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FBI's first cyber fugitive on Ten Most Wanted list returns to US after capture in Venezuela

Fri, 02 Oct 2026 20:56:32 -0400

A Venezuelan alleged Tren de Aragua leader who became the FBI's first-ever cyber fugitive on its Ten Most Wanted list is back on U.S. soil after being captured overseas last month.

Anibal Alexander Canelon Aguirre, 50, also known as "Prometheus" and "The Engineer," appeared in a Nebraska courtroom Friday to face charges tied to a multimillion-dollar ATM "jackpotting" scheme.

He pleaded not guilty to four federal conspiracy charges during his initial court appearance and will remain detained in Nebraska while awaiting trial, according to the Department of Justice (DOJ).

FBI Director Kash Patel touted Aguirre's return as the 10th Ten Most Wanted fugitive captured since the beginning of the Trump administration and the first cyber fugitive ever placed on the list.

KASH PATEL DEFENDS FBI'S ‘MOST WANTED’ BUSTS AMID MANIPULATION ACCUSATIONS, HIGHLIGHTS 'SUMMER HEAT' SUCCESS

"Now he’s back in the United States to face justice," Patel said. "This FBI is running on supercharged horsepower — and there is nowhere on this planet criminals can hide."

Patel said the 10 captures are more than 2½ times the total recorded during the previous four years.

Aguirre was apprehended last month in Venezuela, and Patel subsequently told lawmakers the FBI had captured one of the nation's top fugitives.

The FBI previously told Fox News Digital that Aguirre led "a large international conspiracy to steal millions of dollars from financial institutions in support of the Tren de Aragua, through an ATM jackpotting scheme since at least 2024."

FBI STRIKES BACK AT HACKING GROUP WITH OVERSEAS ARREST OF ALLEGED LEADER

An ATM "jackpotting" attack is a type of cyberattack in which criminals exploit vulnerabilities in an ATM, including through the use of malware, to force the machine to dispense cash, according to the DOJ.

Prosecutors say Canelon Aguirre developed malicious software and was one of the leaders of the alleged ATM jackpotting conspiracy.

The DOJ says the broader ATM jackpotting conspiracy has been linked to Tren de Aragua, which the U.S. has designated as a foreign terrorist organization.

Attorney General Todd Blanche said DOJ has charged nearly 350 alleged TdA members and associates since the designation.

"The capture and arrest of Anibal Alexander Canelon Aguirre marks yet another success for the Homeland Security Task Force and Joint Task Force Vulcan," Blanche said.

"We will continue to break up narcoterrorist finance networks, prosecute violent criminals, and keep American neighborhoods safe."

Aguirre faces four conspiracy counts involving bank fraud, bank burglary and computer fraud, money laundering and providing material support to terrorists.

The bank fraud conspiracy charge carries the highest maximum penalty at 30 years in prison, according to DOJ.

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Fox News Digital's Robert McGreevy contributed to this report.

Trump says he will attend Alabama vs Georgia college football game at Bryant-Denny Stadium

Fri, 02 Oct 2026 20:43:25 -0400

President Donald Trump announced Friday that he plans to attend next week’s marquee college football matchup between No. 7 Alabama and No. 2 Georgia.

Trump revealed his plans during a midterm campaign rally at the University of South Alabama in Mobile. The president is expected to be at Bryant-Denny Stadium when No. 7 Alabama hosts No. 2 Georgia on Oct. 10.

Both teams are undefeated and considered national championship contenders. The game will kick off at 7:30 p.m. ET and air nationally on ABC.

TRUMP TO ATTEND TEXAS VS TENNESSEE IN HIGH-STAKES COLLEGE FOOTBALL SHOWDOWN

The SEC rivals met twice last season. Alabama earned a 24-21 regular-season victory in Athens before Georgia responded with a dominant 28-7 win in the SEC Championship Game. Bulldogs coach Kirby Smart improved to just 2-7 against the Crimson Tide with the conference title victory.

Trump also attended the teams’ memorable 2024 meeting in Tuscaloosa, when Alabama built a 28-point lead and held on for a 41-34 victory. He watched that game from a suite alongside several prominent Republican figures.

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Next week’s visit will mark Trump’s third trip to Bryant-Denny Stadium for a football game. He also attended Alabama’s 46-41 loss to LSU in 2019 and returned to the university to deliver its commencement address in May 2025.

Trump has made frequent appearances at major sporting events throughout his second term. His Alabama visit will come only two weeks after he attended Texas’ 20-17 victory over Tennessee at Neyland Stadium, where Air Force One performed a low-altitude flyover before kickoff.

Trump also attended the College Football Playoff National Championship in January, Game 3 of the NBA Finals in June and the FIFA World Cup final in July, where he participated in the trophy ceremony.

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In 2025, Trump became the first sitting president to attend a Super Bowl. He also appeared at the Daytona 500, the U.S. Open men’s final, the Ryder Cup, the Army-Navy game and multiple UFC events.

Penguins forward Andrei Kuzmenko changes jersey to honor late father killed in bear attack

Fri, 02 Oct 2026 20:20:30 -0400

Pittsburgh Penguins player Andrei Kuzmenko returned to the team on Friday after taking some time in the wake of his father's tragic death in a bear attack last month in Siberia.

Now, the 30-year-old, who is in his first season with the Penguins, has decided to honor his father, Alexander, by switching his jersey number.

Kuzmenko addressed the media at the team's practice facility ahead of Saturday's game against the Montreal Canadiens.

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An impressively composed Kuzmenko, given the circumstances, told the media that he wanted to speak to them because he understood that reporters have a job to do.

From there, he explained the circumstances of his father's death, which occurred on a fishing trip.

"My father go permit fishing with friends, and he stayed in the water," he said. "And bear (stand) behind him and attack. And my father fight (the) bear one hour, 10 minutes and he still lived after two days."

He also thanked everyone for the support he received in the wake of the tragedy.

As for his sweater number, Kuzmenko had worn No. 96 in all of his previous NHL stops with the Vancouver Canucks, Calgary Flames, Philadelphia Flyers and Los Angeles Kings.

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Upon signing with the Penguins, Kuzmenko was preparing to use No. 10.

Now, he will wear No. 62, which, according to the Associated Press, carries a lot of personal significance.

His late father was 62 years old at the time of his death, while his mother was born in 1962.

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Kuzmenko spent time in the KHL before arriving in the NHL ahead of the 2022-23 season, and has gone on to play in 271 games. In that time, he has racked up 182 points (85G, 97A).

Blue state councilman mocked after claiming self-driving cars are 'murdering' pets: 'Hide your cats'

Fri, 02 Oct 2026 20:00:55 -0400

One Minneapolis city council member prompted widespread mockery on social media after going to bat for "cat lovers," claiming Waymo cars are killing cats and urging officials to require humans in the self-driving vehicles.

"I will say cats have been killed and cats have been killed by these autonomous vehicles," Jason Chavez told fellow council members. "I have a cat. I don't want my cat getting killed because of these autonomous vehicles.

"So, to those cat lovers out there, just know that these Waymo vehicles, these autonomous vehicles have killed cats and that's unfair.

"I just watched a video sitting here from the dais, and it was really hard to watch. Literally, cats being murdered by these vehicles."

WAYMO DRIVERLESS CARS OVERRUN ATLANTA NEIGHBORHOOD, CIRCLING CUL-DE-SACS AND ALARMING FAMILIES WITH KIDS

The ordinance, which narrowly passed Thursday, would mandate a human operator and a special license for all autonomous vehicles. But its future remains uncertain.

Mayor Jacob Frey announced he plans to veto the proposal in a statement to multiple Minnesota outlets, saying it "doesn't make sense," and the city will continue its efforts to embrace "innovative technology," including transportation options. Despite acknowledging the safety concerns, Frey added he would not support a "backdoor ban" of the vehicles.

As Waymo vehicles with rooftop sensors and empty seats become a more common sight, supporters argue requiring a human operator would effectively ban autonomous taxi services and result in higher fares, while opponents insist the technology poses safety risks and takes away jobs.

Social media users were quick to pile on Chavez's remarks about the potential threat to cats, accusing him of blowing the issue out of proportion and shifting focus from more pressing priorities in Minneapolis.

"The Minneapolis City Council wants to require a human in driverless vehicles because cats are being 'murdered' by them," Townhall columnist Dustin Grage posted on X. "This guy's salary is $110,000/year, by the way."

Grage took more swipes at Chavez in separate X posts, writing, "They're calling it the cat genocide" and, "Hide your cats. The Waymos are coming."

In another post on X, conservative commentator Gunther Eagleman wrote, "LOL! MINNEAPOLIS HAS FOUND ITS REAL CRISIS, AND IT'S ROBOT CARS 'MURDERING' CATS."

JACOB FREY CRITICIZED FOR REMEMBERING GEORGE FLOYD ON MEMORIAL DAY, SIX YEARS AFTER DEATH SPARKED RIOTS

Eagleman also argued the city should be addressing larger issues such as crime and fraud, describing the situation as a sign of failed leadership.

"A council member in a city that let rioters burn down a police precinct and watched a $250 million fraud scheme happen under its nose now wants a human in every driverless car to protect the cats," he wrote.

"He's pulling down $110,000 a year of taxpayer money to say this with a straight face. Minneapolis doesn't have a driverless car problem. It has a leadership problem."

"They're driving over the cats, they're driving over the dogs!" Fox News Digital columnist David Marcus posted on X.

"Why is a city council member making 110,000 when families and seniors are getting priced out of their homes in Minneapolis and taxes are sky rocking????? That's absurd - where is the equality in that???" Three Rivers Park Commissioner Jennifer DeJournett posted on X.

TERRIFIED PASSENGERS FILM WAYMO AUTONOMOUS VEHICLE DRIVING INTO LIVE FIREWORKS IN SAN FRANCISCO

"Fwiw I've been in a self-driving Tesla that stopped for cats to cross the road and Waymo is a lot more advanced," journalist Zaid Jilani posted on X.

"My FSD Tesla avoids animals on the road. He is full of it," Dealer Teamwork CEO and co-founder Sean Stapleton posted on X.

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Fox News Digital reached out to Chavez for comment.

Tennessee fans drank $1.3 million worth of alcohol before, during Texas game attended by president

Fri, 02 Oct 2026 19:51:35 -0400

It seems Tennessee’s athletic department has a very good reason to continue its "Happy Hour" promotion for the remainder of the 2026 football season.

Last weekend, as the Vols were preparing to host No. 1 Texas, it was announced that President Donald Trump would be making the trip to Knoxville for the top-15 SEC showdown inside Neyland Stadium.

In the days leading up to the game, the school knew that there would be a massive influx in traffic around the stadium due to heightened security measures that are put into place when the President is attending an event.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFF EXPANSION IS NOTHING MORE THAN A DESPERATE FINANCIAL BAILOUT DISGUISED AS PROGRESS

So, the school announced it would open the gates to its gigantic stadium an hour earlier than usual, allowing fans to enter at 9 a.m. ET and avoid security lines that have caused some fans to miss kickoff at previous events attended by the president.

Given that this was a 12 p.m. ET start time in Knoxville, that meant parking garages and stadium traffic were going to start picking up around breakfast time. For me, I decided to show up at the stadium around 8 a.m. ET knowing what my previous experiences were like in Miami for the CFP title game and Tuscaloosa for Donald Trump's visit in 2024.

The Vols athletic department had themselves a successful day selling alcohol

In hopes of enticing fans to arrive earlier than their normal time, Tennessee announced that they would be slashing concessions and alcohol prices by 50% for the first hour, which ran from 9-10 a.m. ET to give fans a reason to sit inside Neyland Stadium for upwards of three hours before kickoff.

Turns out, the move paid off in multiple ways. Not only was this the largest crowd I've ever seen 120 minutes before the first play, it sounds as though there were plenty of fans that took advantage of the discounted beer.

According to a University of Tennessee spokesperson, the school ended up selling 95,000 units of alcohol over the course of the game, which generated $1.3 million in sales for the school. Also, the first beer purchase came at 9:02 a.m. ET, which means one fan decided to bolt straight from the metal detectors to the beverage line in a very impressive time.

Also, in breaking down the numbers, that is 13,571 alcoholic beverages per hour sold inside Neyland Stadium, given the game ended around 4 p.m. ET

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Seeing that this was a massive success, and even though it's unlikely the school will see those type of early attendance numbers moving forward given the tailgating scene, Tennessee athletic director Danny White announced on social media this week that the school would continue this promotion for the remainder of this season.

"Should we make it a thing? Feels like we should make it a thing," White announced on X. "Inspired by Vol Nation’s incredible response to unusual pregame circumstances last week, Happy Hour at Neyland Stadium will be in effect for the remainder of the season! Gates will open three hours early, with half-priced concessions available for the first hour.

"I hope this is a small way we can show our appreciation to the best fans in the country. See y’all Saturday!"

Tennessee will host Auburn on Saturday afternoon, with gates once again opening three hours before kickoff, for the 3:30 p.m. ET start time on ESPN.

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Now, let's get other schools who have not already embraced this type of monetary/alcohol promotion to join the party.

Nothing screams college football like 9:00 a.m. half-priced beers.

Mamdani says it was 'strange' getting called out by Netanyahu after calling for his arrest

Fri, 02 Oct 2026 19:45:17 -0400

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani told podcaster Theo Von Thursday he found it "strange" to be called out by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during his address to the United Nations General Assembly in late September.

"And he called you out too," Von recalled. "Was that weird? Was that scary?"

"It was strange," Mamdani said. "I mean, I was — I was having a meeting with the prime minister of the Netherlands at the LGBTQ center in downtown Manhattan," Mamdani recalled. "Then I get back from that meeting, and it's like, ‘Oh, by the way, here's what he was saying at the U.N.’"

Netanyahu had criticized Mamdani directly during the speech, accusing him of spreading "lies" about Israel and trying to prevent him from speaking in the city.

WATCH: MASS WALKOUT BEFORE NETANYAHU SPEECH PROMPTS FIERY RESPONSE FROM ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER

"So, to all those spreading these lies about my country and about our brave soldiers, whether they sit in this hall or in the office of the antisemitic mayor of New York, I say this: Shame on you," Netanyahu said. "Shame on you for distorting the facts. Shame on you for inverting victim and aggressor. Shame on you for spitting in the face of truth, Mr. Mamdani."

Mamdani initially promised to have Netanyahu arrested during his mayoral campaign and later called on the federal government to execute an arrest warrant from the International Criminal Court (ICC) if the Israeli leader visits New York.

The ICC issued the warrant in November 2024 over alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity. Netanyahu and the Israeli government have rejected the allegations and challenged the court's actions.

Von asked the mayor, "But if you had your say, we would have arrested the guy, you think?"

"If I had my say, the U.S. government would have joined the ICC, honored every single warrant that they've issued," Mamdani said.

MAMDANI DODGES ON ‘POLITICAL THEATER’ OF EMPTY NETANYAHU ARREST THREAT, CALLS FOR US ACTION AND NYC PROTESTS

"It's so bizarre," Von said, referring to Netanyahu mentioning Mamdani by name. "Did it feel personal then?"

"All of this is an attempt to distract from responsibility, name as many people as possible, try and make it into a back and forth," Mamdani said.

"It's not about me and him. It's about the fact that he's the architect of a genocide," he added. "And it's like, ‘Yeah, if I was the architect of a genocide, I would probably talk about anything but that.’"

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Fox News' Emma Bussey and Michael Sinkewicz contributed to this report.

AOC's dramatic retelling of Cornell rape allegations collides with complaint details

Thu, 01 Oct 2026 21:58:28 -0400

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., painted a far more sweeping picture of a Cornell University sexual assault case than what's alleged in the underlying civil complaint, while also making claims the university disputes.

Speaking during a town hall hosted by More Perfect University on Sunday in Ithaca, New York, Ocasio-Cortez addressed allegations outlined in a civil complaint filed last month by a former Cornell student identified as Jane Doe, who alleges she was drugged and sexually assaulted by multiple fraternity members in October 2024.

"Seven men drugged and gang raped a 20-year-old woman," Ocasio-Cortez said. "They lured her in to a fraternity house," she continued. "They drugged her with ketamine. They then posted to a group chat that she was incapacitated, and seven men took turns gang raping her for seven hours."

CONVICTED RAPIST WHO PREYED ON WOMEN AT AMERICA'S TOP PARTY SCHOOL FACES RECKONING AFTER COURTHOUSE DASH

"Their fraternity knew. This was reported to Cornell University. And, after looking into this matter, they expelled two of them and made the rest write essays as their form of punishment," Ocasio-Cortez said. "I want to be clear that the culture of rape, sexual assault, and pedophilia is protected in elite institutions across the United States and including Cornell University in this instance. It has got to stop."

Cornell has disputed Ocasio-Cortez's characterization of the disciplinary action, saying expulsions and suspensions were issued and that no respondent was required to write an essay as the sole consequence. The civil complaint alleges that several students who received temporary suspensions were given an opportunity to mitigate their conduct by submitting essays to the university.

Ocasio-Cortez's comments come as a civil lawsuit filed by Doe contains graphic allegations about what happened inside the Chi Phi fraternity house nearly two years ago. In addition, documents from a university review published by The New York Times on Thursday included quotes from the accuser telling police, "I can say with 100% confidence I was raped."

She also told police a "ring of men" had surrounded her and that "there was really no escape," according to those documents.

YALE STUDENT CHARGED AFTER ALLEGED SEX ASSAULT ON PACKED MANHATTAN SUBWAY TRAIN, ATTORNEY PUSHES BACK

The 101-page civil complaint names Cornell, fraternity-related entities, seven individual defendants and other defendants. It alleges that Doe was sexually assaulted by multiple fraternity members after being plied with alcohol and drugs.

According to the complaint, Doe arrived at the fraternity house intoxicated, was pressured into taking ketamine and was subjected to sexual acts without her consent.

It further alleges that one fraternity member posted a sexually explicit message about her in a fraternity Snapchat group.

The incident ended at around 5:45 a.m., according to the complaint.

EX-MAYOR FOUND LIABLE FOR ALLEGED SEXUAL ASSAULTS OF 7 WOMEN, ORDERED TO PAY $13M

Tompkins County District Attorney Matthew Van Houten said his office reviewed Doe's sworn statement in November 2024 and initially determined that the facts contained in that statement did not support criminal charges under New York law.

Van Houten said Doe's November 2024 sworn statement "did not allege that she was drugged against her will or gang raped." He also said the statement described her participation in drug use and sexual conduct as "voluntary, conscious, and consensual."

Van Houten said his office has reopened an investigation into the allegations and will revisit the decision about whether to pursue criminal charges against the seven fraternity members. He said a senior prosecutor experienced in sex-crime cases is preparing the matter for presentation to a Tompkins County grand jury, which could consider Doe's testimony and new evidence raised by the civil complaint.

LSU FRAT PLEDGES ALLEGEDLY WATERBOARDED, FORCED TO CHUG MILK IN HAZING RITUALS: REPORT

Scott Kretzschmar, an attorney for one of the accused students, said his client welcomes the renewed investigation. He strongly denied the allegations against his client, who he said had no sexual contact with Doe.

Attorneys representing several other accused fraternity members have also denied wrongdoing. No criminal charges have been announced in connection with the allegations.

Cornell said it supports the reopened investigation and said its own months-long investigation resulted in a range of sanctions, including expulsions and suspensions. The Chi Phi chapter was also closed and barred from campus.

"Any suggestion that the university did not impose consequential punishments for those involved is false," the university said. "A continuation of the false narrative that there were minimal consequences in this case is irresponsible, will make survivors feel less safe and supported, and will perpetuate the underreporting of sexual assault."

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul announced Thursday that she has appointed Attorney General Letitia James as special prosecutor in the case.

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Fox News Digital has reached out to Ocasio-Cortez's office and Cornell University for additional comment.

EXCLUSIVE: Michael McDonald’s long-lost son reveals stunning moment he discovered famous father after 58 years

Fri, 02 Oct 2026 19:00:13 -0400

EXCLUSIVE: Michael Goessling always knew he was adopted. But what he did not know for nearly 58 years was that his biological father had one of the most recognizable and beloved voices in American music.

The St. Louis man learned recently that his father is five-time Grammy winner and Doobie Brothers singer Michael McDonald, a musician Goessling had admired since childhood and had unknowingly paid to see perform twice as a young man.

But even after receiving the letter that began it all, meeting his biological mother and learning his biological father was a mysterious musician named "Mike," Goessling still had no idea who was waiting on the other end of the phone.

RITA WILSON LEARNED ABOUT FATHER’S TRAGIC PAST, SECRET FAMILY IN BULGARIA ON TV SHOW

The answer finally came during their first conversation, when "Mike" mentioned he was touring and would be stopping in St. Louis on Sept. 4 at a venue he believed was called "Hollywood."

Goessling thought of the Hollywood Casino Amphitheater and, puzzled that his biological father was apparently still a touring musician at his age, began searching the venue's concert schedule as the two men spoke.

The Doobie Brothers were playing in concert Sept. 4.

Suddenly, the pieces began falling into place: "Mike." Musician. That unmistakable voice.

"Are you Michael McDonald?" Goessling finally asked.

McDonald chuckled. "Yep, afraid so."

"Oh my gosh, this is getting crazier by the second," Goessling recalled saying. "I can't even, I can't get my head around this. This is too much."

"I know," McDonald replied. "Take a minute."

"I thought I was being punked for a second," Goessling told Fox News Digital. "It's like, 'No, this can't be real. This is impossible. What is going on here?'"

More than a year later, he said the discovery can still feel unreal.

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"I still wake up sometimes and my first thought is, ‘Oh my gosh, that was a crazy dream,’ only to realize that here we are."

The extraordinary phone call came just days after a letter ended a mystery stretching back to Goessling's birth. On May 6, 2025, an attorney representing his biological mother contacted Goessling to explain that she believed he was the son she had placed for adoption through Catholic Charities nearly 58 years earlier.

Goessling had always known he was adopted, but the adoption was closed. He knew nothing about his biological parents, and they knew virtually nothing about the life he had gone on to live.

His biological mother, he learned, had spent roughly 30 to 35 years searching for him. Both biological parents hoped he might be willing to communicate, Goessling recalled, but above all, they wanted to know that he was well.

"It was a wonderful surprise but quite a shock," he said. "It felt like a tsunami hit me."

Goessling called his biological mother that evening. Although he had never actively searched for his biological parents, he had long hoped he might someday have the opportunity to thank them.

"I just want you to hear from me that I got nothing but love for you," he recalled telling her. "This is such an amazing gift, that I get to thank you personally. … They were always heroes in my story," he said.

CUT OFF BY YOUR ADULT CHILD? PSYCHOLOGY RESEARCHER REVEALS WHAT PARENTS SHOULD DO NEXT

Their first conversation lasted about 90 minutes. Goessling eventually proposed meeting for lunch that Friday, prompting his biological mother to remind him that Friday was his birthday.

"Yeah, yeah. You've waited long enough. I think I've waited enough," he recalled replying. "Let's meet on my birthday, 58 years to the day."

After a three-hour lunch and nearly six decades apart, Goessling learned there was someone else anxious to speak with him. His biological father had deliberately remained in the background so mother and son could have their reunion first.

"He really wanted the mother-son thing to happen first, which is just true to his character," Goessling said. "He thought that was very important, and he wanted to take a back seat so that could happen."

Before father and son connected, McDonald left Goessling a voicemail. That unmistakable voice immediately struck him.

"Whoa, what a voice," Goessling recalled telling his biological mother.

"Yeah, he gets that a lot," she replied with a chuckle.

The voice seemed strangely familiar, but Goessling still didn't make the connection. When the two men finally spoke, he began by telling McDonald what he had already told his biological mother.

"Thank you for giving me a shot in this world," Goessling recalled saying. "I've had a charmed life. And it all started with you guys."

Then he asked what his biological father did for a living.

"I'm a musician," McDonald told him.

Goessling, a lifelong music obsessive who once worked in the music business, thought that was terrific. It wasn't until the conversation turned to McDonald's upcoming tour stop that he finally put it together.

The revelation contained another coincidence almost too remarkable to invent; Goessling was already a huge fan.

The Doobie Brothers had been among his favorite bands since childhood, alongside The Who and Journey. He vividly remembers first hearing "Takin' It to the Streets" after McDonald joined the group and insisting to the person playing it that there had been some mistake.

"I know the Doobie Brothers and that is not the Doobie Brothers," Goessling remembered declaring as a child.

He soon learned about the band's new singer and became a McDonald fan, too. He remained one.

In fact, Goessling had already watched his biological father perform in concert twice, once in the 1980s, and again in the early 1990s, without ever imagining that the man onstage was the father whose identity he did not know.

When Fox News Digital pointed out that meant he had actually paid twice to see his own father perform, Goessling laughed.

"I should get reimbursed for that."

There were other clues hiding in plain sight. After Goessling grew out his hair and white beard during the COVID-19 pandemic, people began telling him they liked the "Michael McDonald thing" he had going on.

"Little did I know, five years later that that would resonate even so true," he said.

After the families met, the similarities became even harder to miss. During a visit with McDonald, Goessling said McDonald's wife, Amy, and his newfound half-sister would watch him do or say something and suddenly burst out laughing.

"Your dad does the exact same thing," they would tell him. "They couldn't take their eyes off me," Goessling said. "They're waiting to see what I would do or say next because there was so many just natural similarities."

Yet, for Goessling, the remarkable celebrity connection is not the part of his story that matters most.

Learning where he came from also meant finally understanding what his biological parents had faced nearly six decades earlier, when they were just two 14-year-old eighth-graders confronting a pregnancy that would change all three of their lives.

According to Goessling, the teenagers' initial reaction was that they would marry, raise their baby and rely on their families to help them. Their parents concluded they were simply too young at the time.

"They were just far too young to be married and to have a child," Goessling said.

Their families ultimately determined that adoption would be best, he said, although relinquishing their son had not been his biological parents' first choice.

Nearly six decades later, Goessling sees what happened through the lens of both gratitude and faith.

"Mike, I mean, he wasn't Michael McDonald [then]. He was Mike from the neighborhood," he said, imagining how differently life could have been had two 14-year-olds attempted to raise a child together.

"I have to believe that it all worked out as it was supposed to because, certainly, when I see us all now together, it's just the greatest joy," Goessling said. "I think this was the plan. And I think it was a beautiful plan."

That plan, as Goessling sees it, led him to Paul and Kay Goessling. He grew up in a family of four children. Three were adopted before, against the odds, Kay became pregnant with their youngest daughter, Linda.

Goessling describes his childhood as "charmed" and said he could not have chosen better parents himself.

"If I could go back and pick two folks, I would pick them and do it all over again," he said. "They were just the most wonderful blessing in my life."

His father, Paul, died shortly before Christmas 2024 after a long battle with Parkinson's disease, and Goessling said the two were extremely close. Six months later, another father entered his life.

"After losing my father, I get a letter, and Mike pops up," Goessling said. "Another father enters my life, my world."

Kay's reaction to the discovery was immediate. When Goessling showed her the letter, he said his mother began crying and declared what had happened "a miracle."

She asked whether he had met his biological mother, and he had.

"Oh my God, go get her," Goessling recalled Kay saying. "I have to meet her. I've got a million questions. What's she like? I gotta give her a big hug."

Goessling said his mother has embraced his biological family from the beginning, and the once-separate branches of his family came together with surprising ease.

"Everybody's in love with everybody," he said.

Father and son now speak frequently and text "all the time," according to Goessling.

And while the identity of his biological father is what thrust his story into the spotlight, Goessling hopes the attention gives him an opportunity to talk about adoption as a blessing.

A practicing Catholic who was raised in the faith and adopted through Catholic Charities, Goessling said his parents taught him from childhood to understand his adoption not as evidence that he had been unwanted, but as evidence that he was deeply loved.

Even before he was old enough to fully understand what adoption meant, he knew how his parents viewed it.

"It was a miracle," he said. "It was the greatest thing. It was a gift from God."

Only when Goessling grew old enough to understand where babies came from, he said, did he fully appreciate the significance of the decisions that had been made before his birth.

"Obviously, we all know there are choices in this world, and I am so grateful and fortunate for the choices they made on my behalf," he said. "Adoption has been absolutely nothing but a blessing for me. … I celebrate adoption and I always have. It's always been a big part of my life story."

Now, nearly six decades later, Goessling has been able to thank the biological parents he once could only imagine, and discovered that they had spent those same decades wondering about him.

He hopes the unlikely circumstances that brought attention to his family can help "elevate" the conversation surrounding adoption.

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"I want this to elevate the narrative, the adoption narrative," he said. "I want that adoption gets celebrated more in this country. If my crazy story can be true, Lord knows anything is possible."

And if Michael McDonald is watching? Goessling doesn't need an interview to deliver the message. He said father and son already talk regularly.

"I just tell him that I love him, and I tell him thank you for everything," he said.

After 58 years, the man who says he never felt deprived of a family has somehow ended up with an even larger one.

"My cup overflows," Goessling said.

October Prime Day is Tuesday — here's what's already worth buying

Tue, 15 Sep 2026 09:24:17 -0400

October Prime Day begins Oct. 6, but Amazon's early deals are already here. Shop discounts across tech, home, kitchen, tools and other popular categories.

We're tracking prices ahead of the sale and highlighting the deals worth shopping now, along with the categories to watch during the event on Oct. 6 and 7 — from discounted Apple AirTags to popular cordless Shark vacuums.

Best early October Prime Day deals

At a glance

Best overall: Hisense 65-inch U6 Pro Series TV ($647, was $1,100) — Save $452
Biggest discount: Hanes men's zip-up hoodie ($13, was $28) — More than 50% off
Best under $25: Amazon Smart Plug ($13, was $25) — Lowest price ever
Best tech deal: Anker Prime 3-in-1 wireless charging station ($150, was $230) — More than 500 bought this past month
Best home deal: Shark Pet cordless stick vacuum ($150, was $300) — 50% off

Keurig K-Supreme K-Cup Pod coffee maker: $99.99 (47% off)

Original price: $189.99

Save time and effort with a Keurig K-Supreme. Just pop in a K-Cup, pick your cup size, and you've got a freshly brewed cup of coffee in minutes. It even accommodates travel mugs if you remove the lower tray.

Amazon Smart Plug: $12.98 (48% off)

Original price: $24.99

Turn ordinary lamps, fans and other small appliances into smart devices with the Amazon Smart Plug. It pairs with Alexa to control devices by voice, set schedules and manage them remotely. Both the single plug and the two-pack option come in under $25 for Prime Day.

Hisense 65-inch U6 Pro Series TV: $647.99 (41% off)

Original price: $1,099.99

Now more than $450 off, this Hisense TV uses mini LEDs to create realistic colors, whether you're watching sports or your favorite news channels. A built-in subwoofer gives the TV a deep bass that offers a more immersive experience.

Apple AirTag (2nd Gen): $24 (17% off)

Original price: $29

Keep track of your luggage, backpack, wallet or even your pet with an AirTag. It pairs with your phone via the Find My app, so you'll always know where your most valuable possessions are at all times.

Skechers men's Expected Avillo loafers: $42 (44% off)

Original price: $75

No laces mean you can slip in and out of these Skechers loafers quickly. The tough yet breathable canvas handles everyday wear, while the memory foam footbed makes them a strong choice for those who stand all day.

LEGO Star Wars Advent calendar: $35 (22% off)

Original price: $44.99

LEGO is always a huge hit, and this Star Wars set blends two popular worlds together. The 293-piece calendar includes 24 mini-builds featuring popular characters and ships, including the Mandalorian, Grogu and Moff Gideon in festive designs. Over 20,000 people ordered the calendar in the past month.

Shark Pet cordless stick vacuum: $149.99 (50% off)

Original price: $299.99

Easily remove stuck-on pet hair with Shark's cordless Pet vacuum. It offers a 40-minute runtime and powerful suction to collect all kinds of messes. Quickly turn it into a handheld model when you need to reach tight corners or want to clean furniture.

Bedsure heated blanket: $41.99 (39% off)

Original price: $68.99

Stay nice and warm all fall and winter with Bedsure's heated blanket. It has six heating levels for perfectly customized warmth, and a soft sherpa lining makes it even more comfortable.

DeWalt jigsaw: $138 (42% off)

Original price: $239

A popular pick with FOX News readers, the DeWalt jigsaw has a bright light that illuminates your cutting line while you work. The variable-speed trigger lets you increase the speed for tougher materials or lower it for more precise cuts.

Hanes men's zip-up hoodie: $13 (54% off)

Original price: $28

This Hanes hoodie is a versatile layer that works as a standalone jacket on warmer days, or doubles as a solid layer when the air is crisp. A handful of colors are $13 right now.

What should you buy during October Prime Day?

Not every Amazon discount deserves a spot in your cart. These are the categories we'll be watching most closely as the sale approaches.

Apple products

Here are the Apple products to keep an eye on during October Prime Day.

Watch:
Apple Watch Ultra 3 ($700, was $899)
Apple AirTags (2nd Generation), 4-pack ($89, was $99)

Shop now: AirTags ($24, was $29)
Wait: AirPods Pro 3 ($234, was $249)

Apple AirPods Pro 3: $234 (6% off)

Original price: $249

These AirPods have Active Noise Cancellation that helps reduce background distractions, while Spatial Audio creates a more immersive listening experience. With up to eight hours of battery life, they're a practical choice for commuting, travel and workouts.

TVs and tech

With the NFL season underway and MLB postseason heating up, now's a great time to upgrade your TV and tech setup.

Watch:
TCL 85-inch Class QM6K Series TV ($898, was $1,098)
Lenovo Business 15.6-inch laptop ($430, was $700)

Shop now: Amazon Fire HD 8 tablet ($80, was $130)
Wait: Ultimate Ears waterproof Bluetooth speaker ($79, was $100)

Anker Prime 3-in-1 wireless charging station: $149.99 (35% off)

Original price: $229.99

Save $80 on Anker's wireless charging station, and power up your iPhone, AirPods and Apple Watch all at once. Boost Mode charges your devices quickly, while Sleep Mode ensures you're not disturbed overnight while your tech charges.

Vacuums and cleaning

Vacuums from popular brands are heavily discounted during October Prime Day.

Watch:
Shark Vertex Lift-Away vacuum ($270, was $480)
Bissell PowerClean FurFinder cordless vacuum ($150, was $260)

Shop now: iRobot Roomba 115X robot vacuum and mop ($140, was $320)
Wait: Dyson Ball Animal 3 Extra corded vacuum ($400, was $550)

Shark AI Ultra robot vacuum: $239.99 (44% off)

Original price: $429

Get nearly half off the Shark robot vacuum and achieve a whole-home clean without doing any of the work. You can set vacuuming schedules, and after each cleaning, the robot automatically docks and empties itself, helping you stay hands-off for up to 30 days.

Kitchen appliances

Small kitchen appliances and well-known brands have discounts on Amazon right now.

Watch:
Ninja Kitchen System Pro ($150, was $220)
Instant Pot Duo 7-in-1 electric pressure cooker ($79, was $110)

Shop now: KitchenAid Artisan 5-quart stand mixer ($380, was $500)
Wait: Keurig K-Mini Mate ($80, was $90)

Breville Barista Express espresso machine: $499.95 (28% off)

Original price: $689.99

Now at its lowest price in 30 days, the Breville Barista Express is $500, down from $700. Make café-style espresso drinks at home with its integrated grinder, which produces freshly ground beans for each brew, and steam wand, which froths milk for lattes and cappuccinos.

Home essentials

Prep your home for the new month with discounted vacuums, mops and bedding.

Watch:
Bissell Little Green Machine multipurpose cleaner ($95, was $130)
BlueAir air purifier ($75, was $100)

Shop now: Bedsure cooling comforter ($76, was $168)
Wait: O-Cedar EasyWring spin mop system ($37, was $40)

Levoit air purifier: $69.99 (22% off)

Original price: $89.99

Refresh your indoor air with the Levoit air purifier. The 360-degree air intake system runs nearly five times per hour in small spaces. You can use the app to monitor the filter life, so you know when it's time to get new ones.

Tools

Save on tools from well-known brands with these deals.

Watch:
DeWalt jigsaw: ($138,was $239)
Shop now: DeWalt orbital sander ($97, was $179)
Wait: Milwaukee M18 REDLITHIUM batteries, 2-pack ($188, was $300)

DeWalt cordless drill and impact driver set: $179 (25% off)

Original price: $239

The DeWalt drill and driver set gives you all the power you need to complete DIY or professional projects. An ergonomic design makes it possible to fit the tools into tight spaces, and the built-in light brightens dark areas.

Clothing and shoes

Gear up for cooler weather during October Prime Day.

Watch:
Levi's men's 505 regular fit jeans ($50, was $75)
Columbia women’s Switchback IV jacket ($38, was $70)

Shop now: Gloria Vanderbilt women's Amanda jeans ($24, was $50)
Wait: Brooks men’s Adrenaline GTS 24 running shoes ($100, was $140)

Hanes men's EcoSmart hoodie: $13.30 (51% off)

Original price: $27

Stock your closet with these $13 Hanes hoodies before this Prime Day deal ends. It has a soft fleece lining while double-stitching helps the sweatshirt last longer.

Holiday gifts

Get your holiday shopping done early with deals on Advent calendars, earbuds and more.

Watch:
Crayola Globbles fidget toys, 6-pack ($9, was $12)
Heated eye masks ($10, was $18)
Shower steamers ($10, was $17)

Shop now: Soundcore P30i by Anker noise-canceling earbuds ($25, was $50)
Wait: Fuzzy slipper socks ($10, was $15)

LEGO City 2026 Advent calendar: $25 (29% off)

Original price: $34.99

More than 30,000 people bought the LEGO City Advent calendar in the past month. Count down to Christmas with 24 days of creativity, featuring a holiday-themed surprise behind each door, including mini builds, accessories and festive characters such as Santa, Mrs. Claus, elves, snowmen and baby reindeer.

When is October Prime Day 2026?

October Prime Day runs Oct. 6 and 7 this year, when you can shop deals across a host of categories, including tech, tools, home essentials and everyday basics.

Do you need Amazon Prime to shop October Prime Day?

Most of the deals happening during Amazon's October Prime Day are solely reserved for Prime members. That said, some deals are still available for nonmembers. When you head to checkout, you'll be able to see if the deal is exclusively for Prime members.

For more deals, visit www.foxnews.com/deals

How we're choosing October Prime Day deals

FOX News Deals editors are comparing current prices, discounts, product popularity and previous sale prices to identify deals that stand out. We prioritize useful, practical products from recognizable brands and update this article as prices and availability change.

If you're an Amazon Prime member, you can get these items sent to your door ASAP. You can join or start a 30-day free trial to start your shopping today.

WNBA playoffs preview: Golden State Valkyries look to close out Dallas Wings in Game 3

Fri, 02 Oct 2026 18:31:48 -0400

If you haven't been paying attention to the WNBA Playoffs, you are missing out. Honestly, if you like basketball at all, this is the only thing going on, and the series, although short, has been awesome. We've already seen the Las Vegas Aces beat the Indiana Fever last night in Game 3, and we saw the Dream and Liberty sweep their series. The Liberty knocked out the top team from the regular season. Chaos at its finest. Tonight we have the other top team on the ropes as the Wings look to upset the Valkyries.

The Dallas Wings are built on star power. They have two of the brightest young stars in the league, with Paige Bueckers in her first playoff games. They also have Azzi Fudd, but she has been out with an injury for the majority of the season. When the Wings received the #1 overall pick for the past two years, this is what they envisioned and what they were looking to build. However, it really isn't Bueckers, and certainly not Fudd, who is making the impact in this one.

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Instead, this series was extended by Arike Ogunbowale. If you haven't watched her play, I compare her to Jamal Crawford, Lou Williams or Jordan Clarkson. She is a starter, and most of those guys were role players or sixth-man candidates. Ogunbowale has been a starter, but can't really carry a team on both ends. She certainly put the team on her back in Game 2, dropping 45 points in 42 minutes of action. She was incredibly efficient as well, shooting 52% overall, 63% from deep, and almost 90% from the free-throw line.

The Golden State Valkyries are built on being a deep, well-rounded squad. That can't always work in the postseason. If you haven't noticed in basketball, you need stars to win. It isn't like the best player always wins, but just because you are a deep team doesn't mean you're the best team in the postseason. We've seen it over and over — you need a deep team to keep from getting too tired, and you need role players that can contribute, but you also need a guy (or in this case, a woman) to take over a team when you need a bucket.

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To her credit, Gabby Williams is having a fantastic series for the Valkyries. In Game 1, she dropped 20 points in 27 minutes while the team blew out Dallas. In Game 2, they lost on the road to the Wings, who put up a historic performance. Williams was equally impressive in that game with 36 points in 37 minutes. She continues to facilitate and be involved in rebounding as well. She has four other teammates averaging over 10 points per game, so she is getting help. The question is whether Williams can be the go-to scorer they need tonight when Dallas has both Bueckers and Ogunbowale.

Being at home should certainly help the Valkyries, who have gone 17-5 at home this season. Dallas was just 11-11 away from their home floor. I do expect Bueckers to be more involved in the scoring tonight, but she might not be enough. This Golden State team knows they need to avoid a collapse. They also know that their defense can win them games. I lean to the under on this one, but will play Valkyrie -4.5 in the first half as I think the home crowd will give them the boost needed to get going early.

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For more sports betting information and plays, follow David on X/Twitter: @futureprez2024

Inside explosive Cornell rape allegations: 7 men accused, conflicting accounts and a political firestorm

Fri, 02 Oct 2026 18:22:28 -0400

A sexually charged case that roiled Cornell University two years ago has exploded onto the national stage, fueling a fierce debate over sex, consent and criminality in college hookup culture.

Seven former Chi Phi fraternity brothers are accused in a lawsuit of drugging and raping a female Cornell student during a night of drinking, drugs and group sex at their fraternity house in October 2024.

The accuser, identified in court papers by the pseudonym Jane Doe, alleges the men sexually assaulted her after she arrived intoxicated and was pressured into taking ketamine and other substances. The men have denied wrongdoing, with some maintaining the sexual activity was consensual and others denying they participated in it. No criminal charges have been filed against the seven men.

CONVICTED RAPIST WHO PREYED ON WOMEN AT AMERICA'S TOP PARTY SCHOOL FACES RECKONING AFTER COURTHOUSE DASH

The case has now erupted into a political and legal firestorm, with New York Attorney General Letitia James announcing Friday that her office is conducting an "active criminal investigation" after Gov. Kathy Hochul appointed the Office of the Attorney General as special prosecutor. Cornell has separately agreed to retain outside counsel to conduct an independent review of the university's handling of the allegations.

At the center of the controversy are sharply conflicting accounts of what happened that night, including differences between what Doe said in the weeks afterward, what prosecutors say they received from Cornell police and the explosive allegations contained in a lawsuit filed nearly two years later.

Tompkins County District Attorney Matthew Van Houten, who initially declined to pursue charges, has said Doe's November 2024 sworn statement did not allege that she was drugged against her will or gang raped and instead described her participation in drug use and sexual conduct as "voluntary, conscious, and consensual."

What happened that night?

Doe was 20 years old and a Cornell undergraduate when the events at the center of the case unfolded on the night of Oct. 19, 2024.

According to her lawsuit, Doe began the evening drinking vodka at her Tri Delta sorority house before attending a sorority social event at a downtown Ithaca bar. She later went to a second bar before leaving alone around 11 p.m. and walking to the Chi Phi fraternity house to meet a friend who was a member.

By the time she arrived at Chi Phi, Doe was visibly intoxicated and had consumed roughly 10 standard drinks over three hours, according to her own complaint.

Once inside, Doe alleges, a fraternity member gave her another beer before proposing a threesome with another fraternity brother. The lawsuit maintains that Doe was already too intoxicated to consent.

Doe alleges she was then taken upstairs, where two fraternity members pressured her into snorting what they said was ketamine, a drug she says she had never previously taken. She alleges they also gave her marijuana and high-proof liquor before engaging in sexual acts with her without her consent.

The lawsuit alleges other fraternity members entered the room as the night progressed. At 1:42 a.m., according to a screenshot reproduced in the complaint, one member posted "free p----" in a Snapchat group for active Chi Phi members. The complaint alleges the message encouraged other members to go upstairs.

CBS News reported Friday that it had obtained additional Snapchat messages from the fraternity group, including a photograph of Doe with another man that was shared with dozens of Chi Phi members that night. Just before the photo was posted, one participant wrote, "Like you can walk in and whip it out," while another subsequently asked, "Shop still open?" and received the reply, "Yeah."

Attorneys for several of the accused men have denied criminal wrongdoing by their clients. An attorney for one of the men told NBC News the lawsuit was "intentionally dishonest" and maintained his client had engaged in immature and inappropriate Snapchat messages but committed no crime. An attorney for another said the public narrative was "incomplete" and inconsistent with evidence developed during Cornell's investigation, including Doe's own statements.

Doe alleges she became increasingly impaired and eventually "completely incapacitated" as the encounters continued. The complaint says the final alleged assault ended around 5:45 a.m., when Doe lost consciousness.

What did Jane Doe say afterward?

Contemporaneous texts, interviews and university records show Doe described different portions of the encounter differently in the days and weeks that followed, while also expressing distress about what had happened.

When she returned to her sorority house around 11:15 a.m. on Oct. 20, Doe told her roommates she had taken ketamine and had sex with multiple men, according to records from Cornell's Title IX proceedings obtained by The New York Times. One roommate said Doe did not initially describe what happened as rape or sexual assault, while another recalled that she appeared to be "in shock" and did not seem to understand the gravity of what she was recounting.

The following day, one of the men Doe would later accuse apologized to her for how the night unfolded, saying he felt terrible that he and another fraternity member had been too intoxicated to stop things before they got "way out of hand," according to text messages reviewed by the Times.

Doe responded that "none of the sexual stuff was illegal" and said she had enjoyed being with the two men.

Other contemporaneous evidence suggests Doe was already struggling with the encounter. On Oct. 22, she visited Cornell Health seeking treatment for a urinary tract infection and testing for sexually transmitted diseases, telling a doctor she had contracted the infection "in a traumatic way," according to university records.

Doe also became increasingly distressed as word of the encounter spread around campus. A roommate told Cornell investigators that Doe initially described it as a "crazy thing that she had done," but that her understanding shifted over the following days. The roommate said she discussed portions of the encounter with Doe and told her that some of what she described could constitute rape.

About a week after the encounter, Doe discovered an anonymous online post claiming Chi Phi members had been "gang banging" and that a sophomore had been gang raped. Doe later told Cornell investigators that seeing the post marked a turning point in how she viewed the night.

"That's the first time I had ever heard the narrative change that I wasn't a whore and that I was assaulted," she said, according to the university records obtained by the Times.

Doe nevertheless remained in contact with fraternity members and planned to attend Chi Phi's Halloween party, according to the records. After initially being told she was welcome, the fraternity's president uninvited her, prompting Doe to accuse the men of "covering your asses."

By Nov. 3, however, Doe was explicitly describing most of the encounter as nonconsensual. In a text reviewed by the Times, she wrote that "90% of what happened that night was not consensual," adding that she had been given more ketamine than she could remember and had felt uncomfortable around people she did not know. Four days later, she went to an Ithaca emergency room and requested a rape kit.

Doe was interviewed by Cornell University Police on Nov. 14 and Nov. 15. A transcript obtained by CBS New York shows that she distinguished the initial sexual encounter, which she said she had been "pretty OK with," from what she said happened later in the night.

"I can say with 100% confidence I was raped," Doe told investigators, according to the transcript. She also described later sexual activity as coercive and said she had been "completely and totally incapacitated."

During those interviews, the campus police investigator prepared a six-page written statement that Doe reviewed and signed. That document — rather than the complete interview transcript — was what Van Houten says his office received before deciding not to pursue charges.

WATCH: Questions swirl around Cornell's communication with NY DA over sexual assault claims

According to Van Houten's account of the signed statement, Doe said she agreed to the initial threesome out of attraction and "drunken curiousness," was "pretty ok" with it and voluntarily took ketamine later in the night.

The district attorney said multiple prosecutors and investigators reviewed the statement, assumed Doe's account was true and concluded that the facts contained in it did not establish a crime under New York law. Van Houten said her credibility was "never in question."

When CBS presented the full transcript to Van Houten this week, he said it had never been provided to him.

"That wasn't information that I had," he said, later adding that its existence "changes the landscape for me."

How the case resurfaced

For nearly two years after the alleged encounter, no criminal charges were filed against any of the men.

The case burst into the national spotlight Sept. 16, when Doe filed a sweeping 101-page lawsuit in New York Supreme Court laying out in graphic detail her allegations about what happened inside the Chi Phi house.

The lawsuit accuses the seven former fraternity members of sexual assault and rape and seeks compensatory and punitive damages. But it casts a far wider net than the seven men.

Doe also sued Cornell University, Chi Phi and affiliated entities, her own Tri Delta sorority and Moonies Bar & Nightclub, among others, alleging that institutions around her failed to protect her before, during and after the events of that night.

The complaint alleges Doe had already become intoxicated while drinking at the Tri Delta house before a sorority housemother accompanied her to Moonies. There, according to the lawsuit, a bouncer marked both of the then-20-year-old's hands with an "X" signifying she was under 21, but she was nevertheless served alcohol.

The graphic allegations prompted immediate questions about why no one had been prosecuted in 2024. Van Houten said he first learned of the lawsuit on Sept. 18, two days after it was filed, and that his office was subsequently inundated with calls and emails, including threats, demanding answers.

Van Houten publicly defended his original decision. He also reopened the investigation, met with Doe and her attorneys and announced plans to put the matter before a Tompkins County grand jury so it could consider her testimony and any new evidence raised by the lawsuit.

The controversy intensified after CBS reported that Van Houten had never received the full transcript of Doe's November 2024 interview with Cornell University Police. Van Houten said that if relevant information had been omitted from the signed statement provided to prosecutors, the circumstances should be investigated by someone outside Cornell.

Cornell has separately agreed to retain outside counsel to conduct an independent investigation into the university's handling of the allegations, according to Hochul. That review is distinct from the criminal investigation now being led by James' office.

Cornell, meanwhile, reached its own conclusions through the university's disciplinary process. University President Michael Kotlikoff said two of the accused students were expelled, two were suspended for at least two semesters, one had graduated before discipline could be imposed and two were found not responsible for sexual misconduct.

Those university findings were reached through Cornell's disciplinary process, which is separate from the criminal justice system and applies different standards and procedures.

Cornell has rejected allegations that it imposed only minor consequences, saying its Title IX process resulted in expulsions and suspensions. The university said no student was offered the opportunity to write essays as the sole consequence for their involvement and called suggestions that it failed to impose consequential punishment "false."

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Cornell said in a statement to Fox News it "fully support[s] the appointment of a special prosecutor" and is committed to "an independent external review of all aspects of how Cornell has handled this case."

The case has also drawn renewed attention to Cornell's campus climate after more than 35% of female undergraduates responding to a 2025 university survey reported experiencing nonconsensual sexual contact involving force, threats or incapacitation, up from 23% in 2023. Although Cornell said 926 of 6,000 students invited to take the survey responded, a participation rate of about 15%.

Gov. Kathy Hochul intervened Thursday, signing an executive order appointing the Office of the Attorney General as special prosecutor in the case.

James said her office would lead an investigation guided by "the facts and the law."

READ THE COMPLAINT:

Jared Kushner scolds CNN over 'deeply misleading’ report, says key info buried behind paywall

Fri, 02 Oct 2026 18:21:48 -0400

Senior Trump advisor Jared Kushner accused CNN of publishing a "deeply misleading story and headline" suggesting his "diplomatic work in the Middle East somehow benefited investments in Israeli defense companies" in a fiery social media post on Friday.

President Donald Trump’s son-in-law, who rarely criticizes the media publicly, took to X to scold a paywall-protected CNN report headlined, "How Jared Kushner’s firm’s investment in an Israeli company could be a major conflict of interest," that was published on Thursday.

The report noted that Kushner acted as a key negotiator regarding the war in Gaza while his company, Affinity Partners, "held the largest stake in an Israeli firm backing businesses involved in Israel’s military campaigns."

KUSHNER GIVES HAMAS STARK ULTIMATUM: DISARM OR ISRAEL GETS US BACKING TO ‘FINISH THE JOB’

Kushner argued that CNN’s own reporting contradicts the headline, but said readers without a paid subscription to the website were left in the dark.

"Buried behind a paywall, it acknowledges: ‘CNN found no indication that Kushner’s actions as a diplomat directly affected the investments reviewed,’" Kushner wrote.

Indeed, CNN said it found no indication that Kushner’s actions as a diplomat directly impacted the investments, but that point was buried 10 paragraphs deep and only visible to paid CNN subscribers.

The lengthy report said, "CNN used Israeli financial transparency laws to trace some of the military-linked investments of Phoenix Financial, a Tel Aviv-based firm that Kushner’s investment group doubled its stake in last year, shortly before Donald Trump returned to the Oval Office."

HILLARY CLINTON BREAKS WITH DEMOCRATIC CRITICS BY BACKING TRUMP’S GAZA PLAN AS THE 'ONLY GAME IN TOWN'

"Those records, which include only a fraction of Phoenix’s holdings, show Phoenix has invested hundreds of millions of dollars into Israel’s largest arms manufacturer, Elbit Systems. Phoenix also holds stakes in at least eight other companies providing equipment for the Israeli military ranging from drones to warships to demolition machinery, CNN found," according to the report.

"All nine companies identified by CNN saw their stock value climb last year, with many stating the war in Gaza had driven demand for their businesses," the CNN report continued. "Affinity doesn’t directly hold a stake in the nine companies CNN identified — but it does stand to reap rewards when Phoenix makes a profit."

CNN also noted that Kushner described Phoenix as a strong investment for Affinity.

In his response, Kushner said that Phoenix is not a defense company, despite CNN’s framing, and defended his company’s investments.

"It is one of Israel’s largest publicly traded financial institutions, highly regulated and managing approximately $220 billion across thousands of investments," Kushner wrote.

"Think of Phoenix as the Israeli equivalent of Vanguard or Fidelity. It manages the retirement savings of millions of Israelis. The savers don’t choose the individual investments, and neither do I," Kushner continued. "I have no role in deciding what Phoenix buys or sells. It has performed very well for Affinity and our investors, up more than five times since our initial investment."

Kushner added that Affinity is an SEC-registered investment firm.

"Our investment in Phoenix is public and dates to before President Trump was re-elected, and before I returned to public service. Affinity does not own the defense companies highlighted in CNN’s story," Kushner wrote.

"Those facts make for a less provocative headline, but a much more accurate story," he continued. "Misleading stories will not distract me from the work President Trump asked me to do: help end wars, bring people together and pursue peace. That work is too important."

A CNN spokesperson told Fox News Digital that "we stand by our reporting."

KUSHNER TOUTS UNPRECEDENTED IRAN CONTACTS AS TEHRAN DENIES TRUMP BACKCHANNEL

In a separate post, Kushner said he has ignored "false and misleading stories" for the past decade, but "the cycle has gotten out of control where old lies get repeated as fact, new ones get added, and the record becomes increasingly distorted," so he felt a need to respond.

CNN published a statement from Kushner's attorney, which was also hidden behind the paywall.

"Any suggestion that Jared’s diplomatic work influenced Phoenix’s investments in the companies you identify, or vice versa, is incorrect," the attorney told CNN.

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A White House spokesperson also told CNN the suggestion Kushner’s personal business activities have anything to do with his diplomatic engagements is a "tired narrative that Democrats have pushed against President Trump, his family, and his administration for a decade."

Miami Heat tease release of new 'Vice City' jerseys on the night before 'Grand Theft Auto VI' release

Fri, 02 Oct 2026 18:10:17 -0400

November will see the launch of what is easily the biggest video game release of all time, and maybe the biggest entertainment release full stop, when "Grand Theft Auto VI" hits shelves.

Or hits the PlayStations of those of us who pre-ordered it (*raises hand*).

The game takes place largely in "Vice City," a fictionalized version of Miami, and it looks like the Miami Heat are getting in on the promotion.

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The team announced on Friday that they will debut their new "Vice City" jerseys on November 18 against the Milwaukee Bucks (which is a notable matchup for another reason), the night before GTA VI's big November 19 release.

According to the team's website, the Heat's new duds will be "new, completely reimagined" getups for the occasion.

The video also shows the roof of the Kaseya Center, which has a big "Welcome to Vice City" sign with the game's Roman numeral "VI" logo next to it.

That night, the team will use a special "Vice City" court, and, as is the case for any good promotional endeavor, there's plenty of merch to be had.

As far as I can remember, there has never been a sports/video game tie-in like this, at least for a non-sports game.

NBA PLAYER PREDICTS AMERICAN ATHLETES' PERFORMANCES WILL DIP IN NOVEMBER WHILE THEY PLAY GTA

This isn't going to just be a video game release. It's going to transcend a whole bunch of different pop-cultural avenues, and here's one of them.

Good luck escaping the "Grand Theft Auto VI" barrage that we're going to face for the next couple of months.

Personally, I'm all about it. Like a lot of folks, I've been waiting for this thing to come out for well over a decade. It's going to be wild to finally dig into it.

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Now, if they could just get to work on a sequel to "LA Noire," that would be greatly appreciated.

'Piano Man' Billy Joel's prized motorcycle collection hits the auction block

Fri, 02 Oct 2026 18:00:17 -0400

Billy Joel may be right, or he may be crazy as his prized motorcycle collection hits the auction block in the Big Apple.

More than 70 lots from the Piano Man's personal collection will be offered without reserve during Gooding Christie's inaugural auction at Retromobile New York next month.

Joel, 77, "is a genuine enthusiast who loves all sorts of motorcycles," Gooding Christie's founder, David Gooding, exclusively told Fox News Digital of the array of two-wheelers going up for sale, which includes "older bikes, bikes with side cars ... a mixture of everything."

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"The exciting thing is all the motorcycles are being sold without reserve," Gooding said, meaning the auction will be sold to the highest bidder regardless of the final price.

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"And, a portion of the proceeds are going to benefit the Joel Foundation, which is a wonderful charity. It's a great charity that supports non-profit music education, public women's health ... there's some great initiatives that it supports."

The collection includes a number of his most cherished motorcycles, including Ducati, BMW, Moto Guzzi, Harley-Davidson, Yamaha, Triumph, Honda, Kawasaki, and more.

"One of the stars of the sale is a 1978 Triumph T140 Bonneville that was gifted to Billy Joel by Madison Square Garden to commemorate 150 sold out shows," Gooding said of the bike, which is expected to retrieve anywhere from $10,000 - $15,000.

"He still holds the record for the most sold out show of anyone ever at Madison Square Garden. And this bike is painted with a keyboard on the tank. It's really, really a special, special item."

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The custom-painted motorcycle was commissioned especially for Joel, and is accompanied by a matching helmet listing every single show and year he played at Madison Square Garden, according to Gooding.

The collection also includes an iconic 1982 Ducati 900 Mike Hailwood Replica, which is estimated between $15,000-$25,000, marketed by Ducati to commemorate the motorcycle that Mike Hailwood rode to his legendary comeback victory at the 1978 Isle of Man.

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A restored 1975 Ducati 750 Sport is estimated at $25,000 - $35,000 without reserve, and is "one of the most beautiful motorcycles ever conceived," according to the auction house.

Motorcycles from the auction – which is slated for Nov. 20-21 – will be on display at the Javits Center in New York.

"The great thing about this collection is it's certainly going to appeal to Billy Joel's fan base, but I also believe there are many people that are going to just be very passionate about motorcycles themselves," Gooding said.

"So we've got this sort of dual pool of interested buyers because the bikes in and of themselves are really important and valuable and exciting, and then you've got the Billy Joel component."

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"I’ve always been drawn to bikes built by people who cared about getting every detail right," Joel said in a statement shared through Gooding Christie's. "I’ve loved building this collection. Now it’s someone else’s turn to hit the road."

The "Uptown Girl" singer underwent brain surgery after revealing his normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH) diagnosis in May 2025. NPH affects his vision, hearing and balance, according to a statement Joel released on social media at the time.

During a recent appearance on his self-titled SiriusXM show, "The Billy Joel Channel," the legendary singer said doctors told him that his rock 'n' roll lifestyle caused damage to his brain nerves.

At the time of the announcement, Joel was forced to cancel a number of shows and said his condition had been "exacerbated by recent concert performances, leading to problems with hearing, vision and balance."

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NPH is a condition that happens when cerebrospinal fluid builds up inside the skull and presses on the brain. This condition is most likely to occur in people over age 65. Treating this condition involves surgery to implant a shunt to drain excess fluid from the inside of the skull, according to the Cleveland Clinic.

With Tony Romo out at CBS, Troy Aikman and Greg Olsen suddenly become logical replacements

Fri, 02 Oct 2026 18:00:08 -0400

CBS Sports officially announced Friday that Tony Romo will not return to the network. In July, CBS placed Romo on indefinite leave after he was arrested on charges of operating a vehicle while intoxicated.

"CBS Sports and Tony Romo have mutually agreed to part ways," the network said in a statement. "We thank Tony for his contributions over the past nine years and wish him the best moving forward."

As OutKick reported at the time, industry sources did not expect Romo to return. In short, the DWI accelerated a decision CBS had already made: it wanted out of the Tony Romo business.

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CBS will broadcast its next Super Bowl in 2028, the first under David Ellison-backed Skydance ownership. The company had no interest in entering another Super Bowl cycle with Romo as Jim Nantz's lead analyst. Over the past several seasons, Romo's performance became a frequent target of criticism from fans and media alike.

The low point came during Super Bowl LVIII, when Romo botched the call of Patrick Mahomes' game-winning touchdown pass in overtime, a moment many viewed as symbolic of his decline in the booth.

The question now is who replaces Romo long term. With the NFL reportedly acquiring an equity stake in CBS, the network should remain one of the league's most valuable broadcast partners well into the next decade.

For now, CBS says future Hall of Famer J.J. Watt will remain Jim Nantz's color analyst. The network elevated Watt from its No. 2 team to the lead broadcast following Romo's suspension. Reviews of Watt have been mixed, though we generally agree with those who have praised his performance.

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Still, whether Watt holds the job through next season — and into the Super Bowl — may depend less on his performance than on who becomes available.

The contracts of both ESPN's Troy Aikman and Fox's Greg Olsen expire after the Super Bowl in February, which Aikman will call alongside Joe Buck for ESPN/ABC.

In one of the more puzzling developments of this broadcast cycle, ESPN and Aikman have yet to reach a contract extension even after the network finalized a new deal with Buck.

Aikman is still widely regarded as the NFL's premier game analyst. With deep-pocketed ownership and a Super Bowl on the horizon, CBS could make a serious run at him. Signing Aikman would likely require a contract worth more than $25 million annually.

Olsen would also be an attractive option. At just 41, he already has Super Bowl experience, having called Super Bowl LVII for Fox alongside Kevin Burkhardt before Tom Brady replaced him as the network's lead analyst.

Watt does have one meaningful advantage: a full season of chemistry with Nantz.

The biggest question surrounding Aikman is how quickly he would develop that same rapport with a play-by-play partner other than Buck after more than two decades together. He'd likely adapt without much trouble, but the uncertainty could work in Watt's favor.

Olsen, by contrast, has worked successfully with multiple play-by-play partners throughout his broadcasting career. He has built chemistry quickly with each. ESPN could also emerge as a logical landing spot if it ultimately fails to re-sign Aikman.

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If neither Aikman nor Olsen lands with ESPN or CBS, Netflix would become an obvious contender as it continues expanding its NFL portfolio.

Elsewhere, Amazon has reportedly re-signed Kirk Herbstreit to remain its lead NFL color analyst.

Death row inmate unconscious on ventilator after botched execution for teen’s killing: attorneys

Fri, 02 Oct 2026 17:43:27 -0400

A Tennessee death row inmate remained unconscious on a ventilator Friday after surviving the state's failed attempt to execute her this week, and her attorneys accused prison officials of ignoring months of warnings that the lethal injection could go catastrophically wrong.

Christa Pike was scheduled to be executed for the 1995 torture killing of 19-year-old Colleen Slemmer. She would have become the first woman executed in Tennessee in more than 200 years before Wednesday night's execution attempt failed.

Pike's attorneys filed an emergency motion in Davidson County Chancery Court seeking an order requiring the Tennessee Department of Correction to preserve evidence related to what they described as the state's "botched attempted execution."

They argue the records are critical to determining what happened, protecting Pike's legal rights and ensuring accountability.

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"Christa remains critically ill and is receiving medical care for the devastating effects of Wednesday night's events," attorneys Stephen Ferrell and Luke Ihnen said in a statement Friday. "As detailed in today's filing, Christa remains hospitalized following Wednesday night's failed execution attempt.

"She is critically ill, unconscious, intubated and receiving breathing assistance through a ventilator," they added. "She is being treated for the serious effects of the pentobarbital administered during the execution attempt, including significant injuries to both arms."

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The emergency motion paints a far more detailed picture of what Pike's attorneys say unfolded inside the execution chamber.

Pike’s team contends the execution team struggled to establish IV access, using at least seven needles before administering two lethal doses of pentobarbital.

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The filing also alleges Pike suggested where staff should try inserting the IV, one needle was bent at a 90-degree angle when it was removed, and she could be heard crying, whimpering and breathing loudly throughout the procedure.

Pike also allegedly told those carrying out the execution, "My arm feels like it's about to burst open," before later asking, "Does this happen like that?"

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The motion says Pike arrived at the hospital with both arms "swollen, burned, and blistered." It also says medical experts have compared pentobarbital to "bleach" or "Drano," describing it as a highly caustic substance capable of burning skin, tissue and veins.

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Pike's attorneys contend none of those complications should have come as a surprise.

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Months before the execution, they warned the state that Pike's thrombocytosis, post-traumatic stress disorder, small veins and history of difficult needle insertion made it significantly more likely prison officials would struggle to establish and maintain IV access. They also warned improper delivery of pentobarbital could result in "serious illness, needless suffering, and/or prolonged or lingering death."

"Her concerns were called 'speculation'; they were laughed off, scoffed at, and dismissed," the motion states. "In the words of one media witness: we have a lot of questions and the Department of Correction has a lot of answers that it needs to provide to the public about what happened here. We agree."

READ THE FILING:

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The attorneys further contend the execution team failed to recognize that Pike's IV lines had failed before administering another dose of pentobarbital.

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"Apparently at no point did any member of the execution team realize that the IV lines were not correctly placed or that the veins had blown and that the pentobarbital was, in whole or in part, entering Ms. Pike's body," the motion states.

"Instead of remedying this failure, TDOC elected to prepare a backup set of syringes (if they were not also prepared earlier that day) and then administered another lethal dose of pentobarbital."

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The attorneys argue preserving evidence from the execution attempt is now critical as the case moves forward.

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"In light of the manifest violation of Ms. Pike's constitutional rights, the actionable nature of that violation, and the reasonable foreseeability of litigation, the Defendants have an affirmative duty to preserve all relevant physical, written, and electronic evidence," the motion states.

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Fox News Digital reached out to the Tennessee Department of Correction and the Tennessee Attorney General's Office for comment.

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"The governor has appropriately called for an investigation. We need to know what happened," a spokesperson for the attorney general's office said.

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FlyDubai co-pilot accused of cockpit attack was grounded by Oman Air before joining airline: report

Fri, 02 Oct 2026 17:20:15 -0400

The FlyDubai co-pilot accused of stabbing the captain of a passenger jet mid-flight and nearly causing a catastrophic crash was grounded by Oman Air in 2024 after the airline discovered he had been visiting radical Islamic websites, according to a source familiar with the matter.

Authorities believe the co-pilot moved to Dubai later that same year, according to the source, who also told Fox News the co-pilot spent a significant part of his life outside Oman, including with his mother, who is from Syria.

According to the source, FlyDubai did not check with Oman Air about the co-pilot before hiring him.

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The new details come as The Wall Street Journal reported Friday, citing people familiar with the matter, that the Omani national had previously been banned from flying over concerns he had adopted radical ideological views before later being hired by FlyDubai. The newspaper reported it was unclear whether Omani officials shared those concerns with other countries or airlines.

Fox News has not independently verified the reason the co-pilot was grounded by Oman Air.

The alleged attack unfolded Wednesday aboard FlyDubai Flight 1073 as the aircraft traveled from Dubai to Tel Aviv.

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According to passengers and officials, the co-pilot allegedly stabbed the captain inside the cockpit, sending the aircraft into a steep dive that nearly tore it apart before two reserve pilots aboard the flight regained control and safely diverted the aircraft to Saudi Arabia. Passengers and crew members then helped overpower the suspect, according to accounts of the incident.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Friday described the incident as terrorism, saying the attacker had undergone "Islamic radicalization."

"He came to crash the passengers on board," Netanyahu said, according to the Wall Street Journal.

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Netanyahu also said Israeli authorities are investigating whether the suspect acted alone or had assistance from others.

The United Arab Emirates is leading the investigation into the incident. A UAE spokesperson declined to comment to the Journal on the suspect's background, saying officials did not want to prejudice the outcome of the investigation or interfere with its course.

The incident has prompted renewed scrutiny of airline pilot vetting procedures and aviation security on flights serving Israel. Aviation security analysts told the Journal the episode represented a significant security failure and raised questions about how warning signs may have gone undetected before the co-pilot entered the cockpit.

FlyDubai has suspended flights between Dubai and Tel Aviv following the attack.

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

Hall of Famer says Chargers lack confidence as dreadful start threatens playoff hopes

Fri, 02 Oct 2026 17:15:28 -0400

For the Los Angeles Chargers, it’s getting late early.

While there are 14 games left in the season, the Chargers are already 0-3, and another loss could torpedo whatever chance they have left of making the playoffs. Pro Football Hall of Famer and Chargers legend Dan Fouts said the offense, which has struggled mightily to begin the season, does not look confident.

"As far as the offense is concerned, there just seems to be a lack of confidence in what they're doing. And you can't run a play without feeling it's gonna be successful. It just looks right now that they're having trouble with their confidence," Fouts told OutKick in a recent interview.

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"They're not able to string together enough positive plays to build momentum, build something that they can hang their hat on."

The Chargers hired former Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel as their offensive coordinator, and many around the league thought the coaching change would take the Chargers' offense to new heights. However, through three games, the Chargers rank 29th in the NFL, scoring just 14.7 points per game.

The 75-year-old Fouts said the team needs to start fast and sustain that success.

"It goes back to confidence, and you get that by having successful plays in a row, a couple of first downs, a good drive to start the game, to get in the end zone. All those things that will carry throughout the, throughout the ballgame. They need something good to happen early in this next game against Seattle," Fouts said.

Fouts noted that the Chargers did start fast in their 24-16 loss to the Buffalo Bills last Sunday, but they weren’t able to sustain it, blowing a fourth-quarter lead. The six-time Pro Bowler said the defense has improved significantly and remained competitive despite losing last season’s defensive coordinator, Jesse Minter, to the Baltimore Ravens in the offseason, where he became head coach.

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The two-time first-team All-Pro selection also pointed out the Chargers' brutal upcoming schedule. In the team’s next five games, the Chargers will play the Seattle Seahawks, Denver Broncos, Kansas City Chiefs, Los Angeles Rams and Houston Texans.

Fouts said there are 14 games left, and the team has the talent to get it done; the Chargers just need to build some momentum.

MILLER NIGHT FOOTBALL

Fouts was part of the infamous "Monday Night Football" broadcast booth with comedian Dennis Miller and Al Michaels during the 2000 and 2001 seasons.

However, when Fouts signed on to join Michaels for the 2000 season, he had no idea Miller would be the third person in the booth and was surprised by the unconventional move.

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"I think I said, ‘What?’" Fouts told OutKick when talking about "Miller Night Football," an HBO Sports documentary that premiered this week.

"Now, I was a big fan, still am, of Dennis. I loved his Saturday Night Live updates. I thought they were awesome. About his humor, I like the fact that it's not a pie in the face. It's very subtle at times. It's good and snarky at other times, and sarcasm, so I liked the way he handled his craft and was intrigued about the possibilities, and it was kind of fun."

After two seasons of Michaels, Fouts and Miller in the booth, ABC let Fouts and Miller go as the network brought in John Madden. Fouts said he was treated very fairly by the network and still keeps in touch with Michaels and Miller.

The Chargers legend looks back fondly on the two seasons he shared with Michaels and Miller in the booth.

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"It was amazing, the attention, the whirlwind, the limos. We didn’t get that very often prior to that as a broadcaster, but the chance to be on Monday night was a great opportunity. I was treated very fairly by ABC, and that’s why I like this documentary so much," Fouts said. "It brings back some very positive memories, and it gives me another chance to appreciate the humor of Dennis Miller."

FBI overhauls tech backbone to counter AI threats from foreign adversaries, reduce response times, Patel says

Fri, 02 Oct 2026 17:08:31 -0400

The FBI has adapted itself and its cybersecurity capabilities to combat nefarious uses of artificial intelligence from adversarial nations like China and Russia through full-scale modernization — something past leadership relied on temporary fixes to do, FBI Director Kash Patel said.

The agency had to completely overhaul its outdated technological backbone, Patel told Fox News Digital.

"Everybody that looks at the bureau thinks they must have the best tech and technology in the world," Patel said. "We didn't because prior leadership, all they did for decades was put a band-aid over a band-aid over a band-aid and never took the time to fix it."

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The FBI also harnesses the use of AI.

To handle threats with necessary speed and scale, Patel said the FBI uses AI to scan databases and swiftly process tips from the public. The technology serves as a human supplement rather than a replacement, which dramatically improves response times for thwarting terrorist plots and school shootings, he added.

"We get tips from our private sector partners and American citizens, and those tips come into our database now finally," said Patel. "Instead of an old game of telephone where 50 people have to call 50 people, and it takes three days to get us the information, it's ingested immediately. It's analyzed."

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The leads are then sent out to field offices, FBI headquarters in Washington, D.C. is notified, and personnel are dispatched to handle the issues, Patel said.

When Patel took the helm of the agency, the FBI had only two or three test use cases for AI in its entire history. The agency has now surpassed its 140th AI use case, he said.

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Declaring that AI "is here to stay" at the FBI, Patel emphasized that the agency will continue to follow the law, maintain legal guardrails, and partner with the private sector.

AI has come under scrutiny in recent months as lawmakers try to figure out how to regulate the emerging industry. Earlier this week, dozens of tech leaders gathered at the White House for a summit with President Donald Trump, where they signed a voluntary, "morally binding" accord focused on industry self-policing.

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"I think I'm seeing tremendous self-policing. And they understand that they have to self-police," Trump told reporters during an impromptu press conference outside the West Wing.

One of larger tech companies, OpenAI, recently fired three researchers after allegedly sharing confidential company information with a third-party AI safety organization, according to reports.

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The firings came as OpenAI and several other major AI companies have disclosed incidents involving rouge AI models engaging in unexpected behavior or hacking the systems of other companies.

Craig Carton calls out cancel culture after Portland Trail Blazers cut ties with newly hired announcer

Fri, 02 Oct 2026 17:07:52 -0400

By now, I'm sure you're all aware of the situation regarding the Portland Trail Blazers firing their newly hired play-by-play announcer.

It's a tale as old as time: someone lands their dream job, then an amateur internet sleuth with nothing better to do takes it upon themselves to ruin their life by digging up insensitive social media posts from over a decade ago.

Many sane people thought we had made it to the other side of "cancel culture," but apparently that isn't the case.

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Braiden Bell was all set to be the newest play-by-play guy for the Blazers, until a man by the name of Devon Haskins of KGW News in Portland unearthed several "racist and misogynist" tweets belonging to Bell from 2012 and 2013.

The tweets are, admittedly, in poor taste, but, to be fair, Bell was 14 years old at the time.

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OutKick's Craig Carton weighed in on the situation, and was pretty charged up about what went down.

"This kid just got the job of his lifetime," an incensed Carton explains. "And the first thing an 'investigative reporter' wants to do is see if (he) can find some dirt on the kid."

While he isn't condoning what Bell posted, Carton is quick to point out that he was a teenager when he wrote this stuff, and that pretty much everyone has said something dumb or insensitive in their younger years.

"I'm not excusing what he wrote. I understand you finding it offensive, but he didn't write it as a mature adult," Carton says.

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"He wrote it as a 14 year old. Are we really going to make decisions now and not allowing people to get jobs? Because when they were in high school, they put out a tweet that their friends might have found funny, and now it's going to impact this guy for the rest of his life."

Carton is spot on.

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What does a guy like Haskins gain from digging up these Tweets from half a lifetime ago.

The only thing that comes of this is that some poor young man was robbed of his dream job for the (admittedly forgivable) sins he committed as a teenager.

As a media man himself, Carton has one key piece of advice for anyone looking to make it big in broadcasting: scrub your social media page NOW.

"Before you apply for a job... clean out the Twitter account, clean out the Instagram," he pleads. "Because you don't even remember the dumb s–t you said and posted when you were a child."

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"And now Braiden Bell is learning this the hard way."

UK man accused of planning terrorism acts against Nigel Farage also charged in murder of another politician

Fri, 02 Oct 2026 17:07:09 -0400

British prosecutors announced terrorism charges Friday against a 28-year-old man already in custody for the alleged murder of a conservative politician.

The Crown Prosecution Service charged Joshua Kerry of South Yorkshire with one count of preparation of terrorist acts, accusing him of "engaging in conduct in preparation of acts of terrorism, including against [Reform UK leader] Nigel Farage MP."

Kerry has been in the custody of His Majesty's government since late July, after he was arrested and accused of murdering former Reform UK and Conservative politician Ann Widdecombe.

Prosecutors say Widdecombe was eating lunch in her Devon home July 8, when Kerry allegedly walked through the front door, beat her 21 times in the head with a hammer, took her wallet and was gone in an attack that lasted only two minutes.

IRAN PROBED IN ALLEGED TERRORISM PLOT AT UK BASE

Authorities say the latest charges against Kerry are related to events between May 31 and July 8.

In a statement, Senior National Coordinator for Counterterrorism Policing, Deputy Assistant Commissioner Vicki Evans, said, "The charge announced today is a result of the tireless work of investigators across the Counterterrorism Policing network. This investigation has been led by a dedicated team of detectives, analysts and forensic experts, working on multiple lines of inquiry, which has resulted in this very serious charge."

U.K. Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood, posting on X, called the new charges against Kerry "extremely concerning" and sent her "profound sympathies" to the Farage family. She added that "an attack on anyone in politics is an attack on us all. This case raises serious questions about the security of those in public life."

The Jo Cox Foundation, set up in honor of the Labour MP who was murdered in 2016, said in a statement, "No one in public life should have to fear for their safety. Violence, abuse and intimidation not only endangered individuals and their families, but threaten our democracy and have no place in public life. We must do more to prevent the rising levels of abuse and intimidation in politics."

Kerry is due back at Westminster Magistrates’ Court Wednesday.

Separately on Friday, Counterterrorism Policing announced charges against two Iranian men accused of plotting "to target the Jewish community in the Manchester area."

The Crown Prosecution Service charged 36-year-old Salam Ahmadyan and 34-year-old Rahman Salehi with "engaging in conduct in preparation for terrorist acts, contrary to Section 5 of the Terrorism Act 2006," alleging that two men were "in contact with an overseas third-party who may be in Iran in relation to the plot."

SUSPECT CHARGED IN MURDER OF UK POLITICIAN ANNE WIDDECOMBE

Evans called the charges "extremely serious" while reiterating that "we do not believe there to be any ongoing threat to the public in relation to this matter."

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Evans noted the alleged plot comes during the High Holy Day period and "coincides with the anniversary of the devastating terrorist attack last year at Heaton Park synagogue and comes in a wider context of increasing antisemitic incidents across the U.K."

Ahmadyan and Salehi have been remanded and are scheduled to appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court Saturday.

Fox News’ Thomas Ferraro and Stephanie Bennett and The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Dems demanding Venezuela brief face State Department fury as senators leave town before meeting

Fri, 02 Oct 2026 15:03:57 -0400

The State Department is accusing Democrats of performative "grandstanding" by demanding a sweeping Venezuela oil deal briefing then postponing it so the Senate could leave town early.

Four senior Senate Democrats demanded documents they already knew were coming, according to material reviewed by Fox News Digital. Then, the Senate rescheduled a congressional briefing on the agreement planned for Oct. 1, 2026, so it could break for fall recess.

The group of lawmakers were seeking more information on the Pentagon's involvement in an agreement with North American Blue Energy Partners (NABEP) that gives the Department of War a 35% stake in one of Venezuela’s largest oil producers.

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State says the lawmakers had known for weeks that administration officials planned to brief the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and provide documents on the deal on Thursday.

The department went forward with delivering copies of the U.S. government’s strategic partnership agreement with NABEP to the committee, claiming it did so despite the briefing being pulled down "as a courtesy."

"Copies of the USG Strategic Partnership Agreement with NABEP for your Members are in the SFRC front office," a senior State Department official wrote. "Each Member has a folder with their copy."

State Department Assistant Secretary for Global Public Affairs Dylan Johnson claimed Senate Democrats canceled the briefing so they could "skip town and go on vacation."

"This is pure grandstanding," Johnson wrote on X. "When they sent this letter, they had known for weeks that we planned to brief them and provide the documents today, on October 1."

A congressional source familiar with the planned briefing disputed State’s characterization, telling Fox News Digital that lawmakers had not been told the written NABEP agreement would be provided before writing the letter and that the briefing was intended as a broader update on U.S. policy toward Venezuela, not specifically the oil deal.

And emails reviewed by Fox News Digital show the briefing postponement request itself came from a Republican majority staffer on the Foreign Relations Committee, who told State early Oct. 1 that "the Senate has left town" and asked to move the briefing until November.

A State Department official told Fox News Digital the staffer was acting on behalf of the full committee.

The congressional source said Republican leadership had ended legislative business for the week, with senators on both sides of the aisle preparing to leave Washington ahead of next month’s midterm elections.

The group of Democrat lawmakers demanding the briefing are challenging the legality and prudence of the Trump administration’s agreement with NABEP, which would give the Pentagon rights to a 35% stake in one of Venezuela’s largest oil producers.

Under the arrangement, the Pentagon’s Office of Strategic Capital would receive rights to the stake through so-called penny warrants, while the State Department would receive preferential rights to purchase 20% of the company’s production at cost.

The unusual structure is part of the administration’s broader effort to revive Venezuelan oil production and expand U.S. economic influence after Nicolás Maduro’s ouster. Democrats argue the Pentagon may lack legal authority to take the stake and have raised questions about the administration’s vetting of NABEP and its leadership.

The administration argues the structure could generate substantial returns for the U.S. without requiring taxpayers to buy the stake up front. The White House has said the government’s 35% position could ultimately be worth hundreds of billions of dollars in equity and dividends if NABEP succeeds in developing the fields.

The deal could also give Washington a new source of relatively low-cost crude at a time when the administration is trying to increase global supply and bring down fuel prices. State would have the right to buy 20% of NABEP’s production at cost and the right of first refusal on the remaining output, which the administration says could help replenish the Strategic Petroleum Reserve and supply U.S. military and other sensitive needs.

The White House also says millions of barrels of additional Venezuelan production could eventually flow through U.S. refineries and be developed using American drilling equipment and infrastructure, generating investment and jobs in the United States.

NABEP produces roughly 220,000 barrels a day and has said it plans to more than double production to 500,000 barrels a day by late 2028. The administration is betting that private investment can revive fields that have suffered years of underinvestment and mismanagement.

The agreement is part of a much broader U.S. effort to remake Venezuela’s economy after the dramatic removal of Nicolás Maduro earlier this year.

On Jan. 3, U.S. forces carried out a military operation in Venezuela to capture Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, and transport them to the United States to face federal charges. The administration has characterized the operation as a law enforcement mission supported by the military and has since made rebuilding Venezuela’s oil sector a central part of its stabilization strategy.

Interim leader Delcy Rodríguez, Maduro’s former vice president, has remained in power while cooperating with Washington, even as Venezuela’s political transition remains unsettled and opposition figures continue pressing for elections.

The White House has described the NABEP agreement as part of a three-part strategy of stabilization, reconstruction and eventual democratic transition, arguing that restoring oil production is necessary to rebuild Venezuela’s economy and reduce the influence of China, Russia and other U.S. adversaries in its energy sector.

TRUMP 'SERIOUSLY CONSIDERING' PLAN TO MAKE VENEZUELA AND ITS $40 TRILLION IN OIL PERMANENT PART OF USA

Senators Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H.; Jack Reed, D-R.I.; Martin Heinrich, D-N.M.; and Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., challenged both the legality and prudence of the deal in a letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio, War Secretary Pete Hegseth and Energy Secretary Chris Wright.

Among their central questions is whether the Pentagon office being used to structure the investment has the legal authority to acquire an equity position in a foreign oil company. The senators also demanded the agreement itself, details about how State would pay for oil and information about the administration’s vetting of NABEP and its leadership.

"The proposed agreement is unlikely to reduce high energy costs for Americans, and it risks undermining the Venezuelan people’s transition away from a dictatorship," the senators wrote.

Fox News Digital reached out to the offices of all four senators who signed the letter for comment.

The unusual Pentagon role has drawn scrutiny since the deal was announced. Rather than immediately purchasing shares with taxpayer money, the Office of Strategic Capital’s position is structured through penny warrants that give the government the right to acquire equity for a nominal price.

The Democratic senators argue that structure does not resolve the underlying legal question.

They contend the statute establishing the Office of Strategic Capital authorizes loans and loan guarantees but does not explicitly empower the Pentagon to acquire equity stakes in private foreign companies.

"It is unclear," the lawmakers wrote, "why the American public should support this attempt to entangle the United States with a relatively unknown foreign oil company that lacks the capacity or credibility to develop oil fields of the magnitude described."

The senators also raised concerns about NABEP Chairman Alejandro Betancourt, noting past money-laundering investigations involving the Venezuelan businessman. Betancourt has not been charged with a crime, and Rubio has previously said he is not under active U.S. investigation.

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The dispute could form the basis for broader congressional scrutiny of one of the Trump administration’s most unconventional efforts to expand U.S. economic influence in Venezuela.

JUAN WILLIAMS: My wife thought I was crazy to join Fox News. I'm glad I did

Fri, 02 Oct 2026 17:00:43 -0400

My wife said I was crazy.

This was 1996, thirty years ago.

I worked for the established brand name in cable television, CNN.

FOX NEWS CHANNEL TOPS NBC, ABC AND CBS IN KEY RATINGS MEASURABLE FOR SECOND STRAIGHT SUMMER

Why then, she asked, with three young school-age children still at home, was I willing to give up that prime seat to join a start-up cable network being launched by a controversial Australian media mogul, Rupert Murdoch?

And this start-up Fox News Channel faced an uphill fight just to get on cable systems in big cities, including New York.

"Crazy!" Yes! But I told her they were going to be scrappy, innovative, and give me a foothold on the ground floor of the next era of news.

So, I went with the new kids in cable news.

And Fox delivered over the last 30 years by doing news for people who did not watch news. Fox is now often the number one channel of any kind on cable.

From the early days, the screen has been full of colorful graphics. Stories come and go fast. Heroes and villains are clear-cut. Crime stories and war stories took center stage — no matter where they occurred.

The on-air people did not speak down to the audience as experts. They talked to them as friends and neighbors, always shaking their heads at a crazy world.

As Brit Hume, now Fox's chief political analyst, told me at the start, Fox was willing to do stories being ignored by the news networks and cable outlets. He said Fox News was picking up money others left on the street.

DANA PERINO: THE UNTOLD STORY OF THE REMARKABLE PEOPLE WHO MAKE FOX NEWS POSSIBLE

On top of being daring, Fox had the novel idea of featuring right-of-center voices, Republican political players who generally felt like outsiders on the other networks.

Roger Ailes, the first head of the network, knew politics. He was a top GOP consultant. And his top programming aide, Chet Collier, a Democrat, had been Ailes' mentor at the popular daytime talk show, "The Mike Douglas Show."

They sold me on Fox, and they knew exactly what they were getting with me. I'd worked at The Washington Post and CNN. In bestselling books, I called out politicians on the right and the left.

And as a Black journalist, I was known to trade punches with Black politicians.

Fox's founders wanted me to trade punches with their right-wing media personalities. I was happy to get in on the action.

From the start, Fox made good television. Ratings slowly climbed as viewers discovered turn-up-the-volume debates among finger-pointing, smirking, laughing, and eye-rolling personalities.

Fox was in the right place as bombshell revelations hit the air about the president of the United States having a sexual relationship with a White House intern.

DR. MARC SIEGEL: WHAT 18 YEARS AT FOX TAUGHT ME ABOUT COURAGE AND FAITH

The impeachment of a president included nightly stories about the popular President Clinton facing a hard-edged prosecutor, Kenneth Starr. And then came provocative reports about a blue dress and cigars. The ratings climbed.

What I remember most about those early years of Fox is being on set in the D.C. bureau with Brit Hume, then the managing editor. He held the air for hours of hearings and press conferences. I was by his side as we struggled with new equipment, technicians discovering buttons, and producers shouting breaking news into our earpieces.

The same chaos followed when "Fox News Sunday" hit the air. No studio was ready. So, Tony Snow, the show's first moderator, and Marty Ryan, the top producer, had to hunt for historic homes, even gardens, in Washington, D.C.

For Snow, Hume, and an all-star panel of D.C. commentators, including Fred Barnes, Mort Kondracke — hail to the Beltway Boys — Mara Liasson, Bill Kristol, and Charles Krauthammer, every show was about speaking directly to the hot, populist passions in politics.

It was about being sharp with each other and giving no quarter to political guests. Creating the best show for the people at home has remained the goal for Fox.

Krauthammer would win laughs and applause on the lecture circuit by beginning his speeches by saying he was grateful to be invited anywhere Juan Williams could not interrupt him.

By 2000, Fox was perfectly positioned to offer 24/7 news and analysis of the disputed presidential election, the Florida recount, and the 5–4 Supreme Court decision that gave the White House to an underdog Republican who lost the popular vote.

And when terrorists struck the World Trade Center and the Pentagon on September 11, 2001 — 25 years ago this month — Fox was there with an established news-gathering operation and unique access to the new Republican administration of President George W. Bush. Then came Fox News' coverage of the war in Iraq and the fight against terrorist cells in Afghanistan.

Fox's ratings grew as more and more viewers trusted that, no matter their politics, Fox delivered the most compelling take on the sizzling stories defining each election, especially the 2008 race that saw a little-known Black senator running against former First Lady Hillary Clinton for the Democratic nomination.

GREGG JARRETT: MY MOTHER’S ADVICE LED ME TO THE CAREER OF A LIFETIME

It was a freezing night in Des Moines when the "All-Star" panel realized Barack Obama, a Black man, was about to win the Iowa caucuses.

On the air, I started crying. My emotion got to me as I tried to explain to the Fox audience what that moment meant to our nation's history, and especially to Black American history.

Another memory is being lustily booed by an auditorium full of South Carolina Republican voters in 2012. The booing started when, while asking questions at a Fox-sponsored GOP primary debate, I questioned Newt Gingrich about his use of racially loaded rhetoric concerning President Obama and the poor.

Years later, I would joke with the Speaker that he had me to thank for his upset victory in the Palmetto State primary.

That exchange became one of the first viral moments of a presidential campaign in the early internet age.

FOX NEWS DIGITAL LEADS IN UNIQUE VISITORS, OTHER KEY METRICS AGAINST CNN, NY TIMES DURING AUGUST

By Obama's second term, I was spending more time in the New York studios as a co-host of "The Five." By 2015, I began nearly a decade of living in New York to co-host the show. My role was described by Ailes as a center-left foil to the conservatives on the show.

Politico summed up my role this way: "Fox's Lone-Wolf Liberal Had a Tough Job. But It Made for Better TV."

"Juan Williams was particularly good at what might be the hardest, least appreciated, and most important job in cable news," the outlet wrote.

"The Five" became the number one show on the number one cable channel and delivered a robust message about debate in America. No matter your politics, no matter if you are with conservatives or liberals, and no matter racial and religious lines, "We the People" — Americans of all stripes — can find common ground in defense of honest debate, even with rants and occasional posturing.

"You cut a path through the jungle," a friend recently told me as we reminisced about the state of the media and the dearth today of conservative media platforms where liberals feel comfortable appearing, as well as liberal platforms where conservatives feel comfortable appearing.

I told him that since Fox became the number one cable news channel, it is often the case that more Democrats are watching Fox than any other cable news channel.

I've written more than a dozen books over the last 30 years. And on book tours, hard-right conservatives show up to tell me they disagree with me but love hearing a different point of view from someone they trust and, sometimes grudgingly, even like.

In truth, working with Brit, Shannon Bream, Bret Baier, Bill O'Reilly, Sean Hannity, and so many others almost always ended with more conversation, then dinner, a ballgame, or a beer. Brit once said the two of us are like TV's pro wrestlers. We fight like hell tonight, and the next night we go to another town and do it again.

At its best, Fox News is a reminder that social media and the internet are not real life. The bitterness we see online is produced by computer algorithms designed to divide Americans. Fox is about the audience. There's a bond.

That is why, on Fox News' 30th anniversary, I find myself thinking less about ratings or political fights than about friendships.

I think about Charles.

I think about Tony.

I think about Roger and Chet.

I think about Brit, Mara, Bill, Fred, Chris, and Bret.

I think about people like Cherie Grzech, who directed politics, and Porter Berry, who ran shows before taking control of FoxNews.com. I think about former television producer Nate Fredman. I think about Lynne Jordal Martin, who edits for FoxNews.com. I shared offices with Mike Emanuel and Leland Vittert.

I think about the amazing Fox audience — the countless people who treat me as a friend when we meet in diners, airports, supermarkets, campaign rallies, ball games, convention halls, studios, and green rooms across America.

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And I think about the people viewers rarely see: editors, producers, bookers, tech operators, directors, hair and makeup artists, security guards, and janitors.

So, three cheers for Fox News — one for each decade we have been on the air.

Thank you to the viewers and FoxNews.com readers who made our success possible.

Thirty years ago, my wife thought I was crazy.

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She still thinks I am, and maybe she's right.

But I'm awfully glad I took the chance.

CLICK HERE TO FOR MORE FROM JUAN WILLIAMS

Karine Jean-Pierre admits Biden admin failed on economic, age messaging, but claims Trump making same mistake

Fri, 02 Oct 2026 16:59:25 -0400

Former White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre argued in an opinion piece published Friday that President Donald Trump was making the same messaging mistakes as her former boss, former President Joe Biden.

"Mr. Biden wanted his team to highlight his domestic agenda," she wrote in The New York Times guest essay. "His policies were working, and he wanted the country to understand what he was doing and why. But the polling was clear: Our economic message didn’t land.

"Too many people were struggling with the prices of groceries, rent, child care and gas. Their lived experience did not match the encouraging economic news, and that disconnect shaped the entire public conversation."

FOX NEWS POLL: AS ECONOMIC PAIN DEEPENS, DISAPPROVAL OF TRUMP HITS NEW HIGH

Jean-Pierre pointed to the president's messaging on gas prices, inflation and the war in Iran in the piece and said, "When leaders neglect lived experience, the message collapses."

"The truth is, we had a stale message and outdated models for delivering it. It cost Mr. Biden and, eventually, Vice President Kamala Harris dearly. President Trump is now making a mistake even more damaging," she wrote.

When asked about Jean-Pierre's argument, White House spokeswoman Taylor Rogers told Fox News Digital in a statement, "Biden’s policies destroyed our economy by creating the worst inflation crisis in history, instituting burdensome red tape and stifling American energy dominance.

"President Trump has fixed the disaster that Joe Biden created by cooling inflation, signing the largest middle-class tax cuts in history, lowering drug prices and reshoring our manufacturing industry. The fake news won’t, so President Trump will continue to tout his economic wins to Americans."

Jean-Pierre admitted the Biden administration misread the public and said her press briefings fueled much of the debate surrounding Biden's age, in addition to the economic messaging.

"We learned that lesson with the economy and again with the debate around Mr. Biden’s age. Looking back, we misread the public mood, thinking the age conversation would fade. At best, my responses from the podium about Mr. Biden’s age failed to put out the fire; at worst, they fueled it," she conceded.

TRUMP VS HISTORY: HOW PRESIDENT'S POLL NUMBERS COMPARE TO BIDEN, OBAMA, BUSH AHEAD OF MIDTERMS

She also pointed to the changing media ecosystem and said a "TikTok about high prices, filmed with a phone in a grocery store aisle or in front of a gas pump" would get more attention than her press briefings or a Cabinet official on the Sunday news programs.

"The Trump White House should realize that over the next two years, there will be only more, not less, scrutiny when the president appears to drift off during meetings, is cagey about the results of his medical exams or goes on one of his erratic, late-night social media screeds," Jean-Pierre wrote.

"His communications team should know by now that the prices at the pump and the self-checkout line are undefeated.

"Once people believe their government is not speaking to their reality, it becomes incredibly difficult to earn that trust back. I felt that tension every day in the White House briefing room. I see it happening again now."

KAROLINE LEAVITT REVEALS SHE’S ADVISED TRUMP ON WHITE HOUSE REPLACEMENT IN FINAL INTERVIEW AS PRESS SECRETARY

Jean-Pierre released a book in 2025, "Independent," about her time in the White House.

Ahead of its release, she revealed she was leaving the Democratic Party and registering as an Independent.

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"The Democratic Party had defined my life, my career," Jean-Pierre wrote. "Everything I’d done to make people’s lives better had been connected to it. The party was the vehicle that allowed me not just to have a front seat to history, working first on [Barack] Obama’s presidential campaign then in his administration, but also to make some history of my own as the first Black woman and openly queer person to ever be a White House press secretary. Never had I considered leaving the party until now."

Celebrate FOX News' 30th anniversary with limited-edition wines

Mon, 11 May 2026 13:50:09 -0400

Celebrate 30 years of FOX News with two limited-edition wines: a Napa Cabernet and Sonoma Chardonnay. Only 300 cases of each were made, making them true collector's items. Raise a glass to three decades of FOX News — and the loyal viewers who have been there every step of the way.

What is the FOX News Wine Shop?

FOX News launched the Wine Shop in 2025 to showcase American-made wines. The site features bottles from vineyards across the country, including wines from veteran-owned wineries that can be difficult to find in stores.

What is the FOX News American Wine Club?

The FOX News American Wine Club differs from the Wine Shop by offering wine deliveries every two months. It's a convenient option for frequent hosts who don't want to worry about restocking before their next gathering.

New members receive nine bottles for $99.99 with free shipping, plus six bonus bottles in their first shipment. After that, each shipment costs $124.99, plus $19.99 for shipping. A portion of every purchase supports U.S. VETS, an organization that works to help end veteran homelessness.

Shop 30th-anniversary wines

Stock up on limited-edition, small batch wines to celebrate FOX News' 30th anniversary.

FOX News 30th Anniversary Napa Cabernet 2024: $30 (40% off)

Original price: $49.99

Celebrate FOX News' 30th anniversary with this limited-edition Napa Cabernet, a full-bodied red with notes of blackberry, black cherry, cassia, cocoa powder and toasted oak. Its rich, structured palate pairs well with steak, braised short ribs, lamb chops and aged cheeses.

FOX News 30th Anniversary Sonoma Chardonnay 2025: $30 (40% off)

Original price: $49.99

This limited-edition Sonoma Chardonnay is a medium-bodied white with notes of citrus blossom, lemon zest, golden apple, pear and toasted oak. Its fresh, balanced flavor is ripe with lively acidity and a smooth finish. Pair it with grilled lobster, herby chicken, creamy pasta, butternut squash risotto or soft cheeses.

Popular picks from the FOX News Wine Shop

Shop wines made in American wineries.

First-ever FOX News Wine Advent calendar: $89.99

Get ahead of the holiday rush by reserving this limited-edition, first-ever FOX News Wine Advent calendar before preorders close Aug. 31. For a $19.99 deposit, you'll lock in 12 mini bottles of American-made wine (187mL each), featuring a mix of red, white and sparkling selections inspired by the 12 Days of Christmas and the holiday spirit of FOX Square. The remaining balance is due when the calendars ship in early November.

Arrington Vineyards Antiquity Red Blend 2023: $59.99

If you prefer red wine, try the 2023 Arrington Vineyards Antiquity Red Blend. Made at a Tennessee winery, this red ages for a year in whiskey barrels, giving it a velvety texture and subtle spicy notes.

Appalachian Passage Viognier 2024: $34.99

The Appalachian Passage Viognier comes from Virginia's Monticello region and features notes of honeysuckle, orchard fruit, citrus and custard. Pair it with seafood or other summer dishes.

Sedona Stronghold Sky Island Willcox Red 2024: $32.99

Produced in Arizona, the Sedona Stronghold Sky Island Willcox Red Blend features notes of ripe blackberry, plum, cassis, mocha, dried herbs and spice. Its medium- to full-bodied profile makes it a versatile choice for a range of meals.

Left Foot Charley "The Foiled Starling" White Blend 2024: $29.99

This dry, light-bodied wine from a Michigan winery features notes of apple, apricot and white peach. Its bright, refreshing finish pairs well with everything from chicken and seafood to risotto and soft cheeses.

Dauntless Wine Cø. Veterans Collection trio: $119.97 (8% off)

Original price: $129.97

Veteran-founded Dauntless Wine Cø. offers a collection featuring red, white and rosé sourced from Oregon and Washington. Each label celebrates a significant moment in American history.

The Patriotic Pair: $24.99 (47% off)

Original price: $46.98

New to the FOX News Wine Shop? Start with the Patriotic Pair, which includes a limited-edition Washington Heritage Red and White House Sauvignon Blanc. It's an easy way to sample two American-made wines before purchasing a larger collection.

Keepsake 1776 "Let Freedom Ring" gift set: $89.99

Sample two popular California wines with this gift set from Raymond Vineyards. The Chenin Blanc and 91-point Cabernet come packaged in a keepsake wooden box, making it a fitting gift for patriotic wine lovers.

Dauntless Wine Cø. Dauntless Riveter rosé trio: $83.97 (27% off)

Original price: $114.96

Save more than $30 on the Dauntless Riveter Rosé trio and gift bag collection. Crafted by veteran-owned Oregon winery Dauntless Wine Cø., this rosé honors the women who supported the World War II war effort and features bright notes of strawberry and raspberry.

For more deals, visit www.foxnews.com/deals

Crisp California Whites Dozen: $167.88 (35% off)

Original price: $258.88

Sample a variety of white wines with this California Whites dozen from the FOX News Wine Shop. It includes Sauvignon Blanc, an award-winning Chenin Blanc, Pinot Grigio and a white blend — all for $91 off.