The Trump administration's new framework with Iran grants Tehran immediate oil sanctions waivers while postponing the most consequential nuclear questions for future negotiations, a gamble officials acknowledge carries risks because they expect Iran may not comply. 

"We come in with the full expectation that they will lie and they will cheat," one senior U.S. official said on a call with reporters Wednesday, arguing that any final agreement would require a verification and enforcement mechanism capable of detecting violations.

The agreement, which establishes a 60-day negotiating period, rests on a bet that Iran can be deterred from violating its commitments through monitoring and enforcement. Administration officials say any sanctions waivers can be clawed back if Iran fails to comply, while critics argue the U.S. is giving up leverage before the toughest nuclear issues have been resolved.

TRUMP ADMINISTRATION UNVEILS SWEEPING TERMS OF PROPOSED IRAN AGREEMENT

The memorandum of understanding, unveiled by administration officials on a call with reporters Wednesday, says the Treasury Department will immediately issue waivers allowing Iran to export crude oil, petroleum products and derivatives, as well as access associated banking, insurance and transportation services. 

But the agreement does not immediately require Iran to dismantle its nuclear program, surrender its enriched uranium stockpile or end enrichment. Instead, the deal says the U.S. and Iran will negotiate the "disposition" of Iran’s enriched uranium stockpile, with down-blending on site under International Atomic Energy Agency supervision identified as the minimum methodology.

Administration officials defended that language as an early nuclear concession, saying the U.S. continues to push for more.

"Of course that's a flaw and we will push for more than that. But the fact that they're conceding to that is a major, major win for the United States of America," one senior U.S. official said on the call. "They're saying we will destroy the enriched stockpile, and this is how we're going to do it at a minimum."

Down-blending would reduce the enrichment level of the material, but would not remove it from Iran. 

Trump has defended the framework as necessary to avoid a prolonged conflict, closed shipping lanes and a market shock.

"If we didn't do this deal, we could have dropped more bombs for another three weeks, two weeks, four weeks, two years," Trump said Wednesday at the G7 summit in Évian, France. "You would never have the Hormuz Strait open … Your market would have, instead of going up, would go down at levels that nobody ever saw before, maybe except for 1929." 

TRUMP DEFENDS WAR DEAL IN MARATHON PRESSER, USING SEMANTICS ON WHY IRAN IS GETTING $300 BILLION

"I did not want to see economic catastrophe," Trump added.

The framework drew support from Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., a prominent Iran hawk who said after speaking with special envoy Steve Witkoff that he thought the 60-day agreement would be "beneficial."

"Whether or not the United States can reach an acceptable, verifiable deal with Iran regarding its nuclear program and other issues is yet to be determined, but I see little downside to trying," Graham said.

Others criticized the deal for offering sanctions relief before Iran had agreed to anything concrete on the nuclear front.

"How do you expect Iran to agree to anything in the future, let alone within 60 days, when you've given up all your leverage?" Blaise Misztal, vice president for policy at the Jewish Institute for National Security of America, told Fox News Digital.

Broader sanctions relief, a withdrawal of U.S. forces and a $300 billion reconstruction fund are also contemplated as part of a final deal if both sides can reach one within 60 days.

Those who opposed the war now argue that the memorandum is the best deal the U.S. can get after the conflict and blockade.

"The U.S. bargaining position was hurt by the war, not helped by it," Rosemary Kelanic, director of the Middle East program at Defense Priorities, told Fox News Digital.

Kelanic said Trump is now "buying off Iran to return to something approaching the pre-war status quo" by offering immediate sanctions waivers and unfreezing assets tied to the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.

She argued that the immediate waivers are the price Trump has to pay to convince Iran he is serious about diplomacy after launching strikes during negotiations.

"This is like earnest money, right?" Kelanic said. "It's like upfront cash that shows that he really means it. It's a costly signal that Trump essentially forced himself to have to make by breaking off negotiations and bombing Iran in the middle of them."

Iran has framed the memorandum as a test of whether Washington is prepared to act first, rather than simply offer assurances.

"Unfortunately, it must be acknowledged that Iran’s deep mistrust of the United States stems from a long history of wrongdoing by American leaders," Iran foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei said Monday in a press briefing. "The United States still has a long way to go before it can earn the trust of the Iranian people."

The memorandum leaves the key nuclear mechanics to be worked out during the 60-day period, as well as key issues like ballistic missile production and proxy funding. 

"What we have in this deal already suggests that if there is a deal in 60 days on the nuclear issue, that deal is going to be weaker than the JCPOA," Misztal said, referring to the Obama-era nuclear deal known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action.

Under the JCPOA, Iran was required to sharply reduce its uranium stockpile, including by removing excess material from the country. Misztal said the new agreement’s minimum standard of down-blending on site suggests Iranian uranium may remain inside Iran.

"That means first of all, no uranium is leaving Iran, which happened under the JCPOA," he said.

The agreement also guarantees toll-free commercial transit through the Strait of Hormuz for 60 days while Iran, Oman and Gulf states discuss a longer-term framework for administration and maritime services in the waterway.

Behnam Taleblu, senior director at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, warned that the provision raises concerns that Iran could gain a role in regulating a critical international waterway after demonstrating its ability to disrupt global shipping.

"I mean, not just charge a toll, but regulate the crucial international waterway," Taleblu said. "There can be no doubt over the fact that the Strait of Hormuz needs to be open and open to all, not just whomever Iran and Iran plus its friends can pressure others into."

"If there is no guarantee of freedom of navigation, the Islamic Republic is going to salami slice the resolve of the Gulf countries and basically try to throw its weight around in this strait again," he added.

The agreement also calls for the U.S. and regional partners to develop a reconstruction and economic development plan for Iran worth at least $300 billion. U.S. officials have stressed that the provision does not require American taxpayer money, but critics said any funding stream could free up regime resources for other priorities.

"It doesn't matter if it's Chinese money or American money or [United Arab Emirates] money," Taleblu said. "The more they have access, the less they have to compete over resources and more they can fund what they want to fund." 

If negotiations collapse during the 60 days, Trump has left resuming military pressure back on the table. "If we think that they're just dragging us along and kind of bulls**ting us, then we’ll be very quick to pull the plug," a senior administration official said. 

Podcast host Joe Rogan made new allegations on Wednesday that several critics, including former U.S. presidents, "spent a lot of money" attempting to remove his hit show from Spotify after he was accused of spreading misinformation regarding the COVID-19 pandemic. 

On "The Joe Rogan Experience," Rogan sat down with behavior expert and author Chase Hughes to discuss social media and the importance of influence on various platforms while dealing with critics.

During the interview, Rogan revealed that his show lost a significant number of sponsors during the pandemic — despite having such a large following — over various statements he made about vaccines and lockdowns. 

KATHY GRIFFIN BLASTS JOE ROGAN AS ‘RIGHT-WING’ INFLUENCER WHO KEEPS FANS FROM GETTING VACCINATED

"Well, the position that I was in during the COVID thing was very unique," Rogan said.

"I had already — I’d gotten such a head start. I was so far ahead of them," he added. "They didn’t realize my ability to say, ‘Wait, this is — this doesn’t make any sense.’ Like, none of this makes any sense." 

Rogan was previously accused of spreading misinformation during the pandemic after he told listeners he would not receive the shot if he was young and in good health, while also criticizing COVID-19-era lockdowns. 

At the time, Rogan claimed to have successfully used a cocktail of medications — including ivermectin — after he was diagnosed with the virus.

BIDEN SPENT MILLIONS ON ‘MISINFORMATION’ RESEARCH. THE DETAILS ARE EVEN MORE DISTURBING THAN YOU THINK

The podcast host’s remarks set off a media firestorm in the midst of the pandemic, with Rogan revealing this week that a slew of PACs and several other groups pressed Spotify and his sponsors to remove his show from the Sweden-based company’s platform. 

"Thank God I was on Spotify, and thank God Spotify is not an American company," Rogan said. "And also, it helped that I was number one in, like, 90 countries and not number 90 in one country, you know? That helped. That helped a lot." 

Rogan went on to claim during Wednesday’s episode that even former presidents were involved in the alleged takedown.

ZUCKERBERG TELLS ROGAN BIDEN ADMIN WOULD 'SCREAM' AND 'CURSE' AT HIS EMPLOYEES, DEMANDING CENSORSHIP

"I can’t even talk about it, but there [were] presidents involved — and former presidents involved — that were contacting Spotify," Rogan said. "[They were] trying to get me removed for vaccine misinformation. And it turned out to be right. All of it. Not a single [person] apologized." 

"I lost a lot, a lot during those days," he added. 

Rogan did not reveal which public officials or PACs were involved in the alleged attempt to derail his show.

He added "there was a lot of coordination" behind the efforts to remove his show, but said, "I don’t talk about it too much because it’s — it’s pretty — it’s pretty deep."

"It was nuts, but it didn’t work, right?" Rogan continued. "But they tried. They spent a lot of money. A lot of money. It wasn't a small amount of money, it wasn't a small amount of people. It was a lot of people, and a lot of money. That part was spooky."

Following the 2022 backlash surrounding Rogan’s portrayal of the pandemic and vaccines, Spotify announced it would "add a content advisory to any podcast episode that includes a discussion about COVID-19."

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

When you think of grub that comes from Cincinnati, Ohio, there's an almost 100% chance that you think of Skyline Chili.

And while it's the city's most famous culinary export, it's also one of the most divisive, as evidenced by the New York Mets reporter Steve Gelbs trying to choke down a Coney dog topped with the famous chili.

Let's just say we can put him firmly in the "not a fan camp."

You could tell Gelbs was trying to talk himself up to take a bite, like someone who's trying to jump off the high diving board at a community pool so they don't get bullied by their friends for the entire summer and the following school year.

GAS STATION FOOD IS 'EXTRAORDINARY' AND 'HIDING IN PLAIN SIGHT,' SAYS TOP CHEF

He took a bite, and the returns were not stellar.

"I’m not trying to be hyperbolic," he said. "I’d rather have a vending machine burrito. I’m not kidding.

That sound you just heard was Cincinnatians sharpening pitchforks.

I love chili. In fact, I remember at one point after high school thinking about becoming a firefighter, because from what I've seen on TV, a lot of the time in between fires is spent perfecting chili recipes.

I love a Coney dog too, but, dammit, I can't seem to wrap my head around Skyline Chili.

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

There's a location not too far from where I live, and I'm always like, "I should try that," but then I remember people telling me it tastes like cinnamon and you have to get it served over spaghetti and I get the yips.

The other problem is that I need the right conditions before diving into an unfamiliar chili. One time my wife suggested we get Skyline for dinner, but it was the night before I had an early morning flight.

That was a complete non-starter. That's just a recipe for certain disaster.

So, I'm still trying to talk myself into getting a loaded-up Coney (by the way, that's too much cheese and not melting it is wild), but Steve Gelbs' foray into the world of Skyline Chili is not helping me get over the hump.

Longtime Democratic strategist James Carville doubled down on his controversial comments, insisting President Donald Trump "will resign next spring," on Wednesday. 

In a video for Politicon, Carville rejected claims that he was making the forecast to gain attention. 

"People said, ‘Oh, that’s very clever, you got a lot of pick-up. You know, you like to say kinda crazy a-- things,’" Carville said. "I want to be very clear on something. I’m not doing this as a crazy a-- prediction, I’m doing that because I genuinely think that he will resign next spring."

Carville pointed to Trump’s alleged health deterioration and increasing political pressures as key factors in his prediction.

JAMES CARVILLE SUGGESTS THE SPECIFIC HOLIDAY BY WHICH PRESIDENT TRUMP WILL RESIGN

"Everybody around you is being subpoenaed for everything that you can imagine," Carville continued, seeming to address Trump directly. "Your life is miserable." 

He added that he believes Trump has been on the "decline" in his second term, and is no longer interested in governing. 

"You can look at him and just see how fat and unhealthy he is," Carville said.

JAMES CARVILLE CALLS PRESIDENT TRUMP 'FAT, SORRY, SACK OF S---' IN PRE-SOTU RANT

In another jab at the president, Carville compared Trump to Bill Clinton, insisting that any attempt to claw back popularity over a hypothetical midterms loss would be unfeasible. 

"He doesn’t have the stamina," Carville said. "Yeah, [Bill] Clinton came back, but Clinton — frankly, it was the greatest mismatch in maybe American political history — Bill Clinton versus Newt Gingrich. Well, guess what? Donald Trump is not the Bill Clinton of 1995." 

He concluded by suggesting Trump would request a pardon from would-be President JD Vance as he departs office.

"He’s going to JD Vance," Carville said. "His lawyers are going to say, ‘Look, you can stay, you can pardon yourself — there’s some uncertainty as to whether you can do that. There’s no uncertainty as to whether a President Vance can pardon you and your family,’" he said. "So I’m sticking with my prediction."

CARVILLE DOUBLES DOWN ON THEORY TRUMP WILL 'WALK AWAY' FROM OFFICE AFTER MIDTERMS, GET PARDON FROM JD VANCE

The veteran political strategist’s original claims, made on Sunday’s episode of "Politics War Room," suggested Republicans are gearing up to oust Trump after the upcoming midterm elections. 

"Trump has no earthly idea of what's coming," Carville previously said. "They're not telling him. The vote against him in November is going to be, like, breathtaking."

"He's already bored," Carville added. "He can't stay awake. He says he's bored with the Iran war. He's — and I'm telling you, this guy by Easter of 2027 is just going to walk away from this job. Just gonna f---ing walk away because he doesn't have any idea of what it's going to be like when he comes to grips with the massive — I mean it's going to be massive rejection of him, anybody that has anything to do with him, anything that he has anything to do with."

In a statement to Fox News Digital, White House spokesperson Davis Ingle condemned Carville's prediction.

"James Carville is a stone-cold loser who suffers from a severe and incurable disease known as Trump Derangement Syndrome, and it has rotted his peanut-sized brain," Ingle said.  

In the fall of 2024, Carville wrote a New York Times op-ed predicting a Kamala Harris victory: "America, it will all be OK. Ms. Harris will be elected the next president of the United States. Of this, I am certain."

The Mexican forces used specialized equipment to detect an "unregistered drone" near the South Korean camp, prompting them to "neutralize" it, a Mexican federal agent told The Associated Press. It wasn’t clear if the drone was trying to spy on the South Korean team ahead of Thursday’s match between the teams.

South Korea coach Hong Myung-bo called the incident "unfortunate."

"Yesterday (Tuesday), during our training, there was a drone in the sky that we came to know about the fact," Hong said through a translator. "But fortunately, it was right before we practiced our tactics, so it did not impact us. But while we were preparing for the match, that was the most important timing, so what happened was unfortunate."

The Mexican operation was part of a security plan involving military and local police forces for the soccer tournament, which kicked off last week in Mexico City and is being co-hosted by the United States and Canada through July 19.

In March, Mexican authorities announced a World Cup security operation known as "Plan Kukulkán," involving about 100,000 personnel from federal and local military and police forces. The plan includes early warning systems, security measures at stadiums, airports, roads and hotels, and protection protocols for teams, officials and fans.

US INVESTIGATING WHETHER CHINESE CITIZEN CHARGED WITH FLYING DRONE OVER BASE COMMITTED 'MORE SERIOUS OFFENSES'

In Canada, authorities have banned unauthorized drones from flying over World Cup stadiums and several training sites in Vancouver and Toronto as a security measure. The restrictions remain in effect until July 7 — the date of the last game scheduled to be staged in the country.

In 2024, the Canadian women’s national team was accused of using a drone to spy on a New Zealand training session in the days leading up to their opening match at the Paris Olympics, triggering a spying scandal that led to sanctions against Canada.

The scandal led to the suspension of two coaching staff members and head coach Bev Priestman, who was subsequently dismissed by Canada Soccer. The Canadian women’s team — the reigning Olympic champions from the Tokyo Games — was deducted six points from its group standings in France.

Canada Soccer later determined that the incident was not an isolated error but part of a pattern of insufficient oversight within the national teams.

Mexico won its opening Group A match at the World Cup on Thursday while South Korea beat the Czech Republic later that same day.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Embattled Senate candidate Graham Platner is facing backlash for calling law enforcement "opportunistic cowards" in a since-deleted Reddit post. 

Platner, a far-left populist vying to become Maine’s next senator, made the comments in June 2020 in response to a post criticizing the Hancock County Sheriff's Department for seeking approval to purchase "riot gear." At the time, Black Lives Matter protests were spreading around the state, with some demonstrations turning violent, including vandalized storefronts and looting.

Platner, then 35, dismissed the sheriff’s request as "ridiculous."

"I guess the Sheriffs [sic] Department is so full of overweight pansies that they now need taxpayer dollars to protect themselves from George Stevens Academy sophomores and aging hippies," he wrote.

VETS TORCH DEM SENATE HOPEFUL WHO CALLED ARMY ‘FAT, LAZY TRASH,’ MOCKED SOLDIER SHOT FOUR TIMES

"Cops are opportunistic cowards," he continued. 

The post, which is available in The Maine Monitor’s archive of Platner’s since-deleted messages, but has not been previously reported, was published under Platner’s handle "P-Hustle" on the Reddit forum R/Maine.

The comment is the latest in a string of anti-law enforcement remarks Platner made well into adulthood that have raised questions about his fitness for office as he seeks to unseat Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine. 

"It just shows a complete lack of understanding of the way law enforcement operates," state Rep. Donald Ardell, R-Maine, told Fox News Digital in an interview. "They have to be prepared for eventualities."

Ardell, a retired federal special agent and criminal investigator, said conversations with current law enforcement officers and former colleagues reflected widespread disgust with Platner’s comments disparaging men and women in uniform. 

"It's a series of consistent bad decisions, and it seems to be continuing," Ardell said. 

Also in June 2020, Platner denounced a Maine police chief as "thin blue line trash" for declining to kneel with demonstrators protesting the death of George Floyd. That month, he wrote "all cops are bastards" in remarks first reported by CNN.

In April 2021, Platner questioned whether there is a problem within policing "that extends into the profession as a whole" in a since-deleted post. 

Platner has also faced scrutiny over comments declaring himself a communist, disparaging rural White people as "racist" and "stupid" and mocking a female teenager’s suicide attempt.

FROM #METOO TO MAINE? DEM EXPERTS WEIGH IN ON HOW PLATNER'S RISE TESTS PARTY STANDARDS: 'PULLING THE PLUG'

Platner has said many of his comments were taken out of context and attributed some of them to struggling with post-traumatic stress disorder after multiple overseas deployments.

"You should read the comments in context. It's very clear I'm joking," he previously told Fox News Digital when asked about them. "It's called s---posting. It's when you argue with people on the internet and try to bother them."

Ardell questioned whether Platner, who was largely in his 30s during the nearly decade-long period of online trash-talking, could have "made such a quick turnaround" in the past six years. 

"If Graham Platner is interested in sort of working on himself, he can do it on his own time — not on Mainers' time, and not in the U.S. Senate," Ardell said.

The Platner campaign did not respond to a request for comment.

The newly resurfaced Reddit post comes as Platner is attempting to weather mounting scrutiny over his past treatment of women, including an allegation of abuse from former girlfriend Lyndsey Fifield. In May, the campaign acknowledged a period of infidelity during Platner’s marriage to Amy Gertner — whom he wed in 2023 — which involved sending sexually explicit texts to at least half a dozen women.

Platner also maintained an active account on the private messaging platform Kik, an app widely used for sexual encounters. His campaign said he had long deleted it from his phone.

Adding to Platner’s troubles, he has not provided a clear explanation for why several ex-girlfriends knew about his since covered-up Nazi-linked tattoo prior to the candidate publicly disclosing it last year. 

A former girlfriend who dated Platner in 2021 showed The New York Post text messages she sent in September 2025 that discussed the "Nazi tattoo on his chest."

The Senate hopeful has said he first learned about the black skull-and-crossbones tattoo’s links to Nazi SS units in October 2025. He wore it for nearly two decades after getting it while out drinking with fellow Marines in Croatia.

Asked if more negative information about Platner would come to light before November, Ardell did not hesitate. 

"This is not a guy that has a skeleton in the closet," he said. "This is a guy that has a whole graveyard."

A nationwide welfare fraud crackdown reached Massachusetts this week, as federal authorities announced the arrests of 15 people — 11 of them illegal immigrants — accused of stealing more than $1.4 million in American taxpayer-funded benefits.

The defendants are accused of fraudulently obtaining benefits through programs including Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) food assistance, MassHealth, Social Security disability payments, housing assistance and unemployment benefits, according to the Department of Justice.

"Alarmingly, 11 of the 15 charged defendants are suspected illegal aliens, some of whom assumed stolen identities to steal these taxpayer-funded benefits and avoid detection," Acting Assistant Attorney General Colin MacDonald said during a Thursday press conference in Boston.

Officials said one defendant, Heriberto Rodriguez of Framingham, Massachusetts, is accused of carrying out more than $546,000 in benefit fraud involving MassHealth, Social Security, housing assistance and SNAP benefits. Several other suspects allegedly obtained tens of thousands of dollars in taxpayer-funded assistance through false statements, identity theft and other fraud schemes.

STOLEN IDS SOLD FOR ‘HAPPY MEAL’ PRICES FUEL BILLIONS IN US BENEFIT FRAUD

MacDonald argued the alleged crimes did more than drain public coffers, saying some Americans were effectively locked out of programs intended to help them because their identities had already been used by fraudsters.

"In some cases, the victims of these crimes, the rightful beneficiaries of these funds, could not access benefits they needed," MacDonald said. "American citizens were boxed out of these programs because illegal aliens took their names to then take their money."

U.S. Attorney Leah Foley said the arrests represent only the latest phase of a broader federal effort targeting fraud across Massachusetts.

MASSACHUSETTS AUDITOR TAKES TRANSPARENCY FIGHT TO HIGH COURT AFTER ALLEGED $12M FRAUD UNCOVERED

According to Foley, federal prosecutors have charged more than 65 defendants in fraud-related cases since January, alleging more than $56 million in losses. Combined with previously announced cases, authorities say they have charged roughly $63 million in alleged fraud losses over the last seven months.

Foley described the cases announced Thursday as evidence of "unchecked, unbridled, rampant fraud" across the Commonwealth.

"There isn't any place else in the world where you can go and be handed free food, free housing, free healthcare and free monthly checks while being in the country illegally," Foley said. "However, it appears that you can come to Massachusetts and steal as many benefits as you want without fear and without any accountability."

Federal officials said the investigation was conducted with assistance from Homeland Security Investigations and multiple inspector general offices. They vowed additional arrests and charges are forthcoming as investigators continue examining benefit programs for fraud.

"The further we look, the more fraud we find," MacDonald said. "And this is just the beginning of our work."

"To be clear; this action by the players is completely inconsistent with our vision as the Most Welcoming Place in York," the team's statement continued.

The jerseys, which would have been worn on the team's 11th annual Pride Night, had rainbow sleeves.

The team announced it would be making a $10,000 donation to the Rainbow Rose Center "as a small token of our regret for the last-minute change of plans and support for our LGBTQIA+ representing partners ... to support and further their work in making sure the York community is as inclusive as we strive to make WellSpan Park in York, Pennsylvania."

MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL WARNS SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS PLAYERS FOR WRITING BIBLE VERSES ON PRIDE NIGHT HATS

Despite no game being played, the Revolution will still hold a "free and fun celebration of recognition and inclusion" on Thursday and offer exchanges for any remaining 2026 regular-season home game, subject to availability.

The team did not immediately respond to an email asking who the players were, whether the players would speak to Fox News and whether there would be further punishment for the players.

The team will host a "Juneteenth Celebration" on Friday.

The Revolution have won the Atlantic League in each of the last two years and currently feature former MLB relief pitcher Joely Rodriguez.

The forfeit comes less than a week after San Francisco Giants players wrote Bible verses on their Pride hats, which resulted in warnings from Major League Baseball.

York is currently 28-22, four games behind the North Division lead.

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

Republicans aren’t taking President Donald Trump's deal with Iran well. 

While Congress has still not received the actual memorandum of understanding (MOU) signed by Trump and Iranian officials, lawmakers have seen the reports circulating in the media. 

And one of the top Republicans in the Senate warned that while he supported the war’s initial objectives, he feared that the current agreement would undermine those same objectives. 

Senate Armed Services Committee Chair Roger Wicker, R-Miss., shredded the MOU in a statement on Thursday, in which he cautioned that the agreement "negotiates away the victories of Operation Epic Fury in ways that are completely out of step with the president's goals."

TRUMP'S IRAN DEAL 'GIVING A LOT MORE TO GET A LOT LESS' THAN OBAMA'S, SENATOR SAYS

"Specifically, the $300 billion fund for the reconstruction and economic development of Iran — though not funded by U.S. taxpayers — would make Iran's payoff under President Obama's 2015 deal look like a pittance by comparison," Wicker said. 

The proposed $300 billion fund has given Republicans heartburn as details have emerged in recent days, with some comparing it to the billions that flowed to Iran under former President Joe Biden. 

The agreement stipulates that the U.S. would coordinate with regional partners to develop the fund, which would be finalized as part of the 60-day deal.

TRUMP ADMINISTRATION UNVEILS SWEEPING TERMS OF PROPOSED IRAN AGREEMENT

Wicker also took issue with lifting sanctions on Iran and forcing Israel to stand down against Hezbollah, "an Iranian-backed terrorist organization that continues to attack Israel on its northern border." 

"The Iranian regime has not renounced its ultimate goal — ‘Death to America, Death to Israel,’" Wicker said. "The regime will invest every penny it receives to further that aim."

"President Trump has pursued peace through strength," he continued. "I hope the intermediaries working on this deal are not undermining that objective."

Wicker isn’t alone in his fear that Iran will turn around and use the funds for nefarious efforts. 

REPUBLICANS BAT DOWN BID TO HANDCUFF TRUMP’S WAR POWERS AS PEACE DEAL NEARS

Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, warned that "giving billions of dollars to theocratic lunatics who want to murder us is an exceptionally bad idea." 

"And I think, unfortunately, the president is receiving some really bad advice on this deal," Cruz told reporters. 

Cruz compared the fund to billions shipped to Iran under the Biden administration, which he charged was the "most catastrophic foreign policy" decision made during the prior administration, and that the "money funded terrorism across the globe in a very real sense."

"If we give billions of dollars to Iran, that money will be used to murder Americans," he said. "And so I don't believe we should do that. And the idea that we would have effectively a Marshall plan for Iran and come in and rebuild Iran after they've been the leading state sponsor of terrorism for 47 years — they've murdered nearly a thousand Americans — I don't think that makes any sense."

Vice President JD Vance, who has become the public face of the deal, defended the fund during a press briefing at the White House on Thursday, contending that the only way Iran could access that funding, which he vowed was not coming from taxpayers, was "if they comply fully and change their behavior." 

"So you really have a win-win situation for the United States of America," Vance said. 

FOX Soccer analyst Kasper Schmeichel came prepared for this year's World Cup on American soil.

The former Danish goalkeeper may not be from around these parts, but that didn't stop him from dropping an eerily accurate comparison between two overconfident but long-suffering sports programs.

With England and Croatia warming up inside AT&T Stadium, the home of the Dallas Cowboys, Schmeichel decided he would roast two fanbases with one stone, comparing the Cowboys to the Three Lions with a hilarious one-liner.

Funny, but also painfully true if you're a supporter of either team.

COWBOYS LEGEND DIGS DEEP INTO THE TEAM'S MISSING 'FIBER' THAT'S RESULTED IN SUPER BOWL DROUGHT

I made a comparison last week between the English national team and Notre Dame, but Schmeichel got me thinking, who are the sports analogs to England from the four major North American leagues (NFL, MLB, NHL, NBA)?

Today, I will be doing exactly that, including giving a slightly better NFL comp than the Cowboys (shocking, I know).

Without further ado, let's piss off our neighbors from across the pond.

FROM 4 STRAIGHT SUPER BOWL LOSSES TO JOSH ALLEN'S PATRICK MAHOMES PROBLEM, BILLS MIGHT BE CURSED

While the Dallas Cowboys are a fine comparison for the English national soccer team, I think I can do one better.

Schmeichel mentioned that England "won it once and have never stopped talking about it," and although the second part of that statement applies to both, the Cowboys are five-time Super Bowl champions, having won it most recently in January 1996, a good three decades after England.

If you really want a team that more accurately mirrors the hard luck of the English, it would have to be the Chicago Bears.

3 HISTORIC NFL FRANCHISES FIND THEMSELVES IN SAME BOAT SINCE TURN OF THE CENTURY

They have one Super Bowl win to their name, which came 40 years ago, and really don't have much else to show for it.

Also, having lived in the DFW area for the better part of a decade, I can confidently say Cowboys fans are a little too arrogant and cocky to be compared to the English.

Sure, England will say things like "it's coming home," but they are far more self-deprecating and aware of their faults, even nihilistic in some cases.

The Bears hang onto their history because they know things will inevitably go bad for them on the biggest stage.

Speaking of which...

The Toronto Maple Leafs actually line up with England more closely than either fanbase would like to admit.

While the Leafs have a litany of Stanley Cups to their name, their most recent win was back in 1967, less than a full year after England won their first and only World Cup.

As far as expectations go, both constantly go into their respective tournaments with the weight of the world on their shoulders, only to come crashing down in the most horrific ways imaginable.

For the Leafs, it comes in the form of blowing big leads in the playoffs, while English fans and players alike can't even hear the words "penalty kicks" without having a mental breakdown.

England and Toronto are both long-suffering cities, but their fans keep showing up expecting a different outcome.

Insanity? No, just sports fandom.

This one would have been an even better comparison if the New York Knicks hadn't gone and won the whole damn thing this year, but these two sports teams are still eerily similar.

WHY THE KNICKS, DISRESPECTED BUT CLAWING BACK, TOUCHED A RAW NERVE IN NEW YORK CITY AND ULTIMATELY THE COUNTRY

Think of the Knicks' 2026 NBA Championship run as a window into what it would look like if England captured a World Cup (on American soil, no less).

Before this year, the Knicks famously had not won a Larry O'Brien trophy in over 50 years, yet they were still considered one of the "blue bloods" of the NBA.

Decades of heartache didn't change that; it only made their fans more insufferable, but their triumph earlier this month in the NBA Finals exorcised all those demons.

THE ATHLETIC BEWILDERINGLY CELEBRATES 'ZOHRAN MAMDANI SPORTS SUMMER' AFTER NEW YORK KNICKS WIN NBA FINALS

A win in the World Cup Finals would probably do the same for England fans, as you could probably feel that sigh of relief from the other side of the Atlantic.

Hello again, New York.

The Big Apple certainly has its fair share of winners, but it also has plenty of franchises that are aching to make a trip back down the Canyon of Heroes, none more so than the Mets.

Year after year, the Mets are near the top of MLB in terms of spending, with little to show for their efforts.

WATCH THE WORLD CUP FINAL ON FOX ONE

They won a World Series back in 1986 and have been chasing that high ever since.

The common thread between England and the Mets (along with all the other teams on this list) is expectations relative to results, and it seems like the Mets are sort of a Schrödinger's baseball franchise in that regard, expected to both compete for a World Series with their high-priced talent and flame out in spectacular fashion all the same.

FOX ONE’S NEW WORLD CUP VIEWING EXPERIENCE

England always has flashy players heading into World Cup play, but the results haven't been there, and they've often been sent home in brutal fashion, offering a great parallel to the Mets' clockwork-like midsummer swoons and late-season meltdowns.

The next time you pull up to a McDonald's drive-thru, the voice taking your order may not be human. McDonald’s is testing a new AI-powered system called ArchIQ at five U.S. locations. The company has not said where those restaurants are located. The voice assistant, nicknamed Archy, can take drive-thru orders and has shown it can handle both English and Spanish.

For anyone who has repeated "no pickles" into a speaker box more than once, this could sound helpful. However, if you remember McDonald’s last AI drive-thru experiment, you may also wonder whether your burger order could somehow turn into a bag full of surprise McNuggets.

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WOULD YOU EAT AT A RESTAURANT RUN BY AI? 

ArchIQ is McDonald's new AI system for restaurants. It can take drive-thru orders and also help with operations behind the scenes.

In a post on X, McFranchisee, an anonymous McDonald's franchisee account, said the system is currently in five test stores and has processed more than one million transactions. The account also said about 90% of orders were completed without a human stepping in. That number sounds promising. Still, McDonald's has not confirmed a nationwide launch date. For now, this remains a limited test.

The system also appears to connect with a bigger McDonald's plan called "McDonald's > NEXT." CEO Chris Kempczinski described the strategy as a way to bring in more customers and improve restaurant productivity. The plan also includes menu changes, restaurant redesigns, technology upgrades and more focus on hospitality.

Drive-thrus can get chaotic fast. Someone changes an order after the total appears. A child calls out from the back seat. Road noise makes the speaker hard to hear. Then the driver remembers the extra sauce after everything has already gone through. That is the type of pressure McDonald's wants AI to handle.

If ArchIQ works well, it could help restaurants move cars through the line faster. It may also reduce mistakes during busy hours. Workers could then focus more on preparing food, handling payments and helping customers who need a real person.

ArchIQ also appears to have a management role. In the same X post, McFranchisee described Archy as a tool that could alert managers to bottlenecks or other issues before they slow down operations. 

STARBUCKS USES CHATGPT TO SUGGEST DRINKS BASED ON MOOD AS EXPERT WARNS OF HIDDEN DOWNSIDES

This new test follows McDonald's earlier AI drive-thru experiment with IBM. That program involved more than 100 restaurants. McDonald's ended the test in 2024 after customers complained about order accuracy. Some mistakes also went viral, creating an embarrassing moment for McDonald's and raising questions about whether the technology was ready for the drive-thru. Customers reported wrong items, strange quantities and other order mix-ups. That history is why this new test will get extra attention.

This time, McDonald's is working with Google technology. McFranchisee also claimed every McDonald's in the U.S. is getting Google Edge Cloud hardware in anticipation of the rollout. McDonald's seems to believe the newer system can perform better than the last one. The real test will come when regular customers use it during real drive-thru rushes.

If McDonald's gets this right, the most obvious benefit is speed. An AI ordering system does not get tired during a long shift. It may also help more customers order in the language they prefer. That could make a busy drive-thru feel less frustrating, especially during breakfast or late-night hours.

The system may also ask clearer follow-up questions and catch missing details before the order reaches the kitchen. That would be a win for customers who want to get in, get their food and get on with the day.

The biggest concern is accuracy. AI can still misunderstand people. That gets frustrating fast when you are trying to grab lunch between errands or get your kids fed from the back seat. A wrong order wastes time. It also puts workers in the position of fixing a mistake the machine made.

There is also the customer service side. Some people like hearing a real person at the speaker. Others may find an AI voice cold or annoying, especially if the system gets confused.

Then there is the privacy question. If an AI system takes your order, customers may wonder what gets collected, how long it is kept and who can access it. McDonald’s has not publicly explained those specifics for this current ArchIQ test.

ALEXA+ LETS YOU ORDER FOOD LIKE A REAL CONVERSATION

Before you leave the drive-thru, take a moment to check the order screen. Make sure the items match what you said. Listen when the system repeats your order. Keep your receipt until you confirm the food is right.

Also, avoid sharing extra personal details at the speaker box. Your order should only require your food choices and payment.

If the AI gets confused, ask for a crew member. You do not need to keep going back and forth with a machine over fries.

For now, you probably will not notice a change at your local McDonald's. The ArchIQ test appears limited to five U.S. restaurants, and the company has not said when it could expand.

Still, this gives customers a preview of where fast food may be heading. AI could soon play a bigger role in how restaurants take orders and manage the kitchen. That may speed up the line, though it could also make the experience feel less personal.

Your phone holds your email, passwords, photos, banking apps and personal data. In this free CyberGuy Live replay, Kurt the CyberGuy walks you step by step through simple phone security fixes you can do at your own pace. You’ll learn how to improve your privacy settings, spot the latest phone scams, use trusted security tools and walk away with a simple checklist to stay protected. Watch the replay and get our checklist here: CyberGuyLive.com

McDonald’s clearly wants AI to play a bigger role in its restaurants. From a business point of view, the idea makes sense. Shorter drive-thru lines could help franchisees and customers. Better restaurant data could also help managers fix problems faster. But I still want the human backup. Food orders can be messy because people are messy. We change our minds. We talk over each other. We forget the extra ketchup until the last second. AI may handle much of that one day. For now, I would treat it like any busy drive-thru interaction. Speak clearly. Check the order. Do not pull away until you know your food is right.

Would you trust an AI voice to take your McDonald’s order, or do you still want a real person on the other end of the speaker? Let us know by writing to us at Cyberguy.com

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Some other potential benefits of sexual activity include stress reduction, improved sleep, mood enhancement, emotional connection with a partner and relief from performance-related tension.

"Strong, supportive relationships are associated with better psychological resilience, which can be valuable during high-pressure competitions," Elton said.

"Ultimately, there is no universal rule," she went on. "What helps one athlete perform at their best may not help another."

Elton stressed that sleep, recovery, nutrition, stress management and support from loved ones are universal performance boosters.

TEST YOURSELF WITH OUR LATEST LIFESTYLE QUIZ

"Athletes devote tremendous attention to training their bodies, while overlooking the importance of their personal relationships," she cautioned. "A supportive partner can be one of the greatest assets during a demanding season."

"If competition requires temporary sacrifices, make those decisions together and keep communication open."

A three-year-old boy was taken to Addenbrooke's Hospital with critical injuries and is in a stable condition, Cambridgeshire Police said.

One year after sending political shock waves across the country with his New York City Democratic primary victory en route to winning election as mayor of the nation's most populous city, Zohran Mamdani is testing the limits of political power as he takes on the party establishment.

The 34-year-old democratic socialist mayor is teaming up with longtime progressive champion and two-time Democratic presidential nominee runner-up Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., at a get-out-the-vote rally in the New York City borough of Brooklyn on Thursday, less than one week before crucial primary elections.

Mamdani and Sanders are aiming to boost a slate of candidates backed by the mayor, including two who are running against Democratic congressional incumbents, as part of their bid to mold a more progressive party.

DEMOCRACY ’26: STAY UP TO DATE WITH THE FOX NEWS ELECTION HUB

The left-wing candidates endorsed by Mamdani include political organizer Darializa Avila Chevalier, who is primary challenging Rep. Adriano Espaillat, the Congressional Hispanic Caucus chair, in New York’s 13th U.S. House District, which covers the northern third of Manhattan and a sliver of the Bronx. Espaillat is supported by a slew of party leaders, including New York Gov. Kathy Hochul.

The mayor is also backing former New York City Comptroller Brad Lander, who ran against Mamdani last year in the crowded primary field but became one of his biggest backers. Lander is challenging incumbent Democratic Rep. Dan Goldman in the 10th Congressional District, which includes lower Manhattan and parts of Brooklyn. Goldman's supporters include former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

And in New York’s 7th, which covers parts of Brooklyn and Queens, Mamdani's endorsed socialist state Assembly Member Claire Valdez, who is battling Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso, who is backed by retiring Rep. Nydia Velazquez, D.N.Y.

The outcomes of the races Mamdani weighed-in on will put to test whether his popularity among New York Democrats translates to coattails in elections.

HEAD HERE FOR THE LATEST FOX NEWS COVERAGE, ANALYSIS, AND OPINION ON MAMDANI

"This is the team. This is our year. It’s up to all of us to get them over the finish line," Mamdani emphasized in a social media post spotlighting Thursday's rally.

The socialist has been a darling of the far-left for a year and a half. But six months into his tenure as New York City mayor, he can also count former critics within the Democratic Party, including Hochul, as allies. And he's even earned praise from President Donald Trump.

Trump last year repeatedly claimed Mamdani was a "communist lunatic," but during an Oval Office meeting in November that grabbed tons of national attention, the president lauded the then-mayor-elect as a "very rational person" who would do a "really good job."

"It's crystal clear that Mamdani understands power and how to leverage it," longtime Democratic strategist Joe Caiazzo told Fox News Digital.

"He remains incredibly popular and it appears he also understands that may not always be the case. That's why I think you see him flexing his political muscle now. It's smart politics," added Caiazzo, a veteran of the 2016 and 2020 Sanders presidential campaigns.

The candidates Mamdani's backing, including some running for state legislative offices, are mostly showcasing the mayor's platform of focusing on affordability in a city with one of the nation's highest costs of living.

Sanders, a New York City native who last year appeared at rallies on Mamdani's behalf and swore in the mayor at his January inauguration, highlighted on social media, "Now more than ever, we need leaders in Congress who understand firsthand the struggles working people face."

Mamdani's support for the trio of congressional candidates, along with Thursday's rally with Sanders, gives Republicans, who have long cast the mayor as a radical, more ammunition to use him as a cudgel as they work to hold their razor-thin House majority in this year's midterm elections.

"Zohran Mamdani’s socialist brand is as toxic as it comes," National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) National Press Secretary Mike Marinella told Fox News Digital.

"And during a time when Democrats don’t have a leader or a message, he’s exactly the kind of bogeyman we can use against Democrats to truly show who is leading their party and the crazy policies they all support."

For years, two women in Bremerton, Washington opened credit cards and lines of credit in other people's names, working from documents they pulled out of stolen mail. Emily Vranic and Heather Marquis redirected the new accounts' statements to an address they controlled, so no bill ever reached the victims.  They pleaded guilty in federal court this month to bank fraud and aggravated identity theft in a scheme prosecutors say stole nearly $229,000 from banks and bank customers.

If you have ever worried about a credit card opened in your name, this case shows how quickly stolen mail can turn into a much bigger identity theft problem. Opening a new account is the leading form of identity misuse reported to the Identity Theft Resource Center. In its latest data, 62.1% of attempted misuse cases began with a new account application rather than the takeover of an account the victim already held.

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WARNING SIGNS YOUR MAIL HAS BEEN FRAUDULENTLY REDIRECTED

When people picture an account opened in their name, they may imagine a checking account at a bank they have never set foot in. The more likely target is a credit card. Credit cards made up 41% of attempted account misuse reported to the ITRC last year. Checking accounts came to 17.7% and personal loans to 8.5%.

A credit card is one of the easier accounts to open in someone else's name, and the reason is in how the application is cleared. A lender matches the submitted name, date of birth, address and Social Security number (SSN) against the bureau file. When those details fit a record that already exists, an automated system can approve the application with no one confirming that the applicant is the person being described. Assemble enough of someone's information from breaches and stolen mail, and the check clears.

Vranic and Marquis did not stop at one account per victim. Once they controlled someone's identity, they activated existing cards, opened new credit lines and moved money out of bank accounts tied to the same name.

This is common. The ITRC found that 25.6% of victims are now handling two or more identity incidents at once, up from 23.5% the year before. The same stolen details, including name, date of birth, address and SSN, can open the next account as easily as the first.

DON’T LET THIS CREDIT CARD FRAUD NIGHTMARE HAPPEN TO YOU

A new account does not announce itself. It reaches your credit report only after the first statement closes, which puts the first record 30 to 60 days behind the opening. Banks report to the bureaus monthly, and the bureaus need up to two weeks more to post the change.

The first paper notice goes wherever the application is listed. Vranic and Marquis had the statements mailed to their own address, not the victims'. When the mail reaches the right house, it may read like a routine offer or a card no one ordered, which makes it easy to set aside.

By the time a denied loan or a collections call makes the account impossible to ignore, it has been open and drawing money for weeks.

WHY THAT $4 CHARGE ON YOUR STATEMENT COULD BE FRAUD

Move quickly, because every day an account stays open gives a thief more time to spend money, damage your credit or try the same information somewhere else.

Call the credit card company or lender that opened the account and tell them the account is fraudulent. Ask them to close or freeze the account, stop any pending charges and send written confirmation that you are not responsible for the debt.

Go to IdentityTheft.gov. The Federal Trade Commission's site generates an Identity Theft Report and recovery plan to help you report identity theft, limit the damage and fix your credit.

Your FTC Identity Theft Report is usually the key document for disputing fraudulent accounts. Some lenders, banks or debt collectors may also ask for a police report. If that happens, file one with your local police department and keep a copy for your records.

Keep copies of account statements, collection letters, emails, dispute letters, FTC reports, police reports and confirmation numbers. A clear paper trail can make it easier to prove the account was fraudulent if a creditor, credit bureau or debt collector questions your claim.

Dispute the fraudulent account directly with the lender that opened it, in writing. Also dispute it with Equifax, Experian and TransUnion if it appears on your credit reports. Under the Fair Credit Reporting Act, companies that furnish information to credit bureaus have a duty to investigate disputed information.

Place a freeze at Equifax, Experian and TransUnion to help block the next application. Freezes have been free since 2018 and can be lifted online when you need to apply for credit.

A credit freeze blocks access to your credit file. A fraud alert tells lenders to take extra steps to verify your identity before opening new credit in your name. You only need to contact one of the three major credit bureaus to place a fraud alert, and that bureau must notify the other two.

If you believe stolen mail helped someone open the account, report it to the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the law enforcement arm of the Postal Service. You can report mail theft, identity theft, fraudulent change-of-address requests, fraudulent mail holds and fake Informed Delivery accounts at mailtheft.uspis.gov.

If your Social Security number was used, request an IRS Identity Protection PIN at irs.gov/ippin. This helps keep a thief from filing a tax return in your name.

Change the passwords on your bank, credit card and email accounts, especially if your email address was part of the fraud. Use a password manager to create and store strong, unique passwords for each account, so one exposed password cannot unlock the rest of your financial life. Turn on two-factor authentication (2FA) where available. Then review recent transactions, saved payment methods and automatic payments for anything you do not recognize. 

Cleaning up identity theft can mean dealing with creditors, credit bureaus, debt collectors and repeat follow-ups. Keep copies of every report, dispute letter, confirmation number and account closure notice so you have a clear paper trail if the fraud resurfaces.

No service can prevent every account opened in your name. Continuous three-bureau credit monitoring may alert you to new accounts as they are reported, rather than weeks later when a lender turns you down or a collections notice arrives. See my tips and best picks on Best Identity Theft Protection at Cyberguy.com

A stolen credit card account can quietly grow into a much bigger identity theft mess before you ever see a bill. That is what makes this Washington case so alarming. The victims were not ignoring warning signs. The statements were being sent somewhere else. The best move is to make it harder for thieves to open the next account. Freeze your credit at Equifax, Experian and TransUnion, watch for hard inquiries and check your credit reports for accounts you do not recognize. If something appears, go straight to IdentityTheft.gov, file a report and dispute the account in writing with the lender. Credit monitoring can also give you a faster heads-up when a new account or inquiry hits your file. It will not stop every scam, but it can shorten the time between the fraud starting and you finding out.

Have you ever found a credit card, loan or account on your credit report that you did not open? Let us know how you discovered it and what it took to fix it by writing to us at Cyberguy.com

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The long-awaited final report is expected to reveal the extent of the mistreatment of patients at the hospital.

"Bulgaria will ask Patriarch Kirill to be removed from the sanction package," Bulgarian Prime Minister Rumen Radev said.

Accenture forecast takes hit from Iran war, shares tumble over 17%

Lawyers for Luigi Mangione, the 28-year-old former Ivy Leaguer accused of assassinating UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, indicated he could use an "extreme emotional disturbance" defense, which, if successful, could reduce a murder conviction to first-degree manslaughter if jurors find him guilty after his September trial.

Mangione is also facing a federal trial slated for early next year.

"It's too early to say exactly how it will affect the federal prosecution, and he could theoretically pursue a different defense strategy there," said Randolph Rice, a Maryland-based attorney and legal analyst who is following the case. "But from a practical standpoint, if you're standing in a state courtroom arguing that you shot someone because you were under extreme emotional distress, you may be handing federal prosecutors a significant admission that they can point to later."

The move could significantly reduce the maximum sentence in the state case, if, at the end of the trial, jurors accept the defense but still believe prosecutors proved that Mangione killed Thompson. Murder would be reduced to first-degree manslaughter under New York law upon conviction, resulting in the maximum punishment going from life in prison to a max of 25 years.

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"This is a very risky trial strategy for the defense," said James Leonard, a high-profile criminal defense attorney based in New Jersey. "They are basically telling the jury that Mangione committed the murder, but here is why he did it and, because of this, you should nullify his guilt. If the jury accepts that, it would be an epic win for the defense team. If the jury rejects that, it will likely mean that Mangione will spend the rest of his life behind bars."

The "extreme emotional disturbance" defense requires his lawyers to convince jurors of three things at trial under New York law:

JUDGE REVEALS LUIGI MANGIONE WILL PURSUE PSYCHIATRIC DEFENSE IN UNITEDHEALTHCARE CEO ASSASSINATION CASE

First, Mangione must show whatever emotional distress he faced at the time of Thompson's murder caused an intense "loss of self-control."

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Second, he must have a "reasonable" explanation or excuse for having suffered this distress.

And third, he must have been under this distress at the time of the murder.

"This is high-risk, high-stakes litigation in an extremely high-profile case," Leonard told Fox News Digital.

LISTEN TO THE NEW 'CRIME & JUSTICE WITH DONNA ROTUNNO' PODCAST

Narratively, the defense is expected to focus narrowly around the time of the shooting, while prosecutors will likely show jurors an expanded timeline, according to Rice.

"Prosecutors will argue that journals, planning, travel and an alleged ambush show calculation, not loss of control." he said.

Mangione is accused of meticulously plotting Thompson's assassination and traveling across the country to ambush him outside a business conference in New York City, where neither of them lived.

Mangione did not know Thompson and was not a UnitedHealthcare customer. According to prosecutors, however, he allegedly wrote journals about the plot months before the murder.

LIKE WHAT YOU'RE READING? FIND MORE ON THE TRUE CRIME HUB

"Ultimately, this defense rises or falls on whether jurors believe Mangione was experiencing such intense emotional distress at the moment of the murder that he lost self-control, or whether this was simply a planned and deliberate killing," Rice said.

His defense in the New York case is not related to the separate federal trial looming ahead, which could send him to prison for life without the possibility of parole if he is convicted there.

"The defense has to balance any benefit they gain in the state case against the possibility that they're giving the federal government evidence on a silver platter," Rice said.

His defense team has already won a series of legal victories in both cases. He could have faced life without parole in New York if they hadn't convinced a judge to toss terrorism-related charges, and in his federal case, the judge agreed to take the potential death penalty off the table ahead of trial.

He has pleaded not guilty to all charges. The state trial is scheduled to begin in September, with the federal trial to follow early next year.

Fox News' Ashley Papa contributed to this report.

Freedom Mobile has some Samsung phones on sale. With the Samsung Sales Event, you can get the company’s newest phones at a discounted rate. Notably, most of the deals involve Freedom’s ‘TradeUp’ program, which reduces the monthly financing cost of a phone if customers agree to return the device at the end of the 24-month […]

It could take weeks for traffic through the route to return to even half of prewar levels, with knock-on effects continuing for months.

Apple today announced that every part of Formula 1's 2026 Austrian Grand Prix (June 26 to June 28) will be streamed live on the Apple TV streaming service for free.

U.S. viewers can watch all sessions — including practices, qualifying, and the Grand Prix — with no subscription required.
This article, "You Can Watch All of F1's 2026 Austrian Grand Prix For Free on Apple TV" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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The CFTC recently greenlighted Kalshi’s plan to list perps in the U.S. CME, the dominant derivatives exchange, argued the regulator violated federal law.

It appears that James Dolan's pre-playoff speech had an impact on Mike Brown.

The New York Knicks' head coach showed up to Thursday's ticker-tape parade to celebrate the team's NBA title, rocking a t-shirt with '10 Weeks' written on the back of it. The word 'Sacrifice' was seen under the Knicks' logo across the front of his shirt.

The shirt is in reference to the Knicks' owner's lengthy speech he delivered to the team before the NBA playoffs got underway about making a 10-week sacrifice. One of the sacrifices Dolan mentioned in his speech was staying abstinent.

"I had this idea that maybe you should give up sex for the next 10 weeks," Dolan told the Knicks on April 3. "You don’t have to give up sex for the next 10 weeks, but like Spartans — do you know what Spartans are? — they denied themselves to gain an edge. Get the edge."

The Knicks went on to lose just three games during their championship run.

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Brown was not the first high-profile player within the organization to joke about Dolan's joke.

Guard Mikael Bridges mentioned Dolan's comments about not having sex during an Instagram live session alongside his dog earlier in the week.

Brown was hired to take over the Knicks in July 2025 after the franchise's surprising decision to let go Tom Thibodeau as head coach. With Brown leading New York to its first title since 1973, it can now be deemed as the correct move.

VICTOR WEMBANYAMA BOLDLY CLAIMS SPURS 'DOMINATED' KNICKS AFTER LOSING NBA FINALS IN FIVE GAMES

The Knicks took care of the San Antonio Spurs in just five games despite the Spurs holding a lead of at least 12 points in each contest of the series.

New York clinched the series with a 94-90 win in San Antonio, but most would agree the series was won in Game 4 when the Knicks somehow erased a 29-point deficit at Madison Square Garden.

Outgoing U.S. Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard's declassification of intelligence that she claims reveals U.S. funding for biological laboratories, including in Ukraine, was quickly amplified by Russian propaganda bot networks, the Kyiv Independent has learned.

The claims themselves are hardly new.

Russian propaganda outlets have

U.S. stocks were rebounding after the U.S. and Iran signed their interim pact to wind down the war.

Architect Labs raises $24 million to take on Broadcom, Marvell custom chip business

Ukraine launched one of its largest drone attacks on Moscow since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion, striking a major oil refinery in the Russian capital and sending thick black smoke over parts of the city, according to Russian officials and multiple reports.

The Moscow Oil Refinery in Kapotnya — one of the capital region’s key fuel facilities — was hit overnight Thursday, marking the second reported strike on the site in three days. Videos circulating online showed large flames and black smoke rising from the facility, while Russian officials said air defenses intercepted waves of incoming drones.

Kyiv says its strikes deep inside Russia are evidence that it is turning the tide of the war — a message President Volodymyr Zelenskyy took this week to President Donald Trump and other G7 leaders at a summit in France. 

The latest strikes underscore a new phase of the war, with Ukraine increasingly able to hit high-value targets deep inside Russia while Moscow struggles to prevent drones from reaching politically sensitive and economically important sites near the capital. 

'A NEW KIND OF WAR': INSIDE UKRAINE'S HIDDEN FACTORIES MASS-PRODUCING COMBAT DRONES

"This is pure hell, I’ve never felt such terror," one Moscow resident said after the attack, according to East2West News. 

Another resident, according to the outlet, asked: "Why won’t this madman stop his crazy and pointless war and end the death and destruction?"

East2West also reported that a heavy security presence was deployed around the Kremlin, with Red Square sealed off and machine-gunners positioned on towers, ramparts and near Bolsheviks' founder Vladimir Lenin’s Mausoleum. 

Moscow Mayor Sergey Sobyanin said air defenses shot down more than 130 drones approaching the city. Russia’s Defense Ministry claimed more than 550 Ukrainian drones were intercepted overnight across several regions, though battlefield claims from either side could not be independently verified.

PUTIN RESIDENCE ATTACK VIDEO SLAMMED AS US OFFICIALS SAY UKRAINE DID NOT TARGET LEADER

The attack disrupted daily life across Moscow, forcing temporary flight suspensions at major airports and traffic restrictions near the refinery. Russian officials said debris also fell near the Sadovod shopping center, damaging a building. The Moscow region governor said 16 people were injured in the broader attack.

Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha mocked the confusion in Moscow, writing on X: "One of the most popular questions asked by Muscovites this morning is ‘What is going on?’ I can answer. Your country started a war of aggression against ours. For years, it has been killing our people. Now that you know what’s going on, ask Putin when he is planning to end it."

The strike appeared to expose vulnerabilities in Moscow’s heavily promoted air defense network, bringing the war deeper into the Russian capital even as the Kremlin continues its long-range missile and drone attacks on Ukrainian cities.

RUSSIA SAYS UKRAINIAN DRONES HIT NUCLEAR POWER PLANT DURING INDEPENDENCE DAY STRIKES

The Kapotnya refinery is a strategically significant target. A prior Ukrainian drone strike damaged part of the refinery in recent days, according to, and forced a halt in some operations. 

East2West reported that the refinery supplies 40% of Moscow’s fuel market and 70% of the surrounding region’s gasoline and aviation fuel needs.

Ukraine increasingly has targeted Russian energy infrastructure in an effort to undermine Moscow’s war machine and increase the domestic cost of the war inside Russia. Kyiv has described such strikes as part of its campaign of "long-range sanctions" against Russia’s oil and military infrastructure.

The Moscow attack came as President Vladimir Putin hosted leaders from the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations bloc in Kazan, Russia. Ukraine also reportedly struck targets linked to Russia’s supply routes to occupied Crimea, including road and rail infrastructure. Ukrainian officials have repeatedly said isolating Crimea is a key military objective as Kyiv seeks to weaken Russia’s hold on the peninsula, which Moscow illegally annexed in 2014.

Russia, meanwhile, continued its own strikes on Ukraine. Ukrainian officials reported Russian attacks on energy and oil facilities in the Poltava region and near Kyiv.

East2West reported that Russia was moving Tu-95MS strategic bombers across the country, raising concerns that Moscow could be preparing another major strike on Ukraine in the coming days.

Zelenskyy has said the war could end if Putin agrees to genuine peace talks, while accusing Moscow of prolonging the conflict and using negotiations as cover for continued attacks.

contributed to this report.

Security research firm Paradigm Shift today published details of a new BootROM vulnerability affecting Apple's A12 and A13 chips, along with a working proof-of-concept exploit named "usbliter8."


The BootROM, or SecureROM, is the first code an iPhone runs when it powers on. Because it is baked directly into the chip at manufacture, any vulnerability found there cannot be fixed with a software update, meaning affected devices will remain vulnerable for the rest of their lives.

The last publicly known BootROM exploit of this kind was "checkm8," released in 2019 which affected devices from the iPhone 4S through to the iPhone X. usbliter8 now extends that history to the next generation of chips, covering the iPhone XS through to the iPhone 11 series.

The exploit works by taking advantage of a bug in the USB controller built into Apple's chips. When an iPhone receives USB data during startup, the controller uses a memory buffer to store incoming packets. Paradigm Shift found that by sending a specific sequence of unusually small packets, they could manipulate an internal hardware pointer in a way that causes it to walk backwards through memory, allowing data to be written to locations it should never reach. The researchers say this appears to be a bug in the USB controller hardware itself, not in Apple's software.

The A11 chip, used in the iPhone X, is not affected because its USB driver manually resets the pointer after each packet. A14 and later chips are also safe, as they configure a memory protection feature correctly at the BootROM level. The A12 and A13 sit in a vulnerable middle ground between the two.

On A12 devices, gaining code execution is relatively straightforward. On A13 devices, things are considerably harder because Apple introduced a security feature called Pointer Authentication Codes (PAC), which detects and blocks certain types of memory tampering. Paradigm Shift says working around PAC on the A13 required a lengthy multi-step process before the researchers could finally take control of the processor.

Once in control, the exploit installs a custom handler that survives a device restart and adds two capabilities: temporarily lowering the device's security settings, and booting unsigned software without any verification checks. It also injects the traditional "PWND" string into the iPhone's USB serial number as a signal that the device has been compromised, a convention that carries over from checkm8 and earlier exploits.

Paradigm Shift notes that while usbliter8 does not affect the Secure Enclave directly, a BootROM compromise of this kind opens up wider avenues for attacking it. The firm says it reported its findings to Apple Product Security before publication and worked with Apple on coordinated disclosure. The full proof-of-concept code has been published alongside the write-up at ps.tc.
This article, "Apple's A12 and A13 Chips Facing New Unpatchable Exploit" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson announced a crackdown on open-air drug dealing Wednesday, declaring the city will "no longer tolerate" public drug sales, public drug use and the sale of stolen goods in two neighborhoods that residents and business owners say have been plagued by crime and disorder for years.

"We will no longer tolerate open-air drug sale and use and vending stolen goods," Wilson said in the Wednesday press release. "We are expanding police personnel in the area to engage directly with individuals participating in these activities, explain that the behavior is no longer tolerated, and help ensure that the sidewalk and transit stops are safe and accessible for all."

Wilson said Seattle's Little Saigon, the easternmost part of the Chinatown–International District, primarily centered around 12th Avenue South and South Jackson Street, would be the target of the enforcement crackdown.

INSIDE SEATTLE’S OPEN-AIR DRUG CRISIS AS FENTANYL RAVAGES CITY AND ACTIVISTS BAIL OUT ALLEGED CRIMINALS

"The community has worked together to do what they can, but city leaders have failed to act with the necessary focus and determination to sustain a meaningful change in everyday conditions," Wilson said. "We must disrupt the drug dealing, public disorder, and other illegal activity that has destabilized this community."

In April, Westside Seattle reported that the Seattle Public Safety Committee of the Seattle City Council met on April 28 to discuss what Chair Robert Kettle called the "alarming" standstill in fixing Little Saigon’s public safety crisis.

According to data reviewed by city staff, Seattle Police Department arrests for drug use and possession increased from 633 in 2024 to 942 in 2025, a 47% jump. During the same period, post-arrest referrals to the LEAD diversion program fell by 30%.

SEATTLE POLICE UNION CONDEMNS NEW SOCIALIST MAYOR'S DRUG ENFORCEMENT APPROACH AS 'SUICIDAL EMPATHY'

During the April 28 hearing, Westside Seattle reported that the 12th and Jackson area was described as the "epicenter" of the public safety crisis, and that "residents and business owners reported ‘open air drug use’ and ‘stolen goods markets’ that continue to flourish despite current city efforts."

"I’m committed to ending the perception that illegal activity in Little Saigon and North Beacon Hill is acceptable," Wilson said in her announcement. "I’m also committed to making sure that people can get the treatment and support they need to change their lives. This is a data-driven, evidence-based approach that fulfills both of these goals."

INSIDE SEATTLE’S OPEN-AIR DRUG CRISIS AS FENTANYL RAVAGES CITY AND ACTIVISTS BAIL OUT ALLEGED CRIMINALS

She added that she will be allocating $1.1 million of one-time funding for services for the area which include "neighborhood outreach staff to support service navigation, mobile overdose treatment and prevention teams, community activations to support neighbors and businesses, and more."

Fox News Digital reached out to Wilson for additional comment.

EXCLUSIVE: Five years ago, Fox Sports host Colin Cowherd founded The Volume, a digital media and podcast network that includes shows with Richard Sherman, Sophie Cunningham, and rapper Fat Joe. The company has a chance to surpass $75 million in revenue this year and has emerged as one of the largest independently owned sports media companies in the industry.

This week, Cowherd joined OutKick for an hour-long discussion covering a range of topics, including the intersection of sports and politics, Donald Trump, religion, happiness, retirement, ESPN, and the future of his company.

Specifically, Cowherd addressed whether he plans to sell his media company, like Dave Portnoy, Bill Simmons, and others who have done so before him.

"We have had people interested," Cowherd told OutKick. "It would have to be the right fit."

VICTOR WEMBANYAMA ISN'T GOOD OR MATURE ENOUGH TO BE THE FACE OF THE NBA, AT LEAST NOT YET.

"It wouldn't necessarily have to be a broadcaster," Cowherd said about a potential buyer for The Volume. "I think I have enough knowledge in broadcasting that I can handle that side. I don't necessarily need guidance there."

"It would have to be something that works for our employees. Bobby, when it comes to The Volume, I don't lose sleep at night if I have a bad show. I lose sleep because I have 60 employees, and they have families.

"Any decision I make would have to involve a partner who understands that. It would have to be a partner that respects my executive team and respects our broadcasting ability. I'm not in a hurry to do it. Also, it's really fun having control.

Cowherd said he has sought advice from people in finance who have advised him to sell "only a small portion of the company."

"If I were going to sell, I don't know if I would sell all of it."

He also discussed the importance of a potential buyer having the right synergies.

"Synergies don't always work. I'll give you an example. Airline mergers usually work. You keep one executive team, and one of the airlines brings expanded routes. When Alaska and Virgin merged, that seemed to work. The consumer won.

"In media, I think Fox buying Roku has enough overlap that it's going to work. A lot of times I'll watch Fox and see what they do, their patterns, and their history. Lachlan is very aggressive in pursuing acquisitions.

"If I get the right synergy and they treat my employees right, we can talk and scale."

HERE IS HOW PAT MCAFEE HAS SURPASSED STEPHEN A SMITH AS THE FACE OF ESPN | BOBBY BURACK

If you ask most executives and agents in sports media, they would tell you that the three biggest needle-movers in the industry are Cowherd, Pat McAfee, and Stephen A. Smith, in some order. But that does not last forever.

In this industry, very few people go out on top. Most hang on far too long. Right now, Skip Bayless is playing a side character on Gilbert Arenas' podcast network. Rich Eisen and Dan Patrick are doing another podcast discussing their legacies in the 1990s.

We asked Cowherd how much longer he plans to do this.

"Well, I'm in my early 60s. I have two years left on my contracts [Fox Sports and iHeart]. I still think I have a fastball.

"I think maybe at some point, Bobby, instead of a three-hour TV show, which is a long television show, I scale it back. PTI is great, but think about this: it's a half-hour show. Multiply that by six, and I'm doing it mostly solo.

"I've talked to Fox about whether I should cut it down to two hours for my next contract. That's a possibility."

He then explained how retiring too early can cause people to age more quickly.

"I've read stories, Bobby, about people aging more quickly when they don't wake up with a mission or a purpose. And my wife does not want me around the house all day. She's got her life. She'd be like, 'You're following me around the house like a cat.'"

"So I don't think retirement is in the near term, but when that seven starts getting close as the first number, when I'm about 70, we're probably around the corner."

A bipartisan group of lawmakers voiced strong skepticism about President Donald Trump's newly signed Iran peace deal, arguing the agreement leaves Iran in a stronger position while questioning whether the United States secured enough in return.

Prior to Trump signing the memorandum of understanding (MOU) on Thursday, Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, offered some of the sharpest criticism among lawmakers, arguing the deal rewards "theocratic lunatics" of a hostile regime. 

"Giving billions of dollars to theocratic lunatics who want to murder us is not a good idea," Cruz told Fox News Digital. "I think the president, unfortunately, is receiving bad advice on this deal."

Other Republicans stormed off when confronted about the new terms.

TRUMP ADMINISTRATION UNVEILS SWEEPING TERMS OF PROPOSED IRAN AGREEMENT

The MOU provides immediate sanctions relief, including waivers on Iranian oil exports and access to frozen funds, while establishing a framework for more than $300 billion in reconstruction and economic development. It also sets a 60-day negotiation period aimed at reaching a final accord on Iran's nuclear program — provisions critics like Cruz argue would provide Tehran with billions in economic benefits.

Democrats were even more brazen in their criticism of the Republican president.

"Iran is now going to be able to export their oil and gas, rake in billions more. It's going to get access to its frozen assets," Sen. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., said. "And what is Iran giving up for this? Nothing."

"This is a great deal for Iran," he told Fox News Digital. "I just don’t understand the thinking at all."

NUCLEAR EXPERTS WARN IRAN’S URANIUM ‘RIGHT’ IS A MYTH, SAY TRUMP IS RIGHT TO HOLD FIRM

Several lawmakers also questioned whether the agreement secures meaningful concessions on Iran's nuclear program, the issue that drove the conflict in the first place.

"I think when it comes to the development of nuclear weapons, the language is the same," Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., said. "We went to war for what?"

"Are you kidding?" Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., shot-back when asked about the quality of the deal. "Look, everything about this says that Iran is better off now than it was before this war started."

Other lawmakers questioned whether the agreement could credibly be viewed as a win for the U.S. after months of war.

"My biggest fear is I don't know how anyone, even as good a salesman as Donald Trump can be, can sell this as a win for the United States," Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va., said.

Not every lawmaker opposed the agreement.

Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., shared a brief but supportive stance, saying: "Peace is better than war."

TRUMP AGAIN SAYS DEAL IS CLOSE, THEN CONFIRMS A LAST-MINUTE AGREEMENT WITH IRAN, BUT DETAILS STILL SECRET

Several lawmakers also compared the agreement to the Obama-era Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), the 2015 nuclear deal Trump withdrew from during his first term.

"The public reporting to me suggests we're giving up an awful lot more to get a lot less than the JCPOA," Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., said.

Warren argued the outcome of the conflict had effectively brought the administration back to a deal similar to the one Trump once rejected.

"Remember this whole nuclear deal now?" Warren asked. "No better than what we had back in 2015, back when Barack Obama cut the deal. 

"And that's where Donald Trump winds us up after all of this?" she continued. "What an embarrassment."

"In a lot of the museums, just, there’s so many, I just, I, you know," Goldberg said as she failed to name specifics. "Where they're taking down the actual history that happened in this country. Slavery happened. All kinds of stuff happened, and it seems that it has been very easy for this administration to remove that and also to denigrate Black folks who have worked their behinds off to get this American dream."

Treasury yields moved slightly lower as markets continued to adjust to Kevin Warsh’s first meeting as the new Fed chairman.

While the human cost is clear, the Iranian regime has not just survived the war, it has been empowered.

Apple today announced that developers in Brazil will be allowed to distribute iPhone apps through alternative app marketplaces on iOS, and accept payments through third-party platforms. In other words, developers in Brazil will be able to circumvent the App Store and Apple's in-app purchase system, but there are still fees.


Alternative app marketplaces will have to be authorized by Apple and will need to meet ongoing requirements. For apps that are still distributed through the App Store, developers will be able to include an alternative payment processing method in their app and/or link users to a website to complete a transaction.

These changes are available on iOS 26.5 and later, and they are the result of regulatory action from Brazil's competition regulator. Apple has added a new page on its website with additional details for developers in Brazil.

Apple said these changes introduce privacy and security risks for users, including children. The company has introduced safeguards to mitigate these risks, including a notarization process for iOS apps, an authorization process for app marketplaces, and limitations on external links and alternative payments for users under the age of 18.

Apple has already allowed alternative app stores and/or third-party payment systems on iOS in the EU, Japan, and South Korea, and it will likely be forced to do so in the UK and Australia too, due to similar regulations in those countries.

Fees

iOS apps distributed on the App Store in Brazil will be able to take advantage of a lower commission of up to 21% on digital goods and services, down from a maximum of 30%, but many developers qualify for a commission as low as 10% through things such as the Small Business Program, Video Partner Program, and Mini Apps Partner Program.

If an app uses the App Store's in-app purchase system, there is an additional 5% fee.

Developers with iOS apps on the App Store in Brazil will pay a commission of 15% on transactions for digital goods and services made on a website linked to by the developer's app. In some cases, this commission will be lowered to 10%.

iOS apps distributed outside of the App Store in Brazil will be required to pay a 5% commission on the sale of digital goods and services, including paid apps. Apple says this "Core Technology Commission" compensates it for the tools, technologies, and services that enable developers to offer apps to iOS users.

By July 6, 2026, all current members of the Apple Developer Program will need to agree to an updated Apple Developer Program License Agreement, which includes new terms that allow for these options in Brazil.
This article, "Apple Announces Major App Store Changes on iOS in Brazil" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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The speculative fever that drove copper prices to record highs in January has abated ​but is still simmering away.

Oil futures deepened their losses as the market focused on the movement of ships through the Strait of Hormuz following the signing of the U.S.-Iran agreement.

Israel demarcates expanded Lebanon occupation zone, challenging US-Iran pact

A refinery and a shopping centre burned after almost 200 Ukrainian drones struck an area to the south-east of the Russian capital.

Wall St advances as Iran deal optimism offsets hawkish Fed; Intel jumps

The record-breaking anime "Demon Slayer" has been reimagined as a musical and its sixth installment premiered June 13.

U.S. natural gas futures pared gains after a build in inventories left the storage surplus unchanged.

The four defendants admit breaking into the Moog factory, but deny criminal damage.

I’m curious what model Codex cloud (that can automatically check GitHub PRs) is using. It often catches bugs that regular GPT-5.5 misses. Perhaps just a different, more comprehensive prompt.

Shortly after the backlash, Seyfried doubled down and said she would not apologize for calling Kirk "hateful."

Speaking with "Who What Wear" in an interview published in December, the "Mean Girls" actress spoke about the backlash she faced but refused to back down from her original comments.

"I'm not f---ing apologizing for that," Seyfried said. "I mean, for f---'s sake, I commented on one thing. I said something that was based on actual reality and actual footage and actual quotes. What I said was pretty damn factual, and I'm free to have an opinion, of course. Thank God for Instagram. I was able to give some clarity, and it was about getting my voice back because I felt like it had been stolen and recontextualized — which is what people do, of course."

She added how she has to remember to "keep [her] head on" regarding politics.

"It's always hard to see people who are tricky and harmful have success — like our gorgeous president, the best possible example of that," Seyfried said while sitting in a restaurant with her interviewer. "It's so weird to sit in a civilized restaurant. People are serving us food. You can't unpack it too much, or else you'll go f---ing insane. Like, how is the world still spinning?"

In a comment to Fox News Digital at the time, Turning Point USA spokesperson Andrew Kolvet said Seyfried is free to say what she wants, but "deserved whatever backlash she gets."

"Amanda Seyfried obviously knows nothing about who Charlie Kirk actually was. She’s a victim of her own algorithm and echo chamber. But if your reaction to an innocent husband and father being assassinated in cold blood is to pile on and call him ‘hateful’ instead of offering condolences, or just remaining silent — I know wild concept — then you are the hateful one," Kolvert said.

Fox News Digital's Lindsay Komick contributed to this post. 

Thousands of Brits were left stranded in the Middle East when the US-Iran war broke out in early 2026.

Rockstar Games just confirmed that the highly anticipated Grand Theft Auto VI will be available for pre-orders starting June 25, 2026. Alongside the reveal, Rockstar also dropped a short clip on YouTube showing off the game’s cover art. While some might be disappointed that it wasn’t another trailer, today’s drops suggest Rockstar’s marketing machine is about to […]

Mom tricked me into crossing the border. Very pretty castle though

Russia's new law authorizing the use of military force abroad to "protect Russian citizens" allows the Kremlin to deploy troops beyond Russia's borders if Russian citizens are deemed to face arrest, detention, trial, or other forms of perceived persecution by foreign states or international

FIRST ON FOX: Secretary of War Pete Hegseth has made it his priority to carve out "woke" policies from the Pentagon, and a Senate Republican is backing him up in Congress’ annual defense authorization bill. 

As the Senate moves forward with the perennial National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), one of the annual must-pass bills in Congress that authorizes eye-popping sums of taxpayer funding for the Pentagon, Sen. Jim Banks, R-Ind., scored a quiet win in Hegseth’s fight. 

Banks secured an amendment to the $1.15 trillion policy package that aims to reverse Biden-era diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) policies that seeped into hiring, communication and training at the Pentagon. 

TRUMP'S IRAN DEAL 'GIVING A LOT MORE TO GET A LOT LESS' THAN OBAMA'S, SENATOR SAYS

"President Trump and Secretary Hegseth are turning the Pentagon around by getting rid of the Biden-era DEI nonsense that hurt morale and took focus away from the mission," Banks said in a statement.

"Our military should be focused on winning wars, not pushing political agendas," he continued. "I’m proud to have fought for this amendment to reinforce these reforms."

Banks’ amendment, first shared with Fox News Digital, includes three provisions targeting DEI practices at the Pentagon. 

HEGSETH QUIPS '99.9%' OF DEI INITIATIVES ARE GONE FROM THE MILITARY UNDER TRUMP’S WATCH

It would nix prioritizing diversity for active-duty warrant officers, active-duty officers and reserve officers seeking promotions, and instead press promotion boards in their deliberations to focus on merit, qualifications and leadership.

Hegseth has pushed for the Pentagon to focus more on lethality and merit rather than diversity standards. 

"Real toxic leadership is endangering subordinates with low standards. Real toxic leadership is promoting people based on immutable characteristics or quotas instead of based on merit," Hegseth said last year.

TRUMP’S CRACKDOWN ON TRANS TROOPS: NEW ORDER NIXES PREFERRED PRONOUNS AND RESTRICTS FACILITY USE

Banks’ amendment would also repeal provisions that bar the Pentagon from banning the use of gender identifiers or personal pronouns in official communications, such as emails, in accordance with an executive order from President Donald Trump last year that stated, "expressing a false ‘gender identity’ divergent from an individual’s sex cannot satisfy the rigorous standards necessary for Military Service."

The add-on to the NDAA would also shift focus from DEI training to instead emphasize instruction on military values, like honor, courage, commitment, integrity and excellence.

The U.K. will provide Ukraine with 150,000 drones and more than 350 air defense missiles and radar systems under a new military aid package worth 752 million pounds ($1 billion), the British government announced on June 18.

The package, unveiled during the NATO defense ministers' meeting and

The man accused of starting the New Year's Day fire in 2025 that helped fuel the deadly Palisades inferno allegedly had behavior that matches someone who sought "societal revenge," according to an expert who testified in court.

Jonathan Rinderknecht was arrested in October 2025 and charged with destruction of property by means of fire and pleaded not guilty after being charged in connection with the Palisades Fire in January 2025. He's currently facing trial in California. Behavioral analyst Kevin Kelm testified that he believes Rinderknecht's behavior is similar to someone who is driven by "societal revenge."

Kelm said in cases of societal revenge, the individual focuses on personal problems such as finance, relationships, work, lifestyle or anything they're not capable of dealing with on a daily basis. He previously worked as a supervisory special agent at the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and with the FBI’s Behavioral Analysis Unit.

LISTEN TO THE NEW 'CRIME & JUSTICE WITH DONNA ROTUNNO' PODCAST

One of the ways Kelm said these kind of individuals don't cope with these issues, and in this case, the act of setting a fire gives them some kind of emotional relief from the problems they face.

PALISADES FIRE SUSPECT HIT WITH NEW CHARGES IN GRAND JURY INDICTMENT

Kelm also said the defendant's use of ChatGPT was to make a "dystopian image" of the world, where he designed an image representing a barrier between rich people and other individuals who don't have as much money.

LIKE WHAT YOU'RE READING? FIND MORE ON THE TRUE CRIME HUB

He said, however, ChatGPT wasn't responding how Rinderknecht wanted, which frustrated him and shows he's not able to deal with stresses.

Kelm's assessment of a possible "societal revenge" motive stemmed from witness statements, video, pictures, academic literature and more.

Rinderknecht is charged with destruction of property by means of fire, arson affecting property used in interstate commerce and timber set afire. Fox News Digital reached out to his lawyers for comment.

Fox News' Amanda Gillilan contributed to this report.

A security system breach of an Ontario jail’s computer servers triggered a lockdown lasting almost two weeks and restricted communications, say families and a lawyer representing an inmate at the facility.

"I get it. From a high-level, nonbiased perspective, I understand it. I understand the frustrations and why this conversation is out there. The amount of different streamers and subscriptions, and I need to have cable to go along with my cable. I get all of that -- I'm also a realist," Olsen said recently to Fox News Digital.

"While I may not have designed it this way and may not always agree with it, I do believe that we just have to operate within the rules in which we're all living. This is the modern era, and I think people are going to adjust. I think networks are going to pivot and adjust, I think cable channels are going to pivot and adjust, no different than how these streamers will continue to evolve. At some point, it'll all settle itself out."

GREG OLSEN SAYS TIGHT ENDS' 'BLUE-COLLAR' ROOTS MAKE THEM THE RIGHT GROUP FOR ANNUAL TRAINING EVENT

The playing surface conversation is being heightened this summer, as 11 NFL stadiums are hosting FIFA World Cup games, which must take place on grass. Out of those 11 venues, six of them use turf but were forced to make the switch to accommodate FIFA's regulations.

Half the league’s stadiums use turf, despite NFLPA Executive Director Lloyd Howell saying that 92% of the league’s players prefer grass. Despite NFL players begging for grass and being told no, the stadiums had no choice but to, as NFLPA head J.C. Tretter once said, "roll out the green carpet of grass."

However, Olsen pushed back a bit on the "interesting" conversation.

"When they get injured, they don't like playing on turf. And when they play on bad grass in the rain, and they play on bad grass up in the Northeast and Midwest in the winter late in the season, footing's bad, it's sloppy and nobody can run, the skill guys don't feel fast, they can't figure out their shoes, they also complain about that. So I do think there's an element where you're never going to make everyone happy," Olsen begrudged.

"If they made a rule that everybody was turf, people would be in outrage. If every field had to be traditional, natural grass, I think everybody south of the Mason-Dixon would be fine. I think late in the season, northeast games would be very difficult... Just mother nature. It is what it is."

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US Supreme Court limits ban on gun ownership by marijuana users

FIRST ON FOX: Florida Republican Sen. Ashley Moody introduced two bills that would follow the Trump administration's crackdown on fraud, waste, and abuse to protect America’s youngest and oldest, Fox News Digital has learned.

"I’ve fought fraud since my days as Attorney General, and I’ve continued that fight as a Senator. Serving as an [attorney general] gave me an awareness of the pervasiveness of schemes and emboldened my determination to hold scammers accountable," Sen. Moody told Fox News Digital. "It also opened my eyes to where gaps exist between state and federal law enforcement. I’m closing that divide, and introducing targeted legislation to address holes within current law that make it easier for bad actors to exploit vulnerable citizens and programs."

The proposals follow a growing focus in Washington on combating fraud as the Trump administration moves to strengthen oversight of federal spending and public assistance programs. Moody's two bills would strengthen safeguards against fraud in childcare programs and help law enforcement authorities go after scammers who prey on seniors.

DR OZ NAMES 5 STATES IN FRAUD CRACKDOWN AS TRUMP ADMINISTRATION TARGETS MEDICAID ABUSE

The Stop Child Scams Act aims to strengthen oversight of federal childcare programs by requiring states to improve program integrity measures, submit corrective action plans if payment error rates exceed 5%, and increase federal monitoring of high-risk states.

The bill would require states to detail internal controls, fraud-investigation and recovery processes, sanctions for fraudulent clients or providers, and procedures to verify eligibility.

DAVID MARCUS: FLORIDA SENATOR'S WAVE OF ANTI-FRAUD BILLS SHOULD BE SLAM DUNK

It also permanently bars individuals convicted of childcare fraud from participating in certain federal childcare programs.

The push comes amid heightened focus on large-scale fraud cases, including Minnesota’s $250 million "Feeding Our Future" scheme, which became a national flashpoint after surfacing in 2022 and has led to a wave of convictions in recent years.

Federal agents issued search warrants at various day care and autism centers in Minnesota last month to investigate "fake" facilities allegedly taking federal money.

Moody also introduced a second fraud bill, STOP Scams Against Seniors Act, which would help states create elder justice task forces to coordinate investigations into financial exploitation, scams and fraud targeting Americans age 60 and older.

The bill incentivizes states to go after fraudsters through federal grant money to establish task forces.

The task forces would coordinate closely with state and local police departments, the FBI, the Department of Justice, and other federal law enforcement agencies.

The program also requires reporting on the number of cases opened and completed, the number of victims assisted, the types of scams identified, the methods used to contact victims, and any indicators of organized or transnational criminal involvement.

AI researches are in such demand, they shuffle between companies often, and it’s hard to tell which hires are meaningful. Anthropic likes to say that none of their founders have left. Now Noam Shazeer is leaving Google for OpenAI. He was the co-author of the transformer architecture. A big deal.

The pact makes no demands on Tehran over its militias or its huge arsenal of missiles.

The fans had waited a long time and suffered years of season-ending heartbreak before having the Cup back, while Svechnikov had a front-row seat to it all.

The second overall pick by the Canes (not the Raising ones) in the 2018 NHL Draft, Svechnikov has never missed the playoffs. But he always lost his last game of the season.

Three times, that came in the Eastern Conference Final; another three times, it was in the semis, and the other time came in the first round.

Of course, Svechnikov would be appreciating this title no matter when it came. But knowing he had been so close so many times, he's definitely taking it in a bit more.

HURRICANES LEGEND TURNED COACH ROD BRIND'AMOUR MAKES HISTORY AS TEAM WINS STANLEY CUP OVER GOLDEN KNIGHTS

"Just thinking about how much we went through, how much hard work we went through and, you know, we've been knocked out in every playoff, pretty much, it was kind of a kick in the butt every time," Svechnikov told Fox News Digital in a recent interview.

"But we knew at some point we were going to win the Stanley Cup, and this was the year. So you know, very excited and we did it this year."

It did not come easily -- the Vegas Golden Knights took a 2-1 series lead and looked well on their way to their second Cup in their brief history.

But there was never a doubt for Svechnikov.

"We just knew what we had in the locker room, in each other. We were supporting each other, the coaching staff did such a good job of preparing us for each game, and we kind of took off after that."

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Plague swept through groups of hunter-gatherers in southeastern Siberia 5,500 years ago, leaving dozens dead in its wake—with DNA from Yersinia pestis bacteria still trapped inside their teeth.

University of Oxford ancient DNA researcher Ruairidh Macleod and his colleagues recently sequenced the telltale bacterial DNA in teeth from plague victims at four ancient cemeteries in the area around Russia’s Lake Baikal. The tragedy that befell these communities is now the earliest known plague outbreak, courtesy of the oldest strain of Y. pestis ever sequenced.

Unearthing a new backstory for the plague

Until recently, scientists who study the evolution of diseases have held two fairly solid ideas about the origins of plague, the disease caused by Yersinia pestis bacteria. It's a scourge so awful that it has gone down in history as not just a plague but the plague. The first idea is that the earliest strains didn't have the right genetic traits to be really lethal. And the second is that the plague first began menacing humans when the first farmers settled in densely packed towns alongside rats and domestic animals.

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Janeese Lewis George, a democratic socialist member of the Washington, D.C. City Council described as "D.C.'s version of [New York City Mayor] Zohran Mamdani," is set to become mayor of the nation's capital after her opponent conceded the race.

While the race has not been called by the district election officials or the Associated Press, Thursday morning's concession by main challenger Kenyan McDuffie clears the way for Lewis George to secure victory in the ranked-choice primary election.

In a city that leans overwhelmingly left and with no real challengers on the ballot, Lewis George will likely win November's general election for mayor and is poised to replace current Democrat Mayor Muriel Bowser, who on occasion worked with President Donald Trump over the last two years but ultimately opted not to pursue a fourth term at the city's helm. 

Lewis George's challengers were McDuffie and five other candidates who polled very low: Rini Sampath, Gary Goodweather, Ernest Johnson, Hope Solomon and Vincent Orange.

With a more adversarial approach to the current administration, Lewis George's victory tees up a potential showdown with Trump as the president made cleaning up D.C. during his second term a main goal, maintains a deployment of the National Guard to the nation's capital and has threatened repeatedly to end home rule for the district.

Opposing Trump's deployment of the National Guard to D.C. was a central tenet of Lewis George's platform on the council and during her campaign.

DSA-LINKED DC COUNCILMEMBER MOUNTS MAYORAL BID TO SUCCEED BOWSER

"Like many of you, I am shocked and outraged that President Trump has announced he is weaponizing the Home Rule Act by deploying the National Guard and exercising authority over the Metropolitan Police Department. This is a direct attack on the 700,000 residents of DC and we will not stand for it," she said in a statement when Trump announced the move last August.

While Bowser offered cooperation with the Trump administration on the crime crackdown, which has been focused heavily on juvenile incidents, Lewis George insisted that "federal troops" and "masked ICE agents" were the real threat to the city's youth.

MAMDANI-STYLE DC MAYORAL HOPEFUL DRAGGED OVER 'EXACTLY BACKWARDS' RESPONSE TO VIOLENT TEEN MOBS

"Right now, using the curfew as a tool for our young people is dangerous," she said during a primary debate. "It is dangerous because we have federal troops who are in our city, masked ICE agents who are in our city, and these are the people enforcing this law and our young people."

"And these are not individuals who are trained in de-escalation, they are not accountable to D.C. residents."

"As mayor," she continued, "I think it's important that we use the right tools, and we don't put the risk of our youth being harmed or killed without the real oversight that's necessary."

Instead, Lewis George plans to offer even more "youth programming" to keep young people out of trouble.

She has touted a plan to expand universal access to childcare in D.C., "so that no family is spending more than 7% of their income on childcare."

As a self-described democratic socialist, Lewis George is expected to take the district even further left as Trump and Republicans call for a crackdown on left-leaning policies that they say are ruining the nation's capital.

The candidate has supported the defund police movement and was endorsed by progressive groups like Black Lives Matter, the Working Families Party and the Metro D.C. chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America.

Trump has suggested that he'd order another federal takeover of Washington D.C. if the "crazy socialist" mayoral candidate was elected.

"I wouldn’t like it — and maybe we take back Washington, run it on the federal basis," Trump said when asked by reporters how he'd respond if a self-described Democratic socialist D.C. council member were to win her bid.

"We won’t put up with it. We’re not going to lose our businesses," Trump said last week during a press briefing from the White House.

Fox News Digital's Peter Pinedo contributed to this report.

Ukraine's Air Force said Russia launched seven Iskander-M/S-400 ballistic missiles and 239 drones overnight on June 18.

Second Moscow refinery attack this week damages units, sparks fires, sources say

The starting five of Jalen Brunson, OG Anunoby, Karl-Anthony Towns, Mikal Bridges and Josh Hart hang in the main view, with other role players on the sides.

One banner was given to Dillon Jones, who played just 39 minutes for the team this season and did not step on the court in the playoffs.

CHAOS UNFOLDS IN NEW YORK CITY AFTER KNICKS WIN FIRST NBA CHAMPIONSHIP IN DECADES

However, despite his limited time on the floor, Jones, who wore No. 1 with the Knicks, was somehow given the honor of having his name above No. 33 on his banner.

ESPN lists Jones as wearing No. 33, but the number, of course, has been retired since 2003 for Patrick Ewing.

With the Oklahoma City Thunder last year, he wore No. 3, and according to @NBA_NewYork on X, Jones only wore No. 33 during the 2024 Summer League and in preseason with the Washington Wizards.

But apparently, two-time NBA champions get treated a bit differently in New York.

The parade will run down the Canyon of Heroes for the first championship parade for New York in the four major leagues since 2012 after the NFL's New York Giants won Super Bowl XLVI.

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

Bank of England keeps rates steady as it weighs Iran truce

US weekly jobless claims fall, but remain elevated

The upcoming iOS 27 update that Apple unveiled last week includes some new features and enhancements for Apple's Find My app on the iPhone.


iOS 27 is currently available as a developer beta, with a public beta to follow in July. The update is expected to be released to all users in September.

Below, we have outlined three additions to Apple's Find My app on iOS 27.

Hide Location

A new "Hide Location" option in Find My allows you to discreetly pause your location sharing with specific people until the end of the day — the other person will not receive any notification or alert about you temporarily hiding your location. Apple says it added this feature for situations such as surprise birthday parties.

Custom Durations for Location Sharing

Find My now lets you share your location with others for a custom duration between 15 minutes and 30 days. You can set a precise number of days, hours, and minutes, or you can set a set a date and time for your location sharing to expire.

On iOS 26, there are only three preset timeframes: indefinitely, until end of day, and one hour.

Landscape Mode

iOS 27 enables landscape mode in more of Apple's built-in iPhone apps, including Find My.

Landscape mode was already available on iOS 26 or earlier in Apple Maps, Calendar, Files, Notes, Mail, and some other Apple apps too, but iOS 27 expands support to many more apps. This change could be laying the groundwork for the "iPhone Ultra," as landscape-friendly apps would be well suited for the rumored foldable device.

To use landscape mode in a supported app, simply turn your iPhone sideways. Portrait Orientation Lock must be turned off in Control Center.
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Ryan Dinwiddie is in line for an icy cold Gatorade shower. Read More

Ali Larter isn't interested in hearing people bash Taylor Sheridan's writing.

Sheridan has become the most powerful creative visionary in all of entertainment, and there's not a close second.

He built the "Yellowstone" universe, "Landman," "Lioness," "Mayor of Kingstown" and plenty of other good works.

However, one idiotic criticism that Sheridan has faced over the years is that he can't write female characters. I've always found it a bit of an outrageous claim, and one of his biggest stars is now coming to his defense.

ALI LARTER’S RISE FROM SHOCK ‘VARSITY BLUES’ WHIPPED CREAM BIKINI MOMENT TO ‘LANDMAN’ LEADING LADY

Ali Larter, who is a major "Landman" star, recently spoke with The Hollywood Reporter and was asked point-blank about the notion that Sheridan can't write female characters.

The talented actress didn't hold back with her response.

"It’s just a false narrative… I also feel like what he does is, you just don’t see a lot of women in film and television that embrace their sexuality. It just stops at a certain age. I’m always amazed at how shocked people are by it [on Landman], and I’m thrilled, because it’s ridiculous," Larter told the outlet.

TAYLOR SHERIDAN'S HIT CIA/MILITARY SERIES 'LIONESS' GETS OFFICIAL SEASON RELEASE DATE ON PARAMOUNT+

Like I said above, the criticism that Sheridan can't write female characters makes absolutely no sense to me. One of his best shows is "Lioness" and it's dominated by female characters.

My theory is the criticism stems from Emily Blunt's character in "Sicario." However, what people making that claim miss is that her character in "Sicario" is supposed to be ignorant to what's happening by design.

That's why she was chosen to be a part of the secret anti-cartel unit. They needed an FBI agent who wouldn't know enough to ask questions or interfere with the real plan. It wasn't poor writing. It was actually genius writing that flew over some people's heads.

Sheridan's new deal with NBCUniversal is reportedly worth more than $1 billion. He didn't get the deal by being bad at his job. The "Yellowstone" creator got it by being the best in the game. Agree? Disagree? Let me know at David.Hookstead@outkick.com.

Gary Lineker thinks Harry Kane is "the greatest English striker we've ever had" after the England captain equalled his record of 10 World Cup goals.

Johannes Natland, 19, was remanded in custody and will now face a retrial.

Russian cosmonaut Aleksandr Samokutyaev, who served twice as a crew member aboard the International Space Station (ISS), including during the final US space shuttle mission in 2011, has died at the age of 56.

With Samokutyaev's death on Wednesday, he becomes the first former ISS long-duration resident to die in the 26 years that the space station has been a home to 155 other cosmonauts and astronauts as expedition crew members. The cause of his death is unknown.

Portrait of cosmonaut Aleksandr Samokutyaev. Credit: Roscosmos

"The leadership and staff of the Roscosmos State Corporation extend their sincere condolences to the family and loved ones of Aleksandr Mikhailovich," officials with Russia's space agency said in a statement.

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The Senate was nearing a resolution to a key hurdle to revive the nation’s most valuable counterterrorism tool, until President Donald Trump blew it up.

The last-minute wrench into the Senate’s march toward reauthorizing Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) comes just days after a domestic terror plot was foiled in Washington, D.C.

It’s a program that its champions and critics say is critical to thwarting terror plots abroad, and one heavily used by the FBI, which over the weekend foiled a plan to use bomb-laden drones and snipers to potentially kill thousands at Trump’s Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) birthday celebration. 

The Senate was on its way to confirming Trump’s pick to be the next Director of National Intelligence (DNI), Jay Clayton, in a bid to get one step closer to reauthorizing Section 702, but Trump’s eleventh-hour decision to call off Clayton’s confirmation hearing halted all momentum.

SPY PROGRAM CREDITED WITH STOPPING TAYLOR SWIFT TERROR PLOT BARRELS TOWARD EXPIRATION

"It is the single most important program in terms of maintaining national security, and putting Mr. Clayton into the Department would have eliminated an obstacle for having that happen," Sen. Angus King, I-Maine, said. "I'm not sure. I think it's a mistake for the president to have done this, and hopefully, he'll change his mind." 

FISA reauthorization has long been a policy-based issue on the Hill. Boiled down, the Section 702 program allows the U.S. government to collect intelligence on foreigners abroad who are using U.S. communication systems, and it serves as a major part of Trump’s daily intelligence briefing.

But it also sweeps up communications from Americans who are talking to foreign suspects, and proponents pushing reforms argue that loopholes in the program allow for the surveillance of Americans on U.S. soil.

But it’s now morphed into a deeply political issue on the Hill — Democrats recoiled weeks ago when Trump tapped his Housing director, Bill Pulte, to serve in the interim as DNI. His nomination of Clayton was seen as an olive branch to restart talks. 

TRUMP'S DNI PICK WILL HAVE TO WAIT FOR HIS CONFIRMATION HEARING AFTER TRUTH SOCIAL BOMB

Now lawmakers say they’re back at the starting line after Trump halted Clayton’s confirmation hearing and demanded that his SAVE America Act be attached to the unrelated bill.

"This is why I'm making the case you have to have permanent reform, because you can't count on any of these people to be there for a very long time, and that's what we saw today," Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., said. "I'm the longest serving member on the committee, and I have never seen anything quite like this."

Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., contended that Trump’s current position is to "up the ante." 

"I mean, he's putting 702 [reauthorization] almost out of reach," Tillis said. "But he's got to consciously recognize he's doing that. We were close before the Pulte announcement. We were back on the right track with the Clayton announcement. Now we're back to square one."

Senate Democrats raged at the latest development, and argued that Trump couldn't care less about the nation’s security.

REPUBLICANS QUESTION TRUMP'S 'PRIVATELY FUNDED' BALLROOM AFTER REPORT POINTS TO TAXPAYER BURDEN

"Look, Trump's actions overnight make it clear he is undermining our national security," Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said. "He doesn't give a damn about the American people’s safety, plain and simple. And every action he takes undercuts our safety for his own ridiculous, sometimes even indiscernible political motivation." 

What was already a difficult issue based on policy alone has turned into a political slugfest with jabs, parries and haymakers dealing stiff blows to the process. 

Some Republicans believe that Democrats made the issue political and own the current situation.

"They're just looking for some other reason to pin the tail on the donkey here, but it's sort of — the ball’s in their court, but a lot of important issues at stake for sure," Sen. Eric Schmitt, R-Mo., said. 

Some privacy hawks don’t see the current situation as entirely doom and gloom.

While the current compromise three-year reauthorization waiting in the wings can pass if the stars align and the political firestorm abates, there are lawmakers that want another bite at the apple to push for more reforms and see the delay as an opportunity. 

"I welcome the opportunity to, at the very least, to get rid of ridiculous provisions that say that, you know, if you have Wi-Fi in your home or building, that they may then be a FISA obligated provider," Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., said. "I mean, what in the world?"

In macOS 27 Golden Gate, Apple has brought some meaningful updates to iPhone Mirroring besides a new app icon. Here's what's new.


macOS 27 is currently in developer beta, with a public beta coming next month and a general release expected in the fall.

Window Resizing

In macOS Tahoe, iPhone Mirroring is constrained to the iPhone's native aspect ratio, so window resizing is limited to the device's fixed proportions. Smaller, Actual Size, and Larger are the only options. By contrast, macOS 27 introduces support for multiple aspect ratios. Depending on the chosen aspect ratio, iPhone Mirroring displays either a modified iPhone interface or an app's available iPad layout. Adjustments are limited to iOS 27-compatible apps for now, but expect this to change when developers update their own apps. The change has also stoked speculation about a rumored foldable iPhone coming in September.

Control Center Access

In macOS 27, you can now access your iPhone's Control Center directly from your Mac using the Command-4 keyboard shortcut or via the View menu in the menu bar. Previously, iPhone Mirroring didn't support Control Center access at all.

DRM Support

macOS 27 also adds support for DRM-protected video playback in iPhone Mirroring. In macOS Tahoe, attempting to watch protected content, such as videos from streaming services or rented movies, results in a black screen on your Mac. With the next major update, however, you can view DRM-enabled content directly through the mirrored iPhone window.
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The Supreme Court unanimously struck down a law banning "habitual" marijuana users from owning firearms on Thursday.

The court ruled the law, which was used to prosecute Hunter Biden, was overly broad and improperly deprived individuals of their right to possess a firearm in their homes.

The case involved a Texas man charged with a felony when FBI agents raiding his home found a handgun he kept for self-defense, and he also admitted to smoking marijuana every other day.

In an opinion written by Justice Neil Gorsuch, the court held that the government's prosecution of Ali Hemani under a federal law prohibiting firearm possession by unlawful users of controlled substances violated the Second Amendment. Two justices, Samuel Alito and Elena Kagan, concurred only in the judgment.

The federal government argued that people who regularly use illegal drugs could be disarmed based on historical laws that restricted the rights of so-called "habitual drunkards," but the court said the old laws the government relied on were too different from the modern gun restriction to justify it.

"The government's analogy fails under every measure it asks us to consider," Gorsuch wrote. "The historical laws on which it relies targeted different kinds of people, did so for different reasons, and operated in different ways."

The court said the old laws focused on people whose substance abuse left them unable to manage their lives, while the federal law broadly covered regular drug users regardless of whether they posed a threat to anyone.

Gorsuch noted that prosecutors never alleged Hemani was addicted to marijuana, had used a firearm while intoxicated, threatened anyone, or posed a danger to himself or others. Instead, the government relied solely on his admission that he used marijuana "about every other day."

The opinion also questioned the government's argument that marijuana users are categorically dangerous, pointing to the federal government's own actions in reducing marijuana enforcement and efforts to move marijuana to a less restrictive drug schedule. The court noted that most states now permit some form of marijuana use.

"The federal government has not just tolerated them; it helped fuel them," Gorsuch wrote of the growth in marijuana use and legalization across the country.

The Supreme Court sided Thursday with a "habitual" marijuana user who challenged a federal law banning anyone who uses illegal drugs from legally possessing a firearm, a Second Amendment case that tested the limits of restricting gun ownership.

The court ruled the law, which was used to prosecute Hunter Biden, was overbroad and improperly deprived the man at the center of the case of his right to possess a firearm in his home. But the high court also said in its narrow ruling the law limits but does not end government power to take guns from drug users.

"We do not address efforts to ban addicts, or those presently intoxicated, from possessing a firearm," Justice Neil Gorsuch wrote for the majority.

The case involved a Texas man charged with a felony after FBI agents raiding his home found a handgun he kept for self-defense and he admitted to smoking marijuana every other day.

SUPREME COURT UNANIMOUSLY STRIKES DOWN GUN LAW USED TO PROSECUTE HUNTER BIDEN

In an opinion written by Gorsuch, the court held that the government's prosecution of Ali Hemani under a federal law prohibiting firearm possession by unlawful users of controlled substances violated the Second Amendment. Justices Samuel Alito and Elena Kagan concurred only in the judgment.

The government argued that people who regularly use illegal drugs could be disarmed based on historical laws that restricted the rights of so-called "habitual drunkards," but the court said the old laws the government relied on were too different from the modern gun restriction to justify it.

"The government's analogy fails under every measure it asks us to consider," Gorsuch wrote. "The historical laws on which it relies targeted different kinds of people, did so for different reasons, and operated in different ways."

The court said the old laws focused on people whose substance abuse left them unable to manage their lives, while the federal law broadly covered regular drug users regardless of whether they posed a threat to anyone.

GUNS AND GANJA: SUPREME COURT SKEPTICAL OF FEDERAL LAW BANNING FIREARM POSSESSION FOR REGULAR MARIJUANA USERS

Gorsuch noted that under the government's interpretation of the law, the ban could extend beyond marijuana users to "a college student who routinely uses a friend's Adderall to cram for exams" and "a husband who regularly takes his wife's prescription Ambien to sleep."

The court found that prosecutors never alleged Hemani was addicted to marijuana, had used a firearm while intoxicated, threatened anyone, or posed a danger to himself or others. Instead, the government relied solely on his admission that he used marijuana "about every other day."

The opinion also questioned the government's argument that marijuana users are categorically dangerous, pointing to the federal government's own actions in reducing marijuana enforcement and efforts to move marijuana to a less restrictive drug schedule. The court noted that most states now permit some form of marijuana use.

SEVERAL GROUPS SAY CANNABIS MAY HELP AGING AMERICANS MANAGE PAIN

"Whatever one thinks of these developments, the federal government has not just tolerated them; it helped fuel them," Gorsuch wrote.

The court warned that accepting the government's theory would grant officials excessive authority to strip constitutional rights from broad categories of people.

"Affording the government 'broad power to designate any group as dangerous and thereby disqualify its members from having a gun' would risk allowing it to 'quickly swallow' the Second Amendment."

'THE VIEW' HOSTS DEFEND GUN OWNERSHIP AS CHECK TO TYRANNY AFTER YEARS OF SHOW CRITICIZING GUN RIGHTS

Carrie Severino, president of the Judicial Crisis Network, praised the ruling as a significant victory for gun rights.

"It’s a good day for the Second Amendment when all nine justices can agree to protect gun rights," Severino said. "The mere fact of illegal drug use, without more, isn’t enough to justify prosecution for gun ownership. Historically, ‘habitual drunkards’ who habitually lost use of their reason could have their rights restricted, but not just regular drinkers — even including Founding Fathers like John Adams, who drank ‘a tankard of hard cider’ with breakfast, or James Madison, who ‘consumed a pint of whisky daily.’"

"Hemani, who used marijuana a few times a week, doesn’t fit the historical mold of a ‘habitual drunkard’ whose rights can be limited on those grounds alone," Severino added.

ALEX BERENSON: I WARNED ABOUT CANNABIS DANGERS 7 YEARS AGO AND NOBODY WANTED TO LISTEN

In a separate opinion, Justice Samuel Alito, joined by Justice Elena Kagan, agreed with the outcome but said the government failed to prove that Hemani resembled the severely impaired "habitual drunkards" regulated under historical laws.

"The mismatch between the Government's historical analogues and the theory on which the Government defends the constitutionality of §922(g)(3) as applied to respondent is clear," Alito wrote.

Tyler Yzaguirre, president of the Second Amendment Institute, also welcomed the decision, saying the ruling reaffirmed that constitutional rights cannot be set aside by the government without historical justification.

"While the justices offered different legal reasoning, they unanimously agreed that applying this federal gun ban to Hemani violated the Second Amendment," Yzaguirre said. "This ruling reinforces the principle that firearm restrictions must be consistent with our nation’s historical tradition of gun regulation, not modern political preferences."

The justices emphasized that their ruling was limited to Hemani's case and did not address whether the government can bar firearm possession by addicts, people who are intoxicated, felons, or drug users shown to be dangerous.

"Gun control activists will inevitably claim that the sky is falling. It isn’t," Amy Swearer, senior legal fellow at Advancing American Freedom, told Fox News Digital. "The ruling still leaves the government room to disarm addicts or prosecute people who possess firearms while actively intoxicated."

Quebecor’s Freedom Mobile has quietly removed a requirement that customers subscribe to select plans for at least three months. The plans in question are Freedom’s Roam Beyond options, which give customers unlimited talk and text and a small bucket of roaming data for use in over 120 destinations. Freedom expanded Roam Beyond options across all […]

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Pfizer CFO Dave Denton to leave company in August

Premium ingredients, intense prep and runaway demand are forcing chefs to set strict limits.

BBC Verify examines how the new deal between the US and Iran affects three key areas.

Focus: Russian attacks could cut Ukraine grain exports by a third

Preston Davey died after months of sexual and physical abuse at the hands of Jamie Varley.

One, a Border Force official, used his access to Home Office data, to get information about Chinese dissidents.

Supreme Court sides with a Texas man who says it’s not a crime for marijuana users to have guns

The defense secretary said the level of Washington’s contributions to the alliance budget would be contingent on European military spending.

The developer has said pre-sales of the hugely anticipated game will begin on 25 June.

Forwarder, a Russian-flagged ship which left port in Primorsk last week, entered the Channel on Wednesday evening.

During the ninth inning of Wednesday's blowout loss to Oklahoma, Bulldogs shortstop Kolby Branch belted a home run in his final collegiate at-bat. His brother, Kyle, is an infielder for the Sooners, and was at second base for his brother's final blast.

The two then shared a surreal moment during Kolby's trot:

"Unbelievable, you can't script it up any better," Kolby said after the game. "It’s a good moment, high-fived him, which is kinda cool, and then I wished him luck in the National Championship."

I've said it all tournament long — college baseball is the last of a dying breed in terms of college athletics. It's sad, but true. We live in the (miserable) era of NIL and the transfer portal. It's been that way for a few years now, and we've certainly lost a little of the magic.

Cinderellas are all but dead. School loyalty is a thing of the past. Recruiting is all based on how big a program's checkbook is. It's just a mess.

GEORGIA PLAYER HITS MAMMOTH GO-AHEAD HOME RUN, PROMPTLY GETS EJECTED FOR EXCESSIVE CELEBRATION DURING TROT

But college baseball, unlike football or basketball, still has a pulse. We've seen throughout this tournament that all of that is still alive.

"Country Roads" at West Virginia.

Mid-majors (Troy) making a run.

Upsets, Cinderellas and bracket-busters.

We've gotten all of it over the past month, and this moment between the Branch Brothers — with the entire family in attendance — was just the latest example.

What a tournament. Sadly, we're near the end. Oklahoma and North Carolina will face off in a best-of-three series starting Saturday. There's still time for a little more CWS magic.

If the past month has been any indication, we'll probably get it.

Vice President JD Vance admitted his controversial "childless cat ladies" comment was "dumb" phrasing that distracted from his message to American families.

Speaking on the "Hang Out with Sean Hannity" podcast, Vance revealed the impact the insult had and the message he was actually trying to convey with it.

"I mean, it was dumb, because it offended so many people they didn't actually listen to the point," Vance said.

"The point that I was making is like, when a politician, a political leader, when a media figure speaks, you're trying to illuminate and trying to make people think. It pissed so many people off that it turned off the thinking part of their brain," he added.

JD VANCE WALKS BACK CONTROVERSIAL ‘CHILDLESS CAT LADIES’ COMMENT ON 'THE VIEW' BUT DEFENDS FAMILY MESSAGE

Vance originally made the remark in 2021 when he argued the country was being run by Democrats and "a bunch of childless cat ladies who are miserable at their own lives and the choices that they’ve made, and so they want to make the rest of the country miserable, too."

He also called out then-Vice President Kamala Harris, then-Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, arguing that the party's future was being shaped by people without children. Harris is the stepmother of two. Buttigieg welcomed twins later that year.

At the time, the comments sparked fierce backlash from liberal women, including Taylor Swift, who later endorsed Harris for president as a self-described "Childless Cat Lady."

FAMILY MATTERS: HOW VP VANCE, WIFE DELIVER 'NORMALCY TO THE KIDS IN A VERY ABNORMAL SITUATION'

Vance told Hannity that the point of the remark was that the country had become "very hostile to families, especially families with young kids." He referenced his own struggles being a parent, and the attitude he sees toward his young family in spaces like airplanes or restaurants.

JD VANCE WINS GRUDGING PRAISE FROM JOY BEHAR ON 'THE VIEW,' WHO TELLS HIM TO RUN FOR PRESIDENT

"You see how people scoff at young moms on an airplane, or I've seen this in a number of different ways. It's hard at this point to take, even with all of the benefits that we have being vice president, it's kind of a pain to take three kids to a restaurant," he said, adding, "It's [going to] be a lot harder to take four kids to a restaurant."

The vice president also referenced mask mandates for young children during the COVID-19 pandemic, which were still prevalent at the time he made the original comment.

"Why did we keep on masking toddlers? Like, I'm not saying two months into it. A year and a half into the pandemic, when we knew it was affecting their developmental, their learning, their language. Why do we do it?" Vance asked. "Because we didn't have the perspective of young parents in our country's leadership."

OPEC sticks to robust oil demand outlook, sees no peak on horizon

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The Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War (POWs) has not specified how many civilians and military personnel were among the 522 repatriated bodies.

Emergency services are called after airport staff made the discovery on an Air Arabia craft.

Kateryna Zarembo has spent years researching and telling important stories from Ukraine. As a researcher and writer, she famously captured the cultural and linguistic richness of eastern Ukraine through field work while Russian propaganda tried to erase it. Her book "Ukrainian Sunrise" stands as evidence that Donbas was

Samsung's newest monitors are now available to purchase, including the Odyssey G8, ViewFinity S8, and Movingstyle Essential. All of these are available with a $50 launch discount, plus your choice of extras including up to $300 in Samsung credit on a future purchase, a free Music Studio speaker, or free Galaxy Buds4 Pro.

Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Samsung. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.

Starting with the Samsung Odyssey G8 monitors, you will find $50 discounts across every model of the new 2026 devices. Prices start at $899.99 for the 27-inch Odyssey G8 5K Monitor, and also include Samsung's first 6K monitor with the 32-inch Odyssey G8 6K Monitor for $1,549.99.



Samsung also has a new 40-inch ViewFinity S8 Curved Monitor on sale for $1,349.99, as well as the Movingstyle Essential Monitor for $849.99, both $50 discounts. Additionally, the company announced a 27-inch model of the ViewFinity S8, but it's not yet available for purchase.

• 43-inch Movingstyle Essential - $849.99 ($50 off), plus $200 Samsung credit


• 27-inch Odyssey G8 5K Monitor - $899.99 ($50 off), plus $200 Samsung credit


• 32-inch Odyssey OLED G7 4K Monitor - $1,049.99 ($50 off), plus $200 Samsung credit


• 27-inch Odyssey OLED G8 4K Monitor - $1,049.99 ($50 off), plus $200 Samsung credit


• 32-inch Odyssey OLED G8 4K Monitor - $1,249.99 ($50 off), plus $300 Samsung credit


• 40-inch ViewFinity S8 Curved Monitor - $1,349.99 ($50 off), plus $300 Samsung credit


• 32-inch Odyssey G8 6K Monitor - $1,549.99 ($50 off), plus $300 Samsung credit

If you're on the hunt for more discounts, be sure to visit our Apple Deals roundup where we recap the best Apple-related bargains of the past week.

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Producer price in Canada continued to rise last month as Iran war and disruption to shipping through the Strait of Hormuz buoyed crude oil costs and hit supply chains.

U.S. natural gas futures were higher as the market awaits weekly storage data from the EIA amid a wide range of projections.

UK product testing firm Intertek agrees to $14.5 billion EQT buyout

Explosions, sustained gunfire in attack at Niger airport

Germany and Real Madrid defender Antonio Rudiger, whose family fled Sierra Leone's civil war, is among those campaigning for a change in global attitudes around refugees.

Germany and Real Madrid defender Antonio Rudiger, whose family fled Sierra Leone's civil war, is among those campaigning for a change in global attitudes around refugees.

Germany and Real Madrid defender Antonio Rudiger, whose family fled Sierra Leone's civil war, is among those campaigning for a change in global attitudes around refugees.

Jamie Varley, 37, subjected Preston Davey to months of horrific physical, sexual and emotional abuse.

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced a six-month review of the United States' military presence in Europe in an address to NATO defense ministers on Thursday, where he also slammed allies who refused to support Washington during its conflict with Iran.

The US defence secretary's move follows a US decision to scale back its commitments to a high readiness force within the alliance.

The US defence secretary's move follows a US decision to scale back its commitments to a high readiness force within the alliance.

Ivory Coast forward Wahi to miss Canada trip over lack of travel authorisation

England lose their first wicket as Ben Duckett is run out for 36 by New Zealand's Nathan Smith on day two of the second Test at The Oval, with the home side 45-1 in their first innings.

UK to provide 150,000 drones to Ukraine as part of $996 million package

Plus, Iran’s chance to boost oil revenues, a recycling giant bets on automation and the DOJ defends xAI in a data-center pollution lawsuit.

Deluxe is purchasing private-equity-backed Celero Commerce, which services small and midsize businesses, for $625 million.

"Russian ballistic missiles remain a problem, and we need an answer to that problem," President Volodymyr Zelensky said.

Ukrainian drones set a Moscow refinery ablaze in a major attack on the Russian capital

Eurozone inflation is set to remain above the 2% target despite the recent decline in energy prices, European Central Bank Chief Economist Philip Lane said.

The memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Iran was released Wednesday detailing the terms of the deal hashed out by the Trump administration.

President Donald Trump signed the deal after the G7 wrapped up at the Palace of Versailles on Wednesday with a formal signing ceremony set for Friday. His signature put the 60-day ceasefire and negotiation framework into effect. 

Read the full text below. 

TRUMP ANNOUNCES PEACE DEAL WITH IRAN, DECLARES STRAIT OF HORMUZ WILL REOPEN: 'LET THE OIL FLOW!'

1. The United States of America and the Islamic Republic of Iran and their allies in the current war by signing this MOU declare the immediate and permanent termination of military operations on all fronts, including in Lebanon, and undertake from now on not to initiate any war or any military operation against each other and to refrain from the threat or use of force against each other and ensuring the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Lebanon. The final deal will confirm the permanent termination of the war on all fronts including in Lebanon and other provisions of this paragraph.

2. The United States of America and the Islamic Republic of Iran undertake to respect each other’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and to refrain from interfering in each other’s internal affairs.

3. The United States of America and the Islamic Republic of Iran commit to negotiating and achieving the final deal in maximum 60 days extendable with mutual consent.

VANCE SAYS TRUMP ADMINISTRATION'S KEY OBJECTIVES HAVE BEEN REACHED IN US-IRAN DEAL

4. Immediately upon the signing of this MOU, the United States of America will begin the removal of its naval blockade and any disturbances or impediments against the Islamic Republic of Iran and will fully end the naval blockade within 30 days. During this period, the traffic of vessels will be in proportion to the numbers of prewar traffic being restored by the Islamic Republic of Iran. The United States of America further undertakes to remove its forces from the proximity of the Islamic Republic of Iran within 30 days after the final deal.

5. Upon the signing of this MOU, the Islamic Republic of Iran will make arrangements using its best efforts for the safe passage of commercial vessels with no charge for 60 days only from the Persian Gulf to the Sea of Oman and vice versa. The traffic of commercial vessels will immediately start and, considering the needs for removing the technical and military obstacles and demining by the Islamic Republic of Iran, will be instated within 30 days. The Islamic Republic of Iran will conduct dialogue with the Sultanate of Oman to define the future administration and maritime services in the Strait of Hormuz in discussion with other Persian Gulf littoral states in line with the applicable international law and the sovereign rights of coastal states of the Strait of Hormuz.

6. The United States of America undertakes with regional partners to develop a definitive mutually agreed plan with at least USD 300 billion for the reconstruction and economic development of the Islamic Republic of Iran. The mechanism for the implementation of this plan will be finalized as part of a final deal within 60 days. All required licenses, waivers and permissions needed for the relevant financial transactions will be granted by the United States of America.

TRUMP MAY HAVE WON A STRATEGIC PAUSE IN IRAN. NOW COMES THE HARD PART

7. The United States of America undertakes to terminate all types of sanctions against the Islamic Republic of Iran, including the United Nations Security Council resolutions, IAEA Board of Governors resolutions and all unilateral U.S. sanctions, primary and secondary, in an agreed upon schedule as part of the final deal. The Islamic Republic of Iran and the United States of America acknowledge the critical importance of the sanctions termination issue above mentioned and express their intentions to immediately address these issues in the negotiations in order to achieve mutual agreement on them.

8. The Islamic Republic of Iran reaffirms that it shall not procure or develop nuclear weapons. United States of America and the Islamic Republic of Iran have agreed to resolve the disposition of stockpile enriched material pursuant to a mechanism that will be mutually agreed upon in accordance with the schedule mentioned in Paragraph 7 with the minimum methodology to be downblending on site under the supervision of the IAEA. The two parties also agreed to discuss the issue of enrichment and other mutually agreed matters related to the Islamic Republic of Iran’s nuclear needs, based on a satisfactory framework being agreed upon in the final deal. The final deal will confirm the provisions of this paragraph. The United States of America and the Islamic Republic of Iran acknowledge the critical importance of the nuclear issues above mentioned and express their intention to immediately address these issues in the negotiations in order to achieve mutual agreement on them.

9. Pending the final deal, the United States of America and the Islamic Republic of Iran agree to maintain the status quo. The Islamic Republic will maintain the current status quo of its nuclear program and the United States of America will not impose any new sanctions and will not deploy additional forces in the region.

JD VANCE REVEALS DETAILS OF US-IRAN DEAL, ADDRESSES WHETHER TAXPAYER MONEY WILL GO TO TEHRAN

10. The United States of America undertakes that immediately upon the signing of this MOU and until the termination of sanctions the U.S. Department of Treasury will issue waivers for the export of Iranian crude oil, petroleum products and derivatives and all associated services including banking transactions, insurances, transportation, etc.

11. The United States of America undertakes to make fully available for use the frozen or restricted funds and assets of the Islamic Republic of Iran upon the implementation of this MOU. The United States of America and the Islamic Republic of Iran will mutually agree on the procedures related to the release of these funds during the negotiations. Such funds, whether retained in the original account or transferred shall be made fully usable for payment to any ultimate beneficiary designated by the Central Bank of the Islamic Republic of Iran. The United States of America undertakes to issue all necessary licenses and authorizations accordingly.

12. The United States of America and the Islamic Republic of Iran agree that an executive mechanism will be established to monitor the successful implementation of this MOU and the future compliance of the final deal.

13. After signing this MOU and subject to the beginning of the implementation of paragraphs 1, 4, 5, 10 and 11 of this MOU, and the continuing implementation of these measures, the United States of America and the Islamic Republic of Iran will start negotiations regarding the final deal exclusively on the other paragraphs.

14. The final deal will be endorsed by binding UNSC resolution.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Prices at the pump have fallen below $4 a gallon on average, but they remain elevated.

President Donald Trump has shared his opinion about the recent announcement regarding rolling back the golf ball, and as is often the case, his opinion on the topic at hand doesn't necessarily align with the majority.

The USGA and R&A — two governing bodies of golf — originally shared a plan in 2023 that golf ball development would change, making balls travel up to 15 yards shorter at the professional level and up to five yards shorter for amateurs. This was a direct approach to combat distance, and the opinion that it has gotten out of hand with new technology.

The original announcement nearly three years ago involved a staggered start that would take effect at the professional level in 2028 and all other golfers in 2030.

TEENAGE PHENOM MILES RUSSELL MAKES ENTIRE GOLF WORLD FEEL OLD WITH EYE-POPPING QUOTE AHEAD OF US OPEN DEBUT

On the eve of the 2026 U.S. Open on Wednesday, the USGA and R&A announced that plans for a golf ball rollback have been paused until at least 2030.

Trump praised the decision to pause the efforts to roll back the golf ball in a Truth Social post on Wednesday evening.

"Congratulations to Commissioner Brian Rolapp, the PGA Tour, and the Governing Bodies, and also, the Great U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jay Clayton, for a BIG VICTORY where the USGA wanted to roll back the distance of a Golf Ball, for whatever reason, and now they are precluded from doing so, at least for a long number of years," Trump wrote on Truth Social.

"It was a ridiculous idea, that nobody wanted, especially PGA Tour Players, and people that don’t want to go to a Course to be told that their drives will be going 20 yards shorter. What the USGA should do is agree that, far into the future, they will not allow the current ball to go further. In other words, they will keep the ball the same! The game of Golf is "hot as a pistol." The last thing we should do is tell people that, for no reason whatsoever, you will not be able to hit a ball as far as you used to. Has anyone ever heard of anything so ridiculous?"

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

Trump's suggestion that "nobody wanted" golf ball technology to change to combat distance isn't true. The debate in golf, especially at the professional level, is completely divided.

Many, if not the majority, of folks involved with golf recognize that the technology in both golf balls and modern drivers has gotten out of hand. Several golf courses have become "too short" for elite and professional players.

As for the approach golf's governing bodies have taken to address the issue, well, that's where opinions differ even more. The "how" of effectively reining in the distance golf balls possess nowadays is the million-dollar question, and this delay proves the powers that be need time to tinker as well.

Manus original investors plan to buy back AI firm from Meta for $2 billion, The Information reports

The sun is out, the U.S. Open is underway, the World Cup continues to be the perfect sporting event at the perfect time on U.S. soil and here we go with another edition of Thursday Screencaps in the middle of June.

A day after the England fans tried to wrap their brains around the idea of "free" refills, we get the day rolling with the Brits appreciating our hot dogs. Skylar Skye, one of the many English fans experiencing the United States for the first time, is in Texas where she tried a real American hot dog for the first time and let's just say it was a life-changing moment.

"Anyone know if these are good for you because I want one everyday now," she wrote on Twitter.

Who are we to tell Skylar to watch her sodium intake?

Over the years, I've seen plates of traditional British food sent in by Screencaps readers. It's no wonder Skylar is blown away by the food available in Texas. Imagine going your whole life eating those British baked beans for breakfast. I still can't believe some of you go over to England and claim an English breakfast is great. I know you're just trying to not be classified as an ugly American traveler.

Let's get back to the World Cup visitors. While the English fans are going nuts in Texas, let's check in with the Scots in Boston who are drinking the city dry. Literally. These guys show up to bars looking to have a couple and four hours later, they've each had 20 beers and these bars are scrambling for stock to keep these guys happy.

WORLD CUP FANS CAN'T STOP SMILING AFTER A MASSIVE WEEKEND OF FUN ACROSS THE US, TIME CAPSULES & BRISKET!

Scotland plays Morocco Friday at 6 p.m. This one has all the makings to be wild. Buckle up.

And, finally, let's stop and think about that major date on the calendar that us Americans have circled. America's birthday. 250. The day we told the British to kiss our ass. Despite what you might've read by the #fakenews bots on Facebook, the U.S. cannot face England on the Fourth of July. The teams are on different sides of the World Cup knockout brackets.

If you have Brits staying in an Airbnb next to you, make sure you welcome them in as you celebrate freedom. Show them why this is the greatest country Earth has ever known.

SHAKIRA BODY DOUBLE CONSPIRACY GOES VIRAL AFTER WORLD CUP PERFORMANCE, JOBA IS BACK & WORLD'S BIGGEST PIZZA

📩 Email: joe.kinsey@outkick.com Send photos, stories, tips, rants — whatever you've got.

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– Here we go with the deranged LIBS finding Screencaps. Greg W. is the male version of Sarah who emailed a few weeks back. Greg writes: What is it with the media hacks and "amazed foreigners" stories? I am seeing the same few boring tweets from the same few boring Japanese tourists in articles across the media garbagescape. Is State Media that desperate to convince Americans that the rest of the world doesn’t hate them? Sad. And yes, pathetic. But no, it’s not America bashing to point out the Jan Brady vibes, It’s Trump bashing. And 100% deserved.

Kinsey: I replied, "You want the Europeans to trash the U.S. so bad, Greg. It's sad."

Greg fired back with a bunch of Fox News-hating nonsense.

Kinsey: I replied, "Stay mad, Greg. Have a great summer."

Greg: You bet - so many of us are so very mad! You know why. Not because we "hate America". My dad, George W., USMA 1958, 2 tours in Vietnam under crooked Nixon certainly did not. I do not, after celebrating the (real) 250th birthday of the US Army in his memory, here in the Nebraska media. Something you DO NOT understand, something your kind never will. 

Kinsey: The facts are that Greg, and people like Greg, wanted the foreigners, especially the Muslim World Cup fans to come here and say how badly they've been treated and how horrible the U.S. is, blah, blah, blah as part of their culture war crusade against the United States. Now, Greg is screwed because, one week in, everyone is having a great time. Imagine spending your life with Greg's brain. It's sad.

– Jim in East Peoria, IL reacts to Cuck Ken claiming OutKick didn't save Cracker Barrel: Just a quick note today on Moron Ken.  Yes you DID break this story, repeatedly hammered them, brought ScreenCaps and Outkick nation down on them, and they realized their mistake. 

This stupid f--k has got to be closely related to Sara. Sorry, tried to keep it clean but couldn't help myself. Keep on doing what you're doing - great job!!

– Bill in Mesa, AZ writes: I love how the World Cup fans are falling in love with America. They are experiencing things we take for granted. This is the greatest country on earth.For all those who say negative things about the USA, they need to visit another country. I have been to Peru, Germany and India. I enjoyed the different cultures but I couldn’t wait to get back to the U S of A. We have so many freedoms and conveniences that we take for granted. Freedom of speech, press and questioning your government. These are not common. Wide streets, central air conditioning, all night dining. Just some of the things we take for granted. I have traveled but I would never live in another country. America is the greatest.

LIVVY DUNNE GETS EMOTIONAL AFTER PAUL SKENES' INCREDIBLE GESTURE TO BASEBALL KIDS, SPURS FAN BEATEN & MEAT

– Edward H. says: In spite of all the negative nonsense that the left  news spews constantly i always smile when I come across your column.

– Kevin G. has an idea: America might be a perfect spot for Europeans to relocate to after their countries have been destroyed by immigration.Let’s encourage mass migration of white Europeans to America, damn that’s a good idea. My idea is, let’s send disenfranchised  Americans over to Europe because they support immigration and they should get to live in the sewer of their own making.

– Brian makes an observation about tomorrow's federal holiday: Don't forget Juneteenth. Dems must have know usmnt would be playing Friday the 19th back in 2021. Now all federal workers can enjoy the beautiful game.

What has this world become? My kids ride their bikes across that bridge. There are Screencaps readers who walk across that bridge. This pooper MUST BE STOPPED.

– Drew in Katy, TX shares perspective: I grew up in a very strict Christian home.  We moved around, so I attended three very strict high schools.  I raised my boys right, but not as strict as I grew up.  Their high schools were strict too.  But the action by these school administrators over few cigars after graduation in Massachusetts is way over the top stupid even to someone like me.  This was not weed.  This was not cocaine. 

https://www.foxnews.com/outkick-sports/graduation-cigar-saga-involving-hs-lacrosse-team-boils-school-officials-family-attorney-trade-barbs

This is what drives kids to say, "What the heck.  If we are going to get punished severely for nothing, let’s go ahead and break all of the rules."  I’ve seen kids break away from overly strict homes and go crazy in college.  That’s not the goal.  There are these concepts called mercy, forgiveness, and teachable moments .  . . without the drama and ridiculous penalties that will stick in these kids’ memories for life . . . and not in a good way.    

Max Velocity had a BIG night covering storms last night. Thankfully, the tornadoes stayed off to our west this time. It did pour, but that was no big deal compared to what some of you went through.

– J Shep says PE won't destroy the Hut: I don't think you have to worry that much about stores closures. PH is heavily franchised — I think there are fewer than 100 corporate stores. The new owner will want even more franchisee locations — that way they can rake in the royalties, marketing fund $, etc. Of course, PH's network is so built out that expansion likely will be to the detriment of existing franchisee locations.

Where there will be cuts are in overhead, corporate labor, etc. Given the franchise model, I'm guessing 95 cents of every $1 saved goes directly to the bottom line. 

######################

And that is it this morning. The emails are really rolling in right now. Let's keep the train rolling. I need you guys responding to that idiot Greg. Have you interacted with the World Cup fans? Have you gone to a match? Speak up.

Let's get rolling.

Residents return to war-ravaged southern Lebanon with hope and sorrow after the US-Iran deal

With rising tuition fees and living costs, do higher graduate earnings cover the cost of a degree?

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We analyzed everything from advisor credentials to fees to portfolio options at some of the larger and more well-known registered investment advisor firms to help you select a firm that could best connect you with a fiduciary financial advisor.

The bank said that inflation slowed in May to 8.2%, after a bump from 7.4% in January to 8.6% in April, partly driven by the war in the Middle East.

Velella velella, or by-the-wind sailors, have been spotted on beaches at Anglesey, Gwynedd and Tenby.

A dispute over Pride flags and veterans' tribute banners has sparked controversy in a Long Island village after officials removed some Pride flags following complaints about their placement alongside banners honoring local military veterans.

Northport Mayor Donna Koch said she had the Pride flags removed after concerns were shared by the Northport American Legion over the Pride flags being displayed above "Hometown Heroes" banners honoring veterans, CBS News reported.

"I had the Pride flags removed. It had nothing to do with my feelings about the Pride community. I support them 100%. I also support our veterans," Koch said.

SCHUMER PUSHES BILL TO GIVE PRIDE FLAG SAME STATUS AS US, MILITARY FLAGS

ABC’s Eyewitness News reported Monday that American Legion Commander William McKenna told the outlet, "They were putting the pride banners above my veterans, and that does not work, sorry."

"If you put a pride flag by one of my veterans, I'm taking every one of them down," McKenna said.

ABC’s Eyewitness News reported that McKenna sent a letter to Koch and the village board which said, in part, "The concern being expressed is not at the pride flags themselves, nor is it intended to diminish the importance of recognizing any group within our community. Rather, many veterans and families feel that placing another banner above the veterans' banners diminishes the recognition and prominence that was originally intended for those who served our country."

PITTSBURGH LGBTQ PRIDE PARADE IN JEOPARDY AFTER CORPORATE SPONSORS PULL FUNDING

Jeff Cusick, treasurer for Northport Pridefest, called the situation "very offensive" in a quote published by CBS News.

"We love and support our vets, but the Hometown Heroes program was apparently given the rights to these lamp posts from May to November, which is the entire outdoor season, and that doesn't leave room for other community members. We believe it's a point to leverage patriotism for discrimination against us," Cusick added.

The outlet reported that the Pride flags and veterans' tribute banners are now being displayed separately, and that PrideFest organizers said they would hang the removed Pride flags on the vacant flagpoles at Village Hall during Tuesday night's meeting, with the mayor saying that the village would cover the cost of the necessary hardware.

US ARMY RAISES ENLISTMENT AGE TO 42 AND EASES MARIJUANA POLICIES TO BOLSTER RANKS

CBS News reported that Army veteran Bruce Adams said he has no issue with the Pride flags, but added, "The American flag should be superior to all other items. I looked up and saw my lamp post bare."

Resident Angel Deleva told CBS News, "Pride flags should not be above our veterans because they risked their lives for us."

Fox News Digital attempted to reach Koch, the Northport American Legion, and Northport Pridefest for comment but did not immediately receive responses.

Sheen described being at the center of seven family interventions, countless affairs, legal battles and messy divorces. He finally got sober for good in December 2017.

"When I finally decided that I was going to make AA a place that I passed through and not wound up in, that's when I felt like I was the captain of my own ship," Sheen said. "That’s when I knew that I was going to make a promise to myself and honor it."

Sheen said he couldn’t recall a moment when he realized that chasing extremes could kill him.

"I was never a guy that saw this stuff as life-threatening," he explained. "If I did, I probably never would’ve done it. That’s the reason why I never did heroin, because I knew that I would do it once and die, or do it every day for the rest of my life until I died. There is that first intervention on my dad’s 50th birthday. That was a moment where I was actually grateful for that intervention."

"And then later on, I was married to Denise [Richards]. The show was going great. We had a nice new house and a baby on the way. And then I just made the completely ill-advised decision to start taking pills because I could do them. Nobody can smell pills on your breath."

"How stupid that was," he chuckled to himself. "That turned into a thing."

"I would get away for a minute, and then I’d pull it back. It was a constant back and forth of either coming out of detox or looking forward to the next dose. And if you’re constantly living between those two moments, then you’re never really in the present."

In his book, Sheen described being consumed by what he called the "holy trinity" — mixing cocaine, cigarettes and porn.

"[Why?] First and foremost, because of how good it felt," he said. "Anyone who's struggled with addiction ... a lot of them will tell you the same thing. I wouldn't have done it at that level, in those combinations, if the majority of it didn't feel awesome."

Sheen still experiences what he calls "shame shivers" — sudden feelings of guilt over his past. He previously said he spent his 50s apologizing to those he hurt.

"What I tell myself is I can’t go back to that moment, regardless of the wreckage, and bring a simple item from it into the present," he said.

"It doesn't mean it should be completely forgotten. I keep a lot of that stuff close. ... The shame shivers, they just come out of nowhere. But they're spaced out these days a lot more than they used to be. I also think being honest with yourself takes the power out of those memories and those feelings. We're all flawed."

CHARLIE SHEEN ADMITS 'BETRAYAL' BEHIND LOSING ICONIC VIETNAM FILM ROLE TO TOM CRUISE

"The hardest things in life that I’ve either accomplished or overcome, I’ve handled alone primarily. And so, I was going to apply that same tenacity, that same grit. And then I knew if I’d done it myself [get sober], then I had completely earned it. The stuff that we earned is the stuff that we truly own."

Analysts expect high withdrawals to last more than a year, increasing the risk of forced liquidations.

A 19-year-old outstanding suspect in the U.S. consulate shooting in Toronto last March has been arrested, police announced Thursday, as officers continue to investigate a pattern of shootings across the city allegedly orchestrated by gun-for-hire networks.

Eurozone inflation is set to remain above the 2% target despite the recent decline in energy prices, European Central Bank Chief Economist Philip Lane said.

U.K. central bank says it may yet raise rates to tame inflation triggered by closure of the energy bottleneck.

The Bank last cut interest rates in December but upheaval in the Middle East has stalled any further reductions.

It could take several weeks for traffic through the thoroughfare to return to even half of prewar levels, with knock-on effects continuing for months.

England fans celebrate as their team got their World Cup campaign off to a winning start, beating Croatia 4-2 on Wednesday thanks to two goals from captain Harry Kane and one apiece from Jude Bellingham and substitute Marcus Rashford. Meanwhile in Zagreb, the result left many Croatian fans looking dejected.

Ukraine brings the war to Moscow as huge blasts shake refinery

US announces targeted visa restrictions for some Ethiopians

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By contrast, women were overrepresented as the leads in streaming films, even though they saw a decline from 61% to 58.4% in 2025.

The report ended on the importance of increasing opportunities for minority actors and filmmakers not only to increase profit but to benefit society as well.

"People want stories they can relate to and connect with in the movies they watch. In a society where people increasingly do not interact with each other in person, film affords people the opportunity to connect with others who they may never come in contact with in real life and helps them to understand their shared humanity. This is why meaningful representation in film is so vital and why Hollywood must adapt to meet this need," the report concluded.

First tankers cross strait under Iran deal; Israeli strikes raise doubt in Lebanon

Over the past few years, the group has discussed its own future, with some saying that the organization "will cease to exist if hibakusha are no longer here with us."

Sir Jeffrey Donaldson, the former Democratic Unionist Party leader, is on trial for 18 sex abuse charges, including one count of rape, all of which he denies.

A court in Amsterdam rules Lyons must face charges related to drug trafficking, money laundering and violent crime in Spain.

Daily roundup of research and analysis from The Globe and Mail’s market strategist Scott Barlow

Waymo recalls nearly 3,900 robotaxis over risk of entering closed construction zones

Two men jailed in Britain for spying for China

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that around 10 countries had expressed support for the new Prioritized Ukraine Requirements List (PURL) packages.

While ABS and instant replay have greatly improved the quality of play in Major League Baseball, they've really ruined one of the great joys we get from watching a game ...

The managerial ejection.

Gone are the days of Bobby Cox getting tossed in the first inning for the 300th time. You just don't see it anymore, mainly because there are so few chances for umpires to actually get something wrong. Sure, they still do, because they are generally horrible, but still. This ain't your daddy's game.

Heck, this is barely even your granddaddy's game anymore.

BLUE JAYS MANAGER JOHN SCHNEIDER EJECTED AFTER FACE-TO-FACE, FIERY ARGUMENT WITH UMPIRE IN LOSS TO DODGERS

We're lucky if we see one or two real freakouts a year at this point. They used to be a dime a dozen in this league, especially during the glory years when Cox, Lou Piniella and Tony La Russa were all coaching at the same time. I believe that special era took place from 1990 to 2002, and it was beautiful.

Anyway, for those who need their fix, here's a blast from the past. James Frisbie, the manager of the Lincoln Saltdogs, got tossed Wednesday night and promptly launched first base into the abyss during a nearly two-minute post-ejection masterpiece:

"Fris might lose his mind. He wants an explanation. Fris may get tossed ... yeah, he's done."

Perfect. 10/10. No notes. Hats off to James Frisbie. We salute you! We commend you. We appreciate you.

Feels good to watch that again, doesn't it? Again, I understand we live in a new era and technology is always advancing and AI is taking over. I get it. I loathe it, but I've accepted it.

I know that ABS and instant replay have both been upgrades to this great game. I fought ABS for a bit, but, obviously, it's a good thing.

But, man, do I miss a good ejection over a blown call. Frankly, I'm not even sure this was a blown call. We only see the one replay, but I couldn't tell if he was on the bag or not. It didn't look that egregious.

James Frisbie was NOT having it, though. The former MLB assistant for both the Tigers and Nationals needed to blow some steam, and he saw blood in the water over this call at first.

TWO FREAK PLAYS IN ONE MLB NIGHT LEAVES ANNOUNCERS, FANS STUNNED

A perfect bag-toss, too. That's an art, by the way. Only the greats have really executed it over the years, and I've got no qualms about now putting James Frisbie on that list. It's always a risky move because you never know how stuck that sucker's gonna be when you go to pick it up, but Frisbie gave it a couple wiggles and out she popped.

A huge sigh of relief for the 53-year-old.

Mix in a couple well-timed dirt-kicks, finger-points and some near-contact towards the end of the session, and this was a masterclass from James Frisbie.

What a show for the Lincoln Saltdog fans, too. This is what it's all about.

Well done, Fris. Well done.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has helped deliver more than 6.5 million meals to families in need nationwide as part of a massive America250 hunger-relief effort that has sent 250 truckloads of donated food to communities across all 50 states.

The nationwide initiative, launched through America250's "America Gives" campaign and the Church's JustServe volunteer platform, is one of the largest service projects tied to the country's upcoming 250th anniversary celebration in 2026.

The effort reached a major milestone this month when deliveries were completed in all 50 states, including Alaska and Hawaii. In Boston, one of the nation's most historic cities, Catholic Charities Boston on Wednesday received a fully loaded semi-truck carrying more than 37,000 pounds of donated food to be distributed to families and community organizations throughout Greater Boston.

As Americans prepare to mark the semiquincentennial of the signing of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 2026, organizers say the project is designed to turn the historic anniversary into an opportunity for service.

EXCLUSIVE LOOK INSIDE AMERICA 250 TIME CAPSULE REVEALS ARTIFACTS PRESERVING US HISTORY

"America's 250th celebration is a unifying moment for our country, and the Church's efforts are a beautiful example of the American spirit — neighbor caring for neighbor in service and generosity," America250 Chair Rosie Rios said. "We are immensely grateful for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints' collaboration and its continued support for this historic celebration."

America250 Commissioner Cathy Gillespie pointed to the role faith-based groups play in volunteer service across the country.

"More than 30% of all volunteer hours in the United States are generated by faith-based organizations," Gillespie said. "Service can unite us. It invites people from every background to work side by side, regardless of political or religious views."

LIBERTY AND UNITY: WHAT AMERICA’S 250TH ANNIVERSARY ASKS OF US TODAY

Church leaders echoed that message, describing the nation's upcoming 250th birthday as an opportunity to bring Americans together through community service and gratitude.

"As we mark this historic milestone, we hope to foster a spirit of unity, peacemaking, and goodwill," said Elder Gerrit W. Gong of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. "The anniversary is an opportunity for all to come together, serve together, and express gratitude for the freedoms that have allowed all faiths — including ours — to flourish."

The Church leveraged its nationwide volunteer network, humanitarian food resources and established distribution infrastructure to support the initiative, which involved partnerships with nonprofits, faith groups, community organizations and local leaders across the country.

Blaine Maxfield, managing director of the Church's Welfare and Self-Reliance Services department, said the project reflects the Church's longstanding commitment to helping individuals and families in need.

"Following the example of Jesus Christ, we strive to love our neighbor," Maxfield said. "Each of us can have an impact in our own communities through service."

Organizers hope the food donation campaign will inspire Americans to participate in volunteer efforts leading up to the nation's 250th anniversary, using service to celebrate the country's history while meeting needs in their own communities.

Rate hikes are on for the G10 economies

RIVERHEAD, N.Y. — Rex Heuermann, who will spend the rest of his life in prison after admitting to being the Gilgo Beach serial killer, had a "Dexter"-style kill room in his basement, according to the top prosecutor on the case.

"Very evocative of that, and I think when we realized what it was, you know, that was some of the comments that were made," said Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney, who was personally part of the prosecution team that secured Heuermann's guilty plea. "We were actually able to recreate that, in the basement, in the exact location."

And that's the room where Heuermann's ex-wife now sleeps, according to a new docuseries, "The Gilgo Beach Killer: House of Secrets," where she said so herself.

Heuermann received the maximum possible sentence from Judge Timothy Mazzei Wednesday — three consecutive terms of life in prison without the possibility of parole, followed by four consecutive terms of 25 years to life in prison.

GILGO BEACH SERIAL KILLER REX HEUERMANN SLAMMED AS ‘SMALL MAN’ AS JUDGE GIVES MAX SENTENCE FOR MURDER SPREE

"You’re a disgusting and despicable small man, if you’re a man at all," Mazzei told the defendant. "And you’re a coward."

Moments later, he told the court officers to "get him out of here."

Heuermann is expected to be in state prison before the end of the week, Tierney said.

In an interview with Fox News and Fox News Digital after the sentencing hearing, Tierney explained why investigators returned to Heuermann's basement long after they'd arrested him and spent days searching the house.

They recovered a deleted document that Heuermann labeled "HK," which Tierney said stood for "hunt-kill." Although Heuermann had made and deleted multiple versions of it over time, investigators could only recover one.

Prosecutors have described it as a planning document. He noted the locations of traffic cameras to and from the places he dumped victims' bodies. He wrote down supplies he'd need for the murders and reminded himself to be well rested and mindful of screams.

SUSPECTED SERIAL KILLER'S 1980S SUMMER JOB MAY HAVE BEEN ROAD MAP TO MURDERS: PROSECUTORS

He also discussed the merits of using tape vs. pins to hang drop cloths in the basement where he is believed to have killed seven of the eight victims.

"He was hanging plastic sheets from the ceiling and on the walls," the district attorney said. "That's what the document talks about, and then what he says is don't use push pins, because it ruins the ceiling. Use tape."

When detectives returned to the home with infrared and ultraviolet lights, they found more evidence.

WATCH: Judge blasts Gilgo Beach killer before handing down life sentence

GILGO BEACH SUSPECT REX HEUERMANN LOSES BID TO TOSS DNA EVIDENCE AT UPCOMING MURDER TRIAL

"We could see the adhesive stains on the wall," Tierney said. "And then what we are able to do is we were able to see that they made a perfect square — and that's where, we believe, the crimes occurred."

Heuermann, described as an "ogre" by the only eyewitness in the case, stands at about 6 feet 4 inches tall and weighs close to 300 pounds. The victims were all around 5 feet tall and 100 pounds, and in the "HK" document, he noted that "small is good."

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The victims were Sandra Costilla, 28, found in North Sea; Karen Vergata, 34, found on Fire Island and near Tobay Beach; Valerie Mack, 24, found in Manorville and along Ocean Parkway near Gilgo Beach; Jessica Taylor, 20, found in Manorville and along Ocean Parkway — and the so-called Gilgo Four, who were all found just east of Gilgo Beach in the brush north of Ocean Parkway. They were Maureen Brainard-Barnes, 25; Melissa Barthelemy, 24; Megan Waterman, 22; and Amber Lynn Costello, 27.

NEW YORK POLICE ID MURDER VICTIMS LINKED TO GILGO BEACH SERIAL KILLER INVESTIGATION

Investigators believe Heuermann's known killings spanned from Costilla's 1993 murder through the 2010 disappearance of Costello.

Before Heuermann was sentenced, relatives of his victims delivered emotional statements about the decades of pain and loss left behind by the killings.

Mack's adoptive parents were among the first to address the court. Her father told Heuermann that despite the brutality of his crimes, "you never touched her soul," adding that "Valerie is the one who is free today, and you are not."

Taylor's relatives recounted the anguish of learning that only some of her remains had initially been recovered and the pain of seeing the case repeatedly return to public attention over the years. One cousin mocked Heuermann's efforts to evade capture, telling him he had created elaborate plans to get away with murder but still left behind evidence that led investigators to him.

The most emotional testimony came from the family of Brainard-Barnes, one of the so-called Gilgo Four. Her sister, Melissa Cann, recalled the last conversation they shared before Brainard-Barnes disappeared.

"The last words she said to me were, 'I love you. I'll see you tomorrow,'" Cann told the court.

Cann described years of survivor's guilt and said she dedicated herself to helping ensure the killer was eventually identified and brought to justice.

Brainard-Barnes' daughter, Nicolette, said she was just 7 years old when her mother was killed and is now older than her mother was at the time of her death. She said the victims "mattered infinitely more" than Heuermann and described him as "a coward who takes out his own shortcomings on others."

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Heuermann pleaded guilty to seven murders on April 8 and confessed to Vergata's 1996 slaying, which he had not been charged with.

Asked if there may be more victims, Tierney declined to speculate. If the evidence ever indicates there were, he said, he'd bring it to a grand jury and seek a new indictment.

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He revealed that prosecutors have more evidence against Heuermann that has not yet been made public and described how Heuermann evolved over the years from a "disorganized" killer to an "organized" one.

Tierney said Heuermann appeared more disorganized early in his criminal career before becoming increasingly methodical and deliberate over time, as shown by the planning document, his evolving modus operandi and digital evidence that showed he was scouring news reports for updates on the murders he'd committed.

LISTEN TO THE NEW 'CRIME & JUSTICE WITH DONNA ROTUNNO' PODCAST

At some point, he also picked up the book "Mindhunter" by famed FBI analyst John Douglas.

WATCH: Defense lawyer reveals the 'two parts' of serial killer Rex Heuermann

GILGO BEACH VICTIM’S SON CLAIMS SUSPECTED SERIAL KILLER’S FAMILY TURNED HORROR INTO PROFITS AHEAD OF PLEA

"If you're a high school football player and you get, Peyton Manning's book, you want to become a better quarterback," he said. "So he took that book, not to gain insight, but to become a better serial killer, specifically not to get caught."

LIKE WHAT YOU'RE READING? FIND MORE ON THE TRUE CRIME HUB

As part of the plea deal, Heuermann has agreed to sit down with the FBI's Behavioral Analysis Unit to be analyzed clinically, Tierney said. Douglas, a pioneer of criminal profiling, had been chief of the FBI's Behavior Science Unit, the BAU's predecessor.

"That was a suggestion of mine," Tierney revealed. "I'm a former federal prosecutor. I'm familiar with the work of BAU. I know I knew about the 'Mindhunter' book by this defendant. I knew that that was something that he was interested in, so I thought it would be a good opportunity."

Investigators could potentially learn from Heuermann in a clinical setting and use the knowledge to assist in new cases as they come up, he said.

Fox News' CB Cotton and Kirill Clark contributed to this report.

Now every team has played once, BBC Sport take a look at who has been the best and worst players so far according to the stats.

"We put a cap on how many we have every night just because we don't want to just be a burger restaurant and, frankly, the labor involved in making this burger is gruesome, so we're trying to not kill ourselves making only burgers," Messina told Fox News Digital.

The restaurant opened with the burger on the menu, Messina said, "but we very quickly realized that we needed to put a cap on it because people were just coming in for that, and we just couldn't keep up with the demand."

Curating the meat and grinding it in-house are what make the "fun burger" labor-intensive, Messina said. He added that neither he nor his chef cut corners.

"The inspiration was not necessarily to be on trend with having a limited-time, specialty burger," Messina said. "We just wanted to make a good burger, and then we had to do what we had to do to keep up with it."

TEST YOURSELF WITH OUR LATEST LIFESTYLE QUIZ

Messina is in the process of opening another restaurant, this one in L.A., where high-end burgers seem to be all the rage. Bar 109, in East Hollywood, serves its Australian wagyu burger exclusively on Tuesdays. 

Customers can start ordering it after 8:30 p.m., according to Food & Wine.

Content creator Chad Savage said in a TikTok video of himself sampling it that it was one of the best burgers he's had in L.A., and if it weren't past 10 p.m., he would have gotten another one.

Lord's in New York only offers its $26 Welsh rarebit cheeseburgers at dinnertime.

"It's kind of a pain to make," Lord's co-owner Ed Szymanski told Food & Wine. "Also, we don't want to be known as a burger restaurant."

Szymanski said he doesn't "begrudge anyone who wants to come and eat the burger."

He added, "It's an awesome show of their commitment to dining out, but I don't think the burger should be the whole story of Lord's."

Exclusive: UniCredit turned to CEO Orcel's brother to broker Russia sale

Front-month Brent crude was down 1.2% and WTI dropped 1.8% in afternoon European trading after Trump signed a deal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

DOJ probes US banks over transactions tied to Iran's supreme leader, Bloomberg News reports

Authorities in Catalonia confirmed that the 63-year-old died in the Palau de Noguera area on Wednesday.

Pentagon chief lashes out at NATO allies and announces a review of US forces in Europe

Abdul El-Sayed, a Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate in Michigan, once accused the state’s police of profiling in a campaign speech.

"We have a system of policing that seems to want to police on top of people rather than police with people," El-Sayed said during a gubernatorial bid in 2018 in an address before Harvard.

"The probability of closing a murder in Detroit is extremely low. And yet the cops will pick on you because you look a particular kind of way."

El-Sayed’s comments persist despite efforts to scrub his social media of posts championing criticisms against law enforcement, providing a look at his views on Michigan police that preceded the widespread criticisms of police that would emerge in the "Defund the Police" movement.

TLAIB-BACKED SENATE CANDIDATE IN THE HOT SEAT AFTER DELETING 'DEFUND THE POLICE' SOCIAL MEDIA POSTS

Despite rejecting political language that pits "left" against "right" and "progressives" against "conservatives," El-Sayed has raised eyebrows nationally for messaging that pushes the edges of his party’s messaging on key issues.

Among other notable positions, El-Sayed has made increasing the role of government a key part of his campaign. In addition to calling for lowering housing costs, he’s advocated for Medicare for All, opposes corporate tax carve-outs and supports tuition-free access to higher education.

He’s also called for the abolition of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

But, like most Democrats, El-Sayed has been backtracking from criticisms about local police — retreating from the "defund the police" stance that rose to prominence in the wake of the death of George Floyd in 2020. Although the movement rallied Democrats around increased accountability measures for law enforcement officers, it became a political liability following crime spikes in cities that embraced the idea like Minneapolis, Portland and Seattle.

END OF DEFUND POLICE ERA? CRIME, PROSECUTORIAL CRACKDOWN IN BLUE AND PURPLE STATES SIGNALS SHIFT, EXPERTS SAY

El-Sayed has taken pains to clear ties to the movement on his social media.

"Most major US cities spend WAY TOO MUCH on police departments to police poverty & WAY TOO LITTLE on public schools, health departments, recreation departments, & housing to eliminate poverty. Fixing that is what the #Defund movement is about," El-Sayed wrote in one June 2020 post on X, just several weeks after the death of George Floyd.

He has since deleted the post and declined to explain why he removed them.

Although many of his posts about defunding the police have been removed, some of El-Sayed’s comments from his gubernatorial bid demonstrate that his concern about police behavior preceded George Floyd’s death.

UNEARTHED VIDEO SHOWS DEM CANDIDATE SUPPORTING 'REALLOCATION' OF POLICE FUNDING TO SOCIAL SERVICE PROGRAMS

"We incarcerate 11% more people in the state of Michigan than the national average. We’re way better at violating people’s bodies for petty crime than we are in policing violations of their bodies for serious crime," El-Sayed said in his Harvard address.

El-Sayed’s campaign did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Short-dated gilt yields edged lower after the Bank of England left interest rates unchanged, as widely expected.

Weather authorities have added "risk of tornadoes" to the description of a storm front bearing down on the capital Thursday. Read More

The Ivory Coast football federation have announced their forward Elye Wahi has been denied entry to Canada for their next World Cup game.

Parents of Serbian school shooter sentenced in retrial, report says

Putin and leaders of Southeast Asia agree to bolster ties at a summit in Russia

Bars in Boston are gearing up for a second tidal wave of drinking by Scotland's Tartan Army of football fans who nearly drained some pubs of all their beer in the first weekend of their World Cup occupation of the city.

England will face Greece in round one of the 2027 Women's World Cup play-offs, with Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales also learning their opponents.

Israeli foreign minister says he is severing contact with EU foreign policy chief

LAW & DISORDER — Knicks title frenzy torches buses as Judge Judy's son warns no mercy. Continue reading …

PAPER CUTS — Jeff Bezos reportedly told Trump the Washington Post was his ‘worst investment’ before staff cuts. Continue reading …

TALE OF TWO CITIES — Seattle mayor defends payroll tax after damning report on lost property value. Continue reading …

TAKE IT EASY — Joe Rogan tells critics of UFC White House event to ‘shut the f--- up.’ Continue reading …

HUGH HEWITT — Morning Glory: GOP’s top job now is rebuilding America’s defenses fast. Continue reading … 

LAUREL LIBBY — Democrats want us to focus on Graham Platner’s policies. He fails Maine there, too. Continue reading …

--

DANGER ZONE — US State Department warns Americans of growing security risks in historic region. Continue reading …

KEEPING IT FAIR — Austin Metcalf’s dad supported Karmelo Anthony judge’s hard line on cameras. Continue reading …

PLATES AND PINTS — World Cup visitor from England goes viral describing ‘best beef ever.’ Continue reading …

AMERICAN CULTURE QUIZ — Test yourself on revolutionary recipes and celebrity challenges. Take the quiz here …

VICE PRESIDENT JD VANCE — Trump has an unbelievable ability to read people. See video …

VICTOR DAVIS HANSON — Iran will open the Strait of Hormuz because they're just about broke. See video …

Tune in as we examine whether a new U.S.-Iran agreement signals strategic diplomacy or a troubling shift toward appeasement in American foreign policy. Check it out ...

What's it looking like in your neighborhood? Continue reading…

 

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War Secretary Pete Hegseth had harsh words for NATO allies during an address to his European counterparts on Thursday, announcing a six-month review of U.S. force deployment on the continent.

Hegseth said the review's outcome will depend on how quickly European nations act to support themselves militarily.

"This will be a real review. It will be designed to ensure that NATO is moving fast and irreversibly toward Europe leading, stepping up to take primary responsibility for the defense of Europe," he told NATO officials in Brussels.

Hegseth also lashed out at European countries for refusing to assist U.S. forces in the war against Iran, particularly those that withheld use of military bases.

TRUMP PRESSES NATO PARTNERS ON SUPPORT AS HEGSETH BLASTS HESITATION

"These allies, they put America’s sons and daughters, our sons and daughters, at risk by denying them the predictable access, basing and overflight that never should have been in question at all," he said.

Hegseth then launched a more general critique of European policy, referencing migration and an emphasis on social policy over defense.

"Instead of tanks and fighters and air defenses, the focus has been on gender equity and climate change and defense austerity. Europe’s borders flew wide open, welfare states expanded, defense budgets cratered. Along with Europe’s belief in itself and its civilization," Hegseth said.

GERMANY PLEDGES TO BUILD EUROPE'S STRONGEST ARMY AS NATO ALLIES ANSWER TRUMP PRESSURE

The wake-up call comes just days after Germany pledged to become a more powerful military force inside NATO, with Berlin’s ambassador to Washington telling Fox News Digital that the country is ready to assume greater responsibility for European security after decades in which the United States carried much of the alliance’s military burden.

"Germany is stepping up — we heard the call!" German Ambassador to the United States Jens Hanefeld told Fox News Digital in an exclusive interview.

Chancellor Friedrich Merz has said Germany’s armed forces should become the strongest conventional army in Europe, a goal Hanefeld said is now backed by Berlin’s new military strategy.

"Russia’s illegal war of aggression has shaken old certainties in Europe and Germany as the international rules we have relied on are being challenged," Hanefeld said. "This changes the strategic environment we operate in."

"Today, Germany is Ukraine’s largest supporter," Hanefeld said. "Germany’s decision to become Europe’s strongest conventional army, well anchored in the NATO alliance, is an ongoing commitment."

Fox News' Efrat Lachter and the Associated Press contributed to this report.

Latest figures suggest companies are becoming more cautious about taking on new staff.

Thousands of Ghana and Panama fans crowded the streets of Toronto on Wednesday ahead of their World Cup group stage opener.

President Donald Trump isn't fond of international meetings of world leaders. But he changed his tune at the G7 summit after earning support from his counterparts for a tentative agreement he struck with Iran to end the war.

US signs $725 million loan pact with Energy Fuels to boost domestic rare earth production

BBC Sport takes a look at the talking points from the first week of World Cup.

After Shedeur endured an uneven rookie season for the 5-12 Browns, the Colorado football coach said he hoped for more from his son but also pointed to the support young quarterbacks need early in their development.

"I would have wanted him to perform a little better, but that's not just an individual thing, that's a team thing," Sanders told Covers while speaking on behalf of his partnership with Depend.

"A quarterback needs help tremendously from the offensive line, from the receivers, from the running game, from the coordinators as well. "It's not just a singular thing, like a defensive back. I don't care what the pass rush is, (the DB) has got to do his job. It's a little different with a quarterback. He needs several things to go right for him to be successful."

BROWNS GM ANDREW BERRY WON'T COMMIT TO SHEDEUR SANDERS AS 2026 STARTER DESPITE ROOKIE'S PROGRESS

Sanders also weighed in on Cleveland’s decision to trade the reigning Defensive Player of the Year Myles Garrett to the Los Angeles Rams, a move that underscored the Browns' rebuild.

"I'm happy with Mr. Berry, the GM, and what he's doing, I'm not going to question his direction of what he's bringing to the table," Sanders said of Browns general manager Andrew Berry.

"I'm not there, so I don't know all the intangibles that provoked that trade. I'm happy with what they got, and I can't wait to see how it plays out."

Sanders finished his rookie season 3-4 as a starter, with seven touchdowns and 10 interceptions.

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

FDA panel considers a first-of-its-kind flu vaccine using mRNA technology

U.K. central bank says it may yet raise rates to tame inflation triggered by closure of the energy bottleneck.

Very warm weather is set to return to parts of the UK with temperatures of 30C plus expected, as Europe experiences a 'heat dome'.

Major League Baseball (MLB) is facing mounting backlash over threatening to discipline San Francisco Giants players for inscribing Bible verses on their Pride hats — a move critics say reflects the league’s growing embrace of progressive social causes at odds with its fan base.

MLB said the players' actions violated its uniform policy, which prohibits "writing of any kind" on uniforms, despite the league previously allowing political messages in support of the Black Lives Matter movement.

The league’s warning came after three Giants players — Landen Roupp, J.T. Brubaker and Ryan Walker — wrote a passage from Genesis 9 on the franchise’s "Pride Night" caps. The verses in white lettering detailed the Christian understanding of the rainbow as a covenant between God and every living creature after the worldwide flood described in the first book of the Bible.

GOP lawmakers, including Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., are demanding answers, citing a "pattern of discrimination" against Christian players in the league.

DAN DAKICH RIPS MLB FOR WARNING GIANTS PLAYERS WHO WROTE BIBLE VERSES ON THEIR PRIDE HATS: 'SHUT UP'

"The freedom to live out one’s faith does not end at the ballpark gate," Hawley wrote in a letter to MLB Commissioner Robert Manfred on Tuesday.

The three Giants players have not yet been fined or punished by the league. But if the league decides to pursue disciplinary action, Hawley said in an interview with "The Clay Travis & Buck Sexton Show" Wednesday that he would subpoena Manfred to testify before the Senate Judiciary Committee and examine the league’s antitrust exemption. 

Hawley argued that the league’s enforcement of its uniform policy during the "Pride Night" episode stands in sharp contrast to its encouragement of players to embrace the Black Lives Matter movement in 2020.

That year, several franchises in the league inscribed pitcher’s mounds and jersey patches with messages stating "Black Lives Matter" and "United For Change." 

Hawley also noted the league suspended its own uniform rules, allowing players to write progressive social messages on their cleats.

The league’s account also tweeted a picture of Giants players kneeling for the national anthem and endorsed the move with the hashtag #BlackLivesMatter.

"While they bent over backwards for BLM messaging in 2020, they’re cracking down on religious freedom in 2026," Rep. Wesley Hunt, R-Texas, wrote on social media Wednesday. "This isn’t neutrality, it’s political discrimination against faith."

"Americans see the double standard," he added.

NATIONALS' TREVOR WILLIAMS RECALLS FIGHTING ANTI-CATHOLIC MOCKERY WHEN DODGERS HOSTED DRAG NUN GROUP

In 2021, the league pulled the 2021 All-Star Game and MLB draft out of Atlanta, Ga., in protest of a Republican voting law. The measure enacted new restrictions on mail-in voting, which Democrats argued would make it harder for Black Georgians to vote.

Former President Joe Biden and former Democratic Georgia gubernatorial nominee Stacey Abrams endorsed the league’s decision. 

Hawley also pointed to a recent scandal involving a Washington Nationals executive alleging that anti-Christian discrimination in the league is not an "isolated incident."

Washington Nationals Director of Community Relations Sean Hudson said the franchise did not include pitcher Trevor Williams in certain social media promotions over his religious objections to the Los Angeles Dodgers honoring a drag group that satirizes Christianity at its 2023 "Pride Night."

"That executive has since been fired, but not before the anti-Christian bigotry was exposed," Hawley said, adding that the league "needs to course correct immediately."

"MLB has a sweetheart deal from the federal government," he said. "They play by different rules than any other business in America. But now MLB is using its power to target Christians and trample free speech. It’s anti-American."

MLB did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Harmeet Dhillon has also warned the league that it risks litigation if it moves to punish outspoken Christian players.

"Time to lawyer up!" she wrote on social media Tuesday.

Fox News' Ian Miller and Alexandra Koch contributed to this report.

Additionally, the study focused specifically on removing sucrose from low-fat meals, meaning the results might not apply to people eliminating sugar while following higher-fat or ketogenic eating plans, the researchers noted.

The team believes that future dietary guidelines may shift away from strict, absolute sugar restrictions and instead place a greater emphasis on maintaining a diverse, healthy population of gut bacteria through balanced nutrition.

"In the long term, these findings could help improve strategies for preventing and managing metabolic disorders, fatty liver disease and chronic inflammatory conditions," Ahmad said.

FIRST ON FOX: Abraham Alvarez, identified in federal documents as the alleged "ringleader" of a plot to carry out a mass casualty event at the UFC White House event on June 14, is an illegal immigrant from Mexico who overstayed his visa, according to Homeland Security information first obtained by Fox News Digital.

Alvarez came to the United States as a child and was granted by the Obama administration in 2014 deportation relief through the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program after he failed to leave the country when his B2 visa expired in 2001.

Five co-conspirators were arrested so far this month for allegedly planning with others to use drones equipped with explosives to force an evacuation from the White House event on Sunday and, in the ensuing chaos, a team of snipers was allegedly set to open fire on the crowds. Federal investigators claim Alvarez was responsible for planning, organizing, and directing the planned attack.

Court records ousted Alvarez as a foreign national considering he consented to a consular notification after his arrest this weekend, though the documents provided no information on his specific immigration status nor his country of origin. 

FROM RALLY GUNFIRE TO WHITE HOUSE SHOOTING, THREATS AGAINST PRESIDENT TRUMP CONTINUE TO MOUNT

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) lodged a detainer for Alvarez following the FBI's arrest.

Alvarez was arrested by the FBI on the day of the fight in Omaha, Nebraska.

The White House and FBI declined to comment when asked by Fox News Digital about the whereabouts of the other individuals involved in the group chat, with the former directing the inquiry to a DOJ press release.

"This illegal alien from Mexico should never have been allowed in our country," DHS Acting Assistant Secretary Lauren Bis said in a statement to Fox News Digital on the attack. "He was the ringleader of a failed terror attack targeting UFC Freedom 250 at the White House."

"He will face justice and swiftly be removed from our country," she added of Alvarez.

DAN BONGINO REVEALS HOW THE FBI STOPPED AN ALLEGED TERROR PLOT BUILT FOR 'UNIMAGINABLE' CASUALTIES

After plans for the initial attack on Sunday, federal authorities claim the plotters planned a "second wave" where they would storm the White House gate. The co-conspirators purportedly sought to jump-start a revolution in the U.S. with the violence, citing grievances such as government corruption, the handling of the Epstein files, data centers using water and the influence of Israel over domestic politics. 

Alvarez allegedly used the name "Shepherd" in a group chat dedicated to planning the attack. He was "responsible for planning, organizing, and directing the planned attack," according to a DOJ press release. 

"As many and as deadly as we can get," Alvarez allegedly responded when asked by a fellow plotter when asked about making drones with explosives. Authorities say that he claimed to have had a working drone. 

Investigators have identified 23 individuals who were part of the alleged terror planning network, however; as of publishing, only five arrests have been announced in connection with the plot. It is unclear why the UFC event proceeded with many of those involved in the plot still seemingly at large. 

The State Department did not respond to an inquiry from Fox News Digital regarding whether or not it would revoke Alvarez’s DACA immigration status if he is found guilty of involvement in the plot.

If convicted of conspiracy to commit murder, each plotter faces a maximum penalty of life in prison and a $250,000 fine. Planning to carry out violence on White House grounds carries an additional maximum penalty of five years in prison.  

VANCE WARNS LEFT-WING POLITICAL RHETORIC FUELING VIOLENCE AFTER FBI FOILS ALLEGED WHITE HOUSE UFC TERROR PLOT  

Vice President JD Vance said on Tuesday that the alleged plans to attack the White House event were "not that advanced," noting that the plot was relatively undeveloped when it was caught and that none of the suspects "weren’t in town" during the event.

"The FBI, our law enforcement partners and our U.S. Attorneys did what they do every day to make America Safe through quick response and vigilance in investigating, disrupting and dismantling this alleged plan before it could be carried out," Acting Attorney General Todd was quoted as saying in a DOJ press release "We will take immediate and aggressive action to identify and prosecute those who incite and plan acts of violence."

UFC CEO Dana White claimed that multiple threats were made against the White House event, noting that "these are the kind of events that bring the nuts out, this is normal stuff,"

President Donald Trump has faced a string of security threats since he was wounded in an attempted assassination during a July 2024 campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. 

These have included  a second assassination attempt at his Florida golf club two months later, an alleged Iran-linked murder-for-hire plot, am armed man rushing the White House Correspondents Dinner and a flood of threats made against his life from disgruntled citizens — all of which underscore the persistent threat environment surrounding Trump’s public appearances.

Celtic open the 2026-27 Scottish Premiership season at home to Dundee on 3 August, with the champions saying they are disappointed to be starting on a Monday evening.

When Americans think of low-tax policies, states like Florida and Texas usually come to mind. But another Republican-led state has quietly joined the club: North Dakota.

Tax cuts, strong finances and billions in oil revenue have combined to create one of the nation's most competitive tax environments in the Great Plains state while other states across the country grapple with budget shortfalls and debates over tax hikes.

The issue is likely to remain front and center for governors and state lawmakers as they look to attract residents, businesses and investment in the years ahead.

While most states do not sit atop one of the nation's largest oil formations, tax experts say the broader lesson is applicable almost anywhere. Strong revenues can be used to lower tax burdens and strengthen state finances rather than fuel spending increases.

BLUE-STATE TAX BURDEN FUELS AMERICANS FLEEING TO REPUBLICAN-LED SOUTHERN STATES

The payoff for North Dakota has been straightforward — residents keep more of what they earn, businesses face fewer tax burdens and the government remains on solid financial footing.

And while tax policy is only one piece of the equation, Nicole Fox, senior policy analyst at the nonpartisan Tax Foundation told Fox News Digital that the group's analysis of IRS migration data points to a clear trend.

"States that have experienced net in-migration are states with more competitive tax structures and lower overall costs of living," Fox said.

While North Dakota ranks second in tax collections per capita, it remains one of the country's more tax-friendly states — a welcome contradiction for the state's government and residents.

Unlike New York and California, blue states that heavily rely on income taxes to fund government operations, North Dakota generates billions of dollars from oil and gas production. That energy wealth has given lawmakers greater flexibility to cut taxes for its residents while maintaining healthy state revenues.

This dichotomy was highlighted by Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, who during a meeting with the Petroleum Club of Houston last week compared California to deep red Texas and praised domestic energy production and dominance.

"In California, I saw firsthand what years of failed governance looks like: a tax system that is hostile to ambition. A regulatory state that smothers enterprise. An economic climate indifferent to consequence," he said in remarks first shared with Fox News Digital.

"Here in Texas, meanwhile, the contrast is so striking that it begins to feel like a tale of two states."

Bessent said: "More than strengthen an economy, energy abundance also secures a nation. Economic security is national security."

TAX FIGHT PUTS CALIFORNIA ON COLLISION COURSE AS BILLIONAIRES LEAVE FOR RED STATES

The numbers help explain how North Dakota has pulled off raking in revenue while keeping taxes low.

According to the latest available U.S. Census Bureau data, North Dakota ranked second in the nation for state and local tax collections per capita in 2023, bringing in $9,834 per resident.

That might sound more like a high-tax state than a tax-friendly one. The difference is where the money comes from.

AMERICA'S NEXT ECONOMIC POWERHOUSE MAY BE RISING IN RED-STATE TERRITORY

North Dakota collects more tax revenue per resident than almost every other state, but much of that money comes from oil and gas production rather than from residents' paychecks.

Of the $7.72 billion collected by state and local governments that year, roughly $3.17 billion came from severance taxes on oil and gas production — accounting for about 41% of total tax revenue.

While North Dakota collects all major tax types, including property, sales and income taxes, it relies far less on income taxes than many other states. Individual income taxes accounted for just 6.4% of total revenue in 2023, while corporate income taxes made up 4.2%.

Put simply, North Dakota collects a lot of revenue without heavily taxing residents' incomes.

That revenue mix allows North Dakota to generate billions for government services while placing a relatively smaller burden on residents and businesses than states that rely more heavily on income taxes.

While few states can replicate North Dakota's oil wealth, advocates argue its success shows that revenue windfalls can be used to lower tax burdens and strengthen state finances rather than expand government spending.

The estimated 4,300 in attendance, which included about 1,200 active-duty service members, greeted the president with loud cheers as the occasional "Happy Birthday" was shouted from the crowd.

The event kicked off with the Marine Band’s performance of the national anthem, sung by Zac Brown, and was capped off with a flyover by the Navy’s Blue Angels and Air Force Thunderbirds.

"It was beyond anything that anybody's ever seen in sports," the president briefly remarked to reporters as he departed the White House ahead of Monday’s G7 summit in France.

Many of the fighters thanked Trump for having the "courage" to put on the spectacle, while the majority of victors jogged ringside to shake his hand or have a word after their respective bouts. The patriotic atmosphere set the tone for the remaining America 250 celebrations to come in Washington, D.C., later this summer.

Fox News’ Paulina Dedaj contributed to this report.

Nato members have been urged to present "clear, concrete and credible plans" for raising defence spending.

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The defense secretary said the level of Washington’s contributions to the alliance budget would be contingent on European military spending.

U.S. stocks looked poised for a rebound and oil was sliding after the U.S. and Iran signed their interim pact to wind down the war.

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The United States and Iran on Wednesday signed the 14-point interim ceasefire agreement to halt the war in the Gulf. The agreement extends a ceasefire first announced in April by 60 days, giving both sides time to negotiate a permanent truce.

Skattebo’s smashmouth style of play earned him praise from Giants fans during the 2025 season. If there was another bright spot outside of Dart’s emergence, it was Skattebo.

He had 410 rushing yards and five touchdowns as well as 24 catches for 207 yards and two receiving touchdowns in eight games for New York.

During his time on the sideline, he did receive criticism for getting mixed up with WWE star JD McDonagh during an episode of "Monday Night Raw."

As time has passed, Skattebo is expected to be on the field and stay on the field to help the Giants get back to glory, well, at least into playoff contention, in 2026.

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No bags, glass or metal water bottles, bats/batons, bicycles or scooters, chairs or coolers will be allowed in the event. Those working in office buildings along the parade route will be able to enter them with proper identification as well as those who live in the area as well.

The City Hall ceremony will be for ticketed fans only. In addition to the above restrictions, no pets, backpacks, strollers, umbrellas or weapons will be permitted.

Fans and residents were told that Bowling Green, Fulton, Brooklyn Bridge, Chambers and Park Place subway stations will be open while Wall Street and City Hall stops will be closed.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

A women’s advocacy organization and several other groups that support gun control are urging Prime Minister Mark Carney to fully implement a key facet of firearms legislation passed 30 months ago.

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Good morning. A tiny slice of British voters cast their ballots today in a by-election poised to determine Keir Starmer’s political fate – more on that below, along with Canada’s latest World Cup match and Alberta’s cost-of-living cheques. But first:

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Maine Democratic Senate candidate Graham Platner's scandal-plagued rise is causing rifts within the Democratic Party, and several Democratic strategists who spoke to Fox News Digital warned of the long-term implications of the party embracing him.

"Anyone paying attention to the intersection of culture and politics knows that my party pushed #MeToo well beyond the bounds of common sense long before Graham Platner's rise," Michael LaRosa, former press secretary to first lady Jill Biden, said about whether the #MeToo movement rings hollow within the party now that top Democrats have rallied behind Platner.

"But the reflexive partisan instinct to circle the wagons around him is the political equivalent of pulling the plug on whatever credibility Democrats had left as the self-appointed champions of women."

"If the standards disappear the moment they're politically inconvenient, they were never standards at all."

JONATHAN TURLEY: WHEN JOURNALISTS WHINE ABOUT #METOO, THEY DON’T MEAN PLATNER, TOO

Former adviser to President Bill Clinton and Democratic strategist Doug Schoen argued that Democrats are choosing power and Senate control over serious concerns about Platner's past, and that could hurt them in 2028.

"In the short term, for some Democrats, those on the progressive left, it's the right decision, a practical decision," Schoen said. "To me, it's a very sad one and certainly undermines the moral legitimacy of the Democratic Party as a whole."

"Certainly, I think they've left themselves vulnerable vis-à-vis Platner's extreme left-wing positions, his toxicity as a person, the issues with relationships, arguably lying about his Nazi tattoo," Schoen said. "I certainly think this creates issues for the Democrats where none needed to exist."

Platner has denied allegations from former girlfriends who told The New York Times that he discussed rape fantasies, drank heavily and had violent episodes, while also facing mounting criticism over sexually explicit messages allegedly sent to women shortly after getting married, a Nazi-linked tattoo and online comments mocking a Purple Heart veteran.

Despite new controversies emerging days before Maine’s Democratic Senate primary, Graham Platner won with more primary votes than any Democrat in state history. 

Democratic strategist Mally Smith told Fox News Digital he doesn't believe that the Platner campaign is necessarily the "death" of the #MeToo movement, but that Democrats who have "more fully embraced" his campaign are "going to have some trouble when it comes to making the case on the Epstein files or any general claims of believe all women."

"So maybe Democrats don't have the advantage on the issue anymore, but I would say that it's not like Republicans have an advantage either," Smith added. "I think voters are just gonna say, well, both parties are willing to live with the baggage of their candidates."

Looking ahead to 2028, LaRosa said that Democrats could be haunted by their ties to Platner for years.

"If he wins, you'll still have to explain why you stood with him," LaRosa said. "If he loses, you'll have nothing to show for it except the association. Either way, he's someone you'll be answering for."

Smith explained Platner's rise by citing voters that are "unhappy with the status quo" to the point where there's an "element, whether it's Republican voters supporting President Donald Trump or Democratic voters supporting Graham Platner in Maine, where they say these elites attacking him is actually evidence that he's on the right track."

For others, the controversies are still too big for voters to ignore. LaRosa said that voters "reward guts, not willful blindness" when judging a candidate with Nazi imagery tattooed on his chest, adding that the Democratic leaders are lacking that same "courage."

DEMOCRATS BREAK WITH SCANDAL-PLAGUED GRAHAM PLATNER, WARN OF 'CIVIL WAR' IN PARTY

"We look pretty vapid, unprincipled and hypocritical to look the other way when it comes to any candidate accused of any level of violence against women just because it is politically inconvenient," LaRosa said. "Never again should voters trust us or take our moral arguments seriously. Principles only mean something when they're applied across the board, even when it's politically uncomfortable."

For over a decade, Democrats have used the "Nazi" attack line against President Donald Trump, but have nevertheless mostly rallied around Platner, despite the Nazi imagery tattooed on his body for 18 years.

"They’re seeing all of these lunatics, like the guy in Maine...for ten years they’ve been calling me a 'Nazi,' and now they have a Nazi running. He’s got a tattoo on him," President Trump said during a Thursday news conference.

Schoen argued Democrats have now weakened their case against Republican scandals, pointing to Texas Attorney General and Senate candidate Ken Paxton.

"For every criticism that they level at Ken Paxton in Texas, they will be greeted by criticism of Graham Platner in Maine, which to me makes their job more difficult," Schoen said.

Smith made a similar point, saying both parties are dealing with candidates causing "their own version of heartburn" that can be used against them politically.

Trump-backed Paxton prevailed in the primary against incumbent Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, after he was impeached by the Texas House, a federal investigation into allegations that he abused his office to aid a donor and cheating allegations.

LaRosa said the "uncomfortable truth" is that Democrats have reduced Platner to a simple political equation, viewing him as "just another number, another vote, another seat, another data point on a spreadsheet" instead of focusing on whether he is the right person for the job.

PLATNER CONTROVERSIES FUEL SPECULATION ABOUT LITTLE-KNOWN MAINE BALLOT REPLACEMENT PROVISION

November may provide a clearer test, Schoen said. He said Platner's victory does not mean he shed his political baggage, adding Platner has left the party to grapple with problems "where none needed to exist."

"With Graham Platner, there are literally immediate, multiple sources of concern that are ongoing, and it isn't clear to me that he will necessarily survive and succeed," Schoen said.

Ultimately, Smith said that Maine voters will be focused on the economy and that concerns about Platner will likely only be a major issue within the state rather than nationwide.

"Voters are unhappy with the economy, and I think most people are going to be voting on whether they believe the economy is better than when Trump was inaugurated, and the answer to that is a resounding no," Smith said. "So I think as much as news stations like to talk about Graham Platner and what this means for Democrats overall, or vice versa, Ken Paxton and Republicans overall, most voters are not going to think about Graham Platner's Nazi tattoo outside of Maine. So I think this is more of a localized Maine problem."

Fox News Digital reached out to the Platner campaign for comment.

"We are going to be writing every day in support and defense of two pillars: personal liberties and free markets," Bezos wrote in a note to staff.

The Post laid off one-third of its staff in February 2026, eliminating its sports section, books coverage and several foreign bureaus, according to the Associated Press.

"We can’t be everything to everyone," executive editor Matt Murray told staff in a note.

A Washington Post spokesperson declined to comment to The New York Post.

Will Lewis, the paper’s former publisher and CEO, stepped down days after the layoffs. Jeff D’Onofrio, the Post’s chief financial officer, was named interim CEO and publisher.

Fox News Digital reached out to The Washington Post for comment, but did not immediately hear back.