Latest & Breaking News on Fox News

Toledo police name suspect Ka Nye Taylor in festival shooting that injured 12, hunt second gunman

Thu, 11 Jun 2026 03:02:12 -0400

Authorities on Wednesday identified a suspect in the shooting that injured 12 people near Toledo's Old West End Festival and said they are searching for a suspected second gunman.

The Toledo Police Department said a manhunt is underway for Ka Nye Taylor, who is wanted on 11 counts of felonious assault in connection with the June 6 shooting near the popular Old West End Festival, an annual event featuring live music, food vendors and home tours.

Police described Taylor as a Black male standing approximately 5 feet 11 inches tall and weighing about 130 pounds, with black hair and brown eyes.

Investigators also released a photo of a second suspected gunman who has not been publicly identified.

GUNMAN REMAINS AT LARGE AFTER SHOOTING FIVE PEOPLE AT CONNECTICUT MALL

Authorities responded around 5:37 p.m. Saturday to reports of a shooting near Delaware Avenue and Glenwood Avenue, close to the festival grounds.

When officers arrived, they found multiple victims suffering from gunshot wounds, police said.

Authorities later confirmed that all 12 victims were in stable condition. The victims ranged in age from 14 to 61, with most in their early 20s.

MANHUNT UNDERWAY FOR SUSPECT ACCUSED OF KILLING TWO PEOPLE OUTSIDE CHIPOTLE RESTAURANT

Investigators are asking anyone with information about Taylor's whereabouts or the identity of the second suspected shooter to contact Crime Stoppers at 419-255-1111.

Authorities are offering a combined reward of up to $15,000 for information leading to arrests. Crime Stoppers is offering $10,000, while the U.S. Marshals Service has offered an additional reward of up to $5,000.

Toledo Deputy Chief Joseph Heffernan said investigators believe at least two gunmen were involved.

MASS SHOOTING NEAR INDIANA UNIVERSITY INJURES 9, NO ARRESTS MADE YET

"They were probably shooting at each other," Heffernan said during a news conference.

Police said the gunfire erupted after a foot chase and assault involving two rival groups at the festival, according to WTOL 11.

Authorities said the shooting stemmed from a dispute between the groups.

Earlier this week, Lucas County Prosecutor Julia Bates vowed that "justice will be swift and strong."

"Those who were frightened, traumatized or harmed by this violence will remain at the forefront of our efforts," Bates said in a statement. "I’ve felt outrage before, but this is personal. This is my home. These are my friends and neighbors. It is not OK."

Fox News Digital's Stephen Sorace contributed to this report.

Despite public dismissals, why Trump and his team were privately obsessed with the Jeffrey Epstein scandal

Thu, 11 Jun 2026 03:00:14 -0400

Even if you’re sick of hearing about Jeffrey Epstein – and who among us hasn’t felt that way at times – President Donald Trump and his team have been far more fixated on the relentless controversy than they have ever acknowledged.

That (and plenty of other juicy revelations) is based on three years of reporting for a forthcoming book. "Regime Change: Inside the Imperial Presidency of Donald Trump" is by New York Times correspondents Maggie Haberman and Jonathan Swan and slated to be published in two weeks.

Whether you’re a Trump supporter or detractor, the book is packed with facts that make clear that most or all of the major participants cooperated with them. The president also granted Haberman and Swan an hour-long interview in March.

One major takeaway: Even as Trump and White House officials repeatedly tried to dismiss the endless brawl, which stems from Trump’s long-ago friendship with the late pedophile and sex offender, as old or irrelevant news, they repeatedly met in the Situation Room to try to manage the crisis.

WHY MELANIA TRUMP IS DENYING ALLEGED SMEARS RELATED TO JEFFREY EPSTEIN–AND WANTS VICTIMS TO TESTIFY

In the initial meetings, Vice President JD Vance argued strenuously that more detailed allegations about Trump – some suspect or totally unconfirmed – were going to surface eventually, and they should get out ahead of the story.

Some argued that Vance "appeared panicked," according to the book, and Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, who led the meetings, told others he was a conspiracy theorist. But Vance said Congress would force the release of the complete Epstein files no matter what they did.

In my view, the vice president was proven right.

REVEALED: TRUMP CALLED POLICE CHIEF TO SUPPORT EPSTEIN PROBE, AND LAWMAKERS NAMED 6 MEN SHIELDED FROM EXPOSURE

At another meeting, talk turned to whether Trump should pardon Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein’s enabler, who has defended Trump and is now serving a 20-year sentence for sex trafficking of a minor.

"Pardoning Maxwell, a trafficker of young girls, would create a huge P.R. problem," Communications Director Steven Cheung warned.

Trump posted that he had asked his attorney general, Pam Bondi, to seek release of grand jury testimony – which is almost never approved – "based on the ridiculous amount of publicity given to Jeffrey Epstein."

At a session last summer, Deputy FBI Director Dan Bongino, who had demanded release of the files as a podcaster, started shouting at Bondi, according to the book.

"You f----- this thing up from the start," he declared. "The way you’ve been talking about this — that dumb f------ charade with the Epstein files, the ‘They’re on my desk’ nonsense, all the promises to the folks out there."

Bongino and FBI Director Kash Patel told a White House official that Bondi needed to resign.

At a meeting with Wiles meant to smooth things over, Bongino accused the White House of ignoring his warnings, in which he predicted what would happen, and burst out of the Situation Room.

Bongino resigned in December and returned to his podcasting business, where he felt he’d given up millions of dollars. Trump fired Bondi in April.

Separately, Trump scolded conservative activist Charlie Kirk for allowing one of his events to turn into a "grievance fest" over the Epstein files. Kirk was tragically murdered in September.

HOW PAM BONDI AND THE DEMOCRATS TURNED A HEARING INTO HYSTERIA, RIGHT IN FRONT OF JEFFREY EPSTEIN’S VICTIMS

One other allegation is drawing media attention and is almost certainly untrue, given the accuser’s lack of credibility. It comes second-hand from a woman who had already made claims about sexual abuse and then retracted them.

This woman, who was named by the Times, had claimed in an email that she knew a second woman who alleged that Trump had a special focus on nipples. One official called these discussions "surreal."

Here’s my analysis:

Donald Trump did not want to do what his advisors wanted him to do. He resisted at every turn.

By last summer, the president started calling the Epstein matter a "SCAM" and a "hoax" by Democrats, and attacked some pro-release members of his own party as "weaklings" – while later helping to oust them in primaries.

His public stance was that the whole thing was a nuisance, even as his private frustrations kept growing.

Part of the behind-the-scenes friction focused on whether average voters cared about the mess.

BILL GATES SAYS EPSTEIN TRIED TO USE HIS MARITAL AFFAIRS TO GAIN 'LEVERAGE' OVER HIM

What Trump seemed to have difficulty grasping is that his MAGA base indeed cared deeply about the issue. There was something about it that touched a raw nerve. Some podcasters, such as Megyn Kelly, were criticizing the president for not releasing all the documents.

Trump aides debated putting it all on a website, but as acting Attorney General Todd Blanche pointed out, the files included child porn that obviously could not be made public.

A memo from Trump’s pollster, Tony Fabrizio, said "Epstein files" was the sixth most important issue named, and discussed negatively, by focus groups – behind such matters as inflation and foreign policy but ahead of such issues as crime and the military.

SUBSCRIBE TO HOWIE'S MEDIA BUZZMETER PODCAST, A RIFF ON THE DAY'S HOTTEST STORIES

The fiasco was back in the news yesterday when Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates testified on the Hill that he had no knowledge of Epstein’s crimes but showed poor judgment in associating with him – and, according to Politico, said he was pressured by Epstein, who had discovered he had been unfaithful to his wife. They are now divorced.

What’s clear is that the publication of this book will add further fuel to the fire.

Victor Wembanyama admits Spurs, on brink of tying NBA Finals, 'weren’t the most hungry' to close out game

Thu, 11 Jun 2026 01:45:51 -0400

The New York Knicks outscored the San Antonio Spurs by 28 points after the Wu-Tang Clan's halftime performance to complete the largest comeback in NBA Finals history.

Down by 29 at one point, the Knicks stormed all the way back, putting Madison Square Garden into a frenzy.

But before that, just about every ounce of momentum was in the Spurs' hands - and the Knicks had few answers.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM

So, how did they just become the victims of one of the greatest collapses in the history of sports?

"We clearly weren’t the most hungry in the second half," Victor Wembanyama admitted.

Wembanyama was once again Public Enemy No. 1 in New York, getting booed in intros and treated to expletives from the crowd. When a defensive foul on him early was reversed to an offensive foul he drew, he again was jeered. It obviously continued throughout the night.

But after Mitchell Robinson was called for a flagrant foul for hitting Wembanyama, he appeared to relish the moment.

"I'm in your head!" cameras caught Wembanyama saying.

Wembanyama was in the Knicks' heads. Wembanyama was in the Knicks' fans' heads. And after winning two games on the road to begin the series, losing all the momentum was in the Knicks' heads.

But the Spurs scored just 30 points in the second half and turned the ball over nine times in the final 24 minutes. A 20-point lead in the fourth quarter vanished in minutes.

KNICKS OWNER, MAMDANI TRADE BARBS OVER CANCELED KNICKS WATCH PARTY OUTSIDE MSG: 'DON'T WANT THE CELEBRATION'

"To put as much good work into that first half as we did and get the lead that we had and not finish the job, it's disappointing to say the least..." Spurs coach Mitch Johnson said after the game. "We got away from playing the brand of basketball that got us the lead. And then you saw at times, the aggressiveness and conviction that we played with early on dissipated and they made some shots. We needed a couple of more tough-minded plays to finish the job."

"It was painful, of course. It feels like we worked too hard and give up our leads. It's as simple as that. It just hurts," Wembanyama added.

Now, the Spurs have no choice but to be the hungrier team, as they need to win three games in a row to avoid the Knicks winning their first NBA championship since 1973.

"It’s going to go one of two ways: a bad one and a good one. The bad one will be giving up. The good one will be getting stronger through this, getting more together and that’s what we’re going to do," Wembanyama said.

"Holding each other accountable, communicating, not pointing fingers. After that, we either got it or we don’t. We’ve proven that we can surpass these difficulties but even though we haven’t been there it before, I’m convinced we are built this way. We’re going to get better from this and It’s going to tighten us up."

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

Knicks miraculously overcome 29-point deficit to take commanding 3-1 lead in NBA Finals over Spurs

Wed, 10 Jun 2026 23:49:49 -0400

The New York Knicks do not die.

After trailing by as many as 29, the Knicks had yet another comeback — this one perhaps the greatest of all-time, to steal a 107-106 win over the San Antonio Spurs and take a 3-1 lead in the NBA Finals.

The winning moment came at the fingertip of OG Anunoby, whose tip-in off a missed Jalen Brunson three-pointer put Madison Square Garden in an absolute frenzy.

But it sure was a grind to get to that point.

Karl-Anthony Towns was hit with two fouls in just the first 62 seconds of the game, one which the Knicks faithful were not happy with. And while there was plenty of ball left after that, the game changed from that moment.

The refs certainly did not help the case, but the Spurs opened the game on a 41-20 run, mostly while Towns was off the floor. Combine that with the team knocking down 54% of its three-pointers in the first half, and you have a 76-49 Spurs lead at halftime, and they got up to a 29-point lead.

But we've learned to never count out New York. As they cut the deficit to 15 to close out the third quarter, the crowd that was dying to pounce was finally alive. A slow start to the fourth put San Antonio up 20, but the Knicks went on a 13-2 run to cut it to just nine with a little less than seven minutes to go. And then it was seven with 5:15 to go.

KNICKS OWNER, MAMDANI TRADE BARBS OVER CANCELED KNICKS WATCH PARTY OUTSIDE MSG: 'DON'T WANT THE CELEBRATION'

And then it was four with 4:32 to go.

Then one with two minutes.

And then the lead with just 90 seconds left.

Pandemonium.

The Spurs hit two free throws to regain the lead with 30.3 seconds left. Yet again — it’s the Knicks.

Then came what head coach Mike Brown dubbed the greatest play in the history of Knicks basketball.

San Antonio was unable to get a shot off the inbound, and Madison Square Garden was the loudest it may have ever been, as the greatest comeback in NBA Finals history was complete.

After the game, head coach Mike Brown dubbed Anunoby's tip-in the biggest play in the history of Knicks basketball.

The Knicks outscored the Spurs 58-30.

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

FBI headquarters welcomes UFC fighters for training sessions ahead of historic White House MMA event

Wed, 10 Jun 2026 23:00:28 -0400

The FBI got a UFC-style makeover as Washington prepared to host one of the most unique sporting events ever staged on White House grounds.

In a video released on Wednesday, FBI Director Kash Patel said the bureau had partnered with the UFC, putting roughly 300 federal agents through hand-to-hand combat training ahead of UFC Freedom 250.

"Thanks to the great partnership with @ufc we've seen about 300 agents come through and learn amazing tactics so they can safeguard American lives," Patel wrote on X while sharing footage from the training sessions.

FBI DIRECTOR KASH PATEL SEEKS RELATIONSHIP WITH UFC: REPORT

The FBI's Rapid Response team appeared equally enthusiastic about the partnership, sharing video of the training sessions and stating: "Greatest fighters in the world meet greatest cops in the world!"

It was also the kind of collaboration that's only possible when the FBI director has UFC chief Dana White on speed dial.

UFC lightweight contender Justin Gaethje also made an appearance in the footage. Earlier this year, Gaethje helped train FBI agents and academy personnel at the bureau's Special Agent Academy in Quantico, Virginia.

More recently, footage released Wednesday showed Gaethje using the FBI Headquarters as part of his preparation for his lightweight title fight against Ilia Topuria at UFC Freedom 250.

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

Fighters were expected to use the Eisenhower Executive Office Building as locker rooms before making the walk toward "The Claw," the massive Octagon structure erected on the South Lawn.

Adding to the festivities, adrenaline junkie Travis Pastrana is preparing a surprise stunt to open the main card broadcast. A video shared by White on Tuesday indicated the stunt could involve back-flipping his dirt bike over the South Lawn.

Federal agents training alongside UFC fighters, a title contender working out inside FBI headquarters and a UFC event on White House grounds would have sounded like satire just a few years ago.

Now it's the hottest ticket of the weekend.

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

Victor Wembanyama kept telling Mitchell Robinson 'I'm in your head' after taking forearm to face

Wed, 10 Jun 2026 22:24:00 -0400

Anyone watching this NBA Finals could have told you this was coming for Victor Wembanyama.

Knicks big man Mitchell Robinson, playing with one healthy hand this series, got a little "revenge" on Wemby in Game 4 with a nasty forearm to his face that earned a Flagrant 1 foul.

The young star learned nothing comes easy at Madison Square Garden. And if we're keeping score, Wembanyama has had his own share of questionable moments this postseason.

SPURS SNAP KNICKS' 13-GAME PLAYOFF WIN STREAK WITH GAME 3 VICTORY BEHIND VICTOR WEMBANYAMA'S 32 POINTS

After the forearm, Wembanyama appeared to keep taunting Robinson by telling him he was "in his head."

Mitch Robinson saw extended action early after Karl-Anthony Towns picked up two first-quarter fouls. That early whistle thrust the Knicks fan favorite into a collision course with the Frenchy.

Robinson wasn't the only Knick who seemed fed up with Wembanyama.

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

Jose Alvarado also got physical in Game 4, grabbing one of Wembanyama's legs during a hard foul.

The hostile Garden crowd has embraced Wembanyama as Public Enemy No. 1, showering him with boos throughout the series.

The bad blood had already been brewing before Game 4.

In Game 3, Wembanyama shocked Knicks fans by pushing Jalen Brunson to the floor without drawing a foul. The play sparked outrage inside the arena and across social media. An NBA review determined that Wembanyama did not commit a flagrant foul on the play, but that ruling did little to change opinions in New York.

The Spurs star might've had a point as San Antonio took a 76-49 lead into halftime.

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

Trump questions no-call after Victor Wembanyama sends Jalen Brunson to floor in Game 3

Wed, 10 Jun 2026 21:52:23 -0400

San Antonio Spurs superstar Victor Wembanyama avoided adding a third flagrant point to his postseason total. Under NBA policy, players are automatically subject to suspension once they receive four flagrant foul points.

Wembanyama made contact with Jalen Brunson’s upper body while the New York Knicks guard was attempting to set a screen in the first quarter of Game 3 of the NBA Finals on Monday. When the Spurs center turned around during the play, he pushed Brunson, who fell backward to the floor.

Referees did not blow the whistle for a foul on the play, despite forceful objections from the Knicks bench. ESPN reported Tuesday, citing sources, that Wembanyama would not retroactively be assessed a "flagrant upgrade on the uncalled foul."

The play sparked debate across the sports world, and President Donald Trump, who attended Monday’s game, was among those weighing in.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM

"I thought it was a very bad call. Absolutely. I thought it was a very bad call, personally. But I’m not the ref, you know?" Trump told the New York Post on Wednesday.

Trump watched the Knicks’ first NBA Finals game in 27 years from a suite with his granddaughter Kai Trump and was seen sitting next to team owner James Dolan. Trump became the first sitting U.S. president to attend an NBA Finals game.

VICTOR WEMBANYAMA PUTS HAND ON JALEN BRUNSON'S HEAD, PUSHES HIM DOWN AS REFS LOOK THE OTHER WAY IN GAME 3

The Spurs outlasted New York 115-111 in Game 3, trimming the Knicks’ series lead to 2-1 entering Wednesday’s Game 4.

"Look, they’re pretty evenly matched, right? It’s two great teams. I’ll tell you, that Brunson is some player," Trump added. "I think Brunson is amazing, [Stephon] Castle [of the Spurs] is amazing, Wemby is amazing, [Karl-Anthony] Towns [of the Knicks] is amazing. They’re like great players. That’s why they’re there, right?"

A New York native, Trump regularly sat courtside alongside other celebrities over the years before entering politics. "If you grow up in New York, you’re a Knick fan," he noted.

Taylor Swift, who is engaged to NFL star Travis Kelce, headlined Wednesday's star-studded celebrity row at Madison Square Garden.

The Spurs came out hot for the second consecutive game Wednesday, racing to a 41-22 lead by the end of the first quarter. Wembanyama paced San Antonio with 13 points in the opening period, while OG Anunoby led New York with seven.

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

Ohio approves nearly billion dollar payment after court ruled state shortchanged nursing homes

Wed, 10 Jun 2026 21:52:10 -0400

Ohio lawmakers approved an $875 million payment package Wednesday after the Ohio Supreme Court found the state used the wrong formula to calculate certain Medicaid reimbursements for nursing homes, shortchanging providers by hundreds of millions of dollars.

The funding, included in a budget correction bill that now heads to Republican Gov. Mike DeWine's desk, is intended to resolve a dispute over payments to skilled nursing facilities that dates back to the 2024-25 budget cycle.

"This is the most egregious thing we could have done to individuals that help our elderly live a quality, comfortable life," state Rep. Jean Schmidt said. "And today we are correcting that wrong."

In a September 2025 ruling, the Ohio Supreme Court said state officials used the wrong methodology when calculating certain Medicaid quality payments, resulting in hundreds of millions of dollars in underpayments to nursing homes. The court ordered the state to recalculate what providers were owed.

HOUSE GOP LAUNCHES NEW TASK FORCE, PROBES ALLEGED $250B MEDICAID FRAUD IN OHIO

Lawmakers' solution carries a larger price tag than the amount identified in the ruling. The package sets aside $875 million, including roughly $310 million from the state and $565 million in federal funding, to settle the issue.

Ohio pays nursing homes a daily rate for Medicaid residents and provides additional payments to facilities that meet certain quality benchmarks. Nursing home operators argued the state failed to properly account for the medical complexity of residents when calculating those payments, reducing reimbursement for facilities caring for some of the sickest patients.

Lawmakers later revised the formula, but the state remained responsible for payments tied to earlier budget cycles.

FEDERAL JUDGE BLOCKS BIDEN NURSING HOME STAFFING MANDATE

The financial stakes grew as the case moved through the courts. In legal filings, Ohio Medicaid warned that recalculating the payments under the court's interpretation could cost about $285 million more per year than lawmakers originally intended, potentially approaching $1 billion over two budget cycles.

The legislation requires providers that accept the money to waive future legal claims related to the disputed formula.

Scott D. Wiley, CEO of the Ohio Health Care Association, urged DeWine to sign the bill.

"These funds are critically important to Ohio’s providers and the families they serve, and we urge Governor Mike DeWine to sign HB 479 into law without delay," Wiley said.

Tourist breaches safety barrier at world’s largest waterfall system to recover cellphone

Wed, 10 Jun 2026 21:28:36 -0400

A tourist was caught on video climbing into the waters above Iguazu Falls after dropping a cellphone near one of South America's most famous natural attractions.

The incident occurred Saturday on the Brazilian side of the falls in Foz do Iguaçu, according to news agency Jam Press.

Video recorded by other visitors showed the man climbing over a safety barrier and lowering himself into the river in an attempt to recover the device.

ICONIC 'SECRET' WATERFALL NOW LIMITS ACCESS AS CROWDS PUSH PARK TO BREAKING POINT

The stunt took place just yards from the waterfalls, where fast-moving water rushes toward steep drops.

The man managed to retrieve the phone and climb back onto the walkway without being injured.

The visitor was later confronted by firefighters stationed at the attraction and escorted from the site, the agency reported.

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR LIFESTYLE NEWSLETTER

Iguazu Falls, which spans the border between Brazil and Argentina, is one of South America's most popular tourist attractions.

The attraction drew an estimated 1.5 million visitors last year, according to Travel and World Tour.

Officials prohibit visitors from crossing, climbing or sitting on safety barriers on both sides of the falls, Jam Press noted.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE LIFESTYLE STORIES

Visitors who drop personal belongings into the water are instructed to notify onsite emergency personnel, who can determine whether recovery is possible, according to Urbia Cataratas, which manages the Brazilian side of the attraction.

The latest incident is one of several risky encounters reported at Iguazu Falls this year, the agency said.

In January, a tourist on the Argentine side of the falls reportedly crossed protective barriers near the Devil's Throat viewpoint to retrieve a hat that had blown away.

TEST YOURSELF WITH OUR LATEST LIFESTYLE QUIZ

The individual walked near the edge of the falls before returning safely to the viewing platforms, reports said.

A month later, visitors recorded a man lifting a baby over safety barriers near the same viewpoint while another person took photographs nearby, according to reports.

The incidents have sparked renewed concerns about visitor safety at one of the world's most powerful waterfall systems.

Cody Campbell threatens lawsuits against CFB Playoff, warns other conferences against avoiding Texas Tech

Wed, 10 Jun 2026 21:20:16 -0400

Out of seemingly nowhere, the Texas Tech Red Raiders have become the center of the college football world. Thanks to the wild back-and-forth swings in the case of star quarterback Brendan Sorsby.

Sorsby, who admitted to placing a number of bets on games involving his own team, was initially deemed ineligible to play in the upcoming 2026 season. But a newly-granted injunction from a Texas judge has cleared the way for him to return to the gridiron.

Unsurprisingly, some rival schools and conferences, even Tech's own Big 12 Conference, haven't exactly been pleased with this outcome.

Pete Thamel from Yahoo! Sports reported this week that the Big Ten Conference is set to meet this week to discuss a "league-wide mandate to not play Texas Tech in any sports."

BRENDAN SORSBY WINS COURT INJUNCTION AGAINST THE NCAA DESPITE BETTING ON HIS OWN TEAM MULTIPLE TIMES

Other prominent figures, including Nebraska Athletic Director Troy Dannen, have already issued such directives to their staffs, preventing future scheduling between the two schools. There's also been speculation that the College Football Playoff could get involved, potentially excluding Texas Tech, should they be in position to reach the tournament at the end of the season.

Well, Texas Tech's most prominent booster, Cody Campbell, has some very pointed comments for those schools, conferences, or institutions considering taking action against the program. In an appearance on "Don't @ Me with Dan Dakich" Wednesday morning, Campbell addressed those meetings directly. Very directly.

"Big Ten talking about not playing Texas Tech," Dakich said. "The SEC you're on and these are talks..."

TEXAS TECH MEGABOOSTER CLAIMS BIG 12 RIVALS WANT TO BOYCOTT GAMES BECAUSE THEY FEAR BRENDAN SORSBY

"I love it when the Big Ten or the K-State AD comes out and says, 'hey, we've all gotten together and we've talked about how we're not going to play Tech,' because guess what? That's collusion," Campbell said. "You know, that's an antitrust violation. So, you know, have fun with that one guys. You can't do that."

Dakich followed up by asking about the College Football Playoff selection committee, whether the school would be ready to sue if they ban Texas Tech.

"100%," Campbell said. "I mean, like, again, they can't collude together and say, we're not going to allow you to play. That's an antitrust violation. I don't know if you've seen the litany of cases that the NCAA has lost over the last few years, they've been lost on those grounds."

Big 12 commissioner Brett Yormark reportedly told the other member institutions on a conference call that they were evaluating their options with the Red Raiders and Sorsby. But Campbell has a point; legally, those trying to ban the Red Raiders from the playoff, or refusing, en masse, to schedule them, could be subject to accusations of collusion.

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

Campbell also believes that Sorsby's behavior doesn't rise to the level that would justify such action anyway, telling Dakich that schools have let players with much worse transgressions play.

"There are kids that are playing and have gotten DUIs that have beaten up women, their kids that have committed horrible acts," Campbell responded. "You know, I mean, nobody boycotted to play Penn State a few years ago when that horrible situation happened there."

Still, that doesn't justify gambling on your own team. A cardinal sin in the sports and sports betting landscape. And claims that other schools don't want Texas Tech to be successful, that the reaction is a "know your place" issue, also fall flat. The Big 12 is thrilled that Tech has become a nationally relevant program. The more teams that are legitimate playoff contenders each year in that conference, the better. Yormark would love nothing more than to have the Red Raiders win a championship. But even within the Big 12, there are reportedly significant concerns about the Sorsby situation.

Where this goes from here? Who knows. Initially, it seemed like there was no possibility Sorsby would play in 2026. So maybe this will all end in lawsuits between Tech and most of college football. Expect the unexpected has become the motto of this sport in recent years, and it doesn't seem like that's ending anytime soon.

Minnesota man marks FBI's first arrest from DOJ's 'Most Wanted Fraudsters' list

Wed, 10 Jun 2026 21:00:50 -0400

FBI Director Kash Patel announced Wednesday that Said Abdullahi Ereg, a former Minneapolis grocery and deli owner, had surrendered to federal authorities, marking the first person on the FBI’s new "Most Wanted Fraudsters" list to be taken into custody as federal authorities continue a nationwide fraud crackdown.

Said Abdullahi Ereg, 47, faces charges including conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud and money laundering.

The FBI said Ereg, a former south Minneapolis grocery and deli owner, surrendered to federal authorities less than a week after the Justice Department unveiled its "Most Wanted Fraudsters" list, which is intended to publicly identify individuals charged in major fraud cases.

"Today’s arrest is historic – the first ever arrest of a subject on our Most Wanted Fraudsters List released last week with the White House Task Force to Eliminate Fraud," Patel said in a statement.

A TIMELINE OF THE ‘LARGEST COVID-19 FRAUD SCHEME' IN THE UNITED STATES

Authorities said Ereg has been wanted on federal charges since 2024 and is fraudulently obtaining more than $4.2 million from the Federal Child Nutrition Program during the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to federal officials, Ereg operated Evergreen Grocery and Deli, a Minneapolis grocery store and deli under the sponsorship of the nonprofit Feeding Our Future.

Prosecutors allege he falsely claimed to have served meals to children in need, fraudulently obtained government reimbursements and laundered the proceeds through foreign accounts while using some of the money to finance a lavish lifestyle.

SEE IT: FEEDING OUR FUTURE FRAUDSTERS BOUGHT MANSIONS AND MERCEDES WITH $250M IN STOLEN MEAL FUNDS

Court documents allege Evergreen Grocery and Deli claimed to have served more than 3,000 meals twice daily, seven days a week.

"Led by Vice President Vance and the White House Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, we set up the historic, first ever 'Most Wanted Fraudsters' list for this exact purpose — to bring to justice the alleged worst of the worst who took advantage of American taxpayers and stole public funds," Patel said.

He added that the list serves as a warning that "the days of Washington, D.C., turning a blind eye to fraud are over."

JD VANCE'S TASK FORCE FLAGS NEARLY $6.3B IN GOVERNMENT CONTRACTS GOING TO POTENTIALLY FRAUDULENT BUSINESSES

In a post on X, Patel suggested the arrest was only the beginning of a broader enforcement effort.

"This historic result is only the beginning — and let it be a message to any fraudster who takes advantage of America, this team will find you," Patel said.

Federal officials said Ereg contacted authorities through his attorney and expressed a willingness to return to the United States one day after the FBI launched the "Most Wanted Fraudsters" list.

The Justice Department also noted that Ereg's wife, Najmo Ahmed, who worked at the business and received payroll payments directly from Feeding Our Future, pleaded guilty last year to money laundering charges and is scheduled to be sentenced later this month.

The arrest comes months after the Justice Department announced the creation of a National Fraud Enforcement Division to support President Donald Trump's Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, which is led by Vice President J.D. Vance.

Fox News Digital's Stephen Sorace and Alexandra Koch contributed to this report.

Teachers union facing years of deficits seeks to become Oregon's largest PAC, internal documents show

Wed, 10 Jun 2026 21:00:36 -0400

The largest teachers union in Oregon is looking to become the state's biggest political action committee by 2026, internal documents provided to Fox News Digital by Defending Education show. The Oregon group is also proposing new member assessments, expanding its political influence and advancing resolutions on a variety of issues including taxation and artificial intelligence.

The Oregon Education Association (OEA), which represents almost 41,000 educators and education support staff, is an affiliate of the National Education Association. In a section of its 2026 Representative Assembly Handbook labeled "strategic metrics," the group lists out its goals by category. In the "Transforming Politics: Creating a pro-public school environment" category, the OEA states that it aims to be the largest PAC in Oregon by Fall 2026. Under the same category, the OEA states that it is seeking to "increase engagement and success of endorsed candidates."

In a new report, watchdog group Defending Education details OEA's goals, activities and spending based on internal documents, campaign finance records and tax filings. The organization argues that OEA's political ambitions are reflected both in its strategic planning documents and its spending history.

CHICAGO TEACHERS UNION BUDGETING MILLIONS FOR 'POLITICAL ACTIVITIES,' ACCORDING TO FISCAL REPORT

State campaign finance records reviewed by Fox News Digital show that the OEA contributed hundreds of thousands of dollars to political organizations, ballot measure campaigns and candidates. This included contributions to to Legislative Accountability 1 and Transparent Elections for Grassroots Engagement. The state records also show OEA donated to campaigns for John Wasielewski, Michael Sugar and Lesly Muñoz, among others.

Defending Education's report also cites contributions to then-gubernatorial candidate Tina Kotek's campaign. Fox News Digital was unable to independently verify those contributions through the records reviewed for this report.

The OEA's strategic planning documents also outline racial and social justice goals. Under the Racial & Social Justice category, the OEA stated that its goal for 2026-27 was to "improve pK-CC funding to build racially and culturally responsive schools that attract and retain historically marginalized students and educators."

The OEA handbook also laid out a series of proposed resolutions, including one calling for heavy taxation for billionaires and top income earners, another opposing AI-powered weapons and guidance limiting the use of AI as a tool to reduce staffing in schools.

SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER’S EXPLOSIVE LAWSUIT CLAIMS TEACHERS UNION LIED ABOUT FUNNELING MONEY TO POLITICAL GROUPS

Even as it strives to be Oregon's largest PAC, the OEA acknowledges that it must work to reach a balanced budget, saying in its 2026 Representative Assembly handbook that it has had budget deficits since the 2018-19 school year.

The organization said in its documents that it "has been projecting budget deficits (expenses in excess of revenues) since 2018. We are making progress toward returning to a balanced budget."

"Expected budget deficits have decreased $2.1 million from 2021 to 2026, while assumed reserve strengthening has increased to 1% of membership dues in the past 2 years," OEA's documents read.

AMERICAN STUDENTS' LACK OF BASIC CIVICS KNOWLEDGE ALARMS EDUCATION ADVOCATES

At the same time, OEA leaders are proposing a bylaw that would impose a $20 annual assessment per member for a "Public School Funding Campaign" for a period of three years unless extended by the union's Representative Assembly. With nearly 41,000 members statewide, the assessment could generate roughly $820,000 if approved.

Meanwhile, the OEA projects that personnel spending will surpass $23.8 million in the 2026-27 fiscal year, according to budget documents reviewed by Fox News Digital. The documents also show that salaries and benefits account for roughly 79.3% of projected expenditures.

Defending Education argues that the union's political goals, spending priorities and policy agenda show an increasing focus on activism.

Rhyen Staley, Director of Research at Defending Education, said in a statement provided to Fox News Digital that the OEA presented "another example of how teachers unions utilize member dues to fund left-wing political campaigns and far-left activism."

Staley argued that the union's political ambitions come as Oregon students struggle to keep up in crucial subjects. According to 2024 data from the National Assessment of Educational Progress, Oregon students scored significantly below the national average in fourth-grade math, fourth-grade reading and eighth-grade math.

"It should be infuriating for parents and community members that while the union continues to spend tens of millions on pet projects and their own salaries, Oregon continues to rank poorly when it comes to educational outcomes. There needs to be accountability for these organizations that continue to benefit while children and families struggle," Staley said.

Fox News Digital reached out to OEA for comment.

Knicks owner, Mamdani trade barbs over canceled Knicks watch party outside MSG: 'Don't want the celebration'

Wed, 10 Jun 2026 20:47:24 -0400

Ahead of the biggest New York Knicks game a generation has ever seen, team owner James Dolan has gotten into a war of words with NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani.

The bickering began when plans for a watch party outside Madison Square Garden, a now-common sight during the Knicks' playoff run, were scrapped ahead of Wednesday night's game. The NYPD said there was no watch party allowed for Game 3 due to President Donald Trump's appearance.

Well, Dolan decided to cancel Game 4's watch party, which was slated for 1,000 ticketed fans, because "we're about millions of people."

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

"He gave us the gift of allowing us to screen 999 people and tell 20,000 no… Our hope was that the mayor and the commissioner would change their minds and then we’d put the screens up," Dolan told WFAN in a rare interview on Wednesday.

"This is about celebrating the Knicks at Madison Square Garden, at the Mecca of basketball. This is what the mayor’s office and the commissioner’s office is trying to kill, they don’t want the celebration."

However, at around 5 p.m. ET, Mamdani took to X to say that MSG had actually requested the permit for 500-999 fans, and Dolan "decided to cancel the watch party."

KNICKS STAR KARL-ANTHONY TOWNS REJECTS MIKE BROWN'S OFFICIATING CRITICISM: 'WE DIDN'T EXECUTE'

Roughly an hour before Game 4's tip, MSG went scorched earth on Mamdani again.

"Madison Square Garden and the New York Knicks declined to use the permit that was granted by Mayor Mamdani's office due to the fact that only 1,000 people would be allowed into the area and they would need to be ticketed, leaving the tens of thousands of people who want to come to The Garden to celebrate the Knicks out in the cold. We did not think it was fair to just allow a small group to celebrate outside The Garden when everybody else was being shut out," a statement said.

The City Reporter unearthed the permit application MSG submitted, saying that they were given the option to apply for even an "unknown" amount of people.

A watch party, hosted by the city, in Bryant Park on Monday, led to unruliness, which has not exactly been an uncommon theme throughout the Knicks' Finals run.

Street closures have been in effect for both NBA Finals game days. Dolan even said it would be easier to get inside of "Area 51" than MSG for Wednesday's game.

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

UK spy powers draw US scrutiny over alleged Apple encryption backdoor demand

Wed, 10 Jun 2026 20:32:41 -0400

U.K. surveillance laws drew scrutiny from House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan, R-Ohio June 5 amid warnings they could expose communications of officials and American citizens, according to reports.

The concern centered on the U.K.'s use of secret Technical Capability Notices under the Investigatory Powers Act, which critics say could make U.S. companies weaken encryption or create "backdoors" weaken encryption or create "backdoors" while preventing firms from disclosing requests without U.K. government approval.

Critics have argued this could undermine privacy, create vulnerabilities and limit congressional oversight with one former intelligence official warning of a "standing invitation to Beijing."

"We have already seen how this ends," former Department of Defense official Andrew Badger told Fox News Digital.

JD VANCE 'DIRECTLY' CONVINCED UK TO DROP APPLE BACKDOOR DATA DEMAND, PROTECTING AMERICANS' RIGHTS: US OFFICIAL

"There are legitimate privacy concerns here, and those have been well aired. The less examined issue is national security," Badger said.

"A backdoor compelled by one ally becomes a standing invitation to Beijing, Moscow and Tehran so once one government can quietly compel access, others will demand the same, and a one-off concession hardens into a permanent vulnerability," he warned.

According to the Telegraph, a June 5 letter sent by Jordan to U.K. Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood, showed the Trump ally had called for a review.

The report said Mahmood's decision had been to deny a U.S. company permission to speak with Congress about an alleged encryption backdoor notice.

Jordan was also said to have warned that a lack of bilateral coordination raised concerns about the "trust and effective partnership between our two countries."

"Five Eyes works because every partner trusts the others not to weaken the systems they all depend on," Badger, co-author of "The Great Heist: China's Epic Campaign to Steal America's Secrets," said.

"If Washington also concludes that U.K. surveillance powers could inadvertently expose Americans and American officials to espionage, it puts real strain on the relationship and makes future cooperation on intelligence and cyber harder to sustain."

US SPIES URGED TO REFOCUS EFFORTS ON AMERICA'S BACKYARD, NEW HOUSE INTEL CHAIR SAYS

On the encryption issue, Badger noted that mainstream encrypted platforms now function as "de facto infrastructure for sensitive communication well beyond the consumer market."

"Any access point built into them becomes a permanent target. It is not a private key the requesting government gets to keep to itself," he said.

U.S. and British cyber officials have also repeatedly warned that an axis of hostile states — including Russia, China and Iran — poses threats to Western security and infrastructure.

As previously reported by Fox News Digital, cyberespionage by groups such as Salt Typhoon, linked to China, has carried out operations targeting sensitive communications.

"China is actively running one of the largest state-backed cyberespionage operations ever uncovered. The Salt Typhoon campaign has targeted hundreds of organizations across roughly 80 countries and, through those intrusions, gained access to sensitive communications and networks used by senior Western officials," Badger warned.

"Chinese state hackers didn't defeat encryption. They walked straight through the lawful-intercept systems telecom providers had built, reaching the communications of senior officials and even information about surveillance targets."

CHINESE BIOWEAPON SMUGGLING CASE SHOWS US 'TRAINS OUR ENEMIES,' 'LEARNED NOTHING' FROM COVID: SECURITY EXPERT

Reports also surfaced that U.K. Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper used a burner phone during a recent trip to Beijing and raising further concerns about state-sponsored espionage.

Badger noted that the episode reflects a broader pattern of Chinese targeting of British democratic institutions, including the "hacking of senior Downing Street officials' phones and an Electoral Commission breach that exposed the data of roughly 40 million voters," he said.

"The telling thing is that no one issues burner phones for a trip to Sweden or Germany," he said.

"The precaution is itself an admission of the threat environment. The working assumption — correctly — is that anything digital taken into China should be treated as potentially compromised."

The systemic vulnerability also highlights a fundamental contradiction in Western diplomatic strategy, according to Badger.

"This case perfectly underscores the contradiction at the heart of the U.K. Labour government's China policy: chasing positive economic relations and expanded trade with Beijing on one hand, while being forced to take elaborate precautions against a state whose core interests remain fundamentally at odds with its own on the other," Badger said.

"You can't simultaneously treat China as a trusted economic partner and a hostile intelligence threat. It's a fundamental contradiction. The need to use burner phones symbolically underscore this."

HGTV stars Tarek and Heather El Moussa feel 'violated' after burglars ransack Newport Beach home

Wed, 10 Jun 2026 20:18:47 -0400

Tarek and Heather El Moussa felt "violated" after a suspect broke into their Southern California home while they were away on vacation.

The reality stars' Newport Beach home was broken into earlier this week as the couple vacationed with their family in Mexico.

Authorities responded to reports of a residential burglary near the Mariners Community after 6 p.m. on June 8, officials confirmed to Fox News Digital.

‘REAL HOUSEWIVES’ STARS KATHY HILTON, SUTTON STRACKE TARGETED IN SEPARATE HOME BURGLARIES

"While the victim was away, unknown suspects accessed the backyard of the property and shattered a rear sliding glass door to get into the house," officials told Fox News Digital.

HGTV STAR CHRISTINA HAACK BREAKS DOWN HOW SHE STAYS CLOSE FRIENDS WITH BOTH HER EX-HUSBANDS

"Inside the residence, the suspects ransacked the primary bedroom closet before fleeing through the backyard, along the side of the house and out the front yard."

The house-flipping specialists reported jewelry stolen from the residence.

Officers believe the home invasion occurred between the earlier hours of June 6 and into June 8. The Newport Beach Police Department does not currently have a suspect identified in the case.

Representatives for Tarek and Heather didn't immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment.

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE ENTERTAINMENT NEWSLETTER

The couple responded to the incident on social media Tuesday.

"Disgusted by some of the cruel heartless people in this world," Heather wrote on Instagram stories while tagging her husband.

LIKE WHAT YOU’RE READING? CLICK HERE FOR MORE ENTERTAINMENT NEWS

"Tarek and I feel violated and to be honest really sad. Taking a break for a few days and will back to explain soon."

She added, "We are safe & the kids are safe."

The couple welcomed son Tristan in January 2023. Tarek was previously married to fellow HGTV star Christina Haack for seven years before their divorce was finalized in 2018.

They co-parent two children — daughter Taylor and son Brayden — and starred together after their divorce in HGTV’s "The Flip Off."

Abortion 'severely stigmatized' in Hollywood with 'dangerously misleading distortions,' new doc claims

Wed, 10 Jun 2026 20:00:57 -0400

A new documentary called "Hollywood Does Abortion" asserted that abortion has been "severely stigmatized" by the entertainment industry until recently.

The movie, which premiered at Tribeca Film Festival on Sunday, is described as diving into how "from the 1970s to the present, film and television have too often relied on dangerously misleading distortions about abortions and the people who seek them."

"In programs like 'Roseanne' and 'Party of Five" or movies like 'Juno,' characters often agonized over whether to have the kid and either had a false positive or miscarriage that prevented them from needing to make a choice or opted to give birth," Variety reported on the documentary.

OUTCRY OVER YOUTUBER'S DOWN SYNDROME ABORTION PROVES AMERICANS ARE 'REPULSED BY EUGENICS,' ACTIVIST SAYS

The article continued, "Other films and series like 'Dirty Dancing' or 'The Sopranos' depicted women nearly dying from their abortions or having longterm medical consequences that left them unable to have children. The negative portrait of abortion in these films and series contributed to is counterintuitive because Hollywood is often seen as a bastion of liberal politics."

Directors Barbara Attie, Janet Goldwater and Mike Attie argued that although there have been more media portrayals of abortion in recent years, many of them are still depicted in a negative light.

FORMER PLANNED PARENTHOOD CLINIC DIRECTOR PROMISES TO EXPOSE ABORTION INDUSTRY'S 'DIRTIEST SECRETS'

"We think of Hollywood as being very progressive, yet we went through a pretty big era where abortion was severely stigmatized," Barbara Attie said, according to Variety. "It was made to be shameful. There would be a plot line where somebody would thinking about getting an abortion. They would ask their friends what they should do, and they would agonize over it, and then they would miscarry. The kind of messaging that TV and films were giving us was eye-opening."

Even in movies or television shows depicting women having abortions, the documentary claimed that Hollywood films and TV have either exaggerated medical complications or inaccurately depicted post-abortion regret.

NEW CHILDREN’S BOOK SPARKS OUTRAGE FOR CALLING ABORTION A ‘SUPERPOWER’

"It continues this idea that there will be long-term regret," Goldwater said. "There’s a study that shows people who are turned away and who don’t have abortions are actually the ones who experience regret and long-term negative financial and emotional repercussions. And it turns out that people who have abortions don’t experience much regret. They experience a lot of relief."

In a comment to Fox News Digital, the pro-life organization Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America called the film's suggestion a "hard position to argue."

"From Jean Harlow to Judy Garland, Hollywood has relied on abortion and coercion to control actresses, cover abuse and maintain glamorous illusions," communications director Kelsey Pritchard said. "Many have suffered terribly because of it; women who have abortions are significantly more likely to experience negative mental health effects, especially the majority who face pressure and endure abortions they don’t really want."

She added, "Meanwhile, Planned Parenthood, America’s largest abortion business, and other pro-abortion groups put considerable effort into normalizing abortion on our screens. Where there are exceptions, they tend to meet real popular success even in spite of censorship, while attempts to make light of killing unborn children are box office flops."

Knicks star Karl-Anthony Towns rejects Mike Brown's officiating criticism: 'We didn't execute'

Wed, 10 Jun 2026 19:59:11 -0400

Shortly after the New York Knicks’ Game 3 defeat in the NBA Finals, Mike Brown turned his attention to the officiating.

"I talked to [the officials]. They outshot us 14-3 in the third quarter from the free throw line. I talked to them, and they said, well, this is a foul, this is a foul," Brown told reporters after the San Antonio Spurs trimmed the Knicks' series lead to 2-1. "That's the question I had with them is, you're right. Maybe we did foul. But they fouled, too."

Karl-Anthony Towns, one of the catalysts behind New York’s postseason success, struck a different tone ahead of Game 4.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM

"Naw, that ain’t cost us the game," Towns told reporters when asked about Brown’s comments. "Turned the ball over. Didn’t execute. Didn’t do what got us 13 straight wins in a row. That’s how you lose a game. We didn’t do what we've been doing for 13. We decided to do something different. … And throwing the ball away is a clear indication of how you’re going to lose the game, especially in the playoffs."

The box score seemed to underscore Brown's primary complaint, as the Spurs attempted three times as many free throws as the Knicks in the second half of Monday's 115-111 victory.

BARRING GARBAGE OFFICIATING, THE KNICKS WILL GET REVENGE OVER THE SPURS IN GAME 4 OF THE 2026 NBA FINALS

The Knicks were in the penalty for the majority of the fourth quarter. A cold-shooting second half saw New York connect on 36% of its field-goal attempts.

While it remains to be seen whether officiating will play a role in Wednesday night’s game at Madison Square Garden, Brown appeared intent on making it part of the buildup to Game 4.

"It's going to be that because I said it. The story is going to be there," Brown continued during a news conference. "But there are some controllables that we did not do a good job of doing. We allowed them to hit first at the beginning of the game. We allowed them to hit first in the beginning of the second half."

Towns finished Game 3 with 11 points and eight rebounds, a noticeable drop from his team-high 21-point performance in New York’s Game 2 victory over the Spurs. Jalen Brunson led the Knicks in scoring Monday with 32 points.

Game 4 tips off at 8:30 p.m. EDT, with the series returning to San Antonio for Game 5 on Saturday.

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

House Dem lashes out at GOP efforts to probe foreign donations with stunning claim on motive

Wed, 10 Jun 2026 19:57:50 -0400

Rep. Terri Sewell, D-Ala., lashed out at Republican efforts to investigate a Democratic fundraising apparatus on Wednesday afternoon, characterizing the ongoing fraud probe as the most recent instance of GOP retribution against Black women in power.

"Over and over again, Donald Trump’s Department of Justice has harassed Black women with bogus lawsuits," Sewell said on Wednesday morning.

Sewell’s criticisms come as as Republican lawmakers probe ActBlue, a Democratic fundraising and campaign organization, and its CEO and president, Regina Wallace-Jones, for potentially accepting illegal donations.

In particular, House Republicans are demanding that ActBlue turn over international communications, probing whether the organization knowingly misled lawmakers and dodged subpoenas to hide weaknesses in its screening process to weed out illegal, overseas donations.

DEM FUNDRAISING GIANT IN THE HOT SEAT AS GOP LAWMAKERS DEMAND ANSWERS OVER DODGED SUBPOENA

The review by lawmakers coincides with an April request from President Donald Trump to investigate the group.

"There is evidence to suggest that foreign nationals are seeking to misuse online fundraising platforms to improperly influence American elections," the White House said in a press release.

Wallace-Jones has called the investigation baseless, maintaining that ActBlue applies high scrutiny for its donations processing.

JASMINE CROCKETT CLAIMS TRUMP IS 'TERRIFIED OF SMART, BOLD BLACK WOMEN’ AFTER PRESIDENT’S 'LOW IQ' JAB

"Our approach is multilayered, with checks and confirmations occurring throughout the donation process to verify donors and donor information," she told Fox News Digital in a statement earlier this year.

Among other safeguards, Wallace-Jones said the organization requires Card Verification Values (CVVs) for credit card donations, uses IP addresses, a kind of digital footprint, to identify foreign-sourced contributions, applies an industry-standard Address Verification System (AVS) and manually reviews donations.

To Sewell, the investigation into ActBlue and Wallace-Jones is tainted by other investigations into black women who have crossed Trump in the past.

"This investigation is just one more example of Republicans and President Trump using power of his office to harass and intimidate anyone willing to challenge him. The Trump Department of Justice has used its power to intimidate and victimize communities of color, especially Black Americans," Sewell said.

ACTBLUE CHIEF HEADS TO CAPITOL HILL HOT SEAT AS DONOR FRAUD PROBE INTENSIFIES

"We should not forget the harassment of the Federal Reserve Board of Governors member Lisa Cook, the harassment of the New York Attorney General, Tish James and the harassment of our colleague Congresswoman LaMonica McIver," Sewell said, listing off a number of similar cases.

"It is not surprising that this Republican-led committee is now attacking ActBlue and its CEO, Ms. Wallace-Jones," Sewell said.

Undefeated lacrosse team's championship dreams end in controversy after players punished over fake cigars

Wed, 10 Jun 2026 19:57:14 -0400

An undefeated Massachusetts high school lacrosse team's championship hopes came to an abrupt end this week after school officials ruled nine players ineligible, forcing Ipswich High School to forfeit its state semifinal matchup.

The decision has sparked controversy because the players insist they never violated the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association's tobacco policy, claiming the cigars they used during a graduation celebration contained no tobacco.

Ipswich forfeited its MIAA Division 4 semifinal against Cohasset High School on Tuesday after the team was unable to field enough eligible players.

According to reporting by Boston.com, senior Christian Gianakakis and several teammates participated in a graduation tradition Sunday by smoking homemade cigars that he said were tobacco-free. Gianakakis said his father rolled the cigars after fake cigars ordered online failed to arrive before graduation.

HIGH SCHOOL LACROSSE PLAYER, 16, DIES OF INJURIES SUSTAINED DURING GAME

The controversy escalated after a photo of the students was reported to school officials, who believed the cigars were real, according to the report.

Gianakakis told Boston.com that he and several teammates later recovered one of the cigars and presented it to school administrators as evidence that it did not contain tobacco. He also told the outlet that Principal Jonathan Mitchell initially informed him and his father that the players would be allowed to participate in Tuesday's semifinal before the decision was reversed roughly four hours before game time.

"It felt like a punch in the face. It was like we were being called liars," Gianakakis told Boston.com.

LITTLE LEAGUER SUSPENDED FOR STATE TOURNAMENT GAME AFTER BAT-FLIPPING DURING EPIC HOME RUN

Ipswich High School said in a statement that the team and coaching staff decided to forfeit because of a shortage of available players.

"Ipswich High School was very excited to have its boys lacrosse team advance to the Division 4 State Semifinals that was scheduled for Tuesday evening at 6 p.m.," the school said in a statement on its website. "The team and coaching staff decided that due to the shortage of available players that it was in the best interest of the team to forfeit the game. We congratulate all of our players and coaches on a great season and for advancing to the Final Four."

MIAA Executive Director Bob Baldwin told WEEI that the organization was aware of the situation but did not participate in determining whether the students could play.

FOUR OF THE MOST ABSURD REASONS COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYERS HAVE BEEN RULED INELIGIBLE IN RECENT YEARS

"We did not rule in that. We were just made aware of it," Baldwin said. "It's a local decision; we did not get involved at all in that decision."

Baldwin pointed to MIAA rules governing alcohol, tobacco and controlled substances, noting that such investigations are typically handled at the local level.

The MIAA handbook states that when a principal determines a student-athlete has violated rules governing alcohol, tobacco or controlled substances, the student loses eligibility for the next consecutive contests totaling 25% of that sport's season.

The circumstances surrounding the eligibility decision remain unclear. According to Boston.com's reporting, Gianakakis believes the final determination was made by Superintendent Brian Blake.

Fox News Digital reached out to Superintendent Brian Blake, Principal Jonathan Mitchell and Athletic Director Tom Gallagher for comment.

NBA Finals ratings surge as the league welcomes Trump, drops woke messaging — but is it sustainable?

Wed, 10 Jun 2026 19:53:26 -0400

ESPN posted a graphic Wednesday afternoon highlighting the viewership for Game 3 of the NBA Finals between the Spurs and Knicks.

The ratings were significant. The network says the game averaged 23.8 million viewers, making it the largest NBA Finals Game 3 audience since 1998 and the most-watched NBA Finals Game 3 ever on ABC and ESPN.

You'd think the NBA's media fanboys would be pleased. The ratings are undeniably impressive. Instead, they did what they so often do whenever the NBA claims to receive positive news. They tweet at OutKick, Clay Travis and me. Sometimes they even bring us up on Bill Simmons and Ryen Russillo's podcasts.

So, as requested, we'll offer our thoughts. However, since so many people want our reaction, it's worth providing some proper context first.

NBA PLAYOFFS RATINGS ARE NOT ACTUALLY THE HIGHEST IN 33 YEARS, AS REPORTED

For starters, as I've explained since September, Nielsen changed its methodology. The new system, known as Big Data + Panel, combines data from digital devices with panel data from actual viewers. There are differing opinions about whether the system is more or less accurate. Nonetheless, it has dramatically increased audience estimates for live sports.

Nearly every live sporting event across the NFL, MLB, NHL, college basketball, tennis, golf, the World Baseball Classic and the NBA has posted near-record ratings since the measurement change. The lone exception appears to be the second half of the Super Bowl, which saw an unprecedented drop following Bad Bunny's halftime performance.

The NBA playoffs have also benefited from other structural changes. For the first time this season, first-round games were not carried on local affiliates, pushing more viewers toward national broadcasts. The league also shifted games from TNT, a cable network, to NBC, a broadcast network that reaches significantly more homes.

Simply put, comparing NBA playoff ratings in 2026 to previous seasons without acknowledging those changes is misleading. No honest outlet can directly compare games that aired on TNT and NBA TV under the old measurement system to games airing on NBC under the new one.

No wonder so many blogs continue to do so.

Further complicating matters is the rise of streaming. Networks now incorporate self-reported streaming data alongside Nielsen's television measurements. NBC, for example, uses Adobe Analytics to measure Peacock viewership and combines those figures with traditional television audiences.

The challenge is that streaming measurements are often calculated differently from traditional television audiences, which are based on average viewers throughout an entire telecast rather than concurrent viewers at specific moments.

To be clear, networks use similar methods across virtually every major sport. The difference is that fans and media members of other leagues don't demand that OutKick respond every time a league issues a favorable press release.

Even with those caveats, the NBA Finals are performing better than recent editions. While Monday night's game is unlikely the highest-rated Game 3 since 1998 in a true apples-to-apples comparison, it was almost certainly the most-watched Game 3 in quite some time.

That shouldn't surprise anyone.

OutKick predicted before the Finals that the ratings would be strong. How could they not be?

The Knicks play in New York City, the nation's largest television market. The franchise is pursuing its first NBA championship since 1973. Ticket prices are equivalent to the Super Bowl. The 2026 Knicks are exactly the type of story that attracts casual sports fans.

STEPHEN A SMITH CLAIMS TRUMP HAS "NO BUSINESS" ATTENDING KNICKS GAME AT MSG: "IT IS SELFISH AND NARCISSISTIC"

Just as importantly, the NBA has largely gotten out of its own way.

"Congrats to Adam Silver and the NBA," OutKick founder Clay Travis posted following the ratings announcement. "This has never been rocket science. Silver says he's thrilled President Trump is coming to Game 3, says he wants fans of all politics to watch, and fans show up in big numbers. (New ratings formula and Wemby and Knicks hating each other helps too)."

"For a decade LeBron, Silver, Popovich and Kerr ridiculed Trump voters and Republicans. That has now ended. It's a return to the Jordan, 'Republicans buy sneakers too,' era. Smart business and good for sports culture too. Good decisions get rewarded, bad decisions get punished," Travis concluded.

Indeed.

A YouGov/Yahoo News poll in 2021 found that nearly half of Americans had altered their viewing habits because of political or social messaging in sports. The previous year, the NBA prominently displayed "Black Lives Matter," as in the Marxist political organization, on the court during the COVID-affected bubble season, a postseason in which viewership dropped by 50%.

The NFL also experienced this, though to a lesser extent. League viewership declined by double digits during the height of the national anthem protests in 2016 and 2017. It wasn't until this year, a decade later, that the NFL fully recovered its favorability among conservative viewers.

By and large, the NBA, as a whole, has distanced itself from overt political messaging in recent years. Again, Adam Silver publicly welcomed President Trump to the Finals.

So seeing the league experience this level of success, even if not quite to the degree suggested by every press release, is hardly surprising.

And for those who believe the ratings rebound somehow reflects poorly on OutKick, none of it contradicts what I've previously reported. I simply cited publicly available data that many others willfully ignored.

PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP REACTS TO SPURS STAR VICTOR WEMBANYAMA FOLDING HIS ARMS DURING THE ANTHEM

I never argued that the NBA could not recover. I reported that ratings had declined and offered explanations for why.

In fact, earlier this season, I advised the NBA to "Lean into foreign superstars and leave the BLM era behind." The league has largely done just that.

It also helps that Victor Wembanyama is a Black international player. Here's a side-by-side comparison of how current and former players view him differently from White foreign players like Jokic and Luka.

Speaking of Wembanyama, he will play a major role in determining whether the NBA's newfound momentum is sustainable.

At times during these Finals, the 22-year-old has looked like a player not yet ready for the moment. That ending of Game 2 was bad. Still, he is clearly positioned to become the face of the NBA for the next decade.

In terms of cultural activism, the NBA needs Wembanyama to be more Michael Jordan than LeBron James. But he's not off to a great start.

Wembanyama, who was born in France, already falsely accused ICE of "murdering" civilians earlier this year. He also crossed his arms during the national anthem before Game 1, which some fans took as a moment of protest.

OutKick asked both the Spurs and Wembanyama's representatives for clarification regarding the gesture. Neither provided a response.

As evidenced by the selection of Bad Bunny for the halftime show, an American sports league can alienate fans on political and cultural grounds just as quickly as it wins them back.

The league also won't have the New York Knicks chasing their first championship in more than 50 years every season. Nielsen is unlikely to overhaul its methodology again anytime soon.

In any event, I advise the NBA media and fanboys to enjoy the basketball. The league is in a healthier place today than it was a few years ago. The ratings are up. Interest is up. The Finals matchup is compelling. The league has, for the most part, stepped away from the political messaging that alienated a sizable portion of the audience.

Enjoy it — while it lasts.

This might not be the case next year. And because you all demand OutKick cover the ratings so often, I will have to point that out.

Elizabeth Hurley wows in daring yellow string bikini as she celebrates her 61st birthday

Wed, 10 Jun 2026 19:21:50 -0400

Elizabeth Hurley is celebrating her birthday in style.

The "Austin Powers" actress took to Instagram to celebrate her 61st birthday, posting a photo of herself soaking up the sun during a beach day.

In the photo, the actress stuns in a yellow bikini as she held up a large tie-dye flag and smiled big for the camera, with a picturesque view of the ocean behind her.

"Happy Birthday to me! I used to fear that as every year passed, my life might get less exciting and I’d get more and more world weary… but I’m pleased to tell you that if you hang on in and keep your chin up, nothing could be further from the truth. I am LOVING my life today 🩷" she wrote in the caption.

PAULINA PORIZKOVA WOWS IN STRIKING BIKINI WHILE CELEBRATING HER 61ST BIRTHDAY

She went on to say that she feels "truly blessed and grateful to be surrounded by the most extraordinary friends and family," who she loves and who help make her "life a whole lot better."

"I’d also like to say a HUGE thank you to the best fans & followers in the world for your loyalty and kindness 🩷 This year has been a helluva ride already and I can’t wait to see what’s next 💃🏻💃🏻💃🏻" she added.

APP USERS CLICK HERE FOR POST

Her fans quickly flooded the comments section with well-wishes for the star on her birthday, while others commented on her youthful appearance.

"Best wishes on your birthday. What a wonderful example of healthy living," one fan wrote. Another added, "Age is just a number."

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE ENTERTAINMENT NEWSLETTER

"😮how 🔥🙌❤️ I never looked this good in my entire life 🤭," a third fan added.

Hurley previously gave her fans tips for taking the perfect bikini photo in an Instagram post shared in May, in which she posed poolside in a black and white striped bikini.

In the photo caption, Hurley admitted that "being photographed in a bikini can be scary," but said the most important thing to keep in mind is to "LIE DOWN!!"

"Even in hideous overhead light, or with nasty hi-def camera phones (these were taken on a phone in direct sunlight) if you s-t-r-e-t-c-h out enough and wear sunglasses you’ll look fine 🩷Thank me later 😉," she shared.

LIKE WHAT YOU’RE READING? CLICK HERE FOR MORE ENTERTAINMENT NEWS

She recently stunned on the red carpet at the London's Air Ambulance Charity Black And White Gala in a figure-hugging white off-the-shoulder gown which had floral embellishments, sequins and a train flowing behind her.

She walked the carpet alongside her boyfriend, Billy Ray Cyrus, who wore a simple black suit, which he styled with sunglasses.

Five of the most unhinged fan theories that make 'The Sopranos' a re-watchable masterpiece

Wed, 10 Jun 2026 19:15:56 -0400

On this day 19 years ago, one of the greatest runs in television history came to an end.

On June 10, 2007, Tony Soprano walked into Holsten's diner and never walked out.

That's right, folks, today marks nearly two decades since The Sopranos last aired, with "Made In America" giving us the exact type of cliffhanger that David Chase loved to tease his audiences with.

Whether you believe Tony was shot, died of a heart attack, or the cut to black was really just the end of the show, with the New Jersey mob boss living out the rest of his days a paranoid shell of his former, season one self, the rampant theorizing is part of what made the show a massive hit.

TAKING A LOOK AT FOUR OF THE MOST OVERRATED EPISODES OF TELEVISION IN ENTERTAINMENT HISTORY

In that vein, here are five more fan theories from "The Sopranos" that make the show even more engaging on subsequent rewatches.

As Tony's crew and friend circle starts to shrink as the show goes on, our panic attack-prone paisan becomes increasingly paranoid and scrambles to find a successor.

Unfortunately, the best he can do is his drug addict "nephew," Christopher Moltisanti.

JAMES GANDOLFINI'S SON BANNED FROM 'SOPRANOS' SET, WHICH DROVE HIM 'CRAZY'

Tony does his best to groom Chrissy as his "hair apparent," but despite his best efforts, Moltisanti remains an unreliable junkie until season six, when he makes an earnest attempt to get clean.

Towards the end of the season, Chris relapses and starts using again, leading to a car crash that leaves him maimed, giving Tony no other option but to whack his underling.

But in the scene before the car crash, we see Tony and Chris at a meeting with Phil where the two are discussing business, and it's here where we are given clues that Chris may be a rat.

‘SOPRANOS’ STAR LORRAINE BRACCO SAYS SHE'S LOOKING FOR LOVE IN HER 70S

During the meeting, Chris is seen wearing a cap promoting his new movie, "Cleaver."

Other than the fact that Chris is only seen wearing a cap one other time in the show (during the pilot), the choice of headwear may be a callback to season five, when Soprano associate Jack Masserone was seen wearing a wire in his ball cap right before he was taken out by a few of Tony's flunkies.

Chris would have had plenty of incentive to flip, as his relationship with his uncle had all but disintegrated by this point in the show, and between his drug use and myriad crimes, there is a good chance he slipped up at some point.

If that's the case, Tony got extremely lucky suffocating him before he was able to say anything too incriminating on tape.

One of the more annoying side characters in the show, Noah Tannenbaum is Meadow's obnoxious boyfriend she meets in college during the first half of season three.

Throughout their relationship, Noah's cocksure attitude rubs plenty of viewers and characters the wrong way, including his proclamation that he intends to "punch (Tony's) f---ing lights out," but Meadow is head over heels for him regardless.

Everything is fine and dandy until Meadow spends the weekend at home, leaving Noah to deal with her manic-depressive roommate, Caitlin.

After Meadow makes it back to Columbia, her normally straight-A student boyfriend starts making a stink about getting a C on a paper, and grows distant with Meadow, eventually breaking up with her in the library of all places.

He blames the poor grade on Caitlin, saying her incessant yapping caused him to lose focus, even revealing his overbearing father had a restraining order filed against her.

All of this feels like a convenient excuse to make a clean break with Meadow without having to reveal the fact that he cheated on her with her roommate.

The show does a pretty good job of not-so-subtly hinting at it, too.

In the scene where Caitlin walks into Noah's room after learning Meadow is out of town, she asks if she can stay so she isn't lonely, to which Noah begrudgingly obliges.

Since the show is often more about what you don't see, there's a heavy implication that the two slept together, especially since the next time she sees Meadow, she's in an unusually chipper mood.

Maybe this is just a way for fans of the show to hate on Noah even more, but I can totally see this being a possibility and it's one of the more plausible theories.

The murder of Adriana La Cerva, longtime girlfriend of Chris, in season five is one of the most shocking and heartbreaking deaths in the entire series.

After Ade outs herself as a rat to Chris, he is faced with an impossible choice: run away with his woman and become an informant himself, or sell her down the river to curry favor with Tony and protect the New Jersey crime family.

Unfortunately for Adriana, Chris chooses the latter, and everyone's favorite mob WAG is dragged out to the woods by Silvio and shot offscreen.

There are several moments in the subsequent season devoted to different characters coping with her death, including the mobsters who orchestrated her demise.

Towards the end of the final season, a cat starts showing up around the Bada Bing.

When it starts behaving strangely — including staring at a picture of Chris after he's been killed — Paulie starts to believe the cat is Chris reincarnated.

Tony dismisses this as a coincidence, but fans took it a step further: what if the cat is actually Adriana?

Think about it, the cat is staring at a picture of Chris because she feels a mixture of betrayal and mourning for the man she was supposed to spend her life with.

In addition to this, Adriana was often seen wearing leopard-print tracksuits in addition to other feline-themed apparel, so it would make sense that she would come back in her next life as a cat.

Not the most concrete theory, but a fun one nonetheless.

The last two(ish) seasons of "The Sopranos" deal almost entirely with Tony's adversarial relationship with New York capo-turned-boss, Phil Leotardo.

Phil and Tony butt heads over a litany of issues, but one of the big hangups between the two of them in the first half of season six revolves around one of Tony's top earners, Vito Spatafore, being outed as a gay man.

With how macho the mobsters all are, this causes a ton of consternation, both within the family and across the river in New York, especially considering Vito is married to Phil's cousin.

Many of the crew members are disgusted by Vito's homosexuality, but Phil seems to take special exception to this revelation, going out of his way to demand Tony take him out and becoming violently angered even at the mere mention of Vito's name.

Phil is ultimately the one to whack Vito while he's in hiding, too, taking great pleasure in being the one to snuff out this perceived slight on the mob's honor.

While most would chalk Phil's zeal up to just being an old-school kind of guy, some fans postulate that the Shah of Iran is actually a closeted homosexual himself, and there are a few examples to back this up.

For one, Phil spent "20 years in the can," as he puts it, and even Tony mentions that some guys who spend that long in prison end up "compromising."

There's also the idea that he is so angered by Vito only because of his own latent homosexuality, and his violence toward the man is only projection on his part.

Other examples include wanting to turn the TV off when there's a bodybuilding competition on and how he acts during the hit on Vito.

Phil seems to revel in the vicious beating of Vito in his hotel room, almost in a perverse way, as he grips the sheets while watching his crew members take Vito out.

He even emerges "out of the closet" when he and his crew ambush Vito at his hotel, so the imagery speaks for itself.

I'm personally not a fan of this theory, as it's a little too "on the nose" and takes away from some of Phil's mythos as an old school, stuck-in-his-ways wise guy, but to each their own.

This one is my personal favorite, and involves one of the most laugh-out-loud hilarious characters the show had to offer.

Carmine Lupertazzi Jr. is portrayed as an absolute buffoon, the pampered son of New York boss Carmine Sr.

Through his constant malapropisms and inability to read the room, Carmine Jr. is even referred to as "brainless the second" by Tony, so his intelligence is dubious at best.

When his father dies, a power vacuum is created as a new boss waits to be named, with both Carmine Jr. and longtime friend John "Johnny Sac" Sacrimoni vying for the crown.

Carmine ultimately drops out of the race, ceding to Johnny Sac, but remains a key figure and even plays intermediary for New York and Jersey on multiple occasions.

But what if the "dumb guy act" is exactly that: an act?

Fans often cite Carmine's perceived screw-ups during multiple sit downs with both mob families as him manipulating each party.

In a meeting with his father and Johnny Sac late in season four, Lupertazzi purposely lets information about Tony slip to put the squeeze on New Jersey.

It's played as a moment of jealousy when his father compliments Tony, but some fans aren't so quick to view it as unintentional.

In a season six sit down between Phil and Tony where Carmine acts as mediator, things seem to be going well until he "accidentally" brings up the death of Phil's brother Billy (47-years-old, just a kid).

This sets Phil off and craters any progress made between the two sides.

The theory is that Carmine is actually pulling strings behind the scenes to start a war between New York and New Jersey, with him coming in at the end to pick up the scraps.

Running with this theory makes re-watches of "The Sopranos" even more entertaining, and there's even talk that Carmine was the one who orchestrated a hit on Tony at the end of the series finale.

New director's cut of 2024 ‘Reagan’ biopic will return to theaters for America’s 250th anniversary

Wed, 10 Jun 2026 19:00:39 -0400

The "Reagan" biopic with Dennis Quaid playing former President Ronald Reagan will return to theaters with new scenes as America celebrates its 250th birthday.

According to Deadline, there are plans for both limited audience screenings on July 4 in over a dozen cities, as well as a wider-scale rerelease in September in 600 theaters. This theatrical run will include an additional 10 minutes of footage not included in the original run of the film.

Deadline specified, "The additional scenes include moments between Reagan and his wife Nancy (Penelope Ann Miller) in the Oval Office, a scene between Reagan and his alcoholic father, Jack, and scenes at the Reagans’ ranch near Santa Barbara. In its initial run, the film had a worldwide gross of more than $30 million, per Box Office Mojo."

Director Sean McNamara said of the extended cut in the rerelease, "One of the hardest things about directing a feature film is leaving behind incredible moments on the cutting room floor. I’m so happy to have some of my favorite scenes back in the film for audiences to experience them for the first time."

'REAGAN' SCREENWRITER CLAIMS OSCARS' DEI REQUIREMENTS EXCLUDED FILM FROM BEST PICTURE CONSIDERATION

One memorable aspect of the film’s original release was its parallels with the rise of Reagan himself.

Author Paul Kengor, whose books on Reagan were used as the basis for the film and who worked directly with the filmmakers, suggested the "disparity" between the review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes critics' score and audience score for the movie "Reagan" was comparable to Reagan's landslide presidential win in 1980 as he recalled his books' whirlwind ride to the theaters.

As of the time of this reporting, the "Reagan" film on Rotten Tomatoes maintains a massive disparity between the dismal critics' score of 17% versus the wildly popular audience-rated score of 98%.

A writer for The Boston Globe called it an "interminable hagiography" and "a wretched 2½-hour bore that's uncurious about its subject." A Washington Post critic called it "worthless" as a piece of history, while the Daily Beast called it the worst movie of the year.

DENNIS QUAID DITCHED LA FOR NASHVILLE AFTER THE ONCE 'FANTASTIC' CITY WENT 'DOWNHILL'

Kengor said the disparity between the audience and critics' reviews reminded him of the 1980 presidential election, which Reagan won in a landslide against Democratic incumbent President Jimmy Carter.

"Yeah, the disparity is really profound," Kengor said of the reviews. "In fact, it reminds me of what happened in 1984 when Ronald Reagan won 49 out of 50 states, which is probably about 98% of the states. If you do the math on this, 49 of 50 states won about 60% of the vote, won the Electoral College 525 to 13. But you had these liberal critics who didn't like him, and they were very much in the minority. And I tell my students today, I tell other people, when you meet some liberal professor who is slamming Ronald Reagan in the classroom, just say, 'You know, professor, but how did the guy win 49 out of 50 states?' Right? I mean, he was liked, he was always liked."

Fox News' Cortney O'Brien contributed to this report.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE COVERAGE OF MEDIA AND CULTURE

'Squad' Dem dismisses fraud probe speculation after $29M net-worth drop

Wed, 10 Jun 2026 19:00:28 -0400

Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., is continuing to deny looming questions over an Ethics Committee investigation into her financial filings, showing a significant drop in her net worth.

Scrutiny of Omar's finances intensified after financial disclosure filings appeared to show her estimated net worth falling from a range of roughly $6 million to $30 million in one filing period to between about $18,000 and $95,000 in a later disclosure.

House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer, R-Ky., has publicly voiced his interest in the House Ethics Committee opening an investigation into both Omar’s personal finances and her connection to the ‘Feeding Our Future’ fraud scheme, a scandal that federal prosecutors say cost taxpayers roughly $250 million.

JAMES COMER RAISES FELONY QUESTIONS OVER ILHAN OMAR'S FINANCES AFTER DISCLOSURE DISCREPANCY

Omar dismissed suggestions that she is facing an Ethics Committee investigation.

"No," Omar told Fox News Digital, laughing, when asked if she is under an Ethics Committee investigation. "No. We go over this all the time."

She was pressed about continued reporting surrounding the discrepancy — the possibility of the roughly $29 million drop in her financial disclosure.

"There’s also the possibility that it might rain on this sunny day," Omar replied.

Along with Comer’s efforts to launch an investigation into Omar, Vice President JD Vance said just last month that the U.S. Department of Justice will be opening a probe into the Minnesota Democrat’s alleged fraud as part of the administration’s new anti-fraud taskforce.

OMAR CAMP BREAKS SILENCE ON FRAUD PROBE, BLAMES WALZ, TRUMP AS NEW CLAIMS CLASH WITH EARLIER STATEMENTS

Omar has declined ever being aware of the scheme happening behind doors with the organization, which claimed to be helping supply children in need of meals during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Justice Department described the scheme as the "single largest COVID-19 fraud scheme in the country," The Associated Press reported. The orchestrator of the non-profit, Aimee Bock, was sentenced to 42 years in prison for her involvement in spearheading the fraud scheme.

Republicans have pointed to Omar's MEALS Act, part of a federal pandemic relief measure which she sponsored, as a factor they say contributed to conditions that allowed the fraud to occur. They argue her bill was a mass contributor to the fraud occurring as it broadened USDA waiver authority at meal sites. It has also been claimed that this same act helped to dismantle anti-fraud safeguards that verified the people actually being serviced in federal nutrition programs.

ILHAN OMAR'S OFFICE SAYS SHE'S ‘NOT A MILLIONAIRE’ AFTER $30M FILING REVISED DOWN TO UNDER $100K: REPORT

In a previous statement to Fox News Digital from Omar, she claimed that President Donald Trump’s USDA Secretary, Brooke Rollins, imposed the regulations for the framework of the program.

While Omar continues to reject suggestions time-after-time that she is facing an Ethics Committee investigation, Republicans have shown little sign of backing away from their demands for a proper investigation into Omar’s finances and fraud allegations.

Billy Ray Cyrus cheated death during sepsis, vocal paralysis battle before staging music comeback

Wed, 10 Jun 2026 18:42:05 -0400

Billy Ray Cyrus fought through vocal paralysis and a near-fatal battle with sepsis before staging his return to music.

Cyrus revealed he experienced a "miracle" recovery after his 2024 diagnosis. While the "Achy Breaky Heart" crooner didn't reveal many details of his health scare, he did share the advice his grandson gave him.

"In this very broken moment of my life, my little grandson Bear looked at me and said, ‘Try again.' And up until that moment, he had never spoken to me at all. I wasn't even sure if he knew my name," Cyrus told People magazine. "In that moment I thought, ‘He's telling you something.' Is it about love? Music? Somehow, I got to try again at both. So I'm learning to try again."

Fox News Digital reached out to Cyrus' representative for additional comment.

TIM MCGRAW NEARLY WALKED AWAY FROM HIS CAREER AFTER SERIOUS HEALTH STRUGGLES

The same year he dealt with health issues, Cyrus filed for divorce from his third wife. Cyrus and Johanna Rosie Scholem, known as FireRose, had only been married for seven months before their split, with the country music star asking the court for an annulment on the grounds of fraud.

"When you're completely on the bottom, that is the only way to go — up," he told People magazine about the "low point" he experienced.

According to Cyrus, he's "been to hell and back a couple of times."

BILLY RAY CYRUS PRAISES EX TISH CYRUS, SAYS FAMILY IS CLOSE TO 'HEALING' AFTER YEARS OF FEUDS

The 64-year-old revealed he has mended fences with his children following his divorce from second wife Tish Cyrus and subsequent family fallout. Cyrus shares five kids with Tish; Miley Cyrus, Noah Cyrus, Trace Cyrus, Brandi Cyrus and Braison Cyrus.

He also shares son Christopher Cody with ex, Kristin Luckey.

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE ENTERTAINMENT NEWSLETTER

"Life is a series of adjustments, and I think my family always knew that," he told the outlet, while admitting he's probably "never going to be parent of the year."

"We've all been through a lot, and we've seen a lot," Cyrus added. "Whatever happened is in the rear-view mirror. The past is over and done. The future is what we have, and we got to look forward."

LIKE WHAT YOU’RE READING? CLICK HERE FOR MORE ENTERTAINMENT NEWS

Cyrus shot to fame in 1992 with the runaway hit "Achy Breaky Heart," a song that became a pop-culture phenomenon. He established himself as one of country music’s biggest stars of the early 1990s with the release of his album "Some Gave All." Years later, he would find more success acting as Robby Ray Stewart on Disney Channel’s "Hannah Montana" alongside his daughter Miley.

Cyrus enjoyed a remarkable career resurgence in 2019 when he teamed with Lil Nas X on the remix of "Old Town Road," which spent a record-breaking 19 weeks atop the Billboard Hot 100 and earned Cyrus his first Grammy Awards.

After contemplating retiring, he's chosen to release his first album, "The Hill," in over a decade.

"What more could I ask for? I don't have anything to complain about," he said. "I like how everything looks right now. I finally found this wonderful place where I'm happy."