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WNBA coach escorted off floor by police officers following intense moment with officials during game
Washington Mystics head coach Sydney Johnson needed to be escorted off the court by police officers after blowing up at WNBA officials in a game Saturday night against the Atlanta Dream.
The incident occurred with 3:52 remaining in the third quarter. Mystics guard Alicia Florez Getino was called for a foul on Dream star Angel Reese. Johnson was irate after the call and angrily addressed the officials as they were at the scorers’ table.
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Mystics second-year player Kiki Iriafen and other assistant coaches tried to hold Johnson back from continuing the conversation but to no avail. He received two technical fouls and was ejected from the game. Police officers stepped onto the court and ushered him into the locker room.
"I lost my cool," Johnson told reporters after the game. "There’s nothing more than that. That’s it. Officials did what was appropriate, and that’s all I can say."
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Atlanta won the game 109-77 behind Reese’s 18 points, 17 rebounds and four steals. Seven of her 17 rebounds in the game came from offensive boards. Rhyne Howard led the way for the Dream with 19 points and six steals.
Iriafen led Washington with 24 points, three rebounds and three assists. Sonia Citron had 18 points. Iriafen and Citron were the only two Washington players in double figures in scoring.
The Dream improved to 7-3 on the season with the win. The Mystics fell to 4-5.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Flying with cannabis? TSA's new guidance comes with a major health warning
The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) recently updated its medical marijuana guidelines, adding specific instructions to its "What Can I Bring?" directory for both carry-on and checked bags.
Patients who use cannabis to manage chronic pain, anxiety, nausea or other qualifying conditions may travel with their medication for use at their destination.
When taking medical marijuana on a flight, experts suggest separating the travel process from the treatment and waiting until arriving at the destination before using the substance.
THROUGH NEW PILOT PROJECT, MEDICAL MARIJUANA COULD BECOME MORE ACCESSIBLE TO SENIOR CITIZENS
"For most patients, the goal isn't to use cannabis on the plane. It's making sure they have access to their medicine when they arrive," Professor Rob Mejia of the Stockton University Cannabis Studies Department, who is also author of "The Essential Cannabis Book," told Fox News Digital.
Using cannabis on aircraft is generally not recommended. Airlines strictly prohibit smoking and vaping, and even edible products can behave unpredictably.
While some experienced consumers may use a low-dose edible before a flight to manage flight anxiety or promote sleep, Mejia said the key factor is familiarity.
CANNABIS USE ENDANGERS HEART HEALTH FOR CERTAIN GROUP
"An airport or airplane is not the place to test a new product or take a dose you are not accustomed to," he advised. "What feels relaxing to an experienced consumer can easily feel overwhelming to someone with less experience."
According to clinical data published by the American College of Cardiology, cannabis use significantly alters heart rhythm regulation and heightens the heart muscle's overall oxygen demand.
When this elevated cardiac strain combines with the nervous system's natural response to altitude — which, according to University of Florida research, already forces the heart to beat faster to distribute lower levels of oxygen — it can trigger acute cardiovascular distress.
MORE SENIORS ARE USING CANNABIS THAN EVER BEFORE DESPITE HEALTH RISKS, RESEARCH SHOWS
Rather than relieving travel anxiety, using unpredictable or high-potency doses at high altitudes can worsen symptoms like severe nausea, dizziness and hyperventilation, research shows.
"The overall goal should be continuity of care during travel, not medicating at 35,000 feet," Mejia said.
For a growing number of patients, cannabis is no longer just an alternative therapy, but functions as a primary form of medicine. In these cases, before traveling with the substance, preparation is everything, experts say.
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"The safest cannabis travel plan is understanding the laws before you pack," Mejia advised, warning travelers not to misinterpret the updated language.
"A TSA checkpoint is not a legal shield from state or local enforcement," the expert noted. "The TSA checks for security threats, not cannabis. That doesn't mean cannabis can't become your problem."
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"If your cannabis looks legitimate, labeled and professionally packaged, you're less likely to raise questions."
"If your cannabis looks legitimate, labeled and professionally packaged, you're less likely to raise questions than if you're carrying a bag of mystery gummies and a handful of loose flower," Mejia added.
If an item raises eyebrows, the agent has the authority to refer the matter to law enforcement.
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While domestic travel has entered a gray area, international travel remains a different set of rules altogether. Crossing international borders with cannabis carries severe risks, regardless of the laws of the country you are visiting, experts say.
"If you're traveling internationally, leave your cannabis at home," Mejia advised. "Even in countries that have legalized cannabis, the rules for visitors can be very different from the rules for residents."
Android fake call detection warns you about scams
You know that little moment when your phone rings and the name on the screen makes you drop everything?
Maybe it says your spouse, your daughter, your boss or your best friend. You answer because you trust the name. Then the voice sounds familiar too.
That is exactly what makes the latest phone scams so dangerous.
Scammers no longer have to call from a strange number. They can spoof a trusted contact's phone number. Then they can use AI voice tools to sound like someone you know. Android is now rolling out a new feature called fake call detection to help warn you when that familiar call may be a fake.
FAKE AGENT PHONE SCAMS ARE SPREADING FAST ACROSS THE US
Android fake call detection is a new protection built into Phone by Google. It is designed to spot suspected spoofed calls when both people on the call use Phone by Google.
Think of it as your phone quietly asking, "Is this call really coming from that person's device?" If the answer looks suspicious, your phone can show a warning and advise you to hang up. That small alert could stop a scam before fear, panic or confusion takes over.
ANDROID SECURITY UPGRADES OUTSMART SCAMS AND PROTECT YOUR PRIVACY
The feature works automatically in the background. You do not need to answer a quiz, scan a code or press a button during the call. When a trusted contact calls you, their phone sends a silent confirmation signal to your phone. That signal helps prove the call really came from their device.
If a scammer spoofs your contact's number, that confirmation signal may be missing. Your phone then checks with your contact's actual device. If the real device says it is not placing a call, your screen can warn you that the call may be fake.
The system uses end-to-end encrypted RCS technology, so the check happens privately. You can also turn the feature off in Phone by Google settings.
AI DEEPFAKE ROMANCE SCAM STEALS WOMAN'S HOME AND LIFE SAVINGS
For years, caller ID gave people a sense of control. If the name looked familiar, most of us felt safer picking up. That old habit now works in the scammer's favor.
Scammers can use internet-based calling tools to spoof numbers. That means your phone may display the name of someone you trust, even though the call comes from somewhere else.
Then comes the AI voice trick. With today's audio tools, scammers can make a fake voice sound shockingly real. They may pretend to be a family member in trouble, a bank employee warning about fraud or a manager asking for urgent help.
SCAMMERS EXPLOITED MOM’S FEARS TO STEAL HER ENTIRE LIFE'S SAVINGS
That combination makes the call feel personal and immediate. It also makes you more likely to act before you think.
Impersonation scams have become a major global problem. INTERPOL's March 2026 Global Financial Fraud Threat Assessment cited impersonation fraud as one of the leading contributors to more than $400 billion in global losses.
In the U.S., impersonation scams remain one of the top fraud categories reported to the FTC. Losses reached $2.95 billion in 2024.
GLOBAL SCAM CRACKDOWN LEADS TO 276 ARRESTS
Those numbers tell you why this feature deserves attention. Scammers go where the money is. Right now, they know trusted voices and trusted names can open the door.
Google says fake call detection is rolling out globally in Phone by Google this month, starting with Pixel devices.
The feature is available on Android 12 and newer devices with Phone by Google, Contacts and Google Messages installed. It also requires RCS capability in Google Messages.
SAMSUNG MESSAGES ENDING? WHAT ANDROID OWNERS MUST KNOW
There is one key limitation. Both you and the person calling you must use Phone by Google for fake call detection to work.
Phone by Google already comes as the default phone app on many Android devices. If your phone uses a different calling app, you can install Phone by Google from the Play Store and set it as your default phone app.
This feature gives you an extra warning at the exact moment you need it most. That timing is important. Scam calls often rely on emotion. The caller may say someone got arrested, a loved one had an accident or a bank account faces an urgent threat.
SSA IMPERSONATION SCAMS ARE GETTING MORE PERSONAL
When the voice sounds familiar, your guard drops. A warning on your screen can interrupt that emotional rush. It gives you a reason to stop, hang up and verify the story another way.
This new tool helps, but it cannot protect you from every scam. It may not work if the other person does not use Phone by Google. It also may not cover calls from businesses, unknown numbers or contacts using unsupported devices. So you still need basic scam rules.
If someone asks for money, gift cards, crypto, account codes or remote access to your device, hang up. Then call the person or company back using a number you already trust.
Also, never stay on the line just because the caller tells you to. That is one of the oldest pressure tactics in the scammer playbook.
AI voice scams work because they sound personal, urgent and believable, so your best defense is to slow the conversation down before you act.
Pick a simple word or phrase that only your close family knows. It should be easy to remember but hard for a scammer to guess. Then, if someone calls with an emergency and asks for money, ask for the safe word. If they cannot give it, hang up and verify the story another way.
9 WAYS SCAMMERS CAN USE YOUR PHONE NUMBER TO TRY TO TRICK YOU
Scammers want you scared because fear makes people act fast. That is why fake emergency calls often sound intense, emotional and rushed. Take a breath before you do anything. A real loved one, bank or employer will let you verify what is happening.
If a call feels suspicious, hang up. Then call the person back using a number saved in your contacts or one you know is real. Do not use a number, link or instruction the caller gives you. That could send you right back to the scammer.
Do not send gift cards, crypto, wire transfers or payment app transfers because a caller sounds convincing. Also, never share a one-time passcode, PIN or account login code over the phone. Once scammers get that information, they can move fast.
Use the built-in protections already available on your device. Pixel and Samsung users can enable Scam Detection in the Phone by Google app to help flag suspicious calls. Also, consider using strong antivirus software that includes AI-powered scam protection to help detect scams in texts, online content and deepfake videos. Keep an eye on call warnings too. If your phone tells you something looks risky, treat that alert seriously. Get my picks for the best 2026 antivirus protection winners for your Windows, Mac, Android & iOS devices at Cyberguy.com
Update Phone by Google, Google Contacts and Google Messages when updates are available. These tools work best when your apps and phone software stay current. Updates often include security improvements, bug fixes and new scam protections.
Here's how to check for updates on Android:
You can also turn on automatic app updates by opening the Google Play Store app, tapping your profile icon, then going to Settings > Network preferences > Auto-update apps. From there, choose whether to update apps over Wi-Fi, over Wi-Fi or mobile data, with limited mobile data or not at all.
Android's fake call detection is a smart step in the fight against AI-powered phone scams. It recognizes something many people already know: the name on your caller ID no longer proves the person calling you is real. This feature gives Android users another layer of protection when scammers try to hijack trust. Still, the safest move remains simple. Slow down, verify the call and never let panic make the decision for you.
Should the government do more to stop scammers from using AI voices to impersonate the people you trust? Let us know by writing to us at CyberGuy.com
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Copyright 2026 CyberGuy.com. All rights reserved.
Maine GOP hopeful vying for Trump endorsement previously ran birthing clinics catering to migrant women
Jonathan Bush, a Republican gubernatorial candidate in Maine who has been vying for President Donald Trump's endorsement ahead of this week's June 9 primary, previously ran a network of birthing clinics in the San Diego County area that often catered to migrant women, a Fox News Digital review found.
"Here we were, the largest obstetric practice in San Diego County and our business was mostly Medi-Cal, the state welfare program, and migrant workers. We needed their business and even appealed to them with Spanish-language ads on local TV," Bush, who was referring to Athena Women's Health, commonly known at the time as Athena Health, recounted in Where Does it Hurt? — a 2014 book he co-authored.
At its height, Athena Health helped give birth to thousands of children, according to Bush, who opened a network of birthing clinics with his business partner, Todd Park, who would go on to serve years later as the chief technology officer during the Obama administration.
"We actually owned a birth center. And at the height, we were doing 3,000 babies a year," Bush told the audience on the Venture Fizz Podcast in 2022. "If you multiplied our monthly run rate, maybe 3,300. So really big, prosperous, not prosperous. A lot of low-income families with very low couldn't, not on Medicaid, had to pay cash, migrant laborers, all kinds of people."
FED AUDIT, EMERGENCY MEDICAID U.DERCUT DEMS ON ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT HEALTH COVERAGE
Bush’s resurfaced comments about his business raise questions about whether he had knowingly helped women, who may not have been American citizens, secure U.S. citizenship for their children through birthright citizenship and come as he wages a campaign to become the Republican nominee for governor in Maine.
When pressed by Fox New Digital with questions about Athena's work with immigrants, the Bush campaign pushed back, arguing that Athenahealth had never offered birthing services and that, as a healthcare software company, it would have been illegal to provide them.
"To distract from his flailing campaign, 25-year DC lobbyist Bobby Charles continues to lie about my record of creating hundreds of Maine jobs," Bush said in a statement to Fox News Digital. "Ironically, Lobby Charles – who lied about his military service – lobbied for a liberal pro-illegal immigrant, pro-gun control, pro-birthright citizenship California Democrat Attorney General. Here's the truth without the Lobbyist Lies: athenahealth/Athena Women's Health provided software, billing, and management services to 116,000 American doctors."
"They have never provided any medical services of any kind. And as I've said consistently, I agree with President Trump — illegal immigrants should be deported," Bush, a first cousin to former President George W. Bush, added.
While Bush's statement about Athenahealth not providing medical services with birthing clinics is accurate, the failed venture, Athena Health, that Bush was initially involved with for less than 2 years was operating birthing clinics.
"Our new company started out with twelve clinics scattered through San Diego County," Bush said in his 2014 book, referring to Athena Health. "The six doctors and thirty-five midwives were doing two thousand births a year. The midwives were all Latinas. They were warm and friendly and supportive, just what our business plan called for."
A 2005 profile piece also reveals the early days of their main birthing clinic, where they were "listening to the urgent and beautiful sounds of a baby’s first gulps of air from the birthing room nearby."
"Jonathan Bush and Todd Park sat in their offices in a San Diego birthing clinic in 1997, listening to the urgent and beautiful sounds of a baby’s first gulps of air from the birthing room nearby. The cries were music for the two fresh-faced former Booz Allen Hamilton health-care consultants, 28 and 24, respectively, who had decided they’d learned enough to run a physician’s clinic better and more efficiently than the doctors could," the article reads.
The Foundation for Research on Equal Opportunity also describes Bush's work with Athena as a "birthing clinic in San Diego."
GOP GUBERNATORIAL HOPEFUL BLASTED BY CRITICS FOR 'LYING' ON STAGE ABOUT ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT HIRES
It’s unclear what portion of his clients were migrant women. But from his own comments, the volume appears to have been a significant volume of business.
"‘All migrants all the time.’ It was a laugh line for us, but not a very funny one. This was not the thriving business we envisioned. We were hemorrhaging money," Bush said in his book.
"A lot of low-income families had to pay cash — migrant laborers, all kinds of people," he continued.
Bush, who has been a healthcare technology entrepreneur for decades and is best known for co-founding Athenahealth, a cloud-based software and services company marketed to medical practices, has touted this experience on the campaign trail.
"I’ve made my career disrupting the status quo, creating jobs and helping people achieve their American dream," Bush, who announced his candidacy for governor in October, said in an announcement video.
During his race, he has positioned himself as a Maine-first candidate, promising to make Maine more of a destination state for businesses and investors by cutting taxes, auditing local government, and increasing energy supplies by tapping into natural gas reserves.
While he has distanced himself from the MAGA wing of the Republican Party on some issues, he recently told Fox News that "everybody wants endorsements, a giant endorsement like Donald Trump would be phenomenal. He's held off. This is a purple state…we'd love one."
Although he has leaned heavily on his business experience to make his pitch to voters, his top GOP opponent, Bobby Charles, believes his birthing clinics and the pitch to migrant women goes against the pro-America, pro-Maine message he’s pitching now.
"It is not surprising to hear Bush now may also have been involved in facilitating illegal immigration. The contrast couldn’t be clearer. I am a pro-Trump conservative who will remove illegals out of the state and ban sharia law. Jonathan ‘Never Trump,' Bush simply can’t be trusted to do what most Mainers want," Charles said in a statement to Fox News Digital.
The Bush campaign strongly pushed back against Charles' characterization that Bush facilitated illegal immigration or birthright citizenship.
According to the National Immigration Law Center, undocumented immigrants are not eligible to enroll in insurance programs, prompting them to search out services where they can find lower costs and payment flexibility.
According to Bush, as Athena continued to take on a higher volume of those clients, the business’s stability weakened.
MINNESOTA MEDICAID OPERATOR’S BANKRUPTCY-TO-RICHES RISE CRASHES INTO FRAUD PROBE
"Our popularity worked against us… Pretty soon, most of our remaining clients were indigent. They were either on Medicaid or they had no insurance at all and paid in cash or promised to pay in cash," Bush wrote in his book.
"I’m probably not giving away anything to tell you that it floundered, and then failed," he continued.
Maine holds its primary election for governor on Tuesday, June 9.
Ben Sasse claims public schools were created to separate Catholic kids from parents, priests
Former U.S. Sen. Ben Sasse of Nebraska, who recently revealed he is battling cancer, is warning that one of the central goals behind America's public school system was to separate Catholic children from the influence of their parents and priests.
"The spread and rise of American public schools in the factory model was overwhelmingly about separating Catholic kids from their parents and their parish," Sasse said Tuesday during an event with The Trinity Forum. "That’s what it was for."
Sasse announced in December that he had been diagnosed with metastatic Stage 4 pancreatic cancer and called it "a death sentence."
PARENTS AND STUDENTS NEED SCHOOL CHOICE, NOT RELIGIOUS BIGOTRY
He also talked about the importance of intentionality with family and work.
"And I think we now know that work and home being as separated as they've been has lots and lots of downsides and the digital economy for good and for ill, but ultimately among intentional parents and workers for good, being able to have more scheduled control and choice about when you bucketize family stuff and when you get your focused work done and what kind of work you can do alongside other people," Sasse said.
He also reflected on the future of education, and suggested that the education structure currently in place might drastically change.
"I think eventually the 40-hour a-week institutionalized factory model school will not be replaced with some new 40-hour thing," Sasse said. "It will be replaced by a 2-hour thing and a 10-hour thing and a 5-hour thing and a 15-hour thing and some digital this and a new community that, and better youth sports and different things are going to disrupt that factory model."
BEN SASSE OPENS UP ABOUT FAITH, TERMINAL CANCER DIAGNOSIS IN EMOTIONAL INTERVIEW
"And when that comes, I think we're going to look back on this moment and wonder why we assumed that the passivity was possibly going to produce entrepreneurial self-motivated workers who could navigate the disrupted economy of the post-digital revolution," Sasse added. "And we're going to know that we did this for way way too long. And we should be encouraging more self-ownership, autodidacticism, and entrepreneurial disruption among 12-and 14-and 16-and 18-year-olds, and especially 14-and 16-and 18-year-old boys."
The former Nebraska senator served in the Senate from early 2015 through the beginning of 2023, then went on to serve as president of the University of Florida, resigning in 2024 after his wife's epilepsy diagnosis.
THERE'S ‘WAY TOO LITTLE EDUCATION HAPPENING ON ELITE CAMPUSES’: BEN SASSE
America's most and least expensive places to order pizza revealed in new study
If summer road trips have you craving pizza, a new report spotlights key places across the country to stop for the most affordable slice.
With Americans continuing to watch their spending on dining out, the survey highlights where travelers can stretch their food budgets the furthest while on the road this summer.
In its U.S. Pizza Index, online lending platform NetCredit revealed the cities and states where a medium-cheese pizza from one of the nation's 10 largest pizza chains is the most and least affordable.
AMERICA'S 5 BEST FAST-FOOD PEPPERONI PIZZAS RANKED FOR NATIONAL PIZZA DAY
The platform analyzed prices from Grubhub and DoorDash for medium-cheese pizzas sold by the nation's 10 largest pizza chains in 180 cities nationwide — including the 100 most populous U.S. cities and the three largest cities in each state.
Indiana was named the most budget-friendly state for pizza, with a pie costing $13.96, on average.
Hawaii has the most expensive pizza, NetCredit found.
Customers will shell out an average of $19.70 for a medium cheese in the Aloha State. That's 41% more expensive than Indiana, partly because so many items must be imported, the report said.
California wasn't much more affordable at $18.85 for a pizza.
Behind Indiana, Alabama ($14.04), Michigan ($14.32), Kentucky ($14.64) and Kansas ($15.00) round out the top five most affordable states for a medium-cheese pizza.
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After Hawaii and California, Alaska ($18.60), Illinois and New York ($17.87) and Rhode Island ($17.76) are the states where ordering a medium-cheese pizza will cost you the most.
City spenders will get the most bang for their buck in Houston, Texas — which NetCredit named the most affordable large city for pizza, with an average price of $14.42.
"The three large cities with the most expensive average pizza are all in California: San Diego ($20.76), San Jose ($20.02) and Los Angeles ($19.84)," the survey stated.
California accounted for five of the top six most expensive cities for pizza.
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Honolulu, Hawaii, came in at No. 4 ($19.70).
Coming in behind Houston as the second most affordable city for pizza was Charlotte, North Carolina ($14.50), followed by Austin, Texas ($14.64).
The findings come as consumers continue to look for ways to cut restaurant spending without giving up favorite foods.
The survey referenced a New York Times report from December that found people are ordering smaller pizzas with fewer toppings, due in part, the article said, to financial hardship.
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"This preference for the plain cheese pizza also reflects the taste inclinations and health awareness of the rising generations," the NetCredit survey said.
To save money at the pizza parlor, the organization recommends the counterintuitive method of ordering bigger pies.
"Due to the weird math of circle, a 16-inch pizza is actually four times bigger than an 8-inch pizza," the Chicago-based company said.
"So figure out how much pizza you need, and always consider buying one large rather than two small pizzas when dining with others."
Other tips for enjoying pizza while keeping costs down include checking for coupons and specials before ordering, adding your own store-bought sides and making your own at home.
Why America’s next 250 years can be greater than its first 250
In August of 1776, the Revolution in America was almost snuffed out. Earlier that year, 44-year-old George Washington had marched 19,000 ragtag soldiers to Manhattan after forcing a British evacuation of Boston in the months before the declaration. In July, the British launched an attack on the colonies with the full weight of the most powerful military in the world. British General William Howe arrived at Staten Island with 400 ships and 32,000 well-trained men.
Washington was outflanked, outgunned and outmaneuvered. On the eve of the Battle of Brooklyn in late August, Washington rallied the troops saying:
The fate of unborn millions will now depend, under God, on the courage and conduct of this army. Our cruel and unrelenting enemy leaves us only the choice of brave resistance, or the most abject submission. We have, therefore, to resolve to conquer or die.
Die, they did. After a brutal assault from Howe’s troops, Washington’s soldiers were forced to execute a panicked retreat into Brooklyn Heights. With their backs pinned against the East River, they were only spared by an act of God, a dense fog, that allowed Washington to escape with 9,000 troops across the river to Manhattan.
FOR 2026, YOU SHOULD MAKE A RESOLUTION TO KNOW THE REVOLUTION
They survived, but over the course of the fall, the new army was defeated in White Plains and Manhattan, forcing a retreat to New Jersey and leading to British occupation of New York for the remainder of the war. Morale collapsed. Enlistments expired. Soldiers deserted. The future looked grim.
As we celebrate 250 years of American identity, it’s easy to forget how rocky that path has been. The Revolutionary War lasted six years of active fighting (eight before a formal treaty), with the British on the brink of victory for much of that time. Emerging from the end of the war, the American movement faltered. Our first stab at governance, the Articles of Confederation, was calamitous — leading to a new Constitutional Convention in 1787. Despite electing Washington as president unanimously, the founders fragmented into ruthless factions that threatened to tear the new nation apart.
The British waged war again in 1812, occupying Washington, D.C., and burning the White House in 1814. Slavery, our nation’s greatest failure, persisted for nearly a century, and ended only when a terrible Civil War claimed the lives of some 600,000 to 800,000 Americans. Women were not granted the right to vote until 1920, nearly 150 years after Jefferson had declared all men free. And the late 1800s and early 1900s were plagued by ethnic strife, anarchist movements, assassinations and rising communism that imperiled the fledgling republic at every turn.
AMID DIVISION AND NOISE, A SIMPLE TRUTH: AMERICA STILL HAS A HEART
But one nation, under God, endured. Washington led the new republic honorably as president then voluntarily relinquished power in a peaceful transition. Patriots fought the British to a stalemate in the War of 1812, and the new nation moved forward. The Founders and their successors conducted fierce political fights but found ways to work together and prove the efficacy of a democratic system.
President Abraham Lincoln reunified the republic, then his successors extended grace to those defeated so that we could move forward together. Opposing ethnic groups assimilated, e pluribus unum. Anarchism and communism retreated. And when the broader world was imperiled, we dispatched millions of brave Americans overseas to fight the evils of fascism beyond our shores. We resisted colonialism and financed the rebirth of enemies and allies alike. We grew the greatest entrepreneurial economy in history. We marched toward equal rights and opportunity for all.
And despite our flaws, on the eve of our 250th birthday, America still stands as a great beacon for freedom around the world, and home to the most prosperous, diverse and innovative people in history.
What’s next? It’s tempting to be pessimistic. We see our problems. Politics and culture are divided. A suffocating national debt. Ideological enemies overseas who care little for human freedom. A people who sometimes seem to have forgotten the principles of this great republic and the sacrifice required to sustain it.
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Technological changes that, while they may offer great promise, also threaten disruption on a historically unprecedented scale. In the midst of this, it would be easy to feel like those frightened soldiers pinned against the East River in Brooklyn, unable to envision a future for the American experiment through the fog of our present circumstances.
But those early patriots prevailed. So must we. The world needs it. We are history’s grandest, longest-standing experiment in self-governance and liberty. And far from allowing our dreams to decay in the decades following the declaration, our forebears pursued them courageously and at great cost so that they could one day be closer to coming true. The first 250 years of our nation’s history showed not a managed decline, but the constant progress of human liberty — an imperfect nation full of imperfect people who nonetheless found new ways to grow and to aspire to our hallowed founding ideals.
This will require battling, as the early patriots did to advance this great country and her ideals. Many of these battles will be in our own hearts — fighting the urge to divide rather than unite, to retreat in fear from new dangers rather than to confront them with courage, to shrink from our ideals rather than hold steadfast and advance. And they will be in our states, cities, and communities — where each day we face the challenge of remembering who we are as a nation and looking forward, not backward, to pioneering new expressions of "one nation, under God, indivisible" even as the challenges of the coming centuries attempt to tear us apart.
As we celebrate America 250, we must believe we are not in the twilight of the revolution, but its early hours. In late August 1776, those beleaguered soldiers in Brooklyn must have been frightened by the fog rolling in. But that peril became their path to hope. They defied the darkness and fought through. The world is foggy now. But that's never stopped us before. New horizons await our next 250 years — if we have the courage and confidence to move forward, together unafraid.
Presbyterian Church faces internal revolt after proposing clergy must be in monogamous relationships
A progressive Christian denomination is facing sharp internal backlash over a proposed rule that would require ordained clergy to be in monogamous sexual relationships.
The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) is set to vote on the monogamy requirement at its General Assembly this summer in Milwaukee. The measure has sparked fierce debate and outrage from three official progressive church committees and polyamorous church groups, according to Religion News Service.
The PC(USA) has allowed for the ordination of openly gay clergy since 2011 and altered its definition of marriage to "two people" in 2014. The new proposed rule, known as CON-10, does not mention sexual orientation or same-sex relationships. Instead, it targets multipartner relationships, arguing that the practice of polyamory or polygamy can create "power imbalances, emotional harm, and spiritual confusion," particularly for women, children and historically marginalized persons.
The rule, submitted by the Sierra Blanca Presbytery, states that PC(USA) pastors must "display moral character" and, "if engaged in any relationship of a sexual nature, living in a monogamous one." The rule also asks the church to develop pastoral resources to help people leaving "polyamorous or polygamous situations."
However, the proposal drew outrage from three official PC(USA) church advisory committees: the Advisory Committee on Social Witness Policy, Advocacy Committee for Women and Gender Justice and Advocacy Committee on LGBTQIA+ Equity.
In its official response, the Advocacy Committee for Women and Gender Justice claimed that requiring pastors to be monogamous attempts to "regulate the private lives and relational structures of individuals in ways that risk harm rather than healing." The committee further argued that a monogamy mandate could "unintentionally reinforce systems of shame, silence, and spiritual coercion."
The Advocacy Committee on LGBTQIA+ Equity also argued that the monogamy rule reinforced White privilege. The group claimed the mandate imposes "a narrow, culturally specific understanding of family" that "privileges a dominant cultural framework over the lived realities of communities of color and global Christians." The LGBTQIA+ panel also cited a 2024 academic study to defend multipartner relationships, claiming that polyamorous individuals report relationship satisfaction comparable to monogamous couples.
BEING SINGLE ISN’T A SIN. THE BIBLE SAYS SO AND MORE CHRISTIANS SHOULD AGREE
A third panel, the Advisory Committee on Social Witness Policy, also disapproved of the measure, arguing that it should be rejected in favor of a separate proposal to study "diverse understandings of relationships."
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More Light Presbyterians, a prominent progressive activist group within the denomination, has aggressively lobbied against the monogamy rule. The group released a statement last month saying the proposal reinforces "narrow and culturally bound definitions of relationships that have historically been used to exclude, police, and harm queer bodies and lives."
The group, which hosted a "Faithful Polyamory 101" training last month, said the rule would take the progressive denomination "backward" by centering on "a single model of relationship as the only faithful expression of Christian life."
A separate proposal heavily endorsed by these same progressive committees pushes instead for the denomination to fund theological studies on gender and sexuality, relationships and the Christian vocation of family that would support the church's mission to include "different familial realities," according to RNS.
The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) and the Presbytery of Sierra Blanca did not immediately return Fox News Digital's request for comment.
SJSU volleyball scandal probe finds team allegedly recruited male for advantage without telling female players
"In April 2022, [former San Jose State University] women's indoor volleyball head coach [Trent Kersten] began actively recruiting a male volleyball athlete from another university to join the SJSU women's indoor volleyball team," alleges official U.S. Department of Education (ED) findings.
"Most, if not all" the female SJSU players shared intimate spaces with the trans athlete without knowing the athlete's birth sex, per the findings.
"The evidence is that at various times, most, if not all, of the women on the team at the time of sharing a dorm room, hotel room, and/or locker room with Student 1 were unaware that Student 1 was a male."
What happened next has become the subject of a years-long media controversy and ongoing legal dispute between the entire California State University system (CSU) and President Donald Trump's administration. The CSU is suing to challenge ED's findings that determined SJSU violated Title IX in its handling of a trans athlete from 2022-24.
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The findings allege that SJSU's head coach at the time, only titled "Coach 1" in the files but Fox News Digital reasonably believes that coach to be Kersten, said a trans athlete that he considered recruiting at the time was "good enough to make us better."
Fox News Digital also reasonably believes the trans athlete, titled Student 1 in the files, to be former SJSU player Blaire Fleming.
"Additional communications indicate Coach 1 stated that Student 1 texted him wanting to commit to transferring to San José State University. Coach 1 stated his belief that Student 1 'is good enough to make us better,'" the findings state.
"Internal email communications provided by the University indicate the head women’s volleyball coach contacted the Director of the San José State University PRIDE Center & Gender Equity Center to discuss recruiting a male volleyball player (Student 1) for the San José State University women’s indoor volleyball team. Additional communications indicate Coach 1 stated that Student 1 texted him wanting to commit...
"...the University knew Student 1 is male."
Kersten received a letter of support from one of Fleming's former coaches, the findings claim.
"A letter of support sent to the University from a former club volleyball coach for Student 1 states: 'We had a team full of closers, hitters who could finish the rally easily. In a team that talented, [Student 1] still stood out.'"
At the time, Fleming just took a year off after one college season at Coastal Carolina in South Carolina, as a scholarship player in 2020.
According to an interview with The New York Times, Fleming "wasn’t fitting in at the school; like many students during the Covid-19 pandemic" and was "struggling" with "mental health." So Fleming withdrew, returned home to Virginia and took a year off from school, per the outlet, then received the SJSU offer in summer 2022.
INSIDE THE FALLOUT OF THE SJSU VOLLEYBALL SCANDAL: ‘THIS IS AN OBVIOUS PROBLEM’
Kersten allegedly communicated a dilemma on whether to tell the other players about Fleming, per the files.
"The internal communications also indicated a concern regarding whether or not Coach 1 should inform the women on the San José State University women’s indoor volleyball team that a male player would be joining the team," the findings state.
"Coach 1 stated he wanted to ask the women on the team their thoughts after they found out Student 1 was joining the team, but he did not want to relinquish decision making power to the women on the team regarding whether a male player would be allowed to join the team."
The New York Times reported that Fleming said it was important that the players at SJSU knew the athlete was trans, upon arriving. Then Fleming and Kersten reportedly discussed the idea of having Fleming write a letter to tell the other players, but the two ultimately decided that Fleming would tell other teammates individually, once Fleming "knew them better."
Multiple former SJSU players have since come forward to allege they were never told by the university or Fleming of the athlete's birth sex before spending extensive time with the athlete either on the court, in the locker room or in sleeping quarters, including Brooke Slusser, Elle Patterson and Alyssa Sugai, who claim they all found out through other means.
Former assistant coach Melissa Batie-Smoose came forward to say she was never told of Fleming's birth sex before accepting the job at the university, and alleges she was told not to tell players once she found out.
Slusser, Patterson and Sugai are plaintiffs in a Title IX lawsuit against SJSU and the CSU, while Batie-Smoose has filed her own wrongful termination lawsuit against the institution.
Kersten left SJSU after one season with Fleming in 2022 to take the head coaching job at Loyola Marymount, where he only coached for two seasons before taking over Oregon in 2025, where he currently coaches. Fox News Digital reached out to Oregon for a response, but the university declined to provide a statement, deferring the inquiry to SJSU.
Current SJSU head volleyball coach Todd Kress, who took over the program in 2023 and oversaw the controversial 2024 season, expressed frustration with Kersten for not checking on Fleming's well-being after the controversy went public, in a November 2024 interview with OutKick.
"My frustration with Trent is an unfortunate situation," Kress said. "[Kersten] obviously knows Blaire is in the crosshairs of this debate, and yet he has not reached out to [Fleming] one time to check in on [Fleming's] mental health. I find it sad, to be honest."
The trans athlete's time at SJSU ultimately resulted in emotional distress, as The New York Times reported that Fleming was "suicidal" at times that last year in 2024.
Slusser said of Fleming's suicidal thoughts, "If that's what [Fleming] was going through, that's terrible."
Patterson called Fleming a "great person."
"Very nice, great person... very outgoing," Patterson said of her first impressions of Fleming.
"I was never really around Blaire, that much outside of practices and stuff. But as a person definitely warm, like the first couple months of being there, I had fun. I enjoyed being around Blaire, nothing against Blaire as a person."
"San José State University knowingly recruited a male student athlete (Student 1) to join the San José State University women's indoor volleyball team with the intent of gaining a competitive advantage over other teams," the findings state.
Fleming made an immediate impact for SJSU averaging 2.93 kills per set and earning a conference player of the week recognition in 2022. Then, even while battling an injury in 2023 that limited playing time, Fleming improved to average 3.57 kills per set.
The trans athlete's best season came in 2024, amid the backdrop of the scandal.
Fleming posted a career-high 3.88 kills per set — ranking second in the entire conference — and regularly delivered high-volume scoring performances, including a career-best 25 kills in a single match. It came on senior day, in a high-stakes matchup against Colorado State with top seeding in the conference on the line.
Fleming's 25th kill that day was a game-winning service ace, not a spike, as the athlete was swarmed by teammates in celebration.
SJSU reached the Mountain West Conference Tournament final, as Fleming earned an Honorable Mention All-Mountain West selection from the league's coaches. SJSU lost that conference final in a revenge match for Colorado State. SJSU seemingly only advanced to that game because Boise State forfeited in the second round, after forfeiting two regular-season matches to SJSU. The conference semifinal was SJSU's seventh win via forfeit that year, amid protest over Fleming.
Fox News Digital has reached out to SJSU and the CSU for a response.
ED's findings were provided to Fox News Digital by SJSU in response to a public records request. The findings are currently being challenged in a lawsuit by SJSU and CSU against ED.
"Because we believe OCR’s findings aren’t grounded in the facts or the law, SJSU and the CSU filed a lawsuit today against the federal government to challenge those findings and prevent the federal government from taking punitive action against the university, including the potential withholding of critical federal funding," SJSU President Cynthia Teniente-Matson announced in March.
"This is not a step we take lightly. However, we have a responsibility to defend the integrity of our institution and the rule of law, while ensuring that every member of our community is treated fairly and in accordance with the law. Our position is simple: We have followed the law and cannot be punished for doing so."
World Series champion John Smoltz warns baseball 'will suffer' if ABS system is applied to all pitches
World Series champion John Smoltz said he likes the ABS challenge system but hopes that the system never becomes full-time, where all pitches are automated.
Smoltz, 59, said that it has changed the game and he likes the system as is, where teams get two challenges.
"I like it. It has definitely changed the game and we're going to have to have some kind of correct system. Meaning, I like it with two challenges only," Smoltz told Fox News Digital in a recent interview.
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"I like the fact that it's only a challenge system. I'm begging and pleading that it never goes to a full-time system. Baseball will suffer and not be the same and it'll be impossible to hit."
Teams have two challenges per game, but if they win their challenge, they retain it. While Smoltz considered the ABS challenge system a "big success" for Major League Baseball, he did point out a couple of changes to the game that are byproducts of the system.
HALL OF FAMER JOE MAUER PRAISES MLB FOR THE ABS CHALLENGE SYSTEM, SAYS IT'S BEEN GOOD FOR THE GAME
"The swing rate has gone down, the walk rates gone through the roof. That's a problem, but that's a byproduct of pitchers also not being able to command the baseball. They've gotten away with being able to chuck it in the zone. And now the hitters are becoming more aware and the catchers and all the nuance that that comes into play," Smoltz said.
Last season, hitters swung at 47.5% of pitches and walked 8.4% of the time, while this season hitters are swinging at 46.9% of pitches and are walking 9.2% of the time, according to Fangraphs. Smoltz, a Baseball Hall of Famer, would have used the ABS system to his benefit.
The eight-time All-Star spent 21 seasons in the big leagues, 20 of those with the Braves. He spent his last season with the St. Louis Cardinals and Boston Red Sox.
Smoltz has a career record of 213-155, an ERA of 3.33, and 154 saves, as he converted to a reliever for a few seasons after his Tommy John surgery. He is competing in the American Century Championship, which takes place July 10-12 at Edgewood Golf Course in Lake Tahoe. The tournament is will be broadcast on NBC and Peacock.
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