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Trump reveals who he's eyeing to replace Lindsey Graham

Tue, 14 Jul 2026 12:01:57 -0400

President Donald Trump teased who he may like to see as a long-term replacement for the late Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., as a special election to lock in a candidate for the seat fast approaches.

Private and public jockeying is already underway to snag Trump’s coveted endorsement in the special election, which is slated for Aug. 11, with two lawmakers already expressing interest in launching a campaign.

And as members of the South Carolina GOP congressional delegation and beyond line up for the race, the president hinted that he may already have a favorite: Rep. Russell Fry, R-S.C.

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"I think Russell Fry, a young congressman, is outstanding, and that could happen. I could see that happening," Trump told Newsmax on Monday night. "I think he’s a very, very talented person."

Trump previously backed Fry in his first bid for Congress in 2022, where he toppled former Rep. Tom Rice, R-S.C., in the primary. Rice was one of 10 House Republicans to vote to impeach Trump following the Jan. 6, 2021, riots on Capitol Hill.

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"He took the place of somebody that was — I mean, he’s doing much better than the person that preceded him," Trump said. "He's been very popular in the state, so I think a name like Russell Fry is somebody you can watch out for and there are probably some others."

Trump’s comments on Fry come after Politico reported that the lawmaker has been communicating with the White House about a run and was viewed as a top contender for the president’s stamp of approval. Fox News Digital did not immediately hear back from the White House or Fry on whether he’s being eyed for the special election.

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In the meantime, Trump threw his support behind Graham’s sister, Sen.-designate Darline Graham, to take over the lawmaker’s seat for the remainder of his term. South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster appointed her on Monday, and she’ll be sworn in to the role Tuesday afternoon.

Trump said that he believed Graham would be there "only on an interim basis."

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Meanwhile, Reps. Nancy Mace, R-S.C., and Ralph Norman, R-S.C., are eyeing the race, too. Norman has gone so far as to ask Trump for his endorsement.

Both Mace and Norman failed to clinch the GOP nomination for governor in South Carolina, which ultimately went to South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson, who toppled Trump-backed South Carolina Lt. Gov. Pam Evette.

'The View' co-host Sunny Hostin doubles down on American flags making her feel 'unsafe'

Tue, 14 Jul 2026 12:00:44 -0400

"The View" co-host Sunny Hostin stood by her previous comments on Monday saying that she feels "unsafe" in neighborhoods with many American flags.

While appearing on the "Behind the Table" podcast, Hostin told the show's executive producer, Brian Teta, "I stand by that."

"I was going to say what's interesting is that this is not a new conversation in the Black community," Hostin said.

She then recounted a time she visited White friends at a beach house in North Carolina and felt "nervous" after spotting a Confederate flag.

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"I'm in the South," Hostin recalled. "I've got these two kids with me. I look the way that I look, and I'm walking past a Confederate flag with a group of dudes in a pickup truck on the beach. And I scurried back to the house and I said to the hosts, 'Do you know that there's a Confederate flag out there? You know, it didn't feel great.' And they had seen the flag for years, but it didn't have the same effect on them as it would have on me."

During "The View" last week, while discussing celebrations of America’s 250th anniversary, Hostin recalled a previous occasion in 2021 when she said on the show that she feels uncomfortable in neighborhoods with numerous American flags.

"I said this on this show many, many years ago, because this is my tenth year on the show," she said. "I said there are times when I walk into a community and I see American flags all over the community and I suddenly feel unsafe because there’s a section of this country that has co-opted the American flag, and they equate being an American or an American flag with White supremacy and that should never be the symbol of White supremacy, but they have weaponized."

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On Monday's podcast, she emphasized that she does not have a problem with the American flag on its own but rather when she sees a community with "flags everywhere."

"Unfortunately, at this point in our country, the American flag has been co-opted by the far right. They call themselves patriots, people that storm the capital with Confederate flags and American flags. And they've weaponized the American flag. That is something that is happening in this country. And to deny that is ridiculous to me," Hostin said.

She also voiced support for liberal efforts to "reclaim" the American flag.

"I would be very happy to be part of a take the flag back, reclaim the American flag as a symbol of what it should be, which is, I think, justice, which I think is freedom. I think it's equality. It's sort of... the promise of this country," Hostin said.

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In 2021, Hostin spoke on "The View" about Black Americans feeling uncomfortable in neighborhoods with American flags, defending MSNBC analyst Mara Gay for her controversial admission that she found it "disturbing" to see American flags, Trump flags and signs criticizing then-President Joe Biden in Long Island, New York.

Humanoid robots perform live surgery in world first

Tue, 14 Jul 2026 11:42:25 -0400

Humanoid robots have officially stepped up to the operating table, helping complete two surgeries for the first time. During the preclinical trial, surgeons remotely guided the machines through two gallbladder removal procedures. The robots copied the surgeons' movements rather than making medical decisions, and no human patients were involved.

Unlike bulky robotic systems fixed in place, these five-foot machines used standard surgical tools and worked inside an operating room built for people. The experiment offers an early look at how a specialist could someday operate through a mobile robot in a rural clinic or another place where surgical care is hard to reach. Here is what the team accomplished and what still needs to happen before this technology reaches human patients.

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Two humanoid robots completed live surgeries

Researchers from the University of California San Diego reported the results in the journal Nature earlier this month. The team tested its system during two laparoscopic gallbladder removal procedures on pigs.

During one operation, a humanoid robot handled surgical instruments while a human surgeon assisted beside it. During the second procedure, two humanoid robots stood next to each other and worked as a team. Surgeons remotely controlled both robots throughout the operation. The experiment involved delicate tasks used during minimally invasive gallbladder surgery. The robots moved tissue and dissected around the gallbladder. They also helped place clips before removing it.

Researchers designed the trial as a proof of concept. They wanted to learn whether a general-purpose humanoid robot could handle standard surgical tools with enough control to complete an operation. It could. However, the trial also exposed problems that researchers must solve before testing the system on humans.

The trial marked the first time teleoperated humanoid robots successfully completed live gallbladder surgeries. Robotic gallbladder procedures have been performed before, but this experiment was the first to use general-purpose humanoid machines. The work builds on UC San Diego's earlier research with the same type of robot. CyberGuy previously covered how a remotely controlled humanoid performed seven medical procedures, including physical exams and ultrasound-guided injections.

How these humanoid robots fit into a standard operating room

The researchers created Surgie by modifying commercially available Unitree G1 humanoid robots. Each machine stands about 5 feet tall and weighs around 60 pounds. That makes Surgie dramatically smaller than many existing robotic surgery systems, which can weigh approximately 1,800 pounds.

Large surgical robots may require extensive setup and take up considerable space. Hospitals sometimes need to retrofit an operating room before installing one. Surgie can stand in a room designed for human medical workers. Researchers added adapters to its hands so the robot could grip standard laparoscopic instruments.

A surgeon then controlled the robot from a remote console. When the surgeon moved the controls, Surgie copied those movements at the operating table. That human-like design is important. A hospital may be able to bring the robot into an existing room instead of rebuilding the space around it. A medical team could also move it between rooms or transport it to a smaller facility. "We were surprised at how well Surgie meshed with our workspace and workflow," said Nikita Thareja, MD, a general surgery resident at UC San Diego School of Medicine and a co-author of the study.

Unitree currently lists the base G1 at $13,500 before taxes and shipping. However, that price does not include the surgical adapters, instruments or remote-control equipment used in the study. The price still points to a potentially significant difference between a general-purpose humanoid and today's specialized surgical systems. Da Vinci surgical robots can cost from about $700,000 to more than $3 million, depending on the model and configuration. Researchers have not disclosed the total cost of the complete Surgie setup.

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Why use a humanoid instead of a surgical robot?

Modern robotic surgery systems already help doctors perform highly precise procedures. However, those machines usually stay in one location and depend on specialized equipment. A humanoid robot offers more flexibility because it can operate in spaces built for medical workers. It can also hold tools designed for human hands.

Researchers believe future versions could retrieve an instrument during surgery. The robot might also help prepare or clean the room after a procedure. Most importantly, a mobile system could potentially bring a specialist's skills to an area where surgeons are difficult to find.

Michael Yip, a professor in UC San Diego's Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, said remotely operated humanoids could expand access to critical procedures. Researchers envision sending the robots to communities with limited medical staffing or temporary field hospitals.

The goal isn’t to hand medical decisions to a machine. A trained surgeon would remain in control while the robot carried out those movements at the patient's location. That could give a trauma team on a battlefield access to a specialist located far away. The same approach could help a patient in a remote town avoid a long trip to a major medical center. Researchers have even discussed using the technology during future space missions.

That idea is already moving beyond the laboratory with traditional surgical robots. In March, we reported on a London surgeon who remotely removed a patient's prostate cancer from 1,500 miles away. The difference is that the London procedure used a specialized surgical platform. Surgie could eventually offer a smaller system that works inside a standard operating room.

The robots still needed plenty of help

The successful procedures do not mean hospitals are ready to start using humanoid robots on patients. Researchers had to recalibrate the robots several times during surgery. The operations also took much longer than procedures performed with established surgical systems.

Latency presents another concern. Latency is the delay between a surgeon moving a controller and the robot responding. A slight lag may feel annoying during a video call. During surgery, even a small delay could affect precision. That challenge becomes more serious when the surgeon and robot are separated by a long distance.

Researchers will need to improve the robot's reliability and response time. They must also prove that the system can repeat its performance safely across many procedures. Hospitals would need a backup plan as well. A qualified surgical team would have to remain ready to step in if the robot stopped responding or the remote connection failed.

Could a humanoid robot eventually operate on its own?

For now, human surgeons control Surgie's movements. The UC San Diego researchers eventually want to develop what they call an autonomous surgical assistant. That type of robot could recognize which tool a surgeon needs or complete a limited task under supervision.

Researchers elsewhere are already testing a different approach to autonomous surgery. CyberGuy previously covered an AI-powered robot that independently completed a key phase of gallbladder removal on a lifelike surgical model. However, operating on a living patient presents a much greater challenge. Bleeding can begin without warning. A patient's condition can also change in seconds.

A robot would need to recognize the problem and respond safely. Medical workers must also be able to take control immediately. Autonomous surgery raises difficult questions about responsibility. Hospitals would need clear rules covering who makes each decision and who is accountable when something goes wrong. Remote operation introduces another concern. Hospitals would have to protect the robot's software and communications from unauthorized access. At the same time, the system would need to continue operating safely during a connection problem.

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What this means to you

You will not see a humanoid robot independently performing your next surgery. This research remains at the preclinical stage, and the team tested the system on pigs rather than humans. Still, the experiment offers an early look at where robot-assisted medicine may be headed.

A mobile surgical robot could eventually give you access to a specialist without requiring a long trip. It may also help a smaller hospital offer procedures that currently require transferring patients elsewhere. However, access should never come at the expense of safety. Before agreeing to a robot-assisted procedure, you should know who controls the machine. You should also ask what happens if the connection fails and whether a qualified surgical team will remain in the room. The robot may hold the instrument, but human judgment remains the most important part of the operation.

Kurt's key takeaways

Watching two humanoid robots work over an operating table may make you uncomfortable. Still, the technology could address a serious healthcare problem if researchers can make it reliable and safe. Many communities struggle to attract enough surgeons. A compact robot that works with standard instruments could let a distant specialist enter the operating room without physically traveling there. The comparatively low starting price of the base robot could also make this approach easier to deploy than some specialized surgical systems. This experiment remains an early milestone. The robots needed recalibration, and the operations took longer than usual. Communication delays also remain a concern. The researchers now need to prove that Surgie can perform consistently before anyone considers human trials. Hospitals will also need strict safety protections and trained medical workers ready to take over.

Would you let a surgeon operate through a humanoid robot if it cut months off your wait for care? Let us know by writing to us at CyberGuy.com.

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Kagan recalls Lindsey Graham's vote that helped seal her Supreme Court confirmation

Tue, 14 Jul 2026 11:52:08 -0400

Supreme Court Justice Elena Kagan opened her testimony before the House Appropriations Committee Tuesday by offering condolences following the death of Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-Ky., who died Saturday from a ruptured aorta.

"I wish to express the entire court's condolences to his, his sister, the rest of his family, his many friends and colleagues here in the House, in the Senate and elsewhere on behalf of the entire court," Kagan said.

Kagan spent the majority of her tribute to Graham reflecting on Graham's role in her 2010 confirmation, noting that he was one of just five Senate Republicans to vote in favor of her nomination after she was selected by then-President Barack Obama. Graham's bipartisan support stood out at the time and has become even more notable as Supreme Court confirmation votes have grown increasingly polarized along party lines.

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"Not many Republicans vote for the nominees of somebody selected by a Democratic president, and not many Democrats do the same for someone selected by a Republican president," Kagan said. "And one would not expect, such a cross party, if you will vote, certainly from somebody from a deep red or deep blue state. And yet, Senator Graham voted for me."

"And I vividly remember, because he was a vivid person. The conversation that we had in his office prior to my hearing, where he got to know me, it was a long conversation," Kagan continued. "He took the opportunity to get to know me."

She shared that although she did not know Graham well that he will be remembered for his sense of humor.

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"I think Al Franken said he was the funniest man in the Senate, but what I remember about that hearing was that somehow Senator Graham made me look funny, which is a harder thing entirely, by asking me what I had done on Christmas the following year," said Kagan, who is Jewish. "And I'll skip the, the back and forth. But many people said to me afterwards, that exchange with Senator Graham was the moment my confirmation was sealed."

Kagan said she remained grateful for the way Graham handled her nomination.

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"I want to express my gratitude toward him, not only for his support, but for, approaching the confirmation process, with the kind of seriousness that he did and and the kind of respect he did," Kagan said.

Graham served 23 years in the Senate and eight years in the House of Representatives.

He died Saturday at age 71.

His sister, Darline Graham, was appointed by South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster to finish the rest of his term, which ends in January 2027.

Adam Scott and Michelle Monaghan star in Netflix thriller 'The Whisper Man' arriving August 28

Tue, 14 Jul 2026 11:31:06 -0400

Netflix released the preview for "The Whisper Man."

Basic info:

Streaming platform: Netflix
Plot: Based on the New York Times bestselling novel by Alex North. When his eight-year-old son is abducted, a widowed crime writer looks to his estranged father, a retired former police detective, for help, only to discover a connection with the decades-old case of a convicted serial killer known as "The Whisper Man."
Cast: Adam Scott, Michelle Monaghan, Robert De Niro, John Carroll Lynch and Hamish Linklater.
Release date: August 28
Source material: Novel written by Alex North.

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Netflix releases preview for "The Whisper Man."

There has been a very solid content run recently on streaming, and it now appears to be continuing with "The Whisper Man."

The trailer released on Tuesday paints a very dark and sinister picture about a mysterious killer, a missing child and messages that will send a chill down your spine.

Give it a watch below, and let me know your thoughts at David.Hookstead@outkick.com.

First off, that trailer is absolutely incredible from start to finish. Perfectly dark tone, a sinister mystery and a looming sense of total dread.

The cast is also stacked. Yes, Robert De Niro is nutty with his politics, but teaming up with Adam Scott and Michelle Monaghan is a very powerful lineup.

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People are craving great entertainment, and it feels like Hollywood is finally starting to release a lot of great stuff to enjoy.

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Just judging from the trailer, early indications are that "The Whisper Man" is going to be a film worth checking out.

What do you think of "The Whisper Man" trailer? Let me know your thoughts at David.Hookstead@outkick.com, and check it out starting August 28th on Netflix.

WWE star Lyra Valkyria's new look stuns pro wrestling fans

Tue, 14 Jul 2026 11:25:26 -0400

A bond between two friends on the "Monday Night Raw" roster appeared to shatter when Bayley called out Lyra Valkyria during the show in Dallas, which set the pretext for a match at the forthcoming Saturday Night’s Main Event in New York City.

Valkyria snapped in recent weeks. She turned on Bayley a few weeks ago when the two lost their chance at the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship against Brie Bella and Paige. Since then, Valkyria’s character has gone under a radical transformation.

COMPLETE PRO WRESTLING COVERAGE ON FOX NEWS DIGITAL

On Monday, Valkyria looked a little worse for wear. She appeared to be leaning into the character of a wrestler who looked broken by the string of recent missed opportunities.

Pro wrestling fans took notice of the character change.

Valkyria unleashed on Baley when she was on the mic.

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"You should be the one apologizing to me," she told Bayley, "For holding me back for an entire year. This is what you always do. You come out here and you make it look like you’re this victim. Oh, poor Bayley. Poor Bayley. Bayley’s friends always leave her in the dust. I’ve been stabbed in the back too. I just don’t come out here and make it my entire personality.

"And maybe, maybe if you weren’t so obsessed with all your past friendships’ failures, you’d be able to take a step back and see all of your problems. When I say this, I want to look you in the eye and say this. Everything I’ve ever made you feel good about, I was lying. You’re not a locker room leader. You are a doormat. Your face does not belong on the posters. You do drag down every single person you work with and you have always been the worst of The Four Horsewomen."

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The back-and-forth will eventually culminate in a match on Saturday at Madison Square Garden.

MLB players, owners at odds over potential Olympic participation, including punishment for declining: report

Tue, 14 Jul 2026 11:17:49 -0400

As the 2027 MLB season remains in limbo due to the ongoing collective bargaining agreement, an issue two years from now is also at the forefront.

According to ESPN, owners have supported the idea of MLB players participating in the Olympics for the first time, but not without plenty of wrinkles.

While the owners are already set to shut down the season for nearly two weeks, there are disagreements over logistics, including hotels, tickets and a mandatory-participation agreement, the outlet said.

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The latter proposal, ESPN said, aims to force some of the game's biggest stars to play in the Olympics, and if someone declined, they could be placed on the restricted list for nearly a month and not get paid.

The MLB Players Association, according to the report, strongly opposes the idea, saying that MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred would be able to discipline players "for just cause."

Ian Penny, a special advisor at the MLBPA, said in an email last month that the organization is "seeking fair treatment for its members in consideration for the substantial financial value they would bring to LA28."

"Ideally, that consideration would closely align with the value created and include direct compensation. However, what these proposals are largely designed to accomplish is to prevent our members from losing money by participating, whether due to expenses incurred or commercial rights lost, both individually and collectively. Given the significant financial benefits flowing to non-athlete stakeholders in the Games, we view these proposals as particularly modest and imminently reasonable," Penny added.

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Many players, including Aaron Judge, Bryce Harper, Kyle Schwarber and Mike Trout, all of whom have represented the USA in the WBC, have expressed high interest in playing at the Olympics.

It also remains to be seen who would stay where if the deal goes through. The LA28 committee has also told players they could purchase two tickets per game in which they are participating but could "unlock" the potential to purchase more.

The LA28 committee has offered 435 hotel rooms, while Major League Baseball has already reserved 200 — 100 for its own players and another 100 for the Japanese national team, which is expected to qualify late next year. ESPN cited four players saying they would stay at the Olympic Village on UCLA's campus, while the hotel rooms would be for their families.

The six-team Olympic baseball tournament will take place at Dodger Stadium. The United States has already qualified as the host nation, while the Dominican Republic and Venezuela qualified during the World Baseball Classic earlier this year.

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The six teams will be divided into two groups, with the winner of each receiving a bye into the semifinals. The league would shut down for 11 days to accommodate the tournament as well as the preceding All-Star Game.

The United States has played in three consecutive WBC finals, winning in 2017 over Puerto Rico but losing in 2023 to Japan and this year to Venezuela.

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New York college professor celebrates Lindsey Graham's death in social media post, later apologizes

Tue, 14 Jul 2026 11:11:24 -0400

A St. Bonaventure University professor is facing backlash on social media after appearing to celebrate the death of South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham in a social media post before deleting it less than 12 hours later, prompting renewed scrutiny of political rhetoric on college campuses.

A social media account identified as belonging to Ibrahim Zabad, a political science professor at the private university in western New York, posted a message late Saturday evening celebrating Graham's death, using inflammatory language and ending with the phrase "Rest in Hell," according to Campus Reform.

By early the next day, at 5:09 a.m. according to Campus Reform, the same account had deleted the post and published an apology acknowledging the message was inappropriate, disrespectful and not compassionate.

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A screenshot of the Saturday X post dated at 11:56 p.m. reads, "He was a certified anti-Palestinian, anti-Arab, anti-Muslim bloodthirsty bigot. He personified belligerence and evil. He supported every savage war Israel launched against the Palestinians and the Lebanese and the Syrians and the Iranians and the Iraqis and the Yemenis."

The post added, "He genuinely endorsed Israel's genocidal war and unabashedly supported the ethnic cleansing of the Palestinians from their native lands. He wholeheartedly and passionately supported the project of Greater Israel along with all the massacres, occupation, dispossession and savagery and barbarism that this entails. He was a merciless warmonger and bigot. Rest in Hell."

The account bearing Zabad’s name and photo, which no longer appears to be active, posted an apology that read in part, "I want to sincerely apologize for the post regarding the passing of Senator Lindsey Graham. My words were inappropriate and disrespectful and failed to show compassion during time of loss and grief. I regretted the post and the words I used."

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A spokesperson for St. Bonaventure University told Fox News Digital in a statement that "we are aware of the post and subsequent apology by Dr. Zabad. His post about Sen. Graham was clearly not aligned with our university mission and values and we will be addressing the situation with him to ensure that Franciscan values are maintained and lived out at St. Bonaventure."

Graham, 71, died Saturday night. An autopsy performed on Sunday suggested that Graham died from aortic dissection due to arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease. The news stunned Washington, as Graham was one of the body's most active members and was even scheduled to appear on "Meet the Press" Sunday morning.

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A statement from Graham’s office read, "The death certificate will be PENDING until all the toxicological and microscopic testing are finalized, and at that point the death certificate will be updated to reflect the cause of death and appropriately classify the manner of death."

Fox News Digital reached out to Zabad and Graham’s office for comment.

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How one YouTuber helped save ‘College Football 27’ players from microtransactions — at least for now

Tue, 14 Jul 2026 11:01:41 -0400

College Football 27, EA Sports' latest edition of the popular pigskin video game series, was released last week to both massive fanfare and scathing critiques.

The big sticking point for a number of college football and gaming fans was the introduction of microtransactions, a practice involving paying real money to unlock features in the game.

Microtransactions have become increasingly prevalent in modern video games, but the idea of putting them into the latest College Football game seemed absurd even a year ago.

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Many fans pushed back on the concept of microtransactions and voiced their displeasure on social media, and none were more vocal than YouTuber Bordeaux.

The content creator became the tip of the spear in a grassroots campaign to get EA to remove microtransactions from the game entirely, even adopting the hashtag #CFBPlayDontPay.

Bordeaux wasn't the only content creator attempting to hold EA Sports accountable, but he was one of the biggest and earliest to do so, a move that could have been disastrous for his career as a college football video game YouTuber.

I asked him whether that had any impact on his decision to lead the charge against EA in our conversation last week, but Bordeaux insisted it never entered his mind.

"No matter what, I have never needed a partnership to do something," Bordeaux said, referring to his multi-year collaboration with EA. "The game is good, I'm never going to backtrack on that opinion. It's just the fact that they're putting those microtransactions in, is where I have to draw the line and say, 'Do not spend money on this.'"

It would appear as though Bordeaux's efforts paid off, as EA announced that it will be doing away with microtransactions for this year's version of their game in a lengthy post on X late last week.

While the move was (and should be) seen as a win from the online community - prompting Bordeaux himself to post a video on his YouTube channel titled "We Won" - the language used by EA with regard to "providing service plans for CFB28" could mean this victory is short-lived.

Regardless, for the time being, it looks like Bordeaux accomplished what he set out to do when this whole crusade started.

"I wanted to speak my mind on how I felt, and raise some awareness to it," Bordeaux said last week. "Because I felt like it was unfair, a lot of us creators were blindsided... I wanted to say my piece, draw my line and say 'I can't work with them after this.'

"I was hoping that they would address it and listen to the community."

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With the news that EA will roll back microtransactions, there's a chance Bordeaux will find his way back to them for a partnership somewhere down the line.

When I asked him what a road back to EA would look like, Bordeaux laid it out simply.

"Take out microtransactions completely, bring back all of the features that they removed, and never go in the direction of making "Dynasty" and "Road to Glory" a mode with microtransactions, especially offline.

"If they really took that stance, I'm okay again," he said.

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For the time being, it looks like Bordeaux got his wish, and he can confidently declare victory for the gaming community.

His impressive crusade against a nearly universally hated practice in the gaming community should be lauded, and shows the power we have as consumers.

ICE agents instructed to end most vehicle stops in major policy shift

Tue, 14 Jul 2026 10:59:44 -0400

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents are being instructed to end "most" vehicle stops nationwide in a major policy shift, effective immediately.

According to multiple federal sources, ICE agents will cease making traffic stops, which have played a significant role in the agency’s operations until now. A federal source told Fox News that ICE will continue conducting vehicle stops only for those considered to be the most egregious targets with serious or violent criminal histories.

This comes after two people were killed in ICE officer-involved shootings in Maine and Texas in the last week.

A senior ICE source remarked to Fox News that the change is "horrible but needs to happen."

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

Another senior ICE source said this policy change will be temporary. According to the source, the new policy will remain in place until new training on vehicle stops is approved by Department of Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin and given to agents operating in the field.

Until now, ICE agents have commonly carried out vehicle stops as part of the agency’s regular immigration enforcement operations. The stops, however, have grown increasingly controversial with incidents such as last week’s shootings.

This Monday, an ICE agent shot and killed a man in Biddeford, Maine, leading to hundreds of protesters marching by the shooting site. According to Sen. Angus King, I-Maine, Mullin told him in a phone call that the man killed in the shooting was not the intended target of the arrest warrant federal agents were executing.

In a statement to Fox News Digital, an ICE spokesperson said that agents were conducting "targeted surveillance on the last known address of an illegal alien with a final order of removal."

FAMILY SHATTERED AFTER 3-TIME DEPORTED ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT ALLEGEDLY BLEW THROUGH STOP SIGN, ROILING HOUSE RACE

An individual believed to be the illegal alien ICE was tracking departed the residence in a vehicle. When ICE agents attempted to conduct a vehicle stop, the vehicle attempted to flee the scene and "fearing for public safety, an officer discharged his weapon," the agency said.

According to the spokesperson, "the driver of the vehicle was struck, and emergency services were immediately contacted. He passed away from his injuries."

The week before, Lorenzo Salgado Araujo, a Mexican citizen who authorities said was in the country illegally, was shot and killed in Houston after he tried to ram an ICE officer with his vehicle during a traffic stop, the agency said.

Araujo was struck and taken to a hospital, where he later died.

His family has disputed ICE's account of the shooting and called on the agency to release any available video evidence.

DRIVER IN DEADLY OHIO CRASH SPOKE NO ENGLISH AS TRUMP ADMIN VOWS COMMERCIAL TRUCK LICENSE CRACKDOWN

However, when asked whether the officers involved were wearing body cameras, DHS told Fox News they "had not been issued body-worn cameras due to back-to-back Democrat shutdowns."

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Both shootings are being investigated by federal and local authorities.

Fox News Digital's Paul Steinhauser, Kailey Schuyler, Jessica Sonkin, Sarah Rumpf-Whitten and Kelly Phares contributed to this piece.

Mbappe, Dembele and Olise give France the edge over Spain in the 2026 World Cup semifinals

Tue, 14 Jul 2026 10:56:32 -0400

It has been a couple of days without soccer, and it felt a bit strange. I wonder how I will feel after this World Cup is complete in a few days. We are down to just four games remaining (including today's matchup). It has been a really engaging and entertaining World Cup so far, and I think FIFA has to be very happy it got the remaining four teams in the Final Four. Let's see how we should play the first semifinals game of the 2026 World Cup.

There have been at least two players who have said that France is the team to beat or that will win the whole thing. As someone with a French ticket, I am hoping that comes to fruition. Getting to the final game will be quite a challenge. I don't know a ton about soccer, but I can tell you that after watching these games, it seems like one small mistake can change the entire game. France has been fortunate not to have made many mistakes so far. They have a strong defense, three great offensive players, and much more, so perhaps their team is just good at covering any mistakes that are made.

In their World Cup games, France has barely had to sweat. Their worst game was against Paraguay when they still won 1-0. In their most recent game, they took down Morocco 2-0. Throughout this tournament, they have not allowed more than one goal in any game, and they have outscored their opponents 16-2. Their leader, Kylian Mbappe, and his counterpart, Ousmane Dembele, have combined to score 13 of those goals. The third person of their trio, Michael Olise, has five assists as well.

HOW TO WATCH FRANCE VS SPAIN: LIVE STREAM THE 2026 FIFA WORLD CUP SEMIFINALS

This will be a tough game for Spain to win, but that doesn't mean that there is no pressure on France. Spain is one of the best teams in the world and they beat France last year in the UEFA Nations League semifinals. That game saw Spain win 5-4. Spain opened their World Cup with a draw over Cape Verde. At the time, it seemed like that was Spain underperforming, but that Cape Verde team proved to be very talented and a tough matchup. To get out of the Group Stage, they beat Saudi Arabia with ease, then Uruguay in a close matchup.

Once they got to the knockout round, things were a bit more difficult. They beat Austria 3-0, but struggled to beat Portugal, winning 1-0. Then, against Belgium, that game was a tightly contested 2-1 victory. They never trailed in that game, but both teams scored in the first half. A very late Spanish goal gave them the lead that would never be relinquished. It was more of an error on Belgium's part than anything that led to this goal for Spain. Mistakes cost people games in all sports.

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A lot of people are billing this as the Championship matchup. I guess they don't feel all that strongly about Argentina or England. Perhaps it is true, but if you see two teams beating each other before they face a different opponent, that can hurt them for the next game. The advantage either team has is that they will have extra rest before the final.

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I think Spain has been a bit luckier than France, but they also have nothing to lose. An interesting fact is that Spain comes into this unbeaten in regulation time in their past 36 international competitions. It seems like they are due to lose, right? As mentioned, I have a ticket on France to win the World Cup already, if I didn't, I would still take them here. I will take the over 2.5 goals here, though. I think the final will be France 2-1 and I think they win in 90 minutes.

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

American biologist shot dead in his home in the Philippines

Tue, 14 Jul 2026 10:54:53 -0400

American biologist Kent Carpenter, 73, was shot and killed at his home in the Philippines on Sunday in what authorities are calling a murder.

Carpenter, an adjunct professor at Silliman University's Institute of Environmental and Marine Sciences in Dumaguete City, was in his home with a 34-year-old girlfriend when authorities say three men broke in at 11:30 p.m.

One of the men allegedly shot Carpenter in the head during what police believe was a robbery. The men also allegedly tied up Carpenter's girlfriend and sexually assaulted her, the government-affiliated Philippine News Agency (PNA) reported.

TWO SUSPECTED AMERICAN COMMUNIST INSURGENTS KILLED IN CLASH IN THE PHILIPPINES

The men took a laptop, cash and a backpack before fleeing, police spokesperson Col. Allen Rae Co told reporters.

All three of the suspects are still at large, though local police have initiated a special investigation to find the culprits, PNA reported.

Local investigators began "conducting backtracking and forward tracking operations, including the review of possible CCTV footage, witness interviews, intelligence validation, and reconstruction of the suspects’ movements before and after the incident," police wrote in a statement.

DEFENSE DEPARTMENT SCIENTIST’S ACCIDENTAL DEATH RAISES QUESTIONS AS PROBE INTO MISSING SCIENTISTS GROWS

"We strongly condemn this senseless act of violence. I have directed our investigators to exhaust all legal means to identify and apprehend those responsible at the soonest possible time," Regional Director Police Brig. Gen. Romano Cardiño said in the statement.

"We assure the victim’s family, the community, and our foreign visitors that this case is being treated with utmost urgency, and no effort will be spared until justice is served," he also said.

Carpenter was a highly renowned scientist who studied fish, co-authoring a 2005 study that crowned the Philippines' Verde Island Passage as "the center of marine shore fish biodiversity."

He spent decades working as an ichthyologist, collaborating with Silliman University in some capacity since 1976.

"Dr. Carpenter made groundbreaking contributions that transformed global understanding of Philippine marine biodiversity," Silliman University said in a statement.

"Dr. Carpenter's contributions to Philippine marine science were profound and enduring," a statement the Philippine Association of Marine Science posted Tuesday read.

"As a U.S. Peace Corps volunteer in the 1970s, he worked with the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources and helped train the country's first coral reef science team. His early papers on Philippine coral reef fisheries resources, including his work with National Scientist Angel C. Alcala on muro-ami and kayakas reef fisheries, were landmark contributions that shaped the country's understanding of reef fisheries and the urgent need for science-based management," the statement continued.

"In the wake of this devastating loss, PAMS strongly condemns this act of violence. We call upon the Philippine National Police, the local authorities in Negros Oriental, and appropriate national investigative agencies to conduct a swift, thorough, and transparent investigation. Those responsible for this heinous crime must be held fully accountable under the law," the statement added.

"Dr. Carpenter devoted his life to protecting the Philippines' marine heritage. We owe it to him to honor that legacy by continuing his work and demanding justice for his tragic and untimely death," the statement concluded.

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Fox News Digital contacted the U.S. Embassy in Manila for further comment.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Air Force helicopter makes emergency landing in DC

Tue, 14 Jul 2026 10:37:53 -0400

A U.S. Air Force helicopter was forced to make an emergency landing in the nation's capital on Monday after pilots heard "strange mechanical sounds" while in flight.

Air Force public affairs chief Ann Stefanek confirmed the landing in a statement, adding that no one was hurt during the incident. Multiple law enforcement groups responded to the incident, including the FBI and Metropolitan Police Department.

"It was on a routine training mission when it identified a potential mechanical issue. The crew landed out of an abundance of caution as they are trained to do after hearing some strange mechanical sounds. No damage or injuries," Stefanek said in a statement.

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

The UH-1N helicopter was assigned to the First Helicopter Squadron out of Joint Base Andrews and had four personnel aboard.

The incident came the same day that police arrested an armed man after he drove to a security barricade outside the U.S. Capitol.

U.S. Capitol Police said officers arrested the man at the North Barricade after discovering he had a firearm.

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

Firearms are prohibited on Capitol Grounds, and authorities immediately closed the area while investigators processed the scene.

"Our investigators are working to learn more about the suspect and why he drove to the U.S. Capitol," Capitol Police said in a statement.

Police remained at the scene throughout Monday afternoon, where officers were seen removing items from a Ford Bronco parked diagonally in front of the barricade.

NATIONAL GUARD SHOOTING SUSPECT IN 'DIRE,' 'SELF-INFLICTED' HEALTH CONDITION AFTER REFUSING TO EAT: FILING

Fox News obtained video showing the suspect's Ford Bronco being towed away from the North Barricade following the arrest.

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The SUV, which displayed Florida license plates, was removed from the scene by authorities as investigators continued processing evidence and working to determine why the armed man drove to the U.S. Capitol.

Fox News' Stepheny Price contributed to this report.

Ella Langley tells fans to stop measuring themselves against social media in viral concert video

Tue, 14 Jul 2026 10:17:07 -0400

Ella Langley could care less about nonsense on social media.

As our loyal readers know, Langley has become the most recognizable woman in the country music world, and there's not a close second at this point.

She dominates the charts, racks up awards and is authentically herself. It's that last part that has helped build her an incredible following.

COUNTRY SUPERSTAR ELLA LANGLEY PULLS OFF INCREDIBLE CAREER ACCOMPLISHMENT ON THE MUSIC CHARTS

Now, she's sharing an important message about ignoring what's on social media.

Ella Langley rips the inauthenticity of social media.

We all know that social media can be a very toxic place. It's also full of people pretending to be something they're not in order to keep with the Joneses.

It's comically stupid, and the country music star has had enough.

ELLA LANGLEY FANS RALLY TO HER DEFENSE AFTER MORGAN WALLEN DUET SPARKS POLITICAL BACKLASH

"I think with social media and how you get to see into everyone’s life, and you feel behind, or you feel not good enough, or not pretty enough, or not cool enough. Or you can’t sing this way, or you can’t dance this way. Who gives a sh*t? This is who I am, and that’s what you get," Langley told the crowd in a viral video from a recent show, according to Whiskey Riff.

You can watch her comments in the video below, and let me know your thoughts at David.Hookstead@outkick.com.

Well said, Ella. Very well said. Let's just be honest with each other. Social media is about as far from reality as you can get.

VIRAL GERMAN SOCCER FAN WHO CAPTIVATED AMERICA FLEES SOCIAL MEDIA AS STORY TAKES A PREDICTABLE TURN

Many people present a picture that is borderline delusional. I personally know people who are completely different behind closed doors than what they show to the public.

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Here's one thing I can promise you. You'll never see photos of me on the internet in private jets or at mansions. Why? Because it's unnecessary and tacky, among other reasons we don't need to get into here.

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Langley is right to tell people to not care because the internet is literally meaningless when it comes to living a happy and full life.

What do you think about Langley's comments? Let me know at David.Hookstead@outkick.com.

Director of new ‘Lord of the Rings’ rejects ‘politically correct’ casting after suggestions film is too White

Tue, 14 Jul 2026 10:15:03 -0400

"Lord of the Rings" director and Gollum actor Andy Serkis drew a firm line against critics demanding more diversity in the beloved franchise, arguing that his new film will reject "politically correct" casting.

Speaking with the BBC, the filmmaker defended the predominantly White cast in the highly anticipated film "The Hunt for Gollum." Serkis said original author J.R.R. Tolkien’s universe was widely inspired by Norse mythology and that diversity should be a focus "where relevant," not simply to satisfy what he described as industry box-ticking.

"The Shire feels very, very much like a very, a very White, you know…" Serkis told the BBC, where they note he "trails off" before continuing.

MORE HOLLYWOOD HYPOCRISY: VARIETY DEMONIZES CRITICS OF CHRISTOPHER NOLAN'S CASTING IN 'THE ODYSSEY'

"They're not very concerned about what goes on beyond the borders of The Shire, but they know they don't want people coming in," he said.

Debate over Middle-earth’s diversity has simmered for years, as the original trilogy, directed by Peter Jackson and starring Elijah Wood and Viggo Mortensen, was also accused of being too White. Some critics have argued the original trilogy used problematic racial coding, associating the heroes with Whiteness while the villains relied on dark-skinned tropes.

Serkis acknowledged the criticism of the decades-old franchise to the BBC but said they don’t plan on injecting more diversity into the films just to tick boxes.

CHRISTOPHER NOLAN CALLS CRITICISM OF 'THE ODYSSEY' CASTING DECISIONS 'IRRELEVANT'

"This particular film is somewhat acknowledging that. But we don't think we will be doing a politically correct just-casting-for-the sake-of-casting-and-ticking-boxes version of the film. So, it's only where relevant basically," he said.

The actor, however, has spoken out in favor of diverse casts in Hollywood, noting that his time as one of the few White actors in the "Black Panther" film helped show him what it was like on set.

The BBC included that in 2018, he said the film gave him a new understanding of what it meant to be the minority on set. He told the Radio Times in 2018, "[Director] Ryan Coogler said to me and Martin, 'Guys, I have to tell you this, but this is the first scene I've directed with two White actors in it.' That's an incredible perspective to find yourself in."

BELOVED 'LITTLE HOUSE ON THE PRAIRIE' FACES WAGONLOAD OF 'WOKE' ALLEGATIONS OVER NETFLIX REBOOT

The "Lord of the Rings" franchise expanded its diversity with Amazon's spinoff "The Rings of Power," which some viewers criticized as being too "woke." The show included some of the franchise's first Black Elves and Dwarves, along with other characters portrayed by actors of color. Billionaire Elon Musk even weighed in on the show, posting on X in 2022, "Tolkien is turning in his grave."

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Only days after that post, several actors from the original franchise posed for a photo wearing T-shirts with different elf ears that featured different skin tones with the caption, "You Are All Welcome Here."

"The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum" is expected to premiere in December 2027 and is set to take place between the prequel "The Hobbit" films and the first "The Fellowship of the Ring" film of the main trilogy.

Scammers exploit Nancy Guthrie case with QR code money requests, Pima County sheriff warns

Tue, 14 Jul 2026 10:12:59 -0400

The Pima County Sheriff's Department is warning people about a new scam using Nancy Guthrie.

In a statement on social media, the Pima County Sheriff's Department said it's "aware" of posts about the Guthrie investigation that include a QR code requesting money.

"PCSD will never ask for money related to this case, or any investigation," the department said.

NANCY GUTHRIE MYSTERY EXPOSES NEW THREAT TARGETING UNSUSPECTING AMERICANS LETTING DOWN THEIR GUARDS

The agency advised people to "not send money to people you do not know or scan QR codes requesting payment," and asked that they report such posts if they see them.

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Nancy Guthrie, the mother of Savannah Guthrie, an anchor on NBC's "Today" show, has been missing for over 164 days.

LISTEN TO THE NEW 'CRIME & JUSTICE WITH DONNA ROTUNNO' PODCAST

Savannah Guthrie in late June pleaded with viewers on the "Today" show to come forward with any new information after reports that one of the ransom notes sent to her family declared her mother dead.

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

"I just want to take the opportunity to ask people, to really to beg people to come forward. Somebody knows something. This is a new story today that is on your radar, but this is the life that my sister lives, I live, my brother lives, our extended families live, our children live every day. We are in agony," Savannah Guthrie said

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"We cannot be at peace no matter how much I try to come out here every day and smile and find that joy, and I will, I promise I will, this is the moment to tell you that we need your help. We’re begging for your help. I’m not going to miss that opportunity. And so please, if you’re watching, no matter how small the reward is there, you can tell us. It can be anonymous. Please do the right thing for us, for our family, for our children. We love our mom. We’ll never stop looking for her, never," Savannah Guthrie added.

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

Kathie Lee Gifford details the pelvis fracture and spine misdiagnosis that pushed her to 'rock bottom'

Tue, 14 Jul 2026 10:04:57 -0400

Kathie Lee Gifford said years of debilitating physical pain became so overwhelming that she reached a point where she felt ready to "go home" to heaven, opening up about one of the darkest periods of her life on a new episode of Sean Hannity's podcast.

"I was done," Gifford said, adding later that she "just wanted to go home to Jesus."

The broadcasting legend reflected on the health challenges that nearly broke her spirit during a wide-ranging conversation with Hannity, touching on her decades-long career, Christian faith, family and the resilience she found after enduring years of physical setbacks.

KATHIE LEE GIFFORD ADMITS SHE 'WANTED TO DIE' AFTER MISDIAGNOSIS AND MULTIPLE SURGERIES FOR CHRONIC PAIN

In the process, Gifford opened up about living "10 lives" and surviving the intense physical agony that left her crawling across her floor.

"And I've been so blessed in my life. I had five grandchildren within three years. My son had three, and my daughter had two children, and thus making me a bubby, which is the Yiddish for grandma. And as joyful as that was, I couldn't even hold them."

CARRIE ANN INABA SHARES HER STRUGGLE TO MANAGE HIDDEN, INVISIBLE ILLNESS: 'IT'S REAL'

From a catastrophic medical misdiagnosis to harrowing falls that left her pelvis fractured, she revealed how hitting "rock bottom" physically tested and ultimately strengthened her faith.

"I thought I had the best doctors in the world," she said. "And they kept saying to me, 'It's not your hip, it is your spine.'"

Gifford disagreed with their assertions, saying she knew her body was telling her a different story. At the time, she couldn't walk, and a doctor's misread of an X-ray further delayed treatment.

"I was crawling to the bathroom by the time I finally had my hip replaced," she said, recalling that one physician was stunned by the condition she had been living in.

Gifford said she ultimately made a call to the doctor about her misdiagnosis and threatened to sue.

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"I don't want anybody else to ever have to suffer like that," she said.

Hannity's full conversation with Gifford is available on iHeart, YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts and other major podcast platforms.

If you or someone you know is having thoughts of suicide, please contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255).

WATCH: Kamala Harris torched over ‘zero sense’ WNBA pep talk in latest ‘word salad’ moment

Tue, 14 Jul 2026 10:01:15 -0400

Former Vice President Kamala Harris drew ridicule over a motivational speech to the WNBA's Los Angeles Sparks over the weekend – with critics arguing the appearance was another "word salad."

Harris told the Sparks they were making an "incredible impact" on the country, while critics ripped her circuitous delivery and the fact she went from the Democrats' presidential nominee to "giving speeches to the WNBA."

"I travel our country. Young girls, boys, people of every gender background, race, watch the ‘W’, and understand how inspiring it is," Harris said.

SUNNY HOSTIN DOESN'T KNOW IF PRESIDENT IS THE 'RIGHT POSITION' FOR HARRIS, URGES HER TO RECONSIDER CA GOVERNOR

"So keep doing what you're doing. You guys are impacting people who you may never meet," she said, before claiming that includes people who "may never know your names or mine but they are aware of what you are."

"And it is giving them a sense of their value, their dignity, and what they have a right to expect from this world – so congratulations on this game, but congratulations as much as anything else for the path you guys are charting. It is extraordinary to watch."

Outkick founder Clay Travis was nonplussed by Harris’ remarks, saying the former vice president made "zero sense."

NATE BARGATZE FACING CANCELLATION FROM THE LEFT FOR ATTENDING UFC 250 WHITE HOUSE EVENT: 'TEAM FASCISM'

"This league has still never had a team visit the White House with Trump in office," he added.

Former University of Kentucky swimmer Riley Gaines said on Fox News Monday that when FBI Director Kash Patel fired up the U.S. Olympic Men’s Hockey Team in February after its upset of Canada, he was ridiculed by Harris’ ideological flank for the appearance while serving as the FBI chief. Gaines said that while she had not seen Harris’ clip, she was reminded of the invective launched at the administration official.

"Was there any outrage like there was when Kash Patel was in the men's locker room after the Olympic team won a gold medal at the Olympics? No, I don't think so," she said.

Other critics said Harris served up her latest helping of "delusional word salad nonsense," hearkening back to prior speeches and public remarks that also appeared circuitous or vague.

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"I still thank God every single day that this woman lost the election," user One Bad Dude wrote.

"She's like a party clown at this point," another wrote.

Another quipped: "Total mystery how this person lost every swing state."

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Fox News Digital's Kiera McDonald contributed to this report.

Arkansas takes home top ranking for religious freedom after Gov Sanders expands key protections

Tue, 14 Jul 2026 10:00:57 -0400

FIRST ON FOX: Arkansas has been ranked the nation's top state for religious liberty after Republican Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders signed a series of laws expanding faith protections that helped lift the state to the top.

Earning a score of 89.2%, Arkansas became one of only two states to earn the First Liberty Institute's annual Religious Liberty in the States index's first-ever "excellent" rating. The index evaluates states using 50 legal protections across 20 religious liberty safeguards spanning education, healthcare, family law, economic activity and other areas of daily life.

"Religious liberty is America’s First Freedom, and Arkansas is leading the nation in protecting it," Sanders said.

"Our rights come from God, not government, and every American should be free to live according to their faith and conscience. We’ll continue defending that freedom and ensuring the Natural State remains the best place in the country to live, work and worship."

AMERICA’S NEXT 250 YEARS DEPEND ON PASSING FAITH AND FREEDOM TO OUR CHILDREN

The Natural State climbed six spots from last year's rankings after lawmakers approved several measures expanding legal protections for religious exercise and conscience rights.

Arkansas' rise was driven largely by Act 677, legislation Sanders signed last year that bars state and local governments from penalizing people, businesses and religious organizations for acting according to their religious beliefs regarding marriage and biological sex.

APPEALS COURT REVIVES LAWSUIT BY ALASKA AIRLINES FLIGHT ATTENDANTS FIRED AFTER OPPOSING PRIDE MESSAGE

The state's religious liberty push also included the Conscience Protection Act, signed by Sanders in 2023, which expanded Arkansas' Religious Freedom Restoration Act by prohibiting state government discrimination against religious organizations based on their religious identity or status.

Kelly Shackelford, president, CEO and chief counsel at First Liberty, said other states should follow Arkansas' lead and "strengthen religious liberty protections in their own states."

"Religious liberty is best protected when leaders are willing to act before the rights of people of faith are threatened," Shackelford said.

GOV SANDERS REVEALS 'MAJOR BREAKTHROUGH' ON EDUCATION AS RED STATE POSITIONS ITSELF AS 'BLUEPRINT' FOR NATION

Dr. Mark David Hall, director of the Religious Liberty in the States project, said Arkansas demonstrates how states can protect what America's founders called "the sacred right of conscience," allowing people to practice their faith not just at church, but in their everyday lives.

"States have always served as laboratories of liberty, and this year’s results show why that matters," Hall said.

Sanders also publicly defended religious freedom in December. She rejected demands from the Freedom From Religion Foundation (FFRF), a group that advocates for the separation of church and state, to reverse her proclamation closing state offices for Christmas.

In a response letter previously obtained by Fox News Digital, Sanders pushed back on claims it was unconstitutional, saying "only by voicing our own faith and celebrating other faiths can we make our state's diverse religious communities feel seen and heard."

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"With this index, citizens and legislators can see where their state is doing well, where it still has room to improve, and which existing laws could help better protect the right of conscience," Dr. Paul D. Mueller, associate director of the Religious Liberty in the States project, said.

John Schneider blasts claims the American flag is a 'divisive symbol': 'These people are out of their minds'

Tue, 14 Jul 2026 10:00:30 -0400

John Schneider is defending the flag against those who would tear it down.

"There are people who are saying that our flag is a divisive symbol," the "Dukes of Hazzard" star told Fox News Digital. "People who are saying that they go into neighborhoods where there's a lot of American flags and somehow they feel unsafe. These are the same people who a couple of months ago took down the neighborhood watch signs because they thought that that indicated that the neighborhood was unsafe. These people are out of their minds."

He noted that the neighborhood watch is "neighborhood policing, and I love the police. They're policing their own neighborhood and saying, ‘Look, don't bring that stuff to our neighborhood. And if you do, we'll meet you. We'll meet at the border.’"

'THE VIEW' CO-HOST SUNNY HOSTIN LAMENTS 'I SUDDENLY FEEL UNSAFE' IN NEIGHBORHOODS WITH AMERICAN FLAGS

Schneider continued, "So, we live in very interesting times, my friend. Very, very interesting times. But we're going to get through it. We're going get through it as long as we have patriots, as long as we have folks who are not afraid to tell – I believe it's the truth, but I'll give some of them the benefit of the doubt. People who are willing to tell their truth, openly, unabashedly, unapologetically, like you, right, I hope like me, and we'll get through it."

The beloved TV and country music star, who starred on "The Dukes of Hazzard," "Smallville," "Tyler Perry’s The Have and Have Not’s" and co-founder of The Children’s Miracle Network, did a 45-minute concert to help celebrate America’s 250th Anniversary on the Freedom Stage in Washington, D.C. as part of the Great American State Fair.

WATCH HERE: JOHN SCHNEIDER DEFENDS AMERICAN FLAG AGAINST DETRACTORS

"It's an honor because we're here in D.C., and we were asked by the present administration, so that's really terrific, so I'm jazzed about it," the 66-year-old said about being asked to perform for the nation’s 250th anniversary.

LEE GREENWOOD SAYS HE'S 'VERY PROUD' TO STAND NEXT TO TRUMP DURING AMERICA'S 250TH CELEBRATION

The "Smallville" star revealed that he also celebrated the country’s bicentennial 50 years ago in style when he joined high school bands from all over the U.S. and played the sousaphone in a parade at Disney World.

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"It was great," Schneider said. "For me at that point, it was really spectacular because we got to go behind the flowers and trees at Disney World and saw, you know, kind of the inner workings of it and that was kind of like getting to go behind the curtain where the Wizard of Oz is, so I loved it. So, now to be part of something else 50 years later — I can't believe that but it's true. Fifty years later, I'm part of the sestercentennial… And I'm proud of our country. I'm proud of everything that's going on right now."

One thing he loves about America is the freedom to debate ideas.

'FORREST GUMP' STAR GARY SINISE TELLS TOMI LAHREN WHY AMERICANS SHOULD CHERISH EVERYDAY FREEDOMS

"I believe that you should be able to express your opinion," he said, "and have it maybe challenged, but in a friendly manner. Somewhere in the last, I don't know, maybe six years, it seems like a lot of people, if you disagree with somebody, they just like throw you out. And maybe that's social media. Maybe it's the ability to be able to block people."

One thing he said he hopes never changes about this country is the "desire to celebrate our flag, to celebrate red, white, and blue, to celebrate our freedom, to celebrate those folks who have sacrificed so much in order to give that to us. And there are forces trying to combat that too."

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When asked what freedom means to him, Schneider called it the "opportunity to be able to do with your life or your skill set that which makes you happy. You know, life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness."

He continued, "Pursuit of happiness is not necessarily having a bunch of money. The pursuit of happiness is getting up in the morning and saying, ‘I can't wait to get to work. I can't wait to try this. I can't wait to write this song. I can't wait to do this woodwork. I can't wait to fix that car. I want to be the best mechanic there ever was. I wanna be the best lawyer there ever was, I wanna be the best whatever there ever was.’ You can't do that in other countries. They don't take it for granted."

FIRST ON FOX: Major Cornyn backer goes all-in for Paxton as GOP rallies after red state shock poll

Tue, 14 Jul 2026 10:00:27 -0400

FIRST ON FOX: The country’s largest union of Border Patrol officers is now backing Ken Paxton for Senate after having previously endorsed Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, in the Republican primary.

In a statement shared with Fox News Digital, Paul Perez, president of the National Border Patrol Council, said the union is "proud" to endorse Paxton, "because we know he will continue fighting for the resources, policies, and leadership our agents need to keep America’s borders secure."

This comes as Paxton, Texas’ current attorney general, continues to consolidate GOP support after what was a particularly bruising primary. Meanwhile, according to a recent poll, Democratic candidate James Talarico is running dead even with Paxton, giving Democrats hope he can be the first to flip a Texas Senate seat blue for the first time in nearly four decades.

An upset like that would be devastating for the GOP’s hopes of retaining a majority in the upper chamber.

SHOCK POLL: TALARICO TIES PAXTON IN TEXAS SENATE RACE, THREATENING GOP STRONGHOLD

Once seen as the outsider candidate, Paxton soared to victory over Cornyn after a last-minute endorsement from President Donald Trump in the May primary runoff. Other Republican leaders who once backed Cornyn have rushed to Paxton’s support, such as Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-N.D., who said he was "all in" for Paxton.

Though he previously backed Cornyn, Perez spoke very highly of the attorney general, saying, "We know Ken Paxton stands with the men and women of the National Border Patrol Council who are on the frontlines protecting our borders, and he has always fought to uphold the rule of law."

He added that "while many looked the other way during the Biden border crisis, Attorney General Ken Paxton has taken action to defend our state, our nation’s sovereignty and to support those on the front lines."

A close Trump ally, Paxton was one of the most prolific state attorneys general in suing the federal government under former President Joe Biden. In total, Paxton sued the Biden administration more than 100 times. With Texas comprising over 60% of the U.S. southern border, many of Paxton’s suits against the Biden administration were related to border security. He even sued the Biden administration on his last day in office over offshore drilling limits.

JOHN THUNE GOES 'ALL IN' FOR KEN PAXTON AFTER BITTER PRIMARY RIPPED GOP APART

Paxton responded that he is "honored to earn the endorsement."

"No one understands the consequences of open-border policies better than the brave men and women serving on the front lines every day," he said.

"As Attorney General, I have spent years fighting the Biden administration's unlawful immigrant agenda, defending Texas’ right to secure our border, and standing with law enforcement officers," he continued. "I will continue that fight by ensuring President Trump’s border security agenda is fully implemented, funded, and never undermined by partisan politics."

Meanwhile, Talarico, a 37-year-old former middle school teacher and Presbyterian seminarian, has emerged as the top Democratic fundraiser in Senate races, hauling in a massive $27 million in the first three months of this year.

Talarico and Paxton are tied at 47% support among likely voters in Texas, according to a New York Times/Siena survey released in late June.

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Paxton, however, has asserted that "Talarico doesn't belong in Texas," saying, "He fits in California. He does not fit here."

In the same vein, Republicans have repeatedly spotlighted Talarico's past controversial comments, including saying that "God is nonbinary," that there are six biological sexes and saying he thinks of himself as a Christian who "hates Christianity."

Government racism has divided us for 250 years. It’s time to put an end to it

Tue, 14 Jul 2026 10:00:03 -0400

Like most Americans, I took part in the festivities over America’s 250th birthday. I found it quite remarkable to reflect on that number. On one hand, America is 250 years old, with so much history. On the other hand, America is still a baby compared to many other countries. I found myself having to pause and think about what was nagging me about that number. Two hundred and fifty years.

Then the answer came to me. Two hundred and fifty years also marks how long race has played a role in this nation — and still does. Those who say race is as much a part of America as apple pie are not entirely wrong. We may not have the Klan riding through the streets, but I’m not talking about that kind of racism. I’m talking about government-sponsored racism. Our government has always tipped the scales when it comes to race. I found myself asking on America’s 250th birthday: Will we ever be free of our own government using race to divide us?

Here on the South Side, people like to point to redlining and blockbusting to explain what happened to our neighborhoods. And those things were real, and they were wrong. But that explanation conveniently stops in the 1950s, as if nothing happened after. Most of what devastated this community happened after, not from the 1960s backward, but from the 1960s forward. One well-intentioned program after another, engineered far from these streets by people who never had to live with the results, managed to produce a great deal of white virtue and precious little opportunity for the people who live here. I have watched the wreckage of that experiment my whole life. And I have learned this: there is no solution to be found in race. We do not find our minds in our skin.

AMERICA’S NEXT 250 YEARS DEPEND ON PASSING FAITH AND FREEDOM TO OUR CHILDREN

So when I reflect on America turning 250, that number lands heavier than a birthday should. Two hundred and fifty years of race in America, and people still keep shoving it down our throats, as if it is the only lens left to see each other through. I know the power of race is not what will lift a single child off these streets. These kids are human beings before they are a race, and it is racist to insist otherwise. They are individuals, with their own minds, their own spirits and their own God-given talents. It is only by nourishing that individual seed, one child at a time, that we give them the one gift that actually matters: the freedom to become who they were made to be, rather than a statistic assigned to their skin.

There will always be people who resist that kind of progress, who need race to stay at the center of the conversation, because race, not development, not talent, not opportunity, is where their power lives. That has been true for 250 years, and I see no sign of it slowing down. Which means it falls to us. It must be us who resist it. It must be us who claim the American birthright of the individual and stop surrendering ground to those who profit from keeping us divided.

We have given up too much ground for too long, and that surrender is a large part of how we got here — a decline that, left unanswered, shows no sign of stopping on its own.

AMERICA'S NEXT 250 YEARS BEGIN IN THE CLASSROOM

So here is my answer, on this 250th birthday: Invest in opportunity the way we invest in crisis.

When something breaks in this neighborhood, when a window gets shattered, when violence erupts, when the cameras show up — suddenly there is a race hustler and there is money. Suddenly there is urgency. Suddenly everyone agrees something must be done immediately. But investment before the crisis, investment in a child’s future before he ever picks up a gun or gives up on school, never seems to carry that same urgency. We will spend on the emergency every time. And we hesitate on the opportunity to develop.

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I think about the community center we have spent years building on the South Side, almost ready to open its doors. That building is what opportunity looks like when you invest in it before the crisis, not after. It is a bet on individual kids — their talents, their minds, their futures — not a program built around their race. And I believe, with everything in me, that a fraction of what this nation has just spent celebrating its past 250 years could transform the next 250 years for neighborhoods like this one, if we spent it the same way: on people, one at a time, believed in before they ever have to prove it in a crisis.

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That is the American birthright I want for these kids. Not a hyphen. Not a category. Not a box checked on someone else’s form. Just the same shot at the pursuit of happiness that this country promised 250 years ago, earned on their own talent, their own will, and their own perseverance.

We are Americans, first and only.

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Graham ally rips 'thirsty' Republicans jockeying to replace late senator

Tue, 14 Jul 2026 09:59:46 -0400

FIRST ON FOX: The sharks are swirling in the water in the race to replace Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., and one of his closest allies is unhappy with how quickly South Carolina Republicans jumped on the opening.

"I'll just be honest, it rubbed me the wrong way," Rep. William Timmons, R-S.C., told Fox News Digital in an interview.

"The way that within 24 hours people are talking about that, that's just not appropriate," he continued. "And I don't know, I think it's unfortunate that these people are so thirsty for attention that they'll get it at the expense of — It just rubbed me the wrong way."

LINDSEY GRAHAM’S SISTER APPOINTED TO SENATE AS GOP RUSHES TO PROTECT FRAGILE MAJORITY

Since Graham’s sudden death on Sunday, two members of the South Carolina GOP congressional delegation, Reps. Nancy Mace and Ralph Norman, have signaled interest in running in the forthcoming special election to lock in a new Republican nominee.

Mace teased a bid on social media after she failed to secure the Republican nomination for governor in the Palmetto State last month. Norman similarly was unable to clinch the nomination, which eventually went to South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson.

Mace posted a quote from "The Godfather III" on X on Sunday after sources close to her revealed she was "seriously" considering a bid in the Aug. 11 special election.

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

"Just when I thought I was out… they pull me back in," she posted.

And Norman told reporters that he's seeking Trump's endorsement for the race.

Norman said Trump told him, "He's got to have some time."

"I said, 'Can you endorse me if I run?'" Norman recalled.

Timmons, who shared a close bond with Graham forged through hours on the golf course, argued that he didn’t believe that either would be senator after voters "just got the best polling data ever in [the] South Carolina… primary election."

He contended that the next senator needed to "work to earn everyone's respect and trust. And you can disagree, but you don't need to be mean about it," and to model themselves after Graham.

Timmons said a lesson he learned from his late mentor was that you have to earn the respect and trust of your colleagues: "You don't tweet hateful things at them. You don't tell them what to do. You tell them why this is a good path forward, and sometimes you have to figure out a way that you can make it work."

GRAHAM'S DEATH IGNITES GOP SCRAMBLE FOR SENATE SEAT AS TRUMP HINTS HE ALREADY HAS A FAVORITE

"I think that some of the people that have talked about running have a history of just saying outlandish things and taking ridiculous positions just for the purpose of getting clicks," Timmons said.

"And I think that that is not something that the people of South Carolina are going to reward," he continued. "And I think that it would be very unfortunate if the next senator did not take the same approach."

For now, South Carolina does have a temporary replacement for Graham — his younger sister, Darline Graham.

Darline Graham, who has never held elected office before, is set to be sworn in to the position on Tuesday. From there, she’ll serve out the remainder of her brother’s term.

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Candidates can begin filing for the primary race one week from Tuesday. Timmons, when asked if he was interested, didn’t shut the door on the idea.

"That's a conversation for the future, and obviously I support the president," he said. "I think the president is going to be the deciding factor of who the next senator is, and we will see what he decides."

Trump loses key Senate ally as election integrity fight enters critical phase

Tue, 14 Jul 2026 09:45:58 -0400

President Donald Trump’s top election integrity priority has been stalled in the Senate for months, and with the passing of Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., the push has lost a key player in getting the bill across the line.

Graham was not just a vocal proponent of the SAVE America Act; he was the Senate Budget Committee chair, a position that is crucial in setting the foundation and guardrails for the party-line process Trump has demanded Republicans take to pass the bill.

His sudden death on Sunday came as the House was gearing up to launch a third budget reconciliation attempt in a bid to fund the Pentagon and attach a version of the SAVE America Act to the party-line undertaking.

SENATE RETURNS TO PACKED AGENDA AFTER GRAHAM'S DEATH SHRINKS GOP MARGIN

"This is a big blow to the SAVE America Act, let me tell you," Trump said after Graham’s death.

It’s a maneuver that Graham has wanted to make as soon as the political reality of the bill became clear in the Senate, where a cohort of Senate Republicans have broken from Trump and Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., to block the bill with Senate Democrats.

In early April, Graham vowed to make a "down payment" on the SAVE America Act through reconciliation.

'DID YOU CALL 911?' TUBERVILLE RECOUNTS GRAHAM'S FRANTIC FINAL PHONE CALL

"Voter integrity laws — I'm going to create grant programs, but they'll have conditions on them," Graham said. "To get a grant, you’ve got to make sure you purge your rolls of illegal immigrants. There are a lot of blue states out there that don't do that, and we'll try to get as much of a voter ID system as I can."

His position on the Senate Budget Committee won’t remain vacant, however.

Sen. Ron Johnson R-Wis., is expected to take the gavel, but has not yet been formally tapped for the role. Still, he is already getting up to speed with staff on the committee and his colleagues in the House.

GRAHAM EYES ‘DOWN PAYMENT’ ON TRUMP-BACKED SAVE ACT WITHOUT DEMOCRATIC SUPPORT

"I just walked by Lindsey’s desk, so, I mean, I've got to take one step at a time," Johnson said. "I understand the responsibility I'm assuming."

Johnson said that he’s already spoken with his House counterpart, House Budget Committee Chair Jodey Arrington, R-Texas, and is doing what he can to "organize the effort so we can succeed."

He’s already gotten his hands on the House’s SAVE America plan from House Administration Committee Chair Bryan Steil, R-Wis., but whether the provision lives or dies is ultimately up to the Senate rules referee.

Complicating matters is the running clock lawmakers have to deal with, given the time-consuming nature of budget reconciliation.

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The House is in session for two weeks this month, while the Senate will embark on a near month-long sprint. Both chambers will be gone the entirety of August, and return in September to a looming fight over funding the government.

For now, the Senate is waiting on what the House produces, and there’s no guarantee that their product will pass muster with Republicans in the upper chamber.

"The path to 51 is going to be a bumpy one, I think over here," Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., said. "But, we’ll see what they come up with."

MIKE DAVIS: Why Senate must ignore Obama judge's attack on AG nominee Todd Blanche

Tue, 14 Jul 2026 09:36:03 -0400

Todd Blanche, President Donald Trump’s acting attorney general, appears before the Senate Judiciary Committee Wednesday for a nomination hearing that will help decide whether he gets the permanent job.

Blanche is unquestionably qualified to serve as the next attorney general of the United States. Indeed, the Senate confirmed Blanche as the deputy attorney general – the Justice Department’s No. 2, with almost all powers of the attorney general – nearly 16 months ago. And Blanche has already served as the acting attorney general for many months.

Blanche, a former New York federal prosecutor, white-shoe law partner and senior Justice Department official, is the right man for the job. His experience fighting (and beating) the Biden lawfare against Trump as his private attorney makes Blanche uniquely qualified to bring much-needed accountability and reforms to the Justice Department to ensure the Democrats’ unprecedented, republic-ending lawfare is never repeated. Blanche is on a glidepath to Senate confirmation as America’s next attorney general.

So naturally, Democrat operatives are getting desperate. In a last-minute judicial drive-by attack, former federal public defender-turned Obama-appointed Judge Kathleen Williams blasted out an unprecedented, lawless order Monday in which she baselessly referred Blanche for bar discipline. Her timing is obviously political. Williams sat on it for weeks, only to issue her ruling two days before Blanche is set to publicly testify at his Senate confirmation hearing.

The 11th Circuit should reverse her order, like it has done so many other times before. Instead of rewarding Williams’ partisan and dangerous judicial misconduct, the Senate must confirm Blanche before August recess.

President Trump was the victim of an unprecedented, coordinated Democrat lawfare campaign by the Biden White House, the Biden Justice Department and partisan Democrat prosecutors in New York and Atlanta. Trump sued. Among other bad actors, the lawsuit sought damages for the misconduct of Jack Smith, the former Biden special counsel who attempted to decide a presidential election for the American people through the federal criminal justice system. Trump’s lawsuit also targeted Jay Bratt, Smith’s Biden DOJ lackey. During Trump's second term, the Justice Department agreed to a settlement placing approximately $1.8 billion into an anti-weaponization fund to compensate victims of a weaponized justice system, but then scuttled the plan. Williams signed off on the voluntary dismissal under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 41. That should have ended the matter, but it didn’t.

OBAMA-APPOINTED JUDGE TORCHES TRUMP ADMIN IN LATEST COURTROOM SHOWDOWN, REFERS ATTORNEY FOR BAR REVIEW

A group of disgruntled former federal judges who were not parties to this case — people who had nothing to do with it and walked in off the street — filed an amicus brief urging Williams to reopen the case and impose punitive sanctions on the plaintiffs. Blanche, Stanley Woodward (DOJ No. 3), and the Justice Department never even entered appearances. None of that mattered to Williams. She baselessly and lawlessly referred Blanche and Woodward for bar discipline anyway, over a supposedly collusive settlement.

This ruling is legally absurd, a political disgrace and a highly improper attempt by a federal judge to change the outcome of the Senate confirmation of a senior executive branch official.

The legal problems start immediately. Williams invokes Article III constitutional authority, but she acted solely at the request of nonparties who had no stake in the case. In other words, those with no Article III standing. Stunningly, she ordered money paid to these former judges who had no part in the litigation. She then claimed there was no active case or controversy, and she disingenuously and badly attempts to distinguish this fact — which normally would be a death knell for Article III standing — from binding Supreme Court cases.

LEGAL WAR ON TRUMP’S AGENDA GAINS FIREPOWER AS FEDERAL LAWYERS DEFECT TO DEMOCRATS

Williams called this case "a truly unique scenario" and admitted she could not find a comparable precedent. That admission alone should have stopped her from acting as she did. Sanctions exist to punish unethical legal conduct, not to allow a federal judge to make up new law on the fly to punish political enemies.

Williams’ ruling has no limiting principle. Consent decrees are filed complaints with agreed-upon settlements that courts approve routinely. Indeed, the Justice Department has entered into hundreds of them. Under Williams' logic, were those collusive too? Should those lawyers face bar referrals and disbarment–because some lawless and emotional partisan judge didn’t like the policy result?

The 11th Circuit needs to step in and address this mess. That will not be the first time the 11th Circuit has had to clean up after Williams. It will surely not be the last time, either.

During the pandemic, Williams tried to micromanage Miami-Dade County's jail facilities, ordering that inmates receive masks, cleaning supplies and COVID testing. The 11th Circuit vacated the order. Williams struck down Florida's vaccine passport law, which protected unvaccinated cruise passengers from discrimination. She ruled it violated the First Amendment. The 11th Circuit reversed her.

DHS MOVES ALL DETAINEES OUT OF ‘ALLIGATOR ALCATRAZ’ AMID HURRICANE CONCERNS

Her most outrageous anti-Trump ruling involved Alligator Alcatraz, the state-run detention facility built in the Everglades to house illegal immigrants awaiting deportation. Florida ran it; the federal government did not. Williams invoked an obscure environmental law requiring assessments before construction of federal facilities and ordered it closed. But again, it was not a federal facility.

States house federal prisoners in county jails all the time. That does not make those jails federal property. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis stepped up to help the Trump administration manage the flood of illegal immigrants who poured across the border under Biden. Williams tried to stop him. The 11th Circuit reversed her and kept Alligator Alcatraz open.

Now Williams wants to derail a Trump Cabinet confirmation with a last-minute sanctions order dropped two days before Blanche's confirmation hearing. She never should have entertained the motion brought by those washed-up, bitter judges, led, as usual, by J. Michael Luttig, a perpetual Supreme Court reject who has made a career out of losing. Williams should have left the dismissal in place and moved on.

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The Senate already knows how to handle this playbook. When so-called whistleblower Erez Reuveni made last-minute allegations against Third Circuit Judge Emil Bove, the Senate ignored them and confirmed Bove. They should do the same here.

The 11th Circuit will reverse Williams. And the Senate must confirm Todd Blanche before August recess.

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