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Clay Travis sets sights on French trans phenom Julie Tetart for proposed 'inclusive' WNBA expansion team

Wed, 05 Aug 2026 14:33:40 -0400

French trans basketball player Julie Tetart's childhood dream to play in the WNBA is one more step to becoming a reality.

On Wednesday, during an appearance on "Don't @ Me" with Dan Dakich, OutKick founder Clay Travis announced that he will target Tetart, who was the scoring and rebounding leader in France's Ligue 2 during the 2025-26 season, as the face of his potential WNBA franchise that he'd call the Nashville Balls.

"If the WNBA is inclusive, then this French all-star, a WNBA team has to sign [Tetart]," Travis told Dakich.

FRENCH TRANS PHENOM JULIE TÉTART LOOKS WNBA-READY — SO WHY HASN’T THE ‘INCLUSIVE’ LEAGUE CALLED?

On Monday, the 6'3 and shredded Tetart told OutKick, "If they contact me, I won't say no. But you have to be realistic: I'm old, and there are far better players than me!"

Travis doesn't care how old Tetart is. He can see talent. He can see determination. His vision is of a basketball player who is hungry to lead a fledgling WNBA franchise. Tetart called playing in the WNBA a "childhood dream" while trading Instagram DMs with OutKick.

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"I put in a franchise application, Dan. The Nashville Balls would be the greatest dynasty of all time. Most inclusive, too. We're only signing men who identify as women," Clay continued. "Our slogan is 'One love, two balls.' And we're going to absolutely dominate the WNBA."

How good will this team be with biological males leading the way? The multi-millionaire sports, politics, culture and radio voice says this team will be historic. "You thought back in the day that [John] Wooden had a dynasty at UCLA. You thought that back in the day that Bill Russell and the Celtics were something to behold. You ain't seen nothin' until you've seen what the Nashville Balls will do in the WNBA," Clay added.

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TRUMP'S REMARKS ON RECRUITING LEBRON JAMES TO WOMEN'S BASKETBALL RESURFACE AMID WNBA TRANS ATHLETE DEBATE

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This vision of an all-trans team isn't as far-fetched as some might think. France's Ligue 2 (LF2) is home to not only Tetart, but also to a trans player named Aurore Pautou, 43, who is regularly among the league leaders in points and rebounds. Pautou had no history of high-level basketball before joining LF2. Suddenly, at 40-plus, everything clicked and now Pautou is one of the league's best players.

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Clay's front court is loaded.

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The ball is officially in the WNBA's court. It's time to put up or shut up on its inclusivity.

Houston Texans star practices in pads for first time in nearly two years after 2024 career-threatening injury

Wed, 05 Aug 2026 14:33:23 -0400

The snapshot of Tank Dell crumpled in that end zone and desperately pointing at his dislocated knee in December of 2024 is something to recall but not relive because it was horrible to witness.

Dell, 26, hasn't played football since that moment, raising concerns he'd never play again and amid the echoes of naysayers predicting he'd never be the same.

But Tank Dell's comeback is on. And on Wednesday that long journey took a significant step when he stepped on an NFL practice field with his teammates in full pads for the first time at Houston Texans training camp.

ONE OF NFL'S FASTEST PLAYERS HAS 'NO POWER' IN ONE INJURED LEG, CASTING DOUBTS ON 2026 SEASON

Dell worked during significant parts of practice, although he took some periods and drills off. Yes, this return that has Dell playing for the first time since 2024 is a process.

And neither he nor anyone else in the Texans' organization is ready to make bold predictions about the comeback other than stating the goal is competing in 2026.

That's understandable if you know the history

While catching a touchdown pass against the Kansas City Chiefs, Dell collided with teammate Jared Wayne, causing his left knee to buckle violently beneath him.

Doctors ultimately determined Dell dislocated his knee, tore multiple major knee ligaments, ruptured his patellar tendon, suffered significant damage to the meniscus and surrounding soft tissue, and sustained a vascular injury that required emergency surgery to restore blood flow to his lower leg.

The severity of the damage spoke for itself: Dell's career seemed on the brink.

For a receiver like Dell, whose game is built on sudden acceleration, sharp cuts, and change of direction, the challenge of returning to form is daunting. Even after doctors clear such a player to resume football activities, rebuilding confidence in the repaired knee, restoring strength and flexibility, and withstanding the physical demands of NFL competition can take years – if it happens at all.

Dell has made steady progress through his rehabilitation, but his recovery has been viewed as one of the league's most difficult injury comebacks because of the extraordinary extent of the damage.

"It’s been a roller coaster ride, to say the least," Dell said when he spoke to reporters in June. "It’s been a long journey, but I’m built for it, and I’m ready for it, and I was ready for it.

"I’m getting through it, and it’s light at the end of the tunnel, so I’m almost there."

Not quite.

Dell's ramp-up to a game is not one step or even one week away. The Texans have been deliberate in ordering his return and the next step is seeing how he reacts to Wednesday's practice – checking whether there's pain, swelling, discomfort.

If Dell clears that hurdle, then he'll practice again. And again. And again.

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Eventually, barring a setback, Dell might get snaps in a preseason game. Then, if he clears that, the regular-season beckons.

The Texans open the regular season on Sept. 13 against the Buffalo Bills at home against the Buffalo Bills. That's seemingly a long way away.

But Tank Dell got one significant step closer on Wednesday.

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Lindsay Clancy's former nanny says she saw no warning signs despite postpartum disclosures

Wed, 05 Aug 2026 00:00:02 -0400

A former nanny for Lindsay Clancy testified Wednesday that Clancy told her she was experiencing postpartum issues and having difficulty sleeping, but said she observed no change in Clancy’s demeanor and never believed the children were unsafe in her care.

"Not at all. She was a wonderful mom," Elaine Rossi said when a prosecutor asked whether she had any concerns about Clancy’s interactions with her children.

Rossi, who had worked as a nanny for about 15 years, said she cared for the Clancy children three days a week from September until early December 2022.

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

Clancy also told Rossi she was having difficulty sleeping and had been sleeping in the basement, the former nanny testified. On cross-examination, Rossi said she noticed Clancy appeared to be losing a significant amount of weight and had commented to her about it.

Rossi described Clancy as a loving and attentive mother who was concerned about the children’s safety and closely tracked Callan’s eating and sleeping schedule. She said Clancy left detailed instructions in a notebook but that she did not find the directions overbearing or controlling.

"She was a wonderful mom who loved her kids," Rossi testified. "She was very concerned with their safety."

Rossi said the family ended her employment after Thanksgiving because Clancy would not be returning to work and both parents planned to remain home with the children.

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WATCH: Lindsay Clancy trial breaks early after nanny testimony

Earlier Tuesday, Clancy spoke directly in court, repeatedly answering, "Yes, Your Honor," as she agreed to let prosecutors treat certain forensic facts as established. Hours later, a state police trooper testified that investigators recovered no usable fingerprints from a knife or three exercise bands.

The developments narrowed the Massachusetts mother’s murder trial toward its central dispute: whether Clancy was criminally responsible when her three children were killed inside the family’s Duxbury home.

Before jurors entered the courtroom, Judge William Sullivan questioned Clancy about a stipulation covering certain evidence.

WATCH: Lindsay Clancy questioned by judge before giving up key rights at murder trial

"You understand that by signing the stipulation, you’re agreeing that the Commonwealth does not have to prove these certain facts that are contained in the stipulation," Sullivan said. "Do you understand that?"

"Yes, Your Honor," Clancy replied.

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Asked whether anyone had forced or threatened her to accept the agreement, Clancy said, "No, Your Honor."

Sullivan found that Clancy was competent and had entered the stipulation "knowingly, intelligently, voluntarily and willingly."

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

WATCH: State crime lab toxicologist details positive drug test results in court

Defense attorney Kevin Reddington said the agreement would prevent prosecutors from calling dozens of witnesses solely to establish the chain of custody for blood, bodily fluids, exercise bands and DNA evidence.

"We have not been contesting the government’s case in chief, if you will," Reddington said.

WATCH: Massachusetts crime lab expert details blood drug levels in Lindsay Clancy case

The stipulation is not a guilty plea or an admission that Clancy was criminally responsible for the deaths of Cora, 5, Dawson, 3, and Callan, 8 months.

WATCH: Former prosecutor explains strategy behind Lindsay Clancy evidence agreement

Margaret McLean, a former criminal prosecutor and trial attorney who teaches law at Boston College’s Carroll School of Management, said the agreement allows the defense to steer jurors away from repetitive forensic testimony and toward Clancy’s mental state.

LINDSAY CLANCY’S HUSBAND COULD TESTIFY FOR HER AT TRIAL OVER DEATHS OF THEIR THREE CHILDREN

"The legal strategy behind the move by the defense is to steer the jury’s focus away from the horrific nature of the acts and to that central issue of criminal intent, or what we would call mens rea," McLean told Fox News Digital.

McLean said Clancy’s measured responses Tuesday should not be taken as evidence of her mental condition on Jan. 24, 2023.

"She sounded rational. She understands what she’s doing," McLean said. "But remember, the Commonwealth’s burden of proof is to prove that she was sane beyond a reasonable doubt at the time the crimes were committed -- not today, not two weeks ago."

WATCH: Trooper details crime scene evidence collection at Lindsey Clancy's home

Later, Massachusetts State Police Trooper Jonathan O’Loughlin testified about examining a knife and three exercise bands collected from the home.

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

O’Loughlin said the knife contained an area of friction-ridge impression, but investigators could not use it to identify anyone.

"There was not enough characteristics or minutia to do any comparison," O’Loughlin said, adding that the impression had "no value."

The yellow, black and blue exercise bands similarly produced no impressions suitable for comparison.

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"The bottom line is that you didn’t get any fingerprints," Reddington said.

"Correct," O’Loughlin replied.

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O’Loughlin said fingerprints are "very, very, very fragile" and can be affected by an object’s texture, environmental conditions, movement, grip strength or whether a surface was wiped.

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McLean said the absence of identifiable prints could make jurors wonder whether gloves were used or the items were wiped, potentially viewing the missing prints as evidence of planning.

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The defense, she said, can counter that jurors must not "speculate on something that’s not in evidence."

"They can use their common sense when they go to the table and they deliberate," McLean said, "but they can’t speculate [about] things that are not in the evidence."

Dem drops US Senate bid, leaving independent candidate as lone challenger to incumbent GOP Sen Mike Rounds

Wed, 05 Aug 2026 14:19:12 -0400

Julian Beaudion, the Democratic candidate who was challenging Republican Sen. Mike Rounds of South Dakota, announced he is dropping his election bid, a move that leaves independent candidate Brian Bengs going head-to-head against the incumbent lawmaker.

"As many of you know, we experienced a devastating house fire while continuing to navigate significant personal financial hardship," Beaudion explained in part of a lengthy statement issued Tuesday. "Through it all, my wife, Inkka, and our daughters have shown incredible strength. They have sacrificed more than anyone should ever be asked to sacrifice for a campaign. Today, my first responsibility is to them.

"After the fire, an opponent and those associated with the opponent, hit my family and I with intimidating threats to drop out of this race,' he said in the statement.

"Those attacks were personal and never about politics. The mental and physical safety of my family is my priority and for this reason alone, I step aside. This is a time for my family to heal and for South Dakota voters to choose a Senator. Not a time for me to talk of specific threats and attacks. But rest assured that time will come."

GOP GOVERNOR SURVIVES CHALLENGE FROM BITCOIN EVANGELIST IN GUBERNATORIAL RUNOFF

Beaudion said he will not back either of the remaining candidates in the contest.

"Let me be clear, I will not be endorsing or supporting Brian Bengs in this race," he noted. "Likewise, I cannot support Senator Mike Rounds."

TRUMP ENDORSES GOP SENATOR YEARS AFTER ASSERTING 'I WILL NEVER ENDORSE THIS JERK AGAIN'

Bengs, who ran for U.S. Senate as a Democrat in 2022 but lost to GOP Sen. John Thune, said in a post on X, "I commend Julian Beaudion’s patriotic decision to make this a two-person race and put South Dakota first. Now South Dakotans who want to vote against Washington's cost-raising agenda and corruption can come together regardless of party. Let’s look forward to November and retiring Big Money Mike Rounds."

South Dakota Democratic Party Chair Shane Merrill said in a statement, "Julian would have made an outstanding U.S. Senator for South Dakota."

REPUBLICAN WHO REPORTEDLY DROPPED OUT DEFEATS TRUMP'S PICK IN KEY SWING-DISTRICT PRIMARY

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"Every city, town, and reservation he's visited, people truly felt like they were being heard. Julian is the kind of leader we need in Congress. He is fair, understanding and open minded. That is why he would have won in November. While I am saddened that he is leaving the race, I respect his decision to focus on his family. Thank you Julian for your dedication to the people of South Dakota," Merrill noted.

El-Sayed campaign backed by over $100,000 from dozens of members of group with alleged terror ties

Wed, 05 Aug 2026 14:09:27 -0400

FIRST ON FOX: GRAND RAPIDS, MI - Michigan Democratic Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed's campaign has collected more than $115,000 from individuals who work for or have held leadership roles with the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), which has been designated a terrorist organization by the United Arab Emirates and formally designated or labeled as such in Florida and Texas.

A Fox News Digital review found that El-Sayed, who has made getting "money out of politics" a central campaign rallying cry, has accepted donations from at least 41 individuals who either work for CAIR, formerly worked for CAIR, or have served in leadership positions with the organization.

The donor list includes several of CAIR's highest-ranking officials, including national Board Chair Manal Fakhoury, national Board Treasurer Eyas Abdeen, national Vice Chair Emad Sabbah, and CAIR-Michigan board member Jukaku Tayeb, El-Sayed's father-in-law.

Tayeb has been one of the largest financial backers of the super PAC supporting El-Sayed's campaign and is also part of the founding committee of the Islamic Society of North America (ISNA), a group linked to Hamas and Muslim Brotherhood funding, Washington Free Beacon first reported.

DEMS CLASH OVER AIPAC MONEY, ‘OGRE’ ATTACK AND ELECTABILITY DURING CRUCIAL SENATE DEBATE

One donor, CAIR Executive Director Nihad Awad, listed in FEC records under the name Nehad Hammad, drew national condemnation after saying he was "happy" to see Hamas break out of Gaza on Oct. 7, 2023, and arguing Israel "does not have the right to self-defense" as an occupying power.

The contributions were not limited to Michigan. Fox News Digital identified donations from CAIR national leaders and officials affiliated with chapters in California, Arizona, Texas, Georgia, Washington, Illinois, Minnesota and Ohio, among other states, illustrating the breadth of support El-Sayed received from within the organization's leadership ranks.

Other names on the donor list include CAIR-California Governance Board Treasurer Rubina Alvi, CAIR-California Governance Board Chair Asaad Traina, CAIR-Michigan board member Muzammil Ahmed, who contributed $11,600 to El-Sayed's campaign, CAIR-California Governance Board member Atef Ibrahim, CAIR-California Governance Board member Dina Ezzeddine, and former CAIR National Board Chair Roula Allouch.

EL-SAYED PALS AROUND WITH FAR-LEFT STREAMER HASAN PIKER THE DAY BEFORE CRUCIAL MICHIGAN SENATE ELECTION

El-Sayed has maintained ties to CAIR beyond campaign fundraising. In 2022, he appeared at a CAIR event and was paid for a speaking engagement, where he criticized Oklahoma's ban on Sharia law and compared it to the Trail of Tears, Washington Free Beacon reported.

CAIR has long been the subject of controversy over its alleged ties to Hamas. In 2007, federal prosecutors named the organization an unindicted co-conspirator in the Holy Land Foundation terrorism financing case, the largest terrorism financing prosecution in U.S. history.

Although CAIR was never charged with a crime, federal prosecutors argued the organization was part of a network created to support Hamas in the United States. CAIR has denied the allegations and has challenged its inclusion as an unindicted co-conspirator.

In recent years, Florida and Texas have formally designated or labeled CAIR a terrorist organization, while the United Arab Emirates designated the group a terrorist organization in 2014 which is widely understood to stem from the UAE's view that CAIR has ties to the Muslim Brotherhood.

In response to Fox News Digital's request for comment, CAIR denied allegations that it has ties to terrorism, citing its "Dispelling Rumors About CAIR" webpage and a memorandum stating it has "repeatedly condemned antisemitism throughout our 30 years of existence" and has "for decades" maintained a statement condemning "terrorist attacks committed by Hamas and other designated terrorist groups."

CAIR also highlighted a previous statement "has appeared on CAIR’s website since 2009" saying, "We unequivocally condemn all acts of terrorism, whether carried out by al-Qa’ida, the Real IRA, FARC, Hamas, ETA, or any other group designated by the U.S. Department of State as a ‘Foreign Terrorist Organization."

Additionally, CAIR cited a National Board statement condemning antisemitism and the Oct. 7, 2023, attacks, along with a 2023 editorial in which National Executive Director Nihad Awad said he agreed with the organization's condemnation of attacks on civilians.

Fox News Digital reached out to the El-Sayed campaign for comment.

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El-Sayed has repeatedly drawn criticism from Republicans and pro-Israel advocates over his associations and comments related to the Middle East, including campaigning with far-left streamer Hasan Piker, his response to an attack targeting a Detroit synagogue, and declining to comment on the death of Iran's supreme leader, citing constituents in Dearborn who were mourning.

El-Sayed defeated Dem. Rep. Haley Stevens in the Democratic Senate primary on Tuesday night in a race that was much closer than most pundits expected. El-Sayed will face off against Republican Mike Rogers, a former congressman, in November.

Schumer claims victory as Senate moves to avert shutdown; GOP says he got played

Wed, 05 Aug 2026 14:07:28 -0400

The Senate quietly moved its solution to halt a government shutdown through another key step as the tenuous truce between Republicans and Democrats continues to hold.

In the midst of a hectic, albeit open-ended and uncertainty-laden schedule, the upper chamber advanced its continuing resolution (CR) unanimously on Wednesday.

While not the final vote, it’s a strong sign that neither side wants to thrust the federal government into uncertainty as the midterms near.

It marks a sharp departure from the shutdown politics of the last year and follows Senate Republicans' hand-wringing for months that Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., would once again lead his caucus to the brink and shut the government down for political gain.

DEMOCRATS BLINK AS SCHUMER HELPS GOP CLEAR KEY SHUTDOWN HURDLE

For now, that’s not happening.

And Schumer is saying that Democrats have wanted to keep the lights on in a bipartisan manner all along.

He contended that the CR, negotiated between the top Republican and Democrat on the Senate Appropriations Committee, was a major victory for Democrats, particularly for its design to "stave off Trump's disgraceful effort to withhold federal grants from vital projects."

"I mean, what kind of country is this? You have two identical projects, one in a red state and one in a blue state funded the same way, same clean record," Schumer said. "He cancels the blue state one and says the red state one is OK."

TRUMP ADMIN PAUSING OVER $1B IN MEDICAID PAYMENTS TO MINNESOTA, CALIFORNIA OVER FRAUD, COMPLIANCE CONCERNS

The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and the Trump administration are pushing for more control over federal grants, which critics like Schumer and others warn could be used as a political cudgel to dictate which states do and don’t get a flow of federal dollars.

If the CR passes and is signed by Trump, it will pause that rule change until Dec. 11, when the stopgap expires.

But Republicans say it’s not quite the victory Schumer thinks it is.

BOMB-THROWER DEM MAKES SHOCKING PROMISE TO KICK SCHUMER TO CURB DURING SENATE DEBATE

Sen. John Kennedy, R-La., countered that Schumer may think he won with the deal, but, in reality, it just delayed the inevitable for the White House’s plans for grant-funded projects.

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"I think he's going to go back to his base and say, ‘I got the OMB rule killed,’" Kennedy said. "Well, he didn’t. I mean, I've talked to [OMB Director] Russ Vought, and the president this morning about that, and the rule can be ready by Dec. 11. So, no harm, no foul."

Multiple people dead in North Carolina shooting, official says

Wed, 05 Aug 2026 13:41:50 -0400

Multiple people were killed and at least one person was hospitalized in what's being described as a "mass shooting" in Prospect Hill, North Carolina.

The North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation first said the Caswell County Sheriff's Office requested assistance "regarding an early morning mass shooting on Brooks Road in Prospect Hill, North Carolina."

A Caswell County official later told WGHP that multiple people were killed in what's believed to be an isolated incident. At least one person was hospitalized, and no suspect has been identified, the official added.

"Deputies arriving on scene found multiple people who had been shot. One person was transported to Duke University Hospital with a gunshot wound, and there are multiple other fatalities. Caswell County Sheriff Tony Durden immediately requested the assistance of the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation (SBI)," the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation later said in a statement.

IDAHO IN-N-OUT BURGER SHOOTING MOTIVE STILL A MYSTERY AS ARMED CITIZEN SPEAKS OUT

The agency said the shooting happened around 8 a.m. local time at an address on Brooks Road.

FATHER WHO BOUGHT AR-15 FOR GEORGIA SCHOOL SHOOTER LEARNS FATE IN FIRST-OF-ITS-KIND CONVICTION

"SBI Crime scene investigators are on scene processing evidence and conducting interviews. There is NO THREAT to the general public, and the event is contained to the above address," it added.

"The Caswell County Sheriff's Office is the lead agency on this case. They are assisted by the SBI, the NC State Highway Patrol, the Prospect Hill Fire Department, Caswell County EMS, Caswell County Emergency Management, Caswell County 911, and the Person County Sheriff's Office," the statement also said.

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The Caswell County Sheriff's Office did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Fox News Digital.

This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.

Hasan Piker unloads on 'Islamophobic pieces of s---' Democrats as El-Sayed faces party unity test

Wed, 05 Aug 2026 14:04:01 -0400

Left-wing Twitch streamer Hasan Piker rejected calls for Abdul El-Sayed to repair relationships with skeptical Democrats during the candidate’s Tuesday night election event at the Majestic Theatre in Detroit, even as El-Sayed promised reconciliation ahead of the general election against Republican Mike Rogers.

"Like everyone being like, Abdul has a f--- ton of work to do mending bridges. Here's the f---ing take nuke for you, OK? You are all unbelievably Islamophobic pieces of s---, OK?" Piker said.

El-Sayed struck a conciliatory tone before the race was called, telling supporters his campaign would begin reconciling with Democrats who backed Rep. Haley Stevens, D-Mich., in the bitter primary.

In his victory speech on Wednesday, he praised Stevens as a dedicated public servant.

DEM PRIMARY ERUPTS AS ESTABLISHMENT FAVORITE DISMISSES RIVAL AS ‘CELEBRITY CANDIDATE’

Piker accused El-Sayed’s critics of spending months branding the former Wayne County health director a terrorist, misogynist and fake doctor before demanding that he win them over.

"Like, what are you talking about? Do you want to f---ing win or not? Lock the f--- in, OK? Lock the f--- in," Piker said.

Piker also framed questions about whether El-Sayed could unite Democrats as a test of whether pro-Israel organizations, consultants and voters would stop attacking the nominee long enough to defeat Rogers.

"And that question is just can El-Sayed get the pro-Israel vote? Can El-Sayed win over, not even the vote necessarily, but like can El-Sayed get the people and the group," Piker said.

EL-SAYED PALS AROUND WITH FAR-LEFT STREAMER HASAN PIKER THE DAY BEFORE CRUCIAL MICHIGAN SENATE ELECTION

"Groups and the NGOs and the consultants that have worked extensively for pro-Israel candidates to shut the f--- up about El-Sayed being a terrorist for a long enough timeline so that you know we can consolidate the base and defeat the f---ing Republican."

Moms Demand Action founder Shannon Watts highlighted Piker’s message to Democrats who supported Stevens or another primary candidate.

"Hasan Piker’s message to Dems who didn’t vote for El-Sayed: ‘You are all unbelievably Islamophobic pieces of s---,’" Watts said on X.

Rob Flaherty, ex-White House digital strategy director for former President Joe Biden, urged El-Sayed to disregard Piker as the nominee pivoted toward the general election.

REPUBLICANS GET THE DEMOCRAT THEY WANTED AS SOCIALIST ABDUL EL-SAYED WINS MICHIGAN SENATE PRIMARY

"I am not a Hasan-doomer, and I think he has an important place in the ecosystem, but I hope he and the pool party crowd head back to LA and let Abdul ignore this very bad advice," Flaherty said.

Conservative commentator Guy Benson characterized Piker as a leading surrogate addressing Democratic voters.

"Dems’ top surrogate to many Dem voters: ‘You are all unbelievably Islamophobic pieces of s---,’" Benson said.

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El-Sayed repeatedly campaigned with Piker, including at college campus rallies and a Detroit pool party Monday for content creators supporting his campaign. Stevens urged El-Sayed to distance himself from the streamer, whose previous remarks about the Sept. 11 attacks, Hamas and Mao Zedong have drawn criticism.

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The Associated Press declared El-Sayed the winner Wednesday after he narrowly defeated Stevens in a contest that attracted more than $80 million in spending. He will face Rogers for the seat being vacated by retiring Democratic Sen. Gary Peters.

Bigfoot hunter suggests there's a conspiracy after Cornell University denies conducting DNA tests on remains

Wed, 05 Aug 2026 13:59:55 -0400

I hope you're sitting down for this one. The claims that a DNA test was conducted on the supposed remains of a Bigfoot by Cornell's Veterinary DNA Lab have been called into question.

This has taken a turn from finally having the answers we've all been looking for, — that the cryptid was a Neanderthal-human hybrid, as claimed by Charles Stuart, aka Snake the Bigfoot Hunter — to being back at the starting block.

That's because Cornell University denies conducting any such test for Snake. A spokesperson told the NY Post, "Cornell did not conduct any testing for [Stuart,] or present a report."

WITNESS RECOUNTS FOURTH OF JULY WEEKEND BIGFOOT SIGHTING IN CONNECTICUT, SAYS 'THERE WERE NO BOOBS'

The documents that are being pointed to as evidence that are purported to be from the university aren't from the Ivy League school, the spokesperson confirmed.

Snake the Bigfoot Hunter, who has been called a hoaxer and scammer by others in the Bigfoot community, claims to have found the body in the Adirondack Mountains in October 2024.

He's put it on display, nicknamed it Dack, and, despite Cornell's denial, claims to have had it DNA tested. The results of which determined, according to him, that "the body has 58.5% Neanderthal and 41.5% human DNA."

The reason that the university is denying that they tested the Bigfoot remains is part of a conspiracy to keep the truth from coming out, Snake suggests.

"CORNELL IS FLAT OUT LYING — I WILL NOT BE SILENCED," he fired back at The Post when they reached out to him about it.

TWO LADIES, A DOG, A LIGHTHOUSE AND A POSSIBLE BIGFOOT ENCOUNTER ON A BEACH IN MICHIGAN

"This isn't a dispute over the facts of the report — it's panic over control. I bypassed the machine and went straight to the public. I was warned from day one not to share this report. I released the unredacted DNA report anyway because I believe in transparency and the intelligence of the public."

This isn't over according to Snake the Bigfoot Hunter. He told The Post that he's planning to release a documentary that will feature a Cornell lab technician whistleblower.

The whole conspiracy against Bigfoot is going to be revealed by the person who performed the test on the remains. Snake added, "This is essentially a David VS Goliath story and we all know who wins in the end."

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Until then, you can visit The Great New York State Fair at the end of August to see the supposed Bigfoot remains for yourself. Dack will be on display again this year as he was last year.

Is it real or a hoax? Is there a conspiracy to cover up the truth? Or is Snake the Bigfoot Hunter the hoaxer and scammer others claim he is and is this all about getting people out to a state fair?

Let me know what you think at sean.joseph@outkick.com.

Bernie Sanders tells James Carville to start his own party as moderate Dems warn against 'embracing extremism'

Wed, 05 Aug 2026 13:55:22 -0400

Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., stood by far-left streamer Hasan Piker on Tuesday when pressed about a Democratic Party that included both someone like Piker and Democratic strategist James Carville, as moderate Democrats told Fox News Digital the party must abandon extremism.

"So when someone like James Carville says he doesn't want to be in the same political party as Hasan Piker, which one are you going to take?" CNN's Abby Phillip asked Sanders Tuesday night.

"Well, that's not much of a choice," Sanders said. "If Mr. Carville doesn't want to be in my party, the party that I belong to, that Piker, that El-Sayed belongs to, he can start his own party."

Sanders discussed the Michigan Senate race, where he endorsed Democratic candidate Abdul El-Sayed, who campaigned alongside Piker. El-Sayed narrowly defeated moderate Rep. Haley Stevens in the high-stakes Democratic Senate primary after the state finished counting votes on Wednesday, providing a boost for the party's left wing in its ideological battle with the center-left establishment.

HASAN PIKER, ABDUL EL-SAYED MOCK JAMES CARVILLE THREATENING TO LEAVE DEMOCRATS AND 'SWEETENING THE DEAL'

El-Sayed has campaigned with Piker and appeared on the far-left streamer's YouTube channel.

The progressive senator argued that he could turn the tables and ask if people wanted to be part of a party that accepts AIPAC money or supports an "extremist" government in Israel under Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

"Do you want to be in a party which has not stood up to the AI industry because they got a lot of money from AI or from crypto?" he said. "So you can pick, you know, you can pick whatever you want to pick. But I think we need a big tent, and I think people like Piker should be welcomed into that, certainly."

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

Center-left think tank Third Way told Fox News Digital, "Democrats lost power in part because we lost the battle of reasonableness against Donald Trump. Voters in battleground states said in Third Way's post-election poll from the 2024 race that they saw the Democratic Party as more extreme than Republicans, 44% to 41%."

"Embracing extremism will only serve to hand Republicans a key pickup opportunity and imperil Democrats elsewhere," the group warned.

HASAN PIKER'S DEFENSE OF HAMAS HAVING 'RIGHT TO RESIST MILITARILY' DRAWS CONDEMNATION FROM HUMAN RIGHTS GROUPS

Sanders was also asked if he was comfortable with Piker saying that "America deserved 9/11" during a stream in 2019.

"I think that's a dumb statement," Sanders said. "On the other hand, he has a whole lot of followers and a lot of things that he's saying that are making sense to a lot of people. I think, you know, we have to get above cancel culture. You know, when you're doing radio, whatever they do, podcasts three hours a day, you say dumb things."

"I suspect if you go back over your career, there may be one or two things that you've said that you may have regretted," the senator told Phillip. "But I think what we have got to do is look at the totality of where people are coming from and go forward."

After receiving widespread backlash at the time, Piker later said in an interview that he "obviously" did not mean America deserved the attacks and defended the viral quote as a critique of U.S. foreign policy.

Third Way told Fox News Digital, "Republicans are salivating at the opportunity to pummel swing voters with ads of El-Sayed embracing extremist stances. Videos of El-Sayed with his arms around Hasan Piker alongside anti-American and misogynistic quotes, like claiming America "deserved" 9/11, tweets about defunding the police, and photos of El-Sayed calling to abolish ICE will fill the timelines of voters in the middle."

"Democratic candidates like El-Sayed need to win over 60% of moderate voters to take back power and put a check on Donald Trump," the group added. "That’s not spin — that’s math. So El-Sayed has work to do as he turns to the general election and it starts with dropping the extremism."

JAMES CARVILLE WORRIES ABOUT THE 'END OF THE TWO-PARTY SYSTEM' AS DEMOCRATIC SOCIALISTS GAIN POPULARITY

Carville told Fox News on Sunday's "The Briefing" that he would not be in the same party as Piker.

"I am not going to be in the same party with Hasan Piker," he said. "If he becomes a force in a Democratic Party, I'm out of here. I have no intention of ever being in the same political party with that guy."

Carville predicted that one of them was going to leave the party.

"I can't sit here and tell you for certain how this is going to turn out, but the one thing I can tell you for certain, Hasan Piker and James Carville are not going to be in the same political party," he said. "One of us is going to leave. It might even be me."

Ahead of the Democratic primary on Tuesday, Piker spoke with El-Sayed in a video for his YouTube channel. The two began by discussing the "full-on freakout" caused by Piker choosing to campaign for El-Sayed and reacted to Carville's remarks about leaving the party.

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"Now James Carville is talking about leaving the party," Piker said. "We got [Pennsylvania Sen.] John Fetterman, James Carville fantasizing about leaving the party. I'm like, you're sweetening the deal. That was really interesting."

Tlaib moves to block ICE airport arrests, says TSA helping target immigrants

Wed, 05 Aug 2026 13:53:49 -0400

Progressive Democrats are taking their war against President Donald Trump's handling of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to the skies with a new effort led by far-left Rep. Rashida Tlaib, D-Mich.

Tlaib introduced a bill on Tuesday aimed at blocking ICE and Border Patrol agents from accessing air travelers' data called the No TSA Data for ICE Act, which would curb federal immigration officials' ability to arrest noncitizens at U.S. airports.

The legislation would stop ICE and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) from being able to use data gathered by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), which includes passenger screening records, travel records and personally identifiable passenger information purchased from private data brokers.

A TSA spokesperson ripped into Tlaib in response and argued the bill would make the U.S. vulnerable to terror threats. "As we approach the 25th anniversary of the horrific terror attacks of 9/11, it’s not shocking that some in the Democrat Party would want to neuter the Department of Homeland Security’s ability to protect Americans from terrorists," the spokesperson said.

DEMOCRAT COMPARES ICE TO 'DOMESTIC TERRORISTS' AS 111 HOUSE DEMS DEMAND TEXAS DETENTION CENTER CLOSE

"DHS was established to prevent information silos that could create blind spots against threats. Does Rep. Tlaib want our enemies to be empowered to attack the U.S. again?" the TSA spokesperson said.

The bill would also block the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) from barring an individual from trusted traveler programs like TSA PreCheck based on their First Amendment-protected activity, like attending protests or speaking out against the administration.

Tlaib's bill has little chance of getting a vote in the current Republican-controlled Congress.

If enacted, it could significantly curb the ability of DHS' separate entities to coordinate immigration enforcement.

The Michigan Democrat said in a statement that the TSA was "complicit in ICE expanding its chaos and cruelty to target our communities in our airports."

HARRIS CALLS FOR ICE PROBE AFTER MAINE SHOOTING AMID RENEWED 'BORDER CZAR' CRITICISM

"Through an information-sharing agreement signed in 2025, TSA is readily offering up our immigrant residents to suffer at the hands of ICE agents so they can fulfill their daily arrest quota. One source from ICE even said it makes for ‘easy targets’ at airports—a disgusting exploitation of immigrants in status limbo," Tlaib said. "Immigrants should be able to safely fly in this country without the fear of arrest or deportation."

Democrats have near-universally hammered the Trump administration's immigration crackdown since the president came back to the White House in January 2025.

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The criticism fueled the longest partial government shutdown in history, with DHS going unfunded for 76 days as Democrats protested federal immigration agents' killing of two U.S. citizens earlier this year — which also drew ire from Republicans.

Exclusive: Grieving mom reveals deadly cost of illegal immigration as daughter's killer seeks parole

Wed, 05 Aug 2026 13:45:33 -0400

GRAPHIC CONTENT WARNING

FIRST ON FOX: After her 18-year-old daughter, Hailey King, was run over by an illegal immigrant driving a truck 36 mph above the speed limit, Angel Mom Kathy Hall promised her dying daughter she was "never going to stop fighting for justice for her."

In an interview obtained exclusively by Fox News Digital from advocacy group The American Border Story, Hall recounted her daughter’s grisly killing, which, she said, launched her crusade to make sure that no other parents and children undergo the same fate.

While riding a scooter with a friend in Fayetteville, Arkansas, King was hit from behind by a speeding truck driven by illegal alien Sergio Rodriguez. According to Hall, her daughter was on her way home for dinner. Upon impact, King was thrown onto the hood of the truck. Hall said Rodriguez continued driving, swerving into another lane and sending King headfirst onto the street. King suffered a brain stem hemorrhage, inner and outer cranial hemorrhages, a burst spleen and a lacerated liver. She died shortly after the Nov. 7, 2016, incident, leaving behind her 2-year-old daughter, Brooklyn.

Hall said Rodriguez was sentenced to 17 years in prison for manslaughter, battery and leaving the scene of a crime. After just one and a half years, Hall said she was notified that Rodriguez had become eligible for parole, forcing her to repeatedly relive her trauma each time she goes to court to testify against his release.

EXCLUSIVE: DHS HONORS ANGEL FAMILIES DURING NATIONAL CRIME VICTIMS WEEK, CALLS CRIMES 'COMPLETELY PREVENTABLE'

Hall said that authorities showed up at her door the night of the incident and told her, "You need to come with us to the hospital."

She said they took her to her daughter’s hospital room where she found her "sitting up at a kind of an angle and her eyes were wide open. But she was like staring off into space."

"I knew right when I looked at her that she was gone," said Hall. "So, I sat down with her and talked to her and told her how much I love her. Told her I was never going to stop fighting for justice for her… and then her heart stopped."

Besides King, Hall said that her daughter’s friend, Osmin "David" Gutierrez, was "trapped underneath the truck for over a mile" as the illegal immigrant continued driving. She said that "when sparks started happening, [Rodriguez] pulled into an apartment complex. And when he did, David's torso was – his legs detached, [and he] was left in the driveway screaming for his life."

"He was still conscious," she said.

Gutierrez died two years later from a blood clot resulting from his lost legs.

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

Despite her promise, Hall said getting justice for her daughter has been a "hard long road." After the incident, Hall said Rodriguez "disappeared for three days" before police found him. When he was apprehended, Hall said Rodriguez was released on bond in less than an hour.

She believes that Rodriguez was "protected every step of the way" during the trial process while she and her family "were treated like we were the criminals when we'd go into court."

Despite his immigration status, Hall said a decision was made not to notify U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. She said she was told that "if we would have informed ICE that he was here and he was illegal, that they would have just picked him up and taken him down to Texas and sent him back and he would have never had to deal with the death of [her] daughter."

At the time, Hall said the family felt this "was kind of putting us in a rock and a hard place."

"It's so confusing to be there and say, ‘OK, do I want him to be deported right now or do I just want him to spend time either way and get him out?’" she said. "We had no idea, you know, a choice like that. What kind of decision do you make?"

'SLAP ON THE WRIST': ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT TRUCKER'S SENTENCE IGNITES OUTRAGE AFTER CRASH KILLED 3

Due to parole hearings, Hall said that she and her family "have to relive this right now every two years."

"As soon as the pain dulls a little bit, you have to go back through the whole thing preparing to try to keep him behind bars again," she said. "My daughter, the only thing she did wrong that day was being on the back of a scooter coming home for dinner. She didn't deserve this."

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"She doesn't deserve for her daughter to not know who she is and how much she loved her. She doesn't deserve any of it, and she deserves to have the justice I promised to her as she was dying," Hall continued, concluding, "I'll never stop fighting; I'm going to do everything I can to keep my promise to her."

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Fox News Digital reached out to the Fayetteville Police Department, Washington County Sheriff’s Office, Washington County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office and Washington County Circuit Court for comment.

Barry Manilow cancels concert 45 minutes before start amid ongoing lung cancer recovery

Wed, 05 Aug 2026 13:29:57 -0400

Barry Manilow canceled his Kentucky show on Tuesday just 45 minutes before it was scheduled to start.

"Due to unforeseen circumstances tonight’s show in Lexington has been rescheduled," Manilow, who was diagnosed with lung cancer last year, wrote on X ahead of the concert. No other explanation was given.

While some slammed Manilow as "disrespectful" for the late cancellation, others were quick to offer him words of encouragement.

BARRY MANILOW, 82, GIVES UPDATE ON HIS CANCER BATTLE AS HE CANCELS MORE TOUR DATES

"Sending hugs x take care and remember you must come first," one user wrote on X.

"I'm so sorry you've had to reschedule tonight's show," another added. "Please look after yourself Barry, sending much love and healing energy from across the pond."

In December, Manilow revealed he had been diagnosed with early-stage lung cancer after doctors discovered a cancerous spot on his left lung following a bout of bronchitis.

"As many of you know I recently went through six weeks of bronchitis followed by a relapse of another five weeks," Manilow wrote on Instagram at the time. "Even though I was over the bronchitis and back on stage at the Westgate Las Vegas, my wonderful doctor ordered an MRI just to make sure that everything was OK. The MRI discovered a cancerous spot on my left lung that needs to be removed. It's pure luck (and a great doctor) that it was found so early. That's the good news."

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"The bad news is that now that the Christmas A Gift of Love concerts are over I'm going into surgery to have the spot removed," he continued. "The doctors do not believe it has spread and I'm taking tests to confirm the diagnosis. So, that's it. No chemo. No radiation. Just chicken soup and I Love Lucy reruns."

In February, Manilow announced he was rescheduling additional February and March dates on the tour after a "very depressing visit" with his surgeon.

That same month, the "Copacabana" singer detailed a tough conversation he had with his doctor.

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"He said, ‘Barry, you won’t be ready to do a 90-minute show. Your lungs aren’t ready yet,’" Manilow continued.

"You’re in great shape considering what you’ve been through, but your body isn’t ready. You shouldn’t do the first arena shows. You won’t make it through."

Manilow continued, "I had a feeling he’d say that. Deep down… my body knew what my heart didn’t want to admit: I wasn’t ready... When I do come back, I will COME BACK!!!"

In May, Manilow announced that while he had to cancel his "Hits Come Home" residency dates that month at Westgate Resort in Las Vegas, he's "making great progress" with his lung cancer treatment and plans to return to the stage sooner rather than later.

"Good news! I went to the doctor yesterday and he said I’m making great progress and look great! Well of course I do! Thank you very much!" he wrote on X. "All the training and exercising I’ve put in is paying off."

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"He did say, however, that I’m not quite ready for Vegas. That means I won’t be able to return for our May shows at @WestgateVegas. But the good news is he said I will be ready for my June arena shows in the UK. It’s going to be great to see you all in the UK. Westgate Las Vegas is my home away from home… and I’ll see you all in July. In the meantime… come to the UK! We’ll be there in June and hope you will be too! See you then… Barry."

Fox News Digital's Ashley Hume contributed to this post.

DAVID MARCUS: Experts crowned El-Sayed — then Michigan voters turned his win into a near-disaster

Wed, 05 Aug 2026 13:24:43 -0400

Over the past week, prior to far-left candidate Abdul El-Sayed squeaking to a possible victory over Rep. Haley Stevens in Tuesday’s Democratic Senate primary, the contest was treated by almost everyone in the news media as over, with El-Sayed a shoo-in.

I had been in Michigan reporting on the race, and what I wrote was the exact opposite: It was clear to me the race was tightening, especially after the endorsement of Gov. Gretchen Whitmer. So when I saw every subsequent poll giving El-Sayed double-digit leads, I was shocked and a bit nervous.

Maybe, for the first time, the ground had lied to me and the numbers guys had this one right. But once again, the ground coverage defeated the aerial polling.

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But by Wednesday morning, this race, in which El-Sayed held a 95% to 5% advantage in prediction markets, had not been called, with El-Sayed seeming to head toward a meager 1- to 3-point victory, with his total under 50%.

Notably, Michigan state Sen. Mallory McMorrow, who dropped out of the race, still netted 4% — or, put another way, the difference.

As for the polling, the last five public polls had El-Sayed winning by 19, 17, 14, 16 and 11 points, respectively. The news media took this as gospel, and instead of covering a surging Stevens with a real chance to win — as I did — they covered an El-Sayed coronation pre-party.

What surprised me so much about this polling was that in Detroit, after dozens of interviews, I couldn’t find anyone voting for El-Sayed who wasn’t already an activist in some way. The more ordinary the politics or occupation of the voter, the more likely that person was to support Stevens.

DAVID MARCUS: IN BOOMING DETROIT, VOTERS SKEPTICAL OF SOCIALISM SNAKE OIL

As I put it in these pages then, "Many Democratic voters I talked to wanted a steadier hand on the system, and they want to beat Trump and the GOP. But they don’t want to blow up the system."

Those voters, whom I met in Detroit diners and bars, were invisible to the pollsters. Yet, in the end, between Stevens and McMorrow, they were the majority of Democratic voters.

There needs to be a serious reckoning over how journalists use polls and prediction markets in the wake of this historic polling miss, because there is every reason to believe Stevens could have won if her very real momentum had been accurately described.

Elections are stories, and they have arcs. The last week of this campaign, by all rights, should have been about "The Stevens Comeback," but instead, the polls told the story: "El-Sayed Blowout."

DSA MEMBER LEADS DEM PRIMARY IN MIDWEST BATTLEGROUND BUT TRAILS LIKELY GOP NOMINEE: POLL

How many potential Stevens voters stayed home on Tuesday as a result? We will never know.

The national coverage throughout the week leading to Election Day was that even with Whitmer’s endorsement and that of Rep. James Clyburn, D-S.C., to shore up the Black vote, El-Sayed and his communist-aligned podcaster ally, Hasan Piker, were cruising to victory.

Let’s be honest: It is the story everybody wanted. It is the sexy story of young socialists upending the Democratic Party establishment, but the embellished polls may well have become a self-fulfilling prophecy.

For Republican Senate nominee Mike Rogers, this is all excellent news. He wanted to run against the socialist-aligned El-Sayed, and now he will. He also has the advantage of El-Sayed’s being wounded by what turned into a humiliating underperformance.

EL-SAYED PALS AROUND WITH FAR-LEFT STREAMER HASAN PIKER THE DAY BEFORE CRUCIAL MICHIGAN SENATE ELECTION

Rogers should also be buoyed by El-Sayed surrogate Piker’s statement Tuesday night about possibly reaching out to Stevens voters. Piker said: saying, "Everyone being like, 'Abdul has a f--- ton of work to do mending bridges' … You are all unbelievably Islamophobic pieces of sh---. You literally called the dude a f---ing terrorist for months on end … And now you're going to say sit there and be like, 'you really gotta come to me now.'"

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These are not the sweet, sonorous sounds of intraparty unity.

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The race between Rogers and El-Sayed will be close and hard-fought, and I will find my way back to the Great Lakes State to take the temperature. In the meantime, the news media must be much more skeptical of polling because it may have turned this primary.

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Cleveland's new WNBA team rejects 'Lady Cavaliers' identity in unveiling of name, color scheme

Wed, 05 Aug 2026 13:17:25 -0400

Sirens: mythical creatures who perched along rocky shores, using their beautiful, hypnotic songs to lure unsuspecting sailors to their deaths.

Also, Cleveland’s new WNBA team.

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The expansion franchise unveiled its name, logo and colors Tuesday, officially introducing the Cleveland Sirens ahead of the team’s inaugural season in 2028.

The nautical branding is a nod to Lake Erie, but the organization had another objective in mind: making sure the new team did not look like a women’s version of the Cleveland Cavaliers.

"We don't want to be the Lady Cavaliers, and we don't want to be wine and gold," Sirens President of Business Operations Allison Howard said. "We really need to be very separate, very distinctive."

The Sirens and Cavaliers are both owned by Dan Gilbert’s Rock Entertainment Group and will share Rocket Arena. But Cleveland’s WNBA leadership made clear from the beginning that the two franchises should not share an identity.

Instead of borrowing the Cavaliers’ color scheme, the Sirens will use two shades of blue — appropriately named "Sirens Blue" and "Erie Blue." Their logo features the mythical creature beneath the team name, while the "S" in the wordmark contains a hidden "CLE."

"We love our Cavaliers, and they are such an amazing part of this organization," Howard said. "But this team can exist very much on the independent side of the Cavaliers."

Howard said the organization expects the Sirens to attract a different audience than the Cavaliers.

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"They eat different food, they drink different drinks," Howard said. "They get here earlier. They purchase merchandise differently, and they come from all over the state and even outside the state."

WNBA SILENT AFTER CAITLIN CLARK SAYS LEAGUES SHOULD DETERMINE WHO SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN WOMEN'S SPORTS

Cleveland’s approach differs from several WNBA teams that share ownership with NBA counterparts. The Los Angeles Sparks mirror the Lakers’ purple and gold, while the Phoenix Mercury use the Suns’ purple and orange. The Minnesota Lynx and Timberwolves also feature similar combinations of blue and green, and the Indiana Fever share navy and gold with the Pacers, though the Fever incorporate red into their identity, too.

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The Sirens, however, are taking a path closer to the New York Liberty and Golden State Valkyries, which both separate themselves visually from their city’s NBA franchises.

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The Sirens will not be Cleveland’s first WNBA team.

The Cleveland Rockers were one of the league’s original eight franchises when the WNBA launched in 1997. Named as a tribute to the city’s Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, the Rockers played seven seasons before folding in 2003 after owner Gordon Gund was unable to find a buyer.

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Former Rockers player Janice Braxton narrated the Sirens’ introductory video, which carried the theme "Hear the Call." Braxton and several other former Rockers players also attended Tuesday’s unveiling.

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The new franchise has already collected approximately 9,000 season-ticket deposits, and Howard expects that number to grow now that Cleveland fans finally know the name of their team.

Controversial socialist chef flip-flops on abolish the police, says she’s ‘serious about public safety’

Wed, 05 Aug 2026 13:00:16 -0400

Controversial chef and democratic socialist candidate Francesca Hong has reversed her position on defunding and abolishing the police, saying in a recent podcast interview that she has become "serious about public safety."

Hong is a Wisconsin Democratic lawmaker perhaps best known for her 2020 call to "cancel Thanksgiving" because of its colonial history. She is a member of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) and a leading Democratic candidate for Wisconsin governor.

In an episode of "Pod Save America" released on Tuesday, Hong was asked about her 2020 tweets in which she wrote that "police exist to uphold white supremacy" and "I support defunding the police as a first step towards abolishing the police." The podcast host asked her, "I’m wondering how your views on policing have evolved since 2020?"

In response, Hong said, "My views have only become stronger in that I’m serious about public safety and I will not abolish the police."

SOCIALIST FRANCESCA HONG STRUGGLES TO EXPLAIN CALL TO 'CANCEL THANKSGIVING' AS POST RESURFACES

"My views are that people are struggling right now and need basic needs met, and I want to focus on stopping violent crime and giving law enforcement the resources and the training that they need, but ensure we are also holding accountable law enforcement that does not follow the law," she added.

Pressed on whether she still believes police exist to uphold White supremacy, Hong answered quickly, "No."

Hong was then asked, "What has changed in your thinking since you posted that in 2020?"

She answered, "I’ve had more conversations with people who are more directly connected to the problems and have learned that it is most important for a public servant like myself to make sure we’re looking at sensible, practical solutions that will help keep communities safe."

LEFT’S LATEST SOCIALIST DARLING DRAGGED OVER ‘WHITENESS’ COMMENTS PULLING IN HER OWN FAMILY: ‘WEIRDO RACISM’

"When you talk to people who are most justice impacted, a mother who lost a child to police violence, people who have contended with injustices in historically marginalized communities, but just also looks like making sure we are implementing solutions and helping change the material conditions of people’s lives," she said.

During the interview, Hong also characterized her previous statement fantasizing about a "world without prisons" as "more aspirational."

Critics have argued that Hong has a history of expressing controversial progressive takes, with former X posts resurfacing in recent weeks.

In 2019, she wrote, "I ate two bites of my kid’s cheeseburger at a Culver’s in black river falls and told him they ran out of ice cream. Mostly just wanted to leave bc I was on the verge of a [sic] anxiety attack… to [sic] many old white people who didn’t think we spoke English."

DEMOCRATS' SHARP LEFT TURN? DSA'S INFLUENCE GROWS AS MIDTERMS, 2028 RACES TAKES SHAPE

In another since-deleted post, Hong wrote, "Cancel Thanksgiving. Should have done this in 1621. If it takes a worldwide pandemic for us to realize we should stop celebrating colonialism and the original superspreader event that killed indigenous folx [sic] and women, so be it."

In a recent CNN appearance, Hong was asked, "Do you still believe that Thanksgiving should be canceled?"

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"I’m a chef, and one of the first meals that I made that was for the community when I was 16 [years old] was a Thanksgiving meal," Hong responded. "But Thanksgiving is also a time that’s incredibly painful for many people in our communities. And so, I think there, I wanted to make sure that people understood that there are multiple views, but views can evolve."

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Fox News Digital reached out to Hong, Pod Save America and the DSA for additional comment.

Anthony Fauci’s lawyer says Aaron Rodgers 'should stick to football’ after scorching him on Pat McAfee's show

Wed, 05 Aug 2026 12:20:45 -0400

Anthony Fauci may have taken the Fifth in the nation's capital, but his legal team isn't afraid to keep swinging.

Days after Fauci pleaded the Fifth 111 times during a Senate hearing on the advice of his attorneys, Aaron Rodgers could not help but rip the "absolute coward."

"Are you kidding me? You get a pardon, and you’re and you pleaded over 100 times at the White House? What are you scared of, Tony? I thought you were the science. ‘I am science,’ and you get up there and can’t answer a question? What are we doing?" Rodgers said on "The Pat McAfee Show" earlier this week.

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Well, David Schertler, Fauci’s attorney, was asked by The Athletic to respond to Rodgers' criticism, and he did not hold back.

"Aaron Rodgers doesn’t know what he’s talking about. He should stick to football," Schertler said to the outlet.

Fauci was questioned by the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, chaired by Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., over his response to the pandemic and his policy decisions, during which the former White House COVID advisor was accused of funding gain-of-function research in Wuhan, China.

JERRY JONES 'OPEN' TO CO-OWNING COWBOYS WITH MARK CUBAN: 'ALL THE RESPECT IN THE WORLD FOR HIM'

"Spending the entire time writing in his diary about how fun it is to be famous. You gotta be kidding me. What are you going to say about me now? Seriously, what are they going to say about me now? Now, you can’t talk about the COVID stuff because obviously it was made in a lab in China," Rodgers continued.

"That’s like not even questionable anymore. Tony Fauci is an absolute criminal. It’s been a great life and a great career, and it’s nice to be sitting on this side now, especially after that coward pled the Fifth over 100 times. I thought you had a pardon there, Tony. Why couldn’t you answer one question the entire time?"

The Steelers, though, did not seem to be bothered much by what Rodgers said.

"Discussions around culture and politics can bring differing perspectives, and our players are entitled to their own personal views. With respect to that, I am certain there are a variety of opinions on many topics within our locker room," Steelers spokesman Burt Lauten said in a statement to Fox News Digital/OutKick.

Fauci’s refusal to answer has Rodgers going full tilt years after dealing with constant scrutiny, whether it’s the man himself or the network he has issues with. Rodgers drummed up controversy when he said he was "immunized" from COVID-19.

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This season marks 22 years Rodgers has starred in the NFL, and he doubled down recently, saying this will be his final year.

Fox News' Scott Thompson and OutKick's Armando Salguero contributed to this report.

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Puka Nacua, due for new contract, hires Zay Flowers' agency after Ravens star's massive $140 million deal

Wed, 05 Aug 2026 12:54:39 -0400

Puka Nacua is taking notes.

The Los Angeles Rams wide receiver is beginning his fourth NFL season next month, making him due for quite a payday.

Nacua's 95.3 receiving yards per game are the most all-time, and since joining the league in 2023, no one else within six yards of him.

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Once an afterthought as a fifth-round selection, Nacua is now in the conversation as the best wide receiver in the league, and he wants to be paid like it.

Well, after Zay Flowers inked a $140 million extension that gives him $108 million guaranteed, both figures are the fourth-highest ever at the position, Nacua has reportedly brought in Flowers' agent to negotiate his next contract.

Like Flowers, Nacua is now represented by WIN Sports Group after previously being a part of the Athletes First team. WIN also represents stars like Dexter Lawrence, Jordan Davis, Nnamdi Madubuike, and Dion Dawkins.

Because Nacua wasn't drafted in the first round, unlike Flowers, he is not eligible for a fifth-year option, making him set to hit free agency upon the 2026 season's end.

ANTHONY FAUCI’S LAWYER SAYS AARON RODGERS 'SHOULD STICK TO FOOTBALL ’ AFTER SCORCHING HIM ON PAT MCAFEE'S SHOW

Flowers and Nacua entered the league the same year, and given that Nacua's numbers are better than Flowers' across the board, the Rams star figures to have a good argument to not only beat Flowers' deal but maybe even surpass Jaxon Smith-Njigba as the highest-paid receiver of all time ($168.6 million).

Despite Flowers playing in 50 games compared with Nacua's 44, Flowers has more than 1,000 fewer receiving yards and 76 fewer receptions.

Flowers has undoubtedly been a stalwart for the Baltimore Ravens, as he's coming off a season in which he caught 86 passes for 1,211 yards and five touchdowns. He’s now posted back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons. Yet had Nacua not missed six games because of injury in 2024, he may very well already have more than 4,500 yards (he had more than 90 receiving yards per game that season).

Flowers has missed only one regular-season game in three seasons (his rookie campaign), although he was unavailable for the 2024 playoffs.

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He became the fastest player in Ravens history (21 games) to reach 100 receptions and the first Raven with multiple 1,000-yard seasons in the first three years of his career. He ranked 11th in the NFL in receptions in 2025 and seventh in receiving yards. That was despite an underwhelming, injury-plagued season from Jackson — and Baltimore's willingness to run the ball with Derrick Henry.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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White House pushes 'watershed' fraud-fighting reform in Congress as Vance convenes task force

Wed, 05 Aug 2026 12:52:22 -0400

Vice President JD Vance, who chairs President Donald Trump's Task Force To Eliminate Fraud, said during remarks on Wednesday that the effort has identified $230 billion of suspected fraud so far.

"We've been able to stop $56 billion in fraudulent payments that would've otherwise gone to fraudsters, rather than to the people who need them," he said at a task-force roundtable event with lawmakers.

Vance called for reforms to help tackle the fraud.

VANCE TO HOST CONGRESS AT WHITE HOUSE TO DISCUSS LEGISLATIVE ACTION ON FRAUD

He said when the federal government distributes money to states for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), the federal government has "no visibility into who is ultimately getting those benefits."

He said that if California provides "those food stamp benefits to an illegal alien, to a violent criminal, the federal government has no visibility, and sometimes the states themselves have no visibility."

"So we need to work with Congress, and we need some legislation that would actually force some data sharing between the state governments and the federal governments," the vice president said.

TOP FEDERAL PROSECUTOR CALLS CALIFORNIA A 'FRAUDSTER'S PARADISE,' WARNS STATE OFFICIALS COULD FACE CHARGES

Vance also floated the idea of tougher sentencing against those convicted of fraud.

White House deputy chief of staff for policy and Homeland Security advisor Stephen Miller called for "strict, clear, mandatory minimums" for fraudsters, saying they should be slapped with "a very substantial prison sentence."

DOJ CHARGES 19 DEFENDANTS IN ALLEGED $4M PHILADELPHIA MEDICARE AND MEDICAID FRAUD

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"That change alone would be watershed for fighting fraud because it would mean that the Department of Justice would be able to, through prosecuting a few hundred or thousand cases in a year, be able to chill the criminal conduct of millions," Miller said.

LIV Golf CEO quiets speculation with announcement of new investor to keep circuit afloat into 2027

Wed, 05 Aug 2026 12:42:24 -0400

Long live LIV?

The Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF) announced in April that it would stop funding LIV Golf following the 2026 season. With the sole funder of the breakaway circuit cutting off the money spigot, it was speculated that LIV, or at least the current version of it, would cease to exist beyond this year.

On Wednesday, LIV CEO Scott O'Neil halted that speculation.

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Speaking ahead of this week's LIV New York tournament at Trump National Bedminster, O'Neil announced that an investor has been secured to keep the circuit afloat. While O'Neil did not divulge any specific details about the unknown investor, he did share an incredibly important fact about the next phase of LIV Golf and its players.

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

"Notably, our next chapter will make our players the majority equity holders in LIV Golf, a first for a major global sports league," he continued, while stating the goal is to enter a finalized transaction in September.

Aside from players holding a majority of the equity, it is unclear what LIV Golf looks like, and even more unclear which players will be competing, beginning in 2027. The plan for the 2027 LIV schedule is for it to feature 10 events, with five in the United States and five across the globe.

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The announcement that LIV will be around beyond 2026 comes as the unknowns still continue to add up regarding whether or not the LIV Team Championship, set for Aug. 27-30, will even be contested. The update on 2027 investments does not appear to have any bearing on the Team Championship.

It was reported at the end of July that the season finale is expected to be canceled after "multiple contractors" told Flushing It Golf that their travel and accommodations have been canceled and that "money is also owed."

LIV golfer and former major champion Martin Kaymer went on the record with Today's Golfer that the team championship was "highly unlikely" to take place.

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A source with knowledge of the ongoing situation shared with OutKick on July 29 that LIV was continuing to have positive discussions with prospective investors for LIV Golf 2.0 while working to secure funding for the circuit's future and long-term sustainability.

Based on the league's announcement on Wednesday, the discussions with prospective investors were, in fact, positive.

Government-run grocery stores face renewed scrutiny after Chicago's experiment fizzles

Wed, 05 Aug 2026 12:23:27 -0400

The idea of government-run grocery stores is facing renewed scrutiny as Chicago abandons plans for a municipal supermarket, raising questions about whether taxpayer-funded markets can survive.

"Chicago's city-run grocery stores are on the brink of collapse after a Save A Lot terminated its licensing agreement with stores operated by Yellow Banana," Bryce Hill, director of fiscal and economic analysis at Illinois Policy, told Fox News Digital on Tuesday.

"So the city spent $13.5 million on these stores, but now they're on the brink of closing. They were meant to address food security and availability in what the city deems food desks, but this outcome should really come as no surprise," Hill said.

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Rob Karr, president and CEO of the Illinois Retail Merchants Association, told Fox News Digital Monday that the experiment is failing in multiple areas.

"So what we're seeing, particularly in New York and Seattle, are proposals to having the government actually artificially lowering prices by using their general revenue funds to make those groceries ‘more affordable,’ The state looked at that here in Illinois and dismissed it because it's inherently flawed," Karr said. "It has failed everywhere it has worked because it doesn't recognize the realities of the marketplace."

Chicago officials ultimately shifted away from opening a city-owned grocery store, opting instead to support privately operated neighborhood markets.

The Center Square reported Sunday that the closure of seven Save A Lot stores on Chicago's South and West sides has reignited questions about whether taxpayer-funded grocery initiatives can improve food access in low-income communities.

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In the article, Nicole Huyer, a free-market policy analyst, said the closures underscore the shortcomings of government-backed solutions.

The outlet also reported that the stores, managed by retail platform Yellow Banana, closed after Save A Lot terminated its operating agreement with the company, pointing to financial challenges that included a significant decrease in SNAP purchases.

The Whole Foods in Chicago’s Englewood neighborhood, which closed in 2022, received a significant government subsidy, relying on an $11 million Tax Increment Financing (TIF) subsidy from the City of Chicago.

When it closed, local outlet WTTW reported that state Rep. Sonya Harper, D-Chicago, said in a statement that she was disappointed in the development, as the store had said it was not about making a profit but about ensuring access to healthy food.

"I was proud to work with Whole Foods to bring a new location to Englewood because they claimed their decision was not based on profitability, but rather a desire to help provide access to healthy groceries for residents," Harper said in the statement.

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Hill told Fox News Digital that the areas where government grocery stores are failing tend to not be friendly to business.

"Illinois and Chicago specifically is one of the toughest places to do business. So, Illinois has the second-highest property taxes in the nation," Hill said. "They're even higher in Chicago. Commercial property here is taxed at 250% more than residential property, which makes it tougher for businesses to operate."

"So, property taxes are out of control, which affect business margins as well," Hill added. "But on top of that, for consumers and for businesses, Chicago's total sales tax, which also applies to groceries, was just at an increase on Aug. 1. So the total sales rate in the city is now 10.5%. It's the second highest of any city in the nation. If the city's serious about helping businesses and residents in need, it should start there rather than wasting millions of dollars on projects that we know are going to fail."

Karr told Fox News Digital that cities should look at practical ways to make it easier for grocery stores to operate.

CHICAGO POL SAYS WALGREENS SHOULD BE CHARGED WITH 'FIRST-DEGREE CORPORATE ABANDONMENT' OVER CLOSURE OVER THEFT

"Instead of trying to use gimmicks, look at the real reasons why grocery stores are having a hard time staying open," Karr said.

"And frankly, the same applies to pharmacies," he added. "Although it's a little different because there's also pharmacy reimbursement at stake there. But when you look at grocery stores, what are your permitting processes? What are your licensing processes? What are your labor mandates? What's going on in your property tax? When you look at the city of Chicago and Cook County, we have the classification system where commercial and industrial carry two-thirds of the burden. That's a problem. You can't continue to pile those on and expect something to change."

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Fox News Digital reached out to Yellow Banana and Whole Foods for comment.

Two brothers deliver storybook moment by homering in respective debuts on same day in incredible fashion

Wed, 05 Aug 2026 12:14:59 -0400

Aug. 4, 2026 is a day the Lombard family will remember for a long time.

Not one, but two brothers made their pro baseball debuts. George Lombard Jr. made his major league debut with the New York Yankees, while his younger brother, Jacob, made his professional debut in Low-A with the Miami Marlins organization.

Both brothers made debuts to remember, as they each blasted a home run with their new clubs.

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George Lombard Sr. and his wife, Judy, had flights booked to watch their youngest son, Jacob, make his pro debut in Jupiter. However, upon hearing news of Lombard Jr.’s promotion, Jacob insisted the family should see his older brother in the Bronx instead.

"We found out about 11:30 p.m. last night, so pretty late last night. And my mom was preparing, getting ready to drive up here to Jupiter. It's not too far of a drive from Miami, but my brother calls my dad, my mom and I on the FaceTime, like we kind of do every night, and he tells us the news and we were kind of all jaw-dropped," Jacob Lombard said during an appearance on ESPN’s "SportsCenter."

"My mom was freaking out. My dad is on the other side of the country in Seattle. I told my mom, ‘Don't even think about it. You're not coming over here to Jupiter. You're going to New York. All you guys are going to New York.’ I'm very happy that the whole family got to go out there and see him and they got to watch kind of my game play out."

George Lombard Sr. played in the major leagues for six seasons and is currently the Detroit Tigers bench coach. The team allowed him to leave and attend his son’s debut in person.

Jacob Lombard hit his home run first. In the top of the third inning, Lombard, in his second at-bat, pummeled a breaking ball into the visitors' bullpen for a solo home run for the Jupiter Hammerheads.

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The YES Network broadcast showed a jubilant George Lombard Sr. and Judy watching their youngest son’s home run on their phone and celebrating from their seats in Yankee Stadium.

George Lombard Jr.’s home run came in the fifth inning off St. Louis Cardinals starter Hunter Dobbins. Lombard Jr., also in his second at-bat, crushed an 0-2 breaking ball into the left-field seats, similar to where his younger brother hit his.

Beyond both brothers hitting home runs in their second at-bats of the game, there were other striking similarities to the blasts. Both home runs had 33-degree launch angles, and both had exit velocities about 100 mph. Jacob hit his home run at 99.9 mph, while George’s was 100.2 mph.

Jacob was able to watch his brother’s home run live, as the Hammerheads called a mound meeting and the Yankees’ game was on at the bar in the stadium. As he went to the mound, Lombard Jr. hit his home run, cementing a day for the ages.

"I'm screaming at third base like, 'I think he just hit home run. I think he just hit a home run.' And then the TV shows my parents hugging and I was like ‘Oh my, he just did that.’ So, it was pretty unbelievable."

YANKEES' GEORGE LOMBARD JR, REPLACING EMBATTLED ANTHONY VOLPE, MASHES HOME RUN FOR FIRST HIT IN MLB DEBUT

Both parents were emotional and proud of their sons.

"Just the fact that he's worked his whole life for this and that day had come, there was no words," Judy Lombard said in an interview on the YES Network. "For the first time in my life, I think, I didn't have words. I was just in shock."

"You don't ever get these days back," George Lombard Sr. said in an interview on the YES Network. "This was as emotional as any day we've had with our boys."

George Lombard Jr. said it was a day he won’t forget.

"It was really cool," the older Lombard said. "Being a close game, it was a big run. So it was probably a moment, a swing, a day I won’t forget."

The 21-year-old became the first Yankees shortstop to hit a home run in his debut. He was able to get the ball back when he met the fan who caught the ball after the game. Lombard Jr. traded a bat and signed hats for the fan in exchange for the ball.

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Lombard was the 14th player in franchise history to hit a home run in his big league debut and first since Jasson Domínguez went deep in his initial plate appearance against Justin Verlander in Houston on Sept. 1, 2023. The group also includes injured captain Aaron Judge (2016) and Hall of Famer Yogi Berra (1946).

At 21 years, 63 days old, Lombard became the sixth-youngest Yankees player since 1985 to make his debut and the second-youngest shortstop in that span. Derek Jeter debuted May 29, 1995, in Seattle at 20 years, 337 days.

Lombard Jr. also impressed with his defense, turning multiple slick double plays in the Yankees’ 2-0 win over the Cardinals.

"Obviously, a great first night for him," Yankees manager Aaron Boone said. "The home run was great. The defense was tremendous."

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For Jacob Lombard, his brother’s major league debut is his goal.

"The whole goal is for me to also have that moment when, uh, you know, in a couple years. So, I'm excited. You know, they got to be there and I'm sure they're going to be at mine when mine comes," Lombard said.

If his minor league career is anything like his debut, it won’t be too long before the Marlins' 2026 first-round pick makes the major leagues, and the family can create another unforgettable memory.

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The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Israeli President Herzog calls antisemitism a 'contamination of societies' as hate crimes surge

Wed, 05 Aug 2026 12:00:14 -0400

Israeli President Isaac Herzog issued a stern warning about the global spread of antisemitism in an exclusive interview with Fox News Digital at his Jerusalem residence.

"Antisemitism is an age-old plague which should be dealt with by everybody, by all societies. It's not an Israeli issue or only a Jewish issue," he said.

"It's a contamination of societies that starts with the Jews — never ends with them. It's the most dangerous phenomena that has to be dealt with aggressively, with no mercy, with full adjudication, and most importantly, with education," he added.

EXCLUSIVE: ISRAELI PRESIDENT HERZOG BLASTS MAMDANI, PRAISES TRUMP, SOUNDS ALARM ON IRAN

Herzog's warning comes as newly released New York City Police Department (NYPD) data show anti-Jewish incidents accounted for 56.9% of all confirmed hate crimes since the start of 2026, even though Jewish New Yorkers make up only about 10% of the city's population.

Herzog pointed to New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, whom he accused of spreading hate and compromising the lives of New Yorkers.

"Mamdani does not respect my nation's right for self-determination — the Jewish people's inherent right to have a nation of their own. And he's basically spreading blasphemy, hate, antisemitic rhetoric. He should understand that he's risking his own citizens, he’s risking their safety, well-being and life," Herzog told Fox News Digital.

In a video posted on social media on July 21, Mamdani called Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu "a war criminal" and "the architect of a horrific genocide against the Palestinian people."

Days later, Raul Morales, 51, allegedly yelled "Allahu Akbar" while stabbing two men on Manhattan's Upper West Side, including one who was visibly identifiable as Jewish.

SUSPECT ARRESTED AFTER ALLEGEDLY YELLING ‘ALLAHU AKBAR,' STABBING 2 MEN IN NYC ATTACK

"We've seen the stabbing just a few days ago... just because somebody was dressed as an Orthodox Jew. This cannot be accepted in New York, which is a city that is dear to our heart, dear to Israelis, and dear to me personally," Herzog said.

More broadly, a report released last month by the J7 Large Communities' Task Force Against Antisemitism found that 20 people were killed in antisemitic attacks across seven countries outside Israel in 2025, marking the deadliest year for such violence in the Jewish diaspora since 1994.

The J7 comprises Jewish communities in the United States, Australia, Canada, Argentina, the United Kingdom, Germany and France.

According to the report, more than 23,000 antisemitic incidents were recorded across the J7 countries last year, representing a 97% increase in violent attacks and a 136% rise in overall incidents compared with 2022.

"Of course, Israel is doing its best, but it has to be an effort with governments all over the world, law enforcement agencies, educational systems and Jewish communities, which we care about a lot," Herzog said, in reference to confronting Jew-hatred.

Referencing a recent article by professor Niall Ferguson titled "The Death of History," he said, "How much TikTok or the social networks distort the facts of history? They negate the worst and greatest horror of humankind, the Holocaust. And that's why we have to stand up together and combat it," he told Fox News Digital.

Herzog stressed that misinformation spread through distorted and superficial channels makes it easy to smear Israel on social media, but that such narratives do not reflect reality.

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"[Israel] is the place where the Startup Nation flourishes. This is the place where great ideas are given to the world and contribute enormously to the world in so many great fields, from health to energy, to science, to agriculture, to food security, to what not. There's a reason why Americans who visit our country, young Americans, fall in love with this country," he said.

Growing antisemitism, coupled with polarization within and between Jewish communities and a weakening sense of Jewish identity in some places, led Herzog to launch Voice of the People in April 2023. The initiative brings together a council of 150 emerging leaders — one-third from Israel, one-third from the United States and the remainder from around the world.

Leaders are selected through an algorithm from thousands of candidates and serve rotating terms of roughly two years, developing ideas to address challenges facing the Jewish world.

The initiative held an in-person kickoff summit in March 2025 in Haifa, featuring Herzog and bringing together all council members, reflecting his belief in building the next generation of Jewish leadership, which he described as one of his main tasks.

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"I'm overjoyed by the great ideas I see and feel, and I hope that around November we will have a new registration starting for the next slot, the next cohort, and I invite as many Jewish friends to register," he said.

Republican who reportedly dropped out defeats Trump's pick in key swing-district primary

Wed, 05 Aug 2026 11:06:45 -0400

Republican voters in Michigan's 8th Congressional District chose Thomas J. Smith as their challenger to freshman Democratic Rep. Kristen McDonald Rivet on Wednesday – defying President Donald Trump's endorsement of opponent Amir Hassan – in one of several House races the GOP hopes will help expand its majority in November.

The district stretches across Flint, Saginaw, Midland and Bay City, and has become increasingly competitive in recent election cycles. Al Lemmo also vied for the nomination.

Smith was a longtime GM employee, according to his website.

"We need strong conservative leadership that protects our constitutional freedoms, supports working families, secures our borders, and restores accountability in Washington," he said on his website.

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Smith reportedly suspended his campaign in July and endorsed Lemmo, according to the Detroit News, while Trump endorsed Hassan and invited him onstage at a recent rally.

Hassan spoke then about how many members of his family worked for GM. "The contrast is clear, the time is now," Hassan said. "Protecting America, getting back to the fundamentals… that’s what we’re doing this cycle."

HOUSE REPUBLICANS AIM TO TURN DEMOCRATIC CIVIL WAR INTO MIDTERM WEAPON

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Lemmo, a retired Army automotive mechanical engineer, ran on a pro-life and pro-onshoring platform.

DEMOCRATS TARGET MORE GOP HOUSE SEATS AFTER SOCIALIST VICTORIES ROCK LEFT-WING PRIMARIES

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Smith recorded just over 50% of the vote by Wednesday morning, and was declared the winner by the Associated Press.

Smith told the Detroit News he is "humbled and honored that Republicans have chosen me to take the fight to Kristen McDonald Rivet."

Rivet, who was a state senator representing Bay City before her tenure in Congress, won her primary Tuesday.

She defeated the GOP's Paul Junge by about six points in 2024's contests.

Hawaii Democratic House candidate faces felony threat charges after beach fight caught on video

Wed, 05 Aug 2026 11:38:32 -0400

A Hawaii Democratic congressional candidate was knocked unconscious during a profanity-laced beach confrontation captured on video days before he appeared in court on two felony terroristic threatening charges.

The video opens with Hawaii Democratic congressional candidate and U.S. House candidate Kirill Basin approaching a group of beachgoers and telling one man, "Put your bag away, bro. Put your bag away."

A woman then approached Basin as music by the Pixies played from a nearby speaker. Basin told the group, "I told him if he wants to go to the hospital, come here."

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The confrontation briefly appeared to cool when Basin said, "It is over," before shaking another person's hand. The reprieve lasted only seconds.

Basin then turned toward another beachgoer, shouted an obscenity and resumed arguing with members of the group. When a man told Basin he was speaking to his girlfriend, Basin replied, "I don't care."

The exchange quickly escalated. Basin repeatedly asked, "What are you going to do?" before challenging another man to fight.

After a woman called him "a child," Basin turned toward her, demanded to know what she had said and threatened to "put [her] in the ground" and "in the hospital" before walking away while calling her a derogatory term.

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Moments later, Basin walked back toward his belongings where a larger man – later identified as Kama Homan – approached from behind. Basin shoved Homan before the two began scuffling.

Basin stumbled backward over two beach chairs and fell to the sand. After getting back to his feet, he grabbed one of the chairs and swung it at Homan, who shoved the chair aside before punching Basin and knocking him unconscious.

Homan walked over and repeatedly told Basin to "wake up." Once Basin regained consciousness, he told someone he was "going to jail" before walking away. Moments later, he charged toward Homan again while shouting obscenities.

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Homan, who said he had mixed martial arts training, told Hawaii News Now he decided to intervene after watching Basin become increasingly aggressive.

"I'm like, maybe I should intervene," Homan said. "As I got closer and closer, he was just getting more irate and violent."

Homan said Basin shoved him before he responded.

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"He put his hands on me and as soon as he tried to shove me, I hit him with a left and a right," Homan said. "That's when he stumbled and fell over the chairs."

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The criminal complaint, which Fox News Digital reviewed, alleged Basin threatened multiple people during the confrontation, including Homan. A second felony count specifically alleged Basin threatened Homan with a knife.

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Homan said he recovered what he described as a 5-inch switchblade and turned it over to Maui police.

Fox News Digital reached out to Basin and his attorney, Brandon Segal, for comment.

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During Tuesday's initial court appearance, a judge maintained Basin's $1 million bail and ordered him to have no contact with Homan and four other people.

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If released, Basin also must stay away from Keawakapu Beach, including its parking lot, refrain from possessing firearms or ammunition, avoid drugs and alcohol, submit to random drug testing and undergo a mental health assessment with any recommended treatment.

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Basin was scheduled to return to court for a preliminary hearing Thursday at 1 p.m.