchor and reporter Jenise Fernandez to her verified personal account, in which she shared images of her recent trip to Fiji to her approximately 28,000 followers, the outlet reported. However, the memo was sent weeks ago, before the new pictures.

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The images appeared to show Fernandez wearing a fire-red bikini while climbing aboard a resort boat, with the caption, "Now I know what it feels like to be on @cloud9_fiji."

According to Fernandez’s station biography, she has worked at the station since 2014 and was once crowned Miss Miami. She also previously placed fourth runner-up at the Miss Florida Pageant.

Another set of photos reportedly showed Fernandez wearing the same bikini as she leaned up against a floating bar at the resort — with an additional post showing her raising a shot glass to toast with two companions.

While some reports indicated the memo penned by Pohovey was circulated after the posts were made to Fernandez’s account, Pohovey disputed that in a statement to the New York Post.

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Pohovey told the outlet the memo "was not a response to one individual post [but rather] just a reminder of long-standing guidelines."

In a follow-up statement, Pohovey added, "This had nothing to do with a current employee. As I said, the memo was sent out many months ago and is not new."

He also told the New York Post that the photos didn't violate his directive.

"The memo didn’t tell employees they couldn’t post vacation photos or other daily life activities on their personal social pages," he said in an email to the Post. "We do live in Florida and people wear bikinis on the beach. These photos were tasteful and completely fine."

The memo reportedly railed against current employees of the station, reminding them that their public persona should not detract from their roles as local journalists.

"Too many of our social media accounts are being used for foolish nonsense," Pohovey wrote, according to FTVLive.

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"We don’t want dance videos with our staff. We don’t want fashion shows, outfits of the day, or other silly content that detracts from you as journalists," he added.

Pohovey also reportedly told staff that they are not permitted to film social media content within the newsroom — a practice that has become commonplace in news outlets throughout the country.

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"We should never produce such content, and we should absolutely NEVER create such content inside the station, in our newsroom or studios, using our news set as the background," Pohovey wrote.

The vice president reportedly said that staff members should consider applying the same rules to their personal social media accounts, while adding that, "Some of what I see is cringeworthy."

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"People are losing trust in the news, and the nickname ‘fake news’ is beginning to stick. We’re seen as not serious and this unprofessional behavior only adds fuel to that fire," he later added. "The likes and follows are not worth eroding your credibility and the credibility of this news organization."

Fox News Digital reached out to Fernandez and Pohovey for comment.

US Soccer issues statement on Mauricio Pochettino's future with Team USA after World Cup

Wed, 08 Jul 2026 18:00:07 -0400

When Mauricio Pochettino was hired as the head coach of the US Men's National Team just under two years ago, it was widely viewed as a coup for US Soccer.

Pochettino brought an outside perspective, a stark departure from Gregg Berhalter, whose experience as a manager was mostly in MLS. He'd coached players at the highest level of European competition, with stints at Tottenham Hotspur in the English Premier League, Paris Saint-Germain in Ligue 1, and Chelsea, back in the EPL.

His tenure got off to a bit of a rocky start, then in the largest tournament prior to the World Cup, his USMNT lost 2-1 in the Gold Cup Final to Mexico. Albeit with some controversial refereeing decisions going Mexico's way.

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But as with most national team managers, Pochettino was always going to be judged based on the USMNT's performance in the 2026 World Cup. And there it's, well, a bit of a mixed bag. The first match against Paraguay in Los Angeles was jaw-dropping. A dominant 4-1 victory, playing a brand of aggressive, attacking soccer with composure, coordination, and outstanding movement that had virtually never been seen before from a US team.

They handled Australia 2-0, before dropping a meaningless game against Turkey with the backups replacing most starters. Advancing out of the group stage was one thing, but winning it in dominant fashion was another. Still, the knockout stage has been yet another hurdle for the USMNT to overcome, and in perhaps the most encouraging sign yet, they did so easily.

Yes, Bosnia and Herzegovina was outmatched on talent, but the resilience the team displayed after star Florian Balogun was sent off with a controversial red card was impressive. As was the top level free kick goal from Malik Tillman. That win set up arguably the biggest opportunity for a USMNT team in decades: beat Belgium in a home World Cup to advance to the quarterfinals.

We all know how that turned out. A devastating 4-1 loss, where the USMNT somehow reverted back to the form most long-time fans are familiar with. Poor coordination, atrocious back line play, too many lost balls from the team's best players, and unforgivable, inexcusable mistakes.

So how do you judge Pochettino's performance? Well, that's exactly what US Soccer has to do. And they issued a statement after their World Cup exit seemingly implying that they want him back and the decision lies with him.

"We had positive conversations with Mauricio before the World Cup about the future," the statement says. "We agreed we would continue those conversations following a chance to rest and reflect post World Cup. We have a great deal of respect and gratitude for Mauricio, his staff and everyone part of the program. We have shared excitement about our potential and also shared clarity about the amount of work at all levels still required to achieve our ambition."

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Pochettino himself said he intends to take some time to think about his future and what the federation wants.

"In the next few weeks, we can start to talk if the federation wants to talk," he said after the match. "Right now it’s about resting a little bit, to think, to have conversations with the federation to see what the decision is. I’m so happy. We’ve built a very good relationship. Now is not a moment to talk about [my future]."

He'll certainly have options, whether that's back in the Premier League, or in Italy, or elsewhere. But retaining Pochettino should be a top priority for US Soccer.

His adjustments at halftime brought the USMNT right back into the match, and it doesn't fall to him that 38-year-old Tim Ream was the best available center back. Or that the starting goalkeeper quite literally kicked the ground when attempting to clear the ball, leading directly to a Belgium goal. While there's justifiable frustration over going out in the Round of 16 yet again, it's clear that the US player pool is the best it's ever been. And getting better.

There are many structural issues to address with how soccer is coached and administered at the youth level, which fall more on US Soccer than the USMNT head coach. But as far as team selection, development, and tactics, there aren't many coaching options available that would be a better choice for the US. Outside of extremely unlikely swings at someone like Pep Guardiola, Carlo Ancelotti, or Jurgen Klopp. And Klopp is already deep in talks to take over the German National Team after another disastrous exit.

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This is a pivotal time for US Soccer, and it's extremely important to get this next cycle right. Hopefully they do.

Bernie-backed socialist who allied with Platner could supplant him on ballot

Wed, 08 Jul 2026 17:47:51 -0400

With Graham Platner facing mounting pressure to end his Senate campaign after rape allegations surfaced Monday, longtime Maine Democrat Troy Jackson filed paperwork Tuesday positioning himself to enter the U.S. Senate race should the Democratic nomination become available.

Prominent Democratic leaders, including Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., have withdrawn their support for Platner and urged him to end his campaign. Platner has denied the allegations as "categorically false" and has remained in the race.

Under Maine law, Platner has until Monday, July 13, to withdraw if Democrats hope to replace him on the November ballot. If he steps aside before the deadline, the state Democratic Party will have until July 27 to choose a new nominee.

Jackson, who lost the Democratic gubernatorial primary just weeks ago, signaled his interest in the Senate race by filing a statement of candidacy with the Federal Election Commission. He later took to social media to condemn the allegations against Platner while emphasizing that he has not yet decided whether to seek the nomination.

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"While I haven't made any final decisions yet, I'm deeply humbled by the outpouring of support and encouragement I've received," Jackson wrote. "I'm currently weighing the best path forward to support our progressive movement and the working class political revolution Mainers are fighting for."

Jackson and Platner ran closely aligned progressive campaigns and appeared together at campaign events throughout the 2026 election cycle. Both embraced a progressive platform and earned the backing of Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt.

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Following the allegations against Platner, however, Our Revolution — the progressive political organization Sanders founded after his 2016 presidential campaign — withdrew its endorsement of Platner and instead backed Jackson, whom it had also endorsed during his gubernatorial campaign.

"We have days, not weeks, to make sure a real progressive is on this ballot," Our Revolution Executive Director Joseph Geevarghese said in a statement.

"If we do not organize now, we risk watching the Democratic establishment handing Maine a corporate placeholder while the party that just got outvoted decides it knows better. We refuse to let that happen."

Jackson's ties to Sanders stretch back more than a decade. He was one of the few Democratic National Committee superdelegates to endorse Sanders over Hillary Clinton during the 2016 Democratic presidential primary and later served as Sanders' Maine political director, introducing him at campaign rallies across the state.

Sanders later returned the favor, endorsing Jackson's gubernatorial campaign and appearing alongside him on the campaign trail.

FOX NEWS POLL: MAINE SENATE RACE IS TIGHT, WITH CONCERNS ABOUT BOTH CANDIDATES

"Fighting for the working class of Maine is not something new for Troy," Sanders said during a campaign rally. "That's what he has done for his entire life as a logger and as a member of the Maine state legislature. Troy knows what's going on with the working class of Maine because he's part of that working class."

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A fifth-generation logger and one of Maine's best-known labor Democrats, Jackson spent more than two decades in the state Legislature, including six years as president of the Maine Senate before leaving the post in 2024.

During his gubernatorial campaign, he ran on a platform that included universal child care, Medicare for all and the creation of a Department of Affordable Housing. He also secured endorsements from more than 20 labor unions, cementing his reputation as a working-class progressive.

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Despite his progressive politics, Jackson has repeatedly won elections in one of Maine's most Republican regions. He represented northern Aroostook County, a largely rural district that has consistently supported President Donald Trump by double-digit margins in recent presidential elections.

Jackson has argued that his success stems from focusing on working-class economic issues rather than partisan labels.

Fox News Digital reached out to Jackson for comment.