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WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert caught hitting laughably bad golf shot after allegedly ditching interview

Sat, 11 Jul 2026 08:33:06 -0400

The WNBA can't get out of its own way, and neither can commissioner Cathy Engelbert. To be fair, though, she's working on her golf game, which I can somewhat respect.

For those who missed it, Engelbert allegedly backed out of an interview with "The Dan Patrick Show" Friday afternoon. Both Engelbert and Patrick are at the American Century Championship celebrity golf tournament in Nevada, and — according to Patrick — the WNBA's public relations team instructed Engelbert to cancel.

"We waited almost two hours for her. This was scheduled," Patrick said during a four-minute segment in which he absolutely ripped Engelbert (politely, of course). "She was going to do a meeting in her hotel room, a conference call, and then she was going to join us... We're standing by, we're waiting to interview her.

HOST CLAIMS WNBA COMMISSIONER CATHY ENGELBERT CANCELED INTERVIEW AS CAITLIN CLARK CONTROVERSY MOUNTS

"Then we got word... that the commissioner said that the WNBA staff, the PR staff, said that she is not allowed to do this. They would prefer that she did not do this."

Just unfathomable levels of stupid coming out of the WNBA right now. They've destroyed Caitlin Clark, and, somehow, continue to make things worse.

As for Engelbert backing out ... the commish was seen hitting practice shots out of the bunker a mere 50 yards away after ditching the interview, and "The Dan Patrick Show" made sure to let the people at home see exactly how the beach day was going:

Nothing worse than a bunker shot

Amazing. It's like an episode of "The Office," or "Seinfeld," or "Curb Your Enthusiasm." Take your pick, it all works.

It's the PERFECT clip for the WNBA right now: Cathy Engelbert shanking a ball out of the sand into the clubhouse while Dan Patrick rips her for skipping an interview a few yards up the fairway.

CONGRESSMAN EXPLAINS WHY HE SIGNED LETTER TO WNBA DEMANDING ANSWERS ON CAITLIN CLARK'S TREATMENT

What an awful golf shot to have the entire world see. Lordy, it's my biggest nightmare. I HATE bunker shots. I'm scared to death of them.

I'm not the best golfer in the world, but I do OK on the course. Nothing special, but I can flirt with breaking 80 if things go right.

But put me in a bunker, and it's game over. I'm liable to never get out. They are the absolute worst.

So, in that regard, I feel bad for Cathy here. It's a brutal look and a laughably bad golf shot. A relatable one, but a bad one.

If the cameras ever panned to me on the driving range, I'd want a gap wedge in my hand. That's my safety club. I know it won't embarrass me. Maybe my 58, too. Two clubs I trust.

As for her bailing on the interview ...

Cathy Engelbert is the commissioner of the WNBA. You're the boss. You make the rules. Tell your PR team to kick rocks and go on with Dan Patrick and sell your league. Save your league. DEFEND your league.

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Don't run away because a bunch of PR nerds told you it's a bad idea.

Hogwash.

You're a grown-up. Act like it.

WATCH: Early Graham Platner critic unloads on 'unapologetic' Senate candidate in scathing rebuke

Sat, 11 Jul 2026 08:00:07 -0400

As Democrats scrambled to abandon embattled candidate Graham Platner, after a rape allegation against him torpedoed his insurgent campaign, one progressive lawmaker said it "was a very easy call" to never back him in the first place.

Rep. Madeleine Dean, D-Pa., had no endorsement to rescind, having been among a small handful of Democrats who publicly warned against Platner amid growing controversies, even as much of the party continued embracing him.

"I’m relieved. I'm sure Mainers are relieved. He disqualified himself," Dean told Fox News Digital in an interview after Platner announced his intent to drop out of Maine’s Senate race. He later officially dropped out Friday evening.

"Suspending his campaign, he took no accounting for himself," Dean said, referring to Platner's 11-minute exit video, in which he fiercely denied the allegations and blamed the Democratic establishment for forcing him from the race.

EXPLOSIVE SEXUAL ASSAULT ALLEGATION ROCKS PLATNER CAMPAIGN AHEAD OF KEY DEADLINE IN CRUCIAL SENATE RACE

"That's not the kind of person we want as a senator," she continued. "I don't care if you're a Republican or a Democrat."

Dean's comments echoed a viral CNN interview in early June, when she described the rapidly accumulating controversies surrounding Platner as "distressing" and argued he had already "disqualified himself."

Her warning came a month before a 41-year-old Maine resident, Jenny Racicot, went public with allegations that Platner, while intoxicated, forced her to have non-consensual sex in 2021. Platner has repeatedly denied her accusation, which was first reported by Politico.

At the time Dean spoke out publicly, Platner was the overwhelming favorite for the Democratic nomination. Few Democrats had publicly broken with him despite a growing list of scandals, including a Nazi-linked tattoo, offensive Reddit posts, infidelity and allegations of misconduct in prior relationships, including an account of physical abuse from Lyndsey Fifield, who dated Platner between 2013 and 2015.

Even Democrats who broke with Platner, including Rep. Jake Auchincloss, D-Mass., drew fierce backlash from supporters who argued they were jeopardizing the party's effort to unseat incumbent Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine.

"I said in my mind he had disqualified himself in at least two ways. One was the choice to have a Nazi emblem tattooed to his body. And the other was, of course, the credible allegations of his abuse of women," Dean told Fox News Digital. "So, to me, it was a very easy call. I wasn't trying to weigh in. I was asked by a CNN reporter and I just said he has disqualified himself. Not a tough call."

SANDERS UNDER FIRE FOR PROPPING UP PLATNER AS DEMS TORCH HIS TOXIC ENDORSEMENT 'PATTERN'

Still, many Democrats continued to defend Platner despite the mounting controversies.

Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I., a Platner supporter, said the allegations from ex-girlfriends "seem like a lot of nothing" in an interview with NOTUS, while suggesting that Fifield’s background in Republican politics gave her account a partisan taint.

Other loyal Platner supporters, including Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., argued that voters should focus on policy issues rather than personal scandal, while appearing to dismiss alleged misconduct.

"I think it’s important for us to focus on the issues facing working families a little bit more than Graham Platner’s marriage," Sanders told reporters in June in remarks obtained by NBC.

Asked whether she thought Democrats waited too long to denounce Platner, Dean largely declined to weigh in.

"I don't have a judgment on that," she told Fox News Digital. "They had to do it in their own way. I did it in my way."

"Simply…because I was asked," the Pennsylvania Democrat continued. "I just called it as I saw it. It was not a tough call. The timeline for anybody else, I have no judgment."

Collins, who is seeking a sixth Senate term, is widely viewed as the GOP's most vulnerable incumbent, making Maine one of Democrats' best pickup opportunities — a political calculus Dean said did not justify backing Platner.

"I didn't want to fall into the trap of contorting myself in order to support a candidate who had succeeded in a primary," Dean told Fox News Digital. "Democrats are better than that. We have values that we live by."

"When we get it wrong, we need to simply say that," she continued.

Some Democrats have admitted fault in the days after the Platner campaign’s implosion.

"I got the Platner call wrong, obviously," Khanna, one of Platner’s top allies, told Politico’s Playbook, adding the candidate’s unraveling "doesn’t negate the progressive movement."

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Platner is expected to officially file paperwork withdrawing from the race on Monday — the last day he can do so to allow Democrats to replace him on the ballot. Now, Democrats are working furiously to create a selection process to choose Platner’s replacement.

Whoever Democrats nominate will face an immediate barrage of GOP spending. Collins' allies have already pledged $8 million in negative advertising against the new nominee.

Fox News Digital reached out to Platner for comment.

MIKE DAVIS: Federal court sets dangerous precedent against 99-year-old judge

Sat, 11 Jul 2026 07:25:26 -0400

The U.S. Supreme Court recently wrongly declined to hear U.S. Circuit Judge Pauline Newman's appeal from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. What has happened to her is outrageous, unconstitutional, dangerous, and unacceptable.

For several years, Newman has endured an unconstitutional suspension imposed by her colleagues on the basis of her supposed lack of mental competency—which anyone who has spent any time around Judge Newman knows is absurd. She may be 99, but she is still sharp—and can work circles around her junior colleagues.

The suspension bars Newman from hearing any cases and amounts to an unconstitutional impeachment and removal from office. The Supreme Court set a dangerous precedent by declining to take up the appeal.

MORNING GLORY: THE SUPREME COURT OFFICIALLY CLOSES THE BOOKS ON ANOTHER TERM

Newman has served on the Federal Circuit since 1984. Several years ago, she suffered some brief fainting spells. On that basis, Federal Circuit Chief Judge Kimberly Moore, the villain here hiding under a judicial robe, convened a panel of fellow Federal Circuit judges to determine whether Newman was competent to serve. The problem with this scheme is plain: separate from the Constitution giving lifetime tenure to federal judges to ensure their independence and granting Congress the sole power of impeachment, these judges handpicked by Moore were potential fact witnesses. The Federal Circuit is based in Washington, D.C. All judges serve in the same building. The judges on Moore's panel, which, incidentally, included Moore herself, observed Newman regularly. In other words, Moore assembled a kangaroo panel of judges who had knowledge of all relevant facts ahead of time. This farce is like a jury consisting of a dozen witnesses to an alleged crime sitting in judgment of the accused. Such an arrangement is plainly unconstitutional, as was Moore's rigged panel.

Newman submitted to examinations by three independent experts who evaluated her separately. All determined her to be of sound mind and fully capable of performing her judicial duties. Yet this was insufficient for Moore and her kangaroo court, as the suspension continues indefinitely. Moore has tried to minimize the egregious nature of the conduct by claiming, for instance, that Newman was permitted to attend court Halloween parties. Federal judges are lifetime-appointed to decide cases, not to eat ice cream. No amount of spin from Moore can remove the stench of Newman's mistreatment.

Chief judges appropriately have some leeway to briefly remove judges from judicial duties during the pendency of misconduct allegations. Samuel Kent, a judicial disgrace from Texas, was suspended while the court investigated whether he had sexually abused staffers. The evidence was overwhelming, and Kent — facing certain impeachment — resigned in disgrace and went to federal prison. The indefinite suspension of Newman, however, resembles nothing of the eminently reasonable exercise of judicial power in Kent's case. Newman has always displayed the highest integrity and has done everything possible to demonstrate her soundness of mind. Nothing is good enough for Moore and her sham panel, and Newman is now consigned to banishment thanks to the Supreme Court's shameful inaction.

FEDERAL JUDGE WHO HAD SEX IN CHAMBERS APOLOGIZES TO FORMER CLERK AS IMPEACHMENT PUSH RAMPS UP

The House is the sole body vested with the power to impeach judges. The Senate is the sole body vested with the power to remove judges after a trial. Chief judges hold no such power under the Constitution, yet Moore has effectively accomplished an impeachment and removal. While Newman still receives her salary, she is barred from performing the most essential task of a federal judge: hearing cases. Where does this end?

U.S. Circuit Judge Laurence VanDyke, a worthy Supreme Court candidate should a vacancy arise, is a frequent dissenting voice on the radical Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. Could leftist Chief Judge Mary Murguia decree that VanDyke is cognitively deficient and thus incapable of serving? Can any chief judge handpick a panel to rubber-stamp a determination of mental deficiency and force out another judge? No limiting principle governs what was done to Newman. If Moore can do it to her, any chief judge can do the same to any other judge, even when Congress has shown no inclination to impeach that judge.

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Some judges richly deserve impeachment. U.S. District Judge Eleanor Ross of Georgia, for instance, is a judicial disgrace who allegedly used her chambers like a room at Motel 6 to have loud sex with a married Atlanta police commander. Ross, who is also married, committed this disgraceful act many times within earshot of her aghast clerks. Yet she received a pitiful private reprimand for her judicial colleagues. She is not suspended and continues to hear cases despite deservedly being a laughingstock.

MIKE DAVIS: DISGRACED GEORGIA JUDGE MUST LEAVE THE BENCH OVER SEX SCANDAL

Newman, by contrast, has never done anything to dishonor the judiciary, yet finds herself permanently barred from fulfilling her primary responsibility: deciding cases. A judiciary where Eleanor Ross can preside over cases while Judge Newman cannot is one in utter disarray. The Supreme Court could have stopped this circus but chose silence. That disastrous decision could carry grave consequences for many judges, and many years, to come. Truly shameful.

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Josh Allen recalls his role in Bills' coaching search, details Joe Brady’s approach to new role

Sat, 11 Jul 2026 08:09:49 -0400

The Buffalo Bills’ long-elusive first Super Bowl title remained out of reach after a heartbreaking overtime loss to the Denver Broncos in the divisional round of the playoffs this past January.

While the Broncos prepared for the AFC championship game, the Bills were left to pack up for the offseason. Soon after, team owner Terry Pegula pointed to a belief that the Bills had effectively reached a "playoff wall" under Sean McDermott and decided it was time for a change.

McDermott’s nine-year run in Buffalo ended in January, kicking off the search for the Bills’ next head coach. Once the process began, star quarterback Josh Allen was given a voice in the decision.

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In a sit-down with Fox News Digital, Allen reflected on reviewing candidates with Bills brass and sitting in on interviews during the search.

"It was different," Allen said. "There was no time to think about what happened before it was really on to the next... and (me) trying to help out as much as I can. It wasn't my decision, it's not my decision to (hire the coach) but to be in those interviews and (to) maybe present some ideas or present some questions that people hadn't thought of from a players point of view, it was really cool to see that side too. Hopefully I'm nowhere near done playing, but that whole front office mindset and seeing how it works was eye opening for me."

JOSH ALLEN SAYS HE WOULD BE 'VERY HONORED' TO PLAY FOR TEAM USA IN FLAG FOOTBALL AT 2028 OLYMPICS

"It was really interesting, it was really cool. I appreciate Mr. [Terry] Pegula and (Bills president of football operations and general manager) Brandon Beane for having me in those meetings and at least listening to what I had to say."

After working through several candidates, Buffalo ultimately chose familiarity. The Bills elevated offensive coordinator Joe Brady to head coach, a move that drew some pushback from critics who pointed to his place on a staff tied to multiple frustrating playoff exits. Brady’s role had shifted over time, from quarterbacks coach to interim offensive coordinator and eventually the team’s full-time offensive coordinator.

Buffalo has been eliminated in the divisional round in three of the past four seasons.

For Allen, Brady’s promotion does not appear to signal a dramatic shift. The quarterback said their existing relationship has made the transition feel natural, even as Brady settles into a larger role.

"It's pretty much the same, it's very authentic." Allen told Fox News Digital. "Joe comes off as the most real guy you'll every meet. However, he is cheering for the defense now, which is a new side that we didn't get to see as the offensive coordinator. Obviously he wants to kicks the defense's butt now. But, now I throw an interception, he's cheering for the defense because they made a play."

"It is cool though to see him buy into it (and) really take control of what that defense is doing. And he understands everything that they're doing. He brought in such as good staff. We're very excited for the season."

Beane said the Bills were not locked into hiring an offensive-minded coach, though the bulk of candidates' backgrounds centered around offense. Brady was the first reported candidate to land an interview.

For the Bills' decision-makers, Brady’s appeal went beyond his offensive background. As the search took shape, what appeared to resonate most was how closely he matched the "CEO" vision Beane and Pegula. had outlined.

"It's a CEO job. It really is," Beane told reporters in January. "A lot of your time as a head coach or a GM gets taken away from me scouting, watching players or a coach in their scheming X's and O's, so we've got to make sure we get the leadership, the CEO part."

NFL STAR JOSH ALLEN EXPANDS NATROL PARTNERSHIP, HIGHLIGHTS RECOVERY AND ENERGY

Allen has not been the only Bills offensive player to direct noticeable praise toward Brady since he stepped in as interim coordinator during the 2023 season. Wide receiver Khalil Shakir was among the group who shared messages of support shortly after Brady’s promotion to head coach was announced.

"Joe's dope, man. Obviously, [my] career kind of took off a bit once Joe took over, so I got a lot of love for him and the trust that he's had in me. ... Just super appreciative of everything he does," Shakir said.

Tight end Dawson Knox echoed that support around the same time, saying, "I'm so thankful for [Brady], and this whole team, this offense has so much respect for him as a coordinator and as a man."

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Allen followed up his 2024 NFL MVP campaign by leading the Bills to a wild-card round victory in January, scoring the decisive rushing touchdown in a thriller against the Jacksonville Jaguars. He finished the 2025 regular season with 25 touchdown passes.

Allen and his wife Hailee Steinfeld welcomed their first child together in April.

"Our baby girl has arrived!!" Steinfeld wrote in a Substack titled "Special Delivery" at the time. "We’re feeling incredibly grateful and blessed and savouring these early moments. Thank you so much for the love and well wishes."

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'MasterChef' finalist says busy families are losing something more important than home-cooked meals

Sat, 11 Jul 2026 08:00:59 -0400

Jennifer Maune has worn plenty of hats over the years — nonprofit executive, food blogger, founder, "MasterChef" finalist and mother of six.

Now, the Arkansas native is preparing to add another title to her name: restaurateur.

Maune, who competed on season 13 of Fox's "MasterChef" in 2023, is opening Fleur, a farm-to-table restaurant and European-style pastry shop in downtown Little Rock this fall.

COWBOY CHEF SAYS PHONES AND SCREENS AT DINNER ARE TEARING AMERICAN FAMILIES APART

The roughly $3 million venture is designed to showcase locally sourced ingredients, seasonal menus and scratch-made cooking, but she said the heart of the concept isn't just about food.

"It's just important to me that we gather around a table," Maune told Fox News Digital, much like she does with her family at home.

"That's kind of where we connect. We hear about the day, we hear about what's coming up for the week, talk about homework, grades, you know, what's going on in their lives, friends, activities."

The restaurant reflects a philosophy she said has become increasingly important as Americans juggle busy schedules and constant distractions.

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"I do think that we, as Americans, are so busy with all the different activities around us that gathering around a table is the opportunity for connection and to celebrate milestones and to develop relationships," she said.

Balancing a restaurant launch with six children ranging in age from 6 to 16 isn't easy, Maune admitted. She credits careful meal planning, family support and realistic expectations.

"As a busy mom, if we're headed to a baseball game, and I've just picked up the kids from school, I'm the first one to go through a drive-through," she said, adding that balance matters more than perfection.

"It's always Chick-fil-A," Maune said, noting the various healthy salad options and kid-friendly offerings.

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At Fleur, Maune plans to work closely with Arkansas farmers and growers, changing the menu frequently based on what's harvested each day. She is even growing produce on her own property for use at the restaurant.

"Much like New Orleans, the South region is really known for our flavor," she said, calling Southern cuisine "a hidden gem."

The restaurant will also feature an in-house bakery, artisan breads, pastries and afternoon tea service inspired by Paris and New York.

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While Fleur's first home will be in Arkansas, Maune already has national ambitions, envisioning locations in cities across the country. No matter how much the brand grows, she said one principle won't change.

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"The goal will always be scratch cooking," she said. "So, all of the sauce is made in-house, all of the condiments ... and then also local sourcing in whatever community, state, city that we're in."

Nicole Brown Simpson told former lover she'd 'rather die' than return to O.J. Simpson before her murder

Sat, 11 Jul 2026 08:00:59 -0400

Years before Nicole Brown Simpson's murder, Joseph Perrulli said she made a devastating prediction about her future — one he wishes had never come true.

The couple was having dinner when Simpson confided that her estranged husband, football star and actor O.J. Simpson, had beaten her "really badly," causing her to black out.

Simpson tearfully told Perrulli, "I just prayed something like that would never happen again. But it did. I'd rather die than go back to that man."

RON GOLDMAN’S SISTER, KIM GOLDMAN, SHUTS DOWN ‘MISTRUTHS’ ABOUT HORRIFYING MURDERS: ‘I SEE ALL THE COMMENTS’

On June 12, 1994, Simpson and her friend Ron Goldman were found murdered outside her home in the Brentwood neighborhood of Los Angeles. Thirty-two years later, Perrulli wrote a memoir, "The Forgotten Briefcase," about their romance.

"To hear those words — how do you even process it?" Perrulli told Fox News Digital. "It disturbed me that night. I'll never forget waking up and remembering everything she said to me. But I felt confident she would never go back to him. I saw such strength in her eyes. I figured she wouldn't go back to him."

Perrulli first met Simpson in 1989 through their mutual friend, Kris Jenner. But it wasn't until 1992, after Simpson filed for divorce from O.J., that they reconnected — and Perrulli said the woman he met then was almost unrecognizable from the one he'd first encountered years earlier.

"When I first met her, I suspected something was going on in her life," Perrulli said. "She was very secretive. Her demeanor was unlike anything I'd seen in Beverly Hills at the time. But I remember I was drawn to this inner sadness. I don't know why. But when we reconnected in 1992, she had completely transformed herself. She was a vivacious woman taking control of her life. It was so mesmerizing to me."

After having dinner with the Jenners, Simpson invited Perrulli back to her new rental home in Brentwood. Once she checked on her children, Sydney, then 6, and Justin, 3, she lit candles, and the pair quickly bonded on the couch. There, Perrulli learned about her favorite music — "everything but country," she told him — and her favorite restaurants across Los Angeles. Between laughter, they kissed.

Perrulli also remembered a warning from Jenner's husband, then known as Bruce Jenner, after he sensed sparks were flying between the pair: "O.J. will always be her problem."

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"Those words have always stayed with me," Perrulli said. "Caitlyn Jenner said it almost in passing, but with such a serious look. We were mountain biking in Malibu when I spoke about how incredible Nicole was. I could never let those words go."

When Perrulli left Simpson's home that night, he recalled catching the scent of Paco Rabanne cologne and feeling compelled to look over his shoulder. He also remembered that Simpson wore the scent herself.

Days later, Simpson told him a neighbor had seen O.J. lurking outside her home while Perrulli was there. Perrulli said he realized the scent he'd noticed belonged to the same cologne O.J. was wearing.

As their relationship deepened, Perrulli said he also began to learn more about the darker side of Simpson's marriage to O.J.

"She didn't always talk about the abuse she endured," Perrulli said. "She was very private and held it very close to her chest. We were having dinner when, out of nowhere, she confided in me. I had my suspicions, but it was entirely different hearing it from her."

"I was unprepared for it," Perrulli admitted. "I didn't know how to react. All I could do while she was crying in public was hold her hands and make sure I listened. I never spoke about that to anyone. Ever."

According to the book, Simpson told Perrulli, "He totally lost control, yelling and screaming at the top of his lungs. Then he started hitting me, hard ... I thought for sure he was going to kill me. The pain was so intense, I must have gone into shock because even though I could still hear him yelling and I could still hear his fists hitting me, I was numb. I totally blacked out from the pain."

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Despite everything she had endured, Perrulli said Simpson remained determined to build a new life for herself. She poured herself into raising Sydney and Justin and embracing the independence she believed she had finally found.

As Perrulli fell deeper in love with Simpson, he also grew increasingly unnerved by O.J.'s continued presence in her life.

In the book, Perrulli said the turning point came during a run along San Vicente Boulevard. As he, Simpson and her friend Cora jogged, they unexpectedly encountered O.J. waiting nearby with his and Simpson's children. Perrulli briefly locked eyes with O.J. as he ran past. He described feeling a chill as he saw "the monster from Nicole's nightmare" in O.J.'s stare.

"I saw something far different in his eyes that morning," Perrulli told Fox News Digital.

The encounter convinced him that remaining in Simpson's life would only intensify the danger surrounding her, a realization he later summed up with the words, "Fear can supersede love."

Perrulli said he also experienced what he believes was a prophetic dream in which he and Simpson died together in a car crash.

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"It felt like one of the most significant premonitions of my life," he said. "The following morning, I knew the relationship had ended."

"I regret not maintaining a friendship with her because she was such a beautiful spirit," he said. "But I realized how difficult it was going to be for her to separate herself from him. And, of course, living about a mile from his home, I felt it was an impossible situation to be in."

Simpson wanted to stay friends. She even called him to say her divorce was finalized. She gave him a copy of her favorite book and dropped off a photo album with a goodbye note. She told him, "I want you to keep that, and I want you to look at it sometimes and see what you'll be missing."

Perrulli didn't see Simpson again until the Jenners' annual Christmas Eve party in 1993. There, he said he was stunned to discover she had reunited with O.J.

"I found out they're back together," he said. "I just remember the night when she said she'd never go back to him. She'd rather die than go back to him. I lingered there a little too long. Obviously, I upset him. I regret that last encounter because I thought I'd see her again and apologize."

Six months later, Simpson was murdered. She was 35 years old. Perrulli said he immediately believed O.J. was responsible.

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"I knew exactly who did it," Perrulli said. "But I couldn't grieve. I did everything I could to detach myself, as if the spring of 1992 never existed."

During the 1995 murder trial, Perrulli spoke with prosecutor Marcia Clark after tabloids revealed his relationship with Simpson. He wasn't called to testify. O.J. was acquitted in the criminal case but was later found liable for the deaths of Simpson and Goldman in a 1997 civil trial. He was ordered to pay $33.5 million in damages.

For years, Perrulli attempted to lock away his memories of Simpson. It wasn't until 2024 that he opened a briefcase he initially believed had been lost. Inside were the letters, photographs and keepsakes he'd packed away after ending their relationship — untouched for more than three decades.

"Nicole was seen as just a victim, and Ron Goldman, too, for that matter," Perrulli said. "But she was a devoted mother who, at one point, felt she was finally free. I guess I needed some closure. And maybe, in finding this briefcase, Nicole wants the world to see her for who she was."

Perrulli said he hopes readers remember not only how Simpson died but also who she was during the brief period when she believed she'd reclaimed her life.

CANCEL ME IF YOU CAN: Dave Portnoy takes aim at cancel culture critics who 'already decided' the verdict

Sat, 11 Jul 2026 08:00:44 -0400

Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy drew a sharp distinction between accountability and cancel culture during a New York City event for his new book last week, standing up for free speech but rejecting the idea that the First Amendment can shield people from the consequences of what they say.

Speaking at 92NY, a cultural and community center known for its Jewish roots located on the Upper East Side of Manhattan, "El Presidente" said that people can and should be criticized for making offensive comments, but argued it is a different situation entirely when naysayers decide they dislike a person first and then comb through years of old material in search of something damaging.

"If I say something really bad or offensive or racist or sexist, right now, right here, [I] should be held accountable for that," Portnoy said in response to a question submitted by Fox News Digital at the event.

He emphasized that he believes in freedom of speech, but said there is no freedom from accountability.

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"You can't just say whatever you want and then be like, 'Hey, I can say it. Freedom of speech!' I'm not saying you can't say it. I'm not saying you should go to jail, but you can be held responsible, you can be criticized," Portnoy said.

"And it's real time... To me, that's a big difference."

According to Portnoy, there is one caveat, however: digging up dirt is acceptable if the subject is an elected official or running for office.

DAVE PORTNOY LEFT 'STUNNED' BY NYC SOCIALIST VICTORIES, SAYS THE AMERICAN DREAM IS UNDER SIEGE

"Now, politicians, it's a little different. Like that lady just got elected and [it came out that] she's pro-communist. We should know about that."

Portnoy went on to blast past comments from New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani-backed Democratic congressional nominee Darializa Avila Chevalier and Senate contender Aber Kawas that have resurfaced in the wake of their primary wins. He even flirted with the idea of throwing his own hat into the political ring, making it clear he was no fan of Mamdani.

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The "One Bite Pizza Reviews" host shared the stage with Erika Ayers Badan, with whom he goes way back. Badan is currently the CEO of Food52, but formerly served as the first CEO of Barstool Sports.

The two reminisced on both the good and bad times they shared running Barstool in a conversation marking the launch of Portnoy's new book, "Cancel Me If You Can," which tells the story of building the business. Portnoy observed that he has spent half his life making the media company into the powerhouse it is today.

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He referenced a Jimmy Buffett quote that he said was supposed to appear at the start of the book but was left out, saying it served as a suitable summary.

"I’m so damn lucky to have an all-star cast. Some lovely, some crazy. Who ever thought this would last? You know if I hadn’t lived it, I’d read it myself," Buffett wrote.

Meet 'Count Binface,' the trash can-clad comedian challenging Nigel Farage

Sat, 11 Jul 2026 08:00:24 -0400

Populism has gone interstellar in the English coastal town of Clacton-on-Sea, where political fixture Nigel Farage will take on a trash can-clad comedian known as "Count Binface" in a parliamentary election announced for next month.

Even casual followers of British politics may know Farage already. He’s the leader of the upstart Reform UK Party, which was founded during the Brexit era and places the country’s immigration policy as one of its top priorities. Currently leading in national polls, Farage thrust himself back into the spotlight after voluntarily resigning his parliamentary seat in Clacton-on-Sea, triggering a special election he says will allow voters — not Parliament — to decide his political future.

NIGEL FARAGE RESIGNING FROM UK PARLIAMENT

The move came as a government standards board opened an inquiry into a 2024 €5 million gift he received from cryptocurrency billionaire Christopher Harborne.

Farage denied any wrongdoing, arguing that the gift came during his time as a private citizen and could be used for security purposes. The politician had previously told The Telegraph his home was firebombed in 2025.

In a highly unusual move, every major rival party declined to field a candidate against Farage, dismissing the by-election as a political stunt.

Enter "Count Binface," an "independent space warrior" who now stands as an obstacle in Farage’s path back to parliament. Those familiar with "Lord Buckethead," who ran against then Prime Minister Theresa May in the 2017 general election, may recognize Binface. In fact, the two are one and the same — both characters played by a British satirist and comedy writer by the name of Jonathan David Harvey.

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Binface has become a familiar face on British television, using parody campaigns and tongue-in-cheek policy proposals to lampoon politicians across the political spectrum. His campaign songs and appearances blend absurdist comedy with pointed criticism of Britain's political establishment.

Among Binface’s proposed reforms are to "cut your taxes, and raise everyone else’s," to eliminate auto-renew online subscriptions, and build "at least one affordable house." He also wants to "nationalize Adele."

It’s a stunt reminiscent of the Black Mirror episode entitled "The Waldo Moment." Yet beneath the absurdity of Binface’s manifesto lies an exasperated critique of a political system many Brits feel disenfranchised with.

Britain has endured years of political upheaval, cycling through multiple prime ministers in less than a decade. Most recently, current Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced last month that he would step down, following a disastrous parliamentary election result. The past decade also saw the tenure of Liz Truss, who served as PM for just 50 days.

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The timeline of the Clacton-on-Sea election remains undetermined, as additional candidates are expected to enter the race to compete with Farage before nominations close. But, for now, it’s the Binface moment, with the contest already becoming a surreal collision of populism, protest and political satire.

Whether Binface ultimately dents Farage's campaign or simply steals the spotlight, the by-election is shaping up to be one of Britain's most unconventional political spectacles in years.

Count Binface did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.

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'Moana' Review: Dwayne Johnson returns for Disney's lazy live-action remake that resembles AI slop

Sat, 11 Jul 2026 08:00:11 -0400

It's difficult to think of an example of Disney phoning it in better than its live adaptation of "Moana."

Yes, "Moana" — the beloved 2016 animated film — already has a remake less than ten years after its release, following in the footsteps of remade classics like "Beauty and the Beast," "Aladdin," "The Lion King" and "The Little Mermaid" (not to mention last year's disastrous "Snow White").

There's no doubt that Disney's live-action gimmick has largely paid off. Several of them have made over a billion dollars globally including last year's "Lilo & Stitch" remake. But if they expect people to head to the theater and pay to see one of their movies, Disney should justify a film's existence besides being a cash cow.

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This "Moana" is virtually a shot-by-shot, beat-by-beat redo of its predecessor. Moana (played this time by newcomer Catherine Laga'aia) is the daughter of the chief of the Polynesian island of Motunui, and its people are on the verge of starvation as the island has been cursed after the heart of the nature goddess Te Fiti was taken from her by the shapeshifting demigod Maui (reprised by Dwayne Johnson) a thousand years ago. So she must venture into the ocean to find Maui and restore the heart of Te Fiti to save her people.

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What's shocking about this "Moana" was how overtly lazy it was made. It's supposed to be live action yet everything looks fake. All the beach scenes were clearly green-screened (you can tell by the artificial lighting on their faces). The animals don't look remotely realistic. And don't even get me started on The Rock's ridiculous wig.

Not only is it visually duller, it's duller in every other measurement. It's less funny, the characters are stiffer, even the soundtrack, replicating Lin-Manuel Miranda's original music, isn't as captivating.

Compare that to the original "Moana" — vibrant, beautifully animated, a livelier cast of characters and unmatched vocal performance by the OG Moana Auliʻi Cravalho.

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Thomas Kail, whose directing credits include "Grease Live!" and the Disney+ stage recording of "Hamilton," brings zero creative vision in his theatrical debut, going far beyond relying on the source material as a mere blueprint. It's essentially a regurgitation. There's no added element to separate itself from the animated version.

Disney has had a handful of cartoon-turned-live-action successes like 2015's "Cinderella" or 2016's "The Jungle Book." Even the "make classic villains look sympathetic" movies like "Maleficent" and "Cruella" were interesting. This "Moana" has nothing going for it.

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The Verdict

Disney's "Moana" remake is so uninspired that it might as well have been churned out by AI. Your kids or grandkids may enjoy it, but what's the point when you can watch the superior original version at home?

★ ½ — SKIP IT

"Moana" is rated PG for action/peril, some scary images, rude humor and brief thematic elements. Running time: 1 hour, 55 minutes. In theaters now.

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The two most important American weapons systems NATO is eager to have

Sat, 11 Jul 2026 08:00:08 -0400

Two American weapons systems sit atop NATO’s most wanted list: F-35 fighters, and the Patriot missile interceptors. The buzz at the NATO summit in Ankara, Turkey, began on Tuesday, when President Donald Trump caused a stir on Tuesday by indicating he may clear the way for Turkey to purchase F-35s – after that nation was kicked out of the program in 2019. Then on Wednesday, Trump stunned the world by telling Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy he might grant a license for Ukraine to manufacture Patriot missile interceptors.

"We’re going to give a license to you to make Patriots," Trump said. "That's pretty cool. Right? This way you can't complain that we're not giving them enough. I'd say make them yourself," Trump said on July 8.

Here's why Trump’s discussion of F-35s and Patriots signal his commitment to NATO – and deliver a smack down to Putin.

TRUMP SAYS US WILL LET UKRAINE MAKE PATRIOT MISSILES IN MAJOR POLICY SHIFT

Patriot games

Trump’s public statements about Ukraine building Patriot missiles is like saying "read my lips." Trump is telling Russian President Vladimir Putin that the U.S., with NATO, will continue to support Ukraine’s vital air and missile defenses. That’s a win for Zelenskyy. Barrages against Ukraine now include dozens of ballistic missiles, swathed in 300 or more drones. Ukraine is nailing the Russian drones, but on Monday, failed to hit a single ballistic missile.

"Russia is placing its bets on ballistic weapons, and those who want peace must place their bets on protection against ballistic attacks," Zelenskyy said July 6.

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However, despite the powerful symbolism, don’t look for a "Made in Ukraine" stamp on the Patriot batteries anytime soon. Boosting Patriot production is a top U.S. priority and the supplier base is already in overdrive. Last year, the U.S. Army gave Lockheed Martin nearly $10 billion to speed up production of the most sophisticated Patriot variant.

Subcontractor Boeing just built a new 35,000-foot-facility in Huntsville, Alabama, to triple production of the Patriot missile seekers. The seeker, by the way, is quite a feat of technology. The Patriot interceptor kills through bodily contact: actually hitting the incoming missile warhead directly. That demands a precision intercept, so the Ka-band millimeter wave seeker on the missile has to track moving targets with great clarity in all weather and at difficult angles.

NATO and the U.S. have shuffled batteries and interceptors to Ukraine from the Netherlands, Poland and Germany. Israel also sent a batch of interceptors. "We are working from every angle" to up the flow of Patriots, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said on July 6.

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Could Zelenskyy build entire Patriot systems in Ukraine? Not anytime soon. But Ukrainian firms may be able to join the supplier base. NATO allies are already pitching in with the Patriot supply chain. Poland’s defense company WZE was selected May 28 to manufacture attitude control motors for the Patriot PAC-3; and Patriot lead contractor RTX has worked with 10 Polish companies to implement the Wisla system, linking Patriots with integrated missile defense systems across Poland.

Poland "signed an agreement with the U.S., Germany, the Netherlands and Sweden regarding the creation of a service centre of PAC-3 missiles for the Patriot system," Poland’s Defense Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz wrote on X.

Turkey and the F-35 Lightning II stealth fighter

As for the F-35, I’m all in favor of returning Turkey to the program. Most of the top air forces in NATO fly or are awaiting deliveries of the F-35. "Turkey has been in many ways much more loyal than other countries," Trump pointed out on Tuesday.

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Shaped to be hard to detect on radar, the F-35 has been ruling the skies over Iran. Its powerful engine and sophisticated radar enable the F-35 to shoot down cruise missiles or carry out precision ground attacks. Turkey joined the F-35 program way back in 2002, and plans were in place for Turkish industry to co-produce fuselage sections and many other parts for the F-35.

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Then in 2019, Turkey bought the Russian S-400 air defense system. Experts worried Turkey could fly the F-35s near the S-400s and collect radar signature data; or plug in devices to corrupt NATO’s tactical data links.

So Turkey got kicked out of the F-35 program. It was ugly. Turkish pilots were sent home from their F-35 flight training in Arizona, and their six bought and paid for F-35s were locked up. Fast-forward to 2026 and F-35s have been flying all over the Middle East, and along Russia’s border. The operational security concerns have diminished. Most important, Turkey is building its "Steel Dome" missile defense without the Russian missile system. As Trump no doubt appreciates, F-35s with the Turkish air force could be a big help deterring Russia over the Black Sea and NATO’s southern flank.

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Inside the slapdash Platner vetting job that ignored warnings before bid blew up: source

Sat, 11 Jul 2026 08:00:08 -0400

Graham Platner’s Senate campaign repeatedly ignored warnings from its own vetting team that he needed a more robust background check, a source familiar with the early stages of the campaign told Fox News Digital.

An in-depth vetting process could have saved Democrats a massive headache in one of the most important Senate races of the 2026 cycle, something that has led many on the left to blame Dan Moraff and Morris Katz — the political staffers behind Platner’s meteoric rise — for not doing their due diligence before putting him forward.

The source confirmed to Fox News Digital that the vetting process was largely handled by Moraff and Katz, who limited investigators to a three-day review of Platner.

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The firm that vetted Platner repeatedly reached out to the campaign, warning them that additional vetting was required as the initial review had turned up several concerning pieces of information that could lead to more serious issues — warnings that were ignored by Platner’s staff, according to the source familiar with the early stages of the campaign.

During the vetting process, campaign staff didn't allow the individuals investigating Platner to interview him, the source told Fox News Digital. In addition to the vetting process identifying Platner’s Reddit posts, which the Wall Street Journal previously reported, it also turned up information that cast doubt on Platner’s blue-collar image, the source added.

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"The firm sent us a thing and it had some of the posts, but it didn’t have all of them," Moraff told the Wall Street Journal in June of the vetting process, referencing Platner’s now-deleted Reddit posts.

Many of the scandals that went on to rock the Platner campaign — such as his DUI, his relatively affluent upbringing and Nazi-linked tattoo — were discoverable via public information and later reported by the press.

Platner suspended his senatorial campaign on Wednesday after an ex-girlfriend accused him of raping her. His withdrawal followed a string of scandals stemming from controversial posts he made on his deleted Reddit account, a Nazi-linked tattoo he acquired during his time in the armed forces and his alleged mistreatment of women.

He filed the paperwork necessary to officially withdraw from the election on Friday.

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"That's odd … no one asks for, like, three days' worth of research," an individual familiar with candidate vetting told Fox News Digital. "It's not unusual to have to rush an initial triage research product," the source said, explaining that truncated background checks like that are almost always followed by "a comprehensive doc or a more thorough doc."

Speaking to the Wall Street Journal, Platner’s campaign defended its decision to commission an abridged vetting process on the grounds that they didn’t have the financial resources to afford a more complete investigation at the outset. The campaign paid just over $6,000 for its vetting, compared to the tens of thousands of dollars usually required for a full background check of a political candidate.

Platner, however, very quickly became one of the strongest Democratic fundraisers in the nation, bringing in over $16 million in contributions between July 2025 and June 2026, raising questions as to why his campaign didn’t seek out a complete vetting once it had the resources to do so.

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Democrats in Maine are holding a nominating convention to replace Platner ahead of the July 13 statutory deadline to remove him from the ballot. Party delegates will vote to choose the Democratic nominee for the November general election.

The Platner campaign, Moraff and Katz did not respond to requests for comment when reached by Fox News Digital on Friday.

Adaleia Cross prompts viral conversations with new claims in SCOTUS trans athlete sexual harassment scandal

Sat, 11 Jul 2026 07:49:00 -0400

Hearts broke for West Virginia teen Adaleia Cross on social media after a viral interview with Fox News Digital about her experience at the center of a trans athlete scandal that overlapped with the recent Supreme Court case on girls' sports.

Cross became a sudden teen heroine in the "Save Women's Sports" movement earlier this year after she came forward with allegations that the trans athlete at the center of the West Virginia SCOTUS case allegedly sexually harassed her in the locker room years ago.

In her most recent interview this week, Cross alleged that she was mistreated by both peers and teachers at her school district amid her activism, and that a teacher even said she saw her as "less of a person."

"My homeroom teacher, who I’d had for two years, told me that she sees me as less of a person," Cross said.

"The hardest part of the whole situation for me has been losing friends that I’ve had for years," she said. "I’ve been friends with these kids since middle school, early elementary school, and to watch as we get older, and we get into high school, they just want nothing to do with me.

"People I love don’t want to talk to me now."

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Clips of Cross's allegations spread across social media prompting sympathy and outrage from several prominent activists.

Cross and her parents previously told Fox News Digital the alleged sexual harassment occurred in the girls' locker room during the 2022-23 school year. Cross was in eighth grade, and the trans athlete was in seventh.

Fox News Digital is not naming the trans athlete because the athlete is a minor.

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The ACLU previously denied the allegations.

"Our client and her mother deny these allegations and the school district investigated the allegations reported to the school by A.C. and found them to be unsubstantiated. We remain committed to defending the rights of all students under Title IX, including the right to a safe and inclusive learning environment free from harassment and discrimination," read an ACLU statement provided to Fox News Digital.

But the Cross family's attorneys at Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF) then responded to the ACLU's statement.

"Our client has sworn under oath and under penalty of perjury in numerous cases about the events that took place between her and the male athlete. As a result of the situation, [Cross] had to step away from the sport she loved entirely and sacrifice a key element of her school experience to protect herself," read an ADF statement provided to Fox News Digital.

The Cross family said when they reported the alleged harassment to the school, nothing was done to reprimand the trans athlete, to their knowledge.

"They told me they would do a full investigation into what I told them," Adaleia said. "And then, all of a sudden, it was like nothing else was happening, it was done, and it seemed like they thought nothing of it because they didn't talk to us about it at all, they just left it there and didn't tell us anything else, so it just made it seemed like, yup it's done."

Her father, Holden Cross said, "We received no response from the school after filing the report."

Fox News Digital made repeated requests to the ACLU and the Harrison County School District, which oversees Bridgeport Middle School and Bridgeport High School, seeking documentation related to the school’s investigation and clarification on whether an investigation occurred and, if so, why only the Cross family was not notified of the results. Those requests have not been met.

Fox News Digital has since reached back out to the ACLU and the Harrison County School District for a response to Adaleia Cross's statements, but has not received a response.

The Supreme Court ruled on June 30 that schools may base eligibility for women’s and girls’ sports on biological sex. The court reversed rulings against West Virginia and Idaho, whose laws restrict girls’ and women’s sports teams to biological females.

Cross said most of her high school has supported her. But she said a small group was loud enough to make daily life harder.

"My high school has been very supportive," Cross said. "A lot of teachers, the administration, I know they support me. Most of the kids, I know that they support me."

But, she said, "there’s a very small population that does not, and they are extremely vocal about it."

CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM

"They are aggressive, and there have been threats, and there’s been hate," Cross said. "So, while it’s like an 80/20, it feels more of a 50/50, which has been hard."

And now, despite the fact that the athlete won't be returning to girls' sports, Cross said that she won't be returning to sports either, as too much time has passed since she last competed.

"As much as I would like to, I don't plan on it. I will be a senior this year, and after not participating for two years, I won't be anywhere near with comparing with the other girls because of the training they have had versus what I haven't had," she said.

Robotaxi pit stops could pop up near you

Sat, 11 Jul 2026 07:32:00 -0400

You may already be used to seeing empty robotaxis cruising through city streets. No driver. No passenger. Just a car rolling along as if it has somewhere important to be. Sometimes it does. It may be heading to pick someone up. Other times, it may be driving back to a faraway depot to get cleaned, charged or checked before the next ride. That empty driving has a name: deadhead miles. In other words, the car is using time, power and road space without carrying a paying rider.

Now a Redwood City, California, startup called Aseon Labs wants to bring the depot closer to the robotaxi. The company is building parking-space-sized robotic service pods that can clean, charge, inspect and reset driverless cars closer to where riders actually need them. Aseon calls them modular "reset pods." But if these boxes start showing up near parking lots, gas stations or busy streets, plenty of people may see them another way: as robotaxi pit stops in a box.

The idea could help cut wasted miles and keep driverless cars moving. However, it also raises a very interesting debate for cities and neighborhoods: where exactly do you put these big boxes?

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What are robotaxi pit stops?

Aseon Labs describes its system as a "depot in a box" for self-driving cars. Instead of sending robotaxis back to large centralized depots outside busy areas, the company wants to place smaller automated pods closer to where riders actually need cars. These pods are roughly the size of a parking space. They are designed to inspect vehicles, clean interiors and charge robotaxis between rides. Aseon also says the pods can handle vehicle reset operations, data synchronization, recalibration and lost-and-found handling.

Think of one as a mini service station for driverless fleets. A robotaxi pulls in, the pod checks the vehicle and gets it ready to go back out. That could make a huge difference for robotaxi companies. A car sitting at a depot is not earning money. A car driving empty across town is also not earning money.

Why robotaxi pit stops could cut empty miles

Robotaxi companies face a tough math problem. The vehicles need to stay on the road when demand is high. Yet every car still needs cleaning, charging and inspection. Right now, much of that work happens at depots. Those depots often sit outside dense city centers because real estate costs less there.

Aseon says fleets may travel 10 to 15 miles each way to reach centralized depots. That can turn a routine reset into a long, empty trip at the exact time a vehicle could be picking up another rider. The company's goal is to place service pods within roughly one mile of where robotaxis operate. If that works, Aseon says servicing could be up to 15 times closer to the areas where riders are waiting.

How Aseon Labs robotaxi pit stops would work

Aseon's pods use cameras to inspect robotaxis. Robotic arms clean the interior of the vehicle and retrieve lost items from the cabin. The company also wants the pods to be moveable. That part is important. If one location performs poorly, Aseon could relocate the unit instead of being stuck with a permanent facility.

Aseon says each reset pod is designed to fit within a single parking space and requires no permanent construction. The company also says the pods can be delivered by flatbed truck and become operational within 24 hours. Early versions are expected to have staff nearby. Over time, the company wants the system to operate more autonomously.

The pods could connect to existing power sources through partnerships with EV charging companies. They could also use mobile power, including a propane generator, depending on the location. Aseon says the pods can also integrate with existing DC fast-charging networks, which could help charging operators get more use out of underused stations.

That flexibility may help with rollout. Still, it also opens the door to questions from neighbors, city planners and business owners.

Why robotaxi pit stops could face pushback

If these robotaxi pit stops start showing up across U.S. cities, plenty of people will notice them. You could walk past one on your way to a coffee shop and wonder what it is doing there. Is it a charging station? Is it recording anything? Is it blocking parking? Is it taking up curb space that delivery drivers, cyclists or nearby businesses already fight over?

Those questions are important. City curb space has become some of the most contested space in transportation today. Ride-hailing pickups, delivery trucks, bike lanes, outdoor dining, EV chargers and public transit all compete for the same streets.

Now imagine adding automated robotaxi service boxes to that mix. Even if the pods help reduce empty driving, cities will still need to decide where they belong. A parking lot may make more sense than a residential block. A commercial corridor may work better than a narrow street. In some places, the answer may be no.

Robotaxi pit stops could test city rules

Aseon's pods are considered temporary structures, according to the company's plan. That could help avoid a long permitting process and make the units easier to move. However, "temporary" does not mean invisible. If a pod takes up a parking space for weeks or months, neighbors may not care whether it can be moved later. They will care about the space it occupies today.

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Local governments will likely have to weigh the trade-offs. A pod may reduce empty robotaxi trips, which could lower congestion from cars heading back to remote depots. On the other hand, the pod itself becomes a new piece of street infrastructure. That means cities may need rules around placement, noise, power use, appearance and how close these units can sit to homes or storefronts.

What happens when a robot cannot clean the mess?

One smart part of Aseon's plan is that the pod will not try to solve every problem. The company says its system can use computer vision and AI to detect issues that should go to a human instead. For example, if a camera spots melted chocolate on a seat, the robotic arm may avoid cleaning it because the wrong move could make the stain worse.

At that point, the vehicle could head to a central depot for a person to handle it. That is a good reminder of where this technology stands. Robotaxis may be driverless, but the operation behind them still depends on human judgment.

Aseon Labs robotaxi pit stops are still early

Aseon Labs has raised $10 million in seed funding and plans to build five prototypes. So, this is still an early-stage rollout, not something already popping up in cities across the country. The company has not publicly named signed robotaxi customers yet. However, Aseon says it is talking with autonomous vehicle operators, EV charging network providers and commercial real estate partners. It also says early pilot deployments are starting to take shape.

The business model is also important. Aseon does not plan to simply sell these pods and walk away. Instead, robotaxi companies would use the pods as needed, while Aseon handles deployment, maintenance and daily operation. That could make it easier for robotaxi companies to add service points without building full depots across a city.

For now, these boxes are not suddenly appearing on every corner tomorrow. Still, Aseon's vision is much bigger than a few test units. The company wants thousands of reset pods across major cities, close enough to keep robotaxis moving without sending them back to distant depots.

What this means to you

If robotaxi services expand in your area, you may not only see more driverless cars. You may also see the support system that keeps them running. That could mean automated pods near shopping centers, transit hubs, parking lots or busy pickup zones.

For riders, this could mean cleaner cars and shorter wait times. For cities, it could mean fewer empty trips back to distant depots.

However, for residents, the trade-off may feel different. You may ask why a robotaxi company gets curb space when parking is already tight. You may also want clear answers about cameras, noise and how long each pod stays in one spot.

Kurt's key takeaways

I can see why robotaxi companies would love this idea. If a driverless car can get cleaned and charged closer to riders, it wastes less time driving empty across town. However, I can also see the pushback coming fast. You know how hard it can be to find parking in a busy city. Now picture a big automated service box taking up space near your home, office or favorite restaurant. That does not mean the idea is bad. It means cities need to be careful before handing over valuable public space to robotaxi infrastructure. Aseon says its reset pods could cut costs, reduce downtime and keep driverless cars closer to where riders need them. That's all great, but the big question is still who decides where these boxes go?

Would you be OK with a robotaxi pit stop on your block if it helped cut down on empty driverless cars cruising through your city? Let us know by writing to us at Cyberguy.com.

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Bringing the war to Putin’s front door: Is Ukraine’s energy strike strategy working?

Sat, 11 Jul 2026 07:08:00 -0400

Ukraine’s intensifying campaign against Putin's oil industry is having a growing impact inside Russia, forcing one of the world’s largest energy producers to restrict diesel exports, pursue fuel imports and confront shortages stretching from occupied Crimea to cities deep in the country.

Inside Russia, the consequences are becoming increasingly visible. Former Russian opposition politician and commentator Maxim Katz said the shortages represent one of the first direct ways many Russians have experienced the consequences of the war — and could become particularly sensitive ahead of State Duma elections scheduled for September.

"This is the first time that Russians actually sees that the war has an effect on their day-to-day life — not only in the cost of fuel, but in its availability," Katz told Fox News Digital in a Zoom interview from Israel, where he lives in exile. "You cannot buy it. And that’s a big deal for Russia."

DRONE OFFENSIVE HITS RUSSIAN OIL TANKERS AND REFINERIES AT 'INDUSTRIAL SCALE' AS MOSCOW BANS DIESEL EXPORTS

Katz said elections in Russia are neither free nor competitive, but they still serve an important function for Putin by projecting public support to regional leaders, business figures and other members of the elite.

"If everybody sees in September that he has 20% support or 10% support, then questions begin about why he should appoint governors or control the system," Katz said. "That is something he does not want to deal with."

The fuel crisis, Katz argued, threatens Putin’s effort to portray himself as fully in control and to keep the cost of the war away from ordinary Russians.

"Putin tried to convince everybody that Moscow would continue to live its regular life and nobody would see the war," Katz said. "It was his war, not the war of ordinary Russians. But when the war comes home, this is a completely different story, and it changes the equation."

Katz also pointed to the striking reversal of Russia — historically one of the world’s largest exporters of oil and refined products — seeking fuel supplies from abroad. Reuters reported that Moscow had approached Kazakhstan about importing approximately 50,000 metric tons of gasoline after refinery outages reduced Russian gasoline output by roughly 25% from a year earlier.

The campaign reached a new milestone this week when Ukrainian drones struck the Omsk refinery, Russia’s largest, roughly 1,700 miles from Ukrainian-held territory. The facility temporarily halted processing after the attack, according to Reuters. Days later, another strike shut Russia’s Saratov refinery for the third time this year.

The expanding crisis raises a central question for Ukraine and its allies: Can attacks on the infrastructure that powers Russia’s military and economy alter President Vladimir Putin’s calculations — or will the Kremlin continue shielding its war effort while shifting the burden onto ordinary Russians?

"They have to buy fuel from Kazakhstan now," Katz said. "Russia is one of the biggest exporters of oil and oil products and always has been. This is crazy."

Still, Katz cautioned that the Kremlin would likely continue prioritizing military supplies even as civilian shortages worsened.

"He will find the fuel for the tanks. That is not the issue," Katz said. "The issue is his grip on Russia."

WATCH: FIGHTS BREAK OUT AT RUSSIAN GAS STATIONS AS PUTIN ADMITS FUEL SHORTAGES

Retired U.S. Air Force Gen. Philip M. Breedlove, former commander of U.S. European Command and NATO Supreme Allied Commander Europe, said the effects are already becoming significant.

"Without question, Ukraine’s campaign against Russia’s oil and energy infrastructure is having a real and growing impact on the Russian homeland," Breedlove told Fox News Digital. "The reported reductions in fuel production are significant — close to a third by some estimates."

"These strikes are beginning to seriously impact not just the economy but the Kremlin’s ability to sustain its war effort and military operations," he added. "When Ukraine is able to hit large, high-value energy targets deep inside Russian territory, that changes the equation."

"Russia cannot effectively defend every refinery and energy facility across their enormous territory, and that is the core problem for Moscow," Breedlove said. "Every asset they deploy to defend their infrastructure are assets not deployed to the frontlines."

Moscow has already taken emergency measures. Russia banned diesel exports through the end of July as drone attacks forced unplanned refinery shutdowns and reduced domestic supplies. Seaborne exports of diesel and gasoline fell 39% in June compared with May and 46% from the previous year, according to Reuters.

RUSSIAN GENERALS' ASSASSINATIONS EXPOSE GROWING RIFT INSIDE PUTIN'S SECURITY APPARATUS

Ukraine’s ambassador to Israel, Yevgen Korniychuk, said American intelligence has played an important role in helping Kyiv penetrate Russia’s extensive air-defense network.

"You always have to give credit to the United States," Korniychuk told Fox News Digital. "U.S. intelligence is helping Ukrainian missiles and drones avoid Russian anti-missile defense."

The Wall Street Journal, citing U.S. officials, said in a 2025 report that "The U.S. will provide Ukraine with intelligence for long-range missile strikes on Russia’s energy infrastructure." Reuters, citing the Financial Times, also reported that "U.S. intelligence has helped Kyiv strike important Russian energy assets, including oil refineries, far beyond the front line, the newspaper said, citing unnamed Ukrainian and U.S. officials familiar with the campaign."

Fox News Digital reached out to the State Department and the White House to confirm the reports and the Ukrainian ambassador’s claims.

Korniychuk said the strikes are creating serious pressure inside the Russian system, even if they have not yet persuaded Putin to change course.

"The majority of the Russian leadership understands that this is a crucial problem, but Putin personally does not," he said. "The distance between him and the rest of the Russian leadership is growing tremendously. Even people he has trusted for many years understand that this is going nowhere, but that will not necessarily bring Putin to the same conclusion."

Retired Lt. Gen. Richard Newton, former U.S. Air Force assistant vice chief of staff, argued that the broader strategic picture is shifting in Ukraine’s favor.

"Throughout the conflict, the vast majority of the Russian homeland has been a sanctuary," Newton said. "However, over the last several months, Ukrainian drone attacks have reached deep inside Russia — up to 1,500 miles recently."

Newton said the pressure was arriving as Western support strengthened.

"That is a credit to President Zelenskyy, his military leadership and Ukraine’s defense industrial base," he said. "And it comes at the right time, with Europe now providing military capabilities and financial resources — and now, with renewed public support from President Trump."

Yet the strategy has limits. Russia continues to generate billions in energy revenue beyond the reach of Ukrainian drones.

Urgewald, a Germany-based nonprofit environmental and human-rights organization analysis of Kpler cargo data found that the European Union received 114 of the 118 cargoes shipped from Russia’s Yamal LNG project between January and May 2026 — about 97% of the project’s exports. The shipments totaled 8.37 million metric tons and had an estimated value of roughly $5.7 billion.

"Current trends show EU payments for Russian Yamal LNG are on course to reach almost $7 billion in the first half of 2026 alone," Alexander Kirk, a sanctions campaigner at Urgewald, told Fox News Digital. "These dollars support Russia’s war economy and help sustain Moscow’s aggression against Ukraine, including the drone and missile warfare terrorizing Ukrainian cities."

The figures capture the dual reality confronting Kyiv: Ukraine can damage refineries, disrupt domestic fuel supplies and force Moscow to divert resources, while Russia continues earning substantial revenue from global energy markets.

Amb. Korniychuk said Zelenskyy had given the military 40 days to substantially change the situation.

Katz cautioned that there was no way to predict whether Putin’s system was approaching collapse, but said authoritarian regimes can appear stable until they unravel with extraordinary speed.

He compared that uncertainty to the final months of the Soviet Union.

"Nobody before the August Putsch could even think that in three months from now there would be no Soviet Union," Katz said. "Systems like this — this is one of their common things — collapse quick."

For now, Ukraine’s strikes have not halted Russian military operations or forced Putin to negotiate. But they have reached deep into Russia, strained its fuel system and undermined the Kremlin’s effort to keep the war distant from its population.

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The question being asked by analysts is no longer whether Ukraine can hit Russia’s economic engine, but how much sustained pressure that engine — and Putin’s political system — can withstand.

Slain New Jersey therapist’s grad school roommate recounts friendship with couple during time in Boston

Sat, 11 Jul 2026 07:00:27 -0400

BOSTON – "I hope she was not miserable toward the end of things," said Jennifer Payne, a close friend and former roommate of slain New Jersey therapist Brooke Hanlon.

Payne told Fox News Digital she's known Hanlon since 2013. The two became very close friends while attending graduate school together at Northeastern University. They also were roommates for a few years in Boston.

Hanlon, a 35-year-old who had a baby last year, was found fatally stabbed inside her Chester, New Jersey home on June 6.

NJ HUSBAND BEGS FOR CPR HELP IN 911 CALL AFTER WIFE FOUND DEAD WITH STAB WOUNDS: AUDIO

Payne learned about the death of her longtime friend when a news outlet called her weeks after investigators made their discovery.

Authorities have not yet named a possible suspect or person of interest in the ongoing homicide investigation.

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Speaking about the limited release of information in the case, Payne said, "The whole complexity of it all—and not knowing—keeps you on bated breath all the time."

'THAT WAS THE LAST I HEARD FROM HIM': SLAIN NJ THERAPIST’S NEIGHBOR RECALLS LAST CONTACT WITH HUSBAND

Payne's painful loss of her friend brings back numerous memories, including their post-grad trip to Europe she tells Fox News Digital.

SLAIN NEW JERSEY THERAPIST'S SISTER SAYS FAMILY IS LIVING A 'NIGHTMARE' ONE MONTH LATER

While Brooke and her husband, Conor, were dating, Payne said the group often hung out together and sometimes Conor's family members would join. The Hanlon family is from Boston's Brighton neighborhood.

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Conor had a reserved nature about him when she knew him, Payne said.

"He just didn't really have much personality. I didn't think he was very motivated."

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NJ HUSBAND BEGS FOR CPR HELP IN 911 CALL AFTER WIFE FOUND DEAD WITH STAB WOUNDS: AUDIO

Conor has yet to make a public statement about the death of his wife.

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Conor Hanlon has not been charged with any crime or wrongdoing.

Fox News Digital has made numerous attempts to reach him but calls have not been returned.

How Texas hospitality shattered this World Cup traveler's fears of visiting the USA

Sat, 11 Jul 2026 07:00:26 -0400

A viral Japanese creator known as "Bob" arrived in the United States expecting hostility from a country he worried "hated tourists," but instead found himself embraced by a "kind and friendly country" during his journey, single-handedly dismantling narratives that portray America as a deeply divided and unwelcoming nation.

The "internet’s favorite tourist" made it all the way to the Lone Star State, where Fox News Digital caught up with him this week at popular spots in Dallas like the Katy Trail Ice House and Terry Black's Barbecue.

"I thought that American people hate tourists… but when I [came] here, that image, changed," Bob told Fox News Digital.

What started out as an exploratory trip to visit the United States during the World Cup turned this influencer, known for his high-energy reactions while experiencing heartland grit during his travels for the first time, into a social media sensation.

GERMAN WORLD CUP FAN BREAKS DOWN IN TEARS AFTER BEING BLOWN AWAY BY KINDNESS OF AMERICANS

"I think the media posts negative news because they want to attract [viewers], but… America is really kind and friendly and [a] really nice country," the Japanese tourist continued.

"Negative news is only a small part of the picture. Don't let it shape your entire view of [the] USA. I know it can be scary to visit a country or a city you've never been to before, but don't let negative headlines stop you from experiencing it for yourself," he added. "Come to the USA with an open mind and see it with your own eyes," Bob said.

Bob described the barbecue at Terry Black's as "amazing" and was in awe of the portion sizes and menu selections.

He was also pleasantly surprised that he could pick more than one dessert.

"When I eat Texas barbecue... I feel like I am in Texas," he said.

BLUE-HAIRED WORLD CUP FAN BREAKS SILENCE AFTER HIS EMOTIONAL REACTION GOES VIRAL

Once locals caught a glimpse of him out and about at the Ice House, Dallas residents immediately came up to Bob, snapping selfies with the local celebrity, complimenting his content exploring American culture.

"Everyone's so friendly and really talkative… more talkative than I expected," he said. "They have a lot of hospitality in mind. I feel really welcome[d] from Texas people."

Bob’s journey started after posting a TikTok sharing that he didn’t have a place to stay during a night of his travels, and one of his "really kind" followers offered up their home to him for 15 days.

WORLD CUP SOCCER FANS ARE DISCOVERING AMERICA’S GREATNESS. IT’S TIME AMERICANS DID, TOO

"That was an unforgettable experience," Bob shared. "They showed me around the city, it [was] really nice. They [were] so kind."

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Bob, who revealed he would pick either Seattle or Dallas if he made a permanent move to the United States, shared that "you can't really lump the U.S. together as one place."

"Every state has its own culture and personality. So from now on, instead of saying, ‘I've been to America,’ I'm going to say which state I visited," he relayed.

DAN GAINOR: We got Twitter/X as a platform 20 years ago and global censors still hate and fear it

Sat, 11 Jul 2026 07:00:22 -0400

I’ve been online for more than 30 years. Sometime this July, my Twitter/X account turns 18. That means it’s old enough to vote. The site itself launched publicly 20 years ago, on July 15, 2006. In all, I’ve been online since before the World Wide Web was worldwide back in the 1990s. I’m still a fan of print, but the impact of social media is undeniable. What mankind is still wrestling with is whether that’s good or bad.

To be fair, it’s a lot of both. And that’s an unpredictability governments and lefty journalists hate. The Charlie Kirk assassination went viral unedited. We all saw it, and it was etched into our hearts forever. The same is true of the attacks on President Donald Trump, terrorism and the war in Ukraine. That level of unrestricted freedom is what governments around the world want to stop. If no one can tell what officials are doing, no one can stop them.

America came within a hair’s breadth of that freedom being taken away and censorship taking hold here — maybe everywhere. All the social media platforms were working together to control what we said online during the Biden years, working with foreign entities and so-called fact-checkers to censor more. Tesla founder Elon Musk and Trump stopped them. Musk bought Twitter, which broke the social media cartel, and Trump was reelected.

The censors and control freaks haven’t given up. There is too much power at stake for them ever to stop.

LOGAN WEBB DELETES X ACCOUNT AFTER LASHING OUT AT REPORTER, GIANTS FANS FOLLOWING EMBARRASSING LOSS

It’s not all bleak, thankfully. Ordinary people — and even famous people — often go viral on Twitter/X, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok, and it can mark them for years. Tens of millions of people have seen the video of a young woman getting upset because puzzle pieces of various shapes all got placed into the square hole. Her reactions were hilarious and iconic.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio became a lasting internet meme for his ability to take on many jobs. He’s been edited into everything from the king of Iran to taking over for the U.S. Olympic ski team. Indiana Fever forward Sophie Cunningham scored points with fans and non-fans alike simply by pointing. The WNBA player got into a verbal fight with another player, and Cunningham’s response was to point with all the power of Uncle Sam.

The internet connected our world. Social media connected people with shared interests — loves and often hates. Cooks joined groups about recipes, sports fans congregated around their favorite teams, and political addicts got their fix 24/7. Unfortunately, that also made it easier for criminal gangs and traffickers to communicate. Porn, violent videos and the worst of human behavior are now readily available almost anywhere. Spend lots of time on social media, and you see the best and worst of mankind.

All of this is because we have the power, ordinary people like you and me. That wasn’t the case for nearly all of human history. Everything people read or saw was curated. Someone else decided. A limited number of publishers produced books, a limited number of news outlets produced stories and so on. Only the verbal record was there to counter it. The internet changed that.

EYEBROW-RAISING CLAIM FROM ‘HUNTER BIDEN’ X ACCOUNT DRAWS GOP MOCKERY

Establishment media lost control. The Washington Post, The New York Times and the rest of the leftist media now face pushback whenever they dump especially biased stories on a now-critical public. Americans learned of the Hunter Biden laptop story from social media, despite a massive campaign to suppress it. The same goes for the bogus Russian collusion narrative and lots more. The so-called public media outlets, such as NPR and PBS, finally lost their taxpayer funding, at least here in the U.S., because people finally saw them for what they were. And we are all witnessing the media’s Graham Platner fiasco in real time.

But there’s a price to pay for that freedom. Popularity is outpacing our ability to distinguish fact from fiction and right from wrong. There is a global effort to demonize Jewish people and slander them with every crime imaginable, far worse than the made-up "Protocols of the Elders of Zion."

Meanwhile, the terrorist group Hamas, which filmed and shared its barbarism against the people of Israel, is beloved on much of the internet. That is despite — or because of — posting videos of its members murdering more than 1,200 men, women and children and kidnapping 250 more.

That freedom terrifies governments, and they are fighting back against it. Not just communist China or authoritarian Russia, either. The allegedly free nations that are our core allies — the U.K., Germany, Canada, Australia and France — have all turned against free speech online.

British police ignored a victim’s fatal wounds and, instead, arrested him. But the video went viral, and now millions know the name Henry Nowak. Only, instead of turning away from censorship, the U.K. is embracing it.

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British politicians decided to simply take free speech away from their citizens. They went from going after a few troublesome posters to arresting 12,000 people a year for free speech crimes. That was only the beginning. The current Labour government "has proposed tighter restrictions on social media platforms during general elections," according to GB News. The EU has advanced age verification, forcing users to identify themselves online. That’s the beginning of the end for European free speech online.

Both the EU and the U.K. have tried repeatedly to use those powers against American firms, too. British regulator Ofcom has sent letters to at least 197 U.S. firms about content that is perfectly legal here in America. The foreign tyrants tried to fine two of them.

We have to fight for the future of online freedom. There used to be three schools of thought on censorship. China believes in complete state control. Europe wants some regulation, and the U.S. wants mostly free speech. That’s no longer the case. Europe wants the same control China has. And many leftists in the U.S. want that here, too.

This battle begins again when Trump leaves office. If the Democrats win, they will try to align with foreign regulators who want to shut down American free speech. They may even join in and try to prosecute Musk, as European regulators have discussed.

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President Abraham Lincoln warned that "this government cannot endure, permanently half slave and half free." The same is true for the internet. If the U.S. stays mostly free online, the EU and U.K. will either have to accept it or take action against U.S. firms and executives. Right now, they are hoping to wait out Trump and find friendlier Democrats who oppose hate speech, which is really just speech they hate.

Either way, expect European censors to continue efforts to force Americans to censor and many on the left to help them. We have to stop them. Our entire lives are lived online now, and if we lose free speech there, then we lose it entirely.

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Judge Judy's son Adam Levy says he could fix Los Angeles ‘in a month’

Sat, 11 Jul 2026 07:00:08 -0400

The recent mayoral election in Los Angeles was "obviously not" a reckoning, according to Judge Adam Levy, because the city needed a serious overhaul.

Los Angeles endured a series of wildfires last year that destroyed thousands of homes and put a spotlight on some of the decision-making by local leaders. Former reality show star Spencer Pratt, who lost his own home in the Palisades fires, challenged Mayor Karen Bass in the mayoral primary, largely focusing his campaign on her response to the infernos. His message helped him surge in the polls before ultimately failing to advance in the June primary.

Pratt also centered his campaign on fighting the city’s crime and homelessness, particularly rampant open-air drug use.

Levy, the son of "Judge Judy" star Judy Sheindlin, who has starred in a few courtroom shows himself, said he had a checklist of what he'd do as mayor of Los Angeles to address some of the same issues.

SPENCER PRATT'S UNEXPECTED POLITICAL RISE FROM MTV VILLAIN TO KAREN BASS CHALLENGER

"I would have to get rid of a lot of people, but I could fix it in a month," Levy told Fox News Digital.

"As mayor, you got to sit down with your DA and with your police chief," he began. "And he needs to say that we got to turn this ship around. You will have 100% support from the mayor's office in focusing your attention on repeat offenders, violent offenders. And those first-time offenders, they need to be moved out of the criminal justice system into an alternative program, community service-based program. Where you commit a crime, you do community service. You complete community service successfully. Whatever crime you committed gets wiped off your record. Easy-peasy."

If first-time offenders fail to complete their community service, then they would be prosecuted, he explained. It would be on their record, affecting their ability to get housing and benefits and jobs.

He blasted judges who he said are trying to be criminals' friends rather than doing their jobs.

"And as DA, I absolutely would focus my prosecutor's attention on the repeat offenders, on the violent offenders," he said. "And as the mayor, you've got to appoint judges that have that same mindset. You've got to stop appointing judges that really want to be social workers."

SPENCER PRATT STOPS AT ICONIC LA RESTAURANT ON ELECTION DAY, VOWS TO MAKE CITY 'STREETS SAFE AGAIN'

When he was a Republican DA in a county in upstate New York, Levy said he got along with both Republicans and Democrats because they agreed the top priority was to keep families safe. He said some of the major cities have lost the plot.

"When I ran for DA, I made it very clear: ‘You vote for me, and I promise to protect your family the same way I would protect my own,'" he said. "They don't do that in LA. They don't do that in New York. They don't do that in certain cities that have lost their way. And it's the politicians, unfortunately, that get to go back to their homes and good neighborhoods behind gates, where these repeat criminal offenders are not being released back into. That's the problem, and it really is infuriating."

Mayor Bass pushed back on the notion that LA is a danger zone after President Donald Trump pledged that "Los Angeles is going to be safe" under his lead.

"L.A. is safer than it’s been in decades, including declines in violent crime for the last two years and homicides at a 60-year low," Bass said in a statement to LAist in February. "We will be even safer when ICE is out of Los Angeles."

LA has fewer homicides than Washington, D.C., when population differences are calculated. In 2025, the homicide rate was 5.9 per 100,000 residents, according to data from the Los Angeles Police Department, the lowest homicide rate since 1959.

Fox News Digital has reached out to Mayor Bass's office for comment.

Levy pivoted his attention to New York City. Even though Rudy Giuliani has become a controversial figure in recent years, Levy said he was exactly who New York City needed as mayor in the 1990s. The city had devolved to the point that even the deep blue Big Apple had had enough and was willing to hire a Republican for the job, the judge said.

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"Because New York City became so terrible, so dangerous, so dirty, so stinky, no one wanted to be here anymore," Levy said. "And people finally got fed up – Democrats finally got fed up. It’ll happen too in LA — it’s just a matter of how bad is it going to get before the people wake up and start electing adults in the room."

During Giuliani's term, violent crime declined by more than 56 percent in New York City, compared to about 28 percent in the nation as a whole. Property crimes decreased by about 65 percent, compared to 26 percent nationally, according to the National Bureau of Economic Research.

Levy credited the statistic in part to Giuliani leaning on the "broken windows" policy, a practice in which law enforcement focused on strictly policing minor offenses, in hopes it would lead to a drop in overall crime.

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"I remember what New York City was like in the ‘70s and in the ’80s. It was a s--hole," he added. "And he came in, and he cleaned it up. He cleaned it up for [Michael] Bloomberg, who then brought the businesses in. You couldn't have Bloomberg without Giuliani. He got rid of the panhandlers, the aggressive panhandlers, the homelessness, people taking craps on the street, the garbage. It was the broken windows' theory. He and his police chiefs were on the same page. And then people felt safe, because they were safer."

Levy's new show "Adam’s Law," from CBS Media Ventures, is premiering in national syndication on Sept. 14. The show is produced by Judy Sheindlin’s Queen Bee Productions.

CM Punk to defend Undisputed WWE Championship against Cody Rhodes at SummerSlam

Sat, 11 Jul 2026 06:02:04 -0400

CM Punk appeared on "Friday Night SmackDown" ready to take on any challenger that was ready to step to him after winning the Undisputed WWE Championship against Sami Zayn.

Punk entered the ring in Oklahoma City and called back to the "Monday Night Raw" after WrestleMania 42 when he told Cody Rhodes he’d be ready to deliver if a championship opportunity fell "out of the sky."

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"When championship opportunities fall out of the sky, CM Punk catches them," he said.

Punk named potential SmackDown superstars he’d think might come for the title, including Gunther, Finn Balor, Royce Keys, Damian Priest and Trick Williams. He even said that Zayn could come back around and get his rematch if he wanted. He didn’t mention Rhodes’ name, but the "American Nightmare" came out uncalled and marched his way down to the ring.

"I don’t think you and I can run away from each other anymore," Punk told Rhodes.

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Rhodes agreed and mentioned that Punk would want a match with him, just "say when." It was a quick retort from Punk, who said, "when." SmackDown general manager Nick Aldis, who was in the ring for the segment, booked the match for SummerSlam.

Punk will defend the Undisputed WWE Championship at SummerSlam, which takes place Aug. 1 and 2 at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis.

First, however, Punk and Rhodes will be involved in a tag team match at Saturday Night’s Main Event in New York City next week. Aldis made the match after Gunther demanded that Aldis put him in a match against Punk. Gunther was hoping it would be for the championship. Instead, Gunther will tag with Zayn.

Gunther didn’t take too kindly to that and attacked Aldis. Rhodes came back out to break up the calamity. He wanted to take on Gunther after the show went off air but Gunther walked away.

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Punk definitely has his hands full as he moves to SmackDown to become a fighting champion.

Trump takes unusual step, lets bipartisan housing bill become law unsigned amid SAVE pressure campaign

Sat, 11 Jul 2026 00:00:57 -0400

A bipartisan housing bill became law Saturday at midnight after President Donald Trump declined to sign it, capping a weeks-long saga over whether the president would veto the measure amid frustrations with Congress over his stalled agenda.

Trump refused to sign the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act — legislation aimed at expanding the nation’s housing stock and lowering costs — in an attempt to pressure Congress to pass the SAVE America Act, despite the housing bill clearing both chambers with overwhelming majorities.

"I will not sign the Housing Bill, which has been fully approved by Congress and sent to the White House, in PROTEST over the fact that the United States Senate is not capable of passing THE SAVE AMERICA ACT, which is polling at 97% with the Republican Party, and very high with the non-politician Dumocrats," he declared on Truth Social Friday morning.

The Trump-backed election measure, which would require proof of citizenship to vote in federal elections and impose voter ID requirements, has struggled to overcome the Senate’s 60-vote threshold.

Meanwhile, the House has not passed a version of the bill that includes the president’s proposed crackdown on mail-in voting and banning men from women’s sports.

HOUSE CONSERVATIVES DERAIL GOP AGENDA IN SAVE AMERICA ACT SHOWDOWN

Under the U.S. Constitution, Trump had 10 days, not including Sundays, to sign or veto the housing measure after the House formally transmitted the legislation to the White House in late June. The president ultimately chose neither option, allowing the measure to become law without his signature.

Though Trump declined to veto the legislation, he sharply criticized elements of the bill and argued it should not have been a legislative priority in recent weeks.

"It's so unimportant … compared to the SAVE America Act," Trump told reporters in the Oval Office in late June. "I think the SAVE America Act is exactly what it says. It's saving America from crooked elections."

Trump went on to call the housing bill "a yawn," adding, "compared to the SAVE America Act, just about everything is a big yawn."

It would have taken a two-thirds majority in both chambers to override a veto — a margin the House and Senate exceeded when they passed the legislation. However, it remains unclear whether so many Republicans would have defied the president had he vetoed the bill.

Trump also appeared to criticize the bill over a provision restricting Wall Street investors from purchasing single-family homes — a policy he first proposed during his January State of the Union address and later urged Congress to pass. Trump previously argued the investor ban would give individual homebuyers a leg up against private equity firms in the housing market.

"I don't want to hurt people that own houses, too," Trump later told reporters, appearing to reference the provision. "These people, for the first time in their lives, they have valuable houses. They've become rich. I don't want to hurt them either. What you want to do is what's good for everyone, get the interest rates down."

The law also aims to boost housing supply by streamlining federal environmental reviews, loosening rules around the construction of factory-built homes, and incentivizing local governments to modify their zoning laws to allow more housing, among roughly 60 provisions.

Trump’s souring on the legislation created headaches for Republicans, who touted the bill as an affordability win as voters grapple with high housing costs.

"It’s irresponsible to postpone signing the Housing bill due to the SAVE Act," Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La., a retiring lawmaker who lost re-election to a Trump-backed challenger, wrote on social media. "We need to start delivering relief to people for the high cost of housing ASAP!!"

WARREN TELLS TRUMP TO 'SIGN THE DAMN BILL' AS BIPARTISAN HOUSING PACKAGE REMAINS STALLED IN WASHINGTON

Trump abruptly canceled a signing ceremony for the legislation at the U.S. Capitol in June with GOP leaders. The stage had already been set, with at least one senior Republican arriving unaware the president had called off the event shortly before it was scheduled to begin.

The president then declared he would not sign the legislation until Congress passed the SAVE America Act, despite Senate GOP leaders insisting the votes do not exist to advance the measure.

Trump has also expressed frustration with the Republican-controlled Senate for declining to weaken the legislative filibuster, which requires 60 votes to advance most legislation in the upper chamber.

"GET SMART REPUBLICANS, IF YOU DON’T, YOU WON’T BE IN OFFICE FOR LONG!" Trump wrote in a Truth Social post on Sunday.

Before Trump came out against the bill, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt called it "one of the most significant pieces of housing affordability legislation in American history" and said it included an array of policies "long championed" by Trump.

Meanwhile, Trump political operative James Blair touted the legislation for including the president’s Wall Street investor ban, which he referred to as a "signature commitment."

House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., has argued that Republicans will still promote the landmark housing bill ahead of November.

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"We'll still celebrate it, but he's trying to make a point, and I think he's making it very effectively," the speaker recently told reporters, referring to Trump. "And the fact that you all ask me every three steps down the hallway illustrates that he has achieved the desired objective, and that is to make SAVE America the number one thing, because if we don't get that right, everybody's concerned about what happens next."

Former top cop warns of loophole exploited by illicit Chinese vape companies 'targeting our youth'

Sat, 11 Jul 2026 06:00:50 -0400

A former top law enforcement official is sounding the alarm on an attempt by illicit Chinese vape companies to exploit legal loopholes by replacing nicotine with an unregulated substitute to continue selling flavored disposable vapes to children.

"These Chinese organized crime groups, what they realized is if they go ahead and just change the ingredients in the packaging, then they create confusion and there is no enforcement or regulatory agency that then is responsible to address these illicit, illegal, disposable vapes," former Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Deputy Director Edgar Domenech told Fox News Digital in an interview.

The synthetic compound, 6-methyl nicotine, also known as 6MN or "NIX," is a nicotine analog marketed under brand names including Nixodine and Metatine, with some manufacturers arguing 6-methyl nicotine products fall outside the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) authority.

Domenech, the former sheriff of New York City, said that while nicotine is a well-known addictive substance regulated by the FDA, the nicotine substitute "manufactured illegally in China" is an "unknown variable" that hasn't been studied enough.

FORMER ACTING DHS SECRETARY WARNS CHINESE CRIMINAL ORGANIZATIONS ARE INFILTRATING AMERICA'S HEMP INDUSTRY

"It's a different type of substance," he said. "Now, all of a sudden, the FDA doesn't have oversight, but it's the same product. It's a disposable vape product with flavors targeting our kids and our youth with unknown chemicals."

Pointing to law enforcement's role in combating the illicit trade, Domenech said the companies create "confusion" by changing the product's ingredients, causing law enforcement and regulatory agencies to "take no action."

"The organized crime groups — they're five steps in front of us," he said. "By changing the substance, they are now creating additional new obstacles to figure out."

Domenech said the companies keep the same branding, packaging, and flavors while changing just one ingredient, allowing them to profit from children who may not realize what they're consuming.

CORPORATE AMERICA'S CHINA ADDICTION HAS BECOME A NATIONAL SECURITY THREAT

"They're putting these products side by side in these big shops, because the packaging is all the same," he said. "All they've done is changed one of the ingredients in the product."

Domenech said the companies are targeting "our youngest, most vulnerable generation" with flavored disposable vapes containing chemicals whose long-term health effects remain unknown.

"They're targeting our youth with flavors," he said. "Whether it's fruity flavors, candy-type flavors, dessert flavors. They're targeting our kids to go ahead and ingest these products with unknown consequences because we don't know what's in them to begin with."

As youth vaping has become more widespread, Domenech said some schools have installed bathroom sensors that detect vaping, adding, "We've got 11-year-olds, 12-year-olds, 14-year-olds vaping these products."

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He said that the products could lead to "unknown health and mental well-being issues down the line."

"There is nothing healthy about the illegal disposable vapes that are flavored targeting our kids," he said.

A recent Duke University study found 6-methyl nicotine may be stronger than nicotine, raising concerns it could be more addictive. Public patent records list Geoff Habicht, CEO of Arizona-based Mi-Pod, which Fox News Digital previously reported on as part of an investigation examining ties between the vaping industry and China, as an inventor on U.S. patents referencing 6-methyl nicotine and related compounds.

Raising awareness among lawmakers, health professionals, parents, and schools is vital to closing regulatory gaps and preventing more children from using the products, according to Domenech.

"Education is paramount for us to combat this issue," he said. "We need to educate our policymakers, we need to educate our health professionals, we need to educate our parents, the educational system to make them understand that these products are illegal, they have unknown substances that can have unknown consequences, health consequences."

Domenech said lawmakers and law enforcement need clearer guidance to identify and seize the products.

"We need to have a concerted effort to educate our policymakers at the federal level but also at the state and local levels because we need boots on the ground to understand what they can do legally in seizing these products," he said.

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Domenech called the companies a "national security problem," saying the products "should be seized the moment they enter this country, period."

"We're losing a generation of our future, our future leaders to this product," he said.

America's cheapest city to grab a cheeseburger, fries and soda isn't where you'd expect

Sat, 11 Jul 2026 06:00:48 -0400

A cheeseburger, fries and a soda remain one of America's classic comfort meals, but what Americans pay for that combo depends heavily on where they live, according to the so-called Cheeseburger Index.

A new DoorDash State of Local Commerce report, which compares the average price of a cheeseburger, fries and a soda across U.S. cities, found the average price of the meal is lowest in Austin, Texas, at $12.94.

DoorDash said cities in the South and Southeast tend to be more affordable because of structurally lower operating costs, helping the region rank well across both grocery and restaurant price indexes.

The highest cost topped out in Anchorage, Alaska at $28.28 for the same meal, according to the report.

The 10 best-value cities in the study are concentrated in the Midwest and Texas, with four cities in the Lone Star State making the list — Laredo, Texas ($13.39), Lincoln, Nebraska ($13.86), Detroit ($14.99) and Philadelphia ($15.41) rounded out the top five.

The rankings come as eating out continues to get more expensive, even as prices for many grocery and household staples have stabilized.

DoorDash found the average price of a cheeseburger, fries and soda climbed 3.2% over the past year.

THE COST OF THIS GROCERY STAPLE IS NEARING RECORD HIGHS — AND AMERICANS CAN’T GET ENOUGH

While rising beef prices have drawn attention this year, DoorDash said higher restaurant prices appear to reflect broader operating costs — including labor, rent and energy — rather than food costs alone.

Local labor markets and operating expenses also help explain why the same meal costs less than $13 in Austin than in Anchorage where it's more than double that cost.

"There isn't one economy. There are a lot of local economies," Jessica Lachs, chief analytics officer at DoorDash, told Fox News Digital.

She said the Cheeseburger Index was designed to illustrate how those local differences translate into everyday prices for consumers.

"Really, the story here is local variation," Lachs said. "The same basket of goods — a cheeseburger, fries and a drink — costs $12.94 on average in Austin, Texas, but $28.28 in Anchorage, Alaska. Same basket, same quarter, but a very different local reality."

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The Cheeseburger Index is one of three affordability measures included in the State of Local Commerce Report. DoorDash also publishes a Breakfast Basics Index, which tracks the cost of common breakfast items, and an Everyday Essentials Index, which measures the price of household staples.

Sections of the report found prices for many household essentials remained relatively flat, while some grocery items have begun climbing again.

Egg prices, which helped pull grocery costs lower earlier this year, have eased, but avocado and milk prices rose 12.4% and 8.3%, respectively, from the previous quarter.

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"The Cheeseburger Index is a really great way to distill the information into a simple, fun and relatable metric," Lachs said.

"If you were to place that same order for a cheeseburger, fries and a drink every month, how much would it cost you? It's a great way to showcase price changes," she added.

Prince William dumped Kate Middleton with one phone call and then came ‘crawling back,’ royal author claims

Sat, 11 Jul 2026 06:00:18 -0400

Before they became the Prince and Princess of Wales, Prince William walked away from Kate Middleton — only to come "crawling back."

The claim was made by Christopher Andersen, author of "Kate!," which explores how the once commoner became the universally adored face of the British monarchy.

Fox News Digital reached out to Kensington Palace for comment. A spokesperson previously told Fox News Digital it does not comment on books.

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"Kate Middleton certainly was strategic in winning Prince William back," Andersen told Fox News Digital. "And she had [her mother] Carole Middleton as her general or field marshal or strategist — we’re going to call it. But Kate was crushed in the beginning. [It] was completely out of the blue. I was in London when they broke up in 2007, and it was shocking. Everyone thought they were on the verge of announcing their engagement."

William and Kate met in 2001 when they were students at the University of St. Andrews. The pair were friends at first but eventually started dating. After several years, William reportedly broke up with Kate over the phone.

According to Andersen’s book, Kate was "clutching her cell phone close to her ear" behind a closed door at Jigsaw, where she worked as a children’s accessories buyer. In a conference room, Kate "listened to the man she had loved for five years tell her they were through." Coworkers were straining to hear what was happening on the other side of the door.

WATCH: HOW KATE MIDDLETON WON PRINCE WILLIAM BACK AFTER THEIR SPLIT

William "stammered" that he was unwilling to commit, arguing he was "only 25" and "too young." He stressed that the press would make her life "unbearable" as long as they remained a couple. He feared that her life was in danger, and she wasn’t entitled to royal protection when he wasn’t around.

Kate "pleaded" with William to reconsider. She offered to ask her parents to hire private bodyguards if that’s what he wanted. William didn’t budge. Instead, he said he was under so much pressure now that he was taking on the duties of a second lieutenant in the Blues and Royals Regiment of the Household Cavalry. He had made up his mind.

"What had happened was Camilla and [the former Prince] Charles had actually convinced William to either ask for her hand in marriage or cut it off and not let the poor girl suffer anymore," Andersen told Fox News Digital.

"Charles was always incredibly fond of Kate. He never doubted that she would make an excellent wife for his eldest son, and she had all the qualities necessary to become a future queen. But it wasn’t fair, in Charles’ view, to keep the poor girl hanging. And so, [William] chose to cut it."

"Her coworkers could hear Kate on the phone begging to know what was wrong, begging to know why this was happening, and crying," Andersen claimed. "Understandably, Kate was devastated. Her coworkers overheard Kate pleading with William, asking, "Why?" It all came as a total shock."

The book describes how Kate "had been gently pressing William for a commitment but was careful not to overplay her hand." Still, it was over.

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That evening, Andersen said Kate returned home to her mother, who encouraged her daughter to get out and embrace her independence.

"Carole Middleton, a very smart woman, told her, ‘Just go out there and [show him] what he’s missing,’" said Andersen. "And so, she went back into society."

Kate refused to stay heartbroken. The book claimed that she embarked on a new diet and exercise regimen and began slipping "into a series of micro-miniskirts" and "painted-on designer jeans."

She returned to London’s nightclub scene with her sister Pippa Middleton "riding shotgun." In between having fun "with a succession of young men," as reported by local newspapers, she also signed up with Sisterhood, an all-female rowing crew. She was far from moping around.

"Carole Middleton came to her daughter’s rescue," said Andersen. "She convinced Kate not to let the hurt show, to go out and date other young men in their circle and join a women’s rowing crew to make it look like she was having the time of her life. Kate and her sister Pippa were out on the town practically every night, making sure they were photographed in the company of handsome young aristocrats."

The headlines reportedly stung William. The book claimed that when it was reported that Kate and Sir Henry Ropner, a "dashing heir to a shipping fortune," were "in each other’s arms on the dance floor," William realized he’d made a huge mistake.

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"William went on a couple of drunken sprees," said Andersen. "In fact, at one point, he was in a London nightclub, shouting ‘I’m free!’ But six weeks after the split, he came back to Kate with his tail between his legs."

"The breakup was a total wake-up call for William," Andersen continued. "After all the years he and Kate had been together, he somehow felt it was his obligation to sow some additional wild oats. After all, that’s what most male members of the royal family did. But fairly quickly, he realized that Kate was the love of his life and someone you could build a future with."

And there was one party that changed everything.

In the book "William and Catherine" by Russell Myers, the royal editor of the Daily Mirror, he wrote that one of their mutual friends, Sam Waley-Cohen, was throwing a party at his family home, a 17th-century manor in Oxfordshire. The theme of the night was "Freakin' Naughty."

WATCH: INSIDE THE PARTY THAT CHANGED PRINCE WILLIAM, KATE MIDDLETON'S FUTURE

William, who was "missing" Kate, reached out to her, asking if she would be attending the party that had been in their diary for months. Kate, reluctant to commit over the phone, said she would consider it.

"Keen to make an impression, and perhaps to help break the ice when he saw Catherine for the first time in months, William dressed in tight black hotpants and a plastic policeman's helmet," Myers wrote. "Catherine also turned heads when she arrived in a showstopping 'naughty nurse' outfit, complete with fishnet tights and a short dress."

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"Fellow guests said as soon as William and Catherine set eyes on one another, it was clear their love had not extinguished," he wrote. "The couple peeled off from the rest of the party and spent hours locked in deep conversation. Catherine listened intently as William attempted to break the deadlock, laying out his reasons for doubting what they had."

"He talked of his fear of letting someone truly experience the world in which he lived, and also his fear of rejection if he did let himself get too close," Myers continued. "Catherine, of course, knew that she still loved William deeply."

"As the cocktails flowed, and the dance floor filled, they only had eyes for each other," Myers wrote.

In the summer of 2007, William and Kate rekindled their romance.

"Kate graciously made it clear that she understood the pressures he was under," said Andersen.

"At long last, William was no longer confused about the part she was destined to play in his life. Kate was in love with William and vice versa. It had been that way for five years by the time of their breakup.

"She never doubted William’s love for her, and he never doubted her commitment to him. But you have to understand that a future king has so many expectations heaped upon him that, at some point, he is going to crack. And that’s what happened when he initiated the breakup."

"Fortunately, William soon came to his senses," Andersen added.

Three years later, in 2010, William and Kate announced their engagement. They married the following year at London’s Westminster Abbey. Today, they are now proud parents to three children: Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis.

Tyler Robinson hearing ends without ruling as evidence dismantles Charlie Kirk conspiracy claims

Sat, 11 Jul 2026 06:00:12 -0400

PROVO, Utah — Tyler Robinson's preliminary hearing in the assassination of Charlie Kirk came to a close without a decision from Judge Tony Graf Jr. on Friday, but the week-long proceeding introduced a wide swath of evidence in the case to the public.

Robinson, 23, is accused of shooting Kirk, 31, from a rooftop sniper's perch during a Turning Point USA event at Utah Valley University on Sept. 10, 2025.

Graf agreed to a defense request to allow lawyers to file briefs before he decides whether Robinson's case should go to trial, a move that adds about six weeks to the process. The next hearing, on Sept. 1, is scheduled to be held just days before the first full year since Kirk's assassination.

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

Amid the lengthy process, enormous public interest in the case and closed-door hearings and court filings, a series of conspiracy theories about what happened last year in Orem have emerged. Many of them were debunked by evidence introduced in court over the last week:

The claims:

Kirk's cause and manner of death

Although Robinson's defense team objected to showing his autopsy report in court, testimony from Utah State Bureau of Investigation Agent David Hull listed his death as a homicide caused by a gunshot wound to the neck.

The testimony included no indication that the forensic pathologist who handled the autopsy found anything inconsistent with that conclusion, ruling out theories involving an exploding microphone.

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While there has been some speculation about the lack of a visible "exit wound" in graphic video of Kirk's murder, the doctor who performed the autopsy was still confident it was the gunshot that killed Kirk.

James Gagliano, a retired FBI supervisory special agent and Fox News contributor, said that over his 25-year career, he's seen .22-caliber rounds go all the way through a human body, and much larger .45-caliber rounds hit a bone, muscle or even soft tissue and stop.

"Suppositions like this highlight a complete ignorance of ballistics and are typically spouted by those who have never stood alongside a medical examiner conducting homicide victim autopsies," Gagliano said. "It’s to be expected that the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms' 'inconclusive' determination in attempts to match bullet fragments from Kirk’s body with the murder weapon would cause conspiratorial conjecture."

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The forensic pathologist recovered bullet fragments from Kirk's body, which were sent to the ATF for testing. Although tool marks on the fragments themselves were inconclusive, the caliber was consistent with a spent cartridge casing found in the suspected murder weapon — which authorities allege had Robinson's DNA on it.

On the other hand, the defense may have fanned some flames by playing up evidence of other, unrelated weapons recovered at the scene.

The defense noted that investigators found an empty pistol holster just steps from where Kirk was killed as well as an unfired .223 round on the roof of another building.

Robinson is shorter than the suspect seen on UVU surveillance video

WATCH: Man who recreated Tyler Robinson's alleged route at UVU slams conspiracy theories

According to this theory, the suspect is several inches taller than Robinson, who is listed as standing 5 feet, 10 inches tall and weighing around 150 pounds, according to the Utah County Sheriff's Office.

The video isn't the only evidence that prosecutors say places Robinson at UVU, however. They have surveillance video of a Dodge Challenger coming and going. He allegedly encountered a Spanish Fork police officer who ran his license plates. And his DNA was allegedly recovered from a screwdriver found near the sniper's perch and on the suspected murder weapon, hidden in a "wooded area" just steps away from campus.

Tayler Hansen, an independent journalist, attempted to recreate the suspect's route across campus to test and debunk this theory with a video of his own.

"I went down there and decided to capture as close to the same angles as I could, compare myself, because I'm six-feet-tall, and the new conspiracy is that the real shooter, what they're claiming, is anywhere between six-foot-two to six-foot-three," he told Fox News Digital Friday.

Although he didn't have access to the campus surveillance footage, he said he did his best to place his camera at the same angle and height as the school's cameras. Then he retraced Robinson's steps and compared their heights.

"I was slightly taller, just in the ever slight amount," he said. "And that's enough right there, I mean it's enough to say, 'OK guys, let's move on to the next one.'"

Robinson wasn't even on campus

WATCH: New CCTV video allegedly shows Tyler Robinson on UVU campus on day Charlie Kirk was killed

Again, investigators alleged they can place Robinson on campus multiple times the day of the murder with video, physical and digital evidence.

They say he arrived in the morning, entered the campus, left, and came back later with different clothes on, following virtually the same path. And they showed a compilation video taken by UVU surveillance cameras showing all of that.

Additionally, Robinson allegedly made contact with some Turning Point USA representatives on campus.

In addition to the evidence mentioned above, police also obtained a Cellebrite extraction from Robinson's phone, according to testimony throughout the week. Such extractions include information about calls, texts, app usage and location and phone tower data. Robinson's defense attorneys have not introduced any phone data that could place him somewhere else at the time of the murder.

WATCH: Evidence in Tyler Robinson's case is overwhelming and devastating, lead prosecutor says

Maroon shirts

Another conspiracy theory promoted on social media claims that there are "many" young men who decided to wear maroon shirts and light shorts on the day Charlie Kirk was killed, stating "without a clear image, they certainly cannot declare it is Tyler Robinson."

A compilation video played in court shows the suspect in two different outfits — one of which included a maroon T-shirt. In the other, he wore a black, long-sleeved shirt. Prosecutors have alleged Robinson appears to be both of them, and they also have video of the suspect getting out of a gray Dodge Challenger in the school's parking garage — the same kind of vehicle Robinson drove.

In addition to the suspect wearing a maroon T-shirt at UVU, Robinson was also wearing a maroon T-shirt when he surrendered to authorities, video shows.

Claims that Lance Twiggs was never interviewed

Lance Twiggs, Robinson's former roommate and lover, sat for multiple interviews with authorities, including one that the prosecution attempted to play video of in court. After some objections from the defense, a redacted version was shown.

It was between Twiggs and Deputy Utah County Attorney Ryan McBride, one of the prosecutors on the case. Additional investigators were present but not shown on camera, including Agent Brian Davis of the Utah SBI.

The highly anticipated video was a huge part of the hearing this week.

Foreign government involvement

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The defense tried hard not to allow the public to hear testimony from Twiggs or see text messages, Discord chat logs or the handwritten note Robinson left for Twiggs — all three of which include what appear to be admissions of guilt.

Graf allowed that evidence, however, and the defense showed nothing to indicate there was a foreign conspiracy involved in Kirk's murder.

Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool drained again as Trump administration resumes repairs

Sat, 11 Jul 2026 05:57:19 -0400

Crews began draining the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool on Friday as the Trump administration launched another round of repairs following the nation's 250th anniversary celebration.

The latest repairs come after problems emerged shortly after the initial restoration project was completed last month, which President Donald Trump largely blamed on vandals.

Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, whose department oversees the National Park Service (NPS), told conservative podcaster Katie Miller this week that the latest round of work had been planned and that crews also needed to remove debris left behind after the July Fourth fireworks celebration on the National Mall.

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"Drain the water, clean up the fireworks stuff," Burgum said. "Repair the vandalism that was done. Fill it back up again."

Trump ordered the restoration project earlier this year as part of his effort to refurbish the landmark ahead of the nation's 250th anniversary.

The project was later beset by an algae bloom, and sections of the new blue coating began peeling from the bottom of the pool.

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Trump declared victory over the algae last Sunday, sharing photos on Truth Social showing the Reflecting Pool and its reflection appearing clear and blue.

Court records previously indicated the National Park Service planned to drain the pool again after the July Fourth celebrations to repair damage authorities attributed to vandalism.

According to court documents, U.S. Park Police responded to a report of damage at the Reflecting Pool on June 9. Investigators said caulk had been spread over foam sealant that had been cut with a "sharp knife or razor," the newly applied surface coating had been damaged, and approximately 70 fence post caps had been thrown into the pool.

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Former U.S. Olympic canoeist David Hearn pleaded not guilty Thursday to damaging the recently renovated Reflecting Pool.

Hearn was indicted last week on a felony destruction of property charge following his arrest on charges related to a June 19 incident at the pool. He has denied damaging the Reflecting Pool, saying he stopped during a bike ride and touched a loose piece of the peeling blue coating "to satisfy my curiosity as a citizen."

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At least three other people have also been charged with misdemeanors on allegations they removed pieces of the Reflecting Pool's coating, according to online court records. All three pleaded not guilty during their initial court appearances Wednesday.

Fox News Digital's Peter Pinedo, Ryan Canfield, Eric Mack and The Associated Press contributed to this report.