Page Six, citing a source, reported that the two are "very serious," and "wedding bells" could be chiming.
"She’s so happy! She’s finally found happiness. She’s found happiness for the first time in her life," the source told the outlet.
Woods announced his relationship with Trump, Donald Jr.'s ex-wife, on March 23.
"Love is in the air and life is better with you by my side! We look forward to our journey through life together. At this time we would appreciate privacy for all those close to our hearts.," Woods wrote in his post.
Woods' son, Charlie, and Vanessa's daughter, Kai, are both competitive golfers. Kai has committed to play at the University of Miami, while Charlie has played alongside his father at tournaments. Charlie has also played at the U.S. Open qualifiers, and both Charlie and Kai played at the same tournament last month.
Woods was photographed with Kai at the Genesis Invitational. Vanessa and Kai also took in a TGL match last month, which was created by Woods and Rory McIlroy.
After his highly publicized divorce from Elin Nordegren, Woods was linked to Olympic skier Lindsey Vonn in the 2010s. He was dating Erica Herman at the time he won the Masters in 2019, but they, too, had a very public breakup that included sexual harassment allegations and an NDA lawsuit filed by Herman.
Woods and Nordegren have appeared to be amicable in recent years as they co-parent Charlie and Sam Woods.
Woods is currently rehabbing from a ruptured Achilles he suffered just before the Masters.
He has played in just 18 events since the start of the new decade, and his best finish in a major during that span is a tie for 38th at the 2020 Masters.
"At first people thought I was crazy, but I couldn’t just watch the town fade away," said Lombardi. "I started looking at the walls as blank canvases, which could be turned into something beautiful."
The festival invited artists worldwide to paint murals, with six created at the first event in 2018.
Today, more than 140 murals can be seen around Stornara, in the Puglia region, with inspiring themes represented each year, including agriculture, migration within Italy and local life. Residents vote on the topics each year.
Tourism has surged 25% since 2020, SWNS said, sparking the opening of eight new businesses, including restaurants and B&Bs.
The population has stopped shrinking and is slowly growing again as young families move back, according to locals.
Café owner Antonio Maglione was about to close his business before the murals brought in crowds that made him learn to speak the word "welcome" in five different languages.
"The murals saved my business, but more than that, they saved our community," Maglione said.
Rita Gensano returned after spending 20 years away.
She said initially, she felt like she’d walked into a ghost town.
"It felt like a sacrifice," she said. "But it has become something extraordinary."
Now a tour guide, she called Stornara "the coolest town in Italy."
"Young Washington," an upcoming biopic chronicling the origins of the first president of the United States, is set to release in theaters on July 4, 2026.
"Set against the frontier of colonial America, this film brings to life the untold origin story of a 21-year-old George Washington—long before the Revolution, long before the Constitution—when a single mistake nearly cost him everything," the film’s description says.
"After triggering the start of the French and Indian War, Washington must reckon with personal failure, devastating loss, and the weight of responsibility. What emerges from the ashes isn’t just a military leader—but a man forged by humility, courage, and conviction."
The project is a collaboration between faith-based Angel Studios and Wonder Project and will be directed by Jon Erwin, the filmmaker behind the hit 2023 film, "Jesus Revolution," and Amazon Prime’s streaming series, "House of David."
Erwin said he was excited to share the story he’s been waiting for over a decade to tell.
"I’ve dreamed of telling the powerful origin story of George Washington for nearly a decade," Erwin said in a press release. "It’s a story of a true pioneer, which makes it the perfect project to partner on with the pioneers at Angel and their world-class distribution network. ‘Young Washington’ isn’t just a film—it’s a celebration of the American spirit and the miracle of the forging of our nation."
The historical epic’s release will coincide with America's 250th anniversary. Erwin said filming will begin this summer.
Jordan Harmon, president of Angel Studios, who will distribute the film, said: "Our shared commitment to inspirational, powerful storytelling made ‘Young Washington’ an easy project to partner on with Wonder."
"George Washington helped shape our nation and so many of the American values we hold dear. I can’t imagine a more meaningful way to celebrate America’s 250th birthday than by watching this adaptation of such a pivotal period in his young life."
Amazon Prime Day is almost here! Beginning July 8th and running through July 11th, you can find deals on just about everything. From tech deals like discount TVs and Apple devices, to home and outdoor sales, chances are, you’ll find what you’re looking for at a lower price.
If you’re looking to stick to a budget while you shop, we’ve lined up some of Amazon’s best Prime Day deals for less than $100. There are tools, personal care items, sleep must-haves and more on sale right now.
DeWalt’s orbital sander is a powerful battery-operated sander that’s easy to use. The texturized rubber grip is comfortable and helps you apply better pressure as you sand. There’s a small dust bag attached that collects dust as you work. You can also connect the sander to DeWalt dust collectors for even easier clean-up.
Drive up to 420 nails per charge with the Craftsman brad nailer. The fully cordless design functions without the need for gas cartridges or air compressors. It’s a lightweight brad nailer that’s ideal for long-term use, whether you’re working on DIY projects, putting up drywall or redoing a roof.
Original price: $129.99
Clean your whole home, from carpets to wood floors, with a BLACK+DECKER cordless stick vacuum. With a runtime of 44 minutes, you don’t need to worry about needing to recharge in between rooms. The vacuum adjusts suction power automatically to match your floor type, which also helps to optimize runtime. A pet owner's dream, this vacuum has an anti-tangle brush bar that picks up pet hair easily.
Original price: $99.99
A Waterpik Sensonic electric toothbrush has three brushing modes: clean, for everyday use, stain removal and gum care. The brush head is designed to clean hard-to-reach areas, helping to prevent gingivitis and cavities. A single charge lasts up to four weeks, and there’s a two-minute timer built in to help you brush better.
The Sony ULT Filed 1 Bluetooth speaker can go with you anywhere. It’s waterproof, so it can double as a shower speaker, or you can take it on beach trips or tailgating. It’s rustproof, dustproof and shockproof, with up to 12 hours of uninterrupted playtime on a full charge. This speaker is truly a surround sound experience, so there’s no worrying that the sound can’t keep up with all the adventures you’re going on.
Instant Pot has a four-quart air fryer that can fry, boil, roast, dehydrate, bake and reheat. There are customizable options for chicken wings, roasted veggies, cinnamon buns and more. The smart touchscreen displays each stage of cooking, and the whole pot preheats almost instantly.
Original price: $139.95
Nespresso’s Vertuo Pop+ is an adorable, limited-edition instant espresso maker that’ll get you your coffee quickly. It won’t take up a ton of space, but it delivers delicious espresso with compatible Nespresso pods. There are five different cup sizes and the machine heats up in just 30 seconds.
Original price: $119.99
When you get a ZINUS green tea cooling memory foam mattress, you’re investing in a better night of sleep. Topped with soothing gel memory foam, the mattress will keep you cool and cozy while you sleep. The memory foam also helps relieve pressure on your joints by conforming to the shape of your body. A green tea and charcoal infusion keeps your mattress fresh for years.
Get better neck support with the Tempur-Pedic TEMPUR neck pillow. It’s designed to provide luxurious support that relieves pressure, helping you avoid painful muscle aches. The pillow retains its shape when you’re not sleeping on it, making it a long-lasting option.
Original price: $102.98
An Echo Show is your hub for all your Alexa devices. The helpful screen allows you to see the answer to your questions, stream videos, make calls and control your other Alexa tech. This bundle includes a Smart Color bulb that connects to the Show and can be screwed into any lamp or recess lighting port. You can use your voice to control the light bulb, which changes colors and can be set to a schedule.
Protect your home with a Ring doorbell and indoor camera. You’ll receive real-time alerts when someone is at the door or motion is detected in your home. You can set up package alerts to ensure you never miss a package. Setting up your Ring doorbell is easy, taking just minutes. Easily connect to Alexa to hear custom notifications from Echo Dot, launch videos with Echo Show and manage other Alexa-enabled devices.
Jason Kelce was just like plenty of Americans on the Fourth of July, taking in some of the best fireworks.
However, when the Philadelphia Eagles legend took to social media to celebrate, he was met with plenty of vitriol.
"Man I love the 4th! One of the great days we all can set aside our differences in this country, and enjoy the one thing we all share in common. That we are American! Cheers to you oh beautiful America," Kelce wrote in an Instagram post of a video of some fireworks.
Almost immediately, he was ripped in the comments.
Kelce's post came hours after President Donald Trump signed the "big, beautiful bill," which seemed to be the catalyst for the backlash in the former NFL player's comment section.
"Set aside differences? One party wants to feed children. The other wants to feed brown people to alligators," one person wrote.
"Unfortunately Jason this is not real life for many. They signed the worst bill for so many Americans today just to rub it in our faces. I know it’s hard to understand, but so many will suffer," another added.
Another user called his post "tone deaf."
"love u bud but this is so out of touch, i beg you please read the room rn. so many are suffering," added another.
One more user said there is "nothing beautiful about this country right now."
The post had over 2,000 comments at the time of publishing. His three previous posts combined for just over 1,000 comments.
The Kelces have normally been silent about their political beliefs, but Travis Kelce's girlfriend, Taylor Swift, endorsed Kamala Harris for the 2024 presidential election.
They posted a video to Instagram of themselves dancing outside their car on the road on Friday.
"We sailing away," they wrote.
After rupturing his right Achilles tendon for the second time in three months, it remains unclear whether Watson will miss out on the entire 2025 season. He was initially injured during an October game against the Cincinnati Bengals, but he later ruptured his Achilles for a second time in January.
Earlier this month, the Browns reworked Watson’s contract to clear more cap space before the start of the new league year. According to the Associated Press, the restructuring cleared up nearly $36 million in cap space.
It was the second time in three months that the team restructured his lucrative contract.
Watson was acquired by the Browns in 2022 after he signed a fully guaranteed $230 million contract. But the 29-year-old quarterback has only appeared in 19 games for the team after he suffered a season-ending shoulder injury in 2023 and an Achilles tendon injury this past season.
He was also suspended for 13 games due to sexual misconduct allegations during his time with the Houston Texans, and he hadn't played the entire 2021 season.
Cleveland made several moves regarding the quarterback position, trading for Kenny Pickett, bringing back Joe Flacco, and drafting both Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders.
Los Angeles Dodgers pitching great Orel Hershiser opened up old wounds on Friday night when he brought up the Houston Astros sign-stealing scandal during the team's historic 18-1 rout at Dodger Stadium.
The Astros put on a show in Friday night’s series opener between the two teams and handed Los Angeles its worst loss in the history of Dodger Stadium. The beatdown was so bad that Hershiser, now a broadcaster for the Dodgers, seemed to suggest foul play.
"I don’t want to open an old wound, but in some ways, they’re swinging at these breaking balls like they know what is coming," Hershiser said in the third inning after Astros outfielder Cam Smith doubled off Dodgers rookie Ben Casparius in the third inning.
Hershiser was referring to the Astros' 2017 World Series win over the Dodgers. It was later revealed that Houston was stealing signs with the help of video and relaying pitches to batters by banging on a trash can.
Jose Altuve, who was a member of that championship-winning team, was met with relentless "cheater" chants and boos during his at-bats. But the home crowd didn’t distract him as he homered twice while reaching base five times and driving in five runs.
"Yea, that was one you want to flush as soon as possible. I don’t think there were many positives from this night," Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said bluntly of the 17-deficit loss.
"I don’t think Ben [Casparius]was good tonight. It seemed like they were on everything he threw tonight."
Caparius allowed six runs and nine hits in three innings and struck out three.
Roberts said on Friday that Caparius will likely make his return to the bullpen.
"At the end of the day, he's just got to execute better. There might have been 60 throws tonight, and probably only a handful executed where he wanted them to be. And that's tough to do," he said.
New York Times opinion columnist Jamelle Bouie argued on Wednesday that President Donald Trump is much more of a "normie Republican" than both his supporters and critics may lead one to believe.
Bouie's opinion piece, titled, "Face It. Trump Is a Normie Republican," contended that Trump has governed as a "mostly orthodox Republican" over the duration of his second term, and compared his first term to a hypothetical third George W. Bush presidency.
"Perhaps the most underappreciated fact about President Trump is that he is a Republican," Bouie stated, noting that "nearly every commentator under the sun" has considered Trump to be unique "in ways that defy traditional categorization."
The columnist pushed back on the notion that Trump cannot be considered a typical Republican due to his uniqueness, arguing that the "most salient detail" about the current president is that he's a "Republican politician committed to the success of the Republican Party and its ideological vision."
"We saw this in his first term, with his signature legislative accomplishment, the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. Was this his promised transformation of the American economy, the populist blow for those Americans left behind by the nation’s failed political and economic leadership?" he questioned. "No, it was a massive upper-income tax cut designed to pay huge benefits to the wealthiest Americans, including the president, his family and their friends."
Bouie continued, listing off actions taken by Trump during his first term, summarizing that, in short, "Trump governed like a Republican."
"And it is not a stretch to say that much of his first term was, on the domestic front, more or less indistinguishable from a hypothetical third term for the previous Republican president, George W. Bush. Trump even ended his term, as Bush did, with a rolling set of crises and disasters, each exacerbated by his mismanagement," he added.
The columnist claimed that Trump's "big, beautiful, bill" lines up with "what any Republican president would do," but has been cloaked in "the rhetoric of populism" by the president.
As far as Trump's foreign policy goes, Bouie argued that the president's recent strike on Iran's nuclear facilities was reminiscent of the foreign policy of two former Republicans.
"With one decision, Trump fulfilled the dreams of a generation of Republican hawks who have been clamoring for war with — and regime change in — Iran since President Bush proclaimed that it was a member of the ‘axis of evil’ in 2002. You could, if you were so inclined, draw a straight line from that speech to John McCain’s ‘bomb Iran’ quips in 2007 to Trump’s appointment of Mike Pompeo, a noted Iran antagonist, as secretary of state in 2018 to his airstrike last month," he claimed.
The columnist concluded that some of the "worst" aspects of the Trump administration can be chalked up to the "specific authoritarian vision" of the president and his allies — but for the most part — this is "simply what happens when you elect a Republican to the White House."
Upgrade your backyard, patio or deck with a new dining set or a pair of Adirondack chairs during Polywood's Fourth of July sale. Polywood furniture is durable, American-made and stands the test of time.
Original price: $229
This Adirondack chair blends a classic design with modern touches. The sleek design looks nice in any yard, while the deep seat and added elbow room ensure maximum comfort. Constructed with impenetrable Polywood material, it withstands storms and strong winds, and cleans with a simple swipe.
Original price: $289
Another option for an Adirondack style is this chair, which features a flat backrest. Made from Polywood’s signature weatherproof materials, it’s perfect for relaxing in your backyard or patio. A matching side table is a great spot to place your drink.
Ideal for hosting dinner parties, this 7-piece dining set includes a generously sized table and six comfortable chairs. The Polywood construction resists stains, splitting, cracking, rot and UV damage, ensuring it stays pristine despite heavy use. If you prefer a smaller set for intimate gatherings, the brand makes a three-piece version.
Original price: $549
This 3-piece rocker set has two chairs that offer a gentle rocking motion perfect for relaxing on the porch and an added side table to hold coffee, books or bites with ease. The weather-resistant material withstands elements like storms and strong winds while retaining its original polished look.
No poolside setup is complete without some lounges. This chaise lounge offers adjustable reclining positions, arms to rest on and wheels for easy moving. It’s been tested to hold up to 300 pounds and is comfortable for anyone up to seven feet tall.
This porch swing provides a cozy retreat for conversations or quiet moments with a good book. Its spacious seating and smooth swinging motion create a relaxing ambiance. Don’t forget to add some decorative outdoor throw pillows to complete the look.
Chinese President Xi Jinping will not attend this week’s BRICS Summit in Brazil, marking the first time the Chinese leader has missed the gathering of major emerging economies. The abrupt decision has triggered widespread speculation about internal political dynamics within China and the fraying cohesion of BRICS itself.
China’s official explanation — a "scheduling conflict" and the fact that Xi already met with Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva earlier this year, according to the South China Morning Post — has been met with skepticism. Premier Li Qiang will attend the summit in Xi’s place, continuing a recent trend of Xi scaling back his appearances on the global stage.
"That doesn’t make sense," said Gordon Chang, an expert on U.S.-China relations. "There are many other countries at the BRICS summit, not just Brazil. To me, it’s extremely significant that Xi Jinping is not going. It suggests turbulence at home — there are signs he’s lost control of the military and that civilian rivals are reasserting power. This is a symptom of that."
Bryan Burack of the Heritage Foundation agrees that Xi’s absence underscores deeper issues: "It’s another indication that BRICS is not going to be China’s vassalization of the Global South." He noted that countries like Brazil and Indonesia have recently imposed tariffs on China over industrial overcapacity and dumping, moves that suggest widening rifts within the group.
"China is actively harming all those countries for the most part, maybe with some exceptions, through its malign trade policies and dumping and overcapacity."
Some analysts point to rising China-India friction as a contributing factor in Xi’s decision to skip the summit.
"China has been at war with India for decades, essentially," Burack said. "These are fundamentally opposing interests. It’s difficult to see China changing its behavior in the near term, and that will keep tensions high."
India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to take a leading role at the gathering, potentially another deterrent for Xi’s attendance.
Another key leader — Russian President Vladimir Putin — is only expected to address the group by video.
Formed by Brazil, Russia, India and China and later joined by South Africa, BRICS was envisioned as a non-Western counterweight to G7 dominance. It has expanded to include Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, the UAE and, most recently, Indonesia, strengthening its economic footprint.
Economist Christian Briggs highlighted BRICS’s massive scale: "BRICS now comprises 12 full members and up to 23 when counting partners. Collectively, they account for over 60% of the world’s GDP and around 75% of the global population. They control vast natural resources and a growing share of global trade flows."
Yet despite its scale, the bloc remains ideologically and strategically fragmented. "It’s a group of countries that hate each other," Burack said bluntly. "China is harming many of them through unfair trade practices. There’s not a lot of incentive for real unity."
The alliance’s aspirations to challenge the U.S. dollar through alternative payment systems and a potential BRICS currency have gained media traction — but experts caution against overestimating this threat.
"There’s been a lot of fearmongering about a BRICS currency," said Burack. "But the interests of these countries are completely divergent. There’s more smoke than fire when it comes to a currency challenge to the dollar."
Chang echoed this skepticism: "The only country that can challenge the dollar is the United States. Weakness in the dollar is due to what we are doing domestically, not what the BRICS are doing."
Still, Briggs offered a counterpoint, arguing that BRICS members are already reshaping global currency flows.
"They’re moving away from the dollar into digital yuan, rupees, rubles. China has launched a SWIFT alternative already adopted by the Caribbean banking sector — trillions of dollars are shifting."
While its cohesion remains questionable, BRICS poses a long-term challenge to U.S. influence — particularly in regions where Washington has retreated diplomatically and economically.
"China filled the void left by the U.S. in places like Africa," said Briggs. "Now it controls about 38% of the world’s minerals. Meanwhile, Russia’s economy has doubled despite sanctions, because they preemptively reduced reliance on the dollar."
Yet Chang sees India as a brake on any aggressive anti-Western tilt. "BRICS has an ‘I’ in it—and that’s India. Modi doesn’t want to be part of an anti-Western bloc. As long as India’s in BRICS, the rest of the world is safe."
To some, Xi's no-show signals instability in Beijing. To others, the opposite: it demonstrates confidence in China's dominance over the other BRICS members.
"He doesn’t have to be there," Briggs contended. "Xi’s power allows him to delegate. China is trading with nearly 80% of the world now. He’s moving the agenda forward even in absentia."
What’s clear is that BRICS continues to evolve — its internal contradictions as visible as its geopolitical ambitions. Whether Xi's absence marks a retreat or a recalibration remains one of the key questions hovering over the summit in Brazil.
As millions prepare to snag the best deals during Amazon Prime Day, cybercriminals are preparing too, just not in the way you'd hope.
Security researchers have uncovered more than 120,000 fake Amazon websites designed to scam excited shoppers during the retail giant's annual shopping event.
With sales set to begin July 8 and run through July 11, the timing couldn't be more sinister. These scam websites, filled with phishing traps, malware and fake products, were created in the past two months, just in time for the Prime Day rush.
Amazon Prime Day is one of the most anticipated online shopping events of the year, and that makes it a goldmine for scammers. Cybercriminals know shoppers are often in a hurry, eager to grab deals before they disappear. That urgency can lead to poor judgment and careless clicks.
Amazon is actively fighting back against these threats. In 2024, the company initiated takedowns of more than 55,000 phishing websites and 12,000 phone numbers used in impersonation schemes. Amazon also partners with law enforcement agencies around the world to ensure scammers are held accountable, referring hundreds of bad actors to authorities for further investigation and prosecution. But the AI-amplified threats are coming faster than ever, which means you need to be more vigilant than ever when shopping for deals.
While Amazon hasn't released a formal statement yet, the company maintains ongoing efforts to detect and remove fraudulent listings and suspicious domains. Amazon also reminds customers that it will never ask for payment via email or phone, nor request gift cards as a form of payment. Even so, the burden of protection often falls on consumers. Knowing what to watch for can make all the difference.
Staying safe during Prime Day means slowing down and thinking before you click. Below are key ways to protect your personal and financial information from Amazon Prime Day scams.
Always make your purchases through Amazon.com or the official Amazon app. Avoid clicking on links from texts, emails, social media posts or pop-up ads, even if they appear to come from Amazon. Scammers often use lookalike pages to steal your information. The best way to safeguard yourself from malicious links that install malware, potentially accessing your private information, is to have antivirus software installed on all your devices. This protection can also alert you to phishing emails and ransomware scams, keeping your personal information and digital assets safe.
Get my picks for the best 2025 antivirus protection winners for your Windows, Mac, Android & iOS devices at CyberGuy.com/LockUpYourTech.
Amazon will never call and ask for your login credentials, passwords or personal details. If you get a call that pressures you to "verify your account," hang up. It's a scam.
No legitimate Amazon representative will ask you to pay using gift cards. If someone instructs you to buy a gift card and to send them the code, it's 100% a scam. End the conversation immediately.
Scammers create fake websites with small, easy-to-miss spelling differences, like arnazon.com or amaz0n-sale.com. Before you enter any sensitive info, take a second to look closely at the web address.
If you encounter a scam attempt, report it to Amazon through their official support page. You can also report phishing sites to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. Reporting helps shut down fraud faster.
Make sure your Amazon account uses a strong, unique password that you don't use anywhere else. Consider using a password manager to generate and store complex passwords. Also, enable two-factor authentication (2FA) on your Amazon account for an extra layer of security.
Get more details about my best expert-reviewed Password Managers of 2025 at Cyberguy.com/Passwords.
Regularly update your computer, smartphone, and the Amazon app to patch security vulnerabilities. Cybercriminals often exploit outdated software to gain access.
Public Wi-Fi networks can be insecure. Try to shop on Amazon using your private, secure internet connection rather than public Wi-Fi to reduce the risk of data interception.
After making purchases, keep an eye on your financial statements for any unauthorized or suspicious charges. Early detection can minimize damage.
If a deal looks unbelievably cheap or comes from an unfamiliar seller, double-check the product reviews and seller ratings on Amazon. Scammers often lure buyers with unrealistic prices.
Amazon Prime Day scams are growing more sophisticated, and the sheer scale of fake websites, over 120,000, is alarming. But by staying alert, verifying websites, and following safe shopping habits, you can protect yourself and still take advantage of the sales. Remember, if a deal seems too good to be true, it probably is. Pause, check, and think before you click, and you'll stay one step ahead of the scammers.
Who do you think should be doing more to protect shoppers from Amazon Prime Day scams, Amazon, the government, or the shoppers themselves? Let us know by writing us atCyberguy.com/Contact.
Sign up for my FREE CyberGuy Report Get my best tech tips, urgent security alerts, and exclusive deals delivered straight to your inbox. Plus, you’ll get instant access to my Ultimate Scam Survival Guide - free when you join my CYBERGUY.COM/NEWSLETTER.
Earlier this year, a terrifying claim swept headlines and social media: "You have a spoon’s worth of plastic in your brain."
The warning, based on a study published in Nature Medicine, set off a cultural firestorm, dominating news cycles, TikToks and dinner table conversations. It was the kind of phrase designed to go viral, and it did.
But here’s what didn’t go viral: the follow-up.
Experts later flagged the study for a critical flaw: To quantify microplastics in samples, the study relied on equipment with limitations in distinguishing plastics from other materials, leading to potential false positives.
An independent expert noted: "The method is lauded for its ability to detect smaller micro- and nanoplastics than other methods can, but it will give you a lot of false positives if you do not adequately remove biological material from the sample. Most of the presumed plastic they found is polyethylene, which to me really indicates that they didn’t really clean up their samples properly."
The nuance, though important, didn’t make the headlines.
This highlights a broader issue: there’s no globally standardized methods for the collection, detection and quantification of microplastics. Some microplastics studies may fail to identify whether the particle is a mineral, an organic material or something else, yet still misidentify them and claim they are microplastics.
And without standardized methodologies for identifying and quantifying the different types of particles, it is difficult to generate reliable data and assess their true impact.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) states, "While there are many studies on microplastics in food, the current state of science is limited in its ability to inform regulatory risk assessment… due to several factors, including a continued lack of standardized definitions, reference materials, sample collection and preparation procedures, and appropriate quality controls, to name a few."
Yet recent coverage has prioritized drama over scientific nuance, creating confusion rather than clarity.
Let’s be clear: microplastics are real. Everyday life, from tire dust to synthetic fibers, produces these particles. They’re in the environment and potentially our bodies. But presence alone doesn’t constitute a crisis.
The real question is what this means for human health and how to respond responsibly. The FDA has made clear that "current scientific evidence does not demonstrate that levels of microplastics or nanoplastics detected in foods pose a risk to human health."
When we treat preliminary research as settled science – or worse, viral clickbait – we lose the ability to make smart decisions. This is particularly true in the case of materials like PET, the plastic used in food packaging, water bottles and medical supplies. PET is among the safest, most rigorously tested plastics, approved globally by regulators including the FDA and EFSA.
Why is this misinformation dangerous? Because it undermines trust in safe and sustainable materials like PET, which is both lightweight and recyclable.
According to life cycle assessments (LCA), a PET bottle produces significantly lower greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions than alternative containers like glass bottles or aluminum cans, and requires less energy to produce. It enables safe hydration, reduces food waste and makes modern healthcare possible.
Yet consumers increasingly question PET, not because science changed, but because headlines did. That disconnect carries real-world consequences.
This is exactly why it is so important for our regulatory agencies to step up and address the lack of standardization in microplastics research and to develop methods and standards that allow for consistent and comparable results in research. Only then will we be able to have a more disciplined public conversation around microplastics that we can be confident is based on dependable evidence, and which stops the confusion of comparing apples to oranges.
None of this is to dismiss the broader challenge of plastic pollution. Our industry – and society – must invest in better systems: smarter product design, stronger recycling infrastructure and more rigorous scientific research. But meaningful progress starts with clarity, not confusion.
"I think that Indiana is even more dangerous when Caitlin Clark doesn’t play, because she’s a ball-dominant guard," she said. "The ball’s in her hands a lot, so you know what you need to try to take away. But when you look at Indiana now, they’ve got so many weapons."
Peck gave specific praise to Fever players Kelsey Mitchell, Aari McDonald and Aliyah Boston. Peck did not appear to give praise to Fever stars Sophie Cunningham or Lexie Hull.
"When you have a point guard like Kelsey Mitchell, and Aari McDonald making plays on the perimeter, and a post like Aliyah Boston, I’m gonna tell you: Indiana, they are a threat. And it’s specifically on the defensive end," Peck said.
Peck's comments went viral on social media, inciting the wrath of Clark's loyal supporters.
Barstool founder Dave Portnoy reposted the clip of Peck's comments on X, writing, "I knew this was gonna happen."
The popular sports commentary X account "BricksCenter" also shared the clip, writing, "Their hatred toward CC needs to be studied."
Hundreds of smaller accounts made their criticisms of Peck's analysis known.
"ESPN would be a lot more 'dangerous' without Carolyn Peck," one user wrote.
Another user wrote, "All of Peck's takes on CC last year ended being wrong and I don't expect anything different from this season."
One user even went so far as to say, "ESPN analyst Carolyn Peck is a hater and a fool."
Peck was the women's basketball head coach at Purdue when current Fever head coach Stephanie White was a player there. Together, they won the NCAA title in 1999.
Clark has missed the team's last four games with a groin injury and will miss a fifth on Saturday against the LA Sparks. She previously missed five games with a quad injury.
With Clark, Indiana is 5–4, averaging an 85.0 offensive rating.
Without Clark, the team is 5–4 with an average 80.2 offensive rating.
In games she has played, Clark is averaging 18.2 points, 8.9 assists and 5.9 turnovers.
North Carolina Gov. Josh Stein has vetoed four controversial bills that target diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives and transgender policies, setting up a political clash with the Republican-led General Assembly.
Stein, a Democrat, blasted the three DEI-focused bills as being "mean-spirited" that would "marginalize vulnerable people" and took aim at Republicans who failed to pass a fiscal budget for the year that just began.
The DEI bills ought to ban DEI training, hiring practices and staff positions in state and local governments as well as outlawing the use of state funds for DEI programming. The legislation would have imposed civil penalties on workers who violate the rules. No Democrats supported the three DEI bills.
"At a time when teachers, law enforcement, and state employees need pay raises, and people need shorter lines at the DMV, the legislature failed to pass a budget and, instead, wants to distract us by stoking culture wars that further divide us," Stein said in a statement.
"These mean-spirited bills would marginalize vulnerable people and also undermine the quality of public services and public education. Therefore, I am vetoing them. I stand ready to work with the legislature when it gets serious about protecting people and addressing North Carolinians’ pressing concerns."
The measures cutting or eliminating diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives in state and local governments, K-12 public schools and the university system have been a major priority for GOP lawmakers. They argue the programs targeted have overemphasized identity to the detriment of merit and societal unity.
The transgender bill began as a bipartisan measure to curb sexual exploitation by enforcing age verification and consent rules for pornography websites. But lawmakers later added controversial provisions, including a ban on state-funded gender-affirming procedures for prisoners.
It also affirms the recognition of two sexes and requires the state to officially attach a transgender person’s new birth certificate to their old one if they change their sex assigned at birth.
Stein said in a veto message that he strongly supported the anti-sexual exploitation provisions in the bill, but the final measure went too far. "My faith teaches me that we are all children of God no matter our differences and that it is wrong to target vulnerable people, as this bill does," he added.
One Democrat backed the fourth bill before Stein vetoed it. All four bills now return to the General Assembly, which could reconvene later this month to attempt veto overrides. Republicans are one vote short of a veto-proof supermajority in the House.
The vetoes bring Stein’s total to 11 since taking office in January — all within the past two weeks. Stein was previously North Carolina’s attorney general since 2017 after serving in the state Senate from 2009 to 2016.
The progressive attorney and politician campaigned on a platform of lowering the cost of housing, increasing job creation, expanding access to abortion and improving education.
Fox News’ Emma Colton and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Two young girls were found dead after a devastating flood swept through Camp Mystic, an all-girls private Christian camp in Hunt, Texas. One of the campers was Janie Hunt, whose family member confirmed her death to Fox News Digital. Additionally, A Voice for the Voiceless, a nonprofit that advocates for "the missing, voiceless and crime victims," identified Renee Smajstrla as the other deceased camper.
Kerr County Sheriff Larry Leitha said on Friday night that between 23 and 25 campers were missing. There were 750 attendees at the camp when the flood hit.
On Saturday, Kerr County announced the flood killed 27 people, 18 of whom were adults and 9 were children.
Families have lined up at reunification centers hoping to see their loved ones. According to the Kerr County Sheriff's Office, Ingram Elementary School in Ingram, Texas, and The Arcadia Live Theater in Kerrville, Texas, are being used as reunification centers.
Camp Mystic, which had approximately 750 attendees, reportedly told parents that if they had not been contacted directly it meant that their child was accounted for.
Ellen Toranzo told Fox News Digital that her daughter, Greta Toranzo, is one of the campers who went missing during the flood. Carrie Hanna also confirmed to Fox News Digital that her daughter, Hadley, is unaccounted for.
Elinor Lester, 13, told the Associated Press she was evacuated with her cabinmates by helicopter after wading through floodwaters. Lester also said that the "camp was completely destroyed" in the disastrous flood. The outlet noted that Lester was housed on higher ground at the camp, known as Senior Hill. Younger campers, who can begin attending at age 8, are housed along the riverbanks and were the first to flood, according to the Associated Press.
The National Guard was deployed in Texas to respond after heavy rain on Friday morning caused the Guadalupe River to rise nearly 30 feet in 45 minutes. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem later said that members of the U.S. Coast Guard were deployed to assist in evacuations.
Helicopters and military vehicles were used for evacuations. As of Friday night, 237 people had been evacuated, including 167 by helicopter.
Texas deployed more than 1,000 state responders and over 800 vehicles and equipment assets, according to Gov. Greg Abbott's office. The governor also declared an emergency for 15 counties, and his office said that more could be added to the list.
"This is a time when we, as a state, need God more than ever," Abbott said in a statement. "The one thing I hear the most are the prayers that are being sent for those who are in harm’s way."
President Donald Trump told reporters on Friday that the floods were "shocking" and "a terrible thing." He also said the state would receive federal aid and that his administration was working with Abbott.
"Our nation's heart breaks for the victims in Texas and their families. Just an incomprehensible tragedy," Vice President JD Vance wrote on X. "I hope everyone affected knows they're in the prayers of my family, and of millions of Americans."
The vice president, a devout Catholic, also included the Eternal Rest Prayer in his post.
The Kerr County Sheriff's Office is encouraging those with missing loved ones to call the Red Cross at 1-800-733-2767 for information.
Fox News Digital's Landon Mion contributed to this report.
Critics slammed the United Nations for rewarding a controversial anti-Israel Commission of Inquiry with four new positions worth up to three-quarters of a million dollars, even as the world body undergoes a severe cash crisis.
"When it comes to spending money for the spread of antisemitism, the U.N. doesn't have a spending limit," Anne Bayefsky, director of the Touro Institute on Human Rights and the Holocaust and president of Human Rights Voices, told Fox News Digital.
On June 4, the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Palestinian Territory, Including East Jerusalem (COI), led by South African Navi Pillay, announced four new job openings for senior-level positions in Geneva. These include two P-2 level associate interpreters, one higher-level P-3 level human rights officer, and a still more senior P-4 level human rights officer.
Combined, their salaries will range from $530,000 to $704,000, based on salary scales released by the U.N. and its location-based salary multiplier (set at .814 for Swiss employees), published in a document supplied to Fox News Digital by a diplomatic source.
These salaries do not include other senior-level U.N. employee benefits, including dependent costs, housing allowances or relocation fees.
Bayefsky asked why the U.N.’s "belt-tightening exercise … applies to all kinds of urgent matters but exempts the COI, which has simultaneously gone on a spending-spree."
"The COI was created to destroy the Jewish state and is now conducting itself accordingly." She said its latest report, issued in June, is "totally unhinged" and "claims Israelis are like Nazis engaged in ‘extermination’ of the Palestinians, refers to those ‘extremist Jews,’ denies biblical history, [and] fuels antisemitism by claiming Jews defile Muslim holy sites."
A spokesperson from the U.N. Human Rights Office did not respond to Fox News Digital’s questions about the Commission’s findings.
Pillay and the COI have come under fire previously for anti-Israel sentiment. In January 2022, 42 Republicans and Democrats in Congress signed an open letter calling for the U.S. to defund the COI. The Representatives expressed concern that "Chairwoman Navi Pillay, while serving as U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights from 2008 to 2014, repeatedly and unjustly accused Israel of committing war crimes." They stated that while she condemned Israel, Pillay "reportedly said nothing at all about egregious human rights abuses in dozens of other countries which, unlike Israel, received the worst, ‘Not Free’ rating from the respected Freedom House."
In October 2023, a representative from the U.S. Mission to the U.N. in Geneva said before the Third Committee of the U.N. that the U.S. "remains deeply concerned about the scope and nature of the open-ended Commission of Inquiry established in May 2021. The COI demonstrates a particular bias against Israel in subjecting it to a unique mechanism that does not exist for any other U.N. Member State."
In October 2024, a report from the COI excluded information about Hamas’ use of Kamal Adwan Hospital for operations, failed to recount the maltreatment Israeli hostages received at Gazan hospitals, and could "not verify" that tunnels found below Al-Shifa hospital "were used for military purposes." Bayefsky said the report trafficked in blood libels.
In March, Pillay’s commission claimed that rape and sexual violence are part of the Israel Defense Force’s "standard operating procedures towards Palestinians." Pillay also said that the IDF’s sexual violence creates "a system of oppression that undermines [Palestinians’] right to self-determination." In response, Bayefsky said "Pillay and her COI are notorious for turning reality upside down. October 7 was marked by grotesque Palestinian use of sexual violence and rape as a weapon of war. In response, the COI diminished those atrocities and instead concocted the reverse."
In March 2024, Congress passed a budget bill that eliminated funding for the COI while simultaneously banning funds for the U.N. Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), according to the Jerusalem Post.
The U.N. Human Rights Council is already experiencing the impact of the organization’s liquidity crisis.
In a June 16 letter penned by U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk, the Human Rights Council outlines more than a dozen reports, as well as studies, regional workshops, and panels mandated by the Council, which could not be completed due to inadequate resourcing.
In response to a request for comment about how the COI has received additional personnel while the Human Rights Council deals with scarcity, spokesperson Pascal Sim told Fox News Digital that the Human Rights Council’s "views are only expressed in the resolutions and decisions that its 47 Member States adopt at the end of each of its sessions."
To the question of whether the council is in greater need of personnel or funds to fulfill its current workload, Sim said that "Member States of the U.N. are currently continuing consultations on this matter."
Ryder said that the U.N. recognizes "that we have a difficult task of untangling the undergrowth of decisions and resolutions and mechanisms that we put in place to implement them, and we wonder if we’re going to be able to advance significantly."
Ryder also admitted that "When a similar review was undertaken 20 years ago, it ran rather quickly into the sand. It did not produce the results that were hoped for and expected at that time. We’re looking at that experience of 20 years ago, and we hope we can avoid some of the pitfalls."
However, Bayefsky said, "For decades, the U.N. has engaged in phony cost-saving measures while their actual expenditures have ballooned," she said, noting that the U.S. "has always been satisfied by moving around the deck chairs on the Titanic."
Bayefsky said that "it's our government's job to put an end to this devious calculus by immediately withholding the entire U.N. budget until such time as the dangerous lesions are removed. It's our job to deny visas to the COI members planning to come to the United States in the next couple of months.
"Contrary to popular belief, it is not required by the U.S.-U.N. host agreement to allow international travelers into the U.S. to fan the flames of antisemitism, and vandalize our fundamental values and the Constitution from the middle of New York City," Bayefsky said. "We need a new boat, not new deck chairs."
A budget proposal from the Trump administration leaked in April announced the intention to eliminate all expenditures to the U.N. and international organizations.
In response to questions about whether a decision about U.N. funding has been finalized, a senior State Department official told Fox News Digital that "President Trump is ensuring taxpayer dollars are used wisely. Any announcements regarding funding to international organizations will come from the President or the administration."
The U.S., through its taxpayers, is the single-largest contributor to the U.N. In 2022, the U.N. reports that $18.1 billion, or 26.8%, of its $67.5 billion in expenditures came from the U.S.
A man on TikTok has gone viral for claiming that he received a two-star review by guests online because his rental home was deemed not "weight accessible."
In a video that garnered over 20,000 likes and hundreds of comments, the host shared the grievances his guests supposedly communicated to him after their stay.
"I guess they were on the larger side and my house didn’t perfectly accommodate their size," said the host.
He claimed the guests said they couldn’t fit through the doorway, after which the host commented, "I have standard door frames."
He also said the guests alleged that "some of the furniture seemed shaky at best, and we felt scared we were going to break it."
"And then they were like, ‘I noticed your egg chair on your deck had a weight limit of 330 pounds on it.’ That’s the manufacturer that puts that [there], not me, and that’s for one person," the host added.
"Then they were like, ‘Unfortunately, none of us could use that.’"
The TikToker host claimed the Airbnb guests said his bed was super soft and they felt like they were going to cave into the middle when they were both on it.
TikTokers took to the comments section to share their opinions on the matter.
"As a plus-sized person, I cannot imagine being this entitled," wrote one woman. "It’s no one’s job but mine to make sure it’s somewhere I’ll be comfortable."
A user asked, "If they couldn't fit through the door frame, how'd they know about the rest of the things?"
"Thank you for handling this with professionalism. Unfortunately, entitlement comes in all sizes," said one woman.
Another user wrote, "I'm plus size. This level of entitlement is crazy. I always check weight limits."
Still another wrote, "I read the low reviews for this reason. Sometimes the issues do not apply to me."
A different TikToker wrote, "I think you should have very sturdy furniture if you’re going to [do] this. I think hotels use that kind of furniture."
Airbnb began in 2007 "when two hosts welcomed three guests to their San Francisco home, and has since grown to over 5 million hosts who have welcomed over 2 billion guest arrivals in almost every country across the globe," the company notes on its website.
"Every day, hosts offer unique stays, experiences and services that make it possible for guests to connect with communities in a more authentic way."
Conservative activist and children's safety campaigner "Billboard Chris" took a victory lap Wednesday after successfully suing part of the Australian government for trying to censor his posts critical of government officials that advocate for transgender operations.
Following a lawsuit filed by social media platform X and the conservative activist – whose real name is Chris Elston – the Australian government was forced to back down from its demands that X delete Elston’s 2024 post criticizing a World Health Organization bureaucrat for what Elston described as their pro-child gender operation views.
"I think this was a very large dose of rationality for Australia, which has really gone off the deep end in terms of censorship," Elston told Fox News Digital following an Australian Administrative Review Tribunal (ART) ruling this week that Elston could leave his post on the platform.
Elston added that the ruling was "a decisive victory" and declared that "Australians should rejoice because they're free to call a man a man, and a woman a woman."
X’s official Global Government Affairs account reacted to the verdict, stating, "This is a decisive win for free speech in Australia and around the world. X will continue to fight against coercive state censorship and to defend our users’ rights to free speech."
Elston shared a Daily Mail story on X in 2024 that exposed the identity and sexual proclivities of Teddy Cook, an Australian transgender male who had just been appointed to a WHO body tasked with drafting "care guidelines for trans and non-binary people."
The Daily Mail reported that Cook has a "kinky track record in everything from bestiality to bondage, drugs and nudism." Elston posted the article to X and referred to Cook as a "she," in accordance with Cook's biological sex.
In the caption to his original post, Elston wrote, "This woman (yes, she’s female) is part of a panel of 20 ‘experts’ hired by the @WHO to draft their policy on caring for ‘trans people.’ People who belong in psychiatric wards are writing the guidelines for people who belong in psychiatric wards."
After his posts, Elston revealed that Australian eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant sent the activist and X a notice demanding they remove the posts because it amounted to "cyber abuse" of Cook. The government official then threatened X with a nearly $800,000 fine if the platform did not remove the post, prompting X and Elston’s legal challenge.
Lois McLatchie Miller, a spokesperson for Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF) International – the legal group who coordinated Elston’s case against the ruling along with Australia’s Human Rights Law Alliance – explained to Fox News Digital how Grant tried to justify the demand to have Elston’s speech removed from social media.
According to the legal expert, Grant charged Elston and X with violating Australia’s "Online Safety Act," alleging his post engaged in "cyber abuse against an Australian adult."
Miller continued, "So they use that terminology to say that Chris's post should have been banned. But of course, that would give rise to or demand that Chris intended or the intention of his tweet was to bully someone to abuse them. And, of course, that was not the case."
After a week-long hearing over Elston’s case that occurred in March, ART reached a verdict Wednesday siding with the activist. According to ART Deputy President Damien O’Donovan, it was clear that Elston’s post was not cyber abuse but a statement of his beliefs.
Donovan stated in his ruling, "The post, although phrased offensively, is consistent with views Mr Elston has expressed elsewhere in circumstances where the expression of the view had no malicious intent."
"When the evidence is considered as a whole I am not satisfied that an ordinary reasonable person would conclude that by making the post Mr Elston intended to cause Mr Cook serious harm," he added.
Miller described Donovan’s finding as a "really significant point," telling Fox News Digital that Elston's "intention was to keep his conviction to speak in the way that he thought was accurate and true. And to uphold the right of identity of women and children."
Elston mentioned he felt his team beat the case on "every single legal point."
"I think this sets a fantastic precedent going forward, and it should, at the very least, make Australians feel safe to say that a man is a man and a woman is a woman, because we've set a precedent for that," he said.
Miller added, "This is a really significant early ruling in favor of free speech, which is going to be helpful for citizens all over the world as they tackle these new laws coming in."
In a press release, ADF International executive director Paul Coleman celebrated the verdict.
"This is a decisive win for free speech and sets an important precedent in the growing global debate over online censorship. In this case, the Australian government alarmingly censored the peaceful expression of a Canadian citizen on an American-owned platform, evidence of the expansive reach of censorial forces, even beyond national borders. Today, free speech has prevailed."
The Australian eSafety Commission pointed Fox News Digital to their statement on ART's verdict, which read, "eSafety welcomes the guidance provided by the Tribunal on the statutory test for adult cyber abuse. We will continue to take seriously the responsibility of remediating online harms and protecting Australians from serious online harms."
President Donald Trump is riding a major wave of momentum after he signed his $3.3 trillion "big, beautiful bill" Friday – a final notch in a series of wins for his administration in recent weeks.
"President Trump has delivered more wins for the American people in two weeks than most Presidents do in four years," White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said in a Thursday statement to Fox News Digital. "This has been the most historic two weeks of any Administration in history. Thanks to President Trump, America is back and is the hottest country in the world!"
The tax and domestic policy bill arrived on his desk after the House passed the final version of the measure Thursday – meeting Trump’s self-imposed Fourth of July deadline to get the measure over the finish line.
The bill includes key provisions that would permanently establish individual and business tax breaks included in Trump's 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, and incorporates new tax deductions to cut duties on tips and overtime pay.
The measure also raises the debt limit by $5 trillion – a provision that has faced scrutiny from figures such as SpaceX and Tesla CEO Elon Musk.
Furthermore, the bill rescinds certain Biden-era green energy tax credits, and allocates approximately $350 billion for defense and Trump’s mass deportation initiative to weed out illegal immigrants from the U.S.
The measure also institutes Medicaid reforms, including new 80-hour-a-month work requirements for Medicaid recipients, and expands work requirements for those on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP.
Here are some other recent events that have gone in the Trump administration’s favor:
The U.S. launched strikes June 21 targeting key Iranian nuclear facilities, which involved more than 125 U.S. aircraft, according to Gen. Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
Following the strikes, Trump said in an address to the nation that the mission left the nuclear sites "completely and totally obliterated," and Caine said that initial battle damage assessments suggested "all three sites sustained extremely severe damage and destruction."
Still, Caine acknowledged that a final assessment would "take some time."
But days later, a leaked report from the Defense Intelligence Agency, published by CNN and the New York Times, cast doubt on those claims, saying that the strikes had only set back Iran’s nuclear program by several months.
However, the Pentagon said Wednesday that internal intelligence assessments indicate the strikes set back Iran’s nuclear program by one or two years.
"We have degraded their program by one to two years, at least intel assessments inside the Department (of Defense) assess that," Defense Department spokesman Sean Parnell told reporters Wednesday.
The Supreme Court ruled, 6–3, to block the lower courts from issuing universal injunctions on June 27. Multiple executive orders Trump has signed during his second administration have been tied up in the courts as a result of nationwide injunctions, including his ban on birthright citizenship.
The Supreme Court’s ruling means that lower courts are only permitted to issue broad injunctions in limited cases, which Trump said would prevent a "colossal abuse of power."
"I was elected on a historic mandate, but in recent months, we've seen a handful of radical left judges effectively try to overrule the rightful powers of the president to stop the American people from getting the policies that they voted for in record numbers," Trump said on June 27.
CBS News’ parent company, Paramount Global, Tuesday agreed to a $16 million settlement with Trump, stemming from a lawsuit Trump filed against CBS in October 2024 related to a "60 Minutes" interview with his opponent in the 2024 election, Vice President Kamala Harris.
In the lawsuit, Trump alleged that CBS deceptively edited the interview with Harris when asked about why Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu wasn't "listening" to the Biden administration. While the segment aired one answer from Harris during a primetime special on the network, a less polished answer had previously appeared in a preview clip of the interview.
The money from the settlement will not go to Trump himself, but rather, toward his future presidential library and to cover the plaintiffs' fees and costs. CBS said it worked with a mediator to reach the settlement agreement and that Paramount will not issue an apology.
Turning Point USA founder and conservative firebrand Charlie Kirk says democratic socialist Zohran Mamdani is "stoppable" from winning the New York City mayoral race, but only if the opposition coalesces around a strong alternative against the Democratic nominee.
Following last week's shocking primary where Mamdani bested ex-New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo in rank-choice voting, there has been an effort by political strategists and donors to prevent the 33-year-old state assembly member from winning in November. Both Cuomo and current New York City Mayor Eric Adams are now running as independent candidates.
In an interview with Fox News Digital, Kirk said that Curtis Sliwa, the founder of the Guardian Angels crime-prevention group who won the Republican nomination uncontested, should withdraw from the race.
"He's a little bit of a novelty candidate. I like him. He is a good guy. But you cannot have a competition on the Republican side. So, I think he should drop out," Kirk said. "Whoever ends up running against [Mamdani], if it's Eric Adams, who is not exactly well liked in New York right now, you have to run on crime, quality of life and an anti-radical agenda. Just common sense, unifying the city. We do not want these radical, third-world elements introduced into America's largest city and once-greatest city."
In response to Fox News Digital's request for comment, the Sliwa campaign cited a recent poll conducted by American Pulse that showed Sliwa edging out Adams 16%-14% in a four-way race, with Mamdani leading with 35%, followed by Cuomo with 29%. The poll also showed Adams with the worst net favorability.
"Eric Adams paved the way for Zohran Mamdani by failing spectacularly over the last 3.5 years. With Adams polling dead last and holding the worst favorability rating on record at 68% unfavorable, it’s clear I’m the only candidate with a real path to victory, and I’ll prove that on November 4th. Why would any candidate drop out when Eric Adams has no path to victory?" Sliwa said in a statement.
Sliwa, who was the GOP nominee in the 2021 mayoral race, previously lost to Adams, the then-Democratic nominee, by a 67-28 margin.
Kirk says that Mamdani's biggest vulnerability is "how radical he is" and while he conceded Mamdani's proposal to freeze rent may appeal to some New Yorkers, he's "so bad on crime," which is the issue he thinks Mamdani's opponents should focus on. (Mamdani has previously promoted the "defund the police" movement and has been campaigning on creating the Department of Community Safety.)
"Crime is an issue that affects all New Yorkers," Kirk told Fox News Digital "Where, like, rent stabilization actually, he might get votes for that … he is so bad on crime. He's unspeakably bad on the police."
What Mamdani has working in his favor, according to Kirk, is that he is "very social media savvy," something Mamdani showcased during his primary run. He also pointed to the "hundreds of thousands of college students" who are motivated to rally behind the man he calls the "encampment candidate."
"He also is the Democrat nominee, and a lot of people would just blindly vote for Democrats in New York, and so he has that advantage," Kirk said.
The prominent conservative dismissed those on the right who suggested liberal New York City is beyond saving, stressing the mayoral race has "existential importance" and that voters must come together to stop Mamdani.
"Some people say, 'Oh, I don't care about New York City.' That is a bunch of nonsense and that's a bunch of rubbish," Kirk said. "We will not surrender America's largest city to a communist. We are not going to let that happen. And so I encourage everyone to get involved whatever degree you can. The future of western civilization will run through its cities. And right now, the battlefield is all eyes on New York."
- Paralyzed man speaks and sings with AI brain-computer interface - Robots are taking over Uber Eats deliveries. Is your city next? - Republicans scrap deal in 'big, beautiful bill' to lower restrictions on states' AI regulations
VOICE BREAKTHROUGH: When someone loses the ability to speak because of a neurological condition like ALS, the impact goes far beyond words. It touches every part of daily life, from sharing a joke with family to simply asking for help. Now, thanks to a team at the University of California, Davis, there's a new brain-computer interface (BCI) system that's opening up real-time, natural conversation for people who can't speak. This technology isn't just about converting thoughts into text. Instead, it translates the brain signals that would normally control the muscles used for speech, allowing users to "talk" and even "sing" through a computer, almost instantly.
JOBS ON THE LINE: If you've ordered food on Uber Eats recently, you may have seen a delivery robot instead of a human driver. Uber has partnered with Avride to bring autonomous robots to the streets. They already operate in several U.S. cities, and your area could be next.
'NOT ACCEPTABLE': A deal that had been reached between Sens. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., and Ted Cruz, R-Texas, over how states can regulate artificial intelligence has been pulled from President Donald Trump's "big, beautiful" bill.
OFFLINE BRAIN POWER: Google DeepMind has introduced a powerful on-device version of its Gemini Robotics AI. This new system allows robots to complete complex tasks without relying on a cloud connection. Known as Gemini Robotics On-Device, the model brings Gemini's advanced reasoning and control capabilities directly into physical robots. It is designed for fast, reliable performance in places with poor or no internet connectivity, making it ideal for real-world, latency-sensitive environments.
SAVE OUR CHILDREN: When my 16-year-old son Mason was going through a painful breakup, he did what many kids of his generation do: He turned to TikTok. Mason used the social media site to search for positive affirmations and inspirational quotes. Instead, TikTok’s algorithm sent him the most horrific content urging suicide and self-harm. In November 2022, Mason took his own life.
PRIVACY NIGHTMARE:Meta’s new AI chatbot is getting personal, and it might be sharing more than you realize. A recent app update introduced a "Discover" feed that makes user-submitted chats public, complete with prompts and AI responses. Some of those chats include everything from legal troubles to medical conditions, often with names and profile photos still attached. The result is a privacy nightmare in plain sight.
MAN VS MACHINE: As sixth-generation fighter programs ramp up, military insiders are divided over whether future warplanes need pilots at all. The Pentagon is pouring billions into next-generation aircraft, pushing the boundaries of stealth and speed. But as America eyes a future of air dominance, one question looms large: Should Americans still be risking their lives in the cockpit?
Stay up to date on the latest AI technology advancements and learn about the challenges and opportunities AI presents now and for the future with Fox News here.
When I was a member of the White House press corps, it was easily observable that reporters felt they could not say the "Pledge of Allegiance" with other Americans at the White House. That, somehow, compromised their neutrality. This inaction suggested that American reporters shouldn’t show appreciation for their country enshrining freedom of the press. That’s a lack of gratitude, not just a lack of patriotism.
For the broadcast media, the feeling that they weren’t rooting for America was first underlined in their opposition to the Vietnam War. This was crystallized with CBS anchor Walter Cronkite declaring from Saigon in 1968 that America was going to lose, "that the only rational way out then will be to negotiate, not as victors." Cronkite had been over-praised as the essence of objectivity, but politicians feared his persuasive power. Media power to sway the country was more satisfying than patriotism.
Journalism is poised against patriotism. Journalists disdain patriotism as "my country right or wrong," and they always want to be right. They associate patriotism with warmongers pushing for endless wars.
In March 1989, the media’s controversial ingratitude toward America was spotlighted by a PBS show called "Ethics In America." Professor Charles Ogletree created a scenario where America was fighting a fictional country called North Kosan. The enemy was going to assault American troops. He asked: does a reporter have a "higher duty as an American citizen" to warn the troops? Without hesitation, CBS journalist Mike Wallace said no. "No, you don't have higher duty ... you're a reporter." ABC anchor Peter Jennings first said he would notify them, then changed his mind: "I think he's right too. I chickened out."
In an April 1990 primetime special, Jennings clearly signaled America was not a benign force in the world. "The United States is deeply involved in Cambodia again. Cambodia is on the edge of hell again."
September 11, 2001, may have united the country for a few weeks, but not on ABC. Six days after thousands of Americans died, ABC "Politically Incorrect" host Bill Maher argued that the terrorists who drove planes into buildings were more courageous than American pilots: "We have been the cowards. Lobbing cruise missiles from 2,000 miles away, that’s cowardly. Staying in the airplane when it hits the building, say what you want about it, not cowardly."
Two weeks later, "CBS Evening News" producer Dick Meyer wrote a commentary on CBSNews.com on the discomfort with the American flag. "Our 10-year-old daughter asked her mother if we could put a flag on our car. My wife reluctantly agreed, but hasn’t procured the flag yet. ... My wife essentially shares our daughter’s feelings. But for her, the symbol of the flag was appropriated in her youth by counter-protesters who used it to deny the patriotism of the war’s opponents. Flag-waving feels aggressive to her." Burning the flag isn’t aggressive. Waving it is.
Flag pins were still offending PBS host Bill Moyers, who uncorked a pompous commentary on his program "Now" on the taxpayer-funded network. The flag’s been hijacked and turned into a logo – the trademark of a monopoly on patriotism. ... When I see flags sprouting on official lapels, I think of the time in China when I saw Mao’s Little Red Book on every official’s desk, omnipresent and unread."
Four years later, Moyers was still at it on his PBS show, now called "Moyers & Company." This time, he ripped the pledge: "The next time you say the ‘Pledge of Allegiance.’ ... Remember, it's a lie, a whopper of a lie. We coax it from the mouths of babes for the same reason our politicians wear their flag pins on their lapels. It makes the hypocrisy go down easier."
Also in 2007, the ABC News program "The View" featured Rosie O’Donnell suggesting we were the terrorists: "I just want to say something: 655,000 Iraqi civilians are dead. Who are the terrorists?...If you were in Iraq, and the other country, the United States, the richest in the world, invaded your country and killed 655,000 of your citizens, what would you call us?"
"The View" was still at this in 2021, when Olympian athlete Gwen Berry turned away and covered her head while they played the national anthem at the delayed Olympic trials. Whoopi Goldberg came to her defense: "In the upcoming days, we’ll play you the American anthem and let you see what you think of it. Because there’s some stuff in there that makes it a little bit tough to take."
America is a free country, and journalists are free to denigrate it. Journalists are free to assert that their precious profession places them above putrid pledges of allegiance. But they shouldn’t be mystified when Americans decide they don’t trust networks that sound suspicious of the national unity that patriotism can bring.
While Democrats predict major problems with a provision within the "one big, beautiful bill" that adds a work requirement for adults to be eligible for Medicaid, Republican senators are praising the requirement, saying, "We’ve got to get back to work."
The provision requires able-bodied, childless adults between the ages of 18 and 64 to work at least 80 hours a month to be eligible to receive Medicaid benefits. Individuals can also meet the requirement by participating in community service, going to school or engaging in a work program.
"We have folks back home right now harvesting wheat that are working 20 hours in a day," Sen. Roger Marshall, R-Kan., told Fox News Digital. "We want you to go to college, we want to volunteer, work 20 hours a week, it brings dignity, it brings purpose to your lives. Work is a great thing; it's nothing to be ashamed of."
"Seven million healthy American men out there of working age are not working right now," Marshall continued. "We happen to have seven million open jobs as well. I think I want to do everything I can to help those seven million men find a job. Whether that's through an education or community colleges, technical colleges, I think there's lots of opportunity out there."
Sen. Bill Hagerty, R-Tenn., said "the disincentives to work are a real problem here in America."
"It's amazing that Democrats are trying to make this argument," he said. "I don't think that taxpayers should be footing the bill at all for able-bodied citizens. And certainly, non-citizens should not be getting the benefit of this."
"We need to incentivize work," Hagerty went on. "And certainly, you don't want to be incentivizing a burden on taxpayers."
"We've got to take care of the people that need to be taken care of and it's just unfortunate you've got a lot of freeloaders in this country," said Sen. Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala.
Tuberville claimed that many of those he deemed as freeloaders "are coming from the younger ranks because they've grown up, they've got all these student loans, they got a degree that's not worth anything, they can't get a job or they don't want to work and so the way they've done they've turned into socialists, they started living off the government."
"We can't have that. We’ve got to get back to work. This country is built on hard work," he said.
Meanwhile, Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wis., said he also agrees with the work requirement, telling Fox News Digital that "quite honestly, what we're trying to do is stop enrollment in that Obamacare addition to Medicaid."
"They call it Medicaid expansion, but it's Obamcare. It was Democrats' way of trying to turn us into a single-payer system. And so, it incentivized the states to sign up single able-bodied individuals," he claimed.
"As a result," he went on. "We've created all kinds of [what] I would call legalized fraud on the part of states … Now that they've designed their budgets around that scam, now they're screaming when we're trying to end the scam."
Additionally, while Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., expressed that "of course, we should always eliminate any kind of fraud and that kind of a waste," other Democrats were much less enthusiastic about the work requirement.
"That provision is not designed for efficiency or to save people money that provision is designed to kick people off of Medicaid, like don't believe the hype," said Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn.
Murphy claimed that Republicans "have built a work requirement that they know people won't be able to satisfy because they hate the idea that Medicaid actually helps the working poor in this country."
"So, there's going to be a whole bunch of people who work for a living who are not going to be able to comply with those provisions and are going to lose their healthcare, even though they're working," he said. "That's the intent of the provision and everybody should just be honest about that."
Sen. Mark Kelly, D-Ariz., indicated that the provision will "kick 17 million people off of health insurance."
"These are life and death situations that people are making," he said, adding, "This legislation is going to kick 300,000 of my constituents off of their health care coverage."
"These are people that I've spoken to that can't afford it," he continued. "They have no money in their budget to go and buy health care. So, then they got to make a decision between eating and their rent, or they just don't go to the doctor."
James Agresti, president of Just Facts, a public policy research institute, told Fox News Digital that despite Democrats’ claims about the work requirements, he believes reality tells a different story.
"The notion that able-bodied adults without young children cannot work, get an education, or volunteer for 20 hours a week is absurd," he said.
"Murphy’s rhetoric is refuted by decades of experience with other welfare programs that have work requirements, like Temporary Assistance for Needy Families," he explained.
Agresti said that according to an estimate by the Congressional Budget Office (CBO), 1.4 million noncitizens and 9.2 million able-bodied adults who won’t work or are engaged in fraud will be removed from Medicaid eligibility.
A spokesperson for Kelly’s office told Fox News Digital that "a bunch of actual experts and media outlets correctly interpreting that same CBO report" estimate that 11.8 million people will be without health insurance by 2034 because of the provision, plus an additional 5.1 million because of the bill ending expanded Affordable Care Act credits.
In response, Agresti said the bill "doesn’t revoke the expanded Obamacare subsidies, which were a temporary COVID-era handout that Democrats enacted in the American Rescue Plan and extended in the Inflation Reduction Act."
"Even the New York Times has reported that adding these numbers into the tally for the big, beautiful bill ‘is an exaggeration’ and not ‘the real number,’" said Agresti.
He also said that numerous studies have proven that the disincentive to work is a real problem in America.
"Even Lawrence Summers, Obama’s chief economist and Clinton’s Treasury Secretary, has written that ‘government assistance programs’ provide ‘an incentive, and the means, not to work,’" he said.
Murphy’s office did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s requests for comment.
Kylie Jenner and Kristin Cavallari are among the stars who recently surprised fans with their transparency about their plastic surgery procedures.
Over the past few weeks, the 27-year-old "The Kardashians" star and the 38-year-old "Laguna Beach" alum opened up about going under the knife and revealed specific details about their surgeries.
In early June, Jenner stunned fans with her candid response to a TikTok user, who posted a video in which she pleaded with the Kylie Cosmetics mogul to share what exactly she requested when she underwent her breast augmentation.
"445 cc, moderate profile, half under the muscle!!!!! silicone!!! Jenner wrote, noting that her doctor was Beverly Hills-based plastic surgeon Dr. Garth Fisher. "hope this helps lol," she added.
In breast augmentation, "cc" refers to cubic centimeters, which is the unit of measurement for the volume of the breast implant. Higher cc values indicate larger implant sizes.
The next day, Fisher shared an Instagram post in which he thanked Jenner for giving him an unexpected shoutout on social media. Jenner's mother Kris Jenner, 69, then took to the comments to praise Fisher as a "superstar class act."
Kris revealed that Fisher was also her surgeon when she had her first facelift in 2011, which she described as the "most amazing experience ever."
During a 2023 episode of "The Kardashians," Jenner first confirmed rumors that she had breast augmentation surgery after previously denying the speculation. Jenner admitted that she had the procedure at 19, the year before she gave birth to her first child with rapper Travis Scott, daughter Stormi, now 7. At the time, the TV personality expressed regret that she underwent the surgery before having children.
Three days after Jenner's revelation, Cavallari also shared specific details about her own breast implants in a reply to a fan.
"I was 300 cc before now I'm 340. Everyone thinks I went a lot bigger but I've just pushed them up a couple times since getting them done," she shared on Instagram. "This is the new set a few days ago and they fit my frame."
In 2024, Cavallari – who shares sons Camden, 11, and Jaxon, 10, and daughter Saylor, 8, with her ex-husband Jay Cutler – revealed that she previously had two breast augmentations after she finished breastfeeding Jaxon and Saylor.
During a May episode of her podcast, "Let’s Be Honest," Cavallari shared that she had the second augmentation after her doctor determined that one of her implants had ruptured and a "body then formed a huge piece of scar tissue around it." The Uncommon James founder recalled that the discovery was made while she was undergoing surgery to "redo my boobs."
Despite her health scare, Cavallari told her listeners that she had no regrets about getting her breast augmentations.
"I’m happy about it!" she said. "And I’m gonna be honest with you guys: Doing my boobs is one of the best things I’ve ever done."
While speaking with Fox News Digital, Eric Schiffer, chairman of the Los Angeles-based firm Reputation Management Consultants, shared his view on why stars are becoming more open about their cosmetic enhancements.
"The myth of the ‘genetic lottery’ is getting slaughtered – celebrities are forced to admit their beauty is bought, not purely born," the PR expert said. "Pretending your face is a miracle of DNA is dead – now it’s all receipts, and surgical invoices. Today’s fans don’t want fairy tales – they want the ugly, unfiltered surgeons invoice.
"Celebrity candor about 445-cc implants isn’t altruism; it’s influencer inventory – every cubic centimeter reveal pumps the resale value of their own brand merch," Schiffer continued. "Kylie Jenner publishing her implant specs is the new press-release for celebrity plastic surgeons like Dr. Garth Fisher. When Kristin Cavallari live-blogs a rupture revision, she’s not oversharing – she’s quarantining brand risk before the tabloids weaponize the X-ray."
Doug Eldridge of Achilles PR told Fox News Digital that he believed celebrities' increasing forthrightness about their procedures is the result of changing times.
"To some extent, this is part of a celebrity sine wave, as far as beauty and body image trends go," Eldridge said. "Twenty years ago, the only time plastic surgery was ‘certain’ was when it went wrong."
Fisher's office reportedly received over 150 calls a day after Jenner revealed that he was behind her breast augmentation. While speaking with Fox News Digital, Beverly Hills-based plastic surgeon David Feldmar weighed in on the impact of the celebrities' revelations.
"The increased transparency from celebrities like Kylie Jenner and Kristin Cavallari about their plastic surgery is certainly driving patient interest, with some specifically requesting ‘The Kylie Jenner’ or ‘The Kristin Cavallari’ breast augmentation for their signature enhanced yet natural-looking results," he said.
"This openness helps normalize discussions about cosmetic procedures and empowers patients to explore their options," Feldmar added. "However, expecting identical results to a celebrity’s is often unrealistic due to individual differences in anatomy, healing and lifestyle."
"As surgeons, we guide patients toward personalized outcomes that enhance their unique features while prioritizing safety and realistic expectations, drawing inspiration from celebrity aesthetics without promising an exact replica."
Meanwhile, Khloé Kardashian took a page out of her sister Kylie's playbook as she revealed every cosmetic procedure she has undergone over the years.
Kardashian's disclosure came in response to an Instagram post by London-based aesthetic surgeon Dr. Jonny Betteridge, who took a deep dive into the mom-of-two's physical "transformation" over the years while sharing a long list of procedures he believed she had done.
"Khloé has changed a lot over the past few years," he wrote in the caption of a video shared on his clinic’s Instagram account, highlighting photos of Kardashian attending Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez Bezos' wedding festivities as well as throwback snaps of the reality star. "While she’s spoken about her weight loss and fitness routine, it seems likely that her transformation also includes several cosmetic procedures."
Betteridge shared a breakdown of procedures that he believed Karshashian has had, including a face and neck lift, a chin implant, Rhinoplasty, lip filler and more. He shared his view that Kardashian "looks dramatically different from a few years ago." However, Betteridge included the disclaimer that his list was "purely speculative and based on my professional opinion."
"I have no personal knowledge of any treatments Khloe Kardashian may or may not have had," he added.
While Kardashian praised the doctor for the "great compliment" in the comments section of his post, she was quick to clarify the work she's actually had done.
"First off I think these photos are about 15 years apart, But here's a list of things that I have done. I've been very open in the past about what I have done so here we go," she continued.
According to Kardashian, she’s had a nose job, "laser Hair for the hairline and everywhere else," "Botox and sculptra where my face tumor was removed in my cheek," "soft wave laser for skin tightening" and "filler in the past but not any over the last few years."
Kardashian added that she's "lost 80 pounds over the years (slow and steady)."
Additionally, Kardashian said she uses "collagen baby Threads" underneath her chin and neck, as well as "Salmon sperm facials/ regular facials, peptides, vitamins and daily skin care."
As more celebrities are coming forward about their cosmetic work, plastic surgeon Dr. Josef Hadeed, who has offices in Beverly Hills and Miami, shared his view on whether their candor would have a lasting impact on the industry.
"Generally speaking, most people want to look like a better version of themselves," he told Fox News Digital. "Certainly, there are some people who do want to look like a certain celebrity or an influencer they have seen on social media, so we may see a temporary uptick in requests for a breast augmentation to look like a certain celebrity who has admitted to having theirs done."
"However, it is not very realistic to look like someone else," Hadeed added. "Every woman starts off with a different breast size, volume, shape and anatomy. A good breast augmentation should result in a natural look that compliments the chest and body, and since there are so many options for breast implants, it is important to find the right implant for each patient depending on what her aesthetic goals are."
Schiffer and Eldridge also shared their opinions on how pulling back the veil on their plastic surgeries would impact celebrities in the eyes of their fans.
"Confession can be a PR triumph or a social media bloodbath – there’s no middle ground," Schiffer said. "Some fans applaud the honesty, others see it as normalizing vanity. For each fan who praises transparency, there’s one who calls it a desperate plea for attention."
He continued, "Owning up to surgery humanizes a celebrity – or expose them as just another insecure narcissist. It’s negative if the work looks botched – transparency can’t rescue bad art direction on your epidermis."
"You can also think of it as pre-emptive crisis insurance: disclose the nip-tuck details before TMZ finds the OR log, and the headline reads ‘empowered,’ not ‘exposed,'" Schiffer added. "In the TikTok courtroom, hiding a facelift is securities fraud against your own face."
"Brands love it: a star who posts her surgeon’s handle turns personal downtime into a paid referral pipeline – affiliate marketing, but with scalpels."
Eldridge told Fox News Digital that the uptick in celebrities' transparency about their plastic surgeries was a "good move."
"Getting ‘work done’ is inevitable in Hollywood; until recently, ‘giving credit’ was not," he said. "As social media continues to be a tool to close the gap between celebrities and their fans – by providing the illusion of proximity, authenticity and relatability – then this is the logical ‘update’ for those apps: candor."
"At the same time, you’re also seeing a unique counter-culture among the glitterati: as one half moves to share their surgeon’s names and ‘cc-secrets’ there is another group that is leaning into the winds of time," Eldridge noted. "From Jamie Lee Curtis opting not to color her hair a decade ago, to former ‘Baywatch’ beauty, Pamela Anderson, opting not to wear makeup anymore, there’s always a trend, it’s just a question of how long it stays en vogue."
As for whether the trend would continue, Schiffer told Fox News Digital that he believed "the transparency arms race has just begun."
"Expect even more grotesque detail and surgical oversharing," he said. "Confession is contagious; each celebrity who comes clean drags a dozen more into the lights."
Schiffer continued, "Transparency is now a competitive sport – who can be more brutally honest, more raw? This isn’t a trend – it’s a permanent mutation in celebrity culture. The next frontier is not just admitting surgery, but live-streaming it."
However, Eldridge shared his view that the stars' plastic surgery tell-alls were a passing fad and "not likely" to continue.
"Just look at the previous trends, that came and went – but for the time being, authenticity is akin to the ‘must-have’ insulated tumbler that’s flying off the shelves at Target."
Fox News Digital's Christina Dugan Ramirez contributed to this report.
