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Will Platner controversy sink Democrats in a crucial U.S. House showdown?

Tue, 14 Jul 2026 05:00:57 -0400

EXCLUSIVE - AUGUSTA, Maine - Graham Platner is gone, but the trail of debris left from the mounting controversies that brought down his nearly year-long insurgent Senate campaign is giving Republicans ammunition to use against a Democrat on the ballot in another equally crucial midterm race in Maine.

Former two-term Maine Gov. Paul LePage, the GOP nominee in the high-stakes battle for the state's 2nd Congressional District, one of roughly two-dozen races that may determine the House balance of power, says that Matt Dunlap, the Democratic Party's nominee, "miscalculated" by aligning himself with Platner.

LePage is aiming to flip the Democrat-controlled open seat in a mostly rural district President Donald Trump carried in the past three presidential elections. And the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) is heavily targeting the race as it works to hold onto its razor-thin House majority in the midterms.

"Way, way too close to Platner. Way too close to Bernie. Way too close to AOC. That whole gang," LePage said of Dunlap as he spoke exclusively with Fox News Digital on Tuesday and pointed to Platner as well as progressive champions Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York.

DEMOCRATS RUNNING TO REPLACE PLATNER IN KEY SENATE RACE CALL FOR ABOLISHING ICE

Dunlap campaign manager Harry Burke, firing back, called LePage's criticism "desperate and weak."

Platner, a populist Democrat backed last September by Sanders and later by other top progressives, was challenging longtime Republican Sen. Susan Collins in a combustible and very expensive race in Maine, which is one of a handful that will determine if the GOP holds onto its slim Senate majority in November's midterm elections.

Platner's exit from the race came days after an explosive report contained an allegation of rape from a woman he previously dated. It was only after that report when a chorus of calls emerged from top Democrats across the country for him to immediately drop out.

But Platner, the combat veteran and oyster farmer whose campaign caught fire, steamrolling the Democratic establishment, had already been forced on defense ahead of his primary victory last month.

PLATNER EXITS SENATE RACE AMID SCANDALS AND CHORUS OF CALLS TO DROP OUT

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

Platner repeatedly called the allegations of violence untrue and dismissed his tattoo and Reddit posts as actions taken by a younger man who has now changed.

And addressing the latest rape allegation, a visibly irritated Platner claimed in his campaign suspension video last week: "This is all false. The things that have been claimed did not happen. It is not real."

Republicans see an opportunity to use Platner's toxic baggage as a cudgel against some Democrats on the ballot in key races this year — especially those who once backed the Maine candidate or defended him against previous allegations.

"Every Democrat that endorsed Graham Platner endorsed a rapist, and every Democrat that stayed silent was complicit," Republican National Committee Chair Joe Gruters argued in a statement last week. "Democrats rolled in the mud with Platner, and now they are completely stained by their association with this sick monster."

Dunlap endorsed Platner and appeared with him at a campaign event days before Maine's June 9 primary.

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"Out of touch freak Matt Dunlap might be okay with Nazi lovers and men who abuse women, but in November, he'll see for himself that Mainers aren't. Dunlap's embrace of this vile human is disqualifying," NRCC Spokeswoman Maureen O'Toole charged last week.

A week ago, amid a wave of Democrats calling on Platner to call it quits, Dunlap said in a statement, "The allegations reported today are serious, and they deserve to be treated with the gravity they warrant. As such, I am calling on Graham Platner to withdraw from the race for Senate so we can all come together behind a nominee who can successfully carry the torch in November."

Burke, Dunlap's campaign manager, is pushing back against the GOP's incoming fire.

"Paul LePage is an absolute fraud. He abandoned Maine, moved to Florida, and pocketed a Florida homestead tax break every year since he left," Burke charged, as he pointed to past scrutiny LePage faced after he and his wife utilized a Florida homestead tax break on their Ormond Beach property for several years.

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Burke argued that "LePage might as well start packing his bags for Florida now — these so-called attacks are desperate and weak."

Democrats also question how effective any concerted push by the GOP to use Platner as ammunition may be with voters this autumn.

"Battleground district voters don't care about Graham Platner, CJ Warnke, communications director at the House Majority PAC, the top super PAC supporting congressional Democrats, told Fox News Digital in a statement.

Warnke, pivoting to affordability, argued that voters "care about how Republicans broke their promise lower costs by passing a toxic agenda of tariffs, new wars, and devastating health care cuts. Meanwhile, Democrats are running on making life more affordable and rooting out corruption, and in November we're going to win."

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Three top nonpartisan political handicappers currently give the advantage in the Maine congressional showdown to LePage.

The Cook Political Report and Inside Elections rank the race as Likely Republican, with Sabato's Crystal Ball at the Center for Politics rates it as Leans Republican.

Paige Bueckers sparks debate with comments about Black women WNBA coaches amid Caitlin Clark comparisons

Tue, 14 Jul 2026 06:53:21 -0400

Paige Bueckers once again advocated for Black women in women's basketball. The Dallas Wings superstar made viral comments at a postgame press conference on Sunday after defeating the Chicago Sky, when she was asked about the number of Black female coaches in the WNBA.

There are currently no Black female head coaches in the league.

CAITLIN CLARK VS PAIGE BUECKERS: HOW TWO WHITE WNBA STARS WOUND UP WITH VASTLY DIFFERENT CULTURAL PERCEPTIONS

"I'm for equal opportunity, no discrimination based on what you look like, who you like and anything of that nature. I grew up with a lot of prominent Black women in my life that were very important to me in how I was raised and how I grew up, being my stepmom, my AAU coach," Bueckers said.

"I understand how amazing they are and how they should get the same equal opportunity as a white woman, as a white man to be an important piece of this league. And it was built on a lot of Black women, this league, so it's definitely right for them to get the same equal opportunity as everyone else."

Bueckers' comments garnered mixed reactions and debate on social media.

Bueckers has been under a brighter spotlight in recent days amid comparisons to Caitlin Clark, after former NFL wide receiver Harry Douglas claimed on ESPN that "everything we expected Caitlin Clark to be, Paige Bueckers has been in the WNBA."

The two stars have been particularly compared in terms of their cultural perceptions in conversations about race in the WNBA. After the death of George Floyd in summer 2020, Bueckers, as an incoming freshman at UConn, participated in Black Lives Matter protests in her home community of the Minneapolis-St. Paul area. She cited her love for her half-brother Drew, who is biracial and part Black, as the motivation.There is no record of Clark making any statement or demonstrating any activism after the death of George Floyd.

One year later, Bueckers stepped on stage at the 2021 ESPYs awards to accept the "Best Female College Athlete" award.

In her speech, which has since become a polarizing flashpoint in the WNBA culture wars, Bueckers insisted that Black women "don't get the media coverage that they deserve."

CNN’S ABBY PHILLIP CLAIMS GOP LAWMAKERS BACK CAITLIN CLARK ‘EXCLUSIVELY’ BECAUSE SHE IS WHITE

"As a White woman who leads a Black lead sport and celebrated here i want to show a light on black women, they don't get the media coverage that they deserve they've given so much to this sport," she said.

"Everyone who voted thank you but i think we should use this power together to also celebrate black women."

When Clark and Bueckers faced off in the Final Four of the 2024 NCAA tournament, WNBA great A'ja Wilson made a comment that also became flashpoint in the sport's ongoing cultural conversations. While speaking with WNBA star Kelsey Plum in a now-infamous hot mic moment, Wilson praised Bueckers for recognizing her "privilege."

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"Paige reminds me a lot of you. She knows how her privilege got her to that point, and also like, she's good at basketball obviously. But like, she understands her privilege and pushes her over the top. It reminds me a lot of you, and I mean that's a compliment," Wilson said to Plum.

After Clark's record-breaking rookie season, she infamously dabbled in the topic of race during a TIME Magazine interview, where she uttered the quote, "I want to say I've earned every single thing, but as a White person, there is privilege."

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The quote prompted frustration and disappointment from many of her fans. But the quote has seemingly faded with time, as it hardly ever plays a role in current cultural discussions around Clark today, by either side. And while Clark has regularly condemned alleged racially charged insults to Black players, she hasn't uttered any quotes that make reference of her own skin color and the conditions that come with it since then.

Will Ferrell bombs during MLB Home Run Derby as baseball fans torch Netflix's broadcast

Tue, 14 Jul 2026 06:46:19 -0400

Remember when a surprise Will Ferrell cameo was an automatic home run?

Monday night's Home Run Derby suggested those days may be long gone.

Netflix's "marquee" event featured not just the unpopular Elle Duncan, but Ferrell, whose routine quickly became one of the night's most dreaded moments at Citizens Bank.

Add Netflix's audio and crashing issues to the mix, and you've got two very skippable hours of television.

NETFLIX'S MLB PREGAME SHOW HAD A HUGE ELLE DUNCAN PROBLEM

Ferrell did the whole "sport ball" routine, stumbling into the broadcast booth like he'd wandered over from happy hour before firing off a string of groan-worthy jokes, including one about Bryce Harper.

"The Liberty Bell comes and takes photos of HIM," Ferrell deadpanned.

ESPN MAKES RIGHT DECISION BY REMOVING RICH EISEN FROM PLAY-BY-PLAY AMID NFL NETWORK ACQUISITION

The Athletic's Andrew Marchand wasn't impressed, posting on X: "Will Ferrell and company may want to say something funny."

"No he's not lol. This is cringe as hell. If these guys are announcing the whole time I'm about to mute this. We have fallen so far from Chris Berman," one fan posted on X.

Another reaction read:

"Get these a**holes away from the microphone, or we're all turning it off."

Ferrell's routine suddenly felt less "Old School" and more just old.

As for Elle Duncan, the ex-ESPN host was already catching heat after Opening Day, and Monday night's return to the MLB spotlight didn't fare any better.

OutKick founder Clay Travis posted on X during the Derby:

"Who at Netflix decided we're going to make Elle Duncan the face and voice of Netflix Sports? And how does that person still have a job? Legit they have all the money in the world and this was their pick. It's like giving Davis Mills a $200 million contract."

It might've been the worst Derby performance since Jazz Chisholm Jr. managed just three home runs in last year's event.

There was a time when Will Ferrell could do no wrong.

Monday night wasn't one of those nights.

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

Sports cartoons of the day

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

Nancy Guthrie search scene drew YouTubers, arrests and bizarre roadside claims, docs say

Tue, 14 Jul 2026 06:00:46 -0400

A true-crime YouTuber was accused of turning the street near the Nancy Guthrie search scene into a roadside livestream setup complete with traffic cones, a tripod and an alleged "pee tent."

The records, obtained by Fox News Digital, show misdemeanor cases involving three men who were cited or charged after law enforcement encountered livestreamers near the Catalina Foothills area connected to Guthrie’s disappearance.

The FBI has said Guthrie was last seen at her residence in the Catalina Foothills neighborhood of Tucson on the evening of Jan. 31, 2026.

FBI SAYS NANCY GUTHRIE ABDUCTION DEMANDS MAY BE ‘LEGITIMATE’ AS CASE STILL PROBED AS KIDNAPPING FOR RANSOM

But the missing-person investigation also drew another crowd: online sleuths, streamers and true-crime personalities who showed up in the neighborhood and broadcast from near the search scene.

Alexander Zabel Jr. — "Criminal Network"

The most detailed allegations appear in the case against Alexander Zabel Jr., also known as CriminalNetwork, who was charged with obstructing a public thoroughfare and public nuisance, according to a Pima County Sheriff’s Department citation and misdemeanor probable-cause statement.

Deputies said they responded around 4:30 p.m. on May 26 to a traffic hazard and contacted Zabel, who was allegedly sitting in a lawn chair.

NANCY GUTHRIE MYSTERY COULD BE SOLVED WITH 'CROWDSOURCING' HELP, PRIVATE EYE SAYS

The probable-cause statement says Zabel intentionally placed traffic cones in the road next to his personal belongings, including a tripod he was using to livestream. Deputies wrote that Zabel’s YouTube livestream also showed him on the roadway.

The same probable-cause statement says that on June 6, Zabel set up a "pee tent" on the road "insinuating that he was urinating" and creating an unpleasant environment for surrounding neighbors.

Deputies wrote that, because of the "sensitivity & proximity to the high-profile address," Zabel created an offensive setting in the middle of the neighborhood and obstructed the free use of property.

SAVANNAH GUTHRIE PLEADS FOR TIPS AS RANSOM NOTE CLAIMS MOM IS DEAD: 'SOMEBODY KNOWS SOMETHING'

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Zabel was cited for two misdemeanor counts including obstructing a public thoroughfare and public nuisance, both marked as criminal offenses.

Zabel pleaded not guilty to both counts. James Pollack, community relations coordinator for the Arizona Superior Court in Pima County, said Zabel has a show-cause hearing scheduled for 9 a.m. Tuesday, July 21.

GOT A TIP?

Troy Lewis Bradshaw — "DAA JUICE"

A second streamer, Troy Lewis Bradshaw, also known as "DAA JUICE", was cited by PCSD for allegedly obstructing a public thoroughfare on June 4, according to a separate Arizona traffic ticket and complaint.

He was charged with "obstructing a public thoroughfare." Unlike Zabel, Bradshaw’s court records provided to Fox News Digital did not include a narrative explaining exactly what deputies alleged he did to obstruct the roadway.

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A June 16 minute entry shows Bradshaw pleaded not guilty to obstructing highway/public thoroughfare, first offense, with a fine or civil sanction listed at $282. Pollack told Fox News Digital that Bradshaw had a case management conference on Monday.

Damian Todd Enderle — "857 Tucson"

The third case involved Damian Todd Enderle, also known as "857 Tucson", who was cited June 8 for public nuisance, according to a PCSD citation.

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A June 30 minute entry shows the public nuisance charge was dismissed after the state moved to drop it. Pollack said Enderle does not have any upcoming court hearings scheduled.

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The bureau’s Phoenix field office and the Pima County Sheriff’s Department are continuing to investigate Guthrie’s disappearance and have asked the public for digital information, including photographs or doorbell-camera footage, that could help locate her.

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Anyone with information can call the Pima County Sheriff’s Department at 520-351-4900 or 88-CRIME at 520-882-7463. Digital photos, video or doorbell-camera footage can be submitted through the FBI at fbi.gov/findguthrie.

Fox News Digital has reached out to the Pima County Sheriff's Office for comment.

Trump showcases raw American muscle in preview of first-of-its kind America 250 Grand Prix

Tue, 14 Jul 2026 06:00:40 -0400

President Donald Trump on Monday spent the early afternoon showcasing INDYCAR vehicles that will participate in a first-of-its-kind race in Washington, D.C. in August.

"Unprecedented events will take place next month right here in our nation's capital. On August 22nd and 23rd," Trump said, standing outside the White House on Executive Avenue where an INDYCAR pit stop was demonstrated for the president.

"It will be an awesome display of American patriotism and raw horsepower ingenuity," Trump said. "You're going to see cars at the level that they've never been at before, with cars racing more than 190 miles per hour and even higher than that down Pennsylvania Avenue."

AMERICA'S 250TH CELEBRATION IN NATION'S CAPITAL BOOSTED BY ICONIC AUTOMAKER'S 2-WEEK TRIBUTE TO INNOVATION

The 47th president stood flanked by three INDYCAR racers, including 2026 Indianapolis 500 winner Felix Rosenqvist, on his right. On his left stood Penske Corporation founder and chairman Roger Penske, the company's president, Bud Denker, and Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy.

"It wasn't exactly designed for that," Trump joked of the upcoming race down the National Mall and streets of Washington, D.C.

"But what Sean Duffy has done with these incredible, brilliant people is really amazing. It's going to be a sight for the ages," the president continued. "It really will be something special, and they're going to go all around the National Mall at speeds that are not quite, if we did that during the regular day, I think people would be put in jail, perhaps for the rest of their lives."

Penske said that more than 250,000 members of the public have signed up to attend the events next month, which was established by an executive order Jan. 30 and is free of charge to attend.

FLASHBACK: AS AMERICA TURNS 250, HERE'S HOW THE NATION CELEBRATED ITS BIGGEST BIRTHDAYS

"When you think about 250 years of this country, it's an amazing time," Penske said.

"It's a great place to live. It's a great place to work, and I think we're fortunate to have the most important office in the world give us the green light and then the checkered flag to have this event in August."

When the remarks concluded, an INDYCAR driver demonstrated a pit stop, accelerating down Executive Avenue, showcasing the race car's roaring engines. It stopped for only six seconds at the pit stop, where the crew quickly changed all four tires before the car sped off, leaving a cloud of burning rubber behind.

The Grand Prix will take place Aug. 22-23 where INDYCAR racers, whose vehicles have the ability to top 200mph in speed, will zoom around the nation's capital for the first time in history, according to the White House.

The course, described as "picturesque" by the race organizers, will be a 1.7-mile seven-turn circuit including a .4-mile front stretch along Pennsylvania Avenue near the White House, according to the official website for the race.

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The track's pit lane area will be adjacent to Pennsylvania Avenue, between turns one and two on the circuit, according to race organizers.

The INDYCAR field will race by a number of well known institutions in the nation's capital, including the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum, the National Gallery of Art and the National Archives.

The event offers free general admission and is open to the public. There are also a limited number of free tickets that allow attendees to access areas inside the track.

More Americans now eat in their cars than ever before as expert reveals what it says about modern life

Tue, 14 Jul 2026 06:00:33 -0400

For many Americans, eating meals in the car is a regular part of life.

In a recent survey, 53% of respondents reported that they eat in their car at least once a week. The average American does so about three times a week, according to the study, which was conducted by research firm OnePoll on behalf of St. Pierre, a Texas-based bakery.

Many surveyed said they eat in the car because they're short on time (38%). Other reasons respondents gave for eating in their vehicle included convenience (35%), because "it's peaceful" (32%) and "to eat alone" (26%).

GEN Z EATS NEARLY TWICE AS MANY SNACKS AS BOOMERS, WITH EXPERTS WARNING THEY'RE REPLACING REAL MEALS

Most people (53%) still prefer eating at a table at home, and 34% said they enjoy eating in the car. Lunch is the most popular meal people eat in their cars, according to the study.

Eating in the car is "a habit shaped by busy schedules, but also by the small windows of time people create to pause and enjoy something to eat, wherever they are," according to the study.

But Pennsylvania psychologist Geri-Lynn Utter told Fox News Digital that the trend reflects more than convenience.

"Traditionally, meals occurred in spaces associated with family, social connection and intentional breaks in the day," she told Fox News Digital.

"Increasingly, however, the car has become a kind of psychological refuge, one of the few places where many people can be alone, decompress and step away from the constant demands of work, caregiving, technology and what I jokingly call 'peopling.'"

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The survey, which polled 2,000 adults in June, found those habits varied significantly by generation.

Gen Z (born after 1996) averaged 3.83 meals in the car per week. Pizza (20%), sandwiches/wraps (19%) and burgers and fruit (17%) were the most popular foods that Gen Z reported eating in the car.

Twenty-six percent of Gen Z said eating in the car is the only time they get to enjoy their food, according to the poll.

Millennials (born between 1981 and 1996) reported eating 3.22 meals in the car each week on average. They most often ate sandwiches/wraps (26%), burgers (25%) and pizza (21%). Fifty percent said they enjoyed eating in their car.

Gen X (born between 1965 and 1980) averaged 1.88 meals per week in the car, favoring sandwiches/wraps (27%), burgers (26%) and pizza, fruit and chocolate (11%) as their go-to foods.

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Boomers (born between 1946 and 1964) averaged 0.84 meals in the car each week. They most often ate burgers (29%), sandwiches/wraps (24%) and fruit (10%), and many (44%) said they prefer foods they can eat with one hand.

The Silent Generation (born between 1928 and 1945) averaged 0.63 meals in the car each week. Members of the generation most often ate burgers, sandwiches/wraps (26%), fruit, nuts, seeds and pastries (13%) and ice cream (9%).

When eaten alone in the car, food becomes more than fuel, Utter said. The car has become "the modern break room" where people temporarily escape from life's stress.

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"The food is the reward, but the solitude is the luxury," she said.

Food influencers often eat in their cars, Utter noted, "despite having access to virtually any setting they could use."

"The car feels private, authentic and free from social expectations," she said. "For a few minutes, there is no meeting, no email and no obligation to perform for others. The meal becomes an experience that belongs entirely to the individual."

The survey says less about Americans' relationship with food and more about their relationship with time, stress and recovery, Utter said.

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"Many people aren't choosing to eat in their cars because they prefer it over a dining room table," she said. "They're adapting to increasingly packed schedules, long commutes, caregiving responsibilities and jobs that blur the boundaries between work and personal life."

It also raises the question, Utter said, "If so many people feel that the best place to slow down and enjoy a meal is alone in a car, what does that say about how stretched thin we've become?"

Prince William's absence speaks volumes as King Charles reunites with Prince Harry and Meghan Markle: experts

Tue, 14 Jul 2026 06:00:27 -0400

The royal family's icy divide appears to be thawing, but experts caution that rebuilding trust will take much more than a single meeting.

On Friday, King Charles III hosted Prince Harry and met with his family for the first time in years as they tried to repair a rift that has persisted since his youngest son and his wife stepped back as senior working royals and moved to California.

Harry, along with Meghan Markle and their two young children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, met with the monarch and Queen Camilla at Highgrove House, a country estate west of London, Buckingham Palace confirmed. Fox News Digital reached out to a spokesperson for the palace and the Sussexes for comment.

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

"Eager Charles has always hoped to see his grandchildren," British broadcaster and photographer Helena Chard told Fox News Digital. "He is still undergoing treatment for cancer, and family matters more than ever. Despite years of public fallout, he would not pass up the opportunity to privately see his grandchildren."

Multiple royal experts told Fox News Digital that both the palace and the Sussexes are determined to keep details of the meeting private to help advance reconciliation efforts.

Katie Nicholl, Vanity Fair's royal correspondent, reported that the palace would not comment on the meeting or how long it lasted. A source told Nicholl that the king was "adamant" about keeping the meeting private, and Harry "assured" his father that he wouldn't speak publicly about the family get-together.

WATCH: PRINCE WILLIAM UNLIKELY TO RECONCILE WITH PRINCE HARRY SOON: EXPERT

"Archie and Lili were very excited about seeing their grandfather," a source told Nicholl, adding that "there have been calls from a rather frantic Harry to his father's aides, trying to make this happen."

"The meeting reportedly lasted just over an hour, with Camilla right by the king's side," British royals expert Hilary Fordwich told Fox News Digital. "The king had wanted contact with Archie and Lilibet, saying, ‘blood is blood.’"

"There is likely to be ongoing communication between Harry and King Charles as long as Harry doesn't leak information to the media," Fordwich added.

Noticeably absent from the reunion were Prince William and his wife, Kate Middleton. The Princess of Wales was supporting her husband as he saddled up to participate in the DMI Royal Charity Polo Cup 2026 at Guards Polo Club in Windsor. The estranged brothers did not see one another.

"Prince William remains adamant Harry isn’t to be trusted," Fordwich claimed.

"Reports still describe a 'total blackout' between the brothers," said Chard. "There is no sign of the rift subsiding anytime soon. I don't see the Prince and Princess of Wales' absence as a snub. It is strategic. You can't have an institutional reconciliation without Prince William, the future king."

"The main barrier for Harry now is starting peace talks with William and Princess Kate, if that can happen," royal broadcaster Ian Pelham Turner told Fox News Digital. "William has been demonstrably against Harry since his book 'Spare' was published."

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Roya Nikkhah, royal editor of The Sunday Times, reported that the brothers have not seen each other or spoken since Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral in 2022.

"What will the Prince of Wales make of his father’s olive branch to the Sussexes? He won’t like it, that’s for sure," she wrote. "While William now rarely speaks of Harry in royal circles, his feelings of betrayal by his brother’s departure from the monarchy and subsequent outbursts still sting."

As for Camilla's appearance, Nikkhah reported that she "rarely" stays at Highgrove, preferring to spend weekends at Raymill, her country home. However, she is fiercely loyal to Charles and wanted to be a supportive force for her husband.

Still, Nikkhah noted that "there is no love lost between Harry and Camilla." In "Spare," the Duke of Sussex accused his stepmother of leaking private conversations to the media to burnish her reputation. In interviews, he accused family members of getting "into bed with the devil" to gain favorable tabloid coverage.

"Camilla's presence matters to Charles," said Chard. "She is his rock and smooths any bumps in the road."

Still, the meeting between father and son was a step in the right direction, Turner said.

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"This reunion allowed a thawing of the ice," he said. "The king is very family-oriented and has a deep sense of conviction about being a grandfather. This meeting was very important to reopen communication, even though some family members, like William, may be strongly opposed. But in my opinion, a united royal family with important connections to America is good for the royal brand and has value for both countries."

"What needs to happen now is that reconciliation talks should not be disclosed to the media and should be conducted in confidence, without any leaks," he said.

"The meeting between the king and his grandchildren was long overdue," Chard said. "It is, however, a delicate balancing act for the crown. Symbolically, this meeting was huge, but it's not an institutional reconciliation. Charles had always left the door open. I guess it's a few small steps forward."

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex stepped back as senior royals in 2020, citing what they described as unbearable intrusions by the British press and a lack of support from the palace. They later aired their grievances publicly. Harry's memoir further strained his relationships with members of the royal family.

In a 2025 BBC interview, Harry said he hoped to reconcile with his family because "there's no point continuing to fight anymore."

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The private reunion came after weeks of planning and lingering security concerns surrounding Harry's return to Britain.

The Sussexes were vacationing with their children in Europe before Harry returned to the U.K. alone on July 6, according to People magazine. Meghan was expected to join Harry with the children, but the U.K. government declined his request for police protection for his family outside royal residences. Harry remained in the U.K. through July 11 for events highlighting the Invictus Games.

People previously reported that, ahead of Harry's trip, his team spent several days exploring ways to make the visit safe through enhanced private security arrangements. Palace sources said Harry initially declined an invitation to stay at a royal residence before accepting it on Saturday, July 4.

Harry's spokesperson told People that an offer for the Duke of Sussex to stay at Buckingham Palace during his London visit was withdrawn after he had formally accepted it. Palace sources, however, disputed that account, saying Harry failed to respond by the deadline and that his later acceptance came only after arrangements could no longer be made.

Harry had also hoped to bring his family to Britain for the first time since 2022. However, after learning they would receive police protection only while on royal property — and not throughout the visit — People reported on July 4 that they would not accompany him.

On July 8, The Mirror reported that Harry was "frantically" working to secure private security so Meghan and their children could travel to the U.K. safely.

Nikkhah reported that the Sussexes likely made an under-the-radar visit to Althorp, Princess Diana's ancestral home, where they were believed to have visited her resting place. The estate was notably closed to the public on July 10 and July 11, when the Sussexes were in town. Fox News Digital reached out to an Althorp spokesperson for comment. No reunion between the estranged brothers was expected there, either.

Supreme Court justices head to Capitol Hill for first congressional appearance since 2019

Wed, 08 Jul 2026 12:45:50 -0400

Supreme Court Justices Amy Coney Barrett and Elena Kagan are set to make a rare Capitol Hill appearance Tuesday to testify on the high court’s proposed fiscal year 2027 budget.

Their appearance before the House Appropriations subcommittee comes just weeks after the Supreme Court concluded a highly consequential term, delivering major wins for President Donald Trump, including expanding his executive authority, while also ruling against key parts of his agenda, such as his executive order restricting birthright citizenship and his Liberation Day tariffs.

Barrett, a member of the court’s conservative supermajority, joined Kagan and the court’s liberal justices in voting against Trump’s citizenship executive order.

The pair is slated to appear before the House committee at 10 a.m. Tuesday, which will be followed by them testifying before the Senate Appropriations Committee later in the afternoon.

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

Supreme Court justices last testified before Congress in 2019, when Kagan, a member of the court’s liberal wing, and Justice Samuel Alito, part of its conservative majority, appeared to discuss the court’s fiscal year 2020 budget request.

In next year's budget, the Supreme Court is requesting a $20.5 million increase, with $14.6 million earmarked to strengthen security protections for justices and an additional $2 million to cover security costs at the justices' homes. The funding increase would cover the cost of staffing an additional 25 full-time Supreme Court Police officers.

In total, the Supreme Court is requesting a budget of $228 million for the 2027 fiscal year.

The request for additional security funding comes after Congress approved a $30 million increase for the Supreme Court's security budget in January, which is expected to last through September 2028.

At the time of the additional funding approval, the U.S. Marshals Service, which is tasked with protecting the Supreme Court, had tracked 166 threats against federal judges since Oct. 1. The year before, more than 560 threats were made against judges.

"We just want to make sure nothing happens to any of our justices," House Appropriations Chair Tom Cole, R-Okla., said at the time.

SUPREME COURT FINANCIAL DISCLOSURES REVEAL CONCERT TICKETS FROM BAD BUNNY'S LABEL, MILLIONS IN BOOK PAYMENTS

The U.S. Marshals Service began providing 24/7 security at the justices' private residences in May 2022 after the leak of the draft Dobbs opinion, which foreshadowed the Supreme Court's decision ending the constitutional right to abortion. The protection remained in place after the attempted assassination attempt against Justice Brett Kavanaugh outside his Maryland home the following month.

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And in May, Barrett was the target of an apparent swatting incident after a false report of gunshots at her Virginia home prompted a police response. Authorities quickly determined the call was a hoax after coordinating with the Supreme Court Police officers assigned to protect the residence.

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Last year, authorities also investigated a bomb threat targeting Barrett's sister at her South Carolina home. The reported pipe bomb in her mailbox was also determined to be a hoax.

While justices have long been subjected to death threats, Chief Justice John Roberts wrote in his 2024 year-end report that threats against federal judges have more than tripled over the past decade. The U.S. Marshals Service investigated more than 1,000 serious threats during the previous five years.

The hearings on Capitol Hill come just days after Republican South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham’s unexpected death Saturday. The two-decade Senate veteran’s committee assignments made him a key figure in Supreme Court confirmation battles, including Elena Kagan’s 2010 hearing, when his lighthearted question about where she had been on Christmas Day produced a viral exchange with the future justice.

Trump's fiercest GOP critic became his most influential voice on war and peace

Tue, 14 Jul 2026 05:45:16 -0400

In 2015, Sen. Lindsey Graham called Donald Trump a "jackass" and warned Republicans that nominating him would be a disaster. Trump responded by reading Graham's personal cellphone number aloud during a campaign rally, encouraging supporters to call the South Carolina senator.

Few political rivalries seemed less likely to evolve into one of Washington's most consequential foreign policy partnerships.

Trump rose to power promising to end America's "endless wars" and challenging decades of Republican foreign policy orthodoxy. Graham, by contrast, remained throughout his three decades in public service an unabashed advocate of projecting American power abroad.

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

Yet over the next decade, Graham became one of the few lawmakers with regular access to President Trump on questions of national security, emerging as one of the Republican Party's most influential voices on Iran, Ukraine, Israel and NATO.

He had built his Senate career around foreign policy. While many lawmakers spent weekends back home, Graham was often overseas meeting presidents, visiting war zones and trying to broker agreements between allies and the White House.

By the end of his career, his office had become an unofficial waypoint for foreign leaders trying to understand — or influence — the Trump administration.

In interviews following the senator's sudden death Saturday, Trump described Graham as "like a member of the family" and said he was among the final people to speak with the South Carolina Republican after he returned from Ukraine just hours before his death.

As Trump reshaped Republican foreign policy around an "America First" agenda, Graham became one of the few congressional voices with regular access to the president on questions of war and peace. He frequently pressed Trump to maintain a muscular U.S. role abroad — even as the president questioned long-standing alliances and warned against prolonged military interventions.

Rather than becoming another Republican hawk sidelined by Trump's ascent, Graham cultivated one of the closest working relationships with the president, giving him unusual influence as the administration navigated conflicts from Ukraine and Iran to Israel and NATO.

Whether Graham simply reinforced Trump's instincts — or helped shape them — may become one of the defining questions of his foreign policy legacy.

GRAHAM REPORTEDLY REFUSED MEDICAL HELP BEFORE SCHEDULED TV APPEARANCE

"He would call me all the time," Trump told Fox News Monday. "I'd say, 'Stop calling me, Lindsey.' It was amazing. He just never stopped. He was a worker — a total workaholic politician."

Colleagues said Graham lived and breathed the work of the Senate, particularly serving as an informal envoy between the U.S. and allies around the world.

In the hours before his death, Graham told a confidant he wasn't feeling well but joked he couldn’t die now because he still had work to do. He was preparing to push a long-stalled bipartisan Russia sanctions bill through the Senate, remained focused on advancing Saudi-Israel normalization and believed the Trump administration had not yet finished confronting Iran.

He had just completed his 10th trip to Ukraine, and maintained tight relationships not only with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy but also with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte, Gulf leaders and others around the world.

Graham believed that influence came from showing up, according to Jack Keane, a retired Army four-star general, the chairman of the Institute for the Study of War and Fox News Senior Strategic Analyst.

"He wasn't interested in writing op-ed pieces or making speeches, he wanted firsthand contact with leaders of the world." Keane, who counted Graham as a friend, told Fox News Digital. "He was interested in getting the results."

Graham, upon being beaten by Trump in the 2016 primary, conceded that the then-real estate mogul understood the American public better than he did .

"He understood the American people better than we did, and shame on us for not doing it as effectively as him," Graham said at the time, according to Keane.

So Graham went to work making himself useful for the president.

"Graham knew the world better than almost anyone in Washington, and he likely knew many foreign leaders better than President Trump's own appointees," Keane said. "He made a conscious decision to help the president by offering advice and counsel, which grew into both a personal and professional relationship."

Graham's worldview was shaped alongside late Sens. John McCain, R-Ariz., and Joe Lieberman, D-Conn., with whom he traveled extensively overseas. The trio —known as the "Three Amigos" — championed an interventionist Republican foreign policy rooted in American military leadership, support for democratic allies and confronting authoritarian adversaries.

Graham publicly disagreed with Trump over Iran negotiations — preferring strikes and regime change — and repeatedly pushed for a tougher line against Russia in the war on Ukraine.

Those convictions at times put him closer to traditional Republican foreign policy than to Trump's "America First" instincts, even as he worked to remain one of the president's closest advisors.

Trump's approach to foreign policy often shifted between military confrontation and diplomatic restraint. Graham's rarely did.

Whenever Trump appeared to move toward a negotiated settlement with Iran, Graham followed a familiar playbook: remind the White House that Congress ultimately would have to review any lasting agreement.

After Trump announced a memorandum of understanding with Iran in June, Graham quickly argued that any lasting deal would require congressional scrutiny and even suggested Vice President JD Vance would ultimately have to defend it on Capitol Hill.

By the time of his death, Graham had fashioned exactly the role he wanted in Washington: trusted interlocutor between the White House, Congress and foreign leaders.

Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., described Graham as having a "kid-like exuberance about his job and the responsibilities he was given."

"Even in his sixties he would get off a plane in a foreign land with a twinkle in his eye and look at me as if to say, can you believe we are actually here and doing this?" she wrote on X.

Very rarely in life do you get to be exactly where you want to be, when you want to be there, with who you want to be with, doing precisely what you want to do — that was every moment for Lindsey," White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller wrote on X.

"Lindsey was a senator’s senator. The job was everything to him. Truly did he believe in the splendor of the office and the noble lineage behind it, of which he was the worthy heir."

Graham rarely seemed interested in winning an argument if it meant losing the president. He spent more than a year revising his long-stalled Russia sanctions legislation and negotiating with the White House as Trump pursued his own diplomatic outreach to Russian President Vladimir Putin. Only days before his death did Graham announce that he had reached an agreement with the administration to move the bill forward.

While Trump frequently questioned the value of NATO and demanded allies shoulder more of the burden, Graham viewed America's alliances as one of its greatest strategic advantages. He generally agreed that European nations needed to spend more on defense, but argued the alliance itself remained indispensable to deterring Russia and projecting American power.

Graham's support for Israel was equally central to his worldview. He regarded Israel as America's closest partner in the Middle East and spent years working to strengthen ties between Israel and Arab states, viewing Saudi-Israeli normalization as a historic opportunity to reshape the region while further isolating Iran.

Graham spent a decade proving that in Washington, proximity to power could matter as much as formal authority. Without Graham in Washington, Ukraine now fears it may have lost an indispensable advocate in Washington.

"Huge and absolutely unexpected loss," said Oleksandr Merezhko, a lawmaker with Zelenskyy’s party, told the AP. "He was truly indispensable. I even don’t know who might be as important for us now in Trump’s entourage."

"He was the closest link between Ukraine, our president and Trump," he added. "Our position in Trump’s entourage might be weaker."

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It's unclear who will be able to usher Graham's signature Russia sanctions bill through the Senate and onto the president's desk with the same access to both ends of Pennsylvania Avenue.

For now, the president will navigate wars in Ukraine and the Middle East without the friend who was never shy about telling him to hit harder.

GOP leaders race to end conservative revolt as House floor stays at a standstill

Tue, 14 Jul 2026 05:30:27 -0400

House GOP leaders face a pivotal test Tuesday as they try to break a conservative revolt that has paralyzed the House floor for weeks.

The rebellion, including several dozen Republicans, has repeatedly forced House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., to pull votes on key legislation, grinding House business to a halt just months before the November midterm elections.

Conservatives say they're blocking procedural votes until the Senate passes the stalled SAVE America Act and House GOP leadership allows a vote on sweeping border security legislation.

Neither demand appears close to being met amid GOP divisions, raising questions about whether Johnson can advance any major legislation this week.

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

Vice President JD Vance had planned to attend Republicans’ conference meeting on Tuesday but postponed the visit to a later date, Politico first reported. Vance’s canceled appearance comes as House Republican leadership appeared to enlist the White House’s help to help end a conservative revolt that has effectively brought the floor to a standstill.

Trump also previously urged conservative rebels to reopen the House floor and stop "grandstanding," but the cohort did not relent.

Johnson is racing this week to advance an annual government spending bill funding the State Department and a measure making Daylight Saving Time permanent — long a priority of President Donald Trump. Given the latter item’s popularity in the Sunshine State, leadership is likely hoping Luna will stand down and support a procedural vote scheduled for Tuesday afternoon.

A spokesperson for Luna did not immediately respond to a request for comment about whether the congresswoman would support the procedural rule advancing a slate of legislative items.

In another sign of trouble for GOP leadership, some holdouts criticized Johnson's legislative agenda for the week.

"Making Daylight Saving Time permanent won’t matter at all if we don’t have election integrity," Rep. Keith Self, R-Texas, wrote on social media Monday. "Priorities."

Republicans are not expected to bring the annual defense policy bill — known as the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) — up for consideration again this week after holdouts in June torpedoed a procedural vote advancing the legislation.

Johnson initially proposed combining the NDAA with the SAVE America Act, but holdouts, including Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, R-Fla., argued it was inadequate because there was no guarantee the Senate would keep the election security measure in the final product.

HOUSE CONSERVATIVES DERAIL GOP AGENDA IN SAVE AMERICA ACT SHOWDOWN

Luna is now advocating for House leadership to fight for the SAVE America Act's inclusion in a compromise NDAA bill negotiated between the House and Senate.

"A Manager’s Amendment from the Chairwoman of the Rules Committee can force this in once the Senate sends us their version," Luna wrote on social media last week.

However, Senate Republicans have repeatedly argued the votes do not exist in their chamber to pass the Trump-backed election bill, which would require proof of citizenship to vote in federal elections and voter ID requirements, among other priorities.

Still, some conservatives are advocating for adding the election measure to any legislation that passes the House chamber in an effort to force Senate action.

"The SAVE America Act must be attached to every piece of legislation until we secure our elections once and for all," Rep. Lance Gooden, R-Texas, wrote on social media. "Protecting the integrity of our elections isn’t optional."

Johnson appeared to heed that demand by using a rare procedural maneuver that would merge the SAVE America Act with the State Department funding bill when it’s sent to the Senate after House passage.

A group of House conservatives are also pressing GOP leadership for a vote on border security legislation known as the Permanent Trump Secure Border Act.

The bill, authored by Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas, mirrors legislation known as H.R. 2 that passed Congress in 2023, but omits E-Verify program changes that threatened to kill support from moderate Republicans for the bill.

E-Verify would require certain U.S. employers to electronically confirm their employees’ work authorization.

Roy is among members of the House Freedom Caucus that have withheld support for procedural votes in an attempt to pressure leadership to bring the border legislation to a vote on the floor.

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His bill would require the completion of border wall construction, tight asylum requirements and prohibiting catch-and-release policies, among other provisions.

MAJORITY LEADER THUNE: Lindsey Graham was the GOP’s glue, binding us together with courage and grace

Tue, 14 Jul 2026 05:00:47 -0400

In the tragic and sudden loss of Sen. Lindsey Graham, America has lost one of its greatest patriots. I have lost a dear friend. And the Republican Party has lost a champion.

Much will rightfully be written about Lindsey’s strong advocacy on behalf of the United States and freedom-loving people around the world. There was no bigger believer in America’s role in the world. In uniform and in Congress, Lindsey dedicated his life to the mission that America was a singular force for good.

I was blessed to travel with Lindsey on several occasions, and while there was always a lot made of his support for American hard power, he also was a big believer in the use of soft power — America’s economic, diplomatic and political solutions to the world’s problems.

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

Lindsey was a statesman, and he will be mourned the world over. I expect that nearly every living American president has taken advice from Lindsey Graham, whether they care to admit it or not. Heads of state came to respect his opinion and seek his counsel because of his undeniable influence on American foreign policy.

But the most profound sting of this great loss will be felt here at home and within the Republican Party. Lindsey was our glue. He spoke fluently to every corner of our big-tent party, and to those of us who had the privilege of serving with him, we were blessed to call him a friend first and a colleague second. Even in the most stressful situations, Lindsey was adept at bringing out a laugh and putting a smile on your face.

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

If you were putting together a dinner of colleagues, Lindsey was the first person you called. He was always entertaining and never pretentious. To me, he was a loyal friend, a trusted advisor and someone who always called them as he saw them.

He was as transparent as they come — he never minced words or pulled punches. When he was against you, he let you know. When he was on your side, he was your greatest ally. And if his convictions demanded that he stand on an island, he did that too. What you saw was what you got. He was respected for it.

TRUMP PRAISES LINDSEY GRAHAM AS SENATOR WHOSE KAVANAUGH FIGHT CHANGED SUPREME COURT HISTORY

And when Lindsey set his sights on a goal, watch out — because nothing was going to stand in his way. His relentless work ethic paved the way for generations of conservative policy victories.

One doesn’t need to look far to see Lindsey’s remarkable contributions to our party and his outsized role in passing the Republican agenda.

In this Congress alone, he and his team at the Budget Committee shepherded three budget resolutions and two reconciliation bills through laborious, all-night vote-a-rama sessions. No Senate has ever held more vote-a-ramas in modern history, and that wouldn’t have been possible without Lindsey’s persistence and determination. He and his team led our conference through incredibly high-stakes, fraught negotiations and floor processes. And because of that, generations of Americans will have greater national, economic and financial security.

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But this was the leadership that we knew to expect from Lindsey Graham. As a former chairman of the Judiciary Committee, Lindsey was passionate about the rule of law and an independent judiciary. His influence on the judicial system will undeniably last for generations. After all, virtually every judicial nominee for the last 20 years has had to withstand his questioning and work to earn his support.

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I am grateful for all the ways Lindsey gave to America and Americans. His mark on history and his impact on the conservative movement will be well documented, but I will be equally, if not more, grateful for the mark he left on my life. Thank you, Lindsey, for being a true and loyal friend, and thank you for always making me laugh.

Rest in peace, my friend.

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM SENATE MAJORITY LEADER JOHN THUNE

Notable figures who died from the same heart condition linked to Lindsey Graham's death

Tue, 14 Jul 2026 05:00:44 -0400

Sen. Lindsey Graham's sudden death has thrown new attention on a rare but often deadly cardiovascular emergency known as aortic dissection.

The cause of death was identified as an aortic dissection due to arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease, according to a statement released by Graham's office on Sunday, citing preliminary findings from the District of Columbia's Office of the Chief Medical Examiner.

"It occurs when the layers of the aorta (the body's largest artery) come apart and the inner one tears," Fox News senior medical analyst Dr. Marc Siegel, who did not treat Graham, told Fox News Digital.

HEART CONDITION TIED TO LINDSEY GRAHAM'S DEATH CAN STRIKE WITHOUT WARNING — WHAT TO KNOW

"It can come on in minutes or days and may be hard to recognize," added the doctor, noting that while dissections can evolve over time, symptoms often appear suddenly.

Graham, 71, is not the only notable figure to have died from an aortic dissection.

Below are three other celebrities and public officials whose deaths were linked to the same life-threatening condition.

1. John Ritter

Actor John Ritter, best known for his role in the hit sitcom "Three’s Company," died from an aortic dissection on Sept. 11, 2003.

The John Ritter Foundation for Aortic Health (JRF) said the actor was taken to the hospital after experiencing symptoms later identified as a type A aortic dissection. The nonprofit, founded in his honor to fund research and raise awareness for the condition, later said Graham's death brought "needed attention" to the condition.

Type A dissections involve the ascending (upper) aorta near the heart, which typically require emergency surgery.

At the time of his death, Ritter was filming the sitcom "8 Simple Rules… for Dating My Teenage Daughter," co-starring Kaley Cuoco.

MEDICAL EXAMINER RELEASES PRELIMINARY FINDINGS IN LINDSEY GRAHAM'S DEATH AS DEATH CERTIFICATE REMAINS PENDING

The actor was initially treated for a presumed heart attack, but passed away that night as his condition worsened.

In a press release, the JRF extended its condolences to Graham’s family.

"These deaths underscore that aortic dissections are not a rare cause of death," Meredith Ford O'Neal, CEO of the foundation, shared with Fox News Digital. "Deaths due to aortic dissections are preventable if individuals at risk are identified and properly treated."

"We hope this moment encourages people to learn the warning signs of aortic dissection, which includes an increased risk for family members of individuals who have had an aortic dissection."

2. Rep. Doug LaMalfa

Rep. Doug LaMalfa, R-Calif., died on Jan. 6, 2026, at age 65 from complications of an aortic dissection, according to the Butte County Sheriff's Office. Cardiomegaly (an enlarged heart) was listed as another significant condition, and his death was ruled natural.

LaMalfa, who represented California’s 1st Congressional District, was taken into emergency surgery but passed away during the procedure, according to a statement from the Butte County Sheriff’s Office.

A month later, the Butte County Sheriff's Office confirmed to People that his cause of death was complications of an aortic dissection. Cardiomegaly, or an enlarged heart, was also listed as a significant condition.

3. Alan Thicke

"Growing Pains" actor Alan Thicke died from an aortic dissection on Dec. 13, 2016, at the age of 69.

Thicke reportedly experienced chest pain while playing hockey with his son and was taken to the hospital.

The Los Angeles County coroner later determined that Thicke died from a ruptured aorta caused by a type A aortic dissection, according to ABC News.

Raising awareness

In a 2016 HCA Healthcare article, Nashville-based heart surgeon Dr. Grayson Wheatley reflected on Thicke’s "unfortunate" case.

YOUR RESTING HEART RATE COULD REVEAL MORE ABOUT YOUR HEALTH THAN YOU THINK, DOCTORS SAY

"I am sharing with you my expert thoughts based on limited information about Mr. Thicke’s case, but in light of an extensive career of treating hundreds of patients with aortic dissections, I can connect the dots in Mr. Thicke’s case from patterns that have emerged from treating similar patients with aortic dissections," he said.

Chest pain is often the first sign of a sudden tear or rip in the aorta, which can develop "within a few heartbeats," according to Wheatley.

"The pain associated with an aortic dissection is extreme," he said. "My patients describe it as so intense and sudden that it drops them to their knees. They literally fall to the ground and feel an intense tearing or ripping in their mid-upper back and/or chest."

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Once the dissection occurs, it becomes a "race against time" as the condition worsens, the doctor said.

Dr. Neel Mansukhani, a vascular surgeon at Northwestern Medicine in Chicago, explained why this condition can become life-threatening so quickly.

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"The aorta is the main blood vessel that comes off of the heart, and it runs like a pipe through your body," he told Fox News Digital. "Smaller blood vessels branch off to go to all your internal organs, arms, legs and brain."

"The aorta itself has three layers," the surgeon went on. "A tear in the lining of the aorta causes those layers to separate. It’s similar to paint peeling off a wall. And that brings a lot of consequences depending on where the tear is."

An enlarged aorta or damage to the vessel wall from cardiovascular disease can increase the likelihood of an aortic dissection, although age and high blood pressure remain the leading risk factors, Mansukhani said.

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"As we get older, blood vessels can weaken, and over time the constant pressure of blood flow can make the wall of the aorta more vulnerable to a dissection," he said.

Type A dissections are "immediately life-threatening," as they are "right by the heart," according to the doctor.

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"It’s an emergency that usually needs surgery within 24 hours if a patient can tolerate that," he said. "A type B dissection is located further down from the heart. It can also be life-threatening, but does not usually need immediate surgery."

Although an aortic dissection often strikes without warning, maintaining cardiovascular health and monitoring conditions such as high blood pressure can help lower the risk, Mansukhani advised.

LIZ PEEK: Democrats’ affordability scam collapses in states they actually run

Tue, 14 Jul 2026 05:00:44 -0400

Democrats are lying to voters, claiming to be the party that can deliver "affordability." Nothing could be farther from the truth.

In January, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., promised the nation that if Democrats capture the majority in the Senate, "lowering costs will be our North Star."

In February, the chair of the House New Democrat Coalition rolled out its "Affordability Agenda," proclaiming, "That's why we are committed to taking on the cost-of-living crisis to make it easier for people to afford their home, pay for health care, keep the lights on, and build a better future."

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

Where were these inflation hawks during Joe Biden’s four years in the White House, when the Consumer Price Index soared above 9%, the highest in more than 40 years, and the cost of living rose more than 20%?

After winning New York City’s Democratic mayoral primary last year, Zohran Mamdani claimed, "We have won because New Yorkers have stood up for a city they can afford." He forgot to mention that Democrats have been in charge of New York for decades, helping make the city unaffordable.

MAMDANI STANDS BY FELLOW SOCIALIST CANDIDATE DESPITE RESURFACED FAR-LEFT, ANTI-AMERICAN POSTS

This is a fact: Democrat-run cities and states are, with few exceptions, the most expensive in the nation. The reasons include pro-labor rules that drive up wages and costs, regulatory overreach that creates hurdles and delays, energy policies that inflate electricity and gasoline bills, and reckless spending, which leads to high taxes. High taxes, another Democrat specialty, inflate the price of everything as they are passed along to the consumer.

A new study from CNBC ranking states on the cost of living proves the point. The report is part of its bigger analysis of which states are the most business-friendly. The inclusion makes sense. If your company wants to compete, you’ll need to hire people who will balk at moving to a state where everything costs more. Your bottom line will reflect not only the need to pay higher wages but also local expenses. In other words, a state that lets costs spiral out of control hurts its residents directly and indirectly; in addition to punishing consumers, a higher cost of living will drive businesses away, meaning fewer jobs and income opportunities for those who remain.

CNBC finds that nine out of 10 of the most expensive states are run by Democrats, while Republican-led states are the most affordable. Included in the top 10 costliest states are California, Colorado, Hawaii, Oregon, New York, Rhode Island, Connecticut, Washington and Illinois. All have above-average rents and other costs. All have Democratic governors, and most have Democratic supermajorities in their state legislatures.

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

While the high cost of living in some states, like Hawaii, can be excused as partly the fault of geography, the most expensive states mainly earned that ignoble title because Democrat policies have pushed prices for housing and other necessities higher.

The only GOP-led state to make the list is Florida, which has become a victim of its own success. Millions of people and thousands of companies have moved to the Sunshine State in recent years, drawn to its low-tax, business-friendly climate. The influx, combined with several destructive hurricanes that have battered the state, has sent rents and insurance costs soaring.

California, not surprisingly, is the most expensive state in the nation. Monthly housing costs are the highest in the U.S.; 40% of Golden State residents pay more than 30% of their incomes on housing. Why? According to RAND researchers, "California’s affordable housing costs $640 per square foot to build, compared with $228 for market-rate housing in Texas."

That cost differential stems in part from California’s slow permitting timelines; the typical California development takes 49 months, compared with just 27 months in Texas. In building, time is money. RAND concludes those delays impose "a substantial ‘time tax’ of $1,284 per unit, per month."

CNBC analysts award California an "F" for its cost of living and its business-friendliness. The monthly energy bill in the Golden State averages $373, compared with $149 in Colorado, for instance, or $276 in New York. The price of gasoline is $5.39 per gallon, far higher than the national average of $3.87.

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It is not an accident that California has high energy costs, any more than it is simply a coincidence that rents in Democrat-run Illinois are 40% higher than in neighboring GOP-run Ohio. Policies matter. California has tried to shift consumers to electric vehicles and away from fossil fuels, abandoning the state’s abundant supply of oil and gas. To that end, the state has imposed a 92-cent-per-gallon tax on gasoline, the highest in the U.S.

Nearly all Democratic states impose higher rents on residents because they favor strict local zoning laws and pro-union rules that drive up the cost of construction. In addition, many have high property taxes, which are passed on to renters.

High wages mandated by minimum wage laws and restrictions on nonunion labor would seem to be a good thing, but not when they lead to above-average unemployment. California, which has passed legislation driving up wages for hourly employees, has an unemployment rate of 5.3%, compared with the national average of 4.2%. All the top 10 most expensive states have unemployment rates above the U.S. average except Hawaii and Colorado. Getting paid more is great, but only if you have a job.

Which states are the most affordable? Missouri, Ohio, Indiana, Alabama, West Virginia, Kansas, Iowa, Wyoming, South Dakota and North Dakota. What do they have in common? Most, including Kansas, have Republican supermajorities in their state legislatures; all but Kansas have a Republican governor.

The late Daniel Patrick Moynihan, a longtime U.S. senator from New York, famously said, "Everyone is entitled to his own opinion, but not to his own facts."

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The next time a Democrat campaigns on "affordability," remember who oversees the most expensive communities in the country.

Facts matter, and so do policies.

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MORNING GLORY: The VP’s new book 'Communion' is not what the Beltway expected

Tue, 14 Jul 2026 05:00:13 -0400

Father Henry Stephan is one of the heroes of "Communion," the new book from Vice President JD Vance. Father Stephan was integral to the vice president’s journey into the welcoming pews of the Catholic Church.

Even if you don’t buy "Communion," if you pass it displayed in an airport shop or find yourself in our dwindling number of actual bookstores, turn to page 163 and read the good Father’s additional explanation to the statement that "for most of us, grace is not something that happens in a moment."

"You don’t feel God’s presence and then change in an instant," begins Father Stephan’s longer explanation. But to quote him further would be to rob you of some of the surprising clarity of his explanation of "the road map to God." More of Father Stephan’s full reflection on grace might discourage you from actually reading the whole of "Communion" — which is actually four stories, artfully woven into one book.

'THE VIEW' CO-HOST WARNS AGAINST VANCE INTERVIEW BECOMING 'FREE-FOR-ALL' TO SELL BOOKS

The first story, and the one which stretches across all of its pages, is the vice president’s lifelong quest to either accept or reject the idea of God and, having accepted it, the further account of how he landed in the Roman Catholic Church. Mass-attending "cradle Catholics" are likely to know at least a few converts, and their stories are often unique and uplifting. This one is most definitely that.

The second story is simply a love story. The vice president recounts in loving detail how he fell — hard — for his wife Usha and how the beer-drinking Marine/Ohio State Buckeye-turned-Yale Law School hyper-ambitious-striver tricked the future clerk to Chief Justice John Roberts into moving to Cincinnati and marrying him.

There is also a third portion, a short but disquieting sharp meditation (at least to this Boomer because the VP may be right) on how Boomers may be overly attached to the assumptions about the West they were born into and have long believed and defended.

LISA DAFTARI: LINDSEY GRAHAM UNDERSTOOD AMERICA'S ROLE IN THE WORLD — AND WHY IT MATTERS

That vision of the West actually succeeded in its long contest with the Soviet Union. That the principles and assumptions behind that success may now be an unconscious burden a that older generation, is a disquieting thought. The Boomer generation is well represented in the Senate from which the vice president came, even after the sad passing of Sen. Lindsey Graham. The vice president suggests we ought to at least consider the cost of over-valuing the prized "the rules-based world order," which may in fact be gone and not coming back. A reader doesn’t have to be persuaded by that mediation to at least give it some much-needed consideration.

The vice president’s succinct critique of what may be the sunk costs weighing on my generation may actually stop and oblige some "Reagan conservatives" to wonder for the first time about that possibility. That clutch of pages punches hard.

Most of my generation was indeed blind to what the global economy was doing to America’s heartland even as it super-charged China’s totalitarian quasi-empire expanded its power and unveiled its ambitions. The battle with the Soviet bloc was indeed existential, but it was also conclusively won.

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The collective sigh of relief and joy over the liberation of tens of millions when the Berlin Wall came down in 1989 and the USSR dissolved in 1991 may have, indeed, blinded those in the front rank of the fight as well as those at the tail end that the struggle to preserve "Western Christian civilization" had not ended with the fall of the wall, and that the rules of that long twilight battle may have changed if not evaporated. The recent and ongoing battle with Iran’s fanatical theocrats is a sharp reminder of the never-ending effort to preserve that treasury of that civilization unique to the West, one anchored in the Judeo-Christian worldview, but the threats it and its senior partners, China and Russia, are at least different in degree and maybe in kind.

Then there are occasional political riffs effortlessly woven into the book, each of which is integral to the story, but could each stand alone as the proposition for an Oxford Union debate, e.g. "Resolved: Western Civilization’s embrace of unrestricted immigration may have been, if not suicidal, then at least deeply and recklessly dangerous to its foundations." These are more reflections of a Catholic Christian than of a Republican politician, as is the brief but essential reflection on the widespread substitution of economic theory in the places where faith traditions once provided worldviews.

"One of the jobs of a Christian statesman," the vice president writes, "is to preserve the social cohesion that makes charity and generosity possible." That is not the rhetoric of a stump speech, but the sort of conclusion one would expect from contemporary Christian essayists Rod Dreher or Ross Douthat, who are featured in the book.

As are St. Augustine, G.K. Chesterton, Rene Girard and Pope Leo XIII. Who knew that a symposium on "Theology and Falsification" between Anthony Flew, R. M. Hare, and Basil Mitchell would challenge the reader to slow down and take a few passes over the text (and to look up and bookmark for later the transcript)?

This book is not the work of ghostwriters on a campaign timeline, but a spiritual biography that could actually spur many in the vice president’s generation to actually articulate and grapple with the problems of meaning in an achievement-driven world, one that is changing at a pace so dizzyingly fast that young parents especially can be excused the raft of genuinely new fears that are additions to those fears felt by every generation of young parents. (You don’t actually have to have taken an 18-hour plane flight with three smalls to understand the Veep’s quip that there are more modern descriptions of Hell than a "lake of fire.")

For many recent decades, the heavy lifting of accessible writing about faith and public life has come from Douthat, Dreher, Ryan Anderson, Fran Maier, George Weigel and especially the now retired Archbishop of Philadelphia Charles Chaput.

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Before Archbishop Chaput and these elegant writers, there was Michael Novak and before him there was even the extraordinarily successful, in hindsight, Bishop Fulton Sheen’s television program. Pope (now Saint) John Paul II and Pope Benedict launched a thousand essays with their book-length works and their encyclicals inspired a new generation of vocations. Vice President Vance does not for a moment consider himself a theologian, but he is in the tradition of writers about faith who spur others to consider that, just perhaps, they ought to look further into this particular world.

(The vice president, it is important to note, does not shy away from the horror of the Church’s awful scandal of the sexual abuse of children by priests but is rightfully outraged by it and persuasively condemnatory of those complicit in it and its cover-up. Good for him.)

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Throughout the book, though, there is a much-needed reminder that the marriages, children and multi-generational families that are most likely to flourish in this wildly spinning world are those deeply rooted in the traditional Christian practice that has long defined America. And might yet again. Especially if more public figures thought as deeply and wrote as honestly about Jesus and the Church as does the vice president.

The vice president’s book tour did not often even pause on the substance of the book and the eternal questions of the purpose of man. For the benefit of would-be readers: "Communion" is not a book about political platforms or policy prescriptions. It is for Catholics, the Catholic-curious or anyone interested in what comes after this one. If only to understand how such a search can unfold, "Communion" is an excellent addition to your nightstand.

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

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Deputy US marshal fatally shot while serving arrest warrant in Louisiana

Tue, 14 Jul 2026 02:58:09 -0400

A deputy U.S. marshal was shot and killed on Monday while serving an arrest warrant in Alexandria, Louisiana, according to the U.S. Marshals Service.

The Rapides Parish Sheriff's Office said the incident happened at around 3 p.m. in the Rutland Road area, where authorities were attempting to arrest a wanted fugitive.

"Sheriff’s Detectives, along with members of the U.S. Marshals Violent Offender Task Force, were conducting a law enforcement operation in the Rutland Road area to arrest a wanted fugitive where an Officer Involved Shooting occurred," the sheriff's office said.

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The suspect was taken into custody after a lengthy standoff, according to the sheriff's office.

Deputies said the suspect sustained injuries during the encounter and was transported to a local hospital for treatment.

NYPD OFFICER SHOT, GUNMAN KILLED AFTER ARMED BARRICADED STANDOFF IN BROOKLYN: POLICE

The FBI is leading an investigation into the killing of the deputy, while the sheriff's office is probing the shooting. Louisiana State Police are also assisting.

"The FBI responded to an incident this afternoon in Alexandria with the Alexandria Police Department, Rapides Parish Sheriff's Office, and Louisiana State Police," the FBI New Orleans Field Office said in a statement. "The FBI is now leading the investigation into an assault on a federal officer. Louisiana State Police is also investigating potential violations of state law. The subject, now under investigation, was taken into custody and there is no ongoing threat to the public. Because this is a very active and ongoing investigation we cannot comment further at this time."

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FBI Director Kash Patel said: "FBI is investigating and offering full resources to the Rapides Parish Sheriff’s Office and our brave partners the @USMarshalsHQ after one of their deputies was tragically killed today while serving an arrest warrant in Alexandria, Louisiana. Suspect is in custody. Please pray for the deputy’s family and friends."

Dog accidentally turns on toaster, sparking Maryland house fire that killed 3 family pets

Tue, 14 Jul 2026 01:15:32 -0400

A dog accidentally turned on a toaster inside a home in Maryland, igniting a fire and killing three other pets in the home, according to officials.

Fire crews responded to a house on 4319 Foxglove Court in Belcamp for a single-family dwelling fire shortly after 5:30 p.m. on Friday, according to the Abingdon Fire Company.

The crews were able to control the blaze in about 20 minutes.

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The owners were not home at the time of the fire, and no people were harmed, fire officials said, according to Fox 45.

Neighbors rescued two dogs from the home, but a third dog and two cats died in the fire, the outlet reported.

The family's bearded dragon was later found alive and survived after 24 hours in critical care.

Fire officials said the fire started in the kitchen before spreading to other parts of the home.

It was determined that one of the family's dogs jumped onto the kitchen counter and accidentally turned on the toaster, igniting nearby combustibles. The dog that switched on the toaster was one of the two that were rescued by neighbors.

The fire was recorded on a Ring home security camera, which showed the dog jumping on the counter and pawing at items and assisted deputy state fire marshals in determining the fire's point of origin, Fox 45 reported.

Deputy state fire marshals officially ruled the cause of the fire as accidental, according to the outlet.

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The house sustained extensive damage from fire, soot, smoke and water.

Officials estimated that about $150,000 worth of structural damage and $50,000 worth of damage to the contents of the home were caused by the blaze.

FBI, Atlanta police target unauthorized drones flying near World Cup venues

Mon, 13 Jul 2026 23:27:11 -0400

ATLANTA — The FBI and Atlanta Police Department are getting ready for a massive security operation ahead of the World Cup semifinals between England and Argentina at Atlanta Stadium.

Both agencies have used drones to search for potential threats on the ground and in the sky. The FBI is enforcing the Federal Aviation Administration's Temporary Flight Restrictions around the venue.

The FBI has confiscated more than 600 drones nationwide since the World Cup began. Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Atlanta Field Office Marlo Graham said 86 of those drones were seized in Atlanta.

Graham said the FBI uses a "mechanism" that allows agents to see unauthorized drones in restricted airspace. Agents then work to mitigate the threat posed by unknown drones.

"We've been able to safely land drones that have been unauthorized in the flight restricted area," Graham said.

While the FBI treats every drone as a potential threat, Graham said the threat level can increase depending on the size of the drone and how close it gets to the stadium.

"Obviously, the closer to the venue, the larger the crowd. We are fortunate here in Atlanta that we have a closed dome stadium," Graham said. "We don't want the game to be impacted because a hobbyist couldn't control their drone, and it lands right when one of our star players was getting ready to score a goal."

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The Atlanta Police Department's Drone Unit has helped the FBI track down people suspected of flying in restricted zones.

Sgt. Kindu Franklin said most of the people caught flying drones around World Cup venues are hobbyists with no intent to harm the crowd of soccer fans below.

"In some cases, they just recently bought a drone just for FIFA to get some of the cool footage that they want to put up on their social media," Franklin said. "There are different ways that you can weaponize these drones. So, we're operating in a proactive manner."

The Atlanta Police Department's drone mission is focused on surveillance. Officers are looking for potential threats, traffic issues and people the FBI suspects are flying drones illegally.

"So, what we want to do is give our command staff a view that they can't get from the ground," Sgt. James Cunningham with APD's Drone Unit said.

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Cunningham's unit can launch drones remotely from handheld controllers. Other drones are launched from docking stations strategically placed across the city, and officers control them from the back of an SUV using a computer and a PlayStation controller.

The drone docks are used year-round to help the police get an aerial view of emergency situations before officers arrive. The computer shows the drone pilot where all the police body cameras and vehicles are in the area, allowing them to communicate better with officers on the ground.

For the World Cup, the drone docks let the department have more eyes in the sky and respond to emergencies faster.

"It's going to cut down time. We're going to get there quick. And then you're going to get an aerial perspective of what you can't see on the ground," Cunningham said.

Cunningham said the drone unit has completed more than 1,400 flights and logged more than 550 flight hours since the beginning of June.

"Some people haven't even done that in years or haven't even reached those numbers in the life of their drone unit," Cunningham said.

"We train for the environment. We live here, so we know what to expect," Anais Paredes, an APD drone pilot, said.

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The FBI is asking that hobbyist drone pilots know the Temporary Flight Restrictions in their area before taking off.

There is a one-mile restriction around World Cup stadiums on non-match days, and a three-mile restriction on game day.

Cardinals' Jordan Walker stuns Philadelphia crowd with Home Run Derby walk-off over Phillies' Kyle Schwarber

Mon, 13 Jul 2026 23:00:04 -0400

St. Louis Cardinals budding star Jordan Walker broke the hearts of the Philadelphia Phillies faithful on Monday night, defeating Kyle Schwarber on a walk-off blast to win the 2026 Home Run Derby.

Walker hit 12 home runs in his final round, edging out Schwarber’s 11 in a new format from MLB. With his parents watching, Walker’s final home run hit the left field seats and he celebrated in the only way you do when you win the Home Run Derby to be crowned the league’s best slugger during All-Star weekend.

Once again, MLB introduced a new format to the Home Run Derby, this time giving all eight contestants 20 swings to hit as many home runs as possible. The one caveat: if your final swing results in a home run, you continue swinging until it doesn’t leave the yard.

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In this format, players didn’t have to battle a clock or focus on how far they hit balls to enter a bonus round. They could lock in and take their time if need be.

Boston Red Sox star Willson Contreras, who has been paramount in the team’s turnaround this season prior to hitting the All-Star break, set the tone with 13 homers in his 20 swings. But Walker matched him, as they both were the bar to reach to make it to the semifinals.

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Kansas City Royals’ Jac Caglianone hit the third deck in right field, but his eight homers weren’t enough to propel him to the next round. And Chicago White Sox new fan favorite Munetaka Murakami hit nine to at least give himself a chance.

But Tampa Bay Rays’ Junior Caminero belted 12 home runs following New York Yankees’ Ben Rice seven-homer showing. With three hitters in double digits, the hometown favorites, Schwarber and Bryce Harper, knew they could punch their own tickets to the next round.

Schwarber was first, hitting 10 home runs, which put some pressure on Harper. His Phillies teammate could either hit more than 10 to move on, or fall out himself.

Harper was only able to crush eight homers, leaving Schwarber as the final semifinalist. But he didn’t disappoint.

In the semifinals, 15 swings was now the cutoff, and Schwarber started to find his groove. The left-handed slugger was mashing balls into the stratosphere, bashing nine to set the tone against Contreras. The Red Sox star came close with eight homers, but it wasn’t enough as the Phillies star entered the finals to the delight of the Citizens Bank Park crowd.

In the other matchup, Walker continued his run, edging out Caminero 6-5 to put him in contention for the Home Run Derby trophy.

But once again, Schwarber, using the cheers from his crowd in Philly, was unstoppable. He bashed 11 of his 15 swings over the fence, putting immense pressure on Walker, who took swings second.

Walker was up to the challenge when it was his time to hit, hitting four homers to start things off. But with only seven left, Walker knew he needed to be perfect to reach Schwarber.

With just one swing left and seven homers, Walker had to make a run. The suspense was killer for all watching, as Walker managed to get to 10 home runs.

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As he took a couple pitches, Walker found every stitch of the blast that tied him with Schwarber, as the Phillies-heavy crowd murmured. Then, Walker, patient again, hit a moonshot to left field to ice his victory.

Walker is tied 10th in MLB this season with 22 home runs, while hitting .294 for the Cardinals with 74 RBI.

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WWE's Paul Heyman takes swipe at Conor McGregor injury on 'Monday Night Raw'

Mon, 13 Jul 2026 22:07:10 -0400

WWE legend Paul Heyman took a parting shot at UFC star Conor McGregor during a segment on "Monday Night Raw" as he welcomed The Vision back to the locker room.

Austin Theory, Maxxine Dupri, Bron Breakker and Logan Paul walked to the back glowing as the group embarrassed Otis and Akira Tozawa in the ring a few moments before. Heyman, who appears to be on the outs with the group, praised them for what they did.

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In Heyman’s speech, he praised Paul’s recovery time.

"Now that’s what I call a vision for the future," Heyman told the group. "Happy? Ecstatic. I’m more than proud, especially, of all of you. Bron Breakker showed everyone tonight you don’t mess around with Bron Breakker. Logan Paul is healing faster than Conor McGregor.

"You (Theory) stand by your woman, which makes me very proud of you young man. And Maxxine, wow."

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Paul has been recovering from a tricep injury he suffered earlier this year.

McGregor suffered a leg injury on Saturday night at UFC 329 when he tried to hit his opponent, Max Holloway, with a roundhouse kick. The fight was called in the first round. It was McGregor’s first fight in the Octagon in five years.

"My head gasket is gone. Destroyed," McGregor wrote on X after the fight. "I had no injury / injuries going into the fight. I was throwing kicks, planted and jumping, all throughout camp as well as backstage before the fight. This came out of nowhere. I am beyond dark here. I can only describe it as hell."

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He added, "I was so sharp and so ready for this fight I cannot believe what has happened. The talk of me being off while walking in to the fight is nonsense. I was calm, ready, and confident. I am in shock what has taken place. The devil is literally staring at me right in front of my face here. I am not engaging. I will be at church tomorrow. I will overcome this. I will not be deterred. I will return."

Hegseth announces joint task force with DOJ to prosecute leaks to journalists 'with the full force of the law'

Mon, 13 Jul 2026 21:13:26 -0400

Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth on Monday announced the creation of a joint task force with the Department of Justice to identify and prosecute officials who leak "sensitive information" to the media.

Hegseth said the Pentagon's Office of General Counsel (OGC) may request and receive all information, support and records across the department regarding news media leak investigations.

"To combat the dangers that leaks pose, effectively immediately, I have delegated tasking authority to the war department’s ‌office ⁠of general counsel, empowering OGC to request and receive all information, ⁠records and support across the department concerning media ⁠leak investigations," he said in a video shared on X.

"Leaked information risks lives, these new tools and processes will greatly assist us in protecting our joint force," Hegseth continued. "The security of our nation cannot be a bargaining chip for those who seek momentary headlines, access to confidential and secret information is a sacred trust, and those who betray that trust will be met with the full force of the law."

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The secretary also thanked Acting U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche for his support, adding that he was "proud that our departments are working together closer than we have ever before."

Hegseth's announcement comes just days after the DOJ issued subpoenas to four reporters at The New York Times, attempting to force them to testify before a federal grand jury after the newspaper reported on the security concerns involving the plane gifted to President Donald Trump by Qatar that he flew on to Turkey for a recent NATO summit.

The subpoenas were widely criticized by The New York Times, journalists at various news outlets and press freedom groups, arguing that the Trump administration is attempting to intimidate reporters conducting legitimate news-gathering about the government.

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"The appearance of federal law enforcement agents on the doorstep of news reporters should shock the conscience of any American who believes in the Constitution and the press freedom it protects," an attorney for the newspaper, David McCraw, said in a statement.

"Our journalists report the facts and advance the American public’s right to know how their government is operating and their taxpayer dollars are being used," McCraw added. "This brazen act should be seen as nothing more than an attempt to prevent the public from knowing what is happening in their country by intimidating journalists from doing their jobs."

Since taking over as head of the Pentagon last year, Hegseth has sought to crack down on leaks to the media.

Last year, the department opened investigations into those accused of leaking classified information to the press and threatened to conduct polygraphs to identify leakers.

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Hegseth has also attempted to impose restrictions on reporters covering the Pentagon. He had forced them to sign a pledge stating that they would not solicit any unauthorized material, even if the information was unclassified. Most Pentagon reporters turned in their press badges rather than accept the department's restrictions on news-gathering.

That policy is facing lawsuits, and a judge last month granted a preliminary injunction, ruling that the department's requirement that journalists be accompanied by an official chaperone at all times violated the First Amendment in response to a case brought by The New York Times.

CNBC survey mocked after ranking all red states as top 10 'worst places to live'

Mon, 13 Jul 2026 21:00:57 -0400

CNBC faced a wave of online mockery Monday after releasing its annual quality-of-life rankings, which exclusively placed conservative red states in all 10 spots of the "worst places to live" — even as official U.S. Census data shows some of those states are leading the nation in population growth.

Critics quickly took to social media to call out the outlet for what they alleged as blatant liberal bias embedded in its ranking criteria.

Counting down from the tenth-worst place to the first, CNBC ranked the bottom ten states as Arkansas, Oklahoma, Alabama, Missouri, Utah, Georgia, Louisiana, Indiana, Texas, and Tennessee. All 10 states are Republican-led and voted for President Donald Trump in 2024.

"CNBC is placing increasing emphasis on Quality of Life, one of the 10 categories of competitiveness in our annual America’s Top States for Business study," CNBC's report states. "It is our annual ranking of every state’s business climate, now in its 20th year. Under this year’s methodology, the category makes up 11.6% of a state’s overall score, up from about ten percent last year. To score the states for quality of life, we use hard data on factors like crime rates, air quality and healthcare. We also consider the cost and availability of childcare, inclusiveness of state laws, and reproductive rights."

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The list is a subset of CNBC’s annual "America’s Top States for Business" study. To determine its "Life, Health and Inclusion" category, the outlet utilizes criteria such as crime rates, air quality, healthcare, and childcare availability. The metric also factors heavily in ideological policies, explicitly penalizing states for lack of protections against discrimination and restrictive abortion laws.

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

"CNBC just dropped their 2026 ‘10 Worst States to Live In’ list … and it’s pure comedy," conservative commentator Reverend Jordan Wells wrote on X. "Shocking. All deep red, conservative states. But somehow California and New York — with the highest taxes in the country, insane cost of living, and endless progressive policies — didn’t crack the top 10?"

"This is correct. Please believe this. Tennessee is HORRIBLE. You definitely shouldn’t move here…," conservative Newsmax contributor Chrissy Clark wrote with sarcasm.

The corporate media outlet took direct shots at local conservative legislation across the board.

Tennessee was dinged for the state's "bathroom law" — which requires transgender individuals to use facilities corresponding with their biological sex at birth — as well as a law barring localities from passing their own local antidiscrimination ordinances. The outlet also took aim at a joint resolution signed by Gov. Bill Lee this past April designating June as "Nuclear Family Month," while also noting it had low rankings for crime and drug deaths.

Utah, ranked sixth-worst, was hit for its $7.25 minimum wage, low availability of childcare providers and air quality. Georgia, the fifth-worst in the survey, was explicitly called out for offering "few protections for LGBTQ+ people, making it one of America's least inclusive states."

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Democratic California Gov. Gavin Newsom immediately seized on the study, taking to X to point out that every single state on the list leaned red.

"Notice something in common?" Newsom posted. "All led by Republicans — many suffering from California Derangement Syndrome."

However, conservatives and independent commentators noted that everyday Americans are "voting with their feet" against progressive governance.

"If you hate not paying income taxes, law and order, parental rights, smaller government, school choice, the Second Amendment, and criminal illegal aliens being arrested ... Here's another garbage list from the mainstream media!" Rep. Lance Gooden, R-Texas, posted.

"Actually I noticed something else: The list is a bulls••t list that has nothing to do with quality of life for sane people," countered conservative activist Robby Starbuck, a Tennessee resident. Starbuck, known for successfully leading major corporate boycotts against over-the-top DEI policies, added, "It’s all predicated on far left BS... Our states all gained population while YOUR state lost a record amount."

Media personality Patrick Bet-David cited the net migration gains of the states CNBC criticized, noting that Texas added over 67,000 residents and Tennessee added over 42,000. Georgia and Alabama also saw population influxes.

"'10 worst states' based on what? CNBC had ‘inclusivity’ as one of its criteria," Bet-David noted. "The numbers tell a different story."

The demographic shift highlights a broader post-pandemic exodus from historically blue strongholds. While regions across the South and Sun Belt experience economic and population booms, major progressive cities like Boston, Chicago, New York, and Los Angeles continue to bleed residents due to high taxes, rising crime, and astronomical costs of living.

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U.S. Census Bureau data reveals that Los Angeles County alone has watched its population shrink from roughly 10 million in 2020 down to about 9.7 million today, losing over 56,000 residents in just a single one-year stretch. Similarly, a recent study by the Citizens Budget Commission confirmed that New York City continues to suffer net negative migration, losing far more domestic residents than it gains.

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

Singer Dave Matthews pauses concert to condemn ICE 'a--holes' for Houston death

Mon, 13 Jul 2026 20:53:50 -0400

Dave Matthews, lead singer of the Dave Matthews Band, condemned Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents as "a--holes" during a Friday concert.

"I don’t know why we let people make excuses for why we should kill each other, you know?" Matthews said. "There’s always reasons that we should kill each other. They tell our children and use their words when they — when they grow up. I wonder what’s wrong with us. I don’t know why we lost our way. So it feels — but maybe we’ve always been like this, we just got better at making things that can kill each other," he said in a viral video clip of the concert.

"Anyway, I wanted to say his name. I wrote it down so I didn’t forget it, this young man who was — well, old man, but we’re all young — this father and grandfather who was murdered by ICE in Houston, Texas. And then they say he’s not even the guy — he’s not even the guy they were looking for. Well, then don’t pull the trigger, you a--holes."

"So I just wanted to say, I’m sorry if that language offends his family or his friends or his community, but it’s just making me mad anyway, so I want to send this to the memory of Lorenzo Salgado Araujo, who was killed a few days ago in Houston by ICE," he added.

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

Illegal immigrant Lorenzo Salgado Araujo, a Mexican citizen, was shot and killed in Houston after he allegedly tried to ram U.S. ICE officers during an operation, the agency said Tuesday. ICE officers were attempting to conduct a traffic stop at around 6:50 a.m., an ICE spokesperson told Fox News Digital.

Araujo tried evading the ICE officers when he "weaponized his vehicle in an attempt to run over an ICE law enforcement officer, resulting in our officer firing his weapon in self-defense."

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Matthews has condemned ICE agents before. After the killing of activist Renee Good in Minneapolis amid an altercation with ICE agents in February, he spoke out in a video on his Instagram.

"I don’t want my taxes to pay for ICE, to masked thugs to roam our streets and terrorize our communities and rip families apart. We should be taking care of each other. We should be minding each other. We should be housing the homeless. We shouldn’t be, you know, throwing people to the ground," he said.

"Which brings me to Renee Nicole Good," he continued. "Murdered in front of her fellow citizens in Minneapolis, murdered in the streets, and no matter what narrative this administration is trying to sell us, we can see the videos."

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Fox News Digital contacted ICE for comment but did not receive an immediate response.

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Fox News Digital's Louis Casiano contributed to this report.

Mamdani offers few answers as massive homeless encampment sprouts in west Manhattan

Mon, 13 Jul 2026 20:38:47 -0400

Mayor Zohran Mamdani on Monday offered few specifics about a sprawling homeless encampment that has grown near the Intrepid Museum despite repeated complaints from New York City residents.

The encampment stretches roughly 12 blocks along Manhattan's West Side, from 34th Street to 46th Street on 11th Avenue, according to the New York Post. The area is reportedly lined with tents, furniture, used needles and suspected stolen goods, while residents have also complained of open drug use and prostitution.

Asked about the encampment, which sits near a major tourist destination as the city welcomes visitors for the FIFA World Cup, Mamdani said the city was "going to look into the details of that."

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He said that under city rules, homeless encampments can be cleared only after the city's Department of Homeless Services (DHS) conducts daily outreach for seven days following an initial notice.

"The goal of that outreach is to ensure that we're building trust that we're actually able to connect those New Yorkers with services and that we can connect them with any other things that they need, whether it be medical care or whether it be housing support. And then by the 7th day, following the notice, the encampment will be cleared," Mamdani said.

"We are focused on connecting New Yorkers to shelters and on establishing a pipeline to stable housing, not just moving New Yorkers from one place to another place," he added.

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According to The Post, the encampment has been growing for weeks, with nearby workers saying the population has steadily increased.

"These people have been here forever," one employee at the Intrepid Museum told the outlet.

A maintenance supervisor at the nearby Jacob K. Javits Convention Center told the outlet that despite repeated efforts to clear sections of the encampment, the camp continues to spread.

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"This is crazy," the worker said. "The cops and the sanitation guys and the outreach guys, they clean up one spot and after that day, the next day they’re over here. Then they’re over there. They’re kind of just spreading around."

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"We kicked them out, now they’re over here," the worker added. "One thing is for sure though, there are more today than there were last month, that’s for sure."

City records show there were 48 complaints related to homelessness along the affected stretch of the West Side through the city's 311 system this year, including 30 filed last month alone, the Post reported.

Caitlin Clark helps WNBA hit historic late-night cable number despite limited return in LA

Mon, 13 Jul 2026 20:21:18 -0400

The WNBA has another Caitlin Clark television number to celebrate.

And this one might be even more impressive than some of the bigger ones.

Clark and the Indiana Fever helped deliver an average audience of 1.04 million viewers for Wednesday night’s game against the Los Angeles Sparks, according to USA Sports PR.

The Fever lost, 106-92, and Clark played just 16 minutes in her return from a back injury that had kept her out for the previous two weeks. But that feels secondary to the bigger story here.

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One million viewers is a monster number for the WNBA under almost any circumstance.

But these weren't exactly favorable circumstances.

The game aired across USA Network and CNBC. Clark has drawn much bigger numbers on broadcast television, but this was cable-only.

Additionally, this was not a weekend showcase game. It didn't even air in a friendly weeknight window. The game, played in Los Angeles, started on a Wednesday night at 10 p.m. ET.

And it still averaged more than one million viewers.

According to USA Sports PR, citing Nielsen Big Data + Panel data, Fever-Sparks was the network’s most-watched WNBA game on record, up 149% compared to the 2025 cable average. The network also said it marked the first time in WNBA history that a game with a 10 p.m. ET start averaged at least one million viewers.

That’s a pretty big deal.

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Indiana’s opening-weekend game against the Dallas Wings averaged 2.49 million viewers on ABC, making it the league’s fourth-largest audience, including playoffs and All-Star Games, since 2000. Clark and the Fever later averaged 2.56 million viewers for a CBS game against the New York Liberty, the third-largest WNBA audience of any kind since 2000.

Those were massive numbers, obviously, and they speak to Clark's immense popularity.

While the Fever-Sparks number says something different, it shouldn't be considered any less important. In a way, it's more impressive than those previous highs.

This data shows that Clark can drag the WNBA to a seven-figure TV audience even in a brutal East Coast television window, on cable, in the middle of the week.

Before Clark arrived, the WNBA went nearly 16 years without a single game averaging a million viewers. The previous seven-figure game came in 2008, when Candace Parker’s professional debut averaged 1.07 million viewers on ABC.

That was the old ceiling, and it took a highly-anticipated rookie debut airing at 3:30 p.m. ET on a Saturday afternoon on a major broadcast network.

Now, when Clark is involved, one million viewers on cable at 10 p.m. ET is apparently in play.

The game itself wasn't even great for Clark or the Fever. The star guard returned from a back injury aggravated during the June 24 game against the Phoenix Mercury and scored just nine points in 16 minutes. Indiana trailed the entire second half and never got closer than a nine-point deficit in the fourth quarter.

The WNBA and its media supporters continue trying to sell the league’s boom as a broader women’s basketball story. There's some truth to that. The league is clearly in a better position now than it was a few years ago. The product has more visibility than ever.

But the biggest television numbers continue to point to Clark.

Sports Media Watch noted that the five most-watched WNBA games this season have all featured Indiana.

There is an interesting wrinkle there, too. The Fever have started to draw strong numbers even when Clark is not playing.

Indiana’s July 5 game against the Las Vegas Aces, without Clark, averaged 1.55 million viewers on ESPN’s "Women’s Sports Sundays," making it the biggest cable or streaming WNBA audience of the season at the time.

But that isn't the anti-Clark argument some people seem to think it is.

It’s actually the opposite.

Clark has turned the Fever into the WNBA’s most important television brand. The team now carries national interest in a way it never did before she arrived. If anything, it's more of a pro-Clark argument. She generated so much interest in the Fever that people are willing to watch even when she's not playing.

Fever games without Clark are drawing bigger numbers than non-Fever games, too. So this isn't simply a case of the entire WNBA drawing bigger audiences.

The 1.55 million viewers on July 5 was more viewers than the previous two "Women’s Sports Sundays" on ESPN drew combined. Neither of those games, Liberty-Valkyries (743,000 viewers) and Liberty-Sparks (778,000), included the Fever.

The WNBA is growing. Even drawing over 700,000 viewers for non-Fever games is a massive increase over the pre-Clark era.

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But every time the league gets another historic TV rating, there's a common denominator.

Her name is Caitlin Clark.