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Tyler Robinson's and Lance Twiggs' DNA both allegedly found on key evidence in Charlie Kirk's assassination

Wed, 08 Jul 2026 00:30:22 -0400

PROVO, Utah — A towel and screwdriver recovered during the investigation into Charlie Kirk’s assassination allegedly had his suspected killer Tyler Robinson’s DNA on it — along with that of his former lover and roommate, Lance Twiggs.

Robinson, 23, allegedly used the towel to conceal the suspected murder weapon in the woods near Utah Valley University on Sept. 10, 2025.

He is accused of fatally shooting the 31-year-old Kirk during a Turning Point USA event at the school that day.

CHARLIE KIRK'S FAMILY COMES FACE TO FACE WITH ACCUSED ASSASSIN FOR FIRST TIME

It’s unclear what the screwdriver was for, but police testified at Robinson’s preliminary hearing this week that they found it near an alleged sniper’s perch overlooking the TPUSA event.

Both Twiggs and Robinson provided buccal swabs to law enforcement that were used to build their full DNA profiles.

Robinson's preliminary hearing began Monday and is expected to take all week. Prosecutors must establish probable cause in order for the judge to green light the path to trial on a slew of charges, including aggravated murder, which carries the potential death penalty.

UTAH VALLEY UNIVERSITY SCRAPS CONTROVERSIAL COMMENCEMENT SPEAKER WHO CRITICIZED CHARLIE KIRK AFTER HIS MURDER

David Hull, of the Utah Department of Public Safety, returned to the witness stand Tuesday morning as prosecutors played surveillance video they allege shows Robinson making his way around campus before and after the shooting, as well as coming and going in his Dodge Challenger.

The second witness of the day, Sgt. Jennifer Faumuina with the State Bureau of Investigations, led the evidence response team processing the scenes at UVU after the shooting.

Faumuina testified that her team recovered a screwdriver from the campus’ Losee Center rooftop, where Robinson is alleged to have fired the shot that killed Kirk.

She also testified that her team recovered the suspected murder weapon, a Mauser 98 bolt-action rifle wrapped in a dark-colored towel nearby. It had been retrofitted to fire .30-06 rounds, consistent with the caliber of bullet fragments recovered during Kirk’s autopsy.

Faumuina testified that both the towel and the screwdriver had DNA consistent with the same two males — Robinson and Twiggs.

In a handwritten note and text messages, Robinson is alleged to have confessed to the crime to Twiggs, who lived with him at the time and is cooperating with investigators. Twiggs has not been charged with a crime, and the alleged presence of his DNA on the evidence is expected to strengthen the case against Robinson.

CHARLIE KIRK ASSASSINATION: TIMELINE OF UTAH CAMPUS SHOOTING, TYLER ROBINSON CHARGED

Later Tuesday, FBI forensic analyst Amanda Bakker testified that Robinson is likely the majority donor in mixed DNA samples found on both items. Twiggs is believed to be the minority contributor on both.

Prosecutor Ryan McBride objected multiple times during Bakker’s lengthy questioning from defense attorney Michael Burt, arguing that the defense went well "beyond the scope of determining probable cause."

At one point, Judge Tony Graf Jr. asked how far he intended to go in a line of questioning, to which Burt responded he had one more question before moving on.

CHARLIE KIRK'S PARENTS, WIDOW TO ATTEND TYLER ROBINSON'S PRELIMINARY HEARING NEXT WEEK

"I’ll hold them to that," McBride said, prompting laughter inside the courtroom.

As the DNA questioning dragged on for much of the afternoon, Erika Kirk at one point shook her head as she listened to Burt grilling Bakker.

Observers in the gallery, including Erika Kirk, intently watched as Bakker explained a graph displaying specific DNA markers.

Kirk leaned forward and tilted her head as she listened to testimony.

Robinson was also listening and fidgeting. A member of Robinson’s family yawned.

Kirk’s father occasionally took notes.

Robinson has not yet entered a plea.

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If prosecutors prevail in establishing probable cause, which experts say is widely expected, he would be asked to do so.

"Barring the prosecutor somehow forgetting how to get to the courthouse, there's no realistic chance the state fails to establish probable cause," Maryland attorney Randolph Rice, who represented the family of Rachel Morin, told Fox News Digital Tuesday.

US Navy identifies sailor lost in Arabian Sea after helicopter's emergency water landing

Tue, 07 Jul 2026 23:57:25 -0400

The U.S. Navy on Tuesday identified Cmdr. Gabriel Edwards as the sailor lost at sea after an MH-60S helicopter made an emergency water landing in the Arabian Sea last week.

Edwards, the commanding officer of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 5 (HSC-5), went missing after the helicopter assigned to the USS George H.W. Bush made an emergency water landing on July 1, according to the Navy.

Three of the helicopter's four crew members were successfully recovered, but the Navy suspended its search for the missing sailor on Sunday.

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

According to the Navy, the search for Edwards lasted more than 102 hours and covered more than 14,000 square miles.

"The thoughts and prayers of every member of the Carrier Strike Group 10 team are with the Edwards family," Rear Adm. Todd Cimicata, commander of Carrier Strike Group 10, said in a statement.

"While we are far from home, our heartfelt support remains at your side," Cimicata continued. "Gabe’s legacy as a husband, father, friend and fearless leader will never be forgotten. We are thankful to each who carry a unique and indelible part of Gabe’s memory with us as we continue this important mission."

US MARINE MISSING OFF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA COAST AFTER TRAINING EXERCISE; SEARCH SHIFTS TO RECOVERY

Acting Secretary of the Navy Hung Cao said he has directed that Edwards be posthumously promoted to the rank of captain.

"I am deeply grateful to every sailor and airman who took part in the search and who continue to support his family, friends, and shipmates," Cao said in a statement.

Edwards, a native of Oakland, Oregon, graduated from Norfolk State University in 2006 before earning his Wings of Gold as a Navy helicopter pilot in 2008, according to the Navy. He assumed command of HSC-5 in July 2025.

HOW IRAN ATTACKS ARE FORCING THE PENTAGON TO RETHINK ITS DECADES-OLD MIDDLE EAST BASE STRATEGY

Edwards is survived by his wife, Rebecca, and two children, the Navy said.

"We are profoundly grateful to every Sailor, aviator, and Airman who devoted countless hours, extraordinary skill, and unwavering determination in the effort to bring Gabe home," Rebecca Edwards said in a statement.

"Gabe has dedicated his life to serving his country with honor, courage, and commitment," she continued. "He led with humility, integrity, and compassion, always putting his people before himself. To those who served alongside him, he was a respected leader and mentor. To our family, he is the love of my life, an extraordinary father to his children, and the foundation of our home. His greatest joy was always his family."

During his career, Edwards logged more than 2,000 flight hours in multiple Navy helicopter platforms and had been selected for promotion to captain, according to the Navy.

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HSC-5 is currently deployed to the Middle East aboard the USS George H.W. Bush. The Navy said mental health professionals, chaplains and other support personnel are assisting members of the squadron and the ship's crew.

The Navy said the cause of the incident remains under investigation and that there is no indication the emergency water landing resulted from hostile action.

US Soccer officials barred by FIFA from Belgium World Cup match over apparent protocol violations: report

Tue, 07 Jul 2026 22:30:15 -0400

FIFA issued suspensions to at least two key members of the U.S. Soccer Federation ahead of Monday's World Cup matchup with Belgium, according to multiple reports.

ESPN reported that team manager Sam Zapatka and U.S. Soccer Federation Vice President of Security Frank Pannell were the two staff members barred from the match. The U.S. went on to suffer a 4-1 loss to Belgium, ending its 2026 World Cup run.

The tournament's governing body did not provide a reason for the suspensions.

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ESPN, citing sources, also reported that the suspensions were likely tied to incidents that occurred during Team USA's victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina last week in the Round of 32. The alleged violations involved FIFA match protocols and individuals possibly entering restricted areas. There were no known physical altercations.

USA ADVANCES IN WORLD CUP AFTER CONTROVERSIAL RED CARD VS BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA

After joining the U.S. Soccer Federation in 2015, Zapatka was named team administrative manager in 2020.

While U.S. Soccer did not reveal why the suspensions were imposed, it stressed Tuesday that they were not connected to the appeal process surrounding star striker Folarin Balogun's one-match red-card suspension.

Belgium challenged FIFA's decision to lift Balogun's suspension, but the governing body ultimately stood by its original ruling, allowing Team USA's forward to take the field.

President Donald Trump said Monday that he watched the controversial play and later called FIFA President Gianni Infantino to discuss the red card.

"I spoke with Gianni," Trump told reporters at the White House.

"All I did was, I asked for a review, because I didn’t think it was a foul," the president said. "And again, I’m good at this stuff. I didn’t think it was a foul. I thought it was two great athletes who crashed into each other and got entangled."

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With the victory over the U.S., Belgium advanced to the quarterfinals and will face Spain on Friday at Los Angeles Stadium.

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Egyptian players, coaches complain about controversial calls in loss to Argentina: 'Rigged game'

Tue, 07 Jul 2026 21:55:41 -0400

The 2026 FIFA World Cup has been a tremendous success, on and off the field. Visiting fans have raved about the experience of coming to the United States and enjoying the country's hospitality. The host venues across the country have been widely praised for exceptional amenities and outstanding atmospheres.

But even the most successful tournament isn't without controversy. The largest, through the first few rounds, was Folarin Balogun's red card. The card shown to Balogun in the US Men's National Team match against Bosnia and Herzegovina was given based on misapplication of VAR rules. Then FIFA postponed his one-game suspension, allowing him to play against Belgium in the round of 16.

European fans, commentators, and their soccer federation, went ballistic. But even they pale in comparison to the allegations being thrown around by players and coaches from the Egyptian team after their shocking 3-2 loss to Argentina and Lionel Messi on Tuesday afternoon.

TOM BRADY COMPARES ARGENTINA'S DRAMATIC WORLD CUP RALLY TO PATRIOTS' SUPER BOWL COMEBACK

Egyptian coach Hossam Hassan spoke to the media after the match, and did not hold back with his criticism of the officiating.

"We haven’t seen respect or fair play," Hassan said. "A penalty was ruled out, and a second [incident] that should have been checked for a penalty for us was not even checked by the VAR. A second goal was remarkably, for whatever reason, disallowed."

"I want to put it in beautiful words and say, ‘Hard luck,’ but we have been treated unfairly, and it has been an injustice," he continued.

Egypt had a 1-0 lead, and seemed to take a 2-0 lead, only for the second goal to be disallowed after a VAR review determined that a foul had occurred around 20 seconds beforehand on the other side of the pitch. Egypt did score again, but the 2-0 scoreline might have instead been 3-0, making the incredible Argentina comeback even more unlikely. Then there were several other questionable calls, including a potential penalty that could have been given after a foul on star Mohamed Salah.

"We looked better than the reigning champions — better in everything — but the result was influenced by internal factors on the pitch and external factors off it," Hassan also told reporters. "Perhaps they wanted to keep the world champion in the competition. Perhaps they wanted Messi to stay in the running.

"In football, there are sometimes external factors that go beyond the technical aspects. The world champion received support at every level."

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"There seems to have been pressure on the Argentinian side on the referee that has brought about this outcome," he added. "Life is unfair. The world is unfair. OK, but why isn’t there any fairness in sports? I’m not convinced by this outcome and by the way things unfolded in this match."

Forward Mostafa Ziko said something similar, saying his Egyptian team was "hard done" by the referee.

"We were hard done by [the referee] today, and everyone saw that. I won't talk about something like this. We were winning 2-0. After the 2-0 result, everything went against us and worked against us. I don't even know why the second goal was disallowed, I don't see any reason for it. But we must look for a solution so that a second goal doesn't come. He wanted to disallow the third one too, but thank God, God didn't grant him success."

"It was a rigged game," Ziko said. "It wasn’t our fault. That referee… it seems like this match was rigged. We were winning 2-0, and he kept coming at us. Congratulations to Argentina on another World Cup, it seems."

It's a near-certainty that FIFA is happy that Messi and Argentina are through to the quarterfinals. Messi remains arguably the biggest star on the international stage, and interest and viewership will be higher as long as he and his team are in the tournament. But that doesn't mean the match was "rigged." The VAR review to disallow Egypt's second goal did seem misplaced, though some of the other contentious calls were the type of borderline decisions that could go either way.

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The most important variable that none of the Egyptian players or their coach want to acknowledge, though, is that had they wanted to win, they could simply not have allowed three goals in 25 minutes.

Royals implode with 3 errors as Mets' Carson Benge scores Little League home run to open game vs KC

Tue, 07 Jul 2026 21:30:33 -0400

The Kansas City Royals turned an ordinary ground ball into a royal disaster Tuesday night against the New York Mets, producing one of the strangest scoring sequences of the MLB season.

Even the struggling Mets had to be thinking, "We'll take it."

With runners on first and second, Mets outfielder Carson Benge hit a slow chopper back toward the mound and, seconds later, was jogging across home plate after the Royals committed three errors on the same play in a meltdown that gifted New York an early three-run lead.

NEW REPORT SUGGESTS THE NEW YORK METS ARE OPEN TO TRADING FRANCISCO LINDOR AMID DISASTROUS SEASON

Royals pitcher Seth Lugo fielded the ball, but his off-balance throw to first sailed wide of first baseman Jac Caglianone for the game's first error, allowing Benge to reach safely.

There's more ...

WATCH:

Caglianone recovered the ball and tried to throw out Benge as he raced toward third, but his throw sailed past the bag and into foul territory.

And more ...

As Benge rounded third and headed for home, third baseman Nick Loftin's relay throw also got away, allowing him to complete his trip around the bases.

Kansas City committed three errors on one play and spotted the Mets three unearned runs before recording the third out of the inning.

METS FIRE CARLOS MENDOZA AMID NIGHTMARE SEASON DESPITE HAVING BASEBALL'S LARGEST $330M PAYROLL

Instead of making the Mets earn an early lead, the Royals practically handed them one with mistake after mistake.

The Mets gladly accepted the gift, jumping ahead 3-0 before Kansas City ever came to the plate.

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You can survive one error. Even two. Most teams lose with these kinds of sequences. But by the fifth, the Royals stormed back, tying the game at 9-9.

Mets gonna Mets.

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

Noncitizen accused of falsely claiming US citizenship before casting federal ballots

Tue, 07 Jul 2026 21:11:55 -0400

A lawful permanent resident from Australia was arrested after she allegedly illegally voted in federal elections in Louisiana, according to officials.

Denise Nataly Migliore, 51, was charged in a four-count indictment last month with making false statements to register to vote and illegal voting in an election, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Louisiana said.

In October 2022 and October 2024, she knowingly made false claims about her U.S. citizenship to register to vote in a federal election, prosecutors said.

DHS DIRECTS ICE TO DEPORT ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS WHO VOTE IN AMERICAN ELECTIONS UNDER NEW DIRECTIVE

In November of each of those years, she allegedly cast ballots after falsely certifying that she was a U.S. citizen and eligible to vote.

Migliore was ineligible to vote because she was not a U.S. citizen.

On July 1, Homeland Security Investigations arrested Migliore at the federal courthouse in New Orleans after an investigation by Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

"This alien from Australia now faces federal charges for falsely claiming to be a U.S. citizen and illegally casting ballots in two elections," acting Assistant DHS Secretary of Public Affairs Lauren Bis said in a statement. "Her arrest and charges are the result of the hard work of the men and women of ICE law enforcement and our federal partners.

"Our message to aliens who vote in American elections is clear: We will find you, arrest you and you will face the consequences, including criminal charges and deportation. Only Americans should be electing American leaders."

NONCITIZEN EX-KANSAS MAYOR PLEADS GUILTY TO ILLEGALLY VOTING MULTIPLE TIMES

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If convicted, Migliore faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison followed by three years of supervised release. She also faces a fine of up to $250,000 and a $100 mandatory special assessment fee.

Abbott orders probe after Texas hospital advertises 'birth packages' in Mexico: 'Citizenship is not for sale'

Tue, 07 Jul 2026 21:01:50 -0400

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott ordered an investigation into a Texas hospital Tuesday after it confirmed to Fox News that it advertised Spanish-language "Birth Packages in South Texas" on billboards in Mexico promoting childbirth services to pregnant foreign nationals near the U.S.-Mexico border.

Mission Regional Medical Center confirmed to Fox News that it was responsible for the advertising campaign, which promoted deliveries starting at $3,950 for a natural birth and $5,525 for a C-section, and directed viewers to a website, havemybabyinTEXAS.com, which has since been taken offline.

The billboards also displayed a telephone number beginning with "001," the country code used to place calls to the United States from Mexico.

'WEAPONS OF MASS REPRODUCTION': WATCHDOG UNVEILS ACTION PLAN TO CURB BIRTH TOURISM AFTER SUPREME COURT RULING

"The marketing materials regarding maternity services are no longer in use due to any unintended misunderstanding," a hospital spokesperson said in a statement to Fox News. "We do not support or facilitate any unlawful activity and work to comply with all applicable federal and state laws and regulations."

The spokesperson said the campaign included two billboards located within approximately 5 miles of the hospital near a U.S.-Mexico border crossing. The hospital said both billboards and the website were removed Monday after images began circulating on social media. The spokesperson also said the campaign began in 2021 but did not specify when the billboards were installed.

Abbott on Tuesday directed Texas Health and Human Services Commission Executive Commissioner Stephanie Muth to investigate Mission Regional Medical Center for potential violations of state law and contractual obligations.

REPUBLICAN ACCUSES SCOTUS OF BETRAYING US, PUSHES BILL RESTRICTING BIRTHRIGHT CITIZENSHIP, PREGNANT VISITORS

Images of the billboard circulated on social media before the hospital said it removed the advertisements Monday.

"'Birth tourism' is an illegal practice that exploits the extraordinary hospitality that the United States and Texas offer to millions of foreign travelers each year," Abbott wrote in a July 7 letter obtained by Fox News. "Unfortunately, thousands of foreign travelers come to the United States under false pretenses to give birth and secure citizenship for their children."

TRUMP SUFFERS MAJOR SUPREME COURT DEFEAT AS JUSTICES UPHOLD BIRTHRIGHT CITIZENSHIP

Abbott directed HHSC to "immediately and thoroughly investigate" the hospital and said any violations should be referred to the Texas Attorney General for civil enforcement and to the appropriate district or county attorney for potential criminal prosecution.

"American citizenship is not for sale and Texas will not permit our healthcare system to be used as a magnet for birth tourism," Abbott wrote.

The governor also said he plans to work with the Texas Legislature during its next session "to strengthen state law and eliminate birth tourism in Texas."

"Unfortunately, birth tourism operations are not a new phenomenon," Kyle Brosnan, general counsel of the Oversight Project, told Fox News Digital in a statement. "The Supreme Court’s egregiously wrong decision in the birthright citizenship case is going to open the floodgates to the birth tourism industry. Our country is much more than a pile of magic dirt. The only answer to these type of practices are criminal investigations and the mass deportation of illegal aliens."

Mission Regional Medical Center also said it intends to cooperate with state officials.

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"We intend to work cooperatively and transparently with local and state officials," the hospital said in a statement obtained by Fox News. "Our focus remains on delivering safe, high-quality care to every patient who seeks our services."

The investigation comes as President Donald Trump's executive order seeking to limit automatic birthright citizenship for some children born in the United States remains the subject of ongoing legal challenges.

1619 Project creator claims paying reparations would be admission that US existence is a 'crime'

Tue, 07 Jul 2026 21:00:59 -0400

Nikole Hannah-Jones, the creator of the controversial 1619 Project, recently argued that paying reparations for slavery would serve as an admission that the "entire existence of the United States" is a crime.

"Paying reparations is an admission of the crime," Hannah-Jones stated last week. "But it’s not an admission of the crime of a handful of bad apples or a few years of bad policy. It is the crime of the entire existence of the United States."

Hannah-Jones made the comments during an interview with the left-leaning media outlet The Meteor. The conversation, hosted by Brittany Packnett Cunningham, centered on the legacy of slavery and the push for reparations as the nation approaches its 250th anniversary.

DEMOCRATIC LAWMAKER CLAIMS BLACK AMERICANS WILL STOP VOTING IF THEY DON'T GET REPARATIONS

The journalist, who won a Pulitzer Prize in 2020 for her work on the 1619 Project, argued that America’s history is so deeply rooted in slavery that simply removing monuments would not suffice.

"You could never knock down all the statues to enslavers, or you have to remove all the monuments on the Mall in Washington," she said. "Slavery predates the founding of our country by 150 years."

The New York Times' 1619 Project is a long-form collaboration that seeks to "reframe the country's history" by bringing slavery and racism to the forefront of the national narrative. While praised by liberals, the project has faced intense scrutiny and pushback from prominent historians who have publicly disputed its factual accuracy, particularly its claims regarding the motivations behind the American Revolution.

BIDEN-APPOINTED JUDGE ORDERS TRUMP TO RESTORE SLAVERY, CLIMATE CHANGE REFERENCES AT NATIONAL PARKS

Despite the criticism, the 1619 Project's theories of American history were later developed into an educational curriculum with the help of the Pulitzer Center.

According to the nonprofit, hundreds of schools have received copies of The New York Times Magazine issue, and over 4,000 educators have used its resources, a move that has sparked fierce backlash from parents and conservative lawmakers across the country fighting critical race theory (CRT).

During the interview, the Howard University journalism professor cited the American education system's approach to teaching about slavery as a driving force behind the recent conservative pushback against Juneteenth and CRT.

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Lexie Hull and Sophie Cunningham team up on a California beach for some 'much needed r&r'

Tue, 07 Jul 2026 20:14:39 -0400

Sophie Cunningham and Lexie Hull, the two self-described Indiana Fever mermaids, teamed up on Monday on a California beach for some "much needed r&r."

If you know ball like I know ball, you know these two aren't going to miss an opportunity for a bikini day off. They're not going to be bullied out of having fun off the court by anyone.

That includes their superstar teammate Caitlin Clark. She tried and she failed to bully them. She would much rather see Sophie and Lexie focus on basketball than on tanning. But that's not how these two roll.

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

They have proven they can play their part on the court while enjoying themselves off of it. So they spent one of their days off before taking on the Los Angeles Sparks on Wednesday night at Manhattan Beach.

They got their much-needed rest and relaxation. They got some content for social media. And they worked on their tans, which will pay off in the tunnel pregame.

SOPHIE CUNNINGHAM TURNED HEADS OFF THE COURT BEFORE DOMINATING ANGEL REESE, SPURS-KNICKS TICKET PRICE & SABAN!

That's a successful day off in my book. As I said when I questioned Clark going after these two last spring, they can do both. They ball, and they can tan. Love it or hate it, it's part of the game.

Sophie Cunningham and Lexie Hull get it. They're going to continue to ignore the haters on and off the roster. Why wouldn't they? It's been working.

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The brand deals are there. They're growing the game, and they're contributing members of a 12-8 team, which is good enough to be two and a half games back of the top team in the WNBA.

Let's not forget the wise teachings of Deion Sanders, "Look good, feel good. Feel good, play good. Play good, they pay good."

New explosive allegation rocks Platner campaign still reeling from rape accusation

Tue, 07 Jul 2026 20:06:58 -0400

Embattled U.S. Senate candidate Graham Platner was hit with a second explosive allegation of sexual impropriety only about 24 hours after he was accused of rape — all while a major campaign decision deadline looms.

In a new report published by The Washington Post, the candidate from Maine was accused of removing condoms during sex with his ex-girlfriend Lyndsey Fifield after she explicitly directed him to wear them.

"He would pull condoms off," she told The Washington Post. "He would do it in a sneaky way. He wouldn’t tell me."

NEW YORK TIMES UNDER SCRUTINY OVER GRAHAM PLATNER COVERAGE AS ACCUSERS SPEAK OUT AGAINST PAPER

Fifield, 41, previously accused Platner of physical misconduct during their relationship, saying that he sometimes grabbed her hard enough to leave marks on her body and that one time he twisted her arm around her back, pushed her into a bedroom and held the door shut until she "calmed down."

Those concerns were largely dismissed by Platner's supporters, who characterized Fifield, who used to work at The Heritage Foundation, as being a conservative operative.

"I confronted him both during and after [sex] because he knew that I was not on birth control and how dangerous that was," she told the Post, which said Fifield made the allegations in a previous interview with the outlet but strictly off the record.

‘HE HATED WOMEN’: EXPLOSIVE ABUSE, NEW NAZI TATTOO ALLEGATIONS FROM EXES ROCK PLATNER'S CAMPAIGN

"He would act, like, cute about it, like ‘Oh sneaky me,'" she said, according to the report.

In a statement to The Washington Post, the Platner campaign reportedly said that Fifield's latest allegations were "categorically false and politically motivated."

Platner is running to oust Republican Maine Sen. Susan Collins.

Monday, the oyster farmer, whose campaign has been dogged by scandal since last year, was accused of rape by another woman.

PLATNER'S LATEST ACCUSER CLAIMS THE DEMOCRATIC SENATE CANDIDATE 'ABSOLUTELY' RAPED HER

Jenny Racicot, 41, told Politico that Platner drunkenly entered her home while they were on-again, off-again romantic partners in 2021 and raped her. She claimed that he ejaculated inside her after she told him to stop multiple times.

"I remember him grabbing my pelvis and being really forceful of me," Racicot told the outlet, which she said took place while Platner was "almost blackout drunk" in Washington, D.C. "I remember the specific moment where I thought to myself, like, ‘This is no longer my choice.’"

Platner categorically denied those allegations, too, in a video released in the immediate aftermath of the publication of the Politico story.

He said his campaign was taking time to assess possible next steps as a major deadline in the race looms.

Platner must withdraw from the race by 5 p.m. July 13 if another Democratic candidate, who would be chosen by the party, is to replace him before the November general election.

Monday evening into Tuesday, a litany of previous supporters dropped their endorsements of Platner and called for him to drop out of the race, including progressive senators Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., and Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., two of his most ardent backers.

"Now more than ever we need leaders in Washington who reflect our values. There can be no tolerance for sexual assault," Warren said in a statement Monday night.

TOP PLATNER ALLY TURNS ON HIM AFTER BOMBSHELL RAPE ALLEGATION ROCKS CAMPAIGN: 'RED LINE'

"Working families are counting on Democrats to win the Senate election in Maine to unrig our economy and hold Donald Trump accountable. With so much at stake, the best path forward is for Graham Platner to step aside as the Democratic nominee and address these serious allegations outside this Senate race."

"I have spoken with Graham Platner about the best path forward for Maine," Sanders said in a statement Tuesday. "In light of these very serious allegations, I have recommended that he step aside."

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Fox News Digital reached out to Platner's campaign for comment.

Fox News' Andrew Mark Miller contributed to this report.

Donovan Mitchell signs massive $273M Cavaliers extension as LeBron James return speculation grows

Tue, 07 Jul 2026 20:00:28 -0400

Donovan Mitchell got quite a payday from the Cleveland Cavaliers Tuesday, agreeing to a four-year, $273 million maximum extension, which includes a full trade kicker and player option for the 2030-31 season.

While Mitchell could’ve waited one more year to get a potential five-year, $353 million deal, the 29-year-old wasted no time signing an extension on the first day he was eligible to do so this summer.

It’s hard for Cleveland not to want to build its team around Mitchell now and for the foreseeable future. He has been an All-Star seven straight seasons, which includes three with the Utah Jazz before he was traded to Cleveland during the 2022 offseason.

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He has averaged 26.7 points in four seasons with the Cavaliers, including 27.9 last season, and has made an All-NBA team in three of his four years.

Mitchell also noted having "unfinished business" after the team got swept by the eventual NBA champion New York Knicks in the Eastern Conference finals.

Mitchell was heading into the 2026-27 season on the last guaranteed season of his previous contract before a 2027 player option kicked in.

CAVS NEED LEBRON JAMES 'TO RETURN HOME TO SAVE THE DAY,' ESPN STAR STEPHEN A SMITH SAYS

Now, the bigger question for the Cavaliers: Does Mitchell’s contract extension hurt or help their chances of yet another reunion with LeBron James?

The 41-year-old has made it clear he will be playing elsewhere for the 2026-27 NBA season, marking the end of his eight years with the Los Angeles Lakers.

James, the NBA’s all-time leading scorer, hasn’t indicated where he might be heading, but reports have indicated his agent, Rich Paul, is actively looking at specific teams.

Among them is the Cavaliers, as the man from Akron, Ohio, has played a significant role in the franchise’s history, including an NBA title in 2016. If this is James' final NBA run, why not do it where it all began, where he returned after his successful stint with the Miami Heat and where he can close the book on a one-of-a-kind career?

However, other teams, including the Philadelphia 76ers, Miami Heat and Golden State Warriors have been rumored and debated about.

Of course, the salary cap and staying within its parameters is a big deal for NBA teams. While a Cavaliers fan could view Mitchell’s max extension as a bad thing for James to land back in Cleveland, it is not believed it will affect their chances at signing him.

As for James’ NBA title chances, the Cavaliers did reach the Eastern Conference finals, and the 41-year-old wouldn’t have to be the center of attention in terms of offensive playmaking. Mitchell and Evan Mobley can lead the way there, while Jarrett Allen protects the rim down low.

The Cavaliers and James Harden, whom they acquired before the trade deadline last season, are reportedly negotiating a team-friendly deal as well to keep their salary cap at bay.

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Whether the big fish will be landed, bringing "The Chosen One" back to his roots one last time remains to be seen.

Mitchell has left no doubt, though, where his future lies in the NBA, and he will look to get that unfinished business squared away in Cleveland.

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Far-left Platner supporter melts down after new scandal, accuses media of 'politically assassinating' him

Tue, 07 Jul 2026 20:00:06 -0400

A far-left podcaster slammed the mainstream media in an X post on Tuesday, accusing outlets of "politically assassinating" embattled Democratic U.S. Senate candidate in Maine Graham Platner.

"The Young Turks" CEO and founder Cenk Uygur, an influential political commentator, posted the accusation one day after Politico published allegations made by Jenny Racicot, who dated Platner. Racicot told Politico that, in 2021, Platner drunkenly entered her home and forced her to have sex with him against her will.

Platner denied the allegations in a video released by his campaign Monday, calling them "troubling, serious and false."

"Any accusation of nonconsensual behavior is categorically false," Platner said. He added that, in light of what he described as the "inaccuracy of the reporting," his campaign was "taking the time to reflect on the best path forward."

HOW GRAHAM PLATNER'S CAMPAIGN UNRAVELED: FROM REDDIT POSTS TO RAPE ALLEGATION

The allegations marked the latest crisis for Platner's campaign, which has faced multiple controversies involving allegations from former partners and scrutiny over other aspects of his past.

Despite Platner's denial, the latest allegations sparked major political backlash as Democrats began rescinding their endorsements of the Maine oysterman, with some calling on him to drop out of the race.

Platner rose to prominence by positioning himself as an anti-establishment progressive, campaigning against corporate PACs and U.S. support for Israel. Uygur, who has long used his platform to champion left-wing insurgent candidates, continued to defend Platner even as the controversies surrounding his campaign mounted.

Uygur went on to warn the Democratic Party against replacing Platner with candidates who are pro-Israel and in favor of corporate PACs.

"If he drops out and Democratic Party tries to give us two candidates who are both for Israel and corporate pacs [SIC], they'll face a revolt like they've never seen. Days of [bulls---] false choices are over," Uygur wrote.

The controversial podcaster said he wants a candidate that is "even more against corporate pacs [SIC], more against Israel, more against the establishment, more against corruption, more against the status quo."

NEW YORK TIMES UNDER SCRUTINY OVER GRAHAM PLATNER COVERAGE AS ACCUSERS SPEAK OUT AGAINST PAPER

In a subsequent post, Uygur warned that those who supported Platner would also face "character assassinations."

"Next the character assassins will move on to smearing anyone who supported Platner. They'll try guilt by association, to eliminate more opponents of the establishment. This is how these thugs operate and pick off outsiders one by one. Meanwhile, no one looks into the insiders," he wrote.

He also predicted that the media's "next target" would likely be an anti-Israel outsider.

Uygur has repeatedly argued that Democrats and the media targeted Platner because of the candidate's opposition to Israel. Since April, he has accused Democrats of targeting Platner over his views on the war in Gaza and U.S. support for Israel.

Last month, he said on X that Platner's critics "work for Israel" and that the Democrats attacking the Maine candidate were "ordered to do so by their handlers."

The post came just one day after The New York Times published allegations by Racicot and other women who previously dated Platner. Although the Times also interviewed women who spoke positively about Platner, the allegations by Racicot and the others became the focus of the scandal.

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One of the women interviewed by the Times, Lyndsey Fifield, shed light on a controversy that plagued Platner's campaign in its early days. Platner had a tattoo of a Nazi symbol known as a "Totenkopf" on his chest, though he claimed that he did not know its origin until it became a campaign issue. However, Fifield told the Times Platner had referred to it as "my Totenkopf," and that he taught her the word for the symbol.

While the allegations reported by the Times last month did not appear to shift support among Platner's backers, the accusations that surfaced Monday prompted several prominent Democrats to distance themselves from him. Among them were Reps. Ro Khanna, D-Calif.; Rashida Tlaib, D-Mich.; and Sen. Ruben Gallego, D-Ariz.

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Though he did not explicitly withdraw his endorsement, Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., said in a post on X that he had spoken with Platner and "recommended that he step aside."

Platner has not dropped out of the race but said in a video released Monday that his campaign was "taking the time to reflect on the best path forward."

Dem with White House ambitions ripped after backing two scandal-plagued candidates: 'Troubling'

Tue, 07 Jul 2026 19:51:07 -0400

Sen. Ruben Gallego, D-Ariz., who has left the door open to a 2028 presidential run, is facing new questions about his judgment after rescinding support for a second Democratic candidate accused of misconduct involving women.

Gallego rescinded his endorsement of Maine Senate nominee Graham Platner on Monday after a rape allegation surfaced. The move comes just months after Gallego pulled his support from Eric Swalwell’s disastrous California gubernatorial bid amid separate allegations of sexual assault and misconduct.

Both Platner and Swalwell have denied the allegations against them. In a social media post on X announcing he would be withdrawing his support for Platner, Gallego called the accusations against Platner "troubling and deeply serious."

Meanwhile, Lyndsey Fifield, Platner's former girlfriend who has publicly accused Platner of abusive behavior, called out Gallego after the Arizona senator withdrew his Platner endorsement Monday, suggesting Gallego had ample warning signs before finally abandoning the embattled Maine Democrat.

DEM SENATOR FACES DOJ PROBE AFTER ALLEGATIONS OF SPENDING CAMPAIGN FUNDS ON LUXURY LIFESTYLE

"Mine weren't sufficiently troubling or serious for you, right?" Fifield wondered in response to a social media post on X from Gallego, referring to the accounts of her relationship with Platner provided to The New York Times and published several weeks ago.

Fifield’s allegations were included in a June 4 New York Times report examining Platner’s past relationships in which she alleged that he repeatedly grabbed her hard enough to leave marks, pulled her from a cab by the wrist and, in one incident, twisted her arm behind her back and held her in a room while they were dating several years ago. Fifield told the Times Platner never hit or punched her but said the alleged incidents left her shaken and afraid. Platner denied being violent and called the allegations false.

Still, Platner drew support from influential Democratic figures before and after the Times report. "Pod Save America" co-host Jon Lovett acknowledged after the June 4 story that the Times had reported allegations that Platner was "intimidating and even physically aggressive with past romantic partners" but argued Democrats had to weigh whether they preferred "a Democratic majority with Graham Platner in the Senate" or a Republican majority with incumbent Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine.

TOP PLATNER ALLY TURNS ON HIM AFTER BOMBSHELL RAPE ALLEGATION ROCKS CAMPAIGN: ‘RED LINE’

Fellow co-host Jon Favreau had previously praised Platner as Democrats’ "best and only chance" to beat Collins and as a "good, decent man who’s struggled and grown and is always trying to do better."

"Senator Gallego did the right thing and broke with those individuals when he learned they had betrayed values he proudly fights for," a Gallego spokesperson told Fox News Digital.

But Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., said people like Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., needed to apologize for backing Platner, telling Fox News' Laura Ingraham that he "refused" early on to look past the claims.

"What he did is he effectively broke in her home – he went in her home without her consent, then he came upstairs and assaulted her. She also described that created a dangerous situation for a possible pregnancy because of those circumstances, what he's done," Fetterman said of the latest allegations.

DEMS UPHILL CLIMB FOR SENATE MAJORITY JUST GOT A LOT STEEPER WITH LATEST PLATNER ALLEGATION

"He was already a dead man walking politically," Fetterman continued. "Even those ‘Pod Save America’ people who pushed that dirtbag — and they dismissed those things in The New York Times article — maybe they ought to apologize to the women that clearly they didn't believe or they dismissed.

"I know Democrats that have back-to-back endorsed and gone all in on Swalwell and were on the Platner train as well too. So, maybe stop getting in bed with absolute dirtbags, someone like Platner."

A Fox News Digital review of public endorsement announcements and press reports found Gallego was the only sitting member of Congress clearly identified as having endorsed both Swalwell and Platner. Separate state and local affiliates within the SEIU and AFL-CIO labor union networks were involved in each race, but they were not the same endorsing entities.

"The allegations against Platner are awful but are also unsurprising to anyone who actually read the NYT catch-and-kill story. The victim strongly implied the allegations there," former chief counsel to Senate Leader Mitch McConnell, Mike Fragoso, said this week after the latest round of allegations against Platner.

The latest allegation came from Jenny Racicot, a Maine Democrat who said she dated Platner on and off from 2019 to 2021 and had previously spoken to the Times for its June story. Racicot alleged in a Monday Politico report that Platner entered her home uninvited in late 2021 after she told him not to come over, was intoxicated, ignored her repeated objections and forced her to have sex.

Politico reported that it reviewed text messages and emails with Racicot’s therapist and spoke with people she said she confided in after the alleged assault. Platner has once again denied the allegation as false.

HOW GRAHAM PLATNER'S CAMPAIGN UNRAVELED: FROM REDDIT POSTS TO RAPE ALLEGATION

Gallego joined several other prominent Democrats after the Politico report in rescinding support for Platner or calling on him to exit the race, while Democratic operatives face a tight window under Maine election law to replace him if he withdraws.

"Gallego's judgment is troubling," Republican Arizona state Sen. Warren Peterson said. "Another Gallego endorsement going down in flames."

"There is a bizarre pattern of Gallego, who claimed complete ignorance of his friend Eric Swalwell's alleged abusive treatment of women and is now doing the same with Graham Platner," said Jonathan Turley, a Fox News Media contributor and George Washington University law professor.

"For Schumer’s PAC, Senatorial, Gallego, the Pod Bros, et al. the only real difference now is polling," Fragoso said of the changing sentiment toward Platner.

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Meanwhile, conservative commentator Ryan Girdusky took aim at Gallego’s personal history, writing on X, "Ruben Gallego is dropping Graham Platner like he’s a pregnant wife."

The jab comes as Gallego has also faced separate scrutiny in reference to his 2016 divorce from wife Kate Gallego, who was pregnant at the time.

Unsealed divorce records reportedly showed that Gallego filed for divorce on Dec. 15, 2016, and that his own motion to seal the case noted Kate Gallego had "not yet been served" but was "likely to give birth any day."

In addition to scrutiny over his divorce, Gallego has faced complaints over his campaign spending on family travel, childcare and other personal expenses. A week ago, Politico reported that Gallego used campaign money on family trips to Miami, Saint Barthélemy, Disneyland, Disney World and Chicago. He also used funds to attend the 2023 Super Bowl in Arizona, but the senator insisted that the tickets were a legitimate campaign fundraising expense.

Tennis legend Martina Navratilova calls for SJSU to dismiss volleyball coach amid allegations: 'Fire his a--!'

Tue, 07 Jul 2026 19:50:38 -0400

Women's tennis legend Martina Navratilova has called for San Jose State University (SJSU) to fire volleyball coach Todd Kress after Fox News Digital reported on a letter containing allegations against Kress by a former player that was sent to the school in fall 2024, during the team's highly-publicized transgender athlete scandal.

Navratilova re-shared an X post by U.S. women's swimming Olympic gold medalist Nancy Hogshead, criticizing the coach and university.

"Fire his a--!" Navratilova wrote in one post. In another, the tennis legend wrote, "This is truly sickening… this coach should have been fired yesterday!"

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Hogshead's original post wrote, "Sex discrimination rarely manifests in just one form," before referencing Kress's alleged handling of female and a trans player during his first two seasons leading the team.

Fox News Digital has reached out to SJSU and Kress for a response to Navratilova and Hogshead's comments.

Fox News Digital reported Tuesday that in October 2024, the SJSU athletic department received a letter from one of Kress’ former players at Fairfield University from 1998. The letter included allegations that Kress attacked her in a hotel room in 1998.

Emails show that SJSU officials acknowledged the receipt of the allegations, thanked the former player for coming forward and apologized for her experiences. Despite this, Kress was never suspended and has continued to serve as the head coach of the women's volleyball team.

Fox News Digital was given copies of the emails exchanged between SJSU and the former Fairfield player, from an independently verified source. Fox News Digital has independently verified she played at Fairfield under Kress in the 1998 season, but is not disclosing her name.

That first email she sent to SJSU contained the letter with the written allegations against Kress, that was originally sent to Fairfield University. The alleged incident occurred in a hotel after Fairfield’s loss to Clemson in the first round of the 1998 NCAA Tournament in December of that year. She wrote that a teammate asked her to bring her a shirt to Kress’ room.

"I told her I wanted no part of his insanity. I was distraught about the loss and wasn’t interested in his drunken insanity, which was commonplace on trips."

The former player added that her teammate "promised Todd would not throw water at me or do something juvenile so I reluctantly agreed to bring her the shirt."

"... I knocked on the door and Todd answered. He immediately took caramel from a plastic container and smeared it all over my face and hair. He then forcibly threw me on the bed and held me down. I was in shock. He let go of me and then pulled his pants down and put his back side in my face.

"Astonished... that is the only word I can think of to describe how I felt in that moment... Todd was drunk. I got up and went for the door.

"Todd again grabbed me, picked me up, and threw me into the bathtub where he held me down and threatened to turn on the shower with me laying there to ‘clean the caramel off of my face.’ At this point I was fighting back to get away from him.

US WOMEN OLYMPIANS REACT TO HISTORIC SUPREME COURT RULING ON THE PROTECTION OF WOMEN'S SPORTS

"Todd let me get out of the tub, laughing, and then he stood in front of the door blocking my exit. Todd told me he would only let me leave if I took a shot of liquor, which I did only to get him to move away from the door. Once he did, I ran for it. He chased me. I got into my room and although he seemed to be in a rage, he turned and calmly walked out," the letter alleges.

The former player goes on to allege her teammates "had been drinking with Todd underage." She also claimed she did not report the incident at the time because she "was scared of losing my scholarship and being the reason my teammates lost theirs."

On June 9, 2026, Fox News Digital submitted a formal public records request to San Jose State University seeking copies of the Oct. 24, 2024, complaint letter sent to Athletic Director Jeff Konya, the Nov. 1 follow-up email, and the subsequent Nov. 7 correspondence from the university's Title IX office.

On June 22, 2026, SJSU’s public records office formally denied the request. In a response issued by university legal counsel J. Leah Castella, the school acknowledged the existence of the records but determined they were not disclosable under the California Public Records Act.

"The requested communications implicate substantial privacy interests," the university's response stated.

"Disclosure of these records would therefore constitute an invasion of privacy that outweighs the public interest in disclosure. Specifically, these records are being withheld subject to the following exemptions: Personnel Records/Privacy... General Privacy Rights... [and the] Balancing Test. Here, the public interest served by disclosure is minimal and is outweighed by the public interest served against disclosure in protecting substantial and significant privacy rights."

Following the records denial, Fox News Digital sent a detailed press inquiry to Kress, Konya, Lim and Castella. The inquiry summarized the exact dates, timestamps and contents of the internal records obtained independently by Fox News Digital, and posed a series of explicit questions to the parties, including requests for Kress' response to the 1998 allegations, details on what specific next steps the Title IX office took following their November 2024 meetings, and whether athletic department officials interviewed current volleyball players regarding their safety.

The inquiry also questioned university legal counsel regarding the decision to classify the public interest in these safety warnings as "minimal" while the university is actively engaged in a federal lawsuit defending its Title IX compliance within the volleyball program. Fox News Digital has not sought judicial relief on SJSU’s claim.

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As of publication time, neither Kress, Konya, nor any legal or communications representatives for San Jose State University have responded to requests for comment.

Fox News Digital also reached out to Fairfield University for request for a response to the former player’s letter, but a spokesperson responded, writing, "The university does not comment on former or current personnel matters.

Chris Broussard says Team USA's World Cup loss to Belgium exposed the gap with soccer's elite

Tue, 07 Jul 2026 19:32:10 -0400

Chris Broussard joined Dan Dakich on Don't @ Me Tuesday morning to break down storylines surrounding the NBA and Team USA's sad collapse at the World Cup.

Broussard, co-host on the uber-popular "First Things First," weighed in on Jaylen Brown's value, LeBron James' future and the state of the USMNT.

Dakich asked whether the Celtics had grown tired of Brown and the narrative surrounding him.

CELTICS AGREE TO SEND JAYLEN BROWN, 2024 FINALS MVP, TO 76ERS IN BLOCKBUSTER NBA TRADE: REPORT

"No, I think it more boils down to this," Broussard said.

"Dan, analytically, I think he's great. He was on my All-NBA Second Team and fifth on my MVP ballot. But analytically, the numbers have never liked him.

"There are 23 active players with five or more All-Star appearances. He's one of them, but he ranks 22nd in career plus-minus and is one of only two, along with DeMar DeRozan, with a negative career plus-minus. Last year against Philadelphia, they were minus-24 with him on the court and plus-six with him off the court."

Brou argued that public perception doesn't always align with how NBA front offices evaluate players.

"Now, to me, I overlooked that," Broussard continued.

"But the Celtics are a very analytically driven front office, as are many teams in the league now. I feel like they don't think Jaylen was as good as the media thought he was and as all the accolades suggested. I think this was largely an analytics-driven decision where they felt like the numbers showed they could be better without him."

IT SURE SOUNDS LIKE LEBRON JAMES IS HEADING BACK TO CLEVELAND TO END HIS CAREER WITH THE CAVALIERS

Dakich then asked where the NBA's all-time leading scorer will finish his career.

While Denver and Minnesota could make sense from a basketball standpoint, Broussard thinks LeBron will return to the Eastern Conference for one final run.

"I think it's Cleveland. I think he wants to go home," Broussard predicted.

"One of his best friends is in the front office in Cleveland, Brandon Weems, who he grew up with. I think he looks at Cleveland as, one, a place where he has a chance to win. They could win the East, and we've seen the last few years that if you get there, you've got a shot. We saw that with Indiana.

"It's also a great place to finish. You talk about the perfect ending for a guy who has traveled around quite a bit. The perfect bow to wrap up this great career would be in Cleveland. If it was strictly basketball, you could make a case for Minnesota or Denver. But why stay in the West? Go to the East, where it's an easier path to the Finals."

Broussard also weighed in on the U.S. Men's National Team following its loss to Belgium.

While Mauricio Pochettino's arrival fueled optimism, Broussard said the team's recent run created a false sense of progress after victories over lower-ranked opponents.

"We've been wall-to-wall soccer on our show," Broussard said.

"I said this on the air this morning, Dan. My colleagues and I, and I think a lot of America, got drunk on sports patriotism. I started to think, 'Hey, we're definitely making the quarterfinals, and who knows, we might be able to do something magical.' Yesterday we found out there were levels to this.

"We simply got there against a much better team. We had to realize all those teams we beat — Paraguay, the No. 41-ranked team in the world; Australia, No. 27; Turkey, No. 22. Bosnia was No. 64. We stepped up to the big boys against Belgium, No. 9 in the world."

For Broussard, the loss served as a reality check, underscoring the gap between the United States and the world's elite soccer nations.

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"And we found out," Broussard concluded, "Pochettino has been asking, 'Why not us?' Here's why: we're not good enough. We just went up against a better team. By the end, I wasn't even mad because it was like, 'Hey, this is why we generally don't get past the Round of 16.' We're not good enough in soccer, and that's what we saw yesterday."

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

Newsom tells Democrats to be in the 'addition not subtraction' business with socialists

Tue, 07 Jul 2026 19:23:19 -0400

Democratic California Gov. Gavin Newsom was the latest prominent Democratic figure on Sunday to embrace candidates endorsed by the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) as socialists dominate primary elections.

Newsom told Jack Cocchiarella during a livestream on his YouTube channel that he rejects the idea that socialist candidates are a "threat" to the party, relating it to facing past "purity tests" while running for mayor of San Francisco in 2003.

"This is all familiar, and it's very healthy," Newsom said. "I don't think it's unhealthy. So, I completely reject this notion. And, look, I'm for addition, not subtraction.

"The Democratic Party needs to be in the addition business if we're going to get back into the majority. Yeah, we need to get our base out there. We got to turn out. … I'm not offended by this notion of a big tent.

DEMOCRATIC CONGRESSMAN WARNS OF 'DANGEROUS' SOCIALIST AGENDA AFTER FAR-LEFT PRIMARY WINS

"And I think it's important, though, that big tent is a big tent, because there's folks, you know, on this side that don't want folks on that. I think we'd be better off to look at the things that bind us together, the things we have in common.

"And I know the purity tests are going to get tougher and tougher in the next few years. But I am enthusiastic about the success and the energy and the vibrancy that's happening at the grassroots in this country. I think it's a healthy damn thing."

Newsom's comments echoed several other Democratic Party members who have supported welcoming socialist candidates into their "big tent" after a socialist sweep in New York's primary elections.

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"We have a big tent party, that's what it says," Sen. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., told Fox News Digital last month.

"This is a democracy," he continued. "You're going to have lots of perspectives. It's up to the voters to decide, and they did."

Maryland Rep. Jamie Raskin also told Fox News Digital he was "all about new leadership" when asked about DSA-backed candidates like Darializa Avila Chevalier and Claire Valdez defeating incumbent candidates.

DEMOCRATIC INFIGHTING GROWS AS CONGRESSWOMAN EXPOSES ‘DISRESPECTFUL’ WELCOME OF SOCIALISTS INTO ‘BIG TENT’

Last month, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., issued a warning to her Democratic colleagues against discouraging socialist candidates.

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"I actually think the more important advice that I would give would be to my incumbent colleagues, which is you will create a self-fulfilling prophecy by deciding who these young women are before you've met them," Ocasio-Cortez said on MS NOW.

DHS buys two California migrant detention centers for $1.5B to boost ICE deportation capacity

Tue, 07 Jul 2026 19:22:36 -0400

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) purchased two migrant detention centers in California for $1.5 billion, the agency confirmed to Fox News Digital.

The sale of the 2,560-bed California City Detention Facility and the 1,994-bed Otay Mesa Detention Center, two of the largest immigrant detention centers in the Golden State, closed earlier this month, according to a press release from Tennessee-based CoreCivic, the private prison company that sold the facilities.

DHS said it used funds from President Donald Trump's spending bill signed last summer to purchase the facilities as the administration seeks to continue the president's mass deportation agenda.

"The Department of Homeland Security purchased the California City Detention Facility and the Otay Mesa Detention Center," a DHS spokesperson told Fox News Digital. "This purchase was made possible by President Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill that allowed ICE to expand detention space to fulfill the president’s promise of mass deportations."

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

The facilities will equip the federal government with more resources to carry out Trump's immigration policies without relying on private prison companies. DHS says California's so-called sanctuary polices attempt to block immigration officials from using private prisons to hold migrants living in the country illegally.

"Unlike in states like Florida and Oklahoma, ICE cannot rely on local state and county partners for detention space in California," the DHS spokesperson said. "The state’s sanctuary politicians continue to push legislation to outlaw or make private prisons financially infeasible.

"Now, with federal ownership of these detention centers, which are crucial to ICE’s detention network on the West Coast, ICE retains the detention capacity needed to arrest, detain and remove illegal aliens."

CoreCivic said it expects net proceeds to be about $1.1 billion after income taxes and transaction expenses.

"We are pleased with the sales of these two mission-critical facilities for the company’s government partner, which demonstrates the value of the company’s underlying real estate portfolio, while reflecting our role as a long-term, flexible solutions provider to government," CoreCivic Chief Executive Patrick Swindle said in a statement.

"The sale of these facilities at what we believe is a fair valuation provides the company with significant balance sheet flexibility and positions us well to grow the company’s businesses and return value to its shareholders, while remaining a dependable partner for government."

The company said it expects to continue managing the two facilities under existing management contracts with Immigration and Customs Enforcement, although the terms of the management contracts could be modified to reflect the change in ownership.

APPEALS COURT BLOCKS TRUMP ADMIN FROM HOLDING MIGRANTS WITHOUT BOND FOR OVER 90 DAYS

The California City facility contract expires in August 2027, and the contract for the Otay Mesa facility, which is located in San Diego, expires in December 2029, with the option to extend for five more years.

CoreCivic said it is in discussions with ICE about potentially selling additional detention facilities, although it said those talks are in various stages and cannot provide assurances that those sales will happen.

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Eight ICE detention facilities are operating in California and combine to hold nearly 9,000 people.

The newly purchased California City and Otay Mesa facilities have both faced lawsuits by detainees over alleged mistreatment. CoreCivic has denied those allegations.

Jana Kramer shows off her toned abs in a bikini during patriotic Fourth of July lake weekend

Tue, 07 Jul 2026 19:06:41 -0400

Jana Kramer embraced all-American lake life over the Fourth of July weekend.

The country singer shared a look inside her holiday weekend, posting a carousel of lakefront moments with husband Allan Russell, their children and extended family.

Kramer captioned the post, "A little 4th of July weekend Photo dump."

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From boating and paddle boarding to jet skiing, swimming and fireworks, the family packed the long weekend with time on the lake.

The post opened with Kramer posing on a dock with Russell, a Scottish soccer coach.

Kramer showed off her toned figure in a blue bikini top paired with a white crochet cover-up skirt. She completed the patriotic look with layered red, white and blue beaded necklaces adorned with stars, plus sunglasses perched atop her head.

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Russell kept things casual in a gray sleeveless shirt, patterned swim trunks, white slides and an Americana-inspired cowboy hat.

The "I Got The Boy" singer also shared a sweet moment with daughter Jolie while paddle boarding on the lake.

The mother-daughter duo shared a playful moment on the paddle board, sticking their tongues out at each other while smiling. Kramer wore a brown string bikini while Jolie sported a bright pink-and-turquoise life jacket with a paddle in hand.

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The Fourth of July weekend festivities also featured a mother-daughter jet ski ride.

Kramer and Jolie paused for a quick photo while cruising around the lake aboard a bright yellow jet ski. Both sported pink life jackets as they smiled at the camera.

Kramer later cooled off in the water while relaxing on a float.

The podcast host wore a pastel pink bikini and a baseball cap as she floated in the lake on blue-and-white inflatable arm floats. One of the kids swam beside her as the family spent the day in the water.

The holiday weekend also featured plenty of patriotic family style.

In one photo, Jolie, Jace and Roman posed by the lake decked out in red, white and blue. Jolie wore a blue bikini top with striped patriotic pants and an oversized red hat, while Jace and Roman held American flags in matching flag-themed swim trunks.

Kramer shares daughter Jolie and son Jace with ex-husband Mike Caussin. She welcomed son Roman with Russell in November 2023.

Kramer and Russell tied the knot in July 2024 during a traditional Scottish wedding in Scotland.

The holiday weekend marked a meaningful first for Russell's family, who joined the celebrations on the lake.

JANA KRAMER SAYS HOLDING ON TO TOXIC RELATIONSHIPS 'DRAINS YOU' UNTIL YOU ‘START LOSING YOURSELF' COMPLETELY

During an episode of her "Whine Down" podcast, Kramer said she woke up feeling "a little sad" on the Fourth of July because she missed spending the holiday up north with extended family.

"As much as I like, I missed and was sad, and the moment I had like the most incredible fourth It was so much fun," Kramer said. "We have such an amazing little cove of friends and neighbors that we've met."

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Kramer said the kids enjoyed time with friends on the lake, while Russell helped put on a fireworks show from the dock.

"Alan was down at the dock and lighting the fireworks, and all the neighbors came over and the kids with the sparklers," she said.

The singer also reflected on watching Russell's family experience their first Fourth of July celebration.

"This is their first Fourth of July they've ever celebrated, so that's the first time they've ever seen it," Kramer said. "I mean, there was just fireworks going off everywhere on the lake."

Kramer said seeing Russell surrounded by family made the weekend even more special.

"I see Alan's heart, like just having his family here, just it makes me so happy," she said.

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Researchers claim they've created healthier burgers that taste as good as a Big Mac

Tue, 07 Jul 2026 19:05:58 -0400

Researchers say they've trained an artificial intelligence (AI) system to create burgers that diners rated as highly as those offered by a world-famous fast-food chain.

Stanford University researchers fed 2,216 burger recipes from Food.com into their AI tool, BurgerAI, to generate new burger recipes.

Some of the AI-designed burgers matched or outperformed a reconstructed version of McDonald's Big Mac in blind taste tests, the researchers reported in a study published in npj Science of Food.

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BurgerAI generated a recipe resembling the Big Mac "without explicit supervision."

The researchers noted that the Big Mac "was never part of the initial training data." Instead, the AI arrived at a similar recipe by learning from people's taste preferences.

BurgerAI can also tailor burgers to be more nutritious, more environmentally sustainable and more personalized for gender, age and physical activity, according to a Stanford Report news release.

"Food choices are some of the most consequential decisions humans make every day," said Vahidullah Tac, a researcher who worked on the project.

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"Food was an easy motivator. With one arrow, you can hit two targets — planetary health and personal health. It's a great and impactful research area."

Ellen Kuhl, a Stanford professor of mechanical engineering who led the research, said most AI systems "are trained to predict what already exists.

"We wanted AI to invent what should exist next," Kuhl added.

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"BurgerAI does not ask, 'What burger is most likely?' It asks, 'What burger best satisfies these important and complex objectives?'"

Over 100 diners took part in a blind taste test of the AI burgers prepared by an executive chef at a San Francisco restaurant, the researchers said.

Compared with the Big Mac, BurgerAI's Delicious Burgers scored the same or better in overall liking, flavor and texture, the researchers wrote.

"Its mushroom burger achieves an environmental impact score more than an order of magnitude lower; and its bean burger attains nearly twice the nutritional score," the study said.

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"We expected some trade-off between sustainability and consumer acceptance," Tac said. "But we found a burger with dramatically lower environmental impact could still compete with one of the world's most successful burgers."

Fox News Digital reached out to McDonald's for comment on the findings.

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Generative AI has the potential to transform many areas beyond food, including pharmaceuticals and product design, the researchers said.

"For centuries, food design has been a matter of intuition, experience and trial and error," Kuhl said. "We are beginning to show that AI can transform food design into a quantitative science with applications in other important fields."

She added that the burger "is just the beginning."

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"We see food as a model system for a much larger vision: AI as a partner in scientific and engineering discovery."

Taylor Twellman goes off on Team USA after disastrous 4-1 loss to Belgium: 'Can't miss fundamentals'

Tue, 07 Jul 2026 19:05:31 -0400

The US Men's National Team entered Monday night's game against Belgium in Seattle with the highest expectations of any U.S. World Cup team in decades.

They had a mostly "golden generation" of players in their peaks, like Weston McKennie, Christian Pulisic, Malik Tillman, and Sergino Dest. Folarin Balogun, arguably the best striker the US has had in recent memory, was also available for the must-win match after FIFA controversially postponed his red card suspension with some involvement from President Donald Trump.

Belgium was widely viewed as a "beatable" opponent. They'd trailed Senegal 2-0 in the 86th minute in the round of 32, before a ferocious, fortunate comeback led to a 3-2 victory deep in extra time after a questionable penalty allowed Youri Tielemans to slot home the winner. Their defense was seen as questionable, at best, and their "golden generation" had aged past their primes. Star forward Jeremy Doku was also out of the starting 11, seemingly giving the US back line an advantage.

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As it turns out, not only did the USMNT not have an advantage, they were hopelessly outplayed and outclassed by an organized, composed, aggressive Belgian attack. They created few good chances, facing a much better defensive structure without Kevin De Bruyne on the pitch. After tying the match on another fantastic free kick from Tillman, they conceded again in less than 70 seconds. There was a humiliating goalkeeper error when Matt Freese kicked the ground instead of the ball, leading to the third goal that effectively put the match away. 4-1 defeat, and little to show for it.

All that might be more forgivable, after all, Belgium is still a very good international team, if the USMNT had a clean match and were simply beaten by a better team. But they didn't just get beaten. They embarrassed themselves on the biggest stage they've ever had. Literally. And soccer analyst Taylor Twellman went off on the players and staff for the many, many, inexcusable mistakes.

He discussed what happened with Yahoo Sports! "The Cooligans" podcast after the loss, saying the team failed their first "real test."

"That was the first real test of the World Cup," he said. "What'd we get? Yeah, I mean, what'd we get?

"And listen, we've done stuff, right? We did stuff...[but] you can't make mistakes at the highest level. You can't miss fundamentals. The first two goals from Belgium. They make you want to...it's not an easy watch guys. That's not an easy watch...That's a 50-50 ball inside the 18 that Dest just looks around, lets it bounce. Run through it."

He continued, saying that he'd rather have players ready to "run through the wall" instead of being passive or unsure of themselves.

AFTER BLOWOUT LOSS TO BELGIUM, MANY ARE WONDERING IF TEAM USA IS BETTER OR WORSE THAN IT WAS A DECADE AGO

"And listen, everyone on social media talks about, oh, Sebastian Berhalter this...Give me 10 Sebastian Berhalters," he said. "They'll run through the wall, at least. You cannot forget fundamentals. The little things, that is gonna be, for that group of players, the most difficult pill to swallow. Because when you watch the tape, when you watch, the tape, it's not my experience, I watched it, that's a difficult one to swallow. Those are simple fundamentals and we missed all of them tonight. All of them."

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Not much to argue with there. Just look at the lack of defensive effort on Belgium's first goal, in the 10th minute. When the ball goes into the air, there are literally four US players around one Belgian player. Plus three more defenders nearby or in front of the goal. Somehow, that one Belgian player got by all of them, before threading a pass into an unmarked Charles De Ketelaere for the easiest shot of his life.

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Freese's error was compounded by Ream jumping to try and deflect an open shot on goal by Hans Vanaken, only to mostly whiff and see the ball roll directly into the net. On the second goal, De Ketelaere just outjumped two US defenders, while two other stood around helplessly.

These are fundamental problems that cannot happen at this level. Inexcusable, indefensible mistakes. There's a focus on managers and coaching in the international game, when managerial importance pales in comparison to having better players. Right now? The USMNT simply doesn't have enough good ones.

Sean Payton explored plan to make Bill Belichick Broncos' temporary head coach to reach milestone: report

Tue, 07 Jul 2026 18:50:11 -0400

Bill Belichick may be the University of North Carolina head football coach, but there was almost a plan to get him back in the NFL thanks to a fellow head coach he has great ties with.

Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton and Bill Belichick go back years. Both served on Bill Parcells' staff, albeit at different times, before crossing paths as NFL head coaches.

In a detailed story about Payton and the Broncos’ playoff appearances last season, which ended with an AFC Championship Game loss to Belichick’s old New England Patriots, ESPN reported that Payton had the idea of going to Broncos owner Greg Penner with a plan to hire Belichick as the team’s temporary head coach until he reached 15 wins.

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That exact win total would’ve had Belichick pass the great Don Shula for the all-time coaching wins record.

The report indicated that Payton would’ve still been on the staff as the assistant head coach, and once Belichick reached the win total, Payton would take back over as head coach.

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Ultimately, Payton didn’t officially make the offer to Penner, deciding it would’ve been too complicated and Belichick would’ve also had to agree on his end.

There hasn’t been anything like it in football, but it brings about the question again regarding Belichick’s history in the league, which has been a hot topic since he and the Patriots parted ways.

Belichick’s impact on football is second to none, though it became clouded during the most recent Pro Football Hall of Fame voting as he found himself at the center of controversy.

Belichick wasn’t a first-ballot Hall of Famer, with the likes of Tom Brady and others dumbfounded by the fact the coach with the second-most wins in history wasn’t getting his bust already made for the halls in Canton, Ohio. But some voters considered the controversy that swirled around Belichick during his time in Foxborough, which included Spygate, and believed he wasn’t worthy of the honor yet.

Since he left the NFL, many have wondered whether Belichick would ever pass Shula's win total. That question remained even after he took North Carolina's vacant job, his first as a college head coach.

And it still hovers over Belichick’s legacy, especially after his firm stance that he will be seeing his role with the Tar Heels into his second season despite murmurs that he would entertain NFL head coaching vacancies following the 2025 season.

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As of now, Belichick is content leading the way in Chapel Hill, while Payton aims to get the Broncos back to the Super Bowl in 2026.

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New report suggests the New York Mets are open to trading Francisco Lindor amid disastrous season

Tue, 07 Jul 2026 18:45:13 -0400

The 2026 Major League Baseball season is somehow already more than halfway over, and it's been yet another example of the difficulty in predicting baseball outcomes.

Case in point? The New York Mets.

The Mets are one of baseball's richest teams. Billionaire owner Steve Cohen, after taking control in 2020, committed to building a model organization, combining immense financial resources with established front office success. Starting with the 2022 season, the Mets have spent more on player payroll than any other team in baseball at $1.671 billion. Yes, even more than the Los Angeles Dodgers.

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They gave star shortstop Francisco Lindor a 10-year, $341 million contract before the 2022 season. They signed Max Scherzer to one of the highest average annual value contracts in baseball history. Late in the 2023 season, Cohen hired Dave Stearns from the Milwaukee Brewers to overhaul the front office. Stearns had built the Brewers into a consistent contender, despite the inherent payroll limitations in a small market.

Yet as the highest spending team in baseball over the past five seasons, the Mets have just two postseason appearances to show for it. They lost to the Padres in the 2022 wild card series, then to the Dodgers in the 2024 NLCS. In 2023, despite all their money and star power, they went just 75-87 and finished 29 games out of first place. After 2024, Stearns and Cohen added Juan Soto on the most expensive contract in sports history; 15-years and $765 million, with the potential to exceed $800 million.

The reward? Missing the playoffs again in 2025 after an 83-79 regular season.

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Stearns, instead of running it back in 2026 with a similar roster, went for an overhaul. Pete Alonso signed with the Baltimore Orioles. Brandon Nimmo was traded to the Texas Rangers for Marcus Semien. They traded two prospects to Milwaukee for Freddy Peralta, signed closer Devin Williams, brought in Bo Bichette and Jorge Polanco after strong seasons, added Luke Weaver, and traded for Luis Robert Jr.

How's it worked out? Well, to put it one way, entering Tuesday, the Mets were just ahead of the Colorado Rockies for the worst record in the National League. They've been outscored by 60 runs on the season thus far, sit dead last in the National League East, 15 games behind the Braves, and their odds of reaching the postseason have dropped to just 2%, per FanGraphs.

It's a disaster, to put it mildly. A $370 million disaster. And a new report from baseball writer Jon Heyman suggests that the Mets might be ready to blow it up yet again.

Heyman posted on X recently that the team's "deadline sale" is likely to start any day. "Time for Mets deadline sale to begin," he wrote. "Everyone but Ewing, Benge, McLean, Scott and Soto should be made available."

Several notable names are missing from that list: namely, Bichette, Robert Jr., Peralta, Williams, and of course, Francisco Lindor. Those are some big players. And dealing any or all of them would be a stunning admission of a prolifically failed plan. Then there's the other side of it; how much value do these players even have?

Bichette has been a below average hitter this season, and is owed $84 million over the next two seasons, all but guaranteed now with his player option. Lindor has missed most of the year with injury, but has been below average himself thus far. Robert, too, has missed most of the season and has been unimpressive when healthy.

But there are few true sellers, and if the Mets really do make their stars available, there might be a team or two willing to take on a portion of those salaries in order to potentially separate from their competitors. Cohen has previously said he doesn't want Lindor going anywhere. Though he might be thinking that, after spending billions without much reward, a full tear down is the only path forward.

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Lindor, at 32, would bring a decent return, though given his enormous contract, it would likely be less than most fans would expect. Same with Bichette, whose exorbitant salary and player options limit his appeal. It doesn't take much, though, to dream on those two stars returning to form and making a meaningful difference in reaching the playoffs or making a deep postseason run.

Still, it's hard to believe it's come to this. The Mets were supposed to be the East Coast version of the Dodgers; a marriage of high salaries and organizational competence. Instead, they're heading toward yet another October spent at home, and still searching for their first division title since 2015.

Money can buy a lot, but as the 2026 Mets demonstrate, it can't buy everything.

A beach in Australia is dealing with a serious case of space balls (not the Mel Brooks kind)

Tue, 07 Jul 2026 18:42:40 -0400

There was a golden era of stuff washing up on beaches, but the internet has ruined it. Now, you just snap a photo, throw it on Reddit, and within twenty minutes someone is like, "That's a muffler from Volkswagen Rabbit with seaweed stuck to it.

Not as much mystery anymore, which is why it was refreshing when an Australian beach found itself coming down with a case of space balls.

And no, it wasn't to commemorate Mel Brooks' 100th birthday (Happy belated birthday!) or some guerrilla marketing stunt to drum up excitement for the upcoming film, "Spaceballs: The New One.

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This week, a few big, metallic balls appeared on a beach in North Queensland, Australia, with Queensland Fire and Rescue warning people to stay away from the mysterious objects.

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"Queensland Fire and Rescue crews are continuing to assist partner agencies following the discovery of several potentially hazardous objects around Forrest Beach in North Queensland," they said on social media.

While they're not some kind of alien technology that will unlock the next step in human evolution like the monoliths in "2001: A Space Odyssey," it turns out that these balls are genuinely from space.

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The Australian Space Agency says that they believe the space balls are actually pressure vessels used in a space launch.

"The recovered objects appear to be pressure vessels from a space launch vehicle," a spokesperson told the Australian Broadcasting Corp. "The Agency has identified the likely source — objects' location and characteristics are consistent with debris from a foreign rocket body that recently re-entered the atmosphere from orbit."

The agency is working with international counterparts to determine whose space balls were washing up on their shores.

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And if you ever stumble apon space junk and think you're just going to take it home with you and put it on display in your office to impress guests — as has always been my plan

"Never touch, move, or recover suspected space debris and assume it to be hazardous — move away and contact emergency services," the agency said.

Ryan Seacrest reveals why he backed out of Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce's wedding at the last minute

Tue, 07 Jul 2026 18:28:38 -0400

A longtime TV personality came painfully close to attending one of Hollywood's most exclusive celebrations before a scheduling conflict derailed his plans.

Ryan Seacrest revealed he reluctantly skipped Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce's wedding after a scheduling conflict left him with "no choice."

"I RSVP’d to go, and then Disney hired me to do the Fourth of July 250 special on the 3rd and the 4th," the radio host confessed Monday during his show, "On Air With Ryan Seacrest." "So I had to cancel."

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His co-hosts, Sisanie and Tanya Rad, were shocked to hear about Seacrest's invite after the 51-year-old kept it a secret. Sisanie even joked it was a "waste of an invite."

Seacrest defended himself, saying, "I was actually really excited. I was kind of torn."

"I'm like how – I tried to do both ... I tried to go to the wedding and prepare for that show, but we started live on the third so I couldn't."

The "American Idol" host said he even mapped out the logistics before throwing in the towel.

"Trust me, Tanya. I went through the minutes," Seacrest explained. "I couldn't have done both. And the actual wedding was in the afternoon. I went through the minutes."

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Although he couldn't make it, Seacrest recalled one conversation with the bride that made canceling even harder.

"But I was so honored and thrilled to be invited," he said. "And you know the irony was, after I RSVP'd to the wedding, I saw them at dinner at a restaurant, and we talked about the 'event' – because we didn't say it out loud – the 'event' and she said 'Oh, It's going to be so much fun. We're going to have the best time. It's going to go late.' I'm like, 'I cannot wait. I'm so excited.'"

Looking back, Seacrest said he was all in from the beginning.

"I RSVP'd yes. I saw them a couple of weeks later to confirm," he clarified. "Then I had to cancel. But I had no choice."

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Swift and Kelce married on July 3 in front of 1,000 guests at Madison Square Garden, a representative for the pop star told Fox News Digital. The two opted not to have a traditional wedding party, instead choosing to have Swift's brother as her "Man of Honor" and Kelce's brother as his "Best Man."

Swift's rep revealed the couple's wedding ceremony looks were designed by Jonathan Anderson of Christian Dior Haute Couture. The "Life of a Showgirl" singer accessorized with Cartier.

Swift's notoriously private about her relationships, and while their exact timeline is unclear, she was first spotted at a Chiefs game Sept. 24, 2023.

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She revealed in an interview with Time magazine that they actually began dating long before she appeared in the stands.

"This all started when Travis very adorably put me on blast on his podcast, which I thought was metal as hell," she said. "We started hanging out right after that. So, we actually had a significant amount of time that no one knew, which I’m grateful for, because we got to get to know each other."

"By the time I went to that first game, we were a couple."

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Immigrant truck driver admitted to US under Biden allegedly kills UMass soccer star, spoke no English

Tue, 07 Jul 2026 17:43:54 -0400

An Uzbek commercial truck driver admitted to the United States via a diversity lottery killed a star college soccer goalie in Ohio over the weekend and had to use Google Translate to speak with state troopers who arrived at the deadly scene, sources told Fox News.

Bekhzod Asrarov, 42, rammed the back of a vehicle on Interstate 71 in Madison County, resulting in the death of Tobias "Toby" Forsythe, 21, who played goalkeeper for the University of Massachusetts at Lowell, Fox is told.

When Ohio State Highway Patrol troopers arrived at the scene, Asrarov, who holds a commercial driver's license (CDL) from Ohio, tried ripping off the dash camera and tried to destroy it by smashing it, sources said.

He also tried to smash and destroy his three phones and his logging device, Fox is told.

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Asrarov entered the United States during the Biden administration in 2024 via the diversity visa lottery program.

"We cannot let truckers like Asrarov, who can't read our road signs or speak to law enforcement, drive 80,000-pound rigs on America’s highways," Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy wrote on X.

Fox News Digital has reached out to the Ohio Department of Transportation.

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Forsythe, an economics major, joined the UMass Lowell River Hawks in 2026 after playing for Ashland University for two seasons and Shawnee State, where he started all 17 games in 2025, the university said in a news release announcing his death.

"Our entire athletics department is heartbroken by Toby's passing," said UMass Lowell athletic director Lynn Coutts. "Although Toby's time as a River Hawk was cut far too short, he left a meaningful impact and will always be remembered as a cherished member of our UMass Lowell family."

UMass Lowell head coach Kyle Zenoni said Forsythe showed up to the pitch every day to compete and improve as a player.

"He never looked for shortcuts and never expected anything to be given to him – he simply wanted the opportunity to earn it," Zenoni said. "Our hearts are with Toby’s family, friends, teammates and everyone who had the privilege of knowing him. We will forever be grateful that Toby was part of our River Hawk family and we will honor his memory by carrying forward the example he set."

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The Trump administration has intensified efforts to revoke the CDLs of immigrant truck drivers who are not proficient in English, calling them a danger to the road.

Most recently, a Haitian national who authorities said remained in the U.S. despite being ordered to leave was charged in the death of a Pennsylvania State Police trooper who was conducting a commercial vehicle inspection along Interstate 81 last week.