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Kelsey Grammer suspects he 'may have' lost Hollywood roles due to conservative views

Tue, 28 Jul 2026 18:01:11 -0400

Kelsey Grammer suggested his decades-long embrace of conservative politics may have come at a professional cost.

The "Frasier" star said he couldn't say for certain whether his politics had cost him work, but he believed his conservative views may have kept him off Hollywood's radar altogether.

"I have no idea," he said when asked whether he'd ever lost a role because of his political views during an appearance on "The Katie Miller Podcast." "I suspect I may have, but I suspect I may be, you know, in that category where they just don't even think about me, so it’s okay."

"'Oh, we wouldn't work with him, he's a conservative,'" he mused. "I hope that's not the case because I'm actually pretty good at what I do."

DWAYNE 'THE ROCK' JOHNSON REJECTS HOLLYWOOD’S POLITICAL OBSESSION, BLASTS CELEBRITY ATTACK CULTURE

Grammer said the same political dynamics extended beyond casting decisions and into Hollywood's biggest honors. The 71-year-old actor argued political leanings had possibly become part of the equation when performances alone should decide who gets recognized.

"You know, there's always been sort of a popularity contest with awards anyway," Grammer explained. "And you surprise them a little bit, you do something good once in a while that might get attention. But there's so many overlays of what people will vote for and not vote for."

"I mean, politically, I'm kind of, you know, on the fringe of Hollywood. It's okay, I don’t mind, because I've been a, I'm a conservative. I've been a conservative in Hollywood for 40 years. I declared early. So, it’s been okay. They're kind of used to it with me," he added. "But there are other concerns that actually probably shouldn't enter into it. It shouldn't be politics. It should be performance, you know."

Grammer said he had privately found support from others in the entertainment industry who shared his political views but had chosen not to express them publicly.

"There's several of us in the closet," he admitted. "There's never those who aren't in the closet. Some of us who left the acting profession entirely."

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Grammer also weighed in on the state of television comedy, arguing modern sitcoms had lost the qualities that once made them resonate with audiences.

"...as a format, it's struggling again for the right writers and for trust in the human experience. They don't trust their audience anymore," the actor explained on the podcast. "And the key, the key to ‘Frasier's' success, was that it trusted the audience."

"It thought it was smart enough, and we thought they were intelligent enough to enjoy discovering that we had a family and lives and things we cared about, as well as being funny," Grammer added. "And they've lost that again."

When asked whether Hollywood writers had become too disconnected from audiences by embracing political correctness and an insular industry mindset, Grammer said one factor stood out.

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"The idea of being too politically correct is probably killing the process, I think," the "Cheers" star said. "It's not necessarily destroyed funny for everyone. It's just, they've eliminated funny based upon human behavior. They've made it just too on point on people that don't actually behave that way."

"But, so, I think it may have maybe made a big wrong turn in terms of what people think is funny. It's mostly slapstick, and you have to earn slapstick to make it believable," Grammer noted. "If it's not believable, it's just a terrible joke. And I think that's where they've gone mostly."

Grammer has become one of TV's most recognizable stars thanks to his decades-long career in drama and comedy. He landed his big break in 1984 with "Cheers." Playing the supporting role of psychiatrist Dr. Frasier Crane eventually led to the long-running spin-off "Frasier," which earned him multiple Emmy Awards and cemented his place in TV history.

He's also appeared in "The Simpsons," "Toy Story 2" and "X-Men: The Last Stand."

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Experts scorch Mamdani's grocery plan as an 'illusion' that will have taxpayers footing the bill

Tue, 28 Jul 2026 18:00:29 -0400

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani is promising New Yorkers a 30% discount on a core basket of groceries at city-backed stores, a pledge that now faces scrutiny over whether the numbers add up.

The announcement raises a straightforward economic question: How?

The city's own numbers illustrate the challenge. If grocery prices have climbed 33% nationwide since 2019, how can city-backed stores offer a cart of groceries at prices 30% below private competitors? That's the question economists say the proposal must answer.

MAMDANI’S PUBLIC GROCERY STORES MAY HAVE DEVASTATING EFFECTS ON CITY'S FOOD SUPPLY

Mamdani's administration claims its plan will save the average New Yorker about $1,000 a year while keeping grocery costs predictable and stable.

The proposal is rooted in a simple reality: grocery prices remain significantly higher than they were before the pandemic.

Bureau of Labor Statistics data show food-at-home prices climbed sharply following the COVID-19 pandemic, with most major grocery categories remaining significantly more expensive than they were in 2019.

City Hall says it can achieve savings by eliminating major overhead costs that private grocers face, including rent and property taxes, while contracting with private operators to run the stores. Under the proposal, a core basket of everyday groceries — including all fresh produce, meat and seafood, along with roughly 20 categories of pantry staples, dairy and refrigerated goods — would have prices locked monthly rather than fluctuating week to week.

Richard Stern, vice president of the Plymouth Institute for Free Enterprise at Advancing American Freedom, argued the proposal ultimately relies on taxpayer dollars to make up the difference between the discounted prices and the cost of operating the stores.

"They're just going to use New York City budget money to insure the discount," Stern told Fox News Digital.

MAMDANI'S RENT FREEZE, TAX HIKES A 'ONE-TWO WEALTH DESTRUCTION PUNCH,' ECONOMISTS WARN

Adam Lehodey, a policy analyst at the Manhattan Institute, took that argument a step further, saying the city's ownership model masks the true cost of the discounts.

"The 30% savings that Mamdani announced on his government-owned stores are an illusion," Lehodey told Fox News Digital. "Taxpayers will foot the bill for millions of dollars in subsidies, and they will operate on government-owned land with rents waived. New Yorkers will still be paying the full price, just indirectly," he added.

Lehodey also warned that pricing groceries well below market rates could create unintended consequences.

"Pricing goods significantly below market price creates an additional problem of people purchasing them to resell elsewhere," he said. "Shortages are also likely as people buy more than they otherwise would due to artificially low prices."

'WASTEFUL DISTRACTION': EXPERTS SLAM MAMDANI'S TAXPAYER-FUNDED GROCERY STORES

E.J. Antoni, chief economist at the Heritage Foundation, also questioned whether the city's pricing model is financially sustainable, arguing that grocery stores already operate on razor-thin profit margins.

"A 30% discount at stores with a 2% profit margin is simply a loss for taxpayers who will have to make up the difference," Antoni told Fox News Digital. "These artificially low prices will also harm small businesses which will lose sales to taxpayer-subsidized grocery stores."

Antoni said the proposal effectively shifts grocery costs from the checkout line to taxpayers while creating a competitive disadvantage for private supermarkets that must cover their own operating costs.

The administration, however, says the proposal will deliver substantial savings for shoppers.

Mamdani's office announced this week that visitors would save an average of $90 per month, or about $1,000 annually, under the plan. To deliver those savings, the city has allocated $70 million in capital funding to open five municipal grocery stores — one in each of the iconic NYC boroughs. The first is expected to open in Hunts Point in the Bronx by the end of 2027, with additional locations planned for East Harlem, Brooklyn, Queens and Staten Island before the end of the mayor's first term.

Under the proposal, private grocery operators will manage the stores' day-to-day operations, including staffing, merchandising and product sourcing, while the city sets pricing requirements and operating standards, provides the locations and absorbs major occupancy costs.

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Fox News Digital asked Mamdani's office how the administration calculated the projected 30% discount, whether any independent economists reviewed its financial assumptions and how much ongoing taxpayer support, if any, would be required to sustain the stores. The office did not immediately respond.

Can the WNBA ever get back to basketball and leave Caitlin Clark alone?

Tue, 28 Jul 2026 17:59:47 -0400

Three years into Caitlin Clark's WNBA career, the conversation has never been less centered on basketball.

USA Today is now analogizing her playing style to the lynching of Emmett Till in 1941. Even the rare discussions about her on-court performance are increasingly driven by culture-war motivations, including dishonest claims that she isn't even a top-10 guard in the league.

At this point, there's reason to wonder when and if the WNBA can move past the nastiness and racial hysteria that have defined the past few seasons.

To address the problem, those involved must first acknowledge the problem. And while no one side deserves all the blame, the drama tends to follow a similar pattern.

It goes like this:

Someone slights Caitlin Clark, whether by hard-fouling her, smearing her, omitting her from promotional graphics, or downplaying her popularity as the product of "Great White Hope" narratives.
Her fans respond by pointing out what they see as hypocrisy, bias or racially charged treatment.
The media and/or players accuse Clark's fans of harassing the people who slighted her.

Rinse and repeat.

MONICA MCNUTT IS TRYING TO BECOME THE FEMALE RYAN CLARK WITH LATEST CAITLIN CLARK SMEAR

The cycle played out over the last week. After USA Today likened Clark's on-court "flopping" to the lynching of Black people and then published a false story about why she missed an All-Star event, ESPN analyst Monica McNutt accused Clark of lacking "accountability" and "self-awareness."

According to McNutt's logic, it's somehow Clark's fault that players keep driving fists into her throat and posting ugly messages about her on social media.

It's probably also Clark's fault that Chicago Sky guard DiJonai Carrington is spiraling on X, accusing her ex-girlfriend of cheating on her with multiple women around the WNBA.

Of course, McNutt and those who share her worldview don't believe they're the problem. They continue to blame White people for using Clark as an avatar to hate Black lesbian women. Last year, McNutt even suggested that young White girls rooted for Clark because of racial bias.

There is nothing Clark can do to defuse the animosity. She publicly pretended to acknowledge her "white privilege" at the end of her rookie season and even spent time with former President Barack Obama during All-Star Weekend. It changed nothing. The Mean Girls in the WNBA and the media still despise her.

Likewise, her fans aren't going to stop defending her when the verbal and physical attacks against her remain so blatant. And why would they make peace with players and pundits who routinely dismiss them as racists?

"We would all be very naive if we didn't say race and her sexuality played a role in (Clark's) popularity," Jemele Hill told the Los Angeles Times.

Last month, Hill again blamed criticism of other players on — what else? — racism.

"So much of this Caitlin Clark discourse is absolutely rooted in hatred or dislike of Black women," she claimed on Threads.

Or maybe Clark's fans simply want her to be officiated and treated like every other player, regardless of race or sexuality.

NASTY WNBA PLAYER PLAYS VICTIM CARD AFTER MULTIPLE ISSUES, FIRES OFF CRINGE TWEET

Caitlin Clark Derangement Syndrome (CCDS) runs too deep to expect these narratives to disappear in the near term. There's also too much invested in them for the race idolaters to concede any ground in the culture war.

And, frankly, we're not exactly dealing with the most reasonable or emotionally stable voices when it comes to Monica McNutt, Angel Reese, Nancy Armour and others. We put Jemele Hill in a different category. She knows exactly what she's doing. She is pandering to a very low-IQ, deeply anti-White audience.

We're not saying this level of hysteria will last throughout Clark's entire career. But it's not fading. If anything, it's escalating.

It's hardly far-fetched to think that one day a player will seriously injure Clark. If/when that happens, the likes of McNutt will almost certainly defend the player responsible - and then accuse Clark's fans of racism for noticing.

This is the product of a society that has spent years encouraging racial division and teaching young Black Americans that the success of their White counterparts is primarily the result of their exploitation.

That is, of course, a lie. Had the women in the league not responded to Clark's arrival like jealous, bitter brats, they could have ridden her wave to stardom.

That's how sports work.

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A generational superstar elevates everyone around them by bringing new fans into the sport. Sophie Cunningham is one of the few WNBA players who understood that, using Clark's popularity to establish herself as a cultural force. Most of the other players used their moment in the spotlight to present themselves as entitled, wannabe victims.

The WNBA had so much potential. And yet, the league is in danger of squandering it because too many of its players and too much of the media can't focus on basketball while a straight White woman from Iowa is starring in the league.

Deadly French wildfires threaten missile plants, nuclear sites as fourth heatwave looms

Tue, 28 Jul 2026 17:56:04 -0400

Massive wildfires sweeping through southwestern France are threatening key defense and nuclear sites near Bordeaux, forcing evacuations and emergency measures at missile factories, military research facilities and aerospace plants, according to reports.

The escalating blazes come as France braces for its fourth major heat wave of the year Tuesday, with soaring temperatures and arid conditions increasing pressure on crews battling massive wildfires near Bordeaux, according to Reuters.

Temperatures in the French region were forecast to reach 91 degrees Fahrenheit (33 degrees Celsius), about 13 degrees (7 degrees Celsius) above normal, according to the Reuters Climate Monitor.

EUROPE'S FIRES REVEAL DEADLY MIX OF RECORD HEAT, HUMAN ERROR, ARSON AND LAND MISMANAGEMENT

"The situation we are dealing with today is the most severe we have ever recorded, the toughest since the Second World War," President Emmanuel Macron, who flew to the area, had said Sunday.

French Economy Minister Roland Lescure said the fires have disrupted more than 13,000 businesses in the Gironde region, with many forced to close or evacuate.

According to The Telegraph, the fires are closing in on missile and rocket factories that store explosive materials.

At least seven sites holding hazardous substances are within 12 miles of the blaze.

FRANCE RECORDS MORE THAN 5,700 EXCESS DEATHS DURING HISTORIC EARLY SUMMER HEAT WAVE

Saint-Médard-en-Jalles, to the west-northwest, is one of the evacuated towns and is home to a large factory that produces propellants for Ariane space rockets and France's strategic missiles.

A nearby plant in Sainte-Hélène also produces ammonium perchlorate, a key oxidizer used in solid rocket propellants.

According to Defense News, the fires are also threatening factories that make key parts for France's nuclear missiles, Rafale fighter jets and military missiles.

ArianeGroup evacuated employees from sites in the fire zone, while France's Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission (CEA) closed its military research center in Le Barp as the wildfires first advanced toward Bordeaux.

Officials said there is no risk of radioactive leakage because the facility contains no nuclear materials, the outlet reported.

EUROPE'S FIRES REVEAL DEADLY MIX OF RECORD HEAT, HUMAN ERROR, ARSON AND LAND MISMANAGEMENT

French Defense Minister Sébastien Lecornu said July 24 that protective measures had been deployed around the sites "given the nature of the products stored there," Le Monde said.

Meanwhile, France's Defense Ministry said 1,500 military personnel have been deployed since Friday to support firefighting operations and help secure strategic industrial sites.

So far, the fires have scorched more than 104,000 acres (42,000 hectares) in the Gironde region, making them among France's largest wildfires on record.

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Authorities said about 240 homes have been destroyed, while nearly 4,000 holidaymakers have been evacuated from campsites, holiday villages and tourist resorts in Lacanau, about 35 miles west of Bordeaux.

As France and Spain battle one of Europe's worst wildfire seasons in decades, roughly 360,000 people have been forced to evacuate in recent days.

Trump files Supreme Court petition to toss $83 million E Jean Carroll defamation judgment

Tue, 28 Jul 2026 17:48:48 -0400

FIRST ON FOX — Attorneys for President Donald Trump filed a petition Tuesday to toss the more than $83.3 million judgment in the defamation case brought by former magazine columnist E. Jean Carroll.

"This is the first case in our Nation’s history in which a court has imposed damages liability on a President for his conduct in office," the filing states. "Yet, in upholding the exorbitant $83.3 million defamation judgment here, the Second Circuit never even decided whether Presidential immunity applies to President Trump’s allegedly defamatory statements — statements made from the White House, in response to press questions, denying allegations of personal misconduct directly questioning his fitness for office."

"Indeed, the Second Circuit refused to apply Presidential immunity even after this Court recognized that 'most of a President’s public communications are likely to fall comfortably within' that protection," the filing continued, citing the Supreme Court's landmark ruling on presidential immunity in 2024.

TRUMP SAYS HE WILL 'CONTINUE THE FIGHT' AFTER SUPREME COURT DECLINES TO REVIEW CARROLL ABUSE VERDICT

The petition went on to argue, "If left standing, the decision below will cause significant damage, not only to this President and future Presidents, but also to 'the Nation that the Presidency was designed to serve.'

"As this Court has recognized, it 'would seriously cripple the proper and effective administration of' government if Presidents feared that their official acts could result in damages liability ... That is why immunity for official Presidential acts is necessary."

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

E. JEAN CARROLL GLEEFULLY INVITES MADDOW ON SHOPPING SPREE WITH TRUMP'S $83 MILLION: ‘PENTHOUSE? IT’S YOURS!'

The filing comes after a federal appeals court rejected Trump's request to rehear his appeal in April.

Carroll, who claimed Trump sexually assaulted her at a department store in the 1990s, sued Trump for defamation for comments he made in 2019, vigorously denying her allegations.

TRUMP'S $15B LAWSUIT AGAINST THE NEW YORK TIMES CARRIES ON AS JUDGE GIVES HIS ATTORNEYS CHANCE TO AMEND FILING

A federal jury in New York City decided in 2023 that Trump was not liable for rape but was liable for sexual abuse and defamation. The former president was ordered to pay $5 million in that trial.

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In January 2024, a federal jury decided that Trump must pay Carroll $18.3 million in compensatory damages, and $65 million in punitive damages. A judge ordered Trump to pay the $83.3 million that March.

Drink-spiking defense: New bracelet aims to expose drugs with a drop of your cocktail

Tue, 28 Jul 2026 17:45:47 -0400

A University of South Florida (USF) graduate student is developing a high-tech new way to stay safe in style.

Addison Bounds, a 22-year-old former USF beach volleyball player, co-founded Elora Armor, a brand that creates jewelry with a sensor designed to warn its wearer when dangerous substances have been slipped into their drinks.

The company plans to offer bracelets, pendants, keychains and potentially phone cases that can alert if a drink has been drugged, Bounds told Fox 13 Tampa Bay.

COULD A PAINT-ON ELECTRONIC TATTOO SPOT HEART ATTACKS?

Bounds co-founded the brand with Kira Robichaud, a friend with a science background who is helping lead a small team of women developing the technology.

The jewelry is designed to detect benzodiazepines, a common drug linked to drink spiking. After some of the liquid is dropped onto the electromagnetic sensor, an alert is sent through an app, revealing whether the drink has been tampered with.

"You just drop – whatever's on your finger is plenty – onto the surface of the product," Bounds said.

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"You’ll receive a notification to your phone telling you if that drink is safe to consume or not, and if your drink has been spiked, your live location is immediately sent to your safety network that you've connected to the app."

Bounds shared that a friend of hers was drugged in high school and later found unconscious in a closet, where she had been assaulted.

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"It's like a really rude awakening ... there are people who really intend to do harm, and there isn't really anyone looking out for us except for ourselves," she said.

Bounds said she hopes to launch the bracelets in January 2028, ahead of the L.A. Olympics, with the goal to "stop drink spiking from happening in the first place."

Statistics on drink spiking in America remain limited, as it's difficult to measure and a national tracking system does not exist.

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However, a 2017 study of more than 6,000 college students at three universities found that 7.8% reported having been drugged without their knowledge or consent. The group included about 10% of the female students and 4% of the males.

Common drink-spiking drugs are often hard to detect and their effect can worsen when mixed with alcohol, according to the Center for Violence Prevention and Self Defense Training. Drink spiking happens most commonly in busy social settings, making it more difficult to detect.

CVPSD warned to watch out for cues and symptoms that a drink may have been spiked and consumed. Those include rapid or unexpected intoxication, sudden behavioral changes, memory lapses, hallucinations, paranoia, and an unusual appearance or taste of a drink.

Physical symptoms can also include loss of balance, blurred vision, slurred speech, nausea, vomiting and trouble breathing.

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Some basic strategies for preventing drink spiking include never leaving your drink unattended, only accepting drinks from trusted people, using drink covers, avoiding communal containers, sticking with friends and being aware of your surroundings, experts say.

49ers coach Kyle Shanahan admits he caused car crash after taking eyes off road to find his phone

Tue, 28 Jul 2026 17:45:14 -0400

San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan admitted he was at fault for the car crash he was involved in on July 14, which led to numerous injuries that have him limited at training camp.

Shanahan called beat reporters into his office on Monday to clarify that he was the one who caused the accident. The California Highway Patrol database had a "clerical error" attributing the accident to the woman involved in the two-car crash, per ESPN’s Nick Wagoner.

"He took eyes off the road briefly to find his phone which fell between seats and when he looked up he had gone over the line and into an SUV," Wagoner wrote on X.

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Shanahan was in violation of holding and operating a cell phone while driving, but he wasn’t cited for it following the crash.

Reporters who spoke with Shanahan also mentioned him saying he didn’t lose consciousness or have any amnesia after the accident. He also noted he was traveling 20 mph at the time of the crash.

ESPN’s initial report of the crash said the woman didn’t suffer any injuries, but Shanahan sustained broken ribs, a broken nose and broken hand, while also suffering a severe concussion. Additionally, he needed 40 stitches to close cuts on his face.

KYLE SHANAHAN 'THIS CLOSE' TO LOSING HIS RIGHT EYE IN HORRIBLE CAR CRASH, NFL ANALYST REVEALS

During a Monday taping of "PFT Live," Chris Simms, a close friend of Shanahan, revealed the 49ers coach nearly lost his right eye after viewing pictures sent to him by Shanahan’s wife after the crash.

"When you first see it, and it’s fresh, and some of the cuts are still wide open, I mean, it’s jarring," Simms explained. "It’s jarring.

"He was this close to maybe losing his right eye."

Simms pointed to his forehead when he said, "The scar is so big right here." He also said that Shanahan was feeling emotional about the situation when they were able to connect.

"He was emotional about it because he realized how close it was to being just a complete, you know, utter disaster," Simms said. "Like, really, it was a disaster anyways. But, when you’re a part of that accident, like I said, he could have lost his right eye. It could have been a lot worse. You know, he’s very concerned about the woman he got in the accident with and how she is and handling that situation. So there’s just a lot there. And I think it was a lot for him to process."

GM John Lynch said that, "Kyle basically is going to be like in the protocol," in reference to his concussion. Simms said it is giving him "some issues" he must deal with through the healing process.

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While Shanahan serves his team on a limited basis, Chris Foerster, the 49ers’ assistant head coach, is acting in his place.

The 49ers open the season against the Los Angeles Rams on Sept. 10 in the first-ever game played in Australia.

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Shark Week shocker as great white breaches just yards from oblivious boogie boarder

Tue, 28 Jul 2026 17:40:15 -0400

A great white shark was caught on video launching itself out of the water just yards behind a boogie boarder at Newport Beach — creating a shocking scene at the popular Southern California destination.

The family behind the camera had no idea what they had captured until they reviewed the footage hours later.

"We were praying on the beach, and we were like, 'Hopefully a miracle happens. That'd be super-cool [if] a miracle happens,'" Soaren Stevenson, a California-based college ministry leader who filmed the video, told Fox News Digital in an interview Tuesday.

10-FOOT GREAT WHITE SHARK SPOTTED SWIMMING DANGEROUSLY CLOSE TO YOUNG PEOPLE

As the family replayed the footage, Stevenson said he wasn't sure what he was seeing.

Then he zoomed in. "I was like, 'That's not even a dolphin — that's a shark.'"

No one else on the beach appeared to notice the shark, Stevenson said.

"He definitely didn't know how close it was," Stevenson said of his brother-in-law, who was boogie boarding just ahead of the breaching shark.

Although he grew up in Hawaii and has encountered sharks before, the brother-in-law viewed the whole incident as "a once-in-a-lifetime-type experience," Stevenson said.

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The encounter left Stevenson with a new appreciation for animals that share the ocean with surfers and swimmers.

"It's kind of surreal to think that the shark is in the same waters as my [brother-in-law], and he didn't even know it," Stevenson said.

"It just makes me realize that when you go out there to surf, you can come way closer to such a beast than you ever think you [would]."

Despite the close encounter, Stevenson said he doesn't plan to stay out of the water.

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"I don't think they want to eat us," he said — adding that beachgoers should still remain alert and stay safe.

The breaching happened just as Shark Week 2026 kicked off, which Stevenson called "a funny little coincidence."

While the footage appears alarming, shark incidents involving people remain rare.

Fewer than 250 documented shark incidents involving all shark species have occurred in the state since 1950, according to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.

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The department also notes that shark incidents have not increased proportionally despite growing beach attendance and the rising popularity of activities such as surfing, swimming and scuba diving.

Fox News Digital recently reported that a Georgia man in his early 20s was hospitalized after suffering a shark bite while helping his pregnant fiancée get to safety at a Florida beach.

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Volusia County Beach Safety officials said the man was wading in waist-deep water near the Dunlawton Beach Approach in Daytona Beach Shores when a shark estimated to be about 4 feet long bit his left foot and ankle.

He was treated at the scene before being transported to a nearby hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

Draymond Green returns to Golden State for $27M after Warriors' pursuit of LeBron James falls flat

Tue, 28 Jul 2026 17:14:54 -0400

Draymond Green is staying put, and it cost the Golden State Warriors exactly what it would've cost them all along.

The 36-year-old is returning on a one-year, $27.7 million contract, according to Klutch Sports.

Back in June, Green declined his original $27.7 million player option to help Golden State create cap space for a run at LeBron James. The Warriors believed they had a legitimate shot at pairing James with Stephen Curry.

LEBRON JAMES MAKES NBA FREE AGENCY DECISION, ANNOUNCES PLANS TO SIGN WITH 76ERS

Instead, James chose Philadelphia, signing a two-year deal with the 76ers. Golden State's LeBron gamble failed, leaving the Warriors right back where they started with Green.

The deal does not include a no-trade clause. It also pushes Golden State over the first apron, limiting the Warriors to veteran minimum additions while preserving future cap flexibility.

Both Green and James are represented by Rich Paul and Klutch Sports. Green's opt-out gave Golden State its cleanest path to LeBron while leaving the Warriors with virtually no realistic scenario in which they could turn around and offer him less if the recruiting pitch failed.

Once LeBron picked Philadelphia, re-signing Green became the obvious move. General manager Mike Dunleavy Jr. had even less incentive to alienate a franchise cornerstone after missing on James, especially after reports last season linked Green to trade discussions with Milwaukee.

The one concession Dunleavy secured was keeping the deal to a single year. Green isn't the athlete he was during Golden State's dynasty years. The shorter contract preserves future flexibility while avoiding a longer commitment to an aging star.

The Warriors get their emotional enforcer and defensive anchor back, but they're still paying premium money for a roster that looks well past its championship window.

They cleared cap space chasing LeBron, struck out, then circled back and paid Green exactly what he would've earned anyway.

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Sometimes the biggest move of the offseason is paying for the one that never happened.

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

WNBA media predictably embarrasses itself again by ignoring Sophie Cunningham story over All-Star Weekend

Tue, 28 Jul 2026 17:05:28 -0400

The WNBA media had every opportunity to show it could cover the league like a serious professional sport over All-Star Weekend in Chicago.

It blew it.

Reporters had access to the league’s biggest players and Commissioner Cathy Engelbert just days after Sophie Cunningham said biological males should not compete in girls' and women's sports. Yet not one public answer emerged from the weekend about whether the league’s stars agreed with her.

SOPHIE CUNNINGHAM SPEAKS OUT TO PROTECT GIRLS AS WNBA ALL-STAR INITIATIVE BACKS ‘GENDER-EXPANSIVE’ GROUP

The outcome was, sadly, predictable.

Before the event, I wrote on X:

It did not.

One important disclosure: OutKick and Fox News Digital attempted to cover All-Star Weekend in person, and I planned to ask the players and Commissioner Cathy Engelbert about Cunningham’s comments (if given the chance). We applied for a credential through the NBA/WNBA credential portal, but the league denied the request because it was submitted 10 days after its June 16 deadline.

The portal was still open and accepted the application, which was submitted four weeks prior to the event.

I had not received the WNBA’s original credential advisory or either of the two reminder emails the league said it sent. We asked the league to reconsider, noting that OutKick and Fox News Digital were approved to cover last year's All-Star Game, but the WNBA stood by its decision.

So, no, OutKick did not ask the players in Chicago because we didn't have access to do so.

That left the job to the reporters who received credentials.

After reviewing the publicly available press conferences, interview videos, transcripts and coverage from All-Star Weekend, I could not find one instance of a WNBA All-Star or Commissioner Cathy Engelbert being asked about Cunningham’s statement.

Sophie Cunningham created an obvious story for WNBA reporters

Cunningham’s comments came in an ESPN profile published just before the All-Star break.

"I got a lot of negative feedback about me hating trans. And I’m like, ‘I never once said that,’" Cunningham said. "I think that I am here to extend love. But I also think with that love is truth, being honest. And I want to protect young girls in a locker room, or young girls in sport who shouldn’t have to go against biological men."

Reporters grilled Cunningham just before the break. She did not retreat.

"I said what I said. I think it’s kinda common sense," Cunningham said.

The story quickly moved beyond Cunningham.

Las Vegas Aces forward Brianna Turner publicly defended transgender participation in women’s sports. The White House backed Cunningham. The Associated Press identified the transgender-athlete debate as one of the major cultural issues hanging over All-Star Weekend.

In other words, this wasn't an obscure social media controversy that reporters could credibly claim they hadn't seen.

SOPHIE CUNNINGHAM SEES SUPPORT SURGE AFTER STAR PUTS CAREER ON LINE FOR GIRLS SPORTS

An active WNBA player had taken a clear position on one of the biggest debates in women’s sports. Her comments drew a response from another player and reached the White House. The league’s most prominent athletes were about to gather in the same city for several days of media availability.

The questions practically wrote themselves.

Do you agree with Cunningham?

Should women’s sports be reserved for biological females?

Do Cunningham’s comments conflict with the values of the WNBA?

Apparently, that was too much to ask.

WNBA All-Stars were available, but no one produced an answer

The WNBA assembled 22 All-Stars in Chicago, including Caitlin Clark, A’ja Wilson, Breanna Stewart, Paige Bueckers and Cunningham’s Indiana Fever teammates Kelsey Mitchell and Aliyah Boston. Players participated in practice interviews, informal scrums and official press conferences throughout the weekend.

There is always a chance that a reporter asked someone about Cunningham during a scrum that was not recorded or published. It is impossible to prove that the topic never came up once over the weekend.

But journalism is not a private conversation between a reporter and an athlete. The point is to provide information to the public.

No outlet appears to have produced an answer from an All-Star. No videos surfaced, no quote appeared in a story and no reporter posted a player’s response on social media.

If someone asked, the answer apparently was not important enough to publish. The practical result is the same.

The public still has no idea what the WNBA’s most prominent players think about trans-identifying biological males competing in women's sports and using women's locker rooms.

The irony is that All-Star Weekend included the inaugural WNBA Media & Innovation Summit. The event’s stated theme was "From Participation to Power," and organizers promoted it as a discussion about who will shape the future of women’s sports.

Evidently, asking female athletes whether women’s sports should be reserved for females didn't fit the program.

Cathy Engelbert was standing in front of the entire WNBA press corps

The failure to question Engelbert was particularly glaring.

The commissioner began her All-Star press conference by addressing racism, misogyny, homophobia, harassment and threats against players. She said the league is built on "inclusion and respect" and pledged to make every player feel safe and supported.

That provided a natural opening to ask about Cunningham.

Does the commissioner believe Cunningham’s comments are consistent with the WNBA’s values?

What is the league’s position on transgender eligibility?

Does Engelbert believe supporting a female-only athletic category is exclusionary?

No one asked.

Instead, reporters questioned Engelbert about the new replay center, international games, the Las Vegas Aces investigation, the relationship between the league and its players, officiating, security, her future as commissioner, coaching diversity, HBCU internships and her communication style.

Several were legitimate questions. The problem is not that reporters asked about officiating or league operations. The problem is that the full press conference ended without anyone addressing the controversy involving one of Engelbert’s players.

Engelbert even talked about young girls viewing WNBA players as role models.

Cunningham’s entire argument was that young girls deserve protection in locker rooms and athletic competition. Still, no one in the room made the connection. Or, possibly, no one in the room wanted to make the connection.

WNBA COMMISSIONER VOWS TO CRACK DOWN ON 'RACISM, MISOGYNY,' DODGES BIG QUESTIONS AT ALL-STAR PRESS CONFERENCE

WNBA media was comfortable judging Cunningham from a distance

Some reporters had plenty to say about Cunningham. They just didn’t appear interested in asking WNBA players about her.

The Guardian published an All-Star Weekend feature that characterized Cunningham’s comments as "transphobic language." The story included fresh quotes from Courtney Williams, Becky Hammon, Jessica Shepard and A’ja Wilson on other subjects.

Yet the published article contained no response from any of them about Cunningham’s comments.

That captures the problem with much of the media covering this league.

A reporter was comfortable delivering a moral judgment about Cunningham’s statement. Getting a prominent WNBA player on the record about that statement was apparently less important.

The Associated Press also included the controversy in its scene-setting story from Chicago. But the article relied on Cunningham’s previous ESPN quote and Turner’s social media comments rather than producing a response from an All-Star attending the weekend.

The media knew it was a story. They wrote about it. They just decided not to do any actual reporting.

This is what passes for WNBA journalism

None of this should be surprising.

In 2024, Caitlin Clark went through a massive media tour before entering the WNBA. Reporters asked her the same safe questions repeatedly, but no one asked the most influential young woman in American sports what she thought about transgender athletes competing against females.

Later that year, USA Today reporter Christine Brennan asked DiJonai Carrington whether she intentionally poked Clark in the eye. It was a completely reasonable question about something that happened during a basketball game.

The WNBA Players’ Association responded by calling on USA Today to discipline Brennan and suggesting that she should lose access.

Then came the Brittney Griner controversy last season. A viral video showed Griner saying something after fouling out against the Indiana Fever. Many viewers believed she made a racially charged remark.

For nearly three weeks, no WNBA reporter asked Griner what she said. OutKick sought credentials specifically to ask the question and was denied by multiple teams before the Washington Mystics eventually granted access.

When we finally asked Griner, she denied using the phrase attributed to her. The controversy largely died because an athlete finally answered the actual question.

That should have been a lesson for everyone covering the league.

Instead, All-Star Weekend showed that nothing has changed.

The WNBA and its players say they want the attention, revenue and stature afforded to major professional sports leagues. That comes with real media coverage. Sometimes athletes have to answer questions they would rather avoid.

A reporter didn't have to agree with Sophie Cunningham to ask about her comments. In fact, anyone who believed her statement was offensive or harmful had an even stronger reason to ask other players for their views.

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OutKick sought access because we intended to ask.

The league denied our credential request, and the reporters who were admitted apparently decided the answer was better left unknown.

The WNBA and its media cheerleaders spent All-Star Weekend celebrating the growth of women’s sports while avoiding the most basic question about who should be allowed to compete in them.

Ex-FDA commissioner confronted on 'outrageous' Fauci diaries by CNBC host

Tue, 28 Jul 2026 17:00:57 -0400

Scott Gottlieb, a former FDA commissioner, was confronted about former National Institutes of Health (NIH) Director Anthony Fauci's diaries on Monday in a back-and-forth on CNBC, which host Joe Kernen called "outrageous."

"How about your buddy Fauci, that I've asked you about in the past. You've defended him quite a bit," Kernen said. "I've asked about whether he orchestrated a cover-up of the lab origin because of his involvement in making gain-of-function research possible again in China, which he did. He knew that would come back to haunt him and then basically told his colleagues go with the natural origin. It was obvious three years ago, Scott, to me anyway, and everybody else, that he orchestrated that."

Fauci’s diary entries were released on Saturday by Senate Homeland Security Committee Chairman Rand Paul, R-Ky., detailing the doctor’s role during the COVID-19 crisis through conversations with President Donald Trump, governors, world leaders, media appearances and his personal observations as the pandemic unfolded in 2020.

"Well look, and I've looked through the emails, some of them have been online, I think it's disappointing to see him trying to suppress alternative opinions, and that clearly was evidence from the emails. I thought it was disappointing. The part of it that also disappointed me was how much he enjoyed the media associated with the event and his own appearances," Gotlieb said.

ABC, NBC, CBS, CNN AND MS NOW IGNORE FAUCI DIARY ENTRIES THAT REVEAL FIXATION ON FAME DURING COVID

"I think a lot of us went on to media out of a sense of obligation," he continued. "It was a hard time for all of us. I know it was a hard time for you. I think a lot of us felt an obligation to inform the public. And it wasn't particularly enjoyable. I mean, I got a lot of threats, others did as well, associated with that, and so to see those emails where he is evidencing some pleasure in the notoriety that he achieved, that's disappointing."

Kernen pushed back and said it was "outrageous."

"Does having a reputation totally in the toilet at 85 years, does that hold him to account for what he was responsible for?" Kernen asked.

Gottlieb said the Fauci he knew over the years was not the one he saw in the emails, and said the former NIH head was always careful and thoughtful.

Kernen specifically brought up Fauci's relationship with members of the liberal media. Fauci’s closest media ally appeared to have been CNN anchor Jake Tapper, who was mentioned 41 times in the diary.

FAUCI'S DIARY SHOWS HE FED QUESTIONS TO JOURNALISTS, BUILT FRIENDSHIPS WITH MEDIA FIGURES

"Did you figure out the obsession with mainstream media in defending him and Jake Tapper having multiple dinners and best friends? What did that come from? And I know people around here that would call Tony Fauci a hero," Kernen said.

Gottlieb said he couldn't dissect the relationship, but again said he was disappointed by the emails.

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

According to the diary, Tapper texted Fauci to mock rival cable news hosts and other doctors. On one occasion, Tapper called to check on Fauci after an appearance on his show irked Trump supporters.

"Jake wanted to make sure the interview did not cause me any problems," Fauci wrote on April 13, 2020.

EXCLUSIVE: BIDEN PARDON WON'T SHIELD FAUCI IF HE LIES TO CONGRESS, COMER SAYS

In July 2020, Fauci gushed that he was forming a friendship with Tapper.

"Had dinner over Jake Tapper and Jen Tapper’s home in DC. Terrific couple. Friendship building," Fauci wrote, according to the diary.

Later that month, Fauci wrote that he "gave Jake some questions to ask" pediatrician Brett Giroir during an interview on CNN’s "State of the Union." But Tapper would later express frustration, waking Fauci up in the process.

"Tapper woke me up at 11:23 AM (I went to bed early) furius [sic] at POTUS for tweeting about the fact that Jake severly [sic] questioned Brett Giroir on SOTU CNN show today. Jake was really pissed at the craziness of it all," Fauci wrote.

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Fox News' Brian Flood and Joseph Wulfsohn contributed to this report.

Philadelphia Eagles lock up Jalen Carter through 2031 with record $152M contract extension

Tue, 28 Jul 2026 16:57:29 -0400

The national stage wasn't kind to Jalen Carter at the start of the 2025 season when we saw him get kicked out of the regular-season opener for spitting at Dak Prescott, but the start of this season is getting off on a much brighter note.

As in, a Brink's truck full of $100 notes.

That's because Carter has agreed to a four-year contract extension worth a reported $152 million with $106 million guaranteed that makes him the highest-paid defensive tackle in NFL history.

PATRICK MAHOMES LEAPS PAST DAK PRESCOTT AS NFL'S HIGHEST-PAID QB WITH RECORD CHIEFS EXTENSION WORTH $504.75M

The deal, negotiated by agents Drew and Jason Rosenhaus, will pay Carter $38 million in new money on an annual average basis.

The average vaults Carter past Tennessee Titans defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons ($35.2 million), and Kansas City Chiefs lineman Chris Jones ($31.75 million) as the league's only interior linemen exceeding $30 million per season.

That's, shall we say, nothing to spit at.

Carter is now under contract with Philadelphia through 2031.

The No. 9 overall pick of the 2023 draft, Carter finished second in the Defensive Rookie of the Year voting behind Will Anderson Jr.

Carter was instrumental in helping the Eagles win Super Bowl LIX to cap the 2024 season. Last year he only played in 11 games until he required shoulder surgery in both shoulders.

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But he played at least 90 percent of the snaps in four of those 11 games and his 55.9 snaps per game was the most among defensive tackles.

Carter is two-time Pro Bowler and the Eagles obviously believe his best days are ahead because that's exactly what $38 million per season should deliver.

Especially in games played on the national stage.

FOLLOW ARMANDO SALGUERO ON X: @ARMANDOSALGUERO

Dakota Johnson stuns as Marilyn Monroe in first look after director doubted casting

Tue, 28 Jul 2026 16:56:26 -0400

Forget Dakota Johnson — the actress looked every bit the blonde bombshell as she transformed into Marilyn Monroe.

A new set photo offered fans a first glimpse at Johnson's striking new role in "Flesh Impact." The short film, written and directed by Maggie Gyllenhaal, will premiere at the Venice Film Festival in September.

The shocking transformation is just one piece of Gyllenhaal's fresh take on the Hollywood legend.

ELLEN BURSTYN ON THE HABITS SHE GAVE UP TO STAY THRIVING AT 93 YEARS OLD

Instead of a traditional biopic, "Flesh Impact" imagines Monroe beyond the platinum hair and red lipstick, exploring the woman behind one of pop culture's most enduring personas.

Gyllenhaal first worried Johnson didn't look enough like Marilyn Monroe to play the part.

"Then I thought, ‘That’s ridiculous. Who cares?’" she told Vanity Fair. "I don’t know that anyone even really totally knows what Marilyn looks like because she’s been so commodified and made into this myth, and she’s very blurry in my mind."

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For "Flesh Impact," Johnson portrayed Marilyn Monroe at age 36, the age at which the Hollywood icon died in 1962, while Ellen Burstyn played a fictionalized older version of the blonde bombshell.

The 17-minute short film aims to explore Monroe beyond her enduring public image. Rather than being a traditional biopic, the film blends reality and imagination to examine her identity, legacy and the experience of being an actress in honor of her 100th birthday.

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"I’ve always been fascinated by Marilyn Monroe," Gyllenhaal said in a press release. "So, when Genesis first came to me with the idea of a celebratory project for her centennial, I knew I wanted to work together on bringing this story to life.

"With ‘Flesh Impact,’ we showcase the timeless icon we know and love through a modern lens that reclaims her story," she added.

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ESPN's Dan Orlovsky weighs in on Florida coach Jon Sumrall's pedicure preferences, immediately gets roasted

Tue, 28 Jul 2026 16:54:10 -0400

While last week's SEC Media Days saw plenty of coaches putting themselves in the spotlight with a litany of quotes, one coach from the Southeastern Conference rose above the rest.

Florida's Jon Sumrall made quite a name for himself in Tampa last week during his inaugural spin as a head coach in the SEC, creating a bit of a stink on social media with his comments regarding a reporter's cell phone going off.

Sumrall apparently wasn't done hogging the limelight, though this time it was his wife generating the headlines when she dropped the bombshell that one of the toughest coaches in the conference loves getting pedicures.

FLORIDA COACH BRINGS LAUGHS, NO FILTER AND LANE KIFFIN COMPARISON REBUTTAL TO FIRST SEC MEDIA DAYS

The internet once again reacted in kind, with fans and media members arguing both sides of the issue.

Some saw no problem with a man taking care of his feet - especially feet that used to play linebacker in the SEC - while others said the revelation that Sumrall gets his toes worked on pokes holes in his "tough guy act."

A few fans even suggested his wife was in the wrong for airing out his dirty laundry (and clean feet) and giving his rivals ammo to use against him.

One man who isn't necessarily a rival coach is ESPN analyst and former NFL quarterback Dan Orlovsky.

Orlovsky was asked about "Pedicuregate" on the show "Get Up" Tuesday morning, and the ex-Detroit Lion did not mince words.

"I have never gotten a pedicure, and I never will," said Orlovsky. "I am completely against pedicures for dudes."

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Sumrall is pretty clearly a dude, so it sounds like Orlovsky is against the new Gators head coach getting a pedicure.

Orlovsky was roundly mocked by all of his co-hosts on "Get Up" during the segment, but that was nothing compared to what fans on X had in store for him.

One subset of fans - both Florida and otherwise - correctly pointed out that Orlovsky calling a guy out for getting pedicures while he wears makeup on the set of a TV show feels a tad bit hypocritical.

Another subset of fans took things on a bit more of a personal route, and brought up Orlovsky's very infamous trip out of the back of the end zone during the 2008 NFL season (a season in which the Lions notoriously completed an 0-16 campaign).

I also have to say, it is relieving that fans of teams other than the Florida Gators are hopping to Jon Sumrall's defense.

I thought I was going to have to defend this take as a massive Gator homer like that one scene in "Game of Thrones" where Jon Snow has to take on hundreds of soldiers all by himself in The Battle of the Bastards.

In all seriousness, I'm not a pedicure guy. I really don't like strangers touching me in general so that rules out massages, too.

But I am in no way going to shame a man for getting his feet taken care of.

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Manicures, though? That's a different story.

I have to draw the line somewhere.

Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert and pop star Madison Beer announce engagement with romantic post

Tue, 28 Jul 2026 16:51:19 -0400

Regardless of what happens with the Los Angeles Chargers this season, star quarterback Justin Herbert and pop star Madison Beer have already won.

The couple announced their engagement Tuesday in a joint social media post.

"Meet my fiancé," they captioned the joint post.

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The couple posted 12 pictures from the big day, the first showing them sharing a kiss.

Among the pictures in the slideshow, Herbert is shown carrying an ebullient Beer over his shoulder, while another shows him on one knee proposing to her. Another picture shows a wooden sign that read "Mr. and Mrs. Herbert."

The couple was first linked together in August 2025 when Herbert was seen with the singer on the set of one of Beer’s music videos in Los Angeles. They seemed to confirm the dating rumors when they were pictured together on the sideline of a Chargers game at SoFi Stadium in October.

CHARGERS' JUSTIN HERBERT SAYS MADISON BEER 'CHANGED MY LIFE FOREVER' IN BIRTHDAY TRIBUTE: WHO IS THE POP STAR?

The couple attended a Los Angeles Lakers game later that month and sat courtside. They went viral as Herbert blocked an errant basketball from hitting Beer.

Herbert is 28, and Beer is 27. The couple’s birthdays are just five days apart. In March, each of them posted romantic messages to the other for their respective birthdays.

Herbert is heading into his seventh season as the Chargers quarterback.

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Last season, in 16 games, Herbert led the Chargers to an 11-5 record, completing 66.4% of his passes for 3,727 yards with 26 touchdowns and 13 interceptions. The former Oregon star also ran for 498 yards and two touchdowns.

He made the Pro Bowl for the second time in his career.

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Leading economist warns of rise of 'Gen Z affordability socialism'

Tue, 28 Jul 2026 16:50:42 -0400

Artificial intelligence is fundamentally transforming the global economy at breakneck speed, but Diogo Costa argues that the real threat to prosperity isn't technological disruption; it's the return of bad economic ideas.

As the president of FEE (the Foundation for Economic Education), America's oldest free-market think tank, Costa is concerned that the affordability crisis is providing the perfect opportunity to tempt the next generation with the ideas of socialism, and argues that economic education is the antidote.

Recently, he sat down with Fox News Digital at Freedom Fest in Las Vegas for a discussion about the intellectual defense of free markets, the intersection of freedom and technology, and how his upbringing in Brazil brings a unique perspective to today's economic policy debates.

GEN Z IS WORKING HARD, BUT THE ECONOMY IS PUTTING THE AMERICAN DREAM OUT OF REACH FOR MANY

"The biggest challenge today is the different ways that ‘anti-economics’ keeps reappearing. And this time, it's reappearing through a new kind of socialism. So through the 20th century, we had different flavors of socialism, labor union socialism, environmental socialism, anti-globalization socialism. Now we see this cost-of-living socialism, affordability crisis socialism."

While young people are aware that they are better off in a market economy, Costa argues, they still want heavy-handed intervention if they perceive it benefits them.

"Young people, they want to live in a market economy. They don't want to move to Venezuela or Cuba, but they want price controls in everything. They want to freeze the rent, they want free rides in buses, they want to make sure that groceries are either run by the government or price controlled somehow. And this is not just a phenomenon in New York City or California. This is something that's happening globally.

"And this is the new kind of ‘anti-economics.’ So, Leonard Read [founder of FEE] understood that economics is always one generation away from turning prosperity into poverty. The good ideas need to keep being recycled, they need to be reframed, and this is a challenge that we have right now, the rise of this Gen Z affordability socialism."

He further argues that while the technology produced by vibrant market economies has incredible potential, the ideological foundation of capitalism is under attack like never before:

"We're in a golden age for technology, not necessarily for the ideas behind it…the ideas behind the market economy are not as well understood. And when you talk about AI, people are thinking all the jobs are going to be gone. Humanity is on the verge of extinction.

"So there is a lot of pessimism at the same time that you have these wonderful technologies. So the ideas that help us explain and help us work with technology are what's missing."

Costa's studies of the Austrian school of economics lead to separating the economic power of the free-market from its cultural power:

"Joseph Schumpeter, the Austrian economist, said that capitalism would be economically powerful and at the same time culturally weak because you have companies that will be doing amazing things, but capitalism makes things more abstract…and at some point people stop seeing exactly how they are part of this amazing complexity.

DEMOCRATS LURE ‘POLITICALLY HOMELESS’ GEN Z TOWARD SOCIALISM — A COUNTERATTACK IS TAKING SHAPE

"That's why with FEE we sometimes go back to a pencil. We just ask people ‘do you understand how a pencil is made?’ Because if you see the complexity, the network, the amazing, marvelous market system around... Just building a single pencil, you start to understand how you are part of the complexity and you benefit from it."

Costa's own experience growing up in Brazil during the economically chaotic 1990s was pivotal in shaping his outlook on policy and the need for economic education.

"I grew up in a country that had hyperinflation. When I was 10 years old, 11 years old, yearly inflation was above 1000%, 1200%, 1300%. That meant the prices were changing literally every day. And it's hard to understand how if you live in a society that is that economically chaotic all your life is designed around those problems.

"So as a child, when I was going to the grocery store because my mom gave me a $1,000 bill to buy a bag of chips, I had to think, ‘Oh, I need to get there before the price tagger starts changing the prices’."

"My parents had to turn a bedroom in our house into a pantry because when they got their paychecks the first thing they did was go to the grocery store and buy everything you can…So your life starts to be designed around these big issues. And this is something that some people take for granted."

But it was not only hyperinflation that opened Costa's eyes about economic education; he also first hand the effects of a fundamentally protectionist economic system:

"It's the same thing with protectionism…as a young boy in the early 90s, I wanted video games. Brazil had strict protectionism. So I could buy these dupe video games, but I couldn't get the real deal. And this was something that people now take for granted, but this was how the Brazilian economy was being shaped.

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"And Milton Friedman has this saying that he thinks that we never actually learn economics as humanity, we learn as individuals, we learn maybe as generations, but now that we don't live under hyperinflation people forget what that's like, now that we don't live under hyperprotectionism people forget what it's like. So it's very easy to drift towards inflation, to drift towards protectionism, to drift towards anti-economics and economics needs to be re-taught every generation."

SEE IT: Mark Kelly blames Trump's agenda for boosting AOC as Dems presidential pick

Tue, 28 Jul 2026 16:47:35 -0400

Sen. Mark Kelly, D-Ariz., argued that President Donald Trump is driving Democratic voters toward far-left candidates like Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez after the New York Democrat topped a recent 2028 presidential primary poll.

A recent New Hampshire poll found Ocasio-Cortez was the top choice among likely Democratic voters for the party's 2028 presidential nomination. Kelly placed third with 9% support, behind Ocasio-Cortez and former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, while ahead of California Gov. Gavin Newsom and former Vice President Kamala Harris. The poll comes as several self-described Democratic Socialists have defeated more moderate Democrats in recent primary elections, showing the growing influence of the party's progressive wing.

Kelly has teased a run for president in 2028, recently saying in an NBC interview that it is part of an ongoing discussion with his family that he has "plenty of time" to decide on.

HASAN PIKER MAKES AOC HIS 2028 PICK FOR PRESIDENT, SAYS IT'S 'NOT EVEN A QUESTION’

"I don't know about her message, but people are really struggling," Kelly told Fox News Digital about why Ocasio-Cortez was Democrats top 2028 pick.

Fox News Digital asked Kelly why Ocasio-Cortez and other candidates associated with the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) are resonating with the Democratic voters ahead of upcoming election seasons.

"The policies of this president — supporting billionaires over hardworking people," Kelly said. "1% of the country now owns more wealth than the middle class, and I think it's a response to that."

BERNIE SANDERS, DSA REVEAL DEMANDS FOR DEM PARTY AFTER SOCIALISTS SWEEP NEW YORK ELECTIONS

In 2021, Federal Reserve data showed the top 1% of households now hold more wealth than the bottom 60% combined for the first time since the central bank began tracking the data in 1989.

Trump has defended his economic agenda as aimed at boosting middle-class Americans through tax relief and lower costs, pointing to efforts to extend the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, eliminate taxes on tips and overtime pay and lower energy costs.

Kelly said voters' frustration with Trump's policies is driving support for candidates like Ocasio-Cortez, while also criticizing the president more broadly.

LIZ PEEK: TRUMP IS STARVING THE MACHINE THAT CREATES AMERICA'S SOCIALIST REVOLUTIONARIES

"It's unfortunate we have people like this running the government and I think people are really frustrated," Kelly said about Trump to Fox News Digital.

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"I mean this president doesn't prioritize anybody but him and his family," Kelly said. "The corruption is just off the charts. "

Rumors Devin Booker and supermodel Irina Shayk are dating heat up after supposed sightings in the Hamptons

Tue, 28 Jul 2026 16:35:16 -0400

Devin Booker, an elite scorer both on and off the court, is rumored to be dating supermodel Irina Shayk. Those rumors are heating up after claims that the two were spotted hanging out in the Hamptons over the weekend.

TMZ was the first to run with the rumors that appeared on the celebrity gossip account Deuxmoi. The first of the two alleged sightings shows a man who resembles Booker with the claim from a tipster that he and Shayk were at Tutto in East Hampton, New York.

A blurry video then followed that on the gossip account and claimed to confirm the 29-year-old Phoenix Suns star and the 40-year-old Russian model "potentially being something." It supposedly shows the two at Delilah's Chase party.

ZERO BS. JUST DAKICH. TAKE THE DON’T @ ME PODCAST ON THE ROAD. DOWNLOAD NOW!

It also includes a story about her being all over him and him being all over two other girls. You can't make out anything that's going on in this video.

Now, if you're not convinced by a picture of a guy's back and an extremely blurry video that Devin Booker and Irina Shayk are an item, you're not alone.

Thankfully, for the tipsters and anonymous sources (we'll get to those in a second), there's more so-called evidence. How about a couple of pictures from what appears to be close range that doesn't show their faces?

Those have to help along with what has already been presented. They couldn’t hurt, right?

Still not convinced? Can I interest you in some of those anonymous sources I mentioned? It wouldn't be rumors that are heating up without those now, would it?

People has those sources, and they're claiming that the NBA star and model have been hanging out. The source says, "Devin Booker and Irina are dating. It's very new, but they like each other a lot."

CHRISTIAN PULISIC RECOVERS FROM HIS WORLD CUP INJURY BY HANGING OUT WITH MEGAN MORONEY IN NASHVILLE

Shayk is into Booker, the source claims, and after mutual friends introduced them, they're "trying to spend a lot of time together this summer before Devin has to start training for the season."

Is she going to be seen at a Suns game next season? If the source is telling the truth, she will be.

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I have to admit that until the source, I wasn't entirely sold on this rumor. The picture of the back of someone who resembled Booker, the almost flip phone quality video, and the cutoff pictures didn't do it for me.

Now, I'm rooting for these two. They know how to navigate this type of relationship. They've both been linked to well-known people; Booker to Kendall Jenner and Shayk, more recently to Tom Brady.

Why not have a supermodel pay a visit to the desert next season for a few games to watch one of the league's stars?

Nolan Wells mystery deepens as email indicates teen drank heavily before vanishing

Tue, 28 Jul 2026 16:31:20 -0400

The mysterious death of 18-year-old Nolan Wells has taken another turn after a newly obtained document listed the missing teen's alcohol intake as "heavy" as authorities searched for him on Horn Island over the Fourth of July weekend.

The document, a July 5 Mississippi Department of Marine Resources Marine Patrol email obtained by Fox News Digital, was sent to the U.S. Coast Guard as authorities searched for Wells.

Along with his physical description and last known location, the email lists "Alcohol intake: Heavy," but does not identify the source of that information.

Wells, an Ole Miss freshman from Jackson, Mississippi, disappeared while on a boating trip to Horn Island with friends. An extensive multi-agency search ended July 6 when his body was discovered.

SEARCH CALLED OFF AFTER BODY MATCHING MISSING TEEN NOLAN WELLS FOUND OFF MISSISSIPPI COAST

Authorities have not publicly identified a cause or manner of death, and the Mississippi State Medical Examiner's autopsy and toxicology results remain pending.

The newly reported details come days after a private autopsy commissioned by Wells' family concluded his cause and manner of death were "undetermined pending investigation."

NOLAN WELLS INDEPENDENT AUTOPSY DOESN'T POINT TO FOUL PLAY, FORMER MEDICAL EXAMINER SAYS

During a July 22 news conference, civil rights attorney Ben Crump said an area of "red discoloration" was found on the back of Wells' head but said Dr. Roger Mitchell, who performed the independent autopsy, could not determine a cause or manner of death pending further investigation.

"Crime Stories with Nancy Grace" host Nancy Grace later discussed the findings on her show, where she raised additional questions about the investigation.

She pointed to what she described as deep red tissue beneath the skin at the back of Wells' head and said the independent pathologist did not receive Wells' lungs or throat when conducting the second autopsy.

Grace also questioned whether those findings could be significant but emphasized that she did not know what caused Wells' death and noted there were "many accidental possibilities."

"There is deep, red, subcutaneous tissue" on the back of Wells' head, Grace said, adding that the discoloration was localized rather than consistent with postmortem blood pooling.

"I don't know," Grace said. "There are many accidental possibilities."

The Jackson County District Attorney has defended the investigation amid growing public scrutiny, saying authorities are following standard procedures and awaiting forensic testing before drawing conclusions.

Authorities have not announced whether foul play is suspected.

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Fox News Digital has reached out to the Jackson County Sheriff's Office and the Mississippi State Medical Examiner's Office for comment.

Ella Langley's 'Choosin' Texas' spends 15 weeks at number one on the Billboard Hot 100

Tue, 28 Jul 2026 16:30:03 -0400

Ella Langley has pulled off another incredible career accomplishment.

The country music icon has established herself as unstoppable force in the music industry, and most importantly, she's not slowing down.

This year has been a banner year for the "Nicotine" singer.

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

One of the biggest explosive moments was the release of "Choosin' Texas," and the song has now set an impressive record.

Ella Langley's 'Choosin' Texas' makes history

Billboard reported Monday that the hit country music has been #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 for a staggering 15 weeks.

That's the most weeks in the top spot "among non-holiday titles by women with no co-billed acts," according to Billboard.

MORGAN WALLEN AND ELLA LANGLEY HOLD THE TOP TWO ALBUM SPOTS IN AMERICA FOR FIRST HALF OF 2026

The only song featuring only a female singer that has been in the number one spot longer is Mariah Carey's "All I Want for Christmas Is You."

Carey's song has been number one for a total of 22 weeks over the course of its existence. That means Langley trails just seven weeks for the top spot overall, regardless of qualifiers.

Just in case anyone had any doubts, Langley is here to stay, and the rocket ship is only going up from here for the talented 27-year-old singer.

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It's also been incredible watching her explosion in popularity on social media. Head on over to X and search her name.

The viral tweets are endless.

What do you want to see next from Langley? Let me know at David.Hookstead@outkick.com.

Folk icon Linda Perhacs reportedly missing as friends seek answers after months of silence

Tue, 28 Jul 2026 16:26:42 -0400

Friends of legendary folk singer Linda Perhacs are asking the public for help, claiming the 82-year-old artist went missing after leaving a residential care facility about eight months ago.

In a statement shared with Fox News Digital by Perhacs' former manager, Laurel Stearns, friends and collaborators said the acclaimed singer-songwriter was discharged from the facility under the supervision of her legal guardian and has not been heard from directly since.

They said repeated attempts to reach both Perhacs and her guardian have gone unanswered.

MICHAEL J. FOX SAYS GOING PUBLIC WITH PARKINSON'S WAS 'HELL' ON WIFE TRACY POLLAN

"Concern is growing among friends, collaborators, and members of the music community regarding the well-being and current whereabouts of acclaimed singer-songwriter Linda Perhacs," the statement read.

According to the statement, "she was discharged from a residential care facility approximately eight months ago under the supervision of her legal guardian. Since that time, numerous friends and longtime collaborators report they have been unable to establish direct contact with her. Repeated attempts to communicate with her guardian have also, they say, gone unanswered."

Those issuing the statement emphasized they are not accusing anyone of misconduct, but rather "seeking confirmation that Linda is safe, well, and receiving appropriate care, while expressing concern over the prolonged absence of communication with a beloved public figure."

The apparent disappearance of Perhacs has prompted both an Adult Protective Services case and a police report, according to the folk icon's friends. With the investigation ongoing, additional details are being withheld.

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Perhacs' friend Mark McNeill also urged the public to help locate the influential musician in an Instagram post.

"Linda Perhacs our dear friend and legendary singer-songwriter was discharged from a residential care facility approximately eight months ago under the supervision of her legal guardian… Please help us locate Linda to ensure her wellbeing."

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Perhacs' decades-spanning career took an unexpected turn when her 1970 album "Parallelograms" — initially overlooked upon release — was rediscovered decades later and transformed into a cult classic. The singer-songwriter later experienced a career resurgence with the release of "The Soul of All Natural Things" in 2014 and "I'm a Harmony" in 2017.

After months without direct contact, friends said they decided to speak out in hopes of confirming Perhacs is safe and receiving appropriate care.

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"As a public artist whose work has profoundly influenced musicians and listeners around the world, Linda's well-being is of genuine concern to a broad community of admirers and colleagues," the statement continued.

"Those issuing this statement respectfully request that anyone with verified information regarding Linda Perhacs' current condition or means of contact reach out to her authorized representatives or designated point of contact. The intention is not to intrude upon her privacy, but simply to ensure that she is safe and to re-establish communication with someone whose artistic contributions continue to resonate across generations."

Landon Donovan says soccer has arrived in America after record-breaking World Cup summer

Tue, 28 Jul 2026 16:18:41 -0400

The World Cup did not go exactly how the United States Men's National Team expected, but the sport was the talk of the country this summer.

Nearly 7 million people flooded stadiums in North America to catch World Cup action, and the final between Spain and Argentina peaked at 52 million viewers, averaging at around 38 million.

Landon Donovan was an analyst for FOX throughout the event and said this year's World Cup was an unforgettable memory.

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"I'm sad it's over now. It really did go by so fast. Maybe for people at home, not so fast. But for us, it was just travel, game, work, game, travel, appearance, travel, meet-and-greet, travel, game. It was honestly the time of my life, and I'm sad it's over," Donovan told Fox News Digital in a recent interview.

"The superstars showed up and scored goals. The fan bases were incredible. The infrastructure and the stadiums, of course, are amazing in this country. The fans filled the stadiums. It broke records in every way on TV and social. It was a phenomenal World Cup, and I'm really just sad it's over."

It remains to be seen what kind of growth will occur in the U.S. after the World Cup, but if it's anything like what occurred in 1994, the sport is in a good spot – just in time for Major League Soccer's All-Star Game in Charlotte on Wednesday.

Donovan partnered with longtime MLS sponsor AT&T for the festivities to bring fans closer to the action.

"They've been supporters of ours for a long time. Soccer, to most people, is relatively new, but I've been in this game for a long time. So when you have people and companies that want to support in a real way and not just throw money at it, but actually be involved, then it means a lot to us because we've been ambassadors for this game forever," Donovan said. "They're helping us connect people to this game that we love, and that means a lot. They're great with our podcast with me and Tim Howard. Great to me personally, individually, all the All-Star Games. They love the sport. They genuinely do, and it's been really nice to have them."

IOC DECLINES TO INVESTIGATE GIANNI INFANTINO OVER TRUMP'S CALL ABOUT FOLARIN BALOGUN RED CARD

Donovan recalled the ovation he got when he returned to MLS after the 2002 World Cup.

"I lived it, right? At the end of these tournaments, there's so much energy and excitement around soccer and the sport, so you'll see an uptick in viewership. You'll see an uptick in the stadiums. People now know these guys' names, and it's a really, really awesome opportunity to grow as a player, but also to grow your brand," he said.

"When I came back in 2002, I literally got off the plane from Korea and went straight to the stadium at noon, maybe 2:00. We had a game that night, and I got to play for 10 minutes at the end of the game. The excitement in the stadium for the fans to see someone who, 24 hours earlier, had been on a field in Korea was awesome. So these guys coming back into the league a week before the All-Star Game, and then a lot of them at the All-Star Game, it's a really awesome opportunity to be recognized and appreciated. It's really cool."

While a deeper USMNT run would have done wonders for the sport, Donovan, though, is done talking about when soccer will arrive – because he thinks "soccer is here."

"There has been study after study, they asked people to name their favorite sport. The NFL was one, the NBA was two and soccer was three — soccer in general, right? So people do love this sport in this country," he said. "I know anecdotally, I drop my kids off at school every day. I don't see NFL jerseys. I don't see baseball jerseys. I see soccer jerseys. The kids are all wearing soccer jerseys. They're all in. So soccer is here.

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"Now, how you quantify it in a real way via Major League Soccer or U.S. Soccer, I don't know. That's harder to do. But this sport is mainstream now. When you turned on the TV this summer, people were talking about soccer... So, it is here. It's not where we all want it to be yet, but that takes time, man. These other sports have had decades, if not centuries, of a head start on soccer. So we'll just keep going."

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Ex-NHL star Ron Duguay hospitalized after losing consciousness amid Stage 4 cancer battle

Tue, 28 Jul 2026 16:10:31 -0400

Former New York Rangers center Ron Duguay had a scary incident this past week as his daughter, Shay Thomas, revealed he fell unconscious at home and suffered injuries.

Thomas posted on Instagram Monday, where she revealed her father passed out after being "extremely dehydrated."

Duguay, who was diagnosed with Stage 4 cancer earlier this year, also had "varices, portal hypertensive gastropathy, internal bleeding, and an ulcer," after seeing doctors.

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"Our dad @ronduguay10 continues to show us just how strong he is," Thomas wrote on her post on Instagram. "On Friday, he fainted at home, was unconscious, injured a few parts of his face, and knocked out a few teeth in the fall…this time, it wasn’t from hockey. He was taken by ambulance to the hospital."

Duguay’s cancer is in his liver, and Thomas revealed that "pressure has built up inside the liver" after "surgery, chemotherapy, and the pump."

"That pressure can back up into the stomach and cause bleeding. The ulcer still needs further evaluation, but the bleeding and liver pressure are the major concerns right now," Thomas added.

Thomas’ post also had video of Duguay entering the back of an ambulance on a stretcher.

"He is still admitted to the hospital and receiving blood transfusions while the doctors continue to monitor closely," Thomas wrote in her post.

"Through it all, our dad remains strong, positive, and trusting God every step of the way. We will continue to keep everyone updated. Please keep him covered in prayer."

Duguay wasn’t discouraged by the incident, saying "Found my teeth on the bedroom floor," in an Instagram Story that showed a picture of him without some teeth.

Duguay revealed his cancer diagnosis in February, issuing a heartbreaking plea for help as he pursued treatment "in hopes of giving him the best possible chance."

Duguay, 68, first opened up about his health to Page Six, telling the outlet that seeking financial support has been a challenge for him as someone who has used his platform to try to help others.

"I find it extremely hard asking for funds for all these costs I’m going through," he said. "Normally, I’m helping others."

RANGERS GREAT RON DUGUAY'S FAMILY MAKES HEARTBREAKING PLEA AS HE BATTLES STAGE 4 CANCER

Duguay was diagnosed with colon cancer more than a year ago, losing his appendix and gallbladder during his treatment as a result. His family started a GoFundMe campaign to share the details of his condition and plans for additional treatment.

"Our dad has never been someone who asks for help …especially when it comes to money. He has always tried to handle everything on his own and didn’t want to burden anyone else with what he’s going through. But after many conversations as a family, we decided to create this fundraiser for him because we’ve seen firsthand the weight this battle has placed on him, both physically and financially," the family wrote on the campaign post.

"Because of his cancer, he hasn’t been able to work the way he normally would, yet he continues to fight with everything he has. Earlier in his treatment journey, the care he received in Florida nearly cost him his life. That led us to bring him to Orange County, where my sister and I live, so he could receive treatment here … and thankfully, it has helped him so far."

Duguay was one of the Rangers’ most recognizable players of the late 1970s and early 1980s after getting drafted 13th overall in 1977. He was an instrumental part of the team’s run in the 1979 Stanley Cup Final.

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He played in 864 games during an 11-year NHL career, recording 274 goals and 346 assists. He also played for the Detroit Red Wings, Pittsburgh Penguins and Los Angeles Kings.

Duguay is in a relationship with former Republican vice presidential nominee and former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, who has been a strong supporter of the former NHL player throughout his cancer battle.

Fox News’ Paulina Dedaj contributed to this report.

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Trump reflects on infamous phone-number stunt that sparked friendship with Graham

Tue, 28 Jul 2026 16:07:22 -0400

In an emotional farewell Tuesday, President Donald Trump paid tribute to the late Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., recounting how their relationship evolved from fierce political foes into close allies and friends.

Trump said the turning point came after he publicly revealed Graham's cellphone number during a campaign rally in Bluffton, S.C., in 2015 — a decision he acknowledged Tuesday was a mistake.

"As you remember, Lindsey and I did not exactly get off to the best of starts," Trump said during his eulogy address at the Washington National Cathedral, adding that Graham had said something "nasty" when they were both running for the 2016 presidential nomination.

"So naturally, I did something that I shouldn't have done," the president continued. "I shared his personal cellphone number with the millions of people that happened to be watching that particular day as I made a speech, a very important speech."

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

"And I remember the number (202) 228-0292 if anybody wants to give it a shot," Trump went on, sparking laughter in the room.

"His phone exploded. He said, ‘I had that number for 20 years.’ His phone totally — I don't know what he did with it. But it exploded," Trump said. "That was the beginning of a friendship, in a way."

"But it was Lindsey who had the last laugh, because while I blew up his phone all for one day, we became great friends and Lindsey did not stop calling me for the next 10 years," Trump continued.

The unlikely friendship grew to include frequent rounds of golf and late-night phone calls as Graham became a leading advocate for Trump’s legislative agenda.

Since Graham's death earlier this month, Trump has repeatedly spoken about the senator's constant presence in his life.

LINDSEY GRAHAM'S FINAL MISSION NEARS FINISH LINE AS WORLD LEADERS GATHER TO HONOR HIM

And before the service began, before the cameras began rolling, before the speeches, and before Graham’s casket arrived, the Washington National Cathedral became a gathering place for those who the late lawmaker knew, worked alongside, advocated for, and, at times, fought.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, two of Graham’s closest allies on the world stage, both attended — holding court separately among the sea of lawmakers and Cabinet members filing into the cathedral.

Much of the Senate attended, too, including Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., who wore a suit. A rare sight not seen even at Trump's second inauguration.

Meanwhile, Trump’s affection for Graham was visible throughout his remarks.

He called him a "beloved friend, a devoted brother, a respected statesman, a giant of the United States Senate, and a true American original who left us much too soon."

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"For more than 30 years, nothing of consequence happened in this Capitol without Lindsey Graham knowing about it," Trump reflected. "Nothing of significance happened anywhere in the world without Lindsey Graham having a view on it. And no bill became law… without Lindsey Graham having a say in it. He was a man who gave America the full measure of his good and mighty heart."

Japan mall rebuilt after deadly 2016 earthquake destroyed in major temblor weeks after 'fresh start' reopening

Tue, 28 Jul 2026 16:05:52 -0400

A shopping mall in southern Japan that had just reopened after years of reconstruction following a devastating 2016 earthquake was destroyed Tuesday after a powerful earthquake struck the region and was followed by a massive explosion, leaving dozens of workers unaccounted for.

The Aeon Mall in Kumamoto Prefecture celebrated its grand reopening on June 13 after years of rebuilding meant to mark the region's recovery from the 2016 disaster.

Just weeks later, a magnitude 6.8 earthquake struck near Kumamoto, according to FOX Weather, citing the U.S. Geological Survey. Japan's Meteorological Agency measured the same quake at magnitude 7.1 using its own seismic scale.

EARTHQUAKE SHAKES PERU'S ANDES REGION, KILLING AT LEAST 5, DISPLACING HUNDREDS

About 200 shoppers were safely evacuated after the earthquake, officials said. Roughly an hour later, a powerful explosion ripped through the building, blowing off exterior walls and exposing its steel framework. NHK reported that about 20 to 30 mall employees remained unaccounted for, while police said rescuers could not immediately enter because of the risk of aftershocks.

The mall had become one of the most visible symbols of Kumamoto's recovery after the magnitude 7.3 earthquake that devastated the region in April 2016. Aeon said the redevelopment included seismic reinforcements and other safety improvements designed to make the complex more resilient.

Witnesses reported smelling gas before the explosion, according to Reuters. An Aeon spokesperson said employees immediately helped evacuate visitors after the quake, while prefectural officials confirmed about 200 people were guided safely outside before the blast.

EXCLUSIVE: FRANKLIN GRAHAM VISITS EMERGENCY HOSPITAL TREATING VENEZUELA EARTHQUAKE VICTIMS

According to FOX Weather, the earthquake struck just before 4:30 p.m. local time about 9 miles north of Kumamoto at a depth of roughly 6 miles. Japan's Meteorological Agency briefly issued and later lifted a tsunami advisory for parts of Kyushu. NHK reported at least 50 people were injured, while Japan's Fire and Disaster Management Agency said the quake sparked at least eight fires. Kumamoto Airport also temporarily closed.

Reuters reported the mall welcomed more than 8 million visitors annually after Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. opened a factory nearby in 2024.

The complex housed about 200 stores, a movie theater and parking for roughly 5,000 vehicles. It also became known locally after a supermarket inside sold 10-yen onigiri to help survivors following the 2016 earthquake.

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When the mall reopened in June, Aeon described the project as a "'re-start' initiative" marking both the shopping center's 21st anniversary and the region's recovery from the 2016 earthquake.

As night fell Tuesday, rescue operations remained on hold because of continuing aftershocks as families awaited word on the employees still believed to be inside.