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Massachusetts lesbian bar ignites fury after easing mask rules for one night a week

Wed, 23 Sep 2026 02:59:37 -0400

A lesbian bar in Greenfield, Massachusetts, sparked community backlash after lifting its mask mandate for one night a week, with accusations of ableism and boycott directed at the struggling business.

Last Ditch Bar and Arts Venue recently removed its mask requirement on Saturdays in an effort to boost business, but some members of the small city's queer community objected to the change, according to The Boston Globe.

Some critics accused the bar's owners of putting disabled people at risk and compared the policy change to a "mass disabling event" and a "eugenicist" attack while also wishing violence against the establishment, according to The Boston Globe.

"I hope your venue gets firebombed for robbing my fellow immunocompromised people of their Saturday plans just to scrape extra revenue from ablists [sic]," one commenter wrote on the bar's social media post announcing the change.

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"People like you kill disabled people in the name of your own leisure and convenience," wrote another.

"Just say you’re being complicit in a mass disabling event and get it over with," a third said.

"When y'all close, let the record state it was ableism + complying in advance, because that's what it is," another wrote.

"Does COVlD not disable people on Saturday nights?" added another user, who had a picture of himself in a mask as his profile picture.

This comes years after the COVID-19 pandemic was declared over by the federal government in 2023. State and local governments as well as most businesses across the country had also lifted masking requirements several years ago.

Additionally, Greenfield had not reported a COVID-19 case in more than two months, according to The Boston Globe.

The bar has been sparsely attended on what would normally be busy Saturday nights as some angered customers have called for a boycott, according to The Boston Globe.

The backlash came as the bar was already struggling financially under to the bar’s unusual business model that includes rules such as "Nobody will be barred from entry due to lack of funds."

Last Ditch also had the mask mandate in place as part of a policy intended to make the space accessible to disabled and immunocompromised patrons, meaning the face covering requirement was designed to protect anyone who was immunocompromised.

Customers were told that they were expected to mask up unless they were actively taking a bite of food or a sip of a drink.

The bar’s owners began to fall behind on their bills and were unable to pay themselves or even their staff.

Jackie Matellian, the remaining owner involved in daily operations, lived in her truck for six months, working four jobs and carrying a $50,000 loan, according to The Boston Globe.

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The two other owners stepped back from daily operations months ago, including one who had enrolled in clown school and another who is a drag performer using it/its pronouns.

Because of the financial woes, the bar decided to lift the mask mandate on Saturdays to increase revenue and keep the business afloat, The Boston Globe reported.

"It is with love we inform our immunocompromised disabled divas we will be opening Saturday nights as mask optional," Last Ditch wrote on an August Instagram post that ignited the backlash.

The bar first attempted to ease tensions and apologize for its post, writing: "We are sorry for our passive and dismissive tone of our change to the norms and schedule impacting the most intersectional of us. We understand everyone faces different intersections and we are always working to consider all needs fully."

But that did little to lower the temperature, as critics said Last Ditch’s post failed to include written "alt text," a short written description of an image added to the HTML code of a webpage for visually impaired people.

"This is not an accessible post," one person commented. "It indicates the lack of care or interest in Disability intersectionality."

Last Ditch again sought to address the controversy during its monthly community meeting on Sept. 11, according to The Boston Globe.

Outraged attendees who joined by Zoom began flooding the chat with comments that were read aloud for the in-person group to hear.

The meeting took another twist when critics made an allegation of racism because the mediator, a licensed therapist, was white.

"A lot of people are calling for an acknowledgment of harm and I’m hearing a WHITE therapist … center[ing] the feelings of a majority white and white adjacent staff," one person said, the newspaper reported.

Attendees also took issue with a therapist being there at all and said it made them feel "widely unsafe" since that made the woman a mandated reporter, meaning she is required by law to report known or suspected abuse.

Matellian broke down in tears when it was her turn to speak, saying she was only trying to help her friends with bar before taking over once they left and having a difficult time trying to survive financially.

Matellian has fallen behind on rent and the bar’s landlord wants $3,900 by the end of September.

"It was not my passion project," Matellian cried while masked up. "I never really wanted this. I don’t think I’m doing a very good job."

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But the bar's critics had no sympathy for the struggling business owner.

"You chose to use your time to spill tears and center your feelings," one person responded. "This is incredibly racist and deflecting behavior."

The mask-optional Saturday nights have not helped with business, as the barroom has been nearly empty each weekend despite drink deals and DJs that would attract dozens of customers in the past.

One person recently suggested having a Lady Gaga-themed party to pull in more patrons.

"Gaga is canceled," the bartender said. "Gaga is Zionist."

Mamdani fires back at Netanyahu, calls Israeli leader 'architect of horrific genocide' ahead of UN visit

Wed, 23 Sep 2026 02:59:30 -0400

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani fired back at Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday after the Israeli leader accused him of supporting Hamas terrorists and inciting unrest against Jewish New Yorkers, escalating their long-running feud days before Netanyahu is expected in the city.

When asked by reporters about Netanyahu's video, Mamdani rejected the prime minister's accusations.

"We all know that what the prime minister has said in that video is not true," Mamdani said. "What we do know to actually be the truth when it comes to the prime minister is that he is the subject of an International Criminal Court arrest warrant for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity."

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The ICC issued the arrest warrant in November 2024 over alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity, but Netanyahu and the Israeli government have rejected the allegations and challenged the court's actions.

Mamdani went further, leveling additional accusations against the Israeli leader days before he is slated to speak at the United Nations General Assembly in New York.

"And as the prime minister, he is the architect of horrific genocide against Palestinians," Mamdani asserted. "And just a few days ago, his military killed an 11-year-old boy in what is deemed to be a safe zone in Gaza. So that is what I have to say to his video."

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The mayor was responding to comments Netanyahu made earlier Tuesday in a video pledging to "tell the truth" about Mamdani when he speaks at the U.N.

"Shame on you, Mr. Mamdani. Shame on you for supporting the Hamas terrorist monsters who butchered our people. Shame on you for inciting riots against New York Jews," Netanyahu said in the video posted to X.

"I'm coming to the U.N. I am going to tell the truth about our heroic soldiers, and I'm going to tell you the truth about you," he added.

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The exchange is the latest chapter in an ongoing public feud between the two leaders and comes as Netanyahu prepares to visit the city Mamdani leads.

Earlier this year, Mamdani explored whether New York City could execute the ICC warrant against Netanyahu — an issue he had campaigned on — before acknowledging that the city could not enforce the warrant on its own.

Mamdani has previously called Netanyahu a "war criminal" and an "architect of a horrific genocide against the Palestinian people." He also said over the summer that Netanyahu was "not welcome" in New York City.

"I want to be equally clear: Benjamin Netanyahu is not welcome in New York City, nor is any other war criminal at large," Mamdani said at the time.

Mamdani has also defended New Yorkers' right to protest during Netanyahu's visit, though he has said he is not encouraging them to demonstrate.

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When asked in July what New Yorkers frustrated with Netanyahu should do when the Israeli leader visited the city, Mamdani pointed to protest as an option.

"One of the bedrocks of our city is protest," Mamdani said. "It is something that has been a part of what makes our city so special, that New Yorkers can express themselves whether they are in support or in opposition no matter on whatever topic."

More recently, Mamdani clarified that he had no plans to participate in protests surrounding Netanyahu's visit and said he had not encouraged New Yorkers to demonstrate.

"To New Yorkers, I have never encouraged them to protest," Mamdani said last week. "What I have always told them is that they have the right to do so in the city."

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Following Mamdani's meeting with President Donald Trump on Monday, the mayor was also asked whether he discussed Netanyahu with the president.

Mamdani said their conversation remained focused on New York City and New Yorkers. The mayor's office said after Monday's meeting that Mamdani and Trump discussed issues affecting the city, including affordability and economic development.

"And when it comes to the prime minister, though, I've made very clear where I stand on that," Mamdani said.

Fox News Digital's Greg Norman-Diamond contributed to this report.

Farmers offering on-site vacation rentals to combat rising costs

Wed, 23 Sep 2026 02:25:01 -0400

As farmers across the country face rising costs, some are turning to tourism to bring in money beyond their traditional agricultural operations.

At Lynette Ralph's horse ranch in Missouri, vacationers can spend the night in a small cabin, wake up to views of the horses and get a firsthand look at ranch life.

Guests can explore the property, pet and feed the horses or pay extra for horsemanship and riding lessons.

"You have access to the farm life, the horses, the barns," Ralph said.

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For Ralph, welcoming guests is about more than offering a unique getaway. The income from offering short-term vacation rentals on site has allowed her to keep her ranch operating.

"If I didn't have the short-term rentals associated with the riding program, I would have to probably liquidate, sell the horses, sell the property," she said.

Airbnb and American Farmland Trust are launching a new grant program to help farmers earn extra income through tourism, the organizations told Fox News exclusively.

According to USDA data cited in Airbnb's report, households associated with intermediate farms, a category of smaller operations where farming is the principal operator's primary occupation, reported a median loss of approximately $2,800 from farming in 2024.

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David Haight, vice president of programs at American Farmland Trust, a national nonprofit dedicated to protecting farmland and supporting farmers, said finding additional sources of income could help some farm families navigate financial challenges.

"Many families are looking for ways to diversify income, and so bringing people out to the farm or ranch for some is a way to help bring in other dollars," Haight said.

Demand for farm stays is growing, according to Airbnb, which reported that online searches increased 61% during the first half of 2026 compared with the same period last year.

The company says the typical farm stay host earned approximately $8,000 in 2025, while U.S. farm stay hosts collectively earned nearly $120 million. Those figures represent hosting earnings, not necessarily profits after expenses.

In Georgia, farm stay host Gilda Lyon said income from her existing rentals has allowed her to build additional cabins and invest in her farm.

The money helped her build a greenhouse, start selling herbs and maintain blueberry plants.

"The extra income actually has allowed me to invest, in many improvements and to expand the opportunities available for guests," Lyon said.

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Airbnb and American Farmland Trust's new "Farm to Stay" Grant Program will award approximately 25 to 30 grants of up to $10,000 each, with applications opening in November.

Haight said the grants may not cover every expense associated with welcoming visitors, but could help farmers in other ways, such as assisting in renovating barns for events, installing fencing or preparing accommodations for overnight guests.

The benefits could also extend beyond individual farms. Haight said visitors may spend money at nearby restaurants, shops and other businesses, bringing additional tourism dollars into rural communities.

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Ralph said welcoming guests has allowed her to continue sharing her passion for horses while maintaining the property she loves.

"The short-term rental has totally facilitated my being able to stay here and do the things that I love," she said.

Florida AG accuses teacher of labeling student a 'misogynist' over 'conservative views': 'She should be fired'

Wed, 23 Sep 2026 00:49:33 -0400

Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier alleged that a teacher harassed and attempted to "cancel" an eighth-grade student and labeled him a "misogynist" over what Uthmeier described as the student's conservative political views.

Uthmeier sent a letter to Sarasota County Schools' Superintendent Terry Connor and the school board over allegations that a Pine View School history teacher, Liz Ballard, singled out the eighth grade student on multiple occasions over his political views.

Ballard often brings up political topics during class despite the student telling her that his parents "expressly forbid" him from participating in the political discussions, according to the letter.

The parents' demand was ignored and the teacher continued to hold political discussions, using the student as the "conservative perspective in the classroom," the attorney general said.

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The teacher even labeled the student a "misogynist," spread that characterization around the school and "openly questioned the suitability and influence of the student's father," Uthmeier said in the letter.

Uthmeier's letter says multiple parents previously initiated HR investigations involving Ballard.

If the bullying and harassment allegations are true, Uthmeier said the teacher would have violated Florida law, School Board policy and basic ethical principles for educators.

"Ms. Ballard singled out this student and, in defiance of his parents' express instructions, pressured him to defend political positions on demand in front of his classmates," Uthmeier wrote.

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"She made disparaging remarks about his father. And by facilitating the spread of a damaging label throughout the school, she engaged in the reputational destruction of a child. Ms. Ballard's deliberate bullying and harassment of this eighth-grade student violated Florida law, School Board policy, and at least six ethical principles," he continued.

He said she should be dismissed from her role with the school district and her educator certificate should be revoked if the allegations turn out to be true.

"If true, she should be fired and never teach in Florida again," he said.

The attorney general gave the superintendent and school board an Oct. 1 deadline to update his office on the actions the district has taken or will take to address the allegations.

Connor said Sarasota County Schools received a letter from Uthmeier about allegations involving teacher.

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"We take the concerns seriously and will respond to the Attorney General's Office," Connor said in a statement to FOX 13. "Every student deserves a classroom where they feel safe, respected, and free to learn. No student should face harassment, humiliation, or retaliation because of their beliefs or their family's views. Respect for students and parents is fundamental to the trust our community places in our schools."

"The allegations in the letter warrant careful attention. We will examine the relevant facts and records, ensure a fair process for all involved, and take appropriate action based on the findings and requirements. To protect student privacy and the process's integrity, we will limit public discussion of individual details. This does not reduce our commitment to accountability. Our focus remains on our students' well-being, the professionalism of our classrooms, and the confidence families place in Sarasota County Schools," he added.

Texas man charged with capital murder after 5-year-old killed in roadway shooting

Tue, 22 Sep 2026 23:21:23 -0400

A Texas man has been arrested and charged with capital murder in connection with a roadway shooting that killed a 5-year-old girl over the weekend, authorities said.

Jeremy Porter, 47, was taken into custody and booked into the Harris County Jail in Houston after investigators identified him as the suspect in the fatal shooting of Zah'Layah Walter, according to Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez.

Investigators used evidence, including information obtained through automated license plate readers, to identify Porter, who was arrested less than 24 hours after the shooting, authorities said.

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The shooting happened Saturday night in northwest Harris County, where Zah'Layah was riding in a vehicle with her mother, Monica Hicks, and her four siblings when someone opened fire on the family's vehicle, the sheriff's office said.

Authorities said bullets struck the vehicle, killing the 5-year-old.

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Hicks told local outlet KHOU she was driving home from her mother's house with her five children when someone began shooting at the family's vehicle on Grant Road near Jones Road.

"All my kids in the back seat were screaming, and they continued to shoot in my car. And I did not know my daughter was hit until I pulled into my apartment," Hicks said.

The Harris County Sheriff's Office said the investigation remains ongoing.

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"We stood alongside the family of 5-year-old Zay’Layah Walter, whose life was tragically taken in a roadway-related shooting. The person accused of taking her life has been arrested," the Harris County Sheriff's Office wrote on X on Tuesday. "We remain committed to seeking justice for [Zah'Layah] and supporting her family."

The Harris County Sheriff's Office could not immediately be reached by Fox News Digital for comment.

College basketball TV analyst and former Duke assistant Chris Spatola, Coach K's son-in-law, dies at 47

Tue, 22 Sep 2026 22:56:48 -0400

Chris Spatola, an ESPN college basketball analyst, has died, the network announced Tuesday. He was 47.

Before moving into broadcasting, Spatola was a starting guard for the Army Black Knights. He later became an assistant coach at Duke, where he worked under Hall of Fame coach Mike Krzyzewski, his father-in-law.

"Chris Spatola brought a unique perspective to ESPN's college basketball coverage, shaped by his experiences as a student-athlete, Army veteran, coach and broadcaster," ESPN said in a statement.

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"He was thoughtful, prepared and passionate about the sport, earning the respect of colleagues, coaches, players and fans alike. We extend our heartfelt condolences to his loved ones during this difficult time," the statement continued.

Spatola led Army in scoring in three of his four seasons as a starter. He finished his college career with 1,543 points, placing him among Army’s top 10 all-time scorers.

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After graduating from Army, Spatola entered a new chapter of service, spending five years on active duty from 2002 through 2007.

He deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. He received the Joint Service Commendation Medal for exceptional combat performance. Spatola’s outstanding leadership was also recognized with the Army Commendation Medal.

Spatola served on Mike Krzyzewski’s coaching staff at Duke from 2007 through 2012. During that span, the Blue Devils won the 2010 NCAA Division I men's basketball national championship, with Spatola serving as an assistant coach.

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Krzyzewski also led the U.S. men’s national basketball team to a gold medal at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, where Spatola worked as a court coach.

Caitlin Clark, Indiana Fever drop statement win on top-seeded Lynx in final home game

Tue, 22 Sep 2026 22:24:09 -0400

After a dismal outing on Sunday, the Indiana Fever got their spark back on Tuesday, cruising to a 96–77 win over the league-best Minnesota Lynx in their final game at Gainbridge Fieldhouse of the regular season.

Working in the Fever's favor was not just a collectively strong performance from their starters, but also the absence of rookie sensation Olivia Miles for the Lynx, who sat out with a calf injury. Indiana built momentum early, handing Minnesota a 23-point deficit before halftime, which marked the Lynx's largest deficit of the season. Coach Cheryl Reeve turned to her reserves for an extended run in the third quarter, where Minnesota finally found a rhythm and cut the lead back to single digits.

Caitlin Clark flirted with a triple-double through three quarters, finishing with a game-high 27 points, nine rebounds, and seven assists.

One notable rotation adjustment following Sunday's deflating loss was the flip in minutes between Sophie Cunningham and rookie Raven Johnson. The Fever favored Johnson on Sunday, limiting Cunningham to just seven minutes of action. Tuesday was a different story, as Cunningham saw significantly more court time than Johnson, and Indiana’s offense ran noticeably smoother with her on the floor.

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Indiana's "Big 3" of Clark, Aliyah Boston and Kelsey Mitchell balled out, combining for 67 points.

Mitchell also extended her scorching streak, tallying her 27th consecutive game with 20 or more points.

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"I thought our third quarter was a bit sloppy," Clark said after the win.

"You've got to give their bench credit, but overall I thought our pace and intentionality on the offensive end were good."

Sunday's brutal loss to Washington is officially in the rearview after Indiana flexed on the top-seeded Lynx, grabbing a massive momentum boost right before the playoffs and keeping their chase for first-round home-court advantage hot.

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The Fever will finish the regular season on Thursday with a rematch against the Lynx, this time in Minnesota.

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Ella Langley says 'Choosin' Texas' success is 'changing my life' after her song breaks Mariah Carey's record

Tue, 22 Sep 2026 21:55:30 -0400

Ella Langley knew "Choosin' Texas" was special. Even she couldn't have predicted just how far it would go.

On Tuesday night, Langley took to Instagram to celebrate making Billboard Hot 100 history this week when "Choosin' Texas" logged its 23rd week at No. 1, surpassing Mariah Carey's "All I Want for Christmas Is You" for the longest reign at the top of the chart.

"I'm genuinely trying to find the words to explain what's going on in my brain today," Langley began her video. "What? I don't know. Thank you so much. Thank you for loving this song, for listening to it. I feel like… I just don't even know what to say at this point. I'm running out of hyperboles to describe how I feel, so I will just let my dog in the background show you his excitement," she continued as her dog barked.

"Just thank you. Thank you so much. It's changing my life. It's changing the lives of the writers of this song. It's changing the lives of my family and it is truly growing an atmosphere for something I'm gonna be able to do the rest of my life and I just… today doesn't feel like a real thing," Langley said. "It feels fake and somebody's going to come in and be like 'haha we're kidding the whole time just kidding.'"

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"I'm really excited to just experience a moment like this in my life," she said.

The country music star told her fans that she was going to celebrate tonight before ending with, "Choosin' T… that's the one huh?"

In a resurfaced interview with Billboard from March, when the song was still climbing, Langley admitted its success had already surpassed anything she imagined when she wrote it.

"When we wrote it, I knew it was going on the record. I honestly knew it was going to be the lead single," Langley told Billboard.

"And we love that song, but I don't think I could have ever imagined what's happening with it right now," she continued. "Like I said, every day I wake up and it's doing something that I didn't even know was a goal that I could have had."

"It's just nuts," Langley added. "It's crazy to see the ownership that the fans have taken over it. And the different demographics of people listening to the song is so cool."

What seemed unimaginable to Langley in March has since become historic.

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"Choosin' Texas" first entered the Hot 100 in November 2025, became Langley's first top 10 in January and reached No. 1 for the first time in February.

The song has also spent 41 weeks at No. 1 on Billboard's Hot Country Songs chart.

Long before it became a record breaker, however, "Choosin' Texas" began with a story about a kangaroo.

Langley recalled writing the song during her first songwriting retreat with country superstar Miranda Lambert and two other writers.

"So, I was on a writer's retreat with Miranda," Langley explained in the resurfaced Billboard interview. "This is our first time that we had written together and obviously we were there with two others."

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Billboard credits Langley, Lambert, Luke Dick and Joybeth Taylor as the four co-writers of "Choosin' Texas."

Langley said Lambert began telling her a story about a pet kangaroo.

"I learned at a young age she had a pet kangaroo and I wanted to ask her about it," Langley recalled. "So, I was like, 'Tell me about this kangaroo that you had. I need to know.'"

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Lambert told the group about once being pulled over with the kangaroo riding in the passenger seat and a dog in the back.

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"She said she got pulled over and the kangaroo ended up getting her out of a ticket, but she's like, 'Of course, I had Texas plates on, too,'" Langley recalled.

ELLA LANGLEY JOINS MUSIC ROYALTY WITH 'INSANE' MILESTONE FOR 'CHOOSIN' TEXAS'

That was enough to spark the song.

"And I went, 'Well, she's from Texas, I can tell,'" Langley said. "And just from that phrase, it kind of all hit us."

According to Langley, the melody came almost immediately, with Lambert helping develop the story behind it.

"And 45 minutes later, we had that song written," Langley said. "And it was just, it was such a cool experience."

Lambert's involvement didn't end in the writing room.

Langley told Billboard that the country superstar was executive producing her next record and had become someone she could turn to for advice.

"There's not a rulebook to this job," Langley said. "So to be able to have someone like her to ask questions and think, you know, is it, should I be doing this? She's like, 'Hell yeah, you should be doing this.'"
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Even Lambert was surprised by what was happening with "Choosin' Texas."

"My team's calling me every day freaking out about this song," Langley recalled Lambert telling her.

At the time of the March interview, the song had reached No. 5 on the Hot 100.

"How crazy is that?" Langley said.

"And for me, like, what, me? You mean me?"

Six months later, "Choosin' Texas" stands alone as the longest-running No. 1 song in Hot 100 history.

Langley's historic week comes as she continues performing across the country.

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The singer recently shared photos from stops in Oxford, Mississippi; Athens, Georgia; and Jacksonville, Florida.

"Oxford, Athens & Jacksonville ❤️," she captioned the Instagram post.

The images showed Langley performing with her guitar, posing near an Ole Miss sign in a dress and red boots, holding a snake and preparing backstage in front of a lighted mirror. Another captured an older couple dancing during her show.

Fans celebrated her record in the comments.

"Congrats @ellalangleymusic on passing Mariah!" one person wrote.

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Harris keeps 2028 door open as she hits midterm campaign trail, warns ‘28 won’t matter’ without 2026

Tue, 22 Sep 2026 21:53:09 -0400

Former Vice President Kamala Harris said Tuesday that she has not decided whether she will run for president again in 2028, telling voters in Detroit that the upcoming midterm elections must come first.

Harris was directly asked during a fireside chat whether she had thought about running for president in 2028 and whether another White House campaign was "on your plate."

"I have not decided if I'm going to run again," Harris said before turning the focus to the midterms.

"I do, I do sincerely believe 28 won't matter if we don't get through 26."

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Harris said she was focused on traveling the country and reminding voters of the power of their voices ahead of the 2026 elections.

"And I'm a big believer that you can be. When you focus on the thing out there, you trip on the thing over here."

The exchange came during Harris' second event Tuesday in Detroit, where she participated in a fireside chat moderated by Rev. Dr. Wendell Anthony, president of the Detroit Branch NAACP and pastor of Fellowship Chapel, and Rev. Dr. Genetta Y. Hatcher, pastor of The Room Church.

Before asking Harris about a possible 2028 campaign, Anthony encouraged those in attendance to vote and referenced early and mail-in voting.

Harris was later presented with "take your souls to the polls" merchandise.

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Earlier Tuesday, Harris campaigned alongside Michigan Democratic Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed at a roundtable focused on Black maternal health and healthcare costs. Harris used the event to criticize President Donald Trump's healthcare policies and voice support for El-Sayed.

Harris' remarks came as she focuses on the 2026 midterms while leaving open the possibility of another presidential campaign.

Harris became the Democratic presidential nominee in 2024 after then-President Joe Biden ended his re-election campaign.

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She went on to lose the presidential election to Trump.

Lukashenko reveals bizarre argument he and Putin have over who is the ‘bigger dictator’

Tue, 22 Sep 2026 21:50:20 -0400

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko revealed during a speech to youth leaders in Minsk that he and Russian President Vladimir Putin regularly joke and argue over which of them qualifies as the ultimate dictator.

The Belarusian leader's comments at "Youth. Belarus. Future." Sept. 17 also underlines the close alignment between Moscow and Minsk with Lukashenko enjoying his position as Europe’s longest-serving head of state.

Lukashenko has ruled over Belarus unhindered since 1994, with Putin leading Russia since 2012, also serving as president between 2000 and 2008.

"You know what they say about me?" Lukashenko asked the audience during his Sept. 17 address, according to Novaya Gazeta.

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"[I am] the last dictator, the second-to-last dictator in Europe. Dictator, dictator. Vladimir Putin and I often joke and argue over which of us is more of a dictator.

"They say I’m the last dictator, the last dictator in Europe. Dictator — so be it. Well, Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin and I often argue, jokingly, about which of us is the bigger dictator."

Lukashenko, 72, a former Soviet collective farm manager, is also known to be Putin’s closest international partner and ally.

While Minsk has not committed ground troops to the war in Ukraine, it serves as a strategic staging ground for Moscow, with Russia relying on Belarus for military and strategic support in its ongoing war against Ukraine.

According to the Kyiv Post, Belarus specifically provides Russia with key weapons components and allows its forces to launch military strikes from Belarusian territory.

An August report by Ukrainska Pravda also highlighted a new railway construction capable of handling military trains in Belarus' Gomel Oblast near the Ukraine border.

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The strength of the relationship between the two countries comes as Western officials increase pressure on Moscow and its allies and with the two leaders reported to be in frequent contact.

After meeting in Moscow Aug. 27, Lukashenko officially congratulated Putin Sept. 21 after the Russian election results.

He praised the "unprecedented turnout of millions of voters" and the majority secured by the United Russia party, calling it a proper response to "cynical attempts from the outside to discredit the campaign and sow discord."

Addressing the youth forum in Minsk on political succession in Belarus, Lukashenko insisted no one is prepared to take over power.

"Never believe those who say that Lukashenko is ‘clinging to power with blue-knuckled hands’," he told the audience.

"Good Lord, let them say it. I have had my fill of this power to the point where I could not possibly want any more of it.

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"The only question is whether you are capable today of taking over the country and holding on to it," he added. "If you are, start tomorrow. To be frank, I cannot yet answer that question positively. Do not take offense.

"I became a dictator then because I stood up against the entire ‘civilized world.'"

Western nations maintain strict economic pressure on Minsk. Lithuanian Foreign Minister Kęstutis Budrys recently reiterated the Baltic nation's firm stance.

"We do not see any reasons why our position on Belarus should soften as Belarus is not changing its behavior," Budrys said.

"On our side, we have to be very exact and continue what works, and that is the pressure on the regime."

Despite international sanctions, Lukashenko announced Sept. 11 that Belarus has begun selling potash, a primary export used in fertilizer, to the United States.

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While Western nations maintain economic restrictions over human rights abuses, U.S. sanctions on Belarusian potash were lifted after recent political prisoner releases, though European Union sanctions remain active.

‘Big Sister’ warning resurfaces as Massachusetts expands home visits after Clancy trial

Tue, 22 Sep 2026 21:24:14 -0400

Twenty-seven years before Massachusetts proposed to dramatically expand a taxpayer-funded program sending nurses into the homes of families with newborns, legendary conservative firebrand and grassroots women’s leader Phyllis Schlafly posed a question that her daughter says now sounds remarkably familiar.

"Are the American people willing to allow government agents to come into their homes to ‘advise’ them how to care for their babies?" Schlafly wrote in a March 1999 column titled, "Watch out for ‘Big Sister’ as Well as ‘Big Brother.’"

The warning resurfaced as Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey seeks $2 million to expand the state’s Welcome Family program, which offers nurse visits following childbirth. The program serves approximately 3,000 births annually, and the expansion is intended to make visits available following roughly 68,000 births statewide per year.

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The push comes in the aftermath of the Lindsay Clancy case, which put a searing spotlight on maternal mental illness. Clancy does not dispute that she killed her three young children — Cora, 5, Dawson, 3, and Callan, 8 months — inside their Duxbury home in 2023.

Clancy's defense argued she was suffering from postpartum psychosis and was not criminally responsible, while prosecutors argued she knew her actions were wrong. The jury deadlocked, resulting in a mistrial.

For Anne Schlafly, chairman of Eagle Forum and Phyllis Schlafly’s daughter, her mother’s warning has now taken on new resonance.

"My mother was very prescient about the things that could happen if we let government intrude into our family lives," Schlafly told Fox News Digital.

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"Her point was a government agent or an agent of the government has no business in your home, in your castle, snooping around and determining whether or not you’re raising the children the way the government wants you to raise the children," she said. "After all, the home is our castle."

Phyllis Schlafly’s 1999 column focused on Healthy Families America and similar home-visiting initiatives, warning about programs that screened families for risk factors, connected parents with health and social services and offered parenting guidance inside the home.

She also questioned whether programs officially described as "voluntary" would always operate that way in practice.

Massachusetts today describes Welcome Family as voluntary. Nurses assess the health of the "parents and caregivers" and newborn, answer questions about newborn care, screen for postpartum mental health concerns and connect families with additional services.

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Notably, Massachusetts lists "ensuring that your home is safe" among the subjects Welcome Family nurses may advise parents about, though the program’s family information page does not specify particular home safety criteria.

The state has called Welcome Family an "entry point into the system of care" for families with newborns. Healthy Families America, the program at the center of Schlafly’s 1999 column, is also among the models Massachusetts lists within its broader Home Visiting Initiative, though it is separate from Welcome Family.

Healey described her vision for the expansion in broader terms during an interview on Boston Public Radio.

"Everybody in the state, when you have a baby, you’re going to have a home visit within days, weeks, and that will be an opportunity for a healthcare provider to make an assessment to see if you need some additional support and resources," Healey said.

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Anne Schlafly questioned what meaningful consent looks like shortly after childbirth.

"Is it really voluntary if you don’t have true informed consent?" Schlafly said. "If you have just given birth, you’ve been in labor, you’ve been under sedation, can you really recognize what you were signing up for supposedly on a voluntary basis?

"I think mothers need to have the full disclosure that this would be a government agent in the home."

The scale of the proposed expansion also concerns Schlafly.

"If government is going to expand their reach and hire a whole bunch of more people and use taxpayer money to send out all these agents to the families, I mean, that’s quite an expansion," she said. "This idea of coming in to inspect and see what’s going on in your home smacks of Big Sister and Big Brother both."

Massachusetts does not characterize the visits as inspections but as voluntary health and support services.

State officials point to results from the existing program. In 2025, Welcome Family offered 1,620 postpartum depression screenings, with 208 positive screenings. The state says every person who screened positively received a referral for services.

Schlafly said she does not object to families choosing to accept that help.

"If people want to have this help from Governor Healey, then they can avail themselves of it," she said.

Her dividing line, she said, is whether parents retain the ability to refuse.

"I think any time you make it compulsory, the line has been crossed," Schlafly said. "I would say the only way that this Massachusetts program could be acceptable is if the parents could opt out at any time."

Massachusetts’ published materials describe participation as voluntary.

Fox News Digital reached out to Healey’s office for comment and clarification about parents’ ability to decline visits, information collected during visits and whether information may be shared with other state agencies.

Nearly three decades after her mother warned about "Big Sister" entering the family home, Schlafly said she believes she knows what her mother would tell Massachusetts parents today.

"There’s no doubt that Phyllis Schlafly would advise parents to reject busybodies who want to inspect their home," she said. "The home is a sacred and private area, and Governor Healey has no business in the homes of Massachusetts parents.

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"Let’s leave her to the state house and not the kitchen table."

Kamala Harris says 'attack on DEI is an attack on maternal care' in appearance with El-Sayed

Tue, 22 Sep 2026 20:53:45 -0400

Former Vice President Kamala Harris on Tuesday declared that an attack on diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) is an attack on maternal care as she joined Democratic U.S. Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed in Detroit to rally support ahead of the November midterm elections.

Harris made the remarks during a campaign roundtable with El-Sayed and several healthcare advocates focused on Black maternal health and healthcare costs.

"An attack on DEI, to recognize diversity, equity and inclusion, is an attack by definition on maternal care, including the need to protect Black women in connection with their pregnancy, childbirth and postpartum care," Harris said.

She noted that maternal mortality rates are disproportionately higher among minority groups, with the risk of death increasing up to four times for Black women and three times for Native women.

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"One in 12 women in America currently lives in a maternal care desert with limited or no access to maternal care," she added.

Harris then took aim at political leaders who tout "family values," arguing that efforts to end DEI programs strip away protections aimed at supporting certain communities during pregnancy, childbirth and postpartum care.

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"As one of the most — some would say the most financially strong economies in the world — we have the distinction of also having one of the highest rates of maternal mortality in the world," she said.

"So, it raises the issue of disparities and also hypocrisy when there are leaders who otherwise walk around every day talking about their family values."

Harris also turned her criticism toward President Donald Trump’s health care legislation, which she referred to as the "Big Bad Bill," arguing that it cut Medicaid spending with the support of former Rep. Mike Rogers, the Republican Senate nominee facing El-Sayed.

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"Medicaid is the largest funder for maternity care in America," she said. "Donald Trump cut Medicaid funding by a trillion dollars. These are the facts Mike Rogers supported that cut through that ‘Big Bad Bill.’"

Harris closed by reaffirming her support for El-Sayed in the Senate race, pointing to his position on maternal health and saying she believes he would be a "champion" on the issue.

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"I'm here to support Doctor El Sayed, because, on this subject, I know he will be a champion," she said. "And I have a right to say that."

Former WWE star Kurt Angle says 'I believe that I had a better career in TNA'

Tue, 22 Sep 2026 20:36:50 -0400

Kurt Angle is probably best known for his WWE run as he racked up six world titles and became the fifth Grand Slam champion in the company’s history. He also came into the company with an Olympic gold medal on his resume, which is just as impressive.

Pro wrestling fans who follow the sport closely know that Angle was a beast in Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA). He was a six-time world champion, a two-time tag team champion and an X Division champion during his near-decade run there.

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Angle told OutKick Dropkick he believed he had a "better career" in TNA.

"To be honest with you, I had an incredible career in both WWE and TNA and I believe that I had a better career in TNA and, unfortunately, a lot of those WWE fans didn't get to see it and I think that they would have seen my career. … Now we have a lot of great TNA fans all over the world but here in the United States, it’s a far second place to, before AEW came around, but it was a far second place to WWE. But I would have loved for the WWE fans to see me wrestle in TNA."

Angle put on some great matches in TNA with Abyss, Samoa Joe, A.J. Styles and the like.

But for a WWE fan who never saw him wrestle in TNA, he would point them to his matches against Joe and Styles.

"Any match with Samoa Joe or AJ Styles," he said on behalf of Gambling.com, the guide to the best online sportsbooks. "It doesn't really matter. My debut match against Samoa Joe at the pay-per-view, I think it might have been it might have been Bound for Glory, or right after it, but we had a banger of a match and I really enjoyed working with both of them. Joe was really physical and AJ was really athletic."

Angle added that Joe’s background as a ground-and-pound grappler worked well with his freestyle wrestling background. Even with Styles flying around the ring at times when he was young, Angle said the two were able to mesh well.

Angle won two of the King of the Mountain matches during his time in TNA. The King of the Mountain match was one of the unique bouts in the company as competitors fight to hang a title belt on a hook suspended above the cage. In a way, it was a reverse ladder match.

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OutKick Dropkick asked Angle whether he’s surprised those unique matches haven’t made their way to the WWE just yet.

"I'm surprised it hasn't already," he said. "WWE got really creative at a certain point in time where they were doing some really cool stuff. And it would be great advice to the WWE to use some of those things. I don't know if they're patented or not. I believe they aren't patented, but you could always change the name and mix it up a little bit, make it a little different, but TNA was always very creative with their pay-per-views."

The Olympic champion was inducted into the TNA Hall of Fame in 2013.

The TNA Hall of Fame includes Angle, Sting, Jeff Jarrett, Earl Hebner, Gail Kim, Abyss, Ken Shamrock, Awesome Kong, Raven, Traci Brooks, Rhino, Bob Ryder and Mickie James.

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TNA will induct three new members at its Bound for Glory pay-per-view in October. ODB, Amazing Red and Konnan will be a part of that class.

From Austin to New York, pro-China network fuels week of anti-US protests as Xi meets Trump

Tue, 22 Sep 2026 20:27:06 -0400

As President Donald Trump readies for high-stakes negotiations with Chinese President Xi Jinping, a network of pro-China organizations funded by pro-communist tech tycoon Neville Roy Singham is taking to the streets from New York City to Austin, creating the image of rolling street unrest that lawmakers warn China can exploit to project a perception of chaos in the United States.

Yesterday, Singham’s wife, Jodie Evans, wore a trademark fuchsia straw hat and protested across the street from the United Nations on E. 47th Street, between First and Second Avenue, under an arch at Katharine Hepburn Garden, smiling widely next to agitators from the far-left CodePink nonprofit she co-founded and her American-born husband helped fund from his base in Shanghai. As part of their elaborate weeklong calendar, the activists railed against the U.S. military and its "all-out climate and environmental devastation." and then they marched to the offices of Open AI to demonstrate against data centers they allege "drive war" and "economic degradation."

The week’s protests reflect a pattern of rapid mobilization around breaking news and political flashpoints. The sequencing of events — combined with messaging sharply critical of the United States and silent about China’s human-rights, environmental and civil-liberties record — raises questions lawmakers debated last week about whether some activists function as "Trojan horses" for foreign adversaries such as China. Recently, Evans posted a video lauding China for building an economy that helps citizens "grow and thrive." Last year, Singham delivered a speech in China supporting the Chinese Communist Party and Xi's "new world order."

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Lawmakers have warned that the cumulative visibility of such actions shape public perceptions, project an image of instability and give foreign adversaries a potential messaging – and negotiating – advantage as Trump prepares for high-stakes talks with Xi this week.

"The American people need to know that this is not just an organic movement," Rep. Jason Smith, R-Mo., chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, told Fox News Digital. "There has to be more transparency across all areas with these kinds of activities."

Rep. John Moolenaar, R-Mich., chairman of the House Select Committee on China, told Fox News Digital the network’s grassroots image belies the serious funding infrastructure behind these groups. "In these situations where you have groups that portray themselves as grassroots, it's really more Astroturf, very fake," he said.

He said the protests "raises serious concerns" about malign foreign influence in the U.S., especially "when you see them actively speaking out against American interests."

The protests are publicly framed as separate events involving immigration, climate change, artificial intelligence, militarism and Israel. But their shared sponsorships show how organizations within the broader Singham network move quickly from one issue to another, using national organizations, local chapters, social-media promotion and shared venues to create a cumulative impression of coordinated street activism.

Moolenaar called for "clarification and transparency" regarding the organizations’ finances and questioned whether they should continue receiving tax-exempt status, adding that their political involvement may violate "campaign rules and political rules here in the United States."

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The significance of the week’s activity is heightened by the scale of Singham’s financial support for the network. A Fox News Digital investigation has documented how Singham has pumped $285 million through a donor-advised fund and shell companies into a broader network of six major nonprofits, media outlets and activist organizations that have promoted anti-American and pro-China messaging.

In that network, Singham has given CodePink $1.33 million, while doling out $22.44 million to the People’s Forum, a hub for the protest activity this week, and $1.098 million to BreakThrough BT Media, a media arm of the network that is flooding social media with images and videos from the coordinated protests this week.

As Fox News Digital reported exclusively, the Justice Department’s Southern District of New York has convened a federal grand jury investigation into Singham’s financial network, sources say. Prosecutors are examining whether Singham, the organizations he funded or their leaders engaged in alleged wire fraud, bank fraud or money laundering, according to sources. Singham hasn’t been charged with a crime, and the investigation doesn’t establish that he personally directed each protest. Singham, the People's Forum, CodePink and BreakThrough News haven't responded to repeated requests for comment.

The sequence began Sunday night in Austin, where socialist and communist organizations rapidly promoted an anti-ICE protest after the shooting of Venezuelan national Wilber Rafael Garcés Pérez. The Democratic Socialists of America, Freedom Road Socialist Organization and Party for Socialism and Liberation amplified calls for demonstrators to gather at 8121 Research Blvd. in Austin.

Although media accounts described the protest as organic, the mobilization moved through an existing national activist infrastructure. The Singham network's Party for Socialism and Liberation and the Freedom Road Socialist Organization circulated video and protest messaging, while Democratic Socialists of America promoted the gathering as "spontaneous" and called supporters to the streets. The protest later spread beyond Austin, with activists in Pearsall, Tex., pledging to put "boots on the ground."

In response to Fox News Digital’s reporting on the protests, the Party for Socialism and Liberation published a video with an activist "rejecting" criticism of its Austin protests as a "nefarious" coordinated event and called the protests the result of "righteous anger."

The Party for Socialism and Liberation, Democratic Socialists of America and Freedom Road Socialist Organization didn't respond to requests for comment.

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On Monday, the network’s actions moved to New York City, where Singham’s wife, Evans, and her cadre of CodePink activists began a week of demonstrations tied to Climate Week and the United Nations. CodePink co-founder Susan Medea Benjamin has led previous protests, including demonstrations supporting China.

After the environmental activism led by Evans outside the UN, CodePink agitators joined an "Unplug OpenAI" protest outside OpenAI’s offices on Lafayette Street, linking artificial-intelligence data centers to the "military-industrial complex." The group’s weeklong schedule promised "disruptions" and "bird-dogging," a tactic in which seemingly regular people plant themselves in restaurants, conferences and other events to heckle and harass public officials and even ordinary citizens, peppering them with questions and shaming rhetoric without any real interest in a dialogue.

Early Tuesday, CodePink celebrated its "fearless cofounder" Evan’s birthday with an Instagram collage of photos from her decades of activism, including the image of a smiling Evans in her pink straw hat, standing beside fuchsia balloons from a campaign called "China Is Not Our Enemy" that the group launched after receiving the donations from Singham. Another photo included her beaming smile next to controversial Marxist influencer Hasan Piker, as the two joined a caravan to support the Communist Party of Cuba.

Later in the day, CodePink activists moved their campaign inside the People’s Forum, a Manhattan hub for communist organizing for a screening of a film, "Earth’s Greatest Enemy," by a fiercely anti-U.S. film company, Watermelon Pictures, chronicling the U.S. military as "one of the most significant drivers of environmental destruction," the "world’s largest institutional polluter."

Back in Austin, a short while later at about 5:30 p.m. Eastern Time, the Singham network's BreakThrough News propaganda network posted edited video clips from the Austin protests, headlined: "SECOND DAY OF PROTESTS IN AUSTIN AFTER ICE SHOOTS VENEZUELAN DELIVERY DRIVER."

For Wednesday, Evans and CodePink promise more protests against the U.S. military's "role in climate issues."

On Thursday, as Xi meets with Trump in the White House, the People’s Forum, CodePink, the Palestinian Youth Movement and other groups in the Singham network are hitting the streets to protest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. In social media posts, the groups are advertising a Thursday march from Bryant Park to the United Nations, calling on New Yorkers to "reject war criminal Benjamin Netanyahu and the genocidal Zionist project."

That day, Evans and CodePink also plans to participate in a teach-in on "War & Climate: What U.S. Imperialism Demands of Our Climate Justice Movements" before joining the anti-Israel agitation. Organizers are lashing out against the "genocide" in Gaza and blasting "ecocide."

By Friday, as Xi readies to leave town, the protests will go full circle back to Austin, with the Singham network’s Party for Socialism and Liberation planning a protest at 6 p.m. at City Hall with the simple message: "Now is the time for us all to be brave, to follow the example of Minneapolis earlier this year, and TAKE TO THE STREETS!"

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El-Sayed mocked for 'word salad' answer when pressed by conservative on voting for him: 'Worse than Kamala's'

Tue, 22 Sep 2026 20:00:12 -0400

Michigan Democratic Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed sparked mockery online over his "word salad" response in which he referred to a pregnant woman as "an adult" or "juvenile human" after a pro-life student asked why he should vote for a progressive candidate like him.

El-Sayed, a vocal supporter of codifying Roe v. Wade into law and funding Planned Parenthood, was speaking to students and prospective voters during a "Students vs. Billionaires" town hall at Western Michigan University on Monday.

"I respect your position insofar as it's founded in the idea that you want to protect and empower life," El-Sayed said to the student. "The question we have to ask ourselves is, what's the best way to do that? And whose life gets destroyed in that process?

"Because too often when government says that you cannot have reproductive care, you are creating a circumstance in which an adult, or sometimes even a juvenile human, is being reduced into simply a carrying vehicle for a fetus that has not ever breathed air," El-Sayed continued.

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He went on to further emphasize that "the currently existing life of the mother" turns "that person simply into a carrying vehicle for a fetus" when abortion access is taken away.

Conservative critics on social media also quickly weighed in on El-Sayed’s comments, accusing him of using dehumanizing language.

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In a post on X, RNC Research, an account managed by the Republican National Committee, wrote, "Abdul El-Sayed won’t even say the word woman while talking about pregnancy."

"Abdul El-Sayed just said abortion restrictions turn an 'adult or juvenile human' into 'simply a carrying vehicle for a fetus that has not ever breathed air in the world,'" Mark Levin Show producer Rich Sementa also posted on X. "He won't even say WOMAN. The baby hasn't 'breathed air' so it's just cargo. This is the Democrat Party in 2026."

"This might be worse than Kamala’s word salad," Great Lakes HQ, an account run by the super PAC Great Lakes Conservatives Fund, posted on X.

"So much euphemism and jargon in here that it's hard to keep track, all in the cause of avoiding saying that women should be able to abort their babies with no restriction," National Review's Rich Lowry posted on X.

"Nobody talks like that in real life," Grabien Media founder Tom Elliott posted on X.

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"And we're supposed to believe that this guy is a doctor," Amy Curtis, a writer at Townhall, posted on X.

In a statement to Fox News Digital, former GOP gubernatorial candidate Tudor Dixon accused El-Sayed of trying to change the way people think about motherhood and having children.

"Radicals like Abdul El-Sayed use language that removes the gentle, loving relationship between mothers and their children to achieve their goal of destroying the American family," Dixon said.

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Ahead of the high-stakes November race that could determine control of the Senate, El-Sayed's positions on abortion, LGBTQ+ rights and gender-affirming care for minors have been thrust into the spotlight. He has also repeatedly rejected the socialist label, describing himself as a capitalist.

El-Sayed will face Republican Senate nominee Mike Rogers for the seat being vacated by retiring Democratic Sen. Gary Peters.

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

Violent brawl over lounge chairs at famous beach leaves one man dead, others facing charges

Tue, 22 Sep 2026 20:00:09 -0400

A lounge chair war turned deadly at a popular beach recently.

An 82-year-old man and a 76-year-old man got into a fiery argument on the morning of Sept. 20 over a chair on the beach in Vouliagmeni, Greece, just south of Athens, the Greek newspaper Kathimerini reported.

The conflict was triggered when the 82-year-old attempted to reserve a seat for his incoming group, witnesses told the BBC.

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Shouts during the violent struggle were said to be heard by onlookers across the beach.

During the confrontation, the 82-year-old went into cardiac arrest and collapsed on the sand, according to Kathimerini.

He was transported to an area hospital but died soon after.

Fox News Digital reached out to the Vouliagmeni police department for additional details.

The 76-year-old was taken into custody and charged with causing fatal bodily harm, according to the outlets.

Authorities also arrested a 21-year-old woman accompanying him on charges of verbal abuse, as well as aiding and abetting fatal bodily harm.

The woman, who sustained a swollen and bloody face, was subsequently released from custody, the BBC said.

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The dispute centered around a cluster of six sunbeds.

The 76-year-old and his 21-year-old companion had purchased tickets and selected two of the loungers — but the 82-year-old insisted the entire space was already claimed for his friends, according to local reports.

The verbal altercation turned physical when the 82-year-old allegedly struck the young woman in the face, prompting the younger man and other bystanders to retaliate, witnesses told the BBC.

Following the 82-year-old's collapse, a nurse who happened to be on the beach rushed over with other bystanders to administer CPR and use a defibrillator, the Greek news outlet TA NEA reported.

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Despite the life-saving efforts, the man was pronounced dead shortly after 11 a.m. at Asklepieion Hospital in the nearby town of Voula.

Authorities have ordered a postmortem examination to determine his cause of death, according to Kathimerini.

The fatal escalation over beach furniture left onlookers stunned.

"It was chaos," one witness told TA NEA.

"We saw them beating a man, another man, a woman beating him — and then we see them giving him CPR. And all this for a deck chair."

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The beach resort's manager was also detained by police for questioning regarding the incident, local outlets reported.

The 76-year-old suspect and the 21-year-old woman are scheduled to testify before a judge on Wednesday, Sept. 23, according to Kathimerini.

The tragic dispute occurred against the backdrop of rising national tensions over beach accessibility in Greece.

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Earlier this year, government officials launched a nationwide crackdown on private businesses monopolizing public coastlines, using drones and a citizen complaint app to enforce limits on illegal sunbeds, the BBC noted.

Bunnie Xo responds to fan backlash over cozy outing with 24-year-old reality star

Tue, 22 Sep 2026 19:59:28 -0400

Bunnie Xo’s post-divorce fun is raising eyebrows after a cozy Waffle House outing with 24-year-old reality star Dylan Wolf sent fans into a frenzy over their age gap.

Bunnie shared a video of herself with "Calabasas Confidential" star Dylan Wolf enjoying breakfast at Waffle House.

"POV: It's his first time at Waffle House," she captioned the video.

The post prompted reactions from fans over the age gap between Bunnie, 46, and the 24-year-old reality TV star.

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"And I also wanted to say, of course it's his first time at Waffle House. He just got his drivers license and is allowed to stay out till 11 o'clock finally!" one user commented.

"i'm sure it's first time doing alot of things since hes a baby in a adult world," another wrote.

"Don't know how people can be together for 10+ years but can move on right away like it meant nothing," one wrote.

Bunnie defended herself in the comments and made some clarifications.

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"Hey guys, I’m having fun & he gave me my smile back," Bunnie wrote in the comments. "Ya girl is living her best life – let meeeee k thanks byeeeee."

She also claimed it wasn't a date in a reply to another comment.

Bunnie was first spotted with Wolf in July. In video obtained by TMZ, she kissed the reality star in Nashville at Jelly Roll's bar.

The "Dumb Blonde" podcast host recently claimed not everyone she's seen out with is a romantic partner during a recent episode of "Open Book with Jenna Bush Hager".

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"I'm like, 'Can your girl have some fun?' I'm going, 'You guys are going to see me with multiple men, maybe even a couple women," Bunnie joked. "You never know. Maybe even a freaking camel."

And while Bunnie has been enjoying her newfound freedom, she insists her post-divorce adventures haven’t been nearly as scandalous as some might assume from what they see online.

"I mean, it's been — you know, it's so funny — people probably think I'm out here doing, like, ho activities, and I'm not," she claimed. "I swear to God. Literally, we're at home playing — what's it called? — Cards Against Humanity. … We're swimming, we're working out. You guys see only what I put on social media."

Bunnie revealed she’s entered a new chapter focused on putting herself first without feeling guilty about it during the podcast.

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"It's just pouring back into yourself," she explained. "It's being selfish. It's OK to be selfish. We as women feel like we need permission to be selfish, and we don't. Tell your kids to go to bed and eat the freaking brownies without them, you know? Even if it's something as small as that, we deserve to be selfish.

"We deserve to have our own time, and we deserve to pour into each other," Bunnie added. "I'm having so much fun."

Jelly Roll filed for divorce from Bunnie Xo May 18, but the "Son of a Sinner" singer listed the date of separation as May 9. The two first met in 2015 after the former sex worker met the rising star at a concert in Las Vegas, and they eloped a year later.

Bunnie Xo and Jelly Roll were married nearly 10 years before their divorce was finalized in July.

Shortly after announcing the divorce, Bunnie Xo used her podcast to share the intimate details of the split. She later deleted it from YouTube.

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Super Bowl-winning coach reveals 'Cold War' with Broncos' Sean Payton over alleged spying | Matt Calkins

Tue, 22 Sep 2026 19:50:45 -0400

Seattle Seahawks coach Mike Macdonald didn't cheat. He took advantage of the Broncos' negligence. But apparently that's not the way Denver Broncos coach Sean Payton saw it.

During a recent interview with Graham Bensinger, Macdonald revealed that he and his staff found around 100 plays that fans had posted on X after filming Broncos training-camp practices in 2024. And given that Macdonald's first game of that season was against Denver, he scouted those plays in order to gain an advantage.

It worked. Seattle came out with a 26-20 win in Russell Wilson's first game back at Lumen Field.

But apparently Payton didn't take too kindly to the Seahawks coaches' scouting tactics.

Macdonald told Bensinger that Payton found out about the plays they pulled from social media midway through the season and "lost his mind."

"He called [Seahawks general manager John Schnedier] and basically threatened to come out publicly and do a whole Patriots Spygate type of thing," Macdonald said. "And I'm sitting there like 'Oh my God, we didn't cheat!'"

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So why didn't Payton make it public? Because according to Macdonald, Schneider threatened to sue if he did. The result was what Macdonald described as a "Cold War" type standoff, with both teams keeping their fingers on the proverbial button without actually pressing it.

After the season, Macdonald said he ran into Payton at his Indianapolis hotel during the week of the NFL Combine. Preparing for confrontation, he instead got meekness, with Payton essentially acting like nothing had happened.

"I was kind of like over him, and he was just like, 'Hey coach,' and he totally backed down in that moment," Macdonald said. "I was like, 'Oh, man. That's great'."

A couple things here. The first is that Macdonald didn't do anything wrong. This was nothing like Spygate, in which there was a deliberate attempt to circumvent the rules. This was just the Seahawks being savvy enough to know where to obtain plays that had been made public.

I don't know what the specific rules are regarding filming with the Broncos, but Seattle doesn't allow anyone to record camp practices after the individual periods have ended. That's called prudence. It's a rule all teams should have in place.

The second is that, assuming all this is true, it's another ding on Payton's reputation. This was a guy who was already suspended for the 2012 season due to the Saints' Bountygate scandal, in which the team paid players to knock targeted opponents out of the game.

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He took what appeared to be a swipe at his former quarterback Russell Wilson after Jaxson Dart replaced him as the Giants' quarterback, saying "I was talking to (Giants co-owner) John Mara not too long ago I said 'we were hoping that change would've happened long after our game."

Now there seems to be a petty attempt to call out cheating when no cheating took place.

"He's not my biggest fan," Macdonald said of Payton.

Of course, it would have been interesting to see if Macdonald would have been willing to tell this story a year ago at this time. Winning a Super Bowl gives you the cachet to say close to anything you please.

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Macdonald is on top now. And it doesn't look like he needed any shortcuts to get there.

'Reacher' star Alan Ritchson claims studios begged him to shut up about politics

Tue, 22 Sep 2026 19:50:11 -0400

"Reacher" star Alan Ritchson claimed that studios have discouraged him from discussing politics publicly after the actor drew attention for his political rants.

The Christian Post reported that Ritchson jokingly remarked about the warnings he'd received from production studios during a Fan Expo Canada panel earlier this month.

"You know how many phone calls I get from studios like, ‘Would you shut the f--- up, please? Stop talking in public,’" Ritchson said. "I mean, but it’s not chaos I’m after.

"It’s actually the opposite of chaos. I’d like a little — I’m not going to get into it. You don’t want to see my rants starring these g------ f------ politicians everywhere.

'REACHER' STAR ALAN RITCHSON EXPOSES ALLEGED EXTORTION PLOT THAT SPARKED SUICIDE ATTEMPT

"I’m not going to do it. Sony told me not to. And I’m not going to say anything. Not today. Not today, [Jeffrey] Epstein."

After the audience cheered his comments, he gave a fist bump to the moderators and declared, "Pedos win."

Ritchson also claimed Amazon Prime Video killed a "Reacher" storyline involving White supremacists and suggested the move was political.

In a comment on Threads last week, he replied to a fan who expressed disappointment that the Amazon Prime Video series would not adapt a book in the series where Jack Reacher "kills his way through a White supremacist militia camp."

'SOPRANOS' CREATOR DAVID CHASE WARNS CENSORSHIP UNDER TRUMP IS A 'HOP, SKIP AND A JUMP' AWAY

Ritchson replied that he was also pushing for the book to be adapted but was turned down, suggesting it was due to President Donald Trump's return to office.

"My favorite book. Fun fact: I had it approved until someone got re-elected," Ritchson wrote.

Fox News Digital reached out to Sony and Amazon Prime Video for comment.

A professed Christian, Ritchson has attacked conservative Christians based on their support for Republicans. In a Hollywood Reporter interview from April 2024, Ritchson criticized Christian supporters of Trump.

‘REACHER’ STAR DOUBLES DOWN ON CLAIM COPS ‘GET AWAY WITH MURDER,’ TOUTS OWN BRAVERY FOR SPEAKING OUT

"Trump is a rapist and a con man, and yet the entire Christian church seems to treat him like he’s their poster child, and it’s unreal. I don’t understand it," Ritchson said.

One month later, he claimed he was "met with violence" for sharing these and other views.

"If you want to see violence flee the world, be more generous to everybody! That is the Christian ethic! That is what I don’t see happening. And when I speak up about it in my own ways, I’m met with violence," Ritchson said.

In a comment to Fox News Digital, Christian Toto, of Hollywood in Toto, remarked that Ritchson is "doing all he can to personally sabotage" his own projects.

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"The actor's political rants are even worse than what Robert De Niro says on a given day. It's hysterical blather, and his ‘Reacher’ fans are noticing," Toto said.

"That brings to mind two questions. If his film studios are begging him to stay apolitical, why doesn't he listen to them? Did that actually happen? Do other film studios ask their stars to avoid political screeds in interviews?

"Doesn't he realize the precious gift he's been given, to be able to headline major motion pictures? Doesn't he understand how fleeting that kind of fame can be and how audiences might be turned off by his unhinged rhetoric?"

Virginia school district faces probe over 9/11 teaching guide telling teachers not to ‘center the extremists’

Tue, 22 Sep 2026 19:39:50 -0400

EXCLUSIVE: America First Legal (AFL) has launched an investigation into Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) in Virginia after Fox News Digital first exposed controversial guidance for teaching the 9/11 terrorist attacks, seeking to determine who was responsible for developing instructions that tell teachers not to "center the extremists or the acts of the extremists."

The conservative legal group announced the investigation after Fox News Digital first reported on the FCPS guide ahead of the 25th anniversary of the attacks.

The district's guidance tells teachers not to "associate the 9/11 attacks with Islam or Muslims" or "center the extremists or the acts of the extremists."

LIBERAL VIRGINIA SCHOOL DISTRICT: DON'T LINK 9/11 TERROR ATTACKS TO 'ISLAM or MUSLIMS'

"We wanna know where this comes from. We wanna know who the school is working with to develop these guidances," America First Legal senior counsel Ian Prior told Fox News Digital.

Prior said AFL is seeking to examine how FCPS arrived at the guidance and whether any outside organizations participated in its development, but acknowledged AFL has not yet determined whether that occurred.

"We're still seeking to determine how far this goes," Prior said. "That's why we're investigating so that we can get to the bottom of it."

The investigation was directly prompted by Fox News Digital's reporting, Prior said.

CBC RELEASES POLICY CHANGE AFTER CONTROVERSY ABOUT REFUSING TO REFER TO 9/11 AS ‘TERRORIST ATTACKS’

"The reason why we're investigating now is because this was just reported," he said, adding that AFL saw the report "just like everybody else" and wanted to determine who FCPS was working with when the guidance was developed.

In announcing its investigation, AFL is accusing the school district of attempting to "sanitize history" and calling for "full transparency regarding who is responsible" for the guidance. The group's announcement directs readers to a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request, though the two-page release itself does not detail the records sought.

The six-page FCPS guide, titled "25th Anniversary and Commemoration of 9/11," was published Aug. 27 and edited Aug. 31. It directs teachers who choose to commemorate the attacks to carefully follow the district's guidance and use only instructional resources available through the district's Atlas site.

FCPS tells educators that lessons about the attacks can unintentionally stigmatize Muslim and Middle Eastern students and instructs teachers to prepare for anti-Muslim rhetoric, create "safe spaces" for Muslim and Middle Eastern students and challenge expressions of bias.

A GENERATION CANNOT REMEMBER 9/11. WE HAVE A DUTY TO MAKE SURE THEY LEARN

Fairfax County Public Schools did not directly answer Fox News Digital's questions about who authored and approved the guidance, whether outside organizations were involved in its development or whether the district has made or considered changes to the document. The district referred Fox News Digital to a statement published on Sept. 11.

In that statement, Superintendent Michelle Reid said FCPS "unequivocally condemn[s]" the 9/11 terrorist attacks and emphasized the district's connection to the Pentagon, military families, first responders and survivors.

The statement also said FCPS was "reviewing our materials" in response to community feedback, while maintaining that "the actions of terrorists should not define the entirety of any faith, culture, or community."

FCPS's Sept. 11 statement provides some information about how the materials were reviewed, but does not identify who authored the six-page guide or who approved its final language.

Prior argued that schools can teach students about the ideology that motivated the Sept. 11 terrorists without assigning collective responsibility to Muslims.

BROOKLYN TEACHERS WHO WITNESSED 9/11 AS CHILDREN REVEAL WHAT THEY WANT THE NEXT GENERATION TO REMEMBER

The district's guidance similarly states that teachers should make clear that al Qaeda carried out the attacks, while drawing a distinction between the terrorist organization and Muslims as a whole.

"When discussing this topic with students, please make clear that the September 11 attacks were carried out by Al-Qaeda, a terrorist extremist organization," the guide states. "Al-Qaeda’s ideology and actions should not be attributed to Islam or to Muslims as a religious community."

The dispute centers in part on how much emphasis teachers should place on the terrorists and their ideology when commemorating the attacks.

FCPS tells teachers that "the commemoration of 9/11 focuses on those whose lives were lost and those who sacrificed to help others — not those who attacked the United States." The guide encourages teachers to emphasize stories of "resilience, support, and resistance" and use age-appropriate details about the violence.

CBC CAVES ON 9/11 ‘TERRORISM’ GUIDANCE AS US, CANADIAN OFFICIALS UNLEASH CROSS-BORDER BACKLASH

For elementary students, the district suggests teachers could open by saying, "Twenty-five years ago today, there was an attack on the United States," before allowing students' questions to determine what additional information is shared at the teacher's professional discretion.

Its suggested language for older students is considerably more specific, stating that "members of the extremist group al-Qaeda hijacked four planes in a coordinated terrorist attack on the United States" before recounting the 2,977 people killed, including civilians, military personnel at the Pentagon and emergency workers. The guidance also highlights the passengers and crew of Flight 93 who fought back against the hijackers.

FCPS said in the guide that its approach reflects the varied experiences of families in the Northern Virginia district, where some were personally affected by the attacks and the ensuing War on Terror.

"Many families of military personnel and first responders experienced loss and hardship," the document states, while also saying Muslim families worry about harassment and hate crimes surrounding the anniversary.

AFL argues the district's approach goes too far.

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"Fairfax County Public Schools is attempting to sanitize history and erase the radical Islamic terrorism that struck our nation on September 11, 2001," AFL counsel Will Scolinos said in announcing the investigation. "Parents and the public must have full transparency regarding who is responsible for stripping truth from our children’s classrooms."

Prior said AFL has not determined what action could ultimately follow its investigation and that the group's next steps will depend on what it finds.

Fox News Digital's Asra Nomani contributed to this reporting.

Mets hand Andy Green a three-year deal, skipping external manager search entirely

Tue, 22 Sep 2026 19:28:25 -0400

The New York Mets handed Andy Green a three-year contract on Tuesday, removing his interim tag and delivering a giant middle finger to a fan base that spent all summer watching a $300 million roster flounder.

When the Mets fired Carlos Mendoza on June 26 following a 34-47 start, President of Baseball Operations David Stearns insisted Green was strictly an interim solution.

Previously, Green was serving as senior vice of player development, and the organization made it clear he would return to his front-office desk at season's end while the team conducted a full search.

Three months later, Stearns reversed course completely, skipping external interviews altogether and locking down Green through 2029.

Instead of making calls to proven managers like Alex Cora, Bob Melvin, or Joe Espada, or even testing the market on established names like Torey Lovullo, Don Mattingly, Rocco Baldelli, or Dave Martinez, Stearns opted for the ultimate shortcut.

METS REPORTER DISSECTS TEAM'S MISERABLE SEASON WHILE PRIDE NIGHT MR. MET DANCES BEHIND HIM

With this decision, fan patience with Stearns and the ball club has officially hit rock bottom.

Stearns was brought to Queens with the reputation of an analytical mastermind who was going to build a sustainable juggernaut backed by Steve Cohen’s endless wallet.

Instead, he looks like a guy winging it. Promising a thorough search for a top-tier manager and then settling on the guy sitting two doors down in the executive suite is textbook Mets.

METS ARE 'TRASH' BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT LISTENING TO FORMER NJ GOV CHRIS CHRISTIE, STEPHEN A SMITH SAYS

It is not like Green’s resume gives anyone a reason to throw a parade in Flushing. His previous managerial run with the San Diego Padres ended in a mid-season firing after four consecutive losing campaigns, leaving him with a dismal 274-366 career record entering this year.

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The outrage in Queens is not just about Green; it is about the insult to anyone who watched this garbage season unfold.

The Mets sit dead last in the NL East with an embarrassing 71-85 record.

Despite carrying one of the highest payrolls in Major League Baseball, New York was effectively dead in the water before the All-Star break. Mendoza opened the year 34-47, and Green managed an unimpressive 37-38 stretch to finish out the string.

Rewarding a last-place finish and a sub-.500 interim run with a three-year deal sends a wild message to a fan base that has watched an endless parade of managers pass through Citi Field.

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From Mickey Callaway and Luis Rojas to Buck Showalter and Carlos Mendoza, the faces change, but the results stay the same.

Good luck selling those 2027 ticket packages.

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

Three Word Game: Three words to describe every NFL team so far this season ahead of Week 3

Tue, 22 Sep 2026 19:08:58 -0400

In life, it often takes just three words to tell a story. NFL teams are no different.

Today, we play to the OutKick-famous Three-Word Game to describe every NFL team after two weeks:

Detroit Lions (1-1): Defense is putrid.

The Lions’ defense ranks 31st in points and yards allowed. They have allowed 71 points through two games. The secondary is a mess and cannot pressure the quarterback.

Defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard’s seat could and should get hot quickly.

Kansas City Chiefs (2-0): They are back.

The Chiefs have had an average offense over the past three seasons. Not this year. Through two games, Kansas City has the NFL’s top-ranked offense.

Free-agent addition Kenneth Walker has been the biggest move of the offseason. He leads the NFL in rushing yards (290) and all-purpose yards (369).

There are reasonable concerns about whether the Chiefs can sustain this pace, especially with left tackle Josh Simmons still out under mysterious circumstances.

For now, the Chiefs look back to their old ways.

New York Giants (1-1): Season’s probably over.

After Week 1, the Giants looked like a playoff team and a potential dark-horse contender. After Week 2, that all seems like a distant memory.

ESPN reported Tuesday that quarterback Jaxson Dart’s knee injury is worse than expected and that he is likely to miss the rest of the season. Backup Jameis Winston hardly looked playable in relief Monday night against the Rams.

Miami Dolphins (0-2): Arch? Chambliss? Mensah?

Challenge: Name five players on the Miami Dolphins.

MIAMI DOLPHINS ENTER FULL REBUILD WITH MALIK WILLIS AT QUARTERBACK AND JEFF HAFLEY AS HEAD COACH

We can’t either.

The Dolphins’ roster is the least talented in recent memory. It’s difficult to envision them missing out on one of the top quarterbacks in what is expected to be an elite 2027 draft class.

The options could include Arch Manning, Trinidad Chambliss or keeping Hurricanes quarterback Darian Mensah in Miami.

San Francisco 49ers (2-0): Better than expected.

The 49ers were not frequently mentioned among the NFL’s best teams entering the season. Through two weeks, they are clearly among them.

Remember, this team entered Week 18 last season with a chance to earn the NFC’s No. 1 seed despite injuries to multiple All-Pro players.

If San Francisco can remain reasonably healthy, it should again contend for the top seed. This roster is still loaded.

Cleveland Browns (1-1): Well, they won.

In the biggest upset of the season, the Browns edged the Buccaneers on Sunday after a lengthy late-fourth-quarter weather delay.

Browns fans may have preferred another poor performance from Deshaun Watson. Instead, his 238-yard, two-touchdown, zero-interception performance will likely buy him at least a few more weeks as the starter.

FROM THE CHARGERS TO THE COLTS AND FALCONS, WHICH OF THE NFL'S EIGHT WINLESS TEAMS ARE ALREADY IN PANIC MODE

Buffalo Bills (2-0): No, it’s different.

Yes, the Bills have been Super Bowl champions in September for most of Josh Allen’s career, only to lose in heartbreaking fashion in January.

But this time does feel different.

Under head coach Joe Brady, Buffalo has the NFL’s highest-scoring offense and has turned tight end Dalton Kincaid into the league’s best pass-catching option.

The Bills may not have the marquee names of the Rams, but their roster is among the league’s most complete. Notably, edge rusher Greg Rousseau leads the NFL with four sacks and may have elevated his game from good to great.

Atlanta Falcons (0-2): Can’t flex yet.

Unfortunately, networks cannot flex games out of prime time this early in the season. Therefore, the Falcons will be forced to perform on national television each of the next three weeks.

Minnesota Vikings (2-0): The Northern favorites.

The Vikings entered the season with the lowest odds of winning what was expected to be a vaunted NFC North. Suddenly, concerns about the Lions’ defense, the Packers’ roster and Caleb Williams’ health have made Minnesota the betting favorite to win the division.

Further, the Vikings have the talent to justify it.

Las Vegas Raiders (2-0): Just LIKE that.

Just like that, the Raiders are 2-0 and have formed the NFL’s best pass-blocking line, according to ESPN Stats & Information.

Brock Bowers, the Raiders’ best player, is also expected to make his season debut Sunday.

The schedule gets tougher from here. Las Vegas’ next five opponents are the Saints, Chiefs, Patriots, Bills and Rams. Winning two of those matchups would seem like a victory for this team.

Houston Texans (0-2): Not worried, yet.

The Texans started 0-3 last season and finished 12-5. There is no reason to panic just yet.

That said, Houston’s highly acclaimed defense has not been nearly as strong this season. The Texans rank 20th in yards allowed and 24th in points allowed.

Playing Josh Allen and Joe Burrow in consecutive weeks can do that to a defense. But C.J. Stroud is not good enough to lead this team into the postseason if the defense is anything short of dominant.

Philadelphia Eagles (2-0): Fly, Eagles … fly?

The good news: The Eagles are 2-0.

The bad news: They do not look particularly effective on either side of the ball.

The jury is still out in Philadelphia. Fortunately, the Eagles may face the Bears on Monday with Case Keenum starting at quarterback.

Los Angeles Rams (1-1): Super Bowl favorites.

Forget what happened in Australia. The Rams have the best roster in the NFL.

Aaron Donald looked like Aaron Donald on Monday night. Myles Garrett, Puka Nacua and Donald have not even shared the field yet.

Barring injury, the Rams should remain Super Bowl favorites throughout the season.

Tennessee Titans (0-2): So, so close.

The Titans looked like they had the Eagles, then they didn’t. Cam Ward still has a ways to go. It’s early, but so far, Carnell Tate has not lived up to his status as the fourth overall pick.

Still, Tennessee should have an opportunity to win its first game this week against a Jaxson Dart-less Giants team.

Dallas Cowboys (1-1): Waiting to see.

The Dallas Cowboys have as good an offense as any team in the NFL. The question is how much last year’s historically bad defense has improved. They looked better Sunday against the Commanders once Daniels went down.

Through two games, the team has yet to record a sack.

This team could go either way.

Carolina Panthers (1-1): Bryce is cooking.

Imagine telling anyone after their rookie seasons that Bryce Young would be better than Stroud. And yet, that is the case after the past two seasons.

The Panthers have scored 71 points in two games. That’s second-best in the NFL.

Seattle Seahawks (2-0): They can repeat.

Few teams received less hype about potentially repeating as Super Bowl champions in the offseason than the Seattle Seahawks. But they can.

The roster is well-rounded, they play fierce defense, and Jaxon Smith-Njigba is nearly unguardable. The Seahawks have even turned Drew Lock into a serviceable quarterback this season.

That’s impressive.

Baltimore Ravens (1-1): Not this again.

For what seems like the fifth year in a row, the Ravens dominated Week 1, and the national media rushed to anoint them the top team in the AFC and Lamar Jackson the MVP frontrunner.

Then, as usual, the team suffered a major letdown in Week 2 against the Saints, culminating in a game-losing interception thrown by Jackson.

They never learn.

They being the media.

Denver Broncos (1-1): Week 1 lies.

As always, Week 1 lies to us. Week 1 told us the Denver Broncos were a poorly coached team with holes on both sides of the ball.

Week 2 tends to be more truthful and showed us the opposite.

The Denver Broncos are really good. The addition of Jaylen Waddle showed on Sunday.

New York Jets (1-1): Maybe not hopeless.

The Jets are not good, but they are not completely hopeless, either. That qualifies as progress in New York.

They should be 2-0.

Cincinnati Bengals (2-0): They play defense.

The Bengals deviated from strategy this offseason and paid for a defense. It’s working. Two weeks in, the Bengals are pressuring the quarterback and forcing teams off the field.

If that continues, the Bengals can beat anyone.

Now, if Joe Burrow could stay healthy …

Arizona Cardinals (1-1): The real LaFleur.

The Cardinals are, dare we say, competitive.

Between Trey McBride, Jeremiyah Love and Michael Wilson, Arizona has a puncher’s chance against most opponents. First-year coach Mike LaFleur is impressive.

Pittsburgh Steelers (1-1): Same old Steelers.

Pittsburgh remains well-coached, physical, and offensively limited. The Steelers are exactly what everyone expected and exactly what they seemingly are every season.

They are also so boring to watch.

Jacksonville Jaguars (1-1): Another false alarm.

The Jaguars briefly looked like a contender. Then reality returned. Jacksonville still has too many holes to be taken seriously.

Chicago Bears (1-1): The crisis averted.

It sounds like Caleb Williams will miss a game or two because of a hamstring injury. But if you told the Bears that and a week of crying-Caleb memes was the worst-case scenario after how bad his injury looked, they would take it.

The Bears will be fine.

Los Angeles Chargers (0-2): Not getting better.

The Chargers are 0-2. The offense and defense look confused. The offensive line is once again a weakness. Jim Harbaugh looks befuddled on the sideline.

None of it makes much sense.

Worst of all, the Chargers’ next seven opponents are the Buffalo Bills, Seattle Seahawks, Denver Broncos, Kansas City Chiefs, Los Angeles Rams, Houston Texans, and Baltimore Ravens.

What’s the best-case scenario here? A 1-8 start?

New England Patriots (1-1): Much-improved defense.

The Patriots’ offense has struggled. A.J. Brown is hurt, and stud right guard Mike Onwenu is out for the season. However, the defense is much improved from last season.

The team has allowed only 16 points through two games against the Seahawks and Steelers.

Drake Maye must play better, though.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (0-2): Very, very disappointing?

Two weeks into this season, the Bucks are one of the NFL's biggest disappointments. They lost to the Browns.

The talent is there, but they need to win three of their next five against the Vikings, Packers, Cowboys, Steelers, and Panthers.

We aren't sure they will do it.

Green Bay Packers (1-1): Well, they survived.

The Packers survived a double-digit deficit to the Jets on Sunday to avoid a 0-2 start.

In doing so, Green Bay became the first team since 1941 to win a game while recording fewer than 200 yards of offense, 100-plus penalty yards and a negative turnover margin.

The team is not clicking and may need to keep surviving until Micah Parsons and Josh Jacobs return.

Indianapolis Colts (0-2): Last-ranked defense.

The Colts’ offense was impressive in an overtime loss to the Chiefs. However, the defense has been horrendous.

Through two weeks, the Colts’ defense has given up 1,029 total yards, which ranks last in the NFL, along with 675 passing yards, also last, 354 rushing yards, second-to-last, and 74 points, last.

That’s a problem.

New Orleans Saints (1-1): No Shoughs given.

The Saints might have the best quarterback most of the public has never heard of: Tyler Shough. He leads the league in passing yards and firmly outplayed Lamar Jackson head-to-head Sunday.

The touted rookie wide receiver Jordyn Tyson is expected to make his season debut next month, giving Shough another option.

In the NFC South, the Saints are a playoff-caliber team — and one with firepower.

Washington Commanders (0-2): He’s hurt again.

Jayden Daniels is hurt again. This roster isn’t good enough to overcome annual injuries to a quarterback who makes everything work.

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Beyond this season, the question will soon become whether Washington can extend Daniels given his injury history.

Beyond killer robots: China's real AI threat to America is already here, experts warn

Tue, 22 Sep 2026 18:30:36 -0400

While Americans brace for a futuristic AI war of killer robots and bioweapons, experts warn ahead of President Xi Jinping's U.S. visit this week that Beijing is already actively undermining America's global supremacy through AI without ever firing a shot.

Experts who spoke with Fox News Digital outlined a stealthy, three-part playbook, which includes extracting the logic of American models, undercutting U.S. developers with free open-source software and ultimately weaponizing those systems for things like cognitive warfare.

They laid out how China bypasses billions of dollars in U.S. research through labs that interrogate cutting-edge American AI and copy its capabilities, while simultaneously flooding the global market with free alternatives.

"I think a ‘race’ is the wrong metaphor for this," Leah Siskind, an AI research fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, told Fox News Digital. "I think it's kind of like a multi-front war. And in some places, we're winning, and some places we're losing."

XI PREPARES CHINA ‘FOR BATTLE’ AS EXPERT WARNS OF GRAVE DANGER FACING US AHEAD OF DC SUMMIT

While top American tech firms have poured billions into building ultra-expensive, proprietary systems, China has focused heavily on distributing free, open-source models across the globe. Siskind warned that because American tech is costly and the U.S. sector has largely neglected open-source investment, many Fortune 500 companies are making the financial choice to run their operations on Chinese models, unwittingly opening the door to potential CCP censorship, hidden backdoors and, ultimately, global dominance.

"How can you compete with something that's free when American tech is very, very expensive?" Siskind said. "How can we ensure that a Chinese open-source model would be truly clean, that it'd be truly free of CCP censorship? We can't be — we just wouldn't know. And that's by design. We wouldn't know what sort of trick backdoors might be implanted and how that could rear its head later on."

China expert Gordon Chang warned that Beijing is intentionally using these free models to repeat an economic tactic it previously deployed to corner a different industry.

"This is a tactic that China used with solar panels," Chang told Fox News Digital. "Beijing sees that one day it will drive out the American models on cost and availability, and they will then dominate global AI."

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But to flood the market with free software, Beijing first needs the underlying technology and a way to bypass America's massive lead in computing power.

Chang noted that the U.S. possesses a commanding lead in physical infrastructure, boasting over 5,400 data centers compared to China's roughly 450, along with far superior microchips. To work around the staggering hardware and energy costs required to train artificial intelligence from scratch, Siskind warned that Chinese labs are closing the gap through a process known as "knowledge distillation," a method where a smaller model essentially interrogates a larger, smarter American model to copy its logic.

"They are able to leapfrog the process by kind of stealing this information," Siskind said, pointing to the Chinese model DeepSeek as a prime example. "This is how they were able to release models like DeepSeek in 2025, which was seismic news because they were able to show that they were really competing with cutting-edge American models and had invested a fraction of the resources."

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The threat is not theoretical. Just last week, the Department of Homeland Security issued a joint cybersecurity advisory warning that Chinese companies are conducting "industrial-scale knowledge distillation campaigns" to extract proprietary capabilities from U.S. frontier models.

Beyond economic undercutting and software theft, the experts also warned Beijing is simultaneously deploying artificial intelligence into physical supply chains and public influence campaigns.

Rather than sci-fi "killer robots," Siskind emphasized that China's immediate physical priority is "embodied AI," embedding artificial intelligence into real-world infrastructure like factory automation, commercial drones and autonomous supply chains.

Chang warned that AI-enhanced propaganda poses a direct threat to American decision-making and democratic sovereignty.

"They're very good at cognitive warfare, and they can enhance their capabilities with artificial intelligence," Chang said. "We do not want our elections determined in China. We do not want our critical national security decisions being made in Beijing. And that's not impossible."

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As President Xi Jinping arrives in the U.S. this week, the experts who spoke to Fox News Digital said the White House must treat these non-cinematic threats with the same urgency as traditional military posturing.

To protect America's remaining edge, Siskind said Washington must tighten chip export loopholes, blacklist foreign labs engaging in deceptive distillation and incentivize U.S. open-source development, emphasizing that "it is very important that the most advanced systems are developed under democracy and represent democratic values, as opposed to authoritarian values."

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For Chang, the stakes of that technological defense extend far beyond standard economic competition.

"Xi Jinping throughout this century has been pushing the Chinese imperial-era notion of Tianxia, or 'all under heaven' that China's rulers have a right to rule the world," Chang warned. "That sounds ludicrous to us, but a Chinese regime powered by AI might actually be able to accomplish that. We certainly do not want our decisions being made in the Chinese capital."

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Addressing the United Nations General Assembly on Tuesday, President Donald Trump reiterated Washington's goal of outpacing China, declaring that U.S. government documents will now refer to AI as "superintelligence."

"The United States totally rejects any attempt to construct a globalist scheme to control the artificial intelligence being spoken of," Trump told world leaders. "Whoever wins superintelligence wins. And we're leading now over China by a lot and everyone else. And we're going to keep it that way."

Costco food court item packs more protein than anything else on the menu, but there's a catch

Tue, 22 Sep 2026 18:53:40 -0400

One of Costco's newer food court additions is packing more protein than anything else on the menu, but a dietitian says shoppers should look beyond the eye-catching number.

The Rotisserie Chicken Chef Salad, which Costco highlighted among its new food court offerings this year, contains 59 grams of protein along with 840 calories.

The $7.99 salad includes rotisserie chicken, hard-boiled eggs, bacon bits and shredded cheddar cheese on a bed of romaine lettuce, along with tomatoes and creamy peppercorn ranch dressing.

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Jamie Lee McIntyre, a Florida-based registered dietitian nutritionist, told Fox News Digital that protein is only one factor consumers should consider when deciding what to eat.

"That's just a nutrition attribute," McIntyre said of protein. She noted that "a food can be high in protein, but it can also still be high in sodium, saturated fat or calories."

Regarding this particular Costco menu item, McIntyre said the protein "is coming from some good whole foods, chicken and eggs. There's veggies in there. So those are some good building blocks of the meal. But I would say, for a lot of people, 840 calories might be a bit much for a light lunch."

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Other Costco food court options aren't far behind the chef salad when it comes to protein.

The Chicken Caesar Salad contains 58 grams of protein, just one gram less than the Rotisserie Chicken Chef Salad.

The Chicken Bake is another high-protein option, with 53 grams.

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Online reactions to the Rotisserie Chicken Chef Salad have been mixed, with some Costco shoppers criticizing its proportions and others praising its flavor.

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"Tons of toppings, not enough lettuce. Salty for a salad. I wouldn't buy it again, the portions are just way off, and it was a whole thing to assemble," one Reddit user said.

Another Reddit user was a fan of the salad, particularly the dressing.

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"Someone bought me one, and I went back 2 days later to buy another," someone wrote. "I am not a salad person, but I love this dressing. I wish I knew what company makes the Peppercorn Ranch dressing."

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Fox News Digital reached out to Costco for comment.

Missouri mom who put newborn in oven instead of crib learns fate as murder charge dropped

Tue, 22 Sep 2026 18:46:57 -0400

A Missouri mother who said she accidentally put her 1-month-old baby in an oven instead of a crib will spend more than a decade behind bars after reaching a deal that wiped away a first-degree murder charge.

Mariah Thomas, 28, pleaded guilty Tuesday to first-degree endangering the welfare of a child resulting in death and was ordered to serve 13 years in the Missouri Department of Corrections, according to Jackson County court records.

The punishment came more than two years after Kansas City police found Thomas' infant daughter dead with severe burns inside a city home.

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Thomas was also charged with first-degree murder, but that count was dismissed as part of the plea agreement, court records show. She received no probation and will be credited for time already served.

The nightmare unfolded on Feb. 9, 2024, after officers were called to the home around 1:30 p.m. on charges involving a report of a baby who was not breathing, according to charging documents.

Police arrived to find the 1-month-old child with apparent burns across her body. Kansas City Fire Department personnel pronounced her dead at the scene.

Investigators were told Thomas had gone to put her daughter down for a nap but "accidentally placed her in the oven instead of the crib," the documents state.

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A family member later told detectives that Thomas said, "I thought I put [her] in her crib and I accidentally put her in the oven."

The child was wearing a bodysuit over a diaper, and investigators said her clothing appeared to have melted onto the diaper. Police also recovered a baby blanket with significant burn marks from the living room, according to the probable cause statement.

The infant was identified by FOX 4 Kansas City as Za'riah Thomas.

Thomas initially declined to speak with detectives after being advised of her rights, but she agreed to provide a blood sample and allow investigators to access data from her cellphone, the documents state.

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Then-Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker called the child's death a "gruesome" tragedy when the original charge was announced in February 2024.

"We acknowledge the gruesome nature of this tragedy, and our hearts are weighted by the loss of this precious life," Baker said at the time. "We trust the criminal justice system to respond appropriately to these awful circumstances."

The original complaint charged Thomas only with first-degree endangering the welfare of a child resulting in death.

Court records show prosecutors later added the first-degree murder count that was ultimately dismissed under Tuesday's agreement.

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Judge Sarah A. Castle found Thomas entered the guilty plea freely and voluntarily and understood the charge and consequences. The judgment states Thomas had no mental disease or defect defense.

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Thomas was returned to the Jackson County sheriff’s custody to await transfer to state prison. The judge also ordered her to pay $68 to Missouri’s Crime Victims’ Compensation Fund and waived all other court costs.

Fox News Digital reached out to the Jackson County prosecutor's office for comment.