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Spencer Pratt and Heidi Montag’s Hollywood journey from tabloid fame to LA mayoral race
Spencer Pratt and Heidi Montag are back in the spotlight almost two decades after rising to reality TV fame as their Hollywood journey has taken an unexpected turn into Los Angeles politics.
Pratt, 42, and Montag, 39, who became household names when they starred on MTV’s "The Hills," built a brand on controversy, tabloid attention and unapologetic ambition.
After years of navigating public highs and lows, Pratt stepped into the political arena in January when he announced he was running for mayor of Los Angeles.
In recent weeks, Pratt's campaign has gained momentum after receiving high-profile donations, including a contribution from Lakers owner Jeanie Buss, and earning support from influential figures like Joe Rogan.
Pratt's unlikely candidacy has continued to gain traction due to several viral campaign ads and widely-praised debate performance on Wednesday.
Pratt's journey to this moment began in 2006 when he met his future wife Montag at the now-closed Hollywood nightclub Privilege. At the time, Montag was starring alongside "Laguna Beach" alum Lauren Conrad, Audrina Patridge and Whitney Port in "The Hills," which premiered in May 2006.
Montag and Pratt began dating, and he joined "The Hills" during its second season in 2007, where the couple's relationship quickly became central to the show’s drama.
Pratt, who has previously spoken out about how he carefully cultivated his "villainous" TV persona for attention, quickly became a disruptive presence, often clashing with Conrad and the existing friend group.
HEIDI MONTAG REVEALS VOCAL CORD HEMORRHAGE LEFT HER UNABLE TO SPEAK AFTER ‘THE MASKED SINGER’ EXIT
His arrival on the show culminated in one of reality TV’s most memorable fallouts as Montag’s friendship with Conrad unraveled on-screen. Meanwhile, Pratt and Montag teamed up to become the reality TV power couple known as "Speidi."
Pratt and Montag established themselves as fixtures of the tabloid era, known for staging paparazzi photos, fueling feuds and embracing the attention that came with being television’s most talked-about pair.
By the late 2000s, the couple's fame reached its peak. Pratt and Montag married in 2008 and held a televised ceremony the following year which aired on "The Hills" and further cemented their place in pop culture.
At the time, the couple's lifestyle became increasingly extravagant. In 2010, Montag launched her music career and released her debut album "Superficial." During a 2010 interview with Entertainment Weekly, Montag revealed that she and Pratt spent almost $2 million to produce and promote "Superficial," which became a commercial flop.
"Most artists, it’s not their own money, but I’ve actually gone broke putting every dollar I’ve ever made and my heart and soul into this music," Montag told EW at the time.
Ahead of the album's release, Montag sparked controversy when she revealed that she underwent 10 cosmetic surgery procedures in a single day at the age of 23.
After "The Hills" ended in 2010, the duo faced financial ruin as their income began to dwindle, and they struggled to maintain their celebrity status.
While speaking with In Touch in 2013, Pratt opened up about their lavish spending habits at the height of their fame as he explained how they blew through their $10 million reality TV fortune.
"Every time we'd go out to eat, we'd order $4,000 bottles of wine," Pratt recalled via USA Today. "Heidi was going to the mall and dropping $20,000 to $30,000 a day. We thought we were Jay Z and Beyoncé."
"We were immature and we got caught up," he admitted.
In the years that followed, the couple downsized significantly and moved in with Pratt's parents at one point as they tried to rebuild their lives. The two continued to pursue opportunities in reality television, appearing on shows including "I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here!," "Marriage Boot Camp" and the U.K.'s "Celebrity Big Brother."
REALITY TV STAR SPENCER PRATT GAINS TRACTION IN LOS ANGELES MAYORAL RACE AFTER FIERY DEBATE
Pratt found an unlikely resurgence on social media in 2016, when he began cultivating a widespread following on Snapchat, sharing content about his daily life and his obsession with hummingbirds and crystals.
He later became one of the platform's top personalities, winning Snapchatter of the Year at the 10th Annual Shorty Awards in 2018. Pratt also parlayed his passion for crystals into a business, launching Pratt Daddy Crystals, which he runs with Montag, in 2020.
Pratt and Montag returned to reality TV when they starred in "The Hills" revival series "The Hills: New Beginnings" from 2019 to 2021.
The couple's first son Gunner, who they welcomed in 2017, appeared on the show, reflecting a broader reinvention that saw Pratt and Montag move away from their former reality TV personas and toward a more grounded, family-oriented life.
In 2022, Montag gave birth to their second son Ryker. Along with being a self-described "full-time mom," Montag began pursuing music again as an independent artist after her song "I'll Do It" from "Superficial" resurfaced and went viral on TikTok in 2023.
Pratt and Montag faced one of their most serious challenges yet after the loss of their Pacific Palisades home in the devastating California fires in January 2025. Days after the fire, Pratt asked fans of the couple for their help.
In an effort to support the pair, fans catapulted "Superficial" to the top of the iTunes charts, where it secured the No. 1 spot for both song and album.
The experience marked a personal turning point, shifting public perception once again — from former tabloid fixtures to a family navigating real hardship.
In his memoir, "The Guy You Loved To Hate: Confessions From A Reality TV Villain," which was released in February, Pratt explained that he had hoped that he and Montag would be able to buy a new house due to the 2010 album's newfound success but shared that they only walked away with $150,000. However, he noted that he learned a valuable lesson from the experience.
"What it bought us wasn’t a house — it was proof," Pratt wrote. "Proof that even when everything else turns to ash, at least some things can still survive. Dreams, music, the truth. Those things are fireproof, at least."
SPENCER PRATT ENLISTS SEN. RICK SCOTT FOR FEDERAL INVESTIGATION INTO CALIFORNIA WILDFIRE RESPONSE
Following the fires, Pratt, whose parents also lost their home, led a social media crusade against California leadership he has accused of mismanagement, corruption and "criminal negligence" in their response to the disaster.
In August 2025, Pratt traveled to Washington, D.C., to meet with federal officials, including former U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi.
Pratt announced that he was running for mayor of LA at a "They Let Us Burn!" protest in the Pacific Palisades near the remains of his home Jan. 7, the one-year anniversary of the LA fires.
In February, Montag voiced her support for her husband's campaign after she was eliminated while competing on "The Masked Singer."
"It made sense to me, and I'm very supportive of that, and he is the best man for the job," Montag, who was unmasked as the "Snow Cone," said during an appearance on Fox's LiveNow. "So I hope and I pray that he gets this opportunity. We'll see what God has planned."
"It would be great for LA," she added.
It would be for everyone involved. So we'll just have to see how everything plays out, but I'm hopeful."
Rather than distancing himself from his reality TV past, Pratt has leaned into it throughout the campaign, portraying his years in the spotlight as preparation for navigating media scrutiny and connecting with voters in the social media era.
Last week, Pratt released a viral campaign video ad showcasing the difference between the mansions where his rivals, Mayor Karen Bass and City Council member Nithya Raman live compared to the reality of Los Angeles.
"This is where I live," Pratt said as the ad cut to an Airstream trailer parked on the lot of his scorched property.
"They let my home burn down. I know what the consequences of failed leadership are," he continued. "That's why I am running for mayor, for my sons and the rest of these Angelenos that want to stop these corrupt politicians from destroying our city."
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"We are going to get the golden age of Los Angeles back."
Pratt’s campaign gained further traction online this week when he reposted a viral AI-generated video created by a filmmaker that depicted Los Angeles as a dystopian city in decline, with the former reality star cast as a Batman-like figure stepping in to restore order.
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On Wednesday, Pratt participated in a high-stakes televised debate for the mayor's race, squaring off against Bass and Raman and surprising viewers with a more measured performance focused on homelessness, wildfire recovery and public safety.
Some strategists later said that the debate helped shift Pratt's candidacy from political novelty to a campaign that voters were beginning to take seriously.
During an interview with NBC LA after the debate, Pratt argued that his lack of political experience compared to his opponents was a strength.
"I'm up here because of their failures, "he said. "That's the only reason I'm running, because I said, enough of these failures. We need an outsider. No more politicians, no more lying. We need the truth."
Tyreek Hill's court battle with OnlyFans model who accused him of breaking her leg ends with shocking twist
Well, that was quick.
Tyreek Hill's court battle with a 250-pound OnlyFans model who accused the 5-10 NFL receiver of breaking her leg and then giving her a piggyback ride to the bedroom ended in abrupt fashion Friday, with Hill reportedly leaving the courtroom saying, "I'm going to Disney World."
Whew. I can promise you, you're not finding a better paragraph on the internet today. Maybe not ever. This is why the NFL offseason is the best reality show on TV.
For those who missed it, Hill and model Sophie Hall found themselves in civil court this week after Hall claimed Hill shoved her during a backyard football lesson because he felt humiliated. The incident took place in June 2023, and Hall alleged that it forced her to undergo reconstructive surgery and required weekly physical therapy.
Hill said she instead tripped over a dog, which caused the fracture. Regardless, Hall then claimed that Hill gave her a piggyback to the bedroom to have sex.
Again, the NFL's offseason is undefeated.
Anyway, according to NBC6, the case was abruptly settled Friday when Hall agreed to dismiss her assault and battery claims and Hill agreed to settle her negligence claim.
That's when Hill exited the courtroom and announced his intention to head to Orlando for some R&R at Disney.
Just the perfect end to the perfect story. And by "perfect," I mean predictable. Just when you thought a civil suit involving backyard offensive line drills with an OnlyFans model couldn't get any better, Tyreek Hill drops the hammer and ends the whole thing by saying, "I'm going to Disney World."
EXTENT OF TYREEK HILL'S GRUESOME INJURY REVEALED, INCLUDING TORN KNEE LIGAMENTS: REPORTS
In a way, I'm bummed this court battle lasted just one day. I wanted to see what sort of legs this story really had, but Hill had other ideas. Probably smart on his part. The 32-year-old is a free agent after the Dolphins cut him in March, and is currently rehabbing from a season-ending knee injury last year.
The jury, picked Wednesday, was shown photos of Hall's X-rays during opening statements. Hall claims Hill had her come over to his house and do offensive line drills with him (as one does), and then instructed her to rush him. She pushed him backwards, and Hill then became "enraged."
In a 2024 deposition, Hall said Hill then gave her a piggyback ride into the bedroom for a day of sex after the incident. The towering OnlyFans star also said she stayed with Hill for several more days, and in another deposition downplayed the severity of what happened.
"I wanted comfort, I felt very vulnerable in that moment. I was injured," Hall explained about sleeping in Hill’s bed.
Hill also allegedly sent Hall Instagram messages in May 2023, saying, among other things, that he's "been known to be a good stepdad."
Again, I feel like we got shortchanged with this story, but whatever. It's all settled now, and we're off to bigger and better things.
Tyreek, meanwhile, is off to Disney.
Sally Field says Burt Reynolds was ‘wonderful’ but ‘frightening,’ claims he tried to control her career
For , loving Burt Reynolds was both "wonderful" and "frightening."
The actress recently sat down with People and looked back at the defining moments of her life and career. During the conversation, the Oscar winner was shown a photo of herself alongside the late actor from their time filming 1977’s "Smokey and the Bandit."
"It was a very complicated relationship," the 79-year-old admitted to the outlet. "There were parts of Burt that were so wonderful and lovable, and then there were parts that were really frightening, and he was very much like my stepfather. It doesn’t mean that there wasn’t a part of me that loved Burt to pieces, but then I loved my stepfather too."
SALLY FIELD REFUSED THIS ICONIC ROLE, REVEALS IT WAS NEVER HER 'CUP OF TEA'
"That’s the complication of what loving a very complicated person is, especially when you’re a child, because my stepfather was both wonderful and evil," Field shared. "So, he taught me that love is wonderful and dangerous."
"… I eventually could stand up to Burt and I could eventually walk away," Field said. "Because Burt wanted to control my work. He could hurt me, he could humiliate me, but don’t mess with my work because it meant more to me than work."
Field and Reynolds met on the set of "Smokey and the Bandit." They had a tumultuous on-and-off relationship that lasted five years. Reynolds went on to marry Loni Anderson in 1988. The marriage ended in 1994.
WATCH: SALLY FIELD REVEALS WHY SHE WAS IMPRESSED WITH 'BIG BANG THEORY' STAR JIM PARSONS
The actor died in 2018 at the age of 82.
Field previously said Reynolds was controlling during their time together. During the sit-down, the star said her breaking point came when the script for 1979’s "Norma Rae" came along.
"It was the beginning of me pulling away when he didn’t want me to do ‘Norma Rae,’" said Field. "[He] called her a whore because she had some sexual past, and he threw the script at me because I was standing up. He said, ‘Boy, you’re letting this get the better of you.’ And I said, ‘This is the better of me.’ And I went, and I did meet with [director] Martin Ritt."
"I did the film, but it was the beginning of me finding my legs," she said. "And I really think the roles that I’ve been lucky enough to have … they changed me. They affected me. They changed who I am. And being Norma at that time was exactly what I needed, because to learn how to stand in her shoes, I could feel my own legs."
The actress scored an Oscar nomination for "Norma Rae," but Reynolds reportedly wasn’t impressed. In Dave Karger’s book, "50 Oscar Nights," Field recalled how she wanted to attend the Cannes Film Festival in support of the film leading up to the Academy Awards. However, Reynolds wasn’t keen on joining her.
"I have a hard time understanding what Sally Field told me about how unsupportive Burt Reynolds was," the Turner Classic Movies (TCM) host told Fox News Digital. "This was at the time when she was receiving all of this acclaim for ‘Norma Rae.’"
"I got the sense in the interview that it all came as a surprise to her," Karger shared. "But it also showed her that this was not a relationship that was meant to last. I think she realized that she needed to be with someone who was going to be more fully supportive of every aspect of her life."
SALLY FIELD SPILLS WORST ON-SCREEN KISSER WAS LONGTIME BOYFRIEND BURT REYNOLDS: ‘A LOT OF DROOLING’
Field also told Karger that Reynolds remarked, "You don’t think you’re going to win anything, do you?" Reynolds also refused to attend the 1980 Oscars as her date.
"He really was not a nice guy around me then," she admitted, as quoted in the book.
Karger said that even with Field’s admission, he still wondered why Reynolds couldn’t support the star at the time.
"I can only guess that there were issues of control and jealousy," he said. "[He] was uncomfortable with the thought of [Field] reaching the pinnacle of success in the industry. I think it’s really unfortunate that [he] couldn’t have been more supportive publicly and privately."
Field said she "didn’t know what to do" about not having a date for the 52nd Academy Awards. Ultimately, Field attended the award show with actor David Steinberg and his now-ex-wife, Judy.
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"David said, ‘Well, for God’s sakes, we’ll take you,’" Field recalled. "He and Judy made it a big celebration. They picked me up in a limousine and had champagne in the car. They made it just wonderful fun."
Field took home the Oscar for best actress that day. She would become a two-time Oscar winner in 1985 for her role in "Places in the Heart." By then, her romance with Reynolds was over. According to multiple reports, the couple called it quits in 1982.
In a 2015 interview with Vanity Fair, Reynolds told the magazine that Field was the "love of my life."
In her 2018 memoir, "In Pieces," which came out days after Reynolds’ death, Field admitted he "was a hugely important part of my life, but for a very short period of my life … I really didn’t speak to him for the last 30 years of his life."
"By the time we met, the weight of his stardom had become a way for Burt to control everyone around him, and from the moment I walked through the door, it was a way to control me," Field wrote, as quoted by Vanity Fair.
"We were a perfect match of flaws," she wrote. "Blindly, I fell into a rut that had long ago formed in my road, a pre-programmed behavior as if in some past I had pledged a soul-binding commitment to this man."
Field told The New York Times that her time with Reynolds was "confusing and complicated, and not without loving and caring, but really complicated and hurtful to me."
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The outlet noted that in her book, she characterized their connection as "immediate and intense," but he was also "controlling of her." Field alleged he was uninterested and disapproving of certain aspects of her life.
Field admitted to the outlet that she was thankful Reynolds wasn’t around to read her memoir.
"This would hurt him," she said. "I felt glad that he wasn’t going to read it, he wasn’t going to be asked about it, and he wasn’t going to have to defend himself or lash out, which he probably would have. I did not want to hurt him any further."
When Reynolds died, Field told The Associated Press, "There are times in your life that are so indelible, they never fade away."
"They stay alive, even 40 years later. My years with Burt never leave my mind. He will be in my history and my heart, for as long as I live. Rest, Buddy."
DAVID MARCUS: Virginia Democrats step on a $70M rake and now they're crying
Democrats nationwide are furious that the Virginia Supreme Court did its job this week and struck down the results of the Old Dominion’s blatantly illegal redistricting referendum, denying the party the 10-to-1 gerrymandered map it thought it had won.
But for all the outraged sturm und drang and cries of racism, the Left is offering no coherent legal argument as to why the decision was wrong. Instead, they are offering what sounds like a lot of slam poetry.
Take the reaction of Rep. Jaime Raskin, D-Md., to the decision: "Today, in an outrageous outburst of right-wing judicial activism…the Virginia Supreme Court has struck down the will of the voters. But democracy won’t end with right-wingers in black robes."
I think now is when we are supposed to snap our fingers and say, "Far out, man."
As to the actual legal efforts, they are so lax and lazy that the official appeal filed by Virginia Solicitor General’s office after the decision misspelled both the words, "Senator," opting for "Sentator," and better yet, "Virginia," appears as "Virgnia,"
They are not, I’m afraid, sending their best.
The crux of the case came down to timing, with the court ruling that Democrats rushed the referendum and did not allow a required intervening election between proposing a constitutional amendment and the voters deciding on it. Notably, Democrats don’t even deny that this is precisely what they did.
CUCCINELLI SAYS DEMS UNDERCUT OWN REDISTRICTING DEFENSE AS VIRGINIA JUSTICES PRESS ‘YES’ CAMP
In retrospect, even with the narrow 4-3 decision, it now looks astonishing that Democrats spent $70 million and the lion’s share of new Democrat Gov. Abigail Spanberger's political capital on a campaign that won them the battle but lost them the war.
This disaster was avoidable for Democrats. Republicans even offered them an offramp prior to the vote, asking this same Supreme Court to rule before votes and money were potentially wasted. But the Democrats were desperate to proceed.
Now, some on the Left are gnashing their teeth, demanding to know why the court let the election happen, even though they were the ones who begged for it.
SPANBERGER-BACKED REDISTRICTING VOTE CULMINATES DEM ‘POWER GRAB’ IN KEY SWING STATE, SAYS REPORT
It is clear now, that Democrats, fresh off of big off-year election wins, thought they would win the referendum by a big enough margin that the court would be all but shamed into respecting the result. Had "Yes," won by the 12 points that Spanberger won by last year, that might have happened.
In fact, it is the very closeness of the eventual result, in which ‘Yes,’ edged ‘No,’ 51-49, that proves the Supreme Court was not just defending the law, but the voters as well.
In the final month of the election, as voters became more aware of what the redistricting actually did, that it gave bright blue Northern Virginia control of almost every seat, the polls tightened from what looked like an easy "Yes" win to a coin toss.
GOP FRACTURES OVER VIRGINIA REDISTRICTING MAP HANDING DEMOCRATS 10–1 EDGE
Of course, the whole point of the law requiring that amendments get an intervening election before being put to the voters is there to ensure that those voters have enough time and information to fully understand what they are voting on.
That was always going to be a problem for Democrats in this effort. It's why they never showed a picture of their new Frankenstein map, or mentioned that it gave 90% of the state’s seats to Democrats, even though 45% of the population is Republican.
They needed to slam this thing through as fast as possible, with as little discussion as possible by screaming bloody murder about racism, Jim Crow, and Texas gerrymandering, even though the people being disenfranchised in Virginia, or Virgnia, if you prefer, were mainly working class Whites.
VIRGINIA COURT DECLARES STATE'S REDISTRICTING VOTE WAS UNCONSTITUTIONAL IN LEGAL WIN FOR REPUBLICANS
The whole thrust of the $70 million "Yes" campaign was, "This is an emergency, Republicans are destroying democracy, we have to break the rules, but don’t worry it's just temporary."
Thankfully, the Virginia Supreme Court settled this matter on the basis of the law, not on the imaginary emergency of Donald Trump presiding in the Oval Office.
Democrats can complain all they want about the court’s decision being political. There is no evidence of that and fair courts cut both ways, as President Trump found out when the U.S. Supreme Court axed his tariffs, and many expect a further rebuke in the upcoming birthright citizenship decision.
Democrats are desperate to frame this as four unelected judges overturning the will of the people. Nothing could be further from the truth, because what they actually found, rightfully, was the people were given neither the time, nor the information needed to exercise that will under the law.
The Virginia Supreme Court didn’t just uphold the law in regard to constitutional amendments, it proved why those very laws are so vital. And there is not a single thing that the Democrats, who rolled the dice and lost, can do about it.
Jeremiyah Love signs rookie deal that gives him most guaranteed money by running back before taking NFL snap
Before Jeremiyah Love has taken an NFL snap, veteran running backs already must be pretty jealous of him.
That's because the third overall pick of last month's NFL Draft officially signed his rookie deal of $53 million on Friday.
Love's deal is the most guaranteed money ever given to a running back in NFL history, by a wide margin.
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The previous record was the $36 million Saquon Barkley got by signing with the Philadelphia Eagles in 2025. Just below him is Ashton Jeanty's rookie deal of $35.9 million.
Love impressed with Notre Dame and shot up the draft boards, and the Arizona Cardinals did not let him slip past them.
He ran for 1,372 yards and 18 touchdowns this past season for the Fighting Irish, while surpassing 100 yards in six of his 14 showings. He even rushed for a whopping 228 yards against the USC Trojans.
Love became the highest drafted running back since the New York Giants selected Barkley second overall out of Penn State in 2018. And he joins a Cardinals offense that will be revamped under new head coach Mike LaFleur.
BREECE HALL BECOMES NFL’S THIRD-HIGHEST PAID RUNNING BACK, SO MAYBE JETS OFFENSE WON’T STINK AGAIN
Despite the payday, though, Love has already decided that he is going to be careful with his money.
"I’m not spending any of my NFL checks," Love said to BRGridiron. "All that money, my financial advisor’s going to take care of all of that. I don’t know about it, it ain’t my job. It’s going to be there making more and more money."
Instead, Love said he would spend his endorsement money during his career. Even then, he isn’t thinking about a lavish lifestyle for himself.
"First thing I might buy with my marketing money is a house for my parents, car for my dad," he explained. "Shoot, I’m gonna put myself last. I’m going to take care of my family first."
The running back market stalled for quite a while, but in recent offseasons, it seems like front offices have reversed course.
But if Love does not live up to the payday, it could be a trendsetter for how front offices view the position in the future.
Fox News' Scott Thompson contributed to this report.
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Padres top pitching prospect self-deports to Mexico after pleading guilty to human smuggling charge: report
A top pitching prospect reportedly self-deported to his native country of Mexico after pleading guilty to a misdemeanor related to human smuggling in Arizona.
San Diego Padres pitching prospect Humberto Cruz pleaded guilty to a charge of receiving money to transport noncitizens within the United States.
According to The Athletic, Cruz, in the country legally with a work visa, was driving a vehicle that carried two immigrants in the country illegally. Cruz, 19, was initially driving south on State Route 85 in Lukeville, Ariz., but was spotted driving north roughly an hour later with two other passengers. Agents were suspicious that Cruz would not have had enough time to reach the Lukeville Port of Entry to pick up passengers.
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The San Diego Padres told the San Diego Tribune that Cruz would likely lose his work visa for 10 years, but can reapply after five years if he demonstrates good behavior.
"To my teammates, the organization, our fans, and my family, I want to express my sincere regret for a recent lapse in judgment that has caused disappointment to many people I deeply respect. I understand that my actions have fallen short of the standards expected of me as a professional and as a representative of this organization," Cruz said in a statement, via The Athletic.
"I take responsibility for my conduct and recognize the impact it has had on my teammates, the club, and those who support us. To my teammates and coaches, I apologize for becoming a distraction and for not upholding the level of professionalism you deserve. To the fans, I am sorry for letting you down and for failing to meet the trust placed in me.
"I am committed to reflecting on this moment, learning from it, and taking the appropriate steps to move forward in a positive and responsible manner. I will cooperate fully with the organization and any steps required of me. … Thank you to everyone who has reached out with support and honesty. I understand that trust must be earned, and I am prepared to do that through my actions going forward."
The pitcher admitted to officials that he responded to an advertisement for drivers "to pick up people for easy money" and was offered $1,000 per person, knowing "they were illegal," The Athletic said.
Cruz pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge in November in exchange for prosecutors dismissing a felony charge of transportation of illegal aliens for profit. He was sentenced to 30 days in prison with credit for time served.
The plea deal, The Athletic said, stated Cruz understood his deportation would be "practically inevitable and a virtual certainty."
The Padres placed Cruz, who they signed out of Monterrey, Mexico, for $750,000 in February 2024, on the restricted list in March.
Cruz underwent Tommy John surgery last August and had been rehabbing at the team’s spring training facility in Arizona in late October at the time of his arrest.
In 14 starts in both rookie and A-ball, Cruz pitched to a 7.58 ERA. MLB.com lists Cruz as the team's fifth-best prospect -- three of the four ahead of him are pitchers.
The Padres did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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John Fetterman rips Democrats for running campaigns on 'f--- Trump' instead of constructive messaging
Pennsylvania Sen. John Fetterman broke with fellow Democrats again Friday, criticizing what he called the party’s overreliance on anti-Trump messaging and urging a shift toward a more constructive approach.
"My colleagues, and people that are running, whether for the Senate or the House, they're literally running on f--- Trump," Fetterman said on the latest episode of "Real Time with Bill Maher"
"They have campaign commercials [with that message]. It's absurd..." he added.
"I refuse to engage in those extreme terms, and we have to find a better way forward, and now I've been punished [for] find[ing] value in certain views."
FETTERMAN SAYS DEMOCRATS LACK LEADER, CLAIMS PARTY DRIVEN BY ‘TRUMP DERANGEMENT SYNDROME’
Fetterman, who has increasingly positioned himself as an independent-minded voice within the party, framed his comments as a larger critique of partisan strategies as the country eyes the high-stakes midterm election cycle.
FETTERMAN UNDER FIRE AS GOV SHAPIRO PUSHES WILD CARD SENATOR TO 'GET BACK' TO BEING A DEMOCRAT
Fetterman did not defend Trump directly, but suggested that defining campaigns primarily in opposition to him risks dismissing valid ideas simply because they belong to Trump's side.
"Like the ballroom... I don't care about the ballroom," he said, referring to the proposed White House space that the left has vehemently resisted.
FETTERMAN BREAKS WITH DEMOCRATS AFTER SHOOTING SCARE, BACKS TRUMP ON MAJOR WHITE HOUSE PROJECT
"I don't either... it's so stupid," Maher chimed in.
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Maher added, "We saw a couple of weeks ago with the assassination attempt [at the WHCA Dinner], America probably does need [a ballroom]."
Fetterman also rejected the idea of switching parties, framing his comments as a personal criticism rather than a political realignment.
"If I ever decide to change, and I won't, have me on, and I'll announce that," he said, laughing.
"But I'm a committed Democrat... I vote 93% of the time [with the Democrats]. I thought we were supposed to be a 'big tent' party, so I'm not sure how I became an issue for any of the Democrats, just by having some different views."
Frontier jet strikes, kills person on Denver airport runway during takeoff after security breach
A Frontier Airlines jet struck and killed a person who was walking on the runway at Denver International Airport late Friday night, according to a statement from the airport.
"Frontier Flight 4345 reported striking a pedestrian during takeoff at DEN at approximately 11:19 p.m. on Friday, May 8, 2026. There was a brief engine fire that was promptly extinguished by the Denver Fire Dept.," the airport wrote in a post on X.
"Emergency crews responded to the scene and bussed passengers to the terminal. 231 souls were on board. Emergency response and investigation are ongoing. The NTSB has been notified. Runway 17L will remain closed while the investigation is conducted," the statement concluded.
The airport confirmed to Fox News that the person is deceased.
AMERICAN, FRONTIER PLANES CLIP WINGS AT LOGAN INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT IN BOSTON
The person struck breached airport security Friday night to scale a perimeter fence and dash out onto the runway, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said in a Saturday morning statement.
"The trespasser on the runway was then struck by Frontier Airlines Flight 4345 during takeoff at high speed. The pilot stopped takeoff procedures immediately," Duffy wrote in a post on X.
"The Frontier plane was then quickly evacuated while law enforcement and firefighters responded. Preliminary reports are 12 people were hurt, with 5 taken to the hospital. Local law enforcement handles airport security and is investigating with support from the FAA and TSA. No one should EVER trespass on an airport," Duffy concluded.
Denver International Airport later posted an update to X saying it "has examined the fenceline and found it to be intact."
"We are extremely saddened by this incident and express our sympathies to those involved," it added.
The person killed was struck and "at least partially consumed" by the one of the plane's engines, ABC News reported.
Frontier Airlines is conducting an investigation, the company told media outlets.
Audio from the incident captures the moment the plane and person collided.
"We just hit somebody, we have an engine fire," the pilot told an air traffic controller, according to audio from the ATC app.
"There was an individual walking across the runway," the pilot told the ATC.
A witness described to CBS the moment the collision occurred.
"We were already taking off and we’re going pretty fast, and I felt like the plane started to tilt up when out of nowhere, it just -- we felt like a thud and heard, like, an explosion," Jose Cervantes told CBS News.
"I was right on the wing, so I looked to my right and I just see, like, the right wing just on fire and it, like -- it’s exploding, and it sounds, like, horrible, you know and right away they shut the aircraft off," Cervantes said. "Well, when that happened, the aircraft lands back down and starts to swivel from side to side, then they shut it down right away. And then the cabin starts to fill with smoke, and that’s when they started evacuating everyone."
Fox News Digital contacted Frontier, the FAA, the DOT, the NTSB and Denver Airport for comment.
Fox News' Madeleine Rivera contributed to this report.
Why the under at 175.5 looks like the play for Caitlin Clark's Fever vs. Paige Bueckers' Wings
I shared some thoughts on futures for the WNBA season yesterday, and we had three games last night that tipped off. However, the reality is that for most people, today will mark the official start of women’s basketball because Catilin Clark will be playing. That’s right, the Indiana Fever and everyone’s favorite female hooper takes center stage today as they host another beloved player in Paige Bueckers and the Dallas Wings.
The Dallas Wings went through a bit of a makeover during the offseason. Sure, they still are led by Bueckers, and they have a strong playmaker, Arike Ogunbowale, but now they also have last year’s co-Defensive Player of the Year, Alanna Smith, and they have the No. 1 overall pick, Azzi Fudd. If you are unaware, this is the second straight season that the Wings have had the top pick in the draft. That should give you some indication of how successful or good this franchise has been.
I’m not trying to knock them. They were able to get two of the best players coming out of college, both from UConn, in two years, and added players to hopefully turn the team around. There are some questions about how good the team can be outside of the four women I’ve mentioned, but the Wings will certainly be better than last year’s 10-win team. What should be interesting to me is how Fudd operates in this offense. Bueckers creates her own shots, but I don’t see Fudd doing much of that. If defenses have to focus on Bueckers and Ogunbowale, maybe she is left open to do her damage.
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On the other side is the Indiana Fever. I’d be shocked if most of the casual WNBA fans could name anyone outside of the "Tres Leches" that play on the Fever, but they actually have two other great players outside of Clark. Aliyah Boston, a former No. 1 overall pick, signed a huge deal in the offseason to stay in Indiana and arguably had her best season last year. It was a great sign because now that Clark is back, the offense has another person that teams have to worry about. Another hooper that fans should familiarize themselves with is Kelsey Mitchell.
Mitchell carried the Fever to the WNBA Semifinals last season before they lost to the Aces. She averaged a career high of 20.2 points last year and established herself as a true threat. Again, the floor could open up for her with Clark leading the way. That’s not to discount Lexi Hull or Sophie Cunningham, both very skilled role players for the team. Cunningham will give the team toughness, outside shooting and strong defense even as she returns from injury. Hull was almost out of the league until she became a deep threat.
In today’s game, we should expect to see a few things — Clark will likely get fewer than 30 minutes as they try to ease her back in after just 13 games last season. I’ve also heard rumors that she will play off the ball this year, which should be a nice change from the full-court press she has dealt with for two years. I also expect the Fever to try to figure out some things on offense.
The Wings will be in a similar situation. This is the first game of meaning they will play with a new coach, new teammates and a highly touted rookie. None of these things add up to a high-scoring game. I know why the total is so high — the Wings were awful on defense last year, and the Fever can score in bunches. However, this game is too high at 175.5. You’re asking the teams to score 85ish and 90ish points. That’s not happening in Game 1 of the season. Give me the under. For the record, when the Wings' defense was worse last year, the teams combined to score 175, 185, 166 and 161 points in their four games. This will be a multiunit play for me.
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Inside the US military playbook to cripple Iran if nuclear talks collapse
If negotiations with Iran collapse, the U.S. likely is to move quickly to degrade Tehran’s military capabilities — a campaign analysts say would begin with missile systems, naval assets and command networks before escalating to more controversial targets.
Negotiators are still working toward what officials describe as a preliminary framework agreement — effectively a one-page starting point for broader talks centered on Iran’s nuclear program and potential sanctions relief. But deep mistrust on both sides has left the process fragile, raising the stakes if diplomacy fails.
"We’re not starting at zero," retired Army Lt. Col. Seth Krummrich, a former Joint Staff planner and current global risk analyst, told Fox News Digital. "We’re both starting at minus 1,000 because neither side trusts each other at all. This is going to be a pretty hard process going forward."
That tension was on display Thursday, when a senior U.S. official confirmed American forces struck Iran’s Qeshm port and Bandar Abbas — key locations near the Strait of Hormuz — while insisting the operation did not mark a restart of the war or the end of the ceasefire.
The strike on one of Iran’s oil ports came two days after Iran launched 15 ballistic and cruise missiles at the UAE’s Fujairah Port, drawing anger from Gulf allies. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Dan Caine said earlier this week the attack did not rise to the level of breaking the ceasefire, describing it as a low-level strike.
President Donald Trump repeatedly has warned that if negotiations collapse, the U.S. could resume bombing Iran — even signaling before the recent ceasefire was implemented that Washington could target the country’s energy infrastructure and key economic assets. But any escalation would likely unfold in phases, beginning with efforts to dismantle Iran’s ability to project force across the region before expanding to more controversial targets.
If talks break down, any renewed conflict would likely become a "contest for escalation control," where Iran seeks to impose costs without provoking regime-threatening retaliation while the U.S. works to strip away Tehran’s remaining leverage, according to retired Air Force Lt. Gen. David Deptula.
"The capabilities that would come into focus are the ones Iran uses to generate coercive leverage: ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, air defense systems, maritime strike assets, command-and-control networks, IRGC infrastructure, proxy support channels, and nuclear-related facilities," he said, referring to the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps.
"The military objective would be less about punishment and more about denying Iran the tools it uses to escalate," he said.
"President Trump has all the cards, and he wisely keeps all options on the table to ensure that Iran can never possess a nuclear weapon," White House spokesperson Olivia Wales told Fox News Digital. The Pentagon could not immediately be reached for comment.
One early focus could be Iran’s fleet of fast attack boats in the Strait of Hormuz — a central component of Tehran’s ability to threaten global shipping in one of the world’s most critical energy corridors.
RP Newman, a military and terrorism analyst and Marine Corp veteran, said leaving much of that fleet intact during earlier strikes was a mistake.
IRAN’S REMAINING WEAPONS: HOW TEHRAN CAN STILL DISRUPT THE STRAIT OF HORMUZ
"We’ve blown up six of them," he said. "They’ve got about 400 left."
The small, fast-moving boats are a key part of Iran’s asymmetric maritime strategy, capable of harassing commercial tankers and U.S. naval forces — and could quickly become a priority target in any renewed campaign.
Much of Iran’s core military structure also remains intact.
INSIDE IRAN’S MILITARY: MISSILES, MILITIAS AND A FORCE BUILT FOR SURVIVAL
Newman said "we’ve only killed less than one percent of IRGC troops," leaving a large portion of the force still capable of carrying out operations. He estimated the group "numbers between 150 and 190,000."
But targeting the IRGC is far more complex than eliminating senior leadership.
"They’re not just a group of leaders at the top that you can kill away," Krummrich said. "Over 47 years it’s percolated down to every level."
Retired Rear Adm. Mark Montgomery, a senior fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies policy institute, said Washington may continue tightening economic pressure before broadening military action, arguing the U.S. should "squeeze them for at least another three to six weeks" before considering more aggressive escalation.
"You could have blown Kharg Island back to smithereens," Krummrich said, referring to Iran’s primary oil export terminal in the Persian Gulf. "But what the planner said was, no — what we can do is a maritime blockade. It will have the same effect."
Iran has continued moving crude through covert shipping networks and ship-to-ship transfers, with tanker trackers reporting millions of barrels still reaching markets in recent weeks.
A CIA analysis found Iran may be able to sustain those pressures for another three to four months before facing more severe economic strain, according to a report by The Washington Post.
The question is how far a U.S. campaign could expand if initial pressure fails to force concessions.
Trump has signaled a willingness to go further, warning before the ceasefire that the U.S. could "completely obliterate" Iran’s electric generating plants, oil infrastructure and key export hubs such as Kharg Island if a deal is not reached.
"You don’t do that at first," Montgomery said, describing strikes on dual-use infrastructure as a conditional step dependent on Iran’s response.
Targeting dual-use infrastructure presents significant legal and operational challenges.
"I've got 500 people standing on my target. You can't hit that," Newman said.
Such decisions carry political and legal risks, particularly given the likelihood of international scrutiny.
Broader infrastructure strikes also could create long-term instability if they push Iran toward internal collapse.
"In the short term, it might help. But in the long term, we’re all going to have to deal with it," Krummrich said. "Once you pull that lever, you're basically pushing Iran closer to the edge of the abyss."
A collapse of state authority could create a failed-state scenario across the Strait of Hormuz, with armed groups, drones and missiles operating unchecked in one of the world’s most strategically important waterways.
Even some of the most discussed military options — such as seizing Iran’s highly enriched uranium — would be extremely difficult to execute.
"That's much harder than it sounds," said Montgomery.
Such a mission would likely take months, and require engineers, technicians and heavy excavation equipment, in addition to thousands of U.S. operators providing continuous air coverage.
"When you start to stack that up, that becomes resource intensive and high risk — not even high, extreme risk," said Krummrich.