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I have eight kids. Here's why the 'back-to-school' mom memes break my heart
Summer is the best season. My kids have no school commitments and our time is spent getting together with friends, doing weekend trips, camping, going to the lake, and enjoying the time we have with each other. My oldest is already in college so I know the feeling of time slipping through my fingers as my kids get older and create lives of their own. Time with my husband and eight children is my most precious gift and while back-to-school season is exciting, it’s certainly bittersweet.
The joy of watching my kids grow into the next stage of life is balanced out by the feeling that most of August is the Sunday before school starts.
Raising kids is hard, and it’s okay to feel a little relief when structure returns. But I think we should be thoughtful about the message our children receive in the way we celebrate.
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Scrolling through social media this time of year brings meme after meme of parents, usually moms, who are thrilled the school year is starting because it’s time to ship their kids off to someone else five days a week. The photos of moms in robes on their doorstep holding a glass of wine are everywhere.
Kids notice when we seem overly eager to send them away. They remember whether we treated their presence as a burden or a gift. They hear how their parents are elated about sending them elsewhere for hours every day. Kids are much more perceptive than we give them credit for. Even if all of the back-to-school jubilation is in jest, deep down they know they are of some undue burden to their parents.
Conflicting emotions are common and parents shouldn’t beat themselves up over them. A study of 2,000 parents over the summer revealed 57% were happy about their kids returning to school but also felt guilty about it. Yet a different study showed 67% of parents who thought summer break was too long.
I get that parents need a break, especially from the endless snack requests and demands of kids over the summer. No parent should be shamed for taking care of themselves in order to be a better parent for their kids. Yet that’s not what back-to-school season has become. It’s become a time when parents can thrillingly announce to the world that they are so happy to dump their kids at school and make them someone else’s problem.
In a culture that has so devalued the family and children, this isn’t a surprise but it is disheartening. I used to think these kinds of posts were funny until I really thought about it. We only have so much time with our kids until they move out, go to school, and have lives of their own. I’m proud to watch my kids begin a new school year. I’m excited for what they’ll learn and who they’ll become. But I’m also sad to see summer end because I love having them home. I love the memories, the slow mornings, the time together, and the little moments that pass far too quickly.
Parenting is hard and no one could ever be prepared for it, no matter how many books they read or other parents they talk to. We have so much responsibility on our plates that it can easily be overwhelming. Humans will make decisions based on their priorities — that’s what it all comes down to. Faith, marriage, kids, work, and hobbies all vie for the top spot and we have to make hard decisions every day but if those priorities are in order, it will be much easier to choose the right thing.
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I’m not suggesting every parent homeschool or drop everything to spend 24 hours a day catering to their kids. I’m saying that our children are incredible gifts and we should not be so anxious to shove them out the door and on the school bus for eight hours a day for nine or ten months of the year. Get involved in your kid’s school. Coach their rec team. Invite their friends for a movie night or ice cream or pizza making party at your house. Go on a hike with your kids and their friends. Be present. Put your phone down. Ask questions. Say ‘yes’ more.
We only have one life. Our kids are only young once and they see everything. I make plenty of mistakes as a mom but valuing the time I have with them is one mistake I try the hardest to avoid.
So yes, celebrate back-to-school season. Just make sure your kids know they are loved, wanted, and deeply missed when they’re away.
9/11 is becoming history. My generation must make sure America never forgets
I was 9 years old, in my second week of middle school, 25 miles from lower Manhattan when the world changed.
I remember being gathered on the carpeted floor of our homeroom when the principal’s aide delivered a note to our teacher. She read it to us with a perplexed look on her face, unaware that the plane she described as having been involved in a tragic accident had passed just a few miles from our school along the Hudson River only minutes earlier.
We’d soon learn this was no accident.
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We were too young to understand the magnitude of what was happening, but old enough to know something was terribly wrong. For millennials, September 11, 2001 was the moment that divided our lives into "before" and "after."
There is an innocence in the photographs and memories from before 9/11 that is hard to explain. The people and the streets look the same, but everything feels different because we know what they did not yet know was about to happen.
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And in the weeks and months after that tragic day, everything changed. We remember the anthrax scares, the new airport security measures, and the fear that another attack could happen at any moment.
But we should remember something else, too: the extraordinary sense of unity that followed. For a kid growing up just outside New York City, the shared sense of patriotism and American flags seemingly everywhere is impossible to forget. In those days, before social media became a force for division and politics consumed so much of our national conversation, Americans seemed determined to stand together.
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I still vividly remember watching President George W. Bush’s first pitch before Game 3 of the World Series at Yankee Stadium a little over a month after the attacks. In a city still grieving, our leader in a bulletproof vest humming a strike right down the middle felt like a small but powerful sign that America was still standing, too.
But 25 years later, September 11 is becoming history rather than memory. For a younger generation, it is increasingly just a chapter in a textbook—or worse, fodder for internet conspiracy theories, memes and jokes.
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We cannot let that happen.
As the last generation to have firsthand memories of September 11, it is incumbent on us to remind younger Americans of the extraordinary things ordinary Americans did when confronted with the unimaginable that fateful day.
If you’ve visited any of the three September 11 memorial sites — the National September 11 Memorial & Museum in New York, the Pentagon Memorial or the Flight 93 National Memorial in Shanksville, Pa. — you understand why remembrance matters.
Nearly 3,000 people died that day. They were parents, children, spouses, friends, firefighters, police officers, office workers and travelers.
Innocent people who had simply shown up for a normal day at work were suddenly forced to make horrific decisions that no person should ever have to make.
And for countless others, the consequences of that day never ended. First responders and others exposed to the toxic air at Ground Zero have spent the decades since battling cancers, respiratory illnesses and other health problems tied to September 11.
There is no shortage of stories from that day. Some are harrowing stories of survival. Others are stories of heroism and extraordinary courage.
There was Betty Ong, the American Airlines flight attendant who helped authorities understand that Flight 11 had been hijacked. There were the passengers of Flight 93, who fought back against their hijackers and prevented the plane from reaching Washington.
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There were Stanley Praimnath and Brian Clark, strangers who miraculously helped one another escape the impact zone of South Tower after it was struck. And there was Rick Rescorla, the Morgan Stanley security chief who evacuated thousands from the South Tower before returning inside to help others and never making it out himself.
We were the children who watched the towers fall and the teenagers who grew up in the shadow of the two wars that followed. We are now the parents, teachers, and citizens responsible for explaining to the next generation why September 11 mattered.
We need to tell them about the first responders who ran toward danger while everyone else ran away, the passengers who refused to surrender, and the strangers who helped strangers.
And we need to tell them why we must never let it happen again.
Four ways to make sure your will protects your family and avoids added grief
There is no worse feeling in life than when a loved one passes away. And when that individual has not communicated his or her wishes or shared key information, that can add an additional burden of time, money and stress to loved ones’ grief.
As August is National Make a Will Month, here are four suggestions to help you make sure you have your will made and updated in a manner that will help your loved ones sort through your estate and continue your legacy in the best manner possible.
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When it comes to estate planning, having a will is important. Having one that is done properly is more important. There are online services that can help you, but I recommend meeting with a local estate planning attorney.
Not only will a professional make sure that your wishes are accounted for properly, but they will understand state-specific requirements and regulations.
Moreover, many estate planning attorneys can help with more than just the legal aspects of estate planning; they can also help or find you someone to help with tax planning and any related entities, such as trusts, to make sure your assets are passed down in the most tax-efficient manner.
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As you meet with an estate planning professional or your accountant, you can explore making gifts to loved ones today. This may bring you more satisfaction, so that you can see your loved ones benefit from what you plan to leave them instead of waiting until you are gone.
In 2026, you can gift $19,000 individually ($38,000 for married couples) per person, tax free for the year. Again, consult a professional for assistance to make sure you are crossing all your "t’s" and dotting your "is" regarding any gifting.
Also, if you have family members who can handle the discussion, dividing up possessions, whether passed now or later, as a family can help minimize fighting among family members down the road.
Moreover, many in the younger generations aren’t interested in the same physical mementos as those who are older. If you have a china set or a collection of statues that hasn’t been used in years, and nobody in the family wants them, you can explore making plans for disposal now – whether that means selling or donating the items. This can generate extra cash, tax deductions or even find a home with someone who you know will enjoy them.
As a bonus, it will create less "cleanup" down the road for loved ones.
One of the biggest issues I have seen with those who have wills is that their loved ones can’t find it (or don’t know which is the most recent copy). Preparing your wishes and information but not making them accessible to your loved ones defeats the purpose.
Put your will, along with other key information (like a listing of your financial accounts and advisors or a key to your safe deposit box) and any personal wishes in a legacy and wishes planning kit. You can use one like the kit I created after my father’s passing, Future File, or you can make your own if you prefer.
Whichever route you go, make sure your family members either have access to your kit and its contents now or know how to access it and can do so in case of an emergency or if you pass.
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A friend of mine’s mother was gravely ill and told my friend about her will. When my friend had an estate planning attorney review it, it turned out that it did not reflect what her mother’s current wishes were; rather, it contained some changes other family members had suggested many years ago that her mother had forgotten about.
If this hadn’t been reviewed, her mother would not have left her assets to her grandchildren, but rather to distant cousins.
That underscores why it is important to review your will regularly and make any updates if circumstances change over the years.
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Additionally, if you have financial accounts, retirement plans or policies, such as insurance policies, that have beneficiaries, make sure that those are up to date, accurate and match your wishes. Beneficiary designations supersede wills, and so beneficiaries will receive the payments, even if they differ from your will. Check this on a regular basis as you review and update your will.
Saving your loved ones dozens of hours of time, giving them peace of mind and reducing uncertainty and even infighting during a very difficult time are the best things that you can leave behind as part of your legacy. That only happens with the proper planning today.
Trump's Bedminster turf could make or break his last two years in the White House
WASHINGTON, N.J. — Washington, D.C. is undoubtedly the center of gravity in American politics, but another Washington over 100 miles away could help decide the fate of Congress for the latter half of President Donald Trump's term.
It's a small town in New Jersey where Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., urged GOP supporters to help get Rep. Tom Kean Jr., R-N.J., re-elected to the House in November. Kean is seeking a third term representing the Garden State's 7th Congressional District, which is notably home to Trump's Bedminster golf course where he spends a significant amount of time.
"We consider this a top three race, not just a top ten. That's how important it is to us. It has a target on its back," Johnson told the room at Hawke Point Golf Club, Fox News Digital heard. "They're investing tons of money to try to take [Kean] down, but they are not going to be successful."
The district happens to be one of the most critical battlegrounds in the country this year. Trump narrowly won the area by two points in 2024, though it flipped for Democrat Gov. Mikie Sherrill by the same margin in 2025.
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Democrats are now betting they have a real opportunity to score another victory in November by sending former Navy helicopter pilot Rebecca Bennett to the House. And with such a small number of House seats still considered politically neutral, it could prove decisive for which party controls the House next year.
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If Republicans win, that means enacting Trump's agenda for another two years. Johnson told Fox News Digital the GOP has "aggressive" plans to tackle government waste and excessive spending. But if Democrats win the district — and potentially the House — Trump's goals could grind to a halt.
Kean, for his part, told Fox News Digital that he's confident he can win again.
"I've been a really effective legislator who's brought things back to the district, who's listened to my constituents on their needs and their concerns, in contrast to my opponent, who has really been a very abject partisan," Kean said on the sidelines of his event.
"She's actually stopped going to church because there are Republicans [there]. So when you think about that contrast — a person can't even go to religious services with people of the other party — she'll never work across the aisle. She'll be always in the far-left corner of whoever is in her caucus and whoever is in her leadership. And that's not what this district needs."
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Bennett spokesperson Carly Jones hit back at Kean's accusation, "Rebecca is an active member of her local church and talks openly on the campaign trail about her faith, which inspired her to serve her country in uniform and run for office. She is proudly building a coalition of Democrats, Independents and Republicans to flip this seat in November."
Kean noted he's seen legislative success under both the Biden and Trump administrations, and his bipartisan efforts were on display — by what was not on display. The congressman's name appeared throughout the event, but without mention of "GOP" or "Republican." A sign outside the door only said "Tom Kean for Congress."
Conventional wisdom dictates that the party in power faces significant losses in Congress during the midterms. Critics of whoever is president generally turn out in droves to vote for the other side, in this case, Democrats.
Kean noted that he's had legislation signed into law by former President Joe Biden, but also insisted he backed Trump "fully."
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"He's done great things for this country and will continue to do great things for this country. He has been a very effective leader," Kean said of the current president.
And Johnson deployed a pinch-hitter to help gin up enthusiasm on Friday: All-Star professional baseball player Mark Teixeira, who posed for photos with excited attendees. Teixeira is running his own campaign for Congress and is likely to win a safe red seat in Texas.
Republican leaders are also seizing on the far-left insurgency that's toppled establishment Democrats in recent months as evidence that they should not get control of the House.
"It's very effective because people see what's happening. This isn't campaign rhetoric. They give us new illustrations every day," Johnson told Fox News Digital in an interview. "It's a challenge to the very foundational principles of America, and that is increasingly what the Democrat Party represents...The Marxist-communist element is taking over that party, sadly, and it's really alarming for our country."
Kean was notably absent from the campaign trail and the halls of Congress from March through June this year, with few knowing the circumstances until the congressman publicly admitted he was being treated for depression. Upon his return, he introduced legislation aimed at making it easier for people to pay for mental healthcare.
Bennett did not criticize the reason for his absence but has previously accused him of continuing to trade stocks during that time. She similarly told Fox News Digital in a written statement that Kean made millions from the stock market.
"I spent 15 years serving our country in the military, and I felt called to serve once again because I can’t sit on the sidelines while Washington corruption, rising costs, and devastating healthcare cuts crush New Jersey families. Congressman Tom Kean Jr. has failed to show up for our community while trading more than $3 million worth of stocks during his time in office," she told Fox News Digital.
Linda McMahon vows crackdown on teachers sexually harassing students: 'Must end'
Secretary of Education Linda McMahon on Sunday said the federal government is committed to "cracking down" on sexual misconduct involving teachers, staff and other adults in positions of authority in schools across the country.
In an interview, McMahon denounced what she described as school districts reassigning, rather than firing, teachers accused of misconduct involving students.
"And it’s not part of their record or anything, so we have really been cracking down on that as well," she said during an appearance on CNN's "State of the Union."
McMahon, citing a 2004 Education Department literature review, said about one in 10 eighth- through 11th-grade students reported sexual misconduct by an educator. The review used a broad definition that included physical, verbal and visual conduct; the department cautioned that sexual misconduct should not be equated with the narrower legal definition of sexual abuse.
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California officials at the state’s Commission on Teacher Credentialing did not revoke the licenses of at least 67 educators after school districts determined they committed sexual misconduct against students from 2019 through 2025, according to ProPublica and KQED.
At least 14 of those educators were later hired by other school districts and at least 12 of those were still working in education as of May, according to the reports.
Separately, the Department of Education in May opened a Title IX investigation into the Los Angeles Unified School District.
"Our schools must protect America’s children. Parents should never have to wonder whether their kids’ school employs and protects sexual predators," McMahon said in a previous statement. "Schools that receive federal funding have a duty to protect students, report sexual misconduct honestly, and follow the law."
The department said it was investigating an agreement with the United Teachers of Los Angeles that it said appeared to require teachers credibly accused of certain misconduct to be reassigned, rather than terminated or immediately removed from student-facing roles, while officials investigated allegations they engaged in conduct including having a sexual or romantic relationship with a student, creating child pornography or failing to report suspected child abuse.
LAUSD and UTLA disputed the department’s characterization, saying reassignment means an employee is sent home and kept away from students while an investigation proceeds, not transferred to another classroom or school. They said termination remains possible when allegations are substantiated.
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McMahon said in the letter that schools that fail to comply with federal requirements under Title IX and the Elementary and Secondary Education Act risk enforcement action, including the potential termination of applicable federal assistance, pledging a nationwide effort to "crack down" on sexual misconduct by adults in positions of authority.
"Make no mistake, the Department will fully enforce federal law and employ every resource at its disposal to protect children from sexual predators," she wrote at the time. "Those schools that allow sexual misconduct to occur risk the termination of applicable federal assistance provided by the federal government."
"This epidemic of nationwide sexual abuse in our schools must end," McMahon added.
Enes Kanter Freedom opens up on confrontation with Natasha Cloud that led to ejection, WNBA pursuit
EXCLUSIVE: Former NBA player Enes Kanter Freedom said Chicago Sky guard Natasha Cloud made a vulgar remark toward him and repeatedly cursed before security removed him from Sunday night’s game against the Indiana Fever.
Freedom, who was sitting near the baseline at Wintrust Arena, said the confrontation began after he celebrated a 3-pointer by Fever guard Sophie Cunningham.
"Sophie Cunningham shot a three, and I put my hands up to celebrate," Freedom said. "Literally, a couple possessions later, Natasha came back and started screaming and yelling and said, ‘She’s not gonna sleep with you.’
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"And I was like, ‘I am not trying to sleep with her. I’m just here to protect women and support her.’ And then, obviously, after that she started yapping, and she started to walk towards me, and literally I just got up, and then I was like, ‘I’m just here to protect women, and that’s all.’"
Video of the incident showed Cloud walking toward Freedom, yelling and pointing at him late in the third quarter. Freedom stood, extended his arms and took a step onto the court as security and Sky players moved between them.
Freedom said Cloud then began using profanity in front of young fans.
"She started to yell. She started to use some very heavy language. She started to actually cuss, and I was very shocked that there were a lot of kids and that there were a lot of teenagers at that game," Freedom said.
"I just cannot believe that she was just cussing and using those F-bombs in front of all these kids. I’m sure she’s loved in Chicago and many kids are idolizing her and stuff, but that’s not how a WNBA athlete should react."
The confrontation came with 1:22 remaining in the third quarter, after Cloud scored inside and celebrated with teammate Aicha Coulibaly. Cloud then turned and approached Freedom, who was wearing a black shirt that read, "WOMAN noun. adult human female."
He said he believes the shirt contributed to Cloud’s reaction.
"I was cheering for my friend Sophie because when she shot that three, I put my hands in the air," Freedom said. "A couple possessions later, she came back and said, ‘She’s not gonna sleep with you.’ And I was shocked. I was like, ‘Listen, I’m not trying to sleep with her. I think she’s awesome. She’s a good friend.’ But I think it has a lot to do with my shirt.
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"I was obviously wearing a shirt explaining what a woman is, and I think that had a lot to do with what she thinks about women. I think it triggered her a lot."
OutKick reached out to Cloud's rep for further comment. She wasn't made available during the team's postgame press conference.
Cloud sent a message to the trans community after the game, in a post on Threads.
"To every trans kid/person, You are apart of MY community & tribe. You belong. You’re loved. You’re seen. You’re perfect as you are. & you will always be protected by me," Cloud wrote.
Sky coach Tyler Marsh defended Cloud after the game, telling reporters, "We all embrace her as someone who protects our team and protects people who need to be protected."
However, Freedom insists the words exchanged with Cloud had nothing to do with the issue of transgender people or his plans to compete in the WNBA.
"Definitely not," Freedom said of the interaction being related at all to those issues.
Still, even without directly invoking the debate overshadowing the WNBA right now, Freedom was ordered out of the arena.
He said security approached him and ordered him to leave without providing an explanation.
"I was like, ‘Can you please tell me why I need to leave?’ They said, ‘Look, you just need to leave,’" Freedom said. "They pretty much pushed me to leave the gym."
Footage showed arena staff touching Freedom and sharing intense words with him as he was being escorted out. Freedom said he asked an arena employee not to touch him as he was escorted away from the court.
"I told her, ‘First of all, please don’t touch me because I didn’t do anything wrong. I can get myself out of the game,’" he said. "And the second, I was like, ‘Do you guys realize that you guys are only kicking me out of this game because I support women and I try to protect women?’"
Freedom said security again declined to give him a reason for his removal.
"They were like, ‘Listen, we can’t give you any reason right now. Just leave, please,’" he said. "I played 11 years of basketball in the NBA, and I know how tough the security’s job can get. So I didn’t want to make their job even tougher."
OutKick reached out to the Sky and Wintrust Arena for comment.
The Sky had advanced notice that Freedom would be coming to the game, according to him. He said his manager had notified Sky general manager Jeff Pagliocca before the game that he planned to attend.
"My manager texted the GM of the Chicago Sky," Freedom said. "We texted him and said, ‘Hey, just so you know, we are coming to the game. We’re not here to cause any kind of drama. We’re not here to cause anything bad. We are just here to watch the game and leave in peace.’ My manager texted the GM, and he said, ‘Enjoy the game.’ That’s it."
The Fever defeated the Sky 113-90. Clark scored 37 points, while Kelsey Mitchell added 30.
Earlier in the night, Freedom attended a rally in support of Cunningham outside the arena before the game. Cunningham has faced protests and counterprotests since saying she opposes transgender girls and women competing in female sports divisions.
Freedom announced earlier this month that he intends to enter the 2027 WNBA Draft. He has said he is using the league’s rules to challenge the WNBA to clarify its eligibility standards.
The WNBA’s collective bargaining agreement states that "only players who are women are eligible to play in the WNBA," but it does not publicly define the term or establish specific eligibility requirements for transgender athletes. No transgender woman is known to have played in the league.
After Freedom and former NBA player Royce White announced their intentions to enter the draft, the WNBA said its anti-hate task force had discussed transgender athletes and online attacks against players.
"There are no immediate eligibility matters affecting the WNBA, and we strongly denounce the bad-faith efforts to use these topics to demean or marginalize others," the league said in its Aug. 12 statement.
Freedom rejected the characterization of his campaign as anti-transgender or anti-LGBTQ.
"I want to make that very clear because, unfortunately, many media organizations and many journalists are making me look like I am anti-trans or anti-LGBTQ," he said. "That is wrong. I respect anyone’s personal decision, and I do respect any kind of group out there."
Freedom said the confrontation with Cloud has now made him more determined to pursue a place in the league, especially so he can play her.
"If anything, I’m more pumped up," he said. "I cannot wait to go against Natasha now. I think it will be fun for me if I get drafted by any other team. I don’t think Chicago will select me. We know that now. But any other team, I just cannot wait to go against her."
Freedom said he has not heard from the WNBA since announcing his plans. He offered to speak directly with WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert.
"If the commissioner of the WNBA wants to sit down and have a conversation with me, I am open to do that as well," Freedom said. "I respect everybody, and I would like to listen to everybody and see what their perspective is."
Sunday marked Freedom's first time attending a WNBA game in person, although he regularly watched the league during his NBA career.
"I’m obviously a huge fan of basketball, a huge fan of women’s basketball, and I was there to watch the game," Freedom said. "I watched on TV so many times, obviously, but I think this was my first WNBA game ever."
He added that he had never spoken with Cloud before the confrontation. Despite their exchange, he praised the veteran guard’s ability and influence on the court.
"I think she’s an excellent player," Freedom said. "I don’t really know what she does off the court, so I can’t really speak about it. But I think on the court, she makes herself better and she makes everyone else better around her, and I think that’s a very special player."
After leaving the arena, Freedom said he encountered a young girl and her mother while preparing to eat dinner. He said their interaction became the most emotional part of his night.
"One of those little girls came with her mother, and then her mother said, ‘Thank you for what you’re doing for my little daughter,’" Freedom said. "I think that was the most emotional part of the whole night."
Freedom said the interaction reinforced his belief that the dispute should not be viewed through a strictly partisan lens.
"This is not a right or left issue," he said. "People need to understand this is not a political issue. This is just common sense. People are trying to make me look like I’m taking a political stance. People are wrong."
Golden State Valkyries player Gabby Williams is the reason Freedom is now pursuing the WNBA, according to him, after a resurfaced clip of Williams saying she would welcome a trans player in the WNBA went viral earlier this month. Freedom confirmed that clip of Williams is what inspired him to declare for the WNBA Draft.
"If they don’t come up with a rule, then I am ready and prepared to play in May and just get ready for the draft in April," Freedom said. "These are the rules. People are mad at me. I’m confused why people are mad at me. These are the rules that literally they put, so I’m just literally following their rules."
And the 6-foot-10 former center intends to play well beyond just one season if the league allows it.
"I’m 34 now, and I can go out there and dunk everything," Freedom said. "I watched the game tonight. I feel like every time I touch the ball, I can dunk everything, so the physical advantage obviously is there. I think I can play till 40, 45. I don’t even think there is a limit, as long as I want."
When asked whether he would feel guilty competing against women or entering a WNBA locker room, Freedom said he would not.
"Why would I?" he said. "These are the rules that they set, and I’m just following their rules. All these players, all these coaches and the league itself advocated and encouraged this whole thing. You see all these players come out and say, ‘I will welcome a trans athlete on my team or against my team.’ And the same thing with coaches. You see all these T-shirts that they’re wearing. So, because of that, I would not feel any guilt."
Freedom identified the Fever as his preferred destination and said he would like to play alongside Clark.
"I think we need to bring back the modern-day Kobe and Shaq, so I think I’m going with the Indiana Fever, for sure," he said. "Me and Caitlin will be the modern-day Kobe and Shaq."
White announced his own intention to enter the WNBA draft shortly after Freedom. Freedom said the two former NBA players have never spoken and are not coordinating their efforts.
"He is his own man. I’m doing my own thing," Freedom said. "What Royce is doing is going to affect him, and what I’m doing is going to affect me. So we are two separate people. We’re doing our own thing, and I’m not affiliated with anyone."
However, Freedom said other former professional players have privately expressed interest in following him. He claimed he was communicating with two former NBA players, three European players and three NBA G League players.
"You’ll be shocked, actually, other than one other player that already came out, how many other players I’m actually talking to right now," Freedom said. "There are two former NBA players, three European players and three G League players that I’m currently talking to about this whole thing."
Freedom said the G League players pointed to the potential financial incentive created by the WNBA’s new salary structure.
"The G League players said, ‘Listen, we are only making $45,000 a year. All we have to do is identify as a woman, and we will be making $1.4 million a year,’" Freedom said. "That’s almost a $1.3 million difference. So the WNBA has no idea what they’re about to face."
But it hasn't been all support since Freedom in recent weeks, as he revealed he's received death threats and abusive messages since announcing his draft plans.
"I do get a lot of death threats and cuss words every day," he said. "I really want people to understand I’m not doing this for any kind of political reasons. This is not a right or left issue. I’m only here to defend women."
Freedom said he has not discussed his campaign with Cunningham or any other current WNBA player or coach. He said no one from the league has contacted him since his announcement, but he remains willing to engage directly with its leadership.
"I’m here to sit down and listen," Freedom said. "If the commissioner or whoever wants to sit down and have a conversation with me about this whole thing, then I would love to sit down and hear her side."
Suspect in deaths of 5 found dead after cops uncover grim scene at rural property outside Portland
A man suspected of killing five people in a rural area outside Portland, Oregon, was found dead inside a vehicle in Enumclaw, Washington, on Sunday in an apparent suicide, according to authorities.
Benjamin Charles Parker, 36, was identified as the suspect in a quintuple murder after the bodies of five dead people were discovered on Saturday at a home in a rural community near Forest Grove, Oregon, about 25 miles west of Portland.
"Through their investigation, they believed that Parker was in Enumclaw, WA. Officers from the Enumclaw Police Department located Parker’s vehicle and found him deceased inside. It is believed he died by suicide," the Washington County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement.
The Enumclaw Police Department said that an unidentified was found dead behind a Safeway grocery store in connection with the Forest Grove investigation.
The Washington County Sheriff’s Office said there is no known threat to the public.
It is unclear how investigators were led to Parker or what connection he had to the victims. Detectives have said they do not believe the killings were random, but authorities have not publicly described Parker’s alleged connection to the victims or a possible motive.
The sheriff's office previously said it responded early Saturday to reports of a vehicle fire at a property in Forest Grove, where the remains of five people and "several domestic animals" were discovered.
Authorities have not released the ages or genders of the victims, how they died or what possible connections they might have with one another. The type of animals found dead at the property was also not disclosed.
Detective Shannon Wilde from the sheriff's office said investigators were still working to determine the victims' identities.
"Any time you have one person deceased, let alone five, that's a logistical challenge," Wilde said, emphasizing the complexity of the investigation and the large crime scene.
Sheriff Caprice Massey encouraged anyone who is familiar with the property or the people who live there to contact authorities with any information they may have.
GEORGIA PAIR CHARGED WITH MURDER AFTER BARTENDER'S DISMEMBERED REMAINS FOUND IN LAKE OUTSIDE ATLANTA
"I will say that in my 22 years here, I have not been a part of or witnessed a scene quite this complex involving this type of an investigation," she said.
A dozen law enforcement agencies assisted in the investigation.
Authorities are continuing to investigate.
If you or someone you know is having thoughts of suicide, please contact the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988.
The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report.
Lindsay Clancy's three child victims forgotten amid crowds of support: mother of six
A mother of six says that Lindsay Clancy's three young victims have been forgotten amid the crowds rallying behind the woman who killed them, and is now on trial for murder.
Lindsay Clancy, 36, has been charged with three counts of first-degree murder in connection with the deaths of her children — Cora, Dawson and Callan, all younger than 6 — who were discovered strangled at the family's home in January 2023. The prosecution wrapped up its case Monday morning, after which her defense attorney began presenting arguments, contending that she was experiencing postpartum psychosis at the time she killed her children.
Bethany Mandel, a conservative columnist and mother of six, said in an interview with Fox News Digital that she believes the three children killed by Lindsay Clancy, Cora, Dawson and Callan, have been cast aside in conversations about the case.
"We all know her name," Mandel said, referring to Lindsay Clancy. "Very few people know the names of her children."
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Particularly, Mandel was disturbed by the hundreds of people who stood outside the Plymouth Superior Court on Thursday in support of Lindsay Clancy. Those who have gathered in pink say the show of support is not an endorsement of what happened, but a stand for maternal mental health awareness and for mothers suffering from postpartum conditions.
LINDSAY CLANCY’S PARENTS GET MASSIVE GLOBAL DONOR SUPPORT AS FUNDRAISER SURPASSES $830K
"We don't see any of them standing out there with a button with the three children's faces on them. When you listen to interviews with all of the women who are standing out, they almost never mention the three child victims," Mandel said.
A not-guilty verdict by reason of insanity would not result in Clancy's release; instead, she would be committed to a state psychiatric hospital and subject to periodic reviews.
LINDSAY CLANCY'S EX-HUSBAND HAS QUIETLY REMARRIED AND STARTED OVER AMID HER MURDER TRIAL
Just days after Lindsay Clancy killed her kids in January 2023, Patrick wrote on a GoFundMe page, "I want to ask all of you that you find it deep within yourselves to forgive Lindsay, as I have...The real Lindsay was generously loving and caring towards everyone - me, our kids, family, friends, and her patients."
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Jonathan Hatami, deputy district attorney in the complex child abuse section in the office of the Los Angeles County District Attorney also agreed that much of the conversation has been surrounding how Lindsay Clancy has conducted herself during the trial, not on her children who were killed.
"This shouldn't be about the defendant even though it's become that, it's became this entire show about her, really should be about the victims and what the defendant did to those victims. And we try to do that in our trials and in our cases. And it seems like that's gotten lost. In this specific case, and it's really disappointing, and people don't realize these children matter," Hatami told Fox News Digital.
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"These children died," he added.
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Expert witnesses called by both the defense and prosecution focused their Friday testimony on Lindsay Clancy's mental state at the time she killed her children, specifically whether she was experiencing psychosis.
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Dr. Phillip Resnick, a forensic psychiatrist and authority on filicide, said Lindsay Clancy was functioning for much of the day she killed her kids, even making a snowman with her children, until she suffered the hallucination and what he called a "delusion of influence," feeling her body was taken over and out of her control and was feeling like a "puppet."
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Dr. Avram Mack, a child and forensic psychiatrist, a prosecution expert, said Lindsay Clancy's actions on the day her children died were methodical and organized, stating she should be found criminally responsible for their deaths, directly rebutting the defense.
PROSECUTOR CORNERS LINDSAY CLANCY'S CATHOLIC MOTHER-IN-LAW WITH 'MORTAL SIN' QUESTION
"My opinion is that she retained the capacity required for having criminal responsibility for these actions," Mack testified.
Closing arguments could begin as soon as Monday or Tuesday before jurors begin deliberating in Lindsay Clancy's murder trial.
WNBA player Natasha Cloud fires off pro-trans message following altercation with Enes Kanter Freedom
Chicago Sky guard Natasha Cloud fired off a pro-trans message on Sunday night following an altercation with Enes Kanter Freedom during the team’s loss to the Indiana Fever.
In the third quarter, Cloud scored a bucket that led to the Fever calling a timeout. She directed her emotion toward Freedom, who was sitting near the basket at the Wintrust Arena. Freedom stood up and walked toward Cloud. Sky players and security had to get in between the two.
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It wasn’t immediately clear what Cloud and Freedom were yelling at each other about. Freedom was escorted out of the arena and was unable to return for the rest of the game.
Cloud didn’t speak at the Sky’s postgame media availability. She fired off a message on Threads in support of the transgender community.
"To every trans kid/person, You are apart of MY community & tribe. You belong. You’re loved. You’re seen. You’re perfect as you are. & you will always be protected by me," Cloud wrote.
ENES KANTER FREEDOM EJECTED FROM SKY-FEVER GAME AFTER VERBAL ALTERCATION WITH NATASHA CLOUD
Cloud’s message appeared to be a swipe at Freedom, who announced his intentions to compete in the WNBA as players and coaches have spoken out about trans athletes in women and girls’ sports. Freedom was wearing a T-shirt with the definition of a woman on it.
"Woman – adult human female," his shirt read.
Freedom attended his first WNBA game after saying he wanted to join the WNBA. As he entered the arena Sunday afternoon, he was berated by a mob of angry WNBA fans.
After the incident, Freedom fired off a few social media posts.
"I just got kicked out of a @WNBA game for supporting WOMEN! Let that sink in, AMERICA!" he wrote on X.
"It’s always women hating on other women," he wrote in a separate post.
'Real Housewives' star Kim Zolciak denies sexual battery charge against 15-year-old son after his arrest
KJ Biermann, 15, was arrested and charged with two felony counts stemming from an alleged April incident, according to documents obtained by Fox News Digital.
KJ (whose full name is Kroy Jagger) was charged with aggravated sexual battery and aggravated sodomy Aug. 17 following his arrest in Alpharetta, Georgia.
The teen is being charged as an adult under Georgia's SB440 law, which gives adult superior courts jurisdiction over teenagers aged 13 to 17 accused of specific violent felonies.
REALITY STAR'S DAUGHTER ARRESTED ON ASSAULT CHARGE IN NEW JERSEY STEMMING FROM ALLEGED DISPUTE
His mother, "Real Housewives of Atlanta" star Kim Zolciak, denied the allegations levied against her son in a statement provided to Fox News Digital.
"The allegations being made against my son are nothing short of reckless and deeply troubling," the reality star said. "He categorically denies ever being involved with this woman or engaging in the conduct she has alleged.
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"My son voluntarily took a polygraph examination regarding these allegations and passed. Additionally, an examination was conducted, and no DNA belonging to my son was found. We are also aware that this individual has made similar allegations involving two other people, which raises serious concerns that deserve to be carefully examined."
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Zolciak added, "False accusations can have devastating consequences not only for the person being accused, but also for genuine survivors of sexual assault and abuse. Every legitimate allegation deserves to be taken seriously and investigated based on the facts and evidence. At the same time, no one should be publicly condemned based solely on an accusation."
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"We remain confident that the facts and evidence will establish the truth, and we ask that people allow the proper process to take its course rather than spreading unproven allegations," Zolciak said.
KJ is currently being held with no bond at the Metro Regional Youth Detention Center pending a preliminary hearing in September.
KJ is the oldest son of Kroy Biermann and Kim Zolciak. The former couple also has Kash, 14, and twins Kaia and Kane, 12. Biermann adopted Zolciak's daughters, Ariana and Brielle, from a previous relationship.
Zolciak and Biermann each filed for divorce in 2023 after 11 years of marriage.