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Sophie Cunningham speaks out against DiJonai Carrington after flagrant foul and 'White privilege' post

Sat, 08 Aug 2026 20:50:05 -0400

Sophie Cunningham spoke out against Chicago Sky star DiJonai Carrington after the Fever's 90-86 win on Saturday.

Carrington was ejected from the game in the first half after smacking Cunningham across the face during Cunningham's layup attempt.

"Clearly, I think it was like unnecessary. I've never really spoken to her and have no beef with her, but I guess she has some pent up stuff. So get your s--- off. That's fine. I can take it... Yeah, it's intentional," Cunningham said, per ESPN's Kareem Copeland on X.

DIJONAI CARRINGTON DECLARES 'WHITE PRIVILEGE' AFTER EJECTION FOR SMACKING SOPHIE CUNNINGHAM IN THE FACE

"She has no reason to be doing any of that. So good way to get her kicked out. I don't even know her. She wasn't even on the team last year when all that was going on. But I do think when people play the Fever, we're nationally televised, there's a lot of eyes on us and people just want attention. And that's her just trying to get attention."

After the foul, Cunningham and Carrington were seen getting in each other's faces and yelling, as referees had to separate them.

"I wasn't even upset. I mean, I popped up. I'm not going to let anyone just do that to me. I think everyone knows that. I think that's why she did it because she wants attention," Cunningham said. "I mean, s---, like, people have started craving attention. Like, go get it somewhere else. Go do something good in the world, I don't know. Yeah, I popped up and [Makayla Timpson] had my back."

After Carrington's ejection, she went on Threads and wrote "White Privilege" and tagged the Indiana Fever. Cunningham rejected Carrington's suggestion that the ejection had anything to do with race.

"I think the league is taking care of that. This has nothing to do with race. Last year, I did the same thing and I got kicked out. And I deserved to be kicked out. There's no reason even to play that card," Cunningham added.

Meanwhile, Cunningham's own coach, Stephanie White, defended Carrington in the post-game press conference, while agreeing the flagrant foul and ejection was the right call.

"Yeah, I mean, look, it was a hard foul. I don't think that DiJonai intentionally came out to get her across the neck like she did. But it did happen and I thought it was the right call. But you know, one of the things about Nay is that she's gonna play her butt off, man. She's gonna compete. Nobody's gonna go walking in for a layup. And so, I don't oppose the hard foul. But I also don't think that she intentionally went for the neck," White said.

White declined to comment on Carrington's "White privilege" post.

White previously coached Carrington when both were with the Connecticut Sun in 2023-24. In the 2024 playoffs, Carrington poked Fever phenom Caitlin Clark in the eye.

Carrington's current coach, Sky coach Tyler Marsh, also defended Carrington and said he believed it wasn't a flagrant foul in the moment.

"In the moment, I thought that she made a play on a ball. I didn't think it warranted a flagrant 2, I didn't see it in the replay. So that was my initial thoughts," Marsh said. "I haven't looked at that play since, so I really don't know if it was justified or not."

Marsh also declined to comment on Carrington's "White privilege" post. He also rejected the notion that Carrington may have come into the game with more emotion to play against Cunningham due to Cunningham's recent public stance in support of protecting women's sports.

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"I don't think there is ill intent on our end," he added.

The incident between the two players unfolded as Cunningham remained at the center of a widening political debate. Supporters held a fourth rally outside the venue of a Fever road game on Saturday, while counterprotesters also gathered near the United Center.

Cunningham has said she does not harbor hatred toward transgender people but believes protecting girls and women in sports is "common sense." White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt previously defended Cunningham, saying the backlash against her was "astonishing."

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With another Cunningham rally already scheduled ahead of the Fever’s Aug. 22 game against the New York Liberty, controversy is bound to surround Cunningham and Indiana beyond Chicago.

Meanwhile, Carrington already had a contentious history with the Fever before Saturday. During the 2024 season, she mocked Caitlin Clark for what she believed was flopping and later called Indiana supporters "the nastiest fans in the W" after receiving racist abuse from some online users.

Carrington then struck Clark in the eye while defending a pass during the 2024 playoffs, leaving the Fever star with a black eye. Both players said the contact was accidental, although Carrington later drew renewed criticism after appearing to joke about the controversy during an Instagram Live video.

Carrington has also responded to accusations that she plays dirty, insisting she simply plays aggressively and always attempts to make a play on the ball. Beyond basketball, she has drawn attention for wearing an explicit anti-President Donald Trump sweatshirt and urging WNBA players to oppose Trump administration policies affecting women and the LGBTQ community.

Scott Eastwood says his father sent Kevin Costner home from set while filming 'A Perfect World'

Sat, 08 Aug 2026 20:23:08 -0400

Scott Eastwood is getting candid about how his father once asked a well-known actor to leave a movie set.

During a recent interview on the "Armchair Expert" podcast, the 40-year-old actor shared that everybody has "a lot of respect" for his father, Clint Eastwood, on set and that he "didn't raise his voice ever" while on set.

He then shared a "legendary story" about when his father worked with Kevin Costner, and how he reacted when the actor wouldn't leave his trailer, noting "I’m sort of going to paraphrase it, and I’ll probably tell it a little wrong."

"Kevin Costner sort of going through maybe, the Kevin Costner rise to fame and maybe got a big ego, you know, blah blah blah, but they were doing 'Perfect World,'" he said. "Apparently, he didn't want to come out of his trailer for some reason."

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Scott said Clint — who directed and starred in the film — reacted by saying, "Well send him home then," even though Costner was scheduled to be in the scene they were working on that day.

"So he sent him home, and I guess they just went to Kevin and said, 'Hey, you're going to go home for the day,'" Scott explained. "He said, 'What do you mean I'm in the scene?' You know, 'Well, I guess you're not anymore. Clint changed that.'"

After he was asked to leave the set that day, Scott noted, "I think the next day he was on set ready to go."

Fox News Digital reached out to representatives for Costner for comment.

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"A Perfect World" stars Costner as an escaped convict who kidnaps a young child, with Clint playing the role of a Texas ranger who is searching for Costner and the young boy.

Scott previously discussed how growing up with a famous father impacted his work ethic and how he conducts himself on set, noting that growing up he saw "some behavior in this business that is shocking."

"I think I was lucky in some ways because I got to see it growing up and got to see like how it's bulls---," he said on an episode of "The Joe Rogan Experience," in June of certain behaviors on modern movie sets.

While Eastwood said he got a peek at bad behavior on set when he was younger and visiting his iconic dad on set, the "Wrath of Man" star said his father "did a really good job of protecting" him and his siblings from the pitfalls that come with child stardom.

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He brought it up after he and Rogan began talking about child stars who found fame at a really young age, saying, "you get stunted in your growth" when you get famous too young.

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"I mean, kudos to my dad, [be]cause he did a really good job of protecting us from that and very private," he said. "We didn't live in LA, we lived in Carmel. It was a very...as normal as it could be, in the sense that he was like, 'No, you just you need to be a normal child and learn how the world works.'"

President Trump receives big cheers from spectators during LIV Golf event at his New Jersey club

Sat, 08 Aug 2026 20:00:19 -0400

LIV Golf is hosting its New York event at President Donald Trump’s National Golf Club Bedminster.

It's the third time that the upstart tour has held an event at one of the president's golf clubs.

As was the case at one previous event, President Trump himself was on hand to check things out.

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According to The New York Post, the commander-in-chief received a big ovation from spectators as he drove a golf cart along the course.

It's always interesting to hear how Trump is received at various sporting events, but you can usually make a pretty good guess.

UFC fight? Huge ovation.

College football game? Big ovation.

Knicks playoff game? Boos.

So, I think it would've been kind of odd if he had been greeted with anything other than cheers at his own golf club.

Of course, the president being on hand for this weekend's event is a big deal for LIV Golf, which is going through an interesting time at the moment.

There was a time when it was a real question as to whether or not the tour would survive beyond 2026. Back in April, the Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF) announced that it would no longer fund the tour.

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That's a huge problem, seeing as the PIF was LIV's only funder.

However, LIV Golf CEO Scott O'Neil announced this week that the tour has an as-yet-unnamed investor lined up.

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"LIV Golf has an agreement in place with a lead investor, signed by the investor and approved by the Board, to anchor the transaction and play a key role in supporting the path forward for the League’s next era, driven by and for the players," O'Neil said.

WNBA faces discipline dilemma after Carrington's 'White privilege' post targeting Indiana Fever

Sat, 08 Aug 2026 19:26:43 -0400

Chicago Sky guard DiJonai Carrington was ejected for a Flagrant 2 foul on Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham on Saturday afternoon.

Then Carrington presumably went to the locker room and fired off a strong accusation.

A post on Carrington's Threads account shortly after her ejection read: "WHITE PRIVILEGE @indianafever."

Whoa.

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Following an ejection, a player went to the locker room and made an apparent race-based accusation. It's hard to imagine that happening in another major professional sports league without a harsh punishment from the league.

The Fever went on to beat the Sky, 90-86, but that seemed like a secondary story at best.

Carrington was tossed late in the first quarter after striking Cunningham across the head while the Fever guard attempted a layup. Officials reviewed the play and upgraded the foul to a Flagrant 2, which carries an automatic ejection. Cunningham had to be restrained following the play and appeared to show her teammates that her mouth was bleeding.

The timing of Carrington's post certainly appeared to suggest that she believed race, or "white privilege," played some role in what happened.

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While Carrington didn't specifically write, "The referees are racist," it's hard to find an alternative interpretation. Unless, since she tagged the Indiana Fever, she thinks the Fever organization is racist.

Either way, the WNBA finds itself in a terrible spot.

Either the league has to impose a harsh punishment on Carrington, which potentially angers other players in the WNBA and certain corners of the sports media, or it does nothing and risks reinforcing the perception that different racial standards apply, despite Commissioner Cathy Engelbert recently telling Congress that the league applies its rules and disciplinary processes consistently across all games and all players.

OutKick contacted the WNBA, the WNBA Players' Association and the Chicago Sky shortly after Carrington's post.

The league was asked whether it interpreted the message as an allegation that race or racial bias played a role in Carrington's ejection, whether it had spoken with Carrington about the post and whether it was reviewing the matter for potential discipline.

The Sky were similarly asked what Carrington meant, whether she was alleging racial bias in the officiating decision and whether the organization stood by her characterization.

OutKick also contacted the WNBPA, asking whether the union believes race or racial bias played a role in Carrington's ejection, whether it has evidence of racial disparities in WNBA officiating and whether it stands by Carrington's "WHITE PRIVILEGE" characterization.

None of the organizations responded prior to publication.

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Complaints about officiating are part of professional sports. Players think they get fouled too much, coaches think opponents get favorable whistles, and fans are convinced every referee has a bet on their favorite team's opponent.

But claiming "white privilege" immediately after an officiating decision is different. It introduces the idea that officials aren't simply making good or bad basketball calls, but that race might influence how those calls are made.

If that's what Carrington meant, she should say it clearly and explain what evidence she has.

If that's not what she meant, that's pretty easy to clear up, too.

And there's another important piece of context in this specific incident.

Sophie Cunningham has become one of the WNBA's most polarizing players after publicly stating that she doesn't believe biological men should compete in women's sports. Her position has generated rallies at Fever games, subsequent counter-protests and open disagreement from others inside the WNBA, including the players' association.

So, it's entirely possible Carrington's message was aimed at something broader than the officiating.

Again, that's why clarification matters.

The WNBA can't spend years embracing players speaking publicly about politics, race, gender and social issues, then treat a player's "WHITE PRIVILEGE" accusation as something that doesn't deserve a suspension.

And the WNBPA has a problem, too. On Friday, the union said "hate, abuse, and demonization of any person or group of people, including transgender people" fuels "fear, division, and harm."

Well, if "any person or group" actually means any person or group, then the union can’t carve out an exception when one of its own players invokes "WHITE PRIVILEGE" against another team.

Carrington not only posted that accusation publicly, but she did it during a game and presumably from inside a WNBA locker room. She tagged another WNBA franchise.

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The league, the players' association and the Sky were given an opportunity to explain what she meant or, at minimum, say whether they asked her.

They haven't yet.

For now, Carrington's two-word accusation is left to speak for itself.

Molly Sims flaunts toned abs in mismatched bikini during perfect beach day with her kids

Sat, 08 Aug 2026 18:23:01 -0400

Molly Sims is enjoying a beach day with her kids.

The 53-year-old model and actress took to Instagram to share how she and her family spent "a perfect beach day" together.

She posted a series of photos on her Instagram stories featuring her children swimming in the ocean and building sandcastles, as well as one of her in a mismatched bikini with the words, "Oh hey," written over it.

In the photo, Sims can be seen flaunting her toned abs in a black bikini top and blue bikini bottoms, which she paired with a chunky chain necklace with a heart charm with the letter "M" on it, as well as black sunglasses and a black hat.

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She also shared a photo of herself after leaving the beach in a white dress with black polka dots, which she paired with the same gold chain necklace, gold hoop earrings and minimal makeup.

"Nothing like getting ready for dinner after a day in the sun," she wrote over the picture, adding a sun emoji.

The model recently made waves when she was featured in the pages of the 2026 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue, sporting a variety of bikinis.

Sims posted some of the photos on her Instagram, including an orange string bikini she wore while posing on a cliff along the ocean, a pink one, which she paired with suspenders, and a red suit which featured silver shell embellishments.

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"If only I could tell the 20-something version of me shooting her first @si_swimsuit issue that she’d still be here at 52… feeling more beautiful and confident in her skin than ever before."

Sims first posed for the magazine in 2000, and went on to appear in the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue eight separate times.

She has never been one to shy away from posting bikini photos on social media, often taking to Instagram to share photos from various vacations, whether she was in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, or on a mountain vacation in the snow.

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In February 2023, Sims took to her Instagram stories to share how she keeps her body bikini ready, noting her secret is bone broth, and she showed a picture of a mug filled with it.

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She wrote, "Anti-ageing [sic], good for digestion and gut, helps my joints after workouts, better sleep... this has been game changing for me."

EXCLUSIVE: Teen girls recall Jersey Shore ride malfunction that left them stuck hanging upside down

Sat, 08 Aug 2026 18:13:38 -0400

FIRST ON FOX: Early last month, on the day after the Fourth of July, more than a dozen people found themselves trapped upside down on a malfunctioning ride along the boardwalk in Ocean City, New Jersey.

Charlotte Hacker and Emilia Gordon, both 13, were among the passengers on the Wipe Out ride at Playland's Castaway Cove when it got stuck that evening.

The two friends were interviewed with their parents' permission, recounting to Fox News Digital the terrifying experience of dangling midair with no idea of when they would come down.

"We were stuck upside down for five to seven minutes, and it doesn't seem like that much to the people that were down watching us, but we were up there, and it felt like an hour," Hacker said on Saturday.

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The girls went to the boardwalk to celebrate Gordon’s 13th birthday, which was the following day. They said they often ride the attractions there and decided to try the Wipe Out because it was new.

The ride swings like a pendulum, repeatedly turning thrill-seekers upside down while its passenger compartment spins. Only this time, the ride inexplicably stopped with everyone suspended upside down.

"I seriously thought I was going to pass out," Gordon said. "You try to put your head up, but you literally can't. You can barely get it up at all."

The girls, seated next to each other, tried to carry on mundane conversations to distract themselves while blood rushed to their heads.

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"I remember thinking that the lap bars were going to open and that we were just going to fall," Gordon said.

Family members on the ground waiting for their kids to get off the ride were terrified as well, the girls said.

"My uncle was there too, because we were all with my cousins, so he was also freaking out," Hacker said.

Eventually, the ride's operators managed to get it moving again, but to the girls' dismay, it kept on going. Once the ride finished, they said they weren't let off for another few minutes.

It is unclear what caused the apparent malfunction, and if any injuries were reported.

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Hacker said the ride did not close, adding that there were some people who stayed in line and rode it after they got off.

"When we came off, people were literally clapping," Gordon said.

The amusement park offered ticket refunds to the girls, which they didn't think was sufficient after what they went through.

"That ride is five tickets, so they just gave back our ticket but [Hacker] only got three back. I got five. But still, after all that, I feel like you expect more," Gordon said.

Fox News Digital has reached out to the Ocean City Fire Department, Ocean City Police Department, the ride's operator and the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs for comment.

USA Volleyball suggests changes coming to sex testing, while junior families raise male athlete concerns

Sat, 08 Aug 2026 18:10:55 -0400

USA Volleyball suggested it may change its policy on genetic sex tests to protect the women's category. Meanwhile, multiple female players of USA Volleyball-sanctioned leagues and their families have spoken out about playing against an allegedly transgender opponent.

USA Volleyball, the International Volleyball Federation and members of the U.S. Women’s National Team said they have reached a "constructive path forward" after players raised concerns about the rollout of genetic screening used to determine eligibility for the female category in international competition.

The organizations said in a July 28 joint statement that they had reached a "shared understanding" over concerns surrounding the sex-determining region Y, or SRY, screening process.

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"Following a series of productive discussions, the FIVB, USA Volleyball, and members of the USA Women’s National Team (WNT) are pleased to confirm a shared understanding and a constructive path forward regarding the concerns raised in relation to the SRY screening process," the statement read.

"When the WNT first raised concerns through USA Volleyball related to communication, athlete privacy and procedural safeguards, the FIVB responded immediately by meeting with USA Volleyball and adapting its procedures to address these concerns."

The statement did not announce an end to SRY screening or a change to the eligibility standard itself. Instead, it focused on how the testing is communicated and administered and said the parties would continue working together to improve the process.

The dispute followed the International Olympic Committee’s March 2026 policy, which limits eligibility for the female category at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics and other IOC events to biological females, as determined through a one-time SRY gene screening. The IOC says the policy is not retroactive and does not apply to grassroots or recreational sports.

FIVB incorporated SRY screening into its 2026 Sports Regulations. Under those rules, the presence of a Y chromosome initially places a player in the male category, while its absence makes a player eligible for the female category. The regulations also establish a process through which a player may seek a change in categorization by demonstrating that no competitive advantage would result.

The FIVB rule is limited to FIVB, world and other official competitions organized by the international federation, its confederations and zonal associations. FIVB’s regulations expressly leave eligibility rules for domestic club competition to each national federation.

That distinction has become a flashpoint for three families who told Fox News Digital that their daughters competed on teams with an alleged biological male athlete in a USA Volleyball-sanctioned league. The families allege that an amended birth certificate was accepted as the controlling eligibility document even though, they say, the alleged biological male athlete’s sex at birth was male.

USA Volleyball’s current Gender Competition Policy says athlete members are expected to compete in USAV-sanctioned events "as a member of the gender assigned at the time of birth on their birth certificate." The same policy says the gender recorded for competition purposes "has not officially been verified."

Fox News Digital is not identifying the girls, their family members or the league that they play in but has independently verified they compete in a USA Volleyball-sanctioned league. Fox News Digital has not independently verified an alleged biological male competes in that league.

The following family statements are reproduced in full. The families’ assertions about an alleged biological male athlete, an amended birth certificate, communications with volleyball officials and the alleged athlete’s physical characteristics have not been independently verified by Fox News Digital.

Athlete 1

"It’s wrong because [the alleged biological male athlete] is biologically stronger than me. I’ll never jump as high as [the alleged biological male athlete] can. No matter how much training I do, I’ll never be able to do what [the alleged biological male athlete’s] body can do. I’m labeled as transphobic for being against all the things that I just said and it’s just facts. No hate. I hope they start testing to make sure that boys are not ever on the court with girls."

Athlete 1's mother

"My daughter competed alongside an [alleged] biologically male player, so this policy change is deeply personal to our family. Watching her navigate an incredibly stressful season was heartbreaking. Beyond the emotional toll, our family sacrificed countless hours and significant financial resources, only to feel like the integrity of the competition was compromised. We were put in a position where I believed the rules weren’t being followed, and it was incredibly frustrating to feel like we had no choice but to accept it.

"This policy validates what so many female athletes and parents have experienced but were often afraid to say publicly. I hope USA Volleyball remains committed to keeping the female division exclusively for female athletes and protecting the fairness, safety, and opportunities that girls deserve, so no other family has to go through what ours did."

Athlete 2

"Being a female athlete and having to play, with or against, an [alleged] biological male should not be something that any female athlete should have to do. It is simply unfair. Male athletes already start with an advantage that no female athletes can reach, leaving a huge mental impact on the female players around them. It leaves female athletes, like myself, comparing their ability to the men on their court, making them insecure about something they may never be able to reach.

"This takes opportunities away from the female athletes as well, who work hard every day to improve their athletic ability but in the end, they will never have the strength, vertical, or endurance a male is naturally able to develop. Not to mention, males participating in women's sporting events is illegal. So not only is it unfair by taking away female opportunities, it is against the law."

Athlete 2's mother

"For this entire volleyball season, my husband and I have been forced to watch my daughter and ten other girls compete on a team alongside an [alleged biological male athlete] on the roster. It has been infuriating because we feel that we are not protecting her, yet to speak out could foil her chance at making an elite roster next season. We are sending these young women very mixed messages. We teach our children that the hard work they put into working out, practicing and being a good team player will have its rewards.

"However, in this case, the work that the girls are putting in is futile. My daughter and her teammates feel defeated because they know the physical advantage that males have over females. They often have to listen as male coaches praise the [alleged biological male athlete’s] athletic ability, all the while these girls knowing that [the alleged biological male athlete] has unfair physical advantages.

"As a society that allows boys into girls’ private spaces, we are sending the young women a message that they will never be good enough, that the scholarships will probably never go to them, and that in general, being a female, is at best, only good enough to stand in 2nd place, behind the boys who you never had a chance at beating in the first place. As adults, we are failing to keep our young girls safe.

"As parents of athletes, we have a responsibility to raise our girls to be proud of being female, proud of being strong in mind and body, and proud to stand for the rights of all women and girls, both on the court and off. We cannot allow these violations to continue. Women were granted these rights under Title IX, and the law is being violated by USA Volleyball! Women and girls and their advocates should not have to continue to fight for rights that were already given to them!"

Athlete 3

"As a female athlete who loves playing volleyball, I never thought or could have ever imagined I would have to be put in a situation where I would have to compete with and against an [alleged] boy.

"Seeing an [alleged] boy jump higher and hit harder while seeing [the alleged biological male athlete] get recognized over me was extremely humiliating as a female athlete. No matter how hard I worked at getting better, I knew I could never be as good as [the alleged biological male athlete]. Volleyball nets are higher in men’s volleyball due to this reason.

"I trusted USA Volleyball and leadership members who run volleyball club organizations to protect me and my fellow female athletes. Instead, I have lost trust in these adults and organizations. Knowing [alleged] male athletes are playing under the USA Volleyball guidelines and sweeping it under the rug makes me feel defeated as a young female. I have worked so hard to get to where I am, and allowing an [alleged] boy to play on an all-girls volleyball team has me discouraged to even keep playing the sport I love.

"USA Volleyball states 'compete in the gender matching the sex assigned at birth on their birth certificate.' Well in my state you can change your gender with the identity you identify as. How is this fair? Due to your guidelines and rules, I have to compete with an [alleged] biological male because they can amend their birth certificate to FEMALE. This is not fair or safe for me and the rest of female athletes."

Athlete 3's mother

"As a mother of a female athlete whose daughter had to play on the same team as an [alleged] biological male, I believe USA Volleyball should have clear, consistent methods for verifying athlete eligibility. The current USA Volleyball policy states that 'USAV athlete members are expected to participate or compete in all USAV-sanctioned events or activities as a member of the gender assigned at the time of birth on their birth certificate.'

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"As a parent of a female athlete, it is frustrating when the rules are not being applied consistently. In some states, birth certificates can be amended to reflect a person’s gender identity.

"This creates uncertainty when eligibility rules are intended to be based on biological sex at birth. In competitions where eligibility is based on biological sex, we believe USA Volleyball needs to consider additional methods of verification so that the rules are applied consistently to every athlete and all competitors are treated fairly. I witnessed firsthand what my daughter and her teammates experienced.

"They felt humiliated and discouraged when an [alleged] male athlete had physical advantages in jumping and hitting power that the girls could not match. They also felt disheartened when those abilities received recognition. Men’s volleyball is played with a higher net, reflecting recognized physical differences between the men’s and women’s games. I watched my daughter’s confidence decline because she believed the eligibility rules were not being enforced consistently.

"She felt there was no meaningful way to ensure that the policy was applied as written. USA Volleyball needs to do more to protect fair competition for female athletes. Solely relying on birth certificates alone is not sufficient enough to verify eligibility under a policy that is intended to be based on sex assigned at birth."

Athlete 3's father

"As a father, I was outraged. I trusted that if USA Volleyball had eligibility rules, they would be enforced consistently. Instead, I watched my daughter and her teammates compete in a situation they believed did not follow those rules. USA volleyball said they wouldn’t remove the [alleged biological male] athlete because of an amended birth certificate, even though the policy is based on sex assigned at birth.

"I was given a meeting after requesting one with the leadership of my daughter’s local volleyball team to discuss concerns regarding an [alleged] male athlete participating on her girls’ team. During the meeting, information was presented that demonstrated the athlete was [allegedly] biologically male.

"Despite the evidence provided, the team leadership stated that they had been instructed by both their regional governing organization and USA Volleyball to accept the athlete’s amended birth certificate as the determining document for eligibility. As a result, my concerns were dismissed, and no further action was taken by the organization regarding the matter. Her local club team was not only made aware of the [alleged biological male athlete] being in the team but was also told by numerous other parents on her team along with opposing team parents and coaches and they still turned a blind eye.

"What made me the angriest was watching my daughter pay the price. My daughter lost confidence, felt like her concerns were dismissed, and started questioning whether the rules actually meant anything. As a father, there’s nothing more frustrating than seeing your child speak up, believe she’s standing up for what’s right, and feel like no one is willing to listen.

"This isn’t about hate or attacking anyone personally. It’s about fairness, accountability, and expecting organizations to enforce the policies they put in place. If the rules are going to exist, they should be applied consistently to every athlete. That’s all we’ve ever asked for."

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Fox News Digital has reached out to USA Volleyball for a response to the family's statements.

Biden's battle with advancing cancer renews focus on prostate disease

Sat, 08 Aug 2026 18:06:30 -0400

Former President Joe Biden’s prostate cancer has spread further since his diagnosis last year, his son Hunter Biden revealed in a BBC interview that aired Friday.

"The cancer has spread, metastasized into his bones and further," Hunter Biden told BBC Newsnight, describing his father’s condition as "very painful" and "very debilitating in many respects."

"It’s really sad to watch," the younger Biden went on. "The only thing that I’d say about my dad, about his health right now, is I wish he would complain more, because it’s not good."

JOE BIDEN'S CANCER HAS SPREAD FURTHER, LEAVING HIM IN 'VERY PAINFUL' CONDITION, HUNTER REVEALS

Biden, 83, announced his diagnosis in May 2025, after news that a "small nodule" had been found in the former president's prostate during a routine exam.

"While this represents a more aggressive form of the disease, the cancer appears to be hormone-sensitive, which allows for effective management," his office said at the time. "The president and his family are reviewing treatment options with his physicians."

Biden later underwent hormone therapy and radiation treatment, completing a course of radiation at Penn Medicine Radiation Oncology in Philadelphia in October 2025, according to the former president's spokesperson.

In addition to hormone therapy, common treatment options for prostate cancer include chemotherapy, targeted therapy, immunotherapy and radiopharmaceutical treatments.

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

What to know about prostate cancer

Prostate cancer is a disease found in men that develops in the prostate gland. Cases have been on the rise in recent years, with overall incidence increasing about 3% annually from 2014 through 2021, according to the American Cancer Society.

Rates of advanced-stage prostate cancer rose about 5% per year during that period.

NEW BLOOD TEST DETECTS 90% OF AGGRESSIVE PROSTATE CANCER CASES, BEATING CURRENT SCREENINGS

About 333,830 new cases of prostate cancer are expected to be diagnosed in the U.S. in 2026, and about 36,320 men are expected to die from the disease, according to the American Cancer Society.

One in eight men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in their lifetime, the same source stated.

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Older men are at a higher risk of the disease, with six in 10 cases diagnosed in patients 65 and older. The average age at diagnosis is 67, with men under 40 rarely affected.

Prostate cancer is the second-most common cancer in men, behind only skin cancer, the ACS noted.

Signs and symptoms

Among men who undergo routine prostate cancer screening, the disease is usually caught early before symptoms emerge, per the ACS.

Typical early symptoms include problems urinating, a weak or slow urinary stream or an increased need to urinate. Some men may also notice blood in the urine or bodily fluids.

More advanced symptoms may occur after the disease has spread. Those may include pain in the hips, back (spine), chest (ribs) or other areas, the ACS stated.

Men may also suffer from erectile dysfunction, weight loss, extreme fatigue, weakness in the legs or feet, or loss of bladder or bowel control.

Screening recommendations

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force states that men aged 55 to 69 years should have the option to undergo periodic prostate-specific antigen (PSA)-based screening to monitor for prostate cancer.

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"Before deciding whether to be screened, men should have an opportunity to discuss the potential benefits and harms of screening with their clinician and to incorporate their values and preferences in the decision," the USPSTF states.

While screening offers a "small potential benefit" of reducing the chances of dying from the disease, the agency noted that some men may experience negative effects, including false-positive results, overdiagnosis and overtreatment, and treatment complications.

Alternative prostate cancer screening methods are currently being researched, including one that uses a non-invasive urine test, as Fox News Digital recently reported.

Survival rates

For localized prostate cancers, where the disease is contained within the prostate, the five-year survival rate is at least 99%, according to the ACS.

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For regional cases, where the disease has spread only to "nearby structures or lymph nodes," the five-year survival rate is also 99% or greater.

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If the cancer has spread to other areas of the body, the five-year survival rate drops to 37%.

Actual survival rates may vary based on the patient's age, overall health, how the cancer has progressed post-diagnosis, the disease's response to treatment, and other factors, the ACS noted.

Flight canceled after toddler refused to buckle seat belt, stranding passengers overnight

Sat, 08 Aug 2026 18:04:45 -0400

An evening flight from British Columbia to Toronto this week had to be canceled because a toddler refused to buckle their seat belt, the airline confirmed to Fox News Digital.

Porter Airlines flight 444 was expected to leave from Victoria International Airport at 10:30 p.m. and had begun taxiing when a flight attendant noticed the child.

"A young child was standing in their seat and would not secure their seatbelt," the airline shared with Fox News Digital in a statement, adding that neither the adult with the child nor the crew were able to get the child buckled.

FLIGHT PASSENGER BLASTS 'INCOMPETENT PARENTS' AFTER UNRULY CHILD FORCES PLANE DELAY

"The aircraft could not take off in this unsafe condition, so the crew elected to return to the terminal and have the passengers disembark," the airline added.

Because the airport has a takeoff curfew of 12:30 a.m., and it took time to get the passengers in question and their luggage off the plane and do the necessary paperwork, the flight had to be canceled.

'WE THOUGHT WE WOULD DIE': PASSENGERS THROWN INTO CEILING DURING TERRIFYING FLIGHT

The other passengers had to stay the night.

The other passengers were rebooked on a Friday flight.

"We apologize for the effect this had on other passengers," Porter added.

A child safety seat or restraint device is required for children under two flying on the airline.

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It’s unclear how old the child was.

DiJonai Carrington declares 'White privilege' after ejection for smacking Sophie Cunningham in the face

Sat, 08 Aug 2026 17:12:12 -0400

Chicago Sky player DiJonai Carrington sent a post on Threads that read "white privilege" and tagged the Indiana Fever after she was ejected from Saturday's game for smacking Sophie Cunningham in the face.

Carrington has previously garnered controversy for poking Cunningham's teammate Caitlin Clark in the eye during the 2024 playoffs, and making controversial statements in the media.

With about two minutes left in the first quarter, Cunningham had the ball and was headed in for a layup. Carrington was on her tail.

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Carrington hustled and got to Cunningham in time, but then delivered a brutal shot straight to the Fever star's head.

The incident prompted Cunningham to get back up and scream at Carrington, as referees had to separate the two players.

Upon review, Carrington's foul was upgraded to a flagrant 2 foul, and she was ejected from the game. Carrington then made the post on Threads shortly after her ejection, presumably from the locker room.

Carrington did not elaborate on the post, leaving unclear whether it referred to Cunningham, the officiating decision or the Fever organization. She also did not accuse Cunningham by name, and there was no immediate evidence that the foul was connected to Cunningham’s position on transgender athletes.

SOPHIE CUNNINGHAM TAKES VICIOUS ELBOW TO FACE, AND FANS FUME AT WHAT REFS DID NEXT

The collision nevertheless unfolded as Cunningham remained at the center of a widening political debate. Supporters held a fourth rally outside the venue of a Fever road game on Saturday, while counterprotesters also gathered near the United Center.

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With another Cunningham rally already scheduled ahead of the Fever’s Aug. 22 game against the New York Liberty, controversy is bound to surround Cunningham and Indiana beyond Chicago.

World’s largest motorcycle rally roars into Sturgis as bikers flood tiny US town

Sat, 08 Aug 2026 17:08:54 -0400

The annual Sturgis Motorcycle Rally is officially underway, with hundreds of thousands of riders descending on the small South Dakota town and surrounding Black Hills regions for the 86th edition of what’s billed as the world’s largest motorcycle rally.

The rally is held annually for 10 days in August and involves races, concerts and group rides and typically draws about 500,000 attendees to Sturgis, population 7,100.

During the rally, Sturgis is transformed as motorcycles pack downtown streets and riders fan out across the Black Hills.

ONCE-AFFORDABLE SUMMER ESCAPE ROCKED BY SOARING COSTS AS FAMILIES SHELL OUT THOUSANDS

The event extends far beyond the city itself, with concerts, races, stunt shows, motorcycle demonstrations, vendor exhibitions and organized rides taking place throughout the region.

This year’s headliner is country star Lainey Wilson, who is set to perform August 12. Ofox newther acts on the concert schedule include YUNGBLUD, Megadeth, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Rob Zombie and Insane Clown Posse.

Two long-distance women’s motorcycle rides — the Women Riders World Relay and Shantell’s Sisterhood Ride — will conclude at the Sturgis Motorcycle Museum & Hall of Fame’s second annual Pearl’s Jam event, which celebrates women in motorcycling.

Harley-Davidson announced it would be debuting its new Deadwood motorcycle at this year’s event, "a new model inspired in part by the post-war history of the Sturgis Rally," Motor Sports NewsWire reported.

Indian Motorcycle is also introducing a new bike.

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"The new Indian Chief Vintage Sturgis SD Edition celebrates Indian’s place in the rally’s history with special paint and badging inspired by Indians of the 1930s," reported Rider Magazine. "It features a classic two-tone Indian Motorcycle Red and Cream paint with a multicolored Indian Motorcycle headdress logo."

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The rally also serves as a jumping-off point for motorcycle rides throughout the Black Hills, with visitors venturing to Mount Rushmore National Memorial, Custer State Park, Badlands National Park, Wind Cave National Park and Bear Butte State Park, along with historic towns such as Deadwood.

One other attraction Sturgis attendees frequently visit is Devils Tower National Monument in Wyoming, a particularly popular motorcycle destination in the Black Hills.

The Sturgis Rally was started by Indian dealer Pappy Hoel in 1938, according to the official Sturgis Rally website.

"Pappy was the man who put the brotherhood in motorcycles," Coe Meyer, a Sturgis motorcycle historian, told Fox News Digital previously. "He’s the reason so many people come here today."

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Hoel’s marketing ingenuity, enthusiasm for motorcycle racing and — unbeknownst to many — his paternal fondness for America’s World War II veterans struggling with the mental wounds of combat made Sturgis synonymous with motorcycles, Fox News Digital reported.

"He was like a P.T. Barnum-type character. He always had a trick up his sleeve," said Vinny Terranova, who knew Hoel and his wife Pearl and who operates their original Junction Avenue motorcycle shop today as Pappy’s Vintage Cycles.

"He loved motorcycles, loved racing and loved motorcyclists," said Terranova of Pappy Hoel.

"He and Pearl always had a pot of beans and franks on the grill. Nobody left hungry."

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The Hoels ran the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally for nearly 50 years, before turning it over to the City of Sturgis in the 1980s.

Kerry J. Byrne contributed reporting.

As AI reshapes dating, a Jewish organization is betting on the return of the human matchmaker

Sat, 08 Aug 2026 17:00:15 -0400

Artificial intelligence has made it harder to trust what you see online, including on dating apps. Singles are left wondering whether the person they're matching with is who they claim to be, whether their witty messages were written by them or by ChatGPT or whether the profile is even real. Rather than abandoning artificial intelligence (AI) altogether, Chabad, a Jewish organization, is combining it with old-fashioned human matchmaking to help singles find lasting relationships.

On Aug. 9, the group is set to hold what it hopes will be the world's largest Jewish virtual speed dating event, bringing together 13,000 singles from more than 30 countries. The event comes just after Tu B'Av, a Jewish holiday traditionally associated with love and matchmaking.

Every participant is vetted by a local rabbi or rebbetzin (a rabbi's wife), while artificial intelligence helps match participants for five rounds of one-on-one video dates, blending human oversight with technology.

AI IS CHANGING MODERN DATING, BUT EXPERTS WARN IT'S MAKING PEOPLE 'RELATIONALLY STUPID'

Rabbi Mendy Kotlarsky, executive director of Merkos 302, said that the initiative isn't meant to replace technology, but to use it in addition to the human element that many singles feel is missing from modern dating.

"AI can aggregate data and information and suggest people that match based on interests, based on patterns, based on values, and stuff along those lines, but you need the human element," Kotlarsky told Fox News Digital.

For Kotlarsky, that personal touch goes beyond verifying that participants are real people. It's about bringing an old-fashioned touch to modern dating that was effectively eliminated by apps. While he acknowledged the advantages of AI's fast-paced matchmaking, Kotlarsky argued it can't replace the judgment, mentorship and trust that come from someone who knows the people involved.

AI DATING CAFES ARE NOW A REAL THING

Kotlarsky told Fox News Digital that the Met@Chabad initiative was about more than making couples. Rather, he sees it as part of a larger effort to strengthen marriage and family in a time when people are waiting longer to marry and are increasingly looking for love behind screens.

"It's not just a dating platform, it's not a marriage platform, it's almost like a marriage solution," he said.

In addition to its singles events, Met@Chabad offers dating and relationship courses, as well as personalized guidance. The platform's mission is "to transform Jewish dating into a meaningful journey towards marriage, by combining cutting edge technology with timeless Torah wisdom."

The guidance part of Met@Chabad is a crucial aspect of the initiative, according to Kotlarsky. Beyond connecting singles, rabbis and rebbetzins serve as mentors and advisors, helping participants identify the qualities they're looking for in a spouse, navigate relationships and prepare for marriage.

"It's not just about connecting people. It's actually about coaching and moving people along," he said.

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Kotlarsky said people are increasingly looking for more than just an algorithm to find them a spouse. He added that AI should be used to enhance the process of finding a spouse, arguing that relationships are ultimately rooted in something that technology cannot replicate: human connection.

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"To date and to build relationships for real, to be true to yourself and true to the person that you are connecting with... to build a life together and to always focus on something that's larger than the two of you because that's really what marriage and relationships in general are about," he said.

Trump’s White House ballroom foes face ‘very tough argument’ at Supreme Court, legal experts say

Sat, 08 Aug 2026 16:50:13 -0400

President Donald Trump could win the legal fight over his planned White House ballroom, say two legal experts who believe the U.S. the Supreme Court could end the case without weighing in on the underlying constitutional issue.

In a lengthy social media post Friday, Trump vowed to take the fight over his White House ballroom to the Supreme Court after the D.C. Circuit upheld a lower court order blocking above-ground construction. In a 2-1 decision, the appeals court ruled that the project cannot move forward without Congressional approval.

Trump pointed to the dissent written by Judge Neomi Rao, appointed by Trump in his first term, as grounds for appealing the decision to Supreme Court. Rao argued that the plantiffs, the National Trust for Historic Preservation, lack legal standing in the case.

The National Trust for Historic Preservation built its case for legal standing around Alison Hoagland, a member who lives near the White House and regularly visits President’s Park. Hoagland said she visits the area about once a month and argued that the proposed ballroom’s size and design would diminish her enjoyment of the area by overshadowing the White House and weakening its aesthetic.

TRUMP SAYS WHITE HOUSE BALLROOM RULING JEOPARDIZES LIVES OF FUTURE PRESIDENTS, VOWS SUPREME COURT APPEAL

But according to Rao, the National Trust did not establish the kind of injury necessary to invoke the courts’ authority to block the project.

"The district court elevated the aesthetic displeasure of a single passerby over the government’s security interests in the ballroom and the security risks of leaving an open construction site at the President’s home and office," Rao wrote.

Former Justice Department attorney Abhishek Kambli agreed, telling Fox News Digital the National Trust could face a particularly difficult hurdle on standing at the Supreme Court. He noted that, while Congress created the National Trust, the group still must show that its lawsuit is germaine to its interests.

"While they do have ownership of some properties, the President's Park, where the White House East Ballroom is, is not one of them," Kambli said. "And I think that's going to be a very tough argument to sustain, especially with the Supreme Court, that's more likely to agree with Rao than they are the [circuit court] majority, given the makeup of the Supreme Court, and the fact that the Supreme Court is very strict on standing."

OBAMA JUDGE RULES ON EFFORT TO BLOCK AMERICA 250 EVENTS AT WH AND LINCOLN MEMORIAL

Kambli also suggested that the National Trust faces a strong hurdle in proving it has standing based on aesthetic injury because it would have to prove it actually uses the space where the ballroom is being built

"Normally, aesthetic standing requires that you intend to use it," Kambli said. "So, for instance, if you're planning to be visiting the East Ballroom — and even this is kind of a stretch — that's one thing, but if you're someone on the outside that just passes it by, that's a little tougher."

A similar standing issue surfaced earlier in July when U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta, an Obama-appointed judge, rejected a lawsuit seeking to block the America 250 UFC event at the White House. He ruled that the plaintiffs had not met the standard of aesthetic harm to establish standing.

Hans von Spakovsky, a senior legal fellow at Advancing American Freedom, said he expects Trump to prevail on appeal as well, based on the standing issue.

"Under Supreme Court precedent, you cannot bring a claim, you cannot bring a lawsuit, until and unless you can demonstrate a concrete, actual injury," Spakovsky told Fox News Digital. "The idea that a passerby, who claims she will be aesthetically injured because of what she sees at the White House, has an actual injury is absurd, and obviously, and clearly defies that precedent."

If the Supreme Court takes the case, it could resolve it without deciding whether the administration had the legal authority to build the ballroom in the first place.

TRUMP WARNS JUDGE AGAINST SACRIFICING NATIONAL SECURITY BY BLOCKING WHITE HOUSE BALLROOM, DRONE BASE

"The Supreme Court won’t rule on the substantive issue if it can dismiss the case based on a lack of standing by the plaintiffs," von Spakovsky said. "I also don’t know of anyone else who could establish standing to bring a lawsuit. Perhaps Congress could collectively, but the chances of that happening are very slim given the partisan divides in both the House and Senate."

The National Trust argued in its lawsuit that federal law requires Congress to approve new construction on federal property in Washington, D.C., while the administration says existing law already gives the president authority to make alterations and improvements to federal property, including the White House.

Abhishek agreed with Rao’s reasoning that the terms "alteration" and "improvement" should be understood in their ordinary real-property sense.

"For instance, if I have an extension to my house, it doesn't become a new house," Abhishek said. "It's the same house, but that's an improvement done on the house. Or if I tear down some walls and then just create an open living space in my like between my living room and my kitchen, that's also not a new house at that point.

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"It's the same house, but there was an alteration or an improvement done, so if you're using real property terms, then it's pretty clear how how the statutory authority would make sense," Abhishek continued.

Fauci in the congressional wringer: a test for Trump's newly-minted Attorney General

Sat, 08 Aug 2026 16:47:21 -0400

Contempt of Congress.

It sounds bad. And it usually is.

But what does it mean?

Holding someone in contempt of Congress usually stems from them refusing to testify before a House or Senate committee or declining to provide documents and information requested by lawmakers. Especially if someone rejects an inquest by subpoena.

REPORTER'S NOTEBOOK: WHY FAUCI'S 111 FIFTH AMENDMENT PLEAS COULD END UP BEFORE THE COURTS

You refuse to cough up the goods, and Congress may try to hold you in contempt.

And if you’re held in contempt, lawmakers may send a referral to the Justice Department. That’s kind of a parliamentary suggestion box, informing the feds that House Members or senators believe you’ve earned prosecution.

The Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee voted recently to hold Dr. Anthony Fauci in contempt of Congress for refusing to answer questions at a hearing. The panel issued a subpoena to compel Fauci’s compliance. Republican senators say that’s all the more reason why Fauci should testify. They point to his pardon by then-President Joe Biden. That’s why they believe Fauci was obligated to answer their inquiries. Instead, he invoked the Fifth Amendment.

"On the advice of counsel, I respectfully decline to answer based upon my rights under the Fifth Amendment of the Constitution," said Fauci.

Twenty-one words. Uttered an astounding 111 times. That’s a grand total of 2,331 words. Fauci never deviated from the script.

WATCH: GOP SPLIT OVER RAND PAUL’S DOJ STRATEGY IN FAUCI CONTEMPT PUSH

Democrats say it was a Republican ruse.

"The goal was to wait for Dr. Fauci to make any kind of misstatement and then have a weaponized Department of Justice file criminal charges for that new statement that would not have been covered by the pardon," said Sen. Maggie Hassan, D-N.H.

So the panel took action. It voted 8-5 to hold Fauci in contempt. A party line vote.

"I've never voted to hold somebody in contempt. But if there's one person that should be held in contempt, it is Anthony Fauci," said Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla.

Sen. Gary Peters, D-Mich., is the ranking Democrat on the Senate Homeland Security Committee.

He warned that the GOP gambit is dangerous.

"Criminal contempt is punitive. It does not compel a witness to answer questions or produce the documents we'd all like to see. What we'll do is create a damaging precedent that future witnesses will use to resist legitimate Congressional oversight and weaken this committee's ability to compel testimony."

Senate Homeland Security Committee Chairman Rand Paul, R-Ky., was unbowed.

"We will hand carry this over to the Attorney General. We will hand carry this to the district court here in (the District of) Columbia," said Paul.

Even though at the time, the DOJ only had an acting Attorney General.

FAUCI'S NEWLY RELEASED COVID DIARIES REVEAL BIZARRE FIXATION ON FAME AS PANDEMIC DEATHS MOUNTED

However, Paul was freelancing. He ignored the custom of the entire Senate voting to refer someone to the Justice Department for prosecution.

The Kentucky Republican himself previously sent other, unilateral referrals to the DoJ asking for Fauci’s prosecution. But those efforts never even went through committee. Fox can’t locate any precedent for such an independent maneuver. Especially circumventing the Senate floor.

Republicans control the Senate. It’s unclear whether there would be 51 votes to hold Fauci in contempt. But there is almost no scenario where the Senate could find 60 votes to break a filibuster on a contempt of Congress resolution of this nature.

This is why Democrats argued that Paul is out of line.

"No individual center senator and no committee speaks for the entire Senate as a whole," fumed Peters. "The chairman has also suggested he may attempt to refer this matter to the Department of Justice without approval of the full Senate. That would be even more dangerous and widely unprecedented."

The DOJ says it "seriously reviews all Congressional referrals." But Democrats believe the GOP’s disregard for Fauci invoking the Fifth could undermine any prosecution.

"It is almost certainly never going to be approved by a court because it violates basic constitutional rights," said Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn.

In a statement, Fauci’s attorney, David Schertler, accused Paul of trying to "weaponize the Justice Department" against his client. Democrats asserted that before Fauci’s hearing, Republicans cut them out of their inquiry.

"We have been excluded from witness interviews," said Peters.

FAUCI HELD IN CONTEMPT AS COVID CELLPHONE LANDS IN HANDS OF SENATE INVESTIGATORS

But Republicans say Democrats showed no interest in their findings and revelations.

"They have all been uploaded on a website that you were invited to join," said Paul. "You never even asked for the password."

However, the Republican inquiry is just starting. Another Senate panel has now obtained a copy of the Health and Human Services phone Fauci used during the pandemic.

"It's frustrating we haven't gotten these devices until now. But now we have them," said Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wis., on Fox.

Johnson says decrypting that phone could answer questions which Fauci refused to address during the hearing.

Two interesting developments emerged since Fauci testified in late July. First, the U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeannine Pirro dropped her prosecution of former Olympian David Hearn for allegedly vandalizing the Reflecting Pool on the National Mall. President Donald Trump then upbraided Pirro.

Does this mean that Pirro is doing things by the book? Would that diminish chances for prosecution of Fauci? Or, since Pirro enraged the president, could she redeem herself by prosecuting Fauci? After all, Trump said he wanted Fauci prosecuted.

However, the ultimate decision to prosecute is up to the new Attorney General, Todd Blanche. Sens. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, and Susan Collins, R-Maine, vowed to oppose Fauci. With former Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., out, the GOP couldn’t lose any more votes without tanking the nomination. It boiled down to Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La. – who was undecided. Cassidy announced Friday morning he would vote yea on Blanche.

"I am particularly concerned about episodes of apparent lawfare. DoJ bringing suits against political enemies. Presidents of both parties have been guilty of this. It must stop. It should stop now. A never-ending cycle of prosecuting political enemies undermines the rule of law," said Cassidy. "I'm not entirely satisfied where where this is."

But Cassidy said he was comfortable enough to confirm Blanche.

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Democrats will say any prosecution of Fauci is emblematic of the very weaponization which Cassidy fretted about. And this could be a special test case for the new Attorney General.

James Carville responds to 'vicious' progressive Democrats trying to drive him out of the party

Sat, 08 Aug 2026 16:30:08 -0400

James Carville fired back at progressives who have suggested that the longtime Democrat leave the party, highlighting growing tensions between the moderate and progressive wings of the Democratic Party.

Speaking on "Saturday in America," Carville reacted to clips from Michigan Democratic Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed's recent appearance on progressive influencer Hasan Piker's Twitch stream.

"James Carville fantasizing about leaving the party. I'm like, 'You're sweetening the deal,'" Piker said.

El-Sayed responded, "Why does anybody still listen to James Carville? He said one smart thing once, which he seems to have forgotten."

HASAN PIKER UNLOADS ON 'ISLAMOPHOBIC PIECES OF S---' DEMOCRATS AS EL-SAYED FACES PARTY UNITY TEST

Carville feigned distress, saying, "I don't know what I can do. I can't take it, please mama help me," before adding, "Such vicious people, wow."

El-Sayed, a progressive backed by Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., narrowly defeated Rep. Haley Stevens in Michigan's Democratic Senate primary Tuesday and will face Republican Mike Rogers in November.

Sanders defended El-Sayed and Piker on CNN, saying that if Carville doesn't want to share a party with progressives, "he can start his own party."

Carville responded by pointing to Sanders' status as an independent and past electoral defeats.

"When he was a socialist, I was a Democrat," Carville said. "I'm still a Democrat. Is he one now? I have no idea. I do know that maybe he has some animosity, because he tried twice to get the Democratic nomination for president, and he failed rather spectacularly both times."

BERNIE SANDERS TELLS JAMES CARVILLE TO START HIS OWN PARTY AS MODERATE DEMS WARN AGAINST 'EMBRACING EXTREMISM'

Carville has repeatedly warned about the influence of progressives in the Democratic Party and previously told "The Sunday Briefing" that he would not remain in the party if far-left figures like Piker became a larger force.

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"Look, I think that these, the progressive left, they're very tech people. I think they've come up with an AI random stupid idea generator," Carville said when asked about Francesca Hong, a progressive candidate for governor of Wisconsin.

"And I think the stupid idea generator can think of things that humans can't, like canceling Thanksgiving or being against interracial dating. So, I'm just waiting for the next stupid idea AI generator that comes out," he added.

Fox News Digital reached out to Sanders, El-Sayed's campaign, Hong's campaign and Piker for comment.

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Despite his concerns about progressives in the party, Carville said he thinks El-Sayed will win the Michigan Senate seat.

"[El-Sayed's] got some slack. He'd probably use every bit of it, but I still think he's going to win," Carville added.

Graham replacement hopefuls make final pitches before special election: Iran war, DSA, Flock cams and more

Sat, 08 Aug 2026 16:26:10 -0400

Nine Republican candidates vying to permanently fill late Sen. Lindsey Graham's Senate seat spoke directly to voters Saturday at an event in Florence County, South Carolina, where they addressed the war with Iran, the rising tide of socialism in the Democratic Party and potential privacy concerns around Flock cameras.

The event was hosted by Alan Wilson, South Carolina's Republican gubernatorial nominee, who pitched the gathering as a kind of "speed dating," since each candidate was given six minutes to address the crowd.

The special Republican Senate primary is scheduled for Aug. 11, which made Saturday's event one of the last chances for the candidates to make their closing arguments to voters.

Here's what they chose to focus on in their elevator pitches.

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Darline Graham

Sen. Darline Graham, chosen to finish out her brother's term after his death in July, was the last to speak but was quick to tell attendees she intended to earn their votes.

"I'm not a politician. I never wanted to be a politician. But like Lindsey, I have a servant's heart. I am a hard worker. And, yes, I have President Trump's endorsement, but I know I have to earn your votes," she said at the beginning of her speech.

She emphasized that she was not a "DEI" candidate, hyping her experience running the South Carolina Commission for the Blind, a state agency with a $90 million budget and dozens of employees.

"We help blind people and people with disabilities get jobs so that they don't have to rely on the government. How is that DEI?" she said.

TRUMP MAY HAVE ENDORSED DARLINE GRAHAM, BUT GOP SENATE HOPEFULS AREN’T BACKING DOWN

She also made sure to highlight issues she and President Donald Trump agree on, including keeping transgender athletes out of female sports, standing with Israel, supporting voter ID through the SAVE Act and ending blanket birthright citizenship.

Graham briefly touched on socialism within the Democratic Party, calling it a problem that has to be stopped. She also described Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., as crazy.

Her speech concluded by answering a question about Flock cameras, which can automatically read license plates and are being installed all over the country.

"I need to look into that one because there's two sides to that story. I know that some people are concerned about privacy and protecting their privacy, and I'm all for protecting the privacy of U.S. citizens. The other side of it is, if there's an emergency situation that an ambulance can be called quicker and it can save lives," Graham said.

"I'm going to be honest. That's a hard one for me. So, I want to look into it a little bit more."

Ralph Norman

Rep. Ralph Norman, R-S.C., focused on his frustration with the Senate, calling it the place where "good bills go to die."

He proposed overhauling the Senate's rules to get measures like the SAVE Act passed.

"I will use my, whatever expertise I have, to go to the Senate and force the vote, whether it's blowing up the filibuster or having a walking filibuster or getting with the parliamentarian and changing some of these stupid, arcane rules that the Senate has," Norman said.

The Senate filibuster allows a minority of senators to delay or block most legislation, effectively requiring 60 votes to advance a bill and making it harder for a narrow majority to enact its agenda.

TRUMP'S VOTER ID BILL CATCHES UNLIKELY BREAK AS MCCONNELL REMAINS SIDELINED

After his remarks, Norman was asked about the extent to which AI data centers should be regulated.

He said the federal government should not have a role but appeared to disagree with Trump's recent full-throated support of bringing data centers to communities around the country.

"Do I think it's bad for the community? Yes. Do I think it hurts the environment? Yes. And I will do whatever I can," Norman said.

Mark McBride

The key takeaway from former Myrtle Beach Mayor Mark McBride's speech is that he broke away from Trump's position on the war with Iran.

"Y'all, there is something we have to address if we're going to win in November," McBride said. "We need to end the war. We need to end the war now.

"We just have to admit we've lost the war. We've lost this battle," he continued. "Come home and regroup for another day."

He then addressed the crowd, saying, "There's not one of y'all in here who voted for President Trump a year and a half ago because this is where you thought we would be."

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Sam Shepherd

Sam Shepherd, an engineer, inventor and entrepreneur, took the opposite approach to McBride, claiming he is "more conservative than Trump."

Shepherd cast himself as someone who has the skills to fix complex issues within the bureaucracy and the military.

He also took a moment to one-up Elon Musk, the former head of the Department of Government Efficiency, arguing he had more patents than the Tesla billionaire.

"I've actually authored more patents than Elon Musk. I have 44. I'm asking for you to bring common sense back to the government," Shepherd said.

Russell Fry

Rep. Russell Fry, R-S.C., spent much of his speech tying the affordability issues Americans are facing to "onerous regulations."

"We see this on farms. We see this in every manner of our government. Regulations strangle us," he said. "You've got to get government out of the way if we're going to solve this affordability crisis."

In response to a question about how he would secure the border if elected, Fry started off by attacking former President Joe Biden's work ethic and praising Trump's.

"You actually have to have a president who's awake for more than four hours a day, right? We went from a president who slept for 20 and was awake for four, to a president who is awake for 20 and sleeps for four," Fry said.

Fry said he would work to close "loopholes Biden used" to grant thousands of Haitians and Nicaraguans asylum in the U.S.

Mark Sanford

Former South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford zeroed in on the ballooning national debt, which is about to reach a staggering $40 trillion.

Sanford, who also twice served as a South Carolina congressman, said the debt is incomprehensible and unsustainable.

"We've got a federal government that goes out and spends money it doesn't have, and then it turns around, and it prints money that's not there," Sanford said.

He argued that the growing national debt is inextricably linked to Americans reaching financial and life milestones later in life.

"The average age to buy a house, not that long ago, was 39 years of age, just 15 years ago. Today, that number is 59. In 15 years, it slid back 20 years, which is to say the American dream is becoming that much more difficult whether it's my four boys or y'all's kids or grandkids out there," Sanford said.

Mark Lynch

Mark Lynch, a businessman, was another candidate who favored getting rid of the filibuster.

He also said he wouldn’t "take a penny from AIPAC," making him one of the few candidates, along with McBride, to stake out a position at odds with the field’s staunch support for Israel.

Lynch's "No. 1" issue was his strong opposition to abortion. He talked at length about how he has spent time convincing women not to go through with terminating their pregnancies and how he has lobbied state legislators to toughen abortion restrictions.

Danny Ford II

Danny Ford II, the son of the championship-winning former head football coach at Clemson University, was the first to address Flock cameras and the potential privacy issues they raise.

He also talked about rapid data center development getting "out of control."

"It's getting pushed straight down our citizens' throats without any say so," he said.

On the issue of data centers, Ford said they need to be sustainable, produce their own power and not "leave a stain on South Carolina."

Glenda Gail Parker

Glenda Gail Parker, a retired budget analyst with the U.S. Air Force, described herself as a conservative independent who leans Republican, but she broke with Trump on energy policy, saying the country needs to reduce its reliance on fossil fuels.

In response to a question about how she would ensure South Carolina farmers get the assistance they need after natural disasters, Parker said she would work to mitigate "the climate extremes that we are experiencing now."

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"And I do that by reducing our consumption of fossil fuels and lower[ing] the demand for fossil fuels. In fact, today I want to challenge the oil and gas companies," Parker said. "Those companies that are interested in longevity must realize that they are in the energy business, not the oil and gas business. And so I would like to challenge the oil and gas businesses to clean up their image."

She concluded by saying the U.S. needs to pursue solar, wind, geothermal energy and hydropower.

'Harry Potter' actor says OnlyFans videos earned her more than her entire acting career

Sat, 08 Aug 2026 16:26:02 -0400

"Harry Potter" star Jessie Cave is opening up about how joining OnlyFans "saved" her and her family.

During a recent interview with The Times, the 39-year-old actress shared how much money she's made from the subscription-based social media platform, noting she has "earned more, easily, than my entire acting career within one year."

"I thought I’d make five grand, be on it for a few months and it would buy me time to work out what we’re going to do," she shared. "But it’s now been over a year and a half, and it’s genuinely saved our lives."

The actress charges subscribers $6 a month for non-explicit "hair content," which includes videos of her fully-clothed, brushing her hair while dressed in costumes, braiding it, tying it in a ponytail or anything else her followers want to see.

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Cave had her big break in Hollywood playing Lavender Brown in the final three films in the Harry Potter franchise, from 2009 to 2011. She later appeared as a guest in a number of projects, including "Black Mirror" and "Industry," and worked on the stage.

Her decision to transition to OnlyFans came after she was rejected by a callback audition and her need to support herself and her four children, who she shares with her fiancé, Alfie Brown, admitting "it was a point of complete desperation."

"I couldn’t go and, say, work in a supermarket because I can’t afford the childcare, and, also, I don’t want people shouting Harry Potter spells at me as I work at Tesco," she explained. "I could retrain, but I can’t afford to do a degree. I had a breakdown, and I thought, ‘That’s it with acting, I give up.’ But, also, we have no money."

According to The Times, she earned roughly $20,200 in just one day on the platform.

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Her one rule when creating her content is that her "hair is the main character," she said. "That's how I justify it.

"And yes, [OnlyFans] is largely porn. But there are cooking videos, tarot readings, personal training — it’s just all done with a sexy edge," she added. "It is about wanting some kind of gaze. … I wear baggy T-shirts on stage. I’ve never posted a bikini shot. I wear huge glasses. For so long I’ve just been this quirky figure. After having four kids and feeling invisible for so long, that was really appealing to me."

Cave said she can foresee other artists turning to "other platforms to make money when they’re not being an artist."

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She first spoke out about starting her OnlyFans account in March 2025, writing on her personal Substack account that she started the account in an effort to "get out of debt."

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"I’ll try for one year," Cave wrote. "My aim? To get the house safe, cover the arsenic/lead wallpaper, build a new roof etc. My aim? To get out of debt. My aim? To empower myself? To prove to those in the past who have misjudged me that I’m not so sweet? To put time into something I never invested in before: self-love."

Heartbroken fathers find divine hope in secret notes left by girls killed in Camp Mystic flood

Sat, 08 Aug 2026 16:16:30 -0400

One year after flash flooding at Camp Mystic took 28 lives, three fathers are sharing how their young daughters’ private faith continues to lift their families.

Speaking on "Saturday in America," Ryan DeWitt, Wade Lytal and Cole Naylor shared how their daughters' deep-rooted faith has sustained them through tragedy. DeWitt and Lytal said they found journals their daughters left behind filled with Bible verses, prayers and messages to God, bringing them comfort as they grieved.

"We knew that she was deeply rooted in her faith, but she wasn't outward about it or braggadocios about it. She just felt it. She felt very deeply," Ryan DeWitt said of his daughter Molly, who was 9 when she died in the floods.

"She just had the biggest heart, and we taught her as much as we could, but there was certainly something else at play, and that was her faith, and it was comforting. As difficult as those days were and still are, it's comforting to know how close she was to God."

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The fathers recalled moments when they learned more about the depth of their daughters’ faith. DeWitt shared that Molly kept notebooks under her bed filled with hand-drawn crosses and Bible verses, including one page that read, "I can do anything through Christ."

Wade Lytal recalled entering the bedroom of his 8-year-old daughter, Kellyanne, weeks after the tragedy and pulling open a drawer to find a journal entry that read, "Jesus I love you. Thank you for dying on the cross for all of our sins."

"I think that's the most important responsibility that we have as parents is making sure that, you know, our children are raised to love the Lord," Lytal said.

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Lytal said that, after the flood, he no longer believes in coincidences and views finding her journal as a gift during a dark time.

"We were going through her things, and the first drawer I pulled open, that was the notebook that was in there. We saw what she wrote, and it did bring some comfort to us in a very, very dark moment in our life," he said.

Cole Naylor, father of 8-year-old Wynne, emphasized that reliance on daily prayer has carried his family through the loss. He shared that he refuses to speak about his daughter in the past tense, standing firm in the promise that they will be reunited.

"Our girls are very much alive," Naylor said. "They are more alive than any one of us are. Alive in heaven, we don't get to see them. We don't get to touch them. We don’t get to kiss them anymore, but they're with us, and we will see them again."

CAMP MYSTIC PULLS PLAN TO REOPEN THIS SUMMER AFTER BACKLASH FROM GRIEVING FAMILIES

In April, Camp Mystic announced it would not be reopening for the 2026 season despite having previously planned to welcome hundreds of girls back to the property.

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"No administrative process or summer season should move forward while families continue to grieve," the camp said in a statement.

"This decision is intended to remove any doubt that Camp Mystic has heard the concerns expressed by grieving families, members of the Texas House and Senate investigating committees and citizens across our state. Respect for those voices requires that we step back now."

WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert sends trans inclusion memo after Enes Freedom, Royce White announcements

Sat, 08 Aug 2026 16:07:35 -0400

WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert sent a letter to teams on Friday addressing concerns over the inclusion of transgender athletes in the league as two former NBA players announced their intentions to declare for the next WNBA Draft.

"I know many of you have received questions in recent weeks regarding transgender athlete participation in women’s basketball, and I expect this topic will continue to receive significant attention," Engelbert wrote in the memo, per The Associated Press.

"I wanted to reach out to share how we are approaching these conversations at the league office and to thank those of you who have responded to questions from the media with thoughtfulness and professionalism."

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Engelbert went on to call the debate "nuanced."

"We recognize that this is a complex and nuanced topic, and we will continue to have important conversations with all of you and the Players Association in the weeks and months ahead," Engelbert said in the memo. "We also plan to convene additional discussions and offer listening sessions for any team leaders who would like to participate. Your perspectives and feedback are invaluable, and I appreciate those who have already reached out to share their thoughts."

Engelbert's memo came on the same day that two former NBA pros, Enes Kanter Freedom and Royce White, said they plan to declare for the 2027 WNBA Draft. The announcements became the top trending topic across social media, as sports fans across the world mocked the WNBA for its policy that doesn't clearly define who is allowed to play in the league based on genetic sex.

The WNBA players’ association also released a statement on social media Friday that emphasized diversity and inclusion while saying the group "will not be used as political pawns."

WNBPA ISSUES STATEMENT EMBRACING DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION AMID TRANS ATHLETE DEBATE IN WOMEN'S SPORTS

"We embrace justice equity, diversity, and inclusion," the statement read. "Those are the values that unite this Union and allow it to protect women’s sports while creating transformational change. Hate, abuse, and demonization of any person or group of people, including transgender people, only fuel fear, division, and harm. We will continue to have hard conversations. But we will not be used as political pawns."

The entire WNBA has become the epicenter for the national debate on trans athletes in women's sports in recent weeks after Indiana Fever star Sophie Cunningham, a fan favorite teammate of Caitlin Clark, revealed her stance supporting the protection of women's sports in an ESPN interview in July.

Since then, four head coaches have gone on record with responses to questions about the issues, with two of them, Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve and Valkyries coach Natalie Nakase, appearing to support the inclusion of trans athletes in women's sports.

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Now, Kanter and White's entrance into the conversation has amplified the discussion across the sports realm, and it appears that Engelbert now has to address the issues.

Everyone wants what one minor league baseball team put out as a hilarious tribute to the Carolina Hurricanes

Sat, 08 Aug 2026 16:06:52 -0400

I love minor league sports.

That's because, while at the top levels they're often worried about taking political stands to the point that the WNBA is like, "Meh, we're not going to slam the door on letting fellas play just yet," minor league teams have to focus on putting butts in seats. The best way to do that is with fun promotions.

So, that's what we're getting from one minor league ballclub's unintentionally — or, I think more likely, intentionally — hilarious tribute sweaters to the Stanley Cup champion Carolina Hurricanes.

The Fayetteville Woodpeckers — the Single-A affiliate of the Houston Astros — don't play too far from Raleigh, home of the Hurricanes. So, it makes sense that they would want to bathe in the warm glow of a Stanley Cup win.

And the best way to do that? This phenomenal jersey!

I know what it says.

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Imagine wearing that jersey outside a 100-mile radius of Fayetteville. There's a good chance no one will have any clue why you own a hockey sweater that says "PECKERS" across the front.

And, frankly, I don't think it's anyone's business. You do you, pal.

I also get the feeling at least one kid will have to take a detour to the principal's office or flip their jersey inside-out in a couple of weeks when school gets underway. I promise you, some humorless school marm who only knows baseball from Ernest Lawrence Thayer's 1888 poem, "Casey at the Bat," won't get it (but will somehow still understand that "pecker" is a slang term for male genitalia).

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But the public response has been about as good as the organization could hope for.

You rarely do anything on the internet that garners universal acclaim — trust me; I know — but I think the Peckers sweater may have done it.

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Unfortunately, unless the plans change, only the first 1,350 fans at the Woodpeckers' game on August 15 will be able to cop them.

The Hitchhiker’s Guide to what the Senate did and didn’t do overnight

Sat, 08 Aug 2026 16:05:27 -0400

The Senate wrapped up its summer session at 4:57 a.m. ET.

Senators knocked two major items off their checklist. They confirmed Todd Blanche as the nation’s 88th Attorney General.

They also approved a bipartisan interim spending bill that likely goes a long way toward preventing a government shutdown in October.

But nearly as important as what senators accomplished is what didn’t get done.

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The Senate did not stay in session and attempt to pass the SAVE America Act.

In fact, there was not even procedural stunting by the pro-SAVE America Act Republicans, who advocated blowing up the August recess.

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Moreover, the Senate did not take a vote on a budget framework which could enable them to eventually tack on some election integrity measures – and pass them at a later date in a bill not subject to a filibuster.

Expect some conservatives to rail against the Senate for not working this out.

The SAVE America Act continues to lack votes. However, advocates of the bill can use the decision by the Senate to leave town without passing it as an opportunity to apply pressure on its opponents.

That said, the Senate did take a test vote on a more narrow voter ID bill backed by Sen. Jon Husted, R-Ohio. The Senate blocked that bill.

But the test vote got Democrats on the record for opposing it. And giving Husted a vote on his measure was a tactical move to boost his chances in a competitive race this fall against former Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio.

The Senate did not take a test vote on the bipartisan bill to regulate money for intercollegiate athletics – despite the endorsement by the Big 10 and SEC.

PROTECT COLLEGE SPORTS ACT STALLS IN OVERNIGHT SENATE SHOWDOWN, VOTE PUSHED TO SEPTEMBER AFTER CHAOTIC EVENING

In fact, President Trump even implored the Senate to stay in session in August to pass the bill authored by Senate Commerce Committee Chairman Ted Cruz, R-Texas, and Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., the top Democrat on the panel.

The legislation was beset by an internecine fight among Republicans about whether the legislation kept men from competing in women’s sports.

The President published a full-throated endorsement of the legislation Friday night, declaring that the measure did go far enough. "Anyone who tells you otherwise is lying," wrote the President on Truth Social.

In an overnight statement, Cruz said that the bill was still in play.

"The good news is that when the Senate returns in September, the Protect College Sports Act will be one of our first orders of business, having locked in a vote," said Cruz.

However, no vote is officially secured on the Senate docket.

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But what about a test vote on a bill to regulate cryptocurrency?

It was thought that the Senate might pursue that bill in the closing days of the summer session. But the differences were just too wide to close.

However, Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., teed up a procedural vote on cryptocurrency for September 15.

University of Michigan plans to shield 2027 freshman letter grades from transcripts in new mental health plan

Sat, 08 Aug 2026 16:04:53 -0400

Freshmen at the University of Michigan next year will get a semester-long break from having letter grades appear on their transcripts as school officials look for new ways to combat the "mental health crisis" affecting higher education.

Starting in fall 2027, incoming first-year students enrolled in the public research university's College of Literature, Science, and the Arts (LSA) will have their first-semester grades designated as pass or no credit on their transcripts in an attempt to "curb the mental health crisis unfolding among college-aged individuals," according to the university.

"Our goal is to help first-year students acclimate to the demands of college and allow intrinsic motivations to guide personally meaningful academic journeys — core elements of a liberal arts and sciences education."

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The LSA, which is the largest of the university’s 19 colleges and serves approximately 19,700 undergraduate students, will provide students with their letter grades throughout the semester but will not include the final average on their transcripts.

Transcripts will instead show a "P" for pass or "NC" for no credit.

The covered grades will not be factored into students' grade point averages, a move university officials say will give first-year students greater freedom to explore academically.

"For example, they can explore a subject that may not come easily to them or take a course in a new field without the fear that a low grade may have long-term consequences," the university added. "LSA is investing in students’ well-being and growth by fostering a culture of connection and collaboration — rather than competition."

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Under the new policy, university officials will keep students' first-semester letter grades internally for administrative purposes, including academic advising, potential academic awards and scholarships, internship and other professional applications, athletic eligibility, compliance reporting, degree progress and financial aid determinations.

Additionally, the 2027 policy only applies to incoming freshmen enrolled in the LSA, with school officials adding there is no opt-out option.

"An opt-in structure would defeat the purpose of facilitating students’ transition to campus, supporting mental health and well-being, and bolstering intrinsic motivations for learning," the university said.

Michigan is the latest in a small group of schools throughout the country that have chosen to enact similar policies, including Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Swarthmore College and the California Institute of Technology.

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While the program is aimed at supporting students’ mental health, psychotherapist Jonathan Alpert believes it runs the risk of doing more harm than good.

"We’re raising a generation of students to believe that discomfort is dangerous," Alpert, author of "Therapy Nation," told Fox News Digital. "It isn’t. A bad grade can be upsetting, embarrassing and stressful. That’s not a mental health emergency. That’s college."

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Alpert added that while the policy was created to relieve students of the pressure and stress from the first semester of college, it could actually risk harming their preparedness for life outside of the learning environment.

"This is therapy culture invading the classroom. We’ve spent years turning normal human emotions into symptoms. Stress becomes a mental health issue," Alpert said. "College should be one of the places where young people discover that they’re tougher than they think.

"A bad grade isn't psychological harm," Alpert continued. "Sometimes it's the wake-up call a student needs."

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Fox News Digital reached out to the University of Michigan for comment.

Tori Spelling poses in racy bikini top as she addresses departure from Jennie Garth's podcast

Sat, 08 Aug 2026 15:58:51 -0400

Tori Spelling is taking an "intermission" while navigating a new chapter in her life and career.

The 53-year-old actress shared a new photo of her posing outdoors in a black halter-style bikini top and oversized denim shorts.

The "90210" alum accessorized with layered gold necklaces, oversized black sunglasses and green sandals as she stood on a sunlit wooden deck surrounded by trees and distant hills.

"Intermission," she captioned the post.

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The brief message comes as Spelling steps away from one of the projects that kept her closely connected to her "Beverly Hills, 90210" past.

Spelling recently confirmed she is no longer participating in "90210MG," the rewatch podcast she launched with former co-star Jennie Garth in 2020.

The "90210MG" podcast launched in November 2020, with Spelling and Garth revisiting "Beverly Hills, 90210" from the beginning and sharing memories from their years on the hit teen drama.

The rewatch has taken listeners back to West Beverly High, the Peach Pit and other memorable moments from the series while offering behind-the-scenes stories from the cast.

Nearly six years after its launch, the podcast is working its way through Season 8 of the show's 10-season run. Spelling's departure means she will not continue alongside Garth for the final stretch of the rewatch.

Spelling addressed her departure more directly during a recent episode of Brian Austin Green's "Hump Day Live," a weekly video series that streams on the Origami Network.

When Green suggested she needed "a little time" to gather her thoughts about the situation, Spelling agreed.

"I like the way you phrased that," she said. "Yeah. You want to really take the time, really assess, really reflect and then be able to speak your truth in a thoughtful way instead of a reactive way."

Green noted that he tries to avoid ruling anything out permanently, while Spelling did not directly say whether she could eventually return to the podcast.

Instead, she encouraged fans to continue supporting Garth and co-host Amy Sugarman.

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"Please, please, please keep watching," Spelling said. "Jennie and Amy [Sugarman] are doing it. They’re bringing on tons of fun hosts, so please keep watching it."

The exchange also highlighted Spelling’s enduring friendship with Green, who played her on-screen love interest, David Silver, opposite her Donna Martin on "Beverly Hills, 90210."

The two recently reunited for what Spelling called a "play date," sharing photos together on Instagram and prompting nostalgic reactions from fans.

"David and Donna together again.💕 so awesome that you two have remained friends all these years," one commenter wrote.

Spelling has also been openly affectionate about her decades-long bond with Green.

For his birthday in July, she shared a tribute reflecting on how their friendship has evolved since their days working together on the hit series.

"He’s a little bit VINYL… I’m a little bit THREAD 🎵💃🏼. Happy Birthday @brianaustingreen," Spelling wrote.

"What a dream it’s been to grow with you. I’d choose you every lifetime. I love you with every ounce of my being. Don’t ever stop pushing me to be the best version of myself and I promise to never stop making you laugh! xo"

Spelling and Green's bond stretches back to their teenage years on "Beverly Hills, 90210," where they spent a decade playing fan-favorite couple Donna and David. Their relationship wasn't limited to the screen. The co-stars became romantically involved early in the show's run.

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Their lives eventually moved in different directions, and the two went years without communicating after the series ended. They have since found their way back to a close friendship, with Green now among the people Spelling has turned to while navigating changes in her personal and professional life.

Spelling’s decision to leave "90210MG" came with two seasons remaining in the podcast’s effort to rewatch all 10 seasons of the original series.

Garth addressed Spelling’s departure during the July 31 episode of "90210MG," admitting she was disappointed they wouldn't complete the rewatch together.

"I’m sad that she’s not finishing this out with us. We started this together. I’m sad about that, if I’m honest," Garth said.

However, she also expressed support for her former co-star’s decision.

TORI SPELLING SETS THE RECORD STRAIGHT ON 30 YEARS OF PLASTIC SURGERY RUMORS

"I’m really happy for her," Garth said. "I’m excited for her to choose herself."

Sugarman said Spelling’s departure was her own decision.

"This was 100% her decision," she said.

She added that the team could be disappointed by Spelling’s departure while still supporting whatever comes next.

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"We can be really bummed, disappointed that she’s not going to do seasons 9 and 10 with us, with you, while still wanting her to be happy and to be excited for her about the things she is working on and does want to do," Sugarman said.

Spelling has not yet shared the full reason behind her exit, making clear that she wants time to process the decision before saying more.

Four criminally underrated guitarists from the 1980s that are guaranteed to melt your face off

Sat, 08 Aug 2026 15:45:40 -0400

This opinion might land me in some hot water with music purists everywhere, but I believe the greatest era of guitar wizardry came in the 1980s.

The decade featured some of the most revered and celebrated virtuosos to ever walk the planet, both critically and commercially.

But for every Eddie Van Halen or Randy Rhoads, there were plenty of other face-melters who existed in some form of relative obscurity compared to their more famous counterparts.

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That's not to say the bands these guitarists were in weren't successful in their own right, but if you were to ask a mainstream pop-listener from the era who these guys were, chances are you'd get looks of befuddlement.

Which is a shame, because these guys were just as talented (if not more talented) than some of the more popular axe-slingers of the 80s.

And hey, since I love you dear readers so much, I decided to include a bonus guest pick from my good buddy and fellow guitar junkie, Matt Reigle!

With that said, here are four (plus one) of the most criminally underrated guitarists from the Decade of Decadence.

Reb Beach - Winger

Of all the late 80s hair metal groups who got unfairly characterized as a bunch of no-talent hacks, Winger might be the most egregious victim.

It's a fairly famous story by now, but some combination of Beavis and Butt-head roasting their nerdy friend for wearing a Winger shirt and Metallica drummer Lars Ulrich throwing darts at a picture of the hair band's frontman Kip Winger effectively ruined any credibility the band had.

Which is a shame, because, with all due respect to the members of Metallica, whom I have a great deal of respect for, the members of Winger could play circles around them.

Chief among those talented members is guitarist Reb Beach, whose buttery smooth legato tapping runs and percussive riffs like the one from hit-single "Seventeen" made him an underground guitar god in his own right.

Unfortunately, Winger committed the mortal sins of having a pretty boy lead singer and painfully cheesy videos (even by 80s standards), so most people dismissed them and Beach as cheap imitators.

Though his time in the spotlight was brief, any of guitar-oriented hair metal knows Beach is one of the more technically accomplished shredders of his era, Mike Judge be damned.

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Their eponymous debut features some tasty licks and haunting solos and should be an immediate listen for any fans of the genre.

Akira Takasaki - Loudness

Metal acts from far off lands was nothing new even back in the mid-80s, as fellow Axis Power Germany showed us with groups like Accept and, more importantly, Scorpions, but Japan's Loudness filled the void of bands who melted face from the Land of the Rising Sun.

The group featured a singer who barely spoke a lick of English, so if you were looking for a hair metal act with poetic, introspective lyrics, you might want to search elsewhere (or pick a different genre entirely).

What they lacked in lyrical depth they made up for with crushing riffs and explosive solos courtesy of their fleet-fingered lead guitarist and founding member Akira Takasaki.

The first time I heard Loudness was on Satellite Radio driving back to college one weekend. The song in question was perhaps their most well-known, "Crazy Nights," off their 1985 glam metal masterpiece "Thunder in the East."

I was blown away by the balls on display from Takasaki's guitar tone and immediately went home and looked the band up only to be shocked to find out they hailed from Japan.

Takasaki's incendiary lead stylings and creative riffing likely inspired a million bedroom guitar players in Japan alone, and he has definitely influenced my tastes over the years as well.

George Lynch - Dokken

The Sunset Strip is famous for producing hundreds of wildly talented shredders in the late 70s and early 80s, with the aforementioned Eddie Van Halen likely taking the crown as the king of Los Angeles-area guitarists from that era.

One six-stringed genius who came up right alongside Eddie was none other than George Lynch, lead guitarist extraordinaire from the hair metal band Dokken.

Dokken had everything you could want in a popular metal act in the early-to-mid 80s: a charismatic frontman, an untouchable lead guitar player, memorable songs, and catchy riffs.

The only problem is that the two principal members, Lynch and lead singer Don Dokken, absolutely despised each other, and that friction led to the band imploding right before their rocket went from "popular" to "superstars."

Despite this, Dokken released plenty of material beloved by both guitar tech-heads and leg warmer-wearing chicks of the 80s, and Lynch etched out a spot in metal history with his blistering solo runs and deceptively heavy hooks.

Mr. Scary himself is often seen as the third head in the Sunset Strip triumvirate of himself, Van Halen and Rhoads, and anyone worth their salt in the guitar community has absolutely counted him as an influence in their playing.

Warren DeMartini - Ratt

I know I've invoked his name quite a bit throughout this article, but Eddie Van Halen is my favorite guitarist of all-time.

He has been the most influential on my personal style of playing by far and his band is my number one by a country mile.

With all that being said, many people may be surprised to learn that my second-favorite axe-slinger is none other than Ratt's Warren DeMartini.

The guy had it all: rip-roaring solos, creative and catchy riffs, and a cool, calm, and collected demeanor that had many tabbing him as the 1980s' answer to Joe Perry.

DeMartini was a principal songwriter on two of Ratt's biggest hits, "Round and Round" and "Lay It Down," showing that he had a knack for crafting radio-friendly tunes just as much as he had a mastery of the fretboard.

Ratt had lasting popular appeal throughout the 80s, but it was always a case of the sum being more notorious than its parts, so DeMartini never got the acclaim he rightly deserved.

Their first three full-length albums, "Out of the Cellar," "Invasion of Your Privacy" and "Dancing Undercover," represent some of the finest pop-metal the era had to offer, and several students of the 80s guitar scene will often cite these as quasi-sacred texts from which they pull inspiration quite often.

Guest Pick (Matt Reigle): Dan Spitz - Anthrax

There are plenty of guitar heroes in the Big 4 thrash metal bands like James Hetfield, Kirk Hammett, Kerry King, Jeff Hanneman, Dave Mustaine, Marty Friedman and Scott Ian.

But while Ian gets most of the attention in Anthrax due to him being the band leader and a monster rhythm player, someone had to play the leads on the band’s biggest songs like "Caught in a Mosh," "Indians" and "Madhouse."

That was Dan Spitz.

Spitz played on every Anthrax album from their debut, "Fistful of Metal," to 1993’s "Sound of White Noise."

He briefly reunited with the band in the mid-aughts, but I think he gets overlooked because he wasn’t in the band for the re-appreciation of classic thrash that came about through the 2010s.

Spitz brought some unique flavor to Anthrax.

His leads and contributions to the band’s famous forays into rap metal are huge. He was responsible for the short acoustic piece, "A.D.I.," which serves as the intro to the song "Horror of it All."

It’s a real change-up on the album with some really solid, Middle Eastern-inspired playing.

But I think the high-water mark is his lead on the song "Only" from "Sound of White Noise."

It’s an absolute monster solo that can rip your face off through the first two-thirds, then shifts gears into a section with some of the most deliciously wah-soaked melodic phrasing you’ll ever hear.

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It’s so, so good.

Antonio Banderas says he always knew Los Angeles wasn't where he belonged

Sat, 08 Aug 2026 15:23:33 -0400

Antonio Banderas is getting real about why he ditched Los Angeles to move back to his hometown in Spain.

During a recent interview with People, the 65-year-old explained he originally moved to Los Angeles to be with Melanie Griffith after the two fell in love. She had two young children at the time and couldn't relocate to Spain.

"Those were beautiful, exciting years. But I always had this sense of provisionality that it was not going to last my whole life," Banderas said. "I knew that Málaga was there, my hometown. I was not supposed to be in Malibu, but in Málaga."

Griffith and Banderas got married in 1996, just one year after making a connection on set of the 1995 movie "Two Much." Not long after tying the knot, the two welcomed their daughter, Stella, in September 1996.

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The two were married for 18 years before Griffith filed for divorce in June 2014, citing irreconcilable differences. They finalized their divorce a little over a year later in December 2015.

"When we separated, we were always very sincere. And now she is, if not my best friend, one of my best friends," Banderas explained.

While married to Griffith, Banderas was stepfather to her two children, Alexander Bauer and actress Dakota Johnson.

When speaking to E! News in February 2025, Banderas admitted he "would love to work with Dakota someday," not only because she is his family, but "because she's a good actress."

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"She's a good actress in many different ways because she's a great comedian, too," he said. "She developed now her career more in drama, but I remember when she did a TV show called ‘Ben and Kate’ that I got a lot of fun [out of seeing] her on the screen because she got the rhythm of comedy, too."

Banderas is starring in the Anthony Bourdain biopic "Tony" but got his big break in mainstream American films in the 1993 movie "Philadelphia."

He went on to star in "Interview with the Vampire," "Desperado," "The Mask of Zorro" and others, including "Pain and Glory" in 2020, which earned him an Academy Award nomination.

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During an interview with The Times in March, Banderas reflected on the early days of his career and recalled being told upon his arrival in Hollywood that he was there "like the Blacks and the Hispanics, to play the bad guys."

"The problem was, a few years later, I had a mask, hat, sword and cape, and the bad guy was Captain Love, who was blond and had blue eyes," he said.

"Even more important is 'Puss in Boots' because it's for young kids. They see a cat that has a Spanish, even an Andalusian accent, and he's a good guy."

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