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Female NASCAR driver cries during shocking in-car meltdown, parks truck during race and rage-quits the series Natalie Decker parked her truck during Friday's race at Dover after just 81 laps after NASCAR black-flagged her for being too slow.That, of course, isn't the whole story. Not even close.Decker essentially rage-quit during the race, suffering one of the most stunning in-car meltdowns I have ever heard. And folks, I've heard A LOT over the radio in all my years covering NASCAR. Frankly, until yesterday, I thought I'd heard it all. KYLE BUSCH TURNS NASTY DURING VIOLENT NASCAR RACE, F-BOMBS FLY IN WILD RADIO RANT & SPECTATORS WRECK! But this? This goes straight to the top. NASCAR fans quickly unearthed the audio after Decker exited the race, and it's something we'll be talking about for a long time."You guys, I'm trying to hold my s--- together, but I don't want to keep doing this," a crying Decker begins after being told to come down pit road for a pass-through penalty."There's just so many s----- things that I could say right now, and I'm just trying to keep it together, about the f---ing director of the series."Here's the full audio:Goodness gracious. Again, I have never heard anything like it out of a NASCAR driver. Never. Credit to her crew chief, spotter and team owner for handling it like adults. I would've been going ballistic."Let's remember what's on our truck, and just bring it to the garage, right?" said team owner Josh Reaume, referring, clearly, to the sponsors."I feel like a f---ing failure if I do that," she responded. "There's so many things I want to say and I'm probably going to get f---ing suspended, you have no idea."Finally, after telling us 13 times that we "have no idea," Decker ends the day by parking her truck, quitting on her team and leaving the Truck Series entirely. And then, naturally, she quickly turns her attention to social media."I'm sorry Josh, I'm not going to come back to the Truck Series," she continued. "I'm staying in the O'Reilly Series, this series f---ing sucks. The amount of hate I'm going to get online for this is just going to be insane. I'm not ready." NASCAR DRIVER KATHERINE LEGGE SLAMS 'DEI HIRE' SLIGHTS AFTER XFINITY SERIES CRASH Friday night, Decker braved her social media and actually released a statement, via Instagram:"I got a penalty at the drop of the green flag, I pulled out of line before the finish line, when serving that penalty I got another one for speeding on pit road," she said. "I am not going to lie I am really disappointed in myself because after all those penalties mentally I never recovered. I know there is going to be a lot of hate around my last to weekends racing and nothing you can say is worse then how hard I am on myself right now."But I am going to push myself to get through this and control what I can control moving forward and show up to my next race with a smile on my face and fire in me to keep doing what I love."Natalie may want to run that bad boy through an editor next time, but that's neither here nor there.Look, we write about Natalie Decker a lot around here. She's an attractive female NASCAR driver who is very active on social media. That stuff plays well with an audience.But this is just embarrassing. Let's just call a spade a spade. This is such a bad look. It's so bad, I'm not sure NASCAR should let her ever return. I'm serious. Do they really want drivers who melt down like that out on the track? That's not a normal radio rant. Again, I've done this for a long time. I've heard it all. NASCAR SENDS DANGEROUS MESSAGE WITH LATEST PENALTY THAT HAS FANS FUMING: SHUT UP AND DRIVE This one is different. This one sounds concerning. It's not fair to the team, to the sponsors, to the other drivers on the track, and to the fans. Natalie Decker is a grown adult. She turns 30 next month. She's a mother.In no world should her boss be trying to talk her off a ledge over the radio during a race. That's high school stuff. This is the real world."I'll have a fresh bottle of water for you when you get out of the truck."It's a nice sentiment. I get it. But, now that the dust has settled, it's time to take the kid gloves off and have a real conversation about what just happened.And, for NASCAR, it's probably time to think about never letting it happen again. Missing American's husband sat on boat for 24 hours after she vanished in Bahamas, friend says FIRST ON FOX: Brian Hooker sat on his sailboat for 24 hours after she vanished while the couple were in the Bahamas , according to one of his friends.After leaving shore at Hope Town in the Bahamas at around 7:30 p.m. on April 4, Brian Hooker told authorities that rough waters caused his wife to fall off their dinghy. Brian Hooker paddled to shore and arrived at Marsh Harbour around 4 a.m. on April 5, according to authorities.The couple was headed back to their sailboat, their full-time home in retirement, when Lynette fell overboard. They frequently sail around the U.S. and Caribbean, according to their social media pages.Blaine Stevenson, a friend of Brian Hooker's , told Fox News Digital that after spending about three to four hours searching with rescue officials on April 5, Brian returned to his sailboat and stayed there for roughly 24 hours. SIGN UP TO GET TRUE CRIME NEWSLETTER "So the incident happened Saturday at 7:30 p.m. He came ashore at 4 a.m., the search and rescue took him out for three or four hours and brought him back to his boat. He sat on his boat for almost 24 hours until search and rescue brought him his dinghy back," Stevenson said. FOLLOW THE FOX TRUE CRIME TEAM ON X "At no point did he really look at the situation and give anybody any more details than he had at the beginning when supposedly he was in shock," Stevenson said. SEND US A TIP HERE Brian Hooker would go on to stay at the Conch Inn in Marsh Harbour on April 6, Stevenson said, where he stayed until he was arrested on April 8 by Bahamian authorities. He was released from jail on April 13 without being charged. LYNETTE HOOKER MISSING IN BAHAMAS: TIMELINE OF MICHIGAN WOMAN'S DISAPPEARANCE, HUSBAND'S ARREST Stevenson also said he's shocked Brian Hooker didn't make more of an effort to find his wife. LISTEN TO THE NEW 'CRIME & JUSTICE WITH DONNA ROTUNNO' PODCAST "Even if he accepts the fact that his wife is gone - does he not want closure? Does he not want redemption?" Stevenson said.Sometime between May 8 and 10, Brian and Lynette Hooker's sailboat, Soulmate, was seized , a source familiar with the investigation told Fox News Digital. Soulmate was seized 40 nautical miles off the coast of Melbourne, Florida, according to the U.S. Coast Guard. LIKE WHAT YOU'RE READING? FIND MORE ON THE TRUE CRIME HUB In a news release, the Coast Guard said the seizure was part of a "complex surveillance and interdiction operation." The sailboat was taken to Coast Guard Station Fort Pierce, where it is being processed for potential evidence, the source said."The vessel Soulmate is currently in the custody of CGIS as part of an active criminal investigation ," the Coast Guard said.Brian Hooker's Michigan-based attorney previously asked Americans to give him the benefit of the doubt in an interview with ABC News."I would ask those watching to treat him the way you would want to be treated, to give him the benefit of the doubt, and to consider that not all of us, nor you, considering your own relationships, the way you speak to one another, we all handle things in different ways," Crystal Marie Hauser said.Fox News Digital reached out to Hauser for comment. Alison Sweeney has 'no regrets' leaving Los Angeles for Arizona to escape the 'rat race' Alison Sweeney has "no regrets" about getting away from the "rat race" that is Los Angeles.In a recent interview with Fox News Digital, the 49-year-old actress spoke about her latest Hallmark movie, "Best Served Cold: A Hannah Swensen Mystery," which she wrote and executive produced - based on the Hannah Swensen mysteries series of books by Joanne Fluke.  The actress also touched on the reason she chose to move out of Los Angeles to Arizona, noting the move came from "really wanting to create a great environment for my kids," saying she doesn't "regret it for a second.""One of the first things I noticed about myself was how less stressed out I was," she explained. "They don't call it a rat race for nothing, right? Like when you're in those big cities and there's always this energy and lots of people thrive on it, but I had reached my max capacity, and it was starting to really like weigh on me and be a source of real stress to me all the time." CANDACE CAMERON BURE EMBRACES SMALL-TOWN LIFE AWAY FROM HOLLYWOOD She explained that their life in Arizona is "a lot more laid back," noting that she is able to "work from home a lot more now" instead of going to the studio every day for different projects, including "Days of Our Lives."The "Romance at Hope Ranch" star and her husband "make a point of sort of appreciating" the slower-paced lifestyle. "Now we're here and our kids go to school, and we go to the school events, and we are learning to play golf, and we're enjoying a lot of trips and travel and I go up to Canada to work, but there is a peaceful net. " Her latest movie is the 14th installment in the Hannah Swensen franchise. Looking back on the success of the films, Sweeney called it "lightning in a bottle," saying sometimes, as an actor, "you just can't believe how lucky you are."When reflecting on the success of not only this franchise, but Hallmark movies in general , Sweeney said their focus on fun movies where "you probably know it's going to be okay at the end" lends to the rewatch ability of the films, and gives them something positive to watch, noting if "you want to watch bloodshed, it's out there, it's happening.""When I meet people about these movies, I love hearing them say like, 'oh, that scene,' and then they can quote little sections of it or little funny lines that are their favorite moments," she said. DANICA MCKELLAR URGES FAMILIES TO 'KEEP IT SIMPLE' TO DODGE HOLIDAY DINNER DRAMA She added: "And that to me is like the most satisfying thing about being a part of a franchise like this is the longevity that allows people to approach you about a movie four years ago, five years ago, and they can just rattle off their favorite. Moments along the way and then you feel like oh, we're really doing this together."Her movie, "Romance at Hope Ranch" went on to become the #1 Most-Watched Cable Entertainment Program on Saturday and #1 Most-Watched Cable Entertainment Program for the Week in key demographics, and her film, "Sugar & Vice: A Hannah Swensen Mystery reached #1 Most-Watched Cable Entertainment Program on Saturday and #2 Most-Watched Cable Entertainment Program for the Week in key demographics. CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE ENTERTAINMENT NEWSLETTER The latest movie, Hannah, a baker turned amateur detective investigates the murder of a key witness in a high-profile forgery case, and the disappearance of the lead prosecutor in the case. She and her primary love interest in the film and prosecutor, Chad, work together to solve the mystery before the killer strikes again, and their case falls apart."Best Served Cold: A Hannah Swensen Mystery" premieres Saturday, May 16 at 8 pm on Hallmark Channel, with streaming available the next day on Hallmark+.Sweeney promises "a bit of growth in the relationship between" the two leads, explaining she "wanted this movie to be about Chad" and his work in the courtroom, straying from the movie's "traditional plots and storylines to really make it about this courtroom drama ."Having written the last four movies in the Hannah Swensen movies, Sweeney has developed a stronger connection with the character, telling Fox News Digital, "I love developing characters that people relate to.""I love little nuggets of things that people can relate to and identify and have fun with," she said. "So I love the characters for those kinds of dynamics, the family dinners that they have together where they're kind of solving the mystery, but also." LIKE WHAT YOU'RE READING? CLICK HERE FOR MORE ENTERTAINMENT NEWS "Best Served Cold: A Hannah Swensen Mystery" also stars Victor Webster and Barbara Niven, and was produced by Sweeney, Craig Baumgarten and Lighthouse Pictures. Diners ditching bottles of wine for the table as healthy living and rising costs reshape restaurant habits People aren't ordering a bottle of wine for the table the way they used to, according to a new report. But industry experts say restaurants are making up for the revenue shortfall in other ways."We believe habits have shifted away from a group ordering a bottle of (typically red) wine to share with dinner in favor of the individuals in the group choosing their own preferred drink," Liberty Wines, a U.K.-based distributor, reported in its "Premium On-Trade Wine Report 2026."The reasons for the new trend are myriad, say experts. More consumers are prioritizing healthy living, culinary options and conscious spending. WINE SALES SLIPPING IN US AS MORE AMERICANS LEAVE ALCOHOL BEHIND The U.S. wine industry is grappling with one of its most painful downturns in decades as younger consumers cut back on drinking and baby boomers age out of the market, as Fox News Digital reported earlier this year.To recoup the hit from fewer bottle orders on their bottom lines, restaurant operators are raising prices elsewhere."What we're seeing now is a real push into non-alcoholic spirits and zero-proof programs that carry the same price point as a craft cocktail," Sri Divel, founder of California-based marketing and brand strategy firm The Culinary CMO, told Fox News Digital. WHAT HAPPENS TO OPENED WINE - AND HOW TO KNOW WHEN IT'S GONE BAD "These aren't the soda-and-lime mocktails of 10 years ago," Divel said. "These are muddled, multi-step builds - far more intricate than what we're used to seeing, with house-made syrups, fresh herbs, smoked elements, the works."The non-alcoholic drink takes the same time and skill to build as a $16 cocktail, Divel said.So it commands the same price - "and the guests get a real experience instead of feeling like they're being penalized for not drinking. Operators who lean into this are protecting their check averages and giving the non-drinking guest a reason to come back." EATING OUT GETTING MORE EXPENSIVE AS AMERICANS HIT 'MENU PRICE FATIGUE' NATIONWIDE Monika Elling, CEO and founder of New York-based zero-sugar Prosecco company Lo Secco Prosecco, told Fox News Digital that restaurants "have priced drinks to no longer align with long-accepted, aggressive markups."Elling relayed an eye-watering bill she and a colleague received when they recently went out for drinks."She had an $18 mocktail, and I had a $27 martini," Elling said. "The total with tax was $49, plus tip. We did not eat, yet we paid over $60 for two drinks." CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR LIFESTYLE NEWSLETTER Rather than going big on a bottle at a restaurant, Elling said that "people are opting to drink at home, pregame. [They'll] drink one glass during dinner - no longer two drinks or a bottle of wine.""Two glasses at $14 to $18 each feels manageable," Divel said."An $80 bottle feels like a commitment. The bottle used to be the default for a table of four. Now it's the exception. Throw in the fact that guests can pull up the retail price on their phone and see your markup in real time, and the bottle is getting a much harder look than it used to."Vinny Catalano, the "vinfluencer" behind the California-based "Vines with Vinny" Instagram account, said he's begun to see non-alcohol bubbles being offered "at prices comparable to alcoholic beverages." CLICK HERE FOR MORE LIFESTYLE STORIES Asked about the wine-drinking experience by the glass compared with a bottle, Catalano said, "If the wine has been opened that day and served the same day, then there's little difference in the taste of the wine." TEST YOURSELF WITH OUR LATEST LIFESTYLE QUIZ What is lost, though, Catalano told Fox News Digital, "is the romance of the experience of popping a bottle table-side."He added, "I feel that more bottles would actually be sold if people weren't intimidated about talking to sommeliers.""I always engage the sommelier, talk about what we're planning to eat, wine regions I like - and give a price cap of what I'm willing to spend. I have always gotten a great result, especially at places with big wine lists."Another option for people looking to keep the wine-bottle tradition alive while cutting costs is to bring their own bottle and pay for corkage, Catalano suggested. Senators agree to forgo shutdown paychecks - but many won't feel the pain Senators will now go without pay during future government shutdowns, but for many, they don't need the paycheck. The Senate unanimously agreed to forgo their paychecks during future shutdowns, with the money being withheld until a deal is struck to reopen the government. But much of the upper chamber is populated with lawmakers who are already wealthy before their time in office. "There are some members who are very independently wealthy that their congressional paycheck is a rounding error to their investments," Sen. James Lankford, R-Okla., told Fox News Digital. "Fine, I'm not pejorative of that at all. But we need to actually end government shutdowns."  SENATORS AGREE TO GO WITHOUT PAY DURING SHUTDOWNS AFTER HISTORIC CLOSURES LEFT WORKERS UNPAID In the last year, Congress has been unable to keep the government open twice. The first time for 43 days , and the most recent for 76 days.Republicans worry that before the midterm elections, and before the rule change becomes official, that Senate Democrats may again try to shutter the government to gain a political edge. They hope that the rule change, pushed by Sen. John Kennedy, R-La., is at least enough to convince some lawmakers not to do it. However, nearly three-quarters of the Senate are millionaires, according to an analysis of financial disclosure data reviewed by Fox News Digital and first reported by NOTUS, meaning the fear of missing a paycheck may not be enough to quell the desire to score political points.  SENATE WEIGHS NEW, PAINFUL LEVERAGE TACTIC AS FEARS OF ANOTHER GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN GROW "It certainly doesn't stop future shutdowns," Lankford said. "It just says, 'Hey, people are not being paid, we're not being paid either.'"Others were more optimistic that by installing the new guardrails on themselves, it could open the door to future legislation that may take shutdowns off the table entirely - like Lankford's bill that would automatically extend government funding on a temporary, two-week basis if lawmakers miss the mark. Sen. Bernie Moreno, R-Ohio, who is one of the wealthier members of the Senate, believed that the success of Kennedy's resolution could open the valve to his legislation that would dock members' pay during shutdowns. "It's about brick by brick, rebuilding confidence in the institution," Moreno told Fox News Digital. GOP CAN'T AGREE ON KEY PART OF TRUMP'S HOUSING AFFORDABILITY PUSH AS INFIGHTING CONTINUES Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla., another of the Senate's wealthiest members, contended that lawmakers shouldn't hold federal workers "hostage based on what we're doing." Over the past several months, hundreds of thousands of federal employees went without pay. And in the case of workers under the purview of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), they went without paychecks twice. "Hopefully it'll get people to focus on getting [appropriations] done, because, you know, we don't have a process to get this stuff done," Scott told Fox News Digital. Meanwhile, Kennedy, who successfully pushed Senate Republican leadership to put the bill on the floor, viewed its success as progress.But it's not as far as he wanted to go. "Look, if I were king for a day, I would pass a bill that doesn't suspend member pay, it forfeits member pay during a shutdown," Kennedy told Fox News Digital. "And I will also include in the bill a prohibition against members leaving Washington while we're in a shutdown. But I don't have the votes to do that. So I'm doing as much as I can." Chinese espionage steals $600 billion from US firms yearly. It's time for government to act Timed to the Beijing summit, I caught up with my friend and former CIA colleague Tom Lyons, who is the co-founder of the 2430 Group, which advises private sector businesses on strategies to counter China's ubiquitous espionage and unfair trade practices.   Powered by the most innovative free market economy on the planet, the U.S. has become too easy a mark for China's ruthless theft of our intellectual property. China steals upwards of $600 billion annually from U.S. companies. Lyons, who testified during a Senate Judiciary hearing in April, assesses that the amount of theft is actually much higher because most firms never detect espionage and most of those who do, do not report it out of concern for reputational damage and shareholder distress.For companies that do wish to pursue legal recourse, the cost of litigation can range into the millions of dollars. And to make matters even worse, if the criminal enterprise is based in Beijing, then there would be no chance of collecting any compensation. China does not enforce U.S. court judgments. China's objective is not simply to pick off specific businesses for intellectual property theft, but rather to pilfer entire industries. President Xi Jinping directs China's state-controlled command economy, where he and his cronies funnel trillions of dollars of investment into their industries of choice, with massive corruption. AMERICA HAS TO RESPOND WITH A UNITED FRONT TO CHINA'S MASSIVE ECONOMIC WARFARE China's Communist Party rejects the idea of a private sector. By law , every employee in Chinese firms must report to the Ministry of State Security, which heavily infiltrates especially high technology companies. Lyons recounted the case of Linwei Ding , the Google engineer who stole proprietary AI chip architecture for a trillion-dollar industry and used his knowledge of Google's designs as his China-based company's selling point. Ding was arrested and convicted of economic espionage, but the damage is done.Having stolen our technology, China can produce a copycat product at an extremely low cost with an eye towards purloining Google's market share. U.S. companies should bear some responsibility for recognizing their own vulnerability. The idea of a Chinese copycat product impacting a company's global revenue is often considered an over-the-horizon challenge for some future CEO, given it takes time to commercialize stolen designs. But short-term focus risks long-term strategic losses. GOOGLE ENGINEER STOLE AI SECRETS FOR CHINA, SENATE HEARS IN EXPLOSIVE TESTIMONY During the past 25 years, China's systematic theft has eroded or eradicated critical U.S. industries like steel, telecommunications, solar and semiconductors. If our checkered past, a massive transfer of wealth from the U.S. to China, is prologue then Lyons is absolutely right to ring the alarm bells about growing risks to U.S. national security. U.S. companies are in the crosshairs of China's notorious Ministry of State Security. That's hardly a fair fight for our private sector, which is untethered to our federal government.U.S. companies should not have to face off alone against China's sophisticated intelligence service. The U.S. government does not at this time adequately advise, warn and protect our companies. Similar to counterterrorism operations , the objective should be to detect commercial threats way out left of boom or before the attack and preempt the threat before any harm is caused to our vulnerable private sector. Threat briefings are not enough. Especially our small businesses and startups need actionable intelligence. CHINA 'RIPPING OFF' AMERICAN BUSINESSES - BUT THE DOJ CAN FIGHT THEM, GOP LAWMAKER SAYS Lyons also suggests we need to reform our commercial incentive structure and legal system. CLICK HERE FOR MORE FOX NEWS OPINION First, the Department of Justice should defray the costs of litigation and allow companies to share in financial restitution from criminal fines, forfeitures and sanctions penalties.Second, the White House should work with Congress to increase the deterrent effect of economic espionage by raising the penalties so that it costs more to steal IP than develop it. The U.S. government should use intelligence reporting to name and shame foreign actors conducting espionage against our private sector and target them ruthlessly through covert and overt means.Third, after discontinuing its Thousand Talents Plan and re-starting it under a different name, China continues to recruit engineers and scientists with generous "salaries" and other benefits to share their sensitive work. Lyons rightly argues that we should begin by designating foreign entities doing the bidding of Chinese intelligence as State Sponsored Economic Espionage Organizations, while bringing criminal proceedings against anyone who knowingly accepts compensation or material benefit from a designated entity.Going forward, hard-driving White House policy, bipartisan legislation and support from the intelligence community, should harden our defenses. With China relentlessly focused on winning this century's Cold War by outpacing U.S. high technology, the stakes could not be higher. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM DAN HOFFMAN TV networks have more leverage over the NFL and streamers than the league realizes The prevailing narrative around the NFL's media rights is that the league will pressure its television partners to pay significantly higher fees before the 2029-30 opt-out period begins (2030-31 for ESPN), or risk losing their packages to streaming platforms.However, we are not convinced the NFL has as much leverage as it has led industry insiders and the public to believe. And, no, it's not because of scrutiny from the U.S. Justice Department.To be sure, the current broadcast partners -- ESPN/ABC, Fox, CBS and NBC -- cannot compete financially with the tech companies circling the league . Alphabet, which owns Google and YouTube, carries a market cap of roughly $4.78 trillion. Amazon sits at $2.84 trillion. In a pure bidding war, traditional networks would almost certainly lose. But that scenario assumes the streamers actually want the same packages the networks currently hold. CLICK HERE FOR MORE OUTKICK SPORTS COVERAGE So far, the evidence suggests otherwise.Netflix and YouTube have both expressed interest in adding NFL inventory, but consider the types of games they have pursued.Netflix expanded its NFL package from two games to five this season, adding a Week 1 international game, a Thanksgiving Eve matchup and a Week 18 game alongside its Christmas Day doubleheader. That limited expansion aligns with what Netflix executives have publicly said about their strategy."We're not bidding on whole seasons of sports, including the NFL," Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos told FOX Business host Maria Bartiromo this week.Perhaps Netflix eventually adds a few more showcase windows, especially if the league opens more inventory to the market in 2029. But even then, the company appears focused on event programming rather than a full weekly schedule. There are also not many marquee standalone windows left for Netflix to pursue. Thanksgiving Eve already feels like a stretch.YouTube tells a similar story. Despite months of speculation that it would secure additional NFL rights, the platform will not carry any games this season. And while YouTube will likely remain interested in future opportunities, its focus also appears to be on premium events rather than weekly packages.Its business model helps explain why. The core YouTube platform is free. Airing last season's Chiefs-Chargers game from Brazil at no cost made sense as a promotional event. Carrying an entire NFL season for free would not. ZERO BS. JUST DAKICH. TAKE THE DON'T @ ME PODCAST ON THE ROAD. DOWNLOAD NOW! YouTube TV is not an ideal destination either. At roughly $85 per month, placing NFL games behind that paywall would significantly reduce the league's reach.Apple, despite a market cap of approximately $4.41 trillion, has shown little meaningful interest in NFL rights. That could always change, but there is currently little indication that the company is preparing a major push.Amazon is the exception. Since taking over Thursday Night Football in 2022 , Amazon has demonstrated a willingness to carry a weekly NFL package. The question is how much larger an investment it wants to make.Industry consensus has long held that Amazon and other tech companies are unlikely to pursue Fox's and CBS's Sunday afternoon regional packages because of the enormous logistical demands involved. Those packages require numerous production crews operating simultaneously across the country every week.Likewise, Amazon is not expected to challenge ESPN for Monday Night Football, especially after the NFL acquired an equity stake in ESPN. If anything, ESPN, which already pays the league more annually than any other partner ($2.7 billion), could ultimately end up with additional games split between ESPN and NFL Network.That leaves NBC.NBC's aggressive NBA deal has fueled industry speculation that the network could eventually lose Sunday Night Football. But if that happens, the obvious question becomes: to whom?In theory, Amazon could make a run at Sunday Night Football. Beyond that possibility, however, it is difficult to envision streamers taking over the NFL's weekly television structure within the next decade unless their strategies change dramatically.With that in mind, the broadcast networks may ultimately be better off holding firm to their existing agreements through the opt-out period, rather than dramatically increasing rights fees out of fear.The more likely outcome is that tech companies gain a larger presence around tentpole events, particularly the Super Bowl. The Super Bowl is the type of property Netflix, YouTube and Amazon would almost certainly pursue aggressively.That does not mean the traditional networks would be unaffected. Beginning this season, NBC, CBS and Fox already have to share Super Bowl rotation duties with ESPN/ABC. Additional partners would further dilute exclusivity.Still, the NFL and the broadcast networks remain highly dependent on one another.As powerful as the NFL is, the streaming giants do not appear interested in abandoning their current strategies to bid aggressively for weekly NFL packages.Until that changes, relying on traditional television remains in the league's best financial interest.And that gives the TV networks tremendous leverage. Athena goes above and beyond to retain title at Ring of Honor's Supercard of Honor, eyes legendary reign Athena has been one of the most dominant champions across pro wrestling and that dominance continued on Friday night at Ring of Honor's Supercard of Honor.The Ring of Honor Women's World Championship was up for grabs in a Survival of the Fittest six-way match. Athena had to outlast Billie Starkz, Maya World, Trish Adora, Yuka Sakazaki and Zayda Steel. Chairs, ladders and other foreign objects would enter the match through the night. ZERO BS. JUST DAKICH. TAKE THE DON'T @ ME PODCAST ON THE ROAD. DOWNLOAD NOW! While Athena eliminated Steel early, putting down the rest of her opponents was not an easy task. Athena found herself in a precarious position. Competitors stacked chairs on top of each other and Adora made use of them. She chokeslammed Athena through them during the match.Sakazaki even tried her best to keep Athena down.Athena was laid out on a table. Instead of going to the top turnbuckle to hit a splash, Sakazaki springboarded herself off the top rope in the middle of the ring and hit the Magical Girl Splash onto Athena and through the table.Still, Athena was undeterred. CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM a needed to go nearly 10-feet up onto a ladder. She flipped off it and hit World with the O-Face. She then pinned World, completing the final elimination.Athena has now eclipsed 1,253 days as the Ring of Honor women's world champion.She told Fightful earlier in the week that her goal was to surpass Bruno Sammartino's reign as champion. The legendary pro wrestler held the WWWF World Heavyweight Championship for 2,803 days at the height of his career."Hey man, when we get to Supercard of Honor this week and I beat the epic Roman Reigns' last championship run, I just want you to know that I'm gonna be so petty," she said. "I want everyone to know that we are gonna have the pettiest celebration ever. We're gonna have kittens, green apple skittles, whiskey, tequila, you name it. ... But we are just gonna have a big smorgasbord of a party. We're gonna have a cookout. It's gonna be amazing."But like I said before, my goal is Bruno Sammartino. Seven years, baby, seven years. But you know what, when you're 'forever champion,' what's years? What's years? A lot of people think that might be getting ahead of myself. But at the end of the day, I've been champion for over-what is it 1,250 days or something like that? I don't see this anytime soon."Hell, all these girls that are in this match think that they've learned something by experiencing Athena, but I'm  ever changing, ever evolving. That's just the way I've always been and there's not gonna be a harder worker than me. As I've said before and I'll say it again, no man can touch my reign, no woman can live up to my legacy. I am the forever Ring of Honor Women's World Champion. It's about time y'all get over it."It's clear that the "Forever Champion" is focused on being just that. BROADCAST BIAS: Networks spin Trump's Xi meeting as weakness despite strategic gain President Donald Trump flew to China to make nice with communist leader Xi Jinping this week. It didn't sound like the Cold War, or the recent trade wars. The word "détente" was in the air, so for anti-communists who didn't love President Richard Nixon in China or President Jimmy Carter kissing Soviet dictator Leonid Brezhnev on the cheek, it wasn't the best look.Trump called Xi a "great leader," which sounded more like the Chamber of Commerce than the Victims of Communism Museum. The word "communist" is typically missing from broadcast network coverage of China, which began bemoaning "capitalist" China decades ago under Deng Xiaoping.The worst network in Beijing, unsurprisingly, was ABC News, which reliably casts Trump in the most negative light. The China trip was hampered by the war in Iran, which Trump is supposedly losing. White House correspondent Mary Bruce, who often sounded positive or defensive notes about President Joe Biden , hit the theme."The president had envisioned that he would arrive here today victorious in Iran," she announced, "that he would use that momentum to help secure deals on trade and technology, other investments and artificial intelligence, that this was a chance to reset the U.S. relationship with China. But those ambitions, now largely overshadowed by the war with Iran." TRUMP-XI'S CHINA SUMMIT IS A DEFINING TEST FOR AMERICA IN THE NEW COLD WAR ABC turned to foreign correspondent James Longman, who also cast a pall over the Iran situation: "The big question: how much more pain can the U.S. take from high gas prices created by the crisis in the Strait of Hormuz? And, in many ways, you know, the Iranians have realized they don't need a weapon of mass destruction, a nuclear weapon. They've got this weapon of mass disruption over the Strait of Hormuz. I'm reminded of an Economist magazine front cover last month, which attributed a quote to Napoleon Bonaparte, which said, 'never interrupt your enemy when he is making a mistake.' That feels like China's strategy right now."The Economist magazine is as reliably anti-Trump as ABC News, so that citation came as no surprise.Then, for another set of body blows, ABC foreign correspondent Ian Pannell saw America sinking: "In some senses, this is a diminished America. I think its influence, if not its power, is now in serious doubt, not just from its adversaries, but also from its friends." The war in Iran split Trump from European allies: "The general view here, I think, is that this was a war of choice, has brought nothing but economic misery for not just the old world, but especially Asia ." MORNING GLORY: WILL XI FREE LAI? The surprising network was CBS News, because - surprise! - they somehow failed to get a visa for their new evening anchor Tony Dokoupil to get into China. Instead, he broadcast from Taiwan this week and ended the Wednesday, May 13, "CBS Evening News" on a different note. "Finally, tonight from Taiwan: as President Trump and China's Xi Jinping prepare to meet, you will hear a lot about American decline and the rise of a powerful new China." Yes, from ABC.He continued: "Xi's China is a marvel by many measures," but there's also negatives: "China's population is in decline, though, well below replacement rates. Unemployment is high, with millions in rural provinces living in poverty, and massive housing complexes that now sit empty. Most importantly, and perhaps I'm stating the obvious here, none of these problems are a topic on the Chinese evening news. In fact, pessimism itself is forbidden on the Chinese internet. The freedoms we have, they simply do not." This is the benefit of not having "minders" following you around. CLICK HERE FOR MORE FOX NEWS OPINION On Thursday, Dokoupil went further on the theme that, while "communism had failed in the old Soviet Union" and democracy seemed triumphant, today China is challenging that argument. So Dokoupil brought up "democracy activist" Jimmy Lai, now in a Hong Kong prison. He ran a clip of CBS's Holly Williams noting Hong Kong is a wonderful city with prosperity. Lai replied: "That's what Chinese think. They think we just have a body, we don't have a soul. You guys just make money, have a good life, don't think about politics, don't think about freedom, don't think about human right, don't think about of law, just eat. Enjoy life....We have soul. We are not a dog."Dokoupil concluded: "And when you step back, that is the bigger picture this week, not just which superpower walks away with a mightier military or a larger economy, but whose ideas should lead the future?" This does mark a difference from the old Peter Jennings or Dan Rather model, and could make an argument that Bari Weiss has changed things, at least part of the time.NBC anchor Tom Llamas was in Beijing and secured an interview with Trump which the liberals thought wasn't confrontational enough. CNN "fact checker" Daniel Dale claimed Trump lied repeatedly, and Llamas failed to correct him in real time. Some of them were obviously false (like Trump claiming he won in 2020) and some were nitpicking (China doesn't pay tariffs). NBC published its own "fact check" online.Because the tone between the two leaders was positive, the end result was less negative than the typical week on the broadcast networks. But if Trump's conservative backers started complaining about being too accommodating to communists, they might predictably pounce on a "MAGA split" and "more negative news for Trump." CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM TIM GRAHAM Trump family fires back at 'lawfare,' warns the world their political future is wide open After surviving multiple assassination attempts and years of what they describe as legal "lawfare," the Trump family says they are prepared for whatever comes next in the political arena.Speaking aboard Air Force One on the "Hanging Out with Sean Hannity" podcast, Eric and Lara Trump refused to rule out future runs for office. The interview took place as they traveled with President Donald Trump to China for a summit with President Xi Jinping."I would never rule anything out," Eric Trump told Hannity when asked about a potential bid for the presidency. "I can tell you we've seen the best of it, and we've seen the worst of it.""I've seen six months of courtrooms where people are trying to destroy you and your entire family. If you go into this game, you better be ready for it. You better have your family ready for it because they're coming, and they're coming in ways you can't even imagine," he added. 'SENDING TREMORS ACROSS THIS COUNTRY': ERIC TRUMP DEFENDS FATHER AGAINST 'LEGAL LAWFARE' IN NY FRAUD CASE Lara Trump, who served as co-chair of the Republican National Committee through the 2024 election before becoming a Fox News host, had a similar outlook as her husband. She argued that attacks from the "deep state" have made the family more resilient."I will echo Eric's answer," Lara Trump said . "If you continue to rub your hands, you get a callus. You continue to beat somebody enough, you develop a thick skin, and we have all developed such thick skin that I almost don't think there's anything they could throw in any of our way."When pressed by Hannity on whether she might personally consider a bid to become the first female president, Lara kept the door wide open for the entire family. WIDOW, DAUGHTER OF MAN KILLED AT TRUMP BUTLER RALLY TELL ALL IN NEW FOX NATION SHOW "I wouldn't rule it out for anyone in the family," she said. "Despite knowing absolutely nothing about politics when this whole thing started, we got a quick lesson." KASH PATEL REVEALS THE CHILLING HOLIDAY TERROR PLOTS FBI FEDERAL AGENTS QUIETLY STOPPED The family also recalled the emotional moment they had to tell their children about the 2024 assassination attempt in Butler, Pennsylvania . Lara described explaining the event to their then-four and six-year-old children as "one of the hardest things" she's ever had to do. " Maybe one of the hardest things I've ever had to do was talk to our kids to let them know that something had happened to grandpa because [they] were, what, four and six at the time," she said."It's hard for them to rationalize why would someone want to do that, and so our daughter was particularly concerned about the bandage on his ear . We didn't even discuss what was going to happen and how it was [going to] go. As soon as she saw him, man, she wanted to climb in his lap and just be with him." Alex Murdaugh defense teases new trial strategy with jury fight, testimony looming The legal war over Alex Murdaugh's upcoming retrial is already taking shape with defense attorney Dick Harpootlian hinting at possible new evidence and lead prosecutor Creighton Waters signaling an impending fight over whether the disgraced lawyer can get a fair jury in South Carolina.In separate interviews with Fox News Digital, Dick Harpootlian, Murdaugh's longtime defense attorney, and Creighton Waters, the lead prosecutor who secured the original guilty verdicts, previewed different visions for the upcoming retrial.The interviews came days after the South Carolina Supreme Court unanimously reversed Murdaugh's convictions in the killings of his wife, Maggie, and son, Paul, ruling that Colleton County Clerk of Court Rebecca "Becky" Hill improperly influenced jurors during the six-week trial. ALEX MURDAUGH'S DOUBLE MURDER CONVICTION UNANIMOUSLY OVERTURNED BY SOUTH CAROLINA SUPREME COURT Now both sides are preparing for a second courtroom showdown.Harpootlian said the defense plans to seek a venue change, attorney-led jury questioning and potentially sequestration of jurors. ALEX MURDAUGH ATTORNEY ARGUES STATE SUPREME COURT SHOULD OVERTURN GUILTY VERDICT "We now have the ability to get people's social media, their Instagrams, all of that," he said. "And we'll scour that before they ever get a chance to appear."He argued that jurors in the original trial had effectively been conditioned to distrust Murdaugh before he testified."They'd already been pre-conditioned," Harpootlian said, referring to testimony that Hill encouraged jurors not to believe Murdaugh. ALEX MURDAUGH APPEAL CHALLENGING MURDER CONVICTIONS FACES STATE PUSHBACK OVER JURY INFLUENCE CLAIMS Waters contended that widespread public familiarity with high-profile criminal cases has become unavoidable."The genie is out of the bottle," Waters said. "We're not going to be able to go back with that."He argued that publicity alone cannot disqualify prospective jurors. FOX NEWS TRUE CRIME NEWSLETTER: ALEX MURDAUGH CRIES FOUL, BRYAN KOHBERGER'S IDEA, 'HOUSE OF HORRORS' REVEAL "If it were otherwise, anytime you have a sensational case, then the defendant would just get away with it because of the fact that, well, okay, we can't find anybody who hasn't heard about this," Waters said.Instead, he said, the justice system depends on jurors' ability to follow their oath and decide cases based solely on evidence presented in court."We depend on our citizens to do what their oath requires them, put aside things that they might have read in the media or in a podcast or whatever, and base their evidence and their decisions solely on the evidence that's presented in the courtroom," Waters said. NEW TEXT MESSAGES FUEL ALEX MURDAUGH'S PUSH FOR NEW TRIAL When asked if Murdaugh will take the stand again in his retrial, Harpootlian said: "That'll be a game day decision. We need to see how the case develops."Harpootlian said during the initial trial, Murdaugh decided to take the stand and testify under oath."The decision to take the stand is his. He's a lawyer, and he has defended criminal cases and prosecuted them. So he understands [the process]," Harpootlian said. "But we reviewed everything with him and gave him our recommendations."Harpootlian signaled that the defense strategy may look dramatically different this time around."We'll get subpoena power for the second trial, and we can begin to put records together to help either refute or support what we've heard," Harpootlian said. MURDAUGH LAWYER 'CAUTIOUSLY OPTIMISTIC' COURT CLERK'S MISCONDUCT COULD PAVE WAY FOR NEW TRIAL Harpootlian repeatedly attacked prosecutors for spending enormous amounts of time focusing on Murdaugh's financial crimes.He argued prosecutors intentionally portrayed Murdaugh as morally reprehensible before jurors fully evaluated the murder evidence itself."So, by the time we got to the real evidence, [the jury] wasn't interested in hearing it because he was such a horrible, evil man, and a liar. So that was about assassination of character. It wasn't about motive." WATCH: Lead prosecutor in Murdaugh case says 'genie is out of the bottle' in retrial The Supreme Court ruled Wednesday that prosecutors could still use some financial-crime evidence at retrial because it was relevant to motive but criticized prosecutors for spending roughly 12.5 hours presenting inflammatory details with limited value.Waters defended the original strategy, saying that both Judge Clifton Newman and the Supreme Court accepted the logic of the state's motive theory."We presented a lot of evidence over six weeks," Waters said. "Putting in that financial evidence is evidence of motive." FOLLOW THE FOX TRUE CRIME TEAM ON X Harpootlian also launched a blistering attack on the murder investigation itself, accusing state investigators of suffering from tunnel vision immediately after arriving at the crime scene. SIGN UP TO GET TRUE CRIME NEWSLETTER "They decided that night he was the guy and everything they did after that excluded any other thought," Harpootlian said.He argued investigators failed to properly preserve or pursue critical forensic evidence . SEND US A TIP HERE "They didn't try to take fingerprints. Didn't try to get DNA. Didn't preserve Maggie's phone in the way it's supposed to be," he said. "It's just a comedy of errors." LISTEN TO THE NEW 'CRIME & JUSTICE WITH DONNA ROTUNNO' PODCAST The defense attorney also previewed his potential retrial strategy including family's cellphone data, vehicle information and disputed timelines surrounding the killings."We're going to be getting some additional forensic cell phone people for the second trial," Harpootlian said. LIKE WHAT YOU'RE READING? FIND MORE ON THE TRUE CRIME HUB The original prosecution relied heavily on cellphone and video evidence, particularly a kennel video recorded by Paul Murdaugh shortly before the killings in which multiple witnesses identified Alex Murdaugh's voice in the background.But Harpootlian argued the state's timeline remained less certain than prosecutors claimed."We don't know whether Alex was down there an hour before they were killed, 30 minutes before they killed. We don't know, and they don't," he said.He also questioned on Maggie Murdaugh's cellphone, which was later found discarded along a roadside."At the time that phone was thrown out of the window a half a mile away, he's cranking his car," Harpootlian said. "So how can he be a half a mile away when it's thrown out the window?""So somebody threw it out the window. It just wasn't him."Waters declined to discuss specific evidentiary disputes ahead of retrial."The defense has different rules, they can go in a little bit and sort of litigate the case in the media," he said. "Because we're back at square one and he is innocent until proven guilty, it wouldn't be appropriate for me to litigate this piece of evidence or that piece of evidence prior to a retrial." MIKE DAVIS: Colorado governor delivers justice to Tina Peters Seventy-year-old Tina Peters, a nonviolent former county clerk, has been rotting in a Colorado prison , serving an outrageous nine-year sentence. Most leftists delighted in Peters' suffering, branding her, among other things, an "insurrectionist." One Democrat, however, saw this for the egregious wrong that it was and stopped it: Colorado Gov. Jared Polis. Anyone who believes in the rule of law, regardless of political party, should thank him profusely for his courageous grant of clemency to Peters.Peters believed, as did millions of Americans, that the 2020 election was rigged against President Donald Trump . As Mesa County clerk, Peters sought to prove that there were flaws in the electronic voting system under which the election had occurred. She provided secure information in the form of source code to an outside adviser as part of her efforts to demonstrate that the system was vulnerable and that election fraud had transpired. This conduct occurred after the election, and not one vote changed as a result. Peters never tried to alter any votes in any election.Republican-in-name-only Mesa County District Attorney Dan Rubenstein, Democrat Secretary of State Jena Griswold and Democrat Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser went after Peters with a vengeance. She faced a slew of felony charges and up to 18 years in prison - in effect a life sentence for someone her age - for her nonviolent conduct. A jury found her guilty on some charges but acquitted her of identity theft. The prosecution argued that Peters had stolen the identification badge of one of her employees; Peters, by contrast, alleged that the employee had been in on the plan. The jury rejected the prosecution's allegation, meaning that Peters is not an identity thief. Then the real injustice began.Mesa County District Judge Matthew Barrett is a terrible Colorado state trial judge. Unfortunately for Peters, Barrett presided over her trial. At sentencing, Barrett threw the book at her, sentencing her to nine years in prison. Nine years dwarfs the sentences that individuals who cast illegal votes receive. In those cases, illegal voters are canceling out the votes of lawful voters. Worse than the unconscionable length of the sentence for someone with no criminal history was Barrett's reasoning. He harped on Peters' statements about election fraud, branding her a "charlatan." All of those statements were protected by the First Amendment. In other words, Barrett was punishing Peters for constitutionally protected speech. Even worse, Barrett made Peters serve part of her sentence in a county jail rather than immediately sending her to state prison. This vindictive act decreased the amount of good-time credit and prison services for which Peters would be eligible. COLORADO GOVERNOR COMMUTES TINA PETERS' SENTENCE AS TRUMP POSTS 'FREE TINA!' Colorado courts sadly have been taken over by leftists. The Colorado Supreme Court , for example, illegally threw President Trump off the ballot in 2024, claiming he was an insurrectionist. A unanimous reversal by the U.S. Supreme Court swiftly put an end to that absurd ruling. Even a leftist appellate court panel, however, recognized the grave injustice in Peters' case. The panel remanded the case for resentencing because of concern that Barrett unlawfully punished Peters for protected speech.Meanwhile, President Trump and the Trump Justice Department were constantly fighting for Peters' release. The president repeatedly raised the issue, even threatening to withhold funding from Colorado. The Trump Justice Department filed a statement of interest in Peters' federal habeas corpus petition , an unusual but proper course of action in light of the outrageous facts of the case. The U.S. magistrate judge denied the petition, which sought Peters' release on bail during the appellate process, but Peters' allies did not give up, beseeching Gov. Polis to grant her clemency.Gov. Polis faced massive pressure to deny clemency. Rubenstein ardently opposed it, as did other Democratic officials in Colorado. Colorado is a deep-blue state; indeed, Kamala Harris carried it in 2024 by a margin similar to Illinois. The politically easy course of action for Polis would have been to deny clemency. Doing so would have garnered him praise from Democrats who wanted Peters to remain behind bars for nearly a decade. A clemency denial surely would have enhanced his standing among those Democrats should he choose to run for president in 2028. JOHN FETTERMAN, UNDER FIRE FROM FELLOW DEMOCRATS, BREAKS WITH THE PARTY'S DICTATES AND OFTEN SIDES WITH TRUMP Trump could have tried to pardon Peters, but it is virtually certain that the Supreme Court would have held the pardon invalid because a president can issue pardons only for federal offenses, not state crimes. In other words, for all practical purposes, Peters' fate rested in Polis' hands.Polis did not take the easy road; he took the high road. He granted Peters' clemency application, and she will go home on June 1 to spend time with her mother, who is nearly 100 years old. The clemency decision brought swift condemnation from Colorado leftists. Sen. Michael Bennet , for instance, "vehemently" disagreed with the decision, according to a post on X. The condemnation reverberated far outside Colorado. Democratic election lawyer Marc Elias posted on X: "Disgraceful. Absolutely disgraceful."For her part, Peters expressed gratitude and pledged to lead a law-abiding life to honor the gift of mercy she received. Now Peters' mother can pass with her daughter by her side instead of locked away in prison. The cell Peters occupied can go to someone who represents a true danger to Coloradans.It is only fitting to end with a quote from Polis regarding his clemency decision: "I hope that Democrats don't sacrifice our deeply held belief in free speech because of political expediency, or disregard for what people are saying, or how they're choosing to use their free speech."This statement represents the views of old-school Democrats like Sen. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania. Tragically, the Polises and Fettermans are a dying breed in the Democratic Party. Many Democrats would be willing to sacrifice deeply held views on free speech if doing so gave them the satisfaction of watching a septuagenarian spend years in prison while her mother died alone and heartbroken.Thank you, Gov. Polis, from this Colorado Republican who voted against you. You've earned my respect. CLICK FOR MORE FROM MIKE DAVIS Gunther accuses Cody Rhodes of making his SmackDown arrival about himself 'just like a typical American' Gunther had two decisions to make on "Friday Night SmackDown."After he failed to sign a contract with SmackDown, the favor he wanted from Paul Heyman appeared to come to fruition. Heyman got Gunther a match at Clash in Italy for Cody Rhodes' Undisputed WWE Championship.Heyman put the onus on Rhodes - the face of the blue brand - to make Gunther sign the contracts. Rhodes got to the ring and setup the tables and chairs himself as he awaited Gunther to come to the ring. ZERO BS. JUST DAKICH. TAKE THE DON'T @ ME PODCAST ON THE ROAD. DOWNLOAD NOW! er was upset that Rhodes allegedly impeded on Gunther's "strategic planning" that went into signing with SmackDown. He said Rhodes made his arrival to SmackDown all about himself."Just like a typical American. I shouldn't be surprised. I see it on your neck every week," the 6-foot-4 Austrian said of Rhodes' neck tattoo. "When the attention is not on you, you cry, you complain and you find a way to make it all about yourself. But not like me. This is my deal. This is my title match. This will be my title. So, golden boy, all I want you to do is be professional, address me nicely and don't forget to say please. It's very simple."Rhodes reminded that Gunther "got the drop" on him and that he got Heyman to do a favor for him."Yes, I'm the one with the U.S. flag on the side of my neck, sure, but you're the one who's making it weird," Rhodes responded. "So, here's the thing, I'm going to make it simple. This is the contract right here. It's in this ring. That's where you need to be and you need to sign it. You want me to say please? Sure, please come to this ring, sign this contract so that you're guaranteed to get your a-- kicked at Clash in Italy." Royce Keys interrupted the segment and told Gunther that if he wouldn't sign the contract, he would. Keys marched to the ring and was about to sign the contract before Gunther took the pen away.SmackDown general manager Nick Aldis said Gunther "over played" his hand and that he wasn't guaranteed a shot anymore. Aldis made a match between Gunther and Keys for later in the night.Keys went into the match still with Solo Sikoa in his ear trying to get him to join forces with him, Tama Tonga and Talla Tonga. With Sikoa possibly in his head and later on the outside of the ring in his corner, he came into the SmackDown main event looking to leap to the top of the championship ladder.Gunther gave everything Keys could handle, but couldn't keep the big man down. Keys showed why he was a force to be reckoned with. However, Keys just couldn't get a pin on him.When the referee went down, Sikoa slid a chair in and tried to goad Keys into using it. Keys threw it back at Sikoa. It was the distraction that Gunther needed. The ref got back up, Gunther powerbombed Keys and pinned him for the win.Rhodes attacked Gunther from behind as the "Career Killer" was celebrating the victory. CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM Carmelo Hayes and Ricky Saints represent the future of SmackDown and the two were in action during the night as they both looked to emerge as contenders for the United States Championship.Hayes, a former U.S. champion himself, was making his first appearance in the ring since April 3 when he lost his rematch for the title against Sami Zayn. Hayes didn't appear to show any sort of ring rust as he took the attack to Saints early.But Saints, the savvy former NXT and North American champion, got his opportunity to slow down the match and take it to Hayes. He showboated his way through the match as he hit dropkicks, suplexes, chops and more to wear down Hayes.Hayes avoided a superplex attempt and turned the tables on Saints, hitting a frog splash. He only picked up a two count. The two men were staggered and stunned as they hoped for the win. Saints even broke out a high-angled driver, but only got a two count.Saints was surviving everything Hayes was giving him. After Saints kicked out of the First 48, he hit a Revolution DDT on Hayes, but again, only got a two count. Saints tried to cheat to get the win, but referee Charles Robinson caught him and stopped his count.As Saints argued with Robinson, Hayes rolled up Saints and used the ropes for leverage to get the pin. Robinson didn't see the move and Hayes got the win. Oklahoma woman discovers husband was a Canadian man who faked his death 37 years earlier in a barn fire Deb Proctor was at work when her phone rang from an unknown number - a call that would shatter everything she thought she knew about her husband.An investigator delivered the devastating truth to the Oklahoma woman: The man she knew as Jeff Walton was actually Ronald Stan, a Canadian man who disappeared 37 years earlier and was presumed dead after leaving behind a wife and two children."After gathering my composure, I went to my immediate executive and explained this bizarre phone call," Proctor told Fox News Digital. "My colleagues were very concerned that my life was in danger, that maybe Jeff was in witness protection, and I had just blown it to some stranger who was not real, a so-called investigator." MASSACHUSETTS MAN'S DEATHBED CONFESSION RATTLES FAMILY AFTER DECADES ON THE RUN: 'IT WASN'T A WEIRD DAD JOKE' Proctor is coming forward with her story in the ABC true crime series "Betrayal: Secrets & Lies." Inspired by the "Betrayal" podcast franchise, the series explores how people from across the country survive scandalous confessions, financial ruin and acts of violence, among other hardships."Deb Proctor's story is an incredible exploration of what happens when the person closest to you is living a double life," Andrea Gunning, host of the "Betrayal" podcast, told Fox News Digital. "What stayed with me the most while working on Deb's story was not just the scale of Jeff's deception, but the deeply human process of Deb rebuilding her life after the truth was exposed."It was 1998 when Proctor, a 41-year-old divorcee and mother of two sons, was ready to meet someone new. She decided to join a dating site, where she came across Walton, an Ohio State graduate and former football player who traveled and played golf - a passion of hers. She was intrigued. WATCH: VANISHED: BEHIND THE STRING OF DEATHS AND DISAPPEARANCES OF SEVERAL AMERICAN SCIENTISTS After a year of talking, they decided to meet in person. When Walton stepped off the plane and saw Proctor, he asked, "You will marry me, won't you?"Walton moved in a few months later. They married in 2000."I felt like this was a person that I loved very much," Proctor said. "I could see us traveling together, creating a life together. I felt hopeful about the future."But a year into their marriage, Walton was struggling to find work. That's when he told her for the first time that he was a Vietnam War veteran. According to the podcast, Walton claimed that at age 18, he served in the Special Forces when he was captured and held prisoner. For months, he was tortured before eventually escaping by following a stream."[As a nurse] I had some experience working with Vietnam vets and PTSD ," Proctor said. "It really tugged at my heart. He had also uprooted his life, given up his job as a project manager at a large industrial construction company, given up everything just to be with me. He had given up everything for love."Proctor's seemingly happily ever after was disrupted. Walton, who was unemployed, suffered a heart attack requiring ongoing care. The couple struggled to cover his medical expenses. Proctor, who had worked at the VA years earlier, tried to convince her husband to seek help as the bills piled up. But he refused to get healthcare, insisting he was dishonorably discharged and wouldn't be listed. FOLLOW THE FOX TRUE CRIME TEAM ON X "I was dumbfounded," Proctor admitted. "That's the biggest moment when I thought, 'Something's not right here.' I couldn't put my finger on it. I just kept insisting on going to the VA so he could get healthcare. We were going to go broke. It was just a 30-minute drive to the nearest facility. But he looked at me strangely and said, 'I'm not going. I was in Special Forces. Because of what I witnessed and what I reported, my actions were illegal and unethical. They won't have me listed anywhere.'""I kept saying to him, 'You've served your country. There are records somewhere,'" Proctor continued. "But he said, 'I will not get government healthcare.' He got up and walked away."Confused, Proctor considered hiring a private investigator. But after realizing she couldn't afford one, she put her feelings aside.Shortly after Walton's heart attack, he had a stroke. Then he began exhibiting signs of dementia. The medical bills continued mounting into the thousands. Proctor was his primary caretaker while working full time as a nurse to make ends meet. She began drinking to cope with the stress. As Walton's memory worsened, she was able to place him in a funded outpatient care facility.In 2014, Proctor received a phone call from a detective in Canada . Investigators were probing the cold case of Ronald Stan and were able to track him down through social media, according to the podcast.In September 1977, a barn fire killed several pigs. Stan, then 32, disappeared. Although human remains were never found, Stan was declared legally dead in 1986. However, the case was reopened in 2014. Using modern investigative technology, the Ontario Provincial Police discovered that Stan was alive and living in a rural part of the Cherokee Nation in Oklahoma under a new name, "Jeff Walton." He later admitted the truth to police. SIGN UP TO GET THE TRUE CRIME NEWSLETTER "I thought to myself, 'Oh my gosh, I've just spilled my guts, and now I'm in danger, he's in danger,'" Proctor said about the phone call. "I felt like I was in somebody's movie. I thought, 'Who am I? Who was I married to this entire time?' I was outside of my consciousness."Proctor immediately went to the Cherokee Nation Marshals Service. After an investigator made several phone calls, she confirmed that every detail was true. Stan had faked his death in a fire, abandoning his wife and two children.Proctor stayed with a friend and immediately filed for divorce ."I did love him," she admitted. "But it was all an illusion. He was not the man I thought I married. Nothing was real."Proctor said that Walton, now identified as Stan, made numerous calls to her and repeatedly tried to text her. She said that in one voicemail, Stan told her, "If you want to play hardball, then come on." He also tried contacting one of her sons and emailed several of her friends and colleagues."I had nothing else to say to him," Proctor said. "But I was frightened. I remember walking out of my home and into the woods, where there was a worn-down pathway with a small seating area. I also noticed lots of cigarette butts. I don't know. I just thought he was coming back to harm us. What if he was preparing to burn our home down because I knew about him burning down his place in Canada?" GET REAL-TIME UPDATES DIRECTLY ON THE TRUE CRIME HUB She also wondered whether he was planning another escape. According to the podcast , the statute of limitations for arson had expired in Canada. It also noted that too much time had passed for Stan to face identity fraud charges in the U.S.In the series, Proctor said that Stan never apologized. The calls stopped, and she never heard from him again. In 2019, Proctor said his son reached out to her to say that his father had died.Today, Proctor supports victims of domestic violence in her community. She also remarried a longtime friend and fellow golf enthusiast."I never intended to do this again," she said with a laugh. "But the gentleman I married, Richard, is absolutely the sweetest, kindest, most loving person I've ever known in my life. It's a love that I've never experienced before. It's genuine."If there's one message Proctor hopes audiences take away, it's this: Don't ignore that nagging feeling."Pathological liars, they're a dime a dozen," she said. "They walk among us. Some people fall for them more than others, but it can happen to any one of us. If something doesn't feel right, dig out the truth." Hunter Biden resurfaces in LA, reacts to questions about Biden tapes, UFO files EXCLUSIVE: Hunter Biden was spotted by paparazzi in West Los Angeles this week, where the former first son briefly reacted to questions about ongoing litigation surrounding former President Joe Biden's interview tapes and alleged government UFO files."Hunter, what do you think of the DOJ when they release your father's interview tapes from the biography that he did?" a reporter asked as he approached Biden near Wilshire Boulevard."What are you talking about?" Hunter Biden said. BIDEN SEEKS TO BLOCK DOJ RELEASE OF 2017 AUDIO, COURT FILING SAYS The exchange comes amid ongoing litigation seeking the release of audio tied to former President Joe Biden 's classified-documents probe, which fueled scrutiny over the elder Biden's memory and fitness while in office.The probe examined Joe Biden's handling and discussion of classified material during conversations with ghostwriter Mark Zwonitzer. Special Counsel Rob Hur said the author had deleted the files, but the Justice Department was able to recover them. BIDEN INTERVIEW AUDIO REVEALS WHO BROUGHT UP BEAU'S DEATH - AND IT WASN'T HUR The conservative watchdog Oversight Project sued the DOJ seeking release of audio recordings from Joe Biden's interviews with special counsel Robert Hur. Biden has denied wrongdoing and said he cooperated fully with the probe."I don't know, man - I hadn't heard that one," Hunter Biden later said. ASHLEY BIDEN SLAMS REPORTING ABOUT HER DAD'S MENTAL ACUITY AS 'DISRESPECTFUL AND UNTRUE' The reporter also asked about the recently released UFO Files ."It's crazy right?" Hunter Biden replied, but did not elaborate.Hunter Biden was also one of several recent individuals whose Secret Service protection was rescinded by the Trump administration. TRUMP REVOKES SECURITY CLEARANCES OF FORMER OPPONENTS KAMALA HARRIS, HILLARY CLINTON Trump announced in March 2025 that Hunter Biden and his half-sister Ashley Blazer Biden - child of Jill and Joe - would cease to have such protection.The president criticized the fact that Hunter had "as many as 18 people" on his USSS detail.Hunter Biden's appearance marked a rare public sighting for the former first son, who has largely stayed out of public view in recent months. EXCLUSIVE VIDEO: Bishop Barron to address 'true threat to democracy' at Trump prayer event EXCLUSIVE: At President Donald Trump's "Rededicate 250" prayer event on the National Mall this weekend, Bishop Robert Barron will address the "marginalization of God" and religion in society, which he said he considers a "true threat to democracy."Rededicate 250 is a major prayer event set for Sunday as a way of "rededicating" the nation as "One Nation Under God" ahead of America's 250th anniversary. The event, which is being organized by the Trump-aligned "Freedom 250" nonprofit, is expected to include the president, White House Cabinet members and major faith leaders.In an interview with Fox News Digital, Barron, perhaps America's most well-known and beloved Catholic bishop, revealed that his address at the event will emphasize his belief that "if you marginalize and privatize religion, democracy is in danger.""God is essential to the very foundations of American democracy," he asserted. "There's a lot of talk today about the threats to democracy, that is a true threat to democracy, the marginalization of God." TRUMP LAUNCHES MASSIVE 'FREEDOM 250' PUSH TO IGNITE AMERICA'S 250TH BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION Barron explained that many of the societal ills seen today are due to this cultural separation from God."Take God out of the equation, what are you left with? Radical self-choice. Welcome to wokeism. Welcome to the culture of self-invention. 'I make myself up, values is up to me, my gender, it's up to the whole structure of my life, it's my choice,'" he said. "That's deadly to our democracy.""Religion belongs to the very fabric of our democracy, that's the theme of my talk," he said.Barron said he will begin his speech by invoking Abraham Lincoln's Gettysburg Address."We know from the early written versions [that] Lincoln didn't have the phrase 'under God' when he said that this nation might have a new birth of freedom. But when he delivered the speech, he said this nation 'Under God might have a new birth of freedom.' So, what prompted Lincoln, as he was giving the Gettysburg Address, to add that phrase?" he said. "You could say, 'Oh, it's just a little pious declaration.' No, no, no, I think that's born of a very, very deep and correct intuition, America is a nation that's conditioned by these great values, moral values, spiritual values that come finally from God."Barron argued that one of America's most foundational ideas - that all men are created equal - is a novel concept made possible only by Christianity."We're not equal in any way. Look at the classical political philosophers; they would never affirm the equality of all people. We're not equal in intelligence or moral virtue or beauty or courage or anything. We're radically unequal. So where does this come from?" he asked. "Why would you go from we're not equal at all to it's 'self-evident that we're equal'? And the answer is in that little word, 'created,' that 'all men are created equal.' So, despite all our differences, we are all equally children of God and then endowed by their creator with certain inalienable rights." BIBLE PODCAST CRACKS APPLE TOP 10 FOR THIRD YEAR AS HOST CELEBRATES: 'PEOPLE ARE HUNGRY FOR GOD'S WORD' This second concept of all possessing inalienable rights, Barron argued, is a uniquely Christian idea imbued in America's values."No one in the classical world believed that. Aristotle didn't, Plato didn't. Cicero didn't, none of them," he explained. "Look in societies more recent that don't believe in God. Go to Soviet Russia, go to communist China, everyone has rights? No way.""Where do they come from?" he said. "Well, Jefferson gives away the game. They're endowed by their creator with certain inalienable rights. Take the creator out of the equation, rights will go out in a minute. So, Lincoln's intuition to say that this nation under God would have a new birth of freedom, God is essential to the very foundations of American democracy. If you marginalize and privatize religion, democracy is in danger."Barron said he will also address the nature of freedom itself."It's a very modern sense of freedom that it means spontaneous choice, I'm free if I could just do whatever I want,'" he said. "But see, the founding fathers were trained both biblically and classically; they did not understand freedom that way." TRUMP CHAMPIONS JESUS' 'MIRACULOUS RESURRECTION' IN PALM SUNDAY MESSAGE VOWING TO 'DEFEND THE CHRISTIAN FAITH' "Freedom is more like this, it's an ordering of desire toward the good, so as to make the achievement of the good first possible and then effortless."He pointed to mastering a new language or the piano as examples."Think of the way you become a free speaker of a language, not by talking any old way you want, but rather internalizing the laws of the language. How do you become a free player with the piano? Not by doing whatever you want, but by internalizing the structure of music.""That's the kind of freedom we're talking about," he said. "It's the moral freedom to become the person you're meant to be, that you can now effortlessly achieve the good, that this nation under God might have a new birth of freedom." Long Island Rail Road workers go on strike, leaving 330,000 commuters without service on busiest US rail line Workers for the Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) - the nation's largest commuter rail line - went on strike early Saturday, leaving more than 330,000 commuters scrambling for alternatives.At 12:01 a.m., five unions representing roughly 3,700 workers - including ticket clerks, locomotive engineers, signalmen, electricians and machinists - walked off the job in the fourth strike in the rail line's history.The LIRR confirmed in a statement that service has been suspended until further notice."Avoid nonessential travel and work from home if possible ," the railroad said. "We will have limited shuttle bus service on weekdays for essential workers and those who cannot telecommute." NYC REPUBLICAN LAWMAKER SLAMS MAMDANI ANTISEMITISM OFFICE AS A 'BLACK HOLE' LACKING PUBLIC-FACING RESOURCES Kevin Sexton, national vice president of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen, said no new negotiations had been scheduled."We're far apart at this point," Sexton said. "We are truly sorry that we are in this situation." MTA Chairman Janno Lieber said the agency "gave the union everything they said they wanted in terms of pay" and claimed it appeared union leaders had intended to strike all along. NYC HOSPITAL ACCUSES NURSES' UNION OF SEEKING PROTECTIONS FOR WORKERS ARRIVING DRUNK, HIGH AS STRIKE BEGINS Leading up to the strike, unions and the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) negotiated a new contract that included work-rule changes and annual wage increases of 3% over three years.The dispute centered on a proposed fourth-year wage increase, with unions seeking a 5% raise for the final year.MTA officials said they could not meet that demand and warned it could force fare increases. BRONX MAN CONVICTED OF RUNNING SECRET CHINESE POLICE STATION IN MANHATTAN USED TO MONITOR DISSIDENTS The agency also warned the shutdown would cause severe congestion and delays across the region.As part of its contingency plan, the MTA said it would operate limited weekday shuttle bus service during peak commuting hours between select Long Island locations and subway stations in Queens.New York Gov. Kathy Hochul described the strike as "reckless" and "unacceptable.""Commuters are dealing with unnecessary dysfunction and thousands of union LIRR workers are being forced to go without a paycheck because of decisions made by a small group of union leaders," she said in a statement. "I stand with LIRR riders and will fight to preserve the long term stability of the MTA.""I believe a deal can be done and I urge both the MTA and these unions to return to the table and bargain non-stop until a deal is reached," she added.Hochul also blamed the disruption in part on the Trump administration, saying federal officials cut mediation efforts short and pushed negotiations closer to a strike. FEDS SAY WOMAN TRIED TO EXTORT NBA TEAM OWNER WITH FAKE SEX VIDEOS AFTER ONE-NIGHT STAND New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani said his office was helping coordinate contingency efforts."New Yorkers should prepare for heavier-than-usual traffic, crowded transit options and additional travel time," he wrote in a post on X. "The MTA has announced that limited weekday bus service will be available for essential workers and others who cannot telecommute."The first LIRR strike occurred in 1980 and lasted two days. Another strike in 1987 lasted 11 days, while a third strike in 1994 lasted two days. The Associated Press contributed to this report. After Indiana purge, Trump sets sights on Louisiana's Bill Cassidy BATON ROUGE, La. - After taking out five Indiana state senators who opposed his push for congressional redistricting, President Donald Trump 's next target is Republican Sen. Bill Cassidy of Louisiana.Cassidy, who five and a half years ago voted to convict Trump in his impeachment trial, is fighting for his political life in a competitive race against two major challengers, including one backed by the president, in Saturday's GOP Senate primary in the solidly red southern state.Trump and his allies, including Republican Gov. Jeff Landry of Louisiana, are backing GOP Rep. Julia Letlow in the Senate primary. Also in the race is former Rep. John Fleming, who is the state treasurer. If no candidate cracks 50% of the primary vote, the top two finishers will face off for the nomination in a June 27 runoff election.The primary is the latest test of Trump's endorsements in GOP nomination races and of the president's immense grip over the Republican Party. DEMOCRACY '26: STAY UP TO DATE WITH THE FOX NEWS ELECTION HUB After cruising to re-election six years ago, Cassidy was one of only seven Senate Republicans who voted in early 2021 to convict Trump after he was impeached by the House for his role in the violent Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol by supporters who aimed to upend congressional certification of former President Joe Biden's 2020 election victory. Trump was acquitted by the Senate.But since the start of Trump's second term, Cassidy has been supportive of the president's agenda and his nominees, including voting to approve Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr .But Kennedy and his Make America Healthy Again movement are out for revenge.That's because Cassidy, a doctor, has been a skeptic of Kennedy's push to reform the nation's health policies, including Kennedy's efforts to cut back on vaccine recommendations.And Kennedy allies blamed Cassidy, chair of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee, for helping sink the surgeon general nomination of Casey Means, a close Kennedy ally and top MAHA advocate, after Cassidy did not bring it to a committee vote.Meanwhile, Trump has blasted the senator as a "very disloyal person."And on the eve of the primary, the president took to social media to praise Letlow as a "Highly Respected America First Congresswoman."Making Cassidy's climb to renomination even tougher, Louisiana will now run separate party primaries in the Senate race, which replaces a system where all candidates appeared in one single jungle primary. That guarantees a more conservative and pro-Trump electorate for the GOP nomination.Cassidy is highlighting his record over two terms in the Senate in delivering for Louisiana , which is one of the nation's poorest states. And he's showcased his support for Louisiana's large oil and gas industry, which accounts for roughly 15% of the state's workforce."When people ask things such as, can you work with President Trump, I point out that he has signed into law four bills that I wrote or negotiated," the senator said in a primary eve interview with Fox News Digital. "We continue to work together, by the way."And Cassidy touted that he's "a conservative senator who delivers."In trying to avert becoming the first elected Republican senator in nearly a decade and a half to be ousted in a primary, Cassidy and an allied super PAC have dished out more than $20 million on ads, according to AdImpact, a national ad tracking firm. That total is more than Letlow and Fleming, combined, have spent.Some of those ads have knocked Letlow over her past support for diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs during her tenure at the University of Louisiana at Monroe.Cassidy argued that Republican voters are "concerned about her shifting position on DEI. She was all in for DEI." LETLOW EXPLAINS HER PAST SUPPORT FOR DIVERSITY PROGRAMS Defending her record, Letlow explained in a Fox News Digital interview on Friday that "back in 2020 whenever DEI was introduced to us, we had no idea what it was back then, and I quickly witnessed it. I was in higher education at the time. I quickly witnessed the left completely hijack it, turn it into this Marxist leftist indoctrination of our children. And so, when I got to Congress for the last five years, I've been fighting against it.And she charged that the criticism of her from Cassidy and Fleming over DEI is "all baseless attacks, desperate attacks."Letlow won her congressional seat in 2021, after her husband, Luke Letlow, died six days after being sworn into the U.S. House after his 2020 election victory for the seat she now holds.She was backed by Trump even before she entered the race."Not only did he encourage me to get into this race, but also to have his complete and total endorsement has been, wow, the honor of a lifetime," Letlow said.Letlow has taken aim at Cassidy for his bipartisan efforts in the Senate, including his vote for the 2021 bipartisan infrastructure law that was a signature domestic achievement for then-President Joe Biden.Asked about her criticism, Cassidy said the "people want someone who can deliver for Louisiana. The Infrastructure Investment Jobs Act has brought $13.5 billion to Louisiana for roads and bridges and high-speed internet, and along the way creating a lot of good paying jobs. My opponent opposed that bill."Fleming, who served as a White House deputy chief of staff during Trump's first term, has argued that he's the most conservative candidate in the GOP Senate primary.'They see me clearly MAGA," Fleming told Fox News Digital, as he referred to Louisiana Republicans.  "I served in his entire first administration at various capacities. I was one of the first congressmen that endorsed him in 2016."Fleming claimed that Letlow is "not the prototype for a Trump endorsement. She's much more like a Democrat."And Fleming, apparently, has become a threat to Letlow, as a super PAC supporting the congresswoman started to run ads attacking him.But Trump's endorsement in the nomination race weighs heavily in a state he carried by 22 points in his 2024 election victory."It's the most powerful endorsement in the world," Letlow said, adding that Louisiana Republicans "are huge fans of the president." And the Louisiana primary comes a week and a half after Indiana's primary, where Trump-backed challengers ousted five state senators who had defied the president over his redistricting push.The political world was closely watching Indiana's primary because it was the first of a series of major tests this month of Trump's endorsement power in GOP nomination showdowns, and the president cleared his first hurdle with ease.Voters in Louisiana will also cast ballots in primary contests for State Supreme Court, Public Service Commission and state school board, along with five proposed state constitutional amendments.But the primaries for the U.S. House seats were postponed by Landry after the U.S. Supreme Court struck down the state's current congressional district map.Republican state senators in Louisiana on Thursday advanced a plan to eliminate one of the state's two majority-Black congressional seats ahead of the midterms. Louisiana's state House will likely vote on the map next week. The U.S. House primaries are being postponed until November. Red-state auditor reports 'explosion' of fraud tips as he targets state employees 'racking up' taxpayer waste Nebraska's top auditor says fraud complaints are surging as waste, fraud, and abuse dominate the national conversation, telling Fox News Digital that his own crackdown has uncovered alleged misuse of taxpayer resources inside state government."It's just extraordinary the explosion of phone calls and allegations and emails and so forth that are pouring into my office," Nebraska State Auditor Mike Foley said as the fraud crackdown have become a national news story and the Trump administration, led by Vice President JD Vance, unleashed a task force to root out fraud. "And as the media focuses on this more and more, it just makes the phone ring all the more, which is fine. We're happy to receive those calls and try to filter through them and find out which ones are the most legitimate ones for us to pursue. But it's clearly on the rise."Foley, speaking with Fox News Digital from the State Financial Officers Foundation conference in Clearwater, Florida, is sounding the alarm specifically on what he says is an issue with taxpayer money being wasted or possibly defrauded by state workers, which he has made efforts to crack down on. "Many of our state vehicles are now equipped with a GPS tracker," Foley explained. "We can see precisely where these state vehicles are really going during work hours and they're going to liquor stores. They're going into health appointments that the employee might have. They're on personal errands all across the state, and it's racking up a lot of expense for the taxpayers in a very improper way." 'MISSISSIPPI MUSK': STATE AUDITOR'S MOGE REPORT FINDS $400M IN GOVERNMENT WASTE Foley's office reviewed GPS data from 45 state fleet vehicles and found employees allegedly using them for "trips to retail outlets, restaurants, medical facilities, residences of relatives, commuting home without permission and other private errands," the Nebraska Examiner reported last year. Foley put out a press release last year documenting how he uncovered what he described as a "disturbing uptick" in alleged financial improprieties across local governments statewide, detailing eight recent investigations involving suspected misuse of public money, questionable reimbursements and possible fraud.  " I can cite so many examples of contractors that are over billing or double-billing the state, all kinds of state employee infractions of using state vehicles and state assets improperly, having contractors bill us for hours which we know they did not work, having state employees billed us for time served when we know that they were at a different place of employment, public school districts that are milking public school funds for all kinds of extravagances and so forth, but at the end of the day, the tone has to be set at the top ." At the top, Foley's efforts on waste, fraud, and abuse have led him to a situation that he describes as "uncomfortable," which has put him at odds with Nebraska's Republican Gov. Jim Pillen. FINAL WALZ FRAUD REPORT RIPS 'CULTURE OF TOLERANCE' AS MINNESOTA TAXPAYERS FACE BILLIONS IN ALLEGED LOSSES Foley has been involved in a highly publicized debate with Pillen, arguing that the governor improperly awarded a no-bid state contract worth roughly $2 million to a consultant with ties to the governor. Nebraska law generally requires public bidding for contracts over $50,000 and says the administration wrongly claimed there was an "emergency" to bypass that process.  " There was no emergency and later now they're claiming that she brought in hundreds of millions of dollars in grant awards," Foley said. "The truth is those grant award applications were filed by other people, other contractors before she was even on the job. So this is a very, very serious abuse and it sets the tone in the wrong way. For other people in the state government who can say the governor can do that, I can do it too. And that's wrong."Pillen's administration has denied wrongdoing, maintaining the contract was justified because of the need to quickly pursue economic development opportunities and federal funding."The contract was done the right way and is bringing hundreds of millions of dollars of value to Nebraska, which otherwise would have been wasted in California," Pillen spokesperson Laura Strimple told Fox News Digital. "Auditor Foley disagrees and he is entitled to his opinion."Foley has referred the matter to law enforcement for further review, saying his office's role is limited to conducting audits and highlighting potential violations. "I'm not the most popular person in state government," Foley jokingly told Fox News Digital, but said "we must" track expenditures in order to safeguard taxpayer funds. " Nebraska regrettably is a high-tax state and people know that, and they're fed up with these high taxes, and they know that money is not being spent properly in so many instances, and they are relying on me and my office to catch this kind of thing, and we're doing a good job," Foley said. "There needs to be consequences when we find these kinds of abuses, and there are. Many people are losing their jobs because they've abused the trust of having access to a credit card or other assets of the government, or there could be even further legal complications and infractions and jail sentences even. We've put a number of people behind bars because of abuse and stealing of public funds." Trump says Abu-Bilal al-Minuki, second in command of ISIS globally, killed in US-Nigerian operation President Donald Trump announced late Friday that U.S. and Nigerian forces carried out an operation that killed a global ISIS leader.Trump identified the terrorist as Abu-Bilal al-Minuki, whom he described as ISIS's second-in-command globally."Tonight, at my direction, brave American forces and the Armed Forces of Nigeria flawlessly executed a meticulously planned and very complex mission to eliminate the most active terrorist in the world from the battlefield," Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social."Abu-Bilal al-Minuki, second in command of ISIS globally, thought he could hide in Africa , but little did he know we had sources who kept us informed on what he was doing," Trump continued. "He will no longer terrorize the people of Africa, or help plan operations to target Americans." 100 US TROOPS LAND IN NIGERIA AS ISLAMIC MILITANTS THREATEN WEST AFRICA REGIONAL SECURITY Trump also thanked the Nigerian government for its cooperation in the mission."With his removal, ISIS's global operation is greatly diminished," he added.In a Saturday morning X post, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth confirmed U.S. forces, in coordination with the Armed Forces of Nigeria, killed al-Minuki and other ISIS leaders and provided more details about al-Minuki's role within ISIS."Abu-Bilal al-Minuki was the senior ISIS General Directorate of Provinces Emir - the number two for ISIS globally - responsible for overseeing the planning of attacks, directing hostage-taking and managing financial operations," Hegseth wrote. "The removal of him and other ISIS personnel makes Americans safer by further degrading ISIS's ability to plan and carry out attacks that threaten the U.S. homeland, American citizens, and innocent civilians. ""Operations like last night's demonstrate the exceptional lethality, patience and skill of U.S. forces, amplified alongside willing and capable partners, to address shared threats," Hegseth wrote. "This should serve as a reminder that we will hunt down those who wish to harm Americans or innocent Christians, wherever they are."Hegseth said U.S. Africa Command carried out the "precise operation to remove this terrorist" at Trump's direction and in conjunction with Nigeria's president. The secretary reiterated how Trump in November "declared to the world that we will help protect Christians in Nigeria and instructed the Department of War to prepare for action.""So, for months, we hunted this top ISIS leader in Nigeria who was killing Christians, and we killed him - and his entire posse," Hegseth wrote.Fox News Digital has reached out to the White House for comment. US MILITARY IN SYRIA CARRIES OUT 10 STRIKES ON MORE THAN 30 ISIS TARGETS: PHOTOS The announcement comes after U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) said it carried out multiple strikes against more than 30 ISIS targets in Syria in February as part of a joint military effort to "sustain relentless military pressure on remnants from the terrorist network."CENTCOM said U.S. forces struck ISIS infrastructure and weapons-storage targets using fixed-wing, rotary-wing and unmanned aircraft. DEADLY STRIKE ON US TROOPS TESTS TRUMP'S COUNTER-ISIS PLAN - AND HIS TRUST IN SYRIA'S NEW LEADER Trump told reporters on Jan. 27 that he had a "great conversation" with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa."All of the things having to do with Syria in that area are working out very, very well," he said at the time. "So, we are very happy about it."CENTCOM announced in February that more than 50 ISIS terrorists had been killed or captured and more than 100 ISIS infrastructure targets struck during two months of targeted operations in Syria.The U.S. launched Operation Hawkeye Strike in response to an ISIS ambush that killed two U.S. service members and an American interpreter Dec. 13, 2025, in Palmyra, Syria. Fox News Digital's Ashley J. DiMella contributed to this report. Route 66 centennial spurs tourism in historic small towns As U.S. Route 66 turns 100 years old, travelers are searching for the brightest motels, most unique attractions and tastiest diners to celebrate its centennial.The things Route 66 travelers seek today are the same ones that drew people out during the road's heyday."[The] trucking industry increased like, 700% between 1939 and 1964. In 1964, 80% of people vacationed by automobile," Route 66 author, Jim Hinckley, told Fox News. Historic Route 66 runs through dozens of towns - some have grown into larger cities, while others are now the bones of what once was."Think 1939. You've got a million cars coming through your town in a year. And after the war, that increases, and all of a sudden it's like someone turned off the tap," Hinckley said.That vision becomes clear as travelers pass rundown businesses in dozens of small towns across the eight states.During that stretch is the Texas town of Adrian, which is coined as the "geographical midpoint" of Route 66, according to Gary Daggett, president of the Old Route 66 Association of Texas."It's the nostalgia, ya know. There's so much of American history here at Route 66," Daggett said. ROUTE 66 HIGHLIGHTS COSMIC SITES ACROSS ARIZONA Daggett is also the gift shop manager at Midpoint Café in Adrian, which is hard to miss as it is marked by a sign that soars to the skies.The owner, Brenda Hammit Bradley, bought the café in 2018 and is still known for her endless pie flavors, like green Chile apple pie and Elvis, which is chocolate, peanut butter and banana . ROUTE 66: AN AMERICAN CELEBRATION, ALONG WITH AMERICA'S 250TH ANNIVERSARY "Don't get me wrong, it's not that it's not hard, because it's a job, but it's just fun. I get to meet awesome people," Bradley told Fox News, adding that more than 70% of her customers come from overseas.Bradley said The Midpoint Café inspired Flo's V8 Restaurant in the Disney-Pixar movie "Cars." Just 15 minutes east, is Vega, Texas - a small country town with sprinkles of Route 66 memorabilia. One block off the historic route is Dot's Mini Museum.   FOX'S STEVE DOOCY VISITS TULSA'S OUTSIDERS HOUSE MUSEUM "Our town was bypassed by I-40, but you know, there are a lot of people who travel, who love to go into the town, meet the people, see the places," said Keila Bain, Dot's granddaughter.Bain said her grandmother's small museum of antiques is free to enter, and the door is never locked.  TEST YOURSELF WITH OUR LATEST LIFESTYLE QUIZ "The thing that's mostly missing about Dot's mini museum is Dot herself, because she was a lot of life and a lot of fun," Bain said, adding that her grandmother inspired one of the characters in Cars, which allowed her to attend some movie events.Although Dot is not around anymore, a guest book inside the small museum is filled with names from dozens of countries. These small books are in several Route 66 attractions around the town, tallying the thousands of people who stop by."From its inception, what it's about is the people. It has always been about the people," Hinckley said. "That's what gives it that infectious magic and enthusiasm." Caitlin Clark honored for massive career milestone before Fever fall in overtime thriller Catilin Clark is just starting her third WNBA season, and she is already being honored for a big career achievement in a pregame ceremony.Is that good? I think that's good.The Indiana Fever played host to the Washington Mystics on Friday night in a battle of two 1-1 teams through the early going of the season.One of the big stories so far this season came in the Fever's season opener against the Dallas Wings, when Clark scored her 1,000th career point.She accomplished the feat in just 54 games, which made her the fastest player to reach 1,000+ points, 250+ assists and 250+ rebounds. CLICK HERE FOR MORE OUTKICK SPORTS COVERAGE The previous mark belonged to WNBA legend Diana Taurasi, and she did it in 62 games.So, before tip-off on Friday, the team recognized Clark's accomplishment.Clark didn't wait long to keep adding to that career point and assist total of hers, feeding teammate and OutKick favorite Sophie Cunningham to extend an early Fever lead. ZERO BS. JUST DAKICH. TAKE THE DON'T @ ME PODCAST ON THE ROAD. DOWNLOAD NOW! Clark wound up with 32 points on the night, along with seven assists and four rebounds. The biggest came with just one second on the clock when she drained a three-pointer to force overtime.Clark simply has the clutch gene.While Indiana was able to get this one to overtime, the Mystics managed to hang on to win 104-102 despite a late push from the Fever.The Fever dropped to 1-2 on the year, and will be back in action on Sunday when they welcome the Seattle Storm to town. Senator John Kennedy introduces America to 'Margaret,' his elliptical trainer named after Thatcher Margaret Thatcher once ran Britain. John Kennedy's "Margaret" mostly runs him into the ground. Sen. John Kennedy, R-La. , is going viral after posting a tongue-in-cheek workout video introducing followers to "Margaret" - his elliptical trainer named after former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher - while wearing a red bandanna and speaking directly to the camera from his Louisiana carport."Hey X, I have somebody I'd like you to meet," Kennedy says at the start of the minute-long video posted to social media Friday."This is Margaret. Margaret is my elliptical trainer. I named Margaret after Margaret Thatcher because both kick butt and take names." ERIC SWALWELL'S 'CRINGE' WORKOUT VIDEO MOCKED FOR BENCHING LIGHT WEIGHT Kennedy goes on to explain that "Margaret" lives outside under the carport for three reasons: the machine is too heavy to move, his wife "won't let" him bring it inside and because he enjoys getting in a workout during Louisiana summers.The Senator said he enjoys working outside during Louisiana summers, a detail that drew disbelief from many viewers familiar with the state's famously brutal heat and humidity."As you can see, Margaret, my elliptical trainer, is out here under my carport in Louisiana," Kennedy says. "After Margaret kicks my butt, I look for air conditioning."The surreal, self-aware clip quickly drew thousands of reactions online, with users roasting Kennedy's bandanna look while also praising the senator's everyman personality. SEN KENNEDY PRAISES FETTERMAN AS A 'TOTAL BANGER,' WHO 'DOESN'T GIVE A DAMN' ABOUT ANGERING LIBERALS "You are rocking the dadgum crap outta that bandana," one user wrote. "I thought you were representing the Bloods for a minute. Tell Margaret I think she's cute but evil."Others praised Kennedy's personality and down-home delivery style."You are a gem to us normal folk Mr. Kennedy. Live long and prosper!" one supporter posted."Senator Kennedy is that kind of Southerner that makes you feel you're sitting on the front porch having some bit of common sense enlighten you in that poetic Southern way," another wrote.The Louisiana Republican has long cultivated a folksy, humorous public image that often breaks through online with colorful one-liners and unconventional social media moments. Kennedy ended the video with a line that only added to the internet's fascination."My work here is done," he said. "And I can see myself out." Washington Nationals unveil the latest stadium snack that will excite some, horrify others We live in the age of a concession stand arms race where it's every professional sports team's goal - no, duty - to release the most mind-boggling game-day grub.Now, the Washington Nationals have done the unthinkable and bastardized the most beloved of all ballpark foods: the hot dog.And some people will love it, while others are sharpening pitchforks as we speak.On Friday, the Washington Nationals welcomed the Baltimore Orioles to town for Hot Dog Day.This involved all kinds of specialty hot dogs (though, in the past, I've talked about how a standard ballpark dog with yellow mustard is perfect), and the show-stealers were the hot dog fries .They are what they sound like: wieners sliced up shoestring-style served with some chipotle ranch.Alright, before we all run to opposite sides of the room on this one, at least we can all agree that it kicks ass that these come in a mini-batting helmet. CLICK HERE FOR MORE OUTKICK SPORTS COVERAGE Those are always great.Now, I can see both perspectives on this.On one hand, this seems like a bit of a horror show. I mean, frying hot dogs until they're dry sticks seems like a bad idea. Plus, I think if I ate fried hot dogs dunked in chipotle ranch, the doctor would probably wake up in a cold sweat. ZERO BS. JUST DAKICH. TAKE THE DON'T @ ME PODCAST ON THE ROAD. DOWNLOAD NOW! Plus, I'm not a fan of messing with the sacred hot dog, especially in a ballpark.That said...If I were at a game with some pals, I might not order these (I mean, maybe for the mini helmet), but if someone else did, I'd probably see if I could take a taste.Y'know. Even if just for the story... and because I think chipotle ranch and hot dog sounds like it could be a flavor we have not explored enough as a society. Waymo driverless cars overrun Atlanta neighborhood, circling cul-de-sacs and alarming families with kids One Atlanta neighborhood has dealt with Waymo problems than they expected recently.The Georgia city's northwest Buckhead neighborhood has been overrun in the last couple of weeks by empty, driverless ride-share vehicles due to an apparent routing behavior issue."It's almost every little cul-de-sac in our area, so I think it's a problem," a neighbor who lives on embattled Battleview Drive told WSB-TV.Video taken of the rogue Waymos shows them incessantly circling through a cul-de-sac and multiple cars causing a backup on one street after a neighbor tried to block the cars from entering the cul-de-sac. WAYMO AUTONOMOUS CAR BLOCKS AMBULANCE CREW RESPONDING TO DEADLY AUSTIN MASS SHOOTING "I think yesterday morning, we had 50 cars that came through between 6 and 7," another neighbor told the station.A third neighbor pointed out that the problem is more than just an irritation. "We're families, we have small animals and pets, got kids getting on the bus in the morning and it just doesn't feel safe to have that traffic," they said. Waymo currently operates in 11 U.S. cities, including Atlanta.The company admitted to Fox News Digital that Waymos are staged in areas of the city where they are frequently hailed from, but said that shouldn't come at the expense of residents. WAYMO UNDER FEDERAL INVESTIGATION AFTER CHILD STRUCK "At Waymo, we are committed to being good neighbors," the company told FOx News Digital. "We take community feedback seriously and have already worked with our fleet partner to address this routing behavior. With over 500,000 weekly trips across the country, our service is proven to significantly reduce traffic injuries and improve road safety. We value our relationship with Atlanta residents and remain focused on providing a seamless, respectful, and safe experience for riders and residents alike."And the cul-de-sac quagmire isn't the only issue Waymo has faced recently. This week, the company recalled nearly 4,000 of its vehicles due to a glitch where it may not stop before driving into "standing water," and video obtained FOX 4 appeared to show a Waymo running a red light at a busy intersection in Dallas.Last year, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration investigated Waymo after vehicles were allegedly seen illegally passing stopped school buses in Austin, Texas.And in January, a Waymo hit a student walking through a crosswalk near an elementary school in Santa Monica, California. The car was driving at a low speed and the student wasn't hurt.

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