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England's Jordan Henderson officially ruled out after freak fall causes fracture, opts for surgery

Mon, 06 Jul 2026 22:01:10 -0400

A freak mishap Sunday night abruptly ended England midfielder Jordan Henderson's 2026 World Cup.

Henderson, 36, spent the match on the bench in England's 3-2 win, but quickly drew attention after falling over an advertising board, leaving him writhing in pain during a moment of victory for England.

On Monday, Henderson opted to undergo surgery, bringing an unusual ending to the World Cup campaign of one of England's veteran leaders.

ENGLAND PLAYER INJURES WRIST HOPPING OVER AD BOARD DURING TEAM'S WORLD CUP VICTORY CELEBRATION VS MEXICO

As the stadium speakers blasted Oasis, Henderson tried to climb over a pitch-side advertising board to celebrate with the traveling supporters. He lost his footing and landed awkwardly on his wrist.

WATCH:

England captain Harry Kane reacted to Henderson's injury Sunday night after the match.

ENGLAND STUNS MEXICO 3-2 IN INSTANT WORLD CUP CLASSIC, HANDS TEAM FIRST WORLD CUP LOSS AT ESTADIO AZTECA

"Yeah Hendo just fell over there. I think he's OK. Something to do with his arm," Kane said, unaware of the severity of Henderson's injury at the time.

The celebrations quickly turned to concern as medical staff rushed onto the field, administered oxygen, and stretchered Henderson off the pitch.

Before the accident, Estadio Azteca hosted a World Cup classic. Jude Bellingham sparked England with a first-half brace before Harry Kane added a penalty. Mexico answered through Julian Quinones and a late Raul Jimenez penalty.

ENGLAND STUNS MEXICO 3-2 IN INSTANT WORLD CUP CLASSIC, HANDS TEAM FIRST WORLD CUP LOSS AT ESTADIO AZTECA

Henderson watched the thriller from the bench, picking up a yellow card in the 98th minute for his touchline protests. The match fell into chaos when England defender Jarell Quansah was shown a straight red card, forcing the Three Lions to desperately hang on.

While manager Thomas Tuchel and the squad flew to Kansas City to prepare for a quarterfinal clash against Norway, Henderson remained hospitalized in Mexico City. England next faces Erling Haaland's Norway on Saturday without the suspended Jarell Quansah.

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Henderson's World Cup had its ups and downs. The last one ended it.

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

Team USA's World Cup run ends as Belgium wins Round of 16 matchup to advance

Mon, 06 Jul 2026 21:59:48 -0400

Team USA’s run at the 2026 FIFA World Cup has come to an end.

Belgium, in front of a sold-out, U.S.-heavy crowd in Seattle, defeated the USMNT, 4-1, in a match where they took full advantage of their opponent’s mistakes.

Charles De Ketelaere was the man who not only scored just nine minutes into the match for Belgium, but his goal in the 39th minute made Team USA manager Mauricio Pochettino kick water bottles on the sideline.

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The reason? Malik Tillman, who scored a free kick against Bosnia and Herzegovina in the Round of 32 victory in the Bay Area, took another just in front of Belgium’s box, and it deflected off a Belgian defender and threw off legendary keeper Thibaut Courtois to even the game at one apiece.

The momentum was back for the USMNT in that moment in the 37th minute. But once again, shotty defense for the U.S. resulted in an easy goal for De Ketelaere right in front of Matt Freese’s net.

USA COACH MAURICIO POCHETTINO KICKS POWERADE BOTTLES IN FRUSTRATION AS TEAM'S FIRST HALF DEFENSE LOOKS SHAKY

Freese, though, had a massive error of his own in the second half that crushed the momentum that had conjured up while down one goal.

In the 57th minute, a total game-changer came when Freese decided to leave his net while De Ketelaere was chasing the through ball. Freese was first to get there, but as he was trying to clear the ball, his foot got caught in the turf.

In a desperation attempt, he tried to kick it with his right foot, but De Ketelaere got in the way and Hans Vanaken kicked it past Freese and Ream, who couldn’t turn his body around to save it for one of the worst goals allowed by a team at this World Cup.

Overall, it wasn’t Team USA’s best effort in the moment they needed it most in the Round of 16.

To make matters worse, Pochettino was forced to sub out Christian Pulisic, dubbed "Captain America," after a shot attempt resulted in an injury. Pulisic wound up for a kick on his right foot when a Belgian defender stepped in front of him. Instead of kicking the ball, Pulisic belted the back heel of the Belgium defender, and he went down in clear pain.

Pulisic tried to run it off, but with a clear limp, Pochettino sent in Sebastian Berhalter instead.

As for the biggest story of this match, Folarin Balogun, who became available after FIFA invoked Article 27 of its disciplinary code to suspend his red card, wasn’t much of a factor for the team. Belgium did a good job of buttoning up their defense, and Balogun never got a clean look to find the back of the net as he has in past matches.

The U.S. tried desperately to get back into the match, especially when Berhalter just missed getting a ball past Courtois, but it just went wide left. However, Belgium did their defensive duties and refused to allow what Senegal did to them in the round of 32 – a second-half miraculous comeback.

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Instead, Romelu Lukaku, Belgium's superstar striker, put a cherry on top of their victory with a stoppage time goal past Freese in the second half. It was quite the statement on a game they dominated throughout.

As you'd expect, it was a sad group for the U.S. following the loss, while Belgium celebrated their spot in the quarterfinals where they will take on Spain later this week.

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New Yorker suing ICE after officers went to his home to warn him over criticism of agency

Mon, 06 Jul 2026 21:45:26 -0400

A New York resident is suing after officers went to his home to serve him with a warning after he sent an email criticizing Immigration and Customs Enforcement leadership over the agency's tactics in immigration raids.

David Streever, a U.S. citizen in Rochester, filed the lawsuit on Monday in Washington, D.C., against the Department of Homeland Security and ICE, arguing that officials violated his First Amendment right to speak out against the government, according to the complaint reviewed by Fox News Digital.

Streever was on a trip to Finland with his 7-year-old daughter last month when two officers showed up to his home and handed his wife a warning notice informing him that an email he sent months earlier was considered a threat.

He had sent an email in January to Todd Lyons, who was the acting director of ICE at the time, after an ICE agent shot and killed U.S. citizen Renee Nicole Good during an immigration raid in Minneapolis.

ANOTHER NEW YORKER SAYS OFFICERS CONFRONTED HIM AFTER HE CRITICIZED ICE

In the email, Streever told Lyons he was "a monstrous human being" who "will never know peace" and will "go down in history as America's Reinhard Heydrich, the butcher," a reference to a Nazi leader.

"The way you are protecting the obvious execution in Minnesota, even as we see the videos, will lead to your downfall. Even Trump will turn on you before the end, and you will be a sad, despised man who eats himself alive with shame at your own pathetic weakness," Streever said in the email, according to the complaint.

"You will seek to lose yourself, to escape the burden of knowing the truth about yourself. But wherever you go, you will find yourself. You will torment yourself until your last day on Earth," the email added.

When officers arrived at his home, Streever's wife answered the door and was handed a "warning notice" explaining that her husband "may be in violation of federal law" for sending his email to ICE's former acting director.

The notice, reviewed by Fox News Digital, urges Streever to "promptly remove and/or discontinue" his "behavior," warning that the notice will be "taken into consideration" if he continues to be involved" in "criminal activities."

Streever’s wife told the officers he was out of the country but would return to Rochester later that week, according to the lawsuit. But federal officers did not wait and instead attempted to confront him at a New York City hotel after he returned from Finland, although they were turned away by hotel staff.

That same night, officers repeatedly called Streever’s phone, leaving voicemails identifying themselves only as Homeland Security Investigations.

On their train ride home, Streever told his daughter about the possibility that federal officers might confront him, and the young girl broke down in tears, fearing for her father's safety.

Adam Steinbaugh, an attorney with the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression who is representing Streever, argued the email was protected speech under the First Amendment and does not represent a legitimate threat.

"If someone is really threatening a government official, you don’t wait five months to act on it," Steinbaugh said in a statement. "The fact that authorities didn’t respond immediately shows that David presented no threat. This pursuit is designed to intimidate lawful speech, pure and simple."

Streever said he was shocked that federal officers came to his home to question him over his email.

"I cherish our right to speak openly about issues of public concern," Streever said. "I hope others will not be discouraged from peacefully expressing their views, even when those views are critical of the government."

"Like many Americans, I was deeply upset after the shootings in Minnesota and I felt compelled to do something," Streever said in an earlier statement. "Writing an email to the head of ICE seemed like the least I could do to express my sense of outrage. I never dreamed it would lead to a knock on my door by federal officers or descending on my hotel in the dark of night."

Fox News Digital reached out to DHS and ICE for comment.

The lawsuit also names Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin, whose office released a statement claiming, "Any allegation DHS and its components are attempting to ‘squash’ free speech is categorically FALSE," according to the Associated Press.

The complaint asks the court to order DHS and ICE officials to stop its "coercion and retaliation" against Streever for his protected speech.

The warning to Streever was presented the same week poll worker Paigelynne Gonyea, of Syracuse, said two federal officers confronted her at a voting site during New York’s primaries to question her about a social media post she made about Jonathan Ross, the ICE officer who killed Good.

MINNESOTA SENATE VOTES TO BAN ICE FROM WEARING MASKS, ALLOW RESIDENTS TO SUE FOR CONSTITUTIONAL VIOLATIONS

Gonyea said she believes the warning to her was because of a post she made in January in which she shared a picture of Ross along with the caption: "I think today is a great day for Jonathan to be indicted."

Her post was made after Ross had already been identified by the media.

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A spokesperson for DHS, Lauren Bis, shared an image of a different social media post from Gonyea in which she said the woman shared Ross’ address, according to the Associated Press, although part of the post was redacted.

Bis said in a statement last week that Gonyea "committed a federal crime by posting the address of an ICE law enforcement officer online" and "if you doxx our officers, we will investigate you, and you will be brought to justice."

After Donald Trump criticism, Keir Starmer intervened with FIFA ahead of England-Mexico

Mon, 06 Jul 2026 21:43:49 -0400

My, my how the tables have turned.

When FIFA announced that they'd suspended the red card punishment of US Men's National Team striker Folarin Balogun, it set off a firestorm of criticism. European soccer fans, the Belgian national soccer federation, the Union of European Football Associations, and many other commentators were outraged that Balogun's unjust red card had essentially been delayed.

Their complaints have been mostly incoherent and illogical, with UEFA's statement in particular being laughably inaccurate.

EUROPE IS FURIOUS OVER BALOGUN REPRIEVE BUT FIFA SUSPENDED RED CARD BANS FOR RONALDO AND OTHERS BEFORE THIS

"Football, like any other sports, relies on rules, which are the basis for fair, honest and transparent competition," they said. "Sometimes rules are open to interpretation. In this case not. A minimum automatic suspension of one match following a red card is not a discretionary option and does not require the decision of a competent body to be enacted. It is a principle embedded in regulations, which cannot be made subject to exceptions, let alone in the middle of a tournament where several other players have been in the same situation and regularly served their suspension."

Notably, UEFA had no complaints when Cristian Ronaldo's three-match red card suspension was postponed by FIFA ahead of the World Cup. Under the exact same rule that was used in Balogun's case.

But another critique of the process came from those who said that President Donald Trump's involvement was an unacceptable violation of soccer norms. Essentially, that a politician should not make phone calls to FIFA leadership to question a decision or potentially influence an outcome. British host Piers Morgan was particularly consumed by inaccurate righteous indignation, accusing the USMNT of "cheating" and "not playing by the rules."

MEDIA FIGURES MELT DOWN OVER TRUMP INVOLVEMENT WITH FIFA AS US STAR FOLARIN BALOGUN SET TO PLAY

Though of course, the USMNT did not cheat, and no rules were violated.

But the outrage from the Europeans and their fans over Trump’s involvement has been curiously missing from another revelation that was reported Monday morning: that British Prime Minister Kier Starmer called FIFA to intervene in favor of the England National Team ahead of their match against Mexico.

In the days leading up to England-Mexico at the Azteca, there were rumblings that the start time of the match might be moved up several hours to avoid forecast thunderstorms. But, according to British paper The Sun, Starmer directly intervened with FIFA to prevent that from happening.

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"The Mexicans were really talking up the storm and were pressing to move the game," a source told The Sun. "But Keir was having none of it and suspected they were trying to derail the England preparations by giving less time to adapt to the altitude, so he put his foot down."

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Well, well, well! A politician interfering with FIFA in order to benefit his country's national team? Unacceptable! Outrageous! Unfair! Appeal the whole tournament!

Obviously, Starmer and England got their way, and held on to beat El Tri 3-2 in a hard fought instant classic. Curiously, though, Piers Morgan and the very angry European fans have had little-to-nothing to say about a politician "putting his foot down" with FIFA. Should England go on to win their quarterfinal or entire tournament, their run will be tainted by this scandal, forever laden with an asterisk over this unacceptable atrocity.

USA coach Mauricio Pochettino kicks Powerade bottles in frustration as team's first half defense looks shaky

Mon, 06 Jul 2026 21:11:07 -0400

Team USA did not have the first-half start they were hoping for against Belgium in the Round of 16, and head coach Mauricio Pochettino displayed some rightful frustration because of it.

Belgium sent a shock to the USA system not even 10 minutes into the match when Charles De Ketelaere tapped in a ball served right in front of Matt Freese’s net and sent a silent murmur over the sold-out Seattle Stadium crowd.

But things felt back to normal when Malik Tillman, who scored a free kick in the second half against Bosnia and Herzegovina in the Round of 32, did it again. Tillman buried his shot past legendary Belgian keeper Thibaut Courtois thanks to a deflection off one of Belgium’s defenders.

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That was in the 31st minute, but Pochettino’s display of frustration came after the U.S. conceded their second goal just two minutes later.

It was De Ketelaere once again, this time leaping over veteran defender Tim Ream and using his head to place the ball in the back of the net.

THANKS TO TRUMP, A RESTED TEAM USA HAS THE ULTIMATE EDGE OVER A FURIOUS BELGIUM IN THE 2026 WORLD CUP

As Belgium celebrated, Pochettino walked over to his bench and let out his displeasure with what he just witnessed on the pitch with a right boot to the Powerade bottles on the ground.

That’s the type of half it was for Team USA, which went into halftime with a lot to go over before the second half begins.

While possession was relatively close – Belgium owned it 53% to the USMNT’s 47% -- it was clear the Belgians had the advantage in the offensive end. They finished the half with five shots on goal to just one from the U.S. They also created four big chances, meaning this game could’ve been a lot further away for the U.S. than the scoreboard says at the moment.

The USMNT will need better play all around if they wish to move on to the quarterfinals to meet Spain and keep their World Cup title dreams alive. If they can do so, they would become just the second team in U.S. history to get it done, as only the squad in 2002 was able to reach the quarterfinals in this modern FIFA World Cup format.

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Pochettino may let out more frustrations in the locker room, but it’s clear the manager might have to get clever with Belgium owning the momentum after the first 45 minutes.

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New York Times calls University of California's 'test-blind' admissions policy a 'terrible' mistake

Mon, 06 Jul 2026 21:00:29 -0400

More than six years after the University of California system’s Board of Regents moved to stop using standardized test scores in undergraduate admissions, The New York Times Editorial Board is urging the UC system to reverse course.

In an editorial published Monday, the paper's editorial board called the UC system's decision a "terrible" mistake that left students less prepared for their college coursework. The editorial comes just days before the UC Board of Regents is expected to consider revisiting the policy.

The UC system in 2019 put together the Standardized Testing Task Force (STTF), an 18-member committee comprised of professors from across all 10 campuses. The committee was tasked with studying how the UC system used standardized testing scores in its undergraduate admissions. Around a year later, the group released a 225-page report with its findings and recommendations.

"The STTF found that standardized test scores aid in predicting important aspects of student success, including undergraduate grade point average (UGPA), retention, and completion," the group's report read.

CALIFORNIA BOARD OF REGENTS TO REVIEW SAT/ACT TESTING BAN AFTER 1,400 PROFESSORS WARN OF ‘SEVERE’ MATH GAPS

Despite the group's conclusion that the scores played a key role in predicting student performance, the UC system voted in 2020 to no longer consider them, instead opting for a "test blind" approach. This meant that schools in the UC system would not accept test scores, even from students who wanted to send them. The decision came as the world was grappling with the COVID-19 pandemic.

The paper's editorial board said the results of the "test-blind" approach "have been terrible," noting that last year a faculty group at UC San Diego reported a sharp drop in academic preparation for new students.

"Last fall, for example, nearly 12 percent of first-year U.C.S.D. undergraduates were not qualified to take pre-calculus, a low-level class, up from only 0.5 percent in 2020," the Times Editorial Board added.

The Times acknowledged that broader education challenges have emerged, such as artificial intelligence, COVID-19 school closures and smartphone distractions, but argued that the decline in preparedness among entering UC students was "larger than the regression elsewhere." The paper said that this underscored the role of the UC system's test-blind policy.

TEXAS’ LARGEST SCHOOL DISTRICT SEES TEST SCORES SOAR AFTER STATE TAKEOVER DESPITE RACISM CLAIMS

In response to Fox News Digital's request for comment, a spokesperson for UC pointed to a statement made by UC's Academic Senate Chair Ahmet Palazoglu.

"Academic preparedness and student success are significant priorities at the University of California. That’s why the UC faculty Academic Senate is engaged in a comprehensive, data-driven review of how to best assess college readiness and support student success at UC," Palazoglu's statement read.

"The review will go well beyond previous work on this subject because much has changed across the education landscape since the UC Board of Regents adopted its test-blind undergraduate admissions policy in 2020. Based on the authority delegated by the Board of Regents, the UC faculty Board of Admissions and Relations with Schools (BOARS) is leading the review of UC’s admissions policies and criteria."

The editorial comes as UC faculty members call for the return of standardized testing requirements.

Groups of UC faculty members sent two letters urging the university to reverse its test-blind policy. More than 2,300 of UC's Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) faculty have signed one letter, while more than 900 UC humanities faculty members signed a similar one.

"Obscuring preparation gaps harms both students individually and the University collectively. It offers the appearance of access while undermining the chance of success," the letter from the STEM faculty read.

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Despite pleas from professors, the UC system has not moved to reverse its testing policy. Instead, it has decided to form a new committee to review the pros and cons of reinstating the tests.

The Times Editorial Board noted that Janet Napolitano, who served as the university president in 2020 and backed the test blind policy, was in favor of bringing back test scores. She told the paper that the test blind policy was "a worthwhile experiment," but the results made it "increasingly clear that the experiment needs to be revisited."

The editorial noted that the UC system was not alone when it moved to no longer consider test scores during the pandemic. However, many schools that made the same choice have since reinstated the requirement. Some have remained test-optional, while others have started requiring scores for admission. The list of schools that require students to submit scores includes Harvard, Brown, Georgia Tech, Purdue, Yale, Princeton, Stanford and the California Institute of Technology, among others. The Times noted that both the Naval Academy and West Point require test scores.

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The Times Editorial Board also cited Brown University President Christina Paxson, who argued in a letter that standardized test scores were better predictors of academic performance than high school grades. She admitted that there were valid concerns about the tests and that the question of whether the benefits outweighed the drawbacks remained "empirical."

"The university’s trustees, known as the regents, have the final word. When they next meet, on July 14, they should have the courage to admit they made a mistake six years ago and reverse it," the Times Editorial Board argued.

Alex Rodriguez lands on his feet once again with another fitness trainer and model after recent breakup

Mon, 06 Jul 2026 20:51:01 -0400

Alex Rodriguez has carried lessons from his years of playing baseball into his personal life. Whether it was good or bad, you have to forget your last at-bat when you're preparing for your next one.

He didn’t let an engagement to Jennifer Lopez getting called off get him down, and he's not letting the end of his relationship of three-plus years with Canadian fitness instructor Jac Cordeiro get him down either.

A-Rod is back out there. In May, Cordeiro said there was "mutual love, care, and deep respect." when discussing the split, which was described as "taking some time apart."

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He was then seen last week out at Michael Rubin's White Party with a then-unknown fit woman sharing a kiss. A beacon of hope, if you will, for other romantics out there who have momentarily taken a detour off course.

On Monday, sources had confirmed that A-Rod had landed on his feet once again with the woman he was hanging out with in the Hamptons. According to Page Six, she's a private fitness coach by the name of Meghan Hayden.

JENNIFER LOPEZ ADMITS SHE 'WOULD'VE HAD SEX' WITH ENTIRE STAR-STUDDED 90S MOVIE CAST

Rodriguez, now 50, still has a type. He enjoys the fitness instructor-model game like no other. A source told the outlet, "They are dating. It’s new. She’s a really nice person from a great family."

The source added that they came with others and that the friends with them played defense for Hayden. They said, "There were other girls trying to talk and flirt with him, but the friends at the table nicely redirected them."

While it might appear as if the resilient A-Rod works fast, he's not working that fast. Let's give these two some time together. She hasn't even had a chance to be seen courtside at a Minnesota Timberwolves game yet.

JENNIFER LOPEZ TAKES BLAME FOR BEN AFFLECK DIVORCE, SAYS SHE NEEDED TO 'FIGURE' HERSELF OUT AFTER SPLIT

Let's give her a chance. Along with being a private fitness coach, she's a former Division I athlete who graduated with a bachelor's degree in exercise physiology.

So says her website, which also states, "When Meghan isn’t training clients, she’s most likely biking to her next session or modeling on set with household brands like Under Armour & Athleta."

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That all sounds like someone A-Rod could enjoy hitting the gym with, doesn't it? Good for him.

After the relationship news broke, she appeared to confirm it when she posted several pictures from the "White Party '26," including a couple of her with the former Major Leaguer.

Top Platner ally turns on him after bombshell rape allegation rocks campaign: 'Red line'

Mon, 06 Jul 2026 18:49:34 -0400

Support for embattled Maine Senate candidate Graham Platner is cratering among Democrats, with one of his most prominent supporters calling on him to exit the race following a harrowing rape allegation.

Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., rescinded his endorsement and called on Platner to suspend his campaign following a bombshell Politico report detailing a rape allegation by Maine resident Jenny Racicot, 41, who previously dated the scandal-plagued candidate.

Platner immediately denied Racicot's account — which alleges that he barged into her home in 2021 and forced her to have unprotected sex — but has said his campaign is determining its next steps.

She also went on CNN Monday evening shortly after the report was published to tell host Jake Tapper that "by dictionary definition" Platner "raped" her.

DEMOCRATS BREAK WITH SCANDAL-PLAGUED GRAHAM PLATNER, WARN OF 'CIVIL WAR' IN PARTY

"I thought, here's a man who was drunk and who, by dictionary definition, raped me. And he's blaming drunk women," Racicot said. "So I just felt like that was a very odd take to have on that. And I also feel like with all of the comments that he made about women, sexual assault, rape, even, um, you know, the comments that he had made that was in The New York Times article about, you know, threatening people with rape, like, why does this person have this issue, like scattered throughout their life, throughout their commentary, like it‘s on their mind?"

"I’ve been very clear that sexual assault or violence against women is a red line," Khanna said in a post on social media Monday evening. "These allegations are very serious and credible. Graham Platner should drop out from the race. I am withdrawing my endorsement."

Khanna's statement preceded Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., the head of Senate Democrats' campaign arm, issuing a joint statement calling on Platner to "immediately" leave the race, so the party can choose a new nominee.

The pair said the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC) would not invest in Maine — a top pick-up opportunity for Democrats in November's midterm elections — if he continued to seek the battleground seat held by Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine.

Both Schumer and Gillibrand supported Gov. Janet Mills, D-Maine, in the contentious primary and did not endorse Platner until he won the party's nomination.

Meanwhile, Khanna, a far-left populist with likely presidential ambitions, had embraced Platner's insurgent Senate campaign for months amid a patchwork of controversies.

Khanna personally campaigned with the Maine Senate hopeful in June shortly before Platner became the party's nominee. The campaign stop came just one day after Lyndsey Fifield, a former Platner girlfriend, accused Platner of abuse — an allegation first reported by The New York Times that Platner has fiercely denied.

By that point, Platner was also facing scrutiny for sending sexually explicit messages to at least half a dozen women while married, making a plethora of offensive online statements over the period of a decade and getting a Nazi-linked tattoo that he wore for most of his adult life.

Shannon Watts, a Democratic strategist and founder of the gun control group Mom Demands Action, slammed the timing of Khanna’s statement.

"You flew to Maine to campaign with him AFTER he was accused of assault against another woman," Watts wrote on social media.

Khanna previously appeared to dismiss the severity of Fifield’s account alongside many Democratic lawmakers, who seized on her background in Republican politics. He also argued that Platner, a combat veteran who has struggled with PTSD, had overcome a dark past and was deserving of redemption.

"Here you have a case of someone who had a dark chapter in his life, was in toxic relationships, was ashamed about it, who served this country, and the Maine voters are saying, ‘Look, let’s give him some grace, and his focus is stopping these wars, and it’s getting national health insurance, and it’s taking on economic inequality," Khanna told CBS News in an interview.

WATCH: DEM SENATORS EXCUSE PLATNER'S CONDUCT AT CRISIS HUDDLE WITH EMBATTLED MAINE CANDIDATE

And Khanna told Fox News’ Martha MacCallum in June that he asked Platner if there were any credible allegations of sexual assault that had yet to be revealed. He said Platner denied it.

"I made it clear that, for me, is a red line," the California lawmaker said. "And he said, no, there is not."

"Now, obviously, he had texts that were allegedly consensual, and while he was married, And that's a matter for him and his wife. And his wife came out and said that she forgave him. And so that is a different matter for me than abuse or assault or what people did in the Epstein class. It's a very different matter."

Khanna was not the only prominent Platner supporter to disavow the Senate hopeful following Monday's rape allegation.

Sen. Martin Heinrich, D-N.M., an early Platner supporter, was the first prominent Democrat to rescind his endorsement after Politico's report broke.

Meanwhile, Sen. Ruben Gallego, D-Ariz., rescinded his endorsement Monday evening, but stopped short of calling on Platner to exit the race.

Gallego, a former ally of disgraced ex-Rep. Eric Swalwell, D-Calif., has faced scrutiny over his past treatment of women. The Senate Ethics Committee recently dismissed a complaint brought by Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, R-Fla., in a bipartisan manner.

His Arizona colleague, Sen. Mark Kelly, D-Ariz., who did not endorse Platner, also called on the Senate hopeful to suspend his campaign.

"Character and accountability matter regardless of party," Kelly wrote on social media. "It’s time for Graham Platner to drop out and allow for someone else to be nominated and give Democrats the best chance to win this seat in November."

Far-left Twitch streamer Hasan Piker, who has championed socialist candidates across the country, also distanced himself from Platner on Monday.

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"This is beyond red flags. This is irredeemable," Piker said during his livestream.

Fox News Digital reached out to Platner’s campaign for comment.

Popular Florida social media influencer killed in drive-by shooting while inside luxury SUV

Mon, 06 Jul 2026 20:35:01 -0400

A popular South Florida influencer was killed in a drive-by triple shooting early Sunday morning, authorities said.

Brianna Johnson, 21, who posted under the Instagram handle dreamdoll_brii, was riding in a lime green luxury SUV with two other passengers when gunfire erupted, the Miramar Police Department told Fox News Digital on Monday.

Surveillance video reportedly captured the shooting, which unfolded around 5:30 a.m., just hours after the Fourth of July holiday.

Johnson was known for sharing lifestyle and beauty content and had nearly 500,000 followers across TikTok and Instagram. Her TikTok account, _itgirlbri, had about 388,000 followers, while her Instagram account had roughly 88,800 followers.

FITNESS INFLUENCER STEPHANIE BUTTERMORE DEAD AT 36, FIANCÉ CONFIRMS IN HEARTBREAKING POST

According to police, Johnson was traveling in a lime green Lamborghini Urus when the SUV reached an intersection and a white sedan "pulled alongside the driver's side and opened fire, striking three occupants."

Surveillance video obtained by local outlet WSVN appears to show a light-colored sedan following the victims' Lamborghini down the street before gunfire erupts.

Moments later, the Lamborghini was seen drifting through the intersection before crashing into a nearby house as the suspected shooter's vehicle sped away.

Police said they were alerted to the shooting after receiving multiple ShotSpotter notifications in the area.

Miramar Police Chief Delrish Moss described the gunfire as rapid-fire, according to WSVN. Photos circulating social media also appear to show the Lamborghini riddled with a dozen bullet holes along its doors.

HAUNTING NOTE ON VEGAS HOTEL DOOR HINTED AT TRAGEDY BEFORE CHEER MOM, DAUGHTER FOUND DEAD

According to WSVN, the three victims had attended a large party at a nearby home before the shooting. Sources told the outlet the group later stopped at a gas station, where a fight allegedly broke out.

Investigators believe the victims' luxury SUV was then targeted and followed, according to reports.

Johnson ultimately "succumbed to her injuries," police said.

The two other occupants, whose identities have not been released, were rushed to a local hospital in critical condition.

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A woman identifying herself as Johnson's cousin, who goes by Instagram handle pdolly26, shared a series of Instagram Stories mourning her death and identifying the victim as the South Florida influencer.

Numerous fans also began flooding Johnson's social media accounts with messages of condolence.

Police said the shooting remains an active and ongoing homicide investigation.

Terrified passengers film Waymo autonomous vehicle driving into live fireworks in San Francisco

Mon, 06 Jul 2026 20:16:41 -0400

Passengers in a Waymo vehicle were terrified as the car drove into lit fireworks in the middle of a San Francisco street during Independence Day celebrations over the weekend.

Video footage of the incident shows a group of passengers who were shocked as the driverless car seemingly approaches lit fireworks in the middle of a street as the explosives are about to launch.

As the car gets closer, someone on the street appears to warn the vehicle to stop by waving their hand.

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"No, no, no, don’t go, don’t go, don’t go," one of the passengers is heard saying off-camera.

The autonomous vehicle then passes over the colorful flames and sparks.

"Our Waymo just drove into a firework," a passenger says in the clip.

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"Are we on fire, dude?" a fellow passenger asks.

A Waymo spokesperson told Fox News Digital that the company "is committed to keeping our riders safe and earning the trust of the communities where we operate."

"We take situations like this seriously and are committed to evaluating and learning from these events," the statement continued.

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No injuries were reported to either the passengers or the vehicle, and the company reached out to the riders after their trip. The possession of fireworks, even "Safe and Sane" explosives, is illegal in San Francisco, the city's fire department said.

One woman was killed and two other adults and a child were injured Saturday in a separate fireworks explosion, the San Francisco Chronicle reported.

Elsewhere in San Francisco, some Waymo vehicles were towed when their batteries died after vehicles became stuck in traffic for hours.

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"Our priority is keeping San Francisco moving safely, especially during major city celebrations," the Waymo spokesperson said. "On the Fourth of July, extreme traffic congestion in northern San Francisco disrupted normal operations for several Waymo vehicles."

"In coordination with local authorities and emergency services, our roadside assistance team worked quickly to clear our vehicles from the area," the statement continued.

‘He is happy with his choice’: Former co-host insists Mario Lopez is a MAGA supporter

Mon, 06 Jul 2026 20:00:09 -0400

Actor and TV host Mario Lopez denied that he supported President Donald Trump in a since-deleted Instagram comment, according to a Buzzfeed report last month.

The former "Access Hollywood" host commented on a video titled "Exposing Latino MAGA Artists" from last month, which labeled Lopez a "MAGA" supporter based on a past post supporting a UFC fight on the White House lawn, as well as following Trump, his son Donald Trump Jr., and the official POTUS page, according to the June 26 report.

The video also highlighted a 2016 interview Lopez did with Trump for "Extra" during Trump's first presidential campaign.

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However, Lopez allegedly denied supporting Trump politically and claimed that he did not even attend the UFC Freedom 250 fight.

"You need to get your facts straight," Lopez wrote. "I’ve interviewed Trump many times when he was on 'The Apprentice.' And I didn’t attend the White House event. I was in DC shooting a PrimeTime special at the time for CBS celebrating a civics competition for kids."

Lopez wrote that his original UFC support was in support of his friend, UFC CEO Dana White, and that he "could care less" about politics as a whole.

"Like I said, I’m not a political person. Too divisive. I could care less about politics. I care about my family, my community, my culture, and my faith. God bless you and have a nice day, but please don’t spread misinformation," Lopez wrote.

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On Thursday, Lopez's former "Extra" co-host Tanika Ray added a comment to the original report, claiming that she could "confirm this is true."

"It's unfortunate but glad the truth is out maybe it will encourage him to think about it. But then again. He's a capitalist first," Ray wrote.

In another comment, she wrote, "He is Mexican and maga and though it's really confusing to me, it's his life. He is happy with his choice. I pray people wake up bc this isn't it."

Fox News Digital reached out to Lopez's representatives for comment.

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The former "Saved by the Bell" actor has remained largely apolitical in his public life but has been open about sharing his Christian faith while working in Hollywood.

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During his 2016 interview with Trump, Lopez previously described himself as "Latino, happen to also be conservative, a child of Mexican immigrants."

Experimental vaccine shows promise against dangerous intestinal illness

Mon, 06 Jul 2026 19:57:07 -0400

A decades-long effort to develop a vaccine against one of the world's leading causes of severe digestive illness has reached a milestone, according to new research.

Scientists recently developed a technology targeting enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC), a bacterium responsible for millions of diarrheal illnesses each year.

The technology has now been licensed to French vaccine manufacturer Valneva for further development.

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The findings come after decades of research led by scientists at the University of Bergen and the Norwegian Research Center (NORCE).

One of the most common bacterial causes of severe diarrhea worldwide, ETEC is known to disproportionately affect children in low- and middle-income countries. Despite years of research, there is currently no broadly effective vaccine to prevent the infection, according to the study.

The researchers focused on a toxin produced by ETEC that has long been considered one of the biggest obstacles to vaccine development.

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James Fleckenstein, MD, a professor of medicine and molecular microbiology at the Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, said the findings represent a promising step.

"We still have a lot of work to do to translate these findings to an actual vaccine," Fleckenstein, who was not involved in the research, told Fox News Digital. "But the approach does look promising in the sense that the proteins elicit strong antibody responses that appear to offer protection against diarrheal illness after the first infection in children in developing countries."

If the vaccine eventually reaches patients, researchers hope it could help protect children against some of the most severe forms of diarrheal disease caused by ETEC.

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In the meantime, Fleckenstein said travelers can take steps to reduce their risk of diarrheal illnesses. He recommends avoiding high-risk foods — including meals from street vendors in areas where sanitation may be poor — drinking bottled water in higher-risk regions, and practicing good hand hygiene.

Fleckenstein also noted that vaccines are available to protect against typhoid fever, and said travelers should consult their physician before traveling internationally.

The research did have some limitations, the researchers noted.

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The technology is still in development and has not yet been tested as an approved vaccine among the public.

While the licensing agreement allows Valneva to continue advancing the research, additional laboratory studies, clinical trials and regulatory review will be required before the vaccine becomes available.

Platner's latest accuser claims the Democratic Senate candidate 'absolutely' raped her

Mon, 06 Jul 2026 19:55:52 -0400

A woman who made bombshell allegations against Democratic Maine Senate candidate Graham Platner claimed on Monday that he "absolutely" raped her in an interview with CNN.

CNN's Jake Tapper noted that Jenny Racicot had not used the word "rape" when telling her story and asked whether she believed Platner had raped her, to which she said that "By definition? Yes, absolutely."

Racicot's detailed allegations were first reported by Politico on Monday. She told that outlet over the course of three interviews that Platner forced her to have sex with him against her will in 2021. Platner has vehemently denied the allegations. Racicot told Politico that Platner was "almost blackout drunk" when the incident took place.

EXPLOSIVE SEXUAL ASSAULT ALLEGATION ROCKS PLATNER CAMPAIGN AHEAD OF KEY DEADLINE IN CRUCIAL SENATE RACE

Racicot also told Tapper that she decided to come forward because she felt that "there are a lot of men in this world relying on the silence of women to be where they are, and I don't want to contribute to that."

When Tapper pressed her on the potential blowback from Platner supporters who claim that she was motivated by politics, Racicot said she "couldn't disagree more" with them and that she wrestled with a "huge moral conflict" because she agrees with Platner politically.

"I really agree with his politics. I think we need somebody with those political stances and who are willing to do the work," she said. "I see his political videos. They get me fired up as well. I understand why people want someone like him in office, and I felt like me coming forward would essentially, potentially take that away."

Despite her allegations, Racicot said she would not necessarily tell people not to vote for Platner.

TOP PLATNER ALLY TURNS ON HIM AFTER BOMBSHELL RAPE ALLEGATION ROCKS CAMPAIGN: 'RED LINE'

"I remember him grabbing my pelvis and being really forceful of me," Racicot told Politico. "I remember the specific moment where I thought to myself, like, ‘This is no longer my choice.’"

When describing the situation to Tapper, Racicot said that during the incident, Platner had moments where he would apologize before going back to "doing what he was doing."

DEMOCRATS BREAK WITH SCANDAL-PLAGUED GRAHAM PLATNER, WARN OF 'CIVIL WAR' IN PARTY

Platner's campaign released a video after the allegations were published, which the candidate described as "troubling, serious and false."

"Any accusation of nonconsensual behavior is categorically false," Platner said in the video. He went on to speak about his experiences on the campaign trail before saying that in light of the "inaccuracy of the reporting" his team was "taking the time to reflect on the best path forward."

Following Politico's reporting, several Democrats rescinded their endorsements of Platner and some called on him to drop out of the Senate race. The Maine Democratic Party issued a statement urging him to withdraw from the race.

Platner's campaign has faced multiple controversies, including scrutiny over a tattoo on his chest depicting a Nazi symbol known as a "Totenkopf."

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In June, the New York Times published an article with allegations against Platner made by women who dated him in the past, including Racicot. While Racicot spoke with the Times about her relationship with Platner, she did not go into detail about the 2021 incident.

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"Racicot also said that in 2021 he arrived at her house drunk, after she had asked him not to come over. She declined to elaborate, but said she cut off contact soon after that episode and found his behavior 'reckless' and 'unsettling,'" the Times reported last month.

Fox News Digital reached out to Platner's campaign for comment.

Cuba plunges into third major blackout this year as power crisis worsens

Mon, 06 Jul 2026 19:42:16 -0400

An island-wide blackout plunged Cuba into darkness Monday as the country’s deepening energy crisis continues to strain its fragile power system.

The outage affected roughly 10 million people before limited electricity service was restored in some areas.

"A total disconnection of the National Electric Power System is occurring," Cuba’s state-run Electric Union said Monday morning. "The causes are being investigated."

Cuba has faced increasingly frequent power outages in recent years as the country struggles with chronic fuel shortages and deteriorating electrical grids. The crisis worsened when President Donald Trump imposed additional sanctions in January and threatened tariffs on countries that provide oil to the island.

MILLIONS LOSE POWER ACROSS CUBA AS TRUMP SANCTIONS CONTINUE TO FUEL ONGOING ENERGY CRISIS

During Monday’s blackout, public transportation was largely halted, and officials said tens of thousands of surgeries were canceled nationwide, according to The Associated Press (AP).

Authorities later said one generating unit had resumed operations roughly two hours after the collapse.

"Microsystems are already operational throughout the country, to ensure protection for vital services," the Electric Union said.

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The energy minister said officials were working to restore power while accusing the U.S. of contributing to Cuba’s energy struggles.

"Vital services continue to be protected, amidst this complex situation exacerbated by the energy blockade we face," Vicente de la O Levy said.

Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel also blamed U.S. policies, describing the energy blockade as a "genocidal" measure imposed by Washington.

"While the U.S. tries to induce a social explosion through asphyxiation by blocking fuel access to #Cuba, the UNE mobilizes to reverse the SEN outage," Díaz-Canel said, referring to Cuba’s National Electric Power System.

"What the electrical workers are doing in the midst of a genocidal energy blockade is heroic."

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Cuba’s energy crisis intensified earlier this year after a U.S. military operation captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and halted Venezuelan oil exports, cutting off a key source of fuel for the island.

While Cuba produces only about 40% of the fuel it needs, a Russian tanker delivered roughly 730,000 barrels of oil to the country in March, supplies that were depleted by the end of April, according to The AP.

To conserve fuel, the Cuban government has imposed scheduled power outages that have lasted more than 24 consecutive hours in some areas, the outlet said.

A blackout in early March affected Cuba’s western provinces, while a separate outage in mid-March plunged the entire island into darkness.

Terrifying scene unfolds at Six Flags as storm-toppled tree sends 4 guests to hospital

Mon, 06 Jul 2026 19:27:12 -0400

Four guests were hospitalized after a tree fell near the entrance of Six Flags Over Georgia during severe weather on Sunday.

The incident occurred as strong storms moved through the Austell, Georgia, area, Six Flags Over Georgia told Fox News Digital.

"During severe weather that was impacting the park, medical staff and local EMS responded to four guests who were struck by a fallen tree near the park's entrance," Six Flags said in a statement shared with Fox News Digital.

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"The guests were transported to a local hospital for further evaluation," the venue also said.

The National Weather Service had issued a severe thunderstorm warning for the area Sunday evening as storms moved across metro Atlanta, reports noted.

Park officials have not released the identities of the four guests or provided updates on their conditions.

A video shared on Facebook appeared to show the aftermath of the incident, with fire trucks, ambulances and other emergency vehicles lining the entrance to the park as first responders worked near several downed trees and large branches.

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The person who posted the video described what had begun as "a relaxing day at Six Flags" before a sudden storm swept through the area, adding that the tree fell near the exit walkway as guests were leaving the park.

"Prayers for the people that were hurt," the user wrote.

Posts shared on Reddit appeared to show a large tree that had fallen across part of the park, with users claiming it also came to rest on the track of the Mindbender roller coaster.

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"It didn’t look like the track was bent. But it was a thick tree, so I couldn’t tell if anything was broken," one user wrote.

Six Flags has not confirmed whether any attractions were damaged or whether park operations were affected.

Fox News Digital previously reported on another weather-related incident that injured five people after a powerful wind gust sent a metal cabana frame crashing into a crowded pool area at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Florida.

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The incident occurred at the resort's rooftop DAER Club, where strong winds caused the structure to partially collapse into an area occupied by guests.

Videos shared online showed visitors and employees rushing to lift sections of the fallen metal frame as they worked together to free people trapped underneath before first responders arrived.

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Five people were taken to Memorial Regional Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, according to reports.

Explosive sexual assault allegation rocks Platner campaign ahead of key deadline in crucial Senate race

Mon, 06 Jul 2026 15:26:13 -0400

Democratic Maine Senate nominee Graham Platner is facing calls from top Democrats in his home state and in Washington to immediately end his campaign, in the wake of an explosive report on Monday afternoon that contained an allegation of rape from a woman he previously dated.

Platner, a populist Democrat long backed by progressive champion Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont, is challenging longtime Republican Sen. Susan Collins in a high-profile, combustible and expensive race in Maine, which is one of a handful that will determine if the GOP holds onto its slim Senate majority in November's midterm elections.

But hours after a report from Politico on the latest allegations went viral, longtime Senate Democratic Leader Sen. Chuck Schumer called them "incredibly disturbing – violence, abuse and sexual assault are absolutely unacceptable."

In a statement with Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC) Chair Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, Schumer emphasized, "Graham Platner needs to immediately withdraw as the Democratic nominee for Senate and allow Maine Democrats the opportunity to choose a new candidate who can defeat Susan Collins. The DSCC will not invest in the Maine Senate race if Platner remains on the ballot."

Speculation was swirling on social media hours earlier about Platner's future after several of his events were canceled over the weekend.

‘HE HATED WOMEN’: EXPLOSIVE ABUSE, NEW NAZI TATTOO ALLEGATIONS FROM EXES ROCK PLATNER'S CAMPAIGN

Maine resident Jenny Racicot, 41, told Politico over the course of three interviews that Platner forced her to have sex five years ago against her will, a claim that Platner denied in the story. Additionally, the report says that a man Raciot dated afterward confirmed she had told him about the incident, which was also corroborated by emails between Racicot and her therapist.

"I remember him grabbing my pelvis and being really forceful of me," Racicot told the outlet about the incident, which allegedly took place while Platner was "almost blackout drunk." "I remember the specific moment where I thought to myself, like, ‘This is no longer my choice.’"

Racicot alleges that Platner entered her home uninvited and forced her to have unprotected sex despite her telling him to stop multiple times.

Racicot said in the report that "one of the reasons" she didn't come forward until now was the "huge moral conflict" she had between her support of Platner's politics and not supporting him "as a person."

"I just want the truth out there," Racicot said. "I just want people to have a whole scope of who he is as a person."

In a statement to Politico, Platner said, "These allegations are troubling, serious, and false. Any accusation of non-consensual behavior is categorically untrue."

The Platner campaign posted a video on X shortly after the Politico story published where Platner again called the allegations "false" and that he was going to "reflect" on the best path forward.

"So, regardless of the inaccuracy of the reporting, but mindful the political reality it will inflict, we are taking the time to reflect on the best path forward for the state that I love, the people that I love, the movement I belong to, and the goal of defeating Susan Collins," Platner says in the video. "Those were the goals when we launched this campaign, and they remain my goals today."

Over the last few days, multiple Platner events over the 4th of July holiday weekend and Monday were canceled without an official explanation or comment from the campaign, Bangor Daily News reported on Monday, other than one event organizer saying that an event in Gorman was canceled due to Platner "not feeling well."

The news of the canceled events led conservative outlets and pundits to speculate throughout the day on Monday, before the Politico report was published, about whether there was an underlying reason for the cancellations.

"Graham Platner cancels MULTIPLE scheduled town hall events as progressive allies tease another scandal is about to hit his campaign," the Maine Wire news outlet posted on X. "Augusta town hall for last night - CANCELED Gorham town hall tonight - CANCELED Sanford town hall tonight - CANCELED. There are no other upcoming events listed on his FB page, or on Mobilize."

"Graham Platner no-showed Fourth of July celebrations across Maine," the National Republican Senatorial Committee posted on X in response to the Maine Wire post. "Now, he's canceling everything else. We wouldn't want to be seen in public either… "

"A well-placed source told us that Graham Platner is dropping out of the Maine Senate race this week," the Washington Reporter posted on X. "Note that Platner has yet to release his Q2 fundraising totals, a sign he may have underperformed expectations. "

In addition to the online rumors circulating on Monday, bets on the online prediction market Polymarket surged over the weekend, with users betting that Platner would drop out before the midterms.

FORMER PRIMARY RIVAL RESURFACES TO CHALLENGE SCANDAL-PLAGUED GRAHAM PLATNER IN MAINE SENATE RACE

Collins, who is running for a sixth six-year term in the Senate, said in a statement, "These allegations are appalling. Nevertheless, it is not up to me to choose the Democratic nominee for Senate."

Meanwhile, the leadership of the Maine Democratic Party, in a statement, said it "is calling Graham Platner to withdraw as the Democratic nominee for the U.S. Senate."

One of Platner's top supporters in Congress, Rep. Ro Khanna of California, rescinded his endorsement.

"I’ve been very clear that sexual assault or violence against women is a red line. These allegations are very serious and credible. Graham Platner should drop out from the race. I am withdrawing my endorsement," Khanna wrote in a social media post.

Khanna, a top progressive leader in the House, told Fox News Digital as he campaigned with Platner in Maine days ahead of the primary that he was "concerned about making it clear that we’re opposed to misogyny, those relationships were toxic and volatile, there’s no excuse for that."

"I talked to Graham, and he says he was at a very dark period. He had come back from two tours of duty in Iraq as an infantryman seeing violence and death. That doesn’t excuse it," Khanna said last month.

Also dropping their endorsement on Monday was Democratic Sen. Ruben Gallego of Arizona, who along with Khanna is considered a potential 2028 White House hopeful.

"The allegations against Graham Platner are troubling and deeply serious," Gallego wrote on X. "I am rescinding my endorsement."

Meanwhile, Democratic Senate candidate Alex Vindman, who is on a glide path to win next month's primary in Florida, said in a statement,"I believe Graham Platner should immediately drop out. These allegations are extremely serious, disturbing, and disqualifying."

So did Rep. Haley Stevens, who is battling Abdul El-Sayed for the Democratic Senate nomination in Michigan's August 4 primary.

"Graham Platner must step aside," Stevens emphasized in a statement.

Platner has been at the center of multiple controversies since launching his campaign, including infidelity, alleged physical abuse of an ex-girlfriend, a Nazi-linked tattoo, disparaging comments about the military, referring to himself as a "communist", scrutiny over his working-class bonafides, and a variety of inflammatory posts on a deleted Reddit account.

Despite the controversies, many polls in recent weeks showed that Platner had a lead on Collins. However, a Fox News poll published last week showed Collins with a small advantage, along with more than half of respondents saying that Platner lacks the judgment to serve as a U.S. senator.

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Now that Platner has won the Democratic primary, the next key date is 5 p.m. on Monday, July 13. Under Maine law, if Platner formally withdraws as the Democratic nominee by that deadline, the Maine Democratic Party can replace him on the general election ballot by selecting a new nominee through its party process, with the replacement required to be chosen by July 27.

If he remains the nominee past the July 13 deadline, the party generally loses its ability to substitute another candidate through the normal replacement process, except in limited circumstances defined under state law.

"These allegations are very serious and Graham vigorously denies them," a Platner campaign spokesperson told Fox News Digital. "They are also coached and coordinated by out of state establishment operatives. For a year, opponents of this campaign have thrown everything they can at Graham –– calling him a Nazi, a war criminal, and a communist. None of it has been true and this is no different."

"It is not a coincidence that this story comes a week before the ballot deadline, just as the previous false allegations came a week before the primary. Graham began this campaign to fight for a Maine where everyone is treated with dignity and where Mainers are put first, and no amount of desperate smears will stop this movement from seeing that vision through."

Fox News' Alexis McAdams, Jessica Sonkin and Matthew Donnell contributed to this report

Nolan's 'The Odyssey' actress said she'd scold Homer over lack of female speaking roles

Mon, 06 Jul 2026 19:00:02 -0400

Kenyan-Mexican actress Lupita Nyong’o said in an interview on Thursday that if she met the ancient Greek playwright Homer, she would grill him about the lack of female representation in his epics.

Nyong’o, famous for her roles in "Black Panther" and "12 Years a Slave," will play Helen of Troy in Christopher Nolan’s adaptation of Homer’s ancient epic, "The Odyssey." Helen of Troy is known in mythology as the world's most beautiful woman and for whom the Trojan War was started in Homer’s epic, "The Iliad," followed by "The Odyssey." Nyong’o will also be playing Helen’s sister, Clytemnestra, in the same movie.

Emmy-winning interviewer Jake Hamilton of "Jake’s Takes" interviewed the cast of Nolan’s upcoming "The Odyssey" adaptation on Thursday, asking many of them the same general question.

"I want you to imagine, really quick, that you're sitting in a movie theater, and you're sitting next to Homer," he began. "Let's say he speaks English. Let's say he understands what movies are, and you watch ‘The Odyssey.’ When it's over, you can lean over and go, ‘Okay, cool. What do you think about how I did this?’ What is an aspect of your performance that you'd love to get his thoughts on?"

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"I would be like, ‘So, Homer, how do you feel about the screen time given to these women considering how little you spent with them?’" Nyong’o said. "Okay?"

"And then do you lean forward and look at him like that?" Hamilton said as he pretended to lean forward and give a challenging look to the next seat.

"Yes. Like, ‘Hmm? Remember us??’" Nyong’o replied.

The film has already faced waves of controversy for multiple aspects that have fans of Homer’s work feeling uneasy about the film.

In May, he confirmed having cast Nyong’o as Helen, which sparked controversy as yet another example of casting famous fictional or historical figures with actors of another racial background, similar to Disney’s live-action remakes of "Snow White" or "The Little Mermaid" or Netflix’s "Queen Cleopatra" which faced backlash from the Egyptian government.

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Nolan also revealed to Time Magazine that rapper Travis Scott will be playing a Greek bard. Nolan defended the choice as an acknowledgment of poetic tradition.

"I cast him because I wanted to nod toward the idea that this story has been handed down as oral poetry, which is analogous to rap," Nolan told Time.

In the footage released so far, characters in Nolan's adaptation can be seen using modernized American English terms like "Let’s go" and "Daddy." A recent promotion for the film featured NBA player LeBron James and his son, as parallels to Odysseus and his son Telemachus, where LeBron is dribbling a basketball and narrating over imagery from the film.

A Hollywood Reporter writer was taken aback by the American accents used in the trailer, writing, "Everybody sounds like they’re from Ohio."

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Joy Reid says she's openly rooting for Team USA to lose, hopes an African team wins the World Cup

Mon, 06 Jul 2026 18:59:27 -0400

Joy Reid said she could not celebrate the Fourth of July over the weekend as a Black person in America. It sounds like she won't be able to enjoy Team USA's success in the World Cup, either.

On Monday, The Nation sports editor David Zirin, a goof, told Reid he is rooting for the United States to lose to Belgium so President Donald Trump cannot "exploit" the victory.

"I find myself really wishing the United States was actually playing a team from the Global South so I could truly root with even more fervor to see them get knocked down a peg, because we know how it's going to be exploited if they go forward in the Cup," Zirin said on Reid's podcast.

Reid nodded in agreement.

"Exactly," she replied.

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She then clarified that she isn't merely rooting against Team USA. She's rooting for an African nation to win the entire World Cup.

"I'm rooting for all the African teams," Reid said. "I'm being very open about it. I'm rooting for the African teams. I want one of them to win. I think it would be so great for the Global South for an African team to take home the big prize."

Is that so?

One can't help but chuckle at someone who has made millions of dollars a year bashing the country in which she lives while openly rooting against it in the world's biggest soccer tournament. It's certainly one way to thank the audience that made those paychecks possible.

No, seriously. That is exactly what her audience, the anti-American scum they are, wants to hear.

What's notable about Reid is that she always seems sincere. Many race idolaters and anti-American commentators are simply playing a role, including Reid's pal Jemele Hill.

In many ways, people like Hill are trying to become the next Joy Reid, as unfortunate as that may be.

We have little doubt Reid truly spent the Fourth of July weekend stewing over America, reminding herself how irredeemably racist she believes it is.

Likewise, she will almost certainly celebrate when Team USA is eliminated from the World Cup. Speaking for most sane Americans, though, we hope that doesn't happen Monday against Belgium in the Round of 16.

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As for Reid's desire to see an African nation win it all, only two remain as of Monday: Morocco and Egypt.

Egypt has the longest odds to win the Cup, at +2500 at DraftKings. Team USA and Morocco are each around +2900. France is a notable favorite at +180.

WWE legend John Bradshaw Layfield hails AAA the 'hottest program in the world right now'

Mon, 06 Jul 2026 18:57:32 -0400

WWE acquired Lucha Libre AAA Worldwide (AAA) before WrestleMania 41 in 2025 and the Mexican promotion’s growth over the last year may be one of the underrated stories in pro wrestling over the last 15 months.

AAA garnered a ton of attention with the buildup to its Mask vs. Mask match between El Grande Americano and Original El Grande Americano, Worlds Collide in June 2025 was a great way to introduce to re-introduce Lucha Libre to an American audience and TripleMania is going to be a two-night event for the first time in the company’s history.

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"I think it’s the hottest program in the world right now. It’s unbelievable. They got incredible characters," WWE Hall of Famer John Bradshaw Layfield told Fox News Digital in a recent interview.

He recalled working in Mexico early in his career and how incredible the energy was in the country when he would perform there.

"I’d go down there and work and people have thought since then if Lucha Libre ever takes off, as I’d always say this is a sleeping giant, I think what people are now starting to see what we’ve known all along about Lucha Libre is just fantastic. There’s Incredible characters. There’s incredible passion, especially with the Mexican fans. I’ve always enjoyed working down there. I always say you gotta work in a few arenas to make it in life. You gotta work at the Sportatorium, you gotta work at Staples Center, you gotta work at The Garden, you gotta work in Budokan, you gotta work in Earls Court – anywhere in Mexico is like that.

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"It’s just unbelievable. The passion that the people have down there – I love it. And I just think that AAA has done an incredible job. Jeremy Borash, who is incredibly talented, Undertaker, who is a good friend of mine and also a very smart guy, I believe they’ve just done an incredible job with the product."

Mask vs. Mask was one of the first major hits since the WWE acquisition was announced.

It saw El Grande Americano defeat Original El Grande Americano, who later revealed himself to be Chad Gable. The match had everything a pro wrestling fan could want – incredible characters, exciting buildup and one of the best matches of the year.

Bradshaw said there were two matches he’s seen in his career that he thought the men in the ring were doing a "different art form." – Fit Finlay vs. Tony St. Clair in Europe and Shawn Michaels vs. The Undertaker at WrestleMania 25. He said the Mask vs. Mask match felt very much the same.

"I felt the same way with Mask vs. Mask. I never thought I’d see another match (like that)," Bradshaw said. "I was hoping I would but I don’t know if I’d ever see a match like I saw with Finlay and St. Clair and Undertaker and Shawn Michaels. I’d put that in that category. I just thought it was absolutely incredible. The passion, the emotion that went with it. Everything about it worked."

Now, El Grande Americano has a new challenge – the revitalization of Los Perros del Mal.

The group recently reformed with Daga, Angel, Berto, Bronco Nima and Karmen Petrovic wreaking havoc on the AAA roster.

Bradshaw said he was looking forward to seeing where the new story goes.

"It just kills me with Los Perros del Mal. It’s kinda like in episodic television like in ‘The Walking Dead’ when the governor dies and it’s like, ‘What are you gonna do now?’ And then all of sudden you have a new villain," he told Fox News Digital. "The first day of the next season and you go, ‘Oh great! This is awesome.’ I’m watching ‘Blacklist’ and as soon as they get rid of one villain you have another one comes in. … And you’re thinking what could top that?

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"As soon as we got done with Mask vs. Mask, Jeremy Borash starts bringing back Los Perros del Mal – this incredible group. That visual of them there, I just thought, my God, man, this is awesome. Now we got something for, I don’t know how long, the next year or whatever long it is. But this is an incredible new journey it’s gonna look like for El Grande Americano."

Kate Hudson stuns in black bikini during Greek getaway with fiancé and kids

Mon, 06 Jul 2026 18:55:34 -0400

Kate Hudson is all smiles in the Greek Isles.

The "Running Point" star shared a carousel of photos from a Greek vacation with fiancé Danny Fujikawa and her three children, captioning the post, "My happy place."

The images featured Hudson spending time on the water, swimming in the ocean, lounging on a boat and dining with her blended family against picturesque seaside views.

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The post opened with Hudson standing on the edge of a boat while wearing a black string bikini.

The actress showed off her toned figure in the black triangle bikini as she balanced barefoot near the back of the boat with crystal-clear turquoise water.

The "Song Sung Blue" star also shared a sweet beachside moment with her sons, Ryder and Bingham.

The actress was photographed hugging the two boys on the sand while wearing the same black string bikini. Hudson wrapped her arms around her sons beneath a straw beach umbrella as the trio embraced near the shoreline.

The carousel also included a sunny boat moment with her daughter Rani.

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The mother of three sat on a cushioned area of the boat as she smiled with her hands near her hair. Beside her, daughter Rani pointed toward the scenic coastline while the family enjoyed a day on the water.

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Hudson also carved out a quiet moment with Fujikawa, a musician and entrepreneur, as the pair sat together on the beach looking out at the ocean.

Another snapshot captured a playful pose.

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Hudson leaned against a large tree stump while wearing the black bikini and a wide-brimmed straw hat. She completed the look with a woven beach tote as straw umbrellas and loungers lined the grass behind her.

The family also gathered for a scenic dinner overlooking the water.

Hudson smiled up at her fiancé as the family stood together beside a table on an outdoor terrace. The group posed in front of a sweeping view of the Greek coastline at sunset.

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Hudson and Fujikawa first met in the early 2000s before their relationship turned romantic years later. The couple began dating in 2016 and got engaged in September 2021.

The 47-year-old shares daughter Rani with Fujikawa. She is also mom to son Ryder, whom she shares with ex-husband Chris Robinson, and son Bingham, whom she shares with ex-fiancé Matt Bellamy.

During a recent appearance on The Drew Barrymore Show, Hudson opened up about her relationship with Fujikawa and how their long friendship helped shape their romance.

"I know him and his family so well that the fact that we fell in love, any moments that have become challenging or hard, we're so connected through our families," Hudson said.

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Hudson said she had known Fujikawa for years before they started dating.

"When I met him we'd known each other for 14 years or when I started dating him," she said. "So, we're 20… I mean, that's a long time to know somebody."

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Hasan Piker turns on Platner, says he believes sexual assault accuser and predicts 'curtains' for campaign

Mon, 06 Jul 2026 18:48:31 -0400

Progressive media darling Hasan Piker is predicting "curtains" for Democratic Maine Senate candidate Graham Platner after a sexual assault allegation rocked the political landscape Monday.

Piker, the popular far-left Twitch host who many Democratic hopefuls have courted for support, reacted to the explosive claim made by Platner ex Jenny Racicot while reading Politico's report on his livestream.

The host was particularly alarmed when he read that Politico "also spoke with a man Racicot dated and confided in the years after the alleged incident, and reviewed documents, including emails between Racicot and her therapist and messages between Racicot and an acquaintance whom she warned against getting involved with Platner years before he ran for office."

EXPLOSIVE SEXUAL ASSAULT ALLEGATION ROCKS PLATNER CAMPAIGN AHEAD OF KEY DEADLINE IN CRUCIAL SENATE RACE

"That is curtains," Piker told his audience. "That is the trifecta, ok? That is the trifecta of a reliable allegation. It's — holy s---."

"Personal first-hand testimony to a friend, a close confidant, back from way before Graham Platner ever f---ing ran for Congress? And also direct testimony from a therapist?" Pike continued, later adding, "I believe this, this accusation. I believe this allegation."

‘HE HATED WOMEN’: EXPLOSIVE ABUSE, NEW NAZI TATTOO ALLEGATIONS FROM EXES ROCK PLATNER'S CAMPAIGN

Others in the liberal media are also taking aim at Platner and speculating on how much longer he will last on the campaign trail.

"If these allegations are true, to this extent, I don’t see how he can be the nominee for senator in Maine for the Democratic Party," MS NOW host Luke Russert reacted to the breaking news.

FORMER PRIMARY RIVAL RESURFACES TO CHALLENGE SCANDAL-PLAGUED GRAHAM PLATNER IN MAINE SENATE RACE

The Bulwark's Tim Miller blasted Graham's video statement saying his campaign is "taking time to reflect on the best path forward."

"I’m sorry but 'we are taking time to reflect on the best path forward' is not an option on the table," Miller wrote on X. "Either it’s false and you campaign with vigor or it’s true and you get out / apologize to everyone you let down."

"Platner needs to drop out ASAP - these are awful, credible allegations," Pod Save America co-host Jon Favreau said. "It's now abundantly clear that he just hasn't been honest about his past and can't be trusted as a candidate for office. Saving grace is that the party can find a replacement by the 27th as long as he drops by the 13th, which I very much assume he will."

The Platner campaign did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment.

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Search called off after body matching missing teen Nolan Wells found off Mississippi coast

Mon, 06 Jul 2026 18:39:45 -0400

The search for a Mississippi teen who went missing over the holiday weekend has been called off after a body matching his description was recovered Monday morning, officials said.

Jackson County Sheriff John Ledbetter confirmed that a body was discovered in the water at about 8:45 a.m. local time Monday, just off shore on the northwest end of Horn Island, according to a report from the New York Post.

While official identification is still pending, Ledbetter told the outlet the recovery "does match the description" of Nolan Xavier Wells, 18.

The grassroots volunteer group United Cajun Navy announced Monday afternoon that search efforts had ceased.

US MARINE MISSING OFF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA COAST AFTER TRAINING EXERCISE; SEARCH SHIFTS TO RECOVERY

"On behalf of the United Cajun Navy, we extend our deepest condolences to Nolan’s family, friends, teammates, and everyone whose lives were touched by him," the organization wrote in a statement on Facebook. "We are grateful that Nolan’s family entrusted us to assist in this search."

"... Our teams were proud to provide aerial search operations, boats, and boots on the ground in support of the effort," the organization continued. "Please continue to keep Nolan’s loved ones in your prayers as they grieve this devastating loss. Rest easy, Nolan. You will not be forgotten."

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

Wells was last seen on the Fourth of July near Horn Island, according to authorities. A photo shared with police showed the teen smiling with friends on a boat that afternoon.

Search teams from the Jackson County Sheriff's Department, Department of Marine Resources, Gulf Islands National Seashore and U.S. Coast Guard combed the island and surrounding waters, establishing a centralized command post at the Lake Mars Boat Launch in Ocean Springs to coordinate the multi-agency effort.

THREE DEAD, 7 RESCUED IN BOATING TRAGEDY AS SEVERE HOLIDAY WEEKEND STORM RAVAGES WISCONSIN TOURIST HOT SPOT

Following the discovery of the body, Wells’ mother shared an emotional message on Facebook.

"His father, our family, friends and I are absolutely devastated," Christine Wonsley wrote. "My heart [is] broken for my sweet son who was always willing to cheer and uplift others. Nolan was a special soul, God took his time creating our son. I ask that you please give me and my family time to grieve."

Wonsley and her husband previously posted updates pleading for any photos or videos from the Fourth of July to help track Wells’ last known movements.

"We have so many questions," she wrote prior to the recovery of the body. "Our hearts are breaking, we keep waiting for Nolan to walk through that door with his beautiful smile and a joke of course."

Amid their grief, the family is also warning the community about online scammers attempting to capitalize on the tragedy.

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"I want you all to know a GoFund Me HAS NOT been created by myself, husband, family or friends," Wonsley wrote in a separate post. "So if you see any please report that is not authentic. We will notify everyone if we choose to create one."

The Jackson County Sheriff’s Department did not immediately respond to inquiries from Fox News Digital.

Report warns Russia using shadow fleet to probe NATO drone defenses

Mon, 06 Jul 2026 18:17:59 -0400

As NATO allies prepare to meet in Turkey, at the top of their agenda will be drone warfare and Russia's testing of the NATO alliance.

Using its shadow fleet of old sanction-busting ships, Russia appears to have launched drones at European military bases and airports to test the reaction time of NATO allies and their air defenses, according to a new report published by the International Institute of Strategic Studies, or IISS.

Between August 2024 and February 2026, 144 suspected drones were recorded near sensitive military and nuclear sites in Germany, France, Belgium, the Netherlands, the UK, and Denmark, and over American air bases in the UK in November 2024.

UKRAINE’S BATTLEFIELD IS TRANSFORMING THE FUTURE OF NATO

"There's no doubt in my mind that the Russians are using the shadow fleet vessels as a platform to get different types of drones in closer to various European countries," said Ret. Lt. Gen. Ben Hodges, who served as the commanding general of US Army Europe until 2018.

In Germany there were more than 1,000 suspicious drone sightings in 2025, over German defense companies and military bases where Ukrainian soldiers were training in Germany.

"Whoever is doing it is testing the reaction of the authorities, is testing how the public will respond, will they panic, will they blame their politicians and the authorities," asked Elisabeth Braw of the Atlantic Council. "Also they are testing perhaps to see how we as European countries or how European countries might react in a real crisis there."

This spate of unmanned aerial vehicles occurred in air space over a dozen NATO states and Ireland, the report states, "forcing repeated closures of major commercial aviation hubs, disrupting military operations and penetrating the perimeters of some of Europe’s most sensitive defence installations."

In 2025, mystery drones targeted military bases in the Netherlands and Belgium where the US is thought to base its B61-12 nuclear gravity bombs and France’s ballistic-missile submarine base at Île Longue.

"It's a combination of espionage," Hodges said. "But also psychologically to create a lot of anxiety in populations to scare them so that they would put pressure on their governments not to support Ukraine."

RUSSIAN GENERALS' ASSASSINATIONS EXPOSE GROWING RIFT INSIDE PUTIN'S SECURITY APPARATUS

The Russian drone campaign appears designed to probe the response times and decision-making thresholds of allied air defense and civil-military command structures.

It also seeks to identify vulnerabilities in critical infrastructure, including dual-use civilian facilities, military logistics hubs supporting Ukraine, and sites associated with the Alliance's nuclear deterrence.

Additionally, the campaign aims to impose economic and psychological costs on European societies by disrupting civilian aviation, undermining public confidence in airspace security, and fostering distrust and panic. Finally, it appears intended to normalize low-level airspace violations that remain below the threshold likely to trigger a direct Allied military response.

Those sightings peaked in late 2025, and forced the temporary closure of several European airports, including in Germany, Spain and Denmark.

Sweden is the only European country to accuse Moscow directly after a drone launched at sea from a Russian spy ship flew near a French aircraft carrier.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has denied accusations of Russian sabotage and surveillance across Europe.

"What’s the point of all this," Putin asked of reporters recently. "Name even one proven fact."

AMERICA'S POWER GRID, FOOD SUPPLY AND MORE ARE UNDER THREAT FROM DRONES

But IISS tracked the locations of Russia's shadow fleet of ships used to evade sanctions and linked them to recent high-profile drone incidents, concluding that Russia could use the ships as a platform to launch the drones while creating deniability. Drones often don't trigger radar.

On Jan. 3, 2025, a Russian shadow fleet vessel, the Arctica, sailed along the Danish coast, while 20 drones flew over the port of Koege, Denmark, before disappearing at sea.

On Sept. 22, drone sightings led to the closure of Copenhagen Airport. The IISS found several shadow ships were in the area at the time, including the Arctica and the Boracay.

And it is not just in Europe. Dozens of unexplained drone sightings also have taken place in the U.S. in the past several years.

In December 2023 at Virginia's Joint Base Langley-Eustis unauthorized aircraft appeared in the skies above the base for 17 days straight, evading military tracking and forcing the Pentagon to bring in specialized assets — including a NASA WB-57 high-altitude jet — to investigate.

In March drones flew near Barksdale Air Force Base in Louisiana, home of the B- 52 H Stratofortress bomber, where drones came in a pattern to suggest they were attempting to avoid the operator or operators being located. Lights on the drones suggested the operators may be testing security responses at the base.

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Panicked sightings of drones near critical infrastructure along the East Coast of the United States in late 2024 led to the Trump administration ordering the declassification of these investigations shortly after the inauguration to ease public concern, concluding the drones were mostly those of hobbyists and that there was no evidence of a foreign threat related to the majority of reported sightings.

The IISS says these are no hobbyists threatening NATO allies in Europe, with the most likely culprit launching the drones from shadow vessels at sea.

Cristiano Ronaldo exits World Cup as Spain defeats Portugal, awaits winner of USA-Belgium

Mon, 06 Jul 2026 18:17:45 -0400

Cristiano Ronaldo's time representing Portugal at the FIFA World Cup may have come to an end in Dallas on Monday afternoon, as Spain advanced to the quarterfinals, 1-0, at their expense.

Mikel Merino came off Spain’s bench and electrified the World Cup crowd in stoppage time during the second half when he finally broke the 0-0 tie for the decisive goal past Portuguese goalkeeper Diogo Costa.

Ronaldo, who never knocked on Spain’s doorstep in this match – no team has as they have yet to give up a goal in this tournament – stared into the crowd after a few desperation attempts weren’t good enough for Portugal as the final whistle rang out.

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Ronaldo played in his fifth World Cup, and though there was some heated debate about whether he should be starting for this squad, he leaves perhaps his last tournament of his illustrious career with three more goals on this stage under his belt.

While Ronaldo and his Portuguese teammates think about what could’ve been, Spain will await the winner of Team USA and Belgium, which will play their Round of 16 match in Seattle on Monday night.

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The big story out of the Pacific Northwest is Folarin Balogun, the USMNT star striker who will be available to play after his red card was changed to a suspension – a similar FIFA disciplinary action given to Ronaldo so that he could participate in this World Cup.

It’s been the talk of the tournament, as President Donald Trump said he called FIFA president Gianni Infantino to ask for a review of the controversial red card given in the Round of 32 matchup against Bosnia and Herzegovina. Ultimately, FIFA invoked Article 27 of its disciplinary code, much to the dislike of multiple soccer federations, including the Belgian group they are facing off against tonight.

The U.S. still took care of Bosnia and Herzegovina despite Balogun’s red card during the match, which had them down one man on the pitch compared to their opponent. Malik Tillman’s free kick goal was the nail in the coffin in the second half, as the USMNT moved on with a 2-0 victory and looked ahead to their meeting with Belgium.

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Belgium almost didn’t make it out of the Round of 32, but almost doesn’t count in the World Cup. Senegal had been up 2-0 in the 80th minute of the match when Belgium finally came to life thanks to goals by Romelu Lukaku and Youri Tielemans in the 85th and 89th minutes, respectively.

It forced extra time and Senegal ultimately conceded a penalty kick with just ticks left on the clock before a penalty shootout would’ve determined who advanced in the tournament. Tielemans didn’t waste the opportunity, slamming the door on Senegal’s hopes in crushing fashion.

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While Team USA and Belgium prepare for their matchup, Spain will kick its feet up, and perhaps pull out a notepad, as they watch who they will play in the quarterfinals later this week.

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Kylian Mbappe blasts 'despicable' Paraguayan senator over vile 'colonized Cameroonian' slur

Mon, 06 Jul 2026 18:14:36 -0400

French soccer star Kylian Mbappe is at the center of an international uproar after a Paraguayan senator posted racist remarks about him following France's World Cup win over Paraguay.

The controversy began July 4 in Philadelphia, when Mbappe scored on a 70th-minute penalty to lift France to a 1-0 victory.

After the final whistle, a photo of Mbappe celebrating in front of Paraguayan goalkeeper Orlando Gill quickly spread across social media.

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Paraguayan Sen. Celeste Amarilla, a member of Paraguay's Liberal Radical Party, then posted some pretty wild remarks about the soccer star.

On X, Amarilla called Mbappe a "brute," claimed he grew up "sucking on coconuts" instead of breast milk and said the most educated creatures he knew were chimpanzees.

She also said Gill should have given Mbappe the middle finger, adding that she does it in the senate and "nothing happens."

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On Instagram, Amarilla called Mbappe "a colonized Cameroonian pretending to be French." She described him as resentful, newly rich, arrogant and ugly, and complained that Paraguay's players did not slap him after the match.

Mbappe responded on X on Monday, calling Amarilla "a despicable woman" who is unworthy of her office while defending Paraguay's national team.

"You do not represent Paraguay, that country which has sweated passion and honor throughout the competition," Mbappe wrote. He added that Amarilla's "recklessness and your brazen racism" had caused the world to forget Paraguay's historic World Cup run, saying she had become "an incompetent woman who gives the worst possible image of her country."

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Mbappe added that her "recklessness and brazen racism" had caused the world to forget Paraguay's historic World Cup run. He called Amarilla "an incompetent woman who gives the worst possible image of her country" and vowed not to let people like her spread hatred unchecked.

The French Football Federation condemned Amarilla's remarks.

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Federation President Philippe Diallo called the senator's comments "vile, criminal and reprehensible." The federation said it fully supports its captain and filed a complaint with prosecutors, requesting a formal hate crime investigation into Amarilla's posts.

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