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Nolan McLean takes the mound as Mets look to steal Subway Series win from the Yankees

Fri, 11 Sep 2026 14:35:57 -0400

Yesterday, I had just one game that I took on in Major League Baseball. We had the Rangers and Mariners game with Jacob deGrom and Logan Gilbert pitching for their squads. I ended up taking the over, and it cashed, but the Rangers lost the game. The good news is that the Rangers were at plus money, so there was no loss of funds, but it was a 1-1 take on the game. Today we shift across the country for a Subway Series between the Mets and the Yankees.

The New York Mets are wrapping up what has been a disaster of a season. They are very likely to finish the year under .500 and go into the offseason searching for answers after another lost season. To their credit, it isn't like the team is trying nothing and hoping for different results. They go out after big-name players, and for whatever reason, it doesn't work. In the last two years alone, they've signed Juan Soto, Bo Bichette, and Freddy Peralta. Any franchise would be happy to get those additions to its roster.

Unfortunately, the team just hasn't been able to get much to click for them. They've traded away Peralta, and they traded another addition they had in Luis Robert Jr. One of the few bright spots this season is taking the ball today, as Nolan McLean toes the rubber. For the year, McLean is a strong 11-8 with a 3.06 ERA and a 1.14 WHIP. He has also racked up 179 strikeouts, good for 14th in baseball. He looks like a front-of-the-line starter and is just 25 years old. He has only faced two Yankees hitters in his career, and they are a combined 0-for-6 against him.

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The New York Yankees are not having a disaster season. They are actually having a really good campaign and continuing to fight for the best record in the American League. At the moment, they are three games behind the Tampa Bay Rays, but with 16 games remaining, there is still a little time to catch them. They also recently got back their leader, Aaron Judge, who will give them another push before the playoffs begin. He has only played two games, but looked solid in his last one, going 2-for-4.

Tonight, the Yankees turn to another player who was injured but has helped out since returning. Starter Carlos Rodon is pitching with a 5-3 record and a 3.09 ERA and a 1.17 WHIP. Rodon could be a major difference-maker in the postseason. His presence could give the team four solid pitchers in the rotation to take on any team. They are not having him go overly deep into games, and since he came back in August, he has allowed five earned runs over 17.2 innings. A typical outing from him this season is allowing two or fewer runs over five or fewer innings.

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Rodon has faced the Mets once before and allowed two earned runs over 3.2 innings. The Yankees lost that game. I think this is a good opportunity for the Mets to steal another one from the Yankees, but I'm only backing them through five innings. I don't believe in the Mets' bullpen, but I think they have an advantage with McLean on the mound. Give me the Mets through five.

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Two massive Alaskan brown bears fight over prime fishing spot at Lake Clark National Park

Fri, 11 Sep 2026 14:19:32 -0400

Some more incredible wildlife footage has hit the web.

As our loyal readers know, nature and wildlife content is among the best content on the internet, and it's wildly unpredictable.

Sometimes, it's beautiful and uplifting. Other times, it can be a house of absolute horrors.

GRIZZLY BEAR SENDS A BOLD YELLOWSTONE WOLF PACKING AFTER IT EYES THE BEAR'S BISON CARCASS MEAL

Today definitely leans towards the latter.

Massive bears square up in Alaska

ABC News shared a video on Instagram this week of two massive bears in a tense standoff in Alaska.

BEAR TRIES TO STEAL ONE TOO MANY FISH OFF OF FISHERMAN'S LINE, GETS CHARGED AT WITH POLE IN HAND

"A tour guide in Alaska was startled when two bears began fighting over a prime fishing spot at Lake Clark National Park," the caption states.

Whiskey Riff reported the bears captured in the video are Alaskan brown bears, which can be significantly bigger than a standard grizzly.

This video perfectly sums up the impressive awe of nature and the fact it can also be insanely dangerous. Imagine being a human and getting in between those two beasts.

I don't care how tough or strong anyone thinks they are. I can guarantee you that there's no human on the planet who is going toe-to-toe with an Alaskan brown bear and coming out the winner.

It's simply not happening, especially once you realize an adult male can easily weigh more than 1,200 pounds.

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Do you have crazy stories about encountering wild animals? Let me know at David.Hookstead@outkick.com.

Kansas renews Border War rivalry with Missouri by calling Tigers 'evil,' invoking slavery imagery

Fri, 11 Sep 2026 14:19:24 -0400

You all know I'm a sucker for college football rivalries.

I even wrote about some of my favorite rivalries in the sport that are no longer annual contests, and one of the games that ended up on that list was Kansas vs. Missouri, so you can imagine my excitement when it was announced that these two foes would be going at it once more.

The Border War, as it was known until 2004, dates back to 1891 and features the kind of hatred and bad blood that makes college football rivalries hit differently than any other sport.

NOTRE DAME-USC RIVALRY GAME DISCUSSIONS BACK ON AFTER COLLEGE FOOTBALL SERIES ENDED IN 2026

That hatred was on full display thanks to a new hype video the Jayhawks dropped on social media earlier this week in anticipation for Friday's showdown, and, if we are being honest, they might have taken things just a bit too far.

Listen, I'm all for animus in college football rivalries but calling Mizzou evil because Missouri was a slave state 160 years ago feels a bit much, don't you think?

I love how they had to officially change the name from Border War to Border Showdown so as not to invoke images of armed conflict, but here comes the Kansas social media team saying, "Hey, remember the Civil War? Well, our opponent was on the side that wanted to keep using slaves."

That's painting with a bit of a broad brush, if you ask me.

Also, no one at the University of Missouri, be they students, faculty, or otherwise, were even alive at the time of the Civil War, so I'm not sure it's very polite or even correct to call them all "evil."

Most of the Mizzou players featured in Kansas's hype video are black, too, and I can assure you they didn't commit to the Tigers because they're pro slavery.

And the final cherry on top of this embarrassment sundae is that Metro Boomin, the producer for the song "Superhero (Heroes & Villains)" used in the video, is from, you guessed it, Missouri. (St. Louis.)

Well done all around, Jayhawks.

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Take it from a guy who throws his remote every time the opposing team converts a first down on his college team: no, it is not that deep.

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Sophie Cunningham addresses perception that she is the 'sex symbol' of the WNBA

Fri, 11 Sep 2026 14:15:31 -0400

The usual suspects say that Sophie Cunningham, a role player, is more popular than some of the WNBA’s best players because of "white privilege." But that is not true.

Since Caitlin Clark’s rookie season, several WNBA players have used the increased spotlight to exhibit bratty behavior, entitlement, and racial hysteria. By contrast, Cunningham has embraced the moment. She’s entertaining, humorous, resilient, and gorgeous.

Colin Cowherd interviewed Cunningham this week on his Volume podcast network, of which she is a part, and noticed a difference between her and the many other athletes he has interviewed.

MINA KIMES THINKS PERCEPTION OF DIANNA RUSSINI-MIKE VRABEL SCANDAL IS UNFAIR TO WOMEN

"Just did a pod w @sophaller Never had a pod with an athlete that was this honest and authentic. Totally refreshing. I’ll release it tonight," Cowherd posted on X.

Cunningham is real. She’s likable.

She also doesn’t cave to the pressure from the vultures of American culture who have determined that attractive white women should be ashamed of their looks. She’s like Sydney Sweeney in that way.

"You are kind of viewed as the leagues…ummm," Cowherd hesitated.

"Just say it," Cunningham interrupted.

"Sex symbol," he responded.

"That is way better, I thought you were gonna go somewhere completely different," she joked.

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Contrast Cunningham’s response with Angel Reese’s. Last month, Reese called herself "beautiful" multiple times and bragged that she looks good in a bikini. She then accused internet users of "sexualizing" her in the comments beneath those photos.

Many WNBA players want to be seen as sex symbols but then complain about the perception of such. Cunningham, meanwhile, has no issue with the narrative.

Nor should she.

"For me, the reason why I really lean into that is, first of all, I've always been super girly. Since a little girl, I've always loved to dress up. I love dresses. I love high heels. I love all of that," Cunningham explained.

"For some reason, our society, if you play basketball, you can't dress that way, or you can't be girly. No one's ever said it, but it's like, they kind of feel that you can't be both. Screw all that. Yes, you can. You can be girly, and you can go out and kick someone's ass."

She’s right.

WNBA SILENCE ON DIJONAI CARRINGTON'S 'WHITE PRIVILEGE' POST EXPOSES SANDY BRONDELLO DOUBLE STANDARD

The DiJonai Carringtons and Jemele Hill types want to reduce Cunningham’s popularity down to her skin color. Of course they do. It’s their only card.

In reality, Cunningham is the type of woman Americans would embrace regardless of her skin color. She’s a smoking-hot badass who protects her teammates and trolls the media elite.

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The WNBA would be much better off if its other players learned from Cunningham, instead of trying to clothesline her.

Mamdani draws fury from 9/11 mourners over Ground Zero appearance: ‘Disrespectful’

Fri, 11 Sep 2026 14:07:24 -0400

Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s presence at Friday’s 9/11 remembrance at Ground Zero drew criticism from some in the city, including one former police officer who said the mayor "probably should have skipped it" and another mourner who called his appearance "disrespectful" and "very offensive."

Mamdani has faced criticism over his associations with controversial political and online figures, as well as his decision to appoint Ramzi Kassem as his administration’s chief counsel. Kassem previously represented a Guantánamo detainee linked to an al Qaeda terrorist plot.

Former New York Republican Gov. George Pataki, 9/11-era FDNY Commissioner Thomas von Essen and others called on Mamdani to skip the ceremony.

"He showed up anyway. It does bother us," Walter Matuza, whose father Walter was killed that day, told Fox News Digital.

MAMDANI HEADS TO 9/11 MEMORIAL DESPITE 110,000-SIGNATURE PUSH FROM VICTIMS’ FAMILIES TO STAY AWAY

Matuza said he was part of the group of victims’ families that initiated the petition to keep Mamdani away.

He cited Mamdani’s association with streamer Hasan Piker, who once said America "deserved 9/11," as well as Mamdani’s appointment of Kassem.

MAMDANI UNDER FIRE AFTER SYMBOLIC 9/11 PEN GOES TO FORMER AL QAEDA DEFENSE LAWYER

Matuza, of Staten Island, said his father was one of dozens at Carr Futures brokerage who died after American Airlines Flight 11 struck the north tower just above their 92nd floor offices.

Mike, a former New Jersey police officer, told Fox News Digital he recalled watching the terror unfold on television from across the Hudson – and later came to Manhattan to help relieve exhausted NYPD officers stuck at their posts.

"Based on the rhetoric that he's used in the past. Yeah, he probably should have skipped it," Mike said of Mamdani.

He added that Mamdani’s appointment of Kassem also troubled him, saying the mayor could’ve handled the situation in a "whole different way."

FAMILIES OF 9/11 VICTIMS' MESSAGE TO MAMDANI: 'PLEASE DO NOT COME' TO MEMORIAL CEREMONY

"But, he did it and unfortunately people aren't going to forget it."

Another mourner called Mamdani a "communist" when asked about his appearance on Friday, adding that the memorial was "not supposed to be a political event."

Steven, who traveled all the way to New York from Hobe Sound, Florida, to attend the remembrance, lambasted Mamdani’s presence as "disrespectful" and "offensive."

ZOHRAN MAMDANI URGED TO SKIP NEW YORK CITY'S 9/11 MEMORIAL: 'VILE ANTISEMITE'

"I've been following that over the past couple weeks and I saw that I think they had upwards of 700,000 New Yorkers requesting him not to be here. I mean, as the mayor, I would assume he has the right to be here…. But who he represents and the people he's affiliated with… I feel that he should stay away. I don't feel that his presence here is wanted, and I think he should honor that as a human being."

The petition had garnered more than 110,000 signatures at the time, according to the petition’s tally.

Steven called Kassem’s appointment "hideous" and added that the youngest generation who does not remember or did not live through 9/11 are suffering from "incorrect information" and do not understand the reality of the terror attack.

He said he will educate his children on 9/11 so that they do not go down the same ideological road.

Attendee John told Fox News Digital that Mamdani does have a right to attend.

John said he lost friends including at now-Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick’s Cantor-Fitzgerald firm – which lost more than 650 people; the most of any company in the Twin Towers that day – and that as long as Mamdani is respectful to the fallen Americans being remembered, he is "fine" with the Democrat attending.

Fox News Digital reached out to Mamdani for comment.

In a prior statement, the mayor said he is proud of New York and "love[s] this city [and] country."

"[W]hat I want this week to be a focus on is on the families whose loved ones were stolen from them 25 years ago in the horrific act of terror of September 11, and a focus also on the first responders who gave everything they could to this city and to the people who came together to try and help their fellow New Yorkers."

During the ceremony, footage captured Mamdani approaching and greeting his 9/11-era predecessor, Republican Rudolph Giuliani.

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The two could be seen appearing to exchange brief pleasantries before Giuliani turned and sat down and an aide began speaking to the incumbent mayor.

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All living former presidents reportedly attended the ceremony, as President Donald Trump instead visited the Pentagon’s remembrance before departing for County Clare, Ireland from nearby Andrews Air Force Base.

New video shows what led up to Patriots fan fighting multiple Seahawks fans at NFL opener

Fri, 11 Sep 2026 13:55:44 -0400

Can't we all just get along?

Fists were flying Wednesday night at Lumen Field in Seattle when a massive fight broke out between one Patriots fan and multiple Seahawks fans who threw punches at the outnumbered visitor. After the dust cleared, the Patriots fan was in handcuffs and eyewitnesses were alleging that this was all over the Pats fan trying to sit in the wrong seat.

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"I was right there, it wasnt a race thing. The Pats fan and his nasty ass girl were in someone else's seats," a Seattle fan, who goes by Hawkaholic12, wrote on X. "When the rightful owner of those seats asked him to get out of THEIR seats the Pats fan kept talking crap and touching the guys chin. The Pats fan also SHOVED a Sr citizen."

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Another fan on X, JoeGurt, seemed to paint the same scenario that led to the fight. "It started over seats. A Patriots fan sat in empty ones that weren’t his in section 314," Gurt wrote. "Stadium ushers told him to move and he refused. When security arrived, he collided with (or knocked over) a stadium staffer. One Seahawks fan then tried to shove him out of the section, and the whole thing exploded into a multi-person brawl. Police ended up walking him out in cuffs."

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Now, in typical sporting event fight fashion, there's always a loud girlfriend or wife in the middle of the action claiming that her man was never in the wrong. In this case, the wife or girlfriend seems to claim that a Seahawks fan used the "N" word. She's then seen right in the middle of the action as her man attempts to fight an entire section of Seattle fans.

FAN GIVEN SUSPENDED PRISON SENTENCE FOR RACIALLY ABUSING MARCUS RASHFORD

What's also clear is that Seahawks fans don't throw punches very often. Just watch for yourself. Some of these guys have never thrown a punch in their lives.

Texas man remembered by Fox News hosts after repeat offender arrested in savage park bench slaying

Fri, 11 Sep 2026 13:29:29 -0400

A 62-year-old Texas engineer with ties to multiple Fox News hosts was stabbed to death from behind in what authorities have described as a random attack on a park bench in Round Rock, Texas, and deputies have arrested a repeat offender who spent months in the local jail earlier this year.

Andrew James Wimsatt, of Austin, was killed on Sept. 7 — minutes after he sat down in the park after visiting his mother at a nursing home nearby, according to authorities.

Williamson County deputies have arrested a 26-year-old local man named Benedict Chinedu Ogbodiegwu on murder and theft charges.

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The murder was recorded on surveillance video, according to the Williamson County Sheriff's Office.

A man identified as Wimsatt sat down on a park bench at around 11 a.m., authorities said. A few minutes later, another man, alleged to be Ogbodiegwu, grabbed him from behind and repeatedly drove a knife into his neck.

The victim struggled but was unable to push his attacker away as the stabbing continued, according to a probable cause affidavit obtained by Fox 7 Austin. The suspect then wiped the blood off on his shirt and walked out of view.

REPEAT OFFENDER BUSTED AGAIN LESS THAN 24 HOURS AFTER RELEASE IN BRAZEN JEWELRY STORE THEFT CASE: POLICE

Wimsatt, who had a Ph.D. in civil engineering, is credited on IMDB as an executive producer of the Penn Jillette horror/comedy "Director's Cut." He worked for the Texas A&M Transportation Institute and had an Instagram account filled with photos of wildlife, vintage storefronts and city landscapes.

He also had ties to several Fox News personalities.

"He might be the only person on social media to never leave a bad word on a post about anyone," Greg Gutfeld wrote in an X post after news of the arrest. "He was relentless supportive and if he didn't like something, he usually kept it to himself, or found a way to engage positively."

Kat Timpf called him a "fan who became a friend" — a friend not only to her, but also to her family. They had lunch in Fort Worth in June, and she said she was expecting to see him at a show in Nevada later this month.

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"He was so kind and generous it almost seems impossible," she told Fox News Digital Friday. "He always supported me... whether that was sending me clips I wanted to post or offering truly helpful words of encouragement during the times throughout my career that the internet was piling on me."

They spoke regularly — one a week or more for years — and he became known for sending TV clips to members of the "Gutfeld!" cast.

"Whenever the rest of the internet was making me feel hopeless about the state of the world, I could always count on a message from Andrew to remind me of the good that's out there, too," Timpf said.

Wimsatt attended Tyrus' standup shows as well.

"[He] took care of his mother… always positive… he was kind man, 62 years old fragile looking but had a monster laugh," Tyrus said in a statement. "I was honored to know him I was honored he cared so much and honored that my jokes and thoughts brought him joy."

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On Labor Day, a witness called 911 after finding Wimsatt on the ground in the park, and paramedics pronounced him dead at the scene, according to authorities.

Investigators were able to retrace the suspect's steps and allegedly recovered prints and other evidence, including bloody clothes and the suspected murder weapon, according to the affidavit. When confronted with video evidence, Ogbodiegwu allegedly claimed he had a twin brother but could not provide his name.

Ogbodiegwu has a criminal record in Williamson County going back to at least 2017, when he was charged with stealing. He had two prior arrests this year, on charges involving theft and carrying fake identification.

Prior to his arrest in connection with Wimsatt's murder, he was most recently released from the county jail on June 9. He had also been incarcerated between January and April.

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He's being held on $1 million bond. His next court date is on Oct. 8 at 1:30 p.m., for a pre-indictment docket call.

49ers star Christian McCaffrey recalls hilarious 'cracker' compliment with Australian barber

Fri, 11 Sep 2026 13:24:34 -0400

For Christian McCaffrey, the San Francisco 49ers’ trip to Australia was quite the learning experience, as he found that words and sayings are a lot different Down Under.

McCaffrey, 30, revealed a hilarious interaction he had with a barber while getting a haircut.

"I was getting a haircut a few days ago and one of the barbers looks at me and says, ‘Looks cracker,'" McCaffrey said during his postgame press conference.

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"I said, ‘Sorry, what did you say?’"

George Kittle and Deebo Samuel, who flanked McCaffrey at the press conference, laughed at the star running backs retelling of the story. McCaffrey, accustomed to "cracker" being used as a derogatory term for White people, had no idea the barber was paying him a compliment.

"I didn’t know what it meant, I guess that means it looks good. But that was funny," McCaffrey said.

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In Australia, the meaning of "cracker" is much different than in the United States, as it’s slang used to describe something as very good.

"He said (cracker) again, I said, ‘Dude, I hear that every Sunday.’ That was good, we had a good moment. I enjoy all the slang," McCaffrey said with a smile.

The 49ers had plenty of reasons to joke after their 27-7 trouncing of the Los Angeles Rams on Thursday night. McCaffrey had 10 carries for 68 yards while also catching five passes for 20 yards.

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Rookie running back Kaelon Black split carries with McCaffrey, presumably in an effort to keep the four-time Pro Bowler healthy and had 14 carries for 65 yards.

McCaffrey and the 49ers will return to the United States after their win and lesson in Australian slang to play the Miami Dolphins in Week 2.

Fox News AI Newsletter: Researcher delivers extinction warning

Fri, 11 Sep 2026 13:22:53 -0400

Welcome to Fox News’ Artificial Intelligence newsletter with the latest AI technology advancements.

IN TODAY’S NEWSLETTER:

- Researcher who departed AI role over fears of racing into extinction says people are 'begging' for regulation

- 9/11 hero’s legacy lives on 25 years later as son unveils new tech lifeline for those facing grief

- Nobody wants AI-generated sports commentators, but a pro golf tournament is introducing one anyway

'GAMBLE': The Anthropic researcher who is leaving the company over fears the technology is gambling with human life told Fox News there is hope that we can avoid the chance it could destroy humankind within the next decade.

BEYOND THE PAIN: A father's legacy is living on through a new artificial intelligence (AI) tool that helps others navigate grief and trauma — two-and-a-half decades after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

SMART FLEX: Apple on Wednesday unveiled a highly anticipated foldable version of the iPhone along with other consumer tech devices embedded with artificial intelligence in the first major product event under the leadership of new CEO John Ternus.

NEXT-GEN SIDEKICK: Meta on Tuesday rolled out a long-planned personal artificial intelligence agent aimed at helping users complete daily tasks.

THREAT ALERT: Anthropic said Thursday it disrupted several attempts this year by researchers to use its AI models for biological research that could potentially aid the development of biological weapons, prompting the company to ban accounts and strengthen its safeguards.

RACE TO NOWHERE: Golf fans who tune into this week's New Mexico Open broadcast will be introduced to a new commentator by the name of Duff Foreman. He'll join former PGA Tour winner Notah Begay III and well-known broadcaster Ryan Burr on the call, although Foreman won't technically be on site, seeing as how he's not an actual person.

SILICON HANDSHAKE: The federal government under President Donald Trump reached an agreement with OpenAI on a landmark deal to equip government employees with the most cutting-edge artificial intelligence models at a major discount, Fox News Digital has learned.

'SEAT AT THE TABLE': A GOP insider making the conservative case for regulating artificial intelligence development predicts President Donald Trump's full-throated support for data center expansion will soon change after he hears from the American people on the midterm campaign trail.

THE NEW GOLD RUSH: As Americans weigh the costs and benefits of massive data centers emerging in their towns to fuel the artificial intelligence boom, the country's reddest state could be poised to capitalize on billions of dollars in investment that other states are increasingly reluctant to welcome.

CUT OF THE DEAL: As opposition to artificial intelligence data centers spreads across rural America, one group is proposing "data center dividends" to counter the backlash by allowing residents to share directly in the wealth generated by the technology hubs.

BOLD FRONTIER: Nvidia co-founder and CEO Jensen Huang declared that the era of artificial general intelligence (AGI) has arrived after OpenAI released its latest model.

AISLE BE WATCHING: Artificial intelligence is making its way into the grocery aisle, and it could have an unexpected effect on how much you spend. You grab a grocery cart, start working through your list and notice a screen on the handle offering directions, coupons and product suggestions. It can keep a running total and may even let you skip the checkout line. That sounds convenient. It also gives the store a new way to reach you while you are deciding what goes into your cart.

Subscribe now to get the Fox News Artificial Intelligence Newsletter in your inbox.

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US warns Americans to stay vigilant as terror risk looms at major vacation hot spot

Fri, 11 Sep 2026 13:17:34 -0400

Americans are being warned to exercise increased caution when traveling to one of Europe's most popular tourist destinations amid multiple terrorism-related arrests in recent months.

The State Department updated its "Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution" travel advisory for Italy on Thursday — keeping the country at the same advisory level while revising its summary.

Italy draws millions of visitors with its beaches, quaint villages and iconic ancient Roman landmarks.

TOURIST HOT SPOT SLAPPED WITH US TRAVEL WARNING RENEWAL DUE TO CRIME AND TERROR

But despite its appeal to tourists, the State Department is warning travelers to remain vigilant due to the threat of terrorism.

"There is risk of terrorist violence, including terrorist attacks and other activity in Italy," the advisory said.

While the threat of terrorism in Italy may receive less attention than in other parts of Europe, authorities have made several terrorism-related arrests in recent months.

In August, Italian news agency ANSA reported that a 16-year-old in northern Italy was arrested on international terrorism-related charges after investigators said he had spread jihadist and pro-ISIS material online.

SEXUAL ASSAULTS AND SCAMS PLAGUE TOP VACATION HOT SPOT, PROMPTING URGENT ADVISORY

In a separate incident in June, another 16-year-old near Bologna was arrested after authorities allegedly found jihadist material and weapons-making manuals in his possession.

The State Department advisory noted that petty crime is also a significant concern in Italy, especially "in popular tourist locations and on public transportation, including trains."

"Stay aware of your surroundings," officials said.

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"Most crimes against foreigners are crimes of opportunity, like purse snatching, pickpocketing, and car break-ins."

Americans who decide to travel to Italy are urged to monitor local media for breaking news and "stay alert in tourist spots."

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"Be prepared to adjust your plans," the advisory states. "Stay aware of your surroundings."

Fox News Digital reached out to the State Department for additional comment.

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Italy is one of several popular tourist destinations to face updated travel guidance from the State Department in recent weeks.

This month, the State Department updated its travel advisory for Peru, warning Americans about crime, civil unrest, kidnapping and terrorism.

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Brazil's travel advisory was also recently updated, with officials warning Americans about crime and kidnapping, including armed robberies, carjackings and criminals drugging victims' drinks before robbing them.

Reporter's Notebook: Countdown is on as Senate races to pass crypto, college sports bills

Fri, 11 Sep 2026 13:11:43 -0400

It’s a twofer in the Senate.

Senators return to Washington Monday for the first time since the wee hours of Aug. 8. The Senate’s slated to meet for three weeks before heading home for the midterms — if the session even goes that long.

There are a lot of items senators want to tackle. But only two big ones are lined up for test votes right now.

The first legislative vote is locked in. It’s a procedural vote on a measure to regulate cryptocurrency. That comes Tuesday afternoon. The bill needs 60 votes to be in play.

REPORTER'S NOTEBOOK: SUMMER ENDS, BUT THE SENATE'S FALL CRUNCH BEGINS

There’s no bigger advocate for cryptocurrency than President Trump. He’s pushing for the Senate to move legislation.

"We ended the war on crypto once and for all," said the President. "Now we need Congress to take the next step by passing the Clarity Act."

Let’s clarify what the Clarity Act does. The measure clarifies federal rules for digital currencies and tokens. The framework would divide oversight between two regulators: The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CTFC). Approval of the bill would be the first step toward establishing guardrails for cryptocurrency.

"We passed the Clarity Act in the House last summer with 78 Democratic votes. It's now time for the Senate to join us," said House Financial Services Committee Chairman French Hill, R-Ark., on Fox Business.

The package has bipartisan support. But there’s a roadblock coming from the Democrats.

"The one remaining significant issue, I think, is the ethics provision," said Hill.

President Trump’s own financial disclosure report reveals he earned $1.4 billion on cryptocurrency last year alone. That’s why Democrats want specific rules for the Trump family and crypto.

"It basically exempts the President from any kind of ethical constraints. And that's just not going to fly in the Democratic caucus," said Sen. Adam Schiff, D-Calif.

Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., says the bill is too closely aligned with what the President and his industry allies want.

"Yes. We need crypto legislation. But not this legislation that has been written by this industry," said Warren. "I just don't see how anyone, Democrat or Republican, moves forward on this bill."

That’s why many doubt the measure can score 60 votes twice to break a filibuster. The naysaying aggravates cryptocurrency advocates.

"This is the right bill at the right time, and it's time to vote," said Sen. Cynthia Lummis, R-Wy.

She argues that crypto supporters bowed to demands to firm up ethics rules.

"In 2023, we added 100 pages with stronger consumer protection provisions. Yet we got feedback from colleagues that they wanted more. So again, we listened. Today, this bill that was under 300 pages is more than 600 pages. That's hundreds of pages built over 11 months of daily bipartisan negotiations in windowless rooms where colleagues from both parties shared their priorities, and we worked diligently to incorporate them," said an exasperated Lummis.

Warren argues that the bill makes it easier for drug runners and terrorists to fund their operations — without a literal paper trail.

TED CRUZ URGES SENATE TO STAY IN WASHINGTON UNTIL PROTECT COLLEGE SPORTS ACT PASSES THIS WEEK

Lummis says if the U.S. doesn’t establish its cryptocurrency blueprint, digital assets could flee overseas.

"These companies can go to Singapore, Switzerland, the UAE and have a well-understood clear set of regulations," said Lummis.

So that test vote is locked in. But it’s rare to pass a major financial regulatory measure this close to the midterms. And if Democrats prevail in November, that could create friction with the White House.

The Senate also expects a test vote before the end of September on a bill to regulate money in college sports. But there’s no specific agreement on a date for that roll call tally.

You know the old saying that there’s no such thing as bad publicity? Well, the "bad" publicity surrounding college football could potentially provide this legislation a boost.

President Trump implored senators to stay in Washington to finish the bill last month. But it wasn’t ready. However, controversies over former pro players heading back to college — to say nothing of clock maintenance at the University of Michigan — could prod skeptical senators to give this measure another look.

Let’s start with LSU tight end Dae’Quan Wright. If you can keep up with him.

Last year, Wright played for current LSU head coach Lane Kiffin last year at Ole Miss — before Kiffin abandoned his squad late in the season for the Tigers. Wright decided to go pro. The Philadelphia Eagles picked him up in the spring. But then waved Wright early last month. The Cleveland Browns then signed Wright. He dressed for a preseason game against the Buffalo Bills. Never played a snap. Then the Browns cut him.

So, Wright headed back to school. But this time, at LSU.

"I’m just putting on a college uniform again and going out there and having fun and embracing my opportunity," said Wright.

A judge then cleared Wright and former Ole Miss defensive lineman Zxavian Harris to play for LSU this fall. But in between, Harris appeared in preseason camp with the New Orleans Saints — before the team waived him.

Drew Rosenhaus is Wright’s agent. He believes his client had no other option after his brief cup of coffee in the pros.

"His contract with the NFL was terminated," said Rosenhaus. "If he was still able to play in the NFL, he would be there."

Chaos like this is prodding lawmakers to try to regulate intercollegiate athletics.

"It's not fair to the high school kids coming out to play college ball if you suddenly have colleges that are going and recruiting from the NFL," said Senate Commerce Committee Chairman Ted Cruz, R-Texas.

Cruz teamed up with Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., the top Democrat on the Commerce panel, to craft the college athletics regulation measure.

One big restriction: the legislation limits athletes to one transfer.

"The transfer portal is out of control. You have athletes transferring two, three, four times. You have essentially no eligibility rules. So you have athletes competing six, seven, eight years. You have 28-year-olds competing against 17-year-old kids," said Cruz.

The constant darting around from school to school worries the Trump administration, too.

LAWMAKERS PRAISE BIPARTISAN EFFORTS LED BY TRUMP ADMIN TO ‘PROTECT COLLEGE SPORTS FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS’

"It's a crazy system, man," said Vice President JD Vance to colleague Lucas Tomlinson. "When I was growing up…you would get some loyalty, between the athletes and the fan bases. You would know the names of the people who played for your team because they were there for three or four years."

The Cruz/Cantwell package also caps money schools can use for name, image and likeness, or NIL. And, considering the recent contretemps, the legislation bars athletes from going pro. Then reversing field to college.

The White House tapped legendary former Alabama football coach Nick Saban to push for passage of the bill.

"Join the winning team today and help Congress protect this American tradition," says Saban in the commercial now airing around the country.

But even if the bill gets through the Senate, it faces an unclear path in the House. The House returns to session Monday, too. But it’s unclear how long its members will stick around with the midterms looming.

"I've had coach Saban in my office, and we've talked about this, and he's right," said House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La. "I think Congress is ready to act. But it takes both chambers."

In other words, just like there’s a play clock in football, there’s a play clock in Congress, too.

"I appreciate the exuberance of our Senate colleagues," said House Democratic Caucus Chairman Pete Aguilar, D-Calif. "But I don't know if there's enough days to get this done."

Time may be the enemy of both the cryptocurrency bill and the college athletics bill. Lawmakers return to Capitol Hill with one foot practically out the door, headed back toward the airport.

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It’s a Senate twofer. But if things don’t sail smoothly on either or both bills, there may be little reason to anchor lawmakers to Washington. And if lawmakers don’t address these bills now, potential legislative fixes may evaporate until the new Congress begins in January.

Saudi Arabia tells Trump now is the time for military action as Iran-backed Houthis advance

Fri, 11 Sep 2026 13:08:49 -0400

Saudi Arabia is urging Washington to take direct military action against Iran-backed Houthis, Fox News Digital learned after the terrorist group seized key positions along Yemen’s Bab al-Mandab Strait on Friday.

The dramatic strengthening of Houthi's positioning along the coastline of Yemen is in one of the world's most important shipping choke points — a narrow passage that links the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden, which has been used as a bypass as the Iran war continues to severely disrupt shipping, especially of oil, through the Strait of Hormuz.

The rapid advance on Friday triggered urgent discussions at the highest levels in Riyadh and Washington, and a source familiar with the matter tells Fox News Digital that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman urged President Donald Trump to take military action against the Houthis.

NEW RISK FOR U.S. CONSUMERS AS IRAN-BACKED ATTACKS THREATEN A SECOND MAJOR OIL CHOKEPOINT

The Houthis reached the strategic island of Mayyun, also known as Perim, after Yemeni government forces withdrew and also took the mainland coastal town of Dhubab, four Yemeni government sources told Reuters on Friday.

Fox News Digital independently confirmed key elements of an Axios report with a source familiar with the matter, who said the crown prince spoke with Trump a few times over the past 24 hours about the escalating situation in Yemen.

The U.S. does not want to take direct military action for now, but Trump told bin Salman that Washington would assist Saudi Arabia with intelligence and targeting support, according to the source.

The source also confirmed that U.S. Central Command commander Adm. Brad Cooper traveled to Saudi Arabia for coordination talks.

The White House did not respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment on the calls or whether additional U.S. military action is under consideration.

IRAN'S BIGGEST WEAPON AGAINST THE U.S. MAY BE SLIPPING AWAY, EXPERTS SAY

The convergence raises the prospect of simultaneous pressure on two of the world’s most consequential maritime arteries: Iran disrupting traffic through Hormuz while its Houthi allies strengthen their position around Bab al-Mandab.

Behnam Ben Taleblu, senior director of the Iran program at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, told Fox News Digital that the shift reflects Tehran’s effort to recover leverage as pressure around Hormuz changes.

"Trump’s success in pushing back on Iran’s maritime threat in the Strait of Hormuz and Persian Gulf has made the regime lose the maritime leverage it had, and now it is looking to double down on the Houthis who have proven to be able to impact Red Sea shipping and the Bab al-Mandab Strait in the past," Ben Taleblu said.

"As Tehran loses leverage in the Strait of Hormuz, it is trying to wield a knife and a handshake at once: diplomacy with Arab states and a knife in the back via the Houthi offensive," he added.

IRAN CALLS ON HOUTHIS TO PREPARE TO CUT OFF RED SEA GATEWAY — CAN THE TERROR GROUP DO IT?

The latest advance follows the Houthis’ capture Thursday of the strategic Red Sea port of Mocha, which was previously held by forces aligned with Yemen’s internationally recognized government.

Former U.S. special envoy for Yemen Timothy Lenderking said Friday that the Houthis had spent the years since the 2022 U.N.-brokered truce rebuilding their military strength and are now exploiting the broader Iran conflict to increase pressure on Saudi Arabia.

Speaking during an on-the-record Middle East Institute virtual briefing, Lenderking said the April 2022 truce largely put Yemen’s civil war on pause but also "did allow the Houthis to regroup, retrain, refit, restock."

"They’re extremely entrepreneurial. They use every opportunity to build their capability, to test their capabilities, such that they are now the most lethal non-state actor in the entire Middle East," Lenderking said.

Lenderking traced the latest round of escalation in part to Iranian Mahan Air flights into Sanaa earlier this summer, which he said brought personnel and equipment intended to support the Houthi war effort, adding that the personnel were from Iran and were "probably IRGC members."

IRAN-BACKED HOUTHI THREAT IN RED SEA COULD LEAD TO MAJOR U.S. POLICY SHIFT, ANALYSTS SAY

Lenderking said the Houthis are now taking advantage of the wider conflict with Iran to increase their leverage over Riyadh.

"They’ve seized this opportunity, bringing these various lines of effort together, to put a great deal of pressure on the Yemen government and the Saudis specifically," he said.

On Thursday, a senior Trump administration official told Fox News Digital: "The United States is focused on protecting our core national security interests — such as ensuring freedom of navigation in the Red Sea — while empowering our regional partners to take the lead in managing and resolving regional security challenges. We are in continuous dialogue with Saudi Arabia and the Republic of Yemen Government regarding regional stability."

The stakes extend well beyond Yemen.

The Bab al-Mandab is only about 18 miles wide at its narrowest point and serves as the southern gateway to the Suez Canal. About 7% of global oil output passed through the strait in June, according to Kpler data cited by Reuters. Disruption can force ships to reroute around Africa’s Cape of Good Hope, adding significant time and cost to voyages.

Reuters reported Friday that only seven vessels transited the Strait of Hormuz on Thursday, compared with a prewar daily average of 125, underscoring the pressure already facing the region’s other critical maritime choke point.

EXPERT WARNS OF 'GENERAL ESCALATION' OF FIGHTING IF HOUTHIS RESUME RED SEA CAMPAIGN

Ben Taleblu said the speed of the Houthi advance exposed vulnerabilities in the Saudi-led effort to contain the group.

"The U.S. should help the Saudis stymie the Houthi advance," he said. "The inability of the Saudis to prevent the Houthis from taking the strategic port city of Mocha, for example, does not bode well for what may come."

Hisham Al-Omeisy, senior Yemen adviser at the European Institute of Peace, told Fox News Digital on Thursday that the danger extends beyond the territory captured. Retreating government forces, he said, left behind military equipment that could strengthen the Houthis on other fronts.

"People are focused on taking Mocha and those outposts on the Red Sea," Al-Omeisy said. "But the military side is terrible, particularly the equipment, the munitions, the vehicles, the drones that were at those military camps, which they can now, in turn, use against the government forces elsewhere."

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The developments mark a dramatic reversal from the relative calm that followed the 2022 truce and leave Washington and its regional allies confronting a growing question: whether the Houthi advance can be contained without opening another direct U.S. military front as American forces remain focused on Iran and the Strait of Hormuz.

America built a fortress after 9/11. Then the threat started hiding in plain sight

Fri, 11 Sep 2026 13:04:34 -0400

On the morning of Sept. 11, 2001, Javed Ali drove past the Pentagon on his way to work in northern Virginia.

Roughly half an hour later, American Airlines Flight 77 slammed into the building.

From his office in Falls Church, Ali could see smoke rising from the Pentagon. A year later, in a turn that captured how dramatically the country had changed, he was walking into the still-damaged building himself — now working in the Defense Intelligence Agency's counterterrorism office.

TRUMP CONFIRMS PENTAGON PLANS FOR 25TH ANNIVERSARY OF 9/11 ATTACKS, DISPUTES REPORT ON GROUND ZERO ABSENCE

"It was a very eerie and odd and surreal moment in my career," Ali told Fox News Digital.

Ali's career would eventually take him from the DIA to the newly created Department of Homeland Security and later the FBI, giving him a front-row seat to the enormous national security architecture America constructed after the deadliest foreign attack on U.S. soil.

Twenty-five years later, that architecture presents something of a paradox.

By one of its clearest measures, the post-9/11 system appears to have made another attack on the scale of 9/11 far harder. The United States has not suffered another terrorist attack remotely approaching the scale and complexity of 9/11, which killed 2,977 people. U.S. intelligence and military operations dismantled much of the al Qaeda network that planned it, while new agencies, surveillance authorities, watchlists and intelligence-sharing systems were designed to ensure that another group could not exploit the same seams in American defenses. The 2026 U.S. intelligence community assessment said counterterrorism operations have degraded al Qaeda and ISIS's ability to quickly rebuild their leadership and plan large-scale attacks against the U.S. homeland.

But success against the threat of 2001 did not eliminate terrorism. It helped change it.

AMERICAN YOUTH RADICALIZED ONLINE, BUSTED IN SUSPECTED TERROR PLOTS AFTER HATING COUNTRY ON SOCIAL MEDIA

Today's most difficult threats increasingly involve individuals radicalized online, small cells with little warning signature, foreign terrorist organizations seeking to inspire attacks from afar, and an expanding layer of cyber and state-sponsored threats capable of reaching deep inside the United States without hijacking an airplane.

The question 25 years after 9/11, therefore, is not simply whether Americans are safer.

They are safer from one kind of attack — while increasingly exposed to others.

AN AI CYBERATTACK COULD TURN OFF AMERICA'S LIGHTS BEFORE WASHINGTON EVEN UNDERSTANDS WHY

Building a security state after 9/11

The scale of the American response was extraordinary.

Just over two months after the attacks, President George W. Bush signed legislation creating the Transportation Security Administration. TSA says its creation amounted to the largest civilian undertaking in U.S. government history at the time, with the federal government rapidly assuming responsibility for airport passenger and baggage screening.

The following year, Congress created the Department of Homeland Security, combining all or part of 22 federal agencies and offices. DHS began operating in March 2003 and today employs more than 260,000 people across missions ranging from border and aviation security to cybersecurity, intelligence and emergency response.

The changes went far beyond new agencies.

The 9/11 Commission found that the pre-attack breakdown was deeper than the familiar failure to "connect the dots." Responsibility had been scattered across agencies, information was not consistently shared, and no single entity was empowered to integrate intelligence and drive joint action across the foreign-domestic divide. The commission concluded that "responsibility and accountability were diffuse."

Washington spent the next two decades trying to close those gaps.

Brown University's Costs of War project estimates that post-9/11 wars and related obligations have cost roughly $8 trillion. It estimates that more than $1.1 trillion has been spent on homeland security efforts to prevent and counterterrorism inside the United States since DHS was created.

Al Qaeda didn't disappear overnight

Ali said it can be easy, with 25 years of hindsight, to forget how persistent the original threat remained.

Even after the United States invaded Afghanistan, killed or captured senior al Qaeda figures and put the organization under extraordinary pressure, the group continued attempting to find ways back into the homeland.

During Ali's years at DHS, he said officials repeatedly confronted plots involving al Qaeda and its affiliates, including a 2006 plot originating in Britain to bomb transatlantic airliners traveling to North America.

The threat then evolved again.

Usama bin Laden was killed by U.S. forces in Pakistan in May 2011. But rather than marking the end of the era of jihadist terrorism, the following years produced a new and in some ways more difficult challenge.

ISIS grew out of al Qaeda in Iraq, expanded rapidly amid the wars in Iraq and Syria and declared a self-described caliphate in June 2014. At its height, the group controlled vast territory and millions of people in Iraq and Syria while encouraging or directing attacks far beyond its borders. The State Department reported that ISIS had emerged from al Qaeda in Iraq and expanded dramatically during 2013 and 2014.

For U.S. counterterrorism officials, Ali said, the center of gravity increasingly shifted from identifying trained operatives sent by an organized group to finding individuals who might be radicalizing inside Western countries.

Then came another shift: attacks by lone offenders across different ideologies, often with no direct operational relationship to an organization overseas.

"Mostly lone actors, lone offenders, not tied to groups overseas, not traveling overseas, and not being directed by people overseas," said Ali, now an associate professor of practice at the University of Michigan's Ford School of Public Policy.

DHS CHIEF ANNOUNCES CHANGES TO ITS SEAL TO REFLECT THAT DEPARTMENT IS 'AT WAR EVERY SINGLE DAY'

The terrorist organization became a phone screen

The transformation is now reflected in the government's own threat assessments.

The 2026 Annual Threat Assessment from the Office of the Director of National Intelligence said setbacks to the ability of Islamist terrorist groups to conduct "large-scale complex attacks" have pushed them toward information operations and propaganda designed to inspire or enable people in or with access to Western countries.

The assessment said there were at least three Islamist terrorist attacks in the United States in 2025 and that law enforcement disrupted at least 15 U.S.-based Islamist terrorist plotters that year. Roughly half of those disrupted plotters had some online contact with Islamist terrorists or were inspired by foreign terrorist organizations, according to the assessment.

The vulnerability was demonstrated on New Year's Day 2025, when Shamsud-Din Jabbar, a U.S. citizen from Texas, drove a pickup truck into a crowd on Bourbon Street in New Orleans, killing 14 people. The FBI described the attack as an act of terrorism and said Jabbar had become increasingly isolated before adopting extremist views.

In the days after that attack, the FBI said lone actors and small cells who radicalize online had posed the greatest terrorism threat to the homeland in recent years precisely because they can be so difficult to detect and disrupt.

That presents almost the inverse of the 9/11 problem.

The 9/11 plot required 19 hijackers, overseas leadership, financing, international travel, flight training and years of planning. The challenge for investigators was collecting pieces of information held across different agencies and assembling them quickly enough.

A lone actor may offer far fewer pieces to collect in the first place.

Ali said many recent attackers or alleged plotters had not previously come onto the radar of the FBI or local law enforcement, leaving authorities with the extraordinarily difficult task of identifying people who may not commit an obvious crime until they move toward violence.

"So yes, we are safer from a certain type of threat," Ali said, "but again, we are not immune from terrorism, and other types of threats are much more difficult to identify or stop."

KASH PATEL REVEALS THE CHILLING HOLIDAY TERROR PLOTS FBI FEDERAL AGENTS QUIETLY STOPPED

A security system built for yesterday?

That changing threat has also fueled a broader debate over whether the institutions created after 9/11 became too large, too expensive or too focused on the dangers of the previous era.

Morgan Murphy, who served as press secretary to the secretary of Defense during the first Trump administration and later worked in the Trump White House, argues that Washington built too much bureaucracy around the 9/11 threat while other vulnerabilities grew.

"TSA agents still pat down grandma and gum up travel while Beijing wires our living rooms with cheap TVs and selfie sticks through the supply chain handed to them by Clinton, Bush, Obama and Biden," Murphy said. "We spent two decades frisking American passengers while our adversaries plugged themselves into our homes and businesses."

"The genius of America after Pearl Harbor was that we built to fight. After 9/11, we built to process," Murphy told Fox News Digital, "Real security means sovereignty at home and lethality abroad — a sealed border, an untangled supply chain, and enemies who fear us."

Theo Wold, who served as acting assistant attorney general in the Justice Department's Office of Legal Policy and as deputy assistant to the president for domestic policy during the first Trump administration, offered a similar critique, arguing that post-9/11 Washington relied too heavily on large bureaucracies, expansive government authorities and wars in the Middle East.

"George W. Bush and the D.C. governing elite responded to 9/11 the way their politics demanded: create large, unwieldy bureaucracy, push for special legal authorities with limited oversight and activate ground wars in the Middle East," Wold told Fox News Digital.

"Those wars didn’t make us safer, the legal authorities were wielded against Americans, and the bureaucracy is full of waste and has proven nearly unworkable," he said.

Wold argued that the lesson from the past quarter-century should be a more narrowly targeted national-security model.

"Now we know better. Americans are safest when we are nimble and focus ruthlessly on targeting real enemies," he said.

The next threat may not look like 9/11

The challenge now extends beyond terrorism.

The 2026 intelligence assessment warns that China, Russia, Iran, North Korea and non-state ransomware groups continue seeking access to U.S. government networks and private critical infrastructure for espionage, financial gain and possible future disruption. It also warns that artificial intelligence is accelerating cyber capabilities and that several state adversaries are developing missile systems capable of threatening the homeland.

The security landscape that began with al Qaeda operatives training to fly passenger jets has therefore expanded into something far less geographically defined: terrorist propaganda transmitted to an individual's phone, malicious code inserted into a computer network, attacks on critical infrastructure and state adversaries capable of reaching Americans from thousands of miles away.

For Ali, however, the evolution of the threat should not lead Washington to conclude that the original threat has vanished.

One of the central lessons of the years before Sept. 11, he said, was that emerging terrorist organizations have to be confronted before they have the time and space to develop operational capability.

"When these terrorist threats start to emerge, whether it's overseas or here, you have to put pressure on them before they gather momentum to carry out operations," Ali said.

The danger, he argued, would be allowing counterterrorism to fall so far down Washington's list of priorities that the country begins recreating the complacency that existed before 9/11.

"Terrorism as a tactic is probably never going to be defeated," Ali said.

Twenty-five years after he watched smoke rise from the Pentagon, Ali's answer to whether America is safer reflects the contradiction at the heart of the post-9/11 era.

The United States built a massive system to prevent the next 9/11.

It appears to have made another 9/11 far harder to execute.

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The harder question now is whether that system can recognize the attack that doesn't look anything like it.

6 of the best fall camping destinations in America, plus gear beginners should pack

Fri, 11 Sep 2026 12:51:23 -0400

Fall is one of the best seasons for camping. Summer crowds thin, there are fewer bugs, the air turns crisp and the foliage takes on vibrant shades of red and orange. Cooler temperatures also make hiking, cooking and sleeping outdoors more comfortable — as long as you pack the right gear.

We rounded up the best fall camping destinations across the U.S., from sweeping mountain escapes to cozy coastal getaways, along with beginner-friendly camping gear to help you stay warm, comfortable and prepared.

Best fall camping destinations

Make the most of fall camping season at these popular destinations.

Acadia National Park, Maine

Acadia National Park, located in Maine, pairs classic New England foliage with the deep blue Atlantic. Hike wooded trails, explore the scenic Park Loop Road and the carriage roads and take in views of the rugged coastline and pink granite mountains before settling in for a cozy night under the stars.

Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Tennessee/North Carolina

Great Smoky Mountains National Park bursts with fall color from maples, oaks, beeches and dogwoods. Beginners can stay at established campgrounds, then spend the day exploring Newfound Gap Road or Cades Cove Loop Road for sweeping valley views, wildlife and more.

Shenandoah National Park, Virginia

Shenandoah National Park treats campers to rolling auburn hills and seemingly endless valleys. Drive along Skyline Drive, stop at one of its 75 overlooks, hike to waterfalls and explore forested sections of the Appalachian Trail while watching for deer and black bears.

Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado

You can’t get more dramatic than Rocky Mountain National Park, with its glassy alpine lakes, golden aspen trees and towering snow-tipped peaks that are especially striking in autumn. Drive along Trail Ridge Road and Bear Lake Road for peak scenery, view the elk rut, hike in Glacier Gorge and enjoy the cool, fresh mountain air.

Adirondacks or Catskills, New York

Campers seeking a quiet, cozy escape will love the Adirondacks and Catskills. Plan your trip around serene lakes, cabins and scenic country roads, then take the Hunter Mountain Scenic Skyride or vintage Catskill Mountain Railroad for open-air views of the fall foliage. End the day by the fire on a crisp autumn evening.

Jim Thorpe and the Pocono Mountains, Pennsylvania

Nestled in the Pocono Mountains, Jim Thorpe is known as the "Switzerland of America" for its dramatic valleys, high peaks and old-town charm. Campgrounds provide a convenient base for nearby fall festivals, scenic train rides, whitewater rafting, bike rides and foliage-filled hikes.

Fall camping essentials to pack

Prepare for your camping trip with the right gear, from insulated sleeping bags to camping lanterns.

REI Siesta Hooded 20 sleeping bag: $149

The synthetic insulation in the Siesta Hooded 20 sleeping bag keeps you warm down to 20 degrees Fahrenheit, while the offset quilt construction, insulated hood, draft collar and zipper draft tube help block cold air. Nearly 1,000 shoppers bought it this week.

Coleman portable camping chair: $39.99 (32% off)

Original price: $58.99

Look for something foldable, sturdy and easy to carry from the car to the campsite so you’re not crouching on cold ground. This lightweight Coleman camping chair has a cupholder and multiple pockets for drinks, snacks and tech.

Tensor All-Season Ultralight insulated sleeping pad: $199.95

Sleep warmer on chilly nights with an insulated sleeping pad. It has two layers of heat-reflective film to help retain body heat while cushioning you from the cold ground.

LED camping lantern: $21.59 (20% off)

Original price: $26.99

Light up your campsite as fall days get shorter with this battery-powered lantern. It features a water-resistant design, delivers up to 1,000 lumens and has four light modes for outdoor use.

The North Face Wawona 6 Tent: $585

The Wawona six-person tent offers plenty of room for families and groups, with a 76-inch peak height, two doors and a large vestibule for covered storage or extra seating. Its double-wall design promotes ventilation for a more comfortable night outdoors.

Jackery Explorer 1000 v2 Portable Power Station: $499 (11% off)

Original price: $559

Keep phones, lanterns and small appliances powered at campsites without electrical hookups with the Jackery Explorer. It contains two USB-C ports, one USB-A port, a DC port and three AC ports, plus a 1,500-watt AC output that can power portable air conditioners and refrigerators.

Coleman Triton 2-burner propane camp stove: $83.99 (35% off)

Original price: $129.99

Cook warm meals with this Coleman camp stove, especially useful during fire restrictions or damp fall weather. Its compact design features two adjustable burners and a carrying handle for easy transport.

For more deals, visit www.foxnews.com/deals

Coleman Classic Series insulated rolling cooler: $108.71

Coleman’s portable rolling cooler keeps ice cold for up to five days and features all-terrain wheels for easy transport from the car to the campsite. It holds food and drinks, then doubles as extra seating with a weight capacity of up to 250 pounds.

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Beginner tips for planning a fall camping trip

Check nighttime temperatures beforehand and choose an insulated sleeping bag.
Plan for shorter daylight hours. Arrive before dark so you can set up camp safely, and bring camp lanterns and headlamps.
Book campgrounds early in popular regions, especially near foliage destinations, national parks and popular state parks.
Pack layers, including warm midlayers, waterproof and windproof rain shells and leg warmers.
Know your campground setup before booking. Confirm whether you're booking a tent or RV site, and check important details such as fire rules, potable water, restrooms and electrical hookups.

If you’re an Amazon Prime member, you can get these items sent to your door ASAP. You can join or start a 30-day free trial to start your shopping today.

Family of off-duty FDNY firefighter retraces steps as Tunnel to Towers mission continues on 9/11 anniversary

Fri, 11 Sep 2026 12:38:04 -0400

Tunnel to Towers Foundation Chairman and CEO Frank Siller and family members honored his late brother Stephen Siller — a heroic 34-year-old husband, father, and firefighter who, after hearing about the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attack, loaded himself down with gear, and traversed through the Brooklyn-Battery Tunnel on foot heading to the Twin Towers, and ultimately giving his life — by retracing the man's steps on Friday as Americans marked the grim 25th anniversary of the heinous attacks.

"Together, they carried Stephen’s memory, his legacy, and the promise that his sacrifice – like so many others – would Never Be Forgotten," Tunnel to Towers noted in a press release.

The charity transported a steel beam from one of the Twin Towers around the U.S. for several months, with their "Steel Across America" tour finally culminating with the Siller family's trek through the tunnel today.

AMERICA MARKS 25TH ANNIVERSARY OF 9/11 ATTACKS

"This morning’s walk through the Brooklyn-Battery Tunnel was part of the conclusion of Steel Across America, a journey that began four-and-a-half months ago and carried a 21-foot, 16,900-pound World Trade Center steel beam more than 10,500 miles through nearly 40 stops across the country and back, stopping in more than 21 states," the organization noted. "For over four months, the steel has been a gathering place for communities to remember the events of September 11th, to honor first responders and veterans, and to ensure that a new generation understands the significance of what happened 25 years ago."

Stephen Siller Jr., who was just 9 months old when his father died, according to Frank Siller, said during a Friday morning appearance on "Fox & Friends," "The Tunnel to Towers foundation has given my family so much, through the loss of my father, through the work we're doing to keep his memory alive. Every day we have events across the country. Every day we're helping somebody in his name. That is such a beautiful, beautiful gift," he noted.

FRANK SILLER: 'I LOVE YOU, BROTHER' -- THE 9/11 LOSS THAT INSPIRED A MISSION OF SERVICE

Stephen Siller went to help respond to the 9/11 attacks after having already worked an overnight shift with the New York City Fire Department, according to Tunnel to Towers.

"On the morning of September 11, 2001, Stephen had just completed his overnight shift as an FDNY firefighter and was going to play golf with his brothers when he heard about the attacks on the World Trade Center on his personal scanner. He turned his car around and headed toward Manhattan to help. When he found that his unit had already responded and that the Brooklyn-Battery Tunnel closed to traffic, he strapped 60 pounds of firefighting gear to his back and ran through the tunnel on foot toward the Twin Towers. Stephen, like so many others that day, never came home," the organization noted.

FAMILY OF 9/11 HERO TO RETRACE HIS STEPS IN FINAL TUNNEL TO TOWERS STOP

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"Born from the tragedy of 9/11, the Tunnel to Towers Foundation carries out its mission to "do good" by providing mortgage-free homes to Gold Star and fallen first responder families with young children and by building specially adapted smart homes for catastrophically injured veterans and first responders," according to the press release. "Children of the Foundation’s home recipients are offered full scholarships for undergraduate degrees and accredited trade school programs, helping secure their futures. The Foundation is also committed to eradicating veteran homelessness and helping America Never Forget September 11, 2001."

Prepare for cooler weather with this $9 Hanes hoodie, now 68% off on Amazon

Fri, 11 Sep 2026 12:34:33 -0400

It's that time of year when the day starts out cool, turns suddenly hot, then ends on a cold note. Getting dressed becomes a guessing game, but this Hanes hoodie is an easy layer for unpredictable fall weather. In fact, it's a reliable transitional piece for all seasons, from summer to fall and winter to spring. Marked down to just $9 right now, it's an inexpensive staple to stock up on.

Hanes men's zip-up hoodie: $9.09 (68% off)

Original price: $28

Why is this hoodie worth it?

This bestselling Hanes zip-up hoodie is a simple transitional layer for cooler days, with a soft cotton-polyester fleece interior that's especially soft, according to reviewers. It layers easily under heavier jackets without adding bulk.

It’s also at its lowest price in 30 days. With the red version at just $9, you can't find a better deal on a basic hoodie. Other colors, like black, navy and gray, make just as good basics, and are as budget-friendly, priced around $11 to $12, so you can grab several before the deal ends.

What do reviewers think?

The hoodie earns an impressive 4.5 out of 5 stars, and more than 1,000 shoppers bought one on Amazon last month. Reviewers largely cite its durability, comfort and simple design.

"This is exactly what I was looking for, a red zip-up hoodie that's not too thick or thin and doesn’t have any graphics or logo," one reviewer says. "It's basic in the best way. Fits true to size and is soft and comfortable."

Other reviewers found it nicer than they expected, especially considering the low price tag. "[It's] super comfortable, not too heavy, and the inside lining is very soft. [I] love the colors I chose — they're bright but not at all overpowering. Fits well, particularly around the waist…[It] doesn’t "hang" the way some hoodies can from being too long."

One reviewer bought multiple for the whole family for Christmas: "Everyone says they are comfortable and easy to care for."

What could be better?

Some reviewers note that the inside sheds quite a bit: "Beware, you will get a lot of lint fabric the color of the hoodie all over your clothes."

The size also seems to be a sticking point. Several reviewers find it fit true to size, but others say it runs small, so sizing may be inconsistent. It may be safer to size up or look at the measurements chart before ordering.

More hoodie deals worth shopping

Stock up on cool-weather tops with these other sweatshirt options.

Hanes women's full-zip hoodie: $13.27 (49% off)

Original price: $26

Hanes has the same zip-up hoodie in a women's version that boasts over 60,000 reviews. Instead of cotton and polyester, the sweatshirt is made from cotton jersey that has a natural stretch. The tag-free design keeps you from getting itchy.

Hanes men's Originals midweight fleece hoodie: $24 (33% off)

Original price: $36

Prefer pullover sweatshirts? Hanes has an equally soft pullover hoodie that's on the heavier side. Made from 80% cotton derived from American farms, the midweight feel keeps the chill away on colder days. The green is an especially nice fall shade.

Hanes men's hooded T-shirt: $20 (29% off)

Original price: $28

Part long-sleeve shirt, part sweatshirt, this hooded T-shirt has a relaxed fit that moves with you. You get a hood when you need it, with the lightweight feel of a T-shirt. Pair it with joggers, jeans or your favorite pair of pajamas and get a versatile option for your closet.

For more deals, visit www.foxnews.com/deals

Champion boy's zip-up fleece hoodie: $17.53 (8% off)

Original price: $19.10

Now that school is back in session, grab a Champion hoodie for those cold mornings at the bus stop. It comes in basic blues, reds and other neutral colors, so you can pair it with anything.

If you’re an Amazon Prime member, you can get these items sent to your door ASAP. You can join or start a 30-day free trial to start your shopping today.

'Feels like yesterday': 9/11 victim's daughter says families still fighting for justice 25 years later

Fri, 11 Sep 2026 11:52:51 -0400

DALLAS - Twenty-five years after the 9/11 terrorist attacks, Angela Mistrulli said, "It feels like forever, but it also feels like yesterday."

Mistrulli, whose father was killed in the collapse of the World Trade Center twin towers in New York City, is the founder of American Victims of State-Sponsored Terrorism (AVSSTU), which represents victims and families impacted by terrorist attacks.

She spoke with Fox News Digital on the sidelines of the Republican midterm convention, where she and other 9/11 family members, Gold Star families, and families of civilian victims were pressing to meet with political leaders on an urgent mission as the clock ticked towards a critical deadline.

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"Congress created the United States Victims of State Sponsored Terrorism (USVSST) Fund. It was supposed to be a place for all victims to be able to go and receive some sort of relief. It was a lifeline to over 22,000 victims," Mistrulli explained. "Unfortunately, that fund has run dry, and September 30 is the fiscal deadline for Congress to act in order for victims to receive relief."

Established in 2015, the USVSST Fund has provided over $10 billion to victims harmed by international state-sponsored terrorism, including personal representatives for those who lost their lives from acts of terrorism such as the 9/11 attacks.

Mistrulli emphasized that 25 years after the 9/11 attacks, "We are still fighting for justice, transparency, recognition, and relief that Congress promised us."

"We're here not only to memorialize the 25th anniversary of 9/11, but also to try to get some face time with these leaders and these higher ups to be able to discuss this urgent and critical topic," she added.

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With the fiscal year cutoff approaching Sept. 30, Congress would need to authorize additional funding for victims holding unpaid terrorism judgments to be paid. A bipartisan group of lawmakers from New York introduced a bill in July that would require the U.S. Department of the Treasury to loan $3 billion annually to the fund for fiscal years 2027, 2028 and 2029.

The bill, H.R. 9795, was named after Mistrulli’s father — the Never Forget the Victims of Terrorism: Joseph D. Mistrulli and Alan Kleinberg USVSST Fund Solvency Act.

The Department of Justice has acknowledged that available USVSST funds remain insufficient to fully compensate victims' claims that have been and are anticipated to continue to grow.

Mistrulli and members of the AVSSTU are at the Republican midterm convention to push to influence members of Congress in voting to authorize continued funding for victims as the 25th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks concludes the week of convention activities in Dallas.

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"This is a hard one this year. 25 years. It feels like forever, but it also feels like yesterday, and it's also disappointing because I feel like our country has come so far away from who we were on September 12th," Mistrulli said. "It's also exhausting that it's been 25 years of us fighting for justice."

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"We have now been divided as a nation and my wish to everyone out there as we commemorate this anniversary, memorialize, never forget by coming back together."

9/11 widow Terry Strada accuses US of protecting Saudi Arabia 25 years after terror attacks, addresses Vance

Fri, 11 Sep 2026 12:07:29 -0400

Terry Strada, whose husband was killed in the World Trade Center on Sept. 11, 2001, said Friday during the 25th anniversary ceremony at Ground Zero that Saudi Arabia continues to evade responsibility for the terrorist attacks.

Strada went on to accuse the U.S. government of "protecting" Saudi Arabia, saying "administration after administration" had failed the victims' families over the last quarter-century.

"The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia fomented a rancid culture of anti-American terrorism around the globe, and then sent its agents to support the radical Islamist hijackers so they could attack you and all of our loved ones," said Strada, the national chair of 9/11 Families United.

"But for 25 years, administration after administration, including leaders in front of us here today, chose to protect the Saudis instead of standing with the 9/11 families," Strada added.

I LOST MY WIFE ON 9/11. PLEASE LET THIS 25TH ANNIVERSARY BELONG TO THE FAMILIES

She also addressed Vice President JD Vance, the most senior Trump administration official to attend the ceremony in Lower Manhattan.

President Donald Trump spoke at the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia.

"It has been one betrayal after another. President Trump can still change that. Tell the Saudis to stop lying. Tell them that if they want to be friends with the USA, they cannot continue to deny all of this," Strada said. "Vice President Vance, thank you for being here today. Please carry that message back. Stand with the families. Stand with the survivors. Stand with Americans."

Strada's husband, Tom Strada, was on the 104th floor of the North Tower when it was struck by American Airlines Flight 11, Strada told WPTV in an interview on the 20th anniversary of 9/11.

Tom Strada, 41, worked at Cantor Fitzgerald and days before the attacks, he and his wife had brought their third child home from the hospital. After the impact of the plane, he called her and said he was heading toward the stairwell.

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Since her husband's death, along with the deaths of nearly 3,000 others at the World Trade Center, the Pentagon and aboard the hijacked planes, Strada has become a leading advocate for accountability and transparency surrounding the Sept. 11 attacks.

Strada is among thousands of Sept. 11 family members and survivors who sued Saudi Arabia, alleging the kingdom provided material support to the al Qaeda hijackers. Saudi Arabia has repeatedly denied the allegations.

During her remarks Friday, Strada reminded the crowd that a federal judge ruled last August there was "reasonable evidence" that two Saudi government employees supported two future al Qaeda hijackers who came to the United States in early 2000 and took flight lessons.

The judge, George B. Daniels, allowed the lawsuit to go forward, denying Saudi Arabia's attempt to dismiss it.

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For more than a decade after the Sept. 11 attacks, victims' families were barred from pursuing a lawsuit against a foreign government because of sovereign immunity protections.

That changed in September 2016, when Congress passed the Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act (JASTA), allowing Americans to sue foreign governments accused of providing material support for terrorist attacks on U.S. soil.

In her speech, Strada criticized President Barack Obama for vetoing JASTA.

At the time, he argued the legislation went too far by threatening "to strip all foreign governments of immunity from judicial process in the United States based solely upon allegations by private litigants."

Congress overrode his veto days later, making JASTA law and paving the way for the lawsuit against Saudi Arabia to be filed in March 2017. The case remains pending in federal court.

AOC’s ‘modern-day lynchings’ claim torn to shreds online as Black hanging case findings tell a different story

Fri, 11 Sep 2026 12:04:23 -0400

This story discusses suicide. If you or someone you know is having thoughts of suicide, please contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988 or 1-800-273-TALK (8255).

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., warned Friday of "racial terror" and "widespread modern-day lynchings" in the U.S. as she joined dozens of Democrats demanding that the DOJ and FBI investigate hanging deaths of Black Americans.

Multiple official findings in several recent cases show that law enforcement or medical examiners ruled the deaths suicides, while at least one very recent death remains under a homicide investigation.

AOC alleges there is systemic racial bias at the agencies, while fellow progressive lawmaker Rep. Ayanna Pressley, D-Mass., called the hangings a "national crisis" in a letter to the agencies that she spearheaded.

MS RACHEL SPEAKS OUT ON BLACK HANGING CASES AS RALEIGH DEATH IS DECLARED SUICIDE

"This year, there have already been 10 reported hangings of Black people in the U.S. I’m proud to have signed onto Rep. Pressley’s letter to address these widespread modern-day lynchings and put a stop to this racial terror," Ocasio-Cortez wrote on X in support of the call.

Pressley warned in her letter that "Black folks are being found hanged in America" and insisted: "We cannot stand by while strange fruit hangs from trees across the country."

The letter, addressed to Attorney General Todd Blanche and FBI Director Kash Patel, was signed by Pressley, Ocasio-Cortez and about 50 Democrats. They demanded a "thorough, transparent, and comprehensive federal investigation into every hanging death of a Black individual across the United States," arguing that federal agencies have failed for decades to adequately investigate such deaths.

FAMILY IDENTIFIES YOUNG WOMAN FOUND FATALLY SHOT IN HOME OWNED BY REP AYANNA PRESSLEY'S HUSBAND

One 2026 case involved the death of a 21-year-old Atlanta man who had gone missing. He was later found hanging from a tree in a Cobb County park, where officials ruled out foul play and deemed the death a suicide, according to Atlanta’s NBC affiliate.

Another 2026 case involved Delta State University student Demartravion Reed in Mississippi. Officials "determined the cause of death to be a hanging and the manner of death as suicide."

At the time, the case reopened old memories of the murder of Emmett Till, according to reports. Till was a Black teen kidnapped and murdered by White men not far from the site after he was falsely accused of flirting with a White woman in 1955.

15-YEAR-OLD BLACK TEEN'S MURDER REVEALS THE UGLY TRUTH ABOUT WHITE GUILT IN AMERICA

A Grio report on Pressley’s letter also referenced the hanging deaths of a 58-year-old man in Albany, N.Y., and a 39-year-old man in Brookfield, Wisconsin.

The Albany Police Department said Earl Smith’s death was "ruled a suicide" and investigators found "no evidence" of criminal activity.

"The Albany Police Department is aware of concerns posted on social media suggesting that criminal activity was involved with this incident, which has understandably caused public concern," the department said.

A preliminary investigation of the Wisconsin man’s death also indicated suicide, according to Brookfield’s police chief cited by the Waukesha County Freeman.

At least one case remains under homicide investigation, according to reports.

Tasia Fortune was found hanging outside an abandoned house in Jackson, Mississippi, CNN reported Thursday. Authorities later questioned Terence Bernard Anderson, the father of one of her children, and arrested him on unrelated weapons charges, according to several reports.

AOC SLAMS ‘OPPRESSED’ TRUMP STATES WHILE TOUTING NYC SERVICES DESPITE $5B DEFICIT AND TRANSIT CRIME SPIKE

The lawmakers’ characterization also drew criticism on social media.

"Those community notes are stacking up," one critic said, as X’s crowdsourced correction indicator included several wire reports and media links disputing Ocasio-Cortez’ claims.

"There should be some sort of penalty for willfully lying on social media, especially for a politician," another claimed.

Former Energy Department official Matt Van Swol posted to X, "In the last ‘lynching’ of a Black woman, the media conveniently left out the prime suspect in the case was her Black boyfriend. Zero White people are lynching Black people in America today."

WATCH: SQUAD DEMOCRAT SPEAKS OUT AFTER TEEN FOUND SHOT DEAD AT HUSBAND’S BOSTON PROPERTY

Former Senate staffer Matt Whitlock added that "every death is a tragedy, but what do you think ‘widespread’ means if only one of these was actually a homicide. Not sure you’ve landed the point about ‘racial terror’ with this."

X’s crowdsourced Community Notes feature also pointed readers to law-enforcement and medical-examiner findings in several of the cases, stating that most high-profile hanging deaths it identified in 2025 and 2026 had been ruled suicides and that one remained under homicide investigation.

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Fox News Digital reached out to Ocasio-Cortez, Pressley, the DOJ and the FBI for comment.

9/11 sent them to war. 25 years later, veterans grapple with what followed

Fri, 11 Sep 2026 12:00:15 -0400

John Byrnes was swimming in a pool beneath Hunter College in Manhattan on the morning of Sept. 11, 2001, when he stepped outside for coffee and heard sirens blaring down Lexington Avenue.

He learned that a plane had hit the World Trade Center. Minutes later, he saw the North Tower collapse on a campus television and immediately headed toward his National Guard armory.

Byrnes spent the next two weeks helping secure Ground Zero. And spent the following years in both Iraq and Afghanistan.

Each of the five veterans who spoke with Fox News Digital ahead of the 25th anniversary of 9/11 remembers where they were when they learned the nation had been attacked — and how Sept. 11 changed the trajectory of their life and service.

Some were already in uniform. Others, including a successful businessman and a teenager who watched the attacks unfold on television at his school, felt compelled to enlist.

Looking back 25 years later, Byrnes draws a sharp distinction between the wars, including the decision to respond to the terrorist attacks and the choices that followed to continue the war on terror.

"The decision to go to Afghanistan, that was absolutely necessary," Byrnes, who is now a strategic director at Concerned Veterans for America, told Fox News Digital. "The decision to go to Iraq, which was not necessary."

"The decision to stay in Afghanistan for so long was unfortunate, but it all came down to that day."

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"The decisions that didn’t seem wrong at the time were just pebble after pebble into an avalanche," he said.

Veterans who spoke to Fox News Digital all went to war believing they were protecting Americans by keeping the fight "over there." Twenty-five years later, they remain proud that they answered that call. Their harder questions are about what came afterward: how the mission expanded, what two decades of war accomplished and whether the country ultimately made good on the sacrifices it asked of them — and the people of Afghanistan.

Chris Hoff was working for the state Department of Corrections while studying to become a special education teacher in his post-military service life. For him, the decision to return to service came as he watched the towers fall from the New Jersey shoreline.

"When September 11 happened, I knew right then and there that I was going back in the military," Hoff told Fox News Digital.

He returned to the reserves and deployed to Afghanistan twice. During his second deployment, he suffered multiple concussions and was ultimately forced to end his military career.

"For 20 years, all I knew was prison and war," Hoff said. "And I was good at both of them."

When he could no longer continue in either career, Hoff said he felt as though he had failed. But he credits connecting with the Wounded Warrior Project and beginning equine therapy for ultimately saving his life.

Hoff now shares his story in hopes other veterans will seek help sooner.

"If I can help just one soldier... get help," he said, "it’s okay to get help. It truly is. I’m glad I did."

If you or someone you know is having thoughts of suicide, please contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255).

Rep. Troy Downing, R-Mont., now serving his first term in Congress, was moose hunting in remote Alaska when he first learned that the World Trade Center had been attacked.

He had been dropped in the bush with only an aviation radio, and no planes had flown overhead for days. When a pilot finally reached the hunting party, Downing learned that both towers had fallen.

"This country has been good to me," Downing recalled thinking at the time when learning about the attack on U.S. soil. "What have I ever done to deserve it? We’re being attacked right now. Everything that this country stands for is being attacked. And I’ve never done anything to deserve this."

Downing, the son of a single teenage mom, grew up poor. He went on to teach at New York University and help build a technology startup that became Yahoo.

He was 34, with no prior military service, when he returned home and walked into a recruiter’s office the next day. Downing joined the Air National Guard and served in combat search and rescue, including during two deployments to Afghanistan.

The way the war ended did not change Downing’s view of the decision to serve. But it did shape how he viewed what the country ultimately did with that service.

Downing called the withdrawal under former President Joe Biden "a blemish" that "squandered everything that we gained there." He urged veterans not to conclude that their own sacrifices had been in vain.

"I just want to make sure that my brothers and sisters in arms, the folks that have served this mission, understand that they served this country and they served honorably," Downing told Fox News Digital. "And not think just because of that one misstep that it was in vain because you stepped up to the dotted line when your country asked you to."

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Brandon Newberry has wrestled directly with that question.

Just 16 years old when he walked out of gym class and saw news coverage of the World Trade Center falling on a TV in his Spanish classroom, Newberry said: "I just felt lost and hopeless."

"I wanted to do something," he went on. "I wanted to help. I knew there were people suffering, people dying, and it hurt me really bad."

Newberry joined the Marine Corps in 2006 because he believed the branch would put him closest to the fight. He deployed to Iraq in 2007 and later served two tours in Afghanistan.

"My whole philosophy behind it was take the fight to them," Newberry told Fox News Digital. "As long as I kept it in their backyard, they couldn’t put it in our backyard."

Newberry said he spent roughly seven years in Afghanistan, including time as a government contractor after leaving the Marines. The years there gave him a close view of the Afghan people and the changes he believed had taken place while U.S. forces were in the country.

"At the time, women were allowed to go to school. We had women doctors," he said. "They didn’t have that fear of the unknown, as long as we were there trying to help them out."

Newberry said the U.S. "fumbled the ball" and could have done more to establish a lasting government and security force before leaving.

"It could have definitely been done better," he said.

He also felt the conclusion of the two-decade war was a tragedy. "The withdrawal hurt us military guys. I lost a lot of good friends, and it hurts."

The ending, Newberry said, raised a more personal question about the years he had spent there: "I almost feel like everything that I did was almost for nothing because, again, I feel like at this point I failed the Afghan people."

Michael Matthews was already serving in the Army when the attacks happened that fateful day in 2001. He deployed to Iraq in 2003 with one of the first divisions to cross the border from Kuwait. His team was later hit by an IED.

Matthews suffered injuries to his face, neck, head, back, arms and legs, spent three and a half weeks in a coma and remained hospitalized for nearly nine months.

He had hoped to make a career of military service, but the injuries forced him onto a different path.

"It just ultimately changed the trajectory of what my goal was, which was to, of course, do this amazing life in the military and make a huge career out of it," Matthews told Fox News Digital.

Instead, Matthews said the experience also gave him a new purpose: "Helping veterans and helping the community."

For the men who served, questions about the wars do not necessarily translate into regret over their own decision to fight.

Byrnes said one of the central lessons of the post-9/11 wars is that military and political leaders must look beyond the immediate objective — and be willing to acknowledge when a strategy is not working.

"You can never admit failure," Byrnes said. "You always want to, no matter how bad things were, set the positive note. You tell the boss you’re winning until somebody else comes to take your place so you can get promoted without saying that you’re not winning."

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But 25 years after the attacks, the veterans’ reflections resist a simple judgment on the wars that followed.

They describe pride in having served despite the physical and psychological wounds, expressed frustration over the decisions that prolonged or expanded the wars, and issued sharply different conclusions about what the United States ultimately accomplished in its 20-year endeavor in the Middle East.

Matthews put that tension simply.

"We’re proud of what we did," he said. "Even though we may not have fully understood what we were doing or why we were doing it."

Universities across America honor the victims of the 9/11 terrorist attacks with memorial stair climbs

Fri, 11 Sep 2026 11:46:54 -0400

9/11 is a sobering day of remembrance for America. It's been 25 years since terrorist attacks rocked our nation to its core. After two planes struck the World Trade Center in New York City, Americans were scared, confused, and desperately looking for healing. Sports became a key catalyst to that healing. It unified and inspired us in the aftermath and even now half a century later, sports teams and leagues are doing their part to honor the first responders, victims, and working to bring Americans together in remembrance of this tragedy.

9/11 Memorial Stair Climbs

Many teams and universities across the country had 9/11 Memorial Stair Climbs on Friday morning where they climbed the stairs of local stadiums, the equivalent of 110 stories of the World Trade Center’s Twin Towers to honor the 343 firefighters and other first responders who lost their lives on September 11, 2001.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE OUTKICK SPORTS COVERAGE

Former Mets pitcher Al Leiter tells his harrowing 9/11 story of a quiet trip turned tragedy

These are just a few of many universities and teams that have done their part to honor the victims. It's a great way to remember what first responders went through to save fellow Americans. In a day and age where sports have been used as a divider, some leagues, players, and media members using their platforms to talk ill of our country, moments like this take us back to a time of when Americans rallied around eachother, while understanding that freedom isn't free, it comes with a cost, and some paid the ultimate sacrifice to save others in the midst of reckless hate.

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God bless the first responders and those that participated across the country this morning in stair climbs.

Skip the ironing board with this $22 steamer — now 40% off on Amazon

Sun, 06 Sep 2026 13:04:16 -0400

Wrinkles have an annoying habit of appearing on your clothes exactly when you’re already running late. Luckily, right now, this No. 1 bestselling portable handheld clothing steamer is still on sale for $22 on Amazon, (from $37) — a 40% discount.

Portable clothing steamer: $22.03 (40% off) — No. 1 bestseller on Amazon

Original price: $36.99

Why is this clothing steamer deal worth it?

At 40% off after Labor Day, Amazon's No. 1 bestselling clothing steamer is an inexpensive way to tackle everyday wrinkles without taking up closet space. The compact steamer has earned more than 54,000 ratings on Amazon and is designed for quick touch-ups.

It's also portable and travel-friendly: It fits easily into your bag for trips, so you don't have to worry about wrinkled clothes or whether your hotel has an iron.

It's safe to use on a variety of fabrics, making it useful for work shirts, dresses and pants. The 700W steamer uses a 304 stainless steel heating panel, which the brand says helps resist rust and oxidation. A 240 ml tank provides around 15 minutes of continuous steaming before it needs to be refilled.

What do reviewers think?

Reviewers frequently point to the steamer's compact size, quick heating and straightforward design.

"A busy parent's new favorite laundry shortcut," said one reviewer. "The steamer heats up quickly. The extra-long cord also makes it easy to move around without constantly searching for a closer outlet."

"This is the best handheld steamer out there. It's lightweight but holds enough water to easily steam several shirts with one fill. It's quiet and heats up quickly. I use it at least once a week and have basically replaced my extra-wide ironing board/iron with it," said another.

"The steamer is great for travel and very easy to use… wrinkles came out very easily. The included brush attachment made the entire process very streamlined as well. I have traveled a lot in the past and wish I had this steamer earlier!" wrote one reviewer.

What could be better?

The steamer is better suited for smaller jobs than an entire load of laundry. For everyday and last-minute wrinkle removal, though, its smaller size is part of the appeal.

The steamer also only works with 110V to 120V outlets, so it isn’t designed for international travel in countries that use 220V to 240V power. The manufacturer specifically warns that using it with those outlets, even with an adapter or portable converter, can cause the steamer to malfunction.

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At only $22 during Amazon's extended Labor Day sale, this portable handheld steamer is a useful, affordable pick for those who need smoother clothes quickly without sacrificing closet space to an ironing board.

If you're an Amazon Prime member, you can get these items sent to your door ASAP. You can join or start a 30-day free trial to start your shopping today.

Grab a bucket: Nike continues to faceplant with hideous new NBA alternate jersey reveal

Fri, 11 Sep 2026 11:24:39 -0400

The NBA has become somewhat of a gimmicky league over the last decade and a half.

Between players forming super teams, in-season tournaments, and guys making vague posts about each other on social media for attention, I sometimes have to wonder if these are modern-day gladiators or if they're gearing up to make an appearance on "Real Housewives."

Another thing about the Association that really grinds my gears is the staggering number of "alternate jerseys" they seem to barf out every year.

I'm all for having a few different uniform combos to choose from, but the NBA seems to have taken one look at the Oregon Ducks' football team and said, "hold my beer."

You've got throwback jerseys, "City Edition" jerseys, "Statement Edition" jerseys, and a bunch of others to choose from that would make a costume director on the set of a chick flick blush.

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That hasn't changed this season, either, as Nike decided to throw their hat in the ring and design a set of NBA jerseys deemed the "Spectre Edition" uniforms.

These are alternate jerseys for eight of the oldest teams in the league, and I can promise you that nothing will prepare you for how awful these look.

I say this without the slightest hint of hyperbole. These are some of the laziest pieces of trash I've ever seen for a jersey release, and that's saying something.

I've railed about bad college football uniforms in the past, but at least those had some effort put into them.

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These look like some Nike exec had a 90s screensaver app on his computer and said, "hey, I have an idea," as he started taking screenshots.

Sheesh, no wonder the once-powerful shoe and athletic apparel company is face planting as it ends its 18-year run in the S&P 100.

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Now, a lot of that has to do with their bizarre, far-left agenda that they seemingly insert into their ad campaigns, but the least they could do is be woke AND not produce a bunch of slapped together garbage.

And before you call me a boomer (guilty as charged) and say that I don't know what the kids are into these days (again, true), I would like to point out that I'm not alone.

These used elementary school paint smocks are being torched by every corner of the internet.

Absolutely brutal.

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Maybe if Nike spent less time shoving leftist talking points down everyone's throats and more time putting some thought into their jersey designs, we wouldn't have these monstrosities.

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Back to the drawing board, folks.

Netflix drops new trailer for 'Below' starring Josh Hartnett as a fisherman fighting a sea creature

Fri, 11 Sep 2026 11:19:20 -0400

A new trailer is out for Netflix's upcoming limited series "Below."

Basic info:

Streaming platform: Netflix
Plot: Calvin Penney (Josh Hartnett) is a big‑hearted but stubborn fisherman living in a small Newfoundland town, and he is still haunted by his father’s mysterious death from decades ago. When an unidentified sea creature begins terrorizing his hometown, Calvin must fight to hold his close-knit community together. Determined to keep his son Wade (Charlie Heaton) and the rest of his family safe, he teams up with a visiting marine researcher (Mackenzie Davis) to confront the creature and reveal the island’s buried secrets before it’s too late. Blending local myth, thrilling suspense, and heartfelt humour, this twisty six-part limited series dives into themes of family, community, and change - both terrifying and inevitable.
Cast: Josh Hartnett, Charlie Heaton and Mackenzie Davis.

Release date: October 8, 2026

Netflix releases new trailer for "Below" with Josh Hartnett.

"Below" stars Josh Hartnett, Charlie Heaton and Mackenzie Davis, and there's been some solid buzz ever since word was first announced about it.

The first preview for the series was released in late July. It painted a grim and ominous picture about a mysterious monster in the water.

A new preview was released by Netflix on Thursday, and it takes things to a terrifying new level. It's very clear that "Below" will be a blend of "Jaws," a paranormal story and horror.

That's more than enough to get me excited.

OUTKICK IS NOW ON THE FOX APP: CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD

Give the latest preview a watch below, and let me know your thoughts at David.Hookstead@outkick.com.

People in the comments were quick to show interest and intrigue. One wrote, "This is how trailers should be suspenseful, keeping you on the edge and not spiking a d**n thing!"

Another added, "Gordon Lightfoot providing background for a horror film is a new one."

A third commented, "Josh Hartnett defending his family against whatever’s in the water + Charlie Heaton? Sold. This sounds like it’s going to be a rollercoaster ride."

Buzz is high and only getting higher. It's never a bad time to dive into a new limited series.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

You can catch "Below" starting October 8 on Netflix, and make sure to hit me with your theories at David.Hookstead@outkick.com.

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