Researchers are looking for answers and embarking on a special expedition following the 88th anniversary of the disappearance of American aviator Amelia Earhart.
The Perdue Research Foundation (PRF, based in Indiana) and Archaeological Legacy Institute (ALI, based in Oregon) announced on Wednesday the "Taraia Object Expedition" project.
Researchers will head to the remote island of Nikumaroro, which is halfway between Australia and Hawaii, according to a joint press release from the two agencies.
While on the island, researchers will determine whether the "Taraia Object," a visual anomaly captured by a satellite, is actually the remains of Earhart’s plane.
Earhart is widely known as an aviation trailblazer, becoming the first woman to fly solo across the U.S. nonstop on Aug. 24, 1932.
She once worked at Perdue University in Indiana, serving as a career counselor for women and advising the aeronautical engineering department while living in the women’s residence hall.
In an announcement of the new expedition, Purdue President Mung Chiang shared that "the Boilermaker spirit of exploration lives on."
"About nine decades ago, Amelia Earhart was recruited to Purdue, and the university president later worked with her to prepare an aircraft for her historic flight around the world," said Chiang.
Richard Pettigrew, ALI executive director, said in the release, "What we have here is maybe the greatest opportunity ever to finally close the case."
"With such a great amount of very strong evidence, we feel we have no choice but to move forward and hopefully return with proof," he added.
Earhart flew "The Electra," which disappeared on July 2, 1937.
"Both Earhart and her husband and manager, George Putnam, expressed their intention to return the Electra to Purdue after her historic flight," said Steven Schultz, senior vice president and general counsel at Purdue.
Alaska authorities are searching for a missing tourist after she failed to return to her cruise ship following a morning hike in the capital city earlier this week, officials said.
Authorities received a report Tuesday afternoon regarding a 62-year-old woman from Kentucky who had not returned to the Norwegian Bliss before its departure time, according to the Juneau Police Department.
The woman’s relatives told police that she had left for a hike that morning and had plans to take a popular tourist tram partially up a mountain overlooking downtown Juneau before walking to Gastineau Peak and Gold Ridge, according to the state Department of Public Safety.
Ground and aerial searches were conducted shortly after the woman’s disappearance on Tuesday, with ground searches resuming Wednesday, according to the department. Due to rainy weather and poor visibility, aircraft searches did not return to the area the following day.
A top Russian Navy commander was killed "during combat operations" in a region bordering Ukraine, Russia’s military announced Thursday.
Major Gen. Mikhail Gudkov, the deputy commander of Russia’s Navy, had just been appointed to his position by Russian President Vladimir Putin in March, according to the state-run TASS news agency.
"On July 2, during combat operations in one of the border areas of the Kursk region, Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Navy for coastal and ground forces, Hero of Russia, Major General Mikhail Evgenievich Gudkov, died," it quoted Russia’s military as saying.
It’s unclear how Gudkov was killed. Unofficial Russian and Ukrainian military Telegram channels said he was hit by a Ukrainian missile attack, Reuters reported.
The 42-year-old Gudkov was previously the head of the Russian Pacific Fleet’s 155th Guards Naval Infantry Brigade, according to The Moscow Times.
He has participated in military operations in Russia’s North Caucasus and Syria, TASS also reported.
In his current role, Gudkov oversaw the Russian navy's coastal and land forces – including marine units – and is one of the most senior military officials to have died during the war against Ukraine, according to Reuters.
Fox News confirmed Wednesday that the U.S. has stopped sending weapons such as Patriot missile interceptors and 155 mm artillery shells.
The halt was driven by Under Secretary of Defense for Policy Elbridge Colby after a review of U.S. munitions stockpiles that showed dangerously low reserves, Politico first reported.
Fox News’ Jasmine Baehr and Jennifer Griffin contributed to this report.
A dramatic ocean rescue ensued from the father of a 5-year-old girl who lost her balance while sitting on a railing and fell through a porthole, authorities revealed.
The rescue unfolded around 11:30 a.m. Sunday, June 29 on Deck 4 of the Disney Dream ship while it was in international waters between the Bahamas and Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale, the Broward Sheriff's Department confirmed to Fox News Digital.
Investigators said the child was sitting on a railing near a porthole when she fell backward into the ocean.
After the girl’s mother alerted her husband, who didn’t see the incident, he jumped into the ocean to save his daughter.
BSO detectives said after the 37-year-old father found his daughter, he treaded water until they were rescued by Disney Cruise Line rescue personnel on a tender that was launched from the ship.
The department said that the total time from the young girl's accidental fall to the rescue was about 20 minutes.
Security footage from the ship corroborated the family’s account of the accident, which remains under investigation, the department said.
WATCH: PASSENGER REACTS TO RESCUE
The ship's crew sprang into action, launching a rescue operation that BSO officials credited to their rigorous man-overboard training.
Dewayne Smith, another passenger, wrote on Facebook that "Man Over Board" rang across the loudspeaker as rescue teams sprang into action.
"Lots of praying folks on this ship! Both the little girl and dad were both successfully rescued!" he wrote.
In a statement to Fox News Digital, a Disney Cruise Line spokesperson confirmed the successful rescue: "The Crew aboard the Disney Dream swiftly rescued two guests from the water. We commend our Crew Members for their exceptional skills and prompt actions, which ensured the safe return of both guests to the ship within minutes."
"We are committed to the safety and well-being of our guests, and this incident highlights the effectiveness of our safety protocols," they said. Fox News Digital has reached out to Disney Cruise Line for additional comment.
Once rescued, the father and daughter duo were checked by the ship's medical staff. After the ship safely arrived Monday at Port Everglades, Broward Sheriff Fire Rescue transported them to an area hospital.
The father was hospitalized, but details of his injuries were not released. The sheriff's department noted that the family lives out of state, and they are not releasing their names nor where they live.
"This family is so blessed. It’s great to be able to respond to good news rather than what could have been a tragic outcome," the sheriff's department said.
Olivia Munn made rare comments about her past relationship with Aaron Rodgers as she addressed long-standing rumors that she was the reason for the NFL star's rift with his family.
During a Monday appearance on "Armchair Expert with Dax Shepard," the 44-year-old actress shared why she "didn't watch" the Netflix documentary, "Aaron Rodgers: Enigma," which highlighted the life and career of the 41-year-old quarterback.
"It was going to push a narrative that, during my time with them, never would ring true... There was this narrative that took hold because, if you remember, back in the day, Jessica Simpson was hung out to dry for the Cowboys failures," "The Newsroom" alum added, referring to gossip surrounding Simpson's previous relationship with former Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo.
Munn, who dated Rodgers from April 2014 to April 2017, recalled that she didn't receive praise when the pro athlete notched up victories for his then-team, the Green Bay Packers.
"During the time I was with him, he had three hail marys, I think two NFC championships – not wins, but he made it into the NFC championship, which is very hard," Munn said. "No one would want to talk about that. I didn't get credit for any of the wins."
In addition to being faulted for Rodgers' shortcomings during games, Munn recalled that fans also speculated that she was behind his estrangement from his brothers, Jordan and Luke Rodgers, and his parents, Ed and Darla Rodgers.
Rodgers' fractured relationship with his family was first revealed when Jordan appeared on JoJo Fletcher's season of the reality dating show "The Bachelorette" in 2016.
"There's this whole big narrative that stayed with me for so many years, but there was just this dynamic in the family that had nothing to do with me. It became this whole big thing, and people were like, "I can't with her, she's keeping this family apart,'" Munn said.
"People have speculated for many years what was the rift, and I know, but I'm not saying because it's not my story to tell," the "Your Friends & Neighbors" star added.
In Ian O'Connor’s 2024 biography "Out of the Darkness: The Mystery of Aaron Rodgers," Rodgers, who remains estranged from his family, shared that the cause of the schism was "deep-rooted." He also clarified that Munn "had nothing to do all the years" of prior estrangement.
While appearing on the "Armchair Expert" podcast, the actress expressed her gratitude that Rodgers had set the record straight regarding the decade-long rumor.
"Thank God somebody had read it and said, ‘Oh wait! Aaron speaks,’" she said. "You've been asking for the longest time. This is the constant conversation. The man himself is saying it. They don't want that answer."
"I was really grateful that he did that," Munn continued. "Even if people didn't want to take hold of that statement, it made me feel good that it was said."
In July 2024, Munn married John Mulaney, with whom she shares son Malcolm, 2, and daughter Méi, 9 months. Last month, Rodgers, who now plays for the Pittsburgh Steelers, revealed that he had married his girlfriend Brittani "a couple of months" ago.
The "bunker busting" bombs dropped on Iranian nuclear sites last month by U.S. forces have degraded Tehran’s atomic program by up to two years, the Pentagon confirmed Wednesday.
"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.
"We believe that Iran's nuclear capability has been severely degraded, perhaps even their ambition to build a bomb," he added, though security experts have told Fox News Digital that Tehran is unlikely to be deterred in its ambition to build a nuclear weapon.
The announcement reflects a far more positive assessment regarding the success of the June 22 strikes that targeted the Fordo, Isfahan and Natanz nuclear sites than previous estimates regarding the extent to which Tehran’s atomic capabilities had been degraded.
Rafael Grossi, head of the U.N.’s International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), over the weekend warned that Iran may be able to resume enriching uranium within a matter of months.
The comments also coincided with reports that Iran may have been able to move some of its stockpiles of near-weapons-grade enriched uranium, or possibly centrifuges, after satellite images showed more than a dozen cargo trucks were spotted at the Fordow nuclear site prior to the U.S. strikes.
The U.S. has fervently denied that any intelligence suggests Iran was successful in moving its nuclear capabilities off site. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth became angry when asked about the possibility by reporters.
Fox News Digital has confirmed that Israel is continuing to monitor the security situation.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Aragchi this week acknowledged that there was severe damage to the Fordow facility, though he also insisted that "the technology and knowhow is still there."
"No one exactly knows what has transpired in Fordow. That being said, what we know so far is that the facilities have been seriously and heavily damaged," Aragchi said during a CBS interview this week.
Though according to Parnell on Wednesday, "All of the intelligence that we've seen (has) led us to believe that Iran's – those facilities especially, have been completely obliterated."
A Delta Air Lines flight landed safely after part of its wing flap fell off and landed on the driveway of a North Carolina home.
The incident happened early Wednesday morning, the airline confirmed to Fox News Digital. The Boeing 737-900ER was traveling from Atlanta to Raleigh-Durham with six crew members and 109 passengers on board.
"After the aircraft landed safely, it was observed that a portion of the left wing's trailing edge flap was not in place. Delta is fully supporting retrieval efforts and will cooperate with investigations as nothing is more important than safety," a Delta spokesperson said.
The part separated from the Boeing plane operating as Flight 3247 before it landed at 1:15 a.m. local time on July 2.
Raleigh police told local TV station WRAL that no injuries or property damage were reported as a result of the incident.
"It's amazing when you consider it's such a dense neighborhood and people are out all the time," Susan Reed, who works near the location where the part crashed down, told WRAL. "We really dodged a bullet on this one. Let's just hope it doesn't happen again."
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., was mocked by conservatives online after posting a picture holding a baseball bat and promising to push back against President Donald Trump’s "big, beautiful bill."
"House Democrats will keep the pressure on Trump’s One Big Ugly Bill," Jeffries posted on Instagram on Wednesday, along with a photo of himself holding a Louisville Slugger and standing in his office.
The post was widely criticized by conservatives.
"Low energy," Rep. Virginia Foxx, R-N.C., posted on X.
"I guess, 'union thug,' is a vibe choice," author Chad Felix Greene posted on X.
"Nah, we beat the Dems at that too," Sen. Eric Schmitt, R-Mo., posted on X along with a photo of him helping the Republicans beat the Democrats at the annual congressional baseball game.
"I don’t think it’s hyperbolic to say he may be the worst congressional leader in modern history," GOP communicator Matt Whitlock posted on X.
"The gap between how much charisma he has and how much he thinks he has could fill the Grand Canyon," Targeted Victory President Matt Gorman posted on X.
"Sir, please put the Louisville Slugger DOWN," Sean Southard, communications director for Montana GOP Gov. Greg Gianforte, posted on X.
Jeffries' office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
After posting, Jeffries appears to have changed the photo's caption to, "Protecting your healthcare is as American as baseball, motherhood and apple pie."
Republicans and Democrats debated Trump's signature reconciliation package all night on Wednesday, and the discussions continued into Thursday morning, where Republicans are expected to have the necessary votes to pass the legislation.
Jeffries gave a marathon speech on the House floor that was given a standing ovation from Democrats but criticized by Republicans, including Vice President JD Vance, who posted on X that the speech was actually driving undecided Republicans to support the bill.
"GOP Congressman just texted me: ‘I was undecided on the bill but then I watched Hakeem Jeffries performance and now I’m a firm yes,’" Vance posted.
Fox News Digital's Kiera McDonald and Olivia Patel contributed to this report.
The Supreme Court decided Thursday to review state bans on transgender athletes participating in public school sports.
Oral arguments will likely be heard later this fall regarding two cases in Idaho and West Virginia. Both cases are focused on state laws that prevent biological males from competing on girls’ and women's sports teams.
West Virginia, which enacted the "Save Women’s Sports Act" in 2021, is appealing a lower-court ruling that allowed transgender athlete Becky Pepper-Jackson to compete on the school’s cross-country and track teams. This past year, Pepper-Jackson qualified for the West Virginia girls high school state track meet, finishing third in the discus throw and eighth in the shot put in the Class AAA division.
The 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled in favor of Pepper-Jackson, who has been taking puberty-blocking medication, in an April 2024 ruling based on the Constitution's equal protection clause.
"It’s a great day, as female athletes in West Virginia will have their voices heard," West Virginia Attorney General John McCuskey said in a statement. "The people of West Virginia know that it’s unfair to let male athletes compete against women; that’s why we passed this commonsense law preserving women's sports for women."
"We are confident the Supreme Court will uphold the Save Women's Sports Act because it complies with the U.S. Constitution and complies with Title IX," McCuskey added. "And most importantly: it protects women and girls by ensuring the playing field is safe and fair."
Idaho, which became the first state in the country to ban transgender athletes from girls’ and women’s sports in 2020, asked the Supreme Court to hear its case involving Lindsay Hecox, a trans athlete wanting to compete on Boise State’s women’s track team.
A 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals panel upheld an injunction blocking Idaho state law in 2023.
"Idaho’s women and girls deserve an equal playing field," Idaho Attorney General Raul Labrador said in a statement. "I am thrilled the U.S. Supreme Court has agreed to hear our case.
"For too long, activists have worked to sideline women and girls in their own sports. Men and women are biologically different, and we hope the court will allow states to end this injustice and ensure men no longer create a dangerous, unfair environment for women to showcase their incredible talent and pursue the equal opportunities they deserve."
Thursday’s news followed a major victory for the Trump administration’s battle to safeguard the protections of girls’ and women’s sports. The University of Pennsylvania agreed to adhere to the resolution agreement reached with the U.S. Department of Education Office for Civil Rights after an investigation found that UPenn violated Title IX during the 2021-22 season because of the inclusion of transgender swimmer Lia Thomas.
As part of the resolution, UPenn agreed to restore titles previously held by Thomas and issue an apology to female athletes impacted by the university’s policy, which the Education Department found had violated Title IX.
At this point, most Americans are aware that their personal information is often up for sale. But few would have expected their domestic flight records to be part of the trade.
You might think that when you book a flight, the data stays between you, the airline and perhaps your travel agency, but a new report suggests otherwise. Internal documents reveal that major U.S. airlines have been funneling detailed passenger data to a little-known broker, which then sells that information directly to the Department of Homeland Security.
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At the center of the controversy is the Airlines Reporting Corporation (ARC), a company jointly owned by several of the largest U.S. airlines, including Delta, American Airlines and United. ARC’s core business includes managing ticket settlements between airlines and travel agencies. However, under a lesser-known initiative called the Travel Intelligence Program (TIP), ARC collects and monetizes vast amounts of data from domestic flight bookings. This includes names, complete itineraries and payment details.
Internal government records and procurement documents reveal that Customs and Border Protection (CBP), part of the Department of Homeland Security, has purchased access to ARC's TIP data to track individuals of interest across the U.S. While CBP maintains that this data supports criminal and administrative investigations, critics argue that the arrangement raises major privacy concerns.
The data is shared without travelers' knowledge or consent, and ARC reportedly requested that the agency keep its identity confidential unless legally required to disclose it.
The documents confirm that CBP’s initial contract with ARC began in June 2024. It has already been extended and may continue through 2029. Although the initial amounts seem modest, around $11,000 with a recent $6,800 update, the implications are far-reaching.
ARC’s Travel Intelligence Program goes far beyond basic passenger manifests. It includes over a billion records spanning both past and future travel, updated daily. The system can be queried by name, credit card or even travel agency. Importantly, it does not include data from tickets purchased directly through airline websites, focusing instead on bookings made via travel agencies, such as Expedia.
The DHS has justified its use of TIP data in a public Privacy Impact Assessment, noting the program helps in active investigations. CBP echoed this, stating that data is only used when a case is already open. Still, this sets a dangerous precedent. It normalizes mass surveillance through third-party data purchases, undermining safeguards designed to limit unnecessary intrusion.
This isn’t an isolated incident. Last month, Immigration and Customs Enforcement also acknowledged purchasing ARC data. Other federal agencies listed in procurement records include the Secret Service, SEC, DEA, TSA and even the Air Force.
If you want to take back control of your personal information, here are six smart steps you can take right now to reduce your exposure to data brokers.
1. Book flights directly on airline websites: Whenever you can, avoid using third-party travel sites like Expedia, Orbitz or travel agencies. These platforms are the main sources of the data collected by the Airlines Reporting Corporation (ARC) through its Travel Intelligence Program. When you book directly on an airline’s official website or mobile app, your data is far less likely to be shared with ARC or sold to government agencies. While it might be tempting to look for deals on aggregator sites, once you find a fare you like, try to book it directly through the airline.
2. Use virtual or disposable credit cards: The ARC system allows queries by credit card number, which means your travel activity can be tracked even if your name is not directly searched. To protect yourself, consider using a virtual credit card or a disposable card number for flight bookings. These are often available through banking apps or fintech services like Revolut, Privacy.com or certain American Express accounts. Virtual cards are tied to your main account but generate a temporary number that can only be used once or at a specific merchant. This makes it much harder for brokers to link future bookings to you.
3. Share the bare minimum when booking: Be cautious about the personal information you enter during the booking process. Unless it is legally required, avoid adding unnecessary details like your frequent flyer number, passport data for domestic flights or secondary phone numbers. You can also create a separate email address specifically for travel bookings to reduce the risk of cross-linking data with your other online accounts. When it comes to loyalty programs, consider opting out or using a separate identity if you are concerned about data being shared across companies.
4. Remove your data from the internet: The most effective way to take control of your data and avoid data brokers from selling it is to opt for data removal services. While no service promises to remove all your data from the internet, having a removal service is great if you want to constantly monitor and automate the process of removing your information from hundreds of sites continuously over a longer period of time. Check out my top picks for data removal services and get a free scan to find out if your personal information is already out on the web by visiting Cyberguy.com/Delete
5. Use a privacy-focused browser and email service: Prevent tracking at the source by using privacy-first tools. Switch to browsers like Brave, Firefox or DuckDuckGo, which block ads and data collectors by default. Set up a separate, secure alias email address for booking travel using services. This limits how easily brokers can link your travel data to your online identity. See my review of the best secure and private email services by visitingCyberguy.com/Mail
6. Use an identity theft protection service: If your travel or payment data is ever leaked or abused, freezing your credit can help prevent identity theft. Identity theft companies can assist you in freezing your bank and credit card accounts to prevent further unauthorized use by criminals. They can also monitor personal information like your Social Security number, phone number and email address and alert you if it is being sold on the dark web or being used to open an account.
One of the best parts of my No. 1 pick is that is it has identity theft insurance of up to $1 million to cover losses and legal fees and a white glove fraud resolution team where a U.S.-based case manager helps you recover any losses. See my tips and best picks on how to protect yourself from identity theft by visitingCyberguy.com/IdentityTheft
The ARC incident is yet another example of federal agencies bypassing traditional legal channels by buying sensitive data from private firms. Travelers are not just passengers, they are data points in a growing ecosystem where information is currency. The fact that this trade happened without informed consent and behind legal smokescreens should worry anyone who values privacy.
Would you change how you book flights if it meant protecting your personal data? Let us know by writing to us at Cyberguy.com/Contact
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FIRST ON FOX: Courts have repeatedly stymied President Donald Trump's efforts to quickly remove noncitizens living illegally in the country, but a conservative think tank is warning that the judiciary branch could, at times, be overstepping.
The Heritage Foundation's Hans von Spakovsky, a senior legal fellow at the organization and a former Department of Justice official, detailed in a new memorandum how noncitizens' due process rights are minimal when they are facing deportation.
"As provided by Congress and by some court decisions interpreting the Constitution, aliens have only limited due process rights in immigration proceedings," von Spakovsky wrote in the document, reviewed by Fox News Digital in advance of its publishing.
The document makes clear that noncitizens, including illegal immigrants, have the same rights as citizens when it comes to criminal proceedings. If a noncitizen has been charged with a crime, that person is entitled to a lawyer, just like a citizen would be, for example.
Outside of that, the legal processes for noncitizens facing deportation vary widely depending on their circumstances. These cases are often handled in immigration courts rather than federal courts.
Heritage’s document suggests how due process, a contentious topic at the heart of many of the Trump administration’s immigration-related court cases, should apply to noncitizens in various scenarios.
"Those rights differ depending on the status of the aliens and whether they are outside the United States and trying to enter this country or are already in the country, either legally or illegally, as well as their visa or other status," von Spakovsky wrote.
Immigration law allows for near-immediate deportations in cases when a migrant has crossed into the country illegally but is apprehended within two years.
"That alien can be removed without a hearing or any other proceeding," von Spakovsky said. However, he added a caveat that has become a major source of frustration among border control advocates: "unless the alien requests asylum or asserts a credible fear of persecution if returned to his or her native country."
If a migrant requests asylum, a form of protection for a person who fears they will be persecuted if sent back to their home country, an immigration officer, immigration judge, the Board of Immigration Appeals, and even the federal circuits and Supreme Court could all end up having a say in that migrant's case before their asylum claim is fully vetted.
Critics of the asylum system say it has been roundly abused and that migrants making bogus asylum claims is common practice. They say such claims allow migrants to be released into the country and fall off the government’s radar."
That concern came to a head on Wednesday, when a federal judge in Washington, D.C., issued a 124-page order blocking the administration from severely limiting asylum claims. The judge said Trump attempted a "wholesale rewriting" of immigration laws. Attorney General Pam Bondi has signaled an appeal is imminent.
The Heritage Foundation has been a presence in Republican politics for decades and has significant influence over government policy. The organization creates playbooks for presidential administrations, called the "Mandate for Leadership" series, and its most recent one, Project 2025, became a source of controversy during Trump's campaign.
Heritage's new memorandum comes as due process has become the bane of the administration as it attempts to deliver on Trump's vows to deport all illegal immigrants.
Stephen Miller, Trump's immigration adviser and White House deputy chief of staff, has been railing against the courts and immigration rights groups, who he claims have overplayed their hand and are illegally derailing Trump's agenda.
"The only process illegals are due is deportation," Miller wrote online in May.
The topic has cropped up in numerous heated, high-profile court cases, many of which remain pending.
Kilmar Abrego Garcia alleged he was wrongly deported to El Salvador despite an immigration judge forbidding it. A group of deportees bound for Sudan, but held up in inhumane conditions in Djibouti, argued in court that they got no due process. Additionally, numerous men deported under the Alien Enemies Act to a Salvadoran megaprison have claimed in courts that they were not afforded a chance to contest their removal.
Von Spakovsky indicated that the Supreme Court would ultimately continue to decide where lower courts were, or were not, overstepping.
"Federal courts that assume jurisdiction over banned, prohibited, or limited claims by aliens are violating federal law, and the Supreme Court should tell them so," he wrote.
The Supreme Court has repeatedly affirmed noncitizens are entitled to some form of due process.
"It is well established that the Fifth Amendment entitles aliens to due process of law in deportation proceedings," Justice Antonin Scalia wrote in Reno v. Flores in 1993.
In an order in April, the Supreme Court cited Scalia’s words when it directed the Trump administration to give "reasonable" notice to the alleged transnational gang members at risk of being deported under the Alien Enemies Act.
The high court said those who are subject to the Alien Enemies Act must be given a chance to "seek habeas relief" before they are deported. Habeas corpus petitions are a form of legal recourse for those who believe they have been wrongly detained.
Washington Post columnist Erik Wemple sharply criticized Paramount on Wednesday for settling with President Donald Trump for $16 million earlier this week over edits made to a CBS News "60 Minutes" interview with then-Vice President Kamala Harris last October.
Wemple argued that Paramount's settlement sets a dangerous precedent for journalistic integrity and press freedom after capitulating to the president in hopes of protecting its merger with Skydance Media.
The media partnership is subject to the approval of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), which is currently overseen by Trump-appointed commissioners.
Wemple contended that the media giant settled with Trump because it believed the case "could thwart merger approval."
"Honest journalism requires noting that Paramount’s leaders will never, ever hear the end of this abject decision. Nor should they," he asserted.
The columnist claimed that Paramount's settlement "withers" the First Amendment after it "caved prematurely and completely" to Trump's lawsuit, unlike its subsidiary, CBS News, which cited First Amendment protections in their court filing.
Wemple insisted that media organizations typically settle only when they "screw up" — something he maintains CBS News did not do.
"The settlement doesn’t include an apology, and that’s because there is nothing to apologize for. Its actions under attack in the Trump suit are the subject of great reverence from the First Amendment," he stated.
Citing the 1974 case Miami Herald Pub. Co. v. Tornillo, in which the Supreme Court ruled in favor of the Herald after they refused to publish pushback by a politician to critical editorials, Wemple argued Paramount tarnished the precedent of this ruling with their settlement.
"That very function — the one that happens many times a day at newspapers, radio stations, TV stations, networks, social media accounts, newsletters, whatever — is what Paramount failed to stick up for," he declared. "It doesn’t deserve the likes of "60 Minutes."
Fox News Digital reached out to CBS News and Paramount for comment on Wemple's editorial but did not immediately receive a response.
Russian President Vladimir Putin is intensifying his assault on Ukraine, despite previously signaling to President Donald Trump that peace might be on the table.
But one former Trump advisor says Putin’s strategy is unlikely to succeed.
"I don’t think he can play Donald Trump," retired Gen. H.R. McMaster, who served as Trump’s national security advisor from 2017 to 2018, told "The Brian Kilmeade Show" on Wednesday.
"You saw what happened with the Iranians. He gave them 60 days, right? And they went to 61, and he acted."
Russia launched its largest aerial strike on Ukraine since the start of the war this week, marking an escalation in the conflict. McMaster said this is part of a calculated attempt by Putin to project power and reshape his image.
"This is Putin’s ruse. He’s trying to look strong," McMaster told the "Brian Kilmeade Show."
"He’s throwing it all in right now because he thinks we don’t have the will to support Ukraine."
The increase in Russian aggression comes as the Pentagon has paused some weapons shipments to Ukraine. The scrapped deals included Patriot missile interceptors and artillery shells. U.S. officials have justified the delay by blaming it on dwindling stockpiles and concerns the United States could need them to defend itself.
While Putin is projecting strength, McMaster argued the Russian leader is far weaker than he appears.
"Putin is really in a hurt, in terms of his economic situation," he said. "He’s not pulling as much out of the ATM as he’s been able to pull," noting that declining oil prices and skyrocketing military expenses have taken a toll on Russia’s economy.
According to McMaster, these developments could push Trump to take a firmer stance if peace talks continue to falter.
"President Trump is [going to] come to the conclusion it’s time to put more pressure on Putin, and that includes sustaining support for the Ukrainians."
Last month, Trump proposed taking a step back in ceasefire negotiations, likening Russia and Ukraine to two children fighting. He suggested the U.S. take a step back in negotiations until both countries are willing to come to the table.
"Sometimes you're better off letting them fight for a while and then pulling them apart," remarked Trump in early June.
Some leaders have countered the president’s strategy, saying U.S. support is critical to the Ukrainian resistance. On Wednesday, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte emphasized that Ukraine cannot win without American aid.
"A secure Europe also means a secure U.S.," Rutte told "Fox & Friends." The Dutch leader also noted that a larger Russia that’s closer to Europe could pose more of a risk to U.S. interests.
Arizona State Sun Devils quarterback Sam Leavitt has a list written on a whiteboard in his room.
It's a list of quarterbacks, and no, it's not the ones he aspires to be. It's the quarterback he wishes to topple heading into his 2025 season.
Leavitt wouldn't divulge the exact names on the list, but it's a tactic he's used for some time now to help give him that extra push of motivation whenever he needs it.
It's something Leavitt learned from his older brother, Dallin, who played six seasons in the NFL at safety.
"I never had a list growing up," Leavitt told Fox News Digital. "There were always people ranked higher than me that I’d look at, but I guess my brother kinda told me at one point, ‘You gotta go chase somebody.’ For him, that worked out really well. He always chased this one player growing up that was always rated above him and stuff, and he’d play against them, he’d win, and he’s still rated above him.
"Took a few years before I really cared about that because I just was so under-recruited growing up that I wasn’t even listed – wasn’t even in the top 25 or the top 50. So, it’s kinda hard to put names up."
The list, now, is warranted for Leavitt, whose breakout season in his first year with the Sun Devils showed someone worthy of being in the conversation of the top college football quarterbacks heading into the 2025 campaign.
Leavitt was an overlooked Oregon Ducks prospect before transferring to Michigan State in 2023. He only saw time in four games, and he made the jump again, this time to head coach Rob Dillingham's Big XII squad in Tempe.
The move proved to be the best, as Leavitt helped lead Arizona State to the College Football Playoff after winning the Big XII Conference. Leavitt threw for 2,885 yards with 24 touchdowns to six interceptions, while also rushing for 443 yards and five scores.
"Now I’m at this point where I’m around top-10 guys, I put those names up and it just gives me a little bit extra," he said. "When I need a little bit extra motivation to get up 30 minutes earlier, or go to bed earlier, do my last few stretches, or watch this little bit of tape when it’s like, ‘Ugh, I really don’t want to.’ That list gives you that last little kick."
While he can provide fuel when needed, Leavitt's drive doesn't need to revolve around reading other quarterbacks' names every day.
In fact, despite all the good that came out of last year for Leavitt, he isn't satisfied at all with the results.
"I didn’t play to the level I wanted to play at, and I left so much on the table I felt like," he said when asked how he's reflected on the 2024 season. "That just gives me the drive in the offseason to go do what I should do. And that’s how every player should feel – you should never feel satisfied with what you did.
"I even look back to my senior year when we won the state title, it just never sat right with me. I don’t know, I just didn’t play to the level I wanted to play at, and I guess that perfection is what drives me and makes me who I am."
The Sun Devils now have a target on their backs as the reigning Big XII champions, so Leavitt and his Arizona State teammates head into the new year with high expectations.
And that's perfectly fine for Leavitt, who has another word on his whiteboard next to the list of quarterbacks: Heisman.
"I’d say a Heisman and national championship, that’s the end goal," he said. "But every single day it’s getting the team to get better. You gotta have these big goals for overall to chase something. But that doesn’t come without the day-to-day work, so it’s just getting better and outworking myself from last year. Outworking the team, out-studying myself, out-playing myself, so everything like that is the main goal day to day."
The Indiana Fever, fresh off the Commissioner's Cup final victory, will be again without guard Caitlin Clark for Thursday night’s matchup against the Las Vegas Aces, as she remains sidelined for the fourth straight game with a lingering groin injury.
The update comes just weeks before Clark is due to serve as a captain in the WNBA All-Star game.
Speaking to the media on Wednesday, just a day after the Fever defeated the Minnesota Lynx to win the league’s in-season tournament, head coach Stephanie White spoke about Clark’s extended absence and the precautions the team is taking with her long-term health in mind.
"I don’t have anything in my head other than what I’m told. My goal has always been the same, I don’t want this to be something that lingers – that we come back too soon," White said. "We want to make sure that she is 100% ready to go and that we put her long-term health and wellness at the forefront."
White added that with just a handful of games left before the league heads into the All-Star break, the timing of Clark’s absence worked out well. She noted that Clark herself is eager to return.
"She wants to play, and she’s working to play, and she has been working to play. I think after a few days, it’s like, ‘Okay, we’ve got a little bit of time,’ thinking – what, five games before All-Star break? We’ve got a little bit of time, so let’s just ease her mind, even though she’s ansty, and let’s do this the right way and make sure that we’re ready to go and 100% when she comes back."
Clark never missed a game during her college career at Iowa or during her first season in the WNBA when she earned the Rookie of the Year award. However, her sophomore season has been plagued with missed games.
Four games into the 2025 season, Clark was sidelined for five games with a quad injury. She returned and played in five games where she seemingly fell into a shooting slump before missing another stretch of time with her current injury.
Clark is averaging 18.2 points, 5.0 rebounds and 8.9 assists this season. The All-Star game will be hosted by Indiana on July 19.
The Department of Justice’s unveiling this week of sweeping charges against more than 300 defendants who allegedly defrauded Medicare and other taxpayer-funded programs came as part of the department’s annual "takedown" event.
The healthcare fraud takedowns have been a practice at the DOJ for more than a decade, but officials touted this one as the largest on record. It stood out not only for its size but also because it focused on transnational criminals and broached artificial intelligence.
"This takedown represents the largest healthcare fraud takedown in American history," DOJ Criminal Division head Matthew Galeotti said. "But it’s not the end. It’s the beginning of a new era of aggressive prosecution and data-driven prevention."
This year’s operation led to 324 defendants being charged for submitting billions of dollars in allegedly fraudulent healthcare claims, including for medical care that patients never ended up receiving or that they received unnecessarily.
A DOJ official told reporters after the announcement that the work was "strategically coordinated" so that the takedown involved "all new indictments, complaints, [and] informations."
Charges were brought across 50 federal districts and, according to the official, all were brought or unsealed during a three-week period leading up to the takedown announcement.
Galeotti said the intended false claims totaled $14.6 billion. The actual losses reached $2.9 billion, he said.
Another DOJ official told Fox News Digital the purpose of the annual takedowns is "to raise public awareness and deter wrongdoers from engaging in this crime." The official noted that Operation Brace Yourself, a 2019 takedown, led to an estimated reduction of $1.9 billion being charged to Medicare for certain types of orthotic braces.
"Every fraudulent claim, every fake billing, every kickback scheme represents money taken directly from the pockets of American taxpayers, who fund these essential programs through their hard work and sacrifice," Galeotti said.
The charges announced this week spanned the globe, and DOJ officials said that in addition to four arrested in Estonia and another seven arrested at airports or the U.S.-Mexico border, the department was working to extradite others overseas who are accused of crimes.
Those defendants were part of an alleged scheme coined "Operation Gold Rush," which resulted in at least 20 members of a transnational criminal organization, including defendants based in Russia, being charged as part of a Medicare and money laundering operation that centered on catheters.
The group behind the scheme allegedly used foreign ownership entities to buy dozens of medical supply companies and then used stolen identities and confidential health data to create and file $10.6 billion in claims with Medicare.
"We are seeing a disturbing trend of transnational criminal organizations engaging in increasingly sophisticated and complex criminal schemes that defraud the American healthcare system," Galeotti said.
Two owners of Pakistani marketing organizations were among those charged in an alleged $703 million scheme in which they used artificial intelligence to create fake recordings of Medicare recipients consenting to receive medical supplies.
"We are concerned about the criminals’ advancement in technology here, obviously," Galeotti said.
Dr. Mehmet Oz, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services administrator who oversees the Medicare program, was pressed by a reporter about why fraudsters were so easily able to penetrate the Medicare payment system.
Oz said CMS is working to meet the moment. The agency has "already launched a model. It is designed to use artificial intelligence and other more cutting-edge tools to address the fraud that exists in healthcare," Oz said.
Investigating and prosecuting fraudsters is work that relies heavily on data. The DOJ’s healthcare fraud unit has since 2018 had its own in-house team that analyzes data, one of the DOJ officials told Fox News Digital.
The team’s techniques include identifying "aberrant billing levels" and other suspicious billing patterns, as well as fraudulent practices that appear to move from one region to another. The team's ability to spot emerging trends, such as medical care professionals using skin grafts for wound care, also helps.
One set of charges in the takedown involved three defendants in Arizona who allegedly purchased these types of skin grafts, known as "amniotic wound allografts," and unnecessarily applied them to elderly Medicare recipients, including hospice patients in their final days. The defendants allegedly reaped millions of dollars from the practice.
"Patients and their families trusted these providers with their lives. Instead of receiving care, they became victims of elaborate criminal schemes," Galeotti said.
DOJ officials said they plan to use a "fusion center" as part of their healthcare fraud crackdown. The center will combine data across agencies and is designed to create a more efficient analysis process.
The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) is also involved in healthcare fraud work. A DEA official said during the takedown announcement that the agency's investigations included doctors, pharmacists and pharmacy owners.
Fifty-eight cases involved the illegal distribution of an estimated 15 million pills of opioids and other controlled substances, he said.
"These pills ended up on our streets in the hands of dealers and in the path of addiction," the DEA official said.
Overall, dozens of medical care professionals, including 25 doctors, were charged in the takedown.
Democratic Rep. Eugene Vindman said he is "furious" that the Pentagon has frozen some shipments of critical weapons to Ukraine.
"The decision to pause critical U.S. weapons shipments — including Patriot missiles and artillery — puts Ukrainian lives and territory at risk," the Army veteran, who represents Virginia, wrote on X.
"The Ukrainian people are fighting fiercely against Putin’s invasion," he added. "We must course-correct to ensure our Ukrainian partners have what they need in their fight for freedom."
Fox News confirmed Wednesday that the U.S. has stopped sending weapons such as Patriot missile interceptors and 155 mm artillery shells.
The halt was driven by Under Secretary of Defense for Policy Elbridge Colby after a review of U.S. munitions stockpiles that showed dangerously low reserves, Politico first reported.
According to U.S. military officials tracking the shipments, the weapons were already staged in Poland before the order came down.
"This was made to put America’s interests first," White House deputy press secretary Anna Kelly said in a statement also shared with Fox News Digital. "The strength of the United States Armed Forces remains unquestioned — just ask Iran."
A senior defense official told Politico the Pentagon’s review revealed that stockpiles of Patriot interceptors, precision-guided 155 mm shells and other critical munitions had dropped to levels deemed insufficient to meet U.S. contingency plans.
The Army has already quietly quadrupled its procurement targets for Patriot interceptors, but defense analysts say replenishment will take time.
Fox News’ Jasmine Baehr and Jennifer Griffin contributed to this report.
Amazon Prime Day is back and bigger than ever! Whether you’re stocking up on household staples or hunting for the latest tech gadgets, Amazon’s annual sale offers impressive deals all around.
For those looking to stock up on their everyday essentials, Prime provides you with the perfect opportunity to do so. Batteries, toothbrushes, mops and everything in between are currently on sale.
Crest Pro-Health gum detoxify toothpaste helps reverse gingivitis and whiten your teeth at the same time. Even those with sensitive teeth can use Crest Pro-Health.
Get a better clean when you use a Philips Sonicare 5300 electric toothbrush. It has a pressure sensor that lets you know if you’re applying the right amount of pressure while you brush. You can choose from three different settings: clean mode, gum care mode and whitening mode.
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Dove body wash hydrates your skin, giving it a healthy glow. The infusion of cucumber and green tea is gentle on your skin and leaves you smelling incredible.
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Dove Men + Care body wash is plant-based and made with notes of blood orange and sage. The combination of proteins, vitamins and amino acids all work together to give you softer, healthier skin.
Running out of batteries when you need them most is a huge pain. The Amazon Basics 24-count of AA and AAA batteries makes sure you always have batteries on hand. Use them in everyday devices like cameras, toys and game controllers.
President Donald Trump's administration released its annual report revealing the salaries for every staffer inside the White House on Thursday.
The report shows employees' earnings in a range of $59,070 at the lowest to $225,700 at the highest, though a few aren't accepting salaries at all.
The top-paid staffer at the White House is Jacalynne Klopp, a senior advisor and the sole staffer earning $225,700. Behind her is Edgar Mkrtchian, an associate counsel, making $203,645.
Behind them comes a group of 33 staffers making $195,200, which includes many well-known names. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt takes in this level of salary, as does border czar Tom Homan, chief of staff Susan Wiles, trade advisor Peter Navarro, communications director Steven Cheung and police chief of staff and homeland security advisor Stephen Miller.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio is chief among these, not receiving any compensation for his White House role as national security advisor. Special envoy Steve Witkoff also receives compensation from the State Department rather than the White House.
Trump's own compensation is not listed in the report, but the pay scheme for the president is laid out in federal law. As president, Trump earns a base salary of $400,000, as well as a $50,000 expense allowance, $100,000 for travel and $19,000 for entertainment.
The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of California has filed a class-action lawsuit against the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) demanding an immediate halt to what it describes as unlawful immigration raids across the Los Angeles area targeting migrants with "brown skin."
The non-profit accuses Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) of carrying out unconstitutional raids and then keeping migrants in inhumane conditions without beds and deprived of food and legal counsel. Homeland Security has denied all the claims in the lawsuit, saying that any accusations of racial profiling are "disgusting and categorically false."
ICE has carried out sweeping raids since June 6, arresting around 1,500 immigrants, including Latino day laborers, car wash workers, farmworkers and vendors – all in a bid to meet certain arrest quotas, the habeas petition states.
"The raids in this district follow a common, systematic pattern. Individuals with brown skin are approached or pulled aside by unidentified federal agents, suddenly and with a show of force and made to answer questions about who they are and where they are from," the lawsuit reads.
"If they hesitate, attempt to leave, or do not answer the questions to the satisfaction of the agents, they are detained, sometimes tackled, handcuffed, and/or taken into custody. In these interactions, agents typically have no prior information about the individual and no warrant of any kind."
The lawsuit accuses the federal government of keeping detainees at an overcrowded holding facility, referred to as "B-18," inside windowless rooms that are extremely cramped.
"In these dungeon-like facilities, conditions are deplorable and unconstitutional," the lawsuit reads.
As well as seeking to block the raids, the suit demands that ICE refrain from using the B-18 center, as it is supposed to be a short-term ICE processing site, and that the federal government be held legally accountable for systemic racial profiling and due process violations.
The defendants include Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, Acting ICE Director Todd Lyons, Attorney General Pam Bondi and multiple regional ICE, CBP, and FBI officials operating in Los Angeles.
The lawsuit was filed by a coalition of individual immigrants and immigrant advocacy organizations, led by the ACLU and the non-profit Public Counsel as well as other legal partners.
Los Angeles has become a battleground in resisting President Donald Trump’s election promise of carrying out the largest deportation raids in U.S. history. Protests in the City of Angels last month descended into riots as masked agitators burned driverless cars, damaged other property and threw rocks at moving law enforcement vehicles.
The lawsuit comes as an estimated 150 to 200 anti-ICE protesters shut down the Sixth Street Bridge in Los Angeles on Tuesday afternoon. The bridge links downtown Los Angeles and Boyle Heights early.
The protesters carried signs with messages reading: "Sick of ICE!" and "Eviction moratorium now!" while others chanted "ICE out of L.A."
"This bridge has been the entry to Boyle Heights to kidnap community members and take them who knows where," organizer Christian Alcaraz told Fox 11.
The protest was one of several rallies in the county on Tuesday as part of a day of action against immigration raids. In Koreatown, another rally was held.
Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin refuted the claims made in the lawsuit.
"Any claims that individuals have been ‘targeted’ by law enforcement because of their skin color are disgusting and categorically false," she told Fox 11 via a statement on Wednesday, adding that the lawsuit's claims were "garbage."
She also denied the claims about poor conditions at ICE facilities.
"Any claim that there are subprime conditions at ICE detention centers are false," McLaughlin said. "In fact, ICE has higher detention standards than most US prisons that hold actual US citizens. All detainees are provided with proper meals, medical treatment, and have opportunities to communicate with lawyers and their family members."
President Donald Trump's $3.3 trillion "big, beautiful bill" has reportedly set the House record for the longest vote in the history of the lower chamber of Congress.
The procedural vote on the Senate-amended version of the bill lasted for more than seven hours. In 2021, the House spent seven hours and six minutes voting on former President Joe Biden's "Build Back Better" legislative package.
Wednesday night's voting surpassed the previous record at 9:15 p.m. ET Wednesday by at least 15 minutes, according to Axios.
Assistant House Minority Leader Joe Neguse, D-Colo., goaded House Republicans by claiming the protracted voting period Wednesday violated House rules, Axios reported.
The extended voting period came as House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., wrangled with members of the conservative House Freedom Caucus. They pushed back on the Senate's version of the megabill over its projected increase to the federal deficit, as well as what they deemed insufficient Medicaid reforms and spending cuts. Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas, took issue with Senate revisions reintroducing green energy tax credits despite House efforts to roll back such programs.
With the Democrats united in opposition, the future of the more than 800-page, Trump-backed legislative package depends on a handful of GOP holdouts.
Following the overnight session, Johnson said Thursday he was determined to get the Senate-amended bill passed by the House and to the president's desk by the Independence Day deadline on Friday.
Lawmakers voted to proceed with debate on the Trump agenda bill in the early hours of Thursday – a mechanism known as a "rule vote" – teeing up a final House-wide vote sometime later Thursday morning.
Speaking to reporters Thursday morning, House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, R-La., said that beyond the House Freedom Caucus, some moderate Republicans also have final questions about how the megabill would be implemented.
"Some of them wanted to talk to some of the different agencies about, you know, how they're planning on implementing it, which obviously the agency heads have been planning for months on these changes," Scalise said. "So they walk through those things and that was helpful to members just to at least get a good idea of what to expect once the bill becomes law. Of course, none of it happens if the bill doesn't become law. So the focus has always been, let's get this bill passed."
The Senate passed the "big, beautiful bill" by a razor-thin, 51-50 margin last week, with Vice President JD Vance casting the tie-breaking vote.
Fox News' Liz Elkind and Tyler Olson contributed to this report.
Most travelers hope for speedy security lines and simple layouts at airport — but some of America's travel hubs apparently soar above the rest.
A recent survey of over 2,300 people identified one airport in the Pacific Northwest as the best in the country — thanks in part to its decor plus its food and drink offerings. Therapy llamas are even available on occasion to help ease pre-flight jitters for those in need.
The analysis, done by The Washington Post, solicited responses from readers and looked at more than 450,000 Yelp reviews. Researchers collected data on gate capacity, parking and more for over 450 public airports and narrowed the list down to the top 50.
"The best airport is the one that fills your needs and gets you to your final destination with minimal interruptions," Sheldon Jacobson, an engineering professor at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, told Fox News Digital — noting that the country's most trafficked airports did not make the list. (He was not affiliated with the new survey.)
Counting down from 10 to 1, here are the airports that stood apart from the rest, according to the survey.
Michigan's DTW landed at No. 10 on the best U.S. airports list, with flyers marveling over its underground LED tunnel that shuttles them through concourses.
Another attraction is a 39-foot-wide fountain in DTW's McNamara Terminal, which shoots water in a pattern inspired by a flight map.
Utah's SLC came in at No. 9. The facility was recently rebuilt – a factor many people appreciated.
Participants noted the airport's spacious design, natural light and mountain views.
A simple layout, towering ceilings and sleek decor made it a fan favorite.
One reader said it had "easy everything." The airport contains more than a mile of walking paths and the popular steakhouse Harry & Izzy’s.
New Mexico's ABQ, named in homage to the city known for abundant sunshine, is known for its southwestern architecture, which gives "local pueblo" vibes with murals by Native American artists.
Flyers can grab a cup of piñon coffee flavored with a nut grown in the deserts of New Mexico.
The bathrooms at PVD also got an honorable mention among survey participants, one of whom said they were "impeccable and beautifully designed."
The Rhode Island hub also offers a free library, local food and live music. It boasts easy parking and navigation.
Seattle's PAE feels more like a "posh hotel" than an airport, readers said, with bellhops for luggage, plus limestone-accented walls and leather couches and lounge chairs.
PAE includes a wine bar and a Beecher’s Handmade Cheese outpost.
The snow-capped Olympic Mountains can be seen in the distance.
Travelers reported that MSP is a breeze to get through. Flyers can decompress in its designated quiet space and massage chairs — and even watch short films by local filmmakers.
Music pays homage to Minneapolis-native Prince, and a store is inspired by the "Purple Rain" musician. Shops also offer T-shirts emblazoned with cans of Spam, which was invented in the state.
DCA, in Arlington, Virginia, boasts first-class convenience thanks to its proximity to Washington, D.C., survey respondents said.
The walk to DCA's gates is short, and it offers some of the best airport views in the country, including of landmarks like the Washington Monument and the Lincoln Memorial — placing it at No. 3 on the list.
Long Beach Airport in Los Angeles, California placed second on the list of the country's best airports.
The Art Deco building is about 5 miles from the city's beaches and has a courtyard, al fresco dining and summer concerts that make it an "oasis," one reader said.
Passengers also said the airport, which is the oldest in the Golden State, is easy to navigate.
Travelers at Oregon's PDX — coming in at No. 1 in the survey — enjoy its live trees, sky-lit ceilings and natural landscapes played on video walls.
Among PDX's defining features are a giant pink mailbox, occasional therapy llamas, and '80's-inspired carpeting.
Vacation starts early with live music, a speakeasy and a "microcinema."
"People don't mind spending time at the airport – when it's [PDX]," the Port of Portland said in a recent Instagram post.
"Huge thanks to the nearly 10,000 people who keep PDX running with care – from the construction crews and custodians to the musicians in the concourse and the folks serving up donuts, beer and cheese curds with a smile."
Earlier this week, President Donald Trump signed an executive order lifting most U.S. sanctions on Syria, in a move experts say reflects growing recognition inside the administration that Syria, long a battleground for Iranian influence and Islamist terror, may now offer the U.S. a rare opportunity to reclaim regional leverage, counter enemies, and support allies like Israel and Jordan.
At a White House press briefing Monday, press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters, "This is another promise made and promise kept by this president," she said, referring to Trump’s recent meeting with Syria’s new transitional leader Ahmed al-Sharaa during a trip to Saudi Arabia. "He’s committed to supporting a Syria that is stable, unified, and at peace with itself and its neighbors."
"The sanctions did their job," David Schenker, former assistant secretary of state for Near Eastern Affairs and now a senior fellow at the Washington Institute, told Fox News Digital. "They were crippling by and large. There’s zero economic life in the country. But Trump is giving Syria a chance to succeed."
Javed Ali, former senior official at the National Security Council and professor at the University of Michigan, told Fox News Digital, "It’s a strategic calculation. A Syria that no longer hosts Iranian proxies, cooperates on counterterrorism, and integrates with Arab neighbors serves U.S. interests on every front."
According to Schenker, Syria has taken steps the U.S. has long demanded: allowing inspections by the IAEA and the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, sharing intelligence on ISIS, and cooperating with American liaison officers on counterterrorism. "These groups have declared al-Sharaa an infidel. They themselves are being attacked by ISIS," he noted.
For the U.S., the stakes extend far beyond sanctions relief. Schenker said a stable Syria focused on education and social services, rather than military buildup, would be far less fertile ground for ISIS or Iranian influence.
Ali described the current moment as part of a broader Trump strategy: "Now with Assad gone, it’s another blow to the Islamic Republic of Iran. This creates an opportunity to coalesce the Sunni Arab states – either around the Abraham Accords or a growing anti-Iran coalition."
The U.S. military still maintains a small but critical footprint in Syria – approximately 1,000 troops across three to four bases in the northeast – providing vital intelligence and rapid strike capability. "That footprint has been one of our most important counterterrorism outposts," Ali said. "We’ve seen multiple targeted operations this year alone."
He said, however, that deeper U.S.-Syrian cooperation could bring new complications. "There’s always a risk that as ties deepen, either the U.S. could reduce its presence – or al-Sharaa might ask us to scale back," Ali said. "That could impact our ability to monitor jihadist activity or manage the tens of thousands of ISIS detainees still in camps guarded by SDF forces."
Meanwhile, the diplomatic implications of Trump’s move are drawing global attention. Syria’s new leadership has publicly distanced itself from Iran, reportedly blocked Hezbollah weapon shipments, and dismantled multiple Iranian military posts across the country.
"The president is genuinely focused on expanding the Abraham Accords," said Schenker. "He sees Syria as the next possible candidate."
NSC spokesman Taylor Rogers told Fox News Digital. "President Trump is working towards lasting peace in the Middle East, which includes supporting a Syria that is stable, unified, and at peace with itself and its neighbors. The President is empowering Syria’s success by lifting sanctions on export controls while maintaining sanctions on terrorists and all other potential threats to the United States. The President made a promise to give Syria a chance to rebuild and thrive by lifting sanctions, and this President keeps his promises."
Still, normalization with Israel remains politically fraught. Syria remains officially at war with the Jewish state, and while Sharaa has hinted at accepting the pre-1974 ceasefire lines, jihadist factions and Islamist groups within Syria remain staunchly opposed. "There have already been reported assassination attempts on Sharaa," Schenker said. "It’s going to get harder if he moves from non-belligerency to full normalization."
Charles Lister, director of the Syria program at the Middle East Institute, told Fox News Digital, "Syria has always been an open wound in the center of the region – an engine of instability… But if it stabilizes now, it unlocks a path for broader regional integration. It connects Israel and Jordan to a more secure arc and reduces the need for heavy U.S. military involvement."
Despite encouraging signs on the diplomatic track – such as reported back-channel talks and reduced rhetoric – Israeli airstrikes on Syrian territory have continued, with hundreds launched this year alone. Syria’s new leadership has not responded militarily, but tensions remain high.
"The facts on the ground don’t yet reflect the progress being made behind closed doors," Lister said. "We just have to hope that those two dynamics meet in the middle, and things calm down on the ground as well."
A boating accident near Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, claimed the lives of two people and left two others injured, according to local authorities.
The incident occurred on the evening of Friday, June 27, when emergency crews responded to reports of a boating crash in the Skull Creek area, just before 10 p.m., the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement on Facebook.
"Upon arrival, the vessel was located with four individuals on board," officials said. "Two occupants sustained injuries and were transported to a local hospital for medical treatment. Tragically, the other two individuals were found deceased at the scene."
Multiple response teams were involved in the rescue operation as divers were deployed and entered the water promptly upon arrival. According to an update from the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR), which is leading the investigation, the missing individuals and two dogs were found inside the overturned boat.
Officials identified the deceased as 73-year-old Patsy Montgomery and 76-year-old James Montgomery, residents of Bluffton. The Beaufort County Coroner’s Office confirmed their identities to local outlet WJCL, noting that the official cause of death has not yet been determined.
According to the SCDNR preliminary report obtained by Fox News Digital, the boat appears to have collided with a day marker in the Intracoastal Waterway.
Authorities are still working to establish the exact cause of the accident, noting that the vessel’s operator was among the deceased and that no criminal charges are being considered at this time.
Hilton Head Island Mayor Alan Perry also expressed his condolences in a Facebook post, writing, "I'm at a loss for words over the tragic boat accident last night. My heart and prayers are with the families of the deceased and those who are injured. May God's hand provide comfort during these trying times."
Fox News Digital reached out to the Beaufort County Coroner's Office but did not immediately receive a response.
Data indicating the federal workforce shrank by just 1% over the first few months of President Donald Trump’s second term shows a "disappointing effect of DOGE" and the level of bureaucracy’s entrenchment in America, experts told Fox News Digital.
Figures released by the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) show that the United States employs 2,289,472 federal workers as of March 31, which is down from 2,313,216 on September 30, 2024. The reduction of more than 23,000 positions "reflects the administration’s early efforts to streamline government and eliminate unnecessary bureaucracy," OPM said in a press release.
"That's just through the end of March. So I suspect those numbers will be higher by the end of September this year, which is when a lot of the early retirement packages– and buyouts – go into effect," Alex Nowrasteh, the Cato Institute’s vice president for economic and social policy studies, told Fox News Digital.
"Regardless of what those numbers are, this is not enough people having been terminated. It is not enough shrinkage in the federal workforce. And it is a disappointing effect of DOGE that it wasn't able to increase the size of the decrease in the federal workforce," he added.
Trump signed an executive order in February instructing the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to coordinate with federal agencies and execute massive cuts in federal government staffing numbers.
That order is reflected in the new data, OPM said, showing that agencies averaged 23,000 new monthly hires from April 2024 to January 2025 but dropped by nearly 70% to just 7,385 per month once the hiring freeze was fully implemented.
Peter Morici, an economist and business professor at the University of Maryland, told Fox News Digital that "Basically, Elon Musk poured a few teacups of ice water into the ocean to combat its rising temperature."
"It's very hard to get rid of people unless you get rid of functions. See, he was able to decimate USAID because he took away all their money," Morici said. "It's very, very hard to cut down the Commerce Department unless you, for example, don't want the numbers collected."
"It takes more than four years," Morici also said. "Look at the problems they're having just with Medicare reform, how all the special interests come out. Over the years, the federal bureaucracy is not just in Washington, but it's been spread throughout the country."
"And as you talk about cutting it down, you're talking about affecting local economies, the interests of congressmen, and so forth," he added.
DOGE did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Fox News Digital.
David Hebert, an economist with the American Institute for Economic Research, said the reduction reported by OPM "is certainly a start."
"The real challenge that President Trump is facing is the fact that the federal government has taken upon itself far too many responsibilities," he added in a statement to Fox News Digital. "If the President and Congress are serious about streamlining government, they need to move beyond ‘waste, fraud, and abuse’ and look to shedding responsibilities that the federal government ought not have in the first place."
OPM said "hundreds of thousands more workers" will drop from the rolls in October 2025, when more workers depart via the Deferred Resignation Program that was offered to employees in an effort to trim the workforce.
Tens of thousands of employees who are in the process of being terminated remain on the government payroll due to court orders that are currently being challenged by the administration, according to OPM.
"The American people deserve a government that is lean, efficient, and focused on core priorities," Acting OPM Director Charles Ezell said in a statement.
"This data marks the first measurable step toward President Trump’s vision of a disciplined, accountable federal workforce, and it’s only the beginning."
Trump's effort to shrink the federal workforce has faced stiff resistance from Democrats and various courts, with opponents saying that the administration is cutting critical jobs.
Fox News Digital’s Andrew Mark Miller contributed to this report.
