Latest & Breaking News | Fox News

MORNING GLORY: America is winning its battle with Iran. It’s only a matter of time

Tue, 21 Jul 2026 05:00:49 -0400

In the four months and three weeks since combat began with Iran, the United States has lost 17 or 18 of its warriors (with three or four killed over last weekend), with more than 420 others wounded.

Sixty Israelis have been killed. More than 100 Iraqis have died as a result of the conflict. Our allies in Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates have all suffered civilian deaths and every country in the region has taken significant damage to its infrastructure.

Iran has suffered military deaths in the thousands with many hundreds of civilians killed as well. The toll on the country’s infrastructure is massive — exponentially larger than that which it has inflicted on its neighbors in the region — with the highest estimates in the hundreds of billions of dollars. Iran’s conventional military has been shattered. Its missile and drone forces have been significantly damaged or expended. It is far, however, from being out of ordnance with which to threaten shipping in the Strait of Hormuz or its neighbors.

US SERVICE MEMBER KILLED IN IRAQ AS TROOPS RECOVER UNIDENTIFIED REMAINS IN JORDAN: CENTCOM

Iran has avoided striking Israel during the most recent 10 days of combat as it fears the response of the Israeli Defense Forces. That is deterrence restored. The Iranian Revolutionary Guard is afraid to strike the Jewish State. Now it must be made afraid to shoot at Americans or at its Arab neighbors or international shipping.

The rump regime that remains appears to be a military dictatorship led by the 68-year-old Commander-in-Chief of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps Ahmad Vahidi, who came out of retirement to lead the military dictatorship after the opening strike on Iranian leaders killed scores of leading officials in the country.

The "official" successor to the killed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is his son Mostafa Khomeini, who has not been seen in public since the conflict began. Khamenei 2.0 is widely believed to have been seriously wounded in the opening strikes of the battle and has recently been reported to have been moved out of the country.

'WE WANT LAND INVASION': IRAN MOUTHPIECE TOUTS NEW MISSILE, BOASTS DECADES OF WAR PREP

The economy of Iran is in a shambles with the exchange rate of Iranian rials for U.S. dollars approaching 2 million to one. The United States Navy’s blockade of Iranian shipping is completely effective as to shipping, so Iran is again denied the most basic and essential revenue stream from the sale of oil via the oceans. Its imports must come from land or air.

The conflict could extend for months or even years as America’s blockade drives the Iranian economy deeper into the hole out of which it will take decades to climb once combat ends. The country’s nuclear program is indeed obliterated, and while the deep tunnels and caverns of Pickaxe Mountain remain a mystery to the U.S. the IRGC’s ability to "break out" to a nuclear weapon has been crushed. (The U.S. has not yet targeted Pickaxe, and may not be able to damage its deepest reaches.)

Once measured in weeks, Iran is now years and years away from a nuclear weapon even if oil exports resumed in the future and the rump regime dedicated all of that revenue from the sale of oil to again pursue nuclear weapons.

STEVE FORBES URGES TRUMP TO KEEP THE STRAIT OF HORMUZ OPEN AT ALL COSTS

The cost of oil hovers above $80 a barrel across the world, 30% higher than when the battle began but significantly lower than the $126 a barrel cost reached in April. Workarounds via pipelines and the use of the southern shipping route through the Strait near Oman have kept the cost of oil from skyrocketing, and production worldwide has also stepped up in response to the off-and-on closure of the Strait of Hormuz.

Whether President Donald Trump decides to escalate the strikes on Iran to include destruction of power plants and bridges that serve dual uses that include the Iranian military and the IRGC (legitimate targets under the laws of war) will be revealed in the days ahead.

Every lethal attack on Americans elicits from the United States extraordinary punishment on Iran. The cost to the American families bearing those losses of family is immeasurable and the U.S. is extracting a price after every deadly blow delivered by the Iranians in the ongoing effort to deter the fanatics.

That may be an unrealistic goal given the martyrdom ideology of the theocracy, but the original dictator of the Islamic Republic, Ayatollah Khomeini, drank "from the cup of poison" in 1988 and accepted what was essentially a defeat in the Iran-Iraq War of 1980-1988.

Vahidi is a veteran of that war. Perhaps the dictator will follow the original supreme leader’s example, and the advice of his civilian advisers, and the public faces of Iran who are believed by some to have grasped the scale of the defeat inflicted on Iran. The President of Iran, Masoud Pezeshkian, and its Foreign Minister, Seyed Abbas Araghchi, have almost no power over the dictator and his legions with the guns who murdered tens of thousands of Iranian citizens in January. But the civilians have hinted at the reality of a shattered country, and the crushed proxy armies in Gaza and Lebanon should also weigh on Vahidi. Does he want the IRGC to go the way of Hamas and Hezbollah?

Iran can have a ceasefire in hours if it stops firing on shipping and agrees to minimal steps like comprehensive inspections by the International Atomic Energy Agency of its known nuclear weapons development sites plus Pickaxe Mountain.

It is irrational for the regime to continue to take the pounding it is receiving, and the fact that Israel has not been targeted in these past 10 days suggests that Vahidi has grasped the reality of his situation. He has been deterred from ordering strikes on Israel. The nightly pummeling by the United States presents Vahidi with only terrible choices aimed at deterring him from his current course.

Whatever he calculated about the cost to the world in oil prices or to Trump in political damage in November, he was not just wrong, but very wrong. Does he have the ability to see that as clearly as Khomeini did in 1988?

About 7.5 million Americans saw Christopher Nolan’s "The Odyssey" this weekend. The monumental cinematic reflection on the cost of war — the retelling of a story that has resonated down more than 2,700 years — still has the power to remind every viewer of the infinite price of battle for those who lose loved ones in the conflict.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE FOX NEWS OPINION

No American should want this combat to continue a day longer than it must. Trump certainly does not. The destruction of Iran’s military capabilities and its military-industrial complex is near complete. Its nuclear program is in ruins. The Iranian people will face a much weaker regime when next they rise up to demand freedom from the fanatics.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

But as every member of the military will tell you, the enemy gets a say in when the fighting ends. The decisive victory of the American military won’t be concluded until Iran stops its aggression on international shipping. It may not do so for a long while yet. The "cup of poison" isn’t anything Vahidi wants to accept or the regime mouthpieces want to acknowledge. But President Trump is pursuing the right strategy to make its sipping inevitable.

America must honor its fallen and care for their families as well as the wounded and their families. But we pray for this spring and summer of war to end before the fall arrives. It was a necessary battle, and further devastation of Iran is not something the president or any American should want, but that choice is with Vahidi.

Hugh Hewitt is a Fox News contributor and host of "The Hugh Hewitt Show" heard weekday afternoons from 3 PM to 6 PM ET on the Salem Radio Network, and simulcast on Salem News Channel. Hugh drives Americans home on the East Coast and to lunch on the West Coast on over 400 affiliates nationwide, and on all the streaming platforms where SNC can be seen. He is a frequent guest on the Fox News Channel’s news roundtable, hosted by Bret Baier weekdays at 6pm ET. A son of Ohio and a graduate of Harvard College and the University of Michigan Law School, Hewitt has been a Professor of Law at Chapman University’s Fowler School of Law since 1996 where he teaches Constitutional Law. Hewitt launched his eponymous radio show from Los Angeles in 1990. Hewitt has frequently appeared on every major national news television network, hosted television shows for PBS and MSNBC, written for every major American paper, has authored a dozen books and moderated a score of Republican candidate debates, most recently the November 2023 Republican presidential debate in Miami and four Republican presidential debates in the 2015-16 cycle. Hewitt focuses his radio show and his column on the Constitution, national security, American politics and the Cleveland Browns and Guardians. Hewitt has interviewed tens of thousands of guests from Democrats Hillary Clinton and John Kerry to Republican Presidents George W. Bush and Donald Trump over his 40 years in broadcasting. This column previews the lead story that will drive his radio/ TV show today.

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM HUGH HEWITT

MIKE PENCE: Here's where we should look for the leadership America needs now more than ever

Tue, 21 Jul 2026 05:00:34 -0400

One year ago, America lost one of the architects of the modern conservative movement. But if the past 12 months have taught us anything, it is that America needs Ed Feulner’s example now more than ever.

Dr. Ed Feulner never confused winning momentary political battles with securing long-term victory. While others chased headlines, Ed built institutions. While others measured success by the next election, Ed invested in the next generation. While others sought influence, Ed cultivated leaders who would carry the cause of freedom long after he was gone.

He understood that political victories come and go, but a movement grounded in principle can shape history for generations. That conviction transformed the conservative movement and our country.

MAJORITY LEADER THUNE: LINDSEY GRAHAM WAS THE GOP’S GLUE, BINDING US TOGETHER WITH COURAGE AND GRACE

As the founding president of the Heritage Foundation, Ed helped create an institution that brought conservative ideas out of the academy and into the halls of government. Years later, we were deeply honored when he joined the board of Advancing American Freedom to continue the principled fight for timeless conservative values. As always, Ed’s concern was preparing the next generation to stand up for freedom with courage and conviction.

One year later, his life offers a blueprint for the challenges we face today.

America stands at an extraordinary moment in history. As we celebrate our nation’s 250th anniversary, we also face profound challenges: restoring confidence in constitutional government, confronting the growing threat posed by Communist China, taming a runaway national debt, defending free enterprise from government encroachment and ensuring that America continues to lead the free world with confidence and strength.

These challenges require the same enduring truths that guided Ed throughout his remarkable life.

HERITAGE FOUNDATION FOUNDER EDWIN J. FEULNER DIES AT 83

In an age consumed by personalities, Ed reminded us that principles matter more. In a culture driven by instant gratification, he taught that lasting victories require patience and perseverance.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE FOX NEWS OPINION

The greatest tribute we can pay Ed Feulner is not merely to remember him, but to emulate him. Let us recommit ourselves to the principles he championed. Let us strengthen the institutions that defend liberty. Let us raise up a new generation of courageous conservative leaders. And let us never lose confidence in the goodness of America or the timeless truths that have sustained our nation from the beginning.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

One year after his passing, America needs more leaders like Ed Feulner who believe that principles endure, institutions matter and freedom is always worth defending. If we carry that work forward with the same humility, courage and faith, then Ed’s greatest legacy will not simply be what he built in the past, but what we build tomorrow because of him.

AS AMERICA MARKS 250 YEARS, OUR GREATEST CHAPTERS ARE STILL AHEAD OF US

The Bible tells us, "Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom." Ed Feulner devoted his life to advancing that cause. One year after his passing, we honor his memory best not with our words alone, but with our resolve to continue the work to which he devoted his life, and which has helped preserve the liberty we so cherish.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE FROM MIKE PENCE

Trump’s GOP clout faces Arizona test with House majority, governor’s race at stake

Tue, 21 Jul 2026 05:00:15 -0400

President Donald Trump's immense clout over the GOP and the power of his endorsements in Republican nomination races face their latest test Tuesday, as Arizona holds primary elections.

Trump's endorsements in a handful of key races, including in a top swing congressional district, could impact the midterm battles for the House majority and control of governors' offices.

Trump is backing Rep. Andy Biggs, a former House Freedom Caucus chairman, for the GOP gubernatorial nomination and the chance to challenge Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs in November.

Biggs, who is also backed by the political wing of the conservative powerhouse Turning Point USA, is considered the frontrunner in a race that also includes longtime Republican Rep. David Schweikert. Also on the ballot are concrete pumping contractor Scott Neely, who's making his second straight run for governor, and business owner Ken Miceli.

DEMOCRACY ’26: STAY UP TO DATE WITH THE FOX NEWS ELECTION HUB

The winner will face off in the general election with Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs, a former Arizona Secretary of State who narrowly defeated then-GOP nominee Kari Lake four years ago. Hobbs was unopposed for re-nomination.

Down-ballot, the statewide race for the Republican attorney general nomination has become combustible as state Senate President Warren Petersen and military attorney Rodney Glassman have traded fire. The winner will challenge Democratic incumbent Kris Mayes in the general election.

In the race to succeed Schweikert in Arizona's 1st Congressional District, which is anchored in the northeastern Phoenix suburbs, Trump is backing former Arizona Cardinals professional football player and former CBS Sports NFL analyst Jay Feely.

SIGN UP TO GET THE POLITICS NEWSLETTER

Former state lawmaker Joseph Chaplik and businessman John Trobough are also running for the GOP nomination in the key swing district.

Former TV anchor Marlene Galán-Woods and former state Rep. Amish Shah are facing off in a rematch for the Democratic congressional nomination. Shah, an emergency room physician, won the 2024 faceoff.

Galán-Woods, a former Republican, has the backing of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, which has big bucks to support her, as well as top Democrats Sen. Mark Kelly and former Gov. Janet Napolitano.

Rick McCartney, president and CEO of InMedia Company, and Jonathan Treble, founder of WithMe, are also on the ballot.

The midterm race in Arizona's 1st District is one of two or three dozen across the country that will determine whether the GOP holds onto its razor-thin House majority.

In the race to replace Biggs in Arizona's 5th District, which is located in the southeastern Phoenix suburbs, including parts of Mesa, Trump is backing former Pinal County Sheriff Mark Lamb, who is facing off with construction contractor Daniel Keenan for the GOP nomination.

Keenan has made the sexual misconduct and abuse-of-power allegations against Lamb a key part of his campaign. The Pinal County attorney last month cleared Lamb of criminal wrongdoing as it closed its investigation. And Trump, despite the controversy, reaffirmed his endorsement of Lamb earlier this month.

The winner of the Republican primary will be considered the clear favorite to succeed Biggs in the solidly red district.

The brute force of the president's endorsement power has been on display in GOP primaries this spring and summer, with his candidates ousting incumbents he targeted in showdowns in Indiana, Kentucky and Texas, as well as the Louisiana primary.

But Trump's endorsement streak in statewide and congressional Republican primaries was snapped in early June when his last-minute endorsement of Republican Rep. Randy Feenstra of Iowa in the race to succeed retiring GOP Gov. Kim Reynolds wasn't enough to propel the three-term congressman to victory.

Feenstra was narrowly edged by Zach Lahn, a businessman, farmer and former political strategist who was backed by the political wings of MAHA — the acronym for the Make America Healthy Again movement aligned with Trump's Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. — and Turning Point USA, the powerful conservative organization co-founded by the late Charlie Kirk.

Trump-backed candidates won two of the three top races in key GOP primary runoff elections in Georgia and Alabama last month, with the one setback coming against a billionaire businessman who shelled out over $100 million of his own money to boost his campaign.

A week later, Trump-backed first-time candidate Anthony Constantino, a businessman and former boxer, defeated Robert Smullen, a retired Marine Corps colonel and New York assemblyman who had the backing of the state party, in the upstate New York race to succeed retiring GOP Rep. Elise Stefanik.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

Meanwhile, in South Carolina's Republican gubernatorial runoff, Trump couldn't lose.

That's because, besides backing Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette a few weeks earlier, he also gave a last-minute endorsement to state Attorney General Alan Wilson, who ended up winning the late June showdown in a landslide.

The president also enjoyed victory in Louisiana, where Sen. Bill Cassidy, who voted to convict Trump in his 2021 impeachment trial, was ousted as he sought re-nomination. Trump-backed Rep. Julia Letlow ended up winning the nomination in last month's runoff election.

LIZ PEEK: The Trump economy is doing better than the media want to admit

Tue, 21 Jul 2026 05:00:01 -0400

President Donald Trump has a good story to tell on the economy; he should be telling it, because it’s a sure bet the liberal media will not.

Consider the big picture: unemployment is low, real wages are rising, the stock market is high, investment is booming and inflation, though above the Federal Reserve’s target, came down last month, and will recede again once oil prices stabilize. (Inflation, most recently at 3.5%, and at 2.6% excluding volatile food and energy, is also significantly below the 4.95% recorded on average under President Joe Biden.)

More good news: the conservative Committee to Unleash Prosperity reports that during the first 16 months of Trump’s current term, real incomes for the lowest 25% of earners increased almost $2,100, while they actually shrank under Biden.

BESSENT CREDITS TRUMP IMMIGRATION POLICIES WITH HELPING RETURN JOBS TO AMERICANS AS WAGE GAINS RESUME

Additionally, the Bank of America Institute writes that "total credit and debit card spending rising 6.3% year-over-year (YoY) in June - the strongest growth in over four years." Importantly, the Institute further reports that "gaps in wage and spending growth across income groups narrowed."

Wait! Income inequality is actually shrinking under Trump? Yes – but you sure won’t hear that from Bloomberg or CNBC – they’re too busy convincing voters that Republicans are hell-bent on pumping up the wealthy at the expense of, well, everybody else.

Sure, we have challenges, as always, and especially with the cost of living being too high and housing too expensive for many Americans. But, overall, the economy is in pretty good shape.

FOX NEWS POLL: MOST RATE THE ECONOMY NEGATIVELY, INCLUDING HALF OF REPUBLICANS

That’s not what most people think. A new survey from CNBC shows "61% of the public is pessimistic about the current state of the economy and about the outlook for the future." A Washington Post-Ipsos poll puts the president’s approval rating on the economy at a dismal 33%.

Why the disconnect? I blame the incessant negativity of the Trump-hating media and also the inability of many Republicans to articulate the benefits of lower taxes and lighter regulations, the president’s signature agenda. If your own team can’t sell your successes, you’re in trouble.

For instance, GOP candidates should be talking up the Trump accounts. Over 6 million children have already signed up for these deferred investment accounts, of which 1.4 million qualify for a $1,000 contribution from the Treasury.

Dell CEO Michael Dell who, with his wife Susan, donated $6.25 billion to the program, said, "What the research shows us, pretty clearly, is that when a kid has even a small account in their name, they start to see themselves differently, and that shows up in graduation rates, in homeownership, in the businesses they start. That’s not just a financial outcome — it’s a mindset shift."

What could possibly be more transformational than giving millions of American children the opportunity to invest for the future and introducing them to the magic of compound interest? This is the best of Trump: inventive, inclusive and pragmatic.

The president signed an executive order in April also creating a new low-cost "TrumpIRA," which Trump described as offering every American worker "the same type of retirement accounts that federal employees enjoy." According to one analysis, some 40% of full-time workers and the vast majority of part-time workers lack access to retirement savings through their employers. As of next year, when the program begins, that should change.

This is a game changer; the more people who have skin in the American economy, the better for our country.

The midterm elections are just over three months away. They will decide whether the Trump agenda can move forward or be buried under a blitzkrieg of vindictive investigations and impeachment hearings. Nothing in these remaining weeks will matter more than the state of the economy and how voters regard their own financial circumstances.

The House and the Senate are both in session this week, and not due to reconvene until mid-September. This is the moment to not only talk up recent economic successes, but also to deliver a splashy final policy assault, to convince voters that the GOP has more to offer.

Instead, Republicans appear on the cusp of passing a meager $95 billion reconciliation bill that mostly funds defense needs and helps farmers. So narrow is that legislation that some GOP House members are talking about a possible fourth reconciliation bill, to include other unaddressed priorities.

Why are Republicans playing defense? Why aren’t they taking what may be their last chance to create a bill that offers much-needed relief on housing, for instance? Many have proposed indexing the capital gains tax on home sales to inflation, to loosen up supply. Many older people, especially, cannot afford to sell their long-held homes because of the taxes they would owe. Why not fix that?

Why, in short, are Republicans in a defensive crouch?

Democrats, in charge of the most expensive cities and states in the U.S., are laughably telling voters they are the party concerned with "affordability." They also have, despite four years under Biden when inflation soared to 40-year highs, convinced voters that Republicans cannot be trusted to produce an economy that makes their lives easier.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE FOX NEWS OPINION

Democrats argue that the GOP’s tax cuts have benefited only the wealthy. That is not true. The Big Beautiful Bill’s features like an expanded child tax credit and standard deduction, "No Tax on Tips" and "No Tax on Overtime" benefited millions of working-class Americans. Families making between $15,000 and $30,000 saw tax cuts of 21%, the most of any income group, while the share of revenues coming from the top 10% actually rose.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

That is a solid win for working people in the U.S. Republicans need to hit the campaign trail armed with those facts, and also with proposals that build on those gains.

To paraphrase James Carville, it is always – always – the economy, stupid.

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM LIZ PEEK

DOJ opens probe into Harvard's financial aid for alleged discrimination against American students

Tue, 21 Jul 2026 02:16:10 -0400

The Justice Department is reviewing whether Harvard University accepted foreign donations that improperly favored students from China and other countries over American students.

The department said Monday that Harvard’s foreign-funding disclosures raised concerns that some donors imposed nationality-based restrictions on financial aid. Officials are examining whether those arrangements violate Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, which bars federally funded institutions from discriminating based on national origin.

"Every American student should have an equal opportunity to compete for college scholarships, grants, and other kinds of financial aid and benefits," Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Harmeet Dhillon said in a statement.

"Schools cannot take federal dollars and then turn around and accept money from foreign sources to give financial aid that deliberately excludes American citizens — doing so is illegal, and we will stop it wherever we find it," she continued.

KEY TRUMP AGENCY PUTS TOP UNIVERSITIES IN CROSSHAIRS OVER ALLEGED RACE-BASED DORM PROGRAMS

The DOJ said some China-based donors directed Harvard to use their money for aid programs benefiting students from particular countries. The department alleged that complying with those restrictions could disadvantage students of other nationalities, including Americans.

Officials stressed that the review remains ongoing and that the department has not reached any conclusions. The DOJ also did not identify the specific scholarships or donors under examination.

Harvard denied that its financial aid policies violate federal civil rights law.

"Harvard follows the law for required reporting of donations and, consistent with our legal obligations under Title VI, does not unlawfully discriminate on the basis of race, ethnicity, or national origin in allocating financial aid," the university said in a statement.

DOJ SUES UCLA OVER ALLEGED ‘JUDENREIN’ CONDITIONS DURING ANTI-ISRAEL ENCAMPMENT

Federal law requires colleges and universities to report foreign gifts and contracts worth at least $250,000. The DOJ said a Civil Rights Division audit of those disclosures found that Harvard had reported nearly $4.5 billion in foreign funding — more than any other American university — including over $630 million from China, its largest foreign source.

The university provides need-based institutional aid to international students, while federal grants and other government assistance are generally limited to eligible US students. Harvard also uses private scholarship and employment funds to support students from outside the country.

Some private gifts have been designated for students from specific nations. In 2014, SOHO China co-founders Pan Shiyi and Zhang Xin donated $15 million to support Chinese students at Harvard. The DOJ has not said whether that gift is part of its review.

The inquiry adds another front to the Trump administration’s broader conflict with Harvard. Federal officials have also scrutinized the university over alleged antisemitism, admissions practices and its treatment of foreign students.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

A federal judge previously blocked the administration from cutting billions of dollars in research funding from Harvard as related litigation continues.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Nicaragua's Ortega says country will 'never again' hold elections, shutting out opposition

Tue, 21 Jul 2026 00:56:27 -0400

Nicaraguan leader Daniel Ortega said the Central American country would no longer hold elections, further closing off any potential path for the opposition to challenge the government he leads with his wife, Rosario Murillo.

Ortega, Nicaragua’s longest-serving leader, has remained in power since 2007 after previously governing during the 1980s. His current presidential term is scheduled to run through 2027.

"There won't be any more elections here for them to try to seize the government and seize power," Ortega said.

He delivered the remarks Sunday during a speech commemorating the 1979 Sandinista revolution, in which Ortega participated in the overthrow of the US-backed dictatorship of Anastasio Somoza.

TRUMP ADMIN BACKS BOLIVIA STATE OF EMERGENCY AS LEFTIST EX-LEADER'S LOYALISTS FRACTURE NATION

The declaration appeared to eliminate the possibility of a future electoral challenge as Ortega and Murillo continue consolidating control over the country’s political institutions.

"The days when parties backed by the Yankees (United States) and the Somocistas would return to power are over — never again," Ortega declared.

Fox News Digital has reached out to the U.S. State Department for comment.

The Trump administration has described the Ortega-Murillo government as a dictatorship and imposed sanctions on members of the government and their allies. The State Department has also enacted visa restrictions targeting more than 2,350 Nicaraguan officials and their family members.

"The United States stands with the Nicaraguan people who, like Rivera, aspire to see a free Nicaragua," Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in June.

TRUMP EXPANDS CUBA SANCTIONS BEYOND US COMPANIES IN MAJOR CRACKDOWN ON FOREIGN ENABLERS

The Biden administration previously said Ortega illegitimately awarded himself another term following Nicaragua’s disputed 2021 presidential election.

Authorities arrested presidential candidates, opposition figures, business leaders and journalists ahead of that vote as the government intensified its criminalization of dissent.

Ortega and Murillo further expanded their authority through sweeping constitutional changes that took effect in 2025. The reforms extended the presidential term from five years to six and elevated Murillo from vice president to "co-president."

The changes also placed Nicaragua’s legislative, judicial and electoral institutions under the authority of the presidency, according to United Nations experts.

Ortega and Murillo now exercise control over nearly every branch of the government, including the armed forces, police and judiciary.

Ortega had already effectively eliminated meaningful electoral competition during elections in 2011, 2016 and 2021, Salvador Marenco, coordinator of the Costa Rica-based Nicaragua Nunca Más Human Rights Collective, told Reuters.

Many prominent opposition leaders have been imprisoned, forced into exile or stripped of their Nicaraguan citizenship, while opposition parties and independent civic organizations have lost their legal status.

A United Nations group of experts has accused the Ortega-Murillo government of systematically violating human rights as part of a campaign to eliminate criticism and preserve its hold on power. The experts said some alleged violations may amount to crimes against humanity.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

The government launched a violent crackdown on anti-government protests in 2018. More than 300 people were killed during the unrest, according to international human rights groups.

Reuters contributed to this report.

Darline Graham focuses on kitchen-table issues as she announces full-term Senate bid

Mon, 20 Jul 2026 22:42:42 -0400

Sen. Darline Graham, R-S.C., the sister of late Sen. Lindsey Graham, outlined her political priorities in an exclusive interview with "Hannity" on Monday as she announced she would run for a full Senate term in November.

"He's worked so hard for so long. I can’t just let that die. I've got to step in and carry on his legacy," she said during her first interview since Lindsey’s death.

"I know he cared about the people of South Carolina so deeply. He worked so hard for them. And I feel like I can do that, too. He taught me well," she added.

SEN DARLINE GRAHAM REVEALS WHETHER SHE WILL RUN FOR A FULL-TERM DURING ‘HANNITY’ EXCLUSIVE

After being appointed by South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster last week to serve out the rest of her late brother’s Senate term until January 2027, Graham announced Monday that she will run for a full, six-year term.

Graham, South Carolina’s first female U.S. Senator, told Fox News she feels an "inner peace" about succeeding her brother in representing The Palmetto State.

"It is a tremendous amount of pressure," she said.

"I feel like I can do it. I feel an inner peace about it."

Graham said that unlike Lindsey, who was passionate about ending the Russia-Ukraine conflict, she plans to focus primarily on domestic issues rather than foreign policy and place greater emphasis on day-to-day concerns of South Carolinians.

NANCY MACE REVEALS SENATE DECISION AS LINDSEY GRAHAM'S SISTER REDRAWS THE RACE

"I used to see him on the talk shows. I would watch him and I'd be like, ‘Lindsey, are you just talking about national security all the time?'," she explained. "And I understand that's important. Protecting our borders, national security, absolutely."

"I said, ‘But talk about also what matters to the average person. The price of groceries, the price of gas, health care. Insurance, those kind of things.’ That's what I'm worried about."

Lindsey Graham died suddenly on July 11 at age 71. His cause of death was later identified as an aortic dissection due to arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease.

"It's been tough, extremely tough," Darline Graham told host Sean Hannity.

MAJORITY LEADER THUNE: LINDSEY GRAHAM WAS THE GOP’S GLUE, BINDING US TOGETHER WITH COURAGE AND GRACE

"He was everything, he was my rock. He was my brother, my mother, and my father," she added.

Since 2019, Graham has served as a commissioner for South Carolina’s Commission for the Blind, overseeing a $90 million budget. The organization helps people who are blind or visually impaired people find employment.

"It was a passion of mine, but I have a servant's heart," she said. "You have to have a servant's heart for a job like that."

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

Bodycam catches Sunny Hostin invoking her legal chops as cops cite Harvard-grad son for trespassing

Mon, 20 Jul 2026 22:03:56 -0400

"The View" co-host Sunny Hostin repeatedly reminded police she was a "former federal prosecutor" after officers stopped her Harvard-educated son for trespassing on Metro-North railroad property, as newly released body camera video captured the TV host urging officers to cut him a break.

"My name is Sunny Hostin and I'm one of the co-hosts of 'The View' and I'm a former federal prosecutor," Hostin tells an officer over the phone in bodycam video obtained by Fox News Digital.

After arriving at the scene, Hostin continued making her case.

"That's my son. He's a Harvard graduate. He doesn't have a criminal record," she says. "He's not a kid who's ever in trouble. It's an innocent mistake."

According to records obtained by Fox News Digital, Gabriel Hostin was stopped by Metropolitan Transportation Authority police shortly before 8 p.m. June 16 after officers observed him on the Metro-North railroad right-of-way at the New Rochelle station.

Police alleged he was trespassing in an area marked with "NO TRESPASSING" signs.

An MTA Police spokesperson told Fox News Digital the 23-year-old was observed running near an electrified third rail before officers stopped him near Commerce Drive, conducted a criminal background check and escorted him from the area.

Because Hostin had no criminal history and cooperated with officers, police said he was issued a summons for trespass and released.

The bodycam video shows Gabriel Hostin asking officers whether issuing the summons was necessary.

"Because it is an arrestable offense. I want to make that clear," one officer tells him.

"We're dimming it down to a trespass violation because you were in the right-of-way."

The officer goes on to explain that police were taking his lack of criminal history into account.

"We know you're not a criminal or anything like that, but our hands are tied with cameras everywhere," the officer says.

Hostin again urged officers to exercise discretion.

"He's a Harvard grad who teaches fourth-grade geometry to South Bronx kids," she says. "He's not a kid who's ever in trouble. It's an innocent mistake."

According to charging documents obtained by Fox News Digital, an officer alleged he observed Gabriel Hostin on the active railroad right-of-way at the New Rochelle station "in violation of the posted NO TRESPASSING signs."

The citation narrative similarly states officers observed him on the railroad right-of-way before conducting a warrant check that came back negative and issuing him an appearance ticket for trespass.

The records also include photographs of warning signs reading, "NO TRESPASSING – PRIVATE PROPERTY – VIOLATORS WILL BE PROSECUTED," posted near the entrance to the property, along with photos of the gated access point.

According to court records, Gabriel Hostin is scheduled to appear in New Rochelle City Court on July 31.

BC: 6401685300112

In a letter obtained by TMZ, Hostin argued her son mistakenly entered the property while jogging after spotting what appeared to be a gravel incline suitable for hill training.

She said the entrance gate was open and that the only "No Trespassing" sign was attached to the left gate and was not visible when he entered.

The bodycam video also sparked reaction online, with several conservative accounts criticizing Hostin for invoking her legal background during the encounter.

Libs of TikTok contrasted Hostin's past remarks that "no one is above the law" with her comments to officers that she was "a former federal prosecutor" and that her son was a Harvard graduate with no criminal record.

End Wokeness posted a similar critique, arguing the footage conflicted with Hostin's previous public comments about equal treatment under the law.

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

New York far-left group claims reparations 'owed' as Blacks' median wealth 'nearly 15 times less' than Whites

Mon, 20 Jul 2026 21:30:49 -0400

A prominent civil rights organization is pushing for statewide reparations, arguing that a historical debt is owed to Black New Yorkers due to deep wealth disparities rooted in the state's ties to slavery and decades of systemic discrimination.

"Reparations are a debt that is owed. Enslaved Black people built the foundation of New York’s economy, but Black families in our state still face racism that has been codified into our laws and budgets," said Lanessa Owens-Chaplin, Director of the Racial Justice Center at the New York Civil Liberties Union (NYCLU). "New York State was not a bystander to slavery — it created, enacted, and protected the institution. Reparations must be extended to all Black New Yorkers descended from those enslaved by New York State, and to all Black New Yorkers still living under the systems slavery built."

In a joint report released last week titled "The Other New York: The Legacy of Slavery and the Case for Reparations Now," the NYCLU and the Legal Defense Fund (LDF) detailed the lasting economic impacts of slavery and Jim Crow–era policies on Black communities across the state.

CHICAGO SUBURB LOCALS HOPE REPARATIONS ADDRESSES 'AFFORDABILITY PRESSURES' AS BLACK POPULATION DWINDLES

According to the report, the median wealth of Black New Yorkers stands at $18,870 — nearly 15 times less than the median wealth of White New Yorkers, which sits at $276,900. The groups noted that New York state exhibits a wider racial wealth gap than the national average.

The report points to government-backed practices like redlining as major catalysts for today's wealth inequality, noting that the exclusion and displacement of Black communities denied them "the stability and generational wealth that homeownership provides."

"Nearly 90 years after redlining and urban renewal, formerly redlined communities remain some of the highest-poverty neighborhoods in New York," the report states. "Zoning laws reinforced the racial hierarchy established under slavery, forcing Black people to live in industrial areas with increased pollution — leading to disproportionately high asthma, cardiovascular disease, premature delivery, and premature death. Schools serving predominantly Black students have been severely underfunded and disproportionately affected by environmental hazards, crumbling infrastructure, and lead poisoning."

The groups argue that reparations must go beyond symbolic gestures, advocating for both direct compensation for financial losses and broad institutional policy changes.

"Supporting reparations is about more than compensation; it is about acknowledging harm, restoring dignity, and creating pathways for communities to thrive," the authors wrote. The report outlines proposed remedies to "compensate for the harm by addressing tangible losses, such as loss of wealth, wages, and other damages caused by wrongdoing," while also targeting broader structural changes in criminal justice, environmental policy, and public school funding.

"In order to build a thriving economy and a resilient multi-racial democracy, New York must repair past harm and break down barriers to opportunity for Black communities. Reparations benefit all New Yorkers," the report urged.

The NYCLU did not respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment.

KEY TRUMP AGENCY PUTS TOP UNIVERSITIES IN CROSSHAIRS OVER ALLEGED RACE-BASED DORM PROGRAMS

These localized efforts come as state and municipal racial redress initiatives face growing legal and political scrutiny nationwide. In Evanston, Illinois — the first U.S. municipality to distribute cash and housing grants as reparations — the program is facing a high-profile federal lawsuit. The U.S. Department of Justice intervened in the suit, arguing that race-based benefit distributions violate the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment.

Meanwhile, in New York, progress on state-level recommendations has stalled.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

The New York State Community Commission on Reparations Remedies was created under legislation signed by Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul in late 2023. The panel was tasked with examining the state's historical ties to slavery, subsequent Jim Crow practices, and modern economic disparities to formulate recommendations for policy changes and financial remedies.

However, the NYCLU slammed state officials after a provision quietly embedded in the state budget pushed the commission’s final report deadline back two years — from its original 2025 date to 2029.

Trump says first call with new UK PM Burnham went 'very well,' pledges US support

Mon, 20 Jul 2026 21:26:01 -0400

President Donald Trump said Monday that he spoke with Britain's new prime minister, Andy Burnham, shortly after he took office, calling the conversation "very good."

Trump added that he and Burnham plan to meet in the "not too distant future" to discuss issues of mutual interest.

During the call, the leaders touched on the longstanding U.S.-U.K. relationship and the challenges facing Burnham as he begins his time in office, with Trump pledging American support.

"We discussed many subjects, including the outstanding relationship we have had with the UK," Trump said.

ANDY BURNHAM TAKES OVER AS UK PRIME MINISTER, CALLS FOR 'NEW POLITICAL MODEL'

"The Prime Minister has got a big job ahead of him, but he will be able to do it and, of course, the U.S.A. will be there to help!"

The pair also discussed North Sea oil, trade, the U.S.-U.K. military alliance and efforts to clear mines from the Strait of Hormuz, Trump said.

Burnham's office released a statement following the call, saying the prime minister looked forward to welcoming Trump to Manchester during a future visit.

According to Downing Street, Trump updated Burnham on the situation in the Middle East, while Burnham reaffirmed the United Kingdom's commitment to reopening the Strait of Hormuz safely.

"The Prime Minister outlined the UK’s commitment to securing the movement of shipping in the Strait of Hormuz to support global supply chains and drive down costs for businesses and families across the country," the British office said.

Burnham further emphasized that defense and security would remain the U.K.'s top priority alongside its allies.

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

On the domestic front, Burnham emphasized that he will pursue reindustrialization efforts to drive economic growth across the country.

Trump ultimately described the conversation as a major success.

"The call was interesting, and went very well. I wished Prime Minister Burnham, GOOD LUCK AND GODSPEED!" Trump said.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

Burnham became Britain's seventh prime minister in a decade on Monday, vowing to reshape a country that has cycled through a series of leaders in recent years. He succeeds Keir Starmer, who served as prime minister for just over two years after taking office in the summer of 2024.

The two leaders have previously traded criticism. Before Burnham took office, Trump labeled him "extremely liberal," while Burnham has been openly critical of the American president.

Sinaloa Cartel boss 'El Mayo' sentenced to life, ordered to pay $15B in drug trafficking profits

Mon, 20 Jul 2026 21:00:05 -0400

Sinaloa Cartel co-founder Ismael "El Mayo" Zambada Garcia, of Mexico, was sentenced on Monday to life in a U.S. prison and ordered to forfeit $15 billion in drug trafficking profits, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.

U.S. District Judge Brian Cogan said that while he had no choice but to give a life sentence since the charges carried a mandatory term of life imprisonment, he believed it was the right punishment.

"The almost unimaginable amount of drugs attributable to him and the number of murders that we can document is enough to justify Congress's decision to make this a mandatory life sentence," the judge said.

He is one of the most high-profile Mexican drug traffickers to be sentenced by a U.S. judge since fellow Sinaloa leader Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman was sentenced to life in prison in 2019.

ICE RENEWS HUNT FOR EL CHAPO'S ;AST TWO FUGITIVE SONS WITH MASSIVE REWARD

Garcia, 76, agreed to plead guilty in August 2025 to multiple charges, including racketeering conspiracy and continuing criminal enterprise, after the DOJ said it would not pursue the death penalty.

He was arrested in July 2024 alongside Joaquin Guzman Lopez, one of Guzman's sons, after their plane landed in the U.S. Guzman Lopez has since pleaded guilty to multiple charges, including drug trafficking and a July 2024 kidnapping.

Joseph Nocella, a federal prosecutor, told reporters after Garcia's sentencing that Guzman Lopez had admitted to kidnapping Garcia in an attempt to secure leniency and credit from U.S. law enforcement.

"The United States made perfectly clear that we do not condone kidnapping and that he would receive no credit," Nocella said.

Guzman Lopez has not yet been sentenced.

Garcia told the court during his sentencing on Monday that he took responsibility for the harm he had caused.

"No one wins in a war like this. To the next generation, I say, choose a different path," he said.

US CHARGES MEXICAN GOVERNOR, TOP OFFICIALS IN CARTEL CONSPIRACY AS MEXICO FIRES BACK OVER PROOF

Cogan suggested that Garcia be placed in a facility where he would receive adequate medical care since he was suffering from several progressive health ailments.

"Ismael Zambada Garcia spent nearly four decades poisoning American communities to make billions of dollars in profit and ordering the murders of anyone who stood in his way. Today, that chapter closes for good," Nocella said in a statement.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

"He will spend the rest of his life in a U.S. prison, exactly where he belongs," he added. This sentence was made possible by the tireless bilateral cooperation between U.S. and Mexican law enforcement, who refused to let El Mayo's years of evading justice become a permanent state of affairs. We hope that today's sentence brings some measure of justice to the countless victims of the Sinaloa Cartel's narcotics trafficking and violence."

Reuters contributed to this report.

Michigan Dem hopeful Abdul El-Sayed jabs CNN giving him 'non-consensual colonoscopy' in recent interviews

Mon, 20 Jul 2026 20:42:54 -0400

Democratic Michigan Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed took a swipe at CNN over what he suggests are uncomfortable appearances he has had on the network.

"I go on CNN every once in a while and I get a non-consensual colonoscopy," El-Sayed quipped at a rally in Grand Rapids on Sunday, sparking laughs from the crowd.

"And then, all they ask me about is another country, and they're like, 'All he's ever talking about is another country.' No! I just want everybody to understand that there's an opportunity cost to the money being sent over there, and that is what we could have over here," he continued.

DEMOCRATS' CIVIL WAR HEADS TO MICHIGAN WHERE PROGRESSIVES FACE BIGGEST TEST YET IN HIGH-STAKES SENATE SHOWDOWN

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

Earlier in the day, El-Sayed appeared on CNN's "State of the Union," where he was grilled by anchor Jake Tapper about previously-leaked audio of him saying he didn't want to comment on the killing of Iranian Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in February in order not to offend any of his constituents.

SOCIALIST-BACKED MICHIGAN SENATE HOPEFUL CALLS AMERICAN POLITICS A 'DISEASE' AFTER PROFESSING LOVE FOR US

"Why were you worried about people who supported the ayatollah?" Tapper asked.

El-Sayed largely sidestepped the question, insisting he didn't want to comment because of the "ridiculous pretext," instead putting focus on the three U.S. servicemembers who were killed by Iranian strikes in Jordan over the weekend.

"Look, let's have a conversation based in Michigan. I'm running for Senate in Michigan. And I think here in Michigan, all of us are probably sad about the fact that we went to a war that we never should have fought. I'd rather our money be spent here," El-Sayed told Tapper.

"I was specifically asking you about comments you didn't want to make because you didn't want to offend people in Dearborn, which is in Michigan," Tapper replied before moving on to another topic.

SOCIALIST-BACKED DEM WHO RIPPED THE WEALTHY CRACKS STATE'S TOP 1%, TAX RETURNS SHOW

In another contentious exchange earlier this month, El-Sayed clashed with CNN anchor Kasie Hunt about his deleted social media posts expressing support for defunding the police, accusing the network of seeking "clickbait" instead of focusing on the issues voters care about.

El-Sayed, who has earned the endorsement of far-left progressives like Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., is currently running in a combative Democratic primary against Michigan Rep. Haley Stevens. Both Sanders and Ocasio-Cortez joined him at Sunday's campaign rally.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

Controversial streamer Clavicular explains viral 'looksmaxxing' trend as Gen Z adopts extreme regimen

Mon, 20 Jul 2026 20:25:52 -0400

Controversial internet personality Braden Peters, known online as Clavicular, explained the goals behind his "looksmaxxing" movement, as the dangerous health regimen gains popularity among young men.

"Looksmaxxing is the most well-rounded form of self-improvement, just almost taking it to its logical conclusion," Clavicular said in a new episode of "Hang Out with Sean Hannity."

The looksmaxxing movement championed by the 20-year-old livestreamer has surged in popularity among Generation Z and Generation Alpha.

The strict health regimen is meant to maximize your appearance and includes practices such as taking stimulants and bone smashing , which Clavicular describes as striking your facial bones with a hammer in an effort to stimulate bone growth.

INFLUENCER CONNOR MURPHY'S RENTAL DISCOVERED IN SHOCKING CONDITION AFTER HIS SUDDEN DROWNING

Medical experts have warned against the practice because of the risk of serious injury.

"[Looksmaxxing is] gonna include just traditional bodybuilding and fitness style stuff, as well as a new focus on sort of facial esthetics," he said.

TRANS ACTOR ELLIOT PAGE ARGUES 'HEALTHY MASCULINITY' IS REJECTING EXPECTATION TO 'SHUT DOWN'

"And that's been missing from a lot of like the male red pill stuff and male self- improvement was emphasis on the face, and you know, a lot more of the emphasis was on just the physique and training and all that kind of stuff."

Clavicular is best known for his hours-long livestreams on Kick, where he is filmed in a candid setting socializing at nightclubs. Clips from those outings, in which he uses pickup lines to attract women, frequently go viral online and amass millions of views.

"Going to the clubs, it shows the very nature of hypergamy and kind of the reasoning behind the whole philosophy of looksmaxxing, why it's important," Clavicular said.

FLORIDA MAN WHO ALLEGEDLY LURED WOMEN WITH DATING APP COULD HAVE MORE VICTIMS: AUTHORITIES

"Only about 2% of the people in nightlife that you see are gonna have success with women, are gonna be able to take a girl home and have a one night stand with her, right? 2%. So most people in the clubs stand literally no chance."

The streamer’s interactions with young women have stirred up controversy about his insolent treatment of women. He was arrested in March on a battery charge which involved him allegedly instigating a fight between two woman and posting the video to social media.

Many members of Generation Z and Generation Alpha have adopted Clavicular’s controversial looksmaxxing techniques in hopes of improving their appearance, but critics have expressed concern about the streamer’s growing influence on younger audiences.

Fox News host Sean Hannity questioned him about what his intentions are in posting videos promoting looksmaxxing.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

"The more content that I do, it kind of displays that and puts an emphasis on, like, you really need to prioritize looking better and starting to look max," he said.

The influencer explained that looksmaxxing is not solely intended to get girls and argued attractive physical appearances improve "every single micro interaction in your life."

"If they're not good-looking they're not going to get the job," he said, arguing that one must be physically attractive to obtain work.

The latest episode of "Hang Out with Sean Hannity" featuring Clavicular will be available on Tuesday on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple.

Dodgers' Kiké Hernández blasts fan's angry letter over White House skip, exposes address to followers

Mon, 20 Jul 2026 20:13:30 -0400

Dodgers fan favorite Kiké Hernández has built a reputation for clutch October moments and an easygoing personality.

But after choosing to skip the team’s upcoming July 23 White House visit celebrating their 2026 World Series title, the utility veteran found himself at the center of a heated political debate.

SISTERS OF PERPETUAL INDULGENCE WERE 'TOO BUSY' FOR DODGERS' PRIDE FESTIVITIES

Officially, the 34-year-old is missing the trip to begin a minor-league injury rehabilitation assignment for a strained left oblique.

"It's going to be hard to be in two cities at the same time," Hernández admitted recently. Though he quickly added a more candid takeaway: "If I was active, I probably wouldn't have gone anyways."

LOS ANGELES DODGERS HOST FAITH NIGHT AFTER SISTERS OF PERPETUAL INDULGENCE DISASTER

That admission didn't sit well with one disgruntled fan named Larry, who sent a typed letter to the ballpark taking direct aim at the Puerto Rican-born star:

"Mr. Hernandez, after hearing about the horrible experience during your last visit to the White House and your excuse for your absence this year, it seems clear that you are just a disrespectful, spoiled, pampered, entitled little brat. Remember, you work for an organization that promotes a group (The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence) that disparages and denigrates the entire Catholic religion."

Rather than tossing the hate mail in the trash, Hernández posted a photo of the letter, along with Larry’s unredacted return address, to his 1.5 million social media followers.

"SO to Larry for the nice letter!" Hernández captioned the post. "Next time, at least make it handwritten, you nice sir!"

Hernández isn't the only Dodger opting out of the Washington trip.

While Hernández did attend the team's White House visit in April 2025 following their 2024 championship, he later indicated he regretted the experience.

DODGERS SPARK PROTESTS AFTER ALLEGED ICE AGENT BLOCK AT DODGER STADIUM; ICE CALLS CLAIMS FALSE

Superstar teammate Mookie Betts is also expected to skip the July 23 event.

Betts previously made headlines when he opted not to visit the White House with the Boston Red Sox in 2019, during Donald Trump's first term.

Hernández has long been vocal in his opposition to President Trump’s immigration stance.

Tensions surrounding the Dodgers hit a boiling point in 2025 following rumors that immigration officials were present at Dodger Stadium.

While rumors initially claimed ICE was targeting fans, OutKick confirmed at the time that the personnel was actually California Border Control agents conducting routine operations unrelated to local sweeps.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

Championship White House visits were once a universally accepted, non-partisan victory lap for championship teams. Today, they are an ideological battleground.

Whether you agree with Larry or the player, doxxing a fan over a typed critique crosses a line.

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

Colorado's socialist candidate calls for 'more immigrants into office' to stop America's 'exploitative' nature

Mon, 20 Jul 2026 20:09:44 -0400

Colorado socialist candidate Melat Kiros pushed more immigrants with "heritage in the global south" to enter office and push back against the "exploitative and extractive" nature of the United States last week.

Kiros took part in the Wa’Ela Tigrai event in Denver, Colorado, last weekend and discussed her rising congressional campaign after defeating longtime incumbent Rep. Diana DeGette, D-Colo., during a Democratic primary last month.

Drawing on the experiences of House "Squad" members like Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., Kiros spoke about the importance of helping others to achieve after her for the sake of changing the global world order. One way, she argued, was pushing people who understand American exploitation "on a fundamental level."

COLORADO SOCIALIST CANDIDATE CALLED 9/11 TERROR ATTACKS 'INEVITABLE' DUE TO US FOREIGN POLICY

"There's a certain reckoning that we are going to have to have with the global world order as it exists today and the way that it fundamentally will have to shift going forward," Kiros said. "The responsibility that we have as Americans, the recognition that is going to be required of us, of the exploitative and extractive nature that we play on the global scale and the global stage is only going to be challenged if we are getting represented by people who understand that on a fundamental level."

She continued, "And that means getting more immigrants into office. That means getting more people who have heritage in the global south into office because that's where those decisions are made specifically."

Fox News Digital reached out to Kiros' campaign for comment.

SOCIALISM’S RISE INSIDE THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY NOW THREATENS THE AMERICAN DREAM

Kiros was one of several candidates endorsed by the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) who defeated an incumbent Democratic politician in a primary election for the 2026 midterms.

During the event, she appeared to push an anti-capitalist sentiment based on her experience as an attorney, claiming that it "broke [her] spirit."

"When I was in law school, I tell everybody that was where I learned that the system is not broken, that it's actually working exactly as it was designed to. And that really kind of broke my spirit a little bit and made me believe there's really nothing to be done, which is why I went to a big law firm in the first place and just wanted to retire and take care of my parents and call it a day. But that's no way to live, right? At the end of the day, the spirit of our people, the spirit of our community and our culture is to fight and to never give up," Kiros said.

SOCIALIST COLORADO CANDIDATE BLAMES ISRAEL FOR 'PUTTING JEWISH PEOPLE IN GREAT DANGER'

She added, "Regardless of what ends up happening, regardless of what happens with my own candidacy and this general and then what this potential, you know, office could look like with me in it… I would rather go down fighting than to give up."

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

Kiros was previously fired from her position at the Sidley Austin law firm in 2023 after publishing an open letter criticizing law firms, including her own, that called for action against antisemitism on college campuses.

Rand Paul releases docs that reveal FBI halted border inspection of virus researcher over Wuhan lab links

Mon, 20 Jul 2026 20:07:40 -0400

Agents with U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) were preparing to question a British zoologist and disease ecology expert upon his return to the United States from the World Health Organization’s investigation into the origins of COVID-19, before the FBI intervened and asked agents to stand down, according to files released Monday by Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky.

"They told the public a COVID lab leak 'wasn’t plausible,'" Rand wrote on X. "Their own private messages say otherwise. Today I’m launching The Reading Room where the public can review records related to my ongoing investigation – not just conclusions but the actual documents."

The documents show CBP’s National Targeting Center flagged Peter Daszak as "a high person of interest" ahead of his Feb. 5, 2021, arrival at John F. Kennedy International Airport.

Daszak, the former president of EcoHealth Alliance, was flagged because of more than 15 years of collaboration with the Wuhan Institute of Virology (WIV) and his longstanding relationship with its lead researcher, Zhengli Shi, as well as his role as principal investigator on National Institutes of Health (NIH) grants funding bat coronavirus research in China.

RAND PAUL BRINGS CIA WHISTLEBLOWER TO SENATE HEARING ALLEGING 'DEEP STATE' COVID-19 CONSPIRACY

Much of the funding Daszak received was put toward gain-of-function research, the documents state.

The documents highlight that the NIH had asked Daszak to retrieve the original type-specimen used by WIV for genetic analysis and return it to the U.S., as well as to explain several aspects of his collaboration with the lab, including providing related cell phone data.

CBP officials planned to question Daszak on his activities in China, his contacts at the WIV, and whether he illegally collected or carried biological samples.

TOP 4 EXPLOSIVE MOMENTS FROM CIA WHISTLEBLOWER'S TESTIMONY ON ALLEGED COVID-19 LAB LEAK COVER-UP

Internal communications highlighted concerns regarding Daszak’s involvement in gain-of-function research and potential conflicts of interest involving federal grants.

However, three days before his arrival in New York, CBP received a request from the FBI’s New York Field Office to halt the stop, and the inspection never happened.

"FBI New York requested we do not stop the subject below," the request states, according to the documents.

MISSING SCIENTIST SCRUTINY REACHES FBI AS PATEL'S PROBE OF MYSTERY DISAPPEARANCES SET FOR 'FINAL REPORT'

The records include detailed flight itineraries, proposed interrogation questions, and internal emails documenting the interagency disagreement over the search.

"This isn't the whole story. It's the start of one," Paul wrote in a lengthy thread on X. "The Reading Room will be updated on a rolling basis as the investigation continues."

At the time of the planned interception, Daszak headed the now-defunct EcoHealth Alliance, an American-based nonprofit that conducted research and outreach on the causes of emerging pandemic diseases, such as those originating in bats.

He was a member of the 10-person WHO team that traveled to China to investigate the origins of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

Daszak had received public criticism regarding a potential conflict of interest for being included on the WHO investigative team despite his financial and professional ties to WIV.

Daszak now heads Nature Health Global, a non-profit scientific organization focused on ecological research, public health, and pandemic prevention.

Fox News Digital has reached out to the FBI and Nature Health Global.

Johnson's strategy to bypass Democrats' SAVE Act blockade survives key vote, handing GOP big win

Mon, 20 Jul 2026 20:06:17 -0400

Speaker Mike Johnson's latest bid to skirt Democrats’ opposition to an election integrity bill backed by President Donald Trump survived a key hurdle on Monday evening.

The Safeguarding American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) America Act has faced significant headwinds in Congress despite having Trump’s full-throated support. While it passed the House, the legislation has struggled in the Senate where at least several Democratic votes are needed to break a filibuster and advance to final passage.

But the new plan by Johnson, R-La., which would allow key parts of the bill to skirt Democrats entirely, is one step closer to getting a House-wide vote sometime this week.

TRUMP INTERVENES AS HOUSE GOP REVOLT PUTS SAVE AMERICA ACT AT CENTER OF SPENDING SHOWDOWN

Republicans would erase the need for any Democratic buy-in by putting key elements of the SAVE America Act into a larger budget reconciliation bill. The reconciliation process allows the party in power to pass sweeping fiscal policy reforms without input from their opposition by lowering the Senate’s threshold for passage to line up with the House’s simple majority requirement.

But there are strict guidelines for what can be in a reconciliation bill. Such legislation must deal with yearly federal spending and revenues, meaning issues that do not directly affect fiscal policy are generally excluded.

House Republicans are aiming to use this reconciliation bill to fund states’ election integrity efforts, replenish military funding amid the U.S. war with Iran, and dole out aid to American farmers.

GOP'S $95B DEFENSE PACKAGE SURVIVES CRITICAL HURDLE AMID FISCAL HAWK REVOLT

In total, the legislation would set the stage for $95 billion in new federal spending across the next 10 years.

The first chamber-wide step in the reconciliation process is to pass a framework that directs the relevant committees to then craft details dealing with their allocated budgets. Those details are then put back into a single sweeping bill that must pass the House and Senate before getting to Trump’s desk for his signature.

Passing the House Rules Committee means the bill will see a chamber-wide test vote that, if adopted, will set the stage for lawmakers to debate the bill before a final vote.

GOP CIVIL WAR ERUPTS OVER TRUMP'S LATEST AGENDA PUSH AS KEY REPUBLICANS THREATEN TO SINK MEGABILL

That vote is expected to occur Tuesday afternoon, with the final vote taking place the following day at 3:30 p.m., according to a preliminary schedule obtained by Fox News Digital.

Trump urged Republicans to advance the bill earlier Monday, arguing it would "get AS MUCH of THE SAVE AMERICA ACT as possible in a Budget Bill, along with aid to our incredible Farmers, and funding for our Military."

Democrats, meanwhile, have accused Republicans of trying to unfairly sway elections with their SAVE America Act push.

"This is a phony issue that Donald Trump is creating. What's amazing to me is that Donald Trump had the nerve to say to the Speaker of the House, who apparently didn't object, that the most important thing that Republicans should focus on is voter suppression legislation, and that housing doesn't matter, healthcare doesn't matter, grocery bills don't matter," House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., said earlier this year.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., has repeatedly referred to the legislation as "Jim Crow 2.0."

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

"While the specific policies may have changed since the days of the Jim Crow South, the goal of the SAVE Act is the same: disenfranchising American citizens and making it harder for eligible people to vote, particularly low income Americans and people of color," he said in February.

Republicans argue that the SAVE America Act — which would implement federal voter ID requirements and a proof of citizenship mandate in the voter registration process — would make American elections safer and more secure.

Sydney Sweeney shares bikini and underwear photos in Instagram dump from Australia trip

Mon, 20 Jul 2026 20:01:16 -0400

Sydney Sweeney's latest photo dump includes an up-close and personal shot of her bikini top and casually brushing her teeth in her underwear.

Over the weekend, the SYRN founder uploaded 20 images to Instagram from her latest trip to Australia, where she is filming Netflix's live-action "Gundam" movie. "a little aussie dump," the 28-year-old captioned her post.

While brushing her teeth, Sweeny snapped a photo of herself in a gray cardigan, buttoned half-way down. She wore a pair of her SYRN underwear, which were blue with white lace.

In another photo, Sweeney wore a black-and-white gingham printed bikini top that had red rose details throughout. She only included her lips and part of her stomach in the very close-up shot.

SYDNEY SWEENEY FIRES BACK AT 'EUPHORIA' CRITICS WITH PROVOCATIVE BEHIND-THE-SCENES PHOTOS

Sweeney started her post with a selfie and included shots from an indoor rock climbing session. Sweeney also shared a photo of her German Shepherd, Sully Bear, on a private plane.

She also included several pictures with her boyfriend, Scooter Braun. One shot showed the pair standing outside a helicopter and another was a selfie of the 45-year-old former talent manager kissing Sweeney on the cheek.

LIKE WHAT YOU’RE READING? CLICK HERE FOR MORE ENTERTAINMENT NEWS

The happy couple also recreated the iconic "Titanic" pose while on the bow of a boat.

Sweeney and Braun have quietly become one of Hollywood's most talked-about couples after first being linked in September 2025.

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE ENTERTAINMENT NEWSLETTER

The relationship began several months after Sweeney ended her engagement to longtime partner Jonathan Davino, while Braun had been divorced from entrepreneur Yael Cohen since 2022. Early reports described the romance as casual, but by the end of 2025, sources close to the couple told People that their relationship had become serious and committed.

Throughout 2026, Sweeney and Braun became increasingly comfortable sharing glimpses of their relationship with the public. After keeping their romance largely private for months, they made things Instagram official in the spring.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

Socialist insurgents force moderate Democrats into high-risk showdown over must-hold races

Mon, 20 Jul 2026 20:00:54 -0400

The Democratic Party's ideological war is moving from deep-blue congressional districts to statewide contests in Michigan, Wisconsin and Minnesota, where progressive victories could reshape the party and endanger must-hold seats in November.

After far-left and socialist candidates defeated more moderate contenders in deep-blue districts last month, upcoming Senate primaries in Michigan and Minnesota and Wisconsin’s gubernatorial primary will test whether the movement can translate those wins into statewide power.

Progressive champion Sen. Bernie Sanders, the independent from Vermont and two-time Democratic presidential primary runner-up, touted on the campaign trail this past weekend, "Within the last year, we have won mayor's races in New York City. We've won mayor's races in Seattle. Washington, D.C. We have won congressional elections and Democratic primaries in Arizona, Ohio, Pennsylvania, California, Montana, Colorado, New Jersey and New York."

After victories by far-left and socialist candidates over more moderate contenders in deep-blue congressional districts in New York City and Colorado last month drew outsized national attention, upcoming primaries in Michigan and Wisconsin are now the latest battleground in the high-stakes showdown.

And the center is pushing back.

MEET THE FAR LEFT INSURGENTS WAGING WAR ON THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY IN THE 2026 MIDTERMS

"Socialism has not worked anywhere on the globe," former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said Monday in an interview on Fox Business' "Mornings with Maria." "Promises of free lunch, free buses, free bread, free everything. There’s no such thing as free. Someone always pays. This is a dream. This is nirvana. This is utopia. And they’re selling to young people who are buying it. It’s not going to work."

The former governor resigned amid multiple scandals five years ago and failed in his political comeback last year, losing New York City’s mayoral election to socialist Zohran Mamdani,

The victories by a trio of far-left congressional candidates in New York City heavily supported by Mamdani, followed a week later by Democratic Socialists of America (DSA)-backed challenger and first-time candidate Melat Kiros' defeat of 15-term Democratic Rep. Diana DeGette in Colorado, have emboldened progressives as they wage a far-left national pressure campaign against the Democratic Party.

DEMOCRATIC PARTY CIVIL WAR HITS DEBATE STAGE IN CRUCIAL PRIMARY SHOWDOWN

"Only socialism can solve decades of capitalist mismanagement in the US. Our newly elected leaders will fight for the working class — not for crumbs," the DSA proclaimed in a social media post celebrating the string of primary election victories.

That view is far from universal.

"I'm tired of being told that, to be a progressive, I now must swear allegiance to crazy ideas," Democratic political analyst Van Jones, a veteran of then-President Barack Obama's administration, lamented in a social media post.

"Supporting Hamas is not progressive. ‘No police, no prisons, no borders’ is not progressive. Celebrating the murder of Israeli civilians is not progressive. These ideas are REGRESSIVE," Jones wrote.

Jamie Metzl, a technology and healthcare futurist who years ago served in former President Bill Clinton's administration, said in a Fox News Channel interview that it's time for Democrats "to stand up" to what he called "the bigots and anti-Americans in our own party."

Metzl said the DSA and other far-left groups "who are trying to take control of our party and our brand" represent "a fundamental threat to our party and our country."

VAN JONES WARNS FAR-LEFT AGENDA IS 'REGRESSIVE' THREAT TO DEMOCRATIC PARTY

Sanders and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, another progressive rockstar, parachuted into Michigan's campaign trail this past weekend to boost Abdul El-Sayed, the far-left candidate they're supporting in a crucial Democratic Senate primary.

El-Sayed, a former Wayne County Health Department director who unsuccessfully ran an insurgent campaign for governor in 2018, is facing off for the party's nomination in the Great Lakes battleground state against Rep. Haley Stevens, a more moderate lawmaker backed by longtime Senate Democratic Leader Sen. Chuck Schumer and the establishment.

https://www.foxnews.com/category/politics/elections/republicans

The winner of the Aug. 4 Democratic primary will take on former Republican Rep. Mike Rogers, who is on a glide path to the GOP nomination, in the key midterm Senate faceoff to succeed retiring Democratic Sen. Gary Peters.

The rare open Senate seat is a top Republican target in the midterms, as well as a must-hold for the Democrats as they aim to win back the Senate majority from the GOP, which currently controls the chamber with a slim 53-47 margin.

El-Sayed, who, if elected, would make history as the nation's first Muslim senator, has made support for Medicare for all a major component of his campaign.

DEMOCRACY ’26: STAY UP TO DATE WITH THE FOX NEWS ELECTION HUB

The far-left candidate has also called for abolishing Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and is a vocal critic of Israel amid its war with Hamas — even characterizing Israel's actions in Gaza as "genocide" against Palestinians. And El-Sayed, who served as a top surrogate on Sanders' 2020 presidential campaign, has vowed not to accept PAC donations.

Schumer and the party establishment view Stevens as more electable than El-Sayed, who has sparked controversy with his past comments. They worry that El-Sayed as the party's nominee would jeopardize the Democrat-controlled Senate seat by pushing the party too far to the left in a state that President Donald Trump carried two years ago by just over one percentage point.

The primary clash is combustible and expensive, with outside groups spending big bucks to flood the campaign trail with ads. The biggest spending, to boost Stevens and attack El-Sayed, is United Democracy Project, a political action committee aligned with the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC).

SIGN UP TO GET THE POLITICS NEWSLETTER

"I think we're at an opportunity to show folks where the Democratic Party ought to go. Whether or not there are people who oppose that, that's for them to decide. But if you're opposing that on behalf of big corporations, folks like AIPAC, you're going to find that their power is going to start to slip," El-Sayed warned in a Fox News interview on Sunday.

Sanders, speaking alongside El-Sayed and Ocasio-Cortez on Saturday, argued, "In all due respect to Haley Stevens, everyone knows that this is not an election between her and Abdul El-Sayed. This is an election between Abdul and the billionaire class."

Democratic Sen. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania, a vocal critic of the far left and a top Democratic supporter of Israel, fired back in a Fox News Channel interview.

"You know, humble yourself, Bernie. You know, you just pushed an accused rapist and imploded up in Maine and now you’re pushing, you know, essentially a pro-Hamas candidate that’s been anti-American and deeply anti-Israel," Fetterman said as he pointed to Sanders' support over the past year for now-ex-Democratic Senate nominee Graham Platner of Maine.

Platner ended his campaign earlier this month, amid calls from top Democrats in Maine and across the country to immediately exit the race following an explosive report containing an allegation of rape from a woman he previously dated. Platner denied the report but stepped aside.

One week after the showdown in Michigan, on Aug. 11, Wisconsin will hold its primary elections. That's where DSA-backed state Rep. Francesca Hong is on the rise among a crowded field of candidates in the race to succeed retiring Democratic Gov. Tony Evers.

"It’s a great day to be a democratic socialist," Hong posted on X last month after the progressive victories in New York City, in which two Democratic congressional incumbents lost renomination. "Wisconsin is next!"

The same day, another statewide battle will take place as progressive Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan of Minnesota and more moderate Democratic Rep. Angie Craig are the leading contenders in the Democratic primary faceoff to succeed retiring Sen. Tina Smith, a fellow Democrat.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

While the upcoming primary battles will impact the fight for the future of the party, there's a more immediate concern: this year's midterm faceoff for congressional majorities.

"What you’re seeing here are the two opposing forces of the Democratic Party," veteran Democratic strategist Joe Caiazzo told Fox News Digital as he referred to the ballot box showdowns. "The stakes are monumentally high because Democrats have to hold these seats in November."

Top media networks put on notice after refusing to air Trump's primetime address: 'Serious concerns'

Mon, 20 Jul 2026 19:57:54 -0400

FIRST ON FOX: Rep. Buddy Carter, R-Ga., is asking the Federal Communications Commission to review ABC, NBC and CBS' broadcast decisions after the networks either declined to air live or cut away from President Donald Trump's July 16 primetime address.

In a letter first obtained by Fox News Digital and sent Monday, Carter asked FCC Chairman Brendan Carr to review whether the networks violated their obligation to "serve the public interest" and whether their actions should be considered in future broadcast license proceedings.

"The public airwaves should inform the American people, not be used by corporate executives to decide which matters of national importance they are permitted to hear," Carter wrote.

Carter raised "serious concerns" in the letter, saying networks can disagree with President Trump's remarks while still airing what he says.

ABC, NBC, CNN AVOID AIRING TRUMP'S PRIMETIME ELECTION SECURITY ADDRESS LIVE

"Broadcasters may criticize, analyze, or fact-check the President's statements," he wrote. "However, refusing to air a major presidential address because executives disagree with its content raises serious concerns that they intended to keep Americans in the dark about potential foreign interference in our elections."

Carter also argued that Americans should have been allowed to make up their own minds.

"Regardless of political affiliation, the American people deserved to hear this information directly from their President and judge it for themselves," Carter wrote. "Instead, ABC and NBC declined to broadcast the speech on their primary television networks, while CBS cut away before the President completed his remarks."

Carter added that airing the speech on streaming services was not an "adequate substitute for free, over-the-air television—particularly for Americans without reliable broadband access."

TONY DOKOUPIL CLASHES WITH MARK WARNER AFTER THE SENATOR RIPPED CBS FOR AIRING TRUMP SPEECH ‘AS NEWS’

The letter follows President Trump's Thursday night primetime address, during which he called for ABC and NBC's broadcast licenses to be revoked, accusing the networks of being part of a "plot" to "continue this fraud" and "protect the radical left."

"In a rare move, NBC and ABC fake news have both said that they would not cover this speech," President Trump said. "They knew what it was about because they don't like the topic, because they know how corrupt our system is and they don't want to reveal it."

President Trump used the more than 20-minute address to announce the "immediate declassification and release of critical intelligence" documents he said revealed "shocking vulnerabilities in our election infrastructure."

"America is back and doing really well, but we still have a major challenge that must be urgently addressed, because no country can be great without fair and honest elections," President Trump said. "You have to trust your country, because if there can be no trust, there can be no greatness. And that's very simple. No trust, no greatness."

'SHADOW GOVERNMENT': TRUMP CLAIMS INTEL COMMUNITY BRAGGED ABOUT HIDING CHINESE MEDDLING

According to the White House, the documents released during the address included files related to alleged voting system vulnerabilities, China's alleged acquisition of U.S. voter data, a Michigan voter registration investigation and noncitizens on state voter rolls. Fox News Digital could not independently verify the contents of the documents or President Trump's claims.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

"Just as disturbingly, this vital information has been covered up and hidden from you, the American people, our beautiful, great American people, for many years," President Trump said. "But that all changes right now."

ABC News and NBC News streamed President Trump's speech on their digital platforms before later airing special reports summarizing his remarks on their broadcast networks.

CBS News initially aired analysis before joining President Trump's speech several minutes after it began, then cut away after he criticized ABC and NBC.

Carter said the issues raised during Trump's address warranted live broadcast coverage, adding the "allegations concern both election integrity and national security.

Fox News Digital reached out to the FCC, ABC News, NBC News and CBS News for comment.

One cannabis mistake at airport could bring 10 years in prison and $15,000 fine

Mon, 20 Jul 2026 19:48:15 -0400

Before heading overseas, American travelers are warned to double-check their bags for one item that could lead to hefty fines or even prison time.

U.S. officials are reminding travelers that bringing cannabis products across international borders remains illegal in many countries — following a new customs policy in Thailand that significantly increases penalties for violators.

In June 2026, Thailand introduced tougher penalties for travelers caught bringing cannabis across its borders. Violators can face up to 10 years in prison, a fine of up to 500,000 Thai baht (about $15,000), or both, according to the U.S. Embassy and Consulate in Thailand.

FLYING WITH CANNABIS? TSA'S NEW GUIDANCE COMES WITH A MAJOR HEALTH WARNING

Fox News Digital reached out to the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT) for comment.

Although Thailand decriminalized cannabis possession in 2022, importing or exporting cannabis without the proper permissions remains illegal, the warning said.

Jeffrey Hoffman, a New York-based cannabis attorney, said travelers should never assume that laws at home apply once they cross an international border.

"While we are seeing cannabis laws relaxed in countries like Canada and in various states in the U.S., cannabis is still generally illegal across the overwhelming majority of the planet," Hoffman told Fox News Digital. "When you travel to a different jurisdiction, you become subject to its laws."

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR LIFESTYLE NEWSLETTER

Hoffman, a legalization activist, pointed to the high-profile case of WNBA star Brittney Griner, who was imprisoned in Russia after authorities found cannabis oil in her luggage, as a reminder that some countries strictly enforce drug laws.

"There is no safe harbor when traveling internationally," he said. "Even a mistake is no excuse."

Travel expert and former flight attendant Bobby Laurie, based in the D.C. area, said many travelers mistakenly assume that if something is legal at home, it's automatically legal everywhere they go.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE LIFESTYLE STORIES

"Even if you're carrying a cannabis product for personal use or have a medical prescription, that doesn't guarantee it [will] be allowed at your destination," Laurie told Fox News Digital. "Some countries have extremely strict drug laws, and the penalties can be severe."

Laurie recommended checking local laws before every trip, plus emptying backpacks, purses and carry-ons of forgotten items. He said people should never assume customs officials will overlook a mistake.

Some countries have laws governing everyday items that many travelers would never expect, Laurie noted — pointing to Singapore's restrictions on chewing gum as a reminder to research destination-specific rules before packing.

TEST YOURSELF WITH OUR LATEST LIFESTYLE QUIZ

"This is one of those things you wouldn't know unless you researched it, and how many of us walk around with that in our bags?" he said.

Fox News Digital previously reported that the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) recently updated its guidance for travelers carrying medical marijuana on domestic flights.

While the agency permits certain medical cannabis products under limited circumstances, experts emphasized that international travel is a different matter.

Crossing international borders with cannabis remains subject to the laws of the destination country, regardless of whether marijuana is legal where a traveler lives.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

The TSA also notes that while its officers are focused on security screening, they may refer suspected violations of law to local law enforcement.

Khloe Quill of Fox News Digital contributed reporting.

Knicks champion Jordan Clarkson caught in Travis Scott nightclub chaos after stepping in

Mon, 20 Jul 2026 19:42:01 -0400

Winning an NBA championship in New York City comes with plenty of perks, but getting caught in the middle of a nightclub bottle fight usually isn't on the itinerary.

New York Knicks guard Jordan Clarkson learned that the hard way Saturday night after an evening at a Manhattan hotspot ended with an unexpected police escort.

Clarkson was attending a private party at Zero Bond, a members-only club in NoHo, hosted by Raising Cane's chief Todd Graves. The event drew athletes and celebrities following the Knicks' 2026 title run.

WHY THE KNICKS, DISRESPECTED BUT CLAWING BACK, TOUCHED A RAW NERVE IN NEW YORK CITY AND ULTIMATELY THE COUNTRY

But the night turned chaotic after an altercation involving rapper Travis Scott. Per multiple reports, the confrontation began after Scott noticed someone recording him while he was talking with another guest. Scott confronted the individual, and the dispute quickly escalated when bottles were thrown during the confrontation.

Clarkson had no known connection to Scott's entourage or the initial argument.

Witnesses said the Knicks guard attempted to act as a peacemaker, putting himself between the clashing parties in an effort to de-escalate the fight.

KNICKS' KARL-ANTHONY TOWNS PRAISES NYPD AMID ROWDY WATCH PARTIES DURING NBA FINALS RUN

When NYPD officers responded, Clarkson and Scott were both escorted from the club as authorities worked to clear the scene. There was no indication Clarkson was being treated as a suspect.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

Luckily, the incident ended without arrests or reported injuries.

There is no indication Clarkson will face discipline from either the Knicks or the NBA, as his involvement was limited to trying to break up the altercation.

Not exactly the kind of championship celebration the Knicks had in mind.

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

Ferran Torres sports 'Make Spain Great Again' hat similar to Trump's slogan at World Cup homecoming parade

Mon, 20 Jul 2026 19:03:24 -0400

Spain’s World Cup Final hero, Ferran Torres, decided to celebrate the country’s victory on Monday with a nod to President Donald Trump.

As tens of thousands of Spaniards welcomed home their World Cup-winning team during a victory parade, Torres, who scored the winning goal in the 106th minute to beat Argentina at New York/New Jersey Stadium, was seen wearing a "Make Spain Great Again" hat – an adaptation of Trump’s "Make America Great Again" slogan.

Torres posted a picture with the mob of Spain faithful while on a vehicle, while donning the hat and no shirt.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM

While it could simply be a coincidence that Torres decided to choose that hat for his celebration fit, Trump did present the World Cup trophy to Spain captain Rodrí and the rest of the team on the pitch after their victory.

Trump had been taking in the suspenseful final , which Spain dominated throughout, alongside First Lady Melania Trump and FIFA president Gianni Infantino, among others.

SPAIN BEATS ARGENTINA TO WIN 2026 FIFA WORLD CUP BEHIND FERRAN TORRES' EXTRA-TIME GOAL

The match was on its way to a penalty shootout had it not been for Torres’ efforts to finally get one past Argentina’s stellar goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez, who needed to make miraculous saves just to keep the scoreboard deadlocked at zero apiece.

But when Nico Williams Jr.’s header was dropped back in the box following a cross, Torres had a grade-A chance to net the ball that landed right at his left foot. He didn’t disappoint.

"I think in the end the goal came from 47 million people [the estimated Spain population], not just those of us that are here," Torres told FIFA host broadcasters after the match, via ESPN. "Today destiny was written, it was made for us to win. We’re far from our people today but we tried to be as close as possible to them."

It was just the second time Spain had made it to the World Cup Final, but just as they did in 2010, they left with trophy in hand and were prepared to go celebrate with the masses back home.

When the final whistle blew on Sunday, there was some controversy, as brawls broke out on the pitch between Argentina and Spain players, which FIFA will be investigating.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

But back home, especially in Madrid, the capital of Spain, it was a party that started late at night and hasn’t stopped since.

Torres and the rest of his teammates will be sure to soak in this wonderful moment before they all head back to their respective clubs to begin their seasons in the coming months.

Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.

Trump admin taunts left for ‘praying’ for World Cup disaster as DOT touts record numbers

Mon, 20 Jul 2026 19:01:53 -0400

EXCLUSIVE: President Donald Trump’s Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy is claiming victory over the left after a successful FIFA World Cup tournament that saw record-shattering numbers of fans moving through the U.S.

Several million FIFA fans flocked to American stadiums this year, putting an enormous strain on federal, state and local transportation networks. However, aided in part by a more than a $100 million DOT infrastructure investment to World Cup host cities, the tournament went off without any major incidents, prompting Duffy to taunt doomsayers who predicted the country would fall on its face.

"The Left was praying for an American transit disaster as we hosted the most important international sporting event in modern history," Duffy told Fox News Digital.

"They were wrong, and President Trump was right."

FBI BOSS KASH PATEL DETAILS HOW AGENCY AND PARTNERS SECURED RECORD-SHATTERING FIFA WORLD CUP

Among the naysayers was Sen. Ruben Gallego, D-Ariz., who in April accused the Trump administration of endangering FIFA fans by "systematically dismantling security agencies, delaying critical security assistance, and initiating a war with Iran." All this, Gallego said, made the country’s top security agency, the Department of Homeland Security, "woefully unprepared to accomplish its mission."

Gallego remarked that "if state and local officials do not trust that federal employees will coordinate in lockstep and operate as partners, they will be unable to protect their communities—increasing threat risk and compromising Americans’ safety in the process." He added that "this self-imposed chaos extends to the Trump administration’s management of federal departments and agencies."

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., took a similar tone, asserting ahead of the tournament that "Trump cares more about being on international TV at midfield on match day than actually hosting successful games."

In May, The Atlantic published a piece titled "Another Way America Will Choke at the World Cup," in which the author predicted that "in the coming months, America’s patchwork railway system will be similarly challenged—and its weaknesses exposed—across all 11 U.S. sites of World Cup matches."

Nathaniel Sizemore, a spokesperson for the agency, told Fox News Digital that it was "the Left’s TDS [Trump derangement syndrome]" that "put them in the absurd position of praying for an American transit disaster."

PRESIDENT TRUMP STEALS PART OF SPOTLIGHT AS SPAIN CELEBRATES WORLD CUP TITLE OVER ARGENTINA

However, with the World Cup officially concluded, the results are in and, according to DOT, they are conclusive. The department said that, aided by its $100.3 million in federal funding to host cities, local transit systems accommodated record-breaking numbers.

During the World Cup, Atlanta saw more than 2 million riders use public transit to get to matches, fan fests, and other events, with match-day ridership reaching up to three times the typical average.

In Seattle, DOT said that more than 1.1 million combined riders used city public transit during the first two matches alone. On July 6, the city’s light rail system accommodated 309,000 riders, blowing well past the system’s single-day record of 220,000 riders.

Meanwhile, Philadelphia, which also hosted this year’s MLB All-Star Game, saw an average of 27,000 riders using public transit per match. The city’s PHLASH bus service recorded a 500 percent increase in ridership.

Even cities not previously known for their public transit systems accommodated record numbers. Kansas City saw a one-day record for streetcar riders at 48,260 on June 27. Los Angeles saw a 598 percent increase in rider taps on World Cup match day compared to a typical Friday.

To put it further in perspective, DOT said that in San Francisco, an average of more than 38,000 fans moved to and from World Cup matches using public transit, exceeding Super Bowl LX’s numbers by nearly 8,000.

DOT is not the only one that noticed the U.S. public transit system performing.

At the start of the tournament, Vox ran a piece titled "The World Cup has a Trump problem." In the piece, the outlet accused Trump of "actively hindering" the World Cup and other sporting events, especially through the president’s "hostility to all immigrants … especially to non-white ones." Yet, ahead of the final match, Vox wrote that "the nation’s widely expected World Cup public transit meltdown has simply not materialized."

RILEY GAINES: WORLD CUP VISITORS ARE REMINDING AMERICANS WHAT MAKES THIS COUNTRY GREAT

The outlet said that "to the surprise of pretty much everyone, US cities have managed to absorb the influx of fans with relative ease, even under the pressure of record ridership en route to stadiums, watch parties, and fan zones."

Duffy, however, was not surprised.

"Whether they flew, took passenger rail, hopped on public transit, or hit the open road, Americans and visitors alike saw the best of our nation over the last month," he told Fox News Digital.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

He added that "from the FTA's investment into local public transit to the FAA’s work keeping our skies safe, we were proud to help FIFA fans get to the games safely and on time."

Fox News Digital reached out to Gallego, Schumer, The Atlantic and Vox for comment.

Retired Lt. Col. running for Congress backs Trump Iran strategy: 'He's ending a 47-year conflict'

Mon, 20 Jul 2026 19:00:58 -0400

Retired Air Force Lt. Col. Dave Flippo knows a thing or two about winning a fight. During his military career he deployed around the world, including serving as a maintenance and logistics officer in Iraq during the lead up to the 2003 invasion. Currently, he's locked in a tough battle in a Republican-leaning open swing district comprising an enormous chunk of northern Nevada.

Nevada may be the best bellwether state west of the Mississippi. It's a hotly contested state with a booming economy and an exploding population marked by a familiar theme in politics: a stark divide between its rural and urban populations.

JOE LOMBARDO CRUISES PAST SIX GOP CHALLENGERS TO SECURE NEVADA REPUBLICAN GUBERNATORIAL NOMINATION

Trump won Nevada by a modest margin in 2024, and Governor Joe Lombardo defeated a Democrat incumbent in 2022. Yet three of its four congressional districts are blue, as are both of its Senate seats. The Democrats hold both chambers of the state legislature by large margins.

Flippo won the Republican nomination despite having a well-known establishment-backed primary opponent in the Nevada legislature:

"Well, up in the north, it's an R+7 district, and Trump won that district by 14. It's a conservative district. And running against the establishment versus a conservative candidate who had been endorsed by Turning Point, Club for Growth, President Trump endorsed me. Obviously, the conservative people in the northern Nevada area wanted a conservative in this seat."

Having never held elected office, Flippo presents his newcomer status as an advantage, rather than a liability:

"I beat the establishment. I think people are tired of the establishment politicians, the politicians that…are there just to be a moderate, be that middle ground. I think we need fighters in Congress.

"I think we need people in Congress that are ready to stand up, stand up for the American people, and here in Nevada, stand up for Nevadans."

Flippo spent much of his military career in the Middle East. He argues that Trump's Iran policy is ending a war, not starting one:

"What President Trump is doing with the Strait of Hormuz and Iran, this has been a 47-year conflict. Some in the media have been saying that Trump is starting a forever war, but in my opinion, he's ending it.

"Most all of my career was in the Middle East, fighting because of Iran and what they're doing with Israel and with Hezbollah and Hamas and the Houthis. What Iran has done is over, and things are going to change, and President Trump sees that.

"I fully support what President Trump is doing. We need to open up the strait, it needs to be a clear waterway. We need the flow of oil to start again."

The voters of northern Nevada want a constitutional conservative, Flippo argues, and he is prepared to deliver results on budgetary issues, as the exploding national debt approaches $40 trillion.

"We have to get to a balanced budget. We have to get this deficit under control. What are we, $39 trillion in debt now and it keeps climbing? Something has to be done. We have to stop spending money that we don't have.

"We need to stop expanding government. And that's what's been happening over the years. We just keep expanding and expanding. You know, I'm a constitutional conservative: government has four purposes and if you go beyond those four purposes, it belongs to the states.

"And the government has taken on so much now that we just keep getting more and more in debt. And it's time that we have representatives in Congress that are ready to stop that."

Illegal immigration is a signature issue for Flippo, who paints the problem in economic terms, and is concerned about its impact on a variety of pressing public policy issues.

"lllegal immigration is a problem in the United States. And if you look at what's happened in the last six years under Biden and the open borders policies and the 20 to 30 million people that were allowed to come in, what has that done? It's caused housing costs to go up.

NEVADA LT GOV: ELON MUSK COULD MAKE SPACE TOURISM STATE'S NEXT BIG INDUSTRY

"That's a supply and demand issue. 20 million people. That's 20 cities the size of Las Vegas, right? What does that mean? That means all those schools, the police departments, the fire departments, all those social service programs. All that has to be paid for by tax dollars, by taxpayers. 20 cities the size of Las Vegas, 40 cities the size of Reno. That's a lot. That's a lot to ask for the taxpayers to come in all at once."

While the district leans Republican, the Democrats believe they have fielded a formidable candidate in former Nevada Assembly Majority Leader Teresa Benitez-Thompson. Flippo is not taking anything for granted, but believes the contrast between his conservative outlook and her left-wing voting record will play to his advantage.

"She's a big government [supporter], big spender. She's voted to raise taxes 12 times here in Nevada. She voted for the largest tax increase in Nevada's history. She voted for Planned Parenthood funding. She voted for drivers licenses for illegals. I mean, she has a voting record that she says she's very proud of. And I don't believe that's something to be proud of."

Finally, Flippo believes that Trump's support is a net asset in his district, and believes that support, along with the backing of Gov. Lombardo, will carry a lot of weight.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

"My district in northern Nevada, District 2, is an R+7 that Trump won by 14. So Trump obviously carries some weight in northern Nevada. It's a conservative part of this state, which is different than the southern part.

"Getting on a team with the governor being united, getting the vote out is going to be critical. And having Trump on my side up in the north is going to be a huge factor in winning this."