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Ryan Clark made it too difficult for ESPN to justify keeping him after years of controversy

Wed, 22 Jul 2026 17:25:28 -0400

ESPN parting ways with Ryan Clark should not come as much of a surprise. The decision was fairly obvious.

We don't say that to dance on his proverbial grave. There's a difference between celebrating someone's downfall and acknowledging that the network made the right decision.

ESPN had plenty of reasons to cut Clark. It had hardly any reason to keep him. Let's go through them.

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Reasons to cut him: Clark made around $2 million per year, roughly four times what the average NFL analyst earns. He was unpopular with much of the audience. He had a strained reputation with staffers and a mixed one among on-air colleagues. Over the past year alone, he generated a string of negative headlines for ESPN, including shaming Robert Griffin III for marrying a White woman and making dubious claims about police officers involved in what was ultimately ruled a suicide. He also created both on- and off-air tension by belittling Peter Schrager, around whom ESPN is now building a new television show, because Schrager never played football. Clark also had a habit of injecting race into discussions where it simply didn't belong.

Reasons to keep him:

There weren't any.

ESPN did not make more money because Ryan Clark was on television. He wasn't boosting viewership. In fact, sources inside ESPN say there was even a slight, albeit not dramatic, dip in quarter-hour ratings during his appearances on NFL-specific programming.

Even if one believed Clark was a better NFL analyst than some of his peers, he would have had to be significantly better to offset that lengthy list of negatives.

This isn't a Ryan Clark-specific phenomenon. Very few people in sports media provide a quantifiable net positive.

Pat McAfee does. Michael Wilbon and Tony Kornheiser do. Colin Cowherd does. Stephen A. Smith did for many years, though his star has undeniably faded over the past nine months.

Others create value by elevating the people around them. Rece Davis, Ernie Johnson, Laura Rutledge and Mike Greenberg each fit that description.

A select group also matters because they consistently break news. Adam Schefter, Ian Rapoport and Brian Windhorst belong in that category. (Tom Pelissero, whom ESPN mistakenly let go years ago, belonged there as well.)

Then there are the elite game analysts and play-by-play voices. Joe Buck and Troy Aikman are ESPN's two most valuable on-air talents by a wide margin. Mike Breen and Kirk Herbstreit are top five.

Then there is everyone else.

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As large as their egos may be, the overwhelming majority of people at ESPN — or any major television network — are simply filling airtime. They are interchangeable. There is no meaningful financial difference between having one analyst versus another.

That's not to say these analysts and reporters aren't good at their jobs. Many are. It's simply that their value above replacement is essentially nonexistent. The same is true across corporate America. The gap between good and indispensable is significant.

The difference is that most working Americans understand they're replaceable. Apparently, many former ESPN personalities did not.

Put simply, Ryan Clark wasn't good enough to shame people for marrying White women, create unnecessary drama on and off the air, and repeatedly make factually dubious statements about law enforcement and politics. He didn't provide enough value to justify the baggage.

And contrary to what Jemele Hill and Emmanuel Acho have argued, Clark was never a central reason for NFL Live's recent success. He was a rotational contributor.

The same principle applies elsewhere.

Elle Duncan wasn't valuable enough to turn ESPN programming into a platform for protesting political legislation or discussing abortion. Bomani Jones failed far too many times to justify the inflammatory remarks he routinely made. Mark Jones wasn't nearly talented enough to falsely accuse police officers of trying to kill him. David Dennis Jr. isn't important enough to repeatedly embarrass the network with racial idolatry and his commentary about Caitlin Clark. Cam Newton wasn't valuable enough to offset the buffoonery and his disparagement of women with children.

There's now a narrative that ESPN is abandoning "woke" programming because people politically aligned with OutKick are gaining influence inside the company following the latest layoffs. That framing lacks important context.

Sure, there are employees at ESPN who agree with OutKick. There are also plenty who don't. That's true of virtually every major media company.

Despite what some media reporters have claimed, ESPN's recent layoffs do not signal a shift toward conservative politics and White commentators. ESPN is trying to eliminate headaches, as in people who create unnecessary controversy, internal friction and negative publicity. It has nothing to do with political preference.

There was a time when that was not true. Former ESPN head John Skipper proudly platformed people with no experience covering sports, but who were willing to talk about race, politics, and talk down to the average sports fan. Current ESPN CEO Jimmy Pitaro took a similar approach in the aftermath of George Floyd's death in 2020 amid pressure from parent company Disney.

Today, ESPN truly just wants to cover sports. Of course, there are still many more people it must weed out to accomplish that mission. David Dennis Jr., Ogwumike, Monica McNutt, Holly Rowe, and Nicole Briscoe are among them.

According to multiple sources inside the company, ESPN's preferred direction is straightforward: elevate people who enjoy sports, stick to sports, and entertainingly talk about sports. It sounds so obvious. Yet fewer personalities consistently fit that description than one might think.

Sources say ESPN is high on the following personalities moving forward: Pat McAfee, Peter Schrager, Laura Rutledge, Josh Pate, Will Compton, Taylor Lewan, Mina Kimes, Jason McCourty, Ian Rapoport, Stacey Dales, Malika Andrews, Kyle Brandt and Kendrick Perkins.

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Personally, I wouldn't put every name on that list in the category of moderate voices who avoid unnecessary political or racial detours. Several have histories that suggest otherwise. ESPN apparently sees it differently, at least for now.

Regardless, the company reached the right conclusion on Ryan Clark. He had become far more trouble than he was worth. The network is better off without him. He had made it too difficult to justify employing him.

Some quick-hitting thoughts on ESPN's layoffs:

1) I've seen speculation from Rob Parker and others that Cam Newton's interview with Jason Whitlock — during which he discussed Stephen A. Smith's fraudulent claims in his memoir — played a role in his ousting. The theory is that Smith was so upset Newton appeared with Whitlock that he pushed ESPN to remove him.

I don't buy it.

For one, Smith doesn't have that kind of power. He wanted ESPN to keep Ryan Clark, Shannon Sharpe and Michael Irvin. The network parted ways with all three. My understanding is that ESPN simply concluded Newton was overpaid for someone who contributed to "First Take" just twice a week.

Further, many of ESPN's top decision-makers agree with Whitlock about Stephen A.

2) ESPN essentially runs unchallenged when it comes to NBA breaking news. Since Adrian Wojnarowski's retirement, Shams Charania has had no real competition.

The network could have built that same kind of advantage in the NFL. Instead, it laid off Tom Pelissero this week. That was a mistake.

On X, Underdog NFL cites nearly every major NFL scoop within seconds of it being reported. Three insiders consistently break the biggest stories: Adam Schefter, Ian Rapoport and Pelissero. Pelissero may not have the following of Schefter or Rapoport, but he breaks just as much news. He's also an excellent guest host on The Rich Eisen Show.

Wherever he lands, Pelissero is going to take scoops away from ESPN. CBS, Fox, NBC, Amazon, Netflix and The Athletic should all look to hire him.

3) Look for ESPN to announce a new 2 p.m. show in the coming week with Peter Schrager as the host.

‘Revenge of the normies’: Halo veteran-turned-candidate pitches outsider revolt in Nevada swing district

Wed, 22 Jul 2026 17:19:44 -0400

Marty O'Donnell spent decades creating some of the most iconic music in video game history. Now, the Halo composer is devoting his creative energies to an entirely different type of project: a conservative upset in one of America's most competitive swing districts.

Speaking with Fox News Digital at Freedom Fest in Las Vegas, the Nevada Republican candidate explained how he plans to bring his real-world business experience and innovation to a Washington perennially clogged with career politicians.

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"How did being a composer prepare me to run for Congress? Well, frankly, I don't think it does. But I don't think anything prepares anybody to run for Congress. What I'm tired of…people who have their entire career in politics. They have never made anything, they don't really know anything, and we don't need more people like that.

"I've had an entire career creating stuff, shipping stuff, working with other teams, leading teams, making businesses, making deals. That's what I think prepares me for Congress."

O'Donnell puts basic kitchen-table economics at the foundation of his outsider bid for Nevada's third district:

"I really believe that it's time to get back to a place where one good job is enough…enough to raise a family, buy a home, get your kids a good education, take a vacation. That is the way I grew up. That's the America I grew up in. And there's no reason why that shouldn't be able to come back."

He has a fighting shot, but in a district long represented by 4-term Democrat Susie Lee, he needs to hone his appeal to political independents:

"The independent part of Nevada, and especially the district I'm in, CD3, is huge.

"The left has gone so far left that the only thing that we need to be able to present to the people who are in the middle is that we believe in common sense solutions. We believe in common sense. Not nonsense.

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"You know, transing your kids, boys in girls' sports, having open borders, the ever-growing federal government and fraud, that all has to stop and I think people are ready for that, and I think the independents are ready for that."

With a business background and a common sense approach, O'Donnell argues that his mainstream appeal will carry him through in the Las Vegas suburbs.

"Well Las Vegas is a town that has grown up being all about hospitality and casinos and hotels and entertainment, but it's also becoming a high-tech place.

"I think the business community here, especially in the district I'm from, which is on the northwest side of Las Vegas, is ready to just explode. Summerlin area, there are all sorts of business opportunities there. And it's unique because it's a diverse community. We have a huge Asian population, Hispanic, people who have retired, people who work in hospitality and are part of unions.

"But these people are, are family people and family people are what I consider to be normal people and I think this midterm could be the revenge of the normies. I think normal people are going to come out and say they've had enough with the crazies."

O'Donnell strongly supports Donald Trump's foreign policy and is not adverse to military action to topple the longstanding communist regime in Havana:

"I am absolutely ready for Cuba to have the same fate that Venezuela had. The people of Cuba have been suppressed almost my entire lifetime. It's time for Cuba to be free again. The people of Cuba deserve to be free. Fidel Castro died a long time ago.

"There are so many smart, successful people from Cuba, especially in Florida, Marco being one of them, of course. And it's time. We don't necessarily need to do a military intervention, but if that's what needs to happen, I would be all for it because, I think the administration knows what needs to happen in Cuba, and I'm looking forward to a free Cuba over the next year."

Finally, O'Donnell pledges to hold the line on spending and not fall victim to the establishment GOP drift to big government spending:

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"My plan is to take the ring of power and throw it into the fires of Mount Doom. That's a little shout-out to my nerd friends. Listen, the government is too big. There was a point where President Clinton said 'the era of big government is over.' Obviously, he didn't mean it, but it appeals to people still to this day.

"There's so much fraud, there's so much waste in big government. How is it not time for the government to balance its budget, to cut... 10 percent, at least, of every program it has and go after all the fraud and waste that is just rampant? We cannot continue to spend like drunken sailors. We can't continue to increase the budgets and tax the people. It's just unacceptable."

Homan blasts Dem hypocrisy on deportations, recalls past when 'Obama gave me an award' for enforcing border

Wed, 22 Jul 2026 17:06:18 -0400

Border czar Tom Homan argued on Tuesday’s episode of "The Katie Miller Podcast" that commonsense border security was hailed during past administrations but is demonized by current Democrats.

Podcaster Katie Miller, the wife of White House deputy chief of staff for policy Stephen Miller, asked Homan, "Why do you think American society has moved to saying that deportations are a bad thing when, 20 years ago, even Democrats were for them. And you were able to do your job so much more easily, deport tons of people without so much as, you know, anyone caring?"

"I really think it has to do with our president and the hatred for this president," Homan replied. "They didn't want to see this president succeed. And I truly believe that because I actually got an award from President Obama for removing the record number of illegal aliens. President Obama gave me an award because we removed 409,000 people that year.

"What's turned the tide is the false rhetoric, hateful rhetoric by the media, you know, about the inhumane policies of the Trump administration," he continued. "That's why I'm out there every day saying, ‘Wait a minute now, inhumanity?’

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"Let's talk about Joe Biden for a minute," Homan began. "When he opened the border up, over 4,000 aliens died making that journey. Historic record. Quarter million Americans died from fentanyl that came across the open border. Historic record. Don't talk about humanity. He was killing Americans and aliens at record numbers. President Trump has illegal immigration down 96%. Which means 96% less people are coming."

Under Trump’s administration, he asked, "How many women aren't being raped by the cartels? How many pounds of fentanyl isn't getting in the country? How many known suspected terrorists [aren’t] coming to the country. Securing the border is the most humane thing you can do."

Miller noted how hard it is for the typical working mom to look past the rhetoric of deportations and realize how normal and acceptable this work was in the past.

"You were able to go and deport these families, remove them together. You were able to do these deportations, and largely society thought that was a good thing," she said. "You had Harry Reid on the Senate floor back in the '90s saying that birthright citizenship was an insane concept. Why is it that society has moved so far?"

Homan replied that, among the many reasons, "I think the media has moved people far to the left because of their false reporting. I think the colleges — I speak from my own experience with one of my sons — that they move people to the far left. Look, I read the press releases every day. Ninety-eight percent of it's negative, right? They misstate what we're actually doing."

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He went on to argue that the media and various politicians have normalized noncompliance with ICE to the point it encourages violent clashes.

"But between the media and members of Congress who will spew lies about ICE, if anybody's terrorizing immigrant communities, it’s representatives of Congress who say that ‘ICE are fascists. They're the Nazis. They're the secret police,’ which is why I think some of the recent tragedies have happened," Homan said.

"People think it's OK not to comply with ICE now because they're hearing over and over again they're not a real law enforcement agency. So, you can impede, you can interfere, you don't have to comply with them," Homan warned.

"I said yesterday — I took a lot of hate from the left — the recent shootings, as tragic as they were, if they simply would have complied with federal law enforcement agencies on the road stops, they probably wouldn't be dead.

"I don't think they deserve to die, but if they would have simply complied with law enforcement, tragedy can be avoided."

CLICK HERE FOR MORE COVERAGE OF MEDIA AND CULTURE

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"The Katie Miller Podcast" can be found on YouTube here.

Johnson scores major win as House GOP advances Trump’s top election priority

Wed, 22 Jul 2026 17:00:43 -0400

Speaker Mike Johnson’s plan to bypass Democratic opposition on a key election integrity bill took a major step forward in the House of Representatives on Wednesday.

It’s a major victory for Johnson, R-La., who had to overcome a wall of left-wing opposition and threats of a rebellion within his own GOP ranks.

House Republicans are working to move the Safeguarding American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) America Act as part of a larger $95 billion budget bill that, if successful, would completely sideline Democrats to implement election reforms sought by President Donald Trump.

They’re using a mechanism called budget reconciliation, which allows the party in power to pass sweeping fiscal policy by lowering the Senate’s threshold for advancement from 60 votes to a simple majority. In exchange, however, the legislation is subject to intense scrutiny under a strict set of guidelines about what actually counts as true fiscal policy.

The bill up for consideration on Wednesday was just the first House-wide step in passing a reconciliation package, which is adopting a framework with spending instructions for relevant committees who will then cobble individual portions together into a massive piece of legislation. Both the House and Senate must pass identical versions before it goes to the president’s desk.

All but three members of the House Republican Conference supported the measure: Reps. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., Warren Davidson, R-Ohio, and Kevin Kiley, I-Calif., voted against it.

The framework was adopted in a narrow 216 to 214 vote, with all Democrats opposed.

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It comes after fiscal hawks warned for days that they are uneasy with the lack of budget cuts in the framework to offset the $95 billion in new spending.

Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas, said he was leaning in support but still undecided.

"People wonder why the so-called 3AM caucus exists and why we hold our votes to the last minute to put pressure on Republicans in Congress to deliver? It’s because they revert to the mean — which is spending, amnesty, unlimited immigration and political show votes. I want FULL SAVE. I want this unpaid-for spending to be paid for in the 4th reconciliation bill. I want clarity on our war mission while we are backfilling munitions," he told Fox News Digital.

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Rep. Eric Burlison, R-Mo., had told reporters, "I just wanted to let them know if you're doing a whip count right now, I wouldn't put me in the yes column…I'm not 100% convinced that the SAVE language is going to be held solid through the Senate. In fact, I would bet against it. I just, I don't have any confidence that the Senate will keep that language tight."

Both voted in favor of adopting the framework, however.

With just a razor-thin majority, Johnson could lose no more than than two Republicans to still pass anything on partisan lines.

The budget plans for for $73 billion aimed at the U.S. war with Iran, $12 billion for aid to American farmers, and $10 billion for states to implement election integrity measures in the SAVE America Act — namely federal voter ID rules and a proof of citizenship mandate to register to vote.

Democrats and some Republicans have been wary about funding the Iran war without additional oversight from Congress. And Democrats in both the House and Senate have been vehemently opposed to the SAVE America Act, calling it tantamount to voter suppression.

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But Republicans have near-uniformly argued that it is aimed at enhancing confidence in American elections.

Trump posted on Truth Social on Tuesday, "Thank you to all of the House Republicans who are supporting the first step towards getting as much of THE SAVE AMERICA ACT, as possible, in the Budget Bill, and to our Great Speaker, Mike Johnson. I am asking all House Republicans to VOTE YES on this very important Budget Resolution. I am watching the vote very closely, and hope Republicans can UNIFY to secure Elections against all forms of Foreign Country Interference, and Illegal Alien voting."

Dozens of House Democrats reject bill fusing congressional stock ban with federal voter ID

Wed, 22 Jul 2026 16:53:25 -0400

A vote on legislation to curb lawmakers' ability to profit from the stock market as well as implementing federal voter ID measures divided House Democrats on Wednesday afternoon.

The two measures were combined in a single legislative package after months of debate in the House of Representatives on both issues. While unrelated, both voter ID and banning congressional stock trading have received overwhelming support in multiple public polls.

A whopping 198 House Democrats, including their top leaders, voted against the bills. Just 13 members of their caucus voted with Republicans to pass the measure 231 to 198.

Despite bipartisan negotiations, particularly on banning members of Congress from trading stocks, a significant number of Democrats still opposed the final package — though it passed.

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Rep. Zach Nunn, R-Iowa, one of the key supporters of banning lawmakers from the stock market, argued the two issues "go hand in hand."

"One, the overwhelming majority of Americans want this. Two, it's something that we can get passed this week that gets it into the president's hands before the August return-to-district [period]," Nunn told Fox News Digital.

He said of Democrats' criticism, "Only in Washington can you have two wins for 90% of Americans, and Democrats will say that's one win too many."

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Meanwhile, Rep. Stephanie Bice, R-Okla., told Fox News Digital of the stock trading ban specifically, "The American people deserve to know their elected officials are serving the public, not their own financial interests. Members of Congress should be held to the highest standards of transparency and accountability, and this legislation is an important step toward restoring trust in Congress."

Not all Republicans are on board, however. Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., accused his fellow GOP lawmakers of trying to dissuade Democrats from supporting the bill by attaching the voter ID requirement.

"We are voting on a stock trading ban for members of Congress… BUT Republicans added voter-ID in the legislation. Not to get Dems to vote for voter-ID, but to get them to vote against the stock trading ban, so they can use it in the Nov. election," Massie wrote on X. "If we really wanted to ban stock trading for members of Congress, we would offer stand alone legislation and could get a large bipartisan majority, and the bill would have a chance of passing on the Senate."

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An August 2025 poll from the Pew Research Center showed that 83% of U.S. respondents favored "requiring all voters to show government-issued photo identification to vote."

But Democrats have argued this week that the voter ID portion goes too far, and the stock trading ban portion does not go far enough.

"I've said repeatedly, House Democrats strongly support a stock trading ban for members of Congress. We also support a ban on the president, the vice president and federal judicial officers from trading individual stock as well. But none of that is before us today," Rep. Joe Morelle, D-N.Y., the top Democrat on the committee charged with elections oversight, said during debate on the bill Monday.

"Rather, this bill is a crude combination of two completely unrelated bills, the so-called Stop Insider Trading Act and the Voter ID Act, the latter of which is already a crude reformulation of at least three other failed Republican voter suppression proposals."

Democrats are criticizing the voter ID portion for its requirement of identification extending to mail-in voting, which they have argued is a route to suppress Americans' ability to cast ballots that way.

Left-wing lawmakers have attacked the stock trading bill because it does not require members of Congress to sell their existing stocks but rather bans them from buying more stock in the future.

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Lawmakers must also go through a public disclosure process before selling that existing stock.

While it extends the ban on buying new stocks to lawmakers and their families, it effectively allows them to retain a blind trust. Democrats have also complained that it does not extend to the executive branch, namely, President Donald Trump and his family.

Chaos erupts as House passes $1.15T defense bill with Israel provision: 'Stop stoking Jew hatred'

Wed, 22 Jul 2026 16:48:31 -0400

The House passed its $1.15 trillion annual defense policy bill Wednesday after a bipartisan revolt over a provision expanding U.S.-Israel defense technology cooperation.

The fiscal year 2027 National Defense Authorization Act passed 216-212, with Republicans largely supporting and Democrats mostly opposing the measure.

The annual bill, which sets Pentagon policy and typically draws broad bipartisan support, received only six Democratic votes as much of the caucus objected to Section 219 and Republican-backed amendments restricting transgender care and easing access to personal guns on military bases.

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Opposition came from a coalition of progressive Democrats and Republican skeptics of U.S. support for Israel, who accused congressional leaders of shielding the provision from scrutiny after lawmakers were denied a separate vote to remove it.

The fight erupted as support for Israel has weakened among House Democrats and some "America First" Republicans during the war in Gaza and the widening conflict with Iran. Just one week earlier, 103 Democrats joined Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., in voting to block $3.3 billion in U.S. aid to Israel.

For opponents, Section 219 would move the relationship in the opposite direction by embedding U.S.-Israel cooperation more deeply inside the Pentagon’s weapons-development and acquisition system. The provision would direct the war secretary to designate a Pentagon "executive agent" to coordinate and accelerate bilateral defense research, testing and industrial cooperation.

Critics argued that structure would make the relationship harder for future administrations or Congresses to unwind and could shift parts of the partnership away from highly visible aid votes into less visible technology, procurement and production arrangements. Supporters said it would coordinate longstanding programs and give the United States faster access to Israeli defense technology.

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Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., urged lawmakers to reject the entire defense bill, arguing that the provision would "merge parts of our military with the IDF," referring to the Israel Defense Forces.

"This amendment is an existential threat to American sovereignty and democracy," Ocasio-Cortez wrote on X prior to the vote, referring to Section 219. "Every member of Congress must vote NO."

Rep. Mike Lawler, R-N.Y., shot back on X, "Good grief, you are either obtuse or intentionally lying. We are not merging our military with the IDF. As we do with many of our allies, we enter into cooperative agreements, share intelligence, develop technology and ammunitions, and conduct military exercises together. Stop stoking Jew hatred and do better."

Massie similarly opposed both the rule governing debate and the final bill after Republican leaders denied a floor vote on his bipartisan amendment to strike the provision.

"We should not merge our military tech and supply chain with Israel’s," Massie said on X.

Beyond creating the executive agent, Section 219 would direct the Pentagon to identify jointly developed or Israeli-origin technologies that could be used in U.S. weapons programs and promote joint ventures, licensing agreements and U.S.-based production partnerships with Israeli companies.

Before final passage, the House adopted two amendments from Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, R-Fla. One removed four uses of the word "integration," while the other extended annual reports to Congress for as long as the executive agent remains in place. The original reporting requirement would have ended in 2030.

The amendments left the initiative’s central structure and cooperative programs intact, falling short of opponents’ demand that Section 219 be removed entirely.

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Massie’s amendment was backed by Democratic Reps. Ro Khanna of California, Jim McGovern of Massachusetts, Jesús "Chuy" García of Illinois and Rashida Tlaib of Michigan.

Section 219 would not combine the countries’ command structures, place U.S. troops under Israeli authority or give Israel control over U.S. military operations. The United States and Israel also already cooperate extensively on defense technology, including the Iron Dome, Arrow and David’s Sling missile-defense systems, counter-drone technology and anti-tunnel capabilities.

The provision’s principal change would be to place a designated Pentagon executive agent in charge of coordinating and expanding those efforts across the War Department.

House Armed Services Committee Chairman Mike Rogers, R-Ala., said the provision would improve oversight and efficiency by assigning responsibility for existing initiatives to a single official.

"In no way does it give away command and control of our military operations, personnel or equipment," Rogers said last month.

Critics argued that the executive agent structure would give U.S.-Israel projects a privileged path through the Pentagon and further entrench Israeli technology and companies in the American defense supply chain.

The fight threatened the broad coalition traditionally needed to pass the NDAA, one of the few major bills Congress has routinely approved with bipartisan support. Democratic opposition was also fueled by Republican amendments restricting gender-affirming medical care for troops and military dependents and transgender participation in sports at Defense Department schools.

The House voted 219-208 Tuesday to prohibit Tricare from covering certain gender-transition procedures and treatments, with five Democrats supporting the amendment and one Republican opposing it.

Lawmakers separately voted 221-203 to prohibit transgender girls from participating in girls sports at War Department schools.

The House rejected a separate attempt by Rep. Lauren Boebert, R-Colo., to codify President Donald Trump’s executive order barring transgender troops from serving in the military. That amendment failed 217-212 after four Republicans joined every Democrat in opposition.

Lawmakers also narrowly approved an amendment making it easier for qualified service members and civilian War Department employees to receive permission to carry personal guns on military installations. The measure passed 215-214.

An amendment that would have largely prohibited Ukraine security assistance failed, though 76 Republicans supported it. The proposal would have preserved funding only for security at the U.S. Embassy in Kyiv.

The underlying NDAA would authorize roughly $1.15 trillion for national defense, including pay raises ranging from 5% to 7% for service members, expanded weapons and munitions production and new investments in missile defense, autonomous systems, hypersonics and other emerging technologies.

The bill would also formally change the Department of Defense’s name to the Department of War, deeming references to the defense secretary and department in federal law to mean the secretary and Department of War.

The NDAA sets defense policy and authorizes spending levels but does not provide the money itself. Congress must separately pass defense appropriations legislation to fund the programs and priorities included in the measure.

Consideration of the legislation had been delayed for three weeks by a separate Republican fight over the SAVE America Act, Trump-backed election legislation requiring documentary proof of citizenship to register to vote and identification to cast a ballot in federal elections.

The House approved the election measure in February, but it stalled in the Senate, where Republicans lacked the 60 votes needed to overcome a filibuster.

Republican leaders revived the legislation through a procedure directing the House clerk to combine it with the NDAA after passage but before sending the package to the Senate. That approach allowed the House to vote on the defense and election measures separately before transmitting them as one bill.

The plan initially collapsed June 30 when 13 Republicans joined Democrats in voting against the procedural rule. Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, R-Fla., and other holdouts later relented after Speaker Mike Johnson promised to attach the election legislation to appropriations bills and other must-pass measures.

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The combined defense and election package faces an uncertain future in the Senate, where Democrats blocked consideration of their chamber’s NDAA last week in protest of the Trump administration’s war with Iran.

The debate also comes as the Pentagon seeks additional money to cover the conflict and replenish U.S. weapons stockpiles. The White House has requested an $87.6 billion supplemental package, including $67.1 billion for defense needs, while House Republicans are considering additional military and intelligence funding through a party-line reconciliation package.

AOC surges past Buttigieg, leaves Harris in the dust in key 2028 battleground poll

Wed, 22 Jul 2026 16:47:05 -0400

Progressive firebrand Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has surged to the front of the prospective 2028 Democratic presidential field in New Hampshire, edging former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg and leaving former Vice President Kamala Harris far behind in a new poll.

Ocasio-Cortez drew 22% support among likely Democratic primary voters in the University of New Hampshire Granite State Poll released Wednesday, one point ahead of Buttigieg and 17 points ahead of Harris.

Ocasio-Cortez gained seven points since the February survey, while Harris and California Gov. Gavin Newsom lost ground — another sign of the four-term New York lawmaker’s growing strength among Democratic voters in the early presidential battleground and of her overall burgeoning popularity and standing in the party.

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Ocasio-Cortez has been coy about her 2028 plans and careful not to rule out either a White House run in the race to succeed term-limited President Donald Trump, or a bid for the Senate against longtime Democratic Leader Sen. Chuck Schumer, who is up for re-election in two years. When asked about a run for higher office, Ocasio-Cortez recently said her goal is to "change the country."

Buttigieg, a moderate who as the former mayor of South Bend, Indiana, came in second in the 2020 New Hampshire presidential primary, has crisscrossed the country in support of fellow Democrats the past year as speculation builds around a possible 2028 run.

"Nearly half of socialists and one-third of progressives support Ocasio-Cortez, while pluralities of liberals and moderates support Buttigieg," Andrew Smith, the director of the University of New Hampshire Survey Center, said.

KAMALA HARRIS' TRAVELS AND COMMENTS CLEARLY POINT TO A 2028 RUN

Sen. Mark Kelly of Arizona, a retired astronaut, stood in third place in the poll, at 9%, with the term-limited Newsom a point back. The California governor's support dropped seven points since the February survey.

Independent Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont, the 2016 and 2020 runner-up in the Democratic presidential primaries, stood at 6%. The 84-year-old Sanders, asked about another White House run, said last month, "I suspect that's not going to happen." He jokingly added, "I know I look like I'm 30. I am not."

Meanwhile, Harris, the party's 2024 nominee after she replaced then-President Joe Biden, who dropped out less than four months before the election following a disastrous debate against Trump, grabbed only 5% support in the new poll, down from 10% in February.

While the former vice president's numbers in the latest New Hampshire survey are nothing to brag about, she tops an average of the most recent national polls in the hypothetical race for the 2028 Democratic nomination. Surveys in the early stages of a presidential cycle are often heavily influenced by the name recognition of the potential candidates.

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Everyone else in the large field of potential contenders tested in the New Hampshire poll registered at 2% or less.

New Hampshire held the first-in-the-nation presidential primary for a century, before Democrats upended their nominating calendar in the 2024 cycle, moving South Carolina to the lead-off position. The Democratic National Committee's (DNC) Rules and Bylaws panel is likely on Friday to unveil a new calendar for the 2028 cycle, which would be voted on at the DNC's summer meeting in Austin, Texas, next month.

Republicans have not altered their calendar, keeping the Iowa caucuses as their lead-off state, followed by New Hampshire.

In the race for the GOP presidential nomination, 36% of likely Republican primary voters in New Hampshire said they would support Vice President JD Vance, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio at 26%.

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

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

France records more than 5,700 excess deaths during historic early summer heat wave

Wed, 22 Jul 2026 16:30:45 -0400

France has recorded more than 5,700 excess deaths during its historic summer heat wave, marking the country's deadliest heat-related toll in more than two decades, Public Health France announced Wednesday.

Between June 17 and July 2, the agency expected 15,910 deaths but instead recorded 21,674. The difference — 5,764 excess deaths — was 36% higher than what would have been expected.

During the heat wave, temperatures climbed well above 104 degrees Fahrenheit in many parts of the country, Public Health France said.

"This unprecedented event, characterized by its early onset, intensity and duration, exposed almost the entire population to extreme heat during a period that was still largely dedicated to school and work activities," the agency said.

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

Deaths from all causes increased across hospitals, private homes and nursing homes during the heat wave.

The agency's analysis included people ages 15 and older, with mortality increasing beginning at age 45. Adults 75 and older accounted for roughly two-thirds of the provisional death toll, representing at least 3,719 excess deaths.

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The Paris region was hit hardest, recording 1,999 excess deaths, more than 80% above what would have been expected without the heat wave, according to the agency.

Public Health France said 2026 recorded the country's highest excess mortality linked to a heat wave since 2003. The National Institute of Health and Medical Research estimated that roughly 15,000 more people died compared to the usual mortality for that time of year.

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This year, the hottest days occurred on June 24 and June 25, when the national average temperature reached 86 degrees Fahrenheit. Peak temperatures also climbed above 104 degrees in many areas.

More than half of the excess deaths — about 56% — occurred during or immediately after the most intense stretch of the heat wave between June 25 and June 27.

Officials also said more than 10,000 excess deaths were reported across Europe during the peak of the heat wave, though the preliminary figures are expected to be updated in the coming weeks.

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According to The Associated Press, funeral directors in Paris said they were inundated by the surge in bodies awaiting burial or cremation, with some mortuaries reaching capacity and turning down new arrivals.

Health officials noted that the excess mortality estimate includes deaths from all causes that occurred during the heat wave. The figures remain provisional and will continue to be refined in the coming weeks.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Pete Golding drops unfiltered truth on 'Ex' Lane Kiffin, and NCAA tampering: 'What have we created?'

Wed, 22 Jul 2026 16:35:45 -0400

TAMPA, FL - Pete Golding took the stage on Wednesday at SEC Media Days and was clearly prepared to give his opinion about the current state of college football, along with the obvious questions about Lane Kiffin.

If you know the Ole Miss head coach, none of this should come as a surprise, given his lack of filter regarding life, or just about anything else.

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Obviously, one of the main questions some in the room were prepared to quiz Golding on was his relationship with former Ole Miss head coach Lane Kiffin. But unless you've been sleeping under a rock for the past few months, his feelings toward his former boss are pretty well known.

Yes, they are still friends, but that doesn’t mean they agree on everything, which would include Kiffin's exit for LSU. And yes, they still communicate on what is seemingly a daily basis, though Golding does go a few days without responding to Kiffin if he's in the mood to mess with him just a bit.

But, the story regarding the Ole Miss versus LSU showdown in Oxford this coming season is more geared towards the players and fans of each school. For the coaches, sure they'd thoroughly enjoy beating each other on the field, but it's not as if either of them came out in a rough spot following the chaos last December.

LANE KIFFIN CAN'T STOP TALKING ABOUT OLE MISS, EVEN WHILE EXPLAINING WHY HE CHOSE LSU OVER FLORIDA

"I get this everywhere we go...Lane and I are good," Golding mentioned. "I did not know coach Kiffin prior to taking the Ole Miss job. I think everybody just assumes Alabama, Alabama (assistant roles) when coach Kiffin was (there). I didn’t come to Ole Miss because of Kiffin, I came to Ole Miss to raise three kids. Our relationship grew over those three years.

"I'm very appreciative of how he treated me and my family, and learned a lot from him. I have no ill-will towards Coach Kiffin. He texts me on a regular basis, and there are certain things we'll talk about, and certain things we don't talk about. He's very competitive like I'm very competitive.."

Things worked out for everyone, including real estate deal for Golding

While there is still a lot of obvious frustration between the Ole Miss athletic department and Lane Kiffin, things seemed to work out just fine for Pete Golding.

Sure, I'd imagine he did not want to be thrust into the spotlight that late in the 2025 season, right before the playoff was set to begin. But, Pete Golding was also hellbent on staying in Oxford, no matter if it was him being given the keys to Ole Miss, or staying on as an assistant coach.

Heck, Golding actually ended up buying one of Lane Kiffin's houses in the Oxford area over the past six months.

"There's always going to be history, it's the ex, right?," Golding joked about Kiffin.

On Wednesday, as the questions continued to be asked about the relationship between Kiffin and Golding, the Rebels coach had a different mindset on how some of the issues played out to end the 2025 regular season.

"I tell a lot of people this. I probably shouldn’t, but I don't care: In 2021, if you said you can look in 2025 and you're about to be 11-1 and go to the playoff. Would you take it if you're coach was leaving? Hell yea, you would. Everybody won from it, it's ok. Every place is not for everybody.

"I'd be the first one to tell you I told him it would be dumb if he were to leave, I wanted him to stay. That was a selfish decision because I love being the DC where I was at. He decided it was better for him and his family. We play him like every other SEC team. We're gonna spot the ball and play."

Pete Golding is sick of discussing tampering issue with Clemson

When Dabo Swinney decided to go scorched-earth on Ole Miss for alleged tampering with LB Luke Fornelli, this opened up a can of worms that the Rebels head coach has now taken an interesting approach with.

Pete Golding makes it known he has tampering receipts, while also admitting Kiffin texts him way too much

Officials in Oxford have made it known to the NCAA that they are prepared to turn in other programs for tampering if the organization decides to impose penalties on Ole Miss for talking with Luke Fornelli while he was technically a part of the Clemson football team (for a week).

In terms of how Pete Golding feels, the Rebels coach had a pretty sensical answer when asked for his thoughts on tampering.

"You're a reporter right? Would you quit your job before interviewing for another job or being offered another job?," Golding asked rhetorically. "Right, nobody would. We have a portal you can go in with a 'Do Not Contact' tag. I'm gonna quit my job, where I'm getting paid and I'm gonna go in saying I need a new job, which nobody can call me to interview.

"Like, what have we created? So, we've created it along with representation for these players that it's their responsibility to get them paid well. By design, it's put a lot of people in bad positions."

While I don't think many people will argue with Pete Golding about the illogical things that the NCAA has created, I find it hard to imagine Dabo Swinney is going to agree.

But, in terms of acting as though colleges are acting above-board when it comes to recruiting, the Ole Miss head coach saved the most reasonable context of his rant for the end of his answer.

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"Let's not act like recruiting in college football for the past 100 years is the most moral thing. What are we talking about?"

He's not wrong. Let's see how much the NCAA agrees.

Hasan Piker draws fresh scrutiny after framing newspaper covering 9/11 attacks in stream background

Wed, 22 Jul 2026 16:30:42 -0400

Controversial streamer Hasan Piker is facing renewed scrutiny over a recent addition to his visual background during his streams. Viewers noticed what appeared to be a framed copy of the front page of a newspaper with an image of the Sept. 11, 2001, attack on the Twin Towers in New York City.

The earliest livestream reviewed by Fox News Digital showing the newspaper in the background was broadcast on July 13. The front page appears to be The New York Times' Sept. 12, 2001, edition, which was headlined, "U.S. Attacked: Hijacked Jets Destroy Twin Towers and Hit Pentagon in Day of Terror." The X account DSA Watch on Tuesday posted a clip of Piker's stream, where he discussed the newspaper front page framed on the wall behind him.

"You might have noticed something, some changes behind me. I finally framed the cutie Cinderella newspaper from 9/11, the morning of 9/12… the newspaper that covered 9/11. It's now officially sitting behind me," he told viewers earlier this month.

Piker was widely criticized after saying that "America deserved 9/11" during a stream in 2019. After facing immense backlash, Piker said in an interview that he "obviously" did not mean that America deserved the attacks and accused critics of disregarding "the actual truth of what I was talking about," explaining the viral quote as a critique of U.S. foreign policy.

ABDUL EL-SAYED SAYS RALLYING WITH HASAN PIKER DOESN'T MEAN HE ENDORSES 'AMERICA DESERVED 9/11' REMARK

"I should have used more precise and better use of language there," Piker said in the interview. "It's messed up that I would give the opportunity to the right to try to morally grandstand on an issue like this when they are 100% responsible for all the bloodshed that has been caused."

He later admitted in the interview that his comments on 9/11 were "inappropriate."

The renewed attention comes as Piker's influence spreads beyond his hours-long streams.

Piker was featured as a speaker at the College Democrats of America's (CDA) convention, held in Washington, D.C., from July 17 through July 19. Other speakers included Leaders We Deserve founder David Hogg, American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten, as well as Democratic lawmakers and political influencers, according to CDA's Instagram posts. However, none drew as much scrutiny as Piker.

The streamer was mocked for wearing what many described as a Mao Zedong-esque jacket while going off on "Democrats who compromise, who conciliate, and who betray us."

"No more to the fascist reactionaries, but no more to the Democrats who will collaborate and cooperate with the fascists, who will fund ICE, who will fund Israel, who will help poison the planet, who will stiff workers and help bosses," Piker said.

WISCONSIN DEMOCRAT DOWNPLAYS APPEARING ON HASAN PIKER'S SHOW, DOESN'T 'ENDORSE' EVERYTHING HE SAYS

One of the co-sponsors for the event, J Street U, the campus arm of left-leaning J Street, which aims to be the "political home and voice for pro-Israel, pro-peace, pro-democracy Americans," faced backlash for its affiliation. Jeremy Ben Ami, the organization's founder, pushed back on the criticism in a post on X.

"J Street U was proud to sponsor and participate in the College Democrats Convention. We had no role in the selection of speakers, including the decision to have Hasan Piker as a surprise guest, with whom we have many disagreements," Ben Ami told Fox News Digital.

"Being in venues like this is even more important when there are participants with whom we disagree. Failing to show up would have been an abdication of our responsibility to make the case for our pro-Israel views," he added.

Ben Ami did not clarify where J Street's views diverge from Piker's nor where they align.

DSA Watch was one of the groups that criticized Piker's CDA convention speech, and the Twitch streamer hit back.

While addressing the criticisms of his speech in a stream, Piker made several claims about DSA Watch, including saying that it was "a right-wing operation" and "most likely a hasbara operation as well," meaning an Israeli operation. DSA Watch denied the claims and said Piker's "source" was related to "a failed dox attempt."

The CDA Jewish Caucus also objected to Piker's inclusion in the convention, calling him "antisemitic and misogynistic."

"The normalization of Piker and his rhetoric in CDA-sanctioned programming is a direct threat to Jewish safety and inclusion within the College Democrats community. Applying a double standard to the safety and representation of Jewish students is a manifestation of antisemitism and is inconsistent with our shared Democratic values of inclusion, respect for diverse communities, and concern for the safety and belonging of all members," a statement from the caucus read.

FAR-LEFT STREAMER HASAN PIKER DEFENDS HIMSELF FROM ANTISEMITISM ACCUSATIONS IN INTERVIEW WITH JEWISH OUTLET

Following the release of the CDA Jewish Caucus' statement, the Anti-Defamation League weighed in, expressing its disappointment that CDA chose to have Piker at its convention.

"It's deeply concerning to see the next generation of political leaders help normalize antisemitism rather than reject it," the ADL wrote on X.

The CDA convention speech and the framed Sept. 12, 2001, newspaper have added new layers to the ongoing debate over Piker's inclusion in Democratic political circles.

Some Democrats, including Michigan Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed, State Assemblywoman Claire Valdez, D-N.Y., and activist Darializa Avila Chevalier, have campaigned with Piker. The campaign appearances sparked debates among Democrats over whether embracing Piker would help them reach younger voters or if he was worth the heat given his rhetoric.

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Fox News Digital reached out to Piker and CDA for comment.

Trump-appointed judge torpedoes DOJ lawsuit against Minnesota's sanctuary immigration rules

Wed, 22 Jul 2026 16:25:48 -0400

A Trump-appointed judge dealt the Trump administration a major setback Monday, tossing out its lawsuit against Minnesota's sanctuary immigration policies and ruling the state cannot be compelled to assist federal immigration enforcement.

The battle centered on whether the Trump administration can use the Supremacy Clause to knock down Minnesota's sanctuary laws, which include policies that bar local officials from holding immigrants solely on ICE detainers, restrict participation in federal immigration enforcement and limit the sharing of driver's license and immigration-related data with ICE.

The Justice Department argued Minnesota's restrictions illegally hinder ICE, but Chief U.S. District Judge Eric Tostrud rejected that argument, ruling states have the constitutional authority to decide how their own officials participate in immigration enforcement.

In a 56-page opinion, Tostrud dismissed every claim brought by the Justice Department against Minnesota, Minneapolis, St. Paul and Hennepin County, concluding the challenged laws regulate only state and local officials, not the federal government.

DOJ ESCALATES BLUE-STATE ICE STANDOFF AFTER STATES REFUSE KEY FEDERAL REQUEST

"They do not command the federal government or its contractors to act. They do not forbid the federal government or its contractors from acting. They do not control how the federal government or its contractors undertake their work," Tostrud wrote. "Rather, they regulate how state and local officials perform their duties."

The ruling marks a significant setback for the administration's broader effort to block sanctuary policies across the country by arguing they unlawfully interfere with federal immigration enforcement.

But Eric Wessan, an attorney in the Iowa Solicitor General's Office, said he believed Tostrud's ruling conflicts with an earlier Eighth Circuit decision that he says gives the federal government stronger grounds to challenge state laws that interfere with federal immigration enforcement.

"States across the country have passed laws making state immigration crimes. The Eighth Circuit (which includes Minnesota) found one of those laws obstructed federal immigration enforcement, and so it was preempted," Wessan told Fox News Digital. "Judge Tostrud cited that opinion to explain that preemption is narrow. I think that his opinion is hard to square with the binding precedent."

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The Justice Department argued Minnesota's laws and local ordinances conflict with federal immigration statutes by restricting local officers from honoring ICE detainers, limiting information sharing with federal authorities and preventing local officials from participating in immigration enforcement.

But Tostrud concluded that accepting the administration's claim would create a constitutional problem under the Tenth Amendment's anti-commandeering doctrine.

The judge emphasized that while Congress possesses broad authority over immigration, it cannot compel states to use their own personnel and resources to carry out federal regulatory programs.

"The framers explicitly chose a Constitution that confers upon Congress the power to regulate individuals, not States," the opinion states, adding that the federal government "may not command the States' officers...to administer or enforce a federal regulatory program."

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Wessan agreed that states generally cannot be required to assist the federal government but argued the harder legal question is whether states can prohibit voluntary cooperation.

"States are not required to help the federal government enforce federal immigration law," he said. "Whether States can ban cooperation when certain actors (states or municipalities want to) is a harder question, and probably depends on the specific state and state laws."

Tostrud also rejected one of the administration's central arguments — that Minnesota's refusal to cooperate with ICE amounts to obstruction of federal immigration enforcement.

"Trefusing to help is not the same as impeding," Tostrud wrote.

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Wessan argued the debate over that distinction distracts from the larger immigration crisis.

"The country is facing an immigration crisis," he said. "Rather than figuring out the fine line between impeding and refusing to help, Minnesota should appreciate the federal government's willingness to help with the illegal immigration crisis—and the waste, fraud, and abuse that accompanies it."

Minnesota leaders have defended the state's sanctuary-style policies, arguing they encourage immigrants in the country illegally to cooperate with local law enforcement by assuring them that reporting crimes or serving as witnesses will not automatically expose them to immigration enforcement.

The legal dispute also follows months of heightened immigration enforcement in Minnesota, where the Trump administration launched Operation Metro Surge, a large-scale ICE initiative that drew national attention, sparked protests and significantly increased the federal law enforcement presence across the state.

The operation intensified after two U.S. citizens, Renee Good and Alex Pretti, were shot and killed by federal agents just weeks apart in January. Their deaths heightened scrutiny of Minnesota's immigration policies and prompted President Donald Trump to remove then-Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem from overseeing the operation, with border czar Tom Homan taking over the effort.

After taking over, Homan repeatedly argued that large-scale ICE operations would become less necessary if state and local officials cooperated with federal immigration authorities. Homan said that his "main focus now is drawdown," but stressed that reducing the federal presence would require greater cooperation from Minnesota officials.

"Cooperation with local authorities, especially jails and prisons, will give federal agents better access to people in the United States illegally. This would then lead to fewer federal law enforcement [agents] on Minnesota streets," Homan said.

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Monday's ruling comes as the Trump administration continues to pursue similar lawsuits challenging sanctuary policies in several other states.

Fox News Digital reached out to the White House and the Justice Department for comment.

Christian Pulisic recovers from his World Cup injury by hanging out with Megan Moroney in Nashville

Wed, 22 Jul 2026 16:25:26 -0400

Christian Pulisic and the USMNT were bounced from the World Cup in the Round of 16 by Belgium back on July 6. He left what ended up being a 4-1 loss early with an apparent ankle injury.

What can be gathered from his recent sightings is that he's enjoying the time off he was looking forward to when asked about the injury after the loss. The soccer world didn’t appreciate him taking himself out early.

Pulisic doesn't seem to be too concerned about that. He's moving on from the World Cup. He's got country music concerts to attend and at least one country music star to hang out with in Nashville.

LANDON DONOVAN JOINS CHRISTIAN PULISIC CRITICISM FOLLOWING USA'S WORLD CUP EXIT WITH HARSH OBSERVATION

In other words, the injury is doing much better now. Thanks for asking.

Last week, Christian took his cousin to a Megan Moroney concert in Florida. On Monday night, he was spotted hanging out in Nashville with the singer at Dierks Bentley's Whiskey Row on Broadway.

Naturally, a wounded soccer star catching up on his rest and a big-name country music star being spotted out together has people talking and speculating about the nature of their relationship.

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Are these two friends? Or is there something more going on here? Is she helping to nurse him back to full strength through the power of song and companionship?

The answers to those questions are currently unknown. Here's what is known. Pulisic and Moroney follow each other on Instagram, which is always a fun game to play.

They've also been seen together a couple of times now on social media and Pulisic is having a better summer than a lot of people are.

Good for him.

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This relationship, if that's what it is, will do much more for the sport of soccer in the U.S. than him playing injured in a loss that at that point was going to happen whether he was on the field or not.

The overlooked way the Iran war is making groceries, Amazon packages and new homes more expensive

Wed, 22 Jul 2026 16:22:59 -0400

The fuel most Americans never think about could become the Iran conflict's biggest economic consequence, driving up the cost of transporting nearly everything Americans buy. Diesel powers the nation's trucks, farms and freight network, making it one of the economy's most important, yet overlooked, drivers of inflation.

Unlike gasoline, which primarily affects motorists filling up their tanks, diesel is the workhorse fuel behind the nation's supply chain. From the tractors harvesting crops and the trucks hauling groceries to supermarket shelves to the heavy equipment building new homes and the Amazon package landing on your doorstep, chances are diesel helped move it there.

As diesel prices climb, businesses face higher transportation costs that economists say often ripple through the economy, raising the price of everyday essentials from groceries and consumer goods to construction materials and adding new pressure to already strained household budgets.

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Those economic ripple effects could extend into the political arena.

With both parties expected to make affordability a centerpiece of their 2026 midterm campaigns, a prolonged rise in diesel prices could make it harder to persuade voters that the cost of living is moving in the right direction.

The latest surge in diesel prices underscores how geopolitical conflicts can reach American households in unexpected ways.

While drivers may notice higher gasoline prices first as driving budgets are affected, economists say diesel often has a broader and longer-lasting impact because it influences the cost of moving goods and affects nearly every product that arrives at a store. Economists say the fuel deserves closer attention during oil shocks because it serves as the backbone of the nation's freight network, making diesel a key barometer of whether geopolitical turmoil will remain confined to energy markets or spread throughout the broader economy.

Diesel prices, which averaged $3.56 a gallon in January 2025, have climbed to $5.13 after a sharp run-up following the Iran conflict, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration.

A fully loaded semitruck typically gets just 6 to 7 miles per gallon of diesel, according Department of Energy data. Filling its roughly 250-gallon tanks can cost more than $1,280 at today's prices. For fleets logging more than 100,000 miles a year, even modest increases in diesel prices can add thousands of dollars in annual operating costs.

"We all focus on gasoline because, ultimately, we're consumers and pump prices are very visible. But what we don't think about is the price of diesel, which is the workhorse fuel for the U.S. economy and especially for key sectors," Bernard Yaros, lead U.S. economist for Oxford Economics, told Fox News Digital.

Yaros said the recent rise in diesel prices is especially concerning because of its potential impact on food inflation. Diesel fuels nearly every stage of the agricultural supply chain, from farm equipment to the trucks that deliver groceries, meaning higher fuel costs can eventually work their way onto supermarket shelves.

"From an inflationary perspective, I'm very concerned about the recent rise in diesel prices as it pertains to the cost of food or grocery store prices," Yaros said.

"Take the food industry, for instance. Diesel powers the irrigation pumps, the tractors in the field and the trucks that bring food from the farm to your local grocery store. It's part of every layer of food production in the U.S."

BBQ LOVERS BEWARE: MIDDLE EAST CONFLICT MIGHT DISRUPT YOUR SUMMER PLANS THIS YEAR

An energy industry source, who requested anonymity due to not being authorized to speak publicly, said diesel has become one of the clearest examples of how geopolitical shocks can ripple through global energy markets.

"The great majority of the price movement that you've seen in diesel markets over the last five months has been the direct result of the conflict in Iran and specifically the closure of the Strait of Hormuz," the source told Fox News Digital.

Few places matter more to global energy markets than the Strait of Hormuz, a narrow waterway between Iran, Oman and the United Arab Emirates.

Roughly 20 million barrels of oil pass through the strait each day, along with about one-fifth of the world's liquefied natural gas. The waterway is also a critical export route for refined fuels such as diesel, gasoline and jet fuel, meaning even limited disruptions can tighten global supplies, jolt energy markets and push fuel costs higher around the world.

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Even if tensions in the Middle East ease, analysts say diesel prices may not quickly return to pre-conflict levels.

"Refineries don't process crude instantaneously," the industry source said. "A lot of times what you're filling up your car with today was refined a week and a half ago and was produced two months before that."

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Because crude must be transported, refined and distributed before it reaches consumers, higher diesel costs can continue rippling through the economy even after oil markets begin to stabilize. The result is that today's diesel spike could linger long after the headlines about the Middle East fade, quietly making its way through supply chains and, eventually, onto grocery store shelves.

Gold medal-winning Team USA hockey players will be making an appearance on 'Celebrity Family Feud'

Wed, 22 Jul 2026 16:13:56 -0400

The year 2026 is just about halfway over, but it is already one of the greatest on record for USA Hockey.

This year, the Americans swept the gold medals at the Winter Olympics in Milan and Cortina, with the men's team, the women's team, and the Paralympic team all taking the top step of the podium in their respective tournaments.

And that's good enough for one of the highest honors our nation has to offer: an appearance on "Celebrity Family Feud."

Oh, man. The hallowed hall that Richard Dawson, Louie Anderson, Richard Karn, John O'Hurley, and Steve Harvey built.

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The episode will air on Thursday at 8 p.m. ET on ABC, and will feature Team USA men — comprised of NHLers Dylan Larkin and Connor Hellebuyck, along with Paralympians Griffin LaMarre, Jack Wallace, and Declan Farmer — against Team USA women, with captain Hilary Knight, Hannah Bilka, Cayla Barnes, Laila Edwards, and Caroline Harvey representing the team.

I'm all in on this. I admittedly haven't watched "Family Feud" — celebrity or civilian edition — in quite some time, but it's an institution. I'd go so far as to say it's one of our nation's great game shows. Up there with "The Price Is Right," "Hollywood Squares," and that one Steph Curry came up with that was basically just people playing minigolf on the same obstacle course from the show "Wipeout."

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Hell, I might tune in just to watch Steve Harvey wrestle with the name "Connor Hellebuyck." That alone sounds like gold, Jerry.

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It's also a great opportunity to get some Team USA faces back on TV as the entire USA Hockey program from top to bottom has never been stronger.

The next World Cup of Hockey isn't until 2028, and the next Olympics aren't until 2030. So whatever can keep American puck — and hockey in general — in the bloodstream as it continues this heater it's been on since the 4 Nations Face-Off is always going to be a great idea.

Dem gov lashes out as Trump HUD scrutinizes nearly $2B in disaster funds over fraud concerns

Wed, 22 Jul 2026 16:11:58 -0400

Virgin Islands Gov. Albert Bryan Jr. slammed the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) after the agency suspended procurements involving the territory's housing finance authority over concerns about fraud and abuse tied to nearly $2 billion in disaster-recovery aid.

Bryan, a Democrat, said HUD’s suspension came as a "shock" and called HUD's letter "unprofessional." He claimed the U.S. Virgin Islands' disaster-recovery issues have been "sensationalized" and that the suspension is an "overreach."

"When I go to Washington, I don't go and visit [HUD or FEMA] anymore because we don't have any problems," Bryan claimed when pressed by local media at a public briefing in Charlotte Amalie.

MINNESOTA OF THE CARIBBEAN? TRUMP ADMIN FREEZES VACATION HOTSPOT’S FUNDS OVER ALLEGED HURRICANE-AID ABUSES

At one point, Bryan suggested HUD’s announcement could be a "political stunt" timed with Tuesday's start of early voting in the territory’s contested gubernatorial election. Bryan is term-limited.

"[W]hy does the press have it and why does Fox News in particular have it and why are we only hearing about this now?" Bryan fumed – as Fox News Digital exclusively broke the news Tuesday.

"We'll be appealing [HUD’s suspension] and then get into the bottom of what exactly is generating this kind of harsh motives in the Virgin Islands."

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

Fox News Digital reached out to HUD for comment.

When Bryan said an audit cited in HUD's suspension notice had ended some time ago, a reporter noted a separate HUD report found the Virgin Islands Housing Finance Authority's risk management practices remained "below the lowest desired level" as recently as March 2025.

The reporter asked Bryan whether it was fair to say the territorial government had been "blindsided" by HUD's letter and subsequent news reports.

VANCE TURNS UP HEAT ON STATES WITH FEDERAL CASH THREAT OVER MEDICAID FRAUD CRACKDOWN

"Absolutely," Bryan replied. "[E]ven if it was up to 2025 it covers a period where they have already addressed it in fact the $6.2 million in-question cost was addressed years ago."

Bryan said he "perused" the letter from Andrew Hughes, a deputy to HUD Secretary Scott Turner, and argued the territory has made significant progress on several recovery projects, including one at Magen's Bay, a world-famous calm-water beach on St. Thomas.

He suggested some of the issues with recovery projects in the U.S. Virgin Islands have to do with costs, saying one public housing unit can expend $1 million – "which is crazy."

"We’ve had to send out bids multiple times because the costs are not aligning with what the national standards are," he said.

In a separate statement, Bryan said many of the matters described in HUD’s letter "reflect issues that have been known for some time."

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"According to the Virgin Islands Housing Finance Authority, significant corrective actions have already been undertaken in the years since many of those findings were first identified."

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"It is important that this process be handled in a manner that protects the people of the Virgin Islands and does not unnecessarily disrupt critical housing and disaster-recovery programs," he said.

Bryan said at his press conference that his administration previously addressed "weaknesses" at VIHFA earlier in his administration.

"We have done a lot of work in order to make sure that the HFA had the capacity – if you can remember the first three years of the administration, we talked about capacity planning... which has slowed the recovery considerably from their view."

HUD's suspension comes as Turner plays a leading role on the White House Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, as the Trump administration continues its wide-scale effort across agencies to curb abuse of taxpayer funds.

Fox News Digital reached out to Bryan’s office for additional comment.

First lady Melania Trump files motion for sanctions against Michael Wolff over tossed lawsuit

Wed, 22 Jul 2026 16:00:34 -0400

First lady Melania Trump filed a motion for sanctions on Tuesday against journalist Michael Wolff.

Wolff unsuccessfully sued Melania Trump to keep her from suing him for $1 billion for alleged defamatory statements he made about her involvement with Jeffrey Epstein. Earlier this year, a federal judge tossed Wolff’s lawsuit against the first lady, calling it a "contorted" effort and "not how the federal courts work."

Melania Trump is now seeking costs and reasonable attorneys’ fees incurred in these proceedings, along with other appropriate relief, saying Wolff’s lawsuit was "a fundraising drive and a political spectacle."

Trump’s legal team, including lead attorney Caryn Schechtman of DLA Piper and Alejandro Brito, feel sanctions are warranted for at least three independent reasons. Brito accused Wolff of manufacturing a jurisdictional dispute in an attempt to keep the case in New York state court, using litigation for improper purposes and making a "frivolous" claim.

"Plaintiff and his counsel asserted a legally frivolous claim, propped it up with factual contentions that lacked any evidentiary support, and used them to run a political and commercial campaign. They should pay for Mrs. Trump’s fees and expenses incurred for the process they abused," the first lady’s legal team claims.

The first lady’s legal team said Wolff wrongly claimed she was heavily involved in the Epstein scandal. Her team sent a pre-action notice under Florida’s anti-defamation law identifying defamatory statements and demanding a retraction and apology. According to the court filing, Wolff never answered the demand letter, instead filing the unsuccessful lawsuit against Melania Trump.

JUDGE TOSSES MICHAEL WOLFF'S LAWSUIT AGAINST MELANIA TRUMP, CALLS IT 'CONTORTED' AND NOT HOW 'COURTS WORK'

"Plaintiff filed a patently meritless lawsuit and used it to harass Mrs. Trump in public. The requested sanctions do not depend on a ruling that Plaintiff’s statements were defamatory. They rest on the unsupported and mischaracterized federal submissions, the use of those papers for improper purposes, counsel’s multiplication of the federal proceedings, and the Court’s findings that the action itself was abusively presented as textbook bad-faith forum-shopping. Those independent grounds support sanctions against Plaintiff and his counsel," the first lady’s legal team argued.

Wolff, a controversial author known in media circles for his divisive reporting ethics, has written four bestsellers about the president: "Fire and Fury," "Siege," "Landslide" and "All or Nothing."

The first lady has denied any association with Epstein, who died behind bars in 2019 while awaiting trial on child sex trafficking charges. His death was reported as a suicide.

DAILY BEAST APOLOGIZES TO MELANIA TRUMP OVER RETRACTED EPSTEIN ALLEGATIONS ARTICLE

The Daily Beast retracted an article last summer called "Melania Trump ‘Very Involved’ in Epstein Scandal: Author," that was based on an interview with Wolff, after the outlet received a letter from Brito.

Wolff did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

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Fox News Digital’s Brie Stimson contributed to this report.

Vulnerable Democrats flip on women's sports vote after opposing similar bills as midterms loom

Wed, 22 Jul 2026 15:53:21 -0400

Several vulnerable House Democrats are breaking with their party on men competing in women’s sports as Republicans continue to hammer the issue ahead of November's midterm elections.

Reps. Shomari Figures and Terri Sewell, D-Ala., joined Republicans in voting for an amendment to the annual defense policy bill Tuesday that would bar biological males from participating in women’s sports in Department of War-run schools.

The vote marked a notable shift for both Alabama Democrats, who opposed similar legislation as recently as last year, and comes as Republicans’ redistricting efforts have scrambled their re-election prospects.

Figures now represents one of the GOP's top pickup opportunities after Alabama's newly drawn congressional map added more GOP voters to his district, dramatically increasing the difficulty of his re-election bid. The National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC), House Republicans' campaign arm, added the freshman lawmaker to its target list last week.

BLOCKBUSTER SUPREME COURT VOTING RIGHTS RULING IGNITES REDISTRICTING WAR ACROSS SOUTHERN STATES

Sewell’s Black-majority seat anchored around Birmingham remained largely unchanged, though she also bucked Democratic leadership on the amendment.

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., and 202 other Democrats voted against the measure. All Republicans present voted in support.

Both lawmakers voted against the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act in 2025, which barred federally funded schools from allowing biological males to participate in girls' and women’s sports.

The reversal comes as transgender issues continue to divide Democrats, with public polling showing broad opposition to transgender athletes competing in women's sports.

A New York Times/Ipsos poll conducted in 2025 found that nearly 80% of Americans opposed biological males competing in women's sports. Roughly seven in 10 Democrats or Democrat-leaning respondents agreed, according to the survey.

DEMOCRATS STAY QUIET ON NEXT STEPS AFTER SUPREME COURT TRANSGENDER SPORTS RULING

Republicans sharply criticized the Alabama Democrats' votes, arguing the move reflected political necessity rather than a genuine change in position.

"Out of touch Democrats Shomari Figures and Terri Sewell are desperately trying to hide their far-left views now that it's politically expedient, but it's too little too late," NRCC spokesman Reilly Richardson told Fox News Digital.

"Alabamians know Figures and Sewell support Democrats' radical agenda of allowing men to compete in women's sports and will hold them accountable at the ballot box in November," he continued.

Figures, however, argued his views on transgender participation in women's sports have been consistent and pointed to a 2025 amendment vote restricting transgender athletes that he supported in a statement to Fox News Digital.

"As I have said before, I do not believe that men should be allowed to participate in women’s sports," Figures said. "I voted against the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act because that bill would have created an open season for pedophiles to conduct sex checks of young girls, with no safeguards."

Proponents of the measure disputed during floor debate that the legislation would put girls at risk.

Fox News Digital reached out to Sewell for comment.

Reps. Don Davis, D-N.C., and Henry Cuellar and Vicente Gonzalez, D-Texas, also voted with Republicans in favor of the Mace amendment.

The three Democrats, who are all vulnerable to GOP challengers, frequently cross party lines to support Republican-authored bills, though Davis voted "present" on the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act.

Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C., who sponsored the amendment, argued the measure was intended to protect women’s sports.

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"Men are not women. Men will never become women. Yet male athletes are stealing medals, invading locker rooms, and putting girls in the hospital, all in the name of gender ideology," Mace said Tuesday. "Our NDAA amendment would end this nonsense."

'The View' co-host whines Smithsonian hearings are about Trump administration not wanting to pay reparations

Wed, 22 Jul 2026 15:49:55 -0400

"The View" co-host Sunny Hostin claimed Wednesday that the congressional hearings on the Smithsonian institution were about the Trump administration not wanting to award reparations to the descendants of slaves.

Smithsonian National Museum of American History Director Dr. Anthea Hartig faced questions on Capitol Hill Tuesday after a White House report published earlier this month found that the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of American History has become a taxpayer-backed institution of "ideological capture" and "extreme political activism."

"The real reason behind this is about financial repair to the descendents of the enslaved Africans," Hostin said as co-host Whoopi Goldberg pushed her to clarify what she meant.

"Reparations," Hostin said. "I think this reflects a broad effort by the Trump administration to reshape the way the nation’s history is told, so this country does not have to pay Black people for the forced labor and the unpaid labor that built this country. I really think that this is what this is about.

NEW YORK FAR-LEFT GROUP CLAIMS REPARATIONS 'OWED' AS BLACKS' MEDIAN WEALTH 'NEARLY 15 TIMES LESS' THAN WHITES

"Even after 250 years, there’s so much repair that needs to be done when it comes to aggrieved groups in this country, but especially African Americans," Hostin said.

"Let’s face it, when you have truth and reconciliation commissions, and you've had them when it comes to interned Japanese Americans. You've had them when it comes to the Holocaust. You’ve had them when it comes to Native Americans," she continued. "It has not happened — truth and reconciliation commissions — when it comes to slavery. And that is because they’re trying to bury the truth part. You cannot have true reconciliation, and then you cannot have true financial repair unless you have the truth. And they’re trying to erase that truth."

Hostin noted that the United Nations General Assembly voted to declare the transatlantic slave trade to be "the gravest crime against humanity" in March 2026. The U.S., Argentina and Israel voted against the resolution, and 123 countries voted in favor. Fifty-two countries abstained from the vote.

TRUMP ADMINISTRATION TOUTS MORE THAN $1B IN UN BUDGET CUTS AS REFORM PUSH GAINS MOMENTUM

The co-host of "The View" quoted Ambassador Dan Negrea, U.S. representative to the U.N. Economic and Social Council, as saying the U.S. "does not recognize a legal right to reparations for historical wrongs that were not illegal under international law at the time they occurred" prior to the vote.

"And, so, what this is about is money," Hostin said. "This is not about anything else. It’s about this country trying to avoid paying African Americans our due."

Hostin appeared on the PBS documentary show "Finding Your Roots" in 2024 and was stunned at the time to find out her ancestor was a slaveholder. Henry Louis Gates Jr., the host of the show, revealed one of Hostin's ancestors on her maternal side was likely involved in the slave trade in colonial Spain.

Her third great-grandfather also "owned at least one human being," he said.

Hostin, whose mother is Puerto Rican and father is Black, confessed the revelation left her "in shock."

'THE VIEW' CO-HOST SUNNY HOSTIN DOUBLES DOWN ON AMERICAN FLAGS MAKING HER FEEL 'UNSAFE'

"Wow, I’m a little bit in shock. I just always thought of myself as half Puerto Rican. I didn’t think my family was originally from Spain and slaveholders," she said.

Hostin shared that her husband Manny's family is also from Spain, so they have that in common.

"I think it’s actually pretty interesting that my husband and I have shared roots, so I do appreciate that. And I think it’s great for our children to know this information. I guess it’s a fact of life that this is how some people made their living, on the backs of others," she continued.

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Hostin also recently faced backlash over saying she felt unsafe in neighborhoods with American flags.

Illegal immigrant top Dem fought to free turns up on voter rolls: 'mockery of our immigration laws'

Wed, 22 Jul 2026 15:40:27 -0400

Democratic Sen. Richard Blumenthal is facing scrutiny after new records showed an illegal immigrant whose release from ICE custody he championed was registered to vote in Connecticut.

"Cecunjanin has made a mockery of our immigration laws on several occasions for more than two decades," a Department of Homeland Security spokesperson told Fox News Digital of the illegal immigrant on Wednesday.

Records obtained through a public-records request by the West Hartford Republican Town Committee show Seyo Cecunjanin was registered to vote through the Connecticut DMV in 2018. The committee posted the records on X.

A DHS spokesperson told Fox News Digital the Biden administration released the Montenegrin national back into the United States after he returned from Serbia in 2024—even though he had been under a final deportation order since 1997.

EXCLUSIVE: DHS SEEKS CUSTODY OF ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT CHARGED WITH MURDER AFTER TRUMP DEPORTATION, BIDEN RELEASE

Cecunjanin first entered the U.S. illegally in 1997 using a fraudulent Dutch passport and was issued a final order of removal later that year. Despite that order remaining in effect for more than 25 years, he departed for Serbia in July 2024, returned about two weeks later, and was released back into the U.S. under the Biden administration before his June 20 arrest.

Blumenthal and other Connecticut Democratic officials pushed for Cecunjanin's release last month, holding a press conference and later touting his release, crediting their letters and public advocacy.

"His courage and faith are a lesson to all of us on this 250th national birthday. I look forward to welcoming him home. ICE seizing and detaining him was cruel and unconscionable. He was never a flight risk, or a danger to anyone," Blumenthal said in a July 3 statement celebrating the restaurant owner's release.

"I’ll support his efforts to gain permanent legal status and more. Welcome home, Seyo," he added.

Cindy Wolfe Boynton, communications director for the Connecticut secretary of the state’s office, told Fox News Digital that Cecunjanin never voted.

"Our records show that he registered to vote through the DMV in 2018. He was marked as an inactive voter in January 2023 after failing to respond to a routine National Change-of-Address canvass asking him to confirm his name and address," said Boynton. "An inactive voter remains on the voter rolls but cannot vote until they confirm or update their registration information, as required by state and federal law."

NEW JERSEY REMOVES 6,600 PEOPLE FROM VOTER ROLLS WHO WERE ELIGIBLE TO CAST A BALLOT FOR 2024 ELECTION

Critics quickly took to X to highlight the revelation, renewing scrutiny over Democrats' handling of election security.

"It happened again," Rep. Tim Burchett, R-Tenn. wrote on X.

"HOLY CRAP The illegal alien who Connecticut Senator Richard Blumenthal and other Democrat officials rallied to support after he was detained by ICE… IS REGISTERED TO VOTE IN CT despite not being a citizen!" popular conservative X account Libs of TikTok posted.

"WHOA: Illegal Alien That Democrats Defended from Deportation Is Registered Voter. Senator Blumenthal and Connecticut Democrats tried to protect him," posted conservative commentator Benny Johnson.

SEN MARK WARNER CALLED OUT IN ABC INTERVIEW FOR INACCURATE VOTER ID CLAIMS

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Fox News Digital reached out to the West Hartford Republican Town Committee and Blumenthal's office for comment.

Miami Heat post, then unlist YouTube livestream for "LeBron Introductory Press Conference"

Wed, 22 Jul 2026 15:37:32 -0400

Welcome back to "As The LeBron Turns."

That's right, folks! Though he may try to deny that he doesn't want the attention to be about him and his latest decision in free agency, LeBron James sure has been the focal point of several stories regarding his future.

In fairness to King James, a lot of that press has been a result of how teams and media members have handled his pending move, but I digress.

Speaking of which, the Miami Heat may have accidentally tipped their hand regarding LeBron's landing spot, and it happened on YouTube of all places.

It appears someone on Miami's social media team dropped the ball, posting then immediately unlisting a scheduled livestream on the team's official YouTube account for July 27.

The title of that livestream? "LeBron James Introductory Press Conference."

GIANNIS ANTETOKOUNMPO ERA TO END IN MILWAUKEE AS BUCKS WILL SEND TWO-TIME MVP TO MIAMI HEAT FOR YOUNG CORE

Well, well, well. I don't think it takes a genius to crack that code.

To their credit, a Heat spokesperson told ESPN's Shams Charania that the link was only posted to prepare for a "possible" LeBron James signing.

Sure, Jan. Sure.

BOBBY PORTIS JR REVEALS THE SURPRISING REASON BEHIND HIS NEW MIAMI HEAT JERSEY NUMBER

So, now the whole world likely knows where LeBron will be taking his talents this fall, and they might even know the exact date he's set to make his decision.

While we wait and see if the prophecy becomes a reality, let's check in on Miami's director of YouTube strategy.

Brutal.

Look, I know whoever the previous YouTube strategist was may have just spoiled the biggest free agent signing of the offseason, but getting fired (allegedly) feels a little harsh.

In actuality, clicking the link provided shows that the job was listed on July 1, long before the livestream snafu, so the conspiracy theories will have to be put on the backburner for the time being.

However, if the livestream link was created just as a precaution for a "possible" LeBron signing, then why did the Heat pull it down so quickly?

I think we all know what that means.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM

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If that's the case, then South Florida will be home to both Lionel Messi and LeBron James, which is an insane amount of star power for one city.

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Sorry, Dolphins fans, but you'll have to make due with Malik Willis and TuTu Atwell.

Tough luck, but you'll always have 1972.

Olivia Dunne fires back at MLB team over obnoxious comment, NFL WAG Gia Duddy sizzles & ESPN's bloodbath

Wed, 22 Jul 2026 15:37:29 -0400

Penultimate Hump Day of July AND we have NFL teams reporting for training camp today? How lucky are we?

It's all coming together, folks. I can smell it. We're grinding right now, but it's close to paying off. August begins next week. This Saturday marks the five-week countdown to our first college football game of the year.

Five weeks. I've got cartons of milk in the fridge older than that. Who has it better than us, boys and girls? Nobody.

Let's roll.

Welcome to a Hump Day Nightcaps — the one where Olivia Dunne tells the Cleveland Indians (yep) to kick rocks while Paul Skenes stuffs them in a locker.

What else? I've got plenty of fallout from ESPN's ... rough ... week, Gia Duddy checks in, and Charlie Woods is sounding more and more like his daddy on the course.

That's a good thing, by the way. Always a good thing to be like Tiger on the course. Not so much off of it.

Grab you a brick wall to run through after you hear this speech from John Harbaugh, and settle in for a Hump Day 'Cap!

Olivia Dunne stands by her man

Lordy, John. What was that? To be fair, Harbaugh hasn't really had to do an introductory speech in two decades, so he's understandably rusty.

But goodness ... give me something. Anything. Let's get these fellas fired up, coach! Football is back. That's the worst thing I had to sit through today, and I had an hour Zoom call on "content creation."

Oh well. Harbaugh and the Giants will be a story all year. Can't wait to see that team on the field.

But first, let's head out to the diamond with Olivia Dunne and the Pittsburgh Pirates, and get this call started.

For those who weren't locked in on this week's thrilling Pirates-Guardians game, Paul Skenes dominated over 7 innings, giving up one run and striking out 8 in a 7-1 win.

Some poor intern who runs Cleveland's account jumped the gun when the game was tied 1-1, calling out Livvy with a slick little caption.

Our girl made sure to fire back:

This Pat McAfee narrative is silly

"Game was Dunne at 7-1 Pirates."

Don't come at MLB's First Lady and miss, Indians! Paul Skenes, by the way, appears to have his swagger back. After a rocky start to the summer, he's given up just five runs over his last three starts (3-0) and stuck out 19.

The "Paul Skenes has lost his stuff" narrative appears to have been greatly exaggerated. Weird how those things happen, right?

Speaking of narratives ... let's talk about this Pat McAfee nonsense that's starting to percolate in the wake of ESPN's summer housecleaning.

For those who missed it (don't know how that's possible if you read OutKick/Fox News), the World Wide (Woke) Leader laid off (fired) dozens of employees yesterday.

Ryan Clark was let go during NFL Live. Cam Newton was canned. Tom Pelissero was cut. It was a gutting.

Pat McAfee, meanwhile, is reportedly earning close to $30 million and in talks to double that salary pretty soon.

JJ Watt joined the "progrum" yesterday and ... addressed the elephant in the room:

Charlie, Karl & Gia, oh my!

"Slow, slow news day over there on the ESPN airwaves, huh?" Watt said to begin the interview. "I mean, besides the fact that you’re getting $100 million… Did they keep anybody? Or is everybody fired to pay you? I’m trying to figure that out."

This narrative that ESPN fired all these guys to pay McAfee is so stupid. The narrative that Pat McAfee's salary is ultimately what got Ryan Clark fired is even dumber.

Here's the bottom line: ESPN views Pat McAfee as an asset. The network has put him everywhere since the two partnered up a few years back. Everywhere. Not just football, either.

He was just at the Home Run Derby last week! An event, by the way, that wasn't on ESPN for the first time in three decades.

Pat McAfee didn't cost Ryan Clark his job. Ryan Clark lost his job because he brought nothing to the table for ESPN, beyond an (increasingly) occasional headache because he said something stupid.

ESPN chose to cut ties with a liability, and put more money into an asset. That's not a new or novel concept.

It's how businesses have been run for years.

OK, let's rapid-fire this Hump Day class into a big Hump Day night. First up? You know who ESPN absolutely should NOT have fired?

Karl Ravech.

Remember the old days at ESPN? The glory days of baseball when they had Ravech, Peter Gammons and Harold Reynolds on set? Mix in some John Kruk and Steve Phillips, and boy, was it an absolute party.

Now? ESPN doesn't care about baseball. They've decided to put all their eggs in the NBA basket, and continue to distance themselves from baseball. The firing of Karl Ravech — who'd been there for 33 (!!!) years — was disgusting.

But not surprising.

Next? You know what else is disgusting? This little moment from Charlie Woods' round earlier this week:

Taking a picture during someone's backswing — a kid's backswing — during a golf tournament is just the worst. God, these people are insufferable.

Personally, I think every golf course in America should adopt Augusta's no cellphone policy. I'm serious. It's, easily, the best rule in sports.

PS: How about the absolute disgust out from Charlie after that iron off the tee? Reminds me of this great Tiger moment from back in the day:

Man, I miss the Big Cat on the course. We had it so good.

OK, that's it for today. Good work, everyone. In honor of NFL camps officially opening today, here's infamous NFL Draft WAG Gia Duddy begging summer to stick around just a few weeks longer.

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See you tomorrow.

Is McAfee to blame for Ryan Clark's firing? Email me at Zach.Dean@OutKick.com.

Expert-recommended shoes to help with plantar fasciitis, starting at $75

Mon, 20 Jul 2026 17:22:37 -0400

Plantar fasciitis is a pain to deal with — quite literally. It develops when the band of tissue that supports your foot's arch becomes irritated or overstressed, often causing persistent heel pain, according to Dr. Timothy Oldani, DPM, FACFAS, a fellow of the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons. To help you stay comfortable, we've rounded up expert-recommended shoes at a range of price points from brands like HOKA, New Balance and Brooks, so you can find the right fit for your feet.

HOKA Bondi 9: $165.34

Ideal for daily use, the HOKA Bondi 9 sneakers provide extra cushioning for long periods on your feet. "The HOKA Bondi is the perfect shoe for everyday wear and longer periods of standing, as they do offer increased cushioning compared to the running models, with the tradeoff of less heel drop," says Dr. Andrew Brown, a podiatrist with Foot and Ankle Specialists of West Michigan. The Bondi 9 comes in both men's and women's sizes.

New Balance 990v6: $199.99

New Balance makes its 990v6 sneakers right here in the U.S., with pigskin leather and synthetic materials that stand up to daily use. "This shoe is constructed with a lightweight foam and midsole cushioning which aids in shock absorption. [It] is supportive and has more of a traditional running shoe look than the ultra-cushioned Hoka," says Dr. Anne Sharkey, a board-certified podiatrist based in Austin, Texas, and owner of Solely Podiatry.

Orthofeet Kita Hands-Free: $119.99 (7% off)

Original price: $129

Slip into these Orthofeet shoe without bending down. "This shoe comes with an orthotic insole that has anatomical arch support which helps to evenly distribute weight and support proper foot alignment," Sharkey notes. Their versatile design makes them suitable for work, the gym or running errands.

ASICS Gel-Excite 11: $74.95

If you're on a budget, the ASICS Gel-Excite 11 sneakers come in at less than $100. With options for both men's and women's sizes, these expert-recommended shoes use mesh and a thick insole to keep you comfortable. "They're a great neutral shoe with cushioning…for shock absorption," Sharkey says.

On Cloudnova 2: $170

On Cloudnova 2 shoes have a unique design that blends comfort with a modern silhouette. As Sharkey explains, "this is a great lifestyle shoe. [It] can be a great choice for anyone that suffers from tight Achilles tendon/calf muscles and plantar fasciitis, as the 14mm heel-to-toe drop helps to accommodate for limited ankle joint range of motion."

Stoke slip-on sneakers: $79.96

If you need another affordable option, Stoke sneakers come in a huge range of colors and wide sizes, all for just $80. Dr. Graham Reid, DPM, AACFAS, and Foot & Ankle Specialists of Ohio fellow, specifically recommends these shoes for plantar fasciitis. "Stoke Shoes are designed around many of the features I recommend for patients with heel pain. Their supportive arch geometry, stable platform, cushioned midsole and overall focus on proper foot alignment help reduce the mechanical stress placed on the plantar fascia during walking."

For more deals, visit www.foxnews.com/deals

Brooks Adrenaline GTS 24: $109.95 (21% off)

Original price: $139.95

Foot specialists frequently recommend the Brooks Adrenaline GTS 24 — currently at a 30-day low on Amazon. "This is a great choice for those who need a bit more stability. It offers good cushioning, and the GuideRails support system helps limit excess motion that can put stress on the plantar fascia, making it a solid option for walking, running or all-day wear," says Dr. Gregory Alvarez, DPM, FACFAS, at Ankle & Foot Centers of America.

If you're an Amazon Prime member, you can get some of these shoes sent to your door ASAP. You can join or start a 30-day free trial to start your shopping today.

EXCLUSIVE: Hawley to introduce bill blocking lavish USPS executive bonuses over mail delays, losses

Wed, 22 Jul 2026 15:24:55 -0400

FIRST ON FOX: Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., is proposing legislation that would withhold bonuses for U.S. Postal Service executives, citing years of staggering financial losses for the agency and its overall on-time delivery record.

Hawley, who has launched an investigation into the Postal Service over its service record, will name the legislation the No Bonuses for Bad Service Act, Fox News Digital has learned.

The bill would prohibit the USPS Board of Governors from approving any additional compensation for the postmaster general and deputy postmaster general for a fiscal year in which the agency doesn't meet or exceed an on-time delivery rate of 95% for all mail products.

"While Missourians don’t receive their mail on time, the Postmaster General receives a hefty bonus each year," Hawley wrote in a statement to Fox News Digital. "I am introducing the No Bonuses for Bad Service Act to ensure postal service leadership isn’t receiving bonuses while Americans’ mail goes undelivered. It’s time for the Postmaster General to do his job and put Americans first."

SENATOR JOSH HAWLEY DEMANDS ANSWERS FROM MLB ON 'PATTERN OF DISCRIMINATION' OVER WARNINGS TO GIANTS PLAYERS

Over the past ten years, postmasters general have received more than $2 million in additional compensation, even as delivery performance declined and budget numbers got worse, according to Hawley's office.

Among the reasons cited by Hawley for the proposed bill are the agency's $25 billion in financial losses over the past three fiscal years, which have coincided with an increase in postage rates and a dip in on-time delivery.

During the last three years of Louis DeJoy's tenure as postmaster general, the Board of Governors approved more than $567,000 in bonuses, Hawley said. Current Postmaster General David Steiner, who assumed office in July 2025, has already received $170,000 in bonuses, Hawley said.

SENATOR JOSH HAWLEY DEMANDS ANSWERS FROM MLB ON 'PATTERN OF DISCRIMINATION' OVER WARNINGS TO GIANTS PLAYERS

When Hawley confronted Steiner about the additional compensation during a June 24 hearing, Steiner said he doesn't control the doling out of bonuses.

"I am absolutely astounded at this today, general … and, frankly, if things don’t get better, you ought to resign, because you’re not doing the job. You’re leaving your good postal workers out there. You’re hanging them out to dry. They don’t make near what you do. They’re working their butts off, they’re getting blamed and you’re getting the bonus. We have a big problem. Based on what I’ve seen today, you’re part of it," Hawley said at the time.

Residents in rural parts of Missouri sometimes wait weeks for their mail, Hawley said. In addition, a large pile of undelivered mail was found in April in a vacant lot in north St. Louis.

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"The pattern is clear: As service has gotten worse, the postmaster general’s pay has not," Hawley said.

Hawley was already investigating the Postal Service, accusing Steiner of ignoring congressional oversight while demanding records on the agency's use of outside restructuring consultants.

Fox News Digital has reached out to the postmaster general's office for comment.

GOP blocks Schumer's effort to ground taxpayer funding for Trump's Qatari Air Force One

Wed, 22 Jul 2026 15:23:51 -0400

President Donald Trump’s new Air Force One will remain in service, for now, after Senate Republicans blocked an attempt to prevent taxpayer dollars from upgrading the aircraft.

Democrats have spent the last year sounding the alarm over the Boeing 747-8 luxury jet gifted to Trump by Qatar over the hefty price tag to retrofit the aircraft and the security risks that it could pose in serving as the main plane for the president.

After Trump’s surprising admission over the weekend about the jet, which was unveiled as the latest addition to the Air Force One fleet by the White House last month, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., tried to halt any taxpayer funds from flowing to the project.

NEW AIR FORCE ONE TAKES FLIGHT AS TRUMP UNVEILS REVAMPED PRESIDENTIAL AIRCRAFT

The administration estimated that upgrading the aircraft, which already has a base value of $400 million, could cost up to $1 billion.

"The luxury jet may have come wrapped in a bow for Donald Trump, but it came with a massive price tag for the American people," Schumer said on the Senate floor. "Trump is asking taxpayers to fork over an estimated $1 billion to retrofit, and max out his flying palace, so it can meet the security standards of the existing Air Force One fleet."

"That, of course, we already paid for," he continued. "Americans can't afford gas, can't afford groceries, can't afford their electric bill. But Trump thinks they can afford to fly him in style."

Schumer tried to forcefully pass his bill, Presidential Airlift Security Act, Wednesday afternoon, which would require that no Department of War funding may go to the purchase, modification, restoration or maintenance of an aircraft previously owned by a foreign government.

TRUMP SAYS HE'S IRAN'S 'NO. 1' TARGET AS RENEWED CONFLICT RAISES ASSASSINATION FEARS

And it comes after Trump, after pressure from the Secret Service, opted to fly back to the U.S. from Turkey in a different plane than the new Air Force One because of a lack of proper security enhancements, like countermeasures for heat-seeking missiles.

Trump told reporters on Sunday, when asked why the deterrence systems weren’t visible on the new plane, said that the plane, "has a lot of capability, but as I understand it, in about a month or so, they’re going to send it to have it be maxed out."

SENATE DEMS DRAW RARE LINE AGAINST MUST-PASS PENTAGON BILL

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed Trump, and told reporters on Monday that while the new Air Force One is "perfectly safe for the president’s travels," it was slated to receive additional upgrades and enhancements in the fall that would keep the plane on the ground for a month.

"During that time, the president will fly on the old Air Force One," she said.

Schumer’s gamble was promptly blocked by Sen. Deb Fischer, R-Neb., who argued that the legislation was more far reaching than just halting taxpayer dollars from upgrading the Qatari jet, and hamper the country’s capabilities in the face of a nuclear threat.

"Unfortunately, this legislation would also apply to a different aircraft, the Survivable Air Operations Center aircraft, or SAOC," Fischer said. "Those aircraft were actually purchased from Korean Air. So this legislation would hamper a crucial program that ensures presidential safety in the event of a nuclear war."

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She argued that the SAOC played a crucial role in the nation’s planning in response to a nuclear threat — Nuclear Command, Control, and Communications, known as NC3 — and that Schumer’s move would "significantly harm" the country’s key nuclear deterrent.

"This is the plane that will command and control our nuclear weapons on America's worst day. We cannot play these political games with the NC three," Fischer said.

17 emergency items to buy before you actually need them — starting at $7

Mon, 27 Apr 2026 12:34:26 -0400

Emergency preparation puts you in a better position when things don't go as planned, and with markdowns of up to 43%, it's a smart time to stock up. From staples like power stations to basic first aid kits and car battery jump starters, these picks keep you ready when it matters most.

Emergency and safety essentials

During emergencies, you don’t want to be without the necessary tools. Stock up on these essentials and stay prepared.

Fire extinguisher, 2-pack: $21.90

Every home needs a fire extinguisher in case of emergencies, and this two-pack is just $22, making it an affordable yet priceless choice. It tackles all types of flames, from grease to gas fires. What really stands out is how easy these fire extinguishers are to store and keep within reach.

Emergency blankets, 4-pack: $6.99

Keep a four-pack of emergency blankets in your car and at home for roadside situations or outages. They help you stay warm in cold weather and store easily thanks to their compact foil packaging. The tear-resistant Mylar also lets you reuse them again and again.

Weather radio: $32.20 (12% off)

Original price: $36.78

During unexpected power outages, a weather radio keeps you up to date on forecasts. It charges three different ways — USB, hand-crank or solar — so you always have a backup when needed. It also acts as a power bank that gets your phone up and running.

Survival kit: $35.99

For $36, this survival kit comes with everything you need for minor emergencies, from a hatchet and hammer tool to a first aid kit and paracord gear. Carry it anywhere in a compact backpack that fits easily with your camping or hiking gear.

Smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, 3-pack: $156.75

Stock up on smoke and carbon monoxide detectors with this three-pack, complete with all the screws and batteries you need for installation. Protect your home from CO leaks and fires with one simple upgrade.

First aid basics

Be prepared for minor medical emergencies with these essential supplies.

First-aid kit: $9.99

This first aid kit has bandages, gloves and antiseptic wipes to help you treat burns, scrapes and cuts. Store the compact case in your glovebox or carry-on so you always have essential medical supplies within reach.

Digital thermometer: $16.98 (32% off)

Original price: $24.99

Quickly check your temperature when you're under the weather with this digital thermometer. It gives you a clear reading in seconds and its no-touch sensor lets you hold it near your forehead for easy readings, especially when checking for an entire family.

Ice packs, 4-pack: $12.99

Ice packs are versatile items to have on hand, helping you deal with bumps, bruises and spiking temperatures. They also double as a space saver in coolers and lunchboxes, making them a practical staple for any home.

Wrist brace: $13.99 (7% off)

Original price: $15.09

Whether you're managing carpal tunnel or have active kids at home, a wrist brace provides support when accidents happen. It tightens with adjustable Velcro straps, stabilizing your wrist so you can get back to your day.

Car emergency gear

Don’t rely on AAA — stay ready for roadside emergencies with a jump starter, tire inflator and seat belt cutter.

Seat belt cutter, 2-pack: $8.99

If you're trapped in your car after an accident, these seat belt cutter help you escape fast. Use the sharp blade to cut through a belt and the metal tip to shatter window glass in seconds.

Gooloo jump starter: $69.97 (36% off)

Original price: $109.99

A dead car battery can ruin your day, so stay ready with a jump starter. This Gooloo model starts your car without another vehicle or cables and includes a built-in air compressor for tire issues. For more power, the Noco Boost jump starter works on trucks, boats and sedans in a compact design.

Tire inflator: $48.79 (23% off)

Original price: $62.99

Need a quick way to pump up your tire after a flat? Keep this inflator in your car for roadside emergencies. It's simple enough to use one-handed, and the LED screen shows you the remaining battery and your tire's PSI.

Tire patch kit: $19.99 (20% off)

Original price: $24.99

Don't wait hours for AAA. Fix a flat fast on your own with a tire patch kit. Use this included pliers to remove debris, clear the hole with the other tools and seal it with durable rubber strips.

Emergency roadside kit: $69.95

Packed into a small bag, this 108-piece roadside kit offers all the necessities you'll need in one place — from jumper cables to reflective gear and a first aid kit. With it, you can stay safer when you're stuck on the side of the road.

Power outage essentials

Don’t get stuck in the dark — these tools keep your home lit during blackouts.

Energizer AAA batteries: $15.99 (20% off)

Original price: $19.99

Batteries fuel much of your backup equipment, so stock up on extras with this AAA 32-count. Energizer also has AA batteries in bulk packs and D batteries, too. With a long shelf life, you can store more without worrying about them going bad.

Mini flashlights, 2-pack: $9.96 (23% off)

Original price: $12.99

Stash these mini flashlights around the house for backup lighting during outages. They may be small, but they're powerful, with multiple zoom modes and both strobe and SOS options for emergencies.

For more deals, visit www.foxnews.com/deals

Jackery Explorer 1000 portable power station: $459 (43% off)

Original price: $799

Save $340 on the Jackery Explorer 1000, which powers up to seven devices at once. This portable model weighs just 24 pounds, making it easy to move from room to room or take on the go, and it recharges in as little as an hour through the app.

If you’re an Amazon Prime member, you can get these items sent to your door ASAP. You can join or start a 30-day free trial to start your shopping today.