Latest & Breaking News | Fox News

Trump endorsement fails to clear GOP field as former governor joins South Carolina Senate race

Thu, 23 Jul 2026 16:44:17 -0400

Former congressman and former South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford, a GOP critic of President Donald Trump, launched a Senate bid on Thursday as he became the latest high-profile Republican running for the seat of the late Sen. Lindsey Graham and joins a crowded field against Trump's endorsed candidate.

"We’re at a tipping point, and that’s why I’ve decided to run for the U.S. Senate," Sanford said in a launch video. "I’d ask that you look at my record in Congress and as governor in watching out for your family’s future."

Sen. Darline Graham, who was appointed last week to fill the remainder of her late brother's term, announced Monday in an interview on Fox News' "Hannity" that she's running for a full six-year term in the Senate. Graham's announcement came three days after she met with Trump at the White House, and the president gave her his "complete and total endorsement" as he encouraged her to run.

But Trump's backing of the late senator's sister isn't stopping other well-known South Carolina Republicans from jumping into the contest.

WHO'S UP AND WHO'S DOWN: CHECK OUT THE FOX NEWS POWER RANKINGS ON THE MIDTERM ELECTIONS

Republican Rep. Ralph Norman, who unsuccessfully campaigned this year for the GOP gubernatorial nomination in the race to succeed term-limited South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster, announced his intention to run this past weekend.

Two-term GOP Rep. Russell Fry followed on Monday. And businessman Mark Lynch, who lost to Lindsey Graham by nearly 30 points in last month's GOP Senate primary, also announced he'd take another shot at the Republican nomination.

The special Republican Senate primary will be held on Aug. 11. If no candidate tops 50%, a runoff election will be held among the top two voter-getters on Aug. 25.

WHAT DARLINE GRAHAM TOLD FOX NEWS' SEAN HANNITY

Sanford, who served three terms in the U.S. House in the 1990s, won election as South Carolina governor in 2002 and was re-elected four years later. A rising conservative star in the GOP, he grabbed national attention and derailed his political career following an extramarital affair in 2009. But Sanford made a political comeback, winning election to his old seat in Congress in 2012 and served three terms.

He briefly launched a longshot and unsuccessful presidential nomination challenge against Trump in the 2020 primaries.

Known as a fiscally conservative budget hawk, Sanford pointed to the nation's debt as a key motivator behind his decision to launch a Senate campaign.

"Our country is at a financial tipping point, and I can’t sit on the sidelines while Washington adds a trillion dollars to the debt every 100 days," Sanford explained. "I’m worried for our children because for the first time, America is borrowing from the future faster than we’re building it."

Unlike Sanford, Fry and Norman, who are both Trump allies in the House, are highlighting their support for the president.

"South Carolina doesn't need just another senator. It needs President Trump's strongest ally in the United States Senate. Make no mistake: I will be President Trump’s favorite U.S. Senator, and you will have a MAGA fighter you can count on," Fry wrote in a social media post as he announced his Senate run.

DEMOCRACY ’26: STAY UP TO DATE WITH THE FOX NEWS ELECTION HUB

Fry described himself as a "MAGA warrior" in an accompanying video, which included pictures of him smiling alongside Trump.

Norman emphasized that he's "running to represent the people of South Carolina in the U.S. Senate because we need a fighter who will stand with President Trump and carry on Lindsey Graham’s legacy!"

And pointing to Trump's top legislative priority, he noted, "I want to get the SAVE America Act passed in the Senate!"

Republican Sens. Mike Lee of Utah and Rick Scott of Florida, conservatives and staunch Trump allies in the chamber, both cited Norman's support for Trump's election reform bill as they went against the president and endorsed the congressman. Norman is also being backed by the political arm of the powerful conservative group Turning Point USA.

Norman also landed the backing of Rep. Nancy Mace of South Carolina. The endorsement by Mace, first reported by Fox News Digital, came after the retiring congresswoman who earlier this year unsuccessfully ran for governor, announced on Monday that she wouldn't run for the Senate.

Besides the president's powerful endorsement, Graham does have the backing of heavy hitters in Congress, including Senate Majority Whip John Barrasso, R-Wyo., who said, "Darline Graham is an excellent senator. She’ll continue to be an excellent senator, and she has my full support."

Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., however, is staying out of the race for now.

Thune said that Graham is a "strong candidate," and though she lacked elected experience, he noted she was "very accomplished in her own life."

SIGN UP TO GET THE POLITICS NEWSLETTER

"She has a right, like everybody else, to get in that race," Thune said.

Backed by Trump's endorsement and enjoying plenty of name recognition thanks to her well-known last name, pundits view Darline Graham as a frontrunner in the three-week sprint to the Republican primary. And the winner of the GOP nomination will be considered the clear favorite against Democratic nominee Annie Andrews in the general election in the solidly red southeastern state.

Trump's endorsements aren't infallible, but his track record so far this cycle, albeit a couple of setbacks, is impressive.

Veteran Republican strategist and communicator Ryan Williams noted that "the Trump endorsement is a major boost for any candidacy, but it doesn’t necessarily give you a lock on the seat."

"Senate seats in South Carolina do not come up very often, and politics is all about timing. You’ve got to seize the opportunity when it presents itself," Williams told Fox News Digital. "If you’re an aspiring House member in South Carolina, this is your time to run, regardless of whom the president is supporting."

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

And Williams, referring to Norman and Fry, noted, "There’s no downside for running. They’re going to run as Trump Republicans, and they’re going to flatter the president on the campaign trail."

That's likely not the case for Sanford, who didn't mention Trump in his social media post or his accompanying campaign launch video.

Fox News' Liz Elkind contributed to this story.

Jen Psaki worries Democrats are being drowned out by Trump press coverage, suggests 'maybe we're all at fault'

Thu, 23 Jul 2026 16:39:43 -0400

MS NOW host Jen Psaki worried on Wednesday that the Democratic Party was having a hard time breaking through in the current media environment, wondering if she was partly to blame because President Donald Trump often dominates the news cycle, even on her own show.

Psaki spoke to former ABC News journalist Terry Moran, who said Democrats didn't have the lead one would expect ahead of November's midterm elections, as Trump's approval ratings remain low.

Psaki said enthusiasm was high for Democrats, but that the party had a hard time presenting themselves as something more than anti-Trump.

"It has taken some time for a lot of the leading Democratic voices to move from just anti-Trump to more than anti-Trump, right? To, ‘We’re not for Trump, but here’s what we’re offering,’" she said.

JOHN FETTERMAN RIPS DEMOCRATS FOR RUNNING CAMPAIGNS ON 'F--- TRUMP' INSTEAD OF CONSTRUCTIVE MESSAGING

"I would also say, to take a little bit of the blame off of leading Democrats, it’s very hard to break through with that stuff," Psaki added. "And I realize I have a platform, you have a platform — maybe we’re all at fault for this — but because the things Trump is doing every day are so crazy, it is hard for Democrats to break through with, ‘Here’s my plan for covering children under the age of six with additional health care benefits. Here’s my plan for giving more assistance to pre-K.'"

The MS NOW host said it was hard to decide whom she was going to book outside the Trump-focused news reaction, and said, "Maybe that's a mistake."

"So, I think there’s a lot of factors at play here, but a big one is I don’t think the public knows enough about the Democrats’ plans for making their lives better, as much as they don’t like Trump," she said.

TUNING OUT: WHY MANY AMERICANS ARE SICK OF THE NEWS – ESPECIALLY TRUMP NEWS

Moran agreed with Psaki, and questioned how journalists should approach the issue.

"And, you know, he is chaos and dominates every second of every day as much as he can," he said. "And so that does leave any journalist, any program, any independent journalist, broadcast journalist, with the same problem: Do you cover the Trump show, or do you cover the Trump administration and what people should know about it?"

CLICK HERE FOR MORE COVERAGE OF MEDIA AND CULTURE

In April, Psaki told Stephen A. Smith she didn't know why some people on the left were spending so much time talking about invoking the 25th Amendment against President Donald Trump.

"I think there are times, I think a lot of people on — and I can't speak for everybody on the left, I don't agree with everything everybody says on the left either — you know, sometimes it's like, not constructive," Psaki said at the time.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

"I mean, you've talked about the 25th Amendment," she continued. "I have no issue with people saying they're for invoking the 25th Amendment, but it's not going to happen. So, it's like why are we spending so much time, you know?"

Trump's patience 'running out' as Thune fires back over stalled election security bill

Thu, 23 Jul 2026 16:24:46 -0400

The fight over President Donald Trump’s SAVE America Act has moved from squabbles within the GOP to the top Senate Republican and White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt publicly sniping at one another.

Leavitt suggested on Thursday that Trump’s patience was wearing thin with Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., over his flagship election security legislation.

"His patience is running out. He wants to see as much of the Save America [Act] passed as possible by the August recess," Leavitt said of the heavy-handed president. "He knows that's what the American people want to see passed."

REPUBLICAN SAYS TRUMP'S TOP ELECTION PRIORITY 'DEAD' IN SENATE AS GOP FRACTURES AHEAD OF MIDTERMS

"And I would just add, you know, the American people … elected overwhelmingly Republicans to lead not just this White House, but also the House and the Senate," she continued. "The House did its job. The Senate needs to do its job, too."

But in the Senate, the political reality looks much different than Leavitt’s assertion that Republicans in the upper chamber weren’t doing enough. Still, Thune has become the dartboard for conservatives, online and at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave., to throw their frustrations over the SAVE America Act at.

The SAVE America Act is universally despised by Senate Democrats, who argue that it would disenfranchise millions of Americans from voting. Thune would need Democrats to pass the bill, compared to the House, where Republicans can ram through legislation without Democratic help.

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

Further compounding the issue is the fact that not every Republican is on board with the legislation.

And even though House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., and Trump are hoping that Thune and Republicans can pass a version of the SAVE America Act through the party-line budget reconciliation process, which requires 50 votes to work, there’s no guarantee that the support is there.

"Well, maybe she or somebody else ought to get on the phone and get the votes, right? It's 50 around here," Thune said. "So instead of, you know, pointing the finger at Republicans, they might think about going after the people who are stopping it on the floor, which is the Democrats. And if there are Republicans that they think are gettable, get on the phone. Let's get them to yes."

GOP CIVIL WAR ERUPTS OVER TRUMP'S LATEST AGENDA PUSH AS KEY REPUBLICANS THREATEN TO SINK MEGABILL

And in the Senate, Republicans are growing increasingly frustrated with the expectations that are being made surrounding the bill that aren’t feasible given the math problem bogging the legislation down in the upper chamber.

Thune is considering using the reconciliation process to keep the government open, too, in the event that Democrats renege in ongoing negotiations to craft a short-term funding deal as the typical government funding process struggles to move forward.

Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., one of the most vocal opponents of the SAVE America Act, said that Republicans should turn to reconciliation to fund the government, and that some were "being dishonest to the American people to say that we need SAVE Act passed because there's no way on God's green Earth it can be implemented by the election."

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

When asked about Leavitt’s comments against Thune, Tillis dug in.

"I have 1,000% confidence in Thune, and anybody in the White House who thinks he's not a good leader isn't qualified for their job," he said.

Iran war could pave the way for a former fan-favorite track to rejoin the Formula 1 calendar

Thu, 23 Jul 2026 16:23:12 -0400

The situation in the Middle East has already cost Formula 1 a pair of races in the early part of the season, but it could also lead to a former fan-favorite track making a shock return.

A new report from ESPN says that Malaysia's Sepang Circuit is in the running to make a return if the series can't schedule a make-up date for the Bahrain Grand Prix.

The Bahrain Grand Prix and Saudi Arabian Grand Prix were both scheduled for April, but the ongoing conflict in the Middle East forced F1 to take both off the calendar, causing a month-long gap in the schedule.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE OUTKICK SPORTS COVERAGE

While the race in Saudi Arabia on the Jeddah Corniche Street Circuit has been sidelined entirely this season, the hope was that Bahrain could potentially slot into the weekend of Oct. 4.

According to the report, as tensions in the region are flaring up again, F1 would like to race that weekend. That's because there is now uncertainty around the final two races of the season, which are slated to take place in Qatar and Abu Dhabi.

Malaysia is one of several circuits reportedly under consideration, and it makes logistical sense. The next race on the schedule after the weekend of Oct. 4 is the following weekend in Singapore.

MAX VERSTAPPEN KEEPS IT BLUNT, YET CRYPTIC WHEN ASKED ABOUT FUTURE WITH RED BULL

The notoriously hot, humid and physically demanding circuit was popular with fans and drivers and a fixture on the schedule from 1999 to 2017. Fans would certainly be fired up about seeing it make a surprise appearance.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

Hopefully, there will be a decision soon as the FIA's World Motor Sport Council is meeting this weekend to talk about racing in the Middle East.

F1 isn't the only series impacted by the war. The World Endurance Championship canceled a race in Qatar earlier this year, and there are still questions about whether or not their season finale in Bahrain, slated for early November, can take place.

Top House Democrat says anti-Israel activists’ threats kept him from town halls for a year

Thu, 23 Jul 2026 16:09:10 -0400

A senior House Democrat divulged this week that he has not been able to hold a town hall for over a year due to threats from anti-Israel activists.

Rep. Adam Smith, D-Wash., the lead Democrat on the House Armed Services Committee, made the explosive claim in an interview with Breaking Points on Tuesday.

"This is my biggest problem with the left," Smith said. "I have been unable to hold a town hall meeting for a year because a bunch of leftists show up and scream at me and don't let anyone else speak.

"You talk about illiberal," he continued. "Having people stand out in front of my house, screaming death threats at me and threatening my wife."

JEWISH CALIFORNIA CONGRESSIONAL CANDIDATE SAYS HARASSMENT FROM GAZA AGITATORS WENT ‘BEYOND FREE SPEECH’

Smith, a member of the Democratic Party’s establishment wing, has previously condemned far-left activists who vandalized his home in 2023 over his support for Israel, including spray-painting "baby killer" in red on his garage doors.

"And the left [says], ‘Oh, well of course we don’t support [that]. We're peace activists. We would never do something like that.’ Okay. How about you just say, ‘No, they did it. It's wrong. We're against it. We are going to be liberal.’"

He also recounted attending a hearing at the University of Washington during which pro-Israel speakers were shouted down by far-left activists during a debate on divesting from the Jewish state.

"So the first three people got up and testified in favor of divesting. [The] fourth person got up and testified against divesting," Smith said in the "Breaking Points" interview. "Two sentences in, [they were] shouted down, screamed at, wouldn't stop."

"I think that whole thing has created a major problem as well," he added. "And we have to be able to have an intellectual discussion."

FBI NABS 7 FOR ALLEGED 'CAMPAIGN OF VIOLENCE' TO PRESSURE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN, BUSINESSES OVER ISRAEL TIES

Smith also said the left has dubbed him a "Trump supporter" for pushing respectful debate.

He held up socialist New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani as an example of civility on the left.

"I don't agree with everything that he's doing, but he's having legitimate, thoughtful conversations instead of screaming matches over who can threaten the loudest," Smith reflected.

The Washington Democrat is not the only member of the House Democratic Caucus who has faced harassment from anti-Israel activists.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

A New York City coffee chain told Rep. Dan Goldman, D-N.Y., in June that he was not welcome at their storefronts over his support for Israel.

Days later, Goldman, who is Jewish, lost reelection to Brad Lander, a Mamdani-backed challenger, who put criticism of the Jewish state at the center of his campaign.

Fox News Digital reached out to Smith for comment.

WATCH: AOC won't rule out White House bid after poll names her Democrats' top 2028 pick

Thu, 23 Jul 2026 16:04:55 -0400

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., is keeping the door open for a 2028 White House bid after a new poll showed the New York Democrat as the leading choice among prospective Democratic presidential candidates.

She sidestepped Fox News Digital’s question asking if she would like to be the Democratic 2028 nominee.

"I have genuinely not really weighed seriously anything past the midterm elections," Ocasio-Cortez told Fox News Digital when asked if she is interested in a run. "I think that I'm taking in this information just like anybody else."

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

The progressive House Democrat repeatedly has toyed with the idea of both a presidential bid and a potential Senate bid to run against Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., when he is up for re-election in two years.

Insight into the Democratic party’s top pick for the presidential election in 2028 was released in a University of New Hampshire Granite State Poll Wednesday — showing Ocasio-Cortez as voters' frontrunner candidate.

While New Hampshire no longer holds the first official Democratic presidential primary, the state has played a large role in testing White House hopefuls and remains closely watched for early voter signs.

Ocasio-Cortez dodged giving her own thoughts on the poll that shows strong interest for her to lead the Democrats in the next election cycle.

WATCH: AOC WON'T RULE OUT SENATE BID AFTER NEW YORK PROGRESSIVES NOTCH PRIMARY WINS: 'INSPIRED AND ENCOURAGED'

"You're gonna have to ask a voter about that," Ocasio-Cortez said when asked about the new poll. "I have less insight into it than they do."

The poll projected her ahead of other prospective candidates that are likely to run in 2028, including Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, former Vice President Kamala Harris, Gov. Gavin Newsom and other prominent party members.

Support for Ocasio-Cortez rose to 22% support among likely Democratic voters. Ocasio-Cortez gained seven points since February's survey — placing her one point ahead of Buttigieg and 17 points ahead of Harris.

Both Harris and Newsom lost ground since February’s survey.

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

Ocasio-Cortez has endorsed many socialists that won in their respective primary elections, beating out incumbents and mainstream Democrats.

Ocasio-Cortez has been endorsed by the Democratic Socialists of America in prior runs. She is largely expected to receive a Democratic Socialists of America endorsement for the 2028 election, as infighting has erupted within the organization over its potential pick.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

Some Democratic Socialists of America members are advocating announcing an earlier presidential endorsement, as the organization usually selects their endorsement at its biennial national convention — taking place in summer 2027.

Fox News Digital’s Paul Steinhauser contributed to this report.

Justice Department sues Colorado over in-state tuition and financial aid for illegal immigrants

Thu, 23 Jul 2026 15:54:01 -0400

The U.S. Department of Justice is suing Colorado over the offering of in-state tuition and financial aid for illegal immigrants attending public colleges and universities, the latest legal challenge over what critics say amounts to discrimination against U.S. citizens.

The lawsuit, filed Thursday in Colorado federal court, names the Colorado Commission on Higher Education, the state Department of Higher Education, and its director, JB Holston, as defendants.

"For three decades, Congress has made clear that Colorado cannot give education benefits to illegal aliens that it does not give to all American citizens," said Associate Attorney General Stanley Woodward. "By granting illegal aliens in-state tuition, Colorado is not only violating federal law but subsidizing education for illegal aliens at taxpayers’ expense."

NEBRASKA ENDS IN-STATE TUITION BENEFITS FOR ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS UNDER DOJ DEAL

"Our litigation efforts will not cease until we have fulfilled President [Donald] Trump’s promise that illegal aliens will not obtain preferential treatment over our Nation’s own citizens," Woodward added.

Fox News Digital has reached out to both agencies named in the lawsuit for comment, along with the office of Colorado Gov. Jared Polis.

The complaint argues that the Advancing Students for a Stronger Economy Tomorrow (ASSET) Act and related state policies violate a federal statute that prohibits states from offering higher education benefits to illegal immigrants based on their residency, unless the same benefits are available to all U.S. citizens.

FIRST ON FOX: DOJ sues Spanberger’s Virginia over laws kneecapping federal agents as mask war escalates

In an effort to expand access to those benefits, Colorado reduced the high school attendance requirement from three years to one year, and removed a requirement that students must be admitted to college within 12 months of graduating from high school, according to the federal complaint.

The state also repealed a requirement that mandated illegal immigrant students submit an affidavit stating they had applied for lawful presence or would apply as soon as they were eligible, the complaint states.

By providing lower tuition rates and state-funded scholarships to local illegal immigrants while denying them to out-of-state citizens, Colorado is accused of creating an unconstitutional preference that is preempted by federal authorities.

The Justice Department also argues that lower tuition incentivizes illegal immigration and rewards them for breaking the nation's laws.

Thursday's lawsuit marks the fourteenth launched by the Trump administration challenging in-state tuition for illegal immigrants.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

"This Department of Justice is committed to fulfilling President Trump’s promise that illegal aliens will not obtain taxpayer benefits or preferential treatment over our own citizens," the Justice Department said.

The lawsuit asks the court to declare several Colorado state laws associated with the matter unconstitutional, as well as award court fees.

DSA member leads Dem primary in Midwest battleground — but trails likely GOP nominee: poll

Thu, 23 Jul 2026 15:49:56 -0400

A socialist-backed candidate is leading the field in a high-stakes Democratic gubernatorial showdown in battleground Wisconsin.

Wisconsin state Rep. Francesca Hong, a Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) member, stands at 26% support among voters likely to cast a ballot in the state's Aug. 11 Democratic primary for governor, according to a Marquette Law School poll released this week.

Former Democratic Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes, who narrowly lost the state's 2022 U.S. Senate election to GOP Sen. Ron Johnson, stood at second place in the survey at 15%, with nearly half of those questioned still undecided. Hong and Barnes are part of a crowded field of Democrats in the race to succeed retiring Democratic Gov. Tony Evers.

The primary is also shaping up, along with the Aug. 4 Democratic Senate primary in Michigan, as a key statewide showdown in a crucial swing state between the far-left and the center-left establishment for the ideological future of the party.

CHECK OUT FOX NEWS' NEW 2026 POWER RANKINGS IN THE BATTLES FOR GOVERNOR

Hong, who is backed by Wisconsin-based DSA chapters, has also landed the support of top nationally known progressives, including Reps. Ilhan Omar of neighboring Minnesota and Ro Khanna of California, a potential 2028 Democratic presidential contender.

Her platform includes guaranteed paid leave as well as a one-year moratorium in Wisconsin on building AI data centers. Hong has faced scrutiny over years-old social media posts calling for defunding and abolishing the police. Her campaign says she no longer supports cutting police budgets or abolishing police departments.

In the poll, Wisconsin's current lieutenant governor, Sara Rodriguez, received 11% support. Rodriguez dropped out of the race last week, after the poll was conducted, following controversy over her campaign’s mishandling of financial reports.

When Rodriguez's supporters’ votes were transferred to their second choice, the poll indicated Hong leading Barnes by a slightly smaller 27% to 18% margin.

THE LEFT-WING FACES OFF AGAINST THE CENTER-LEFT ESTABLISHMENT IN A DEMOCRATIC PARTY CIVIL WAR

Two other Democratic candidates, former Wisconsin Department of Administration Secretary Joel Brennan and state Sen. Kelda Roys, registered in the low single digits.

After Rodriguez suspended her campaign, former Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley jumped back into the race. Crowley had recently dropped out to back Rodriguez.

Evers, who decided against seeking a third term as Wisconsin governor, quickly backed Crowley, calling him the "best candidate" to defeat Republican Rep. Tom Tiffany in November.

Tiffany is on a glide path to capture the Republican nomination as he faces off with long-shot medical service technician Andy Manske in the GOP primary.

MEET THE FAR LEFT INSURGENTS WAGING WAR ON THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY IN THE 2026 MIDTERMS

The poll indicates Barnes edging Tiffany 44%-40% in a hypothetical general election matchup, with Hong trailing Tiffany 43%-40%.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

The survey was conducted July 8-16, with 838 Wisconsin registered voters, including 695 likely voters, questioned.

The poll's overall sampling error is plus or minus 4.5 percentage points, with a margin of error of plus or minus 6.1 percentage points for likely Democratic primary voters.

Megan Rapinoe says efforts to bar trans athletes from women's sports are 'attack on women in society'

Thu, 23 Jul 2026 15:49:10 -0400

Former U.S. Women's National Team star Megan Rapinoe said Tuesday that efforts to bar transgender athletes from competing in women's sports amount to "an attack on women in society," arguing the debate extends far beyond questions of fairness in athletic competition.

Appearing on ABC's "The View," Rapinoe dismissed arguments that restrictions on transgender athletes are primarily about protecting girls' and women's sports. Instead, she argued, opponents are using the issue as part of a broader campaign against women's empowerment.

"They're going after trans people in sports, and they're using this as a wedge issue because we love sports. And, you know, we don't want our little girls to be unsafe in sports. And it's like, ‘Unsafe from who? But okay,’" Rapinoe said.

CALIFORNIA BILLIONAIRE TOM STEYER DEFENDS TRANS ATHLETES IN HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS AS GOVERNOR'S RACE HEATS UP

"But now we're using this as like, an overarching thing, when really what we're attacking women, we're saying, ‘If you look like this as a woman, you can play, if you look like this as a woman.' There's a bill in Washington happening right now that's going to require all girls, just like full stop, to go through a sex test, an invasive, like examining their genitals to see if they're a woman," Rapinoe said.

Initiative IL26-638, according to the House Republican Caucus, would "prohibit students it defines as ‘biologically male’ from competing in certain school athletic activities intended for female students only. It would require verification of biological sex by students’ healthcare providers."

TRANS ATHLETES DROP LAWSUIT TO GAIN ACCESS TO GIRLS' SPORTS IN NEW HAMPSHIRE AFTER SCOTUS RULING

"They don't like women in sports because it helps us with confidence and power," Rapinoe said. "And we see so many women in the C-suite played elite level sports. It's just great for you physically and all of it. But it's an attack on women in society."

WNBA PLAYER FACES BACKLASH OVER OP-ED CRITICIZING IOC FOR POLICY TO PROTECT WOMEN'S SPORTS

In a recent article in Marie Claire entitled, "Anti-Trans Legislation Isn't About 'Protecting Girls'—It's About Distracting Us From What Matters," Rapinoe wrote, "The truth is, trans people have been competing in sports for decades, and will continue to participate as this smoke screen from bad faith legislators and anti-LGBT groups cloak the real damage being done. As with so many other manufactured issues we fall for, women and girls will suffer the most."

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

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

Nancy Guthrie mystery: 'Today' show intruder sparks security shakeup at NBC studio

Thu, 23 Jul 2026 15:43:19 -0400

NEW YORK — The "Today" show is upping its on-set security after an intruder accosted co-host Craig Melvin in a vestibule, hurling a racial slur and landing himself in jail facing hate crime charges, according to a new report.

"We wanted to reach out with an important update regarding studio access for ‘Today’ interviews," reads an excerpt from an email show staff sent to Hollywood PR firms, first published by Variety. "In light of the recent events last week, we are implementing stricter security protocols effective immediately."

The primary change is that guests can now be accompanied by only two people — whether they be stylists, spokespersons, social media aides or other "support personnel," according to the report.

'TODAY' SUSPECT CAUGHT ON CAMERA BEFORE HATE CRIME ARREST, RAP SHEE REVEALS ATTEMPTED KIDNAPPING CONVICTION

"We’ll defer to you on who those two individuals should be, but there will be no exceptions or additional personnel permitted in the studio during the interview," the message continued. Additional staffers would be asked to remain in the green room, outside of the studio.

The report comes a week after Andrew Truelove, a 41-year-old Virginia native, allegedly snuck in behind someone going through a security gate leading into a restricted area of the NBC studio at Rockefeller Center. He was allegedly hunting for Al Roker and found Melvin instead — then allegedly screamed a racial slur at him just before 9 a.m., according to city police.

No one was physically hurt, the show said in a statement, but the security lapse reportedly cost one guard his job.

SAVANNAH GUTHRIE WAS 'SURPRISED AND DISMAYED' BY DOUBTS SHE WOULD RETURN TO 'TODAY' AFTER MOM'S DISAPPEARANCE

"NBC and 'Today' take the safety and security of our employees, talent, staff and guests extremely seriously," the show's statement continued. "We are reviewing the incident and our security protocols and remain committed to providing a safe and secure environment for everyone who works at and visits our studios."

"Today" show clips from that morning show Truelove loitered outside the ground-floor studio's window for at least a half-hour, appearing in multiple shots between 8:03 .m. and 8:34, when actress Anne Hathaway was on set to discuss her role in the latest adaption of "The Odyssey."

The incident comes just six months after another "Today" co-host's mother was the victim in a home invasion abduction from her house in Tucson. Savannah Guthrie's mother Nancy remains unaccounted for, and no suspects have been publicly identified.

FOLLOW THE FOX TRUE CRIME TEAM ON X

SIGN UP TO GET THE LATEST TRUE CRIME NEWS

GOT A TIP?

Truelove, the man accused of hate crime burglary and menacing in the Melvin attack, had felony convictions in his home state and more than a dozen pending charges in New York before the incident. He is currently being held at a New York City jail on $10,000 bail.

‘TODAY’ SHOW SECURITY GUARD FIRED AFTER INTRUDER ENTERS UNAUTHORIZED AREA, TARGETS CRAIG MELVIN: REPORT

Truelove pleaded not guilty at his arraignment last week and his lawyers waived an appearance at a follow-up hearing Wednesday. He's due back in court on Aug. 5.

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

In October 2007, Truelove was accused of trying to abduct an 8-year-old from a school in Norfolk, Virginia. He was convicted at trial and sentenced to 10 years in prison, of which six were suspended, followed by 10 years on probation, court records show.

A psychiatrist testified he had symptoms of bipolar disorder and had stopped taking medications before the incident because they made him gain weight, according to The Virginian-Pilot.

Other charges in Virginia included trespassing, making bomb threats, destruction of property and repeated probation violations.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

In 2014, he was arrested on charges of stealing signs from memorials dedicated to the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting victims.

And in 2023, after getting off of probation, he left Virginia for Southern California, where he was profiled in the Los Angeles Times in a lengthy story on his battle with homelessness.

USA Today Reporter apologizes for invoking Emmett Till in column about Caitlin Clark after upsetting the woke

Thu, 23 Jul 2026 15:42:02 -0400

USA Today "reporter" Nancy Armour has apologized for invoking Emmett Till in a column targeting — who else? — Caitlin Clark.

"In my recent column, I made an inartful comparison with the murder of Emmett Till. I intended to connect the issues the WNBA is currently facing with its All-Star Game being hosted in Till’s hometown of Chicago," Armour wrote in an apology posted Thursday on — where else? — Bluesky. "I obviously did not provide enough context for that."

USA TODAY WRITER SAYS CAITLIN CLARK PUTS BLACK AND QUEER WNBA PLAYERS 'IN DANGER' BY FLOPPING

For background, Armour published one of the most desperate and irresponsible sports columns of the year earlier this week, arguing that Clark's reactions to missed calls put "Black" and "queer" WNBA players "in danger."

Paraphrasing Armour's argument wouldn't do it justice. So here it is:

"It shouldn’t need reminding this country has an awful history of Black people being harmed, even killed, in the name of 'defending' white women. The WNBA’s All-Star Game this weekend is in Chicago, Emmett Till’s hometown, and a local art gallery is currently hosting an exhibit imagining his life if he hadn’t been lynched. While it’s incumbent on the WNBA to do more to protect its players, there also should be an expectation on Clark to recognize the wider consequences of her actions."

In other words, according to Armour, defending Clark's flopping somehow puts Black women at risk of lynching.

Honest question: How did USA Today not fire her on the spot?

Forget her opinions or her right to voice them. A national news outlet allowed a columnist to turn a routine basketball play — flopping — into a discussion about the lynching of Black Americans.

The analogy is so detached from reality that it raises questions about the editorial process that allowed it to be published. At the very least, Armour should be fired for exercising such stupidity.

We can only imagine what was going through her head when she wrote those words. She likely believed she was scoring points with the Bluesky crowd by showing how willing she was to vilify the straight White superstar and her fans. We haven't seen someone in sports media try this hard to impress the online activist class since ESPN's Mark Jones falsely accused police officers of trying to murder him.

ESPN WRITER WHO BLAMED RACISM FOR HIS ARREST SAYS RACISM IS NOT TO BLAME FOR CAITLIN CLARK HATE

OutKick asked USA Today whether it instructed Armour to issue the apology. We did not receive a response by the time of publication.

But we're not convinced the outlet made the call.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM

SIGN UP TO GET THE LATEST SPORTS NEWS

In fact, Armour may have outdone even herself. In trying so hard to prove she's woke, she ended up offending many of the same people on Bluesky, who accused her of minimizing and trivializing the murder of Emmett Till.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

These people truly are incredible. They cannot cover Caitlin Clark normally.

Still, the fact that a column about Clark ended up comparing her on-court behavior to lynching black people is a level of excess that would impress even Jemele Hill.

WATCH: Dem demands 'one case' where sanctuary cities didn't turn over illegal immigrants. DHS provides list

Thu, 23 Jul 2026 15:37:16 -0400

A New York City congressman drew swift pushback from Republicans and the Department of Homeland Security after claiming sanctuary jurisdictions turn over removable criminal illegal immigrants to federal authorities upon completion of their sentences.

Rep. Daniel Goldman, a Democrat representing Lower Manhattan and Downtown Brooklyn, was responding to remarks about the immigration system from Reps. Darrell Issa and Tom McClintock, R-Calif., during a markup of a bill that would enshrine President Donald Trump’s border security orders into law.

"Sanctuary cities… I ask you please cite one case where there was a criminal conviction, the defendant served his time and was convicted of a removable offense under the [Immigration & Nationality Act of 1952] and he was not turned over by the city or the state to the Department of Homeland Security," Goldman addressed his Republican colleagues during the markup.

DHS UNLOADS ON 'SANCTUARY CALAMITY' VIRGINIA AFTER ILLEGAL ALIEN ACCUSED OF HEINOUS CRIME RELEASED: 'SICKO'

"You have not and are unable to provide one, is my guess. Maybe you'll have one or two, but the policy of sanctuary cities and sanctuary states is that if you are removable after you're convicted after you complete your sentence, you are turned over to the Department of Homeland Security."

The claim was met with immediate skepticism after Goldman finished speaking, as Rep. Brad Knott, R-N.C., noted he prosecuted such cases in the Tar Heel State.

"Sanctuary jurisdictions do have a very wide paradigm in how they're operated. There's some sanctuary leaning jurisdictions in my home state of North Carolina: We had to pass a law at the state legislature to override the discretion," Knott said, adding that recent cases in Fairfax County, Virginia, support his assertion that sanctuary jurisdictions do not cooperate after an illegal immigrant is convicted.

NEW YORK SHERIFFS 'MAD AS HELL' AS HOCHUL PUSHES TO BAN KEY LAW ENFORCEMENT PARTNERSHIP

DHS also rebuked Goldman’s claim of common cooperation, citing thousands of cases in the lawmaker’s home state to make their point.

Since January, New York’s failure to honor ICE detainers resulted in the release of 6,947 criminally convicted illegal immigrants, according to statistics DHS shared with Fox News Digital.

"The crimes of these aliens include 29 homicides, 2,509 assaults, 199 burglaries, 305 robberies, 392 dangerous drugs offenses, 300 weapons offenses, and 207 sexual predatory offenses," said Assistant DHS Secretary Lauren Bis, who added there were around 7,000 illegal immigrants in the state with active detainer requests as of last winter.

"Sanctuary politicians must stop putting politics above public safety. This type of insanity leads to more crimes and more innocent victims," Bis said.

Fox News Digital reached out to Goldman for comment.

HOUSE REPUBLICANS MOVE TO MAKE TRUMP'S BORDER POLICIES PERMANENT

During his remarks, Goldman also criticized Issa’s invocation of Ellis Island’s policies toward European immigrants at the turn of the century.

"First of all, my grandmother also came through Ellis Island. There was no immigration law at that time. And, certainly there was no NCIS where you could look at a database and figure out whether someone has a criminal record from their own country," said Goldman, whose district includes the New York State portion of the now-defunct facility.

SIGN UP TO GET THE POLITICS NEWSLETTER

He said tuberculosis patients were housed and rehabilitated to complete their immigration proceedings and that 98% of those who came through Ellis were allowed into the U.S.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

"So I don't think you wanna go back to the quote ‘orderly process’ unquote that you said Ellis Island is," he said.

DHS cited at least 12 cases it said contradicted Goldman's claim, including several involving illegal immigrants arrested for violent crimes who New York authorities released despite ICE detainer requests.

Among them was a Dominican national arrested for attempted murder who was released in the Bronx before ICE later apprehended him last September.

DHS also cited a Crips gang member with a prior assault conviction who was arrested last August on a criminal weapons possession charge and released despite a detainer request.

The agency also pointed to Turkish national Selman Cevik, who was on the Known or Suspected Terrorist (KST) list and became the subject of an ICE detainer after his arrest on a first-degree menacing charge. New York City authorities released him before ICE later tracked him down, DHS said.

Smokin' Hot Charley Hull suffers a brutal quadruple bogey, USA Today gasbags & Angel Reese is back at it!

Thu, 23 Jul 2026 15:37:04 -0400

'Nightcaps' is a daily column that catches you up on the biggest sports, news and culture stories you may have missed while pretending to do work at your desk. It runs Monday–Friday on OutKick.com.

Over the hump and safely through to the other side of the week. We're eight days away from August. Down here in Florida, that means we're about a week away from the real start of hurricane season.

Technically, it started on June 1. But us Sunshine State vets know the real season goes from about Aug. 1 through October. The Tropics wake up when the calendar turns to August. They really wake up around Labor Day.

Once in a while, they'll stay asleep until a few weeks before Halloween. Those are the absolute worst.

Anyway, it's been a quiet summer thus far. Always is. But there are storms coming. This is why we GRIND.

Let's roll.

Welcome to a Thursday Nightcaps — the one where Smokin' Hot LPGA golfer Charley Hull suffered one of the most brutal quadruple bogeys I've ever seen during this morning's Scottish Open.

I'd quit.

What else? I've got a Red Sox prospect hitting a tank and then slapping the catcher, USA Today's Nancy Armour being an absolute lunatic, the Big Js harassing Sophie Cunningham, and can I interest anyone in some Angel Reese bikini pics before the All-Star break?

Didn't think so! Too bad.

Grab you some vanilla ice cream for National Vanilla Ice Cream Day, and settle in for a Thursday 'Cap!

I'm picking up after my second chip here

First of all — how great is my state? Goodness, I will never leave. The most innovative state in America, by a mile. Can't believe I hadn't thought of that!

Secondly ... I did my Mount Rushmore of Ice Cream Flavors last week, so no need to rehash for Vanilla Ice Cream Day. I will say, in the pantheon of the "Big Three" ice cream flavors (strawberry, vanilla and chocolate), vanilla is easily — easily — No. 1.

Nobody's ever said, "I don't like vanilla ice cream." It might be boring, but it gets the job done in any situation. It's not going to win any awards, but it's always going to be in the mix.

And that's your ice cream Ted Talk for the day. You're welcome!

Now, let's get this class started with golfer Charley Hull — famous for ripping cigarettes on the course — grinding through the worst quadruple bogey I've ever seen in the UK today:

Maybe my Red Sox should call up this animal

Lordy. The movement on the initial putt is just absurd. That green should be illegal. And then the three failed chips. Just a brutal hole, and some brutal conditions.

Hell of a quadruple bogey save from Charley, though. I would've already been in the next tee box getting ready to rip one to the moon. Good for her.

Speaking of hitting things to the moon and being frustrated, let's check in on Boston's No. 3 prospect, Justin Gonzales, who belted a home run to Virginia last night, and then promptly ignited a brawl after touching them all.

What a scene!

Nancy, Angel & the Big Js!

There is SO much going on there, I don't even know where to begin.

For starters ... what a call by those minor league announcers! I was ready to run through a brick wall. Electric.

But how about the slap from Gonzales? Not a punch. A slap. So degrading. So humiliating. He's such a large human (6-5, 260), it's almost impossible not to get in his way.

Finally, Look at the umpire. He attempts to stand in the middle of the two, but quickly retreats. He couldn't abandon ship fast enough. He was outta there.

That's what we call a "business decision," folks. I don't blame him. Fight or flight, and he wasn't gonna win that fight.

Let's get Justin Gonzales to Fenway this weekend and start a new winning streak! Trade deadline be damned. We already have our ace in the hole down in South Carolina.

OK, let's rapid-fire this Thursday class into a big Thursday night. First up? The WNBA is an absolute embarrassment, Part 1:

That's an actual paragraph from insufferable USA Today columnist Nancy Armour's latest drivel, in which she asserts that Clark’s reactions to missed calls put "Black" and "queer" WNBA players "in danger," essentially blaming her for alleged racist messages sent by people she doesn’t know and hasn't publicly condemned.

What a lunatic. What a nutbag. Here's my one Nancy Armour story. If you've been in this class for a while now, you've probably already heard it, so feel free to skip to the next chapter.

At my previous job at the Daytona Beach News-Journal, I somehow became the sports editor for about a year. Incredible, right?

Anyway, I was in charge of putting together what would appear in our newspaper section the next day (newspapers!), and this was during the awful COVID era when vaccines were a huge topic.

Nancy spent weeks obsessing over all the "anti-vax" athletes, and would occasionally write something dumb about them. One day, she took aim at Aaron Rodgers (of course), and it appeared in our next day's paper.

I was so annoyed and exhausted by her (as was our 80-year-old readership), that I told the page designer that I didn't want one more Nancy Armour in my section. Not one single byline.

Our readers, naturally, were thrilled. Believe me, I heard from them. It lasted about a week until the higher-ups at USA Today caught wind of it and asked me about it. I told them how insufferable she was, and then they hemmed and hawed and eventually said I couldn't ban her.

That's how insane they are over there. That, by the way, is why I ended up at OutKick about five months later.

Best decision of my life.

OK, story time is OVER! Next? The WNBA is an absolute embarrassment, Part II:

Just listen to those weirdos. They are FURIOUS with Sophie Cunningham. They can't believe someone dare speak out against the machine.

"I said what I said. It's common sense."

Lordy, they are fuming right now. It's the best. Sophie is the best. God bless her.

OK, that's it for today. Good work, everyone. Let's end our day by checking in with Angel Reese posting thirst traps to social media even though she once famously complained about people "sexualizing" her.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

Okeedokee.

Is Nancy Armour insane? Email me at Zach.Dean@OutKick.com.

USA Today writer invokes Emmett Till, says Caitlin Clark puts Black and queer players 'in danger' by flopping

Thu, 23 Jul 2026 06:32:50 -0400

USA Today columnist Nancy Armour wants Caitlin Clark to stop flopping and berating WNBA officials.

Plenty of people agree with that take, including OutKick's Dan Dakich.

Others would argue that Clark’s frustration is understandable, given the physical treatment she has received and the WNBA’s inconsistent officiating. Either way, Armour is well within her rights to criticize Clark’s behavior on the court.

But Armour’s latest column goes much further than that. Much, much further.

Armour argues that Clark’s reactions to missed calls put "Black" and "queer" WNBA players "in danger," essentially blaming Clark for alleged racist messages sent by people she doesn’t know and has publicly condemned.

No, this is not satire.

SPORTS MEDIA HAS CREATED AN ‘INDUSTRY’ OUT OF COMPLAINING ABOUT WHITE ATHLETES LIKE CAITLIN CLARK

But Armour didn’t stop at claiming Clark’s behavior puts Black and queer WNBA players in danger.

She invoked Emmett Till.

Yes, Emmett Till, the 14-year-old Black boy who was abducted, tortured and lynched in Mississippi in 1955 after a White woman accused him of making an advance toward her.

To reach that preposterous comparison, Armour recast Clark’s complaints about disputed foul calls as part of a much darker historical pattern: white women portraying Black people as threatening and placing them in danger.

That's the insane premise Armour asks readers to accept.

Her column begins by declaring that Clark and her "enablers must take the rest of us for idiots."

The column begins by declaring that Clark and her "enablers must take the rest of us for idiots." Armour points to two recent plays, one involving Chelsea Gray and another involving Kiah Stokes, as proof that Clark exaggerates contact and creates false narratives about opposing players.

As far as the Gray play, Armour and others have pointed out that Clark didn't go to the floor until after the whistle, suggesting that she was pretending to be hurt.

But anyone who understands sports beyond using them as a vehicle for political commentary knows that athletes routinely play through pain while the action is still live, then react once the whistle blows. Clark waiting until the play ended before going down doesn't prove that she faked an injury.

The second play shows that this column isn't really about whether Clark flops. Armour is using disputed basketball plays to push a left-wing narrative about "Black and queer" women in the WNBA.

Armour claims video disproves Clark’s injury

During Indiana’s July 15 loss to Golden State, Clark drove to the basket and Stokes collided with her. Clark made the layup, fell to the floor and got up limping. She then charged toward an official to complain about the no-call before briefly going to the locker room.

Clark later said Stokes kneed her in the quad and that she played the remainder of the game with a contusion.

Armour puts "contusion" in quotation marks and says the replay showed minimal contact.

The slow-motion video shows Stokes’ knee hitting Clark in the exact area Clark identified. While the contact didn't appear to be malicious, like some of the contact Clark has endured during her WNBA career, it still clearly happened.

That doesn't necessarily mean officials missed a foul. Clark initiated some of the contact while driving to the basket, and reasonable people can disagree about whether the play deserved a whistle. Personally, I thought the contact was incidental and didn't deserve a foul call.

But there is a major difference between arguing that the contact was not a foul and suggesting Clark fabricated or exaggerated the injury.

Armour didn't examine Clark. She's certainly not a doctor or a trainer. She watched a replay and decided that Clark couldn't have suffered a contusion.

That's quite a medical diagnosis from someone with no medical training who never evaluated the patient.

It also weakens the entire premise of Armour’s column. Her argument depends on Clark falsely portraying "Black" and "queer" opponents as aggressors. Yet neither example she cites proves anything.

ANGEL REESE’S LATEST WNBA CONTROVERSY SHOWS HOW VICTIMHOOD BECAME CENTRAL TO HER BRAND

After the Fever’s victory over Las Vegas, Gray shared a direct message in which a man used a racial slur against her. Social media users identified the sender, and Hilton Grand Vacations later fired him.

Armour uses that message as evidence that Clark’s behavior puts Black and queer WNBA players in danger.

But what does Clark actually have to do with it?

Armour offers no evidence that Clark knew the sender, communicated with him or encouraged anyone to contact Gray. There's also no evidence that the man is even a fan of Clark or the Indiana Fever.

Maybe he was a Clark fan, maybe he wasn't. Maybe he was a sports bettor angry about a lost bet. Maybe he wasn't. The point is that Armour doesn’t know, and neither do we.

But she was quick to take a social media message sent by a stranger, assume it was motivated by Clark’s reaction to a foul call and then hold Clark responsible for it, with zero evidence.

And this isn’t the first time Armour has worked backward to make Clark the problem.

After DiJonai Carrington poked Clark in the eye during the 2024 playoffs, leaving Clark with a black eye, Armour wrote that Clark needed to "call out the toxic segment of her fan base." Both Clark and Carrington said the contact was not intentional, but Clark was the player left with a black eye. Yet Armour decided Carrington was the victim and Clark was the perpetrator.

What Nancy Armour didn’t write about

Now, let's contrast those incidents with what Armour didn't feel the need to write a column about.

Last month, Alyssa Thomas drove her fist to Clark’s throat during a game between the Fever and Mercury. Officials didn’t call a foul, but the WNBA reviewed the play afterward, assessed Thomas a Flagrant 2 and suspended her for one game for "recklessly making contact" with Clark’s throat area.

Armour doesn't appear to have written a single word about that, at least not that I could find.

There was no demand from Armour that Thomas consider the wider consequences of her behavior. No lecture about how her actions might inflame an already toxic situation involving the league’s most visible player.

But a troll sent Gray a nasty message after a different game, and Armour suddenly had enough concern about player safety to write an entire column blaming Clark.

There are people who treat words on the internet as equal to physical violence, if not worse. Armour’s coverage certainly suggests she belongs in that group. Thomas struck Clark in the throat. Stokes kneed Clark in the quad. Carrington poked Clark in the eye. Chennedy Carter hip-checked Clark when her back was turned. The list goes on.

Yet, Armour casts Clark as the dangerous person.

CAITLIN CLARK HARD CONTACT TIMELINE: WNBA'S GROWING HISTORY OF BRUTAL HITS AGAINST THE FACE OF THE SPORT

Clark is the one constantly subjected to excessive physicality from other WNBA players, and Armour still finds a way to make the aftermath her responsibility. When someone else receives an ugly message online, Clark gets blamed for that, too.

No matter what happens, Armour arrives at the same conclusion: Caitlin Clark is the problem.

And her argument becomes even harder to defend when considering what Clark has already said.

In June 2024, Clark told people not to use her name to push racist or misogynistic agendas, calling it "disappointing" and "not acceptable."

She later went through the required ritual of acknowledging her "White privilege" and crediting Black players with building the WNBA during a Time magazine profile.

Then, earlier this month, Clark opened a media availability with a five-minute statement condemning harassment and hate directed at opponents, teammates and coaches.

"The harassment, the hate, none of that is okay," Clark said. She again told people not to use her name to advance their own agendas.

Apparently, none of that is good enough for Nancy Armour.

But if you think Armour had already taken this argument too far, we’ve got some bad news.

She wasn’t done.

Armour then invoked Emmett Till.

Again, not satire.

"The WNBA's All-Star Game this weekend is in Chicago, Emmett Till's hometown, and a local art gallery is currently hosting an exhibit imagining his life if he hadn't been lynched. While it’s incumbent on the WNBA to do more to protect its players, there also should be an expectation on Clark to recognize the wider consequences of her actions," Armour wrote.

Wow.

By invoking Till, Armour invites readers to connect Clark complaining about disputed foul calls to the history of false accusations by white women leading to violence against Black people.

Clark didn't falsely accuse Gray or Stokes of committing a crime. She certainly didn't ask anyone to harm them.

She complained about the referees during a basketball game.

Not only that, Armour doesn't identify a single incident in which a Black or "queer" WNBA player was physically assaulted by a stranger because of something Caitlin Clark said or did.

Her alleged danger is entirely hypothetical.

Meanwhile, some of the most serious, documented off-court safety incidents in women's basketball have involved Clark, Sophie Cunningham and Paige Bueckers. Men have been arrested and charged with stalking all three players.

Clark's stalker traveled to Indianapolis and sent her hundreds of threatening and sexually explicit messages. Paige Bueckers' stalker flew across the country with an engagement ring and lingerie because he believed he was going to marry her. Earlier this year, another man was charged with stalking Cunningham after allegedly sending threatening messages and delivering a package to Gainbridge Fieldhouse.

All three players are White.

Those cases don't prove that only white players face danger. They do show how backwards Armour's argument is. She has no documented example of Clark's behavior causing someone to physically attack a Black or "queer" player, yet she invokes Emmett Till while portraying Clark as a threat to their safety.

The actual arrests tell a very different story.

But Armour isn't following the evidence. She's forcing Clark into a racial and political narrative that has little to do with what actually happens on the court.

That is exactly what NBA Commissioner Adam Silver recently criticized when he said it was "incredibly unfair" that Clark had become a political football when she simply wants to focus on basketball.

Armour’s column proves his point.

A discussion about Clark flopping and mistreating officials turns into an argument about white nationalism, American racial violence, queer identity and Emmett Till. Talk about hitting every left-wing talking point and even throwing in a few extras.

WNBA ALL-STAR CHARITY INITIATIVE SUPPORTS SPORTS GROUP THAT SAYS IT IS ‘MOVING BEYOND THE BINARY OF GIRL’

"Indiana Fever All-Star Caitlin Clark and her enablers must take the rest of us for idiots," Armour's column begins.

Then her entire column requires readers to ignore video evidence, ignore Clark’s words and accept that a professional athlete is responsible for racist strangers she has never met and has publicly condemned.

Who is taking whom for an idiot?

'The View' host calls out fellow co-hosts for defense of Graham Platner despite his Nazi-linked tattoo

Thu, 23 Jul 2026 15:33:56 -0400

"The View" co-host Alyssa Farah Griffin took a swipe at her co-hosts on Thursday while reminding them that some of them defended Graham Platner despite his Nazi-linked tattoo.

Griffin said the panel had debated Platner's candidacy at length and said the whole saga was making it harder for the Democratic Party to win the Maine Senate seat.

Joy Behar said candidate controversies didn't make things harder for Republicans, and Griffin noted that Ken Paxton was not someone she would support in Texas.

"Why do you think that is? Why do you think the Republicans fall in line and the Democrats have to fall in love, and the Republicans are constantly claiming to be the party of family values and morality," co-host Sunny Hostin asked.

SUNNY HOSTIN CALLED OUT BY FELLOW 'VIEW' CO-HOST FOR PRIOR SUPPORT OF PLATNER IN TENSE EXCHANGE

Hostin said she would support Platner multiple times in the last few months despite news of many controversies, including the Nazi-linked tattoo. However, she said Platner should exit the race after he faced multiple allegations of sexual abuse.

"I don’t know that I’m convinced either party puts up the best people. I’m just going to be honest. I love you guys, but a lot of you guys defended a guy with a Nazi tattoo who was credibly accused of a number of things," Griffin responded.

Behar said, "Don't look at me. I did not."

'THE VIEW' ERUPTS AFTER HOSTIN DECLARES 'I WOULD HOLD MY NOSE' AND VOTE FOR SCANDAL-PLAGUED GRAHAM PLATNER

"I did, but I didn’t know most of his background," Hostin responded.

Co-host Whoopi Goldberg claimed she didn't know it was a Nazi tattoo and that no one told her.

"I didn’t see that tattoo as a Nazi thing. No one ever told me that tattoo — what that was," she said.

The co-hosts also debated Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., as a potential 2028 candidate for the Democratic Party.

Griffin argued that if AOC became the Democratic nominee that Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who is considered a potential Republican frontrunner, would be sworn in in 2028.

Behar agreed and said it was because the U.S. did not want to elect a woman to the presidency.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE COVERAGE OF MEDIA AND CULTURE

"They don’t want to see a powerful woman in that position for some reason," she said.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

Co-host Sara Haines listed several candidates she liked, including former Biden Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg.

Hostin wondered if the country would elect Buttigieg, and she and Behar said they couldn't afford to try it.

Trump says Chinese President Xi Jinping will visit US on Sept 24

Thu, 23 Jul 2026 15:32:40 -0400

President Donald Trump said Thursday that Chinese President Xi Jinping will visit the United States Sept. 24 with artificial intelligence (AI) expected to be a key topic during their talks.

Trump made the announcement during remarks at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Thursday afternoon while discussing his administration's push to build more AI data centers.

"President Xi is coming over on Sept. 24," Trump said. "We talked about it when I was over in Beijing, and we'll be talking about it again."

CHINA IS BUILDING AN AI WAR MACHINE; WASHINGTON MUST WAKE UP BEFORE IT’S TOO LATE

Trump called AI "probably the biggest thing anybody's ever seen" and said the United States must stay ahead of China in the race to dominate the technology.

"Whoever wins that race is probably going to win, period," Trump said.

The two leaders last met during Trump's trip to Beijing earlier this year, where Trump invited Xi to visit the White House.

TRUMP HEADS TO BEIJING FOR HIGH-STAKES XI TALKS AS TAIWAN TENSIONS, TRADE DISPUTES TEST US STRENGTH

Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi spoke Wednesday and discussed laying the groundwork for what Rubio called a "very positive visit," according to Reuters.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

The White House did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment.

Dave Portnoy blasts USA Today columnist for claiming Caitlin Clark’s referee complaints fuel racism

Thu, 23 Jul 2026 15:32:06 -0400

Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy blasted USA Today columnist Nancy Armour on social media Thursday after she argued that Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark's reactions to officiating fuel racist abuse and endanger Black and queer WNBA players.

Armour argued that some of Clark’s supporters interpret her disputes with referees as a White woman needing protection and respond by targeting other players.

"It seems there is a White nationalist element to Clark’s fandom that is deeply, deeply problematic," Armour said.

USA TODAY WRITER SAYS CAITLIN CLARK PUTS BLACK AND QUEER WNBA PLAYERS 'IN DANGER' BY FLOPPING

"It shouldn’t need reminding this country has an awful history of Black people being harmed, even killed, in the name of ‘defending’ white women," she later wrote.

"The irony of the WNBA's All-Star Game is that it's happening this weekend in Chicago, the hometown of Emmett Till."

Portnoy condemned Armour’s argument and called it the "dumbest" sports paragraph he had ever encountered.

"She has written the dumbest paragraph not only of my lifetime but in the history of sports," Portnoy said. "This is an article that says @CaitlinClark22 arguing calls has become dangerous for the @wnba and civil rights. Nancy Armour should be out in a straight jacket and locked up. We can’t have these types of smooth brains roaming freely in society."

Later on Thursday, Portnoy called for Armour to be fired from USA Today.

"Nothing screams coward like saying something utterly insane and being private so you can live in your little echo chamber pretending reality doesn’t exist," he posted on X. "Fire this lady. Fire the editor who posted it. Fire the Usa Today for crimes against humanity."

In her opinion column Wednesday, Armour accused Clark of flopping and said her confrontation with officials encourages a "White nationalist element" of her fan base to target opposing players.

Armour invoked the history of violence against Black Americans while arguing that Clark should recognize the broader consequences of her conduct.

DAKICH: SPORTS MEDIA HAS CREATED AN ‘INDUSTRY’ OUT OF COMPLAINING ABOUT WHITE ATHLETES LIKE CAITLIN CLARK

The columnist referenced Emmett Till, noting that the WNBA All-Star Game will be played in Chicago, where the 14-year-old's funeral was held after his 1955 lynching in Mississippi.

Sports analyst Sam Vecenie questioned how the passage survived the publication’s editing process.

"There is a section/paragraph in this story that is among the most insane choices to include I’ve ever read in any sports story from a serious publication," Vecenie said. "Like, the kind of crazy where I genuinely have no idea how an editor let it get through."

OutKick founder Clay Travis similarly criticized Armour and USA Today over the column.

"This @nrarmour column in @usatoday is about Caitlin Clark complaining about being fouled too much to referees," Travis said. "This woman belongs in a mental hospital, not writing sports columns. How the hell does @USATODAY publish this?"

Political commentators Stephen L. Miller and Gina Milan also criticized Armour’s reference to Till.

"Compares Emmett Till to a WNBA game," Miller said. "WOW! Absolutely disgusting," Milan said.

Communications strategist Matt Whitlock used the controversy to criticize the broader sports media.

"Reminder that sports journalists are so often the most dangerously woke people in newsrooms," Whitlock said.

KAREEM ABDUL-JABBAR MISSES THE POINT ON CAITLIN CLARK AND THE FACE OF THE WNBA DEBATE

Armour cited a racist message Las Vegas Aces guard Chelsea Gray received after a July 12 loss to Indiana. Gray publicized the message, and Hilton Grand Vacations fired the employee who sent it.

In response to Fox News Digital, USA Today said it updated Armour's column to clarify her argument and pointed to the columnist's response to the backlash.

"Please note that the column has been updated for clarity, and Nancy has addressed the matter here and below," a USA Today spokesperson said. "We will not be commenting further."

Armour acknowledged that her comparison to Emmett Till was "inartful" and lacked sufficient context but stood by her broader argument about threats against WNBA players.

"In my recent column, I made an inartful comparison with the murder of Emmett Till," she posted in a statement on Instagram. "I intended to connect the issues the WNBA is currently facing with its All-Star Game being hosted in Till’s hometown of Chicago.

"I obviously did not provide enough context for that. However, this point stands: There is a history in this country of perceived threats to white women being weaponized against African-Americans, and the danger that poses to Black players in the league."

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

Clark previously condemned abuse against players, coaches and officials amid a surge in online threats.

"I’ve said up here and said before, the harassment, the hate, none of that is OK," Clark said, according to The Associated Press. "That goes for the opposing team we play, that goes for my teammates, that goes for my coaches."

The WNBA and its players’ union announced Wednesday that the league would enhance security resources following discussions about racist, hateful and abusive messages directed at players, according to Reuters.

Microplastics detected in most heart attack patients' blood in startling new study

Thu, 23 Jul 2026 15:23:54 -0400

Patients experiencing severe heart attacks may have significantly higher concentrations of micro- and nanoplastics in their blood compared to individuals with stable heart conditions, according to new research.

Italian researchers analyzed blood samples from the coronary arteries of 61 patients undergoing angiograms, a procedure that analyzes blood vessels for irregularities.

They found that nearly 84% of patients suffering an active, severe heart attack had detectable micro- and nanoplastics in their blood. In contrast, plastic was detected in 40% of patients with chronic heart disease and only 32% of those with normal coronary arteries.

NOTABLE FIGURES WHO DIED FROM THE SAME HEART CONDITION LINKED TO LINDSEY GRAHAM'S DEATH

Researchers led by Dr. Raffaele Marfella of the University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli in Naples conducted the study, which was published in the European Heart Journal.

Polyethylene, a common material used in plastic bags and bottles, appeared in 97% of those patients who tested positive.

"This study adds to emerging research showing the potential role of micro- and nanoplastics in heart disease," Michelle Routhenstein, a preventive cardiology dietitian at EntirelyNourished.com, told Fox News Digital.

While notable, the findings should be considered in the broader context of environmental health hazards, said New York City-based Routhenstein, who was not involved in the study.

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

"While these findings are interesting and highlight the importance of paying attention to environmental factors that may contribute to inflammation and blood vessel injury, they do not prove that plastics cause heart attacks," she said.

The findings align with previous research detecting microplastics in arterial plaque, Routhenstein noted, although she cautioned that the study has several limitations.

"This was an observational study, so it can only show an association, not cause and effect," she said. "It also included a relatively small group of patients from one country, so we can't assume the findings apply to everyone."

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR HEALTH NEWSLETTER

Health and environmental variables could also complicate the data. In the study, a history of smoking emerged as the single strongest predictor of detectable plastic particles in the blood.

TEST YOURSELF WITH OUR LATEST LIFESTYLE QUIZ

"Factors like smoking and air pollution are also linked to cardiovascular disease and higher plastic exposure, making it difficult to separate the independent effects of microplastics," Routhenstein said.

To reduce potential risk, the dietitian recommends making targeted swaps to help limit daily exposure to microplastics.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE HEALTH STORIES

"I would take inventory of your regular sources of microplastic exposure and see where you can reduce or swap them for better alternatives," Routhenstein said. "For example, replace plastic food storage containers with glass ones."

She also urged people to take extra precautions when preparing meals and drinking water.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

"When microwaving or reheating food, use glass or ceramic containers instead of plastic," she said. "It's also a good idea to limit plastic water bottles and single-use plastic containers, especially when they're exposed to heat."

"Think of reducing plastic exposure as one piece of an overall heart-healthy lifestyle," she added.

Jack Smith doubles down against GOP accusations he lied under oath

Thu, 23 Jul 2026 15:19:18 -0400

Former special counsel Jack Smith is maintaining his innocence after House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, referred Smith to the Department of Justice (DOJ) for potential criminal charges.

Jordan accused Smith of lying while under oath during a deposition before his House GOP-led panel in December 2025.

But Smith's lawyers rejected the referral as "meritless" in a letter to Jordan and acting Attorney General Todd Blanche Wednesday night.

JACK SMITH HIT WITH CRIMINAL REFERRAL AS GOP MOVES TESTIMONY FIGHT TOWARD PROSECUTION

"Mr. Smith agreed to testify before the House Judiciary Committee fully cognizant of the risk that President Trump’s Justice Department would try to find something in his testimony to serve as the basis for a criminal charge," Smith's attorneys wrote in the letter obtained by Fox News Digital.

"This risk existed not because Mr. Smith would make a false statement, but because President Trump has repeatedly ordered that Mr. Smith be prosecuted and jailed. That is not the rule of law. And it contravenes the principles that are critical to the vitality of our democracy."

Smith was tapped to investigate whether President Donald Trump and his allies conspired to overturn the 2020 election results and whether the president improperly handled classified documents. Trump has denied wrongdoing in both probes, which ended after the 2024 presidential cycle.

VETERAN DEM BREAKS PARTY LINE AS JACK SMITH SPYING SCANDAL GRIPS CAPITOL HILL

Jordan’s letter to Blanche Wednesday night, first reported by Fox News Digital, argued that "responses provided by Mr. Smith gave the impression that neither Mr. Smith nor his team had access to the content of members’ privileged text messages."

"We now know this to be false," the letter adds.

The referral comes after Smith faced mounting scrutiny from Republicans over allegedly weaponizing DOJ and violating constitutional privacy protections.

Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, released documents last week showing Smith's team read the text messages of 44 members of Congress from both parties and White House staff during its investigation.

Targeted lawmakers included Jordan and Grassley, in addition to the late Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C.; Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine; House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, R-La.; and Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J.

When Smith was asked by congressional investigators if he examined the contents of lawmakers’ text messages during his probe, he said, "no." He told the House Judiciary Committee his team only sought telephone toll records.

But Smith's attorneys charged that he was not being questioned about text messages during the portion of the deposition that Republicans are pointing to, so the criminal referral was made "because he did not proactively disclose information that was not responsive to a question asked."

"During his testimony, Mr. Smith provided truthful, responsive answers and candidly discussed his work as Special Counsel. This referral reflects a chilling eagerness to weaponize the justice system by attacking a career, nonpartisan public servant who faithfully and fearlessly performed his duties by following the facts and the law," the lawyers wrote.

"The toll record subpoenas that were the focus of those questions did not call for the content of text messages. The questions and answers preceding and following these exchanges also make clear that the focus of the questions was on the toll records subpoenas. Notably, the referral letter does not contest the truthfulness of Mr. Smith’s answers."

Smith's attorneys also argued that his team was within its rights and did not violate lawmakers' constitutional protections in the speech and debate clause, when obtaining text messages.

"That important constitutional provision, which Mr. Smith and his team took seriously and safeguarded, protects Members of Congress from having their legislative acts used against them. It does not prevent prosecutors from using or reviewing text messages between Members of Congress and members of the Executive Branch in an investigation and prosecution of an Executive Branch official, which is precisely what happened here," the letter said.

"This review of text messages did not involve an intrusion by the Executive Branch into the legislative sphere because the text messages were voluntarily sent by members of the Legislative Branch to members of the Executive Branch."

Trump has unleashed a litany of attacks against Smith ever since he began his probe, calling him a "Trump-hater" and a "thug" at times.

Trump's allies have blasted the longtime prosecutor as a partisan actor who unfairly targeted the now-president.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

"The Department can confirm receipt of the criminal referral from the House Judiciary Committee and will investigate all evidence of criminal conduct," the DOJ told Fox News Digital Tuesday night regarding Jordan's referral.

"No one is above the law, and that includes Jack Smith," a spokesperson for the committee told Fox News Digital of the letter. "Statements he made before the committee are contradicted by the evidence and impeded the committee’s inquiry of the Biden-Harris Administration's weaponized Justice Department."

Wife swapping with friends ruined by father-in-law, messy married affair with a co-worker & wedding objections

Thu, 23 Jul 2026 15:16:50 -0400

Welcome to the latest edition of True Romance. Last week we dove headfirst into the story of a married officer who resigned from the force after her affair with an 18-year veteran was exposed.

That story has an update. The officer's husband, also a police officer, is the one who turned her in after finding the videos she recorded of herself having sex with the veteran of the force.

Incredibly, her story wasn't the only one recently involving law enforcement and an alleged affair. A police chief also resigned after he was alleged to have been in a brief affair with a suspect's wife.

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

Some officers are doing more while on duty than just busting criminals. I know you're thinking that could have been a story that was in the headlines this week. You're right; it could have.

I decided, however, not to go back-to-back weeks with an officer-related love story. Was it a mistake not to let the romance lead the way? I don’t think so. There's plenty of it to go around.

Just ask former CNN anchor Brooke Baldwin.

VIRAL NIKKI GLASER CLIP PROMPTS DISCUSSION OVER WHETHER MONOGAMY IS DEAD

She went from pretending on TV to be offended by OutKick founder Clay Travis' use of the word boobs to making what the NY Post describes as "eyebrow-raising admissions" about her current romantic situation.

She claims to have turned four men down recently, despite the fact that she says, "I love sex. If I may be so bold, I’m pretty damn good at it."

I guess we'll have to take her word for it. Let's get the rest of this going, shall we? We have tales of wife swapping and messy co-worker affairs to get to.

Go follow True Romance on Twitter and Facebook. Send your emails here: sean.joseph@outkick.com (anonymously if you prefer).

A man's father-in-law is pouring cold water on his wife swapping fun

What's the move when your wife of almost eight years has allowed her father to ruin your bedroom activities? Is it time to give into temptations and give the woman at work who is into you a chance?

This is where a heartbroken man who is used to having fun and even wife swapping with his best friend and his wife finds himself after six months of being shutout in his own home.

His wife's mom died back in January and, somehow, that's become his problem because his father-in-law is spending more and more time at their house.

"We have a very ‘friendly’ relationship with my best mate and his wife, which has led to a bit of swapping over the years, and sometimes group sex. This always takes place at our flat, as they still live with his parents," he wrote to Metro.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE OUTKICK CULTURE COVERAGE

Since his father-in-law has been there more often, the fun is gone. He continued, "Our wild sex life has been reduced to almost nothing... Our adventures with my mate and his wife have also been put on hold."

That's where the noticing of the other woman comes into play. He's at an obvious crossroad. He can continue to suck it up and hope his wife's old man finds a bingo hall or something or he can take action.

Those are his only options. It's been six whole months now. If he doesn’t start wife swapping soon, who knows what unforeseen tragedy could take place? He doesn’t want that. He doesn't.

What if, after the dust settles on the father-in-law overstaying his welcome, there's no more sharing with his best friend. He needs to get his wife's attention before it's too late.

What if stepping out on his marriage would accomplish that? I would never suggest he should do that. However, it could bring the most important aspect of his life back.

This guy's been through enough already, hasn't he?

This Week In True Romance

Follow True Romance on Twitter and Facebook.

I'm having an affair with my married coworker at my new job, and I don't know if/how I should tell my husband

Now to someone who has taken that step and crossed the line into an affair with a coworker. There's no mention of cold water being poured on a wife-swapping situation here.

In fact, the 31-year-old cheater describes her husband of seven years in her Reddit post as "not a bad person" and "a good father."

"I started a new job a little over 6 months ago. It was a huge adjustment. I went from spending most of my days at home to being the new person at a company where everyone already had their friendships and routines," the former stay-at-home mom said.

"I met a male co-worker there. He’s 42, married, and has two older kids in middle and high school. He’s been at the company for 10 years, so he’s very established there. When I started, we had to work together a lot while I was learning everything. We clicked immediately."

It was harmless at first before turning into an emotional affair that eventually turned physical. They've started hooking up at lunch and after work. She doesn’t think her husband has any idea.

She knows the affair isn't going to last. Her 42-year-old coworker is married, with a family of his own. She's torn about what to do next.

She doesn’t really want to confess. She wants to get a new job, end the affair and live happily ever after. Why can't she have that?

The answer is she can. As long as she can execute her plan to end the affair and, like an adult, bury those feelings of guilt over having it.

OUTKICK IS NOW ON THE FOX APP: CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD

People who've witnessed a wedding objection that actually worked: What happened?

Wedding objections aren't just in movies. People are actually doing them in the wild with some mixed responses and results, according to folks on Reddit who say they've witnessed it or heard stories of it occurring.

I was at a large Catholic wedding and during the ceremony a girl entered the back of the church and said loudly, "Please don’t do this Dan, please". Absolute silence in a church of 300. The priest counseled the couple for the longest 5 minutes. The wedding proceeded, and the bride got shitfaced at the reception. They lasted about 2 years.
Small villages in Alaska aren't exactly diverse in the blood pool, especially if the men go around to different villages having children they aren't telling their families about. One old man found out who was getting married the day of the wedding, showed up, and said the bride and groom were half siblings. Fortunately, they didn't have kids together before the wedding.
At my wedding the officiant said "If anyone has a reason why these two should not be married keep it to yourself."
It was before I was born, but my dad was at a wedding where half the room objected. Turns out the bride and groom were cousins. I guess there was some family rift a generation or two ago so half the family stopped talking to the other half. This was before social media or common cellphones. Guests were looking around the room and basically like "wait a minute!" Bride and groom didn't believe it. They ended up having to pay for a professional genealogy search to figure how related they were. They were first cousins. They already had a kid.

I went to a wedding many years ago and when minister asked "Does anyone know why these two should not wed?" Groom turned to his mother and told her not to say a word. Marriage lasted maybe 10 years I think.
It's not a common question in Dutch proceedings (I certainly don't recall ever hearing it asked). But I did attend a relative's wedding where her father stood up, said: Are you sure? before the 'I do'. And she was clearly not, but went ahead anyway. Six months later they entered divorce proceedings.
I'm an officiant, and I only ask for objections if the couple request it. The worst I've seen was a military couple (both of them AF) and a lady walked in with a baby and a toddler, objected, then presented a marriage certificate dated a year and a half earlier from the county next to where we were. Yes, this was in Florida.
never seen one actually work in real life it usually just kills the vibe and the wedding continues awkwardly or the person gets escorted out and people pretend it didnt happen
During my ceremony I awaited a visibly angry guest who decided she was going to wear sweatpants to object. I’d made my mind up that if she did I leave with her immediately…she did not
best I can do is a wedding where the best man was univited by the bride for hiring strippers for the bachelor party....best man eventurally made back into the wedding, but he wasn't on the program. the marriage lasted about 2 years. to this day, it was one of the best bachelor parties I've ever been too.

My buddy proposed to a woman he knew for like 3 months, moved her into his apartment and asked a few of us to be there when they got married the following month at the court house. No pregnancy or anything, just them being stupid. I told him I didn't support the wedding but he said he wanted me there anyways. I didn't object per se but when it was asked I cleared my throat as sort of a way to make it known how I felt. She ran off three weeks later with her ex boyfriend and left him an "apology" note to come home to.

True romance

- Adriana writes:

I read True Romance every week. I also read your other articles. Your writing style, perhaps even more than the content, is why I read.

The three loves was so perfect from the other reader because that is exactly my life. Married the first one, had two boys, and then had the second one, and just married the third one. I do not normally email but this was a great email from your other reader. Also funny because the song was Huey Lewis, who my husband and I both love.

"Happiness is neither virtue nor pleasure, nor this thing not that, but simply growth; we are happy when we are growing." - W. B. Yeats

SeanJo

Thanks for the support and thanks for reaching out, Adriana. I'm glad you found a reason to do so.

Keep the emails coming. I need more like these.

John Wayne and Logical Choice - Scene from Rio Lobo // Possible Theme Songs for True Romance

- Deep in the Heart of Texas writes:

Sean,

In this case, it’s the lady making the "logical choice" for John Wayne in the movie Rio Lobo. But he does not appreciate her reasoning.

As to songs for this week, any of the following could be the theme song for "True Romance". Two lists below depending on whether you prefer unbridled passion or painful consequence. Pick your favorite.

The passion songs:

Urgent – Foreigner

I Can’t Get No Satisfaction – The Rolling Stones

Bad Case of Loving You – Robert Palmer

The Heat of the Moment - Asia

The consequence songs:

What Was I Thinking – Dierks Bently

Kerosene - Miranda Lambert

Before He Cheats – Carrie Underwood

Suspicious Minds – Elvis

Your weekly post reminds me of a friend who watched the movie "Fatal Attraction" and come into work swearing that he would never cheat on his wife. He got it. There are always consequences . . .

SeanJo

Hey, Deep in the Heart of Texas. Once again, you hit a home run with this email. I chose The Stones this week.

I think it's fitting given the wife swapping frustrations. Have a great week and keep the emails coming.

-------------

That's it, another full week of romance. Feel free to reach out, anonymously if you prefer, at sean.joseph@outkick.com. Send me whatever you want, keep the song suggestions coming.

Former Obama spokesperson charged with financial felony in city engulfed by fraud scandals

Thu, 23 Jul 2026 15:00:37 -0400

A former Obama press aide, Adam Fetcher, is facing a felony charge, accused of stealing a co-worker’s debit card to purchase kratom, a mood-altering substance, from a Minneapolis smoke shop.

Fetcher served as the chief communications officer for the City of Minneapolis until he was fired from his role in early July during a police investigation after reports he had stolen cash and bank cards from three fellow municipal employees and blown through hundreds of dollars in smoke shops.

Prosecutors formally charged Fetcher with a felony count of financial transaction fraud Wednesday, The Minneapolis Star Tribune reported.

The allegations create a fresh political problem for Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, who is already facing scrutiny over widespread fraud tied to members of the city’s Somali community, a constituency with which he has cultivated close political ties.

MILLION-DOLLAR SNAP FOOD STAMP FRAUD SCHEME IN WALZ'S BACKYARD SPARKS OUTRAGE: 'CRUEL JOKE'

Before he worked for Frey, Fetcher held a number of high-level communications posts in the Obama administration and on the former president’s campaign.

He served as the assistant press secretary for the Department of Homeland Security for about eight months in 2011. After that, he served as the press secretary for Obama’s Department of the Interior until July 2012, when he left the administration to serve as the deputy national press secretary for the president’s re-election campaign.

CHICK-FIL-A EMPLOYEE BUSTED IN BIZARRE $80K MAC-AND-CHEESE THEFT SCHEME

After leaving politics, he held a number of corporate roles, including high-level communications posts at Patagonia and Lyft.

It is unclear why the former Obama press aide would have stolen relatively small amounts of cash from his coworkers when city records show that he was making nearly $200,000 a year in his role as Minneapolis’ top communications staffer.

Fetcher also had no criminal record at the time of the alleged fraud, save for a few traffic violations, according to court records.

MINNESOTA FRAUD SUSPECT SKIPS COURT, FORFEITS BOND, THROWING $11M MEDICAID CASE INTO DOUBT

Sources familiar with the matter told The Minneapolis Star Tribune Fetcher is suspected of stealing cash and cards from coworkers' desks and bags shortly after he returned from a rehabilitation program. He revealed to coworkers he was seeking treatment for a substance abuse problem, according to the outlet.

Kratom is commonly used to treat opioid withdrawal symptoms, though it can become addictive itself. The substance has come under increased federal and state scrutiny in recent year.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

Fetcher’s attorney told Fox News Digital she had no comment. He is scheduled to appear in court Aug. 11.

Fox News Digital reached a representative for Obama on Thursday for comment but did not receive a response.

Dem Rhode Island lawmaker threatens ICE: 'Your day of reckoning will come m----- f------'

Thu, 23 Jul 2026 13:18:21 -0400

A Rhode Island lawmaker who previously referred to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers as "Nazi Gestapo thugs" said "your day of reckoning will come mother------" in a charged social media post aimed at the agency tasked with carrying out the Trump administration's crackdown on illegal immigration.

State Rep. Enrique Sanchez, a Democrat, directed his anger at ICE in a post Wednesday on X decrying its enforcement tactics.

"Fighting and dealing with ICE since last year has f----- me up in the head after trying to protect and defend hundreds and hundreds of our community members in Providence and across Rhode Island. Your day of reckoning will come mother------," he wrote. "I swear to god."

HOMAN BLASTS DEM HYPOCRISY ON DEPORTATIONS, RECALLS PAST WHEN 'OBAMA GAVE ME AN AWARD' FOR ENFORCING BORDER

Fox News Digital has reached out for comment to Sanchez, ICE and the Department of Homeland Security, along with the Rhode Island Democratic Party.

Allyn Meyers, chair for the Rhode Island GOP, told Fox News Digital that the party condemns Sanchez's remarks.

"Sanchez’s inflammatory rhetoric, including his explicit vow of a 'day of reckoning, is reckless and dangerous.

"We must never forget that ICE agents have been targeted for assassination and violence simply for doing their jobs and enforcing our nation’s laws," said Meyers. "Rhetoric like this does nothing to protect communities; it puts the lives of dedicated law enforcement officers at greater risk. Republicans respect and stand with the men and women of law enforcement who keep our state and country safe."

Meyers noted that leaders are "supposed to bring people together and build bridges" before calling on Sanchez to retract his "inflammatory statement."

DHS says Sanchez should be grateful to ICE for removing criminals from the streets.

"State Rep. Enrique Sanchez should be thanking our law enforcement for removing these dangerous criminals from his state—NOT vilifying law enforcement," said a spokesperson for the agency.

"Attacks and demonization of ICE law enforcement are wrong. Because of smears like this our ICE officers are now facing a 1,300% increase in assaults against them as they put their lives on the line to arrest murderers, rapists, pedophiles, gang members, and terrorists. ICE law enforcement is arresting criminals and saving countless American lives," the spokesperson continued.

DHS also provided some names and criminal illegal aliens who ICE has taken off Rhode Island's streets. They include:

Phet Phommasinh, a criminal illegal alien from Laos convicted of homicide, assault, and aggravated assault with a weapon.
Mariel Valdez Nunez, a criminal illegal alien from the Dominican Republic convicted of human slavery or trafficking.
Milton Estrada Hernandez, a criminal illegal alien from El Salvador convicted of human slavery or trafficking.
Touthtou Sengsavang, a criminal illegal alien from Laos convicted of failure to register as a sex offender, molestation of minor, selling cocaine and sex offense against child-fondling.
Vanna Nhem, a criminal illegal alien from Cambodia convicted of rape with strongarm and robbery.

Sanchez, who was elected to the state House of Representatives in 2022, works as a case manager helping illegal immigrants, according to his biography on the state House website.

The Democratic lawmaker has issued harsh criticism of ICE before. In August 2025, he called ICE officers "Nazi Gestapo thugs" who he said "kidnapped another of our neighbors" in Providence.

"The ICE thugs damaged a couple cars that belonged to residents as well. They think they are above the law," he wrote on X at the time.

SOCIALIST MAYOR MAMDANI BASHES ICE AFTER CHAOTIC PROTEST LEADS TO ARRESTS: ‘CRUEL AND INHUMANE’

Two weeks later, he said ICE was "terrorizing" communities before calling for "a day of reckoning and no going back."

More recently, Sanchez lambasted the "Nazi ICE trash thugs" after an ICE agent killed a Colombian man in Maine.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

Joan Sebastián Durán, 26, was shot and killed July 13 during an attempted traffic stop after he allegedly tried to flee, authorities said.

Iconic coaster to take final ride, and fans say goodbye after decades of thrills

Thu, 23 Jul 2026 14:40:09 -0400

One of Florida's most iconic roller coasters is preparing for its final ride after more than three decades, sparking a wave of nostalgia among theme-park enthusiasts.

Busch Gardens Tampa Bay recently shared that Kumba will permanently close Aug. 2 after 33 years in operation, marking the end of one of the park's best known attractions.

When it debuted in 1993, Kumba was Florida's tallest, fastest and longest roller coaster. It also featured the world's tallest vertical loop and quickly became a favorite among thrill seekers, according to the Busch Gardens announcement on its website.

BELOVED AMUSEMENT PARK WITH NO GATE FEE TAKES TOP SPOT AHEAD OF THEME PARK GIANTS

The nearly three-minute ride takes guests through a 135-foot drop, reaches speeds of 60 mph and features seven inversions.

While Kumba is retiring, Busch Gardens said on Instagram it will replace the popular attraction with Kumba's Revenge, part of a $100 million investment aimed at expanding the park's lineup of thrill rides.

Fox News Digital reached out to Busch Gardens for comment.

The announcement sparked an emotional response from coaster enthusiasts, many of whom shared memories of riding Kumba over the years.

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR LIFESTYLE NEWSLETTER

"So sad to hear of this," one Reddit user wrote. "Such a classic, legend and masterpiece."

Another person called the coaster "an old friend. I've been lucky enough to have gotten hundreds of rides on it over the decades."

Others reflected on childhood memories tied to the attraction.

"Kumba was pretty much a rite of passage for many Floridian children," one longtime fan wrote, recalling riding the coaster for the first time during an elementary school field trip.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE LIFESTYLE STORIES

Many fans also expressed hope that its successor would live up to the original.

"I just hope that your replacement is worthy of the legendary name," one user wrote.

Guests have until Aug. 2 to experience what Busch Gardens is calling Kumba's "Final Roar" before the coaster permanently closes.

Fox News Digital previously reported that several theme parks and attractions across the country have announced closures, prompting emotional reactions from longtime fans.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

In Washington state, Wild Waves Theme Park is preparing to close permanently after the 2026 season, ending nearly 50 years of operation.

TEST YOURSELF WITH OUR LATEST LIFESTYLE QUIZ

Visitors have flooded the park's social media pages, sharing childhood memories and urging a buyer to step in before the gates close for good.

Andrea Margolis of Fox News Digital contributed reporting.

First overall pick Fernando Mendoza signs guaranteed deal with Raiders, who seem to be an 'arrow up' NFL club

Thu, 23 Jul 2026 14:37:59 -0400

The Fernando Mendoza era is officially underway for the Las Vegas Raiders because he just signed a contract worth $57.27 million — every cent of it guaranteed.

We knew Mendoza would eventually get to signing his four-year deal that will include a fifth-year option. It was a matter of time because, well, all NFL rookies generally sign their slotted deals, and the No. 1 overall selection of the 2026 draft would be no different.

But this signing hits different because it means an NFL legacy franchise that has suffered a desert experience in recent years after having a self-described "Commitment to Excellence" in previous decades offers renewed hope.

TOM BRADY SENDS CLEAR MESSAGE TO RAIDERS ROOKIE FERNANDO MENDOZA: EARN YOUR OPPORTUNITY

"I'm excited to get this thing signed," Mendoza said in a video released by the team. "Excited to be a part of the Silver and Black. Can't wait. Appreciate you guys all support. Let's get this thing rolling."

So, what will "rolling" look like for Mendoza?

It will look like he's a rookie trying to earn his role.

He will not be handed the starting quarterback job. That currently belongs to veteran Kirk Cousins.

The 14-year veteran signed a one-year deal with the Raiders this offseason to serve as a sort of bridge starting quarterback while Mendoza learns the offense, learns the speed of the game, learns how to be a professional, and earns the starting job.

The starting job will not be handed to Mendoza, per a Raiders source. The club is not in a huge hurry to get him in the lineup.

But the club is neither dismissing the possibility that Mendoza will come as advertised – which means he learns quickly, makes good decisions, isn't overmatched, and leads.

When Mendoza, who is expected to get some but not a majority of the starting repetitions in training camp practices, shows he's a better option than Cousins, then he'll get the starting job.

(This won't be decided in a vacuum. Once the regular season begins, the Raiders will obviously evaluate Cousins week to week and if he doesn't perform, the chances of the club turning to Mendoza will increase. If Cousins plays well and wins, he keeps the starting job.)

Fans hope to see Mendoza at some point in 2026 regardless of the situation but the club isn't committing to that now. The Raiders say if it doesn't happen it would be because Cousins simply is playing too well to bench rather than a sign Mendoza isn't ready.

All of these hopes and expectations come before one regular-season, preseason or training camp snap. Circumstances often change.

But this remains: Mendoza is the future.

He's got minority owner Tom Brady as a resource.

The Raiders made massive changes (improvements, they believe) along the offensive line and on defense in the offseason. They were even able to keep star edge rusher Maxx Crosby after initially trading him away to the Philadelphia Eagles.

Crosby, by the way, is excited about what's ahead.

"Go time," he posted on X earlier Thursday.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM

The Raiders believe they are an "arrow up" franchise, as one NFL source put it. Yes, they play in the difficult AFC West that includes three playoff contenders in the Kansas City Chiefs, Denver Broncos and Los Angeles Chargers.

But if Mendoza performs as billed, this club will be relevant in the years to come.

It begins on Thursday.

Follow Armando Salguero on X: @ArmandoSalguero

New poll complicates Vance’s status as Trump’s likely 2028 heir apparent

Thu, 23 Jul 2026 14:34:07 -0400

A new poll from New Hampshire, the state that for a century has held the first Republican presidential primary, is the latest to indicate that Secretary of State Marco Rubio is gaining ground in a hypothetical 2028 GOP nomination matchup with Vice President JD Vance.

Vance stands at 36% support among likely GOP primary voters in New Hampshire, with Rubio at 26%, according to a University of New Hampshire (UNH) Granite State Poll released this week.

That's a massive shift from the previous UNH 2028 presidential nomination survey, conducted in February, which indicated Vance topping Rubio 53% to 7%.

AOC SURGES PAST BUTTIGIEG, LEAVES HARRIS AND NEWSOM IN THE DUST, IN NEW 2028 POLL

Vance has long been viewed as the heir apparent to term-limited President Donald Trump and his MAGA and America First base.

While Vance remains the clear hypothetical frontrunner, Rubio has narrowed the gap in national polls and surveys conducted in key early-voting presidential primary states ahead of a race that is not expected to begin in earnest until after this autumn's midterm elections.

Rubio's rise in the 2028 polls this year comes amid an increase in his responsibilities and public profile, including his role in the U.S. operation in Venezuela and the ongoing war against Iran.

Rubio, who as a senator from Florida was one of more than a dozen Republican contenders who ran and lost to Trump in the tumultuous 2016 presidential primary, came in a close second to Vance earlier this year in the closely watched 2028 Republican presidential nomination straw poll at the annual Conservative Political Action Conference, which is better known by its acronym CPAC.

Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky, who ran for the nomination in 2016 and is mulling another bid, stood a distant third at 8% in the new UNH survey, along with former ambassador and former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, who was the runner-up to Trump in 2024.

RAND PAUL FLOATS POSSIBLE 2028 RUN AS HE PUTS MORE DAYLIGHT BETWEEN HIMSELF AND TRUMP

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who also bid for the nomination in 2024, grabbed 6% support, with everyone else tested at 4% or less.

"There's nobody else in the conversation besides those two, so this poll makes sense," New Hampshire-based Republican consultant David Carney, a veteran of numerous presidential campaigns, told Fox News Digital, referring to Vance and Rubio.

The latest surveys and straw poll results are fuel for intrigue over what some in the Republican Party see as a budding rivalry between Rubio and Vance, who describe each other as friends.

Partially fueling Rubio's rise is Trump, who has lavishly praised his secretary of state.

The president earlier this year declared that Rubio would go down as "the greatest secretary of state in history."

Trump has also promoted a Vance-Rubio ticket — calling it "unstoppable" — but has not said who should be at the top of the ticket.

CHECK OUT THE LATEST FOX NEWS POWER RANKINGS IN THE 2026 ELECTIONS

But the president did say last year that Vance is "most likely" his heir apparent.

"In all fairness, he's the vice president," Trump added.

While Vance has demurred when questioned about 2028, he has built a political team of advisors who, if he runs as expected, would quickly build out a presidential campaign.

Rubio, who is crisscrossing the globe as part of his job requirements, doesn't have a similar group of political aides. And Rubio has said he'll back Vance if the vice president launches a 2028 campaign.

Regardless, Republican sources confirmed to Fox News earlier this year that a group of GOP donors supporting the secretary of state is quietly exploring ways to boost Rubio's political profile.

That's not sitting well with some in the president's political orbit.

DEMOCRACY ’26: STAY UP TO DATE WITH THE FOX NEWS ELECTION HUB

"Vice President Vance is the future of the Republican Party, and Marco Rubio is one of his closest friends in the administration," an operative in Trump's political orbit told Fox News Digital earlier this year.

"The divisive stories from some donors trying to cause chaos are not helpful," the operative, who asked to remain anonymous to speak more freely, emphasized.

VANCE, CRUZ, HEAD TO IOWA ON 2026 MISSIONS AS 2028 GOP RACE TO SUCCEED TRUMP HEATS UP

Vance has also weighed in, telling Fox News' Martha MacCallum earlier this year that "Marco is my closest friend in the administration."

And the vice president, in his interview on Fox News' "The Story," added, "I think it's so interesting the media wants to create this conflict where there just isn't any conflict."

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

Trump will have a massive influence on the 2028 GOP nomination race to succeed him. An endorsement from the president would give a major boost to whomever he backs.

But a longtime Republican strategist, who asked to remain anonymous to speak more freely, offered a warning for the vice president.

"Vance is in the catbird seat until something really goes bad, and Trump is going to blame him. ... I can't imagine Vance walking this tightrope for two more years without pissing off Trump."