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Danica Patrick's six-pack triggers the body-shamers, Trump's 'Patriot Games' gets an unlikely partner & NFL!

Thu, 06 Aug 2026 15:30:13 -0400

'Nightcaps' is a daily column that catches you up on the biggest sports, news and culture stories you may have missed while pretending to do work at your desk. It runs Monday–Friday on OutKick.com.

Over the hump and safely into the second half of the week. Whew. We made it!

More importantly ... we MADE it. It's back. It's here. Our long, national nightmare is over. Put all the WNBA talk in the attic until next summer. The greatest sport on the planet is back after a long, dark winter.

Sure, it doesn't mean anything and we won't know any of the players, but Lordy, it's finally here ...

The Patriot Games begin this weekend!

Wait, what? That's right. You can have your Hall of Fame game, NFL. In this class, we're locked in on Donald Trump's "Patriot Games." You'll see.

Welcome to a Thursday Nightcaps — the one where Danica Patrick shows off her six-pack and deals with a couple nasty internet trolls.

What else? I've got ESPN and Disney extending the White House an olive branch, the wildest celebration in MLB history was uncorked last night, and the Phillies yanked a fan out of the crowd last night to do play-by-play in the radio booth, and he might just be the greatest announcer I've ever heard.

Sometimes, you're just born to play a role.

OK, grab you an IPA on National IPA Day to celebrate the NFL's return tonight, and settle in for a Thursday 'Cap!

The Patriot Games are here!

Loaded day, so let's get this class started.

Welcome back, NFL. Sure, it's the Hall of Fame game, which means literally nobody of note will be playing, but whatever. Last I checked, the folks in Vegas still send you money for preseason games!

On that note, I will gladly hammer the over tonight. I haven't placed a bet in months. I have $7 left in my Hard Rock account after last football season (it went great, clearly), and I plan to throw it all on the OVER at 34.5 points.

Kenny Pickett can sling the rock. At the very least, he won't be an insurance salesman a month from now. That means something in a game like this.

No offense to those in the insurance game, by the way. I spent my formidable high school years filing papers at the local Allstate branch.

You're in good hands!

Anyway, I can't wait to start the year 0-1! A tradition unlike any other.

Now, on a more serious note ... did anyone here know the "Patriot Games" were starting this weekend? Of course you didn't.

But they are, and they just got an unlikely partner in the form of ESPN and Disney:

Danica Patrick's six-pack has folks talking

Look at the lineup! We've got kickball, dodgeball, tug-o-war, pop-a-shot (!!!) and, of course, some variation of the tried and true Presidential Fitness Test.

All on the ESPN app and ABC. Amazing.

For those who missed it last December (all of you), Trump announced these "Patriot Games" as part of America's 250th birthday. One boy and girl from each state will be represented.

From the official release:

"Freedom 250 announced that the 2026 Patriot Games will bring together outstanding young Americans from across the nation to compete, inspire, and showcase the values that have shaped the United States for nearly 250 years.

"The competition will award a $250,000 scholarship prize pool to one male and one female champion, creating life-changing opportunities for young Americans while inspiring millions across the country."

Anyone here remember the old fitness tests in PE? Goodness, what a time to be alive. We had the mile run. The pull-up bar. Sit-ups. Push-ups. The stupid one-arm hang.

Just the best.

Lordy. Were those the days, or what? We had it all, folks.

Anyway, ESPN and Disney putting all of this on their network(s) is no small feat considering they don't exactly get along with the Trump Administration.

Something to do with Jimmy Kimmel, if I remember correctly!

Perhaps this is an olive branch? A way to get back in the good graces of the current president? Not the craziest idea in the world.

Regardless, I'll be locked in on some high school kickball come Sunday afternoon. Can't wait.

Moving on ...

From the Patriot Games to an American patriot, Danica Patrick!

MLB's big night, reader mail & Lindsey takes us home

That's two cameos in the past week from Danica Patrick. Last week, we had her debuting some new-fangled "double-bikini" look in Europe, and now she's back on the beach showing America that she'd undoubtedly crush the fitness test.

Some folks hopped in Danica's comments section and voiced some concern:

"OK. I get TRIM and FIT. But like anything…all things in moderation. Honestly…y’all need some carbs and protein. A couple Double Doubles with Cheese, Fries and a Chocolate Shake once or twice a week won’t hurt," said one fan.

"Omgosh, someone grab her some tacos," added another.

Said a third: "Someone needs to take you to dinner."

DANICA PATRICK STUNS FANS FROM EUROPE

Piss off, internet. Sorry Danica's ripped at 44. I think she'll be just fine. She seems to be in a fairly good spot right now, given her months-long vacation in Europe.

No Danica slander in this class. Not on my watch.

OK, let's rapid-fire this Thursday class into a big Thursday night of football ... and baseball!

Speaking of ... We had a couple incredible moments out of the league last night, including a rookie pitcher making his debut in Cleveland, and a rookie broadcaster making his in Philly:

Goodness gracious. Where do I even begin?

On the Mets kid ... I've never seen anything quite like it. What a power move, especially for a rookie. Thank God pitchers don't hit anymore. He'd get drilled in the earhole so fast, heads would spin. Could you IMAGINE getting struck out by this animal? How long until someone charges the mound? I give it a week. Maybe less.
On the fan announcer ... is that the greatest baseball announcer voice of all time? It's so spot-on, you almost think it's AI. And they just pulled this guy off the streets! Don't send him back. Sign him to a new deal and make him a star. What a voice.

Next on the docket? Let's go ahead and check the mail before the final bell.

From Michael P:

Zach, it was fun watching the evolution of the SNF theme song through the years. Remember P!nk from 2006? Faith Hill from 2007-2013? There was a different song that was used from 2016-2018 before the original song came back in 2019.

It was also cool to see Joan Jett playing lead guitar in 2019. You may not realize that the melody of the SNF theme song was taken from the Joan Jett song "I Hate Myself For Loving You" from the 1980’s. Thanks for the walk down memory lane.

NASCAR'S NATALIE DECKER PEELS BACK HER FIRESUIT

Thanks, Mike! That's obviously in response to yesterday's class in which we combed through a YouTube video showing every single version of the "Sunday Night Football" open from 2006-2020.

The "different song" Mike's referring to was the infamous, "Ohhhhhhhhhhhhh Sunday night!" version with Carrie Underwood. It was horrible. Why do network's insist on messing with things that work?

Naturally, NBC went back to the "Waiting all day for a Sunday night" in 2019, and it remains untouched today.

Don't ever touch it again, NBC. Please. And don't you dare replace Carrie Underwood, either. She has a lifetime contract.

OK, that's it for today. Solid Thursday, everyone. Welcome back, football.

And welcome back, Lindsey Vonn!

See you tomorrow.

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What was your best mile run in PE? Email me at Zach.Dean@OutKick.com.

SEE IT: Mamdani booed off stage at New York City pro-police celebration: ‘Walked off in shame’

Thu, 06 Aug 2026 15:18:34 -0400

New York City socialist Mayor Zohran Mamdani is being mocked after many say he was humiliated by being booed off the stage while attending one of the city's biggest pro-police celebrations on Staten Island.

Mamdani attempted to address about 3,500 residents and families attending the New York Police Department’s 43rd Patrol Borough National Night Out Against Crime event on Tuesday. His remarks, however, lasted less than a minute as loud boos, jeers and chants of "get out of here" and "nobody wants you" drowned out his voice.

The mayor attempted to continue speaking for a short time, but the jeers drowned him out. After the boos continued, Mamdani thanked the crowd with his signature hand-over-his-heart gesture, waved and walked offstage smiling. As he exited, the crowd continued to berate him, with some yelling expletives. An organizer attempted to regain control of the event, but the crowd persisted, booing and shaking their fists at Mamdani.

"Mamdani tried to deliver a speech at a New York Police event in Manhattan but was VICIOUSLY booed and jeered off stage," reacted conservative pundit Eric Daugherty on X. "He walked off in SHAME."

MAMDANI WALKS BACK PLAN TO INCREASE NYPD HEADCOUNT FOLLOWING DSA PRESSURE

Political commentator Joey Mannarino wrote, "New York’s communist mayor Zohran Mamdani just got the reception he actually deserves. Booed, jeered, and screamed off the stage at an NYPD Night Out event in Staten Island in under a minute."

"The same cops and working class New Yorkers this DSA radical and his soft on crime buddies spent years attacking, vilifying, and trying to defund just told him to get the f--- out," Mannarino continued, adding, "He stood there smiling like an idiot while the crowd chanted for him to leave. Staten Island sees right through him."

Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation & Institute President Sal Saverio reposted video of Mamdani being booed on X with the caption, "God Bless America and God Bless the people of Staten Island NY, unofficially known as Staten Italy! Proud to have been born there!!!"

Influencer David Freeman wrote, "MAMDANI SHOULD BE MOCKED."

"Voters are starting to notice the gap between the campaign promises and the actual price tags," he said. "The reception is getting noticeably colder."

NEW YORK GUBERNATORIAL CANDIDATE URGES 9/11 ATTENDEES TO TURN AWAY FROM MAMDANI DURING CEREMONY

Mamdani has faced criticism over his relationship with police dating back to his mayoral campaign, which was dogged by questions about his past support for defunding the police. After his election, critics renewed those attacks when his budget included cuts to police funding and canceled plans to hire 5,000 new NYPD officers.

He also took criticism for his handling of an incident in February in Washington Square Park, dubbed "Snowballgate," where a mob of roughly 100 people pelted NYPD officers with snowballs, leaving two officers injured.

Rather than condemning the assault, Mamdani appeared to downplay the violence, referring to the perpetrators as "kids" taking part in a snowball fight.

GROCER-TURNED-LAWMAKER SAYS MAMDANI’S GOVERNMENT-RUN STORES 'MIGHT NOT EVEN LAST A YEAR’

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Fox News Digital previously reported that local crime expert and Manhattan Institute fellow Rafael Mangual said, "Mamdani did not come out in support of the NYPD in that incident. Instead, he seemed to kind of brush it off and even refused to call for the prosecution of the perpetrators," adding that the actions of the mob clearly qualified as an assault against police officers.

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Fox News Digital reached out to Mamdani’s office and the NYPD for comment.

Former Florida State QB Thomas Castellanos suing NCAA, seeks portal access after landmark eligibility ruling

Thu, 06 Aug 2026 15:16:11 -0400

The lawsuits keep coming, and this time it's former Florida State starting quarterback Thomas Castellanos hoping to take advantage of a Colorado judge's ruling last week that granted 2022 athletes a blanket waiver.

As we previously reported, the ongoing run on lawsuits pertaining to the new five-year rule set forth by the NCAA has led to a plethora of athletes seeking one more season of college athletics during a time in which courts across the country are granting injunctions.

When the NCAA adopted its new age-based eligibility model, giving athletes five years to play five seasons, it made one critical decision that is being argued in courtrooms across the country on a daily basis: It excluded the 2022 recruiting class from the new rule.

NCAA IGNORED THE WARNINGS. NOW IT'S FIGHTING FOR SURVIVAL IN COURTROOMS ACROSS AMERICA OVER ELIGIBILITY

Another day, another lawsuit being prepared against NCAA

Now, Thomas Castellanos is next in line to take the NCAA to court, which has become a massive problem for the organization over the past few months since adopting the new guidelines.

First reported by Pete Nakos of On3, with attorney Ryan Downton confirming to OutKick-Fox News that he will represent the athlete, along with Darren Heitner, Castellanos is seeking an injunction that would allow him to enter the NCAA portal outside of its normal window.

NCAA ROCKED BY COLORADO JUDGE'S 2022 CLASS ELIGIBILITY RULING THAT COULD RESHAPE COLLEGE SPORTS THIS YEAR

Last season with Florida State, the quarterback passed for 2,760 yards and 15 touchdowns, while also rushing for an additional nine touchdowns on the year.

"The NCAA is fighting tooth and nail to stop my clients from playing this year. Meanwhile, the NCAA is intensely lobbying Congress to pass the PCSA," plaintiff attorney Ryan Downton told OutKick-FOX News about the ongoing lawsuits being filed. "The irony is that if the PCSA (Protect College Sports Act) became law today, all of my clients become immediately eligible and get to play this year.

"The NCAA is like a referee who thinks he’s bigger than the game he’s officiating - just do the right thing and get out of the way."

After only participating in five games during the 2022 season at UCF, Castellanos filed a waiver request with the NCAA for an additional year of eligibility. The quarterback transferred from Boston College to Florida State before the 2025 season.

INDIANA TAKES FULL ADVANTAGE OF NCAA COURTROOM CHAOS WITH STUNNING ROSTER MOVE AMID ELIGIBILITY FIGHT

Another problem that is affecting the NCAA right now is the amount of lawsuits being filed by athletes. In the court of public opinion, the jury doesn’t seem to be siding with the organization over the new guidelines standard.

One of the larger problems pertaining to the injunction granted by U.S. District Judge Charlotte Sweeney of Colorado in her ruling last week that granted a blanket waiver to athletes who still had eligibility from the 2022 class are the actual number of roster spots available across college football.

Fall camps are already underway, and coaching staffs are still trying to decide whether or not they want to deal with the current confusion regarding the addition of athletes that are granted an additional year by the court system.

Why Castellanos is suing NCAA, with injunction already granted

Since Judge Sweeney's injunction ruling, which is being appealed by the NCAA, does not allow athletes to enter the transfer portal, Thomas Castellanos is suing for a portal window.

If a judge were to grant this motion, then the former Florida State quarterback will be allowed to find a new home while the Colorado injunction is still in effect, without the ramifications from the NCAA.

Also, Castellanos was not taken in the 2026 NFL Draft, though he did receive an invite to camp by one squad.

What happens next is to be determined.

But given the amount of courts granting injunctions to athletes on what feels like a daily basis, it's hard to think Castellanos would not receive one as well.

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The lawsuits against the NCAA just keep coming.

Once-affordable summer escape rocked by soaring costs as families shell out thousands

Thu, 06 Aug 2026 15:15:55 -0400

An influencer recently alleged that her family shells out $10,000 each year to visit a Jersey Shore spot for a single week — prompting people to question whether that type of price tag is worth it.

A Philadelphia-based influencer posted the viral video on Aug 2.

In the TikTok video, the influencer breaks down the rental costs while walking through Sea Isle City in Cape May County with a beach chair on her back.

AIRBNB GUESTS CHECK INTO THEIR RENTAL TO FIND STARTLING DISCOVERY ON WALL

"Every year we pay $10,000 to come down to the Jersey Shore," the influencer said in the video.

"These houses, you rent — and you need to bring your own sheets, toilet paper, paper towels, no food. You gotta bring your coffee, everything, everything."

The influencer added, "Every year, I'm like, ‘This is such a racket,’ but here I am. No parking, you need to walk to the beach, [take] all of your [stuff with you]. Basically, we're paying $10,000 to camp."

Although once seen as budget vacations for New Jersey families, Jersey Shore getaways have climbed sharply in cost in recent years.

FAMOUS BEACH NOW REQUIRES VISITORS TO RESERVE SPOTS WEEKS AHEAD AND PAY FEES

Research from Affinity Federal Credit Union in the Garden State found that the average cost of a Jersey Shore vacation this summer is 11.29% higher than last year, with week-long vacation rentals in Asbury Park, Point Pleasant and Seaside Heights up 53% year over year.

In the comments section of the influencer's video, a minority of TikTok viewers defended the costs.

"For those outside the tri-state [area] ... just know it’s tradition," one person wrote. "For families that vacation down [at] the shore, it’s the same town every year, same rental / hotel, same groups of vacation friends. ... It’s what makes it all worth it."

Locals and frequent Jersey Shore visitors, meanwhile, said the annual tradition simply isn't worth the price tag.

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"As a local, I’ll never understand why y’all do it," one person said.

"Every year you [pay] $10K is another year you prove that they can charge $10K," another commenter chimed in.

A third person wrote, "I live at the Jersey Shore, and I can promise you [that] nothing you rent is worth $10,000!"

Others argued the money would be better spent on an international vacation.

"[Ten thousand dollars] will get you an AMAZING trip to Greece!" a viewer wrote.

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"10K for the Jersey Shore is just insane," another said. "You can go to Europe instead."

Duane Watlington, founder of Vacation Rentals Jersey Shore, which operates websites featuring more than 3,100 vacation rentals, has another take on the matter.

"Somebody spending $10,000 a week at the Jersey Shore is definitely an above-average luxury rental," he told Fox News Digital.

"On Long Beach Island, the midpoint of a weekly rental during the summer is $7,000. … Ocean City's midpoint is $4,700 a week, and Wildwood's midpoint is only $3,500 a week," he said.

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Watlington urged visitors to consider June or September if they want to find lower prices.

He said that sometimes the cost can come down by 50% by doing that.

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He noted that most travelers who visit the shore are driving, so they save money on airfare.

He added, "Food you gotta pay for regardless."

Oklahoma teen accused of raping two girls walks free; DA furiously calls in feds: ‘Made my blood boil’

Thu, 06 Aug 2026 15:12:18 -0400

An Oklahoma teenager accused of sexually assaulting and strangling two high school girls saw his criminal case dismissed after completing a youthful offender rehabilitation plan, all without serving a prison sentence, court records show.

Jesse Mack Butler was 17 when he was charged as an adult in Payne County in March 2025 with 10 felony counts tied to alleged attacks on two girls he had dated.

The charges included two counts of attempted first-degree rape, three counts of rape by instrumentation, sexual battery, forcible oral sodomy, two counts of domestic assault and battery by strangulation and one count of domestic assault and battery.

Prosecutors later added an 11th count alleging that Butler violated a protective order.

NEWLY RELEASED VIDEO SHOWS COPS CUFFING TEEN LINKED TO VIOLENT SEX ASSAULT SCANDAL THAT HAS FAMILIES FUMING

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Butler’s attorneys asked that he be certified as a youthful offender or, alternatively, treated as a juvenile. The court denied the juvenile request but approved youthful offender status after prosecutors and the defense reached an agreement.

On Aug. 25, 2025, Butler pleaded no contest to all 11 counts. The judge found that he entered the pleas knowingly and voluntarily and that there was a factual basis for them, according to the court docket reviewed by Fox News Digital.

The court pronounced sentences of up to 10 years on several counts but placed Butler under the supervision of the Oklahoma Office of Juvenile Affairs instead of sending him to prison.

CALIFORNIA MOM RIPS NEWSOM-BACKED 'DIVERSION PROGRAM' THAT APPEARS TO BENEFIT HER SON'S KILLER

The sentence hung over him while he completed a court-approved rehabilitation plan. Review hearing records from December 2025 and April 2026 said Butler remained in compliance with his rehabilitation plan.

At his final review hearing on Aug. 3, prosecutors announced they would not seek to transfer him into the custody or supervision of the Oklahoma Department of Corrections.

The court’s jurisdiction expired when Butler turned 19 at midnight on Aug. 4, causing the case to be dismissed by operation of law.

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The final hearing turned contentious when defense attorney Derek Chance suggested Butler was innocent and was victimized by the case, according to newly elected Payne and Logan County District Attorney Jeremiah Gregory.

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"Today’s hearing included disingenuous assertions from the defense regarding the defendant’s innocence, that he was the victim in this matter and that the victim’s assertions were false and had no bearing. The defense portrayed that somehow the perpetrator suffered more than these victims. What was said was insincere, untruthful and an affront to these victims and what they have endured," Gregory said in a statement.

"Nothing has made my blood boil more."

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Gregory said Oklahoma cannot prosecute Butler again because of constitutional protections against double jeopardy.

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He announced that his office would instead refer the matter to the appropriate federal agency for prosecutorial review.

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"I cannot undo what has already been done," Gregory said, "but I can — and will — continue to stand as a strong voice for all victims of violent crime."

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No federal charges have been announced.

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Fox News Digital reached out to the Payne and Logan County District Attorney’s Office, the Oklahoma Office of Juvenile Affairs, Butler's attorney and other attorneys connected to the case for additional comment.

FDA approves first-ever mRNA flu vaccine for millions of older Americans

Thu, 06 Aug 2026 15:02:09 -0400

The FDA has approved the nation's first flu vaccine made with mRNA technology, the manufacturer, Moderna, announced on Thursday.

The vaccine, which is based on the same messenger RNA platform used in COVID-19 shots, has been fully approved for adults ages 50-64 ahead of the 2026-2027 flu season.

For adults 65 and older, the vaccine received accelerated approval, which allows the vaccine to be used while Moderna completes an additional study to confirm its effectiveness in seniors.

PANCREATIC CANCER VACCINE SHOWS PROMISE IN FIRST HUMAN TRIAL, PREVENTING DISEASE IN HIGH-RISK PATIENTS

Experts say mRNA vaccines can be updated more quickly to protect against changes in circulating flu strains.

The approval was based on a phase 3 clinical trial including around 40,000 participants, in which the new vaccine was found to effect a 27% reduction in flu cases compared to a standard flu vaccine.

No major safety concerns were identified in the trial, according to the announcement.

It was found to have more short-term side effects than conventional flu shots – including arm pain, fatigue, headache and fever – although these were noted to be generally mild and temporary.

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"This is not a universal vaccine, but is geared for rapid turnaround once the yearly strains have been identified," said Dr. Marc Siegel, Fox News senior medical analyst.

"It’s similar to the COVID vaccine and was found to be 25% to 30% more effective than the current flu vaccine," he added. "It’s geared to protect the elderly."

Older adults face the biggest risk of severe influenza. During the 2024-2025 season, people 65 and older accounted for 57% of flu-related hospitalizations and 71% of deaths, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

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An estimated 51 million Americans contracted the flu during the 2024-2025 season, with the virus linked to around 710,000 hospitalizations and 45,000 deaths, per the above source.

Earlier this year, the new mRNA vaccine faced a regulatory setback when the FDA initially refused to review Moderna's application, citing concerns about the design of its clinical trial, the Associated Press reported.

Moderna disputed the decision, and the FDA later agreed to move forward with the review.

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In June, an independent FDA advisory committee agreed that the vaccine's benefits outweighed its risks, paving the way for its approval.

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Looking ahead, the approval could pave the way for combination vaccines that protect against multiple respiratory viruses at once, according to Moderna.

The company said it is pursuing a combined flu/COVID vaccine, with the goal of giving people one seasonal shot.

Mitch McConnell discharged from rehab after fall in mid-June

Thu, 06 Aug 2026 15:02:02 -0400

Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., said Thursday he has been discharged from a rehabilitation facility after a fall at his Kentucky home in mid-June that left him hospitalized.

"Earlier today, I was discharged from the rehabilitation center to continue my recovery at home. Elaine and I are grateful for the many well-wishes and support from friends, colleagues, and Kentuckians, and for the attentive care I’ve received from excellent doctors, nurses, therapists, and hospital staff," he said, referring to his wife, Elaine Chao.

McConnell said he will remain at home during the Senate's upcoming state work period as he continues his recovery.

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"On the advice of my doctors, I’ll maintain an intensive regimen of physical therapy from home during the state work period, and I’ll continue to engage with my staff and colleagues on important Senate business," he said.

This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.

Preakness Stakes moves to a Sunday for the first time ever in major Triple Crown shakeup

Thu, 06 Aug 2026 14:57:13 -0400

Sweeping changes to horse racing may change the way the Triple Crown will be viewed forever.

Last week, Churchill Downs Incorporated and the New York Racing Association announced a six-race championship series that includes the Kentucky Derby and the Belmont Stakes, the Matt Winn Stakes at Churchill Downs in Louisville in July, and the Jim Dandy and the Travers Stakes at Saratoga Race Course later in the summer. It is also scheduled to have a championship race at Churchill Downs in September ahead of the Breeders' Cup in the fall, which in 2027 is set to take place at Belmont Park on Long Island.

However, one of those Triple Crown races will change its usual spot on the calendar in an effort to improve attendance, which has severely dwindled in recent years.

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After back-to-back Kentucky Derby winners did not race in the Preakness Stakes, the 2027 race will be run three weeks and a day after the Derby, instead of its usual two-week gap after the Derby.

This means that a Triple Crown race will be run on a Sunday for the first time ever. The Preakness will go off on May 23, 2027, 22 days after the Kentucky Derby on May 1, 2027.

The shift marks a major change on the horse racing calendar after three-quarters of a century during which the Preakness took place two weeks to the day after the Derby was run on the first Saturday in May, with the lone exception of 2020 because of the pandemic.

Maryland Jockey Club CEO Bill Knauf acknowledged the tradition while also calling this the time to move the Preakness back.

"It’s been discussed for a very long time (and) we recognized the different trends and training methods recently," Knauf told The Associated Press. "We entered the discussion maybe even saying, 'Hey, is two weeks the right amount? I think the week was the right placement. It still gives an incredible test for a horse and a champion to go through that, even at three weeks."

The aim is to get more Derby horses to participate in the second leg of the Triple Crown. For decades, that was the norm, but it has become increasingly rare in recent years. Two consecutive and three of the past five Derby winners have bypassed the Preakness to aim for the final jewel, the Belmont Stakes, in June. Of the 95 horses who ran in the Derby dating back to 2022, just 13 have gone to the Preakness (13.7%), with just one winner in that group.

GOLDEN TEMPO TRAINER CHERIE DEVAUX CALLS CRITICISM OF PREAKNESS DECISION UNFAIR: 'THE HORSE IS NOT A MACHINE'

Golden Tempo won the Derby, skipped the Preakness, then won the Belmont Stakes earlier this year.

For at least one year, it will mean just a 13-day gap between the Preakness and the Belmont Stakes. But one could speculate that it would be difficult to skip the final leg of the Triple Crown if everything is on the line.

The aforementioned six-race championship series, which does not include the Preakness Stakes, will have a $5 million prize pool and will begin in 2027.

"This series is designed to showcase the sport’s best 3-year-olds across a season-long championship, elevating our biggest events and creating the next generation of fans," NYRA President and CEO David O’Rourke said in a statement.

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"By connecting these premier events through one championship, we’re creating a season-long storyline that benefits the future of thoroughbred racing," Churchill Downs Inc. CEO Bill Carstanjen said.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Trump allies push to arm president with new tariff weapon to punish countries 'ripping off' America

Thu, 06 Aug 2026 14:47:29 -0400

FIRST ON FOX: Just as the Trump administration has refunded billions in tariffs to companies in the U.S., a push is growing in the Senate to give the president sharper, more focused tariff powers across the globe.

Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla., is leading the charge to give President Donald Trump congressional approval for his tariffs, specifically against countries that have longstanding trade deficits with the U.S. after his universal duties were nixed by the Supreme Court.

"Previous generations of Americans gave us an economic superpower; it’s our job to preserve what they built and to leave America better than we found it for our children and grandchildren," Scott told Fox News Digital in a statement.

"That means we can’t let other countries rip us off."

TRUMP JUST EXPANDED HIS TARIFF PLAYBOOK WITH A POWERFUL TRADE WEAPON NO PRESIDENT HAS EVER USED

Scott’s bill, the Trade Deficit Elimination Act, would effectively create a congressional framework that allows Trump to authorize tariffs where there are trade deficits with the nation’s trade partners that are a detriment to America’s national security, foreign policy interests and economic interests.

It would require the creation of an annual watch list for countries with trade deficits that are identified and compiled by U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer. That list would deem each country identified as having "trade deficit economies."

From there, Scott’s bill would allow Trump to impose, increase, decrease, suspend or modify tariffs on imports from the listed countries in a bid to eliminate bilateral goods trade deficits.

TRUMP BET TARIFFS WOULD BRING BACK AMERICAN FACTORY JOBS; NEW REPORT SAYS IT DIDN'T WORK

Trump and Greer would still need to seek consultation from Congress, specifically from the House Ways and Means and Senate Finance committees, but aren’t required to get congressional approval for applying duties to listed countries.

It also exempts certain products considered critical to U.S. supply chains, U.S. supply chains, national security or where alternative sources are unavailable.

"In recent years, our trading partners have taken advantage of access to American markets while unfairly crowding American products out of their own countries," Scott said. "Decline is a choice, and President Trump is taking action to restore American prosperity."

DEMOCRATS CHEER SUPREME COURT MOVE BLOCKING TRUMP TARIFFS — DESPITE PAST SUPPORT FOR TRADE DUTIES

Scott’s announcement of the bill comes just a day after the Trump administration refunded $100 billion in tariff revenue collected during the president’s "liberation day" explosion of duties across the globe.

Trump issued those tariffs under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA). But the Supreme Court ruled earlier this year that he didn’t have the authority to do so.

Scott’s bill has so far picked up senators Kevin Cramer, R-N.D., and Tim Sheehy, R-Mont., as co-sponsors, and is a separate authority entirely from the IEEPA. It creates a new power, with congressional teeth, under Article 1, Section 3 directly targeting foreign commerce.

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"Trade should be fair, not one-sided, and it’s refreshing to have a president who isn’t afraid to hold our trading partners accountable," Cramer said in a statement to Fox News Digital. "This bill gives President Trump and Ambassador Greer tools to address trade deficits, keep critical supply chains intact, and achieve better trade agreements for American farmers, ranchers, manufacturers and workers."

Reporter's Notebook: Summer ends, but the Senate's fall crunch begins

Thu, 06 Aug 2026 14:41:31 -0400

It may be summer. But fall is consuming the United States Senate.

Bipartisan lawmakers are trying to avoid a government shutdown.

"The fiscal year begins Oct. 1 each year," said Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa. "This resolution keeps the government open for business."

The House approved an interim spending bill in July to keep the government funded through Dec. 4. But bipartisan senators are trying to duck yet another protracted government shutdown odyssey, like last year’s 43-day exercise.

HOUSE GOP VOTES TO PUNT GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN BATTLE TO AFTER NOVEMBER MIDTERMS

"I look forward to passing this bill in the next few days," said Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D.

The measure funds the government with a fiscal Band-Aid through Dec. 11 – well after the midterms. But Democratic buy-in is paramount. The main reason the government closed last fall was because Senate Democrats refused to provide votes to break a filibuster on the GOP plan. Democrats protested a lapse in Obamacare subsidies – and hoped to underscore to voters that Republicans were vulnerable on healthcare. Now Democrats are on board. The Senate curbed a filibuster on the bill with a vote tally of 89-4. The question is when the Senate will pass the bill. And what happens when senators send this to the House.

"We want to fund the government and avoid a shutdown," said Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y.

Ironically, funding the government may be the easiest thing before the Senate right now.

There are all sorts of lists out there. Santa’s list. Hollywood’s blacklist. Craigslist. And bucket lists. But no list is more daunting than what the Senate is trying to accomplish over the next few days. And truth be told, the Senate might not check much off its list at all.

Senators are bewildered about what the plan is over the next few days. Many hope to escape Washington. Those running for re-election are anxious to head home and campaign as control of the Senate swings in the balance.

Sen. John Kennedy, R-La., emerged from the Senate Republican weekly luncheon on Tuesday, mystified about what the legislative traffic may look like.

"If there is a plan, they are doing a good job of hiding it," said Kennedy. "I learned nothing in that meeting."

REPORTER'S NOTEBOOK: HOUSE'S FINAL SPRINT PUTS SAVE AMERICA ACT AND IRAN FUNDING IN PLAY

Kennedy posited that "maybe it's because our leadership doesn't know."

In no particular order, here are some of the big ticket items the Senate hopes to rifle through over the coming days: A bill to sanction Russia, named after the late Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C. Confirm Todd Blanche as attorney general. Handle a budget resolution so the GOP can prep a filibuster-free bill to restock military munitions because of the war in Iran and maybe approve parts of the SAVE America Act. Fund the government. Greenlight a slate of nominations unrelated to Blanche. Advance a bill to regulate college sports and the use of NIL (for name, image and likeness). Perhaps reauthorize FISA, the nation’s top terrorism prevention program. And finally, establish a framework for cryptocurrency. The last one is the least likely.

"I feel like we're trying to put 20 pounds of potatoes in a 10-pound bag," said Sen. Roger Marshall, R-Kan., on Fox.

Confirming Blanche is probably the biggest priority for Republicans. But it’s unclear if Blanche has the votes. Sens. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., and John Cornyn, R-Texas, came around over the weekend after they received assurances from Blanche that the anti-weaponization fund was dead. Sens. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, and Bill Cassidy, R-La., huddled with Blanche late Wednesday. With former Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., out and Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, a nay on Blanche, Republicans can only lose one more of their own and still confirm him.

Ironically, the hallmark of President Donald Trump’s legislative agenda, the SAVE America Act — which requires proof of citizenship to vote — is the one thing the Senate might not tackle. But GOP senators could present the president half a loaf with some voter ID mandates and election security. In short, the Senate won’t cancel its summer recess to pass the SAVE America Act.

"I think there’s nothing more important than the Save America Act. I think they should stay," said Trump.

Even the Senate’s newest member wants to stay in Washington — even though she faces a primary next week.

TRUMP'S VOTER ID BILL CATCHES UNLIKELY BREAK AS MCCONNELL REMAINS SIDELINED

"What's up with recess, anyway? Who gets a month off from work? I think we should stay up there and work and get it done," said Sen. Darline Graham, R-S.C.

Some Republicans dared their colleagues to thwart the bill.

"If you're going to oppose something, you've got to earn it on the floor as opposed to this kind of kabuki theater we do right now where you just give a thumbs up or a thumbs down," said Sen. Eric Schmitt, R-Mo.

Thune – who often doesn’t see eye-to-eye with the president – dismissed the push for the SAVE America Act. It’s about the math. Thune lacks votes to pass it. In fact, the Senate’s already blocked that bill twice.

"It seems to me some days that I'm the only one here who can count to 50 in this town. But we don't have the votes to get rid of the filibuster. And we aren't flipping 10 Democrats to vote for the SAVE America Act," said Thune.

But even if they won’t vote yes, some Democrats commiserate with Thune.

GOP RIFT GROWS AS THUNE HITS BRAKES ON TRUMP'S ELECTION BILL TO AVERT SHUTDOWN

"The votes don't exist and some of our colleagues just don't know how to count sometimes," said Sen. Ben Ray Luján, D-N.M.

Political observers wonder if it was risky for Senate Republicans to promise the SAVE America Act to party loyalists – but fail to deliver.

But Sen. Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala., disagreed with that argument.

"I don't think we overpromised. I think we wished it would work," said Tuberville.

"There wasn't a plan? This was a wish?" I inquired.

"There's nothing certain up here. I've learned that in six years," replied Tuberville. "I wish we could get this done for the people of Alabama."

"There's that word, again: wish," I said to Tuberville.

PRESIDENT TRUMP PUSHES LAWMAKERS ON LEGISLATION AS 'PROTECT COLLEGE SPORTS ACT' HANGS ON BY A THREAD

There’s a possible breakthrough on a bill to regulate college sports and fundamentally alter compensation structures for student-athletes. President Trump is pushing lawmakers to vote on the plan after the SEC and Big 10 signed off on the legislation.

"NIL or whatever it is, is very close to getting solved. And we have a bipartisan deal as of right now," said the president.

At best, the college sports bill could score a procedural vote – which is significant. But there’s still much to hash out.

"It's not ready," said Kennedy. "I think many senators still have questions."

Yours truly told Kennedy that the bill "seemed pretty dense when I read it."

The Louisiana Republican agreed.

"It’s dense as hell," said Kennedy. "That's a legal term."

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This Senate agenda is pretty dense. And maybe getting it all done now is a wish. Especially in such a short period.

No matter what, summer is winding down in the Senate. It will soon be fall. Both on the calendar and on Capitol Hill.

And many senators are just wishing they could go home.

Couple share intimate moment on IKEA showroom bed, if the bus is rocking don’t come knocking & darkest secrets

Thu, 06 Aug 2026 14:37:16 -0400

Welcome to the latest edition of True Romance. It's the first Thursday of August and the Hall of Fame game takes place later today.

If that doesn't sound romantic to you, seek medical attention. I know it's not going to be a great game, but it's more about what the game represents.

Football is back, and we're still in the beginning stages of the season. The butterflies are there, and we haven’t been crushed by the team we love yet.

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

It's a lot like a relationship. We haven’t reached that point where the butterflies are long gone, and we can't stand to be around one another but keep powering through for the kids. We'll get there.

Speaking of love and football, last week I congratulated Justin Herbert and Madison Beer on their engagement. Finally, a real love story in the NFL between a singer and a star player.

That was before the developments this week at Chargers training camp. I'm talking, of course, about the lack of focus on display by Herbert. He's not locked in. He's on the field after practice with his fiancée.

I get it. As a hopeless romantic, it pains me to say this, but the franchise quarterback can't look like he's part of a teenage couple at a summer job. Do this stuff away from the field.

NOTHING TO SEE HERE: COWBOYS QUARTERBACK DAK PRESCOTT AND HIS EX'S BRIDESMAID ARE JUST FRIENDS

Hit up an IKEA showroom bed if you want. Just like a couple, we'll get to in a second, but there's enough romance in football itself that there isn't a need to bring your significant other to work.

Let's get to less disappointing couples, shall we?

Go follow True Romance on Twitter and Facebook. Send your emails here: sean.joseph@outkick.com (anonymously if you prefer).

Couple gets caught in intimate act on IKEA showroom bed

As promised, we're going to take a closer look at the couple who apparently decided that they needed to take an IKEA showroom bed for a test drive. An obvious case of letting romance get away from them.

The couple took their shoes off, got on the bed, and according to the Daily Star, were caught on camera as they "explored each other's bodies."

The two, who turned the showroom at the IKEA location in Taiwan into a different kind of showroom, "seemed completely lost in the moment," witnesses said.

The video taken by an understandably upset mom went viral on social media. She had no sympathy for the two who allowed romance to get the best of them on a showroom bed.

She did, however, have some solid advice to pass along to them. She wrote, "Go home, get in the car, or rent a room."

If only they had that advice ahead of time. Even a sign, one serving as a reminder, something to say, "Hey, this is a bed, but you're not in a home. Keep everything packed away until you get home, get in a car, or are able to rent a room."

The couple, while there reportedly hasn't been an official statement from IKEA or the local police, could find themselves in hot water under Taiwan's public indecency law.

Punishments of up to a year in prison or a fine could be heading their way. Even if that isn’t the case, we can always hope that a lesson is learned from this.

The lesson, others before them have had to learn, is about conducting such intimate business in much more private settings. It could be difficult for some to understand, but not everyone wants to watch you bump uglies.

Grab a sheet or get under the covers. Something.

This Week In True Romance

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Horny school bus drivers were allegedly getting it on while on the clock

From one inappropriate setting for intimate business to another. School bus drivers in one Georgia county are under investigation for having sex while on the clock again.

Channel 2 Action News reports that Gwinnett County Public Schools has reopened an investigation after a school bus driver admitted under oath to having sex on a school bus with another bus driver.

Several other bus drivers for the county were aware of the allegations made against their coworkers and told the outlet that district officials were provided with "stone-cold evidence."

The allegations were initially investigated by the district in 2025. That investigation, according to Gwinnett County Public Schools, didn't find any of this so-called stone-cold evidence.

They said in a statement, "no evidence was found to substantiate the claims." Channel 2 was able to find some.

They obtained an audio recording allegedly of a female driver who said she met a man during work hours in a church parking lot. They positioned their buses so they would avoid being seen on their cameras.

If you take away the setting and boil it all down, it is a little romantic. They're putting in a lot of effort to spend time with one another. Effort that you don't always find with couples who aren't meeting up on the clock.

The male bus driver's testimony under oath confirmed that he was doing more than driving a bus on the clock. An attorney asked, "Some of the sexual acts actually took place at the workplace on the bus, correct?"

He, according to the local outlet, responded, "Yes."

Again, I don’t want to discourage romance. That's the last thing I want to do, but you can't drive off a cliff because the navigation told you to turn right.

You have to allow romance to lead you. We all know that. You also have to avoid those turns right off a cliff. Romance can be tricky.

What’s the darkest secret you discovered about someone after you married them?

How about secret kids and "surprise gifts?" There's that and there's bizarre eating and grooming habits.

If you had to pick, you may go with something more in the eating and grooming habits category. But those darkest secrets aren't any fun.

Let's have mistresses you don't know about until the divorce proceedings and cheating with his brother's girlfriends. Those are entertaining.

All that and more from the folks on Reddit who enjoy oversharing:

My friend found out that her husband lied about his age, was actually 8 years older than he claimed and had a daughter that she didn't know about. She found out about her at a pharmacy because the daughter was on his insurance and so was the daughter that she had with him. The pharmacist mixed up the names. They're still together.
He eats the banana strings. Like, peels them off and eats them.
That the dog he had when we met, who lived another 13 years with us, was a "surprise gift" from his legitimately mentally unstable ex gf. I was under the impression she was a planned addition to the family, but no. His ex randomly picked up a dog off craigslist and told him he could "bring her back if he didn't like her." He fell in love with the dog, and didn't want to leave her with his ex once they broke up only a short while later. This derailed a lot of plans he had to travel and live on a boat, etc. He didn't tell me the truth because he was worried it would affect my relationship with the dog. He didn't tell me until after the dog passed away!
When he brushes his teeth he moves his head not the brush
I started to divorce him because of the abuse. During divorce proceedings I found he was cheating with multiple women. He’d bring home their jewelry and give it as a gift. He genuinely enjoyed watching me wear his mistresses things. He remarried a year to the date of our divorce finalization. What a weirdo.
She got married to have a kid, because having one out of wedlock would have made her mother and grandmother angry. But having a kid and divorcing me was totally acceptable.
My husband was never in love with me. We were together almost 13 years. He married me out of obligation because i got pregnant . We’re divorcing now. I was madly in love with him and could have spent my life blissfully unaware loving him and taking care of him. It broke me when he told me and I spent five years putting myself together enough to file. I thought so highly of him it shattered every part of me.
My husband was an alcoholic. I didn’t notice during dating because we never lived together. He literally had to have a shot to do something I noticed after marriage. He quit smoking and it got worst. He is now 6 1/2 years sober
He took breakdancing lessons as a child.
He was cheating on me with his brothers girlfriend (his neice and nephews mother) who was pregnant with his child at our wedding (obviously I didn't know that at the time). We split 5 months after marriage and they got together. They now have 2 children together and she has 2 kids with his brother. The kids are biological siblings and cousins. I found out recently that they split a while back because he stole thousands from her inheritance to spend on drugs. It took a long time (many years) but my divorce was finalized at the beginning of this year
Didn't affect either of us, but after we had been married for about 20 years, my wife's, fathers family found out that the had a whole other family because his father had run away with his oldest daughter and had a whole other family with her. And no one knew.
Her & her best friend were in a secret friends with benefits relationship for 8 years before we met. The "best friend" was awful to me and my wife had to cut off the friendship & their entire friend group. I’m still pissed about it but whatever

Love and romance

- not likely to love again writes:

I was married for 38 years. To my knowledge, quite happily. She is 11 years my junior. Right after my 70th birthday she dumped me like last night's meatloaf.

Turns out, she was knocked up as an underage teen by a married man. Her first "love." They decided to abort the result. She married him one year after throwing out our entire family (two grown kids).

Now, at 81, my only goal left in life is to out live her, so I can deficate on her grave.

Signed...not likely to love again.

SeanJo

I've said it before and I'll say it again. Romance is messy sometimes. If "not likely to love again" has his way, it will get a little messier before all is said and done. Best of luck to you.

Blue Collar Men Flirting

- Anonymous writes:

Sean,

Ran across this lady on Instagram this week. She's hilarious. Even my wife thinks so.

https://www.instagram.com/p/Dal0702B2o8/

SeanJo

The instagram post wasn't embeddable, but she is funny and who doesn't want to hear about blue collar men flirting?

Song of the week

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-------------

That's it for this week. I know the song isn't a perfect fit this week, but it will do. Keep the song of the week suggestions coming. You can reach me, anonymously if you prefer, at sean.joseph@outkick.com.

Detroit voters call on Democrats to unite around El-Sayed after stunning victory of far-left progressive

Thu, 06 Aug 2026 14:30:31 -0400

DETROIT — Fox News Digital hit the streets of the Motor City on Wednesday to speak with voters after progressive candidate Abdul El-Sayed scored a huge win against the Democratic establishment in the Senate primary race.

"I'm ecstatic that he won. I'm very happy that he won. I was rooting for him the entire way," Justice Cook, a downtown Detroit resident, told Fox News Digital after El-Sayed clinched the nomination.

"When I saw the results, I was watching it all night. I was happy. I actually went to bed at 3 or 4 o'clock in the morning. I couldn't sleep," Cook added. "Because the candidate of change that I wanted was finally able to get in, I was excited. Abdul put in the work — the groundwork. I saw him about four or five months ago, and I was always skeptical that he could pull it off, but when he pulled it off, I was just excited about it all the way around. So, go Abdul!"

2026 MIDTERMS STATE OF PLAY: KEY RACES UNFOLD AS STEVENS, EL-SAYED BATTLE IN MICHIGAN

Other local voters expressed similar enthusiasm over El-Sayed’s victory, with one noting that New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s election victory helped pave the way for the Michigan Senate hopeful.

"I think it's great and about time. I live in Detroit and I voted for him. We were watching deep into the night and I didn't quite make it to him winning, but I woke up to good news," Amy Oprean said.

Angela Barkley, a Midtown Detroit resident, was equally thrilled by the election results.

"I'm thrilled — it's who I voted for, it's who I wanted to win. I think that he's going to make really good things happen. I could see what Mamdani was doing for New York and I really hope that we get a little bit of the good things like that here," Barkley said.

MAMDANI DOUBLES DOWN ON DEMOCRATIC SOCIALISM WHILE INSISTING WALL STREET, BUSINESS LEADERS CAN WORK WITH HIM

El-Sayed narrowly bested Rep. Haley Stevens, D-Mich., to secure the Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate in what became one of the country's most contentious primary battles. El-Sayed will now face former Republican Rep. Mike Rogers, who ran uncontested in the GOP primary, in November.

An epidemiologist and former Wayne County health director who previously ran an insurgent campaign for governor in 2018, El-Sayed would become the nation’s first Muslim senator if elected. He has made support for "Medicare for All" a centerpiece of his campaign.

El-Sayed has also called for abolishing Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and has been a vocal critic of Israel during its war against Hamas, characterizing Israel’s actions in Gaza as "genocide" against Palestinians.

Following his primary victory, El-Sayed urged party unity and took aim at Rogers. Many voters who spoke with Fox News Digital echoed those sentiments, hoping the party would coalesce around the progressive nominee ahead of the general election.

MICHIGAN SENATE RACE: EL-SAYED’S TIES TO EXTREMIST FUEL ANTISEMITISM CONCERNS AMONG JEWISH VOTERS

"Because we have so many different groups within the party, some people are not in favor of him, but if we get behind our candidate and support him, I think he'll win — no brainer — in November. But we have to support him and unite behind him," Cook said.

Other Detroiters anticipate a razor-thin general election against Rogers.

"I think it's going to be close. I think it was going to be a close call," said Victor Gilbert, a Detroit native and resident.

Jordan Zignego told Fox News Digital that, considering the political climate following the re-election in 2024 of President Donald Trump — which included narrowly carrying Michigan — the outcome remains up in the air.

REPUBLICANS GET THE DEMOCRAT THEY WANTED AS SOCIALIST ABDUL EL-SAYED WINS MICHIGAN SENATE PRIMARY

"It could go either way. I mean, I never thought Trump would be president, and I definitely didn't think he'd be president twice. I mean, this country is f---ing ridiculous," Zignego said.

Oprean noted that the primary was intensely competitive, pointing to the tight margin between the candidates. "The whole country was watching, and I think he kind of signifies two different parts of the Democratic Party, and I think that him winning shows that people want something different," Oprean said.

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She concluded, "They don't want business as usual because there's just a lot of empty promises over the past 5, 10, 15 years … I think that there might be some hurt feelings, more than usual in this primary, but we got to just suck it up and band together."

Delaware dance teacher arrested for alleged sexual abuse, solicitation of teen students

Thu, 06 Aug 2026 14:23:49 -0400

Delaware State Police arrested a dance teacher who allegedly sexually abused students.

"The Delaware State Police have arrested 23-year-old Emily Pryor Albino of Seaford, Delaware, for felony sexual abuse and solicitation of teenage children as part of an ongoing investigation," according to a press release.

While the announcement indicates there were two alleged victims, it also notes that authorities have reason to think there are actually more.

ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS AMONG 70 ARRESTED IN MISSISSIPPI CHILD EXPLOITATION CRACKDOWN: FEDS

State police said detectives began investigating the alleged sexual abuse and solicitation of two teenage children Aug. 4 after learning Pryor Albino, a dance instructor at X-Treme Dance Studio in Laurel, Delaware, "had sexually abused two teens that attend the dance studio."

"Further investigation revealed that Pryor Albino also exchanged sexually explicit messages with the two victims. Detectives have reason to believe there are additional unidentified victims," state police said.

The woman faces felony charges of sexual solicitation of a child using a computer, cellphone or other electronic device and four counts of first-degree sexual abuse of a child by a person of trust. State police also noted that Pryor Albino was "arraigned by the Justice of the Peace and committed to the Department of Correction on a $110,000 cash bond."

JIU-JITSU INSTRUCTOR AND PASTOR ACCUSED OF HORRIFIC CRIMES AGAINST CHILDREN IN EXCLUSIVE CALIFORNIA ENCLAVE

Fox News Digital reached out to X-Treme Dance Studio Thursday.

Authorities are continuing to investigate and are requesting that any victims or others with information on the case reach out.

ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT SOCCER COACH WHO USED ALCOHOL AND DRUGS TO SEXUALLY ABUSE KIDS LEARNS FATE

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"The Delaware State Police Troop 4 Criminal Investigations Unit continues to investigate this incident in conjunction with the Delaware Department of Justice. Detectives are asking anyone with information or who may be a victim to please contact Detective R. Mitchell by calling 302-752-3794. Information may also be provided by sending a private Facebook message to the Delaware State Police or contacting Delaware Crime Stoppers at 1-800-847-3333," the release says.

Democrats targeting 12 additional red districts in midterms push to retake House

Thu, 06 Aug 2026 14:21:20 -0400

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) announced 12 additional red U.S. House districts the organization intends to target in November, on top of the 46 it had already designated as possible flips.

The DCCC identified seats held by Reps. Lauren Boebert of Colorado, French Hill of Arkansas, Mike Flood of Nebraska and several other Republicans as being "in play" for Democrats in the midterm elections.

"House Democrats are expanding the battlefield deep into Trump terrain because we have a winning message focused on fighting for an Affordable America," DCCC Chair Suzan DelBene said in a statement on Wednesday.

"At the same time, MAGA Republicans who historically have considered themselves ‘safe’ have let down the people they were elected to represent, passing disastrous policies that are crushing working families and our communities," DelBene added. "Democrats are going to win in November and make Hakeem Jeffries the next Speaker of the House."

FOX NEWS POWER RANKINGS: DEMOCRATS LEAD IN THE HOUSE, BUT REDISTRICTING KEEPS THE GOP IN THE GAME

Fox News Digital reached out to the DCCC for more insight into why certain candidates were listed as vulnerable.

Many of the Republicans the DCCC has previously targeted for ouster are candidates that have been embroiled in scandals in recent months.

One such example is Rep. Max Miller of Ohio's 7th District, whose ex-wife Emily Moreno has accused him of physically abusing both her and their young daughter.

OHIO GOP FAMILY FEUD EXPLODES AS SEN BERNIE MORENO CALLS ON REP MAX MILLER TO RESIGN

Another Republican congressman seen by the DCC as ripe for removal is Rep. Tom Kean Jr. of New Jersey's 7th District.

Kean was absent from Congress for nearly four months and in that time, he missed 140 roll call votes in the House. He returned on June 30 and announced that he had been diagnosed with depression.

Rep. Mike Lawler of New York's 17th District is also named on the DCCC's list of vulnerable Republicans.

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Lawler has been in the crosshairs of Democrats since he narrowly defeated centrist Democrat Sean Patrick Maloney in 2022. In 2024, Lawler handily fended off a challenge from Mondaire Jones, the ex-congressman who used to represent the 17th District.

The district includes all of Rockland and Putnam counties, which President Donald Trump won by double digits in the 2024 election. However, it also includes parts of Westchester County, which overwhelmingly voted for former Vice President Kamala Harris.

Woman sues Yankees for $10 million, claiming errant bat into stands caused severe injuries

Thu, 06 Aug 2026 14:00:40 -0400

A woman is suing the New York Yankees for $10 million after she alleged being hit in the head with an errant bat at a recent game.

Cleveland Guardians infielder Jose Ramirez lost control of his bat June 2 in the Bronx, and it went flying into the seats near the on-deck circle after a swing and miss against Cam Schlittler.

However, Stephanie Duluc, 37, claims the protective netting near her seat was "significantly lower" than that in adjacent sections, which left an "unprotected opening."

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The bat hit her "with such force that it knocked her from her seat and violently threw her to the ground, causing her to sustain severe and permanent injuries."

Duluc suffered a traumatic brain injury and concussion and severe light sensitivity and permanent damage to her neck and hands, the suit claims, adding that she has been "unable to return to her professional duties."

"Ms. Duluc continues to suffer significant residual deficits from her traumatic brain injury, including persistent headaches, sensitivity to light, balance issues and other cognitive impairments," her attorney said, via the New York Post.

YANKEES REACH AGREEMENT TO MAKE POLYMARKET TEAM'S OFFICIAL PREDICTION MARKET PARTNER

The Yankees did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Fox News Digital.

Teams have often been protected by fine print on every ticket that states teams aren't responsible for errant bats or balls, and just about every seat at Yankee Stadium has a sign warning fans to stay alert.

Protective netting in dangerous foul ball areas — down the baselines — became mandatory in all 30 MLB stadiums in 2018, months after a scary incident at the Bronx ballpark. The previous September, Todd Frazier smoked a foul ball at 105 mph that fractured a toddler's skull.

Bats and balls have still found ways to sneak through because stadiums have different netting lengths and heights, but injuries like this one have declined.

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The Yankees are 4½ games behind the Tampa Bay Rays in the AL East amid numerous injuries, including one to Aaron Judge, but they still hold a comfortable margin to at least make the postseason.

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Carrie Underwood's return to 'Sunday Night Football' sends internet into a frenzy

Thu, 06 Aug 2026 13:47:13 -0400

Carrie Underwood is set to return as the voice of the "Sunday Night Football" opening anthem, an announcement that has drawn varied reactions from NFL and country music fans alike.

NBC announced this week that the country superstar will return for her 14th consecutive season to perform the iconic "Waiting All Day for Sunday Night" opening for SNF. The new opener debuts Sept. 13 ahead of the Dallas Cowboys' matchup against the New York Giants.

The announcement was met with plenty of excitement from fans who have come to associate Underwood with Sunday nights.

CARRIE UNDERWOOD FIRES BACK AT NIKKI GLASER FEUD RUMORS AFTER 'NOTICEABLE' TENSION ON 'AMERICAN IDOL'

"YAYYY!!! Now when will she perform the halftime show!?!? She deserves it and would have the BEST show!" one user commented on Instagram.

"Well done! Make her the Superbowl halftime show. Add some class and respect after last year's blunder," another added.

"One of my Favorite parts of SNF!!!," one fan quipped.

But not everyone was focused on celebrating the eight-time Grammy winner's return. Instead, several commenters began campaigning for rising country singer Ella Langley, suggesting the "Choosin' Texas" singer should eventually take over the role.

"Can We get a @ellalangleymusic Sunday Night Football Anthem 🤷🏻‍♂️ Just a thought," one follower wrote.

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"Time to pass it on. Let Ella sing it," another wrote.

"Its time for a change. We need more diverse lineup," another comment read.

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Underwood first took over NBC's "Sunday Night Football" opening in 2013 after Faith Hill's departure. More than a decade later, she's become one of the most recognizable faces — and voices — associated with the NFL's primetime broadcasts.

This year's show opener will feature a refreshed production and a more rock-inspired feel.

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According to NBC, the sequence includes scenes filmed inside a recording studio, an intimate music venue and a packed stadium, continuing what Underwood described as her "rock star fever dream."

Trump told donors 'we need to elect JD,' source confirms, as he weighs Vance or Rubio in 2028

Thu, 06 Aug 2026 09:35:49 -0400

President Donald Trump has publicly been coy about whether he might back Vice President JD Vance or Secretary of State Marco Rubio to succeed him in the White House, but private comments to donors suggest he might be leaning toward the man he already picked as his running mate in 2024.

"At the end of the day, we need to elect JD," Trump said during an Oval Office meeting with donors roughly two weeks ago, a source with knowledge of the comments, who asked to remain anonymous to speak more freely, confirmed to Fox News Digital.

The news was first reported by The Washington Post.

While Vance remains the clear hypothetical frontrunner, Secretary of State Marco Rubio has narrowed the gap in national polls and surveys conducted in key early voting presidential primary states, as well as in Republican straw polls, ahead of a race that is not expected to begin in earnest until after this autumn's midterm elections.

VANCE, CRUZ, HEAD TO IOWA ON 2026 MISSIONS AS 2028 GOP RACE TO SUCCEED TRUMP HEATS UP

While Post sources say the remark is not evidence Trump has made a choice between his VP or Rubio, a man he has handed many hats in his administration, it is a rare and previously unreported lean of his long-term thinking.

Trump made just one reference to Vance in his donor speech in Las Vegas on Wednesday night, hailing "the war on fraud led by our great Vice President JD Vance: He's doing a great job."

Fox News Digital reached out to the White House for comment Thursday morning. A spokesperson in the vice president's office declined to comment.

Rubio, who as a senator from Florida was one of more than a dozen GOP contenders who ran and lost to Trump in the 2016 presidential primary, came in a close second to Vance earlier this year in the closely watched 2028 Republican presidential nomination straw poll at the annual Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC).

The latest surveys and straw poll results are fuel for intrigue over what some in the Republican Party see as a budding rivalry between Rubio and Vance, who describe each other as friends.

"The president runs this administration: He is the very top of the administration; he makes orders," Vance told "The Ingraham Angle" in an exclusive sit down Wednesday night. "We, of course, have debates and conversations about what exactly we should do, but when the president of the United States makes a decision, we’re unified in this administration in carrying out that mission."

Despite Vance having won the 2024 running mate sweepstakes, Trump has also lavishly praised Rubio for his work in peacemaking efforts in Venezuela, Cuba and the Middle East, while simultaneously serving as national security advisor among his many leadership roles in the administration.

The president earlier this year declared that Rubio would go down as "the greatest secretary of state in history."

Trump has also promoted a Vance-Rubio ticket as "unstoppable" — stopping short of explicitly saying who should be at the top of the ticket.

Trump did say last year that Vance is "most likely" his heir, because "in all fairness, he's the vice president."

NEW POLL COMPLICATES VANCE’S STATUS AS TRUMP’S LIKELY 2028 HEIR APPARENT

Trump joked at the White House Correspondents Dinner last month – rescheduled after dodging another assassination attempt earlier this spring – he would be running for president for a fourth in a troll to his critics, donning a Trump 2028

While Vance has demurred when questioned about 2028, he has built a political team of advisors who, if he runs as expected, would quickly build out a presidential campaign.

Rubio, who is crisscrossing the globe, does not have a similar group of political aides, and Rubio has said he will back Vance if the vice president launches a 2028 campaign.

Notably, Vance is the RNC's finance chair, ostensibly giving him the keys to the cash vault of more than $128 million cash on hand, according to the June Federal Elections Commission filing.

"Vice President Vance has been a fundraising powerhouse for the RNC, supercharging our war chest as we head into the midterms," RNC Chair Joe Gruters told Fox News Digital in a statement. "He’s held record-breaking events across the country and brought new and longtime donors together with his ability to connect every corner of the America First movement.

"As we prepare to protect and expand our Republican majorities, Vice President Vance will be a driving force behind the resources, energy, and momentum needed to win."

Republican sources confirmed to Fox News earlier this year that a group of GOP donors supporting the secretary of state is quietly exploring ways to boost Rubio's political profile, which has not sat well with some in the president's political orbit.

VANCE CONFRONTED ABOUT 2028 AMBITIONS AFTER TRUMP TEASES 'DREAM TEAM' RUBIO TICKET

"Vice President Vance is the future of the Republican Party, and Marco Rubio is one of his closest friends in the administration," an operative in Trump's political orbit told Fox News Digital earlier this year.

"The divisive stories from some donors trying to cause chaos are not helpful," the operative, who asked to remain anonymous to speak more freely, emphasized.

Trump more recently questioned White House staff about the two possible contenders during a flight aboard Marine One, according to the Post. Although one adviser told the newspaper that Trump has privately settled on Vance as the Republican heir apparent, six other advisers and allies said they were not convinced that the president had made up his mind.

Those advisers noted that Trump sometimes gives different signals to different audiences and could change his position before the 2028 campaign begins. His aides also broadly expect him to delay any formal endorsement, in part to avoid diminishing his own influence during the remainder of his presidency.

DEMOCRATS BUILD MIDTERM MOMENTUM, BUT REPUBLICANS STILL IN DRIVER'S SEAT IN SENATE MAJORITY BATTLE

The dynamic resembles Trump’s 2024 search for a running mate, when Vance and Rubio were among the finalists. Advisers told the Post that Trump enjoys maintaining suspense around major political decisions and is reluctant to hand the spotlight to a potential successor too early.

Vance admitted to Ingraham it is his "job" to take criticism, particularly if absorbs pressure from the president.

"It’s my job, Laura," Vance said. "If the worst thing that happens is I take flak for the president to make his administration more successful, I’ll be happy about that."

Vance did not talk about whether he will run.

He did say in June that he planned to discuss his political future with his wife after the midterm elections and has maintained that he remains focused on serving as vice president.

People close to Vance previously told the Post that he intended to wait until after the birth of his fourth child before seriously considering a campaign. The child was born July 19.

The 2026 midterms could shape the emerging succession contest. Republican losses could encourage additional candidates to enter the race and make it easier for them to criticize Trump’s administration or challenge his preferred successor. A strong performance, by contrast, could strengthen Trump’s ability to shape the 2028 field.

Vance has spent much of his vice presidency building relationships with Republican donors and activists. He is closely associated with the younger, populist wing of the MAGA coalition and has taken on political and policy assignments that have helped raise his profile.

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Rubio historically has had stronger ties to traditional Republican donors, while Vance has deeper support among the party’s newer populist base.

Burrito debate rips open GOP civil war on affordability: ‘We will lose, and deserve it’

Thu, 06 Aug 2026 13:37:17 -0400

A debate over whether a burrito should cost $20 has ignited a Republican civil war over affordability and the party’s appeal to younger voters ahead of the midterm elections.

The clash began Wednesday when Turning Point USA spokesman Andrew Kolvet shared a college student’s complaint that basic purchases have become prohibitively expensive.

"One of our TPUSA college students gave me his take on affordability: ‘A burrito shouldn’t cost $20,’" he posted to X on Wednesday. "Yeah, a lot of this is a hangover from Covid and Biden-era inflation, but the lived experience is the same: It just feels like basic things cost too much."

Fiscal conservatives took the position that food is generally affordable if one cooks for themselves and that purchasing a $20 burrito should be considered an occasional luxury. Those aligned with the populist wing of the GOP, meanwhile, argued that traditional conservatives are out of touch with the youth and that the Republican Party faces electoral peril unless it can meaningfully address affordability concerns.

NEW POLL COMPLICATES VANCE’S STATUS AS TRUMP’S LIKELY 2028 HEIR APPARENT

"Just hearing about this dumb $20 burrito debate so just thought I’d make the losers on social media angry before going to bed," Rep. Dan Crenshaw wrote on Wednesday night. "Stop whining, get a job, eat Ramen like the rest of us did in college, on a budget with 4 roommates. The market doesn’t care what you think something ‘should’ cost."

RealClearInvestigations senior writer Mark Hemingway, however, said that such an approach to affordability concerns could prove toxic to the GOP.

'IT'S A MESS': GOP TURNS ON HOUSE CONSERVATIVES AS VOTER ID BLOCKADE STALLS TRUMP'S AGENDA

"Andrew [Kolvet] is absolutely right about this, and pundits deflecting because you can cook at home cheaper are not helping," he said. "Eating a burrito once in a while should not be an aspirational lifestyle, for crying out loud."

"The comments saying stick to the dining hall or buy microwaveable burritos are missing the ENTIRE point," Defense of Freedom Institute spokeswoman Angela Morabito said. "If the Right's ‘solution’ to the affordability crisis is telling people to eat worse food, we will lose, and we will deserve it."

Chipotle burritos generally run between about $9 and $12 depending on location, with cheaper restaurants, such as Taco Bell, offering more affordable options. Some fiscal conservatives also pointed out that young people can save money by preparing meals at home.

"A burrito only costs $20 when you buy it on Door Dash because you’re too lazy to walk over to Chipotle or Taco Bell (where you can get one for $3.99)," Fox News contributor Marc Thiessen wrote in response to a populist arguing that the GOP could surrender ground to socialists by not addressing affordability. "When I graduated I lived on ramen noodles, had two roommates, and worked two jobs. I didn’t whine about affordability, I worked hard so I could one day afford a better life."

DOORDASH GETS FAA APPROVAL FOR ITS OWN DELIVERY DRONES

Vice President JD Vance then added to the debate, responding to Thiessen.

"I'm surprised to hear Mark say this. If you've ever met him in person, it's quite obvious the man has never missed a burrito," the vice president wrote.

Bradley Devlin, politics editor at the Daily Signal, claimed that some involved in the burrito discourse were ignorant of financial sacrifices he says are quite common among young people.

"The Burrito Discourse has exposed that so people with thoughts on the youths have not spoken to one in years," he wrote. "They do not expect to live off delivered food from bespoke restaurants and live on their own. I don’t know a single 20 something who lives on their own right now. Having a college degree and two jobs is around the highest it’s ever been. ‘The college premium’ has dried up."

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Others responded to the debate in jest.

"I don't care for burritos," Daily Wire host Michael Knowles posted.

Republican senators file amendment to stop college sports bill from overriding state women's sports laws

Thu, 06 Aug 2026 13:31:51 -0400

Three Republican senators filed an amendment Thursday aimed at preventing the Protect College Sports Act from overriding state laws that bar biological males from competing in women’s athletics.

Sens. Josh Hawley of Missouri, Jim Banks of Indiana and Tommy Tuberville of Alabama are trying to close what they see as a loophole in the Protect College Sports Act.

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As currently written, the bill would override certain state laws dealing with college athlete eligibility. The senators are concerned that could include laws in Missouri, Indiana and other states that prohibit biological males from competing on women’s college teams.

Their amendment would make clear that those state protections remain in effect. It specifically says the bill’s federal preemption provision would not apply to any state or local law that "prohibits biological men from playing in women’s sports."

"Biological men should never be allowed in women’s sports or women’s locker rooms," Hawley said in a statement. "We’ve got to make sure state laws protecting women stand."

The Protect College Sports Act is primarily intended to establish national standards governing name, image and likeness (NIL) compensation, athlete eligibility and other major issues facing college athletics. However, critics warn that its broad protections for the NCAA and its eligibility rules could have unintended consequences for women’s sports.

Hawley raised the issue publicly on Wednesday.

"I’ve reviewed the current draft of the Senate NIL bill, and I am very concerned it PREEMPTS Missouri’s law banning men in women’s sports," Hawley wrote on X. "This is what @Riley_Gaines_ has been saying. Big, big problem."

Banks said he could not support legislation that supersedes Indiana’s existing protections for female athletes.

"Indiana has one of the strongest laws in the country that keeps biological men from competing in women’s sports," Banks said. "As the father of three daughters, I can’t support any legislation that would preempt Indiana’s law. This amendment would make sure the Protect College Sports Act protects female athletes."

TRUMP ADVISOR, EX-NFL PLAYER CODY CAMPBELL WARNS PROTECT COLLEGE SPORTS ACT IS FINAL CHANCE TO RESTORE ORDER

Tuberville called the protection of women’s athletics "the civil rights issue of our time."

"Democrats have proven again and again they don’t give a rip about protecting women from mentally ill men who wake up one day and decide to dress up like a girl," Tuberville said. "I’m proud to stand with Senators Hawley and Banks in introducing this commonsense amendment to protect millions of female student athletes."

The amendment addresses one of two major objections women’s sports advocates have raised about the bill.

The first is that the legislation could preempt state laws that establish sex-based eligibility requirements for women’s athletic teams. The amendment filed by Hawley, Banks and Tuberville is designed to ensure those state laws remain enforceable.

The second concern involves language critics believe could insulate the NCAA from liability over its own eligibility decisions, including in lawsuits brought under Title IX.

An op-ed supplied by the Independent Council on Women’s Sports (ICONS) argued that the legislation’s exemption is broad enough to "shield the NCAA from liability for past and future eligibility decisions that violate Title IX." The organization is helping finance federal lawsuits against the NCAA and other college sports organizations on behalf of female athletes, including Riley Gaines and former San Jose State volleyball player Brooke Slusser.

Gaines shared the op-ed on X.

"Really great piece on how the Protect College Sports Act prevents the NCAA from being held legally accountable for Title IX violations," Gaines wrote. "Athletes should be able to fight the @NCAA when their rights are violated !!!"

The amendment’s text is focused specifically on protecting state and local laws from preemption. It does not explicitly address the separate argument that NCAA eligibility decisions could be protected from certain challenges under federal law.

Supporters of the overall legislation say a national framework is necessary to stabilize college athletics, protect athletes’ NIL rights and establish uniform rules governing compensation, scholarships, healthcare and eligibility.

Sen. Maria Cantwell, one of the leading supporters of the bill, argued that it would actually protect roster opportunities for women’s and Olympic sports.

"We need to stabilize the arms race," Cantwell said. "Athletes should have a federal law granting them the ability to earn compensation for their name, image, and likeness, and a federal law protecting their scholarships and healthcare."

But Hawley, Banks and Tuberville are making clear that any broader effort to regulate college sports must not come at the expense of state protections for female athletes.

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Whether their amendment is adopted could now become a significant factor in determining whether the Protect College Sports Act earns enough Republican support to advance.

'Fake' moderate Talarico's Texas surge tests Paxton in fight to hold crucial GOP Senate seat

Thu, 06 Aug 2026 13:25:20 -0400

EXCLUSIVE: As Democrats salivate over an elusive statewide victory in Texas, Republican Senate candidate Ken Paxton says he is undeterred by recent polling showing his Democratic opponent James Talarico holding a slim lead.

Democrats believe this is their moment to finally flip Texas blue after decades of frustrated efforts. Such an upset would be devastating for the GOP’s chances of retaining a Senate majority. Speaking with Fox News Digital after a rally in Houston, Paxton said Talarico’s current lead is "not surprising" given "we were three months behind" after his primary runoff with incumbent Sen. John Cornyn.

"He had three months to fundraise. So, he's been spending $2 million a week to gain that advance," Paxton said. Despite this, Paxton, who currently serves as Texas’ attorney general, said that, come Election Day, he is confident Texans will reject the "real James Talarico" when they hear about his record. Talarico, a state Democratic lawmaker, has a history of controversial statements, including previously asserting that "God is nonbinary," that there are six sexes, and calling it "existential" to reduce meat consumption to fight climate change.

"I do not believe a poll that tells me that, ‘We don't care what he believes. We don't care that he voted for a state income tax. We don't care that he wanted to trans children. We don't care that he's against the oil and gas industry. We don't care that he voted against every border security bill,’" Paxton continued. "I don't believe a poll that says Texans don't care about those issues. I've done enough polling; I've been in this long enough that that's just not true."

JAMES TALARICO ADMITS PAST COMMENTS 'MISSED THE MARK' WHEN CONFRONTED ON CLAIMS LIKE GOD IS 'NON-BINARY'

This comes as both candidates continue to crisscross the Lone Star State to get their message out to voters.

A recent Fox News poll of Texas voters showed Talarico with a within-margin-of-error lead in the race, 51% to 48%. Talarico held a slightly wider lead among extremely motivated and extremely interested voters, 53% to 47%, according to the poll. Critically, the Fox News poll found that 59% of Texas voters indicated they are concerned about Paxton’s character while just 47% indicated they are concerned about Talarico being "too extreme" for Texas.

Paxton accused Talarico of "trying to mislead people about who he is" by masking a far-left "socialist" agenda while running as a moderate. He said Talarico has "changed all his positions on pick an issue, whether it's boys in girls’ sports, or meat, or trans-ing kids."

"All of his positions suddenly changed for the general election [but] we have his votes, and we have his words, and those will be out," he said.

Fox News Digital reached out to the Talarico campaign for comment and did not receive a response before publication.

JOE ROGAN WARNS LIBERALS AGAINST TRYING TO TURN TEXAS BLUE, SAYS IT WOULD WRECK THE STATE'S 'DELICATE BALANCE'

While he acknowledged that many Texas voters have not heard his messaging on Talarico’s controversial views, he pointed out during his rally that Talarico has been aided by an influx of cash from out of state, particularly California.

Fox News Digital reported in June that donors from outside Texas accounted for roughly 50% of the funds Talarico received during the final stretch of the first quarter of 2026. During the same time period, Paxton, meanwhile, received about 25% of his cash from outside the state.

Still, the fundraising difference is stark. The Texas Tribune reported in late July that the latest quarterly Federal Election Commission filings show Talarico outraised Paxton by a more than three-to-one margin, $31.6 million to $9.3 million.

Paxton, however, appeared unbothered by all of this, pointing to how Talarico has had the advantage of several months to focus his attacks. While polling suggests the Texas GOP remains divided after the particularly messy Senate primary, Paxton said, "Primaries are like that for Democrats and Republicans" and "we are coming together."

TALARICO TOUTS TEXAS ROOTS AS OUT-OF-STATE CASH POWERS SENATE CAMPAIGN

As he travels the state, he said he will continue highlighting the "stark difference" between him and Talarico. Meanwhile, the attorney general said he will be keeping his pitch focused on affordability and cutting regulations.

"We know that Texans need help; we know that Americans need help. That's why I'm suggesting, and what I'm proposing is a first-time homebuyers’ $50,000 tax deduction, I'm proposing a $25,000 a year deduction for medical expenses including insurance premiums for everyone in the family. The child tax credit being doubled, the Trump accounts being continued. And then a $5,000 healthy living deduction so that you can pay for gym expenses and nutrition programs, sports activities, and even doctor-prescribed GLP-1," he said.

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"We're still three months out," Paxton continued. "And I know that when we put our resources together, when we get there, we will be able to highlight things and once the voters know the real James Talarico, not the fake one that's running right now… people will get to decide for themselves."

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"Do we want a socialist Democrat in Texas?" he asked. "I think the answer is going to be absolutely not."

Thousands of migrants remain in Spanish territory after border rush, death toll hits about 100: Ceuta official

Thu, 06 Aug 2026 13:16:47 -0400

Between 3,000 and 5,000 migrants remain in Ceuta after hordes of mostly military-aged men rushed into the Spanish enclave from Morocco late last month, Ceuta's president said Thursday.

While speaking from a video call during an extraordinary session of the European Parliament's Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs, Ceuta President Juan Jesus Vivas also revealed around 100 people died during the surge.

Authorities estimate roughly 80,000 migrants rushed into the territory within a 48-hour period in late July.

Vivas called the border crisis an "invasion" and "one of the most difficult moments in the recent history of our city."

"According to the Dictionary of the Royal Spanish Academy, an 'invasion' should be understood in its second definition as the abnormal or irregular occupation of a specific place," Vivas said, according to a Fox News Digital translation of his remarks, which he gave in Spanish.

AT LEAST 72 DEAD AMID MASS MIGRANT RUSH TO STORM SPANISH ENCLAVE OF CEUTA SPARKING BORDER CRISIS

"That is precisely what occurred on July 30 and 31, when approximately 80,000 people — equivalent to the entire population of Ceuta — stormed into our city. This characterization, moreover, aligns with the statement made by the President of the Government of Spain, who on Friday the 31st, during his visit to Ceuta, stated that we were facing an attack, a violation of Spain's territorial integrity," Vivas continued.

Echoing previous claims from Spain's leftist President Pedro Sánchez and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, Vivas acknowledged roughly 75,000 of the migrants had returned to Morocco but added "under no circumstances does it allow us to claim that our city has returned to normal."

"Ceuta has not returned to normal because between 3,000 and 5,000 people who entered during those fateful days of July 30 and 31 still remain," Vivas said. "The reception centers for adult and minor migrants are in a state of collapse, turning the influx into a major humanitarian emergency."

"Added to this are disruptions to public order and a high risk to public safety," he continued. "Furthermore, the morale of Ceuta's residents is severely affected. Our population feels sad, helpless, uneasy, fearful, and worried — and with good reason. It is inevitable to wonder whether this will happen again, and if that next time will be the definitive plunge into the abyss, causing us to cease being what we are: Spain and Europe. It has been exposed to the world that we are extraordinarily vulnerable, and that our security and integrity are in the hands of a third country, Morocco, which does not recognize our sovereignty."

He then proposed a set of actions authorities should take to return the city to normal. The proposals included expelling the remaining Moroccan migrants, provisioning more resources for the city's migrant facilities, and the implementation of a new economic model which he called on to be "More Spain and More Europe."

CEUTA MIGRANT SURGE EXPOSES SPAIN-MOROCCO TENSIONS AS ISLAMIST GROUPS REPORTEDLY SEEK TO EXPLOIT BORDER CRISIS

"We serve a society that has forged its character through courage to endure and the ability to overcome adversity. We are confident it will do so again, though I emphasize that the requested support from European authorities remains indispensable. Thank you very much," Vivas concluded.

Following the border rush between July 30–31, Sánchez called the incident "an attack, a violation of the territorial integrity of Spain."

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Fox News Digital contacted the governments of Spain and Ceuta for additional comment.

Charles Barkley declined Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift's wedding invitation for a simple reason

Thu, 06 Aug 2026 13:01:38 -0400

Charles Barkley declined an invitation to the wedding everyone wanted to attend: Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift’s.

Why? The NBA legend’s reasoning is very simple. He doesn’t go to weddings.

"I don’t go to weddings. I love Travis. Him and Jason are great friends of mine. I got a lot of love and respect – I’ve only met Taylor one time, she’s an awesome person from a distance, and I’m happy for them. But I’m like, ‘Nah, I’m gonna politely decline,’" Barkley said during a recent appearance on Barstool Sports’ "Pardon My Take."

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"Because I love both of those guys, Jason and Travis, a lot. I got a lotta love and respect for them, but like, nah, I’m not going to that zoo."

When asked by host Dan Katz, better known as "Big Cat," why he doesn’t attend weddings, Barkley said he doesn’t want to overshadow the bride on her day.

"That’s the bride’s special day, let her enjoy herself," Barkley said. "It’s your special day."

NFL LEGEND ROB GRONKOWSKI DETAILS TRAVIS KELCE AND TAYLOR SWIFT'S 'MAGNIFICENT' WEDDING

"I want her to have all the shine."

Roughly 1,000 people attended Kelce and Swift’s wedding at Madison Square Garden on July 3. Yet despite the surreal setting and a star-studded guest list, Barkley chose not to attend.

In addition to not attending weddings, Barkley does not attend funerals either. The Basketball Hall of Famer said he will only attend a funeral if it’s somebody special.

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"If somebody is really special, I’ll make an exception. But I’m not going to somebody who is a casual friend of mine’s funeral. They don’t know I’m there, they're dead."

"If somebody is special to me, I will go. But I don’t really want to go and see somebody who I like, last time I saw them they was dead."

Barkley played in the NBA for 16 seasons and was an 11-time All-Star. He won the MVP in the 1992-93 season. He currently is a basketball analyst on "Inside the NBA."

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Judge allows Madison Brooks supporters to wear pink despite defense objections before rape trial: report

Thu, 06 Aug 2026 06:00:56 -0400

Pink will prevail. The color that has caused courtroom controversy in the Madison Brooks rape case will be permitted when alleged rapist Desmond Carter appears before a judge later this month, a report says.

On Thursday, East Baton Rouge Judge Gail Ray denied a motion filed by Carter's defense team to prevent spectators and Brooks supporters from wearing pink in the courtroom, WAFB reports.

Brooks, 19, was a student at Louisiana State University who was allegedly gang-raped before she was hit by a car and killed after a night out in 2023.

While pink clothing is still permitted, the report says T-shirts with Brooks’ picture, signs, and badges will not be allowed in the courtroom.

"It's not about anyone except for Madison," Ashley Baustert, Brooks' mother, told Fox News Digital before the judge's ruling

She wants to ensure her daughter's accused attackers are held accountable.

SLAIN LSU STUDENT MADISON BROOKS’ ALLEGED RAPIST WANTS SUPPORTERS BANNED FROM WEARING PINK AT TRIAL: REPORT

Brooks, 19, was a student at LSU when she was hit by a car and killed after a group of men allegedly raped her, then dumped her out of a vehicle on a Baton Rouge, Louisiana, highway in 2023, and drove off.

LSU DEATH: MADISON BROOKS' LAST TEXT TO MOM WHO 'KNEW SOMETHING TERRIBLE HAPPENED'

The driver of the vehicle that hit her stayed on scene and was cleared of charges.

WATCH: LEFT FOR DEAD THE CASE OF MADISON BROOKS A NANCY GRACE INVESTIGATION

"Maddie felt safe that night, she thought these were her friends and I think a lot of selfish choices were made that night, and ultimately it led in a horrific ending," Baustert told Fox News Digital on Wednesday.

ICE ARRESTS ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT ACCUSED OF RAPE, MULTIPLE SEX CRIMES AFTER RELEASE FROM MARYLAND JAIL

On top of the unimaginable grief of losing her child, Baustert has been dragged through an ongoing legal marathon in her fight to hold her daughter's alleged attackers accountable.

"It's very challenging," Baustert said. "I have to just keep the course and stay positive and pray that justice will in the end prevail."

Carter, 21, one of the men accused of raping Brooks, asked the judge to ban spectators from wearing pink. His defense claims the color — which supporters wear to honor Brooks — could bias or intimidate the jury.

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Baustert strongly pushed back against the motion.

"We are not disruptive, we are very peaceful, and it's really just about Maddie's favorite color," Baustert said. "We wear it to honor her. It's not about anyone except for Madison."

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"I hope that she disagrees with the defendant's attorney and allows us to peacefully wear pink. I feel that if she agrees with them, I think it's going to cause more of an outrage," Baustert said.

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WATCH: Madison Brooks case: Nancy Grace previews exclusive new Fox Nation special, 'Left for Dead'

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Brooks was a sophomore at LSU and was pursuing a communications degree when she was killed.

Prior to her enrollment at LSU, she "graduated from Saint Scholastica Academy in 2021, where she was an honor roll student, cheerleader, member of Doves for Life, Spirit Club, and the Fellowship of Christian Athletes," the LSU Foundation says.

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Baustert said, "Nothing will bring Madison back, but we remain committed to honoring her life and ensuring that her voice is never forgotten."

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Fox News Digital has reached out to Carter's attorney.

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He is scheduled to appear before a judge on Aug. 17.

Socialist victories show Dems' descent down 'deadly path of communism,' Johnson warns

Thu, 06 Aug 2026 12:41:55 -0400

House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., is arguing that Democrats are descending a dark path as a socialist insurgency on the left continues to notch victories against the party's establishment.

Republicans on the campaign trail have seized on the raging civil war within the Democratic Party, warning that a recent slate of wins by candidates linked to the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) is pushing one of the United States' two main political parties much further left than the vast majority of Americans are comfortable with.

"Right now, it's a contrast election for everybody," Johnson said during a campaign stop in Arizona. "They've got to make a decision that they want to continue with common sense, growth and opportunity, or they want to go to this dark down, dangerous, deadly road of communism."

DEMOCRATS TARGET MORE GOP HOUSE SEATS AFTER SOCIALIST VICTORIES ROCK LEFT-WING PRIMARIES

He said it was a choice "between common sense and crazy."

Johnson and other House GOP leaders are crisscrossing the country visiting districts represented by vulnerable Republican lawmakers and other areas where the GOP believes it has a shot of winning in November.

The Louisiana Republican made a similar pitch earlier this week during a town hall for Rep. Andy Ogles, R-Tenn., who is facing a well-connected and well-funded primary opponent on Thursday night.

"Could we've imagined even 10 years ago, if somebody told us that on the two hundred and fiftieth anniversary of the greatest nation in the history of the world, in the midterm, in the fall of 2026, we'd be in a contest to determine whether we're going to maintain our constitutional republic — the greatest nation in history — or go down this dark, dangerous, deadly road to communism?" Johnson said.

2026 MIDTERMS STATE OF PLAY: KEY RACES UNFOLD AS STEVENS, EL-SAYED BATTLE IN MICHIGAN

It's likely going to be a line the speaker often uses during his appearances ahead of the midterms, with Republicans writ large seeing a boon in the far-left candidates toppling establishment Democrats.

The left's socialist insurgency scored significant wins earlier this week when Dr. Abdul El-Sayed beat out establishment-backed Rep. Haley Stevens, D-Mich., for the Democratic nomination for Michigan's open Senate seat.

Elsewhere in the state, Sunrise Movement co-founder William Lawrence defeated former U.S. ambassador to Ukraine Bridget Brink for the Democratic nomination to face Rep. Tom Barrett, R-Mich., in what will be one of the most closely watched battleground races of November.

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Among the DSA's policy positions is a call for eliminating the U.S. Senate and extending voting rights to noncitizens and felons on a national level.

Republicans are fighting an uphill battle to defy decades of political convention to keep and even expand their razor-thin majority in the House, but GOP leaders are betting on more far-left victories to give their party a better shot.

Your blood pressure cuff may expose your health data

Thu, 06 Aug 2026 12:30:14 -0400

Every morning, you strap on the cuff, press the button and watch the number pop up on your phone. It feels private. It feels like it is just between you and your app. That sense of privacy can be misleading.

Depending on the app and your settings, that reading, along with your glucose numbers, weight and medication schedule, may be stored in the cloud or shared with service providers. FTC cases show that some health apps have also disclosed sensitive information to advertising and analytics companies. Separately, data brokers market health-related profiles that scammers could exploit.

Here's what may be happening behind the screen of your health app and how to limit the exposure.

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ARE INSURANCE APPS WATCHING YOU?

The app on your phone isn't your doctor's office

Here's the assumption almost everyone makes: "My health data is protected. Isn't that what HIPAA is for?" Often, no.

HIPAA generally protects health information held by covered healthcare providers, health plans and their business associates. A consumer app you choose independently often falls outside HIPAA. However, an app may come under HIPAA when it handles protected health information on behalf of a covered provider or health plan.

Apps outside HIPAA do not operate without any rules. Many may still fall under the FTC's Health Breach Notification Rule, state consumer health laws and general protections against unfair or deceptive business practices.

Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La., introduced the Health Information Privacy Reform Act. The proposal would extend HIPAA-like privacy, security and breach-notification standards to some health information held outside the traditional HIPAA system. It would also require plain-language warnings before certain technologies begin generating wellness data that HIPAA does not protect.

As of today, the proposal remains introduced and has not become law. That means the same blood sugar reading can receive different legal protections depending on who holds it and why.

What these apps are actually doing with your data

You would think a company that builds a blood pressure app would only use your numbers to track your blood pressure. Federal regulators have repeatedly found otherwise.

GoodRx agreed to pay a $1.5 million civil penalty to settle FTC allegations that it failed to report unauthorized disclosures of health information to Facebook, Google and other companies. The FTC said GoodRx uploaded identifiers connected to people who had purchased certain heart disease and blood pressure medications so Facebook could target them with ads.
BetterHelp agreed to pay $7.8 million after the FTC alleged that it shared email addresses, IP addresses and answers to personal health questions with Facebook, Snapchat, Pinterest and Criteo for advertising. About 800,000 people later received notices that they were eligible for refunds.
Flo Health settled FTC allegations that it shared sensitive health data from millions of users with Facebook, Google and other analytics providers. In a separate class action, Flo agreed to contribute $8 million toward settlements totaling $59.5 million. Google agreed to pay $48 million, and Flurry agreed to pay $3.5 million.
Premom's developer agreed to pay a total of $200,000 to resolve federal and state allegations involving its privacy practices. The FTC alleged that the fertility app disclosed sensitive health and location information to Google and two China-based analytics companies.

These were not obscure apps built by scammers. They were mainstream health services, and regulators alleged that the sharing happened through ordinary advertising and analytics tools running in the background.

That does not mean every blood pressure app behaves the same way. However, it gives you a strong reason to check what your own app collects, where it stores the information and which companies receive it.

ARE APPLE DEVICES SPYING? WHAT YOUR IPHONE TRACKS

The data broker connection: Your condition has a price tag

Here's the part that should genuinely unsettle you. A Duke University researcher contacted 37 data brokers as a prospective buyer. Twenty-six responded, and 11 were willing and able to sell mental health data. Some advertised information tied to depression, anxiety and other conditions, along with demographic details. One broker advertised names and postal addresses connected to specific conditions. Prices ranged from $275 for aggregated counts to annual licensing fees of $75,000 or more.

This problem reaches beyond mental health, as data brokers can collect and sell many forms of health-related information. The FTC has documented data broker categories related to pregnancy, diabetes, high cholesterol and other potentially sensitive health interests.

In a final order issued in December 2025, California's privacy regulator fined Datamasters $45,000 for failing to register as a data broker. The order said the company bought and resold contact lists tied to sensitive conditions.

Those lists included 435,245 postal addresses associated with Alzheimer's disease, more than 2.3 million associated with blindness or visual impairment, 133,142 associated with addiction and 857,449 associated with bladder-control issues. California's enforcement chief warned that reselling lists connected to Alzheimer's disease could enable targeting that goes far beyond ordinary advertising.

If you want to look up your exposed information online, now is the time. Get a free scan to find out if your personal information is already out on the web and show how vulnerable you might be: CyberGuy.com.

How scammers use a 'medically profiled' list

Put yourself in a scammer's shoes for a second. Random cold-calling is a numbers game. Most people hang up. However, a list of people associated with diabetes or high blood pressure could help a scammer choose a much more convincing lie, including fake Medicare and healthcare offers.

The ‘free’ diabetic supplies pitch

A caller claims to be from Medicare or a diabetes association and offers free glucose meters or test strips. All they need is your Medicare number "to process the shipment." Federal health officials have warned about callers impersonating Medicare, Social Security or diabetes organizations while offering free glucose meters, test strips and other supplies. The supplies may never arrive, or someone may fraudulently bill Medicare using your information.

The Medicare Advantage pitch that already knows your conditions

A caller could reference your blood pressure or diabetes like a nurse checking in, then pivot to a plan that supposedly covers exactly what you need. Knowing a real detail about your health does not prove the caller represents Medicare, your doctor or an insurance company.

The supplement and pharmacy pitch

Ads, emails or calls may push treatments or supplements connected to a condition associated with your profile. Their timing may make the offer feel personal, but that does not make the medical claim or the seller legitimate. A scammer does not need to hack your phone to personalize a pitch. Health-related information can come from commercial profiles, public records, online activity, data breaches or other sources. A medically segmented list could help a caller make a fraudulent offer sound far more believable.

'But I've never given my information to a data broker'

You do not have to. That is what makes this so hard to see coming. Your blood pressure app, glucose monitor and smart scale can each add information to a larger profile, depending on the service, its partners and the settings you enable. Data brokers may also compile property records, voter files, online activity and information purchased from other companies. Once information enters this ecosystem, companies may buy, resell, combine and refresh it across data broker and people-search services you have never heard of.

How exposed is your specific device?

Not every app behaves the same way. Some provide stronger privacy controls than others. Features, settings and company practices can change, so review the current privacy notices for every service you use.

Omron Connect, blood pressure

Connected OMRON monitors can transfer readings to the OMRON Connect app through Bluetooth, where you can upload, store and share your heart health history. Data handling may depend on your device, permissions and connected services, so review OMRON's current privacy notices before syncing.

Dexcom, continuous glucose monitoring

Certain Dexcom products fall under HIPAA when Dexcom or a healthcare provider supplies them as insurance-reimbursable products in the United States. Other Dexcom websites, support programs and services may process information outside that HIPAA-covered context. Dexcom also provides opt-outs for certain data sales, sharing and targeted advertising under applicable state laws.

Withings, smart scales

Withings says it does not share health information with advertising partners. It may share some non-health personal information to deliver tailored advertising, and information can sync with outside apps or partners when you authorize a connection.

Fitbit

Google committed not to use health and wellness information collected from Fitbit devices for Google Ads and to keep that information in a separate data silo. That commitment came through regulatory conditions attached to Google's Fitbit acquisition, so continue reviewing current Fitbit and Google privacy controls.

Medisafe, medication reminders

If you choose pharmacy or coupon features, Medisafe says your personal information may be disclosed to partner pharmacies or coupon companies. Those companies will then handle the information under their own privacy practices.

Apple Health

Your device encrypts Health information, and iCloud uses end-to-end encryption when you enable the required account protections. In addition, Apple prohibits apps from using HealthKit data for advertising. You decide which outside apps can read or write individual categories of Health information.

The takeaway is that you have more control than you might think, but you need to go into the settings and use it.

Lock it down: Your 20-minute privacy tune-up

Here's a simple step-by-step guide to increasing your privacy when using health apps.

Step 1: Shut off ad tracking at the phone level

iPhone: Go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Tracking, then turn off Allow Apps to Request to Track. Next, go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Apple Advertising and turn off Personalized Ads.

Android: Go to Settings > Google > All services > Ads > Ads privacy. From there, you can turn off ad topics, app-suggested ads and ad measurement. Some devices also provide an option to delete the advertising ID. Menu names can vary by phone.

These settings limit certain forms of advertising and cross-app tracking. They do not stop every app from collecting information you enter directly or using other identifiers allowed under its privacy policy.

Step 2: Turn off sharing inside every health app

Open the account or privacy settings in each health app you use. Switch off anything labeled marketing, ad personalization or third-party sharing. Disconnect any linked apps you do not actively use.

Step 3: Look for privacy opt-outs

Check for links labeled "Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information," "Your Privacy Choices" or something similar. Covered businesses must provide these controls under laws such as California's CCPA when they sell or share personal information as the law defines those terms. Your available rights may depend on where you live. An opt-out can restrict certain data practices, but it does not guarantee that all of your information will remain with the company.

Step 4: Know the red flags before the phone rings

Medicare does not make unsolicited calls offering free medical supplies in exchange for your Medicare or financial information. If a caller references a specific health condition, the detail may have come from a commercial profile, public record, data breach or another source. Do not assume the caller is legitimate simply because they know something about you. Never confirm personal or Medicare information during an unexpected call.

But here's the problem: You can't fix what you can't see

Turning off tracking in your apps can help reduce future collection, but it does not remove information that companies have already gathered, shared or sold. That data may already appear across dozens or even hundreds of broker and people-search sites.

You can submit removal requests yourself, but the process takes time. Each site has its own opt-out steps, and you may need to repeat them because your information can reappear months later.

A reputable data removal service can handle much of that work for you. These services send opt-out requests to data brokers, monitor for reappearing information and submit new removal requests when needed.

No service can erase every trace of your information online, but ongoing removal can reduce how much personal data is available to advertisers, scammers and identity thieves.

Check out my top picks for data removal services and get a free scan to find out if your personal information is already out on the web by visiting Cyberguy.com

Kurt's key takeaways

Your health app may not receive the same HIPAA protections as your doctor's office. FTC cases show that some major health platforms disclosed sensitive information to advertising and analytics companies, while data brokers market profiles connected to health conditions. Scammers could use details like these to make Medicare, pharmacy and supplement pitches sound more believable. Turn off tracking and sharing where possible, and use available deletion or opt-out requests for information companies have already collected.

Would you stop using a health app if it shared your medical data, or would stronger privacy controls be enough to keep you? Let us know by writing to us at CyberGuy.com.

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