Latest & Breaking News | Fox News

NFL's dumbest moment of Week 4 goes to a referee now on the Mount Rushmore of angrily jumping to conclusions

Mon, 05 Oct 2026 06:41:17 -0400

Sometimes it's a defender that blows it, and sometimes it's a player on offense. There are even times when an NFL coach will say or do something really dumb that makes news. But when a referee does something ridiculous, well, we kind of have to pay extra attention.

Meet Adrian Hill.

First we noticed him on Sunday, he was on the ground after getting run over by players during the Minnesota Vikings game against the Miami Dolphins.

And he was evidently really peeved about it.

NFL'S MOST DEBATED WEEK 3 CALL HAS PEOPLE WONDERING HOW TO DEFY GRAVITY WHEN HITTING PATRICK MAHOMES

Hill and the play that drew attention to him are being reviewed by the NFL on Monday, a league official confirmed to OutKick.

The reason for the review is that Hill seemed to either:

Control his temper in a difficult situation and declined to throw a flag on a Vikings player that ran him over – which could have been a 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty. Or …
Hill blew his top after getting trucked by Vikings linebacker Eric Wilson, and jumped to his feet shouting something or other to Wilson, as he demanded the player get back to the huddle.

Hill did all this without realizing one key detail:

Wilson was actually pushed into the official from behind by a Miami Dolphins player.

And Wilson merely tried to help Hill get up afterward, as the ref was aggressively pointing at him to get away.

Hill, you should know, is no rookie official. He's been in the NFL since 2010 and has been a referee since 2019. But despite that experience, he seemed to lose his composure after getting knocked down.

NFL AND REFEREES UNION CLOSE IN ON AVOIDING POTENTIAL REPLACEMENT OFFICIALS NIGHTMARE

The play happened in a regionally telecast game. But it drew national attention because of the NFL's review and the terrible optics of the moment online.

And since it was online, fans decided to have an opinion about it.

This is the part where you realize that fans having opinions does not include NFL referee fans. Because there are no known such beings on the planet.

We're talking fans of the Vikings, of Wilson, even of poise amid adversity. Hill and his officiating colleagues have no fans. So, the reactions online were predictable.

THE CRAIG CARTON SHOW–UNFILTERED, UNAPOLOGETIC AND UNMISSABLE. DOWNLOAD HIS DAILY PODCAST NOW!

One NFL reporter posted that Hill "flipped out" over an "unintentional collision."

"Officials have a hard job but their arrogance and opinions of themselves just make them so unlikable," former New York Jets offensive coordinator Scott Turner added.

"Very sad," NFL agent Peter Shaffer posted. "Would never see an NHL referee act like this. Pathetic."

NFL REVIEWING INCIDENT AFTER LINE JUDGE JEFF SEEMAN APPEARED TO HURL PROFANITY AT CARDINALS TREY MCBRIDE

Sunday was a bad day for NFL officials and the attention they drew.

In New York, the former son of the league's supervisor of officials was captured on television apparently cursing at Arizona Cardinals tight end Trey McBride.

The league is looking into that one also but there seems to be a theme in these two incidents.

It's men that are sometimes called zebras because of the stripes they wear acting like they're out in the wild.

FOLLOW ARMANDO SALGUERO ON X: @ARMANDOSALGUERO

NFL Week 4 Sunday takeaways: Cowboys get season-defining win over Texans, 49ers are league's best team

Mon, 05 Oct 2026 06:28:10 -0400

We've reached October, which means "it's still early" is starting to do a lot of heavy lifting for some NFL fan bases. There's plenty of football left, obviously, but at some point your team has to actually win a game instead of telling everyone it's going to be fine (it's not going to be fine, Chargers fans).

Meanwhile, I'm back with another round of opinions that could look brilliant or incredibly stupid by next Sunday (yeah, about that Drake Maye comment last Sunday ...). That's part of the fun. At least, that's what I tell myself.

Here's my biggest takeaway from each game on the Week 4 Sunday slate.

Colts 30, Commanders 13

Takeaway: That Jonathan Taylor guy is pretty good.

It's hard to glean too much from a game where the Commanders were forced to go to their third-string quarterback after Marcus Mariota suffered a knee injury in the first quarter. Instead, I'm going to sing the praises of Jonathan Taylor, who has six rushing touchdowns in four games and plays a very old-school game. That's cool because a few years ago, we thought old-school running backs were done in the NFL. Taylor and Derrick Henry, in particular, aren't going to let that happen any time soon.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE OUTKICK SPORTS COVERAGE

Giants 36, Cardinals 24

Takeaway: How can any NFL fan not love Jameis Winston eating a W?

Without Jaxson Dart, the Giants aren't a threat to make a deep run in the postseason. They probably won't even make the postseason. But right now, who cares? The Giants are 3-1 and currently in first place in the NFC East. Plus, they've got the Commanders in Week 5, and Washington's uncertain QB situation could make that task quite a bit easier. It might not last, but Giants fans should enjoy the early success.

Patriots 29, Bills 26

Takeaway: As soon as you think you know something, the NFL reminds you that you don't.

Of course, the 1–2 Patriots, who looked awful in Week 3, went into Buffalo and beat the previously unbeaten Bills as seven-point underdogs. Because of course. This is the type of game that makes the NFL great. Just when you think you have a handle on which teams are good and which teams are bad, the NFL says, "You don't know what you think you know."

Bears 23, Jets 12

Takeaway: Ben Johnson is a damn genius.

Look, I'm not going to overreact to the Bears beating the Jets. But regardless of opponent, Chicago head coach Ben Johnson just went 2-0 with Case Keenum starting in Week 3 and Tyson Bagent starting in Week 4. For the record, entering this stretch, neither Keenum nor Bagent had even started an NFL regular-season game since 2023. The defense deserves a lot of credit (and Johnson deserves credit for hiring Dennis Allen as his defensive coordinator), but scoring 50 points with those two QBs shows that Johnson is one of the league’s sharpest offensive minds.

SIGN UP FOR THE DAILY OUTKICK NEWSLETTER

Cowboys 34, Texans 30

Takeaway: If it's possible for an October game to be a season-defining game, this was it ... for both teams.

This is the type of win that the Cowboys can use to build momentum, especially with two winnable games coming up against the Buccaneers and Packers. Scoring 28 second-half points against one of the league's best defenses is exactly the type of thing that can instill confidence in an offense for the rest of the season.

On the other side, I don't know how the Texans recover from this. Not only did they fall to 0-4, but they blew a double-digit second-half lead and allowed the Cowboys to take the lead with an 11-play, 74-yard drive in just 1:43 right after Houston had retaken the lead. Only one team in NFL history has made the playoffs after starting 0-4: the 1992 San Diego Chargers. So, not only do they have to reverse a 34-year-old trend, but they have to do it coming off one of Houston's most heartbreaking losses in recent memory.

Rams 24, Eagles 20

Takeaway: Speaking of heartbreaking losses, my goodness, Philadelphia.

The good news for the Eagles is that, unlike the Texans, their heartbreaking blown double-digit second-half lead dropped them to 2-2 instead of 0-4. The bad news is that it probably doesn't make them feel any better. I've said for three weeks that the Eagles are a deeply flawed team, but their record said otherwise. Now, their 2-2 record feels more appropriate.

Packers 17, Buccaneers 14

Takeaway: Both of these teams are bad.

This felt like a must-win for the Packers against a bad Bucs team starting a backup quarterback. And, credit to them, they got it done. But they didn't make it easy on themselves, didn't look good doing it, and nearly blew it late. Todd Bowles is probably on his way out in Tampa, but Matt LaFleur's seat might start to heat up if Green Bay doesn't start playing better, particularly on offense, over the next month.

Ravens 24, Titans 18

Takeaway: I got nothing.

It doesn't appear that Lamar Jackson's ankle injury is too serious, and it's hard to fault the Ravens for being careful with their star quarterback in a game they were never in danger of losing. Aside from that, I got nothing. The Ravens are pretty good, the Titans are pretty bad, and Sunday's game pretty much showed exactly that. Credit to Tennessee for fighting until the final whistle, though.

Jaguars 22, Bengals 17

Takeaway: Neither team should be too excited about this game.

Yes, the Jaguars are obviously much happier after going into Cincinnati and upsetting the Bengals. But they committed 13 penalties for 125 yards and nearly allowed Cincinnati to pull off a miraculous comeback with some puzzling late-game decisions. The Bengals lost Ja'Marr Chase to a concussion early in the second quarter, and Tee Higgins left the game late after suffering an adductor injury. Oh, and they committed 11 penalties of their own for 108 yards. It was an ugly, ugly game, but the focus in Cincinnati turns to the health of their two star receivers.

Vikings 15, Dolphins 10

Takeaway: Is Minnesota the most fraudulent 4-0 team ever?

Probably not, but I don't have time to go through every 4-0 team in NFL history. That being said, this team is not nearly as good as its record. They beat the Packers (who aren't good), the Bears (who are good, but that was a weird game played in a massive rainstorm), the Bucs (who aren't good) and the Dolphins (who, guess what? Aren't good). At the end of the day, it doesn't really matter, I guess. There are plenty of teams that would rather be a fraudulent 4-0 than have their current record.

Chiefs 30, Raiders 27

Takeaway: The Raiders might actually be decent.

Yes, the Chiefs won to move to 4-0. It's fair to say that Kansas City is officially "back." But everyone is going to say that, so let's take some time to talk about the Raiders. Las Vegas had a lead in every quarter, including the fourth. But two plays changed everything: a 55-yard pass to Tyquan Thornton on third-and-5 with 3:35 left (to set up a go-ahead touchdown on the next play) and a Raiders fumble on the ensuing kick return. Those moments shouldn't distract from the fact that Las Vegas looked every bit as good as the Chiefs for most of the game, and at certain points, better. This isn't the 2025 Raiders anymore.

Seahawks 30, Chargers 23

Takeaway: Things are going to get worse before they get better.

THE CRAIG CARTON SHOW–UNFILTERED, UNAPOLOGETIC AND UNMISSABLE. DOWNLOAD HIS DAILY PODCAST NOW!

Seattle bounced back from a surprising Week 3 upset loss against Washington, but the real test comes next week in a measuring-stick showdown against San Francisco. For the Chargers, there's just not much light at the end of the tunnel. They fell to 0-4, the season is basically over, and if that weren't bad enough, here's the upcoming schedule: Broncos, Chiefs, Rams, Texans, Ravens. For a team with Super Bowl aspirations coming into the season, Los Angeles could be staring down the barrel of an 0-9 start if they don't figure something out in a hurry.

49ers 24, Broncos 14

Takeaway: The San Francisco 49ers are the best team in the NFL.

I'm not just saying that because they beat the overrated Broncos (and their insanely overrated head coach). Sure, the win helps bolster the case. But San Francisco is now 4-0 with three wins by double digits and a fourth that would have been a nine-point win if not for a virtually meaningless late field goal last week. Yes, they have played the Dolphins and Cardinals. But they also blasted the Super Bowl-favorite Rams and now boast a ridiculous +58 point differential. The Rams got all the preseason hype, but it was their NFC West rivals that everyone should have been worried about.

Panthers 32, Lions 26

Takeaway: Sometimes a good benching is all you need.

It's crazy to think that the Bryce Young, who completed 29 of 41 passes for 329 yards, two touchdowns and no turnovers against the Lions on Sunday Night Football, is the same quarterback we saw two years ago. Entering Week 3 of the 2024 NFL season, it seemed like Carolina Panthers fans and the franchise were ready to give up on Young, the No. 1 pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. He had earned the dreaded "bust" label after posting a 2-16 record as a starter with more interceptions (13) than passing touchdowns (11). The team benched him for that Week 3 game in 2024 and he didn't return to the starting lineup until Week 8.

OUTKICK IS NOW AVAILABLE ON THE FOX NEWS APP: CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD

Since then, Young's been a different player. He led the team to an NFC South title in 2025 and has gone 14-16 in regular-season starts since his return, throwing 47 passing touchdowns against 19 interceptions. This year, Carolina has one of the most explosive offenses in the league. If Young can go from benched in 2024 to back-to-back division titles, it'd be one of the best career turnarounds in NFL history.

Sports cartoons of the day

Mon, 22 Jun 2026 11:08:52 -0400

The Supreme Court is back. These five cases could reshape American life

Mon, 05 Oct 2026 05:55:52 -0400

The Supreme Court begins its new term on Monday. The justices have filled only part of their docket, with more cert grants still to come. It is not too early to predict another good term for defenders of the Constitution, thanks to an originalist majority that takes its text and history seriously. Here are five cases to watch closely.

1. Climate lawfare: Suncor Energy v. Commissioners of Boulder County

The term opens with a case that could end one of the left’s most brazen lawfare campaigns—or drive prices at the pump even higher. Boulder, Colorado, is suing Suncor and ExxonMobil in state court under Colorado tort law, seeking gargantuan damages for the effects of global climate change. In other words, Boulder wants Colorado law to punish these companies for emissions in every state and around the world. Dozens of states and cities have filed similar suits. An outside counsel for Boulder’s legal team has publicly described such climate litigation as effectively imposing a "carbon tax" and acknowledged that it could raise fossil-fuel prices and potentially push energy companies toward bankruptcy.

SUPREME COURT KICKS OFF NEW TERM WITH FRESH QUESTIONS OVER ITS LEGITIMACY AND ITS FUTURE

Having failed to win their policy argument in Congress, activists are hoping they will have more success in friendly state courts.

The principal question for the justices is whether federal law bars these claims; the Court will also consider whether it has statutory and Article III jurisdiction to hear the case.

It does.

For more than a century, the Court has treated emissions that cross state lines as a federal issue. The Clean Air Act includes provisions that allow a state to regulate pollution sources within its borders, but sources outside them are a different matter, as the Court previously held in a case involving nearly identical Clean Water Act provisions.

Underneath all of this is a basic structural principle: The Constitution treats the states as equals, and none may govern beyond its own borders. A clear reversal would check every state or municipality that tries to set national policy in defiance of the structural Constitution.

2. There Colorado goes again: St. Mary Catholic Parish v. Roy

Colorado promised every family in the state free preschool at the school of its choice, public or private. Then it shut out Catholic preschools because they support Church teaching on sex and gender. In testimony highlighted by the Catholic schools, the program’s director said hypothetically that a participating preschool could seek preferences for "gender-nonconforming children" or members of "the LGBTQ community," provided the preference complied with the program’s nondiscrimination requirements. That double standard is the antithesis of neutrality and a constitutional nonstarter. The Court has considered similar discriminatory systems in recent years and has struck them down every time.

SUPREME COURT CLIMATE SHOWDOWN JOLTED BY ALITO'S LAST-MINUTE DECISION

Three times since 2017—in cases from Missouri, Montana and Maine—the Court has ruled that the government cannot exclude people of faith from public benefits because of their religion. Colorado itself has lost three major First Amendment cases for showing hostility to a baker’s faith (Masterpiece Cakeshop v. Colorado Civil Rights Commission , 2018), threatening to force a web designer to create wedding websites against her beliefs (303 Creative LLC v. Elenis , 2023), and censoring a Christian counselor’s viewpoint in talk therapy while permitting the opposite one (Chiles v. Salazar , 2026). The smart money is on another Colorado loss.

3. Second Amendment: Viramontes v. Cook County and Grant v. Higgins

The Court consolidated two cases for argument asking whether the Second and Fourteenth Amendments protect the right to own an AR-15, the most popular rifle in America. Viramontes challenges Cook County, Illinois’ ban on so-called "assault weapons," and Grant challenges a similar Connecticut law.

FEDERAL APPEALS COURT UPHOLDS CONTROVERSIAL ILLINOIS BAN ON SEMIAUTOMATIC GUNS

These cases will be a showcase for originalist interpretation. Under District of Columbia v. Heller (2008) and New York State Rifle & Pistol Association v. Bruen (2022), the Second Amendment protects arms in common use for lawful purposes, and a ban survives only if the state can point to historical analogues showing it fits the nation’s tradition of firearm regulation. This will be an opportunity for the Supreme Court to clarify how to determine which weapons are protected as "arms" and how common they must be to be part of the right to keep and bear arms.

4. Election integrity: Republican National Committee v. Mi Familia Vota

Arizona passed laws in 2022 requiring documentary proof of citizenship from people who register to vote using the state’s form and allowing officials to remove confirmed noncitizens from the rolls as a federal election approaches. The Ninth Circuit blocked both provisions as preempted by the National Voter Registration Act. It also found the proof-of-citizenship requirement to be barred by a 2018 consent decree settling a lawsuit by left-wing advocacy groups, in which a former secretary of state agreed to register applicants who submitted no proof of citizenship as "federal-only" voters.

THESE 11 UPCOMING SUPREME COURT DECISIONS COULD MAKE OR BREAK TRUMP'S SECOND TERM AGENDA

This case presents quite a spectacle: Arizona’s opponents will stand before the Supreme Court and argue that federal law forces a state to keep people it knows are noncitizens on its voter rolls. And part of their case rests on rules no elected representative ever passed. That decree lets a single official’s settlement do what only the legislature should, handing activists something with the force of law. Left standing, arrangements like this can cause mischief well beyond Arizona.

5. Parental rights: International Partners for Ethical Care v. Ferguson

Parental rights keep returning to the Court, and this case illustrates why. Washington amended its runaway-youth-shelter law so that when a minor is seeking so-called "gender-affirming" services, shelters no longer have to notify the parents. Instead, they notify only the state, giving the parents the type of treatment normally reserved for abusers. The state may then keep them from locating their child and delay reunification until they accept the state’s approach.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE FOX NEWS OPINION

The immediate question before the Court is standing—whether these parents can sue at all because their gender-confused children, thankfully, have not yet run away. But parents are already affected by the new law, walking on eggshells, knowing the state would take their children’s side against them. The Ninth Circuit dismissed that harm as speculative and self-inflicted. But parents should not have to wait until a child disappears or undergoes irreversible procedures before they can defend their rights in court.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

With so many important issues riding on this term’s decisions—from climate lawfare and religious liberty to gun rights and election integrity—it is a relief to know that they will be heard by an originalist Court. And with the Court set to grant even more cases on Monday, this is only the beginning.

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM CARRIE CAMPBELL SEVERINO

Prince William ‘incandescent with anger’ at Prince Harry as Diana anniversary deepens royal rift: Piers Morgan

Mon, 05 Oct 2026 06:00:47 -0400

Prince William isn't expected to reunite with his brother, Prince Harry, for a potential new documentary about their late mother. Asked about the reports, Piers Morgan argued the brothers' long-running rift makes any reunion unlikely.

"Well, they don't speak to each other and haven't done so for years," the host of "Piers Morgan Uncensored" told Fox News Digital.

Morgan went on to say that William is "absolutely incandescent with anger about what his little brother did in trashing the royal family," including "writing books, doing Netflix documentary shows, doing podcasts, always dumping on the family and attacking his wife, Catherine, attacking Camilla, attacking King Charles."

PRINCE WILLIAM'S DOOR IS 'BOLTED SHUT' AS PRINCE HARRY PLANS UK RETURN WITH MEGHAN MARKLE, CHILDREN: EXPERT

"Harry took out the spray gun," said Morgan. "And when you do that, then family members who are on the receiving end aren't going to like it. My sympathies are entirely with Prince William, who's a thoroughly honorable, decent young man who's just had it with his brother and wants nothing to do with him."

Fox News Digital reached out to Kensington Palace for comment.

Morgan has been outspoken about Harry and Meghan over the years, taking issue with their decision to step back from royal duties, their media projects and their public comments about life within the royal family.

WATCH: PIERS MORGAN SAYS PRINCE WILLIAM IS INCANDESCENT' WITH HARRY

Several royal experts previously told Fox News Digital that the brothers haven't been on speaking terms since 2022.

Most recently, The Times reported that the Prince of Wales will not make a film about Princess Diana to mark the 30th anniversary of his mother's death next year, in part because he wants to avoid further conflict with Harry. According to the outlet, William has declined multiple offers to make or appear in documentaries about his mother.

The Times also reported that William views his tributes marking Diana's 20th anniversary as his public "catharsis."

Meanwhile, Prince Harry is considering several projects to mark the 30th anniversary of Diana's death, People magazine reported. According to the outlet, the Duke of Sussex has been exploring how he can "most meaningfully" honor his mother and her legacy ahead of the milestone on Aug. 31, 2027.

While various ideas are under discussion, People reported that no documentary has been finalized or confirmed. Harry has reached out to family members and friends connected to his late mother, multiple sources told the outlet.

Fox News Digital reached out to Archewell for comment.

GET ENTERTAINMENT SCOOP DELIVERED RIGHT TO YOUR EMAIL BY CLICKING HERE

"Notably Harry and Meghan have remained reasonably quiet," royal broadcaster Ian Pelham Turner told Fox News Digital. "They are private citizens, as it has been stated numerous times now, while the Waleses have been burning the rubber across Britain with royal engagements."

Turner said the estrangement between the brothers has reportedly left their father, King Charles III, "scratching his head."

"His two sons appear to be as distant as ever," said Turner. "Perhaps this is Charles' personal annus horribilis."

Friends of William told The Times that next year is "a difficult situation for him" and that he remains "really emotional" about his mother's death.

The Times also reported that William has found his uncle Charles Spencer's newly published memoir, "Swan Song: Diana, My Sister," "difficult," after receiving little advance warning about the book. The book, about Diana, is highly critical of King Charles III, who is receiving treatment for an undisclosed form of cancer.

Turner wondered whether William had initially considered a project about his mother but scrapped the idea following the Duke and Duchess of Sussex's return to the U.K. in August. Turner suggested that William stepping aside could make it less likely that competing projects would pit the brothers against each other.

"William and Catherine have seemed to have increased their number of public events which, not surprisingly, have been well documented," he said.

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

Friends of William believe he is likely to mark the 30th anniversary of his mother's death privately.

William and Harry previously teamed up for projects about their mother ahead of the 20th anniversary in 2017. During a screening of the ITV documentary "Diana, Our Mother: Her Life and Legacy," William told guests, "We won't speak as openly or publicly about her again."

William was 15 when Diana died. Harry was 12. Over the years, Harry has spoken publicly about how Diana's death has deeply affected him. In his 2023 memoir, "Spare," Harry recalled breaking down as Diana was buried at Althorp, her ancestral home.

"It was reported that Mummy's hands were folded across her chest and between them was placed a photo of me and Willy, possibly the only two men who ever truly loved her," he wrote, as quoted by People magazine. "Certainly, the two who loved her most."

"For all eternity we'd be smiling at her in the darkness," Harry wrote, describing how he was overwhelmed by grief as his mother's coffin was lowered into the grave.

"My body convulsed and my chin fell, and I began to sob uncontrollably into my hands," he wrote. "I felt ashamed of violating the family ethos, but I couldn't hold it in any longer."

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

Harry, who has been estranged from members of his family following his exit from royal life in 2020, told the BBC in a 2025 interview that he wanted reconciliation.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

"I would love reconciliation with my family," he said. "There's no point continuing to fight any more, life is precious. I don’t know how much longer my father has."

Wall Street has a new rival, and it's deep in the heart of this southern state

Mon, 05 Oct 2026 05:00:53 -0400

DALLAS — Wall Street has long been the undisputed home of American finance. Now, one southern state wants a seat at the table.

The Texas Stock Exchange is at the center of an ambitious effort to transform the Lone Star State into America's next financial powerhouse, challenging the long-standing dominance of the New York Stock Exchange and Nasdaq while fueling the rise of what's become affectionately known as "Y'all Street."

The Dallas-based exchange plans to provide companies with another venue to list their shares and raise capital, with supporters betting it will help establish Texas as America's next financial frontier.

ONE SOUTHERN STATE'S RISE IS MAKING IT AMERICA'S NEW 'ECONOMIC CENTER OF GRAVITY'

Former Rep. Jeb Hensarling, R-Texas, a strategic advisor and member of the Texas Stock Exchange, believes the shift is already underway.

"Texas is really becoming the economic center of gravity in America," Hensarling told Fox News Digital during an interview at the Texas Stock Exchange's headquarters.

"As New York is increasingly shoving capital out, Texas is saying, 'You're welcome here,'" he said. "We put out the welcome mat, whereas New York, capital isn't really made to feel at home, and capital wants to go where it's made to feel at home."

Hensarling argued that years of pro-business policies have helped transform Texas into more than just an attractive place to operate a company.

GOV ABBOTT EXTENDS OFF-RAMP FOR NY BILLIONAIRES FLEEING MAMDANI'S POLICIES

"Texas has been a great place to do business for decades, but increasingly it's a great place to headquarter your business," he said. "Over the last couple of legislative sessions, because of laws passed, it's a great place to incorporate your business."

"The last piece of that puzzle was the Texas Stock Exchange," Hensarling said. "It's now making Texas the best place to list your company and to go public."

BILLIONS IN TAXPAYER INCOME ARE LEAVING TWO ICONIC STATES — AS A NEW ECONOMIC MAP EMERGES

The exchange is part of a broader wave of investment flowing into Texas. In recent years, major corporations have moved their headquarters to the state, while financial giants including Goldman Sachs, JPMorgan Chase, Charles Schwab and Bank of America have expanded their Texas operations.

Supporters say those moves reflect a larger migration of businesses and capital away from traditional financial centers toward states with lower taxes and lighter regulation.

Critics, however, note that New York remains the country's dominant financial hub by a wide margin, with the world's largest stock exchange, major investment banks and deep capital markets.

THIS STATE ISN'T JUST GROWING — ITS ECONOMY IS GETTING RICHER PER RESIDENT

Whether "Y'all Street" can truly rival Wall Street remains an open question.

But with a new stock exchange, an influx of corporate headquarters and some of the nation's biggest financial firms expanding in Dallas, Texas is making its boldest bid yet to challenge Wall Street's dominance.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

Hensarling believes the trajectory is clear.

"Texas is really becoming the economic center of gravity in America," he said.

ENES KANTER FREEDOM: I know the price of silence and won't stop defending women's sports

Mon, 05 Oct 2026 04:55:48 -0400

For most of my life, basketball has been at the center of everything I do.

I played 11 seasons in the NBA. I competed against some of the greatest athletes in the world. I know what it takes to reach the highest level of the game—the years of training, the sacrifices, the injuries.

But I didn’t become the player I was in front of thousands of people under the bright lights of an NBA arena.

I became that player in the hours no one saw.

FORMER NBA FIRST ROUND PICK ENES KANTER FREEDOM DECLARES FOR 2027 WNBA DRAFT

It happened in empty gyms, one practice at a time. One more shot. One more drill. One more day of showing up and doing the work. The moments that eventually looked big to everyone else were built on thousands of small ones that hardly anyone noticed.

I’ve come to believe courage works the same way.

We tend to notice courage in the big moments—the speech, the protest, the public stand, the moment someone refuses to back down. But courage is usually built long before anyone is watching.

It is built every time you decide that fear will not make your decisions for you.

I learned that lesson long before I understood how important it would become in my life.

ERDOGAN'S TURKEY CRACKS DOWN ON LGBT COMMUNITY IN NAME OF PRESERVING FAMILY VALUES

I grew up in Turkey. When I was a boy, some kids in my neighborhood once handed me an American flag and a lighter and told me to burn it.

I didn't understand why I was supposed to hate a country I had never seen or people I had never met. So I went home and asked my mother what I should do.

She gave me advice I have never forgotten: "Don't hate anyone before you meet them."

It was a small moment.

But small moments have a way of shaping a life.

Years later, I came to the United States to play basketball. I remember hearing one of my teammates openly criticize the president of the United States. I was shocked. I thought he was crazy.

ENES KANTER FREEDOM FILES LAWSUIT AGAINST SKY FOLLOWING EJECTION, BAN AFTER ALTERCATION WITH NATASHA CLOUD

Where I came from, criticizing the person in power could carry severe consequences. Here, my teammate laughed and explained something that Americans grow up knowing: This is America. You are allowed to disagree with your government. You are allowed to criticize your leaders. You are allowed to speak.

That freedom fascinated me. But eventually, it would still wind up costing me a lot.

As my basketball career grew, so did my platform. And I began using it to speak about human rights abuses in Turkey and to criticize President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's government. Of course I could have stayed quiet, and that would have been much easier and safer. It was a small moment, but I knew it could have an impact. So I spoke.

And it was then that I saw the power of one person speaking up. The Turkish government revoked my passport. Arrest warrants were issued for me. My father was imprisoned. My family suffered because of my decisions. I narrowly escaped attempts to detain me abroad. Eventually, the Turkish government placed a $500,000 bounty on my head.

Speaking up cost me and those I loved enormously. But once you understand what it means to be free, silence comes with a cost of its own.

Later, I began speaking out about the Chinese Communist Party and its treatment of Uyghurs, Tibetans, Hong Kongers, and others. I wore shoes onto NBA courts carrying messages the Chinese government did not want displayed.

Again, I knew there could be consequences.

Again, I spoke anyway.

Again, there was a cost.

That’s why, when I finally became an American citizen, I chose a new last name: Freedom.

I didn't choose it because freedom is an abstract idea to me. I chose it because I know what life looks like when it disappears.

Freedom is the ability to ask a question powerful people would rather not answer. It is the right to challenge institutions. It is the right to say something unpopular without surrendering your dignity or your voice.

Freedom comes with costs too. This country has seen the cost at which freedom was obtained. And we still see the cost of keeping it. But freedom only survives when we accept that cost and continue to exercise it.

That lesson has stayed with me far beyond basketball, Turkey, or China. Because once you have decided that some principles are worth defending despite enormous consequences, you cannot suddenly decide that other difficult questions are better left alone because people might criticize you.

That is why I am speaking now about women’s sports.

I spent most of my life competing at the highest levels of basketball. I know what athletes sacrifice for a chance to compete. I know what it means to dedicate years of your life to becoming a fraction of a second faster, a little stronger, a little better.

And I believe women and girls deserve to know that the opportunities they are working toward will be protected.

At the heart of this debate is a biological reality: Men and women are different, and those differences matter in competitive sports.

Saying that has become controversial, but I don't believe it should be.

Every person deserves dignity and respect. That principle matters deeply to me. I have spent years speaking for people around the world whose basic human dignity has been denied.

But respecting every human being does not require us to pretend that biological differences do not exist.

We should be capable of doing both.

We can treat people with compassion and still ask difficult questions. We can disagree without hatred. We can protect the dignity of every individual while protecting fair competition for female athletes.

And we should be able to have that conversation openly, because I have learned something over the years about controversial issues: The moment people become afraid to ask the question is often the moment when asking it matters most.

Female athletes should not have to worry that defending their own sports will cost them teammates, endorsements, playing time, or their reputations. Coaches shouldn't have to whisper what they believe behind closed doors. Parents shouldn't be afraid to ask whether the rules governing their daughters' competitions are fair.

Whatever our disagreements, those conversations should be possible in a free country.

I know what it feels like when they aren't. There is a reason I carry the word "Freedom" everywhere I go.

Freedom isn't just something written into a constitution or celebrated once a year. It is something we practice. We practice it when the crowd is cheering. We practice it when people are criticizing us. And perhaps most importantly, we practice it when standing alone would be easier than speaking up.

Somewhere today, a little girl is standing in an empty gym working on her jump shot. She's putting in one more practice. One more drill. One more shot.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE FOX NEWS OPINION

Nobody is watching. But those quiet hours could someday become something extraordinary. I know, because mine did.

She deserves the freedom to chase that dream. She deserves a fair opportunity to see how far her work can take her. And she deserves adults who are willing to have difficult conversations today about how we protect that opportunity tomorrow.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

Big change rarely begins with a big moment. It begins when someone decides to speak. Then someone else does. And someone else.

Until one day, the thing that once required courage simply becomes common sense.

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM ENES KANTER FREEDOM

America must defend our digital infrastructure, here and overseas, to win the next war

Mon, 05 Oct 2026 05:00:27 -0400

For most of American history, national defense has been understood geographically. There was American territory and foreign territory, borders to defend, military installations to protect and American forces stationed around the world. Even as warfare evolved, the basic concept remained relatively simple: the United States had physical assets that needed protection from foreign adversaries.

Technology has fundamentally changed that calculation. Today, some of the most important assets supporting America's economy, military and national security do not fit neatly within traditional definitions of territory or defense infrastructure. They are data centers, cloud-computing systems, telecommunications networks and other digital infrastructure that may be privately owned and located thousands of miles from the United States.

The border of the next war may not be a line on a map. It may be a data center.

OUR ENEMIES FOUND A WEAKNESS IN ESSENTIAL TECHNOLOGY. WE MUST FIX IT … FAST

The recent conflict with Iran should force Washington to take that possibility seriously. In March, Iranian strikes damaged Amazon Web Services data centers and infrastructure in the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain, disrupting cloud infrastructure and creating problems with power and connectivity. Reuters reported that the damage contributed to service disruptions and an extended recovery process. Then, in April, Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps publicly claimed that it had targeted an Amazon cloud-computing facility in Bahrain.

That distinction is important. This was not simply a commercial facility caught in the crossfire. Iran publicly identified American commercial computing infrastructure as a target.

8 EVERYDAY THINGS THAT WOULD QUIT WORKING WITHOUT DATA CENTERS

That should be a warning for Washington. American power increasingly depends on infrastructure that is privately operated and, in some cases, located outside our borders. The military relies on commercial technology and cloud computing. Financial institutions depend on digital infrastructure to process transactions and maintain operations. Hospitals, communications networks, logistics companies and energy providers all depend on interconnected systems. Artificial intelligence, which is becoming important to both the American economy and national defense, requires enormous amounts of computing capacity and data.

The building may be privately owned, but the consequences of destroying it may extend far beyond the company that operates it.

AN AI CYBERATTACK COULD TURN OFF AMERICA'S LIGHTS BEFORE WASHINGTON EVEN UNDERSTANDS WHY

The federal government already recognizes that infrastructure can have national-security implications even when it is not owned by the government. Federal law defines critical infrastructure broadly, including physical or virtual systems and assets whose incapacity or destruction could have a debilitating impact on national security, national economic security, public health or safety.

But our national-security strategy has not fully caught up with the technological transformation of the American economy and military. A generation ago, it was relatively easy to understand why a power plant or port could be considered strategically important. Today, the same logic increasingly applies to the infrastructure that makes the digital economy possible. A data center supporting military logistics, financial markets, telecommunications or advanced artificial intelligence may be just as consequential to national security as a physical facility traditionally associated with defense.

AMERICA RUNS ON DATA. IF WE DON’T BUILD THE INFRASTRUCTURE, CHINA WILL

The Trump administration has recognized the importance of data-center infrastructure to the internet, cloud computing, artificial intelligence and America's economic and national security. Congress should build on that recognition by creating a designation for exceptionally important American-owned or American-controlled digital infrastructure.

The designation should be narrow and subject to rigorous requirements. It should not turn every data center into a national-security facility or give private companies a blank check for government protection.

US ADVERSARY TURNS UP THE HEAT ON AMERICA’S AI LEAD WITH AN UNDERESTIMATED EDGE

Companies seeking the designation should have to meet strict standards concerning ownership and control, cybersecurity, physical security, supply-chain integrity, redundancy and cooperation with U.S. national-security agencies. The federal government could then identify the relatively small number of facilities whose destruction or prolonged incapacitation would pose a serious threat to American national or economic security.

These could include data centers supporting military operations, financial markets, critical communications, government systems or strategically important artificial intelligence capabilities.

IRAN-LINKED HACKERS SUSPECTED IN UK POWER-PLANT SHUTDOWN AFTER ALLEGED MINNESOTA WATER ATTACK

The designation would not make these facilities American territory. A data center in Bahrain would not become sovereign American territory simply because it was designated a protected strategic asset. But it would establish something equally important, a clear American policy that deliberately attacking certain strategically vital infrastructure carries consequences.

That clarity serves an important purpose: deterrence.

IF HACKERS CRIPPLE AMERICA'S WATER, THE CONSEQUENCES COULD BE CATASTROPHIC

Congress should establish a range of potential responses that could include sanctions, asset freezes, diplomatic measures, defensive cyber operations and, depending on the circumstances and attribution, additional measures authorized by Congress.

The goal should not be to automatically escalate every attack into a military confrontation. The goal is to make the consequences sufficiently clear that an adversary thinks twice before attacking.

AMERICA AND CHINA ARE FIGHTING FOR THE FUTURE OF AI — CHIPS ARE THE BATTLEFIELD

Artificial intelligence (AI) only raises the stakes. AI is becoming an ever-more important component of intelligence analysis, cybersecurity, logistics, communications, autonomous systems, military planning and economic competition. President Donald Trump's June 2026 National Security Presidential Memorandum on artificial intelligence (AI) recognized this reality by directing the national-security enterprise to accelerate AI adoption and strengthen partnerships with private industry.

But that raises a critical question: What happens if the infrastructure supporting those systems is attacked?

An adversary may not need to destroy an AI system directly. It could target the data center where the computing takes place, disrupt the electricity supplying the facility, compromise the communications infrastructure connecting it to other systems or attack the supply chain supporting its operations.

If America becomes increasingly dependent on artificial intelligence without protecting the infrastructure underneath it, a strategic advantage could quickly become a strategic vulnerability.

Computing capacity is becoming part of national power. Protecting it needs to become part of national defense.

Our adversaries already understand this. Russia has demonstrated its willingness to use cyber operations and attacks against infrastructure as instruments of state power. China has invested heavily in cyber capabilities and studied vulnerabilities created by America's dependence on interconnected systems. Iran has demonstrated its willingness to use cyber and other asymmetric capabilities against American interests.

They understand that attacking the United States does not necessarily require attacking an American military installation.

An adversary could disrupt a power grid, interfere with a port, target a telecommunications network, compromise a financial system or attack the computing infrastructure supporting critical services. That is why digital infrastructure can no longer be treated merely as a technology issue. It is a national-security issue.

For generations, the United States has developed military and diplomatic doctrines designed to deter attacks against the country and its interests. The digital age requires us to expand that thinking.

Congress should establish a framework for identifying the digital infrastructure so important to American national security that its intentional destruction would warrant a significant U.S. response. The administration should then work with allies to develop reciprocal protections for strategically important infrastructure located overseas.

Companies operating designated facilities should also be expected to meet high standards for cybersecurity, physical security, redundancy and resilience. Protection must come with responsibility.

Deterrence does not require eliminating every threat. It requires making the cost of an attack sufficiently clear that an adversary decides the risk is not worth taking.

The United States cannot defend 21st-century power with a 20th-century understanding of national security.

Our borders still matter, and our military installations, ships and aircraft remain essential to national defense. But so do the servers, networks, data centers and computing systems that allow those traditional instruments of power, and increasingly, our entire economy, to function.

The next major attack on American interests may not begin with troops crossing a border or missiles striking a military installation. It could begin with the loss of computing capacity, the disruption of a communications network or the failure of a system most Americans have never heard of but millions depend upon.

Iran has provided a warning about what that future could look like.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE FOX NEWS OPINION

The battlefield is expanding beyond traditional military targets and physical borders. America's national-security strategy must expand with it.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

The border of the next war may not be on a map. It may be the infrastructure that keeps America running.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE FROM KATE MONROE

LEE CARTER: Polls say Democrats could swamp Republicans. As a pollster, I have a question

Mon, 05 Oct 2026 05:00:06 -0400

The blue wave is coming.

Maybe even a blue tsunami.

At this rate, Democrats may want to stop ordering yard signs and start ordering life jackets.

REPUBLICANS FACE BRUTAL MIDTERM HEADWINDS. SIX FORCES COULD HELP THEM DEFY HISTORY.

And look, I get it.

The polls are very good for Democrats right now. The latest Fox News Power Rankings has Democrats ahead by 11 points among likely voters on the generic congressional ballot. Reuters/Ipsos has them ahead by among registered voters.

LEE CARTER: I STUDY POLLING. DEMOCRATS ARE GAMBLING ON ANTI-TRUMP VOTES, NOT IDEAS

President Donald Trump’s approval rating is struggling. Voters are miserable about prices. Democrats have an enthusiasm advantage.

If you’re a Democrat, there is a lot to like.

If you’re a Republican, maybe skip ahead a few paragraphs.

But I’m a pollster. And when everyone starts looking at the same numbers and reaching the same conclusion, I get a little itchy.

Not because I don’t believe the polls.

I do.

The question is whether we’re asking them to tell us more than they actually can.

The polls are telling us pretty clearly that a lot of Americans are unhappy with Trump.

FOX NEWS POWER RANKINGS: VOTERS SAY THEY’RE IN ECONOMIC PAIN, BUT WILL DEMOCRATS GAIN?

What I don’t think they’ve answered yet is whether those same Americans believe in the alternative.

And there is a very big difference.

100 DAYS UNTIL MIDTERMS AND DEMOCRATS ARE WINNING BECAUSE THEY ACTUALLY HAVE A MESSAGE

In 2018, Democrats had something wonderfully simple – Healthcare. Not a framework. Not a 14-point plan. Not a word tested in a focus group until everyone in the room agreed it was "accessible." A cause.

Republicans had tried to repeal Obamacare. Voters worried about losing coverage and protections for pre-existing conditions.

You could explain the stakes in about eight seconds.

More importantly, you could finish the sentence:

I’m voting because ________.

Healthcare filled in the blank.

And it did. Healthcare was the most important issue for more voters than any other issue in polling leading into the 2018 midterms.

So, what fills in the blank in 2026?

Well, Democrats have a word.

Affordability.

MIDTERM HISTORY MASSIVELY FAVORS DEMOCRATS. BUT THEY ARE MAKING A BIG MISTAKE

And it is having quite a year.

Everyone is for affordability.

Democrats are for affordability.

Republicans are for affordability.

People who charge $24 for a chopped salad are presumably for affordability.

And voters are absolutely furious about prices.

So, the problem isn’t whether voters care about affordability.

They care.

A lot.

The question is: What does affordability mean Democrats are actually going to do?

Because affordability describes the problem beautifully.

It doesn’t necessarily describe the solution.

REDISTRICTING GIVES REPUBLICANS AN EDGE, BUT AFFORDABILITY WILL DECIDE THE MIDTERMS

That’s where, to me, the numbers get interesting. Pew asked Americans which party’s economic policies they agreed with more.

Remember the environment we’re talking about.

Only 24% rated the economy good or excellent. Six in 10 said Trump’s economic policies had made economic conditions worse.

The economy is front and center. Trump is struggling. Democrats are leading the congressional ballot.

And yet, on economic policy:

Democrats: 37%.

Republicans: 36%.

One point. Not even the margin of error. That’s the number I can’t stop thinking about.

Because Democrats may be winning the referendum on Trump without yet winning the argument for themselves.

And those are two very different victories.

Rejection isn’t conversion.

This is where I think we may be getting ahead of ourselves.

A voter can be unhappy with Trump without falling madly in love with Democrats.

These are not mutually exclusive positions.

In fact, judging by Americans’ views of politics generally, they may be the national consensus.

You can think Republicans have failed on prices without believing Democrats know how to fix them.

You can prefer a Democrat when a pollster calls in September and still not be particularly motivated to vote in November.

You can desperately want change and remain profoundly unconvinced by your available choices.

That’s why I’m not dismissing today’s Democratic polling advantage.

I’m asking what is underneath it.

Is it a preference?

Is it a protest?

Or is it a cause?

Because causes get people out of the house.

Democrats also have the small matter of deciding what they believe

There isn’t exactly one Democratic Party right now.

There is a progressive Democratic Party talking about corporate power, housing and fundamental economic change.

There is a center-left Democratic Party talking about competence, stability and lowering costs.

There are Democrats trying to win back Trump voters.

Democrats trying to rebuild the Obama coalition.

Democrats trying to create a new coalition altogether.

They can all say affordability.

I’m less certain they would all finish the sentence the same way.

And voters don’t only need to know what you’re against.

Eventually, they want to know where you’re taking them.

And what on earth do Republicans do with that?

This is where Republicans might want to resist a favorite Washington pastime: explaining to voters why voters are wrong.

If people say groceries are too expensive, telling them the economy is actually terrific is unlikely to make the eggs cheaper.

If they say they’re exhausted by chaos, producing more chaos seems an unusual voter-retention strategy.

And if they say affordability is their biggest concern, changing the subject may work for a news cycle. It doesn’t change the grocery bill.

But here’s the thing.

Voters haven’t completely abandoned Republican policies.

Pew found the parties essentially tied on economic policy. Republicans still had an advantage on immigration and a much larger advantage on crime.

So, this isn’t necessarily an electorate saying:

We have embraced the Democratic worldview.

It may be saying:

We don’t particularly like what you’re doing with the keys.

That’s a different problem.

Democrats have to turn dissatisfaction into belief.

Republicans have to convince voters that the things they elected them to do are actually making their lives better if they get more time.

Both parties are trying to close a gap.

For Democrats, it’s the gap between rejection and conversion.

For Republicans, it’s the gap between policy and lived experience.

And neither one gets across that gap by shouting affordability more loudly.

Voters already know things cost too much.

They don’t need another politician to identify the problem.

They need some reason to believe somebody can actually solve it.

Now, about those polls

I’m a pollster, so I want to be very clear:

Believe them.

When poll after poll shows Democrats ahead, that’s meaningful.

When Trump’s approval falls, that’s meaningful.

When voters repeatedly say affordability is their biggest concern, that’s meaningful.

A poll is doing its job when it tells us where voters are today.

Where we get into trouble is when we turn a snapshot into a screenplay and start writing the ending.

Michigan and Wisconsin gave us a useful reminder of that this summer.

The lesson wasn’t that polling is broken.

It was much less dramatic.

Voters move.

Undecided people eventually decide.

Turnout is hard to model.

And enthusiasm can sometimes make one group much easier to see than another.

In other words:

Intensity isn’t prevalence. And prevalence isn’t turnout.

That’s not an argument against polling.

It’s an argument against getting cocky about it.

Which brings us back to the blue tsunami

Could it happen?

Absolutely.

The current political environment gives Democrats plenty of reasons for optimism.

Affordability could become the 2026 version of healthcare.

Opposition to Trump could itself become the motivating cause.

Democrats could spend the remaining weeks turning "affordability" from a word into an argument voters understand and believe.

But that’s different from saying the outcome is inevitable.

What strikes me most about voters right now isn’t enthusiasm.

It’s exhaustion.

They’re tired of Trump.

They’re tired of Democrats.

They’re tired of Washington.

They’re tired of paying too much for everything.

They may even be tired of being asked how tired they are.

That’s a volatile electorate.

And volatile electorates have a nasty habit of embarrassing people who think they’ve figured them out.

So yes, Democrats should be happy about the polls.

Republicans should be worried about them.

But neither party should mistake unhappiness for allegiance.

The question that will decide this election isn’t simply whether Americans are disappointed in Donald Trump.

We know many of them are.

It’s whether Democrats can give those voters something affirmative to believe in.

And whether Republicans can give them something affirmative to choose.

In 2018, Democrats had healthcare.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE FOX NEWS OPINION

In 2026, they have affordability.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

One was a cause. The other is still a word. For now.

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM LEE CARTER

AI is supercharging political ad wars. But viral doesn’t mean victorious

Mon, 05 Oct 2026 04:00:32 -0400

Artificial intelligence is dramatically lowering the cost of political advertising, allowing campaigns to churn out attack ads, memes and other targeted messages at a pace that would have been prohibitively expensive just a few years ago.

In the political ad wars, campaign operatives can now use generative AI to produce in minutes or hours what once required days by a team of writers, voice talent, video shoots and production teams.

The shift is turning political creative from an expensive campaign asset into something much more affordable and closer to disposable content, potentially giving candidates and outside groups the ability to flood voters with more messages.

While the exact number is difficult to identify, the ad-tracking firm AdImpact had identified 29 campaign ads in federal and gubernatorial contests that disclosed using AI content, as of two weeks ago. Meanwhile, the Wesleyan Media Project, which also counted ads that did not make AI disclosures, has identified at least 164 AI-influenced ads this cycle.

HEAD HERE FOR THE LATEST FOX NEWS AI REPORTING AND ANALYSIS

But the jury is still out on whether the use of AI for campaign messaging can help produce the ultimate objective: an election victory.

"It certainly allows you to produce more content in varying styles and more cost effective," veteran Republican consultant Jesse Hunt told Fox News Digital, as he pointed to the creative and economic appeals of using AI in political advertising.

Democratic strategist Chris Moyer said that "AI gives campaigns more tools for less cost. So there is a democratizing of the tools that campaigns used to have to spend valuable resources on....You can get access to things with a smaller budget."

Will Ritter, a longtime Republican ad maker and media and political strategist, told Fox News Digital that the creative advertising and political strategy agency he co-founded, Poolhouse, "went from last cycle doing basically doing nothing with AI to most of our ads now have some AI component."

"The good news is that it’s really cool technology. It allows a lot of people to make stuff. You can make almost anything," Ritter said.

But he added, "You still need to able to know what you’re doing with the tools."

Pointing to his agency, Ritter noted "we have professionals who know how to use and integrate them, and they also know the point of this is to have a good ad that can be done faster and cheaper now but still maintains the main point, which is to communicate a message, not to show off cool visual tech."

Campaign veterans say that if you're not using AI to produce messaging content and other key tasks, including voter outreach, you are already behind the eight ball, and that will only increase going forward.

"We are running the most organized and sophisticated congressional campaign in the country, and we utilize every legitimate tool that helps our team improve productivity. Any campaign that doesn’t would be foolish," Ciro Riccardi, a top campaign adviser for Republican Rep. Mike Lawler of New York, told Fox News Digital.

FOX NEWS POLL: VOTERS QUESTION WHETHER AI’S PROMISE OUTWEIGHS ITS RISKS

Lawler is running for re-election in a key swing district in New York City's northern suburbs that Democrats are targeting as they aim to win back the House majority. Lawler's campaign is one of hundreds of campaigns across the country that have reported spending on AI technology vendors in their Federal Election Commission (FEC) disclosure reports.

While spending by campaigns on AI is expected to increase, Riccardi noted that Lawler's 2026 re-election team will "spend more money on pizza for volunteers" than it will on AI tools.

But are AI-generated ads helping candidates win at the ballot box?

Republican gubernatorial candidate Brian Shortsleeve of Massachusetts grabbed attention in February with an AI-generated radio ad that used an AI-generated version of Gov. Maura Healey's voice in which the Democratic governor made disparaging comments about her administration and the economy.

"We have one of the highest electricity rates in the nation," the AI-generated voice said in the spot. "Thanks to me slapping on excessive fees to fund my climate agenda."

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

The deepfake - an AI-generated video, image, or audio recording created or altered using artificial intelligence to make a real person appear to say or do something they never actually did - raised questions about the legal limits of AI technology in elections. Thirty-one states have enacted laws regulating political deepfakes, but the Federal Election Commission has not implemented any AI rulemaking.

The attention surrounding the Shortsleeve ad did appear to boost the business executive and former acting general manager of the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority in his bid to win the GOP gubernatorial nomination. He was defeated in the September primary in a landslide by former medical device executive Mike Minogue.

In Los Angeles, reality TV star and online influencer-turned mayoral candidate Spencer Pratt used AI-generated videos that went viral to significantly boost his visibility and his campaign's online momentum.

The videos, which Pratt shared and reposted, humorously and dramatically portrayed him as a superhero saving a dystopian, burning Los Angeles, while depicting incumbent Democratic Mayor Karen Bass and other officials as villains.

The videos grabbed millions of views on social media platforms like X, TikTok, and Instagram, and appeared to help to turn Pratt from a longshot mayoral candidate into one of the three top contenders.

But the AI-generated messaging wasn't enough to help Pratt, a Republican who ran for mayor as an independent, advance to the general election in the blue-leaning city. Pratt was eliminated as he came in third in the city's June 2 primary.

SIGN UP TO GET THE POLITICS NEWSLETTER

The National Republican Senatorial Committee earlier this year targeted Democratic Senate nominee in Texas state Rep. James Talarico with a ad showing an AI-generated version of the candidate reading controversial old social media posts.

Meanwhile, an AI-generated image of former Rep. Mike Rogers, the GOP nominee in battleground Michigan's Senate race, as a super hero figure rescuing people from a collapsing building, went viral.

Whether such AI-generated messaging in the Michigan and Texas Senate races made an impact is uncertain, and the electoral outcomes in the two showdowns won't be determined until next month.

Campaign veterans point to positives and negatives when it comes to AI-generated content.

"AI has really revolutionized the industry and the groups and companies, I think like, like ours that are taking advantage of the tools and are willing to take risks will be the ones that have the most success," Ritter said.

"There are so many things we can do now – save time," Ritter added. "It’s a huge opportunity but you still need people who can use the tools correctly and you have to some restraint."

But he said, "Spencer Pratt made some unbelievable cool ads we’ve never seen before. They went super viral. Then he came in third."

"The people that win tend have a message that resonates and is communicated clearly and consistently and just getting attention doesn’t do the whole job," Ritter emphasized.

Moyer warned that as AI "becomes more widespread, there's going to be a lot more cynicism and doubt that ads are actually real. The tactic used to be 'just put opponents in their own words to make an ad against them.' Now I think a lot of voters are really skeptical - 'did he or she really say that or are they making it up.'"

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

Hunt, a veteran of presidential and statewide campaigns, highlighted that "authenticity is incredibly important."

He said that while AI has leveled to playfield to a degree, campaign ads have "got to feel as real as possible and you do not sacrifice that by going the most cost effective route because the cheapest does not always mean the most persuasive, the most meaningful, the most memorable."

The politics of hypocrisy: How scandal is treated with selective outrage

Mon, 05 Oct 2026 03:00:52 -0400

Erick Erickson, the longtime, ultraconservative Atlanta radio host, just unloaded a screed that whacked both Democrats and Republicans.

"Both sides serve up a crap sandwich of a candidate, point across the aisle at the other side’s crap sandwich, and insist you have to eat theirs because the other one is worse."

In keeping with the culinary metaphor, this struck me because I've long felt that national politics has increasingly become a stew of hypocrisy.

To watch Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders endorse Graham Platner, the exceedingly weird Maine Senate candidate with a Nazi tattoo, was stomach-turning. You just know the liberal wing would have savaged him if he was a Republican. They and other Dems finally jumped off the bandwagon when news emerged that Platner's former girlfriend alleged that he had raped her.

TRUMP TO MEET WITH MAMDANI IN NEW YORK AMID HIGH-STAKES MIDTERM PUSH

Republicans were behind North Carolina Rep. Chuck Edwards despite mounting allegations that he had fostered a hostile work environment and engaged in sexual harassment.

But then the House ethics committee called for his censure for inappropriate actions toward two female staffers. The congressman showered them with gifts (jewelry totaling over $1,000, designer purses, guns, shoes, flowers, a laptop and cell phone, KitchenAid mixer, robotic vacuums, vacations, tickets to performances, and one-on-one dinners, if you must know).

His fellow North Carolina lawmaker, Sen. Ted Budd, then urged Edwards to bow out of the race, and the congressman quickly complied.

"Cycle after cycle," Erickson says, "we never get better candidates. We get more corrupt and more terrible ones, and we are told once again that we must vote for them or the republic will fall... The doomsday prophecies are simply how the parties dupe voters into holding their noses for their preferred perversions."

If you look at the apocalyptic rhetoric in this year's campaigns, that's undoubtedly true. Everything depends on whether you have a D or R after your name. It's a master class in selective outrage, and if your target switched parties, you'd immediately change your stance.

There is so much anger in the air right now–with war, inflation, soaring prices–that liberals are demonizing conservatives and vice versa. Social media has often become a forum for sheer hatred. I'll leave it to you to decide which side is worse, or whether you're in the pox-on-both-houses camp.

There are huge policy differences between the two parties, but most voters don't study that intently. They size up the candidates' character.

If they are disillusioned, there's a good chance that many will just stay home. And turnout is crucial in a midterm election.

DESPITE PUBLIC DISMISSALS, WHY TRUMP AND HIS TEAM WERE PRIVATELY OBSESSED WITH THE JEFFREY EPSTEIN SCANDAL

Amid the predictions of a blue wave – despite the fact that the GOP has a much bigger war chest – veteran political analyst Charlie Cook says this about independent voters: "They tend to be very fickle. They read, watch, and listen to the news less than partisans. They tend to get buyer’s remorse and turn on whoever they voted for two years earlier."

Extremist candidates, once deemed fringe figures, have become more common, especially among the Democratic socialists who are winning primaries.

Abdul El-Sayed, the Democratic Senate nominee in Michigan, had to apologize last month after making sympathetic comments about a terrorist who attacked a synagogue. He's also campaigned with far-left streamer Hasan Piker, who's said America "deserved 9/11."

‘DESTROYING THE AMERICAN WAY OF LIFE’: EL-SAYED’S POLITICAL ORBIT COMPLICATES EFFORT TO MODERATE HIS IMAGE

Darializa Avila Chevalier, who won with the backing of New York’s socialist mayor, Zohran Mamdani, has called Joe Biden a "rapist," has wanted police and prisons abolished, and was arrested for helping take over Columbia’s Hamilton Hall.

On the other side, Texas Republican Ken Paxton was impeached by his own party.

Gone are the days when President George H.W. Bush felt he had to apologize for calling Bill Clinton and Al Gore "these two bozos."

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

In today’s toxic atmosphere, Erick Erickson says he's been threatened and harassed for his stances. It's hard to feel proud of our political culture right now. But I don't see it ever changing back to the bygone era when Ronald Reagan and Tip O'Neill would battle by day and share a drink after work.

Coast Guard personnel exchange gunfire with shooters across US-Mexico border

Mon, 05 Oct 2026 02:45:08 -0400

Coast Guard personnel exchanged gunfire with people on the Mexican side of the border, an encounter the U.S. military later cited as an example of increased illegal activity as hundreds of U.S. troops and their equipment were repositioned to Texas’ Rio Grande Valley and 500 Mexican Army and National Guard personnel were deployed to its side of the border.

Coast Guard personnel were intercepting migrants crossing the Rio Grande while working with other federal agencies when the initial gunshots came from the Mexican side of the border. Coast Guard personnel then returned fire, officials said on Friday, according to Stars and Stripes.

The exchange happened on Sept. 26 while federal agencies conducted joint operations near Garceno, a small town along the border in Starr County, Texas.

DHS SENDS OMINOUS WARNING AS MIGRANT CARAVAN HEADS TOWARD US-MEXICO BORDER FROM HONDURAS

The Coast Guard said it was investigating the incident alongside federal partners. It is unclear who fired the initial shots.

"No injuries to Coast Guard or other personnel were reported, and no damage to Coast Guard assets or equipment was reported," the Coast Guard said.

U.S. Ambassador to Mexico Ronald Johnson said the embassy "is helping to coordinate with Mexican forces that are being deployed in the border area where shots were fired against elements of the United States Coast Guard."

"Mexican military commanders will communicate directly with the U.S. forces deployed. Together, we intend to patrol both sides of our shared border, protect our communities and disrupt the operations of criminal and terrorist organizations. Any threat from criminal or terrorist elements on either side of the border will be addressed swiftly," he added.

The Coast Guard launched Operation River Wall in October 2025, deploying additional personnel, boats and other assets to patrol the river between the U.S. and Mexico. The Coast Guard said its forces would focus on approximately 260 miles of the Rio Grande along the U.S.-Mexico border.

It was working closely with Border Patrol, the Pentagon and the Texas Military Department "to secure the border, disrupt illicit activity and protect the American people," the Coast Guard said, according to Stars and Stripes.

"We will continue to leverage a layered, integrated approach to control, secure and defend the border that strengthens our collective ability to counter illicit activity and safeguard our personnel and the communities we serve," the Coast Guard said.

TRUMP ADMIN'S LIST OF US-DESIGNATED 'FOREIGN TERRORIST' GROUPS IN LATIN AMERICA EXPANDS TO 21

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

The U.S. military said on Friday it had deployed hundreds of troops and their equipment to the Rio Grande Valley as part of planned preparations to address "historically observed seasonal increases in attempted illegal activity."

"The Sept. 26 Coast Guard encounter is an example of this uptick in illegal activity," the Joint Task Force-Southern Border said in a statement.

Dramatic footage shows alleged narco boat erupt in fireball during US military strike

Mon, 05 Oct 2026 01:22:12 -0400

The U.S. military on Sunday announced a lethal strike on another vessel in the Caribbean carrying alleged narco-traffickers, killing four people on board.

The U.S. Southern Command said the vessel was traveling along "established narco-trafficking routes" in the Caribbean. The military shared a video that showed what appeared to be an explosion destroying a moving boat it described as a go-fast vessel.

"Under the direction of U.S. Southern Command, Joint Task Force Western Hemisphere executed a lethal, kinetic strike on a go-fast vessel operating along established narco-trafficking routes in the Caribbean," the military said in a statement.

US FORCES OBLITERATE SUSPECTED 'NARCO-TERRORIST' VESSEL IN LETHAL EASTERN PACIFIC STRIKE, KILLING 3

Southern Command claimed that intelligence revealed the vessel's "active involvement in narco-trafficking." The military did not provide evidence to back up this allegation.

"The operation killed four narco-terrorists," the statement added.

This is the latest attack that the Trump administration has argued was launched in an attempt to eliminate alleged narco-terrorists, with the death toll in these strikes carried out since September 2025 sitting at more than 235.

The Pentagon has refused to release the identities of those killed in the strikes since last year. It has also refused to provide evidence of drugs on board.

The administration has been scrutinized in the past year by Democrats and even some Republicans, including Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., who has raised concerns about killing people without due process and the possibility of killing innocent people.

The attacks have also been denounced by human rights groups as "extrajudicial killings."

US KILLS 4 ALLEGED DRUG SMUGGLERS ON BOAT IN CARIBBEAN, BRINGING TOTAL TO 227 IN 68 STRIKES

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

The administration is pursuing deals with allied nations to extend its military attacks to land in multiple Latin American countries. Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth said during a visit to Panama in August that Colombia, Guatemala and Honduras had agreed to allow the U.S. to carry out joint military operations against criminal groups on their soil, although Guatemala denied reaching a deal.

Ecuador launched similar operations with the U.S. in March.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Tetairoa McMillan career day spoils Jared Goff's huge game as soft Lions defense flops on SNF

Mon, 05 Oct 2026 00:13:30 -0400

Tetairoa McMillan put on a clinic, Bryce Young stayed hot and Dan Campbell’s defense folded in a 58-point track meet. And if you pegged Detroit for a drop-off this season, Sunday night gave you all the validation you needed.

Featuring nearly 900 combined yards, Dan Campbell’s squad fell 32-26 to the Panthers in Carolina.

The Lions dropped to 2-2 after failing to keep pace with an offense that out-executed them when it mattered most.

Panthers top wideout Tetairoa McMillan tormented Detroit's secondary, more than living up to his first-round selection. The 6-foot-5 target hauled in 14 passes for 192 yards and two touchdowns. His clutch toe-tap catch on the sideline with under three minutes remaining kept the drive alive and iced the victory for Carolina.

Bryce Young sliced through Detroit in Dave Canales' quick, play-action scheme, completing 29 of 41 passes for 329 yards and two scores.

NFL WEEK 3 SUNDAY TAKEAWAYS: PATRIOTS HAVE A MAYE PROBLEM, CHARGERS HIT ROCK BOTTOM AND COWBOYS CRUMBLE

Chuba Hubbard provided the hammer on the ground for Carolina, rushing 20 times for 122 yards and two touchdowns.

Carolina's core has clicked into place since last postseason's jab-for-jab loss to the Rams, establishing the Panthers as the team to beat in the NFC South.

THE CRAIG CARTON SHOW–UNFILTERED, UNAPOLOGETIC AND UNMISSABLE. DOWNLOAD HIS DAILY PODCAST NOW!

Jared Goff threw for 412 yards and a touchdown on 32-of-52 passing, but the Lions stalled repeatedly inside the red zone and settled for four field goals before a late touchdown cut into the lead.

As the clock hit zero, Goff sat slumped on the bench.

Dan Campbell’s brand for Detroit is built on physical dominance, but his defense got pushed around at Carolina's will.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

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

Coast Guard suspends search for Boston-bound medevac plane off Nantucket with 6 on board

Sat, 03 Oct 2026 07:59:45 -0400

The U.S. Coast Guard on Sunday suspended the search for the six passengers aboard the medevac flight with six people on board that disappeared Saturday morning while en route to Boston from Bermuda.

"Suspending a search is not an easy decision," Rear Adm. Matthew Lake, Commander of the Northeast District, said in a statement. "We express our deepest condolences to the families and loved ones affected by the tragedy and our gratitude for our partner agencies who helped support search efforts."

Search crews had earlier located a debris field off the Nantucket coast that was confirmed to be associated with the medevac flight.

Authorities were searching for the Gulfstream G100, a twin-engine, midsize jet, off Nantucket. Both air and surface crews had been deployed to the area, according to the Coast Guard Northeast District.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reported losing contact with the aircraft early Saturday, the Coast Guard said.

FRANTIC SEARCH UNDERWAY FOR CREW AFTER BOEING 737 WRECKAGE FOUND BY OFFICIALS

Earlier Saturday, the FAA issued a statement that said it was "coordinating with the Rescue Coordination Center and the U.S. Coast Guard to locate the aircraft."

Canada’s foreign affairs department said it was "deeply concerned" by the aircraft’s disappearance and confirmed Canadians were among those on board.

Two Canadian pilots, two medical workers, one patient and a patient's companion were on board.

"Our thoughts are with everyone on board and their loved ones," the department said, thanking the U.S. Coast Guard and others involved in the search.

The Coast Guard said four Canadian nationals and two Bermuda nationals were on the flight.

According to data from FlightAware, the plane took off from Bermuda L. F. Wade International Airport at 11:41 p.m. ET.

The FAA told Fox News Digital it had issued a Search and Rescue Alert Notice at about 1:20 a.m. ET.

The Massachusetts Port Authority (Massport), which operates the state's three major airports, confirmed that the aircraft did not arrive at Boston Logan International Airport as scheduled.

"Our thoughts are with those on board and their loved ones as the search continues," the agency said.

SKYDIVERS WATCH PLANE VANISH FROM SIGHT, MAKE SPLIT-SECOND DECISION TO JUMP

The Canadian-registered aircraft is owned by Latitude Air Ambulance, the company confirmed to Fox News Digital, adding that it was a medevac flight.

Latitude Air Ambulance is a medical transport company that brings patients home from around the world when they require specialized care.

Latitude Air Ambulance said the flight was supposed to take about two hours.

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) told Fox News Digital that it was gathering information and declined to provide an update on the situation.

"My thoughts are with the six people aboard the missing air ambulance traveling from Bermuda to Boston, and their families," Bermuda's Premier David Burt said in a statement. "Government has contacted the family and US search and rescue authorities. We are praying that everyone will be found safe."

The plane plummeted from 24,000 feet to 11,000 feet in just three minutes at around 1 a.m., according to data from FlightAware.

Skyport, the company that manages the airport in Bermuda, confirmed that a "Canadian-registered air ambulance departed L. F. Wade International Airport for Boston at approximately 12:41 am on Saturday, October 3, 2026, with six souls on board, including four crew members and two passengers."

"The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration has advised that air traffic controllers lost contact with the aircraft off the coast of Nantucket Island, Massachusetts," the company added.

"This aircraft was dealt a dire one-two punch: a critical safety in-flight problem, followed almost immediately by a perilous weather event and an 11,000-foot plunge," former U.S. Department of Transportation Inspector General Mary Schiavo said in analysis shared with Fox News Digital.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

The Coast Guard said a future investigation into the cause of the incident will be coordinated by the "appropriate investigative authorities."

San Diego Padres blow late lead as star closer Mason Miller crumbles in brutal walk-off to Brewers

Sun, 04 Oct 2026 22:16:53 -0400

The San Diego Padres carried strong momentum into October after winning 20 of 23 games to finish the regular season and sweeping the Chicago Cubs in the Wild Card round. That energy disappeared Sunday in Milwaukee. A 4-3 loss to the Brewers in Game 2 leaves the Padres trailing 2-0 in the National League Division Series and facing elimination.

San Diego built an early lead behind RBI plays from Ty France and Dustin Harris. Milwaukee answered on Sal Frelick's RBI single and a Padres fielding error to keep the score tight.

NO, THE SAN DIEGO PADRES DIDN'T LOSE BECAUSE OF CONTROVERSIAL NINTH INNING HOME RUN RULING

Padres manager Craig Stammen turned to All-Star closer Mason Miller for a six-out save. Miller worked a clean 12-pitch eighth inning, but his command collapsed in the ninth. Miller walked three batters to load the bases without giving up a hit, setting up Jackson Chourio’s walk-off two-run single.

THE CRAIG CARTON SHOW–UNFILTERED, UNAPOLOGETIC AND UNMISSABLE. DOWNLOAD HIS DAILY PODCAST NOW!

Miller was direct about his performance in the clubhouse after the game.

"Terrible," Miller said. "I didn't do my job today, so instead of being in here with a win and a series tie, we're in a hole, so it feels pretty bad."

Miller pointed directly to his loss of control in the final frame.

"The cardinal rule is pretty much: You don't beat yourself. And I beat myself today," Miller said. "I mean, a base hit with nobody on doesn't win them the game. A base hit after you walk the bases loaded does."

Stammen defended using Miller for two innings.

"Top of the lineup in the eighth probably made that decision for Mason," Stammen said. "Going into the game, we were thinking of Mason for six outs anyway, especially how quick the eighth inning went for him. He was just battling the strike zone there at the end."

PETE CROW-ARMSTRONG, CUBS OFFENSE NO-SHOW AGAINST PADRES IN NON-COMPETITIVE POSTSEASON EXIT

The Padres locker room was all out of funk after the game, and for good reason. Coughing up a winnable playoff game on three unforced walks is an absolute gut punch.

San Diego had World Series aspirations coming into October, but Milwaukee flexed a better killer instinct to tear them to shreds.

Game 3 is Tuesday at Petco Park. Down 2-0, San Diego must win three straight games to keep its season alive.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

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

Shark bites fisherman twice during kayaking encounter along California beach

Sun, 04 Oct 2026 22:07:08 -0400

A kayaker fishing off a Malibu beach was rushed to a local hospital Sunday morning after a shark encounter reportedly left him with two bite wounds.

The incident occurred near Paradise Cove in Los Angeles County, according to KTLA.

Witnesses told the outlet that the fisherman had reeled in what was believed to be a mako shark and was attempting to release it when the animal bit him, causing him to fall into the water.

The shark then bit him a second time before swimming away, according to reports. The Los Angeles County Fire Department initially described the incident as a shark attack but later characterized it as a "fishing accident," ABC 7 reported.

SWIMMER RUSHED TO HOSPITAL AFTER SUSPECTED SHARK ATTACK AT MARTHA’S VINEYARD

A manager at the nearby Paradise Cove Beach Cafe said he saw the victim's injuries near his legs.

"He was bitten in two places," the manager told KTLA. "I saw there were some teeth marks on his lower leg and above the knee."

AUSTRALIAN SURFER RISKED HIS LIFE TO SAVE FELLOW SURFER WHO HAD BEEN ATTACKED BY A SHARK

Video captured a lifeguard rushing toward the fisherman moments after the attack, while a small fishing boat floated nearby.

A fisherman reportedly rushed to the victim’s aid, pulled him from the water onto his boat and brought the fisherman back to shore, KTLA said.

The victim reportedly called his girlfriend, a retired lifeguard, who helped him from the boat, assisted him onshore and called for emergency responders.

Los Angeles County Fire Department crews responded to the scene and took the victim to a local hospital, the outlet said.

Recalling the incident, the cafe manager reportedly said, "We’ve had a lot of crazy stuff happen here, but we’ve never had a shark attack like that."

The beach remained open following the incident, ABC 7 reported.

Chances of encountering a shark in Southern California are higher in October, when warmer coastal waters attract both prey and juvenile sharks. Female sharks often use shallow, warmer waters as nursery grounds, where young sharks can feed and grow with relative protection.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

Fox News Digital reached out to the Los Angeles County Fire Department for more information.

Mass shooting at Georgia block party leaves 2 dead, 35 injured

Sun, 04 Oct 2026 21:59:01 -0400

A mass shooting at a neighborhood block party in South Georgia left two people dead and dozens wounded early Sunday morning, according to officials.

More than 1,000 people were gathered as more than 50 shots were fired in at least two locations about a block apart in Vienna, Georgia, according to Dooly County Sheriff Craig Peavy.

Deputies were on patrol at a neighborhood block party around 1:25 a.m. when shots were fired on the 900 block of Pine Street, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation said in a statement. The sheriff's office had requested the assistance of the GBI.

Two people were pronounced dead at the scene from gunshot wounds. Most of the 35 injured victims suffered gunshot wounds, while several others were hit by cars or suffered other injuries as people fled the scene. The 35 injured victims were transported to hospitals for treatment.

LEXINGTON, KENTUCKY PARK SHOOTING KILLS 1, INJURES 4 DURING LIVE BAND PERFORMANCE

Peavy said people were "going every direction" and, even as officers were on the scene, more gunfire erupted about a block away.

"We don’t know if it’s coming at us or someone else," he said at a press conference on Sunday. "You just have to keep doing what you’re doing and hope you don’t get hit by gunfire."

The GBI said the ages of the injured victims range from 14 to 51 and their conditions range from stable to critical.

The victims killed in the shooting were identified as Jaquevion Jackson, 21, of Cordele, and Macaleb Jackson, 23, of Hawkinsville, the agency said.

The incident happened over homecoming weekend for Dooly County High School.

SHOOTING NEAR BALTIMORE YOUTH FOOTBALL EVENT LEAVES 12-YEAR-OLD GIRL DEAD, 3 ADULTS WOUNDED

The superintendent of the Dooly County School System, Sherrod Willaford, said the shooting was not at a school-sponsored event.

"We recognize that its impact may reach many of our students, families, and staff," he said in a statement.

Schools will open on Monday, but additional safety measures have been implemented.

Vienna Mayor Eddie Daniels said the city had not issued any kind of permit for the block party, and he did not know if it was a homecoming party.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

Authorities have not arrested any suspects, identified a potential motive or said how many shooters may have been involved.

"Please turn yourself in, because we're doing everything we can to find out who you are," Peavy said.

The incident remains under investigation.

Vienna is about 130 miles south of Atlanta and about a 50-mile drive south on the Interstate 75 corridor from Macon, where 12 teenagers were wounded by gunfire during a confrontation at a birthday party last week at a city park.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Chiefs' Tyquan Thornton didn't realize his foot was pointing the wrong direction after game-changing catch

Sun, 04 Oct 2026 21:56:54 -0400

Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Tyquan Thornton suffered one of the most gruesome ankle injuries you will ever see during Sunday’s game against the Las Vegas Raiders.

Somehow, it took him a few seconds to notice.

Kansas City trailed 19-17 and faced third-and-4 with 3:25 remaining when Patrick Mahomes launched a deep ball down the left sideline. Thornton hauled it in for a 55-yard gain before Raiders safety Treydan Stukes dragged him down from behind and landed across Thornton’s left ankle.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE OUTKICK SPORTS COVERAGE

Thornton held on to the football and initially appeared ready to celebrate the biggest play of the game. Then he tried to stand up, looked down and realized his left foot was pointing in a direction it definitely was not supposed to point.

Seriously, do not watch this video if you have a weak stomach.

WARNING: The video below is graphic.

Adrenaline is a heck of a drug, apparently.

CBS announcers Jim Nantz and J.J. Watt immediately recoiled when they saw the replay.

"Oh, no," Watt said.

"Oh my goodness. I don’t even want to look at it," Nantz added.

Those were the appropriate reactions.

Medical personnel placed Thornton’s left leg in an air cast before carting him off the field. The Chiefs ruled Thornton out with an ankle injury but had not announced a more specific diagnosis as of publication.

THE CRAIG CARTON SHOW–UNFILTERED, UNAPOLOGETIC AND UNMISSABLE. DOWNLOAD HIS DAILY PODCAST NOW!

The injury was especially cruel because Thornton had finally carved out a role in Kansas City. A Patriots second-round pick in 2022, he joined the Chiefs’ practice squad in November 2024, made the roster in 2025 and re-signed in March after catching 19 passes for 438 yards and three touchdowns last season.

He entered Sunday with 108 receiving yards over the previous two games, then delivered the first 100-yard performance of his NFL career. Thornton caught five passes for 111 yards and two touchdowns before suffering the injury.

The Chiefs were already without Rashee Rice, who exited in the first quarter with a right hamstring injury and did not return. Rice had 190 receiving yards through three games, so Kansas City could now be without two important pieces of its passing attack.

SIGN UP FOR THE DAILY OUTKICK NEWSLETTER

Thornton’s 55-yard catch set up Kenneth Walker’s go-ahead touchdown on the next play, and Kansas City held on for a 30-27 victory to improve to 4-0.

OUTKICK IS NOW AVAILABLE ON THE FOX NEWS APP: CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD

Hopefully, Thornton’s injury is somehow less serious than it appeared.

Unfortunately, it looked about as bad as an injury can look.

Attorney for accused Cornell student calls on Letitia James to step aside over prior comments

Sun, 04 Oct 2026 21:56:32 -0400

New York Attorney General Letitia James is facing a call to step aside from the investigation into the alleged Cornell sexual assault after an attorney for one of the accused students questioned whether she had publicly accepted the allegations before taking over the case.

Andrew Miltenberg, who represents one of seven former fraternity members accused in a civil lawsuit, said James’ earlier statements supporting the accuser created an "avoidable question about the appearance of impartiality."

"The concern is whether the public can have confidence that the investigation begins without any predetermined view of the facts," Miltenberg said in a statement to Fox News.

AOC'S DRAMATIC RETELLING OF CORNELL RAPE ALLEGATIONS COLLIDES WITH COMPLAINT DETAILS

Gov. Kathy Hochul appointed the attorney general’s office as special prosecutor Thursday, replacing Tompkins County District Attorney Matthew Van Houten in the investigation into an alleged October 2024 sexual assault at Cornell’s Chi Phi fraternity house.

The woman, identified in court papers as Jane Doe, alleges seven former fraternity members drugged and sexually assaulted her. The men have denied wrongdoing, with some maintaining the sexual activity was consensual and others denying they participated. No criminal charges have been filed against the seven men.

DELETED EMAIL DETAILS ALLEGED TRUMP-TARGETING PUSH INSIDE LETITIA JAMES’ OFFICE: ‘FIND AND PURSUE CRIMES’

Miltenberg’s objection centers on comments James made before her office was appointed to lead the criminal investigation. She publicly described what the woman had "been forced to endure" as "horrific and unacceptable" and told her, together with "all survivors," that "we stand with you."

When asked at Friday’s news conference about her objectivity in light of the Facebook post, James said, "I will not comment on a Facebook post."

Criminal defense attorney and Fox News contributor Donna Rotunno also questioned James’ role during an appearance on Fox News’ "The Big Weekend Show."

"But it should be fair. It should be impartial. And it should not be from someone who’s already made a public statement on Facebook about it," Rotunno said of reopening the investigation.

James has said the investigation will be guided by "the facts and the law."

Miltenberg said his concerns were not political and did not diminish the seriousness of sexual assault allegations.

TRUMP LAWYERS TARGET WHAT LETITIA JAMES WON’T SAY ABOUT EVIDENCE IN $450M CASE

"There is nothing improper about expressing compassion for someone who reports a sexual assault," he said. "But there is an important difference between supporting a person who makes an allegation and appearing to accept the factual premise of that allegation before conducting an investigation."

He urged James to personally recuse herself while allowing senior prosecutors in her office who have not publicly commented on the merits of the allegations to handle the investigation.

"That would not weaken the investigation. It would strengthen it," Miltenberg said.

He argued that the same concerns about independence and public confidence that prompted the appointment of a special prosecutor should apply to the person leading the replacement investigation.

LETITIA JAMES’ RE-ELECTION CUSHION SHRINKS AS LITTLE-KNOWN CHALLENGER STARTS TURNING HEADS

"I am not suggesting that Attorney General James does not believe she can be fair," he said.

The case drew renewed scrutiny after Doe filed a civil lawsuit Sept. 16, nearly two years after the alleged assault. The complaint also names Cornell, fraternity entities, Doe’s sorority and a local bar, among others, alleging failures to protect her.

BIDEN-APPOINTED JUDGE HANDS LETITIA JAMES SETBACK IN LATEST TRUMP LEGAL CLASH

Van Houten initially declined to pursue criminal charges, saying the signed statement his office received from Cornell University Police did not establish a crime under New York law. He said prosecutors assumed Doe’s account was true and that her credibility was "never in question."

He later reopened the investigation after the lawsuit surfaced.

CORNELL PRESIDENT SAYS UNIVERSITY 'MUST DO BETTER' ON HANDLING OF SEXUAL ASSAULT ALLEGATIONS

Questions about the original investigation intensified when CBS News presented Van Houten with a fuller transcript of Doe’s police interviews that he said his office had never received.

"That wasn’t information that I had," Van Houten said, adding that its existence "changes the landscape for me."

Rotunno also questioned why prosecutors had not sought the complete investigative record before deciding against charges.

"The real question is, why didn’t the DA ask for every piece of information that the campus police gathered?" she said on "The Big Weekend Show."

She warned against allowing public reaction to drive the case.

"We are watching the court of public opinion take over here when we don’t know the facts," Rotunno said.

Cornell has separately agreed to an independent review of its handling of the allegations. University President Michael Kotlikoff said its disciplinary process resulted in two expulsions and two suspensions of at least two semesters. One student graduated before discipline could be imposed, and two were found not responsible for sexual misconduct.

Those proceedings are separate from the criminal investigation.

Cornell previously told Fox News it "fully support[s] the appointment of a special prosecutor" and is committed to "an independent external review of all aspects of how Cornell has handled this case."

Miltenberg said any decision about criminal charges should come from prosecutors whose impartiality the public can trust.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

"The simplest way to remove that question is for her personally to recuse herself and allow an uncommitted prosecutor within her office to lead the investigation," he said.

Fox News' Michelle Langer and Michael Dorgan contributed to this report.

Teresa Giudice's daughter Milania writes birthday tribute to sister Gabriella months after 911 call and arrest

Sun, 04 Oct 2026 21:55:59 -0400

"The Real Housewives of New Jersey" star Teresa Giudice's daughter Milania Giudice reflected on her bond with her sister Gabriella in a heartfelt birthday tribute months after her older sibling reportedly called 911 on her during a family dispute.

In May, Milania, 20, was arrested and charged with simple assault following a reported domestic dispute at Teresa's home in Montville Township, New Jersey.

According to TMZ, Gabriella, who turned 22 on Sunday, was reportedly the family member who called 911 during the incident. Per the outlet, Gabriella reported that Milania was allegedly "acting erratically" and "throwing food and candles" at the time.

'REAL HOUSEWIVES' STARS' KIDS FACE LEGAL TROUBLE AFTER CAMERAS STOP ROLLING

On Sunday, Milania appeared to have put the family turmoil behind her as she celebrated Gabriella's birthday with an emotional post on social media.

"Happy birthday @gabriella.guiudice 🤍 you really are the best sister I could ever ask for," Milania wrote in the caption of her post.

"You're genuinely one of the smartest people I know, and I'm so proud of the person you are," she continued.

"I've put you through a lot over the years, and I know I haven't always made being my sister easy, but you've always been there for me, accepted me, and loved me through everything," Milania added.

"I've always told you that you're literally Cinderella in real life, and even with the black hair now, I still stand by it 😂. I can't believe you're 22 already. Time really flies. I love you so much and I'm so lucky to have you as my sister. 🤍"

Milania's post included a series of throwback photos that included snaps of Gabriella with their sisters Gia, 25, and Audriana, 17, as well as Teresa and their father Joe, both 54.

"I love you so much ❤️❤️," Gabriella wrote in the comments section.

Teresa also commented on Milania's post, writing, "Happy Birthday @gabriella.giudice Love you ♥️🎂🎉🎈🥳."

FENTANYL DEATHS COULD NOW COST DRUG DEALERS THEIR LIVES UNDER NEW GOP PROPOSAL

Fox News Digital previously confirmed that the Montville Township Police Department responded to a report of a dispute at a residence in town on May 14.

Officers detained Milania at 6:12 p.m., according to court records reviewed by Fox News Digital.

'ILLICIT' VERSION OF FENTANYL LINKED TO DEADLY NEW MEXICO INCIDENT THAT SICKENED FIRST RESPONDERS

"The investigation resulted in Milania Giudice being charged on a summons complaint with one count of Simple Assault, in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C: 12-1a(1) a Disorderly Persons Offense," Chief Andrew Caggiano said in a statement provided to Fox News Digital at the time.

BRANDI GLANVILLE BELIEVES SHE CONTRACTED 'SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED RINGWORM' IN HER THROAT

"A criminal complaint is merely an accusation," Caggiano added. "Despite this accusation, the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until she has been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law."

Milania pleaded not guilty and was released pending an upcoming court appearance. According to Page Six, her next court hearing has been postponed until Dec. 1.

Meanwhile, Teresa recently alleged that Milania had "fentanyl in her system" during an incident at the Tampa International Airport.

REALITY STAR CLAIMS DAUGHTER, 20, 'HAD FENTANYL IN HER SYSTEM' IN AIRPORT BODYCAM

Teresa made the claim while attempting to explain her daughter's behavior during an encounter with officers at the Florida airport last month, according to bodycam footage obtained by Page Six.

Milania fired back in the footage and said, "Cause I was laced ... I go to college," before Gia told her, "You're reckless."

REALITY STAR'S SON, 15, INDICTED ON 7 COUNTS STEMMING FROM ALLEGED ASSAULT

It’s unclear when exactly the fentanyl incident occurred and what substance Milania was allegedly given or who she believed was responsible.

At the beginning of the bodycam footage obtained by Page Six, Milania requested to speak to her mother. One officer asked Milania to sit down and reminded her that she was "not controlling the situation."

The "RHONJ" star shared a lengthy statement on social media after the bodycam footage was released last week.

"As a mother, there is nothing more important to me than the health, safety, and well-being of my children," she wrote. "The past few months have been incredibly difficult for our family, and I feel it is important to say something while also protecting my daughter during an extremely vulnerable time in her life."

GET ENTERTAINMENT SCOOP DELIVERED RIGHT TO YOUR EMAIL BY CLICKING HERE

"Milania has experienced tremendous heartbreak and significant psychological trauma after losing two of her best friends," Teresa continued. "Grief affects everyone differently, and watching your child try to process that kind of loss is something no parent can ever truly prepare for. Right now, my only focus is my daughter – making sure she is surrounded by love, family, support, and the care she needs."

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

"I understand that because our family has lived much of our lives in the public eye, there will naturally be questions and speculation," she added. "But Milania is my daughter before she is anything else. She is a young woman going through an incredibly difficult and deeply personal time, and she deserves the opportunity to heal without every moment of her pain being analyzed publicly."

"I am asking, from one mother to another, and from one family to all of you, to please show Milania compassion and kindness and allow her the privacy she needs right now. We are incredibly grateful to everyone who has reached out with love, prayers, and support. It means more to our family than you know."

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

"At this time, we respectfully ask the media and the public to give Milania and our entire family the privacy and space we need as we navigate this together. Thank you for your understanding, your compassion, and most importantly, for respecting my daughter during this difficult time. With love, Teresa," she concluded.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

Fox News Digital's Tracy Wright contributed to this report.

NFL reviewing incident after line judge Jeff Seeman appeared to hurl profanity at Cardinals' Trey McBride

Sun, 04 Oct 2026 21:52:39 -0400

The NFL is reviewing an incident in which an official appeared to hurl profanities at tight end Trey McBride during the Arizona Cardinals' game at the New York Giants on Sunday.

"We are looking into the matter," a league spokesman told OutKick.

Of course they are. It was on television and then NFL Players Association executive director JC Tretter posted about it on social media afterward.

NFL'S MOST DEBATED WEEK 3 CALL HAS PEOPLE WONDERING HOW TO DEFY GRAVITY WHEN HITTING PATRICK MAHOMES

Line judge Jeff Seeman, the son of former NFL supervisor of officials Jerry Seeman, was caught on camera saying something to McBride along the Cardinals sideline that looked to include an expletive.

Although the OutKick lipreading department does not work on Sundays, it seems clear Seeman said, "(Bleep) you."

With the bleep word rhyming with duck.

Or luck.

Or truck.

Seeman used the term twice consecutively.

NEW NFL FINE SCHEDULE IS GOING TO A POINT SYSTEM THAT COULD LEAD TO SUSPENSIONS BUT ALSO REFUNDS

"This kind of behavior from an official towards a player is unacceptable," Tretter posted. "Players are consistently held accountable when the roles are reversed. We expect the NFL to hold officials to the same standard."

Most game officials would not go off on an expletive-filled response unless there was a reason that set them off.

ZERO BS. JUST DAKICH. TAKE THE DON'T @ ME PODCAST ON THE ROAD. DOWNLOAD NOW!

There are unconfirmed accounts McBride yelled at the officials when he disagreed with one of their calls, although it is unclear what exactly he said to them.

Whatever McBride may have said, the response from officiating is always to throw a penalty flag.

Not throwing around an epithet.

FOLLOW ARMANDO SALGUERO ON X: @ARMANDOSALGUERO

Bolsonaro wins first round of Brazilian presidential election, as Trump-backed candidates continue red wave

Sun, 04 Oct 2026 20:17:42 -0400

Senator Flavio Bolsonaro, son of former President Jair Bolsonaro, won the first round of the Brazilian presidential election tonight, turning in a surprisingly strong showing and continuing a long run of wins for Latin American Trump-backed right-wing candidates.

Although the race had tightened considerably in the weeks leading up to the election, the vast majority of the polls showed incumbent President Inacio Lula da Silva with a single-digit lead.

Bolsonaro will now face off against President Lula da Silva in an October 25 second-round election. With 99% of the votes in, Bolsonaro led Lula 47.2% to 44.9%, in a race Lula had widely been expected to win.

LATIN AMERICA’S CONSERVATIVE SHIFT FACES ITS BIGGEST TEST YET IN BRAZIL ELECTION

Tonight, the question on everyone's mind: how could the pollsters get the results so wrong?

The polling failure will serve to give further ammunition to the Brazilian right and the Bolsonaro camp, which have long alleged that the nation's leading pollsters turn in work biased in favor of Lula and his Workers Party.

The polling situation was similarly unfavorable to Jair Bolsonaro in the 2022 and 2018 elections, but relatively minor in comparison with the disparity in tonight's electoral results.

Bolsonaro put in an incredibly strong showing in his electoral strongholds in the south of Brazil, winning the country's three largest states by large margins.

In Sao Paulo state, the nation's largest, Bolsonaro led Lula 52% to 38%.

In Minas Gerais, which is Brazil's historic bellwether state, Bolsonaro led Lula 48% to 43%, while in his stronghold of Rio de Janeiro, he bested the incumbent president 53% to 39%.

BRAZIL'S LULA INAUGURATED AS NEW PRESIDENT AFTER BOLSONARO REPORTEDLY FLED TO FLORIDA HOME OF MMA FIGHTER

Lula racked up large margins in his traditional strongholds in the Northeast, where he won vote-rich Bahia, Pernambuco and Ceara by large margins, but it was not enough to surmount Bolsonaro's unprecedented electoral strength in Brazil's south.

Bolsonaro enjoyed a close relationship with Donald Trump through the course of the campaign, who made no secret of his intent to unceremoniously eject longtime geopolitical adversary Lula from office.

Tonight's surprising result is merely the latest in a long string of right-wing victories across Latin America, which has recently ushered in a red wave of conservative candidates in Chile, Argentina, Peru, Ecuador and Bolivia.

The election will undoubtedly prompt a period of soul-searching for the Brazilian left, which may be asking, "Should Lula have run at all?"

At 80 years old, with three presidential terms under his belt and aspiring to a fourth, Lula was widely viewed as the only contender who could unite the contentious and often-fractured Brazilian left.

Lula's political story marks one of the greatest comebacks in history. Once imprisoned on corruption charges, Lula was freed by the nation's Supreme Court and then defeated incumbent Jair Bolsonaro in a heated 2022 election by a razor-thin margin.

Famously, he pledged to serve only one term as president in 2022 and then reneged on that promise. Now, the move seems likely to backfire on him, in what will almost certainly be his last electoral campaign.

Flavio Bolsonaro will now face off against incumbent Lula in a second-round election on October 25. Bolsonaro begins the race with several structural advantages.

In addition to vastly outperforming across the country and proving the pollsters wrong, he is likely to win the majority of the votes of the major third-party candidates: Augusto Cury, Renan Santos, Ronaldo Caiado and Romeu Zema.

Together, these four candidates received nearly 8% of the vote.

Caiado, Zema and Santos are generally seen as candidates leaning to the political right, while Cury is a centrist. Caiado, Santos and Cury have allegedly said they do not plan to make an endorsement in the second round.

If elected, Flavio Bolsonaro is all but certain to free his father and senior Brazilian military officers, who are currently jailed on charges of planning a coup to remain in power following the 2022 election.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

The election also saw other members of the Bolsonaro family ushered into higher office: Jair Bolsonaro's wife, Michelly, was elected senator, as was his son Carlos, while another son, Renan, was elected federal deputy.

Bolsonaro's Liberal Party also turned in strong results in races for both chambers of Brazil's Congress, particularly in the Senate, where they are expected to hold 29 seats, compared to just nine for Lula's Workers Party.

In Brazil's lower chamber, the Liberal Party is also expected to hold the greatest number of seats, with 121, while Brazil Fe, a left-wing coalition, is on track to secure 78 seats.

Political analyst Flavio Morgenstern argued, "This election was not about Flavio Bolsonaro vs. Lula. It's about all of freedom-loving Brazil against the Brazilian Supreme Court. People have no voice in the institutions, and all the power in Brazil is concentrated in the Supreme Court."

The Brazilian right and the Bolsonaro family have long butted heads with the nation's Supreme Federal Court, which is dominated by justices appointed by the Workers Party.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

While Bolsonaro appears to have the wind in his sails, it is too early to count out Lula in the second-round election in three weeks. Lula is renowned as a smart and effective campaigner and still commands a powerful electoral machinery.

Yet, is winning election to an unprecedented fourth term a feat too daunting for even Lula, the great giant of the Latin American left?

Tyreek Hill fuels Chiefs reunion speculation with cryptic post as old team loses two receivers to injury

Sun, 04 Oct 2026 21:39:34 -0400

The Kansas City Chiefs remain undefeated after Week 4, though they might have some troubles at wide receiver following their win over the Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday night.

Tyquan Thornton, who had five catches for 111 yards and two touchdowns, had a gruesome injury on a 55-yard catch-and-run play that will have him out for some time moving forward.

Also, Rashee Rice, who has been Patrick Mahomes’ top wide receiver, suffered a hamstring injury on a catch in the first quarter that knocked him out the remainder of the game.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE OUTKICK SPORTS COVERAGE

With perhaps two of the Chiefs’ starting receivers set to miss time, a familiar face, who has been sending out interesting social media posts throughout the NFL season, found his way back to X.

Tyreek Hill, who made a name for himself with Mahomes and the Chiefs during their Super Bowl runs in years past, sent out a simple tweet after his old team completed their 30-27 victory over their AFC West rival.

"Hm," the speedster tweeted.

THE CRAIG CARTON SHOW–UNFILTERED, UNAPOLOGETIC AND UNMISSABLE. DOWNLOAD HIS DAILY PODCAST NOW!

It’s simple, it’s vague, but it’s also not too far from a stretch to think Hill, who continues recovery from a severe left knee dislocation and torn ligaments, might be hinting at wanting a reunion with the Chiefs after what he’s been doing since the start of the year.

From posting workout videos to sending similarly timed posts, Hill has been watching the league closely each week while showcasing that he seems to be in football shape.

In fact, he sent the same "hm" tweet, which NFL fans quickly reacted to in the comments. Fans from all teams were hoping that Hill was speaking about their team, but the Chiefs, at 4-0, seems to be a squad that he would want to join given their early chances at reaching the playoffs and making another Lombardi Trophy run.

On Sept. 9, Hill also called his old quarterback a "different man" after ESPN’s Adam Schefter revealed that Mahomes would be playing Week 1 against the Denver Broncos just nine months after tearing his ACL and LCL.

And Hill hasn’t been shy about how he feels he can still impact a team in the league. He responded to a fan that reacted to a beach workout he videoed and posted, saying that "32 is not old still prime years," referencing his age and how he looked in the video.

Then, as he was watching Week 3 play, Hill tweeted, "It’s almost time to get off the couch and get to work," with a teary-eyed emoji. A couple of days later, he wrote, "I think I’m ready for some cold weather."

That tweet made the Chiefs speculation even greater considering his old team, the Miami Dolphins, didn’t have many cold games in South Florida. But Kansas City is known for its cold weather later in the season, especially come playoff time, when he’s thrived in the past playing under head coach Andy Reid and offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy, who returned to the Chiefs this year.

OUTKICK IS NOW AVAILABLE ON THE FOX NEWS APP: CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD

Now that two key Chiefs players are hurt at the position he plays, perhaps Hill is getting serious about a potential reunion in the Midwest.

Until then, Hill will keep his workouts going and wait for the chance to strap on pads and start playing in the NFL once again – that is if a team wants his services in 2026.

SIGN UP FOR THE DAILY OUTKICK NEWSLETTER

California realtor nabbed at LAX in alleged China spy case targeting Taiwan president’s relative

Sun, 04 Oct 2026 21:26:40 -0400

A California realtor accused of spying on a Taiwanese official’s family for Beijing was arrested at LAX as she tried to leave for China, federal authorities announced Sunday.

Wanying Zhang, 34, of Irvine, also known as "Heather," allegedly worked with an associate to photograph and record the family outside their Seattle-area home, according to a criminal complaint obtained by Fox News Digital.

"We just arrested a Chinese foreign agent at LAX attempting to depart for China," First Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli wrote on X.

CHINESE SPY INFILTRATION: MAYOR’S BUST ADDS TO GROWING TIMELINE OF FOREIGN INFLUENCE CREEPING INTO US

Essayli said FBI Los Angeles agents arrested Zhang on a federal charge of acting as an unregistered agent of the People’s Republic of China.

She allegedly traveled to Seattle in 2025 at the direction of Chinese officials and sent them photos, videos and license plate information.

FEDS SAY US CITIZEN GATHERED INFORMATION ON AMERICAN TARGETS FOR CHINESE COMMUNIST PARTY

"She coordinated the trip with an associate and used tradecraft to avoid detection," Essayli wrote. "She never notified the Attorney General she was acting for a foreign government, a federal offense."

Speaking on "The Big Weekend Show" Sunday, Essayli said Zhang is a naturalized U.S. citizen and confirmed the alleged surveillance targeted a relative of Taiwan’s president.

"She was conducting surveillance on behalf of the Chinese government. She was acting as a foreign agent," Essayli said. "And she was spying on a relative of the president of Taiwan here in the U.S."

He said agents arrested her as she tried to board a flight to Shanghai.

FBI Director Kash Patel also issued a warning to foreign adversaries following Zhang’s arrest.

"Foreign adversaries take note: America is no longer a safe place to run your espionage operations," Patel said.

"Allegedly surveil a foreign leader’s family on U.S. soil for the PRC — and try to catch a flight back to Shanghai? Not happening."

"This FBI is hunting threats to our national security wherever they hide — and bringing them to justice," he added.

The alleged target was Ting-Yu Lai, the U.S.-based son of Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te, CBS News reported, citing law enforcement sources. The complaint does not name him.

"Saw him. Young male. It’s that young one," Zhang allegedly messaged a Chinese government contact while outside the home.

"I am videorecording," she allegedly added before sending two license plate numbers.

CHINESE NATIONAL ARRESTED AT JFK AFTER ALLEGEDLY PHOTOGRAPHING US MILITARY AIRCRAFT AT NEBRASKA BASE

Zhang and her associate allegedly flew from Las Vegas to Seattle on Sept. 1, 2025, rented a black Nissan Rogue and waited near the family’s home.

When the target returned, a neighbor’s security camera captured the pair quickly sitting up and holding out what appeared to be phones to photograph or record the family, according to the affidavit. Family members, including children, arrived shortly afterward.

"While individual 1 took pictures, Zhang reclined her seat as if to avoid being seen," FBI Special Agent Kevin Holt wrote.

Days later, Zhang allegedly told her associate to transfer the surveillance photos through AirDrop.

BRONX MAN CONVICTED OF RUNNING SECRET CHINESE POLICE STATION IN MANHATTAN USED TO MONITOR DISSIDENTS

"Seattle pictures, don’t send via WeChat or text. Must be sent over the air. I have to send it back. He wants me to send it back today," she said in an audio message described in the affidavit.

Holt said he believed the instruction was intended to help avoid detection. The associate later told Zhang he had deleted the photos and cleared them from his deleted folder, which Holt described as an apparent attempt to destroy evidence.

CHINA’S INFLUENCE MACHINE: FEDERAL RECORDS EXPOSE BEIJING’S PUSH TO SWAY AMERICA

Investigators believe Zhang received the surveillance assignment during a June 2025 meeting with a Chinese government contact in Changsha, China.

"I can take care of this thing," she allegedly told the contact.

DEMS UNDER FIRE FOR ‘MALIGN CHINESE INFLUENCE’ AS SHOCKING SPY MAYOR DONATIONS UNCOVERED: ‘HOW MANY MORE?’

Holt warned that information about a senior Taiwanese official’s relatives, including their homes and cars, could give Beijing leverage over Taiwan’s president during a potential conflict.

"Engaging in surveillance of a close relative of a high-ranking member of Taiwan’s government is not normal diplomatic behavior, especially inside of the United States," he wrote.

Essayli warned on "The Big Weekend Show" that the threat extends beyond California.

"China’s very good at using people who are already here," he said. "I don’t think it’s unique to California. It is happening nationwide."

Essayli said Zhang is scheduled to appear Monday in federal court in Los Angeles and noted that defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.

The arrest comes months after former Arcadia Mayor Eileen Wang was charged in a separate case with acting as an agent of China involving paid efforts to spread pro-Beijing propaganda in the United States.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

Fox News Digital reached out to the FBI and the Justice Department for comment and additional information.