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Pete Crow-Armstrong launches savage extra-inning home run before Cardinals get the last laugh

Thu, 30 Jul 2026 10:00:52 -0400

Chicago Cubs superstar Pete Crow-Armstrong launched an extra-innings home run against the St. Louis Cardinals on Wednesday night. With the long ball being a two-run shot that broke up the scoreless contest, the All-Star center fielder soaked up what appeared to be a game-winning moment, but sometimes, things are not what they seem.

The Cubs entered the 10th inning with just two hits, but the lifeless night offensively got quite the jolt when PCA stepped to the plate.

After taking a first-pitch strike to begin the at-bat, Crow-Armstrong got the pitch he wanted just below the strike zone, and immediately knew the baseball was leaving the yard.

PETE CROW-ARMSTRONG HITS FOR REVERSE CYCLE, DELIVERS IN THE CLUTCH BEFORE CUBS WALK OFF ROCKIES

Not only did PCA drop his bat and give the Chicago dugout a lengthy stare, but it took him 28 seconds to round the bases. His now-patented move as he rounded third base, in which he puts both arms behind his neck while flexing towards his team's dugout, added a few seconds to the celebration.

Crow-Armstrong's 10th-inning home run was a nice way to erase his 0-for-4 stat line at the dish before he stepped to the plate, but the Cardinals didn't let the deflating moment completely kill their spirits.

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Chicago reliever Trent Thornton took over on the mound to begin the bottom of the 10th inning, and things immediately got away from him.

Lars Nootbaar reached on a single to begin the frame before walking the next batter he faced to load the bases. Thornton was able to get one out with Jordan Walker grounding into a fielder's choice, but with the momentum clearly on St. Louis' side, Ivan Herrera poked a double to left field to give the hometown Cards a win to snap their three-game skid.

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Crow-Armstrong has become a legitimate contender to take home National League MVP honors in 2026. While Los Angeles Dodgers' two-way star Shohei Ohtani is still the no-doubt favorite, PCA staying somewhat on pace with him as the calendar flips to August has made things interesting.

Crow-Armstrong has hit 24 home runs and driven in 63 runs while carrying a .920 OPS, which is good enough for a Top 25 mark in the MLB.

Capitol sex scandals spark push to ban House lawmakers from sleeping with staffers

Thu, 30 Jul 2026 10:00:01 -0400

FIRST ON FOX: New legislation being dropped on Thursday is seeking to bar House lawmakers from having sex with staffers after a series of exposés rocked Capitol Hill.

Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C., is expected to introduce a pair of bills aimed at better defining the relationships lawmakers can have with employees of the House of Representatives, Fox News Digital is told.

One is a House resolution that would bar House lawmakers from having sex with any employee of the chamber. The other would block those lawmakers from living with House employees, except for married couples cohabitating.

CAPITOL HILL SEX SCANDALS TRIGGER NEW PUSH TO REDRAW THE LINE FOR LAWMAKERS

Mace told Fox News Digital, "If you're a Member of Congress, your priorities should be serving your constituents and this country, not fooling around with staff."

And while the sex ban would apply to all members, regardless of gender, she made clear it was aimed at male lawmakers who she argued were abusing their power over female staff.

"Congress is not your personal dating pool. If you can't do your job without hitting on staff, find another job and leave the women you work with alone," Mace said.

REPUBLICAN LAWMAKER WELCOMES HOUSE ETHICS PROBE INTO SEXUAL MISCONDUCT ALLEGATIONS AGAINST HIM

On her second bill banning lawmakers from living with staff, she said, "No staffer should ever be coming home at night to the person who signs their paycheck. It's inappropriate, it's a conflict of interest, and it should have been banned decades ago."

Sen. Ruben Gallego, D-Ariz., is the latest member of Congress whose reported past trysts with Hill aides were made public.

Gallego previously had sexual relationships with two House staffers, the New York Post reported. Gallego's defenders have argued that he would not have run afoul of any rules because he was unmarried at the time and the staffers did not work for him.

GONZALES RESIGNS IN WAKE OF RENEWED EXPULSION THREAT AFTER SCANDAL

Before that, sexual misconduct and rape allegations against former Rep. Eric Swalwell, D-Calif., derailed his then-promising gubernatorial campaign and forced him to resign from Congress. Swalwell has denied those accusations but admitted to making unspecified personal mistakes in a public statement where he also apologized to his wife.

On the other side of the aisle, Rep. Tony Gonzales, R-Texas, was forced to resign his seat after scrutiny piled up over an affair with a staff member who later died by suicide.

And Rep. Chuck Edwards, R-N.C., is being probed by the House Ethics Committee over sexual harassment allegations himself, which Edwards has denied, Axios reported.

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Mace's bills are the latest response from Congress over the slew of scandals. Reps. Kat Cammack, R-Fla., Jeff Crank, R-Colo., Lisa McClain, R-Mich., and Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., have all endorsed limits on what relationships House members can have with staff.

Cammack and Crank have also introduced legislation imposing limits on such conduct.

Can Fauci hide behind the Fifth? Game-changing Biden pardon may not provide complete cover, experts say

Thu, 30 Jul 2026 09:34:49 -0400

Dr. Anthony Fauci's refusal to answer more than 100 questions during Wednesday's fiery Senate hearing has sparked a legal showdown over whether a witness granted a sweeping presidential pardon can still invoke the Fifth Amendment.

Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., who chairs the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, announced after the hearing that he plans to pursue contempt proceedings against Fauci following the repeated invocations of the Fifth Amendment and his refusal to answer lawmakers' questions.

"We're going to have a vote next week on contempt," Paul said. "I think there's another legal question that the courts may have to decide upon, and that is whether or not a presidential pardon offers you complete immunity."

RAND PAUL SEEKS CONTEMPT CHARGES AFTER FAUCI INVOKES FIFTH AMENDMENT MORE THAN 100 TIMES

Former President Joe Biden issued Fauci, who served as the chief architect for the government's COVID-19 guidelines, a full and unconditional pardon for all actions taken between Jan. 1, 2014, and Jan. 19, 2025. Biden's broad pardon protected Fauci from prosecution for the actions being investigated by the committee, leaving only the possibility of charges if he lied under oath.

Abhishek Kambli, a former Justice Department official who now represents former Trump advisor Peter Navarro in his contempt of Congress case, told Fox News Digital that the issue presents a novel legal question about whether Fauci can invoke the Fifth Amendment at all.

"Obviously, if he tells the truth, then he would be protected by that blanket pardon, since the past conduct that he reveals he's fully immunized from," Kambli told Fox News Digital.

Kambli questioned whether the Fifth Amendment privilege properly applies if truthful testimony could no longer expose Fauci to prosecution for the underlying conduct.

"His theory is that it's a witch hunt and that they're looking for perjury traps to charge him with, so that's why he needs to invoke the Fifth Amendment," Kambli said.

But Kambli said the argument becomes more difficult to sustain if lawmakers are asking straightforward factual questions.

"I think it gets a little problematic," Kambli said of Fauci invoking the Fifth Amendment for common knowledge questions like what day of the week it is.

FAUCI PLEADS FIFTH WITH 'ZERO LEGAL JUSTIFICATION' AS CRITICS ERUPT AND DEMAND CONTEMPT CHARGES

"If it's just factual questions that he should know the answer on, it's hard to see how he would walk into a perjury trap if he's just telling the truth, because perjury also requires that you knowingly made a false statement," Kambli said. "If he had an incorrect recollection, that was an innocent mistake that typically wouldn't lead to a perjury charge."

Kambli said federal law distinguishes between witnesses who ignore a congressional subpoena and those who appear before Congress but refuse to answer questions. In the latter case, he said, prosecutors generally do not have to prove the witness intentionally violated the law. Instead, the central question is whether the witness had a valid legal basis for refusing to answer, such as a legitimate claim under the Fifth Amendment.

"The issue is [the witness] is already protected if he tells the truth, and it's only if he knowingly lies about something material that he can be charged," Kambli said. "So the issue becomes whether the Senate can make a referral to DOJ based on that."

George Washington University law professor Jonathan Turley said the legal issues surrounding Fauci's testimony are more complicated than either side suggests.

"The only risk that he faced would come from any false statements that he made in the hearing in dealing with these questions," Turley told Fox News Digital. "That would likely be viewed as sufficient, particularly since some questions could extend to statements and conduct from after the pardon grant."

Turley also pointed to Fauci's decision to deliver an opening statement before invoking the Fifth Amendment, suggesting it could raise additional legal questions.

"There are also questions about the questions limited to the period of his pardon as well as his decision to give an opening statement before invocation. Those are possible grounds for contempt. It would raise novel issues, though there is precedent from the Lois Lerner matter," Turley said.

TOP 5 MOMENTS FROM FAUCI'S HEARING: PAUL BOOTS LAWYER, MORENO ERUPTS AS CONTEMPT VOTE LOOMS

Turley was referring to former IRS official Lois Lerner, who declared her innocence in a voluntary opening statement before invoking the Fifth Amendment during a 2013 congressional hearing. House Republicans argued Lerner waived her right to invoke the Fifth Amendment when she made statements about the very subject under investigation. Although the House held Lerner in contempt, the Justice Department later declined to pursue criminal contempt charges.

But Hans von Spakovsky, a senior legal fellow at Advancing American Freedom, argued Paul's position is stronger than Fauci's.

"He can't be prosecuted by the federal government for any actions he took during the period the pardon covers," von Spakovsky said. "However, if he lies while under oath at his hearing today about any of those prior actions, he could be prosecuted for perjury."

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While von Spakovsky acknowledged that Biden's pardon of Fauci covers only federal charges, it does not shield Fauci from facing state charges. But he noted no state has accused Fauci of violating state law, at least not yet. Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier on Wednesday announced a state investigation into Fauci, following his testimony on Capitol Hill.

"The possibility of a state prosecution is almost nonexistent because states generally cannot prosecute federal officials acting within the scope of their duties and Fauci would argue that everything he did over COVID was carried out in his official slot as head of NIAID," von Spakovsky told Fox News Digital.

"The only reason for him to take the Fifth is because he doesn't want to admit, based on his personal diaries, that he lied repeatedly to the public and Congress when he was head of the NIAID," von Spakovsky said.

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If Paul's contempt resolution clears the committee, it would move to the full Senate, but it will need to beat the 60-vote filibuster in order to pass.

Fox News Digital reached out to Fauci's attorney, David Schertler, for comment.

JK Rowling calls out the 'grotesque' behavior towards Sophie Cunningham fans in scathing post

Thu, 30 Jul 2026 09:33:41 -0400

The left's most hated author — JK Rowling — has dropped the hammer on the disgusting things that took place at the Indiana Fever-Seattle Storm game earlier this week.

And, because she's a sane human, Rowling unsurprisingly offered a sane take on the "f—king insane" behavior that transpired because Sophie Cunningham simply said men don't belong in women's sports.

"These young women are heroines" the Harry Potter author said via X Wednesday night. "They're peacefully protesting against the grotesque unfairness of men playing in women's sport. The only people who are "f*cking insane" here are those making a mockery of fair sport for women and trying to bully girls like this into silence."

STORM CO-OWNER SUSPENDED AFTER INCIDENT WITH SOPHIE CUNNINGHAM FANS AS STAR BREAKS SILENCE ON CONTROVERSY

For those who missed it, things turned nasty during Tuesday's game in Seattle when two pro-Sophie Cunningham/women's rights fans were harassed by the team's minority owner, Celeste Keaton.

Keaton allegedly called the two fans "f---ing insane" during the game, independent Seattle-based journalist Brandi Kruse told Fox News Digital. Kruse was in the arena and accompanied the girls. The Storm have since suspended Keaton and put out an apology.

"We are aware one of our co-owners made comments to two fans in attendance at last night's game. We apologize that this happened. Everyone who attends a Storm game deserves to feel welcome, and we remain committed to creating an inclusive environment where every fan is treated with respect," the statement read.

SOPHIE CUNNINGHAM RALLY ROCKS WNBA GAME AS 'SAVE WOMEN'S SPORTS' ACTIVISTS FACE COUNTERPROTEST

Additional footage shows the two girls being harassed by a male fan, calling on the Storm to "take the trash out."

Yes, a grown man:

Goodness gracious. What a world we live in. As Rowling said, these people are truly insane. I just can't believe this is real life.

I'd imagine Cunningham can't either. Speaking of ...

The Fever star put out a statement Wednesday night, quote-tweeting a Fox News/OutKick post like a true patriot.

"I truly believe there is a safe space and love for EVERYBODY. Biological girls, biological boys, trans women, and trans men," she said. "Everyone is welcome at my table! You can disagree and still be kind. Bravo to those girls for standing up for what they believe. You’ll be hearing from me soon yay for gifts.

"Truly embarrassing of the co-owner. Unfortunately shows the type of leader she is."

I don't need to tell Sophie this, but the word "leader" doesn't belong in the WNBA. That league is so beyond rudderless at this point, I truly don't know where it goes from here.

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The commish has gone AWOL. Co-owners are harassing young fans. Caitlin Clark gets mugged every third game. Sophie Cunningham is apparently the devil because she said men don't belong in women's locker rooms.

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It's all so broken, and so backwards, and so embarrassing.

No amount of magic is going to fix it at this point.

Melania Trump helps reunite fifth group of Ukrainian, Russian children with families

Thu, 30 Jul 2026 09:29:24 -0400

First lady Melania Trump's office announced a fifth group of Ukrainian and Russian children that she helped reunite with their families, as five more children are now with their loved ones.

"While diplomacy and peace-building are important to this effort, they are surpassed by our collective ability to place children above international disputes," Melania Trump said in a statement. "Every reunion is a reminder that compassion, dignity, and family can transcend even the darkest of times: war. My representative and I continue working with the governments of Russia and Ukraine to safely return children to their families and communities."

The first lady's reunification program officially began in October 2025 after she had President Donald Trump hand-deliver her note to Russian President Vladimir Putin during their August 2025 summit in Alaska. Thus far, the White House reports around 30 Ukrainian children have been reunited with their families.

RUSSIA LAUNCHES BALLISTIC MISSILE ATTACK ON KYIV HOURS AFTER ZELENSKYY WARNS OF MAJOR STRIKE

Thousands of civilians, including children, have been killed since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, with last year being the deadliest year since the war began, according to United Nations figures.

ZELENSKYY SAYS PUTIN 'LOST THE INITIATIVE' AS UKRAINE'S TECH INDUSTRY RESHAPES THE WAR

"The first lady’s leadership has bridged political divides in pursuit of a singular humanitarian mission: placing the well-being of children above conflict and helping restore families torn apart by war," the White House announced in a Thursday morning news release.

The returnees are the first since April.

MELANIA TRUMP, QUEEN CAMILLA TEAM UP AT WHITE HOUSE YOUTH EVENT SPOTLIGHTING US-UK BOND

"This is not an easy feat. I applaud leadership from both nations in working with my representative and me to bring love and safety back to each individual who has been displaced as a result of this horrible war," Melania Trump said in an April 23 speech. "I'm grateful for the opportunity to serve as first lady but understand that my persistence alone is not enough."

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"Together we can change people's lives for the better."

Reuters contributed to this report.

Supreme Court tariff, birthright citizenship decisions cost US 'TRILLIONS,' Trump says

Thu, 30 Jul 2026 09:28:51 -0400

President Donald Trump accused the U.S. Supreme Court of costing the United States trillions of dollars due to rulings pertaining to tariffs and birthright citizenship.

"Does anybody have any idea how much Money and Prestige the United States Supreme Court has cost our Nation with their negative Rulings on Birthright Citizenship and TARIFFS?" he asked in a Wednesday Truth Social post.

"The answer, TRILLIONS AND TRILLIONS OF DOLLARS!" he added.

TRUMP SUFFERS MAJOR SUPREME COURT DEFEAT AS JUSTICES UPHOLD BIRTHRIGHT CITIZENSHIP

The Supreme Court ruled earlier this year that the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) does not authorize the president to levy tariffs.

The high court later ruled against an executive order that Trump had issued last year to oppose birthright citizenship.

TRUMP DEFENDS TARIFFS AHEAD OF LOOMING MIDTERMS, SAYS THEY HAVE MADE THE US 'A FORTUNE'

The 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution states, in part, "All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside."

Trump's executive order declared, "It is the policy of the United States that no department or agency of the United States government shall issue documents recognizing United States citizenship, or accept documents issued by State, local, or other governments or authorities purporting to recognize United States citizenship, to persons: (1) when that person's mother was unlawfully present in the United States and the person's father was not a United States citizen or lawful permanent resident at the time of said person's birth, or (2) when that person's mother's presence in the United States was lawful but temporary, and the person's father was not a United States citizen or lawful permanent resident at the time of said person's birth."

TRUMP CRITICIZES 2 SUPREME COURT JUSTICES BY NAME OVER TARIFF RULING

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During his first term, Trump nominated three of the nine justices currently sitting on the high court: Justices Brett Kavanaugh, Neil Gorsuch and Amy Coney Barrett.

Washington's grizzly bear power grab is finally coming to a long-overdue end

Thu, 30 Jul 2026 09:00:40 -0400

For far too long, federal bureaucrats who have never set foot on Wyoming lands have controlled decisions about our wildlife. That era is finally ending, thanks to the Trump administration. Last week, Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum announced a new rule giving Wyoming and our neighboring states the flexibility to manage grizzly bear populations that have thrived in recent decades.

The Greater Yellowstone grizzly bear population tells one of America's greatest conservation success stories. When these bears were listed under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) in 1975, we had roughly 136 bears in the ecosystem. Today, that population has grown to an estimated 1,000 bears — more than a seven-fold increase that far exceeds every recovery target ever established. The science is unambiguous: this population is not only recovered but thriving and expanding beyond the boundaries of the Yellowstone region. Yet the grizzly bear remains listed. This defies logic, science, and frankly, the very purpose of the ESA.

Grizzly bears in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem have cleared federal recovery benchmarks since 2004. For two decades, Wyoming has spent tens of millions of dollars building the biologists, conflict response teams and monitoring programs behind this recovery. Wyoming people know these bears and have earned the right to manage them. Wyoming's Bear Wise program has spent years teaching ranchers and recreationists how to live alongside a growing grizzly population, and it works. Wyoming Game and Fish biologists relocate dozens of bears every year to resolve conflicts before they escalate, including one who moved out of Sublette County this summer after a cattle conflict.

HIDDEN DANGER AT POPULAR US NATIONAL PARK FORCES TRAIL CLOSURES AS BEAR SIGHTINGS CLIMB

The grizzly was briefly delisted in 2007, only to be relisted by the Obama administration's Fish and Wildlife Service in 2009 after activist litigation. The pattern repeated itself under Biden. When the state petitioned again for delisting, the Biden administration slow-walked the review for years and ultimately rejected it in 2023, again citing the same activist lawsuits and manufactured uncertainty rather than the recovery data Biden’s own agency had collected.

The Biden administration's final word came on January 8, 2025, just 12 days before he left office. With one foot out the door, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service rejected Wyoming's and Montana's delisting petitions yet again, leaning on the same tired excuses as always. In their place, they offered an almost laughable substitute: letting landowners kill a bear without a permit, but only once livestock were already in imminent danger. Ranchers could act only after the damage was already being done. It was bureaucratic sleight of hand dressed up as compromise, and nobody in Wyoming was fooled. After sixteen years of activist litigation and manufactured uncertainty, this was Biden's final parting shot at a region he had spent years working against, one last slap at the people who had asked Washington, again and again, simply to be trusted with their own land and wildlife.

COUNTRY STAR JOHN RICH JOINS TRUMP ADMINISTRATION ADVOCATING FOR LANDOWNERS' RIGHTS

Biden’s bureaucrats knew the population had recovered. They knew the law required returning management to the states. Instead, they hid behind litigation and let special left-leaning interests dictate wildlife policy for a species they will only ever encounter in a nature documentary.

The ESA was written to recover imperiled species and then return their management to the states once recovery is achieved. When we refuse to delist recovered species, we send a dangerous message: that the ESA is not really about conservation at all, but about permanent federal control.

Wyoming's ranchers, hunters and wildlife managers live with grizzly bears every day. We understand the balance between conservation and coexistence better than anyone behind a desk in Washington, and that experience is exactly why our folks in Wyoming should be making these management calls.

That is why every Congress, Senator Barrasso, Rep. Hageman, my Senate Western Caucus colleagues and I introduce legislation to delist the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem population of the grizzly bear. Keeping them listed indefinitely does not help the species; it hurts it and undermines good-faith conservation efforts by eroding public trust in the ESA. When the law loses credibility by refusing to acknowledge its own successes, it becomes harder to build support for protecting species that truly are endangered. It is time to delist the grizzly in our area and let science, not politics, dictate our wildlife policy.

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This proposed rule by the Trump administration is a good first step, and I will keep working with Secretary Burgum and my colleagues to see it through to full delisting. Wyoming has earned the right to manage what we helped recover. The science has said so for years. Now, finally, we have a federal government willing to admit it.

President Trump promised to return power to the states. Once again, he is keeping his promises.

Ella Langley's faith and authenticity fuel record-breaking rise, experts say

Thu, 30 Jul 2026 09:00:11 -0400

Ella Langley is making music history without leaving behind the faith, values and traditional sound that first won over fans.

The 27-year-old country star's song "Choosin' Texas" has hit the No. 1 spot on the Billboard Hot 100 chart for the 15th nonconsecutive week, surpassing Mariah Carey's 2005 R&B classic "We Belong Together" and Whitney Houston's iconic 1992 power ballad "I Will Always Love You," both of which spent 14 weeks atop the chart, according to a report published by Billboard on Monday.

Langley became the first solo female artist to top the Billboard Hot 100 for that long with a non-holiday song. Mariah Carey's perennial 1994 holiday hit, "All I Want for Christmas Is You," is the only song by a solo female singer to spend more time at No. 1, with 22 weeks atop the chart.

ELLA LANGLEY'S 'CHOOSIN' TEXAS' SPENDS 15 WEEKS AT NUMBER ONE ON THE BILLBOARD HOT 100

The milestone is the latest achievement in a breakout year that has transformed Langley into one of country music's biggest success stories.

Beyond the charts, Langley won major industry awards and has expanded her mainstream profile through high-profile brand partnerships, television appearances and recognition from some of country music's most influential artists.

Born in Hope Hull, Alabama, Langley left her hometown in 2019 to move to Nashville, Tennessee, where she spent years writing songs, touring and building a loyal following online.

Langley made her breakthrough with her Riley Green duet "You Look Like You Love Me," which went viral on TikTok, amassed millions of streams on Spotify and Apple Music and introduced her to a wider audience.

COUNTRY MUSIC STAR RILEY GREEN FIRES UP FANS WITH EPIC NEW SUMMER JAM 'THINK AS YOU DRUNK'

Since then, Langley has emerged as one of country music's most recognizable faces, pairing record-setting commercial success with growing mainstream visibility. The singer recently launched an American Eagle campaign and earned praise from icons, including Shania Twain.

Throughout her rise, Langley has continued to publicly discuss her Christian faith and Alabama upbringing while releasing music firmly rooted in traditional country.

She has frequently thanked God during award speeches, and last month went viral for passionate remarks about faith, Christianity and love during a concert in Lexington, Kentucky.

While speaking with Rolling Stone last week, Twain described Langley as an "authentic songwriter."

SHANIA TWAIN CALLS ELLA LANGLEY AN 'AUTHENTIC SONGWRITER' WITH A UNIQUE SOUND IN NEW INTERVIEW

"She sounds original," Twain said. "She really does seem very unapologetic."

"That commands respect," Twain added. "I believe what she's saying."

Music and branding experts say those qualities may help explain why Langley has resonated with audiences far beyond country music and why her rise comes at a time when country has become one of America's dominant musical genres.

Veteran country music journalist Marcus K. Dowling told Fox News Digital that Langley's appeal isn't a departure from country music's traditions but rather an extension of them.

"Country music has proven that, more often than not, when music, above all else, is rooted in a strong sense of faith, family and fun, it appeals to a lowest and middle common denominator of Americans better than most any other stereotypical American thing," Dowling said.

"Look at the back to back to back moment for Langley," he continued. "It's a tale of how to break a star in on country that's as old as the genre is: A duet with a more established male performer. A discovery, by the genre's fanbase, that her authentically rooted musicality is real, and pairs well with her spotlight-ready cosmetic appeal."

"Then, a song that ties a female performer to an emotive core defined by lovestruck universal yearnings," he added. "From Patsy Cline singing ‘Crazy’ through to Dolly and ‘Jolene,’ Gretchen. Wilson's ‘Redneck Woman’ and more, what Ella's doing has a long lineage of always working when executed with intentionality, honesty, and precision."

Doug Eldridge, founder of Achilles PR, said Langley's success also reflects what audiences are increasingly looking for in entertainers.

"Humility and self-deprecation go a long way when it comes to connecting with fans," Eldridge said. "In the end, authenticity is a lot like humidity — you can’t see it, but you can feel it; when you do, it’s undeniable."

"Langley has humidity and people embrace that," he added. "At this point, that’s what most of us want: real."

Dowling told Fox News Digital that he believes Langley's rise is emblematic of a broader resurgence that has propelled country music to its greatest level of mainstream popularity in decades.

"We haven't seen country be this pop-dominant in 40 years, dating back to Dolly Parton, Kenny Rogers and the like achieving initial mainstream moments that were almost entirely couched in a very stereotypical brand of blending the Appalachian and Western aesthetics with what, ultimately, country had become as a repository for really great, crossover-friendly pop music," he said.

Eldridge argued that country's recent dominance is not surprising because its songs often center on universal experiences.

"Most of the artists are singing about topics that the majority of Americans can relate to: loving your family, being proud of your country, first love, lost love, struggling with bills, trying to be a better person, and giving thanks to Jesus," he said.

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"This has been the foundational basis for American vision, values and virtues for a long time," Eldridge added. "Others are just waking up to that reality."

Langley's growing mainstream appeal has drawn comparisons to Taylor Swift's crossover from her country music beginnings to global pop stardom.

However, Eldridge pointed to what he views as a key difference between the two artists.

"Langley is more true to country music, than Swift ever was in her early days," Eldridge said. "That said, Swift built an audience — and later, an empire — so she knew what she was doing all along."

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Eldridge told Fox News Digital that it is too early to know whether Langley will ultimately follow Swift's trajectory or reach the same level of commercial success. He also pointed out that Swift is far from the first country-pop crossover star.

"Swift deserves all the credit for her self-built, billion-dollar empire, but assigning her sole attribution for the country-pop cross-over is looking past all those artists who successfully built that model and passed down the blueprint," he said.

Eldridge argued Langley may be better served by continuing to lean into the country sound and faith-based identity that have defined her career rather than pursuing a full-fledged pop crossover.

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"Langley has both commercial appeal and a sense of authenticity — it’s hard to maintain both once you fully commit to the pop cross-over," he said.

"Historically speaking, country artists have careers; pop artists have a moment."

Fun fact: Oscar Mayer's first Wienermobile debuted in 1936

Wed, 24 Jul 2024 14:25:51 -0400

Scroll through the slideshow and be amazed

Lindsay Clancy prosecutors ‘squeeze’ timeline from ex-husband as jury weighs ‘murder versus madness’: expert

Thu, 30 Jul 2026 00:00:45 -0400

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

Patrick Clancy’s painstaking account of the night his three children died may have given prosecutors their clearest framework yet for arguing that Lindsay Clancy was lucid, deliberate and criminally responsible at the time of the killings, a legal expert says.

Testifying Wednesday in Plymouth Superior Court, Patrick walked jurors minute by minute through the errands that took him away from the family’s Duxbury, Massachusetts, home on Jan. 24, 2023: a trip to CVS for a child’s stool softener, followed by a stop to pick up dinner.

HEATED LINDSAY CLANCY COURTROOM EXCHANGE OVER 911 CALL, CRIME SCENE PHOTOS SETS STAGE FOR MOM’S MURDER TRIAL

He said Lindsay called him back while he was inside CVS, understood why he was there and calmly approved a generic substitute. When he returned home, he found an eerily quiet house, blood inside the couple’s locked bedroom and Lindsay injured beneath an open second-story window.

When Patrick found Lindsay Clancy lying on her back beneath their bedroom window, he said she had deep cuts on her wrists and a red line across her neck.

LINDSAY CLANCY’S EX-HUSBAND DETAILS ‘BIG SPIRAL’ AS EXPERT SAYS ONE PART ‘SCARED ME’ IN MOM’S MURDER TRIAL

"What happened?" he recalled asking her.

"I tried to kill myself," she responded, according to Patrick.

He then asked, "Where are the kids?"

LINDSAY CLANCY’S EX-HUSBAND DETAILS PILL USE AS EXPERT SAYS EVIDENCE COULD SHAPE MURDER TRIAL

"They’re in the basement," Lindsay told him.

Patrick testified that she did not say the children were injured, in danger or needed help.

Attorney Shari Karney said those seemingly mundane details, the text messages, phone call, dinner order and timing of Patrick’s drive, may become critical as prosecutors try to prove Lindsay understood her actions when the children were strangled with exercise bands.

WATCH: Legal expert says Patrick Clancy’s timeline may bolster prosecution in wife’s murder trial

"I call this case murder versus madness," Karney told Fox News Digital.

Karney said Patrick’s testimony largely helped the prosecution because it portrayed Lindsay as responsive and organized shortly before the killings. The state, she said, is attempting to "squeeze that timeline" as tightly as possible around the precise moment the children were killed.

WATCH: Patrick Clancy recounts finding wife after she said she tried to kill herself

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"That’s fairly lucid," Karney said of Lindsay’s ability to discuss the CVS purchase and coordinate the takeout order.

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But the defense is expected to argue that competence during routine tasks does not establish criminal responsibility during the killings. Lindsay’s attorneys contend she suffered from severe mental illness, including postpartum psychosis, and was impaired by a shifting regimen of psychiatric medications.

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Patrick testified that Lindsay later told him she heard a man’s voice telling her that if she did not act then, she would "lose her chance." He also said she had never previously told him she was hearing voices or experiencing psychosis.

Karney said the case will likely turn on whether jurors view the killings as a calculated act or "a catastrophic collapse" caused by severe psychological illness.

WATCH: Lindsay Clancy breaks down as jury hears husband's frantic 911 call

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The emotional stakes were on display when prosecutors played Patrick’s 911 call for the jury. The recording was barred from broadcast or reproduction under a court order, and the pool camera remained trained on Lindsay.

She sobbed and buried her face in her hands as the call played.

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Karney said that reaction could help both sides.

For the defense, she said, it humanized Lindsay as a "shattered, broken" mother confronting the consequences of the worst night of her life. For prosecutors, the same reaction captured the horror of the killings.

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Before the recording was played, Judge William Sullivan warned jurors not to allow sympathy, anger, passion or pity to influence their verdict.

"You must not be influenced in any way by the unpleasant nature of some of the evidence," Sullivan said, reminding jurors that their verdict must not be based on "sympathy, anger, passion or prejudice or pity."

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Clancy, a former labor and delivery nurse at Massachusetts General Hospital, has pleaded not guilty to three counts each of murder and strangulation.

17 Amazon finds under $25 that solve everyday problems

Wed, 25 Mar 2026 00:01:54 -0400

Solve everyday problems with products that cool your car, organize cords and add extra outlets. From brighter outdoor lighting to smart storage solutions, these finds under $25 solve everyday problems without stretching your budget. Best of all, most of them are on sale!

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Keep unsightly phone and laptop cords neatly wrapped and tangle-free with these silicone cable ties. Multiple slots let you tighten each tie as needed for a secure fit.

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Light up dark walkways, driveways and entryways with these motion-activated solar lights. The two-pack includes rechargeable batteries and a remote to control three lighting modes.

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Stop digging through cluttered drawers with these plastic organizers. They keep small items neatly separated and easy to find, and more than 40,000 shoppers bought them on Amazon last month.

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'Worst aquarium ever' review sends whaling museum's sales soaring 250%

Thu, 30 Jul 2026 08:45:49 -0400

A museum is cashing in after a one-star Google review calling it the "worst aquarium ever" became an unexpected viral hit.

The New Bedford Whaling Museum in Massachusetts, which highlights the history, science and art of whaling rather than marine animals, embraced the one-star review by boldly printing the phrase on T-shirts, sweatshirts and tote bags.

The merchandise has since gone viral on social media — sending sales soaring by 250% in just one week, The Associated Press (AP) reported.

MYSTERY OF GOLD COIN SHIPWRECK FINALLY UNMASKED AFTER 30 YEARS: 'FANTASTIC CONCLUSION'

The now-famous review was posted on Google in 2020 after a visitor mistakenly referred to the museum as an aquarium, writing that it was "the worst aquarium ever."

Rather than ignore the criticism, staff turned it into a merchandise design last fall, featuring the review on the back and a whale skeleton on the front.

The shirts have recently gained national attention after they were featured in multiple news outlets, helping to introduce the museum to an even wider audience.

"They took a chance on something, and it obviously hit," Amanda McMullen, president and CEO of the museum, told the AP.

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Adding to the irony, the museum opened a 250-gallon saltwater tank earlier this year featuring local marine life, including blue crabs, sea stars and northern puffer fish, as part of a partnership with the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth's School for Marine Science and Technology.

The unexpected success reflects the institution's personality, said Annelise Conway, chief engagement officer at the Whaling Museum.

"There isn't a strategy to be authentic," Conway told the AP. "It just sort of happens."

"The person who sold you your ticket is the person who is modeling the merchandise," Conway added.

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The museum's decision to embrace the joke has also won over social media users, who praised it for turning the review into a marketing success.

"I love it. Kudos to the museum for leaning into the joke and embracing it," one Reddit user wrote.

Another commenter joked, "I think it takes courage to walk into a museum with the word 'Whaling' in the name and think, 'I bet there's a dolphin show.'"

Others said the museum deserves the newfound attention.

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"It's honestly a great museum," a user commented. "I love that it's gone viral because it's just a wonderful place to support."

Fox News Digital reached out to the Whaling Museum for comment.

The Associated Press contributed reporting.

Florida Gators coach reveals damning clip of ESPN host sniffing a high-heel as foot feud escalates

Thu, 30 Jul 2026 08:25:28 -0400

We're two days away from August, and the college football season is already starting to heat up.

Sort of.

New Florida Gators head coach Jon Sumrall and ESPN football analyst Dan Orlovsky have been going back and forth this week over the most offseason topic of all time: pedicures.

ESPN'S DAN ORLOVSKY WEIGHS IN ON FLORIDA COACH JON SUMRALL'S PEDICURE PREFERENCES, IMMEDIATELY GETS ROASTED

That's right. You read that right. Pedicures.

Sumrall's wife let the cat out of the bag last week that the new UF coach has a secret passion for pedicures, saying that it's his "favorite extra thing to do," and that he gets one "every two weeks during football season."

Relatively harmless interview, and one that, frankly, I didn't think would get much play given the news cycle.

Boy, was I wrong.

Orlovsky hopped on ESPN's 'Get Up' this week, and angered America when he declared that he was "completely against pedicures for dudes."

"You're a dude. You're not supposed to get pedicures. I am so against this. You should not be getting pedicures... I'd rather have awful feet than get pedicures," he continued.

Everyone is entitled to their opinion, and Orlovsky made his stance clear. In turn, Sumrall took to X and stuffed the ESPN analyst in a locker with a photo so damning, I'm not even sure Orlovsky can come back from it:

Dan Orlovsky should never talk about feet with this clip out there

Goodness gracious.

Hand up, I forgot that picture/video of Dan Orlovsky existed. For those who don't follow ESPN religiously (all of you, I hope), that's a clip from a few years back on 'First Take' when Orlovsky, for some reason, decided to smell host Molly Qerim's shoe live on air.

He just ... smelt it:

My God. What a scene. What a moment for ESPN.

How does Dan Orlovsky, in good faith, make the pedicure comments when he KNOWS that clip is lingering in the ether? If I knew that footage existed, I would never, ever, ever, hop on ESPN and say a single word about feet.

I'd keep my mouth shut, my head down, and my eyes forward, and just pray nobody ever brings it back up.

PS: I don't agree with Orlovsky because I know plenty of dudes who get pedicures (well, just two, but still), but I also don't think it was the dumbest thing I've ever heard someone say. It's locker room talk. Guy speak. Clubhouse banter.

If you're in a locker room and say you get pedicures, you're gonna catch flack, even if the other dudes in there get them, too. That's how we operate.

I have no idea how the Gators are going to be this season. I assume pretty mediocre given the past decade, but maybe I'm wrong.

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I do know that Jon Sumrall is off to a blazing start with this takedown of Dan Orlovsky. We need more of this at UF. Things have gotten so bland around here.

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Not anymore. Not in July, at least.

Now, let's see this energy in October.

California lifeguard speaks out on heartstopping ocean rescue: 'I love what I do'

Thu, 30 Jul 2026 08:22:29 -0400

A 16-year-old lifeguard whose daring rescue of a 10-year-old on Saturday went viral finally spoke out about the harrowing save in a Wednesday statement.

Ryder Williams, the teen hero whose daring rescue of a young boy at Santa Cruz Beach on Saturday captivated the nation, described the episode in a statement released by his employer, California State Parks.

"I was at the waterline 15 yards downcoast of Tower 2 making a safety contact when I looked up and saw a child about 20 (yards) up from the tower lose his footing in ankle deep water," the statement opened.

OFF-DUTY ICE OFFICER RELIES ON 'SIXTH SENSE' TO SAVE DROWNING CHILD BEFORE DELIVERING MESSAGE TO CRITICS

"I radioed it in, threw my radio and sunglasses at the base of my tower as I ran toward the kid. I put my fins on my wrist, popped my buoy and entered the water to get ahold of the child. Due to the volatility of the water, I was unable to tube up the victim. After the first wave I was unable to pull him out because he was limp and the waves were pushing so hard. There were two to three more waves before lifeguard Aaron Bohnen entered the water to help me. There were bystanders who jumped in to try to help, and I yelled at them all to get back to shore," Williams' statement continued.

"Once Bohnen and I got the kid to shore I was instructed to get the med bag from Bohnen’s unit and we assessed the child. Shortly after, I got back into my tower where I returned to provide lifeguard services for the rest of my shift," he continued.

‘HERO' MOM DIES AFTER USING LAST STRENGTH TO SAVE 4-YEAR-OLD SON FROM FLORIDA RIVER

"I’m grateful to have had the opportunity to return the child to his family safely. This is my job and I love what I do. I’m thankful to my fellow lifeguards who perform rescues just like this every day," Williams' statement concluded.

Williams' heroics earned him national attention, praise and even an invitation to the White House.

MISSING GRAND CANYON HIKER, 83, RESCUED AFTER GETTING SEPARATED FROM COMPANION

"We’re going to bring this heroic young man, and his family, into the White House with, perhaps, the boy he saved, to give him a High Civilian Honor. Very brave, he deserves it!" the White House wrote in an X post attributed to President Donald Trump.

Williams' rescue was one of 34 rescues in the Santa Cruz district over the weekend, California State Parks said in a statement obtained by FOX 2 KTVU.

"All California State Park lifeguard towers were staffed, there were 6 units on, a two-person rescue water craft team, three permanent lifeguard units, and a lifeguard supervisor working in Pajaro Coast," California State Parks also said of the weekend.

The 10-year-old boy Williams rescued was identified by KTVU as being named Nathaniel. His father, Sumit Rai, praised Williams' efforts in an interview with KTVU.

"It was a remarkable effort to bring him back to shore. I mean Ryder fought the sea," he told the outlet.

"It's really hard to fight that, and my son was unconscious. He weighs about 100 pounds, and he was limp, so that's basically dead weight that he had to carry and hold onto to pull back to shore," he continued.

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"It's so easy to let go, and he knew that if he lets go then he's gonna basically just float away, and he's gone. That's the end of it, and he would have died," Rai concluded.

Fox News Digital contacted California State Parks for comment and additional information.

NFL employees’ troubling driving incidents mount, costing jobs and putting others at risk

Thu, 30 Jul 2026 08:18:08 -0400

Many years ago, before drunk-driving charges were euphemized as driving while intoxicated, Dan Marino liked to imbibe a little. But he also enjoyed getting around South Florida because he was the quarterback of the Miami Dolphins, not a hermit.

Marino understood his stature in the community and what an unacceptable pratfall a drinking and driving charge would be on charges of his reputation. So he bought a limousine. And he hired a driver.

That driver, who happened to be the father of future NFL great and current Carolina Panthers general manager Dan Morgan, would drive Marino everywhere, making sure the star quarterback, who liked a few drinks now and then, never had any issues on the road.

TONY ROMO ARRESTED IN MILWAUKEE FOR ALLEGED OWI OFFENSE: REPORT

The NFL, its players and coaches could definitely use more of Dan Marino's thinking now because events in the past couple of years suggest the league has something of a driving problem.

Consider what has happened this month so far:

July 22 – The Los Angeles Chargers release guard Ben Cleveland after he is arrested the week before on charges of speeding and driving with a limited permit, according to police reports obtained by the New York Post. That arrest came roughly one-and-a-half-years removed from Cleveland being arrested for DUI.
July 23: Former Dallas Cowboys quarterback and current CBS NFL analyst Tony Romo is arrested in Wisconsin for OWI, which is Operating While Intoxicated, unsafe passing, open intoxicants, and refusing a breathalyzer. He was booked, and a hearing is scheduled for Sept. 21.
July 25: News of an accident involving Kyle Shanahan leaks. The San Francisco 49ers coach on July 14 suffered a broken hand, broken nose, broken ribs, a facial laceration and has been battling concussion symptoms after a head-on collision with another car. Although neither driver was cited, Shanahan this week took responsibility for the accident, saying he dropped his phone and lost control of his Tesla which hit an oncoming car.
July 28: Defensive backs coach Gerald Alexander is suspended by the Minnesota Vikings, the team announces, after he pleaded guilty to third-degree DWI. Alexander paid fines and fees, was assigned community service and will be on probation for two years. He is suspended until Aug. 13.

VIKINGS SUSPEND ASSISTANT GERALD ALEXANDER AFTER GUILTY DUI PLEA

We are not close to being done.

The Washington Commanders fired tight end coach Ben Steele on the eve of training camp following a DWI arrest in June.

"Certainly really wish the best for Ben and his family," Commanders general manager Adam Peters said this week. "A lot of thought was put into that decision and, you know, it was unfortunate but hoping for the best for him and his family."

Before the draft, OutKick reported that University of Miami defensive lineman Rueben Bain Jr. got into an accident in October 2025 and was cited for reckless driving. That followed a March 2024 fatal accident in which Bain hit another car on I-95 in South Florida, setting off a chain reaction accident that eventually left one of his passengers non-responsive.

That passenger eventually died.

Bain was drafted in the first round by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, but the Top 10 prospect dropped to the No. 15 overall slot.

Kansas City Chiefs receiver Rashee Rice served 30 days in jail from May to June because he tested positive for THC (marijuana) and the reason we know this is because those tests are part of a probation agreement stemming from his well-chronicled driving conviction.

Rice in July 2025 pleaded guilty to third-degree felony charges (collision involving serious bodily injury, and racing on a highway causing bodily injury) following a high-speed March 2024 crash in Dallas.

Fox News Digital compiled records of 21 driving incidents involving NFL people dating back to 2024 that speak to drinking and driving, reckless driving or simply bad decision-making behind the wheel when viewed individually.

But when one understands NFL-connected people – not including their families – are involved in more than one traffic-related mishap per month on average, it could signal a problem.

An NFL spokesman could not be reached for comment on this matter, but a league source told Fox News Digital this is an individual and club matter.

Clubs instruct their employees not to drink and drive, something they probably should already know. Some clubs connect players and others with rideshare programs or tell players to call club security if they feel unsure of their ability to drive.

But a large percentage of these incidents, like Shanahan's head-on collision, do not involve alcohol.

More NFL drivers apparently could learn something from the Dan Marino example.

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Zac Brown Band's John Driskell Hopkins says he's 'chasing the clock' after ALS diagnosis

Thu, 30 Jul 2026 08:00:45 -0400

Zac Brown Band's John Driskell Hopkins is opting to look at his ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis) diagnosis in a different light and is trying to make everyday count.

Over a decade after the Ice Bucket Challenge surfaced on social media, it is making a comeback. During an interview with Fox News Digital about the challenge, Hopkins explained that after his diagnosis in 2021, he's been "chasing the clock" ever since.

"I'm almost busier now than I was before because I'm trying to get so much done. I'm tryin' to fit it all in. I'm taking more family vacations. I'm in the studio more than I should be. I'm still on tour with Zac Brown Band right now. You know, my fingers work. My voice works, it's been compromised, but most of the set, no one would notice," Hopkins, a founding member of Zac Brown Band, said.

He continued, "And I'm playing different things on stage, but they still don't make sense. You know, I'm chasing the clock more than I ever have been. And what I worry about is that that is causing me stress, which might be exacerbating my condition. So it's a bit of a catch-22, you know, I've created."

ZAC BROWN BAND'S JOHN DRISKELL HOPKINS FIGHTS ALS DIAGNOSIS: ‘CRYING SUCKS’

Acknowledging the reality of his diagnosis, Hopkins said that he's looking toward the future where he might not be able to sing.

"I hope that my progression continues to be slow and that I can sing for a long time, but who knows?" he said.

In 2014, Hopkins and the Zac Brown Band participated in the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge on social media – years before his diagnosis. At the time, Hopkins had no idea what the disease was, let alone that he would be diagnosed one day.

WATCH: Zac Brown Band's John Driskell Hopkins is 'chasing the clock' after ALS diagnosis

"I didn't even know what it was. I mean, I think a lot of people in the band that did the challenge with me understood that it was neurological and fatal, but we didn't have any clue as to how it affected the body more," he began.

"Certainly not how cases were increasing. I mean, we have seen an explosion of neurodegenerative diseases and I can only, generally point to maybe its toxicity. You know, maybe in the world where we're just consuming a lot more things that are doing us harm. That's all I can guess. But I would have never thought… I was indestructible in 2014, you know?"

With several notable public figures recently diagnosed with ALS, the Ice Bucket Challenge has begun resurfacing across social media. Hop and his team at Hop On A Cure have now joined in, sharing their own Ice Bucket Challenge video and passing the challenge on to fellow ALS organizations, as well as the Zac Brown Band.

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

Hopkins told Fox News Digital he's glad the trend has come back around this summer. Hopkin's nonprofit organization and the Zac Brown Band posted videos on Instagram in July participating in the challenge.

"It's very popular, and it's fun in the summer. It's been a really hot summer this year, all over the world. And we were in London with 95 degree days, and they never see that," Hopkins said.

When asked how he's been able to stay strong during his diagnosis, Hopkins told Fox News Digital that he doesn't feel strong at all.

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"I don't feel strong, people often ask me where my strength comes from, but I feel incredibly weak, not just physically. You know, I'm an actor, I have a theater degree, so I'm acting strong," he said.

WATCH: John Driskell Hopkins talks about the viral ALS Ice Bucket Challenge

Hopkins was diagnosed with ALS just before Christmas in 2021 and announced his diagnosis in May 2022. After his diagnosis, Hopkins and his wife, Jennifer, founded the nonprofit organization, Hop On A Cure, to help accelerate research to prevent, reverse and ultimately cure ALS while also raising awareness and supporting families affected by the disease.

At the time of his diagnosis, Hopkins emphasized that his disease had been slowly progressing, allowing him to continue touring and performing with the band.

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During his interview with Fox News Digital, Hopkins said he's in a different position than 99% of ALS patients because he is still able to plan for the next calendar year.

"The fact that I still see next year in my future puts me in a different position than 99.9% of ALS patients. The fact that I'm looking to my calendar for '27. I'm gonna be at the 30a Songwriters Festival '27, and maybe I won't be able to sing what I can now, but maybe I will, you know, we just don't know, and I appreciate you recognizing that reaction as strength, but to me, it's getting up every day that I can and doing what I do," Hopkins concluded.

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Captured 'America's Most Wanted' fugitive Ronald Fischer abandons alias after 20 years on the run

Thu, 30 Jul 2026 08:00:36 -0400

After more than 20 years on the run, an "America's Most Wanted" fugitive who disappeared in the middle of his sexual assault trial stood before a Rhode Island judge this week under his real name for the first time since fleeing justice.

Ronald Fischer, 70, identified himself by his real name during a hearing in Newport Superior Court, where a judge canceled an outstanding warrant tied to his alleged failure to appear for trial in April 2005, arraigned him on a bail-jumping charge and set bail at $20,000 surety.

Fischer was arrested earlier this month aboard the 56-foot sailboat "Silver Lining" off the coast of New Jersey after investigators received a credible tip about his whereabouts.

'AMERICA'S MOST WANTED' FUGITIVE CAPTURED ON SAILBOAT OFF NJ COAST AFTER 20 YEARS ON THE RUN

During Monday's hearing, Fischer appeared without an attorney as the court discussed appointing counsel.

His next court appearance is scheduled for Aug. 17.

Authorities said Fischer had been living under the alias "Dr. Richard Graydon" while eluding capture for more than 20 years.

'AMERICA'S MOST WANTED' EX-COP FUGITIVE RETURNED AFTER 20 YEARS ON THE RUN TO FACE MURDER, CHILD SEX CHARGES

Fischer disappeared during his 2005 sexual assault trial in Rhode Island, where he was accused of sexually assaulting a woman aboard his boat at a Portsmouth marina in 2003. He was later convicted in absentia and remained one of the state's most wanted fugitives, appearing multiple times on "America's Most Wanted."

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An affidavit previously obtained by Fox News Digital details how investigators believe Fischer meticulously planned his disappearance before vanishing.

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Investigators wrote that Fischer emailed his attorney on April 23, 2005, saying he intended to flee the country rather than risk a conviction. Later that evening, they said he called each of his daughters and told them he was leaving the United States.

GOT A TIP?

According to the affidavit, Fischer contacted a New York travel agency before purchasing an American Airlines ticket from Boston to London, only to cancel the reservation before boarding the flight.

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Surveillance cameras later captured him returning a rental car to an Enterprise location in Boston shortly after midnight before walking away carrying two travel bags.

Investigators also determined Fischer spent the days before his disappearance putting his affairs in order by transferring vehicles to his daughters, instructing them to remove their belongings from his home and disposing of a Jaguar before vanishing.

SEND US A TIP

The affidavit also alleges Fischer emailed attorney Robert Mann explaining he had decided not to risk being convicted in Rhode Island and instead planned to leave the country to pursue what he described as "a good, safe, secure and comfortable life."

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Fischer now faces sentencing in the sexual assault case, a felony bail-jumping charge and a pending federal charge alleging unlawful flight to avoid prosecution.

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The U.S. Marshals Service credited a multi-agency investigation and a public tip with leading investigators to Fischer's capture, ending what it described as one of Rhode Island's longest-running fugitive cases.

Rare pagan masterpiece emerges near where St Paul spread teachings of Christianity

Thu, 30 Jul 2026 08:00:05 -0400

Excavators recently uncovered an ornate Roman mosaic at an archaeological site in Turkey, near where the Apostle Paul helped spread Christianity beyond the Levant.

The mosaic was found at Aspendos, an ancient city about 25 miles east of Antalya in southern Turkey, the country's Ministry of Culture and Tourism announced in June.

It was discovered on Theater Street in Aspendos, which connects the city's acropolis — or citadel — with its theater.

ARCHAEOLOGISTS UNEARTH ANCIENT TREASURE CACHE AT BIBLICAL CITY CONNECTED TO GENESIS

Aspendos lies just miles from Perga, the biblical city mentioned in Acts 13:13 and 14:25 where the Apostle Paul traveled during his first missionary journey.

Pictures of the mosaic show a depiction of the youthful river god Eurymedon, framed by geometric patterns and aquatic imagery.

Officials said the god is "depicted holding and wearing reed leaves."

1,740-YEAR-OLD ROMAN COIN BEARING EMPEROR'S NAME FOUND AS ENGLAND RAIL DIG REVEALS CLUES

"He leans against an amphora from which water flows, symbolizing nature's abundance and the life-giving power of water," the translated statement said.

Archaeologists believe the pagan mosaic once formed the floor of a pool built in the early 3rd century A.D.

The mosaic floor covers roughly 20 by 25 feet and "is believed to continue into areas that have not yet been excavated," officials said.

"Researchers believe the structure was subdivided into separate rooms following the 262 A.D. earthquake."

ANCIENT ESTATE TIED TO GROUP IN THE BIBLE UNEARTHED WITH 'FASCINATING' TREASURES IN ISRAEL

Depictions of the river god Eurymedon are exceptionally unusual in ancient mosaics, according to Turkish officials.

The god is "represented by only a limited number of known examples," said the statement.

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Mehmet Nuri Ersoy, the Turkish minister of culture and tourism, noted that the mosaic was of "great scientific importance."

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"It is also especially significant because depictions of river gods are extremely rare in mosaic art," Ersoy said in the release.

"This discovery not only reveals the artistic richness of Aspendos, but also provides important scientific data on Roman-period Anatolian mosaic art."

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The discovery is one of many archaeological finds in Turkey, which has become a hotbed for discoveries tied to the ancient Roman and early Christian worlds.

This summer, archaeologists unveiled a rare 1,700-year-old Aramaic inscription at a temple in Turkey, offering new evidence of Christianity's rise over the mysterious cult Mithraism.

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Last fall, excavators uncovered a Roman military hospital that was later converted into a Christian sanctuary in the ancient Turkish city of Kaunos.

Obama endorses Democratic Iowa state rep running for US Senate against Trump-backed House Republican

Thu, 30 Jul 2026 07:53:02 -0400

Former President Barack Obama has endorsed Democratic Iowa state Rep. Josh Turek for U.S. Senate.

"Now the ball's in your court, Iowa. Let's make sure that we send Josh Turek to the United States Senate," Obama said near the end of a video that featured the two men shooting hoops on a basketball court in a modified version of the classic game horse.

"Let's go. We playin' horse or what? Obama asks.

"We're playin' Iowa," Turek replies.

OBAMA WARNS VANCE IS PUSHING 'BLOOD AND SOIL' VERSION OF 'WE THE PEOPLE' MANTRA

"I know a little somethin' about winning Iowa," Obama quips.

Obama won the state in both the 2008 and 2012 presidential contests.

Turek is a four-time wheelchair basketball Paralympian and was a gold medalist twice.

DEM SENATE HOPEFUL RIPPED AS 'ABSENTEE LEGISLATOR' AFTER MISSING NEARLY 60% OF VOTES

He will face U.S. House Republican Ashley Hinson, R-Iowa, in the general election.

U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, announced last year that she would not run for re-election in 2026.

That same day, Hinson announced a U.S. Senate bid.

TRUMP-ENDORSED HINSON SECURES IOWA SENATE NOMINATION AS DEMOCRATS EYE GOP SEAT

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Then just days later, President Donald Trump endorsed Hinson for Senate.

Salman Rushdie attacker convicted of federal terrorism charges, motivated by Iranian fatwa

Thu, 30 Jul 2026 07:42:14 -0400

The man who stabbed Salman Rushdie more than a dozen times on stage at an event in western New York was found guilty Wednesday of attempting to carry out a fatwa issued by Iran’s government against the award-winning British author more than 30 years earlier.

Hadi Matar, 28, is already serving a 25-year sentence after he was convicted last year in state court of attempted murder for the 2022 knife attack that left Rushdie blind in one eye and with nerve damage.

On Wednesday, a federal jury in Buffalo took less than two hours to convict Matar of all three charges — attempting to provide material support to the Iran-backed Hezbollah terrorist group, committing an act of terrorism that transcended national boundaries, and providing material support to terrorists, Reuters reported.

He now faces a maximum of life in prison and is set to be sentenced on November 3.

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Federal prosecutors argued that Matar had been enraged by Rushdie's 1988 novel "The Satanic Verses," which portrayed a fictionalized version of Muhammad that many Muslims saw as blasphemous.

A year later, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini issued a fatwa, or a religious edict, urging Muslims across the world to kill Rushdie. Iran's government later backed away from the fatwa, only for Khomeini's successor, Ali Khamenei, to reaffirm it in 2017, Reuters reported, citing the U.S. Attorney's Office.

Prosecutors said Matar, who was born in the U.S. but has Lebanese citizenship, spent more than a year studying the fatwa before attempting to fulfill it. He had also turned to Islam after a visit to the Middle East years before the eventual attack.

On August 12, 2022, Rushdie was speaking at the Chautauqua Institution in Mayville, New York, when Matar rushed onstage and repeatedly stabbed the Indian-born author in the head, neck, torso and left hand.

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Matar's federal trial weighed whether he had committed an act of terrorism by attacking Rushdie.

Although prosecutors acknowledged that Matar never contacted anyone in Hezbollah, they argued that without the fatwa, he never would have been motivated to try to kill Rushdie, The New York Times reported.

Prosecutors presented Matar's notes to the jury, which referenced "Jihad" and the "need to kill him ASAP," according to the Times.

Matar's defense attorney, Nathaniel L. Barone II, argued that his client acted independently and was not being controlled by Hezbollah.

AMERICAN ‘JIHAD’ FUELED BY 'RISKY SOURCE' INSIDE US BORDERS, WARNS NATIONAL SECURITY EXPERT

Prosecutors countered by showing evidence of Matar's devotion to Hezbollah, which included a photo of him wearing a Hezbollah shirt while making a salute, an essay he wrote that praised the terrorist group and a video he created using remarks from a former leader of Hezbollah, the Times reported.

Timothy Lynch, a federal prosecutor, said in his closing statement that Matar "wanted to be forever revered as a Hezbollah martyr," according to the Times.

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Rushdie, who testified at the trial, has previously described the attack as something that took him back to the "distant past," when he spent a decade in hiding after the fatwa was issued.

"I saw the man in black running towards me, down the right-hand side of the seating area: black clothes, black face mask – he was coming in hard and low, a squat missile," Rushdie told "60 Minutes" host Anderson Cooper in April 2024. "I confess, I had sometimes imagined my assassin rising up in some public forum or other and coming for me in this way."

NATO member scrambles fighter jets as Russian attack on Ukraine kills 8

Thu, 30 Jul 2026 07:41:10 -0400

Poland, the closest NATO member to the Ukraine-Russia war, scrambled fighter jets and placed its air defenses on high alert early Thursday as Russia launched more than 70 missiles and roughly 280 drones across Ukraine, killing at least eight and wounding dozens from Kyiv to the western city of Lviv.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, just returning from this week's U.S. visit with President Donald Trump and the funeral of late Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., said the barrage exposed a critical shortage of Western-supplied interceptors, particularly against ballistic missiles.

"The protection of people’s lives depends directly on their willingness" to provide Ukraine with air-defense missiles, Zelenskyy said of Kyiv’s allies.

Hours later Thursday morning, the European Union disbursed $4 billion to Ukraine to finance the procurement of more drones, missiles, air defense and fighter jets, according to the European Commission.

RUSSIA LAUNCHES BALLISTIC MISSILE ATTACK ON KYIV HOURS AFTER ZELENSKYY WARNS OF MAJOR STRIKE

The disbursement is part of a more than $100 billion loan approved by the EU earlier this year and follows the roughly $3.5 billion installment on June 25 and $4.5 billion on June 30.

Polish forces detected an unidentified object moving west through the country’s airspace shortly before 4 a.m. An F-16 was dispatched to intercept it, but the object disappeared from radar minutes later. Authorities subsequently found a crater about 33 feet wide and scattered debris in farmland near Tarnawa-Kolonia, about 1.2 miles from the closest buildings.

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said initial evidence indicated the object was a Russian Kh-101 missile, although investigators were still working to confirm its type and origin.

THE TWO MOST IMPORTANT AMERICAN WEAPONS SYSTEMS NATO IS EAGER TO HAVE

"All the indications are that it was a Russian Kh-101," Tusk said, adding that Polish forces were prepared to shoot it down if it had continued flying toward a populated area.

He added the U.S. is interested in joining the investigation, which has initially determined the missile was not intended for Poland territory. The fate of the Ukraine-Russian war might be decided within the next 100 days, Tusk told reporters.

The threat to a NATO ally is a new frontier in the long-running war and comes after Zelenskyy pressed senators to advance Graham's sweeping sanctions package. Also, Trump and Zelenskyy discussed U.S. licenses allowing Ukraine to produce Patriot interceptors, along with other defense cooperation and efforts to revive stalled diplomacy with Moscow.

Six people, including two girls ages 5 and 12, were killed when a Russian Iskander-M ballistic missile struck a private home housing a large family near Kryvyi Rih, according to local officials. Seven others were reported killed in Kyiv and elsewhere in the Dnipropetrovsk and Poltava regions as the casualty count rose during rescue operations.

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"A dark night," Oleksandr Vilkul, the head of Kryvyi Rih’s defense council, wrote on Telegram. Eight people were wounded in the strike on the home.

The person killed in Kyiv was a 31-year-old man, while two others were wounded, according to Ukrainian police. Russian strikes damaged residential buildings, vehicles, storage facilities, a market and a garage complex in the capital, where air raid warnings lasted more than five hours and thousands of residents sheltered in subway stations.

In Lviv, about 40 miles from the Polish border, emergency crews searched damaged apartment buildings for people trapped beneath concrete and debris. Thirty people, including children, were reported injured. More than 20 residential buildings, a school and two kindergartens were damaged, officials said.

"I was terrified watching the rescuers go beneath those concrete slabs," one Lviv resident told Reuters as crews pulled a boy from a damaged building.

Ukraine’s air force said its defenses intercepted 55 missiles and 265 drones. But only one of nine ballistic missiles was shot down, while 11 missiles and 17 drones struck targets at 20 locations.

The U.S.-made Patriot is the only system currently in Ukraine’s arsenal capable of reliably intercepting Russian ballistic missiles, which travel at several times the speed of sound. Zelenskyy has repeatedly warned that Patriot interceptors are arriving too slowly and in insufficient numbers.

During his Tuesday meeting with Trump, Zelenskyy said the leaders discussed licenses for Patriot interceptor production in Ukraine. He also met with Lockheed Martin executives and told senators that domestic production would be a long-term solution but would not address Ukraine’s immediate shortage of missiles. European countries have offered to pay for additional U.S.-made interceptors.

Zelenskyy’s Washington visit coincided with Senate consideration of the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026, named for the longtime defense hawk and outspoken Ukraine supporter who died unexpectedly earlier this month.

The Senate voted 86-12 Tuesday to clear an initial procedural hurdle and voted 84-12 Wednesday to formally proceed with the legislation. Additional votes were still required before final passage.

The package would impose sanctions on Russian officials, oligarchs, financial institutions, energy projects and vessels accused of helping Moscow evade existing restrictions. It would also authorize tariffs of up to 100% on goods from the five largest purchasers of Russian oil and natural gas and the leading countries facilitating sanctions evasion.

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Graham negotiated the revised package with the White House shortly before his death. The legislation also includes an extension of sanctions targeting Iran’s energy and weapons sectors, a provision sought by the Trump administration.

Zelenskyy met with a bipartisan group of senators before the procedural votes and called the legislation an important signal to Russia, Europe and the Ukrainian people. He watched the Senate vote from the chamber’s gallery after attending Graham’s funeral at Washington National Cathedral.

Reuters and The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Hawley moves to close federal cash prize loopholes after Fauci 'got rich while millions of people died'

Thu, 30 Jul 2026 07:40:04 -0400

Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., is introducing legislation to block federal bureaucrats from accepting cash prizes on Thursday, just a day after laying into Dr. Anthony Fauci for receiving what Hawley said was over $1 million during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Hawley accused Fauci during a Wednesday Senate hearing of exploiting loopholes in federal laws that already prohibit government employees from soliciting rewards like cash prizes. Hawley's bill, dubbed the No Cash Prizes for Bureaucrats Act, would close those loopholes.

"No federal bureaucrat should accept cash prizes while on the job. That’s why I’m introducing legislation to bar federal employees from accepting cash prizes or soliciting awards. Fauci got rich while millions of people died. It can never happen again," Hawley told Fox News Digital in a statement.

TOP 5 MOMENTS FROM FAUCI'S HEARING: PAUL BOOTS LAWYER, MORENO ERUPTS AS CONTEMPT VOTE LOOMS

Hawley cited public records showing that Fauci, while director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), used employees to solicit at least eight cash awards for himself, with one award check alone totaling $900,000.

The new legislation would block federal employees from receiving rewards for medicine and research as well as block employees from soliciting such rewards. It would also strengthen existing federal regulations that block National Institutes of Health officials from using their or a subordinate's official duty time to solicit rewards.

The bill comes after Hawley thrashed Fauci during a Wednesday hearing with the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, during which Fauci invoked the Fifth Amendment over 100 times.

RAND PAUL SEEKS CONTEMPT CHARGES AFTER FAUCI INVOKES FIFTH AMENDMENT MORE THAN 100 TIMES

"But I think I know why you're doing it," Hawley said of Fauci's refusal to testify. "It's because you don't want to answer questions. It's because you did all kinds of terrible things. It's because during the pandemic, you got rich… while people were dying."

"You were using federal employees with taxpayer money to apply for and solicit cash prizes for you personally, cash prizes totaling over $1 million," Hawley said. "You did all of that during the pandemic, didn't you?"

Rather than respond to Hawley's questions, Fauci repeatedly said, "On the advice of counsel, I respectfully decline to answer based upon my rights under the Fifth Amendment to the Constitution."

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Hawley then pointed to what he described as internal emails from Fauci's staff, including one from former chief of staff Greg Folkers discussing a nomination for the Dan David Prize. According to Hawley, the email asked federal employees to bolster the COVID-19 section of Fauci's nomination by providing language detailing his pandemic response.

"We're working on this nomination for the Dan David Award for Fauci," Hawley read from the email. "We need to beef up the COVID part."

Hawley said the Dan David Award carried a $900,000 cash prize and claimed Fauci used federal employees to help obtain it. He further accused Fauci of using government staff and resources to pursue at least eight additional cash awards, including honors from the Partnership for Public Service, the Adelson Prize, the Smithsonian Institution, the National Academy of Medicine and the CDC Foundation.

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"In fact, you turned your staff into a full-time application machine," Hawley said. "You actually wrote to people and said, 'Do you think maybe I'd qualify?'"

Fox News' Stephen Sorace contributed to this report.

WNBA suddenly wants to stick to basketball after years of making politics part of the product

Thu, 30 Jul 2026 07:24:38 -0400

The WNBA media suddenly wants everyone to stick to basketball.

Well, some members of the WNBA media do. Just not until they’ve decided which players are allowed to speak and which answers are acceptable.

The contradiction was on full display Tuesday night in Seattle, where Storm center Stefanie Dolson arrived for a game against the Indiana Fever wearing a shirt that read, "Trans rights are human rights."

Nobody needed help connecting those dots. Dolson wore the shirt one week after Fever guard Sophie Cunningham publicly opposed allowing biological males to compete in women’s sports.

SOPHIE CUNNINGHAM RALLY ROCKS WNBA GAME AS 'SAVE WOMEN'S SPORTS' ACTIVISTS FACE COUNTERPROTEST

The Storm then promoted Dolson’s shirt on its official social media accounts, adding three speaking-head emojis to make sure no one missed the message.

After the game, a credentialed member of the WNBA media attempted to question Fever coach Stephanie White about a pregame demonstration outside the arena supporting Cunningham’s position.

Except the "reporter" didn’t frame it as a demonstration supporting women’s sports. She called it an "anti-trans rally" and said Cunningham’s comments had "ignited right-wing and anti-trans supporters."

That’s not how you phrase a question when you’re genuinely interested in hearing the answer. It’s a political statement with a question mark tacked onto the end.

That’s not journalism. It’s activism with a credential.

An Indiana Fever public relations representative eventually interrupted, explained that neither Cunningham nor the organization had anything to do with the demonstration and said the team was focused on winning basketball games.

"Any more basketball questions?" the spokesperson asked.

In that particular moment, it was a fair response.

My colleague Jackson Thompson has the full story on what happened in Seattle. But Tuesday night was really just the latest example of a much larger trend surrounding the WNBA.

The people who spent years celebrating politics as an integral part of women’s basketball suddenly want to recenter the conversation on basketball.

Funny how that works.

Chiney Ogwumike wants a reset

Former WNBA player and current ESPN analyst Chiney Ogwumike delivered that message during a recent appearance on "First Take," one of ESPN's most prominent daily shows. So, this wasn’t a throwaway comment on a WNBA-centered podcast with a tiny audience. Ogwumike was speaking on one of the biggest platforms in sports media.

She said it was "time to reset the conversation" around Clark and the WNBA.

"This conversation has reached levels that stray so far away from the sport," she said. "And I feel like it is our responsibility now to recenter it."

She argued that ESPN’s programs "have a choice" about which stories they give airtime and said the focus should be on the "beautiful basketball" being played during the league’s 30th season.

Ogwumike is right about one thing: ESPN programs have a choice about which stories and narratives are presented to the audience.

The problem is that the network spent years using that power to promote the WNBA’s progressive politics. Ogwumike regularly helped it do so.

CHINEY OGWUMIKE'S DEFENSE OF ALYSSA THOMAS REINFORCED EVERYTHING CRITICS SAY ABOUT THE WNBA MEDIA

In 2020, Ogwumike went on ESPN to defend athletes using their platforms to advance political and social causes.

"The reason why you see athletes leading the charge when it comes to social change is because it’s in our DNA," she said.

Ogwumike also argued that "all lives cannot matter unless Black lives matter equally." Huh, that's interesting.

In 2020, Ogwumike was all for athletes "using their platforms" to advance left-wing and progressive causes. She didn't tell players to stick to basketball. In fact, she presented activism as a natural extension of professional athletics.

A year later, Ogwumike served as an executive producer of ESPN’s "144," a documentary about the 2020 WNBA season that prominently celebrated the league’s social activism and political organizing.

Ogwumike acknowledged on "First Take" that she hasn’t "been perfect" in handling the current conversation. That’s fair, and at least she showed some self-awareness.

But let’s be honest about what’s happening here.

Ogwumike doesn’t believe sports and politics should remain separate. She’s made that clear for years. What she really believes is that this particular political discussion has become distracting and damaging.

That’s a reasonable position, but it raises an obvious question: Where was all this concern about recentering the conversation when the WNBA’s politics flowed exclusively in a progressive direction?

ESPN didn’t spend years reluctantly covering political activism that players forced onto its airwaves. The network celebrated that activism as one of the WNBA’s defining qualities. Now Ogwumike is using ESPN’s signature show to argue that ESPN should become more selective about what it amplifies.

Apparently, editorial restraint became important only after the political conversation escaped the boundaries ESPN preferred.

Angel Reese is ready to move on

Then there’s Angel Reese.

During Toronto’s July 17 game against Atlanta, Tempo coach Sandy Brondello complained that Reese was being treated like a "protected species" by the officials.

Brondello is Australian, where the phrase is commonly used in sports to describe a player who receives favorable treatment from referees. But Reese took offense, posted the comment on social media, tagged Brondello, added a clown emoji and wrote, "ARE WE SURPRISED?!"

The situation quickly became a national controversy about race and discrimination, largely because Reese deliberately framed it that way. Brondello apologized, explained what she meant and received a one-game suspension from the WNBA.

Reese thanked the league for taking action and said she was grateful everyone could now "move on from the situation and just play winning basketball."

Notice a pattern?

Reese didn’t object when an overheard complaint about officiating became a cultural controversy. She publicly amplified it and made sure an officiating complaint was viewed through a racial lens.

Once the league accepted Reese’s interpretation and suspended the coach, though, it was time to stop talking and get back to basketball.

That’s increasingly what "get back to basketball" appears to mean around the WNBA.

First, arrive at the approved conclusion. Then end the conversation.

ESPN also published a lengthy All-Star Weekend feature lamenting how controversy had swallowed the league. The story quoted a Chicago Sky season-ticket holder saying, "politics has killed my hobby," and ended with another fan wishing everyone could "get back to the game."

To give a quick peek behind the curtain, reporters don’t select quotes like those by accident. The writer used two fans to reinforce the idea that people around the WNBA are exhausted by politics and desperate to get back to basketball. Whether that sentiment is actually representative of the league’s fans is another question.

Yet the same story acknowledged the WNBA’s long relationship with Democratic politicians and declared that the WNBA is never completely devoid of politics.

Well, which is it?

Is politics an essential part of the WNBA’s identity, or is it an unfortunate distraction from basketball?

The answer seems to depend entirely on who’s doing the talking.

The WNBA made politics part of the product

Politics didn’t suddenly invade the WNBA because Caitlin Clark became famous or because Sophie Cunningham expressed an opinion shared by the majority of Americans.

The league made a conscious decision to integrate political and social activism into its product.

The WNBA launched an official Pride initiative in 2014. Two years later, the NBA and WNBA became the first professional sports leagues to march and enter a float in New York City’s Pride parade.

In 2016, Lynx players wore shirts referencing Philando Castile, Alton Sterling and Black Lives Matter. Soon after, players from the Indiana Fever, New York Liberty and Phoenix Mercury wore similar shirts, prompting the league to fine those teams and players before rescinding the penalties following backlash and promising to work with the union on player expression.

Then came the 2020 season.

The WNBA and its players’ union launched the Justice Movement and created a Social Justice Council. The league placed Black Lives Matter on its courts, honored Breonna Taylor on player uniforms and said the council would drive conversations about race, voting rights, LGBTQ advocacy and gun control.

This wasn’t a handful of individual players expressing their personal opinions.

It was an official league initiative built directly into the season. The council wasn’t limited to broad appeals for fairness or equality, either. It entered specific policy debates, including gun control.

Players then moved beyond social advocacy and entered a partisan election. WNBA players across the league wore "Vote Warnock" shirts in support of Democratic Senate candidate Raphael Warnock, who was challenging Republican Sen. Kelly Loeffler, then a co-owner of the Atlanta Dream.

Players are free to advocate for political candidates. But when they use nationally televised WNBA games to do it, they can’t later pretend outsiders were responsible for dragging politics into women’s basketball.

Once these players endorsed a political candidate inside WNBA arenas, the argument that politics had no place in women’s basketball was over (if it wasn't already).

The league wasn’t shy about any of this.

In 2024, the WNBA used its Commissioner’s Cup to promote civic engagement and "reproductive health" advocacy.

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Bethany Donaphin, then the WNBA’s head of league operations, called it "the most progressive league in professional sports."

"So really, why wouldn’t we use one of our marquee league events to address important social issues?" she asked.

Fine.

But the WNBA can’t use its marquee events to advance progressive causes, celebrate players for influencing elections and market activism as a central part of the league’s identity, then become offended when conservatives, Republicans or players with dissenting opinions enter the conversation.

The league told everyone politics belonged in the WNBA.

It was telling a half-truth. What it really meant, as we're seeing now, was that progressive politics belong in the WNBA.

Political disagreement isn’t abuse

There's an important distinction to make.

Some WNBA players have dealt with harassment on social media. That’s wrong, although it’s hardly unique to them.

Online trolling is bad. Please take a moment to applaud my bravery for saying that.

OK, now we can continue.

Just because online trolling exists doesn’t make every criticism of the WNBA racist, every political disagreement, harassment or every question from Congress a threat.

The league’s defenders constantly lump those things together because it’s easier than answering legitimate criticism. It allows them to say that anyone who challenges the WNBA’s preferred narrative should be dismissed as a hateful bigot.

Sorry, but it doesn’t work that way.

Caitlin Clark brought millions of new viewers to the WNBA. Those viewers don’t all share the politics that dominated the league and its media coverage before she arrived.

Conservative media started paying attention, Republican lawmakers began asking questions and Sophie Cunningham challenged progressive orthodoxy from inside the league.

In other words, the WNBA’s political conversation became more diverse.

Suddenly, the league that never stops preaching about diversity wasn't so excited about having a more politically diverse fan base.

The league’s own website still invites fans to learn how the WNBA is "#MORETHAN basketball."

Great. Be more than basketball.

But the WNBA and its media supporters can’t spend years celebrating that identity, then demand "basketball questions" because someone from the other side finally got a word in.

Fetterman unloads on reporter from 'trash' anti-Israel outlet, asks why it loves 'Hamas and Iran'

Thu, 30 Jul 2026 07:20:41 -0400

Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., had a fiery exchange Wednesday with a reporter from the anti-Israel outlet Drop Site News, accusing the outlet of loving Iran and terrorist groups like Hamas and Hezbollah.

In a video shared by Drop Site's Capitol Hill reporter Julian Andreone, Fetterman appeared amused when the reporter told him which outlet he represented.

"Oh, you're Drop Site," Fetterman reacted as he kept walking.

"It's like a race between who's the more pro-Hamas — Drop Site or Zeteo," he quipped, referring to the far-left outlet founded by former MSNBC host Mehdi Hasan.

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Fetterman, the most outspoken supporter of Israel among Senate Democrats, had a message for Drop Site viewers.

"I want your viewers to see how much I love to watch Israel eliminating the Hamas leadership," he told Andreone. "I know that upsets a lot of your viewers and a lot of your founders. But I think it's a great thing."

"So there's no news coming out of me. I'm going to always back Israel," Fetterman continued. "The question is, where does your trash outlet come from and who's funding it?"

Andreone pushed back, saying the site's readers fund the outlet, citing "46,000 individual donors."

SEN JOHN FETTERMAN PLEDGES TO BE 'LAST MAN STANDING' IN THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY IN SUPPORT OF ISRAEL

Fetterman took aim at Drop Site News co-founder Jeremy Scahill, who went viral earlier this month for lambasting Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., over whether the Hamas attack on Israel on Oct. 7 was justified.

"Your founders think it's appropriate to attack and kill Israeli civilians. That's really — that should be the news overall," Fetterman said. "Now you're sticking a microphone in my face… I think the question is why does Drop Site love Hamas and Iran and Hezbollah so much? I think that's the news."

"I mean, are you OK with taking your paycheck from these kind of people?" he then asked the reporter.

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As Andreone attempted to ask Fetterman whether he was "OK" with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu being in the United States, Fetterman replied, "I'm OK," and added, "I love killing Hamas leadership" before the elevator doors closed.

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

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Fetterman had a separate exchange Wednesday with a Zeteo reporter, where he labeled the outlet "pro-Hamas" while speaking with one of its reporters.

Hasan referred to Fetterman, who is reviled by anti-Israel figures for his staunch support of the Jewish state, as a "broken-brained, racist Democrat" in an X post about him meeting with Netanyahu.

Trump’s warning becomes reality after Iran's failed attack and more top headlines

Thu, 30 Jul 2026 07:12:00 -0400

Good morning and welcome to Fox News' morning newsletter, Fox News First. And here's what you need to know to start your day ...

TOP 3

1. Trump’s warning becomes reality after Iran's failed attack

2. Senator demands Fauci face jail time

3. Former Democratic staffers, DEI leaders shape Smithsonian leadership

MAJOR HEADLINES

PARTY FOUL — Clinton and Obama insiders publicly break ranks against far-left New York mayor. Continue reading …

MILITARY MIGHT — Army tests 'Hammer of the Gods' overseas for first time in major exercise. Continue reading …

HEARTBREAK HIT — Artist cancels show mid-performance, apologizes to fans and leaves stage in tears. Continue reading …

STORM OF CHAOS — WNBA trans crisis explodes as co-owner is suspended, Sophie Cunningham breaks silence. Continue reading …

MISSING LINK — Nancy Guthrie’s untouched $1.2M reward is major clue, retired FBI expert says. Continue reading …

POLITICS

EYES WIDE SHUT — LA real estate vet comes at Mayor Bass with receipts over damning homelessness report. Continue reading …

CAPITOL CLASH — GOP senator turns tables on CCP-funded group that ambushed him on Iran. Continue reading …

OPEN-SOURCE WAR — Pentagon eyes phone confiscations after footage helps enemy refine deadly strikes. Continue reading …

SHINE OF THE TIMES — Scaffolding comes down as Trump's first look reveals iconic landmark reborn. Continue reading …

Click here for more cartoons…

MEDIA

NO CONSENT — Family withdraws from school after fourth graders shown LGBTQ content without warning. Continue reading …

‘ARROGANT KID’ — Piers Morgan unloads on unapologetic Cornell student after antisemitic comment. Continue reading …

URBAN BET — Coastal workers fleeing blue strongholds could create an opportunity for Detroit. Continue reading …

DEBT UNSETTLED — Zohran Mamdani doesn't rule out cash reparations for impacted people in NYC. Continue reading …

OPINION

HUGH HEWITT — The Fauci diaries and legacy media’s platinum dome under stress. Continue reading …

RONNA MCDANIEL — Socialism's war on success has a new champion — and he’s running for Senate in Michigan. Continue reading …

IN OTHER NEWS

MURDER MYSTERY — Teen found in shallow vineyard grave identified nearly 50 years later as family warns killer. Continue reading …

HE'S BACK — New York Giants top receiver stuns everyone with full practice alongside teammates. Continue reading …

‘FIN' DINING — Shark Week fans may want to think twice before eating this ocean predator. Continue reading …

AMERICAN CULTURE QUIZ — Test yourself on costly cities and Trump tee times. Take the quiz here …

LISTEN

Tune in as we explore the science behind peptides and GLP-1 weight loss drugs and what consumers should know about the booming grey market. Check it out ...

FOX WEATHER

What's it looking like in your neighborhood? Continue reading…

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Can Fauci hide behind the Fifth? Game-changing Biden pardon may not provide complete cover, experts say

JK Rowling calls out the 'grotesque' behavior towards Sophie Cunningham fans in scathing post

Melania Trump helps reunite fifth group of Ukrainian, Russian children with families

Supreme Court tariff, birthright citizenship decisions cost US 'TRILLIONS,' Trump says

Washington's grizzly bear power grab is finally coming to a long-overdue end

Ella Langley's faith and authenticity fuel record-breaking rise, experts say

Fun fact: Oscar Mayer's first Wienermobile debuted in 1936

Lindsay Clancy prosecutors ‘squeeze’ timeline from ex-husband as jury weighs ‘murder versus madness’: expert

17 Amazon finds under $25 that solve everyday problems

Trending deals under $25

'Worst aquarium ever' review sends whaling museum's sales soaring 250%

Florida Gators coach reveals damning clip of ESPN host sniffing a high-heel as foot feud escalates

Dan Orlovsky should never talk about feet with this clip out there

California lifeguard speaks out on heartstopping ocean rescue: 'I love what I do'

NFL employees’ troubling driving incidents mount, costing jobs and putting others at risk

Zac Brown Band's John Driskell Hopkins says he's 'chasing the clock' after ALS diagnosis

Captured 'America's Most Wanted' fugitive Ronald Fischer abandons alias after 20 years on the run

Rare pagan masterpiece emerges near where St Paul spread teachings of Christianity

Obama endorses Democratic Iowa state rep running for US Senate against Trump-backed House Republican

Salman Rushdie attacker convicted of federal terrorism charges, motivated by Iranian fatwa

NATO member scrambles fighter jets as Russian attack on Ukraine kills 8

Hawley moves to close federal cash prize loopholes after Fauci 'got rich while millions of people died'

WNBA suddenly wants to stick to basketball after years of making politics part of the product

Chiney Ogwumike wants a reset

Angel Reese is ready to move on

The WNBA made politics part of the product

Political disagreement isn’t abuse

Fetterman unloads on reporter from 'trash' anti-Israel outlet, asks why it loves 'Hamas and Iran'

Trump’s warning becomes reality after Iran's failed attack and more top headlines

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