Kansas City Chiefs star Chris Jones started crying as gospel vocalist Lanell Lightfoot sang the national anthem before their playoff game against the Houston Texans at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium.
It was not the first time Jones had cried during the national anthem. Prior to the Chiefs' Super Bowl victory over the San Francisco 49ers last season, Jones also became tearful during the national anthem.
That game was also in Kansas City, where the Chiefs beat the Texans 27-19.
Jones had two tackles in the win.
Jones was named a Pro Bowler and to the first-team All-Pro team.
It was the third straight season he was named an All-Pro.
Jones had five sacks, 37 tackles, 20 quarterback hits and a forced fumble in 15 games this season.
He missed the last two games of the regular season due to a calf injury but is ready to go for the playoffs after the Chiefs got a bye in the wild-card round for being the No. 1 seed in the AFC.
Jones has already made his presence felt, recording a sack on C.J. Stroud in the first quarter.
NFL divisional round action got off to a hot start on a chilly late afternoon in Kansas City. But the heat was mostly on the Houston Texans sideline as tempers flared in the early moments of the high-stakes game against the reigning back-to-back Super Bowl champion Chiefs.
Television cameras showed Texans defensive back Kris Boyd nearly shoving Houston special teams coach Frank Ross to the ground moments after the playoff game's opening kick.
The Texans kicked the ball to the Chiefs to start the game. Chiefs returner Nikko Remigio fielded the kick and quickly broke through some of the would-be Texans tacklers.
He then ran toward the Texans sideline and celebrated the fumble by ripping off his helmet and sending it skittering toward the bench. However, there was one noticeable problem — the Chiefs had actually recovered the fumble.
Boyd proceeded to shove Ross on the sideline.
The 28-year-old cornerback was ultimately flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct for taking off his helmet.
The Texans advanced to Saturday's divisional round game after upsetting the Los Angeles Chargers in the wild-card round last week.
Houston entered Saturday's game against the Chiefs as considerable underdogs but entered the locker room at halftime trailing by just seven points. The third quarter ended with Kansas City leading 13-12.
The winner of the game at Arrowhead Stadium will await the outcome of Sunday's other AFC divisional matchup between the Baltimore Ravens and Buffalo Bills.
Fox News has learned that House and Senate offices are growing increasingly frustrated about who may be allowed to attend President-elect Trump’s inauguration inside the Capitol Rotunda Monday.
Fox is told that member offices were asked to "resubmit" paperwork about whether a lawmaker wants to attend and if the lawmaker's spouse wants to attend. However, there are no "plus-ones." And Fox was told the attendance of spouses could be "iffy."
One lawmaker said members were trying to get governors or other state officials into the Capitol Rotunda. But it was far from clear if officials could accommodate those requests.
There is an effort to get a small group of people into the Capitol Rotunda who were slated to be seated down in front but were not House and Senate members. One official refused to identify to Fox who those with "special status" could be.
This likely means very few dignitaries or others are allowed inside for the inauguration. One Trump-supporting lawmaker was "happy" it was moving inside so the lawmaker didn’t have to sit outside in the cold "for an hour-and-a-half." The lawmaker also noted that House members would likely have had the most uncomfortable experience had the inauguration been outside. That’s because of the way the wind blows across the platform and where House members were to be seated on the West Front.
One lawmaker told Fox about having 700 people traveling to Washington for the inauguration, and now none of them would be seated anywhere. But the lawmaker had "not heard one complaint" from people traveling to see the inauguration in person who now can’t.
President Reagan’s 1985 inauguration, moved inside because of extreme cold and a temperature of 7 degrees, accommodated a crowd of 1,000 in the Capitol Rotunda. Fox colleague Aishah Hasnie reports the grand total allowed inside the Capitol Rotunda for this inauguration will likely be 600. In addition, Fox is told that "600 is pushing it" due to fire concerns. One source says the figure may be closer to 500 before all is said and done.
Fox is told that there were concrete plans for inaugurations in 2017 and 2021 to move ceremonies indoors. Officials even rehearsed those scenarios. In addition, Fox is told there was serious discussion about moving the 2017 inauguration inside because of rain and concern about umbrellas.
While the weather is the primary reason for moving the inauguration indoors, multiple sources close to the planning of the event have expressed concerns about security.
"My Spidey senses are up," said one lawmaker who asked not to be identified and is steeped in the planning of this event. But when Fox pressed various lawmakers and other sources, no one could identify a specific threat.
That said, more than one lawmaker contacted by Fox noted there were multiple outdoor events with the President-elect prior to the July assassination attempt, and every other event since has been indoors.
Fox is told that security officials will erect what was described as a "geo-fence" around the Capitol to interfere and jam nefarious communications and/or drones. At one point, there was talk of shutting off all cell communications during the time period when President-elect Trump was on the platform.
That said, a forecast of about four inches of snow in Washington Sunday night began to change thinking around this year’s inauguration. There is genuine concern about thousands of people on the National Mall standing in cold, fresh snow for hours. There was worry about emergency personnel being able to reach those who may have medical emergencies while on the National Mall because of the inclement weather. Another issue is how snow that melted today could refreeze, creating significantly slick surfaces around the Capitol.
And then there is another factor: snowball fights.
One senior source tells Fox there was actual discussion about snowball fights interfering with the event if Washington got a fresh coating of snow. One source said planners worried it could "get out of hand" and could contribute to injuries.
Inside or out, this could be the snowiest inauguration since the swearing-in day was moved to Jan. 20 in 1937. The previous record for snow on inauguration day came in 1961, for the swearing-in of President John F. Kennedy. Washington received seven-tenths of an inch of snow that day.
And considering the weather, perhaps it was only appropriate that the poet Robert Frost spoke at JFK’s inauguration.
Caitlin Clark has finally taken Taylor Swift up on an offer to watch a Kansas City Chiefs game together.
Clark was seen in the same suite as Swift at Arrowhead Stadium during the Chiefs' divisional round playoff game against the Houston Texans Saturday.
It is the first time that Clark and Swift have been seen at a game together, after Clark claims she was invited by Swift to join in earlier this season.
Clark and Swift were also seen celebrating a touchdown by tight end and Swift's boyfriend Travis Kelce in the second half.
Clark, a lifelong Chiefs fan, said in her interview for Time Magazine Athlete of The Year interview that Swift and Kelce extended the invitation to Clark when she went to watch Swift' Eras Tour concert at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis in early November.
Clark said she'e see three of Swift's Eras Tour concerts, including two straight nights when Swift was in Indianapolis in November. While she was there, Clark said fans tossed her so many friendship bracelets that when she put them all on, it cut off her blood circulation.
"I had a ton, all the way up the arm. I had to take them off. My circulation was getting cut off," Clark said at the Women's Leadership Summit in November. "Everyone was just chucking their bracelets at me."
At that summit, Clark also revealed that Swift is her favorite musical artist.
Kelce said during an episode on his podcast, "New Heights," that he met Clark at one of those concerts. He later invited Clark on the podcast herself for a wide-ranging interview.
Clark was also recently pictured next to Swift on the cover of Time Magazine's recent Inspiring Women special edition issue at the end of October. Clark and Swift were the only two figures on the top row, and Clark was the most highly placed athlete above veteran sports icons Serena Williams and Megan Rapinoe.
The reemergence of a previous social media post by Clark while she was in college has also brought the fan bases of her closer figures together.
"Taylor Swift welcome to the good side," Clark wrote Sept. 24, 2023, in a post on X right after Swift went public with her relationship with Kelce in September 2023.
An influx of interest in Clark by Swift fans occurred after a controversial podcast episode that was conducted by Clark's arch-rival Angel Reese in October.
Reese, who has played emotional, high-stakes games against Clark dating back to college and has made off-the-court comments about Clark's fans, hosted Kelce's ex-girlfriend Kayla Nicole, who is a promotional model, media personality, on-air host and entertainment journalist on Instagram.
During the appearance, Nicole claimed she has received hate for the relationship ever since Kelce began to date Swift instead of her.
That interview ignited a widely debated controversy on social media, with some defending Nicole and sympathizing with her for the alleged hate she received. However, others, and many who openly identify as Swift fans, criticized Nicole and Reese for the interview.
Many of those same Swift fans declared themselves fans of Clark in response to Reese's interview. Clark and Reese have one of the hottest rivalries in women's sports at the moment, as their respective fan bases have been passionately opposed to each other for over a year.
Clark has also been linked to Swift's political beliefs.
Earlier in Clark's rookie season, she liked Swift's Instagram post that announced the singer's endorsement of Kamala Harris on Sept. 10.
However, Clark did not endorse a candidate herself when asked about liking Swift's endorsement of Harris. Clark instead responded with a message about the importance of telling people to vote.
"I think, for myself, I have this amazing platform," she told reporters at an Indiana Fever team press conference on Sept. 11. "So, I think the biggest thing would be is to encourage people to register to vote. I think this is the second time I could vote in an election. That’s the biggest thing I can do with the platform that I have – the same thing Taylor did.
"And I think, continue to educate yourself on the candidates that we have, policies that they’re supporting. I think that’s the biggest thing you can do. And that’s what I would recommend to every single person that has the opportunity in our country."
As anti-Trump protesters swarmed the steps below the Lincoln Memorial Saturday, media outlets painted a feel-good portrait. NBC4 Washington declared on social media: "Grassroots groups are descending on the capital for the People’s March before President-elect Trump’s inauguration." The Associated Press reported that anti-Trump "demonstrators" "converge" on Washington, D.C., for protests led by the Women’s March, a "grassroots movement."
The Washington Post described the protests as a "joint effort among civil rights, racial and social justice and reproductive health organizations," highlighting the event’s "diverse mix of people."
While this positive media coverage may have captured the energy of ordinary protesters, they omitted one critical detail: the name of for-profit professional machine behind the protest.
Far from a spontaneous outpouring of civic action, the event was coordinated by Movement Catalyst LLC, a for-profit company based in Silver Spring, Md., and the official permit holder for the protests, according to a copy of the permit, which I obtained from the U.S. National Park Service. In the 1990s, covering international trade for the Wall Street Journal, I was among the first reporters to put the term "AstroTurf" into the paper’s pages, describing a coalition against tariffs on minivans that the auto industry called "grassroots" but was actually manufactured by an industry lobbying group. Protest organizing isn’t much different nowadays, and today’s "People’s March" is more AstroTurf than "grassroots." So too is the march planned for Monday, when we can expect more aggressive rabble-rousers to show up, as I reported earlier this week.
A plan, marked "Confidential Document - Not for Distribution" and submitted as part of the permit application, reveals that Movement Catalyst and its team of professional protest organizers coordinated everything from security to dumpster pickups, "port-a-potties" and a meticulously detailed "run of show,"
The confidential document reveals the extraordinary precision with which this event was constructed, down to the golf carts, water stations and even snack distribution for staff.
Why does this matter? Because the public deserves transparency. When media outlets frame such events as grassroots, led by ordinary Americans gathering to voice their concerns, it misrepresents the reality. These are highly coordinated, well-funded initiatives driven by professional organizers. The lack of scrutiny obscures the financial, strategic and political interests behind these movements. It’s critical to follow the money and understand the players using the imagery of grassroots activism to advance their agendas. Often, media outlets will look at conservative events, like the March for Life, with skepticism and scrutiny, while deeming progressive causes as "grassroots." We should have equal-opportunity transparency.
So, what is Movement Catalyst LLC? According to Washington, D.C., government records, it is a limited liability corporation established in February 2021. On its website, Movement Catalysts promotes its for-profit services, writing it’s an "experienced and interdisciplinary team of strategists, organizers, campaigners, and researchers" who launch "strategic projects to meet the moment," partnering with organizations to "expand their ability to have an impact, and anchor movement infrastructure." Its officials didn’t respond to a request for comment.
The People’s March is one of those "strategic projects," and the company’s services include "strategy & campaign development" and "creative protests & events." A look at its funding reveals the scale of its operations. In 2021, Movement Catalyst LLC received $592,050 from the New York-based Sustainable Markets Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit for "web campaign development," according to its IRS Form 990 filing. Then, in 2023, Philadelphia-based Workers United, working on "organizing the unorganized collective bargaining," paid Movement Catalyst LLC a total of $319,600, according to its tax filing. The services provided? "CONSULTANT." This is far from a "grassroots," mom-and-pop operation run over a kitchen table.
The confidential document lists four top officials at Movement Catalyst, as "protest leads":
The document also includes a polished map for staff and volunteers, marked "FOR INTERNAL USE - STAFF & VOLUNTEERS," detailing traffic flow and staging areas at Franklin Park, McPherson Square and Farragut Square. The "Production Schedule for People’s March" reveals the granular level of planning: "Portable restrooms," "Golf carts," "Tents," "Stage," Tables," "Chairs," "Leaflets, pamphlets," "Signs, banners," "Bullhorns" and Movement Catalyst for "Paid Team Clean Up."
"Miscellaneous" items include walkie-talkies, "500 cardboard trash receptacles," "5000 masks," hand sanitizer, earbuds, "snacks for volunteers and staff," "coffee and catering for staff," sweatshirts, scarves, t-shirts, "office supplies" and "badges for staff."
Mortell Industries provided restroom trailers, "Metro Golf Car" delivered golf carts, and Bell Visuals managed live-streaming. The permit lists "Site Security" as "Omni Ranger Solutions." Bell Visuals, a D.C. company quietly behind many of protest messages projects around the nation’s capital, is listed among the vendors for live-streaming.
The "PRODUCTION SCHEDULE" and "RUN OF SHOW/RALLY PROGRAM" was scripted with leaders and performers from many big-money organizations, including the Women’s March, Popular Democracy in Action, Standing Up for Racial Justice, Harriet’s Wildest Dreams and Dream Defenders. Movement Catalyst promised to provide at least 750 "identifiable marshals," each wearing "hi-visibility vests and volunteer credentials."
This level of professionalism is not new in modern protests, but rarely are the details disclosed so explicitly. The public has a right to know when well-financed organizations use the guise of grassroots activism to promote their interests. Transparency ensures accountability and enables a more informed discussion about the role of professional activism in shaping public discourse.
Behind the music, speeches and banners lies a highly coordinated operation, far removed from the grassroots imagery projected by the media. This matters because democracy thrives on truth, and understanding who pulls the strings is essential for an informed citizenry. Professional organizing is most certainly legal, but in this day of misinformation, it’s critical to examine who is driving movements cast as "grassroots," so the public isn’t misled.
Sunday morning's plans, from 4 a.m. until 5 a.m., includes a final essential: "Load out dumpsters and portable restrooms."
The New York Times published a report that President Biden used teleprompters for small fundraisers hosted at private homes, which alarmed his donors.
According to the four Times reporters on Friday, the president's inner circle "had Mr. Biden use a teleprompter for even small fund-raisers in private homes, alarming donors, who were asked to provide questions beforehand."
Biden has made headlines throughout his presidency for blunders related to his use of teleprompters.
In April 2024, Biden, reading off a teleprompter, appeared to incorporate script instructions in the middle of his speech, resulting in an awkward applause line. The moment came during a section of his remarks straight out of a campaign stump speech.
"I see an America where we defend democracy, not diminish it. I see an America where we protect freedoms, not take them away," Biden said. "I see an economy that grows a lot in the bottom up where the wealthy pay their fair share, so we can have child care, paid leave and so much more, and still reduce the federal deficit and increase economic growth."
"Folks, imagine what we could do next. Four more years — pause," he said, before laughing.
Biden claimed in July 2024, during an interview with NBC's Lester Holt, that he is "on the horse," and doesn't need notes or teleprompters for his speeches.
"I’m on the horse," Biden angrily insisted when Holt asked if Biden would look to "get back on the horse" ahead of a second debate with Donald Trump in September. "I’ve done 22 major events and thousands of people. Overwhelming crowds. A lot happening. I’m on the horse."
"What I’m doing is going out and demonstrating to the American people that I have command of all my faculties, that I don’t need notes, I don’t need teleprompters," Biden continued. "I can go out and answer any questions at all, and I stood there when NATO was in town, stood there for an hour and answered questions."
The White House did not immediately reply to Fox News Digital's request for comment.
Fox News Digital's Anders Hagstrom and Peter Aitken contributed to this report.
Rapper Snoop Dogg is showing his support for President-elect Trump.
The "Gin and Juice" rapper took the stage at the Crypto Ball, a pre-iauguration event, and got the crowd on its feet dancing to several hit songs.
From Journey’s "Don’t Stop Believin’" to Bob Marley’s "Three Little Birds (Don’t Worry About a Thing)," Snoop hyped up Trump supporters as the DJ and sent a positive yet inspirational message through the music. He also performed a few of his own hits, including, "Drop It Like It’s Hot."
WATCH: SNOOP DOGG PERFORMS AT TRUMP INAUGURATION CRYPTO BALL
Videos of the prolific rapper surfaced on social media of a care-free Snoop in Washington, D.C., wearing a black jacket with gold buttons and a bowtie. He completed his look with matching gold-rimmed sunglasses.
Other high-profiled guests included rapper Rick Ross and UFC star Colby Covington, who both posted about hanging with Snoop.
"Nuthin' but a ‘G’ Thang," Covington shared on X.
The "Young, Wild and Free" rapper performed after he recently changed his tune about President-elect Trump.
Years after Snoop appeared on "The Apprentice" in 2007, he called Trump a clown and mocked him in a music video. In his video for his song "Lavender" in 2017, Snoop depicted Trump as a clown and shot the president in the head.
Snoop also delivered laughs during a Trump roast in 2011.
In 2020, during an appearance on Big Boy's radio show, Snoop argued Trump shouldn’t be in office.
"I ain't never voted a day in my life, but this year I think I'm going to get out and vote because I can't stand to see this punk in office one more year," the rapper said on "Big Boy’s Neighborhood on Real 92.3."
The 53-year-old rapper explained he didn’t believe he was allowed to vote at the time due to his criminal record. Snoop was convicted of a felony in 1990 and 2007.
XXL Magazine shared a video clip on social media of the rapper ripping Trump and his followers, saying "Donald Trump is a f---ing weirdo. If you voted for him, I don't have no problem with that. But if you're still with him, f--- you."
However, after a long history of condemning the President-elect and his supporters, Snoop praised Trump in January 2024.
"Donald Trump? … He ain’t done nothing wrong to me. He has done only great things for me. He pardoned Michael Harris," Snoop told The Sunday Times.
"So, I have nothing but love and respect for Donald Trump."
Michael "Harry-O" Harris, an associate of Death Row Records co-founder Suge Knight and the founder of the label's parent company, Godfather Entertainment, was pardoned in 2021 as one of Trump's final decisions before leaving office. Snoop Dogg was famously signed by the label only to leave later in his career. Snoop acquired Death Row Records in 2022.
Harris was imprisoned on charges of conspiracy and attempted murder for over three decades. Snoop Dogg praised Trump at the time for his commutation of Harris.
President-elect Trump will be sworn in as the 47th president of the United States Monday, Jan. 20.
A CNN employee says losing a high-profile defamation case this week might have been expected inside the network, but that didn't stop it from leaving a mark.
"Being found liable for defamation and dishonesty is a bad thing," the employee said bluntly in a message to Fox News Digital.
Navy veteran Zachary Young successfully alleged CNN smeared him by implying he illegally profited when helping people flee Afghanistan on the "black market" during the Biden administration's military withdrawal from the country in 2021. Young believes CNN "destroyed his reputation and business" by branding him an illicit profiteer who exploited "desperate Afghans" during the Nov. 11, 2021, report that first aired on CNN’s "The Lead with Jake Tapper."
After a chaotic trial that was held over two weeks in Florida, the jury ruled Young was to be awarded $4 million in lost earnings and $1 million in personal damages, and it also found punitive damages were warranted against CNN. Before the jury could rule on the latter amount, CNN and Young reached a settlement.
"It's been a long three years, and to have the outcome that we wanted, which was vindication publicly, is an incredible feeling, and I'm glad that it's over, and we don't have to spend more years and more time arguing about the meaning of a word," Young told Fox News Digital on Friday.
While sparsely covered at first in the press, as the trial wound down, the case drew more attention from mainstream outlets, and the verdict on Friday was widely covered. CNN's own media unit has offered minimal coverage of the case. Media correspondent Hadas Gold published a short item about the verdict, and chief media analyst Brian Stelter made brief mention of the outcome in his Reliable Sources newsletter Saturday, in addition to a blurb at the outset of the trial on Jan. 6. According to a Grabien search, CNN has not covered the lawsuit or the jury's decision on the air.
During the trial, Young's legal team revealed CNN internal messages obtained through discovery that repeatedly showed staffers expressing hostility toward the Navy veteran.
Among those presented to the jury included one calling him a "s--tbag" and an "a--hole," and another one saying he has a "punchable face." It was also revealed that Alex Marquardt, the CNN correspondent who led the on-air report, told a colleague "we're gonna nail this Zachary Young mf---er," which was cited repeatedly during the case, and said the report was going to be "your funeral bucko," referring to Young in an exchange with a colleague.
A CNN spokesperson said the network would take "useful lessons" from the case.
"We remain proud of our journalists and are 100% committed to strong, fearless and fair-minded reporting at CNN, though we will of course take what useful lessons we can from this case," CNN said in a statement after the settlement.
The CNN employee told Fox News Digital that they didn't think the issues that arose in CNN's journalism with this story reflect cultural issues within the company.
"The messages were bad… But I don't think it's a network-wide cultural thing," they said. "It seemed to me it was an overzealous reporter — just someone who believed something was true and framed info in that context… found info to support that and didn't critically look at their own conclusions."
They added this comes at a time when morale is poor at the network, which is grappling with low ratings and reported pending layoffs, and there didn't appear to be any internal "rallying behind" the flag internally.
A spokesperson responded to reports about CNN's financial health by calling it "very healthy" and noting a report showing parent company Warner Bros. Discovery was making an investment of over $70 million in its digital pivot.
Another CNN insider told Fox News Digital that the private messages that came out in discovery were "damning stuff."
At another point in the trial, CNN senior national security editor Thomas Lumley was grilled after internal messages showed he was highly skeptical of the "pretty flawed" report. Lumley was called as a witness after internal messages showed he felt the report was "full of holes like Swiss cheese."
Another reporter involved in the story, Katie Bo Lillis, acknowledged she didn't think about how much the segment could affect Young; the plaintiff said it wrecked his reputation and also had a drastic effect on his personal life, leaving him depressed and emasculated.
Several CNN figures also testified they didn't agree with the network's decision to apologize in 2022 for suggesting Young operated on a "black market."
"The woeful performance of CNN journalists on the witness stand… juices the impact of Young v. CNN," The Washington Post's Erik Wemple wrote. "They stumbled under questioning; they failed to defend a key wording choice; and in certain instances, as in the case of Lillis, they appeared clueless about the impact of their own massive network, which reaches more than 70 million households in the United States."
"CNN should be deeply embarrassed that despite layers and layers of editorial staff, they could not perform basic journalistic functions nor overcome clear dysfunction among overpaid, arrogant TV stars playing journalist and cowardly editors," a former CNN staffer who still works in the industry told Fox News Digital.
After the case ended, Young told Fox News Digital he didn't have any animosity toward the network but did hope CNN and other media organizations learned from the experience.
"I hope that they take this as an opportunity to look in the mirror and realize that, you know, there is room for change and improvement, and if that's the outcome that it has on CNN, then maybe others in the media also can see that as something that's positive," he said.
A recent New York Times/Ipsos survey found the vast majority of Americans, including a majority of Democrats, don't think transgender athletes should be permitted to compete in women's sports.
"Thinking about transgender female athletes — meaning athletes who were male at birth but who currently identify as female — do you think they should or should not be allowed to compete in women’s sports?" the survey asked.
Of the 2,128 people who participated, 79% said biological males who identify as women should not be allowed to participate in women's sports.
Of the 1,025 people who identified as Democrats or leaning Democrat, 67% said transgender athletes should not be allowed to compete with women.
Among 1,022 Republicans, that number was 94%.
The 81 independents who were interviewed represented the group with the most reluctance to say transgender athletes shouldn't be allowed to compete. Just 64% said they were against it, while 26% refused to answer. Just 3% of the Democrats and 1% of the Republicans refused to answer.
The country saw a notable shift in awareness and opposition to the issue of transgender athletes in women's sports in 2024, when a number of stories sparked national attention and controversy. The issue became a key campaign issue in November's election for President-elect Trump and other Republicans.
A national exit poll conducted by the Concerned Women for America (CWA) legislative action committee found that 70% of moderate voters saw the issue of "Donald Trump’s opposition to transgender boys and men playing girls' and women’s sports and of transgender boys and men using girls' and women’s bathrooms" as important to them.
And 6% said it was the most important issue of all, while 44% said it was "very important."
Nearly 70% of Americans say biological men should not be permitted to compete in women's sports, according to a Gallup poll last year.
In June, a survey conducted by NORC at the University of Chicago asked respondents whether transgender athletes of both sexes should be permitted to participate in sports leagues that correspond to their preferred gender identity instead of their biological sex. In that survey, 65% answered that it should never or rarely be allowed. When those polled were asked specifically about adult transgender female athletes competing in women’s sports, 69% opposed it.
With Trump about to return to office Monday, Republicans are pushing a bill that will address the issue in Congress.
The Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act passed in the House of Representatives Tuesday and even had support from two Democrats.
That bill will advance to the Republican-controlled Senate, and, if it passes there, Trump will get to sign it into law early in his term.
Therapists say survivors of the California wildfires can help their children heal from the trauma of leaving everything they know behind by continuing on with their daily routines, providing an empathetic ear and reinforcing their safety.
While fire crews continue to combat the wildfires consuming Los Angeles County, officials as of Saturday said at least 30 people remain missing while two additional deaths brought the toll to 27.
"Many children are facing the devastation of the fires in California. As parents and caregivers, it's crucial to support children during this crisis, giving them space to share what they saw, heard, and felt," Dr. Cindy Davis, clinical director of Positive Development in Pasadena, Calif., told Fox News Digital. "Encourage them to share their experiences and be open to any form of communication. Some may repeat the same story, while others may prefer not to talk much. Let them choose when and how to share. Consider your child's experience with the disaster — did they evacuate, see homes burning, or witness fear? Use these clues to guide your conversations. For younger children specifically, pay attention to the themes in their play, as it often reflects their concerns and helps them process their feelings."
Dr. Gail Saltz, associate professor of psychiatry at the New York Presbyterian Hospital Weill Cornell School of Medicine, explained that the fires have caused "tremendous and ongoing loss" for both adults and children.
"The most important thing for children now is to make them feel that they and you, their parents, are safe," she advised. "Parents should often explain, ’We are safe because’ or ‘here is our safety plan’ or ‘we need to start our safety plan and once we get there, I can answer all your questions.’ Expect and answer repeated concerns from children about safety of themselves and their loved ones. Try to do nice things together demonstrating that it feels safe for all of you, like playing a game. Remind them no matter what you have lost, the most important thing is that you are together and safe. Home is, and will be, where you are."
One way to help children feel safe amid the chaos of relocating is letting them express their preferences about what they can control, such as a new room, school or activity, therapist Samantha Silverman, LCSW, told Fox News Digital.
"Plan activities together to explore the new city and make it feel like home," Silverman suggested. "Maintain consistent daily routines to provide a sense of stability and security. Incorporate comforting traditions or activities that remind them of home, such as family meals or bedtime rituals. Help your child acclimate by exploring the new city together, visiting local parks, schools or libraries. Encourage participation in community or extracurricular activities to help them make new friends and build a sense of belonging."
La Jolla, Calif., child psychiatrist Josh Feder, M.D., who explained children "need extra support" during this time, advised parents to make sure their children are in a safe place with clean air and cautioned against watching news of the fires around children.
"Use alerts on your phone to get important updates," he said. "It's important to tell the truth but not make it too scary. For example, ‘Our house burned down but we are safe now.' Our job is to protect kids and make them feel as safe as we can!"
Saltz explained that while the wildfires make for a stressful situation for both adults and children, they can make it through the hardship.
"Human capacity for resilience is such that the majority of these people will eventually make their way through these losses to recoup their lives, but the more coping tools and support they can receive, the more likely that is and the less painful it will be," she said.
Fox News Digital's Stephen Sorace contributed to this report.
The Israel Defense Forces, in coordination with the Health Ministry, additional government ministries and security authorities, completed final preparations Saturday to receive the first of the hostages being released by Hamas from the Gaza Strip Sunday.
The preparations included home-like conditions inside trailers for the hostages to sleep before they head to hospitals to be looked over and all the comforts of home, including baskets of toiletries and fresh clothes.
Inside the trailers, the hostages will have couches and potted plants for a bit of décor. Outside, they can sit on outdoor patio furniture accented with colorful oversize pillows.
The receiving locations also have necessary medical provisions.
From there, the hostages will be taken to hospitals, where they will be reunited with their families.
The IDF said it requests "patience and sensitivity" from the public as the hostages return.
"We ask everyone to respect the privacy of the hostages and their families," the IDF said. "The public is requested only to refer to official updates and announcements and refrain from sharing unverified information."
The hostages have been held by Hamas for nearly 500 days since Hamas' unprovoked attack on Israel Oct. 7, 2023.
Three hostages are expected to be released first on Sunday after a cease-fire agreement was reached between Israel and Hamas Wednesday.
The first hostages released are expected to be female.
In all, 33 hostages will be released, including two Americans. More than 1,000 Palestinian prisoners will be returned by the Israelis.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Saturday Israel wouldn't move forward with the outline of the deal until it receives a list of the hostages to be released. That was agreed upon after the names didn't arrive from Qatar as expected Saturday.
"Israel will not tolerate violations of the agreement," he said. "The sole responsibility is on Hamas.
"In the … war, we make it clear to our enemies — we make it clear to the whole world — that when the people of Israel stand together, there is no force that can break us.
"To date, we have brought home 157 of our abductees, of which 117 are alive. In the agreement now approved, we will bring home 33 more of our brothers and sisters, most of them alive."
"As soon as he was elected, President Trump joined the mission of freeing the hostages," Netanyahu said. "He talked to me on Wednesday night. He welcomed the agreement, and he rightly emphasized that the first step of the agreement is a temporary cease-fire. That's what he said, "temporary cease-fire.’"
Netanyahu said Biden and Trump "gave full backing to Israel's right to return to fighting if Israel comes to the conclusion that negotiations on Phase B are futile."
Netanyahu also said he appreciated Trump's decision to "remove all remaining restrictions on the supply of essential weapons and armaments to the State of Israel."
Egg prices are already steep – and might be getting worse.
The average price of a dozen Grade A large eggs was $4.15 during the month of December, said the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics – an increase from $2.51 in December 2023.
There are two things driving the price increases: the bird flu outbreak and state laws about cage-free eggs.
Patrick Penfield, a professor and supply chain expert at Syracuse University’s School of Management, told Nexstar Media that egg prices could rise by as much as 20% before the year is over.
This means that the average price of a dozen large eggs could be nearly $5 by the end of 2025, which would be the highest-ever recorded average price for a dozen eggs.
The previous high egg price was in January 2023, when the average price of a dozen large eggs was $4.82. By August 2023, however, the average price had dropped to $2.04.
Penfield predicted that egg prices could exceed that record as soon as February.
The current bird flu outbreak, which is technically known as "Highly pathogenic avian influenza" (HPAI), has resulted in a record number of deaths of egg-laying hens, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) said in a recent report.
In the last quarter of 2024, more than 20 million egg-laying hens died.
"Unlike in past years, in 2024, all major production systems experienced significant losses, including conventional caged, cage-free, and certified organic types," said the USDA.
Once bird flu is detected, a farm must cull all the birds in the flock. This has had a devastating impact on the egg industry, as it takes approximately five months for a chicken to mature.
"Once a hen is five months old it can lay about one egg per day," said Penfield.
Presently, there are no vaccines or medical treatments against bird flu, he said.
The only defense is "biosecurity practices" – keeping chickens safe from wild birds and away from humans, keeping enclosures covered, and "reducing large puddles and standing water."
Penfield hopes that chickens will develop "some sort of natural immunity" against the outbreak, but warned Nexstar that this could take years.
"We have not seen that yet and it will take many years for that to happen," Penfield told Nexstar. "Also, if they do, we do not know if this immunity would protect hens if the bird flu virus mutated."
Apart from bird flu, several states have laws requiring that all eggs sold to be "cage-free," meaning the birds are not raised in cages. These are typically more expensive than conventional eggs even absent an outbreak of bird flu.
While egg expert Lisa Steele told Fox News Digital that pasture-raised chickens produce the "gold standard" of eggs, these birds are at an increased risk of illness.
"Poultry get HPAI from infected waterfowl (ducks and geese) and gulls, which may frequent wetlands on farms. Thus, poultry raised outdoors or with outdoor access are at greater risk of HPAI," said the University of Minnesota's website on avian influenza.
"Infected poultry can spread disease to new flocks through contact with birds, people, manure and equipment. HPAI viruses can exist in bird waste for several months, especially under high-moisture and low-temperature conditions," said the University of Minnesota.
Taylor Swift has reportedly gifted Brittany Mahomes a hand-made baby blanket to celebrate the birth of Mahomes' newborn daughter, Golden Raye, according to Page Six.
"Taylor’s aunt knitted her a baby blanket when she was a child, so it’s always had a special meaning for her and something she wanted to do for her friends," a source told the outlet. "It’s become a tradition for Taylor, something she loves doing and something that can’t be bought. It comes from the heart."
Brittany and her husband, Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes, welcomed their new baby on Jan. 12. It is their third child, and their first since Swift came into their lives when the pop star began dating Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce.
Back in September, when Brittany was in the earlier stages of her pregnancy, she faced a barrage of online attacks from Swift fans.
These attacks were in response to the pregnant mother simply giving a like to an Instagram post on Donald Trump's account. Screenshots of Brittany's like on a post that laid out Trump's 2024 policy platform circulated across social media, often by Swift fan accounts. Many of those fans, who share Swift's political beliefs as a Democrat, then flooded Brittany's pages with insults and attacks.
Brittany even had to address the controversy multiple times in social media posts and a podcast interview, defending herself.
In one post on Aug. 23, Brittany wrote, "I mean honestly, To be a hater as an adult, you have to have some deep-rooted issues you refuse to heal from childhood. There's no reason your brain is fully developed and you hate to see others doing well." In another post on Aug. 26, she wrote, "Contrary to the tone of the world today … you can disagree with someone, and still love them. You can have differing views, and still be kind. Read that again!"
In an episode of the "Whoop" podcast on Aug. 28, she said she has leaned on her three-time Super Bowl-winning husband to get her through the recent public scrutiny.
"Having him to help me get through it has helped a lot, because he is very good at managing those things and blocking people out and doing all that type of stuff," she said. "Having him beside me and kind of guiding me, coaching me through it has helped a ton. I think that’s kind of gotten to where we are at now.
The apparent political differences between Swift and Mahomes became more pronounced when they were seen sitting in separate suites at the Chiefs' home opener against the Ravens on Sept. 5.
Then on Sept. 10, Swift announced her endorsement for Kamala Harris. In a Fox News interview the next day, Trump declared that he liked Brittany "much better" than Swift in response, having already acknowledged the support from the then-pregnant mother on social media.
But Trump stoked the political divide between Mahomes and Swift even further when he sent a post that read, "I HATE TAYLOR SWIFT!" on his Truth Social account.
However, Swift didn't keep her difference from Mahomes, even after Trump's aggressive messaging. They were later seen in the same suite during a Chiefs game against the Saints on Oct. 7, and Brittany showed off a picture of Swift rubbing her pregnant belly. Patrick also said in an October interview on "The Drive" podcast that he and Brittany often let their three-year-old daughter, Sterling Skye, bake with Swift.
Patrick's mother Randi Mahomes also endorsed Trump days before the election.
Data suggests that Swift's endorsement of Harris did not sway voters in a meaningful way in the recent election.
According to AP VoteCast, 44% of women ages 18 through 44 voted for Trump, while 48% of women 45 and older supported the former president, now president-elect.
In a New York Times, Philadelphia Inquirer and Siena College poll, which was conducted starting one day after Swift endorsed the Harris-Walz campaign, nearly 2,500 likely voters nationwide revealed that 44% have a favorable opinion of Swift, compared to 34% who have an unfavorable view.
The same poll found that 47% view Trump favorably, compared to 51% who don’t. The poll shows that 70% of Democrats have a favorable view of Swift, compared to 41% of independents and just 23% of Republicans. A total of 60% of Republicans indicated that they had an unfavorable view of Swift, while only 11% of Democrats felt the same way.
A September poll found that Trump has higher favorability numbers among likely voters, compared to Swift.
Now, as Trump is set to return to office on Monday, Swift appears as cozy as ever with her Trump-supporting friend.
As wildfires wreaked devastation across Los Angeles, the city official in charge of the fire department was out of the picture – placed on administrative leave in December while he remains under investigation for an alleged bomb threat against City Hall earlier this year.
LA Deputy Mayor Brian Williams’ Pasadena, California home was raided by the FBI last month in connection to the investigation of a bomb threat which was made against City Hall in September. The Los Angeles Police Department referred the case to the FBI after it determined Williams was likely the "source of the threat," FOX 11 Los Angeles reported.
"Due to the department’s working relationship with Mr. Williams, the investigation was referred to the FBI," the LAPD said in a statement at the time. "The FBI remains the investigating agency."
Embattled Mayor Karen Bass' office said Williams was placed on administrative leave immediately after the FBI notified the mayor of the search. That happened three weeks before the fires erupted in Los Angeles County, scorching nearly four square miles of urban area, according to the Associated Press.
The Palisades and Eaton Fires are still burning, though heroic efforts by firefighters and calming winds have greatly reduced the rate of spread. At least 27 people have been killed and more than 12,000 buildings and homes destroyed in the blazes. The fires are likely to be among the most destructive in California history, the state fire agency CalFire said.
When the first flames ignited, Bass, 71, was overseas on a diplomatic mission to Ghana. She was part of a delegation President Biden sent to the African nation for the inauguration of Ghanaian President John Dramani Mahama. She hurried home on a military plane soon after news of the fire emergency reached her, but she did not return to Los Angeles for a full 24 hours after disaster struck.
Her initial absence has prompted harsh criticism from LA residents, who are questioning Bass' leadership amid the crisis. In that context, her decision to put Williams on administrative leave is also under fresh scrutiny.
The Los Angeles mayor's office did not respond to requests for comment.
Bass appointed Williams to be deputy mayor in February 2023 and charged him with overseeing public safety in the city.
Williams was placed in charge of the city's police department, fire department, the Port of Los Angeles Police, the Los Angeles World Airport Police and the city's Emergency Management Department, local news station KABC reported. Williams previously served seven years as the executive director of the Los Angeles County Sheriff Civilian Oversight Commission.
He also served as deputy mayor under Mayor James Hahn, during which time he oversaw the Department of Transportation, Public Works and Information Technology Agency.
Williams' attorney Dmitry Gorin did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Gorin previously released a statement denying that his client had anything to do with the bomb threat made against City Hall.
"Mr. Williams strongly maintains his innocence and intends to vigorously fight the allegations. Importantly, he has not been arrested, nor charged, and will continue cooperating with the investigation through attorneys. He has a lengthy career of public service and is presumed innocent of these allegations. We urge the public to allow the investigation process to play out and not to prejudge the facts of this case before they are known," Gorin said last month.
Now that power is about to be peacefully transferred, Americans can all expect to hear from a president who actually speaks for himself. A novel concept, for sure.
The public rarely heard from President Joe Biden unaided by a teleprompter. Press conferences became foreign concepts. Here's a juxtaposition: In Donald Trump's final year in office, he held 35 solo press conferences. In Biden's final year, he held exactly zero solo pressers. His handlers wouldn't even let him do one on the way out the door.
So, with the absentee president being shielded from the public, or off on another long weekend in Delaware, the face of the administration became Karine Jean-Pierre in the final two-and-a-half years after taking over for the pious Jen Psaki, who ran off to the very friendly confines of MSNBC.
Let's be fair: Defending Biden, who exits the Oval Office with a 36% approval rating, is an almost-impossible task, especially after his brain appeared to turn into applesauce. But at least Psaki could lie, er, think on her feet, when the questions got tough from Fox News Channel's Peter Doocy and Jacqui Heinrich. KJP possessed no such ability, leading to these dubious moments in our Top Five Cringe Moments for the outgoing White House Press Secretary.
After Biden argued that the way to bring down inflation is to make corporations pay their fair share in taxes, Doocy asked, "How does raising taxes on corporations lower the cost of gas, the cost of a used car, the cost of food, for everyday Americans?"
What followed was like listening to a college sophomore putting together a stream of consciousness in order to achieve a mandatory word count on a verbal book report. Here was the answer verbatim, per the official White House transcript.
"So, look, I think we encourage those who have done very well — right?" Jean-Pierre began. "Especially those who care about climate change, to support a fairer tax — tax code that doesn’t change — that doesn’t charge manufacturers’ workers, cops, builders, a higher percentage of their earnings; that the most fortunate people in our nation — and not let the — that stand in the way of reducing energy costs and fighting this existential problem, if you think about that as an example, and to support basic collective bargaining rights as well, right? That’s also important. But look, it is — you know, by not — if — without having a fairer tax code, which is what I’m talking about, then all — every — like manufacturing workers, cops — you know, it’s not fair for them to have to pay higher taxes than the folks that — who are — who are — who are not paying taxes at all or barely have."
No matter how many times she injected "right?" into her Kamala-esque word salad, we still couldn't find an answer in there to the question about how raising taxes on corporations lowers inflation.
We've been warned by Democrats that denying election results is a chilling threat to democracy itself. So it was odd to see KJP chosen to be White House press secretary, because she's an election denier herself.
"Stolen election ... welcome to the world of #unpresidented Trump," she tweeted after the 2016 election.
"Trump always finds a way to take it to the lowest of lows. Not only is he a petulant dotard but also a deplorable illegitimate president," was her sentiment in 2017.
"Reminder: Brian Kemp stole the gubernatorial election from Georgians and Stacey Abrams," she said of Abrams's gubernatorial loss to Republican Brian Kemp in 2018.
That's arctic chilling stuff. When Doocy noted KJP's objections to Donald Trump's complaints about the 2020 election and noted these tweets, she became the dictionary definition of "defensive."
"Let’s be really clear. That comparison that you made is just ridiculous," Jean-Pierre replied. "I was talking specifically at the time about what was happening with voting rights, and what was in danger of voting rights."
Let's be clear: No you weren't, Karine.
After Trump's victory on Nov. 5, Heinrich asked Jean-Pierre a solid question around pre-election fearmongering vs. post-election assurances:
"This administration messaged to millions of Americans that they're going to wake up the day after the election if Trump won and have their rights stripped away, that democracy would crumble. And the president said today, ‘We're going to be okay.' So how do you square that?" Heinrich asked the press secretary.
"I can square that," Jean-Pierre said. "I'm going to square that in a way that hopefully makes sense, because I've been answering this question multiple times (author's note: she hadn't answered the question multiple times to that point).
"The American people made the decision," she continued. "There was an election two nights ago. There was! And it was a free and fair election, and we respect the election process. We do. And Americans spoke."
"What is the message to people who are fearful based on what the messaging was about [Trump]?" asked Heinrich.
"Well, now you’re just twisting everything around, and that’s really unfair," a flustered KJP responded. "Jackie, it’s unfair because I’ve been standing here trying to be very respectful to what happened the last two nights, two nights ago. Being respectful. I’ve been standing here saying that we respect the decision that the American people made."
Instead of squaring Biden's statements, KJP just talked in circles.
When asked in 2023 if the people around Biden were trying to "protect" the aging president from the press by not allowing him to answer direct questions, Jean-Pierre began spinning at ludicrous speed.
"The President many times has stood in front of all of you, has taken questions on his own, because he wanted to see what was on — on your minds, he wanted to see what the questions you all were going to ask him, and he wanted to answer them directly," she claimed before eventually adding, "I’ll say this: It is also unprecedented that a president takes as many shouted questions as this president has. And he has."
Oh, please. Whenever reporters are invited into the Biden Oval Office, they were screamed out of the room by the president's handlers at what would normally be Q&A time. And "shouted questions" are the ones Biden never answered as he shuffled away.
When Doocy challenged the KJP in September, 2023, on her outlandish claim that the border was under control, she tried to blame the Republicans.
"What do you call it here at the White House when 10,000 people illegally cross the border in a single day?" Doocy asked.
"So what do you call it, Peter, when [the] GOP puts forth a … wait, no, no, no, no, no, you can’t," Jean-Pierre responded as Doocy attempted to redirect the press secretary back to reality.
"You’re answering my question with a question," Doocy noted.
"OK, we’re going to move on," Jean-Pierre said, without any explanation as to why.
After the briefing, Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH) called out the White House for its apathy.
"Joe Biden doesn’t seem to care. Karine Jean-Pierre doesn’t seem to care. And I know [Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas] doesn’t care because we’ve asked him tons of questions, asked for information and data that he refuses to get to us," Jordan argued.
"So this is the state of this administration. And it’s frankly, why I think the approval ratings of Joe Biden are so darn low, because they see what a pathetic job this administration has done," he added.
Karoline Leavitt will be the next White House press secretary. At 27, she will be the youngest to ever hold the position. Leavitt has promised to allow more access to non-traditional reporters and bloggers and even potentially podcasters in an effort to end the White House Correspondents Association's monopoly on the James S. Brady Briefing Room.
Social media users laid into U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland after video of him leaving the Department of Justice in celebratory fashion went viral online.
A DOJ video depicted Garland exiting the department Friday to cheers and applause from department staffers and other government officials who had lined the halls to see him off. However, critics of the attorney general gave him quite a different reception on X, formerly Twitter.
"Good riddance, Merrick Garland — you pathetic hack. @PamBondi will finally restore dignity to the DOJ. MAGA!" RNC Research wrote on X.
The embattled attorney general was a regular target of conservatives and GOP leaders who called him corrupt throughout the four years of the Biden administration.
Critics accused Garland of weaponizing the department against President-elect Donald Trump after the official launched an investigation into Trump’s handling of classified records that included a raid of Mar-a-Lago. Garland admitted he "personally approved" the raid.
Conservatives have grilled Garland over his department’s treatment of Catholics in multiple instances — one being where GOP lawmakers accused the DOJ of refusing to "bring justice" after attacks on Catholic churches.
Garland was also grilled at a congressional hearing over Catholics being allegedly targeted by the FBI.
Conservatives went after the attorney general in 2021 after he directed the FBI and U.S. attorney offices to hold meetings with federal, state and local law enforcement leaders about ways to combat what the DOJ called an "increase in harassment, intimidation and threats of violence against school board members, teachers and workers in our nation’s public schools" coming from parents.
Prominent conservatives on X apparently had not forgotten his record in their responses to the clip.
Rep. Byron Donalds, R-Fla., condemned Garland’s record, posting, "Merrick Garland has left @TheJusticeDept for the FINAL TIME. His DOJ attacked concerned parents. His DOJ attacked religious Catholics. His DOJ attacked political opponents. His DOJ was unprecedentedly weaponized. This disgraceful era of brazen political lawfare is FINALLY OVER."
Republican communications adviser Matt Whitlock called Garland, "One of the greatest disappointments in recent political history."
He added, "Garland went from Chief on the DC Circuit to lawless political hack for the dark money groups that controlled the Biden White House. The guy sent the FBI after parents for speaking out at school board meetings."
Gov. Ron DeSantis, R-Fla., press secretary Jeremy Redfern savaged the attorney general, posting, "Never thought we’d see someone do more damage to the credibility of the DoJ than Eric Holder, but then Merrick Garland happened."
Rep. Kevin Hern, R-Okla., condemned the official, stating, "Merrick Garland presided over the wicked weaponization of the federal government against the American people. He has caused irreparable damage to the institution. Good riddance."
Conservative columnist Tim Young decried the DOJ staffers for applauding Garland in the video of his exit.
"Fire every single one of the DOJ staff applauding Merrick Garland. If you can cheer for him, you should have ZERO influence on the justice system in this country once Trump takes office," he wrote.
The Federalist CEO Sean Davis went after the applauding staffers as well, saying, "Identify and fire everyone in the photos applauding Garland or crying about his exit."
The Babylon Bee managing editor Joel Berry agreed with Davis, replying, "Just fire all of them. Empty it out completely."
Fox News Digital has reached out to Garland for comment.
Coveted Japanese-born pitcher Roki Sasaki is headed to the Los Angeles Dodgers. On Friday, the 23-year-old announced he had signed a minor league contract with the organization.
Roki's arrival in Los Angeles cements the city and the baseball franchise as the preferred MLB destination for the top players in Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB). Sasaki is the latest pitching sensation to pick the reigning World Series champions. The team lured pitcher and designated hitter Shohei Ohtani and fellow pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto last offseason.
In the hours since Sasaki made his decision public, baseball players across the big leagues have shared their reactions to the move. However, San Francisco Giants pitcher Logan Webb's apparent reaction to the news is one that stood out.
The All-Star right-hander took to X on Friday and posted a GIF from "Space Jam." The post featured a clip of Monstars team along with the caption, "Time to play a little basketball."
In the film, the Monstars were made up of a group who stole the talents of NBA players to effectively become a powerful super team.
The live-action and animated sports film was released in 1996 and starred Michael Jordan and several other NBA stars.
The Dodgers signed Ohtani to a historic 10-year, $700 million contract in Dec. 2023. While his recovery from an injury prevented him from taking the pitching mound in 2024, Ohtani hit a career-best 54 home runs en route to earning his third MVP award.
If Ohtani retakes the pitching mound at some point in 2025, he would be part of arguably the deepest and most formidable pitching rotation in the major leagues. The Dodgers' projected pitching rotation already features Yamamoto, Dustin May, Tyler Glasnow, Tony Gonsolin, and Clayton Kershaw. Gonsolin and May did not throw a pitch in MLB last season due to injury, and hey will likely have to be eased back into the rotation.
Blake Snell, a two-time Cy Young Award winner, also signed with LA earlier this offseason.
LA lured first baseman Freddie Freeman away from the Atlanta Braves in 2022. Freeman had already won one National League MVP award and a World Series title with Atlanta before he signed with the Dodgers. LA's lineup also includes 2019 American League MVP Mookie Betts and a host of other star hitters.
Sasaki posted a 2.02 ERA over his four seasons playing at the highest level of baseball in Japan. His fastball routinely reaches 100 mph. He can also throw an impressive splitter, which bolsters his potential to be an ace in a pitching rotation.
He played alongside Ohtani and Yamamoto during the 2023 World Baseball Classic.
A long list of MLB clubs submitted information about their respective organizations to Saski and his representing agency in December during baseball's winter meetings. By January, Sasaski narrowed down his choices to the Dodgers, Toronto Blue Jays and San Diego Padres — ultimately picking Los Angeles.
Webb's Giants also had a busy offseason, acquiring star shortstop Willy Adames and veteran pitcher Justin Verlander in free agency. San Francisco competes in the NL West and missed the playoffs last season. The Giants will have to contend with what is projected to be one of the best divisions in the MLB in 2025.
Three wealthy brothers were accused last month of drugging and then sexually assaulting and raping dozens of women in multiple states, and authorities say new video evidence in the case shows the "depraved" nature of their alleged crimes.
Tal, 38, and Oren Alexander, 37, two prominent jet-setting brokers in New York and Miami, and their brother Alon Alexander, Oren's identical twin, were arrested in Miami Beach on Dec. 11 and have since been taken into federal custody.
Law enforcement officers have interviewed over 40 women, who reported "being forcibly raped or sexually assaulted by at least one of the Alexander Brothers," according to a recent letter by the prosecution, obtained by Fox News Digital.
In many of these alleged instances, "one or more of the Alexander Brothers drugged their victim prior to the rape," prosecutors wrote in the letter filed last week and addressed to U.S. District Judge Valerie Caproni, the New York judge who presided over a hearing in the case on Wednesday.
Prosecutors on Wednesday argued against setting bail for the brothers, whose "incentives to flee are through the roof," they said, arguing that the Alexanders have significant foreign connections.
After hearing arguments for three hours, Judge Caproni denied bail, finding the Alexander brothers pose a flight risk and a risk to the community. She said the evidence is strong, adding that the men pose a danger to unsuspecting women.
Each of the brothers has separately been accused by at least 10 women of forcible rape between 2002 or 2003 and 2021, the letter continues.
Authorities executed a warrant on Dec. 11 to search Tal Alexander's apartment inside a skyscraper on Manhattan's "Billionaire's Row." During the search, multiple hard drives were discovered and seized, including one with a large quantity of sexually explicit videos and pictures, according to the letter and prosecutor's statement during Wednesday's hearing.
The apartment was previously shared by Oren and Tal Alexander, the letter continues, adding that the photos and videos were found on a hard drive in a closet that appeared to include items belonging to Oren.
The seized photos and videos depict "at least Oren, Alon, and several third parties recording or photographing themselves with women in states of intoxication and undress," and in multiple videos, "the women appear initially unaware that they were being recorded and became upset and attempted to hide or flee from the camera after realizing they were being filmed," prosecutors wrote.
Other videos found in Tal Alexander's apartment show Alon and Oren Alexander and other men engaged in sexual contact with women "who are visibly under the influence of alcohol or other substances," the letter continues, adding that in some cases, at least one of the brothers and another man "physically manipulated the women’s bodies in order to have sex with them while the women did not actively participate in the sexual activity or turned away."
Prosecutors explained that the new evidence reveals the "depraved nature" of the brothers' actions, as well as the "immense danger" they present.
"The fact that video versions of trophies of the defendants’ criminal conduct were found in Tal Alexander’s residence as recently as last month also suggests that the defendants have not closed the door on their criminal conduct," the letter continues.
Prosecutors allege that the Alexander brothers "worked together, and with others known and unknown to repeatedly and violently drug, sexually assault, and rape" victims in New York, Miami and elsewhere, according to a federal indictment filed in December.
All three brothers were charged with one count of conspiracy to commit sex trafficking and a separate count of sex trafficking of one woman by force, fraud or coercion. In addition, Tal Alexander was charged with the sex trafficking of a second victim.
As part of their sex trafficking conspiracy, the Alexander brothers "engaged in a persistent pattern of rape and sexual assault, which included both pre-planned trips and events for which the defendants recruited women to attend and then raped and sexually assaulted them, as well as opportunistic rapes and sexual assaults of numerous victims who they encountered by chance," prosecutors say.
According to the charges in the indictment, the three brothers had conspired in the sex-trafficking scheme since at least 2010, but prosecutors have alleged that their sexual violence against women actually spans more than 20 years, dating as far back as when the men were in high school in Miami.
Defense attorneys for the three brothers have argued that they committed no sexual assaults, and that their relationships with the alleged victims were consensual, according to court records.
Attorneys for Tal Alexander wrote a responding letter to Judge Caproni this week, arguing that the prosecution "fails to detail when the videos were taken, how many videos, if any, the defendants are in, whether the purported participants have been identified, or whether the videos even depict non-consensual sexual activity."
At Wednesday's hearing, Judge Caproni said the women in the videos appear visibly incapacitated, adding, "In my view, that is rape."
Oren and Tal Alexander co-founded the real estate firm Official, which offers luxury listings in places like New York City, the Hamptons, Miami and Los Angeles, in 2022 after rising through the ranks at Douglas Elliman, one of the largest real estate brokerages in the country, according to prosecutors.
Their past clients include Kim Kardashian and Kanye West, Liam Gallagher and Lindsay Lohan, according to CBS News.
Alon Alexander, 37, did not work in real estate, but he socialized with them.
The Alexander brothers are still in custody in Florida and will be moved to New York next week, the judge added. They will likely be housed at the Metropolitan Detention Center (MDC), the same prison where Sean "Diddy" Combs and Sam Bankman-Fried are being held.
The next status conference in the case is scheduled for Jan. 29.
President-elect Trump announced on Saturday he has picked Penny Schwinn, the former commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Education, as deputy secretary of the U.S. Department of Education.
While in Tennessee, Schwinn oversaw the department's response to the coronavirus pandemic, implemented Gov. Bill Lee's school voucher program and overhauled the state's school funding formula, the Associated Press reported.
Schwinn previously worked at the Texas Education Agency as the deputy commissioner of standards and engagement, deputy commissioner of special populations and monitoring, and chief deputy commissioner of academics.
Trump congratulated Schwinn on Saturday in a post on Truth Social.
"A former teacher herself, Penny became the founding principal of a charter school, because she believes in the power of School Choice, and is committed to delivering the American Dream to the next Generation by returning Education BACK TO THE STATES," Trump wrote. "Congratulations to Penny and her wonderful family!"
Schwinn holds a master’s degree from Johns Hopkins, and a Ph.D. from Claremont.
Patrick Mahomes will take the field for the Kansas City Chiefs on Saturday for the first time as a father of three children.
Mahomes and his wife Brittany welcomed their newest daughter, Golden Raye, on Jan. 12. The quarterback was fortunate enough to have earned a bye week for the weekend of Golden Raye's arrival, but returned to practice just days later.
Now he is set to face the Houston Texans in the divisional round playoff game. He bears the historic pressure of trying to lead his team to a third straight Super Bowl – something no team has ever done – alongside the personal pressure of fathering another newborn girl.
As the only active quarterback with a realistic shot to contend with Tom Brady in all-time legacy discussion, Mahomes faces a much higher-stakes task than Brady did when he took the field as a father of three for the first time.
Brady welcomed his third child, daughter Vivian Lake, on Dec. 5, 2012 – weeks before any do-or-die playoff action.
But the stakes were still pretty high. And like Mahomes, Brady's first game after having his third child also came against the Houston Texans.
Brady and the New England Patriots welcomed a Texans team that led the AFC at the time with an 11-1 record into Gilette Stadium for a Monday Night Football showdown. Brady had the Patriots at a 9-3 record, as they looked to chase Houston down for the top spot.
The former Patriots quarterback had a signature game, throwing for 296 yards with four touchdowns and no interceptions, as New England dominated 42-14. Brady even had a whopping six rushing yards on one carry, which was a good night on the ground for him by his standards in those days.
After the game, Brady relished the win as the perfect ending to the week, as he informed reporters that his then-wife, Giselle Bundchen, was doing well after the birth.
"She is doing very well," Brady told reporters of Bundchen after the game. "It's been a great week, a great way to end it."
Mahomes has a high bar to live up to. But if he does pull off a similar performance to the one Brady did in 2012, his performance may be even more amplified in how it is recognized.
With a divisional round victory, Mahomes and the Chiefs will be just two wins away from taking home their unprecedented third straight Super Bowl title. The spotlight will be even brighter on Mahomes and his wife on Saturday than it was on Brady in 2012, as Taylor Swift is set to attend, possibly alongside Brittany.
And like Brady's 2012 game, Saturday may be the last time Mahomes ever plays football right after having a child.
"I’m good with three for right now," he told reporters on Tuesday when asked whether he would have another child. "We’ll see down the line, maybe, but my goal was always three, so we’ve had three, and we’ll stick there for a while and see if we need to come back and get another one later on."
Radio host Charlamagne tha God and Comedian Andrew Schulz pushed back on a number of Democratic narratives on their podcast "Brilliant Idiots" on Saturday.
Charlamagne and Schulz opened the show with a debate on who deserved credit for securing the cease-fire agreement between Hamas and Israel, President-elect Donald Trump or President Joe Biden. The radio host challenged an assertion made by his friend, Chris Morrow, that Biden was the person responsible for securing the cease-fire agreement.
"Until smart Democrats like Chris start having honest conversations about the party, and what they do, nothing is going to change," Charlamagne said. Referencing Trump's "hell to pay" message to Hamas on releasing the Israeli hostages before his inauguration on Jan. 20, Charlamagne said, "From the time Trump said that, that's when conversations started to speed up. And I mean Israeli TV is saying the same thing."
The most recent cease-fire agreement between Israel and Hamas was announced this Wednesday, with 33 hostages being released by Hamas over six weeks in exchange for hundreds of Palestinians currently imprisoned by Israel.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised Biden and Trump for their roles in advancing the negotiations. Netanyahu thanked Biden for his commitment and lauded Trump’s assertion that Gaza should never again become a "haven for terrorism."
Charlamagne expressed his disillusionment with Democrats after seeing viral videos of former President Barack Obama and Trump talking with one another at former President Jimmy Carter's funeral last week.
"I'm sure everybody saw the, the video of Barack Obama and Donald Trump being all chummy, chummy, Barack Obama showing his teeth. Here's the reason I don't like that," Charlamagne said, adding, "I've been alive 46 years. I have never heard people refer to a political opponent, or liken them to Hitler. Never said, never heard them, never heard them be called a fascist."
Schulz then jumped in and asked, "But why are they all hanging out and chumming it up with Hitler? I don't get it."
"That's my point," said Charlamagne, adding, "my point is, if you're going to have that rhetoric, keep that same energy."
Charlamagne continued to rip into Obama for being friendly with Trump, saying, "You said this man was a threat to democracy. Right? You said these things. You're the last real leader of the Democratic Party. You tell me if that's good political optics, why should I, like I said, I said this last week, why should I believe anything that comes out of Democrats' mouths?"
The radio host expressed that he "never called Donald Trump a fascist based off anything I heard from Democrats. I said that because of the things I heard come out of Donald Trump's mouth. Right. But guess what? I don't even know if I believe it anymore," adding, "But only because of how they're, only because of how they're acting. I'm like, well, God, maybe it ain't that much of a threat."
"Exactly, they lied to you," Schulz responded.
Fox News' Efat Lachter contributed to this report.
Thousands of mainly female protesters descended on Washington, D.C. to protest President–elect Trump’s inauguration on Monday. However, the crowd is only a tenth of the half a million who turned out for the "Women’s March" in 2017.
Saturday’s march, rebranded as the "People’s March," is taking place at three different locations with demonstrators advocating for a wide range of left-wing causes and showcasing a united front to the new administration.
This morning, a kickoff event took place in Franklin Park for "gender justice" and bodily autonomy, and then demonstrators walked downtown before making their way towards the Lincoln Memorial for the day's main event.
"It’s really healing to be here with all of you today in solidarity and togetherness, in the face of what’s going to be some really horrible extremism," Mini Timmaraju, the head of advocacy group Reproductive Freedom for All, told the crowd as events kicked off.
Other protesters gathered at two other parks also near the White House, with one group focused on democracy and immigration and another on local Washington issues,
Vendors hawked buttons that said #MeToo and "Love trumps hate," and sold People's March flags for $10. Demonstrators carried posters that read "Feminists v. Fascists" and "People over politics."
Lillian Fenske, 31, drove six hours from Greensboro, North Carolina, to participate. Her signs expressed concern over oligarchs and the disunity. "America is not for sale," said one, while another said simply, "Divided We Fall."
There is a heavy police presence, although law enforcement is not expecting a repeat of the violent scenes seen across the city ahead of Inauguration Day in 2017, where protesters shattered glass storefronts and torched cars, with police arresting more than 200 people in demonstrations that spanned several days.
The enthusiasm behind the so-called resistance movement to Trump has waned somewhat, with many progressive voters expressing feelings of exhaustion and disappointment following Trump’s landslide win in November. He dominated both the Electoral College and the popular vote to defeat Vice President Kamala Harris after a historic campaign cycle.
The 2017 Women’s March took place on the day after Trump’s inauguration. Celebrities like America Ferrera, Madonna, Ashley Judd, Cher, Katy Perry, Amy Schumer, Scarlett Johansson, Julianne Moore, Michael Moore, Debra Messing, Patricia Arquette and others attended the march.
President-elect Trump is expected to leave Mar-a-Lago later today and head to Washington.
Trump’s advisers have not detailed how he will spend the first part of the day, and the only public event on Trump’s schedule is an evening reception and fireworks show at Trump National Golf Club in Sterling, Virginia.
On Sunday, there will be a wreath-laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery and a "Make America Great Again" rally, at which Trump will deliver remarks, followed by a candlelit dinner.
Monday is Inauguration Day when Trump and Vice President-elect JD Vance will participate in the swearing-in ceremony, which has been moved indoors due to the forecasted frigid temperatures.
Fox News’ Brooke Singman, The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report.
After President Donald Trump is sworn in on January 20, he will then sit down for a luncheon at the U.S. Capitol hosted by the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies (JCCIC).
But what's on the menu?
While the exact details for the 2025 event have yet to be released, if history is any proof, diners can expect to be served a three-course meal featuring a seafood dish, a meat entrée and a dessert – probably with ice cream.
As Trump now calls Florida home, it would not be a surprise to see dishes influenced by the Sunshine State's legendary cuisine – or perhaps a dish with a nod to Vice President J.D. Vance's Ohio roots.
In 2017, the last time an Inaugural Luncheon was held, Trump and the approximately 200 luncheon guests had a three-course meal. (The 2021 event was not held due to the coronavirus pandemic.)
The first course was Maine lobster and gulf shrimp topped with saffron sauce and peanut crumble, followed by a main of grilled Seven Hills Angus beef with dark chocolate and juniper jus and potato gratin.
Dessert was chocolate souffle with cherry vanilla ice cream.
The 2017 menu was quite similar in structure to the menu at President Barack Obama's second inauguration in 2013.
There, guests were served steamed lobster and New England chowder, followed by grilled bison, "red potato horseradish cake & wild huckleberry reduction," and a dessert of "Hudson Valley Apple Pie," sour cream ice cream, aged cheese and honey.
The last inaugural luncheon to not include ice cream as part of the dessert was President George W. Bush's second inauguration in 2005.
At that event, the dessert was "steamed lemon pudding and apple wild cherry compote."
The Inaugural Luncheon was first held in 1897, but its current form began in 1953, says the website for the JCCIC.
"That year, President Dwight D. Eisenhower, Mrs. Eisenhower, and fifty other guests of the JCCIC dined on creamed chicken, baked ham, and potato puffs in the now-restored Old Senate Chamber," said the website.
The event is now held in Statuary Hall.
"Often featuring cuisine reflecting the home states of the new President and Vice President or the JCCIC Chairman, as well as the theme of the Inauguration, the luncheon program includes speeches, gift presentations from the JCCIC, and toasts to the new administration," said the website.
The theme of the 2025 Inauguration is "Our Enduring Democracy: A Constitutional Promise."
This theme "recognizes the Founders’ commitment to future generations of Americans to preserve the continuity and stability of our democratic system of government," said the JCCIC.
Fox News Digital reached out to the JCCIC for details on the 2025 Inaugural Luncheon menu.
A new report from The New York Times revealed how President Biden tried and failed to prove his physical vigor to critics constantly calling into question his age and fitness for the job.
For the piece detailing what Biden and his team did to try and minimize the public’s impression that he was a "faltering" president, reporters spoke to people close to Biden who noted that the president wanted to display his physical prowess to combat scrutiny of his age.
"But at times, people familiar with his thinking recalled, Mr. Biden’s pride — along with an old-school view that displaying physical vitality was the antidote to age concerns — could get in the way," the Friday report disclosed.
As the outlet noted, Biden’s longtime strategist Mike Donlon had told the president in 2022, "Your biggest issue is the perception of age." Biden "acknowledged the concerns," but the "warnings only ignited his defiant, competitive streak," The Times reported, suggesting that this attitude fueled his decision to run for re-election in 2023, after initially suggesting he would not.
"Finally elected on his third try, Mr. Biden suggested that he would be a transition president," the piece stated. "But his pride, plus a string of legislative accomplishments and a strong showing in the 2022 midterms, drove him to seek re-election and set out on a quixotic mission to prove his vitality."
Biden’s pride also reportedly prompted him to try and show off his physical competence to the public. The report continued, "Mr. Biden, who exercised on a stationary bike most days, made decisions that he thought would showcase vigor. But, at times, they had the unintended effect of showcasing his advancing years."
The report provided several examples, the first being that Biden "refused to wear an orthopedic boot" after fracturing his foot while playing with his dog just ahead of the inauguration.
"He did not want to be seen as weak — a 78-year-old president with his hand on the Bible and a large, telltale contraption on his foot. He wore his leather brogues instead."
Sources told The Times that the fracture "did not heal" as a result, and it has contributed to a "shuffling gait that has continued through his presidency."
It also mentioned his bike riding mishap stemming from his desire to look fit.
"Mr. Biden still wanted to prove that he was physically agile," the report read. "He enjoyed biking at his home near Rehoboth Beach, Del., but during the summer of 2022, when he stopped to talk with a group of onlookers and reporters, his feet got caught in the toe cages on the pedals."
Biden fell off his bike and reporters caught it on camera. The clip went viral and became fodder for Biden’s critics, who even turned "Mr. Biden’s fall into a political attack on T-shirts," The Times added.
Then came the "worst mishap," it continued, pointing to when "Mr. Biden tripped over a sandbag at the Air Force Academy commencement."
"It took five seconds for Secret Service agents to help the president to his feet, an eternity when seen on television."
The White House did not immediately reply to Fox News Digital's request for comment.
An Indiana woman was nine months pregnant when she disappeared over three months ago, and her family has suspicions about her last whereabouts.
Mother of three Emma Baum, 25, went missing Oct. 10 in Gary, Indiana, and she was about to give birth to her fourth child.
Baum was last seen being dropped off at her boyfriend's house, her sister Hailey Baum-Waddell told Fox News Digital.
"Looking for Emma has been a very struggling thing for everybody, mentally and physically and emotionally … but we're not going to stop looking for her," Baum-Waddell said. "I think if people keep going on and chanting that something needs to be done and chanting her name … just get the word out because a lot of people know, but not everybody knows."
Authorities received a missing persons report for Baum from her family Oct. 28, Gary Police Cmdr. Jack Hamady told Fox News Digital.
"A couple of days went by. … We all started, like, messaging each other, ‘Hey, have you heard from Emma? Anybody seen her? Can you message one of her friends to get a hold of her boyfriend?’ And it was kind of just a ring around with everybody and everyone's just trying to figure it out," Baum-Waddell said.
"Then we're like, ‘OK, well, this is not normal.’ … That's when my mom really started to panic," she added. "Then my mom ended up going to the police station."
Officers with the Gary Police Department have used K-9s on several searches in the area, and the Lake County Sheriff's Department has assisted in a few of the searches, Hamady said.
"We have searched a house, apartment, recreational vehicles and one other property," he added.
In addition to the police investigation, Baum-Waddell said she and other relatives of Baum have been organizing a widespread search after a social media post of hers drew hundreds of willing participants.
"There's been a lot of people who have offered to come out and look for her," she said. "We've talked it over with other search groups. I made a post online just saying, you know, ‘Hands of how many people would be willing to come out,’ and I posted it in multiple groups."
Baum lived in Portage, Indiana, but was visiting her boyfriend in Gary when she was last seen.
Baum-Waddell said her sister didn't have a working phone when she disappeared and that although her sister may have "gone off and done her own thing" for several days at a time, she would never disappear for such a long period of time.
"That day, she was supposed to go with her boyfriend … to the phone store and get it activated, and she never got the phone activated," she said. "She's been completely silent on everything, and now that's not like her."
Baum-Waddell also mentioned her sister's devotion as a mother and the close relationship she has with her oldest son.
"They have a freaking crazy, unbreakable bond," she shared. "For her not to be here to see him on Christmas or Thanksgiving or … New Year's. It's unreal. There's no way she would do that to him."
Baum-Waddell believes her sister's boyfriend is "hiding something," she told Fox News Digital, and Baum's mother believes the boyfriend had something to do with her disappearance, WGN9 reported.
"We have not charged anyone with the disappearance of Emma Baum, and she has not been located yet," Hamady said. "We continue to search and interview individuals that are or maybe associated with this case."
Baum's boyfriend, who was originally in custody in an unrelated case, was released from Lake County Jail and is awaiting his court date for the separate charges, Hamady added.
Baum is approximately 5 feet, 3 inches tall, weighs around 136 pounds and has brown hair and brown eyes. She has several scars and tattoos, and she often wears colorful wigs.
"Emma gave everybody her all, gave them all the love that she could," Baum-Waddell emotionally said about her sister. "She has these big brown eyes, and she always just wanted to make everybody, you know, laugh or feel good about themselves or have them feel included.
"It's very difficult because now it's not just her that's missing. It's her baby. And you don't want to think, you know, the worst because who would want to, you know, hurt a girl and her baby?" she added. "We're just hoping to find her safe."
Anyone with information on Baum's disappearance is asked to contact the Gary Police Department at (219) 881-1209.
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