You may have heard that Michigan Democratic Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed is “having a lot of trouble putting [the Democratic] coalition back together,” or that “Democrats [are] struggling to unite behind El-Sayed,” or that “Democrats are still struggling to unite behind El-Sayed,” or that “El-Sayed faces resistance ⁠from some voters who would ordinarily be inclined to support a Democrat,” or that “Democratic divisions could hurt El-Sayed.” It’s a prominent narrative that is driving political discourse in the closing weeks of the tight Michigan Senate race. 

There’s only one problem with this narrative: It has zero empirical basis. It’s a total confection of US media and the pro-Israel lobby that isn’t supported by any data whatsoever. Two recent polls, one from Marist and one from RedBox Research, make it clear that El-Sayed’s support among Democratic voters in Michigan is both extremely high (95%) and the exact same percentage as Republican candidate Mike Rogers’ support with Republicans. And a new poll from Mitchell Research CBS complicates the narrative even further, finding that support for El-Sayed among Democrats is, in fact, 3 points higher than Rogers is among Republicans, at 94% versus 91%, respectively. 

If El-Sayed and Rogers have the exact same percent of party dissent—or, as is the case in the CBS Detroit poll, Rogers has more—then why are there countless stories highlighting, handwringing, and scandalizing the trivially small dissent for only one of the candidates? Where are the breathless profiles of Republicans refusing to vote for Rogers? Where are the NPR and CNN segments focusing on “Republican divisions”? 

There, of course, aren’t any, because this narrative wouldn’t advance an ideological agenda. 

The “Michigan Democrats are divided” narrative has been pushed by local and national media alike, from Bridge Michigan to Reuters to Michigan Advocate to the New York Times, who reported Thursday (again, falsely), “Democrats in Michigan… remain far more divided than party leaders had hoped to be going into the election.” The Bulwark’s Sarah Longwell said on Wednesday that El-Sayed is “having a lot of trouble putting [the Democratic] coalition back together again” after his defeat of Hayley Stevens in the Democratic primary in August. The AP insisted that “Democrats are still struggling to unite behind El-Sayed” which, again, is outright false: El-Sayed has the support of 95%of Democrats. 

An April IMEU poll found that Michigan Democrats think Israel is committing genocide in Gaza 66%to 14%, at a ratio of almost 5-to-1.  Does this seem like an issue Michigan democrats are “divided” over?

For another point of reference, El-Sayed’s support among Democrats of 95% is higher than other high-profile centrist Democrats, including Roy Cooper of North Carolina (94%), Sherrod Brown of Ohio (93%), Kathy Hochul of New York (85%), and even with Josh Shapiro of Pennsylvania. El-Sayed is even doing better with top Democrats in his own state, with Michigan gubernatorial candidate Jocelyn Benson winning only 91.8% of Democrats versus El-Sayed’s 93.1%, according to a Michigan State Department of Political Science survey published on Thursday. Yet one is hard pressed to find any “divided Democrats” stories about any of these candidates. 

The theme of “Democratic divisions” in Michigan, like the attendant assertion that Israel is “dividing Demcorats” more broadly, is a wholly concocted media narrative, pushed by the pro-Israel lobby and its media allies to create tensions and the appearance of a meaningful split where none exists. As I noted in the Intercept in June, the percentage of Democrats who have a positive view of Israel, 13%, is lower than the percent of Democrats who believe in young earth creationism or those who back a full abortion ban or Christian prayer in public schools. Yet these traditionally right-wing views are never said to be “dividing Democrats” because, by and large, they clearly are not. 

Just the same, Israel doesn’t really “divide” Michigan Democrats either. An April IMEU poll found that Michigan Democrats think Israel is committing genocide in Gaza 66%to 14%, at a ratio of almost 5-to-1. Does this seem like an issue Michigan democrats are “divided” over? If it is, there are dozens of other traditionally 5-to-1 issues—from marriage equality to climate change to prayer in school—that they are also technically “divided” over, but they are never discussed in these terms because they are fringe opinions among liberals. 

The myth of widespread liberal zionism among Democrats is too big to fail, so it continues in zombie form, propped up by an elite liberal class that simply needs it to exist.

That’s because it’s a playbook––a PR tactic––not an actual reflection of political reality. In this playbook, our media obsesses over a trivially small percent of anti-El-Sayed Democrats in Michigan while never mentioning Republicans disillusioned with Rogers despite their polls being statistically equal. As Michael Arria at Mondowiess notes in his analysis of this manufactured “division,” polls consistently “upend the narrative that Democratic voters are split on El-Sayed.” So why does it persist? 

It persists because the myth of widespread liberal zionism among Democrats is too big to fail, so it continues in zombie form, propped up by an elite liberal class that simply needs it to exist so they can appear humanitarian, worldly, and sophisticated while continuing to back—albeit with the occasional wristslap—a genocidal state currently experiencing political paralysis because their nominal liberal wing is simply too racist to give Arab parties any power whatsoever. 

The rebellion against El-Sayed in Michigan, such as it exists in reality, is largely driven by ideologically motivated donors and party elites, namely those whose primary issue is bipartisan support for Israel. But it’s tacky to point this out, to note that this opposition is largely coming from a small number of actual voters and is being amplified way beyond its objective news value because influential zionist advocacy groups are pushing it to media organizations and their internal allies. This is awkward and uncomfortable to discuss, so, like with the nonexistent “Democratic divisions over Israel,” it has to be reframed as some organic dissent among “voters” or “Democrats” when, in reality, the number of El-Sayed holdouts is statistically trivial. This isn’t to say media cannot focus on issues that matter to a small number of voters. What gives the game away is that this is literally not being done for Rogers, or other high-profile centrist Democrats, despite party dissent for these candidates being greater or roughly the same. 

So where are the articles profiling angry Republicans refusing to vote for Rogers? Where are the countless CNN and PBS segments detailing their grievances and pundits demanding Rogers “reach out” to them? Where are the glib, unsourced throwaway lines in the New York Times about how “Republicans in Michigan remain far more divided than party leaders had hoped to be going into the election”—since, again, this is statistically just as true for the GOP as it is for El-Sayed? There aren’t any, because this angle doesn’t discipline Israel critics and drive up the negatives on a candidate most media elites clearly want to see underperform or, if at all possible, outright lose. 

h/t Brian Tashman for exquisite poll watching.  

A Republican member on the House Armed Services Committee told Fox News Digital ahead of the midterm elections that the Trump administration has a key decision to make on the future of the U.S.-Iran war as "continuing to do just enough not to lose, but not enough to win, is not OK."

Rep. Pat Harrigan, R-N.C., made the comments as Vice President JD Vance declared during a Fox News town hall on Thursday that he promises "Donald Trump is not going to let Iran become a forever war." Official and military sources also told Fox News this week that movements are being made in the Middle East to give the president options if he decides to resume strikes against Iran.

"I share my constituents and many Americans' perspective that I'm very, very frustrated that this war is not over. The way that ultimately this administration went about conducting the war, it needed to execute it and wrap it up in a very short period of time, and we are not there yet," said Harrigan, who is running for re-election in North Carolina's 10th Congressional District.

"That being said, Iran can't have a nuclear weapon. And so at the end of the day, I do believe that this was a war that was inevitable at some point, but the party that's in power and the administration that decided to pull the trigger on it is responsible for the outcome, and they're responsible for the outcome in a very short period of time. Otherwise, things get really, really difficult," Harrigan continued. "And I think we've been seeing that, both from a political perspective but also from a policy perspective."

TRUMP SUPPORTERS CONFRONT IRAN, AFFORDABILITY CONCERNS WITH A MESSAGE FOR CRITICS: 'GIVE HIM TIME'

"And so while the administration needs to wrap this up, we are not in a forever war, but we need to make sure that we're not... we keep the mission the same. We accomplish the mission. And we do what it takes to either win or come home," Harrigan added. "And that binary decision has to get made by this administration."

Harrigan told Fox News Digital that Trump "needs to involve Congress" if he chooses to renew military action against the Iranian regime.

"I think that that will long-term set the course for the country to be resolute in affirming and actually executing and accomplishing the objectives that exist. Because look, like it or not, Congress is responsible for the funding arm of the government. And if they run out of money to accomplish the objectives, then that is not good for our strategic interests," he said. "So, in my opinion, Congress and the White House need to be very closely involved in making the next set of decisions that exist for this conflict."

GOP CRACKS WIDEN OVER IRAN WAR AS VULNERABLE CANDIDATES BREAK WITH TRUMP, DEMAND ITS END

"And we do need to make sure, again, that we either do what it takes to actually win in Iran, or we need to take the three out of five objectives that we've accomplished and say that, you know what? We've largely accomplished our strategic objectives. We've got more work to do over the long-term that's going to require consistent and persistent over the horizon monitoring of their nuclear program. And we're going to have to mow the lawn every now and again, and everybody's got to realize that, and leave, right?" Harrigan continued, mentioning how the U.S. has prevented Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon and eliminated Tehran's missile and drone production.

"But we've got to choose one of those two options because continuing to do just enough not to lose, but not enough to win, is not OK," he said. "It's not OK for the American people, it's not OK for our troops, it's not OK for geopolitical and economic stability. And it does not serve the long-term strategic interests of the United States. So it's time to choose."

Harrigan, a Green Beret and business entrepreneur, is running for re-election on Tuesday in North Carolina. He is facing off against Democrat challenger Ashley Bell, a physician associate, and Libertarian candidate Steve Feldman, who ran unsuccessfully for the seat two years ago.

As a current member of Congress, Harrigan told Fox News there is "no question" the Republican Party's House majority is at stake heading into Election Day.

"Whoever has 218 votes gets to chart the course of the direction of the House, the work that its committees do. And in particular, as it relates to the Trump administration, whether or not President Trump's going to get impeached," he added.

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"What this boils down to is the future direction of the country. Are we going to be stuck looking backwards instead of actually looking forwards, dealing with the actual business of the county and the free world, or are we going to be stuck in some sort of a Democratically-led nightmare that is simply going to be obstructionist to the conservative principles and values that people voted for in 2024?" Harrigan asked. "That's what's on the line this election cycle."

The NBA Cup starts Friday, and the opening slate is loaded with stars worth building picks around. Betr is offering new users promo code FOXNEWS to get $200 in bonuses plus four free picks for the tournament’s first night.

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Five Players to Build Your Picks Around

Pick’em lives and dies on stars, and Friday has plenty of them.

• Jalen Brunson, Knicks: Last year’s Cup MVP opens his title defense in Philadelphia. New York has started slow, which usually means more on Brunson’s plate.
• Luka Dončić, Lakers: Luka is the full-time engine in Los Angeles now, and a 10:00 p.m. ET tip at Golden State gives him the late window to himself.
• Kevin Durant, Rockets: Durant’s scoring floor is as steady as anyone’s in the league. He gets a Dallas team that will throw a lot of different looks at him.
• Cooper Flagg, Mavericks: The reigning Rookie of the Year is taking on a bigger role in Year 2. Durant, on the other side makes this a match-up worth watching closely.
• Nikola Jokić, Nuggets: The safest box-score stuffer in basketball closes the night in Phoenix. Points, rebounds and assists are all in play.

What’s at Stake

Thirty teams are split into six groups of five, and each plays four Group Play games. Only the six group winners and one wild card per conference reach the knockout rounds, which start Dec. 4. The championship is Dec. 11 at Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. One bad night in a five-team group can end a run before Thanksgiving.

NBA Cup Opening Night | Friday, Oct. 30

• Hornets at Wizards, 7:00 p.m. ET
• Bulls at Celtics, 7:30 p.m. ET
• Pistons at Nets, 7:30 p.m. ET
• Knicks at 76ers, 7:30 p.m. ET
• Magic at Raptors, 7:30 p.m. ET
• Pacers at Heat, 8:00 p.m. ET
• Rockets at Mavericks, 8:00 p.m. ET
• Clippers at Timberwolves, 8:00 p.m. ET
• Lakers at Warriors, 10:00 p.m. ET
• Nuggets at Suns, 10:00 p.m. ET

Ten games, a dozen stars and a title race that starts immediately. Sign up with Betr promo code FOXNEWS to get $200 in bonuses plus four free picks for the NBA Cup.

 

Thirty teams, six groups and one trip to Indianapolis on the line. The NBA Cup opens Friday with 10 games, and BetMGM is giving new users bonus code FOXNEWS to unlock up to $1,500 in First Bet Cover. If your first wager loses, BetMGM refunds your stake in bonus bets.

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Why a Big First Bet Makes Sense Friday

Opening night of a group stage is where the market is thinnest. Books have a handful of regular-season games to go on, rosters are still settling, and every team in a five-team group knows one loss can end its Cup hopes before December. That’s the kind of slate where a backstop on your first bet matters most. Last year, the NBA Cup winner went on to win the NBA Finals. Could we see that again this season? 

Three Games Worth Your First Bet

Knicks at 76ers, 7:30 p.m. ET: The Knicks swept the Cup and the NBA title last year, but they’ve opened this season flat. Philadelphia has Tyrese Maxey and LeBron James at home in the toughest group in the East. If you think the champs are being priced on last year’s résumé, this is the spot to test it.

Rockets at Mavericks, 8:00 p.m. ET: Kevin Durant against Cooper Flagg, with Kyrie Irving back for Dallas. West Group A also includes Denver, so the Mavericks can’t afford to give away a home game on night one.

Lakers at Warriors, 10:00 p.m. ET: Luka Dončić runs the show in Los Angeles now, and Golden State’s rookie Yaxel Lendeborg has been one of the early storylines of the season. Late tip, national spotlight, two teams in a West Group C that also has San Antonio.

Full NBA Cup Slate: Friday, Oct. 30

• Hornets at Wizards, 7:00 p.m. ET
• Bulls at Celtics, 7:30 p.m. ET
• Pistons at Nets, 7:30 p.m. ET
• Knicks at 76ers, 7:30 p.m. ET
• Magic at Raptors, 7:30 p.m. ET
• Pacers at Heat, 8:00 p.m. ET
• Rockets at Mavericks, 8:00 p.m. ET
• Clippers at Timberwolves, 8:00 p.m. ET
• Lakers at Warriors, 10:00 p.m. ET
• Nuggets at Suns, 10:00 p.m. ET

The knockout rounds start Dec. 4, and the championship is Dec. 11 at Hinkle Fieldhouse. Get your first wager covered up to $1,500 with BetMGM bonus code FOXNEWS.

 

The legacy media has been tying itself in knots over the explosive Alaska ballot scandal that has rocked a key Senate race ahead of Tuesday's election.

The New York Times published a bombshell report alleging that Democratic operatives recruited a man named Dan Sullivan to run as a spoiler candidate against incumbent Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan of Alaska, in hopes of aiding his Democratic opponent, former Rep. Mary Peltola.

CNN anchor Dana Bash went viral shortly after the Times broke its story when she reacted, "So, this is not illegal. It is not new."

BARI WEISS FACED 'SIGNIFICANT RESISTANCE' FROM CBS NEWS STAFFERS ABOUT ALASKA BALLOT SCANDAL, INSIDERS SAY

"I use the term dirty tricks intentionally because it’s not illegal," Bash said.

"This is something that is untoward. It is something that Democrats have tried to do in races where they think it could be to their advantage to run candidates that could siphon votes away from Republicans, and Republicans do the same," Bash continued. "I mean, just in Alaska alone, Mary Peltola, who’s now on the ballot for the Senate, she lost her House race two years ago. On that ballot, there was a candidate who was literally in prison who was reportedly recruited and kept on the ballot at the behest of Republicans."

The CNN host reiterated, "These are dirty tricks. They are legal, dirty tricks."

Some outlets relied on the "Republicans pounce" trope, adjusting the framing of stories that reflect poorly on Democrats to focus on the reaction of Republicans.

"Trump, Murkowski hammer Peltola over Alaska ballot-stacking report," Politico's headline read Wednesday.

The Associated Press similarly ran Wednesday, "Trump calls for prosecution of Democratic Alaska Senate candidate over spoiler candidate controversy."

"Republicans launch investigations into Peltola campaign," The Washington Post's Thursday headline stated.

"Republicans are using it as fodder," MS NOW anchor Peter Alexander told viewers Thursday. "The Justice Department, which already preemptively sued to try to block the certification of that Senate race if the Republican incumbent Dan Sullivan loses, they're pouncing."

Honest Elections Project executive director Jason Snead isn’t surprised some in the media are bending over backwards to keep a Democrat from looking scandalous.

"This is a classic thing that we've been seeing with a lot of mainstream outlets, this idea that they're going to be more concerned about the Republican reaction to something seedy that the left is doing rather than the seedy thing itself, right? It's a very classic situation," Snead told Fox News Digital.

"I'm not surprised at all that we're seeing so many outlets today trying to either downplay the scandal up in Alaska, or to refocus on what Trump is doing or saying about it," he continued. "We know the media has double standards when it comes to the left and the right."

DEM STRATEGIST SHRUGS OFF ALASKA BALLOT SCANDAL ON MS NOW, INSISTS 'THIS STUFF HAPPENS ALL THE TIME'

Meanwhile, Bloomberg columnist Nia Malika-Henderson appeared to praise the effort, saying that grassroots Democrats would view the scheme as a "good thing" that Democrats "finally" are "bringing a knife to a knife fight."

"I was sort of impressed that they were able to pull all of this off," Malika-Henderson said Thursday on CNN, before lamenting how the story got leaked to the Times and how it will give President Donald Trump "wind in his sails" in his accusations that Democrats cheat in elections.

Some journalists, including ABC News correspondent Mary Bruce and CBS News correspondent Ed O'Keefe, stressed to viewers that the Democratic scheme was "not illegal" despite newly launched probes looking into the matter since the Times story broke.

NBC News published multiple videos on its website posing questions like, "Is it illegal for Peltola campaign to recruit candidates?" and "Is it illegal to convince someone to run for office?"

ALASKA'S GOVERNOR ORDERS INVESTIGATION AFTER NYT REPORT ON ALLEGED DEM-LINKED SENATE ELECTION SCHEME

Republicans have long been suspicious about the candidacy of Daniel J. Sullivan Jr., a retired teacher who is among four Senate candidates listed on Alaska's rank-choice ballot. The Department of Justice filed a lawsuit against the state of Alaska seeking to block certification of the election results if the incumbent senator loses and votes cast for the other Sullivan could have changed the outcome.

Mainstream articles taking their denials dating back to at least June have largely taken them as fact. The Associated Press even wrote, "Sullivan said his campaign isn’t a sham or something Democrats put him up to doing," months before the Times reported his candidacy was no coincidence.

"In the summer of 2025, a staffer for Mary Peltola, the Alaska Democrat who was eyeing a run for Senate, received unusual instructions from top campaign aides: Find as many people named Dan Sullivan in Alaska as you can," the Times began its report Wednesday.

"The staffer complied, combing through voter records to produce a list of Dan Sullivans from across the state. ... [I]f the Peltola campaign or its allies could track down and persuade another Dan Sullivan to run for Senate, the confusion could cost the senator crucial votes on the state’s unusual, four-person ballot. The plan worked," the report said.

Snead believes that the "evidence was obvious," and blasted reporters who didn’t suspect something fishy was at play.

"Those willing to look have known for months that Decoy Dan’s candidacy is a brazen attempt to game ranked-choice voting, orchestrated by Democrats to help Mary Peltola win. That the mainstream media took the Peltola campaign’s and Democrats’ denials at face value for months and waited until nearly 60,000 Alaskans had already voted to reveal the truth, is unfortunately par for the course," Snead told Fox News Digital.

"Aren't you reporters? Shouldn't you have actually done some investigation, done some digging, or did you simply take the denial at face value and move on? Because that's not really what most people expect from serious investigative reporting outlets," he added.

SEN DAN SULLIVAN BRANDS PELTOLA'S ALLEGED BALLOT SCHEME A 'SCANDAL AT THE HIGHEST ORDER'

According to Peltola's former campaign manager, Elisa Rios, Peltola was not directly involved in the scheme but was "definitely aware."

Peltola's campaign has continued to deny involvement in his candidacy.

"But The Times has found, based on interviews and text messages, along with documents prepared for a potential lawsuit against the campaign, that not only did Ms. Peltola’s team work with people trying to recruit Mr. Sullivan to run for Senate, but the effort was much broader," the Times reported. "The group worked to coax other would-be spoilers into the race, to dilute the incumbent’s support and help catapult the Democrat to victory."

Peltola called the Times report a "distraction" and "stuff to sell newspapers." However, Republican Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy has ordered an investigation into whether any crimes or civil violations were committed and the Department of Justice has issued new grand jury subpoenas.

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The NBA Cup tips off tonight with 10 games on the board, and every one of them counts twice: once in the standings and once in the race for Indianapolis. Fanatics Sportsbook is offering new users promo code FOXNEWS350 to bet $20 and get $350 in FanCash.

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The Champs Open on the Road

The Knicks won the NBA Cup and the NBA title last season, and nobody has ever repeated as Cup champion. Their defense of the crown starts in Philadelphia, where Jalen Brunson runs into Tyrese Maxey and LeBron James. New York has been sluggish to start the year, and East Group B doesn’t hand out free wins. Cleveland, Miami and Indiana are all in the same pod, and it's set to be an early-season battle. 

Durant and Flagg Headline the West

Houston at Dallas might be the best individual matchup of the night. Kevin Durant is still one of the most efficient scorers alive, and Cooper Flagg is coming off a Rookie of the Year season with Kyrie Irving looking healthy beside him. In a five-team group with Denver and Phoenix, a home loss for the Mavericks could be costly by late November, in probably the strongest group in the West. 

Late Window: Luka in San Francisco

The night closes with Lakers at Warriors at 10:00 p.m. ET. Luka Dončić has the keys in Los Angeles, and Golden State gets a measuring stick for rookie Yaxel Lendeborg, who has been one of the early-season stories. Nikola Jokić and the Nuggets tip at the same time in Phoenix.

NBA Cup Schedule: Friday, Oct. 30

7:00 p.m. ET

• Charlotte Hornets at Washington Wizards

7:30 p.m. ET

• Chicago Bulls at Boston Celtics
• Detroit Pistons at Brooklyn Nets
• New York Knicks at Philadelphia 76ers
• Orlando Magic at Toronto Raptors

8:00 p.m. ET

• Indiana Pacers at Miami Heat
• Houston Rockets at Dallas Mavericks
• LA Clippers at Minnesota Timberwolves

10:00 p.m. ET

• Los Angeles Lakers at Golden State Warriors
• Denver Nuggets at Phoenix Suns

Only six group winners and two wild cards make the knockout rounds, so there’s no margin for a slow start. Bet $20 on any game tonight with Fanatics Sportsbook promo code FOXNEWS350 and get $350 in FanCash.

 

Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, accused a Democratic colleague of obstructing efforts to protect Maine's lobster industry from Biden-era federal regulations, even as the legislation could gain momentum in the Senate next month.

Collins' criticism comes as Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., prepares to visit Maine to hear from lobstermen after previously opposing efforts to extend regulatory relief. Meanwhile, Senate Commerce Committee Chairman Ted Cruz, R-Texas, pledged this week to advance the legislation when Congress returns in November.

"I'm glad that Sen. Cantwell is coming to Maine to finally listen to our lobstermen," Collins told Fox News Digital. "In 2022, Sen. Cantwell worked against the Maine delegation's effort to halt the Biden regulations that threatened lobstermen's livelihoods, and this year she has been blocking the bill to extend the regulatory pause that we secured in 2022."

The legislation, introduced by Rep. Jared Golden, D-Maine, and Rep. Mike Lawler, R-N.Y., passed the House in September. The bill would extend an existing pause on new federal regulations intended to protect the endangered North Atlantic right whale through 2035, giving Maine's lobster industry additional time before potentially costly restrictions take effect.

Cruz's announcement follows a September letter from Collins and Sen. Angus King, I-Maine, urging the Senate Commerce Committee to advance the Northeast Lobsterman Protection Act.

"This pause is necessary to protect Maine's lobster fishery, which is essential to the state's economy and coastal communities. According to the Maine Lobstermen's Association, the lobster industry supports an estimated $2 billion in annual economic activity and more than 17,500 jobs," the senators wrote.

In a statement, Cruz credited Collins with helping advance the legislation, saying her leadership has been "instrumental" in efforts to protect "Maine's lobstermen from burdensome regulations."

"I hope we can move this bill without changes or further delay to put on President Trump's desk as soon as possible," Cruz added.

Cantwell is expected to attend a listening session with Maine lobstermen alongside Democratic Senate candidate Troy Jackson at an event hosted by the Maine Lobster Union.

The visit comes amid accusations from Collins and Cruz that Cantwell previously worked against efforts to provide longer-term relief for the state's lobster industry.

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Cantwell and Jackson did not respond to Fox News Digital’s multiple requests for comment.

The NBA Cup is back Friday night, and the league isn’t easing into it. Ten Group Play games tip off on Oct. 30, starting with the defending champion Knicks heading to Philadelphia. Underdog is offering new users promo code FOXNEWS to play for $10 and get $50 in bonus entries.

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How the 2026 NBA Cup Works

All 30 teams are split into six groups of five, and each team plays the other four in its group once. The six group winners advance to the knockout rounds along with one wild card from each conference. Every game except the championship counts toward the regular-season standings, so nobody gets to treat Friday like a preseason scrimmage.

The quarterfinals start Dec. 4 and will be played in NBA markets league wide. The title game is Dec. 11 at Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, the first time the Cup final leaves Las Vegas. The Knicks won it all last year, then won the NBA title too. Nobody has ever repeated as Cup champion. Could the 1-3 Knicks use the NBA Cup to jump start its season? 

NBA Cup Opening Night Slate | Friday, Oct. 30

• Hornets at Wizards, 7:00 p.m. ET: Brandon Miller vs. Trae Young. Washington paired Young with Anthony Davis this offseason, and Charlotte’s young core gets an early test in a winnable group.
• Bulls at Celtics, 7:30 p.m. ET: Josh Giddey vs. a Boston team with something to prove. The Celtics have bowed out in the group stage two years running. East Group C is theirs to lose.
• Pistons at Nets, 7:30 p.m. ET: Cade Cunningham is the best player on the floor by a wide margin. Brooklyn needs to steal games like this to stay alive in East Group A.
• Knicks at 76ers, 7:30 p.m. ET: Jalen Brunson vs. Tyrese Maxey and LeBron James. The defending champs have stumbled out of the gate, and there’s no softer landing spot in the toughest group in the tournament.
• Magic at Raptors, 7:30 p.m. ET: Paolo Banchero vs. Kawhi Leonard. Orlando’s offense has been streaky. Toronto is balanced and dangerous at home.
• Pacers at Heat, 8:00 p.m. ET: Tyrese Haliburton vs. Giannis Antetokounmpo. Haliburton is still working his way back to form, and Miami desperately needs a win to change the tone of its early season.
• Rockets at Mavericks, 8:00 p.m. ET: Kevin Durant vs. Cooper Flagg. The reigning Rookie of the Year gets a crack at one of the greatest scorers ever, with Kyrie Irving back in the lineup for Dallas.
• Clippers at Timberwolves, 8:00 p.m. ET: Darius Garland vs. LaMelo Ball. Both guards are running new teams, and both need a fast start in a West Group B that also includes Oklahoma City.
• Lakers at Warriors, 10:00 p.m. ET: Luka Dončić vs. Yaxel Lendeborg. Lendeborg has been the talk of the early season, and Luka is the kind of test that tells you whether it’s real.
• Nuggets at Suns, 10:00 p.m. ET: Nikola Jokić closes the night in Phoenix. Denver is the clear favorite in West Group A, and the Suns can’t afford to drop a home game in a five-team group.

Every game Friday counts in the standings and in the Cup race, and a single loss can sink a team’s knockout chances. Play $10 on any NBA Cup game with Underdog promo code FOXNEWS and get $50 in bonus entries.

 

Leadership at the Department of Justice is escalating the Trump administration’s fight with California over suspected illegal voting, directing top federal prosecutors to pursue criminal subpoenas of local and state officials.

At least four election workers in California have received federal criminal grand jury subpoenas within the last week, CalMatters reported. At least one of these subpoenas was delivered on Thursday, after a federal judge rejected the DOJ’s request that California set aside mail-in ballots associated with over 20,000 registered voters whose citizenship the Trump administration has called into question.

A subpoena sent to three election employees at the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder’s office requested records on how the department stops non-citizens from voting as well as "records relating to or involving evidence collected by your agency which tends to indicate an alien has voted in a federal election." An official in Orange County received a similar subpoena, local media reported.

JUDGE REJECTS DOJ REQUEST TO BLOCK CALIFORNIA FROM IMMEDIATELY COUNTING BALLOTS LINKED TO ALLEGED NONCITIZENS

"This court believes it would be wise that any threats to state or county employees cease immediately," the judge said during court proceedings. "These threats must stop," he wrote in his Wednesday decision.

A Justice Department spokesperson pushed back against characterizations that the administration was targeting individuals with subpoenas, noting that receiving a subpoena doesn’t mean you are a target and that the DOJ generally doesn’t subpoena targets.

DOJ FIRES BACK AT DEM AG OVER ELECTION DAY GUIDANCE TELLING OFFICIALS WHEN TO CALL COPS ON FEDERAL AGENTS

"To be clear, the district court judge explained that voting unlawfully results in criminal exposure. Consistent with this, California also wrote in its filing that the remedy for unlawful voting is through criminal prosecution," Justice Department spokeswoman Kiersten Pels said in an emailed statement. "Thus, while DOJ maintains that a civil remedy is still available, all agree that noncitizen voting is properly addressed through criminal law."

She declined to comment on the "alleged grand jury subpoenas," citing departmental policy.

JUSTICE DEPARTMENT CHARGES 16 ACROSS MULTIPLE STATES WITH ALLEGED ILLEGAL VOTING, ELECTION CRIMES

The DOJ’s clash with California is part of a broader effort undertaken by the Trump administration to prove widespread voter fraud. While the administration has turned up a number of examples of non-citizens registered to vote in federal elections, it has yet to prove widespread illegal voting.

The DOJ has appealed the decision blocking it from compelling California to separate ballots associated with more than 20,000 registered voters it suspects may be noncitizens. Many of these ballots, however, have already been cast by early voters and anonymized, making it virtually impossible to identify them.

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The California governor’s office did not respond to a request for comment when reached by Fox News Digital on Friday.

John Mellencamp isn't ready to give up the stage, even if his hearing continues to deteriorate.

The 75-year-old rock icon revealed he could be "totally deaf" by the time his upcoming tour ends, as he opened up about his worsening hearing and tinnitus during an appearance on the "Nepo, Baby!" podcast.

"I don't like going out 'cause I can't hear," Mellencamp said when asked about his hearing difficulties.

JOHN MELLENCAMP SHARES HIS UNCONVENTIONAL ADVICE TO HIS CHILDREN ABOUT WORK

The "Jack & Diane" singer acknowledged that years of exposure to loud rock music may have taken a toll, explaining that he experiences ringing in his ears and pulsatile tinnitus, a condition that causes him to hear his heartbeat.

"I mean, it's like right now my ears are ringing like crazy, and I have pulsatile tinnitus, which is, I hear my heartbeat. And we go into a restaurant, and it's just like, 'Well, I'm out,' because I can't hear anything because I hear all this noise and stuff. I'm sure people don't want to keep [repeating things] in my face … so just add tinnitus on top of that and it's impossible."

Pulsatile tinnitus is a rare form of tinnitus that causes people to hear sounds, such as whooshing or thumping, in time with their heartbeat, according to the Cleveland Clinic.

JOHN MELLENCAMP RIPS MODERN POLITICIANS FOR LACKING HUMILITY AND RESPECT

Despite his hearing difficulties, Mellencamp said he plans to continue performing.

When asked whether he planned to keep touring, the musician predicted he could lose his hearing entirely by the time the concerts ended.

"Yeah, I probably will be totally deaf by the time the tour is over. Yeah, but you know, I wear earplugs and stuff, but I do not ever, will I ever get hearing aids."

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Mellencamp also explained why he had refused to wear hearing aids, recalling advice from his grandmother that has stayed with him.

"Well, my grandmother told me, she said, 'John, don't ever get hearing aids because once you get them, you can't live without them.' So, she said, 'If you think chasing around a pair of glasses is a drag, wait 'til you start chasing around a pair of glasses and some hearing aids. And where's your wallet? Where's your car keys?'"

Fox News Digital has reached out to Mellencamp for comment. 

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Mellencamp has also previously used his concerts to criticize President Donald Trump.

During a July 2026 performance in Holmdel, New Jersey, he paused his performance of "Pink Houses" to mock Trump's executive order directing federal agencies to use the name Gulf of America instead of the Gulf of Mexico.

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Released in 1983, "Pink Houses" became one of Mellencamp's signature hits, peaking at No. 8 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Though often embraced as a patriotic anthem, the song offers a more complicated look at the American dream, exploring themes of class, inequality and the gap between national ideals and everyday realities.

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I'm a side sleeper, no matter how hard I try to sleep on my back. Side sleeping isn't necessarily bad, but it's made it a challenge to find a pillow that cradles my head and neck without leaving me stiff or achy in the morning — until now. After sleeping on the Layla BioCrystal Side Sleeper Pillow, I finally found what I would consider to be the ideal setup for side sleepers. It's soft, yet supportive, and I've noticed a meaningful difference in my nightly comfort.

Now through Nov. 26, FOX readers can get an extra 20% off the sale price of both BioCrystal pillows with code FOXDEAL. That brings the Side Sleeper Pillow down to $119 and the Classic Pillow to $111.

Layla BioCrystal Side Sleeper Pillow: $119 (37% off) with code FOXDEAL

Original price: $189

Side sleepers know how difficult it can be to find a comfortable position and stay there. Traditional pillows don't always provide enough support for your shoulder and neck, and can flatten throughout the night.

Layla's BioCrystal Side Sleeper Pillow strikes a comfortable balance between softness and support. Its adjustable loft lets you choose among 7, 6 or 5 inches, while the U-shaped cutout gives your shoulder more room to rest naturally. Since I prefer to sleep slightly elevated, I've kept mine at the full 7-inch loft and find it to be the perfect height.

My neck and shoulders melt into the U-shape (rather than being forced into an awkward position) and, better yet, continues to support me when I switch sides or roll onto my back throughout the night. The foam feels soft and responsive when I press into it, but it's firm enough to hold its shape under the weight of my head. I also appreciate that it doesn't feel overly dense.

What is BioCrystal technology?

According to Layla, BioCrystal technology infuses a blend of 16 natural crystals throughout the pillow's foam layers. The brand says the technology is designed to help regulate temperature and promote a more restorative sleep experience.

I can’t speak to the effects of the crystals themselves, but I do notice that the pillow feels comfortably cool when I first lie down. It also doesn’t seem to trap as much heat as some memory foam pillows I’ve tried. The overall feel is soft, plush and lightly cooling.

What you should know

The pillow measures 16 by 23.5 inches, weighs 5.7 pounds and has an adjustable 5- to 7-inch loft. It fits standard pillowcases, but the U-shaped design makes a fully enclosed case — such as one with a zipper or fold-over closure — the best option. Pillowcases with one open end may slide out of place.

I noticed a new-pillow smell, also known as off-gassing, during the first week or two. It has gradually faded, but shoppers who are sensitive to scents may want to air it out before using it.

The cover is removable and machine washable. Layla recommends washing it in warm water on a gentle cycle with like colors and tumble drying it on low. Do not use bleach. The four foam layers should only be spot-cleaned and allowed to air-dry completely. Keep the foam out of the washer and dryer, since excessive water and high heat can damage its structure.

My final thoughts

The Layla BioCrystal Side Sleeper Pillow is a strong option for side sleepers who want structured support, a higher profile and the ability to adjust the height. The shoulder cutout gives it an advantage over traditional rectangular pillows, especially if you tend to wake up with neck or shoulder discomfort.

Back and stomach sleepers may prefer the Layla BioCrystal Classic Pillow. My husband sleeps on it every night and appreciates its plush support, adjustable loft and roomy design, which keeps his head and neck comfortably supported when he’s lying on his back.

The Senate’s No. 2 Republican believes that Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., had a hand in the alleged scheme unfolding in the Alaska Senate race.

Operatives for Rep. Mary Peltola’s Senate campaign, along with top aides in Senate Democrats’ campaign apparatus, the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC), are alleged to have been involved in creating one of the stranger races this election cycle: finding and recruiting another candidate named Dan Sullivan to run against the incumbent Sen. Dan S. Sullivan, R-Alaska, according to reporting from The New York Times.

National Democrats have maintained they had no hand in the move, but Senate Majority Whip John Barrasso, R-Wyo., told Fox News Digital in an interview that he believes the campaign received help from the very top.

SEN DAN SULLIVAN BRANDS PELTOLA’S ALLEGED BALLOT SCHEME A ‘SCANDAL AT THE HIGHEST ORDER’

"I mean, this is criminal behavior to steal the Alaska Senate race, it's now been fully exposed," Barrasso said. "And there is proof that the Peltola campaign knew about it, and that Schumer schemed and colluded with them for over a year to try to search for and then coax a decoy of Dan Sullivan onto the ballot with a purpose only to deceive the voters."

Schumer’s office and Peltola's campaign did not respond to requests for comment from Fox News Digital.

The peculiar situation in Alaska has been ongoing for months and has sparked legal battles at the state and national levels, as well as condemnation from Republicans across the country, including Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska.

'DECOY DAN' SULLIVAN CASE LEADS TOP SENATOR TO BREAK FOUR-YEAR X SILENCE: 'PATTERN OF LIES'

Murkowski argued on X that "ballot-stacking should have no place in our electoral process."

"Alaskans deserve the honest truth from Mary and her campaign — what has been revealed is a pattern of lies and coverups and a culture of deception that belongs nowhere in our elections or among our elected officials," she said.

Much of the consternation over the matter is because of Alaska’s ranked-choice voting system, meaning that both candidates named Dan Sullivan, Peltola and Gerald Heikes will all appear on the same ballot.

Peltola weighed in on Thursday at an event in Juneau, Alaska, telling supporters she wanted to "clear the air."

PELTOLA CAMPAIGN'S ALLEGED DAN SULLIVAN SPOILER PLOT TAKES NEW TURN AS DOJ FACES MAJOR LEGAL HURDLE

"I knew nothing about any other candidates on the ballot except for me and the incumbent," Peltola said. "That is all I have ever known about. I am not interested in tricking voters. I know I can beat Dan Sullivan."

The point of the scheme was allegedly to sow confusion among voters as to which Sullivan was which in an attempt to give Peltola an edge. Barrasso said that while he was confident the incumbent Sullivan would win, the plan showed that the "Democratic campaign has secretly been making fun of Alaskan voters for being so easily tricked."

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"I mean, these people just are, you know, dirty, rotten scoundrels — cheaters," Barrasso said.

"I mean, how more cynical can you get than what the Democrats have done here," he continued.

Ahead of the midterm elections, billionaire Elon Musk warned that a Democratic sweep of the White House and Congress in 2028 could spell the "end of democracy," outlining three moves he fears the party would make to cement its political power.

The stark warning comes as Musk pours money into Republican campaigns, arguing that maintaining GOP control of the Senate is essential to preventing what he described as a "permanent one-party state."

Musk outlined his three "biggest" concerns about Democrats gaining unified control of Washington, in an X post, warning that the party would move to grant statehood to Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico, legalize immigrants living in the country illegally and expand the Supreme Court.

AMERICANS CLASH OVER SUPREME COURT EXPANSION AS FIGHT OVER 9 JUSTICES HEATS UP: ‘LET’S PACK IT NOW’

"My biggest concern is that if there is a clean sweep by Democrats of the House, Senate and Presidency in 2028," Musk wrote, listing three top scenarios he fears.

Musk argued that granting statehood to Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico would help Democrats gain a strong Senate majority, while opening the borders and legalizing immigrants in the country illegally would help the party cement a lasting electoral advantage.

He also warned that Democrats would increase the number of Supreme Court justices to secure an immediate majority on the nation's highest court.

"This would result in America becoming a permanent one-party state and the end of democracy in any meaningful sense of the word," Musk wrote.

SENATE CONTROL IS A COIN FLIP — AND DEMOCRATS’ PATH RUNS THROUGH TRUMP COUNTRY

The Tesla and SpaceX CEO argued that Republicans need to hold at least 51 Senate seats following the 2028 elections to prevent those outcomes, making an urgent appeal to voters ahead of the midterms.

"That is why you should vote for Republican senators this election," Musk wrote. "Other reasons are irrelevant compared to this one."

The Senate is still a toss-up with six states to decide the majority, according to Fox News Power Rankings. The best outcome predicted for the Democrats is that their ceiling rises to 54 seats and for Republicans, they could see them retain control with up to 52 seats.

Musk's warning comes amid his financial involvement in Republican campaigns, with the billionaire directing significant resources toward helping GOP candidates win elections.

ARTHUR HERMAN: MUSK AND OTHERS PROVE THAT THIS ELECTION CASH IS KING. WILL IT BE ENOUGH?

He contributed hundreds of millions of dollars to Republican political groups ahead of the November midterms. A representative for his America PAC confirmed to Fox News earlier this month that the billionaire had contributed $276 million to Republican super PACs and organizations over the previous three months.

That includes $158 million to the Senate Leadership Fund, a super PAC aligned with Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., and $10 million to Lone Star Liberty PAC, which is backing Texas Republican Senate candidate Ken Paxton.

Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton took aim at Musk's political spending, accusing the billionaire of attempting to use his fortune to influence the midterm elections in Republicans' favor.

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"Elon Musk is flooding the midterms with money to help Trump," Clinton wrote on X earlier this week. "But even his millions may not be enough to counteract reality."

Costco really has it all. From bulk groceries and electronics to household goods, specialty services and even LeBron James’ game-worn shoes.

Yes, you read that correctly. Costco is selling an autographed pair of James’ game-worn shoes from March 22, 2024, for $69,999.99. For anyone who happens to have an extra $70,000 lying around, the shoes are hand-signed by the NBA legend himself and inscribed with "Prime Year 21."

According to Costco’s website, the shoes are authenticated with FanSecure Technology and come with a letter from sports investors showing a photo-match.

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On March 22, 2024, James and Anthony Davis led the Los Angeles Lakers to a 101-94 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers with a fourth-quarter surge. James scored 20 points with eight rebounds and six assists in the win.

However, if you don’t have $70,000 in your back pocket for James’ game-worn sneakers, have no fear. Costco also has Giannis Antetokounmpo’s game-worn sneakers available for purchase for just $9,999.99.

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Antetokounmpo wore the shoes as a member of the Milwaukee Bucks on Aug. 31, 2020, when the NBA was playing in the bubble during the COVID-19 pandemic. The shoes are autographed by Antetokounmpo and have "2019-20 GAME WORN, THE BUBBLE" inscribed on them.

Now, if you don’t have an extra $10,000 lying around and you were desperately hoping to purchase game-worn shoes from NBA stars on Costco’s website, you are out of luck. Boston Celtics star Jayson Tatum’s game-worn sneakers were also available for $3,199.99, but someone already swooped in and ordered them.

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Tatum wore the sneakers on March 28, 2023, and signed them. The sneakers also featured his son’s name, Deuce, on the back of each shoe, accompanied by a heart.

Costco provides quality goods and services, with a splash of game-worn shoes from NBA stars thrown into the mix.

Follow key Senate, House and governor’s races across the country — and share your thoughts live with Fox News readers

Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy warned that an alleged Democratic scheme to recruit a second "Dan Sullivan" into the state's pivotal Senate race exposed a deeper vulnerability in its election system, telling Fox News Digital in an exclusive interview that his administration is investigating newly surfaced evidence just days before the midterms.

Dunleavy said The New York Times uncovered details that state officials did not have when they initially challenged the second Sullivan's candidacy this past summer — including alleged involvement by operatives connected to Democratic nominee Mary Peltola.

The Republican argued Alaska's relatively new election system helped make the controversy possible, as state and federal authorities pursue separate investigations into potential wrongdoing.

"This would have never happened if we didn't have ranked-choice voting," Dunleavy told Fox News Digital. "If this was a historical primary, a primary that our fathers and grandfathers had, this individual [retired schoolteacher Dan Sullivan of Petersburg] would not have gotten out of the primary."

'DECOY DAN' SULLIVAN CASE LEADS TOP SENATOR TO BREAK FOUR-YEAR X SILENCE: 'PATTERN OF LIES'

Dunleavy cited reporting that the Petersburg Sullivan initially denied having been recruited, but the Times found Peltola-connected operatives had worked to recruit spoilers named "Dan Sullivan" from around the state.

"We're compelled to do an investigation on behalf of the people of Alaska, because as they say in Alaska, which is a big fish state, if you can smell the fish way far from the dock, you've got a real problem," Dunleavy said.

"And so, this really does stink."

Alaska's election system advances the top four finishers from a nonpartisan primary to a general election in which voters rank candidates by preference. Dunleavy argued that traditional party primaries would have prevented the second Sullivan from reaching November's ballot.

"Our job as executives are to make sure that we can provide our people with an election that everyone could look at it and say that was done with integrity. And right now this cast, unfortunately, a pall over all of this," he said.

Dunleavy said the state's initial investigation in June after the Petersburg Sullivan surfaced ultimately led to the state Supreme Court, which allowed both Sullivans' names on the ballot, with Senator Sullivan marked "incumbent."

"Initially, when [Petersburg Sullivan] contacted the Division of Elections, he wanted his name listed as Daniel S. Sullivan. That's not his middle initial. That's the middle initial of our incumbent senator. His website looked very, very, very similar to our incumbent senator. And we went to court over this, and the Supreme Court of Alaska ruled that they were going to put his name on the ballot," he said.

"We knew there was a problem, but the courts had decided. And then of course, the article comes out in the Times and there's a whole list of issues that we were never privy to."

The new reporting identified contradictions in accounts of what transpired over the summer, including whether there was contact between Petersburg Sullivan and any campaigns.

RNC REJECTS NARRATIVE OF SPOILER CANDIDATES 'ON BOTH SIDES,' CALLS ALASKA SCHEME 'FRAUDULENT'

"There's a lot more smoke and a lot of fishy smell after this article came out," he said.

In Alaska, elections are overseen by the lieutenant governor, not the governor, and Fox News Digital reached out to Lt. Gov. Nancy Dahlstrom for comment on whether or how her office is investigating.

"They're obviously shoulders deep now in an election with all the people and all the polls open here with early voting. The governor's office is in charge of making sure that there's execution of the laws. That's what this investigation is going to look at to see if there were any violations of law or if there was a civil violation as well," Dunleavy added.

Peltola's campaign has denied involvement with either Sullivan campaign. Peltola also dismissed the controversy as a distraction during a campaign appearance Wednesday, while the New York Times reported that operatives connected to her campaign participated in efforts to recruit potential spoiler candidates.

Fox News Digital reached out to Peltola for additional comment.

Former FEC Chair Hans von Spakovsky told Fox News Digital that something investigators should look at is whether individuals paid by Peltola or another political organization were providing any "in-kind" services to the Petersburg Sullivan.

"In-kind services are considered a contribution to a campaign. Failure to disclose such services is a violation of federal law. Also, if the fair market value of the services provided to the campaign exceeds the maximum contribution allowed to a federal candidate, that is also a violation of federal law. If this was knowingly and intentionally done, it moves from being a civil violation to a criminal violation of the law," von Spakovsky said.

Von Spakovsky pointed to an FEC case involving socialist Sen. Bernie Sanders' 2016 presidential campaign, which accepted campaign assistance from Australian Labor Party members whose travel expenses and stipends were paid by the foreign political organization.

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The FEC determined that the arrangement constituted a prohibited $24,422 in-kind foreign contribution. Sanders' campaign and the Australian Labor Party each agreed to pay $14,500 in civil penalties to settle the matter without admitting liability.

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With Election Day approaching, the governor said the investigation would continue for as long as necessary, warning that the alleged effort could foreshadow new attempts to manipulate elections through misleading candidacies and other tactics.

Fox News Digital's Hannah Brennan contributed to this report.

In an era of Auto-Tune, artificial intelligence and endless opportunities to make music sound perfect, Terri Clark decided to leave well enough alone.

The country music legend released a new live album Friday, Oct. 30, capturing her long-awaited headlining debut at Nashville's Ryman Auditorium. But rather than return to the studio to clean up the performance, Clark was determined to preserve the night exactly as it happened — imperfections and all.

And that wasn't necessarily an easy task.

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"We didn't even have the proper audience mics," Clark told OutKick OutDoors in an exclusive interview. "The audience was twice as loud as it sounds on this recording."

That's because the August 2024 performance wasn't originally intended to become a live album. In fact, it wasn't until roughly a year later that Clark and her team decided to piece together recordings captured by her concert engineers.

But she wasn't interested in making the show sound like something it wasn't.

"I decided that I didn't want to replace any vocals. I didn't want to replay anything," Clark said. "In a world of AI and tracks and Auto-Tune and all of the things that people do to sound perfect, I let the recording lie the way it was and stay exactly as it went down that night."

She concluded: "It's passion over perfection."

A ‘full-circle moment’ for Terri Clark

On Aug. 29, 2024, Clark finally checked off a lifelong bucket-list item when she headlined the Ryman Auditorium for the first time.

For the singer who once performed for tips at Tootsie's Orchid Lounge, just across the alley from the iconic venue, it was a particularly meaningful milestone.

"This was a full-circle moment," she said.

And even with more than three decades of performing under her belt, Clark wasn't prepared for the reception she received that evening.

"They came from all over the place, all corners of the world, and Canada, and fans from out west in the United States," she recalled.

"It was a room full of so much love, and we shared just a moment that I almost never want to headline the Ryman again because it'll never come close to that show, if that makes any sense."

TERRI CLARK APPLAUDS ELLA LANGLEY'S HISTORIC RISE BUT SAYS SHE 'WOULD NOT WANT TO TRADE PLACES WITH HER'

The 17-track album, Terri Clark: Live From The Ryman, includes performances of her hits "Better Things to Do," "Girls Lie Too" and "I Wanna Do It All," along with appearances by Ashley McBryde and Trisha Yearwood. McBryde joined Clark for "Better Things to Do," while Yearwood performed "Poor, Poor Pitiful Me."

Clark said the evening's excitement is exactly why she refused to go back and polish the recording.

"I don't think I could duplicate the energy and excitement in my voice that night if I went in and redid anything," she said.

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So rather than chase perfection in the studio, she decided to let the original performance speak for itself.

The frustrated parents of female athletes at Dakota Ridge High School are speaking out over an escalating locker room dispute, demanding answers after district officials placed a transgender player on the girls' junior varsity volleyball roster.

Four Dakota Ridge parents spoke with OutKick this week as tension in the gym turned into open opposition. Following the public outcry sparked by parents like Tanna Donalson, whose daughter and seven other juniors were cut from the volleyball program, outspoken fathers are now stepping forward alongside mothers to challenge state policies that elevate gender identity over female athletics.

Families are pressing Jefferson County Public Schools (Jeffco) for accountability, refusing to back down despite reported retaliation from school and district staff against those who question the policy.

EX-SJSU VOLLEYBALL COACH ALLEGES TRANS PLAYER FAILED TESTOSTERONE TEST, RESULT WAS KEPT 'SECRET' FROM TEAM

The conflict centers on district leadership invoking state non-discrimination guidelines to open female locker rooms to the player, even as coaching staff cut more than 35 female athletes from the program, as OutKick previously reported.

OutKick observed the fallout firsthand during matches against Standley Lake on Monday and Littleton on Wednesday.

Colorado parents challenge Jeffco's leadership

Jefferson County Public Schools, Colorado's second-largest school district, has offered only one formal remedy for female athletes who object to sharing facilities: directing them to seek private changing spaces elsewhere in the building.

"The girls' locker room is a sacred space. What’s happening at Dakota Ridge is a slow burn to that sacred space," said Josh, a Dakota Ridge father in attendance at Wednesday's match who went on the record regarding the ongoing issue.

EXCLUSIVE: RHODE ISLAND SCHOOL DISTRICT ACCUSED OF HIDING KIDS' GENDER TRANSITIONS FROM PARENTS

"The Jeffco School Interim Superintendent said that they need to respect the privacy of all students. I guess 'all students' aren’t the 50-plus girls on the volleyball teams that use the girls' locker room. Dakota Ridge said they will make accommodations for girls who are uncomfortable in the locker room. That should be the other way around."

Internal emails obtained by OutKick show district leadership anticipated the dispute, quietly preparing weeks in advance while leaving parents and players blindsided when the athlete was placed on the roster without warning.

In an Oct. 6 email to district leadership, Dakota Ridge Athletic Director Jeff Legault warned: "I heard that meetings were held weeks ago to discuss a plan for this scenario, which is unfolding exactly the way it was predicted."

With the JV season ending, parent concerns deepened after coaching staff threatened to bench players overheard discussing the freshman athlete.

"DR staff and the district knew about this issue and kept it a secret. It’s still the elephant in the room," Josh said, noting that a former coach whose daughters played for Dakota Ridge subsequently stepped away from the program.

Josh estimated varsity parents are fractured into three camps: "25% don’t care or somehow think this is a fight against Trump, 50% just want this to go away, and 25% are fighting."

'HEARTBROKEN' WASHINGTON STATE SUPERINTENDENT SAYS NO CONSEQUENCES FOR GIRLS WHO PROTESTED TRANSGENDER RUNNER

Coach Zeman confronted over retaliation threats

Beyond locker room access, parents report a pervasive fear of retaliation.

Matters escalated when head coach Matthew Zeman allegedly threatened two players with benching after they were overheard discussing the situation in a school parking lot. Carey, the mother of one of the varsity athletes, sent a statement to OutKick, confirming details of the confrontation.

"A few weeks ago, my daughter and one of her teammates were told they couldn’t play in a volleyball game, nor could they attend the game after having a private conversation in the parking lot with a few other volleyball teammates about a transgender player they had heard of on the JV team," Carey said.

"After the other parent and I met with the coach and the athletic director, they reversed this, and they allowed them to play in the game, even though they didn’t even have any idea what the girls had said."

Carey said that the threat followed her daughter's earlier concerns regarding locker room arrangements.

"My daughter had also expressed concern about being uncomfortable in the locker room with this player. She was told that they could make accommodations for her, not the other player," Carey said.

"Now, as a parent, my number one concern is safety. Feeling safe and comfortable in a locker room is critical. Not only that, there’s fairness in female sports, and there’s the ability to speak up and talk about your concerns without feeling punished."

Carey, a Dakota Ridge mother who has worked with disabled individuals for over 30 years, emphasized that her concerns stem from basic fairness.

"I know all about inclusion, respect, fairness, and making things work. This situation has become out of hand, and I feel like we have to start asking better questions. We have to start coming up with better solutions while respecting everybody involved," Carey added.

"This isn’t about disrespecting anyone. This is about making it fair for everybody involved: primarily, safety in a girls’ locker room, fairness in sports, and making sure our girls are able to speak up and feel respected."

Josh backed up that account, noting that Zeman accused the players of "bullying" simply for talking amongst themselves, yet failed to cite a single broken rule.

WOMEN WHO FACED BIOLOGICAL MALES IN GIRLS' SPORTS AND LOCKER ROOMS SPEAK OUT AHEAD OF WASHINGTON STATE VOTE

"When the couple of girls were talking about it in the parking lot, the coach found out about that and immediately pulled two of the girls out and was gonna bench them because they were talking, [calling it] bullying," Josh said. "And they asked, 'What did we do wrong?' And he couldn't name anything. And I feel like they were actually bullied by the coach for that. They're just talking amongst friends, as kids do in a parking lot with their varsity teammates."

Both Zeman and Jeffco Public Schools ignored repeated requests for comment. Approached directly inside the gym on Wednesday, Zeman refused to comment on the parents' frustrations.

Following a road match at Standley Lake on Monday, the team returned home Wednesday to face Littleton under heightened security, including an armed guard inside the gym. Parents reported seeing up to three security personnel at recent games.

The cold shoulder from district leadership was unquestioned. Josh watched the interim superintendent visit warmly with the trans athlete's family, then walk straight past the parents of the female players without uttering a word.

"He was there for them," Josh said.

Aaron, a Dakota Ridge parent who spoke on the record about the ongoing dispute, criticized the district's lack of transparency from the start.

"I think it's a little ridiculous how Jeffco is handling the situation. There should not be biological males in the girls' locker rooms. At any school in Jefferson County, Colorado, or the state of Colorado, for that matter," Aaron said. "And for them not to disclose this earlier in the season, it's very disappointing. They waited so long to disclose this information, you know, they put these girls in a very hard situation with not knowing."

When parents pressed for answers through formal channels, Aaron said district attorneys shut down the conversation entirely.

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"The school really hasn't been communicating very well at all. They've been leaving almost like they're trying to sweep it under the rug," Aaron added. "We had a meeting with Jeffco Legal and they kind of said that they would answer questions and didn't answer any questions at all, didn't give us any time. And they said they'd get back to us and we haven't heard anything since."

Zachary, a Jeffco father of three with a daughter in the district, didn't hold back when texting OutKick about the administration's backward priorities.

"The absurdity of trans girls (boys, in real life) playing on girls' teams is beyond lunacy," Zachary texted. "How did we get here? Why is Jeffco and these other districts so tied up in this fad? We have a mental health crisis and these school districts are manipulating and grooming these children without parental consent."

"What about women’s rights?" he added. "No boys in girls' sports unless they’re co-ed. Period. The government needs to step in and right this ship, ASAP."

And volleyball may be just the start for trans inclusion in Dakota Ridge girls' athletics.

"From what I hear, they are trying out for the basketball team this upcoming season," Aaron said. "I don't know if the coach has handled this yet or not, but from what I hear there are girls that aren't going to play or try out because of it."

With district administrators digging in, parents are taking their case directly to the November ballot. Grassroots momentum has coalesced around Proposition 134 to keep male athletes off female sports rosters, alongside Proposition 135, which would prohibit gender-affirming surgeries on minors.

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It has been an uphill climb from the start, but parents say silence is no longer an option. Regardless of what policies future administrations roll out, these families are speaking up now. By exposing Jeffco’s failure to stand up for female students, they hope to fix a broken system and save girls' sports for their daughters.

Send us your thoughts: alejandro.avila@outkick.com / Follow along on X: @alejandroaveela

FIRST ON FOX: Four U.S. cities will share almost $300 million in federal funding after competing to show how they would reduce violent crime and strengthen local law enforcement.

Jacksonville, Florida; Baton Rouge, Louisiana; Jackson, Mississippi; and St. Louis, Missouri, were selected for the Justice Department's new Model Cities Initiative, according to details obtained by Fox News Digital.

The four winners represent markedly different policing environments, from Jacksonville, where murders have fallen sharply in recent years, to Baton Rouge, where officials have struggled with a significant officer shortage, and Jackson, where DOJ says officials proposed a technology-driven strategy to combat persistent violent crime.

Attorney General Todd Blanche and other DOJ leaders will visit each city over the next 10 days to present the awards, when the department plans to reveal the individual funding amounts.

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The DOJ launched the competition in June as part of President Donald Trump's focus on reducing crime in U.S. cities. It invited cities nationwide to submit comprehensive plans for reducing violent crime and improving public safety.

The awards could represent a sizable addition to the cities' existing law enforcement budgets.

Jacksonville budgets about $674 million annually for its sheriff's office, while St. Louis budgeted about $147 million for its police department in fiscal 2026. With nearly $300 million to be divided among just four jurisdictions, each award could amount to tens of millions of dollars, though DOJ has not yet disclosed how the funding will be split.

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"The Model Cities Initiative reflects the Trump Administration’s commitment to reducing crime across the country and ensuring the safety of every American," Blanche said.

"These cities are setting an example of proactive law enforcement that will strengthen the rule of law and improve public safety in their jurisdictions. As violent crime rates continue to fall to historic lows, the Department of Justice is redoubling our efforts to invest in local communities and keep American families safe."

Rather than funding a single policing program, the initiative takes what DOJ describes as a "whole-of-city" approach, bringing together law enforcement, local government officials and community partners to develop strategies tailored to each jurisdiction's public safety challenges.

The money can be used to hire sworn and non-sworn law enforcement personnel and other public safety workers, purchase technology and equipment, expand forensic capabilities and fund programs addressing mental health, substance abuse and recidivism.

Jacksonville's selection comes after a sharp drop in killings. The city recorded 59 murders in 2024, its lowest total since at least 1995 and less than half the number recorded a year earlier, according to the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office. DOJ said murders fell 38% between 2023 and 2025, while robberies declined 25% and aggravated assaults fell 21%.

DOJ pointed to Jacksonville's use of advanced training and technology and efforts to strengthen investigative capabilities in selecting the city. The Jacksonville Sheriff's Office, which has more than 3,600 police, corrections and civilian employees, has an annual budget of roughly $674 million.

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St. Louis' selection is particularly notable given the city's long struggle with violent crime. The city recorded 263 homicides in 2020, but that figure fell to 150 in 2024, its lowest total since 2013, as overall crime declined 15% year over year.

The decline continued into 2025, when homicides during the first three months of the year fell another 45% compared with the same period a year earlier.

DOJ said St. Louis' proposal calls for expanding law enforcement personnel by more than 300, modernizing policing technology and strengthening public safety operations.

Baton Rouge is confronting a different challenge: manpower. The Baton Rouge Police Department was roughly 150 officers short earlier this year, prompting officials to approve what they described as the largest police pay raise in department history. Starting salaries increased from $40,000 to $58,000 as part of an effort to recruit and retain officers.

The department also operates a Real Time Crime Center that uses data analytics and other technology to support officers and investigators.

DOJ said East Baton Rouge Parish stood out for its partnerships among law enforcement, local government and community organizations and its broader approach to combating violent crime.

Jackson, Mississippi, meanwhile, was selected for what DOJ described as an ambitious, technology-driven strategy to address persistent violent crime.

The Jackson Police Department already operates a Real Time Command Center and specialized units focused on gun crime, vice and narcotics and other investigations, while assigning officers to outside task forces. Its proposal calls for greater coordination among law enforcement agencies, expanded investigative capabilities and targeted enforcement, according to DOJ.

"President Trump and this Department of Justice have demonstrated that Americans need not accept unsafe streets as a fact of life," Associate Attorney General Stanley E. Woodward Jr. said. "We have made tremendous strides in restoring public safety, and the Model Cities Initiative offers an opportunity to build on that progress. These cities have the potential to set a new standard for safer communities across America."

The four winning jurisdictions will now work with DOJ to finalize and implement their public safety plans.

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Blanche and other Justice Department officials will travel to all four jurisdictions over the next 10 days to present the awards in person and reveal how the nearly $300 million will be divided among them.

Kim Kardashian has undergone surgery to have irregularities removed from her esophagus, she revealed on her family's show, "The Kardashians."

In Thursday’s episode, the 46-year-old reality star said she had been feeling a bit sluggish, but first assumed it was just because she'd been busy.

"I’ve been feeling a little off lately. My throat is like killing me today," she said in a confessional.

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Early in the episode, a doctor told her that she appeared to have inflammation of the esophagus, and noted that she could have esophagitis.

She admitted in a confessional, "So, I’ve seen a couple of doctors, and it’s been heavy on my mind lately."

The doctor suggested taking a round of medicine, then coming in for a procedure so he could get a better look at what was wrong and then determine if they needed to take further action.

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"I haven’t really told too many people about this just because I think it’s, you know, something that really hits home for me, and I just don’t really want to go there with my dad having passed away from esophagus cancer," she admitted to the camera. "Hopefully I can just take medication, and this will go away, but I just don’t know what’s going to happen."

Robert Kardashian died of esophageal cancer in 2003.

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"The doctor says my esophagus has these irregularities and I have to have them cut out," Kardashian said in the preview for next week’s show. "That’s the same thing my dad had."

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The preview also showed the reality star in a hospital gown with a surgical cap and her mother, Kris Jenner, by her side.

Kardashian first went public with her diagnosis of esophagitis a month ago in the season eight trailer.

"I have something called esophagitis," she told a producer while getting her makeup done. "Didn’t your father, isn’t that what he died of?" the person asked. 

She confirmed that it was.

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