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El-Sayed grilled on Piker, Israel and socialist ties after Mike Rogers skips Senate debate

Wed, 16 Sep 2026 05:30:51 -0400

Michigan Democratic Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed faced roughly an hour of pointed questions Tuesday over his ties to controversial streamer Hasan Piker, his views on Israel, campaign money and his socialist ties after his Republican rival Mike Rogers declined to participate in a scheduled debate in Detroit Tuesday night.

El-Sayed offered one of his most explicit condemnations yet of Piker's controversial rhetoric, declined to give a yes-or-no answer when pressed on U.S. recognition of Israel as a Jewish state and pushed back on questions about his relationship with the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) during the wide-ranging conversation with the moderator.

Rogers did not attend Tuesday's event after declining the station's invitation earlier in the day, leaving El-Sayed to field questions from moderator Roop Raj, viewers and members of the studio audience.

FOX 2 said both campaigns were invited on Aug. 5, the day after Michigan's primary, and that El-Sayed quickly accepted, while Rogers did not formally decline until the morning of the Tuesday debate due to objections over Raj serving as the moderator, arguing he was biased.

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

On Tuesday evening, Raj pressed El-Sayed on whether he could "completely, 100%" disavow offensive comments Piker had made. The question came just two days after El-Sayed resisted questioning about Piker during an appearance on CBS News' "Face the Nation."

"Absolutely," El-Sayed responded to Raj about disavowing Piker's controversial comments, before specifically addressing the streamer's recent remarks about Jewish Americans.

"When Hasan made these comments about Jewish Americans and Jewish Michiganders, I disavowed them entirely," El-Sayed said.

EL-SAYED DISTANCES HIMSELF FROM HASAN PIKER AFTER DISTURBING REMARKS ABOUT JEWISH AMERICANS

El-Sayed went further Tuesday when Raj continued pressing him, saying there were "many, many things" Piker has said that he disagreed with and specifically pointing to the streamer's comments about 9/11 and Jewish Americans. Still, El-Sayed defended his decision to engage with Piker, arguing that speaking with someone does not amount to endorsing all of that person's views and saying he wanted to offer Piker's millions of followers "a pathway back into our politics."

Meanwhile, El-Sayed declined to give a yes-or-no answer when pressed on whether the United States should continue recognizing Israel as a Jewish state, instead saying he believes "in equal rights to peace, dignity and self-determination for Palestinians and Jewish Israelis alike."

"People ask this question about the right of the state that actually exists to exist, but I never get asked about the right of the state that does not exist to exist," he continued. "I don't get asked about whether or not the state that exists has a right to use our tax dollars to do heinous things. I don't get asked about whether or not the kids in Detroit have a right to their tax dollars, so I just think the premise of the question is built around trying to ask people to agree to the current status quo that we have seen become a deeply unstable, deeply violent equilibrium."

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

At another tense point, El-Sayed accused Rogers of trying to turn the race into a "culture war" focused on El-Sayed's ethnicity and Muslim faith. The accusation came as El-Sayed bypassed a direct answer on whether he would return campaign contributions from individuals affiliated with the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR).

Fox News Digital previously reported that El-Sayed's campaign received more than $115,000 from at least 41 individuals who worked for, previously worked for or held leadership roles with CAIR, which has faced longstanding controversy over alleged ties to Hamas and was named as an unindicted co-conspirator by federal prosecutors in the 2007 Holy Land Foundation terrorism-financing case. CAIR has also been designated a terrorist organization by the United Arab Emirates and formally designated or labeled as such in Florida and Texas.

MICHIGAN SENATE HOPEFUL CALLS AIPAC DONATIONS 'LEGALIZED BRIBERY,' REMAINS SILENT ON OTHER DONATIONS

El-Sayed defended the organization as a civil rights group and accused Rogers of trying to make the election "about the color of my skin or how I pray."

The exchange came after El-Sayed repeatedly criticized Rogers over his own campaign funding, accusing the Republican of being beholden to corporations. El-Sayed also questioned Rogers earlier in the event over his attendance at American-Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) fundraisers while discussing Israel.

"I believe in an America that is big enough for all of us: Mike Rogers, Donald Trump, JD Vance," El-Sayed said Tuesday night. "They believe that some people are more American than others. They think that if you pray a different way, your family comes from a different place, that somehow there's an asterisk on your American identity."

Raj, the moderator, followed up, noting that, "JD Vance is the father of the children to an Indian-American," and adding that the "second lady is an Indian woman who came to this country."

EL-SAYED’S HASAN PIKER PROBLEM FOLLOWS HIM TO DEM CONVENTION AS JEWISH VOTERS BREAK RANKS

"I think there is diversity amongst that party," he said.

El-Sayed also pushed back Tuesday night when he was questioned about his relationship with the DSA and whether he shares significant values with the group.

"I'm not a part of the organization," El-Sayed responded before defending his view of capitalism and arguing that corporate consolidation, rather than government regulation, poses the greater threat to free markets.

"We don't live in capitalism. We live in corporatism," he continued. "You don't have to be a socialist to believe that people deserve health care. You don't have to be a socialist to believe that we need good roads."

El-Sayed has repeatedly rejected the socialist label and described himself as a capitalist. The DSA did not endorse his Senate campaign, though prominent democratic socialists have supported, or have been affiliated with his candidacy. CBS News reported last month that El-Sayed said he was not part of DSA but believed the group's supporters should be welcomed into the Democratic Party's coalition.

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Fox News Digital previously reported that El-Sayed spoke at six events held by DSA chapters between 2017 and 2020, including a 2019 fundraiser where he served as a keynote speaker. Socialist organizers have also described El-Sayed as a "longtime friend of Detroit DSA," while El-Sayed told the Wall Street Journal in July that he was "not technically or practically DSA."

The candidates are scheduled to meet Oct. 8 at WOOD-TV in Grand Rapids and again Oct. 21 at WXYZ in Detroit ahead of the November general election.

We spent decades preparing for another 9/11. Another attack may look totally different

Wed, 16 Sep 2026 05:00:13 -0400

The attacks of September 11 fundamentally changed how the United States thinks about national security. Over the past 25 years, we've invested enormous resources in aviation security, intelligence, and counterterrorism to ensure it never happens again.

But threats evolve.

We don't get to choose how our adversaries attack us. History suggests they'll look for the vulnerabilities we've overlooked. And while we’ve bolstered our security and response capabilities, it’s very likely the next major conflict will find its way to our shores again with unconventional attacks on our homeland.

AMERICA BUILT A FORTRESS AFTER 9/11. THEN THE THREAT STARTED HIDING IN PLAIN SIGHT

As we become more electronically interconnected and dependent, regardless of where the physical battles occur, the conflicts will extend domestically intent to cause disruption, panic, chaos and potential loss of lives.

The U.S. must be prepared for the evolution of threats. Not designed to destroy buildings or critical infrastructure but instead designed to disrupt the core systems that allow the country to function. There is no need to physically destroy our economic, emergency response, transportation, and agriculture systems if a single act can render them severely compromised.

FOREIGN ENEMIES HAVE A SHOCKINGLY SIMPLE WAY TO TRACK US TROOPS OVERSEAS, LAWMAKERS WARN

Our vulnerability is well documented because so much of modern life depends on a foundational core: knowing where things are. In fact, it is an assumption so deeply embedded in everyday life that it is almost invisible. Position underpins how trucks move across the country, how food is planted and harvested, how utilities restore power after disasters, how emergency responders reach people in need, and how military forces maneuver, coordinate, and sustain operations. The world does not simply run on roads, communications, banking systems or the internet. It runs on position.

GPS performs so reliably that we've built both military and civilian systems around the assumption that it will always be both available and trustworthy. That assumption is becoming harder to defend.

Recent conflicts have demonstrated that GPS interference, spoofing, and electronic warfare are no longer isolated events. They have become recurring features of modern conflict. So common that the Department of War has made the ability to function without position (contested logistics) one of its top priorities. According to the U.S. Space Force, China is actively developing and fielding counterspace capabilities intended to disrupt and degrade U.S. space-enabled capabilities. Those include anti-satellite weapons, electronic warfare systems, and technologies designed to interfere with satellite operations. Our enemy is giving us their future playbook.

Governments have publicly warned that adversaries continue expanding their ability to jam, spoof, and disrupt satellite-based positioning. The methods vary, but they expose the same underlying dependency: countless systems rely on information that originates thousands of miles above the Earth. In June, researchers linked several brief, widespread GNSS interference events across Europe to transmissions from Russian satellites. They identified at least three incidents lasting up to 10 seconds.

FBI WARNS BATTLEFIELD-STYLE DRONE ATTACKS COULD REACH US: 'ONLY A MATTER OF TIME'

The reality is that every mile between the vehicle and space is another opportunity for an adversary to disrupt position. The vulnerability is not GPS itself. It is the assumption that vehicles — on the battlefield, on our highways or on city streets — foundationally depend on an external system to function.

The very techniques used in conflict zones can, and likely will, also be used domestically and at large scale. And, unlike our warfighters, we are not prepared.

During COVID, we experienced just a shadow of how quickly uncertainty surrounding essential goods affected public behavior and exposed the fragility of supply chains. A widespread disruption to positioning would not necessarily stop every vehicle or shut down every road. It would, however, introduce uncertainty into transportation, emergency response, fuel distribution, logistics, and commerce at precisely the moment continuity matters most. While not physical terrorism, this economic terrorism would have profound implications for military mobility, emergency response, logistics, and the broader economy.

According to a National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)-commissioned study, a nationwide loss of GPS services would cost the U.S. economy an estimated $1 billion every day. That figure reflects direct economic impacts. The broader effects on emergency response, logistics, transportation, and public confidence are far more difficult to quantify.

At the same time, the United States is investing billions of dollars in autonomous systems, robotic logistics, AI-enabled command and control, and next-generation military capabilities. Much of the public discussion focuses on what those technologies will eventually do. Far less attention has been paid to what they fundamentally require before they can do any of it. Whether a vehicle is operated by a soldier or independently, it must continuously know its position and remain capable of accomplishing its mission.

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The United States should continue investing in artificial intelligence, autonomous systems, robotic logistics, and the technologies that will shape the future battlefield. But preparing for tomorrow cannot come at the expense of preparing for today. Twenty-five years after 9/11 , the lesson is not simply that we must prepare for another attack. It is that we must prepare for the next kind of attack. The vulnerabilities are different, but the objective is the same. Strengthening the foundations that keep military forces, emergency responders, and critical infrastructure moving should be treated as a national priority, not an afterthought.

Innovation and readiness are not competing priorities. The best innovation strengthens readiness.

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As we build the next generation of military capability, we cannot afford to overlook the assumptions that make every future capability possible. The enemy gets a vote. Twenty-five years after 9/11 , our responsibility is not simply to prepare for the last attack. It is to question the assumptions that could define the next one.

Four upgrades could decide whether America's carriers keep their edge over China

Wed, 16 Sep 2026 05:00:05 -0400

The aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln is heading for home port in San Diego, while the USS George H. W. Bush and USS George Washington remain on station in the North Arabian Gulf executing strikes and upholding the steel wall naval blockade. America’s aircraft carriers are more important than ever and Lincoln and her crew of 5,000 will get a warm welcome.

But, back in Washington, DC, stormy weather is brewing for the carrier fleet. And one rogue wave coming directly from the White House could imperil the Navy in a future fight against China.

First, a shout-out to Lincoln's combat success in the Middle East, including taking out 200 Iranian drones threatening commercial shipping. And oh yes, the Iranians tried and failed to target the Lincoln. "Since we’ve gotten here, and during Operation Epic Fury, the Iranians were looking for opportunities to attack this ship," Captain Daniel J. Keeler, commander of the Lincoln, told CNN in a hangar deck interview in July. "We’re very well-defended," said. Iran’s shots "don’t get close." In fact, an F-35C stealth fighter from Lincoln shot down one Iranian drone near the carrier back in February.

USS GEORGE WASHINGTON CAPTAIN SAYS MORALE IS HIGH FOR NEW MIDEAST MISSION

Brilliantly as they’ve performed, it’s high time for some major upgrades to naval aviation to prepare the force to take on China’s navy. I’m not talking about chow menus or what’s in stock at the ship stores. Here are four important moves.

Drones. Carrier air wings need their own drones. First to arrive will be the MQ-25 Stingray refueling and reconnaissance drone. With wings that spread to 75 feet unfolded, the Stingray’s job is to deliver fuel from its orbiting post 1,000 miles away from the carrier, and to stay aloft for hours. Look for smaller wingman collaborative combat aircraft drones with extra weapons and electronic spectrum warfare effects to join the airwing in the future, too. The sky’s the limit for carrier-based drones on ships with adjustable catapults. Speaking of which…

PENTAGON CONSOLIDATES DRONE OVERSIGHT AS TRUMP ADMINISTRATION PUSHES RAPID UNMANNED WARFARE EXPANSION

New catapults. President Donald Trump understands the value of carriers, yet he’s worried for years about the new catapults — where magnets instead of steam shoot planes down the deck. So a White House National Security Presidential Memorandum on Aug. 13 tasked the Navy to present options for going back to steam catapults. Big mistake. This, after the USS Gerald R. Ford has proven the new electromagnetic system with over 12,200 launches just from their most recent 326-day deployment. Combat data on the new "cats" looks good. Here’s something else you need to know: the magnetic catapults recharge faster than steam. FORD ran an all-out, multi-day surge exercise earlier this year, and the airwing was able to generate 25% more sorties with the new catapults, compared to the old steam type.

"I think there’s overwhelming support in Congress and in the Pentagon for moving forward with EMALS," Senator Roger Wicker, Chair of the Senate Armed Services Committee, said on Aug. 18. Ripping out combat-proven catapults and weapons elevators will slow shipyards and leave the U.S. Navy short of aircraft carriers to fight China. Also, there’s no going back. The aircraft carrier industrial base includes over 2,000 firms, many of them small businesses, across America. Switch the design of major systems, and you are looking at years of churn and delay.

By the way, France ordered the new system for their next aircraft carrier, and China’s already building their own electromagnetic system, which they probably stole from us.

Faster elevators. Not for the crew, they have up and down ladders. I’m talking about advanced weapons elevators. Made in Cincinnati, the new weapons elevators on Ford are rated for 24,000 lbs. instead of 12,000 lbs. for the old type, and they move 50% faster. Lower stage elevators move ordnance from the magazines in the aft and forward sections of the carrier while upper stage elevators lift the bombs and missiles up to the flight deck. All vital when the crew is rearming aircraft during combat operations. Once again, the White House is wavering, but consider that the Navy’s newest long-range weapons are big and heavy. The Malice air-to-air missile, unveiled just last month, weighs 1500 lbs. Best to stick with the advanced weapons elevators.

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A stealthy new fighter jet. Long in the works, the Navy’s sixth-generation F/A-XX is ready to move ahead. Boeing and Northrop Grumman both have secret demonstrator planes. The new fighter-bomber is crucial to adding more range for carrier strike operations. Besides, the clock is ticking. Production of the mainstay Navy F/A-18EF Superhornet is shutting down, and China’s already flown two sixth-generation aircraft prototypes, including one for their navy. Congress instructed the Pentagon to pick a winner and get moving, so point your finger at the Department of War for the delay.

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Aircraft carriers are unique because the President does not have to gain local-nation permission to launch strikes from their decks. They are also moveable bases for massive strike power. China has three aircraft carriers today and the Pentagon expects them to have nine by 2035 versus a U.S. fleet of 11. That’s a significant challenge. The Navy has the advanced technology to keep the edge. But holding up F/A-XX, going back to steam, taking out the fast elevators: all this risks a gaping hole in U.S. military power.

US military releases footage of massive operation to rescue injured airman stranded inside Iran

Wed, 16 Sep 2026 03:12:38 -0400

The U.S. military released dramatic new video on Tuesday showing parts of one of the largest combat search-and-rescue operations in its history, including the moment elite Air Force pararescue operators reached a badly injured American airman stranded deep inside Iran.

The footage documents portions of the massive April operation to rescue the two-man crew of an F-15E Strike Eagle, call sign Dude 44, after the fighter was shot down by an Iranian shoulder-fired missile.

The pilot, known as Dude44 Alpha, and the backseat weapons systems officer, Dude44 Bravo, ejected from the aircraft and landed miles apart, leaving both stranded inside Iran.

While Dude44 Alpha was rescued after a little more than six hours, Dude44 Bravo suffered a broken back, arm and shoulder after a damaged parachute led to a hard landing. He remained stranded for nearly two days before U.S. forces reached him.

HOLLYWOOD LEGEND MAKING MOVIE ABOUT EPIC IRAN RESCUE MISSION TO SAVE F-15 FIGHTER JET CREW

The newly released video shows U.S. military helicopters searching for Bravo as American forces worked to locate and recover him.

Despite his injuries, Bravo moved away from his landing site and began climbing toward a roughly 7,000-foot ridgeline as daylight revealed the desert valley and steep cliffs surrounding him.

The footage also shows American bombers and drones striking Iranian Revolutionary Guard forces that were in close proximity to Bravo.

TRUMP RETALIATES AFTER IRAN ATTACK AS EXPERT WARNS REGIME IS GROWING MORE DANGEROUS

"There was clear intent out of the Iranian ground force to come find those two guys," Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Gen. Dan Caine told CBS News this week.

The video then shows the dramatic moment on April 5 when two elite Air Force pararescue operators, known as PJs, reached the injured Bravo on the mountain ridgeline.

Two large search-and-rescue aircraft had landed on a makeshift desert runway before smaller "Little Bird" helicopters flew toward Bravo's position on the ridgeline.

Bravo called the moment he saw his rescuers "one of the greatest moments of my life."

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

"Let's go," he recalled telling them.

The second rescue operation put 92 U.S. service members on the ground in Iran, marking the first time American forces had boots on the ground in the country since 1980.

Hundreds of U.S. service members also supported the operation from the air, while between 3,000 and 5,000 service members supported the rescue mission overall, according to U.S. Central Command Commander Adm. Brad Cooper.

But the operation was not over once Bravo was reached.

The landing gear of the two rescue aircraft became trapped in the desert sand, stranding Bravo and more than 90 U.S. service members inside Iran. A clandestine Air Force unit was ultimately brought in to extract the group, CBS News reported.

Bravo was finally brought to safety roughly 50 hours after Dude 44 was shot down. The rescue was completed as the sun rose on Easter Sunday.

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Fox News' Liz Friden and Fox News Digital's Stepheny Price contributed to this report.

Multiple death sentences in different states are set to be carried out within 24 hours: 'Not very common'

Wed, 16 Sep 2026 02:03:26 -0400

Multiple executions are scheduled in the U.S. in as many states within a 24-hour window this week.

Georgia and Texas had each planned to put a man to death within an hour of each other on Wednesday before a court stepped in to halt the one in Georgia for now, while Alabama is set to carry out another execution the following day. Texas remains scheduled to execute LeJames Norman on Wednesday after a Georgia judge stayed Stacey Humphreys' execution late Tuesday.

In the Peach State, 53-year-old Stacey Humphreys was set to be executed on Wednesday for his conviction in the 2003 murders of two real estate agents, 21-year-old Lori Brown and 33-year-old Cindy Williams. But a Cobb County judge stayed his execution late Tuesday, meaning the execution cannot move forward unless the stay is lifted or overturned by a higher court.

About an hour after that execution was initially set to happen, Texas scheduled to execute LeJames Norman, 40, for the triple murder of his neighbors during a robbery that turned deadly in 2005.

GEORGIA KILLER WHO MURDERED TWO SUBURBAN REAL ESTATE AGENTS FACES EXECUTION AFTER 23-YEAR WAIT FOR JUSTICE

Then on Thursday, Alabama plans to execute Jeffery Lee, 50, for a double murder carried out during a 1998 pawn shop holdup.

"It's not very common to have this many executions just across a couple of days," Death Penalty Information Center Executive Director Robin Maher told Fox News Digital. "This month, the month of September, we have seven executions scheduled. Last year in October, we had seven executions in a single month. But before then, we'd have to go back all the way to 2010 to see that number in a single month."

"Just earlier this year, in August, there were three executions on the same day," she continued. "This is an unusual year in that we're seeing occurrences like a number of executions scheduled on the same day or during the same month. But there's no evidence there's any coordination among the states to have all these executions occur simultaneously. This looks largely to be a coincidence."

On Aug. 13, three states — Tennessee, Oklahoma and Alabama — carried out three lethal injections on the same day, marking the first time three states executed prisoners on the same day since January 7, 2010.

Weeks earlier, on July 28, Florida carried out two executions in a single day, which was the Sunshine State's first double execution in decades.

FLORIDA EXECUTES 74-YEAR-OLD FOR WIFE'S MURDER, BECOMING OLDEST INMATE PUT TO DEATH IN STATE'S MODERN HISTORY

In 2026, 25 executions have been carried out in the U.S., and 14 are scheduled for the remainder of the year, although that number could change if courts issue stays or states schedule additional executions.

Last year, 11 states carried out 47 executions, making up the most executions carried out in a single year in the U.S. since 2009.

Leading the way in executions is Florida, which set a record with 19 inmates put to death in 2025, more than 40% of the U.S. total for the year. It also carried out 15 so far in 2026, accounting for 60% of this year's total across the country.

Across 2025 and 2026 thus far, Florida accounts for about 47% of the nation’s executions, as it continues its accelerated pace amid a flurry of death warrants signed by Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis.

Texas, Alabama and South Carolina followed Florida, with eight, six and five executions, respectively, in that window. Texas carried out five executions in 2025 and three so far in 2026, Alabama executed five people in 2025 and one in 2026 and South Carolina put five people to death — all in 2025.

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"Last year was a very unusual year. It was the most executions we've seen in 15 years in the United States," Maher said. "This year, we do not expect to reach that number of executions again. There are a number of other warrants that are still open for this year, but I don't think we'll reach the high that we reached last year."

"All of this is really due to Florida," she added. "Gov. DeSantis has decided that he wants to set a record in the number of executions that are conducted during his term. He has scheduled an execution for roughly every two weeks in the state of Florida, both last year and this year."

Two executions remain scheduled in Florida for the rest of 2026. Curtis Beasley, 77, is set to be executed Sept. 29 for the 1995 murder of a woman who was bludgeoned with a hammer, while William Lee Thompson, 74, is scheduled for execution Oct. 13 for the 1976 murder of a woman who was beaten, tortured and killed with a chain-link belt.

3 dead, 1 hospitalized after news helicopter crashes in Los Angeles commercial area

Tue, 15 Sep 2026 23:51:40 -0400

Three people are dead and one person is hospitalized after a news helicopter crashed Tuesday night in Los Angeles, authorities said.

The Los Angeles Fire Department said more than 70 firefighters responded just before 7 p.m. to the crash between two commercial buildings at 9151 N. Mason Ave. in Chatsworth.

NBC Los Angeles confirmed that the helicopter involved was its NewsChopper4. The aircraft was providing aerial coverage of a deadly crash involving a bus and an SUV in the Chatsworth area of Los Angeles when it went down.

PENNSYLVANIA STATE POLICE HELICOPTER, SMALL PLANE COLLIDE IN MIDAIR, KILLING 1 AND INJURING 2 STATE TROOPERS

Three people were pronounced dead at the scene of the helicopter crash and a fourth was transported to a local hospital in unknown condition, according to the department.

One of the victims was a pedestrian in the parking lot, according to LAFD Capt. Branden Silverman. The other two victims were aboard the helicopter and have since been identified as Angel City Air employees Eliana Moreno and George Marciniw, according to NBC4.

Moreno was an aerial photojournalist for NBC4 and its Spanish-language sister station, Telemundo 52. She joined Angel City Air’s helicopter team in 2010 after graduating from Chapman University with a degree in broadcast journalism and political science, according to the station.

Marciniw, the helicopter's pilot, grew up in Southern California and graduated from Burbank High School, according to NBC4.

The crash sparked a fire that damaged four vehicles and two storage containers before firefighters extinguished the flames, according to LAFD. No nearby structures were exposed to the fire.

The National Transportation Safety Board and the Federal Aviation Administration said it will be investigating the cause of the helicopter crash and would be sending one of its investigators on Wednesday.

GOP GOV CANDIDATE RECOUNTS MIRACLE WATER LANDING AS DISPATCH AUDIO REVEALS DESPERATE SEARCH FOR SINKING PLANE

Local outlets reported that several TV news helicopters were in the area covering a Metro bus crash that left at least two people dead and multiple others hospitalized.

Colleen Williams, an anchor for NBC4, confirmed on air that the station's NewsChopper4 had crashed.

"We are going to take a couple of minutes to think about that, process it," Williams said, before the station's coverage cut away.

AMAZON CARGO JET PILOT REPORTEDLY TOLD WIFE, 'MY CAREER IS OVER' SHORTLY AFTER DEADLY CRASH

NBC4 and Telemundo 52 issued a joint statement following the deadly helicopter crash.

"We are deeply saddened to share that a helicopter providing aerial news coverage for NBC4 and Telemundo 52 was involved in a fatal accident in Los Angeles on Tuesday evening. We extend our heartfelt condolences to the families, friends and colleagues of those who lost their lives."

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass mourned the victims of both crashes.

"I’m absolutely devastated by the loss of life in Chatsworth tonight," Bass said in a statement. "My heart is with the families and loved ones of those we lost in the tragic bus collision and helicopter crash."

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California Gov. Gavin Newsom also responded to the deadly crashes.

"Our hearts are with the victims and families of tonight’s devastating Metro bus and helicopter crashes in Chatsworth, and with the entire NBC4 family," Newsom said. "Thank you to the first responders working tirelessly tonight."

Texas Senate candidate Talarico said US was 'backsliding' on democracy in resurfaced clip

Wed, 16 Sep 2026 00:49:06 -0400

Texas Democratic Senate candidate James Talarico said in a resurfaced 2024 interview that the United States was "backsliding" on democracy and suggested Americans should look to countries in Western Europe for "inspiration."

Talarico made the remarks during a June 2, 2024, appearance on "The Weekend Show" with Anthony Davis on the MeidasTouch Network, well before becoming the Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate in Texas.

"We haven't lived up to the promise of democracy," Talarico said. "And of course, some countries are farther along than others, and sadly, here in America, where that experiment started, we are backsliding."

"And that troubles me greatly," he continued. "But all of us still have so much more work to do to create a true democracy."

TALARICO MAKES STUNNING CLAIM ABOUT WHY HE THINKS TEXAS ELECTIONS AREN'T 'FREE AND FAIR'

Talarico added that Americans should look to other countries, "especially in Western Europe," for inspiration about "how to continue with this experiment and ultimately reach that goal of a true democracy, of a beloved community."

The clip drew fresh attention on social media this week, including from Elon Musk, who responded with a single word: "No."

Asked about the resurfaced remarks, Talarico's campaign defended the candidate's comments.

"James agrees with the majority of Texans that America is the greatest country in the world, Texas is the greatest state in the union, and we should always fight for a more perfect union," JT Ennis, a spokesperson for the Talarico campaign, told Fox News Digital.

Talarico, a former middle school teacher and Presbyterian seminarian, entered the national spotlight earlier this year after defeating Rep. Jasmine Crockett, D-Texas, for the Democratic Party's U.S. Senate nomination. He is facing Republican Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton in the general election.

SHOCK POLL: TALARICO TIES PAXTON IN TEXAS SENATE RACE, THREATENING GOP STRONGHOLD

Republicans have repeatedly highlighted Talarico's past remarks during the campaign, including his statements that he thinks of himself as a Christian who "hates Christianity," that "God is nonbinary" and that there are six biological sexes.

Talarico's campaign previously responded to criticism of the Christianity remark by saying he is a devout Christian who is criticizing what he views as the misuse of Christianity to justify hate, violence and greed.

In July, the conservative political action committee Lone Star Liberty criticized Talarico as an "America-laster" after the Democratic Senate nominee called the American flag a "complicated symbol." Talarico's campaign responded at the time that he believes the flag represents "freedom, opportunity, and hope."

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Fox News Digital's Peter Pinedo contributed to this report.

7 Republicans rebel against Trump, vote with Dems to rein in Iran war powers

Wed, 16 Sep 2026 00:19:51 -0400

A handful of House Republicans rebuked President Donald Trump's operation in Iran on Tuesday, joining Democrats to pass a resolution aimed at reining in the commander-in-chief's war powers.

Rep. Seth Moulton, D-Mass., introduced the war powers resolution that was backed by 14 of his fellow House Democrats, including Reps. Jason Crow, D-Colo, and Pramila Jayapal, D-Wash. But it was Republicans who helped put the legislation over the edge.

Seven House Republicans joined all 213 voting Democrats to pass the measure in a 220 to 204 vote late on Tuesday night. Opponents of the bill were 203 House Republicans and Rep. Kevin Kiley, I-Calif., who caucuses with the GOP.

"I've been consistent on that since the war powers provision expired after 60 days of engagement," Rep. Tom Barrett, R-Mich., told Fox News Digital on Tuesday morning ahead of the vote.

REP TOM BARRETT: IT’S UP TO CONGRESS TO PREVENT ANOTHER ENDLESS AMERICAN WAR

Republicans who voted to withdraw U.S. forces from Iran have long argued that it's on Congress to declare war, not the White House. The War Powers Resolution of 1973 generally allows a president to engage U.S. forces in hostilities for up to 60 days without congressional authorization, with an additional 30-day withdrawal period under certain circumstances. Supporters of the resolution argue that period has already expired.

The Trump administration has argued the president is acting within his constitutional authority as commander in chief and has defended the continued military operation against Iran, saying the resolution would improperly restrict the president's ability to protect U.S. forces and national security interests.

The war in Iran has become a political lightning rod in the current midterm election season, dividing Republicans and providing political fodder for Democrats who have accused Trump of getting into another "forever war."

The conflict has also been blamed by some lawmakers and analysts for higher prices at the gas pump, which is expected to be a top issue for voters.

FOX NEWS POLL: VOTERS OPPOSE THE IRAN WAR, SEE PROLONGED COMMITMENT

It also pushed Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., a well-known critic of Trump's foreign entanglements, to try to force a vote on impeaching Secretary of War Pete Hegseth.

But the vast majority of Republicans still stand by the president and insist he is well within his authority.

"The president has done a good job managing all this," Rep. Marlin Stutzman, R-Ind., told Fox News Digital. "We need to stand with the president right now and with the Iranian people. And the president's done what he promised the American people, that he wasn't going to let them have a nuclear weapon."

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The Senate passed a similar resolution in June of this year, also with several Republicans defecting against Trump.

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But even if an identical bill passes both chambers, Trump has indicated he opposes such legislation, meaning it would likely face a presidential veto if it gets to his desk.

Stephen A. Smith calls out NBA star Kawhi Leonard for letting Clippers take the fall for salary cap scandal

Tue, 15 Sep 2026 22:46:22 -0400

ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith went nuclear on Kawhi Leonard after the Los Angeles Clippers' salary cap scandal, torching the league's soft punishment for a guy who just packed his bags back to Toronto.

"For him to cause all the trouble that he's caused for this organization and to walk away with nothing more than having to surrender $700,000 worth of restitution is a crime," Smith said on First Take. "Kawhi Leonard … he's a gangster."

The NBA dropped the hammer on the Clippers with the most brutal penalty in league history: a $30 million fine, five lost first-round picks, and a one-year suspension for owner Steve Ballmer.

LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS FINALLY GIVE UP ON KAWHI LEONARD, SEND FORMER FINALS MVP BACK TO TORONTO RAPTORS

Investigators blew the lid off a shady scheme using sponsors like Aspiration and Daktronics to route millions in under-the-table cash to Leonard and his uncle, Dennis Robertson. The mess even triggered federal and SEC probes, plus a five-year NBA ban for Robertson.

Yet Leonard got off with a lousy $700,000 fine, zero suspension, and a ticket straight back to Toronto.

CLIPPERS FACE FEDERAL CRIMINAL PROBE AFTER NBA PUNISHES TEAM OVER KAWHI LEONARD DEALS

Smith spelled out how Leonard let management take the bullet while he skated away untouched.

"He broke the rules, got caught, pointed the finger at somebody else, threw the organization under the bus, got his money and left the country," Smith said. "I mean, [expletive], how much better can it get than that?"

Despite federal and SEC probes into the illicit side deals, the NBA let Leonard walk with a $700,000 restitution fee. In the end, it was a minor handling charge for a guy clearing nearly $50 million annually. He even waived a $7.45 million trade kicker to guarantee his exit back to Canada.

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The Clippers got hit with $30 million in fines, surrendered five first-round picks, and lost their owner for a year. Meanwhile, Kawhi blamed his inner circle, claimed total ignorance and hopped on a flight to Toronto without missing a single game.

Smith got this one dead right: Kawhi pulled off the ultimate hustle.

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Sally Field remembers shopping at Walmart with Dolly Parton: ‘Can you imagine all of us?’

Tue, 15 Sep 2026 22:22:13 -0400

Sally Field remembers shopping with Dolly Parton at Walmart like it was yesterday.

After the Emmy Awards on Monday night, Field took a moment to remember her loving friendship with the late country music icon and trips they used to take to their local Walmart.

"She was a friend. I admired her. I loved working with her. I never stopped loving her. There were moments where we tried to reach each other, but you know, this is a weird world I live in, this acting world where you do films, and you're so bonded with this group of people, it's like being in battle together," Field told Fox News Digital.

"It's like being in battle of the bulge together, and you save each other's lives, and you've got each other's backs, and you spend 24/7 with each other, and we would go shopping together, all of us, and go to Walmart together," she continued. "Can you imagine all of us coming into Walmart? And it never leaves your soul."

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Field explained that she lived far away from Parton, so getting together was a struggle for the two.

"Dolly and I live so far apart we can never make it ends meet, we could never find a way, but I never stopped feeling that way about her and the times we did reach out I think she felt that way about me. I loved her," Field concluded.

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

At the 78th Annual Emmy Awards, Field gave a tribute, honoring the late star. Speaking to Fox News Digital after the show, she said, "don't even talk to me about it," because it was going to make her "cry."

Parton and Field's friendship blossomed after starring in "Steel Magnolias" together. The star-studded film also included Julia Roberts, Daryl Hannah, Shirley MacLaine and Olympia Dukakis.

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Parton died on Aug. 25, 2026 at the age of 80. Following her death, Field took to Instagram and shared a photo of the "Steel Magnolias" cast and a message honoring her former co-star.

WATCH: Sally Field remembers shopping at Walmart with Dolly Parton: ‘Can you imagine all of us?’

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"If there are truly angels on earth, then we have just lost one. Dolly Parton. There will never be another. I adored her with all my heart and will always cherish our time together. Forever. Rest in peace beautiful Dolly," Field wrote at the time.

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On Monday night, Field was honored with the Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actress in a limited or anthology series or movie for playing Tova Sullivan in Netflix’s "Remarkably Bright Creatures." It was her fourth Emmy win.

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Fourth Florida resident dies after contracting flesh-eating bacteria linked to oysters

Tue, 15 Sep 2026 22:00:44 -0400

A fourth person in Florida has died after contracting flesh-eating bacteria commonly linked to consuming raw or undercooked oysters, health officials said.

The death was included Thursday in the Florida Department of Health's updated fatality count for the deadly flesh-eating bacterium Vibrio vulnificus.

The individual was from Broward County and between the ages of 75 and 79, WSFA reported. It remains unclear exactly how the person contracted the infection.

Previous deaths were attributed to residents of Bay, Palm Beach and Marion counties, according to the state’s health department.

BEACHGOERS WARNED AFTER DEADLY 'FLESH-EATING' BACTERIA KILLS 5 IN SOUTHERN STATE

"Most people get vibriosis by eating raw or undercooked shellfish, particularly oysters," the Florida Department of Health said.

According to the department's website, Florida has reported 21 cases of Vibrio vulnificus in 2026.

In the last 10 years, 2022 and 2024 reported some of the highest numbers of cases and deaths in the region. Florida recorded 19 deaths and 82 cases in 2024, while 2022 saw 17 deaths and 74 cases.

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Officials said the unusual increase stemmed from certain counties experiencing impacts from hurricanes Helene and Ian. Severe weather events that cause standing or floodwaters pose a risk of exposure to the bacteria, officials said.

Vibrio vulnificus is a naturally occurring bacterium found in warm, brackish seawater.

Exposure can occur when a person eats oysters contaminated with the bacteria or enters contaminated water with an open wound.

Health officials said bloodstream infections caused by Vibrio vulnificus are fatal about 50% of the time.

While healthy individuals typically develop a mild illness, Vibrio vulnificus infections can cause severe illness in people with weakened immune systems.

"A recent study showed that people with these pre-existing medical conditions were 80 times more likely to develop Vibrio vulnificus bloodstream infections than healthy people," Florida health officials said.

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Severe infections can cause symptoms including fever, chills, decreased blood pressure, also known as septic shock, and blistering skin lesions. In some cases, wound infections can lead to tissue damage requiring amputation.

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Elsewhere along the Gulf Coast, Louisiana has reported 15 cases and six deaths this year as of Sept. 9, according to the Louisiana Department of Health. Fourteen of the cases were attributed to wound or seawater exposure.

The Texas Department of State Health Services says Texas typically sees an average of 33 cases per year.

Mississippi reported three cases as of August, according to the state’s health department.

Sophie Cunningham says she's talked with NBA Commissioner Adam Silver amid search for WNBA's next commissioner

Tue, 15 Sep 2026 21:52:03 -0400

As the WNBA searches for its next commissioner, Sophie Cunningham said she has spoken several times with current NBA commissioner Adam Silver, who is in charge of the search for the league's next leader.

"I have talked to Adam Silver a couple times, and I think he’s a great guy who’s very knowledgeable and full of wisdom," Cunningham told reporters this week. "Just getting to talk to him and hear his perspective of his approach to the NBA is huge."

Although Cunningham did not speculate about potential candidates for the position, she expressed confidence that the eventual choice will be someone determined to build on the WNBA’s momentum.

CATHY ENGELBERT WILL BE REMEMBERED AS THE COMMISSIONER WHO MADE THE WNBA DEEPLY POLITICAL AND DIVISIVE

"I think he’s going to put someone in place who really wants to take our league to another level than it’s already at," she said. "Our league is booming, so why would we not want someone who is going to try to make it even more booming?"

Cunningham also believes that the next commissioner must put "players first."

"I think that the WNBA has always been a place for people to feel safe and comfortable," Cunningham said. "I think there’s all types of walks in this organization or in this league, which I think is absolutely awesome, but I do think with that, you need someone who’s going to unite everybody because it can be so different."

"My second thing is I really do think that you need a commissioner that is players first, who wants a relationship with the players," Cunningham said. "I think that’s so important."

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"That doesn’t mean we’re always going to get along and we’re always going to agree," she continued. "They have a job, they work for the owners, and so they’re going to have to make hard decisions. But if you have that open line of communication and that respect level, I think that it just feels different."

Cunningham’s comments come as the WNBA prepares for its first leadership change in seven years. Cathy Engelbert, who became the league’s first commissioner in 2019, announced that she will retire at the end of 2026 after more than four decades in business. Her tenure coincided with unprecedented growth in attendance, television audiences, sponsorship revenue and franchise valuations.

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She also oversaw an expansion plan that will grow the league from 12 to 18 teams by 2030, along with new media-rights and collective bargaining agreements. At the same time, Engelbert’s relationship with players was occasionally strained.

Republican upsets party-backed rival to challenge first openly trans member of Congress

Tue, 15 Sep 2026 20:59:20 -0400

Delaware Republicans nominated political scientist Joseph "Dr. Joe" Arminio for the state's lone U.S. House seat Tuesday, bypassing both the state GOP's endorsed candidate and its 2024 nominee to send Arminio into a November match-up against Rep. Sarah McBride, D-Del.

Arminio defeated Rev. Earl Cooper, the Delaware Republican Party's endorsed candidate, and John Whalen, the party's 2024 nominee, for the seat and a chance to defeat McBride in the Nov. 3 general election.

McBride won Delaware's at-large House seat in 2024, becoming the first openly transgender person elected to Congress after defeating Whalen by roughly 16 percentage points in the general election.

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McBride is seeking a second term in a seat Republicans have not won since 2008.

Arminio, a Wilmington native, is a political scientist, author and educator who holds a doctorate in political science from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where he focused on national defense policy and international relations, according to WHYY, a public media organization based in Philadelphia. He earned his bachelor's degree in political science from Johns Hopkins University and has taught at American University and Lincoln University.

Tuesday's race was not Arminio's first congressional campaign, though it was his first in Delaware. He previously sought the Republican nomination in Maryland's 1st Congressional District in 2008, receiving about 1.6% of the vote in a four-way primary won by Andy Harris, according to WHYY.

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Arminio campaigned on economic issues, arguing that excessive public and private debt has squeezed American families. He identified inflation and the cost of groceries, gasoline and housing among the biggest economic challenges facing Delaware.

"The Republican country for that matter is in dire peril," he told WHYY in an interview. "The economy’s in very bad shape. We’re suffering from crushing private and public debt. So your typical family is having a hard time making ends meet. The young cannot afford to buy a home. They’re having difficulty in their relationships, getting married. It’s very, very serious."

Arminio will now try to break Democrats' long-running hold on Delaware's lone House seat, which the party has controlled since John Carney took over after former U.S. Rep. Mike Castle, R-Del, retired and left office when he did not seek reelection in 2010, instead deciding to run for the U.S. Senate.

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Justin Herbert did not seem too pleased with the Chargers after disastrous loss to Arizona Cardinals

Tue, 15 Sep 2026 21:38:38 -0400

The Los Angeles Chargers under Jim Harbaugh have been remarkably consistent.

In 2024, they finished 11-6 and in second place in the AFC West, only to lose 32-12 to the Houston Texans in the Wild Card round of the NFL playoffs. In 2025, they finished ... 11-6 and in second place in the AFC West. They then promptly lost in the Wild Card round 16-3 to the New England Patriots.

While the Chargers' defense improved immediately under Harbaugh and defensive coordinator Jesse Minter, there's been a sense that the offense was not living up to its potential. Quarterback Justin Herbert has the traits to succeed in the modern NFL, elite arm strength and the ability to keep defenses honest by moving out of the pocket and scrambling when plays break down.

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Offensive line play and injuries have slowed the Chargers' attack down, however, and they scored just 368 points in 2025, well behind the league-leading Rams with 518. Harbaugh hoped to address some of those issues by bringing in former Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel to run the offense.

The first opportunity to see that new-look Chargers scheme in action though, was a disaster. Putting it mildly. Los Angeles entered their season opener at SoFi Stadium as significant favorites over the Arizona Cardinals, coming off a dismal 3-14 season that saw them allow the fourth most points of any team in the NFL.

Sure enough, Arizona dominated. The Chargers' defense couldn't get off the field, allowing the Cardinals to dominate the time of possession battle from 37:31 to 22:29. Arizona had 393 yards on offense and allowed just 268, while forcing two turnovers and blocking a punt in the fourth quarter.

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Herbert never really got into a rhythm offensively, threw an interception, and unsurprisingly given the team he plays for, was frequently hurried on dropbacks. After the game, he seemed, well, less than pleased with how it played out.

"We just didn't execute," he said when asked about the lack of success on offense. "It's on us as an offense to not have penalties, we gotta score points in the red zone, we didn't execute on third downs, and we didn't move the ball like we needed to."

When asked whether he "saw the safety" on the interception, Herbert responded, "Yeah."

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Given an opportunity to elaborate, he added, "Yeah, it was a shot play that I threw, and he made a good play on it."

As to whether it was Arizona's defense or the new scheme that caused the disconnect, Herbert once again was less than enthused. "Yeah they played well, but it's on us to play better. It's on us to go score points, to make sure we're doing everything we can on third down and in the red zone. You know, we didn't play the way we wanted to, and we're going to have to watch film and get better from it."

Chargers fans pointed out that it seemed like, from his body language and delivery, Herbert had already given up on the season. Whether that's true or not, Sunday was the continuation of a frustrating run of offensive line play for Los Angeles.

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Across 99 career games with the Chargers, Herbert has been sacked 241 times. For context, Andrew Luck, who famously walked away from the game citing the physical toll of repeated hits, was sacked 185 times in 94 career games with the Indianapolis Colts. That's how bad it is.

One offensive line moment from the loss also drew attention from fans on social media, as three Chargers linemen blocked one player as two Cardinals defenders ran through to sack Herbert.

Head coach Jim Harbaugh admitted as much after the game, saying, "We made some preseason-type of mistakes. Now in retrospect, I wish we’d played our guys a little bit more in the preseason and given them those reps."

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Too late now.

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Herbert isn't going anywhere, and still has the talent to lead the Chargers on a deep postseason run. But if the mentality and organizational alignment isn't there, that might be more of a pipe dream than competent offensive line play in Los Angeles.

Washington Democrat claims majority of recent DHS arrestees posed 'no threat to public safety'

Tue, 15 Sep 2026 21:38:01 -0400

Rep. Pramila Jayapal, D-Wash., claimed Tuesday that "for the first time this summer," the majority of people arrested by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) "pose absolutely no threat to public safety."

Speaking during a House Judiciary subcommittee hearing on immigration enforcement, Jayapal argued the Trump administration has increasingly focused its immigration enforcement on immigrants without criminal convictions or pending criminal charges rather than those with criminal records.

"For the first time this summer, the majority of people that DHS arrested were people who pose absolutely no threat to public safety, and the number of people with criminal convictions who are arrested by ICE actually decreased — decreased, not increased," Jayapal said.

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She argued the administration's enforcement priorities are making communities "less safe."

"That’s because when DHS expends all of its energy to go after parents, longtime friends, neighbors, when [Homeland Security Investigations] agents who are supposed to investigate serious crime and human trafficking are instead being moved to street sweeps and riding along with local police for random traffic stops, we are less safe, not more safe."

Jayapal's comments echoed claims her office made in a Sept. 1 press release, which said ICE data showed "the majority of people they arrest have zero criminal charges or convictions" and that arrests of immigrants without criminal convictions or pending criminal charges had increased 770%.

Independent analyses of ICE data have likewise found that while overall ICE arrests reached record highs during the summer, the share of people arrested without criminal convictions or pending criminal charges also increased.

Her remarks come as the Trump administration has touted record immigration enforcement under President Donald Trump.

ILLEGAL CONVICTED OF ASSAULTING HIGH SCHOOL GIRLS THOUGHT HE WAS FREE — THEN DHS DROPPED THE HAMMER

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrested nearly 51,000 illegal immigrants nationwide in August, according to DHS, marking the highest monthly total on record.

"The hard-working men and women of DHS continue to break records as they defend the homeland and protect the American people," DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin said in a statement.

Mullin added, "For the third straight month, ICE set a new record for the highest number of illegal aliens arrested in a single month, nearly 51,000. This is promises made and promises kept in action. Under President Trump’s leadership, ICE is working around the clock every day to arrest and deport illegal aliens from American communities."

DHS also highlighted August arrests of illegal immigrants convicted of crimes including murder, child pornography and sexual assault of a minor.

MORE THAN 100 HAITIAN IMMIGRANTS WITH VIOLENT OFFENSE AND SEX CRIME CONVICTIONS DEPORTED: DHS

According to DHS, more than 3 million illegal immigrants have left the United States since Trump returned to office.

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A spokesperson for DHS and Jayapal could not immediately be reached by Fox News Digital for comment.

Injured climber crawls ‘through the night’ to safety after falling 500 feet down California mountain

Tue, 15 Sep 2026 21:23:12 -0400

A California climber who suffered significant injuries after falling 500 feet down Mount Shasta spent the night crawling to a remote cabin, where he was found by rescue crews the following day, forest officials said Friday.

The San Jose man, who was not identified, lost control while sliding down Avalanche Gulch, a steep, snow and ice-covered route, Thursday night after reaching the summit in the Shasta-Trinity National Forest.

"The climber told rescuers that he had attempted to glissade down the mountain, lost control, and slid approximately 500 feet. During his fall, he sustained several significant lacerations and injuries to his feet," forest service officials said.

Authorities added that the climber was unable to call for help because his cellphone died shortly after summiting.

MOUNTAIN CLIMBER SURVIVES TERRIFYING 500-FOOT FALL IN CALIFORNIA'S SIERRA NEVADA, NIGHT STRANDED ON LEDGE

Due to the painful swelling that occurred after the fall, the climber reportedly removed his boots and "crawled through the night" down the remainder of Avalanche Gulch to Horse Camp Cabin.

By the next day, his friends were unable to contact him and reported him missing to the Siskiyou County Sheriff’s Office.

Rescue teams and air support were mobilized across several agencies by 2 p.m. Friday, and began searching the Avalanche Gulch area, officials said.

Two hours later, they were alerted that the climber was inside Horse Camp Cabin after a hiker entered the cabin and found him there.

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Officials used the incident to remind hikers to allow plenty of daylight for their hikes, establish a turnaround time around noon, carry backup electronics and be prepared to self-rescue.

"The climber did his best to self-rescue despite significant injuries, and knew his route well enough without a map, to find his way back to the Horse Camp Cabin. Never rely solely on a GPS or phone to navigate – if those devices stop working, your own navigation skills will be critical in ensuring a safe return home," officials said.

They further commended the climber for notifying his friends of his whereabouts before he went missing.

"The climber wisely notified his friends of his plan to climb Mount Shasta and made a point to check in and provide progress updates. When he lost contact, his friends contacted law enforcement to report him overdue and traveled to help with the search effort. It is always advisable to notify at least one person of your itinerary," officials said.

CLIMBER STRANDED ON 6-INCH LEDGE AT 11,000 FEET AS 46 MPH WINDS GROUND RESCUE HELICOPTER

The rescue team was assisted by the Mount Shasta Climbing Rangers, Siskiyou County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue, and a California Highway Patrol helicopter crew.

The incident marks the latest rescue operation in the Northern California forest, where rescue teams respond to numerous incidents annually.

According to the mountain’s website, the route to the summit via Avalanche Gulch is steep and rigorous, requiring proper equipment and snow-travel skills.

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Last September, three novice hikers were stranded overnight in a steep canyon after heavily relying on AI for information about the routes.

In late June, another 31-year-old novice climber was flown to a hospital after slipping and falling 1,500 feet.

Real Madrid faces controversy after three star players refuse to wear pro-Ceuta solidarity shirts before match

Tue, 15 Sep 2026 21:18:45 -0400

Three very prominent soccer stars at Real Madrid sparked controversy on Tuesday night after refusing to wear T-shirts showing support for the autonomous city of Ceuta, which has dealt with a migrant crisis since late July.

France stars Kylian Mbappé and Ibrahima Konaté, as well as Brazil’s Vinícius Júnior, stepped onto the pitch at the Martinez Valero on Tuesday night for their match against Elche covering the shirts which bore the slogan, "We are all Caballas," in Spanish.

The slogan was a show of support, with Caballas being the term used for locals from Ceuta.

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For context, Ceuta is an autonomous city of Spain in North Africa, which borders Morocco. An influx of 72,000 illegal migrants from Morocco rushed into the city, which has a population of 85,000 residents, causing havoc throughout.

Since then, tens of thousands of Spaniards have taken to the streets across their country to protest the government for its handling of the migrant issue.

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Among those showing their support of Ceuta were Real Madrid fans, who just last week unveiled a large tifo, or coordinated visual display, made up of Ceuta flags during the Champions League match against Inter Milan.

And during this match, Real Madrid made it clear it would be showing support to Ceuta after posting a message on its official website.

"Before the start of the match between Elche and Real Madrid, the players of both teams took to the pitch of the 'Manuel Martínez Valero' Stadium wearing shirts bearing the phrase 'We are all Caballas', as an expression of solidarity with Ceuta," the statement read.

Mbappé and Vini Jr. were seen wearing the shirt with the message mostly covered after rolling it up, while Konaté reportedly carried it in his hands. Once the official team photo was taken, Mbappé and Vini Jr. removed the shirts to reveal the Real Madrid jerseys they would wear during the match.

It’s unknown why the three players didn’t want to be involved in the display of solidarity, but it was clear they wanted no part in doing so, adding controversy to Spain’s most popular soccer club.

Prior to this controversial moment, Moroccan soccer player Abdessamad Ezzalzouli caught flak from his compatriots after wearing a similar shirt showing support of those in Ceuta during Real Betis’ match against Villarreal on Monday. He reportedly received threats and got tons of vitriol sent his way, as many Moroccans believed it was a political statement against his country.

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Ezzalzouli later said on his Instagram that, "The shirt had a social character, within the framework of supporting the residents and people of a region who were living through a difficult situation, regardless of their nationality."

"But at the same time, this is not an apology to anyone, and anyone who wishes to exploit this matter to question my love for my country is free to do so. As for me, I will continue to live every day with my head held high, and I will continue to represent my roots with pride and sacrifice."

Thousands of the migrants that flooded into the Spanish territory remain in place even now.

"What happened to us was not a migratory crisis," Ceuta's regional leader, Juan Jesús Vivas, said earlier this month. "What happened was the violation of Spain's territorial integrity."

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Authorities said that 50,000 protesters were in Madrid’s streets alone earlier this month, showing their frustration with Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez for his administration’s handling of the crisis.

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Ms Rachel says backlash over her Gaza posts 'doesn't faze' her as she calls out celebrity silence

Tue, 15 Sep 2026 21:16:51 -0400

Children's YouTuber star Ms. Rachel told Rolling Stone magazine on Tuesday that the backlash she received for her social media posts on Gaza "doesn't faze" her too much anymore.

The magazine reported that although Ms. Rachel, whose real name is Rachel Griffin Accurso, has spoken out on other political issues such as the Trump administration's deportation policies or LGBTQ activism, her comments on the Israel-Hamas war drew the most "aggressive criticism."

She remarked that the backlash surprised her initially.

"I thought everyone hated me at one point," Accurso said. "I remember calling friends and family members, Jewish and not Jewish, and just being like, ‘Why do people hate that I don’t want kids to be killed and starved?’"

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Accurso continued advocating for Palestinian children in Gaza, calling out celebrities and politicians for not speaking out enough on their behalf.

"‘You’re gonna lose this partnership. You’re gonna lose views.’ That doesn’t faze me because the kids gave me the platform. I’m going to stand with them no matter what," Accurso said. "People on the ground in Gaza are risking their lives all the time to help kids. I can do it from Manhattan."

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

CHILDREN'S YOUTUBE STAR 'MS. RACHEL' TALKS TO ANTI-ISRAEL REPORTER ABOUT GAZA POSTS

The article came days after Accurso accused celebrities who haven't spoken out about Gaza of having a racial double standard in how they value children.

"They probably would say something if these kids were White and from a different place. Please stop being racist and risk something," Accurso said on Instagram.

She was also one of several prominent progressives who called out singer Ed Sheeran following Macklemore's removal as the opening act for his tour after he repeatedly called for a "Free Palestine" and performed his anti-Israel song "Hind’s Hall" during his act.

"Ed Sheeran had an opportunity [to] show that we won't be bullied into punishing people for supporting Palestine. Instead, he caved to people who refuse to accept what the world knows. A genocide is happening in Gaza. We all need to speak out against it," Accurso wrote.

"If more than 20,000 White children were killed in another part of the world, everyone would be shouting about it at their concerts," she added. "Treating some children’s lives as less worthy of outrage is racist. Silence during a genocide is not neutral."

MS RACHEL CONFRONTED ON ACCUSING ISRAEL OF 'GENOCIDE' IN PARK INTERACTION WITH PODCASTER

Accurso has been criticized by pro-Israel organizations and groups that say her posts have shared anti-Israel propaganda by repeatedly accusing the Jewish nation of committing "genocide."

Rabbi Yaakov Menken, the executive vice president of the Coalition for Jewish Values, said in a statement to Fox News Digital, "To attempt to dress up Jew-hatred as a righteous cause is by no means new. No one is criticizing Rachel Accurso because she doesn't ‘want kids to be killed and starved.’"

"She claims to care about 35.5 million children suffering from acute malnutrition across Africa, the Middle East, and Asia, but spends an inordinate amount of time speaking about 0.031 million children in Gaza," he added. "When 0.09% of starving children receive 90% of her attention, something is wrong."

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"She had nothing to say about Israeli children being held hostage until seven months later, when the backlash became too loud to ignore. It is clear that her problem is not a deep concern for children, but that she is using her purported deep concern to mask something much darker," Menken concluded.

Airport X-ray shows terrifying object taped in carry-on to skip checked baggage fee

Tue, 15 Sep 2026 21:00:49 -0400

A traveler tried to dodge a $100 baggage fee by hiding a dangerous item inside her carry-on bag — but it wasn't long before she was caught red-handed.

The unidentified passenger was going through security at Dane County Regional Airport in Madison, Wisconsin, when a TSA officer spotted what appeared to be a knife on an X-ray machine, according to an employee story published on the agency's website.

Officers searched the bag and discovered the knife had been taped in place inside the luggage, according to TSA.

TSA OFFICER SEES ALARMING SHAPES ON X-RAY BEFORE STOLEN CIVIL WAR MYSTERY UNRAVELS

The passenger later admitted she tried to conceal the knife from TSA because she had an upcoming camping trip, the agency said.

"Her response to me was, 'I was attempting to conceal this knife from TSA,'" Supervisory TSA Officer Andrew Kasten said.

The admission, along with the discovery of the concealed knife, prompted Kasten to call law enforcement.

The Dane County Sheriff's Office and TSA Manager Annie Lu responded to the scene, TSA said.

The woman told officers she did not think TSA would find the knife.

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She said she chose not to check her luggage because she wanted to avoid a $100 baggage fee, according to the agency.

TSA Officer Callie Meis, who has worked for the agency for 22 years, first flagged the bag for additional screening after spotting the suspected knife on the X-ray.

"I have encountered many knives over the years, but never in this position within a bag," Kasten said.

Jim Kohn, who has worked for TSA for 21 years, said he's encountered knives that accidentally slipped through holes in purses, bag liners or jacket pockets. In this case, however, the passenger acknowledged deliberately securing the knife with tape.

"Our team does a great job making sure every possible threat is found when we need to conduct additional screening," Kohn said.

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TSA officers are trained to detect concealed items — and Kasten warned travelers against risking potential penalties in an effort to save money.

"When contemplating the options of saving a few dollars or paying a federal civil penalty due to something hidden, I recommend being smart about it," Kasten said.

"For whatever reason you may be traveling, don't jeopardize your income or freedom just to save an item like this $5 knife."

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The passenger voluntarily surrendered the knife and was cleared to travel, according to TSA.

Fox News Digital reached out to TSA for comment and further details.

Iran’s drone hunt escalates as Tehran targets US spy tech to expose battlefield secrets

Tue, 15 Sep 2026 20:56:10 -0400

Iran is deliberately targeting U.S. naval drones in the Strait of Hormuz to gather intelligence on American surveillance capabilities and learn how to evade U.S. defenses, drone experts warned Tuesday.

Tehran’s strategy is coordinated, they said, and involves exposing critical insights into U.S. Navy theater operations in the world’s most vulnerable maritime choke point even when classified data is uncompromised.

The warning came as tensions escalated in the Gulf region Sept. 14 after the U.S. military destroyed two Iranian small boats amid an attempted seizure by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) of an American unmanned surface vessel (USV) patrolling the area, according to reports.

US MILITARY ATTACKS IRAN IN 'SELF-DEFENSE STRIKES' OVER WEEKEND

Iranian state media initially said the incident was a U.S. strike on civilian fishing vessels while its officials reported search-and-rescue operations off the coast of Kargan and near Larak Island, claiming local fishermen were missing.

U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) spokesperson Capt. Tim Hawkins confirmed the attempted seizure on Tuesday.

"Iranian small boats recently attempted to take possession of a U.S. unmanned surface vessel, but they were unsuccessful after CENTCOM forcefully responded," Hawkins said.

"The surface drone remains under U.S. operational control."

"What’s going on with drones generally in the Strait right now—when we see all these types of intel capture missions that Iran is launching—we need to make no mistake that these are very coordinated, absolutely deliberate drone capture missions," Cameron Chell, CEO of U.S. drone manufacturer Draganfly, told Fox News Digital.

PENTAGON JUMPS FROM $225M TO $55B ON DRONES AS CHEAP ATTACKS OVERWHELM US DEFENSES

Chell warned that even a brief examination of a captured drone provides Tehran with a quick win by revealing how the U.S. conducts surveillance and how to counter those systems.

"If Iran captures a drone, it could give them an immediate tactical advantage," Chell said.

"It may not yield specific classified data, but it gives insight into the theater of operations, which at any given moment offers an advantage. I wouldn’t doubt it for a heartbeat that it is escalating."

"Just getting little tidbits of intel starts to paint a picture, giving them different attack plans, battle plans, and thoughts on what the U.S. might be doing. I would be very surprised if this wasn’t an ongoing effort."

WHO CONTROLS THE STRAIT OF HORMUZ RIGHT NOW? HERE'S WHAT THE SHIP TRAFFIC ACTUALLY SHOWS

Iran's attempts to capture drones underscore growing security volatility in the Strait of Hormuz, the vital international shipping lane where commercial transit has fallen below historic levels since the war broke out in February.

Chell emphasized that any access to captured hardware over the last six months would allow Iranian forces to evaluate sensitive onboard sensors.

"It really speaks to the bigger picture of how the whole intelligence infrastructure works of, say, the Navy, for example," Chell said.

"The other important thing is that when they get their hands on these drones—even if they’re only able to spend some time glimpsing at them before they have to evacuate or abort a mission—is they get a real understanding of the types of sensors on them."

IRAN SAYS ITS SMALL SUBS DEPLOYED TO STRAIT OF HORMUZ AS EXPERT EXPLAINS THREAT: ‘VULNERABLE TO DETECTION’

"That gives them a complete picture of how they can launch attacks and evade the type of sensing equipment out there," Chell continued.

"They can understand how to counter or measure the intelligence being gathered, and potentially use that design offensively in their own equipment."

The latest escalation also follows a Sept. 8 incident involving Iran’s capture of a Dive-LD autonomous underwater drone manufactured by defense contractor Anduril.

While Anduril CEO Palmer Luckey said the drone was designed to operate in "environments too dangerous for humans where capture is an expected possibility."

"I can't get into the details, but it provided significant value for months before capture," Luckey dded.

IRAN’S DRONE SWARMS CHALLENGE US AIR DEFENSES AS TROOPS IN MIDDLE EAST FACE RISING THREATS

"Unboxing ceremony by our reverse engineers, tomorrow morning!" Iran’s embassy in Hyderabad also wrote on X.

U.S. Navy representatives however, said the recovered drone was an older model that had malfunctioned and gone dead in the water.

"The U.S. being alert to the fact that these are high-value targets dictates where and how they use and protect them," Chell noted.

"I don’t doubt that the captured underwater drone had sensitive information on it, but that’s not the point. Again, the point is, they want to see the type of equipment and information being gathered, or view logs to see where it has been. This all just puts the U.S. on higher alert."

Tehran has previously leveraged captured U.S. assets—including an RQ-170 Sentinel stealth drone seized in 2011—to bolster domestic technology and regional propaganda.

Then-President Barack Obama publicly asked Tehran to return the aircraft. Iran later claimed it reverse-engineered the platform to build domestic lookalikes.

In 2022, a U.S. Navy patrol ship and an MH-60S Seahawk helicopter intercepted an Iranian naval vessel attempting to tow a Saildrone surface vessel in the Gulf.

RUSSIA PREPARING HYBRID ATTACKS ON NATO'S EASTERN FLANK, INTELLIGENCE WARNS

"Iran actually has a history of attempting this in the past, and at times has been successful," Chell said, noting Washington takes the threat "very, very seriously."

"In other instances where they’ve gotten sail ship drones, for example, and tried to bring them into Iranian territory—" Chell said, pointing back to the RQ-170 seizure: "a number of Iranian drones look suspiciously like the RQ line."

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"Still, when the U.S. knows a drone has been captured, they adjust their tactics and operational overview accordingly," Chell, whose firm has been awarded a five-year contract by the Government of Canada to provide low-cost tactical intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance uncrewed aircraft systems to the Canadian Armed Forces, concluded.

"There is no question that autonomy and unmanned systems are the new standard in warfare," Chell said.

Ryan Day hints at day of reckoning, vows to make 'hard decisions' after Ohio State's late-game Texas breakdown

Tue, 15 Sep 2026 20:52:22 -0400

Ohio State coach Ryan Day acknowledged that the Buckeyes’ late-game issues against Texas could be costly. He said the team’s struggles "are going to force us to make some hard decisions."

The Buckeyes squandered a 20-point fourth-quarter lead Saturday before the Longhorns rallied for an improbable 24-23 victory.

"We had an opportunity certainly to finish the game and knock them out there in the third quarter," Day told reporters on Tuesday. "It didn't happen. Then we lost momentum and couldn't get it back."

HAS NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP PICTURE IN COLLEGE FOOTBALL ALREADY CHANGED AFTER A STUNNING FIRST WEEK?

Ohio State entered Saturday with a 115-game winning streak when leading by 20 points, the sixth-longest active streak in the FBS. The victory moved Texas to No. 1 in the latest AP Top 25, while Ohio State dropped to No. 6.

"It's extremely frustrating, it's maddening," Day added. "And we're excited to get back on the field and get going because the last couple of days haven't been fun around here."

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"We have to win the fourth quarter."

Throughout the summer, Day returned to a theme he believed would define Ohio State’s season: Against a daunting schedule, the Buckeyes would have to find a way to win the fourth quarter. That mantra took shape after Ohio State failed to close out the final two games of the 2025 season, suffering late-game losses to Indiana and Miami.

Those fourth-quarter miscues notably surfaced in last season's Big Ten championship game, when a missed field-goal attempt allowed Indiana to clinch the title. In the College Football Playoff quarterfinal, Miami responded with a 10-play touchdown drive in the fourth quarter to seal the Buckeyes’ defeat.

"We have to do a better job of identifying how we're going to win these games in the fourth quarter as a group — and do it," Day said. "We put a lot of work into it, so to see it happen like that is extremely disappointing."

While the Buckeyes look to regroup Saturday at home against Kent State, Ohio State’s 2026 schedule still includes road games against Big Ten opponents Indiana and USC, both ranked in the top 12. Indiana went undefeated last season en route to the program’s first national championship.

Ohio State is scheduled to host Oregon the week after facing USC in Los Angeles, then close the regular season with three consecutive games against conference opponents.

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Day emphasized the push for Ohio State to use the painful loss to Texas as a lesson and emerge as a better team.

"If we win that game, then we're not probably having those conversations. So as much as this hurts and is miserable, we have to move forward with it," the longtime Buckeyes coach said. "And the plan is to be a better, stronger team ... and making sure that as we get ourselves in that situation again, we're able to finish the game the way we should."

Lawmakers throw out 'Trojan horse' activists they say are engaged in American subversion

Tue, 15 Sep 2026 20:50:51 -0400

WASHINGTON, D.C. – CodePink co-founder Medea Benjamin and two fellow agitators entered the House Foreign Affairs Committee hearing room 2272 today, wearing camera-ready T-shirts supporting the Islamic Republic of Iran and the Communist Party of Cuba, turning themselves into a live demonstration of the "Trojan horses" for foreign influence that lawmakers had gathered to examine.

At 2:39 p.m., about 30 minutes into the hearing's start, after Benjamin carefully photographed their T-shirt slogans appearing on the TV screen behind the witnesses, staffers on the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on South and Central Asia had had enough, and Capitol Hill police officers escorted Benjamin and her fellow agitators out of the room, as they protested their ejection for staging their trademark CodePink antics.

For lawmakers, CodePink’s camera-conscious performance underscored the central point of the hearing: that protest theater, messaging and social-media content can function as parts of foreign influence operations.

"It's really about theatrics," Subcommittee Chairman Bill Huizenga, R-Mich., later told Fox News Digital. "They're using it not to affect policy, but really to enrich themselves because they use that then to go out on social media, to try to whip other people up, to help donations, to help get volunteers, help get some of those other folks, and to really try to go and disrupt our – not just our sense of government and processing government – but society."

HOUSE PANEL TO PROBE FOREIGN ‘TROJAN HORSES’ AS SINGHAM SCRUTINY WIDENS

Singham network takes center stage

The hearing, "Trojan Horses: Covert Foreign Malign Influence Operations in America," focused on the network of nonprofits, media outlets and activist groups that are promoting the interests of foreign governments and pro-communist ideologues, like Neville Roy Singham, a U.S. tech tycoon who lives in Shanghai, supporting the Chinese Communist Party. According to a Fox News Digital investigation, Singham has pumped $278 million into a far-left network of groups that have pushed anti-America, pro-China propaganda, including CodePink, which has received $1.33 million from Singham.

Outside the hearing room, Benjamin refused to answer questions from Fox News Digital about the Singham funding, and instead slipped into the hearing room with her fellow activists and positioned themselves behind the witnesses in seats that get maximum TV exposure.

Mike Gonzalez, a senior fellow at the Heritage Foundation, spotted Benjamin immediately and, in a tense back-and-forth with her, said "I’m telling Medea Benjamin that she should try to stop shilling for a communist tyranny."

Standing on the committee hearing room floor, Benjamin defended herself as "anti-war," and denied any direction from the Chinese Communist Party.

CUBA BUILT COVERT NETWORK INSIDE AMERICA THROUGH SPIES, ACTIVISTS AND UNIVERSITIES, STATE DEPT ALLEGES

During opening remarks, Huizenga took direct aim at actors he said are tied to U.S. adversaries attempting to influence the American public, including Singham, CodePink and Marxist influencer Hasan Piker.

"We are here today because America’s adversaries – China, Cuba, Iran, and Russia – are conducting covert influence campaigns to shape American thought and society through lies and censorship. These countries have one shared goal: to weaken the United States of America," Huizenga

"A prominent example of these adversary efforts is Neville Roy Singham, who lives in China and uses his wealth and relationships with the CCP to provide millions of dollars and personnel to extremist groups like CodePink, the People’s Forum, and the Party for Socialism and Liberation to destabilize American society and promote communist ideology," he continued.

Witnesses warn of foreign malign influence

A hub for pro-communist organizing in New York City, People’s Forum has received $22.44 million from Singham.

The first to testify, Gonzalez said a "red-green" alliance of far-left groups working with Islamist organizations channel money through intermediary organizations and donor funds before directing funds toward U.S.-based groups that organize protests and produce political messaging.

Gonzalez pointed to Cuba and China’s influence operations as the basis of a "sustained campaign of subversion against the United States."

He described BreakThrough News as a media platform that amplifies demonstrations and promotes narratives aligned with Beijing, while arguing that the network’s causes — including Gaza, Cuba, Venezuela, the environment and social justice — provide a constantly changing set of rallying points. BreakThrough BT Media runs BreakThrough News and has received $1.098 million from Singham, according to Fox News Digital’s reporting.

The testimony also focused on Singham’s connections in Shanghai. Gonzalez cited research saying Singham shares premises with Maku Cultural Communication, a Chinese communications firm that promotes a favorable image of China, and was photographed attending a Chinese Communist Party strategic communications workshop in 2023. Gonzalez also pointed to connections between Singham-funded organizations and Chinese state-linked academic and media institutions.

POWER COUPLE OF CHAOS: HOW A TYCOON AND ACTIVIST BUILT A 'REVOLUTIONARY BASE' AT THE HOUSE OF SINGHAM

Singham and CodePink have denied that the organization takes direction from the Chinese government. Singham has said he is guided by his own political beliefs, while Benjamin has said CodePink receives no money from the Chinese Communist Party. No criminal charges have been filed against Singham or the organizations in connection with the allegations.

Soon after, Sam Lyman, head of research at the Bitcoin Policy Institute, presented the network as one of three overlapping channels of influence: Chinese state media and online campaigns, nonprofits supported by Singham, and the Party for Socialism and Liberation, a Marxist-Leninist organization that works closely with CodePink, People’s Forum and BreakThrough News. Lyman said Singham-funded groups had echoed Chinese messaging on artificial intelligence, data centers and U.S. technology policy, while the Party for Socialism and Liberation organizers helped mobilize opposition to data-center projects across the country.

In the gallery, CodePink’s Benjamin stared at her phone, scrolling through messages.

Lyman said his research identified 21 campaigns linked to the Party for Socialism and Liberation in 14 states that contributed to data-center moratoriums, a permanent ban and the rejection or cancellation of several projects. He estimated that campaigns in which the Party for Socialism and Liberation played a role had delayed, reduced or blocked proposed AI infrastructure investment across the country. He cautioned, however, that opposition to data centers isn’t entirely manufactured and that many Americans had genuine concerns about electricity costs, environmental effects and local development.

Finally, among the Republican witnesses, Matthew Johnson, senior fellow at the Jamestown Foundation, a think tank, described the Singham network as an intermediary layer that translates themes associated with Beijing — including anti-imperialism, environmental harm, militarization, inequality and opposition to U.S. power — into activist language for American audiences.

HASAN PIKER CALLS HAMAS 'FAR MORE MODERATE,' DISMISSES TERROR GROUP’S BRUTAL RULE IN GAZA

His testimony identified the People’s Forum, BreakThrough News, Tricontinental, CodePink and the communist ANSWER Coalition as part of the broader ecosystem. Tricontinental Ltd. is a Massachusetts-based think tank led by a friend of Singham's, Vijay Prashad, who led a session on the future of Marxism at Singham's wedding to Evans. Singham provided $16.76 million to Tricontinental.

"Beijing cannot simply command an American university, company, journalist, think tank or activist," Johnson said. "It must gain access and cultivate relationships within institutions that shape perception, expertise and decision-making."

Democratic minority lawmakers called Donald Sherman, president of Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, to the hearing as their witness. His opening remarks offered a dissenting opinion to the other witnesses, criticizing President Donald Trump for accepting a plane for Air Force One from Qatar and taking aim at Trump’s family’s business dealings with nations abroad.

The phrase "Trojan horse" comes from the ancient Greek story in which soldiers concealed themselves inside a wooden horse presented as a gift to the city of Troy. Once the horse was brought inside the city, the soldiers emerged and opened the gates to the invading army.

FACEBOOK CO-FOUNDER DUSTIN MOSKOVITZ'S 'EFFECTIVE ALTRUISM' NETWORK TIED TO AI REGULATION PUSH

In modern foreign influence operations, lawmakers used the "Trojan horse" metaphor to describe seemingly legitimate people, organizations, media outlets, nonprofits or cultural initiatives that can provide hidden access for a foreign power's interests. The concern is that a foreign government, foreign intelligence service, wealthy foreign actor or proxy may use that structure to gain access to American audiences, political debates, institutions, policymaking or elections.

CodePink members booted from hearing

After the last witness spoke, about 30 minutes into the hearing, Huizenga briefly suspended proceedings while U.S. Capitol Police approached Benjamin and her fellow agitators.

"We do have some folks who have not verbally disrupted the committee as of yet," Huizenga said. "This has been deemed to be a protest by the clerk because of the nature of the shirts and what is happening."

The shirts were still visible on the official feed of the hearing behind the witnesses.

Video from inside the hearing room shows a Capitol Police officer approaching Benjamin at her seat and asking her to leave. Benjamin complied but protested.

As the activists huddled outside with Capitol Police officers, ranking member Rep. Sydney Kamlager-Dove, D-Calif., objected to the removal, saying the activists were "exercising their freedom of speech by wearing T-shirts" and "certainly were not being disruptive."

CHINA EXPERT WARNS BEIJING WANTS AMERICANS — NOT THE CCP — TO SPREAD ITS MESSAGE

Outside, Benjamin kept the performance going, strategically positioning herself beside the bronze committee placard and started filming a video about the political spectacle just staged, her Trader Joe bag beside her feet. Suddenly, she cut filming when she spotted Rep. Randy Fine, R-Fla., exiting the hearing room. Chasing after Fine, a strong opponent of the anti-semitism of the "red-green alliance" and a strong supporter of Israel, Benjamin hurled questions at her, her team filming the chase.

After Fine entered an office, Benjamin returned to her spot outside the Foreign Affairs Committee hearing room, pulled out a comb to straighten her hair and returned to filming her remarks about the day’s hearing. The video complete, Benjamin disappeared down the hall with her fellow CodePink agitators.

Soon after, CodePink published videos of their members disrupting a House Financial Services Committee to heckle Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. As Fox News Digital has reported, Bessent’s Treasury Department has been investigating CodePink and other organizations for possibly violating restrictions on doing business with the Communist Party of Cuba.

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Then, just about two hours after being escorted out of the hearing room, at 4:38 p.m., the CodePink team posted a carefully edited 43-second video of Benjamin standing outside the hearing room and chasing Fine, packaging the day’s confrontation into a ready-made social-media clip.

Far-left activists from the Singham network quickly shared the CodePink video.

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

Ex-Dem lawmaker receives GOP nod in uphill race to challenge top Senate Democrat

Tue, 15 Sep 2026 20:32:33 -0400

Former Democratic state lawmaker Mike Katz won Delaware's Republican Senate primary Tuesday, sending the state's GOP-backed candidate into a November fight against the Democratic nominee for a seat Republicans have not won in more than three decades.

Katz defeated retired Army colonel John Shulli in the two-way Republican primary and will face three-term Democratic Sen. Chris Coons in the Nov. 3 general election.

Katz, a pediatric anesthesiologist and business owner, previously served in the Delaware state Senate as a Democrat after winning election to the chamber in 2008. He represented the state's 4th Senate District until losing his re-election bid in 2012.

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The anesthesiologist has crossed party lines during his political career. Katz ran for U.S. Senate in 2024 as the Independent Party candidate, finishing third behind Democrat Lisa Blunt Rochester and Republican Eric Hansen with about 4% of the vote.

He later registered his 2026 Senate candidacy as a Republican, according to Federal Election Commission records.

Katz entered Tuesday's contest as the Delaware Republican Party's endorsed candidate. His campaign has focused on lowering the cost of living, reforming health care, protecting jobs in Delaware, and reducing federal spending, according to his campaign website.

SUPREME COURT REJECTS TRUMP BID TO REVIVE STRICT MAIL-BALLOT RULES BEFORE MIDTERMS

Katz characterized his move to the Republican Party as an alignment with long-held beliefs rather than a shift in his political views, telling FOX 29 that re-registering as a Republican "was not a change in principle" but an alignment with principles he had held for decades.

"Our campaign is building a coalition. A coalition of Republicans, Independents and Democratic voters to win this race in November to defeat Chris Coons," Katz told supporters in an ad ahead of Tuesday's primary.

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Katz will attempt to snap a decades-long losing streak for the party in Delaware Senate races. The GOP has not won a U.S. Senate election in the state since Republican Sen. William Roth won re-election in 1994.

Federal judge refers Philadelphia DA Larry Krasner to DOJ for possible criminal investigation

Tue, 15 Sep 2026 20:42:40 -0400

A federal judge referred Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner and top deputy Matthew Stiegler to the Department of Justice (DOJ) Tuesday for possible criminal investigation.

U.S. District Judge Paul Diamond said evidence uncovered in a murder conviction case could constitute false statements, perjury, obstruction of justice and conspiracy.

Neither man has been charged.

PENNSYLVANIA SUPREME COURT DEBATES FUTURE OF IMPEACHMENT TRIAL FOR PHILADELPHIA PROSECUTOR LARRY KRASNER

Diamond also disqualified Krasner and Stiegler from the case but declined to disqualify the entire DA's office.

The judge alleged Krasner and Stiegler sought to pressure prosecutors into presenting a false narrative to the court and that Krasner warned of "consequences" if staff alerted the court to an internal conflict.

"I have thus reluctantly concluded that Philadelphia’s highest law enforcement official and one of his top assistants may have violated the law," Diamond wrote.

AG BLANCHE UNVEILS FEDERAL CHARGES AGAINST 160 DEFENDANTS IN PANDEMIC RELIEF SWEEP

The dispute stems from the case of Dennis Johnson, who was convicted in 2009 of killing Kenyatta Smith.

The DA’s office said in a 2022 filing that Johnson was entitled to habeas relief based on ineffective assistance of counsel, according to The Associated Press.

Prosecutors later raised potential conflicts involving Stiegler and urged that the matter be referred to the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office.

According to the opinion, Krasner opposed that move and repeatedly said someone from his office needed to remain involved to "protect the office."

"I respectfully and vigorously disagree with the court’s findings of fact and conclusions of law," Krasner said in a statement. "I look forward to appealing to the higher court as soon as the law allows. This remains a pending matter, which limits for now my and my office’s ability to respond in the media."

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

Fox News' Jennifer Johnson contributed to this story.

Arizona man says he lost $475k home to HOA foreclosure over less than $1,000 in unpaid dues

Tue, 15 Sep 2026 20:39:13 -0400

An Arizona man had his $475,000 home sold from under him by his homeowners' association (HOA) after falling behind on his dues, which amounted to less than $1,000.

Toby Newton, 53, purchased the four-bedroom home in Mesa in 2022, but fell behind on his quarterly HOA dues after losing his sales job and being diagnosed with diabetes, he told Fox News Digital. In addition, his partner has been battling breast cancer, he said.

"I was a year and a half behind because of the situation I found myself in with my girlfriend and myself getting sick," Newton said. "That's how it started. I called the HOA to make an arrangement with them to get them paid and they wouldn't talk to me. They told me I had to talk to their attorney and that's when it blew up."

83-YEAR-OLD WINS SETTLEMENT AFTER HONOLULU SLAPPED HER WITH $590K FINE OVER WEBSITE GLITCH

Newton paid about $170 to the HOA every three months, eventually owing $977 after getting into financial trouble.

Fox News Digital has reached out to the HOA's attorney.

Newton reportedly contacted the Superstition Springs Community Master Association in an effort to work out a payment so he could catch up on his dues. Initially, he offered to pay an extra $50 per month on top of his monthly assessments in an effort to chip away at his debt.

That was denied, he said.

83-YEAR-OLD WOMAN SUES HONOLULU AFTER WEBSITE ERROR TURNED INTO $590K NIGHTMARE

A monthly increase of $200 was also rebuffed, he said. The HOA eventually began foreclosure proceedings.

"I just don't understand how an HOA that's supposed to be there for the community doesn't work with the community at all," Newton said.

Meanwhile, the debt ballooned to nearly $10,000, Newton said, mostly for attorney's fees for the HOA. The home was sold at a public auction in November 2025 for just $8,172, the Mesa Tribune reported.

"The sale happened and I'm still in the house," said Newton. "I haven't been kicked out yet. That's what I'm trying to avoid. I'm just trying to save it because I don't know how it could go from owing them $977 to $10,000."

Newton said he wasn't aware of the auction until two days before. He said he has no plans to leave the home, which he purchased to spend his golden years after retirement.

"We are holding on to hope that we may still have a chance to buy our home back," an online fundraiser created by Newton and his partner states.

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HOAs have long been accused of abusing their authority and fining, or even foreclosing on homeowners, for committing even the most mundane violations.

Across the country, many HOAs are taking a tougher stance on unpaid dues amid mounting financial pressures. Real estate experts have said the aggressive collection efforts are being driven by rising operating costs, shrinking reserve funds, and concerns that unpaid assessments could leave associations unable to cover essential expenses, FOX Business previously reported.

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HOA-related foreclosures have jumped nearly 40% compared with two years earlier, The Wall Street Journal reported in August.

FOX Business' Bonny Chu contributed to this report.