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Surrogate who refused abortion asks SCOTUS to intervene as baby could be moved out of Texas

Tue, 15 Sep 2026 00:49:32 -0400

The surrogate who refused an abortion sought by the biological parents has filed an updated brief with the U.S. Supreme Court following an emergency application she filed with the court last week, arguing the case is moving more quickly than expected.

McKenna West, an Alaska resident, and a California couple referred to as the commissioning parties, have been involved in a legal battle after she refused their request to terminate the pregnancy after a diagnosis of a serious heart condition, Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome (HLHS).

Represented by attorneys from Alliance Defending Freedom and First & Fourteenth PLLC, West asked Justice Elena Kagan, who handles emergency matters from the Ninth Circuit, for an administrative stay and a stay pending a possible petition for certiorari.

SURROGATE, CALIFORNIA COUPLE CLASH IN COURT AS NEWBORN FIGHTS FOR LIFE AFTER HEART SURGERY

Her application argues that the California courts violated federal due process by treating her jurisdictional defense as consent. It also argues that without a stay, the baby could be moved to California for hospice care while West remains unable to participate in decisions about the child's medical treatment.

But on Monday, the surrogate and her team expressed fears that the baby may be moved out of Texas earlier than she had expected.

She is asking the high court for an administrative stay 1 p.m. Eastern Time on Tuesday.

SURROGATE GIVES BIRTH IN TEXAS TO BABY WITH HEART DEFECT AFTER PARENTS REQUESTED ABORTION

This comes after a California court judgment that declared the commissioning parents the child's legal parents and denied West's custody claims.

The commissioning parents have argued in court that California has jurisdiction under the surrogacy agreement and that they are the child's legal parents.

West had refused the commissioning parents' request for an abortion and traveled to Texas, which has abortion restrictions, to give birth, saying she did so to ensure access to specialized medical care.

She asked for parentage and protective orders in Alaska and Texas, but the commissioning parents filed a parentage action in the Los Angeles Superior Court, according to Fox 4. West entered a special appearance to contest personal jurisdiction and object to the forum, citing a forum-selection clause that required litigation to be held in Alaska.

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But the California trial court ruled that West’s jurisdictional arguments and attached exhibits constituted a general appearance, meaning she had consented to the court’s jurisdiction, the outlet reported. The court then entered an ex parte judgment of parentage in favor of the commissioning parents.

After the baby was born in Texas on Aug. 12, a Texas court recognized the California ruling naming the commissioning couple as his legal parents and dismissed West from the case with prejudice, meaning she could not refile the same claim in that proceeding.

Dolly Parton, Rob Reiner receive emotional tributes during 2026 Emmy Awards

Mon, 14 Sep 2026 23:53:53 -0400

Sally Field reflected on Dolly Parton's legacy during a moving tribute to the late country music legend at the 2026 Emmy Awards in Los Angeles, Calif.

"If there are truly angels on earth, then we just lost one, Dolly Parton," Field confessed of her "Steel Magnolias" co-star.

Parton died on Aug. 25 following a "brief battle with cancer," according to her representatives. She was 80.

DOLLY PARTON'S LIFE IN HER OWN WORDS: FROM SMOKY MOUNTAINS POVERTY TO COUNTRY MUSIC IMMORTALITY

"It was my great, good fortune to have worked with Dolly in a film called 'Steel Magnolias,' and over the years I never stopped loving her though we lived very far apart," Field told the audience at the Peacock Theater. "I adored her from day one, how could you not?"

"She was genuine, and humble, supportive and blisteringly funny with a bawdy sense of humor that would send any rude guy looking for a place to hide."

CARRIE UNDERWOOD HONORS DOLLY PARTON'S FAITH AND LEGACY DURING EMOTIONAL CONCERT TRIBUTE

Field, 79, admitted that she "couldn't see then what a real giant Dolly was."

"Not just as an artist, but as a human ... She was a humanitarian who's contributions had made a profound difference in the lives of so many in her home state of Tennessee, and across our country," Field said.

"God bless you, Dolly Parton my friend. I am not the only one on earth that will love you forever and ever."

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Dressed in a sparkling white gown, Reba McEntire then took the stage to perform a rendition of Parton's classic 1983 song, "Appalachian Memories."

Parton was surrounded by loved ones at the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center when she died peacefully in Nashville, Tenn., last month.

With Noah Kahan leading a rendition of "Bridge Over Troubled Water," Jamie Lee Curtis commemorated the life of director Rob Reiner, who died in December alongside his wife, Michele Singer Reiner.

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Their 32-year-old son, Nick Reiner, was indicted last month on two counts of first-degree murder with special circumstances which make him eligible for the death penalty.

"Last year we lost another cherished legend, our beloved 'Meathead,' Rob Reiner," Curtis said. "He was generous and kind and funny as hell and a friend to all."

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During last week's Creative Arts Emmys, Reiner received a posthumous Emmy for his guest role in "The Bear."

"He now holds the record of 48 years for the longest gap between acting Emmys, which was previously held by his father Carl Reiner at 37 years," Curtis told the crowd through tears.

Macaulay Culkin, Annie Murphy and Dan Levy paid tribute to the late Catherine O'Hara during the 78th Emmy Awards. The "Home Alone" actress died in January following a brief illness. She was 71.

"There are all kinds of words I could use to describe Catherine," Culkin said. "She was encouraging, she was warm, she was funny. But the word that I think of is mama."

He added, "By the way, call your mother tonight. For real."

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Chiefs' new stud Kenneth Walker runs wild, Bo Nix melts down as Kansas City obliterates Broncos in MNF blowout

Mon, 14 Sep 2026 23:37:06 -0400

So much for Denver taking over the AFC West. The first Monday Night Football matchup of the 2026 season was a total disaster class for the Denver Broncos, who got flattened 31-10 by the Kansas City Chiefs at a rowdy Arrowhead Stadium.

Everyone tuned in to see Patrick Mahomes make his return nine months after tearing his ACL and LCL last December.

CHIEFS FACE CRITICAL 2026 SEASON WITH PATRICK MAHOMES RETURNING FROM ACL TEAR

But while Mahomes looked crisp, Kansas City’s $43 million offseason prize stole the entire spotlight. Fresh off winning Super Bowl LX MVP honors, running back Kenneth Walker put on an absolute clinic. Walker finished with 191 total yards (173 rushing, 18 receiving) and two touchdowns ... single-handedly out gaining Davis Webb's entire Denver offense on the night.

On Denver's opening drive, Chiefs rookie cornerback Mansoor Delane picked off Bo Nix to hand Kansas City instant momentum, which Mahomes capitalized on with a 15-yard touchdown scramble.

From there, Walker took complete control.

Early in the second half, Andy Reid kept his offense on the field for a fourth-and-1 at the Kansas City 40-yard line. Walker took the handoff, hit the seam, and exploded 60 yards to the house, becoming the first Chiefs back to log over 140 rushing yards and a touchdown in a game since Kareem Hunt in 2017.

Meanwhile, Denver's offense was an unmitigated trainwreck.

NFL LEGEND DREW BREES REPORTEDLY ALMOST PULLED OFF A SHOCKING COMEBACK FOR BRONCOS' AFC TITLE GAME

Davis Webb’s debut as Broncos offensive coordinator went down in flames as his entire unit couldn't even match the yardage output of Kansas City's lead tailback.

Broncos coach Sean Payton looked like he wanted to jump out of his skin watching his new OC call plays.

Outside of a quick first-quarter touchdown pass from Nix to Evan Engram that briefly tied the game at 7-7, Denver went completely ice-cold, stringing together four straight punts before halftime.

The wheels completely fell off in the third quarter. Trailing 21-7, Denver got a massive break when safety Brandon Jones picked off Mahomes, handing the Broncos first-and-goal at the Kansas City 5-yard line.

Instead of punching in a game-tying touchdown, Denver wet the bed.

A 10-yard penalty backed the offense up, and Nix followed by dropping a snap and fumbling out of bounds near the 16-yard line to force a field goal.

Nix later fumbled deep in his own territory, which Chris Jones pounced on to set up a Walker touchdown catch from Mahomes that officially put the game away.

PATRICK MAHOMES SO OBSESSIVE ABOUT KNEE REHAB HE TAKES A TRAINER WITH HIM WHEN HE LEAVES TOWN

Along the way, Travis Kelce provided the night's signature milestone.

The All-Pro tight end ripped off an electric 59-yard catch-and-run down the sideline to officially pass Jason Witten (13,046) for second place on the NFL's all-time receiving yards list for tight ends. Kelce now trails only Hall of Famer Tony Gonzalez (15,127 yards) for the all-time spot.

Old Man Kelce finished with 71 receiving yards to lead all Chiefs pass-catchers.

Taylor Swift held court with Tom Cruise, subjecting cinema’s boldest stuntman / actor to a Mission: Impossible even he couldn't pull off: pretending Bo Nix is a starting quarterback.

Different year, same story: the AFC West still firmly belongs to Kansas City, and Denver isn't any closer to changing that.

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Michael J. Fox receives standing ovation at 2026 Emmys for Parkinson's disease advocacy work

Mon, 14 Sep 2026 23:04:51 -0400

Michael J. Fox was honored with the Bob Hope Humanitarian Award at the 2026 Emmys for his advocacy and philanthropic work supporting Parkinson’s disease research.

The Bob Hope Humanitarian Award is an honorary Emmy presented by the Television Academy and the Bob & Dolores Hope Foundation. Established in 2002, it recognizes a television-industry figure whose philanthropic work has made a lasting impact on society.

Fox attended the award show on Monday night with his wife, Tracy Pollan. This was the couple's first appearance at the Emmy Awards in 13 years.

Fox received a standing ovation as he took the stage and talked about his Parkinson’s diagnosis. Fox was diagnosed with young-onset Parkinson’s disease in 1991 at age 29. He publicly revealed his diagnosis in 1998.

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On the Emmy Awards' stage, Fox said, "Initially, I kept my Parkinson's diagnosis a secret. I worried that it would affect my work and my relationship with audiences."

He continued, "Would they laugh if they knew I was sick? And then I was stunned by the support I got. The support from all of you. It was so uplifting. It made me feel like I could keep doing this and I hadn't lost what I do and they couldn't take this away from me. And it's because you stood up for me, and I really appreciate it."

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During the speech, Fox discussed his foundation and said that they are "close" to finding a cure for Parkinson's disease.

The internet reacted to Fox being honored with the award on Monday night.

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"Michael J. Fox ❤️❤️❤️❤️👏👏👏We can all learn so much from him...🙏🏻👍," one user wrote on X.

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Another added on X, "I really do think we underestimate how much Michael J Fox really put Parkinson’s 'on the map' so to speak. I knew about it as a little kid because of him and his advocacy for it."

"Michael J. Fox is an inspiration. The guy got dealt an awful hand," a third wrote on X.

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Georgia mayor, 23, ousted 10 months after making history as state’s youngest mayor

Mon, 14 Sep 2026 22:11:33 -0400

Georgia's youngest elected mayor was removed from office just 10 months after taking the job following allegations that he misused city funds and exchanged sexually suggestive messages and images with an 18-year-old high school student.

Jayden Williams, who recently turned 23, was impeached by the Stockbridge City Council in the city south of Atlanta after taking office in January.

"The City of Stockbridge confirms that the City Council has taken formal action concerning the Office of Mayor," the city said in a statement on Sunday. "The Mayor has been removed from office."

Williams was accused of using his city purchasing card for more than $4,000 in personal expenses, including restaurant meals, clothing, haircuts and a movie, according to Fox 5 Atlanta. He reportedly spent $2,600 on gas and used a city vehicle for personal purposes.

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The spending was reported after city workers noticed unusual transactions involving public funds and immediately notified management and the city’s legal team.

According to Williams’ testimony, he did not intend to use city funds and later repaid the money, Fox 5 reported. He further claimed the city-issued card looked similar to his personal card and said he later replaced the cards to avoid future confusion, the outlet reported.

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Separately, Williams was accused of exchanging sexually suggestive messages and explicit images with an 18-year-old male high school student.

A police report noted that Williams did not commit any criminal violations because the student was considered an adult under Georgia law. However, police referred the matter for administrative review over potential policy and ethical concerns about an elected official's interactions with a student in what investigators described as a city-affiliated mentorship program, Fox 5 reported.

In a statement, Williams previously said he met the individual before taking office and that the student never participated in the city’s "Mayor for a Day" program, which Williams described as not a mentorship program.

EX-MAYOR FOUND LIABLE FOR ALLEGED SEXUAL ASSAULTS OF 7 WOMEN, ORDERED TO PAY $13M

"The individual was 18 years old at the time of our communication, meaning we were both adults. I met this individual on November 30, 2025, and our online communication occurred before I was sworn into office in January 2026," he said.

Williams became the youngest mayor in Georgia history after campaigning for the position while still attending Clark Atlanta University.

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He was subsequently stripped of certain official privileges on July 17 as the investigation unfolded but was never criminally charged in connection with the alleged conduct.

Dozens missing after passenger ferry sinks as rescuers scour South Pacific coastline

Mon, 14 Sep 2026 21:21:59 -0400

A desperate search is underway in the South Pacific after a passenger ferry carrying dozens of people sank between two islands in Vanuatu, an island nation east of Australia.

At least one person has died and more than 30 others remain missing as search-and-rescue operations continue, according to a statement shared on Facebook by Vanuatu's Ministry of the Prime Minister.

MOM LOSES GRIP ON DAUGHTER AS PASSENGER FERRY CAPSIZES WITH 20 PEOPLE STILL MISSING

The MV Matui was traveling between the islands of Ambae and Santo when it sank Friday, according to The Associated Press (AP). It had 47 people on board.

Searchers rescued 15 survivors and recovered one body — but local authorities have now shifted their efforts toward the coastline as the hunt for the remaining passengers continues, AP reported.

Search efforts are being scaled back in open waters and shifted toward Vanuatu's southeastern coastline, where currents may have carried survivors, according to Matai Seremaiah, Parliament member for Luganville, the ministry said.

"Our hearts and prayers are with the families who have lost loved ones," the ministry wrote. "To the survivors, we pray for your strength and recovery. To the families of those missing and those we have lost, please know that the nation stands with you in this time of grief."

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Retired Coast Guard Capt. Aaron Davenport, based in Virginia, told Fox News Digital that several factors could determine the survival chances of those still missing.

Water temperature, injuries and access to flotation or other lifesaving equipment could all affect how long someone can survive after entering the water, Davenport said.

"They may be clinging to debris. But as the days go on, the chances of survival are less and less," he said, adding that a lack of food and water, along with the risk of hypothermia, could reduce the chances of survival.

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The ministry noted that the tragedy likely resulted from ignored marine warnings about strong winds, along with the possibility that the vessel was overloaded.

"This tragedy is a reminder that the safety of life at sea must come first," the ministry said. "Ship owners must ensure their vessels are seaworthy, carry all required safety equipment and have proper communication systems on board. Ignoring strong marine warnings puts lives at risk."

The government has launched a full investigation to establish the facts and help prevent a similar tragedy from happening again, the ministry said.

Fox News Digital previously reported that another deadly ferry disaster unfolded Aug. 30, when the Filo Jet catamaran, carrying 267 people, capsized off northern Cyprus.

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Fourteen people died and another 14 remain missing, while 239 people were brought ashore alive. Search and recovery efforts are continuing.

The ferry began taking on water shortly after leaving port, prompting a large-scale rescue operation.

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Authorities are investigating the sinking as questions continue to emerge about what caused the vessel to go down.

Patrick Mahomes answers troubling questions about his serious knee injury on first drive of the Chiefs season

Mon, 14 Sep 2026 21:19:25 -0400

If you were wondering whether Patrick Mahomes would be his old self following the serious knee injury he suffered exactly nine months ago to the day that the Kansas City Chiefs opened their 2026 season on Monday night, then rest easy.

The quarterback scored on a 15-yard run to culminate his team's first offensive drive of the season against the Denver Broncos and, honestly, the zigzagging dash to the end zone that he finished with a dive said something:

He's baaaack!

"That was definitely the moment physically where that kind of said all my [rehabilitation] work paid off," Mahomes said. "Like, I didn't feel anything. And it's still a process, I still have to keep getting better and better and stay on top of it.

"But this is obviously a great first week."

CHIEFS FACE CRITICAL 2026 SEASON WITH PATRICK MAHOMES RETURNING FROM ACL TEAR

The Chiefs, which sunk to a 6-11 record last season, seem to be back as well. They pummeled a talented Denver Broncos team by riding a stifling defense and running back Kenneth Walker rushing for 173 yards and a touchdown.

But Mahomes was the story.

Look, it remains to be seen how the season ultimately unfolds for the Chiefs and for what many consider to be the NFL's top quarterback.

Mahomes was by no means dominant, completing only 55 percent of his passes and throwing 2 TD passes and 1 interception. But that was not the focus.

The focus was gauging Mahomes and his return to health. Could he function? Could he still run? Could he still cause problems for the defense?

That first drive, with the quarterback showing no fear of being hit, made a statement that put the rest of the league on notice.

"It gave me that confidence back and let me be out there and be myself," Mahomes said.

TRUMP PRESSES KANSAS CITY BBQ RESTAURANT OWNER ON WHETHER PATRICK MAHOMES WILL START WEEK 1 OF NFL SEASON

Mahomes, who is turning 31 later this week, did not get hit in organized team activity sessions in the spring.

He didn't get hit in training camp.

He didn't get hit in the preseason, because he didn't play in any of the Chiefs' three games.

He was hit during the game and so that psychological obstacle is now moot.

"I just wanted to play," Mahomes said.

"It was great to get Patrick back in the mix there and knock a little rust off," Chiefs coach Andy Reid said. "He hadn't had a chance to play and see things coming at him quite that fast, so I was proud of him and how he handled it."

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Mahomes is wearing a lightweight brace on his left knee. He has said it does not deter him from moving as he did before his surgery, but he does eventually expect to shed the gear — perhaps as early as late in this season.

Mahomes tore both the anterior cruciate ligament and lateral collateral ligament in his left knee during the Chiefs’ Dec. 14, 2025, game against the Los Angeles Chargers.

He underwent surgery in Dallas the next day, with doctors repairing the torn ACL and LCL, and began rehabilitation almost immediately.

The exceedingly quick timetable for having the surgery was part of a plan, Mahomes has said. While many doctors urge their player patients to wait until their inflammation goes down before having surgery, Mahomes said his doctors urged him to get the surgery before the inflammation took root.

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Mahomes then committed to an intensive recovery program that included roughly seven hours of rehabilitation per day. All that led to Monday night.

"Once you put him in the game, he's going to play and you better be confident in him running," Reid said. "The only thing I asked was that [he] get down and, for the most part, he did that."

Just not on that touchdown run.

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Gov Hochul's plan to opt New York into federal school choice program draws union opposition

Mon, 14 Sep 2026 21:18:04 -0400

As New York teachers unions organize a protest against Gov. Kathy Hochul’s plan to opt into a federal tax-credit scholarship program, the CEO of Teach Coalition told Fox News Digital that opponents are spreading "misconceptions" about how the policy actually operates.

"It seems that they want to continuously spread these lies and the misinformation about this program on to anyone who will hear them," Sydney Altfield, CEO of Teach Coalition, told Fox News Digital on Monday. "But the people who actually want to help children, the people who actually want to see children succeed, they're not going to listen. They're going to understand that this is not the truth of what this program actually can do."

Tax-credit scholarships, historically operated at the state level, serve as a mechanism for school choice by allowing individuals or corporations to receive full or partial tax credits when donating to non-profit scholarship organizations. Unlike traditional voucher programs that draw directly from municipal or state education funds, tax credits allow taxpayers to redirect a portion of their tax liability toward non-profit funding for student scholarships.

NEW YORK JOINS FEDERAL SCHOOL CHOICE INITIATIVE DESPITE TRADITIONAL DEMOCRAT OPPOSITION

The federal iteration allows state governors to opt into the framework, enabling local families and educational programs to access federally incentivized scholarship dollars.

Emma Wallner, a spokesperson for Hochul’s office, confirmed in May that the governor intends to opt New York into the federal tax-credit scholarship program — making New York the 30th state to participate.

"Governor Hochul is supportive of the federal tax credit scholarship and its potential to help New York students and schools," Wallner told Fox News Digital. "Our office awaits information from the federal government on the program and will thoroughly review the details of the policy for poison pills that could harm New York’s education system."

For decades, school choice initiatives have remained a third-rail issue for many Democrats, who argue that choice models divert resources away from public education and undermine teachers unions. However, several high-profile Democrats have recently adjusted their stances.

Colorado Gov. Jared Polis became the first Democratic governor to opt his state into the federal program in January 2026. Dismissing critics at the time, Polis told local media he "would be crazy not to" join, noting that the credits empower parents to afford after-school, tutoring, or summer enrichment programs previously out of reach.

ARIZONA REPUBLICANS GIVE TEACHERS UNION AN EDUCATION LESSON THEY WON’T FORGET

Despite these arguments, major labor groups remain opposed.

Teachers unions and several allied interest groups plan to demonstrate on Wednesday at the United Federation of Teachers (UFT) headquarters in Manhattan. The coalition includes the UFT, its statewide parent organization, the New York State Union of Teachers (NYSUT), and their national affiliate, the American Federation of Teachers (AFT).

Together, the groups launched a public petition calling on state leadership to reject Hochul’s decision.

"Gov. Hochul plans to opt New York in starting in 2027. But most New Yorkers haven’t even heard of this program or know how it will affect New York," the petition states. "Tax dollars would help pay private tuition for families who never used public schools."

The petition further points to fiscal challenges in other states that expanded school choice models: "Florida couldn't account for $270 million in voucher funds in a single year. Arizona's $65M plan became a $1.4 billion budget hole — cutting water, highways, and community colleges ... We need to show the governor that New Yorkers stand for strong public schools and against any measure that would weaken them."

Union advocates argue that "every dollar diverted to private schools is a dollar taken away from the public schools that serve 90% of New York's kids."

Altfield, however, disputed the characterization that the program constitutes a traditional private school voucher.

"Why are we trying to take away opportunities for our children when they're included as well? Another thing that they call it is a ‘voucher’. And it is not a voucher. It is a tax credit," Altfield explained. "What we know as a voucher is when you take public funding from the public school system, and you allow it to follow the child — which works in many states — but that's not what this is."

On their online campaign website, union organizers argue that labeling differences are purely rhetorical: "The branding changes — ‘Education Savings Accounts,’ ‘tax-credit scholarships,’ ‘school choice’ — but the mechanism is the same: public money flowing to private schools."

TRUMP ADMIN URGES RETURNING EDUCATION TO STATES, CITING $3 TRILLION OF TAXES SPENT AND POOR PROFICIENCY SCORES

The union FAQ page also claims that funds do not go directly to families: "Funds flow to private SGOs [Scholarship Granting Organizations], which decide who receives the money. These organizations aren't required to be transparent or accountable to the public, and the private schools they fund can turn away students based on disability, academic record, behavior, religion, or almost any other criteria they choose."

Altfield strongly denied that public school operational budgets would suffer under the program.

"This money does not come out of state budgets. It does not come out of state public school resources," Altfield said. "Which is one of the things that the misinformation is trying to tell you — that this is going to drain public school resources and funding. This money does not come out of that bucket."

"Those buckets remain untouched," Altfield added. "One of the things that they like to peddle is that this is going straight into the pockets of private school parents. Well, yes, private school parents and students can access this funding, but they also forget to tell you that public school students can also get this funding and get these scholarships."

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The New York State Union of Teachers, American Federation of Teachers and United Federation of Teachers did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.

NFL legend Drew Brees reportedly almost pulled off a shocking comeback for Broncos' AFC title game

Mon, 14 Sep 2026 20:57:35 -0400

Hours before the Kansas City Chiefs and Denver Broncos kicked off on "Monday Night Football", NFL insider Adam Schefter dropped a stunner ... that 47-year-old Drew Brees nearly came off the couch to start for Denver in last season's AFC Championship Game against the New England Patriots.

After Broncos quarterback Bo Nix broke his ankle in overtime during the divisional round, Denver was forced to turn to backup Jarrett Stidham. That led Broncos assistants Joe Lombardi and Pete Carmichael, two former Saints coaches, to quietly reach out to Brees.

Head coach Sean Payton was kept in the dark until months later. Brees reportedly took the offer seriously and held a private throwing workout to test his arm.

However, wrist discomfort during the session killed the idea. Realizing his body could no longer execute, Brees allegedly called off the comeback.

Had Brees returned, it would have been one of the craziest one-game comebacks in sports history. He had not taken an NFL snap in five full calendar years after retiring in 2021.

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Throwing a 47-year-old into a freezing, snowy AFC title game with zero practice reps was a massive physical gamble.

Plus, taking a single active snap would have reset his five-year retirement clock, pushing his Hall of Fame induction from August 2026 back to 2031.

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On the "New Heights" podcast with Travis and Jason Kelce, Brees recalled how the Miami Dolphins rejected him in 2006 after team doctors gave his shoulder a 25% chance of recovery. Nick Saban spent years regretting that failed physical, admitting it prevented his Dolphins from reaching new heights and pushed Brees to New Orleans.

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In the end, Stidham started, the Broncos lost 10-7 to New England, and Denver was left wondering what if.

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Ex-Dem insider exposes what Harris told top donors days before Biden dropped out: 'Insulting'

Mon, 14 Sep 2026 18:30:42 -0400

FIRST ON FOX: Lindy Li, a former Democratic fundraiser who switched party affiliation over unheeded warning signs about President Joe Biden's decline in the 2024 election, believes Kamala Harris was setting herself up to poach Biden’s donors just days before he dropped out of the race — while still telling voters he could win.

Li said she threaded that political needle by staying far away from any criticism of Biden.

"It was all charade. She was auditioning for Biden's endorsement, and the way that she did it was by imposing a fake rule on her staff to not talk about her ascending to the nomination," Li said in an exclusive interview with Fox News Digital.

Li’s chronicling of the months leading up to Biden's suspended campaign, which are included in her book, "Unburdened," adds more detail about how even those closest to Biden understood that his campaign would likely come to a grinding halt following his disastrous 2024 debate — and even before it.

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As a top fundraiser for both Biden and Harris and someone who had achieved a high profile with the Democratic National Committee (DNC), Li worked with both teams to raise campaign contributions.

In the wake of the election, Li has gone public with much of her insider knowledge, raising the alarm over just how many figures inside the Democratic Party had seen the writing on the wall but remained silent. She also detailed how others, like Harris, quickly moved to prepare themselves for what would happen next.

In Li’s view, Harris prioritized face time with donors she knew could soon back her own bid.

"I was on the call; she would host calls with donors and pretend to support Biden and say there's no daylight between Biden and herself. All the while she was auditioning for those very donors," Li said.

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Li recalled how, in one case, Harris addressed donors about Biden’s viability as a candidate two days before Biden bowed out.

"It was either on July 19th or July 20th. Actually, I think it was July 19, 2024; Kamala Harris held a call saying that there was no way that Biden would drop out and that she would stick with him until the end. And these were some of the biggest donors in the party," Li recalled.

Biden announced that he would no longer pursue reelection on July 21.

After Biden’s announcement, Li recalled that Harris moved aggressively within the Democratic camp to shore up support, insinuating that she had some form of Biden’s backing.

"She was flattering people left and right. The first 24 hours were a very intensive charm offensive on her part. And that's how she was able to consolidate it so quickly. She flattered people up the wazoo. It made it abundantly clear that Biden had endorsed her. And Biden initially — I don't know if people know this, but he didn't want to endorse her right away. It took him a while."

Despite the vice president’s efforts to maintain her support of Biden and back his viability, Li recalled that some of those same donors didn’t buy her story.

LIBERAL CNN ANCHOR LASHES OUT AT DEMOCRATS' DECEIT AFTER JILL BIDEN'S ADMISSION ABOUT JOE'S DEBATE SHOWING

"A lot of us have group chats. And the immediate reaction is what an effing waste of time. What a charade, how fake. Like these are like the wealthiest people in the country saying that. They were very aware they were being lied to, that Biden was clearly not okay and to be told that he was okay when he was clearly incapacitated," Li said.

"It was insulting."

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Representatives for Harris did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Fox News Digital.

UK breakup push escalates amid historic pact after Trump backs reunification of Ireland

Mon, 14 Sep 2026 20:41:19 -0400

The leaders of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland called Monday for the British government to "prepare for, plan and facilitate" constitutional change that could lead to the breakup of the United Kingdom, with the remarks coming days after President Donald Trump said he would "love to see" Irish reunification.

"Westminster’s time is coming to an end," Scottish First Minister John Swinney, Welsh First Minister Rhun ap Iorwerth and Northern Ireland First Minister Michelle O’Neill said in a historic joint declaration issued in Cardiff.

The nationalist party leaders had met Monday to strengthen cooperation among Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland and advance what they described as "constitutional change."

KEIR STARMER REPORTEDLY CONSIDERING STEPPING DOWN AS PM AND COULD ANNOUNCE TIMETABLE FOR DEPARTURE

The declaration, signed during the summit in Cardiff, signals an unprecedented challenge to Prime Minister Andy Burnham and the U.K.’s constitutional settlement.

Trump spoke about the status of Northern Ireland over the weekend, saying Saturday during a visit to Dublin: "It’s going to happen eventually. It might as well happen now."

On Sunday, Trump repeated his support for a united Ireland, saying it made sense to merge the Republic of Ireland with Northern Ireland.

"It just seems to me that you have Northern Ireland and you have Ireland, and it would seem to me that one of the naturals of all time is put them together," Trump said in Doonbeg.

NIGEL FARAGE RESIGNING FROM UK PARLIAMENT

"You asked about Scotland. That one I won't talk about yet. I'll save that for another day," he added.

By Monday, the nationalist leaders had released a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to drive constitutional change.

They said no Westminster government has the right to block democratic decisions made by Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland.

"Each of our nations has the right to determine its own future, through democratic means and in accordance with the wishes of its people," the three leaders wrote.

"For the first time ever, people across these islands have First Ministers in Scotland, in Wales and in the North of Ireland who are all committed to independence from the United Kingdom. For people watching across these islands – for people watching around the world – there could be no clearer sign that Westminster’s time is coming to an end," the statement continued.

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"We call for the British Government to prepare for, plan and facilitate constitutional change in each jurisdiction," the memorandum said.

According to GB News, Burnham was told Monday that he could not stop the breakup of the U.K.

Sinn Féin, the largest party in the Northern Ireland Assembly, issued the warning after signing the memorandum with the SNP and Plaid Cymru.

O’Neill said the three nations shared a "common cause" because "Westminster does not and will never serve our people well."

She added during a news conference that Burnham would not be able to "hold back the tide" of nationalism.

"We’re certainly living in times of enormous change, change that is unstoppable, change that, no matter what is said by any British prime minister, will not be able to hold back the tide of what’s happening in front of our eyes right now.

"Our common cause here is the understanding that Westminster does not and will never serve our people well," she added.

KING CHARLES FOLLOWS QUEEN ELIZABETH'S PLAYBOOK WITH A TWIST DURING TRUMP STATE VISIT: EXPERT

The memorandum commits the parties to cooperation on economic policy, renewable energy and rebuilding ties with the European Union, among other areas.

It also calls for greater self-determination and states that the nations should work together as equals.

A spokesperson for Burnham said: "The Prime Minister is committed to delivering change across all four nations of the United Kingdom and believes strongly in the Union.

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"The United Kingdom is at its best when people come together around our shared values and problem-solving, rather than division, and the Prime Minister will continue to ease pressures on household finances and delivering greater economic security, rather than engaging in constitutional debates or further referendums."

Fox News Digital has reached out to 10 Downing Street for comment.

Oklahoma State might have known which plays Oregon Ducks were running during upset win

Mon, 14 Sep 2026 20:23:18 -0400

While Week 2 of the college football season was filled with drama, the typical chaos, and the game of the year with Texas-Ohio State, the most shocking result of the weekend was Oklahoma State's upset win over the Oregon Ducks.

This preseason, most analysts expected the Ducks to be one of the top few teams in the country. Oregon was once again a playoff team in 2025, with their only losses coming to eventual National Champion Indiana. They had another typically excellent recruiting class, with four five-star high schoolers joining an already loaded roster.

Quarterback Dante Moore surprisingly returned for another season, and while head coach Dan Lanning had to replace two coordinators, expectations were that the transition would be seamless thanks to picking internal promotions.

Through two games however, no team has been more disappointing. Oregon struggled to put away Boise State in Eugene in week one, ultimately winning 34-27. Week two was far worse.

Several turnovers forced by the Ducks' defense papered over what was a dominant performance by the Cowboys. Oklahoma State ran a whopping 83 plays for 554 yards, a solid 6.7 yards per play. They averaged nearly six yards per carry on the ground, good for 237 total rushing yards.

NEW AP POLL TOP 25 PUNISHES OHIO STATE, OKLAHOMA, OREGON, TEXAS JUMPS TO NO 1 AFTER BIG COMEBACK

Meanwhile, Oregon could never get much going offensively. The Ducks' vaunted offensive line was frequently overwhelmed, leading to an anemic 3 yards per carry and just 281 total yards with 4.8 yards per play. Sometimes upsets are fluky, with some pivotal breaks going the underdogs' way. Not this time. The Cowboys dominated and deserved to win. If anything, the ultimate final margin was misleadingly close.

Beyond the shock of a team that had lost 12 straight games, that lost to Tulsa in week one, dominating an opponent that had national championship aspirations, it raised several questions. Namely, how the heck did this happen? And according to a postgame report out of OK State, the Cowboys might have had some help from the Ducks themselves.

"We were noticing earlier in the week that their (Oregon’s) offensive line had tendencies that helped us key into run (or) pass and a couple areas we could take advantage of," said linebacker Tate Romney. "and obviously our defensive line was keyed into that. That was one big thing that gave us a big advantage."

Well then. That's interesting, isn't it? It's like in baseball, when a pitcher tips his pitches and lets hitters know what's coming.

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That might not have been all their telegraphing either. Landon Tengwall on his show this week added to what Andrew Nemec found on quarterback Dante Moore.

Essentially, Moore against Oklahoma State had two different stances in his pre-snap setup, using the same configuration before runs, and then a different configuration against the pass.

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It's not clear whether the Cowboys were aware of that "tell" too, or if it was just the offensive and defensive line movement that tipped them off. But it presents an interesting possibility: is Oregon's poor performance due, at least partially, to giving the defense free clues as to what's coming?

Maybe. But it's always easy to point to these types of things when you're losing. And even if they were telegraphing their plays, individual Oklahoma State players would still have to win their battles against their matchups. You can know a pass is coming, but if your defensive line is overmatched, there's no guarantee you get to the quarterback. Not to mention that the Cowboys offense moved the ball seemingly at will against Oregon's defense. And nobody's said anything about the Ducks "play tipping" their coverages and blitzes.

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Oregon plays Portland State this coming weekend, so any "corrections," or lack thereof, won't matter given the massive talent gap. But with a massive game against the now No. 12 USC Trojans at the Coliseum looming on Sept. 26, Lanning and the rest of the coaching staff will be combing the tape to fix their predictability.

Ole Miss and LSU will deliver cinema, but the next week for each team could be their most pivotal tests

Mon, 14 Sep 2026 20:14:03 -0400

The most-anticipated game of the college football regular season will take place in Oxford, Miss., on Saturday night, with a gold-and-purple-clad Lane Kiffin returning to town to take on the team and fanbase he abandoned just 10 months ago.

On paper, the LSU-Ole Miss matchup features everything a college football game could ever want. For starters, it's a historic rivalry matchup featuring two Top 10 teams with huge SEC Championship and College Football Playoff implications on the line. You add in the Kiffin of it all, and the contest goes from just a great college football game to a full-blown spectacle.

If Kiffin's first game against Ole Miss as the head coach at LSU were being held in Baton Rouge, it wouldn't have nearly as much of a mystique around it. Thankfully, the football gods had it made that this game would be played in Mississippi.

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If you're an LSU fan, there has to be something at least slightly unsettling about Kiffin and his $50 million Tigers roster coming to Oxford to take on an Ole Miss team headlined by quarterback Trinidad Chambliss and running back Kewan Lacy, two players Kiffin and his staff fought to come join them on the bayou. Leaving Oxford without a win would deliver a dose of reality to both Tigers fans and Kiffin himself that perhaps things aren't quite as they seem, at least not yet.

On the other sideline, you have an Ole Miss team that not only lost key pieces from last season, but is also being coached by a man in Pete Golding, who is entering just his sixth game as a head coach. You also have a fanbase foaming at the mouth to see Kiffin squirm on the opposing sideline inside the stadium he coached in for six seasons.

In terms of question marks, Ole Miss has the most between the two teams heading into Saturday, but they could also have the answers in the form of Chambliss and Lacy, two Heisman Trophy candidates.

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The angles of what makes Saturday's game simply so massive are virtually endless, and while the game itself will undoubtedly deliver, the contests that both teams will have to play in just seven days later could very well be the most pivotal ones of their respective seasons.

Ole Miss travels to Gainesville to take on Florida in Week 4, and if the Gators take care of Auburn on the road this Saturday, The Swamp will be absolutely jumping when the Rebels arrive. That statement will be true whether Ole Miss beats LSU or loses by three touchdowns. Florida head coach Jon Sumrall will be looking to catch an Ole Miss team at the right time, with the Rebels coming off an unbelievably emotional week.

LSU has the luxury of returning home to Death Valley in Week 4, but has to welcome Texas A&M to town. The Aggies play Kentucky at home in Week 3, meaning they'll likely arrive in Baton Rouge unbeaten and as a Top 10 program in the nation. Many would argue that Texas A&M is the most overlooked team of the young college football season up to this point, but taking down LSU in Baton Rouge would certainly flip that narrative.

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In a world where college football chatter has become more focused on court cases and NIL money, it's these sets of factors and matchups that still make the sport so great. The SEC adding an additional conference game to the slate this season is also being felt in this particular scenario, and it's going to be fascinating to see how teams respond to an extra, very stiff test.

Nothing would be more college football than seeing the winner of the Ole Miss-LSU throwdown turn around and lose just seven days later. Whatever happens, we'll all be watching.

‘Trojan horses’ in America: Congress probes influence networks tied to China, Iran and Cuba

Mon, 14 Sep 2026 20:12:45 -0400

Last Tuesday, at the corner of Church Street and 16th Street NW, blocks from the White House, Christine Balling, a former advisor to U.S. Special Operations Command South, led a panel discussion on the national security threat that communist-run Cuba poses to the U.S.

Suddenly, a fresh-faced former college basketball star, Olivia DiNucci, stood up to steal the stage at the Institute of World Politics, yelling as she clutched a hand-painted banner: "SANCTIONS KILL IN CUBA."

"There is global solidarity with Gaza and Cuba and ICE here," DiNucci shouted breathlessly, as security officials grabbed her banner and pushed her out a side door as she kept yelling, "because the liberation of our people is rooted in our neighbors!"

In small print, the banner had DiNucci's organizational and ideological affiliation: "CODEPINK."

DiNucci is a D.C.-based political organizer with CodePink, a left-wing political agitation group, spending her days and evenings as a professional protester and a regular gadfly, disrupting dinners, hearings and conferences as a sidekick to CodePink co-founder Susan Medea Benjamin. Their group supports the Communist Party of Cuba and has led caravans to the island nation, as Treasury Department officials investigate whether they violated any laws barring Americans from doing business with the communist regime.

For Balling and her co-panelist, Michael Gonzalez, a senior fellow at the Heritage Foundation and a Cuban American firmly opposed to the communist government of Cuba, DiNucci's political theater wasn't the benign act of an "anti-war" group, as CodePink describes itself.

"CodePink – and other organizations like it – essentially act like Trojan horses. They burst in onto the scene, and they're meant to disrupt and destroy from within," Balling told Fox News Digital.

"They're really interested in dividing America and, in doing so, weakening it," she continued, "and increasing the friction between Americans by convincing some Americans that the American idea, the American dream, the freedoms we enjoy, all that sort of thing, that they are lies and they're not worth fighting for, and that our enemies are our victims."

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The confrontation comes as House lawmakers convene a hearing on Tuesday, titled "Trojan Horses: Covert Foreign Malign Influence Operations in America," to examine a broad question: how do American activists, nonprofit organizations, media operations and social media influencers, like Twitch streamer Hasan Piker, advance the interests of adversarial nations, including China, Iran and Cuba, inside the United States?

Piker joined CodePink's delegation to Cuba earlier this year, posing for a photo in Havana with CodePink cofounder, Jodie Evans, both of them also drawing Treasury Department scrutiny.

"Adversarial nations like China, Russia, and Cuba conduct malign influence operations here in the United States by utilizing social media influencers such as Hasan Piker as proxies to promote communism and push their false propaganda," Rep. Bill Huizenga, R-Mich., chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on South and Central Asia, told Fox News Digital.

"My goal is to raise the curtain to expose these operations and stop them from undermining our national security, capitalism and the American Dream," Huizenga said.

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The hearing will bring together several strands of alleged foreign influence that Fox News Digital has documented over the past year through investigations into money, political organizing, overseas travel, media operations and relationships between American activists and foreign entities and interests. Most of the groups fall into the "red-green alliance" of socialist and communist groups, symbolized by the color red, working closely with Islamist groups, such as the anti-Israel organization Students for Justice in Palestine, reflected by the color green, a symbol of Islam.

The largest financial network examined in Fox News Digital's reporting centers on Neville Roy Singham, an American-born tech tycoon who lives in Shanghai, late last year standing on a stage at the Golden Tulip Hotel during a conference on the "Global South," delivering a speech supporting the Chinese Communist Party, China's leader, Xi Jinping and China's "new world order."

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A five-part Fox News Digital investigation published earlier this year examined 223 transactions totaling $591 million across five continents between 2017 and 2025, tracing the flow of money through multiple layers of organizations and into a transnational network estimated at approximately 2,000 organizations.

In 2017, Singham married Evans, the CodePink co-founder, in a ceremony in Jamaica attended by Benjamin and other pro-communist leaders. The Fox News Digital analysis documented $278 million flowing from Singham into six core nonprofit organizations that promulgate anti-America, pro-China propaganda, beginning in 2017: BreakThrough BT Media Inc., CodePink Women for Peace, Justice and Education Fund Inc., People's Forum Inc., People's Support Foundation Ltd. and Tricontinental Ltd.

The organizations and their executives have denied any wrongdoing and allege they are the target of anti-communist "witch hunts." Singham hasn't responded to repeated requests for comment.

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Huizenga and the hearing's witnesses say Congress must examine whether adversarial governments are influencing American political discourse through domestic messengers while keeping the foreign power itself at arm's length.

Fox News Digital's reporting followed the money to the six nonprofits:

$167.5 million to People's Support Foundation Ltd., a nonprofit based in Chicago, with CodePink's Evans on the board, funneling money to overseas projects;
$68.7 million to Justice and Education Fund Inc., a New York City-based nonprofit that funnels grants to far-left causes domestically and overseas;
$22.44 million to the People's Forum, a hub for pro-communist organizing in New York City;
$16.76 million to Tricontinental Ltd., a Massachusetts-based think tank led by a friend of Singham's, Vijay Prashad, who led a session on the future of Marxism at Singham's wedding to Evans.
$1.33 million to CodePink, a California-based far-left, pro-Cuba, pro-China group that has supported the Islamic Republic of Iran and anti-Israel campaigns;
$1.098 million to BreakThrough BT Media, a New York-based propaganda arm of the network that runs BreakThrough News, a media outfit that is often the first to broadcast images and videos of anti-America protests.

That was only the first layer. The six nonprofits that directly received Singham money subsequently distributed approximately $163 million to 52 organizations — including themselves — and five geographic regions identified in financial records.

Eleven groups at another layer distributed approximately $150 million into four nonprofits and five geographic regions, including $23 million directed to Sub-Saharan Africa, according to the Fox News Digital analysis.

The financial architecture has been accompanied by political organizing, media operations and ideological activity that includes the fresh example of political theater that CodePink unleashed at this week's disruption at the Institute of World Politics' panel on Cuba.

Balling, the former advisor to U.S. Special Operations Southern Command, used the opportunity to illustrate exactly the point that the Heritage Foundation's Gonzalez and she were arguing.

"Their method of operation," she said, "is to disrupt, of course, to get the soundbites on Twitter or Instagram or what have you, but they are not ever interested in a respectful dialogue."

"What was extraordinary is I was actually about to talk about CodePink and the Democratic Socialists of America, the DSA, as both being members of the largest pro-Cuban regime organization in the United States, called the National Network on Cuba," said Balling.

"And so the fact that she stood up and tried to disrupt the event was just a wonderful example for the audience," of the antics of CodePink. "They are actually really a mouthpiece for anti-American causes, which happen to be very pro-Chinese Communist Party causes and...the Castro regime."

On cue, at 6:42 p.m., less than an hour after the event had ended at about 6 p.m., CodePink posted a carefully curated and captioned 1-minute-35-second video of the DiNucci outburst on X. The same video went up on CodePink's official YouTube channel.

Balling said CodePink's messaging promoted "the interests of, frankly, our enemies, the Chinese Communist Party and then the Cuban regime."

"Their method of operation," she said, "is to disrupt, of course, to get the soundbites on Twitter or Instagram or what have you, but they are not ever interested in a respectful dialogue."

Sure enough, CodePink posted the video on its official Instagram account, tagging DiNucci.

"Frankly, had she been willing to stop screaming," said Balling, Gonzalez and she "would have actually been thrilled to have a debate with her, but that's not their way of operating."

By the end of the night, the disruption had also become a press release on CodePink's website, listing DiNucci herself as the "media contact" and offering journalists "unbranded video footage."

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Fox News Digital's Jesse Watson and Brooke Curto contributed to this report.

House Dems face Trump tariff dilemma as major Russia sanctions bill heads to floor

Mon, 14 Sep 2026 20:07:28 -0400

House Democrats will soon have to grapple with a decision over whether to give President Donald Trump more tariff authority or potentially block Congress from cracking down on Vladimir Putin's bloody war in Ukraine.

The House Rules Committee has teed up votes on several bills this week, including the Senate's legislation aimed at sanctioning Russia and Iran.

That bill was named after the late Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., a massive supporter of Ukraine who died unexpectedly at the age of 71 in July.

And while the majority of Democrats support action to help Ukraine against Russia's invasion, they'll also be forced to reckon with the legislation's language giving Trump additional authority to punish Russia and its allies with significant tariffs.

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Democrats have long been critical of Trump's unchecked use of tariffs against U.S. allies like Canada and Mexico, which have also been subject to a slew of court battles.

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It's part of why senior House Democrats said earlier this year that they would oppose the bill.

"House Democrats are rock solid in our support for Ukraine, but the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia And Iran Act would do more harm than good. This bill would dramatically expand presidential tariff authorities while failing to mandate sanctions on Russia, both of which are unacceptable," Rep. Gregory Meeks, D-N.Y., Ranking Member of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, Rep. Richard Neal, D-Mass., Ranking Member of the House Committee on Ways and Means, and Rep. Don Beyer, D-Va., said in a statement.

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House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., did not give up his position on the bill during a Monday press conference, telling reporters, "We're going to continue to stand by the Ukrainian people and find a path forward to get a sanctions bill done while addressing the very real concerns that [Democrats] have raised about giving Donald Trump authority that the Supreme Court recently made clear he does not currently have, and should not have, because it belongs to the Congress pursuant to the Constitution."

The bill would direct the president to hike up to 500% tariffs on Russia and up to 100% on countries buying Russian energy.

MIKE PENCE: CONGRESS MUST FINISH LINDSEY GRAHAM’S FIGHT AGAINST PUTIN

Trump would also be directed to impose significant sanctions on Russian officials and others responsible for continuing the war on Ukraine.

The bill advanced through the House Rules Committee on Monday night, setting up a House-wide procedural hurdle called a "rule vote" on Tuesday afternoon.

If passed, the full House will vote on the sanctions bill on Wednesday afternoon, according to a preliminary legislative schedule obtained by Fox News Digital.

And with an increasingly vocal isolationist wing permeating the House GOP Conference, at least some Democrats will be needed to help the bill pass.

The package, pushed by Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., and Graham, was in purgatory for nearly two years as the lawmakers and administration went back and forth to find a compromise that Trump and Congress could stomach.

Blumenthal defended the tariff language in the bill to Fox News Digital, "If Donald Trump wants to break this law, he will be restrained by the courts, just as when he broke the law on tariffs previously."

And Senate Democrats largely voted in favor of giving Trump limited tariff authority in exchange for the bone-crushing sanctions against Russia, despite raging against duties for years.

Though some raised concerns, like Sens. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., most Democratic caucus members gave a thumbs-up to the tariff power.

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That all came after Sen. Raphael Warnock, D-Ga., received guarantees from U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer that the tariffs baked into the sanctions package would just be limited to the top five energy trading partners with the Kremlin.

Supreme Court rejects Trump bid to revive strict mail-ballot rules before midterms

Mon, 14 Sep 2026 19:48:45 -0400

The Supreme Court on Monday rejected the Trump administration’s emergency bid to enforce new U.S. Postal Service (USPS) restrictions on mail-in ballots ahead of the 2026 midterm elections, leaving a lower court’s nationwide block in place.

In a brief order, the court said the government was "unlikely to succeed on the merits" for purposes of obtaining emergency relief and had not shown that the legal and practical considerations warranted a stay.

The rules would require federal ballot mail to be sent in envelopes bearing an election-mail logo, capable of being scanned by high-speed equipment and carrying a barcode unique to each voter.

State and local election officials would also be required to submit envelope designs to the Postal Service for review and upload basic voter information to an online USPS portal.

USPS PUBLISHES RULE TO BLOCK MAIL-IN BALLOTS FROM STATES THAT DON'T PROVIDE VOTER LISTS

Under the USPS rule, mailings that failed to comply would not be accepted and would instead be returned to election officials to correct and resubmit.

FEDERAL JUDGE BLOCKS TRUMP ADMINISTRATION FROM RESTRICTING MAIL-IN BALLOTS AHEAD OF MIDTERMS

A federal judge previously blocked the USPS from implementing the rules, including the online portal that could be used to track millions of mail ballots.

Justice Brett Kavanaugh agreed with the Supreme Court’s decision but indicated the USPS may ultimately have the authority to impose the requirements.

TRUMP SCORES SUPREME COURT WIN ON MAIL-IN VOTING RESTRICTIONS BEFORE MIDTERMS

"In my view, based on the briefing the Court has received at this interim stage, there is at least a fair prospect that the final rule falls within the Postal Service’s statutory authority," Kavanaugh wrote.

However, he said attempting to apply the rules during the 2026 elections would be "arbitrary and capricious" under the Administrative Procedure Act because state and local election officials do not have enough time to reasonably implement them.

JACKSON RIPS INTO SUPREME COURT COLLEAGUES' 'SERIOUS LEGAL ERROR' ON TRUMP MAIL-IN VOTING ORDER

Justice Samuel Alito dissented from the decision, joined by Justice Clarence Thomas.

Alito argued that some of the plaintiffs lacked legal standing and that the remaining challengers were pursuing what the court has previously called a "Hail Mary pass" that "rarely succeeds."

ALABAMA AG MARSHALL FIRES BACK AT USPS MAIL-BALLOT ORDER CRITICS: ‘THIS IS ABOUT SECURING ELECTIONS’

"The Government has made the showings necessary for a stay, so I respectfully dissent," Alito wrote.

Alito said the USPS has broad authority to regulate the collection, handling, transportation and delivery of mail. He also argued that the government would suffer irreparable harm because any reversal of the lower court’s injunction would come too late for the midterms.

New York Attorney General Letitia James, whose office helped lead the legal challenge, celebrated the decision as a victory for voters.

"Today, the Supreme Court protected one of our most fundamental, inalienable rights – the right to make your voice heard at the ballot box," James said. "This last-minute change could have thrown our elections into chaos, and I am truly relieved the Court granted this reprieve."

"Voters should never have to wonder whether a ballot they legally cast will be counted because the federal government suddenly changed the rules," she added. "We will keep fighting to make sure every eligible ballot is counted come November."

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., also praised the ruling, calling it "one of the most important cases to protect voting rights before the Supreme Court."

"Trump’s plan to make it harder to vote was obviously unconstitutional," Schumer said. "The Supreme Court had no choice but to make the right decision."

"The President’s attempt to screw around with vote by mail was obscene," he added. "Finally, his scheme is dead. Trump: you lost another one."

FEDERAL JUDGE AGAIN BLOCKS TRUMP'S MAIL BALLOT ORDER JUST BEFORE MIDTERMS

President Donald Trump directed the USPS earlier this year to develop new standards for handling election mail. The agency finalized the requirements in late August.

The administration and the USPS then asked the Supreme Court to intervene after a federal judge converted a temporary restraining order into a nationwide preliminary injunction.

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The decision leaves the preliminary injunction in place, preventing the USPS from enforcing the new requirements for the 2026 elections while the litigation continues.

Robert Kraft, Gillette Stadium boot Macklemore from Ed Sheeran tour over ‘Free Palestine’ rant

Mon, 14 Sep 2026 19:41:54 -0400

Macklemore is learning the hard way that concertgoers paying top dollar for stadium shows do not want a lecture on Middle Eastern geopolitics from the guy who wrote "Thrift Shop."

Macklemore was kicked off Ed Sheeran’s U.S. stadium tour after multiple venues refused to host him following his pro-Palestinian speeches and performances at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. The fallout escalated when New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft barred him from performing at Gillette Stadium, where Sheeran is scheduled to play Sept. 25 and 26.

The rapper opened Sheeran’s shows at MetLife on Sept. 4 and 5. Macklemore wore a keffiyeh, showed footage of destruction in Gaza, performed "Hind’s Hall" and led the crowd in "Free Palestine" chants. The song includes lyrics accusing Israel of genocide.

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Macklemore said the tour gave him a massive platform to promote his political message. He also claimed Sheeran told him Robert Kraft had rallied other stadium owners against keeping him on the tour.

Kraft, whose Kraft Group owns Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, cited the rapper’s stage behavior and what he called a "broader history of anti-Semitic rhetoric and imagery."

"Gillette Stadium has a longstanding commitment to providing a welcoming environment for all guests and ensuring that events held at our venue do not provide a platform for hate speech," Kraft shared in a statement made to ESPN.

"Based on Macklemore's recent actions, material shared from the stage during Ed Sheeran's shows in New Jersey, and a broader history of anti-Semitic rhetoric and imagery that we believe has been deeply offensive and hurtful to the Jewish community, we determined that his participation in the September 25th and 26th shows would not be permitted."

Tour promoter Messina Touring Group confirmed Macklemore’s removal from all remaining U.S. dates after multiple venue operators refused to allow him on the lineup. Eight of the remaining 10 tour stops were scheduled for NFL stadiums.

Macklemore’s controversial history includes a May 2014 performance in Seattle, where he took the stage wearing a bushy black beard, a dark wig and a large prosthetic nose. Civil rights groups, including the Anti-Defamation League, condemned the outfit as resembling historical anti-Jewish caricatures. Macklemore claimed at the time that the costume was a random coincidence.

BILL MAHER RIPS MACKLEMORE'S GAZA STANCE, SAYS CELEBRITY 'MORAL CONFUSION' IS FUELING ANTISEMITISM

That controversy resurfaced with the release of "Hind’s Hall," a song referencing student activists who occupied Columbia University’s Hamilton Hall. Critics argue that Macklemore routinely condemns Israel from the stage while ignoring the Oct. 7, 2023, terrorist attacks by Hamas that sparked the current war.

Kraft, who founded the Foundation to Combat Antisemitism in 2019, also addressed what he viewed as Macklemore’s selective presentation of the conflict.

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"This decision is not about diminishing the suffering of innocent Palestinians or denying anyone the right to advocate on their behalf," Kraft stated. "But that advocacy should not come at the expense of the Jewish community or obscure the responsibility of Hamas, a designated terrorist organization whose horrific actions have caused immeasurable suffering."

Kraft added that supporting innocent civilians while standing firmly against Hamas and antisemitism should not be mutually exclusive.

"I would welcome the opportunity to sit down with Macklemore and discuss the facts, because ultimately our goal is the same: peace for all people, an end to suffering, and an end to all hate," Kraft said.

KACEY MUSGRAVES DIVIDES FANS WITH IMMIGRANT CHILDREN’S PLEA, FACES BOYCOTT CALLS TO ‘SHUT UP AND SING’

Macklemore responded in a social media post blaming venue operators and Kraft for his removal while acknowledging that Sheeran had been placed in a difficult position. He did not accept Kraft’s characterization of his comments as hate speech and insisted that losing his tour spot was a price he was willing to pay.

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

White House denies Trump influenced by 'pardon brokers' after '60 Minutes' investigation

Mon, 14 Sep 2026 19:34:08 -0400

A White House spokesperson denied the suggestion that President Donald Trump's administration could be influenced by "pardon brokers" an issue examined by CBS' "60 Minutes" on Sunday.

During the show's season premiere, the long-running news program ran a segment on lobbyists reportedly negotiating for presidential pardons for particular clients based on alleged connections to the president.

"Presidents have been pardoning criminals since George Washington," correspondent Lesley Stahl said. "It's a constitutional power. No explanation needed. The Department of Justice does screen applicants and typically only recommends those who remorsefully seek mercy. But that's not always been the process. President Ford pardoned Richard Nixon. President Clinton, Marc Rich after donations. President Biden, his son Hunter, and Anthony Fauci."

BIDEN CLEMENCY BLITZ LEFT DOJ SCRAMBLING AS MANY COMMUTATIONS BYPASSED NORMAL VETTING, EMAILS SHOW

"President Trump, he's developed his own vetting system, pardoning political allies, including all of the January 6 rioters, as well as a string of unrepentant financial conmen who argued, just like him, that they were wrongly prosecuted," she continued. "How did these people get their grievances in the president's ear? Donations appear to help and those who can pay hire pardon brokers, lawyers and lobbyists who sell their ties to the president for exorbitant fees. It's a marketplace of money and mercy."

In a comment to Fox News Digital, White House spokesperson Lauren Bis denied that Trump was influenced by any "lobbyist" regarding his presidential pardons. She further criticized past presidential pardons by former President Joe Biden, pointing out that many of his pardons released violent criminals.

"Anyone spending money to lobby for pardons is foolishly wasting their money and the President doesn’t even know who these so-called ‘lobbyists’ are. The Trump Administration has a robust pardon review process which includes White House counsel, the Department of Justice, pardon czar Alice Johnson, and ultimately, the President himself as the final decider," Bis said.

TRUMP GRANTS PARDONS TO 'PERSECUTED' MECHANICS IN RIGHT-TO-REPAIR CRACKDOWN: 'I AM SETTING THEM ALL FREE'

"The only pardons anyone should be critical of are from President Biden, who pardoned and commuted sentences of violent criminals including child killers and mass murderers, and extreme liberal Democrat Governors who pardoned illegal alien child rapists and attempted murderers in attempts to allow them to remain in our country," she added.

Fox News Digital reached out to CBS News for comment but did not immediately receive a response.

The latest season of "60 Minutes" came amid mass firings of longtime producers and correspondents as the network's editor-in-chief, Bari Weiss, attempted to reorganize the program. One former producer and managing editor, Guy Campanile, suggested in a private Facebook post last week that the firings were because they refused to compromise with "White House talking points."

‘PRIVILEGED’ HUNTER BIDEN, SPARED BY DAD’S PARDON, BLASTS TRUMP’S CLEMENCY POWER

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"We would not compromise our principles or reputations by jamming unverifiable notions or White House talking points into our reporting," Campanile wrote. "We objected when told to conduct interviews arranged by the administration. We insisted on asking the most challenging questions to business and political leaders without fear or favor."

Mamdani blasts feds for waging 'campaign of violence and terror' against NYC's immigrants

Mon, 14 Sep 2026 19:33:28 -0400

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani on Monday blasted the federal government for waging a "campaign of violence and terror" against the immigrant communities he described as the backbone of the city.

He made the statements during an announcement that he and five other sanctuary jurisdictions are suing the Trump administration over a new rule expanding how immigration officials determine whether applicants are likely to become a public charge.

"The federal government has waged a campaign of violence and terror," Mamdani said.

"ICE has broken into our neighbors' homes, work sites and schools. And it has targeted those who have come to our country in search of refuge and in search of opportunity. These actions are an assault on our civic fabric, on our shared values. And no matter how much destruction they have already caused, it continues."

MAMDANI, LETITIA JAMES SUE TO BLOCK TRUMP ADMIN FROM REFUSING IMMIGRANTS OVER WELFARE STATUS

Mamdani further credited immigrants from around the world with helping build and sustain New York City, including by contributing to its infrastructure and public services.

"Immigrants from every country, from every continent, who speak every language and worship in every conceivable way, drive our buses and our trains, teach our children how to read, and tend to us when we are sick," Mamdani said.

"Immigrants fought for the 8-hour workday for fair pay and workplace protections that deliver dignity into the lives of so many," he added.

AMERICA NEEDS WORKERS, BUT TRUMP'S POLICIES ARE SHARPLY CUTTING LEGAL IMMIGRATION

The city will lead a coalition of five other sanctuary jurisdictions, including Chicago, San Francisco, Seattle, Santa Clara County and King County, in challenging the Trump administration’s stricter version of the public charge rule, which is set to take effect Friday.

The changes, issued in July by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), will expand officers’ discretion to weigh noncash benefits, such as Medicaid, SNAP and housing vouchers, when determining whether an immigrant is likely to become a public charge.

Under the previous guidelines, established in 2022 under the Biden administration, officers’ discretion was narrowed to consider only whether applicants were likely to become "primarily dependent" on government assistance based on cash benefits, such as Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF).

In response to New York City filing the lawsuits, the White House on Monday blasted Democrats for seeking to provide illegal aliens with support at the expense of American taxpayers.

"Extreme Democrats are once again fighting to give benefits to illegal aliens at the expense of American taxpayers. Immigrants must be able to support themselves and not depend on hard-working American taxpayers. President Trump and this administration will always put American citizens first," spokeswoman Lauren Bis said in a statement.

Mamdani described the changes as a "gross illegality" that will cause "irreparable damage."

"Make no mistake, this is an undisguised effort to strip New Yorkers of the services they rely on, the public benefits they are entitled to. Families, including those with children who are U.S. citizens, have already begun to forego essential services like SNAP, Medicaid, and affordable housing out of the fear that if they use these programs, immigration officers could use it as justification to deny them a future in our country," he said.

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USCIS spokesperson Zach Kahler previously said the move is intended to safeguard the financial well-being of American taxpayers.

"The Trump administration is upholding the rule of law and protecting American taxpayers from subsidizing aliens who may become dependent on public benefits. USCIS is committed to safeguarding the safety, security, and financial well-being of Americans," Kahler said in a statement.

DHS did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Fox News Digital.

House unanimously votes to eliminate 1-cent coin permanently

Mon, 14 Sep 2026 19:33:11 -0400

Americans may soon no longer be able to offer a penny for their thoughts — because the 1-cent coin will be relegated to the ash heap of history.

The House of Representatives voted to send the smallest piece of U.S. currency the way of the dodo on Monday, passing the bipartisan Common Cents Act in a unanimous vote.

In addition to blocking the Treasury from minting any more pennies save for collector coins, the bill would also set up a framework for cash transactions to be rounded to the nearest 5 cents, in order to eliminate the need for pennies altogether.

AMERICANS SAY TIPPING PRACTICES 'HAVE BECOME RIDICULOUS' AS DIGITAL PROMPTS PUSH HIGHER GRATUITIES

An exception would be provided for cash wages, which must be rounded upwards if the total is not divisible by 5 cents.

Existing pennies will still remain legal tender.

TREASURY HAILS SUCCESS OF ANTI-FRAUD PROCESS THAT FLAGGED AND PREVENTED $99 MILLION IN PAYMENTS TO DEAD PEOPLE

The U.S. Mint stopped producing pennies in November 2025 after 232 years of circulation. But an act of Congress, if signed into law by President Donald Trump, would ensure a future administration does not reverse course.

The cost of minting pennies has risen dramatically in recent years, costing more than three times their value to produce as of 2025. The Treasury estimated an immediate annual savings of $56 million in a press release explaining the decision.

The bill was led by House GOP Conference Chair Lisa McClain, R-Mich., and Rep. Robert Garcia, D-Calif., the top Democrat on the House Oversight Committee.

It builds on a past bill McClain led in the House that also passed the Senate directing the federal government to stop minting the penny, but that legislation did not include language on rounding out cash payments.

An additional provision would allow the U.S. Mint to produce nickels from cheaper material than they currently are made with.

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Congress would also monitor any disruptions the new rule causes to Americans by directing the Treasury to examine its effect on low-income people, older consumers, debanked people, among other groups.

Common bedroom mistake could be quietly taking a toll on your health, experts say

Mon, 14 Sep 2026 19:33:08 -0400

A new study from Tulane University is raising fresh concerns about sleeping with a light on, linking nighttime light exposure to a higher risk of cardiovascular disease.

Researchers found that exposure to more than 3 lux of light — roughly the brightness of moonlight — was associated with increased risks of heart failure, atrial fibrillation (irregular and often very rapid heart rhythm), heart attack, stroke and cardiovascular death.

Experts spoke with Fox News Digital about the potential risks associated with sleeping with a nightlight.

THE DAYTIME HABIT THAT COULD TRANSFORM YOUR SLEEP, ACCORDING TO NEW STUDY

Sleep is partially controlled by the circadian rhythm, the brain’s internal 24-hour clock that regulates sleep and wakefulness, according to sleep expert and neuroscientist Chelsie Rohrscheib, Ph.D., a sleep expert and neuroscientist based in Michigan.

"The circadian rhythm is strongly influenced by light entering the eyes – light exposure signals the brain to suppress melatonin production, a hormone that helps regulate the timing of sleep, while low light levels signal the brain to produce more melatonin," she told Fox News Digital.

DIETITIAN REVEALS SIMPLE EATING STRATEGY FOR BETTER SLEEP — AND ONE HABIT TO AVOID

"As melatonin levels rise in the evening, they help prepare the brain and body for sleep. Light pollution from various sources in our bedroom can trick the brain into producing less melatonin, which can negatively impact sleep quality."

Health concerns

Consistent light exposure will chronically reduce overall sleep quality, Rohrscheib warned.

"Sleep plays an essential role in many biological processes, including body and brain restoration, hormone release, immune system functioning, cognitive processes such as memory consolidation, brain waste clearance and metabolic regulation," she said.

FINDING THE SLEEP 'SWEET SPOT' COULD HELP YOU LIVE LONGER, STUDY SUGGESTS

"When sleep is consistently poor, these processes do not function optimally, which in turn elevates the risk for many chronic health conditions such as hypertension, cardiovascular disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, obesity, neurodegenerative diseases, certain cancers and mood disorders."

A 2022 Northwestern Medicine study found that just one night of sleeping with moderate light exposure (100 lux) disrupted glucose regulation while increasing heart rate and sympathetic nervous system activity, as reflected by reduced heart rate variability (HRV), Rohrscheib noted.

MORE NAPS, HIGHER RISK? RESEARCH LINKS DAYTIME SLEEP TO HEALTH WARNINGS IN AGING ADULTS

Sleep impairment is also linked to increased risk of mortality, according to Ashley Curtis, PhD, sleep researcher and assistant professor at the University of South Florida College of Nursing.

"Emerging evidence even suggests that it affects the gut microbiome, everything from digestion to immunity," she told Fox News Digital. "While the immediate evidence is strongest for disrupted sleep health, the downstream risks to your long-term health are substantial."

Certain groups may be more sensitive to nighttime light than others, experts agree.

"Shift workers, children, older adults and individuals with insomnia or mood disorders are especially vulnerable to the effects of light on sleep depth," Alex Dimitriu, M.D., a double board-certified sleep medicine doctor and founder of Menlo Park Psychiatry & Sleep Medicine, told Fox News Digital.

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Curtis noted that older adults often become less sensitive to light, meaning bright or short-wavelength light has a weaker effect on suppressing melatonin than it does in younger adults.

"The caveat, however, is that older adults also experience a higher baseline prevalence of sleep disruption, which can bidirectionally impact the circadian system," she added.

There is also some evidence showing that bright light has a more pronounced impact on melatonin suppression in men, the expert noted.

For people with insomnia, who already experience chronic sleep disruption, bright light exposure before bedtime can make these underlying problems worse, as it further interferes with the biological circadian rhythm, Curtis warned.

What type of light is the worst?

Blue wavelength light from TVs and phones is the most disruptive because people’s retinas are most sensitive to it, and it maximally suppresses melatonin, according to Dimitriu.

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"Dim, warm, red-toned night lights cause far less circadian impact – these are natural sunset colors one would see in the evenings," he told Fox News Digital.

TEST YOURSELF WITH OUR LATEST LIFESTYLE QUIZ

Curtis agreed that warmer, dimmer light, which has a longer wavelength, doesn't have as much impact on melatonin production.

"Research shows that even if dim light impacts melatonin initially, it allows time for the body to recover," she said. "Therefore, it doesn't disrupt your sleep to the degree that brighter light does."

Practical changes to improve sleep

"While blackout curtains are recommended for optimal sleep, you don't need to have absolute darkness to maintain a healthy sleep environment," Curtis said.

The experts recommend implementing the following changes to cultivate a healthy sleep environment – even if it’s not pitch black.

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Turn off harsh overhead lights one to two hours before bed
Place night lights close to the floor
Use bulbs that are dimmer and emit warmer light with longer wavelengths, like orange, amber or red
Discontinue all screen use (computers and phones) at least one hour before bedtime to eliminate brain stimulation
Layer window treatments to soften any harsher, bright lights coming in from the street
Consider using a face mask to further prevent light pollution from affecting sleep quality

Mariska Hargitay, Selena Gomez and Zendaya stun at 2026 Emmys: Vote on your favorite TV star looks

Mon, 14 Sep 2026 18:53:15 -0400

Television was shining a little brighter as Hollywood’s biggest stars stepped out for a night of celebration.

The Television Academy is honoring the year’s most acclaimed shows and performances at the 78th Emmy Awards Monday night at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles.

Hosted by Mariska Hargitay, the star-studded event celebrates nominees including "The Pitt," "Hacks," "Abbott Elementary" and "Shrinking."

Zendaya, Jamie Lee Curtis, Sofía Vergara and Florence Pugh are among the night’s presenters, while Noah Kahan is set to perform during the In Memoriam segment.

Vote below for the best look of the evening.

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PUT YOUR ENTERTAINMENT KNOWLEDGE TO THE TEST AND SEE HOW YOU SCORE

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PUT YOUR ENTERTAINMENT KNOWLEDGE TO THE TEST AND SEE HOW YOU SCORE

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Michigan Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed says leaders must address ‘unpaid debts’ to Black communities

Mon, 14 Sep 2026 18:43:31 -0400

Michigan Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed said Saturday that the country must confront what he described as "unpaid debts" owed to Black communities, arguing that leaders have a responsibility to "understand" and "address" them.

El-Sayed — who is facing Republican nominee and former Rep. Mike Rogers in one of the nation's most closely watched Senate races — made the remarks while speaking at a meeting with women faith leaders hosted by the Woman Difference Collaborative in Detroit, according to a video shared by C-SPAN.

"When it comes to black communities in Michigan — when it comes to black communities in America — there are unpaid debts that have long since come due that we are unwilling to acknowledge, let alone pay down," El-Sayed said. "And I understand that we need leaders who are going to understand those debts and address them."

ABDUL EL-SAYED PROTESTED AGAINST 'EX-TERRORISTS' WHO CONVERTED TO CHRISTIANITY, UNEARTHED REPORT REVEALS

El-Sayed made the remarks while responding to a question about how he plans to energize Democratic voters who did not support him in the primary.

He said his approach is to keep showing up, engaging with voters and emphasizing his record.

"But the question for me is, within my power have I done my best?" El-Sayed said. "And I will challenge people to look at my history and say, ‘Yeah, that man hasn’t done everything he could around the problems he says he cares about.'"

ABDUL EL-SAYED DISMISSES QUESTIONS ABOUT HASAN PIKER TIES ON 'FACE THE NATION,' PIVOTS TO GROCERIES

During his response, El-Sayed highlighted his work on infant and maternal mortality, asthma and lead exposure.

He also called for expanding access to capital for small businesses and increasing investment in housing and schools.

El-Sayed, a former Wayne County health director, unsuccessfully ran for Michigan governor in 2018 before launching his Senate campaign.

EL-SAYED’S LIBERAL AGENDA CLASHES WITH MUSLIM VOTERS WHO BACK HIM ANYWAY: ‘MALE VERSION’ OF ILHAN OMAR

The Detroit event also featured discussion of El-Sayed's public health record, U.S. aid to Israel, his endorsement of former Vice President Kamala Harris in the 2024 presidential election, campaign attack ads from Rogers and criminal justice issues, according to C-SPAN.

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El-Sayed's campaign could not immediately be reached by Fox News Digital for comment.

Gavin Newsom says he won't run for president in 2028 if Kamala Harris runs

Mon, 14 Sep 2026 18:42:46 -0400

Democratic California Gov. Gavin Newsom said he won't run for president if former Vice President Kamala Harris throws her hat in the ring.

"I don't know if she runs, but we'll see," Newsom told CNN's Jake Tapper in an interview released Monday. "But I wouldn't run if she ran."

"If she runs, you will not," a surprised Tapper reacted.

"Of course not. Why would I?" Newsom responded. "I wouldn't do that to her ... I wouldn't do that to you. I wouldn't waste everyone's time. Who needs that?"

HARRIS STOPS IN KEY PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY STATE AFTER LEAVING DOOR WIDE OPEN TO 2028 RUN

Tapper, who was fly-fishing with Newsom in Montana during the exchange, appeared confused by the governor's stance. Newsom suggested spectators would feast on the "mutual-assured destruction" among Democrats competing for the nomination.

"I mean, you do whatever you want. I don't care," Tapper told Newsom. "But counterargument would be, like, you know, she had her shot. And you've never run, and she's run twice."

"Yeah," Newsom responded. "I mean, that'd be the approach to the campaign, certainly. That'd be the case you'd make. Pretty good one, actually. That's objectively true."

NEWSOM'S ATTACK DOG TAUNTS BUTTIGIEG OVER SOUTH CAROLINA VISIT AS 2028 FIGHT HEATS UP

HARRIS REACHES OUT TO SOCIALIST MAYOR MAMDANI IN LATEST SIGN SHE'S SHORING UP SUPPORT FOR POSSIBLE 2028 BID

"But I know what that means. I know her base of supporters. I know her friends. The Venn diagram on that is just pure crossover. I wouldn't do that," he added.

Newsom's name has long been discussed as a potential 2028 contender. However, the fellow Californian and 2024 Democratic nominee Kamala Harris may have the inside track to remain on the top of the ticket.

Harris holds a double-digit lead over Newsom among Democratic hopefuls by a 24.5-13.5% margin, according to the RealClearPolitics average of polls. Nipping at Newsom's heels within a five-point margin are former Biden Transportation Sec. Pete Buttigieg, New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Georgia Sen. Jon Ossoff.

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However, Ocasio-Cortez currently leads the Polymarket betting odds with over 19%, with Ossoff in second place with 16% while Newsom trails with 12.7% and Harris falls even further behind with just 8% odds.

Kaepernick tells 'The View' that NFL owners kept him out over politics and power, claims they donate to Trump

Mon, 14 Sep 2026 18:32:42 -0400

Former NFL star Colin Kaepernick called out the Trump administration during an interview with "The View" on Monday, saying the NFL supported the administration politically.

"Colin, just six months after you started protesting, you say you were forced to opt out of your contract with the 49ers, and you were never picked by another team again," co-host Ana Navarro said. "You sued the NFL for collusion, claiming that team owners were intentionally keeping you out. They’ve denied this. And it ended in a confidential agreement, though. So now as you look back, what do you think was the reason that not a single team would give you a chance to play for them?"

Kaepernick pointed to politics and power. The former quarterback joined the co-hosts of the liberal talk show to discuss his new book, "The Perilous Fight," in which he details his football career and the decision to kneel during the national anthem.

COLIN KAEPERNICK IS RIGHT ABOUT THE NFL'S 'PERFORMATIVE' RACISM CAMPAIGN — BUT HE'S ALSO A HYPOCRITE

"I think it was political," Kaepernick said. "I also think it was power. I think the reality is, one, I think it’s in important context: I didn’t protest the NFL. So their response to the protest is very informative in relation to where they stand politically. We’ve seen them donate millions of dollars to [President Donald] Trump and this administration."

Co-host Sunny Hostin agreed as the audience applauded.

"And I think the other part is the realization that the amount of support the protest had, there were also boycotts of the NFL because of their response. The NFL being approximately 70% Black also means that the players as the product on the field have power and control over where the league goes and where they head directionally," the former 49ers star continued.

Kaepernick said if NFL players unified around that and spent one weekend refusing to play, there would be no games.

"There’s no game, there’s no business and things would change very quickly," he said.

"You had a lot of people supporting you after that protest, but you also had a lot — getting a lot of hate, you were getting serious death threats from people who felt like you were disrespecting the flag, the country, members of the military," co-host Alyssa Farah Griffin said. "Were you surprised about the level of backlash that you received?"

"Yes and no," Kaepernick responded.

SUNNY HOSTIN BACKS NAACP CALL FOR BLACK ATHLETES TO BOYCOTT PUBLIC UNIVERSITIES OVER REDISTRICTING

"I think my years growing up were formative to give me some insight into what to expect on the other side of that," he said. "Also, historically, we’ve seen that, whether it’s Tommie Smith and John Carlos, whether it’s [Muhammad] Ali, we’ve seen it with Curt Flood, we’ve seen it with Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf. We've seen the response to Black people protesting, with Black athletes protesting."

"The part that candidly surprised me was the amount of pushback on a conversation of, 'Hey, police shouldn’t kill Black people.' That doesn’t feel like a controversial topic to me," Kaepernick said.

"I’m surprised at the level of pushback that people had on that, because we should all want to live in a society where everyone feels safe, everyone feels like they have the opportunity to thrive, and I think that was very revealing in relation to where a lot of people stand and the work that we have to do," he added.

Fox News Digital reached out to the NFL and the White House for comment but did not immediately receive a response.

COLIN KAEPERNICK TO RECEIVE MUHAMMAD ALI AWARD FOR FIGHTING 'RACIAL INJUSTICE'

2026 marked 10 years since Kaepernick began kneeling during the national anthem to protest police brutality and racial inequality in the United States. He has said that his activism was ultimately what ended his NFL career after no team picked him up once he opted out of his 49ers contract in March 2017.

In an interview earlier this month, Kaepernick said that the NFL was "actively blackballing" him and that he would no longer support the organization.

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"I’m not gonna support an organization that one, is actively blackballing me, but two, has targeted my brothers who have been protesting as part of this as well," Kaepernick told NBC News. "I watch college football."