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Popular weight-loss strategy shows surprising potential for chronic pain relief

Thu, 27 Aug 2026 13:21:10 -0400

Intermittent fasting has grown in popularity as a weight-loss strategy, but it could also unlock new ways to manage chronic pain by altering how the gut communicates with the brain.

A study published in the journal Brain, Behavior, and Immunity, revealed that the timing of meals affects the gut-brain axis, which is a communication system linking the gastrointestinal tract and the central nervous system.

Intermittent fasting is an eating pattern that focuses on when meals are consumed, typically involving extended periods without food, according to health institutions.

DAILY EATING HABIT LINKED TO BETTER BRAIN HEALTH IN OLDER ADULTS, NEW RESEARCH SUGGESTS

Chronic pain, defined by Cleveland Clinic as pain persisting for longer than three months, is often accompanied by cognitive difficulties and anxiety.

While traditional treatments target inflammation or pain-signaling nerves, the new research suggests that meal timing may also influence chronic pain by changing gut bacteria and inflammation throughout the body.

Scientists at Zhengzhou University in China examined animal models during fasting cycles. They found that intermittent fasting strengthens the intestinal lining, which prevents inflammatory compounds from leaking into the bloodstream and reaching nervous system tissue.

SECRET TO WEIGHT LOSS MAY BE HIDING IN YOUR GUT, NEW STUDY SUGGESTS

Analysis of the gut microbiome found that fasting increased levels of a bacterium called Alistipes finegoldii. When researchers administered the live bacteria to animals that were not fasting, they saw similar improvements in pain and cognitive function.

The researchers found that the bacterium produces compounds that the body can convert into hippuric acid, a chemical messenger linked to the observed benefits.

At the cellular level, hippuric acid acts on an inflammatory pathway called STING, short for Stimulator of Interferon Genes. When this pathway becomes overactive in the nervous system, it can fuel inflammation that worsens pain and interferes with brain function.

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The study demonstrated that hippuric acid turns down STING activity, quieting inflammatory signaling in the central nervous system and resolving behavioral symptoms.

Despite the findings, the research carries a few limitations, the research team acknowledged.

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First, observational and early-stage studies can identify a link between intermittent fasting and changes in gut-brain signaling, but they cannot prove that fasting directly causes those changes.

Also, individual responses to intermittent fasting vary based on each person's gut microbiome, underlying health conditions, daily nutrient intake and genetics.

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It can also be challenging for some people to adhere to fasting protocols, as strict eating windows may not be safe or feasible for everyone.

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While fasting is not a cure for chronic pain, researchers said the findings could help guide future treatments that target the gut-brain connection.

They added that further trials will be necessary to establish specific dietary protocols tailored to individual patient needs.

Golden State Valkyries and New York Liberty headline two WNBA picks for tonight's slate

Thu, 27 Aug 2026 13:14:30 -0400

I was able to get a win yesterday on the diamond, and quite frankly, I needed it. After a few losses, it was nice to get back into the winning column. However, I am taking a break today because there are only a few games on the board that I like, and none of them that I feel overly confident in. Instead of going to the ballpark, we are going to the hardwood, where we have two WNBA games with some interesting matchups. Let's focus on those for tonight.

Golden State vs. New York

It might be a bit hard to believe, but one of the best teams in the WNBA is only in its second year of existence. Normally, expansion teams are terrible, but the Valkyries are showing how it can be done correctly. Hockey seems to have success with expansion teams as well, but the NBA and MLB tend to struggle for whatever reason. I think part of what makes them so successful is the balance the they have. They have both inside and outside presences that can put the ball in the bucket. What is crazy is that the team only has three scorers averaging more than 10 points per game. However, they have eight players averaging six or more per game, meaning it is really tough to match up with them as everyone can (and does) contribute.

The New York Liberty came into this season as the favorites to win the WNBA Championship. They've looked like anything but a championship team. Sure, they still have the star power with Breanna Stewart, Jonquel Jones, and Sabrina Ionescu, but the team is just 10-10 on the road. Some teams tend to struggle on the road, but you have to be able to win there if you want to hoist the trophy at the end of the year. The Liberty have been a bit streaky this year, but they are in the midst of a good streak, winning 10 of their past 13 games. They also are 13-5 at home this year with an average margin of victory of 13.5 points. I'm taking the Liberty tonight. The Valkyries have had the Liberty's number this season, but I like New York's form, home court advantage, and the need to avoid the season sweep. Give me New York -2.5.

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Washington vs. Phoenix

Washington isn't a franchise you think of in the WNBA as one with a ton of success. The Mystics haven't made the postseason since 2023, and their past few seasons have been really difficult. The team got some draft luck and took Sonia Citron last year. She has been very strong since coming into the league. They also drafted Kiki Iriafen last year, and she is turning out to be elite as well. The team has three scorers averaging over 15 points per game, so it is a bit different than the Valkyries, who spread out the scoring.

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The Phoenix Mercury have had a drop-off this season that is a bit unexplainable. Perhaps it was a fluke that the team went to the WNBA Finals last season. Whatever the case is, they have fallen off a cliff this year. They are just 13-25 this year and have been awful at home with a 5-13 record. I'm not entirely sure what happened with the team. Injuries probably explain a little bit of it. However, they still have good players like Kahleah Copper and Alyssa Thomas. DeWanna Bonner was recently released, and Kelsey Plum came over at the trade deadline, but she's had injury issues all season.

In this game, we have one team trying to win, and one team looking to position themselves for the upcoming WNBA Draft. The Mystics and Mercury just played each other two days ago, and Washington won by 10 points. I really don't see this game being much different. Give me Washington to cover the -3.5. There are too many questions and missing pieces for the Mercury.

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12 races scramble Senate battlefield as Democrats eye comeback

Thu, 27 Aug 2026 13:11:54 -0400

With the clock quickly ticking toward Election Day 2026, Democrats are increasingly optimistic about recapturing the Senate majority in this year’s midterms.

"We are going to take back the Senate. Republicans thought they had the Senate locked down, but now Democrats, we are on the path to victory. We've blown the map wide open," longtime Senate Democratic Leader Sen. Chuck Schumer of New York touted last week.

Schumer made his prediction to reporters after The Cook Political Report, a leading nonpartisan election handicapper, shifted crucial Senate races in Texas and Iowa from leaning towards the GOP to toss up.

Republicans — as the party currently in power — were already up against traditional political headwinds that have historically led to a loss of congressional seats during midterm election years. Add to that the challenging climate fueled by persistent inflation, high gas prices tied to what polls show is an unpopular war with Iran and President Donald Trump's underwater approval ratings.

CHECK OUT THE LATEST FOX NEWS POWER RANKINGS IN THE BATTLE FOR THE SENATE

But Democrats have problems of their own as they try to win back control of the Senate in the midterms , including a party brand that public opinion polling indicates is extremely unpopular. And high-profile victories this spring and summer by left-wing and socialist candidates over establishment rivals in Democratic primaries are giving Republicans extra ammunition to portray all Democrats as extremists.

The Democrats' path to the majority starts with holding the open seat in battleground Michigan, where far-left contender Abdul El-Sayed edged out more moderate Rep. Haley Stevens in this month's primary. El-Sayed's victory, and recent polling that suggests he's yet to unify his party's base while former Republican Rep. Mike Rogers cruised to the GOP nomination unopposed, pushed the race from leaning towards the Democrats to toss up in the latest Fox News Power Rankings.

The Power Rankings currently include six states where neither Democrats nor Republicans have an edge: Michigan, along with GOP-controlled seats in Iowa, Texas, Ohio, Maine, and Alaska.

Sen. Tim Scott, the chair of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, told Fox News Digital earlier this year that he was "incredibly optimistic" the GOP can not only hold but expand its current 53–47 majority in the upper chamber.

WHAT THE LATEST FOX NEWS POLLS IN KEY MIDTERM RACES SHOW

Scott still feels optimistic, saying in an interview Sunday on NBC News' "Meet the Press," "I am very confident that we will be in the majority at the end of November this year."

Here's a look at the most competitive Senate seats in play that could potentially flip the balance of power in the chamber, starting with the races in the Fox News Power Rankings that are up for grabs.

The Toss-Up States

1. Michigan

The race in the Great Lakes battleground state, where Democratic Sen. Gary Peters is retiring, is a top flip opportunity for Republicans.

Rogers, who is the GOP Senate nominee for a second straight cycle, came within 20,000 votes of victory two years ago, out of roughly 5.5 million cast.

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As El-Sayed works to unify his party's base after a combustible primary battle with Stevens, Rogers is increasing his efforts to court disaffected Democrats who may not be thrilled with their nominee's far-left positions on key issues.

2. Texas

The national environment is also boosting state Rep. James Talarico, who is hoping to become the first Democrat since 1988 to win a U.S. Senate election in right-leaning Texas.

Talarico, who has hauled roughly $60 million in fundraising so far this year, an eye-popping figure, defeated Rep. Jasmine Crockett in the March primary to secure the Democratic nomination.

He's facing off in the general election against Trump-backed Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton.

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The MAGA firebrand, carrying plenty of political baggage, ousted longtime Republican Sen. John Cornyn of Texas in an expensive and combustible GOP nomination battle that went into overtime.

The Fox News Power Rankings recently shifted the race in Texas from lean Republican to toss up.

3. Maine

Moderate Republican Sen. Susan Collins is running for re-election for a sixth six-year term in blue-leaning Maine.

Collins is the only Republican senator running for re-election this year in a state that then-Vice President Kamala Harris carried in her 2024 presidential election bid against Trump.

But the longtime senator, who has been a top Democrat target for multiple election cycles, has proven tough to beat.

Collins is being challenged by former Maine state Senate President Troy Jackson, the Democratic nominee.

Jackson was overwhelmingly backed for the nomination last month at a state party convention. He replaced oysterman and combat veteran Graham Platner, who won the June Democratic Senate primary but quit the race amid a slew of controversies, including an allegation of rape from a woman he previously dated, which he denied.

The race is rated a toss up in the Fox News Power Rankings.

4. Ohio

Democrats scored a major recruiting victory last year when former Sen. Sherrod Brown announced he would challenge Republican Sen. Jon Husted.

A former lieutenant governor, Husted was appointed to the Senate a year ago after then-Sen. JD Vance stepped down to serve as vice president to Trump.

Ohio, once a premier general election battleground, has turned solidly red over the past decade, and Democrats view Brown as their only competitive candidate in the race to serve the remaining two years of Vance's term.

Brown lost re-election in 2024 by roughly four points while Trump carried Ohio by 11 points.

Ohio is listed as a toss up in the Fox News Power Rankings.

5. Iowa

Republicans are defending an open seat in Iowa, a onetime swing state that's shifted to the right over the past decade.

But the GOP rallied around Rep. Ashley Hinson, who is backed by Trump, in the race to succeed retiring Republican Sen. Joni Ernst.

Hinson, a former local TV news anchor who flipped a Democratic-held seat in 2020, is seen as a rising star in the party.

State Rep. Josh Turek, a Paralympian, won a contested and expensive Democratic primary over more progressive state Sen. Zach Wahls. Turek is boosted by high inflation, soaring costs for farmer, and lagging economic growth, in one of the nation's top agricultural states.

Trump carried the state by double digits in 2024, but the Senate race is rated a toss-up in the Fox News Power Rankings.

6. Alaska

Democrats were given a big boost in the red-leaning state when former Rep. Mary Peltola announced in February that she would challenge GOP incumbent Sen. Dan Sullivan.

Peltola lost re-election in 2024 in the at-large district that covers the entire state by three points, while Trump carried Alaska by 11 points.

Benefiting Peltola, the first Alaska native to represent the state in Congress, is the appearance on the general election ballot of a second Dan Sullivan, a former teacher who announced his campaign in May.

Republicans have criticized the other Sullivan’s candidacy as a likely ploy to confuse voters in a crucial Senate race, which the candidate has denied.

The race in Alaska is rated a toss up in the Fox News Power Rankings.

GOP-held seat Democrats aim to flip

North Carolina

Republicans are defending an open seat in the southeast battleground state, with GOP Sen. Thom Tillis retiring at the end of this year.

The GOP quickly rallied around former Republican National Committee (RNC) Chair Michael Whatley, who has Trump's backing after steering the national party committee in the 2024 election.

Democrats, meanwhile, landed their top recruit when former two-term Gov. Roy Cooper jumped into the race a year ago. Cooper enjoys tons of name recognition in North Carolina and is 6-0 when it comes to running statewide races.

North Carolina voted for Trump in the 2024 election, but the Fox News Power Rankings currently rate the race as lean Democrat.

Democrat-held seats the GOP aims to flip

New Hampshire

Republicans see another flip opportunity in New Hampshire, where a long-held Democratic Senate seat in New England's only swing state is opening thanks to the retirement of Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, who is the first woman in U.S. history to be elected governor and senator.

Four-term Rep. Chris Pappas is expected to capture the Democratic Senate nomination in the state's early September primary.

Meanwhile, former Sen. John E. Sununu, who has Trump's endorsement, is favored to win the GOP primary over former Sen. Scott Brown, who served as Trump's first-term ambassador to New Zealand.

Sununu is the older brother to former Gov. Chris Sununu.

The Fox News Power Rankings currently rate the race as lean Democrat.

Georgia

Republicans view first-term Sen. Jon Ossoff as the most vulnerable Democrat seeking re-election in 2026.

Ossoff, first elected in that 2020 race, built a massive war chest for his re-election in the southeastern battleground while the GOP faced a nasty three-way primary battle for its nomination in the crucial sunbelt battleground state.

In November's midterms, Ossoff will face Republican Rep. Mike Collins, who was backed by Trump days ahead of the state's June GOP primary runoff election.

Georgia narrowly voted for Trump in the 2024 election, but the Fox News Power Rankings currently rate the race as lean Democrat.

Long-shot expansion opportunities

Nebraska

Republican incumbent Sen. Pete Ricketts, a former governor, is seeking a full six-year term in the Senate representing the red-leaning state.

He'll face off in the midterms with former union leader Dan Osborn, an independent candidate backed by Democratic-affiliated groups and donors, who is making his second straight run for the Senate.

Democratic nominee and former pharmacy technician Cindy Burbank dropped out of the race, in a move to boost Osborn.

The race is rated likely Republican in the Fox News Power Rankings.

Kansas

GOP Sen. Roger Marshall is seeking a second term. He's being challenged by Democratic nominee Adam Hamilton, a pastor.

The Fox News Power Rankings recently moved the race from solid to likely Republican.

Minnesota

The retirement of Democratic Sen. Tina Smith is giving the GOP hopes they can flip the seat in the blue-leaning state.

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Former NBC sports reporter turned conservative pundit and activist Michele Tafoya won the GOP nomination. She'll face off with progressive Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan, who defeated more moderate Rep. Angie Craig in the Democratic primary.

The race is rated likely Democrat in the Fox News Power Rankings.

Campus antisemitism is an America First issue. Alumni must stay in the fight.

Thu, 27 Aug 2026 13:08:34 -0400

Earlier this month, a federal judge dismissed the Trump administration’s lawsuit against Harvard on the grounds that the antisemitism alleged by the Justice Department was "too isolated and episodic" to show that Harvard had violated federal law.

While this was a setback in the valiant effort by the federal government to address campus antisemitism, federal efforts alone will not result in meaningful change.

The root of the problem is a rotten academic culture that begins in the classroom and is protected and fueled by administrators. Whoever owns the classroom owns the culture, and that culture is primarily responsible for the threat to Jewish safety today.

JUDGE’S HARVARD ANTISEMITISM RULING SENDS TRUMP JUSTICE DEPARTMENT BACK TO DRAWING BOARD

Recently, 170 Harvard faculty members — Jews and non-Jews alike — published an open letter highlighting antisemitic incidents that have taken place at the institution. These incidents included an Israeli undergraduate student at Harvard being "told to leave a classroom by an instructor because her being Israeli made other students uncomfortable."

Other Jewish students experienced demands to "renounce Zionism" and faced ostracism when they refused. Such incidents are allowed to happen by administrators who foster a culture of impunity.

DAVID MARCUS: TRANSPORTATION SECRETARY DUFFY IS RIGHT; HARVARD JUST AIN’T WHAT IT USED TO BE

Antisemitism on campus is an America First issue because it is an outgrowth of the crisis in our education system.

Malign actors like Qatar have embedded themselves in American academia through lavish spending that university administrators happily accept. Qatar’s foreign influence operations directed at American universities raise concerns about national security, institutional integrity, and equal protection under law.

During the height of the "tentifada," the encampments and associated violations of student codes of conduct and criminal law were justified by many as displays of "free expression."

Signs and screams wishing away the existence of Israel and the presence of Jewish students violated the rights of Jewish students to free expression and religious liberty around the country.

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

When I was a student at George Washington University, I found inversions of justice and perversions of language. A friend of mine standing peacefully across the street holding an Israeli flag was told to leave while the tents stayed up for weeks.

Later, a group known as Faculty and Staff for Justice in Palestine teamed up to defend the protesters as "peaceful."

JEWISH UCLA STUDENTS BEATEN WITH STICKS, PEPPER SPRAYED AND KNOCKED OUT BY ANTI-ISRAEL CAMPUS MOB: LAWSUIT

Professors who mobilize students to harass, humiliate, and ostracize their classmates are not exercising 1st Amendment rights; they are violating their academic integrity codes and using academic freedom as a cover.

The public is generally not privy to the most insidious element of campus antisemitism: the syllabi. Course descriptions at Princeton and Stanford characterized the Israel-Hamas war as a Palestinian genocide.

In 2025, the University of California Berkeley offered an English comparative literature course that initially referred to the Israeli military in the Palestinian territory as the "Israeli Occupying Force" and Hamas militants as "revolutionary resistance forces" standing up against colonialism and imperialism.

The academic lexicon is rife with these descriptions, weaving a tapestry of lies that few dare to tear.

NON-JEWISH PROFESSOR SAYS HE WAS FIRED FOR CALLING OUT HAMAS SUPPORTERS IN ONLINE POST

A university is supposed to defend intellectual honesty and open minds. Instead, we find minds closing and a crisis of accountability that will continue unless administrators hold faculty to their codes, or are themselves held to account.

In May 2025, I sued GW over pervasive antisemitism. The complaint details the "pipeline of hate" that begins with academic culture and spills outward. That August, the DOJ's own investigation found GW had been "deliberately indifferent" to the hostile environment facing its Jewish and Israeli students.

Federal investigations and settlements provide some solace, yet they offer little remedy for what Jewish students are enduring now. Investigations take months, meaningful enforcement can take years, and a college career lasts only four. That’s why I refuse to treat commencement as the end of my role in this fight. Alumni should adopt the same mindset.

I was reminded of this at the Israel on Campus Coalition's National Leadership Summit. In my remarks to students, faculty, and community leaders, I stressed that addressing antisemitism is an America First issue, and doing so requires reinfusing academic freedom with academic integrity.

That is how we can inspire a new generation: a rededication to the American constitutional tradition, and a genuinely liberal education.

My conversations at ICC’s Summit also underscored the importance of alumni involvement: our guidance stems from rigorous trial and error in coalition building and university engagement. Graduates are obligated to pass the baton, mentor current students, build bonds with professors, and amplify their voices so the change we yearn for is realized.

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The federal government has a real role to play, but it must do so thoughtfully and with the systemic nature of the issue in mind.

Federal law enforcement efforts must target classroom culture and administrative impunity that let antisemitism take root. Otherwise, the fight against antisemitism will be nothing more than an effort at pruning branches while the roots remain intact.

This work is my responsibility and that of all alumni who have faced down campus antisemitism.

Survivor's Christian Hubicki marvels at China's robotics games records: 'Willing to break the robots to do it'

Thu, 27 Aug 2026 13:04:03 -0400

The World Humanoid Robot Games made headlines this week, putting robotics experts in awe and leaving social media scrollers laughing at the robots’ histrionics, viral stumbles, and dramatic crashes and burns.

In its second year, it is making an annual event out of stress-testing the limits of technological advancement, while allaying fears to the public that SkyNet is not on the verge of taking over the world.

"The goal of this event really was to show how fast we can get robots to go," Christian Hubicki, Florida State University mechanical-engineering professor and robotics lab director, told Fox News Digital on the final day of the five-day event. "What happens to them afterwards? Well, as we can see, it's a bit dramatic.

"They didn't care so much how they stopped. In fact, they had this big wall that they just smashed into."

LET'S LOOK BACK ON THE BEST MOMENTS (READ: CRASHES) FROM THE WORLD HUMANOID ROBOT GAMES

The robots might be running faster than Usain Bolt before they know how to stop, but the tech is still at the stage of standing up from a crawl, according to Hubicki, who is also known for being a past contestant on the CBS reality TV show "Survivor."

"They wanted to break the record, and they're willing to break the robots to do it," Hubicki said. "You can see robots are sparking, limbs are flying off. It's incredibly kinetic. It's like these things are almost like missiles flying at this wall. All to break the record."

The record broken was Bolt's 9.58 seconds in the 100-meter dash, but in a show of just how fast the robots can go and technology can advance, Saturday's 9.39 mark only lasted a few days.

A Chinese humanoid robot – Tiangong Ultra, developed by the Beijing Humanoid Robot Innovation Centre – on the event's final day won the large-size robot 100-meter final at 8.64 seconds, almost a second faster than Bolt's human world-record time.

CHINESE MARATHON ROBOT FALLS, BREAK DANCES ITSELF TO PIECES

"This is a major milestone that people who work in specifically legged robotics, like I do, have wanted to see for a long time – just to prove that we could do this," Hubicki said. "So this is big deal. I watched this. This is incredible, how fast they get these robots to go.

"At the same time, we're not terribly surprised. We've known for a while that motors and gears and joints of robots could outperform people. We've known this. There have been papers specifically published that are titled, 'Why Robots Don't Outrun People Yet.' And the answer was we've just got to make them just a little bit smarter."

Artificial intelligence is helping, but the games also show how far the technology remains from reliable, practical use.

CHINESE HUMANOID ROBOT BREAKS USAIN BOLT'S 100M DASH RECORD AT 9.39 SECONDS

"There's still a lot of human intelligence built into how these things are moving around," Hubicki said. "They're being told exactly what to do, go forward, rotate around the course, right? The higher level intelligence, we would say, is still very limited. And you can see this in the other events as well.

"You can see when they're playing robot tennis – and by the way, I'm very impressed with what they've been able to accomplish – they had to have these sort of external cameras pointing out exactly where the ball is so they know where to hit the ball. And that's OK, it's work in progress," he said.

"There's still a lot of limited intelligence on the robots, but of course they are getting better."

As in human athletics, the 100 meters was one of the highlights of the Beijing games, underscoring advances in robot mobility, balance and control systems.

NEW AI BRAIN LETS ROBOTS MOVE LIKE HUMANS

"The organizers of this event did a great job of highlighting specifically the types of tasks that Chinese robotics companies are great at doing, which are the athletic events," Hubicki said. "They focus a lot on robots that do these fantastic athletic stunts."

"And you might be wondering, couldn't robots already go faster than people? Well, yes, wheeled robots absolutely could," he explained. "We have had RC cars that outpace people for a very long time. But the challenge with humanoids has been coordinating all the motors, all the joints.

"We are so good at this as people, but thanks to the AI boom of the last handful of years, we figured out smarter and smarter ways to make robots coordinate their motion so they don't fall down while moving faster and faster, and squeeze out every last bit of performance that you can out of the motors – and that's why we're starting to see faster and faster robots."

The event, dubbed the "Robot Olympics," brought together more than 2,000 robots from 666 teams, most of them Chinese. Its 51 disciplines included sports contests as well as task-based challenges in simulated factories, restaurants, offices and emergency settings.

ROBOT SOCCER PLAYER DENTS WALL WITH TERRIFYING KICKS

"They are getting smarter," he said. "The challenge is to get them smarter in a way that is really practical for us. I mean, it's fun for me to watch a robot going Usain Bolt speeds down a runway, but it doesn't really help us too much. The real challenge is how can we get them to be reliable and practical to help us."

Step one was to make them run as fast as they can – and look good doing it – before they knew how to stop.

"Last year's robots looked a little stiff and uncoordinated," Niu, 34, told Reuters. "This year, they are much better. They are like healthy newborn babies growing up."

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Eventually, the tech will require getting them to think for themselves about how to stop.

"The thing that's important to say about the smarts is it's a very specific kind of smarts – they're only figuring out how to coordinate their motion to the point where these robots, when they're running around, they don't even remember what happened a second ago," Hubicki said. "All they're looking at is like, 'Right now, what do I need to do to keep moving forward?'"

"And so I think it's important for people to realize that when we see something that kind of moves like a duck, quacks like a duck, like a person here, it's not actually thinking like a duck in this particular case – it's very purpose-built, specific intelligence to keep this thing running and boy does it go fast. It's incredible."

The kinetic robots will eventually have AI processing added in.

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"The AI of these robots is so much simpler than what you would experience interacting with like a chatbot or Chat GPT," according to Hubicki. "It frankly doesn't need to. It would take too long on the computer to think as hard as those things. They just have to go quick, quick, quick, quick. So it's very simple. It's just saying, 'Hey, what's my pose? How fast am I moving? Where do I put my leg?' That's it."

The intelligence tech still is artificial and just not "reliable" yet, Hubicki warned, as anyone who has seen the "nonsense" AI can sometimes produce.

"You'll use some of these tools and it'll come up with something like, 'Wow, that's actually pretty brilliant,' and sometimes you're like, ‘Wait a second, that is nonsense,’ and it's only as good as you can verify," he said.

"That's why it's not a particularly good fit right now to put on a robot – not because it's going to be coming up with some kind diabolical scheme but it just doesn't understand reality in the same way that we do."

HUMANOID ROBOT SKIN SENSES PEOPLE BEFORE CONTACT

Hubicki pointed to a viral social media video of a humanoid robot that looked like it went rogue.

"We do see what happens when you put these robots in the real world," he said. "There was one of these humanoids, it just went and just kicked a kid in the stomach, and it didn't know the kid was there.

"It wasn't even using the cameras. It's just interacting in a complicated world it doesn't even understand. So that's where a lot of the work has to go in order to actually have robots be able to interact with us in a way that is useful and helpful. Otherwise, you know, it's just a bull in a china shop."

Recently, there was a New York Times report of Russia using AI-guided drones that killed three civilians in Ukraine, leading a Ukrainian military leader to warn that "we will be living in a 'Terminator' movie" before long.

HUMANOID ROBOT VIDEOS SHOW MACHINES LASHING OUT

"Certainly there's a lot of people, certainly governments are looking for all kinds of applications of AI and robotics, and that includes the battlefield," Hubicki said. "The war in Ukraine right now, it's a drone war. And I mean people talk about humanoid robots right now on the battlefield, there are unmanned aerial vehicles, little quadcopter drones that are just everywhere. And it's a brave new world.

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"As much as these humanoids get a lot of headlines because they kind of hit us in a part of our brain where like, wow, that's a thing we can do, the robots can do that, there's a lot more practical and scary ways that robots are being used right here and right now."

Reuters contributed to this report.

LA Sparks star directs explicit rant at Enes Kanter Freedom over trans debate: 'Stupid piece of s---'

Thu, 27 Aug 2026 13:03:32 -0400

Los Angeles Sparks forward Cameron Brink sharply criticized Enes Kanter Freedom, using explicit language and calling the former NBA center "a stupid piece of s—" for challenging the WNBA’s draft eligibility rules.

The 2024 No. 2 overall pick dismissed the national debate over transgender athletes in women’s sports as a manufactured non-issue before directing her comments personally at Freedom.

Speaking with Mirror U.S. Sports, Brink framed the debate as an attack on the transgender community rather than a dispute over competitive fairness.

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

"For me personally, I think when it comes to the trans issues that I believe you're talking about, I think it's a non-issue and I think it's people trying to just come for the trans community and I just don't stand for that," Brink said.

She then addressed Freedom directly.

"I don't even know what the fu*k his name is — Enes Kanter — he's a stupid piece of s—," Brink said. "And I think a lot of people think that, and he's just trying to stay relevant."

Brink accused Freedom of using the trans community to generate publicity.

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"I think people are tuned in for the right reasons," Brink said. "It's great that we can all talk about sports, but taking something that's a non-issue right now and trying to use it for clickbait, views, and likes by targeting a vulnerable community is just really low."

By declaring for the 2027 draft, Freedom checkmated league brass using Article XIII of their own CBA. The rules restrict play to women, yet fail to define "woman" biologically or enforce a standard of sex verification. It's a glaring loophole that leaves female athletes exposed and leadership completely cornered

The WNBA’s eligibility fight has put Freedom and Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham squarely in the crosshairs.

Cunningham has been booed on the road, confronted by protesters, and hammered online for supporting female-only categories.

Freedom, meanwhile, has drawn fire from players, commentators, and fans, who have branded his campaign "pathetic," disruptive, and a publicity stunt.

SOPHIE CUNNINGHAM SENDS MESSAGE TO HER HATERS AFTER SAYING MEN DON'T BELONG IN WOMEN'S SPORTS

In Seattle, Storm co-owner Celeste Keaton went after teenage Sophie Cunningham supporters over their pro-women’s-sports shirts, drawing a five-game suspension and $25,000 fine for the profanity-laced confrontation.

The tension with Enes Kanter spilled into an August game between the Chicago Sky and Indiana Fever at Wintrust Arena. Freedom sat courtside wearing a shirt reading, "WOMAN noun. adult human female." Late in the third quarter, Sky guard Natasha Cloud confronted Freedom from the court. When Freedom stepped toward the boundary with open arms, security escorted him out.

Sky owner Michael Alter subsequently issued Freedom an indefinite arena ban, labeling him a disruption and accusing him of seeking attention. Freedom maintains his campaign targets league policy, not individual players.

He said as much in an interview with OutKick.

"I am not anti-trans, I'm not anti-LGBTQ, I’m just pro-woman," Freedom said. "In this country we have First Amendment, freedom of speech, right? And I simply went to the game with my shirt on."

The eligibility debate continues to fall on players and coaches while the league office remains silent. On Tuesday, Phoenix Mercury head coach Nate Tibbetts declined to weigh in on the matter.

"Yeah, I’m going to leave that to the league office," Tibbetts said. "That’s their job."

While players like Brink view the debate as an unnecessary distraction and coaches defer to leadership, Freedom’s draft campaign keeps attention focused on the ambiguity in the WNBA rulebook.

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China-linked hackers infiltrated US government networks before FBI takedown

Thu, 27 Aug 2026 13:00:32 -0400

Chinese state-linked hackers stole sensitive data from more than 300 organizations, including U.S. defense contractors, financial institutions and universities, and breached three Energy Department laboratories, the NIH and an HHS agency before the FBI knocked their hacking platforms offline this week, newly unsealed court records show.

The group, known as QTFY, operated through a China-based company that the FBI says sold hacking services to clients including China’s Ministry of State Security and People’s Liberation Army. Former PLA members worked for the company and used military relationships to secure contracts and subcontracts for offensive cyber operations, according to an FBI affidavit.

QTFY paired mass internet scanning with a network of compromised routers, cameras and other internet-connected devices that helped disguise the origin of its attacks.

FBI SAYS RUSSIAN HACKERS HIJACKED OLD WI-FI ROUTERS

By routing malicious traffic through devices near a victim’s network, the hackers could make attacks blend in with legitimate local traffic and become harder to trace, federal officials said.

The Justice Department and FBI seized three domains Wednesday that powered QTFY’s two main platforms: QScan, which hunted for vulnerable systems, and QTRouter, which masked hackers’ identities by routing their traffic through compromised devices.

Federal authorities said the seizures crippled both platforms by cutting off domains used for core communications and authentication.

The scale was massive.

AI IS NOW POWERING CYBERATTACKS, MICROSOFT WARNS

On a single day in 2024, QScan processed more than 2 million scanning and penetration-testing tasks, according to the FBI affidavit. The platform contained more than 200 proof-of-concept exploits and searched the internet for vulnerable software, exposed services and other openings hackers could exploit.

"QTFY is another example of how China’s cyber ecosystem has blurred the line between commercial cybersecurity and state-sponsored operations," Aaron Shraberg, senior intelligence team lead at Flashpoint, told Fox News Digital. "The commercialization of that ecosystem has helped turn capabilities that once relied on bespoke tradecraft into tools and services that can be developed, reused and deployed at scale."

Federal authorities said QTFY targeted NASA, the Justice Department, the Federal Reserve and Senate systems, along with power companies, hospitals, telecommunications providers, defense contractors and election infrastructure.

Fox News Digital has reached out to the Chinese embassy for comment.

But not every attack worked.

In 2019, QTFY tried to break into NASA using a vulnerability in the agency’s virtual private network. The attempt failed because NASA had already patched the flaw, according to the affidavit.

A separate FBI, NSA and Cyber National Mission Force advisory said the group scanned Senate and hospital-system networks in March and a U.S. election system in June but failed to gain access.

Other attacks succeeded.

In May 2024, QTFY exploited a recently disclosed Check Point vulnerability while scanning U.S. power and telecommunications companies and stole data from more than 300 organizations in the United States and abroad, according to the advisory.

The government did not name the affected organizations or describe what information was taken. The advisory said victims included U.S. defense contractors, financial institutions and universities.

Four months later, hackers exploited zero-day flaws in Ivanti Cloud Services Appliance software to gain access to three Department of Energy national laboratories, the National Institutes of Health, the Health Resources and Services Administration and a U.S. security-device manufacturer, the advisory said.

FBI BRINGS ALLEGED CHINA-LINKED HACKER TO US IN RARE EXTRADITION AS PATEL DEFENDS ITALY TRIP

The advisory did not disclose what information was accessed, how long the hackers remained inside the networks or whether the breaches disrupted operations.

"State-sponsored malicious hackers preying on America’s critical infrastructure will be stopped and prosecuted," Attorney General Todd Blanche said in a statement announcing the seizures.

The takedown adds to a string of FBI operations aimed at dismantling infrastructure used by Chinese government-linked hacking groups.

In 2023, the FBI disrupted a botnet used by Volt Typhoon, a China-linked group accused of concealing its access to U.S. and foreign critical infrastructure.

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The following year, the bureau disabled a botnet made up of hundreds of thousands of infected internet-connected devices that federal officials said Flax Typhoon supplied to Chinese government customers.

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Last year, the FBI said it removed PlugX surveillance malware from more than 4,000 U.S. computers infected by Mustang Panda, another China-linked hacking group.

YouTube golfer Grant Horvat is selling kids golf clubs with an alarmingly high price tag

Thu, 27 Aug 2026 12:57:33 -0400

Well, it's official: August 2026 will be remembered as the month that drama in the YouTube golf space hit its peak.

Good Good golf, the popular apparel brand and YouTube channel with more than 2 million followers, has taken an immense amount of criticism over its recent ad promoting a collaboration on a driver with Callaway in which Good Good co-founder Garrett Clark shoves a female member of the brand to the ground.

While Good Good continues to take serious heat and faces legitimate uncertainties, fellow YouTube golf star Grant Horvat has managed to steer some of the negative attention towards himself with the announcement of his new kid's golf club set.

Horvat, a former member of Good Good himself, has built a YouTube powerhouse with 1.8 million subscribers. His content and image are about as clean as they come, and the vast majority of creators and fans in the space would label him the poster child of YouTube Golf.

Horvat stepping into the kids' golf equipment space and genuinely looking to grow the game, which I believe he is, is a great thing. Anyone who disagrees is simply wrong, but how Horvat is trying to do those things, that's where there is a serious disconnect.

CALLAWAY ADMITS IT APPROVED CONTROVERSIAL GOOD GOOD WOMAN-SHOVING AD IN LATE-NIGHT STATEMENT

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On Wednesday, Horvat announced the launch of his Lil' Legends Starter Set in conjunction with Performance Golf.

The set is designed for kids aged 3–6 and comes with a toddler-height driver, iron, and putter. The driver comes with a training grip, and the set also includes a "See & Stand mat" that rolls into a bag to carry the clubs, a set of foam golf balls and tees, plus a link to a video that shows five games to play.

Admittedly, that's a solid bundle. The price tag of $199, however, is diabolical and distasteful.

Based on the photos of the clubs included in the set, they appear to be made of plastic, although the incredibly in-depth landing page where one can purchase the clubs never specifies what exactly the clubs are made of. The heads of the clubs certainly don't appear to be made of metal, which many kids' sets are.

You can't fault Horvat for creating a product for young kids looking to get into the game of golf, but doing so in the form of selling a $200 set as a guy worth millions doesn't exactly come across as 'giving back to the game.'

In the 'Your Questions Answered' section of the description, one of the questions is "Why $199 when plastic sets are $25?" The answer provided doesn't address the materials, but instead notes that "because plastic sets are toys that break and teach nothing."

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In the answer to the question of "How is this different from plastic toy clubs?" the answer is still vague.

"Plastic clubs are toys — built to look like clubs, not work like them," the website reads. "Real contact, real balls, and real swings break them. The Lil' Legends clubs are real equipment sized for a toddler — built to hold up to a real swing and engineered with a teaching system inside. Plastic breaks. These don't."

When reached for comment about what material the Lil' Legends Starter Set clubs are made of, Performance Golf explained that the "clubs are real golf equipment, not plastic toy clubs or cut down adult clubs" and that "the clubs are built for real swing durability and use toddler-safe materials."

The clubs made out of an unknown material may not break, but your bank account will take on a bit of damage relative to competitors and their price points in the kids' golf equipment space.

AOC’s socialist credentials face fresh scrutiny after glaring 7-year gap surfaces: ‘Very convenient’

Thu, 27 Aug 2026 12:36:51 -0400

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez renewed her membership with the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) following a seven-year lapse as the organization’s national profile grows.

The New York congresswoman, widely viewed as a potential 2028 presidential contender, rejoined DSA this month as the group builds momentum from a string of Democratic primary victories, including over several incumbents. Although Ocasio-Cortez's formal membership had lapsed for seven years, she remained closely aligned with DSA, which continued to praise her and refer to her as a member.

"Democratic Socialists of America confirms Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is a member in good standing of our organization, having recently rejoined in August 2026," DSA wrote in a statement shared with City & State New York, a local news outlet. "Previously, the representative joined DSA in 2018 with a one-year membership, which DSA’s national leadership recently noticed had lapsed, in 2019. She has since renewed her membership as of this month."

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DSA discovered the lapse after Ocasio-Cortez recently described herself as a member of its New York City chapter but not the national organization, prompting DSA leaders to review her membership status, City & State reported.

When Ocasio-Cortez first joined DSA, annual memberships had to be manually renewed each year. The organization has since moved to automatic renewals.

ALEXANDRIA OCASIO-CORTEZ SHRUGS OFF PAST 'DEFUND THE POLICE' COMMENTS, JOKING 'WOKE 1 WAS CRAZY'

"This is LOL in a gently humorous way rather than LOL in a mean way," Washington Post columnist Megan McArdle posted on X in response to the news. "Could definitely have happened to me."

Some, however, don’t think that Ocasio-Cortez’s renewal is purely incidental.

"I’m sorry but I’m not buying this," one socialist X user wrote. "She’s just now realizing this? Coincidentally when DSA has grown in popularity and shown its organizing power? Just so happens to be the same time she’s contemplating running for president too? Very, very, very convenient."

AOC’S PRIMARY WIN REIGNITES SPECULATION OVER 2028 WHITE HOUSE BID, SCHUMER CHALLENGE

Others used the congresswoman’s renewed membership as an opportunity to poke fun at her.

"In the 50s, a running joke in communist circles was that everyone knew who the FBI agents were: they were the only ones who always paid their membership dues on time," author Byrne Hobart posted.

"Inexcusable for a DSA member to pay rent," economist Wojtek Kopczuk said.

Despite Ocasio-Cortez’s longstanding ties to DSA, The Washington Post reported earlier this month that the organization was divided over whether and how to make a 2028 presidential endorsement, with Ocasio-Cortez at the center of the debate.

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Ocasio-Cortez’s office did not respond to a request for comment when reached by Fox News Digital on Wednesday.

Man dies after vehicle gets stranded in Death Valley, attempts trek across blistering salt flats

Thu, 27 Aug 2026 12:35:32 -0400

A French tourist died this month after becoming stranded in California's Death Valley National Park amid sweltering temperatures.

The National Park Service (NPS) announced the death of Pierre Michel Formosa, 68, on Aug. 21.

Park officials said Formosa and his travel companion, also a French national, were driving on West Side Road along the Badwater Basin on Aug. 17 when their vehicle "became stuck in mud."

NURSE IMPALED BY POLE DURING HIKE FORCED TO TREK 10 MILES FOR HELP: 'A FREAK THING'

"With no other vehicles in the area, the men began walking across the salt flats toward Badwater Road to seek assistance," park officials said.

Temperatures were as high as 116°F — and eventually Formosa was "unable to continue."

Formosa's companion continued on and eventually was helped by a passing motorist — who alerted officials at the Furnace Creek Visitor Center at around 2 p.m.

NPS rangers soon began searching for Formosa, along with an Inyo County sheriff’s deputy.

YELLOWSTONE OFFICIALS DECIDE FATE OF BISON THAT LAUNCHED GRANDFATHER 8 FEET IN AIR

A California Highway Patrol helicopter later joined the search and found Formosa later that afternoon, about 1.5 miles from Badwater Road.

"He was pronounced dead at the scene," NPS officials said.

"The Inyo County coroner will determine the cause and manner of death."

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In a statement, Death Valley National Park Superintendent Mike Reynolds said he was "grateful to everyone who took part in the search, and our thoughts are with his loved ones."

"This is a heartbreaking reminder of how quickly conditions here can turn dangerous," said Reynolds.

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"Death Valley is an extraordinary place, but its heat, distances and remoteness can be dangerous, regardless of experience."

Fox News Digital reached out to Death Valley National Park and the Inyo County Sheriff's Office for additional information.

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The incident comes after several other deaths at national parks this summer.

Earlier this summer, an 18-year-old hiker died after experiencing heat-related symptoms while hiking the Grand Canyon's popular Bright Angel Trail, according to the NPS.

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In August, accomplished rock climber Jake Whisenant, 30, died after a fall at California's Sequoia National Park, suffering blunt-force trauma injuries.

Brewers starter gets drilled with 106 mph line drive in terrifying moment, leaves game after one pitch

Thu, 27 Aug 2026 12:30:33 -0400

For Milwaukee Brewers starting pitcher Dustin May, outing could not have gotten off to a worse start Wednesday night, as it lasted just one pitch.

In the bottom of the first inning of the Brewers’ 8-1 win over the New York Mets at Citi Field, May was smoked by a 106 mph line drive. The 28-year-old threw a 96 mph fastball to Mets center fielder A.J. Ewing, and the ball came straight back at him, only harder.

The ball was hit so hard that when it ricocheted off May, who did his best to turn away from the blazing liner, it went straight to third baseman David Hamilton, who then fired to first base to retire Ewing.

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However, the out came at a great cost to May. The right-hander was in clear discomfort, as he bent over and grabbed the area where he was hit as the trainers ran out to check on him. He tried to compose himself with deep breaths and eventually threw a few warm-up pitches after talking with the training staff and manager Pat Murphy, but May didn’t feel quite right.

"When I threw it, it felt fine," May said. "But sitting there for a couple seconds after — threw the next one and it didn’t feel right. They were more on the cautious side of, better to be safe now and protect you for later."

He was removed from the game with a bruised right scapula but hopes to make his next start.

"I think it all just depends on how I feel (Thursday)," May said. "Right now, with motions and movements and stuff, feel better now that I know nothing is structurally wrong."

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With May out of the game after just one out, Murphy was forced to turn to the bullpen for the remaining 26 outs. He joked that it was all part of the plan.

"We planned just using May as an opener," Murphy said with a grin. "Parts of six (innings for Gasser) — great, really great. Made big pitches at big times."

Robert Gasser replaced May and stepped up in a big way, throwing 5 1/3 innings of one-run ball. Grant Anderson and Bryse Wilson followed him out of the bullpen, and those two yielded just three hits over 3 1/3 shutout innings.

For Gasser, it was the first relief appearance of his major league career.

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"Definitely something I haven’t had to experience before," Gasser said. "I didn’t even sit down out there."

The Brewers acquired May from the St. Louis Cardinals at the trade deadline, and he is expected to play a big role for them down the stretch. In 25 starts this season, May has a 6-8 record with a 4.56 ERA in 124 1/3 innings.

The Brewers (82-51) will look to take the rubber match of their three-game series against the Mets (60-73) on Thursday at 7:10 p.m. ET.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Former MLB and NFL stars Mark Teixeira and Jay Feely credit Sean Hannity for congressional runs

Thu, 27 Aug 2026 12:19:53 -0400

Two former professional athletes trading the playing field for the political arena have credited Sean Hannity for their decision to make the move.

"It's your fault," former NFL kicker Jay Feely told the Fox News host on his "Hang Out with Sean Hannity" podcast.

"We were talking earlier and both of us started thinking about running for office because of your show. I started going on your show doing the Great American Panel in New York and that's really when I really started thinking about it," he added.

ROGER GOODELL AMONG NOTABLE SPORTS FIGURES DONATING TO EX-NFL KICKER JAY FEELY’S TRUMP-ENDORSED HOUSE BID

Feely, who is now running for Congress as a Republican in Arizona's first congressional district, then pointed to former MLB great Mark Teixeira, who sat to his right.

"He said he would go to your show and watch it and see it and meet people and that's when we both started," he continued.

"And then we'd have a great steak," Teixeira chimed in, laughing.

The New York Yankees legend is also making his bid for Congress, running to serve Texas' 21st congressional district as a Republican.

EX-NFL STAR BACKED BY TRUMP WINS BATTLEGROUND STATE PRIMARY: 'TRUE AMERICA FIRST CONSERVATIVE'

The duo became the latest guests on the fan-favorite podcast, starring the primetime Fox News host as he sits down for deep-dive discussions with athletes, politicians, former mobsters, biohackers, fitness gurus and more to discuss the most pressing political and cultural issues of today.

This time, Hannity dug into the unlikely journeys that took Feely and Teixeira from professional sports to congressional campaigns, exploring their careers and what ultimately convinced each of them to seek public office.

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Feely spent more than a decade in the NFL, including stints with both the New York Giants and New York Jets, while Teixeira's 14-year MLB career included a 2009 World Series championship with the New York Yankees.

Now, both are looking to take the competitive instincts that fueled their athletic careers to Washington.

Hannity fans can watch the full episode featuring both sports legends on iHeartRadio, YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.

Virginia Cavaliers release week zero injury report featuring a shocking number of hurt players

Thu, 27 Aug 2026 11:46:53 -0400

College football is finally here, so take a deep breath and give yourself a pat on the back; we made it!

This Saturday marks the beginning of the season with week 0, featuring a sneaky good slate of games that is sure to whet the appetite of college football fanatics across the country.

One of those games is the match-up between the Virginia Cavaliers and NC State Wolfpack, two ACC programs looking to get an early leg up on their intra conference competition.

NC STATE AND VIRGINIA MOVING GAME BACK TO CHARLOTTESVILLE IS A HUGE WIN FOR COLLEGE FOOTBALL

It's rare to see a game between two teams from the same conference this early in the season, and the added weight of Virginia and NC State jockeying for position in the ACC will make this one a "must-watch."

With this being a conference game and all, both teams released their respective injury reports per ACC rules, and just glancing at the graphic is enough to make any Cavaliers fan wince.

With that many names in the "out" or "questionable" categories, I think it would have been more prudent at this point to highlight who is actually playing for Virginia.

What exactly did the Cavaliers do all offseason, run Fight Club on the practice field every day?

It's week zero, you haven't even played anybody other than yourselves. Virginia has an injury report that makes me think they had their players running Oklahoma drills armed with baseball bats and no pads on.

Fans had some hilarious theories about why the Cavaliers are so injured, from a plague running rampant throughout campus to the "substation conspiracy theory."

Their side of the injury report is so loaded that it even distracts from the fact that NC State still has over half a dozen players out as well.

They might as well rename this game the Triage Bowl.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL’S AP TOP 25 IS OUT: WHO’S OVERRATED, UNDERRATED AND FLAT-OUT SNUBBED?

I hope the training staff gets a fat holiday bonus this year, because they are going to have their work cut out for them in Charlottesville if this injury report is any indicator of how the season is going to play out.

Anyway, it's just nice to see that college football is back in our lives.

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Well, unless you're a UVA fan, in which case you might want to contact a witch doctor about how you can reverse some of these ailments.

Humanoid robot outruns Usain Bolt record as China races ahead

Thu, 27 Aug 2026 11:28:49 -0400

If your mental image of a humanoid robot still involves stiff knees and awkward demos, you may want to update it. A Chinese humanoid robot has now covered 100 meters faster than Usain Bolt's 9.58-second human world record. At the opening of Beijing's World Humanoid Robot Games, an X-Humanoid robot completed the 100-meter sprint in 9.39 seconds. Then the number dropped again.

X-Humanoid announced on Aug. 25 that TianGong Ultra ultimately posted a 9.32-second time during the competition. The company says its robots reset the mark several times during roughly two hours of racing. Before anybody starts rewriting the Olympic record books, keep some perspective. Bolt still holds the official men's 100-meter world record recognized by World Athletics. These robots compete under their own rules in a separate event.

CHINESE ROBOT BREAKS HUMAN WORLD RECORD IN BEIJING HALF-MARATHON

Still, look at how quickly this technology is moving. For me, the bigger story goes far beyond a robot beating Bolt's time. We are watching humanoid machines go from clumsy demonstrations to increasingly capable physical systems at remarkable speed.

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Humanoid robots are suddenly getting very fast

The second World Humanoid Robot Games opened Aug. 22 at Beijing's National Speed Skating Oval, known as the Ice Ribbon, and ran through Aug. 26. Organizers registered 666 teams and 2,056 robots for this year's event. The competition included 51 events and 1,301 competition sessions.

The robots compete in track and field events along with challenges designed around real-world jobs. Organizers have also added tests involving physical skills such as weightlifting and tug of war.

That mix tells you something about what China wants these machines to become. The Games give developers a place to push speed and strength. They also expose weaknesses that can be harder to see in a carefully edited demonstration video.

TianGong Ultra ran 100 meters in 9.39 seconds, then 9.32

The first number that grabbed worldwide attention was 9.39 seconds. That was already quicker than Bolt's 9.58-second human record from 2009. The comparison spread fast because almost everyone understands what a 100-meter sprint represents. Then X-Humanoid released its updated results.

The company says TianGong Ultra eventually reached 9.32 seconds, while other X-Humanoid teams recorded times of 9.34, 9.38 and 9.39 seconds. The exact comparison with Bolt needs context. These robots do not start, run or stop under the same conditions as human Olympic athletes.

However, that does not make the improvement meaningless. A humanoid staying upright at that speed requires serious coordination between its motors, balance system, sensors and software. All of those pieces have to work together while the machine continuously adjusts its body. That is what catches my attention.

Last year's winner took more than twice as long

The rate of improvement becomes even clearer when you look back only one year. At the inaugural World Humanoid Robot Games in 2025, the winning 100-meter robot finished in 21.50 seconds.

Now robots from the same development ecosystem are running the distance in less than 10 seconds. That is an enormous leap in a short period. We have already been following this acceleration at CyberGuy. Earlier this year, we showed you a Chinese humanoid called Bolt that reached 22 mph during testing. Running fast looks impressive on video. Yet the technology underneath that speed could become useful in places far removed from a racetrack.

A robot also jumped about 9 feet 5 inches

Running was only part of the show. An X-Humanoid robot reached 2.88 meters, or about 9 feet 5 inches, in a standing high jump. That height exceeds the recognized men's high jump world record of 2.45 meters, or about 8 feet, set by Cuba's Javier Sotomayor in 1993. Again, we need context.

Sotomayor's world record came from a conventional high jump with a running approach. The robot competed in a standing high jump. Those events use very different mechanics. So the robot did not erase Sotomayor from the record books. What it did demonstrate was impressive explosive power and body control from a humanoid machine. Those capabilities could eventually translate into something far more useful than clearing a bar.

ROBOT LEARNS TO DISMANTLE BROKEN MACHINES

Once robots can move like this, you start asking where they can go

A fast humanoid robot does not need to become a track star to become valuable. Better mobility could help a robot move through a disaster area where sending a person could be dangerous. A machine that stays balanced while carrying equipment could eventually handle physically demanding jobs. Then you start thinking about environments where people would rather avoid going altogether.

That brings us to the part of this story that deserves much more attention. One developer at the Games believes humanoid robot soldiers could arrive within the next decade.

One developer predicts robot soldiers within 5 to 10 years

Robotics engineer Yang Kun, who works for Shanghai-based humanoid robotics company AG BOT, says that he believes Chinese companies could be only five to 10 years away from robot soldiers. His company's A3 humanoid competed in kickboxing at the Games. Yang described military and combat use as part of where he believes humanoid robotics could eventually go. That prediction deserves context. This comes from one developer. It does not represent an announced Chinese government timetable for deploying humanoid soldiers. I would not take five to 10 years as gospel.

Technology forecasts can move quickly in either direction. A machine can perform beautifully in a controlled environment and then struggle once the surroundings become unpredictable. What I would pay attention to is where developers believe this technology is headed. When people building these machines start discussing military applications, that tells us the conversation has already moved far beyond robots entertaining crowds at sporting events.

A battlefield would expose everything robots still struggle with

Running fast in a straight line is one challenge. Navigating a damaged building while carrying equipment presents an entirely different problem. A robot may encounter unstable ground, blocked paths and people moving unpredictably around it. Then comes the far harder issue of decision-making. A sprint gives a robot a clear destination. Real life rarely does. Military environments make that problem even tougher because communication can disappear without warning. Sensors can misread a situation. Software may face circumstances developers never anticipated.

That is why I would keep some perspective when watching these record-setting performances. The robots are getting impressive. They also still fall down. At the Games, some fast-running robots had trouble stopping after crossing the finish line and crashed into padded barriers. That creates a pretty good visual reminder of the gap between raw speed and reliable control.

China is testing robots for real-world jobs too

The organizers appear very aware of that gap. This year, Beijing upgraded the 100-meter event so robots must compete fully autonomously. Scenario-based events also encourage autonomous positioning, recognition and operation. The robots also face tasks inside settings modeled after factories, hotels and homes. Emergency-response challenges push them into situations where they must interact with their surroundings for longer periods.

That part interests me even more than a sprint record. A robot that runs 100 meters in nine seconds creates a great headline. A robot that can reliably work for hours without somebody constantly guiding it could change entire industries. China appears focused on both. CyberGuy has also reported on efforts to scale humanoid manufacturing in China, with factories preparing to build thousands of machines. That brings us to the larger technology race.

UNITREE G1 HUMANOID ROBOT ICE SKATES AND ROLLERBLADES

The U.S.-China tech race now has arms and legs

We hear constantly about competition between the United States and China over artificial intelligence. Humanoid robotics adds a physical layer to that race. The country that develops powerful artificial intelligence gains one advantage. The country that can put that intelligence inside a reliable robot body and manufacture those machines at scale could gain something much larger. Suddenly, the software can move through the physical world. It can enter an industrial facility. It can cross dangerous terrain or potentially operate where sending people would carry significant risk. U.S. regulators are already treating advanced foreign robotics as a national-security concern.

On July 28, the Federal Communications Commission added foreign-produced advanced robotic devices to its Covered List. The category includes qualifying humanoid robots and other advanced mobile robotic systems. The change means covered new devices generally cannot receive the FCC equipment authorization required for import or sale in the United States unless they receive an applicable conditional approval. That tells you Washington sees connected robots as more than another gadget category.

The AI brain could become the bigger story

For years, humanoid developers faced a frustrating mechanical challenge. How do you make a two-legged machine move efficiently without constantly falling over? Engineers still have plenty of work ahead. Yet today's machines move very differently from the awkward humanoids we watched only a few years ago. That changes what developers can focus on next.

As robot bodies become faster and stronger, artificial intelligence continues improving at the same time. A more capable body could perform difficult physical work. Better AI could help that machine understand what it sees and determine what to do next. Put those advances together and humanoids become much more interesting. We recently showed you another humanoid demonstrating impressive running and movement skills. The biggest hurdle now may become less about making a robot move and more about making sure it makes good decisions once it gets there.

What this means to you

You probably will not see a humanoid robot soldier walking down your street anytime soon. You may encounter the technology behind these machines much sooner. The balance system that keeps a robot upright during a sprint could help one move through rubble after an earthquake. More capable sensors could allow robots to operate around human workers more safely. Factories will likely remain one of the first major targets.

Most buildings and workplaces were designed around the human body. That makes humanoids appealing because companies could potentially deploy them without rebuilding every workspace around a specialized machine. As reliability improves and costs come down, those capabilities could expand into other areas. The military discussion raises much harder questions.

How much decision-making authority should an autonomous machine have? Who carries responsibility if an AI-controlled robot makes a dangerous mistake? Those conversations should happen before the machines become capable enough to force them. Because the technology is moving quickly.

Kurt's key takeaways

The Bolt comparison grabs your attention, but the bigger story for me is how quickly humanoid robots are becoming more capable. A 9.39-second 100-meter run shows how fast the motors, balance systems and software are improving. The military angle deserves attention too. One Chinese robotics engineer predicts robot soldiers could arrive within five to 10 years. I would not treat that timeline as gospel, but it shows where some developers believe this technology is headed. For America, this is another front in the technology race with China. A country that can combine advanced AI with reliable robot bodies and produce large numbers of them could gain a major advantage. We also need perspective. Running fast on a controlled track is far easier than navigating an unpredictable environment and making safe decisions. What I am watching now is how quickly these stronger robot bodies advance alongside increasingly capable AI.

If humanoid robots can outrun us, carry heavy equipment and make more decisions on their own, where would you draw the line on how much power we should give them? Let us know by writing to us at CyberGuy.com.

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Sky owner declines to say if Kanter Freedom would be allowed to play at Wintrust Arena amid attendance ban

Thu, 27 Aug 2026 11:21:15 -0400

Chicago Sky principal owner Michael Alter was willing to discuss Enes Kanter Freedom’s ban from Wintrust Arena. He was less interested in exploring one possible exception.

During an exclusive interview with OutKick, Alter was asked whether the ban would still apply if Freedom were to be an opposing player set to play at the Sky next season, as Freedom has affirmed his intent to declare for the WNBA Draft.

"Now, this ban extends to his attendance at games," OutKick asked. "If he is playing on a WNBA team next year and that team is scheduled to play the Sky, is he allowed to come and play the Sky?"

CHICAGO SKY OWNER OPENS UP ON ENES KANTER FREEDOM EJECTION, MAKES ANALOGY TO SHOOTING A GUN

Alter did not entertain the hypothetical.

"That’s a good one," he said. "I’m not gonna comment on that ridiculous question. Thank you. Why would you even ask that question? I mean, do you really care about the truth here, or do you just wanna have fun with this whole thing?"

The question followed Alter’s announcement that Freedom had been banned from future Sky games after security ejected him from Sunday’s game against the Indiana Fever. The organization determined that Freedom became a potential threat when he stepped toward the court during a confrontation with Sky guard Natasha Cloud.

Freedom, an 11-year NBA veteran, has also announced that he intends to enter the 2027 WNBA Draft. He argues that the league’s collective bargaining agreement limits eligibility to women without expressly defining the term according to biological sex.

WNBA HAS 'NO IDEA WHAT THEY'RE ABOUT TO FACE,' ENES KANTER FREEDOM SAYS AS LEAGUE TAKES ON TRANS ATHLETE ISSUE

Multiple media outlets have reported that Freedom is not eligible for the draft. Freedom nevertheless insists he will pursue a roster spot if the league does not change its eligibility language.

That created the unlikely scenario presented to Alter: A man banned from attending Sky games as a spectator, potentially returning to Wintrust Arena in a visiting uniform.

Alter’s response left the hypothetical distinction between banned fan and visiting WNBA player unresolved.

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Freedom, however, has made his position clear.

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Asked whether he still planned to pursue a roster spot, he said, "I’m doing it."

The WNBA has not officially confirmed that Freedom is not eligible to play in the WNBA, and Freedom says he has not received any notice from the WNBA about his eligibility.

House GOP subpoenas doctor behind 'Have My Baby in Miami' birth tourism business

Thu, 27 Aug 2026 10:00:26 -0400

House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer, R-Ky., is subpoenaing a doctor allegedly behind a sprawling birth tourism scheme based in Florida.

It comes as Rep. Brandon Gill, R-Texas, is setting his sights on a new target after his crackdown on the Smithsonian Institution made headlines and thrust fresh scrutiny onto its teaching of American history.

Gill's task force on investigating institutional abuses, which is part of the House Oversight Committee, is now gearing up for a hearing on the practice of birth tourism — something the White House sounded the alarm on just this month.

As part of the hearing, Comer sent a subpoena to Dr. Wladimir Lorentz of Have My Baby in Miami, a South Florida business that's aimed at helping foreigners give birth in the United States. The hearing is expected to take place Sept. 1.

Comer accused Lorentz of refusing to voluntarily appear via his attorney, and in a letter sent with the subpoena on Tuesday, Comer said Lorentz's attorney argued he could not speak with the committee due to a pending criminal probe being conducted by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Florida.

"As the Founder and Chief Medical Officer of a company doing business as 'Have My Baby in Miami,' your knowledge regarding the company’s marketing practices and direct observations relevant to the birth tourism industry is vital to the immediate investigation," Comer's subpoena letter read.

SEN ERIC SCHMITT SEEKS TO END BIRTH TOURISM, REVOKE CITIZENSHIP FOR BABIES OF FOREIGN DIPLOMATS

"Furthermore, given the national security concerns raised by birth tourism, delaying the hearing or deferring your testimony to some unknown date in the (potentially far) future would be an extraordinary action that would curtail the Committee’s ability to glean valuable information that will inform its oversight and further its legislative goals."

Meanwhile, Gill echoed Comer's concerns over national security.

BIRTH TOURISM FIGHT SHIFTS TO US ‘TROPICAL MATERNITY WARD’ WITH HISTORY OF CHINESE EXPLOITATION

"A growing industry is openly marketing American citizenship to foreign nationals who travel here for the express purpose of giving birth on U.S. soil. This abuse of our immigration system also raises serious national security concerns, particularly given the number of birth tourists traveling from adversarial nations like China and Russia," the House GOP firebrand said.

His panel's Sept. 1 hearing is also expected to feature testimony from Dr. Steve Camarota of the Center for Immigration Studies. The medical director and owner of a company called International Maternity Services, Dr. Julio César Novoa, was also invited.

TEXAS GOV ABBOTT SIGNS EXECUTIVE ORDER CRACKING DOWN ON 'BIRTH TOURISM,’ SAYS US CITIZENSHIP NOT FOR SALE

Gill's new task force, which was founded this year, has largely focused on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) efforts across various sectors of American life.

He's held hearings on whether the Smithsonian's teaching of U.S. history involved overly ideological and political leanings, and whether DEI plays a role in running the American Bar Association (ABA).

Birth tourism is the colloquial term for the general practice of foreign nationals coming to the U.S. on temporary visas for the purpose of having a child who then automatically becomes an American citizen.

President Donald Trump targeted birth tourism in a recent executive order after the Supreme Court struck down his efforts to curb birthright citizenship writ large. He also signed an order banning specific categories, such as children born to foreign government workers, from automatically getting U.S. citizenship.

Have My Baby in Miami is just one company that appears to make it more accessible for foreigners to give birth in the U.S. Its website and social media pages appeared to be disabled as of Thursday.

But a YouTube page that appears to be associated with the business states, "Many people have questions about how to have a child in the United States, and we can help clarify how to deliver in Miami, how to live in the United States during your pregnancy, how to have a baby in the United States, how much it costs to deliver in the United States and how to go through pregnancy in the United States."

"Children who are born in the United States, with rare exceptions, have US citizenship," the summary states.

An October 2025 article by Local 10 in Florida appears to have obtained information from the now-deleted pages, including that the company reportedly touted that it helped deliver 2,000 babies.

It's not yet clear if Lorentz will appear. But defying a congressional subpoena could risk criminal charges.

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Fox News Digital reached out to his lawyer for comment.

Soros prosecutor in danger of being removed after grieving mom’s desperate alarm: ‘Can’t believe this’

Thu, 27 Aug 2026 10:57:09 -0400

A Democratic prosecutor backed by George Soros faces a recall effort after an angel mom urged voters in her county to remove him from office "before another family pays the price."

Earlier this year, Stephanie Minter, 41, was stabbed and killed at a bus stop in Fairfax County, Virginia. An illegal immigrant from Sierra Leone, Abdul Jalloh, is accused of killing her. Jalloh had a lengthy criminal record, including convictions for malicious wounding, identity theft, trespassing and assault. He also had a prior charge of forcible rape.

The case comes as violent and sexual crime has increased in Fairfax County and has renewed scrutiny of Democratic Commonwealth’s Attorney Steve Descano. Descano won office with significant financial backing from the Soros family’s Justice and Public Safety PAC. So far, the recall effort led by the victim’s mother, Cheryl Minter, has collected more than 12,000 signatures.

In an interview with Fox News Digital, Minter said she is calling for Descano to be removed from office because she believes "had they actually prosecuted these people, then Stephanie would still be alive."

SOROS-BACKED DA'S LAX ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION POLICIES LED TO 'PREVENTABLE' BUS STOP STABBING MURDER: COMPLAINT

Under Virginia law, organizers must gather valid signatures from registered voters equal to 10% of the votes cast in the last election, file a detailed petition alleging specific legal grounds and prove those grounds in circuit court before a judge can remove the prosecutor.

In her petition, Minter pointed to Jalloh’s more than 30 arrests and criminal charges and said that "again and again, Fairfax County Commonwealth’s Attorney Steve Descano let him walk."

Jalloh had been arrested more than 30 times and faced dozens of charges before Minter’s killing; some cases were dropped, while others resulted in convictions and jail time.

"Thirty times the system had a chance to stop him. Thirty times," she said, adding, "I think about that every single day. This was not an unavoidable tragedy. It was the predictable consequence of decisions made by Descano."

Speaking with Fox News Digital, Minter explained, "Stephanie was my world. She was my only daughter. She was so much to me."

Minter said her grief motivated her to take action. She said her daughter’s killing opened her eyes to what she sees as a broader problem, saying Stephanie's death is "not an isolated failure." She believes Descano’s prosecutorial leadership is a common thread in the stories of many victims in Fairfax County. While she lost her daughter, she said it is not too late to protect other families in the county.

In response, Laura Birnbaum, a spokesperson for Descano's office, told Fox News Digital, "Our office is prosecuting Abdul Jalloh for the murder of Ms. Minter."

Birnbaum noted that Jalloh was "indicted last week and his trial is set for January 2027." She said the office is "unable to comment further on an ongoing prosecution."

WATCH: ANGEL MOM TURNS TABLES ON SANCTUARY POLITICIANS WITH BASIC QUESTION ABOUT THEIR PRIORITIES

Beyond Fairfax County, Minter said she has learned of "so many sanctuary states that seem to be leaning toward the same thing and releasing [criminals]." She said she hopes the Descano recall effort will send a broader message to all sanctuary and soft-on-crime politicians across the country.

"This isn't just localized," she said of the recall effort. "It's important for so many states and so many cities."

She called for "simple solutions" to the problem of repeat criminals across the U.S.

"Either [the criminal] does his time, or he gets out of here, and he doesn't come back," she said. "That's the way I look at it."

DEMOCRAT MAYOR BLASTED BY DHS FOR 'HUNTING DOWN' PROPERTY OWNERS LEASING TO ICE: 'UNHINGED'

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Ultimately, Minter said that what motivates her to keep going is the memory of the daughter she lost.

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"Her heart would want this to happen," she said. "If it happened to one of her friends or somebody she knew or even didn't … That keeps me going enough to keep pushing forward."

Judge sentences Feeding Our Future fraudsters who faked running child nutrition site

Thu, 27 Aug 2026 10:55:26 -0400

A judge in Minnesota sentenced two men to prison on Wednesday for running a massive pandemic fraud campaign.

Ahmed Ghedi was sentenced to over five years in prison, and Abdihakim Ahmed was sentenced to four and a half years. Prosecutors say the pair helped run the fraudulent child nutrition site Feeding Our Future, which claimed to be giving food to thousands of children each day in the Twin Cities area.

The pair received $7.3 million in COVID relief funds meant to help support the program. Instead, they used the money to buy a car and property, as well as share the cash with a Feeding Our Future employee.

EXCLUSIVE: FBI ADDS ALLEGED COVID FRAUDSTER ACCUSED OF TAKING $5M FROM KIDS' MEAL PROGRAM TO MOST WANTED LIST

The judge also ordered the men to pay restitution, with Ahmed to pay $2,242,590 and Ghedi $2,862,451.

Their sentencing comes months after the mastermind behind the Feeding Our Future scam, Amee Bock, was sentenced to nearly 42 years in prison in May.

Bock ran the Feeding Our Future organization and was convicted of orchestrating $250 million in pandemic relief fraud.

Prosecutors told the court the nonprofit functioned as a "cash pipeline," relying on a web of fake distribution sites, fabricated lists of children and kickbacks.

MINNESOTA MAN MARKS FBI'S FIRST ARREST FROM DOJ'S 'MOST WANTED FRAUDSTERS' LIST

During sentencing, Bock told the federal court, "I understand I failed. I failed the public, my family, everyone."

MINNESOTA FRAUD REPORT ACCUSES STATE AG OF 'INCOMPETENCE, WILLFUL BLINDNESS OR WORSE'

The sprawling investigation has led to the convictions of dozens of people, many hailing from the state's large Somali community.

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The Feeding Our Future scheme spurred the Trump administration's surge of federal officers to the Minneapolis-St. Paul area last winter, which led to violent protests and multiple fatal federal officer-involved shootings.

Fox News' Alexandra Koch contributed to this report.

Michigan Dem AG turns on El-Sayed over terror attack response, warns of mentality that 'bothers me a lot'

Thu, 27 Aug 2026 10:53:30 -0400

Michigan's Democratic Attorney General Dana Nessel is voicing concerns about her party’s Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed, saying his response to the attempted terrorist attack on a Michigan synagogue appeared to make excuses for "domestic terrorism" as she warns about increasing anti-Israel sentiments in her party.

Nessel, Michigan’s attorney general since 2019, spoke at length in an interview with The Atlantic’s David Frum about her position that she doesn’t feel safe as a Jewish person attending her own state party’s convention due in part to "an enormous amount of anti-Semitism within the Democratic Party."

Nessel specifically took issue with El-Sayed’s response to the synagogue attack in Michigan earlier this year when federal investigators say a gunman inspired and radicalized by Hezbollah crashed into the place of worship seeking to kill as many Jewish people as he could.

"But, you know, the reaction to it, obviously there’s a lot of people who were quick to call this out. But, you know, I think most concerning, of course, was the statement that our nominee for U.S. Senate made, which was that ‘hurt people hurt people,’" Nessel explained. "And a lot of us perceived that as sort of making excuses for somebody who sought to murder over 100 pre-K schoolchildren. And that’s the kind of mentality that bothers me a lot."

MICHIGAN'S DEMOCRATIC AG REFUSES TO ATTEND UPCOMING CONVENTION OVER HARASSMENT CONCERNS

Nessel went on to reflect on how she responded to the 2019 Christchurch mosque massacre by visiting a Dearborn mosque, wearing a hijab out of respect and unequivocally condemning Islamophobia. She contrasted that response with El-Sayed’s reaction to the Temple Israel attack.

"I didn’t try to get into, like, what were the motivations of the person who killed these people, and did he have mental-health issues?" Nessel said. "Did he have bad experiences with Muslims? I just condemned it unequivocally, and I think that’s what people should have done with Temple Israel. You can’t make excuses for that kind of domestic terrorism."

Nessel credited El-Sayed for his outreach to Jewish leaders in recent months but expressed the belief that he should publicly retract his comments in the aftermath of the attack.

ANTISEMITIC VIOLENCE REACHES DEADLIEST LEVEL SINCE 1994, NEW GLOBAL REPORT FINDS

"I think privately, he will say that he regrets having made those remarks," Nessel said. "But here we are, it’s almost the end of August, and he still has not withdrawn those statements and said, I misspoke, or, I now recognize the harm that I caused by making those statements. And it has me concerned that he really stands by them."

Nessel urged El-Sayed to acknowledge he was wrong, listen to Jewish stakeholders and publicly change course, as she said she has done when confronted with her own past ignorance. She said she has also urged him to better understand Jewish religious beliefs, pointing to his post-primary reference to "breaking bread with Jews at Passover," when bread is intentionally not eaten during the holiday.

"But I asked, could you learn a little bit more about our religion so that you understand it?" Nessel said. "Could you learn a little bit more than maybe what your bubble is telling you about the history of Israel and its relationship to the Jewish people?"

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"Because now, when I speak to him, there seems to be a real dearth of like, again, historical knowledge, political knowledge, and religious knowledge about all of those things. And again, I leave room for the fact that all of us have the opportunity to learn more."

Nessel made it clear that she is not planning to support the state's Republican Senate candidate, Mike Rogers, and that she would "amputate [her] right arm" before voting for him because "keeping a Republican majority in the Senate is incredibly dangerous."

"With Abdul, I will say this: We have a lot in common in terms of our general beliefs and principles and policies," Nessel said. "And I think it’s important to say that, and I think it’s important to underline and underscore that fact. Trust me; I have much more in common with Abdul El-Sayed than I do with Mike Rogers in terms of my personal beliefs, my political beliefs, my philosophical beliefs about what should happen in the United States, and in the United States Senate."

Fox News Digital reached out to El-Sayed's campaign for comment.

In March, El-Sayed released a statement in addition to his controversial video statement that Nessel took issue with, saying he was "horrified and heartbroken" to learn of the synagogue attack.

"To my Jewish sisters and brothers, you have a right to worship in peace," El-Sayed said. "You have a right to send your kids to the synagogue in the morning and know they’ll come home safely at night. And you have a right to know that your religious identity and faith practice are respected. There is no room for antisemitism in America. So today and everyday, I am standing in solidarity with all of us who value our right to pray how we choose to pray against antisemitism and hate in all its forms."

El-Sayed has faced broad criticism from Jewish groups, fellow Democrats and Republicans over his repeated attacks on Israel and AIPAC, as well as his public association with left-wing streamer Hasan Piker.

Miami Dolphins enter full rebuild with Malik Willis at quarterback and Jeff Hafley as head coach

Thu, 27 Aug 2026 10:53:29 -0400

Few teams in the AFC have undergone as drastic a transformation over the last few months as the Miami Dolphins. With first-year head coach Jeff Hafley taking over for Mike McDaniel and quarterback Malik Willis getting the nod under center, Miami is stepping into an undeniable reboot year as they look to clear the slate and build a foundation for the future.

Last Year

The Dolphins sputtered through a frustrating 2025 campaign, finishing 7-10 and fading out of the AFC playoff picture down the stretch. The offense relied on explosive splash plays—running back De'Von Achane proved to be a multi-purpose star, rushing for a team-best 1,350 yards while adding heavy contributions in the passing game. Injury bugs and inconsistent play plagued the operation; Miami averaged just 20.4 points per game while the defense surrendered more than 24 points per contest. The inability to protect the quarterback or string together quality performances against high-caliber opponents ultimately signaled the end of the previous era in South Florida.

DOLPHINS NOT GOING TO 'THROW IN THE TOWEL AND JUST REBUILD' BUT THAT COMES WITH HIGHER EXPECTATIONS

Offseason additions and subtractions

Miami parted ways with almost all of its high-profile core—releasing quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (who headed to Atlanta), cutting wide receiver Tyreek Hill and pass rusher Bradley Chubb, and trading wideout Jaylen Waddle to Denver and Pro Bowl safety Minkah Fitzpatrick. The coaching staff was completely overhauled, bringing in former Boston College head coach and Packers defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley.

FALCONS' STARTING QB POST IS MICHAEL PENIX JR'S TO LOSE AMID TUA TAGOVAILOA'S STRUGGLES: REPORT

To fill out a stripped-down depth chart, Miami brought in quarterback Malik Willis, pass-catchers Tutu Atwell and Jalen Tolbert, and edge rushers Josh Uche and Robert Beal Jr. On defense, they added secondary depth in Marco Wilson and Lonnie Johnson Jr., while adding versatile lineman Jamaree Salyer to the offensive trench group.

LOS ANGELES CHARGERS BETTING OUTLOOK: CAN JUSTIN HERBERT AND MIKE MCDANIEL FINALLY DELIVER?

Roster

Evaluating Miami’s 2026 roster makeup requires looking through the lens of a young, developing squad. The offense will heavily feature De'Von Achane, who serves as the unquestioned engine of the entire unit both on the ground and out of the backfield. However, if I can predict that, the NFL defensive coordinators will as well. I’m not sure any team will allow Achane to beat them. Instead, they will dare Willis to find a way to beat them.

Defensively, Jeff Hafley brings a tough, disciplined, physical scheme, but the unit is largely composed of rotational pieces and reclamation projects. Depth at edge rusher and cornerback will be tested immediately, especially when facing the division's top-tier quarterbacks.

BUFFALO BILLS MOVED ON FROM SEAN MCDERMOTT BUT THEIR OFFSEASON MOVES WON'T BE ENOUGH FOR A TITLE

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Betting Outlook

The Dolphins are a good candidate to be the worst team in the NFL this season. Simply put, there just isn’t much upside on this roster. The team has a 3.5 win total, and plays in a division with the Buffalo Bills and New England Patriots. I suppose they still have a chance to beat the New York Jets. Aside from Achane, there really isn’t any key position player that I see being the primary starter or option on most other teams. I like the Dolphins to have the fewest wins in football at +350. I think they get under 3.5 wins this season as well.

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

Top 10 fugitive captured after Georgia manhunt as police probe woman's mysterious death

Thu, 27 Aug 2026 10:53:22 -0400

A Georgia manhunt ended Wednesday with the capture of a Top 10 fugitive linked to the mysterious death of a 35-year-old woman, though authorities have yet to reveal what they believe happened to her.

Drake Ladon Keef, 32, was taken into custody with help from the Bartow County Sheriff’s Office and booked into the Floyd County Jail, the Floyd County Sheriff’s Office announced.

Keef had been wanted on warrants on charges of aggravated battery, hit-and-run and driving with a suspended license, which Floyd County police said were tied to the investigation into the death of Stevie Marie Thompson.

MURDER SUSPECT CAPTURED FOLLOWING 45-DAY, 3-STATE MANHUNT AFTER VICTIM DISCOVERED IN SHALLOW GRAVE

Thompson, 35, died following a late-night incident in Rome, Georgia. Police later identified Keef as the suspect in her death and obtained warrants for his arrest.

The incident happened between midnight and 1 a.m. Aug. 22, but authorities have not said what happened to Thompson or what role Keef allegedly played.

Her cause and manner of death have also not been disclosed, and it remains unclear whether Thompson and Keef knew each other.

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As the investigation unfolded, the sheriff’s office placed Keef on its Top 10 Most Wanted list and warned the public not to approach him while authorities worked to track him down.

WOMAN ADDED TO FBI'S TEN MOST WANTED LIST ARRESTED HOURS LATER AFTER TIPS POURED IN FROM FLORIDA: PATEL

The search ended Wednesday when Keef was taken into custody with help from deputies in Bartow County.

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Officials did not immediately say where Keef was found or provide details about the circumstances surrounding his capture. The sheriff’s office thanked the assisting deputies and members of the community who provided information during the search.

ACCUSED MURDERER ARRESTED WHILE TRYING TO BOARD CRUISE SHIP IN FLORIDA, DEPUTIES SAY

As investigators continue working to determine what led to Thompson’s death, her family is raising money for funeral expenses and remembering the mother for the lives she was able to save as an organ donor.

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A GoFundMe created in Thompson’s memory had raised nearly $4,000 toward an $8,000 goal as of Thursday.

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The fundraiser also asked for support for Thompson’s children, sisters and other relatives as they cope with the loss.

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Despite Keef’s capture, major questions surrounding Thompson’s death remain unanswered. Police have not revealed what evidence led them to Keef or whether he could face additional charges as the investigation continues.

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Fox News Digital has reached out to the Floyd County Sheriff’s Office for additional information.

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Keef remained in the Floyd County Jail following his capture.

Matthew Berry discusses whether he'd hire Dianna Russini for his budding fantasy football empire

Thu, 27 Aug 2026 10:49:09 -0400

Matthew Berry is the most famous fantasy football expert on the planet. He is a former ESPN analyst and contributor to NBC's "Sunday Night Football" pregame show. He now runs his own eight-figure media company, Fantasy Life.

This week, he joined OutKick for a wide-ranging conversation about his career, leaving ESPN and NBC, possibly returning to ESPN, appearing in "Avengers: Endgame," breaking the news of Tom Brady's move to Tampa Bay, and the economics of his business.

We also asked him if he'd hire his friend and former colleague Dianna Russini.

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Russini stepped down from The Athletic this summer amid a company-wide investigation into the ethics of her relationship with New England Patriots coach Mike Vrabel. She has not returned to sports media since. There are valid questions about whether she ever will.

"It’s a great question. I like Dianna a lot," Berry responded when we asked him directly whether he would hire Russini at Fantasy Life.

"I will say this: I consider Dianna a friend. And I think she’s really, really talented and good on air."

"So, you know, the question would become, can we afford her? What is she going to do for the company? Because we don’t really break news."

He continued, "I will tell you that every time I was on ESPN, and we had her do any of my shows, she would come on my podcast, she would come on the fantasy show, she did the Sunday morning show. She always came prepared, energetic. She was nice to all the producers. Showed up on time, prepared, gave a great performance. Whatever we needed."

When pressed on whether the photos and questions about her relationship with Vrabel would concern him, Berry said he did not want to weigh in.

"If she was working at Fantasy Life, she would be providing content that would help people win their fantasy leagues, not necessarily what she did at ESPN or The Athletic."

Berry said he would ask himself the same questions about hiring Russini that he would about any potential employee.

"This isn't specific to her, but anyone that we might hire, I ask how do they fit? How do they fit within the team? How much do they want us to pay them? Can we afford that person? Can we monetize that person? Is that person going to do a show for us? Is that person going to be a contributor across the shows that we have? Do we think that person drives traffic?"

He further explained how he monetizes Fantasy Life and the types of contributors who fit the company.

"Our business, we sell premium tools. So we have Fantasy Life Plus, which is 37 different tools that help you in your fantasy league, help you in your bets, help you in your DFS. Do we think that person is going to help us sell Fantasy Life subscriptions, or are they going to drive enough traffic that we get them into the funnel where we can then convert them into a paying customer?"

He concluded, "So I think it’s not a simple yay or nay, but to be clear, I personally have nothing bad to say about Dianna."

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The key to Berry's response is that he would absolutely hire Russini if it made financial sense. Regardless of what one says about her photos with Vrabel, Berry is right that he runs a fantasy content company. At Fantasy Life, she would not be in the breaking-news journalism business. She would be a personality offering entertaining opinions on fantasy football.

There is an argument that, given her friendship with Berry, a destination like Fantasy Life would make the most sense. Berry says Fantasy Life will generate eight figures in revenue this year. He predicted he will make back, and exceed, his NBC salary in three years.

If there were bets on the next sports media company to sell for nine figures, we'd wager on Fantasy Life. Perhaps Berry thinks Russini could help him get there.

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Watch OutKick's full interview with Matthew Berry here, as he opens up about other aspects of his career and future.

Watch other interviews with Bobby Burack on OutKick with Colin Cowherd, John Buccigross, Josh Pate, and Alanna Rizzo.

Ruthless exclusive: Pentagon CTO reveals reasoning for Anthropic removal

Thu, 27 Aug 2026 10:47:50 -0400

In an exclusive interview with the "Ruthless Podcast," Emil Michael, the under secretary of war for research and engineering and Department of War chief technology officer, explained why Anthropic was removed from the Pentagon.

"I got the [artificial intelligence (AI)] portfolio," Michael said in an interview released Thursday morning. "Six months into the job, I read the [Anthropic] contract. ‘You can't use AI for battlefield management.’ I was like, ‘What does that mean?’ 'You can't use AI to defend yourself from a missile attack.' What?’"

This spring, the Pentagon froze its relationship with the AI company while signing new contracts with competitors SpaceX, OpenAI, Google, NVIDIA, Reflection, Microsoft and Amazon Web Services.

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The Pentagon’s move is currently being litigated in federal court. Anthropic has publicly argued against the Department of War’s authorization policy to use the technology for "all lawful purposes."

In the interview, Michael blamed the Biden administration for its handling of the previous contract.

"[This contract was from] the Biden administration," Michael, who previously served as chief business officer at Uber, quipped. "Maybe someone didn't read it."

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According to Michael, through its computer regulations, the Biden White House selected Anthropic as the "chosen AI company."

Later in the interview, Michael gave a behind-the-scenes look at the high-stakes meeting with the makers of the popular Claude product. He said he wanted to change the scope of the agreement.

"So I called [Anthropic] in, and I was like, OK, you guys, you know, got to change this," Michael told the Fellas. "We’ll use it lawfully, for all lawful purposes, but it's artificial general intelligence. You don’t get to tell me where I could fly a plane to. We decide when we buy a plane from Boeing or Lockheed. And they're like, ‘We think these are our moral values. We have our own constitution.’"

Podcast co-host Comfortably Smug noted that this approach to technology is becoming more prevalent among leading companies.

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"These are E.A. people who are the effective altruists who are just like a menace essentially," Smug said of the growing trend in Silicon Valley.

Smug also noted that the current administration’s changes to the relationship between the government and tech are already providing results, including in recent operations.

"To your credit, by bringing in Grok, Gemini, OpenAI, the climate has shifted where tech companies are now seeing some kind of like leadership and direction," Smug said. "They're happy to get involved. And that's enhanced the capabilities of this Pentagon, where I remember [Nicolas] Maduro got taken in less time than you can get a pizza from Domino's. Something has changed."

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Fox News Digital reached out to Anthropic for comment.

Fun fact: Antarctic icefish have nearly colorless blood because they lack hemoglobin

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

Scroll through the slideshow and be amazed

Bryan Kohberger’s 2027 hearing is not guaranteed as Idaho seeks quick dismissal

Thu, 27 Aug 2026 10:36:24 -0400

In an order outlining how Bryan Kohberger's attempt to withdraw his guilty plea will play out in court, Idaho Judge Steven Hippler revealed that the hearings scheduled this week for June 2027 are not set in stone as he set a number of deadlines in coming months and told the sides what he expects of them.

"If an evidentiary hearing is granted, it shall be set to commence on June 17, 2027, at 9:00 a.m.," he wrote.

Prosecutors have asked him not to grant a hearing, describing Kohberger's claims as "bare, conclusory and unsupported by admissible evidence."

Kohberger, 31, last year pleaded guilty to four counts of first-degree murder and a felony burglary charge for the 2022 stabbing deaths of University of Idaho students Madison Mogen, 21, Kaylee Goncalves, 21, Xana Kernodle, 20, and Ethan Chapin, 20.

BRYAN KOHBERGER GETS NEW ATTORNEY APPOINTED AFTER HE ASKS COURT FOR POST-CONVICTION RELIEF IN IDAHO MURDERS

In a motion filed Tuesday, Deputy Latah County Prosecuting Attorney Keith Scholl asked for a transcript of Kohberger's July 2, 2025, change of plea hearing, in which Kohberger's own words could be used to rebut the new claims in his petition.

Kohberger, in a handwritten petition filed in July, is claiming he had ineffective counsel, that his guilty plea was "not knowingly or voluntarily entered because it was induced by unkept promises" and that it was "not voluntarily entered because of threats asserted by petitioner's (Kohberger's) legal counsel."

BRYAN KOHBERGER'S POST-CONVICTION RELIEF BID ENABLED BY FLAWED PLEA DEAL, PSYCHOLOGIST ARGUES

But in 2025, Kohberger checked "no" when asked whether an attorney or anyone else had forced or coerced him into accepting the plea agreement or made other promises that influenced his decision.

He affirmed that there was nothing going on in his life that would impair his ability to enter his guilty plea voluntarily, and there was no reason he couldn't make a "reasoned and informed decision" when he did so.

Read the state's motion to dismiss Kohberger's petition for post conviction relief:

Scholl asked Hippler to dismiss Kohberger's petition outright.

"The petition fails to raise a genuine issue of material fact, and respondent is entitled to judgment as a matter of law," he wrote.

BRYAN KOHBERGER'S FORMER DEFENSE EXPERT CALLS FOR DEATH PENALTY, SAYS INVESTIGATORS MISSED KEY EVIDENCE

He added that Kohberger could have raised his claims of constitutional violations in an appeal — while the plea agreement itself says he waived his appellate rights. He said Kohberger's petition included no facts to support his claim that he had ineffective counsel and wrote that Kohberger's "freestanding claim of actual innocence" is unrecognized under the law.

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Lastly, he wrote, Kohberger's defense team wasn't obligated to explain "the conditions of prison life or what the incarceration would practically entail as collateral consequences of a guilty plea."

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Read Hippler's scheduling order:

Hippler set the following dates over the next few months for deadlines in the case:

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He gave Kohberger until Nov. 13 — four years to the day after the murders — to file an amended petition. The state has 14 days to file a new answer once one is filed, or 14 days from the deadline if Kohberger doesn't file one.

KOHBERGER DEFENSE TEAM SAYS IT IS 'APPALLED' BY FORMER EXPERT'S PUBLIC COMMENTS ABOUT IDAHO MURDERS CASE

Kohberger must disclose witnesses, expert reports and opinions by Feb. 1, 2027.

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The state's rebuttal expert disclosures are due on March 1, 2027.

KAYLEE GONCALVES' MOTHER SAYS FAMILY READY FOR TRIAL AFTER BRYAN KOHBERGER SEEKS TO WITHDRAW GUILTY PLEA

PARENTS OF IDAHO MASSACRE VICTIM FACE DAILY NIGHTMARE WHILE DEMANDING DEATH PENALTY AFTER SHOCK PLEA TWIST

Discovery requests have to be completed by May 7, 2027.

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Then a status conference and evidentiary hearing have been tentatively scheduled for June 3, 2027, and June 17, 2027, respectively.

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The sides have 14 days from the order, made public Wednesday, to ask for any alterations to the schedule. Potentially, Hippler could grant an earlier hearing to resolve scheduling disagreements.