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How one YouTuber helped save ‘College Football 27’ players from microtransactions — at least for now

Tue, 14 Jul 2026 11:01:41 -0400

College Football 27, EA Sports' latest edition of the popular pigskin video game series, was released last week to both massive fanfare and scathing critiques.

The big sticking point for a number of college football and gaming fans was the introduction of microtransactions, a practice involving paying real money to unlock features in the game.

Microtransactions have become increasingly prevalent in modern video games, but the idea of putting them into the latest College Football game seemed absurd even a year ago.

YOUTUBER BORDEAUX GOES IN DEPTH ON EA SPORTS COLLEGE FOOTBALL 27'S 'MICRO TRANSACTIONS'

Many fans pushed back on the concept of microtransactions and voiced their displeasure on social media, and none were more vocal than YouTuber Bordeaux.

The content creator became the tip of the spear in a grassroots campaign to get EA to remove microtransactions from the game entirely, even adopting the hashtag #CFBPlayDontPay.

Bordeaux wasn't the only content creator attempting to hold EA Sports accountable, but he was one of the biggest and earliest to do so, a move that could have been disastrous for his career as a college football video game YouTuber.

I asked him whether that had any impact on his decision to lead the charge against EA in our conversation last week, but Bordeaux insisted it never entered his mind.

"No matter what, I have never needed a partnership to do something," Bordeaux said, referring to his multi-year collaboration with EA. "The game is good, I'm never going to backtrack on that opinion. It's just the fact that they're putting those microtransactions in, is where I have to draw the line and say, 'Do not spend money on this.'"

It would appear as though Bordeaux's efforts paid off, as EA announced that it will be doing away with microtransactions for this year's version of their game in a lengthy post on X late last week.

While the move was (and should be) seen as a win from the online community - prompting Bordeaux himself to post a video on his YouTube channel titled "We Won" - the language used by EA with regard to "providing service plans for CFB28" could mean this victory is short-lived.

Regardless, for the time being, it looks like Bordeaux accomplished what he set out to do when this whole crusade started.

"I wanted to speak my mind on how I felt, and raise some awareness to it," Bordeaux said last week. "Because I felt like it was unfair, a lot of us creators were blindsided... I wanted to say my piece, draw my line and say 'I can't work with them after this.'

"I was hoping that they would address it and listen to the community."

THE FIVE BEST YEARS IN VIDEO GAME HISTORY RANKED: WHICH GAMING YEAR WAS THE GREATEST EVER?

With the news that EA will roll back microtransactions, there's a chance Bordeaux will find his way back to them for a partnership somewhere down the line.

When I asked him what a road back to EA would look like, Bordeaux laid it out simply.

"Take out microtransactions completely, bring back all of the features that they removed, and never go in the direction of making "Dynasty" and "Road to Glory" a mode with microtransactions, especially offline.

"If they really took that stance, I'm okay again," he said.

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For the time being, it looks like Bordeaux got his wish, and he can confidently declare victory for the gaming community.

His impressive crusade against a nearly universally hated practice in the gaming community should be lauded, and shows the power we have as consumers.

ICE agents instructed to end most vehicle stops in major policy shift

Tue, 14 Jul 2026 10:59:44 -0400

In a major policy shift, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents are being instructed to end "most" vehicle stops nationwide, effective immediately.

According to multiple federal sources, ICE agents will cease making traffic stops, which have played a significant role in the agency’s operations till now. A federal source told Fox News that ICE will continue conducting vehicle stops only for those considered to be the most egregious targets with serious or violent criminal histories.

MAINE ICE SHOOTING VICTIM WAS NOT TARGET OF ARREST WARRANT, SEN. KING’S OFFICE SAYS AFTER EARLIER DHS ACCOUNT

This comes after two people were killed in ICE officer-involved shootings in Maine and Texas last week.

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This is a developing story, check back for more.

Mbappe, Dembele and Olise give France the edge over Spain in the 2026 World Cup semifinals

Tue, 14 Jul 2026 10:56:32 -0400

It has been a couple of days without soccer, and it felt a bit strange. I wonder how I will feel after this World Cup is complete in a few days. We are down to just four games remaining (including today's matchup). It has been a really engaging and entertaining World Cup so far, and I think FIFA has to be very happy it got the remaining four teams in the Final Four. Let's see how we should play the first semifinals game of the 2026 World Cup.

There have been at least two players who have said that France is the team to beat or that will win the whole thing. As someone with a French ticket, I am hoping that comes to fruition. Getting to the final game will be quite a challenge. I don't know a ton about soccer, but I can tell you that after watching these games, it seems like one small mistake can change the entire game. France has been fortunate not to have made many mistakes so far. They have a strong defense, three great offensive players, and much more, so perhaps their team is just good at covering any mistakes that are made.

In their World Cup games, France has barely had to sweat. Their worst game was against Paraguay when they still won 1-0. In their most recent game, they took down Morocco 2-0. Throughout this tournament, they have not allowed more than one goal in any game, and they have outscored their opponents 16-2. Their leader, Kylian Mbappe, and his counterpart, Ousmane Dembele, have combined to score 13 of those goals. The third person of their trio, Michael Olise, has five assists as well.

HOW TO WATCH FRANCE VS SPAIN: LIVE STREAM THE 2026 FIFA WORLD CUP SEMIFINALS

This will be a tough game for Spain to win, but that doesn't mean that there is no pressure on France. Spain is one of the best teams in the world and they beat France last year in the UEFA Nations League semifinals. That game saw Spain win 5-4. Spain opened their World Cup with a draw over Cape Verde. At the time, it seemed like that was Spain underperforming, but that Cape Verde team proved to be very talented and a tough matchup. To get out of the Group Stage, they beat Saudi Arabia with ease, then Uruguay in a close matchup.

Once they got to the knockout round, things were a bit more difficult. They beat Austria 3-0, but struggled to beat Portugal, winning 1-0. Then, against Belgium, that game was a tightly contested 2-1 victory. They never trailed in that game, but both teams scored in the first half. A very late Spanish goal gave them the lead that would never be relinquished. It was more of an error on Belgium's part than anything that led to this goal for Spain. Mistakes cost people games in all sports.

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A lot of people are billing this as the Championship matchup. I guess they don't feel all that strongly about Argentina or England. Perhaps it is true, but if you see two teams beating each other before they face a different opponent, that can hurt them for the next game. The advantage either team has is that they will have extra rest before the final.

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I think Spain has been a bit luckier than France, but they also have nothing to lose. An interesting fact is that Spain comes into this unbeaten in regulation time in their past 36 international competitions. It seems like they are due to lose, right? As mentioned, I have a ticket on France to win the World Cup already, if I didn't, I would still take them here. I will take the over 2.5 goals here, though. I think the final will be France 2-1 and I think they win in 90 minutes.

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For more sports betting information and plays, follow David on X/Twitter: @futureprez2024

American biologist shot dead in his home in the Philippines

Tue, 14 Jul 2026 10:54:53 -0400

American biologist Kent Carpenter, 73, was shot and killed at his home in the Philippines on Sunday in what authorities are calling a murder.

Carpenter, an adjunct professor at Silliman University's Institute of Environmental and Marine Sciences in Dumaguete City, was in his home with a 34-year-old girlfriend when authorities say three men broke in at 11:30 p.m.

One of the men allegedly shot Carpenter in the head during what police believe was a robbery. The men also allegedly tied up Carpenter's girlfriend and sexually assaulted her, the government-affiliated Philippine News Agency (PNA) reported.

TWO SUSPECTED AMERICAN COMMUNIST INSURGENTS KILLED IN CLASH IN THE PHILIPPINES

The men took a laptop, cash and a backpack before fleeing, police spokesperson Col. Allen Rae Co told reporters.

All three of the suspects are still at large, though local police have initiated a special investigation to find the culprits, PNA reported.

Local investigators began "conducting backtracking and forward tracking operations, including the review of possible CCTV footage, witness interviews, intelligence validation, and reconstruction of the suspects’ movements before and after the incident," police wrote in a statement.

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"We strongly condemn this senseless act of violence. I have directed our investigators to exhaust all legal means to identify and apprehend those responsible at the soonest possible time," Regional Director Police Brig. Gen. Romano Cardiño said in the statement.

"We assure the victim’s family, the community, and our foreign visitors that this case is being treated with utmost urgency, and no effort will be spared until justice is served," he also said.

Carpenter was a highly renowned scientist who studied fish, co-authoring a 2005 study that crowned the Philippines' Verde Island Passage as "the center of marine shore fish biodiversity."

He spent decades working as an ichthyologist, collaborating with Silliman University in some capacity since 1976.

"Dr. Carpenter made groundbreaking contributions that transformed global understanding of Philippine marine biodiversity," Silliman University said in a statement.

"Dr. Carpenter's contributions to Philippine marine science were profound and enduring," a statement the Philippine Association of Marine Science posted Tuesday read.

"As a U.S. Peace Corps volunteer in the 1970s, he worked with the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources and helped train the country's first coral reef science team. His early papers on Philippine coral reef fisheries resources, including his work with National Scientist Angel C. Alcala on muro-ami and kayakas reef fisheries, were landmark contributions that shaped the country's understanding of reef fisheries and the urgent need for science-based management," the statement continued.

"In the wake of this devastating loss, PAMS strongly condemns this act of violence. We call upon the Philippine National Police, the local authorities in Negros Oriental, and appropriate national investigative agencies to conduct a swift, thorough, and transparent investigation. Those responsible for this heinous crime must be held fully accountable under the law," the statement added.

"Dr. Carpenter devoted his life to protecting the Philippines' marine heritage. We owe it to him to honor that legacy by continuing his work and demanding justice for his tragic and untimely death," the statement concluded.

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Fox News Digital contacted the U.S. Embassy in Manila for further comment.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Air Force helicopter makes emergency landing in DC

Tue, 14 Jul 2026 10:37:53 -0400

A U.S. Air Force helicopter was forced to make an emergency landing in the nation's capital on Monday after pilots heard "strange mechanical sounds" while in flight.

Air Force public affairs chief Ann Stefanek confirmed the landing in a statement, adding that no one was hurt during the incident. Multiple law enforcement groups responded to the incident, including the FBI and Metropolitan Police Department.

"It was on a routine training mission when it identified a potential mechanical issue. The crew landed out of an abundance of caution as they are trained to do after hearing some strange mechanical sounds. No damage or injuries," Stefanek said in a statement.

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

The UH-1N helicopter was assigned to the First Helicopter Squadron out of Joint Base Andrews and had four personnel aboard.

The incident came the same day that police arrested an armed man after he drove to a security barricade outside the U.S. Capitol.

U.S. Capitol Police said officers arrested the man at the North Barricade after discovering he had a firearm.

SUPREME COURT JUSTICES HEAD TO CAPITOL HILL FOR FIRST CONGRESSIONAL APPEARANCE SINCE 2019

Firearms are prohibited on Capitol Grounds, and authorities immediately closed the area while investigators processed the scene.

"Our investigators are working to learn more about the suspect and why he drove to the U.S. Capitol," Capitol Police said in a statement.

Police remained at the scene throughout Monday afternoon, where officers were seen removing items from a Ford Bronco parked diagonally in front of the barricade.

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Fox News obtained video showing the suspect's Ford Bronco being towed away from the North Barricade following the arrest.

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The SUV, which displayed Florida license plates, was removed from the scene by authorities as investigators continued processing evidence and working to determine why the armed man drove to the U.S. Capitol.

Fox News' Stepheny Price contributed to this report.

Ella Langley tells fans to stop measuring themselves against social media in viral concert video

Tue, 14 Jul 2026 10:17:07 -0400

Ella Langley could care less about nonsense on social media.

As our loyal readers know, Langley has become the most recognizable woman in the country music world, and there's not a close second at this point.

She dominates the charts, racks up awards and is authentically herself. It's that last part that has helped build her an incredible following.

COUNTRY SUPERSTAR ELLA LANGLEY PULLS OFF INCREDIBLE CAREER ACCOMPLISHMENT ON THE MUSIC CHARTS

Now, she's sharing an important message about ignoring what's on social media.

Ella Langley rips the inauthenticity of social media.

We all know that social media can be a very toxic place. It's also full of people pretending to be something they're not in order to keep with the Joneses.

It's comically stupid, and the country music star has had enough.

ELLA LANGLEY FANS RALLY TO HER DEFENSE AFTER MORGAN WALLEN DUET SPARKS POLITICAL BACKLASH

"I think with social media and how you get to see into everyone’s life, and you feel behind, or you feel not good enough, or not pretty enough, or not cool enough. Or you can’t sing this way, or you can’t dance this way. Who gives a sh*t? This is who I am, and that’s what you get," Langley told the crowd in a viral video from a recent show, according to Whiskey Riff.

You can watch her comments in the video below, and let me know your thoughts at David.Hookstead@outkick.com.

Well said, Ella. Very well said. Let's just be honest with each other. Social media is about as far from reality as you can get.

VIRAL GERMAN SOCCER FAN WHO CAPTIVATED AMERICA FLEES SOCIAL MEDIA AS STORY TAKES A PREDICTABLE TURN

Many people present a picture that is borderline delusional. I personally know people who are completely different behind closed doors than what they show to the public.

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Here's one thing I can promise you. You'll never see photos of me on the internet in private jets or at mansions. Why? Because it's unnecessary and tacky, among other reasons we don't need to get into here.

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Langley is right to tell people to not care because the internet is literally meaningless when it comes to living a happy and full life.

What do you think about Langley's comments? Let me know at David.Hookstead@outkick.com.

Director of new ‘Lord of the Rings’ rejects ‘politically correct’ casting after suggestions film is too White

Tue, 14 Jul 2026 10:15:03 -0400

"Lord of the Rings" director and Gollum actor Andy Serkis drew a firm line against critics demanding more diversity in the beloved franchise, arguing that his new film will reject "politically correct" casting.

Speaking with the BBC, the filmmaker defended the predominantly White cast in the highly anticipated film "The Hunt for Gollum." Serkis said original author J.R.R. Tolkien’s universe was widely inspired by Norse mythology and that diversity should be a focus "where relevant," not simply to satisfy what he described as industry box-ticking.

"The Shire feels very, very much like a very, a very White, you know…" Serkis told the BBC, where they note he "trails off" before continuing.

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"They're not very concerned about what goes on beyond the borders of The Shire, but they know they don't want people coming in," he said.

Debate over Middle-earth’s diversity has simmered for years, as the original trilogy, directed by Peter Jackson and starring Elijah Wood and Viggo Mortensen, was also accused of being too White. Some critics have argued the original trilogy used problematic racial coding, associating the heroes with Whiteness while the villains relied on dark-skinned tropes.

Serkis acknowledged the criticism of the decades-old franchise to the BBC but said they don’t plan on injecting more diversity into the films just to tick boxes.

CHRISTOPHER NOLAN CALLS CRITICISM OF 'THE ODYSSEY' CASTING DECISIONS 'IRRELEVANT'

"This particular film is somewhat acknowledging that. But we don't think we will be doing a politically correct just-casting-for-the sake-of-casting-and-ticking-boxes version of the film. So, it's only where relevant basically," he said.

The actor, however, has spoken out in favor of diverse casts in Hollywood, noting that his time as one of the few White actors in the "Black Panther" film helped show him what it was like on set.

The BBC included that in 2018, he said the film gave him a new understanding of what it meant to be the minority on set. He told the Radio Times in 2018, "[Director] Ryan Coogler said to me and Martin, 'Guys, I have to tell you this, but this is the first scene I've directed with two White actors in it.' That's an incredible perspective to find yourself in."

BELOVED 'LITTLE HOUSE ON THE PRAIRIE' FACES WAGONLOAD OF 'WOKE' ALLEGATIONS OVER NETFLIX REBOOT

The "Lord of the Rings" franchise expanded its diversity with Amazon's spinoff "The Rings of Power," which some viewers criticized as being too "woke." The show included some of the franchise's first Black Elves and Dwarves, along with other characters portrayed by actors of color. Billionaire Elon Musk even weighed in on the show, posting on X in 2022, "Tolkien is turning in his grave."

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Only days after that post, several actors from the original franchise posed for a photo wearing T-shirts with different elf ears that featured different skin tones with the caption, "You Are All Welcome Here."

"The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum" is expected to premiere in December 2027 and is set to take place between the prequel "The Hobbit" films and the first "The Fellowship of the Ring" film of the main trilogy.

Scammers exploit Nancy Guthrie case with QR code money requests, Pima County sheriff warns

Tue, 14 Jul 2026 10:12:59 -0400

The Pima County Sheriff's Department is warning people about a new scam using Nancy Guthrie.

In a statement on social media, the Pima County Sheriff's Department said it's "aware" of posts about the Guthrie investigation that include a QR code requesting money.

"PCSD will never ask for money related to this case, or any investigation," the department said.

NANCY GUTHRIE MYSTERY EXPOSES NEW THREAT TARGETING UNSUSPECTING AMERICANS LETTING DOWN THEIR GUARDS

The agency advised people to "not send money to people you do not know or scan QR codes requesting payment," and asked that they report such posts if they see them.

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Nancy Guthrie, the mother of Savannah Guthrie, an anchor on NBC's "Today" show, has been missing for over 164 days.

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

Savannah Guthrie in late June pleaded with viewers on the "Today" show to come forward with any new information after reports that one of the ransom notes sent to her family declared her mother dead.

SAVANNAH GUTHRIE PLEADS FOR TIPS AS RANSOM NOTE CLAIMS MOM IS DEAD: 'SOMEBODY KNOWS SOMETHING'

"I just want to take the opportunity to ask people, to really to beg people to come forward. Somebody knows something. This is a new story today that is on your radar, but this is the life that my sister lives, I live, my brother lives, our extended families live, our children live every day. We are in agony," Savannah Guthrie said

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"We cannot be at peace no matter how much I try to come out here every day and smile and find that joy, and I will, I promise I will, this is the moment to tell you that we need your help. We’re begging for your help. I’m not going to miss that opportunity. And so please, if you’re watching, no matter how small the reward is there, you can tell us. It can be anonymous. Please do the right thing for us, for our family, for our children. We love our mom. We’ll never stop looking for her, never," Savannah Guthrie added.

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Anyone with information about Nancy Guthrie's disappearance can call the Pima County Sheriff’s Department at 520-351-4900 or 88-CRIME at 520-882-7463. Digital photos, video or doorbell-camera footage can be submitted through the FBI at fbi.gov/findguthrie.

Kathie Lee Gifford details the pelvis fracture and spine misdiagnosis that pushed her to 'rock bottom'

Tue, 14 Jul 2026 10:04:57 -0400

Kathie Lee Gifford said years of debilitating physical pain became so overwhelming that she reached a point where she felt ready to "go home" to heaven, opening up about one of the darkest periods of her life on a new episode of Sean Hannity's podcast.

"I was done," Gifford said, adding later that she "just wanted to go home to Jesus."

The broadcasting legend reflected on the health challenges that nearly broke her spirit during a wide-ranging conversation with Hannity, touching on her decades-long career, Christian faith, family and the resilience she found after enduring years of physical setbacks.

KATHIE LEE GIFFORD ADMITS SHE 'WANTED TO DIE' AFTER MISDIAGNOSIS AND MULTIPLE SURGERIES FOR CHRONIC PAIN

In the process, Gifford opened up about living "10 lives" and surviving the intense physical agony that left her crawling across her floor.

"And I've been so blessed in my life. I had five grandchildren within three years. My son had three, and my daughter had two children, and thus making me a bubby, which is the Yiddish for grandma. And as joyful as that was, I couldn't even hold them."

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From a catastrophic medical misdiagnosis to harrowing falls that left her pelvis fractured, she revealed how hitting "rock bottom" physically tested and ultimately strengthened her faith.

"I thought I had the best doctors in the world," she said. "And they kept saying to me, 'It's not your hip, it is your spine.'"

Gifford disagreed with their assertions, saying she knew her body was telling her a different story. At the time, she couldn't walk, and a doctor's misread of an X-ray further delayed treatment.

"I was crawling to the bathroom by the time I finally had my hip replaced," she said, recalling that one physician was stunned by the condition she had been living in.

Gifford said she ultimately made a call to the doctor about her misdiagnosis and threatened to sue.

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"I don't want anybody else to ever have to suffer like that," she said.

Hannity's full conversation with Gifford is available on iHeart, YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts and other major podcast platforms.

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

WATCH: Kamala Harris torched over ‘zero sense’ WNBA pep talk in latest ‘word salad’ moment

Tue, 14 Jul 2026 10:01:15 -0400

Former Vice President Kamala Harris drew ridicule over a motivational speech to the WNBA's Los Angeles Sparks over the weekend – with critics arguing the appearance was another "word salad."

Harris told the Sparks they were making an "incredible impact" on the country, while critics ripped her circuitous delivery and the fact she went from the Democrats' presidential nominee to "giving speeches to the WNBA."

"I travel our country. Young girls, boys, people of every gender background, race, watch the ‘W’, and understand how inspiring it is," Harris said.

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"So keep doing what you're doing. You guys are impacting people who you may never meet," she said, before claiming that includes people who "may never know your names or mine but they are aware of what you are."

"And it is giving them a sense of their value, their dignity, and what they have a right to expect from this world – so congratulations on this game, but congratulations as much as anything else for the path you guys are charting. It is extraordinary to watch."

Outkick founder Clay Travis was nonplussed by Harris’ remarks, saying the former vice president made "zero sense."

NATE BARGATZE FACING CANCELLATION FROM THE LEFT FOR ATTENDING UFC 250 WHITE HOUSE EVENT: 'TEAM FASCISM'

"This league has still never had a team visit the White House with Trump in office," he added.

Former University of Kentucky swimmer Riley Gaines said on Fox News Monday that when FBI Director Kash Patel fired up the U.S. Olympic Men’s Hockey Team in February after its upset of Canada, he was ridiculed by Harris’ ideological flank for the appearance while serving as the FBI chief. Gaines said that while she had not seen Harris’ clip, she was reminded of the invective launched at the administration official.

"Was there any outrage like there was when Kash Patel was in the men's locker room after the Olympic team won a gold medal at the Olympics? No, I don't think so," she said.

Other critics said Harris served up her latest helping of "delusional word salad nonsense," hearkening back to prior speeches and public remarks that also appeared circuitous or vague.

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"I still thank God every single day that this woman lost the election," user One Bad Dude wrote.

"She's like a party clown at this point," another wrote.

Another quipped: "Total mystery how this person lost every swing state."

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Fox News Digital's Kiera McDonald contributed to this report.

Arkansas takes home top ranking for religious freedom after Gov Sanders expands key protections

Tue, 14 Jul 2026 10:00:57 -0400

FIRST ON FOX: Arkansas has been ranked the nation's top state for religious liberty after Republican Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders signed a series of laws expanding faith protections that helped lift the state to the top.

Earning a score of 89.2%, Arkansas became one of only two states to earn the First Liberty Institute's annual Religious Liberty in the States index's first-ever "excellent" rating. The index evaluates states using 50 legal protections across 20 religious liberty safeguards spanning education, healthcare, family law, economic activity and other areas of daily life.

"Religious liberty is America’s First Freedom, and Arkansas is leading the nation in protecting it," Sanders said.

"Our rights come from God, not government, and every American should be free to live according to their faith and conscience. We’ll continue defending that freedom and ensuring the Natural State remains the best place in the country to live, work and worship."

AMERICA’S NEXT 250 YEARS DEPEND ON PASSING FAITH AND FREEDOM TO OUR CHILDREN

The Natural State climbed six spots from last year's rankings after lawmakers approved several measures expanding legal protections for religious exercise and conscience rights.

Arkansas' rise was driven largely by Act 677, legislation Sanders signed last year that bars state and local governments from penalizing people, businesses and religious organizations for acting according to their religious beliefs regarding marriage and biological sex.

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The state's religious liberty push also included the Conscience Protection Act, signed by Sanders in 2023, which expanded Arkansas' Religious Freedom Restoration Act by prohibiting state government discrimination against religious organizations based on their religious identity or status.

Kelly Shackelford, president, CEO and chief counsel at First Liberty, said other states should follow Arkansas' lead and "strengthen religious liberty protections in their own states."

"Religious liberty is best protected when leaders are willing to act before the rights of people of faith are threatened," Shackelford said.

GOV SANDERS REVEALS 'MAJOR BREAKTHROUGH' ON EDUCATION AS RED STATE POSITIONS ITSELF AS 'BLUEPRINT' FOR NATION

Dr. Mark David Hall, director of the Religious Liberty in the States project, said Arkansas demonstrates how states can protect what America's founders called "the sacred right of conscience," allowing people to practice their faith not just at church, but in their everyday lives.

"States have always served as laboratories of liberty, and this year’s results show why that matters," Hall said.

Sanders also publicly defended religious freedom in December. She rejected demands from the Freedom From Religion Foundation (FFRF), a group that advocates for the separation of church and state, to reverse her proclamation closing state offices for Christmas.

In a response letter previously obtained by Fox News Digital, Sanders pushed back on claims it was unconstitutional, saying "only by voicing our own faith and celebrating other faiths can we make our state's diverse religious communities feel seen and heard."

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"With this index, citizens and legislators can see where their state is doing well, where it still has room to improve, and which existing laws could help better protect the right of conscience," Dr. Paul D. Mueller, associate director of the Religious Liberty in the States project, said.

John Schneider blasts claims the American flag is a 'divisive symbol': 'These people are out of their minds'

Tue, 14 Jul 2026 10:00:30 -0400

John Schneider is defending the flag against those who would tear it down.

"There are people who are saying that our flag is a divisive symbol," the "Dukes of Hazzard" star told Fox News Digital. "People who are saying that they go into neighborhoods where there's a lot of American flags and somehow they feel unsafe. These are the same people who a couple of months ago took down the neighborhood watch signs because they thought that that indicated that the neighborhood was unsafe. These people are out of their minds."

He noted that the neighborhood watch is "neighborhood policing, and I love the police. They're policing their own neighborhood and saying, ‘Look, don't bring that stuff to our neighborhood. And if you do, we'll meet you. We'll meet at the border.’"

'THE VIEW' CO-HOST SUNNY HOSTIN LAMENTS 'I SUDDENLY FEEL UNSAFE' IN NEIGHBORHOODS WITH AMERICAN FLAGS

Schneider continued, "So, we live in very interesting times, my friend. Very, very interesting times. But we're going to get through it. We're going get through it as long as we have patriots, as long as we have folks who are not afraid to tell – I believe it's the truth, but I'll give some of them the benefit of the doubt. People who are willing to tell their truth, openly, unabashedly, unapologetically, like you, right, I hope like me, and we'll get through it."

The beloved TV and country music star, who starred on "The Dukes of Hazzard," "Smallville," "Tyler Perry’s The Have and Have Not’s" and co-founder of The Children’s Miracle Network, did a 45-minute concert to help celebrate America’s 250th Anniversary on the Freedom Stage in Washington, D.C. as part of the Great American State Fair.

WATCH HERE: JOHN SCHNEIDER DEFENDS AMERICAN FLAG AGAINST DETRACTORS

"It's an honor because we're here in D.C., and we were asked by the present administration, so that's really terrific, so I'm jazzed about it," the 66-year-old said about being asked to perform for the nation’s 250th anniversary.

LEE GREENWOOD SAYS HE'S 'VERY PROUD' TO STAND NEXT TO TRUMP DURING AMERICA'S 250TH CELEBRATION

The "Smallville" star revealed that he also celebrated the country’s bicentennial 50 years ago in style when he joined high school bands from all over the U.S. and played the sousaphone in a parade at Disney World.

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"It was great," Schneider said. "For me at that point, it was really spectacular because we got to go behind the flowers and trees at Disney World and saw, you know, kind of the inner workings of it and that was kind of like getting to go behind the curtain where the Wizard of Oz is, so I loved it. So, now to be part of something else 50 years later — I can't believe that but it's true. Fifty years later, I'm part of the sestercentennial… And I'm proud of our country. I'm proud of everything that's going on right now."

One thing he loves about America is the freedom to debate ideas.

'FORREST GUMP' STAR GARY SINISE TELLS TOMI LAHREN WHY AMERICANS SHOULD CHERISH EVERYDAY FREEDOMS

"I believe that you should be able to express your opinion," he said, "and have it maybe challenged, but in a friendly manner. Somewhere in the last, I don't know, maybe six years, it seems like a lot of people, if you disagree with somebody, they just like throw you out. And maybe that's social media. Maybe it's the ability to be able to block people."

One thing he said he hopes never changes about this country is the "desire to celebrate our flag, to celebrate red, white, and blue, to celebrate our freedom, to celebrate those folks who have sacrificed so much in order to give that to us. And there are forces trying to combat that too."

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When asked what freedom means to him, Schneider called it the "opportunity to be able to do with your life or your skill set that which makes you happy. You know, life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness."

He continued, "Pursuit of happiness is not necessarily having a bunch of money. The pursuit of happiness is getting up in the morning and saying, ‘I can't wait to get to work. I can't wait to try this. I can't wait to write this song. I can't wait to do this woodwork. I can't wait to fix that car. I want to be the best mechanic there ever was. I wanna be the best lawyer there ever was, I wanna be the best whatever there ever was.’ You can't do that in other countries. They don't take it for granted."

FIRST ON FOX: Major Cornyn backer goes all-in for Paxton as GOP rallies after red state shock poll

Tue, 14 Jul 2026 10:00:27 -0400

FIRST ON FOX: The country’s largest union of Border Patrol officers is now backing Ken Paxton for Senate after having previously endorsed Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, in the Republican primary.

In a statement shared with Fox News Digital, Paul Perez, president of the National Border Patrol Council, said the union is "proud" to endorse Paxton, "because we know he will continue fighting for the resources, policies, and leadership our agents need to keep America’s borders secure."

This comes as Paxton, Texas’ current attorney general, continues to consolidate GOP support after what was a particularly bruising primary. Meanwhile, according to a recent poll, Democratic candidate James Talarico is running dead even with Paxton, giving Democrats hope he can be the first to flip a Texas Senate seat blue for the first time in nearly four decades.

An upset like that would be devastating for the GOP’s hopes of retaining a majority in the upper chamber.

SHOCK POLL: TALARICO TIES PAXTON IN TEXAS SENATE RACE, THREATENING GOP STRONGHOLD

Once seen as the outsider candidate, Paxton soared to victory over Cornyn after a last-minute endorsement from President Donald Trump in the May primary runoff. Other Republican leaders who once backed Cornyn have rushed to Paxton’s support, such as Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-N.D., who said he was "all in" for Paxton.

Though he previously backed Cornyn, Perez spoke very highly of the attorney general, saying, "We know Ken Paxton stands with the men and women of the National Border Patrol Council who are on the frontlines protecting our borders, and he has always fought to uphold the rule of law."

He added that "while many looked the other way during the Biden border crisis, Attorney General Ken Paxton has taken action to defend our state, our nation’s sovereignty and to support those on the front lines."

A close Trump ally, Paxton was one of the most prolific state attorneys general in suing the federal government under former President Joe Biden. In total, Paxton sued the Biden administration more than 100 times. With Texas comprising over 60% of the U.S. southern border, many of Paxton’s suits against the Biden administration were related to border security. He even sued the Biden administration on his last day in office over offshore drilling limits.

JOHN THUNE GOES 'ALL IN' FOR KEN PAXTON AFTER BITTER PRIMARY RIPPED GOP APART

Paxton responded that he is "honored to earn the endorsement."

"No one understands the consequences of open-border policies better than the brave men and women serving on the front lines every day," he said.

"As Attorney General, I have spent years fighting the Biden administration's unlawful immigrant agenda, defending Texas’ right to secure our border, and standing with law enforcement officers," he continued. "I will continue that fight by ensuring President Trump’s border security agenda is fully implemented, funded, and never undermined by partisan politics."

Meanwhile, Talarico, a 37-year-old former middle school teacher and Presbyterian seminarian, has emerged as the top Democratic fundraiser in Senate races, hauling in a massive $27 million in the first three months of this year.

Talarico and Paxton are tied at 47% support among likely voters in Texas, according to a New York Times/Siena survey released in late June.

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Paxton, however, has asserted that "Talarico doesn't belong in Texas," saying, "He fits in California. He does not fit here."

In the same vein, Republicans have repeatedly spotlighted Talarico's past controversial comments, including saying that "God is nonbinary," that there are six biological sexes and saying he thinks of himself as a Christian who "hates Christianity."

Government racism has divided us for 250 years. It’s time to put an end to it

Tue, 14 Jul 2026 10:00:03 -0400

Like most Americans, I took part in the festivities over America’s 250th birthday. I found it quite remarkable to reflect on that number. On one hand, America is 250 years old, with so much history. On the other hand, America is still a baby compared to many other countries. I found myself having to pause and think about what was nagging me about that number. Two hundred and fifty years.

Then the answer came to me. Two hundred and fifty years also marks how long race has played a role in this nation — and still does. Those who say race is as much a part of America as apple pie are not entirely wrong. We may not have the Klan riding through the streets, but I’m not talking about that kind of racism. I’m talking about government-sponsored racism. Our government has always tipped the scales when it comes to race. I found myself asking on America’s 250th birthday: Will we ever be free of our own government using race to divide us?

Here on the South Side, people like to point to redlining and blockbusting to explain what happened to our neighborhoods. And those things were real, and they were wrong. But that explanation conveniently stops in the 1950s, as if nothing happened after. Most of what devastated this community happened after, not from the 1960s backward, but from the 1960s forward. One well-intentioned program after another, engineered far from these streets by people who never had to live with the results, managed to produce a great deal of white virtue and precious little opportunity for the people who live here. I have watched the wreckage of that experiment my whole life. And I have learned this: there is no solution to be found in race. We do not find our minds in our skin.

AMERICA’S NEXT 250 YEARS DEPEND ON PASSING FAITH AND FREEDOM TO OUR CHILDREN

So when I reflect on America turning 250, that number lands heavier than a birthday should. Two hundred and fifty years of race in America, and people still keep shoving it down our throats, as if it is the only lens left to see each other through. I know the power of race is not what will lift a single child off these streets. These kids are human beings before they are a race, and it is racist to insist otherwise. They are individuals, with their own minds, their own spirits and their own God-given talents. It is only by nourishing that individual seed, one child at a time, that we give them the one gift that actually matters: the freedom to become who they were made to be, rather than a statistic assigned to their skin.

There will always be people who resist that kind of progress, who need race to stay at the center of the conversation, because race, not development, not talent, not opportunity, is where their power lives. That has been true for 250 years, and I see no sign of it slowing down. Which means it falls to us. It must be us who resist it. It must be us who claim the American birthright of the individual and stop surrendering ground to those who profit from keeping us divided.

We have given up too much ground for too long, and that surrender is a large part of how we got here — a decline that, left unanswered, shows no sign of stopping on its own.

AMERICA'S NEXT 250 YEARS BEGIN IN THE CLASSROOM

So here is my answer, on this 250th birthday: Invest in opportunity the way we invest in crisis.

When something breaks in this neighborhood, when a window gets shattered, when violence erupts, when the cameras show up — suddenly there is a race hustler and there is money. Suddenly there is urgency. Suddenly everyone agrees something must be done immediately. But investment before the crisis, investment in a child’s future before he ever picks up a gun or gives up on school, never seems to carry that same urgency. We will spend on the emergency every time. And we hesitate on the opportunity to develop.

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I think about the community center we have spent years building on the South Side, almost ready to open its doors. That building is what opportunity looks like when you invest in it before the crisis, not after. It is a bet on individual kids — their talents, their minds, their futures — not a program built around their race. And I believe, with everything in me, that a fraction of what this nation has just spent celebrating its past 250 years could transform the next 250 years for neighborhoods like this one, if we spent it the same way: on people, one at a time, believed in before they ever have to prove it in a crisis.

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That is the American birthright I want for these kids. Not a hyphen. Not a category. Not a box checked on someone else’s form. Just the same shot at the pursuit of happiness that this country promised 250 years ago, earned on their own talent, their own will, and their own perseverance.

We are Americans, first and only.

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Graham ally rips 'thirsty' Republicans jockeying to replace late senator

Tue, 14 Jul 2026 09:59:46 -0400

FIRST ON FOX: The sharks are swirling in the water in the race to replace Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., and one of his closest allies is unhappy with how quickly South Carolina Republicans jumped on the opening.

"I'll just be honest, it rubbed me the wrong way," Rep. William Timmons, R-S.C., told Fox News Digital in an interview.

"The way that within 24 hours people are talking about that, that's just not appropriate," he continued. "And I don't know, I think it's unfortunate that these people are so thirsty for attention that they'll get it at the expense of — It just rubbed me the wrong way."

LINDSEY GRAHAM’S SISTER APPOINTED TO SENATE AS GOP RUSHES TO PROTECT FRAGILE MAJORITY

Since Graham’s sudden death on Sunday, two members of the South Carolina GOP congressional delegation, Reps. Nancy Mace and Ralph Norman, have signaled interest in running in the forthcoming special election to lock in a new Republican nominee.

Mace teased a bid on social media after she failed to secure the Republican nomination for governor in the Palmetto State last month. Norman similarly was unable to clinch the nomination, which eventually went to South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson.

Mace posted a quote from "The Godfather III" on X on Sunday after sources close to her revealed she was "seriously" considering a bid in the Aug. 11 special election.

'THE HALLS OF THE SENATE ALREADY FEEL EMPTY': TEARFUL THUNE HONORS LINDSEY GRAHAM AS SISTER TAKES HIS SEAT

"Just when I thought I was out… they pull me back in," she posted.

And Norman told reporters that he's seeking Trump's endorsement for the race.

Norman said Trump told him, "He's got to have some time."

"I said, 'Can you endorse me if I run?'" Norman recalled.

Timmons, who shared a close bond with Graham forged through hours on the golf course, argued that he didn’t believe that either would be senator after voters "just got the best polling data ever in [the] South Carolina… primary election."

He contended that the next senator needed to "work to earn everyone's respect and trust. And you can disagree, but you don't need to be mean about it," and to model themselves after Graham.

Timmons said a lesson he learned from his late mentor was that you have to earn the respect and trust of your colleagues: "You don't tweet hateful things at them. You don't tell them what to do. You tell them why this is a good path forward, and sometimes you have to figure out a way that you can make it work."

GRAHAM'S DEATH IGNITES GOP SCRAMBLE FOR SENATE SEAT AS TRUMP HINTS HE ALREADY HAS A FAVORITE

"I think that some of the people that have talked about running have a history of just saying outlandish things and taking ridiculous positions just for the purpose of getting clicks," Timmons said.

"And I think that that is not something that the people of South Carolina are going to reward," he continued. "And I think that it would be very unfortunate if the next senator did not take the same approach."

For now, South Carolina does have a temporary replacement for Graham — his younger sister, Darline Graham.

Darline Graham, who has never held elected office before, is set to be sworn in to the position on Tuesday. From there, she’ll serve out the remainder of her brother’s term.

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Candidates can begin filing for the primary race one week from Tuesday. Timmons, when asked if he was interested, didn’t shut the door on the idea.

"That's a conversation for the future, and obviously I support the president," he said. "I think the president is going to be the deciding factor of who the next senator is, and we will see what he decides."

Trump loses key Senate ally as election integrity fight enters critical phase

Tue, 14 Jul 2026 09:45:58 -0400

President Donald Trump’s top election integrity priority has been stalled in the Senate for months, and with the passing of Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., the push has lost a key player in getting the bill across the line.

Graham was not just a vocal proponent of the SAVE America Act; he was the Senate Budget Committee chair, a position that is crucial in setting the foundation and guardrails for the party-line process Trump has demanded Republicans take to pass the bill.

His sudden death on Sunday came as the House was gearing up to launch a third budget reconciliation attempt in a bid to fund the Pentagon and attach a version of the SAVE America Act to the party-line undertaking.

SENATE RETURNS TO PACKED AGENDA AFTER GRAHAM'S DEATH SHRINKS GOP MARGIN

"This is a big blow to the SAVE America Act, let me tell you," Trump said after Graham’s death.

It’s a maneuver that Graham has wanted to make as soon as the political reality of the bill became clear in the Senate, where a cohort of Senate Republicans have broken from Trump and Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., to block the bill with Senate Democrats.

In early April, Graham vowed to make a "down payment" on the SAVE America Act through reconciliation.

'DID YOU CALL 911?' TUBERVILLE RECOUNTS GRAHAM'S FRANTIC FINAL PHONE CALL

"Voter integrity laws — I'm going to create grant programs, but they'll have conditions on them," Graham said. "To get a grant, you’ve got to make sure you purge your rolls of illegal immigrants. There are a lot of blue states out there that don't do that, and we'll try to get as much of a voter ID system as I can."

His position on the Senate Budget Committee won’t remain vacant, however.

Sen. Ron Johnson R-Wis., is expected to take the gavel, but has not yet been formally tapped for the role. Still, he is already getting up to speed with staff on the committee and his colleagues in the House.

GRAHAM EYES ‘DOWN PAYMENT’ ON TRUMP-BACKED SAVE ACT WITHOUT DEMOCRATIC SUPPORT

"I just walked by Lindsey’s desk, so, I mean, I've got to take one step at a time," Johnson said. "I understand the responsibility I'm assuming."

Johnson said that he’s already spoken with his House counterpart, House Budget Committee Chair Jodey Arrington, R-Texas, and is doing what he can to "organize the effort so we can succeed."

He’s already gotten his hands on the House’s SAVE America plan from House Administration Committee Chair Bryan Steil, R-Wis., but whether the provision lives or dies is ultimately up to the Senate rules referee.

Complicating matters is the running clock lawmakers have to deal with, given the time-consuming nature of budget reconciliation.

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The House is in session for two weeks this month, while the Senate will embark on a near month-long sprint. Both chambers will be gone the entirety of August, and return in September to a looming fight over funding the government.

For now, the Senate is waiting on what the House produces, and there’s no guarantee that their product will pass muster with Republicans in the upper chamber.

"The path to 51 is going to be a bumpy one, I think over here," Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., said. "But, we’ll see what they come up with."

MIKE DAVIS: Why Senate must ignore Obama judge's attack on AG nominee Todd Blanche

Tue, 14 Jul 2026 09:36:03 -0400

Todd Blanche, President Donald Trump’s acting attorney general, appears before the Senate Judiciary Committee Wednesday for a nomination hearing that will help decide whether he gets the permanent job.

Blanche is unquestionably qualified to serve as the next attorney general of the United States. Indeed, the Senate confirmed Blanche as the deputy attorney general – the Justice Department’s No. 2, with almost all powers of the attorney general – nearly 16 months ago. And Blanche has already served as the acting attorney general for many months.

Blanche, a former New York federal prosecutor, white-shoe law partner and senior Justice Department official, is the right man for the job. His experience fighting (and beating) the Biden lawfare against Trump as his private attorney makes Blanche uniquely qualified to bring much-needed accountability and reforms to the Justice Department to ensure the Democrats’ unprecedented, republic-ending lawfare is never repeated. Blanche is on a glidepath to Senate confirmation as America’s next attorney general.

So naturally, Democrat operatives are getting desperate. In a last-minute judicial drive-by attack, former federal public defender-turned Obama-appointed Judge Kathleen Williams blasted out an unprecedented, lawless order Monday in which she baselessly referred Blanche for bar discipline. Her timing is obviously political. Williams sat on it for weeks, only to issue her ruling two days before Blanche is set to publicly testify at his Senate confirmation hearing.

The 11th Circuit should reverse her order, like it has done so many other times before. Instead of rewarding Williams’ partisan and dangerous judicial misconduct, the Senate must confirm Blanche before August recess.

President Trump was the victim of an unprecedented, coordinated Democrat lawfare campaign by the Biden White House, the Biden Justice Department and partisan Democrat prosecutors in New York and Atlanta. Trump sued. Among other bad actors, the lawsuit sought damages for the misconduct of Jack Smith, the former Biden special counsel who attempted to decide a presidential election for the American people through the federal criminal justice system. Trump’s lawsuit also targeted Jay Bratt, Smith’s Biden DOJ lackey. During Trump's second term, the Justice Department agreed to a settlement placing approximately $1.8 billion into an anti-weaponization fund to compensate victims of a weaponized justice system, but then scuttled the plan. Williams signed off on the voluntary dismissal under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 41. That should have ended the matter, but it didn’t.

OBAMA-APPOINTED JUDGE TORCHES TRUMP ADMIN IN LATEST COURTROOM SHOWDOWN, REFERS ATTORNEY FOR BAR REVIEW

A group of disgruntled former federal judges who were not parties to this case — people who had nothing to do with it and walked in off the street — filed an amicus brief urging Williams to reopen the case and impose punitive sanctions on the plaintiffs. Blanche, Stanley Woodward (DOJ No. 3), and the Justice Department never even entered appearances. None of that mattered to Williams. She baselessly and lawlessly referred Blanche and Woodward for bar discipline anyway, over a supposedly collusive settlement.

This ruling is legally absurd, a political disgrace and a highly improper attempt by a federal judge to change the outcome of the Senate confirmation of a senior executive branch official.

The legal problems start immediately. Williams invokes Article III constitutional authority, but she acted solely at the request of nonparties who had no stake in the case. In other words, those with no Article III standing. Stunningly, she ordered money paid to these former judges who had no part in the litigation. She then claimed there was no active case or controversy, and she disingenuously and badly attempts to distinguish this fact — which normally would be a death knell for Article III standing — from binding Supreme Court cases.

LEGAL WAR ON TRUMP’S AGENDA GAINS FIREPOWER AS FEDERAL LAWYERS DEFECT TO DEMOCRATS

Williams called this case "a truly unique scenario" and admitted she could not find a comparable precedent. That admission alone should have stopped her from acting as she did. Sanctions exist to punish unethical legal conduct, not to allow a federal judge to make up new law on the fly to punish political enemies.

Williams’ ruling has no limiting principle. Consent decrees are filed complaints with agreed-upon settlements that courts approve routinely. Indeed, the Justice Department has entered into hundreds of them. Under Williams' logic, were those collusive too? Should those lawyers face bar referrals and disbarment–because some lawless and emotional partisan judge didn’t like the policy result?

The 11th Circuit needs to step in and address this mess. That will not be the first time the 11th Circuit has had to clean up after Williams. It will surely not be the last time, either.

During the pandemic, Williams tried to micromanage Miami-Dade County's jail facilities, ordering that inmates receive masks, cleaning supplies and COVID testing. The 11th Circuit vacated the order. Williams struck down Florida's vaccine passport law, which protected unvaccinated cruise passengers from discrimination. She ruled it violated the First Amendment. The 11th Circuit reversed her.

DHS MOVES ALL DETAINEES OUT OF ‘ALLIGATOR ALCATRAZ’ AMID HURRICANE CONCERNS

Her most outrageous anti-Trump ruling involved Alligator Alcatraz, the state-run detention facility built in the Everglades to house illegal immigrants awaiting deportation. Florida ran it; the federal government did not. Williams invoked an obscure environmental law requiring assessments before construction of federal facilities and ordered it closed. But again, it was not a federal facility.

States house federal prisoners in county jails all the time. That does not make those jails federal property. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis stepped up to help the Trump administration manage the flood of illegal immigrants who poured across the border under Biden. Williams tried to stop him. The 11th Circuit reversed her and kept Alligator Alcatraz open.

Now Williams wants to derail a Trump Cabinet confirmation with a last-minute sanctions order dropped two days before Blanche's confirmation hearing. She never should have entertained the motion brought by those washed-up, bitter judges, led, as usual, by J. Michael Luttig, a perpetual Supreme Court reject who has made a career out of losing. Williams should have left the dismissal in place and moved on.

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The Senate already knows how to handle this playbook. When so-called whistleblower Erez Reuveni made last-minute allegations against Third Circuit Judge Emil Bove, the Senate ignored them and confirmed Bove. They should do the same here.

The 11th Circuit will reverse Williams. And the Senate must confirm Todd Blanche before August recess.

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Mamdani roasted over assertion that higher NYC rapes come from 'expanded definition'

Tue, 14 Jul 2026 09:29:30 -0400

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani faced some backlash on Monday after attempting to explain rising rates of rape within his city, as he said it was due in part to an expanded definition of what constitutes rape.

During an interview with PIX11 News, reporter Dan Mannarino asked Mamdani about New York City Council Speaker Julie Menin's concerns over rape and felony assault numbers within the city.

Mamdani maintained that the NYPD has reported among the lowest numbers of murders and shootings in its recorded history and suggested that the rape statistics need to be contextualized.

ZOHRAN MAMDANI PRAISED FOR 'FANTASTIC' QUESTION-DODGING ON PRESIDENTIAL ELIGIBILITY

"And what I think is important to know is a lot of the increase in rape also comes from an expanded definition of what counts as rape, as well as survivors coming forward for acts that took place years prior," Mamdani said. "And we are thankful for them coming forward, the courage and the bravery it takes, but just to provide New Yorkers with that context."

Mamdani's comments on the "expanded definition of what counts as rape" surprised some of his critics. While Mamdani's defenders online said he was merely providing context and wasn't downplaying the seriousness of the crime, others called out what they viewed as his dismissal of the upswing.

Democratic New York City Council member Susan Zhuang commented on the clip on X.

"Expanding the legal definition of rape was an important step toward recognizing more survivors under the law. But it should never be used to deflect from the responsibility to reduce sexual violence. Survivors deserve leadership, action, accountability, and justice. They don’t deserve deflection," she wrote.

"HOW did women vote for this guy?" women's activist Riley Gaines wrote.

MAMDANI SAYS IT'S TIME TO 'BRING THIS CHAPTER TO A CLOSE' AFTER PLATNER CAMPAIGN COLLAPSE

Republican Texas Rep. Chip Roy remarked, "Rapes are up. Rents are up. Foreign diseases and parasites spreading. Historic Churches burning left and right. Elect the third world, get the third world."

Outkick founder Clay Travis joked, "Sure, New York City rents hit an all time record high today, but at least the mayor is still very eloquent on social medi…whoops!"

"Going great," RedState writer Bonchie commented.

Pro-Israel activist Lizzy Savetzky wrote, "Didn’t realize rape had a dynamic definition."

"No wonder these guys saw no problem with Platner," Substack writer Jim Treacher wrote.

GEORGETOWN PROFESSOR SAYS 'GET OVER IT' TO MUSLIM RAPE GANG CONCERNS

Fox News Digital reached out to the mayor's office for comment.

Mamdani's comment on the "expanded definition" of rape likely refers to New York's Rape is Rape Act, which was signed into law by Democratic New York Gov. Kathy Hochul in January 2024 and went into effect in September of that year. The law classifies rape as nonconsensual or forcibly compelled sexual intercourse, oral sexual conduct or anal sexual conduct after previously defining rape as only nonconsenual or forcibly compelled vaginal penetration by a penis.

However, NYPD’s latest CompStat data from last week saw a 6.6% increase in rape compared to the same time last year, after the definition was already changed.

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NYPD's data also showed a decrease in murder, theft, robbery, burglary and grand larceny.

Fun fact: ISS astronauts see roughly 16 sunrises and 16 sunsets per 24-hour day

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

Scroll through the slideshow and be amazed

Inside Israel's mission to train civilians to stop the next Oct 7-like terror attack

Tue, 14 Jul 2026 09:18:52 -0400

ISRAEL-GAZA BORDER: "Fire, fire, fire!" shouts a member of Kibbutz Bror Hayil’s local security squad, pointing his weapon at a fellow participant acting as a terrorist. The kibbutz is located adjacent to the Gaza border, from where thousands of Hamas-led Palestinians invaded Israel and massacred some 1,200 people on Oct. 7, 2023.

The exercise, attended by Fox News Digital, was the eighth training session conducted by Magen48 in partnership with the Israel Defense Forces — a full-scale drill involving the local civilian defense squad designed to prepare southern Israeli communities for scenarios similar to Oct. 7.

One of the scenarios simulated terrorists infiltrating the kibbutz kindergarten. With IDF forces en route, the civil defense squad had to respond while accounting for the presence of children, limited visibility and the need to neutralize the attackers while ensuring a safe evacuation. During the exercise, a simulated grenade detonated, injuring one member of the civil defense squad in the leg, while the others succeeded in neutralizing the terrorists.

HAMAS SAYS IT WILL DISSOLVE GAZA GOVERNMENT, BUT ISRAEL WARNS GROUP STILL SEEKS HEZBOLLAH-STYLE CONTROL

In earlier sessions, participants learned to operate weapons from behind cover while sitting, lying down, standing and moving. They are also trained to work in pairs and larger groups while developing communication skills. The exercises grew increasingly complex, with teams conducting drills inside buildings and responding to continuous emergency alerts.

Because the exercise took place inside a civilian community, no live ammunition was used. All weapons and equipment were secured to prevent accidental discharge. Residents were notified in advance of the drill.

Among the 47 participants were IDF soldiers and medical personnel from the Gaza Division’s Northern Brigade.

Magen48 instructor T., who could not reveal his full name for security reasons, said the Bror Hayil program initially presented significant challenges.

"The civil defense squad was made up of soldiers who had served in special forces alongside others who had never held combat roles in the military. Some were issued weapons they had never used during their service. Training begins with weapons familiarization, covering the basics of firearm operation and how to manipulate the weapon’s safety mechanisms," he said.

One lesson drawn from Oct. 7 was that many members of civilian security squads responded alone. "Whoever ran alone was not able to fend off terrorists," T. said, explaining that the training emphasizes locating another squad member before engaging whenever possible.

"The idea behind this project is to establish a unified operational language, so that if an incident occurs, nearby communities can join the response and coordinate effectively," he said.

ISRAEL FORTIFIES BORDER WITH JORDAN AS IRAN SEEKS NEW TERROR PATH

"The idea is that they are able to manage the event until forces arrive, then hand over control in an orderly manner while continuing to work together. They know the kibbutz, they work well as teams and they have undergone high-quality training that sharpened their skills."

Magen48, established in July 2024 and named for the 48 first responders killed on Oct. 7, has trained 1,500 civilians to respond to life-threatening emergencies, equipping them with the knowledge, skills and resources to contend with scenarios such as terrorist attacks, medical emergencies and fires.

Counterterrorism expert Ehud Dribben, who has 30 years of experience in the field, co-founded the organization with Ari Briggs and Mike Aron. As the three began planning to create a training facility, the IDF approached them to develop a program providing each of the 67 Gaza Envelope communities with 12 full training days annually. To date, Magen48 has conducted more than 550 training sessions.

The training exercise began with the community command center issuing an alert about eight terrorists infiltrating the kibbutz, prompting members of the civil defense squad to mobilize to their assigned defensive positions.

Briggs and Dribben designed the exercise around five key locations where the defense squad would ultimately need to concentrate its forces. Response times are measured, and every step — from alerting residents to engaging the terrorists and evacuating casualties — is closely monitored.

"The reports that emerged after Oct. 7 showed that civilian first responders were incredibly brave. They were prepared to do anything to protect their families, friends and communities, but they were not trained adequately and lacked the equipment they needed," Briggs said.

"Strong, well-trained civilian response teams don’t just improve security — they help bring communities back together, strengthen resilience and ensure these towns grow and have an amazing future," he added.

Retired British Col. Richard Kemp, who observed the training exercises, said the primary objective is to prevent another Oct. 7.

"I was in the British army for 30 years, so I understand the importance of defense and security for a country like Israel," he told Fox News Digital. "If you know that your enemy has a capability of any sort to endanger you, you have to be ready to deal with that capability through the kind of work that Magen48 is doing."

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Kemp called the drill one of the most complex exercises he had witnessed.

"It’s really important that these drills take place to give the local community confidence that its security is a top priority and that forces are doing everything they can to prepare for another terrorist attack like the one we saw on Oct. 7," he said.

LPGA star reveals incredible number of cigarettes she was smoking, Philly fans boo kids & buy the WWE's plane

Tue, 14 Jul 2026 09:17:48 -0400

The sun is shining, it's supposed to be a blazing 97 degrees here in NW Ohio and the World Cup rolls on this afternoon, but, first, it's time for a fresh edition of Tuesday Screencaps where we address the sports and culture world we're all living in.

Let's start with this startling piece of news from smokin' Charley Hull, who dazzled all of us with her cig-smoking antics on the LPGA Tour. We called her the female John Daly. It turns out we weren't exaggerating. In a new podcast out this week, Hull reveals that she was smoking up to 40 cigs per day at the height of her nicotine habit.

"I was very stressed at the time," Hull says of her 40 cig per day performances.

How does that compare against John Daly's habit?

In 2014, Daly revealed, like Hull, he was smoking up to 40 cigs per day and would drink 10-12 Diet Cokes. That Diet Coke consumption was down from his peak when he would hammer 26-28 cans per day.

His cig of choice? Marlboros. I just happen to be lucky enough to have a pack autographed by Big John that I curated during a trip to the 2024 Masters where I was able to meet John at the Augusta Hooters (RIP).

EPIC GOLF TRIP, GERMAN SOCCER FAN FREDDY STUNNED BY SMALL-TOWN OHIO IN CUP TRAVELS, SOFIA VERGARA STOPS & MEAT

Unlike Daly who continues to smoke like a chimney, Hull decided one day on the golf course to just give up cigs. She made a $10k bet with friends that she was done smoking for two months. She hasn't smoked since.

📩 Email: joe.kinsey@outkick.com Send photos, stories, tips, rants—whatever you've got.

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WHY THE PERFECT LAWN IS THE ULTIMATE STATUS SYMBOL FOR AMERICAN MEN

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MLB wants to bring in a younger audience, but then puts the Home Run Derby on Netflix

Did kids gravitate to the Netflix app like we all gravitated to ESPN back in the day? It's early, but based on where this poll is heading, it sounds like an overwhelming number of kids will have to see a clip on social media to have seen any of the 2026 Derby.

Were kids more likely to watch the Derby if it was on a cable/YouTubeTV channel?

Things I wonder about:

Who's going to buy all these houses and villas when the Boomers are dead?
What is the future of sports broadcasting when kids don't have much interest in television?

This is the most-watched TikTok on MLB's channel this morning from last night's event. It has 515k views. Can these massive sports organizations exist in a world where its audience wants a nine-second clip?

The price for parents to watch their kids play travel sports just keeps going up and you guys just keep paying

I know one of you spent the weekend in Cincinnati at an AAU tournament. A media personality in NW Ohio says she and her husband spent $240 in entrance fees to watch their twin daughters play in said tournament. The mom says after parking, gas, hotel and food, they spent more than a thousand dollars for a long weekend in Cincinnati.

But, families just keep paying it and the tournaments keep raising the prices. Look at what parents were paying in 2025 vs. 2026.

Last night, I was doing the math with Mrs. Screencaps on a season of rec baseball:

$185 in fees
$85 for cleats
$150 for a new bat (sizes change and we're left no choice but to buy the new size on eBay)
$30 for pants (maybe more; I don't buy those)
$20 sunflower seed budget

Total: Let's call it $500 just to get a season rolling, not including the fuel to play 45 minutes from home on random Wednesday nights. Next year, the bat budget will likely be slashed to zero

Modern-day degenerates: Meet Priscilla Presley’s son

– Mark in Tucson writes: I'm sure I'm not the only one who sent you the story about this clown and his gofundme... for a pizza oven... for his driveway... Besides being the degenerate son of Priscilla Presley, and asking the public to fund this pipe dream, there's so much else to parse. His defense of the request is he has ADD and bills, so he's asking the public's help. He clearly has done no research on Los Angeles and it's byzantine regulation structure, but I'd pay money to be there when he fires that bad boy up. If this ever gets off the ground, he'll be shut down the first day. Mark my words.

Thank you for the daily dose of NORMAL.

Mailbag:

– Dan from AZ on pillows: Catching up on SC from Saturday and just wanted to second your Purple pillow rec #NotSponsored. I bought mine back in January and haven’t looked back. Also coincidentally just ordered one yesterday for the wife.One thing I’ll add for Beer Guy Neil is if you live near any of their stores, go in and try them out. They have several different options to accommodate all the various sleep preferences. I went with the DreamLayer.Lastly as a Cubs fan who will always root for Kyle Schwarber, I hope he hits a billion homers tonight.

Kinsey: I want to add that I DO NOT have any stock in Purple pillows. I have never received an email from Purple to promote their pillows. I PAID for my Purple pillow.

– Philly Ray in MN on my recent venture into the world of pickleball: Google annual cost of pickleball injuries in the U.S. Yikes!

– Kevin in Naples, FL reacts to my golfing prowess and this scumbag RJ telling me to stop taking care of my yard: The Tee Shot Tuesday video was awesome. Instead of putting up a snowman, you rose to the occasion and scored par with your silky smooth swing.

Re: RJ bitching about lawns: A nice lawn is about having pride in your property and taking care of the things you own. It's about being a responsible adult with taste, class, and keeping property values high in your hood.

RJ's idea of creativity with his lawn is it's probably filled with grubs, bare spots, broken glass, old bald tires, and broken down 1993 Buicks.

– Tom T. also reacts to this loser RJ: I have not been mowing on Thursday nights. In fact, I have not been mowing at all. All of my grass is DEAD, Jim. If only I had a lawn that could feed the WHOLE neighborhood, I would be so stoked!! The only way my lawn could feed the neighborhood, is if they had a great recipe for Plaintain stew… you know, the weeds with the little knobs on a long stem that have white things sticking out…..I had to look up the name. Of course that virtue signaling dingus, RJ, did not send a picture of his lawn…. HE AIN’T GOT ONE!!! I hope he’s envious of my dead lawn, but the fact is, he will never have a lawn, unless someone gifts him a house with a lawn…..maybe his parents have a lawn that he can inherit.

– Jim in East Peoria, IL is back and he's as mad as I am at Disney for not rigging America's Funniest Videos for a little girl to win a Disney cruise: Great work today on a very slow sports day. Hard to believe the schedule is so barren, but that's the way the dog days go at times.

Truly UN F---ING BELIEVABLE that AFV chose Granny over the little girl. Guessing the family wasn't woke enough or something. And you are, as usual, correct - the little girl's video was MUCH better. Chuck heaving the club was comical, but typical Chuck. I too had no idea Conor McGregor was fighting again until I saw some stuff about it Sunday morning. Course, not exactly sure I'd call it fighting....

I'd say ol' RJ gets his panties twisted about a lot of things we hold sacred in America. He can just walk himself right out the f---ing door to his country of choice. And the United Steaks of America was classic!

Lastly, I think we need to start a SOPHIE2032 campaign. She'll only be 30 in August, so she can't run in 2028, but I really think she'd be a great choice for 2032. Just sayin'.

– Scott in Rocky Point, NY checks in on my new pickleball fascination: As a lifelong competitive guy and someone that picks up most sports easily (baseball, softball, basketball, tennis (eh), ping pong, badminton, pool, etc) I found myself getting a pickleball racket kit from Amazon to give it a go with my gf. My daughter, who lives in AZ, has joined a few pickleball leagues to meet people and just to get out and pickle which sounds very fun except for the hot summer nights there. Not exactly sure of the rules as of yet, the kitchen what? We've only smacked the wiffle ball back and forth, sort of getting the hang of hitting, but totally agree that doubles seem to be the way to play. Less movement the better. Bring on a loud-mouthed 70s couple so I can smack the ball into their faces (talkers bother me). I have a badminton side to my yard, thought about converting it to pickleball (which would make me still play badminton), but the over $10K cost was a definite no for me. I'll get the swimming pool pickleball set instead.

Why do Canadians build houses so close together?

Last night, I ended up down a Google Maps rabbit hole and ended up in Saskatoon where I found myself looking at neighborhoods. I knew Canadian neighborhoods were tight, but why are they tight across the entire country where there's plenty of land?

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That is it this morning. That should be plenty of topics to drive conversation at work today. Let's get rolling and have another great day of life.

Numbers from :

Stuff You Guys Sent In & Stuff I Like :

Two regular Joes will compete with pros for $3.25M purse at inaugural 'The Champions' bass fishing tournament

Tue, 14 Jul 2026 09:00:29 -0400

If you’ve ever watched a bass fishing tournament and thought you could hang with the best anglers on earth, it might be time to put up or shut up.

World Bass Enterprises (WBE) is giving two average Joes the chance to compete in The Champions this fall, putting them on the same water, in the same tournament and in pursuit of the same record-setting prize money as some of the best bass fishermen in the world.

No pressure.

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The Champions, an inaugural tournament hosted by WBE, will feature a $3.25 million purse, including $1.25 million for the winning angler. That’s the largest prize in the sport’s history. The field will include the top 25 anglers from the Bassmaster Elite Series and the top 25 from Major League Fishing’s Bass Pro Tour.

And now, two fans will get a chance to join them.

WBE founder and CEO Brian Bird told OutKick Outdoors the idea came from fans themselves.

"You know, whenever we would do a podcast or we would do a social launch on one of our social media, there was always comments of, ‘Well, how do I get in? The everyday person should get to fish in something like this,’" Bird said. "And so I just — it bothered me."

So, he came up with a solution.

Fans who buy the tournament’s pay-per-view streaming package will be entered for a chance to win one of the two spots. There is also a no-purchase-necessary mail-in option.

"You buy the pay-per-view event, and it’s 50 bucks," Bird said. "We’re streaming the opening ceremonies. We’re streaming the tournament, of course, the weigh-ins, but we’re streaming the Champions Dinner. We’re streaming the pro-am. You get to watch all of that."

Then WBE will draw two anglers from those entries.

"We’ll just have two anglers that we draw out of that that buy the pay-per-view that are just everyday Joes, and give them a chance to compete in this tournament at the same level as the professionals," Bird said. "So I think it’s going to be really cool."

Watch Brian Bird's full interview with OutKick Outdoors here:

Bass fishing has plenty of weekend warriors who are convinced they could hang with the pros if given the chance. This time, two of them will actually get to prove it.

"I think it’s a story in itself for these people to get to participate in something like this," he said. "I mean, at media day, I can’t imagine the questions they’re going to receive. They may have more attention on them than the pros do.

"Maybe one of them will make the top 15 to fish in the championship on Saturday. That’d even be way cool too. So we’ll see what happens."

Two leagues will battle it out on the same lake

The Champions will be held Oct. 28-Nov. 1 at Sanders Ferry Park on Old Hickory Lake in Hendersonville, Tenn., just outside Nashville.

Bird said the goal is to create a true world championship event, something bass fishing has never really had before.

"I love the sport, for one, and I love watching tournaments, and I love watching all the anglers participate," Bird said. "But I’ve always been like, well, who’s the best, right? Because there’s two leagues, and in all of our other sports, there is a true championship. You know, a Super Bowl or NBA championship or whatever you want to call it, and I just felt like the sport of bass fishing was missing that."

First place will pay $1.25 million. Second place gets $500,000, third gets $300,000, fourth gets $200,000 and fifth gets $100,000.

"We wanted it to be the biggest payday," Bird said. "If we’re going to call this thing the Super Bowl of bass fishing, the world championship of bass fishing, whatever you’re going to call it… the payday needed to reflect that type of status."

RANDY MOSS LAUNCHES YOUTUBE BASS FISHING SERIES WHILE HEADLINING RECORD $3.25M TOURNAMENT IN NASHVILLE

Bird said professional anglers do well, but they don’t make the kind of money athletes in other major sports make. If this is going to be treated like a true championship, he believes the money should match.

"If you’re the best in the world," he said "you deserve to see that big payday."

The Champions will have a festival atmosphere

The fishing will be the centerpiece, but WBE is building The Champions into a much bigger event.

The five-day event will include three days of competition, media day, opening ceremonies, weigh-ins, a flyover, fireworks, a massive expo, a pro-am tournament, fan activities, food and beverage vendors and musical performances from Riley Green, Lee Greenwood, Randy Houser and Trace Adkins.

"The way we’re setting it all up is it’s all like what probably the fans and athletes experience at a Super Bowl," Bird said.

He said fans can also expect a kids park with a petting zoo, BB gun shoots, fishing activities, aquariums, bounce houses, casting and flipping contests, horseshoe contests, bands, a beer garden and food vendors.

It’s a full-blown bass fishing festival.

World Bass Enterprises CEO is also giving away his own boat

WBE announced that one fan will win Bird’s former Ranger Z521R 55th Anniversary Limited Edition 2023 bass boat. Fans can enter by buying merch from WBE’s online store, or by mail without making a purchase.

Bird told OutKick Outdoors he wanted the giveaway to feel more personal than simply buying a random prize. He said the boat has been well cared for and is "like brand new."

"We’ve won some tournaments together, but I just thought it’d be awesome for a fan to get to have it and see somebody else getting to use it," Bird said. "And hopefully, it’s as good to whoever wins it as it’s been to me."

Bird said WBE is also giving away other prizes, including ATVs, a trip to the Bahamas, an alligator hunt and fishing trips.

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"There’s lots of opportunities to win so much stuff, and that’s something else that’s really neat about this," Bird said. "I don’t think there’s ever been an event like it that’s giving away as much as we’re giving away to the fans."

Including, of course, the chance to compete in the tournament itself — which will either be really cool or really humbling.

Love all things fishing and outdoors? Follow OutKick Outdoors on Instagram and TikTok!

Meet BK Westbrook – Pro wrestler who has battled obstacles to become rising talent on the scene

Tue, 14 Jul 2026 08:44:15 -0400

The pro wrestling landscape is filled with many talents looking to break through and make a name for themselves. BK Westbrook is one of those wrestlers chasing that crazy dream.

The road hasn’t been easy. Westbrook started to train at a wrestling school in North Carolina in 2018 before it eventually closed down. He started having his first matches at Carolina Wrestling Federation (CWF) Mid-Atlantic before the promotion came to an abrupt end in 2019.

COMPLETE PRO WRESTLING COVERAGE ON FOX NEWS DIGITAL

He then suffered another setback – the COVID-19 pandemic. But overcoming one obstacle after another was all a part of the journey.

"I've had that like multiple times within wrestling and it's crazy when I saw my school closed down, I was getting my car's oil changed, was waiting for it, and then next thing you know I get this message saying we're no longer going to have shows and then I had to think, I didn't just get into wrestling to just wrestle at this one place even though like this is awful this sucks," he told Fox News Digital. "And then COVID happens, again, it's like OK, well I can't do my thing. right now and this is really, really annoying and I'm just I'm annoyed that I can't do that and eventually led to me just continuing to put my name even more places and I felt like this can't be the end for me. I can't let this little this crazy time, this unprecedented happening with the pandemic,

"I couldn't just let that get me down man. It was a little difficult because living in North Carolina, it was a little less, I mean it was still strict, but if I was going to go wrestle somewhere, I'd go somewhere where the states didn't care as much, like Tennessee or South Carolina or something like that, even Georgia. But once things started kind of opening back up and things started to get normal, it was like, OK, we're going to hit the ground running."

For Westbrook, the dream was always pro wrestling.

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He said he grew up watching it on TV but really grew to love the sport watching it on YouTube. The mix of athleticism and entertainment was the true draw.

"It was just falling in love with it online growing up," Westbrook said. "Growing up being a YouTube kid, being on a computer. I discovered it on TV first, but just finding a love for independent wrestling and what I'm doing now kind of grew on me just loving what wrestling is at its core, what you see on WWE or AEW or whatever, I just kind of found even more of a deeper liking for it.

"But it's just I don't know. I just think it's something that if you're a wrestling fan, you get it, and you understand kind of why you're drawn to it. To me, it's easy for me. I like sports, I like entertainment, I like them both kind of together. It's just it's different for everybody, but for me it was super simple to like to get into just because I love the athletic blend of competition, and also, just the storytelling aspect of being able to normally tell the story of good versus evil or just even beyond that. I just think wrestling is such an amazing art or medium for art and I get a chance to do it on the weekends. Hopefully more than just the weekends. Hopefully, you know, all the time."

Westbrook has been putting in the work. He’s wrestled at some of the top independent promotions right now, including Pandemonium Pro, Game Changer Wrestling, Limitless Wrestling, Deadlock Pro-Wrestling, TBD Wrestling and several others. He even made an appearance for All Elite Wrestling.

Recently, he battled Amira for the Pandemonium Pro Championship. Though it was a losing effort, Westbrook came away with a few bruises from the women’s wrestler.

"My first time wrestling Amira, like you said last month in Portland, and she's been kind of running it over there for a while in the Pacific Northwest, specifically that Portland area," he told Fox News Digital. "My first shot I think I ever even heard of Amira was in the Portland area. I was wrestling for Prestige Wrestling and that was really cool and to see her growth, she's been doing lots of stuff.

"My fianceé, Ella Envy, she was able to hang out and get a chance to know Amira from like the Lodestone stuff that that Bayley was doing where she was putting on for women's wrestling. And I think she's doing really good work. I got a chance to wrestle her. She hits really hard, but other than that, she's got lots of talent. And if I wasn't going to be the champion, I'll say she's about as good as it gets for being a champion representing over there."

Westbrook will be a part of Pandemonium: Pro Wrestling’s "JoJo" event on Aug. 2. The wrestling showcase will honor the late Jordan Saint, who died in a car crash on Long Island, New York. The proceeds of the event will go to Saint’s family.

He will be going up against Epidemius Jr. While he vowed to win the match, he said it was an honor to be a part of the show.

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"I'm excited for the match," he said. "I'm excited for the show. It's going to be an incredible event. It’s super sad about the passing of Jordan and I just I hate that. And I know that everybody is looking to have an awesome show in his memory.

"Outside of that, for Pandemonium to run this event with all the proceeds going to his family, it does it helps knowing that his people will be taken care of after that. It’s cool that wrestling is a way and a medium for that to be able to happen. Unfortunately, that his passing did occur, but it is nice to know that we can make a difference in that regard and I'm excited to have a kicka-- match in his memory and also in the name of Pandemonium Pro."

Confidence in higher education slips after brief recovery, Gallup poll finds

Tue, 14 Jul 2026 08:00:30 -0400

Public confidence in American higher education has taken a fresh hit, erasing a brief period of recovery, as concerns over campus politics and financial value intensify, according to a new Gallup poll obtained by Fox News Digital.

The latest data reveals that just 38% of U.S. adults maintain a "great deal" or "quite a lot" of confidence in higher education. The figure represents a noticeable drop from last year, when trust in the sector experienced a modest uptick to 42%.

"It's kind of the three things that we see–those are still front and center and why people aren't as confident in higher ed as they used to be: the cost, there's the perception that there's a political agenda being taught, and there's the perception that they're not teaching people the right kinds of things they need to succeed in the job once they finish," an expert from Gallup told Fox News Digital in an interview.

LIBERAL FACULTY STILL HUGELY OUTNUMBER CONSERVATIVES IN HIGHER EDUCATION: REPORT

"U.S. public confidence in higher education remains much lower than it was a decade ago, but Americans’ views are not quite as negative as they were in 2024, when roughly equal shares had a great deal or quite a lot of confidence as had very little or none," Gallup researchers noted. "After a slight recovery in confidence last year among all political party groups, views of higher education fell back this year, mainly among Democrats."

The survey probed respondents on what drives their skepticism, revealing three distinct themes among those who lack confidence:

• 31% cite partisan bias or indoctrination on college campuses.

• 30% point to the high cost of a college degree.

• 25% believe colleges fail to prepare students to succeed in the modern job market.

Gallup researchers noted that the criticism over workforce readiness takes on added urgency as artificial intelligence rapidly shifts the employment landscape.

"The latter criticism takes on added significance with AI emerging as a technology that could disrupt the workforce and make it harder for graduates to find work once they finish their education," the report added. "The challenge for higher education is whether it can adapt its instruction to set students up for success in the future workplace."

AMERICA'S NEXT 250 YEARS BEGIN IN THE CLASSROOM

The current 38% confidence mark underscores a steep, long-term decline from 2015, when 57% of Americans expressed solid trust in higher education. Significant drops followed in 2018 and 2023.

Currently, 37% of Americans report having "some" confidence in the institution, while 25% hold "very little" or "none." The portion of the public with little to no faith rose from 10% in 2015 to 32% in 2024, before briefly retreating to 23% last year.

The findings arrive amid a broader push by the Trump administration to dismantle viewpoint discrimination, antisemitism, and diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) frameworks across U.S. universities.

The administration previously designated "civil discourse" as one of four critical areas of national need within its competitive federal grants program. In response to that mandate, the Department of Education unveiled seven institutional priorities under the Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education (FIPSE).

As a primary component of that initiative, $60 million in federal grants is being deployed under a directive titled "Promoting Civil Discourse on College and University Campuses."

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Colleges and universities securing FIPSE funds are required to construct initiatives that "foster respectful deliberation and debate on college and university campuses, where free expression has too long been eroded by censorship, harassment, and even violent unrest."

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Approved projects under the federal grant include seminars, speaker series, academic conferences, structured debates, and alternative learning tracks aimed at protecting a broader spectrum of political ideologies and reviving open dialogue.

Acclaimed New Zealand actor Sam Neill contracted pneumonia before he died, co-star says

Tue, 14 Jul 2026 07:53:59 -0400

Sam Neill, the 78-year-old New Zealand actor best known for his role in "Jurassic Park," died on Monday after contracting pneumonia, a co-star said.

Rima Te Wiata, a Kiwi actor who appeared with Neill in the 2016 comedy "Hunt for the Wilderpeople," told The New Zealand Herald that he was "a very steady, peaceful, grounded man."

In an interview with the outlet, Te Wiata recounted times when Neill told the press that he wasn't afraid of death but that he'd be "annoyed" by it.

Neill's death came after he said he was cancer-free in April, years after he was diagnosed with Stage 3 non-Hodgkin lymphoma.

SAM NEILL REMEMBERED AS 'ONE OF THE GREATS' BY NICOLE KIDMAN, TONI COLLETTE AND MORE AFTER HIS SUDDEN DEATH

"It really sucks actually," Te Wiata said. "I think he would be like: ‘For goodness sake, I got over my cancer. And now look, now I get pneumonia. What next?'"

Neill's family announced his death on Monday via an Instagram post, saying he died while at St. Vincent's Private Hospital in Sydney, Australia.

"Sam was surrounded by family and passed with the dignity that has characterized his whole life," they said. "The loss was sudden and unexpected but blessed by the fact that Sam remained cancer free."

Neill, who starred as paleontologist Alan Grant opposite co-stars Laura Dern, Jeff Goldblum and Richard Attenborough in 1993’s "Jurassic Park," has been remembered in tributes from around the world.

Dern, 59, called Neill "my beloved lifetime friend," in a social media post.

STEVEN SPIELBERG ADMITS HE'S BEEN CONVERTED ON UFOS, SAYS HE BELIEVES THE BELIEVERS

"He showed me the depths of loyalty, protectiveness, and love, always with the driest of wit. He was a true and noble gentleman, wrapped up in my dream leading man," Dern wrote.

Goldblum posted a slideshow of pictures from the movie alongside the message: "The next great adventure begins. Love, always and forever."

In a statement to Variety, director Steven Spielberg said he "adored making all the 'Jurassic' movies with him."

"Along with Laura Dern and Jeff Goldblum, we will always have our ‘Jurassic’ family and Sam will never be forgotten by us or his many millions of fans around the world," Spielberg added.

JURASSIC PARK STAR SAM NEILL REVEALS HE HAS 'FEROCIOUS' STAGE 3 CANCER

Laura Tingle, a journalist for the Australian Broadcasting Corporation who also dated Neill for several years, revealed that he had been sick for "the last couple of weeks," in an interview with ABC Radio Sydney.

"Everybody who loved him has been willing him on from near and far, but I think it was just a bit too much to recover from one more time," Tingle said.

"He’d had a lot of chemo and a lot of immunotherapy and, thankfully, it finally cleared him of the blood cancer that he had, but that left him pretty compromised in terms of his immune system," she added.

Over his decades-long career, Neill has had more than 150 acting credits in movies and TV shows, including "The Hunt for Red October," "The Piano," "Event Horizon" and "Merlin."

In 2013, Neill took a role on "Peaky Blinders," an award-winning crime series set in Britain after World War I.

Co-star Cillian Murphy remembered Neill as "one of the kindest, funniest and gentlest people, and one of the finest actors," in a statement provided to Page Six.

Nicole Kidman also paid tribute to Neill, whom she met as a young actress on the set of the 1989 Australian thriller "Dead Calm."

"We met when I was just 18 and he took me under his wing and we stayed friends for life. He was charming, kind, funny and intelligent," she said in a statement to the Sydney Morning Herald.

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Neill was born in 1947 in Omagh, a town of about 20,000 in Northern Ireland. In the early 1950s, he moved to New Zealand with his family.

For his outstanding contributions to film, Neill was awarded a knighthood in New Zealand in 2022.