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Taylor Swift, Nicole Scherzinger and Katy Perry stun on the red carpet

Sun, 14 Jun 2026 16:00:57 -0400

The stars brought out their best looks on the red carpet this week.

Big-name celebrities including Taylor Swift, Nicole Scherzinger and Julianne Hough stunned when they posed for photos at various events throughout the week.

The Tony Awards, Tribeca Film Festival and different movie premieres were just some of the events attended by these stars.

Here are the best red carpet looks this week.

JENNIFER LOPEZ, NICOLE KIDMAN, KATY PERRY SHUT DOWN THE RED CARPET: PHOTOS

Taylor Swift turned heads when she walked the red carpet at the Songwriters Hall of Fame induction in a black dress.

She posed for photos in a strapless black dress with ruching at the hips, a thigh-high slit and colorful flowers embroidered onto it throughout.

The singer paired the look with strappy black high-heel shoes, multiple rings and dangling earrings, choosing to wear her hair in a low bun with a few pieces left out, and blunt bangs. She opted for a bold makeup look, including red lipstick and dark lashes.

She recently made headlines after attending Game 4 of the NBA Finals between the Knicks and Spurs at Madison Square Garden, where she sat alongside Mariska Hargitay and the Haim sisters.

Designer Georgina Chapman made a statement when she arrived at the Tony Awards in a metallic gold dress.

The figure-hugging dress featured a deep cat-eye neckline with ruching at both the chest and the hips and fabric gathered at the waist in a circular design.

NICOLE KIDMAN, PAMELA ANDERSON, DEMI MOORE SIZZLE IN BODY-HUGGING GOWNS: PHOTOS

She kept her accessories to a minimum, letting the dress do all the talking, and styled her blonde hair in loose curls. Her makeup included pink blush and bold eyes.

Her boyfriend, Adrien Brody, also joined her on the red carpet, with the two posing for photos together.

Julianne Hough stunned on the red carpet at the Tony Awards.

The "Dancing with the Stars" judge posed for photos at the award show in a sleeveless white Tom Ford dress with a high neckline, thigh-high slit and daring cutouts on both sides of the dress showcasing her ribs.

She accessorized the look with diamond earrings and wore her blonde hair in a short bob. She posted photos of herself from the evening on Instagram, captioning the post, "Let’s hear it for the glam 🤍."

"You look absolutely stunning. Love this outfit - so flipping elegant," one fan said. Another added, "Queen 👑 You absolutely lit up the Tony Awards ceremony with that outfit. 😍"

Nicole Scherzinger showed some skin on the red carpet at the Tony Awards in a black dress.

While posing for photos at the event, Scherzinger stunned in a strapless black Zuhair Murad gown with a structured corset bodice with sheer fabric and fabric draped on the hips.

She wore her hair in a slicked-back ponytail and accessorized the look with dangling diamond earrings. She kept her makeup look natural with just bold lashes.

LINDSAY LOHAN, BROOKS NADER AND HALSEY HEAT UP RED CARPETS IN SKY-HIGH SLITS AND SHEER GOWNS

She posted photos from the evening on her Instagram, with fans writing, "The outfit is perfection!" and another adding, "You look amazing in that dress, Nicole."

Scherzinger wore another stunning gown when attending an event in New York City later this week.

This time, she turned heads in a long-sleeved figure-hugging purple dress with a high neckline and a large slit in the front.

She kept her hair and makeup the same as the night before, accessorizing the look with a pair of dangly earrings.

Emily Blunt continued to bring her A-game on the press tour for "Disclosure Day," this time at the New York premiere.

The actress wore a Tamara Ralph gown which featured a spiky gold corset top, with a slightly plunging neckline, and a silky white skirt that flowed to the floor.

She paired the look with a few rings, a bracelet and diamond earrings and kept her makeup look natural.

Jodie Comer left little to the imagination when she walked the red carpet at the premiere of "The Death Of Robin Hood."

The "Killing Eve" star posed for photos in a completely sheer black Givenchy dress with floral lace patterns throughout, which showcased her black underwear, a high neckline and long sleeves.

She kept the accessories to a minimum and wore her long locks in beach waves down her back.

Comer posted photos from the event on her Instagram, with fans complimenting her in the comments section. One fan wrote, "Gorgeous beyond gorgeous," while another added, "such a beauty JC inside and out 🩵."

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Katy Perry pulled out all the stops when she walked the red carpet at the premiere of "Katy Perry: The Lifetimes Tour — Live From Paris" at the Tribeca Film Festival.

The "Firework" singer posed for photos in a sleeveless white Lanvin dress which featured a halter neckline.

She shared photos from the premiere on her Instagram, writing, "I wanted to bring this show to my fans in every city all over the world and now I can through this incredibly cinematic experience that makes you feel like you are there, in the front row!!!"

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"You look happy ♥️♥️♥️♥️…I hope the happiness continues for a lifetime 🥰🥰🥰🥰..🙏🙏🙏🙏," one fan wrote in the comments section.

Malin Akerman was all smiles when she posed for photos at the FYC screening event for "The Hunting Wives."

The "27 Dresses" star walked the red carpet in a black collared shirt with detailing on the collar, which she paired with a black leather skirt.

"AH YOU LOOK SOO GOOD🖤," one fan wrote in the comments section of her Instagram post featuring photos from the event. Another added, "you’re so gorgeous malin😍!!"

Ex-Biden staffer blames Biden's 'hubris' for the 'hellscape that we live in': report

Sun, 14 Jun 2026 16:00:36 -0400

An ex-Biden campaign staffer blamed the former president's decision to seek a second term for President Donald Trump's return to the White House, as the Biden family mounts a public effort to rehabilitate Biden's political legacy, according to a report from New York Magazine.

"I think it is very hard to ever get over the fact that he is responsible for the hellscape that we live in now," the former campaign staffer told New York Magazine. "It is undeniable that his hubris cost us. He was an extremely impactful president who was successful in delivering tangible wins for Americans, but all of that is washed away."

The report, published Friday, detailed Biden’s June 5 appearance at the South Dakota Democratic Party’s McGovern Day Dinner in Sioux Falls, where the 83-year-old former president addressed roughly 1,200 Democrats at a Best Western near the airport.

BIDEN'S DECISION TO RUN IN 2024 'ERASES VIRTUALLY EVERYTHING' HE DID AS PRESIDENT, ABC ANCHOR SAYS

Biden used the speech to attack Trump while telling the crowd that he had to leave early for his goddaughter’s wedding.

"So when I run off the stage it’s not because I’m afraid to hear the response," Biden said.

New York Magazine reported that Biden spoke quietly, occasionally yelled and at times lost his train of thought, but still received a warm response from the Democratic audience.

Biden called Trump, "the most corrupt president in the history of the United States," according to the report.

The event was part of what the report described as an "aggressive effort" by Biden's family and inner circle to remind the public that Biden's presidency should not be defined only by his 2024 loss to Trump.

BIDEN STILL REGRETS DROPPING OUT OF 2024 PRESIDENTIAL RACE, BELIEVES HE COULD HAVE BEATEN TRUMP: REPORT

Rufus Gifford, who served as finance chair of Biden's campaign and now chairs the board for Biden's presidential library, argued that Democrats are beginning to move past the election.

"Without a doubt, every day, there is less of a ’24 hangover," Gifford told New York Magazine. "It’s not solved, but there’s less of a hangover and more of a nostalgia for normal times."

Other Democrats were more skeptical of putting Biden back in the spotlight.

David Axelrod, a longtime Obama adviser, warned that Biden’s public reemergence could remind voters why Democrats pushed him out of the race.

DEMOCRATS ON POSSIBLE BIDEN POLITICAL REEMERGENCE: 'HIS TIME HAS PASSED'

"Putting him front and center will remind people why he was forced to leave the stage," Axelrod told New York Magazine.

Tommy Vietor, a former Obama spokesman and co-host of "Pod Save America," criticized the way Biden and his allies have framed the fallout from 2024.

"Joe Biden is only a victim of what others did to him," Vietor said. "He never views the country as the victim of what he did to us."

Former first lady Jill Biden also re-entered the public conversation through her memoir, "View From the East Wing," which was released in early June.

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After former Biden spokesman Andrew Bates questioned why the party's painful 2024 debate needed to be reopened publicly, Jill Biden responded during an event in Washington, D.C.

"I want to say to Andrew, ‘Call me up and say it to my face,’" she said.

Hunter Biden also defended his father in the report.

"They never truly understood Joe Biden," Hunter Biden said.

Biden’s office announced in May 2025 that he had been diagnosed with an aggressive form of prostate cancer that had spread to his bones.

The Bloodline's tentacles reach 'SmackDown,' Cody Rhodes confronts Sami Zayn as Gunther sets title match

Sun, 14 Jun 2026 15:57:58 -0400

The next iteration of The Bloodline’s story seeped into the throes of "Friday Night SmackDown" in Providence, Rhode Island, as Jacob Fatu appeared in the locker room as Jey Uso was getting prepared for his King of the Ring Tournament match with his brother, Jimmy.

There seemed to be a number of moving parts. Fatu said he was at SmackDown to speak to Solo Sikoa – who broke away from Roman Reigns and formed the MFT. Meanwhile, Jey Uso also received a pep talk from Cody Rhodes.

"When I do it, I’m coming after that WWE championship at SummerSlam," Uso told Rhodes before the match. "Just business, Uce. Just business."

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Rhodes said he hoped Uso does come after the Undisputed WWE Championship. He added that he hoped it was his decision and not because Roman Reigns told him to.

Palace intrigue was at an all-time high.

Fatu found Sikoa in the locker room. He said he had a message from Reigns and that the "Original Tribal Chief" wanted Sikoa to "come home." Sikoa, one former prominent Bloodline member, laughed.

"Home? He wants me to come home? That’s what your ‘Tribal Chief’ said? That ain’t home, Jacob," Sikoa said. "That’s a doghouse, and you’re his lap dog. You know what? I don’t understand this. What the hell happened to you? You used to be a killer. A man that everyone was afraid of. The ‘Samoan Werewolf.’ A man who was this close to beating Roman. And now? You’re just his background. And you know I’m right because I am still standing here and you’ve done nothing but come here and deliver a message from who? Your ‘Tribal Chief?’

"Listen to me, Roman has done nothing but embarrass you, humiliated you and make you kneel down like a dog in front of the whole world and in front of our family, Jacob. And that right there is not how you treat somebody that you love. But he wants me to come back? I’m not going back there. So, tell Roman, he can go to hell."

Fatu said he understood where Sikoa was coming from but he already made his decision and if Reigns wants him to go get him, then he was coming for Sikoa.

Sikoa said if Reigns wanted him back home, "then he can come and get me."

The tentacles of The Bloodline didn’t end there. While Jey Uso got ready for the match, Sikoa was in Royce Keys’ ear. Uso, Keys, LA Knight and Finn Balor met in the King of the Ring Tournament. Sikoa said he didn’t want Keys to be a "casualty" in Reigns’ war.

Knight took a victory lap, showing that he was right about The Bloodline and its little proxies getting involved in the King of the Ring match. Little did he know, just how involved they would get. As Knight and Keys went to the outside of the ring, Jimmy Uso and Sikoa appeared.

Balor was in control toward the end of the match, nailing his finisher on Jimmy Uso. Keys got distracted by Sikoa and Knight took control. It looked like Knight was going to get the win.

Keys got hit with a big boot, causing referee Charles Robinson to check on him. Sikoa hit a Samoan Spike on Knight when his back was turned. Keys hit a spinebuster on Knight as Jey Uso went to the top rope for the frog splash. Uso pinned Knight to steal the win.

It appeared Sikoa was trying to help Keys, but instead he gave The Bloodline a win. Uso will take on Je’Von Evans in the semifinals. Oba Femi and Dominik Mysterio will meet in the other semifinal.

Sami Zayn and Cody Rhodes’ confrontation

Sami Zayn wanted to let the crowd in Providence know that he was, in fact, the "last real good guy" in wrestling. He was a little taken aback by the reaction in the city and noted how his "ride or die" fans showed up in "full force" for him in Europe.

Zayn called out Rhodes, and the "American Nightmare" obliged. Zayn was hoping to clear the air with Rhodes after weeks of unfortunate accidents. He rehashed the series of incidents, including last week’s suicide dive from Rhodes that was meant for Gunther. Zayn asked Rhodes for the "truth," as fans chanted, "Sami sucks."

Rhodes flashed back to the moment where Zayn was in the ring celebrating the championship win at WrestleMania 40. Zayn asked Rhodes of the names he listed – CM Punk, Kevin Owens, John Cena, Randy Orton – how many of those guys were still his friend and whether Rhodes was the problem? Rhodes said he didn’t need to be "honest" with them the way he needed to be honest with Zayn. Zayn, then, begged for Rhodes’ honesty.

"You want me to be honest with you? You want me to be honest? I’m standing out here for this. I’m taking all this fire, listening to this BS," Rhodes said. Here’s me being honest with you: They (the fans) are booing you. They are chanting, ‘Sami sucks!’ And the reason is, because lately, you do suck. You’re whining. You’re crying.

"You’re not the Sami Zayn they fell in love with. You’re not the Sami Zayn they took a ride with. You’re not my Sami Zayn. You’re something else. If anything, you are desperate. Let’s not pretend that it’s about anything, anything between you and I other than the WWE Championship. And I owe you an apology, I am sorry. I’m sorry that I have this and that means you never will."

Zayn slapped Rhodes after the sharp words. Zayn started to apologize while anger started to build in Rhodes.

Rhodes then slapped Zayn across the face.

"Are we good?" Rhodes yelled at Zayn, who exited the ring and grabbed a chair. Zayn threw it down and walked away.

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Gunther sets his stipulation for Undisputed WWE Championship rematch

Gunther got what he wanted in order to get a rematch against Rhodes for the Undisputed WWE Championship. He told SmackDown GM Nick Aldis that he will choose the referee for the match, after an error cost him the title at Clash in Italy.

Gunther explained to Aldis later he needed to choose someone with the proper knowledge of pro wrestling rules but also needed to take the "human factor into consideration."

He chose Zayn as his special guest referee – much to the chagrin of Aldis.

So, next week it will be Rhodes defending his title against Gunther with Zayn calling the shots.

Rhea Ripley injury update

Rhea Ripley appeared on last week’s "SmackDown" with a brace around her knee and it didn’t appear she was ready to compete in any matches. Jade Cargill and Michin ended up defeating Charlotte Flair and Tiffany Stratton.

SmackDown broadcaster Wade Barrett shed some light on Ripley’s recovery.

"The knee injury happened in Italy last week," Barrett said. "Now, we are evaluating the knee injury as we speak and based on how that knee responds to the treatment, it should give us a better idea on the ETA for the return of Rhea ‘Bloody’ Ripley. Obviously, we all have our fingers crossed for a swift return for the champ."

Cargill said that she hoped Ripley was resting because she was going to get her "lick back."

Queen of the Ring Tournament moves along

The latest semifinalist for the Queen of the Ring Tournament was revealed on Friday night as Cargill, Charlotte Flair, Sol Ruca and Lyra Valkyria fought for a spot in the next round.

Cargill had hoped that winning the Queen of the Ring for a second consecutive year would have brought her back to the top of the women’s division. However, it was the savvy veteran in Flair who took advantage of the younger field.

Valkyria tried to pin Flair but as she was in shock, Flair took advantage. Ruca hit Valkyria with a thrust kick as she went to put Nightwing on Flair. She then gave Ruca a big boot and got Valkyria locked into the Figure Eight Leglock. Valkyria tapped out and Flair had her hand raised.

Flair will take on Liv Morgan in the semifinals. Iyo Sky will take on Raquel Rodriguez in the other semifinals matchup. The winners will square off at Night of Champions.

SmackDown match results:

Charlotte Flair def. Lyra Valkyria, Jade Cargill and Sol Ruca to advance in the Queen of the Ring Tournament.

Paige and Brie Bella def. Fallon Henley and Lainey Reid.

Rey Fenix def. Axiom to retain the AAA Cruiserweight Championship.

Michin and B-Fab def. Tiffany Stratton and Chelsea Green.

Jey Uso def. LA Knight, Royce Keys and Finn Balor to advance in the King of the Ring Tournament.

Israel fears Trump weary of ‘highly suspicious’ Netanyahu and could 'flip' amid Iran deal: analyst

Sun, 14 Jun 2026 15:16:03 -0400

A regional analyst says fears that President Donald Trump could "flip" on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu amid a critical push for a U.S.-Iran peace agreement are growing in Jerusalem, a concern highlighted Sunday after the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) struck Beirut for a second time.

Despite U.S. warnings that any strikes would derail a breakthrough with Tehran, the strikes came as Netanyahu prepared to convene Israel’s Security Cabinet and after Trump announced a new U.S.-Iran memorandum of understanding (MOU) was expected to be signed imminently.

"The strikes today in Beirut are creating issues with finalizing the deal," a diplomat involved in the talks with Tehran told Fox News Chief Foreign Correspondent Trey Yingst, adding that they were "a clear attempt by Israel to sabotage the president’s deal and drag the United States back into war."

Trump went on to condemn Israel's strikes in a post on Truth Social, also telling Axios that Netanyahu had "no f---ing judgment."

WHY TRUMP KEEPS FLIPPING ON IRAN: A PRESIDENT WHO SEES THE WORLD AS HE WANTS IT TO BE

Natan Sachs, a senior fellow at the Middle East Institute, noted there was "absolutely this fear in the Israeli government," calling it "a rational and healthy fear" over the pending deal.

He said a strategic chasm existed between the two allies, contrasting Netanyahu's doctrine of sustained, long-term military pressure with Trump's pursuit of immediate diplomatic victories.

"Now there is a sense in Israel that Trump may be growing weary of Netanyahu and the Israelis, and many others believe that if he got sick and tired of him, he could break norms in other directions and flip on Israel," Sachs, an Israeli foreign policy expert, told Fox News Digital.

With discussions underway through Pakistani mediation, the Israeli prime minister's office released a statement shortly after Trump announced the possible deal with Tehran on June 11.

Jerusalem "is not a party to the memorandum of understanding" between Washington and Tehran, Netanyahu said before reiterating on June 12 that Iran was "working to destroy the Jewish state." He assured Israelis he had dedicated his life to "preventing them from doing so."

On Sunday, a senior Israeli official also said Hezbollah attacks had targeted Israeli civilians for the previous three days as Israel prepared for Iranian retaliation.

NETANYAHU DECLARES ISRAEL 'WILL EXACT THE FULL PRICE' AFTER IRANIAN STRIKE HITS HOSPITAL IN ISRAEL

Trump had already criticized Netanyahu during a phone call earlier this month, reportedly calling him "crazy" over a first strike on Beirut that was complicating the administration's negotiations with Iran.

"It's not just that there seems to be a crisis — and there were clearly expletives used by the president toward the prime minister on the backdrop of a joint and large military operation," Sachs said.

"Israel and Netanyahu had first looked at Trump and saw both enormous carrots and enormous potential sticks," Sachs said of the start of Operation Epic Fury and Roaring Lion on Feb. 28.

"Trump was a huge opportunity for Netanyahu because he was willing to break the mold on anything, but Israel has made a potentially strategic, historic mistake in putting all its eggs in one basket," he added.

"Netanyahu was always prepared for the long haul," Sachs said. "And the long haul is not four months; the long haul is years. Trump likes quick wins. Once the quick win did not materialize — and it did not — now you have a whole new set of problems."

"Trump’s preference seemed far from pursuing a much broader campaign aimed at achieving the goals that Israel prefers, and he also has a much narrower conception of what a deal would be," he added.

TRUMP MEETS NETANYAHU, SAYS HE WANTS IRAN DEAL BUT REMINDS TEHRAN OF ‘MIDNIGHT HAMMER’ OPERATION

Sachs noted, however, that Trump and Netanyahu broadly shared goals on curbing Iran's nuclear ambitions, eliminating Hezbollah's armed presence in Lebanon and establishing a post-Hamas future for Gaza.

But he said, "having that wish list is not the same as having a strategic goal. They haven’t both committed to them as strategic goals that dictate concerted action going forward."

Sachs also argued that tensions between Trump and Netanyahu reflect different temperaments.

"Netanyahu thinks of himself as a strategic thinker — very able, and of course, he has a very high opinion of himself — but he is completely different," he observed.

"Netanyahu is an erudite, well-educated, patient, highly suspicious and extremely pessimistic man by nature. His self-image is more, 'I have thought everything through in ways you could not, because I'm smarter than you.'

"He's very suspicious of everyone around him, and he's been surrounded by this same coterie of individuals for decades."

"In terms of personality and where they come from, their worldview is also actually very different," Sachs added.

"You can't imagine Netanyahu spending hours at night on social media. He doesn’t go on it himself, and it's hard to imagine President Trump spending hours reading books, which Netanyahu likes to portray himself as doing. I doubt he has time for it, but that is an image he projects, and I think it is partially true."

"Netanyahu also believes you live with a problem, you manage it, and you kick the can down the road. Trump is the opposite."

"The U.S. may turn away and be uninterested; Israel simply does not think it has that privilege," Sachs said.

"Netanyahu and Trump have very different time horizons, and that is partly geography and interest — and partly personality."

Let’s make this birthday party a lot more interesting — who wants a piece of ‘boob cake?’

Sun, 14 Jun 2026 15:04:53 -0400

There’s nothing wrong with picking up a few pizzas and grabbing a cake and ice cream from a local grocery store for your kid's birthday party. There are more important things pertaining to the party to worry about than that.

The balloon situation is among those more important things to worry about. Also, are there parting gifts for the other kids in attendance? Because, for some reason, that’s a thing. And, of course, did you grab a present the kid asked for?

You also want to make sure there are enough adult beverages on hand for any of the grownups who are stuck hanging out at the party. They don’t want to be there and a drink or two will make the hour they're stuck at the party less painful for them.

Now, if you’re one of those people who insists on making the cake yourself, stick to the cake pan. Don’t go over the top and try shapes or anything like that. Not unless your attempt at a homemade cake ends up looking like boobs.

BIRTHDAY 'BUNION CAKE' SHAPED LIKE FOOT WOWS WOMAN AFTER HER SURGERY

That’s one way to make the birthday party a lot more interesting. It's also a great way to make memories. Boring homemade cakes don't do that. Don't fall for the marketing. The kids aren’t going to remember that mom made the birthday cakes herself. Not unless you screw the cakes up.

Author Lyndee Walker made her son’s 8-year-old birthday party a memorable one with her attempt at making a cake in the shape of the number eight.

"I wasn't gonna attempt a Spider-Man cake or a Superman cake, but okay, I can make an eight, like that's easy," she told People of her approach to making the birthday cake.

It was the peach food coloring that took it from an amateur attempt at a number eight to a boob cake. She used the peach color to mark the circles in the number. The sprinkles were a nice touch.

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Walker thought she nailed it until her husband made an observation. He said, "My husband walked into the kitchen and looked at it and said, 'Hey, how come you put sprinkles on your boob cake?'"

She swatted at him and told him to stop until she got a look at the cake sideways. That’s when it hit her, "I was like, 'Oh my God, it does look like boobs. I made my child boobs.'"

I don’t have to tell you this, but a boob cake is a great way to celebrate a birthday. Maybe not an 8-year-old’s, but mom's best friend is the only one besides her husband who seemed to notice. The kids didn’t know any better.

That was until her son, who turned 18 recently, got another look at the cake his mom made for his eighth birthday. He’s older, he’s wiser, and he knows a boob cake when he sees one.

"He was like, ‘um, kinda, like that's our cake pan and that's the counter at the old house, and I — mom is that tits?,’" she said.

"And I was like 'Well..' He goes, 'Was this from my birthday? Okay, well, I didn't think it looked like tits then, if that makes you feel any better.’"

What a heartwarming moment for a mother to share with her son.

Popular household remedy for keeping skunks away dismissed as myth by wildlife expert

Sun, 14 Jun 2026 14:40:10 -0400

Irish Spring soap, known for its fresh scent, is often recommended online — in blog posts, social media exchanges and elsewhere — as a way to repel skunks. Yet wildlife experts say the popular household hack is more a myth than a proven solution.

Some homeowners claim the soap's strong scent can help discourage skunks from lingering near flower beds, garbage cans and other areas around the home.

The popular DIY method typically involves placing chunks of soap or grated pieces in mesh bags around a property, particularly in spots where skunks have been seen.

WORLD’S OLDEST KNOWN LAND ANIMAL ALIVE AFTER VIRAL DEATH HOAX FOOLS THOUSANDS

Florida-based wildlife expert Ned Bruha, president of The Wildlife Whisperer, said homeowners should be skeptical of such claims.

"Irish Spring soap, mint, essential oils, mothballs and other alleged wildlife deterrents are simply wives tales and snake oil," Bruha told Fox News Digital.

"If they worked, after 27 years in business, I would certainly be using them."

Skunks are common throughout much of North America and are known for digging beneath decks, sheds, sidewalks and other structures in search of shelter.

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Bruha said preventing access to those areas is one of the most effective ways to keep skunks from settling on a property.

"Physical alterations to keep skunks out, landscape modifications and repairs are long-term solutions," he said.

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"Skunks are very tenacious. If you leave an inch, they will dig voraciously and bypass alterations so they can live under your house, shed, sidewalk, air conditioner, deck and other places."

Many online guides suggest that strongly scented products can help repel skunks by masking odors that attract them, such as food scraps, insects and other potential food sources.

Bruha said homeowners are better off focusing on practical prevention measures, including securing trash, removing food sources and sealing potential animal den areas.

He also cautioned against assuming that trapping or relocating a skunk will permanently solve the problem.

"Repeatedly trapping, killing or relocating auto-replenishing skunks is as worthless as an ashtray on a motorcycle," Bruha said.

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The wildlife expert noted that spring and early summer can be particularly challenging because young skunks, known as kits, are beginning to emerge.

"Little skunk babies, called kits, are running all over the place this time of year," he said. "They don't hop into traps."

Bruha said removing an adult skunk can sometimes create a new problem if orphaned kits are left behind.

"Orphaned skunk kits stay behind, the weakest die and the strongest will often eat their dead brothers and sisters," he said.

Irish Spring soap "splashed onto the scene over 50 years ago, starting with bar soap in the 1970s," says the Colgate-Palmolive Company, which owns the brand, on its website. "Since then, it has been a beacon for freshness, and in 2007, it expanded its lineup to include body washes."

Congressional baseball game offers longstanding traditions, and plenty of confusion

Sun, 14 Jun 2026 14:31:23 -0400

There were two 1s. Three 3s. Three 4s. One 04. Three 6s. Two 06s. Two 7s. Two 07s. 2 9s. And three 12s.

No. I wasn’t trying to decipher computer programming code.

This wasn’t a routing number for a checking account.

Nor was I communicating in hexadecimals.

I was staring at these numbers to unravel the GOP’s uniform numbers for the annual Congressional baseball game at Nats Park.

REPUBLICANS DESTROY DEMOCRATS IN CONGRESSIONAL BASEBALL GAME AGAIN, WINNING FOR 5TH STRAIGHT YEAR

Congressional Republicans and Democrats play each other in the event. It’s a custom dating back to 1909. No other athletic team in any sport on the planet allows players on the same team to wear the same numbers. But since this is Congress, lawmakers get to choose whatever uniform number they want.

On the Republican team, House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-LA) and Rep. Brad Finstad (R-MN) both wear number one. Reps. Chuck Flesichmann (R-TN), Greg Murphy (R-NC) and Marlin Stutzman (R-IN) don number three.

You get the idea.

Old-time ballpark vendors used to hawk their wares by shouting, "You can’t tell the players without a scorecard."

With all of these numbers, a scorecard won’t do. You need an abacus.

The Democrats aren’t much better with their uniform algebra. Four Democrats utilized the same uniform digits. There were two 3s. Two 11s. Two 15s. And two 25s. For instance, Reps. Morgan McGarvey, D-Ky., and Tom Suozzi, D-N.Y., sported number three. Sen. Ruben Gallego, D-Ariz., and Frank Mrvan, D-Ind., requested number 11.

The game is a charity event, raising more than $3.2 million and coaxing 32,000 fans to the ballpark. So who wears what number really shouldn’t matter much.

SCHMITT GOES IN-DEPTH ON DIVING CATCH & CHANGES TO COLLEGE ATHLETICS ON ‘RUTHLESS’

Unless you’re broadcasting the game on national television.

That’s where I come in.

I’ve had the privilege of announcing the game for Fox Sports for five years now, live on FS1. I handle the color commentary. My Fox News colleague and former ESPN hand Kevin Corke does play-by-play. Fox Sports sends the same production crew which handles playoff games and the World Series to cover this. Led by Fox producer extraordinaire Aaron Stojkov, the same group of folks just worked Fox’s national broadcast of the Cardinals/Cubs game a few weeks ago in St. Louis. They handled the Phillies/Brewers game in Milwaukee Saturday night.

Congress is my thing. But baseball even more so.

I was at Riverfront Stadium in Cincinnati in 1985 the night Pete Rose broke Ty Cobb’s all-time hits record. I know that Atlanta Braves pitcher Tom House caught Hank Aaron’s 715th career home run in the bullpen, breaking Babe Ruth’s mark. I can talk about Ralph Branca on the mound for the Brooklyn Dodgers. Branca yielded "The Shot Heard ‘Round the World" to Bobby Thomson, propelling the New York Giants into the 1951 World Series. I’ll then regale you with the little known fact that Thomson is from Glasgow, Scotland. Not Staten Island. I can even give you a dissertation explaining the infield fly rule.

But the annual ritual of decrypting the Congressional baseball game is the most challenging thing I do professionally each year. The exercise involving the national pastime is a fabulous yet tough assignment.

I’ve often wondered if calling an actual Major League game would be easier than announcing the tilt between the Democrats and Republicans. For MLB, I follow the teams. I study box scores. I can tell who is on a winning streak. Who can’t hit a slider.

PRESENT AND ACCOUNTED FOR: HOUSE REPUBLICANS' SMALL MAJORITY COULD MAKE ATTENDANCE A PRIORITY

This is not to say that announcing a Big League game is easy. But there’s more information. It’s baseball as I know it.

Pete Rose said that the easiest place to hit was the Big Leagues. The pitching was better. The umpiring was better. The lighting was better.

Rose’s point is that most MLB hurlers have command. But down in the minors, some of the pitchers make Ricky "Wild Thing" Vaughn from the movie Major League look like Greg Maddux. Umpires in The Show work a consistent strike zone. But in the Pioneer League, an actual pioneer may have a better concept of what’s a ball or strike. Down in the South Atlantic League, you might struggle to even see the ball because the stadium is practically illuminated by foot candles. But the lighting at Major League Stadiums is better than a Taylor Swift concert.

So that’s the challenge. There’s a chasm between MLB and the Congressional baseball game. You have to figure out what to say about each player – who have limited stat lines. I know more about their voting records than batting averages. So, like any reporter, I dig around to prepare what to say during the game.

It was just before 7a.m. ET a few weeks ago. My phone buzzed with a text from Republican Missouri Sen. Eric Schmitt. He was at the pre-dawn practice. Schmitt has the highest OPS (on base percentage, plus slugging percentage) in Congressional baseball history. He’s a mega St. Louis Cardinals fan. But despite his prowess at the plate, Schmitt made one of the most stellar plays in Congressional baseball history in the game Wednesday night.

LEARNING CURVE: THE NEW PLAYERS IN CONGRESS

Rep. Johnny Oleszewski, D-Md., looped a long flyball down the left field line. Approaching foul ground and the warning track, Schmitt laid himself out, with a diving, circus catch in the heel of his glove. Schmitt popped back up, blood streaming from his face after crashing into the warning track.

"I'm not as sore as I thought I would be," said Schmitt the next day, noting he scraped up his forearms.

That play goes into the baseball lore for next year’s broadcast.

Schmitt wasn’t the only Gold Glover this year.

Reps. Pete Aguilar, D-Calif., and Jimmy Panetta, D-Calif., also made spectacular catches in short left field.

Rep. Roger Williams, R-Texas, is the GOP manager. But he toiled as an Atlanta Braves farmhand for three seasons. Williams hit an impressive .318 for Wytheville, VA in the Appalachian League in 1971. An injury curbed Williams to batting just .135 and .203 the next two seasons. The Braves released him and Wiliams became a scout.

Rep. Linda Sanchez, D-Calif., manages the Democratic squad. She used to be one of a handful of women who played. After five seasons, Sanchez is still looking for her first win as the Democratic skipper.

"We don’t get our hits together then and strand people on the bases," said Sanchez.

As a kid, Sanchez pulled for the now Los Angeles Angels. She was a big Nolan Ryan fan. But Sanchez dropped her allegiance to the Angels after Ryan signed with the Houston Astros. That was just as "Fernando-mania" seized the baseball world as phenom Fernando Valenzuela won the Cy Young Award and Rookie of the Year honor in 1981. Sanchez has been a Los Angeles Dodgers fan ever since.

I have two favorite tales about lawmakers and their connections to Major League Baseball.

Rep. Ray Cannon, D-Wis., served in Congress in the 1930s. But before that, Cannon represented Shoeless Joe Jackson and other members of the Chicago White Sox, banished from baseball during the Black Sox scandal. Eight players are accused of trying to throw the 1919 World Series to the Cincinnati Reds.

Then there was Rep. Jacob Ruppert, D-N.Y., who represented part of New York City in the late 19th and early 20th Centuries. Ruppert wanted to acquire a baseball club. But a deal to purchase the New York Giants fell through. He opted to buy the New York Yankees – who were consistently a second division team in those days. Ruppert then acquired Babe Ruth from the Boston Red Sox. The Yankees became one of the most-storied franchises in the history of sports. And Ruth became the first American superstar.

Few in Congress know who Ruppert was in Congress. But when it comes to baseball, Ruppert is now enshrined in Cooperstown.

In order to get everyone to the ballpark on time for the game, Steve Scalise scheduled final votes for the day around 4:30 pm et last Wednesday. He also told committees to suspend votes until after the ballgame.

The House Appropriations Committee was prepping the annual Homeland Security bill that night. But Appropriations Committee Chairman Tom Cole, R-Okla., told Members he wanted everyone back to vote 30 minutes after the game. Rep. Mike Levin, D-Calif., had an amendment ready on collective bargaining for the TSA. Levin wondered if he’d return for the committee votes in his baseball uniform.

But no level of preparation fully arms you to call the game from the booth. I looked up at one point and found freshman Rep. Christian Menefee, D-Texas, pinch running at first base. But Menefee never appeared on any roster I was presented. I had no information on him.

Menefee beat Rep. Al Green, D-Texas, in a primary for next year recently. He’s only been in Congress a few months after winning a special election.

At first I couldn’t figure out who was out on the base paths. I scoured each each number on my roster.

Nothing.

A multitude of numbers. But none for Menefee.

Prep all you want to announce the Congressional baseball game. But you’d still be outnumbered.

11 skydivers, one pilot killed in Missouri plane crash near airport

Sun, 14 Jun 2026 14:27:12 -0400

Authorities announced Sunday that at least 12 people were killed in a plane crash in Missouri.

Sources told Fox 4 Kansas City that 11 of the victims were skydivers and the 12th was the pilot.

The crash happened near Butler Memorial Airport, about 65 miles south of Kansas City, according to a statement from the Missouri State Highway Patrol on X.

The plane was engulfed in flames after the crash, but emergency responders were able to extinguish the fire shortly after impact, the Associated Press (AP) reported.

SKYDIVER DIES AFTER MIDAIR COLLISION WITH ANOTHER JUMPER DURING GROUP JUMP IN WASHINGTON STATE

The incident occurred just before 11:30 a.m. when a private plane departing the airport turned around for an unknown reason and crashed near Business 49 Highway, a spokesperson for Bates County Emergency Management told Fox 4.

Dennis Jacobs, the acting airport manager and Bates County Emergency Management Agency director, told The AP that he suspects the plane experienced power issues before the crash.

"It had just taken off and made a left turn," Jacobs said. "In my opinion, I think it was losing power, and he was trying to make it over to the highway and land, and he stalled and went down nose first and caught fire."

The aircraft was carrying passengers preparing to skydive, Missouri Highway Patrol Sgt. Justin Ewing said, according to The AP.

"It landed in a field adjacent to the airport, but I think they’re shutting down the roadway just as a precaution," Ewing said.

CHAMPION SKYDIVER PLUMMETS TO DEATH DURING WINGSUIT JUMP

The Bates County Sheriff's Office addressed the highway closure in a Facebook post, saying: "Business 49 near the airport in Butler is shut down in both directions for an undetermined amount of time. You will need to find an alternate route for some time."

Troopers, along with officers from the Butler Police Department and deputies from the Bates County Sheriff's Office, responded to the scene and are assisting with the crash investigation.

The National Transportation Safety Board and the Federal Aviation Administration are also on the scene, Fox 4 said. Authorities are reportedly working to determine whether any skydivers exited the aircraft before it went down.

Butler, a small city in western Missouri, has a population of roughly 4,300 residents.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Katie Britt says Republicans are prepared for third budget reconciliation package if Democrats block funds

Sun, 14 Jun 2026 14:20:59 -0400

Sen. Katie Britt, R-Ala., said Republicans are prepared to pursue a third budget reconciliation package if Democrats refuse to cooperate on funding the government, arguing that lawmakers cannot allow national security, border enforcement and military priorities to stall amid partisan gridlock.

Britt said Republicans would prefer to move through the regular appropriations process and accused Democrats of "obstruction at every single turn" on "Sunday Morning Futures," adding that they are "absolutely unwilling to work with Republicans in any way, shape or form."

"Their hate for President Trump clouds their vision. They are putting that in front of the safety and security of the American people."

She praised Trump's military accomplishments and said Republicans would do what it takes to ensure the military is sufficiently funded if it comes to "reconciliation 3.0."

EXPIRING SPY LAW SPARKS WARNINGS OF 'FATAL' CONSEQUENCES AHEAD OF WORLD CUP

The GOP is weighing multiple options if Democrats do not come to the table, according to Britt, including another reconciliation package, shutdown-related legislation and bills aimed at preventing future shutdowns.

"Everything will be on the table because failure is not an option," she said. "We’re going to make sure to keep the people of America safe."

TOP REPUBLICAN PUSHES FOR RECONCILIATION 3.0 TO ADDRESS AFFORDABILITY

She pointed to the last reconciliation package that was passed, which funded ICE and CBP for the remainder of Trump’s term, arguing that Republicans have worked to ensure "secure borders and safe streets."

Asked what Republicans need to accomplish before the midterm elections, Britt said lawmakers must fund the government and "expose Democrats for what they are."

"I think Democrats are never going to do anything that they think is going to 'help President Trump.' And what has happened is, unfortunately, they've put that hatred for him ahead of actually doing their job. So I think we need to expose that sooner rather than later and find a pathway forward."

IDF announces elimination of Hezbollah commander behind murder of 5 American soldiers

Sun, 14 Jun 2026 14:19:03 -0400

The Israel Defense Forces announced the elimination of a senior Hezbollah commander who was accused of orchestrating the 2007 kidnapping and murder of five American soldiers.

The IDF said they killed Hezbollah terrorist Ali Musa Daqduq was killed Friday in a precise strike in southern Lebanon, south of the Litani River.

"ELIMINATED: Ali Musa Daqduq, a senior Hezbollah commander who held a series of 5 senior positions within Hezbollah," the IDF hailed on X. "Daqduq played a central role in advancing terrorist attacks and combat operations against Israel and IDF soldiers. In 2007, he orchestrated the kidnapping and murder of 5 American soldiers."

Israeli officials targeted the veteran Hezbollah operative who held multiple senior roles in the terror organization.

ISRAEL KILLS 2 HEZBOLLAH COMMANDERS RESPONSIBLE FOR 400 STRIKES AGAINST THEM IN OCTOBER: IDF

"His elimination constitutes another significant blow to Hezbollah’s senior chain of command by eliminating one of the most prominent operatives responsible for terrorist activity against Israeli civilians, IDF soldiers, and American servicemembers," the IDF wrote in a statement.

"The IDF will continue to operate against commanders of the Hezbollah terrorist organization."

ISRAEL ELIMINATES HEZBOLLAH'S TOP MILITARY COMMANDER HAYTHAM ALI TABATABAI IN TARGETED BEIRUT STRIKE

Daqduq’s roles included commander of the security unit for eliminated Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, commander in the Radwan Force, commander in the Operations Department of the Nasser Unit, head of Hezbollah’s Infantry Unit and commander of Hezbollah’s "Golan Terrorist Network," according to the IDF.

The Golan network was responsible for Hezbollah’s entrenchment in Syria and the establishment of military infrastructure near Israel’s border. The unit’s activities were exposed by Israel in 2019.

"In recent years, he played a central role in advancing terrorist attacks and combat operations against the State of Israel and IDF soldiers," the IDF said.

IDF FINDS HEZBOLLAH WEAPONS CACHE IN UNDERGROUND TUNNEL: VIDEO

Daqduq also led much of Hezbollah’s operational planning against Israeli troops along the Lebanon border over the past several years, the IDF added.

Daqduq was captured by U.S. forces in Iraq in 2007, but was transferred to Iraqi custody during the U.S. withdrawal in 2011 under former President Barack Obama. Iraqi courts later dismissed charges against him, and Baghdad released him in 2012.

ISRAEL STRIKES BEIRUT FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE A CEASEFIRE ENDED THE LATEST ISRAEL-HEZBOLLAH WAR

The announcement came as Israel also carried out strikes Sunday in the Dahieh district of Beirut, targeting what the IDF described as Hezbollah infrastructure.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz said in a joint statement that the Beirut strikes were ordered in response to Hezbollah fire toward Israeli territory.

"Israel will not tolerate fire into its territory," they said.

The latest strikes come at a sensitive diplomatic moment, as U.S.-backed efforts continue to finalize a broader regional deal with Iran and President Donald Trump.

ISRAELI OFFICIAL REJECTS TRUMP'S CALL FOR IRAN DEAL: 'OUTRAGEOUS' TO NEGOTIATE WITH 'EVIL, JIHADIST REGIME'

"Bibi should not have done what he did," Trump told Fox News' Middle East correspondent Trey Yingst.

He said to Netanyahu: "What the f--k are you doing?"

Trump told Yingst he hopes the deal with Iran will be signed before the night. He will remove the blockade of Iranian ports immediately once it is signed.

TRUMP CONFIRMS ‘CRAZY’ NETANYAHU CLASH AS QUESTIONS MOUNT OVER PUSH TO HOLD FIRE ON HEZBOLLAH TERRORISTS

Trump will ask Iran not to respond with missiles toward Israel.

A diplomat involved in the talks told Fox News the Beirut strikes were complicating those efforts.

"The strikes today in Beirut are creating issues with finalizing the deal," the diplomat said. "This is a clear attempt by Israel to sabotage the president’s deal and drag the United States back into war."

A senior Israeli official rejected that characterization, telling Fox News that Israel was responding to Hezbollah attacks.

"We reject the notion that Israel is to blame for the exchange of fire," the official said. "Hezbollah attacks have targeted Israeli civilians the past three days."

Fox News' Trey Yingst contributed to this report.

Curacao stuns Germany at World Cup with historic goal that sends supporters into understandable frenzy

Sun, 14 Jun 2026 14:17:12 -0400

Germany is a four-time World Cup champion, while Curacao is only making its World Cup debut in 2026. The two teams are not equals, but for at least a brief moment during their Group Stage match in Houston on Sunday, equal is exactly what they were.

The Germans, who entered the match as incredibly heavy favorites, got off to the perfect start by taking a 1-0 lead just six minutes into the contest. In other words, the match began exactly as expected, but then came the unexpected in what is undoubtedly the moment of the tournament thus far.

While chasing the ball with Germany completely dominating possession, Curacao managed to keep things in check, and not just settle into the match, but actually make it one by scoring the nation's first-ever goal in World Cup history.

WATCH THE WORLD CUP FINAL ON FOX ONE

Livano Comenencia, a 22-year-old defender who plays professionally in Switzerland, was the man responsible for the historic moment.

The approximately 7,000 Curacao fans inside NRG Stadium celebrated the occasion accordingly.

FOX ONE’S NEW WORLD CUP VIEWING EXPERIENCE

Germany got the momentum back on its side with a goal off a corner kick in the 38th minute, but the goal from Curacao was a certain victory in and of itself.

To say that Curacao is the underdog, and not just against Germany but for the entire tournament, would be an understatement with the Caribbean island's approximate population being just under 160,000. The population of Houston alone, the host city for the match, is 2.4 million.

Germany has a population of approximately 83 million.

Curacao, ranked 82nd in the FIFA rankings, qualified for its first World Cup in style by going unbeaten and winning CONCACAF Group B over Jamaica, Bermuda, and Trinidad & Tobago.

The Curacaoan national team is made up almost entirely of Dutch players who personally chose to represent their families who left the islands and came to the Netherlands. The team is managed by 78-year-old Dick Advocaat, who took the Dutch to the quarterfinals of the 1994 World Cup held in the United States.

Sen Mitch McConnell hospitalized, 'receiving excellent care,' his office says

Sun, 14 Jun 2026 14:13:49 -0400

Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., was hospitalized for an undisclosed health issue, according to his office.

"Sen. McConnell was admitted to the hospital this morning," McConnell's Communications Director David Popp told Fox News. "He is receiving excellent care."

McConnell, the longest-serving Senate party leader in U.S. history, was previously hospitalized for eight days earlier this year after experiencing "flu-like symptoms."

SEN. MCCONNELL REPORTEDLY FINE AFTER FALLING DURING GOP LUNCH

The 84-year-old senator announced last February that he would not seek reelection and would retire when his current term ends in January 2027.

McConnell has dealt with a series of health episodes in recent years, including injuries from falls and multiple instances in which he briefly froze while speaking publicly.

Only Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, at 92 and Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., at 84, are older than McConnell in Congress.

This is a breaking news report. Check back for more updates.

Morgan Wallen keeps winning despite arrests, show cancellations and onstage chaos: expert

Sun, 14 Jun 2026 14:00:12 -0400

Over the past month, Morgan Wallen made headlines for a slew of controversial incidents: snatching a phone from a security guard, flipping a piano over mid-show, then canceling a highly anticipated stadium gig at the last minute. Yet despite the backlash, the country superstar continues to dominate the charts, reinforcing a familiar pattern of controversy followed by continued success.

From public arrests to onstage meltdowns, the "Whiskey Glasses" crooner has had his share of downfalls. Yet, the wins keep following.

"The truth is simple, but significant: if you simply call ‘balls and strikes’ while you continue to put out good music, you’ll be fine," Doug Eldridge, founder of Achilles PR, said. "In other words, tell me whether it’s a ball or a strike; don’t tell me whether it’s a good pitch, or whether the batter has personal baggage. When it comes to ’lectures from the lead singer,’ Americans have a tolerance, and just like mercury in a thermometer, it has limits."

MORGAN WALLEN FANS LEFT DISAPPOINTED OVER COUNTRY STAR'S 'I'M THE PROBLEM' TOUR

"His controversies—whether comments or self-induced chaos—have fallen outside of the PR trajectory needed to clear the Van Allen Belts," Eldridge continued. "In terms of his behavior, his would-be ‘bad boy’ decorum is coming on the heels of iconic touring acts, like Cash, Jennings, Motley, and the Stones, so it almost seems benign, by contrast."

Wallen — who was first discovered while appearing on "The Voice" in 2014 — experienced his first wave of disappointment when he was eliminated from the singing competition show right before the live shows began.

"The disappointments just made me dig deeper and figure out why I didn’t win," he once told Billboard about the loss. "Some things in life are out of your control. Being the best you can be isn’t. I didn’t feel like I was the best I could have been. So, I practiced harder and really tried to make my voice second nature."

But little did he know, his career was about to take off.

In 2018, Wallen dropped his debut album, "If I Know Me," which went certified double platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America and reached No. 1 on the top country charts with multiple singles receiving mainstream success.

COUNTRY STAR MORGAN WALLEN'S HIT SONG WAS 'STUPIDLY' PASSED ON BY LUKE BRYAN

With newfound stardom, Wallen was on top. But things took a turn when the country star was arrested two years later after being kicked out of Kid Rock’s bar in downtown Nashville in 2020. After reportedly refusing to walk away with his friends when given the opportunity by police, authorities determined Wallen was "a danger to himself and the public" and took him into custody.

"I went out downtown last night with a few old friends. After a couple bar stops, we were horse-playing with each other," he wrote on X at the time.

"We didn’t mean any harm, and we want to say sorry to any bar staff or anyone that was affected. Thank you to the local authorities for being so professional and doing their job with class."

MORGAN WALLEN STRUGGLES WITH FAME, ADMITS HE HASN’T BEEN IN A BAR SINCE NASHVILLE ARREST

A few months later, days before he was scheduled to perform on "Saturday Night Live" in October 2020, clips of Morgan engaging in non-COVID-compliant behavior at an Alabama football game and celebrating at a bar afterward began circulating online. The move cost him his "SNL" gig that month.

"I’m not positive for COVID, but my actions this past weekend were pretty short-sighted and they have obviously affected my long-term goals and my dreams," he wrote on X at the time.

"I think I have some growing up to do. I think I’ve lost myself a little bit," he added. "I’ve tried to find joy in the wrong places and, I don’t know, it’s left me with less joy. So, I’m gonna go try to work on that. I’m gonna take a step back from the spotlight for a little while and go work on myself."

MORGAN WALLEN TROLLS ALABAMA FANS WITH CLEVER MOVE DURING CONCERT AT CRIMSON TIDE'S HOME

"SNL" did welcome him back in December of that same year, however.

One month after releasing his highly successful second studio album, "Dangerous: The Double Album," in January 2021, Wallen stirred more controversy after video surfaced of him using a racial slur.

In a video circulating online, Wallen used the N-word while referring to one of his friends.

LUKE COMBS’ BRUTAL RESPONSE TO ‘LIBERAL’ LABELS: ‘WHY DO WE ALL CARE?’

Not only was Wallen immediately suspended from his record label, but radio stations and streamers pulled his music and he was ineligible to receive any awards from the Academy of Country Music that year.

"I'm embarrassed and sorry," Wallen said in a statement shared with Fox News. "I used an unacceptable and inappropriate racial slur that I wish I could take back. There are no excuses to use this type of language, ever. I want to sincerely apologize for using the word. I promise to do better."

WATCH: Morgan Wallen 'raises eyebrows' for walking off SNL before show end

In 2023, after the release of his third album, Wallen caught heat for canceling a show in Mississippi minutes before he was expected to hit the stage.

MORGAN WALLEN FIRES BACK AT 'NONSENSE' RUMORS HE LEFT PITTSBURGH BEFORE HIS SHOW WAS OFFICIALLY CANCELED

"After last night's show, I started losing my voice so I spent the day resting up, talking to my doctor and working through my vocal exercises trying to get better," Wallen wrote on Instagram the next morning. "I really thought I'd be able to take the stage and it kills me to deliver this so close to showtime, but my voice is shot and I am unable to sing."

Wallen went on to say, "All tickets will be refunded at point of purchase. I am so sorry, I promise you guys I tried everything I could."

Rumors began to spread that Wallen was too intoxicated to perform, hence the last minute cancellation. Wallen later disputed those claims, and insisted he had a vocal injury. The cancellation resulted in multiple lawsuits from fans.

One year later, in April 2024, Wallen found himself arrested on felony charges of reckless endangerment and disorderly conduct after throwing a chair off the rooftop of Eric Church’s Chief’s on Broadway bar in Tennessee.

Wallen was released on a $15,000 bail, and took to social media to issue an apology.

"I’m not proud of my behavior," he wrote on X at the time. "I have the utmost respect for the officers working every day to keep us all safe."

Wallen pleaded guilty in December 2024 and was sentenced to seven days at a DUI education center and placed on two-year probation.

Three months later, Wallen sparked outrage after abruptly leaving "SNL" during the traditional end-of-show credits segment. Shortly after leaving Manhattan's 30 Rockefeller Plaza, Wallen wrote that he was excited to return home. The country music star shared a photo on his Instagram Stories of a private jet with the caption "Get me to God’s country" written over it.

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Wallen later addressed the incident, claiming there was no ill-will. I was just ready to go home," Wallen said while appearing on comedian Caleb Pressley’s podcast. "I've been there all week."

MORGAN WALLEN SMASHES PIANO ON STAGE AFTER EQUIPMENT FAILS MID-PERFORMANCE DURING CONCERT

Most recently, Wallen flipped over a piano onstage after the equipment malfunctioned mid-show, and days later, snatched a phone from a security guard and threw it across the stage.

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Two days later, Wallen canceled his Pittsburgh show on Saturday due to poor weather conditions, amid online speculation that he dipped out of town before local officials confirmed the cancellation.

"This morning, my team walked on my bus and told me they had been consulting with local officials and that I should cancel my show in Pittsburgh tonight, and I said, ‘Why?’" said in the video posted to his Instagram Stories.

"They said that there was going to be strong winds in the area, and I said, ‘OK.’ So, that is what I did and that was the information I had in the moment, and I trusted my team," he continued. "I understand that wind hasn't gotten to Pittsburgh yet ... The truth of the matter is, I have a large stage that, in those conditions, could become fatal to a lot of folks around it. So, I did the best I could with the information I had in that moment."

"I’ve been seeing a lot of nonsense about me that is simply not true, and I just wanted to clear the air," he added. "I think my true fans know that that’s not how I operate in general, but I had to say it. Ya'll take care."

Fox News Digital's Tracy Wright contributed to this post.

America's wounded, struggling veterans get brand-new homes built by Florida teens

Sun, 14 Jun 2026 13:56:37 -0400

America’s youth is giving back to America’s heroes.

The national nonprofit Building Homes for Heroes (BHH) builds, modifies and gifts mortgage-free homes to injured veterans, first responders and Gold Star families (who have lost a U.S. military service member while he or she was serving).

The New York-based organization has recently teamed up with local high-school students from The Villages Charter School (TVCS) Construction Management Academy in Florida.

GARY SINISE FOUNDATION, BUILDING COMPANY PRESENT FREE HOME TO WOUNDED ARMY VETERAN

In May, BHH unveiled two new homes to veterans in Lake Panasoffkee, Florida, gifted to U.S. Army Specialist Rajae Jones and U.S. Army Sergeant James Tabares and their families.

The homes were built from the ground up by TVCS students in partnership with BHH, requiring them to perform hands-on work, learn a new trade and give back to their community.

Kim Vesey, president and general counsel of BHH President, reflected on the recent projects and partnership with TVCS.

"It's a really phenomenal program, and we're so lucky to have been able to partner with them," she said in an interview with Fox News Digital.

FLORIDA NONPROFIT HELPS CUT VETERAN SUICIDE RATES BY 25% WITH COMMUNITY-BASED APPROACH

Together, the organization and student program have built several houses for veterans, starting in 2024 with a family who had been "really struggling," Vesey said.

The family had reportedly lived in transitional housing while the husband struggled with a military injury and PTSD, which made it difficult to keep a job.

"They just found themselves in this cycle of endless struggle," Vesey said. "They had two young boys, and they were really trying so hard."

The family was gifted the first home built by TVCS students and BHH. Now, both sons work at the school, and the veteran runs a program at the School of Autism.

"I really can't say enough great things about the opportunity that the school is giving to these students," Vesey said. "The hands-on ability to not just go into a classroom and learn a trade, but to also give back to their community at the same time and to change people's lives and see it firsthand ... being able to have that kind of impact on the world and realizing that what you do matters — I can't imagine how much that helps."

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Recent TVCS graduate Blake Tart, 18, shared his experience in a separate interview with Fox News Digital.

"My experience with Building Homes for Heroes was very cool – seeing the project go from a spot of sand to a finished and decorated house," he said. "I will take the hard work and lessons learned with me into my next career path, and the most valuable lesson is that I can work on all of this myself at my own home one day."

Tart, who comes from a family of veterans, said he and his fellow classmates showed up every day and "worked our hardest" for the veterans receiving homes.

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"We were never satisfied with good enough – we wanted it to be perfect," he said. "The community should always lend a helping hand to those who have served and need some help."

BHH has a presence in 37 U.S. states, but Florida has seen the highest demand for housing among veterans, according to Vesey. She emphasized the importance of people having a wider understanding of why former service members may need extra help.

"People don't find themselves in situations where they can't provide for their family out of intent," Vesey said. "Any one of us are just a few paychecks away from being in a situation where we are unable to provide for our families."

"Our veterans go into the military to serve their country for so many different reasons, and many of them go into that thinking it's going to be a full-time career, just as if you're a teacher or a lawyer or a doctor… and that's your retirement, that's your savings, that's everything you need to support your family," she went on.

"So, when you go into the military thinking you're going to put 30 years into that career, and it gets cut short because you're injured, it's a high risk."

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Many veterans who leave the military after an injury don’t have a stable place to live, a college degree or a back-up career.

"You haven’t put down roots because you’ve served your country for 10 years … There is no fallback plan," Vesey said. "When people enter this high-risk career and that career is cut short through no fault of their own to serve our country, I think it's paramount that our country is there to serve them."

DAVID MARCUS: Why European soccer fans are going Kerouac on the American road

Sun, 14 Jun 2026 13:40:49 -0400

"Nothing behind me, everything ahead of me, as is ever so on the road."

-Jack Kerouac

Among the most charming and fun developments of the United States hosting the World Cup, along with all the ties and low-scoring, of course, has been a bunch of Europeans discovering the wonders of America and sharing it on social media.

A German who goes by the handle Freddy has taken America by storm, describing the joys he finds driving through the deep south. He and others have lauded everything from the grand magnificence of Buc-ees gas stations to the savory goodness of biscuits and gravy.

THE VERDICT IS IN: EUROPEANS ARE OBSESSED WITH RURAL AMERICA DURING 2026 WORLD CUP STAY

Perhaps most American of all is the fact that the majority of these travel accounts on social media are road trips of Europeans, who are used to biking everywhere with a baguette under their arm. Here, they are even posting maps, covering hundreds of miles like latter-day Lewis and Clarks.

As the great American novelist Jack Kerouac understood, driving is the only way to truly understand America, to find its secrets, its nooks, crannies and roadside gems. You can’t fly there and you can’t take a train. You have to get behind the wheel and hit the road.

What European travelers are really experiencing is the freedom of driving, and how essential it is to the whole mythology of modern America. The ability to chart your own course vs. highly efficient rail systems that guide not just your travel, but your life.

WORLD CUP FANS FALL IN LOVE WITH AMERICAN CULTURE, COMFORT FOOD CLASSICS

You want to drive to Waffle House at 1 a.m.? Knock yourself out. You want to buy a rifle somewhere between Buc-ee's and Barstow? You can.

America isn’t the only country where you can take a road trip, but it is the only country that is essentially founded on the practice. America, as Kerouac knew, is its roads, and the little towns and people that thrive along them.

Even American hospitality often comes with a helping of four wheels and an engine. My favorite Freddy tale was when he wrote, "I love Americans. We were about to walk an hour to the stadium in the rain to save on an Uber, and the receptionist at the hotel we were parked in front of decided to drive us there."

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

Frequent travelers of American byways will all have experienced this at some point.

When a Midwesterner or someone in Dixie offers you a ride, you quickly get the clear sense that refusal would cause great offense. The next thing you know, you are in the front seat hearing apologies about the dog hair.

The songwriter Morrissey recently commented on the homogenization of European culture, brought about in part by its ubiquitous and highly efficient public transportation systems.

DAVID MARCUS: MORRISSEY MIGHT BE THE LAST BRITISH PERSON YOU WILL EVER KNOW

Moz, as his fans call him, said that before everything became cookie cutter, "You could go to Germany and see the most incredible culture, you could go to Italy and see the most incredible culture. Now they just want everything to be the same, the same, the same, so diversity means conformity."

Even in America, our cities have begun to feel all the same, the same stores, the same foods, the same accents. But in these places that you have to drive to, you find the trees in the forest of great America, and when you do, their branches will astound you.

So drive on Europeans, under the blanket of stars as our hot-shot freight trains sigh and whistle in the distance. Feel the curve of our continent under your wheels and enjoy the hospitality of those who mean it when they say, "How ya doin'?"

THE GREAT AMERICAN ROAD TRIP: 8 PLACES TO TRAVEL (AND STAY) TO CELEBRATE AMERICA 250 THIS SUMMER

And just maybe, some Americans will be inspired to do this themselves, to forgo one Disney or Cancun vacation for a road trip with the family, with all the small miseries and abundant joys that the packing the family into a car brings.

Until then, thanks to Freddy and the gang for holding up the mirror to the true nature of America, its small town decency and wide-smiling hospitality. Americans who live near international airports needed the reminder.

At the end of the day, what these Europeans are realizing is that Americans do whatever the hell we want to, and it is our cars that give us that freedom. However dire the straits or low the soul may feel, when the engine roars, we can get from point A to point B, and anywhere in between.

FOX NEWS' STEVE DOOCY TRAVELS ROUTE 66, UNCOVERS THE STORIES THAT BUILT AMERICA OVER A CENTURY

"Sal, we gotta go and never stop going 'till we get there.'

'Where we going, man?'

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'I don't know but we gotta go."

-Jack Kerouac

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Rising indie pro wrestler Jordan Saint dead at 23

Sun, 14 Jun 2026 13:24:31 -0400

Pro wrestler Jordan Saint died over the weekend in a car crash, according to an independent pro wrestling promotion. He was 23.

Saint, whose real name is Jordan Nasir, competed in multiple pro wrestling promotions including Pandemonium Pro Wrestling and Naptown All-Pro Wrestling among others.

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"Jordan was a very talented wrestler but those that knew him, know that he was truly an unbelievable human," Pandemonium Pro Wrestling said. "He was the finest example of what truly loving pro wrestling looked like. Nobody I’ve ever come across has loved pro wrestling more than Jordan Saint. He touched so many people with his kindness, his passionate, his personality and his charm. Jordan never folded & never changed for anyone if it meant it sacrificed who he was. He wore his heart on his sleeve at all times and we loved him for it.

"Jordan was a friend to everyone at Pandemonium and after an unbelievable performance in Las Vegas, was someone we planned to be involved with everything we had moving forward.

"We will miss Jordan dearly and hope if you’re reading this you will keep his family in your thoughts."

Saint performed for Pandemonium Pro Wrestling at Shooting Star Fest in Las Vegas during WrestleMania weekend. He tagged with Robert Martyr to take on Shimbashi and Danny Orion.

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"Naptown All Pro is devastated to announce the passing of Jordan Nasir St. Fort Colin at the age of 23 better known to the wrestling world as "Black Flash" Jordan Saint," Naptown All-Pro Wrestling said. Jordan was involved in wrestling since 2022, been a part of NAP Wrestling since 2023, and has adored wrestling for essentially his entire life. That passion for the art & sport of pro wrestling bled through in every action, and if you took the time to really be in his presence, the zeal he had for the squared circle was infectious.

"Hardheaded & dedicated to his craft, Jordan was quick to soak up knowledge. Combined with his superb athleticism, he took to all aspects of in-ring competition lightning fast. A true diamond-tier prospect, we’re heartbroken to know we won’t see his full potential achieved.

"Jordan exemplifies everything we want Naptown All Pro to be. An unrelenting desire to be oneself, an overwhelming commitment to community, a calling to uplift what’s right in the world, and a deep-rooted love for professional wrestling.

"There will never be another Jordan Saint, and NAP keeps his family, friends, and fans in our thoughts. Thank you, Jordan, for bringing a wave of Shaolin Land swagger to Indianapolis. We love you Jojo."

Pro wrestlers also sent their condolences to Saint’s family as they learned of his death.

Saint broke onto the scene in 2022 and took a year away from the ring before returning earlier this year.

Zelenskyy congratulates Trump on turning 80 in birthday call, vows more Ukraine peace talks at G7 on Tuesday

Sun, 14 Jun 2026 13:21:00 -0400

A gracious Ukrainian President Volodmyr Zelenskyy spoke with President Donald Trump on the eve of the G7 Summit, he announced Sunday on X, congratulating Trump on turning 80 and vowing further peace talks in the coming days.

"I have just had a great conversation with @POTUS," Zelenskyy wrote Sunday on X. "I congratulated President Trump on his birthday, and we have had quite a detailed discussion about many key things – peace, surely, was among them. "I wished President Trump every success, above all in his work to end Russia’s war against Ukraine."

"I also thanked him for all the support America has been providing to Ukraine, and it does matter that we remember with gratitude every step of that support – from Javelins to Patriots," Zelenskyy continued. "We discussed things that could help bring about peace now, and I informed the President about the latest developments on the battlefield and how our position has strengthened."

ZELENSKYY BREAKS SILENCE ON SOCIAL MEDIA AFTER FIERY OVAL OFFICE EXCHANGE WITH TRUMP: 'THANK YOU AMERICA'

Notably, the G7 Summit will bring direct talks between the leaders of seven major industrialized economies, including Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States.

EUROPEAN LEADERS WILL JOIN TRUMP-ZELENSKYY MEETING, SIGNALING SOLIDARITY WITH UKRAINE

"We agreed that we will discuss more during our meeting at the G7 Summit," Zelenskyy concluded. "We have some good ideas that could help advance peace and protect lives. Thank you!"

The call came as Trump turned 80 and prepared to travel early Monday moring to France for the G7, where Ukraine and Russia’s war is expected to be s major topic. Trump will participate in a working session Tuesday morning with Zelenskyy at the summit, though not necessarily a formal bilateral meeting, according to a senior administration official.

The outreach also comes as European leaders seek to keep Trump engaged on Ukraine policy and push for renewed diplomatic efforts involving Kyiv, Moscow and Europe. European officials are expected to use the G7 gathering to press Trump on a plan to restart negotiations with Russia while also preparing additional pressure on Moscow.

Trump has hoped to have secured an Iranian peace treaty before the G7 and has long hoped his global peacemaking efforts would ultimately "end the death" in southern and eastern Ukraine, where Russia's Vladimir Putin has sought to stake claim to large swaths of land during the ongoing war.

Capehart, Brooks sneer at White House UFC fight night as 'degrading,' say US is 'in cultural decline'

Sun, 14 Jun 2026 13:20:25 -0400

MS Now's Jonathan Capehart and columnist David Brooks mocked President Donald Trump's plan to host a UFC fight on the White House South Lawn, telling "PBS NewsHour" on Friday that the Sunday event was "degrading" and contrasted with the artists former President John F. Kennedy once brought into the executive mansion.

Asked by PBS co-anchor Geoff Bennett what he made of the White House event, Brooks cited Kennedy's guest list before landing on the comparison to mixed martial arts.

"Well, I first thought of, like, who are the artists John F. Kennedy brought to the White House? It was like W.H. Auden, Robert Frost, Jerome Robbins, Leonard Bernstein. And now we have got cage fighting. Don't anybody say America's in cultural decline," Brooks said.

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Capehart said the event carried added meaning because it was not simply a private sports production but one being elevated by the president at the White House.

"Well, it's a significant shift because it's the president of the United States who's anointing it," Capehart said.

Bennett framed the discussion around what he called Trump's "alternative cultural establishment" of combat sports, podcasts, influencers and social media personalities, while noting the South Lawn structure known as "The Claw."

"Whenever a president invites someone from the culture into the White House, it's giving the imprimatur of the president," Capehart said. "President Obama brought in Lin-Manuel to do what then became 'Hamilton.'"

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Capehart also argued that the setting and visible sponsorship inside the ring changed the nature of the event.

"But this — a cage fight on the South Lawn of the White House, the people's house that also has corporate sponsorship that you can see inside the ring — this talk about degrading the culture," Capehart said.

"This is degrading the White House, degrading the people's house, and it's just unconscionable that this has happened."

UFC FANS SHARE WHAT THEY THINK ABOUT TRUMP AHEAD OF O'MALLEY-DVALISHVILI SHOWDOWN

Brooks said Trump could benefit politically from elite criticism of the event, telling Bennett that the reaction could help the president frame himself as aligned with fight fans who feel looked down upon.

"He wants us to be talking this way because he's saying, look, you get looked down upon by people. I believe in cage fighting just like you," Brooks said.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE COVERAGE OF MEDIA AND CULTURE

UFC Freedom 250 is scheduled for Sunday night, with a custom-built Octagon, large video screens and "The Claw" on the South Lawn. The event is expected to draw more than 4,000 invited guests.

A federal judge declined Friday to block the event after a legal challenge. The White House defended it in response to the lawsuit, calling it "no different than the various other White House-hosted events on the South Lawn and properly permitted events on the Ellipse and National Mall throughout the year."

Fox News Digital reached out to the White House for comment, but did not immediately hear back.

Republican leaders embrace viral World Cup fans they say are discovering the 'real America'

Sun, 14 Jun 2026 13:14:10 -0400

As foreign soccer fans descend on the United States ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, some visitors are going viral for documenting their enthusiasm for distinctly American experiences — from Waffle House and Buc-ee's to college football and Southern hospitality.

While political battles over immigration and travel policy continue to dominate discussion ahead of the World Cup, foreign fans are going viral for celebrating a very different side of America.

Videos celebrating iconic restaurants, sprawling highways, local traditions and everyday hospitality have racked up millions of views online and drawn reactions from political leaders who say they highlight America's enduring appeal.

The upbeat posts have not gone unnoticed in Washington.

INTERNET FALLS IN LOVE WITH GERMAN SOCCER FAN DISCOVERING AMERICAN SOUTH AHEAD OF 2026 WORLD CUP

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy was among the officials to weigh in, sharing one of several viral posts from German soccer fan FreddyLA7, whose enthusiastic dispatches from across the United States have become a social media sensation ahead of the World Cup.

In a post on X, Duffy pointed to Freddy's journey through Georgia, Tennessee and Alabama as an example of the uniquely American experiences drawing attention online.

"There's no better way to see our country than on a road trip," Duffy wrote. "Because to LOVE AMERICA you have to SEE AMERICA."

WORLD CUP FANS FALL IN LOVE WITH AMERICAN CULTURE, COMFORT FOOD CLASSICS

He concluded the post by asking followers to suggest additional destinations for the German fan to visit as he continues his travels across the United States.

Freddy's posts have attracted millions of views for their enthusiastic portrayal of everyday American life, with the German fan praising everything from Waffle House and Taco Bell to Buc-ee's and Bass Pro Shops as he travels the country following the German national team.

After Freddy made stops across Alabama, Sen. Katie Britt, R-Ala., joined the conversation on X, highlighting the state's role in the German fan's increasingly viral American road trip.

After Freddy marveled at the atmosphere inside Auburn University's Jordan-Hare Stadium, Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey invited him back for football season, writing: "Y'all ought to come back in the fall to see just how we do Saturdays in Alabama."

DeSantis similarly welcomed Freddy to Florida after the soccer fan posted footage from the Gulf Coast. The governor playfully corrected Freddy's description of the water as "the sea" before encouraging him to enjoy what he called some of the best beaches in the world.

As the United States prepares to welcome millions of visitors for the World Cup next year, Freddy's viral road trip has offered an early preview of the tournament's potential to showcase American culture far beyond the soccer pitch.

FBI says Russian hackers hijacked old Wi-Fi routers

Sun, 14 Jun 2026 13:01:20 -0400

Your Wi-Fi router may be the least glamorous gadget in your home. It sits on a shelf, blinks in the corner and only gets attention when Netflix freezes. However, that little box controls a lot more than you may think.

The FBI and Justice Department say a Russian military intelligence hacking group abused vulnerable small office and home office routers to help run an espionage operation. The group is known as APT28, Fancy Bear and Forest Blizzard. It has been linked to Russia's GRU military intelligence agency.

The hackers changed router settings so internet requests could flow through servers they controlled. That gave them a way to watch for valuable targets, redirect traffic and steal sensitive login information. The Justice Department and FBI say they disrupted the U.S. portion of the network in April. That is good news. Still, law enforcement cannot walk into your house, update your router or change the password printed on an old sticker. That part is on you.

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FBI WARNS OF HACKERS EXPLOITING OUTDATED ROUTERS. CHECK YOURS NOW

This attack focused on SOHO routers. That stands for small office and home office routers. In other words, these are the kinds of devices used by small businesses, remote workers and some homes. The Justice Department says the hackers used weaknesses in older routers to change DNS settings.

DNS is like the address book for the internet. When you type a website name, DNS helps your device find the right online destination. If hackers control that address book, they can send certain requests through their own servers. That can let them spot valuable targets and try to steal passwords, authentication tokens, emails or browsing data.

That to me is scary because the victim may not see anything obvious. Your laptop may still connect. Your phone may still browse. Your router may still look normal. Meanwhile, the traffic can be quietly routed through a bad path.

Routers age like any other device. The problem is that many people keep them for years after the manufacturer stops supporting them. That can leave known security holes sitting open.

Many people also never change the router's admin username and password. That admin login is different from your Wi-Fi password. It controls the router itself. If that login still uses a default password, a hacker has a much easier path inside.

Think of it this way. You may have strong passwords on your bank account, email and phone. But if your router is outdated and poorly protected, your network still has a soft spot.

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The FBI specifically referred to the TP-Link WR841N in its warning. The UK National Cyber Security Centre also listed other TP-Link models targeted by APT28. The agency says the list may not be complete.

Here are the routers named in the advisory:

If you see your model on this list, take it seriously. Many of these routers are older. Some may no longer get normal security support. We reached out to TP-Link for comments, but did not hear back before our deadline.

A spokesperson from TP-Link Systems Inc. told CyberGuy the company is aware of recent public reporting involving legacy consumer routers, including TP-Link models listed in those reports. The company said the referenced legacy router models reached End of Service and Life status several years ago.

"While these products are outside our standard maintenance lifecycle, TP-Link has developed security updates for select legacy models where technically feasible," the spokesperson said.

The spokesperson also urged customers using legacy or end-of-service devices to upgrade to currently supported hardware that receives regular security updates.

"As immediate precautions, users should update to the latest available firmware, disable remote management, and restrict device access to trusted internal networks only," the spokesperson said.

TP-Link added that the security of its customers is its highest priority and said detailed mitigation guidance, along with a list of identified affected legacy products, is available on its official security advisory page.

Most people do not think about their router until the Wi-Fi drops. But your router sits between your devices and the internet. That gives it a powerful position in your home or small business. If a hacker changes the router's settings, every connected device can feel the impact. That includes your laptop, smartphone, tablet, smart TV and work computer.

This is especially important if you work from home. A weak router can create a risk for your personal accounts and your workplace accounts. The good news is that you do not need to be a cybersecurity expert to lower the risk. You just need to stop treating your router like a forgotten appliance.

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The good news is that a few simple router checks can reduce your risk and help keep hackers from quietly changing how your internet traffic moves.

Look at the label on your router. You can usually find the model number on the bottom or back of the device. If it matches one of the listed models, check the manufacturer's support page for firmware updates. If the device is no longer supported, replace it. Do not keep an end-of-life router because it "still works." A router can still provide Wi-Fi while leaving your network exposed.

Firmware is the software that runs your router. Updates often fix security problems. Open your router's app or log in to its admin page. Look for a firmware update section. Turn on automatic updates if your router offers that option. If it does not, set a reminder to check for updates regularly.

Your router has an admin login. This is separate from your Wi-Fi network password. Change the default admin username and password. Use a long, unique password that you do not use anywhere else. A password manager can help you create and store a strong router password so you do not have to remember it. Also, change your Wi-Fi password if you have shared it widely or kept it for years. Check out the best expert-reviewed password managers of 2026 at Cyberguy.com

Most people do not need to manage a home router from outside the house. Remote management can give attackers another way to reach your router. Log in to your router settings and turn it off unless you truly need it. The wording may vary by brand. Look for "remote management," "remote access" or "WAN access."

A reboot will not fix every router problem. However, security agencies often recommend restarting routers as part of basic home network hygiene. Unplug your router, wait about 30 seconds and plug it back in. This can help clear some temporary malicious activity. Still, it does not replace updates, stronger passwords or replacing an outdated device.

Do not click through browser warnings that say a site certificate is invalid or unsafe. Those warnings can appear when something is interfering with a secure connection. In this kind of attack, that warning could be a major red flag. Close the page instead. Then check the site by typing the address yourself on a trusted network.

If you handle work files or sensitive accounts from home, use your company-approved VPN. A VPN can help protect traffic when you connect to workplace systems. It can also reduce exposure when you use networks you do not fully control. Still, a VPN isn’t a free pass to ignore router updates. You need safer habits and safer hardware. For the best VPN software, see my expert review of the best VPNs for browsing the web privately on your Windows, Mac, Android & iOS devices at Cyberguy.com

Strong antivirus software can help protect your devices if a bad link, a fake login page or a malicious download reaches you. It will not fix a vulnerable router, but it can add another layer of protection for your computer and phone. Look for security software that can detect malware, warn you about phishing sites and help block suspicious activity before it causes damage. Get my picks for the best 2026 antivirus protection winners for your Windows, Mac, Android & iOS devices at Cyberguy.com

If hackers steal your login details, the damage can spread beyond your Wi-Fi network. Identity theft protection can help monitor for signs that your personal information is being misused. It may alert you to suspicious activity involving your credit, accounts or personal data so you can act faster. See my tips and best picks on Best Identity Theft Protection at Cyberguy.com

A data removal service can help reduce the amount of personal information about you that is available online. That is important because scammers often combine stolen logins with exposed details from data broker sites. Removing your information from those sites can make it harder for criminals to build a fuller profile of you or your family. 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

If your router no longer receives security updates, replace it. That may feel annoying. I get it. Nobody gets excited about buying a router the way they might get excited about a new phone. But your router protects everything connected to it. Spending money on a supported device can be cheaper than cleaning up stolen passwords later.

This router warning should make every home and small business owner pause for a minute. The scariest part is how ordinary the target is. We are talking about routers that may be sitting in homes, home offices and small businesses right now. The FBI and its partners disrupted part of the Russian operation. However, that does not magically secure old routers still sitting on shelves. So check your model. Update the firmware. Change the admin password. Turn off remote management. Replace the router if it no longer gets updates. Your router may be boring. But if it gets hijacked, it can become one of the most important security problems in your home.

Would you know how old your router is right now, or is it one of those devices you have not touched since the day it was installed? Let us know by writing to us at Cyberguy.com

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Gabbard says declassified biolab records validate concerns previously dismissed as misinformation

Sun, 14 Jun 2026 12:51:38 -0400

Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard released a trove of declassified records detailing U.S. funding of more than 120 biological laboratories across more than 30 countries, arguing the documents validate concerns that were previously dismissed as misinformation.

The release comes years after Gabbard drew criticism for raising concerns about U.S.-funded biolabs in Ukraine following Russia's 2022 invasion. Critics accused her of echoing Russian narratives, while supporters argued legitimate questions about the labs' activities and oversight were being unfairly dismissed.

The newly released records include ODNI briefing slides detailing the scope of U.S. involvement in Ukraine's laboratory network.

DNI TULSI GABBARD PROBES U.S. FUNDING TO MORE THAN 120 BIOLABS AROUND THE WORLD

One document states that more than 40 laboratories in Ukraine received U.S. funding and housed collections of dangerous bacteria and viruses, some dating back to the Soviet era. The records also show Ukrainian scientists received U.S.-funded training to work with hazardous pathogens and participated in a program focused on handling especially dangerous diseases.

The documents list pathogens studied or stored within the laboratory network, including anthrax, tuberculosis, plague, Ebola virus, Marburg virus, MERS and SARS.

Additional records detail U.S.-funded construction and upgrades at laboratories across Ukraine, including facilities in Kherson, Odesa and western Ukraine. The documents identify engineering firm Black & Veatch as a major contractor and show U.S. taxpayers spent between roughly $1.7 million and $3.5 million on individual laboratory projects.

LAWMAKERS DEMAND ANSWERS AFTER SUSPECTED BIOLAB DISCOVERED IN CHINESE NATIONAL'S LAS VEGAS HOME

One declassified assessment focuses on a veterinary research laboratory in Kharkiv that received Pentagon funding through the Defense Department's Biological Threat Reduction Program.

According to the assessment, the facility housed hundreds of samples of dangerous pathogens, including Brucella bacteria, which can cause a disease known as brucellosis. The document warned the lab could become a target of Russian propaganda efforts or be damaged, captured or otherwise compromised during the war.

Another ODNI slide outlines what it describes as a "web of connections" linking Ukrainian laboratories with U.S. government agencies, universities, research organizations and private contractors. The document says U.S. funding supported research on bird flu and other highly infectious viruses in high-security laboratories.

Gabbard said the documents demonstrate that the public was not given a full picture of U.S.-backed biological research programs overseas. Critics, however, maintain the facilities were part of long-running public health and threat-reduction efforts designed to secure dangerous pathogens and prevent biological proliferation rather than operate as biological weapons programs.

The declassification is likely to reignite debate over government transparency, gain-of-function research and the scope of U.S.-funded biological research overseas.

Tyra Banks sues Netflix, claims documentary edited interview to imply 'America's Next Top Model' cover-up

Sun, 14 Jun 2026 12:36:06 -0400

Nearly four months after Netflix released an explosive documentary chronicling the legacy and controversies of "America's Next Top Model," the show's creator, Tyra Banks, is suing the streaming giant for false light, defamation by implication, breach of contract and false endorsement.

According to the lawsuit filed on June 13 and obtained by Fox News Digital, Banks — who participated in the docuseries "Reality Check: Inside America's Next Top Model" — accused Netflix and the docs producers of deliberately editing her 3.5-hour interview down to 16 minutes to create the false impression that she knowingly concealed what a former contestant has since characterized as a sexual assault that occurred during the filming of "ANTM."

"Tyra Banks participated in the Netflix documentary series 'America's Next Top Model' because she believed viewers deserved a candid conversation about the show's legacy—its successes and its shortcomings," the lawsuit states. "There are aspects of the show for which Ms. Banks takes accountability and she wanted 'ANTM' viewers to hear that from her directly."

"Going into her interview, Ms. Banks did not limit the 'ANTM' topics the interviewer could ask," the lawsuit continues. "During a three-and-a-half-hour interview, Ms. Banks answered questions about the show's groundbreaking history, including criticism of decisions she would approach differently today."

'AMERICA'S NEXT TOP MODEL' CONTESTANTS LOBBY CALIFORNIA FOR BETTER REALITY TV PROTECTION AFTER NEW DOCUSERIES

Banks says the Netflix series was sold to her as a "documentary series" that would chronicle "ANTM," but says the viewers were "stripped of context and reassembled to support a false and defamatory narrative unrelated to what she actually expressed."

"Worse, the false narrative the producers constructed—through selective editing, deliberate omission, and surgical manipulation of continuous footage—included that Ms. Banks knowingly allowed a contestant to be sexually assaulted on her show, exploited that contestant’s trauma for ratings, and then could not even remember it when asked," the suit stated. "That narrative about Ms. Banks is a complete fabrication—one that Netflix streamed to a global audience of millions."

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The suit highlights one "egregious example of the producers’ manipulation to create a false narrative," involving former contestant Shandi Sullivan.

SUPERMODEL PAULINA PORIZKOVA EXPOSES DARK SIDE OF FASHION INDUSTRY THAT PREYED ON HER AT 15

"One of the areas of interest about ‘ANTM’ over the last twenty years has been about an evening during which Ms. Sullivan was intoxicated, had intercourse with a man in Milan, and quickly confessed her infidelity to her longtime boyfriend," the suit reads. "On the Netflix Series, Ms. Sullivan is shown describing the event as an assault—something Ms. Banks had never heard before and was not told during her interview. Having withheld that information, Ms. Loushy asks Ms. Banks: ‘You remember the story with Shandi?’ The episode shows Ms. Banks glance upward, say ‘um,’ and then the screen cuts to black. The implication is devastating and deliberate: that Tyra Banks cannot even remember the story of the woman who was assaulted on her show."

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Bank’s lawyers claim the "implication is false."

"Ms. Banks remembers Ms. Sullivan well. She stood out as a remarkable young woman and talented aspiring model. Ms. Banks also remembers the encounter in Milan as a matter of regret over infidelity. As far as she knew at the time, that was how everyone involved understood it—not as a sexual assault. Before it aired, no one involved in making or clearing the episode—not the producers, the network executives that oversaw the show, or the network’s standards-and-practices reviewers—told her that anyone regarded it as a sexual assault."

"Second, Ms. Banks goes on to say: 'I do remember her story.' That response was cut off from the end."

Banks' attorneys claim that producers "deprived viewers of truth by withholding from Ms. Banks the information about what others had said in their Netflix interviews and not providing her with an opportunity to respond."

"There are numerous other examples," the lawsuit states.

Representatives for Netflix did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment.

Banks, who is requesting a jury trial, is asking for an "appropriate" amount of punitive damages.

Spurs fan in a Dennis Rodman jersey goes viral trying to fight all of New York after Knicks win the NBA Finals

Sun, 14 Jun 2026 12:27:22 -0400

Nobody had a bigger night on Saturday night than Jalen Brunson. His 45-point performance in Game 5 locked down the NBA Finals MVP and the Knicks championship.

A close second in the running for the biggest night is a Spurs fan in a Dennis Rodman jersey. He went on a one-man mission in New York to find any celebrating Knicks fan who wanted a piece.

Most people moved out of the way as if he had some sort of invisible force field around him, but he did have a few Knicks fans take him up on the offer. Surprisingly, he fared pretty well against the crowd.

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He trades punches, keeps moving forward and nobody seems to have enough to slow him down. There are several altercations that take place before he receives a police escort outside.

Once outside, the Spurs fan went a couple more rounds with willing Knicks fans. His head was on a swivel, and he was pulling off one of those completely fake-looking movie fight scenes where the good guy takes out several bad guys at the same time. It's unbelievable to watch.

The force field was still in effect for those who wanted nothing to do with fighting him. A police officer outside eventually steps in and the Spurs fan disappears into the night with some celebrating Knicks fans following and taunting him.

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

If only the Spurs had half of this fan's fight. It would have been a different NBA Finals entirely. They turned to putty late in games when the Knicks were on the attack and in the process of putting them away.

Something tells me that wouldn’t be the case for this guy, who went viral in the latest chaotic scene in New York following an NBA Finals game.

Trump marks 80th birthday, now second octogenarian sitting president: 'Seemed to utterly defy age'

Sun, 14 Jun 2026 12:15:12 -0400

President Donald Trump turned 80 on Sunday, becoming only the second sitting U.S. president to reach octogenarian status in the Oval Office, leaving even his onetime political opponents marveling at his defying the effects of Father Time – even if his critics continue to share concerns they never had with the older former President Joe Biden, now 83.

"You don't have to wish me a happy birthday, because I'm not happy about that birthday that I'm having," Trump joked with Dr. Mehmet Oz, 66, in an Oval Office video shared Thursday on Instagram. "It's a number I haven't thought too much about.

"It's not a number I like, but I'm here nevertheless."

Trump's White House is celebrating his keeping up the fight with an Ultimate Fighting Championship on the South Lawn.

TRUMP LOOKING FORWARD TO ATTENDING UFC WHITE HOUSE EVENT FEATURING ‘ALL TOP’ FIGHTERS

"At least to date, he has seemed to utterly defy age," said Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas. The 55-year-old Cruz was a target of Trump's political fire a decade ago on the opposite side of the Republican presidential primary race.

"I don’t know where he gets the energy that he displays, but he is up early in the morning and late at night," Cruz added.

Trump, born June 14, 1946, in Queens, New York, crossed the threshold previously reached by Biden, who turned 80 in 2022 while serving in the White House. Trump was already the oldest president ever sworn into office when he began his second term in January 2025 at age 78.

RFK JR: DR OZ SAYS TRUMP HAS 'HIGHEST TESTOSTERONE LEVEL' HE’S SEEN IN A MAN OLDER THAN 70

"He has gained in stamina as he has gotten older," former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, 82, said recently.

Unlike Biden, whose age and mental acuity became a central political liability before he left office, Trump and his allies have repeatedly pointed to the president’s busy public schedule, frequent media appearances and hands-on governing style as evidence that he remains active and engaged.

Trump hailed his latest physical by White House Dr. Sean Barbabella declaring him to be in "exceptional" health and his cardiac age being "approximately 14 years younger than his chronological age."

TRUMP DECLARED 'FULLY FIT' FOR ALL PRESIDENTIAL DUTIES AFTER ANNUAL PHYSICAL SHOWS 'EXCELLENT HEALTH'

"They said I'm very healthy," Trump told "Pod Force One with Miranda Devine" earlier this month, saying he has "an obligation" to give periodic cognitive reports on his mental acuity after Biden's administration.

"I took a test and cognitive test and I got 100% on it. I got as the expression goes: I aced it. And the doctors told me it's very, very few people can ace. That's actually a tough test."

Trump noted Biden was able to skirt potential prosecution for retention of classified documents because special counsel Robert Hur declared Biden to be a "sympathetic, well-meaning, elderly man with a poor memory."

TRUMP PITCHES COGNITIVE TESTS FOR LEADERS, TAKES AIM AT HARRIS, WALZ, NEWSOM

"I have a great memory," Trump told Devine. "Look, so far so good. I hope I'm going to keep it that way.

"If I don't, you'll be the first to know. You'll say [after] this interview: 'This isn't the same Trump; I think he's lost it.'"

The White House has also sought to bolster that message with medical updates. Trump’s physician said the president remains in "excellent health" and "fully fit" to carry out the duties of commander-in-chief.

"Unlike other U.S. Presidents, none of whom have ever taken an approved, high difficulty, Cognitive Test, I scored a perfect 30 out of 30, considered 'extreme intelligence,'" the post began.

"Are the Dumocrats really surprised?"

WHITE HOUSE PROVIDES TRUMP HEALTH UPDATE AFTER MRI SCAN CONCERNS SWIRLED

Trump has long cast his stamina as a political asset, regularly contrasting his pace and public visibility with Biden’s more limited appearances during his presidency. Supporters say the difference is clear: Trump remains outspoken, combative and highly visible as he enters his ninth decade.

Some Democrats have seized on images of Trump's bruising of his hand and with his eyes closed during meetings and lengthy Cabinet news conferences, which Trump has noted provide unprecedented transparency and access to the administration lasting up to three hours of live back-and-forth.

"That's false: I've never seen him fall asleep," Secretary of State Marco Rubio, 25 years Trump's junior and another one-time target of Trump's political opposition, told a House Foreign Affairs Committee hearing this month.

WHITE HOUSE REPORTERS WENT FROM COVERING AN 'INVISIBLE PRESIDENT' BIDEN TO 'OMNIPRESENT' TRUMP: POLITICO

"On the contrary, the guy doesn't sleep, which is a big problem because he calls me at 2 in the morning. He calls me at 5 in the morning. And, you know, I like to sleep a little bit, maybe not 12 hours, but at least six. So he works. The other day he was at the Oval Office until 12:30 a.m.

"I don't know what you're talking about."

Sen. John Kennedy, R-La., 74, rejected age getting in Trump's way like it did for Biden, saying that "just because you’re 80 doesn’t mean you’re falling apart."

Trump’s birthday also arrives during a historically unusual stretch for America’s aging political class. Three baby boomer presidents — Trump, Bill Clinton and George W. Bush — all turn 80 in 2026. The latter two are long removed from active public service.

Trump is not looking to just rest after the UFC fight on the South Lawn on Sunday night. He plans to then travel early Monday to France for the annual G7 summit.

CNN panelist compares Hunter Biden, Gavin Newsom mash up to 'weird Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles’

Sun, 14 Jun 2026 12:09:40 -0400

CNN panelist Bakari Sellers compared Hunter Biden and California Gov. Gavin Newsom to a weird "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles"-style political pairing Saturday.

Sellers said some Democrats appeared drawn to the combative posture Biden and Newsom brought to the conversation during a "Table for Five" discussion about Biden defending Maine Democratic Senate nominee Graham Platner.

"You had two people that were together for a particular cause, right? A singular cause," Sellers said.

"And I think that a lot of times people assume that Gavin Newsom ascended to the level of popularity he did because he had the same type of arrogance, egomania and Twitter presence that Donald Trump did. And when you match him with Hunter Biden, you kind of get this really weird, like, ‘Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.’"

HUNTER BIDEN TRASHES DEMOCRATIC LEADERSHIP, HAILS GAVIN NEWSOM AS PARTY'S 'GREATEST WARRIOR'

The panel discussion came after CNN aired a clip of Biden defending Platner during an interview with Newsom despite the controversies surrounding the Maine Democrat.

"I have not heard anything in any way that would say to me that he is an abusive, misogynistic or antisemitic or racist person," Biden said.

Biden then pointed to Platner's progressive policy positions as a reason Democrats should not dismiss him.

"And I have heard this from Graham Platner, though, that he thinks we should all have free health care," Biden said. "I have heard this from Graham Platner also that he thinks that we have to radically change our politics. I have heard this from Graham Platner that working people are getting screwed."

SCANDAL-PLAGUED PLATNER CAPTURES DEMOCRATIC SENATE NOMINATION

CNN anchor Abby Phillip said the reaction from some Democrats to Biden's online attacks against President Donald Trump showed a willingness to elevate him despite broader concerns about the Biden family's political baggage.

"The Hunter Biden thing, like, first of all, I don’t think most people care one way or another," Phillip said. "Nobody really is like begging to hear from Hunter Biden. But the quickness with which some Democrats are like, ‘Oh, he’s trashing Trump online. Let’s elevate that,’ I don’t know. I mean, why?"

Former DNC communications director Xochitl Hinojosa said Democrats should be careful about rallying behind Platner nationally because women make up a critical part of the party’s coalition.

"One thing I think I would caution the Democratic Party more broadly about it, is, that women make up a majority of the electorate, especially independent voters," Hinojosa said.

'THE VIEW' ERUPTS AFTER HOSTIN DECLARES 'I WOULD HOLD MY NOSE' AND VOTE FOR SCANDAL-PLAGUED GRAHAM PLATNER

Hinojosa said the allegations surrounding Platner could create political risk for Democrats heading into the midterms and the 2028 presidential election.

"For national Democrats to really go out on a limb right now, I don’t think it is a smart idea for the reason that we need them to win in the midterm elections," Hinojosa said. "We need women to win in 2028, and we start alienating women. That is terrible for the Democratic Party."

Platner, an oyster farmer and Marine veteran, won Maine’s Democratic Senate nomination Tuesday and is expected to face Republican Sen. Susan Collins in November. Reuters reported that Platner has faced scrutiny over past online posts, a tattoo critics linked to Nazi imagery and allegations involving explicit texts.