https://meenews.co/post/6a4f0578c2ca79de2365915e Fetterman unloads on scandal-plagued Platner after rape allegation ends Senate bid: 'Adios, trash bag' te 2026-07-09T02:20:40.368Z Fetterman unloads on scandal-plagued Platner after rape allegation ends Senate bid: 'Adios, trash bag' Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., said Graham Platner was always a "dead man walking" after the scandal-plagued Democratic candidate dropped out of the Maine U.S. Senate race following a rape allegation. "The trash took itself out tonight. And now, finally, people in Maine have a chance to really vote on someone that's not a total piece of trash," Fetterman said on "Jesse Watters Primetime" Wednesday. "[Platner] will only be remembered as the accused rapist that got pushed out of your election. That's your legacy, bro. And you are a guy that cheats on your wife. You're the guy that roughs up your ex-girlfriend." PLATNER DROPS OUT OF CRUCIAL SENATE RACE AFTER BOMBSHELL RAPE ALLEGATION TORPEDOES CAMPAIGN After facing a multitude of scandals, including sexual misconduct and domestic abuse allegations, Platner dropped out of the Maine race Wednesday. He announced his exit in an 11-minute video posted to X Wednesday evening, calling the rape allegation from a former partner "false." (Platner has not been criminally charged for the allegation.) "To give that weird long speech and pretend like people will miss you?" Fetterman said. "No one's going to forget you other than [as] the guy that was pushed out of the election because a woman credibly accused you of raping her. So that's his legacy." HOW GRAHAM PLATNER'S CAMPAIGN UNRAVELED: FROM REDDIT POSTS TO RAPE ALLEGATION "No one wants you anymore. I'm like, bro, you are an accused rapist," the senator continued. "Adios, trash bag." Platner, a military veteran and oyster farmer, spent much of his campaign on the defensive as multiple scandals rocked his candidacy, including a chest tattoo resembling a Nazi symbol and abuse allegations from former girlfriends. The allegation that triggered Platner's exit from the race came from Maine resident Jenny Racicot, 41, who told CNN's Jake Tapper that "by dictionary definition" Platner "raped" her. PLATNER'S LATEST ACCUSER CLAIMS THE DEMOCRATIC SENATE CANDIDATE 'ABSOLUTELY' RAPED HER Racicot alleged that Platner entered her home uninvited and forced her to have unprotected sex despite her repeatedly telling him to stop. Her allegation was the latest in a series of controversies that have dogged Platner. "He's always been a dead man walking," Fetterman said. Fetterman blasted his left-leaning colleagues like Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., who endorsed Platner in the Maine Senate race, saying they owe voters an apology. "What did [Democrats] see in this guy? Was it the Nazi tattoo, was it the gross messages online, the way he roughs up women?" Fetterman questioned. "Bernie Sanders needs to apologize to the voters of Maine and to everyone that donated to that train wreck of a campaign," he added. CLICK HERE FOR MORE COVERAGE OF MEDIA AND CULTURE Republicans currently control the chamber 53-47 and flipping the Senate seat in left-leaning Maine is a key part of the Democrats' path to retake the majority. Platner’s exit from the race will make the math harder for Democrats vying for the Senate majority. "Go back under that rock that you came from," Fetterman said of Platner. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4f0347c2ca79de23659105 Who is Shenna Bellows, a Democrat interested in running for Senate in Maine? te 2026-07-09T02:11:19.066Z Who is Shenna Bellows, a Democrat interested in running for Senate in Maine? Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4f0333c2ca79de236590fc Who is Nirav Shah, a Democrat interested in running for Senate in Maine? te 2026-07-09T02:10:59.610Z Who is Nirav Shah, a Democrat interested in running for Senate in Maine? Dr. Shah, an epidemiologist who led Maine’s response to the coronavirus pandemic, finished second in the ranked-choice primary for governor. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4f0320c2ca79de236590f3 Who is Troy Jackson, a Democrat running for Senate in Maine? te 2026-07-09T02:10:40.153Z Who is Troy Jackson, a Democrat running for Senate in Maine? Mr. Jackson, a longtime state legislator, lost a Democratic primary for governor this year. He has already earned some high-profile endorsements. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4f030cc2ca79de236590ea Trump Says He’ll Ask Supreme Court to Rehear Citizenship Case, an Unlikely Event te 2026-07-09T02:10:20.705Z Trump Says He’ll Ask Supreme Court to Rehear Citizenship Case, an Unlikely Event The last time the justices granted a rehearing request after a case decision was in 1965. The court has only once reversed itself after rehearing a case. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4f00dcc2ca79de2365909b Social media influencer and model, 22, killed in violent highway crash te 2026-07-09T02:01:00.094Z Social media influencer and model, 22, killed in violent highway crash A popular 22-year-old social media influencer and model was killed in a weekend car crash that also claimed the life of another passenger, authorities said. Officials identified one of the victims as Ayzia J. Toledo, a Philadelphia-area resident known for her modeling work and lifestyle content under the handle "AYZIA J." Toledo was driving a BMW with two other passengers late Sunday night when she lost control of the vehicle on a New Jersey freeway, police told Fox News Digital on Monday. The vehicle veered off the roadway, overturned and crashed into a tree in Deptford Township, about 12 miles south of Philadelphia. POPULAR FLORIDA SOCIAL MEDIA INFLUENCER KILLED IN DRIVE-BY SHOOTING WHILE INSIDE LUXURY SUV "Toledo lost directional control of the vehicle, ran off the roadway to the left, overturned and struck a tree," New Jersey State Police said. Both Toledo and her front-seat passenger "sustained fatal injuries," according to authorities. The second victim was identified as Henrietta F. Carter, a 22-year-old woman from Darby, Pennsylvania, a Philadelphia suburb. A third passenger who was seated in the rear of the vehicle suffered minor injuries and was transported to an area hospital, authorities said. Officials said the crash remains under investigation. FITNESS INFLUENCER STEPHANIE BUTTERMORE DEAD AT 36, FIANCÉ CONFIRMS IN HEARTBREAKING POST Toledo was a popular social media influencer who frequently shared content about beauty, fashion and her life in the Philadelphia area. She had amassed more than 300,000 followers across her social media accounts, including more than 250,000 followers on TikTok and about 87,000 on Instagram. Following news of her death, fans flooded her social media pages with messages of grief and condolences. According to a GoFundMe page dedicated to Toledo, she had been "building an incredible future for herself." "Ayzia was deeply loved by her family, cherished by her close friends, and admired by many throughout her community," the fundraiser said. "Ayzia has gone home to Heaven to rest peacefully alongside her beloved mother and grandmother." Her death came on the same day another young influencer was killed in a drive-by shooting while riding in a Lamborghini SUV in Miramar, Florida. Officials identified the woman as 21-year-old content creator Brianna Johnson, who was known to her followers as DreamDoll Brii. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4f00c8c2ca79de23659092 Is another team ready to take over the top of the Big Ten from Indiana and Ohio State? te 2026-07-09T02:00:40.645Z Is another team ready to take over the top of the Big Ten from Indiana and Ohio State? After years of unchecked dominance from the SEC, the Big Ten Conference cemented its place as the best in college football in the 2025-2026 season. The Indiana Hoosiers completed a remarkable 16-0 season by winning a National Championship, beating Ohio State in the conference championship game, dominating Alabama in the Rose Bowl, then blowing out Oregon in the College Football Playoff semifinal. That completed a Big Ten trifecta, with the Michigan Wolverines winning a championship in 2024, then the Buckeyes following it up by beating Notre Dame to win the title in 2025. While the SEC might have better depth overall, it's no question that the top of the Big Ten is as good or better than anyone. SEC, BIG TEN ARE DOMINATING COLLEGE FOOTBALL THANKS TO MASSIVE ADVANTAGES OVER OTHER CONFERENCES And a new program might be ready to take their turn at the top of the Big Ten: those same Oregon Ducks. One of the most predictive measures of a team's strength from year to year is how much production they return from the previous season. It makes sense; the more key players that stay with the team, the better it is for continuity and development. The Big Ten, oddly enough, has several teams that return much of their production on both sides of the ball. ESPN's Bill Connelly ran the numbers, finding that teams like Maryland, Nebraska, Minnesota and UCLA all ranked in the top 10 nationally in returning value. Though given how these teams played in 2025, that's less important. Number 12, though? The Oregon Ducks. And that carryover production is coming from a team that lost just two games all season, both to Indiana. They handled a very good USC team, 42-27, overcame miserable conditions to outlast the Iowa Hawkeyes on the road, beat the rival Washington Huskies, and most impressively, shut out an elite Texas Tech team 23-0 in the College Football Playoff. And they bring back the players responsible for 66% of their overall production, including star quarterback Dante Moore. Just behind them at 65%? USC, heading into a pivotal season under Lincoln Riley. Here's where Oregon has the advantage, however. They bring that percentage back from a team that was significantly better than USC. It's no surprise then, that per Connelly's SP+ projections, Oregon is expected to be the No. 2 team in the country, by efficiency on offense, defense and special teams. IF YOU'RE LOOKING FOR A BIG 12 WINNER NOT NAMED TEXAS TECH OR BYU, CONSIDER THE HOUSTON COUGARS What about the other Big Ten schools, though? USC is the biggest wildcard. They sit at No. 13 in the SP+ projections, thanks to an elite offense and a defense that's expected to be solid, if unspectacular. But their special teams projections are all the way down at No. 100 in the country, thanks to a series of disastrous mistakes in 2025. Special teams, though, should be the easiest area to improve upon. So if the Trojans can make some adjustments, they could exceed the eight game win expectancy. Ohio State and Indiana, the two most recent champions, have a bit of a tougher hill to climb, though their roster composition is far from disastrous. The Buckeyes bring back 60% of their production, while Indiana is at 56%, even with several huge departures. That ranks at No. 31 and No. 52, respectively. Important, but not enough to push either team out of the top 5 in the national projections. And Ohio State sits at No. 1, thanks to consistently elite recruiting and key players like Julian Sayin and Jeremiah Smith returning. But if there is an upset brewing at the top of the conference, Oregon might be the place to look. The question then becomes, can they put it all together against a difficult schedule? The Ducks play USC on the road, host Nebraska, travel to Illinois, play Ohio State on the road, host Michigan and have their rivalry game against Washington at Autzen. It won't be easy, but don't be surprised if at the end of the season, Dan Lanning and the Ducks are right back in the mix. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4efe84c2ca79de23659029 Jewish House Democrat recalls colleague saying there is no antisemitism because 'all the Jews are rich' te 2026-07-09T01:51:00.650Z Jewish House Democrat recalls colleague saying there is no antisemitism because 'all the Jews are rich' Rep. Becca Balint, D-Vt., described to CNN on Tuesday an instance of a fellow House Democrat appearing to dismiss antisemitism because "all the Jews are rich." Balint was one of multiple Jewish Democratic politicians who spoke to CNN about concerns regarding a growing sense of antisemitism among grassroots campaigns that have begun affecting established political figures like California state Sen. Scott Weiner. She told CNN she was "shaken to [her] core" after seeing Wiener heckled by anti-Israel activists for his past support for Israel and Jewish heritage. JEWISH CALIFORNIA CONGRESSIONAL CANDIDATE SAYS HARASSMENT FROM GAZA AGITATORS WENT ‘BEYOND FREE SPEECH’ "She described a familiar ache," the article read. "Like the people who tell her that homophobia doesn’t exist and then ask her what it means that she’s a lesbian. Like the House Democratic colleague she wouldn’t name who she says came to a bipartisan antisemitism task force meeting and said, 'I didn’t really think there was any antisemitism anymore, because all the Jews are rich.' Like the people who accuse Jewish politicians of having dual loyalty." Though Balint has agreed with progressive Democrats claiming that Israel was guilty of "committing a genocide" in Gaza, she told CNN that she still fears a "day of reckoning" for her because of her support for the Jewish state. "I know at some point there will be a day of reckoning, because I still believe that Jews should have a homeland," Balint said. "There will be people, I think some of my own supporters, who will turn on me, because I still believe in a two-state solution. I still do. I still believe that Israel should be safe and secure. I believe that the Palestinians have been so ill-treated for so long and deserve a safe and secure homeland. I do not believe Israel should be dismantled." BATYA UNGAR-SARGON EXPLAINS WHY SO MANY AMERICAN JEWS BECAME DEMS — AND WHY SOME NOW FEEL POLITICALLY HOMELESS Fox News Digital reached out to Balint's office for comment. Other Jewish Democrats expressed concerns that Israel is becoming a political "litmus test" for them despite their support for other progressive causes and criticism of the Israeli government. "The experience of being a Jewish Democrat is to feel like … no matter what the topic — it can be affordable housing — it’s just a matter of time before someone links it to Israel," New York City comptroller Mark Levine said. "What is the list of litmus test issues? As far as I know, at this point, it is exclusively a list of questions on Israel. We’re progressives. We’re absolutely willing to criticize the actions of the current government of Israel. And we are. But we’re feeling excluded from many spaces right now, and it’s hard to conclude it’s not because we’re Jewish." WATCH: HOUSE DEMS UNLOAD ON TEXAS DEMOCRAT OVER ‘DEMENTED’ ANTISEMITIC COMMENTS Michigan state Rep. Noah Arbit told CNN that he believed antisemitism is being perpetuated under the guise of criticizing Israel. "After I leave office, I’m not sure I’ll ever call myself a Democrat again," Arbit said. "I don’t know how Jews can feel like you can align yourself with any political movement when the grassroots are so hostile to who you are and your community." Fox News Digital also reached out to Arbit and Levine for comment. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4efe71c2ca79de23659020 Social media influencer and model, 22, killed in violent highway crash te 2026-07-09T01:50:41.198Z Social media influencer and model, 22, killed in violent highway crash A popular 22-year-old social media influencer and model was killed in a horrific weekend car crash that also claimed the life of another passenger, authorities said. Officials identified one of the victims as Ayzia J. Toledo, a Philadelphia-area resident known for her modeling work and lifestyle content under the handle "AYZIA J." Toledo was driving a BMW with two other passengers late Sunday night when she lost control of the vehicle on a New Jersey freeway, police told Fox News Digital on Monday. The vehicle veered off the roadway, overturned and crashed into a tree in Deptford Township, about 12 miles south of Philadelphia. POPULAR FLORIDA SOCIAL MEDIA INFLUENCER KILLED IN DRIVE-BY SHOOTING WHILE INSIDE LUXURY SUV "Toledo lost directional control of the vehicle, ran off the roadway to the left, overturned and struck a tree," New Jersey State Police said. Both Toledo and her front-seat passenger "sustained fatal injuries," according to authorities. The second victim was identified as Henrietta F. Carter, a 22-year-old woman from Darby, Pennsylvania, a Philadelphia suburb. A third passenger who was seated in the rear of the vehicle suffered minor injuries and was transported to an area hospital, authorities said. Officials said the crash remains under investigation. FITNESS INFLUENCER STEPHANIE BUTTERMORE DEAD AT 36, FIANCÉ CONFIRMS IN HEARTBREAKING POST Toledo was a popular social media influencer who frequently shared content about beauty, fashion and her life in the Philadelphia area. She had amassed more than 300,000 followers across her social media accounts, including more than 250,000 followers on TikTok and about 87,000 on Instagram. Following news of her death, fans flooded her social media pages with messages of grief and condolences. According to a GoFundMe page dedicated to Toledo, she had been "building an incredible future for herself." "Ayzia was deeply loved by her family, cherished by her close friends, and admired by many throughout her community," the fundraiser said. "Ayzia has gone home to Heaven to rest peacefully alongside her beloved mother and grandmother." Her death came on the same day another young influencer was killed in a drive-by shooting while riding in a Lamborghini SUV in Miramar, Florida. Officials identified the woman as 21-year-old content creator Brianna Johnson, who was known to her followers as DreamDoll Brii. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4ef77bc2ca79de23658f20 More than 30 injured after Maryland transit bus crashes into building near Baltimore te 2026-07-09T01:20:59.553Z More than 30 injured after Maryland transit bus crashes into building near Baltimore More than 30 people were injured Wednesday when a public bus crashed into a building just outside Baltimore, Maryland, and one critical patient was extricated and taken to a hospital, authorities said. First responders were at the scene after a Maryland Transit Administration bus crashed on Reisterstown Road in Pikesville, Fox 45 News reported. DC POLICE OFFICIALS FACE TERMINATION AFTER FEDERAL PROBE UNCOVERS ALLEGED MANIPULATED CRIME DATA BY DEPARTMENT Baltimore County officials said "numerous civilian vehicles" were involved in the crash, including one that overturned onto its roof. One person was trapped inside the bus and another in a car was rescued by responding crews, authorities said. A building engineer was en route to the scene, the Baltimore County Fire Department said. WATCH: COAST GUARD VIDEO REVEALS SEIZURE OF BRIAN HOOKER'S SAILBOAT AFTER WIFE'S BAHAMAS DISAPPEARANCE FLORIDA MAN GIVES AN INCREDIBLE INTERVIEW ABOUT HOW HE FOUGHT OFF AN ALLIGATOR WITH A FISHING POLE A second mass-casualty incident alarm was issued shortly after the crash, officials said. Maryland Gov. Wes Moore said he was monitoring the situation. "Dawn and I are keeping everyone impacted in our hearts and prayers. We are deeply grateful for our first responders who acted with speed and skill to ensure the safety of our neighbors," he wrote on X. "We’ve been in close coordination with local officials to provide any support needed on the ground." The Maryland State Highway Administration said that roads near the crash were closed as crews responded to the scene. Drivers were urged to use alternate routes. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4ef768c2ca79de23658f17 Stepdad accused of sex assault as cops widen probe into girl’s lethal Benadryl ingredient dose te 2026-07-09T01:20:40.105Z Stepdad accused of sex assault as cops widen probe into girl’s lethal Benadryl ingredient dose A Connecticut man is accused of sexually assaulting his 12-year-old stepdaughter, who was found dead in her home with a lethal dose of diphenhydramine — the active ingredient in Benadryl — in her system, according to authorities. Anthony Federline, 39, was charged in April with first-degree sexual assault and risk of injury to a minor after the death of Eve Rogers, according to the Enfield Police Department. Authorities are now looking to search Federline’s Facebook and Snapchat accounts, the family’s CVS Caremark account and two Amazon accounts as part of a probe into the girl's death, court documents show, according to WFLA. Rogers was found dead in her home on March 18. According to court documents, her mother found her on her bedroom floor partially unclothed, with a blanket covering her lower body. Blood and other fluids were running down from her nose, the documents stated. NORTH CAROLINA COLD CASE HEATS UP WITH STEPMOTHER ACCUSED OF KILLING MISSING TEEN A sexual assault kit was performed on the girl before her autopsy, and Federline was determined to be one of the "contributors from a DNA swab," an arrest warrant said, according to WFLA. No charges have been filed in connection with the girl’s death. The medical examiner told police that toxicology testing indicated a lethal dosage of diphenhydramine in the girl's system. Fluoxetine, also known as Prozac, was also found in her system despite it not being prescribed to her, search warrants state, the outlet reported. The report showed a diphenhydramine level of 23,000 ng/ml in Rogers’ blood, WFLA reported. Lethal concentrations are listed at 4,390 ng/ml for children and 14,720 ng/ml for adults, according to the report. The medical examiner said Rogers would have had to ingest about 1.8 liters of liquid diphenhydramine to reach the level found in her blood. Investigators said it is unclear how she ingested the large dosage found in her system. Rogers’ mother told detectives she used her Amazon account to buy medication, Sleep Aid capsules and a "sexual pleasure device" for her 12-year-old daughter, the outlet reported. However, investigators said no dyes were found in the girl’s system to indicate she had ingested Sleep Aid capsules, despite the high level of diphenhydramine detected in her blood. Her mother also said she had found inappropriate conversations between her daughter and unknown people on the internet, but police did not find these conversations during their searches. TEACHER ACCUSED OF SEX WITH STUDENTS WAS ALLEGEDLY BLACKMAILED FOR BETTER GRADES: WARRANTS Federline told detectives that he used applications such as Facebook and Snapchat to speak with his stepdaughter, but claimed the conversations were not sexual.  New search warrants show that investigators are probing Federline’s online activity for the months leading up to the girl's death.  Federline has pleaded not guilty to the sexual assault and risk of injury to a minor charges. He is due back in court later this month. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4ef524c2ca79de23658ec5 Candace Parker tells Caitlin Clark haters to 'go to therapy' after shocking WNBA player rankings te 2026-07-09T01:11:00.762Z Candace Parker tells Caitlin Clark haters to 'go to therapy' after shocking WNBA player rankings Caitlin Clark is at the center of the WNBA universe for a reason: she's the best. Names like A'ja Wilson can challenge Clark on an MVP level, but at her position, no one can score and assist like Clark. Clark's WNBA cohorts beg to differ, voting her the 11th-best guard in the league. CAITLIN CLARK'S PEERS MAKE IT CRYSTAL CLEAR THEY HATE HER WITH INSULTING ALL-STAR GAME VOTE Now it's no secret that fellow WNBAers have been jealous of Clark's popularity and appeal. The list was another example of the league-wide anti-Clark campaign. Take it from WNBA legend Candace Parker, who made the point while speaking with Clark's Fever teammate, Aliyah Boston. Parker went off on Clark's 11th spot in the peer-voted survey, saying the league ought to quit being disrespectful to Clark and give her some flowers. She said, "It's also kinda crazy. I wholeheartedly believe that there need to be some rules with the WNBA players, because this is getting out of hand. Caitlin Clark [being] voted 11th-best guard by WNBA players, that's crazy." Parker called out the insecurities that continue to poison the well in the WNBA, where too many players have chosen resentment over respect. The WNBA media is most guilty of this. "I think people need to look at themselves in the mirror and realize you've got some insecurities, if you're sitting down and putting Caitlin Clark as the 11th-best guard. WNBA WANTS A BIGGER STORY THAN CAITLIN CLARK, BUT TV RATINGS KEEP POINTING BACK TO HER "Y'all need to go to a therapist and figure out what childhood issues you have, 'cause if you're sitting there, and looking at yourself in the mirror, and putting her at the 11th-best guard like c'mon." Parker led a celebrated career with three championships, two MVP awards, a Finals MVP and Defensive Player of the Year honors. She was also a seven-time All-Star and two-time Olympic gold medalist. In Parker's view, she would never have tried to launch an anti-campaign against some of the biggest stars from her days in the league. "When I sat down, as much as I did not like Diana Taurasi, there ain't no way I'm not going to write her as an All-Star." "As much as I did not like anyone on the Lynx because they used to whoop our a**, I'm not going to not put Maya Moore or Sylvia Fowles." Fans account for 50% of the All-Star vote, while players and media each make up 25%. Heading into a Wednesday night matchup with the Sparks, Clark is averaging 21.2 points, 8.2 assists, 4.0 rebounds and 0.8 steals in 30.8 minutes per game. Clark finished second overall in fan voting and earned a starting spot thanks to fans and the media, not her fellow players. To tamp down the Clark hype, WNBA players, former players and media have aimed at the Fever guard, believing she's been "overhyped," disregarding the phenomenon that's followed her since college. Her appeal should be championed, even if WNBA players don't see it that way. Since Clark entered the WNBA, the league has shattered attendance and viewership records. The WNBA averaged 9,807 fans per game in 2024, a 48% jump from the previous season. Total attendance topped 2.35 million, sellouts skyrocketed from 45 to 154, and the league followed that by setting another single-season attendance record in 2025. She's been rocket fuel for the league, the sparkplug behind the Fever alongside All-Stars Aliyah Boston and Kelsey Mitchell, and a solid leader in her own right. Clark's most ardent supporters have called for her to switch leagues to really put a squeeze on the WNBA. Without Clark, the WNBA would be back to inventing promotional nights just to fill seats. Send us your thoughts: alejandro.avila@outkick.com / Follow along on X: @alejandroaveela Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4ef511c2ca79de23658ebc Carville blasts Dems amid Platner scandal, warning they ignored a classic rule of politics and paid the price te 2026-07-09T01:10:41.315Z Carville blasts Dems amid Platner scandal, warning they ignored a classic rule of politics and paid the price Veteran Democratic strategist James Carville blasted Democrats for failing to properly vet Graham Platner during a podcast on Wednesday. Democratic Party leaders and liberal commentators who once defended Platner amid previous scandals ranging from controversial rhetoric to a Nazi-associated tattoo have since denounced him over new sexual assault allegations. Maine resident Jenny Racicot accused Platner of rape in interviews with Politico and CNN on Monday, alleging the Senate hopeful entered her home uninvited while intoxicated nearly five years ago and forced himself on her. Platner has denied the allegation.  Carville spoke about the election on Wednesday’s episode of "Politics War Room" as a clear case of younger Democrats failing to observe the tried and true political wisdom of the past. EXPLOSIVE SEXUAL ASSAULT ALLEGATION ROCKS PLATNER CAMPAIGN AHEAD OF KEY DEADLINE IN CRUCIAL SENATE RACE "The Platner rise was also a rise of a different attitude set," Carville said. "It was the consultants of like 27, 28 years old, and they were not sort of straitjacketed by the old rules of politics, and it looked like they had some real success. I mean, they won. They knocked the incumbent governor — couldn’t even run — and they were kind of ahead in the polls." "If I look back on this… you didn’t vet your own candidate ? You mean you didn’t know?" Carville rhetorically asked of Maine Democrats. "Okay, we used to get our own oppo researchers to do an oppo research book on us. It’s the most important research you do!" "And so they took off in this campaign, and all of this was recent. It wasn’t way back in some other godforsaken time. I don’t think they knew. I don’t think they wanted to know," Carville said. "It’s so, so '80s to do a briefing on your own candidate to find out what’s wrong with him. But, you know, there are certain rules in politics." This denouncement was a stark contrast from Carville’s previous rhetoric in defense of Platner amid his previous scandals just over a month before. PLATNER’S THREE-DAY VETTING JOB COMES BACK TO HAUNT DEMS AS RAPE ALLEGATION ROCKS SENATE BID "He’s f---ed up, he’s been shot at, he’s a veteran, he’s a little bit weird, he’s an oysterman," said Carville, who, like Platner, served in the United States Marine Corps. "Maybe we need a combat veteran right on that Senate floor who is f---ed up." One noteworthy part of the previous defense was his World War II comparison, arguing, "And you know if Franklin Roosevelt and Winston Churchill could work with Joseph Stalin — who, by the way, well, I'll tell you this, he was a bad guy, a really bad guy, alright — then I can overlook a tattoo." But one of Carville’s defenses of Platner, who has now been denounced by multiple past girlfriends, has aged particularly poorly. "I don’t know how to tell The New York Times this, but boy puts hand on girl’s t---y, girl moves hand, boy walks away rejected and despondent. It happens," Carville said. Fox News Digital reached out to Platner's campaign and did not receive any immediate reply. CLICK HERE FOR MORE COVERAGE OF MEDIA AND CULTURE Fox News' Adam Pack and Paul Steinhauser contributed to this report. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4ef2e1c2ca79de23658e60 Platner accuser recalls 'gaslighting,' ‘betrayal’ from NY Times as she came forward with her allegations te 2026-07-09T01:01:21.406Z Platner accuser recalls 'gaslighting,' ‘betrayal’ from NY Times as she came forward with her allegations Betrayal — that's the word that comes to mind for Lyndsey Fifield following her interactions with The New York Times, saying the paper had "tainted" her story about embattled Democratic Maine Senate candidate Graham Platner.   A bombshell report published Monday by Politico rocked the political landscape accusing Platner of sexual assault by one of his exes. Jenny Racicot alleged in 2021 that Platner drunkenly entered her home uninvited and had sex with her despite her repeatedly telling him to stop. Platner has firmly denied her claims. The claim, which Racicot has said constituted rape, caused prominent Democrats to call for him to step aside, and Platner dropped out of the race officially Wednesday night. NEW YORK TIMES UNDER SCRUTINY OVER GRAHAM PLATNER COVERAGE AS ACCUSERS SPEAK OUT AGAINST PAPER Both Racicot and Fifield were interviewed by the Times in a story published last month about Platner's "unsettling" behavior with women — but the report included a focus on Fifield's conservative politics. "The New York Times piece… people are looking back at that with absolute horror and just saying like, ‘Holy crap, this is like terrible. This is truly gruesome what you've done to these women,’" Fifield told Fox News Digital in an interview Wednesday, before Platner dropped out of the race. Fifield, who dated Platner between 2013-2015, said it started when Times reporter Katie Glueck contacted her in April, saying the paper was trying to reach those who Platner had relationships with after hearing "some really serious things" from other women. Times reporter Lisa Lerer, who co-authored the story, was also intensely involved. "They said… very insistently, ‘Wait, wait, there are other women who are very afraid to come forward. They do not want to tell their stories because of how vulnerable they are, and you can help them, and we can protect you,’" Fifield told Fox News Digital. "I didn’t want to do this," she said. "They made me feel guilty that if I didn’t go on the record, then Jenny and the other unnamed woman, that their stories wouldn’t get told." GRAHAM PLATNER'S MOST PROMINENT PRESS ALLIES ABANDON HIM AS RAPE ALLEGATION ROCKS MAINE SENATE RACE Before the story was published, the Times reporters connected Fifield with Racicot. She found it strange but was told by the reporters that Racicot "had no one" and was "totally isolated" because of Racicot's far-left social circle that was supportive of Platner's campaign. "They said she really needs a friend, and you will understand her... and they were right about that. We have become friends," Fifield said. Racicot wasn't the only one who allegedly faced sexual abuse at the hands of Platner. Fifield initially told the Times off the record that Platner repeatedly removed his condom during sex without her knowledge or consent, an action known as stealthing, which has been made illegal in certain states. She initially did not want to share that publicly due to the "gross" nature of it, in addition to her current life as a wife and mother of young children. Inspired by Racicot going on the record with her assault claim with Politico, Fifield went on the record about it Tuesday with The Washington Post. NYT COLUMNIST SAYS SHE 'DEEPLY' REGRETS PRAISING SENATE HOPEFUL AFTER RAPE ALLEGATION Fifield was aghast by the Times' published report that prominently featured her after the reporters gave her the impression that allegations from the other women would be included. "I'm out here on my own, I'm the only one photographed, and there's 11 paragraphs of my work history. Like, what is this?" Fifield reacted. Racicot initially told the Times about her alleged assault off the record. The incident was alluded to roughly 70 paragraphs deep into the story — which read, "Ms. Racicot also said that in 2021 he arrived at her house drunk, after she had asked him not to come over. She declined to elaborate, but said she cut off contact soon after that episode and found his behavior 'reckless' and 'unsettling.'" During the reporting process, Fifield recalled the Times asking numerous questions about her career. She said the reporters made it feel like they were seeking information to protect her from the Platner campaign, suggesting her claims were tied to her political affiliation. Instead, Fifield said the Times weighed her story down with pointless details about her work history, insisting she’s "not some political operative" despite the framing. The Times' story described Fifield as a "Virginia conservative who has worked for right-leaning groups and Republican campaigns" and harped on her ties to a women’s conservative group. Her claim that Platner once "twisted her arm behind her back, shoved her into a bedroom and held the door closed from the other side so she couldn’t get out" was mentioned in the 24th paragraph. "I want to blame the editors at The New York Times," Fifield said. "I almost don't want to blame these journalists because they became like friends, I felt like we had a friendly relationship — and maybe that's me being really naïve. I don't know, it doesn't make any sense." HASAN PIKER TURNS ON PLATNER, SAYS HE BELIEVES SEXUAL ASSAULT ACCUSER AND PREDICTS 'CURTAINS' ON CAMPAIGN Fifield was puzzled when the Times reporters urged her to avoid the public's response to the story shortly after it was published as she peppered them with questions about the finished product. Some left-wing allies of Platner suggested Fifield's story was tainted because of her personal views.  "They were like, ‘Oh, Lyndsey, just stay off social media. Don't listen to people who are being critical of you. Don't listen to them. Put your phone away. Go to the lake... Go on vacation, enjoy your babies... You did a brave thing. This was so huge. You're so brave for doing this and we really appreciate it. We're here if you need anything.' And it was just, like, gaslighting," Fifield recalled. Fifield doesn’t want to think of Glueck and Lerer as "villains," but feels what occurred was "pretty evil" in the wake of the Politico story. "They were like slow walking it to the week of the primary. They contacted us on April 15. There was no reason in hell that they shouldn't have been able to get that story out that week," she said. "It makes me sick to realize that that's what they were doing now." The Times story last month claimed it "could not independently corroborate Ms. Fifield’s account of the altercations." Fifield said this is simply "not true" and the Times reporters knew it was false before the article was published, telling the Times she had confided in a friend about the abuse and other "toxic elements" of her relationship with Platner, but her friend was never contacted by The Times. "They only called the sources that didn’t know anything about the abuse," Fifield said. "There was a conversation where they were saying, ‘We're going to include this line about ‘could not corroborate,’ and that was when I started to get really panicked. And I was like, ‘Wait a minute, what do you mean? I thought that you called.’" She was "horrified" when the Times told her that "it wasn’t enough," and attempted to downplay the disclaimer that her account could not be corroborated. "They were like, ‘Actually, it's fine. You know, women don't often come forward, so it's actually normal for women not to tell anyone,’" Fifield said. Emily Zanotti, one of Fifield's friends, was willing to speak with the Times to corroborate Platner's mistreatment of her. She wrote on X that she was never contacted. Conservative critics on social media have accused the Times of using "catch and kill" tactics to shield Platner so that allegations of sexual misconduct would never see the light of day, a notion Fifield agreed with. "They tainted our story," Fifield told Fox News Digital. A spokesperson for The New York Times stood by its reporting and strongly pushed back against critics. "The Times's June 4 reporting on Graham Platner and his patterns of behavior was a powerful and original piece of journalism that presented deeply personal accounts and many new facts for the first time," the Times spokesperson said. "As a result of what this original article broke open, The Times and other outlets continued to produce groundbreaking, independent reporting that revealed even more new details about the sensitive and upsetting experiences that women who knew Platner went through." "In the ensuing weeks, partisan commentators and politically-aligned media have put forward false allegations and criticism about The Times's journalism process. The story carefully reported what we could confirm at the time, was factually accurate and fair, and it alerted the public to important new information about a candidate for the Senate," the spokesperson added. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4ef2cdc2ca79de23658e57 Pardoned House Dem back in the spotlight as brother faces up to 10 years in prison if convicted te 2026-07-09T01:01:01.950Z Pardoned House Dem back in the spotlight as brother faces up to 10 years in prison if convicted The efforts of Rep. Henry Cuellar, D-Texas, to move past his indictment and subsequent pardon by President Donald Trump are clashing with his brother's legal troubles. Martin Cuellar, sheriff of Webb County, Texas, faces a court hearing on Thursday over accusations of having misappropriated county funds. The case, coupled with the closeness of the Cuellar family, is complicating Henry Cuellar’s political outlook as he wages a campaign to continue his congressional career in one of the country’s most competitive districts. It’s been over half a year since Trump pardoned Cuellar from an indictment on charges of bribery, conspiracy and money laundering. "This pardon gives us a clean slate. The noise is gone. The work remains," Cuellar said in a post to X, announcing that very same day that he would pursue reelection. FORMER INDIANA REP STEPHEN BUYER RECEIVES FULL PARDON FROM TRUMP FOR 2023 INSIDER TRADING CONVICTION Cuellar was accused of accepting nearly $600,000 in bribes from an oil and gas company controlled by the government of Azerbaijan and a Mexican bank. Although those charges are gone, Cuellar’s case is still very much in the public eye as his brother fends off accusations of siphoning funds. Martin Cuellar faces 10 years behind bars as well as a possible $250,000 maximum fine for allegedly using county employees and resources to run his own disinfecting business, Disinfect Pro Master. Martin allegedly took home about $175,000 in illegal proceeds between 2020 and 2022, according to the Department of Justice. "They allegedly opened Disinfect Pro Master in April 2020 and entered into service agreements with local businesses and restaurants despite having no employees or supplies of their own," the U.S. attorney’s office wrote. SWALWELL FRIEND GALLEGO DEFENDS CAMPAIGN-FUNDED SUPER BOWL, MIAMI TRIPS: ‘GO WHERE THE MONEY IS’ "The indictment alleges WCSO employees handled the company’s day-to-day operations from the sheriff’s office where they picked up schedules and equipment to conduct disinfecting services both on and off the clock with the county." Connections between Cuellar and his siblings are further strengthened by their closeness. In the past, Cuellar has used his campaign fundraising apparatus to bolster his family’s chances in their own official pursuits, records show. According to FEC filings, Cuellar’s campaign and his leadership PAC have paid $11,000 to his sister Rosie Cuellar for doing work for the campaign in 2022 and then donated $1,200 to her bid to become a judge. He has similarly donated $8,400 to his brother, Martin Cuellar, and his campaign to become sheriff in 2008 and 2020. To at least one onlooker, the family’s woes look interconnected. "The latest legal trouble surrounding Henry Cuellar's family proves one thing: the scandals didn't end with Henry. They simply moved down the family tree," Christian Martinez, the national Hispanic press secretary for the National Republican Congressional Committee, said in a statement. "The Cuellar family's culture of corruption has turned South Texas into a case study of what happens when one self-serving family holds power for too long," he added. SWALWELL PAL ACCUSED OF USING CAMPAIGN CASH TO BANKROLL ‘LUXURY LIFESTYLE’ — INCLUDING SUPER BOWL TICKETS Cuellar’s campaign did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Fox News Digital. Having cleared the Texas primary in March, Cuellar now heads to the general election on Nov. 3. Cuellar last won reelection in a 52.8% to 47.2% victory over Republican challenger Jay Furman in 2024. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4ef2a7c2ca79de23658e4c Video of Kirk Assassination Suspect’s Ex-Partner to Be Played in Court te 2026-07-09T01:00:23.045Z Video of Kirk Assassination Suspect’s Ex-Partner to Be Played in Court A judge said he would allow prosecutors to play the recording at a hearing on Thursday as prosecutors seek to take Tyler Robinson to trial on a charge that he murdered Charlie Kirk last year. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4ef061c2ca79de23658dde Clues Behind a Cracker Barrel and in 2 Other States Led to 1985 Killing Cold Case Arrest te 2026-07-09T00:50:41.161Z Clues Behind a Cracker Barrel and in 2 Other States Led to 1985 Killing Cold Case Arrest Nearly four decades after an Ohio man was found slain in a hotel room, renewed forensic testing and years of follow-up investigation resulted in a murder indictment. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4ef04dc2ca79de23658dd5 Does a Sex Assault Claim Kill a Political Career? It Depends. te 2026-07-09T00:50:21.713Z Does a Sex Assault Claim Kill a Political Career? It Depends. The swift exit of Graham Platner from the Maine Senate race followed Eric Swalwell’s similar exit from the California governor’s race, but Republicans have taken a different tack. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4eee08c2ca79de23658d6f Justin Verlander's retirement announcement comes with a well-earned hat tip to SI Swimsuit legend Kate Upton te 2026-07-09T00:40:40.363Z Justin Verlander's retirement announcement comes with a well-earned hat tip to SI Swimsuit legend Kate Upton Justin Verlander announced on Wednesday that this season would be the last of his career. His return to the Detroit Tigers hasn't gone as planned. He's given up five earned runs in just three and two thirds innings of work due to injury. Even more disappointing than those numbers was the wasted bikini welcoming Sports Illustrated Swimsuit had for him ahead of what was supposed to be his first home start back in April. Verlander missed that start and hasn't pitched in a game since his first start of the season in Arizona back in March. His retirement announcement came after Major League Baseball revealed that he had been selected to his 10th All-Star Game as a "Legend Pick." ZERO BS. JUST DAKICH. TAKE THE DON’T @ ME PODCAST ON THE ROAD. DOWNLOAD NOW! The game of baseball has told him it's time to hang it up. The All-Star and retirement announcements have come, as you would expect, with a look back at his Hall of Fame-worthy career. The 2006 AL Rookie of the Year and 2011 MVP has three Cy Young Awards to his name. He has two World Series rings and three no-hitters to go along with his other accolades. PHILLIES STAR SAYS 'BS RULE' IS KEEPING HIM FROM BEING NAMED ALL-STAR IN FRONT OF HOME CROWD Verlander is also eighth on the all-time strikeout list with a real shot at seventh place, needing only 21 more strikeouts to pass Don Sutton. As with any mention of his career achievements, the internet, as you would also expect, has made sure to give a well-earned hat tip to his wife, Kate Upton. A legend in her own right. You really can't tell the full story of Justin Verlander's remarkable career without a mention of the four-time SI Swimsuit cover model. She's been there through every high and low. And as he pointed out in his announcement, he couldn't have done it without her. What a career, even if it doesn't end how one of the best to ever lace up a pair of cleats hoped it would. Again, you're not sneaking a retirement announcement by the internet without a round of applause for Mrs. Verlander. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4eebafc2ca79de23658d1d Platner drops out of crucial Senate race after bombshell rape allegation torpedoes campaign te 2026-07-09T00:30:39.781Z Platner drops out of crucial Senate race after bombshell rape allegation torpedoes campaign Graham Platner, the embattled Democratic Senate nominee in Maine, suspended his campaign on Wednesday amid mounting controversies and growing calls from top Democrats in his home state, in the nation's capital, and across the country for him to immediately quit the race. Platner, a populist Democrat backed last September by progressive champion Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., was challenging longtime Republican Sen. Susan Collins in a high-profile, combustible and expensive race in Maine, which is one of a handful that will determine if the GOP holds onto its slim Senate majority in November's midterm elections. "For the movement to continue, it can’t be me. For that reason we are suspending campaign operations," Platner said in a video posted to social media. Platner's exit from the race comes five days before a crucial deadline, which, if he had missed, would have prevented Maine Democrats from replacing him with a new nominee on the general election ballot. The suspension of his campaign took place one month after Platner won a landslide victory in Maine's June 9 Democratic Senate primary, but just two days after an explosive report on Monday afternoon contained an allegation of rape from a woman he previously dated.  SCANDAL-PLAGUED PLATNER CAPTURES DEMOCRATIC SENATE NOMINATION DESPITE MOUNTING CONTROVERSIES Maine resident Jenny Racicot, 41, told CNN's Jack Tapper that "by dictionary definition" Platner "raped" her. "I thought, here's a man who was drunk and who, by dictionary definition, raped me. And he's blaming drunk women," Racicot said. "So I just felt like that was a very odd take to have on that. And I also feel like with all of the comments that he made about women, sexual assault, rape, even, um, you know, the comments that he had made that was in The New York Times article about, you know, threatening people with rape, like, why does this person have this issue, like scattered throughout their life, throughout their commentary, like it‘s on their mind?" Racicot also said over the course of three interviews with Politico that Platner forced her to have sex five years ago against her will, a claim that Platner denied in the Politico story. Additionally, the report says that a man Raciot dated afterward confirmed she had told him about the incident, which was also corroborated by emails between Racicot and her therapist.  "I remember him grabbing my pelvis and being really forceful of me," Racicot told the outlet about the incident, which allegedly took place while Platner was "almost blackout drunk." "I remember the specific moment where I thought to myself, like, ‘This is no longer my choice.’" Racicot alleged that Platner entered her home uninvited and forced her to have unprotected sex despite her telling him to stop multiple times.  Racicot said in the report that "one of the reasons" she didn't come forward until now was the "huge moral conflict" she had between her support of Platner's politics and not supporting him "as a person." "I just want the truth out there," Racicot said. "I just want people to have a whole scope of who he is as a person." In a statement to Politico, Platner said, "These allegations are troubling, serious, and false. Any accusation of non-consensual behavior is categorically untrue." The Platner campaign also posted a video on X shortly after the Politico story published where Platner again called the allegations "false" and that he was going to "reflect" on the best path forward.  "So, regardless of the inaccuracy of the reporting, but mindful the political reality it will inflict, we are taking the time to reflect on the best path forward for the state that I love, the people that I love, the movement I belong to, and the goal of defeating Susan Collins," Platner says in the video. "Those were the goals when we launched this campaign, and they remain my goals today." Platner was hit with a second explosive allegation of sexual impropriety on Tuesday. In a report published by The Washington Post, Platner was accused of removing condoms during sex with his ex-girlfriend Lyndsey Fifield after she explicitly directed him to wear them. Fifield, 41, previously accused Platner of physical misconduct during their relationship, saying that he sometimes grabbed her hard enough to leave marks on her body and that one time he twisted her arm around her back, pushed her into a bedroom and held the door shut until she "calmed down." In a statement to The Washington Post, the Platner campaign said that Fifield's latest allegations were "categorically false and politically motivated," as they pointed to her previous work for the conservative Heritage Foundation. The Marine Corps combat veteran and oyster farmer became the all-but-certain nominee in the spring, after two-term Gov. Janet Mills, who had been backed by Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and the Democrat establishment, suspended her bid after significantly trailing Platner in fundraising and polling. But Platner was forced onto defense the past couple of months amid multiple controversies that muddied the final days of his primary campaign and overshadowed his victory. Past inflammatory online comments made on a now-deleted Reddit account came back to haunt him at the same time he was reeling from revelations of a now covered-up tattoo on his chest that resembled a Nazi symbol. Then reports that Platner exchanged sexually explicit messages with several women while married came right before allegations from ex-girlfriends of a history of rape fantasies, heavy drinking and violent episodes. Platner repeatedly called the allegations of violence untrue. A day before the primary last month, a former high-level staffer from the Platner campaign wrote in a Washington Post op/ed that Platner "is not someone who would be good for Maine or for the country." The mounting controversies grabbed plenty of attention, gave Republicans more ammunition to use against him and triggered some Democrats in the nation's capital to question whether Platner was damaged goods. But the allegations didn't stop him from riding a populist wave to capture the nomination. DEMOCRACY ’26: STAY UP TO DATE WITH THE FOX NEWS ELECTION HUB Platner, who had acknowledged his battle with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) from his three tours of duty in the war in Iraq with the Marines and one tour with the Army National Guard in Afghanistan, apologized for his controversial Reddit posts after some of them made headlines last fall soon after he launched his Senate campaign. And Platner said he got the skull and crossbones tattoo in 2007, while drinking with fellow Marines stationed in Croatia. He said that he covered up the tattoo with a new design after learning last year that it resembled a Nazi symbol. But allegations from an ex-girlfriend raised questions about Platner's timeline regarding knowledge of the tattoo. In his primary night victory speech, Platner emphasized that he was a changed man. "If you believe, as I do, that we can change our politics and change our country, then you must also believe that people can change," Platner told the crowd. "And the reason I believe that is because I have lived it. And the reason that I have lived it is because of my wife." Platner's suspension of his campaign comes just before a 5 p.m. deadline on Monday, July 13, set by state law, for candidates to withdraw from the race. Since Platner dropped out ahead of the deadline, the Maine Democratic Party will be able to replace him on the general election ballot. The party needs to select a new nominee by July 27. If Platner had exited the race after the deadline, his name could be stricken from the ballot, but Maine Democrats would not be able to replace him with another candidate.  The Maine Democratic Party on Tuesday night, in a stunning announcement, said that party officials were working "around the clock" to determine a replacement process, but claimed that Platner and his team were trying "to put their thumb on the scale of what this process looks like." Platner's team, responding, said they had reached out to the party but denied they were trying to put any "finger on the scale."  THE TEN RACES THAT WILL DETERMINE THE SENATE'S MAJORITY Rumors about Platner potentially dropping out started swirling this past weekend, as multiple events by the candidate were canceled without an official explanation. The Bangor Daily News reported on Monday that one organizer said an event was canceled due to Platner "not feeling well." The news of the canceled events led conservative outlets and pundits to speculate whether there was an underlying reason for the cancelations or an impending end to his campaign. Collins said in a statement, "These allegations are appalling. Nevertheless, it is not up to me to choose the Democratic nominee for Senate."  As Monday afternoon turned into Monday evening, a growing chorus of leading Democrats called on Platner to quit the race. Schumer called the allegations in the Politico report "incredibly disturbing – violence, abuse and sexual assault are absolutely unacceptable." In a statement with Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC) Chair Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, Schumer emphasized, "Graham Platner needs to immediately withdraw as the Democratic nominee for Senate and allow Maine Democrats the opportunity to choose a new candidate who can defeat Susan Collins. The DSCC will not invest in the Maine Senate race if Platner remains on the ballot." Senate Majority PAC, the Schumer-aligned top super PAC backing Senate Democratic incumbents and candidates, said it was "redirecting resources away from the Maine Senate race in light of the latest allegations against Graham Platner." The leadership of the Maine Democratic Party, in a statement, said it "is calling Graham Platner to withdraw as the Democratic nominee for the U.S. Senate." One of Platner's top supporters in Congress, Rep. Ro Khanna of California, rescinded his endorsement. "I’ve been very clear that sexual assault or violence against women is a red line. These allegations are very serious and credible. Graham Platner should drop out from the race. I am withdrawing my endorsement," Khanna wrote in a social media post. Khanna, a top progressive leader in the House, told Fox News Digital as he campaigned with Platner in Maine days ahead of the primary that he was "concerned about making it clear that we’re opposed to misogyny, those relationships were toxic and volatile, there’s no excuse for that." "I talked to Graham, and he says he was at a very dark period. He had come back from two tours of duty in Iraq as an infantryman seeing violence and death. That doesn’t excuse it," Khanna said last month. Also dropping their endorsement on Monday was Democratic Sen. Ruben Gallego of Arizona, who along with Khanna is considered a potential 2028 White House hopeful. "The allegations against Graham Platner are troubling and deeply serious," Gallego wrote on X. "I am rescinding my endorsement." So did progressive champion Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, who had endorsed and appeared with Platner. Our Revolution, a progressive political action organization founded by Sanders, announced it was withdrawing its endorsement of Platner. On Tuesday, Sanders finally put out a statement. "I have spoken with Graham Platner about the best path forward for Maine. In light of these very serious allegations, I have recommended that he step aside," the senator wrote. SIGN UP TO GET THE POLITICS NEWSLETTER Platner, who launched his bid for U.S. Senate last summer, quickly started drawing large crowds and built a healthy fundraising war chest earlier this year, thanks, in part, to Sanders' early support and the candidate's tireless efforts on the trail. Two polls conducted late last month indicated a close general election contest. A Fox News poll gave Collins a three-point edge, while a New York Times/Siena survey indicated Planter holding a two-point margin. But beating Collins hasn't been easy. Six years ago, public opinion polls indicated the senator was headed to defeat, but Collins defied expectations and won re-election by defeating then-Democratic state House Speaker Sara Gideon by nine points. Collins, a moderate Republican who at times votes against President Donald Trump's agenda, is running for a sixth six-year term in the Senate. Republicans currently control the chamber 53-47 and flipping the Senate seat in left-leaning Maine is a key part of the Democrats' path to retake the majority. Fox News' Olivia Palombo and Matthew Donnell contributed to this report Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4ee96ec2ca79de23658ccb Left-wing host presses El-Sayed over 'physician' claim, questions honesty of Michigan Dem Senate hopeful te 2026-07-09T00:21:02.319Z Left-wing host presses El-Sayed over 'physician' claim, questions honesty of Michigan Dem Senate hopeful Left-wing host Mehdi Hasan pressed Michigan Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed on Wednesday over why he called himself a "physician" despite not having a valid state medical license, as the Democrat competes in a closely watched primary. "You got attacked by your rivals for calling yourself a physician, not just a doctor, even though you don’t have a valid state medical license in New York or Michigan, which apparently is what you need legally to call yourself a physician," Hasan said during a Zeteo interview. "Do you wish you’d just stuck to calling yourself a doctor, which you are, to avoid all of this controversy and attacks on your physician status?" "You know, at the end of the day, it’s not about whether or not I’m a physician or a doctor," El-Sayed said. "It’s not about my education. It’s about whether or not your kid gets a good education." "That’s a good line, but people would say it’s also about did you tell the truth?" Hasan said. DEMOCRATS' CIVIL WAR HEADS TO MICHIGAN WHERE PROGRESSIVES FACE BIGGEST TEST YET IN HIGH-STAKES SENATE SHOWDOWN Hasan raised the question after noting that El-Sayed’s rivals had attacked him for calling himself a "physician" rather than a doctor. After El-Sayed initially tried to steer the exchange toward healthcare access and education, he defended his public health record, saying he had helped more people through government service than many doctors do in clinical practice. "Well, I would say that I was the health director for the city of Detroit, and I’ve done more to provide more people healthcare or eliminate their medical debt than most doctors have done in their practice career," El-Sayed said. "So, I’m proud of the work that I did." DEM CIVIL WAR HITS PRIMARY DEBATE STAGE IN FIERY BATTLEGROUND SHOWDOWN: 'WHAT ARE YOU HIDING?' El-Sayed said he changed course with his medical training after graduating from Columbia University. "I took my medical education in a different direction," El-Sayed said. "And I did graduate from a school that’s literally called Columbia College of Physicians and Surgeons. So, you know, you can go have that argument with Columbia University if you’d like." El-Sayed has repeatedly described himself as a "physician" on the campaign trail and in public biographies, despite records showing he never held a medical license in Michigan or New York.  El-Sayed's campaign did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital for comment. WATCH: SURFACED VIDEOS OF DEM SENATE CANDIDATE BACKING 'DEFUND THE POLICE' CONTRADICT RECENT DENIALS Hasan also pressed El-Sayed on his personal finance disclosure, noting that Rep. Haley Stevens, D-Mich., had attacked him and Republican Mike Rogers over their finances. "You sought an extension through August 13, I believe, which is after the primary," Hasan said. "Was this to avoid transparency with your voters? Why not release them before the election?" El-Sayed said the delay was related to family finances and overseas property. "No, just taxes get complicated," El-Sayed said. "My wife and her family own property abroad and so getting all those tax forms is a thing." Bridge Michigan reported that El-Sayed filed an extension to delay his 2026 personal financial disclosure until after the Aug. 4 primary and that the report is now due Aug. 13. Bridge also reported that Stevens had requested 90-day extensions for her personal financial disclosures each year from 2019 to 2025, though she did not seek one this year. Stevens’ campaign told Fox News Digital El-Sayed pledged on camera after a WOOD-TV debate to release his personal financial disclosures before the Aug. 4 primary after Haley Stevens pressed him over his decision to file an extension. "Now, the clock is ticking. Abdul needs to make good on his promise to Michiganders and release his PFD immediately. What is he hiding?" said Haley Stevens for Senate communications director Arik Wolk. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4ee95ac2ca79de23658cc2 Saints' Cam Jordan eyes Super Bowl glory in what he expects to be final NFL season te 2026-07-09T00:20:42.859Z Saints' Cam Jordan eyes Super Bowl glory in what he expects to be final NFL season New Orleans Saints legend Cam Jordan hopes the door to his career isn’t cracked an inch. Hell, he hopes the thing is slammed shut after Year 16 in the National Football League this upcoming season. After deliberation, Jordan, coming off a 10.5-sack 2025 campaign, re-signed with the Saints for one more year. And though the word "retirement" has not yet been uttered, Jordan has made it known he is going into this season expecting it to be his last in the league. "I’ve been doing this since Year 10," Jordan told Fox News Digital over the phone, while also discussing his excitement to work alongside fellow pass rushers at the annual Sack Summit in Las Vegas this week alongside third-year official sponsor Raising Cane’s. CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM "Do I feel good? Absolutely. Do I feel better not being part of OTAs? Physically, yes!" One of Jordan’s superpowers, other than getting after the quarterback, setting the edge and doing what a future Pro Football Hall of Fame defensive end can do, is being candid no matter the situation. After seeing what first-year head coach Kellen Moore and defensive coordinator Brandon Staley had in place for him last year, Jordan knows his role on the Saints defense, saying he "can do whatever needs to be done" for his team. People questioned him in a two-point stance (an upright position with no hands on the ground at the line of scrimmage), but it clearly worked out when you view his numbers. AARON RODGERS CONFIRMS HE'S RETIRING AFTER UPCOMING SEASON WITH THE PITTSBURGH STEELERS Jordan knows he can impact this Saints team that’s filled with potential, and that fire in his gut still burns to make a difference in the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans. There’s also one last run in him to achieve the dream every football player has since they fell in love with the game as a child. "The ultimate dream is to win a Super Bowl," Jordan said. "You go into childhood, coming out of childhood, like, ‘Man, I want to be just like the greats.’ For some reason, we accumulate the idea of success in football to winning a Super Bowl because it’s the ultimate team sport. That’s the ultimate team dream." The personal accolades have been abundant for Jordan since he came out of the Cal Bears system as the 24th overall pick of the 2011 NFL Draft. The Saints took him and he hasn’t left Louisiana, showcasing loyalty on and off the field while racking up the 17th-most sacks all-time (132.0). Of course, Jordan's goal during his final season in the black and gold will be to accumulate enough sacks to make it eight seasons in double digits. If he does so, he’ll be top 10 all-time in sacks. "You look at Year 16 — this is who I am. This is my body of work. It has never changed," Jordan added. But again, Jordan believes his Hall of Fame worthiness is etched in stone already. He could write up his speech for Canton, Ohio now before playing his final season. Will that speech include the words "Super Bowl champion"? Jordan certainly hopes so, because what else is there to chase when you believe you've already done enough to earn a bust in the Pro Football Hall of Fame? "I was sitting there this offseason and I was like, ‘Man, what is it I want to accomplish?’ A Super Bowl. Personally speaking, I’ve done it all. All-Pro, Pro Bowls. Hell, I put together a Pro Bowl-esque season last year." Jordan, who will be 37 on Friday, is ready to give his all one last time before that door closes. Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4ee701c2ca79de23658c31 Security Precaution Led Trump to Use Old Air Force One in Leaving Turkey te 2026-07-09T00:10:41.436Z Security Precaution Led Trump to Use Old Air Force One in Leaving Turkey The Secret Service is said to have asked that the president not use the Qatari-donated jet when he left Ankara. The swap deepens questions about the retrofitting of the new plane. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4ee6edc2ca79de23658c1c Pima College boardmember withdraws from county treasurer appointment list te 2026-07-09T00:10:21.985Z Pima College boardmember withdraws from county treasurer appointment list Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4ee4e4c2ca79de23658bdb Challenge to Arizona’s transgender school sports ban collapses as teen plaintiff withdraws te 2026-07-09T00:01:40.184Z Challenge to Arizona’s transgender school sports ban collapses as teen plaintiff withdraws (Photo by Bruce BennettGetty Images) The lawsuit that sought to topple Arizona’s anti-transgender school sports ban is set to end, as the lone teen plaintiff steps back from the case that has dragged on for years.  Rachel Berg, a senior staff attorney with the National Center for LGBTQ Rights who represented the teen, said that litigation is “grueling,” especially for young people. Berg pointed out that Jane Doe, as she’s called in court filings, first got involved when she started middle school. She’s starting high school now.  “This case has been going on for three years,” Berg said. “It was filed when she was in middle school.”   Without Doe to bolster the claims that the Arizona law is discriminatory, the case can’t move forward. The setback comes days after the U.S. Supreme Court preserved state-level trans athletic bans in Idaho and West Virginia, a decision that also complicated the legal path forward for the Arizona challenge. GET THE MORNING HEADLINES. SUBSCRIBE In 2022, amid a national wave of anti-LGBTQ legislation, then-Gov. Doug Ducey signed the “Save Women’s Sports Act” into law. It prohibits trans girls across the state from joining school sports teams consistent with their gender identity. Republicans called the measure a “commonsense” protection, even as the Arizona Interscholastic Association, which oversees roughly 170,000 student athletes, testified at legislative hearings that it had received only 16 requests to participate from trans students in five years.  A year later, Doe and another trans teen, called Megan Roe in court filings, filed a lawsuit against their schools and Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Horne, arguing that the ban violated their constitutional rights. (Roe left the lawsuit when she graduated from high school and stopped playing sports in Arizona.) What followed was three years of back and forth litigation, as Republican legislative leaders joined the legal battle when Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes, a Democrat, refused to defend the law, and the rhetoric vilified the girls and other trans students for taking away opportunities from their cisgender peers. When a federal judge ruled that the girls should be allowed to play on school sports teams that reflected who they are, Republicans petitioned for that order to be paused, saying that Doe and Roe would “displace biological girls.” That request was denied, but subsequent appeals petitioned the U.S. Supreme Court to weigh in on the Arizona case.  On June 30, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that states have the right to ban trans girls from joining sports teams consistent with their gender identity. That same day, the justices lifted the order allowing Doe to keep playing school sports on teams with other girls and sent the issue back to the federal judge who had first issued it to reconsider the question in light of their latest decision.  The legal battle had essentially been thrown back to square one.  Republicans in Arizona hailed the high court’s ruling, and later, Doe’s withdrawal from the state-level legal challenge, as a win.  “This is a victory for girl athletes and for common sense,” Horne said in a written statement celebrating Doe’s decision to dismiss the lawsuit.  But shortly after the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling and with Doe still on board, Berg remained adamant that the Arizona lawsuit still had a path forward.  “Our case in Arizona involves different factual and legal theories than the cases at the Supreme Court,” Berg said during a June 30 interview. Challengers of the Idaho and and West Virginia laws argued that the bans violated the equal protection guarantee in the 14th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution and the prohibition on sex discrimination in Title IX, a federal law that was previously interpreted to include gender-based discrimination under the Biden administration. The justices weren’t convinced by that reasoning.  While those arguments were also present in the Arizona case, Doe’s attorneys also said that the ban violates the Americans with Disabilities Act. That’s because Doe has gender dysphoria, a condition she was diagnosed with when she was seven years old. Gender dysphoria is defined as the distress that occurs when a person’s gender identity and biological sex are incongruent. Treatment for the condition is gender-affirming care, which ranges from medical solutions like hormone therapy and puberty blockers to social acceptance like using a person’s proper pronouns. Forcing trans girls like Doe to play on boys sports teams directly undermines that treatment, which has been endorsed by multiple top medical associations.  The argument that trans athletic bans conflict with the ADA remains untested in court. And while Doe’s withdrawal from the Arizona lawsuit means it won’t be debated in the Grand Canyon State in the near future, it could still arise at a later date. Berg said the National Center for LGBTQ Rights would be open to representing another trans Arizonan student if the opportunity arises.  “This fight is not over,” she said.  But a Republican strategy to shield the state’s trans athletic ban may complicate that future fight even further. This year, Republican lawmakers in Arizona approved a ballot measure that asks voters to weigh in on whether trans students should be barred from school sports teams, bathrooms and locker rooms that reflect their gender identity.  Under state law, trans girls are already prohibited from joining school sports teams consistent with their gender identity. But if voters approve the new ballot measure, it would be protected by a provision in the Arizona Constitution that bars lawmakers from repealing voter-approved laws.  A progressive political action committee is currently attempting to convince a Maricopa County Superior Court judge to prevent the ballot measure from showing up on the November ballot, arguing that it’s discriminatory. A hearing in that legal challenge has been set for July 16.   YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE. SUPPORT Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4ee4d0c2ca79de23658bbb Who is Valli Geiger? Meet the Maine Dem that Platner is urging to run for Senate te 2026-07-09T00:01:20.215Z Who is Valli Geiger? Meet the Maine Dem that Platner is urging to run for Senate Maine state Rep. Valli Geiger, a Rockland Democrat, former nurse and former mayor, is drawing sudden national attention after saying embattled Democratic Senate nominee Graham Platner encouraged her to consider taking his place on the ballot in the Maine Senate race if he withdraws. Geiger has not been named the replacement nominee, and Platner has not formally dropped out. However, her name entered the Maine Senate scramble after she told local outlet WMTW that Platner called her Monday night, praised her as a "fighter," and asked whether he could put her name forward. Platner’s campaign told the outlet he had not made an endorsement decision, but confirmed he encouraged Geiger to consider running if he stepped aside. After Geiger said Platner called her about potentially putting her name forward, Geiger posted Tuesday that she would not "throw Graham under the bus," while also saying she would not "slander or accuse" Jenny Racicot, the woman who accused Platner of rape, "of anything more than telling the truth as she experienced it."  By Wednesday, local outlets were reporting that Geiger said Platner had encouraged her to consider running if he withdrew. Platner has denied the allegation. WHAT HAPPENS NEXT IF PLATNER DROPS OUT? HERE'S WHO COULD REPLACE HIM ON THE BALLOT AND HOW IT COULD WORK Geiger is a third-term Democratic state representative from Rockland, according to her official legislative biography, representing a coastal House district in Maine that includes Rockland, Criehaven Township, Matinicus Isle Plantation, the Muscle Ridge Islands, North Haven and part of Owls Head. Her biography says she serves on the Labor Committee and the Energy, Utilities and Technology Committee. Before entering the state legislature, Geiger served six years on the Rockland City Council, including one year as mayor, and four years on the Rockland Comprehensive Planning Commission, three of them as chair.  Her biography says she holds a master’s degree in sustainable design and built her own passive-solar, net-zero-energy house. It also describes her as a former nurse at Pen Bay Medical Center who later worked as a health policy analyst and health administrator, including as director of the Healthreach Hospice program and clinical director for Federally Qualified Health Centers around Maine. PLATNER CAMPAIGN PUTTING ‘THUMB ON SCALE’ TO INFLUENCE POSSIBLE REPLACEMENT, MAINE DEM ALLEGES Geiger’s connection to Platner predates the latest replacement speculation. Local reporting has described her as a close Platner supporter, and WMTW reported she previously stood with him and credited him with helping secure funding for rape-kit tracking in Maine. In her Facebook post responding to Racicot’s allegation, Geiger wrote that Racicot’s story "seems credible," but added that "none of us knows the truth nor will we ever." She also described Platner as "a man becoming a better man" and said she had hoped he would lead the political movement his campaign had built and will not "throw Graham under the bus." In the post, Geiger also praised Platner’s "passion for economic populism" and said she had granted him "an enormous amount of grace" for his behavior during what she described as his "dark years" after multiple deployments. The Maine state representative is not the only Democrat whose name has surfaced as Maine Democrats prepare for the possibility that Platner exits the race against Republican Sen. Susan Collins.  Several Democrats have expressed interest or are considering bids, including former gubernatorial candidate Troy Jackson, Secretary of State Shenna Bellows, and former Maine CDC Director Nirav Shah. Under Maine law, if Platner formally withdraws as the Democratic nominee by 5 p.m. on July 13, the Maine Democratic Party can replace him on the general election ballot by selecting a new nominee through its party process, with the replacement required to be chosen by July 27. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4ee4bcc2ca79de23658bb2 Chicago Blackhawks dealt devastating blow with Connor Bedard expected to miss start of season te 2026-07-09T00:01:00.759Z Chicago Blackhawks dealt devastating blow with Connor Bedard expected to miss start of season It's the middle of the summer, which means there isn't a ton of NHL news to sift through, but there is some, and, in the case of the Chicago Blackhawks, it's very bad. That's because the team just learned their franchise centerpiece, Connor Bedard, will be out of action four months after getting injured while training. That means he won't be back in the team's lineup until November. NHL TEAM'S ROUGH OFFSEASON GETS WORSE AS FRANCHISE LEGEND LEAVES TO COACH FOR ARCH-RIVAL Bedard was training in Vancouver last week when video started making the rounds showing him falling during a drill and leaving the ice in clear discomfort. Well, that discomfort was real, and, on Wednesday the Blackhawks announced the 2023 first overall pick had undergone surgery on his left shoulder and is expected to make a full recovery. CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM He will miss some action early in the upcoming season. The Blackhawks will be happy to have him back a month or so into the season as opposed to having him miss four months of the regular season, but that is going to make Chicago's start to the season critical. The Blackhawks play in a tough Central Division, and they have to keep pace with the likely playoff teams in it — squads like the Avalanche, Stars, Wild, Mammoth and maybe Jets — so that they don't have to dig out of a hole when Bedard returns to action. Bedard is no stranger to injuries. He battled an injury to his right shoulder last season, and in his rookie campaign in 2024-25, he broke his jaw. When he's healthy, he has averaged a little under a point per game, something the Blackhawks will need as they continue to work their way back to being perennial playoff contenders. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4ee494c2ca79de23658b74 Feds give final approval for Patagonia mine situated in critical habitat for jaguars and Mexican spotted owls te 2026-07-09T00:00:20.328Z Feds give final approval for Patagonia mine situated in critical habitat for jaguars and Mexican spotted owls This article was originally published in Inside Climate News, a nonprofit, non-partisan news organization that covers climate, energy and the environment. Sign up for their newsletter here. The U.S. Forest Service Tuesday approved a proposed mine in southern Arizona that will extract up to five critical minerals and was the first added to a program designed to streamline federal permitting. Local environmental groups quickly condemned the decision, alleging the federal agency failed to address fundamental legal questions and environmental concerns before approving the project, such as permitting mining infrastructure through habitat for jaguars and Mexican spotted owls, both listed under the Endangered Species Act. The approval grants 31 exemptions under the Coronado National Forest Plan, which were critical for the project’s proposed actions and which the environmental groups say conflicts with guidance for the area’s public lands, and defers analysis of long-term concerns like impacts to local water resources. “Our community has spent years participating in this process because we believed the agencies responsible for protecting our public lands would carefully evaluate the facts before making a decision,” said Anna Darian, executive director of the Patagonia Area Resource Alliance. “Instead, the Forest Service approved this project while serious legal questions remain unresolved, leaving many residents wondering whether these agencies are still serving the public interest.” South32’s Hermosa project is located in Patagonia, Arizona, one of the state’s “sky islands,” a series of mountain ranges across the Sonoran desert famed for biodiversity. Their elevation, which provides isolated refuges from the hot desert floor, both inspires their island moniker and serves as a bridge for wildlife. The Patagonia Area Resource Alliance and Center for Biological Diversity said they would be evaluating “all available options moving forward,” including potential litigation. The underground mine will extract zinc, lead and silver, with the potential for manganese and copper. Most of the project is on private land, with construction over halfway complete. The project site contains one of the largest undeveloped zinc resources in the world and enough battery-grade manganese to supply all current domestic demand. However, the project has encountered major issues this year, with capital costs for the project increasing by 50 percent, from $2.2 billion to $3.3 billion, and production pushed back a year, to 2028. The federal approval permits the construction of a Primary Access Road across Coronado forest lands that bypass the town of Patagonia in order to prevent traffic through the town, a 138-kV transmission line to power the mine and a large tailings facility where mine waste will be stored. An aerial view of South32’s Hermosa project, just outside Patagonia, Arizona, is seen on March 3, 2026. Credit: EcoFlight “From the beginning, we designed Hermosa to be a different kind of mine, and the federal review process helped make it even better,” said Pat Risner, South32 Hermosa’s president, in a statement. “Years of agency review, Tribal consultation and community engagement strengthened environmental protections, informed project refinements and shaped a project that can transform the local economy.” In 2023, under the Biden administration, the mine was the first to be added under the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation Act of 2015. The FAST-41 program is intended to improve the timeliness, predictability and transparency of federal permitting for selected projects. The Trump administration has added 57 other mining projects to the program, and has cited the Hermosa project for laying that groundwork. “President Trump has launched an all of government mandate to strengthen and secure America’s critical minerals supply chains,” said Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins in a statement. “The Hermosa Critical Minerals Project shows how increasing domestic production can reduce our dependence on vulnerable foreign sources … with one of the world’s largest undeveloped zinc resources and key minerals such as zinc and manganese, it’s a strategic investment in America’s energy and manufacturing future.” Increasing domestic mineral production to wean the U.S. off foreign supplies, largely from China, has been one of the few bipartisan issues this decade.  “If we’re serious about bringing supply chains back to America and reducing our dependence on foreign countries, we need to responsibly produce more critical minerals here at home. This is exactly what the Hermosa project is doing,” said U.S. Senator Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.), in a statement. The mine will provide around 900 direct jobs and thousands more through indirect economic activity, with the company committed to hiring 80 percent of its workforce from Santa Cruz County.  But major concerns still exist for the local communities, with the town of Patagonia, city of Nogales and Santa Cruz County in active talks to form a community benefits agreement with the mine.  Prior to federal approval, the mine had dewatered the local aquifer in order to access the ore below. Over the projected 70-year life of the mine, an estimated 195,000 acre-feet of water would be removed from the aquifer. One acre-foot is 325,851 gallons, enough water for two to three households a year.  Though the plan outlines discharging that water into three local creeks, the dewatering will lead to a cone of depression, with the water table drawn down by 250 feet, stretching across nearly 50 square miles and affecting wells within three miles of the mine, according to the environmental impact statement.  Treated groundwater has already been dumped into one of the creeks as the mine’s construction has gone on, and resulted in violations of the company’s permits with the state for exceeding permitted antimony levels. Those levels have gone down since South32 made additional investments in its wastewater treatment plant, but concerns remain in the local community. A remote trail camera captures a jaguar drinking from a watering hole within the “impact zone” of the new border wall being constructed in the San Rafael Valley. Una cámara de sendero remota captura a un jaguar bebiendo de un abrevadero dentro de la “zona de impacto” del nuevo muro fronterizo que se está construyendo en el Valle San Rafael. Crédito: Sky Islands Alliance Credit: Sky Islands Alliance Twelve species on the Endangered Species List may be adversely affected by the project, the U.S. Forest Service found. Big cats like ocelots and jaguars have been found in the area as climate change pushes their habitat farther north into Arizona from Mexico. The tailings facility for the mine the Forest Service approved is directly on critical habitat for the jaguar. In their comments during permitting, environmentalists objected to that for both its environmental impact, but also due to a lack of evidence a valuable mineral deposit exists beneath it. Recent court cases brought on by environmental groups for another Arizona mining project found that federal law requires a valid mineral right must exist at a tailings site if done on federal land. “Political fanfare can’t hide the fact that this permit is a disaster for Arizona’s rural communities and endangered species like jaguar and ocelot who live in the area,” said Russ McSpadden, Southwest conservation advocate at the Center for Biological Diversity, in a statement. “This fight is far from over.” The post Feds give final approval for Patagonia mine situated in critical habitat for jaguars and Mexican spotted owls appeared first on AZ Luminaria. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4eddf3c2ca79de23658a64 Veterans see hypocrisy in military tributes as benefit cuts take hold te 2026-07-08T23:32:03.529Z Veterans see hypocrisy in military tributes as benefit cuts take hold WASHINGTON – July Fourth festivities in the nation’s capital have included more than the usual dose of military spectacle this year, as the Freedom 250 initiative from the White House celebrates the role America’s armed forces have played over the nation’s first 250 years. But some veterans see hypocrisy, given the deep cuts over the past year to Medicaid, food stamps and Department of Veterans Affairs staffing that have impacted services for those who served in uniform.  “How good is our military? Iran was finished in one week, Venezuela in one hour,” President Donald Trump said at a kickoff rally to open the Great American State Fair on the National Mall, an event punctuated by supersonic fighter jet flyovers. “How good is our Air Force? Those are serious planes.” Semiquincentennial celebrations have attracted controversy since Trump wrested control of the major events from a bipartisan congressional commission with a similar name, America 250.  The military is on full display at the “state fair,” with pavilions showcasing industries and attractions from all but a handful of Democratic states that snubbed the event. National Guard troops and others are staffing information tents and recruitment booths.  Visitors can put on camouflage face paint and take selfies in a “Department of War” tent, bearing the name Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth use to refer to the Department of Defense. A Military and Veterans Appreciation Day featured military band performances and a display of robotic dogs and bomb defusal tools. The Veterans Affairs medical center on Seventh Street and Indian School Road in Phoenix. (File photo by Jack Orleans/Cronkite News) Yet for all the public expressions of admiration, some Trump administration policies have put some veterans at risk of losing health coverage or food aid. And staffing cuts at the VA have created serious concerns. The One Big Beautiful Bill Act that Trump signed July 4, 2025, introduced new restrictions on Medicaid, which provides health care for low-income Americans, and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, widely called food stamps.  Roughly 1.6 million veterans are on Medicaid, according to KFF, a healthcare research nonprofit formerly called the Kaiser Family Foundation.  Roughly 1.2 million veterans are on food stamps, according to the left-leaning Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. Work requirements were already in place for food stamps but until last September, veterans were exempt. The new law ended that exemption.  The federal law also created new Medicaid work requirements. Starting Jan. 1, 2027, nearly all recipients ages 19 to 64 must log 80 hours per month of work or training to keep their eligibility.  There’s an exemption for disabled veterans, though it may take a 100% disability rating to qualify. “However that is interpreted, it’s going to be more narrow than the large group of veterans who are relying on Medicaid coverage,” said Leo Cuello, a Georgetown University professor who studies Medicaid law and policy, adding that many veterans “should have gotten an exception to the work requirement, but will not.” The law also allows an exemption from the Medicaid work rules for anyone deemed “medically frail.” But in June, Medicaid officials issued guidelines indicating that a person would have to be too weak to work, suggesting that even a cancer diagnosis would not trigger the exemption. Cuello said the burden of proving 80 hours of work per month will disproportionately affect veterans. “Many workers get tripped up by the work requirement because they’re unable to prove they’re working,” he said. “If you think about veterans who are self-employed, or who are mowing lawns in their neighborhood, or who are part of the gig economy, they will have trouble proving their work, and therefore, in many cases, lose their health insurance.” The work requirement will also hit vulnerable populations especially hard. “Veterans are more likely to have chronic conditions, mental health conditions and substance use disorder conditions. They’re also more likely to be older and have a lot of age-related chronic conditions,” Cuello said. On June 29, Arizona and two dozen other states led by Democrats sued the Trump administration over the Medicaid work requirements. “Medicaid exists to protect the most vulnerable Arizonans, and this interim final rule unlawfully undermines that protection,” said Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes in a statement. “It ignores the law and puts medically frail people at risk of losing the healthcare they depend on.” The White House has defended the law, including the elements that limit benefits to those unable to work. The law’s tax provisions will spur growth, the White House says, and it “creates opportunity for all Americans, particularly our nation’s veterans.” The law included trillions of dollars in tax cuts, financed by deep cuts to the social safety net and clean energy incentives. The tax cuts were across the board but skewed toward high earners. The law slashes Medicaid spending by almost $1 trillion over 10 years, a 12% reduction.  The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office estimated that by 2034, the law will have increased the number of people without health insurance by 10 million. During his first term, Trump signed legislation that expanded veterans’ access to medical care and education benefits in specific circumstances. He also ordered student debt forgiveness for disabled veterans. The effort to slash the federal workforce early in Trump’s second term, led by Elon Musk, included deep cuts at the VA, affecting researchers studying cancer treatment and addiction and staff at health centers. A report commissioned by Senate Democrats estimated that the VA lost more than 40,000 employees in Trump’s first eight months back in office, including nurses, physicians and psychologists. VA officials have offered assurances that care won’t be impacted but critics say that the cost-cutting has led to increased wait times, particularly for mental health care. Raymond Holliday, a retired Marine from Orange County, California, said his VA case officer was temporarily furloughed during the chaotic layoffs. Holliday was applying for vocational readiness and employment benefits to fund his education. “It was very stressful,” he said. “You would get an automated message back that didn’t even give a date for response. … You feel a lot of hopelessness, and you sort of feel like a little bit of betrayal from big government, and you feel scared.” Morgan Finkelstein, an advocate with Protect Our Care Arizona, which advocates for federal healthcare benefits, said there’s no question that Trump-era cuts have reduced services for veterans. “Veterans, in particular, have benefited in the past from increased behavioral healthcare coverage and services,” he said. “All we’re going to see from cutting funding is clinics closing” and veterans having trouble finding and accessing care. Trump’s backers reject the complaints. Michael Nudo, federal legislative liaison at Concerned Veterans For America, a conservative group, said the law’s tax provisions have helped small businesses, of which 1.6 million are owned by veterans, according to the Small Business Administration. “So many veteran small business owners have said because of these tax benefits that they receive now, they’ve been able to do things like reinvest in their company and develop and improve their company, and research and development in ways that they otherwise wouldn’t have been able to,” Nudo said. The post Veterans see hypocrisy in military tributes as benefit cuts take hold appeared first on Cronkite News. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4eddb6c2ca79de23658a4f Altercation leaves one dead, one hospitalized following shooting near Elevation Apartments te 2026-07-08T23:31:02.090Z Altercation leaves one dead, one hospitalized following shooting near Elevation Apartments FPD initially posted on its Facebook page at 10 a.m. that it was investigating a homicide in the area of North Mall Way and East Marketplace Drive. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4edda1c2ca79de23658a28 NHL star says signing Leo Carlsson at record $18 million a year could end up being a steal te 2026-07-08T23:30:41.615Z NHL star says signing Leo Carlsson at record $18 million a year could end up being a steal The talk of the NHL has been all about the Philadelphia Flyers swooping in and offering Anaheim Ducks RFA Leo Carlsson a behemoth, five-year deal with an $18 million AAV. That's a hefty price to pay, and it will make Carlsson the highest-paid player in the league whether he heads to Philly or the Ducks match. However, Florida Panthers star Brady Tkachuk thinks that whoever takes on the 21-year-old center's $18 million cap hit could be getting a deal. FLYERS MAKE STUNNING OFFER SHEET FOR DUCKS STAR LEO CARLSSON IN BLOCKBUSTER NHL MOVE Brady and his brother, Matthew, talked about the offer sheet on their "Wingmen" podcast as the Ducks' window to match the offer sheet continues to close. "Eighteen million is not an overpay whatsoever," Brady said, to which his brother and teammate, Matthew Tkachuk, agreed. "Unbelievable; he comes as advertised. Eighteen million is probably going to be underpaid. That's how good this player is." THE TALLEST PLAYER EVER SELECTED IN THE NHL BLEW MINDS IN HIS DEBUT WITH THE SAN JOSE SHARKS Tkachuk is probably right, especially as the cap continues to go up. When stars like San Jose's Macklin Celebrini and Chicago's Connor Bedard become eligible for new contracts, they could easily surpass Carlsson's deal. Of course, the Ducks' problem isn't whether Carlsson is worth $18 million a year — if GM Pat Verbeek thought he wasn't, this offer sheet never would've materialized. The real issue is whether Anaheim has the cap space to match it. The bind Flyers GM Danny Briere created is that the Ducks had just under $18 million in projected cap space when the offer sheet arrived. They then re-signed defenseman Pavel Mintyukov, leaving them with roughly $9 million. But they also have to consider extensions for future RFAs Cutter Gauthier and Beckett Sennecke, which makes matching Carlsson not only harder, but riskier. The Ducks have until Friday to make a decision, and if they don't match it, they will receive a boatload of first-round picks from the Flyers as compensation. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4edb9cc2ca79de236589e1 Can Stanton avoid the fate of other House Democrats ousted by left-wing insurgents?  te 2026-07-08T23:22:04.201Z Can Stanton avoid the fate of other House Democrats ousted by left-wing insurgents?  WASHINGTON – Like many Democratic incumbents this year, four-term Rep. Greg Stanton of Phoenix faces a challenge from the left, making the July 21 primary the latest test as the party’s progressive wing asserts itself. Five House Democrats have already lost their seats in primaries this year, three of them to progressive rivals who painted them as too timid in standing up to President Donald Trump, or too beholden to business interests. Tempe activist Kai Newkirk is making that very case against Stanton, who has never faced a primary challenge, including when he won the seat in 2018. “People asked me to consider running against him for years,” Newkirk said. “I just saw that he wasn’t responding to the emergency of Trump’s authoritarian actions with the urgency that was required.” But political analysts say that’s likely a hard sell in Arizona’s 4th Congressional District, which includes parts of Phoenix, Tempe, Chandler and Mesa. “This challenge fits into the broader pattern that we’ve seen of challengers on the left to Democratic incumbents based on criticism that they are too cozy with the establishment,” said Alan Abramowitz, professor emeritus of political science at Emory University. The district is rated solid Democratic by the nonpartisan Cook Political Report. But there are more unaffiliated voters than those registered with either party, and Republicans slightly outnumber Democrats. Stanton’s victory margin dwindled to 7 percentage points in 2024 after redistricting made the district more competitive, and Abramowitz said the electorate is nowhere near as liberal as those in deep-blue districts in New York and Colorado, where Democratic Socialists scored recent upsets. Stanton’s campaign did not respond to requests for comment. The mayor of Phoenix before winning a House seat in 2018, Stanton has a 97% lifetime score from the liberal League of Conservation Voters and a 0% score from the conservative Heritage Action.  At the same time, his 22% rating in 2025 from the conservative Institute for Legislative Analysis was far higher than the 11% average for House Democrats. That reflects some of the more moderate positions Stanton has taken on immigration, and his emphasis on relatively nonpartisan issues like transportation funding, infrastructure, water security, veterans, Arizona’s semiconductor industry and economic development. The emphasis on bipartisan accomplishments is at odds with progressive demands for a combative approach and a distinct leftward shift – though Democrats have been in the minority for half of his time in Congress, making partisan achievements all but impossible. That fight for the direction of the party has already cost some colleagues their seats. In Colorado, 15-term Rep. Diana DeGette was defeated by 29-year-old Democratic Socialist Melat Kiros on June 30.  In New York City, voters picked three Democratic Socialists in the June 23 primary. Rep. Dan Goldman, who gained national prominence as lead counsel for House Democrats during Trump’s first impeachment, lost to former city Comptroller Brad Lander. Five-term Rep. Adriano Espaillat – chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus – lost to activist Darializa Avila Chevalier.  Both challengers were backed by Mayor Zohran Mamdani, a Democratic Socialist who Trump describes as a communist, as was a third candidate who won the nomination for an open seat in Brooklyn. Primaries in both parties are typically dominated by the most engaged and partisan voters.  Scot Schraufnagel, a political science professor at Northern Illinois University, doesn’t see a critical mass for a candidate like Newkirk in Stanton’s district. Arizona Democrats are generally “more conservative than Democrats in New York,” he said, making a progressive upset there unlikely. Through July 1, Stanton reported raising around $2 million and he has about that much still in the bank, suggesting he doesn’t feel compelled to spend heavily to survive the primary. Newkirk’s campaign has said it has raised more than $100,000. Since World War II, House incumbents seeking reelection have won their primaries 98.3% of the time, according to the University of Virginia Center for Politics.  According to data from the Secretary of State’s office, the district has about 10,000 more registered Republicans than Democrats, though 35% of voters are unaffiliated. Stanton won the 2018 and 2020 general elections with more than 61% of the vote. He dipped to 56% in 2022, and fell below 53% in 2024. Like DeGette’s opponent and the three New Yorkers, Newkirk has been endorsed by Our Revolution, the progressive organization that grew out of Sen. Bernie Sanders’ 2016 presidential campaign. The group claims roughly 20,000 members in the district. Our Revolution communications and campaign director Paco Fabian told Axios that the group is trying to bolster the progressive wing of Congress, arguing Stanton has not mounted strong enough opposition to Trump. Newkirk’s campaign says it has polling that shows him within 2 percentage points of Stanton, with a third of primary voters undecided. Stanton collected more than 49,000 votes running unopposed in the 2024 primary. In all, five House Democrats and two House Republicans have been ousted in primaries so far. That’s already above average, and 20 more states have yet to hold primaries. Despite that, said Jamie Carson, a political science professor at the University of Georgia, incumbents still enjoy advantages in name recognition, fundraising and visibility.  But with electorates increasingly polarized, he said, “the conditions under which incumbents become vulnerable” are becoming more common. The post Can Stanton avoid the fate of other House Democrats ousted by left-wing insurgents?  appeared first on Cronkite News. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4edb88c2ca79de236589d8 How burrowing owls found safe harbor at a different kind of farm te 2026-07-08T23:21:44.748Z How burrowing owls found safe harbor at a different kind of farm How burrowing owls found safe harbor at a different kind of farm Even a child knows how valuable the forest is. The fresh, breathtaking smell of trees. Echoing birds flying above that dense magnitude. A stable climate, a sustainable diverse life and a source of culture. Yet, forests and other ecosystems hang in the balance, threatened to become croplands, pasture, and plantations. By Samad Khan | July 8, 2026 TONOPAH — A burrowing owl sits on top of a weather sensor array as it watches the desert below. A few feet away, its burrow disappears into the sandy soil. Beyond the nearby fence line, thousands of solar panels stretch across the landscape, turning Arizona sunshine into electricity. The Sun Streams solar farm, located 17 miles west of Buckeye, is first and foremost built to harvest energy. But it has also become home to what some people say is one of Arizona’s most recognizable birds. Last year, Longroad Energy partnered with the nonprofit Wild at Heart to build a habitat for burrowing owls displaced by development. The project also gave researchers a rare look at how the birds adapt to living next to a large-scale solar facility. “We’re still figuring it out,” said Deron Lawrence, Longroad’s vice president of environment. “Part of the research we’re undertaking is figuring out what that effect is and how the owls are affected.” Two burrowing owls outside an artificial burrow made with concrete blocks next to a solar farm in Tonopah on Sunday, July 5, 2026. (Photo by Samad Khan/Cronkite News) In March  2025, Wild at Heart relocated nine owl pairs and one single male from a housing development about 50 miles away from the solar site. Motion-activated cameras now track the colony’s 30 open artificial burrow sites around the clock, while biologists monitor nesting success and survival. For Greg Clark, Wild at Heart’s burrowing owl habitat coordinator, the project is the product of nearly 27 years of work. “When we started investigating burrowing owls in 1999 and 2000, it was clear they were in trouble,” Clark said. “We decided in 2000 that we were going to do something about it.” Greg Clark poses next to an artificial burrow and his vehicle at the site in Tonopah on Sunday, July 5, 2026. (Photo by Samad Khan/Cronkite News) A burrowing owl stands on the ground under the solar panels in Tonopah on Sunday, July 5, 2026. Clark said the birds are smart hunters who use the ground under the panels to hunt for insects and “loaf” during the heat of the day. (Photo by Samad Khan/Cronkite News) Clark thinks the solar site might actually work in the owls’ favor. Unlike trees or thick vegetation, which can hide predators, the open landscape lets the birds spot danger from far away. “Solar panels don’t block the owl’s visibility,” Clark said. “The panels may even attract insects the owls can feed on. Though we’re still learning.” It’s the owls’ human-like behavior that keeps Clark coming back to the desert. A burrowing owl sits on a barbed-wire perimeter fence, which separates the relocation site and solar farm, in Tonopah on Sunday, July 5, 2026. (Photo by Samad Khan/Cronkite News) Burrowing owls that are part of the Wild at Heart project wear bands that track their activity near a solar farm in Tonopah on Sunday, July 5, 2026. (Photo by Samad Khan/Cronkite News) “They chase each other around. They’ll stand up to dogs and coyotes,” Clark said. “The juveniles pick fights with each other. The males interact with female owls. The owls almost act like tiny little people.” About 10 miles away, Clark checks on another part of the project at the Mesquite Wildlife Oasis, where irrigation lines run from water totes through the desert, watering grasses and flowering plants. The goal is simple: draw in the butterflies, moths and grasshoppers that burrowing owls feed on. Every few weeks, Clark inspects the drip system, checks the artificial burrows and reviews trail camera footage to make sure the habitat is still supporting the 40 owls now living at the solar farm.  Greg Clark walks toward a water tote used for a gravity-fed drip irrigation system in Tonopah on Sunday, July 5, 2026. Clark says they are testing habitat enhancements by growing vegetation to provide food and shelter for insects and other arthropods that burrowing owls feed on. (Photo by Samad Khan/Cronkite News) Greg Clark inspects a drip irrigation line designed to grow diverse pollinator plants that attract insects for burrowing owls in Tonopah, Sunday, July 5, 2026. (Photo by Samad Khan/Cronkite News) Greg Clark sows pollinator seeds next to a drip irrigation line in Tonopah on Sunday, July 5, 2026. (Photo by Samad Khan/Cronkite News) The oasis also doubles as an outdoor classroom where, Clark says, horticulture students learn how restoring native plants can support an entire desert ecosystem. Clark knows this work takes patience. Seeds take time to grow. Habitats take years to mature. And every relocated owl faces new challenges. Still, he believes it’s worth it. “Development and wildlife conservation can coexist,” Clark said. “If you build conservation into a project from the beginning, you can create places where wildlife still has a chance.” A burrowing owl stands directly in front of a monitoring camera near an artificial burrow in Tonopah on Sunday, July 5, 2026. (Video by Greg Clark/Wild at Heart) The post How burrowing owls found safe harbor at a different kind of farm appeared first on Cronkite News. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4edb36c2ca79de23658977 Despite ‘misgivings,’ judge approves Elon Musk’s $1.5 million SEC settlement te 2026-07-08T23:20:22.318Z Despite ‘misgivings,’ judge approves Elon Musk’s $1.5 million SEC settlement The saga of Musk's tussle with the SEC over how he disclosed his growing stake in Twitter (now called X) has come to an end. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4ed916c2ca79de23658934 England soccer players bomb off diving board like a teammate wasn't just injured in a freak accident te 2026-07-08T23:11:18.940Z England soccer players bomb off diving board like a teammate wasn't just injured in a freak accident England is gearing up for a massive World Cup quarterfinal match against Norway. Of course, they're going to be preparing for the match, but they also took some time out to chill and have some fun. This included a team diving competition that the squad posted on social media. A daring choice considering you just lost a guy to injury after he tried to hop an advertising board during the post-match celebration. ZERO BS. JUST DAKICH. TAKE THE DON’T @ ME PODCAST ON THE ROAD. DOWNLOAD NOW! I don't mean to be Captain Safety First over here, but bombing off diving boards ahead of a World Cup quarterfinal is wild. Can you imagine the (*Desi Arnaz voice*) 'splainin' they would have to do if someone got injured during that? You think it's bad to lose a guy to a freak advertising board-related incident — how about losing one because he slipped on takeoff trying to lay down the best can opener of the afternoon? Also, we've got to address fullback Djed Spence wearing socks in the pool. That's a wild choice. First of all, I'm not sure anything makes me as angry as having wet socks. It will wreck my day, and doing it on purpose is unfathomable. CLICK HERE FOR MORE OUTKICK SPORTS COVERAGE Happened to me the other night. I'm still mad about it. Maybe the thought was that it would give him more traction on the diving board, but that can't possibly be right. If it did, wouldn't every Olympic diver be wearing a pair of Hanes crews? There has been a rash of strange athlete pool behavior. About two months ago, Colorado Avalanche star Nathan MacKinnon was seen cruising around the hotel pool with flippers and goggles. I mean, at least he's not going to get hurt doing that, but man, I wouldn't want it getting out that I'm a goggles-in-the-hotel-pool guy (which I'm not, for the record). But, hey, maybe this airborne bonding sesh is just what England needs to win a tough match against Erling Haaland and Norway. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4ed903c2ca79de2365892b Stephen Colbert rakes record-number of Emmy nominations after 'Late Show' series cancellation te 2026-07-08T23:10:59.484Z Stephen Colbert rakes record-number of Emmy nominations after 'Late Show' series cancellation The final season of "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert" earned nine Emmy nominations on Wednesday, the largest haul for the series since Colbert took over the show. In addition to Outstanding Variety Series, the late-night talk show is also nominated for Outstanding Writing for a Variety Series, Outstanding Directing For A Variety Series, Outstanding Production Design For A Variety Or Reality Series, Outstanding Technical Direction and Camerawork For A Series, Outstanding Lighting Design/Lighting Direction For A Series, Outstanding Sound Mixing For A Variety Series Or Special, Outstanding Picture Editing For Variety Programming and Outstanding Music Direction. The show's previous record was five nominations in 2024, when it was nominated for production design, directing, lighting, talk series and technical direction. Colbert's show also received five nominations in 2021 and 2022. STEPHEN COLBERT'S 'LATE SHOW' WRITERS LAUNCH 'FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION' CAMPAIGN FOR EMMYS AFTER CANCELLATION In Colbert's 11-year tenure at "The Late Show," the program received over 40 nominations but only two wins — for Outstanding Talk Series and Outstanding Directing for a Variety Series. Both wins were from 2025, months after CBS announced the show's cancellation last year. "Sometimes, you only know how much you love something when you get a sense you might be losing it," Colbert said during his acceptance speech. "I have never loved my country more desperately. God bless America." In a comment to Fox News Digital, CBS referred to an Instagram post congratulating the series for its nominations. COLBERT LASHES OUT AT CBS, SAYS CANCELLATION ‘REINFORCED A NARRATIVE’ OF ‘KNEE BENDING’ TO TRUMP The 78th Primetime Emmy Awards will air Sept. 14. CBS canceled "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert" last year for what it described as financial reasons with reports claiming the series was losing the network $40 million per year. However, several liberal commentators, along with Colbert himself, have accused the network of canceling the show to appease President Donald Trump ahead of a massive merger requiring FCC approval. Colbert spent several episodes in his final season and in the public eye attacking the network and its parent company, Paramount, for the decision. TRUMP MAY HAVE 'JUST HANDED AN EMMY' TO STEPHEN COLBERT, INDUSTRY REPORTER SAYS "This is not the 1950s," Colbert said at the Writers Guild Awards in March. "This is not the Red Scare. And, as far as I can tell, no one in late night is fomenting a revolution. As we know, the revolution will not be televised. It was going to be televised, but then Paramount bought it." "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert" aired its final episode on May 21. The finale helped earn the show five out of the nine nominations. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4ed8dcc2ca79de23658911 U.S. Begins Second Day of Strikes Against Iran te 2026-07-08T23:10:20.578Z U.S. Begins Second Day of Strikes Against Iran President Trump said earlier that a cease-fire was over and warned that the United States would probably hit Iran “hard.” Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4ed6ebc2ca79de2365837a Scene pkg July 8 te 2026-07-08T23:02:03.648Z Scene pkg July 8 Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4ed6d7c2ca79de23658371 Scene pkg July 8 NDS te 2026-07-08T23:01:43.677Z Scene pkg July 8 NDS Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4ed684c2ca79de2365831e Bipartisan bill to lower housing costs poised to become law without Trump signing it te 2026-07-08T23:00:20.230Z Bipartisan bill to lower housing costs poised to become law without Trump signing it Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4ed47ec2ca79de236582df Quarterback Noah Fifita steps into louder role as Arizona chases Big 12 goals te 2026-07-08T22:51:42.416Z Quarterback Noah Fifita steps into louder role as Arizona chases Big 12 goals FRISCO, Texas – Noah Fifita has been nothing short of confident in his aspirations for Arizona this upcoming season. Big 12 Football Media Days just served as another platform to amplify his message. “This is about a Big 12 championship,” the fifth-year quarterback said Wednesday. “This is about a Rose Bowl. We’ve got unfinished business.” As Fifita took the podium, Arizona representatives passed around a resume headlined with the phrase, “Noah Fifita for Heisman.” The literature was accompanied by sections on his experience, skills, awards, references and community service, making it clear that the belief in one of the nation’s top quarterbacks isn’t limited to the guy behind center.  Wideout Tre Spivey and offensive tackle Tristan Bounds, occupying the two positions most familiar with the quarterback, furthered that agenda. “We want to go out there and get him that Heisman,” Spivey said. “That’s been our goal, that’s all we’ve been talking about, making sure that Noah gets the Heisman this year.” In Bounds’ mind, “He’s the best quarterback in the country.” Despite the high praise, Fifita’s journey at Arizona hasn’t always been straightforward. Bursting onto the scene as a freshman in 2023 after taking a redshirt year in 2022, Fifita led the Wildcats to a 10-3 record, earning Pac-12 Freshman Offensive Player of the Year honors and capping off the season with a 38-24 win over No. 12 Oklahoma in the Alamo Bowl.  However, everything came crashing down the following year as Fifita threw double-digit interceptions while sporting the lowest completion percentage of his career. Arizona ended the season 4-8, and Fifita’s ability and fit came into question.  As the noise mounted, Fifita announced his return to Tucson, and in doing so delivered a bounce-back season that earned him 2025 First Team All-Big 12 honors. On the back of Fifita’s 29 touchdowns and 3,228 passing yards, Arizona finished last year with a 9-4 record, losing to SMU in the Holiday Bowl.  Coach Brent Brennan, who took over the Wildcats ahead of the disappointing 2024 season, noted that Fifita’s path isn’t uncommon “I think that Noah’s journey is more typical of a college football player than people want to admit,” Brennan said. “There are people that want to think that college football is just awesome from start to finish. For most players, it’s not like that.” A career of highs and lows, Fifita is more confident than ever, and his collegiate experience has led him to where he is today. Reflecting on his role with the team and his growth this offseason, Fifita noted his experience as a key factor. “I think naturally you have to be a leader as a quarterback,” Fifita said. “I’ve always had kind of my way of leadership, always by example and trying to do the right things all the time so that people can see that. But I think as you kind of naturally grow older, you kind of progress.” Linebacker Taye Brown sees it in the way Fifita commands the squad in conditioning reps. “He’s definitely been improving on his leadership,” Brown said. “I hear him being more vocal out there on our team runs and team workouts. It’s not natural for him to be this overly loud person, so I feel like we’ve all seen that. We all really appreciate that, him stepping into that leader role.” However, this sentiment didn’t materialize on its own, and is in big part due to offensive coordinator Seth Doege, the former Texas Tech quarterback who arrived last season and immediately connected with Fifita. “Coach Doege’s the best offensive coordinator in the country and the best offensive coordinator I’ve ever been around,” Fifita said. “He had seasons where he threw for over 4,000 yards. He’s played this game at a high level. He’s played this position at a high level. We’ve had a lot of talks going into year two; there’s a trust, and there’s a belief within that the plays are going to work.” Brennan sees the same thing. “Coach Doege is a very assertive leader, and that’s helped Noah grow in that leadership department,” Brennan said. “This is the first time he’s had the same coordinator in his college football career. My expectations for both Noah and Seth Doege could not be any higher.” Brennan went on to acknowledge Fifita’s impact off the field.  “Noah Fifita is the best story in college football,” he said. “He’s an incredibly good football player, but he’s also this rare human being that chooses the right things every day. He’s a man of great faith. He’s a great teammate. He’s a great leader. He doesn’t only kick a** on Saturdays, he kicks a** every single day of the week.” On the field, Fifita’s growth is just as visible, and defensive end Tre Smith sees it every day in practice. “It’s tough sometimes, making quick reads and getting that ball out,” Smith said. “He’s slippery, and then obviously he’s extremely intelligent.” Fifita touted the system in place as a vessel in which he can flourish.  “You’ve got to trust the scheme,” he said. “You’ve got to play on time, trust that the plays are going to work. And then I think when things naturally crash, you’ve got to be able to just go make plays.” Whether he’s laden with pads or draped in street clothes, Fifita is the heartbeat of the Wildcats, and Brennan sees it in the way the program gravitates toward him. As the quarterback enters his final collegiate campaign, he understands the weight on his shoulders.  “This is my last opportunity to finish the job,” Fifita said. “Whatever it takes, I’m kind of all in.” While most teams take the season one game at a time, there are games circled for Fifita, BYU chief among them.  But the quarterback who once led quietly doesn’t shy away from any of it anymore. “Preseason rankings have never mattered to me,” he said. “The only rankings that matter are the postseason.” And for Arizona, if they want to find themselves in those rankings, it all hinges on the bold claims set forth by Fifita coming to fruition. The post Quarterback Noah Fifita steps into louder role as Arizona chases Big 12 goals appeared first on Cronkite News. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4ed42bc2ca79de23658280 Lovable reportedly in talks to double its valuation to $13.2B te 2026-07-08T22:50:19.991Z Lovable reportedly in talks to double its valuation to $13.2B The $300 million round is expected to be led by Menlo Ventures, Sifted reported. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4ed1ebc2ca79de23658238 If you're looking for a Big 12 winner not named Texas Tech or BYU, consider the Houston Cougars te 2026-07-08T22:40:43.683Z If you're looking for a Big 12 winner not named Texas Tech or BYU, consider the Houston Cougars With Big 12 Media Days wrapping up on Wednesday afternoon, there is no doubt who the heavy favorites of the conference are. Most media members are in agreement that this year's version of the Big 12 appears to be a two horse race, or rather, a Red Raider and Cougar race. That's right, the two darlings of the conference in 2026 are none other than Texas Tech and BYU. COLLEGE QUARTERBACK WHO BET ON HIS OWN TEAM ALLOWED TO PLAY IN LANDMARK RULING, NCAA FILES APPEAL IN COURT The Red Raiders had their fair share of controversy throughout the offseason thanks to the Brendan Sorsby gambling saga, but they still have far and away the most talented roster in the Big 12 and will be expected to take the title by brute force. Joining them in the favorites circle is BYU, a team that was a stone's throw away from the College Football Playoff and played for the Big 12 title last year, ultimately falling to the aforementioned Red Raiders of Texas Tech. Some of you might not be too keen on picking heavy favorites to win a conference, so what if I told you there was another team a little further down the list that might have a chance to unseat the incumbent champs? I am speaking of none other than the Houston Cougars, a program on the rise that might be flying criminally under the radar in 2026. The Cougs are entering year three of the Willie Fritz era, and that's usually when many coaches reach their stride (Fritz included). Fritz is coming off of a ten-win season in 2025 and had the Cougars ranked in the final AP Poll for the first time since the end of the 2021 season. JOEY MCGUIRE CALLS STEVE SARKISIAN'S BLUFF, DARES TEXAS TO PLAY TEXAS TECH IN WEEK 1 Houston also has both of its coordinators returning in 2026, including young and up-and-coming defensive coordinator Austin Armstrong, who had the unit rolling last season and finished with a defense ranked in the top-50 in scoring (22.9 ppg) and top-40 in average yards per rush allowed (3.7 ypa). The schedule is manageable, even by Big 12 standards, as the Cougars avoid playing BYU, Arizona, and Arizona State this coming season, and have a very forgiving back stretch. Most importantly, Houston gets Texas Tech in September to open conference play, meaning there's a chance they could catch the Red Raiders early before their team gels or they have a chance to figure out their quarterback situation. If the Cougars can spring the upset, they would be in the driver's seat for the rest of the season in conference play. Speaking of gelling, Houston ranks second in the Big 12 in returning production, and rank top-ten in the country in returning offensive production, so this should be a well-oiled machine from the jump. While Houston’s transfer portal returns on the whole aren’t anything to write home about, I loved the pick up of running back Makhi Hughes from Oregon. He didn’t yield a ton of production last season, but his 2024 season at Tulane was incredibly impressive, putting up over 1,400 yards on the ground and finding the end zone a total of 17 times. Overcoming the conference's Goliath in Lubbock won't be easy, but I really like the makeup of this team. The returning coordinators, veteran leadership, and forgiving schedule could be the perfect storm needed to send Houston to the big dance in December. Buy stock in the Cougars now, because the price will only go up from here. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4ecf92c2ca79de236581e1 HCH Pet of the Week: Janice te 2026-07-08T22:30:42.099Z HCH Pet of the Week: Janice Hi, I'm Janice! I'm a 9-month-old tan mixed breed girl with a heart full of love and loyalty to give. I'm already spayed and ready to settle into my forever home, where I can share all this affection with people… Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4ecd24c2ca79de2365811a Villegas busca la reelección en el LD20 te 2026-07-08T22:20:20.022Z Villegas busca la reelección en el LD20 Leer en inglés La representante estatal Betty Villegas, demócrata, busca la reelección a la Cámara de Representantes de Arizona por el Distrito Legislativo 20, enfrentándose en las elecciones primarias a Genoveva Díaz, Sally Ann Gonzales y Ben Koehler. Katherine Weasel, republicana, se ha registrado como candidata por escrito para las elecciones generales. El Distrito Legislativo 20 abarca partes del sur y el oeste de Tucson y cuenta con una mayoría de población latina; el 53 % de sus residentes se identifica como hispano o latino. Villegas fue elegida para el cargo en 2023. Algunos de los temas que ha abordado en la Legislatura son los mismos que enfrentan los habitantes de Tucson en 2026, aunque varios han evolucionado y cobrado mayor urgencia. El Foco de Tucson le preguntó a todos los candidatos sobre sus posturas respecto a la política hídrica, los vales escolares y la vivienda asequible. La conservación del agua ha sido casi siempre una prioridad máxima para los residentes de Tucson, y proyectos recientes de centros de datos, como el Project Blue de Amazon, han generado preocupación de que se sobreexplote la fuente de agua limitada de la ciudad: su acuífero subterráneo. "El agua es vida en Arizona," afirmó Villegas. "La ciudadanía tiene todo el derecho a preocuparse cuando grandes corporaciones y centros de datos llegan a nuestras comunidades y exigen cantidades enormes de agua y energía sin una rendición de cuentas clara." La representante estatal Betty Villegas ha recibido el respaldo de la representante federal Adelita Grijalva. Cortesía de Betty Villegas. Villegas afirmó que, de ser reelegida, seguirá impulsando la transparencia, una supervisión más rigurosa y la implementación de salvaguardias antes de permitir que los grandes consumidores de agua amplíen sus operaciones. "Eso significa exigir información clara sobre el impacto en el agua, proteger nuestras aguas subterráneas, garantizar que las comunidades locales tengan voz y asegurar que las corporaciones no reciban un trato preferencial mientras se pide a las familias que ahorren recursos," dijo Villegas, añadiendo que considera que el crecimiento no debe estar desligado de la sostenibilidad. La asequibilidad de la vivienda es otra de las principales preocupaciones de los votantes de Tucson; tanto la ciudad de Tucson como el condado de Pima han declarado una emergencia ante el creciente número de personas sin hogar. "La vivienda es una de las razones por las que me postulé al cargo," dijo Villegas, quien trabajó durante 31 años en los sectores de vivienda, desarrollo comunitario, hipotecas y servicio público. "Sé que la estabilidad habitacional no es un lujo. Con el calor extremo de Arizona, es una cuestión de salud, seguridad y supervivencia. Nadie debería tener que elegir entre encender el aire acondicionado y pagar el alquiler o la hipoteca." Villegas expresó su apoyo a la labor de la gobernadora Katie Hobbs para ampliar la asistencia en el pago de servicios públicos y respaldó la continuidad de programas financiados a nivel estatal y federal, como Power AZ y el Programa de Asistencia de Energía para Hogares de Bajos Ingresos. "Los salarios no han seguido el ritmo de los costos de la vivienda," señaló Villegas. "Pasarán años antes de que las familias trabajadoras puedan ponerse al día. Necesitamos más viviendas, pero también necesitamos viviendas que la gente realmente pueda pagar." Villegas ha presentado y apoyado legislación destinada a proteger a los inquilinos, prevenir desalojos innecesarios, ampliar la asistencia para el alquiler, fortalecer las protecciones para las viviendas prefabricadas, apoyar los fideicomisos de tierras comunitarias e incrementar la oferta de viviendas asequibles de forma permanente. Una cuestión reciente es la expansión del programa de vales Empowerment Scholarship Account (ESA) del estado, que permite a los padres redirigir los fondos por estudiante, que de otro modo se destinarían a la escuela pública local, para pagar la matrícula y los recursos de escuelas privadas o alternativas. Muchos críticos de la expansión de las ESA señalan la falta de transparencia y el potencial del sistema para socavar la educación pública. "La expansión universal de los vales ESA en Arizona se ha convertido en una de las mayores amenazas para nuestras escuelas públicas y el presupuesto estatal,” afirmó Villegas. "Los fondos públicos deben destinarse en primer lugar a las escuelas públicas, donde se educa a la gran mayoría de los niños de Arizona. En cambio, tenemos un sistema de vales que carece de transparencia, ha crecido mucho más allá de lo que se informó inicialmente a los votantes y está drenando recursos destinados a las aulas, los maestros y los estudiantes." Villegas declaró que apoya establecer un límite al crecimiento de las ESA e imponer medidas de rendición de cuentas y transparencia que frenen el despilfarro y los abusos derivados de dicha expansión. "Debemos financiar adecuadamente las escuelas públicas, aumentar el salario de los maestros, invertir en seguridad escolar, apoyar la educación especial y fortalecer nuestros colegios comunitarios y universidades. La educación pública es una de las mejores inversiones que podemos hacer en el futuro de Arizona, y no debemos permitir que un sistema privado de vales la debilite," señaló Villegas. Durante su tiempo en la Legislatura, Villegas también ha hecho campaña y trabajado a favor de una salud pública sólida, la defensa de la democracia, los derechos civiles, la justicia ambiental y la resiliencia climática. 💡 Las elecciones primarias son el 21 de julio. La votación anticipada comenzó el 24 de junio y la fecha límite para enviar la boleta por correo es el 14 de julio. Los votantes del Condado de Pima pueden registrarse, verificar su registro o solicitar una boleta por correo en recorder.pima.gov. Quentin Agnello es egresado de la Universidad de Arizona y periodista independiente radicado en Tucson. Puede contactarlo en qsagnello@gmail.com. Esta nota fue traducida por el equipo bilingüe de El Foco de Tucson. El Foco de Tucson es una sala de prensa comunitaria que ofrece oportunidades remuneradas a estudiantes y periodistas emergentes del sur de Arizona. Por favor, considera apoyar nuestro trabajo con una donación deducible de impuestos. Donar a El Foco Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4ecb08c2ca79de236580e1 US Soccer issues statement on Mauricio Pochettino's future with Team USA after World Cup te 2026-07-08T22:11:20.866Z US Soccer issues statement on Mauricio Pochettino's future with Team USA after World Cup When Mauricio Pochettino was hired as the head coach of the US Men's National Team just under two years ago, it was widely viewed as a coup for US Soccer. Pochettino brought an outside perspective, a stark departure from Gregg Berhalter, whose experience as a manager was mostly in MLS. He'd coached players at the highest level of European competition, with stints at Tottenham Hotspur in the English Premier League, Paris Saint-Germain in Ligue 1, and Chelsea, back in the EPL. His tenure got off to a bit of a rocky start, then in the largest tournament prior to the World Cup, his USMNT lost 2-1 in the Gold Cup Final to Mexico. Albeit with some controversial refereeing decisions going Mexico's way. BELGIUM EMBARRASSES TEAM USA BEFORE BREAKING OUT TRUMP'S SIGNATURE DANCE CELEBRATION AFTER FOURTH GOAL But as with most national team managers, Pochettino was always going to be judged based on the USMNT's performance in the 2026 World Cup. And there it's, well, a bit of a mixed bag. The first match against Paraguay in Los Angeles was jaw-dropping. A dominant 4-1 victory, playing a brand of aggressive, attacking soccer with composure, coordination, and outstanding movement that had virtually never been seen before from a US team. They handled Australia 2-0, before dropping a meaningless game against Turkey with the backups replacing most starters. Advancing out of the group stage was one thing, but winning it in dominant fashion was another. Still, the knockout stage has been yet another hurdle for the USMNT to overcome, and in perhaps the most encouraging sign yet, they did so easily. Yes, Bosnia and Herzegovina was outmatched on talent, but the resilience the team displayed after star Florian Balogun was sent off with a controversial red card was impressive. As was the top level free kick goal from Malik Tillman. That win set up arguably the biggest opportunity for a USMNT team in decades: beat Belgium in a home World Cup to advance to the quarterfinals. We all know how that turned out. A devastating 4-1 loss, where the USMNT somehow reverted back to the form most long-time fans are familiar with. Poor coordination, atrocious back line play, too many lost balls from the team's best players, and unforgivable, inexcusable mistakes. So how do you judge Pochettino's performance? Well, that's exactly what US Soccer has to do. And they issued a statement after their World Cup exit seemingly implying that they want him back and the decision lies with him. "We had positive conversations with Mauricio before the World Cup about the future," the statement says. "We agreed we would continue those conversations following a chance to rest and reflect post World Cup. We have a great deal of respect and gratitude for Mauricio, his staff and everyone part of the program. We have shared excitement about our potential and also shared clarity about the amount of work at all levels still required to achieve our ambition." CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM Pochettino himself said he intends to take some time to think about his future and what the federation wants. "In the next few weeks, we can start to talk if the federation wants to talk," he said after the match. "Right now it’s about resting a little bit, to think, to have conversations with the federation to see what the decision is. I’m so happy. We’ve built a very good relationship. Now is not a moment to talk about [my future]." He'll certainly have options, whether that's back in the Premier League, or in Italy, or elsewhere. But retaining Pochettino should be a top priority for US Soccer. His adjustments at halftime brought the USMNT right back into the match, and it doesn't fall to him that 38-year-old Tim Ream was the best available center back. Or that the starting goalkeeper quite literally kicked the ground when attempting to clear the ball, leading directly to a Belgium goal. While there's justifiable frustration over going out in the Round of 16 yet again, it's clear that the US player pool is the best it's ever been. And getting better. There are many structural issues to address with how soccer is coached and administered at the youth level, which fall more on US Soccer than the USMNT head coach. But as far as team selection, development, and tactics, there aren't many coaching options available that would be a better choice for the US. Outside of extremely unlikely swings at someone like Pep Guardiola, Carlo Ancelotti, or Jurgen Klopp. And Klopp is already deep in talks to take over the German National Team after another disastrous exit. This is a pivotal time for US Soccer, and it's extremely important to get this next cycle right. Hopefully they do. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4ecaf5c2ca79de236580d8 Florida TV boss rips 'cringeworthy' posts as anchor's bikini-clad social media posts spark buzz te 2026-07-08T22:11:01.425Z Florida TV boss rips 'cringeworthy' posts as anchor's bikini-clad social media posts spark buzz A Miami news station director admonished staff in a memo to stop posting "foolish nonsense" to their social media accounts, which came back to light as an anchor’s bikini-clad posts sparked discussion of whether they violated the policy. WPLG Vice President of News Bill Pohovey blasted his staff in an internal memo over influencer-like content that distracted from their journalistic mission, according to a report by FTVLive. "I have emailed about this numerous times in the past, but we seem to be going in the wrong direction again," Pohovey reportedly wrote. The memo was released as a series of Instagram posts were made by WPLG anchor and reporter Jenise Fernandez to her verified personal account, in which she shared images of her recent trip to Fiji to her approximately 28,000 followers, the outlet reported. However, the memo was sent weeks ago, before the new pictures. MICHELE TAFOYA ON NFL-NEW YORK TIMES DUST UP, FUTURE OF JOURNALISM The images appeared to show Fernandez wearing a fire-red bikini while climbing aboard a resort boat, with the caption, "Now I know what it feels like to be on @cloud9_fiji." According to Fernandez’s station biography, she has worked at the station since 2014 and was once crowned Miss Miami. She also previously placed fourth runner-up at the Miss Florida Pageant. Another set of photos reportedly showed Fernandez wearing the same bikini as she leaned up against a floating bar at the resort — with an additional post showing her raising a shot glass to toast with two companions. While some reports indicated the memo penned by Pohovey was circulated after the posts were made to Fernandez’s account, Pohovey disputed that in a statement to the New York Post. DIANNA RUSSINI RESIGNS FROM THE ATHLETIC AMID MIKE VRABEL CONTROVERSY Pohovey told the outlet the memo "was not a response to one individual post [but rather] just a reminder of long-standing guidelines." In a follow-up statement, Pohovey added, "This had nothing to do with a current employee. As I said, the memo was sent out many months ago and is not new." He also told the New York Post that the photos didn't violate his directive. "The memo didn’t tell employees they couldn’t post vacation photos or other daily life activities on their personal social pages," he said in an email to the Post. "We do live in Florida and people wear bikinis on the beach. These photos were tasteful and completely fine." The memo reportedly railed against current employees of the station, reminding them that their public persona should not detract from their roles as local journalists. "Too many of our social media accounts are being used for foolish nonsense," Pohovey wrote, according to FTVLive. FORMER NFL SIDELINE REPORTER MICHELE TAFOYA WEIGHS IN ON WHY RUSSINI'S CREDIBILITY IS FOREVER GONE "We don’t want dance videos with our staff. We don’t want fashion shows, outfits of the day, or other silly content that detracts from you as journalists," he added. Pohovey also reportedly told staff that they are not permitted to film social media content within the newsroom — a practice that has become commonplace in news outlets throughout the country. CLICK HERE FOR MORE COVERAGE OF MEDIA AND CULTURE "We should never produce such content, and we should absolutely NEVER create such content inside the station, in our newsroom or studios, using our news set as the background," Pohovey wrote. The vice president reportedly said that staff members should consider applying the same rules to their personal social media accounts, while adding that, "Some of what I see is cringeworthy." "People are losing trust in the news, and the nickname ‘fake news’ is beginning to stick. We’re seen as not serious and this unprofessional behavior only adds fuel to that fire," he later added. "The likes and follows are not worth eroding your credibility and the credibility of this news organization." Fox News Digital reached out to Fernandez and Pohovey for comment. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4ecacec2ca79de236580bf Three More People Charged With Damaging Reflecting Pool te 2026-07-08T22:10:22.508Z Three More People Charged With Damaging Reflecting Pool The three individuals face misdemeanor charges of causing damage worth less than $1,000. Experts have said that the problems could have been caused by the pool’s makeover. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4ec66cc2ca79de23657f39 Brooks Nader showcases toned abs in vintage two-piece during Venice yacht getaway te 2026-07-08T21:51:40.773Z Brooks Nader showcases toned abs in vintage two-piece during Venice yacht getaway Brooks Nader is continuing her stylish Euro summer. The ‘Love Thy Nader’ star shared a carousel of photos from Venice, Italy, after spending time in Croatia last week, giving followers another glimpse inside her overseas getaway. Nader captioned the post with a series of playful messages, including, "Love this vintage set from the 1950s 😜," "Love you Venice 🇮🇹❤️" and, "Moments before a gnarly sister fight that almost sent one of us overboard 😇." CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE ENTERTAINMENT NEWSLETTER The model leaned into vintage glamour with a navy-and-white polka dot matching set while aboard a yacht in Venice. The coordinated look featured a halter-style crop top paired with high-waisted fitted shorts that highlighted her toned figure. Nader completed the ensemble with oversized black sunglasses, diamond stud earrings and loose, beachy waves. Nader later gave followers a glimpse of an unconventional workout while aboard the yacht. BROOKS NADER, ALIX EARLE AND MOLLY SIMS STUN IN BARELY-THERE BIKINI LOOKS AT SI SWIMSUIT RUNWAY SHOW The ‘Baywatch’ star stepped onto a treadmill wearing the same vintage-inspired set, adding black strappy heels and oversized sunglasses as the Venetian waterways stretched beyond the yacht's windows. Another photo captured Nader striking a confident pose on the yacht's expansive deck. The model showed off the coordinating halter top and high-waisted shorts while walking barefoot across the teak deck. Historic Venetian landmarks and the city's waterfront skyline created the backdrop behind her. BROOKS NADER SAYS SHE 'FOREVER' REGRETS ONE COSMETIC PROCEDURE: 'I JUST DIDN'T NEED IT' She appeared to take in the warm Italian sunshine while lounging aboard the yacht. Among the carousel's playful moments, Nader joked that a "gnarly sister fight" nearly sent one of them overboard. One fan commented, "The overboard sisters caption is so relatable 😂. Stunning." Nader replied, "the driver almost kicked us out 😂😂😂." BROOKS NADER WOWS IN ICONIC RED ONE-PIECE BATHING SUIT AS 'BAYWATCH' REBOOT FILMS BEACH SCENES Brooks is one of the four Nader sisters, who have frequently documented their close bond and playful antics together on social media and reality television. The sisters recently starred together in Hulu's "Love Thy Nader," which followed their personal and professional lives while navigating careers in modeling, relationships and life in New York City. Outside of her European travels, Nader has been busy filming the upcoming "Baywatch" reboot, marking her first major acting role. The model recently addressed criticism surrounding the show's influencer-heavy cast during an interview with the Daily Mail in March 2026. "I think that the times are different and everyone is so multi-hyphenate now, and you can be both an actor and an influencer and have influence. And that's the beauty of the culture that social media has created," Nader said. LIKE WHAT YOU'RE READING? CLICK HERE FOR MORE ENTERTAINMENT NEWS "We now have platforms. I think, during the '90s, you didn't have social media, you didn't have Instagram or TikTok, and so people could use their voice now," she continued. "I think that there's so many amazing platforms and voices that are on the show, in the cast, and I think it'll only help the series." While speaking with Fox News Digital in May, Nader said landing the role has been "the most exciting thrill of a lifetime." "I cry every time I put the red suit on, because I'm like, 'This is my work uniform! What?'" she said. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4ec659c2ca79de23657f30 Bernie-backed socialist who allied with Platner could supplant him on ballot te 2026-07-08T21:51:21.317Z Bernie-backed socialist who allied with Platner could supplant him on ballot With Graham Platner facing mounting pressure to end his Senate campaign after rape allegations surfaced Monday, longtime Maine Democrat Troy Jackson filed paperwork Tuesday positioning himself to enter the U.S. Senate race should the Democratic nomination become available. Prominent Democratic leaders, including Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., have withdrawn their support for Platner and urged him to end his campaign. Platner has denied the allegations as "categorically false" and has remained in the race. Under Maine law, Platner has until Monday, July 13, 2026, to withdraw if Democrats hope to replace him on the November ballot. If he steps aside before the deadline, the state Democratic Party will have until July 27, 2026, to choose a new nominee. Jackson, who lost the Democratic gubernatorial primary just weeks ago, signaled his interest in the Senate race by filing a Statement of Candidacy with the Federal Election Commission. He later took to social media to condemn the allegations against Platner while emphasizing that he has not yet decided whether to seek the nomination. PLATNER CAMPAIGN PUTTING 'THUMB ON SCALE' TO INFLUENCE POSSIBLE REPLACEMENT, MAINE DEM ALLEGES "While I haven't made any final decisions yet, I'm deeply humbled by the outpouring of support and encouragement I've received," Jackson wrote. "I'm currently weighing the best path forward to support our progressive movement and the working class political revolution Mainers are fighting for." Jackson and Platner ran closely aligned progressive campaigns and appeared together at campaign events throughout the 2026 election cycle. Both embraced a progressive platform and earned the backing of Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt. KINGMAKER MAMDANI CALLS ON PLATNER TO 'DROP OUT OF THE RACE' AFTER RAPE ALLEGATION Following the allegations against Platner, however, Our Revolution — the progressive political organization Sanders founded after his 2016 presidential campaign — withdrew its endorsement of Platner and instead backed Jackson, whom it had also endorsed during his gubernatorial campaign. "We have days, not weeks, to make sure a real progressive is on this ballot," Our Revolution Executive Director Joseph Geevarghese said in a statement. "If we do not organize now, we risk watching the Democratic establishment handing Maine a corporate placeholder while the party that just got outvoted decides it knows better. We refuse to let that happen." Jackson's ties to Sanders stretch back more than a decade. He was one of the few Democratic National Committee superdelegates to endorse Sanders over Hillary Clinton during the 2016 Democratic presidential primary and later served as Sanders' Maine political director, introducing him at campaign rallies across the state. Sanders later returned the favor, endorsing Jackson's gubernatorial campaign and appearing alongside him on the campaign trail. FOX NEWS POLL: MAINE SENATE RACE IS TIGHT, WITH CONCERNS ABOUT BOTH CANDIDATES "Fighting for the working class of Maine is not something new for Troy," Sanders said during a campaign rally. "That's what he has done for his entire life as a logger and as a member of the Maine state legislature. Troy knows what's going on with the working class of Maine because he's part of that working class." SIGN UP TO GET THE POLITICS NEWSLETTER A fifth-generation logger and one of Maine's best-known labor Democrats, Jackson spent more than two decades in the state Legislature, including six years as president of the Maine Senate before leaving the post in 2024. During his gubernatorial campaign, he ran on a platform that included universal child care, Medicare for All and the creation of a Department of Affordable Housing. He also secured endorsements from more than 20 labor unions, cementing his reputation as a working-class progressive. Despite his progressive politics, Jackson has repeatedly won elections in one of Maine's most Republican regions. He represented northern Aroostook County, a largely rural district that has consistently supported President Donald Trump by double-digit margins in recent presidential elections. Jackson has argued that his success stems from focusing on working-class economic issues rather than partisan labels. Fox News Digital reached out to Jackson for comment. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4ec632c2ca79de23657f18 Vance, in Wisconsin, Highlights Twin Fights, Against Fraud and Democrats te 2026-07-08T21:50:42.403Z Vance, in Wisconsin, Highlights Twin Fights, Against Fraud and Democrats The vice president called Democrats “a party that is fighting for fraud,” even as he highlighted the case of a woman who was first indicted under the Biden administration. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4ec61ec2ca79de23657ef0 Feds demand autonomous vehicle companies stop interfering with first responders te 2026-07-08T21:50:22.443Z Feds demand autonomous vehicle companies stop interfering with first responders The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said emergency scenes are not "edge cases." Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4ec465c2ca79de23657ede Jerry Colangelo aims to bring NBA expansion franchise to Las Vegas te 2026-07-08T21:43:01.955Z Jerry Colangelo aims to bring NBA expansion franchise to Las Vegas PHOENIX – In 1968, a 28-year-old Jerry Colangelo was handed the keys to a brand-new NBA franchise. As the first general manager of the expansion Phoenix Suns, he helped build professional basketball in the desert from the ground up.  Twenty-six years later, in 1994, he turned to Major League Baseball and brought together another group of investors to buy a franchise one year ahead of MLB’s expansion selection meetings. The following year, in 1995, he and his group were granted ownership of the Arizona Diamondbacks. Never one to quit working, Colangelo, now 86, is trying to bring an NBA franchise to Las Vegas.  “Basketball has become a global sport to levels never seen before,” Colangelo said in a statement. “With the five top MVP vote-getters being all internationally born, the game is reaching unparalleled heights.” The ownership group, known as the Las Vegas Jacks, includes Colangelo, former Sun Vinny Del Negro, David Levy, Scott Colangelo (no relation), Jonathan Thomas and Jay Williams.  “My excitement for this project and for our Jacks’ vision is right up there in terms of my career,” Colangelo said. “We all are committed and working as hard as we can to bring the league, owners and the fans, the best proposal and end product possible to Las Vegas.”  The group says it already has financial backing. The members have a capital raising target of $12.5 billion to $13 billion, with $5 billion already committed and $3 billion formally indicated. BTIG and U.S. Bank, supported by Global Leisure Partners, will serve as financial advisors to the project. Financier Scott Colangelo, the chairman and managing partner of Prime Capital Financial, said that the ownership group has already established a road map for its plan.  “Our team is focused on executing on three very distinct levels,” he said. “Raise the entirety of the capital in cash with exceptional business leaders. Build the most impressive state of the art basketball arena in the world. And be a part of a group committed to giving the city of Las Vegas what they deserve, exceptional [basketball].” The group announced that it intends to have the team play at T-Mobile Arena while it begins the development of a new stadium and while other facilities are being constructed.  Del Negro said the group’s experience gives it a unique advantage.  “We believe that with our leadership and vision for Las Vegas basketball to be an international hub for global basketball events, that no other group can match the proven leaders we have assembled in making Las Vegas an unparalleled success,” Del Negro said. Former President of Turner Sports, David Levy, agreed with Del Negro.  “When I saw the caliber of the team and its vision, I immediately knew this was different,” Levy said. “I’ve had the privilege of collaborating with many of the most influential leaders in sports throughout my career, and this group belongs in that conversation. “It’s a remarkable collection of basketball, business, finance and media talent with a shared commitment to building something truly special.” American Century Chairman and CEO Jonathan Thomas said the timing of the announcement was fitting.  “Making this historic announcement on the eve of the NBA Summer League and our event – The American Century Championship – is certainly the perfect precursor,” Thomas said.  The Jacks aren’t the only group that has shown interest in owning an NBA franchise in Las Vegas. Las Vegas Golden Knights founder and owner, Bill Foley, announced on June 22 that he also intends to bid for an expansion franchise. “Las Vegas has earned its place among great sports cities in America and an NBA team belongs here,” Foley said in a statement. “We built the Golden Knights into a championship organization from the ground up and we are prepared to do it again.” For decades, Las Vegas was viewed as an unlikely destination for major professional sports franchises because of its close ties to the gambling industry. This perception has changed drastically in recent years, both because of the widespread acceptance and availability of sports gambling, and because of the success of Foley’s NHL franchise. The Golden Knights were the first major pro franchise in the city, beginning play in the 2017-18 NHL season. The Knights’ success – Vegas won the Stanley Cup in 2023, has been to the Cup Final three times and has achieved sellouts for virtually every regular season and playoff game since joining the NHL – led other leagues to explore the market.   The city is now also home to the NFL’s Raiders and the WNBA’s Aces. MLB’s Athletics will move to Las Vegas in 2028 when their new stadium is built. An NBA franchise would complete the city’s collection of teams from North America’s four major men’s professional sports leagues. The post Jerry Colangelo aims to bring NBA expansion franchise to Las Vegas appeared first on Cronkite News. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4ec427c2ca79de23657eba Bipartisan bill to lower housing costs poised to become law without Trump signing it te 2026-07-08T21:41:59.977Z Bipartisan bill to lower housing costs poised to become law without Trump signing it President Donald Trump faces a decision by 12:01 a.m. Saturday, July 11, on a bipartisan housing bill passed by large majorities in Congress. In this photo, Trump attends a meeting at the G7 Summit on June 17, 2026 in Evian-les-Bains, France. (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images) President Donald Trump is running out of time to decide what to do with a bipartisan bill meant to lower housing costs by making it easier to build. If Trump does not sign the measure, it would become law at 12:01 a.m. Saturday under a provision of the Constitution that gives the president 10 days, excluding Sundays, to sign or veto a bill. Trump has said he would not sign the bill to pressure the U.S. Senate to pass an unrelated election security measure he considers a higher priority. The constitutional provision does not apply if Congress is adjourned, resulting in what is called a pocket veto, but the current July Fourth recess does not count as an adjournment, experts agree. “This would be considered a recess so the bill will become law without signature 10 days after presentment,” Jason Roberts, a political scientist at the University of North Carolina, wrote in an email to States Newsroom.  The White House has not publicly communicated its legal position and spokespeople did not return a message seeking comment Wednesday.  Trump has vetoed only two other bills passed by the GOP-controlled Congress during his second term. Both were noncontroversial and targeted to local projects in Florida and Colorado. ‘A huge problem’ Groups representing a vast array of housing interests, from low-income renters to bankers, have endorsed the wide-ranging legislation that packages together numerous bills affecting every corner of the industry. “Housing affordability is a huge problem for almost everybody,” Alys Cohen, the director of federal housing advocacy at the National Consumer Law Center, said in an interview. “And so there’s broad consensus that Congress needs to do something about that, period. So, as a result, they have a lot of different stakeholders coming together to really get something done.” The bill, called the 21st Century Road to Housing Act, generally seeks to lower housing costs by expanding the supply, while also adjusting loan programs backed by the federal government.  Estimates of the number of housing units needed to meet demand vary, but it is “probably” near 4 million units, Kristen Klurfield, an associate director for housing policy at the Washington, D.C.-based Bipartisan Policy Center, said. The package includes an assortment of smaller bills to update regulations on manufactured homes, loosen requirements for home construction and adjust a rural loan program to help lower income people qualify for and keep mortgages. The wide scope of the bill gives every segment of the policy space a reason to support it. “In general it modernizes federal programs,” Klurfield said. “It incentivizes pro-housing policies locally, streamlines regulations that have been hindering housing production and really expands options for affordable housing financing. And so we think that the bill tackles the problem from these several angles, and that’s really what it’s going to take to chart a path forward.” Trump quiet As the package was gaining momentum in Congress last month, White House staff said Trump supported it. After it passed both chambers of Congress with broad bipartisan votes, he was set to sign it at a high-profile ceremony at the Capitol.  But the president changed course and canceled the signing ceremony at the last minute in a protest of Congress’ failure to pass an election security measure, the SAVE America Act, he considers a top priority. Since the Senate passed the housing measure, 85-5, and the House cleared it, 358-32, in June, Trump has disparaged the bill as “a big yawn” and “unimportant” compared to the election bill.  That bill would introduce a series of restrictions on voting, especially vote-by-mail, and would require voters to provide photo ID to cast ballots. Critics say it raises new barriers to voting while attempting to limit noncitizen voting, which is exceedingly rare. The GOP-controlled House has passed a version of the SAVE America Act, but it does not have the 60 votes needed to advance in the Senate. Trump has not commented on the bill in several days and spent Wednesday attending a NATO conference in Turkey. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4ec414c2ca79de23657e9c WATCH: Dana White drops 2028 hints while raving about his favorite Trump cabinet secretary te 2026-07-08T21:41:40.010Z WATCH: Dana White drops 2028 hints while raving about his favorite Trump cabinet secretary Political heavyweight Dana White, whose endorsement of President Donald Trump was instrumental in his 2024 victory, is now hinting that he may jump back into presidential politics in 2028 because he has "become really close" with Secretary of State Marco Rubio. This comes as White’s UFC announced a rare "sports diplomacy" partnership with the State Department this week. White and Rubio signed a memorandum of understanding establishing the partnership last month, according to a UFC statement. The league said that as part of the agreement, UFC athletes and coaches will serve as "sports ambassadors" for young athletes around the world through the State Department’s Sports Envoy Program. White was explicitly asked by OutKick’s Tomi Lahren, whether there are any leaders he is looking at for 2028, to which he responded, "It’s funny, As I was, leading up to the White House fight, doing all this media, you know, a lot of the left media was saying to me, ‘So, you’re out of politics after this, right?’ And I can’t remember who it was that I said it to but … I said, ‘I’ve become really close to Rubio.’ We’ve become really close." "People are asking me if I’m going to get out of politics when the president leaves and I just said, ‘I’ve become very close to Rubio.’ He and I have become friends," he emphasized. RUBIO ANNOUNCES FRAMEWORK DEAL BETWEEN ISRAEL AND LEBANON AS EXPERTS WARN IRAN WILL FIGHT TO SABOTAGE IT White said that Rubio "is a great guy, I like him," adding, "He’s smart, I like the way he handles himself." He also said, "I’ve met his sons, and I like his kids and, you know, so, never say never." Pressed on whether Rubio is his official pick to succeed Trump as president, White clarified, "I’m not saying I’m picking." He noted that he also likes Vice President JD Vance, who, alongside Rubio, is a rumored 2028 presidential frontrunner. "JD is a great guy too," said White, adding, "It’s a tricky situation, and I don’t know enough about politics to even comment on that, but, yeah, I don’t know, but it’s not a bad thing to have two strong candidates." Rubio and Vance are the two Republicans most discussed as possible successors to Trump. While Rubio ran for president in 2016, he has expressed support for Vance, calling him a "close friend" and saying the vice president "would be a great nominee if he decides he wants to do that." VIRAL MARCO RUBIO CLIP ON HIS VISION FOR AMERICA SPARKS MORE 2028 SPECULATION Though White stopped short of issuing a full-throated endorsement of Rubio, his partnership with the State Department through UFC underscores the high regard he appears to have for the secretary. This is the first time the UFC has entered into such a partnership with the State Department. The NFL, which entered into a similar agreement in January, is the only other major sports organization to have signed such a formal agreement with the department. SIGN UP TO GET THE POLITICS NEWSLETTER UFC Chief Operating Officer Lawrence Epstein said the league is "thrilled" about the partnership. He said it would allow the State Department and UFC to "work together to build bridges through community engagement." "We're excited to join this program, led by Secretary Rubio, as UFC is a truly global organization with athletes representing 75 countries. We can't wait to get started later this year," said Epstein. VANCE TAKES LEAD SELLING TRUMP’S IRAN GAMBLE AS RUBIO, HEGSETH AND RATCLIFFE CEDE SPOTLIGHT ON FRAGILE DEAL In turn, Rubio spoke very highly of the UFC, saying it "has become a global phenomenon by embracing values that resonate far beyond the Octagon: excellence, discipline, opportunity, and meritocracy." The secretary said the State Department is "proud" to launch the sports diplomacy partnership with UFC and to "continue growing the sport of MMA." Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4ec400c2ca79de23657e93 Lynette Hooker's mom alleges Brian Hooker lied about daughter's disappearance, claims 'foul play' te 2026-07-08T21:41:20.554Z Lynette Hooker's mom alleges Brian Hooker lied about daughter's disappearance, claims 'foul play' Months after Lynette Hooker vanished in the Bahamas, her mother is challenging husband Brian Hooker's version of what happened the night she disappeared. Lynette Hooker, a Michigan woman who vanished while vacationing with her husband in the Bahamas in April, was reported missing on April 4 after the couple was boating near Elbow Cay in the Abaco Islands. Brian Hooker has maintained that his wife fell from a dinghy at night and was swept away by the current while they were en route to their sailboat, "Soulmate." LYNETTE HOOKER MISSING IN BAHAMAS: TIMELINE OF MICHIGAN WOMAN’S DISAPPEARANCE, HUSBAND’S ARREST Lynette's body has not been recovered. Now, Lynette's mother, Darlene Hamlett, says she believes her daughter made it back to "Soulmate" before she vanished. FOX TRUE CRIME IS NOW ON FACEBOOK 🚨 Know something we should investigate? 📩 stepheny.price@fox.com 📸 IG: @fndstephprice 🎥 X: @StephenyPrice Your tip could lead to our next story. "She made it back to the boat, and there was foul play," Hamlett told Fox News Digital. MISSING AMERICAN'S HUSBAND HAD $33K THERMAL CAMERA ON BOAT THAT NIGHT AND NEVER USED IT, FRIEND SAYS Hamlett did not elaborate on how she reached that conclusion but said she has been limited in what she can publicly discuss. "As a mother, it's taking longer than I would anticipate, but that's what the Coast Guard told me to say. That's all I'm saying," she said. SIGN UP TO GET TRUE CRIME NEWSLETTER The U.S. Coast Guard Investigative Service declined to comment on Hamlett's claims, telling Fox News Digital, "We cannot comment on ongoing investigation." WATCH: COAST GUARD VIDEO REVEALS SEIZURE OF BRIAN HOOKER'S SAILBOAT AFTER WIFE'S BAHAMAS DISAPPEARANCE Fox News Digital also reached out to Brian Hooker's attorney for comment but did not immediately receive a response. Hamlett's comments come after U.S. Coast Guard investigators traveled to the Bahamas last month to conduct dive searches in the Sea of Abaco and land searches with the assistance of a cadaver dog in an effort to locate Lynette. LISTEN TO THE NEW 'CRIME & JUSTICE WITH DONNA ROTUNNO' PODCAST FOLLOW US ON X Investigators also returned to the United States with the dinghy Lynette was last known to be on. It is expected to undergo further forensic examination for potential evidence. WATCH: Renewed search for Lynette Hooker being treated as homicide CLICK HERE FOR MORE U.S. NEWS Brian Hooker initially told investigators he and his wife were on a nighttime boat ride when Lynette fell from a small dinghy and was swept away. GET BREAKING NEWS ALERTS According to authorities, Brian said he was forced to paddle back to shore because Lynette was carrying the dinghy's ignition key when she went overboard. After Lynette disappeared, Brian said in a Facebook post that he was "heartbroken." SIGN UP TO GET THE LATEST TRUE CRIME NEWS SEND US A TIP "I am heartbroken over the recent boat accident in unpredictable seas and high winds that caused my beloved Lynette to fall from our small dinghy near Elbow Cay in the Bahamas," he wrote. "Despite desperate attempts to reach her, the winds and currents drove us further apart. We continue to search for her, and that is my sole focus." After being questioned and released by Bahamian authorities, Brian Hooker returned to the United States and has not been seen or heard from publicly. FOLLOW THE FOX TRUE CRIME TEAM ON X He has not been charged with a crime or accused of wrongdoing. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4ec3edc2ca79de23657e8a Chili's goes viral after roasting fast-food prices: 'Why let them play you like this?' te 2026-07-08T21:41:01.097Z Chili's goes viral after roasting fast-food prices: 'Why let them play you like this?' Chili's took a shot at fast-food prices on social media and received a lot of love in return. X user @YellowFlashGuy posted a photo of a menu showing what appeared to be a Bacon King sandwich meal, including french fries and a drink, priced at $18.19 at one Burger King location. The sandwich alone was listed for $12.99. "Why should I get this when I could just go to a restaurant?" @YellowFlashGuy captioned the image. "The food would be close to this price, and better." RESEARCHERS CLAIM THEY'VE CREATED HEALTHIER BURGERS THAT TASTE AS GOOD AS A BIG MAC "This is what we've been saying!!!!" Chili's responded. "Why do y'all let fast food play you like this? Big Crispy Chicken Sandwich 3 for Me with fries, BOTTOMLESS chips and salsa and UNLIMITED drink for $10.99, only at Chili's." The Bacon King is a sandwich offered by Burger King that includes two quarter-pound beef patties with bacon, American cheese, ketchup and mayonnaise on a toasted sesame seed bun. Most Burger King restaurants are locally owned and operated by franchise operators, according to the chain's website.  Prices and participation vary by location, Burger King says. Fox News Digital reached out to Burger King for comment. Chili's response was viewed over 5 million times and gained a substantial number of positive reactions. STEAK 'N SHAKE MOCKS FIVE GUYS OVER BURGER PRICES AFTER VIRAL LIBERTY MEAL POST "OK, I'm going to Chili's after work," one user posted. Chili's responded, "We can't wait!" "I had the Big Crispy Chicken for lunch yesterday," another user commented. "Great food, great service and outstanding value!" "That's what we're all about!" Chili's replied. "Thank you for taking care of us, Chili's," wrote another user. "Chili's is for the people." Not all the comments were positive, however.  CLICK HERE FOR MORE LIFESTYLE NEWS One user complained about receiving a medium-rare steak that "came out nearly blue," prompting Chili's to apologize and ask for additional feedback.  Other commenters defended the chain, saying the experience reflected one cook rather than the brand. The Texas-based chain has been playfully taking aim at fast food over the last few years, a spokesperson for Chili's parent company, Brinker International, told Fox News Digital. Most recently, in April, Chili's debuted its Big Crispy Chicken Sandwich. CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR LIFESTYLE NEWSLETTER "The chicken sandwich category has exploded over the last few years, but consumers continue to feel the empty promise of so-called 'value' from fast-food restaurants," Chili's said in a news release announcing the chain's new chicken offerings. The sandwich is part of Chili's value-focused 3 for Me platform, which starts at $10.99. Major fast-food chains raised their prices by 60% on average between 2014 and 2024, a FinanceBuzz study found. TEST YOURSELF WITH OUR LATEST LIFESTYLE QUIZ "Sixty-eight percent of U.S. consumers say they are cutting back on restaurant dining this year and prioritizing affordability and convenience," restaurant technology company Popmenu reported. Chili's focus on value appears to be driving the restaurant chain's growth. Brinker International reported in April that Chili's delivered its 20th consecutive quarter of same-store sales growth, with sales up 4%. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4ec3d9c2ca79de23657e81 Stephanie White gives Caitlin Clark status update ahead of Fever-Sparks, but her next move raises questions te 2026-07-08T21:40:41.649Z Stephanie White gives Caitlin Clark status update ahead of Fever-Sparks, but her next move raises questions WNBA phenom Caitlin Clark is back for Wednesday night's game against the Los Angeles Sparks, but her return comes with a pretty massive catch. After sitting out with a lingering back injury, the Indiana Fever star is ready to roll. On Wednesday, Fever head coach Stephanie White revealed a surprising workload management plan for Indiana's back-to-back. WNBA STAR CAITLIN CLARK OPENS UP ABOUT 'MENTAL CHALLENGE' BROUGHT ON BY STRING OF INJURIES Indy Star Fever reporter Chloe Peterson asked for an update on Clark's questionable status heading into the Sparks game, along with All-Star forward Aliyah Boston's injury status, and White dug into the Fever's plan. "Yeah, [Boston] just did some of the shooting," White told Peterson. "She's gonna be out tonight, again, with the back-to-back. ... Caitlin's gonna be active tonight, AB's not, and then they'll flip-flop tomorrow." So Clark will suit up Wednesday against the Sparks but is already ruled out for Thursday night's matchup with the Phoenix Mercury. Boston will do the exact opposite. The move comes just days after the Fever rolled past the Las Vegas Aces 84-68 without Clark. Through 17 games this season, Clark is averaging 21.2 points, 8.2 assists, 4.0 rebounds and 0.8 steals in 30.8 minutes per game. What's the thinking behind this strategy? Clark has built her reputation on wanting to play. If she wakes up Thursday feeling healthy and ready to play, that decision has already been made for her. Nobody is arguing against protecting the face of the franchise. White is right to prioritize Clark's long-term health after everything she's endured this season. WNBA WANTS A BIGGER STORY THAN CAITLIN CLARK, BUT TV RATINGS KEEP POINTING BACK TO HER But ruling her out more than 24 hours before tipoff feels overly cautious, especially with no way of knowing how she'll respond after Wednesday night's game. It also wouldn't be surprising if White closely manages Clark's minutes. People buy tickets to watch the league's biggest stars, not to see them scratched because of a schedule. Clark is the WNBA's biggest attraction, which means every game she misses prompts the same question: Was it really necessary? White's plan may ultimately prove to be the right one, but preemptively ruling Clark out for Thursday's game is only going to invite more criticism. Send us your thoughts: alejandro.avila@outkick.com / Follow along on X: @alejandroaveela Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4ec21dc2ca79de23657e10 OutKick's Dan Dakich rips Big 12 commissioner over his antics at press conference: 'F--- you' te 2026-07-08T21:33:17.578Z OutKick's Dan Dakich rips Big 12 commissioner over his antics at press conference: 'F--- you' Big 12 commissioner Brett Yormark is officially in the crosshairs of OutKick's Dan Dakich after a stunt the commish pulled this week. During a contentious interaction between Yormark and Texas Tech media personality Sean Dillon, the commissioner seemed to get irritated by a question presented by Dillon to the point where the conference honcho told Dillon to "stand up" and ask the question again. "Stand up. Ask that question again, and I'm going to give you the answer I want to give you," Yormark said. COLLEGE QUARTERBACK WHO BET ON HIS OWN TEAM ALLOWED TO PLAY IN LANDMARK RULING, NCAA FILES APPEAL IN COURT Say what? Dakich, who isn't known to side with Big Js very often, couldn't believe what he was hearing out of the commissioner. "These guys stand there like they're kings. Stand up! F--k you. I got a mic. I got a question," the host of "Don't @ Me" said during Wednesday's show. Keep in mind that Yormark is a 59-year-old Indiana grad. If Dan comes out with this strong of a take on a fellow IU guy, you know there's something cooking here. TEXAS TECH QB’S GAMBLING SAGA NOW FEATURES TOM BRADY’S DEFLATEGATE LAWYER "You ain't worth standing up. Don't answer the question. What are these guys? These guys are pasty white dudes that never played a sport in their life, politic their way through the athletic administration world. And now they're king? What? That is absolutely disgusting to me." What did Dillon ask that was so preposterous that Yormark needed him to stand up? Dillon asked a rambling question that started off with mention of the Big 12 banning the act of tossing tortillas during Tech games, a tradition that had gone on for 35 years. Then, he pivoted to Oklahoma State's tradition of slamming paddles into the padded walls at games. Ultimately, he got around to asking about quarterback Brendan Sorsby and how the Big 12 sued Tech while Sorsby's connection to Cincinnati hasn't brought heat on the Bearcats. Yormark seemed to blow his fuse when Dillon questioned the league's commitment to supporting all schools. We're talking some real minutiae here. None of this matters, guys. What matters here is that Dakich sided with a credentialed member of the media. Hell has officially frozen over. Even Dan's sworn enemies noticed. We're talking a rare moment in OutKick history right here. Mark it down. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4ec1f6c2ca79de23657df3 Human rights groups sound alarm over murders of Mexican journalists te 2026-07-08T21:32:38.159Z Human rights groups sound alarm over murders of Mexican journalists Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4ec1e2c2ca79de23657de1 Tucson weekend: Free pet adoptions at PACC, walking club & Goth Haus te 2026-07-08T21:32:18.699Z Tucson weekend: Free pet adoptions at PACC, walking club & Goth Haus Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4ec1cfc2ca79de23657dd8 Ken Paxton vowed to crack down on 'illegal voting,' but may have violated Texas law himself te 2026-07-08T21:31:59.239Z Ken Paxton vowed to crack down on 'illegal voting,' but may have violated Texas law himself Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4ec1bbc2ca79de23657dcf DOJ letter threatens Arizona election officials with prosecution as Fontes calls it ‘intimidation’ te 2026-07-08T21:31:39.784Z DOJ letter threatens Arizona election officials with prosecution as Fontes calls it ‘intimidation’ Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4ec1a8c2ca79de23657dc6 Heap prevails at Arizona Supreme Court as justices reject Maricopa supervisors’ election duty grab te 2026-07-08T21:31:20.330Z Heap prevails at Arizona Supreme Court as justices reject Maricopa supervisors’ election duty grab Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4ec194c2ca79de23657dbd Obamacare premiums likely to surge again next year te 2026-07-08T21:31:00.875Z Obamacare premiums likely to surge again next year Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4ec181c2ca79de23657db4 Large fires scorch drought-ridden Western U.S. te 2026-07-08T21:30:41.417Z Large fires scorch drought-ridden Western U.S. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4ec16dc2ca79de23657dab Advocates seek to block transfer of 108 immigrant kids out of Arizona te 2026-07-08T21:30:21.968Z Advocates seek to block transfer of 108 immigrant kids out of Arizona Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4ebf3bc2ca79de23657d4c Potential 2028 Dem contender unloads on Netanyahu, admits US-Israel ties at 'crossroads' te 2026-07-08T21:20:59.805Z Potential 2028 Dem contender unloads on Netanyahu, admits US-Israel ties at 'crossroads' Amid many Americans' plummeting support for Israel, potential Democratic presidential candidate Rahm Emanuel on Wednesday took aim at Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Emanuel, who is Jewish and a longtime defender of Israel, appears to have changed his tune and is now cautioning that the alliance between the U.S. and Israel "cannot stand or survive as it’s been." The former White House Chief of Staff to then-President Barack Obama and one-time Chicago mayor who later served as U.S. ambassador to Japan in the Biden administration, issued the tough-love message for America's increasingly isolated ally amid its ongoing military operations in Gaza against Hamas. His message was blunt: unconditional U.S. support for Israel needs to end and Israel needs to make major changes if it wants to keep America as its top ally. HEAD HERE FOR THE LATEST FOX NEWS REPORTING ON ISRAEL "The hard truth is that America’s silence for years has engendered the worst of your domestic politics. We’ve done you no favors by averting our eyes," Emanuel argued during his more than 30-minute address at the University of Tel Aviv, the centerpiece of his trip to Israel this week. And pointing to Netanyahu, Emanuel argued that America's "unconditional support has produced a prime minister who has presumed that his strategic interests would incur no cost if he ignored America’s concerns." "I came here from Chicago to tell you directly where things need to head if we are to maintain the historic alliance between two democracies. Without question the alliance is at a crossroads," he said. NETANYAHU REJECTS REPORTS OF A RIFT WITH PRESIDENT TRUMP, SAYS THE TWO REMAIN ALIGNED ON IRAN A horrific Hamas sneak attack on Oct. 7, 2023, killed roughly 1,200 people in Israel. The continued Israeli response over the past two and a half years has resulted in more than 73,000 people being killed, according to health officials in the Palestinian territory. Israel's response has led to condemnation of the country from across the globe, including from longtime advocates for the Jewish state. "Support for Israel is plummeting around the world. You’ve lost Europe, your biggest economic partner," Emanuel emphasized. He admitted: "Israel has never been more strategically isolated." Democrats have become increasingly divided over the war in Gaza, with a growing number of politicians on the left charging that Israel's actions against the Palestinians are "genocide" and calling for a halt to longstanding U.S. military aid to the Middle East nation. Roughly half of Democrats questioned in a new Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research poll said Israeli had committed genocide in its war with Hamas. Meanwhile, 58% said the U.S. is "too supportive" of Israel, which is up 13 points since January. Most Republicans remain strong supporters of Israel, although there's increasing unease among some in MAGA/America First camp. The poll indicated a slight deterioration in support for Israel among those in the GOP, but overall only a sliver of Republicans questioned felt that Israel had committed genocide. Emanuel called for a "new and fundamentally new approach to this alliance...To maintain the strength of our ties, we need significant changes and a new direction." 21 DEMOCRATS WHO MAY RUN FOR THE WHITE HOUSE IN 2028 And he sketched out early ideas for a new peace process. "The now-discredited path to a ‘two-state solution’ should be replaced by a 23-state solution: the 21 Arab nations that have exploited Palestinian rights as a slogan for decades now need to roll up their sleeves and stand up a governing authority capable of accepting the historic Jewish connection to this land," Emanuel proposed. And Emanuel emphasized, "If Israel made peace with 21...Arab nations, that would be your greatest day and Iran’s worst nightmare." EMANUEL PUSHES BACK ON 'STRAIGHT WHILE MAN' - SAYS THIS IS WHAT MATTERS MOST IN 2028 Emanuel's proposals include sanctioning Israelis who attack Palestinian civilians and property, along with companies and banks that support Israeli settlements in the West Bank that most of the international community consider illegal He also called for ending U.S. subsidies to Israel’s defense budget, arguing the country "should be able to buy American arms under the same financial terms, the same restrictions, and the same requirements as every other trusted ally that abides by our laws." For Emanuel, long known as a moderate who has clashed with the the left wing faction of his party, the speech appeared to be an attempt to find what he's described as a realistic middle ground. His message: "Those chanting ‘from the river to the sea’ need to hear this: you will never have your way." But he added, "Those calling for a greater Israel, you need to hear this: you will never have your way, either. Both of them are fantasies chanted by fanatics that lead to perpetual endless conflict." Netanyahu, who years ago famously slammed Emanuel as a "self-hating Jew," had yet to respond to the speech at the time this report posted. Emanuel, who has been crisscrossing the country this year as he considers a presidential bid, has made two stops in New Hampshire, which has traditionally held the first primary in the White House race. He has also made trips to two other crucial early primary election states — Nevada and South Carolina. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4ebf14c2ca79de23657d35 When Might Graham Platner Drop Out? Here’s the State of Play. te 2026-07-08T21:20:20.900Z When Might Graham Platner Drop Out? Here’s the State of Play. Here’s what we know about the uproar in the Democratic Party’s bid to unseat Senator Susan Collins. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4ebccfc2ca79de23657ce3 'The View' host digs in with warning against socialist candidates amid reported Mamdani feud te 2026-07-08T21:10:39.919Z 'The View' host digs in with warning against socialist candidates amid reported Mamdani feud "The View" co-host Sara Haines dug in against socialism on Wednesday after her co-host Joy Behar claimed it was just a buzzword for democracy and affordability, amid a reported feud between the liberal talk show and New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani. The co-hosts of the show debated recent comments from White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt about Gen Z, as socialism and far-left candidates have won several recent elections across the U.S. Behar called Democratic socialism a "buzzword" for democracy and affordability. "They have bastardized the word," she added. "It is the sign of a sinking ship. The Republicans are going down the toilet, and they know it, so they’re pulling out these stupid cards like they’re calling Democrats communists. Give me a break." THE NUMBERS DON’T LIE. YOUNG AMERICANS ARE FALLING IN LOVE… WITH SOCIALISM "Millennials are the first generation that [are] not be better off than their parents," she said. "Home prices are up from 2005 to 2025, 115%, and AI is coming for a lot of jobs, so I understand why the whole idea of socialism or more larger government providing appeals to young people, but I think it’s important that you research who you’re voting for because as you said, Whoopi, make sure you do your own research, the Democratic Socialists of America also stand on their platform and some of the candidates for, not only reducing law enforcement, almost eliminating in some cases, eliminating borders at all, and eliminating prisons, so I can’t imagine a country where no prisons exist, no law enforcement, no borders." "It doesn’t seem like anything can come but anarchy from that, so make sure you’re not sold on the idea of affordability but people coming in have other agendas," she added, noting that affordability has been an issue in the U.S. The comments come after an aide for Mamdani reportedly lashed out at ABC executives after "The View" co-host Sara Haines called a Mamdani-backed socialist congressional candidate an antisemite. 'THE VIEW' EASED UP ON POLITICAL CANDIDATE BOOKINGS AMID FCC INQUIRY, REPORT SAYS The New York City mayor's team had pitched the liberal talk show to have the socialist candidates on, but the show had declined, according to Semafor. Mamdani flexed his political influence last month after three candidates that he endorsed in New York congressional primaries — Brad Lander, Claire Valdez and Darializa Avila Chevalier — won over Democratic establishment candidates. During an episode of the show on June 24, co-host Alyssa Farah Griffin and Haines pushed back on the actions and comments of some of the candidates backed by Mamdani. Haines said Chevalier was at an anti-Israel rally on Oct. 8, 2023, the day after Hamas' massive terrorist attack against Israel by Hamas. MAMDANI-BACKED SOCIALIST CANDIDATE STORMS OUT OF LIVE INTERVIEW WHEN CONFRONTED WITH OLD SOCIAL MEDIA POSTS "I’m going to full-blown call her an antisemite. She would proudly call herself that, trust me," Haines said of Chevalier. Following the comments, an aide for the socialist mayor reportedly unloaded on ABC executives, and said the remarks by Haines could affect future appearances on the show for the mayor or the candidates running for Congress, according to Semafor, who cited a person familiar with the matter. An ABC source said "The View" is not known for booking political interviews with non-elected candidates. CLICK HERE FOR MORE COVERAGE OF MEDIA AND CULTURE Leavitt made the remarks during an appearance on "Jesse Watters Primetime" on Thursday. "This generation, my generation, I hate to say it, Gen Z, and those younger than me have been raised with just silver spoons in their mouths, just getting everything handed to them. That’s not the values this country was built on," she said, as they discussed the rise of socialist candidates in the country. Watters asked Leavitt if it was laziness and the country's education, as she said, "a little bit." "It’s laziness, and it’s the liberal indoctrination," she continued. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4ebaccc2ca79de23657caf Cardinals DL Darius Robinson embraces fresh mindset entering Year 3 te 2026-07-08T21:02:04.753Z Cardinals DL Darius Robinson embraces fresh mindset entering Year 3 TEMPE – In Week 13 of the 2025 NFL season, Arizona Cardinals defensive lineman Darius Robinson was reflective. “I am not who I thought I was,” he told reporters after a loss to Tampa Bay that dropped the team to 3-9. Fast forward to July 2026, and Robinson is heading into his third season feeling confident about performing better. “Super high because I know I can do it,” Robinson, 24, said at the team’s training facility on Tuesday. “It’s just, ‘Can you be consistent?’ “I got better and better each year in college. So that’s the same way I’m visiting it now in the league, and just having that mindset, just attacking and just one day at a time. So I’m super excited.” The third season of a rookie contract is often viewed as a pivotal year, when early development gives way to expectations for consistent production. For Robinson it’s the same game. “It’s just football, just playing a game and just putting one foot forward each day,” he said. “I feel if you overthink it, then that’s where you get all this pressure and stuff.” Robinson has appeared in 21 NFL games with 12 starts, recording 53 tackles, two sacks and one fumble recovery through his first two seasons with the Cardinals. After missing the majority of his rookie season due to a calf injury suffered during training camp, Robinson returned for the final six games and totaled 10 tackles and one sack.  In 2025, he finished with 43 tackles, one sack, four tackles for loss and a fumble recovery. When asked how he’s preparing for the physical demands of training camp, Robinson laughed. “Just getting swole,” he said. Robinson is off to Las Vegas for the Sack Summit, a three-day event starting Thursday that brings together the NFL’s top pass rushers.He participated last year and finds the event to be worthwhile. “It’s super beneficial because they have the best players there and they’ll tell you what they think on their rush moves and what’s their mindset, they’ll share information,” he said. “Nobody’s really gate-keeping.” Robinson described his offseason approach as “watching the tape with a magnifying glass” and “focusing on the small things” within his craft. The defensive lineman has spent the offseason refining his pass-rush techniques. “Working pass rush in the offseason, using my hands and all those different things to help me get the results I want,” Robinson said. “Focus on my get off, focus on my hands, my pad level and all that stuff, and that’ll take care of what I want to reach for myself.”  In addition to Robinson, the Cardinals will feature mostly familiar faces on the defensive front, including Dante Stills, Walter Nolen III and Josh Sweat. The group enters the season with a shared sense of urgency after falling short of expectations last year. “We’re all hungry,” Robinson said. “It just really hasn’t been the results we’ve wanted. Everybody understands the target and what we’re willing to do to reach where we want to be. We got a lot of guys who are super motivated, super hungry and just super excited for this year.”  The Cardinals retained defensive coordinator Nick Rallis this offseason, providing continuity for Robinson and the rest of Arizona’s defense. Despite Robinson’s modest stats, Rallis defended his play near the end of the season. “I thought he did some really good things in the run game,” Rallis said, ‘knocking it back and being disruptive, playing fast and violent right now. He is a huge piece right now to our defense. I feel his presence. In terms of the pass game, he’s done a really good job of pushing the pocket to where, even if the ball gets out, quarterbacks are feeling him at their feet.” Entering his third season in Rallis’ defense, Robinson believes his familiarity with the scheme will allow him to play faster. “During OTAs, I didn’t really think about anything,” he said. “I just played, and I feel like that’s going to be a big help for me this year with familiarity with the calls and everything.” After questioning himself following that loss to Tampa Bay last season, Robinson is entering Year 3 with a different mindset. Rather than setting statistical goals, he’s focused on accountability and letting his play speak for itself.  “I was expecting to be just a good teammate, be somebody that can be accountable each and every day, and really just let the tape do the talking,” Robinson said. “I really don’t want to put any goals or things out there.” The post Cardinals DL Darius Robinson embraces fresh mindset entering Year 3 appeared first on Cronkite News. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4eba8dc2ca79de23657c80 Bunnie Xo sparks dating rumors with reality star at Nashville bar as Jelly Roll divorce looms te 2026-07-08T21:01:01.272Z Bunnie Xo sparks dating rumors with reality star at Nashville bar as Jelly Roll divorce looms Bunnie Xo is in her dating era weeks after revealing the end of her marriage with Jelly Roll. The podcast host, 46, was spotted kissing budding reality star Dylan Wolf during a Fourth of July event at the country star's JR's Goodnight Nashville Bar, according to footage obtained by TMZ. Lights flashed throughout the VIP section of the venue as Wolf, who stars on Netflix's latest "Calabasas Confidential," leaned in to kiss the blonde bombshell. JELLY ROLL FILES FOR DIVORCE FROM WIFE BUNNIE XO AFTER ALMOST A DECADE OF MARRIAGE Wolf reportedly smoked a cigarette from the rooftop lounge as the pair watched a fireworks show on Independence Day. BUNNIE XO SAYS SHE FUNDED JELLY ROLL'S EARLY CAREER BY 'TURNING TRICKS' WHILE REFLECTING ON DIVORCE The following night, Bunnie – who's full name is Alisa DeFord – and Wolf were reportedly "laughing and getting all close and cuddly" at another Music City venue, according to the outlet. As reports began surfacing about the new romance, Bunnie quietly deleted the episode of her podcast where she discussed her split from the country music star. When a fan asked why she removed the post, Bunnie advised, "I'll talk about this week on ATC," alluding to her "Ask, Tell, Confess" series. Representatives for both Bunnie and Wolf did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment. The "Son of a Sinner" singer petitioned Tennessee courts for a divorce on May 18, according to documents obtained by Fox News Digital. He listed the date of separation as May 9 and cited irreconcilable differences. CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE ENTERTAINMENT NEWSLETTER Bunnie Xo and Jelly Roll (born Jason DeFord) both fiercely defended their private relationship after news of their split broke the Internet with accusations of cheating. LIKE WHAT YOU'RE READING? CLICK HERE FOR MORE ENTERTAINMENT NEWS Of the many topics discussed in her "divorce" episode, Bunnie admitted that her past life as a high-end escort funded their lifestyle when they first dated. "When Jay and I first got together, we were two kids who literally had nothing," Bunnie said of her ex. "Everybody always likes to say that I had all the money when we first got together, and I did this for him and I did that for him. And I mean, I had sugar daddies at the time that were paying for all of this. "Like, we have — and I'm not trying to take the, the light off of what I did for him, but like, we were still in the streets. We were making money as it came." She added, "It wasn't like I was over here just sitting on f---ing a million dollars and was taking care of him. Like, I was turning tricks to pay our bills and to get lawyers and to travel and to, you know, go on tour and stuff like that." The former couple tied the knot in August 2016 during a whirlwind Las Vegas ceremony after meeting the year prior. She became a stepmom to the country singer’s daughter, Bailee, and son, Noah. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4eba65c2ca79de23657c6a Democrats Grow Frustrated as Graham Platner Resists Dropping Out Quickly in Maine te 2026-07-08T21:00:21.852Z Democrats Grow Frustrated as Graham Platner Resists Dropping Out Quickly in Maine Two days after a woman accused Graham Platner of rape, he had not given up his nomination for Senate in Maine, raising worries about whether and how his party might find a replacement. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4eb834c2ca79de23657bf5 Justin Verlander announces he will retire after this season: 'I've realized that time has come' te 2026-07-08T20:51:00.860Z Justin Verlander announces he will retire after this season: 'I've realized that time has come' One of the greatest pitchers in the history of baseball will be hanging up his cleats after this season. Three-time Cy Young Award winner Justin Verlander announced on Wednesday that the 2026 season will be his last. Amid an injury-riddled season with the Detroit Tigers, Verlander decided that it's time to go. CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM "This season has challenged me in ways I haven’t experienced before, both physically and mentally. I’ve always believed that as long as I could compete at the level I expect of myself, I’d keep playing. I never wanted to retire because of a milestone, a number, or a date on the calendar. I wanted the game to tell me when it was time. Over the last several months, I’ve realized that time has come," Verlander said in a social media post. "While I’m fully committed to giving my team everything I have for the rest of this season, I’ve decided this will be my last. It’s fitting that I get to finish where it all started – with the Detroit Tigers, the organization that drafted me and gave me my first opportunity." Verlander inked a one-year deal with the Tigers over the offseason, with whom he spent his first 12-and-a-half seasons before being traded to the Houston Astros. There, he returned to dominance, winning both of his World Series titles and two of his Cy Young Awards. "Baseball has given me more than I could have imagined. It taught me discipline, resilience, and the value of continuing to adapt and evolve. I’ve been fortunate to play with and against incredible players, for outstanding organizations, and compete in-front of fans who deeply appreciate the game," Verlander added in his announcement. PHILLIES STAR SAYS 'BS RULE' IS KEEPING HIM FROM BEING NAMED ALL-STAR IN FRONT OF HOME CROWD "To every teammate, coach, player, clubhouse attendant, and fan who has been part of this journey – thank you. It’s been a privilege to share the field with you. To my family, especially my wife Kate, thank you for standing beside me through every season, every rehab, and every high and low. I couldn’t have done this without you. It’s time for the next chapter. But first, I’m excited to finish this season the only way I know how - with everything I’ve got." Verlander is the active leader with 3,554 strikeouts, which is good for eighth all-time. He needs 21 to surpass Don Sutton and 87 to pass Tom Seaver. The 43-year-old made his MLB debut in 2005 and won the American League Rookie of the Year Award the following season in what was just a small glimpse of what was to come. Verlander was a Cy Young Award finalist on four other occasions, consistently near the top of the leaderboard in just about every pitching stat. MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred gave Verlander a Legend's exemption to this year's Midsummer Classic, making him a 10-time All-Star. One could argue that Verlander should have at least one more Cy Young Award on his mantle, but he is nonetheless on the fast track to Cooperstown and very much in the conversation to join Mariano Rivera as the only player unanimously elected to the Hall of Fame. Verlander's best season came in 2022, when he pitched to a career-best 1.75 ERA along with a 0.829 WHIP. However, that came after he missed the entire 2021 season due to Tommy John surgery for an injury he suffered after pitching just one inning in the abbreviated 2020 season. He won his first Cy Young Award in 2011, when he was also awarded the MVP Award, and his second in 2019. Verlander's 11 seasons between his first and final Cy Young Awards are the second-most behind Roger Clemens, who had 18 seasons between his first and seventh. Verlander led the majors in innings and WHIP four times while recording the most strikeouts in three seasons. Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4eb821c2ca79de23657bec Florida man gives an incredible interview about how he fought off an alligator with a fishing pole te 2026-07-08T20:50:41.412Z Florida man gives an incredible interview about how he fought off an alligator with a fishing pole A 71-year-old Florida man refused to be run off by any alligators, even one that grabbed him by the leg in his backyard and dragged him into the water. A quiet Friday night a couple of weeks ago turned into a fight for his life. James Grayson McMicken's account of what happened is an incredible one. He's lucky to be alive after taking his bulldog and fishing pole out to the canal behind his home in Fort Myers. He says he made one cast before the alligator jumped out of the water and grabbed him, telling Local 10 that, "I’m going to do everything I can not to die." ZERO BS. JUST DAKICH. TAKE THE DON’T @ ME PODCAST ON THE ROAD. DOWNLOAD NOW! After biting onto his right leg, the gator rolled him down the bank and into the water. That's when McMicken started fighting back. "I stuck my thumb in one eye," he explained. "I just took that fishing pole and jabbed him in that other eye and jabbed him and jabbed him and jabbed him." The thumb and fishing pole to the eyes worked. The alligator eventually decided that it had had enough of this senior citizen's counterattack and let him go. McMicken added, "I've always heard that if you got no other choice, hit them eyes. And that’s what got him off of me." TWO HIKERS CAPTURE TERRIFYING VIDEO OF CHARGING GRIZZLY BEARS AT GLACIER NATIONAL PARK His dog, who must not have wanted anything to do with an alligator battle on a quiet Friday night, did help him to his feet so that he could walk back to his house where his wife cleaned him up. McMicken then sat down in his chair and passed out before being rushed to a nearby hospital by his family. Getting bitten by an alligator and fighting it off with a fishing pole does have a few perks. One of those perks is the attention of the nurses during his stay in the hospital. He claimed, "All the nurses on the floor had to come by and go, 'Wow, you did what?'" According to the local news outlet, the alligator in question hasn't been located. But that doesn't mean this Florida man is going anywhere. He's not. James Grayson McMicken is recovering, giving awesome interviews, and plans to be fishing again soon. Though he won't be doing so at night near the water's edge as he did that night when he kicked an alligator's a--. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4eb5efc2ca79de23657b93 Three-time deported illegal immigrant charged with killing North Carolina girl, 6, after running stop sign te 2026-07-08T20:41:19.333Z Three-time deported illegal immigrant charged with killing North Carolina girl, 6, after running stop sign An illegal immigrant from Mexico with multiple deportations was driving with a revoked license when he collided with a vehicle and killed a 6-year-old North Carolina girl last week, authorities said. Jaime Santiago Corona was driving a Dodge Ram pickup truck on July 3 when he failed to stop at a stop sign and struck an SUV driven by 35‑year‑old Kelli Toler, who was traveling with her two children in Pitt County, the North Carolina State Highway Patrol said. Toler and her 4‑year‑old child were transported to ECU Health Greenville with serious injuries. Toler’s 6‑year‑old daughter, Calli Toler, was pronounced dead at the scene. IMMIGRANT TRUCK DRIVER ADMITTED TO US UNDER BIDEN ALLEGEDLY KILLS UMASS SOCCER STAR, SPOKE NO ENGLISH An online fundraiser for the Toler family said the three were on their way to get lunch before going to a swimming pool when the collision happened. "This monster caused a car crash that killed a 6-year-old girl, and injured a mother and a 4-year-old," said Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Acting Assistant Secretary Lauren Bis. "This tragedy was 100% preventable. Our prayers are with Calli Toler and her family." WATCH: ANGEL MOM TURNS TABLES ON SANCTUARY POLITICIANS WITH BASIC QUESTION ABOUT THEIR PRIORITIES Corona is charged with misdemeanor death by vehicle , failure to stop for a stop sign, careless and reckless driving, and driving while a license is revoked. He illegally re-entered the U.S. three times, which is a felony, DHS said. Corona also has a history of driving under the influence. His criminal history includes homicide-negligent manslaughter with a vehicle, multiple counts of obstruction of police, DUI, failure to appear, and multiple traffic offenses, according to DHS. A detainer hold has been issued by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The Pitt County Sheriff's Office told Fox News that it will cooperate with ICE. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4eb5dbc2ca79de23657b8a Dan Bongino says Democrats dumped Graham Platner over 'power' not 'principle' after bombshell rape allegation te 2026-07-08T20:40:59.877Z Dan Bongino says Democrats dumped Graham Platner over 'power' not 'principle' after bombshell rape allegation Former FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino accused top Democrats of putting "power" ahead of principle, insisting many have only turned on embattled Senate candidate Graham Platner after concluding he could no longer win. "There were no principles involved here at all," Bongino told "The Ingraham Angle" on Tuesday. "The left are the anti-anti-communist. They're just against us and whatever we stand for to advance their communist agenda, and this guy was a tool that's no longer sharp for them." KINGMAKER MAMDANI CALLS ON PLATNER TO 'DROP OUT OF THE RACE' AFTER RAPE ALLEGATION Several Democrats and progressives, including New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., and Sens. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., and Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., have either rescinded their support for Platner or called on him to end his campaign following a rape accusation. While still reeling from the initial accusation, Platner was hit with a second allegation of sexual impropriety about 24 hours later when, according to a Washington Post report, he was accused of removing condoms during sex with his ex-girlfriend Lyndsey Fifield after she explicitly asked him to wear them. The shocking allegations have further jeopardized an already scandal-plagued campaign to oust incumbent Sen. Susan Collins. NEW EXPLOSIVE ALLEGATION ROCKS PLATNER CAMPAIGN STILL REELING FROM RAPE ACCUSATION Platner's campaign has denied both accusations, specifically telling The Washington Post that the latter of the two was "categorically false and politically motivated." Platner's campaign did not respond to Fox News Digital's previous requests for comment. Bongino and other Republicans have blasted Democrats after their sweeping change of heart regarding Platner. "This is not about any principle whatsoever. It's not about Platner's position on women or taxes or anything like that. This is about a simple power equation," Bongino said. "Platner was an acquisition tool for more power for this collectivist communist left. That is it. The sole principle in their triage of needs was power, and he was a useful tool to get there." Fox News' Peter D'Abrosca contributed to this report. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4eb5b4c2ca79de23657b61 Google’s deepfake detector system used to debunk McConnell hoax pic te 2026-07-08T20:40:20.461Z Google’s deepfake detector system used to debunk McConnell hoax pic Earlier this week, a picture that seemed to show Kentucky Senator Mitch McConnell covered in tubes in a hospital bed in a state of extreme distress. It turned out to be an AI-generated fake. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4eb399c2ca79de23657b29 ICE asks Michigan to hold Haitian illegal alien who allegedly 'barbarically stabbed' coworker te 2026-07-08T20:31:21.551Z ICE asks Michigan to hold Haitian illegal alien who allegedly 'barbarically stabbed' coworker An illegal immigrant accused of fatally stabbing his coworker during an argument at a Michigan food processing plant should not be released back onto the streets, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said Wednesday. Valmir Djempsley, 20, a Haitian citizen, is charged with the June 30 slaying of 21-year-old Brandon Eduardo Velasquez Chavez at the Clemens Food Group plant in Coldwater. The killing occurred during an argument between the two men, during which Djempsley allegedly chased Chavez with a knife before stabbing him in the back. Djempsley told authorities that Chavez headbutted him during the verbal confrontation. ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT TRUCK DRIVER CHARGED IN DEATH OF TROOPER WHO MOVED HOME TO CARE FOR MOM WITH CANCER Chavez died at the scene despite life-saving attempts by first responders. Local prosecutors noted that Djempsley was on a work visa at the time, according to local reports. Djempsley entered the United States illegally through Texas in 2024, DHS said, and was subsequently released into the country by the Biden administration. He is currently charged with murder and has pleaded not guilty. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has lodged a detainer request for Djempsley with local authorities. EXCLUSIVE: DHS BLASTS SANCTUARY LEADERS AFTER ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT ACCUSED OF BAT ATTACK FREED FROM JAIL "This illegal alien barbarically stabbed his coworker to death," said Acting DHS Assistant Secretary Lauren Bis. "This murderer was released into American communities by the Biden Administration. If it weren’t for the reckless open border policies of the Biden Administration, this criminal never would have been in our country in the first place and his victim would still be alive. We have lodged a detainer asking Michigan to not release this dangerous criminal from jail without notifying ICE." At the time of the killing, the men were arguing over Chavez using one of Djempsley's knives, according to an affidavit obtained by the Sturgis Journal. Djempsley was denied bond and is currently being held in the Branch County jail. "The defendant at the time of this crime was a guest in our country. He should have been on his best behavior, but instead, he spilled the lifeblood of another human being," a Branch County prosecutor said in court. "This is the most serious violation known to humankind." Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4eb386c2ca79de23657b20 West Virginia town fires entire police force after chief resigns, sergeant alleges evidence room break-In te 2026-07-08T20:31:02.098Z West Virginia town fires entire police force after chief resigns, sergeant alleges evidence room break-In A tiny West Virginia town is at the center of a growing controversy after its entire police department was abruptly relieved of duty just days after its police chief resigned, sparking public backlash, allegations of government overreach and growing demands for transparency. "Effective immediately, the entire Barrackville Police Department has been relieved of duty by the Mayor and City Council," the department wrote in a Facebook post on Tuesday. "We are sincerely grateful for the support, trust, and encouragement shown to us by the Barrackville community throughout our service. It has been an honor and a privilege to serve and protect this town." DC POLICE OFFICIALS FACE TERMINATION AFTER FEDERAL PROBE UNCOVERS ALLEGED MANIPULATED CRIME DATA BY DEPARTMENT The announcement stunned residents and marked the apparent collapse of the small department just months after officials celebrated hiring a new chief to rebuild the agency. 🚨 Know something we should investigate? 📩 stepheny.price@fox.com 📸 IG: @fndstephprice 🎥 X: @StephenyPrice Your tip could lead to our next story. In December 2025, the department announced Zachary Freeburn's appointment as its new full-time chief of police, highlighting his graduation from the West Virginia State Police Academy, his bachelor's degree in criminal justice and his advanced Drug Recognition Expert certification. "We look forward to continuing to rebuild and strengthen our department to better serve our community, and we are excited to once again have a full-time officer leading our agency," the department wrote at the time. CITY MANAGER 'BEGGED' FIRED CINCINNATI POLICE CHIEF FOR MORE OFFICERS ON STREET AS CRIME SKYROCKETED Less than seven months later, that effort had unraveled. Last week, the department announced that Freeburn had resigned "effective immediately." The agency said Sgt. Hunt would serve as officer in charge while assuring residents that police operations would continue. "Until further notice, Sergeant Hunt will serve as the officer in charge of the Barrackville Police Department to ensure the continued operation of the department," the department said, adding that questions about the leadership transition could be addressed at the next town council meeting. NEWARK MAYOR QUESTIONS STATE POLICE TACTICS AT DELANEY HALL AFTER SHERRILL'S ORDER, CALLS AGENCY 'A SWORD' Instead, the department itself was relieved of duty days later. A letter Freeburn wrote before the department was dismissed offers his account of why he stepped down. The letter, which was shared with WBOY and intended to be read at the July 7 town council meeting before it was canceled, alleges that shortly after the newly elected town council took office, he was called into a closed-door meeting where he was told a council member would directly supervise the police department and implement operational changes. Freeburn wrote that he objected because he believed those directives violated West Virginia law governing municipal police departments. He said that when he attempted to discuss the proposed changes, he was told, "If I give you a directive you follow it... I am in charge and what I say goes." FOLLOW US ON X He described the situation as creating what he believed would become a hostile work environment and said those concerns ultimately led him to resign. In the letter, Freeburn also wrote that one of the biggest complaints he heard from residents was a lack of transparency at town hall. He said he chose to resign so the issues could be brought into the open, expressing hope that residents would finally receive "the transparency that they have been asking for." The letter notes it was written before the announcement that the entire police department had been relieved of duty. Former Barrackville Police Sgt. Hunt, who has been publicly identified only by his last name, told WBOY that he discovered the police evidence room had allegedly been entered when he arrived at the department Tuesday morning. CLICK HERE FOR MORE U.S. NEWS Hunt alleged town officials had previously discussed conducting an inventory of the department without officers present. He also claimed that during a meeting with Mayor Tom Straight and members of the town council, Councilmember Alex Neville acknowledged taking a set of police keys. According to Hunt, after he accused town officials of entering the evidence room, he and another officer, who together made up the department's entire sworn force, were immediately relieved of duty. Hunt also said he informed town officials that he intended to seek whistleblower protections. Fox News Digital has not independently verified Hunt's allegations. The controversy appears to have been brewing even before the department was dismissed. Following Freeburn's resignation, a Barrackville resident launched an online petition urging the town council to reinstate him, arguing that he had been "forced to resign due to what many residents believe was unnecessary overreach by the newly elected Town Council." GET BREAKING NEWS ALERTS The petition calls on town leaders to reconsider the circumstances surrounding the resignation, restore public confidence through transparency and reinstate Freeburn as police chief. "Our Police Chief quickly earned the trust, respect, and appreciation of our community through his professionalism, leadership, integrity, and commitment to keeping Barrackville safe," the petition states. "Although his time serving our town was brief, his impact was undeniable." Organizers also urged residents to attend the July 7 town council meeting to voice their concerns. The meeting was later canceled. In a Facebook post, the Barrackville Town Council announced the meeting had been canceled because of "a lack of sufficient information regarding items listed under unfinished business." The cancellation has only fueled questions from residents, many of whom flooded social media demanding answers. SEND US A TIP "Time to do some deep background on the city council. The truth is not being told," one commenter wrote beneath the police department's announcement. Another resident joked, "Who is gonna look over the 5 residents in Barrackville now?" Barrackville, a town of about 1,200 people in north-central West Virginia, is located about 25 miles southwest of Morgantown. GOT A TIP? Marion County Sheriff Roger Cunningham previously told WBOY that the sheriff's office will continue responding to calls in Barrackville, as it routinely does throughout Marion County, ensuring residents continue receiving law enforcement services despite the town no longer having an active police department. Town officials have not publicly explained why the entire department was relieved of duty or responded to the allegations raised by former officers. Fox News Digital has reached out to the Barrackville Police Department, Straight, members of the Barrackville Town Council and the Marion County Sheriff's Office for comment. Fox News Digital has also contacted the West Virginia Municipal League seeking clarification on the authority of municipal officials over police department operations under state law. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4eb35ec2ca79de23657af7 With EU backing, QuantumDiamonds aims to speed up chip manufacturing te 2026-07-08T20:30:22.677Z With EU backing, QuantumDiamonds aims to speed up chip manufacturing The race to produce more chips is on, and Europe is in. ASML, the Dutch company that has a near-monopoly on manufacturing the machines used for chipmaking, may soon no longer be an isolated success story. Like its U.S. counterpart, the European Chips Act aims to foster the semiconductor industry — i Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4eb13fc2ca79de23657abf Paulina Gretzky caused whiplash at Taylor Swift's wedding, more Caitlin Clark disrespect & Kristin Cavallari! te 2026-07-08T20:21:19.138Z Paulina Gretzky caused whiplash at Taylor Swift's wedding, more Caitlin Clark disrespect & Kristin Cavallari! Second Hump Day of July! We're rolling right now, folks. Sure, the train's slowing down just a bit now that the US is out of the World Cup, but that's bound to happen. The Dog Days of Summer are officially here. We got a brief pause with the soccer action, but now we can officially go back to not caring and start looking forward to actual football. And hey! College football media days have BEGUN. That's right. We've got the Big 12 this week, ACC next week, and then the SEC and Big Ten take us home. ZERO BS. JUST DAKICH. TAKE THE DON'T @ ME PODCAST ON THE ROAD. DOWNLOAD NOW! After that, the fellas hit the field for fall practice and we'll be one step closer to the best time of year. Beautiful. Until then, though, we GRIND for the next few weeks. Let's get after it. Welcome to a Hump Day Nightcaps — the one where Paulina Gretzky comes out of (social media) hiding to attend Taylor Swift's wedding. Welcome back, Paulina! What else? I've got Geno Auriemma making just absurd claims about Caitlin Clark, Kristin Cavallari making equally absurd claims about Jay Cutler as it pertains to their divorce, and let's go ahead and check in on Day 1 of Big 12 media days. Just WAIT till you see this exchange between a reporter and the commish. What a ride. OK, grab you a Toby Keith vinyl to celebrate what would've been his 64th birthday, and settle in for a Hump Day 'Cap! Can't believe it's been two years since we lost Toby Keith. Still one of the saddest news alerts I can remember getting in this business. I hate concerts. HATE them. I think they're the dumbest thing on the planet. The First Lady (my wife, not Melania) loves them. We went to a Garth Brooks concert once and listened to ... Garth Brooks ... the whole way on the radio. I couldn't believe what was happening. It was insane. It was like going to a movie, but watching the entire movie on the way to the theater. Unfathomable. Anyway, I always said the one person I'd actually like to see in concert was Toby Keith. He was the one exception. You always think there's gonna be time, and then, all of a sudden, it's too late. Sad. Best/most underrated Toby song? I'll go with "The Taliban Song," which I'm fairly certain a lot of streaming services don't have because they're too woke. Luckily, Nightcaps has a remedy for that! What a song. What an absolute banger. Nobody loved this country quite like Toby did. Man, I miss him. OK, let's stop being sad on this Hump Day and get things started with Paulina Gretzky, the daughter of The Great One, ending her social media hiatus to show off her look for Taylor Swift's wedding last weekend. Welcome back, Paulina ... and Dustin Johnson! No idea why Paulina Gretzky and Dustin Johnson were invited to the Swift-Kelce wedding, but, like I said earlier this week, it seems like everyone and their mother(s) was invited. Frankly, I'm pretty sure I'm the only one who wasn't. Oh well. I'll survive. That was Paulina's first Instagram post in about six months, so I assume we won't be seeing her again for a while. As for DJ, the British Open is next week so we'll be seeing him again soon ... ... Just kidding! He withdrew from last month's final qualifying event after his five-year exemption from winning the 2020 Masters expired, meaning he'll miss his first Open since 2008. Not great. I reckon we'll see Dustin tee it up at the LIV event in the UK the following week, assuming they don't cancel this one. Moving on ... Speaking of golf (sort of), let's check in with UConn head coach Geno Auriemma, who spouted off one of the dumber Caitlin Clark takes I've heard on a sports media podcast this week: For those who can't read the fine print ... "This was not something created by her," Auriemma said. "It was created about her by all the people in America who are delusional that think one player who's not Wemby is going to come in and transform the league. It's that whole s---storm of, 'This is Jesus coming down to save the WNBA. "Now, maybe there was a transformation in terms of how much attention is being paid. Yes. How much the league is valued? Yes. But it's not like when Tiger [Woods] came into the PGA Tour. He changed the PGA Tour forever. Why? Well, there was so much money that came to the PGA Tour, but in addition, he won every tournament. So that's the big difference." CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM Look, I already wrote about this earlier, so feel free to get in the weeds with me here. For those who want just a snippet ... Geno Auriemma claiming Caitlin Clark in the WNBA isn't comparable to Tiger Woods on the PGA Tour is absurd. It's also patently wrong. Before Clark entered the league as a rookie in 2024, there was one WNBA game in 15 years with over 1 million viewers. One. A Sparks-Mercury game during the BUSH administration. Since Clark's arrival, there have been at least 59 games with over 1 million viewers. During her first season in Indiana, the Fever alone had 21. The pre-Clark CBA numbers versus the post-Clark CBA numbers are equally insane. Again, I don't want to get into the weeds too much here, but just know this: Before Caitlin Clark arrived, WNBA teams couldn't afford to charter their own planes to games. Now, they all have charter flights. Come on, Geno. Let's not be silly. OK, two more on the way out. First up? Let's do a quick check-in of Day 1 from Big 12 Media Days: A lot going on there. A LOT. I can't get past how this guy says "tortillas." He did it TWICE! Wild stuff. Almost as wild as the Big 12 commish walking over to him, telling him to stand up and repeat the absurdly long question, and then immediately walking away and not answering it. Incredible power move. That's called having "F--k You" money, by the way. Not condoning it, just telling you. Finally, on the way out, let's check in with Kristin Cavallari, who went on some podcast this week and said she received NO money from Jay Cutler after their 2022 divorce. That's right. None. Zero. Zilch. NADA. "What ultimately gave me the confidence to leave my marriage was the success of Uncommon James," she said of her company before dropping this truth-bomb about Cutler. "Which is interesting because if I didn't have Uncommon James, I could have taken half of his money, right? But because I had this company, there was a really large asset on our balance sheet. "I didn't get anything, which I'm so happy about now. But I don't get any money from my ex-husband. I had to give him half the value of Uncommon James in cash and properties and everything else. Yeah. Isn't that interesting?" Yeah, OK. Sure thing, Kristin! Jay Cutler, for those wondering, made roughly $130 million during his 12-year career in the NFL. He was, at one point, the highest paid quarterback in the league. Reminds me of this great song by Jerry Reed: Man, what a classic. Two country legends in one class! Best Hump Day ever. OK, that's it. That's all I got today. Good work, everyone. A long class, but I think we learned a lot. See y'all tomorrow. OutKick Nightcaps is a daily column set to run Monday through Friday at 4 p.m. (roughly, we’re not robots). Do you believe Kristin? Email me at Zach.Dean@OutKick.com. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4eb12bc2ca79de23657ab6 Kristin Cavallari doubles down on controversial claim about her divorce from Jay Cutler te 2026-07-08T20:20:59.684Z Kristin Cavallari doubles down on controversial claim about her divorce from Jay Cutler Kristin Cavallari has doubled down on one of her more controversial claims involving Jay Cutler. Frankly, it's one of the most controversial claims about life in general. During an appearance on the "Aspire with Emma Grede" podcast, Cavallari again claimed she did NOT receive any money after the divorce from the ex-NFL quarterback back in 2022. That's right. None. Nada. Zero. Zilch. Not a dime! CARDINALS' TOP PICK JEREMIYAH LOVE EXPLAINS WHY HE PLANS TO NEVER TOUCH HIS $53M NFL SALARY "What ultimately gave me the confidence to leave my marriage was the success of Uncommon James," she said of her company before dropping this truth-bomb about Cutler. "Which is interesting because if I didn't have Uncommon James, I could have taken half of his money, right? But because I had this company, there was a really large asset on our balance sheet. "I didn't get anything, which I'm so happy about now. But I don't get any money from my ex-husband. I had to give him half the value of Uncommon James in cash and properties and everything else. Yeah. Isn't that interesting?" Just a wild claim here from Kristin Cavallari. As a child of not one, but two divorces, I'm certainly skeptical. Ever heard that old Jerry Reed song, "She Got The Goldmine?" Pretty much tells you everything you need to know about how divorces tend to go. Great song, by the way. A classic. Anyway, this is the second time since last summer that Cavallari made this claim. Cutler, who played 12 seasons in the NFL, refuted the claim the first time she made it last August. And by "refuted," I mean he went on the "Take it Outside" podcast and said it was all hogwash. CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM "Let’s think about this logically. ‘Not a penny,’ OK. Married for, I don’t know, seven years or so, three kids," Cutler said. "You can go and see how much I made in the NFL. It’s online. You can see the contract from year to year and the total amount at the end of 12 years. So, you go to divorce and each side gets a lawyer, and then you go to court and there’s a judge." "In the state of Tennessee, if we would have went to the judge and been like, ‘Hey, he's going to keep every single dollar over the past seven years and you're going to get nothing,’" he continued. "There's not a judge in the state of Tennessee that would have signed that. They would be like, ‘No, this isn't – this isn't right. This isn't legal. Not happening.’ So, there's that. B, she has a lawyer. I have a lawyer. Is her lawyer really going to be like, ‘Fine, you get zero dollars. He gets to keep all the money that was made over the seven years.’ "Absolutely not." Cutler, by the way, made roughly $127 million in contracts alone over his 12 years in the NFL with the Broncos, Bears and Dolphins. He signed four separate contracts, including a massive $126.7 million extension with the Bears in 2014. Cutler basically came out of retirement in 2018 to play one season for the Dolphins for a measly $10 million. As a lifelong miserable Dolphins fan, I can assure you that was more painful than the actual divorce itself. Again, there are two sides to every story. But seeing those numbers? Hard to believe a divorce lawyer would leave that much meat on the bone. "I think it’s reckless," Cutler said last summer. "I think it’s borderline slander to insinuate that there were zero dollars split during the marriage that each side got. It’s insanity. It’s completely false, completely untrue. "I'm not going to get into those exact numbers, but I can guarantee you it's definitely not zero dollars." Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4eb118c2ca79de23657aad Heidi Klum shuns Hollywood's weight-loss obsession after husband Tom Kaulitz told her to 'eat more' te 2026-07-08T20:20:40.233Z Heidi Klum shuns Hollywood's weight-loss obsession after husband Tom Kaulitz told her to 'eat more' Heidi Klum is pushing back against one of Hollywood's biggest beauty obsessions. As fans continue to speculate on celebrities' use of Ozempic and other GLP-1 drugs, the supermodel says she has zero interest in following the trend. Klum credits husband Tom Kaulitz with changing the way she sees her body after years of relentless pressure to stay thin. HEIDI KLUM FLAUNTS PHYSIQUE IN BIKINI TOP DURING BILLBOARD UNVEILING "I'm not interested at all," Klum told Us Weekly, referring to the weight-loss drugs. The 53-year-old admitted she's put on weight in recent years, but says she now believes it suits her better than the ultra-slim look the modeling world has demanded for decades. "I've gained weight over the years. I'm no longer a size 24 jean. But I think with age, we look better when we're not as skinny." The turning point, she said, came from her husband, Kaulitz. LIKE WHAT YOU’RE READING? CLICK HERE FOR MORE ENTERTAINMENT NEWS "My husband was the first one who pointed that out. He said, 'You should eat more; you would look better if you had more meat on your bones.' I was like, 'What?' This is not something you're told in the industry, ever, because you're always supposed to be skinnier than you are." The "America's Got Talent" judge admitted her husband had a point. KRIS JENNER ADDRESSES RUMORS SHE’S UNHAPPY WITH REPORTED $100K FACELIFT "When I look back at photos, I'm like, 'He's right!' Proportion-wise, I look better bigger." The supermodel and German guitarist secretly married in February 2019. The couple later celebrated their marriage with a lavish ceremony aboard the super yacht Christina O. off the coast of Capri, Italy. Although Klum has no desire to try Ozempic herself, she's not criticizing those who do. CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE ENTERTAINMENT NEWSLETTER "In general, people should do what they want. It's the same with Ozempic," she said. "A lot of people have a hard time getting that jumpstart, and if you've always struggled with your weight and for 40 years you've been trapped and it's been such a big focus of your life, then maybe this is a great thing to try." "That has never been part of my life, so it's hard for me to judge. If you look in the mirror and you're not happy with something and you want to fix it, fix it." The same goes for Botox and facelifts, Klum said, arguing that confidence — not cosmetic perfection — is what people ultimately notice. "What makes a person sexy is knowing their self-worth and knowing who they are. That oozes sexiness," she said. "When people are looking at every measurement of their booties, [or] at cellulite, it's like, 'Is this really what makes me who I am? There's so much more to me.' It's about feeling great in your skin and knowing what you can do." Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4eaed3c2ca79de23657a49 Far-left candidate's past anti-meat activism clashes with campaign pivot in cattle country te 2026-07-08T20:10:59.752Z Far-left candidate's past anti-meat activism clashes with campaign pivot in cattle country Manny Rutinel, a state legislator and Democratic candidate for Congress in Colorado’s 8th Congressional District, has a long track record of activism against ranching and other animal-related businesses — even as the district he’s running to represent depends heavily on the sector. His past positions cast doubt on his current posture towards the meat business as he looks to unseat Rep. Gabe Evans, R-Colo., in one of the most competitive districts in the country. Rutinel said he had recently rethought his position towards ranching during an interview with the Colorado Sun late last year. MAMDANI COMPARISONS FOLLOW COLORADO DEMOCRAT INTO PIVOTAL HOUSE RACE AFTER PRIMARY WIN "Like all industry, there are bad apples, and I’ve spoken out against those bad apples that cause extreme and unnecessary animal cruelty in parts of the food industry and against the environmental cost of unsustainable food practices," he said. "They’re good stewards of the land, they care for their animals and they are the backbone of our economy and our communities. Colorado ranchers are my friends and neighbors, and I’ve gotten to know them," he added. Notably, Colorado’s 8th district is Colorado’s leading producer of beef cattle and dairy, accounting for 26% of the state’s output, according to Upstate Colorado Economic Development. Of its 2.5 million acres, 75% are devoted to farming and raising livestock. "Meatless Manny makes PETA look reasonable and he wants to force Coloradans to scrounge for berries and nuts off the ground like cave men," Republican National Committee spokesperson Zach Kraft told Fox News Digital. "The lack of protein in Rutinel's diet must be messing with his brain because there is a zero percent chance the ranching capital of Colorado votes for a vegan DSA’S THIRD MAJOR PRIMARY WIN DEEPENS DEMOCRATS’ FIGHT OVER THE PARTY’S FUTURE Despite his reframing on ranching, Rutinel has suggested his ideal world might exclude them. "In order to go green, you have to eat green," Rutinel said when, as a 21-year-old, he prompted veganism by stripping and wearing a pro-vegan sign at an Earth Day celebration. He reflected that thinking in testimony before the Connecticut legislature during his time at Yale Law School. STEVE FORBES: CHUCK SCHUMER HAS A BEEF WITH BEEF, BUT DOESN’T EVEN KNOW HOW TO GRILL IT "The report concludes that the globe must dramatically shift away from animal products and towards fruit, vegetables, legumes, whole grains and nuts. This environmental shift will also have tremendous health benefits for consumers," Rutinel said, referring to the Planetary Health Diet, a collaborative report on food production ideals to address climate change. Years later, as a state legislator, he would call a proposed ban on fur "really awesome," even as the Denver Democrats opposed the idea. Additionally, Rutinel began a petition to get Popeyes to implement a plant-based menu as a response to the COVID-19 pandemic, arguing that doing so would lessen the risk of employees at slaughterhouses contracting the disease. Rutinel would also go on to found Climate Refarm, a group that helped readers make the transition towards more plant-based food sources. "At Climate Refarm, we exist to turn everyday choices into powerful tools for climate action. Our mission is to help institutions transition to plant-based food systems while reducing greenhouse gas emissions through science-backed carbon credit solutions," the group’s website reads. Rutinel’s campaign did not immediately respond to a request for comment on whether he continues to believe that climate reform must, on some level, mean change for farming industries. Having cleared the Democratic primary, Rutinel will face off against Evans in the state’s Nov. 3, 2026, general election. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4eaeacc2ca79de23657a20 Autonomous drone delivery startup Manna plots major U.S. expansion te 2026-07-08T20:10:20.338Z Autonomous drone delivery startup Manna plots major U.S. expansion Manna is launching a U.S. operations and manufacturing facility in Tulsa, Oklahoma that will eventually employ 1,000 people. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4eac67c2ca79de236579e6 Country star Mark Chesnutt's longtime bandmate dies unexpectedly on tour bus te 2026-07-08T20:00:39.712Z Country star Mark Chesnutt's longtime bandmate dies unexpectedly on tour bus Mark Chestnutt is mourning the loss of his "buddy" and bass player, who died unexpectedly on the country star's tour bus over the weekend. On Monday, the "Brother Jukebox" singer, 62, took to social media to share the heartbreaking news. "I lost my buddy Dave Sirmon Saturday night while on the road. Dave played bass guitar in my band. He was a great musician and friend," Chestnbutt, who is currently on tour, wrote in an Instagram post. "He was such a hard worker and very hands-on with everything on the road. He was somebody I could really depend on not only for playing music but for every aspect of the road. Advice, music, songs, the bus. Everything." COUNTRY SINGER MARK CHESNUTT HAS ‘NEW HEART’ AFTER UNDERGOING EMERGENCY SURGERY, CANCELING UPCOMING SHOWS RANDY TRAVIS’ TOUR VOCALIST, JAMES DUPRÉ, EXPOSES HARD REALITY OF PERFORMING AFTER COUNTRY ICON’S STROKE "He was quiet but so funny with a great sense of humor," Chestnutt continued. "He was the perfect country gentleman and an amazing man. One of the most positive people I’ve ever known. I never heard him complain one time. When you saw Dave, you saw light and would immediately smile. That was Dave. He will always ride with us in spirit and in heart. We will miss you, brother." APP USERS CLICK HERE TO VIEW POST One day prior, Sirmon's wife, Louise, revealed her husband had died in his sleep while on the bus. "Clearly the word is spreading. This is Dave's wife Louise and I am so very sorry to anyone finding out about Dave's passing via this post or any other social media," she wrote in a post published on Sirmon's Facebook page. "He did pass away in his sleep last night on the tour bus. I will share memorial plans when they are in place, but they will likely not be for a few weeks. Thank you to those who have reached out." On Sunday, a friend of the Sirmon's urged those who know and love the bass player to consider donating to the family as they navigate the unimaginable loss. "Many of you have heard the heartbreaking news of Dave James Sirmon passing. As Louise begins to navigate the unimaginable days ahead, the financial burden of unexpected expenses is already beginning to add up," the post read on Facebook. "If you knew Dave, you knew his heart. He was one of the most generous people you could ever meet. He opened not only his home but his life to others. Every holiday, there was always room for one more at his table-friends, strangers, anyone who needed a place to belong." "Dave was deeply loved throughout the country music community and by countless friends whose lives are better because they knew him. Now it's our turn to love on Louise the way Dave loved so many of us." Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4ea821c2ca79de23657949 Round III: Mercury look to regroup before heated rematch with Indiana Fever and maybe Caitlin Clark te 2026-07-08T19:42:25.840Z Round III: Mercury look to regroup before heated rematch with Indiana Fever and maybe Caitlin Clark PHOENIX – Between former team member Sophie Cunningham’s locker room culture comments, former interim head coach Nikki Blue’s lawsuit and former owner Robert Sarver’s conduct, the Phoenix Mercury have been no strangers to controversy. With Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever in town on Thursday for the third meeting between these teams this season, however, the temperature inside Mortgage Matchup Center may match the Valley’s infamous July heat – even with Clark unlikely to play, as multiple reports have suggested, due to a back injury. The fallout from Mercury forward Alyssa Thomas’ incident with Clark has added another layer of attention to a team already navigating a physical toll to its frontcourt as the WNBA season reaches its halfway point. When the Mercury traveled to Indiana on June 24, Thomas made contact with Clark’s throat while diving for a loose ball. Thomas landed on Clark and pressed her fist into Clark’s throat as she got up. No foul was called by the referees on the floor.  The WNBA later levied a Flagrant 2 foul against Thomas for “reckless contact” and suspended her for one game. The fallout from the incident has extended well into Thomas’ personal life. Thomas told reporters last week that she has received death threats and slurs since the play.  Per ESPN, Thomas criticized WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert for a lackluster response from the league. “It’s unfortunate that it’s come to this over basketball,” Thomas told ESPN. Clark has also pushed back on the backlash directed at Thomas, calling the harassment unacceptable, while also arguing that the officiating needs to be better. “I did think it was a flagrant foul and our reffing just needs to do better,” Clark told reporters at Fever practice, according to Athlon Sports. “The league’s just got to do better protecting our players in that regard.”  Prior to Tuesday’s lackluster loss to Chicago, which snapped a three-game win streak, guard Lexi Held made it clear that the Mercury isn’t changing how it operates ahead of the Fever game. “We’re a tight-knit group on the court and off the court,” Held said. “Showing up for one another just comes natural. Obviously, it’s a little more public this time with everything that happened. We always have each other’s back.” Held said playing Indiana creates a particular challenge because the Fever draws more scrutiny and publicity than most teams in the league due to Clark’s presence. “Anything with their team is magnified,” she said. “They have a huge spotlight and bring a lot of attention, which is awesome for the sport. I think there are narratives for both ways. But we’re just going to play the way that we play.” Thomas gave Phoenix a scare of her own in the third quarter of Tuesday’s game, going down with a lower-leg injury before returning in the fourth quarter.  “It sounds like she hit her big toe or somebody stepped on her big toe,” coach Nate Tibbetts said. “Our medical staff wouldn’t let her come back if it were serious.” Thomas picked up her fourth technical foul of the season on Tuesday, for which the WNBA has fined her $1,000. “Those are conversations that we have,” Tibbetts said. “She’s aware of how many technicals she has. It was frustrating for our group, but she understands that we need her in games and we can’t lose her because of a tech.” In the midst of Tuesday’s loss and the anticipation of the Fever game, Mercury forward DeWanna Bonner passed 8,000 career points, becoming the third player in WNBA history to accomplish that feat. “There’s only three people who have ever done that, over 8,000,” Tibbetts said. “She helps set the standard for what the Mercury stands for.” Bonner said the moment felt even more special with her family in the stands. “My kids were there for it, and they don’t get to be here for a lot of my milestones,” she said. Bonner said she doesn’t dwell on the numbers, but on her journey. “I can’t ask for a better career, a better WNBA career, a better start,” she said. Phoenix will need to focus on taking care of the ball on Thursday, after committing 20 turnovers on Tuesday against Chicago. The team will also have to manage emotions and the spotlight on Thomas and maybe Clark, who aggravated an existing back injury in the teams’ previous meeting.  Thursday’s game is trending toward garnering more attention than the typical midseason matchup. “We’re gonna keep fighting,” Tibbetts said. “I think there’s still better basketball ahead for us – tonight was a step in the wrong direction. But (fighting is) what this group is about.” The post Round III: Mercury look to regroup before heated rematch with Indiana Fever and maybe Caitlin Clark appeared first on Cronkite News. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4ea7e2c2ca79de23657937 Police: Havasu man hit church property while doing burnouts in parking lot te 2026-07-08T19:41:22.854Z Police: Havasu man hit church property while doing burnouts in parking lot A Lake Havasu City man was arrested late last month, after police say he drove his pickup truck into the parking lot of Bethany Bible Church, and struck a building at the location while doing “donuts” and “burnouts” at the… Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4ea7cdc2ca79de2365790d Novak Djokovic gets in heated argument with Wimbledon official over roof during thrilling quarterfinal win te 2026-07-08T19:41:01.870Z Novak Djokovic gets in heated argument with Wimbledon official over roof during thrilling quarterfinal win Novak Djokovic won the longest quarterfinal in Wimbledon history on Wednesday over Canadian Felix Auger-Aliassime, but not without some drama. Djokovic, 39, rallied to a 7-6 (12-10), 3-6, 6-3, 6-7 (7-4), 7-6 (10-4) victory to defeat Auger-Aliassime in a thrilling match that lasted 5 hours, 15 minutes. The match needed no extra flair, but the tennis legend added some fireworks by arguing with tournament supervisor Denise Parnell about the roof. Parnell thought the evening conditions warranted closing the roof following the second set, but Djokovic wanted to keep the roof open. CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM "You don’t want to get to 8.30pm? It’s 7.40pm now. We can play a whole another set outdoors. We’re an outdoor tournament," Djokovic told Parnell. "The other day you didn’t want to close it until 8.30pm. Now you want to close it." Parnell appeared to bring up Jannik Sinner’s match from the other night, but Djokovic would not hear it. ZERO BS. JUST DAKICH. TAKE THE DON'T @ ME PODCAST ON THE ROAD. DOWNLOAD NOW! "With Jannik, I don’t care what happens in his matches. I’m talking about our match right now," Djokovic said. "You remember the first round, you didn’t close it until like 8.20pm. Now you want to close it at 7.40pm. Where’s the consistency? "You’re so proud of your rules and you’re not sticking to any kind of rules. You have no idea what the rule is." After Djokovic’s remark about the rules, the official announcement was made that the roof would be closed. Auger-Aliassime appeared to agree with Djokovic and asked, "So, for sure we close now?" in the middle of Djokovic’s argument with Parnell. Despite not getting the third set outdoors, Djokovic won it 6-3. With his victory over Auger-Aliassime, he became the oldest man to reach the Wimbledon semifinals in more than 50 years. The 24-time Grand Slam champion will face Sinner, the defending champion, on Friday on Centre Court. Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4ea7a6c2ca79de236578e4 SpaceXAI releases Grok 4.5, which Elon describes as an ‘Opus-class model’ te 2026-07-08T19:40:22.447Z SpaceXAI releases Grok 4.5, which Elon describes as an ‘Opus-class model’ Elon Musk's tech company released the newest version of Grok on Wednesday, promising a cheaper, more efficient alternative to other powerful AI models. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4ea59dc2ca79de236578a2 New York Islanders want fans to design their third jersey, so maybe they won't complain this time te 2026-07-08T19:31:41.735Z New York Islanders want fans to design their third jersey, so maybe they won't complain this time The New York Islanders are setting out to do something no NHL team has ever done before, and that's to toss fans the keys and let them design their next third jersey. And maybe if they let fans of the team and the NHL in general handle the design, they won't complain about it this time... Meh, they probably still will. ZERO BS. JUST DAKICH. TAKE THE DON’T @ ME PODCAST ON THE ROAD. DOWNLOAD NOW! The Islanders announced on Wednesday that fans can submit designs for the new jersey, with the winner getting a "VIP gameday experience" during the 2027-28 season, which is when the sweater will debut. Of course, we've seen time and time again that the internet cannot be left to its own devices in moments like this (I'm looking at you, "Boaty McBoatface"), so the team has rolled out a pretty cool jersey design feature on their website using a bunch of templates and logos from throughout the team's history. Yes, that includes the infamous "Fishsticks" logos. WISCONSIN BADGERS JUST ADDED THE PERFECT JERSEY SPONSORSHIP IF THERE IS SUCH A THING But when it comes to colors, you're not just stuck with blue, orange, and white. The team is letting fans go crazy with any colors they want. This is such a great idea, and I love how it feels like the Islanders have just had enough and were like, "You fans think you can do a better job? Go ahead!" Because the Isles's third jersey history is not stellar. Don't get me wrong, I like the various reincarnations of the Gorton's fisherman sweaters, but most have been kind of underwhelming. I liked the black jerseys the team wore at the Barclays Center because it was a bit different, but maybe too plain. And then there was that weird one they wore from 2011 to 2014 that had black and gray and a wordmark over the player's number on the front. I'm still not sure what they were going for there. What were those?! I've liked the Isles' Stadium Series getups over the years — including the last one that just said "ISLES" across the front — but they need a good third jersey to wear for a few seasons. Hopefully, fans will cook something up that will be worthy of a historic franchise... but we all know the Fisherman will be on the front of it. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4ea576c2ca79de2365788e California Orders Thousands of Drivers to Retake Rules of the Road Test te 2026-07-08T19:31:02.313Z California Orders Thousands of Drivers to Retake Rules of the Road Test The state’s Department of Motor Vehicles said that it had discovered irregularities in exam results of knowledge tests. It did not specify what they were. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4ea562c2ca79de23657885 As Progressives Rack Up Wins, Hakeem Jeffries Shrugs Off Possible Challenges te 2026-07-08T19:30:42.856Z As Progressives Rack Up Wins, Hakeem Jeffries Shrugs Off Possible Challenges In a wide-ranging interview with The New York Times, Hakeem Jeffries, the House Democratic leader, said he didn’t consider the recent wave of anti-establishment victories “an overall critique of the party.” Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4ea54ec2ca79de23657869 ‘Slow-cial’ app Roost forces you to slow down to the speed of a carrier pigeon te 2026-07-08T19:30:22.896Z ‘Slow-cial’ app Roost forces you to slow down to the speed of a carrier pigeon This developer didn't expect his side project to grow to 300,000 users, but people love Roost because it's an alternative to an always-on, fast-paced online culture. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4ea35ac2ca79de23657858 Investing in the future: Suns bring back Williams, Goodwin, Gillespie te 2026-07-08T19:22:02.097Z Investing in the future: Suns bring back Williams, Goodwin, Gillespie PHOENIX – Research has consistently shown that Tuesday is the most productive workday of the week. Suns GM Brian Gregory won’t argue with that notion after signing three key pieces of the team’s core on the same day. The Suns announced Tuesday that they had re-signed center Mark Williams to a three-year contract, guard Jordan Goodwin to a three-year contract and Collin Gillespie to a four-year contract, bringing back three players who emerged as key contributors last season as the organization continues to emphasize continuity. Gregory said the trio earned new contracts through their work ethic, development and commitment to the culture the Suns are building. “It’s a great day for our organization,” Gregory said. “As we look to the future, they’re going to play significant roles as we continue to build on what we accomplished last season.” Gregory said each player had the best season of his career while setting an example through competitiveness and leadership. Williams arrived in Phoenix last summer with the opportunity to establish himself at center. Gregory said the 7-footer embraced the challenge of becoming more physical while using his length, athleticism and basketball IQ to impact both ends of the floor before an injury ended his season. “The exciting part is that there’s still so much room for growth,” Gregory said. Now entering his first healthy offseason in years, Williams said his focus is on staying healthy and expanding his game instead of spending the summer rehabbing. “The biggest thing is continuing to stay on the court,” said Williams, who averaged 11.7 points and eight rebounds in a career-high 60 games last season. “Every year (for the past three seasons) I’ve played more games, and I want that trend to continue.” Williams said returning much of last season’s roster should help the team build on its chemistry. “Everyone knows each other’s roles and strengths,” Williams said. “As everyone improves, you gain even more confidence in your teammates to make the right play.” Goodwin’s path to a guaranteed contract was different. After arriving at training camp on an Exhibit 10 contract (a one-year, non-guaranteed, minimum-salary NBA agreement) and competing for one of the final roster spots, Goodwin earned a consistent role through his defense, energy and improvement. “It’s been a long journey,” said Goodwin, who averaged 8.7 points and 4.9 rebounds last season. “Definitely blessed.” Goodwin said the contract carries extra meaning after spending much of his NBA career uncertain where he would play each season. “I’m usually, around this time, nervous – don’t know if I’m going to have a job or not,” Goodwin said. “Definitely having that right there is a really good thing. I’ve been here all summer working out, so it’s home.” Gregory said Goodwin exemplifies the culture the Suns want to establish because of his competitiveness and willingness to embrace every opportunity. “He plays with unbelievable effort and competitiveness,” Gregory said. Goodwin credited coach Jordan Ott and the coaching staff for giving him the confidence to expand his offensive game. “I put the work in,” Goodwin said. “The confidence that Jo put into me last year made it a lot easier for me. You got the head coach telling you to shoot the ball and be confident. It makes it easier for you.” Gillespie also returned after producing the best season of his NBA career despite battling injuries, with 12.7 points, 4.6 assists and 4.1 rebounds per game. Gregory said the former Villanova guard deserved greater consideration for the NBA’s Most Improved Player Award after providing steady production throughout the season. For Gillespie, returning to Phoenix was never in doubt. “I always wanted to be here,” Gillespie said. “The conversations with the front office were great, and I never really worried that we’d get a deal done.” Gillespie said the organization’s belief in him since he signed his first two-way contract has helped him continue to grow as a player and a person. “The culture this organization is building fits who I am as both a player and a person,” he said. Goodwin said the team’s continuity should help the Suns enter next season with an advantage. “The chemistry there we had chemistry on the court, off the court. We were all brothers,” Goodwin said. “It’s going to be real fun. We take training camp this year really serious and try to get off to a good start of the season.” Goodwin said Phoenix has become more than another stop in his career. “It’s a beautiful community,” Goodwin said. “The staff has been really hands-on with my development. The fans accepted me and appreciated me. It feels really good walking around the city, fans showing love. It feels like home.” Gregory said re-signing Williams, Goodwin and Gillespie was about more than rewarding three players for their individual growth. It was also about maintaining the foundation the Suns believe can help the franchise continue moving forward. “I’m excited for them individually, excited for them as teammates and excited for their families,” Gregory said. “Today is a life-changing day for all three of these players, and it’s a great day for our franchise.” The post Investing in the future: Suns bring back Williams, Goodwin, Gillespie appeared first on Cronkite News. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4ea31cc2ca79de23657828 'Looksmaxxing' influencer Connor Murphy dead at age 32 after apparent lake drowning te 2026-07-08T19:21:00.624Z 'Looksmaxxing' influencer Connor Murphy dead at age 32 after apparent lake drowning Influencer Connor Murphy, known for his "looksmaxxing" content, died July 7 in Thailand in what authorities have described as an apparent drowning. He was 32. Friends of the content creator confirmed his death on July 8 in social media posts. Police in Samut Prakan province were called Tuesday afternoon to a high-end rental home after receiving a report that a man was behaving erratically, the Bangkok Post and Thairath reported. EXTREME DEPTH MADE FATAL CAVE DIVE PERILOUS AT LUXURY HONEYMOON DESTINATION A staff member at the residential village recorded video of Murphy before he went into a nearby lake, according to Khaosod English. Witnesses told Khaosod English that Murphy swam for several minutes before he seemed to lose strength, adding that they did not try to enter the water because the lake was more than 10 meters (or almost 33 feet) deep. Divers from the Poh Teck Tung Foundation searched for about 30 minutes before finding Murphy roughly 20 meters from shore. Fox News Digital reached out to the Samut Prakan Provincial Police Headquarters and Tourist Police Bureau for comment. CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR LIFESTYLE NEWSLETTER Police told Thai media that an initial examination found no visible signs of assault, and his body was sent to Ramathibodi Chakri Naruebodindra Hospital for a post-mortem examination. Full autopsy and toxicology findings are pending, Khaosod English noted. Murphy and his 22-year-old girlfriend, identified by Khaosod English only as Bee, had been staying at the luxury villa under a three-month rental agreement, according to the Bangkok Post. CLICK HERE FOR MORE LIFESTYLE NEWS The homeowner told Khaosod English the property is valued at about 22 million baht (roughly $600,000) and was being rented for 35,000 baht a month (or just over $1,000). Police found that parts of the home had been splashed with black and yellow paint, including furniture, decorations and appliances, Khaosod English said. TEST YOURSELF WITH OUR LATEST LIFESTYLE QUIZ Bee told police the damage appeared to have happened overnight while she was asleep in another room, the Bangkok Post reported. She noted she had never seen Murphy use drugs and described his behavior that day as unusual, according to local outlets. The Texas-born Murphy had more than 2.7 million followers across YouTube and Instagram, where he posted bodybuilding and fitness content. He said he was part of the looksmaxxing community, a male-dominated subculture associated with creator Clavicular, focused on fitness and improvements in physical appearance, sometimes through extreme measures.  His social media pages appear to have last been updated July 3, when he posted a video of himself kicking around a soccer ball inside a luxury home.  The investigation is said to be ongoing.  Kelly McGreal of Fox News Digital contributed reporting. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4ea2f5c2ca79de23657801 This startup thinks robotics is about to have its ChatGPT moment te 2026-07-08T19:20:21.204Z This startup thinks robotics is about to have its ChatGPT moment General Intuition is betting millions of hours of video game data can train the foundation models for physical AI, making it easier to build smarter robots with minimal real-world data. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4ea0c4c2ca79de236577c7 FOX News Deals Newsletter: The best things we bought this summer (so far), plus this week's top deals te 2026-07-08T19:11:00.038Z FOX News Deals Newsletter: The best things we bought this summer (so far), plus this week's top deals FOX News Deals may be compensated for or earn a commission if you buy through our links. If you have summer travel plans on the calendar, this all-in-one Nobl carry-on is worth a look. Production Editor, Kelsey Ramírez, says it checks every box, thanks to its built-in cup holder, phone mount, charging ports and dedicated laptop compartment. Better yet, it's currently 67% off, saving shoppers over $500. READ MORE: Save up to 80% on summer essentials, from cooling pajamas to sandals Our team shops for a living, so it's safe to say we know a thing or two about spending money. These are the products we actually bought to make summer travel easier, heat waves more bearable and days in the sun even better. — Caitlyn Martyn, Commerce Editor Keep backyard gatherings bug-free with an editor-favorite bug zapper racket and pest-control spray. Hit the beach with sunscreen spray, a backpack cooler and durable towels.  Upgrade your grilling setup with a bristle-free grill brush and meat shredder claws. -- Editor’s Pick: GlassesUSA sunglasses: BOGO Why we love it: If your sunglasses are scratched, bent or have been rattling around at the bottom of your beach bag, now’s a great time to replace them at a bargain. GlassesUSA is offering a buy one, get one free sale with code FOXBOGO. Find more deals here. -- This week, our team stocked up on summer essentials. Here are three products they bought — and recommend. Sage Anderson, Updates Writer: "I bought this golf swing trainer for my dad to help him perfect his swing. He can use it at the driving range to reinforce proper form, and it helps prevent the dreaded ‘chicken wing.'"  Christopher Murray, Writer: "Setting up camp seems a lot easier with this Coleman tent. It goes up with just a few poles, and the built-in ground vent helps keep air flowing during hot summer nights." Jenny Op’t Holt, VP of Partnerships: "My son wears a plain T-shirt almost every day, so I stocked up on this six-pack from Gildan." Check out our "Add to Cart" series to see what else we bought recently. -- READ MORE: Amazon deals under $25: Cooling fans, breathable T-shirts and more Fullstar Pro veggie chopper and spiralizer ($23.73) — now 53% off: Spend less time chopping with this time-saving gadget. Travel umbrella ($22.77) — now 43% off: Toss this wind-resistant umbrella in your bag for surprise storms. Neutrogena makeup remover wipes, 2-pack ($9.97) — now 27% off: Easily wipe away makeup, SPF and oil. Waterproof mattress protector ($23.99) — now 20% off: Protect your mattress from spills, sweat, kids and pets with this cover. Handheld fan ($12.32) — now 10% off: Stay cool wherever with this rechargeable fan. -- If you’re looking for a range of deals, all in one place, check out this week’s most noteworthy shopping articles. Support your team with these World Cup must-haves, from jerseys to collectibles Refresh your home for summer with these 12 upgrades, from $13  21 small Amazon buys that make everyday tasks easier, from just $4 Buy it for life: Durable products worth every dollar (now on sale) -- These retailers have some of the best deals we’ve spotted this week. Find markdowns on luggage, air conditioners and everyday essentials like laundry detergent and body wash. Save up to 54% on kitchen appliances, TVs, Apple tech and more. Take 20% off sitewide with code JULY20, 25% off Luxe mattresses with code LUXE25 and 30% off Elite mattresses with code ELITE30. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4ea0b0c2ca79de236577be Democratic Maryland Gov Wes Moore praises Trump Accounts as ‘smart policy’ te 2026-07-08T19:10:40.583Z Democratic Maryland Gov Wes Moore praises Trump Accounts as ‘smart policy’ Maryland Democratic Gov. Wes Moore praised President Donald Trump's new child investment accounts during a Tuesday interview, saying the policy could help address child poverty and the racial wealth gap even as he sharply criticized other parts of Trump's agenda. Moore credited the administration for enacting a policy he compared to baby bonds while appearing on "The Clay Cane Show" podcast.  "I will give this administration credit for this, is that we’ve had Democratic presidents and Republican presidents who have not been able to get this done, and it actually got done," Moore said. "So I actually, this is actually a smart policy." 'THE VIEW' CO-HOST SUNNY HOSTIN PRAISES TRUMP FOR 'GOOD POLICIES' ON FERTILITY CARE AND CHILD SAVINGS ACCOUNTS Moore said the accounts resembled baby bonds, a policy Democrats and progressive advocates have long pushed as a way to help children build wealth over time. "I’m so with you because, honestly, it’s actually a good idea," Moore said. "And you know what it is, frankly? It’s essentially the same thing that we’ve been advocating for for a decade, which is like baby bonds." He said the policy could give children a financial asset that grows as they get older. "One of the fastest ways that you can address both child poverty and the racial wealth gap is actually baby bonds, by giving children a chance to be able to have something that can grow and grow in maturity, that can then give them an opportunity to have a measure of economic mobility and sustainable economic mobility," Moore said. MAMDANI RIPPED FOR CLAIMING VICTORY OVER CAPITALISM AFTER NYC'S MULTI-BILLION DOLLAR TAXPAYER FUNDED BAILOUT The Maryland governor made clear that his praise was limited to the savings accounts, saying he objected to other provisions in the "Big Beautiful Bill" — also known as H.R. 1 — that Republicans passed in Congress last year to implement much of Trump's agenda.  "I still have a lot of other issues with a lot of things that were in H.R. 1, like the fact that we gave tax cuts to billionaires, the fact that we gave tax breaks for people who own private planes," Moore said. He added the accounts themselves were "good things for kids" but argued that other provisions in the law would hurt efforts to close the racial wealth gap. "Even though these savings accounts are good things for kids, if you look at the other policies that came in under H.R. 1, we have moved the ball significantly backwards in an attempt to be able to address the racial wealth gap," Moore said. AOC’S BILLIONAIRE ATTACK SELLS GEN Z A SMALLER, SADDER AMERICAN DREAM CLICK HERE FOR MORE COVERAGE OF MEDIA AND CULTURE When Cane suggested baby bond proposals could sound like socialism, Moore rejected that framing and said the idea was about making capitalism work more broadly. "It’s just saying how can you have a capitalistic system that works for everybody," Moore said. "I believe that capitalism has been a remarkable engine, and I believe that if the goal that I have, I want to create pathways to work, wages, wealth ... I believe that capitalism is the best vehicle to help us to be able to do that, but not when it’s corrupted." He argued that the Trump Accounts would allow children to benefit from the stock market's growth. "The savings account is a way for young people, for children, for babies, to be able to benefit from the rise in the stock market," he said. Moore said he would work with Trump when he believed the administration was helping Maryland residents, but would oppose policies he believed hurt the state. "I will work with anyone, but I will bow to no one," he declared. The IRS said Trump Accounts are for children under 18 with valid Social Security numbers and include a $1,000 pilot contribution for U.S. citizen children born between Jan. 1, 2025, and Dec. 31, 2028. The White House said contributions to Trump Accounts began July 4, 2026, and that families and others can contribute up to $5,000 annually. The White House has said the accounts will be invested in broad stock-market index funds and generally cannot be withdrawn before the child turns 18. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4e9e93c2ca79de23657756 Phillies star says 'BS rule' is keeping him from being named All-Star in front of home crowd te 2026-07-08T19:01:39.879Z Phillies star says 'BS rule' is keeping him from being named All-Star in front of home crowd Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Zack Wheeler missed the first few weeks of the season recovering from thoracic outlet syndrome, but the way he's looked on the mound, no one could have ever guessed it. The 36-year-old is pitching like an All-Star, but he has not yet been named one, and Wheeler thinks a "BS rule" is the result. In 14 starts, Wheeler is pitching to a 2.28 ERA (22 earned runs/87.0 innings pitched) and a 0.908 WHIP. Both would be career bests. Wheeler is just five innings shy of qualifying for the ERA title (one inning per team game played, so essentially 162 innings), but among pitchers with at least 80 innings under their belt, his ERA is the sixth-lowest. CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM However, it isn't the injury that is keeping the Philadelphia Phillies pitcher from playing the Midsummer Classic in his home ballpark but rather his pitching schedule, he said. "It p----- me off. It’s kind of BS, so. Maybe if I wasn’t necessarily right in there, I wouldn’t be saying this, but I feel like I’ve earned it, and just because I pitch on a certain day, I can’t pitch in the All-Star Game or even be there or get the recognition for it..." Wheeler told reporters on Tuesday. "I think it's kind of just a BS rule, just because I pitch on a certain day, I get punished for it, I guess." CITY OF PHILADELPHIA MAY HAVE LEAKED SOME MLB ALL-STARS HOURS BEFORE THE BIG ANNOUNCEMENT Wheeler tossed seven innings of one-run ball while striking out 14 Cincinnati Reds on Tuesday, which would line him up to start Sunday on normal rest, two days before the All-Star Game. "The second and third days (of rest) are when I usually throw my bullpen," Wheeler said, noting that he would have been fine to pitch an inning in the All-Star Game, as most pitchers do anyway. Pitching schedules have determined who is available for the Midsummer Classic, but it's not known whether they have strictly determined All-Star selections. According to someone familiar with the selection process, the majority of All-Star pitching selections are made through a joint process between MLB and the MLB Players Association, with players and coaches selecting five starting pitchers in each league before MLB fills several of the remaining roster spots. Jacob Misiorowski, Cristopher Sánchez, Chris Sale, Chase Burns and Paul Skenes were selected through that process. Players have been snubbed in the past due to MLB's rule that at least one player from each team must be represented. All-Stars were announced earlier this week, but more reserves could be added, with many determined by availability for the game. Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4e9e80c2ca79de2365774d James Madison coach Billy Napier finally reveals what went wrong at Florida in recent interview te 2026-07-08T19:01:20.424Z James Madison coach Billy Napier finally reveals what went wrong at Florida in recent interview Former Florida Gators coach and current James Madison Dukes coach, Billy Napier, has had quite the eventful press tour this offseason. After his unceremonious exit in Gainesville, Napier has had plenty of opportunities to offer a look under the hood at just what went wrong during his time as the head coach of the Gators. That hasn't exactly happened, though, as Napier went on a local ESPN Radio show, "Fitz The Bill" in Richmond, to try and dump blame on his former employer while discussing the virtues of his new landing spot. CURT CIGNETTI WAS SO FOCUSED THIS OFFSEASON, HE TURNED DOWN ALL EXTERNAL REQUESTS: 'I'M 95% FOOTBALL' Then there was the USA Today fluff piece that tried to cast aspersions on the culture at Florida when Napier was there all while absolving him of having any hand in that, alluding to it being a systemic problem. The point is, there's been a lack of accountability from Napier, but the new Dukes head coach may have finally come clean about what went wrong while he was at Florida. In an interview with On3's Wilson Alexander, Napier took plenty of the blame for his shortcomings, identifying a lack of delegation on his part as well as some stubbornness with regard to his offensive philosophies. COLORADO QUARTERBACK JULIAN LEWIS REVEALS HE WASN'T READING DEFENSES FOR MAJORITY OF 2025 SEASON "I think that we really struggled to manage the workload that came with NIL, that came with the portal," Napier told On3. "
I think in general there, the work continued to be loaded up in terms of my responsibility to our team and to our entire organization. "If I can sum it up, I would say the ability to delegate and hire exceptional people in certain areas and hand over more responsibility to those guys and empower them to do their job at a high level." When it comes to his inability to give up play calling duties, Napier was forthcoming, saying "I think that I probably was a little stubborn." "I think that that took away from the level of detail that I had provided in a lot of those areas in the past," Napier said. "And then once my back was against the wall, I wasn’t confident or comfortable enough to hand that over to somebody else." Reading this as a Gator fan is absolutely infuriating, because these are all things that most Florida supporters identified very early on as blindspots or weak points that would sink Napier's tenure at UF. Some fans were even pressing the panic button during his opening presser when Napier revealed that he wasn't going to hire an offensive coordinator, but I would say the majority of them started to jump ship sometime around his second year following a five-game collapse to end the season. As far as his comments about NIL and not being able to give up those duties as well, those words are equally as damning. Fans and rivals alike all remember the bungling of the Jadan Rashada NIL deal. One can only wonder if Napier had delegated more responsibility or established a front office model (much like the one they now have in place at Florida), perhaps the Gators wouldn't have been mired in a very public legal battle for the majority of Napier's tenure regarding Rashada's reported missed paychecks. Napier famously hired one of the largest support staffs in SEC history, so the fact that he is now saying that he refused to delegate responsibilities to them is eye-opening, to say the least. There is a good chance Napier has recognized the error of his ways and will correct course in time to be successful at JMU. He's already hired an offensive coordinator, East Tennessee's Cam Aiken, so maybe he really has turned over a new leaf. That's nice for James Madison fans, but what about the Florida fans who endured the entirety of Napier's tenure? The former Gators head coach never even issued an official goodbye statement after being fired by his old athletic director Scott Stricklin, something even the most embittered coaches have done after being shown the door in northern Florida. Perhaps all Napier needed was a change of scenery and an ego check. As you'll recall, he did pretty well the last time he was coaching a Sun Belt program. Time will tell, but admitting you had a problem is only the first step in a very long journey of self-improvement, and Billy Napier has a hell of a road in front of him. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4e9e6cc2ca79de23657744 Trump envoy warns China's power move at sea is threat 'we cannot afford to ignore' te 2026-07-08T19:01:00.966Z Trump envoy warns China's power move at sea is threat 'we cannot afford to ignore' China is using control over global seas as a tool of "political coercion," the U.S. ambassador to the United Kingdom warned, as President Donald Trump is restating his interest in Greenland for that very same reason. China is seeking to turn ports, ships and supply chains into instruments of geopolitical leverage, U.S. Ambassador to the U.K. Warren Stephens warned in a statement to the International Maritime Organization Council (IMO). "I spoke about a challenge that we cannot afford to ignore: China's systematic effort to use maritime power as an instrument of political coercion," Stephens wrote in a Truth Social post after the speech. "Beijing has pursued an aggressive strategy of acquiring port concessions and infrastructure around the world — not simply for commercial gain, but to extend its strategic reach and weaponize that access against sovereign nations." The U.S. is "not a passive observer of maritime affairs," Stephens told the IMO, calling America a "cornerstone of the global maritime economy." He said the U.S. Maritime Transportation System supports $5.4 trillion in economic activity each year and nearly 30 million jobs. SEN TODD YOUNG: THE HIDDEN DANGER CHINA’S SHIPS COULD BRING TO OUR SHORES The warning comes as Trump continued peacemaking efforts in the Strait of Hormuz and pressing Demark and NATO for U.S. control over Greenland due to Chinese and Russian threats to free navigation in the Arctic. "Denmark doesn't spend money to really help Greenland, but it's an important part for the United States, and it's surrounded by China ships and Russian ships," Trump said at the NATO summit in Ankara, Turkey. For global security, Greenland "should be controlled by the United States, not by Denmark," Trump added. "They wouldn't go along with it," Trump said of Denmark. "And with all the money we spend to help them with Russia. And we don't have to spend any money, we could remove all of our soldiers out of Europe because, as you probably noticed, Europe is a very different place than it was 20 years ago. A lot different." DENMARK VOWS TO DEFEND GREENLAND AFTER TRUMP REITERATES US SHOULD CONTROL TERRITORY Greenland’s position between the Arctic and North Atlantic has made it a key piece of U.S. security planning. "President Trump has made restoring American maritime leadership a national priority," Stephens said in his IMO remarks warning on China’s broader maritime footprint. "The evidence is clear and growing," Stephens said. "China currently builds more than half of the world’s ships. It dominates the production of ship-to-shore cranes and shipping containers." Stephens cited Panama as a recent example, pointing to a ruling by Panama’s Supreme Court that found CK Hutchison’s port concessions at the Balboa and Cristóbal terminals unconstitutional. The terminals sit at opposite ends of the Panama Canal, one of the world’s most strategically important trade corridors. TRUMP MAKES FRESH GREENLAND PLAY AFTER XI TALKS AS CHINA’S ARCTIC AMBITIONS LOOM Stephens said China’s response to the Panama ruling was "swift and punishing," accusing Beijing of taking action against Panama-flagged vessels in a move the U.S. characterized as an attempt to undermine Panama’s sovereignty and disrupt global supply chains. "What happened to Panama is a warning to every nation in this room," Stephens said. "When a country allows a foreign power or its proxies to control its ports, it does not simply accept a commercial arrangement," he added. "It accepts a vulnerability." Stephens urged IMO member states to closely scrutinize deals allowing foreign entities, especially state-linked enterprises, to operate critical port infrastructure. "Transparency, the rule of law, and genuine sovereignty are not obstacles to commerce," Stephens said. "They are its foundation." The ambassador also said the U.S. would press for maritime security, sanctions enforcement, protection of flag state rights, freedom of navigation and updated standards on polar operations, autonomous vessels and cyber risk management. "The pattern is consistent: China uses its maritime and economic power to coerce, to intimidate, and to punish those who assert their sovereign rights," Stephens said. The Chinese government has routinely rejected U.S. accusations that its overseas infrastructure investments are coercive, portraying its port, shipping and Belt and Road projects as commercial partnerships that support global trade and development. Stephens said the U.S. will continue contributing expertise, resources and leadership at the IMO, but warned that the rules-based maritime order cannot be taken for granted. "A free and open ocean is not guaranteed," he said. "It must be defended." Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4e9e45c2ca79de23657731 What We Know About Immigration Officers Shooting at People in Vehicles te 2026-07-08T19:00:21.554Z What We Know About Immigration Officers Shooting at People in Vehicles Federal agents have fired on at least 21 people, many in their cars, as part of President Trump’s deportation crackdown. At least five people were killed, including three U.S. citizens. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4e9c27c2ca79de236576c2 Socialists set sights on Taylor Swift after 'tacky' NYC wedding sparks left-wing backlash te 2026-07-08T18:51:19.144Z Socialists set sights on Taylor Swift after 'tacky' NYC wedding sparks left-wing backlash Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s Madison Square Garden wedding is drawing backlash from socialist commentators who say the celebrity spectacle showcased billionaire excess and disrupted New York City during a crowded holiday weekend. "Controversial opinion: I think this is a dramatic misuse of public resources," socialist Twitch host Hasan Piker in a livestream Friday. "I think it’s insane. I think it’s a bad look. I think it’s, it’s, it’s heightening the contradictions. It’s showcasing one again that like, no matter how beloved a public figure you might be, you’re still, if you’re a billionaire, you’re still a billionaire and you are going to do billionaire s--t."  The pop star has historically been embraced by the left, including when she endorsed then-President Joe Biden and then-Vice President Kamala Harris in the 2024 race, when she criticized President Donald Trump over the George Floyd protests in 2020 and for her pro-abortion stance. Her massive Madison Square Garden wedding has reopened criticism of her billionaire status, with socialist voices blasting the spectacle as Manhattan dealt with holiday-weekend crowds, street closures and added pressure from the ongoing World Cup games.  DEMOCRATIC INFIGHTING GROWS AS CONGRESSWOMAN EXPOSES ‘DISRESPECTFUL’ WELCOME OF SOCIALISTS INTO ‘BIG TENT’ "This is a glaringly obvious example of that. This is straightforwardly a flex I think. It is straightforwardly a flex to be like, ‘Yeah, I can do this, f it.’ And I kind of think it is a little tacky, at best," Piker added. Swift and Kelce tied the knot on Friday at Maddison Square Garden (MSG) in front of 1,000 guests, keeping much of their garden-themed wedding under wraps to the public. Fox News Digital previously reported Swift wore a Christian Dior wedding dress, comedian Adam Sandler officiated the ceremony, and guests played a raffle game to win lavish prizes. TAYLOR SWIFT AND TRAVIS KELCE'S WEDDING: LEAKED DETAILS REVEAL INSIDE LOOK AS PHOTOS CAPTURE A-LIST DEPARTURES Like other large events at MSG, the Swift-Kelce wedding led to street closures in the area, complicating access to transportation such as nearby Penn Station.  "She’s just another psychotic billionaire. On a holiday weekend. Amidst all this worldwide suffering, the ultra-wealthy still have no compunction. Unreal," Democratic Socialists of America member and political talk show "Majority Report" host Emma Vigeland posted on X. "I'm sorry but he's right. I'm sorry, swifties," wrote pro-socialist account on X. The backlash comes as socialist-aligned voices are gaining more influence in New York Democratic politics, with several candidates backed by Mayor Zohran Mamdani defeating incumbents in recent primaries. MET GALA BACKLASH GROWS AS CELEBRITIES AND POLITICIANS TARGET JEFF AND LAUREN BEZOS' SPONSORSHIP Democrats also took shots at the wedding, including former NYC Mayor Eric Adams' spokesman Fabien Levy.  "Unpopular opinion but this takes Groomzilla and Bridezilla energy to a new level," wrote Levy on X. "This wedding is inconveniencing thousands of local residents, impacting the nation's largest transit hub, and taking cops away from patrolling streets when we're in a heightened threat environment," Levy continued. The White House also weighed in, using the moment to poke fun at the fanfare surrounding the couple’s nuptials by sharing a meme of Madison Square Garden’s pink sign altered to read, "Trump is your president." Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4e9c13c2ca79de236576b9 Critics say Turkey's verbal attacks on Israel have crossed into antisemitism te 2026-07-08T18:50:59.686Z Critics say Turkey's verbal attacks on Israel have crossed into antisemitism As Iran, Russia’s war with Ukraine and NATO’s defense spending dominate the organization's summit in Ankara — one issue that has escaped the media glare is the increasingly antisemitic rhetoric coming from Turkish leaders. As relations between Turkey and Israel continue to hit new lows, a war of words between the two nations has erupted. In a July 2 interview with CNN Türk, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said that Israel has "become a burden that humanity can no longer bear," the Jerusalem Post reported. Fidan also said that Israel is representative of "humanity’s common problems," and asked other countries to apply pressure to the Jewish State, according to Israel National News. ISRAELI OFFICIAL SAYS EU SANCTIONS REVEAL ANTISEMITISM HIDING BEHIND 'SOCIALLY ACCEPTABLE MASK' In a press statement, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar called Fidan’s words "a clear call for genocide. The Jewish people know very well what happens when such words are allowed to go unchallenged. The first step on the road to genocide is dehumanization. "This is a sentence that sounds very familiar to sentences from about 100 years ago," Sa’ar added. "To speak about a people as a ‘problem for humanity.’ What do you do with a ‘burden that you can no longer bear?’" he asked. Sinan Ciddi, a senior fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies and director of FDD’s Turkey program, told Fox News Digital that Fidan’s statement was "some of the vilest rhetoric to come out of any statesman since the Holocaust." SIGN UP FOR ANTISEMITISM EXPOSED NEWSLETTER Ciddi said that escalated anti-Israel rhetoric in Turkey "goes all the way back to 2008" when President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan "began the process of ripping apart the bilateral relationship between Israel and Turkey. But after Oct. 7, it just went into overdrive," he said. "I have never heard any Arab leader utter the words that Foreign Minister Fidan has said." Yet Erdogan has condemned antisemitism; the Turkish Minute reported that he told Turkish religious minority representatives at an Ankara dinner in March that "just as Islamophobia is a crime against humanity, antisemitism is also a crime, an evil that cannot be considered reasonable or legitimate." Yet despite his recent condemnation, he and other ministers have continued with their rhetoric against the Jewish state. In June, Turkish Interior Minister Mustafa Ҁiftҁi said that the world would "witness the liberation of Jerusalem," according to the Times of Israel. WHO IS TURKEY'S RECEP TAYYIP ERDOĞAN? HOW NATO'S MOST UNPREDICTABLE LEADER KEEPS REINVENTING HIMSELF In May 2021, the Times of Israel reported that Erdoğan called Israelis "murderers," claiming they were 'only satisfied by sucking their [victims’] blood." At the time, the State Department spokesperson issued a strong condemnation of Erdoğan’s "anti-Semitic comments regarding the Jewish people," calling them "reprehensible." In May 2025, Erdoğan invoked similar language, accusing Israel of being "a terror state that feeds on the blood, lives and tears of the innocent," Israel National News reported. Anti-Israel sentiment in Turkey has infiltrated far beyond leadership. A Pew Research poll from June found that Turkey had the highest level of anti-Israel sentiment of any polled country, with 91 percent of the population holding "very unfavorable" views on Israel, 6% holding an "unfavorable" view, and just 1% expressing any favor of Israel. In response to questions about whether the State Department plans to respond to antisemitic statements from Turkish leadership, a spokesperson told Fox News Digital that "Türkiye is a longstanding and valued NATO Ally and we continue to engage on all aspects of our important and multi-faceted relationship." Ciddi said there are "numerous channels" for the State Department and Trump administration to reprimand Turkey for its unchecked hatred. "The president could obviously pull aside a Turkish counterpart and demand an apology," he explained, while the State Department could address the comments or place Turkey on a watchlist. As the two-day NATO summit winds down in Ankara, Ciddi said that Turkey "is going to try and overshadow anything else" and "promote itself as the sort of premiere NATO ally, so we need to watch out for Turkey’s whitewashing of its human rights record." Ciddi warned that "We cannot safeguard our allies’ democratic norms, rights and practices if we don’t hold member states like Turkey accountable for the threats that it presents." The Turkish Embassy in Washington, D.C. did not respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4e9becc2ca79de23657693 Elon Musk says X will send DMs when posts you’ve engaged with are corrected te 2026-07-08T18:50:20.267Z Elon Musk says X will send DMs when posts you’ve engaged with are corrected X plans to send users direct messages when posts they’ve liked, replied to, or reposted receive Community Notes, an update aimed at addressing criticism that the platform’s crowdsourced fact-checking system often arrives too late to curb misinformation. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4e9a23c2ca79de23657659 A look at what's inside the America 250th time capsule buried in Philadelphia te 2026-07-08T18:42:43.657Z A look at what's inside the America 250th time capsule buried in Philadelphia Something big went down 250 years ago at Independence Hall in Philadelphia. The Founders finalized the Declaration of Independence there. But something big also went down at Independence Hall just a few days ago — literally. As in the ground. Congress adopted a resolution mandating burial of a time capsule just a few feet away from Independence Hall to commemorate the nation’s 250th anniversary. And the instructions are clear — do not open until the year 2276, 250 years from now. FLASHBACK: AS AMERICA TURNS 250, HERE'S HOW THE NATION CELEBRATED ITS BIGGEST BIRTHDAYS "Our responsibility is not simply to remember what happened here on these grounds. But to preserve those same ideals of whose generation came before and that will come after us," said Rep. Robert Aderholt, R-Ala., who traveled with a coterie of bipartisan lawmakers to Philadelphia for the occasion. Congress met in Philadelphia from 1790 to 1800 before decamping to what is now Washington, DC. In fact, the District of Columbia exists because of the Pennsylvania Mutiny of 1783. That’s when a mob of Continental Army soldiers threatened the security of Independence Hall after the fledgling American government failed to pay them. Alexander Hamilton advocated for what the Constitution describes as a federal "District" to serve as the "seat of government." The primary purpose of the unique federal enclave was to protect the Congress. "The Congressional time capsule is a reflection of our faith in the future of this grand experiment in self-governance," said House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La. "When this capsule is finally opened, those Americans will be as distant from us as we are today from the men who signed their names on our declaration." Each U.S. state and all six of its territories furnished artifacts to bury in the stainless steel time capsule. There were letters from Congressional leaders. Also ones from NBA Commissioner Adam Silver, NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman and MLB Commission Rob Manfred. Fox asked MLB what Manfred wrote in the letter. But he wouldn’t say. That’s because the missive is intended for those in the future. Manfred’s words will remain a mystery. Much like how the New York Mets can have the second-highest payroll in baseball and remain mired in last place. At least the Mets still won’t be paying Bobby Bonilla in 2276. Three temporal lines intersected for the burial of the time capsule in Philadelphia. Each item represented something from America’s past. The burial was about present day — America’s 250th birthday. But, the ceremony was simultaneously about the future. So imagine for a moment the likes of Thomas Jefferson crossing that green by Independence Hall 250 years ago. Then consider those who journeyed to Philadelphia to tour the National Constitution Center and spy the Liberty Bell for the holiday this year. Finally, propel yourself into the future and envision what that green would look like and who you might encounter in 250 years. The time capsule included some items from one of the most harrowing days in American history: 9/11. THE REVOLUTIONARY LANDMARKS WHERE WASHINGTON, ADAMS AND JEFFERSON CHANGED AMERICA "We have a piece of metal from the Freedom Tower that obviously represents both the struggle initially and what happened on September 11th. But then ultimately, the resilience of rising from the ashes, as America has always done," said House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y. But everyone longed to include something else important to them. "Well, a New York Knicks championship ring would be incredible," said Jeffries. Rep. Brendan Boyle, D-Penn., represents Independence Mall and the location of the time capsule. He pushed his colleagues to adopt a resolution for lawmakers to meet in Philadelphia for a Joint Session of Congress. But that didn’t happen. However, lawmakers did convene in Philadelphia in 1987 to mark the 200th anniversary of the Constitution. They also traveled to New York for a Joint Session in 2002, one year after the 9/11 attacks. But like Jeffries, Boyle hoped to include whimsical items as well. "Part of me as a Philadelphian wants to say a Philly cheesesteak. But that would not age well over 250 years," said Boyle. "If there could be a piece of Independence Hall as part of the time capsule, I think that that would be wonderful." Here are some of the other contents: Georgia donated a medallion from the Masters Golf Tournament. And, being the home of Coca-Cola, the state also sent along a vintage glass Coke bottle. One of the biggest items in the time capsule was a piece of bone from a North Atlantic Right Whale. It’s listed as one of the most-endangered of the large whale species. It would be a testament to aquatic preservation if the North Atlantic Right Whale is still swimming in 2276. One of the most intriguing items in the collection came from California. The Golden State included an AI prompt from the chatbot Claude. People asked Claude what the country would be like in 250 years. Like Manfred’s letter, what Claude spat back out is lost to the future, sealed in the time capsule. THE LESSON WE CAN LEARN FROM BICENTENNIAL HISTORY IS TO PARTY LIKE IT’S 1976 In 1776, the colonists wore tri-cornered hats and powdered wigs. Those aren’t around anymore. New Mexico’s contributions included bolo ties, culturally important apparel in the American Southwest. One wonders if anyone will still be wearing those in 250 years. To say nothing of any sort of necktie. Lawmakers who traveled to Philadelphia noted that the Founding Fathers were bold. Courageous. And willing to take risks – not knowing we’d still celebrate their actions today. "The 56 men who signed the Declaration of Independence were signing their death forms. After all, they knew what they faced had they not succeeded," said Boyle. The artifacts in the time capsule represent where America stands. But also suggests where it might go. There’s an Olympic Gold medal, won by an American athlete at the Winter Games in Milan and Cortina earlier this year. And, there’s an Apple iPhone. As important as iPhones are now, people in the future might see little difference between an iPhone and a BlackBerry. Ironically, the biggest enemy of a time capsule is time itself. "Our main takeaway here is that of the longer generation time capsules, water has destroyed most of them. Time has destroyed many others and things get lost or the items inside react," said Michael Berilla with the National Institute of Standards and Technology. "I made time capsules back in high school - maybe you have too - where they just failed miserably." That’s one of the reasons they didn’t include a football in the time capsule. The leather would degrade over time. And you thought "Deflategate" was a big deal. The hope is that the time capsule at Independence Hall doesn’t fail. And, that the country doesn’t fail either. That way, people can gather on the green by Independence Hall and see the treasures we sent them from the past. And as they crack the time capsule open, maybe devour a cheesesteak — if those are still a Philadelphia delicacy in 2276. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4e9a10c2ca79de23657650 Trump says 'Iran lies and cheats' as IRGC emerges as dominant force in negotiations with US te 2026-07-08T18:42:24.208Z Trump says 'Iran lies and cheats' as IRGC emerges as dominant force in negotiations with US As President Donald Trump voiced growing frustration Wednesday with Iranian negotiators, accusing them of lying and cheating, the latest escalation has exposed an even more fundamental problem for Washington: whether the officials at the negotiating table have the power to deliver an agreement — or whether anyone in Tehran does. "I don’t know if we’re going to have a deal. We may just do it without a deal," Trump said at the NATO summit in Ankara. "These people, they lie and they cheat." But Trump’s frustration with Iran’s negotiators is only part of the problem. Since the death of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, it has become increasingly unclear who in Tehran has the authority to make — and enforce — an agreement. TRUMP SAYS IRAN CEASEFIRE IS 'OVER' AFTER IRANIAN ATTACKS TRIGGER MASSIVE US RESPONSE Mojtaba Khamenei succeeded his father as supreme leader after the elder Khamenei was killed in the opening U.S.-Israeli attacks on Feb. 28. But Mojtaba has not appeared publicly since the attack, and U.S. assessments cited by Reuters have described authority as dispersed among senior Revolutionary Guard commanders and powerful civilian officials. Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, a former IRGC commander who led Iran’s negotiating delegation, has emerged as one of the country’s most powerful surviving political figures. Banafsheh Zand, an Iranian-American journalist and editor of the Iran So Far Away Substack, said power inside the Islamic Republic has fractured since the death of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, leaving the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as the country’s dominant force. "The person who is negotiating with the U.S. is not necessarily someone who is endorsed by the others," Zand told Fox News Digital. She described Ghalibaf as one power center competing with figures including IRGC commander-in-chief Ahmad Vahidi, Quds Force commander Esmail Qaani and former Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif. Vahidi controls the IRGC’s overall military structure, while Qaani oversees its external operations and relationships with Iran-aligned armed groups across the region. Zarif, by contrast, remains closely identified with the more accommodationist political camp that previously championed negotiations and sanctions relief. "The hardliners, in terms of their political presence, have also been pushed aside," Zand said. "So really, it’s the IRGC. And within the IRGC, whoever signs the deal is not necessarily signing on behalf of everybody else. They’re signing on behalf of themselves." Her assessment reflects a central problem facing Washington: Iran’s negotiators, political institutions and military commanders may not share the same interpretation of what was agreed — or the same willingness to implement it. US CLAWS BACK KEY CONCESSION TO IRAN AFTER FRESH ATTACKS ON COMMERCIAL SHIPS IN STRAIT OF HORMUZ Yet Trump’s declaration does not necessarily mean diplomacy has been permanently abandoned. Behnam Ben Taleblu, senior director of the Iran program at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, told Fox News Digital that the clearest evidence would be the restoration of the U.S. blockade, the introduction of additional military forces or a new round of major economic sanctions. Otherwise, he said, Trump may continue operating in the "gray zone" between negotiations and open war while keeping his options available. The more difficult question is why Tehran would jeopardize sanctions relief and risk overwhelming American firepower when its military has already been severely degraded. Ben Taleblu said Iran’s leaders appear to believe escalation is essential to the survival of the Islamic Republic. "This is a regime that is weaker, but lethal, and less capable, but more confident," he said. Iran’s leadership believes its adversaries have vulnerable economic and military interests throughout the Gulf, he added, while the regime itself is more willing to accept destruction. "Their survival and their military success and their political success runs through more, not less, escalation," he said. Lisa Daftari, foreign policy analyst and the editor-in-chief of The Foreign Desk, agrees the escalation is deliberate, aimed at turning regional instability into leverage. "By targeting commercial shipping and Arab states, the regime is signaling that it can hold global energy flows and America’s regional partners hostage to extract leverage, distract from its domestic crisis, and test U.S. red lines," Daftari told Fox News Digital. She said Tehran is betting that Washington and its Arab partners will be unwilling to sustain another war and will ultimately back down first. "The regime’s core weapon is time," Daftari said. "By escalating in the Persian Gulf and attacking ships and Arab states, they are creating rolling crises that raise the cost of confronting them while they consolidate power at home." Daftari argued that the strategy reflects the Islamic Republic’s longstanding character rather than a temporary response to pressure. TRUMP ENTERS FINAL NATO SUMMIT DAY AS UKRAINE, DEFENSE SPENDING TAKE CENTER STAGE "This regime was never designed to be reformed or softened," she said. "What they are showing us now is exactly who they intend to remain: a hardline, revolutionary regime determined to stay in power." But determining how that strategy is translated into action is more complicated. Authority in Tehran appears divided, raising questions about who is directing the escalation and whether the officials negotiating with Washington can commit the broader security establishment. That division is already visible in the dispute over the Strait of Hormuz. A Middle Eastern source familiar with the issue told Fox News Digital that Tehran and Washington are operating from fundamentally different readings of Clause five of the memorandum. The publicly released text says Iran will use its "best efforts" to arrange safe commercial passage through the strait without charge for 60 days, while removing military and technical obstacles and conducting demining operations. It does not expressly state that foreign vessels must obtain Iran’s approval or use routes designated by Tehran. According to the source, Iran interprets that language as giving it responsibility — and therefore authority — to coordinate shipping and determine the routes vessels use during the interim period. Washington’s interpretation is that Iran agreed to lift its maritime blockade and fully reopen the international waterway. When the two sides have different interpretations of a single page, how do they intend to write a treaty, the source said. Iran views control over passage through the Strait of Hormuz as one of its last major sources of leverage over the United States, Gulf governments and the global economy, the source said, "That is the heart of the matter." Taken together, the experts’ assessments suggest Tehran is unlikely to face a simple choice between surrendering to Trump’s pressure and returning to negotiations. Ben Taleblu said the regime believes its survival depends on "more, not less, escalation," while Daftari said it is deliberately "playing out the clock" by creating repeated regional crises. That raises the prospect that, even if Iranian officials return to the table, the IRGC could continue targeting commercial shipping, U.S. interests and American allies to preserve its leverage and strengthen its position inside Iran. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4e99fcc2ca79de23657647 England's Jordan Henderson undergoes surgery after suffering fracture while celebrating win over Mexico te 2026-07-08T18:42:04.754Z England's Jordan Henderson undergoes surgery after suffering fracture while celebrating win over Mexico English soccer player Jordan Henderson has shared an update after suffering a freak arm injury while celebrating his team's World Cup Round of 16 win over Mexico. Henderson tried to hop over the advertising boards after England topped Mexico 3-2 at Mexico City Stadium in one of the best matches of the World Cup. However, his hand slipped off the top of the boards, and he hit the deck hard and awkwardly. The fall left Henderson with a fractured wrist. ENGLAND'S JORDAN HENDERSON OFFICIALLY RULED OUT AFTER FREAK FALL CAUSES FRACTURE, OPTS FOR SURGERY It was revealed earlier this week that Henderson had opted for surgery, ruling him out of England's quarterfinal against Norway and the remainder of the tournament. On Wednesday, he provided an update that he had undergone surgery in Kansas City, which is where the Three Lions have been based through this World Cup. Here's to hoping Henderson is on the mend, because this is a brutal way to get your World Cup cut short. CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM There are few things in sports as brutal as getting injured while celebrating. It's the ultimate high, followed by the ultimate, ego-bruising low. And it's not like Henderson was doing anything stupid, like trying to dunk the ball over the crossbar or wow the crowd with James Brown splits. He was just trying to hop over the advertising boards, something he has probably done hundreds of times. But all it took was for one of those boards to be a tad slippery, and that was all she wrote. Next thing you know, he's being taken off on a stretcher... for a fractured wrist. That's a rough way to go out, and it could've happened to anyone. That's the curse of winning, though. You never hear about someone getting injured in the moments after suffering a soul-crushing defeat. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4e99e9c2ca79de2365763e 'The View' co-host hits Democrats over 'botched' vetting of Platner te 2026-07-08T18:41:45.290Z 'The View' co-host hits Democrats over 'botched' vetting of Platner "The View" co-host Alyssa Farah Griffin dug into the Democratic Party over the "botched" vetting of Maine Senate candidate Graham Platner on Wednesday as he remains embroiled in several scandals, including sexual abuse allegations. Co-host Sunny Hostin said that Platner needed to get out of the race because Democrats needed to flip the Senate. "I’m just struck by how Dems botched this so badly though, because, to your point, the path to Dems taking the Senate, I think, always ran through Maine," Griffin said.  "That was always going to be one of the important pickup seats. They had six years to recruit against Susan Collins and to vet somebody and to look into their past statements, to look into the tattoos that they might have. I mean, listen, Texas just nominated a lunatic in Ken Paxton, so it’s not like the other party isn’t guilty of this as well. But when the stakes are so high, and when the path to the Senate runs through this, how were they not able to find this?" she asked. PLATNER’S THREE-DAY VETTING JOB COMES BACK TO HAUNT DEMS AS RAPE ALLEGATION ROCKS SENATE BID She continued, "And this is where I think consultants did know. I think that a lot of people who are making a lot of money around him knew. There were whispers, now there's reports, but that he had issues with women and people kept saying, ‘No, no, no, look away,’" Griffin said. Whoopi Goldberg argued people knew about Platner and said the hosts had discussed it. "You know what, I don’t know — given what’s happened just in our world right now, how the country — who’s in charge of it, I think people held their nose and said, ‘I’m going to take a step,’" she said. Goldberg said people vote for flawed candidates despite allegations such as these. FORGET CORRUPTION: FROM GRAHAM PLATNER TO KEN PAXTON, BOTH PARTIES EMBRACE THE POLITICS OF HYPOCRISY The hosts agreed as Griffin argued that the parties weren't vetting based on character. The co-hosts have had several debates about Platner, during which Hostin has called him a racist, a homophobe and an antisemite, but said she would support him anyway, due to the state of the country. During a back-and-forth on the show on Tuesday, Hostin was confronted by Griffin over whether she would feel comfortable voting for him if she lived in Maine. Hostin focused her criticism on the Republican Party, arguing they couldn't claim the moral high ground. CLICK HERE FOR MORE COVERAGE OF MEDIA AND CULTURE "I said it, if I lived in Maine I would have, you know, plugged my nose and would have voted for him anyway. I think we are in a time of existential crisis in this country and I think Republicans fall in line. They don’t fall in love. Democrats want to fall in love and not fall in line. The Republican Party — the bar is so very low — I can’t believe that they want to try to assume the moral high ground of the Republican Party," she said. She did not say whether she would feel comfortable voting for Platner if she lived in Maine amid the new allegations of sexual abuse on Tuesday, though all the hosts agreed he should exit the race. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4e99c2c2ca79de2365762d Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear Demands Health Update on Mitch McConnell te 2026-07-08T18:41:06.377Z Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear Demands Health Update on Mitch McConnell Senator Mitch McConnell has been hospitalized since June 14. Speculation about his health has spread in recent days. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4e99aec2ca79de23657624 As Cease-Fire Frays, Trump Faces a Muddled War and Unpalatable Options te 2026-07-08T18:40:46.921Z As Cease-Fire Frays, Trump Faces a Muddled War and Unpalatable Options The president appears to be confronting the consequences of a cease-fire deal cobbled together in haste, with little movement toward resolving the key issues driving the conflict. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4e9996c2ca79de23657608 Google Photos adds a new AI ‘Video Remix’ tool te 2026-07-08T18:40:22.350Z Google Photos adds a new AI ‘Video Remix’ tool The feature can do things like apply cinematic relighting to brighten up a dark clip, swap out a plain background for something fun, or add artistic styles to videos. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4e9778c2ca79de236575d8 NAU ROUNDUP: Women's soccer hires Jason Navas as director of goalkeepers te 2026-07-08T18:31:20.483Z NAU ROUNDUP: Women's soccer hires Jason Navas as director of goalkeepers Navas joins NAU women's soccer after time at Eckerd College in St. Petersburg, Florida. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4e9764c2ca79de236575b2 Mike Rowe says history shows why Americans keep rejecting socialism te 2026-07-08T18:31:00.007Z Mike Rowe says history shows why Americans keep rejecting socialism Americans who say they aren't proud of the United States may need a refresher on the nation's history or a visit to other countries, Mike Rowe told Fox News Digital on America's 250th anniversary. Rowe, founder of the skilled-trades nonprofit mikeroweWORKS, narrator of "Deadliest Catch" and host of "Dirty Jobs," said celebrities should avoid dispensing political advice but argued history shows why socialism has repeatedly fallen out of favor. Asked about a Gallup poll showing only 53% of Americans are very proud of the U.S., Rowe said that while he’s no "mind reader," his first thought was "if you're not proud of the country, then it's possible you might not be up-to-speed on where the country came from and how the country evolved, or maybe how the rest of the countries and the world function." WORLD CUP SOCCER FANS ARE DISCOVERING AMERICA’S GREATNESS. IT’S TIME AMERICANS DID, TOO "Nobody wants a lecture or a sermon or a history lesson, but it's hard to appreciate who and what we are today unless you really remember who and what we were two-hundred-and-fifty-one years ago (in 1775) -- back when the American Dream was really just a dream." Rowe said the constant stream of bad news makes it easy to draw short-term conclusions about the country, but America's founding offers a longer historical perspective. NEWT GINGRICH: THE DECLARATION STILL TERRIFIES SOCIALISTS AND TYRANTS, HERE AND ABROAD Rowe said the Founders effectively signed their own "death warrant" when they declared independence from Great Britain in pursuit of "life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness." "That's what the American dream was. It [became reality] in 1783 when we signed the Treaty of Paris… We're living in the American reality. And it's not perfect. It will always be a work in progress – but to look at the country and say, ‘ah, I'm not that impressed’, I would suggest maybe visit some other countries and look back at our own history and reimagine your worldview." Given recent wins by socialist politicians in New York, New Jersey, Colorado and elsewhere, Rowe said that "history is a wheel" that always spins. DEMOCRATIC SOCIALISM IS SWEEPING THE NATION. VOTERS SHOULD BE ALARMED "Personally, I rack my brain to think of all the instances where socialism paid off. I got nothing, man." Ideas that are out of favor suddenly return to the fore, and then fade again as people experience their own history in their own time, he said. While the best political ideas won’t always win short-term, they ultimately wash out in the end, he said, pointing to history as a guide to why "we kicked [socialism] to the curb every time it reared its head." When asked his suggestions to Republicans in combating socialism or Democrats in managing their new schism, Rowe quipped that he knows "one thing the country absolutely, positively doesn’t need." "My opinion on any of that crap," he said. "I would be so far out of my lane to mouth off like that. We've got enough celebrities and enough public figures with enough opinions on telling both parties what to do." "I've got a lane. The lane right now is mikeroweWORKS and BuildFreedom. And in that lane are hundreds of thousands of great jobs that are wide-open… And I mean that sincerely to anybody on the left, anybody on the right," he said. mikeroweWORKS and BuildFreedom are "so aggressively uninterested in your politics," Rowe said, focusing instead on work ethic and a willingness to learn skills that are in demand. In regard to his focus on blue-collar work and warnings that the Artificial Intelligence revolution is endangering it, Rowe said of AI pioneers like Elon Musk that he won’t bet against the mogul or his work. SIGN UP TO GET THE POLITICS NEWSLETTER "Three-quarters of the country is uneasy with AI... but the people building this infrastructure are talking about a $10 trillion investment in our future." Rowe said Americans have a habit of becoming suspicious of the very industries and technologies they eventually depend on. Still, he remained confident that the country's democratic process and spirit of innovation will prevail. "We're going to argue like hell," he said, "and in the end, hopefully somebody somewhere in this town will be talking about these same things 250 years from now." Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4e9750c2ca79de236575a9 Pro-Palestinian Egypt coach loses it at sight of Israeli flag after all-time World Cup collapse te 2026-07-08T18:30:40.554Z Pro-Palestinian Egypt coach loses it at sight of Israeli flag after all-time World Cup collapse After watching his team complete one of the biggest collapses in World Cup history, Egypt head coach Hossam Hassan only made matters worse. Egypt was up 2-0 but allowed three goals in the final 20 minutes against Argentina to get eliminated in the Round of 16 in devastating fashion. As he was leaving the pitch, Hassan, who has openly supported Palestine throughout the World Cup, appeared to spot two Argentinian fans holding an Israeli flag. CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM Hassan and another coach appeared irate at the fans, pointing at them from the field and appearing to mimic a spit in their direction. Hassan then got in the face of a photographer capturing the moment, while another coach appeared to drop an F-bomb toward the fans. After Egypt's win over Australia in the Round of 32 over the weekend, Hassan waved a Palestinian flag on the field. Following their victory via penalty kicks, Hassan said he was dedicating Egypt's win to the "good and noble" Egyptian and Palestinian people. "My heart and soul are with them," he said after that match. "I dedicate this victory to the Palestinians. May Allah grant them victory and have mercy on their martyrs." "If there is anyone in the world who does not feel for the Palestinian people, then they are not human," Hassan added earlier this week. CHRISTIAN PULISIC'S 'REST' COMMENT AFTER WORLD CUP EXIT DRAWS STRONG REACTIONS FROM USA SOCCER LEGENDS A video from last month's Iran-New Zealand World Cup game at SoFi Stadium outside Los Angeles appeared to show a man's Israeli flag getting confiscated, while adjacent Palestinian flags were able to remain in the stands. The man with the Israeli flag told Fox News Digital after the incident that he was also told by security that the "head of FIFA didn't care about" the Palestinian flag behind him, "and they only cared about my flag in particular." "They said they don't have a problem with their flags, and they only have an issue with ours," he said, citing a double standard. "They had no marching orders in order to take their flag, or anyone else's flag. It was pretty embarrassing... "They said they don't have a problem with their flags, and they only have an issue with ours," he added. "They had no marching orders in order to take their flag, or anyone else's flag. It was pretty embarrassing." FIFA rule 4.2.23 states that World Cup attendees must only use flags "in a festive and friendly manner." FIFA also prohibits "materials" that are of "political...nature." However, the Associated Press notes that FIFA said it is permitted to display the Palestinian flag at the World Cup. OutKick's Jon Root contributed to this report. Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4e9533c2ca79de2365756e Obamacare premiums likely to surge again next year te 2026-07-08T18:21:39.375Z Obamacare premiums likely to surge again next year A man gets a checkup at a mobile health clinic in Parlier, Calif. A new report details preliminary Obamacare insurer premium rate increases. (Photo by Larry Valenzuela, CalMatters/CatchLight Local) Health insurance premiums are likely to grow more expensive next year for those who buy Marketplace plans, after increases this year. Affordable Care Act Marketplace insurers are proposing a median premium increase of 14% for 2027, which would be a double-digit hike for the second year in a row, according to a new analysis of preliminary rate filings. Insurers must submit their requested premium changes to state regulators by July 15, per Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services deadlines. Rates should be finalized later this summer. Released Wednesday by the Peterson Center on Healthcare and healthcare research group KFF, the analysis looked at proposed rate changes among 77 Marketplace insurers across 16 states and Washington, D.C., that have made proposed rates publicly available. Those are Connecticut, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Texas, Vermont and Washington state. The majority of insurers across those states are proposing a median ACA Marketplace premium increase between 10% and 20%, while 20 insurers are requesting premium increases of more than 20%. None included in the analysis proposed a decrease in premiums.  Along with the expiration of enhanced premium subsidies, insurers are also citing rising healthcare costs and changes in federal regulations as reasons behind the increases. At the end of last year, enhanced premium tax credits expired, leading to more out-of-pocket costs for some people enrolled in Marketplace plans. Premiums increased especially for those with incomes at 400% or more of the federal poverty level — or roughly $63,000 for a single person — who completely lost subsidies. That caused many healthier enrollees to leave the Marketplace, leaving behind enrollees who are more expensive to cover, according to KFF. While the proposed increases are lower than last year’s median nationwide proposed rate change of 18% — the finalized change was 20% — it’s the second-highest requested change since 2018, according to the report. ACA Marketplace enrollments have seen a steep drop, with 2.6 million fewer Americans on the rolls in February compared with the same time last year, The Associated Press reported. Stateline reporter Nada Hassanein can be reached at nhassanein@stateline.org. This story was originally produced by Stateline, which is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network which includes Arizona Mirror, and is supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4e951fc2ca79de2365754f Biden’s tariff holiday could leave China footing a massive bill in payback push te 2026-07-08T18:21:19.405Z Biden’s tariff holiday could leave China footing a massive bill in payback push FIRST ON FOX: Ohio’s two Republican senators say that Chinese companies avoided paying billions of dollars in taxes through a Biden-era tariff pause that has since been declared unlawful.  Now, they’re demanding that the Department of Homeland Security send the bill to China. In 2022, the Biden administration issued a temporary pause on tariffs for solar panels originating in Southeast Asia, many of which contained components manufactured by Chinese corporations. The United States Court of International Trade, in August 2025, found the law used by the Biden administration to initiate the pause could not be applied to solar panels, thus making it unlawful. "China has a strategy. They have state-subsidized business sectors, solar panels being one of them, in which they want to flood the global market, put everyone out of business, and then you're completely reliant on China for generation of energy that is connected to your electric grid, which can create instability around the globe," Sen. Jon Husted told Fox News Digital in an interview Tuesday. "They want dominance. They want to weaken America. They want to weaken the rest of the world by subsidizing these solar companies." CHAD WOLF: AMERICA CANNOT IGNORE CHINA’S ECONOMIC ATTACK ON US INDUSTRY Husted and fellow Ohio Sen. Bernie Moreno, in a letter sent to the Department of Homeland Security in May, argue that Chinese solar companies should be forced to pay back the import duties they avoided under the Biden administration's now-vacated tariff pause. "This moratorium served as a unilateral tariff giveaway that benefited Chinese solar manufacturers operating through third-country routes to circumvent existing anti-dumping duty orders and rip the American economy out of billions of dollars," the senators wrote. "The total unpaid duties represent billions of dollars owed to the U.S. Treasury — the vast majority by Chinese state-backed companies that exploited the moratorium to flood the U.S. market with artificially cheap solar products." "These products are not only second rate but pose a risk to our nation’s national security and domestic manufacturing capabilities," they added. The four countries covered by the tariff pause, Malaysia, Cambodia, Thailand and Vietnam, are home to Chinese solar manufacturers that have been accused of attempting to get around U.S. trade laws. They represented 84% of solar panel imports to the United States in late 2023.  Husted told Fox News Digital in a video interview Tuesday that he believes Chinese companies owe the United States $67 billion in tariff payments stemming from the voided moratorium. TIM SHEEHY EXPOSES A 'SCARY' SHIPBUILDING COLLAPSE THAT LEAVES THE US VULNERABLE TO CHINA Chinese solar manufacturing has long been a flashpoint for controversy. China hawks, for instance, contend that importing too many Chinese solar panels could make the American energy grid dependent on Chinese manufacturing, giving Beijing leverage over the United States. On the other side of the spectrum, human rights activists have criticized the Chinese solar industry over its alleged ties to forced Uyghur labor. The Biden administration initiated the tariff pause in 2022 because it feared an ongoing federal investigation into whether China-linked solar products were circumventing U.S. antidumping laws by routing products through Southeast Asia would freeze the solar supply chain, delay clean-energy projects and worsen electricity-reliability risks. THE WEST STILL DOESN’T GRASP THE DANGER OF CHINA’S RARE EARTH ENDGAME Husted and Moreno claimed that Customs and Border Protection, which operates under DHS, conducted an internal review that found that "not a single entry admitted under the moratorium legitimately qualified for relief." Their letter claims that CBP has "statutory authority" to "issue retroactive bills of duty plus interest." "Look, the Department of Homeland Security has identified that this was an illegal move to avoid the tariffs that these Chinese state-backed companies owe," Husted told Fox News Digital. "So we definitely have enforcement mechanisms to do that. I believe we solidly have the ability at the Department of Homeland Security to enforce the law, to hold these companies accountable and to make them pay the tariffs that are due." A DHS spokesperson confirmed that the agency had received the senator's letters but declined to comment on whether it would follow through with their recommendations. "We appreciate Senators Husted and Moreno and their determination to shed light on the Biden Administration’s solar tariff moratorium," the spokesperson told Fox News Digital. "We look forward to working with the senators on this crucial issue. DHS responds to official correspondence through official channels."  The duo of senators is requesting that CBP publicly release its internal review, that it issue retroactive bills to the companies that benefited from the tariff pause and that the agency publicly release how much each importer owes. "Enforcing these obligations is a matter of fairness, rule of law, and the credibility of U.S. trade enforcement," the letter reads. "One thing should be made clear – The United States will enforce trade laws and counter CCP efforts to flood our markets with cheap products that were supported by the Biden Administration’s Green New Scam agenda." Fox News Digital reached out to Biden's office for additional comment Tuesday. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4e950bc2ca79de23657546 SEE IT: Scandal-plagued Dem called police officers 'abusive a--holes' in resurfaced tweet te 2026-07-08T18:20:59.951Z SEE IT: Scandal-plagued Dem called police officers 'abusive a--holes' in resurfaced tweet FIRST ON FOX: A scandal-plagued Democratic congressional candidate who previously claimed the U.S. has "an abusive cop problem" suggested in a resurfaced tweet that half of the police officers he has interacted with are "abusive a—holes." In a since-deleted 2017 post on what was then Twitter, Bobby Pulido, a Latin music star who is now running for Congress as a Democrat in a critical South Texas swing district, wrote, "I’ve had many incidents with cops." He said he was pulled over in Mississippi for swerving out of his lane and that one of the officers pulled a gun on him after asking for his identification. In a follow-up tweet, still viewable on X, Pulido suggested that the officers "really wanted to search my jag for money." "Bull f------ s---," he wrote, adding, "Half of the ones [police officers] have been courteous (even when ticketing me) the others, abusive a—holes." DEM SENATE HOPEFUL UNDER FIRE FOR RESURFACED COMMENTS CALLING COPS 'OPPORTUNISTIC COWARDS' That same day, Pulido also tweeted that "Not all cops abuse power, but many do." In reference to an Arizona police officer being acquitted of second-degree murder after a fatal shooting in 2017, Pulido wrote, "The fact that he was found not guilty makes me question the validity of our justice system." Pulido is running to unseat Republican Rep. Monica De La Cruz in Texas Congressional District 15. As a former Tejano music star running in a heavily Hispanic district, Pulido poses a serious threat to De La Cruz’s seat because of his strong name recognition. However, his campaign thus far has been marred by controversy, including facing scrutiny over his relationship with longtime bandmate and convicted child sex offender Frankie Caballero. He has also been criticized for saying that "white nationalists" are joining immigration enforcement to "hunt people down." Pulido’s campaign has dismissed both matters as "lies" and "desperate attacks." In another resurfaced post from 2018, Pulido wrote that "we have an abusive cop problem." His post referenced a video of an El Paso police officer appearing to point his firearm at a mob of children who seemed to be attempting to interfere with an arrest. In the same thread, Pulido wrote, "I long for the day when we teach our children how to behave even when a cop is way out of line. He should be punished legally and to the fullest, not by abhorrent curse words from children." A year later, Pulido wrote that "unfortunately, many people including some judges and police when given power, turn into monsters." He added, "Human nature?" TALARICO CAMPAIGNS WITH SURGEON WHO OPERATED ON TRANSGENDER MINORS: ‘WOLF IN SHEEP’S CLOTHING’ In response to the resurfaced tweets, Zach Kraft, a spokesperson for the Republican National Committee, accused Pulido of smearing law enforcement. "Pedophile protecting Pulido has displayed a disturbing pattern of befriending criminals while smearing the brave men and women of law enforcement," Kraft told Fox News Digital. Kraft ripped into Pulido, calling him the Spanish word for "rotten," and predicting that South Texans "will reject this creep because, unlike Bobby 'Podrido,' they want sex predators in jail, not performing at middle schools." Fox News Digital reached out to Pulido and the Democratic National Committee for comment. SIGN UP TO GET THE POLITICS NEWSLETTER Beyond these comments, Pulido has also faced scrutiny for claiming that President Donald Trump and Republicans' immigration enforcement agenda is motivated by the "theory of White replacement." "When President Trump ran, he ran on getting rid of the bad guys. They lied to us," Pulido said. "It’s race. It’s always down to race. And I hate to say this, because I hate to inflame it, but I’m going to call it out because that is what it is. Look, when they have this theory of White replacement, they’re saying, ‘Oh, no, no, if it weren’t for this and this and crime,’ they’ll throw in all these other things to dance around the true issue," he said. "Which is there’s too many Brown and Black people, which they’re saying they’re just going to stay the same and be poor." Pulido noted during the interview, "I do not want to demonize law enforcement." However, he expressed that when it comes to immigration enforcement, "a lot of the people that are joining, not all of them, okay, there’s a lot of White nationalists that want to join because they want to go hunt down people, right, they’re yahoos." EXPERT WHO FLED CUBA WARNS OF ‘VICIOUS CYCLE’ THAT WILL LEAD TO ‘COMMUNISTS IN DOUBLE DIGITS’ IN CONGRESS After De La Cruz’s campaign accused Pulido of smearing Border Patrol officers, a spokesperson for his campaign told Fox News Digital that "these desperate attacks prove one thing, the GOP establishment is in full panic mode because Mentirosa [Spanish for 'liar'] Monica De La Cruz is running a dumpster fire of a campaign and they know they're going to lose." The spokesperson said that Pulido "has been a lifelong supporter of our law enforcement" and added that "South Texas knows that and they're going to make it loud and clear in November." Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4e94f8c2ca79de2365753d Trump explains why he's flying old Air Force One back to DC te 2026-07-08T18:20:40.500Z Trump explains why he's flying old Air Force One back to DC President Donald Trump addressed speculation about the dangers of flying home from the NATO summit in Ankara, Turkey, amid Iranian threats, saying he is not flying home on the new Air Force One because the aircraft is being sent to the United Kingdom. "It's flying to Europe, to one of the big bases," Trump said. "Two or three of the big bases where we can show it to the people. And we'll be going home by normal methods." Trump said the aircraft would stop at "a couple of bases," including one in particular, "so the soldiers can see it, because it's truly magnificent." NEW AIR FORCE ONE TAKES FLIGHT AS TRUMP UNVEILS REVAMPED PRESIDENTIAL AIRCRAFT In a Truth Social post earlier Wednesday, Trump said the new aircraft was being sent to Mildenhall Air Force Base in the United Kingdom to honor U.S. troops. "To honor our brave men and women of the Military, we are sending the brand new, and truly spectacular, Air Force One to Mildenhall Air Force Base, in the United Kingdom, to give them a chance to tour the Aircraft — Everybody is so excited, and we thought that they should be the first," Trump wrote. "For old time’s sake, we’ll be taking the former Air Force One, from Turkey to Mildenhall, a short trip that is totally worth doing in order to give our Great Military Heroes a chance to appreciate our beautiful new addition to the Air Force Fleet!" he added. TRUMP SAYS NATO FAILED TWO KEY TESTS DURING HIGH-STAKES TURKEY SUMMIT: 'NOT HAPPY' Trump was pressed during a news conference about speculation that he was leaving Turkey on the older presidential aircraft due to possible threats from Iran. "Well, I speak about it a lot because, you know, the life of a president is very dangerous," Trump said, adding that he is "No. 1 on the kill list for Iran. "They're lovely people. I'm No. 1." TRUMP FACES UNPRECEDENTED THIRD ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT Trump, the target of at least three assassination attempts, has frequently addressed the danger of being the leader of the free world, noting the mortality rate is "5.2%" for U.S. presidents. "You know what a race car driver is? One tenth of 1%," Trump continued. "A bull rider – that looks pretty dangerous to me – it's one tenth of 1%. "You should have told me," the president said. "You're an excellent reporter. You should have told me that years ago, maybe I wouldn't have run. It's a very dangerous profession." Trump added he "really care" about the threats or danger, "because I’m doing my job." "I like being No. 1 on TikTok better," Trump said, "but I’m No. 1 on the list for killing." Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4e92dac2ca79de236574ec 'Sopranos' creator David Chase warns censorship under Trump is a 'hop, skip and a jump' away te 2026-07-08T18:11:38.505Z 'Sopranos' creator David Chase warns censorship under Trump is a 'hop, skip and a jump' away "The Sopranos" creator David Chase warned in a new interview that political censorship in Hollywood could be on the horizon under President Donald Trump. "Since Trump, I’ve been concerned it’s only a little big or a hop, skip and a jump up to censorship," Chase told Variety while discussing upcoming projects this week at the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival in the Czech Republic. Chase, who created the Emmy-winning HBO mob drama that ran from 1999 to 2007, made the remark while discussing "Project: MKUltra," an HBO series he is developing about the CIA's Cold War-era mind control program, and a separate independent film he said would also deal with the drug LSD. ISSA RAE SAYS DEI HAS BECOME A 'BAD WORD' IN HOLLYWOOD AS EXECUTIVES OF COLOR 'TIPTOE' TO KEEP JOBS The writer said he was not especially concerned about conspiracy theorists or right-wing commentators online driving backlash to the project, but about a future in which artists face political restrictions on what they can say. Chase said he was concerned about creatives "being told you can’t say that, and you can’t do that." Chase agreed when Variety asked if his concerns amounted to fears of a modern-day Hays Code, the Hollywood censorship system that once dictated what could appear in films. 'THE VIEW' EASED UP ON POLITICAL CANDIDATE BOOKINGS AMID FCC INQUIRY, REPORT SAYS "Exactly," Chase said. Chase compared his political concerns to his earlier years working in network television, when he said strict rules controlled even minor details of what could be shown on screen. "I used to work on network television, and you couldn’t have a person burp on camera, you couldn’t show the toilet bowl, the gun going off, the person getting shot," Chase said. "It was rules, rules, rules. And those are minor things. When you get to the political stuff, that concerns me." LARRY DAVID BRISTLED AT SOME OF BARACK OBAMA'S CREATIVE NOTES ON NEW COMEDY COLLABORATION, DIRECTOR SAYS Chase's comments came as he returned to the international spotlight at Karlovy Vary, where festival organizers said he was appearing for an industry talk about the legacy of "The Sopranos," streaming, financing, authorship and the importance of creative risks. He also told Variety that he is independently working on a feature film "that deals with LSD," saying the story involves "a young woman" who's a college DJ. The film would mark Chase's first directorial feature since "Not Fade Away," his 2012 coming-of-age drama. He also co-wrote and produced the 2021 "Sopranos" prequel film, "The Many Saints of Newark." Trump signed an executive order on his first day back in office titled, "Restoring Freedom of Speech and Ending Federal Censorship," saying it was federal policy to protect constitutionally protected speech and prevent government officials from abridging Americans’ First Amendment rights. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4e92c7c2ca79de236574e3 Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce's wedding aftermath takes wild turn as alleged trash goes up for sale te 2026-07-08T18:11:19.049Z Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce's wedding aftermath takes wild turn as alleged trash goes up for sale Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce pulled off one of the most secretive celebrity weddings in recent memory, but that hasn't stopped new details from spilling into the spotlight. From former NFL stars questioning why they didn't make the guest list to reports of late-night pizza deliveries, Chanel handbag giveaways and sellers trying to cash in on alleged wedding trash, the couple's celebration has continued to make headlines long after the last dance. Swift and Kelce married on July 3 in front of 1,000 guests at Madison Square Garden, a representative for the pop star told Fox News Digital. The two opted not to have a traditional wedding party, instead choosing to have Swift's brother as her "Man of Honor" and Kelce's brother as his "Best Man." TAYLOR SWIFT AND TRAVIS KELCE'S WEDDING LEAKS SNOWBALL AS GUESTS REVEAL INSIDE DETAILS Even with a star-studded guest list, the newlyweds couldn't invite everyone. After Kelce and Swift's highly anticipated wedding, two former NFL players called out the Kansas City Chiefs tight end for leaving them off the exclusive guest list. Will Compton and Taylor Lewan believe they should have been invited to the wedding. Compton claimed he was "kinda flabbergasted" the two weren't invited during an appearance on "Wake Up Barstool." "Is this a personal shot that Will and I are taking?" Lewan later questioned during their show, "Bussin' With The Boys." "Yo, we’re boys; I’ve known you for over 10 years," he added. "We text and call each other. I’m gonna take the high road, but I’m just thinking, dude, I’m clearly doing something wrong in our friendship, clearly something wrong. … There’s clearly a blind spot I’m not seeing." WATCH: NEW DETAILS EMERGE ON TAYLOR SWIFT, TRAVIS KELCE'S MADISON SQUARE GARDEN WEDDING While many were dying to witness Swift and Kelce's love story, some A-listers declined their invitation. "I don't go to weddings or funerals," Charles Barkley said during an appearance on "Unfiltered with Ricky Bo & Bill Colarulo." "But I did get an invite, and I politely declined because I thought it was going to be a crap show." "I love Travis and Jason, and I’ve only met Taylor one time, but yeah, I did get an invite," he explained. "But I said, that’s just too much. I just want to hang out and play golf, and I don’t want to dress up and all that other stuff. But I appreciate the invitation. It was pretty special." James Taylor, the inspiration behind the pop star's name, revealed he turned down an invite to a wedding at Madison Square Garden while performing his annual show at Tanglewood's Koussevitzky Music Shed on July 3, according to The Berkshire Eagle. "I do want to wish the couple all happiness and smooth sailing and strength when it can't be smooth," he said, according to a video shared on social media. TV host Ryan Seacrest's work also got in the way. The "American Idol" host revealed he reluctantly skipped the couple's wedding after a scheduling conflict left him with "no choice" during his radio show on Monday. Seacrest said he even mapped out the logistics before throwing in the towel. "I couldn't have done both," he said. "And the actual wedding was in the afternoon. I went through the minutes." RYAN SEACREST REVEALS WHY HE BACKED OUT OF TAYLOR SWIFT AND TRAVIS KELCE'S WEDDING AT THE LAST MINUTE Swift and Kelce prioritized privacy throughout the celebration, taking steps to keep the ceremony and reception out of the public eye. People reported guests were asked to place their phones in individual locked glass boxes upon arrival, with each person receiving a key to access their devices later. The couple also shielded the event from outside view by covering Madison Square Garden's windows with drapes. Guests remained inside their vehicles as they drove into an enclosed arrival tent, where they exited their cars before being privately escorted into the venue. Swift and Kelce's wedding may have been a tightly guarded affair, but that hasn't stopped enterprising sellers from trying to cash in. The website New York City Garbage is selling items it claims were collected outside Madison Square Garden following the couple's July 3 wedding celebration, according to TMZ. Among the listings are $25 pieces of fabric, soda can tabs and even a single AirPod — all described as trash found on nearby New York City streets around the time of the event. The unusual memorabilia doesn't stop there. One seller has also listed a bag of air allegedly collected inside Madison Square Garden during the wedding for a staggering $49,999.99. While the eye-popping price tag may seem far-fetched, TMZ reported the listing had already drawn more than 200 views. Swift's representative revealed to Fox News Digital that the couple's wedding ceremony looks were designed by Jonathan Anderson of Christian Dior Haute Couture. The happy couple both wore white, and the "Life of a Showgirl" singer accessorized with Cartier. "It was a joy to work with her. We became very good friends," Anderson told WWD. "It’s an emotional thing doing someone’s wedding." Swift's bridal look was the first couture wedding dress designed by Anderson for an A-list celebrity. Throughout the reception, guests played games to win raffle tickets, two guests told NBC News. They could use the raffle tickets they won to try to win different prizes, including designer handbags and a 1970 Chevrolet Chevelle, similar to the car the two rode in on their first public date in 2023. Kansas City Chiefs player Drue Tranquill's wife, Jackie, shared a photo of a black Chanel bag with a winning raffle ticket on her Instagram. The pink raffle ticket featured the T&T logo and read "winner." Pop star Avril Lavigne also snagged a Chanel bag, according to Page Six Hollywood. Advertisement  Even details from inside the tightly guarded celebration proved difficult to pin down. Daily Mail reported the champagne ran dry "really early." However, celebrity gossip group Deuxmoi disputed that report. "We’re told there was no champagne shortage and that cases were reportedly left over at the end of the night," a post on Instagram read. CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE ENTERTAINMENT NEWSLETTER Swift and Kelce made sure guests who stayed well into the night were taken care of. Reports claimed the couple ordered more than 100 pizzas from New York City's Mama’s TOO! The Upper West Side pizzeria is known for gourmet and classic toppings. The order included nearly every type of pizza made by Mama's TOO!, according to Us Weekly. Guests enjoyed the pizzeria's house pie, classic pepperoni, the Angry Nonna and more. LIKE WHAT YOU'RE READING? CLICK HERE FOR MORE ENTERTAINMENT NEWS Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4e92b3c2ca79de236574da Explosive report finds $230M in alleged K-12 education fraud amid Trump's crackdown: 'Especially hideous' te 2026-07-08T18:10:59.595Z Explosive report finds $230M in alleged K-12 education fraud amid Trump's crackdown: 'Especially hideous' FIRST ON FOX: A coalition of state financial officers said it uncovered roughly $225 million in alleged fraud across America’s schools over the past six years, identifying nearly 90 cases involving embezzlement, fake invoices, inflated enrollment, bid-rigging and kickbacks. In a new report obtained exclusively by Fox News Digital, the State Financial Officers Foundation (SFOF) and Open the Books analyzed every Education Department Office of Inspector General (OIG) Semiannual Report to Congress issued between Oct. 1, 2019, and March 31, 2026, revealing alleged fraud across 24 states and Puerto Rico. "All fraud is harmful, but defrauding education dollars meant to help kids learn and succeed is especially hideous," SFOF CEO OJ Oleka said in a statement to Fox News Digital. "The findings in this report should alarm every family, teacher, and civic leader, especially since they only scratch the surface of the problem. The state financial officers courageously tracking every school dollar abused historically have had a bloated federal education bureaucracy only make their job harder." THE WAR ON FRAUD IS HERE, AND VICE PRESIDENT VANCE IS LEADING IT FROM THE FRONT The findings come as the Trump administration prioritizes cracking down on government fraud, with Vice President JD Vance leading a nationwide "War on Fraud," raising fresh questions about oversight of federal education spending. About $67 million was ordered to be repaid through court rulings or settlements, though it's unclear how much has actually been recovered. Oleka said the report is a reminder that state oversight has "never mattered more." Only three of the nation's 20 largest federally funded school districts appeared in OIG records, according to the report. The remaining 17 were absent, while federal investigations targeted dozens of smaller districts, charter schools, online schools and education programs, highlighting potential gaps in federal oversight. "With that in mind, stronger oversight of federal education dollars is more than some bureaucratic exercise — it is an economic and moral imperative," the report said. "Families deserve assurance that the public institutions meant to serve their children are not being looted by the very officials entrusted to lead them." Open the Books CEO John Hart said the alleged fraud "hits us where it hurts most," because it shortchanges "America's future leaders," adding that in one case, the per-student fraud loss was enough to fund a semester at a charter school. "These schemes within public schools arguably hit us where it hurts most: America’s future leaders," Hart said. "Every dollar wasted on fraud never makes it to the classroom where it’s urgently needed. Student outcomes will continue to suffer until we clean up both fraud and administrative overhead." The report's largest cases included allegations that two now-closed Indiana online charter schools received $44 million in excess funding by inflating enrollment and that a Puerto Rico tutoring company obtained $24 million by billing for services never provided. In Florida, a Broward County Public Schools information officer allegedly steered $17 million in contracts to a friend's business, bypassing competitive bidding while personally profiting from the deals. RED-STATE AUDITOR REPORTS 'EXPLOSION' OF FRAUD TIPS AS HE TARGETS STATE EMPLOYEES 'RACKING UP' TAXPAYER WASTE In Texas, former Houston Independent School District Chief Operating Officer Brian Busby and contractor Anthony Hutchison allegedly orchestrated a fraud scheme of more than $6 million, involving school construction and grounds maintenance contracts in exchange for cash bribes and hundreds of thousands of dollars in home renovations. A federal jury found Busby and Hutchison guilty of conspiracy, bribery, filing false tax returns, and witness tampering, with Hutchison also convicted on seven wire fraud counts, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Texas. HISD Superintendent Mike Miles said the district's problems are "no longer the case," following reforms launched in June 2023. But the report argued the alleged fraud carried a direct cost for students in smaller school districts and that the true cost is likely even higher because not all fraud is detected, investigated or prosecuted. California accounted for two of the report's most costly cases. Students at the now-closed Community Preparatory Academy charter school lost about $9,090 per student after the school's head used $3 million in taxpayer funds for personal travel, restaurants, online shopping and private school tuition for her children, according to the report. In Magnolia School District, students lost about $3,553 per student after a former fiscal services director allegedly embezzled nearly $16.7 million to buy a luxury home, car and designer goods. LOS ANGELES SCHOOLS SUPERINTENDENT ALBERTO CARVALHO RESIGNS AMID FBI PROBE Additionally, students in West Virginia's Boone County Schools lost about $1,096 per student after a former maintenance director stole $3.4 million through fraudulent invoices for janitorial and custodial supplies that were never delivered, using the proceeds to buy vehicles, equipment and make improvements to his home. The report also cited Chicago Public Schools, which agreed to return about $1 million in federal grant funding after an OIG review found the district could not adequately verify student eligibility for an Indian Education grant program. Fox News Digital reached out to Broward County Public Schools, Chicago Public Schools, Magnolia School District and Boone County Schools for comment. Alleigh Marré, executive director of the American Parents Coalition, said the report "highlights parents' worst fears." "This is why parents need to have a seat at the table to ensure their children are receiving the best education possible and schools are not wasting taxpayer dollars on noneducation-based materials," Marré said. The report concluded that "every step must be taken to unwind the enormous bureaucracy and spending" by returning education to the state and local level. "Not only is that in keeping with the founders’ vision for a limited Executive Branch, but state and local officials are much better equipped to understand the needs of their communities, find efficiencies, innovate for better student outcomes and keep foxes out of the proverbial henhouse," the report said. Fox News Digital reached out to the Department of Education and the White House Fraud Task Force for comment. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4e928cc2ca79de236574ca Judge Orders $5 Million Trump Judgment be Released to E. Jean Carroll te 2026-07-08T18:10:20.687Z Judge Orders $5 Million Trump Judgment be Released to E. Jean Carroll The writer E. Jean Carroll had asked a federal judge to order the president to pay the judgment after a jury found he sexually abused and defamed her. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4e8e08c2ca79de236573f3 Lynn Evans Hatton te 2026-07-08T17:51:04.026Z Lynn Evans Hatton Lynn Evans Hatton, 74, of Holbrook, entered eternal rest on June 27, 2026. He was born on Nov. 20, 1951, in Mesa, to Les and Jan Hatton.       Lynn spent his childhood on his family’s farm in Mesa with his younger siblings, John and Leslie. When the family later moved to Oklahoma, Lynn remained in Arizona, the state he loved and proudly called home. After graduating from high school, he served his country during the Vietnam War. Following his military service, he became a certified plumber and founded Canyon Creek Plumbing, earning the respect of customers through his skill, integrity, and strong work ethic.       In 2003, Lynn married Gloria Hatton, and together they shared 33 years of faith, love, and cherished memories. A longtime Holbrook resident, Lynn faithfully served at Our Lady of Guadalupe Church as a finance council member, Memorial Garden Committee volunteer, eucharistic minister, and the church’s trusted plumber whenever repairs were needed.       Known for his gift of conversation and genuine interest in others, Lynn never met a stranger. He will be remembered as a devoted husband, father, Pappy, brother, uncle, and friend whose legacy of faith, service, kindness, and love will continue to inspire all who knew him. Screenshot The post Lynn Evans Hatton first appeared on Painted Desert Tribune. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4e8ddec2ca79de236573aa Why this CEO thinks video games make better training data than the internet te 2026-07-08T17:50:22.558Z Why this CEO thinks video games make better training data than the internet When it comes to achieving artificial general intelligence (AGI), large language models just don’t have what it takes. Models like ChatGPT and Claude are great at text, but they’re less skilled at understanding how things actually move through space and time — an essential skill for producing intell Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4e8be6c2ca79de236572a2 Hero in birthday suit grabs his hose and saves two homes from Fourth of July smoldering firework fire te 2026-07-08T17:41:58.350Z Hero in birthday suit grabs his hose and saves two homes from Fourth of July smoldering firework fire What makes a hero? Is it someone who wears their underwear on the outside of their clothes like Superman? Not necessarily. In fact, clothing isn't even required. A hero is defined by their courage and selflessness. Do they risk heading for the shorts drawer or do they run outside completely naked after being woken up in the middle of the night to news of a fire? A Sumner, Washington man didn't bother heading for a pair of shorts. His neighbor woke him up in the early morning hours of July 5, he saw the flames between their homes, and his Navy training kicked in. ZERO BS. JUST DAKICH. TAKE THE DON’T @ ME PODCAST ON THE ROAD. DOWNLOAD NOW! A smoldering firework from the Fourth of July festivities had caught fire in Wesley Howard's neighbor's garbage can. He knew that immediate action was required and ran outside in his birthday suit. With his hose in his hand, he started fighting the fire as it spread through his fence and made its way to his home. His quick action, burned his toes on hot embers, KIRO reported. It also "likely saved both homes." BROOKLYN BRIDGE CATCHES FIRE AMID NYC FIREWORKS DISPLAY AS TRUMP HAILS IT IN DC SPEECH "I was dead asleep in the bedrooms and when I came running out to the top of the stairs to see what was going on, I could see out the window right here between two houses that it was just glowing bright orange," the naked hero told the local outlet. "I saw it was a raging fire as much as I could see. So I had two options: run back in the bedroom and get some shorts or run straight downstairs outside, grab a hose and start fire fighting. So that’s what I did." Howard had found a pair of shorts and put them on by the time police and firefighters arrived on the scene. He had saved the day. Like every hero, this clothesless crusader had a message to share on how to prevent this from happening to you: douse your fireworks. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4e8bd2c2ca79de23657299 McConnell faces fresh calls to come clean about health issues te 2026-07-08T17:41:38.896Z McConnell faces fresh calls to come clean about health issues Kentucky’s top elected official wants Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., to come clean about his health. Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear, a Democrat, called on the ailing lawmaker to reveal his condition to constituents in a letter sent to the 84-year-old on Wednesday. He wrote that over the last few weeks, "Kentuckians have grown increasingly concerned about the current state of your health and wellbeing and ability to hold office in the United States Senate." MCCONNELL'S WIFE, ELAINE CHAO, SAW NO NEED FOR 'IMMEDIATE RETURN' FROM CHINA AS FORMER GOP LEADER HOSPITALIZED "As Governor, I request that you fully update Kentuckians regarding the current status of your health," Beshear wrote. "As public officeholders, we have made a commitment to our constituents to do our best to represent them and to always be transparent." "I believe this requires clear communication about one's ability to serve," he continued. "We wish you a safe and speedy recovery." McConnell’s office did not immediately return a request for comment. MCCONNELL WAS FOUND 'UNCONSCIOUS' IN HOME LAST MONTH AS CONDITION REMAINS UNKNOWN McConnell has been absent from the Senate, which is currently in recess, for the last three weeks. He was first hospitalized for an unknown condition in early June. Since then, his office has kept details of his health and a timetable for his return close to the vest.  The only public insight into his condition has come from leaked emergency dispatch audio from a June 14 call the day McConnell was sent to the hospital, which revealed the longtime Senate Republican was "unconscious" and may have suffered a heart attack. Over time and with a lack of clarity on the lawmaker’s health, the rumor mill has been running at full speed online, speculating about the exact nature of his condition. HOUSE DEM URGES TRANSPARENCY BY PUBLIC OFFICIALS AFTER GOP COLLEAGUE REVEALS REASON FOR EXTENDED ABSENCE Laura Loomer, a conservative commentator, claimed that a "high-level source close to the White House" said McConnell was "brain-dead" and that the lawmaker "isn’t ever coming back." Meanwhile, McConnell's wife, former Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao, traveled to China shortly after his hospitalization and remained there until this week. Her office cited that McConnell’s health "did not warrant an immediate return to the U.S." While the fog around his condition thickened, McConnell did speak with top Senate Republicans. Both Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., and Senate Majority Whip John Barrasso, R-Wyo., said that they had spoken with McConnell at length about the Graham Platner scandal, happenings in the Senate and the recent decisions at the Supreme Court. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4e8bbfc2ca79de23657290 Former Wisconsin Judge Hannah Dugan avoids jail time for obstructing arrest of illegal immigrant te 2026-07-08T17:41:19.442Z Former Wisconsin Judge Hannah Dugan avoids jail time for obstructing arrest of illegal immigrant Former Wisconsin Judge Hannah Dugan was ordered Wednesday to pay a $5,000 fine for obstructing the arrest of an illegal immigrant at a courthouse, but she will not serve any prison time. Dugan, 67, was convicted of felony obstruction last year after federal agents attempted to serve a warrant to Eduardo Flores-Ruiz on April 18, 2025. She was acquitted of concealing an individual to prevent arrest, a misdemeanor. She faced up to five years in prison.  Prosecutors had asked that Dugan be sentenced to between 15 and 21 months.  DEM JUDGE IN HOT SEAT AFTER DHS EXPOSES 'WHOLE NEW LEVEL' OF ACTIVISM, SHELTERING ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT Dugan addressed the case against her on Wednesday just before U.S. District Judge Lynn Adelman imposed her sentence, defending her actions and announcing she intends to "return to public service."  "My acts that day were consistent with community concerns at the courthouse," Dugan said. "My judicial acts were not done with any malicious intent or to advance any personal interests." "Since the government’s arrest of me, I was forced to retire… In January, I resigned from my office, so the constituents would have a judge in my branch to begin the year," she added. "I have been cast as a scaffold and as a hero. I am neither. I am a public servant who was just trying to do my job. Your honor, I will not let those minutes on April 18, 2025 define my life’s work. It is my intent to return to public service." In January, Dugan resigned from the Milwaukee County circuit judgeship amid threats of impeachment from Republican state lawmakers, who labeled her an activist judge. Before her sentencing, several people testified on her behalf.  "Hannah models what it means to be Christian," said Rev. Gregory J. O'Meara, a Jesuit priest, lawyer and law professor who met Dugan at the University of Wisconsin's law school. "We’ve made arrangements to hold service for her privately because she’s been hassled. I do not think there is a need for further punishment, deterrence, retribution or reform." Janine Geske, a law professor at Marquette University, said Dugan's life wasn't "completely defined by her work." "She has been punished by being handcuffed… by being in the media… all she loves to do is share with others," Geske said. "She has lost her profession and her income and she’s here humbly to ask you to give her the opportunity to return to the community." HOUSE CONSERVATIVES RALLY BEHIND PUSH TO IMPEACH JUDGE BOASBERG OVER ROLE IN TRUMP INVESTIGATION On the day of the incident, ICE agents appeared at the Milwaukee County courthouse after learning Flores-Ruiz, 31, had re-entered the United States illegally and was scheduled to appear before Dugan for a hearing in a state battery case.  Upon learning ICE agents were in the building, Dugan confronted them outside her courtroom, arguing their administrative warrant was insufficient to arrest Flores-Ruiz. She told the agents to go to the chief judge's office down the hall and then directed Flores-Ruiz and his attorney to leave her courtroom through a back door, federal prosecutors said.  Flores-Ruiz was spotted moments later by the agents, who followed him outside and arrested him after a brief foot chase. Dugan's lawyers argued that she was shielded from prosecution because of her position as a judge. However, Adelman rejected the argument.  "What judges around the country are looking at this case and saying, ‘Yes, Sign me up?’ There won’t be a crime wave of judges defying ICE. No judges have acted similarly," Dugan's defense attorney Steve Biskupic said Wednesday in court.  Prosecutors said Dugan violated her oath as a judge, putting the lives of law enforcement officers and the public at risk, while Republican lawmakers cast her as an activist judge.  Dugan was arrested by the FBI weeks after the confrontation with ICE and led outside in handcuffs. Flores-Ruiz has since been deported. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4e8b98c2ca79de23657266 OpenAI releases new voice models for more natural live conversations te 2026-07-08T17:40:40.014Z OpenAI releases new voice models for more natural live conversations OpenAI says its new voice mode can speak and listen at the same time, a key ability for live translation. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4e8b84c2ca79de23657251 Loft Cinema caps Pride Month with "Paris Is Burning" te 2026-07-08T17:40:20.566Z Loft Cinema caps Pride Month with "Paris Is Burning" The Loft Cinema closed out Pride Month last week with a 35th anniversary screening of "Paris Is Burning," the last of 24 events the Southern Arizona AIDS Foundation hosted this June to celebrate and, as organizers put it, resist the erasure of the LGBTQ community. For many in the sold-out crowd, the screening was both a celebration of a landmark film and a reminder of how much the community it captured still has to fight for. Prior to the June 30 screening, Loft Cinema Program Director Jeff Yanc and others talked about the history of the film and its impact on filmmaking and the LGBTQ community. "We're celebrating the 35th anniversary of the year 1991, which was the year that is credited with launching the new queer cinema movement of the early 90s. This was a time that just kind of erupted in all of these really great queer-themed films, independent films that brought queer voices and filmmakers and stories to the culture and to cinema," Yanc told attendees. "It was also a time before Netflix, before streaming, so all of these movies played in movie theaters. They even played in mall movie theaters. Shocking." Loft Development Director Ethan Cox said he's a lifelong fan of the movie, recalling its original theatrical release. "I remember when this came out. It's just getting to see all of these beautiful, incredible people up on the screen that you don't usually get to see. So, I was really happy that we were bringing it back," Cox said. "I think that while there's a lot of things that have evolved around attitudes towards transgender folks, I think that we still seem so stuck." Share Tucson Spotlight with a friend. Every signup earns you a raffle entry to win a gift card to a local Tucson favorite. Four winners drawn August 1. Erik Simonson, associate director of development at the Southern Arizona AIDS Foundation, poss next to the Loft Cinema marquee after the June 30 screening. Marlon Bedoy / Tucson Spotlight. When Cox and others began talking about Pride Month and how to amplify the good work being done in the community, partnering with SAAF was an obvious choice. "They're the ones leading the charge in a lot of LGBTQ issues in town," he said. "To me, this is why the Loft exists. This is not something you're going to get at a Harkins or an AMC. So much of the work we do is building a community." Erik Simonson, associate director of development at SAAF, talked about his upbringing and the way the movie impacted his life and helped guide him to his current role. "I think it's a really important piece of documentary film that really resonated with me because of the experiences I had growing up, which were completely different from the folks that are a part of this documentary," Simonson said. "I came out to my parents when I was super young and I was probably six. I've never been more loved or accepted by two individuals in my entire life. And they continued to support me even as I grew older." When Simonson began attending school, he noticed that many of his peers who identified as gay had not had the same experience. "It was very much something you did not talk about," he said. "When I started seeing it happen in my community, with my fellow students, kids getting kicked out of their home, couch surfing, living with friends, trying to survive because their families had rejected them. It really had an impact on my desire to be a part of raising awareness." While times have changed, there's still plenty of work to be done, Simonson said. "Unfortunately, I don't think it's changed enough. We still struggle with stigma and youth on their own, youth on the street, young people getting kicked out of their homes and being rejected. So it's still the same story," he said. "Our biggest struggle right now is with the federal funding based on what's happening with our federal government. We had a severe cut last spring and now we're facing another major cut through (the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) coming up this fall. That's going to majorly impact the amount of prevention services we're able to provide to our community and to Arizona." Cosmo Brusa Belini and Dara Saam have both seen "Paris Is Burning" several times, saying the themes still ring true today. Marlon Bedoy / Tucson Spotlight. SAAF is trying to bridge the gap with foundation money and other ways to generate funding, with Simonson telling attendees that raising awareness is a big reason the group hosted so many Pride-related events. "We did 24 events from May 30th, which was a pre-Pride weekend event with Lookout Arizona, and that led right into all of our community partnerships and Bisbee Pride and Out West and a drag brunch," he said. "We wanted to be very thoughtful about how we approached Pride because of the way that things are going in our government at the moment. It feels like we're being erased and we wanted to be as loud as we could and tried to celebrate as much as possible during Pride month so that we can keep it and it's not going to go away. We're not we're not going to let it go away." After the screening, many attendees gathered in the lobby and on the patio to talk about the film, the community it created and its impact. "I watched it for the first time when I was sixteen, when I got a Criterion subscription for the first time," said Daar Sam, who was watching the film for the fifth time. "I really didn't like documentaries that much and then I would watch this and it was so colorful, and all the lamps in the movie were really amazing. There's such a good use of narration, it's the most beautiful film ever." Sam, who identifies as cisgender heterosexual, said the movie resonates every time. "There's something so strong about the queer community in this film that seems much deeper like roots than a lot of things. I guess in Tucson it's not the same because New York City is its own vibrant hub but I think this is something you can just chalk up to the advent of social media and the fragmentation of society in the 21st century," Sam said. "I know it feels like we've regressed from having these really deep communities that are born out of poverty and it sucks." Cosmo Brusa Zabbelini, who was watching the film for the third time, said the movie's themes still ring true. "I don't know if there's much progress. Everyone's broke, probably (more so) now. So much of what happens throughout the film is in the context of poverty and bigotry, as well. I don't know if it's much better, I think people are more aware of it," Zabbelini said. "Even when Jeff was announcing the film, he was talking about how when this screened in movie theatres and now films are streaming. There isn't that much of a community aspect for queer art. There isn't stuff that's hitting the mainstream that's actually transgressive like this film." Sam echoed those sentiments, pointing to Gregg Araki's newest film, "I Want Your Sex." The Loft is the only theater in Southern Arizona set to screen the film. Ana Quinones, Victor Bostick, Benjamin Speer and Tyler Bator all closed out Pride Month at teh 35th anniversary screening of "Paris Is Burning." Marlon Bedoy / Tucson Spotlight. For many attendees, seeing the film on the big screen for the first time was a whole new experience. "That was a beautiful movie to watch on a big screen," said Ana Quinones. "It was good hearing everybody's reactions and kind of experiencing that with people. I wish I knew the people that were there, but for now this is good." Victor Bostick appreciated that the film provided attendees with an inside look into what might be an unfamiliar space. "I think because there are so many current issues that are still brought up in the movie, it's really refreshing to understand (that) people are getting a glimpse into a life that maybe it's not something they might see everyday," Bostick said. "For people to see it and get that explanation of what it's like to be in someone else's shoes, I think it's really special." Attendee Tyler Bator said the movie reminded him that despite how it can feel, progress has been made. "We've come so far in the past (35) years since the movie came out. But in ways, we've also lost a lot when it comes to community," Bator said. "It was nice to be able to see what rights we've been afforded in the past 30 years but it's (also about) what do we need to bring back from that time and it really is the community we need to bring back, our friends, and the way that we interact with each other." For attendee Benjamin Speer, the film marked how far he'd come personally. "The first time I watched it was on my iPad, I was in the 10th grade, and I didn't know any queer people. I didn't know any trans people," Speer said. "I feel like I've come a long way since seeing it for the first time." Marlon Bedoy is a Pima Community College student and Tucson Spotlight intern. Contact him at marl.star.nn@gmail.com. Tucson Spotlight is a community-based newsroom that provides paid opportunities for students and rising journalists in Southern Arizona. Please consider supporting our work with a tax-deductible donation. Donate to Tucson Spotlight Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4e892cc2ca79de2365720d Incumbent cash advantage disappears in tightest House races, including Az's CD 6 te 2026-07-08T17:30:20.451Z Incumbent cash advantage disappears in tightest House races, including Az's CD 6 Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4e874bc2ca79de236571dc FGSLL All-Stars Roundup: 10s lose in extra-inning walk-off to open state tournament te 2026-07-08T17:22:19.495Z FGSLL All-Stars Roundup: 10s lose in extra-inning walk-off to open state tournament The FGSLL 10s look to rebound after suffering a loss in extra innings to begin the Arizona State Softball Little League Tournament in Avondale. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4e8737c2ca79de236571b7 Spencer Pratt gets Oval Office face time with Trump, top White House brass before patriotic pledge te 2026-07-08T17:21:59.014Z Spencer Pratt gets Oval Office face time with Trump, top White House brass before patriotic pledge Former Los Angeles mayoral candidate Spencer Pratt met with President Donald Trump Monday in the Oval Office while in Washington, D.C., a senior administration official confirmed to Fox News Digital. "I will never stop fighting for my community," Pratt captioned the photo of the meeting on X. Pratt posted a photo of the meeting on X showing himself and his son seated with an unidentified man and who appeared to be White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles at the Resolute Desk across from Trump. The meeting took place before Trump departed to Turkey to attend the NATO summit. SPENCER PRATT'S UNEXPECTED POLITICAL RISE FROM MTV VILLAIN TO KAREN BASS CHALLENGER The former reality TV star drew national attention with a surprise bid for Los Angeles mayor, challenging incumbent Karen Bass but ultimately falling short. Pratt met with "lots of people" while at the White House, the official added. Fox News Digital reached out to the White House and Pratt’s team for additional comment. Pratt  announced Tuesday he is launching The WAR Foundation, an organization focused on fighting political corruption through media campaigns, investigative research, and public education. The foundation says it aims to promote transparency, accountability, and what it describes as restoring "common sense" while opposing socialism in government and cultural institutions. TRUMP SAYS HE HOPES SPENCER PRATT DOES WELL IN LA MAYORAL RACE, BLASTS CALIFORNIA'S 'RIGGED' ELECTIONS Trump endorsed Pratt in May, urging California voters to support his campaign. Pratt’s Oval Office meeting came right after Independence Day, when he went viral for slamming New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani's Fourth of July comments. Mamdani took the opportunity to criticize U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents, Elon Musk and what he described as the "arena of supremacy" in the United States. "As we mark 250 years, what do we see?" Mamdani said in part. "We see a city of contradictions within a nation of contradictions." "Notice how the communists always attack your history," Pratt said of Mamdani in the viral response video. He filmed his response beside his RV on the site where his home burned down in the Los Angeles Palisades fire – a key reason for his bid for mayor. He sported a T-shirt reading, "the anti-socialists social club" in the video. "The communist destroys your history so he can take your home and rebuild it in his image. That’s why it is your patriotic duty to celebrate today unashamed. It’s ok to love America, not only is it ok to love America, it’s necessary to love America. We are the only bulwark against tyranny on this earth," said Pratt in part. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4e8723c2ca79de236571ae Foster Griffin and the Nationals offer sharp baseball betting value in Houston Astros series finale te 2026-07-08T17:21:39.556Z Foster Griffin and the Nationals offer sharp baseball betting value in Houston Astros series finale This has been a very streaky baseball betting season for me. I know there are times that I've struggled, but in those moments, the key is to limit the damage. When you're winning, as we have been over the last week, you want to reinvest your money and maybe even up the unit size. The key, though, is not to get crazy. Don't empty the bankroll just because you're on a hot streak. I feel confident in today's play, but I'm still not going to over-invest in the position. Let's break down what we should bet on in the Houston Astros and Washington Nationals matchup. The Houston Astros are still hanging around. I suppose they are probably right where they are supposed to be. Looking at the Astros roster, it isn't terrible, but it isn't great, either. They certainly have some bright spots, and injuries have impacted them. However, the team is still just two games under .500 and has a real possibility of making a run for a division that no one seems to want to win. I expect them to make some moves at the trade deadline, as they've been aggressive in multiple seasons. ASTROS STAR CARLOS CORREA OUT FOR THE SEASON AFTER TEARING ANKLE TENDON DURING BATTING PRACTICE The team could probably use some extra arms for their rotation, as well as some extra hitting. Their team turns to Spencer Arrighetti today, who has had a nice campaign to this point. He is 7-4 for the season with a 3.81 ERA and a 1.23 WHIP. If he can control the ball, he is very tough to beat. He has allowed 38 walks this season and 58 hits over 78 innings pitched. He has been worse on the road by a full run, and almost 75% of his walks have come on the road. Perhaps the craziest part of his season is that June was terrible for him. He has 14 starts - in the nine outside of June, he has allowed eight earned runs. In five June starts, he allowed 25 earned runs. The Washington Nationals are ahead of schedule. I don't exactly expect the team to make a postseason run, but for a team that was expected to be among the worst in MLB, I have to give them some credit. They are above .500, and this could be a great year for their young players to experience the playoff push. That's a big deal for a young club, but they need to find a way to keep the momentum going not only this season, but next year as well. SIGN UP TO GET THE LATEST SPORTS NEWS It will be interesting to see if they keep every asset they have on the club. For example, Foster Griffin, today's starter, is 30 years old, but is 9-2 for the season, has a 2.87 ERA, and a 1.04 WHIP. This is by far the best season of his career, but is he a late bloomer, or is this a flash in the pan? Perhaps this is just that he finally got an opportunity and nailed it. He was very good in Japan, so maybe he figured things out. He only has a one-year deal, so a big contract could be coming, which might prompt the Nationals to trade him. He's been great and has an opportunity to continue to be awesome. Both teams are looking to get a win in this series. The Nationals took the opener in a high-scoring game, winning 12-11. In yesterday's game, the Astros got their revenge and won 6-3. The wind is blowing out at the ballpark today, so I do expect it to be slightly high scoring once again. I'm not really sure I want to take on the total considering it is at 9.5, but I do lean to the over. Both of these pitchers have their benefits, but I think the problem is that Arrighetti hasn't been quite as crisp on the road. Griffin has been a great pitcher regardless of where he is pitching, and I think we still get a good value on him. Give me the Nationals to win today as we back Griffin once again. For more sports betting information and plays, follow David on X/Twitter: @futureprez2024 Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4e8710c2ca79de236571a5 Trump says NATO failed two key tests during high-stakes Turkey summit: 'Not happy' te 2026-07-08T17:21:20.102Z Trump says NATO failed two key tests during high-stakes Turkey summit: 'Not happy' President Donald Trump claimed that NATO failed two key tests as he lambasted the international cooperative on the national stage during a high-stakes summit in Ankara, Turkey on Wednesday. "I'm not happy with NATO because of what they did with Greenland, and I'm not happy with NATO because of the fact they didn't want to help us with the No. 1 state sponsor of terror — that's Iran," the 47th president told reporters. "They were unwilling to help us." "But I was really testing," Trump revealed. "I wanted to see if they would be there." DENMARK VOWS TO DEFEND GREENLAND AFTER TRUMP REITERATES US SHOULD CONTROL TERRITORY Trump has been eyeing an acquisition of Greenland, the autonomous island territory that is backed in defense, foreign affairs and monetary policy by Denmark. Greenlanders are officially citizens of Denmark. The president has proposed purchasing Greenland from Denmark multiple times, and insisted Tuesday at the summit in Turkey that the territory is critical to global security and that it "should be controlled by the United States, not by Denmark." As China and Russia expand their presence in the region, Trump has continuously said that acquiring the territory, which plays a critical role in U.S. missile warning systems and Arctic defense, is a necessity. "We need it for protection of the world, not just the United States," Trump said. Now, Trump claims that his idea to acquire the territory was actually a test of NATO to see if world leaders would support the U.S. in that effort. TRUMP MAKES FRESH GREENLAND PLAY AFTER XI TALKS AS CHINA’S ARCTIC AMBITIONS LOOM Trump claimed that Danish leadership has not been helpful to Greenland and its people. "Denmark doesn't spend money to really help Greenland, but it's an important part for the United States. And it's surrounded by China ships and Russian ships," he said. TRUMP SAYS IRAN CEASEFIRE IS 'OVER' AFTER IRANIAN ATTACKS TRIGGER MASSIVE US RESPONSE Danish leaders have repeatedly insisted that Greenland is not for sale, and took a more forceful stance against Trump on Tuesday. Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said, once again, that the territory is "not for sale." She also insisted that Denmark is "ready to defend every inch of NATO including our own territory." "We hope that all, including all allies, will respect the Greenland people's right for self-determination," she continued. "And we are sovereign states and we need everybody to respect our territorial integrity and our sovereignty." Trump has long been critical of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), specifically accusing member nations of mooching of the United States, which spends nearly $1 trillion per year on defense. Germany spends the second-most on defense out of all the allied nations, but the total is only one-tenth of what the U.S. spends. Most recently, Trump demanded each NATO member nation spend 5% of their respective GDPs on defense. The president has also previously threatened to leave the alliance, claiming it is not beneficial to the U.S. Meanwhile, the war with Iran lingers on after Trump declared Tuesday that the tentative ceasefire with the Middle Eastern nation is "over." He called Iran "scum" and "evil" after the U.S. launched new strikes. Previously, a much-maligned memorandum of understanding was put in place to de-escalate the war, which critics said conceded too much to the Iranians. Trump lost his patience with Tehran after they launched attacks on trade vessels in the Strait of Hormuz earlier in the week, and called negotiations with the country a "waste of time." Fox News Digital's Eric Mack, Morgan Phillips and Anders Hagstrom contributed to this report. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4e86e9c2ca79de2365718e ICE agent fatally shoots Houston man who agency says tried to run over officer te 2026-07-08T17:20:41.188Z ICE agent fatally shoots Houston man who agency says tried to run over officer Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4e86d5c2ca79de23657172 Meta wants its AI glasses to seem less creepy. Its AI strategy says otherwise. te 2026-07-08T17:20:21.230Z Meta wants its AI glasses to seem less creepy. Its AI strategy says otherwise. Meta is adding a new safeguard to stop people from secretly recording others with its AI glasses. But the update comes as the company continues to expand how much personal data its AI products collect and use. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4e847cc2ca79de23657127 Judge Hannah C. Dugan Faces Fine But No Prison Time te 2026-07-08T17:10:20.974Z Judge Hannah C. Dugan Faces Fine But No Prison Time The former Wisconsin judge, Hannah C. Dugan, was accused of ushering an undocumented immigrant out a side door as federal agents waited for him near her Milwaukee courtroom. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4e8268c2ca79de236570f9 Why Phoenix chose not to host 2026 FIFA World Cup matches te 2026-07-08T17:01:28.298Z Why Phoenix chose not to host 2026 FIFA World Cup matches PHOENIX — As fans fill stadiums across the United States, Canada and Mexico for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Phoenix is watching from the sidelines. The Valley was once in contention to host matches but withdrew from the bidding process after civic leaders concluded FIFA’s financial requirements outweighed the projected economic benefits. “Representatives of local municipalities, the tourism community and the Arizona Sports and Tourism Authority (AZSTA) spent much time deliberating on a potential 2026 FIFA World Cup bid, including attending a conference for potential host communities and going through many steps of the official bid process,” AZSTA president and CEO Tom Sadler said in a news release. “Simply put, the hosting model and potential funding commitment did not work for this community. The estimated cost of hosting this event could have been far greater than a Super Bowl – but with less of a return for the state’s tourism industry. As a community, we had no doubt that we could execute the logistics, but we must be fiscally responsible when pursuing mega sporting events. Given what we know now, we feel confident that Valley leaders made the right call in 2017.” Sports business consultant Rob Yowell, who has spent more than three decades working in the sports industry and advised Phoenix on major sporting events, said the decision came after a thorough review of FIFA’s hosting requirements. “When those bids were out, FIFA supplied everyone with a wish list and an understanding of the things you were going to have to pay for while FIFA was going to keep a lot of the revenue,” Yowell said. According to Yowell, host cities would have been responsible for infrastructure improvements, security, accommodations for FIFA officials and creating a “clean stadium,” a requirement that removes or covers sponsorships that conflict with FIFA’s commercial partners. Phoenix officials evaluated the bid the same way they consider other major sporting events the city has hosted, including the Super Bowl, the NCAA Men’s Final Four and the College Football Playoff national championship, comparing the projected costs with the anticipated economic impact. “The financial commitment ultimately didn’t outweigh the revenue,” Yowell said. “At the end of the day, it was going to cost more to host than what we were going to make.” Yowell said many people mistakenly believe Phoenix lost its bid. Instead, he said the city voluntarily ended its pursuit after reviewing FIFA’s financial expectations. “We were selected,” Yowell said. “We just didn’t continue with the process.” Although hosting the World Cup could have generated international exposure and tourism in the heat of Arizona’s summer, Phoenix has continued to focus on attracting events that align with the region’s long-term strategy. “Our job isn’t to chase every event,” said Jay Parry, president and CEO of President & CEO of the Arizona Sports & Events Alliance. “It’s to pursue events that create lasting value for Arizona.” Parry said the Valley has built a reputation as a premier destination for major sporting events, hosting multiple Super Bowls, the NCAA Men’s Final Four, the College Football Playoff national championship and, most recently, the 2026 NCAA Women’s Final Four. Rather than measuring success by landing a single event, Parry said Arizona has focused on building a year-round sports economy that benefits tourism, local businesses and residents. Yowell said that strategy reflects the reality of FIFA’s bidding process. While larger markets such as Los Angeles, Dallas and New York can more easily absorb the governing body’s financial requirements, Phoenix determined the return on investment did not justify the cost. Even without hosting World Cup matches, both Yowell and Parry said Phoenix remains positioned to pursue future marquee sporting events that fit the region’s long-term economic goals. The post Why Phoenix chose not to host 2026 FIFA World Cup matches appeared first on Cronkite News. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4e807dc2ca79de2365706c Candice Bergen dishes on dates with Donald Trump and Henry Kissinger te 2026-07-08T16:53:17.669Z Candice Bergen dishes on dates with Donald Trump and Henry Kissinger Before Donald Trump became president and Henry Kissinger shaped U.S. foreign policy, actress Candice Bergen crossed paths with both men on a more personal level. During an episode of Ted Danson's "Where Everybody Knows Your Name" podcast, the 80-year-old actress opened up about her past dates with influential figures at different moments in her life. "One date, very short date," Bergen described her meetup with Trump, who allegedly showed up in a maroon limousine, wearing a matching suit, vest and patent leather boots. CANDICE BERGEN TAKES JAB AT JD VANCE DURING 2024 EMMYS USING 'MURPHY BROWN' REFERENCE TED DANSON’S MEDICAL WAKE-UP CALL: WHY THE TV ICON SAYS HE NO LONGER GETS A ‘FREE PASS’ "Without any editorializing, I've heard you say, 'I was home by 9,'" Danson said. "Yeah, it was short," Bergen said with a smirk. This isn't the first time Bergen has been candid about her time with Trump. In 2018, Bergen spoke about the date with Stephen Colbert, explaining that she was a student at the University of Pennsylvania at the time. "I was about 18," she said. "Trump and I are about the same age. Or as he would point out, I'm about six months older." LIKE WHAT YOU’RE READING? CLICK HERE FOR MORE ENTERTAINMENT NEWS One year prior, Bergen told Harry Connick Jr. that Trump was "a nice-looking guy." CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE ENTERTAINMENT NEWSLETTER "I mean, he was. And I was in college, and it’s where he was going to be going to college … It was like a blind date. He called me in the dorm. I was bored," she explained. Of his date with Bergen, Trump previously told the Boston Globe, "She was so beautiful. She was dating guys from Paris, France, who were 35 years old, the whole thing. I did make the move. And I must say she had the good sense to say, ‘Absolutely not.'" After her college days, Bergen also spent time with Kissinger — whom she met through her parents. "I think he picked me up to go to Bob Evans' house for dinner, and he was lovely," Bergen told Danson. "Henry was great company, and he was smart, beyond smart, and had great manners. He was lovely company." During a 2018 appearance on "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert," after recounting both dates, Bergen admitted Kissinger was the "better" date. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4e806ac2ca79de23657063 Teachers who celebrated Charlie Kirk's assassination now cash in with taxpayer-funded settlements te 2026-07-08T16:52:58.215Z Teachers who celebrated Charlie Kirk's assassination now cash in with taxpayer-funded settlements Public universities and school districts have agreed to pay more than $2.7 million to educators disciplined over social media posts about slain conservative activist Charlie Kirk, including a $1.9 million settlement approved last week, as lawsuits alleging First Amendment violations continue to mount. NBC News reported Friday that public records show at least five educators have reached settlements with their employers over the past year totaling more than $2.7 million, with a newly approved agreement accounting for the largest share. Former University of Tennessee professor Tamar Shirinian is set to receive $1.9 million to settle a lawsuit accusing the school of violating her constitutional rights after officials sought to discipline her over social media posts criticizing Kirk following his assassination. CHARLIE KIRK'S PARENTS, WIDOW TO ATTEND TYLER ROBINSON'S PRELIMINARY HEARING NEXT WEEK Knox News reported on June 29 that the University of Tennessee System Board of Trustees approved a $1.9 million settlement for Shirinian after she called Kirk, who was assassinated Sept. 10 during his "American Comeback Tour" at Utah Valley University, a "disgusting psychopath." Shirinian was put on administrative leave following a social media post where she had said in part, "The world is better off without him in it," and added, "His kids are better off living in a world without a disgusting psychopath like him and his wife, well, she’s a sick f--- for marrying him so I dont [sic] care about her feelings." She later apologized and said it was "insensitive" and "uncharacteristic of me as a person." Shirinian was fired on Feb. 11. She will not be reinstated, Knox News reported. NEW YORKER SUING ICE AFTER OFFICERS WENT TO HIS HOME TO WARN HIM OVER CRITICISM OF AGENCY Another university faculty member, Suzanne Swierc, formerly the director of health promotion and advocacy at Ball State University in Indiana, received a $225,000 settlement from the school after she was let go for a private Facebook post about Kirk. In the post, Swierc wrote, in part, "If you think Charlie Kirk was a wonderful person, we can't be friends." She also said his death was "a tragedy" for his family, but also "a reflection of the violence, fear, and hatred he sowed." Another professor, Darren Michael, got a $500,000 settlement and was reinstated at Austin Peay State University in Tennessee after he was fired for sharing a post about Kirk. Michael, an associate professor of acting and directing at APSU since 2007, was fired on Sept. 12, 2025, for resharing a social media post following Kirk’s killing. The post included a headline quoting Kirk’s 2023 remarks that gun-related deaths were "unfortunately" worth it to protect the Second Amendment. FEDERAL JUDGE BLOCKS BLUE STATE'S LAW PROHIBITING ICE AGENTS FROM WEARING MASKS ON THE JOB Joshua Bregy, a climate scientist at Clemson University, was reinstated in a settlement after he was let go for a post critical of Kirk that also condemned violence. Bregy shared but later deleted a post that said, "I’ll never advocate for violence in any form, but it sounds to me like karma is sometimes swift and ironic," which was included in full in the lawsuit, the South Carolina Daily Gazette reported. "As Kirk said, ‘play certain games, win certain prizes.’" NBC News reported that the "reinstatement was a public term of the agreement, but there were also undisclosed private terms, according to the American Civil Liberties Union of South Carolina, which represented Bregy." A high school teacher, Melisa Crook, settled with the Creston Community School District in Iowa for $145,000 and her full benefits after a post about Kirk. In a Sept. 10, 2025, comment made responding to a family member’s Facebook post about Kirk's assassination, Crook wrote, "He is a terrible human being … terrible. I do not wish death on anyone, but him not being here is a blessing." She later apologized on Facebook and said she did "not wish anyone death." CLICK HERE FOR MORE COVERAGE OF MEDIA AND CULTURE Candice Hale, a former professor at the University of Alabama, has reportedly reached a settlement with the school, AL.com reported Tuesday, for comments she made following Kirk's assassination last year. In her social media post, Hale reportedly said, "I don’t give a damn about evil racist, fascist, misogynistic, homophobic, transphobic, xenophobic, mediocre, white men who claim to be Christian and then do everything Christ would not do on Earth." Her settlement with the University of Alabama is for an unspecified amount of money, AL.com reported. In a statement to Fox News Digital, a spokesperson for the University of Tennessee System said, "We do not have a comment outside what was publicly said in the board meeting on June 29. A link to that meeting can be found here." A spokesperson for Austin Peay State University confirmed to Fox News Digital that Michael was reinstated to his full, tenured position on Dec. 30, 2025, has returned to teaching, and is being paid a one-time settlement payment of $500,000. David King of Tennessee Law Group, Michael's counsel, told Fox News Digital in a statement, "Professor Michael has been returned to his fully tenured position at Austin Peay State University following the settlement of his case with APSU. He is also the current Chair of the APSU faculty Senate." "We are seeing attempts now in our legislature to erode tenure protection for faculty in our Tennessee colleges and universities to be able to terminate employment easier to satisfy the elected officials who want to continue to suppress free speech and free thought in our educational institutions," King added. "The battle continues to stop the thought patrol in our state." Fox News Digital attempted to reach Shirinian, Swierc, Ball State University, Clemson University, Bregy, Creston High School, Crook, University of Alabama and Hale for comment. Fox News Digital’s Kristine Parks contributed to this report. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4e8056c2ca79de2365705a Rosie O'Donnell fumes over Trump's involvement with FIFA after US star's red card: 'It's sickening' te 2026-07-08T16:52:38.766Z Rosie O'Donnell fumes over Trump's involvement with FIFA after US star's red card: 'It's sickening' Rosie O’Donnell is once again upset with President Donald Trump. This time, it’s about the World Cup. O’Donnell, 64, was livid that Trump reached out to FIFA President Gianni Infantino to ask the organization to review the decision to give U.S. soccer star Folarin Balogun a red card. The red card meant Balogun would have been suspended for the team’s knockout match against Belgium on Monday, but FIFA decided to suspend the one-game ban after Trump’s call. "The fact that he called up FIFA and had the penalty revoked for the American team and America was like, ‘Yeah, that’s good! I didn’t think it was a red card anyway!’ Well, you’re not the freakin’ ref! You don’t get to decide!" O’Donnell told Variety. WATCH THE WORLD CUP FINAL ON FOX ONE "Since when does he get to make and change the rules, the goalposts, whatever metaphor you want to use, and everyone just sits by and shrugs their shoulders? There’s so much (corruption) that we don’t even notice it." O’Donnell said she was "horrified" by Trump’s reaching out to FIFA. She also condemned the USMNT’s coach, Mauricio Pochettino, and Balogun for not self-imposing a suspension once FIFA postponed theirs. "The fact that (Balogun) did not say, ‘I will not play this game,’ and the fact that the coach of the American team did not say, ‘This is not how we win,’ and that everyone was just like, ‘Well, whatever!’ I was horrified," O’Donnell said. "I’m horrified that he is able to get away with pretty much everything, and it’s sickening." O'Donnell was one of many media figures who melted down over Trump's involvement with the decision. Trump addressed the controversy in the Oval Office on Monday. FOX ONE’S NEW WORLD CUP VIEWING EXPERIENCE "All I did was, I asked for a review, because I didn’t think it was a foul," the president said. "And again, I’m good at this stuff. I didn’t think it was a foul. I thought it was two great athletes who crashed into each other and got entangled. That was not a guy punching somebody in the face or anything that would be different. "I think it’s a terrible… if they wouldn’t allow a top player, maybe the best, maybe among the best on the team, to play, I think it would have had a big stain. I relayed it. I didn’t tell him what to do. I don’t believe he made the decision. I think it was a committee that made the decision, and they made the right decision because, No. 1, it wasn’t a foul, and you want to see a game with your best players." Trump said he took issue with the initial red card that was assessed to Balogun in the first place. "If you would have taken him out, I think it would have really stained this incredible championship," Trump continued. "We gotta have our best players and Belgium, Belgium’s got a great team by the way. We have our best players and they have to have their best. If we win or we lose, it’s fair. Otherwise, let’s say we lost to them, then we lost the game. It would be a terrible thing. I think they made a really brilliant decision. "I think the referee’s call was horrible and nobody talks about that. They talk about the red card like it’s fine. The referee’s decision to red card, I didn’t know what the hell a red card was and when I found out I said, ‘You gotta be kidding.’… I said, ‘Wow, that’s a lot of power, that’s terrible.’ And then I looked at his past and it wasn’t so great." CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM While Balogun was able to play, the USMNT lost 4-1 to Belgium on Monday night, ending their World Cup run in the Round of 16. Fox News' Ryan Gaydos contributed to this report. Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4e8043c2ca79de23657051 Fierce Trump critic makes stunning admission on defense spending: ‘He has won the argument’ te 2026-07-08T16:52:19.302Z Fierce Trump critic makes stunning admission on defense spending: ‘He has won the argument’ Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said Wednesday that President Donald Trump has "won the argument" on NATO defense spending, crediting years of U.S. pressure with prompting Canada and European allies to take on a greater share of the alliance's security burden. Speaking at the NATO summit in Ankara, Turkey, Carney said he spoke with Trump before the gathering and told him that NATO members increasingly recognize the need to boost military spending amid continued security threats from Russia. "It's not just that he's winning the argument — he's won the argument," Carney told reporters. "Countries realize they need to take more responsibility. They see the direct threats." Carney said Trump's long-standing push for allies to spend more on defense is producing results. "The president is looking for a shift of the burden within NATO. That's appropriate," Carney said. "That is happening. It is gaining momentum." The remarks mark a notable shift in tone from Carney, who has frequently criticized Trump over trade, tariffs and U.S.-Canada relations. Since taking office, the Canadian prime minister repeatedly has criticized Trump over his tariffs on Canadian goods and his repeated suggestions that Canada should become the 51st U.S. state.  During his victory speech in March 2025, Carney accused Trump of putting "unjustified tariffs" on Canada and declared, "He's attacking Canadian families, workers and businesses and we cannot let him succeed and we won't."  He also vowed to maintain retaliatory tariffs until "the Americans show us respect." Despite those differences, Carney acknowledged that Trump's yearslong campaign to pressure NATO allies into increasing defense spending has succeeded. Carney said he relayed that message directly to Trump during a phone call Sunday before both leaders arrived at the summit. "The president is here and he's in a good mood," Carney said. At the 2025 NATO summit in The Hague, Netherlands, alliance leaders agreed to a new goal of spending 5% of GDP on defense and security by 2035—more than doubling the alliance's longstanding 2% benchmark. The pledge followed years of Trump criticizing NATO members for relying too heavily on the U.S., warning that allies were not paying their fair share and at times threatening to pull the U.S. out of the alliance if European nations failed to significantly increase defense spending.  But the alliance has no formal mechanism to force countries to comply. Instead, Trump has increasingly sought to use U.S. economic leverage to pressure allies that fall short. On Wednesday, Trump singled out Spain after Madrid refused to commit to the alliance's 5% target, calling it "a terrible partner in NATO" and urging the U.S. to cut off trade and tourism with the country. Spain has argued it can meet NATO's military capability requirements while spending roughly 2.1% of GDP on defense. Larger nations like Britain and France also have pledged to move toward the 5% target, but both currently spend well below that level, raising questions about how aggressively the Trump administration will pressure other major allies to accelerate their defense spending. NATO Ambassador Matthew Whitaker told reporters July 1 that the Trump administration was considering countermeasures for countries that fail to meet their 5% target.  NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte echoed Carney's assessment, saying Trump had accomplished what multiple U.S. presidents had sought for decades. "President Trump has been able to finally get done what, since Eisenhower, American presidents tried to do, which was to equalize defence spending between Europe and the United States," Rutte said during opening remarks. Canada has announced a series of new defense investments this week, including a submarine procurement program, an agreement to use Telesat's Lightspeed satellite constellation for secure Arctic military communications, and an approximately $800 million contract for Joint Strike Missiles for Canada's future fighter aircraft. Carney said Canada was spending about 1.4% of its gross domestic product on defense when his government took office and is on track to reach 4% before the end of the decade under NATO's accounting standards. The comments come after years of Trump arguing that NATO members were relying too heavily on the United States for their defense and should contribute a larger share toward the alliance's collective security. Fox News Digital reached out to the White House for comment. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4e802fc2ca79de23657048 Tennessee conductor fired after telling July 4 passengers America is greatest country, critics should 'leave' te 2026-07-08T16:51:59.845Z Tennessee conductor fired after telling July 4 passengers America is greatest country, critics should 'leave' A Tennessee transit agency apologized and fired a part-time railway conductor after video spread online showing him celebrating Independence Day by calling the United States "the greatest country on the face of the planet" and telling anyone who disagreed they could leave. Local ABC affiliate WTVC NewsChannel 9 reported Monday that the part-time conductor was fired after a TikTok video posted by Nathan Scherer captured him saying, "To the very, very few Americans in here, happy Independence Day. To the rest of you, welcome to the greatest country on the face of the planet, and if you disagree, you can leave." In the video, a person can be heard responding, "Shut up." The part-time conductor was identified as Jack Peterson. MAMDANI BLASTS ICE AGENTS, ELON MUSK AND 'SUPREMACY' IN AMERICA 250 SPEECH AHEAD OF JULY 4 WEEKEND The Incline Railway, which first opened in 1887, is owned and operated by the Chattanooga Area Regional Transportation Authority (CARTA) and is a part of Lookout Mountain Attractions, was given the video and News 9 reported that a director at the Incline Railway "met with the employee that day and immediately fired him." In a statement shared by News 9, the company confirmed Peterson's dismissal. Scott Wilson, CARTA's chief of staff, was quoted as saying, "I want to apologize directly to the passengers who experienced this, and to everyone who has seen the video and felt its sting. It should never have happened." WISCONSIN TEACHER FIRED AFTER SOCIAL MEDIA POST ADVOCATING TO 'MAKE AMERICANS GREAT ASSASSINS AGAIN' Wilson added, "We have zero tolerance for language that demeans or excludes anyone who rides with us. For 131 years, the Incline Railway has welcomed visitors from Chattanooga and from around the world. Every passenger who boards our railway deserves to feel respected and welcome, and we are committed to making sure that is always the case." In a statement to Fox News Digital, Wilson said, "The role of the conductor on Chattanooga's iconic Incline Railway is to welcome visitors from around the world to our Scenic City, seat them safely, and play an audio recording about the railway's history. Instead of following protocol — and common decency — this new, seasonal employee used the microphone to make assumptions about the citizenship status of our visitors and their disposition toward our great country. We certainly agree this is the greatest country on the face of the planet, especially in this 250th anniversary year of the Declaration of Independence. But rudeness toward our guests is the exact opposite of the conductor's role, and he was dismissed with cause the same day. We deeply apologize for this incident, especially because it departs so profoundly from the welcoming character of Chattanoogans." Wilson continued, "This incident happened during a holiday weekend while CARTA’s CEO was traveling to celebrate Independence Day with family. Upon his return, our CEO, who is committed to workforce development and investing in employees, has reached out to Mr. Peterson and will meet with him to have an open dialogue about the impact and intention of his words, and to determine if there is a path forward for reemployment in some capacity. The story of America is one of continued improvement, and we are hopeful we can demonstrate that with this employee in this unfortunate situation." He added that Peterson "was dismissed under Section 14 of CARTA's Code of Conduct — 'conduct unbecoming a CARTA employee' — along with the standards in Section 5 of our Employee Handbook, 'Public Contacts by Employees,' which requires that all operators be pleasant and courteous in speech and manner and states plainly that discourteous treatment of others will not be tolerated and may result in discharge." "A conductor's duties are to safely seat every passenger, deliver the safety and welcome announcements, and then play the pre-recorded script that tells the history of the Incline Railway," Wilson said. "The announcement system exists for safety and hospitality; it’s not an opportunity to share personal views." Wilson said the decision to terminate Peterson was based on his conduct toward passengers on Saturday, that CARTA received complaints from riders, as well as a video from a customer Friday afternoon, and that Peterson's "remarks were inconsistent with both the organization’s values and customer service standards." "People travel from every state and around the world to ride North America's steepest funicular," Wilson said. "Welcoming every guest warmly isn't a political statement — it's Southern hospitality and also a good business principle, and in Chattanooga those have always been the same thing." In a statement to Fox News Digital, Peterson said, "I think that CARTA as a company has a lot of thinking to do when it comes to supporting this country. I do not believe my firing was a correct or just one. My personal thought is, what has this country come to when someone can get fired on Independence Day for a patriotic statement." Peterson said he started a GoFundMe due to the support he has received since the incident went viral. BLACK CROWES FACE BACKLASH AFTER CHRIS ROBINSON SHUTS DOWN USA CHANT AND CALLS FANS 'IGNORANT' Fox News Digital reached out to Scherer, who posted the TikTok, for comment. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4e801cc2ca79de2365703f Barrett, Kagan to make rare Capitol Hill appearance as Supreme Court seeks more security amid threats te 2026-07-08T16:51:40.389Z Barrett, Kagan to make rare Capitol Hill appearance as Supreme Court seeks more security amid threats Justices Amy Coney Barrett and Elena Kagan are set to make a rare appearance on Capitol Hill next week, where they will testify on the Supreme Court's proposed fiscal year 2027 budget. Their appearance before the House Appropriations subcommittee comes just weeks after the Supreme Court concluded a highly consequential term, delivering major wins for President Donald Trump, including expanding his executive authority, while also ruling against key parts of his agenda, including his executive order restricting birthright citizenship and his Liberation Day tariffs. Barrett, who is part of the conservative supermajority, voted against Trump's use of the executive order. The last time Supreme Court justices testified before Congress was in 2019, when Kagan, a member of the Court's liberal wing, and Justice Samuel Alito, a member of its conservative majority, appeared to discuss the Supreme Court's fiscal year 2020 budget request. MORNING GLORY: THE SUPREME COURT OFFICIALLY CLOSES THE BOOKS ON ANOTHER TERM In next year's budget, the Supreme Court is requesting a $20.5 million increase, with $14.6 million earmarked to strengthen security protections for justices and an additional $2 million to cover security costs at the justices' homes. The funding increase would cover the cost of staffing an additional 25 full-time Supreme Court Police officers. In total, the Supreme Court is requesting a budget of $228 million for the 2027 fiscal year. The request for additional security funding comes after Congress approved a $30 million increase for the Supreme Court's security budget in January, which is expected to last through September 2028. At the time of the additional funding approval, the U.S. Marshals Service, which is tasked with protecting the Supreme Court, had tracked 166 threats against federal judges since Oct. 1. The year before, more than 560 threats were made against judges. "We just want to make sure nothing happens to any of our justices," House Appropriations Chair Tom Cole, R-Okla., said at the time. SUPREME COURT FINANCIAL DISCLOSURES REVEAL CONCERT TICKETS FROM BAD BUNNY'S LABEL, MILLIONS IN BOOK PAYMENTS The U.S. Marshals Service began providing 24/7 security at the justices' private residences in May 2022 after the leak of the draft Dobbs opinion, which foreshadowed the Supreme Court's decision ending the constitutional right to abortion. The protection remained in place after the attempted assassination attempt against Justice Brett Kavanaugh outside his Maryland home the following month. SIGN UP TO GET THE POLITICS NEWSLETTER And in May, Barrett was the target of an apparent swatting incident after a false report of gunshots at her Virginia home prompted a police response. Authorities quickly determined the call was a hoax after coordinating with the Supreme Court Police officers assigned to protect the residence. Last year, authorities also investigated a bomb threat targeting Barrett's sister at her South Carolina home. The reported pipe bomb in her mailbox was also determined to be a hoax. While justices have long been subjected to death threats, Chief Justice John Roberts wrote in his 2024 year-end report that threats against federal judges have more than tripled over the past decade. The U.S. Marshals Service investigated more than 1,000 serious threats during the previous five years. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4e8008c2ca79de23657036 Trump asks Supreme Court for rehearing over $5M E Jean Carroll civil judgment te 2026-07-08T16:51:20.934Z Trump asks Supreme Court for rehearing over $5M E Jean Carroll civil judgment President Donald Trump’s lawyers asked the Supreme Court to reconsider its decision rejecting his appeal of the $5 million civil judgment awarded to writer E. Jean Carroll, a request filed after the justices turned away the case last week. The court denied Trump’s petition June 29 without taking up the case, leaving in place the judgment tied to a 2023 jury verdict that found Trump liable for sexually abusing Carroll in the 1990s and defaming her. Trump has denied Carroll’s allegations. In the rehearing petition, Trump’s lawyers argue the court should reopen the case because he plans to file a separate Supreme Court appeal in another Carroll defamation case that they say will raise presidential immunity questions. TRUMP SAYS HE WILL 'CONTINUE THE FIGHT' AFTER SUPREME COURT DECLINES TO REVIEW CARROLL ABUSE VERDICT They asked the justices to "grant rehearing" or hold the petition while the related case proceeds. "Petitioner President Donald J. Trump respectfully petitions for rehearing of this Court’s June 29, 2026 order denying his petition for a writ of certiorari," the Michael Martinich-Sauter filing read. "Rehearing is warranted because President Trump will imminently file a petition for a writ of certiorari in Carroll v. Trump, No. 24-644 (2d Cir.) ("Carroll I"), which will present vital questions concerning Presidential immunity for official statements. "Those questions are likely to bear on the proper disposition of Trump v. Carroll, No. 25-573 ("Carroll II"), due to the fact that Respondent improperly introduced and relied on those same official Presidential statements at trial in Carroll II. See Trump v. United States, 603 U.S. 593, 630-32 (2024). "The Court should grant rehearing, and either grant the petition in this case, or hold it pending the disposition of the petition in Carroll I." MORNING GLORY: THE SUPREME COURT OFFICIALLY CLOSES THE BOOKS ON ANOTHER TERM The request faces steep odds. Supreme Court rules limit rehearing petitions after the denial of certiorari to intervening circumstances with a substantial or controlling effect, or other substantial grounds not previously presented. The Supreme Court docket shows Trump’s first rehearing filing was not accepted Monday because a correction was needed. The corrected petition was submitted Wednesday. The court has not yet ruled on the rehearing request. READ THE REHEARING PETITION -- APP USERS, CLICK HERE: A decision could come later this month, perhaps as soon as July 20. Fox News' Shannon Bream and William Mears contributed to this report Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4e7ff5c2ca79de2365702d WATCH: Surfaced videos of Dem Senate candidate backing 'defund the police' contradict recent denials te 2026-07-08T16:51:01.482Z WATCH: Surfaced videos of Dem Senate candidate backing 'defund the police' contradict recent denials The front-runner in Michigan’s messy Democratic primary has repeatedly said he never called for defunding the police, but unearthed interviews and video from years earlier tell a different story.  Abdul El-Sayed, who is running for the Democratic nomination in Michigan against Rep. Haley Stevens, D-Mich., has been adamant throughout his push for the Senate that he never wanted to strip tax dollars from police departments, going so far as to say he deleted old tweets embracing the ideology. But in a video for the University of Michigan published five years ago titled, "Systemic Racism as a Public Health Issue," El-Sayed argued that funding police and their use of force was a facet of systemic racism and constituted a public health issue. DEMOCRATS' CIVIL WAR HEADS TO MICHIGAN, WHERE PROGRESSIVES FACE BIGGEST TEST YET IN HIGH-STAKES SENATE SHOWDOWN "Why are we investing so much in people with guns and less in people with the means of being able to invest in young folks, empower folks through their livelihoods, and empower them to live their best lives?" El-Sayed questioned. "Do police really need to use guns? Do we need as much of a police force?" he continued. "And so, if we ask ourselves about how we spend money in the public, where that money goes, where it comes from, we need to make a lot better decisions about investing in the things that root out poverty, rather than investing in policing poverty."  The video follows a report from CNN that found during the height of the "defund the police" movement in 2020, El-Sayed leaned into it. During an interview with Detroit Public Radio from June 2020, El-Sayed argued that he never directly called to "defund the police," but he contended that the principles behind the movement were difficult to express online in a tweet. MICHIGAN SENATE CANDIDATE CONFRONTED REPEATEDLY OVER ISRAEL’S RIGHT TO EXIST, DEFUNDING THE POLICE "So, you’ll note, I didn’t say ‘defund the police,’ I just described what needed to be done," El-Sayed said. "And I do think we need to be really focused on describing or explaining rather than sort of hedging on one side or the other behind a hashtag." "Defunding the police is disinvesting in the means of incarcerating someone or killing them on the streets and investing more in the means of educating and empowering and engaging communities with the means of being able to take on systemic poverty that we’ve allowed to fester in too many communities." El-Sayed tried to pitch his stance as "refunding" the police to ensure taxpayer dollars don’t flow to "buy war materiel to wage war in our streets." "What we call that is, to me, less important than what we do on the problems on the ground," he said at the time. DEMOCRATIC SENATE CANDIDATE CALLED FOR MASS RELEASE OF CRIMINALS DURING PRISON ABOLITION WEBINAR Roxie Richner, a campaign spokesperson for El-Sayed, said in a statement to Fox News Digital that he worked closely with law enforcement during his time as director of Health, Human, and Veterans Services for Wayne County, Michigan, and that "as hands-on experience always allows, his perspective has become more nuanced." "One simple word has never been enough to fully explain the reforms we need for a challenge as complex as our criminal legal system," she said. "Just as he did in Wayne County in 2023, Abdul believes we need to improve law enforcement recruitment, retention, and retirement funding so that law enforcement officers come from the communities they serve," Richner continued. "He also believes we must reject militarized policing, pass the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act, and opt for community violence intervention, behavioral health response, and improvements in public health to reduce violence and protect the lives of communities and law enforcement alike." Still, El-Sayed has sought to clean up his position on the matter as he runs ahead in one of the most consequential races of the 2026 midterm cycle.  He and Stevens are vying to replace retiring Sen. Gary Peters, D-Mich., for a seat Republicans are hungry to flip. And more broadly, El-Sayed is part of the progressive wave that is flooding into the Democratic Party, sporting endorsements from progressive heavyweights like Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y. The candidate, however, can't seem to shake off his posts and interviews from years ago despite this support. Just last week during an interview with CNN’s Kasie Hunt, El-Sayed was pressed on his old posts and shot back that he "deleted all the tweets, because I didn’t want them to be taken out of context like this." He chalked up the issue to "clickbait in D.C." "I think this debate about 2020 and the ways that tweets are going to play are really nice on CNN if you want to get clicks," El-Sayed said. "They’re not that effective, and nobody really asks me about them on the streets or in communities in Michigan." Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4e7fcec2ca79de23657016 Submit voter guide arguments on proposition to raise Pima County's spending limit te 2026-07-08T16:50:22.572Z Submit voter guide arguments on proposition to raise Pima County's spending limit Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4e7d9bc2ca79de23656fbd Forest Service clears pathway for South 32's Hermosa Mine te 2026-07-08T16:40:59.990Z Forest Service clears pathway for South 32's Hermosa Mine Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4e7d88c2ca79de23656fb4 5 candidates running for 2 seats on TUSD Governing Board te 2026-07-08T16:40:40.362Z 5 candidates running for 2 seats on TUSD Governing Board Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4e7d74c2ca79de23656f94 Oro Valley voters to pick new mayor, council members te 2026-07-08T16:40:20.576Z Oro Valley voters to pick new mayor, council members Oro Valley voters will decide the town's next mayor, three town council seats and the future of a 10-year community plan when they head to the polls this election season. Mayor Joe Winfield is not seeking reelection, leaving residents to choose between former Pima County Sheriff and assistant county administrator Mark Napier and current Oro Valley Vice Mayor Melanie Barrett. Town council candidates include Rosa Dailey, Chris DeSimone, Jake Herrington, Rhonda Pina and Matt Wood. Candidates receiving a majority of votes cast in the primary will be declared elected. Candidates receiving the highest number of votes, but less than a majority, will advance to the Nov. 4 general election, up to twice the number of remaining positions to be filled. Voters will also decide in November whether to approve the town's 10-year OV Path Forward Plan, which includes goals involving public safety, arts, sustainability, finances, development and transportation. Tucson Spotlight asked all nine candidates their positions on surveillance and the border, the controversial Vistoso Trails Nature Preserve project and OV Path Forward. Barrett, DeSimone, Dailey, Pina and Wood did not respond. Your membership pays emerging journalists to cover Southern Arizona the way it deserves. Mark Napier previously served as the Pima County Sheriff and worked as an assistant county administrator. He's now running for Mayor of Oro Valley. Courtesy of Mark Napier for Mayor. Mark Napier Napier previously served as Pima County Sheriff from 2016 to 2020, losing his bid for reelection to current Sheriff Chris Nanos. He went onto work as chief of staff for the Cochise County Sheriff's Department for a short period of time before he was hired as an assistant county administrator to lead Pima County's emergency communications and elections department in 2021. He retired the following year, after Pima County Administrator Jan Lesher eliminated the county's assistant county administrator positions, shifting some of her top staffers to senior advisor positions. Napier's campaign has emphasized his previous law enforcement and government experience and the middle ground for town growth he hopes will be sustainable. Napier said he supports the OV Path Forward plan, noting that it was crafted with resident input and calling it "a valuable roadmap to our future." Napier acknowledged the concerns expressed by community members and his opponent regarding the use of surveillance technology in the town, but said he believes this type of technology is a good thing for the town. "Clearly, there are privacy concerns with respect to these cameras," Napier said of the controversial Flock Safety cameras used by Oro Valley police and other agencies. "That being said, they are a valuable tool for law enforcement and I trust the OVPD to use them in an appropriate and legal manner. We should be guarded with our relationship with all outside law enforcement vendors to ensure that those relationships only serve the best interests of the town and all our residents." Napier shares the concern of many residents that the Vistoso Trails Nature Preserve pond was an "eyesore" and that restoration was the right move, albeit an imperfect one. "I believe the restoration of the pond is likely the best bad solution to the lack of foresight given to the transition from the golf course to open space," Napier said. "This project should be very carefully monitored to ensure it remains on budget and is completed in a reasonable time period." Napier said the town should not have waited until an election year to take action, with the town council originally approving the plan to restore the pond last April. Jake Herrington is one of five candidates running for Oro Valley Town Council seats. Candidates receiving a majority of votes cast in the primary will be declared elected. Candidates receiving the highest number of votes, but less than a majority, will advance to the general election. Courtesy of Jake for Oro Valley. Jake Herrington Herrington has worked in sectors including real estate, construction and infrastructure management, and served as chair of Oro Valley's planning and zoning commission. Herrington outlined fiscal responsibility, public safety, economic growth, infrastructure maintenance and transparent government as his priorities, saying he opposes any increases in taxes and would prefer to see revenue increase through development. He expressed support for the OV Path Forward plan and encouraged resident engagement in its implementation, but said he would have liked to see more emphasis on a number of issues, including economic growth, business recruitment and long-term fiscal stability. "Oro Valley cannot simply wait for employers and businesses to come to us," Herrington said. "We must actively market our community, recruit quality employers, support local businesses, fill vacant commercial spaces, and attract investment that strengthens our tax base without increasing taxes on residents." Herrington said he supports the continued use of Flock Safety technology, but with reservations, transparency and assurances about how the technology will be used. He'd also like the public to have access to the information that's collected, the way it's collected and who else is accessing it. "Public safety remains one of Oro Valley's greatest strengths, and I believe technology can play an important role in helping law enforcement prevent and solve crimes," he said. "Tools such as license plate recognition cameras can be valuable when used appropriately and with proper oversight. At the same time, residents deserve confidence that their privacy and constitutional rights are protected." Herrington said the town should regularly assess the effectiveness and safeguards of this technology to ensure the benefits outweigh the cost. He also believes the Vistoso Trails project, like all public projects, should be evaluated for long-term maintenance obligations, saying his preferred approach for restoration would be to carefully listen to stakeholders and facts to evaluate decisions based on the evidence. "Since the project has already been approved and substantial investments have been made, the focus now should be on ensuring the best possible outcome for residents while maintaining transparency throughout the process," Herrington said. "Going forward, I believe the Town should provide regular public updates regarding project costs, environmental testing results, water usage, maintenance requirements, and long-term operational impacts. Residents deserve clear information and accountability." 💡 The primary election is July 21. Early voting began June 24, with a mail ballot deadline of July 14. Pima County voters can register, check their registration or request a mail ballot at recorder.pima.gov. Ian Stash is University of Arizona alum and freelance journalist in Tucson. Contact him at ianjgs16@gmail.com. Allison Kuester is a student at Northwestern University and Tucson Spotlight intern. Contact her at allisonkuester2029@u.northwestern.edu. Tucson Spotlight is a community-based newsroom that provides paid opportunities for students and rising journalists in Southern Arizona. Please consider supporting our work with a tax-deductible donation. Donate to Tucson Spotlight Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4e7b58c2ca79de23656f49 Platner ripped cheaters as ‘garbage’ in unearthed posts before his own early-marriage sexting scandal te 2026-07-08T16:31:20.015Z Platner ripped cheaters as ‘garbage’ in unearthed posts before his own early-marriage sexting scandal Maine Democratic Senate nominee Graham Platner repeatedly criticized a lawmaker on Reddit for cheating on his wife years before his campaign confirmed he sent sexually explicit messages to women early in his marriage.  On four occasions between 2018 and 2019, Platner claimed that, while he was working as a bartender in D.C., former GOP Rep. Duncan Hunter had confided in him that he was sleeping with women who were not his wife. Platner called Hunter a "real piece of sh-t" and a "garbage person" because of that. Platner himself, however, sent sexually explicit messages to women who were not his wife early in his marriage, his campaign confirmed. The Senate candidate also maintained an account on the messenger app Kik, where his profile image was a picture of him topless wearing nothing but a towel. HOW GRAHAM PLATNER'S CAMPAIGN UNRAVELED: FROM REDDIT POSTS TO RAPE ALLEGATION The sexually explicit messages were first revealed by Genevieve McDonald, Platner’s former political director, who said that Platner’s wife had told her that he had exchanged sexual messages with up to 12 women. The Platner campaign, however, countered that he had only been communicating with as many as six women, and that their conversations were not ongoing. "I confided deeply personal details about my marriage to someone I considered a friend. In the months since, I have had to watch as she spread malicious gossip to anyone who would take her call," Platner’s wife said in the statement. "I trusted this person with the most private chapter of our lives — the early days of our marriage before any campaign was on our mind — and I am deeply hurt by her betrayal and the invasion of our privacy." PLATNER IN THE HOT SEAT AS MAINE VOTERS RIP HIS 'HORRIBLE' COMMENTS AMID REDDIT SCANDAL Back in 2019, Platner, who married his wife in 2023, had harsh language to describe Hunter’s alleged extramarital conduct. "Real piece of sh-t," Platner wrote of Hunter in a December 2019 post. "Used to come into a DC bar I worked at, get wasted and brag about all the chicks he was slaying who weren’t his wife. I’ve got a pretty flexible moral compass when it comes to those things, but he was just the epitome of the frat bro officer douchebag." PLATNER CAMPAIGN PUTTING 'THUMB ON SCALE' TO INFLUENCE POSSIBLE REPLACEMENT, MAINE DEM ALLEGES In another post, Platner called Hunter a "garbage person" who "loved to brag about all the women he was f-cking who weren’t his wife." He also criticized Hunter for heavy drinking, a problem one of Platner’s ex-girlfriends alleges that he faced as well. Hunter was indicted in 2018 on charges that he converted more than $250,000 in campaign funds for personal expenses and falsified campaign finance records. Prosecutors later alleged that some of Hunter’s campaign spending was tied to extramarital affairs. He pleaded guilty in 2020 and was sentenced to 11 months in prison, but avoided serving his sentence after President Donald Trump pardoned him later that year. Platner, who has since been accused of rape by a different ex-girlfriend –  an allegation he denies –  is facing calls to drop out of the Maine Senate race as major Democrats rescind their endorsement of him. Democrats have until July 13 to replace him with another candidate, a fact Platner is reportedly using as leverage to name a successor. The Platner campaign did not respond to a request for comment when reached by Fox News Digital on Wednesday. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4e7b30c2ca79de23656f22 Prime Intellect raises $130M Series A to help enterprises build their own AI agents te 2026-07-08T16:30:40.079Z Prime Intellect raises $130M Series A to help enterprises build their own AI agents The round, led by Radical Ventures, values the two-year old startup at $1 billion. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4e7b1cc2ca79de23656f19 Crypto VC firm Paradigm raises $1.2B to invest in ‘technical frontier’ startups te 2026-07-08T16:30:20.628Z Crypto VC firm Paradigm raises $1.2B to invest in ‘technical frontier’ startups Paradigm, the VC firm founded in 2018 to back crypto startups, raised a $1.2 billion Fund III. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4e7939c2ca79de23656ee0 Ella Langley's 'Choosin' Texas' enters rare Billboard territory after 12 weeks ruling the Hot 100 te 2026-07-08T16:22:17.699Z Ella Langley's 'Choosin' Texas' enters rare Billboard territory after 12 weeks ruling the Hot 100 Ella Langley can't stop cooking the charts. The "Nicotine" singer isn't just a massive hit with OutKick readers. She's become the most famous in the country music world, and probably a top three or four star overall. Her rise over the past couple years has been nothing short of spectacular to watch unfold. Now, in 2026 she's taking things to a new level, including dominating the ACMs. Langley's generational run isn't slowing down. COUNTRY MUSIC STAR CELEBRATES BIRTHDAY WITH SPICY SWIMSUIT PHOTO Billboard announced this week that Langley mega-hit "Choosin' Texas" (a hit with the Ella Fellas) has stayed at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 for 12 straight weeks. Only 25 other songs have pulled off the accomplishment dating back to 1958, and only four songs have a longer run in the number one spot. COUNTRY SUPERSTAR ELLA LANGLEY PULLS OFF INCREDIBLE CAREER ACCOMPLISHMENT ON THE MUSIC CHARTS It goes to show that Langley isn't just dominating at an absurd level, but she's here to stay. Langley doesn't just make great music. She also shares an incredibly close connection with her fans, in large part due to how authentic and open she is. For example, she regularly goes viral with comments about her Christian faith, including the comments below: It's going to be a lot of fun to watch Langley's rise continue. She's in for a big second half of 2026. Let me know your thoughts at David.Hookstead@outkick.com. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4e7926c2ca79de23656ed7 WATCH: Americans rip 'disgusting' Dems forced to split with Platner amid rape allegation te 2026-07-08T16:21:58.246Z WATCH: Americans rip 'disgusting' Dems forced to split with Platner amid rape allegation America 250 State Fair attendees questioned why Democrats waited until a rape allegation emerged to abandon U.S. Senate candidate Graham Platner, arguing the party ignored a string of earlier controversies before finally calling on the Maine candidate to drop out. "The Democratic Party has a lifespan that's not much longer," Nancy from Tennessee told Fox News Digital. "They realize — party's sinking, and one of the ways to keep it from sinking is get the dead weight off the ship and he is a piece of dead weight," she added. After a woman Platner previously dated, Jenny Rapricot, accused the Democrat of rape in two bombshell Monday reports, members of the party finally began to rescind their support for the progressive Senate candidate from Maine. Bob from Maryland speculated of Democrats, "I think they're so worried about not getting the House or Senate back, or the presidency, they'd do anything." SEE IT: MAINE VOTERS SOUND OFF ON PLATNER'S DIVISIVE CAMPAIGN AS CRUCIAL PRIMARY NEARS: 'HE'S A DISGRACE' Rapricot told CNN and Politico about her allegation of rape against Platner. She claims that in 2021 he trespassed into her home intoxicated and forced himself on her — despite her repeatedly demanding he stop. If that bombshell allegation wasn't enough, within 24 hours of the reports becoming public, the Washington Post published Lyndsey Fifield's accusations that Platner, whom she also dated, would remove condoms during sex in a "sneaky way." Rapricot's allegation was the tipping point for prominent Democrats who stuck by Platner through months of controversy and allegations surfacing during his campaign for U.S. Senate. From a Nazi-linked tattoo, to abusive partner allegations, to a slew of lewd Reddit posts ranging from comments about masturbating in portable toilets to mocking a wounded U.S. soldier — this appeared to be the final straw for the party after a long-winded campaign full of scandals. PLATNER'S LATEST ACCUSER CLAIMS THE DEMOCRATIC SENATE CANDIDATE 'ABSOLUTELY' RAPED HER "What happened to believe all women?" Karen from Maryland said, pushing back on a phrase often used by Democrats when it comes to allegations of sexual misconduct. "It's disgusting how they let this guy go so long." She continued, "It just makes you sick to your stomach." "This latest scandal should sink him," Rory from North Carolina predicted. "He should not be eligible to be in Congress based on the things in the past, and especially this current lady coming out against him." Sandy from Virginia argued Platner's rise reflected broader voter frustration with the political establishment. "We're seeing people rebelling against what they're seeing happening in their lives right now," Sandy told Fox News Digital. "And so they're looking for something else. And a lot of the things he said resonated with the people in Maine." Another attendee argued that "normal Democrats" will not support Platner and the other far-left progressive candidates running for Congress in the upcoming election. "With the rise of the DSA, coupled with him, the normal Democrats simply are not going to tolerate it," Nancy said. "Everybody's had it." TOP DEMOCRATIC SENATE HOPEFULS TURN ON PLATNER AFTER BOMBSHELL RAPE ALLEGATION Nearly every attendee Fox News Digital interviewed at the Great American State Fair amid the fallout of the rape allegation said Platner should drop out, with one Republican voter saying he'd rather see the candidate remain in the race because it would make Democrats easier to beat. "In my opinion, I think he should stay in the race," Fred from Texas said. "It’ll be easier for us to beat him." Democrats' calls for Platner to withdraw come days before Maine's July 13 deadline for replacing him on the general election ballot in November. If he exits before 5 p.m. on Sunday, state Democrats would have until July 27 to choose a replacement. Platner's campaign said Monday he is "taking the time to reflect on the best path forward." Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4e7912c2ca79de23656ece Trump admin uncovers 7,100% surge in Medicare transplant claims, says anti-fraud crackdown blocked millions te 2026-07-08T16:21:38.796Z Trump admin uncovers 7,100% surge in Medicare transplant claims, says anti-fraud crackdown blocked millions FIRST ON FOX: The Trump administration revealed new figures that show a drastic 7,100% spike in Medicare claims for tissue and organ transplants in just six years as the task force led by Vice President JD Vance continues to crack down on fraud across the country. The staggering increase in claims occurred between 2019 and 2025, surging from $200 million to $14.4 billion, prompting the anti-fraud task force and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to identify potentially fraudulent claims and deny 96% of claims made since March. The CMS, which is led by Administrator Mehmet Oz, identified 4,200 suspicious claims for tissue and organ transplants, known as allografts, totaling $224 million in charges through May of this year. DR OZ WARNS MEDICARE SCAMMERS ARE STEALING BILLIONS — AND YOUR PERSONAL INFORMATION COULD BE NEXT The agency also found alleged fraudulent claims for Durable Medical Equipment (DME), which includes wheelchairs, walkers, hospital beds and other essential equipment. The agency says that payments have been suspended to 102 suppliers and revoked billing privileges for an additional 725 suppliers. "In just six months, the task force has effectively wiped out Durable Medical Equipment fraud in America," a spokesperson for Vance’s office told Fox News Digital. "After the Vice President and Dr. Oz announced a moratorium on new DME companies, paired with aggressive enforcement actions by DOJ and HHS, this kind of fraud has effectively ended." The suppliers who were suspected of fraud and had payments suspended represented 8.6% of all Medicare-funded Durable Medical Equipment in 2025. DR OZ SAYS 800 HOSPICE PROVIDERS SUSPENDED IN CALIFORNIA OVER ALLEGED $1B MEDICARE FRAUD SCHEME Fox News Digital learned from sources at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services that fraud was identified for suppliers who filed claims for equipment that was not necessary or ordered, filed claims for equipment more complex or expensive than ordered and claims for equipment that was never delivered. "Thanks to the whole-of-government approach spearheaded by the White House Anti-Fraud Task Force, we stopped nearly $220 million in fraudulent skin substitute claims and suspended or revoked billing privileges for over 800 DME suppliers," Oz told Fox News Digital in a statement. "We are keeping our promise to the American people: we will root out corruption, protect vulnerable patients, and hold every bad actor accountable." Vance is scheduled to join Oz at a news conference in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on Wednesday, highlighting the efforts made by the anti-fraud task force. OPINION: I'M OHIO'S STATE AUDITOR — MEDICAID FRAUD IS NOT JUST A WASHINGTON PROBLEM In May, the Justice Department charged 15 individuals in Minnesota, finding more than $90 million in alleged fraudulent claims tied to multiple state-funded assistance programs. The task force and the DOJ announced a massive takedown of two of the largest Medicaid fraud cases in Minnesota state history, as well as the largest autism fraud scheme ever charged by the federal government," Vance said in a message on X at the time. "Our message is simple: if you’re committing fraud, we will find you, and we won’t rest until justice is served." President Donald Trump established the task force through an executive order in May. He appointed Vance to lead the task force, and a number of agencies and departments have been involved in the effort to crack down on fraud across the country. "Vice President JD Vance and Republicans are doing a great job hunting down Fraud in the various States," Trump posted on Truth Social in June. "Billions of Dollars is being found, and we've just started!" Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4e78ebc2ca79de23656ec1 Family of Man Fatally Shot by ICE Agent Calls for Independent Inquiry te 2026-07-08T16:20:59.874Z Family of Man Fatally Shot by ICE Agent Calls for Independent Inquiry The man killed, Lorenzo Salgado Araujo, was mourned by his sons as a father, husband and business owner, and said he was shot inside his car. Details of the encounter remain unclear. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4e78d8c2ca79de23656eb8 Navy Identifies Sailor Lost in Arabian Sea Helicopter Crash te 2026-07-08T16:20:40.417Z Navy Identifies Sailor Lost in Arabian Sea Helicopter Crash Cmdr. Gabriel Edwards was declared missing after what the Navy said was an emergency water landing during a routine patrol. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4e78c4c2ca79de23656e96 Another massive data breach exposed millions of driver’s license numbers te 2026-07-08T16:20:20.472Z Another massive data breach exposed millions of driver’s license numbers The cyberattack targeting a U.S. insurance giant is the largest known breach of driver's license numbers so far in 2026. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4e76bbc2ca79de23656e4e Karmelo Anthony blasts judge in new filing over handling of murder trial te 2026-07-08T16:11:39.180Z Karmelo Anthony blasts judge in new filing over handling of murder trial Karmelo Anthony's new legal team is accusing the judge who presided over his murder trial of bias and arguing courtroom restrictions violated his constitutional right to a public trial in a pair of post-conviction motions seeking to overturn his conviction. According to court filings reviewed by FOX 4 Dallas-Fort Worth, Anthony's defense team asks that Collin County Judge John Roach recuse himself from all remaining post-trial proceedings while also requesting a new trial based on what the defense describes as constitutional and legal errors during Anthony's prosecution. Anthony, 19, was convicted of murdering 17-year-old Austin Metcalf after fatally stabbing him during an altercation at a Frisco track meet. A Collin County jury sentenced him to 35 years in prison. STEPHEN A. SMITH SAYS 'KARMELO ANTHONY MURDERED AUSTIN METCALF' The motions are the first major filings by Anthony's new legal team, led by attorney Russell Wilson, who previously agreed to represent Anthony pro bono during the appeals process. Fox News Digital reached out to Wilson's office for comment. A representative said Wilson is not commenting on the case at this time. In a news release obtained by FOX 4, the defense said it filed a verified motion to recuse Roach, arguing his public comments following the trial created the appearance that he could not impartially rule on Anthony's post-trial motions. AUSTIN METCALF'S FATHER ACCUSES MEDIA PUNDITS OF TRYING TO MONETIZE HIS SON'S DEATH 'FOR CLICKS' According to the motion, Roach told reporters after the verdict that the jury "got it right" and defended several of his rulings during the trial, including his decision to dismiss three Black prospective jurors and his handling of courtroom access. The defense argues those statements create an appearance that the judge cannot fairly consider Anthony's request for a new trial. The accompanying 63-page motion for a new trial focuses on alleged constitutional violations rather than Anthony's guilt or innocence. LISTEN: AUSTIN METCALF FAMILY FACING THREATS, FINANCIAL STRAIN AS KARMELO ANTHONY FUNDRAISING DRAWS SCRUTINY Among its central claims, the defense argues Anthony's Sixth Amendment right to a public trial was violated because cameras were barred from the courtroom and only 27 seats were available to members of the public during the proceedings. The attorneys also argue prosecutors failed to honor an off-the-record evidentiary agreement regarding character and extraneous-act evidence, forcing Anthony to choose between testifying and exposing himself to prejudicial information. The motion further challenges the jury instructions, claiming they made it more difficult for jurors to fully consider Anthony's self-defense argument. The defense contends the cumulative effect of those alleged errors deprived Anthony of a fair trial and warrants a new one. Following the trial, Roach defended his decision to prohibit cameras from the courtroom, telling Fox News at the time, the restrictions were intended to protect the judicial process, witnesses and jurors while promising greater transparency after the proceedings concluded. Under Texas law, Roach is expected to refer the recusal motion to a regional administrative judge, who will decide whether a hearing on the request is necessary. Fox News Digital requested copies of the filings from the Collin County Deputy County Administrator and separately sought comment from Roach's office. Neither immediately responded. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4e76a7c2ca79de23656e45 Colorado quarterback Julian Lewis reveals he wasn't reading defenses for majority of 2025 season te 2026-07-08T16:11:19.721Z Colorado quarterback Julian Lewis reveals he wasn't reading defenses for majority of 2025 season With Big 12 Media Days in full swing in Frisco, Texas, members of the media are loading up on content to help keep fans satiated during these final weeks before the start of the 2026 season. One program in particular that never disappoints in that regard is the Colorado Buffaloes, and with a head coach as bombastic as Deion Sanders, it's easy to see why. But oddly enough, it wasn't Neon Deion who provided the most intriguing quote of the afternoon on Tuesday. DEION SANDERS DECLARES HE'S CANCER-FREE, ADDRESSES INCONTINENCE AHEAD OF COLORADO FOOTBALL SEASON That honor went to Colorado quarterback Julian "JuJu" Lewis. The former five-star signal caller from Georgia went through a long and winding recruiting process before ending up in Boulder for the 2025 season, and while most of his freshman year saw him backing up starter Kaidon Salter, Lewis did see some action in a handful of games. The results were mixed, with a 4:0 touchdown-to-interception ratio highlighting the good while an 0-2 record and 55% completion percentage showing plenty of room for growth. WOULD YOU WANT YOUR COLLEGE FOOTBALL COACH POSING FOR VANITY FAIR? What was eyebrow-raising, though, was Lewis' response to what he's looking to improve on the most from last season to this one. "I'm actually looking at the defenses now," Lewis said. "Last year we (weren't) really looking at defenses much, just kind of high school free-balling, just out there playing football." There's a good chance he didn't actually mean that they weren't studying defenses in the film room at Colorado. CURT CIGNETTI WAS SO FOCUSED THIS OFFSEASON, HE TURNED DOWN ALL EXTERNAL REQUESTS: 'I'M 95% FOOTBALL' After all, Lewis was a true freshman who wasn't even old enough to vote at the start of last season, so it's possible he just meant that he was a little overwhelmed at times on the field. That's not how large swathes of the internet interpreted his answer, though, and in the modern media age of sports, perception is often reality. If Lewis meant what he said, that's a horrible look for Coach Prime and the Colorado staff as a whole. The Buffaloes went 3-9 last year, regressing from their nine-win season in 2024 after losing talented players like Shedeur Sanders, Travis Hunter, and Jimmy Horn Jr. In fairness, Deion did bring in a new offensive coordinator in Brennan Marion, whom many believe is one of the brightest offensive minds in the sport thanks to his innovative "Go-Go" scheme during his time at UNLV, so perhaps the problem has been addressed. Only time will tell, but for a program that puts as much emphasis on flash, sizzle, and presentation as Prime's Buffaloes do, this is a damning quote that demonstrates a lack of preparation. Again, this quote could have been entirely misconstrued, but sometimes the results on the field speak for themselves. It will be interesting to see what a year of preparation as well as the partnership with Marion does for Lewis' development. He has all the tools, now he just needs to put it together. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4e7694c2ca79de23656e3c Apple AI security update proves hackers move fast te 2026-07-08T16:11:00.282Z Apple AI security update proves hackers move fast A security update rarely feels dramatic. You see the alert, promise yourself you will install it later and then go right back to whatever you were doing. This time, Apple is giving you a stronger reason to pay attention. Apple released iOS 26.5.2, iPadOS 26.5.2 and macOS Tahoe 26.5.2 on June 29, 2026. The updates include security fixes for vulnerabilities tied to the kernel, WebKit and WebRTC. Apple says these fixes were first made available through the iOS 26.6, iPadOS 26.6 and macOS Tahoe 26.6 betas before being pushed out early to everyone. That is the part that should make you pause. Apple usually rolls many security fixes into larger software updates. This time, the company moved faster. AI IS NOW POWERING CYBERATTACKS, MICROSOFT WARNS Sign up for my FREE CyberGuy Report Apple reportedly accelerated the updates because artificial intelligence can help speed the creation of malicious hacking tools. Once a fix appears in a beta, attackers may be able to study it, reverse-engineer the weakness and move faster than before. Apple said there was no evidence that the newly patched vulnerabilities had been exploited. Still, the company wanted to shrink the time between when fixes were first visible and when they reached your devices. That is a major shift. It suggests Apple sees AI as a force that changes the timing of security. A flaw that once gave defenders more breathing room may now become a race. Apple's iOS 26.5.2 and iPadOS 26.5.2 notes list fixes for iPhone 11 and later, along with several supported iPad models. The security content includes kernel vulnerabilities that could let an app crash the system, corrupt kernel memory or leak sensitive kernel state. The update also fixes multiple WebKit issues. WebKit powers Safari and web content inside many apps. Some of these flaws involved malicious web content that could lead to crashes, memory corruption, data leaks or sandbox escapes. Apple also fixed WebRTC issues that could be triggered by malicious web content and lead to Safari or process crashes. For Mac, Apple lists macOS Tahoe 26.5.2 as the current release. If your Mac runs macOS Sonoma or macOS Sequoia, Apple also lists Safari 26.5.2 as a June 29, 2026, security release. AI can help legitimate researchers find bugs faster. That is good when the work leads to stronger software and responsible disclosure. However, the same general capability can also help bad actors move faster. A criminal does not need to understand every line of code if an AI tool can help summarize a patch, compare software changes or suggest where a weakness may be hiding. That is why Apple's move is important. It shows that big tech companies may need to release security fixes sooner and more often, even when those updates do not include flashy new features. The wider AI world adds pressure here. Frontier AI companies have released or tested systems with stronger coding and cybersecurity capabilities. Some models are available only through limited previews, approved access or extra safeguards because of their potential cyber use. Similar efforts are also emerging outside the United States. Several international AI labs and security companies now promote models designed to find vulnerabilities, analyze code and assist cyber defense. The takeaway for you isn’t that AI is automatically bad. The real point is speed. Security teams, attackers and AI tools are now moving on a shorter clock. Before you update, plug in your device and connect to Wi-Fi. You may also want to back up your iPhone or iPad first. Then do this: Open Settings > General > Software Update > Download and Install. After the update finishes, go back to Settings > General > Software Update > Automatic Updates. Make sure automatic updates are turned on. Apple also lets your device automatically install system file updates that improve security without changing the full software version. If you do not see the update right away, check again later. Apple releases updates in stages, and your device also needs enough battery and storage. On a Mac, start with a backup. Then click the Apple menu > System Settings > General > Software Update . Choose Update Now if macOS Tahoe 26.5.2 appears. Next, check your background update settings. On macOS Tahoe 26 or later, go to Apple menu > System Settings > General > Software Update . Click the More Info button next to Automatic Updates and make sure Install system data files and security updates is turned on. If your Mac runs Sonoma or Sequoia, look for Safari 26.5.2 in Software Update as well. That Safari update may be the protection your Mac needs if you are not on Tahoe. BEWARE OF HACKERS SHOWING UP PRETENDING TO BE IT You may see more security updates that feel sudden or small. That can be annoying, especially when you are busy or your device needs to restart. Still, these updates are becoming more important. Apple is reacting to a world where AI can help shorten the time between a public fix and a possible attack. So, when your iPhone, iPad or Mac asks you to update, do not treat it like background noise. The update may be closing a door someone else is already trying to find. Installing the Apple AI security update is the best first move. After that, tighten a few habits that make attacks harder. Your operating system is only part of the security picture. Outdated apps can still create risk, especially if they handle messages, web links, photos, files or account logins. Open the App Store and install available updates regularly. Be careful with links in texts, emails and social media messages. WebKit and browser flaws are a reminder that malicious web content can be part of an attack. When in doubt, open the official app or website yourself instead of tapping a link. Use strong, unique passwords for every account and store them in a password manager. Then turn on two-factor authentication (2FA) wherever possible. If one password gets exposed, you do not want it opening the door to your email, bank or Apple account. Use strong antivirus protection on your Mac and other connected devices. It can help catch malicious files, phishing attempts and suspicious activity before they do damage. Get my picks for the best 2026 antivirus protection winners for your Windows, Mac, Android and iOS devices at CyberGuy.com. Back up your iPhone, iPad and Mac before problems hit. A recent backup can help you recover faster if an update fails, your device gets stolen or malware locks you out of important files. CyberGuy's guide to backing up your devices walks you through ways to protect your files using cloud storage, an external drive or both. Use a personal data removal service to reduce how much of your personal information is floating around online. Data brokers and people-search sites can expose your name, address, phone number and relatives. Scammers can use those details to make phishing messages feel more believable. Check out my top picks for data removal services and get a free scan to find out if your personal information is already out on the web by visiting CyberGuy.com. Apple's early security release shows how fast the cyber threat landscape is changing. The company says there is no evidence these newly patched flaws were exploited, but it still moved the fixes out before the wider 26.6 release. That tells me the old habit of waiting weeks to update is getting riskier. AI can help defenders, but it can also help criminals study weaknesses faster. My advice is direct: update your Apple devices now, turn on automatic security updates and stop putting off patches that protect the phone and computer you use every day. Do you think AI will make your devices safer because companies can find flaws faster, or more vulnerable because hackers can move faster too? Let us know by writing to us at CyberGuy.com. Sign up for my FREE CyberGuy Report Copyright 2026 CyberGuy.com. All rights reserved. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4e766dc2ca79de23656e2f Family of Man Fatally Shot by ICE Agent Calls for Independent Inquiry te 2026-07-08T16:10:21.357Z Family of Man Fatally Shot by ICE Agent Calls for Independent Inquiry The man killed, Lorenzo Salgado Araujo, was mourned by his sons as a father, husband and business owner, and said he was shot inside his car. Details of the encounter remain unclear. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4e743ec2ca79de23656dcd MARK PENN: Democrats ignored every warning sign in Graham Platner’s Senate disaster te 2026-07-08T16:01:02.020Z MARK PENN: Democrats ignored every warning sign in Graham Platner’s Senate disaster Federalist No. 62, written by James Madison, outlines the nature of the Senate and the qualifications of senators — they were older, more removed from politics, with six-year staggered terms, and meant to cool the hot-tempered passions of the House of Representatives. Guess Maine Democratic Senate candidate Graham Platner and the party organizers didn’t read that one. They are recruiting senators with exactly the opposite qualifications — inexperienced, reckless, flamboyant and unstable. Platner was unqualified from Day One — he had zero life accomplishments of any note, his political viewpoints were extreme, and he had no understanding of the complex issues that a senator would need to be effective. No matter — Democratic leaders showered him with support as a new kind of TikTok Democrat. And that is typically what the left is recruiting and selling to its voters. HOW GRAHAM PLATNER'S CAMPAIGN UNRAVELED: FROM REDDIT POSTS TO RAPE ALLEGATION Since no responsible, mature, experienced candidate would be for far-left ideas like socialism, open borders and abolishing prisons, they need to recruit completely inexperienced cutouts like New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani, who smile, speak forcefully and stir the passions of young voters with radical ideas on social media. The Platner nomination fits this new mold. Brash, willing to say anything, completely unqualified. It’s the opposite of how the founders conceived of senators, but exactly what the left wants to install into the Senate so they can be the useful idiots they need elected by uninformed voters. But right at the beginning, there were questions, beginning with a Nazi tattoo.  Along with the tattoo were extreme anti-Israel views, which by themselves would not be antisemitic, but when combined with the tattoo, strongly suggested views that verged on antisemitism. Yet they seemed almost to be considered qualifying rather than disqualifying. The enthusiasm for Platner among Democratic primary voters was so strong that the sitting, experienced governor of the state ended her own campaign. EMOTION AND FEELINGS: HOW DEMOCRATIC SOCIALISTS' CONGRESSIONAL INSURGENCY COULD COME BACK TO BITE THEM Antisemitism is anti-Americanism, and no tent of any party should be big enough to make room for it — candidates like Graham Platner should be disqualified right at the beginning. Sporting a Nazi tattoo, along with all the online comments, from backing communism to demeaning women, should have been enough for Democratic leaders to just say no to this candidacy from the beginning, but the left-wing Democratic primary machine these days is powerful enough to nominate virtually anyone for any position and get the rest of the peanut gallery to go along and provide cover. In contrast to Platner, Republican incumbent Sen. Susan Collins is the epitome of what it should mean to be a senator — she is thoughtful, experienced, works hard on behalf of her state, and has frequently stood up against her party on major votes. She was being depicted by the Democrats as a conservative thug, dismissing her real record. EXPLOSIVE SEXUAL ASSAULT ALLEGATION ROCKS PLATNER CAMPAIGN AHEAD OF KEY DEADLINE IN CRUCIAL SENATE RACE The rest of the story is history now — The New York Times ran an "exposé" about Platner’s issues with women in a manner that seemed to give him a pass and downplay the accusations, which came from a Republican-leaning woman. Democrats yawned at it all until the rape allegation from a Democrat came out in the last few days, finally causing the 40 major Democratic endorsers to back off the Nazi-tattooed candidate. But it is a disgrace for the Democratic Party that it ever endorsed someone with this kind of obvious bad character and lack of qualifications for one of the most important offices in the nation. CLICK HERE FOR MORE FOX NEWS OPINION It calls into question all of their endorsements and the process of selecting candidates who not only can get votes, but who have the qualities envisioned for senators. Failing to put up qualified candidates eventually will hollow out the whole institution of the Senate and turn it into the partisan chamber the founders hoped to avoid. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM MARK PENN Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4e742ac2ca79de23656dc4 Joy Behar cornered by 'The View' producer on frustration with Trump supporters amid Platner scandal te 2026-07-08T16:00:42.548Z Joy Behar cornered by 'The View' producer on frustration with Trump supporters amid Platner scandal "The View" co-host Joy Behar was cornered by the show's producer, Brian Teta, on Tuesday over her frustration with voters who supported President Donald Trump amid Graham Platner's latest scandal as he faces mounting calls to exit the race. Behar brought up the late Democratic Sen. Ted Kennedy during the "Behind the Table" podcast, hosted by Teta, and said, "Teddy Kennedy had that had that whole thing with Chappaquiddick, and yet people still wanted him in Congress. Why? Because he voted correctly." "Unfortunately, this is the world we live in," she added. 'THE VIEW' EASED UP ON POLITICAL CANDIDATE BOOKINGS AMID FCC INQUIRY, REPORT SAYS Teta pushed back, saying, "Just to be fair about it though, because for years on this show, you and others have said, you were frustrated with people that turned a blind eye to things that you think that Donald Trump did wrong." Behar acknowledged her feelings toward Trump voters, as Teta noted people voted for him anyway. "And that made you crazy, so by that context, because people were voting for him because they wanted the Supreme Court to go a separate way, or they wanted tax cuts," he said. Behar noted that it was a "difficult situation." EXPLOSIVE SEXUAL ASSAULT ALLEGATION ROCKS PLATNER CAMPAIGN AHEAD OF KEY DEADLINE IN CRUCIAL SENATE RACE During a conversation on "The View" in 2016, Behar made a similar point, using Kennedy as an example as the co-hosts at the time discussed former President Bill Clinton. "Chappaquiddick," she said. "I mean, a girl drowns and he abandons her and she drowned and women still voted for Teddy Kennedy. Why? Because he voted for women's rights. That's why. That's the bottom line of it in my opinion. I mean, I don't like either one of them, to tell you the truth, Teddy or Bill. They're both dogs as far as I'm concerned. But I still will vote for Bill Clinton because he votes in my favor." As the Platner controversy unfolded, co-host Sunny Hostin stood by her initial position that she would support Platner over Collins because she believed that the country was in an existential crisis and Democrats needed to take back the Senate. She said she would support him in June despite calling him a racist, a homophobe and an antisemite. During the show on Tuesday, Alyssa Farah Griffin confronted Hostin on whether or not she would still feel comfortable voting for Platner. Co-host Sara Haines said people just voting for him or supporting him due to his party affiliation were the problem. Hostin then said she was the problem. CLICK HERE FOR MORE COVERAGE OF MEDIA AND CULTURE "Because I was one of those people and I said it, if I lived in Maine I would have, you know, plugged my nose and would have voted for him anyway. I think we are in a time of existential crisis in this country and I think Republicans fall in line. They don’t fall in love. Democrats want to fall in love and not fall in line. The Republican Party, the bar is so very low, I can’t believe that they want to try to assume the moral high ground of the Republican Party," she said. Hostin cited the confirmation of Secretary of War Pete Hegseth and controversies surrounding his confirmation to his Cabinet position. She argued members of the GOP could not take the moral high ground on the issue of Platner, but never answered Griffin's question about whether she felt comfortable voting for him. Hostin eventually said that Platner should exit the race, in agreement with all the co-hosts. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4e7211c2ca79de23656d63 Top Dem admits Trump ‘wisely’ made critical demand to NATO allies: ‘Love and hate relationship’ te 2026-07-08T15:51:45.193Z Top Dem admits Trump ‘wisely’ made critical demand to NATO allies: ‘Love and hate relationship’ A top Democratic senator admitted on CBS News that he believes President Donald Trump "wisely" made the critical demand to NATO allies to spend more on defense. Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., who is in Turkey this week as part of a bipartisan congressional delegation to NATO, spoke with CBS News when an anchor laughingly asked him about Trump’s "strange relationship with NATO over his push for them to spend more on security." The anchor asked Durbin, "Where does this relationship go from here?" In response, Durbin described Trump’s relationship with NATO as a "back-and-forth, love-and-hate relationship." He went on to say that "the president has, I think, wisely asked for our NATO allies, there are 32 members of NATO, to spend more of their own money to protect themselves." "That’s not an unreasonable ask," he added. TRUMP ENTERS FINAL NATO SUMMIT DAY AS UKRAINE, DEFENSE SPENDING TAKE CENTER STAGE Durbin, who has served in the Senate for nearly 30 years, is the minority whip and ranking member of the influential Judiciary Committee. He is in Ankara, Turkey's capital, as part of a congressional delegation led by Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H., to the 2026 NATO Summit. Trump is also attending the summit, accompanied by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and National Security Adviser Michael Waltz. Durbin did not spend all his time praising the president. Speaking from Ankara, he went on to say that "there have been things that happened during his second presidency which raised the question of our commitment to the future of NATO." "I believe in it; that’s why I’m here. And I’ve found that of the delegates that are here from all over the region, part of NATO, that they believe, as I do, that we’re a safer world with the NATO alliance. We have been since 1945." TRUMP BETS ON FORMER NATO TROUBLEMAKER AS TURKEY'S STRATEGIC VALUE SURGES He added that the summit "will be an opportunity for us to convince the president, if we have to, to move forward with this relationship." Before traveling to Turkey for the summit, Trump vented his frustration about NATO, writing in a social media post that "the United States spends more money on NATO than any other country, by far, to protect them, without getting any benefit from so doing: U.S. 999 Billion Dollars, United Kingdom, 90.5 Billion Dollars, France, 66.5 Billion Dollars, Italy, 48.8 Billion Dollars, Poland, 44.3 Billion Dollars. Others, including Germany, are MUCH LOWER. (2014-2025) Ridiculous!" A NATO release stated that the "cut-off date for information used in this report was 3 June 2025" and that "figures for 2024 and 2025 are estimates." It listed estimated 2025 U.S. defense spending at $980 billion, the United Kingdom's at $90.508 billion, France's at $66.531 billion, Italy's at $48.8 billion and Poland's at $44.314 billion. TRUMP CALLS OUT NATO AHEAD OF SUMMIT, CALLING IT 'RIDICULOUS' FOR US TO PERSIST ON 'ONE SIDED PATH' In another post, Trump said it is "ridiculous for the U.S.A. to continue along this one sided path when the relationship is not reciprocal. They were not there for us!!!" The president's comments came after NATO leaders backed a new defense spending benchmark calling on allies to invest 5% of gross domestic product in defense and defense-related expenditures. Fox News Digital's Alex Nitzberg and Morgan Phillips contributed to this report. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4e71fdc2ca79de23656d5a Frantic search underway for crew after Boeing 737 wreckage found by officials te 2026-07-08T15:51:25.737Z Frantic search underway for crew after Boeing 737 wreckage found by officials Officials in Pakistan are scrambling after a cargo plane with five crew members went missing on Tuesday evening, prompting an urgent search. The Boeing 737, operated by K2 Airways, was on a cargo flight en route to Karachi, Pakistan, when it disappeared around 9:21 p.m. local time, The Associated Press reported. The flight, K2 Airways Flight 1732, had departed from Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates earlier that day. DELTA FLIGHT FORCED TO DIVERT AFTER PASSENGER GOES INTO LABOR AND DELIVERS BABY MIDAIR Just minutes before contact was lost, the crew reported a "navigation system problem." Radar data later showed the aircraft rapidly descending before contact was lost. Radar and radio contact was lost roughly 155 nautical miles west of Karachi, officials said. According to aviation databases Airfleets.net and Planespotters.net, the aircraft was a roughly 27-year-old Boeing 737-400 freighter, registration AP-BOI. It was K2 Airways' only aircraft. On Wednesday, officials announced that some wreckage was recovered 53 miles south of Ormara, but no crew members were found, according to Reuters. CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR LIFESTYLE NEWSLETTER Speaking to local outlet ARY News, aviation expert Imran Aslam said the flight's rapid descent was unusual. He noted that even if an aircraft suffers an engine failure, it would typically continue gliding rather than immediately fall from the sky. "I still cannot understand how the plane went down so abruptly instead of gliding," he said, per the AP. Pakistani officials said search-and-rescue operations are underway in the Arabian Sea after military and civilian authorities were activated in response to the disappearance. CLICK HERE FOR MORE LIFESTYLE NEWS The PNS Zulfiqar, a frigate of the Pakistan Navy, was quickly diverted to the area of the disappearance, and the Pakistan Air Force had also deployed aircraft to assist the search. A Pakistan Navy ATR aircraft departed from Turbat, about 270 miles west of Karachi, to assist. According to K2 Airways' website, the airline was established in 2018, and its inaugural Boeing 737-400SF aircraft arrived in Karachi on July 1, 2024. TEST YOURSELF WITH OUR LATEST LIFESTYLE QUIZ The airline's purpose is to "connect businesses by providing safe, efficient, and innovative air cargo," its website says. "We aim to expand our fleet and operations, further solidifying our position as a leader in Pakistan’s aviation," says the site. Fox News Digital reached out to K2 Airways and Boeing for comment. The Associated Press contributed reporting. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4e71eac2ca79de23656d51 Donald Trump Jr says evidence in Tyler Robinson preliminary hearing 'more cut and dry' than he thought te 2026-07-08T15:51:06.282Z Donald Trump Jr says evidence in Tyler Robinson preliminary hearing 'more cut and dry' than he thought Donald Trump Jr. said Tuesday that evidence presented during the preliminary hearing for the man accused of assassinating Turning Point USA co-founder Charlie Kirk was "much more cut and dry" than he expected, saying newly released surveillance video and witness testimony left little doubt in his mind about the prosecution's case. "Once this hard evidence was laid out to me in a courtroom before my very eyes, [and] seeing the reaction of the defense, this thing is much more cut and dry than I would have ever even imagined," Trump Jr. told "America's Newsroom." The president's eldest son expressed confidence that suspect Tyler Robinson will be found guilty once the case has concluded, saying the outcome is "very clear." TYLER ROBINSON'S AND LANCE TWIGGS' DNA BOTH ALLEGEDLY FOUND ON KEY EVIDENCE IN CHARLIE KIRK'S ASSASSINATION Robinson's preliminary hearing began Monday and is expected to take all week.  Prosecutors must establish probable cause in order for the judge to green-light the path to trial on a slew of charges, including aggravated murder, which carries the potential death penalty. Robinson is accused of fatally shooting the 31-year-old Kirk during a Turning Point USA event at Utah Valley University on Sept. 10 last year. Trump Jr. attended the hearing to show support for Kirk's legacy as well as Kirk's widow, Erika, and his parents. ACCUSED CHARLIE KIRK ASSASSIN TYLER ROBINSON FIGHTS BACK AS PROSECUTORS' SPRAWLING CASE COMES INTO FOCUS He told Fox News he wanted to see the evidence firsthand after declining to publicly weigh in on speculation surrounding the case. "It was just important to be there. It's a legacy that really needs to be preserved," he said. "The impact that Charlie had on so many Americans, on so many youth, is, frankly, generational. It could have been so much more, but it was important to be there and to see the actual facts laid out." Fox News' Michael Ruiz and Olivianna Calmes contributed to this report. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4e71bcc2ca79de23656d2c These AI startups are growing revenue at faster and faster rates te 2026-07-08T15:50:20.464Z These AI startups are growing revenue at faster and faster rates There are a lot of fast-growing AI startups, but some are growing even faster, they say. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4e6f7ec2ca79de23656b51 Danny McBride says ditching LA was the best move for his career and family te 2026-07-08T15:40:46.190Z Danny McBride says ditching LA was the best move for his career and family Actor Danny McBride is exposing the real reason he opted to ditch Los Angeles. On a new episode of Rich Roll's podcast, Roll asked him about his decision to move his family out of the "bubble" of L.A. to Charleston, South Carolina, in 2017. McBride, who's created and starred in shows like "Eastbound & Down" and "The Righteous Gemstones," explained that part of the reason he likes living where he does now is that it offers him more creative freedom. "When we were shooting 'Eastbound,' we were shooting in Wilmington, North Carolina, and the idea that there was not a direct flight, at that time, from L.A. to North Carolina, we noticed that the executives never came to set," McBride said. "We're like, 'Oh, we just gotta choose cities that it's not easy to get to from L.A., and then we'll have more freedom.'" 'THE THORN BIRDS' STAR RACHEL WARD TRADED 'EMPTY' HOLLYWOOD FOR FARM LIFE IN AUSTRALIA McBride also said that another plus to living in Charleston is that his children – he and his wife, Gia Ruiz, share son Declan, 14, and daughter Ava, 10 – aren't as involved with social media as they may have been living in Los Angeles. "In my house, I try to limit my kids having access to all this stuff," he said. "I just try to be present in their lives. So, if they're listening to anybody's take on the world, hopefully it's mine and my wife's, and not a stranger online." LIKE WHAT YOU’RE READING? CLICK HERE FOR MORE ENTERTAINMENT NEWS "I think maybe that's part of the benefit of being in Charleston is like, we live on a creek and the kids in our neighborhood are into fishing, and they're into, you know, getting out in the water," he shared. "And I don't know … it's not as pervasive there, I guess." McBride told Roll, who is an author, athlete and a plant-based nutritionalist, that his life changed when he had his kids. "It was really easy to do this job when I didn't have kids," he admitted, explaining that he used to "give all my time to the job." "And then once kids came around, it started to be like, 'I don't want to give that much time to this. I want to get the result, but I have other jobs now too. I want to be there for these kids. I want to be a good partner for my wife. I don't want to push all these things off just because I'm making a TV show.'" CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE ENTERTAINMENT NEWSLETTER "I have to find the balance of it," McBride said. What works for McBride is starting his day way before his kids wake up.  "And then by the time the kids go awake, I already have started something that's got my mind working, that has me excited. I can sit down and be present for those guys and get them to school, and I drop ‘em off, then I come back home and I jam more," McBride said. "I just try to find the time that works that doesn’t make me sequestered off while the rest of life is happening and I'm hammering away nonsense and d--- jokes." Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4e6d5ec2ca79de236556b3 GOP senator accuses NYT of sitting on bombshell allegation to protect Schumer, Dems te 2026-07-08T15:31:42.159Z GOP senator accuses NYT of sitting on bombshell allegation to protect Schumer, Dems FIRST ON FOX: A top Senate Republican accused both The New York Times and high-level Senate Democrats of working together to delay publishing allegations against Maine Senate Democratic candidate Graham Platner until they could do maximum damage. Stories and allegations against Platner have been piling up for nearly a year, inflicting incremental damage to his candidacy with each report published. It started with the unearthed footage of him dancing intoxicated, sporting a tattoo of Nazi iconography on his chest last Fall, and culminated this week in a bombshell report that Platner allegedly raped his ex-girlfriend, Jenny Racicot. But it was a story from The New York Times in June that sowed deep doubts among Democrats in Washington, D.C., about his candidacy. NEW YORK TIMES UNDER SCRUTINY OVER GRAHAM PLATNER COVERAGE AS ACCUSERS SPEAK OUT AGAINST PAPER Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C., who chairs Senate the Republicans’ campaign apparatus, the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC), accused Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and the media outlet of working together to sit on that bombshell story against Platner to buy time to replace him. "We should have seen this information long ago," Scott said. "But what they've done is they've made a decision to keep him in the race as long as possible so that they had more time to make the necessary change to try to hold onto that power and, frankly, gain power in Maine." "Whether or not Chuck Schumer wanted this candidate or not, the fact of the matter is the Democratic Party decided that this was the hill they were all willing to die on," he continued. KINGMAKER MAMDANI CALLS ON PLATNER TO 'DROP OUT OF THE RACE' AFTER RAPE ALLEGATION Scott was referring to The Times report in which multiple women that Platner had relationships with, including Racicot, alleged that he knew about his Nazi tattoo well before reports surfaced that he denied, that he displayed "unsettling behavior" with women and was an intimidating presence with flashes of violence. The Times denied Scott’s claims. "The Senator’s speculation is flatly untrue," Times spokesperson Charlie Stadtlander told Fox News Digital. That same story sparks an emergency meeting with Democratic high command, Platner’s top supporters in the Senate and the Chair of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC), Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., to determine if more damning information was set to come out. SANDERS BREAKS SILENCE ON PLATNER, CALLS ON SCANDAL-PLAGUED PROGRESSIVE TO 'STEP ASIDE' A source familiar told Fox News Digital that the DSCC "had no involvement" in the story. Schumer did not respond to a request for comment. Still, Scott contended that the story and alleged collusion were "critical pieces of the puzzle," particularly in the aftermath of Platner’s latest scandal that has seen his entire base of support among Democratic lawmakers and organizations virtually melt away overnight. And, he charged that their sudden dismissal of Platner was indicative of their desire to beat Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, to regain power in the upper chamber after months of accepting allegation after allegation. "Those allegations and realities have been real and true the entire time that Democrats knew it," Scott said. "And what makes it worse is that you say they're all lining up to get away from him now, but they all lined up to support him earlier." "And what that tells me is that their primary objective is power over principle, and politics over policy," he continued. "They are more interested in stealing the power so they can control the public." Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4e6d4ac2ca79de236555ed Deadly illegal immigrant truck crash exposed failures on the road and at the border: key senator te 2026-07-08T15:31:22.385Z Deadly illegal immigrant truck crash exposed failures on the road and at the border: key senator The crash that killed a Pennsylvania state trooper, allegedly caused by an illegal immigrant truck driver, exposed failures at the intersection of highway safety and immigration enforcement, the architect of Pennsylvania's move-over law said. Michael Bon, a 33-year-old Haitian national who entered the U.S. under former President Joe Biden's mass parole program, according to the Department of Homeland Security, was arrested after his big rig plowed into Pennsylvania State Trooper Michael Pahira Jr. on Interstate 81. State Sen. Doug Mastriano, R-Gettysburg, whose district encompasses a large swath of Interstate 81's heavily truck-trafficked corridor, said his law was meant to prevent tragedies like this, many of which have happened in or near his district. Mastriano said Bon's immigration status made the tragedy doubly preventable. ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT TRUCK DRIVER CHARGED IN DEATH OF TROOPER WHO MOVED HOME TO CARE FOR MOM WITH CANCER Mastriano said his move-over law came about in 2019 as one of his first efforts after being elected to the legislature. "I heard from Tom Bricker, a tow truck operator at Abe’s Towing out of Chambersburg," he said. "He told me all the close calls he's had, all the friends of his that have been killed or injured by people crashing into the tow trucks … especially on 81, since that goes through our area." VIRGINIA BUS CRASH THAT KILLED FIVE INVOLVED DRIVER WHO DOESN'T SPEAK ENGLISH, SEAN DUFFY SAYS After Bricker visited Mastriano, tow trucker Tyler Laudenslager was struck and killed on Interstate 81 west of Lebanon, prompting his move-over legislation, which Democratic then-Gov. Tom Wolf signed. Since then, Pennsylvania motorists have been required to move over for tow trucks and other emergency vehicles or slow to a safe speed, something Bon allegedly did not do when he struck Pahira's cruiser. "Trooper Michael should be alive today, had the federal government enforce their own laws protecting the border, making sure only people coming in legally can be on the roads," he said, noting the nexus of his law and immigration enforcement policies. ‘GHOSTS’ ON FLORIDA HIGHWAYS: ROADSIDE STINGS SNARE 249 ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS, OFFICERS WARN MANY MORE HIDING Another Mastriano bill passed in 2022 allows tow trucks to use police-issued blue lights while stopped to get motorists to pay attention. The senator said it came about after meeting with Bricker and other tow truck drivers and learned of a pilot program of the sort in the Midwest. Mastriano said Bon, who had been living in Brockton, Massachusetts, and was issued a CDL by the Bay State's Registry of Motor Vehicles (RMV), drifted out of his lane when he struck Pahira, as the trooper was conducting an unrelated commercial-vehicle inspection south of Frackville. With Massachusetts and Pennsylvania among the states that have faced cases involving CDLs issued to immigrants in the country illegally, Mastriano said states have authority to address motor vehicle policy. Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro's administration previously faulted DHS, whose agency maintains the SAVE registry that identifies a noncitizen's immigration status, which PennDOT uses to determine licensure eligibility. When asked about states like Pennsylvania faulting the federal government in part for the problem, Mastriano said the "finger-pointing" must stop. "Josh Shapiro, please fix this, you have a lot of power here in Pennsylvania and you're the governor and so exercise that power ask your secretary of transportation to update records to make sure anyone receiving CDL licenses is somebody who's here legally and understands the language and can control a vehicle," he said. "A lot of mistakes were done and people need to be held responsible and to just shift the blame now to the federal government for a state government problem is just wrong," he said. Massachusetts and Pennsylvania both defended their licensing systems, telling Fox News Digital they relied on the federal SAVE database to verify Bon's eligibility. "This defendant should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law," a Healey administration RMV spokesperson said, echoing the Shapiro administration's defense of the federal SAVE database and noting it is federally operated. "Every non-U.S. citizen who applies for a commercial learner’s permit or driver’s license in Pennsylvania must provide proof of identity and ... lawful presence in the United States, which is verified with the federal SAVE database, administered by [USCIS]," Shapiro spokeswoman Rosie Lapowsky said. Under Massachusetts’ procedure, Bon would have been rejected upon any attempted renewal for 2027, a source familiar with Beacon Hill’s policies said. When asked, as a state lawmaker, what the federal government can do about states where these cases have become common, Mastriano said respecting federalism, the idea that states have semi-autonomy, is important but can make it "tough" to manage. Mastriano pointed to the federal government's use of highway funding to encourage state compliance with the 55-mph speed limit during the 1970s gasoline crisis. The same strategy could be used today, he suggested. Referring to the Eisenhower Interstate and Defense Highways Act’s inclusion of "defense" concerns, Mastriano said resources could also be allocated by Washington to improve highways based on their linkage between military outposts. In the case of Interstate 81, where Pahira and many others have been killed, he noted that Letterkenny Army Depot in his district, the U.S. Army War College and Tobyhanna Army Depot are located along it, which he said could spur funding for more lanes and better conditions. SIGN UP TO GET THE POLITICS NEWSLETTER Lapowsky noted PennDOT has paused all issuances of such licenses following a Sept. 29, 2025 federal order. Since Bon's crash, another illegal immigrant has been arrested after authorities said he struck and killed a motorist changing a flat tire on Interstate 80 in Illinois. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4e6d36c2ca79de2365550c Back Toronto Blue Jays Dylan Cease against Logan Webb in a low-scoring Giants pitching matchup te 2026-07-08T15:31:02.736Z Back Toronto Blue Jays Dylan Cease against Logan Webb in a low-scoring Giants pitching matchup We escaped with a win yesterday as the Miami Marlins pulled off the victory in extra innings. It was a bit of a frustrating one because the Marlins were winning 4-2 after five innings, and then the bullpen allowed three earned runs in the top of the eighth. The Marlins came right back and tied it up before winning in 10 innings. It would've been nice to not have to sweat, but I won't complain about a win. We are flying across the country to take on a different series. The Toronto Blue Jays are a team that I've discussed quite a bit this year. Before the season began, my biggest question was how they would respond to the adversity of losing a heartbreaking World Series. It is hard enough to just get to the playoffs, and now they are fighting to get back there. Last year they were one of the best teams in baseball, and, at least on paper, they should've been better. At 43-49, there is a lot of work to be done for Toronto this season. Sometimes it seems like the issue is their pitching staff, but their team is 12th in the Majors in ERA. Their batting average is 17th, but they are 27th in runs scored, so my guess is they are getting opportunities, but not cashing in. It can be hard to pitch with limited run support. However, one of their offseason additions who have made an impact this year has done a good job of it. Today, Dylan Cease takes the mound, and he brings a 5-4 record, 2.79 ERA, and a 1.18 WHIP. He turned in one of his best performances of the season in his last outing. He went seven strong innings, allowing just three hits, while striking out nine. We've known it for a long time — when Cease is on, he is elite. But there are times when he can't find the zone and falls apart. He has faced the Giants a bunch of times during his time with San Francisco. They are 21-for-82 against him, but no one with more than 10 at-bats is batting over .300. The San Francisco Giants are a team that is one to watch around the trade deadline. I really like their lineup, but for whatever reason, it just hasn't clicked for them. They are only slightly ahead of the Blue Jays in terms of runs scored this year. Their pitching staff, however, has been only 22nd in the league. I'm sure there are a ton of teams out there looking to add pitching to their roster, but there are a few arms on the Giants that you'd really aggressively pursue. The bats might be on the move, but that's only if the Giants decide it is time to try a rebuild of sorts. SIGN UP TO GET THE LATEST SPORTS NEWS The one person who would bring the biggest return, should he be listed as an option, is today's starter, Logan Webb. I haven't even heard rumors that they are considering it, but he might be the most coveted starter outside Tarik Skubal if available. Webb has been solid once again this season, going 5-6 for the year, with a 3.66 ERA and a 1.17 WHIP. Webb has been slightly better at home with a 3.33 ERA and has been fantastic during the day with a 1.70 ERA. He was absolutely rocked in his last outing, but it was in Coors Field, so it is a bit difficult to know how much of that was poor mechanics versus the environment. Blue Jays hitters have done well against Webb with a .333 batting average over 51 at-bats. This should be one of the best pitching matchups on the slate for today. That usually means low scoring is in store. These two starters are both capable of throwing complete-game shutouts or going at least seven innings with few runs allowed. The listed total also indicates the books feel that way as well. Couple that with the two teams not scoring a ton of runs. The under makes a lot of sense, but there is little room for error. Instead, I think the Blue Jays are the play today. Cease has been very strong lately, and I think that his success against the Giants in the past should help. Webb has been solid against the Blue Jays, but they've been a bit more consistent against him, and in a tight game like this, I will back the Blue Jays to get the win. CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM For more sports betting information and plays, follow David on X/Twitter: @futureprez2024 Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4e6d23c2ca79de23655461 Leftist California group pushes to add 'Black English' to schools' multilingual education program te 2026-07-08T15:30:43.286Z Leftist California group pushes to add 'Black English' to schools' multilingual education program A group of radical left-wing groups in California are pushing for schools to add Black vernacular into a Golden State program that pushes multilingualism for kids. Black Californians United for Early Care and Education (BlackECE) is a "collaborative partnership of organizations committed to advancing language justice for Black children in early childhood education." Those groups include Californians Together, Catalyst California and Early Edge. A co-founder of the umbrella group said she was teased a kid for "talking white" and doesn't want Black children, like her son, to feel "shame" for the way they speak. CALIFORNIA HIGH SCHOOL BATTLES NEWSOM'S STATE LAW ORDERING IT TO CHANGE 'INDIANS' MASCOT "The workgroup brings together BlackECE, Californians Together, Catalyst California, and Early Edge to challenge harmful language hierarchies and affirm Black English as a legitimate, rule-governed language rooted in Black history, culture, and community," according to the coalition's website. BlackECE's 10-point policy framework also includes reparations. Ashley Williams, a co-founder of the BlackECE, spoke with PBS about the importance of the group's work. "I don’t want my son to walk into any room and feel like his voice is not valued or his perspective can’t be heard because he’s not saying it in one way or the other," she told the outlet. "But with that comes a lot of shame and embarrassment because you’re being constantly corrected when you’re still in a moment when you’re just learning language." "Black English" is a broad term used to describe the way African Americans speak, according to ScienceDirect. The most common defined form of "Black English" is African American Vernacular English [AAVE], characterized as a "systematic dialect spoken by many African Americans, characterized by specific phonological, syntactical, and lexical features, including word-final consonant cluster simplification, invariant 'be' for habitual meaning, and multiple negation." BlackECE insists that the dialect is not slang or broken English, and provides some real life examples of AAVE. "She be working," is one example listed on the website. "They happy" and "bes' friend" are among others. "We talk about multilinguals, but we don’t include Black children who may be African-American English speakers," Xigrid Soto-Boykin, an early childhood language expert at Arizona State University, told PBS. "We completely miss this subgroup of children that could also benefit from their language backgrounds to be sustained, but also to be leveraged for their own learning." NEW YORK TIMES CALLS UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA'S 'TEST-BLIND' ADMISSIONS POLICY A 'TERRIBLE' MISTAKE California — a state where more than half of children under the age of five live in homes where another language besides English is spoken — implemented a program called "Promoting Equitable Early Learning and Care For Dual Language Learners" in 2020. The program "declares biliteracy as a state goal and strongly promotes multilingual proficiency for all children, beginning in early childhood." It focuses on policies that "reflect a dramatic shift in public sentiment away from a focus on English only and to a focus that values bilingualism as an asset and a strength." BlackECE says "Black English" should be added to that California program. Williams recalled being teased for "talking white" by family members, and complained that her teachers were "adamant about proper English," which she said made her feel insecure. "Really at the heart of this, it’s about affirming our identity and our culture and our humanity and not having to perform as something you’re not just to be accepted in a room," she reportedly said. "We know that with being deemed multilingual learners, there’s resources, there’s supports, there’s teacher training. And we’re saying, ‘Yes, and we belong in that conversation too.’ Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4e68d2c2ca79de23654f27 States try new measures to get chronically absent students back to class te 2026-07-08T15:12:18.388Z States try new measures to get chronically absent students back to class A student reads at his desk in Oregon. The state and at least five others enacted laws this year aiming to reduce chronic absenteeism. (Photo by Alex Baumhardt/Oregon Capital Chronicle) This year, at least six states enacted laws trying to reduce the number of students chronically absent from school. The measures include requiring monitoring of absences and publicly releasing data, developing new guidance on the best ways to address the problem and increasing punishments for parents and guardians of chronically absent students.  Chronic absenteeism is defined as missing 10% or more of school days in an academic year, which equates to about 18 days or two days per month.  A Utah law signed in March creates a student attendance monitoring system and requires the identification of at-risk students. Parents of students in grades 1-6 will receive a notice of violation after five truancies. If parents don’t meet with school officials to address the truancy, they could face a class B misdemeanor.  Oregon’s new law requires every school district and public charter school to compile data about the students who regularly attend class or are chronically absent, which will be made publicly available by the state’s Department of Education. Vermont’s new law overhauls how the state defines and handles chronic absenteeism and truancy. Chronic absenteeism will remain categorized as 10% or more days of missed attendance. Truancy is classified as 20 or more unexcused absences within a school year. If a student is considered truant and school-based interventions haven’t improved attendance, the law allows the state’s attorney to fine parents a maximum of $1,000 or to file a court petition against the parents.  Additionally, by July 2027, the state’s Agency of Education must develop a model policy on chronic absenteeism and truancy, including guidance on excusing absences, addressing absenteeism among students with disabilities and considering how bullying and hazing could impact a student’s attendance. Under a new Tennessee law, a student transferring during the school year will have the number of unexcused absences reported to their next school, and any future unexcused absences will be added on a cumulative record. And it removes the five-hour limit on the amount of community service a judge may order for the parent or guardian of a student with five or more unexcused absences during a school year. Under a sweeping K-12 education legislative package enacted this year in Mississippi, the state is required to fund one attendance officer per 4,000 compulsory‑school‑aged children.  And a recent New Jersey law establishes a chronic absenteeism task force, which will develop recommendations on the best way to address the problem. According to FutureEd, a think tank at Georgetown University, lawmakers filed more than 70 bills across 24 states this legislative session about chronic absenteeism.  Of the 44 states and Washington, D.C., that have released 2024-25 attendance data, most states showed improvement, FutureEd found. But Colorado, Oklahoma, Mississippi, New Mexico and the district reported a rise in missed school days. And no state has fully returned to pre-pandemic levels, it said.  According to its most recent data, the U.S. Department of Education says the national rate of chronic absenteeism reached about 31% in 2021-22 and fell to 28% in 2022-23.  Stateline reporter Robbie Sequeira can be reached at rsequeira@stateline.org. This story was originally produced by Stateline, which is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network which includes Arizona Mirror, and is supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4e68bec2ca79de23654f09 Squad member calls DHS 'greatest threat to our safety' after ICE-involved shooting te 2026-07-08T15:11:58.414Z Squad member calls DHS 'greatest threat to our safety' after ICE-involved shooting One leftist lawmaker is ramping up her attacks on the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) after an immigration officer fatally shot an illegal alien during an enforcement operation in Houston on Tuesday. Rep. Delia Ramirez, D-Ill., declared DHS the "greatest threat to our safety" in a social media post, arguing that Mexican national Lorenzo Salgado Araujo, who allegedly resisted arrest during an attempted traffic stop, was the agency’s latest victim. DHS said Salgado Araujo was shot in self-defense after he allegedly attempted to run over a federal agent with his vehicle, prompting the officer to open fire. "The greatest threat to our safety is DHS," Ramirez, a Chicago-based lawmaker who has called for the abolition of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), wrote Tuesday. "CBP and ICE continue to violently attack our neighbors and trample the rights of our residents." ICE SAYS OFFICER SHOT AND KILLED ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT WHO TRIED TO RAM HIM WITH CAR IN HOUSTON Democrats have recently taken a hard line against DHS — a sprawling agency that oversees everything from the Secret Service to the Coast Guard and TSA — over its immigration enforcement and border security functions. Top Democrats refused to fund the department earlier this year following the Trump administration’s controversial Minneapolis immigration enforcement surge that led to the killing of two Americans by federal officers. The party's hardball tactics led to the longest partial government shutdown in history and later prompted Republicans to pass a second "big beautiful bill" that funded ICE and CBP for the rest of President Donald Trump’s term. Ramirez did not mention DHS’ statement that Salgado Araujo allegedly evaded arrest while federal authorities attempted to pull him over or that he was not authorized to be in the country. "From information we are receiving, he rammed an ICE law enforcement vehicle, refused to follow multiple verbal commands, and weaponized his vehicle in an attempt to run over an ICE law enforcement officer, resulting in our officer firing his weapon in self-defense," DHS wrote in a statement. "The driver was struck, and emergency services were immediately contacted," the department continued. "The driver was transported to the hospital where he passed away from his injuries." ILLEGAL ALIEN ON THE RUN AFTER ALLEGEDLY RAMMING ICE VEHICLE IN PENNSYLVANIA, PROMPTING AGENT TO FIRE WEAPON A spokesperson for Ramirez did not immediately respond to a request for comment on DHS’s account. DHS said the department’s Office of Inspector General is probing the shooting. The FBI’s Houston Office launched a separate investigation into the "potential assault" of the ICE officer, according to DHS’ statement. Rep. Sylvia Garcia, D-Texas, who represents the Magnolia Park neighborhood where Salgado Araujo was shot, issued a more measured statement. "ICE has released an initial account, but the facts must be independently and thoroughly investigated, including the circumstances that led to the use of deadly force," Garcia wrote on social media. "All available footage, communications, and other evidence should be preserved and reviewed as part of a full and impartial investigation." Ramirez, who is associated with the far-left cohort known as the Squad, also called on the Republican-controlled House to pass her Melt ICE Act, which would effectively defund the agency while laying out a timeline to shutter all immigration detention facilities and releasing detained illegal aliens. The legislation is sponsored by fellow Squad members, Reps. Rashida Tlaib, D-Mich., Summer Lee, D-Pa., Ayanna Pressley, D-Mass., and Ilhan Omar, D-Minn. It has no clear path to passage amid widespread opposition from Republicans and likely from some Democrats. Ramirez’s ICE abolition advocacy comes as she has not commented on a spate of illegal aliens with criminal backgrounds who were arrested in her home state of Illinois in June. Federal agents recently arrested Venezuelan national Mercedes Moreno Occhipinti, who allegedly assisted in a 2024 mass shooting involving Tren de Aragua members at a house party in Chicago. Last month, authorities also detained Noe Moreno-Salazar, an illegal alien from Mexico, in St. Charles, Ill. He was previously convicted of sexual abuse and aggravated unlawful use of a loaded weapon, among other offenses, according to DHS. Ramirez also did not appear to comment on the March killing of 18-year-old Sheridan Gorman by a Venezuelan illegal alien in Chicago — an incident that sparked outrage over the perpetrator's previous arrest. Fox News Digital reached out to DHS for comment. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4e68aac2ca79de23654f00 Chefs name America's best fast-food fried chicken and biscuits — and one chain stands above the rest te 2026-07-08T15:11:38.961Z Chefs name America's best fast-food fried chicken and biscuits — and one chain stands above the rest When it comes to fast-food fried chicken and biscuits, Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen is the clear winner, professional chefs say. Allrecipes asked five chefs to judge fast-food restaurants on their fried chicken and biscuits. They based their votes on the chicken's crispiness, long-lasting crunch, minimal greasiness and ample seasoning. For the biscuits, the chefs looked for a rich buttery flavor, flaky layers and a tender texture. POPEYES BRINGS CHICKEN TENDER TOWER TO MONTAUK'S SURF LODGE THIS SUMMER "I'm always looking for a crispy, craggy coating that stays crunchy even after sitting for a few minutes," New Jersey-based recipe developer Jeanette Donnarumma told Allrecipes. "It shouldn't immediately turn soggy in the box." Flour, rather than batter, is key to achieving more crunch, added Iowa-based chef Dominic Iannarelli. "It is fried chicken, so some grease is expected," Texas-based cookbook author Kelly Jaggers said. "But if it runs down my hands, that's a miss." The chefs agreed that good fried chicken should stand on its own, rather than relying on dipping sauces. Instead, the seasoning should be the star. TEST YOURSELF WITH OUR LATEST LIFESTYLE QUIZ "I want juicy meat with actual seasoning throughout, not chicken that leans entirely on dipping sauce for flavor," Donnarumma said. "The best fast-food fried chicken is well-seasoned and salty enough to make you immediately reach for another piece." Dry biscuits can ruin an otherwise great meal, Donnarumma said, calling them "one of the biggest disappointments at a restaurant." Biscuits should be sturdy enough to hold up to honey, butter and sauces, she said, but tender enough to "melt" into the chicken. Popeyes was the near-unanimous choice among the chefs. Bojangles and KFC earned honorable mentions for their fried chicken and biscuits. CLICK HERE FOR MORE LIFESTYLE NEWS "[Popeyes'] chicken still has one of the crispiest coatings in fast food, the seasoning is bold, and the biscuits have that rich, buttery quality people crave," Donnarumma said. "It's one of the few fast-food meals that still feels genuinely craveable years later." Jaggers praised Popeyes for embracing its "bold seasoning and texture" with the chicken. It's also never too greasy, she added. "It tastes brined and is extremely flavorful and never dry," MacKenzie Schultz, a sous chef in Des Moines, Iowa, told Allrecipes. The chefs also praised Popeyes' biscuits. CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR LIFESTYLE NEWSLETTER Todd Wilbur, a Las Vegas-based recipe developer and cookbook author, said the chicken at Bojangles is "nearly as good as Popeyes," but Popeyes has one of the best biscuit recipes, "so this chain is an all-around winner." Popeyes marinates its chicken for at least 12 hours in the restaurant's signature blend of Louisiana seasonings, according to the fast-food chain's website. "Every piece of our chicken is freshly hand-battered and then breaded and fried up special for y'all," the website states. Several Reddit threads discussing Popeyes biscuits praised them, though many commenters expressed a preference for the biscuits from Church's Texas Chicken. "When [Popeyes' biscuits] are hot, they are amazing, when they are cold, they are hockey pucks. I feel like that's the same for most biscuits though," one Redditor wrote. Another Redditor recommended wrapping the biscuit in a damp paper towel and microwaving it to restore its moistness. Fox News Digital reached out to Popeyes for comment. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4e6897c2ca79de23654ef7 Sen John Kennedy warns Democrats face a 'reckoning' over Graham Platner's refusal to drop out of Maine race te 2026-07-08T15:11:19.504Z Sen John Kennedy warns Democrats face a 'reckoning' over Graham Platner's refusal to drop out of Maine race Sen. John Kennedy, R-La., believes Democrats are headed for a "reckoning," pointing to embattled Maine Senate candidate Graham Platner's refusal to bow to mounting calls from his own party to abandon his campaign amid bombshell sexual misconduct allegations. "A reckoning is coming for the Democratic Party," Kennedy said Tuesday night during a "Hannity" appearance. "Most of my colleagues in the United States Senate know better. They could see this about Mr. Platner. The guy's a clown, he can't even juggle. He's a 'Saturday Night Live' skit, but once the Hamas wing of the party nominated him, it became raw-gut politics." TOP PLATNER ALLY TURNS ON HIM AFTER BOMBSHELL RAPE ALLEGATION ROCKS CAMPAIGN: 'RED LINE' Kennedy argued Democrats ignored what he described as warning signs about Platner because they were focused on winning the seat, adding that the controversy now threatens to engulf the party. "The selfish part of me says, 'Run, Graham, run. I'll send you a campaign contribution.' But the part of me that wants America's future to be better than our present or our past knows that this guy is just, he's a predator. He is a predator, and you don't want him anywhere near power," he said. EXPLOSIVE SEXUAL ASSAULT ALLEGATION ROCKS PLATNER CAMPAIGN AHEAD OF KEY DEADLINE IN CRUCIAL SENATE RACE The Louisiana senator's remarks come as Platner faces calls to back out of the high-stakes race against incumbent Sen. Susan Collins.  Sens. Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren, who previously campaigned for the Maine progressive, have rescinded their endorsements or called for an end to his campaign in light of a rape allegation by Maine resident Jenny Racicot, 41, who previously dated the scandal-plagued candidate. A second allegation rattled Platner's campaign on Tuesday, when his ex-girlfriend Lyndsey Fifield accused him of removing condoms during sex after she explicitly directed him to wear them. Platner's campaign has denied both allegations. His campaign reportedly told The Washington Post that Fifield's latest allegations were "categorically false and politically motivated." Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4e6884c2ca79de23654eee Trump says US will let Ukraine make Patriot missiles in major policy shift te 2026-07-08T15:11:00.081Z Trump says US will let Ukraine make Patriot missiles in major policy shift President Donald Trump said Wednesday the U.S. will give Ukraine a license to manufacture Patriot air defense systems, a move that could mark a significant shift from supplying Kyiv with American-made weapons to helping Ukraine produce them itself. Trump made the comments while meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, as Kyiv continues to press Western allies for additional air defense capabilities to counter Russian missile and drone attacks. Trump's announcement comes as Patriot interceptors have become one of Ukraine's most urgent military needs. The U.S.-made Patriot system is widely regarded as Ukraine's most capable defense against Russian ballistic missile attacks and has played a central role in protecting Kyiv and other critical infrastructure. TRUMP ENTERS FINAL NATO SUMMIT DAY AS UKRAINE, DEFENSE SPENDING TAKE CENTER STAGE Asked whether he would allow Patriot interceptors to be made in Europe and whether he was comfortable licensing the technology, Trump said the two leaders would discuss it. "We're going to talk about that," Trump said. "Look, it's a defensive weapon, which I like better than an offensive weapon. It's the best."  Minutes later, Trump went further, saying the U.S. would give Ukraine a license to make Patriots. "We're going to give a license to you to make patriots," Trump said. "That's pretty cool. Right? This way you can't complain that we're not giving them enough. I'd say make them yourself."  TRUMP COULD HAND PRIZED STEALTH JETS TO NATO ALLY ONCE SEEN AS ALLIANCE HEADACHE "We haven't informed the company of that yet, but that'll that'll work out all right," he added. "You know, I'm sure they'll be thrilled, but, you know, they'll be able to do it. You'll be able to figure that out."  Ukrainian officials have warned that supplies of Patriot interceptors have fallen to dangerously low levels, leaving the country increasingly vulnerable as Russia intensifies missile strikes. Zelenskyy arrived at the NATO summit seeking additional Patriot interceptors from allies while also pressing for longer-term solutions to expand production, arguing that current manufacturing cannot keep pace with Russia's growing missile campaign. It was not immediately clear whether Trump was referring to Patriot interceptor missiles, the broader Patriot air defense system, or production in Ukraine, Europe or both. Trump’s comment that the administration had not yet informed the company also raised questions about how far along the licensing plan is and what role RTX, the defense contractor that manufactures Patriot systems, would play in any future arrangement. The Patriot system has been one of Ukraine’s most sought-after air defense platforms as Russia continues launching missile and drone barrages against Ukrainian cities, energy infrastructure and military targets. Any effort to expand Patriot production would face significant industrial hurdles.  RTX serves as the prime contractor for the Patriot air defense system, manufacturing its radars, launchers and the PAC-2 GEM-T interceptor, while Lockheed Martin builds the newer PAC-3 Missile Segment Enhancement interceptor, which is designed to defeat ballistic missiles. The interceptors are among the world's most sophisticated air defense weapons, relying on hundreds of specialized suppliers and complex manufacturing processes. Fox News Digital has reached out to RTX and Lockheed Martin for comment. Defense officials and industry executives have said it can take more than two years to produce a Patriot interceptor, underscoring why the U.S. and its allies have struggled to replenish stockpiles as demand has surged amid conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4e685cc2ca79de23654ec9 Solo GP Ashley Smith announces second $25M fund to back startups in AI, security and more te 2026-07-08T15:10:20.635Z Solo GP Ashley Smith announces second $25M fund to back startups in AI, security and more Vermilion Cliffs Ventures announced Wednesday the close of a $25 million Fund II. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4e662dc2ca79de23654e7f Christian Pulisic's 'rest' comment after World Cup exit draws strong reactions from USA soccer legends te 2026-07-08T15:01:01.386Z Christian Pulisic's 'rest' comment after World Cup exit draws strong reactions from USA soccer legends Entering the 2026 FIFA World Cup as the darling of the United States Men's National Team, the public has done a 180 on Christian Pulisic. The 27-year-old AC Milan star has been the face of USA soccer since at least the turn of the decade, but the fact is that he was a major disappointment throughout the tournament. Sure, it did not help that he re-aggravated a calf injury in the opener, which led to him missing the equivalent of roughly two full games, but even when he was on the pitch, he did not make much of a difference. Pulisic then rolled his ankle in the Round of 16 and was subbed out in the second half. CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM Following the match, Pulisic said he could now "get some rest," which did not go over well with Americans. That prompted USMNT legend Tim Howard to give him some obvious advice. "I hope for his sake he isn’t on social media for the foreseeable future," he said on his "Unfiltered Soccer" podcast with Landon Donovan, followed by a cryptic comment. "He deserves a rest. Go on holiday.... What I would say about him is when someone shows you who they are, you believe them. I think he’s a nice footballer. I still think he’s the best player on the team. Outside of that, you’d have to ask me very direct questions to which I could give you very direct answers," he said. Carli Lloyd, a former United States Women's National Team star, was also critical of Pulisic. BELGIUM EMBARRASSES TEAM USA BEFORE BREAKING OUT TRUMP'S SIGNATURE DANCE CELEBRATION AFTER FOURTH GOAL "You rest when your playing career is over. Period." Prior to the World Cup, Pulisic said the event was "just another big tournament," which also prompted backlash. After the loss, Pulisic said he was "disappointed" in himself but thought he and his team did "good things." "I felt really good this summer with the guys and I thought my level was high," Pulisic said. "Yeah, it's disappointing. I didn't quite have the moments I was hoping to and to try to help us to really push and get over this next step of beating a really good team." Pulisic has just one goal in nine career World Cup games. He will be 31 by the time the next World Cup rolls around in 2030 in Morocco, Spain and Portugal. Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4e6619c2ca79de23654e76 Denmark vows to defend Greenland after Trump reiterates US should control territory te 2026-07-08T15:00:41.939Z Denmark vows to defend Greenland after Trump reiterates US should control territory Greenland is "not for sale," Denmark’s prime minister said Wednesday, vowing to defend the Danish territory after President Donald Trump again said the United States should control the Arctic island for NATO defense. Denmark is "ready to defend every inch of NATO including our own territory," Denmark's Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said at the NATO summit in Ankara, Turkey, adding she would call on NATO allies to honor their commitment to defend each other. "We hope that all, including all allies, will respect the Greenland people's right for self-determination," she continued. "And we are sovereign states and we need everybody to respect our territorial integrity and our sovereignty. "Greenland is of course not for sale." TRUMP MAKES FRESH GREENLAND PLAY AFTER XI TALKS AS CHINA’S ARCTIC AMBITIONS LOOM Trump continues to stress Greenland "is very important" for the U.S. but not for Denmark, declaring, "We need it for protection of the world, not just the United States." Also, Denmark is coming up short in its support for Greenland, which remains a strategic target for both Russia and China. "That's what hurt my relationship with NATO," Trump said Tuesday of the refusal to grant his request for annexation of the strategic land. "Denmark doesn't spend money to really help Greenland, but it's an important part for the United States. And it's surrounded by China ships and Russian ships." GREENLAND TALKS ON ‘GOOD TRAJECTORY,’ WHITE HOUSE SAYS AMID TRUMP TAKEOVER PUSH For global security, Greenland "should be controlled by the United States, not by Denmark," Trump added. "They wouldn't go along with it," Trump lamented. "And with all the money we spend to help them with Russia. And we don't have to spend any money, we could remove all of our soldiers out of Europe because, as you probably noticed, Europe is a very different place than it was 20 years ago. A lot different." Greenland is a semiautonomous territory of Denmark, a NATO ally. Trump’s push for U.S. control has repeatedly angered Danish and Greenlandic officials, who have insisted the island’s future should be decided by its people. Icelandic Prime Minister Kristrun Frostadottir also weighed in Wednesday, saying Greenland’s people "do not wish to be a part of the United States" and urging NATO leaders to stay focused on Russia. TRUMP CALLS OUT NATO AHEAD OF SUMMIT, CALLING IT 'RIDICULOUS' FOR US TO PERSIST ON 'ONE SIDED PATH' The dispute injected a tense territorial confrontation into a summit already shaped by Trump’s demands that allies spend more on defense and take greater responsibility for Europe’s security as the U.S. shifts its focus. NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte sought to emphasize the alliance’s recent defense spending increases, telling Trump that European allies and Canada had made major new commitments. "I would argue that without you in this chair, this would not have happened," Rutte told Trump. "Grab the win. It’s there." Trump, however, continued criticizing allies over both Greenland and Iran, where he ordered overnight U.S. strikes after attacks on merchant ships in the Strait of Hormuz. Rutte backed the U.S. strikes, telling Trump they were "absolutely necessary." The NATO summit is also expected to address Ukraine’s war against Russia, with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy pressing allies for deeper support and renewed consideration of Ukraine’s bid to join the alliance. But Trump’s comments on Greenland underscored a growing challenge for NATO leaders: projecting unity against outside threats while managing disputes inside the alliance itself. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4e63e8c2ca79de23654e10 Burlington officially opens in Flagstaff at Varsity Shopping Center te 2026-07-08T14:51:20.895Z Burlington officially opens in Flagstaff at Varsity Shopping Center In January, the company confirmed it planned to take over the space previously occupied by Joann following its closure last year due to the company's bankruptcy. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4e63d4c2ca79de23654dea FIRST ON FOX: Pressure mounts on YMCA to ditch transgender policies after Supreme Court Title IX ruling te 2026-07-08T14:51:00.415Z FIRST ON FOX: Pressure mounts on YMCA to ditch transgender policies after Supreme Court Title IX ruling FIRST ON FOX: The YMCA is facing renewed pressure to change its policies on transgender access to sex-segregated locker rooms, sports teams and overnight accommodations after the American Parents Coalition (APC) argued the organization's rules conflict with the Supreme Court's recent Title IX rulings. The coalition argued the nonprofit, which operates about 2,600 locations nationwide and receives more than $600 million annually in government funding, should update its policies to align with the Supreme Court's interpretation of Title IX because it accepts taxpayer funding. In a letter sent this week to YMCA President and CEO Suzanne McCormick and the organization's board of directors, APC urged the organization to revise its policies governing sports, bathrooms, locker rooms and overnight accommodations following the Supreme Court's June 30 decisions in West Virginia v. B.P.J. and Little v. Hecox. In a 9-0 decision, the Supreme Court ruled that states can limit women's and girls' sports to biological females and that Title IX's use of the word "sex" refers to biological sex. CONSERVATIVES HAIL JUSTICE THOMAS FOR 'TRUTH BOMB' ABOUT RULING PROTECTING WOMEN'S SPORTS "The Supreme Court has drawn an unmistakable line by reaffirming that Title IX's protections are rooted in biological sex," American Parents Coalition Executive Director Alleigh Marré said in a statement. "The YMCA has ignored parents' concerns for far too long while maintaining policies that undermine the privacy, safety, and fairness Title IX was enacted to protect. The Court's decisions should serve as a wake-up call for every federally funded institution." The coalition is calling on YMCA leadership to rescind policies allowing biological males to participate in female sports or access female-only bathrooms, locker rooms and overnight accommodations, publish updated policies recognizing sex-based protections for women and girls, and publicly affirm the organization's commitment to complying with Title IX. "The Supreme Court has now made clear that biological sex is the legally operative distinction under Title IX," the letter states. "The YMCA faces a choice. It can restore policies that protect women and girls, rebuild parents' trust, and align its practices with the law as interpreted by the highest court in the land." BIDEN OFFICIALS CIRCUMVENTED COURT ORDER IN TITLE IX CASES, INCLUDING MALES IN GIRLS’ SPORTS, DOCS SHOW The letter marks the latest step in APC's yearlong campaign targeting the YMCA's transgender inclusion policies. Last year, the organization filed Title IX complaints with the Departments of Education, Health and Human Services, and Housing and Urban Development, alleging the YMCA's policies violated federal civil rights law. It also asked Congress to investigate the YMCA's use of federal funding. APC argues that although the Supreme Court's recent rulings focused on women's sports, the Court's reasoning extends to other sex-separated spaces. The group contends YMCA policies allowing individuals to use bathrooms, locker rooms, overnight accommodations and participate on sports teams according to their gender identity are inconsistent with the Court's interpretation of Title IX. The coalition also alleges the YMCA removed or revised webpages describing some of its gender identity policies after they received public scrutiny while leaving the underlying policies unchanged. APC further claims some YMCA camps continue allowing counselors to stay in cabins that correspond with their gender identity rather than their biological sex. TRUMP CABINET MEMBER SCRAPS OBAMA-ERA GENDER IDENTITY HOUSING RULE, CITES ‘BIOLOGICAL REALITY’ A Fox News Digital review found several local YMCA associations, including the YMCA of Metropolitan Detroit, Lakeland Hills YMCA in New Jersey and the Gateway Region YMCA, maintain policies allowing members to use bathrooms and locker rooms that correspond with their gender identity. SIGN UP TO GET THE POLITICS NEWSLETTER The renewed criticism comes a month after controversy at a San Francisco YMCA drew national attention. After months of complaints from some members regarding a transgender woman using the women's locker room at the Stonestown branch, the facility adopted updated locker room guidelines emphasizing that nudity should be "discreet, limited, and brief" while instructing members to respect others' privacy and personal space. The revised rules addressed conduct inside the locker room but did not change the YMCA's policy allowing transgender members to access facilities consistent with their gender identity. The YMCA did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment on APC's allegations or whether it plans to review its policies following the Supreme Court's decisions. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4e63acc2ca79de23654dc0 Apple to produce Made in America wireless chips with Broadcom te 2026-07-08T14:50:20.997Z Apple to produce Made in America wireless chips with Broadcom Apple has signed a $30 billion+ multiyear deal with Broadcom to design and produce more than 15 billion U.S.-made custom wireless connectivity chips for Apple products. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4e5f23c2ca79de23654ce8 Insane country music concert brawl goes viral after fans fight during Gavin Adcock show te 2026-07-08T14:30:59.739Z Insane country music concert brawl goes viral after fans fight during Gavin Adcock show Some fans at a Gavin Adcock concert found themselves in an all-out brawl. Gavin Adcock is one of the fastest rising stars in the country music world, and his style is pretty in-your-face and over the top. His music is certainly a lot of fun. It's perfect for a rowdy cookout with the boys. However, I think it's safe to say some people took the party a bit too far. MORGAN WALLEN FAN GOES VIRAL KICKING A PHONE OUT OF SOMEONE'S HAND AS SHE'S BEING ESCORTED OUT IN HANDCUFFS The "Last One To Know" singer was performing at The Wharf Amphitheater in Orange Beach, Alabama over the weekend, according to Whiskey Riff, and all hell broke loose. Video footage going viral online shows a group of guys in the stands beating the living daylights out of each other like it was a UFC fight. COUNTRY MUSIC STAR CELEBRATES BIRTHDAY WITH SPICY SWIMSUIT PHOTO One man was pinned on the stairs and appeared to have his head repeatedly bashed. The footage is, in all honesty, a little scary. You can watch the absolute anarchy unfold by swiping over in the Instagram post below. I've said it before, and I'll say it again. I will never understand why people pay their hard-earned money to attend a concert or sporting event and then behave in this fashion. It's mind-boggling to me. If I'm shelling out a lot of cash for a special event, you better believe I'm not doing anything other than soaking it all in. Instead, these guys decided throwing punches and trying to inflict maximum damage was a good idea. Simply insane behavior. What do you think about the footage? Let me know at David.Hookstead@outkick.com. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4e5f10c2ca79de23654cdf Platner told rape victims to ‘take some responsibility’ and avoid being assaulted in vulgar resurfaced post te 2026-07-08T14:30:40.293Z Platner told rape victims to ‘take some responsibility’ and avoid being assaulted in vulgar resurfaced post Graham Platner, Maine’s embattled Democratic Senate nominee who stands accused of rape, made a Reddit post in 2013 where he criticized victims of rape. "Holy f-ck, how about people just take some responsibility for themselves and not get so f---ed up they wind up having sex with someone they don't mean to?" Platner wrote in 2013, responding to another user who expressed disappointment that women couldn’t get intoxicated without fearing sexual assault. "Men and women, you make a choice to consume enough of a substance to lose your self control. So if you don't want to be in a comprising [sic.] situation, act like an adult for f---s sake," Platner continued. "Rape is a real thing, if you're so worried about it to buy Kevlar underwear you'd think you might not get blacked out f---ed up around people you aren't comfortable with." EXPLOSIVE SEXUAL ASSAULT ALLEGATION ROCKS PLATNER CAMPAIGN AHEAD OF KEY DEADLINE IN CRUCIAL SENATE RACE Jenny Racicot, Platner’s former girlfriend, accused him of raping her in late 2021, saying he broke into her home while intoxicated and forced her to have sex despite her objections. Platner has denied the allegation, which Politico first reported July 6. "I remember him grabbing my pelvis and being really forceful of me," Racicot told Politico. "I remember the specific moment where I thought to myself, like, ‘This is no longer my choice.’" "One of the reasons I didn’t come forward sooner was, the huge moral conflict that I had between supporting his politics, but not supporting him as a person," she continued. NEW YORK TIMES UNDER SCRUTINY OVER GRAHAM PLATNER COVERAGE AS ACCUSERS SPEAK OUT AGAINST PAPER Lyndsey Fifield, also one of Platner’s ex-girlfriends, corroborated the claim that Platner abused alcohol, telling the New York Times in June he "too often self medicated with alcohol, and was a far from perfect boyfriend." She also accused Platner of emotional abuse and intimidation, allegations he denies as well. "You can’t be that way in private and not have it translate into how you would govern or how you would legislate," Fifield said. "It terrifies me to think of him having any type of power politically, because what is he going to do with the women in his office?" HOW GRAHAM PLATNER'S CAMPAIGN UNRAVELED: FROM REDDIT POSTS TO RAPE ALLEGATION Platner has so far resisted calls to drop out of the Senate race despite a number of high-profile Democrats rescinding their endorsements. Platner must withdraw by July 13 for Democrats to be able to select a replacement candidate by July 27.  If Platner does decide to stay in the race, a different Reddit post where he criticized Republicans for supporting candidates accused of sexual assault could come back to haunt him. "Ah yes, the old ‘I’ll vote for the sexual predator/corrupt candidate scheme because he’s a Republican’ game," Platner wrote in 2018, responding to a now deleted post on a firearms subreddit. The Platner campaign did not respond to a request for comment when reached by Fox News Digital on Wednesday. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4e5cbac2ca79de23654c75 15-year-old exits Wimbledon junior draw after racket-throwing incident ends first-round match te 2026-07-08T14:20:42.600Z 15-year-old exits Wimbledon junior draw after racket-throwing incident ends first-round match A 15-year-old women’s singles competitor at Wimbledon learned quite the lesson during play on Monday. Tantrums will not be tolerated. Ida Wobker, from Germany, was disqualified from the Wimbledon junior tournament after throwing her racket on the ground, which bounced into the stands. The decision was confirmed by the All England Club on Sunday. CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM The incident occurred during the second set of the first round match between Wobker and her opponent on Saturday. SERENA WILLIAMS DROPS WIMBLEDON COMEBACK MATCH TO 20-YEAR-OLD MAYA JOINT AFTER FOUR-YEAR ABSENCE Maria Valentina Pop, of Romania, had dominated the first set, 6-0, and with things deadlocked in the second set at 5-5, Wobker hit a backhanded shot out of bounds. Showing clear frustration for the error, Wobker threw her racket, and though she might not have intended to do so, it flew into the stands. It’s unclear if it struck any spectators, but there were a bunch in the lower levels where the racket landed. Wobker was quick to go over and apologize for her grave mistake, but officials paused the match and deliberated over the punishment. In the end, Wobker was given a code violation for her behavior on the grass, and Pop was rewarded the automatic bid into the next round of the women’s junior singles tournament. She would later lose to Daniella Britton in that second round match. Wobker addressed the incident on her Instagram Stories on Saturday night, writing that, "S--- happens, you learn from it!," according to The Sun. The International Tennis Federation rules have clear direction on what to do when a racket is thrown in Wobker’s manner, stating that a player "shall not violently or with anger hit, kick or throw a racquet" during a tournament. Officials stepped in, and as Wobker said, she’s going to learn from the situation. It wasn’t her best effort on the court before the moment of frustration, committing 11 double faults during services and 44 unforced errors. But, at just 15 years old, Wobker is ranked 24th in the International Tennis Federation’s junior world rankings, meaning she has a lot of career left in her to channel her frustration on the court. Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4e5a9bc2ca79de23654bc2 Republican lawmakers press WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert to protect Caitlin Clark te 2026-07-08T14:11:39.879Z Republican lawmakers press WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert to protect Caitlin Clark The criticism of WNBA officiating has now reached Capitol Hill. Just days after Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark publicly called on the league to do a better job protecting its players, a group of Republican lawmakers is demanding answers from WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert. CLICK HERE FOR MORE OUTKICK SPORTS COVERAGE In a letter led by Rep. August Pfluger, chairman of the Republican Study Committee, and co-signed by a dozen members of Congress — including lawmakers from Indiana — the group argued that the WNBA has failed to adequately protect its biggest star from repeated unnecessary physical play. "Caitlin Clark is transforming women's sports," the letter began. "She has inspired a new generation of young girls to participate in athletics and has become one of the most influential figures in the history of women's basketball." The lawmakers also point to Clark's impact on the league's popularity. "She is also the face of your league," they wrote. "Clark has significantly increased fan interest, driven record television ratings, and attracted new corporate sponsors for the WNBA." From there, though, the letter turns sharply toward the league's handling of on-court physicality. "Unfortunately, what they too often witness is not simply aggressive competition, but repeated acts of unnecessary physical hostility and violence," the lawmakers wrote. The letter specifically referenced several incidents involving Clark. "Clark has been hip-checked, poked in the eye, and struck in the throat during games," it stated. "These incidents go far beyond routine physical play, yet the WNBA and its officiating have too often failed to address these unacceptable incidents and hold players accountable." The "struck in the throat" reference stemmed from Clark's June 24 game against the Phoenix Mercury, when officials reviewed contact from Alyssa Thomas during a loose-ball scramble but declined to assess a flagrant foul. Days later, the league upgraded the play to a Flagrant 2 and suspended Thomas for one game. Clark later said she believed officials missed the call in real time. "I did think it was a flagrant foul," Clark said. She added: "It's kind of been a discussion for three years now, and I think we really need to do a better job protecting the people in this league. I've been involved in a few of those plays, but there's been plenty of others across the league that haven't been called. You go back postgame or whatever it is, teams submit clips and nothing changes. I think overall the league has to do better." CAITLIN CLARK CALLS FOR FULL-TIME WNBA REFEREES AS OFFICIATING FAILURES MOUNT IN 2026 The congressional letter went a step further, arguing Engelbert has a responsibility to ensure every player competes "in a safe and professional environment." "As Commissioner, you have an obligation to ensure that every player competes in a safe and professional environment, both on and off the court, free from violence, discrimination, or retaliation," the lawmakers wrote. "If discrimination or retaliation is occurring and creating a hostile work environment, we support any appropriate investigation by the Department of Justice, the Department of Labor, or the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. If true, such conduct could constitute violations of federal civil rights laws." The letter concluded by urging the league to take stronger action. "The league has an extraordinary opportunity to inspire the next generation of female athletes to pursue athletics, but that opportunity is undermined when its brightest stars are not adequately protected," the letter reads. "Your fans deserve better, and so do the young girls who look to the WNBA as a model for excellence, sportsmanship, and opportunity." The timing comes as the WNBA continues to face mounting criticism over its officiating despite an offseason overhaul intended to improve consistency and player safety. Engelbert formed a task force of coaches and executives before the season to address concerns over excessive physicality and freedom of movement. But nearly two months into the year, coaches, players and front-office personnel around the league continue to voice frustration with inconsistent whistles, missed calls and what many believe is a lack of accountability. Apparently, that officiating task force still has some work to do. And everyone is noticing. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4e5a88c2ca79de23654bb9 Officers in Maryland respond to reported assault, discover guns and unusual group of animals te 2026-07-08T14:11:20.422Z Officers in Maryland respond to reported assault, discover guns and unusual group of animals An alleged assault in Maryland led to an unusual discovery after deputies arrested a landlord accused of threatening his tenants at gunpoint and found an alligator, a caiman, a snake, an emu and six handguns on the property, authorities said. Sir Leander Evans Gamble, 57, of Waldorf, was arrested July 3 after deputies responded to a reported assault involving a firearm at a property on Penjack Place, according to the Charles County Sheriff's Office. Investigators said Gamble confronted three people renting a trailer on his property, physically assaulted them and then retrieved a handgun from his residence. He allegedly pointed the weapon at the victims and threatened to harm them before deputies took him into custody at the scene. MARCELLUS WILEY'S WIFE CLAIMS EX-NFL STAR THREATENED TO KILL HER BEFORE FOURTH OF JULY DOMESTIC BATTERY ARREST Police identified the victims as a woman, her 28-year-old son and the son's girlfriend, who was eight months pregnant at the time of the incident, FOX5 DC reported. The woman told the station she had been left traumatized and financially strained after the confrontation. Authorities executed a search warrant at Gamble's residence and recovered six handguns, the sheriff's office said. The investigation took another turn when Charles County Animal Control officers responding to the scene found multiple animals allegedly being kept in neglectful conditions, including an alligator, a caiman, a snake, an emu, dogs, cats and pigs. FLORIDA WOMAN MAULED TO DEATH BY DOGS THAT HAD ALLEGEDLY TERRORIZED NEIGHBORHOOD, OWNER CHARGED IN KILLING "Charles County Animal Control officers determined the animals were being kept in conditions that did not comply with Maryland animal cruelty statutes," Jennifer L. Harris, chief of media services for the Charles County Government, said in a statement to the outlet. All the animals were removed from the property, Harris said, adding that Animal Control's investigation into their welfare remains active. The renters also alleged that a dog named Carter died after Gamble failed to provide air conditioning in the trailer, according to FOX 5. Animal Control has not confirmed the dog's cause of death. Gamble was charged with aggravated assault, and authorities said additional charges could be filed as the investigation continues. He was being held without bond at the Charles County Detention Center. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4e5a60c2ca79de23654b94 Blue Origin reportedly raising $10B at $130B valuation te 2026-07-08T14:10:40.996Z Blue Origin reportedly raising $10B at $130B valuation Blue Origin is raising $10 billion at a $130 billion pre-money valuation from Coatue Asset Management, Bezos himself and other big-name investors, the New York Times reported. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4e5a4dc2ca79de23654b8b Venus Aerospace raises $90M Series B to build a new kind of rocket engine te 2026-07-08T14:10:21.552Z Venus Aerospace raises $90M Series B to build a new kind of rocket engine Build a new kind of rocket engine, and the world will beat a path to your door. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4e55c6c2ca79de23654a6b From traffic infractions to arrests: A look at Lake Havasu City candidates te 2026-07-08T13:51:02.609Z From traffic infractions to arrests: A look at Lake Havasu City candidates A mayoral candidate’s arrest that never led to charges, a pending civil lawsuit and a handful of minor traffic violations surfaced in a Today’s News-Herald review of recent public records involving Lake Havasu City candidates. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4e55b2c2ca79de23654a61 Lake Havasu City candidate Q&A: Do mayor and council seats need clearer limits in Lake Havasu City? te 2026-07-08T13:50:42.645Z Lake Havasu City candidate Q&A: Do mayor and council seats need clearer limits in Lake Havasu City? As early voting for the 2026 primary election is underway, Today’s News-Herald is asking Lake Havasu City Council candidates one question each week. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4e4ee5c2ca79de23653f72 Golf influencer Paige Spiranac stuns the internet with her latest content, an 18-handicap shines & BOOM! te 2026-07-08T13:21:41.161Z Golf influencer Paige Spiranac stuns the internet with her latest content, an 18-handicap shines & BOOM! I hope you guys are ready for a Wednesday Screencaps that includes an amateur athletic performance unlike anything you have seen this year. I'm talking a performance that you have never seen out of Tiger Woods. All of you remember that I teased a golf video that was made while I was Up North at Garland Golf Resort in Lewiston, Michigan. Let me set this up by reminding you that this video was shot after I'd played somewhere around 152-154 holes of golf over five days. The USGA GHIN has me at an 18 handicap. It was 105 degrees with the humidity. The air wasn't moving. I'm talking a complete heat dome over my head. My 2026 Thursday Night Mowing League polo was completely soaked with beer, transfusions, and other toxicants. And then I pulled off this video -- all single takes; no mulligans; no do-overs to make this look good for Facebook; no antics like these Facebook golf bros pull by fluffing balls in the rough -- that my kids might think is pretty cool 20 years from now. Hopefully. I'll pat myself on the back over this one. The most impressive part is that I didn't have to tell Garland social media manager Aubrey that I wanted to do another take. Some are even calling me One Take Kinsey. Special thanks to Garland staff, including head pro Shane Riley. I introduced myself to Shane at the resort's tiki bar on Sunday and he immediately INSISTED I would be guest starring on Tee Shot Tuesday. Shane didn't even give me a chance to say 'no.' He stalked me. I felt like a piece of meat, but he had faith in my abilities. The last guy I wanted to disappoint was Shane. That's the beauty of Garland. The people. Is Garland going to wow you with 200-foot drops on par 3s? Nope. Does it have the massive sweeping holes created out of ski resort valleys? Nope. But this resort has the best people in the golf hospitality business that we've found. Trust me, we've been absolutely hosed by golf resorts. Two trips were completely ruined by one scumbag golf resort that I've sworn off. Our faith in Up North was restored by Garland GM Dave Sanderson and his staff. They have to hustle to keep up with the shiny resorts with those picturesque par 3s. From Dave, Shane, Michelle the Cart Girl, Lisa the Cart Girl, Rob the Starter, Social Media Aubrey, Kristin the Crazy Waitress and on and on, I can't say enough about these folks. Garland is like going to a friend's house to party and play 100 holes of golf. AFTER BLOWOUT LOSS TO BELGIUM, MANY ARE WONDERING IF TEAM USA IS BETTER OR WORSE THAN IT WAS A DECADE AGO *Disclaimer: I paid for my trip! #notsponsored like some of these golf influencers. (Shane did give me the hat to wear for Tee Shot Tuesday because I was wearing a competitor's hat and that wouldn't be great for marketing.) 📩 Email: joe.kinsey@outkick.com Send photos, stories, tips, rants—whatever you've got. 📰 Screencaps Page: 👉 Read the latest Screencaps ▶️ YouTube: Screencaps with Joe Kinsey Subscribe for videos, rants, and behind-the-scenes. 🐦 Twitter/X: @JoeKinseyexp Tag me or drop a DM. 📸 Instagram: @OutKickScreencaps You guys need to start tagging me on content you're seeing. 📘 Facebook Page: Screencaps on Facebook 👥 Facebook Group: Join the Screencaps Community 📬 Mail (Thursday Night Mowing League): 27072 Carronade Dr, Unit A 155 Perrysburg, OH 43551 🗞️ Newsletter: 👉 Subscribe here 14U baseball tournament UPDATE Survive and advance is the name of the game. The No. 15 seed is still alive after a 7-4 victory via three strong innings out of my No. 3 starter and one inning out of our No. 1 to close the door and keep our hopes alive. For those of you keeping track at home, that's now five straight wins. Opponents haven't scored double-digits on us since June 13. After an absolutely miserable start to the season where I was starting to question my love for the game, my faith has been restored. The boys are engaged, puffing out their chests and the confidence level is through the roof. I have kids barreling balls like I've never seen out of them. This season turned around when us coaches (there are two of us unlike travel ball teams that need six dads in the dugout) challenged the boys to take ownership of their season. It was up to them and they've responded. Up next: No. 2 seed Genoa. I think they're like 14-2. I'm guessing they created one all-star team made up of kids who also play travel on weekends. They've run-ruled a bunch of teams, but I'm going to throw my ace and Screencaps Jr. at them and see what happens. Maybe they run out their No. 4 starter to save pitching and we catch them off-guard. Remember when the U.S. beat the Russians? Kinsey: Yes, Jase, some people believe that. Then there are the rest of us who watched as Balogun was a non-factor because the guys who are supposed to get the ball to him aren't great and our defense is led by a woke bartender. Trump's team stood up for the soccer program. That's smart leadership. – Mark in Tucson says there's a soccer academy here that will toughen U.S. soccer players: You don’t need Argentina to make kids suffer at soccer camp: Have you ever heard of Casa Grande, Arizona? It’s midway between Tucson and Phoenix. It’s HOT, it’s isolated, it’s in the middle of the desert, and it would probably suffice if you wanted to toughen up kids. The Barça Residency Academy USA is there, and due to the affiliation with FC Barcelona, presumably they’re serious about soccer. But the backstory of the resort is incredible: The "resort" used to be the spring training headquarters of the San Francisco Giants. It was built in 1959, then became popular with Hollywood, with John Wayne spending enough time there that the restaurant is named after him. The Giants left for Scottsdale in 1980, and the resort pivoted and even closed for a while. It’s now a fancy soccer academy. It’s still open, and feels like a time capsule. It’s jarring to see all the pictures of sports and entertainment legends that adorn the walls, and a bunch of kids in soccer gear hanging around, all in the middle of nowhere. That said, the food is surprisingly good. The baseball diamonds in the picture are now soccer fields, but the baseball bat shaped pool is still there, and it all still looks pretty much the same. Thank you for your daily dose of sanity. Kinsey: Yeah, but I want our teens to feel what it's like to be desperate like the Argentinian boys. I want them to feel what it's like to have an Argentinian baby mama to feed on a soccer contract. I need some of our white boys to come back as Argentinian hood rats. Our boys are already pampered. I need them to stay way from Arizona resorts. Just when you're about to settle in for the dog days of summer, Paige comes along and dumps out new bikini content. The world's No. 1 ranked golf influencer, as named by the OutKick Culture Department, just gets it. Nobody knows the game like this woman. – Beer Guy Neil in Cleveland emails: Hey Joe, thanks for the shout out on do hard things. I don't know where I came across this tradition. It's known as the Glacier View car launch and is real Americans launching driver-less beaters from a bluff to a beach. There's a lot of filler to fast forward thru, but if you love carnage and chaos, you're one of us. There's gotta be an Alaskan screencap reader that can give a boots on the ground report. The lefties would lose their mind watching this! Wyn in Colorado wants to know if this rig is TNML approved. 100%. Remember, being a member of the TNML isn't about who can be the biggest Billy Badass in the sport. It's about taking pride in property and community. If mowing in an AC cab with Def Leppard pumping in your ears helps get the job done, then go for it. ############## And with that, I'm out this morning. I have a day of work to put in. Watch my golf video. Critique it. Tell me how good that 40-foot downhill putt was. Compliment my mental game. Go have a great day. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4e4ed1c2ca79de23653f69 Katie Couric couldn't remember the year or the president during frightening brain episode te 2026-07-08T13:21:21.706Z Katie Couric couldn't remember the year or the president during frightening brain episode Journalist Katie Couric is sharing a scary medical episode that she experienced on June 27. In a post on Substack titled "The Day I’ll Never Remember," she detailed a sudden episode that left her unable to recall the current month, year and president. "I thought it was 2024. And I believed Joe Biden was president," she wrote. ONE WALKING HABIT COULD SIGNAL A HEALTHIER BRAIN AFTER 80, SCIENTISTS SAY The event occurred while Couric was attending the Aspen Ideas Festival in Colorado, during which she participated in two public panels — one on AI and one on journalism — both of which she cannot remember at all. "I have no idea what we talked about, or of what occurred when the panels ended," she said. John Molner — Couric’s husband, who was in attendance at the festival and the two panels — also shared his account. After the event, someone told Molner that Katie wasn’t feeling well. When he reached her, an EMT and a doctor were tending to her. "I could tell something was off," he wrote. "It could have been altitude sickness, but Katie was definitely not all there." WOMAN WITH ADVANCED ALZHEIMER'S REGAINED SPEECH AND MEMORIES AFTER TAKING MAGIC MUSHROOMS At the hospital, when Couric struggled to recall the year, the president and her grandchildren’s names, doctors began checking for a stroke. An MRI revealed no signs of stroke, which was a relief, but "Katie’s ‘fog’ became a lot more apparent," Molner wrote. "She repeatedly asked me the same questions: ‘What was I doing before we got to the hospital?’ ‘Why am I at the hospital?’" Couric was ultimately diagnosed with transient global amnesia, a sudden, temporary episode of memory loss that prevents a person from forming new memories and may also erase some recent memories, according to Mayo Clinic. It is not caused by a stroke, seizure or head injury, and it usually resolves completely within 24 hours. "[It’s] just a very weird neural episode that’s pretty uncommon and, at least in most cases, is a ‘one and done’ experience," Molner said. TEST YOURSELF WITH OUR LATEST LIFESTYLE QUIZ Couric said she finally began feeling "like herself" again around 9 p.m., and went to sleep at 2 a.m. As TGA leaves a "permanent gap in memory" for the duration of the episode and for hours beforehand, Couric said that from around noon on that day until at least 7 p.m. will remain a "big, black hole." Data shows that approximately three to eight people per 100,000 will have an episode of transient global amnesia, with people 50 years of age and older at higher risk. The specific cause of TGA is not known, but some experts believe it stems from a "temporary dysfunction in the brain’s hippocampus — the area responsible for creating new memories," Couric shared. CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR HEALTH NEWSLETTER "Doctors believe this is driven by brief interruptions in blood or oxygen flow, or microscopic spasm in the blood vessels." Episodes could potentially be triggered by intense physical exertion, emotional distress, extreme temperature changes or migraines, experts say. CLICK HERE FOR MORE HEALTH STORIES Approximately 15% of patients will have a recurrence 10 years later. "Why did this happen to me? Was the altitude an issue? Was I dehydrated? Tired? Stressed? The literature doesn’t seem to indicate that these are contributing factors, but the cause seems to be as mysterious as the brain itself," Couric wrote. "All I know is that those hours will be forever lost. Someone described it as my brain failing to hit the ‘record button.’" "While this was a freaky occurrence, it could have been much more serious. So ultimately, I’m relieved — even though several hours of a Saturday in June will always be missing for me." Anyone who experiences sudden memory loss, confusion, difficulty speaking, weakness, numbness, vision changes, severe headache or other stroke-like symptoms should seek immediate medical attention or call 911, doctors advise. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4e4ebec2ca79de23653f60 Manhattan building stabilized, some evacuations lifted after collapse feared te 2026-07-08T13:21:02.258Z Manhattan building stabilized, some evacuations lifted after collapse feared A 37-story Manhattan high-rise that sparked fears of a possible collapse and forced widespread evacuations in one of New York City's busiest neighborhoods was stabilized late Tuesday, allowing officials to lift some evacuation orders. Officials said residents were allowed to return to several of the seven buildings evacuated earlier in the day after inspectors found no additional movement in the damaged structure. "We've been monitoring the building for many hours and have not seen any movement," New York City Department of Buildings Commissioner Ahmed Tigani said during a Tuesday evening news conference. The scare began Tuesday morning after workers discovered buckling structural columns inside the former Pfizer headquarters, a 1970s-era office tower being converted into more than 1,600 luxury apartments. MANHATTAN HIGH-RISE EVACUATED AS OFFICIALS WARN OF POTENTIAL COLLAPSE Firefighters responded around 8 a.m., prompting the evacuation of nearby buildings, including a school, diplomatic offices and hotels in the bustling Midtown corridor near Grand Central Terminal. Mayor Zohran Mamdani called the situation "extremely serious" as engineers conducted floor-by-floor inspections of the building. US UPDATES TRAVEL WARNING FOR QUAKE-HIT NATION, CITING DISASTER RISKS AND VIOLENT CRIME By Tuesday evening, contractors had begun shoring up the damaged area after city officials determined the damaged columns were no longer shifting, though repair work is expected to continue and could disrupt the surrounding area. Fire Chief John Esposito said officials were concerned about the possibility of a localized structural failure rather than the entire steel-framed building collapsing. A visibly bent column on the 21st floor, along with cracks and sagging floors, prompted the extensive precautionary response. Nathan Berman, founder of developer MetroLoft, told The Wall Street Journal that additional weight from the project's upper-floor expansion likely contributed to the damage, though he insisted the building itself remains structurally sound. "Ninety-five percent of the building, the structure is sound and intact," Berman told the newspaper. "There is no way that this corner of a small extension all of a sudden topples this building." Berman added that investigators are still trying to determine why the two columns buckled. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4e4eaac2ca79de23653f57 Erika Kirk comforts a stranger in tears during hearing for husband's accused assassin Tyler Robinson te 2026-07-08T13:20:42.802Z Erika Kirk comforts a stranger in tears during hearing for husband's accused assassin Tyler Robinson PROVO, Utah — In an emotional moment in the gallery during the second day of a preliminary hearing for Charlie Kirk's accused assassin Tyler Robinson in a Utah courthouse Tuesday, the victim's widow Erika Kirk reached forward to hand a tissue to a crying woman in the row in front of her. Over the course of the hearing, the Kirk family has been given permission to come and go to avoid painful testimony. At one point Tuesday, as defense attorney Richard Novak cross-examined the case's lead investigator, David Hull, the Kirk family left the room as the testimony turned to the fatal gunshot. TYLER ROBINSON'S AND LANCE TWIGG'S DNA BOTH ALLEGEDLY FOUND ON KEY EVIDENCE IN CHARLIE KIRK'S ASSASSINATION They returned about 10 minutes later when the topic had changed, with Erika Kirk leaning on her mother-in-law, Kathy Kirk. CHARLIE KIRK'S FAMILY COMES FACE TO FACE WITH ACCUSED ASSASSIN FOR FIRST TIME As they took their seats, Erika Kirk leaned forward and handed a tissues to a woman, Denae Branch, who was seated in the row ahead of her. "I went thinking I was going to support Erika, and at one point I turn around, and I see her just holding on to her sweet mother-in-law, and I like, kind of lose it and start crying," Branch said in a teary video on Instagram explaining the encounter. "Next thing I know, I feel a tap on my shoulder, and I turn back, and Erika is handing me one of her tissues." Branch and three of her friends were already in line to get into the courthouse around 2:30 a.m. Tuesday. ACCUSED CHARLIE KIRK ASSASSIN TYLER ROBINSON FIGHTS BACK AS PROSECUTORS' SPRAWLING CASE COMES INTO FOCUS They told Fox News Digital they had arrived at midnight after they came too late Monday morning to get one of the 14 seats available to the public in the Fourth District Courthouse in Provo. Branch and her friends said they were attending the Turning Point USA event at Utah Valley University on Sept. 10, 2025, when Kirk was shot and killed. They were strangers at the time, but met through a support group for survivors and witnesses in the months that followed the assassination. Prior to the hearing, two women in their group were asked to remove or cover up their Turning Point USA T-shirts to comply with the court's decorum order, which bans messages of support for other side in the case. "She didn't know that I was there for her," Branch said in her video. "We weren't allowed to wear anything to tell her that we were there for her...But that's just who Erika is. She's good." She declined to be interviewed on camera. "I hope she feels my prayers for her," she said in her Instagram post. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4e4c7bc2ca79de23653efe Elk Ridge shifts focus to adding providers as transition from North Country continues te 2026-07-08T13:11:23.014Z Elk Ridge shifts focus to adding providers as transition from North Country continues North Country began the transition to Elk Ridge after it was transferred to the ownership of Tucson-based El Rio Health at the beginning of April. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4e4c66c2ca79de23653ed7 One year after deadly Texas floods, Hill Country proves grief can't wash away grit te 2026-07-08T13:11:02.013Z One year after deadly Texas floods, Hill Country proves grief can't wash away grit A year ago this summer, on July 4, floodwaters rose in the dark in the Texas Hill Country and did not stop. By morning, 139 people across the Hill Country were gone: 119 of them in Kerr County. Many were neighbors and friends; others had come to experience its beauty. Like so many families across our community, my life was changed forever by the flood, and the anniversary we mark this month is deeply personal. A year later, there are empty seats at dinner tables. There are families marking anniversaries they never wanted to face. There are roads, camps, homes and riverbanks that carry memories none of us can forget. REMEMBERING TEXAS HILL COUNTRY: 1 YEAR SINCE THE HEARTBREAKING FLOODING DISASTER For so many of us, it has been a season of grief as well as a season of recovery. We have spent the year since learning that a disaster happens in an instant, and recovery is much longer; it takes everything you have, for as long as you have it to give. In the first days, Texas did what Texas does. Neighbors pulled neighbors out of the water. Ordinary people became heroes. Continuing the legacy of disaster relief, organizations like Fox Corporation helped amplify the needs of the Texas Hill Country across its entire portfolio by engaging viewers across the country. In just one week, those viewers contributed more than $7 million to the Community Foundation. Those gifts, alongside the generosity of thousands of other donors, have helped families return home, supported businesses, expanded access to mental health services and strengthened communities across Kerr County. That generosity became the foundation for the yearlong rebuilding and recovery effort that followed. Recovery is a family carrying boxes back into a house that smelled like river mud six months ago. It is a woman unlocking the shop her father opened and standing there for a moment before the first customer walks in. It is a child who can finally sleep through a thunderstorm because a trained clinician worked with him, week after week. Across the Hill Country, families, volunteers, nonprofits, churches, businesses, government agencies, mental health counselors and ordinary residents have spent the last year doing the slow work of recovery. FLASHBACK: FOX CORPORATION LAUNCHES RELIEF CAMPAIGN FOLLOWING DEVASTATING TEXAS FLOODS Today, most flood-affected families are back in permanent housing, and more return home every month. Businesses have reopened and are optimistic. Some community gathering places have been restored and more will be completed in the months ahead. Little League games are being played again. New trees are being planted where the river stripped away decades of growth. Recovery is also showing up in places beyond what is being rebuilt. Local sales tax collections have risen in each of the past nine months — a reminder that when families are able to stay, rebuild and return home, local businesses and the broader economy benefit as well. TRINITY UNIVERSITY COACH MOURNS ‘KIND SPIRIT’ OF 8-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER WHO DIED AT CAMP MYSTIC The flood wrecked what you could see. It also did damage you cannot see. Thousands of Hill Country residents, as well as people across Texas, have accessed counseling, grief support, trauma-informed care and mental health resources since the flood.  Grief does not recede like floodwaters. One year later, families are still doing the difficult, private work of healing that does not fit neatly into an application or government assistance program. We have treated that work with the same urgency we bring to rebuilding a home. A community that fixes its buildings and forgets its people has not fully come home. CLICK HERE FOR MORE FOX NEWS OPINION It is also true that not everyone is home. Not every question has been answered. Not everyone feels recovery has treated them fairly. A disaster of this scale leaves hard feelings alongside hard losses. Our community's recovery is not measured by whether everyone agrees, but by whether we keep showing up for one another anyway. One year out, progress is visible. People are home. People are healing. The community is strengthening. The work is not finished, and it will not be finished soon. But the Hill Country is moving forward because people have remained committed. Some came from next door, from across Texas and from across the country. Together, they reminded us that even in our darkest moments, we were not alone. What has amazed me most is the strength of local people — not the ones who arrived for a week, but the ones who are still here now. The ones who rebuilt homes, coached Little League, or simply showed up to work when showing up was its own act of courage. This community held together because so many people refused to let it fall apart. That is not a small thing; it is everything. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4e4c3ec2ca79de23653eb0 Venus Williams-backed WeWard can now lock your apps until you hit your steps te 2026-07-08T13:10:22.596Z Venus Williams-backed WeWard can now lock your apps until you hit your steps With funding from tennis star and angel investor Venus Williams, the French app WeWard says that it increases walking time by almost 25%. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4e47f5c2ca79de23653ccd Our View: A record number of vetoes points to a broken process te 2026-07-08T12:52:05.605Z Our View: A record number of vetoes points to a broken process Arizona's legislative session ended with a familiar scene. Governor Katie Hobbs signed dozens of bills into law and vetoed dozens more. In June she signed 72 bills and vetoed 88. A few days later, she signed another 51 bills. That… Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4e47e1c2ca79de23653cc4 Conor Sen: This demographic cliff is reshaping universities. Cities are next te 2026-07-08T12:51:45.634Z Conor Sen: This demographic cliff is reshaping universities. Cities are next An undergraduate enrollment shortfall at Syracuse University is the latest sign that long-forecast demographic pressures are taking their toll on large and well-known institutions, too. Syracuse laid blame on the declining numbers of high-school graduates and international students — problems… Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4e47cdc2ca79de23653cba Nature Notes | Funny, furry and feathered te 2026-07-08T12:51:25.673Z Nature Notes | Funny, furry and feathered Nature can inspire in us feelings of wonder, joy, and myriad other emotions. Sometimes, things that we see in nature can inspire a laugh. Perhaps we see something that reminds us of people we know- or even ourselves. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4e454ac2ca79de23653c24 Platner campaign putting 'thumb on scale' to influence possible replacement, Maine Dem alleges te 2026-07-08T12:40:42.594Z Platner campaign putting 'thumb on scale' to influence possible replacement, Maine Dem alleges The Maine Democratic Party issued a stern warning to U.S. Senate primary winner Graham Platner, telling him and his campaign that they have "no role" in choosing his replacement. Platner has not yet withdrawn from the race, and is still the state's Democrat nominee for U.S. Senate, despite mounting pressure from state and national Democrats to drop out after a woman who previously dated him accused him of sexual assault in a Politico report published Monday. Platner has denied the allegations, but said he is looking at "the best path forward," as he understood the political fallout the accusation would create. "The Maine Democratic Party has been working around the clock to develop a process to replace our U.S. Senate nominee that is open, inclusive, transparent, and fair," state party Executive Director Devon Murphy-Anderson said in a video posted to X amid myriad newly surfaced allegations levied against Platner with less than a week before the deadline to lock in the candidate to challenge incumbent Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine. "The integrity of this process is just as important as the outcome, and we are committed to ensuring that Democrats across our state can have confidence in both," Murphy-Anderson continued. "Unfortunately, Graham Platner's team has repeatedly reached out to us in an attempt to put their thumb on the scale of what this process looks like. We have repeatedly reiterated to Graham Platner's team that they have no role in determining our next Democratic nominee for the U.S. Senate, nor in determining what this process looks like." WHAT HAPPENS NEXT IF PLATNER DROPS OUT? HERE'S WHO COULD REPLACE HIM ON THE BALLOT AND HOW IT WOULD WORK Amid the fight with the Maine party leaders, an official for the Platner campaign said it "has reached out to the party to try and understand what this process would look like" and "at no point has the campaign tried to ‘put its finger on the scale.’" The official added that thousands of Maine residents voted and volunteered for Platner and they should play a role in the decision. "While Graham wouldn’t want to be a part of the process, he would want to make sure the voters and volunteers make this decision — not the political establishment," the statement said. GRAHAM PLATNER'S CHANCES OF DROPPING OUT SKYROCKET TO 94% AFTER PARTY REVOLT: KALSHI Fox News Digital has made multiple attempts to reach out to Platner's campaign for further comment, and also reached out to the Maine Democratic Party. EXPLOSIVE SEXUAL ASSAULT ALLEGATION ROCKS PLATNER CAMPAIGN AHEAD OF KEY DEADLINE IN CRUCIAL SENATE RACE Maine Democratic Party leaders called on Platner to withdraw Monday, saying "multiple women have made serious, credible allegations against Graham Platner" and that the party "stands with women and survivors." The party noted that no replacement process can begin unless Platner suspends his campaig, while stating that "in no scenario is there a legal possibility for a nominee to be selected by an individual campaign." "The sooner this process can begin, the more time we will have to administer an intentional and inclusive process for Mainers and Democrats," the party said. "We are entrusted with deciding who represents our values and who carries our banner," the party said. "That responsibility requires judgment, leadership, and a willingness to act when circumstances demand it." The timing is critical. According to the Maine Democratic Party, the deadline set by the secretary of state for a nominee to withdraw is July 13, and the deadline for a new nominee to be submitted is July 27. If Platner does not withdraw by the July 13 deadline, Democrats would not have the option to name a replacement. Names of potential replacements floated in media reports include former Maine Senate President Troy Jackson, Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows and Nirav Shah, the former director of the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention. The race is one of Democrats' top pickup opportunities as they seek to defeat Collins, a five-term Republican incumbent, and regain control of the Senate. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4e42f0c2ca79de23653afa Geno Auriemma makes unfathomably stupid comments about Caitlin Clark, but the WNBA mean girls will love them te 2026-07-08T12:30:40.601Z Geno Auriemma makes unfathomably stupid comments about Caitlin Clark, but the WNBA mean girls will love them I know it's late, but I've got a late submission for the "Dumbest Caitlin Clark Take Of The Year" award. I can still submit it? Good! Let's all welcome legendary UConn Women's basketball coach, Geno Auriemma, to the clubhouse. He'll be your new leader in just a minute. It's been nearly two weeks since Alyssa Thomas shoved Clark to the floor and did everything but choke her and use her as a doormat, and the discourse is as fiery as ever. Naturally, the whole thing has turned into a discussion about Thomas receiving online hate, because that's just how these things go in 2026. DAN DAKICH RIPS ALYSSA THOMAS AFTER CAITLIN CLARK HIT, SAYS WNBA STARS DODGE BLAME AGAIN As for Clark ... she still hasn't played since that game, although rumor has it she'll be back in the lineup as soon as tonight against the Los Angeles Sparks. Auriemma went on the "Sports Media Podcast with Richard Deitsch" to discuss all things basketball, including, of course, Caitlin Clark. And he offered a couple SCORCHING takes. "This was not something created by her," Auriemma said. "It was created about her by all the people in America who are delusional that think one player who's not Wemby is going to come in and transform the league. It's that whole s---storm of, 'This is Jesus coming down to save the WNBA. "Now, maybe there was a transformation in terms of how much attention is being paid. Yes. How much the league is valued? Yes. But it's not like when Tiger [Woods] came into the PGA Tour. He changed the PGA Tour forever. Why? Well, there was so much money that came to the PGA Tour, but in addition, he won every tournament. So that's the big difference." Yeah ... Geno Auriemma is completely wrong here. I'm not sure he's ever been more wrong in his life. Pat Summitt famously described him as "a smart-a-- who would take negative attention over no attention at all," and I'm thinking she nailed it. Caitlin Clark is 100% the Tiger Woods of the WNBA. Frankly, she's the Larry Bird of the WNBA, but we'll go with Tiger right now because that's who Geno used. Auriemma using money as a reason why she's not Tiger is laughable. The WNBA was basically broke before Caitlin Clark entered the league. It wasn't profitable, at all. It was bleeding money every year, and being held together by the NBA. Nobody watched. Nobody went. Nobody talked about the WNBA pre-Caitlin Clark. Believe me, I've been in this business for a long time. It was an afterthought. And then Clark came in as this mythical player from Iowa, and everything changed. People showed up. People watched. People paid money to see Caitlin Clark. That's not my opinion, by the way. Those are facts. Before Clark entered the league as a rookie in 2024, there was one WNBA game in 15 years with over 1 million viewers. One. A Sparks-Mercury game back in 2008. Since Clark's arrival, there have been at least 59 games with over 1 million viewers. During her first season in Indiana, the Fever alone had 21. Do you understand how insane those numbers are? It's all because of Caitlin Clark. Tiger Woods had the same impact on golf, the only difference is, the sport wasn't dying when he won at Augusta in 1997. He just made it cool again. Really, really, really cool. Now, Tiger has won and Caitlin Clark hasn't. Geno said that, and he's right. Basketball is a team game and golf is completely about the individual, so I'm not quite sure that comparison works. But, I won't argue it. He can have that one, I guess? I will, however, argue that money aspect of it. The pre-Clark CBA, which expired after last season, rose team salary caps by nearly $6 million, rose maximum salaries from around $249k to $1.4 million, and the average player salary roughly quadrupled. Quadrupled. There are now charter flights for every team in the league. That wasn't the case before Caitlin Clark, as silly as that sounds. Now, why do you think the post-Clark CBA looks so much different than the pre-Clark CBA, Geno? Because Caitlin Clark came into the league and literally made it watchable. She made it profitable. Which is why the rest of the league absolutely hating her and trying to hurt her every other game is so unfathomable. She made these girls rich. She set them up for life. And all they do is try to crush her. According to Auriemma, though, that's just par for the course. "And so instead of it becoming Caitlin Clark gets fouled hard … no s---, every first-round draft pick gets fouled hard," he added. "Not every foul is a good foul. Not every foul is a bad foul, but there are fouls that are flagrant. But that's all they are. They are not a referendum on America, which is what the whole goddamn thing has become." Yep. Nothing to see here. Totally normal stuff, Geno! Incredible. Man, I miss Pat Summitt. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4e3ea2c2ca79de23653a63 🚧 Havasu Tip List | Apparent misspellings on SARA Park signage te 2026-07-08T12:12:18.695Z 🚧 Havasu Tip List | Apparent misspellings on SARA Park signage Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4e3e8ec2ca79de23653a3e Las Vegas prices squeeze everyday travelers as popular city embraces expensive makeover te 2026-07-08T12:11:58.217Z Las Vegas prices squeeze everyday travelers as popular city embraces expensive makeover Las Vegas was once a playground for everyday travelers.  Now, many visitors are finding the price of admission harder to justify as the city leans harder into luxury hotels, celebrity-chef restaurants, stadium weekends and costly events, according to the Las Vegas Review-Journal. For budget-minded travelers, the new Vegas can feel like a city of upcharges.  GHOST-TOWN CASINOS NEAR LAS VEGAS GET STUNNING RESCUE AFTER FAMILY FINDS LAST-MINUTE BUYER A $26 minibar bottle of water at Aria, for example, sparked social media outrage in 2025. It became shorthand for the frustration that visitors are being "nickel and dimed" at every turn, according to the Las Vegas Review-Journal and the blog "View from the Wing." In 2025, Las Vegas visitation fell to 38.5 million, down 7.5% from 2024, according to the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA). In 2024, visitors generated a record $55.1 billion in direct spending. "Las Vegas has been an evolving tourism epicenter since its hotel and casino inception in the early 1900s," luxury travel expert Whytney Rawls told Fox News Digital. RICK HARRISON OF 'PAWN STARS' SAYS GAMBLING ISN'T DYING EVEN AS LAS VEGAS POKER ROOMS CLOSE ONE BY ONE "What was once a railroad stop in the middle of the desert has turned into one of the world's most talked-about destinations," said Rawls, who is based in Florida. There is a new demographic. In 2024, 64% of visitors earned $100,000 or more, according to the LVCVA.  By 2025, the market was even higher: Data showed 44% of visitors earned $150,000 or more, News 3 Las Vegas reported. "Gaming was once the dominant revenue driver," said Rawls. "Today, a much larger share comes from premium room rates, luxury dining, nightlife, entertainment, retail, and large-scale events." LAS VEGAS TOURISM PLUMMETS AS OFFICIALS CONSIDER $6M PLAN TO WIN BACK CANADIAN VISITORS The sticker shock is especially visible at the table.  Joël Robuchon inside MGM Grand lists a degustation menu starting at $525, as detailed in Stubborn Seed's Las Vegas Price Breakdown. Restaurant Guy Savoy at Caesars Palace features a 9-to-10-course Krug Chef's Table experience for $1,000 per person, according to Open Table. At Papi Steak at Fontainebleau Las Vegas, the $1,000 Beef Case features a 55-ounce Australian wagyu tomahawk, Business Insider reported. CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR LIFESTYLE NEWSLETTER "Vegas has evolved and is [today] more a premium lifestyle and entertainment market," Rawls said. The newer resorts reflect this change. Fontainebleau Las Vegas opened in December 2023 with 3,644 rooms, 36 bars and restaurants, Eater Vegas reported. On the Strip, gaming accounted for 26.1% of total casino revenue in 2025, while hotel rooms made up 33.5%, data from the Nevada Gaming Control Board indicated. So why focus on volume when another type of clientele will spend more? Rawls asked. CLICK HERE FOR MORE LIFESTYLE NEWS "Luxury travel is booming, and Vegas is right at the forefront, currently experiencing what many describe as a multi-billion-dollar luxury renaissance," Rawls said. Rawls noted a marked difference between muted designs compared with neon colors once associated with the Strip. "With this shift, they are refining their target audience as rates continue to climb," she said of Vegas venues. TEST YOURSELF WITH OUR LATEST LIFESTYLE QUIZ The city is "catering to a more luxurious market rather than the budget-friendly party stop it was even 20 years ago," she added. Sphere posted $420.5 million in 2024 concert gross, according to the Las Vegas Review-Journal. Official Las Vegas Grand Prix hospitality products list packages starting at $10,902, with other options starting at $25,997, inclusive of taxes and fees. There are cheaper versions of Vegas. But it is a tiered city now, according to The Wall Street Journal.  Everyone can get in — but the best rooms and tables are less attainable, the same source noted. Andrea Margolis of Fox News Digital contributed reporting. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4e3e7ac2ca79de23653a35 Christopher Nolan faces growing backlash over 'Odyssey' casting, historical accuracy as screenings canceled te 2026-07-08T12:11:38.760Z Christopher Nolan faces growing backlash over 'Odyssey' casting, historical accuracy as screenings canceled Christopher Nolan is in hot water for choices he made regarding his upcoming movie. The Academy Award-winning director is receiving backlash for many of his decisions in the making of the film, including casting choices, historical inaccuracies throughout and use of modern dialogue. "Christopher Nolan has cancelled all screenings of The Odyssey with movie influencers," one X user wrote. "He is only allowing approved critics to see it in advance. He is waving the surrender flag. They know they have a financial disaster on their hands." Much of the criticism comes from his choice to cast Lupita Nyong'o as Helen of Troy, as Homer describes the character as having "white arms" in the book. Social media users have pointed out that Nyong'o's African roots and darker complexion contradict this description of the character. CHRISTOPHER NOLAN'S 'THE ODYSSEY' GETS OVERWHELMINGLY NEGATIVE REACTIONS AFTER CONTROVERSIAL CASTING CHOICES Also causing controversy, is his decision to cast transgender actor Elliot Page as Sinus, a great warrior who fought alongside Odysseus during the Trojan War, as well as rapper Travis Scott as an unknown male character in the epic tale. "All Christopher Nolan had to do was deliver a visually stunning take on a classic — and he’d have had a huge hit," one X user wrote. "Instead, he decided to ruin it with questionable modifications. Some say he bowed to the woke crowd. Others say he is the woke crowd and was trying to make a statement. Regardless… go woke, go broke." "I was ready to pay for Chris Nolan’s ‘The Odyssey’ the second I heard about it. Then the casting dropped," another user wrote. "And just like that, I knew he’s no longer a serious filmmaker. Because if he were, he wouldn’t let diversity mandates destroy his work… he blackified crucial Greek characters on purpose… I won’t be paying to see it." Elon Musk even got in on the action, commenting, "how pathetic," of the original post. Others have taken issue with the fact that no actors of Greek or Mediterranean decent were cast in the film. "I’m very supportive of Chris’s intention with it and with the version of this story that he is telling. Our cast is representative of the world. I’m not spending my time thinking of a defense. The criticism will exist whether I engage with it or not," Nyong'o told Elle in May in defense of the film. "It’s quite something to be a part of 'The Odyssey,' because it is so grand. It spans worlds. So that’s why the cast is what it is. We’re occupying the epic narrative of our time." Nolan responded to the criticism surrounding his decision to cast Scott, telling Time Magazine in May he cast him because he wanted to pay tribute to "the idea that this story has been handed down as oral poetry, which is analogous to rap." He later spoke about his process when taking on a story that audiences are already very familiar with on Amy Poehler's podcast, "Good Hang," saying he realized while making "Batman" trilogy that "what people want from you is your most sincere attempt to do justice to the material," but that it also "has to be your own interpretation." "Certainly, I as a filmmaker respond to that in other people," he said. "If I go see a movie and I realize that people have loved this and have really tried to to give you an experience and tried to put something across in the way that they really believe is great, uh, I think I think people cut you a lot of slack for that cuz yes, you cannot compete with people's own imaginings when they read a text." CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE ENTERTAINMENT NEWSLETTER Others were able to look past the casting, but took issue with the many historical inaccuracies in the film, with one X user pointing out the style of Damon's helmet and armor were incorrect for the time period, with another saying the "Period armor is more Roman than Greece." "Nolan makes utterly bizarre, anachronistic, ahistorical, aesthetic choices for his 'Odyssey,' comic book armor, viking ships, diverse cast," one X users wrote. "If he's playing this fast and loose with history, material culture, ethnography, etc... what're the odds he isn't monkeying with the myth?" "I agree about bad casting, but the choice to use modern language in the dialogue is the most egregious problem," one X user wrote. "Why on earth did Nolan think that was a good idea?" One particular example of the use of modern dialogue, is when Tom Holland, who plays Telemachus, the son of Odysseus, refers to his father as dad. While many were upset by multiple aspects of the film, others were not as bothered by the inaccuracies in casting, dialogue or costumes. LIKE WHAT YOU'RE READING? CLICK HERE FOR MORE ENTERTAINMENT NEWS "Despite all the controversy, I’m going to watch The Odyssey," one X user wrote. "I love Homer’s works. I’m curious to see what Christopher Nolan does with them." Another added, "Nolan wanted to do Odyssey, so he did it. Oppenheimer was great art? Why does it require ‘value’ to be made, all art is the artist’s interpretation in itself." The movie, also starring Zendaya as Athena, Matt Damon as Odysseus, Anne Hathaway as Penelope, Charlize Theron as Calypso and many other big stars, is set to premiere in theaters on Friday, July 17. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4e3e67c2ca79de23653a2c WATCH: South Carolina block party thugs with machine gun, spear charged in mob attack on officers, police say te 2026-07-08T12:11:19.304Z WATCH: South Carolina block party thugs with machine gun, spear charged in mob attack on officers, police say A chaotic Fourth of July block party in North Charleston, South Carolina, that erupted into gunfire, involved a machine gun and spear, and erupted with an assault on police officers has now resulted in charges against six people, including four juveniles, authorities announced. The North Charleston Police Department (NCPD) announced charges against six people and identified two adults who have been charged in connection with the July 4 incident in the Chicora-Cherokee community. The juveniles face charges ranging from third-degree assault by mob, assault on a police officer while resisting arrest, resisting arrest, possession of a machine gun and breach of peace. NORTH CHARLESTON OFFICER ATTACKED BY CROWD IN VIRAL VIDEO AFTER GUNFIRE ERUPTS AT BLOCK PARTY Because they are juveniles, police did not release their identities. Authorities also arrested 19-year-old Giovanni Mekhi Sincere Campbell, of North Charleston, who is charged with possession of a machine gun, and 18-year-old Sa'Mya Adriana Collette Weaver, who is charged with breach of peace and assault on a police officer while resisting arrest. 🚨 Know something we should investigate? 📩 stepheny.price@fox.com 📸 IG: @fndstephprice 🎥 X: @StephenyPrice Your tip could lead to our next story. Police said the investigation remains active, and additional arrests and charges are possible. The confrontation unfolded after officers responded to a city-permitted neighborhood block party in the Chicora-Cherokee community at about 8:30 p.m. on July 4. RALEIGH MAYOR CONSIDERS YOUTH CURFEW FOLLOWING TEEN TAKEOVER, VIOLENT JULY 4TH WEEKEND Earlier that day, police leadership met with event organizers to discuss traffic and parking plans to ensure emergency vehicles could safely access the area if needed. Officers initially received reports of people firing fireworks toward passing vehicles before learning that several attendees had begun discharging firearms, according to police. BOSTON COP PELTED BY MOB AS DIRT BIKE SUSPECT ESCAPES IN WILD VIRAL VIDEO: ‘HE WAS ALL ALONE’ Authorities said officers repeatedly announced that the event had ended and instructed attendees to leave in an effort to de-escalate the situation. Despite those efforts, multiple fights broke out and additional gunshots were fired, prompting officers to exit their patrol vehicles to separate those involved and restore order. During the response, officers recovered multiple firearms, including what investigators described as a machine gun, as well as a makeshift spear. FOLLOW US ON X Police said multiple officers were assaulted during the incident, with two female officers suffering minor injuries. Following the incident, the department said, "Attacks on law enforcement are unacceptable and those responsible will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law." Viral video from the scene shows a female officer attempting to detain a woman when several people rush in, pull the officer to the ground and begin striking her. Another officer intervenes, deploying what appears to be a stun gun before helping restrain individuals involved in the attack. CLICK HERE FOR MORE U.S. NEWS Police have not said whether any of the recovered firearms were discharged during the incident or whether the makeshift spear was used in the assaults. Authorities said no civilians reported injuries. The North Charleston Police Department thanked members of the community who assisted officers during the violence, as well as responding agencies including the Charleston County Sheriff's Office, Charleston Police Department, Berkeley County Sheriff's Office and the South Carolina Highway Patrol. GET BREAKING NEWS ALERTS Investigators continue to examine the shootings and other criminal activity connected to the incident. Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the North Charleston Police Department through its CRIMEWATCH app. Fox News Digital's Greg Wehner contributed to this report. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4e3e53c2ca79de23653a23 WWE legend highlights 'freaking deep' talent across pro wrestling te 2026-07-08T12:10:59.849Z WWE legend highlights 'freaking deep' talent across pro wrestling The pro wrestling landscape is so vast, nobody can really watch all of it. The main companies like WWE and All Elite Wrestling (AEW) run shows up to four times per week. Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA) runs a show on Thursday nights and Major League Wrestling (MLW) runs its flagship show Saturdays on YouTube. That’s without mentioning the international programs and independent shows being streamed during the week as well. COMPLETE PRO WRESTLING COVERAGE ON FOX NEWS DIGITAL WWE Hall of Famer John Bradshaw Layfield named a handful of wrestlers that fans should really watch over the course of their viewing experience in a recent interview with Fox News Digital. "I saw ‘Speedball’ Mike Bailey in AEW who is just an incredible talent. Josh Alexander’s the same," he said. "There’s a guy, Will Allday, down in Texas who works on the independents. I watched him down there. Every time he walks out, he ignites the local crowd – to my knowledge, no TV experience. I think there’s a lot of young talent." Bradshaw, who spoke to Fox News Digital on behalf of his partnership with BZZR, touted the amount of talent that is performing all over pro wrestling and contrasted it with his own era. CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM "I’ve never seen more talent in all over wrestling. Back when we had the Attitude Era, we had a really loaded roster. WCW had a really loaded roster. The independents didn’t have a loaded roster," he said. "They just kinda picked and choose. "Now, you go to these independent shows and these guys are fantastic. I guess it’s the training. It’s the amount of schools they have. The amount of learning that they can get. You look at now for wrestling, there’s so much freaking talent and it’s so freaking deep. It’s unbelievable the place the business is in right now." Pro wrestling is more popular than it ever was with men and women being able to garner interest despite not being at one of the top promotions. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4e3e2bc2ca79de236539fc Former OpenAI exec Kevin Weil is now on the board of Stoke Space te 2026-07-08T12:10:19.917Z Former OpenAI exec Kevin Weil is now on the board of Stoke Space Kevin Weil's new role at Stoke Space suggests reusable rockets are the next hot thing in Silicon Valley. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4e3bedc2ca79de2365399d Major airline roasts passengers who jump up right after landing, igniting fierce backlash te 2026-07-08T12:00:45.021Z Major airline roasts passengers who jump up right after landing, igniting fierce backlash Southwest Airlines has reignited one of air travel's biggest etiquette debates after joking in a social media post that passengers who stand up immediately after landing "won't get off the plane faster." "You 👏 won't 👏 get 👏 off 👏 the 👏 plane 👏 faster 👏 by 👏 standing 👏 up 👏 .001 👏 seconds 👏 after 👏 the 👏 seatbelt 👏 sign 👏 turns 👏 off 👏," the airline recently wrote on Threads, using the emojis exactly as shown.  The post quickly revived a familiar debate among travelers.  STANDING UP RIGHT AFTER PLANE LANDS FUELS VIRAL DEBATE ABOUT AIR TRAVEL ETIQUETTE Some say they view the habit as inconsiderate — while others say standing helps them stretch, retrieve their carry-on bags and prepare to deplane. The comments section quickly filled up as travelers revealed why they stand as soon as the seatbelt sign turns off. Many insisted it's less about rushing off the plane and more about comfort and being ready to leave the aircraft as soon as they can. "Maybe👏🏻I👏🏻need👏🏻to👏🏻stretch👏🏻my👏🏻legs👏🏻after👏🏻sitting👏🏻in👏🏻your👏🏻cramped👏🏻plane👏🏻," one user said. "It’s 👏not 👏 about 👏 getting 👏 off 👏 the 👏 plane 👏 fast," another user wrote. TEST YOURSELF WITH OUR LATEST LIFESTYLE QUIZ Diane Gottsman, an etiquette expert based in Texas, previously told Fox News Digital that passengers who stand immediately after landing have become a source of frustration for many other travelers. "With long flights, people are anxious to stand up and stretch their legs," Gottsman said. "They also want to get their suitcases out of the bins and be prepared to efficiently walk out of their aisle." Problems arise, she said, when passengers step into the aisle too early, block others or encroach on the limited personal space inside the cabin. CLICK HERE FOR MORE LIFESTYLE STORIES "Moving into the aisle and trying to push is a definite etiquette faux pas," Gottsman said. "For safety reasons, it's best to remain seated unless there is room to comfortably move about." Flight attendants should handle the situation to help keep the deplaning process orderly, Gottsman added. Fox News Digital reached out to Southwest Airlines for comment. Many commenters said standing after landing is not the issue. They argued that passengers should wait their turn and avoid pushing ahead of others. CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR LIFESTYLE NEWSLETTER "I stand up immediately and politely grab my stuff and get ready to deplane," one commenter wrote. "I don't push in front of people and try not to be in others' way. I wait for rows in front of me to get off. People who take the time gathering their belongings hold up others and the flight," the commenter continued. "I find it a form of respect for other passengers and flight attendants," the commenter added. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4e3739c2ca79de236538cf John Fetterman defends Trump supporters, condemns fellow Democrats' 'f--- Trump' strategy te 2026-07-08T11:40:41.813Z John Fetterman defends Trump supporters, condemns fellow Democrats' 'f--- Trump' strategy Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., who has broken with far-left Democrats numerous times, spoke out on Tuesday’s episode of the "Impaulsive" podcast about how his party needs to change its strategy. Fetterman lamented the modern state of politics as a polarized mess between two parties engaged in a "race to the bottom." He, however, made the case that he is working to serve Americans as a Democratic Party senator in a state that ultimately voted for President Donald Trump’s reelection in 2024. "Some Democrats now are actually running on the ‘f--- Trump' - I mean literally that's in some of their commercials, you know, honestly," he said. He went on to criticize the idea of tarring one’s political opposition as "fascists," warning, "And this idea—and if you call someone on their side as, like, ‘they're fascists,’ then that means that people that I know and I love that voted for him, you know, that must be—they are fascists. And they are not. These are good people. They love our country no less than they do. It's just having different views and, you know, trying to find a way forward in a deeply divided country." JOHN FETTERMAN’S FALL FROM HERO TO HERETIC EXPOSES DEMOCRATS’ HARD LEFT TURN "I refuse to do that," he said of political tribalism and name-calling. "People forgot that we're all Americans and we actually need each other." He went on to recall how he "took so much s---" for being invited to dinner with Trump in 2025. "I was excited. I was like, 'Hey, great. We have an invitation. Sure. I can't wait. This will be great.' You know, I love to have conversations," Fetterman said. This bipartisan outreach from Trump , he said, has no equivalent in the Democratic Party . WHY TRUMP, GOP ARE COURTING JOHN FETTERMAN, WHO INSISTS HE’LL REMAIN A DEMOCRAT "There's no Democrats reaching across the aisle right now," he said, summarizing the Democrats’ messaging as "You want to pay your bills, F--- Trump, and burn it down." The reality, he said, is more complicated, in that "I don't just represent, you know, Democrats. I represent all 13 million Pennsylvanians." Toward the end of the episode, he concluded by calling for a better level of political discourse. "The Democrats are angry at me because more and more the Democratic Party, the base really wants more 'F--- Trump' kind of a thing," he said. "So, my votes are -- my values are reflected in the votes. But overall, I'll be an example that can people say, 'Well, at least they'll do it in a respectful way' and be a reasonable or a common-sense thing in the middle of the insanity here." CLICK HERE FOR MORE COVERAGE OF MEDIA AND CULTURE Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4e34f5c2ca79de23653890 Lake Havasu City candidate Q&A | Term limits and time commitments te 2026-07-08T11:31:01.410Z Lake Havasu City candidate Q&A | Term limits and time commitments As early voting for the 2026 primary election is underway, Today’s News-Herald is asking Lake Havasu City Council candidates one question each week. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4e34e0c2ca79de23653869 WWE star Sami Zayn cuts emotional promo following title loss to CM Punk: 'That mother----er' te 2026-07-08T11:30:40.935Z WWE star Sami Zayn cuts emotional promo following title loss to CM Punk: 'That mother----er' WWE star Sami Zayn was irate after CM Punk made a dramatic return to "Monday Night Raw" in Chicago and defeated him for the undisputed championship. Zayn was supposed to have a match with Cody Rhodes before Gunther took out the "American Nightmare" when the show began. Zayn thought he was going to have an off night before he was told there was a replacement for Rhodes. Punk made his entrance to a raucous crowd and defeated Zayn in the main event. COMPLETE PRO WRESTLING COVERAGE ON FOX NEWS DIGITAL As Zayn walked to the backstage area, he cut an emotional promo. "I have a question," Zayn began. "How is it that after 24 years after crawling and inching for every little inch to get the WWE championship, after I finally get it, nine days after I get it, that piece of s--- can walk back in here after not being here for months, for months, and waltz right in and get it? Get a chance? That mother----er. He has no business. No business." CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM Zayn broke down in tears as he came to the realization that his short title run was finished. Rhodes booked himself a triple-threat match at Night of Champions to prove that he was better than both Zayn and Gunther. He miscalculated Zayn’s wrestling aptitude and was pinned clean at the premium live event. Rhodes climbed back to the No. 1 contender spot last week on "Friday Night SmackDown" when he defeated Jey Uso. But he didn’t get a chance to re-enter the match due to Gunther’s beatdown. With less than a month before SummerSlam, Punk appears to be the one to walk into U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis with the Undisputed WWE Championship around his waist. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4e329dc2ca79de2365380e Stephen King deletes post hoping Graham Platner doesn't drop out, clarifies 'not defending' him te 2026-07-08T11:21:01.868Z Stephen King deletes post hoping Graham Platner doesn't drop out, clarifies 'not defending' him Stephen King deleted a post that appeared to support Democratic Maine Senate candidate Graham Platner following sexual assault allegations on Monday. he author added that if Platner "committed rape, he should bow out." Maine resident Jenny Racicot, 41, told Politico over the course of three interviews that Platner entered her home uninvited and forced her to have sex despite her telling him to stop several times in 2021, a claim that Platner denied in the story. Racicot also described Platner as "almost blackout drunk" during the incident. Since the story's release, numerous prominent Democratic figures have called on Platner to suspend his campaign, including allies like Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt. However, "The Shining" author initially wrote that he hoped that Platner "doesn't" drop out of the race. GRAHAM PLATNER'S MOST PROMINENT PRESS ALLIES ABANDON HIM AS RAPE ALLEGATION ROCKS MAINE SENATE RACE "Graham Platner may drop out. (I hope he doesn’t, but.) Meanwhile, the Abuser in Chief just keeps on keepin’ on," King wrote. Though King deleted the post, he continued to write about Platner. "Tell you what--if you knew the whole truth about everyone in the Senate and House of Reps, those chambers would be dead empty. Jesus said, 'Let him without sin cast the first stone,'" King wrote. That post drew outrage from social media users disturbed at King appearing to dismiss a rape allegation. PLATNER'S LATEST ACCUSER CLAIMS THE DEMOCRATIC SENATE CANDIDATE 'ABSOLUTELY' RAPED HER After drawing criticism, King later clarified, "Not defending Grah [sic] Platner. If he committed rape, he should bow out. Just making a comparison." King's follow-up post continued to receive backlash as people considered the post an attempt to walk back the controversial post. "After severe backlash from clearly defending Graham Platner, Stephen King now thinks rape is bad and Platner should drop out," political commentator Kevin Dalton said. Journalist Paul D. Thacker wrote, "This is me comparing what you're saying now to what you said defending Graham Platner." "Remember, King is ok with The Nazi Totenkopf tattoo Graham having Rape fantasies His Sexting & predator platform activity," podcast host Alec Lace wrote, referencing Platner's past political scandals. FORMER OBAMA AIDES SAY PLATNER SHOULD STEP ASIDE, WAS DISHONEST ABOUT HIS PAST Fox News Digital reached out to King for comment. Platner's scandal emerged as Democrats seek to defeat incumbent Republican Sen. Susan Collins. If Platner suspends his campaign before 5 p.m. next Monday, July 13, the Maine Democratic Party will be able to replace him on the general election ballot with another candidate from the party, whom they would need to select by July 27. So far, Platner has said that his campaign will take "time to reflect on the best path forward" but has not indicated that he will step down. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4e328ac2ca79de23653805 Trump says tentative Iran ceasefire is 'over' and more top headlines te 2026-07-08T11:20:42.405Z Trump says tentative Iran ceasefire is 'over' and more top headlines 1. US retaliates with 80 targets hit as Strait of Hormuz tensions erupt again — follow our LIVE COVERAGE 2. Tyler Robinson, Lance Twiggs' DNA found on key evidence in Charlie Kirk assassination  3. Graham Platner slammed with new allegation day after bombshell rape accusation DEMS' DILEMMA — Far-left hopeful who wants ICE abolished could hand Trump a crucial Senate seat. Continue reading … TOP HEAVY — Developer reveals what may have caused Manhattan tower structural failure: report. Continue reading … WINGS OF HONOR — Missing Navy commander identified after helicopter emergency water landing at sea. Continue reading … BODY OF EVIDENCE — Boaters’ grisly find leads cops to alleged body-dumping plot by family. Continue reading … ROAD SAFETY LAW — College soccer goalkeeper dead after immigrant driver rear-ended his car, troopers say. Continue reading … -- BALLOT BLITZ — Australian resident charged after allegedly voting in US federal elections. Continue reading … CITIZENSHIP FOR SALE — 'American citizenship is not for sale,' governor warns after maternity ad surfaces. Continue reading … FINAL BOARDING — Trump admin to open migrant holding facility near nation's biggest deportation hub. Continue reading … AMPLE WARNING — Dem senator faces heat after dropping second candidate accused of misconduct. Continue reading … Click here for more cartoons…   AMERICAN HISTORY — Nikole Hannah-Jones says reparations admit the 'entire existence' of the US is a crime. Continue reading … CAMPAIGN CRISIS — Far-left podcaster slams media for 'politically assassinating' Graham Platner. Continue reading … LEFT WING SHIFT — Gavin Newsom joins growing list of Democrats embracing socialist candidates. Continue reading … BROADCAST BATTLE — ABC pushes back on FCC amid 'The View' probe, citing First Amendment rights. Continue reading … PASTOR COREY BROOKS — Stephen A. Smith saw three white Lakers and exposed a glaring liberal double standard. Continue reading … JONATHAN TURLEY — Kennedy Center ruling gets Trump's name right but repairs badly wrong. Continue reading … -- PAWS OFF — Company warns popular pet food may have sharp metal and plastic pieces. Continue reading … FOOD SCIENCE — Researchers claim they've created healthier burgers that taste as good as a Big Mac. Continue reading … FAME GAME — '10' actress Bo Derek reveals why she decided to walk away from Hollywood career. Continue reading … AMERICAN CULTURE QUIZ – Test yourself on Founding Fathers and vaccine victories. Take the quiz here … Tune in to the FOX NEWS RUNDOWN PODCAST for today's in-depth reporting on the news that impacts you. Check it out ...   What’s it looking like in your neighborhood? Continue reading…   Facebook Instagram YouTube Twitter LinkedIn      Fox News First Fox News Opinion Fox News Lifestyle Fox News Entertainment (FOX411) Fox Business Fox Weather Fox Sports Tubi Fox News Go Thank you for making us your first choice in the morning! We’ll see you in your inbox first thing Thursday. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4e3091c2ca79de2365352d EXCLUSIVE: FBI adds alleged COVID fraudster accused of taking $5M from kids' meal program to Most Wanted list te 2026-07-08T11:12:17.704Z EXCLUSIVE: FBI adds alleged COVID fraudster accused of taking $5M from kids' meal program to Most Wanted list EXCLUSIVE: The FBI is adding Fahad Mohamed Nur to its Most Wanted Fraudsters List, accusing the Minnesota businessman of allegedly stealing more than $5 million that was intended to feed children during the COVID-19 pandemic. Nur has been on the run since 2022 and is wanted for his alleged role in a fraud scheme that exploited Minnesota's Federal Child Nutrition Program during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the FBI. The bureau alleges he owned a vendor and purported food supplier that received more than $5 million in fraudulent program funds by submitting fake invoices before laundering the proceeds. The Bureau believes Nur has ties to Somalia and may currently be living there. The FBI is offering a reward of up to $150,000 for information leading to Nur's arrest and conviction. OWNER OF DAYCARE IN VIRAL NICK SHIRLEY VIDEO CHARGED IN $4.6M DAYCARE FRAUD SCHEME, PROSECUTORS SAY Nur is the latest addition to the FBI's Most Wanted Fraudsters List, which officials say has already resulted in the arrests of two fugitives within weeks of its launch. "Under President Trump's and Vice President Vance's leadership with the White House Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, the FBI's historic 'Most Wanted Fraudsters list' has already seen tremendous success – with two subjects brought to justice in a matter of weeks, apprehended out of Somalia and the Philippines," FBI Director Kash Patel said in a statement to Fox News Digital. Patel said the early arrests demonstrate that the FBI is aggressively pursuing fugitives accused of stealing from American taxpayers. FBI ADDS 2 FUGITIVES TO 'MOST WANTED FRAUDSTERS' LIST AMID HISTORIC $6.5B HEALTHCARE TAKEDOWN: PATEL "Our newest subject – Fahad Mohamed Nur – has been on the run since 2022 for allegedly stealing over $5 million from a child nutrition program in Minnesota." Patel added: "Collectively, the Task Force has already uncovered more than $13 billion in fraud, and the rapid success of the Most Wanted Fraudsters List should show all Americans that this FBI will [be] at the forefront pursuing the worst of the worst who stole from hardworking American taxpayers." DR OZ WARNS MEDICARE SCAMMERS ARE STEALING BILLIONS — AND YOUR PERSONAL INFORMATION COULD BE NEXT Federal officials say the investigation is part of a broader government effort targeting pandemic-era fraud. "The Department’s robust partnership with the FBI and the White House Task Force to Eliminate Fraud has already delivered historic results. That partnership grows even stronger today with the addition of this latest subject to the Most Wanted Fraudsters list," said Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche. "President Trump has made it clear: Fraudsters no longer have a safe haven in America. Law enforcement will continue to use every tool at its disposal to bring those who steal from American taxpayers to justice." The White House Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, led by Vice President JD Vance, has already uncovered more than $13 billion in fraud, according to the FBI. Anyone with information about Nur's whereabouts is urged to contact the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI, their local FBI office, the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate, or submit a tip online at tips.fbi.gov. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4e307ec2ca79de23653511 New Jersey pro wrestling promotion bringing the fight to the beach te 2026-07-08T11:11:58.247Z New Jersey pro wrestling promotion bringing the fight to the beach Pro wrestling is often known for its storyline-driven entertainment coupled with hard-hitting and high-flying action in the ring that leads to a crescendo that makes fans feel some kind of emotion. The major companies each try to drive to that moment. Sometimes, a unique venue adds to the excitement of a show, especially for smaller independent pro wrestling companies who are trying to engage an audience for a few hours at a time. On July 14, Fight Factory Wrestling is going back to the beach for The War on the Shore 3. COMPLETE PRO WRESTLING COVERAGE ON FOX NEWS DIGITAL The event will take place near Martell’s Tiki Bar in Point Pleasant Beach, New Jersey, bringing professional wrestling to the beach. Joey Janela, Ben Bishop, Jack Vaughn, Richard Holliday, Steve Maclin, Jay Lethal, Sent 2 Slauter, Lady Frost, Allie Katch, Steph De Lander and others are among those billed to be in matches for the event. Dave Sturchio, one of the minds behind Fight Factory Wrestling with Chris Payne, talked to Fox News Digital about getting started in the sport. He said him and Payne initially got started wrestling in 2012 but as time went on, the two went their own way. The two came back together in 2024 to do the "Fight Factory Podcast." He said Payne had aspirations to do a wrestling show on the beach – akin to World Championship Wrestling’s Bash at the Beach. Sturchio said he called Payne to follow through on doing a beach show despite some apprehension about getting involved into the creative side of the sport. Sturchio said when he first approached the venue about the event, there was a little hesitation, but when he came back with a plan, the venue agreed. "As the buzz started to develop and build over prepping for the show, I said to Payne, ‘I don’t know if this is a one off. I think that we have something here,’" Sturchio said. "And Payne and I, we’ve been in the industry since 2012, we’re life-long fans, I’m already an entrepreneur at heart, so how can I take my entrepreneurial stuff for the last three-four years of being my own boss, how do I spin this into becoming a pro wrestling promoter?" Sturchio said that teaming with Payne allowed for the stars to align and to give each other a shot at building something great. He said the response from the first War on the Shore in 2024 was "overwhelming." "We were like, this is actually kind of crazy. People are actually jones-ing for some wrestling in the summer. Typically, when you go to a VFW or your gymnasiums, independent wrestling kind of takes off and they don’t run as much in the summer because it’s hot. So, I said, if anything, nobody is going to run against us and unfortunately for us, we were put on a Tuesday night and we were like, ‘Jesus Christ, there’s no way anybody is going to show up on a Tuesday.’ CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM "Turns out, nobody is really doing anything on a Tuesday. It was very easy to book the wrestlers in that regard because nobody else had anything going on. … First year was great. I think the best testament that we got was we booked Matt Cardona to be one of our featured guests on the first one and that’s when he tore his pec. So, he was out of action for a little while but he promised us that he would still show up." Sturchio said Cardona was blown away and thought he and Payne had been running shows for a while. "If you’re going to blow away Matt Cardona, I think we got something. It was off to the races, man," he added. Now, Sturchio and Payne are set to put on their third War on the Shore in New Jersey and the card couldn’t be more interesting. "This year, we really stacked the deck," he told Fox News Digital. "Some professional wrestling shows you go to on the independents, there are those lulls. Matches where you’re like, ‘Oh, they’re giving this guy a chance over here and they’re gonna give this guy a chance over there.’ "This year, I told Payne, look, based off of everybody that we’ve booked so far, for me, and some independent wrestlers don’t want to hear this, we’re trying to build a roster, build a core roster. Meaning, if we used you before and you’ve done good work, we’re gonna use you again. Instead of saying, hey, random guy over here, who I don’t know who you are, but let’s give you a shot. So we’re trying to build stories and there are a lot of stories that are culminating." Sturchio pointed to a number of matches that fans should be eager to see. One specifically is the reformation of The Heavenly Bodies tag team with Justin and Mark Corino. "Those guys are reuniting for the first time in seven years," he said. "They’re friends of mine, I came up with them. They were my first tag team opponents and I’ve known these guys forever and they’re near and dear to my heart." Lady Frost will be in action against De Lander and Katch. Bishop defends the Fight Factory Premier Championship against Holliday and Vaughn. Janela will take on Jay Lethal for the first time ever and the event will feature a rumble and a tiki totem on a pole, which will act as Fight Factory Wrestling’s "Money in the Bank" type of gimmick. "The card is stacked. I’m very excited about all of it. There’s not one lull," Sturchio said. "We’re just going to roll right through and I think it’s going to be one of those nights that we remember for a very, very long time." Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4e306ac2ca79de23653508 One walking habit could signal a healthier brain after 80, scientists say te 2026-07-08T11:11:38.791Z One walking habit could signal a healthier brain after 80, scientists say Older adults identified as "super movers" are about half as likely to develop cognitive impairment than their peers. That’s according to a recent study led by Stony Brook Medicine in New York, which evaluated the cognitive function of 4,000 adults 80 and over who participated in multiple aging and longevity studies over several years. Among this group, 6% to 10% were classified as super movers, which means they walk at a much faster pace than others of the same age and gender — at speeds comparable to people three decades younger. COMMON VITAMIN MAY INFLUENCE BRAIN AGING IN WAYS SCIENTISTS DIDN'T EXPECT The super movers were found to have about half the risk of cognitive decline compared to seniors with typical gait speed. The findings were published in the journal Neurology on June 16. "The study reinforces that mobility and brain health are closely connected," lead study author Dr. Joe Verghese, MD, neurologist at Stony Brook Medicine, told Fox News Digital. "This suggests that preserving mobility may be an important marker of healthy brain aging and resilience." 'LONGEVITY GENE' MAY PROTECT THE BRAIN FROM ALZHEIMER'S BY BOOSTING DNA REPAIR, STUDY FINDS The most intriguing finding, according to Verghese, was that super movers maintained cognitive function despite having similar dementia-related brain changes as their peers. In postmortem brain analysis, there was no difference in dementia-related pathologies between the super movers and the slower walkers, the study stated. TEST YOURSELF WITH OUR LATEST LIFESTYLE QUIZ "This suggests they may possess resilience mechanisms that help preserve brain function even in the presence of age-related changes," he said. "Understanding these resilience factors could lead to new strategies for promoting healthy brain aging." As the study was observational, there were some limitations, and it does not prove that walking faster prevents dementia, the researchers noted. "Other factors, such as cardiovascular health, physical fitness or genetics, may also contribute to both faster walking and better cognitive outcomes," Verghese said. CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR HEALTH NEWSLETTER This study adds to growing evidence that what's good for the heart and muscles also benefits the brain, he noted, adding that "staying physically active remains one of the most effective, evidence-based ways to support healthy aging." "The broader message is that physical activity is important at any age," Verghese said. "Walking is an easy step-up point because you don't need any special equipment. You can do it inside or outdoors, and you can do it on a regular basis. You can walk with a dog, you can walk with a friend." Any activity is beneficial if it's done regularly and with the right intensity, he added. CLICK HERE FOR MORE HEALTH STORIES Rather than just trying to walk faster, the neurologist recommends that seniors focus on maintaining mobility through regular physical activity, strength training, balance exercises and good cardiovascular health. "Walking speed is best viewed as a marker of overall health, not a treatment," Verghese noted. Major public health guidelines from the CDC and U.S. Physical Activity Guidelines recommend at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity each week, such as brisk walking. This can be achieved by walking 30 minutes a day, five days a week, or about 20 to 25 minutes most days. Another option is to engage in shorter sessions that add up over the day. "You have to do it within your health limitations and medical conditions," Verghese advised. "So if there are any medical concerns, I would get your physician to clear you before starting exercise." The good thing about walking, he added, is that you can start at a slow pace and then gradually build up to a brisker pace. "And then adding on strength and balance training, whatever age you are, I think is also important." Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4e3057c2ca79de236534ff SEN TODD YOUNG: The hidden danger China’s ships could bring to our shores te 2026-07-08T11:11:19.336Z SEN TODD YOUNG: The hidden danger China’s ships could bring to our shores Chinese vessels carry appliances, clothing, and household goods to our ports. But what if they also brought, without notice, missile launchers concealed in shipping containers? This is not merely a hypothetical question, but a possibility America’s leaders must prepare for. As technology evolves, enterprising nations are getting creative about how to project power far away from their borders and shores. Just last year, Ukraine destroyed a third of Russia’s strategic-bomber force even though those aircraft were kept on protected bases deep in the heart of Russian territory. How? They hid swarms of drones inside shipping containers carried on trucks and infiltrated Russia’s domestic transportation networks. Russia was clearly unprepared for a clever adversary to exploit its highways. AMERICA'S POWER GRID, FOOD SUPPLY AND MORE ARE UNDER THREAT FROM DRONES The impact to Russia’s military power was striking, but the attack also exposed to the world the vulnerabilities inherent in everyday commerce. That development should prompt American officials to consider what risks we face here in the United States. As a maritime nation protected by two oceans and friendly countries to our north and south, we’ve grown accustomed to a high level of safety. But we are also a major destination of global shipping, bringing most of the goods that we purchase every day to our shores. A large percentage of those ships coming in and out of our ports are owned and operated by Chinese firms with direct ties to the Chinese Communist Party. This creates acute risk. TIM SHEEHY EXPOSES A 'SCARY' SHIPBUILDING COLLAPSE THAT LEAVES THE US VULNERABLE TO CHINA Naval analysts confirm China is retrofitting cargo ships with deadly weapons – long range strike and surface-to-air missiles, drone launching systems, as well as radar and tracking systems. What if one of these ships arrived in Houston, home to America’s largest port in terms of tonnage and one of the country’s economic hubs? The "best" case scenario: our Intelligence Community would detect the weapons, enabling the Coast Guard to intercept and seize the Chinese ship. However, this could potentially require shutting down the port and halting trade and LNG exports worth billions. TRUMP PLAN FOR FOREIGN SHIPBUILDERS COULD CREATE 540,000 JOBS AND EXPAND US FLEET The far more alarming possibility: the armed Chinese cargo carriers slip into the Port of Houston undetected and launch devastating attacks on the port, destroying vital infrastructure and killing hundreds, and possibly many more. The Port of Houston is home to the world’s largest petrochemical complexes and a quarter of America’s refining capacity. The explosions caused by a Chinese attack on the port would send clouds of carcinogens into the air and over nearby communities. Meanwhile, America’s energy supply would be devastated, causing painful shortages and draining the economy of millions of dollars a day. This disaster could play out at any of our other major ports – Los Angeles, our hub for trans-Pacific trade, or Norfolk, Virginia, the East Coast’s deepest harbor and home to America’s largest naval base. Neither of these situations are inevitable, but we must act now to rebuild America’s rusted Maritime Industrial Base and end our reliance on Chinese-flagged vessels. That is why I am working with congressional colleagues and the Trump administration to make American ships again. The U.S. was once home to the world’s largest commercial fleet, numbering nearly 4,000 ships. But in the years following World War II, priorities shifted and international competition increased. Today, the United States manufactures a handful of commercial vessels per year while China builds over a thousand. In total, the U.S. has fewer than 100 oceangoing commercial vessels. China has nearly 6,000, the largest fleet in the world. This imbalance is a tremendous risk, giving China control over global supply chains, economic levers to constrain American policy options, and, at worst, countless opportunities every day to sneak weapons into our cities. What commercial shipping fleet we have is in disrepair. Our sealift capacity is diminished. America is in danger. I am leading a bipartisan coalition in Congress that clearly sees the grave risks to our people and economy. We are working to achieve a revival of American shipbuilding. To accomplish this, we have written the Shipbuilding and Harbor Infrastructure and Security Act, or SHIPS Act. The bill, which I introduced in the Senate last year, will launch a new fleet of American-made ships. The SHIPS Act will encourage the construction of new ships and shipyards through tax incentives. It will deliver deregulation and permitting reform to reduce costs and speed the delivery of new vessels. It also will modernize training programs at our maritime academies and recruit a new generation of mariners. And the bill will establish a Maritime Security Trust Fund to finance these programs, plus an expansion of the U.S.-flagged international fleet to 250 ships by 2035. We have a strong champion in President Trump, whose Maritime Action Plan is consistent with our bill, mobilizing the whole of government to restore America’s maritime dominance. China is retrofitting its commercial ships into covert warships. The evidence is clear. So too is the risk of allowing these vessels to dominate global trade and fill our ports because we have no ships of our own. But we have a plan to protect our ports and people, to build and launch a new fleet, manned by Americans mariners, flying the Stars and Stripes. Congress should pass the SHIPS Act without delay. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4e3043c2ca79de236534f6 More than 400K New York City children enrolled in failing public schools: report te 2026-07-08T11:10:59.880Z More than 400K New York City children enrolled in failing public schools: report More than 900 New York City public schools do not have a majority of students passing state reading and math tests, according to a scathing new report. That means more than 400,000 of New York City’s public school children are enrolled in institutions where fewer than half of the students passed math, reading, or both on state exams. "Despite New York City’s international reputation as an economic power and cultural influencer, the city’s public school system, funded at twice the average rate of other American school districts, has struggled for decades to deliver results that at best are mediocre," researchers at Success Academy, a New York City-based charter school network, wrote in the report. According to the findings, 906 schools—representing nearly half of all public schools across the five boroughs—saw fewer than half of their students pass state math or reading exams last year. TEXAS’ LARGEST SCHOOL DISTRICT SEES TEST SCORES SOAR AFTER STATE TAKEOVER DESPITE RACISM CLAIMS "Those 906 schools enroll 409,379 students: 43 percent of all NYC public school children. In 503 of those schools, the majority of students failed both math and reading," the researchers added. The Success Academy report comes after the New York State Education Department (NYSED) released 2024-2025 test score data for grades 3–8, claiming that the assessment results showed "meaningful signs of improvement." The state’s official report card indicated that 57% of third-through-eighth graders were deemed proficient in math, while 53% met proficiency standards in English Language Arts (ELA). Critics point to the city's massive educational budget relative to its performance. New York City spent approximately $40 billion on public education for the 2024 fiscal year, which translates to a nation-leading $36,293 per pupil in the district — roughly double the national average. The report sharply criticized city officials' allocation of those resources. GOV SANDERS REVEALS 'MAJOR BREAKTHROUGH' ON EDUCATION AS RED STATE POSITIONS ITSELF AS 'BLUEPRINT' FOR NATION "The city is now committed to billions more to fund a class-size mandate that the evidence does not support, while propping up hundreds of vacant schools that drain resources at a premium rate with no return," the report states. "Meanwhile, the students most harmed by this failure attend the same schools that have been failing since before many of them were born." Success Academy claims that these specific findings have never been assembled before. Representatives for the charter network told Fox News Digital that their staff spent months analyzing primary public records, including NYSED accountability data dating back to 2012, alongside NYC school quality reports, expenditure files, and standardized test results. Compounding the city's academic hurdles is a persistent truancy crisis. Approximately 35% of all New York City public school students — roughly 300,000 children — were flagged as "chronically absent" during the school year, meaning they missed at least 10% of required school days, according to the report. LINDA MCMAHON: PARENTS TOLD ME SPECIAL EDUCATION NEEDS LESS RED TAPE, STRONGER RESULTS The NYSED sent Fox News Digital the following statement responding to Success Academy's findings.  "It is the New York State Education Department’s responsibility to meet schools where they are so that every student - regardless of zip code - has an opportunity to succeed.  Success Academy’s report is a vehicle to detract from its attempts to circumvent the New York City charter cap and promote its academic achievements by comparing one limited data sample to another," a spokesperson told Fox News Digital. The Department’s assessment and accountability data has always been available to the public, the spokesperson added. "NYSED has continually modified its reporting tools and data presentations to improve accessibility and usability for families, educators, and community stakeholders through the school report card which is publicly available on the NYSED website," the official continued. "These enhancements were designed to make complex information more understandable and meaningful. Additionally, the report fails to acknowledge that there was no assessment data in 2020 and significantly limited data in 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic." An NYC Public Schools official also responded to Success Academy's report, arguing that the report "is riddled with misdirections, misinformation and allegations not based in fact." "At New York City Public Schools, we have the privilege and responsibility of educating every child who comes through our doors — students new to our city, learning English for the first time, students with disabilities who haven’t received the care they need elsewhere, and students struggling in their classes, who need a teacher who refuses to give up on them," a spokesperson told Fox News Digital. The official went on to say, "We are proud of the gains that have been made in reading and math across schools and demographics this past year, the strides that have been made in preparing students for success after graduation and the head start we are delivering for thousands of children across the city through universal child care. This is the true honest work that school leaders and educators in every borough are doing every day, and we are proud to stand by them."  Earlier in the year, Success Academy CEO Eva Moskowitz touted her network's own academic metrics. Success Academy ranked first in New York State for math proficiency in grades 3–8 in recent state exams, with a 96% pass rate. The K-12 charter network also placed second statewide in ELA with a 92% pass rate, trailing the affluent Scarsdale Union Free School District by just a single percentage point.  Moskowitz told Fox News Digital that researchers intentionally reviewed the performance metrics of every school in the city to provide a comprehensive baseline comparison against other districts. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4e3030c2ca79de236534ed Judge orders Nancy Guthrie ransom imposter into inpatient treatment before sentencing te 2026-07-08T11:10:40.430Z Judge orders Nancy Guthrie ransom imposter into inpatient treatment before sentencing A federal judge has ordered the California man who pleaded guilty to sending phony ransom messages to the family of missing Arizona woman Nancy Guthrie to enter inpatient substance abuse treatment while awaiting sentencing, according to federal court records. Guthrie, the 84-year-old mother of "Today" co-host Savannah Guthrie, was reported missing from her Catalina Foothills home outside Tucson on Feb. 1. The following day, local media outlets received ransom demands that investigators continue to examine as potentially legitimate. Derrick Anthony Callella, 42, was arrested days after Guthrie's disappearance after the FBI determined he had sent fraudulent ransom messages to members of her family. FBI SAYS NANCY GUTHRIE ABDUCTION DEMANDS MAY BE ‘LEGITIMATE’ AS CASE STILL PROBED AS KIDNAPPING FOR RANSOM Callella later pleaded guilty to two counts of harassment using a telecommunications device and is scheduled to be sentenced Sept. 10 by U.S. District Judge John C. Hinderaker. Federal investigators have said Callella was not responsible for an earlier ransom demand sent to local media. The FBI has said that demand remains under investigation as authorities continue investigating Guthrie's disappearance as a kidnapping-for-ransom case. The amended release conditions require Callella to reside at an inpatient substance use treatment facility or halfway house, comply with all program requirements and contribute toward the cost of treatment as directed by the U.S. Pretrial Services Division. NANCY GUTHRIE RANSOM NOTES DON'T MATCH SUSPECT'S BEHAVIOR, PROFILER SAYS: 'I DON'T BELIEVE THEY'RE REAL' The order also authorizes the U.S. Marshals Service to remove Callella from the program and place him in temporary custody if he fails to comply with treatment requirements. Upon completing the program, he may reside at a home approved by the U.S. Pretrial Services Division. Fox News Digital has reached out to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Arizona seeking additional information about why the court modified Callella's release conditions. According to the plea agreement, Callella admitted sending spoofed ransom messages to Guthrie's daughter, Annie Guthrie, and son-in-law, Tommaso Cioni, from a spoofed phone number asking, "Did you get the bitcoin? We're waiting on our end for the transaction[.]" SAVANNAH GUTHRIE PLEADS FOR TIPS AS RANSOM NOTE CLAIMS MOM IS DEAD: 'SOMEBODY KNOWS SOMETHING' Prosecutors said Callella later placed a brief phone call to a member of Guthrie's family seeking information about the investigation. Court records state investigators traced the spoofed Voice over Internet Protocol account used to send the messages to an email address registered to Callella. After waiving his Miranda rights, Callella admitted using the account to send the texts and told investigators he had obtained the family's contact information from a website while following television coverage of Guthrie's disappearance. Prosecutors said he wanted to see whether the family would respond. Callella is scheduled to be sentenced Sept. 10. He faces up to two years in prison on each count, fines of up to $250,000 per count and up to one year of supervised release. Fox News Digital’s Michael Ruiz contributed to this report. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4e2df2c2ca79de2365344c From tipping to etiquette, here's why buffets aren't as great as lot of people seem to think te 2026-07-08T11:01:06.332Z From tipping to etiquette, here's why buffets aren't as great as lot of people seem to think It’s Wednesday, which means it’s time to air some of our biggest grievances in a brand new edition of The Gripe Report. This week, we’re talking buffets. My wife and I recently hit up a buffet, and while it was good, it just reminded me of why I’m not big on buffets. They're still better than potlucks, though. I hate those. This was a German buffet, which meant there was an abundance of various wursts and schnitzels, and if you felt so inclined, you could sit there and shovel spätzle into your dumb face until you auf den boden kotzen. It was a good time, and I liked the German band that was playing (no Rammstein or Kraftwerk covers, though; bummer), but it reminded me of the many problems I have with buffets in general. THE '1776 DIET': WHAT AMERICANS REALLY ATE DURING THE NATION'S FOUNDING So, seeing as I do a column dedicated to complaints, I figured this was the perfect place to get it all out. Anytime I end up at a buffet, I always sit there wondering whether or not it’s a good deal. You usually end up paying a premium for the right to go on a culinary excursion using spoons and tongs that every other sicko in the restaurant touched, but you can only eat as much as you can eat. Personally, I wouldn’t want to pay to feel like complete and utter s---, so half the time I feel like I leave buffets thinking, "I probably could’ve just gotten a sandwich for like half the price and been fine." Now, part of what I do enjoy about buffets is that it gives you carte blanche to test drive some grub you would never order under any circumstances. Sometimes you find a diamond in the proverbial buffet rough, but more often than not, you’re paying for the privilege of trying something and being like, "yeah, that’s alright," and then never eating it again for the rest of your life. I think my biggest beef with buffets is that they do not present most foods under ideal conditions, because very few items, if any, are at their pinnacle of deliciousness when sitting out under a lightbulb for an extended period of time. Sure, some things can handle this. Macaroni and cheese can usually survive under these circumstances, but a lot of meats end up getting dried out because they sit there for half the day drinking in heat and oxygen. There’s a reason food tastes best straight off the grill or straight out of the oven. CLICK HERE FOR MORE OUTKICK CULTURE COVERAGE In fact, I normally steer clear of fish at buffets, and went in for salmon (which was actually great) because I saw the fraulein behind the bar put out a brand new filet with my own two eyes. It’s sometimes worth hovering like a creep waiting for one tray to get kicked and then swoop in for the fresh stuff. I know in a sit-down restaurant the food is still usually going to hang out in the back under a heat lamp for a little bit too, but not nearly for as long, and without other lunatics digging it apart with spoons and tongs and spatulas. This is why if ever there’s a meal during which I’m most likely to hit a buffet for, it’s breakfast. I think that it’s without question the meal best suited to hanging out in chafing dishes while digging through it. Lots of breakfast fare is easy to scoop or can be snagged with a quick, accurate set of tongs, and it has a more robust shelf life than its lunch and dinner counterparts. One thing that, for some reason, we can’t all get on the same page on is buffet etiquette. Obviously, there has to be some level of decorum, lest the buffet break out into a Three Stooges-esque food fight. I think the tricky thing is that, in my opinion, buffets are all about reading the room, which is very tough for some people. Generally speaking, in my maiden trip to the buffet, I always start at the end as the buffet gods intended. That way I can do a reconnaissance lap to adjust my salad and roll intake accordingly. However, I do not believe you have to start at the end. I think you can — and should — just jump into the buffet… within reason. Here’s an example: say you want some biscuits and gravy, which are located in the middle of the buffet. There’s nothing but free real estate around the biscuits and gravy (which is how you know this is a hypothetical), but there’s a line at the beginning of the buffet. It’s ridiculous to think that you should go stand in line and wade past French toast sticks, eggs, and Cap’N Crunch you have no interest in to get your biscuits and gravy, so just look both ways like you’re crossing the street and grab them, and get out of the way. But, if there’s a group going through the line and approaching the biscuits and gravy, approach with caution. My rule of thumb is jump in, so long as you do not disrupt the flow of someone who is traveling the length of the buffet as intended. Tipping is always a touchy subject, but I think we need to talk about how this works with buffets. It was my understanding that you tipped the server for, y’know, serving you. But at most buffets, the server brings you drinks (I’ve been to some where they don’t even do that) and clears your spent plates. That’s not nothing… but is that 20% worthy if that’s what you throw down for a full-service waiter or waitress? I don’t mean to be that guy, but I did way more legwork when it came to getting food to the table than they did. I balanced a cup of coffee, a bowl of fruit, a plate with an omelette and home fries, and then a little sidecar plate of bacon and sausage while navigating a bustling dining room. How about tipping me? Plus, the bill is often considerably more per person compared to exercising some restraint and just getting an entree. I feel the same way about restaurants where you cook your own food. I’ve never gotten those. I get that it’s supposed to be about the "experience," but you can do that at home for considerably less. … That’s it for this week! Be sure to send in your gripes for a future edition of The Gripe Report. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4e2ddec2ca79de23653443 Former acting DHS secretary warns Chinese criminal organizations are infiltrating America's hemp industry te 2026-07-08T11:00:46.882Z Former acting DHS secretary warns Chinese criminal organizations are infiltrating America's hemp industry Former acting Homeland Security Secretary Chad Wolf sent a letter to House lawmakers Tuesday urging them to investigate the "growing role that Chinese-linked actors and foreign criminal organizations are playing in the proliferation of hemp-derived tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) products and illegal marijuana operations" in the U.S., which he says are "putting our youth and adults at risk."  The message addressed to Rep. John Moolenaar, R-Mich., and Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif. — the chairman and ranking member of the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party, respectively — states that "Beyond the serious public health implications, there is mounting evidence that this issue also presents a significant national security concern."  "What began as a narrowly tailored effort to legalize industrial hemp and non-intoxicating cannabidiol (CBD) products has evolved into a dangerous and unregulated market for high-potency THC hemp products that are being sold across the country with little to no oversight," Wolf wrote. "These products are frequently marketed as gummies, candies, beverages and vapes, often packaged and promoted in ways that appeal to children. They lack acceptable age restrictions, labeling requirements and safety standards."  Wolf cited a warning from the White House’s 2026 National Drug Control Strategy, which described how "the marijuana trade in the United States is no longer a scattered, low-level problem; it has been co-opted and industrialized by sophisticated, transnational criminal organizations, particularly those with ties to China." CHAD WOLF: CLOSE THE BACKDOOR DRUG PIPELINE THAT'S EMBOLDENING ENEMIES AND HARMING THE PUBLIC "These groups systematically exploit states where marijuana has been legalized under state law, leveraging these markets and lax regulations to establish massive, unlicensed cultivation operations. A stark illustration of this is Oklahoma, where law enforcement estimates that Chinese criminal groups run more than 80% of the state's thousands of marijuana and hemp farms," the National Drug Control Strategy document says.  "These operations are not just agricultural; they are hubs of poly-crime involving human trafficking of exploited laborers, sophisticated money laundering, and the use of dangerous, unregistered pesticides that threaten public health and the environment," it adds.  DOJ CHARGES SEVEN CHINESE NATIONALS IN MULTI-MILLION DOLLAR MARIJUANA TRAFFICKING RING Wolf referenced how China "has been linked to the export of fentanyl, synthetic narcotics and illicit supply chain materials that have devastated American communities" and that "the intoxicating THC hemp market now risks becoming another avenue through which Chinese-linked actors exploit regulatory loopholes and weak enforcement mechanisms to profit at the expense of the health and safety of the American people." "Congress acted last year, with bipartisan support and President Trump’s signature, to close loopholes involving intoxicating THC hemp products and restore the original intent of federal hemp legislation," he said in the letter. "However, efforts are now underway to weaken, delay or roll back those protections before they fully take effect. This would not only undermine public health and law enforcement objectives, but could further embolden foreign criminal actors seeking to exploit the American marketplace and harm American families."  He concluded the letter by asking the committee to "investigate China’s involvement in the intoxicating THC hemp supply chain, including financing, chemical manufacturing, illegal cultivation operations, money laundering activity and ties to the array of criminal organizations operating within the United States." Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4e2ba8c2ca79de236533f7 America 250 attendees fire back at critics of Trump's July 4 speech: 'What we needed to hear' te 2026-07-08T10:51:20.166Z America 250 attendees fire back at critics of Trump's July 4 speech: 'What we needed to hear' Two days after President Donald Trump's Fourth of July address, attendees at the Great American State Fair told Fox News Digital they saw the speech as patriotic, not partisan. "He's talking about taking down communism," David from New Jersey said. "That's the definition of our whole country. Built on capitalism, that's our whole country. If that's what he was talking about, I don't think that's political at all. It's just about the freedom that we have here. If it wasn't for that, we wouldn't be here." Thousands of Americans packed the National Mall on Saturday to celebrate the nation's 250th anniversary, touring exhibits from all 50 states despite sweltering heat and severe thunderstorms that temporarily paused celebrations. TRUMP SET TO DELIVER 'HISTORIC' SPEECH CELEBRATING AMERICA'S 250TH ANNIVERSARY Hours later, President Donald Trump delivered his 37-minute address, honoring veterans and the nation's founding while declaring that "no dream in history is bigger" than the American experiment and adding, "We don't want communists in our country," before a record-setting fireworks display. Despite hitting on major historical themes and railing against communism, critics quickly accused Trump of being divisive and delivering a partisan July 4 speech over the weekend. Matt from Florida said that while others may have disliked Trump's speech, he saw it as a tribute to veterans and Medal of Honor recipients. "It's really nice to see him share the stage instead of just giving a speech and going away like most presidents do," he said. "It was just nice to actually see him treat the whole thing as a giant event as opposed to just a limelight on himself." MEDIA ATTACKS DONALD TRUMP'S FOURTH OF JULY CELEBRATION, CLAIMING IT 'SULLIED' AMERICA 250 Ed and Linda from Ohio said they missed Trump's speech while waiting for the fireworks, but Ed said he supports the president "100 percent," while Linda added, "You should be able to rise above your political opinion and still enjoy the country's Fourth of July." Doug and Karen from Texas said they approved of President Trump's message. "It wasn't too political, it was what we needed to hear," Doug said. "It was good," Karen added. "People need to hear it." LEE GREENWOOD SAYS HE'S 'VERY PROUD' TO STAND NEXT TO TRUMP DURING AMERICA'S 250TH CELEBRATION Kim from Michigan called July 4 "a political holiday," saying people will always find something to criticize. "Throughout our history, it's been about our politics and what we stand for as a people, and what we believe in and what we're willing to fight for," she said. Priya from California said politics naturally belongs in a Fourth of July speech, adding that America must change course "from a very negative direction that the country has gone." "I think there's an intricate part that politics play obviously in the 250 years that we have been a nation," she said. "For it to last another 250 and hopefully beyond, we have to pay attention to that. We have to understand the political climate and what it's going to take for this nation to last and be prosperous." Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4e2b94c2ca79de236533de Are airline miles still worth it? te 2026-07-08T10:51:00.710Z Are airline miles still worth it? Airline miles used to feel like a secret travel weapon. You saved them, watched the award chart and then pounced when the right seat opened up. Now? You may search for a flight and see a price so ridiculous that it makes you want to close the laptop. That is exactly why I sat down with David Fleming, a travel rewards consultant known online as The Miles Guy. His job is helping travelers squeeze more value out of airline miles, hotel points and credit card rewards without getting fooled into bad redemptions. FAKE BOOKING.COM TRAVEL CREDIT SCAM TARGETS TRAVELERS And here is the big takeaway: airline miles can still be valuable, but the old tricks no longer work the same way. Sign up for my FREE CyberGuy Report Years ago, many airlines used fixed award charts. That made it easier to know what a flight should cost in points. Now, that predictability is mostly gone. "The airlines and their frequent flier programs went to something called dynamic pricing, which basically ties the cost of the ticket to the number of points you use," Fleming told me during our conversation on the CyberGuy Report podcast. He gave one eye-popping example. Air France Flying Blue business class from Los Angeles to Paris used to show up for around 67,500 points one way. Now, on some days, that same type of redemption can balloon to an outrageous level. "Some days you're now seeing them for 700,000 points one way," Fleming said. "Which is bananas." That is the kind of number that should make you pause before clicking "book." If you want a broader refresher on how travel rewards work, CyberGuy's guide on how to rack up points and miles for travel is a helpful read at CyberGuy.com. If you have any wiggle room in your schedule, use it before you spend your miles. "The key really is to book your trip around your flights," Fleming said. "Find the dates that have the best mileage redemptions available, and book those and let that be your guide." That may sound annoying if you already picked your vacation dates. However, shifting by a day or two, or flying from a different airport, can save you a huge number of points. This approach works best when you are traveling alone or with one other person. It gets harder with kids, school schedules, work calendars and family obligations. Still, even a little flexibility can help. The goal is to stop treating every mileage price as a good deal just because it uses points instead of cash. One of my best strategies is to book a refundable cash ticket as insurance while watching for mileage seats. Here is how it works. You book a refundable fare, so you know you can get where you need to go. Then you keep checking for award seats. If a better mileage redemption becomes available, you can cancel the refundable ticket and book with points. Fleming said that strategy still has value, even though it worked better before dynamic pricing became so common. "If you book a refundable ticket, you know if something does open up, you always can cancel that refundable ticket, get your money back, and book the mileage ticket," Fleming said. There is another version of the same idea. If a good mileage ticket doesn't appear, you can look for a cheaper, nonrefundable cash fare closer to the trip. Then you cancel the refundable ticket and buy the cheaper fare instead. It takes effort, but it gives you options. Paid upgrades can be hit-or-miss. Still, Fleming says asking at the counter or gate can sometimes pay off. "You might have to be a little proactive and ask the gate agent or the person at the ticket counter, 'Hey, do you have any upgrades available? And if yes, how much are they?'" Fleming said. He shared the story of a friend who was flying economy on a transatlantic flight. At the counter, the airline offered him a business class upgrade for $140. If he had bought that upgrade online earlier, it would have cost more than $1,200. That will not happen every time. Airlines may have no seats, no deal or no interest in discounting the upgrade. Even so, the question costs nothing. Ask politely at check-in, at the ticket counter or at the gate: "Are there any paid upgrades available, and what would the cost be?" You can always say no. This may be the hardest part for many travelers. Sometimes the smartest move is to keep your miles. Fleming uses a rough benchmark of about 2 cents per point. So, if 100,000 points would cover a ticket that costs about $2,000, that can be a fair deal. "On average, you might say that a point is worth $0.02," Fleming said. "I just kind of set the goal at $0.02 a point." However, if an airline wants 100,000 points for a $500 ticket, you may want to pay cash and keep the points for something better. That is where people get burned. They see "free flight" and forget that points have value. Those points took spending, flying or credit card bonuses to earn. Burning them on a weak redemption can cost you later. Airline miles and hotel points can both be easy to waste. Before you redeem either one, compare the points or miles price with the cash rate. That helps you see whether you are getting strong value. One tool CyberGuy has covered before is Awayz. It can help you compare cash prices with award pricing so you can decide when to use points, miles or cash. Its hotel search can be especially helpful if you have rewards spread across programs like Hilton, Hyatt, Marriott, IHG, Accor, Choice or Wyndham. Awayz can also help you look for award availability and spot better dates. That can save time when you are planning a trip with flexible travel dates. Still, treat any travel search tool as a starting point. Prices and award availability can change fast. Before you transfer points or book, confirm the final price, taxes, fees, cancellation rules and availability directly with the airline, hotel or loyalty program. BOOKING A SUMMER TRIP? HERE'S WHAT YOU'RE GIVING SCAMMERS You cannot use your rewards well if you do not know what you have. Fleming says that starts with keeping your travel accounts organized. "I created a spreadsheet which basically lists my program, American Airlines, my account number, my password, when the points expire and how many points I have," Fleming said. "Then you know what you have to work with." I use a phone contact called "Travel Profile." In that contact card, I store airline, hotel and rental car loyalty numbers in alphabetical order. So, when I am checking into a hotel or renting a car, I can quickly find the right number. Here is how to set one up: One important warning: do not store passwords in this contact card. Use it for loyalty numbers only. Keep account passwords in a secure password manager instead. The trade-off is that a phone contact will not show your current point balances or expiration dates. That is where a spreadsheet or password manager can help, especially if you have dozens of travel accounts. Some airline miles no longer expire. Fleming noted that United MileagePlus miles and Delta SkyMiles do not expire. However, other programs still have expiration rules. Flying Blue, the loyalty program for Air France and KLM, now uses a single 24-month validity period for miles, with qualifying activity able to extend that date. That means you should check each program before assuming your miles are safe forever. Also, do not ignore small balances. A few thousand points may not buy a long-haul ticket, but they may help with a hotel night, upgrade or short flight later. I asked Fleming whether airline status still means anything. His answer was blunt. "Unless you have the top tier status, I don't think so," Fleming said. I get it. There was a time when top-level status could feel special, especially when flights were delayed or canceled. You could call a dedicated number, find the right person at the airport and sometimes get real help getting where you needed to go. That still happens, but it feels less dependable than it used to. Planes are packed, upgrades are harder to clear and airlines often sell premium seats instead of handing them to loyal flyers. Status can still help with free bags, preferred seats and priority support. However, I would not chase it blindly unless the perks still match how often you fly and what you are spending to get them. One of my favorite travel apps right now is Flighty. It tracks your aircraft before it becomes your flight, which can give you an early warning when trouble is starting to build. For example, your plane may still be in another city with several flights to complete before it ever gets to you. If one of those earlier flights gets delayed, Flighty can often show the ripple effect before the airline sends an official alert. Flighty can send real-time alerts for delays, gate changes and cancellations. You can also track a flight right inside the Messages app on your iPhone. Send yourself, or someone else, the airline name and flight number , such as Delta 1234 or American 456. You can also try the airline code and number, such as DL1234 or AA456. Once the flight number appears underlined, tap it and select Preview Flight. You should see details such as flight status, departure time, arrival time, terminal, gate and baggage claim when available. One low-tech trick I still swear by is carrying a UK plug adapter. Some airplane outlets get loose from heavy use, especially with standard U.S. plugs. A UK adapter may fit more securely in certain universal airplane outlets, but it will not work on every aircraft or every seat. Also, treat it as an adapter, not a voltage converter, and use it only with chargers that support the power range printed on the charger. Airline miles and hotel points have real value. That makes them attractive to hackers. A thief who breaks into a loyalty account can drain your miles, book travel or sell access before you notice. Since many people rarely check old airline and hotel accounts, fraud can sit there longer than it should. CyberGuy has covered how hackers can hijack travel rewards programs and drain miles. To protect yourself, use strong, unique passwords for every travel account and store them in a secure password manager. Turn on two-factor authentication (2FA) when available and review your balances often. You should also keep strong antivirus software on your devices to help block malicious links, phishing pages and other threats that can lead to account theft. Get my picks for the best 2026 antivirus protection winners for your Windows, Mac, Android and iOS devices at CyberGuy.com. Also, consider using a data removal service to reduce how much personal information is floating around online, since scammers can use exposed details to make travel-related phishing messages look more believable. Check out my top picks for data removal services and get a free scan to find out if your personal information is already out on the web by visiting CyberGuy.com. Finally, be careful with any email claiming your miles are expiring or offering a too-good-to-be-true travel deal. Go directly to the airline or hotel site instead of clicking links in surprise messages. Travel credit cards can still unlock value, but only if the perks match how you actually travel. If you fly one airline often, a co-branded card may help with bags, boarding or award discounts. If you want flexibility, a transferable points card may give you more options across different airlines and hotel partners. Before you chase a welcome bonus, read the annual fee, spending requirement and redemption rules. A giant bonus can lose its appeal if you have to overspend to earn it. CyberGuy's best airline credit cards guide at cyberguy.com/ can help you compare travel cards, perks and earning structures before you apply. Your phone holds your email, passwords, photos, banking apps and personal data. In this free CyberGuy Live replay, Kurt the CyberGuy walks you step by step through simple phone security fixes you can do at your own pace. You’ll learn how to improve your privacy settings, spot the latest phone scams, use trusted security tools and walk away with a simple checklist to stay protected. Watch the replay and get our checklist here: CyberGuyLive.com Airline miles are still worth collecting, but you have to be more careful than ever about how you spend them. Dynamic pricing means the same seat can cost a reasonable number of points one day and an outrageous number another day. That is why flexibility, research and patience can make such a big difference. Before you redeem, compare the cash price against the point price. If the value looks weak, save your miles and buy the ticket instead. Also, organize your loyalty accounts now, not when you are standing at a rental car counter or rushing through an airport. A spreadsheet, secure password manager or travel profile in your phone can keep your rewards from becoming a pile of forgotten numbers. And next time you fly, ask about paid upgrades. You may get nothing. Or you may hear a price that makes the whole trip feel like you beat the system. For more of my conversation with David "The Miles Guy" Fleming, you can watch the full podcast episode at CyberGuy.com. Do you still think airline miles are worth chasing, or have airlines made the rewards game too confusing to trust? Let us know by writing to us at CyberGuy.com. Sign up for my FREE CyberGuy Report Copyright 2026 CyberGuy.com. All rights reserved. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4e2b81c2ca79de236533d5 Rams' Alaric Jackson catches surprising break despite damning allegations involving pregnant girlfriend te 2026-07-08T10:50:41.259Z Rams' Alaric Jackson catches surprising break despite damning allegations involving pregnant girlfriend Los Angeles Rams offensive lineman Alaric Jackson has dodged criminal charges, but his NFL career remains in serious jeopardy. Just weeks after his late-night domestic violence arrest, the 27-year-old left tackle is walking away without facing a single charge. According to the New York Post, prosecutors have declined to pursue the case stemming from Jackson's June 9 arrest in Los Angeles. ATTORNEY FOR DENVER BRONCOS DEFENDER JONATHON COOPER PLAYS RACE CARD IN DOMESTIC ABUSE CASE While the District Attorney's Office previously declined to file felony charges, the city attorney has now passed on misdemeanor charges as well. The Post also reported that Jackson's pregnant girlfriend voluntarily dismissed her temporary restraining order. According to police, the dispute began after Jackson believed she was secretly recording him on her cell phone. During an alleged struggle over the device, Jackson allegedly left scratch marks on her arm. He was arrested on suspicion of domestic violence and later released on $50,000 bond. Jackson, who signed a three-year, $57 million contract extension last year, allegedly became enraged over being recorded without his consent. The allegation drew comparisons to Jackson's previous NFL suspension for secretly recording a woman during a sexual encounter without her consent. That incident led to a federal lawsuit that was settled and dismissed in April. JETS' GENO SMITH UNDER ACTIVE INVESTIGATION IN FLORIDA FOR ALLEGED ASSAULT AT HIS HOME: POLICE Even though prosecutors declined to pursue charges, the NFL operates under its own Personal Conduct Policy and is conducting an independent investigation. Because the league does not need a criminal conviction to impose discipline, Jackson could still face a suspension before the season kicks off. Send us your thoughts: alejandro.avila@outkick.com / Follow along on X: @alejandroaveela Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4e2929c2ca79de2365337a Team USA issues statement in English and Spanish after disastrous World Cup exit te 2026-07-08T10:40:41.375Z Team USA issues statement in English and Spanish after disastrous World Cup exit It's not an exaggeration to say that the U.S. men's national team's 4-1 loss to Belgium in the Round of 16 at the 2026 FIFA World Cup was shocking. Not just because of the result, which was a deserving win for the Belgian team, but because of how poorly the USMNT played. Former players, coaches and analysts have all, correctly, blasted the team's poor effort, lack of fundamentals and inexcusable mistakes. The loss not only ended their run and put an abrupt halt to the momentum the team had built up, but it once again threw into question the entire US Soccer development program and the player pool. Starting 38-year-old Tim Ream at center back against Belgium's world-class strikers always looked like a mismatch. And boy, it didn't take long for those concerns to be validated. AFTER BLOWOUT LOSS TO BELGIUM, MANY ARE WONDERING IF TEAM USA IS BETTER OR WORSE THAN IT WAS A DECADE AGO For fans who saw visions of the quarterfinals, or perhaps an even deeper run, it was a stark reminder of how far US soccer has to go to be truly elite. And the team addressed those obvious concerns in their post-cup statement. Which, confusingly, was also posted in Spanish. "Dear America, We believed," the statement says. "So did you. When we asked, 'Why not us?' you answered. You filled stadiums. You brought the game into your homes, bars, parks and communities across the country. Every time our players stepped onto the field, they carried your support with them. Wearing the crest is a privilege, and hearing your voices throughout this tournament is something we will never forget. "We'll learn from this. We'll get better to compete with the world's best. And we'll keep doing the work because that's what this team and this country expects of us. To every kid who watched this team and dreams of wearing this crest one day: keep playing or start playing today. We'll be cheering for you. Keep believing. Keep showing up." TOP FIVE MEMORABLE MOMENTS FROM TEAM USA'S MAGICAL 2026 FIFA WORLD CUP RUN The statement continues by explaining that the team and program intend to "make sure" that everyone who wants to play soccer, can. "Support your local soccer teams, they need their community. We'll keep doing the work to make sure every child who wants to play can do so. That means more places to play, more great coaches, referees and mentors, and a game that's welcoming, affordable and fun for everyone. There's a home for everyone in soccer. Thank you for standing with us and for believing in this team. Thank you for believing in the future of soccer in this country. "Country roads, take us home. We'll see you there." CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM It's interesting that the statement goes so far as to address the U.S.' problem with pay-to-play youth soccer. While many, including former USMNT head coach Jurgen Klinsmann, have spoken about the difference in the development of young players in the U.S. and Europe, for example, it's a tacit acknowledgment that the players coming out of the U.S. are not good enough or prepared well enough. Most of the stars on the current roster, such as Malik Tillman and Folarin Balogun, were trained in Europe. Tillman joined Bayern Munich's youth system in 2015 and Balogun was trained in Arsenal's youth program. But that's a much broader, structural issue that will take years and concerted effort to reform, which is why mentioning it in a post-World Cup statement is so odd and so telling. Many fans were upset that the U.S. Men's National Team posted this statement in Spanish too. But even more upsetting? That they went out in humiliating fashion against a team that should have been a reasonable matchup. And that there are years of growth and talent building required, by their own admission, to compete with the Belgiums of the world, let alone Spain or France. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4e26e3c2ca79de236532e4 Golf legend Annika Sorenstam credits Caitlin Clark with bringing a new demographic to women's golf te 2026-07-08T10:30:59.550Z Golf legend Annika Sorenstam credits Caitlin Clark with bringing a new demographic to women's golf While some in the WNBA may not recognize it, LPGA legend Annika Sorenstam certainly does: Caitlin Clark is great for women’s sports. In a recent interview with Fox News Digital, Sorenstam talked about how Clark has helped bring a new demographic into golf. "She's obviously very popular. She brings a new demographic to the game, and when she's there playing the pro-am, I mean we have a lot of people attending and wanting her autograph. Following her and every shot, and she's just great for women's sports and we love to have her a part of it," Sorenstam told Fox News Digital. CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM Sorenstam is playing in the American Century Championship on Friday and is one of the contenders to win the tournament. Clark cannot play in the celebrity golf tournament because of the WNBA schedule, but believes Clark would do well. Clark has played in the ANNIKA Pro-Am, and Sorenstam has been impressed with her game. LPGA LEGEND ANNIKA SORENSTAM SAYS LIV GOLF INTERRUPTED THE GAME OF GOLF, FORCED PGA TOUR TO MAKE CHANGES "I think she would do quite well (at the American Century Championship.) I mean, she's quite an athlete, as you know. That's kind of stating the obvious. But she loves golf. She's played golf for many years, and I know every time she gets a chance, she goes to the course," Sorenstam told Fox News Digital. Sorenstam is one of the favorites to win the tournament. Sorenstam, who won 72 LPGA Tour tournaments, including 10 majors, during her illustrious career, will raise awareness for the Annika Foundation. "We try to empower and advance young women through the game of golf, but also in life, different life skills, and it's been really rewarding and satisfying to see how far women's golf has come and how many of these young women are pursuing their dreams. It's been a lot of fun, and just watching the difference we're making in these young women's life," Sorenstam said. With the Stableford scoring format, Sorenstam talked about needing to be more aggressive, and pursue more birdies and eagles. The tournament will be broadcast on NBC and Peacock. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4e26d0c2ca79de236532db 2026 Genesis Scottish Open betting preview at The Renaissance Club, featuring outright picks and top-5/10 bets te 2026-07-08T10:30:40.102Z 2026 Genesis Scottish Open betting preview at The Renaissance Club, featuring outright picks and top-5/10 bets The 2026 Genesis Scottish Open returns to The Renaissance Club in North Berwick, Scotland, this week, serving as the ultimate links golf tune-up. Co-sanctioned by the PGA TOUR, and DP World Tour, this elite event brings together a powerhouse international field right before the year's final major championship. Tom Doak's modern coastal design relies heavily on unpredictable winds, deep pot bunkers and massive, undulating greens to protect par. Reigning champion Chris Gotterup looks to defend his title after holding off a heavyweight leaderboard to win at 15-under here last year. To get reps for next week's 154th Open Championship, LIV Tour players Jon Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton join the three major champions this season, World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler and No. 2 Rory McIlroy, in a stacked field. PGA STAR SAHITH THEEGALA'S FIANCÉE FEUDS WITH SPORTSCENTER HOST OVER 'UNCOMFORTABLE' INTERACTION For the record, I'm risking 2.17 units (u) on outrights and 2u on top-5 and top-10 bets for the Scottish Open. Here are my horses for the course at The Renaissance Club and my "one-and-done" pick for this week. The following odds are based on my previous bets on the golfers listed below. Subject to change. 🇸🇪 Ludvig Åberg +2464 at Polymarket (0.81u) and Top-10 with ties +228 at Kalshi (0.75u) 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Tyrrell Hatton +3633 at Polymarket (0.55u) and Top-10 with ties +312 at Kalshi (0.5u) 🇩🇰 Nicolai Højgaard +5163 at Polymarket (0.39u) and Top-5 with ties +770 at DraftKings (0.25u) 🇺🇸 Jake Knapp +9245 (0.22u) and Top-10 with ties +624 (0.25u), both at Kalshi 🇪🇸 Eugenio Chacarra +10000 at DraftKings (0.2u) and Top-10 with ties +656 at Kalshi (0.25u) The golf betting world clowns on Ludvig because of all his Sunday collapses this year. Yet, if you don’t harp on that, he is having an objectively good season, has great course history, and is due for a win. Åberg has six T8-or-better finishes this year, including T5 at THE PLAYERS Championship and T4 at the PGA Championship. He tied for eighth at last year’s Scottish Open and tied for fourth two years ago, gaining strokes across the board (driving, approach, around-the-green, and putting) in both. The Renaissance Club is a "bomber’s paradise," and Ludvig is a top-five driver of the golf ball in the world. Plus, he ranks second on the PGA TOUR this season in approach shots from 200+ yards. Lastly, his odds at Bookmaker are +1755, which is significant because that’s a sharp sportsbook for golf betting. So, since Åberg’s odds at Bookmaker are lower than the legalized U.S. sportsbooks', he must be taking sharp action. One of the best links golfers in the world, Hatton has 14 professional wins, including one on the PGA TOUR, two on the LIV Tour and eight on the DP World Tour, and has won the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship in Scotland three times. LPGA LEGEND ANNIKA SORENSTAM SAYS LIV GOLF INTERRUPTED THE GAME OF GOLF, FORCED PGA TOUR TO MAKE CHANGES He is playing well entering the Scottish Open, winning his last start on the LIV Tour in Andalucia, Spain, and cashing a top-20 bet for me by finishing T7 at the 2026 U.S. Open last month. Hatton did miss the cut at the 2026 PGA Championship, but he finished T3 at The Masters, T16 at the 153rd Open Championship and T4 at last year’s U.S. Open in his four previous majors. Tyrrell has gained strokes tee-to-green (driving, approach and around-the-green) in seven consecutive majors and finished T6 in his last Scottish Open in 2023 while gaining strokes across the board. The Dane gave me a "weekend sweat" at last year’s Scottish Open by finishing T4. Højgaard tied for sixth in the 2023 Scottish Open and has gained strokes on the field with his irons in three straight visits to The Renaissance Club, per DataGolf.com. After a strong start to his season, Nicolai fell off with three straight missed cuts at the Memorial, RBC Canadian Open and U.S. Open before tying for 14th in his last start at the Travelers. Højgaard’s best finishes this year were T2 in the Truist Championship at Quail Hollow and second at the Texas Children’s Houston Open at Memorial Park. Those are good comp courses to The Renaissance Club: Quail Hollow is another driver-heavy course and Doak, who designed this place, also renovated Memorial Park. That said, the top of last year’s Scottish Open leaderboard was bombers, and Nicolai pummels the ball off-the-tee, ranking fourth on the PGA TOUR this year in driving distance. Like Åberg, Højgaard’s Bookmaker odds (+3511) are much shorter than his odds at the U.S. sportsbooks. Before his last three starts — T74 (RBC Heritage), missed cut (U.S. Open) and T55 (Travelers Championship) — Knapp was having one of the best seasons on the PGA TOUR. He had seven T11-or-better finishes in his first eight events of the year, featuring a sixth at The Genesis Invitational and an 11th at The Masters. Knapp finished T22 in his first Scottish Open last year despite gaining the fifth-fewest strokes on approach that week, thanks to picking up nearly 11 strokes putting and 3.35 strokes with his driver. With that in mind, Knapp is a good fit for this course. Putting and driving are the two most important skills for The Renaissance Club, and he ranks second in putting on the PGA this season and seventh in Club Head Speed. Maybe his season has been ruined by injury, or maybe Knapp will bounce back and finish the year strong. At these odds, with how well his game fits The Renaissance Club, I’m willing to find it. He was Ludvig’s rival in college and the second-ranked amateur in the world, but their careers went in separate directions when Åberg joined the PGA TOUR out of college and Chacarra took the money and signed with the LIV Tour. Chacarra won once on the LIV Tour in three years, then joined the DP World Tour full-time in 2025, where he has won three times, including twice in his last three starts entering the Scottish Open. The Spaniard is another dominant driver and ranks 10th on the DP World Tour this season in driving distance. Most casual golf fans don’t know much about Chacarra because he plays in Europe, but he’s got the talent to win any tournament in the world and has the chance to prove that in this co-sanctioned event between the two biggest tours in golf. Mayo Cup season standings: 4,444th with $4,919,969 It would make sense to pick either the winner of last week's John Deere Classic, Chris Gotterup, or Wyndham Clark, who is on a heater with two recent wins, including his second U.S. Open. Plus, Gotterup and Clark have shorter betting odds than Hatton; hence the market gives them more win equity. But I'm not betting those guys, and I don't want to use some for one-and-done if I don't have an outright bet on them. I already used Åberg for the RBC Heritage, where he tied for fourth and added $823,333 to my Mayo Cup earnings. Finally, I'm saving Jon Rahm, the third-betting favorite, for The 154th Open Championship next week. _____________________________ Follow me on X @Geoffery-Clark, and check out my "OutKick Bets Podcast" for more betting content and random rants. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4e24b5c2ca79de23653286 Gen Z eats nearly twice as many snacks as boomers, with experts warning they're replacing real meals te 2026-07-08T10:21:41.370Z Gen Z eats nearly twice as many snacks as boomers, with experts warning they're replacing real meals Americans may love to snack, but younger adults appear to be taking the habit to another level, according to a new European survey that highlights broader shifts in eating habits. The survey of 2,000 adults, commissioned by European Mushrooms and reported by news agency SWNS, found that Gen Z respondents consumed an average of 81 snacks each month, nearly twice as many as baby boomers, who averaged 45. Experts say the findings reflect a broader trend in how younger adults approach meals, with convenience increasingly replacing traditional breakfast, lunch and dinner. DOCTORS SAY 8 FORGOTTEN HABITS COULD HELP FIGHT STRESS, OBESITY AND CHRONIC DISEASE Many of those snacks, however, are not the healthiest choices. Eight in 10 respondents said they eat foods such as chips, cookies and chocolate every week.  Many also reported feeling sluggish, bloated or fatigued afterward. Among those who noticed negative effects, 91% said they experienced an energy crash. For many, that slump arrives during the afternoon. Researchers found the average "crash time" was 3:06 p.m., with tiredness, boredom and low energy among the most common reasons people reached for another snack. California-based food policy expert and author Darin Detwiler, who was not involved in the survey, told Fox News Digital that today's snacking habits reflect broader changes in how people consume food. CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR LIFESTYLE NEWSLETTER "The bigger story is that the definition of a 'meal' has changed," Detwiler said. Many younger adults no longer organize their day around traditional breakfast, lunch and dinner, Detwiler said. Instead, protein bars, smoothies, frozen meals and packaged foods increasingly serve as meal replacements rather than simply snacks. Convenience is one of the biggest drivers behind that shift, with younger consumers balancing busy schedules, tighter budgets and the need for quick, ready-to-eat options, Detwiler said. CLICK HERE FOR MORE LIFESTYLE STORIES "The real question is not whether Gen Z snacks more," he said. "The better question is whether those snacks are adding nutrition or replacing nutrition." That shift may also help explain why Gen Z is embracing snacks over traditional meals. The survey found 41% of Gen Z respondents said they prefer snacks to full meals, compared with 31% of all respondents. More than one-third also said having snacks to look forward to throughout the day gives them something to anticipate. TEST YOURSELF WITH OUR LATEST LIFESTYLE QUIZ Despite those habits, many respondents said they would actually prefer healthier options. Carrie Ruxton, an England-based dietitian, told SWNS that making smarter snack choices can help people avoid the afternoon energy slump. "Timing snacks properly can help prevent energy crashes and boost essential nutrients," Ruxton said. Blood sugar levels naturally fall a few hours after eating, which can contribute to fatigue, brain fog and reduced concentration, she said. "Snacking cleverly can help stabilize energy and prevent those dips," Ruxton said. The goal isn't to stop snacking altogether but to make more thoughtful choices that provide longer-lasting energy throughout the day, Ruxton said. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4e24a1c2ca79de2365327a Dem Senate hopeful pocketed massive taxpayer-funded cash while skipping hundreds of votes te 2026-07-08T10:21:21.916Z Dem Senate hopeful pocketed massive taxpayer-funded cash while skipping hundreds of votes FIRST ON FOX: Josh Turek, a two-time Paralympic gold medalist, a state legislator and Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate in Iowa, has taken over $20,000 in per diem payments while missing more than half of his 2026 votes, records reveal. From Jan. 12, 2026, through May 3, he missed 261 of the chamber’s votes, accounting for nearly 60% of his votes. The absences, some of which were clustered around campaign events and spanned several high-profile bills, suggest Turek has struggled to balance his role as a legislator and candidate as he wages an uphill battle to fill the seat being vacated by Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa., who is retiring. Throughout his campaign, Turek has framed himself as a classic example of the American underdog story, having overcome being born paralyzed from the waist down to play basketball for the U.S. in the Paralympic Games, winning championships in 2016 and 2020. DEMOCRATS TURN TO PARALYMPIAN IN BID TO FLIP KEY GOP-HELD SENATE SEAT As a candidate for Senate, Turek has pledged to defend the government programs that made his journey possible. "I wouldn’t have gotten that far without VA health coverage from my dad’s service, free summer lunch programs when my parents were struggling and the local AEA that made sure I had access to a good education," Turek said in a campaign video. Despite a powerful message that has drawn national attention, Turek has struggled to raise capital for his campaign, having accumulated $3.4 million from July 2025 through the end of May, according to FEC records. The sum is on the lower end of campaign contributions for a campaign to flip an empty Senate seat. By comparison, Sherrod Brown, a former U.S. senator trying to reclaim his seat in Ohio, has raised nearly $26 million since last November. Records show that Turek skipped critical votes to raise campaign cash across the country — while at the same time maxing out the daily $201 tax-free per diem that Iowa offers its legislators to cover costs of the job. For Turek, that amount reached $20,100, according to the Chief Clerk of the House of Representatives. Legislators in Iowa may collect the per diem 100 times per legislative session, according to state law. DEMOCRATS TURN TO PARALYMPIAN IN BID TO FLIP KEY GOP-HELD SENATE SEAT He missed a set of 12 votes while, between March 25 and March 31, raising $43,000 in donations from residents of Southern California. Campaign payments for hotels in Los Angeles suggest Turek’s campaign had been in the area at the time. Among the twelve, Turek was absent for a vote on a rural health and medical licensing bill. In another similar case, Turek raised $36,500 from donors in Washington, D.C., between February 17 through March 23, missing 16 votes during that time, including consideration of an educational standards bill. During that time, campaign expenses suggest he was there in person. In one such entry, his campaign reported hosting an event at 800 Maine Ave, paying $250 for an "event venue rental." At one point in March, Turek missed 30 consecutive votes. In response to an inquiry from Fox News Digital, Turek’s campaign pointed out that the pattern isn’t unique to him and that other candidates — including Turek’s Republican challenger, Rep. Ashley Hinson, R-Iowa — also miss votes to fundraise. "Just last week, Ashley Hinson skipped votes on the annual defense funding bill to attend a ritzy D.C. fundraiser. Meanwhile, Josh Turek is ranked one of Iowa’s most bipartisan and effective lawmakers and has regularly worked with Republicans to cut taxes for Iowa families and keep dangerous criminals off the streets," a spokesperson for his campaign said. Hinson was absent for a portion of the 2027 defense bill markup while at a fundraiser on June 24. "While Josh continues his ‘go everywhere’ approach to meet directly with Iowans, Ashley Hinson has not held a single town hall since launching her campaign while repeatedly voting to hurt Iowa families," the spokesperson added. TRUMP-ENDORSED HINSON SECURES IOWA SENATE NOMINATION AS DEMOCRATS EYE GOP SEAT Hinson's campaign responded by noting that she has a 98.8% lifetime voting record since her election to the House of Representatives in 2020 while also lambasting Turek's record. "Not only did Josh Turek skip the vote to fund the Iowa Department of Veterans Affairs while fundraising with a Schumer-aligned Super PAC, he also skipped votes on the Iowa Farm Bill, rural health funding, child abuse investigations, and, in 2023, gender transition procedures for minors. Josh Turek is an absentee legislator who doesn’t deserve the promotion he’s trying to get," Billy Fuerst, Hinson's campaign communications director, said in a statement. Turek convincingly defeated Iowa Democratic Sen. Zach Wahls in the party primary earlier this month. He will face off against Hinson in the state’s Nov. 3 general election. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4e248ec2ca79de23653271 Trump demands end to trade with key US ally, calls it a 'wasted cause' te 2026-07-08T10:21:02.460Z Trump demands end to trade with key US ally, calls it a 'wasted cause' President Donald Trump threatened Wednesday to end U.S. trade with Spain after criticizing the NATO ally for refusing to commit to the alliance's new defense spending target. Speaking during the NATO summit, Trump repeatedly singled out Spain, calling the country a "wasted cause" and urging an end to trade with one of America's European allies. "Spain is a wasted cause," Trump said. "We don't want to do any trade business with Spain anymore, by the way." Trump went further, saying, "Cut off all trade with Spain, please, including visits." MOST TRUMP SUPPORTERS STILL BACK NATO DESPITE YEARS OF TRUMP'S CRITICISM, NEW POLL FINDS The president's comments came after NATO leaders backed a new defense spending benchmark calling on allies to invest 5% of gross domestic product in defense and defense-related expenditures. Spain was the lone member of the alliance to publicly reject committing to the full target, instead negotiating flexibility in how it will meet NATO capability goals. Trump argued Spain has benefited from the alliance while failing to contribute its fair share. "They don't participate, they don't pay. I don't want anything to do with Spain," Trump said. He later added, "I don't want to do any more trade with him. All right? Take it immediately. Don't even talk to them." Trump also predicted Spain would eventually seek to restore trade ties with the United States. TRUMP'S PERSONAL FEUDS WITH ALLIES FROM ITALY TO ISRAEL REVEAL HOW PERSONALITY DRIVES HIS FOREIGN POLICY "They're hostile about it, and let's see how hostile they remain when they call up and they, 'Please, please, we want to trade with you, sir,'" Trump said. "They make so much money with us and we're going to see that they make a lot less. I want no business with them." The remarks represent an escalation of Trump's longstanding criticism of NATO allies that spend less on defense.  Throughout both of his administrations, Trump has argued that countries failing to meet alliance spending commitments unfairly rely on the United States for their security. Any effort to significantly restrict trade with Spain, however, could present legal and diplomatic hurdles. Spain is a member of the European Union, which negotiates trade policy as a customs union rather than through separate bilateral trade agreements with individual member states. It was not immediately clear whether Trump was announcing a formal policy or expressing his frustration with Spain's position on NATO spending. The White House had not immediately provided details on whether the administration is considering trade restrictions targeting Spain. The U.S. and Spain maintain a significant trading relationship.  The two countries traded roughly $47 billion in goods in 2025, with the United States exporting about $26 billion worth of goods to Spain and importing about $21 billion from Spain, according to U.S. Census Bureau data. Spain exports pharmaceuticals, machinery, chemicals, food products and vehicles to the U.S., while the United States exports energy products, machinery, aerospace equipment and chemicals to Spain. Fox News Digital has reached out to the White House, the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative and the Spanish embassy for comment. Trump's criticism of Spain also comes after months of growing friction between Washington and Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez over national security and foreign policy. Earlier in 2026, Sánchez condemned the U.S.-Israeli military campaign against Iran as an "extraordinary mistake" and called for de-escalation, while Spain refused to allow the U.S. to use the jointly operated Rota Naval Base and Morón Air Base to support offensive operations against Iran under Operation Epic Fury.  Spanish officials argued the strikes lacked international legal backing and said the bases could not be used for unilateral military action. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4e247bc2ca79de23653268 Will Cain challenges Stephen A Smith on 'racist' claim about 'White dudes' in the NBA te 2026-07-08T10:20:43.010Z Will Cain challenges Stephen A Smith on 'racist' claim about 'White dudes' in the NBA ESPN host Stephen A. Smith tried to defend his claim that the Los Angeles Lakers could not win a championship built around "three White dudes" during an appearance on Fox News' The Will Cain Show on Tuesday. Cain confronted Smith, calling his remarks about the trio of Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves and Walker Kessler "racist." "If I came out and said anywhere, anyplace, anytime that a Black quarterback couldn't win the Super Bowl, I'd be wrong, and you would also say, 'Will, that is racist,'" Cain told Smith. "You wouldn't accuse me of being a racist, but you would say that statement is racist. And I can say the same to you now when it comes to basketball." ESPN MUST HOLD STEPHEN A ACCOUNTABLE AFTER DOUBLING DOWN ON RACIST REMARKS ABOUT WHITE BASKETBALL PLAYERS Smith called Cain's characterization "fair" and said he wasn't "offended" by the criticism. Still, he doubled down on his underlying argument. "I'm going to repeat it again: a trio of White players in the NBA has never led a team to a championship," Smith said. "The top three players on a basketball team being White in the NBA has never led an NBA franchise to a championship since the Minneapolis Lakers did it between 1949 and 1955." Cain countered that a trio of Nikola Jokic, Luka Doncic, and Cooper Flagg would be more than capable of winning an NBA championship. He also pointed out that Smith's standard is conveniently narrow. Larry Bird and Kevin McHale, two White stars, led the Boston Celtics to three championships in the 1980s. Smith's argument survives only because Hall of Famer Robert Parish, who is Black, happened to be the team's third-best player. At this point, Smith's defense amounts to little more than a technicality. Whenever he's challenged, he argues that he needs to see three White stars lead a team to a championship before he'll believe it's possible. But that's not the claim he originally made. There's a meaningful difference between saying something hasn't happened and saying it cannot happen, as Smith initially did. As OutKick has argued, Smith's reasoning simply doesn't hold up. If a White player can be the best player on a championship team, as Jokic was in 2023, and two White players can anchor a dynasty, as Bird and McHale did, there's no logical basis for claiming three White stars can't win a ring together. The far more reasonable conclusion is that the right trio of White dudes simply hasn't existed yet. SKIP BAYLESS PUSHES BACK ON STEPHEN A.'S CLAIM THAT 'THREE WHITE DUDES' CAN'T WIN AN NBA CHAMPIONSHIP TOGETHER For one, it's a numbers game. The NBA is roughly 75 to 80% Black, meaning there are naturally fewer elite White players available to build around. The same logic applies elsewhere. Just because an NFL team has never won a Super Bowl with a Black quarterback, Black head coach, and Black general manager doesn't mean it can't happen. It just means that, because of the racial makeup of those positions, it hasn't. Of course, there is the racial double standard that Cain referenced. If a White commentator argued that a team couldn't win a Super Bowl because its leaders were Black, Smith would be among the first to denounce the comment as racist and call for that person's job. Yet Smith is unlikely to face any repercussions from ESPN despite making what is, by the same standard, a racist argument. Credit to two of Smith's former debate partners, Will Cain and Skip Bayless, for pushing back on his comments about the Lakers' potential trio. Max Kellerman next? (Just joking.) Still, Smith's argument has only grown weaker with each attempt to defend it. Tuesday's interview did nothing to strengthen his case. His comments about the Lakers' new trio remain illogical and, quite frankly, racist. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4e22c0c2ca79de23653236 Stephanie Lueras: Seed oils: Looking beyond the hype te 2026-07-08T10:13:20.742Z Stephanie Lueras: Seed oils: Looking beyond the hype Spend any time on social media, and you'll likely come across someone warning that seed oils are "toxic" or the root cause of nearly every modern health problem. On the other hand, you'll also find experts saying there's nothing to… Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4e2282c2ca79de23653207 US urges donors to abandon UNRWA funding as UN defends agency's mission te 2026-07-08T10:12:18.271Z US urges donors to abandon UNRWA funding as UN defends agency's mission The United Nations defended its appeal for countries to keep funding the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), after the United States argued that donors should stop supporting an agency it claims has been infiltrated by Hamas and instead direct its money toward the Security Council-backed Board of Peace.  Speaking at UNRWA’s annual pledging conference in early July, U.S. Ambassador Jeff Bartos accused member states of repeating a failed approach and said the agency had become a "subsidiary of Hamas." "Doing the same thing over and over, expecting a different result is the definition of insanity," Bartos said. "And yet, here we are again, another annual pledging conference for UNRWA. Same speeches … same condemnation of Israel, same failures to condemn Hamas." HAMAS SAYS IT WILL DISSOLVE GAZA GOVERNMENT, BUT ISRAEL WARNS GROUP STILL SEEKS HEZBOLLAH-STYLE CONTROL Bartos urged governments to stop funding UNRWA schools in Gaza, which he accused of indoctrinating children in hatred of Jews and glorifying terrorism. He also cited allegations that UNRWA employees participated in the Hamas-led Oct. 7, 2023, attack against Israel. "You can choose to fund incitement, terrorism and stagnation, or you can choose to fund the Board of Peace, giving Gazans a path to peace, prosperity and real, durable change," Bartos said. The Board of Peace is a U.S.-led body created under President Donald Trump’s Gaza plan to oversee transitional governance, reconstruction and long-term development alongside a Palestinian technocratic administration. The administration argues it offers a better alternative to UNRWA by shifting aid away from what it says is a Hamas-infiltrated system and toward accountable governance and economic recovery. Asked by Fox News Digital why U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres was asking countries to put additional money into UNRWA rather than support the Board of Peace, U.N. spokesman Stéphane Dujarric defended the agency’s record and mandate. ISRAEL SLAMS UN REPORT AS 'POLITICAL BLOOD LIBEL' FOR ALLEGING DELIBERATE TARGETING OF PALESTINIAN CHILDREN Dujarric said Wednesday that UNRWA officials, including former Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini and acting chief Christian Saunders, had taken "strong action" when presented with facts concerning possible infiltration by people aligned with terrorist organizations. "UNRWA doesn’t operate through a sort of immaculate conception," Dujarric said in a press briefing. "It is there because there is a mandate given to it by the General Assembly, and we continue to fulfill that mandate. It has a very important role to play on the humanitarian front." Dujarric added that the Security Council resolution supporting the Board of Peace also calls on the United Nations to deliver humanitarian assistance and lead humanitarian activities in Gaza. "UNRWA is part of that system," he said. The U.S. position contrasted sharply with those of several European governments. At the same pledging event, the United Kingdom announced £23 million in support for UNRWA.  British Ambassador James Kariuki called the agency "indispensable" to providing essential services to Palestinian refugees across Gaza, the West Bank, Syria, Lebanon and Jordan. France also reiterated what its representative described as "full support" for the agency, saying UNRWA continues to provide indispensable assistance despite growing obstacles. France said it had provided €123 million to UNRWA since 2023 and would announce its 2026 contribution soon. INTERNATIONAL ‘DEEP STATE’ PRIME TARGET OF TRUMP-STYLE CANDIDATE FOR UN CHIEF The French representative said allegations against UNRWA had been taken seriously and argued that the agency was implementing recommendations from the Colonna review intended to strengthen neutrality and transparency. France also supported an eventual, gradual transfer of UNRWA’s responsibilities to reform and strengthen Palestinian institutions as part of a broader political settlement. The funding dispute comes as UN Watch is demanding that Guterres waive any immunity enjoyed by Lazzarini, whose term has ended, so national authorities can investigate allegations that he ignored repeated warnings about Hamas infiltration. In a June 30 letter, the Geneva-based watchdog claimed that it had provided Lazzarini and his administration with evidence involving teachers, school principals, union leaders and other employees who allegedly supported or were affiliated with Hamas and other terrorist groups. It argued that the claims create grounds for an independent criminal investigation. Hillel Neuer, executive director of UN Watch, told Fox News Digital that his organization told Lazzarini "that there are supporters of terrorism — in some cases, actual members of Hamas — working as teachers, working as school principals," Neuer said, "Not one bad apple, not a few rotten apples, but the problem of support for terrorism … was systematic." Neuer said waiving Lazzarini’s immunity would not amount to a finding of guilt but would allow prosecutors to test the evidence. "The investigation may prove there’s no evidence, and it’s over," Neuer said. "But at least you should waive immunity to allow an investigation. The U.N. said that if anyone was found involved, ‘we will cooperate.’ Now is the test." Asked whether Guterres would consider waiving Lazzarini’s immunity, Dujarric did not answer directly. "As far as I know, UN Watch is not a judicial authority," he said. "We have always, as a matter of principle, cooperated with investigations by national authorities." UN Watch’s letter argues that immunity exists to protect the interests of the United Nations rather than provide a personal benefit to an official, and that it should be waived where it would obstruct justice without harming the organization. Fox News Digital contacted UNRWA for comment but did not receive a response. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4e226ec2ca79de236531fe Inside Trump's unprecedented battle plan to expand Second Amendment rights through Justice Department te 2026-07-08T10:11:58.815Z Inside Trump's unprecedented battle plan to expand Second Amendment rights through Justice Department Last week, the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division took the unusual step of suing California and Virginia over their gun laws, marking what officials say is an unprecedented effort to enforce Second Amendment rights. The Justice Department is pursuing a coordinated legal strategy to expand Second Amendment protections, with Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division Harmeet Dhillon telling Fox News Digital the department has launched more than a dozen challenges to firearm restrictions across the country as it seeks to establish broader constitutional precedent. "Since we started the second amendment section last year and even before that we filed over a dozen lawsuits challenging different restrictions in different jurisdictions," Dhillon said, pointing to challenges involving Denver's AR-15 ban, Colorado's large-capacity magazine restrictions, concealed carry permit delays in Los Angeles County, firearm regulations in the U.S. Virgin Islands and gun restrictions in the District of Columbia. "This is a really historic amount of activity from the Department of Justice to protect the Second Amendment," Dhillon told Fox News Digital. "It's never been done before." DOJ TARGETS SPANBERGER, NEWSOM GUN LAWS WITH TWIN LAWSUITS AFTER SCOTUS AFFIRMS SECOND AMENDMENT RIGHTS Previous administrations, including the Bush administration, defended individual gun rights through Supreme Court filings such as District of Columbia v. Heller, but did not use the Civil Rights Division to file affirmative lawsuits challenging state or local gun laws on Second Amendment grounds. The department's current litigation strategy marks a departure from that approach. Dhillon said the litigation is designed to produce lasting legal precedent rather than simply challenge every firearm restriction enacted by states. DOJ SUES DENVER OVER BAN ON ‘ASSAULT WEAPONS’ AS CITY'S DEM MAYOR SAYS IT 'WILL NOT BE BULLIED' "There are a lot of people out there in the Second Amendment community who would like us to challenge every restriction on guns," she said. "That's really not our approach. We have an approach that tries to make law for the land and that's got some appellate strategy in it." The latest phase of that effort came last week, when the Justice Department filed lawsuits against California and Virginia challenging newly enacted gun restrictions. The filings followed the Supreme Court's recent decision in Wolford v. Lopez, which reaffirmed that the Second Amendment should not be treated as a "second-class right." The Virginia lawsuit challenges Senate Bill 749, which prohibits the manufacture, sale, transfer and purchase of certain semiautomatic firearms classified under state law as assault weapons. The California lawsuit targets two separate firearm regulations: a new restriction affecting the sale of Glock-style semiautomatic pistols and the state's longstanding handgun roster system. SPANBERGER'S LATEST 'GUN-GRABBING NONSENSE' PROMPTS ACTION FROM TRUMP DOJ: 'STAY TUNED!' She said the Virginia lawsuit targets the state's assault weapons ban because differing rulings among federal appeals courts make the issue likely to receive Supreme Court review. In California, Dhillon said the Justice Department is focusing on two provisions it believes conflict with Supreme Court precedent: the state's restrictions affecting Glock pistols and its handgun roster requirements, which she argued have prevented Californians from purchasing firearms that are otherwise widely available across the country. The California lawsuit was filed after Attorney General Rob Bonta declined to negotiate with the Justice Department over the state's firearm regulations. Bonta defended the challenged laws as "commonsense handgun design safety laws" intended to reduce accidental shootings and prevent illegal firearm modifications. Gov. Gavin Newsom's office also defended the regulations, arguing California's firearm safety measures have contributed to one of the nation's lowest gun death rates while respecting the rights of lawful gun owners. SIGN UP TO GET THE POLITICS NEWSLETTER Virginia officials similarly defended their law, with Gov. Abigail Spanberger's office saying firearms designed to inflict mass casualties "do not belong in our communities" and that the legislation was intended to protect families, children and law enforcement from gun violence. Dhillon said the Justice Department's actions reflect a broader commitment within the administration to treat the Second Amendment as a core civil right. "This is a pioneering effort by this Department of Justice," she said. "We view the Second Amendment as a very important, indeed fundamental civil right." Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4e225bc2ca79de236531f5 Kate Middleton refuses to pull Prince William back into Prince Harry's 'circus': expert te 2026-07-08T10:11:39.361Z Kate Middleton refuses to pull Prince William back into Prince Harry's 'circus': expert Kate Middleton has zero interest in trying to make peace during Prince Harry’s chaotic visit to the U.K. The claim was made by multiple royal experts who spoke to Fox News Digital after a source told Us Weekly the Princess of Wales was "trying to convince" her husband, Prince William, to meet with his estranged brother. "Kate is no longer in the business of trying to reunite the brothers," Christopher Andersen, author of "Kate!," told Fox News Digital. "It really is a year of magical thinking when people seriously suggest that the Princess of Wales has the emotional bandwidth to cope with the Sussexes." PRINCE WILLIAM’S ‘RUTHLESS SIDE’ EMERGES AS HE VIEWS PRINCE HARRY AS ‘UNTRUSTWORTHY': EXPERTS "Unfortunately, my sources do not believe Princess Catherine is pushing for Prince William to meet Prince Harry," British broadcaster and photographer Helena Chard also told Fox News Digital. "She isn’t pushing for a meeting. She is, however, the one royal who could soften things emotionally, hence the reason Princess Catherine, 'the peacemaker,’ keeps rearing her head." "The feeling inside the Wales camp is that Catherine will not allow her family, and especially William, to be sucked back into the Sussex drama," Chard shared. "The Sussex circus of briefings, counter-briefings and public spectacle is seen as tiresome and, frankly, not good for the Wales family’s well-being." Harry's trip to his home country sparked controversy before it even began. WATCH: KATE MIDDLETON HIT ‘FINAL STRAW’ WITH PRINCE HARRY: AUTHOR On July 6, Harry's spokesperson told People magazine that an offer for the Duke of Sussex to stay at Buckingham Palace during his London visit was withdrawn after he had formally accepted it. However, palace sources disputed that account, saying Harry failed to respond by the deadline and that his later acceptance came only after arrangements could no longer be made. Harry had also hoped to bring his wife, Meghan Markle, and their two young children to Britain for the first time since 2022. But after learning the family would receive police protection only while on royal property — and not throughout the visit — it was reported on July 4 that Harry decided they would not accompany him. On July 6, the prince arrived in London alone. He is expected to be in the U.K. through July 11. It's unclear whether he will meet with his father or whether his family will join him later in the week. Russell Myers, royal editor of the Mirror, reported that King Charles "has no plans to alter his diary this week" to see Harry after his son decided not to bring his grandchildren. Myers pointed out that the king, who is still seeking cancer treatment, has only met Prince Archie "a handful of times" when Harry and Meghan lived in the U.K. and has met Princess Lilibet only once, in the summer of 2022. Fox News Digital reached out to Buckingham Palace for comment. CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE ENTERTAINMENT NEWSLETTER "Harry has made a song and dance out of this visit," said Chard. "If reconciliation was truly the goal, you would think he would have flown Meghan, Archie and Lilibet over quietly to see King Charles. A warm family reunion without the leaks or press involvement. Instead, Harry remains a wild card. He’s unpredictable to the establishment." The Duke and Duchess of Sussex stepped back as senior royals in 2020, citing what they described as unbearable intrusions by the British press and a lack of support from the palace. Harry has also been denied restoration of taxpayer-funded security by the Executive Committee for the Protection of Royalty and Public Figures (RAVEC). People magazine reported that Harry's team spent several days exploring ways to make the visit safe through enhanced private security arrangements. Palace sources claimed Harry initially declined the invitation to stay at a royal residence before accepting it on Saturday. British royal expert Hilary Fordwich told Fox News Digital that William has zero interest in reuniting with his brother — and Kate will stand by her husband. "King Charles has always been hopeful regarding a form of reconciliation, while Prince William remains resolute in opposition to any such thawing," said Fordwich. LIKE WHAT YOU’RE READING? CLICK HERE FOR MORE ENTERTAINMENT NEWS "Given Prince William’s stance, it is highly unlikely that Princess Catherine has been pressing him for a reconciliation. She, too, suffered from all of Harry’s disclosures in ‘Spare.’ She, along with many, is beyond frustrated at Harry’s shenanigans, given the debacle around his stay." "The trip was a mess before Harry arrived," said royal expert Richard Fitzwilliams. "Princess Catherine would support whatever William decided in dealing with his brother. Looking at the chaos the visit has become, it isn’t difficult to see why William and Catherine are certain to stay out of it. If the Sussexes were sincere, it would be private." Chard stressed that the position of Kensington Palace, which handles the offices of the Prince and Princess of Wales, hasn’t changed. "The optics of a meeting right now are damaging to the institution," she said. "Peace is wanted. But not at the cost of stability." In May, Andersen told Fox News Digital that Kate refused to stop trying to mend William and Harry’s relationship. However, Harry’s remarks about the king’s mortality became the breaking point. Kensington Palace told Fox News Digital it does not comment on books. "She would not give up," said Andersen. "Even after Harry threw William under the bus in his memoir ‘Spare,’ she was willing to keep trying. And the final break came. "The final straw came really shortly after the king was diagnosed with cancer, when Harry [essentially] said, ‘I’d like to mend fences because we just don’t know how long [my father] has to live.’ Well, that kind of statement can be very hurtful to somebody who doesn’t really want to consider their own mortality and is battling cancer." "It was hurtful to Kate as well, I believe," said Andersen. "And, of course, it just ignited this firestorm of speculation about how sick the king really was at this point. And Kate pretty much felt that would be it. "She wasn’t going to try anymore. So she has not. And as a result, there has been no chance of any … As a matter of fact, I don’t think we’re ever going to see them make amends. At least it’s not on the horizon now." In May 2025, Harry told the BBC he wanted to reconcile with his family after losing a court battle over his publicly funded security, which he said led to his father no longer speaking to him. "I would love reconciliation with my family," said the 41-year-old. "There’s no point in continuing to fight anymore. I don’t know how much longer my father has." Andersen wrote that Kate, 44, was "disappointed" with Harry, while William, 44, was "apoplectic" with rage over the remarks, a courtier claimed. Andersen also wrote that Kate told William she "was done with Harry." "Princess Catherine is the sweetest, most loving person you could ever know," a Sandringham staffer told Andersen. "But like everyone else, she has her limits." Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4e2247c2ca79de236531ec Brazil parents face prison sentence for homeschooling after court accuses them of 'intellectual neglect' te 2026-07-08T10:11:19.904Z Brazil parents face prison sentence for homeschooling after court accuses them of 'intellectual neglect' A Brazilian court has sentenced a couple to 50 days in prison for "intellectual neglect" after they homeschooled their two daughters without a state-approved curriculum. A São Paulo criminal court ruled against Audato and Ieda Denardi, alleging they had failed to include programs on "gender and sex education" and "tolerance and diversity" in the curriculum for their daughters, aged 15 and 11, Alliance Defending Freedom ("ADF") International said. According to the legal group, the court also ruled that the parents failed to properly integrate their children into Brazilian culture, citing the girls' preference for religious and classical music over popular trap or "sertanejo" (folk) music. WASHINGTON SCHOOL BOARD DIRECTOR, SEX SHOP OWNER HOST SEX ED EVENT FOR KIDS AS YOUNG AS 9 Isabel Monteiro, the defense attorney representing the family, said the judge made an "ideological decision to convict them" based largely on the older daughter's preference for sacred music over mainstream music that often features explicit lyrics. The Denardis were sentenced to 50 days in prison by a lower court in April. They remain free while appealing the ruling, which is believed to be the first criminal prosecution of its kind in Brazil. The Denardis told Fox News Digital they began homeschooling the girls in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic, after realizing their schools were failing to give them a proper education. Idea said the girls thrived in homeschooling, and so she decided to continue educating the girls at home. TEXAS’ LARGEST SCHOOL DISTRICT SEES TEST SCORES SOAR AFTER STATE TAKEOVER DESPITE RACISM CLAIMS After officially withdrawing their daughters in 2022, state officials began conducting home visits and pressuring them to re-enroll the girls. The couple told Fox News Digital they were surprised by the ruling and never expected to be sentenced to prison for trying to provide a better education for their daughters, who are both accomplished pianists and speak multiple languages. Even the state's own prosecutors urged the court to acquit the parents, concluding after an evaluation by an independent educational psychologist that the girls showed no signs of neglect and were thriving socially and academically. ORTHODOX JEW ASKS SUPREME COURT TO HEAR CASE AFTER CITY ALLEGEDLY TARGETED HIS HOME PRAYER GROUP The Denardis provided more than 3,000 pages of evidence showing they hadn't intellectually abandoned their children, Monteiro said. However, the judge rejected the prosecution's recommendation. According to ADF International, which is providing legal support for the family, the judge accused the parents of "using their daughters as pawns in an ideological struggle, subjecting them to a form of unregulated education, the effectiveness and quality of which lack adequate metrics within the Brazilian legal system, while completely excluding the State’s involvement." The sentence has placed an immense emotional burden on the family, Audato Denardi said. "It has affected a lot... Now we have to sleep and wake up every day thinking about that we can go to prison," he told Fox News Digital, noting that a 50-day sentence would force them away from their jobs and their city. Their biggest concern is what will happen to their children. "That is our biggest problem in all this stuff, because we're going to have to stay 50 days without them and who's going to stay with them?" he said. CLICK HERE FOR MORE COVERAGE OF MEDIA AND CULTURE The case highlights the legal ambiguity surrounding homeschooling in Brazil. In 2019, the nation's Supreme Court ruled that homeschooling was not unconstitutional but required to be regulated by the legislature. While the House of Representatives passed a regulatory framework bill in 2022, it stalled in the Senate, putting homeschooling families in legal limbo. The family's appeal will be heard by the 7th Criminal Chamber of the Court of Justice of the State of São Paulo, ADF International said. "We are waiting for real justice and the court to give us this acquittal that we think we deserve because the state can't change law [based on] ideology," Audato said. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4e2234c2ca79de236531e3 'That was the last I heard from him': Slain NJ therapist’s neighbor recalls last contact with husband te 2026-07-08T10:11:00.449Z 'That was the last I heard from him': Slain NJ therapist’s neighbor recalls last contact with husband After 35-year-old Brooke Hanlon was found stabbed inside her home in Chester, New Jersey, her husband has not been seen nor heard from in weeks. In fact, one of the few people to speak publicly about the case is her sister, Paige Haggerty. While she first spoke at length exclusively with Fox News Digital about the loss of her sister, Haggerty remained tight-lipped about her brother-in-law. SLAIN NEW JERSEY THERAPIST'S SISTER SAYS FAMILY IS LIVING A 'NIGHTMARE' ONE MONTH LATER Records indicate 36-year-old James "Conor" Hanlon, who goes by Conor, grew up in the Brighton neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts. Speaking about the possibility of Hanlon being a suspect, Haggerty said, "It's a homicide, and there are a lot of details that my family and I don't know, and a lot that we can't comment on publicly. As much as I'd like to scream from the rooftops about how I feel, I have to protect the integrity of the case." FOX TRUE CRIME IS NOW ON FACEBOOK 📩 Send me a story idea: kelsie.cairns@fox.com 📸 Instagram: kelsiecairns_tv 🎥 Facebook: Kelsie Cairns Investigators responded to the couple's home on June 6 after receiving a 911 call. The Morris County prosecutor's office said, "An examination by the Morris County Medical Examiner’s Office determined the cause of Brooke's death to be multiple sharp force injuries and the manner of death as homicide." SIGN UP TO GET TRUE CRIME NEWSLETTER A neighbor of the Hanlons spoke with Fox News Digital and said, "There was a lot of activity out there on the 6th. I'd talked to Conor a few times before. We mostly texted. We've lived here about a year, and he'd text me whenever bears were around." LISTEN TO THE NEW 'CRIME & JUSTICE WITH DONNA ROTUNNO' PODCAST He said the pair were texting back and forth about bears in the area days before Brooke's killing. "We were actually doing that just the other day — I think around [June] 2nd — when he reached out because a bear had gotten into his trash. That was the last I heard from him." SIGN UP TO GET THE LATEST TRUE CRIME NEWS The neighbor said he texted Conor concerned about all the police activity and said, "I saw a lot of cops out there that Saturday. I texted him, saying, 'Hey man, I saw all the police at your house. If you guys need anything, let me know.' He never responded after that." The prosecutor's office has yet to reveal who called 911 on that day in June, who was inside the home at the time of the discovery, and whether Conor and the couple's baby were present at the time of the murder. FOLLOW THE FOX TRUE CRIME TEAM ON X Haggerty said the couple's baby is staying with family, but no other details were immediately available. Court records indicate Conor has no prior arrests or criminal history. He has not been accused of any crime or wrongdoing. Authorities have yet to reveal any information about a suspect or person of interest. MISSOURI MOM OF 5 FATALLY SHOT WHILE BUYING SLUSHIES WITH CHILDREN; POLICE SEARCH FOR GUNMAN "Everything we do now is about preserving her legacy. That's all we really can do. You never think something like this will happen to your family until it does. I never imagined Brooke's life ending in such a violent, tragic way," Haggerty said about her slain sister. There is a reward of up to $1,000 for anyone who can provide information about the case. Fox News Digital made calls to Conor Hanlon that were not immediately returned. It is unclear if he has retained a lawyer. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4e2220c2ca79de236531da What happens next if Platner drops out? Here's who could replace him on the ballot and how it would work te 2026-07-08T10:10:40.998Z What happens next if Platner drops out? Here's who could replace him on the ballot and how it would work Several Democrats are speculated to be options to replace Maine Democratic Senate candidate Graham Platner on the ballot if he ends his campaign, which many expect him to do following an ex-girlfriend’s allegation of rape on Monday. Under Maine law, if Platner formally withdraws as the Democratic nominee by 5 p.m. on July 13, the Maine Democratic Party can replace him on the general election ballot by selecting a new nominee through its party process, with the replacement required to be chosen by July 27. A handful of Democrats in the state are being discussed as viable options to challenge incumbent Republican Sen. Susan Collins. Platner’s campaign, the New York Post reported, is deliberating about potentially dropping out, but that any potential replacement would need to align with the same political platform as Platner. GRAHAM PLATNER'S CHANCES OF DROPPING OUT SKYROCKET TO 94% AFTER PARTY REVOLT: KALSHI Former state Senate President and gubernatorial candidate Troy Jackson is a name circulating on social media as someone who could potentially jump into the race a month after his failed primary bid for governor. "This is something I never considered, but if Graham’s stepping away, I am very, very interested and think I’m the best person to replace him," Jackson told the Bangor Daily News on Monday. Jackson, who, like Platner, is backed by Vermont independent Senator Bernie Sanders, came in third in the Democratic gubernatorial primary last month. On Tuesday, the Bangor Daily News reported that Jackson filed paperwork to explore a Senate run, the first potential candidate to do so.  FOX NEWS POLL: MAINE SENATE RACE IS TIGHT, WITH CONCERNS ABOUT BOTH CANDIDATES Democratic Rep. Dan Golden, who represents Maine’s right-leaning and mostly rural 2nd Congressional District since first winning election to the U.S. House in 2018, passed on launching a Senate run last year. Golden, a Marine veteran who served in combat in Afghanistan and Iraq, also decided against seeking re-election and is retiring from Congress when his term ends at the beginning of next year. Golden, a moderate, has often been at odds with his party leadership over policy. On Tuesday evening, a Golden spokesperson distanced the congressman from speculation he would run for the seat.  The 56-year-old son of Sen. Angus King and 2026 Democratic gubernatorial candidate who finished at the bottom of the pack in the single digits in last month’s primary is considering a bid for the Senate if Platner exits the race. In a statement to News Center Maine, King said: "Right now, I'm taking time to reflect, spend time with my family, and think carefully about how I can make the greatest contribution to the state I love. I’ve never been motivated by holding office. If I decide to run again in any capacity, it will be because I believe I have something meaningful to offer and because it's the right way to help Maine move forward—not because of the office itself" Mills, the current Democratic governor of the state until her term expires in January, suspended her Senate campaign in April citing anemic fundraising after jumping into the race in October 2025 with the backing of Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer. The 78-year-old governor remained on the ballot in the June primary and received 19.2% of the vote compared to Platner’s 72.1%. EXPLOSIVE SEXUAL ASSAULT ALLEGATION ROCKS PLATNER CAMPAIGN AHEAD OF KEY DEADLINE IN CRUCIAL SENATE RACE Attention is also focused on Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows, who was a leading contender in the gubernatorial primary. Bellows, the first woman to serve as Maine’s Secretary of State, grabbed national attention during the 2024 election cycle for attempting to remove President Donald Trump from the state’s ballot. "While Graham ignited a powerful movement to challenge the status quo, given the seriousness of the allegations, he needs to step down," Bellows said of Platner in a social media post Monday. Former Maine House Speaker Sara Gideon was the Democratic Senate nominee in the 2020 election. Polls indicated Gideon leading longtime GOP Sen. Susan Collins, but Gideon ended up losing to the incumbent by nine points. Loud, a social worker, finished fourth out of four candidates in the Democratic primary for Maine's 2nd Congressional District earlier this year, finishing with 10% of the vote.  "Paige has filed as a Senate candidate for the 2026 midterm in light of the Platner situation," a spokesperson for Loud said on Tuesday. "In the event Platner drops out, Paige is being proactive in keeping options open for supporters across the state who have voiced a desire for a woman to be considered as the nominee." Dr. Nirav Shah, who came second in Maine's Democratic gubernatorial primary, is also being looked at as a potential Platner replacement. Shah served as director of the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention from 2019 to early 2023 and steered the state’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. He later served as principal deputy director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) during former President Joe Biden’s administration. "In the past 24 hours, my team and I have received hundreds of encouraging messages, as Graham Platner signaled he will withdraw from Maine’s U.S. Senate race," Shah said in a statement Tuesday. He added that he has been having conversations and evaluating "whether I should enter the Senate race." Shah, who is viewed as more moderate than Platner, emphasized, "I’m not an establishment politician, and I’m not an insider." Wood, who served as chief of staff to then-Rep. Katie Porter of California, last year launched a bid for the Senate in Maine. But as Platner’s political star started to rise, Wood switched his bid to the U.S. House in the race in the state’s 2nd Congressional District to succeed retiring Democratic Rep. Jared Golden. Wood, who vowed to take on the establishment and battle corruption, ended up finishing third in last month’s Democratic primary. "I am continuing conversations with voters across Maine if I should enter an open Senate race," Wood wrote in a social media post on Tuesday. "If my fellow Maine Democrats decide through an open and democratic process that I am the best candidate to defeat Susan Collins, I would be humbled by your trust." Former Deputy Secretary of the Maryland Department of the Environment David Costello was the Democratic Senate nominee in Maine in the 2024 election, coming in a distant third to incumbent independent Sen. Angus King. Costello ran a second straight cycle, coming in a distant third to Platner in last month’s Democratic Senate primary. In a social media post on Tuesday, Costello wrote, "I’m back in, if Graham Platner withdraws," and he touted that he believes he's "the best candidate to defeat Susan Collins." Maine Beer Company co-founder Dan Kleban is also considered a potential candidate. A source in Kleban’s camp said the former candidate has been receiving calls and encouragement to run again. State law does not require a new primary election or specify how the replacement must be chosen, leaving the process to the Maine Democratic Party’s internal rules. Party leaders said in a Monday press release that they intend to use an open and inclusive process, though they have not yet announced exactly how a replacement would be selected. Late Tuesday night, the Maine Democrats X account posted a video reacting to the situation. "As you know, the Maine Democratic Party has been working around the [clock] and we are committed to ensuring that Democrats across [Maine] [have a voice in the process]," Maine Democratic Party Executive Director Devon Murphy-Anderson said. "Unfortunately, Graham Platner's team has repeatedly reached out to us in an attempt to put their thumb on the scale of determining our next Democratic nominee for the U.S. [Senate].  We have also reiterated [that the focus] in Maine can [now] focus on defeating Susan Collins this November as soon as Graham Platner formally withdraws from this race." Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4e166ac2ca79de23652d3b America 250 attendees rally behind Trump's July 4 speech: 'What we needed to hear' te 2026-07-08T09:20:42.056Z America 250 attendees rally behind Trump's July 4 speech: 'What we needed to hear' Two days after President Donald Trump's Fourth of July address, attendees at the Great American State Fair told Fox News Digital they saw the speech as patriotic, not partisan. "He's talking about taking down communism," David from New Jersey said. "That's the definition of our whole country. Built on capitalism, that's our whole country. If that's what he was talking about, I don't think that's political at all. It's just about the freedom that we have here. If it wasn't for that, we wouldn't be here." Thousands of Americans packed the National Mall on Saturday to celebrate the nation's 250th anniversary, touring exhibits from all 50 states despite sweltering heat and severe thunderstorms that temporarily paused celebrations. TRUMP SET TO DELIVER 'HISTORIC' SPEECH CELEBRATING AMERICA'S 250TH ANNIVERSARY Hours later, President Donald Trump delivered his 37-minute address, honoring veterans and the nation's founding while declaring that "no dream in history is bigger" than the American experiment and adding, "We don't want communists in our country," before a record-setting fireworks display. Matt from Florida said that while others may have disliked Trump's speech, he saw it as a tribute to veterans and Medal of Honor recipients. "It's really nice to see him share the stage instead of just giving a speech and going away like most presidents do," he said. "It was just nice to actually see him treat the whole thing as a giant event as opposed to just a limelight on himself." MEDIA ATTACKS DONALD TRUMP'S FOURTH OF JULY CELEBRATION, CLAIMING IT 'SULLIED' AMERICA 250 Ed and Linda from Ohio said they missed Trump's speech while waiting for the fireworks, but Ed said he supports the president "100 percent," while Linda added, "You should be able to rise above your political opinion and still enjoy the country's Fourth of July." Doug and Karen from Texas said they approved of President Trump's message. "It wasn't too political, it was what we needed to hear," Doug said. "It was good," Karen added. "People need to hear it." LEE GREENWOOD SAYS HE'S 'VERY PROUD' TO STAND NEXT TO TRUMP DURING AMERICA'S 250TH CELEBRATION Kim from Michigan called July 4 "a political holiday," saying people will always find something to criticize. "Throughout our history, it's been about our politics and what we stand for as a people, and what we believe in and what we're willing to fight for," she said. Priya from California said politics naturally belongs in a Fourth of July speech, adding that America must change course "from a very negative direction that the country has gone." "I think there's an intricate part that politics play obviously in the 250 years that we have been a nation," she said. "For it to last another 250 and hopefully beyond, we have to pay attention to that. We have to understand the political climate and what it's going to take for this nation to last and be prosperous." Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4e1460c2ca79de23652ccd All hands on deck: The unlikely workforce that can rebuild America’s fleet te 2026-07-08T09:12:00.586Z All hands on deck: The unlikely workforce that can rebuild America’s fleet America's shipbuilding industry is facing a crisis of terrifying proportions. In a recent stark warning, Senator Tim Sheehy exposed just how far we have fallen behind, noting that China is currently building ships 230 times faster than the United States and completing repairs 90% faster. While a depleted military branch like the Army might be rebuilt in a year or two, Sheehy correctly pointed out that resurrecting our maritime industrial base is a much deeper, long-term challenge. Over the last three decades, we have allowed our shipbuilding capabilities to atrophy, trading vital heavy industry and shipyard space for waterfront condos and short-term financial optimization. President Donald Trump took a critical first step to reverse this dangerous trend by signing the Executive Order Restoring America's Maritime Dominance in April 2025. This bold directive demands equally bold, innovative ideas to rapidly develop the next generation of American shipbuilders. To meet this national security imperative and answer the President’s call, we must look to an untapped, yet highly viable, labor pool: the thousands of individuals currently in our state prison systems who are ready to reintegrate into society and contribute to the American Dream. REP GARAMENDI, SEN KELLY: WE MUST WORK TOGETHER TO MAKE AMERICA A SHIPBUILDING POWER If turning to incarcerated individuals to rebuild our naval capabilities sounds overly radical, we need only look across the Atlantic to see the concept already in action. The United Kingdom has recently recognized that conventional labor markets cannot meet the urgent demands of modern defense manufacturing, and is evaluating plans for prisoners to potentially help build warships to bolster British defenses. Facing their own acute workforce shortages and the pressing need to recapitalize the Royal Navy, British defense planners could tap into the prison population to manufacture essential components for their fleet. Here at home, the proposal is straightforward yet deeply strategic: train inmates in high-demand, highly specialized maritime trades, such as welding, pipefitting, and fabricating, and strategically deploy them to shipyards. By uniting public safety and corrections leaders, the maritime industry, and the workforce sector, we can rapidly field the labor necessary to rebuild our fleet. A coordinated, multi-state effort across regions with established shipbuilding footprints could realistically yield 10,000 new, skilled employees following initial training rounds. This breaks down to an average of just 575 rigorously screened candidates per maritime state, an entirely manageable figure for state correctional agencies. TRUMP TAPS ACTING LABOR SECRETARY KEITH SONDERLING FOR PERMANENT ROLE PENDING SENATE CONFIRMATION Critics may immediately point to security regulations as an insurmountable roadblock, specifically the Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC). Anyone requiring unescorted access to secure areas of a shipyard, which are governed by the Maritime Transportation Security Act, must hold a TWIC card administered by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA). Because a criminal record can serve as an interim or permanent disqualifying factor, candidates for this shipbuilding initiative would require a targeted TSA waiver. However, the profound national security and defense implications of restoring our maritime dominance provide the flexibility needed to pilot this program. Ironically, the candidates selected for this initiative would undergo far more rigorous screening, documentation, and continuous supervision by law enforcement than nearly any other group of standard TWIC applicants. To ensure the utmost security and productivity, this initiative must be structured as an elite "honors program" behind prison walls. In partnership with the TSA and the maritime industry, participating prisons would select only the most dedicated, lowest-level offenders to enter these specific training verticals. Correctional agencies would provide the necessary administrative support, helping inmates secure birth certificates, social security cards, and TWIC applications utilizing their earliest possible release dates. CHINA LAUNCHES RARE SUBMARINE BALLISTIC MISSILE AS PACIFIC ALLIES STRENGTHEN DEFENSE TIES BEFORE NATO SUMMIT The logistics of deployment are also imminently solvable. In some locations, a "work detail" model could be established, similar to existing programs where inmates are transported to work on military bases. Furthermore, prisons could partner with scalable training providers and organized labor, such as boilermakers and pipefitters, to ensure that the instruction aligns perfectly with the precise labor needs of major shipyards. CLICK HERE FOR MORE FOX NEWS OPINION Beyond addressing the sheer arithmetic of our labor shortage, this "second chance hiring" initiative promises profound public safety benefits. By equipping incarcerated individuals with a skilled trade and long-term career options, we will dramatically reduce recidivism and crime in our communities. The prevailing wages earned by these workers will enable them to pay court-ordered restitution and child support, frequently leading to family reunification. Ultimately, this program will remove the crushing anchors of unemployment and poverty that typically burden people with criminal records, transforming them into vital contributors to our national defense. The United States cannot afford to remain complacent while adversaries rapidly outpace our naval capabilities. The maritime workforce shortage is a severe vulnerability, and traditional recruitment methods alone will not close the gap fast enough. As Great Britain is already proving, the workforce we need may be waiting right behind our prison walls. When the maritime industry, correctional leaders, and the federal government convene to eliminate operational barriers, we can forge a solution that is additive to shipyard productivity. This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to uplift America and secure our shores. By granting a second chance to those who have earned it through rigorous screening and hard work, we can rebuild our fleet, restore our maritime dominance, and prove that American resilience is as strong as ever. It is time to get to work. We need all hands on deck. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4e144dc2ca79de23652cc4 ROBERT MAGINNIS: Trump’s Ankara remarks reveal a grand strategy hiding in plain sight te 2026-07-08T09:11:41.129Z ROBERT MAGINNIS: Trump’s Ankara remarks reveal a grand strategy hiding in plain sight Seated beside Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on the eve of the NATO summit in Ankara, President Donald Trump did more than field reporters’ questions. His remarks ranged across Iran, Ukraine, NATO, Turkey, Greenland and China, touching nearly every front of American strategic interest. To most commentators, the press conference looked like another freewheeling exchange with reporters. To a strategist, it looked like something else entirely: the public emergence of an American grand strategy. I spent years working on strategy and policy at the national level in the Pentagon. Grand strategies rarely announce themselves in formal National Security Strategy documents; more often, they emerge through repeated decisions and presidential statements that gradually expose an underlying logic, and that logic was unusually visible in Ankara this week. TRUMP CALLS OUT NATO AHEAD OF SUMMIT, CALLING IT 'RIDICULOUS' FOR US TO PERSIST ON 'ONE SIDED PATH' Deterrence before diplomacy The first principle is deterrence before diplomacy. Trump's frustration with NATO allies over the Iran war was unmistakable. He told reporters that "Italy turned us down and Germany turned us down and France turned us down," then asked why the United States should keep spending hundreds of billions of dollars on allies who "are not there for us." That was classic Trump, but it was more than a grievance. It revealed how he measures alliances: not by communiqués or polite statements, but by whether allies show up when America acts. In Trump's mind, loyalty is operational, not sentimental. The broader point is sound: Diplomacy without credible power rarely succeeds. Force restores deterrence, deterrence creates leverage, and leverage creates the conditions for negotiation. Tehran, Moscow, Beijing and Pyongyang are all watching whether America still has the will to act. The same logic carried into Trump's discussion of Ukraine. If credible strength creates diplomatic leverage with Iran, he appears to believe it can also help end Europe's bloodiest conflict since World War II. Ending wars from strength DON’T LOOK NOW, BUT PRESIDENT TRUMP MAY HAVE SAVED UKRAINE. JUST ASK THE RUSSIANS The second principle is that wars must be concluded from positions of strength rather than managed indefinitely. Trump said he had spoken with both Vladimir Putin and Volodymyr Zelenskyy. "I think they both want to make a deal," he told reporters, adding that he hoped the war would be settled "hopefully soon." No serious strategist should assume peace is simple, imminent or cost-free. Russia remains the aggressor, and any settlement that rewards conquest would invite more danger, not less. Still, grand strategy seeks outcomes rather than endless commitment; the real question is whether diplomacy is backed by enough leverage to produce a durable and just settlement. Alliances as multipliers, not dependencies The third principle is that alliances must become multipliers, not dependencies. NATO remains indispensable, but no alliance stays healthy if one nation carries a disproportionate share of the burden while others expect permanent American underwriting. That is why NATO's defense-industrial announcements in Ankara matter. European allies sought to show Trump they are turning higher defense spending into real military capability. The Netherlands, for instance, is investing with Britain in new amphibious ships, joining 10 allies to replace aging AWACS aircraft, and leading European production of American Stinger, AMRAAM and PAC-3 missiles. That is more than accounting. It is strategic capacity. The Ukraine war has exposed an uncomfortable reality: Modern wars are won by industrial endurance, not tactics alone. Missiles must be replaced, interceptors manufactured, and production automated for speed rather than headlines. Grand strategy requires factories and the political will to sustain output; defense spending that never becomes deployable combat power is merely a budget line. Geography still shapes strategy The fourth principle is that geography still shapes strategy, even in an age increasingly defined by advanced computing systems, cyber operations and space capabilities. Turkey is a difficult ally, but it is also strategically indispensable, sitting at the crossroads of the Black Sea, the Middle East and NATO's southern flank. That explains Trump's willingness to revisit U.S.-Turkish defense issues. He said the United States is "going to be taking the sanctions off," referring to penalties imposed after Turkey purchased Russia's S-400 system, and called the question of selling Turkey F-35 fighter jets "certainly something we will consider." Turkey's Russian purchase created real security problems, and Israel and Congress both have objections. But the strategic logic is plain: Geography has consequences. The same is true in the Arctic. Trump's renewed Greenland remarks were controversial, but they fit the same pattern. He said Greenland "should be controlled by the United States, not by Denmark," arguing Denmark does little for a territory vital to American security. Greenland once anchored America's Cold War shield against Soviet bombers; today, it sits astride Arctic sea routes contested by Russia and eyed by China, making its geography more consequential, not less. Strategic prioritization and the China question Every successful grand strategy requires disciplined prioritization. America cannot do everything everywhere forever. Every carrier strike group, Patriot battery and trained brigade committed in one theater is unavailable somewhere else. Grand strategy is the disciplined ordering of finite national resources. That brings the discussion back to China. As Europe assumes greater responsibility for its own defense, America gains the flexibility to focus on the defining competition of this century: Communist China, which may become the most consequential objective of Trump’s emerging strategic framework. Beijing is fusing machine-learning systems, autonomous platforms, cyber capabilities and advanced manufacturing into a strategy to challenge American leadership. In "Preparing for World War III," I argued that Ukraine, the Middle East, the Arctic, North Korea and China's military rise cannot be viewed in isolation; they are connected demands on finite American power. In "The New AI Cold War," I argued that machine intelligence is becoming the central arena of that competition, and America cannot prevail if it stays overextended while capable allies underinvest in their own defense. CLICK HERE FOR MORE FOX NEWS OPINION The future balance of power will not be determined by rhetoric alone. It will be shaped by industrial capacity, technological advantage, alliance reliability and national will. Whether one supports President Trump's policies or not, strategists should recognize what is taking shape. Grand strategies rarely announce themselves in a single speech; they emerge through repeated decisions that gradually reveal an underlying logic. Ankara suggested that such a logic now exists: deterrence backed by industrial strength, alliances built on reciprocity, geography respected rather than ignored, and American power organized around the defining competition of this century. America may be witnessing the emergence of a grand strategy before it has been formally written. Grand strategies are not ultimately measured by speeches, summits or press conferences. They are measured by whether they preserve peace, deter aggression, strengthen alliances and secure the nation for the generation that follows.  Ankara offered a glimpse of that strategy. History will determine whether it succeeds. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM ROBERT MAGINNIS Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4e1439c2ca79de23652cbb The CCP’s new ‘unity’ law turns China’s repression into a global threat te 2026-07-08T09:11:21.672Z The CCP’s new ‘unity’ law turns China’s repression into a global threat The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) wants to consume. For decades, the regime has systematically targeted anyone who dares to exist outside its rigid ideological mold. Under Xi Jinping, this obsession has reached a fever pitch. We are witnessing a relentless campaign to completely erase the civilizations and freedoms of Uyghurs, Tibetans, Southern Mongolians, and Hong Kongers. Now, the regime has codified this cultural erasure into law. On July 1, 2026, the so-called "Law on Promoting Ethnic Unity and Progress" took effect. Do not be deceived by its Orwellian title. This is not about unity; it is an attempt to dismantle civilizations. It is a blueprint for genocide set in stone, designed to flatten every distinctive element of individual identity until nothing remains but forced devotion to the State. This legislation is a totalizing dragnet designed to permanently silence every group under Beijing’s shadow. Beyond Uyghurs and Tibetans, it actively targets the cultural preservation of Southern Mongolians, the basic rights of Hong Kongers, the existence of Falun Gong practitioners, and the survival of independent Chinese interfaith communities who refuse to bow to state-mandated ideological conformity. PENCE COMMENDS TRUMP FOR WINNING FREEDOM OF BEIJING'S ZION CHURCH PASTOR EZRA JIN FROM CHINESE DETENTION Furthermore, this internal erasure is a direct precursor to external aggression. This same totalitarian playbook poses an existential threat to the vibrant democracy of Taiwan and stands as a warning to free societies everywhere. If the world fails to recognize that domestic subjugation is the foundation for global authoritarian expansion, it risks validating a blueprint meant to challenge freedom far beyond Asia. Under this law, for Uyghur girls, refusing to intermarry with Han Chinese can be treated as a criminal act. Education in one’s mother tongue is effectively outlawed, replaced entirely by state-mandated Mandarin. Parents are legally obligated to program their children to "love the CCP," while citizens are incentivized to spy on their neighbors and report any deviation from state-approved thought. For me, this nightmare is not an abstract political concept. It is a bleeding, personal wound. In September 2018, just six days after I spoke out on a panel in Washington, D.C. exposing the reality of China’s concentration camps, the CCP retaliated. They abducted my sister, Dr. Gulshan Abbas, a retired medical professional who has never committed a crime in her life. She was sentenced on baseless, fabricated charges in a secret sham trial. She had just turned sixty-four years old, two weeks ago. For nearly eight agonizing years, my family has been forced to sit and count the days of her wrongful detention, enduring her absence as a direct consequence of my freedom of speech. My sister’s stolen life is the true face of the CCP’s "ethnic unity." Yet, Article 63 carries a global threat to free speech and sovereignty, stating that "Organizations and individuals outside the territory of the P.R.C." who undermine its version of ethnic unity will be pursued. This brazen power grab grants the CCP the absurd right to target anyone, anywhere on Earth. Speak out against genocide or defend basic human rights from Washington, London, or Tokyo, and Beijing now claims the authority to freeze your assets or place a bounty on your head. CLICK HERE FOR MORE FOX NEWS OPINION Just three months ago, on March 30th, the terrifying reality of China's transnational repression targeted my husband, Abdulhakim Idris, a U.S. citizen and the Executive Director of the Center for Uyghur Studies. He landed in Malaysia for a lawful academic trip to launch the Malay-language edition of his book "Menace: China’s Colonization of the Islamic World and Uyghur Genocide" exposing the CCP’s crimes against Uyghur people. Under intense pressure from the Chinese government, Malaysian authorities seized him. He was detained in an airport detention cell for almost 22 hours, denied sufficient food and water, stripped of his American passport, and finally forced onto a plane back to the United States under escort. If this is what the CCP can orchestrate before Article 63 takes effect, it is deeply alarming how emboldened they will become once they claim a legal pretext to hunt dissidents globally. We have already seen them place bounties on Hong Kong activists using similar extraterritorial clauses. This law will rapidly accelerate that danger, casting a chilling shadow over international academia, journalism, and human rights advocacy. The United Nations High commissioner for human rights, Volker Türk, Human Rights experts, and democratic leaders around the world have raised alarm bells over this law, warning that it violates the fundamental tenets of international law and state sovereignty. Condemnation is not enough. On July 1st, the CCP dropped the mask, declaring war on diversity, truth, and global freedom. We cannot wait for the next activist to be extradited or silenced. Democratic governments must act immediately to issue a collective warning to Beijing: we will not tolerate totalitarian laws on our soil, and we will protect our citizens from transnational repression. The world must stand firm, because when something this wicked comes, silence is complicity. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4e1412c2ca79de23652cb0 A Conservative Role Model for Ending the Fertility Crisis te 2026-07-08T09:10:42.247Z A Conservative Role Model for Ending the Fertility Crisis Emma Waters, pregnant with her third child, is crafting policy to encourage early parenthood. Some think she is pushing an ideology that does not meet reality. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4e13fec2ca79de23652c9e The Low-Key Lawyer at the Center of the Search for a Platner Replacement te 2026-07-08T09:10:22.799Z The Low-Key Lawyer at the Center of the Search for a Platner Replacement Charles Dingman, chair of the Maine Democratic Party and a progressive, would play a key role in choosing the state’s Democratic Senate candidate if Graham Platner leaves the race. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4e125ec2ca79de23652c70 Best Bets: Wednesday, July 8, 2026 te 2026-07-08T09:03:26.249Z Best Bets: Wednesday, July 8, 2026 Today Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4e124ac2ca79de23652c67 Davis Dam releases for July 8 te 2026-07-08T09:03:06.283Z Davis Dam releases for July 8 Wednesday Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4e1236c2ca79de23652c5e Gas prices July 8 te 2026-07-08T09:02:46.313Z Gas prices July 8 National average: $3.80 Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4e1222c2ca79de23652c55 'Are you ready for it?': Christina Shaw strives to satiate Taylor Swift fans through Legends in Concert tribute in Laughlin te 2026-07-08T09:02:26.346Z 'Are you ready for it?': Christina Shaw strives to satiate Taylor Swift fans through Legends in Concert tribute in Laughlin Pop superstar Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour shattered records as legions of loyal “Swifties” packed 149 shows across the globe from 2023-2024. 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He said talks with Iran could continue, but they're a waste of time. "They're liars, they're cheats. They're sick people." US CLAWS BACK KEY CONCESSION TO IRAN AFTER FRESH ATTACKS ON COMMERCIAL SHIPS IN STRAIT OF HORMUZ The comments may signal an end to weeks of talks that followed both sides signing a memorandum of understanding, in which they agreed to allow traffic to resume in the the Strait of Hormuz. But Iran struck at least three commercial vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz on Monday and Tuesday, and the U.S. military responded with strikes on over 80 targets in Iran. This is a breaking news story and will be updated. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4e0d09c2ca79de23652b0c Dem civil war hits primary debate stage as El-Sayed and Stevens clash: 'What are you hiding?' te 2026-07-08T08:40:41.232Z Dem civil war hits primary debate stage as El-Sayed and Stevens clash: 'What are you hiding?' The high-stakes fight between the left-wing and the center-left establishment for the future of the Democratic Party took center stage Tuesday in battleground Michigan. That's where moderate Rep. Haley Stevens, who is backed by Senate Minority Leader Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and the party establishment, faced off in a fiery Senate nomination debate against former Wayne County Health Department Director Abdul El-Sayed, a far-left candidate endorsed by progressive champions Sen. Bernie Sanders I-Vt., and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y. The sharpest exchanges centered on campaign money, outside spending and U.S. policy toward Israel, with El-Sayed repeatedly accusing Stevens of benefiting from millions of dollars in outside spending from pro-Israel and corporate-aligned groups. "If you want your politics dictated by AIPAC or Chuck Schumer, then I'm not your guy," El-Sayed said, arguing the Democratic Party would not change if it continued to elect leaders who take money from corporations. Stevens countered by accusing El-Sayed of benefiting from Republican efforts to boost him in the primary. "What my opponent needs to answer is, why is the GOP spending thousands of dollars to prop up his campaign, saying that he will make Mike Rogers the next U.S. senator?" Stevens said. DEMOCRATIC SENATE CANDIDATE CALLED FOR MASS RELEASE OF CRIMINALS DURING PRISON ABOLITION WEBINAR The showdown came four weeks before Michigan's primary, with the winner taking on former Republican Rep. Mike Rogers, who is on a glide path to the GOP nomination, in the crucial midterm battle to succeed retiring Democratic Sen. Gary Peters. The rare open Senate seat is a top Republican target and is a must-hold for the Democrats as they aim to win back the Senate majority from the GOP, which currently controls the chamber with a slim 53-47 margin. The anti-establishment El-Sayed, who has been sharply critical of Israel, blamed AIPAC's influence in American politics and accused politicians, like Stevens, of being "bought off by AIPAC" on Tuesday night. "So long as our politicians continue to be bought off by AIPAC do not be surprised when we fight wars that are in their best interest," El-Sayed said. LEFT-WING ACTIVISTS HECKLE PRO-ISRAEL DEMOCRAT HALEY STEVENS AT MICHIGAN CONVENTION Stevens, meanwhile, sought to flip El-Sayed’s attacks over outside spending back onto him, pressing the progressive candidate to release his tax returns and accusing him of being less than transparent about who was funding his own campaign and career.  "Well, look, transparency is also important, and this is why I have released my tax returns. My opponent, Abdul, he said that transparency is key, but yet he hasn't released his tax returns," Stevens said. "Abdoul, you talk about getting money out of politics and putting money in people's pockets. But who is putting money in yours? What are you hiding? Stevens, who agreed with El-Sayed on an immediate end to U.S. involvement in Iran, also drew a contrast between herself and her opponent by emphasizing her support for a two-state solution. "The difference between my opponent and myself on this issue is that I believe in a two-state solution," Stevens said. "I can say that Israel has a right to peacefully exist alongside the people of Palestine and in Gaza." Immigration enforcement also became a flashpoint during the debate, with El-Sayed saying ICE needed to be abolished and accusing Stevens of shifting her tone to be more aggressive towards the agency Tuesday night than she has in the past.  Stevens responded by accusing El-Sayed of using "Republican tactics," saying a House vote El-Sayed referenced, claiming Stevens "voted to thank ICE and increase their budget," was a "cynical" move by the GOP to include condemnation for an antisemitic terrorist attack in Boulder, Colorado alongside funding for the federal immigration agency. FOUR MONTHS TO MIDTERMS: 12 RACES THAT WILL DETERMINE THE SENATE MAJORITY "There was a bill on the House floor to condemn an antisemitic terrorist attack that in Boulder, Colorado, that killed an individual and injured a Holocaust survivor. Instead of bringing us together, Republicans put in a cynical point about thanking ICE," Stevens said in response to El-Sayed's claims she is a supporter of ICE. "I am always going to stand up to violence, and I just wish my opponent wouldn't pursue the cynical approaches of Republicans when we do need to be united." On child care, Stevens pointed to expanding grants and paid family leave, while El-Sayed called for making child care "100% free" and paying for it by taxing billionaire wealth. The debate also featured a lengthy exchange on artificial intelligence and data centers. El-Sayed called for stricter federal guardrails, union labor requirements, community benefit agreements and an "FDA for AI's," while Stevens said data centers should be forced to pay utility and water bills, so Michigan families are not stuck with higher costs. Tuesday night's debate was held two days after progressive state Sen. Mallory McMorrow, once the third major Democrat in the primary, suspended her campaign. McMorrow, who has seen her national profile expand in recent years and was running as a progressive in an ideological space between El-Sayed and Stevens, suspended her campaign amid faltering poll numbers and fundraising that weren't keeping pace with her two main rivals. McMorrow pledged to fully support whichever Democrat wins the primary and will ultimately face-off with Rogers, who is running for the Senate for a second straight cycle after losing in 2024 to now-Sen. Elissa Slotkin by a razor-thin margin. DEMOCRACY ’26: STAY UP TO DATE WITH THE FOX NEWS ELECTION HUB Following McMorrow's exit from the race, Stevens praised her fellow Democrat by calling her an "important voice" for policies that benefit Michigan families. Stevens, who has been backed by millions in super PAC spending, including big bucks from Israel-aligned groups, argued that she is the strongest Democratic candidate to win the primary and defeat Rogers in November. El-Sayed praised McMorrow for having the "courage" to challenge what he described as a rigged political system, accusing Democratic Party insiders of spending millions to influence the primary. While he did not name specific groups, his remarks appeared to reference corporate PACs and establishment party leaders such as Schumer. El-Sayed, who, if elected, would make history as the nation's first Muslim senator, is an epidemiologist who unsuccessfully ran for governor as an insurgent candidate in 2018. He has made support for "Medicare-for-all" a major component of his campaign. The far-left candidate has also called for abolishing Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and is a vocal critic of Israel amid its war with Hamas — even characterizing Israel's actions in Gaza as "genocide" against Palestinians. And El-Sayed, who served as a top surrogate on Sanders' 2020 presidential campaign, has vowed not to accept PAC donations. SIGN UP TO GET THE POLITICS NEWSLETTER Schumer and the party establishment view Stevens as more electable than El-Sayed, who has sparked controversy with his past comments. They worry that El-Sayed as the party's nominee would jeopardize the Democrat-controlled Senate seat by pushing the party too far to the left in a state that President Donald Trump carried two years ago by just over one percentage point. A victory by El-Sayed over Stevens in next month's primary would give the far left a major win on a statewide stage, and likely further boost their momentum in the battle for the Democratic Party's future. On Tuesday night, Stevens leaned into her congressional record, tenure in the Obama administration's U.S. Auto Rescue Task Force, her manufacturing background, and bipartisan efforts in Congress, including work on legislation aimed at blocking Chinese cars from undercutting American automakers.  "We can build affordable cars here in Michigan without having the Chinese come in and eat our lunch. Not on my watch," Stevens said. El-Sayed leaned on being a political outsider who refuses corporate and Super PAC donations, while he pointed to his UAW endorsement and argued that Democrats need to be more aggressive in confronting Wall Street and corporate influence across many areas.  "There's a reason that the UAW has endorsed me in this race," El-Sayed said, arguing that corporations are "a lot more interested in a quarterly bottom line than they are in the long term sustainability of manufacturing." Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4e05ecc2ca79de236529f2 Hot French startup ZML releases free product to speed inference across lots of AI chips te 2026-07-08T08:10:20.441Z Hot French startup ZML releases free product to speed inference across lots of AI chips ZML, a hot French AI startup endorsed by Turing Award winner Yann LeCun, has now released ZML/LLMD, software that could make running AI less costly. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4e03fec2ca79de236529dc Court Rules David Marshall Can Serve As Navajo County Recorder te 2026-07-08T08:02:06.676Z Court Rules David Marshall Can Serve As Navajo County Recorder By Staff Reporter | Navajo County will keep former lawmaker David Marshall as its recorder despite a legal challenge from Attorney General Kris Mayes. On Monday, the Maricopa County Superior Court cleared the former state representative for the 7th Legislative District of any wrongdoing in connection to his assuming the Navajo County recorder position. Marshall stepped down from the legislature in mid-April to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Navajo County’s former recorder, Timothy Jordan. Attorney General Kris Mayes had promptly asked the courts to remove Marshall from the recorder’s office for accepting the appointment within the time period he would have continued to serve his term had he not resigned, citing as justification the Arizona Constitution’s provision barring members of the legislature from holding any other offices or taking employment with state or local governments.  From Article IV, part two, section five of the Arizona Constitution: “No member of the legislature, during the term for which he shall have been elected or appointed shall be eligible to hold any other office or be otherwise employed by the state of Arizona or, any county or incorporated city or town thereof.” Marshall accepted the appointment several days prior to resigning from the legislature, and his legislative term was scheduled to end January 2027. Mayes told Marshall in a demand letter that the Arizona Constitution required lawmakers to wait out their legislative terms prior to holding any other offices or accepting any state or local government employment, regardless of a resignation, citing the finding of an attorney general advisory opinion issued in 1977.  Mayes demanded Marshall resign on threat of legal action in the Arizona Supreme Court. “Because your term as an elected representative will not conclude until January 2027, you are not currently eligible to hold another public office or be otherwise employed by the state or ‘any county … thereof,’” stated Mayes.  Maricopa County Superior Court Judge David McDowell disagreed with Mayes’ interpretation.  McDowell stated in a Monday ruling that only by taking the oath of office for county recorder as an active legislator would Marshall have run afoul of the Arizona Constitution. Marshall’s resignation from the legislature went into effect on April 17; Marshall didn’t take an oath of office to become county recorder until April 21.  Therefore, McDowell said Marshall was not a member of the legislature when he officially assumed the recordership.  McDowell’s finding was consistent with what Marshall’s private attorney, Linley Wilson, claimed in a response letter to Mayes, which cited Arizona Supreme Court precedent drawing a distinction between persons elected to the legislature and members of the legislature.  “The concern is straightforward: a sitting legislator should not be able to use his legislative power to create or enhance an office for his own benefit, trade votes for positions, or otherwise exploit his seat for personal gain,” stated Wilson. “It appears that no Arizona court has ever held that a legislator who resigned before assuming another appointed office was subject to ouster through a quo warranto action or any other legal proceeding. To our knowledge, every reported case in which ouster resulted involved a public officer who failed to resign or failed to cure a disqualification before assuming office.” AZ Free News is your #1 source for Arizona news and politics. You can send us news tips using this link. The post Court Rules David Marshall Can Serve As Navajo County Recorder first appeared on AZ FREE NEWS. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4e03eac2ca79de236529ca GOP Attorney General Candidate Warren Petersen Joins Lawsuit To Defend Citizen-Only Voting te 2026-07-08T08:01:46.186Z GOP Attorney General Candidate Warren Petersen Joins Lawsuit To Defend Citizen-Only Voting By Staff Reporter | Senate President and Republican candidate for attorney general Warren Petersen (LD14) has joined a court fight to ensure only citizens vote in elections. Petersen filed an amicus brief alongside House Speaker Steve Montenegro (R-LD29) in a case where progressive advocates are challenging the Trump administration’s effort to centralize citizen data across multiple agencies in the name of voter identification verification and even immigration enforcement.  The League of Women Voters (LWV) and several of their local chapters, along with the Electronic Privacy Information Center (EPIC) and five citizens, sued the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Social Security Administration (SSA), the Department of Justice (DOJ), and the Attorney General’s Office over the data centralization last September. These advocacy groups and private citizens claim the Trump administration’s data pooling violates the 1974 Privacy Act. Judge Sparkle Sooknanan with the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia agreed with them in a ruling last month. The federal government has filed for a stay of judgment pending appeal.  Rep. Abe Hamadeh (R-AZ-08), announced his intent to file articles of impeachment against Sooknanan for the ruling, which he claimed was an overreach and weaponization of the judiciary against the executive. “[This ruling] was a blatant and unlawful subversion of the President’s executive authority and a direct assault on election integrity,” stated Hamadeh. “Judges who weaponize their bench to interfere with the President’s constitutional duties must be held accountable. Judge Sparkle L. Sooknanan’s egregious overreaching ruling blocking President Trump’s common-sense effort to verify the citizenship of those who want to vote in our elections was the final straw. It was a blatant and unlawful subversion of the President’s executive authority and… pic.twitter.com/ezoLJJhiba — Office of Congressman Abe Hamadeh (@RepAbeHamadeh) July 7, 2026 Petersen argued in their amicus brief that Arizona law relies on the federal Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements (SAVE) system to process voter registration and government benefit inquiries.  The lawmakers cited the Purcell principle, a precedent established in the 2006 Supreme Court ruling involving former Maricopa County Recorder Helen Purcell that declares that the courts should avoid ruling to change election rules too close to an election.  Petersen and Montenegro argued voter confidence in Arizona and other states would be jeopardized if the court declined to withhold enforcement of its ruling while the appeal was underway. Other states impacted by the district court ruling hindering SAVE usage for elections, as well as immigration enforcement, include Florida, Indiana, Iowa, and Ohio.  “Making changes to an important election-integrity system at this late stage in the election season creates unnecessary confusion for election officials and the public,” stated the brief. “This court’s order altered an election-related process in the middle of elections around the nation and thus harms the states’ interest in maintaining voters’ confidence in the electoral process.” Their brief also argued that the ruling would fly in the face of federalism, the mechanism on which states rely to exercise their laws.  Today, I filed an amicus brief in the DC district court supporting DHS’s efforts to ensure that only citizens are voting in our elections. It may not surprise you that the ACLU is in opposition. pic.twitter.com/63JC2MJP1U — Warren Petersen (@votewarren) July 6, 2026 Attorney General Kris Mayes and Secretary of State Adrian Fontes have stood opposed to the Trump administration’s data centralization and voter verification efforts as alleged breaches of privacy. Today, Judge Susan Brnovich's dismissed the DOJ's lawsuit demanding our voter registration rolls. @AZSecretary and I will continue to defend the privacy of voters against federal overreach. Press Release: https://t.co/YHeEcOZEZM pic.twitter.com/nqIbeVbDHN — AZ Attorney General Kris Mayes (@AZAGMayes) April 28, 2026 AZ Free News is your #1 source for Arizona news and politics. You can send us news tips using this link. The post GOP Attorney General Candidate Warren Petersen Joins Lawsuit To Defend Citizen-Only Voting first appeared on AZ FREE NEWS. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4e03d5c2ca79de236529c1 Settlement Ends ESA Curriculum Fight Sparked By Kris Mayes te 2026-07-08T08:01:25.707Z Settlement Ends ESA Curriculum Fight Sparked By Kris Mayes By Matthew Holloway | Arizona families using the Empowerment Scholarship Account (ESA) program will no longer be required to submit curriculum documentation when purchasing general educational supplemental materials, such as basic school supplies, under a settlement agreement announced by the Goldwater Institute. The agreement resolves a lawsuit brought by ESA parent Velia Aguirre against the State of Arizona, the Arizona Department of Education (ADE), and Superintendent Tom Horne over the documentation requirements. The settlement, which took effect July 1, states that ESA families “shall not be required to submit a specific curriculum document” when purchasing items identified as “general educational supplemental materials” in the 2025–2026 ESA Handbook. After pushing this bureaucratic abomination for 2 years, the office of Attorney General Kris Mayes has walked back its unlawful demands. No more permission slips needed to buy pencils and children's books: Happy Independence Day, ESA families!https://t.co/QrIDzTaL5M — Matt Beienburg (@MBeienburg) July 2, 2026 The dispute began after Attorney General Kris Mayes’ office sent a 2024 letter to the ADE opening a public monies investigation into ESA spending approvals. The Attorney General’s Office said at the time that ADE guidance appeared to allow expenses beyond the statutory framework for the ESA program, including the approval of supplementary materials without documentation demonstrating a curricular connection. In the letter, Mayes’ office asked the ADE to “promptly cease approving supplementary material expenses without the requisite documentation of a curriculum nexus,” and requested information on ESA spending for supplementary materials, curriculum materials, and textbooks from the 2019–2020 school year through the 2023–2024 school year. The Goldwater Institute, which represented Aguirre, said in a September 2024 press release that the directive forced parents to justify purchases of basic school supplies and educational books. Goldwater said Aguirre had purchases such as “Where the Red Fern Grows,” a periodic table poster, and pencils rejected for failing to satisfy the curriculum documentation requirement. Arizona law allows ESA funds to be used for several categories of educational expenses, including tuition at qualified schools, textbooks, tutoring, curricula, and supplementary materials. The law defines “curriculum” as “a course of study for content areas or grade levels, including any supplemental materials required or recommended by the curriculum, approved by the department.” After Mayes’ 2024 letter, the ADE posted guidance stating that supplementary materials, including common school supplies such as pencils, paper, glue, and crayons, required curriculum support. The ADE’s ESA support page stated that items previously allowed without curriculum documentation “now do require a curriculum.” Goldwater filed suit in September 2024 on behalf of Aguirre and Rosemary McAtee, arguing that the documentation requirement imposed new burdens on families buying ordinary educational materials. Goldwater said at the time that parents were being required to show that each purchase was explicitly called for in a curriculum, including items such as pencils, erasers, flashcards, and children’s books. Under the settlement, ESA families purchasing general educational supplemental materials must attest that the items are intended to support a curriculum or course of study for the qualified student and are not being purchased for another purpose. The agreement also requires ESA holders to indicate the curriculum or course of study the materials support by selecting categories such as reading or grammar, social studies, science, mathematics, physical education, art, vocational instruction, or other. The agreement states that the ADE will not require a specific curriculum document as a prerequisite for approval or processing of general educational supplemental material purchases. It also provides that the ADE may require an ESA holder to enter the name of the curriculum or course of study in a text box when selecting “Other,” once technologically feasible or no later than the second quarter of fiscal year 2027. The settlement does not eliminate the ADE’s oversight authority. Rather, it states that nothing limits the ADE’s ability to review or audit individual expenditures or ESA accounts, disallow expenses, seek repayment, or report an ESA holder to the Attorney General’s Office for investigation of fraud, misuse of funds, or unlawful expenditures. The agreement also preserves the Attorney General’s authority to investigate or enforce the law in cases involving fraud, misuse of funds, or unlawful expenditures, and to request information in specific cases where there is a reasonable basis to believe a violation occurred. The State disputed in the settlement agreement that the ADE enforced the alleged documentation policy and maintained that the ADE has the authority and obligation to confirm that ESA expenditures are allowable under statute and rules. The parties agreed to resolve the case to avoid the time, expense, and uncertainty of further litigation. Goldwater characterized the settlement as a victory for ESA families. “ESA holders shall not be required to submit a specific curriculum document when purchasing items identified as ‘general educational supplemental materials’ in the 2025–2026 ESA Handbook,” Goldwater wrote, quoting the settlement agreement. The organization said the change means families will no longer have to provide individualized curriculum documentation for ordinary educational purchases such as pencils and children’s books. In a press release on July 2, Matt Beienburg, Director of Education Policy at the Goldwater Institute, summarized the legal victory: “This means no more manufactured paperwork from parents simply to appease the bureaucratic whims of politicians. No more wasted hours explaining why hundreds of individual items, like pencils or children’s literature, are necessary for a child’s education. “Instead, parents will simply acknowledge via a single check box for a purchase order or reimbursement request that the purchases are intended to support the course of study for an ESA student. What was once the needless compounding of minutes into hours to comply with the attorney general’s demands will now be two clicks of a mouse.” The parties agreed to file a stipulation dismissing the case with prejudice within 10 days of executing the settlement. Matthew Holloway is a senior reporter for AZ Free News. Follow him on X for his latest stories, or email tips to Matthew@azfreenews.com. The post Settlement Ends ESA Curriculum Fight Sparked By Kris Mayes first appeared on AZ FREE NEWS. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4e03aac2ca79de23652995 Trump enters final NATO summit day as Ukraine, defense spending take center stage te 2026-07-08T08:00:42.705Z Trump enters final NATO summit day as Ukraine, defense spending take center stage President Donald Trump enters the final day of the NATO summit Wednesday as alliance leaders seek to project unity on defense spending, support for Ukraine and the future of transatlantic security following a series of headline-making announcements and bilateral meetings during the opening day of the gathering. Trump will join fellow NATO leaders for the summit's only plenary session before holding bilateral meetings with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa. He is expected to conclude the summit with a press conference before departing Ankara, Turkey, for Washington. The final day comes after Trump used Tuesday's bilateral meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan to announce the United States would lift sanctions on Turkey, saying, "We don't sanction friends." Trump also signaled he is prepared to move forward with the sale of F-35 stealth fighter jets to Ankara despite years of U.S. opposition stemming from Turkey's purchase of the Russian-made S-400 air defense system. TRUMP COULD HAND PRIZED STEALTH JETS TO NATO ALLY ONCE SEEN AS ALLIANCE HEADACHE Wednesday's agenda is expected to focus on the alliance's efforts to strengthen collective defense as members continue implementing higher defense spending commitments and coordinate support for Ukraine more than four years after Russia's full-scale invasion. Trump's meeting with Zelenskyy will be among the day's most closely watched events as Kyiv continues pressing allies for military assistance and air defense capabilities while seeking to maintain Western backing for its war effort against Russia. Kyiv has warned it is running critically low on Patriot interceptor missiles, which Ukrainian officials describe as the country's most effective defense against Russia's ballistic missile attacks. Ukrainian officials said none of the ballistic missiles launched during a massive barrage this week could be intercepted because of dwindling supplies. UKRAINE’S BATTLEFIELD IS TRANSFORMING THE FUTURE OF NATO Ahead of the summit, Ukrainian officials appealed to nearly 40 partner nations to immediately transfer Patriot interceptors from their existing stockpiles while longer-term production catches up. Kyiv also has secured European backing for hundreds of Patriot missiles financed by Germany, though many of those deliveries are not expected for months or years, underscoring Ukraine's push for allies to bridge the gap with existing inventories. Trump also is expected to meet with Syrian President al-Sharaa, whose government has sought closer engagement with Washington following the collapse of Bashar al-Assad's regime, a shift that has reshaped the security landscape in the Middle East and created new opportunities for U.S.-Turkish cooperation. Trump is expected to cap the summit with a press conference outlining the administration's priorities for the alliance and any agreements reached during the two-day gathering before departing Turkey Wednesday afternoon. Wednesday's discussions also are expected to focus on how allies turn 2025's landmark commitment to spend 5% of gross domestic product on defense and defense-related investments into tangible military capabilities.  NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte has urged member nations to present "clear, concrete and credible plans" for meeting the target, arguing the alliance must accelerate the production of weapons, ammunition and military infrastructure to deter Russia. The final day also follows another round of criticism from Trump aimed at European allies. Speaking Tuesday, the president again questioned whether NATO members were doing enough to support the United States and suggested he could withdraw U.S. troops from Europe as he renewed his push for U.S. control of Greenland. "With all the money we spend to help them with Russia … we don't have to spend any money. We could remove all of our soldiers out of Europe," Trump said. He also complained that despite America's investment in European security, "you would think they'd be very willing to do something to help us, and they really weren't." Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4dff23c2ca79de23652731 City approves neglect ordinance te 2026-07-08T07:41:23.491Z City approves neglect ordinance The Phoenix City Council approved updates to the city’s dog restraint or “tethering” ordinance during its June 17 meeting, strengthening requirements for the humane restraint of dogs and adding protections during extreme weather conditions. Under the revised ordinance. it is unlawful to confine a dog on private property using a tether, trolley or similar device unless the animal is under the direct supervision or visual observation of its owner or handler. The minimum allowable length of any restraint is six feet; an owner shall not restrain a dog outside by use of a choke collar or pinch collar or any time during extreme weather conditions; and restraints must not unreasonably limit a dog’s movement, prevent access to food, water, shade, dry ground or adequate shelter. Residents can report suspected animal neglect through the City of Phoenix Animal Neglect Online Reporting Portal. Click on the “About Us” link and “Units and Divisions” at www.phoenix.gov/administration/departments/police. Anyone observing an animal in immediate distress should call 911. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4dff10c2ca79de23652728 Summer (dining) in the city te 2026-07-08T07:41:04.040Z Summer (dining) in the city Summer in Phoenix may be hot, but it does have its perks, including dining deals at Valley restaurants. Here are just a few spots to sip, dine and save this season. At The Mexicano’s two Valley locations, guests can enjoy the return of Street Taco Summer. Available all day every Tuesday and Thursday in the bar area, the promotion features $2 street tacos filled with options like carnitas, chicken tinga, beef and Americano-style grilled steak, offering a flavorful and budget-friendly way to experience the restaurant’s signature Mexican flavors. Visit www.themexicano.com for details. Eat Up Drive In in Arcadia is helping guests stay cool this summer with its daily “Hydration Happy Hour,” offering half-off all beverages from 3 to 5 p.m. every day. Guests can sip and save on refreshing favorites, including lemonade, frozen lemonade, iced tea, and Arnold Palmers, making it an easy and affordable way to beat the Arizona heat. Find more information at www.eatupdrivein.com. Finally, Over Easy is making summer lunches more affordable with its Weekday Social, available Monday through Friday from noon to 2 p.m. Guests can enjoy $12 lunch items, $2 off select appetizers and $5 mimosas, brunch punch and Salty Dogs. Diners can also take advantage of discounted bites, making it easy to enjoy brunch favorites without breaking the bank. Learn more at www.eatatovereasy.com. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4dfa34c2ca79de23652642 AI chip maker SambaNova raises $1B at $11B valuation, 5 months after last mega round te 2026-07-08T07:20:20.786Z AI chip maker SambaNova raises $1B at $11B valuation, 5 months after last mega round AI chip maker SambaNova has raised at an $11B valuation months after Intel was rumored to be trying to buy it for about $1.6 billion. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4dd4ccc2ca79de23651e91 Tyler Robinson's and Lance Twiggs' DNA both allegedly found on key evidence in Charlie Kirk's assassination te 2026-07-08T04:40:44.238Z Tyler Robinson's and Lance Twiggs' DNA both allegedly found on key evidence in Charlie Kirk's assassination PROVO, Utah — A towel and screwdriver recovered during the investigation into Charlie Kirk’s assassination allegedly had his suspected killer Tyler Robinson’s DNA on it — along with that of his former lover and roommate, Lance Twiggs. Robinson, 23, allegedly used the towel to conceal the suspected murder weapon in the woods near Utah Valley University on Sept. 10, 2025. He is accused of fatally shooting the 31-year-old Kirk during a Turning Point USA event at the school that day. CHARLIE KIRK'S FAMILY COMES FACE TO FACE WITH ACCUSED ASSASSIN FOR FIRST TIME It’s unclear what the screwdriver was for, but police testified at Robinson’s preliminary hearing this week that they found it near an alleged sniper’s perch overlooking the TPUSA event. Both Twiggs and Robinson provided buccal swabs to law enforcement that were used to build their full DNA profiles. Robinson's preliminary hearing began Monday and is expected to take all week. Prosecutors must establish probable cause in order for the judge to green light the path to trial on a slew of charges, including aggravated murder, which carries the potential death penalty. UTAH VALLEY UNIVERSITY SCRAPS CONTROVERSIAL COMMENCEMENT SPEAKER WHO CRITICIZED CHARLIE KIRK AFTER HIS MURDER David Hull, of the Utah Department of Public Safety, returned to the witness stand Tuesday morning as prosecutors played surveillance video they allege shows Robinson making his way around campus before and after the shooting, as well as coming and going in his Dodge Challenger. The second witness of the day, Sgt. Jennifer Faumuina with the State Bureau of Investigations, led the evidence response team processing the scenes at UVU after the shooting. Faumuina testified that her team recovered a screwdriver from the campus’ Losee Center rooftop, where Robinson is alleged to have fired the shot that killed Kirk. She also testified that her team recovered the suspected murder weapon, a Mauser 98 bolt-action rifle wrapped in a dark-colored towel nearby. It had been retrofitted to fire .30-06 rounds, consistent with the caliber of bullet fragments recovered during Kirk’s autopsy.  Faumuina testified that both the towel and the screwdriver had DNA consistent with the same two males — Robinson and Twiggs. In a handwritten note and text messages, Robinson is alleged to have confessed to the crime to Twiggs, who lived with him at the time and is cooperating with investigators. Twiggs has not been charged with a crime, and the alleged presence of his DNA on the evidence is expected to strengthen the case against Robinson. CHARLIE KIRK ASSASSINATION: TIMELINE OF UTAH CAMPUS SHOOTING, TYLER ROBINSON CHARGED Later Tuesday, FBI forensic analyst Amanda Bakker testified that Robinson is likely the majority donor in mixed DNA samples found on both items. Twiggs is believed to be the minority contributor on both. Prosecutor Ryan McBride objected multiple times during Bakker’s lengthy questioning from defense attorney Michael Burt, arguing that the defense went well "beyond the scope of determining probable cause." At one point, Judge Tony Graf Jr. asked how far he intended to go in a line of questioning, to which Burt responded he had one more question before moving on. CHARLIE KIRK'S PARENTS, WIDOW TO ATTEND TYLER ROBINSON'S PRELIMINARY HEARING NEXT WEEK "I’ll hold them to that," McBride said, prompting laughter inside the courtroom. As the DNA questioning dragged on for much of the afternoon, Erika Kirk at one point shook her head as she listened to Burt grilling Bakker.  Observers in the gallery, including Erika Kirk, intently watched as Bakker explained a graph displaying specific DNA markers. Kirk leaned forward and tilted her head as she listened to testimony. Robinson was also listening and fidgeting. A member of Robinson’s family yawned. Kirk’s father occasionally took notes. Robinson has not yet entered a plea. If prosecutors prevail in establishing probable cause, which experts say is widely expected, he would be asked to do so. "Barring the prosecutor somehow forgetting how to get to the courthouse, there's no realistic chance the state fails to establish probable cause," Maryland attorney Randolph Rice, who represented the family of Rachel Morin, told Fox News Digital Tuesday. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4dcdc0c2ca79de23651d91 US Navy identifies sailor lost in Arabian Sea after helicopter's emergency water landing te 2026-07-08T04:10:40.109Z US Navy identifies sailor lost in Arabian Sea after helicopter's emergency water landing The U.S. Navy on Tuesday identified Cmdr. Gabriel Edwards as the sailor lost at sea after an MH-60S helicopter made an emergency water landing in the Arabian Sea last week. Edwards, the commanding officer of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 5 (HSC-5), went missing after the helicopter assigned to the USS George H.W. Bush made an emergency water landing on July 1, according to the Navy. Three of the helicopter's four crew members were successfully recovered, but the Navy suspended its search for the missing sailor on Sunday. NAVY SUSPENDS SEARCH FOR SAILOR WHO WENT MISSING WHEN HELICOPTER WENT DOWN IN ARABIAN SEA According to the Navy, the search for Edwards lasted more than 102 hours and covered more than 14,000 square miles. "The thoughts and prayers of every member of the Carrier Strike Group 10 team are with the Edwards family," Rear Adm. Todd Cimicata, commander of Carrier Strike Group 10, said in a statement. "While we are far from home, our heartfelt support remains at your side," Cimicata continued. "Gabe’s legacy as a husband, father, friend and fearless leader will never be forgotten. We are thankful to each who carry a unique and indelible part of Gabe’s memory with us as we continue this important mission." US MARINE MISSING OFF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA COAST AFTER TRAINING EXERCISE; SEARCH SHIFTS TO RECOVERY Acting Secretary of the Navy Hung Cao said he has directed that Edwards be posthumously promoted to the rank of captain. "I am deeply grateful to every sailor and airman who took part in the search and who continue to support his family, friends, and shipmates," Cao said in a statement. Edwards, a native of Oakland, Oregon, graduated from Norfolk State University in 2006 before earning his Wings of Gold as a Navy helicopter pilot in 2008, according to the Navy. He assumed command of HSC-5 in July 2025. HOW IRAN ATTACKS ARE FORCING THE PENTAGON TO RETHINK ITS DECADES-OLD MIDDLE EAST BASE STRATEGY Edwards is survived by his wife, Rebecca, and two children, the Navy said. "We are profoundly grateful to every Sailor, aviator, and Airman who devoted countless hours, extraordinary skill, and unwavering determination in the effort to bring Gabe home," Rebecca Edwards said in a statement. "Gabe has dedicated his life to serving his country with honor, courage, and commitment," she continued. "He led with humility, integrity, and compassion, always putting his people before himself. To those who served alongside him, he was a respected leader and mentor. To our family, he is the love of my life, an extraordinary father to his children, and the foundation of our home. His greatest joy was always his family." During his career, Edwards logged more than 2,000 flight hours in multiple Navy helicopter platforms and had been selected for promotion to captain, according to the Navy. HSC-5 is currently deployed to the Middle East aboard the USS George H.W. Bush. The Navy said mental health professionals, chaplains and other support personnel are assisting members of the squadron and the ship's crew. The Navy said the cause of the incident remains under investigation and that there is no indication the emergency water landing resulted from hostile action. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4dc6b9c2ca79de23651c91 Heap prevails at Arizona Supreme Court as justices reject Maricopa supervisors’ election duty grab te 2026-07-08T03:40:41.371Z Heap prevails at Arizona Supreme Court as justices reject Maricopa supervisors’ election duty grab Justin Heap at an August 2024 rally for Donald Trump in Glendale. (Photo by Gage Skidmore/Flickr/CC BY-SA 2.0) The Arizona Supreme Court on Tuesday sided with Maricopa County Recorder Justin Heap in the ongoing fight between him and the county board of supervisors over election duties.  In a unanimous order, the state’s highest court vacated a June ruling from the Arizona Court of Appeals, and reinstated injunctions put in place in April that required the board of supervisors to “fund all necessary expenses of the Recorder.”  GET THE MORNING HEADLINES. SUBSCRIBE Since Heap took office in January 2025, the Republican recorder and the Republican-controlled Maricopa County Board of Supervisors have battled over who was responsible for which election duties.  Arizona law divides election duties between county boards and recorders, generally giving county supervisors control over election day voting, and recorders control over early voting.  After Heap won the 2024 Republican primary for Maricopa County Recorder, and before the general election that he was considered likely to win, the board of supervisors signed an agreement with Heap’s predecessor to shift the recorder’s IT department to be under the board’s control. Heap is allied with election deniers who promote baseless conspiracies about elections in Arizona and nationwide, and as a legislator he backed sweeping changes to state law based on those evidence-free claims that President Donald Trump and other Republicans lost their elections because of fraud and other malfeasance. Heap terminated that agreement shortly after he took office, and has been feuding with the Board of Supervisors since then. In June 2025, he sued the board over their election duties dispute.  “Today’s unanimous decision is a decisive victory for the rule of law,” Heap said in a statement following Tuesday’s ruling. In Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Scott Blaney’s April order, he directed the Board of Supervisors to return “IT staff, servers, databases, software, websites, and equipment” that were controlled by the recorder before the October 2024 agreement or to immediately fund their replacement.  Blaney also blocked the supervisors from undertaking duties that are prescribed to the recorder by law. The supervisors sought to delay that order, and Blaney denied it.  In June, Heap asked the court to hold the Board of Supervisors in contempt for failing to comply with Blaney’s orders.  In the meantime, the supervisors sought a stay of Blaney’s orders from the Arizona Court of Appeals, writing that it was too close to the July 21 primary election, with the poll worker manual already finalized to purchase new election equipment or to change protocols.  The supervisors argued based on past case law that changes so soon before the primary would pose the “dangers of burdening elections workers and complicating the voting experience.”  In a divided decision, the appeals court agreed, and issued a stay of Blaney’s orders.  Heap appealed that decision to the Arizona Supreme Court, which rejected the board of supervisors’ argument that, because it controls the funding for early voting, it can allocate that funding to the Maricopa County Elections Director to perform early voting duties.  Chief Justice Ann Timmer wrote that based on past case law, “the Board cannot use budgetary authority to usurp an independently elected officer’s statutory functions.” The high court opted to vacate the appeals court stay, and to reinstate Blaney’s order, with changes outlined in a 12-point interim operational protocol that Heap had earlier proposed to ensure that the primary election isn’t impacted.  “To the extent issues can be resolved without disrupting procedures that are actually ongoing in the primary election process, the Court wishes to do so,” Timmer wrote.  Heap celebrated his win.  “My office is ready to implement the Court’s order and deliver secure, lawful, and professional elections for the people of Maricopa County,” he wrote in the statement.  In a joint statement, Maricopa County Board of Supervisors Chairwoman Kate Brophy McGee and Vice Chairwoman Debbie Lesko said they were disappointed in the ruling. They added that the board and Heap had just reached consensus with Heap on Monday evening, following two days of mediation that had earlier been ordered by the Arizona Supreme Court.  “Our primary concern has always been, and remains, Maricopa County’s 2.6 million voters,” they wrote. “The Board will follow the law and abide by the court’s decision, and we look forward to Recorder Heap’s plans in terms of how he intends to exercise his newfound authority to administer lawful, high-quality elections this year and beyond.” YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE. SUPPORT Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4dc44ec2ca79de23651bfd Haley Stevens Goes on Attack Against Abdul El-Sayed at Michigan Senate Debate te 2026-07-08T03:30:22.001Z Haley Stevens Goes on Attack Against Abdul El-Sayed at Michigan Senate Debate At their first one-on-one debate in a top Senate race, Representative Haley Stevens accused her progressive rival, Dr. Abdul El-Sayed, of being too focused on publicity as he called her a tool of corporate interests. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4dbf9dc2ca79de23651b16 Dozens Face Felony Charges After Raid of Beagle Research Facility te 2026-07-08T03:10:21.022Z Dozens Face Felony Charges After Raid of Beagle Research Facility The charges for most of the people carry sentences of up to 12.5 years in prison, officials said, and the police have recommended more charges for a separate attempt in April. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4db8a9c2ca79de23651928 US Soccer officials barred by FIFA from Belgium World Cup match over apparent protocol violations: report te 2026-07-08T02:40:41.360Z US Soccer officials barred by FIFA from Belgium World Cup match over apparent protocol violations: report FIFA issued suspensions to at least two key members of the U.S. Soccer Federation ahead of Monday's World Cup matchup with Belgium, according to multiple reports. ESPN reported that team manager Sam Zapatka and U.S. Soccer Federation Vice President of Security Frank Pannell were the two staff members barred from the match. The U.S. went on to suffer a 4-1 loss to Belgium, ending its 2026 World Cup run. The tournament's governing body did not provide a reason for the suspensions. CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM ESPN, citing sources, also reported that the suspensions were likely tied to incidents that occurred during Team USA's victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina last week in the Round of 32. The alleged violations involved FIFA match protocols and individuals possibly entering restricted areas. There were no known physical altercations. USA ADVANCES IN WORLD CUP AFTER CONTROVERSIAL RED CARD VS BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA After joining the U.S. Soccer Federation in 2015, Zapatka was named team administrative manager in 2020. While U.S. Soccer did not reveal why the suspensions were imposed, it stressed Tuesday that they were not connected to the appeal process surrounding star striker Folarin Balogun's one-match red-card suspension. Belgium challenged FIFA's decision to lift Balogun's suspension, but the governing body ultimately stood by its original ruling, allowing Team USA's forward to take the field. President Donald Trump said Monday that he watched the controversial play and later called FIFA President Gianni Infantino to discuss the red card. "I spoke with Gianni," Trump told reporters at the White House. "All I did was, I asked for a review, because I didn’t think it was a foul," the president said. "And again, I’m good at this stuff. I didn’t think it was a foul. I thought it was two great athletes who crashed into each other and got entangled." With the victory over the U.S., Belgium advanced to the quarterfinals and will face Spain on Friday at Los Angeles Stadium. Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4daf4ac2ca79de23651767 Egyptian players, coaches complain about controversial calls in loss to Argentina: 'Rigged game' te 2026-07-08T02:00:42.921Z Egyptian players, coaches complain about controversial calls in loss to Argentina: 'Rigged game' The 2026 FIFA World Cup has been a tremendous success, on and off the field. Visiting fans have raved about the experience of coming to the United States and enjoying the country's hospitality. The host venues across the country have been widely praised for exceptional amenities and outstanding atmospheres. But even the most successful tournament isn't without controversy. The largest, through the first few rounds, was Folarin Balogun's red card. The card shown to Balogun in the US Men's National Team match against Bosnia and Herzegovina was given based on misapplication of VAR rules. Then FIFA postponed his one-game suspension, allowing him to play against Belgium in the round of 16. European fans, commentators, and their soccer federation, went ballistic. But even they pale in comparison to the allegations being thrown around by players and coaches from the Egyptian team after their shocking 3-2 loss to Argentina and Lionel Messi on Tuesday afternoon. TOM BRADY COMPARES ARGENTINA'S DRAMATIC WORLD CUP RALLY TO PATRIOTS' SUPER BOWL COMEBACK Egyptian coach Hossam Hassan spoke to the media after the match, and did not hold back with his criticism of the officiating. "We haven’t seen respect or fair play," Hassan said. "A penalty was ruled out, and a second [incident] that should have been checked for a penalty for us was not even checked by the VAR. A second goal was remarkably, for whatever reason, disallowed." "I want to put it in beautiful words and say, ‘Hard luck,’ but we have been treated unfairly, and it has been an injustice," he continued. Egypt had a 1-0 lead, and seemed to take a 2-0 lead, only for the second goal to be disallowed after a VAR review determined that a foul had occurred around 20 seconds beforehand on the other side of the pitch. Egypt did score again, but the 2-0 scoreline might have instead been 3-0, making the incredible Argentina comeback even more unlikely. Then there were several other questionable calls, including a potential penalty that could have been given after a foul on star Mohamed Salah. "We looked better than the reigning champions — better in everything — but the result was influenced by internal factors on the pitch and external factors off it," Hassan also told reporters. "Perhaps they wanted to keep the world champion in the competition. Perhaps they wanted Messi to stay in the running. "In football, there are sometimes external factors that go beyond the technical aspects. The world champion received support at every level." CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM "There seems to have been pressure on the Argentinian side on the referee that has brought about this outcome," he added. "Life is unfair. The world is unfair. OK, but why isn’t there any fairness in sports? I’m not convinced by this outcome and by the way things unfolded in this match." Forward Mostafa Ziko said something similar, saying his Egyptian team was "hard done" by the referee. "We were hard done by [the referee] today, and everyone saw that. I won't talk about something like this. We were winning 2-0. After the 2-0 result, everything went against us and worked against us. I don't even know why the second goal was disallowed, I don't see any reason for it. But we must look for a solution so that a second goal doesn't come. He wanted to disallow the third one too, but thank God, God didn't grant him success." "It was a rigged game," Ziko said. "It wasn’t our fault. That referee… it seems like this match was rigged. We were winning 2-0, and he kept coming at us. Congratulations to Argentina on another World Cup, it seems." It's a near-certainty that FIFA is happy that Messi and Argentina are through to the quarterfinals. Messi remains arguably the biggest star on the international stage, and interest and viewership will be higher as long as he and his team are in the tournament. But that doesn't mean the match was "rigged." The VAR review to disallow Egypt's second goal did seem misplaced, though some of the other contentious calls were the type of borderline decisions that could go either way. The most important variable that none of the Egyptian players or their coach want to acknowledge, though, is that had they wanted to win, they could simply not have allowed three goals in 25 minutes. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4dad09c2ca79de23651704 Gaven Frank Martinez te 2026-07-08T01:51:05.661Z Gaven Frank Martinez Gaven Frank “Buster” Martinez passed away on July 2, 2026, at the age of 75. Buster was born on Dec. 10, 1950, in Holbrook, to Gavin and Sally Martinez. He attended Holbrook High School and proudly served his country in the Vietnam War as a member of the United States Army. He was commander of the American Legion, Post 37.       He is survived by his children, Sandra Oberriter (Mark), Sheri Martinez, Ron Martinez (Sonia) and Timothy Martinez (Fantasy); and by his beloved grandchildren, Jared Martinez, Alaya Vizcaya (Daniel), Marcus Oberriter, Gabriel Martinez, Gavino Martinez, Angelo Martinez, Orlando Martinez, Ron Martinez Jr., Elijah Ollarsaba, Orlando Ollarsaba, Isayah Martinez, Felicity Martinez, Constance Martinez, Cayleigha Kennedy, Auhnalisia Martinez and Azaria Martinez; and two great-grandchildren, Naomi Vizcaya and Elias Martinez.       He was preceded in death by his parents, Sally and Gavin Martinez; his brother, Ricky Martinez; his sister, Eileen Martinez; and his beloved grandson, Gavino Martinez.       A Rosary will be held at 9:30 a.m. and Mass will be held at 10 a.m. on Saturday, July 18, 2026, at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church, following a military burial will be held at Holbrook cemetery. A Celebration of Life will follow at the American Legion. The post Gaven Frank Martinez first appeared on Painted Desert Tribune. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4dace0c2ca79de236516bf Top Maine Democrat Says Platner Will Have ‘No Role’ in Picking Next Nominee te 2026-07-08T01:50:24.706Z Top Maine Democrat Says Platner Will Have ‘No Role’ in Picking Next Nominee A top state party official said that Graham Platner’s team had “repeatedly” tried to “put their thumb on the scale,” but he would not influence how the party chose a new Senate candidate. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4daa98c2ca79de23651661 Royals implode with 3 errors as Mets' Carson Benge scores Little League home run to open game vs KC te 2026-07-08T01:40:40.194Z Royals implode with 3 errors as Mets' Carson Benge scores Little League home run to open game vs KC The Kansas City Royals turned an ordinary ground ball into a royal disaster Tuesday night against the New York Mets, producing one of the strangest scoring sequences of the MLB season. Even the struggling Mets had to be thinking, "We'll take it." With runners on first and second, Mets outfielder Carson Benge hit a slow chopper back toward the mound and, seconds later, was jogging across home plate after the Royals committed three errors on the same play in a meltdown that gifted New York an early three-run lead. NEW REPORT SUGGESTS THE NEW YORK METS ARE OPEN TO TRADING FRANCISCO LINDOR AMID DISASTROUS SEASON Royals pitcher Seth Lugo fielded the ball, but his off-balance throw to first sailed wide of first baseman Jac Caglianone for the game's first error, allowing Benge to reach safely. There's more ... WATCH: Caglianone recovered the ball and tried to throw out Benge as he raced toward third, but his throw sailed past the bag and into foul territory. And more ... As Benge rounded third and headed for home, third baseman Nick Loftin's relay throw also got away, allowing him to complete his trip around the bases. Kansas City committed three errors on one play and spotted the Mets three unearned runs before recording the third out of the inning. METS FIRE CARLOS MENDOZA AMID NIGHTMARE SEASON DESPITE HAVING BASEBALL'S LARGEST $330M PAYROLL Instead of making the Mets earn an early lead, the Royals practically handed them one with mistake after mistake. The Mets gladly accepted the gift, jumping ahead 3-0 before Kansas City ever came to the plate. You can survive one error. Even two. Most teams lose with these kinds of sequences. But by the fifth, the Royals stormed back, tying the game at 9-9. Mets gonna Mets. Send us your thoughts: alejandro.avila@outkick.com / Follow along on X: @alejandroaveela Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4da5fdc2ca79de23651574 Abbott orders probe after Texas hospital advertises 'birth packages' in Mexico: 'Citizenship is not for sale' te 2026-07-08T01:21:01.242Z Abbott orders probe after Texas hospital advertises 'birth packages' in Mexico: 'Citizenship is not for sale' Texas Gov. Greg Abbott ordered an investigation into a Texas hospital Tuesday after it confirmed to Fox News that it advertised Spanish-language "Birth Packages in South Texas" on billboards in Mexico promoting childbirth services to pregnant foreign nationals near the U.S.-Mexico border. Mission Regional Medical Center confirmed to Fox News that it was responsible for the advertising campaign, which promoted deliveries starting at $3,950 for a natural birth and $5,525 for a C-section, and directed viewers to a website, havemybabyinTEXAS.com, which has since been taken offline. The billboards also displayed a telephone number beginning with "001," the country code used to place calls to the United States from Mexico. 'WEAPONS OF MASS REPRODUCTION': WATCHDOG UNVEILS ACTION PLAN TO CURB BIRTH TOURISM AFTER SUPREME COURT RULING "The marketing materials regarding maternity services are no longer in use due to any unintended misunderstanding," a hospital spokesperson said in a statement to Fox News. "We do not support or facilitate any unlawful activity and work to comply with all applicable federal and state laws and regulations." The spokesperson said the campaign included two billboards located within approximately 5 miles of the hospital near a U.S.-Mexico border crossing. The hospital said both billboards and the website were removed Monday after images began circulating on social media. The spokesperson also said the campaign began in 2021 but did not specify when the billboards were installed. Abbott on Tuesday directed Texas Health and Human Services Commission Executive Commissioner Stephanie Muth to investigate Mission Regional Medical Center for potential violations of state law and contractual obligations. REPUBLICAN ACCUSES SCOTUS OF BETRAYING US, PUSHES BILL RESTRICTING BIRTHRIGHT CITIZENSHIP, PREGNANT VISITORS Images of the billboard circulated on social media before the hospital said it removed the advertisements Monday. "'Birth tourism' is an illegal practice that exploits the extraordinary hospitality that the United States and Texas offer to millions of foreign travelers each year," Abbott wrote in a July 7 letter obtained by Fox News. "Unfortunately, thousands of foreign travelers come to the United States under false pretenses to give birth and secure citizenship for their children." TRUMP SUFFERS MAJOR SUPREME COURT DEFEAT AS JUSTICES UPHOLD BIRTHRIGHT CITIZENSHIP Abbott directed HHSC to "immediately and thoroughly investigate" the hospital and said any violations should be referred to the Texas Attorney General for civil enforcement and to the appropriate district or county attorney for potential criminal prosecution. "American citizenship is not for sale and Texas will not permit our healthcare system to be used as a magnet for birth tourism," Abbott wrote. The governor also said he plans to work with the Texas Legislature during its next session "to strengthen state law and eliminate birth tourism in Texas." "Unfortunately, birth tourism operations are not a new phenomenon," Kyle Brosnan, general counsel of the Oversight Project, told Fox News Digital in a statement. "The Supreme Court’s egregiously wrong decision in the birthright citizenship case is going to open the floodgates to the birth tourism industry. Our country is much more than a pile of magic dirt. The only answer to these type of practices are criminal investigations and the mass deportation of illegal aliens." Mission Regional Medical Center also said it intends to cooperate with state officials. "We intend to work cooperatively and transparently with local and state officials," the hospital said in a statement obtained by Fox News. "Our focus remains on delivering safe, high-quality care to every patient who seeks our services." The investigation comes as President Donald Trump's executive order seeking to limit automatic birthright citizenship for some children born in the United States remains the subject of ongoing legal challenges. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4da5e9c2ca79de2365156b Noncitizen accused of falsely claiming US citizenship before casting federal ballots te 2026-07-08T01:20:41.773Z Noncitizen accused of falsely claiming US citizenship before casting federal ballots A lawful permanent resident from Australia was arrested after she allegedly illegally voted in federal elections in Louisiana, according to officials. Denise Nataly Migliore, 51, was charged in a four-count indictment last month with making false statements in order to register to vote and illegal voting in an election, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Louisiana said. In October 2022 and October 2024, she knowingly made false claims about her U.S. citizenship to register to vote in a federal election, prosecutors said. DHS DIRECTS ICE TO DEPORT ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS WHO VOTE IN AMERICAN ELECTIONS UNDER NEW DIRECTIVE In November of each of those years, she allegedly cast ballots after falsely certifying that she was a U.S. citizen and eligible to vote. Migliore was ineligible to vote because she was not a U.S. citizen. On July 1, Homeland Security Investigations arrested Migliore at the federal courthouse in New Orleans following an investigation by Immigration and Customs Enforcement. "This alien from Australia now faces federal charges for falsely claiming to be a U.S. citizen and illegally casting ballots in two elections," Acting Assistant DHS Secretary of Public Affairs Lauren Bis said in a statement. "Her arrest and charges are the result of the hard work of the men and women of ICE law enforcement and our federal partners." "Our message to aliens who vote in American elections is clear: we will find you, arrest you, and you will face the consequences, including criminal charges and deportation. Only Americans should be electing American leaders," she continued. NONCITIZEN EX-KANSAS MAYOR PLEADS GUILTY TO ILLEGALLY VOTING MULTIPLE TIMES If convicted, Migliore faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison followed by three years of supervised release. She also faces a fine of up to $250,000 and a $100 mandatory special assessment fee. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4da3a5c2ca79de23651496 1619 Project creator claims paying reparations would be admission that US existence is a 'crime' te 2026-07-08T01:11:01.420Z 1619 Project creator claims paying reparations would be admission that US existence is a 'crime' Nikole Hannah-Jones, the creator of the controversial 1619 Project, recently argued that paying reparations for slavery would serve as an admission that the "entire existence of the United States" is a crime. "Paying reparations is an admission of the crime," Hannah-Jones stated last week. "But it’s not an admission of the crime of a handful of bad apples or a few years of bad policy. It is the crime of the entire existence of the United States." Hannah-Jones’ comments came during an interview with the left-leaning media outlet The Meteor. The conversation, hosted by Brittany Packnett Cunningham, centered on the legacy of slavery and the push for reparations as the nation approaches its 250th anniversary. DEMOCRATIC LAWMAKER CLAIMS BLACK AMERICANS WILL STOP VOTING IF THEY DON'T GET REPARATIONS The journalist, who won a Pulitzer Prize in 2020 for her work on the 1619 Project, argued that America’s history is so deeply rooted in slavery that simply removing monuments would not suffice. "You could never knock down all the statues to enslavers, or you have to remove all the monuments on the Mall in Washington," she said. "Slavery predates the founding of our country by 150 years." The New York Times' 1619 Project is a long-form collaboration that seeks to "reframe the country's history" by bringing slavery and racism to the forefront of the national narrative. While praised by liberals, the project has faced intense scrutiny and pushback from prominent historians who have publicly disputed its factual accuracy, particularly its claims regarding the motivations behind the American Revolution. BIDEN-APPOINTED JUDGE ORDERS TRUMP TO RESTORE SLAVERY, CLIMATE CHANGE REFERENCES AT NATIONAL PARKS Despite the criticism, the 1619 Project's theories of American history were later developed into an educational curriculum with the help of the Pulitzer Center. According to the nonprofit, hundreds of schools have received copies of The New York Times Magazine issue, and over 4,000 educators have used its resources — a move that has sparked fierce backlash from parents and conservative lawmakers across the country fighting critical race theory (CRT). During the interview, the Howard University journalism professor cited the American education system's approach to teaching about slavery as a driving force behind the recent conservative pushback against Juneteenth and CRT. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4da37ec2ca79de23651487 Suspect Interacted With Charlie Kirk’s Group Before Killing, Prosecutors Say te 2026-07-08T01:10:22.517Z Suspect Interacted With Charlie Kirk’s Group Before Killing, Prosecutors Say In a hearing, prosecutors used videos to trace the steps of the man they accuse of assassinating Mr. Kirk, while defense lawyers tried to poke holes in DNA evidence. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4da128c2ca79de23651403 Suspect Interacted With Charlie Kirk’s Group Before Killing, Prosecutors Say te 2026-07-08T01:00:24.798Z Suspect Interacted With Charlie Kirk’s Group Before Killing, Prosecutors Say In a hearing, prosecutors used videos to trace the steps of the man they accuse of assassinating Mr. Kirk, while defense lawyers tried to poke holes in DNA evidence. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4d9a5cc2ca79de2365129e DAVID BLACKMON: America’s Energy Dominance: The Fruit Of Freedom On Our 250th te 2026-07-08T00:31:24.553Z DAVID BLACKMON: America’s Energy Dominance: The Fruit Of Freedom On Our 250th By David Blackmon | As we celebrate America’s 250th birthday, one of the finest blessings our Founders gave our nation stands out with particular clarity: the system of free enterprise. That system did not merely enable liberty and prosperity in the abstract. It unleashed the human ingenuity, risk-taking, and capital allocation that turned America into the world’s unrivaled energy superpower. From the coal age that fueled the Industrial Revolution, through the oil age that powered the 20th century, to the LNG age we now dominate, American free enterprise has repeatedly delivered technological leadership and abundance. No central planner designed these revolutions.  Entrepreneurs, engineers, and investors did, operating in a system that rewards results above political connections. Today that legacy is unmistakable. The United States leads the world by a wide margin in the production of both oil and natural gas. We have also become the world’s largest exporter of liquefied natural gas, shipping reliable energy to allies across Europe and Asia who once relied on less friendly suppliers. While some critics like to call this an accident of geology, they’re wrong. America’s LNG dominance is the direct result of the shale revolution, advanced drilling techniques, and a policy environment that, when properly structured, lets markets work. America once held a similar commanding position in nuclear power. We built the world’s first commercial reactor and led in reactor technology for decades. Then came the 1979 Three Mile Island incident. Irrational fears, amplified by media and activists, led to a bureaucratic paralysis in the Nuclear Regulatory Commission which stalled new construction for two generations. Promising projects died in paperwork as existing plants faced endless regulatory hurdles. America fell behind while other nations pressed forward. Today, that era is ending. The Trump administration is delivering a major push to revitalize America’s nuclear power industry. Energy Secretary Chris Wright and Interior Secretary Doug Burgum have announced major project milestones in recent weeks, including new loan programs to support large-scale reactors and breakthroughs on advanced designs such as microreactors that have already achieved criticality. These steps signal a return to regulatory sanity and a recognition that abundant, reliable, carbon-free baseload power is essential for both economic growth and national security. Wind and solar have also established a robust presence on every major U.S. regional grid. These intermittent sources now deliver meaningful power to homes and businesses when the weather cooperates. American companies and workers have built real expertise and infrastructure in these sectors. Yet the United States remains far behind China in manufacturing scale and deployment speed, and subservient to the Chinese Communist Party for the raw materials that make them work. As Secretary Wright posted on X this week, the massive Biden-era subsidies that distorted markets and enriched foreign supply chains begin phasing out this month. That transition will test the true competitiveness of these technologies without artificial support. Their future contribution will depend on genuine cost reductions and technological improvement, not ever-rising subsidies from taxpayers and ratepayers. America’s dominant position across fossil fuels, its returning strength in nuclear power, and its established role in renewables together form an unmatched energy portfolio. This abundance has been no small factor in making the United States the world’s dominant geopolitical power. Reliable, affordable energy underpins manufacturing resurgence, data-center growth, and an enduring military edge that deters adversaries. It keeps our economy the envy of the world, with lower energy costs than most competitors and the flexibility to adapt to new demands. Most importantly, energy dominance sustains the God-endowed freedoms our Founders secured. Cheap, reliable power frees families from energy poverty. It powers the innovations that improve daily life. It supports the industries that create the jobs and wealth that let individuals and communities flourish according to their own lights rather than government dictates. On this 250th anniversary, we should give thanks not only for the Declaration of Independence and the visionaries who created it, but for the practical system of ordered liberty that turned a resource-rich continent into the engine of global progress. Free enterprise did not merely discover America’s energy wealth. It developed it, refined it, and continues to expand it. That is a blessing worth celebrating not just this weekend, but every day. God Bless America. Originally published by the Daily Caller News Foundation. David Blackmon is a contributor to The Daily Caller News Foundation, an energy writer, and consultant based in Texas. He spent 40 years in the oil and gas business, where he specialized in public policy and communications. The post DAVID BLACKMON: America’s Energy Dominance: The Fruit Of Freedom On Our 250th first appeared on AZ FREE NEWS. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4d9a32c2ca79de23651269 Lexie Hull and Sophie Cunningham team up on a California beach for some 'much needed r&r' te 2026-07-08T00:30:42.063Z Lexie Hull and Sophie Cunningham team up on a California beach for some 'much needed r&r' Sophie Cunningham and Lexie Hull, the two self-described Indiana Fever mermaids, teamed up on Monday on a California beach for some "much needed r&r." If you know ball like I know ball, you know these two aren't going to miss an opportunity for a bikini day off. They're not going to be bullied out of having fun off the court by anyone. That includes their superstar teammate Caitlin Clark. She tried and she failed to bully them. She would much rather see Sophie and Lexie focus on basketball than on tanning. But that's not how these two roll. ZERO BS. JUST DAKICH. TAKE THE DON’T @ ME PODCAST ON THE ROAD. DOWNLOAD NOW! They have proven they can play their part on the court while enjoying themselves off of it. So they spent one of their days off before taking on the Los Angeles Sparks on Wednesday night at Manhattan Beach. They got their much-needed rest and relaxation. They got some content for social media. And they worked on their tans, which will pay off in the tunnel pregame. SOPHIE CUNNINGHAM TURNED HEADS OFF THE COURT BEFORE DOMINATING ANGEL REESE, SPURS-KNICKS TICKET PRICE & SABAN! That's a successful day off in my book. As I said when I questioned Clark going after these two last spring, they can do both. They ball, and they can tan. Love it or hate it, it's part of the game. Sophie Cunningham and Lexie Hull get it. They're going to continue to ignore the haters on and off the roster. Why wouldn't they? It's been working. The brand deals are there. They're growing the game, and they're contributing members of a 12-8 team, which is good enough to be two and a half games back of the top team in the WNBA. Let's not forget the wise teachings of Deion Sanders, "Look good, feel good. Feel good, play good. Play good, they pay good." Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4d9817c2ca79de2365121c CRIT celebrates Fourth of July with sports tournaments te 2026-07-08T00:21:43.917Z CRIT celebrates Fourth of July with sports tournaments The Colorado River Indian Tribes Special Diabetes Project – Recreation Program celebrated the Fourth of July with sporting activities. These included a horseshoe tournament on July 4, a 3-on-3 coed basketball tournament July 2 at Irataba Hall, and a coed… Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4d97d9c2ca79de236511ea New explosive allegation rocks Platner campaign still reeling from rape accusation te 2026-07-08T00:20:41.971Z New explosive allegation rocks Platner campaign still reeling from rape accusation Embattled U.S. Senate candidate Graham Platner was hit with a second explosive allegation of sexual impropriety only about 24 hours after he was accused of rape — all while a major campaign decision deadline looms. In a new report published by The Washington Post, the candidate from Maine was accused of removing condoms during sex with his ex-girlfriend Lyndsey Fifield after she explicitly directed him to wear them. "He would pull condoms off," she told The Washington Post. "He would do it in a sneaky way. He wouldn’t tell me." NEW YORK TIMES UNDER SCRUTINY OVER GRAHAM PLATNER COVERAGE AS ACCUSERS SPEAK OUT AGAINST PAPER Fifield, 41, previously accused Platner of physical misconduct during their relationship, saying that he sometimes grabbed her hard enough to leave marks on her body, and that one time he twisted her arm around her back, pushed her into a bedroom and held the door shut until she "calmed down." Those concerns were largely dismissed by Platner's supporters, who characterized Fifield, who used to work at The Heritage Foundation, of being a conservative operative. "I confronted him both during and after [sex] because he knew that I was not on birth control and how dangerous that was," she told The Post, who said that Fifield made the allegations in a previous interview with the outlet, but strictly off the record. ‘HE HATED WOMEN’: EXPLOSIVE ABUSE, NEW NAZI TATTOO ALLEGATIONS FROM EXES ROCK PLATNER'S CAMPAIGN "He would act like cute about it, like ‘Oh sneaky me,'" she said, according to the report. In a statement to The Washington Post, the Platner campaign reportedly said that Fifield's latest allegations were "categorically false and politically motivated." Platner is running to oust Republican Maine Sen. Susan Collins. Monday, the oyster farmer, whose campaign has been dogged by scandal since last year, was accused of rape by another woman. PLATNER'S LATEST ACCUSER CLAIMS THE DEMOCRATIC SENATE CANDIDATE 'ABSOLUTELY' RAPED HER Jenny Racicot, 41, told POLITICO that Platner drunkenly entered her home while they were on-again, off-again romantic partners in 2021, and raped her. She claimed that he ejaculated inside her after she told him to stop multiple times. "I remember him grabbing my pelvis and being really forceful of me," Racicot told the outlet, which she said took place while Platner was "almost blackout drunk" in Washington, D.C. "I remember the specific moment where I thought to myself, like, ‘This is no longer my choice.’" Platner categorically denied those allegations, too, in a video released in the immediate aftermath of the publication of the POLITICO story. He said his campaign was taking time to assess possible next steps, as a major deadline in the race looms. Platner must withdraw from the race by 5:00 p.m. on next Monday, July 13, if another Democratic candidate, who would be chosen by the party, is to replace him before the November general election. Monday evening into Tuesday, a litany of previous supporters dropped their endorsements of Platner and called for him to drop out of the race, including progressive Sens. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., and Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., two of his most ardent backers. "Now more than ever we need leaders in Washington who reflect our values. There can be no tolerance for sexual assault," Warren said in a statement Monday night. TOP PLATNER ALLY TURNS ON HIM AFTER BOMBSHELL RAPE ALLEGATION ROCKS CAMPAIGN: 'RED LINE' "Working families are counting on Democrats to win the Senate election in Maine to unrig our economy and hold Donald Trump accountable. With so much at stake, the best path forward is for Graham Platner to step aside as the Democratic nominee and address these serious allegations outside this Senate race." "I have spoken with Graham Platner about the best path forward for Maine," Sanders said in a statement midday Tuesday. "In light of these very serious allegations, I have recommended that he step aside." Fox News Digital reached out to Platner's campaign for comment. Fox News' Andrew Mark Miller contributed to this report. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4d9594c2ca79de23651175 Far-left Platner supporter melts down after new scandal, accuses media of 'politically assassinating' him te 2026-07-08T00:11:00.431Z Far-left Platner supporter melts down after new scandal, accuses media of 'politically assassinating' him A far-left podcaster slammed the mainstream media in an X post on Tuesday, accusing outlets of "politically assassinating" embattled Democratic U.S. Senate candidate in Maine Graham Platner. "The Young Turks" CEO and founder Cenk Uygur, an influential political commentator, posted the accusation one day after Politico published allegations made by Jenny Racicot, who dated Platner. Racicot told Politico that in 2021, Platner drunkenly came into her home and forced her to have sex with him against her will. Platner denied the allegations in a video released by his campaign Monday, calling them "troubling, serious and false." "Any accusation of nonconsensual behavior is categorically false," Platner said. He added that, in light of what he described as the "inaccuracy of the reporting," his campaign was "taking the time to reflect on the best path forward." HOW GRAHAM PLATNER'S CAMPAIGN UNRAVELED: FROM REDDIT POSTS TO RAPE ALLEGATION The allegations marked the latest crisis for Platner's campaign, which has faced multiple controversies involving allegations from former partners and scrutiny over other aspects of his past. Despite Platner's denial, the latest allegations sparked major political backlash as Democrats began rescinding their endorsements of the Maine oysterman, with some calling on him to drop out of the race. Platner rose to prominence by positioning himself as an anti-establishment progressive, campaigning against corporate PACs and U.S. support for Israel. Uygur, who has long used his platform to champion left-wing insurgent candidates, continued to defend Platner even as the controversies surrounding his campaign mounted. Uygur went on to warn the Democratic Party against replacing Platner with candidates who are pro-Israel and in favor of corporate PACs. "If he drops out and Democratic Party tries to give us two candidates who are both for Israel and corporate pacs [SIC], they'll face a revolt like they've never seen. Days of [bulls---] false choices are over," Uygur wrote. The controversial podcaster said that he wants a candidate that is "even more against corporate pacs [SIC], more against Israel, more against the establishment, more against corruption, more against the status quo." NEW YORK TIMES UNDER SCRUTINY OVER GRAHAM PLATNER COVERAGE AS ACCUSERS SPEAK OUT AGAINST PAPER In a subsequent post, Uygur warned that those who supported Platner would also face "character assassinations." "Next the character assassins will move on to smearing anyone who supported Platner. They'll try guilt by association, to eliminate more opponents of the establishment. This is how these thugs operate and pick off outsiders one by one. Meanwhile, no one looks into the insiders," he wrote. He also predicted that the media's "next target" would likely be an anti-Israel outsider. Uygur has repeatedly argued that Democrats and the media targeted Platner because of the candidate's opposition to Israel. Since April, he has accused Democrats of targeting Platner over his views on the war in Gaza and U.S. support for Israel. Last month, he said on X that Platner's critics "work for Israel" and that the Democrats who were attacking the Maine candidate were "ordered to do so by their handlers." The post came just one day after The New York Times published allegations by Racicot and other women who previously dated Platner. Although the Times also interviewed women who spoke positively about Platner, the allegations by Racicot and the others became the focus of the scandal. CLICK HERE FOR MORE COVERAGE OF MEDIA AND CULTURE One of the women interviewed by the Times, Lyndsey Fifield, shed light on a controversy that plagued Platner's campaign in its early days. Platner had a tattoo of a Nazi symbol known as a "Totenkopf" on his chest, though he claimed that he did not know its origin until it became a campaign issue. However, Fifield told the Times that Platner had referred to it as "my Totenkopf," and that he taught her the word for the symbol. While the allegations reported by the Times last month did not appear to shift support among Platner's backers, the accusations that surfaced Monday prompted several prominent Democrats to distance themselves from him. Among them were Reps. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., and Rashida Tlaib, D-Mich., as well as Sen. Ruben Gallego, D-Ariz. Though he did not explicitly withdraw his endorsement, Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., said in a post on X that he had spoken with Platner and "recommended that he step aside." Platner has not dropped out of the race, but said in a video released Monday that his campaign was "taking the time to reflect on the best path forward." Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4d9580c2ca79de2365116c Donovan Mitchell signs massive $273M Cavaliers extension as LeBron James return speculation grows te 2026-07-08T00:10:40.982Z Donovan Mitchell signs massive $273M Cavaliers extension as LeBron James return speculation grows Donovan Mitchell got quite the payday from the Cleveland Cavaliers on Tuesday, as he agreed to a four-year, $273 million maximum extension, which includes a full trade kicker and player option for the 2030-31 season. While Mitchell could’ve waited one more year to get a potential five-year, $353 million deal, the 29-year-old wasted no time signing an extension on the first day he was eligible to do so this summer. It’s hard for Cleveland not to want to build their team around Mitchell now and for the foreseeable future. He has been an All-Star seven straight seasons, which includes three with the Utah Jazz prior to his trade to Cleveland during the 2022 offseason. CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM He has averaged 26.7 points across four seasons with the Cavaliers, including 27.9 this past season, and has made an All-NBA team in three of his four years. Mitchell also noted having "unfinished business" after the team got swept by the future NBA-champion New York Knicks in the Eastern Conference Finals. Mitchell was heading into the 2026-27 season on the last guaranteed season of his previous contract before a 2027 player option kicked in. CAVS NEED LEBRON JAMES 'TO RETURN HOME TO SAVE THE DAY,' ESPN STAR STEPHEN A SMITH SAYS Now, the bigger question for the Cavaliers: Does Mitchell’s contract extension hurt, or help, their chances of yet another reunion with LeBron James? The 41-year-old has made it clear he will be playing elsewhere for the 2026-27 NBA season, marking the end of his eight years with the Los Angeles Lakers. James, the NBA’s all-time leading scorer, hasn’t indicated where he might be heading, but reports have indicated his agent, Rich Paul, is actively looking at specific teams. Among them is the Cavaliers, as the man from Akron, Ohio has played a significant role in the franchise’s history, including an NBA title in 2016. If this is James' final NBA run, why not do it where it all began, where he returned after his successful stint with the Miami Heat, and where he can close the book on a one-of-a-kind career? However, other teams, including the Philadelphia 76ers, Miami Heat and Golden State Warriors have been rumored and debated about. But, of course, salary cap is a big deal for NBA teams, and staying within the parameters. While a Cavaliers fan could view Mitchell’s max extension as a bad thing for James to land back in Cleveland, it is not believed to affect their chances at signing him. And for James’ NBA title chances, the Cavaliers did reach the Eastern Conference Finals, and the 41-year-old wouldn’t have to be the center of attention in terms of offensive playmaking. Mitchell and Evan Mobley can lead the way there, while Jarrett Allen protects the rim down low. The Cavaliers and James Harden, whom they acquired before the trade deadline last season, are reportedly negotiating a team-friendly deal as well to keep their salary cap at bay. Whether the big fish will be landed, bringing "The Chosen One" back to his roots one last time, remains to be seen. Mitchell has left no doubt, though, where his future lies in the NBA, as he will look to get that unfinished business squared away in Cleveland. Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4d93cdc2ca79de23651126 Big 12 media days: ASU using World Cup experience as showcase for Union Jack Classic in London te 2026-07-08T00:03:25.500Z Big 12 media days: ASU using World Cup experience as showcase for Union Jack Classic in London Cronkite News offers an audio version of this story using an automated voice created by AI. Errors in pronunciation, pacing and intonation may occur. If you notice an error please contact cronkitenews@asu.edu. FRISCO, Texas – When Mikel Merino buried Spain’s winner against Portugal into the corner of the net, half of the Arizona State football team’s leadership council completely missed it. They were too busy doing the wave. A day before Big 12 media days, the Sun Devils’ Tillman Leadership Council, a group of seven players voted in by their teammates, sat together inside AT&T Stadium in Dallas watching Spain and Portugal in the World Cup.  Tight end Khamari Anderson admitted, “I didn’t know anything about soccer. I never watched a soccer game.”  Running back Kyson Brown said he didn’t realize “how many people fed into that sport,” and was stunned that fans “were standing up and singing the entire time.” The players believe the atmosphere will mirror what awaits them in London as they participate in the Union Jack Classic on Sept. 19. “I’m glad to be able to introduce American football to them,” Anderson said. “Hopefully, the same type of fans will be there.” Offensive lineman Jalen Klemm, who has fought back from a stroke to become one of ASU’s most respected voices, called it “a once‑in‑a‑lifetime opportunity.”  Defensive back Montana Warren, who grew up in East Texas, said, “You could’ve told me this 12 years ago, I’d be like, ‘You’re lying. Ain’t no way.’” Coach Kenny Dillingham, who had never been to a World Cup, took in the spectacle alongside the leaders of his squad. “College football is about experiences for guys,” Dillingham said. “For them to be able to experience that, that’s a bucket‑list item. I never dreamed I would go to a World Cup. Sometimes when things are meant to be, they’re meant to be.” The World Cup trip became the unexpected center of ASU’s media days presence, serving as a shared experience to which players kept returning. Brown said he learned “you can’t take your eyes off the game; something can happen in an instant.”  Anderson, meanwhile, said seeing Ronaldo’s final World Cup game was “crazy,” adding, “I was shocked by it; I didn’t know anything about soccer.” Defensive lineman C.J. Fite, one of ASU’s most respected veterans, called it “one of the coolest things I’ve done in my life,” and admitted he missed the goal because he was mid‑wave.  “I just started screaming,” he said.  Another respected veteran, linebacker Zyrus Fiaseu, reflected on the experience.  “That was amazing,” he said. “I’ve only ever played the video game, but just to see the game in person, it was definitely different and definitely something that I would love to go back to.” Dillingham said the nonstop pace of the game struck him most. “The game never stops. There’s three breaks in the entire game. To feel the flow of the game just go, it’s such a different feel than football.” Warren, who has never left the country, touched on his mindset for the upcoming bout against Kansas. “I’m going to be scared, but it’s going to be fun,” he said. “The love I got for football should be shared in other parts of the world. Wish we did it sooner.” Defensive back Lyrik Rawls, the only newcomer voted into the leadership council, will face his former team in London.  “Every time I see a post about it, somebody sends it to me,” he said. “It’s been good vibes.” Dillingham underscored the opportunity presented to them. “It’s still about 18‑ to 22‑year‑olds and their experience,” he said. “Sending 105 college kids to London to experience something they may never experience again, that’s a once‑in‑a‑lifetime opportunity.” ASU’s facilities push Off the field, ASU is undergoing one of the most aggressive facility overhauls in the conference. Sun Devils athletic director Graham Rossini said, “We’re under the hood on about as much as you can be right now,” noting renovations to Mountain America Stadium’s south lodge (“about 400 seats refreshed”), new north end zone boxes (“34 boxes right by the Tillman statue”) and the multi‑phase rebuild of Desert Financial Arena. “It’s 50 years old,” Rossini said. “It needs a lot of TLC.” He added that ASU is “catching up in a lot of respects” and “elevating in a lot of respects,” emphasizing that physical spaces “matter for driving a better game day” and “matter for coaching and teaching and development at a high level.” Dillingham echoed that urgency. “You just asked a coach if he’s content, right? Obviously the answer is no,” he said. “We’ll never be content. We’re building a new indoor facility that’s going to be one of the best in the country.” As ASU tries to keep up with the ever-changing landscape of college recruiting, new facilities are a step in a needed direction as the school strives for a return to the top of the conference.  Yormark’s global ambitions Big 12 commissioner Brett Yormark didn’t mince words regarding the league’s direction. “We have global ambitions as a conference,” he said. “There’s a lot of interest in Europe for what we do.” He noted that 14% of Big 12 athletes are international and six of the 16 schools have campuses outside the U.S. The London game fits well into that strategy as the conference looks to gain a foothold overseas. Rossini said Kansas joined the Union Jack Classic after stadium renovations forced them to explore alternatives.  “Let’s make it a conference game,” he said. “Let’s make it a Big 12 showcase for the globe.” Another hot topic was expansion. Yormark addressed College Football Playoff expansion in particular, saying, “We need more access. I’m a firm believer in that.”  He also acknowledged the league’s desire to push toward a 24‑team model. Texas Tech, Brendan Sorsby and Joey McGuire’s perspective Yormark declined to address the Brendan Sorsby controversy. The Texas Tech transfer quarterback admitted to placing thousands of sports wagers, including bets on his own team while at Indiana.  Although a judge temporarily overturned his NCAA ban and Texas Tech’s administration – including athletic director Kirby Hocutt and coach Joey McGuire – publicly defended the decision to allow Sorsby to remain with the team, intense backlash and a subsequent lawsuit from the Big 12 caused Sorsby to abandon his appeal and leave the program “Today is not the time to address that issue,” Yormark said. McGuire felt otherwise, acknowledging the situation directly. “One thing I truly believe is to bring a team together, shared success is part of it, but shared adversity brings you even closer,” he said. “The last couple months we’ve gone through some adversity.” McGuire said veterans such as Ben Roberts and Sheridan Wilson kept the locker room steady.  “If you walked into our building every single day, you wouldn’t know anything was going on,” he said. McGuire met repeatedly with his captains to navigate the situation.  “They’ve been incredible,” he said. “I’m really fortunate we’ve got a strong leadership group.” When asked whether Tech’s public support of Sorsby came at a personal cost to his reputation, McGuire made light of the topic. “That’s a great question,” he said. “My peers supported me. Eric Morris called me the first day any news broke. Kalani Sitake said the same thing. Kenny Dillingham made a joke in a group text and then called me and said, ‘I was kidding.’” He said his concern was for athletic director Kirby Hocutt and president Lawrence Schovanec. “They went through a lot.” McGuire emphasized that his communication focused on Tech’s alumni and boosters. “Those are the ones I concern myself with,” he said. “making sure they understand where we were coming from.” He also used the moment to advocate for restoring Texas rivalries. “Spot the ball, we’re ready to go right now,” he said. “Texas and Texas Tech are supposed to play. Texas and Texas A&M are supposed to play. If you’re a Texan, why would we go outside the state to play nonconference games?” Pat Tillman Leadership Council Every player representing ASU at Big 12 media days is a part of the Pat Tillman Leadership Council. Warren explained the council’s purpose better than anyone. “It’s almost an extension of your head coach,” he said. “Coaches talk every single day; you can tune it out. For your program to take a big jump, you need players in the locker room, during workouts, outside the locker room, being an extension of your head coach. Right now, some of our coaches are on vacation; we’re the coaches right now.” Dillingham gave full credit to the players that make up the group. “I don’t do much. They do most of it,” he said. “This is a player‑run program.” Fite said leadership became easier once he leaned fully into his faith. “My strength comes from the Lord, all the weight lifted off my shoulders,” he said. Rawls said being the only newcomer voted in meant “I was doing something right for the guys to want to follow behind me.” Anderson said the council’s strength is its connection with the rest of the team. “We don’t just yell at people,” he said. “We build relationships.” For a program trying to regain its footing in the wake of key changes, a steady group of player-chosen leaders is crucial, and it’s clear that this group is held in high regard. Return of Prime Time  Colorado coach Deion Sanders arrived at Big 12 media days radiating the same magnetism that has made him one of the sport’s most polarizing and irresistible figures. “My younger self would be proud,” Sanders said, reflecting on the cancer battle that left him gaunt and weakened throughout 2025. “Last year, I was fighting a battle called cancer. I was probably 15 pounds down, looking like Eddie Cain. I had on the sweatsuit under my suit because I was so thin.” Then he leaned forward, grinning. “Now I’m here with full strength, full energy,” he said. “I got that swagger back. I got that dog back. I’m back, baby.” Sanders said he’s up to 204 pounds with his “legs slightly forward,” and can’t wait to get back on the sideline.  “I cannot wait to get back to camp. I cannot wait to see the kids. I’m excited about this season and the expectations there are.” In typical Prime fashion, those expectations aren’t modest. Sanders took the college football world by storm in his second season at Colorado, posting a 9-4 record in 2024, but the Buffaloes slipped to 3-9 last season. “Oh, we better win,” Sanders said. “That’s gonna be the surprise. We’re gonna win. I love what I got. I love what I see.” He backed up that claim, giving praise to his coaching staff and the squad he oversees.  “This is the best coaching staff that I’ve had in my coaching career,” Sanders said. “I’m excited about the young men. I’m excited about everything we have on this roster because I feel like we have the team to win.” He also dismissed Colorado’s absence from the preseason All‑Big 12 team. “We don’t care about what people say,” he said. “Just because our guys were snubbed off a poll that’s probably not going to be consistent with the end of the season. We don’t give a darn.” Sanders said his players know exactly who they are, and he won’t let outside voices define them. “If my kids and my coaches and our staff don’t understand who they are, we have a problem,” he said. “They’re not going to allow you to identify who we are.” Sanders also spoke about how modern college football has forced him to evolve. “As a coach, it has taught me tremendous patience,” he said. “A lot of young men want to benefit from the game financially. A lot of young men want to benefit because they love the game. You’ve got to really understand there are two sides to this coin.” He said his five children keep him “hip” to modern trends, and his faith keeps him grounded. “That’s the only way I can rock steady,” Sanders said. “You guys blow with the wind. I have a God who’s been so darn good to me. I don’t allow anyone out there to tell me who I am.” With health concerns behind him, Sanders remains primed to be one of college football’s most compelling figures once more this upcoming season. The post Big 12 media days: ASU using World Cup experience as showcase for Union Jack Classic in London appeared first on Cronkite News. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4d938fc2ca79de23651115 Transgender student drops challenge against Arizona’s school sports prohibition te 2026-07-08T00:02:23.027Z Transgender student drops challenge against Arizona’s school sports prohibition Key Points: Attorney Rachel Berg drops lawsuit over Arizona’s transgender sports law Berg believes a blanket ban is illegal, despite Supreme Court ruling Republican lawmakers propose tightening the 2022 law on the November ballot An attorney is dropping her challenge against an Arizona law prohibiting the participation of transgender girls in girls’ sports.  Rachel Berg said Tuesday she still believes that Arizona’s blanket ban is illegal, even following last week’s ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court upholding similar restrictions in Idaho and West Virginia. She said there are issues in the case here which were not addressed by the nation’s high court. But Berg told Capitol Media Services that the one remaining plaintiff in the case — a transgender girl headed to high school after attending Kyrene Aprende Middle School in the Kyrene Elementary School District — has decided that she is done pursuing her claim. “This case was filed over three years ago,” Berg said. And she said that this kind of multi-year federal lawsuit “can be particularly grueling for young people.” “So our client has decided for personal reasons that she does not want to continue with the litigation,” Berg said. State schools chief Tom Horne hailed the decision as “a victory for girl athletes and for common sense.” “There had been numerous articles about girls who worked hard on their sports, hoping to make the team, or even get a college scholarship or compete for the Olympics,” Horne said in a prepared statement. “Then they had to compete with a biological boy who was bigger, stronger and faster from birth.” All that, he said, resulted in “shattered dreams” when they could not compete. “They no longer need to fear those outcomes,” Horne said. Berg, however, said she believes there is still a legal path forward should any other transgender girl choose to try to participate in girls’ sports. In its ruling last week, the nation’s high court upheld laws in the other two states limiting participation in girls’ sports to those born biologically female. The justices said those kinds of statutes do not violate equal protection requirements. Arizona approved a similar law in 2022. In this case, however, Berg, an attorney with the National Center for LGBTQ Rights, did not challenge the law itself. Instead, she argued that the statute here could not be applied to the individual plaintiffs — there originally were two — because they had either not gone through puberty or were taking puberty blockers. That, Berg argued, meant they had no inherent advantage over those who were born female. U.S. District Court Judge Jennifer Zipps agreed, ordering the state and the schools to allow them to play. One attended The Gregory School in Tucson but dropped out of the case after she graduated, leaving only the plaintiff who had attended Aprende Middle School. That decision was upheld in 2024 by the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals which concluded that Horne, a defendant in the case, had not provided legitimate reasons to say the 2022 law must be applied and that the two transgender girls must be excluded from girls’ sports. Then came last week’s U.S. Supreme Court decision about the Idaho and West Virginia laws — and, Berg said, the request by her client to dismiss the case “without prejudice,” meaning, strictly speaking, it could be refiled. “This isn’t the last word on this issue,” Berg said. “There’s still pathways forward to challenge these types of laws that the Supreme Court didn’t address.” One of those issues not mentioned by the Supreme Court is whether such laws violate the Americans with Disabilities Act. Berg has said that transgender girls suffer from “gender dysphoria,” a disconnect between how individuals identify themselves and the gender they are assigned at birth. Horne, however, has scoffed at those claims. He said that every transgender person could be found to be dealing with gender dysphoria. And the schools chief said the justices would never allow such a claim to overturn their basic ruling saying that states are free under that law to define “sex” as “biological sex,” meaning the sex assigned at birth — and not in the broader sense of how athletes identify themselves. Berg said there are other potential claims, though she did not disclose what they are. Any new or renewed lawsuit also might have to deal with a changed law in Arizona. Republican lawmakers have put a measure on the November ballot to tighten up some of what is in the 2022 law, as well as add new restrictions on things like allowing transgender girls — identified in the proposal as those born biologically male — to use bathrooms and locker rooms reserved for girls. The post Transgender student drops challenge against Arizona’s school sports prohibition first appeared on Arizona Capitol Times. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4d937ac2ca79de236510f0 Tennis legend Martina Navratilova calls for SJSU to dismiss volleyball coach amid allegations: 'Fire his a--!' te 2026-07-08T00:02:02.543Z Tennis legend Martina Navratilova calls for SJSU to dismiss volleyball coach amid allegations: 'Fire his a--!' Women's tennis legend Martina Navratilova has called for San Jose State University (SJSU) to fire volleyball coach Todd Kress after Fox News Digital reported on a letter containing allegations against Kress by a former player that was sent to the school in fall 2024, during the team's highly-publicized transgender athlete scandal. Navratilova re-shared an X post by U.S. women's swimming Olympic gold medalist Nancy Hogshead, criticizing the coach and university. "Fire his a--!" Navratilova wrote in one post. In another, the tennis legend wrote, "This is truly sickening… this coach should have been fired yesterday!" CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM Hogshead's original post wrote, "Sex discrimination rarely manifests in just one form," before referencing Kress's alleged handling of female and a trans player during his first two seasons leading the team. Fox News Digital has reached out to SJSU and Kress for a response to Navratilova and Hogshead's comments. Fox News Digital reported Tuesday that in October 2024, the SJSU athletic department received a letter from one of Kress’ former players at Fairfield University from 1998. The letter included allegations that Kress attacked her in a hotel room in 1998. Emails show that SJSU officials acknowledged the receipt of the allegations, thanked the former player for coming forward and apologized for her experiences. Despite this, Kress was never suspended and has continued to serve as the head coach of the women's volleyball team. Fox News Digital was given copies of the emails exchanged between SJSU and the former Fairfield player, from an independently verified source. Fox News Digital has independently verified she played at Fairfield under Kress in the 1998 season, but is not disclosing her name. That first email she sent to SJSU contained the letter with the written allegations against Kress, that was originally sent to Fairfield University. The alleged incident occurred in a hotel after Fairfield’s loss to Clemson in the first round of the 1998 NCAA Tournament in December of that year. She wrote that a teammate asked her to bring her a shirt to Kress’ room. "I told her I wanted no part of his insanity. I was distraught about the loss and wasn’t interested in his drunken insanity, which was commonplace on trips." The former player added that her teammate "promised Todd would not throw water at me or do something juvenile so I reluctantly agreed to bring her the shirt." "... I knocked on the door and Todd answered. He immediately took caramel from a plastic container and smeared it all over my face and hair. He then forcibly threw me on the bed and held me down. I was in shock. He let go of me and then pulled his pants down and put his back side in my face. "Astonished... that is the only word I can think of to describe how I felt in that moment... Todd was drunk. I got up and went for the door. "Todd again grabbed me, picked me up, and threw me into the bathtub where he held me down and threatened to turn on the shower with me laying there to ‘clean the caramel off of my face.’ At this point I was fighting back to get away from him. US WOMEN OLYMPIANS REACT TO HISTORIC SUPREME COURT RULING ON THE PROTECTION OF WOMEN'S SPORTS "Todd let me get out of the tub, laughing, and then he stood in front of the door blocking my exit. Todd told me he would only let me leave if I took a shot of liquor, which I did only to get him to move away from the door. Once he did, I ran for it. He chased me. I got into my room and although he seemed to be in a rage, he turned and calmly walked out," the letter alleges. The former player goes on to allege her teammates "had been drinking with Todd underage." She also claimed she did not report the incident at the time because she "was scared of losing my scholarship and being the reason my teammates lost theirs." On June 9, 2026, Fox News Digital submitted a formal public records request to San Jose State University seeking copies of the Oct. 24, 2024, complaint letter sent to Athletic Director Jeff Konya, the Nov. 1 follow-up email, and the subsequent Nov. 7 correspondence from the university's Title IX office. On June 22, 2026, SJSU’s public records office formally denied the request. In a response issued by university legal counsel J. Leah Castella, the school acknowledged the existence of the records but determined they were not disclosable under the California Public Records Act. "The requested communications implicate substantial privacy interests," the university's response stated. "Disclosure of these records would therefore constitute an invasion of privacy that outweighs the public interest in disclosure. Specifically, these records are being withheld subject to the following exemptions: Personnel Records/Privacy... General Privacy Rights... [and the] Balancing Test. Here, the public interest served by disclosure is minimal and is outweighed by the public interest served against disclosure in protecting substantial and significant privacy rights." Following the records denial, Fox News Digital sent a detailed press inquiry to Kress, Konya, Lim and Castella. The inquiry summarized the exact dates, timestamps and contents of the internal records obtained independently by Fox News Digital, and posed a series of explicit questions to the parties, including requests for Kress' response to the 1998 allegations, details on what specific next steps the Title IX office took following their November 2024 meetings, and whether athletic department officials interviewed current volleyball players regarding their safety. The inquiry also questioned university legal counsel regarding the decision to classify the public interest in these safety warnings as "minimal" while the university is actively engaged in a federal lawsuit defending its Title IX compliance within the volleyball program. Fox News Digital has not sought judicial relief on SJSU’s claim. As of publication time, neither Kress, Konya, nor any legal or communications representatives for San Jose State University have responded to requests for comment. Fox News Digital also reached out to Fairfield University for request for a response to the former player’s letter, but a spokesperson responded, writing, "The university does not comment on former or current personnel matters. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4d9367c2ca79de236510e7 Dem with White House ambitions ripped after backing two scandal-plagued candidates: 'Troubling' te 2026-07-08T00:01:43.087Z Dem with White House ambitions ripped after backing two scandal-plagued candidates: 'Troubling' Sen. Ruben Gallego, D-Ariz., who has left the door open to a 2028 presidential run, is facing new questions about his judgment after rescinding support for a second Democratic candidate accused of misconduct involving women. Gallego rescinded his endorsement of Maine Senate nominee Graham Platner on Monday after a rape allegation surfaced. The move comes just months after Gallego was forced to pull his support from Eric Swalwell’s disastrous California gubernatorial bid amid separate allegations of sexual assault and misconduct. Both Platner and Swalwell have denied the allegations against them. In a social media post on X announcing he would be withdrawing his support for Platner, Gallego called the accusations against him "troubling and deeply serious." Meanwhile, Lyndsey Fifield, Platner's former girlfriend who has publicly accused Platner of abusive behavior, called out Gallego after the Arizona senator withdrew his Platner endorsement Monday, suggesting Gallego had ample warning signs before finally abandoning the embattled Maine Democrat. DEM SENATOR FACES DOJ PROBE AFTER ALLEGATIONS OF SPENDING CAMPAIGN FUNDS ON LUXURY LIFESTYLE "Mine weren't sufficiently troubling or serious for you, right?" Fifield questioned in response to a social media post on X from Gallego, referring to the accounts of her relationship with Platner provided to the New York Times and published several weeks ago. Fifield’s allegations were included in a June 4 New York Times report examining Platner’s past relationships, in which she alleged that he repeatedly grabbed her hard enough to leave marks, pulled her from a cab by the wrist and, in one incident, twisted her arm behind her back and held her in a room while they were dating several years ago. Fifield told the Times that Platner never hit or punched her, but said the alleged incidents left her shaken and afraid. Platner denied being violent and called the allegations false. Still, Platner drew support from influential Democratic figures before and after the Times report. "Pod Save America" co-host Jon Lovett acknowledged after the June 4 story that the Times had reported allegations that Platner was "intimidating and even physically aggressive with past romantic partners," but argued Democrats had to weigh whether they preferred "a Democratic majority with Graham Platner in the Senate" or a Republican majority with incumbent Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine.  TOP PLATNER ALLY TURNS ON HIM AFTER BOMBSHELL RAPE ALLEGATION ROCKS CAMPAIGN: ‘RED LINE’ Fellow co-host Jon Favreau had previously praised Platner as Democrats’ "best and only chance" to beat Collins and as a "good, decent man who’s struggled and grown and is always trying to do better." "Senator Gallego did the right thing and broke with those individuals when he learned they had betrayed values he proudly fights for," a Gallego spokesperson told Fox News Digital.  But Senator John Fetterman, D-Pa., said people like Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., needed to apologize for backing Platner, telling Fox News' Laura Ingraham that he "refused" early on to look past the claims.  "What he did, is he effectively broke in her home – he went in her home without her consent, then he came upstairs and assaulted her. She also described that created a dangerous situation for a possible pregnancy because of those circumstances, what he's done," Fetterman said of the latest allegations. DEMS UPHILL CLIMB FOR SENATE MAJORITY JUST GOT A LOT STEEPER WITH LATEST PLATNER ALLEGATION "He was already a dead man walking politically," Fetterman continued. "Even those Pod Save America people who pushed that dirtbag, and they dismissed those things in the New York Times article, maybe they ought to apologize to the women that clearly they didn't believe, or they dismissed." "I know Democrats that have back-to-back endorsed and gone all in on Swalwell and were on the Platner train as well too. So, maybe stop getting in bed with absolute dirtbags – someone like Platner," Fetterman added. A Fox News Digital review of public endorsement announcements and press reports found Gallego was the only sitting member of Congress clearly identified as having endorsed both Swalwell and Platner. Separate state and local affiliates within the SEIU and AFL-CIO labor union networks were involved in each race, but they were not the same endorsing entities. "The allegations against Platner are awful but are also unsurprising to anyone who actually read the NYT catch-and-kill story. The victim strongly implied the allegations there," Former chief counsel to Senate Leader Mitch McConnell, Mike Fragoso, said this week after the latest round of allegations against Platner. The latest allegation came from Jenny Racicot, a Maine Democrat who said she dated Platner on and off from 2019 to 2021 and had previously spoken to the Times for its June story. Racicot alleged in a Monday Politico report that Platner entered her home uninvited in late 2021 after she told him not to come over, was intoxicated, ignored her repeated objections and forced her to have sex. Politico reported that it reviewed text messages and emails with Racicot’s therapist and spoke with people she said she confided in after the alleged assault. Platner has once again denied the allegation as false. HOW GRAHAM PLATNER'S CAMPAIGN UNRAVELED: FROM REDDIT POSTS TO RAPE ALLEGATION Gallego joined several other prominent Democrats after the Politico report in rescinding support for Platner, or calling on him to exit the race, while Democratic operatives face a tight window under Maine election law to replace him if he withdraws. "Gallego's judgment is troubling," Republican Arizona state Senator Warren Peterson said. "Another Gallego endorsement going down in flames." "There is a bizarre pattern of Gallego, who claimed complete ignorance of his friend Eric Swalwell's alleged abusive treatment of women and is now doing the same with Graham Platner," said Fox News Media contributor and George Washington University law professor, Jonathan Turley.  "For Schumer’s PAC, Senatorial, Gallego, the Pod Bros, et al. the only real difference now is polling," said Fragoso in terms of the changing sentiment towards Platner. Meanwhile, conservative commentator Ryan Girdusky took aim at Gallego’s personal history, writing on X, "Ruben Gallego is dropping Graham Platner like he’s a pregnant wife."  The jab comes as Gallego has also faced separate scrutiny in reference to his 2016 divorce from then-wife Kate Gallego, who was pregnant at the time.  Unsealed divorce records reportedly showed that Gallego filed for divorce on Dec. 15, 2016, and that his own motion to seal the case noted Kate Gallego had "not yet been served" but was "likely to give birth any day." In addition to scrutiny over his divorce, Gallego has faced complaints over his campaign spending on family travel, childcare and other personal expenses. A week ago, Politico reported that Gallego used campaign money on family trips to Miami, Saint Barthélemy, Disneyland, Disney World and Chicago. He also used funds to attend the 2023 Super Bowl in Arizona, but the senator insisted that the tickets were a legitimate campaign fundraising expense. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4d9340c2ca79de236510c8 Part of Florida’s ‘Stop WOKE’ Law Ruled Illegal by Appeals Court te 2026-07-08T00:01:04.173Z Part of Florida’s ‘Stop WOKE’ Law Ruled Illegal by Appeals Court The law limits teaching on race, gender and other topics. Part of the law related to colleges was struck down. It remains in effect in K-12 schools. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4d932cc2ca79de236510bf Judge Orders D.H.S. to Restore 4 States’ Access to Citizenship Data te 2026-07-08T00:00:44.718Z Judge Orders D.H.S. to Restore 4 States’ Access to Citizenship Data The ruling, based on an agreement the Trump administration signed with Florida last year, contradicted an earlier order by a judge in Washington that required the access be suspended. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a4d9314c2ca79de23651098 Tucson Spotlight election coverage te 2026-07-08T00:00:20.671Z Tucson Spotlight election coverage 💡 The primary election is July 21. Early voting began June 24, with a mail ballot deadline of July 14. Pima County voters can register, check their registration or request a mail ballot at recorder.pima.gov Legislative District 17 House Volk seeks reelection in Arizona House District 17 Democratic Rep. Kevin Volk discusses his reelection campaign for Arizona House District 17, outlining his positions on groundwater regulation, affordable housing and public school funding. Legislative District 20 House Republican write-in Weasel runs in LD20 House race Katherine Weasel is running as a Republican write-in candidate in Arizona’s Legislative District 20 House race, where she will face two Democratic primary winners in November on issues including school vouchers, water and housing. Villegas seeks reelection in Arizona House LD20 race State Rep. Betty Villegas is running for reelection to the Arizona House in Legislative District 20, facing primary challengers as she campaigns on water accountability, housing affordability and opposition to ESA voucher expansion. Legislative District 20 Senate Hernandez on water, ESAs and housing in LD20 State Rep. Alma Hernandez is running for the Arizona Senate in Legislative District 20, facing a Democratic primary challenge from Rocque Perez ahead of the July 21 primary. Perez on schools, water and housing in LD20 Former Tucson City Council member Rocque Perez is facing off against state Rep. Alma Hernandez for the open LD20 Senate seat, arguing that Southern Arizona needs leaders willing to say no to corporate interests and yes to public education. Perez’s deleted posts threaten LD20 primary bid Aggressive 2020 social media posts by Arizona Senate candidate Rocque Perez have resurfaced ahead of the July 21 Democratic primary in Legislative District 20, drawing responses from both Perez and his opponent, state Rep. Alma Hernandez. LD20 Democrats issue statement against Rep. Alma Hernandez The Legislative District 20 Democratic Committee voted to issue a formal statement of concern against state Rep. Alma Hernandez, citing more than 150 votes she cast with Republicans ahead of a July primary against former Tucson council member Rocque Perez. Alma Hernandez faces ballot challenge over unpaid fines State Rep. Alma Hernandez could be removed from the 2026 Arizona ballot after fellow Democrats sued over more than $20,000 in alleged unpaid campaign finance fines. A judge is expected to rule by Thursday. Arizona Rep. Alma Hernandez clashes with UA Democrats The University of Arizona College Democrats are facing threatening messages after state Rep. Alma Hernandez accused the student group of using Israel and Palestine as a political litmus test. Marana Mayor and Council Marana council candidates on data centers, detention Four Marana Town Council candidates weigh in on data center regulations, PFAS contamination and a former prison contracted as an ICE detention center ahead of the July 21 primary. Oro Valley Mayor and Council Coming soon South Tucson Mayor and Council 8 candidates vie for 3 South Tucson Council seats Eight candidates are competing for three seats on the South Tucson City Council in a July 21 primary, with public safety, a budget deficit and surveillance cameras among the central issues in the race. Sierra Vista Mayor Sierra Vista Vice Mayor Flowers eyes top job Sierra Vista Vice Mayor Carolyn Flowers is running for mayor, citing eight years of council experience and a platform focused on veterans, small businesses, water resources and public safety. Rodriguez runs for Sierra Vista mayor on safety platform Sierra Vista City Council member Mark Rodriguez is running for mayor in the Nov. 3 election, campaigning on public safety, government transparency and support for the city’s veterans, small businesses and youth. Misc. LD17, LD20 voters meet candidates face-to-face in Tucson Voters in Legislative Districts 17 and 20 got a rare chance to speak one-on-one with candidates at an informal forum co-hosted by Tucson Spotlight, Arizona Luminaria and Press Forward Southern Arizona. League of Women Voters offers free advocacy workshop The League of Women Voters of Greater Tucson is hosting a free “Writing for Impact” workshop June 15 at Nanini Library, covering letters to the editor, contacting elected officials and social media advocacy. Arizona advocates say Prop. 139 hasn’t solved abortion access Reproductive rights advocates, congressional candidate JoAnna Mendoza and state Rep. Stephanie Stahl Hamilton gathered in Tucson to argue that despite Prop. 139’s passage, Arizona women still face significant barriers to abortion access. Tucson Spotlight is a community-based newsroom that provides paid opportunities for students and rising journalists in Southern Arizona. Please consider supporting our work with a tax-deductible donation. Donate to Tucson Spotlight Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/home