Los Angeles Democratic Mayor Karen Bass, a critic of President Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown, is being mocked for pushing a story about an LA woman being kidnapped by ICE that ended up allegedly being an elaborate hoax.
The Department of Homeland Security posted on its official X account on Friday, "Mayor, you pushed a HOAX. There is still time to delete this."
This comes after Yuriana Julia Pelaez Calderon, a 41-year-old Mexican illegal alien living in Los Angeles, was charged with conspiracy and making false statements to federal officers, according to the DOJ.
On July 1, Bass posted a link to a local news story about Calderon’s supposed kidnapping, commenting, "She’s a mother from L.A. — taken out of her car on her way to work, and then held in a warehouse as officers hoped she would ‘self-deport.’
"No hearing. Just fear," Bass added. "This doesn't make anyone safer."
After the charges went public, DHS slammed Bass for her comments, saying, "Yuriana Julia Pelaez Calderon was NEVER arrested or kidnapped by ICE or bounty hunters—this criminal illegal alien scammed innocent Americans for money and diverted limited DHS resources from Los Angeles."
RNC Research, a page run by the Republican National Committee, also chimed in, commenting on X that "Karen Bass spreads a false story demonizing ICE agents."
According to the Justice Department, Calderon claimed to have been kidnapped by masked, uniformed men in unmarked cars at a Jack in the Box parking lot June 25. She claimed to have been forcibly taken to the border and presented to an ICE staffer who demanded she sign self-deportation papers. Calderon said that when she refused to sign the document, she was taken to a warehouse to be held indefinitely.
The Los Angeles Police Department launched a missing person investigation and notified DHS, which, after determining Calderon was not in its custody, launched its own investigation.
During the investigation, HSI noticed several irregularities, including that the phone calls to loved ones that Calderon had supposedly made via borrowed phones were made from her cell phone, intentionally masked to appear as an unknown number.
According to the affidavit, video surveillance of Calderon’s alleged forced abduction further showed her calmly leaving the Jack in the Box parking lot and getting into a nearby sedan. Despite the video showing a marked LAPD car in the vicinity, Calderon did not make any attempts to alert officers that she was in danger.
The affidavit states that "when confronted with true information that contradicted their kidnapping story," Calderon and others lied to federal agents and "attempted to thwart law enforcement efforts" by keeping her whereabouts from law enforcement.
According to a DOJ statement, HSI agents tracked Calderon down July 5 at a shopping plaza parking lot in Bakersfield, California. The statement said Calderon continued to claim she was taken by masked men and held in custody with others.
Calderon is in U.S. immigration custody and is facing a maximum sentence of five years in federal prison for conspiracy and up to five years for false statements if convicted of the charges.
Fox News Digital reached out to Bass’ office for comment but did not receive a response before publication.
Pandemonium broke out on a CNN panel Thursday night after one guest implied that President Donald Trump wasn’t shot at the Butler campaign rally just over a year ago.
During a CNN panel discussion about the White House's transparency on Trump’s health, leftist podcast host Touré suggested that Trump wasn’t shot in the ear on camera in front of a large crowd in Pennsylvania by a would-be assassin last year. The statement threw the CNN "NewsNight" panel into chaos.
"He supposedly got shot in the ear. We never heard from his doctors about that," Touré said, triggering CNN senior political commentator Scott Jennings who demanded that host Abby Phillip step in to correct the record.
"Whoa, whoa, whoa! Uh-uh!" Scott replied, waving his hands. "Did you say ‘supposedly?’ Abby, Abby," he said, turning to the host.
As Jennings sought the moderator, Touré raised his voice and continued to press his point.
"When did we hear from his doctors? When did we hear from his doctors?" he asked.
Phillip tried to calm the clash, stating, "Hold on. If you all stop screaming at the table, maybe I can actually respond."
Days after the would-be assassin Thomas Crooks took shots at Trump at the July 13 rally, former White House doctor and former Trump physician Rep. Ronny Jackson, R-Texas, revealed he was monitoring the-then candidate’s health and declared there was "absolutely no evidence" he was hit with "anything other than a bullet."
As members of the panel – which included former Harris campaign spokesperson Adrienne Elrod and conservative commentator Ben Freguson – attempted to press their points again, Phillip held them off.
"Hold on a second! Hold on a second," she said, putting her hands up. "Touré, he was shot in the ear."
"But can we hear from the doctors? We would always hear from his doctors when he gets shot?" he asked.
Phillip punted the question to Jennings. The commentator replied, "I mean, all I know is, I went to the Republican National Convention and he had a bandage on his ear."
As the pundit spoke, Touré kept interjecting, "That would be ‘no.’ That would be ‘no’. That would be ‘no.’"
Meanwhile, Ferguson tried to get words in before Phillip had to shut down the conversation.
The topic started with Elrod talking about the White House releasing a statement on Trump’s health after recent photos showed discoloration on his hands and swollen ankles.
"The president underwent a comprehensive examination, including diagnostic vascular studies, bilateral lower extremity … venous Doppler ultrasounds were performed and revealed chronic venous insufficiency, a benign and common condition, particularly in individuals over the age of 70," Leavitt said in a press conference Thursday.
Elrod remarked that the White House showed transparency on this topic but alleged they sometimes do not regarding Trump’s health.
Six months after California's most devastating wildfire, a recovery is underway. Land is changing hands, developers are coming in, permits are being approved, homes are under construction. Yet, for many, the process is still moving slowly.
"This process is going to take time, money and patience," said real estate agent Laura Alfano, who specializes in Malibu and the Pacific Palisades properties. "And that will lead to a combination of developers, investors and then families who have legacy wealth. And that’s what we’re seeing in terms of purchases. Not only smoke-damaged homes, but of the actual lots themselves."
Of the 123 lots sold in the Palisades since the fire, about half have been bought by corporations, the other 50% by individuals. Whereas northeast of L.A. in Altadena, many homes are being snapped up by investors. One company bought 16 properties, another 13.
"I don't want an ADU (Accessory Dwelling Unit). I’d rather die," says Terry Kilgore, 70, who is living out of an RV on his Altadena lot, waiting for an insurance settlement. "What the hell, I don't like RVs. I don't want to live in one, but at this point in time, it’s a godsend."
Many homeowners now realize they were underinsured. They can’t afford to pay off the old mortgage of the destroyed home, two years of rent in a tight market and have enough money left over for a rebuild.
In Altadena, each month, more vacant lots are coming on the market, depressing prices by as much as $100,000 on a $1 million lot.
In the Palisades, it’s the opposite. The number of properties coming on the market is going down, helping fire victims wanting to cash out. The average price is $2.2 million for a vacant lot.
"Construction time, as I'm hearing, could be a year, year and a half, so I think you're going to see six months from now framing," said Larry Vein, head of Pali Strong, a citizen group formed after the fires.
"The trauma has been really tough. A lot of people are still really confused about it. They don't know what to do. A lot of people are moving forward with their plans. A lot a people are just kind of on hold," said contractor Michael Shirley.
Right now, about 50 homes are under construction in the Palisades. More are in the pipeline. Of roughly 900 permit applications submitted to the city and county of Los Angeles officials approved 274 to begin construction. Between the two, about 13,000 homes were destroyed. Both entities say they’re approving permits in under 2 months – down from 8 to 18 months before the fires.
Yet on more complicates sites and larger homes, experts say homeowners are looking at a year or more to get approval. To speed up the rebuilding process, Governor Newson extended executive orders to suspend the California Coastal Act as the primary agent in granting permits. This suspension lasts through at least Oct. 1. With the order still in place, homeowners looking to rebuild can start construction with up to 10% increase in size. However, for those looking to expand beyond 10%, they face a $11,579 base fee and a 12-24 month process.
Ross Greenberg lost his home in the Palisades fire. And although his rebuilding permits were approved in early June, Los Angeles County still isn’t letting him break ground.
"I’ve paid over $12,000 in my permit fees right now just to get my process moving," Greenberg said.
Besides battling with regulations, many residents are more focused on their fight with insurance companies.
Before the fires spread across southern California, State Farm dropped 1,600 policies in the Palisades last July. The insurance company faces lawsuits from homeowners who claim they were left "grossly underinsured." With poor support by insurance providers, many residents solely rely on the California FAIR Plan, which may barely cover the cost of foundational and septic tank development in places like Malibu, which lost 600 homes in the fire, including 300 along the beach.
"You’re going to spend two to three million dollars on just your foundation, your septic system and your seawall," said Don Schmitz, president and principal planner of real estate consulting company Schmitz & Associates. "And that’s before you put up the very first stick to build the actual house."
Rep. Andy Ogles, R-Tenn., is demanding an investigation into Belmont University after leaked recordings of a university faculty member admitting the school has maintained its diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives but "just change[d] on how we talk about it" despite federal directives to end the programs deemed by many to be discriminatory.
In undercover recordings, the same official can be heard admitting the school also enrolls illegal immigrants and hides that information from external entities, which Ogles suggested could violate state law against knowingly harboring illegal aliens for profit.
"Belmont University claims to be a Christian institution grounded in Biblical principles, but its administration is injecting anti-gospel DEI ideology into its curriculum," Ogles told Fox News Digital.
"President Trump has rightly demanded that colleges and universities dismantle the DEI cartel or lose federal funding. Belmont officials, however, have been caught on camera bragging about their ‘clever’ scheme to rebrand DEI and continue pushing the same radical agenda under a new name."
Belmont is just one of the latest schools to come under fire for allegedly trying to skirt federal funding repercussions by re-branding DEI programs and policies. An investigation in April by conservative parental rights group Defending Education found that despite the president's executive directives, there are still 383 "currently active" DEI offices and programs with 243 universities maintaining institution-wide DEI offices or programming.
In addition to tracking those DEI offices and programs that are still active, the group's investigation also highlighted dozens of universities that have taken steps to rebrand or reorganize their DEI efforts as opposed to shutting them down like others have done.
Ogles pointed to Belmont's Office of Hope, Unity and Belonging (HUB), which engulfed the university's DEI efforts in 2022, as an example of how the school has rebranded its DEI efforts.
"The HUB is hope, unity and belonging. That's DEI. Let's be real," Jozef Lukey, Belmont's assistant director of student success and flourishing, said in an undercover recording cited by Ogles. "We always try to just adapt to what's happening around us. But that doesn't mean, like, what we're focusing on completely stops. We just changed the terminology and the language that we keep moving forward.
"We're always going to keep doing what we're doing. The work never stops. We just change on how we talk about it."
After Ogles' public complaints, his office said, faculty and students have reached out to attest to the school's ongoing DEI initiatives. One professor allegedly shared a mandatory form for faculty members requesting to revise or propose a new course, which requires a "Diversity Impact Statement" outlining how the course supports "historically underrepresented populations."
Another source, according to Ogles' office, shared screenshots of an email chain showing Belmont intends to keep its faculty DEI committee for the next academic year.
Belmont has insisted attempts to portray the school as having a "shadow operation" are wholly inaccurate.
"We are deeply saddened that these videos portray Belmont as having a 'shadow operation,' as nothing could be further from the truth. It’s also disappointing that Rep. Ogles and others perceive such an approach as being representative of Belmont University’s character and values," the university told local outlet Fox 17.
In a statement to Fox News Digital, the school maintained it is "in compliance with federal laws."
"We are aware of comments from government officials and maintain that the university is in compliance with federal laws," a university spokesperson told Fox News Digital. "We look forward to working together with the Tennessee delegation to address any concerns about legal compliance."
In an email allegedly sent to the Belmont University community, university President L. Gregory Jones doubled down on the school's compliance with federal laws and argued HUB was established to "inspire the campus community to fully live in light of Christ's resurrection," adding it is not a DEI office even though the university's website described it like that when it was established in 2022. The email included references to counseling services for people who may be feeling uncomfortable as a result of the allegations the school is facing.
The school did not respond to allegations from Ogles and others that the school is admitting and harboring illegal immigrants for profit.
"We definitely have to navigate very carefully and just cautiously just because we just don't ever know, especially with like the ICE raids that are happening in the city that impacts our campus," Lukey was caught saying in the undercover recording.
"We do have undocumented students here. Yeah. Oh, yeah. We don't communicate to anybody externally who's undocumented, who isn't. And, so, like, yes, we know who it is. Faculty don't really know. How could they? Unless it's indicated in the system somewhere."
According to Ogles, such a move could potentially violate Tennesee's Senate Bill 392, which was passed recently and criminalizes 501(c)(3) institutions, known colloquially as nonprofits, for harboring illegal aliens for profit.
Ten Americans are returning to the U.S. after being released from custody in Venezuela, the Secretary of State said on Friday.
"Thanks to President [Donald] Trump’s leadership and commitment to the American people, the United States welcomes home ten Americans who were detained in Venezuela," Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in a statement. "Until today, more Americans were wrongfully held in Venezuela than any other country in the world. It is unacceptable that Venezuelan regime representatives arrested and jailed U.S. nationals under highly questionable circumstances and without proper due process. Every wrongfully detained American in Venezuela is now free and back in our homeland."
Rubio also thanked the State Department, inter-agency partners, and El Salvador President Nayib Bukele.
"Our commitment to the American people is clear: we will safeguard the well-being of U.S. nationals both at home and abroad and not rest until all Americans being held hostage or unjustly detained around the world are brought home," he added.
He said the U.S. also welcomes the "release of Venezuelan political prisoners and detainees that were also released from Venezuelan prisons. The Trump Administration continues to support the restoration of democracy in Venezuela. The regime’s use of unjust detention as a tool of political repression must end. We reiterate our call for the unconditional release of remaining unjustly and arbitrarily detained political prisoners and foreign nationals."
The release is part of a prisoner swap in which Bukele agreed to release hundreds of Venezuelans being held in a maximum-security prison in Tecoluca, El Salvador, in return for Salvadoran prisoners being held in Venezuela.
The U.S. sent the Venezuelans to El Salvador in March through the 1798 Alien Enemies Act to deport alleged Tren de Aragua members without going through immigration procedures. Many of the deportees’ families and lawyers denied the gang connections.
"Today, we have handed over all the Venezuelan nationals detained in our country, accused of being part of the criminal organization Tren de Aragua (TDA)," Bukele said. "Many of them face multiple charges of murder, robbery, rape, and other serious crimes."
Bukele added that the "operation is the result of months of negotiations with a tyrannical regime that had long refused to release one of its most valuable bargaining chips: its hostages. However, thanks to the tireless efforts of many officials from both the United States and El Salvador, and above all, thanks to Almighty God, it was achieved. In this, as in other matters, I remind you: patience and trust."
The Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs posted a photo of the hostages on social media along with the message: Ten Americans are are their way home from detention in Venezuela! Thanks to @POTUS @SecRubio @usembassyve @aboehler and many others for your support bringing Americans home."
Christian Casteneda, whose brother Wilbert, a Navy SEAL, was arrested in a Caracas hotel room last year, said in a statement: "We have prayed for this day for almost a year. My brother is an innocent man who was used as a political pawn by the Maduro regime."
Lucas Hunter, whose family said he was kidnapped by Venezuelan border guards in January, was also among the 10 Americans released.
Athletics outfielder Brent Rooker's week kicked off in Atlanta, the host city for the 2025 MLB All-Star game.
On Monday, Rooker participated in the annual Home Run Derby. The next day, Rooker was one of the three players American League manager Aaron Boone selected to compete in the All-Star game's first-ever swing-off.
Rooker went 2-for-3 in the historic Home Run Derby-style tiebreaker. However, Philadelphia Phillies star Kyle Schwarber scored three points in the swing-off to help the National League win the thriller.
Several notable power-hitting All-Stars were noticeably absent from the unprecedented swing-off. The AL lineup was represented by Rooker, Jonathan Aranda and Randy Arozarena. Schwarber, Pete Alonso and Kyle Stowers stepped up to the plate for the NL
The list of names left some observers puzzled, which sparked some questions about the selections. ESPN MLB reporter Jeff Passan was among those who weighed in on the player selection for the swing-off and offered his preferred lineup.
"What could have been: Aaron Judge, Cal Raleigh, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. vs. Shohei Ohtani, Pete Alonso, Kyle Schwarber," Passan wrote on X.
Rooker offered a rebuttal after he took notice of the suggested list of players.
"Am I not good enough for you Jeff," Rooker jokingly wrote in a response posted to X.
Rooker later made it clear he had nothing against the ESPN star.
"(Guys I like Jeff I’m not actually mad I would pick Aaron, Cal and Vladdy over me too)," the two-time All-Star wrote in a subsequent post.
Boone addressed concerns over his player selection for the swing-off, saying each manager was required to submit three names the day before the game. He added that his decision was based on the idea Judge would not be in the game in the late innings.
"We had to pick our guys yesterday," Boone told reporters. "Wanted to make sure I picked guys I knew would be in the game there and still hot. That was my choice."
This isn't the first time Rooker has responded on social media after his name was mentioned in something related to this year's All-Star festivities. The Athletics slugger took aim at a fan who criticized him for giving his child a bottle during Monday's Home Run Derby.
ESPN's cameras showed Rooker feeding his 11-month-old daughter a bottle while sitting near the dugout.
"Hey Rooker… did you really need to feed your baby on camera? Sometimes people just want to see you play," a viewer wrote on X.
Rooker responded, writing, "Yes, it was necessary to feed my 11-month-old child her nighttime bottle at like 9:00 pm. Thank you for asking."
Fox News' Paulina Dedaj contributed to this report.
After meeting with leading New York City mayoral contender Zohran Mamdani, Minority Leader Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., issued a lukewarm statement through a spokesperson about the meeting and did not endorse his party's nominee.
Mamdani, a New York state assemblyman and self-proclaimed socialist who has promised to overhaul New York City and launch massive new government programs, has been endorsed by progressive politicians like Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., and Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt.
Despite winning the Democratic Party’s nomination over former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo by a wide margin, Mamdani has yet to be endorsed by the party’s top leaders, Jeffries and Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y.
Jeffries and Mamdani met in New York City for about an hour Friday.
After the meeting, Politico reporter Nicholas Wu posted a statement from Jeffries spokesperson Justin Chermol that called it "constructive" but did not include any mention of an endorsement.
Chermol said "the meeting between Leader Jeffries and Assemblyman Mamdani was constructive, candid and community-centered, with particular focus on affordability.
"Leader Jeffries and Assemblyman Mamdani discussed a variety of other important issues, including public safety, rising antisemitism, gentrification and the importance of taking back the House in 2026."
According to Chermol’s statement, the two "agreed to reconvene shortly, alongside other members of the New York City congressional delegation and a few high-level community leaders."
Mamdani is seen by many as a controversial candidate, partially due to his socialist policy proposals and heavy criticism of the state of Israel. Mamdani, who is Muslim, has declined to say whether Israel has the right to exist as a Jewish state and his initial refusal to condemn the phrase "globalize the intifada." However, he recently began distancing himself from the phrase.
On Thursday, Jeffries told reporters "as has been the case with every single high-profile endorsement decision that I've made in the past, I have a sit-down conversation, and then I take it from there."
The meeting with Jeffries comes after Mamdani’s recent visit to Washington, D.C., where he attended a breakfast hosted by Ocasio-Cortez and mingled with some of the party’s most powerful players. Since then, he secured the endorsement of Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., who serves as the ranking member of the House Armed Services Committee.
Mamdani is running to unseat the current mayor of New York City, Eric Adams, who is running for re-election as an independent. He is also facing off against Cuomo, who is running as an independent, and activist Curtis Sliwa, who is the Republican Party nominee.
"The Daily Show" host Jon Stewart admitted Thursday that he was unsure of his future at Comedy Central as its parent company Paramount's merger with Skydance Media looms.
Stewart told listeners of his "Weekly Show" podcast that while his future with the comedy network may be uncertain, he is sure that he will land on his feet no matter the outcome of the merger.
"Do you think that Skydance would get rid of 'The Daily Show’ after the merger?" one fan-submitted question read.
"Boy, that's a good question," Stewart responded. "You know, unfortunately, we haven't heard anything from them."
The late-night host continued, noting that while nobody at Skydance has told him "don't get too comfortable in that office," he's still uncertain about what comes next.
"I've been kicked out of s---tier establishments than that. We'll land on our feet," he asserted, adding, "I honestly don't know."
The late-night host quipped Comedy Central is "kind of like Muzak at this point," adding that his show and "South Park" are the "only sort of life" that the channel seems to have at the moment. The comedy channel frequently airs reruns of shows like "The Office", "Seinfeld" and "Futurama."
Stewart began hosting "The Daily Show" on Mondays last year. He hosted the show from 1999 to 2015 before stepping down.
The same day Stewart aired his podcast, his friend and fellow late-night host Stephen Colbert revealed that his show on CBS, "The Late Show," is set to be canceled next May. CBS is also under Paramount's umbrella, and some observers claimed the cancellation was related to the pending merger and Colbert's criticism of Paramount settling President Donald Trump's lawsuit against CBS News.
"'THE LATE SHOW with STEPHEN COLBERT' will end its historic run in May 2026 at the end of the broadcast season," CBS said in a statement. "We consider Stephen Colbert irreplaceable and will retire 'THE LATE SHOW' franchise at that time. We are proud that Stephen called CBS home. He and the broadcast will be remembered in the pantheon of greats that graced late night television."
CBS said it was "purely a financial decision against a challenging backdrop in late night," adding, "It is not related in any way to the show's performance, content or other matters happening at Paramount."
Fox News' Joseph Wulfsohn contributed to this report.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) said Friday it had fired dozens of foreign contract workers from China, Russia, North Korea and Iran.
The cuts of about 70 workers followed a national security review for U.S. food safety.
A USDA spokesperson said the contract workers came from "countries of concern" and will "no longer be able to work on USDA projects."
The workers had been with the Agricultural Research Service (ARS), the research arm of the USDA, Thomas Henderson, who represents the union for some of the research workers, told Reuters.
ARS does research on areas of importance to American farmers, such as pests, food safety and climate change.
Most of the contract workers were vetted Chinese post-doctoral researchers, with some even arriving to work this week to find out their badges no longer worked.
Earlier this month, USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins announced in a new plan to keep U.S. farmland safe that contracts with any workers from China, North Korea, Iran and Russia should be canceled, and nationals from those countries wouldn’t be allowed to buy farmland in the U.S.
All ARS project publications are also expected to be reanalyzed and those co-authored with researchers from the four countries will be denied, Ethan Roberts, an ARS employee who is also the president of the American Federation of Government Employees Local 3247 union, told Reuters.
The workers won’t be able to be replaced until the Oct. 15 federal hiring freeze is lifted.
That will force some research projects to be halted, Henderson said, citing a project to develop a vaccine for a deadly toxin that occurs in undercooked beef.
"We don't have the talent now to progress on these research projects. It's setting us back by years, if not decades," he told Reuters.
The agency is down about 1,200 workers through downsizing efforts this year.
The 49-year-old "Full House" star posted a series of photos from her day at the beach, including one of her lying on a lounge chair in the sand dressed in a white bikini, as she smiles at the camera, posing with a glass of Diet Coke in her hands.
"Every trip to the beach must have...⛱🐚 1. A cool drink, and sometimes a diet coke just hits right 😎 2. A good book... love the new look of my devotional!📚 3. Good company ❤️4. Good snacks... salty + sweet!🍉
She styled the look with a sunhat and two bracelets made of wooden beads. The other photos show some of the sweet and salty food she snacked on, including fruit and a bowl of chips, as well as a photo of her book "100 Days of Joy and Strength."
Fans in the comments section couldn't help but comment on Bure's relaxing day at the beach, writing "So nice always seeing you smile and happy! ❤️," and "Absolutely love this so much:) ❤️❤️."
A second fan chimed in with, "You are beautiful inside and out!! Keep being you❤️," and another added "Enjoy that beautiful beach, Diet Coke, company, and food! Looks wonderful! ❤️❤️❤️."
This is far from the first time the actress has shared bikini photos of herself on Instagram. Earlier this summer, Bure posted a series of photos from her tropical vacation with her husband, Valeri.
The post featured photos of her hitting the gym, enjoying a boat ride and a bike ride with her husband and one of her lounging on a beach chair in a red bikini. She captioned the post, "Vacation mode: ON" and had the Beach Boys song, "Good Vibrations" playing in the background.
When speaking with Fox News Digital in May, Bure explained that she plans to be in the "best shape of my life" by the time she turns 50 next year. Her goal is to "approach life and aging as someone with grace, but also enthusiasm."
"And leaning into all the things that I can do as I get older and preparing my body so that I can continue to do those things as I older," the actress told Fox News Digital. "Not so much from a vanity point of view, but like, you know, I wanna be able to open the peanut butter jar when I'm 80, and I need grip strength for that. But all that comes from using your muscles and lifting weights and just basic skills."
WATCH: CANDACE CAMERON BURE WANTS TO GET IN HER ‘BEST SHAPE’ AS SHE APPROACHES 50
She also noted that her desire to remain fit has less to do with "trying to fit into a certain size" and more to do with being healthy for her family in the future.
Bure and her husband have three children; Natasha, 26, Lev, 25, and Maxim, 23. She recently revealed on episode of "The Candace Cameron Bure Podcast," that her son Lev helped her and her husband through a rough patch in their marriage by putting together a "45-minute sermon on marriage to us."
"It was so in our face, but that was like the pivotal moment," she 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?'"
FIRST ON FOX: A $250 million fraud scheme that exploited a federally funded children's nutrition program during the COVID-19 pandemic has been described by FBI Director Kash Patel as "one of the worst" in Minnesota history.
The FBI director told Fox News in a statement that 70 people in Minnesota have been indicted for their role in the sprawling "Feeding our Future" fraud scheme during the COVID-19 pandemic, which exploited a federal program designed to reimburse states for the cost of feeding children.
Conspirators falsely claimed to have served millions of meals during the pandemic, but instead used the money for personal gain. Of the individuals indicted, 38 have pleaded guilty, FBI officials told Fox News Digital. More than a dozen of the individuals are awaiting criminal trial, with the next trial beginning in August.
"Stealing over $250 million from hungry kids during a pandemic to fund mansions and luxury cars is as shameless as it gets," FBI Director Kash Patel said in a statement. "I’m proud of the FBI and our partners for dismantling this web of corruption, holding dozens accountable, and sending a clear message: if you exploit the most vulnerable, we will find you and bring you to justice."
Conspirators charged in the scheme are accused of fabricating invoices, submitting fake attendance records, and falsely distributing thousands of meals from hundreds of so-called food distribution "sites" across the state — taking advantage of the U.S. Department of Agriculture's decision to waive, for the duration of the pandemic, many of its standard requirements for participation in the Federal Child Nutrition Program — including relaxing its requirement for non-school based distributors to participate in the program.
Charging documents show that roughly 300 "food sites" in the state served little or no food, with the so-called "food vendors" and organizations fabricated to launder money intended to reimburse the cost of feeding children.
FBI officials told Fox News that the investigation and resulting trials and indictments continue to impact the state, and have already touched off legislative reform in Minnesota.
They added that the investigation into the fraud remains ongoing, and that additional charges are expected, though they did not immediately share more details.
The next trial in the state is scheduled to begin on August 11.
"Stealing from the federal government equates to stealing from the American people — there is no simpler truth," FBI's special agent in charge, Alvin Winston, told Fox News Digital in a statement.
"The egregious fraud unveiled in the Feeding our Future case epitomizes a profound betrayal of public trust. These individuals misappropriated hundreds of millions in federal funds intended to nourish vulnerable children during a time of crisis, redirecting those resources into luxury homes, high-end vehicles, and extravagant lifestyles while families faced hardship," he added.
"We will uncover their schemes, dismantle their networks, and ensure that they are held accountable to the fullest extent of the law," he said.
Some Florida residents and visitors have a unique opportunity to use tropical fruit as currency.
With mangoes hitting peak ripeness in June and July, certain Miami restaurants are offering food and drinks in exchange for the stone fruit.
Bodega Taqueria y Tequila, founded in South Beach, serves Mexican street food and cocktails. Three of its Miami-area locations are participating in "Bring Your Own Mango," or BYOM.
"Mangoes are in peak season and such a vibrant part of Miami's Latin culture, so we thought, why not celebrate that?"Felix Martinez, Bodega's senior general manager, told Fox News Digital.
Martinez said the response has been "great," with many customers bringing in their homegrown mangoes.
"We just ask that the fruit is in good condition – after all, it's all about honoring the flavor and community spirit behind it," the manager added.
Bodega's BYOM is going on until Sunday, Aug. 31.
Banana-based soft-serve joint Peel is also offering customers a chance to bring in mangoes in exchange for a dairy-free dessert.
Customers can bring five pounds of mangoes to Peel's Miami Shores location in exchange for a small Peel bowl swirl of their choice, with up to two toppings and a drizzle, the restaurant posted on its Instagram account.
Fox News Digital reached out to Peel for comment.
Artisan kosher bakery Zak the Baker is once again offering its annual mango trade for the third consecutive year.
"The mango trade is our way of honoring this unique season, celebrating the abundance of South Florida's summer harvest and the spirit of community that sustains us," the bakery wrote on Instagram.
Rep. Mark Takano, D-Calif., insisted on Wednesday that self-proclaimed democratic socialist New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani was not a socialist but an advocate for small "c" capitalism.
Takano spoke to reporters on Mamdani shortly after attending a breakfast meeting with him and other Democrats in Washington D.C. where he expressed enthusiasm for the candidate’s ideas.
"You know, the overall impression on me was this guy is not a communist," Takano said. "He's not a socialist. He’s an advocate for small ‘c’ capitalism. And that you know, he really is fighting for the little business guy that's trying to eke out a living in New York. Half of all New Yorkers, you know, get their jobs from small business. And I thought that was a tremendous message."
Though Takano said Mamdani was not a socialist, he later defended the term, arguing that the word has a "different charge" for people under 40.
"He’s a democratic socialist that he's fighting for small business people, trying to bring down stupid regulations, criticizing Eric Adams for not moving permits faster," Takano said. "It's corruption we're fighting here, corruption that prevents the dynamism of small 'c' entrepreneurs, small ‘c’ capitalist entrepreneurs. No contradiction there, trying to get buses to run more efficiently and faster. These are all things that are improving people's lives."
He hesitated to answer whether he supported Mamdani’s idea for city-run supermarkets but remarked that "there’s not a lot of difference between the idea of some sort of public-run grocery and a co-op."
Mamdani has repeatedly referred to himself as a democratic socialist and remarked in June on CNN that he had "many critiques of capitalism."
Though Mamdani has refuted the idea that he was a communist, several videos have resurfaced of him repeating and supporting communist revolutionary language.
One recent clip that made the rounds on social media had Mamdani openly supporting the abolition of private property.
"If there was any system that could guarantee each person housing, whether you call it the abolition of private property or you call it, you know, just a statewide housing guarantee, it is preferable to what is going on right now," Mamdani said.
Teddi Mellencamp is getting candid about the alarming oversight in her cancer journey—and the lesson she learned about taking charge of her own health.
The "Real Housewives of Beverly Hills" star, 44, opened up about how doctors missed a crucial step in her melanoma monitoring process, despite her regular visits.
"When you go to a doctor, you just assume that’s it. I’m doing what I’m supposed to do," Mellencamp told Glamour. "At first, I didn’t even really do the research on melanoma because I didn’t want to know all of the bad things."
The television personality has been vocal about her stage 4 metastatic melanoma diagnosis and multiple subsequent treatments, using her platform to raise awareness about the deadly skin cancer.
Mellencamp shared how doctors may have overlooked the symptoms prior to her stage 4 diagnosis.
WATCH: KYLE RICHARDS CALLS TEDDI MELLENCAMP ‘INCREDIBLY STRONG’ DURING CANCER BATTLE
"There’s a difference between self-diagnosing yourself and being an advocate for your own health," she told the outlet. "I never really thought about it because I was like, I go to a doctor every three months. Why wouldn’t they get me checked?"
According to Mellencamp, her highest-stage melanoma was a stage one lesion in her shoulder.
Since her previous diagnoses hadn’t exceeded stage one, doctors allegedly made the call to forgo full-body scans—something Mellencamp now believes was a major misstep as they didn't catch her melanoma spreading.
"When I finally followed up on it, they were like, ‘We didn’t do the scans, because you didn’t have anything above a stage one on your body,’" she recalled. "But look what happened."
Mellencamp urged others to take a more proactive role in their healthcare.
"It’s really being an advocate for yourself and your health if you’re not feeling good," she said.
The reality star continues to undergo treatment and has kept her fans updated via social media, where she shares not only her medical journey, but also the emotional toll it’s taken.
Mellencamp was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer earlier this year after her melanoma metastasized in her brain and lungs. She underwent surgery to remove several masses and has been receiving immunotherapy and radiation.
A Florida woman is facing charges after ruffling more than a few feathers for allegedly spraying bear mace at a driver and her passenger in a bizarre road rage incident involving a chicken crossing the road.
According to police, 38-year-old Cynthia Valeska Díaz Sosa was arrested July 9 in Key West after a confrontation with another driver, Perla DeMiller.
Sosa had reportedly stopped her car in the roadway to let a chicken pass, but DeMiller, who was behind the wheel of a vehicle behind Sosa, honked, swerved around her, and ran over the bird, according to Key West police.
"Cynthia wanted to ‘teach her a lesson,’" according to an arrest affidavit obtained by Fox News Digital. Investigators say Sosa allegedly followed DeMiller’s vehicle, forced it to stop, yanked on the driver’s door and sprayed bear mace into the cabin, striking DeMiller in the face.
Key West police charged Sosa with two counts of aggravated battery (second-degree felony) and one count of burglary with assault or battery (first-degree felony). She was taken into custody the same day and released on a $35,000 surety bond on July 10, court records show.
Police later identified and stopped Sosa’s black Toyota Corolla, placing her in custody at the scene. She was searched in front of a patrol vehicle before being transported, according to the arrest affidavit. Sosa was later brought to the Key West Police station lobby, where she gave a voluntary statement to officers.
Court records obtained by Fox News Digital indicate that Sosa has filed a written plea of "not guilty" through her attorney, Dustin Hunter. Hunter did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.
DeMiller, who was en route to pick up her child from daycare, was reportedly blinded and disoriented by the spray. A passenger in her car was also allegedly affected by the mace. All of those involved in the incident are now protected under no-contact orders issued by a judge.
"As the women struggled over the car door, Sosa unleashed bear mace into the vehicle, hitting DeMiller directly in the face," the arrest report states. Sosa later drove herself to the police station and allegedly told authorities that she was "angry that DeMiller had killed a chicken," according to the arrest report.
The same document also says Sosa afterward "got back into her car and drove off."
Chicago Sky star Angel Reese made her feelings clear on the recent negotiations between the WNBA and its player's union, the WNBPA, over a new collective bargaining agreement.
Reese said the proposal the WNBA sent to the players was "disrespectful."
"It was an eye-opener for me. Like, hearing the things and hearing the language of things and not things that I was happy to hear. It was disrespectful the things that we were sent back, the proposal that we were sent back," Reese told reporters at WNBA All-Star weekend on Friday.
"It's important to be able to be vocal. If I sit back, it looks like I don't care."
Reese is one of the league's more popular and polarizing players, and has built a passionate following largely on her ongoing rivalry with phenom Caitlin Clark dating back to their college days. Clark's and Reese's rookie season in 2024 saw the league break multiple viewership and attendance records, particularly due to games featuring Clark and the Indiana Fever.
"Obviously, women's basketball is skyrocketing. And it's important for us to get what we want now, not just now, but for the future as well," Reese said. "It's really nice to have vets that may not be playing for 10 more years, but they are speaking for us because they know how important it is right now."
The players met with league officials on Thursday, and the two sides did not come to a deal. Reese is one of many WNBA players who have expressed criticism for the league's handling of negotiations.
New York Liberty star Sabrina Ionescu said the players weren't just going to settle for "the minimum" in negotiations, while Phoenix Mercury player Satou Sabally called the league's latest CBA offer a "slap in the face."
WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert told The Associated Press after the meeting that the meeting was "constructive."
"It was very constructive dialogue. I think, you know, obviously part of the process is to go back and forth and, listen to the players, they listen to us and the owners who represent the board of governors," Engelbert said. "I still feel really optimistic that we can get something transformational done by the end. But it’s a process."
Reese previously ignited a social media firestorm after claiming that players are prepared to sit out games to demand higher salaries during an episode of her podcast in early March while previewing the upcoming CBA negotiations.
"I've got to get in the meetings, because I'm hearing like, 'If y'all don't give us what we want, we sitting out,'" Reese said.
Reese has griped about her financial situation in the past.
"The WNBA don't pay my bills at all. I don't even think it pays one of my bills. Literally," Reese said.
Reese signed a four-year, $324,383 rookie contract ahead of her first WNBA season in 2024. She made under $75,000 in her first year and will make less than that in 2025.
In October, Reese admitted she couldn't afford to pay her bills based on that salary, in an Instagram live video.
"I’m living beyond my means. Hating pays them bills, baby. I just hope you know the WNBA don’t pay my bills at all," she said. "I don’t even think that pays one of my bills. Literally, I’m trying to think of my rent for where I stay at. Let me do the math real quick. I don’t even know my (WNBA) salary, $74,000?"
Reese said she is paying $8,000 for rent.
"Babe, if y’all thought… That WNBA check don’t pay a thing," she added. "Did that even pay my car note? … I wouldn’t even be able to eat a sandwich with that. I wouldn’t even be able to eat. I wouldn’t be able to live."
The WNBA players' union opted out of its current collective bargaining agreement last October, two years before its expiration. The current CBA will still cover the 2025 season, so the two sides have a year to negotiate a new agreement.
A stolen plane triggered a major security incident at Vancouver International Airport (YVR) on Tuesday afternoon, temporarily halting operations and forcing multiple flights to reroute.
Just before 1:30 p.m. local time on July 15, a "security incident" involving a small private plane led to a temporary halt in airport operations, according to a statement from YVR. The plane, flying within YVR’s airspace, forced nine incoming flights to reroute to different airports.
At approximately 1:45 p.m., following a 39-minute air traffic suspension, the Cessna 172, operated by a single individual, safely landed. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) then apprehended the pilot.
In an air traffic control recording obtained by the Vancouver Sun via LiveATC.net, a controller alerted other pilots: "We do have an aircraft that has been hijacked and is in the vicinity of the airport ... just in case anything starts heading toward [you], you have the ability to move at your discretion."
"They are currently flying overhead," a voice from air traffic control can be heard saying. "At this time, I have no further updates. We have the aircraft in visual range—please stand by for further instructions."
Later, air traffic controllers instructed grounded aircraft to remain on standby during the ongoing situation:
"We’re not certain what will happen next. The aircraft continues to circle above, and its intentions remain unknown. For now, we are holding position."
RCMP later confirmed that the aircraft had been taken from Victoria International Airport and had flown around 40 miles into Vancouver’s airspace.
A spokesperson for Vancouver Airport Authority said in a statement to Fox News Digital that the issue involving a plane from the Victoria Flying Club had been resolved without injury.
"Safety and security are our top priorities, and we continually review our processes and procedures in service of our operation, our passengers, and our airline customers," the statement read. "Following any significant situation or emergency operations activation and as part of our standard procedures, we debrief on what took place and make recommendations for changes or improvements where necessary."
One eyewitness, speaking to CBC, described seeing the low-flying aircraft and suspected something was wrong.
"A few minutes later, the plane made a second pass, circling in a wide clockwise turn," eyewitness Paul Heeny told CBC.
On July 16, RCMP revealed the identity of the pilot as 39-year-old Shaheer Cassim, who now faces a hijacking charge. Authorities allege he threatened a flight instructor at YYJ before taking control of the aircraft.
RCMP spokesperson Sgt. Tammy Lobb said in a press release that the suspect appeared to have an "ideological motive" aimed at disrupting air traffic. Fortunately, no injuries were reported.
Police noted that the investigation is still in its early stages and remains active.
British Columbia’s Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General, Garry Begg, praised the swift actions of first responders.
"Grateful for the professionalism shown by police, air traffic control, and airport staff during today’s incident," he posted on X. "Relieved there were no injuries and that normal operations have resumed."
The airport says flights have resumed at YVR, though minor delays may persist. Travelers are advised to check with their airlines for the latest updates.
Fox News Digital reached out to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police but did not immediately receive a response.
Welcome to the Fox News Politics newsletter, with the latest updates on the Trump administration, Capitol Hill and more Fox News politics content. Here's what's happening…
- Trump directs AG Bondi to work on unsealing grand jury transcripts in Epstein case: ‘We are ready’
- Congress sends $9B spending cuts package to Trump's desk after late-night House vote
- NYC Democratic socialist Mamdani meets top Democrat with endorsement decision on the line
EXCLUSIVE: ASTORIA, N.Y. - New York City's Democratic mayoral nominee, Zohran Mamdani, refused to respond to questions from Fox News Digital about critics calling him a communist and whether he plans to walk back any of his far-left statements.
Outside his Queens apartment on Friday morning, Mamdani laughed off the questions and did not answer, despite mounting scrutiny as the mayor's race between himself, Mayor Eric Adams, former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo and Republican Curtis Sliwa heat up.
"Do you have any response to those who label you a communist?" Fox News Digital asked Mamdani. "Do you plan on walking back any statements when you meet with [House] leader Jeffries like seizing the means of production?"
Mamdani repeatedly laughed, but did not answer the questions… READ MORE.
BEHIND THE CURTAIN: Who is Annie Tomasini? The longtime Biden loyalist subpoenaed to testify about his alleged mental decline
OPENED RECORDS: EXCLUSIVE: DOJ emails show Biden White House communicated over Garland memo
HIDDEN TESTIMONY: Legal pathway clearly exists for Trump's request to make Epstein grand jury testimony public
EVEN PLAYING FIELD: Trump Interior Department moves to dismantle 'regulatory favoritism' for wind, solar projects
WOKE WASTE SLASHED: FIRST ON FOX: DHS cancels $18.5 million in Biden-era grants designated to fund LGBTQ and DEI programs
'ANY AND ALL': Trump directs AG Bondi to work on unsealing grand jury transcripts in Epstein case: ‘We are ready’
'WATCHING CLOSELY': Trump calls for immediate end to ‘unjust’ trial of former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro
PLAYING MEDIATOR: State Department said US 'unequivocally condemns' Israeli airstrike in Syria, calls for 'dialogue'
KREMLIN RAGES: Russia says NATO threatens WWIII in latest deterrence plan that could take down Kaliningrad ‘faster than ever’
MOVEMENT LIMITED: Police search former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro's home, political headquarters
DANGER ZONE: Regional powers clash after Israel targets Syrian territory in defense of vulnerable Druze civilians
PLEADING FOR HELP: Pro-Israel GOP congressman says military strikes on Syria are 'suicidal' and 'mocking' Trump
SILENT TRUTH: Third ex-Biden WH aide pleads Fifth in House GOP cover-up probe
VIRAL VITRIOL: Stefanik uses viral CEO cheating photo to slam Mamdani, Hochul
CIRCLE OF TRUST: Longtime Joe Biden aide to appear under subpoena after Jill's 'work husband' pleads Fifth
SOCIALIST TAKEOVER: SCOOP: House Republican campaign arm anchors Mamdani to potentially vulnerable Democrats
SIGNATURE SCANDAL: Republican introduces measure to ban autopen use when presidents sign certain items
DEFICIT DEAL: Congress sends $9B spending cuts package to Trump's desk after late-night House vote
BUDGET BATTLE BLUES: Trump's modest spending cuts package survives narrow Senate vote as some Republicans break ranks
FARM AID: GOP senator reveals the 'dirty' secret to Trump's Make America Healthy Again movement
'SIGNIFICANT STEP': PETA applauds GOP lawmakers' demand to halt NIH funding for 'cruel' overseas animal testing
FOLLOW THE MONEY: House Republicans allege Biden-Harris admin funded anti-Netanyahu protests before Oct. 7
NEW FACES SURGE: Mamdani-mentum: Who are the other socialist candidates soaring among Democrats
NO COMMENT: Mamdani silent on 'communist' label, refuses to say if he will walk back radical positions
RETURN TO THE ROCK: EXCLUSIVE: Trump administration eyes Alcatraz reopening to house nation’s ‘worst of the worst’
SLOGAN SHIFT: Mamdani walks back ‘globalize the intifada’ stance during NYC business meeting
RELIGIOUS LIBERTY WAR: Catholic bishops call mandatory reporting law 'brazen act of religious discrimination'
'CONDEMN THIS': Unearthed social media posts expose radical views of anti-ICE suspect captured by FBI
RADICAL RISING: NYC Democratic socialist Mamdani to meet top Democrat with endorsement decision on the line
TRY, TRY AGAIN: Republican who lost to Tim Walz in 2022 announces another Minnesota gubernatorial bid
Get the latest updates on the Trump administration and Congress, exclusive interviews and more on FoxNews.com.
Nashville Police said a noose was found at the construction site of the Tennessee Titans' new stadium, according to ESPN.
The stadium is scheduled to open for the 2027 season, but work has reportedly been halted for an investigation.
"This week, a racist and hateful symbol was discovered on our site. There is no place for hate or racism in our workplace," the Tennessee Builders Alliance, which is leading the construction, said in a statement. "We reported the incident to law enforcement, suspended work and launched an investigation."
"Obviously, this is an environment where we want to try as hard as we can to prevent scenarios that might be fear- or hate-based," Nashville Mayor Freddie O'Connell said in a statement. "We've taken some steps, both with local policies, state policy and partnership with them to try, again, to keep temperatures low and prevent hate incidents like this.
"It is very concerning. There is an open investigation. I know the Titans are cooperating with Metro Nashville Police, and we'll see what that investigation turns up."
The stadium will seat 60,000 people and will cost an estimated $2 billion. More than half of that amount is public funding, the largest stadium subsidy in U.S. history.
The Tennessee Builders Alliance also said a reward has been made available for "information leading to the identification of the individual responsible," and all workers will be required to take anti-bias training.
The stadium will have a roof, unlike the current Nissan Stadium. Ground was broken for the stadium in February 2024, and the Tennessee State Tigers will also play there. "New Nissan Stadium" will also host the Music City Bowl annually.
The venue is being built next to the current stadium, which will be demolished.
The Titans, NFL and police did not immediately respond to emails from Fox News Digital.
Liberal commentators, lawmakers and journalists working for PBS and NPR blasted this week's congressional vote that stripped federal funding from their outlets.
Following the Senate, the House of Representatives voted 216 to 213 to pass President Donald Trump’s $9 billion rescissions package late Thursday night. When signed by Trump, it will block $8 billion in funding to the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and $1 billion to the Corporation for Public Broadcasting – which funds PBS and NPR – for the remainder of the fiscal year.
PBS NewsHour co-anchor Geoff Bennett reacted to the vote on X, stating, "This is a perilous moment for public media — but the resolve is stronger than ever. If you value independent journalism, educational programming, and trusted local coverage, please support your local PBS or NPR station."
Other liberals weighed in on the bill’s passage. Former U.S. Secretary of Labor Robert Reich posted a reaction to the vote on X.
"The Senate just passed Trump's request to cut $1.1 billion in federal funding for public broadcasting. Why is Trump so hell-bent on gutting funds for PBS and NPR? It’s part of a larger plan — one where he can control not just what we do, but what we think," he wrote.
Additionally, Reich’s post featured a video of him explaining to Sesame Street character Elmo how Trump is cutting funds to PBS in order to control information throughout the country.
"And Trump, like past authoritarians, wants to control not just what we do, but also how we think," he said in the video.
Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., called it the "meanest" vote in Senate history, while fellow Democratic lawmaker Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I., reacted to the vote on X, stating, "The Trump administration and Republicans in Congress have weaponized the rescissions tool to defund their perceived political enemies – public radio, Sesame Street, and starving children overseas. This vote was a test case for the months ahead."
NPR critic-at-large Eric Deggans posted, "Tough news. But we'll still keep on doing the work, fairly and accurately."
Rep. Pramila Jayapal, D-Wash., posted, "House Republicans just passed Trump’s rescissions package — billions of dollars in cuts to public broadcasting that serves rural America and global aid that saves lives. I voted HELL NO."
Jayapal also shared her full statement on the vote, which declared, "Simply put, Republicans are stealing from the American people. And yet once again, Republicans are pathetically lining up behind Trump to do whatever he says rather than acting in the best interests of the people they represent."
As Democrats reel from their November loss to President Donald Trump, Michigan Sen. Elissa Slotkin, D-Mich., called out former Vice President Kamala Harris for failing to win over the electorate.
New York Times political reporter Katie Glueck spoke to Slotkin in an interview this week headlined, "Elissa Slotkin Wants Democrats to Reclaim Their ‘Alpha Energy.’"
"In your recent economic speech, you argued that some Democrats conflate large multinational corporations with small businesses, making it seem to many Americans as if Democrats are anti-business or are vilifying success," Glueck noted, before asking, "But the Harris campaign explicitly emphasized support for small businesses. Why did that effort fail?"
"Kamala Harris had a very short time to formulate her campaign. But I don’t think I can say with a straight face that the Michigan public felt her main agenda was support for small businesses," Slotkin replied.
"Democrats were saying we were for everything, that everything was a priority, everything was important," the senator added. "And so the American public couldn’t understand what we really prioritized and cared about. Donald Trump, whether you believe him or not, prioritized the talking point of cost of living and the economy."
She concluded, "Democrats have policy plans on their websites about good things that they support. I still think we have good ideas. But when you prioritize everything, you actually prioritize nothing."
This is not the first time Slotkin has called out leadership of the Democratic Party after the election. At the same time however, she herself has been put in the spotlight for vague policy rhetoric.
She made headlines in April for a speech where she called out her own party as "weak and woke" and urged them to "f---ing retake the flag" as she prepares a "war plan" to defeat Trump and the Republican agenda.
However, some have challenged such reformers to specify what progressive cultural policies they will leave behind in order to win back moderates.
Hicks also laughed at the hysteria while waving his hands as the bat entered the tower.
Kisner, on the other hand, slowly sunk into this chair and was nearly out of view of the camera. As he slid down in his seat, he pulled his sports coat off the back of the chair and pulled it over his head to protect himself from the bat.
Mike Tirico, who narrated the replay that showed the chaos, ribbed Kisner for his reaction.
"Kevin Kisner, this is a man who is a proud hunter. He’s under his jacket. He is spooked by this bat," Tirico exclaimed.
While Hicks and Kisner may have been bothered by the bat temporarily, they were at least under cover from the rain. Throughout the morning and afternoon, the weather has fluctuated from beautiful at times to downpours.
At the time of this writing, Matt Fitzpatrick was leading the major championship at 9-under par.
FIRST ON FOX: The State Department says it is working swiftly to distribute tens of thousands of tons of food aid around the globe, pushing back on reports that the U.S. was preparing to incinerate hundreds of tons of stockpiled supplies before they could be delivered.
According to figures shared with Fox News Digital, the agency currently has 59,305 metric tons of in-kind food commodities stored in warehouses across the United States and abroad.
"We have already programmed all the food expiring before October 2026," a senior State Department official said. "The idea that we have tons of expiring food we are letting go to waste is simply false."
The State Department says it has approved 44,422 metric tons of food to be transferred or reprogrammed through partnerships with the World Food Program (WFP), Catholic Relief Services, Mercy Corps, and Cultivating New Frontiers in Agriculture (CNFA). That includes 30,000 tons of short-dated food supplies already programmed for delivery to crisis zones like Syria, Bangladesh, and Sudan.
An additional 12,000 tons of aid is awaiting final reprogramming, a delay the department attributes to a temporary hold by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) on Title II apportionments — an issue officials say has now been resolved.
"To the extent there is a delay that is causing operational problems, it is not from the State Department," the official said. "All of the food expiring in the next 16 months is accounted for."
The official also dismissed recent media coverage, arguing that the focus on a limited amount of food near expiration distorts the larger picture. "The very small portion — less than 1% of USAID’s food stockpiles — addressed by the mainstream media was the exception that distracts from a very extensive and orderly process we directed to ensure that all of the food was accounted for in an efficient and strategic manner."
The public defense comes after several outlets reported that the Trump administration ordered the incineration of roughly 500 metric tons of emergency food stored in Dubai as it neared expiration.
According to Reuters, while 622 tons were successfully redirected to countries including Syria, Bangladesh, and Myanmar, another 496 tons — valued at $793,000 — were destroyed, with an additional $100,000 in disposal costs.
The incident occurred as part of a broader restructuring of U.S. foreign aid policy. In early July, the Trump administration officially dissolved USAID, transferring authority over development and humanitarian programs to the State Department. That shift has been accompanied by efforts to rescind billions of dollars in foreign assistance.
A temporary aid pause in January prompted the former State Department inspector general to warn that as much as $500 million worth of food aid was at risk of expiring. However, the department says assistance is now back online under a restructured model.
With USAID phased out, the State Department is now responsible for managing large-scale aid programs, and it is under pressure to deliver. Lawmakers and aid groups are closely watching to see whether the newly reprogrammed food aid reaches intended recipients.
Democrats seized on the incineration reports during congressional hearings this week, accusing the Trump administration of turning its back on urgent humanitarian needs. The reports were first published by The Atlantic.
Earlier this month, Secretary of State Marco Rubio outlined the administration’s vision for foreign assistance, saying he was abandoning what he called a "charity-based model" in favor of empowering growth and self-reliance in developing nations.
"We will favor those nations that have demonstrated both the ability and willingness to help themselves," Rubio wrote, "and will target our resources to areas where they can have a multiplier effect and catalyze durable private sector — including American companies — and global investment."
The new approach is designed to emphasize trade and investment over direct aid, and to position the U.S. to better counter China’s growing global influence.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said the Pentagon was "looking into" a cloud computing program run by Microsoft utilizing foreign workers from China, which was criticized this week for potentially lacking adequate safeguards, which could provide the CCP easy access to classified defense data and systems.
A ProPublica report released Tuesday accused Microsoft of allowing China-based engineers to assist with Pentagon cloud systems with inadequate guardrails in an effort to scale up its government contracting business.
In response, Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., sent a letter to Hegseth Thursday asking for information and documents about the program, including a list of all Department of Defense (DOD) contractors that hire Chinese personnel to provide maintenance or other services to DOD systems, a list of subcontractors that hire Microsoft's American-born "digital escorts" required to supervise foreign computer scientists while they work on DOD systems and documents on the training these supervisors receive to identify suspicious activity. The Republican senator requested answers to his questions by the end of the month.
"In light of recent and concerning reports about Microsoft using engineers in China to maintain DOD systems, I’ve asked the Secretary of Defense to look into the matter," Cotton said in a post on X sharing his letter to Hegseth. "We must guard against all threats within our military’s supply chain."
A few hours after Cotton's X post, Hegseth responded, "Spot on senator."
"Agree fully," Hegseth said in his own X post responding to Cotton. "Our team is already looking into this ASAP. Foreign engineers — from any country, including of course China — should NEVER be allowed to maintain or access DOD systems."
The ProPublica report cited current and former employees and government contractors who worked on a cloud computing program deployed by Microsoft in 2016, which involved a "digital escort" framework. The program, meant to meet federal contracting regulations, used a system of "digital escort" chaperones for global cybersecurity officials, such as those based in China, meant to create a security buffer so that they can work on agency computing systems. DOD guidelines require that people handling sensitive data be U.S. citizens or permanent residents.
According to sources who spoke to ProPublica, including some who had intimate familiarity with the hiring process for the $18-per-hour "digital escort" position, the tech employees being hired to do the supervising lacked the adequate tech expertise to prevent a rogue Chinese employee from hacking the system or turning over classified information to the CCP.
The sources elaborated that the escorts, often former military personnel, were hired for their security clearances more than their technical abilities and often lacked the skills to evaluate code being used by the engineers they were supervising.
In China, people are governed by sweeping laws compelling government cooperation with data collection efforts.
"If ProPublica’s report turns out to be true, Microsoft has created a national embarrassment that endangers our soldiers, sailors, airmen and marines. Heads should roll, those responsible should go to prison and Congress should hold extensive investigations to uncover the full extent of potential compromise," said Michael Lucci. Lucci is the CEO and founder of State Armor Action, a conservative group with a mission to develop and enact state-level solutions to global security threats.
"Microsoft or any vendor providing China with access to Pentagon secrets verges on treasonous behavior and should be treated as such," Lucci added.
A Microsoft spokesperson defended the company's "digital escort" model Tuesday, saying all personnel and contractors with privileged access must pass federally approved background checks.
"For some technical requests, Microsoft engages our team of global subject-matter experts to provide support through authorized U.S. personnel, consistent with U.S. government requirements and processes," the spokesperson added. "In these instances, global support personnel have no direct access to customer data or customer systems."
The Defense Information Systems Agency's (DISA) public information office was initially unaware of the program when ProPublica began asking questions about it, but it eventually followed up to point out that "digital escorts" are used "in select unclassified environments" at the Defense Department for "advanced problem diagnosis and resolution from industry subject-matter experts."
Meanwhile, on Friday, Microsoft Chief Communications Officer, Frank Shaw, said that in response to recent concerns over the program, Microsoft is choosing to make some changes.
"In response to concerns raised earlier this week about US-supervised foreign engineers, Microsoft has made changes to our support for US Government customers to assure that no China-based engineering teams are providing technical assistance for DOD Government cloud and related services," Shaw said in a statement to Fox News Digital. "We remain committed to providing the most secure services possible to the US government, including working with our national security partners to evaluate and adjust our security protocols as needed."
