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Wendy Williams delivers blunt 3-word plea in rare sighting amid guardianship battle

Sat, 22 Aug 2026 15:24:31 -0400

Wendy Williams had three words for the cameras during a rare New York City appearance.

On Wednesday, the former talk show host, 62, was spotted walking through the city, marking her first known public outing since February.

In a video, Williams was asked what she wanted to tell fans about "what she is going through." She fired back with three blunt words: "I want out!"

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Williams stepped out in a casual ensemble, pairing a black T-shirt with high-rise denim shorts and black boots. She carried a red handbag and walked alongside a male companion, chatting with him as they made their way through the city.

The terse response comes amid years of questions surrounding Williams’ health, personal life and court-appointed guardianship.

Williams was placed under the guardianship in 2022. Her daytime talk show was canceled that same year after 13 seasons, and she has largely stayed out of the public eye ever since.

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In February 2024, Williams' team announced that she had been diagnosed with primary progressive aphasia and frontotemporal dementia (FTD) in 2023, after years of speculation about changes in her behavior and speech.

WATCH: WENDY WILLIAMS DEMANDS FREEDOM WITH BLUNT GUARDIANSHIP PLEA: ‘I WANT OUT!’

"Over the past few years, questions have been raised at times about Wendy's ability to process information and many have speculated about Wendy's condition, particularly when she began to lose words, act erratically at times, and have difficulty understanding financial transactions," her team said at the time.

"In 2023, after undergoing a battery of medical tests, Wendy was officially diagnosed with primary progressive aphasia and frontotemporal dementia (FTD). Aphasia, a condition affecting language and communication abilities, and frontotemporal dementia, a progressive disorder impacting behavior and cognitive functions, have already presented significant hurdles in Wendy's life."

Williams has disputed that she has dementia.

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Her attorney, Joe Tacopina, took that denial further in December 2025, saying Williams had undergone an evaluation by New York City neurologist Dr. Samuel E. Gandy, who determined she "does not have frontotemporal dementia."

Tacopina has also raised the possibility that alcohol addiction played a role in Williams’ health struggles.

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"There’s something called alcohol-induced dementia. That may have been something Wendy was suffering from back in [2023], 24. She was an alcoholic, no question about it," Tacopina said during a "Nightline" segment. "Wendy was drunk almost 24 hours a day. She looked like she needed help. She did need help. She needed alcohol rehabilitation."

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Williams' struggles with alcohol addiction were previously documented in the Lifetime documentary series "Where Is Wendy Williams?," which examined the former star's life away from television.

After her diagnosis was announced in 2024, Williams thanked supporters who rallied around her.

"I have immense gratitude for the love and kind words I have received after sharing my diagnosis of Aphasia and Frontotemporal Dementia (FTD). Let me say, wow! Your response has been overwhelming. The messages shared with me have touched me, reminding me of the power of unity and the need for compassion. I hope that others with FTD may benefit from my story," she said in a statement to Fox News Digital at the time.

Todd Blanche vows to 'come after' bad actors following $400M TikTok settlement

Sat, 22 Aug 2026 15:21:57 -0400

Attorney General Todd Blanche praised the Justice Department's $400 million settlement with TikTok over allegations of children's privacy violations, saying the deal is a "fair, just and right result."

Speaking on "Saturday in America," Blanche said the deal addresses TikTok's past actions while helping protect children online.

"If companies and entities are not doing what they're supposed to do to make sure that happens, we're [going to] come after them," Blanche told host Kayleigh McEnany.

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The DOJ announced the agreement Friday, saying TikTok, ByteDance and affiliated entities agreed to pay $400 million to resolve litigation concerning compliance with the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA).

The DOJ filed the lawsuit under the Biden administration in 2024, and Blanche noted that TikTok has undergone major changes since the initial filing. He said the settlement underscores the U.S. government’s commitment to protecting young people.

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"Since that lawsuit was filed, as folks know, TikTok has undergone a meaningful change in ownership, leadership, management and their practices. And so, this lawsuit and the settlement of it takes into account the changes the company has made since the lawsuit was filed, which is exactly what we should be doing," Blanche said.

"It's a stark reminder and a real important note to anybody out there that we are [going to] protect children, and the internet has got to be a safe place for children," he added.

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Fox News Digital reached out to TikTok and ByteDance for comment but did not immediately hear back.

The DOJ said that TikTok has put in place several measures to protect young users, including age-related controls and enhanced parental oversight.

"Those developments have materially advanced the public interests underlying the Department's litigation and have strengthened protections for millions of American families," DOJ officials wrote in a statement.

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The attorney general said he was "happy" with the settlement.

"It's a big number. It's a lot of money that they agreed to pay to kind of address what happened in the past to make sure it doesn't happen in the future," Blanche said.

Under the terms of the settlement, TikTok and ByteDance will pay $300 million immediately and an additional $100 million "upon entry of an order vacating a prior consent decree entered against TikTok’s predecessor, Musical.ly."

Fox News’s Brie Stimson contributed to this report.

Alabama Crimson Tide names starter for week one: Get to know Bama quarterback Keelon Russell

Sat, 22 Aug 2026 15:20:58 -0400

With the college football regular season rapidly approaching, many position battles are starting to reach their logical conclusions.

One position battle in particular that has garnered a ton of press is the quarterback competition between Alabama Crimson Tide signal callers Austin Mack and Keelon Russell.

In an article I wrote about the battle last month, I said I wouldn't be shocked if the talented but inexperienced Russell seized the job from the elder statesman in Mack, and that is apparently precisely what happened.

This is a pivotal year for head coach Kalen DeBoer, as he needs to show Bama fans and boosters that he can get the program back to the heights they achieved under the great Nick Saban, so it's interesting he decided to go with the younger of the two quarterbacks.

However, I love the idea of picking the signal caller with the higher upside and more long-term potential for the program, and no quarterback in the country has higher upside than Russell.

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The redshirt-freshman hails from the Dallas-Fort Worth area where he played for high school powerhouse Duncanville.

The Panthers have produced an insane amount of Power 4 talent over the past several years, and I expect Russell to continue that trend.

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A former five-star recruit, Russell was the number one player coming out of the state of Texas, which if you know anything about high school ball, is an accomplishment in and of itself.

He had an uncanny mix of arm talent and accuracy, punctuated by his 67% completion percentage with only four interceptions his senior year, as well as the elite athleticism head coaches drool over.

Duncanville even captured a 6A state title with Russell at the helm, proving he's a winner even in a stacked league such as the highest classification of high school football in the Lone Star State.

Russell will get plenty of runway too, and I believe this is the hidden genius in the decision by DeBoer to ride with the youngster.

The Crimson Tide will open with East Carolina before traveling to Kentucky, and while you never want a redshirt freshman making his first SEC start on the road, getting to do so against a first-year head coach trying to rebuild a stagnant Kentucky program is about as good as it gets.

By the time Alabama welcomes Florida State to Bryant Denny Stadium, Russell will have an SEC road start under his belt, and he can help the Tide get their revenge for last season's debacle in Tallahassee.

Bama doesn't play a Playoff-caliber opponent until October 10 against Georgia, and by then, Russell will have half a season of experience to draw from.

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I believe Russell has the talent and pedigree to have the Crimson Tide firing on all cylinders by the end of the season, which is exactly when you want a championship contender to peak.

And, if he does elevate the Tide to the promised land, he will still be young enough to stick around for a few more seasons to try and repeat his success, meaning DeBoer won't have to spend another offseason breaking in a new quarterback as he's done the previous three years in Tuscaloosa.

This might be the spark DeBoer needs to reach the heights everyone thought he would when he accepted the Alabama job nearly three years ago.

Red Lobster brings back Endless Shrimp after promotion helped push chain toward bankruptcy

Sat, 22 Aug 2026 14:56:09 -0400

Red Lobster is once again offering its Endless Shrimp promotion, which contributed to millions of dollars in losses before the seafood chain filed for bankruptcy two years ago.

The company told Fox News Digital it decided to bring back Endless Shrimp because the promotion still matters enormously to its customers, who "never stopped asking for it."

"They continued telling us they missed it, showed up when we brought it back this spring and kept asking for more after that run ended," Red Lobster said.

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"We weren’t going to walk away from something they love simply because the previous operating model did not work," the company added. "The better answer was to fix what didn’t work and bring it back in a way that is right for our guests, our restaurant teams and the company."

According to Red Lobster, the spring run also proved the company could bring Endless Shrimp back in a way "that delights our guests and works for our restaurant teams and our business."

Participating locations began offering the current Endless Shrimp deal for a limited time on Aug. 17.

"Guests can mix and match five flavors endlessly throughout the meal for as much shrimp as they like, any way they like it," Red Lobster announced in a press release.

The lineup includes new garlic-bread-crusted shrimp, shrimp linguini Alfredo, garlic shrimp scampi, Parrot Isle coconut shrimp and Walt’s Favorite Shrimp — hand-breaded, butterflied shrimp lightly fried and served with cocktail sauce.

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Red Lobster closed dozens of locations nationwide in May 2024 before filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, Fox News previously reported.

Many analysts and media reports have cited the company’s decision to make Endless Shrimp a permanent offering as one factor behind its financial troubles.

Endless Shrimp returned to select Red Lobster locations in the spring of 2026, but the chain’s 37-year-old CEO, Damola Adamolekun, made it clear in a statement to affiliate FOX 13 Tampa Bay that the promotion would be available for a limited time only.

"The previous model did not work, so we did not repeat it," Red Lobster told Fox News Digital. "We rebuilt Endless Shrimp around much stronger operational and financial discipline, including better forecasting, kitchen flow, menu structure and restaurant support. We also designed the current offer to work as a dine-in experience, with pricing that can vary by market. The new standard is simple: Endless Shrimp has to work for the guest, the restaurant team and the business."

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The spring run of Endless Shrimp "met and exceeded our expectations in several important ways," Red Lobster told Fox News Digital.

"Guest satisfaction significantly outperformed the average for Red Lobster promotions, restaurant-team support was stronger than it had been in years, and our internal team Proud to Serve and Recommend scores both came in above historical levels," the company said. "Just as importantly, guests continued asking for Endless Shrimp after the promotion ended."

In June 2026, Adamolekun said he was planning "the greatest comeback in the history of the restaurant industry."

His plan includes streamlining operations, closing underperforming restaurants, increasing engagement with customers and tapping into their nostalgia.

One of the biggest lessons Red Lobster said it learned from the previous Endless Shrimp promotion was that "guest demand alone is not enough."

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The changes to Endless Shrimp are one example of how Red Lobster operates differently today, the company said.

"We are focused first on the guest, but that guest focus is backed by greater operational discipline and financial rigor. With Endless Shrimp, we took an experience guests love, addressed what wasn’t working and proved we could deliver it successfully under a stronger model. That same approach is guiding the broader business," Red Lobster said.

MLW's Doc Gallows 'proud' of winning tag team championship with teammate Karl Anderson

Sat, 22 Aug 2026 14:46:34 -0400

Doc Gallows and Karl Anderson, the tag team duo collectively known as the Good Brothers, were finally able to dispatch The Skyscrapers and win the Major League Wrestling (MLW) Tag Team Championship on "Fusion."

Gallows and Anderson defeated Donovan Dijak and Bishop Dyer (The Skyscrapers), ending their reign as champions after 317 days.

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The Good Brothers have now held the tag team championship in almost every promotion they have appeared in, including WWE and New Japan Pro-Wrestling. Gallows told OutKick in a recent interview that it was "another badge" on their vest.

"It's a proud feeling," he said. "This makes 10 times as world tag team champions and there are very few sets of titles that have eluded Karl Anderson and myself and those MLW titles were on that list. And after almost a year of battling back and forth with The Skyscrapers, what a great tag team – dynamic, big, rough athletic dudes – getting that victory at the signal at Chattanooga on MLW ‘Fusion’ was great and it's the 10th time. Ten times’ the charm."

Gallows has been in the pro wrestling industry for quite some time – as has Anderson. He made his WWE main roster debut in 2006 and has made a decorated career for himself.

The 42-year-old said he and Anderson have felt as good as they have ever felt.

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"… ‘Machine Gun’ and I, you know, we say it all the time, we feel better than we've ever felt," he said. "We feel more motivated than we've ever been. This past year has been great. Being able to go out and travel the world and go to Mexico, go to Japan, go to Australia, go to New Zealand, travel around the United States, Canada, and it was easy for us to kind of look at MLW as a home. I'm a fan of the show. I'm a fan of what they're doing on MLW ‘Fusion.’ So, the motivation is strong with us still."

The MLW tag team division now gets to step up to the challenge. Gallows said whoever does want to become the first ones to challenge them for the titles, they’re in for some vintage trouble.

"It’s the same old recipe, man. It's a Magic Killer one, two, three. It's just too sweet," he told OutKick. "The recipe proven time and time again. Every time they want us fall and every time you hear the clattering and you hear the chatter that the boys might be ready to hang it up, we pop right back up and we do something huge.

"I mean, we came off of a massive Japan tour. We won tag team titles in Australia, feuded with The Skyscrapers relentlessly. Spilled a lot of blood with those guys and ended up coming out victorious. So, you know, it's a badge of honor. It's a pride thing and it's like I said, very exciting time to be a fan and to be one of the wrestlers in the business as well."

What’s next in the immediate future? Gallows said "Talkin’ Shop Live" will return on Sept. 11 at The Windjammer in Charleston, South Carolina. The podcast is hosted by Gallows and Anderson and it will be held before MLW’s next round of tapings.

Bill Maher blasts Democratic Party, says it is fine with religion 'as long as that faith isn’t Jewish'

Sat, 22 Aug 2026 14:17:39 -0400

Comedian Bill Maher took aim at what he portrayed as the Democratic Party’s double standard on religion Friday, quipping that a candidate’s public faith is welcome "as long as that faith isn’t Jewish."

The segment came as CNN anchor Dana Bash discussed Texas Democrat James Talarico’s outspoken Christianity during a segment on "Real Time," saying he "wears his faith on his sleeve" in a way Talarico believes could help him.

"Well, in the Democratic Party, as long as that faith isn’t Jewish, you’re good," Maher retorted.

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"Well, you said it." Bash replied.

Maher then interjected: "Yeah, I said it because it's true!"

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The left-wing comedian's jab comes as Pew Research Center polling suggests a substantial percentage of shows 80% of Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents (80%) hold an unfavorable view of Israel, up sharply from 53% in 2022.

At the same time, 41% of Republicans and Republican-leaning independents surveyed hold a negative view of the Jewish state. 58% of those right-leaning voters have a positive view.

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The Democratic Party has also put forth a series of candidates, personalities and elected officials who espouse anti-Israel beliefs, including Michigan Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed and New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani. Far-left Twitch streamer Hasan Piker has repeatedly attacked Israel.

When reached for comment on Saturday, Sam Markstein, Republican Jewish Coalition national political director and spokesman, agreed with Maher and spoke of the GOP as the only party still willing to accommodate Jewish people who are proud of their identity and support of Israel.

"It’s a rare occasion when we agree with Bill Maher, but he’s right: there is only one party where American Jews can be proudly Jewish and loudly pro-Israel, and it’s the Republican Party," he told Fox News Digital.

"Democrats prove it again and again: from Kamala Harris passing over Josh Shapiro in 2024 to the rise of communist elected officials who traffic in antisemitism in halls of power across the country," he continued.

Markstein concluded by saying, "The Democratic Party is being remade by its radicalized base, and party leadership continues to fecklessly whistle past the political graveyard as American Jews flee."

Fox News Digital reached out to the Democratic National Committee for comment, but did not immediately hear back.

Israeli October 7 survivors conquer trauma alongside legendary rock icons in powerful new documentary

Sat, 22 Aug 2026 14:00:48 -0400

When Hamas terrorists attacked Israel on Oct. 7, ten Israeli musicians lost loved ones, friends and homes. But they refused to let the music die.

The new documentary "The Bridge," produced by "Friends" veteran Kevin Bright, follows these survivors as they team up with legendary rock icons in Los Angeles to turn their personal tragedy into a story of resilience and musical healing.

Bright told Fox News Digital that one moment during filming made him realize the documentary was special. "[I] think for me, one of the campers talking about how he lost everything in the conflict that day and all that was left was the volume control of his guitar," he said. "And so, to hear him say, 'the music wasn't gone, I could still control the volume' was something that really hit me hard."

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The group attended Rock ‘n’ Roll Fantasy Camp in Los Angeles, where amateur musicians jammed alongside some of the most influential artists in rock history. Founder and CEO David Fishof has run the program for nearly 30 years.

The Israeli musicians attended the camp only months after the October 7 terror attacks, which killed more than 1,200 people and saw more than 240 taken hostage. Their trip to the U.S. also came as anti-Israel protests spread across college campuses.

During the program, they worked with members of bands including Guns N’ Roses, Van Halen and Black Sabbath. The experience culminated in a final performance at the Viper Room in Los Angeles.

"That final performance at the Viper Room, they kind of tee it off by saying, this is the first time that Hebrew has ever been spoken on the stage of the Viper Room," Bright said.

"While they enjoyed playing a song in English after that, I think that moment allowed them to really carry their country, their personal pride in that country and present it through music to the audience that was there," he added.

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Brad Allgood, director and editor of the film, explained that during the final performance, many of the survivors were playing for loved ones lost in the conflict.

"Tuval [Haim] was playing drums, and he was playing 'My Hero' for his brother. Bar was playing with everything he had in honor of his father. Raz and Dov were singing in honor of their friends who died that day," Allgood told Fox News Digital. "Everybody was playing for somebody else, and you could feel it in the music."

Raz Shifer was one of the Israeli campers who participated in the program. She was at the Nova Music Festival when Hamas attacked on Oct. 7. More than 300 people were killed at the festival, and dozens were taken hostage. According to her biography on the documentary’s website, she escaped to a nearby kibbutz, but two of her friends were taken hostage, including Inbar Hayman, who died in captivity.

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Allgood said Shifer’s connection to music was "affected in a really deep way" after the attack. He said she had an emotional breakthrough during a welcome event for the program, where she shared her story publicly and got up to play.

"It was her first time really sharing her story in public," Allgood said. "After they shared their stories, they played ‘With a Little Help from My Friends’ and some other songs. And it was the first time that she was able to get on stage and just sort of let everything out. And she says that in the film was ‘the time I was able to just let everything all out.’"

He explained that the experience helped the survivors reconnect with music after the massacre.

"They couldn't sleep, they couldn't eat, they just sat on their couch trying to figure out what was going on. And this, whatever it is about music, it allows you to connect emotionally both with yourself and with others. It's a universal language and just there's something special about it that, you know, just jump-starts that process," Allgood said.

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Bright said the documentary avoids the political debate surrounding the Oct. 7 attack and instead focuses on the survivors’ experiences. "This was a human story, a human situation. People were traumatized and hurt. And it was about giving them a path forward to reach out and give something of yourself to give a path forward," he said.

"I think the music took all of the politics and religious judgmental aspects of it out and just made it about the music. Made it about having a good time. Made it about getting back on your feet and playing again," Bright continued.

"And you'll also hear in the film that many of these survivors were not able to even think about playing music for several months after the attack happened. So, it just provided a conduit for them to get back into the world and to deal with the unfortunate trauma they had suffered," he added.

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As for the title, Bright explained that it symbolizes the difficult transition from grief back to life. "The bridge is between trauma and healing, and music being the conduit or the suspension of that bridge that people walk through to come to the other side," Bright said.

"The Bridge" will roll out across select venues in North America starting Oct. 5, ahead of a wider theatrical release in November. The documentary premiered in Jerusalem on Wednesday, Aug. 19, with U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee and his wife in attendance, along with former Israeli President Reuven Rivlin.

FBI asked 'Sammy the Bull' if ex-Gambino mob prosecutor Comey knew meaning of '86': court filing

Sat, 22 Aug 2026 13:51:28 -0400

The FBI interviewed Salvatore Gravano, the former underboss of the Gambino crime family known as "Sammy the Bull," to ask if ex-FBI Director James Comey likely knew what the term "86" means, according to court documents.

Gravano, who had familiarity with Comey due to Comey's role as the lead prosecutor in United States v. John Gambino et al. in the 1990s, told an FBI case agent during a May 2026 phone call that Comey "had to know" what 86 meant, according to a sworn affidavit from his lawyer Patrick Fitzgerald supporting Comey’s motions to dismiss the case.

Comey is facing a case in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina, Eastern Division, accusing him of threatening President Donald Trump through his May 2025 "8647" seashell Instagram post.

"On May 8, 2026, the case agent had a telephone conversation with Salvatore 'Sammy the Bull' Gravano, the former Gambino crime family underboss who was one of the cooperating witnesses at the United States v. John Gambino trial," the affidavit, filed last month, reads.

"During the telephone conversation to discuss the logistics of his forthcoming interview, Mr. Gravano stated his belief that Mr. Comey had to know what the term '86' meant 'as it related to killing someone,'" the court documents say.

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The U.S. Department of Justice brought two federal charges against Comey – threatening the president and transmitting a threat in interstate commerce – in April for a social media post Comey made displaying a photo of seashells arranged on a beach to say "8647."

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Prosecutors alleged the photo was a reference to killing Trump, with "86" referring to a slang term for killing and "47" referring to Trump as the 47th U.S. president.

Comey’s defense lawyer cited the FBI’s interview with Gravano to challenge the claim that Comey’s Gambino prosecution meant he understood "86" as a reference to killing. Though Gravano told agents Comey "had to know" the term’s mob meaning, he said he did not recall ever discussing it with Comey. The filing also says FBI searches of the Gambino case materials found no references to "86."

"During the recorded interview, which lasted 25 minutes, Gravano said that '86' generally means to 'get rid of' and to him, as a 'gangster,' it means 'to kill,'" the affidavit said.

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Gravano added that he believed Comey's post was a call for violence, but not an admission that Comey himself would be carrying out said violence.

"While Gravano claimed that the post was a call for violence against President Trump ('let’s kill Trump'), Gravano did not claim Mr. Comey’s seashell post to be a statement threatening that Mr. Comey would personally kill President Trump," the affidavit read.

Comey has claimed that he found — and did not arrange — the seashell display and did not realize some people interpreted "86 47" as a violent message.

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"I don't see it the way some people are still saying it is, but again, I don't want any part of any violence. I've never been associated with violence, and so that's why I took it down," Comey told MSNBC's Nicolle Wallace in May 2025, alluding to the fact that he removed the post shortly after putting it up on Instagram.

Comey said he didn't think it had any dark intentions.

"I actually didn't think of it as political speech by me, but I thought, ‘What a clever way to express a political view.' The shells were the same color for each of the letters… It took a lot of work. Somebody with artistic flair did that, and I have a hard time believing it was anybody with a dark intention, and it certainly was no dark intention on my part or my spouse's part," he said.

Fox News Digital contacted the FBI and a legal representative for James Comey for further comment.

Trump trade chief warns Canada walked away from 'the best deal' to trigger 50% U.S. tariffs

Sat, 22 Aug 2026 13:37:06 -0400

U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said Canada walked away from "the best deal" to preserve its trade barriers against American goods after negotiations collapsed.

Speaking on "Fox & Friends Weekend," Greer said no further trade talks are scheduled as new 50% tariffs on roughly $20 billion worth of Canadian imports have taken effect.

"Our interest is in protecting American workers and protecting American supply chains. We've been offering to bring the Canadians along on that path, really to cut the tariffs on them on steel, on autos, even lumber, things that are sensitive for them," Greer said Saturday.

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"And they've always had the best deal, and they still would have an even better deal, but they didn't want that," he added.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney suspended trade negotiations with the United States late Friday, saying Washington made "unfair" last-minute changes to its proposed terms.

He then announced Canada would impose retaliatory tariffs against the U.S.

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In a statement released Friday, Carney said Canada will match U.S. tariffs "dollar for dollar to protect our workers and businesses."

"We have recognised from the beginning that America has changed, and that we will not return to our old relationship," Carney said. "Our government understood, before many, that America is altering all its trade relationships. Putting tariffs on its closest allies and charging for access to its vast market."

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"Canada has what the world wants. And we will not allow any nation to determine our future. We will set our own course to keep building Canada strong for all," he added.

Greer said it's "hard to say" whether trade talks will resume in the near future.

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"We don't have new talks planned with the Canadians. We're moving forward with measures that respond to Canadian retaliation," Greer said.

"Remember, as President Trump has introduced a trade policy to reshore American production and protect American jobs, two countries have retaliated against the United States, the People's Republic of China and Canada," he added.

Fox News’ Michael Sinkewicz contributed to this report.

Buffalo Bills lineman Ed Oliver suffers devastating drowning death of 2-year-old son and team is in mourning

Sat, 22 Aug 2026 13:35:41 -0400

Buffalo Bills defensive lineman Ed Oliver has been carrying a heavy burden over the past two months as it became public on Saturday that he has been mourning the loss of his 2-year-old son, who died in a drowning accident in June.

And now all of Western New York, which has adopted the Bills as family, is mourning.

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The Bills on Saturday released a statement when Oliver's tragic situation became public through social media speculation.

"On behalf of the entire Buffalo Bills organization, we want to publicly express our condolences to Ed Oliver and his family on the devastating loss of his son," a statement from Bill general manager Brandon Beane reads.

"It's an unthinkable tragedy for any parent. We will continue to support Ed and his family as we all grieve this tragic loss."

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Oliver's son, also named Ed, died at the family ranch near Houston in Harris County, Texas. He was pronounced dead after being found unresponsive in the pool on June 28.

No other details are known at this time.

Oliver did not make the trip with the team to Cleveland for Saturday's preseason game against the Browns.

He has, per the team, also been dealing with an unspecified injury that has caused him to miss practice the past few days but that has not prevented him from being around the team.

Oliver has been with the Bills since 2019, when he was drafted in the first round to upgrade the interior of the team's defensive line. He has become a staple of the unit with is run defense and has even contributed 30 sacks.

That seems less important now.

Oliver and his family are asking for privacy and prayers during this difficult time, a source said.

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Baker Mayfield's contract frustration and Mike Evans departure cloud Buccaneers' 2026 outlook

Sat, 22 Aug 2026 13:34:07 -0400

When a franchise successfully transitions out of a legendary era without collapsing into a total rebuild, maintaining momentum becomes the ultimate goal. Few teams in the NFL have managed that post-superstar transition quite like the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. With head coach Todd Bowles entering another year at the helm and quarterback Baker Mayfield firmly entrenched as the franchise leader, Tampa Bay is aiming to prove that its reign atop the NFC South is far from over and that its postseason pedigree is here to stay.

The Buccaneers once again found themselves locked in a tight divisional battle, ultimately losing out on the NFC South crown. At their best, Mayfield was playing with confidence, pushing the ball downfield and making big plays in high-leverage situations while the offense operated with real rhythm. At their worst, defensive secondary lapses and occasional offensive lulls kept opponents in games longer than necessary. Mayfield looked like an MVP for the first half of the season when the team went 6-2. After their bye week, the wheels fell off as they lost seven of their final nine games. Injuries were an issue all year, but they still needed to be better than what they showed.

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The biggest issue in my opinion with this offseason is that Mayfield has kind of expressed frustration, or disappointment, with the franchise. They were apparently far apart on a contract, and that could make Mayfield a little less motivated for the team. They also lost one of the best players in franchise history in Mike Evans as he went to San Francisco. They have plenty of receivers, but Evans was still dominant and had a good connection with Mayfield. They also lost a cornerback who was a solid contributor to the defense, Jamel Dean. They did some solid additions to the defense with Alex Anzalone and A’Shawn Robinson. Cade Otton, their tight end, is back, so Mayfield will have another weapon.

There is a solid reason for optimism when looking at Tampa Bay’s roster makeup. The offense operates smoothly with Mayfield, supported by a proven receiving corps capable of winning at all three levels of the field. The run game has shown steady improvement, providing much-needed balance to keep defenses from dropping seven into coverage on every third down.

On defense, Todd Bowles’ unit remains aggressive and physical up front, anchored by strong interior line play that shuts down opposing ground games. However, depth in the secondary and consistency against high-octane passing attacks remain areas that could be tested if injuries accumulate during the autumn stretch. Adding Zac Robinson as the new offensive coordinator should also prove a good addition.

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BETTING PREVIEW FOR PATRIOTS AFTER FALLING SHORT IN THE SUPER BOWL AND CONTROVERSIAL OFFSEASON

In case you forgot, last year the Buccaneers were luckier than good. I saw Mayfield make some spectacular plays and save the day for them in the majority of their wins. Looking at their schedule for this year, they have a tough time. Their win total is at 8.5, and I just don’t see them getting over the total. I think the Falcons will likely be better, and the Panthers have a bit of momentum. I’m not taking anything on them, but I would lean to the under 8.5 if I had to play anything. I think my favorite bet for them is that they will be 1-4 after five games. That pays out at +500.

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Why the Rays' Shane McClanahan vs. Orioles pitching matchup looks like a betting gift

Sat, 22 Aug 2026 13:20:12 -0400

I've talked about this before, but there are some games where the line just stands out to you. Normally, it is because you feel like the book is really off about something. In my experience, I've either been a huge winner because of this, or I temper my expectations because I feel like there is something I have to be missing that the books know. That's how I feel about today's game between the Rays and Orioles. The line is off, but maybe I'm missing something. The only way to find out is to throw some cash on it.

The Tampa Bay Rays are among the best teams in baseball, and they were a team that was predicted to be essentially a .500 team. As of right now, they own the American League East and the best record in the American League. They only need to hold up for another few weeks in order to get to the finish line. The Yankees are still chasing them, despite all the injuries, and the Red Sox are within a reasonable striking distance. They aren't playing great baseball at the moment, having lost three of the last five, but they are still in a good spot.

What is surprising to me about today's game is that Shane McClanahan is on the bump for the Rays, and they are only moderate favorites to beat the Orioles. For the season, McClanahan is 9-6 with a 3.25 ERA and a 1.12 WHIP. Perhaps the reason is that he hasn't been great on the road this season, throwing to a 4.31 ERA in away games. It really isn't the result of home runs or hits. It seems that his control just isn't quite as good. He has 21 walks in 48 innings on the road, compared to 14 in 54 innings at home. The other reason is that he has allowed seven earned runs in 13.2 innings over three starts against the Orioles. However, his best start against them came on the road, when he allowed just three hits in 5.1 scoreless innings.

The Baltimore Orioles are a team we've spoken about frequently in these articles. They didn't get the season they were hoping for, but there is some reason for positivity. Their signing of Pete Alonso was great. Gunnar Henderson has shown good pop, even if he has struck out far too much. But I suppose the best thing to keep in mind is they got some decent returns for the players they traded away midseason. It isn't going to help them this year, but when you're already looking forward to next season, some positivity helps.

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Another bright spot in the dark year has been today's hurler, Brandon Young. For the season, Young is 9-3 with a 3.52 ERA and a 1.35 WHIP. He has been solid at home this year with a 3.39 ERA. Young is a guy the Orioles probably will lean on next season as well. With his numbers, he can reasonably fit into the middle of their rotation and not have any real issues. He has faced Tampa once this season, it was his most recent start, and he allowed four earned runs (three homers) over four innings of work.

When I looked at the pitching matchup I just kind of scratched my head on why this wasn't a -165 or higher game. McClanahan doesn't go overly deep, but the Rays have one of the better bullpens in baseball. Sure, Young should make some adjustments and improve on his performance. However, McClanahan should as well. I just don't see why the Orioles are getting love. I'll temper my expectations a bit in case I'm missing something, but I'm taking the Rays because I think this line is a gift from the books.

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Diamondbacks star spotted at casino during team's game after no-showing to stadium earlier in the week

Sat, 22 Aug 2026 13:10:22 -0400

Arizona Diamondbacks star Ketel Marte’s strange week took another turn on Friday.

Marte began his week by failing to show up to Fenway Park for the team’s game against the Boston Red Sox on Monday and was scratched from the lineup minutes before first pitch. He was then placed on the restricted list and seemingly had no contact with the team until Thursday.

On Thursday, Marte and team officials reportedly had a lengthy meeting, after which the Diamondbacks placed the 32-year-old on the injured list with left knee inflammation.

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On Friday, while the Diamondbacks were playing the Cincinnati Reds at Chase Field, Marte was spotted by fans gambling at Talking Stick Resort, a casino. In one video, Marte is shown at the tables while the Reds-Diamondbacks game was on a TV nearby.

Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo was asked about Marte’s casino run after the team’s 9-0 win.

"He’s free to do whatever he wants," Lovullo told reporters postgame. "That’s how I look at it. As long as he wakes up tomorrow morning and posts, and gets his work done at Salt River, which I am certain he will, that’s all that matters to me right now."

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The reason for Marte’s absence is not yet known publicly. The Diamondbacks are one game back of the San Diego Padres for the final Wild Card spot in the National League and will be forced to battle without Marte for the foreseeable future.

Diamondbacks reliever Kevin Ginkel said there is no explanation for what is going on with Marte.

"For us to go where we want to go, we’ve got to have him here," Ginkel said before the game, according to The Athletic.

"It’s disappointing how the things that happened happened. There’s really no explanation for it."

Marte, who has spent the last 10 seasons with the Diamondbacks and is one of the best players in franchise history, is a key cog in the team’s lineup. In 118 games this year, he has a .249 batting average with 21 home runs and 67 RBIs.

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The Diamondbacks (68-61) will look to continue their postseason push when they play the Reds (61-68) in the second game of their three-game series on Saturday at 8:10 p.m. ET.

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Healthy athlete had no symptoms before mandatory heart screening revealed hidden defect

Sat, 22 Aug 2026 13:09:04 -0400

A high-school student-athlete with a potentially life-threatening heart defect had no symptoms and only learned of his condition through a screening required by Florida law.

The state’s Second Chance Act went into effect July 1 ahead of the 2026-2027 school year and requires students in grades 9 through 12 to undergo at least one electrocardiogram (ECG) screening the first time they participate in or try out for interscholastic athletics, with certain exceptions, affiliate FOX 13 Tampa Bay reported.

An ECG, also called an EKG, is a simple, noninvasive test that measures the heart’s electrical signals and can help identify irregular rhythms or other signs of heart trouble.

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For Cameron Crider, a sophomore football and basketball player at Calvary Christian High School in Clearwater — which requires ECGs for all student athletes, the screening led doctors to discover an atrial septal defect (ASD), a congenital heart defect involving an opening in the wall between the heart’s two upper chambers.

If a significant ASD is left untreated, the extra blood flow can strain the heart and lungs over time and may lead to complications such as pulmonary hypertension (high blood pressure), heart failure, and, in some cases, stroke.

"I’ve been playing [sports] my whole life and didn’t notice anything, so I was surprised because I haven’t felt anything," Cameron told FOX 13.

"[Cam was] going to a three-hour football practice and then a two-hour basketball practice back-to-back, and never having fatigue or shortness of breath, or, you know, anything that you would think would be a warning sign," his mother, Laura Crider, told the station. "So, we were completely shocked."

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Crider is scheduled for surgery to fix the ASD in October and is expected to be able to play sports again next season.

The mandatory ECG is "a gift from God that has been given to us, truly," Laura Crider said.

"We were able to find this out in a doctor’s office with an explanation and a clear plan that says we can help you, and so many of these other parents who are advocating for these screenings, they had to find out through a tragedy," she continued.

Up to 80% of young athletes who suffer sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) — the leading cause of death during exercise — don’t have any warning symptoms prior to their arrest, Dr. Jonathan Drezner, MD, director of the University of Washington Medicine Center for Sports Cardiology, told Fox News Digital.

Because intense physical activity places additional stress on the heart, undetected heart conditions can become dangerous during sports, the American Heart Association (AHA) told Fox News Digital.

"Sudden cardiac arrest is not the only concern," the AHA said. "These conditions can also lead to other serious heart-related complications and may require monitoring, treatment, or restrictions on athletic participation to keep students safe."

The AHA does not currently recommend mandatory EKG screenings for every student athlete.

"A heart assessment that includes a review of a student's personal and family history along with a physical examination is the best way to identify serious heart conditions that can lead to cardiac events in student athletes," the AHA said. "If the comprehensive heart assessment raises concerns, health care professionals can order appropriate follow-up testing, such as an ECG, echocardiogram, heart monitor or other advanced imaging based on the suspected diagnosis."

The AHA and American College of Cardiology support what they say is an "evidence-based, layered approach to identify heart issues so they can be diagnosed, monitored and treated as early as possible."

According to Drezner, an ECG screening, when interpreted properly, is one of the best screening tools in medicine.

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"An ECG greatly increases our ability to detect conditions associated with SCA in the young," he said. "A standard sports physical by history and physical alone will miss 80-90% of kids with at-risk heart conditions. An ECG can suggest or detect about 80 percent of the conditions that put young persons at risk. It is not perfect, but it is far better than the standard sports physical."

Though healthy athletes and young people can have a potentially lethal heart condition and not know it, Drezner said chest pain, passing out and a racing heart are symptoms that should not be ignored.

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"Make sure your child feels well when they exercise," he advised. "If you have a family history of genetic heart conditions or SCA, you should bring this up with your child’s doctor. And get your child a proper heart screen with an ECG."

Detroit schools offer students up to $1,000 for perfect attendance as program expands

Sat, 22 Aug 2026 13:00:02 -0400

Detroit Public Schools Community District (DPSCD) paid students up to $1,000 for perfect attendance and is expanding the incentive program to middle schoolers after district officials say it successfully reduced chronic absenteeism.

Now in its second year, the "Perfect Attendance Pays" initiative targets the winter months—running from Jan. 5 to March 20 —when attendance historically dips across the district.

"DPSCD is continuing the Perfect Attendance Pays initiative for the 2026–27 school year for high school students and expanding it to include middle school students. At the middle school level, parents of eligible students with perfect attendance during each five-day cycle will receive a $50 gift card," a district spokesperson told Fox News Digital on Friday.

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District officials clarified that the financial incentives are not funded by taxpayers or standard state educational aid.

"The incentive is funded through interest generated through District funds awaiting to be used for facility projects. Federal and state revenue is not used to fund the incentive, nor is the incentive offered on fall or spring count days," the spokesperson added.

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Detroit Public Schools has been hit hard by a national chronic absenteeism epidemic, recording a 60.9% chronic absentee rate for the 2024–25 school year.

According to Sarah Winchell Lenhoff, director of the Detroit Partnership for Education Equity and Research at Wayne State University, more than half of Detroit students regularly miss class. Lenhoff defines chronic absenteeism as missing 10% or more of the school year—equivalent to 18 or more days in a standard 180-day calendar.

District officials told Fox News Digital that attendance metrics in high schools have improved since launching the incentive program.

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"This initiative has already been proven with our students and families to reduce chronic absenteeism," the district spokesperson said.

"Specifically, high school chronic absenteeism declined by 7 percentage points two years ago when the incentive was first offered and another 2 percentage points last year. We also believe that the incentive has contributed to the District being named as being in the 90th percentile with reducing chronic absenteeism since the pandemic as compared to districts nationally, based on the Education Recovery Scorecard recently released by Harvard/Stanford."

District promotional materials and social media flyers detail how payouts work, noting that eligibility is calculated weekly across five-day cycles, with eligible high schoolers earning up to $100 per week in gift cards or cash equivalents toward the $1,000 season cap.

"Strong attendance matters: Students are three to five times more likely to be at and above grade level if they miss 18 or fewer days of school per year. Families, your support is essential. Help your student take advantage of District resources and remove barriers to consistent attendance," the district posted on Facebook.

School districts nationwide continue to grapple with severe post-pandemic attendance drops, prompting several urban systems to experiment with direct financial incentives, rideshare vouchers, and community outreach to bring students back to the classroom.

Crystal Hefner felt 'absolutely brainwashed' during Hugh Hefner marriage, reveals strict Playboy mansion rules

Sat, 22 Aug 2026 12:00:28 -0400

Crystal Hefner is reflecting on her complicated relationship with the late Playboy founder Hugh Hefner.

The former Playboy Playmate, who was married to Hefner at the time of his death, shared details about her life behind the gates of the Playboy Mansion during an appearance on the "No One Asked Her" podcast with Billy Ray Cyrus' ex-wife, Firerose.

"I think I was absolutely brainwashed, but there was nothing out there that validated me," Crystal said.

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"So I just thought I was the crazy one because all of the media put Hef on such a pedestal that I'm like, 'OK, if they all see him as this larger-than-life amazing human, there must be something wrong with me."

"I would watch interviews of his from the past and there was this one where he was arguing with feminists and a woman said, 'Uh, let's see you parade out here with a bunny tail on and stuff.' And then she said, 'Calling women animals,' ... and he said, 'Women are animals; what else would they be?'"

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She noted, "At that time, I was like siding with him and ... like, I'm going against myself while he keeps me in this dilapidated, gross home and I can't see my family."

Crystal, 40, recalled being under the watch of 70 employees during her time at the Playboy Mansion.

WATCH: HOLLY MADISON RECALLS PLAYBOY FOUNDER HUGH HEFNER'S ‘JEALOUS STREAK’

"I remember when I left, I mean, it took him dying for me to leave, but when I finally left, I didn't even know how to turn the headlights on in my car because I was always home before dark."

She added, "Movie night was at six, and that's an early time and I had to be there ... so it was kind of disguised — the coercive control, like, 'Oh, that's the time for movie night.' OK, that's the time for my curfew and my control."

Crystal began dating Hefner when she was 21 years old. The couple got engaged in 2010 when she was 24 and the Playboy founder was 84.

They called off their wedding just days before the ceremony in 2011 but later reconciled. Crystal and Hefner married in 2012 and remained together until his death in 2017. He was 91.

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She told Firerose that she struggled to leave the house after he died.

"I was so confused," she said. "In the media, he was old for so long, so you just, you see him as kind of immortal."

Crystal added, "I couldn't stay in the bedroom we stayed in, but I stayed in one bedroom of the house for like six weeks. I didn't leave."

Shortly after Hefner's death, Crystal told Fox News Digital she was thankful for her marriage to the late business mogul.

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"He taught me love. He taught me kindness. He gave me life. He really did," she explained. "He opened my mind, my world, to all of these opportunities and experiences I would have never in my lifetime been able to have."

In her 2024 memoir, "Only Say Good Things: Surviving Playboy and Finding Myself," Crystal detailed more about her life post Playboy. Playboy didn’t respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment about Crystal's book at the time.

"I think after leaving the [Playboy] mansion and being away for five years, I was in a lot of therapy," Crystal told Fox News Digital. "I realized that the mansion affected me more than I thought. I just wanted to tell the truth about my time there and hopefully help others."

She claimed their nearly five-year union was "emotionally abusive," and wrote that Hefner "could be charming" but also "cruel."

"Over a little bit of time, I gained a bit of weight, and he told me that I needed to tone up," Crystal said. "Then he started telling me what color nails I could have and couldn’t have. [I had to] wear more colorful shirts, wear ‘the flag,’ which means the Playboy logo on my body, somewhere on my shirt. I had to dye my roots, bleach my roots. If that was growing out, he would tap it and tell me to go fix it."

Looking back at their marriage, she said that her late husband, a leader in America’s sexual revolution, was a complicated figure.

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"When I was told what to wear, what to do and to lose weight, I thought, ‘I’m going to be better. I can do better,’" she said. "I don’t know why my mind went there at that time instead of ‘How dare you treat me this way?’ But I’m not sure what compelled me to protect him.

"Maybe, in a way, I felt sorry for him. Maybe, in a way, it was Stockholm syndrome, which I truly believe happened there because it was such a bubble. But I did feel compelled to protect him for some reason."

There's a difference between coaches who 'can't' win a national championship and coaches who 'haven't'

Sat, 22 Aug 2026 11:52:21 -0400

Ladies and gentlemen, college football is nearly upon us.

In just seven days' time, week zero will be gracing our television with all sorts of pigskin perfection, and one of the byproducts of having college football back in our lives is the myriad "offseason arguments" that plague our timelines on a near daily basis will be a thing of the past.

Unfortunately, one argument that is borderline evergreen and exists as both an offseason and in-season debate is whether certain coaches will ever win a national championship, and it has reared its ugly head on social media once again.

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I've seen fans from across the country making their claims that coaches like Dan Lanning and Steve Sarkisian "will never" or "can't" win a national title, and, as usual, a topic that requires a ton of nuance and context has been boiled down to a singular phrase.

"This coach will never win a natty because he hasn't won one yet."

It's insane, especially when you consider just the pure math that goes into this argument.

There were 138 FBS teams in 2025, and there was only one national champion.

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Now take into account that there are only four active coaches in FBS that have won a national title (Dabo Swinney, Kirby Smart, Ryan Day, and Curt Cignetti), and you realize how hard it is to actually win one.

I don't think it's fair to say guys like Sark and Lanning can't win a title, especially considering how young they are, relatively speaking.

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They "can" win one, they just haven't done it yet.

As long as they keep going to the College Football Playoff and taking swings (and given the talent they have on their respective teams), they are bound to win one eventually.

There is a good chance they don't, that's just the nature of college football, but they are more than capable of doing so.

I mentioned Georgia's Kirby Smart as one of the few active national champions, but that obviously wasn't always the case.

Kirby was one of the former "can't win the big one" coaches, and for a while, plenty of rivals, and even Bulldog fans, thought that would end up being the case.

"He can't get over the hump."

"He chokes in big games."

"Nick Saban is his daddy."

And then he won it all. Twice.

Then all the fans and pundits who crowned Kirby as the coach who couldn't get it done moved onto the next target: Ohio State's Ryan Day.

The same arguments they made about Kirby they just shifted to Day, until he won it all two seasons ago.

The detractors didn't apologize, they just moved their sights to a different victim.

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Those victims are now Lanning and Sark, and they'll continue to be until either of them win the big one.

That's how this thing goes.

So enjoy college football season, and remember the difference between a coach who "can't" win a national championship and one who "hasn't" yet.

Seattle Seahawks lose wide receiver Jake Bobo to 'serious' knee injury during joint practice

Sat, 22 Aug 2026 11:37:09 -0400

The reigning Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks were dealt a big blow on Friday.

Wide receiver Jake Bobo was carted off the field during the team’s joint practice with the Tennessee Titans, and head coach Mike Macdonald called it a "serious" injury.

"Our heart goes out to Jake Bobo," Macdonald told reporters. "It seems like it's going to be a serious knee (injury). We're going to get it imaged, but early returns are (that) it looks like it's a long-term injury. That's unfortunate."

The 28-year-old wide receiver got hurt along the sideline and needed help to get onto the cart. Players from both teams took a knee, while Macdonald said the team prayed for Bobo. His right leg was outstretched on the cart.

"It hurts, man," Sam Darnold said of Bobo’s injury. "He's one of those guys that he works, he talks a lot of stuff and he's kind of like (Devon Witherspoon) in a way, offensively. He brings the juice every single day, and he just does his job. So it sucks to lose Bobo but I know he's going to attack it and be better whenever he comes back."

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Bobo was entering his fourth season with the team after making the roster in 2023 as an undrafted rookie. In 45 career games, Bobo has 34 catches for 323 yards and three touchdowns.

While also serving as a solid depth receiving option, Bobo is an integral part of the Seahawks’ special teams. The Jacksonville Jaguars tried to pry Bobo away with a two-year, $5.5 million deal, but Bobo was a restricted free agent and the Seahawks matched the offer, keeping him in Seattle.

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"He's a beast, man," Macdonald said. "Just a great football player, a great Seahawk. Hopefully we reflected that in our investment in him. But we love him, we'll be there beside him as he recovers and we pray it's a speedy recovery. But we love him."

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MLW star Austin Aries offers blunt take on winning ahead of massive title defense: 'I'll do whatever it takes'

Sat, 22 Aug 2026 11:32:42 -0400

Austin Aries returned gold around his waist when he dethroned Blue Panther to capture the Major League Wrestling Openweight Championship at the company’s Lucha Apocalypto event, which was co-hosted by Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre (CMLL) earlier this year.

Aries told OutKick in a recent interview that he believes he’s still performing at a high level and the title reign has helped him come to a realization that, yes, taking a shortcut can lead to success.

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"Even at this stage in my career, I still think that I'm performing at a level that very few men can reach," Aries said. "But I think the one thing that works in my advantage is I've proven over my career I'll do whatever it takes to win. And if that means taking a little shortcut or a little misdirection or a thumb in the eye, so be it, because that's what I've realized.

"One of the biggest lies that was sold to me as a kid is that is that bad guys never win. Cheaters never win. What a load of crap that was. If you look around the world, most of the people in positions of wealth and power got there by cheating. Got there by taking advantage of somebody. Got there by being dishonest, right? And so, we tell kids like, ‘Oh, honesty is the best policy and cheaters never win.’ And then you grow up and you realize, ‘Wait a minute, that's a lie. It's actually the opposite.’ Right? If you look around the real world, everyone who's winning is doing it by taking a shortcut."

With the Openweight Championship, Aries wants to set the bar high.

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He’s done that already with a successful defense against Diego Hill. He’s also continued to showcase his talents in CMLL multiple times.

Saturday night, Aries walks into MLW "Fusion" with another goal – dispatching Místico and Averno in a three-way match with his title on the line. Místico called his shot last week and made a one-on-one match between Aries and Averno into the multi-man extravaganza.

Aries and Místico have some history as does the Lucha grappler with Averno.

"It's interesting. When you get three men in the mix, right, one-on-one, usually the strategy is pretty straightforward," he told OutKick. "You can't have a straightforward strategy when you're in a three-way. And so, the one thing I do know is that Místico and Averno, there's no love lost between those two. They've got some history with each other.

"So maybe I can leverage that and I can maybe get Averno to work with me a little bit as opposed to against me. But again, I've been saying Místico has been ducking me. He wanted to put the challenge out there and, put himself in this match. Let's do it."

MLW fans will get to see whether Aries retains his title on "Fusion," which can be seen on YouTube, beIN Sports and Veeps.

Paramount accuses Mark Ruffalo of invoking 'antisemitic tropes' in Warner Bros. Discovery merger dispute

Sat, 22 Aug 2026 11:32:36 -0400

Paramount pushed back Saturday after actor Mark Ruffalo invoked the Israel-Gaza conflict while attacking the Ellison family’s proposed Warner Bros. Discovery merger, accusing the Marvel star of injecting "antisemitic tropes" into what it described as a corporate dispute.

"[The company is] troubled when antisemitic tropes are invoked in purported service of a business dispute," a spokesperson for the company said, according to Variety.

"Words like ‘genocide’ and ‘apartheid,’ applied to a corporate transaction, aren’t just wrong — they’re a bridge too far, and they cheapen the very real suffering those words are meant to describe."

CALIFORNIA AG ROB BONTA FACES ‘POLITICAL FAVOR’ CLAIMS OVER NETFLIX-LINKED $1M TRAIL IN PARAMOUNT SUIT

The spokesperson added that the company does not "tolerate prejudice of any kind, against anyone."

When reached for comment by Fox News Digital, Ruffalo said, "The accusation that I am antisemitic is appalling and fundamentally dishonest. Criticizing the actions of the Israeli prime minister, a military technology contract, or the executives who supply it is not the same as criticizing Jewish people. This critical and necessary dialogue is then dishonestly framed as being anti-Israel."

He added, "To be clear, my views come from my own political convictions and should never be interpreted as hostility toward Jewish people, for whom I have deep love and respect. Everything I know about acting, activism, and humanism has been profoundly shaped by the Jewish friends, colleagues, and loved ones who have been integral and family throughout every point of my life."

Curtis Houck, managing editor at the Media Research Center's NewsBusters, told Fox News Digital: "Paramount Skydance was absolutely right to respond to this actual, serious anti-Semitic smear," Houck said.

"The left lazily cries anti-Semitism when the right criticizes George Soros, but here it's absolutely warranted in the level of detail about Oracle seeming having mythical powers to team up with the world's only Jewish state to supposedly commit genocide. Because Paramount Skydance is the currently one of the bad guys in the eyes of the left, there's little chance Ruffalo will face sustained pushback from the liberal elitist press."

Paramount's comments came after Ruffalo took to Instagram to sound off on the potential merger that has caused a stir in some circles, including among several state attorneys general.

Ruffalo wrote of Oracle, "This is the company that Larry Ellison is using to fund his son David's Warner Bros acquisition."

Referencing reposted video remarks of Paramount board member Safra Catz appearing to tout the "really profoundly scary technologies" Oracle used to assist the Israeli military following the Hamas terrorist attacks of Oct. 7, 2023, Ruffalo continued:

HASAN PIKER STANDS BY 'INTENTIONALLY PROVOCATIVE' CLAIMS THAT HAMAS IS 'A THOUSAND TIMES BETTER' THAN ISRAEL

"These 'really profoundly scary technologies' will most likely be merged into one of the largest media conglomerates in the world and one day used on you. Look how she revels in what we now have come to see as a genocide, which was built on an apartheid system of oppression powered by Oracle," he added.

Ruffalo's post continued, accusing Larry Ellison of wielding outsized power through the proposed deal, branding the Oracle founder a "classic Oligarch" and alleging the merger would further consolidate wealth and influence among a small group of elites.

He also said the transaction would harm workers and the film industry, pointing to an ongoing lawsuit brought by 12 state attorneys general seeking to block it. Ruffalo alleged the merger could eliminate 4,500 filmmaking jobs and another 10,000 related positions, arguing such consolidations are typically bad for workers, consumers and the industries they come to dominate.

"Really profoundly Scary people," he said in closing.

NEWSOM SAYS FILM TAX INCENTIVES ARE BRINGING HOLLYWOOD HOME BUT INDUSTRY EXPERTS WARN IT MAY BE 'TOO LATE'

Christian Toto, the editor of Hollywoodintoto.com and host of the Hollywood in Toto podcast, told Fox News Digital, "Mark Ruffalo went too far. It's that simple. He's gotten essentially a pass for some time now, blending his political activism with extreme pro-Palestinian thoughts. He kept pushing and pushing, and now Paramount, Inc. has had enough. The massive merger deal is the biggest news in Hollywood, which magnifies everything said around the subject"

Fox News Digital reached out to representatives for Ruffalo regarding Paramount's response, but did not immediately receive a reply.

Fox News Digital also reached out to Paramount for additional comment.

Test your pop culture: From Hollywood to the Heartland

Sat, 22 Aug 2026 11:30:52 -0400

The Pop Culture Quiz is your weekly test of what’s making headlines and breaking the Internet, from the Heartland to Hollywood.

This week's quiz spotlights Hollywood getaways and surprising new beginnings.

Can you get all 5 questions right?

For more Entertainment articles, visit www.foxnews.com/entertainment

To try your hand at more quizzes from Fox News Digital, click here.

Rogan says Dems 'full of sh--' if they won't specify which 'Woke 1.0' stances went too far, strategists agree

Sat, 22 Aug 2026 11:15:18 -0400

Podcaster Joe Rogan warned Democrats that the only way to escape their "woke" reputation is to give specifics on where their policies went wrong and why they were wrong to support them.

"If you really thought ‘Defund the Police’ and then you just ascribed it to ‘Woke One was crazy,’ well, how did it get you? Because it didn't get me. How did it get you? How did ‘Defund the Police’ get you?" Rogan said, rhetorically asking liberals how far they actually thought about the consequences of defunding police.

"There's a way out of it for them, but they have to be honest," he continued. "If you want us to take you seriously, you have to say how you f---ed up," Rogan said as he spoke about Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's Woke 1.0 comments. "You have to say how you f---ed up, and you have to say what you really think about how you f---ed up. You have to be honest, and you have to be authentic. We have to know that you are embarrassed by your choices and that you kind of went with the hive."

SLOTKIN SAYS DEMOCRATIC PARTY NEEDS 'NEW LEADERSHIP': 'OLD MODELS ARE NO LONGER WORKING'

He continued, "If you don’t say that, then you’re full of s---. And if you’re full of s---, you’re going to get more and more full of s--- over time. And that’s how politicians get soured."

Later in the same podcast, Rogan's guest, YouTuber Chris Williamson, voiced skepticism that Democrats would have ever distanced themselves from Woke 1.0 in the first place if former Vice President Kamala Harris had won the election.

"Think about what would have happened if Kamala had won," he said. "Would AOC have been talking about Woke 1.0 was crazy or would that have been a continuation of, ‘Well, look, we put the policies out, people like the policies.’ How much of this is a reversal of the position because it wasn't effective?"

Fox News Digital reached out to Ocasio-Cortez's office for comment.

Commentators across the political spectrum voiced doubts about whether the modern Democratic Party actually plans to pivot away from far-left cultural issues.

"I don't believe the Democrats want to be seen backing away from wokeness, especially now that they're sharing a ‘big tent’ from people who want to empty the prisons," Media Research Center's NewsBusters executive editor Tim Graham told Fox News Digital. "They're just less confident than they were in 2020 when they could proclaim that race riots are ‘rebellions’ and violence was an acceptable method to create the social change they wanted. It was like political Drano."

AOC TRIES TO LAUGH OFF 'CRAZY' WOKE ERA AS THING OF THE PAST, BUT CONSERVATIVES AREN'T AMUSED

Democratic consultant and former House Judiciary Committee minority chief counsel Julian Epstein offered a stern warning to his party.

"There is not much difference between Woke 1 and Woke 2, they both involve the commodification of grievance and rage, and then the packaging of lunatic ideas that do little to help voters and seek to make them permanent wards of the state," he said. "This is completely different from Democrats of the 90s who would proclaim the US as the best opportunity-machine ever invented and then try to give people agency."

Mary Marslender, a Republican consultant and the President and Founder of Leverage PR, suggested that talk of ditching "Woke 1.0" in vague terms is a cynical strategy.

"The vague talk of ditching 'Woke 1.0' is a temporary political strategy; it’s not genuine course correction," she said. "Democrats refuse to specifically call out the craziness; they have yet to stand up for women by preventing biological males in women’s sports, stop the DEI agenda in our schools and institutions, or advocate for safe communities by stopping their support of soft-on-crime progressive prosecutors. Additionally, their lack of concrete policy reversals is revealing."

"Democrats wanting to distance themselves from Woke 1 have claimed they want to 'fix our broken immigration system,' but such rhetoric rings hollow when they oppose interior enforcement, call to abolish ICE, defend violent illegals who have crossed our borders, and unequivocally support sanctuary cities," Marslender continued.

"Had Harris prevailed, the same coalition that championed the 1619 Project, policing reforms adjacent to defunding, and gender ideology in schools would have viewed any moderation as betrayal," she added. "It’s power, not principle, that drives the Democrat Party. Until Democrats can explicitly admit fault and demonstrate a serious reversal of Woke 1, American voters are right to treat the so-called 'post-woke' shift as a temporary political strategy rather than a genuine course correction."

CLICK HERE FOR MORE COVERAGE OF MEDIA AND CULTURE

Former Republican National Committee spokesperson Elizabeth Pipko said that recent events indicate Democrats are simply responding to which way the wind blows.

"Democrats of today tend to turn with the wind," she said. "Depending on what is most popular with their base, that’s what you’ll hear from candidates during the primaries. And then, during the presidential election, you’ll notice the Democrat nominee pretending they never supported abolishing police, men in women’s sports, or abolishing [ICE]."

"Watching Democrats in 2026 pretending they never called for defunding the police has been incredibly entertaining considering almost all of them still have old posts up clearly advocating for that very policy," Pipko continued. "Considering how much damage some of these views have caused, it is extremely pompous to simply dismiss this time in our politics as 'Woke 1.' This shows how little democrats actually believe in the what they say or do."

Former White House deputy assistant for domestic policy under Trump and former Assistant Attorney General Theo Wold suggested that even Rogan was not showing enough skepticism toward the Democrats.

"AOC’s sarcastic dismissal of Woke 1.0 isn’t a sign that Democrats are abandoning a leftist agenda — it’s a sign that they’re moving on to phase 2 of their project," he said.

"She now casually laughs at the radical ideas she actively promoted just a few years ago. And Joe Rogan, unfortunately, is too gullible to see the truth: this is who Democrats are," Wold added. "They won’t abandon these ideas or apologize for them because they believe them, and when in power, they will ruthlessly advance them."

Cars hit the Freedom 250 Grand Prix circuit for the first time in a damp practice session

Sat, 22 Aug 2026 11:12:59 -0400

After months of anticipation, we finally got to see IndyCars turning laps around the streets of Washington, DC, ahead of the Freedom 250 Grand Prix, and while it was a sight to behold, it may not have been ideal for teams to get a firm grasp on this brand-new circuit.

A rainy, misty morning meant that the entire circuit was wet at the start of the session, and that meant that the cars had to start off on wet tires.

However, after a brief delay to do some work on an issue with the marshals' communication system, the sun came out, and parts of the track started to dry. Then it was time for cars to hit the track.

START YOUR ENGINES: HERE IS YOUR CRASH COURSE ON THE INDYCAR FREEDOM 250 GRAND PRIX WEEKEND

Those conditions meant that the opening laps were at a snail's pace compared to what could be done on dry tires with a dry track.

Of course, given the new track and the tricky conditions, several drivers had to use the various run-off areas after overshooting corners.

The closest call of the early part of practice came for Arrow McLaren's Christian Lundgaard as he spun and clipped part of the outside wall.

With the track drying out, the fastest time of the first "all-skate" session belonged to Alexander Rossi, who put in a 59.606. Interestingly, he stayed in the pits longer than any other driver.

RACER STING RAY ROBB GEARS UP FOR FREEDOM 250 GRAND PRIX: 'THIS IS MORE THAN JUST AN INDYCAR EVENT'

With the field split into two groups for the next part of practice, several drivers opted for the red-walled alternate Firestone tires. It's faster than the primary black tires, but not as robust. Drivers have to use both during the race, so getting a feel for both is huge.

One of these drivers was Will Power, and he had a big moment exiting Turn 5 and found the wall with both of his right-side tires.

Kyle Kirkwood led the first group with a 57.374 on the alternate tire.

Several drivers had some issues, including Christian Rasmussen, who needed to take to the run-off and then just a couple of laps later clipped a tire barrier.

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INDYCAR DRIVER GRAHAM RAHAL REFLECTS ON OPPORTUNITY TO COMPETE AT FREEDOM 250 GRAND PRIX: 'ICONIC MOMENT'

Championship leader Alex Palou led the second group with a 57.612 on the primary tire.

The next session is slated to start at 1 p.m. ET, and you can catch it on FS2.

The Will of 100: Trump’s SAVE America Act sidelined after Senate unanimously agreed to August exit

Sat, 22 Aug 2026 10:56:18 -0400

The Senate has been out of session for about two weeks. It’s convened in brief "pro forma" sessions for just a couple of moments on four occasions since senators called it quits for more than a month at 4:57 a.m. ET on Saturday, Aug. 8.

Pro forma sessions are where the Senate huddles for just a few seconds, gaveling in and gaveling out with a skeleton crew. It’s rare that more than one senator is even in the chamber.

The Senate truly isn’t back for debate and votes until the afternoon of Monday, Sept. 15.

REPORTER'S NOTEBOOK: INSIDE THE SENATE SHOWDOWN OVER TRUMP'S PUSH TO SCRAP AUGUST RECESS

But what about all of that sturm and drang about "cancelling the August recess?" Remember that President Donald Trump and conservatives – ranging from Sens. Mike Lee, R-Utah, to Rick Scott, R-Fla. – wanted the Senate to remain in session for the month to debate the SAVE America Act. That’s the chief legislative demand of Trump. It requires voter ID and proof of citizenship to vote.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., was on the floor when the Senate cut town a little more than two weeks ago. Did Thune hornswoggle his fellow Republicans into recessing the Senate for five weeks in the dead of night?

Hardly. In fact even those Republicans who would have liked senators to remain in Washington to debate the SAVE America Act were in on Thune’s plan, allowing the Senate to abandon town for most of August and nearly half of September.

Huh?

Believe it or not, Thune and all other 99 senators agreed to leave Washington. In fact, that’s the only way it could have happened.

The Senate was meeting at 2:07 a.m. that Saturday, on the verge of commencing a vote series to confirm Attorney General Todd Blanche and approve the Russia sanctions bill. That’s when Thune asked the following on the Senate floor:

"When the Senate completes its business on Aug. 8, to meet for pro forma sessions only at 10 a.m. on Monday, Aug. 10, 2026. 8 a.m. on Thursday, Aug. 13, 2026," requested Thune.

The majority leader then continued, rattling off a host of dates on Mondays and Thursdays for the Senate to convene in those pro forma sessions.

Sen. Bernie Moreno, R-Ohio, was presiding over the Senate at the time.

"Without objection?" asked Moreno of the body when Thune concluded.

There was none.

INSIDE THE SENATE'S CHAOTIC ALL-NIGHTER THAT LEFT TRUMP'S SAVE AMERICA ACT ON THE SHELF

In other words, the Senate would soon depart Washington. There would be no August debate about the SAVE America Act. The Senate would simply meet for abbreviated sessions over the next few weeks.

And shortly before 5 a.m., Thune requested the following from the floor:

"Madam President, I ask unanimous consent when the Senate adjourns on Thursday, Sept. 10, it stand adjourned until 3 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 14. And following the prayer and pledge, the Journal of proceedings be approved and the Morning Hour be deemed expired," asked Thune.

The South Dakota Republican then threw in some more boilerplate, parliamentary language, to tee up a test vote on an unresolved cryptocurrency regulation bill for the afternoon of Tuesday, Sept. 15.

"Without objection," said Sen. Cynthia Lummis, R-Wy., who was presiding over the Senate at that ungodly hour.

Thune paused briefly. But no one said boo from the floor.

That’s because the chamber was bereft of senators — except for Thune and Lummis. Everyone bailed and was heading for the airport.

"Madam President, if there’s no further business to come before the Senate, I ask that it stand adjourned under the previous order," Thune asked.

"The Senate stands adjourned until 10 a.m. ET on Monday," declared Lummis, rapping the Senate’s unique hourglass shaped gavel on the dais.

No objection. No roll call vote.

The Senate was done.

So let me filet this for you.

The Senate conducts much of its business via "unanimous consent." The Senate is a body of equals. All 100 senators wield nearly the same power. The Senate relies on "unanimous consent," the blessing of all 100 members, to conduct quotidian tasks, like going in and out of session or what time to meet. The Senate occasionally approves bills — sometimes even big ones — by unanimous consent if all senators agree.

But unanimous consent is just that. All 100 members must be on the same page. And if you have 99 senators in agreement and one holdout, well, that’s not unanimous consent.

All it takes is the objection of a solitary member to sidetrack a "unanimous consent" request on the floor. And note that despite the advocacy by some Republican senators for the body to remain in session during August, no one lodged an objection.

That’s because Thune pre-baked a series of unanimous consent requests offstage before he came to the floor.

Late in the evening of Friday, Aug. 7, Thune ran what’s called a "hotline" in the Senate. He proposed a series of votes to confirm Blanche, OK Russia sanctions and consider a few other items. If any senator had a problem with Thune’s hotline, they should let leadership know before 11:30 p.m. that night. Otherwise, Thune would go to the floor and "propound" the unanimous consent request for the upcoming vote sequence. Thune would also propound a unanimous consent request for what the Senate would address when members returned in September,

This package included a plan for those aforementioned pro forma sessions. And, for the Senate to hold off on any votes until Monday, night, Sept. 14. Thune also locked in the procedural vote on the cryptocurrency measure for Sept. 15.

Anyone could have objected offstage.

They didn’t. That would have scuttled the entire enterprise.

Anyone could have objected on the Senate floor when Thune made the unanimous consent requests in real time. That didn’t happen either. That’s why both Moreno and Lummis asked the body if there was "an objection." Or, they declared "without objection, so ordered."

However, those pushing for the Senate to remain in session to debate the SAVE America Act did manage a minor victory. Part of Thune’s unanimous consent request at 2:07 a.m. that Saturday included a test vote on a voter ID bill pushed by Sen. Jon Husted, R-Ohio. This package addressed some of the provisions desired by Trump. It was also helpful to Husted, who faces a tough election this fall against former Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio. And, the test vote would get senators on the record voting for or against voter ID.

All Republican senators voted yes. All Democratic senators voted no. Republicans will likely deploy this roll call vote against their Democratic colleagues this fall.

The vote secured more than a simple majority in the Senate. But here’s the catch: part of Thune’s unanimous consent request — pre-agreed to by all 100 senators — dictated that the test vote on the Husted measure was subject to a 60 vote threshold. Republicans only command 53 votes in the Senate. So without Democratic assistance, the Husted plan was doomed from the start.

So the Senate is long gone. And will continue to be gone for a few weeks.

This wasn’t because of some backroom plan cooked up by Thune. This wasn’t just Thune going against the wishes of conservative senators who suggested the Senate remain in session. This wasn’t just Thune working against the president.

Those unanimous consent requests reflected the will of all 100 senators. Anyone on either side could have blocked the proposals. But they didn’t.

And when someone asks why the Senate didn’t remain in session this month to address the SAVE America Act, you can tell them that all 100 senators agreed to call it quits and go home at 4:57 a.m. on Saturday, Aug. 8.

Anna Faris admits drinking fueled depression and 'self-sabotage' before she decided to quit

Sat, 22 Aug 2026 10:55:15 -0400

Anna Faris is now sober after personally discovering a correlation between "drinking and depression."

During an appearance on the "Dear Chelsea" podcast, Faris told host Chelsea Handler that in the past year, she began to feel "ungracious" about her comedy career and movie roles.

"I really started to notice and appreciate if and when people recognize me, they would usually smile … thinking about something f---ing stupid I did onscreen," Faris said, which prompted Handler to bring up her sobriety.

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"Do you think that has to do with not drinking? Because I know you stopped drinking. Maybe that lit that a little bit," Handler said.

Faris confirmed that she "stopped drinking" and said "one of the many gifts" she's gained since becoming sober is shifting her perspective.

"Turns out there’s a correlation between drinking and depression for me for sure. I had to take a step back to not self-sabotage," Faris said.

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Along with quitting alcohol, Faris said hormone patches were a game changer for her mental health. She did not share additional details on her sobriety journey.

Elsewhere on the podcast, Faris shared that her 14-year-old son Jack asked her to "accept Jesus Christ" as her savior.

PUT YOUR ENTERTAINMENT KNOWLEDGE TO THE TEST AND SEE HOW YOU SCORE

"He is religious. I didn’t grow up with religion. He’s asked me to accept Jesus Christ [as my savior]. And I told him I would do anything for him, including this, but it’s going to take a whole lot of long conversations," Faris said.

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Faris shares Jack with her ex-husband, Chris Pratt. The former couple welcomed Jack in August 2012, and he was born nine weeks premature.

The "Scary Movie" actress explained that her son is strong, which allows them to have deeper conversations.

"He’s impressive, actually. Because I try to challenge him. I’m like, ‘Do you think it’s a luxury that you get to be pro-life? Do you think that’s kind of a luxury?’ And he’s like, ‘Maybe.’ Or I’ll say, ‘What do you think of this megapastor that’s kind of a grifter?’ And he’s like, ‘Oh, megapastors are the worst.’ So it’s like, ‘OK, he’s getting there,'" Faris said.