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James Talarico admits Democrats took ‘border for granted’ under Biden

Thu, 16 Jul 2026 15:11:23 -0400

Texas state Rep. James Talarico said Thursday that the Democratic Party "took the border for granted" during the Biden administration as he faced questions about his views on border security.

Talarico, who is running against Republican state Attorney General Ken Paxton for a Texas Senate seat in the November midterm elections, was asked by MS NOW host Joe Scarborough, "So you would agree that Democrats made a big mistake in 2021, '22, '23, not focusing enough on border security, right?"

"Absolutely," Talarico said. "And I’ve called out President Biden and his administration for failing to secure our southern border. I remember talking to my colleagues in the state house who represent border communities, and they were telling me about the utter chaos along our southern border. And that’s unacceptable. We need to be about making government work for people. And this was a prime example of government not working for any of us."

OPEN BORDERS WERE INSANE, BUT POLITICIANS DIDN’T CARE. FAMILIES LIKE MINE PAID THE PRICE

Scarborough asked Talarico if there were enough Democrats who understood what a "horrible" mistake it was.

"When you look at the 2024 election results, and you see all of those counties along the border all going red, or almost all of them going red, do you think Democrats nationwide understand what you understand, that open borders is — is no solution? In fact, it is a disaster, not only politically, but a disaster for the communities, Hispanic communities along that border," the host said.

Talarico said border towns in Texas meant a lot to him and to his family, and that Democrats took advantage of them.

"National Democrats took the border for granted. We stopped showing up there. And that’s why people along the southern border — it’s why people in south Texas started looking for alternatives. Republicans came to town and made big promises about, you know, common sense immigration approach, lowering people’s costs. But just a year into this administration, those promises haven’t been kept," Talarico said.

GOP ZEROES IN ON SOUTH TEXAS DEM WHO URGED TRUMP TO 'ALLOW PEOPLE TO CROSS FREELY'

Talarico was critical of the Trump administration's policy, and described it as "extremism."

"We’ve seen this crazy, useless border wall through Big Bend being proposed when you already have a wall made by God with cliffs and mountain ranges much better than anything humans could build," he said.

"And then you’ve also seen costs skyrocketing for people along the border," Talarico continued. "You’ve seen these tariffs start to hurt small businesses in the region. So folks are feeling really disillusioned. They feel like they’ve been let down by both political parties. And it’s why we’re showing up."

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Talarico defeated Texas Democratic Rep. Jasmine Crockett in the primary for the Senate seat earlier this year.

Crockett said during a recent appearance at the Essence Festival that she didn't need to campaign alongside Talarico, arguing the best thing she could do is boost down-ballot candidates.

She also claimed the primary race was "racist."

"You see, a lot of haters got a lot of things to say about me and my race and how I ran it," Crockett said. "But the reality is that there was a lot of racist — not a lot, it was racist. It was a racist race. It is what it is, right?"

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"But we live in America as y'all are celebrating 250," she continued. "OK? We know what this country is. But let me tell you the facts. There is no race that turned out more people to vote ever in the state of Texas except for Barack [Obama] and Hillary [Clinton]."

ICE resumes nationwide traffic stops under new policy requiring body cameras

Thu, 16 Jul 2026 15:11:14 -0400

ICE officers across the country have been told they can resume traffic stops under new guidance issued Thursday, but only if at least one officer involved is wearing a body camera, ICE sources tell Fox News.

The new directive means officers without access to body cameras are not authorized to conduct traffic stops. Body cameras have not yet been deployed to every ICE field office after the rollout began in the agency's largest cities.

The policy is expected to continue limiting the number of ICE traffic stops that can be conducted nationwide until the rollout is complete, a process sources say is expected to take roughly two more months.

"ICE will ensure each arrest team has an individual wearing a body camera," a DHS spokesperson said in a statement to Fox News. "Ensuring all of our ICE law enforcement officers have body cameras nationwide is a top priority for DHS — especially given the increase in attacks against our law enforcement, including a more than 1,300% increase in assaults against them and a 3,300% increase in vehicle attacks.

"This is especially needed because the media and sanctuary politicians consistently spread smears about our law enforcement."

ICE ARRESTS RECORD 238 ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS IN ONE DAY DURING SOUTH TEXAS ENFORCEMENT OPERATION

The spokesperson added, "the process of purchasing and issuing body-worn cameras to all of our ICE field offices was interrupted by the Democrats multiple government shutdowns. Body cameras have been deployed to more than half the field offices with the remaining half expected to receive them in less than 60 days."

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The guidance marks the latest operational change for ICE as the agency expands its use of body cameras while resuming a key immigration enforcement tactic under President Donald Trump's second administration.

This is a developing story; check back later for updates.

Resource rich nation praises US ties amid Washington-Beijing critical minerals race

Thu, 16 Jul 2026 15:03:07 -0400

UNITED NATIONS — The Democratic Republic of Congo does not view growing American involvement in its critical-minerals industry as a contest with China, the country’s foreign minister told Fox News Digital, arguing that Kinshasa needs multiple partners to transform its vast natural wealth into prosperity for its people.

"I don’t like talking about competition. I like talking about complementarity," Foreign Minister Thérèse Kayikwamba Wagner said in an exclusive interview at the United Nations.

CHINA’S GRIP ON RARE-EARTH MAGNETS COULD CRUSH US DRONE INDUSTRY BEFORE IT GROWS

"A country as big as the USA, but also a country as big as the DRC and as big as China, they do not develop just with one single partner," she added. "They develop with different partnerships that respond to different needs and that bring different expertise to the table."

The comments come as the Trump administration seeks to increase American access to Congo’s copper, cobalt, lithium, gold and other strategic resources, while reducing U.S. reliance on mineral supply chains dominated by China.

A strategic partnership signed by Washington and Kinshasa on Dec. 4, 2025, calls for increased economic cooperation, investment and the development of secure and transparent critical-mineral supply chains. The agreement accompanied a broader regional framework linking economic integration to efforts to end decades of conflict between Congo and Rwanda.

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A separate arrangement involving DR Congo’s state mining company Gécamines and commodities trader Mercuria could give U.S. buyers priority access to some copper and cobalt supplies, Reuters reported on Dec. 5, 2025. The U.S. International Development Finance Corporation also expressed interest in taking a strategic stake in the partnership.

Kayikwamba Wagner said relations between the U.S. and DR Congo were taking "a more concrete shape" based on mutual economic interests.

She said Kinshasa welcomed "more U.S. interests in the DRC" that could help the country turn its mineral wealth into "tangible transformations for the lives of Congolese," while also delivering benefits to American partners.

Speaking separately at a high-level U.N. meeting on critical minerals Tuesday, Kayikwamba Wagner warned that the global shift toward clean energy must not reproduce an economic model in which raw materials leave Africa while processing, technology and most of the profits remain elsewhere.

"The global energy transition must not become another extractive transition," she said. "If it merely replaces one form of dependency with another, it will have fallen short of its promise."

She called for foreign partnerships to support local processing, infrastructure, technology transfers, research, industrialization and access to financing — not simply secure supplies of raw materials.

CHILL COMING FROM TRUMP’S SUMMIT WITH XI IS PROOF OF A NEW COLD WAR WITH CHINA

The minerals push is closely connected to the U.S.-mediated peace process between the DRC and Rwanda. The countries initially signed a peace agreement in Washington on June 27, 2025, before Presidents Félix Tshisekedi and Paul Kagame reaffirmed the deal and signed related economic agreements on Dec. 4. The framework was intended both to reduce fighting and attract Western investment to a region rich in cobalt, copper, tantalum and other minerals.

Kayikwamba Wagner acknowledged that the agreement had not ended the violence, but said Washington’s willingness to impose consequences for violations showed that the process remained meaningful.

"This is a 30-year conflict we’re dealing with," she said. "It’s not going to happen overnight."

She praised the administration for sanctioning the Rwanda Defense Force and senior Rwandan officials over what the Treasury Department described as their support for the M23 rebel group. Treasury said in March that the RDF had supported, trained and fought alongside M23 as it seized territory and strategic mining locations in eastern Congo. Rwanda has repeatedly denied supporting M23.

"I find it encouraging to see that we have with us a partner that is not willing to give up at the first obstacle," Kayikwamba Wagner said.

She was in New York as the DRC, which holds the Security Council presidency for July, elevated the connection between natural resources, armed conflict and sexual violence.

Kayikwamba Wagner said rape and other forms of conflict-related sexual violence had risen sharply in areas held by M23 and Rwandan forces, affecting women and girls as well as men and boys.

Victims in occupied areas, she said, often lack access to courts, healthcare or other avenues for redress.

"This is also one of the reasons why we continue to be mobilized against this illegal occupation of eastern DRC," she said, arguing that restoring state authority was essential to providing survivors with justice and medical care.

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In her U.N. remarks, she cited the Rubaya mining area, which is under M23 control and supplies a significant share of global tantalum demand. She said U.N. experts estimated that at least 1,400 tons of coltan were smuggled into Rwanda during the first year after the mines were seized, generating approximately $800,000 per month for the armed group.

The Treasury department imposed additional sanctions on June 25 against a network it accused of working with M23 to smuggle minerals from eastern Congo into Rwanda, saying the action was intended to support the Washington peace framework and improve transparency in regional mineral supply chains.

Famous beach now requires visitors to reserve spots weeks ahead and pay fees

Thu, 16 Jul 2026 15:00:24 -0400

Italy's most famous beaches are becoming reservation-only destinations, leaving travelers to debate whether a day at the beach should require weeks of planning.

Several of the country's most popular beaches now require visitors to reserve entry before arriving, with QR codes, daily visitor caps and admission fees replacing the traditional first-come, first-served approach, according to Fodor's Travel Guide.

The changes are noticeable particularly on the island of Sardinia, where officials have introduced reservation systems to manage growing crowds and help protect some of Italy's most environmentally sensitive coastlines, Forbes reported.

BRAZEN PICKPOCKETS PREY ON VULNERABLE TOURISTS AS VACATION ISLAND IS SWARMED BY MILLIONS

One of the best-known examples is La Pelosa Beach, where reservations are mandatory May 15 through Oct. 15, the beach's official reservation website says.

Access is limited to 1,500 visitors per day. Five hundred spots can be booked at any time during the season, while the remaining 1,000 are released two days before the selected visit date, according to the website.

Visitors ages 12 and older must reserve online, pay a €3.50 (about $4) daily fee and present a QR code for entry between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m.

The reservation system has become so popular that advance booking availability is reportedly sold out through Sept. 15.

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Another popular destination, Cala Goloritzé, also requires advance reservations from April through October.

Access is limited to 250 visitors at a time, with reservations opening 72 hours before the selected visit date.

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Visitors pay a €7 (about $8) admission fee, while children under age 6 are admitted for free.

The official reservation website recommends booking as soon as spots become available, noting that reservations often fill quickly.

The restrictions come as tourism continues to grow across Italy.

Italy recorded a 4.2% increase in tourist arrivals and a 7.5% increase in overnight stays during the first quarter of 2026, according to data from the Italian National Institute of Statistics (ISTAT).

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Sebastiano Venneri, a tourism official with Italy’s Legambiente environmental group, told The Times in the U.K., "Something has to be done since the number of tourists globally is jumping from one billion in 2000 to an expected two billion in 2030."

The growing use of reservations has also sparked debate over whether some of Europe's most famous public beaches should require advance planning, visitor caps and entrance fees or remain freely accessible to anyone who wants to spend a day by the sea.

Online, some travelers said the restrictions are simply becoming another part of planning a vacation, while others questioned whether access to public beaches is becoming increasingly limited.

"Then you go to book, and it's all booked up," one Reddit user wrote.

Another commenter questioned the growing restrictions.

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"Who benefits from this? Certainly not the customers," the person wrote.

"More free beaches!" another user added.

Home Run Derby ratings crash on Netflix, sets 20-plus-year low as questions surface about program quality

Thu, 16 Jul 2026 14:55:10 -0400

The Home Run Derby drew just 5.3 million viewers on Netflix on Monday, marking the event's lowest audience since 2003.

The two-decade low is somewhat unusual, given that most live sporting events have posted notable year-over-year viewership gains in recent years.

Still, the slumpish rating likely has more to do with Netflix than the event itself. Despite changing viewing habits, live sports continue to perform better on traditional television than on streaming platforms.

NETFLIX CO-CEO CLARIFIES STREAMING GIANT’S LIVE SPORTS STRATEGY AMID NFL LINEUP EXPANSION, FEDERAL SCRUTINY

The drop also isn't particularly alarming. The Home Run Derby averaged 5.73 million viewers on ESPN in 2025 and 5.45 million in 2024, meaning Netflix's first broadcast wasn't far off the event's recent baseline.

The hope for major sports leagues is that the gap between streaming and linear television will continue to narrow and that, eventually, a marquee event will draw a larger audience on a streaming platform than on a traditional network.

Right now, the strongest model appears to be simulcasting games across both television and streaming, whether it's NBC/Peacock, ESPN/ESPN Unlimited, or Fox/Fox One.

TV NETWORKS HAVE MORE LEVERAGE OVER THE NFL AND STREAMERS THAN THE LEAGUE REALIZES

Further, Netflix's sports coverage remains underwhelming.

Netflix's foray into live sports has drawn widespread criticism for often feeling more like an infomercial for the company's entertainment slate than a straightforward sports broadcast.

The streamer continues to feature celebrities and influencers prominently during its coverage, including Will Ferrell throughout Monday's Home Run Derby.

Even longtime sports radio host Dan Patrick criticized Netflix's approach on Monday.

"I'd like to think I'm at least socially aware of sporting events, but I had no idea," Patrick said. "And then all of a sudden, it's like Netflix, and then you had Will Ferrell show up, you had Bonds and Pujols, and I'm like, OK. They're trying. Netflix is trying, trying different things. Now, sometimes you can try too hard. Sometimes you can try to dress something up, and you really don't need to."

Indeed.

Netflix also hasn't helped itself by making former ESPN host Elle Duncan the face of its sports division. To much of the general public, Duncan is best known for reportedly questioning Sage Steele's "blackness" behind the scenes and protesting "Don't Say Gay" on the air during the NCAA tournament.

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"Who at Netflix decided we’re going to make Elle Duncan the face and voice of Netflix Sports? And how does that person still have a job? Legit they have all the money in the world and this was their pick. It’s like giving Davis Mills a $200 million contract," OutKick founder Clay Travis asked on X.

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"Apologies to Davis Mills. Poor guy is probably just trying to watch the home run derby in peace and just got drive by whacked by me. He’s way better at QB’ing than Duncan is at hosting TV."

Suffice it to say, Netflix has work to do before it becomes a serious player in live sports. And its programming decisions aren't doing much to increase either interest or viewership.

Insurance companies put on notice for stranding trans patients who want to reverse surgeries

Thu, 16 Jul 2026 14:13:34 -0400

Rep. Diana Harshbarger, R-Tenn., a lawmaker with a pharmacy background, is introducing a bill that would require health insurance companies that provide transgender procedures to also pay for detransitions and adverse effects.

Harshbarger fears that under many current plans, transitioners who consider reversing their sex-reassignment procedures are stuck with what is effectively a financial one-way door.

"It's outrageous that a health plan can cover sex-rejecting procedures but refuse to cover the restorative care patients need to address the harm they cause. That's not a fair deal for patients who want to restore healthy bodily function," Harshbarger said.

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Although unlikely to become law over Democratic opposition in the Senate, the bill, titled the TRUTH in Coverage Act, draws attention to a growing number of patients who have regretted sex-reassignment procedures and lawmaker concern over barriers to addressing their fallout.

It would require insurers that cover "sex-rejecting procedures" to also cover items and services needed to address the complications or adverse effects resulting from them. The bill would enact the requirement regardless of state or local laws that mandate such procedures.

If passed, the bill would go into effect Jan. 1, 2027. It has 12 cosponsors, including Rep. Buddy Carter, R-Ga., the former chairman of the Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health.

In its current form, Harshbarger’s bill would amend three federal statutes governing private health insurance coverage to create a uniform federal coverage requirement: the Public Health Service Act, employer-sponsored health plans and group health plans. The bill would also prevent insurers from adjusting copays, deductibles or implementing treatment limitations.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott signed a similar bill into law last year, addressing a similar concern at the local level.

WATCH: DR. OZ SAYS NEWSOM, OTHER BLUE STATES HAVE TURNED MEDICAID FRAUD INTO A 'FEATURE'

Senate Bill 1257, sponsored by Texas Sen. Bryan Hughes, published a statement with the Texas Senate Research Senate, arguing the need for his bill.

"Many of these individuals require extensive medical care to manage or reverse the effects of previous treatments, yet they are frequently denied insurance coverage, leading to insurmountable out-of-pocket expenses. Without this coverage, patients face significant health risks, including hormone imbalances, surgical complications, and psychological distress," Hughes wrote.

According to the National Library of Medicine, it’s difficult to determine exactly how many detransitions there are or at what point someone would be considered a detransitioner. Researchers noted that stopping hormones, reversing surgeries or changing legal documents could all be triggers for what it means to begin the detransition process.

By casting a wide net and including adverse effects, Harshbarger’s bill would circumvent those technicalities.

"Patients should never be abandoned after undergoing life-altering, harmful medical interventions once reality sets in," Harshbarger said.

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"As a pharmacist, I've seen insurance companies find every excuse in the book to avoid paying for the care patients actually need. My TRUTH in Coverage Act restores fairness, promotes transparency and ensures patients aren't left paying the price for care their insurance should cover."

It’s unclear when and if Harshbarger’s bill would reach the House floor for a vote.

White House condemns staffer accused of betting on Trump speech as a 'disgrace'

Thu, 16 Jul 2026 14:48:23 -0400

The White House on Thursday condemned as "a disgrace" a Trump administration teleprompter operator accused of betting on President Donald Trump's speeches, saying he has been placed on paid administrative leave amid a federal investigation.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said President Donald Trump had been briefed on the matter and condemned the staffer's alleged conduct during Thursday's White House press briefing.

"Obviously, I'm aware of the report. The president is, too. I spoke with him about it," Leavitt said. "He believes it's deeply unfortunate and, frankly, a disgrace."

TRUMP KEEPS 'REALLY BIG' ADDRESS UNDER WRAPS AS WHITE HOUSE SAYS ‘NOBODY KNOWS’ WHAT HE’LL REVEAL

Leavitt said the employee has been placed on paid administrative leave pending the investigation and confirmed a different teleprompter operator would handle Trump's speech Thursday evening.

ABC News first reported that federal investigators with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission found a White House staffer — identified by sources as Gabriel Perez, Trump's teleprompter operator since 2016 — allegedly made tens of thousands of dollars by betting on the contents of Trump's speeches through the prediction market Kalshi.

"The White House has strict ethics guidelines that we expect all staffers and officials to follow," White House spokesman Davis Ingle told Fox News when asked about the report. "The staffer in question is fully cooperating with the CFTC."

A CFTC spokesperson told Fox News the agency "can't confirm or deny an investigation."

The case began after Kalshi's surveillance systems flagged a series of unusual trades in March involving markets tied to words and phrases expected to appear in Trump's public remarks.

HEGSETH ANNOUNCES JOINT TASK FORCE WITH DOJ TO PROSECUTE LEAKS TO JOURNALISTS 'WITH THE FULL FORCE OF THE LAW'

Kalshi said the trades stood out because they did not follow typical trading patterns and also drew complaints from market makers through the platform's whistleblower channels. After reviewing account information, the company said it identified the trader as a federal employee who worked as a White House teleprompter operator.

Kalshi said it froze the account before the trader could withdraw most of the alleged profits, leaving more than $90,000 on the platform while the matter was referred to federal regulators.

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"Our surveillance team promptly flagged and referred these trades to the CFTC after an exchange investigation," Robert DeNault, Kalshi's head of enforcement, told Fox News. "We have been assisting regulators on this matter and provided evidence we collected, as we do in any referral."

Kalshi said the markets involved common words and topics expected to appear in presidential speeches — including country names, economic terms, campaign language and social issues — rather than classified or otherwise sensitive information. The company added it has worked with the CFTC for months as the investigation has continued.

'TODAY' show intruder detained after allegedly breaching security near Craig Melvin

Thu, 16 Jul 2026 11:44:00 -0400

A man was detained Thursday after allegedly slipping past security at NBC’s Today show studios in New York while looking for Al Roker, TMZ reported.

After failing to find Roker, he reportedly lunged at co-host Craig Melvin and shouted a racial slur before security detained him.

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No one was injured, and the hosts returned to the air shortly afterward.

NANCY GUTHRIE LIKELY TARGETED BY LOCAL WORKER WHO ASSUMED FAMILY WAS WEALTHY, SAYS VETERAN INVESTIGATOR

NYPD confirmed to Fox News Digital:

"On Thursday, July 16, 2026, at approximately 0919 hours, it was reported to officers that there was a disorderly person inside 30 Rockefeller Center, within the confines of the Midtown North Precinct. Officers responded and placed an unidentified individual into custody. There were no injuries reported. The investigation remains ongoing."

JUDGE ORDERS NANCY GUTHRIE RANSOM IMPOSTER INTO INPATIENT TREATMENT BEFORE SENTENCING

Additionally, Savannah Guthrie shared on the TODAY show she will be off the show for a few weeks while she is filming a new Wordle game show.

SCAMMERS EXPLOIT NANCY GUTHRIE CASE WITH QR CODE MONEY REQUESTS, PIMA COUNTY SHERIFF WARNS

"I’m headed over to shoot ‘Wordle’ over the next few weeks," Savannah said on TODAY July 16. "We’re going to shoot the whole season, and we’re super excited. Cannot wait for everyone to see it."

In a statement sent to Fox News Digital, NBC News' TODAY said:

"There was a security incident this morning at the TODAY show studio. An individual entered an unauthorized area in a vestibule near Studio 1A. The person approached anchor Craig Melvin, who alerted security. The individual was detained and taken into custody by law enforcement without further incident. There was no altercation, and no one was injured. TODAY is cooperating fully with law enforcement as they investigate the matter. NBC and TODAY take the safety and security of our employees, talent, staff and guests extremely seriously. We are reviewing the incident and our security protocols and remain committed to providing a safe and secure environment for everyone who works at and visits our studios."

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'The Big Bang Theory' star Jim Parsons says he paid a steep price for fame

Thu, 16 Jul 2026 14:39:52 -0400

Jim Parsons had the career millions dream about, but the "Big Bang Theory" star said the success came with a steep personal price.

At the height of his fame, Parsons wasn't celebrating his success. Instead, the Emmy-winning actor said he was overwhelmed by obsessive habits that left him "stressed" and "miserable."

"I look back now and realize that there were many ways, at some of the best moments of my life, I was miserable," Parsons said during an appearance on "All Out with Jon Dean." "I was not happy. I was stressed.

"I felt that there was so many plates I was supposed to be keeping in the air and that the success and the good things of life that were happening were only due to this overworking ... discipline and whatever," he continued. "And maybe to a degree that was true. I don't know."

'BIG BANG THEORY' STAR JIM PARSONS JOKES HE 'KNOWS WHERE ALL THE BODIES ARE BURIED'

Although Parsons acknowledged his intense discipline may have contributed to his success, he said the constant pressure he placed on himself wasn't worth the emotional toll.

"I can't say, because that's how I was," he added. "But I wouldn't do that again and for any amount of money ... just because it was stressful and miserable at times. I made myself miserable."

"From your own work ethic?" host Jon Dean asked.

"If you want to call it that," Parsons said. "It translated in part into a work ethic, but it was really just obsessive behavior basically."

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Parsons said the perfectionism that helped propel his career also trapped him in a cycle of obsessive behavior he now realizes wasn't necessary.

"Yes, I was disciplined. Yes, I had a good work ethic, but a lot of it was because it was kind of OCD in nature," he noted.

"I had a list of things basically in my head that I had to get done in order to be comfortable and know that I could do my job right, which I don't think was true."

The actor said his obsessive routine caused him to miss out on "tons of life" that didn't fit into the structure he had built for himself. Even now, Parsons admitted he doesn't know whether he could have found a better balance.

"I don't honestly know," he told Dean. "In the same way, I can't go back. I don't know that I would be where I – well, I wouldn't be where I am right now if I hadn't had that time of life.

"And the somewhat self-tortured nature of it was part of it," he added. "So, I don't know what to tell people. ... Like, I don't know how much of that is necessary."

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Parsons rose from stage work and small television roles to become one of Hollywood's most recognizable sitcom stars after landing the role of Dr. Sheldon Cooper on CBS's "The Big Bang Theory" in 2007.

His performance on the show earned him four Primetime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series and a Golden Globe.

"The Big Bang Theory" ran for 12 seasons, from 2007 to 2019, and became one of the most successful sitcoms in TV history. Parsons starred alongside Johnny Galecki, Kaley Cuoco, Simon Helberg, Kunal Nayyar, Mayim Bialik and Melissa Rauch in the sitcom.

He is also known for his roles in "Young Sheldon," "The Normal Heart," "Hidden Figures" and "The Boys in the Band."

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Alleged Feeding Our Future fraud ringleader extradited from Somalia to face US charges

Thu, 16 Jul 2026 14:30:06 -0400

One of the alleged ringleaders of the massive Feeding Our Future pandemic relief fraud scheme in Minnesota has been brought back to the United States to face charges, authorities said.

Abdikerm Abdelahi Eidleh, 42, of Burnsville, Minnesota, was arrested June 26 in Somalia and extradited to the U.S. Thursday, the FBI said.

Federal prosecutors allege Eidleh was the mastermind who bilked taxpayers out of $250 million by exploiting federal child nutrition programs meant to feed vulnerable children. Authorities have described it as one of the largest fraud cases in Minnesota history.

"Today is a historic moment in the FBI’s war on fraud," said FBI Director Kash Patel. "The Foreign Transfer of Custody of Abdikerm Abdelahi Eidleh brings to justice one of the alleged ringleaders of the $250 million ‘Feeding our Future’ fraud scandal out of Minnesota, where the FBI has already helped secure over 70 guilty pleas from fraudsters in partnership with the Justice Department."

MINNESOTA MAN CAPTURED IN SOMALIA AFTER ALLEGEDLY HELPING ORCHESTRATE $250M CHILD NUTRITION FRAUD SCHEME

Eidleh faces 31 counts, including conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, conspiracy to commit federal programs bribery, federal programs bribery, conspiracy to commit money laundering and money laundering.

Federal prosecutors said Eidleh was an employee of the Feeding Our Future (FOF) nonprofit, responsible for recruiting and supporting Federal Child Nutrition Program sites under Feeding Our Future’s sponsorship.

MINNESOTA FRAUD MASTERMIND GETS NEARLY 42 YEARS IN PRISON IN MASSIVE $250M 'FEEDING OUR FUTURE' SCHEME

He and other FOF employees allegedly solicited and received bribes and kickbacks from people and companies seeking approval to operate fraudulent Federal Child Nutrition Program sites.

Feeding Our Future allegedly operated a "pay-to-play" scheme in which operators of fraudulent meal sites kicked back a portion of their illicit proceeds to employees, including Eidleh, often disguising the payments as consulting fees through shell companies, according to an indictment previously reported by Fox News Digital.

Prosecutors also said Eidleh created Federal Child Nutrition Program sites using nominee owners, then falsely claimed the sites were serving meals to thousands of children each day.

FBI CAPTURES $1.2B MEDICARE FRAUD FUGITIVE IN PHILIPPINES, SECOND ARREST FROM MOST WANTED FRAUDSTERS LIST

"These are individuals who stole critical, taxpayer-funded resources from kids in need during the COVID pandemic, and Eidleh was allegedly right at the top of the operation," Patel said.

According to prosecutors, Eidleh deposited more than $5 million in fraud proceeds, kickbacks and bribes into accounts associated with shell companies he created in an effort to conceal the source of the money.

In 2022, Eidleh fled the U.S., Patel said, noting that criminals should be aware that "no matter where you try to hide, we will find you."

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In May, Aimee Bock, who headed the Feeding Our Future nonprofit, was sentenced to nearly 42 years in prison for her role in the fraud.

Fox News Digital's Michael Sinkewicz contributed to this report.

JJ Watt goes after MLS squad after social post leaves out wife, a local soccer legend: 'Worth a mention'

Thu, 16 Jul 2026 14:20:49 -0400

A former pro soccer player was stiffed in a social media post, taking a back seat to her relatively more famous husband.

Future Pro Football Hall of Famer J.J. Watt is married to Kealia Ohai Watt, a former member of the U.S. Women's National Team who played in the National Women's Soccer League.

The couple took in an MLS game Wednesday night, watching Real Salt Lake take on Burnley F.C., which the Watts partially own, and the team welcomed the couple with an X post.

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"Welcome to the Riot, @JJWatt and fam," the team wrote.

Watt, however, was not pleased that his wife, a local soccer legend, was dismissed. Ohai attended Alta High School in nearby Sandy and won four state titles with her youth soccer club.

"The woman in the photo grew up literally down the road, won 4 Utah state championships (1 in this exact stadium), Gatorade Player of the Year twice, National Player of the Year, scored the fastest first goal in USWNT history… Could probably be worth a mention, but idk," Watt said in a reply.

TRINITY RODMAN SAYS NWSL RECORD-CROWD GAME IN NY SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN PLAYED AMID POOR AIR

Ohai also won a national championship with the University of North Carolina.

After college, she was the second overall pick in the NWSL College Draft by the Houston Dash, a team she captained from 2016 until being traded to the Chicago Red Stars in 2020.

The couple purchased its stake in Burnley F.C., which played in the Premier League last season, in 2023.

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Ohai's brother-in-law is Watt's former Houston Texans teammate, Brian Cushing.

Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.

GOP's $95B defense package survives critical hurdle amid fiscal hawk revolt

Thu, 16 Jul 2026 14:00:19 -0400

House GOP leaders narrowly avoided a major setback Thursday as they race to pass a third party-line megabill, but fiscal hawks are still threatening to derail the effort.

The first test came Thursday at a critical House Budget Committee markup, during which the panel approved a $95 billion budget reconciliation framework along party lines in a vote of 20-14.

But House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., is likely to face trouble on the House floor next week since some conservatives sharply criticized the budget plan for including no instructions to offset spending.

Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas, a member of the budget panel who has expressed concerns with the framework, did not vote.

JOHNSON SCORES WIN AS CONSERVATIVE REBELS END HOUSE FLOOR BLOCKADE OVER VOTER ID BILL

The budget blueprint now heads to the House Rules Committee, where GOP leaders will attempt to win a key vote and put the plan up for a chamber-wide vote by the end of next week.

The framework would provide $73 billion for defense and intelligence, allocate $12 billion in assistance to farmers and establish a $10 billion funding pot that is expected to provide grants to states to implement elements of the SAVE America Act.

House fiscal hawks warned earlier this week that the bill was a non-starter because it included no spending offsets.

"I think that a no offset plan is dead on arrival because, frankly, three of us would kill it," Rep. Warren Davidson, R-Ohio, told reporters. "And so, I think that's likely at this point."

Passing a budget blueprint is the first step to unlock the complex budget reconciliation process, which requires near-unanimity among Republicans amid their slim margins.

Johnson can afford to lose just three GOP defections assuming all members are present and voting.

SENATE FACES 'COME-TO-JESUS' MOMENT ON TRUMP'S ELECTION PRIORITY UNDER GOP'S NEW PLAN

Republicans are pursuing a third "big, beautiful bill" to cut Democrats out of the process, meaning Johnson will have to rely solely on GOP votes.

The plan also faces an uphill battle in the Senate, where some Republicans remain skeptical of another reconciliation effort. House Republicans’ blueprint notably contains no spending instructions for the upper chamber, an omission that could further delay the process.

If the budget blueprint advances out of the House and Senate, only then will lawmakers start writing the actual bill.

The plan could also face trouble in the upper chamber, where a faction of Senate Republicans remain skeptical of another reconciliation effort.

"Everybody is betting against us being able to get it done," Rep. Beth Van Duyne, R-Texas, told Fox News Digital on Tuesday. "I am more and more optimistic each day that passes."

Johnson has cast the effort as the best opportunity for Republicans to pass pieces of the stalled SAVE America Act before the November midterm elections.

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"It's our best shot at enacting our party's top priority legislation, the SAVE America Act," Johnson said Wednesday at a news conference with Vice President JD Vance.

"It is important to the American people, and it's important to the future."

Michelle Obama accuses media of weaponizing fashion to 'diminish' her as a campaign threat

Thu, 16 Jul 2026 13:57:31 -0400

Former first lady Michelle Obama claimed America was "struggling enough" to accept a Black first family, revealing earlier this month that she intentionally avoided wearing her hair in braids while in the White House to prevent political distraction.

Speaking at Essence Festival in New Orleans July 3, Obama detailed the calculations behind her appearance, accusing the media and political rivals of weaponizing fashion coverage during the 2008 election cycle to "diminish" her status as a growing campaign threat.

"I started wearing my hair in braids in college, right? But as I went up the professional ranks, being a lawyer, they wanted, you know, I didn't want my hair to be a part of the conversation," Obama said in a clip released Wednesday on her YouTube channel.

OBAMA BLAMES SPLINTERED MEDIA FOR PREVENTING SUPERSTAR DEMOCRAT FROM RISING UP

"So I made the decision, you know, look, America is struggling enough to accept the first Black president and first lady. I'm not going to make my hair the issue," she added.

Obama said that during her husband’s 2008 campaign, the political press purposefully tried to change the surrounding conversations to instead focus on her shoes or clothes. She recalled giving a speech in Iowa, noting she brought in larger crowds than her husband’s rivals, but that the more popular she got, the more articles focused on her appearance.

"The more popular I became, the more of a threat I became. It was interesting. That’s when the articles started coming out," Obama said. "This is when I understood like, this is politics, oh, they're coming after me because I'm useful. And they're trying to beat my husband, so they're trying to slow me down, right?"

ANA NAVARRO AND FORMER TRUMP CAMPAIGN AIDE CLASH OVER PRESIDENT'S COMBATIVE EXCHANGES WITH FEMALE JOURNALISTS

"And some of those first articles, they would always start, 'She was wearing a purple sheath, and she had on this pair of shoes.' It wouldn't matter what I said," she added.

"The article would start with what I had on. And I realized, ‘Oh, this is how they do women in politics.’ This is how we treat women in public life. We diminish them to just what they look like, and not what I'm saying."

This is not the first time the former first lady has said the press was hostile to her appearance. On the "Call Her Daddy" podcast in January, Obama similarly blasted media coverage of her looks.

MICHELLE OBAMA WARNS LIBERALS AGAINST PIGEONHOLING TRUMP VOTERS, SAYS THEY DIDN'T KNOW WHAT ELSE TO DO

"And the first thing, after all this great conversation and connection, the top of the article would be, 'She was wearing.' You know, not my education, not my, you know, not my professional career, but it started with appearance, and it got worse as we got better," she told host Alex Cooper.

"They weren't doing that to my husband, right? They weren't describing him physically, and he was out there more than I was. So, I was like, ‘OK, well, this is where it comes from.’ It's like, 'Wow, whoever is doing this, when it comes to how we put women in their place, it's like, OK,'" Obama later added.

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In November 2025, Obama released her book "The Look," which is described by the Obama Presidential Center shop as "a stunning journey through Michelle Obama’s style evolution, in her own words for the first time."

Veteran Dem breaks party line as Jack Smith spying scandal grips Capitol Hill

Thu, 16 Jul 2026 13:53:52 -0400

Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., told Fox News Digital his Republican colleagues are right to be troubled that the Justice Department spied on lawmakers to aid former special counsel Jack Smith’s investigations.

"I think we need to have more facts. Look into it. Republicans are rightly concerned about the possible breach of norms and improper access to email," Blumenthal told Fox News Digital Wednesday.

The GOP-led Senate Judiciary Committee released a trove of documents Tuesday showing that Smith’s investigation into President Donald Trump included the Department of Justice collecting text messages between 44 members of Congress, among them Republicans and Democrats, and White House staff.

The messages were purportedly related to Smith's probe of the Jan. 6 breach of the Capitol and Trump’s storage of classified documents at Mar-a-Lago.

TODD BLANCHE EXPOSES HOW AGGRESSIVE BIDEN DOJ TARGETED LOW-LEVEL MAR-A-LAGO EMPLOYEES

Other Democrats were less willing than Blumenthal to lend credence to Republican concerns regarding how Smith carried out his investigation.

"I've got no comment on that. If you want to talk about the news of the day, I will," Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J., told Fox News Digital, referencing acting Attorney General Todd Blanche’s confirmation hearing. Booker was among the lawmakers who had their text messages seized by the Justice Department.

Sens. Adam Schiff, D-Calif.; Mazie Hirono, D-Hawaii; Alex Padilla, D-Calif.; and Patty Murray, D-Wash., all declined to comment on the issue when approached by Fox News Digital.

DEM SENATOR'S STUNT GOES SIDEWAYS AFTER GOP LAWMAKER TORCHES HIM AT IMMIGRATION HEARING

Blumenthal’s remarks mark a rare note of bipartisan concern over Smith’s handling of politically sensitive communications, even as other Democrats avoided weighing in on the GOP-led probe. The new documents have intensified Republican scrutiny of whether Justice Department safeguards failed during highly consequential investigations into Trump, while raising fresh questions about how far prosecutors went in accessing lawmakers’ private communications.

"I think Jack Smith is a political hack. I think that's why the Justice Department, under President Biden, picked him," Sen. John Kennedy, R-La., told Fox News Digital.

"Everybody knows he's a political hack. He never should have been near power. He shouldn't be near power now because he can't exercise it objectively or non-emotionally."

JACK SMITH THRUST BACK INTO SPOTLIGHT AT BLANCHE HEARING OVER EXPOSED SENATORS’ MESSAGES

The Judiciary Committee claims the lawmakers' messages were reviewed in a way that runs afoul of DOJ protocol.

A "filter team" was supposed to review the communications before Smith’s investigative team could look at them, according to the documents. Contractors managing document review software for the filter team, however, failed to properly set up permission guardrails, allowing the investigative team to examine documents that had not been screened, according to a letter sent to Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, by the DOJ.

"He honestly believes he's smarter and more virtuous than the American people. He's not, and that's what got him in trouble," Kennedy told Fox News Digital in reference to Smith.

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After the Senate Judiciary Committee released the documents on Tuesday, multiple Republican lawmakers alleged that Smith perjured himself by answering "no" to a question from a congressional lawyer about whether he requested text messages from lawmakers as part of his investigation.

"I don't know whether it was misleading. I just, I really haven't followed it," Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., told reporters regarding the allegations against Smith.

Blue Angels flyover ignites social media; Hegseth, Eric Trump respond

Thu, 16 Jul 2026 13:45:37 -0400

Secretary of War Pete Hegseth and other Trump allies took to social media on Thursday after the Navy's Blue Angels drew widespread attention with a flyover above a Florida beach.

Video shared online showed beachgoers cheering as two Blue Angels jets with the flight demonstration team made a low pass over Pensacola Beach on Wednesday. Social media reactions varied, from those who praised the flyover and wished they could have seen it in person, to those who criticized the stunt.

Hegseth, however, posted on X, "The flyovers will continue until morale improves."

HEGSETH SHOOTS DOWN IRAN 'KAMIKAZE DOLPHINS' — LEAVES US QUESTION OPEN

Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell shared a photo of one of the aircraft performing a maneuver during the flyover and wrote, "Carry on Patriots."

Eric Trump also responded by sharing an ABC News report on X, writing, "Can't stand the manufactured outrage by the low-T mainstream media. This was undoubtedly the highlight of these people's day…"

The ABC News report Eric Trump shared said Navy officials confirmed in a statement to the outlet that Blue Angels leadership is "reviewing the circumstances surrounding the maneuver and conducting a thorough safety review."

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

The flyover came during Wednesday morning's annual "Breakfast with the Blues" event, which marks the start of Red, White and Blues Week and gives spectators a chance to watch the Navy's flight demonstration squadron practice over the Gulf Coast.

Local news outlet WALA-TV reported that this year's event drew one of its largest crowds in recent memory, with the Casino Beach and Quietwater parking lots filling by about 7 a.m. Thousands lined the beach as the Blue Angels spent about two hours practicing ahead of this weekend's air show.

Brenda Bennett, who has attended the event for decades, told the newspaper she had never seen a crowd this large.

‘AMERICA IS BACK’: TRUMP KICKS OFF GREAT AMERICAN STATE FAIR WITH FLYOVERS, PATRIOTIC NATIONAL MALL SPEECH

"I've been coming since 1997 and this is the best kept secret, but I think the secret's out because there's more people here than normally," Bennett said.

Theresa Smith and Sheri Marinovich said they had to park farther away than usual because of the crowds but said the extra walk was worth it.

"They're showing out," the pair told the newspaper. "They love to put on a show for the breakfast crowd. You feel like they're just so much closer and we get to hear them talking on the radio and they do different maneuvers than they do for the show."

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Many spectators told the outlet the event felt especially meaningful following the recent America 250 celebrations. Bennett said she hopes Americans continue celebrating "our freedom that we have here in the United States."

The Blue Angels are scheduled to practice again Thursday before public performances Friday and Saturday.

Max Verstappen keeps it blunt, yet cryptic when asked about future with Red Bull

Thu, 16 Jul 2026 13:44:15 -0400

Formula 1 is at Spa-Francorchamps this weekend, a fan and driver favorite, for the Belgian Grand Prix. We’re in the midst of a great title battle between Mercedes’ Kimi Antonelli and George Russell and Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton.

However, much of the focus this weekend is on Red Bull's Max Verstappen. It's been a tough season for the four-time champ, who currently sits down in P7 in the standings, and that's because the rumor mill has been churning about his future with the team.

Verstappen has not committed to Red Bull for next season and was recently linked with a potential move to McLaren. On top of that, he himself has even floated the idea of stepping away from F1. He hasn't been a fan of the direction the series has taken with its current cars, and has recently done more sports car racing.

So, he was asked about all of this on Thursday during his driver press conference, and the Dutchman gave some answers that were both blunt and cryptic.

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"Is there any update you can give us?" a reporter asked.

"No," Verstappen said.

Verstappen was then asked about what he makes of all of the speculation about his future, to which he replied, "Nothing."

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

He was then asked whether he had a date in mind for providing an update on his plans.

"No, there's nothing to say from my side," he said.

"So, full commitment to Red Bull in 2027?" the reporter asked.

"I said there's nothing to say," Verstappen reiterated.

Now, Verstappen is known for handling press conferences like this, but, man, is that not going to keep the rumor mill from churning?

It is worth noting that while Red Bull's struggles have been well documented this season, Verstappen has said he has a good relationship with team boss Laurent Mekies, who took over partway through last season.

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"It’s been really good. I get on very well with Laurent. We speak a lot on track, but also off track," he said, per the Associated Press. "I think the relationship that he has also within the team is great.

"Everything for me feels very positive, and I think it’s always nice when you can discuss a lot of things with your team boss. So from that sense, yeah, very happy. It’s all very open and transparent."

Fox News surges 29% in unique visitors during Q2, while CNN posts its weakest digital audience since 2015

Thu, 16 Jul 2026 13:37:05 -0400

Fox News Digital led all news brands and broadcast networks in total digital multiplatform unique visitors, multiplatform views and multiplatform minutes during the second quarter of 2026, according to Comscore.

During the news-packed quarter, Fox News Digital drove an average of 178 million total digital multiplatform unique visitors to finish with a 29% increase in the critical category compared to 2025.

Fox News Digital also posted 4.6 billion multiplatform views and 9.7 billion multiplatform minutes throughout the quarter to lead all news brands in both categories.

It was the 21st consecutive quarter Fox News finished No. 1 in views and the 16th consecutive quarter it has been the top news brand in minutes.

FOX NEWS CHANNEL LEADS CBS AND NBC IN WEEKDAY PRIMETIME, DOMINATES CABLE VIEWERSHIP IN SECOND QUARTER RATINGS

While Fox News thrived, CNN finished with its worst quarter since 2015 in several categories. The struggling network managed only 62 million unique visitors, 1.5 billion multiplatform views and 2.4 billion multiplatform minutes for its worst performance in over a decade.

CNN finished down 32% in unique visitors, down 46% among total views and shed 41% in minutes compared to the second quarter of 2025.

Fox News Digital finished the quarter strong, also topping all news brands and broadcast networks with total digital multiplatform visitors, views and minutes during June. It was the fourth straight month that Fox News finished as the top news brand among total multiplatform unique visitors.

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Fox News delivered 1.4 billion YouTube video views across its channels, beating all news brands for the seventh consecutive quarter, according to Emplifi.

Along the way, the main Fox News channel (1.1 billion views) managed to beat runner-up MS NOW by over 300 million views while more than doubling CNN’s viewership. Fox News also beat broadcast networks ABC News (337 million views), NBC News (310 million views) and CBS News (136 million views) combined.

FOX News Media has generated a staggering 3.3 billion YouTube video views, with FOX News Channel accounting for 2.5 billion of those views, since the start of 2026.

FOX News Media also topped all news brands on social media with interactions for the quarter, according to Emplifi and Comscore Social.

Fox News was responsible for 270 million social media interactions during the second quarter with 122 million interactions on Facebook, 51.9 million interactions on Instagram and 18.2 million interactions on X. Fox News drove another 78.0 million interactions on TikTok and finished with 4.4 billion video views across social media.

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The Fox News Mobile app averaged 6.3 million unique viewers during the quarter, leading the CNN mobile app, which settled for an average of 3.1 million unique viewers.

Fox News Digital, CBSNews.com, NBCNews.com, WashingtonPost.com and ABCNews.com have opted in to account for Social Incremental in Total Digital Multiplatform Unique Visitors, while brands like CNN.com and NYTimes.com have not.

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Trump admin investigating 75 truck driver schools for fraud, helping non-citizens get licenses

Thu, 16 Jul 2026 12:07:19 -0400

The Trump administration announced Thursday it is investigating 75 entry-level truck driver commercial driver’s license schools across the U.S. that are suspected of fraudulently helping put non-citizen drivers on American highways.

The Department of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the Department of Transportation's (DOT) Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) are partnering to address fraud regarding the issuance of non-domiciled CDLs to illegal aliens.

"FMCSA has identified approximately 75 entry-level driving training schools suspected of fraudulent activities, including using improper driver certifications, falsifying training records, and failing to properly train drivers applying for CDLs, among other violations," DHS announced in a release Thursday.

The crackdown comes after months of American deaths from truck-driving accidents caused by reported illegal immigrants.

DEADLY ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT TRUCK CRASH EXPOSED FAILURES ON THE ROAD AND AT THE BORDER: KEY SENATOR

"Too many American lives have been lost in completely avoidable accidents because illegal aliens have been granted commercial driver's licenses to drive trucks and 18-wheelers on America's roadways," DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin wrote in a statement.

"DHS law enforcement is partnering with the Department of Transportation to eliminate CDL fraud, strengthen the integrity of the CDL system, and investigate commercial driver's license schools throughout the country," he added. "This is a whole-of-government approach, to keep America's roads safe."

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy hailed President Donald Trump's DHS investigators for being "force multiplier" in the administration’s effort to root out CDL fraud and restore safety to America's streets.

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"USDOT has spent the last year rooting out bad actors from our trucking industry," Duffy wrote in a statement. "We've knocked over 24,000 drivers off our roads for failing to speak English, forced states to cancel over 28,000 licenses illegally issued to foreign drivers, and purged over 9,500 unqualified training schools from our FMCSA registry.

"DHS will be a force multiplier of our efforts to clean up America's roads,' Duffy continued. "President Trump is using every lever at his disposal to ensure the safety of American families."

Fatal truck accidents have been in the news for years, frequently pointed to by Trump administration officials as a danger of former President Joe Biden's open borders and Democrat-run sanctuary city and state politics.

'SLAP ON THE WRIST': ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT TRUCKER'S SENTENCE IGNITES OUTRAGE AFTER CRASH KILLED 3

In one prominent case, Harjinder Singh, 28, an illegal immigrant from India, was arrested after an August 2025 crash in Fort Pierce, Florida, that killed three people. Investigators revealed that Singh, who was accused of jackknifing his 18-wheeler while executing an unauthorized U-turn, had previously failed his CDL knowledge exam in Washington state 10 times in just two months and struggled significantly to pass basic English and road sign tests.

Despite this, he was eventually issued a commercial license in Washington, which he later transferred to California.

Another major incident occurred in October 2025 on Interstate 10 in San Bernardino County, Calif., when Jashanpreet Singh, 21, allegedly drove his semi into slow-moving traffic without braking. The resulting eight-car chain-reaction crash killed three people and severely injured several others.

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Singh, an illegal alien who crossed the border under Biden in 2022, had obtained a California CDL in June 2025. The crash fueled intense criticism from federal officials, with Duffy condemning California's licensing loophole and calling Singh's subsequent five-year prison sentence a "slap on the wrist" for a tragedy that should have been prevented.

Baltimore beat-down: Video shows group of teens pummeling elderly man outside 7-Eleven as police hunt suspects

Thu, 16 Jul 2026 13:24:37 -0400

Police are searching for a group of suspects accused of beating up an elderly man and attempting to rob him outside a gas station in Baltimore.

Surveillance video shows the group run up to the man outside a 7-Eleven and proceed to attack him and display weapons.

The six unknown suspects wearing hooded sweatshirts appear to have knocked the man to the ground several times while also throwing various objects at him.

FLORIDA MEN INDICTED IN ARMED HOME INVASION WHERE SUSPECT POSED AS UTILITY WORKER, 13-YEAR-OLD ZIP-TIED: DOJ

At one point, it appears one of the suspects points what looks like an assault rifle at the victim and another suspect points a sword at him in the video shared by police.

Baltimore Police report it happened in the city's Northern District just before 4 a.m. on July 7 at the 7-Eleven location on Liberty Heights Avenue.

The attack follows an announcement Baltimore's Democratic mayor, Brandon M. Scott, made about the reported drop in violent crime in the city.

JUDGE JUDY'S SON ADAM LEVY SAYS HE COULD FIX LOS ANGELES ‘IN A MONTH’

Scott's office noted the city has seen 50 homicides so far this year.

"This total represents the fewest homicides ever recorded in Baltimore through the first six months of a calendar year. Compared to this date last year, Baltimore has seen a 23.1% decrease in homicides and a 2.5% decrease in non-fatal shootings," the announcement reported.

As for the 7-Eleven incident, Baltimore Police confirmed to Fox News Digital that "the victim sustained minor bruising from the assault."

Police could not confirm if suspects were involved in other related crimes in the city.

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The investigation is ongoing.

NEW 911 AUDIO CAPTURES NEIGHBORS WARNING OF 'FULL-OUT WAR' BEFORE POLICE WERE ATTACKED IN BLOCK PARTY CHAOS

Fox News Digital has reached out to 7-Eleven for comment.

Elderly Florida woman goes viral after getting hilariously crude license plate

Thu, 16 Jul 2026 13:22:54 -0400

A nearly 77-year-old South Florida woman drew viral attention on Wednesday after a license plate she believed carried an inappropriate message was mailed to her Pompano Beach home.

The plate Nancy Dello Stritto received from the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (DMV) read, "SQZ A55."

"I can handle it if I get a few honks here and there. Actually, being over 70, I might like a few honks," Dello Stritto said, according to 10 Tampa Bay News.

Dello Stritto, who will turn 77 next month, said she did not request the plate, which can be interpreted as spelling out a crude phrase. She initially objected to driving through her retirement community with the tag attached to her vehicle.

"I don’t think a woman that lives in a senior community that’s going to be 77 years old next month will be driving around with what this plate has to say," Dello Stritto said, according to Fox 8 Live.

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Dello Stritto also told CBS News Miami that she was stunned when she opened the envelope and saw the new plate.

"When I saw that, I went ballistic. I said, ‘How could that pass inspection?’" she said.

The plate quickly became a subject of discussion among Dello Stritto’s relatives, friends and neighbors. She said her sons and their friends encouraged her to keep it, with the informal tally reaching 16-1 in favor of putting it on her car.

Dello Stritto also showed the plate to an 89-year-old neighbor and explained that it was supposed to remain on her vehicle for the next decade.

MAN FLEEING ICE OFFICERS IN FLORIDA IS STRUCK AND KILLED BY TRACTOR-TRAILER, POLICE SAY

"And this is what I received from the DMV for my new license plate. That’s good for 10 years," she told the neighbor, according to 10 Tampa Bay.

The neighbor offered a one-word endorsement of the plate. "Good," he replied.

Dello Stritto said she still planned to alert the DMV, but had become increasingly willing to give the plate a test drive after hearing from people around her.

"I’m resigned to it; maybe it was destined for it to be on my car," she told CBS News Miami.

FLORIDA SCHOOL PRINCIPALS FACE DUI CHARGES AFTER POLICE TRAFFIC STOPS JUST HOURTS APART

The Pompano Beach resident also joked that the unexpected attention could provide an unexpected benefit.

"I can handle it; maybe I’ll even get some honks," Dello Stritto said.

The plate prompted reactions on social media, where commenters encouraged Dello Stritto to keep the unusual configuration.

"I cannot believe that this particular Florida license plate had not been previously requested. She could sell that for thousands," commentator Emily Zanotti wrote.

74-YEAR-OLD BECOMES FLORIDA'S OLDEST INMATE EXECUTED AFTER 1982 KILLING OF TEEN

Radio host Dana Loesch joked about the reactions the plate could generate in Dello Stritto’s community.

"I just want to be in the church parking lot on Sunday to see the reactions," Loesch said.

OutKick’s Clay Travis shared the story with a brief reaction.

"Dying," Travis said.

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

It was not immediately clear how the plate was generated or whether the combination was reviewed before it was mailed.

Florida’s standard license plates are replaced every 10 years under state law, according to the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. Dello Stritto indicated that the plate was issued as part of that scheduled replacement cycle.

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The agency lists three standard plate options: a county-name plate where available, a "Sunshine State" plate and an "In God We Trust" plate. Standard plates receive alphanumeric configurations unless a motorist separately applies and pays for a personalized plate.

Broward County Records, Taxes and Treasury Division serves as an agent of the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles and issues license plates and parking permits. Its motor vehicle office is located in Plantation.

An office manager told CBS News Miami that Broward County would replace a license plate deemed offensive at no cost if Dello Stritto brought it to the Plantation office.

Todd Blanche roasts Adam Schiff in heated hearing: 'You're a lawyer, you know the rules'

Thu, 16 Jul 2026 11:51:27 -0400

Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche came out swinging against Sen. Adam Schiff on Wednesday, denying allegations of self-dealing and intentional refusal-to-recuse in President Donald Trump’s cases, while accusing the California Democrat of lying.

Schiff sparred with Blanche over several legal matters he said prove the nominee is unfit for the job of America’s top law enforcement officer, citing what he described as serious conflicts of interest. Blanche denied the allegations while telling Schiff he was misstating ethics rules and botching key timelines.

Schiff pressed Blanche on whether he met with Justice Department ethics lawyers about his prior representation of Trump in the Stormy Daniels, Mar-a-Lago classified documents, and Jan. 6 cases.

TRUMP'S AG NOMINEE RACKS UP MASSIVE SUPPORT AHEAD OF CONFIRMATION HEARING: 'REAL RESULTS'

Blanche affirmed and said he has recused himself from future litigation or Justice Department business involving any of those suits. But Schiff countered that Blanche reportedly told a crowd at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) that there was no conflict of interest in the Justice Department firing prosecutors linked to Jan. 6 or other cases.

Blanche soon fired back when Schiff criticized him for moving to vacate Jan. 6-related convictions for 12 members of far-right groups.

"I was the acting attorney general – so yes, my department moved to dismiss," he said, adding that there was no reason for him to recuse himself when Schiff pressed him further.

BIDEN SPECIAL COUNSEL’S 'RUNAWAY TRAIN’ SCOOPED UP SENSITIVE LAWMAKER INFO: 'ABUSE OF POWER'

"From the Proud Boys matter?" Blanche responded with a puzzled look.

"You’re a lawyer, you know the rules," Blanche told the Massachusetts-born graduate of Harvard Law.

OBAMA JUDGE HANDS PROGRESSIVES A WIN OVER ANTI-TRUMP '86 47' MESSAGE AMID RISING THREATS

"There are rules that say when I have to recuse and that’s not one of them," Blanche said.

"There are rules," Schiff agreed. "And when you're told to recuse yourself from investigations that you handle for the president…" – "I always do," Blanche cut in – "you're supposed to recuse yourself," Schiff finished.

Schiff noted that the second volume of special counsel Jack Smith's report on Trump has not been released and said the Justice Department has opposed making it available.

Blanche denied having anything to do with the decision and pointed out it is not the Justice Department, but a federal judge in Miami, that has prohibited its release.

"If you went into court asking them to release it, it would be released by now," Schiff argued.

Blanche shot back: "What you’re saying happens not to be true – I did not do that."

"You can’t accuse me of violating my ethical rules and then lie about what I did," he continued,

Schiff asked Blanche at length what allegedly evolved in his professional life that led him to be under such criticisms.

"What I don’t understand, Todd Blanche, is what happened to the Todd Blanche who was a prosecutor in the Southern District of New York? What happened to the prosecutor people had respect for," he said.

"What happened to the prosecutor who said that there wouldn't be a whiff of political partisanship and then prosecutes the president's enemies over seashells cases, over making a video stating the plain law in the Constitution?" Schiff said – appearing to reference investigations into former FBI Director Jim Comey’s "8647" post that critics said amounted to a threat on Trump’s life.

"I think Robert Caro had it right when he said that power doesn't corrupt as much as it reveals. I suspect it has just revealed who you are and who you are as someone willing to sacrifice everything you once believed in for that title, for that position of attorney general," Schiff claimed.

"I am still here. I am the same exact person I was when I was a federal prosecutor in the SDNY," Blanche replied.

The exchange led to further criticism of Schiff, including from the Trump-appointed prosecutor in his home region:

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"Facts are not Senator Schiff’s strong suit," claimed First Assistant U.S. Attorney for Central California Bill Essayli.

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Former Alabama federal prosecutor Jay Town called the exchange "excellent."

"What [Blanche] is essentially saying is that the Justice Department has gone back to the fundamentals of increasing prosecutions and lowering crime nationwide, unlike the Garland DOJ targeting parents, Catholics, etc."

Fox News Digital reached out to Schiff for comment.

A raunchy joke by ESPYs host about DJ Khaled somehow flew right by the Disney censors

Thu, 16 Jul 2026 13:07:25 -0400

What a Mickey Mouse operation.

During Wednesday night's ESPYs show on ABC, Saturday Night Live star Marcello Hernandez slipped a dirty joke about DJ Khaled's sex life right by Disney's standards and practices team with ease.

"Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome three guys who simply refuse to go down: Jake Paul, Mike Tyson and DJ Khaled," Hernandez said while laughing at his own joke.

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What's so funny? If you go back to 2018, Khaled made Internet headlines as sleuths started digging into what is believed to be a 2014 appearance on The Breakfast Club where the DJ had some rather interesting things to say about his personal life.

"If you holding it down for your woman, I feel like the woman should praise and the man should praise the Queen," Khaled explained. "But, you know, my way of praising is called, 'How was dinner? You like the house you living in? You like all them clothes you getting? I'm taking care of your family, I'm taking care of my family.'"

When pressed on whether he "goes down" on his then-girlfriend, Nicole Tuck, Khaled immediately said that's not his thing. "Nah, never. Nah, I can't do that. Hell nah...I can't do that. I don't do that," Khaled fired back, while noting he'd have a problem if a woman created a similar rule.

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When he was pressed over his rules for thee, not for me, stance, the DJ didn't budge. "It's different rules for men. You gotta understand, we the King," he added. Tuck and Khaled now have two sons.

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While it wasn't a moment like 1998 when Norm MacDonald joked about having "inappropriate relations" with ESPN interns backstage at the ESPYs, Hernandez getting an oral sex joke past Disney in 2026 is still impressive considering the network's history of cutting to dead air over sex jokes.

During a 2017 show, Dan Le Batard was censored while speculating that Rob Gronkowski's career could end via a sex act. "It’s OK for Gronk to reference the number between 68 and 70, but not me? The hell is this, Disney? Somebody explain this to me. Because that’s the way he’s going to die!" Le Batard said at the time.

Tim Scott says he'd 'love to see' Fox News host replace Lindsey Graham

Thu, 16 Jul 2026 13:01:17 -0400

The Republican in charge of funding and backing candidates for the Senate has two people in mind to replace late Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C.

Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C., has been fielding calls from former and current members of Congress all interested in jumping into the Aug. 11 special election to replace the late lawmaker, but there’s only one he’s been calling consistently, former Rep. Trey Gowdy, R-S.C.

Scott said during an event remembering his colleague Graham on Wednesday, "You probably will be surprised to hear this, but I have an affinity for Trey Gowdy.

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"Trey would be an amazing senator for South Carolina. I'm not sure that, as he says, he could afford the alimony or the pay cut," Scott said. "But I would love to see him. He's happily married, by the way."

Gowdy served in the House for eight years, opting to retire from the lower chamber in 2019 after making a name for himself leading the House Select Committee on Benghazi, where he peppered former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on the 2012 terrorist attacks in Libya, where four Americans died. He’s since become a host on Fox News.

Scott believed Gowdy could easily slot into the role because of his years of experience in Congress and noted that he shared similar areas of expertise as Graham, given his past as a prosecutor and his foreign policy acumen.

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And he could easily step in on the Senate Judiciary Committee, where Graham was expected to become chair next year, to debate and help select a new Supreme Court Justice should a retirement come down the pike in the near future.

"I think he would make a great representative," Scott said. "I think that's undeniably true.

"I can't think of a better person that, I think, represents the heart of South Carolina than Trey Gowdy," Scott said. "However, he's been pretty clear that he is not looking for the job, asking for the job. I'm trying to get him interested in it, but we'll see if that works out at all."

TRUMP REVEALS WHO HE'S EYEING TO REPLACE LINDSEY GRAHAM

But he acknowledged that there are others who may be catching the eye of President Donald Trump, who will likely have a major role in tapping Graham’s successor.

"The president's enthusiasm around Russell Fry probably is no surprise to anybody," Scott said. "But I have not seen or heard of an endorsement yet coming out of the White House."

Trump has suggested that Rep. Russell Fry, R-S.C., who he handpicked to run for the House four years ago, would be a person to watch in the special election. And Fry has been communicating with the White House about jumping into the race.

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But there’s also another person that, in Scott’s opinion, would be a near-perfect fit to replace Graham — his sister, Sen. Darline Graham, R-S.C., who was appointed to fill out the remainder of her brother’s term.

"I think the truth of the matter is that Darline has so far been off to a remarkable start," he said. "Why not her, would be my question."

Tesla helped save a driver; is your car ready?

Thu, 16 Jul 2026 13:00:53 -0400

A medical emergency behind the wheel is terrifying because every second suddenly feels bigger. You are trying to stay calm, stay safe and get help before things spiral.

That is why John Brandt's story is getting so much attention. His Tesla Model Y helped keep him moving during a heart attack, while his son used the Tesla app to reroute the car to a nearby emergency room.

The bigger takeaway isn’t that your car can replace 911. It cannot. The lesson is that connected-car settings, trusted app access and emergency contacts should be ready before you ever need them.

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How a Tesla Model Y helped during a medical emergency

Brandt said he was driving from Atlanta to Birmingham on I-20 around 4 a.m. when severe chest pain made it unsafe for him to keep driving on his own.

His Model Y had Full Self-Driving Supervised enabled, which helped keep the car on course while he called his son, Jack.

Jack then acted from his own phone. Because he was an authorized driver on his father's Tesla account, he could send a new destination to the vehicle through the Tesla app. He found Tanner Medical Center in Carrollton, Georgia and rerouted the car there.

He also called ahead, so emergency room staff knew a possible heart attack patient was coming. Brandt later said doctors found three blocked arteries and told him the fast reroute likely saved his life.

Brandt credited his family, the hospital team and Tesla's technology for helping him survive. His experience also shows why trusted access should be set up before a crisis starts.

Why the Tesla FSD medical emergency feels so personal

This story hits home because it sounds like something that could happen to any of us. You may be driving to help a parent. You may be on a highway before sunrise. You may think you feel heartburn or stress until the pain gets worse.

Most of us think about car safety in terms of brakes, airbags and tires. However, this story shows that app access, navigation settings and trusted contacts can also play a role in a crisis. That does not mean your car becomes a paramedic. It means your connected vehicle can give your family more ways to help if something goes wrong.

Brandt's experience raises a question every driver should consider: If you suddenly could not manage the trip alone, would someone you trust know how to step in and help?

How Tesla owners can prepare for a medical emergency

If you own a Tesla, start with trusted driver access. Add someone you trust completely, such as a spouse, adult child or close family member. Tesla lets owners add drivers through the Tesla app. Once added, that person may be able to access key vehicle features from a phone.

Choose carefully. A trusted driver may be able to see your vehicle location and use important app controls. That access can help in an emergency, but it also deserves serious thought.

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Next, show that person how to send a destination to your Tesla. Do not make this something they figure out during a crisis. Sit in the parked car and test it together.

Have them send a familiar destination to the vehicle. Make sure you both understand what appears on the screen. Then talk through what they should do if you ever call and say something is wrong.

Also save useful locations in your navigation system. Add home, work and hospitals you would likely use. If you often drive between two cities, look at hospitals along that route before you need them.

Why Full Self-Driving Supervised isn’t an emergency plan

Tesla calls the system Full Self-Driving Supervised for a reason. The driver still needs to pay attention and stay ready to take over at any time. Brandt's experience shows how the technology and app connectivity helped during one frightening emergency. But a Tesla cannot replace 911, an ambulance or a trained medical team.

If you feel chest pain, shortness of breath, nausea, lightheadedness or pain in your arm, back or jaw, treat it as an emergency. Pull over safely if you can. Call 911 immediately. Emergency responders can start care on the way to the hospital and alert the ER before you arrive.

Your car may help your family find you or send a destination. Still, it should never delay a medical call.

How to prepare any connected car for an emergency

You do not need a Tesla to learn from this story. Many newer vehicles have connected apps, navigation tools, roadside assistance buttons or emergency calling features. First, remember this: Your car should never replace 911. If you are having a medical emergency, pull over safely if you can and call for help immediately. These steps are about giving your family extra ways to help, not replacing emergency responders.

1) Check your vehicle app access

Open your automaker's app and review what it can do. Look for vehicle location, shared driver access, remote lock controls, roadside assistance and navigation features. Then make sure your trusted contact can use the app if your car allows it. If the app requires a login, two-factor code or owner approval, handle that now. Also, check app access after you get a new phone. Permissions can change when you upgrade. Also, because vehicle apps can show location and control certain car features, use a strong unique password, store it in a password manager and turn on two-factor authentication (2FA) if available. Only give app access to someone you fully trust.

2) Turn on location and alert permissions

Make sure your vehicle app can use location services when needed. Also allow important notifications from the app so you do not miss alerts about your car. Ask your trusted contact to check the same settings on their phone. If they cannot see your vehicle, receive alerts or open the app quickly, they may not be able to help during a crisis.

3) Test sending a destination to your car

Some vehicles let you send a destination from your phone to the dashboard. Others do not. Find out now. Sit in your parked car and send a destination from your phone. Then ask your trusted contact to try it if they have authorized access. This quick test can prevent confusion later. It also shows you what your car will display when a new destination arrives.

4) Learn what your SOS button really does

Many vehicles have an SOS button, emergency assistance button or roadside help button. Do not assume they all work the same way. Check your owner's manual or automaker app. Find out whether the button calls 911, a private call center or roadside assistance. Also, learn whether the system shares your vehicle location. That detail can be critical if you cannot explain where you are.

5) Set up phone emergency features

Your phone may help even more than your car. Add emergency contacts, fill out your Medical ID or emergency information and make sure your family can reach you even when Do Not Disturb is on. Apple says iPhone emergency contacts can receive a text and your location after an emergency call, while Samsung lets Galaxy owners add emergency contacts, medical info and SOS sharing from Safety and emergency settings.

On iPhone

Open the Health app
Tap your profile picture in the top-right corner
Tap Medical ID
Scroll down and under each section in red, tap Edit or Add
Add important details, such as medical conditions, allergies, medications and blood type
Scroll to Emergency Contacts and tap Add Emergency Contact
Choose a trusted contact and select their relationship to you
Turn on Show When Locked and Share During Emergency Call if those options appear
Tap < in the upper left to save

To make sure key people can reach you, go to Settings → Focus → Do Not Disturb → People and allow calls or notifications from your trusted contacts. You can also open a contact, tap Edit, choose Ringtone or Text Tone and turn on Emergency Bypass. Emergency Bypass can allow that person's calls or texts to come through even when Focus settings would normally silence them.

On Samsung Galaxy

Settings may vary depending on your Android's manufacturer

Open Settings
Tap Safety and emergency
Tap Medical info
Add important details, such as medical conditions, allergies, medications and blood type
Tap Save
Go back to Safety and emergency
Tap Emergency contacts
Tap Add emergency contact or Add member
Choose your trusted contacts and tap Done
Turn on Show on Lock screen if available
Go back to Safety and emergency and tap Emergency SOS to review how your phone calls for help and whether it sends SOS messages to emergency contacts

On Galaxy phones, also check Settings → Safety and emergency → Emergency Location Service and turn it on if available. This can help share your location with emergency responders in supported regions.

To let important calls through Do Not Disturb, go to Settings → Notifications → Do not disturb → Calls and messages or Allowed during Do not disturb, then allow favorite contacts or selected contacts. Favorite contacts can be allowed through while Do Not Disturb is on.

6) Keep a written backup in the car

Technology can fail. Phones lose battery. Apps can lock you out. Keep a small emergency card in your wallet or glove box. Include emergency contacts, allergies, medications and your preferred hospital. If you have a heart condition or another medical concern, ask your doctor what details should be listed.

7) Review access every few months

Trusted access should not be set once and forgotten. Remove anyone who no longer needs access to your vehicle app. Add someone new if your family situation changes. Also, update emergency contacts after a move, phone change or major health update.

Kurt's key takeaways

John Brandt's story is scary because it could happen to anyone. His Tesla helped, but the real lesson is preparation. If your car has an app, know what it can do before an emergency. Add a trusted family member, test the navigation tools and make sure your phone's emergency features are filled out. A car should never replace calling 911. However, the right setup can give your family one more way to help when every second counts.

If your car were involved in an emergency, would your family know what to do? Let us know by writing to us at CyberGuy.com.

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Jim Jordan says House weighing criminal referral of Jack Smith for allegedly lying to Congress

Thu, 16 Jul 2026 12:56:42 -0400

Former special counsel Jack Smith is being considered for a criminal referral to the Justice Department, House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, said Wednesday, as Republicans examine whether Smith misled lawmakers during testimony about his investigation into President Donald Trump.

"We're already looking at that," Jordan told "Hannity" when asked about the potential criminal referral.

"Do we need to refer him to the Justice Department, to Attorney General Blanche, for them to go ahead and move forward with prosecution? We're looking at that as we speak."

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Jordan pointed to Smith's congressional testimony regarding his office's acquisition of telephone toll records, in which Smith said investigators did not obtain the contents of communications.

"Toll records were sought for historical telephone routing information, collected after calls had taken place, identifying the incoming and outgoing call numbers, the time of the calls and their duration," Smith testified at the time. "Toll records do not include the content of calls."

Jordan argued that newly disclosed information shows Smith's team obtained and reviewed congressional text messages, which he said contradicted Smith's testimony that investigators sought only telephone toll records — not texts or the broader contents of communications.

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In December, Smith told the committee, "No, I don't recall," when asked whether he had sought a search warrant for text messages from members of Congress, and responded, "Correct," when asked whether investigators had only sought toll records.

Smith was thrust back into the spotlight Wednesday during acting Attorney General Todd Blanche’s confirmation hearing when Sen. John Kennedy, R-La., pressed the Justice Department over newly revealed allegations regarding the Biden-era special counsel's review of lawmakers' text messages.

Kennedy referred to Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, who announced Tuesday that records provided to the committee showed Smith's team obtained and reviewed text messages involving 44 current and former lawmakers as part of the Trump election probe. Kennedy was not among those on the list released by Grassley's office.

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Blanche confirmed that the DOJ is investigating.

"They got my phone logs," Jordan said.

"There were 44 members of the United States Congress — members, senators, members of the House. Even some Democrats, a handful of Democrats, were caught up in this. Again, you can't do that... it wasn't just the toll. I never forget the toll records issue," he continued.

Jordan accused Smith's team of going to "another branch of government" and obtaining the information without a warrant.

"They got it, and they didn't screen it, and then Jack Smith, under oath, says, 'No, no. We didn't get any contents.' Well, shazam, it looks like they did, and it looks like he wasn't square with us when he testified in front of our committee," he said.

Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., reacted similarly on Wednesday, insisting on "Hannity" that Smith should be "prosecuted."

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"What did he do with the text messages? We don't know that yet. What we do know is he absolutely read them. He absolutely shared them with members of his team and all of that illegally," Hawley alleged.

"The Justice Department requires that there be screening for any members of Congress [regarding] their text messages. Jack Smith said under oath that he didn't seek the text messages of members of Congress, but in fact, we know that he did. So he lied, he violated the law, he violated the Constitution. This guy ought to be prosecuted."

Representatives for Smith did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment.

Fox News' Ashley J. DiMella contributed to this report.