As infamous killer brothers Erik and Lyle Mendendez wait for their August parole hearing, they have scored a legal victory on another front, this time in the form of new evidence they say could have led to their acquittal.
The pair, who admitted to killing their parents, Mary "Kitty" and Jose Menendez, in a bloody 1989 shotgun massacre inside their Beverly Hills home, claimed for years that their actions were self-defense stemming from a lifetime of physical and sexual abuse.
A July 8 court order obtained by Fox News Digital will force the state to explain why evidence to that effect was barred from their trial.
About eight months before the double-homicide, Erik allegedly wrote a letter to his cousin, Andy Cano, claiming that Jose had sexually abused him and Lyle.
Further, an affidavit from Roy Rossello, a member of a boy band called Menudo, claimed Jose, a record executive, raped him when he was a 14-year-old boy in 1983 or 1984. Rossello made the claim almost 40 years after the alleged rape.
In March 2023, the brothers filed a habeas petition claiming that if they had been allowed to use the Cano letter as evidence, and if Rossello's claim had been made before and presented at their second trial, a jury would not have convicted them.
In an informal response to that petition, filed by Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman's office in February of this year, prosecutors denied that the letter and the affidavit constituted new evidence. They said that the Cano letter was "untimely." They also said the Rossello affidavit was "inadmissible, immaterial, and lacks credibility."
But the July 8 order, handed down by Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge William C. Ryan, said that the letter and the affidavit constitute a prima facie showing that the brothers are entitled to habeas relief.
The district attorney's office is now subject to a "show cause" response in the next 30 days. In their response, Hochman's office must explain why the brothers' habeas relief should not be granted.
The brothers sought a new trial in 2023, but have since shifted their focus to their own resentencing, which they were granted in May. Judge Michael Jesic resentenced the brothers to 50 years to life with the possibility of parole. They were previously serving life without parole.
Since, the brothers have been eagerly awaiting that parole hearing. After it was initially scheduled for June 13, it was postponed until August 21 and 22.
EXCLUSIVE IMAGES: Life is moving on for all the key players except John O'Keefe's family after a Massachusetts jury found his former girlfriend Karen Read not guilty of all homicide-related charges in his death outside a midnight house party during a blizzard on Jan. 29, 2022.
O'Keefe's niece and nephew, who he took in after their parents died, are orphaned for a second time.
Read has a book deal – and a TV series about her saga in the works. But she's also facing a wrongful death lawsuit, which requires a lesser standard of guilt to hold her liable. Her civil team filed a motion to dismiss earlier this week.
An outside investigation by the FBI found no alternate suspects and dispelled allegations of corruption leveled at local and state police. But prosecutors and investigators who led the case are facing a reckoning.
The Albert family, former owners of the property where Read and two other women found O'Keefe dead under a sheet of snow, just celebrated a wedding.
Jennifer McCabe, a key witness in both of Read's trials and one of the women with Read that morning, is the new bride's aunt.
At the wedding, attendees pitched in to hire private security after Read's supporters allegedly circulated the venue online. Local police made their presence known, too. A marked SUV was parked at the foot of the church steps.
Kerry Roberts, a friend of O'Keefe's who was also present with McCabe and Read when they found his body, told Fox News Digital she is among the witnesses facing an ongoing harassment campaign, along with the Alberts, the McCabes and O'Keefe's immediate family.
"I don't know why they're making Jen McCabe a villain," she said in a phone interview. "All she did was answer the same phone call I did. Karen called her. She didn't call Karen. It's so stupid and bizarre."
The victim's mother, Peggy O'Keefe, is dealing with harassment of her own, including a woman seen dancing on video at the foot of her driveway after Read's acquittal.
Roberts said the Norfolk District Attorney's Office told her to stop contacting their witness advocate after the trial, even as strangers continue to throw things at her house, call her family "murderers" in the supermarket and mock her children.
"We put our a--es on the line for three and a half years, two trials, to help the state of Massachusetts, and you're not going to help us when we're being harassed?" she said. "It's not worth it to put my family through ever again, and not be protected at all. It's sick. It's absolutely sick."
There's an ongoing witness intimidation case against Aidan Kearney, a Canton blogger who goes by the name Turtleboy, but while Roberts is not one of his alleged victims, she says she faces rude comments and other harassment from random members of the community.
After baseball games, kids on the team opposing her son might tell him "Free Karen Read" while lining up to shake hands, she said. She filed a complaint against her mailman, who allegedly muttered a vulgarity into her doorbell camera when he saw a "Justice for John O'Keefe" sign at her house. Now someone else delivers her letters.
"My message to people is don't ever be a witness," she said. "If this happens to you, you're not gonna be protected at all."
Read's lead defense lawyer Alan Jackson returned to Los Angeles in time for the Fourth of July holiday, where he was seen cruising in a Shelby Cobra replica – powered by a 351 Stroker he described as "a fire-breathing dragon."
"[It's] taking a while to come down," he told Fox News Digital. "But I'm slowly getting back into my rhythm."
He already has another deadly crash case lined up – the defense of Fraser Bohm, a 22-year-old from Malibu facing four counts of murder in a high-speed wreck that killed four sorority girls from Pepperdine University in October 2023.
Bohm is due back in court next month after Jackson asked for more time to prep a defense for his new client.
Michael Proctor, a former homicide detective with the Massachusetts State Police, lost his job but may still resurface in the upcoming murder trial of Brian Walshe – who is accused of killing his wife Ana outside Boston.
Her remains have not been found. Proctor worked that case, too, and Walshe's lawyers have argued his presence tainted the investigation. That trial is scheduled to kick off in October.
State police fired Proctor after he sent lewd texts about Read to his friends – officially faulting him for sharing law enforcement sensitive information with civilians – and for drinking on the job.
His former supervisor, Yuri Bukhenik, was also reassigned in the wake of Read's second trial out of the homicide unit in Norfolk County and to an administrative post in Boston, according to Boston 25.
Read's defense alleged a cover-up by state and local police, alternately insinuating they got lazy in the investigation and failed to do a thorough job or outright framed her.
Hank Brennan, the high-powered defense attorney hired as a special prosecutor to lead Read's second trial, reportedly raked in more than $550,000 for his work, according to the Boston Herald.
That's a reasonable sum for a private lawyer, said retired Massachusetts judge and Boston College law professor Jack Lu, but also much more than a deputy district attorney on the state payroll would have made: "Probably $130,000 annually."
Brennan put in long days and likely worked through weekends, while keeping his private practice open at the same time, he added.
And while in a rare public statement he slammed the prevalence of witness intimidation and apologized for not securing a conviction, O'Keefe's supporters indicated they appreciate his work on the case.
"The jury pool was completely tainted is all I can say," Roberts told Fox News Digital. "Hank did so much work. He was a genius. He really was. Nobody could’ve gotten it done. Which is wicked sad."
Cleveland Browns rookie running back Quinshon Judkins was arrested on Saturday in Fort Lauderdale, Florida for alleged domestic violence, according to Broward County police records.
Judkins was drafted out of Ohio State with the fourth pick of the second round. He was expected to contend for the team's lead running back role with the departure of veteran Nick Chubb.
Now, he is potentially subject to discipline from the league as per its personal conduct policy.
A Browns' spokesperson said they were aware of the situation and "gathering information," according to the Akron Beacon Journal.
On Saturday, Trump, 79, floated the idea of revoking the 63-year-old comedian and actress's U.S. citizenship following her move to Ireland earlier this year.
"Because of the fact that Rosie O’Donnell is not in the best interests of our Great Country, I am giving serious consideration to taking away her Citizenship," Trump wrote in a post to his social media platform Truth Social.
"She is a Threat to Humanity, and should remain in the wonderful Country of Ireland, if they want her. GOD BLESS AMERICA!" he added.
O'Donnell quickly responded to Trump's jab in several posts that she shared on her social media pages. The "A League of Their Own" star posted a collage of photos centered around a screenshot of Trump's post on Instagram and blasted the politician in the caption.
"The president of the USA has always hated the fact that i see him for who he is - a criminal con man sexual abusing liar out to harm our nation to serve himself," she wrote. "This is why i moved to Ireland - he is a dangerous old soulless man with dementia who lacks empathy compassion and basic humanity."
"I stand in direct opposition [to] all he represents- so do millions of others - u gonna deport all who stand against ur evil tendencies - ur a bad joke who cant form a coherent sentence," O'Donnell added along with the hashtag #nevertrump.
The former talk show host later shared a screenshot of her Instagram post on TikTok, where she slammed Trump in the caption, writing that he was a "disgrace to all our beautiful country stands for" and a "danger to our nation."
O'Donnell went on to bash Trump as a "mentally ill untreated criminal," claiming that he "lied to America for a decade" during his time hosting the hit reality TV series "The Apprentice."
"Had u grown up in NY - as I did - u would know what a total fool he is. Add me to the list of people who oppose him at every turn -it’s now or never America," she wrote.
In another post, O'Donnell uploaded a photo of Trump with his arm around Jeffrey Epstein, the disgraced financier who died in a prison cell in 2019 while awaiting trial on federal charges of sex-trafficking minors.
"Hey donald – you’re rattled again? 18 years later and I still live rent-free in that collapsing brain of yours," she wrote in the caption. "You call me a threat to humanity – but I’m everything you fear: a loud woman a queer woman a mother who tells the truth an american who got out of the country b4 u set it ablaze."
"You want to revoke my citizenship? go ahead and try, king joffrey with a tangerine spray tan," she added, referring to Joffrey Baratheon, the sadistic young king who was a character in the hit HBO TV series "Game of Thrones."
"I’m not yours to silence," she added. "I never was."
Though O'Donnell did not refer to Epstein in the caption, her post comes as Trump's administration faces backlash over its handling of the investigation into Epstein’s sex trafficking case. Leaders of the Department of Justice and the FBI have come under fire by many of Trump's supporters after closing their inquiry in y ended their inquiry into the case without releasing new files.
Representatives for the White House and O'Donnell did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment.
O'Donnell and Trump have been involved in a feud since 2006 after she criticized him on "The View" for his leniency toward a Miss USA winner who had been accused of drug use and other bad behavior.
Trump responded to the criticism by calling O'Donnell a "real loser."
In 2014, O'Donnell claimed her feud with Trump resulted in the "most bullying I ever experienced in my life."
The two's war of words has continued over the years with O'Donnell frequently speaking out against Trump and his policies after the real estate mogul's entry into politics.
O'Donnell stepped up her Trump critiques during his first presidential run and win, jokingly telling Seth Meyers in 2017 that she spends "about 90% of my working hours tweeting hatred toward this administration."
In March, O'Donnell confirmed that she had fled to Ireland after Trump's return to the Oval Office following his second presidential election victory.
At the time, the comedian said she was living in Ireland and was in the process of applying for Irish citizenship.
"It’s been pretty wonderful, I have to say," O'Donnell said in a video on TikTok. "And the people have been so loving, so kind and so welcoming. And I’m very grateful."
O'Donnell said she and her child Clay left the country Jan. 15, five days before Trump’sinauguration.
"Although I was someone who never thought I would move to another country, that’s what I decided would be the best for myself and my 12-year-old child," she explained.
"You know, I'm happy. Clay is happy. I miss my other kids. I miss my friends. I miss many things about life there at home and I'm trying to find a home here in this beautiful country, and when it is safe for all citizens to have equal rights there in America, that's when we will consider coming back," O'Donnell said in the clip.
Despite Trump's post, O'Donnell's citizenship is unlikely to be in jeopardy. The 14th Amendment guarantees citizenship to any person born in the United States and the actress was born in Commack, New York. In addition, many legal experts agree that the government cannot unilaterally revoke the citizenship of a natural-born citizen. One exception is if the government was able to prove that citizenship was obtained through fraud in the case of naturalization.
In addition, citizenship can be revoked if an individual commits certain actions, including treason, serving in a foreign military engaged in hostilities against the U.S., or renouncing citizenship.
Federal authorities have confirmed that more than 300 illegal aliens were arrested Thursday during an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raid at a Ventura County, California cannabis farm.
Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem confirmed on X that 319 unlawful immigrants were apprehended during the raid at Glass House Farms, and said that "law enforcement rescued 14 children from potential forced labor, exploitation, and trafficking."
The raid is believed to be the second-largest single-state ICE worksite operation in history, behind the first Trump administration's 2019 Mississippi chicken plant raids that netted almost 700 illegal alien arrests.
One man taken into custody has a history of violent crime, including attempted child exploitation.
CBP Commissioner Rodney Scott posted a photo of the unnamed migrant on X.
"This illegal alien was apprehended at the CA marijuana facility," he said.
"Turns out he had been sentenced to 7 yrs for kidnapping & attempted rape, w/ a prior conviction for attempted child molestation.
And this felon was working at the same farm as 10 kids - one being 14 yrs old."
Fox News has learned that the children rescued at the farm are from Mexico and Honduras, and that immigration authorities are analyzing the criminal histories of all 319 of the detained illegal aliens.
Glass House Farms is under investigation for possible child labor law violations.
The company's co-founder, president and board director, Graham Farrar, donated $10,000 to California Gov. Gavin Newsom in 2018, among other Democratic politicians. He has also donated to Republicans, and shown support for Republicans who expressed support for liberalizing cannabis laws.
A violent clash erupted between ICE agents and protesters during the massive raid. Federal law enforcement agents were assaulted during the operation, and one combatant appeared to fire a handgun towards agents as the crowd was dispersed with tear gas.
One worker died during the raid after climbing a 30-foot greenhouse and subsequently falling from it.
An irate Trump took to his Truth Social platform to blast the protesters, and authorize ICE to take whatever precautions are necessary to protect themselves during future raids.
"I am on my way back from Texas, and watched in disbelief as THUGS were violently throwing rocks and bricks at ICE Officers while they were moving down a roadway in their car and/or official vehicle," he said.
"Tremendous damage was done to these brand new vehicles. I know for a fact that these Officers are having a hard time with allowing this to happen in that it shows such total disrespect for LAW AND ORDER.
"I am giving Total Authorization for ICE to protect itself, just like they protect the Public," he wrote. "I never want to see a car carrying a Law Enforcement Officer attacked again! AUTHORIZATION IMMEDIATELY GRANTED FOR ARREST AND INCARCERATION. Thank you for your attention to this matter!"
An Arizona resident died of pneumonic plague, becoming the first person to succumb to the disease in the area in nearly 20 years, according to officials.
The victim, who was not identified, lived in Coconino County, which includes Flagstaff, local officials said.
The last recorded death in Coconino County was in 2007. Only about seven people are diagnosed in the U.S. each year, and most cases are concentrated in the western states.
In the U.S., it’s most likely to be found in rural areas of northern New Mexico, northern Arizona, southern Colorado, California, southern Oregon and western Nevada, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Pneumonic plague, which affects the lungs, is the deadliest form of the disease. Although the plague killed millions of Europeans during the Black Death of the 14th century, it is now easily treated with antibiotics.
Pneumonic plague causes severe pneumonia and respiratory failure, according to the Cleveland Clinic.
Bubonic plague is the most common form of the disease, affecting the lymph nodes. Septicemic plague is the least common form of the disease and affects the bloodstream.
The plague is usually transmitted through flea bites from wild rodents or contact with an infected animal, and it can even spread person-to-person through the air.
The Arizona Department of Health Services did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.
The Milwaukee Bucks' front office has had a busy offseason as the organization retools the roster due to the uncertainty about the future of franchise player Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Shortly after the Pacers lost Game 7 of the NBA Finals to the Thunder, the Bucks acquired Myles Turner from Indiana. Turner and the Bucks reached an agreement on a four-year deal worth $107 million, ESPN reported.
Turner spent a decade in Indiana, but the NBA's two-time blocks leader seemed to be at an impasse in Indianapolis.
While multiple reports indicated the Pacers were initially open to working toward a lucrative contract extension with Turner, the franchise's position on roster building appeared to change after Tyrese Haliburton's injured an Achilles tendon in Game 7.
Haliburton is expected to be sidelined for the entire 2025-26 season, raising questions about whether the Pacers would be in a position to compete for a championship in the near future.
Turner spoke to reporters in Las Vegas Saturday when he was officially introduced as a member of the Bucks.
Turner pointed to "alignment issues" between him and the Pacers during his explanation of why he decided to leave the only NBA franchise he had ever played for.
"There were alignment issues, I think, on that side, you know, as far as me and them," Turner said. "Just out of respect for their organization, out of respect for this organization, I'm not gonna speak on that too much. But, you know, again, this was just the best decision for me moving forward and the best fit."
Turner did admit it wasn't easy for him to bolt from the team that selected him in the first round of the 2015 NBA Draft.
"There were a lot of decisions that went into it. It wasn't an easy one," Turner said. "I spent 10 years of my life in one place. I was a teenager when I got to the Indy market, and when I just sat back and started to evaluate things and just see where I was in my career, see where was in my life and what I wanted for myself, I just kind of saw what the Bucks were putting together.
"And I was excited about the opportunity. I had great conversations with Doc [Rivers] and Jon [Horst], and obviously my agent as well, and my family. And I think we just all decided, and, ultimately, I decided that, this is where I needed to be."
Judge reached 350 in his 1,088th game, while McGwire hit No. 350 in his 1,280th game against Detroit Tigers pitcher Brian Moehler June 2, 1997, surpassing Harmon Killebrew, who hit his 350th in his 1,319th game.
"Big Mac did a lot of great things in this game, and he’s definitely a legend," Judge said.
"I just think he’s playing in a different league," Yankees manager Aaron Boone said after Judge’s ninth-inning drive to right center field against the Cubs. Chicago won 5-2.
Judge, who turned 33 in April, debuted with the Yankees at age 24 in 2016. The two-time AL MVP also doubled twice and is hitting a major league-leading .358 with 35 homers and 81 RBIs.
"Would have been great if we got a win today," Judge said. "I’ve been surrounded by a lot of great teammates, been on some good teams, so they really put me in the best position to go out there and perform at my best."
McGwire finished his career in 2001 at age 38 with 583 homers, still good for 11th on the career list. He admitted in 2010 he used performance-enhancing drugs and has been denied entry to baseball's Hall of Fame.
The Yankees captain said he has maintained a relationship with McGwire since their first conversation.
"I think it started with when I broke my first rib," Judge said. "I think his son was kind of going through the same thing, so he was first asking me how did I heal? What do we do? So, I kind of gave him some tips on that. And then we just kind of chit-chatted a little bit and kept in contact."
FBI Director Kash Patel on Saturday squashed rumors of a rift inside the Trump administration's law-and-order team, just hours before the president himself defended Attorney General Pam Bondi amid Jeffrey Epstein probe backlash.
The criticism came after the FBI and Department of Justice on Sunday released a memo shutting down theories about an alleged Epstein client list, finding a tell-all document exposing his associates did not exist. Fueling the fire was a one-minute gap in a surveillance video from Epstein’s cell, which was part of the evidence the DOJ released. The review found the disgraced financier died by suicide in jail in 2019.
Fox News reported Friday that Patel's No. 2, Deputy Director Dan Bongino, was considering resigning if Bondi stayed on as head of the Department of Justice, which oversees the FBI. There were unconfirmed reports that Patel might step down as well, but he shot that down with a social media post Saturday, saying "conspiracy theories" about a potential resignation over Bondi’s handling of the Jeffrey Epstein files "just aren't true."
"The conspiracy theories just aren’t true, never have been," Patel wrote. "It's an honor to serve the President of the United States @realDonaldTrump — and I'll continue to do so for as long as he calls on me."
Hours after Patel's post, President Donald Trump took to Truth Social to express unhappiness with his follower's reaction.
Trump supporters posted videos to social media Saturday afternoon charring MAGA hats in protest.
"What's going on with my ‘boys’ and, in some cases, ‘gals?' They’re all going after Attorney General Pam Bondi, who is doing a FANTASTIC JOB," Trump wrote. "We’re on one Team, MAGA, and I don’t like what’s happening."
He went on to describe Epstein as a "guy who never dies" and shifted blame to former President Barack Obama, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, former FBI Director James Comey, former CIA director John Brennan, and the Biden administration.
"They created the Epstein Files, just like they created the FAKE Hillary Clinton/Christopher Steele Dossier that they used on me, and now my so-called ‘friends’ are playing right into their hands," Trump wrote. "Why didn’t these Radical Left Lunatics release the Epstein Files? If there was ANYTHING in there that could have hurt the MAGA Movement, why didn’t they use it?"
The president claimed that one year ago, the country was "DEAD," but is now "the ‘HOTTEST’ Country anywhere in the World.
"Let’s keep it that way, and not waste Time and Energy on Jeffrey Epstein, somebody that nobody cares about," Trump wrote.
Rumors about a change in leadership were triggered by Patel's apparent X biography change, where his title as FBI Director was removed to only read, "Fmr Chief of Staff @DeptofDefense."
Multiple sources told Fox News Digital Bongino and Bondi butted heads at a White House meeting Wednesday, with Bongino accusing Bondi of a "lack of transparency from the start" in the Epstein files probe.
The former Secret Service agent-turned FBI official allegedly raised his voice at Trump’s White House chief of staff before storming out, and has since been weighing resignation over the episode, insiders said.
Bondi and Patel, however, have presented a united front. Sources close to Bondi claim she has "no intention of stepping down" and the pair are in constant communication.
"Any attempt to sow division within this team is baseless and distracts from the real progress being made," White House Deputy Press Secretary Harrison Fields told Fox News Digital, emphasizing that Trump’s law-and-order lineup is working "seamlessly and with unity."
"President Trump has assembled a highly qualified and experienced law and order team dedicated to protecting Americans, holding criminals accountable, and delivering justice to victims," Fields added. "This work is being carried out seamlessly and with unity. Any attempt to sow division within this team is baseless and distracts from the real progress being made in restoring public safety and pursuing justice for all."
The FBI did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment.
Fox News' David Spunt, Amanda Macias, Jake Gibson, Ashley Oliver and Brie Stimson contributed to this report.
Indiana Fever star Sophie Cunningham opened up about her personality in a team video released after she posted her first double-double of the season Friday.
After the Fever's 99-82 win over the Atlanta Dream, in which Cunningham had 16 points and 10 rebounds, the team published a video feature on social media with Cunningham speaking candidly about who she is.
"I bring the energy. I bring the feistiness. I'm a little bit sassy," Cunningham said.
"I'm just the ultimate competitor. I will outwork anyone, and I think that's something I can hang my hat on and my teammates can always expect from me."
Cunningham's admission comes amid her rise to stardom after she started a fight to defend teammate Caitlin Clark.
In a June 17 game against the Connecticut Sun, Cunningham committed a hard foul on Connecticut Sun guard Jacy Sheldon.
Cunningham and Sheldon’s heated exchange turned into a shoving match before players from both teams intervened to break it up. Cunningham, Sheldon and Sun guard Lindsay Allen were ejected from the game with about 40 seconds left before the Fever took home the victory.
The hard foul came after Sheldon poked Clark in the eye in the third quarter. Sun guard Marina Mabrey then shoved Clark to the floor during a game that got chippy.
As the Fever put away the Sun, 88-71, Cunningham was congratulated for stepping up as the team’s enforcer.
Cunningham saw a surge in popularity after the game. Her Instagram and TikTok accounts each surged past 1 million followers.
With Cunningham earning the nickname "the enforcer" for the Fever, fans counting on her to protect Caitlin Clark can rest easy knowing she is a black belt in the Korean martial art of taekwondo.
She earned the black belt at the age of 6.
Her father Jim played football at the University of Missouri, and she followed in her dad's footsteps on the football field.
A 2014 article by the Columbia Missourian reported Cunningham was the first female in history to score points for the team when she kicked two of four extra points in place of the team's regular kicker, who had torn an ACL.
Cunningham even handled kickoff duties.
"I was so nervous," Cunningham told the outlet. "I mean, I've never played football before in all my life. Right when I got the ball (on the opening kickoff), I couldn't hear anything. I just put the ball down and kicked it."
Cunningham comes from a family of farmers and credits that upbringing for the person she is today, according to a five-part feature series by the University of Missouri.
"So much of our success goes back to what we learned here," Cunningham said of working on the farm. "We loved coming out to the farm to help. We found out how to work hard and work together. It made us farm strong."
President Donald Trump's administration has been a staunch supporter of Israel, but the support reached historic levels after the United States launched strikes against Iranian nuclear facilities in June.
Seeming to bolster the United States' and Israel's friendship is what Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called the "partnership" of "mutual respect" and "open discussion" between leaders.
Netanyahu explained how his partnership with Trump is "different" than prior relations during an appearance that aired Saturday on "Life, Liberty & Levin."
"It's not an equal partnership, because America is the leader of the free world, and Israel is the bastion of the free world in the Middle East, but it is one of mutual respect [and] open discussion," Netanyahu told Fox News host Mark Levin, noting there is a "very clear unity of purpose" between Trump and him that has enabled them "to achieve things that were not achievable before that."
"Remember, I've been around many presidents. I've appreciated them. I respected them a lot, but this is different."
Netanyahu praised Trump's "refreshing view" on the current tensions and future outlook for the Middle East as well as the administration's support for Israel.
The Israeli leader also defended his nomination of Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize, pointing to his leadership in the Middle East and his efforts to broker peace in "every single corner of the earth."
While "deeply appreciative" of the federal government's support, Netanyahu outlined his concerns with America's mainstream media "disinformation campaign."
"We had a seven-front war, and we won on all fronts, and winning on all fronts, but this is the eighth front. The disinformation campaign is among us," he explained. "It takes a second for a lie to circulate the world, and then you have to battle it with the only weapon you have, which is the truth."
Since the war with Hamas broke out following the attacks on Oct. 7, 2023, Israel has faced growing scrutiny throughout the globe regarding its handling of the situation in Gaza and escalating strikes from mainstream outlets and social media users.
Netanyahu pushed back on many of the "lies" spread, saying that "in the electronic age — boy, that lie can encircle the earth 1,000 times."
"Shame on you. You should be ashamed of yourself. That's not journalism. That's not ethical. That's succumbing to the worst propaganda," the Israeli prime minister said.
Although the media's coverage is a "handicap," Netanyahu vowed to "fight the information war, too," with the "weapon of truth."
Fox News Digital's Greg Wehner and Caitlin McFall contributed to this report.
Trump administration border czar Tom Homan fired up the crowd at Turning Point USA’s Student Action Summit Saturday night when a heckler asked Homan, "Are you an MS-13 member?"
But the heckler's comments added fuel to Homan's fire as he delivered fiery closing remarks, saying, "Tom Homan is going to run the biggest deportation operation this country has ever seen. Take it to the bank."
"U-S-A! U-S-A! U-S-A," the crowd chanted as Homan exited the stage. About five minutes into Homan's speech, he was interrupted by a heckler who was escorted out by security, lighting a fire for the rest of the speech.
Homan had a message to the anti-ICE protesters across the United States, including to those who gathered outside the summit in Tampa, Florida, Saturday night.
"You want some? Come get some," Homan said. "I'm tired of it. For the men and women of ICE, I deserve your respect. They're the finest 1% this country has. And Tom Homan isn't going anywhere. Tom Homan isn't shutting up."
When the heckler asked Homan if he was an MS-13 member, referencing the Salvadoran transnational criminal gang that has been targeted through Trump's deportation rollout, Homan said federal immigration officers are dealing with these types of detractors on a daily basis.
"This guy wouldn't know what it's like to serve this nation. This guy ain't got the b---- to be an ICE officer. He hasn't got the b---- to be a border patrol agent," Homan continued, as the crowd cheered him on.
As the heckler was escorted out, Homan added, "This guy lives in his mother's basement. The only thing that surprised me is [he] doesn't have purple hair and a nose ring. Get out of here, you loser."
While the crowd continued cheering Homan's fiery speech, he assured that those protesting U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) would not intimidate agents because "we're going to do the job that President Trump gave us to do."
Homan said he has never seen "such hate against the men and women of ICE and in the Border Patrol," and those protesting don't have the courage to put on a badge and stand in their place.
While Homan said he was disappointed he didn't see any protesters when he arrived at the summit, protesters had lined the streets outside Saturday afternoon, rejecting Trump's agenda and his crackdown on illegal immigration.
The demonstrations on Saturday followed protests that deteriorated into riots in Los Angeles last month as rhetoric against ICE agents has reached a boiling point.
Federal immigration law enforcement officers have been targeted since Trump signed his "big, beautiful bill," which includes legislation for robust immigration reform, into law last Friday. There have been at least two ambushes in Texas, and protesters clashed with federal officers at the Portland, Oregon, ICE center.
The brazen border czar had made it clear his speech might contain some profanity Saturday night, telling the crowd at the top of his remarks, "Sometimes, I'm harsh. But if I offend anybody here tonight, I don't give a s---."
Homan also applauded Trump's crackdown on illegal immigration, telling the crowd, "Under his leadership, we got the most secure border in the history of nation, and we did that in seven weeks. President Trump did in seven weeks what Joe Biden couldn't or wouldn't do in four years."
Fox News Digital's Emma Colton contributed to this report.
In a reversal of roles, a fan has signed a jersey for a pro athlete.
Pope Leo XIV had a signed jersey delivered to former Chicago White Sox great Paul Konerko.
Chicago Archbishop Blase Cupich presented Konerko a jersey with the new pontiff's signature on the back during a ceremony before a game against the Cleveland Guardians. It had the six-time All-Star's last name and "Pope Leo" above the No. 14.
Robert Prevost became the first pope from the U.S. in the history of the Catholic Church when he was elected May 8. The Chicago-born missionary, who took the name Leo XIV, is a White Sox fan.
Prevost attended the 2005 World Series opener against Houston in Chicago. He watched from Section 140, Row 19, Seat 2 as the White Sox beat the Astros 5-3 on their way to a four-game sweep and their first title since 1917.
Prevost was shown on the "MLB on FOX" broadcast for that game at U.S. Cellular Field Oct. 22, 2005, and the cameras caught him during the top of the ninth inning as the White Sox were clinching a 5-3 win over the Houston Astros.
According to the White Sox, the pope attended the game with the late Ed Schmit, a family friend and season ticket holder. They knew each other through their work at a Catholic high school on Chicago’s South Side, and Schmit’s son, Nick, remains the account holder for the pope’s World Series seat.
Prevost was first revealed as a White Sox fan when his brother, John Prevost, mentioned it in an interview with WGN-TV.
"He was always a Sox fan," John said.
In May, the team unveiled a graphic installed near the seat paying tribute to Pope Leo and that moment. The pillar artwork features a waving Pope Leo XIV along with a picture from the TV broadcast of the future pope sitting with good Schmit and his grandson, Eddie.
Members of the 2005 team are in Chicago this weekend to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the championship run. The White Sox debuted uniform patches honoring late closer Bobby Jenks, who died last week in Portugal, where he was being treated for stomach cancer. On Friday, the team unveiled a statue of former ace Mark Buehrle.
Candace Cameron Bure reflected on a rocky chapter in her marriage to her husband of almost 30 years, Valeri Bure.
During Tuesday's episode of "The Candace Cameron Bure Podcast," the 49-year-old actress opened up about her past marital struggles with the 51-year-old former professional hockey player and the unexpected role their son, Lev, 25, played in his parents' reconciliation.
"Val and I went through a really, really rough season in our marriage," the "Full House" alum shared, adding that the low point occurred during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.
"It was going south quickly, and we were like, ‘I don’t know if, don’t think … we’re gonna make it through."
Candace recalled Lev and siblings Natasha, 26, and Maksim, 23, approached their parents at one point.
"Lev was the one leading the charge," she said. "He came up to us, and he said, 'We'd like to talk to you guys. And Val and I sat down, and Lev preached, like, a 45-minute sermon on marriage to us. Just had his Bible open on the couch and just talked about it.
"And I’ll never forget, ‘cause he said, ‘You know, I know I haven’t been married. I’m just a young kid. And so it’s probably hard to take marriage advice from someone this young [who] never experienced it before. But I don’t need to be married to know what the word of God says.’"
The "Unsung Hero" star explained that Lev had "such a calm voice that had so much wisdom behind it."
"And he looked us, you know, straight in the eye and individually asked me and then asked Val, you know, ‘Have you done everything you can? Is there one step of grace? Is there just some bit more grace you could give Val?'"
Candace remembered Lev asking her before questioning his father.
"'And Val, is there any more grace you can give mom? Is there one more act of kindness, one more gesture, one more ounce of kindness goodness in you that you could give to try to reconcile?’
"I mean, we walked away from that and, you know, Val and I were like, ‘Huh. We raised some pretty good kids.’
"It was so in our face, but that was like the pivotal moment," Candace added. "It really changed for us after that talk, and there was a lot more to it. But you know it's a whole different scenario when your kids sit you down to have a talk and go, ‘Are you being as mature as you can be and what God says?'"
Candace said she was "so grateful" to her children, noting they were "so supportive of everything."
"But I never thought there would be a day I'd listen to, like, an 18-year-old kid or a 20-year-old kid," she said.
Candace was joined by Lev and pastor and author Jonathan Pokluda on the podcast episode. After the actress shared her story, Pokluda asked Lev if he was "nervous" during the interaction with his parents.
"Not really," he said. "I think it came from a point of love and even when my siblings and I talked about it, it was like, 'Man we might want more than anything for our parents to be together, but let's get to the matter of fact, It's only gonna happen through Jesus.'
"And, so, that was all we could point them to."
Candace and Valeri met in 1994 after her "Full House" co-star Dave Coulier introduced the future couple at a charity hockey game. The two announced their engagement in June 1995 and tied the knot a year later.
On June 22, Candace shared an Instagram tribute to Valeri for their 29th wedding anniversary. She posted a throwback photo of the pair, explaining in the caption that the snap was taken on their first date at Valeri's practice rink in Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada, four months after they were introduced by Coulier.
"We grew a beautiful family," she wrote with pink heart emoji. "Happy anniversary to my love and best friend forever."
Lev became the first of her children to marry when he and Elliott Dunham tied the knot in January 2024. At the time, Candace celebrated the couple's nuptials in an Instagram post.
"Words cannot express the joy we have felt this weekend celebrating the marriage of our son and his bride Elliott," she wrote alongside photos from the wedding. "We gained a beautiful daughter and a wonderful family to do life with.
"I have an overwhelming sense of love, joy, peace and contentment thanks to God’s blessing of family and friendship." she added. "My heart is so full."
"Fancy dive into 45," the singer captioned a set of photos that featured her posing in the see-through, sparkly number.
The "Irresistible" singer rocked a see-through dress with glittering mesh, layering her outfit with black underwear. Simpson wore a satin coat over her barely-there outfit. She completed her look with silver platform heels and a sparkling choker necklace.
The "Fade" singer kicked off her 45th birthday with a sultry video on social media as she teased new music.
"To start off my 45th year’round the sun, Imma gonna bright side the journey of life by choosin’ to be the HAPPY part of my BIRTHDAY," Simpson wrote on Instagram. "I’ve been patiently waitin’ for y’all to get a dose of #FADE from the upcomin’ journey through #NashvilleCanyon , Part 2."
In the video clip, Simpson sits in a bathtub, wearing a leopard print faux fur coat and posing in a leather corset with sheer black tights. She held a bowl of cherries and sucked on the fruit. The singer additionally wrote the song's title, "Fade," in red lipstick on the bathroom walls.
Her risqué birthday posts come after she released her latest musical project, "Nashville Canyon, Part 1," in March. Her project is a collection of five soul- and rockabilly-infused tunes.
"Discovering this music is something I did on my own," Simpson previously told People magazine. "Thank God I had Nashville. It was just a way of me owning myself and declaring it."
Simpson described her first single, "Use My Heart Against Me," as "a sexy song to write."
"I woke up with that lyric in my head," she said. "It’s kind of craving someone that you want again, and you don’t care if your heart is used against you – if it’s just for one night. Like, give it over, just for the experience again.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov stressed Russia and North Korea’s "invincible fighting brotherhood" and warned the U.S., Japan and South Korea against forming an antagonistic alliance during a meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in Wonsan, North Korea, Saturday, according to the Russian foreign ministry.
"We warn against exploiting these ties to build alliances directed against anyone, including North Korea and, of course, Russia," Lavrov said, according to Russia’s state Tass news agency.
Russia and North Korea have bolstered their ties over the last few years, with North Korea providing troops and munitions to Russia in support of the war in Ukraine and Russia providing military and economic assistance to the closed-off dictatorship.
Russian President Vladimir Putin also visited North Korea last year.
The U.S., South Korea and Japan have been expanding or restoring their trilateral military exercises in response to North Korea’s advancing nuclear program. On Friday, the three countries held a joint air drill involving U.S. nuclear-capable bombers near the Korean Peninsula, and their top military officers met in Seoul and urged North Korea to cease all unlawful activities that threaten regional security.
North Korea may deploy more troops this summer, according to South Korean intelligence.
Lavrov called the meeting a continuation of the countries’ "strategic dialogue" and said he hoped for more direct meetings in the future.
"We exchanged views on the situation surrounding the Ukrainian crisis. ... Our Korean friends confirmed their firm support for all the objectives of the special military operation, as well as for the actions of the Russian leadership and armed forces," TASS quoted Lavrov as saying.
Deputy Foreign Minister Andrei Rudenko said more Russian delegations would visit North Korea later in the year, TASS reported.
O’Connor served as President Biden’s physician. The House Oversight Committee wanted to talk to O’Connor about whether Biden was fit to serve as president. So House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer, R-Ky., issued a subpoena for O’Connor.
The doctor was in.
But not for very long.
After 20 minutes behind closed doors with Comer and company, the deposition concluded. Committee attorneys peppered O’Connor with questions about whether he thought former President Biden was up to the job and if he was asked to lie about the commander in chief’s health. But Comer got the same response each time. Even when committee lawyers posed a simple question, asking O’Connor if he understood the proceedings.
O’Connor deployed his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination each time. The committee even took the rare step of releasing a video from most of the deposition the same evening.
"Most people invoke the Fifth when they have criminal liability. And you know, that's what it would appear (to be) on the surface here," said Comer after the deposition concluded. "The American people have a right to know the health condition of the president. Both physical and mental."
Comer observed that O’Connor’s silence "adds more fuel to the fire that there was a cover-up."
Rep. Jasmine Crockett, D-Tex., was the only Democrat who showed up for the deposition. Crockett just bowed out a few weeks ago from a bid to become the top Democrat on the Oversight Committee after the death of late Rep. Gerry Connolly, D-Va.
"It was important to make sure that a Democrat was in the room. Because unfortunately, sometimes people like to cherry pick and make sure that they can give whatever fits their narrative," said Crockett.
But the video revealed O’Connor repeatedly citing the Fifth Amendment "on the advice of counsel." That’s why Comer hoped to shape one narrative about the health of former President Biden. Comer also suggested the potential lengths that O’Connor was willing to go to in order to protect the former president. And perhaps himself.
Crockett was incredulous at Comer’s assertions.
"It's kind of astounding to hear someone say, if you invoke the Fifth Amendment, that is only because you are guilty," said Crockett. "(Republicans) have been very good at rallying people up and getting them emotional because they don't fully understand some of our processes."
Crockett added that patients "have the right to confidentiality when it comes to your health care."
The Department of Justice has launched an investigation into the use of the autopen by Biden. O’Connor’s lawyers say that led their client to exercise his Fifth Amendment rights.
"We want to emphasize that asserting the Fifth Amendment privilege does not imply that Dr. O’Connor has committed any crime," said his legal team.
And the statement also indicated there was concern about O’Connor keeping medical information of the First Patient in confidence.
"The Committee has indicated that it will demand that Dr. O’Connor reveal, without any limitations, confidential confirmation regarding his medical examinations, treatment and care of President Biden," read the statement. "Revealing confidential patient information would violate the most fundamental ethical duty of a physician."
His attorneys went on to say that O’Connor could face "civil liability" and "revocation" of his medical license.
Regardless, O’Connor wasn’t answering any questions anywhere. Inside the meeting room. Heading to the meeting room. Or heading home.
"Will you invoke the Fifth? What about patient doctor confidentiality?" yours truly asked O’Connor as he navigated a third-floor hallway in the Rayburn House Office Building with a small coterie of attorneys. "Do you think (President Biden) was up to the job? Do you think he was up to serve?"
No response.
O’Connor reprised his reticence on the way out.
"Did you take the Fifth because you're trying to cover up what the President's state was?" I asked as he departed down a Rayburn stairwell.
Nothing.
The statement from the physician’s counsel declared that the pact between doctors and patients "require that Dr. O’Connor refuse to testify."
This is a question which vexes even doctors who double as lawmakers.
"I can see both sides of it. I can certainly see, as a physician, you take an oath of confidentiality with every patient. If there's a national security issue, does that outweigh that relationship?" pondered Marshall. "I would really have to think about that. I want to get a couple of consults myself and talk to some constitutional lawyers."
But aside from the Constitutional, ethical and medical questions, Democrats reverted to defending the former president.
I asked Crockett if she ever perceived health problems with the president.
"No. None. No. None. I had none. Now, granted, I didn't see Joe Biden every single day. But I did have an opportunity to interact with the president. I never had a concern," said Crockett. "He may get fumbled up by words. But that's not anything new. And it's not anything that (didn’t come) with age."
There had been discussion about getting O’Connor to cooperate without a subpoena. Comer contends his investigation isn’t about plowing some of the same Biden political fields explored a couple of years ago when it was thought the former president might seek a second term. This isn’t about business dealings or Burisma or "influence peddling." But Comer is posing a legitimate question here about the fitness of a president. Any president. Regardless of what Crockett says, there are plenty of questions about Mr. Biden’s acuity and whether staff made decisions – in lieu of the president.
And these questions aren’t new when it comes to presidential health. President Woodrow Wilson suffered a stroke during his time in office. Historians believe First Lady Edith Wilson made decisions on behalf of the president. Questions lingered about President Ronald Reagan. And the Washington press corps was complicit hiding the infirmaries of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt from the public in an era before television and social media.
The committee wheels in other former Biden figures in the coming days. That includes former Biden Chief of Staff Ron Klain and Anthony Bernal, a top aide to former First Lady Jill Biden.
Because of patient-doctor confidentiality, we may never know O’Connor’s true analysis of former President Biden. It’s a problem because the public deserves to know if the commander in chief is up to the job.
But there’s a special relationship between a patient and their doctor.
The question is whether issues of national security and the administration of government outweigh those private rights.
Actress Charlize Theron criticized the film industry for being reluctant to support female-led action films, in a new interview with The New York Times.
Theron and fellow actress Uma Thurman spoke to the outlet about the challenges women face in the genre as they promote their new Netflix superhero sequel, "The Old Guard 2."
Theron said that securing the lead roles in action films is more challenging for women because Hollywood viewed these films as more of a risk.
"Yeah, it’s harder," Theron said. "That’s known. Action films with female leads don’t get green-lit as much as the ones with male leads. I think the thing that always frustrates me is the fact that guys will get a free ride."
The Oscar-winning actress suggested there was a double-standard in Hollywood, claiming male actors that star in films that flop at the box office are given a pass while women rarely receive the same leeway.
"When women do this and the movie maybe doesn’t hit fully, they don’t necessarily get a chance again," she said. "With this, we were very aware that eyes were on us. It’s not a risk that studios want to take, but they’ll take it many times on the same guy who might have a string of action movies that did not do so well."
Both she and Thurman have starred in successful female-led action films. Thurman famously played an assassin in "Kill Bill," while Theron has taken on iconic roles in films like "Mad Max: Fury Road" and the "Fast & Furious" franchise.
President Donald Trump posted on Truth Social Saturday to celebrate an eight-game Boston Red Sox winning streak, noting the team hasn't lost since visiting him at the White House July 3.
"They haven’t lost since they saw me in the Oval. 8 wins in a row!" Trump wrote with a photo from the team's latest win against the Tampa Bay Rays.
Boston extended its winning streak to eight on Friday night with a 5-4 come-from-behind walk-off win over Tampa Bay. Ceddanne Rafaela hit a game-winning two-run home run in the bottom of the ninth inning for the Red Sox. The Red Sox then extended their win streak to nine with a 1-0 win over the Rays on Saturday.
The Red Sox made an impromptu visit to see Trump at the White House July 3. Typically, teams will visit the White House after winning a championship to celebrate with the president. In this case, the team dropped by because it was in Washingtonm, D.C., for a game against the Nationals and had a day off.
Trevor Story, Justin Wilson, Abraham Toro, Romy González, Connor Wong, Greg Weissert, Wilyer Abreu, Garrett Whitlock, Brennan Bernardino and Rob Refsnyder all shook hands with Trump in the Oval Office.
"The team toured the White House today as part of their family road trip to D.C.," a team spokesperson said, via MassLive.
Red Sox manager Alex Cora has been critical of Trump in the past to the point he opted out of visiting the White House in 2019 to commemorate the team's 2018 World Series title.
During an interview on "The Mayor's Office" podcast back in January, Cora admitted he skipped out on meeting Trump because he wanted to prioritize his home country of Puerto Rico. When the Red Sox visited the White House in May 2019, Puerto Rico was still recovering from the destruction of Hurricane Maria in 2017, and Cora wasn't satisfied with the federal government's response.
"One of the things that — it's not that I regret, but I think I should've been more clear — it was a visit to the White House," Cora said. "I have nothing against the president at that moment. It was Donald Trump at that moment, President Trump, but I felt me celebrating something at that stage, while [Puerto Ricans] were still suffering, it was bad. I didn't feel comfortable doing it."
Cora says he would have felt "awkward" celebrating at the White House given the state of his country at the time.
"We are part of the United States," he added. "What they do for us is amazing — the funding, all of that — but there was still work to do. And I felt very awkward, like, 'Let's celebrate this at the White House,' right, while a lot of people suffered here. People took it like politics. No. My thing is sports and my family, right?"
Protesters lined the streets outside Turning Point USA's Student Action Summit in Tampa Bay, Florida, on Saturday afternoon, rejecting President Donald Trump's agenda and his crackdown on illegal immigration.
The Tampa Police Department (TPD) disrupted a brief scuffle between the protesters and TPUSA attendees, after they began counter-protesting and chanting "USA" to the swarm of protesters shouting about a myriad of issues.
Police officers were on the scene when a conflict with counter-protesters left one protester bloody in the street.
The multi-day conservative conference has featured remarks by co-founder Charlie Kirk, Fox News' Greg Gutfeld, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, border czar Tom Homan and Donald Trump Jr., among other conservative leaders.
As Saturday afternoon's summit continued inside, protesters marched outside, chanting, "No fear, no hate, no ICE in our state," and "TPD, KKK, ICE – they’re all the same."
The protesters held large signs that said, "Defeat the Trump agenda," and one man, wearing a "public school strong" T-shirt, held a large, oversized model of a toilet paper roll over his head.
Messages reading, "TP for the USA: When history gets messy, FLUSH IT" and "100% whitewashed," plastered the protest sign, trolling the ongoing conservative convention.
The demonstrations on Saturday followed protests that delved into riots in Los Angeles last month, as rhetoric against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents has reached a boiling point.
But the message was much broader this weekend as protesters held signs and chanted about a range of issues, from "Free Palestine" chants, rejecting the war in Gaza, to a "No ICE on campus" poster, speaking out against ICE raids targeting illegal immigrants.
One woman held a sign that said, "Due process," one of the Democratic Party's leading arguments against Trump's deportations. Many signs equated those attending the conservative gathering to "Nazis."
After marching outside the TPUSA summit and confronting young conservative attendees, protesters moved back to City Hall for speeches.
According to the protest flier via Mobilize, the protest titled, "Turn the Tide Against TPUSA – Reject SAS 2025!" was hosted by Tampa Bay Students for a Democratic Society (SDS), a student activist organization, and volunteers were organized by Indivisible.
The protesters accused TPUSA of "turning our city into the staging ground for its largest youth indoctrination summit of the year … to spread an extremist agenda across schools, universities, and communities."
The protesters organized to "defend LGBTQ+ & reproductive rights", reject censorship in schools, "demand an end to deportations & U.S. aid to apartheid," and "reject white nationalism," according to the flier.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said Saturday that the federal response to the deadly floods in Texas Hill Country last weekend was a good indication of the improved disaster response the Trump administration is committed to providing.
Devastating floods on the Fourth of July claimed at least 119 lives, and more than 150 others are missing. Among those killed were 27 girls attending Camp Mystic along the Guadalupe River in Hunt, Texas.
"What you saw from our response in Texas is going to be a lot of how President [Donald] Trump envisions what [the Federal Emergency Management Agency] (FEMA) would look like in the future," Noem said during a news conference Saturday.
"We did things in Texas, in response, very different than Joe Biden."
In response to the 2023 Ohio train derailment in East Palestine, the Biden administration said the chemical disaster did not meet legal requirements for a FEMA disaster declaration, waiting two weeks to deploy a team to assist.
In the 2023 Maui fires, more than 100 people were killed, and historic Lahaina was reduced to rubble. Survivors were left without food, water and shelter.
At the time, FEMA Administrator Michael Brown called President Joe Biden's response to the deadly fires "an abject failure."
Slow responses and inadequate aid were also widely reported after Hurricane Helene struck North Carolina, Georgia and South Carolina in late 2024.
"I'll also be signing an executive order to begin the process of fundamentally reforming and overhauling FEMA or maybe getting rid of FEMA," Trump said in January while visiting North Carolina. "I think, frankly, FEMA is not good."
Noem noted that, during the most recent disaster, federal assistance was on the ground in Texas as soon as the flooding hit.
"We deployed our Coast Guard, helicopters, [aircraft] and swift water rescue teams out of Customs and Border Protection," she said. "Our [Border Patrol Tactical Unit] (BORTAC) teams, which I like to call the Department of Homeland Security's ninjas, are specifically trained for situations like that, where the unprecedented is happening."
After the floods, Noem said she immediately met with Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and spoke with him about getting a major disaster declaration signed.
Within an hour or two of the request, she said, it was approved by the White House.
"We pre-deployed dollars right to Texas so that they can make the best decisions responding to their people," Noem said. "FEMA has never done that before — pre-deployed dollars to a state so that they could use that to save their people, so they could use that to go out and save lives."
Noem said the president wants the states to be empowered during emergencies.
"Emergencies are locally executed," she said. "They are state-managed and then the federal government comes in and supports you. [No one] ever wants to sit back and wait for someone from the federal government to show up and rescue you out of your house because that, in the past, has not served people well under the Biden administration.
Under President Trump, Noem said, federal officials were there immediately to help local and state officials manage the response.
She added her belief that FEMA "will cease to exist the way that it is today."
"We are fundamentally reforming that agency," Noem said. "President Trump may want to, in his prerogative, as he likes to do, rename things. He may come up with a new name for this agency that reflects the fundamental change that's going to happen there. But this agency will no longer be the bureaucratic agency where people have to wait 20 years for their claim to be paid.
"It will be an agency that immediately says to that state, and to that local emergency management director, ‘What do you need? How can we support you?' And then trains them to have the skill set that they need to be serving their people immediately, because they're always there faster. They're right there on the streets."
It is unclear what the new agency name might be.
When asked about reports of calls to FEMA from Texas residents going unanswered, Noem said she was "throwing the bull---- flag," claiming she did not think that was true.
"I will get rid of any contract that doesn't respond to people because they know they are empowered to do it," she said.
FEMA did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment.
President Donald Trump on Saturday defended Attorney General Pam Bondi as doing a "fantastic job" after she came under fire from some Trump supporters over the Department of Justice’s handling of the Jeffrey Epstein files.
"What's going on with my ‘boys’ and, in some cases, ‘gals?' They’re all going after Attorney General Pam Bondi, who is doing a FANTASTIC JOB," Trump wrote in a lengthy post on Truth Social on Saturday. "We’re on one Team, MAGA, and I don’t like what’s happening."
He referred to Epstein as the "guy who never dies," adding, "For years, it’s Epstein, over and over again."
He continued to question why people were "giving publicity to Files written by Obama, Crooked Hillary, Comey, Brennan, and the Losers and Criminals of the Biden administration."
"They created the Epstein Files, just like they created the FAKE Hillary Clinton/Christopher Steele Dossier that they used on me, and now my so-called ‘friends’ are playing right into their hands," Trump wrote. "Why didn’t these Radical Left Lunatics release the Epstein Files? If there was ANYTHING in there that could have hurt the MAGA Movement, why didn’t they use it?"
The president said the FBI "must be focused on investigating Voter Fraud, Political Corruption, ActBlue, The Rigged and Stolen Election of 2020, and arresting Thugs and Criminals, instead of spending month after month looking at nothing but the same old, Radical Left inspired Documents on Jeffrey Epstein."
"LET PAM BONDI DO HER JOB — SHE’S GREAT! The 2020 Election was Rigged and Stolen, and they tried to do the same thing in 2024 — That’s what she is looking into as AG, and much more," he wrote. "One year ago our Country was DEAD, now it’s the ‘HOTTEST’ Country anywhere in the World. Let’s keep it that way, and not waste Time and Energy on Jeffrey Epstein, somebody that nobody cares about."
His comments mirrored what he told a White House reporter during a recent Cabinet meeting, in which he called the late sex criminal and financier a "creep."
"Can I just interrupt for one second?" Trump said after a reporter directed an Epstein question at Bondi. "Are you still talking about Jeffrey Epstein?"
"This guy's been talked about for years. You're asking.… We have Texas, we have this, we have all of the things. And are people are still talking about this guy, this creep?" Trump asked. "That is unbelievable."
Some MAGA supporters have criticized Bondi or even called for her resignation after the DOJ and FBI on Sunday released a joint review that ended theories about an alleged Epstein client list, concluding there was no such roster of names of the world's elite who allegedly took part in Epstein's history as a sexual predator.
The DOJ also concluded the disgraced financier committed suicide in his New York City jail cell in 2019 while awaiting further sex trafficking charges.
FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino reportedly clashed with Bondi over her handling of the Epstein matter and has told confidantes that he may resign if Bondi remains in her post.
Fox News' Amanda Macias, David Spunt and Jake Gibson contributed to this report.
A transgender high school pitcher in Minnesota was not included in an annual coaches' poll of All-State selections despite a dominant season that ended with a championship.
The trans athlete, Marissa Rothenberger of Champlin Park High School, was absent from the Minnesota Fastpitch Coaches Association list of 2025 All-State honors.
Rothenberger previously made the list as a first-team All-State selection in Class AAAA in 2024. Rothenberger also won all-tournament honors in 2025.
This year, Rothenberger was left off the list despite a 12-1 record, a 0.74 ERA and a 0.65 WHIP.
Rothenberger's 0.74 ERA was among the best in the state, and the athlete pitched five straight games in the postseason, giving up just one earned run in 35 innings while striking out 27 batters. Rothenberger also went 5-for-16 at the plate, with two doubles, three RBIs and a run scored in the Rebels’ run to the 2025 AAAA Minnesota softball state championship.
The pitcher's 2024 season, recognized with first-team All-State honors, did include a better ERA at 0.40.
A Minnesota Fastpitch Coaches Association source told Fox News Digital selections are determined through a vote of member coaches, and an athlete must be nominated by her own coach to be considered.
Fox News Digital has reached out to Champlin Park High School softball head coach Bryan Woodley asking if he nominated Rothenberger.
Rothenberger's presence in Minnesota girls softball brought national scrutiny, a lawsuit and a federal investigation this year.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services launched a Title IX investigation into the state of Minnesota June 27, citing a male softball pitcher who had won a state championship.
The state was already under investigation by the U.S. Department of Education for its laws allowing biological males in girls sports and defying President Donald Trump's "Keeping Men Out of Women's Sports" executive order. That investigation was elevated to a federal Title IX investigation team, which operates in conjunction with the Department of Justice, June 12.
Three softball players in Minnesota filed a lawsuit against the state, citing their experiences competing against a biological male.
The organization representing the plaintiffs suing the state over its policies, Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF), previously provided a statement from one of the female players about her experience facing the trans athlete.
"Hitting against him is not only a physical challenge but a mental, too. It’s a mental battle knowing that he has an advantage in the sport that I grew up playing, making it hard to even want to hit against him," the player said.
"His ability to get outs and spin the ball is a strong advantage, but, like I said, it’s also incredibly mentally challenging knowing that you’re competing against someone who has unfair advantages leaving you with little to no confidence.
"This issue has affected me in ways that I never imagined. It’s simply unfair, and I hate that nothing is happening to change that. Boys should not be able to take girls' spots on teams just because they are capable of doing so. I hope that more girls affected by this issue will stand up against this."
The anonymous player also called out Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison for aggressively defending trans inclusion in girls sports in the state. Ellison has filed a lawsuit against President Donald Trump and the U.S. Department of Justice over Trump's "Keeping Men Out of Women's Sports" executive order.
"It’s really upsetting to know that [Ellison] isn’t taking rights of girls and women seriously. He is allowing boys to compete with girls, and it is not safe and completely unfair. To know that AG Ellison is in complete support of letting boys and men take advantage of females in sports is absolutely disgusting and wrong," the player added.
The Champlin Park School District provided a statement to Fox News Digital defending the decision to allow the athlete to compete on the softball team.
"Throughout the entire season, and as the Rebels advance to the state tournament, it is important to note that all of the student-athletes participating for the Champlin Park Softball team are eligible to compete in compliance with Minnesota State High School League rules and applicable state law. Due to data privacy laws, the district is not able to provide public comment regarding a specific student-athlete," a statement from the Anoka-Hennepin School District stated.
"In addition, the district is named in an active lawsuit, which limits what information can be shared."
Ellison's office previously released a statement responding to the lawsuit against the state over Rothenberger's participation in the girls softball season.
"In addition to getting exercise and the fun of competition, playing sports comes with so many benefits for young people. You build friendships that can last a lifetime, you learn how to work as part of a team and you get to feel like you belong," Ellison said.
"I believe it is wrong to single out one group of students who already face higher levels of bullying and harassment and tell these kids they cannot be on the team because of who they are. I will continue to defend the rights of all students to play sports with their friends and peers."
The controversy involving Rothenberger was a catalyst for a viral feud between Simone Biles and Riley Gaines in June. Biles initially called out Gaines in response to a post by Gaines pointing out that the Minnesota State High School League disabled comments on its post announcing Champlin Park's softball team as state champions.
A January 2025 New York Times/Ipsos survey found the vast majority of Americans, including a majority of Democrats, don't think transgender athletes should be permitted to compete in women's sports.
Of the 2,128 people who participated, 79% said biological males who identify as women should not be allowed to participate in women's sports. Of the 1,025 people who identified as Democrats or leaning Democratic, 67% said transgender athletes should not be allowed to compete with women.
Buxton then hit a ground-rule double in the third inning, putting the pressure on for the rest of the game.
In the fifth, Buxton got his fourth hit of the game, but it was a single. In the seventh, he went to the plate for the fifth, and possibly final, time. He quickly fell into an 0-2 hole, but it didn't matter.
Buxton swung at an 80-mph breaking ball that clipped the lower part of the zone, and he got all of it. The ball traveled 427 feet into dead center, leaving his bat at 106 mph, and the crowd erupted.
It was the first cycle ever hit at Target Field, which opened in 2010, and the first cycle by a Twin since 2019, when Jorge Polanco accomplished the feat.
The last Twin to hit for the cycle at home was Michael Cuddyer in 2009, which was the final season of the Metrodome.
Buxton is finally showing what he can do on the field becuase he's has been healthy for the majority of the season. He's played in over 100 games just twice since 2015, but he has played in 77 of a possible 85 games this season.
He was named an All-Star for the second time in his career, also making it in 2022, when he mashed 28 homers in 92 games. But injuries derailed the rest of his season. In 2021, he played in just 61 games but accumulated a 4.9 WAR by slashing .306/.358/.647 with 19 homers and 32 RBIs.
Entering Saturday, the Minnesota Lynx had lost just three times, but they lost their fourth game Saturday afternoon.
Chicago Sky teammates Angel Reese and Kamilla Cardoso each posted a double-double as Chicago upset Minnesota 87-81.
Reese ended the day with 19 points and 11 rebounds for her eighth consecutive double-double. She now has 14 double-doubles this season. Cardoso, the Sky's center, finished with 17 points and a career-best 15 rebounds.
Rachel Banham knocked down three 3-pointers and finished with 12 points for the Sky. Courtney Williams hit two free throws to trim Minnesota’s deficit to 75-73 before Cardoso made a pair of free throws and Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve was called for a technical foul.
Banham hit the ensuing free throw, and Michaela Onyenwere added a pull-up jumper along the baseline to make it 80-73 with five minutes left in the game.
Collier hit a triple that made it 82-79 with less than three minutes remaining in regulation, but Atkins answered with a pull-up jumper, and the Lynx got no closer.
The Sky entered Saturday's game with a 1-10 record this season against teams .500 or better. The victory over Minnesota marked just the second time this year Chicago logged back-to-back wins.
Napheesa Collier had 26 points, eight rebounds, five assists, three steals and three blocks for the Lynx. Kayla McBride added 17 points, and Williams scored 13.
Collier missed the first of two free throws late in the third quarter to break her franchise record of 54 consecutive made free throws.
Minnesota has lost two of three for the first time this season. The Lynx won't have to wait long for a chance at redemption. The Lynx play the Sky again Monday.