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If you're looking for a Big 12 winner not named Texas Tech or BYU, consider the Houston Cougars
With Big 12 Media Days wrapping up on Wednesday afternoon, there is no doubt who the heavy favorites of the conference are.
Most media members are in agreement that this year's version of the Big 12 appears to be a two horse race, or rather, a Red Raider and Cougar race.
That's right, the two darlings of the conference in 2026 are none other than Texas Tech and BYU.
The Red Raiders had their fair share of controversy throughout the offseason thanks to the Brendan Sorsby gambling saga, but they still have far and away the most talented roster in the Big 12 and will be expected to take the title by brute force.
Joining them in the favorites circle is BYU, a team that was a stone's throw away from the College Football Playoff and played for the Big 12 title last year, ultimately falling to the aforementioned Red Raiders of Texas Tech.
Some of you might not be too keen on picking heavy favorites to win a conference, so what if I told you there was another team a little further down the list that might have a chance to unseat the incumbent champs?
I am speaking of none other than the Houston Cougars, a program on the rise that might be flying criminally under the radar in 2026.
The Cougs are entering year three of the Willie Fritz era, and that's usually when many coaches reach their stride (Fritz included).
Fritz is coming off of a ten-win season in 2025 and had the Cougars ranked in the final AP Poll for the first time since the end of the 2021 season.
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Houston also has both of its coordinators returning in 2026, including young and up-and-coming defensive coordinator Austin Armstrong, who had the unit rolling last season and finished with a defense ranked in the top-50 in scoring (22.9 ppg) and top-40 in average yards per rush allowed (3.7 ypa).
The schedule is manageable, even by Big 12 standards, as the Cougars avoid playing BYU, Arizona, and Arizona State this coming season, and have a very forgiving back stretch.
Most importantly, Houston gets Texas Tech in September to open conference play, meaning there's a chance they could catch the Red Raiders early before their team gels or they have a chance to figure out their quarterback situation.
If the Cougars can spring the upset, they would be in the driver's seat for the rest of the season in conference play.
Speaking of gelling, Houston ranks second in the Big 12 in returning production, and rank top-ten in the country in returning offensive production, so this should be a well-oiled machine from the jump.
While Houston’s transfer portal returns on the whole aren’t anything to write home about, I loved the pick up of running back Makhi Hughes from Oregon.
He didn’t yield a ton of production last season, but his 2024 season at Tulane was incredibly impressive, putting up over 1,400 yards on the ground and finding the end zone a total of 17 times.
Overcoming the conference's Goliath in Lubbock won't be easy, but I really like the makeup of this team.
The returning coordinators, veteran leadership, and forgiving schedule could be the perfect storm needed to send Houston to the big dance in December.
Buy stock in the Cougars now, because the price will only go up from here.
Florida TV boss rips 'cringeworthy' posts as anchor's bikini-clad social media posts spark buzz
A Miami news station director admonished staff in a memo to stop posting "foolish nonsense" to their social media accounts, which came back to light as an anchor’s bikini-clad posts sparked discussion of whether they violated the policy.
WPLG Vice President of News Bill Pohovey blasted his staff in an internal memo over influencer-like content that distracted from their journalistic mission, according to a report by FTVLive.
"I have emailed about this numerous times in the past, but we seem to be going in the wrong direction again," Pohovey reportedly wrote.
The memo was released as a series of Instagram posts were made by WPLG anchor and reporter Jenise Fernandez to her verified personal account, in which she shared images of her recent trip to Fiji to her approximately 28,000 followers, the outlet reported. However, the memo was sent weeks ago, before the new pictures.
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The images appeared to show Fernandez wearing a fire-red bikini while climbing aboard a resort boat, with the caption, "Now I know what it feels like to be on @cloud9_fiji."
According to Fernandez’s station biography, she has worked at the station since 2014 and was once crowned Miss Miami. She also previously placed fourth runner-up at the Miss Florida Pageant.
Another set of photos reportedly showed Fernandez wearing the same bikini as she leaned up against a floating bar at the resort — with an additional post showing her raising a shot glass to toast with two companions.
While some reports indicated the memo penned by Pohovey was circulated after the posts were made to Fernandez’s account, Pohovey disputed that in a statement to the New York Post.
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Pohovey told the outlet the memo "was not a response to one individual post [but rather] just a reminder of long-standing guidelines."
In a follow-up statement, Pohovey added, "This had nothing to do with a current employee. As I said, the memo was sent out many months ago and is not new."
He also told the New York Post that the photos didn't violate his directive.
"The memo didn’t tell employees they couldn’t post vacation photos or other daily life activities on their personal social pages," he said in an email to the Post. "We do live in Florida and people wear bikinis on the beach. These photos were tasteful and completely fine."
The memo reportedly railed against current employees of the station, reminding them that their public persona should not detract from their roles as local journalists.
"Too many of our social media accounts are being used for foolish nonsense," Pohovey wrote, according to FTVLive.
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"We don’t want dance videos with our staff. We don’t want fashion shows, outfits of the day, or other silly content that detracts from you as journalists," he added.
Pohovey also reportedly told staff that they are not permitted to film social media content within the newsroom — a practice that has become commonplace in news outlets throughout the country.
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"We should never produce such content, and we should absolutely NEVER create such content inside the station, in our newsroom or studios, using our news set as the background," Pohovey wrote.
The vice president reportedly said that staff members should consider applying the same rules to their personal social media accounts, while adding that, "Some of what I see is cringeworthy."
"People are losing trust in the news, and the nickname ‘fake news’ is beginning to stick. We’re seen as not serious and this unprofessional behavior only adds fuel to that fire," he later added. "The likes and follows are not worth eroding your credibility and the credibility of this news organization."
Fox News Digital reached out to Fernandez and Pohovey for comment.
US Soccer issues statement on Mauricio Pochettino's future with Team USA after World Cup
When Mauricio Pochettino was hired as the head coach of the US Men's National Team just under two years ago, it was widely viewed as a coup for US Soccer.
Pochettino brought an outside perspective, a stark departure from Gregg Berhalter, whose experience as a manager was mostly in MLS. He'd coached players at the highest level of European competition, with stints at Tottenham Hotspur in the English Premier League, Paris Saint-Germain in Ligue 1, and Chelsea, back in the EPL.
His tenure got off to a bit of a rocky start, then in the largest tournament prior to the World Cup, his USMNT lost 2-1 in the Gold Cup Final to Mexico. Albeit with some controversial refereeing decisions going Mexico's way.
But as with most national team managers, Pochettino was always going to be judged based on the USMNT's performance in the 2026 World Cup. And there it's, well, a bit of a mixed bag. The first match against Paraguay in Los Angeles was jaw-dropping. A dominant 4-1 victory, playing a brand of aggressive, attacking soccer with composure, coordination, and outstanding movement that had virtually never been seen before from a US team.
They handled Australia 2-0, before dropping a meaningless game against Turkey with the backups replacing most starters. Advancing out of the group stage was one thing, but winning it in dominant fashion was another. Still, the knockout stage has been yet another hurdle for the USMNT to overcome, and in perhaps the most encouraging sign yet, they did so easily.
Yes, Bosnia and Herzegovina was outmatched on talent, but the resilience the team displayed after star Florian Balogun was sent off with a controversial red card was impressive. As was the top level free kick goal from Malik Tillman. That win set up arguably the biggest opportunity for a USMNT team in decades: beat Belgium in a home World Cup to advance to the quarterfinals.
We all know how that turned out. A devastating 4-1 loss, where the USMNT somehow reverted back to the form most long-time fans are familiar with. Poor coordination, atrocious back line play, too many lost balls from the team's best players, and unforgivable, inexcusable mistakes.
So how do you judge Pochettino's performance? Well, that's exactly what US Soccer has to do. And they issued a statement after their World Cup exit seemingly implying that they want him back and the decision lies with him.
"We had positive conversations with Mauricio before the World Cup about the future," the statement says. "We agreed we would continue those conversations following a chance to rest and reflect post World Cup. We have a great deal of respect and gratitude for Mauricio, his staff and everyone part of the program. We have shared excitement about our potential and also shared clarity about the amount of work at all levels still required to achieve our ambition."
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Pochettino himself said he intends to take some time to think about his future and what the federation wants.
"In the next few weeks, we can start to talk if the federation wants to talk," he said after the match. "Right now it’s about resting a little bit, to think, to have conversations with the federation to see what the decision is. I’m so happy. We’ve built a very good relationship. Now is not a moment to talk about [my future]."
He'll certainly have options, whether that's back in the Premier League, or in Italy, or elsewhere. But retaining Pochettino should be a top priority for US Soccer.
His adjustments at halftime brought the USMNT right back into the match, and it doesn't fall to him that 38-year-old Tim Ream was the best available center back. Or that the starting goalkeeper quite literally kicked the ground when attempting to clear the ball, leading directly to a Belgium goal. While there's justifiable frustration over going out in the Round of 16 yet again, it's clear that the US player pool is the best it's ever been. And getting better.
There are many structural issues to address with how soccer is coached and administered at the youth level, which fall more on US Soccer than the USMNT head coach. But as far as team selection, development, and tactics, there aren't many coaching options available that would be a better choice for the US. Outside of extremely unlikely swings at someone like Pep Guardiola, Carlo Ancelotti, or Jurgen Klopp. And Klopp is already deep in talks to take over the German National Team after another disastrous exit.
This is a pivotal time for US Soccer, and it's extremely important to get this next cycle right. Hopefully they do.
Bernie-backed socialist who allied with Platner could supplant him on ballot
With Graham Platner facing mounting pressure to end his Senate campaign after rape allegations surfaced Monday, longtime Maine Democrat Troy Jackson filed paperwork Tuesday positioning himself to enter the U.S. Senate race should the Democratic nomination become available.
Prominent Democratic leaders, including Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., have withdrawn their support for Platner and urged him to end his campaign. Platner has denied the allegations as "categorically false" and has remained in the race.
Under Maine law, Platner has until Monday, July 13, to withdraw if Democrats hope to replace him on the November ballot. If he steps aside before the deadline, the state Democratic Party will have until July 27 to choose a new nominee.
Jackson, who lost the Democratic gubernatorial primary just weeks ago, signaled his interest in the Senate race by filing a statement of candidacy with the Federal Election Commission. He later took to social media to condemn the allegations against Platner while emphasizing that he has not yet decided whether to seek the nomination.
PLATNER CAMPAIGN PUTTING 'THUMB ON SCALE' TO INFLUENCE POSSIBLE REPLACEMENT, MAINE DEM ALLEGES
"While I haven't made any final decisions yet, I'm deeply humbled by the outpouring of support and encouragement I've received," Jackson wrote. "I'm currently weighing the best path forward to support our progressive movement and the working class political revolution Mainers are fighting for."
Jackson and Platner ran closely aligned progressive campaigns and appeared together at campaign events throughout the 2026 election cycle. Both embraced a progressive platform and earned the backing of Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt.
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Following the allegations against Platner, however, Our Revolution — the progressive political organization Sanders founded after his 2016 presidential campaign — withdrew its endorsement of Platner and instead backed Jackson, whom it had also endorsed during his gubernatorial campaign.
"We have days, not weeks, to make sure a real progressive is on this ballot," Our Revolution Executive Director Joseph Geevarghese said in a statement.
"If we do not organize now, we risk watching the Democratic establishment handing Maine a corporate placeholder while the party that just got outvoted decides it knows better. We refuse to let that happen."
Jackson's ties to Sanders stretch back more than a decade. He was one of the few Democratic National Committee superdelegates to endorse Sanders over Hillary Clinton during the 2016 Democratic presidential primary and later served as Sanders' Maine political director, introducing him at campaign rallies across the state.
Sanders later returned the favor, endorsing Jackson's gubernatorial campaign and appearing alongside him on the campaign trail.
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"Fighting for the working class of Maine is not something new for Troy," Sanders said during a campaign rally. "That's what he has done for his entire life as a logger and as a member of the Maine state legislature. Troy knows what's going on with the working class of Maine because he's part of that working class."
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A fifth-generation logger and one of Maine's best-known labor Democrats, Jackson spent more than two decades in the state Legislature, including six years as president of the Maine Senate before leaving the post in 2024.
During his gubernatorial campaign, he ran on a platform that included universal child care, Medicare for all and the creation of a Department of Affordable Housing. He also secured endorsements from more than 20 labor unions, cementing his reputation as a working-class progressive.
Despite his progressive politics, Jackson has repeatedly won elections in one of Maine's most Republican regions. He represented northern Aroostook County, a largely rural district that has consistently supported President Donald Trump by double-digit margins in recent presidential elections.
Jackson has argued that his success stems from focusing on working-class economic issues rather than partisan labels.
Fox News Digital reached out to Jackson for comment.
Brooks Nader showcases toned abs in vintage two-piece during Venice yacht getaway
Brooks Nader is continuing her stylish Euro summer.
The "Love Thy Nader" star shared a carousel of photos from Venice, Italy, after spending time in Croatia last week, giving followers another glimpse inside her overseas getaway.
Nader captioned the post with a series of playful messages, including, "Love this vintage set from the 1950s 😜," "Love you Venice 🇮🇹❤️" and "Moments before a gnarly sister fight that almost sent one of us overboard 😇."
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The model leaned into vintage glamour with a navy and white polka dot matching set while aboard a yacht in Venice.
The coordinated look featured a halter-style crop top paired with high-waisted fitted shorts that highlighted her toned figure. Nader completed the ensemble with oversized black sunglasses, diamond stud earrings and loose, beachy waves.
Nader later gave followers a glimpse of an unconventional workout while aboard the yacht.
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The "Baywatch" star stepped onto a treadmill wearing the same vintage-inspired set, adding black strappy heels and oversized sunglasses as the Venetian waterways stretched beyond the yacht's windows.
Another photo captured Nader striking a confident pose on the yacht's expansive deck.
The model showed off the coordinating halter top and high-waisted shorts while walking barefoot across the teak deck. Historic Venetian landmarks and the city's waterfront skyline created the backdrop behind her.
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She appeared to take in the warm Italian sunshine while lounging aboard the yacht.
Among the carousel's playful moments, Nader joked that a "gnarly sister fight" nearly sent one of them overboard.
One fan commented, "The overboard sisters caption is so relatable 😂. Stunning."
Nader replied, "the driver almost kicked us out 😂😂😂."
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Brooks is one of the four Nader sisters who have frequently documented their close bond and playful antics together on social media and reality television.
The sisters recently starred together in Hulu's "Love Thy Nader," which followed their personal and professional lives while navigating careers in modeling, relationships and life in New York City.
Outside of her European travels, Nader has been busy filming the upcoming "Baywatch" reboot, marking her first major acting role.
The model recently addressed criticism about the show's influencer-heavy cast during an interview with the Daily Mail in March 2026.
"I think that the times are different, and everyone is so multi-hyphenate now, and you can be both an actor and an influencer and have influence. And that's the beauty of the culture that social media has created," Nader said.
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"We now have platforms. I think, during the '90s, you didn't have social media, you didn't have Instagram or TikTok, and so people could use their voice now," she continued. "I think that there's so many amazing platforms and voices that are on the show, in the cast, and I think it'll only help the series."
While speaking with Fox News Digital in May, Nader said landing the role has been "the most exciting thrill of a lifetime."
"I cry every time I put the red suit on, because I'm like, 'This is my work uniform! What?'" she said.
Stephanie White gives Caitlin Clark status update ahead of Fever-Sparks, but her next move raises questions
WNBA phenom Caitlin Clark is back for Wednesday night's game against the Los Angeles Sparks, but her return comes with a pretty massive catch.
After sitting out with a lingering back injury, the Indiana Fever star is ready to roll.
On Wednesday, Fever head coach Stephanie White revealed a surprising workload management plan for Indiana's back-to-back.
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Indy Star Fever reporter Chloe Peterson asked for an update on Clark's questionable status heading into the Sparks game, along with All-Star forward Aliyah Boston's injury status, and White dug into the Fever's plan.
"Yeah, [Boston] just did some of the shooting," White told Peterson. "She's gonna be out tonight, again, with the back-to-back. ... Caitlin's gonna be active tonight, AB's not, and then they'll flip-flop tomorrow."
So Clark will suit up Wednesday against the Sparks but is already ruled out for Thursday night's matchup with the Phoenix Mercury. Boston will do the exact opposite.
The move comes just days after the Fever rolled past the Las Vegas Aces 84-68 without Clark.
Through 17 games this season, Clark is averaging 21.2 points, 8.2 assists, 4.0 rebounds and 0.8 steals in 30.8 minutes per game.
What's the thinking behind this strategy?
Clark has built her reputation on wanting to play.
If she wakes up Thursday feeling healthy and ready to play, that decision has already been made for her.
Nobody is arguing against protecting the face of the franchise. White is right to prioritize Clark's long-term health after everything she's endured this season.
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But ruling her out more than 24 hours before tipoff feels overly cautious, especially with no way of knowing how she'll respond after Wednesday night's game. It also wouldn't be surprising if White closely manages Clark's minutes.
People buy tickets to watch the league's biggest stars, not to see them scratched because of a schedule.
Clark is the WNBA's biggest attraction, which means every game she misses prompts the same question: Was it really necessary?
White's plan may ultimately prove to be the right one, but preemptively ruling Clark out for Thursday's game is only going to invite more criticism.
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Chili's goes viral after roasting fast-food prices: 'Why let them play you like this?'
Chili's took a shot at fast-food prices on social media and received a lot of love in return.
X user @YellowFlashGuy posted a photo of a menu showing what appeared to be a Bacon King sandwich meal, including french fries and a drink, priced at $18.19 at one Burger King location. The sandwich alone was listed for $12.99.
"Why should I get this when I could just go to a restaurant?" @YellowFlashGuy captioned the image. "The food would be close to this price, and better."
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"This is what we've been saying!!!!" Chili's responded. "Why do y'all let fast food play you like this? Big Crispy Chicken Sandwich 3 for Me with fries, BOTTOMLESS chips and salsa and UNLIMITED drink for $10.99, only at Chili's."
The Bacon King is a sandwich offered by Burger King that includes two quarter-pound beef patties with bacon, American cheese, ketchup and mayonnaise on a toasted sesame seed bun.
Most Burger King restaurants are locally owned and operated by franchise operators, according to the chain's website.
Prices and participation vary by location, Burger King says. Fox News Digital reached out to Burger King for comment.
Chili's response was viewed over 5 million times and gained a substantial number of positive reactions.
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"OK, I'm going to Chili's after work," one user posted. Chili's responded, "We can't wait!"
"I had the Big Crispy Chicken for lunch yesterday," another user commented. "Great food, great service and outstanding value!"
"That's what we're all about!" Chili's replied.
"Thank you for taking care of us, Chili's," wrote another user. "Chili's is for the people."
Not all the comments were positive, however.
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One user complained about receiving a medium-rare steak that "came out nearly blue," prompting Chili's to apologize and ask for additional feedback.
Other commenters defended the chain, saying the experience reflected one cook rather than the brand.
The Texas-based chain has been playfully taking aim at fast food over the last few years, a spokesperson for Chili's parent company, Brinker International, told Fox News Digital.
Most recently, in April, Chili's debuted its Big Crispy Chicken Sandwich.
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"The chicken sandwich category has exploded over the last few years, but consumers continue to feel the empty promise of so-called 'value' from fast-food restaurants," Chili's said in a news release announcing the chain's new chicken offerings.
The sandwich is part of Chili's value-focused 3 for Me platform, which starts at $10.99.
Major fast-food chains raised their prices by 60% on average between 2014 and 2024, a FinanceBuzz study found.
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"Sixty-eight percent of U.S. consumers say they are cutting back on restaurant dining this year and prioritizing affordability and convenience," restaurant technology company Popmenu reported.
Chili's focus on value appears to be driving the restaurant chain's growth.
Brinker International reported in April that Chili's delivered its 20th consecutive quarter of same-store sales growth, with sales up 4%.
Lynette Hooker's mom alleges Brian Hooker lied about daughter's disappearance, claims 'foul play'
Months after Lynette Hooker vanished in the Bahamas, her mother is challenging husband Brian Hooker's version of what happened the night she disappeared.
Lynette Hooker, a Michigan woman who vanished while vacationing with her husband in the Bahamas in April, was reported missing April 4 after the couple was boating near Elbow Cay in the Abaco Islands.
Brian Hooker has maintained that his wife fell from a dinghy at night and was swept away by the current while they were en route to their sailboat, "Soulmate."
LYNETTE HOOKER MISSING IN BAHAMAS: TIMELINE OF MICHIGAN WOMAN’S DISAPPEARANCE, HUSBAND’S ARREST
Lynette's body has not been recovered.
Now, Lynette's mother, Darlene Hamlett, says she believes her daughter made it back to "Soulmate" before she vanished.
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"She made it back to the boat, and there was foul play," Hamlett told Fox News Digital.
MISSING AMERICAN'S HUSBAND HAD $33K THERMAL CAMERA ON BOAT THAT NIGHT AND NEVER USED IT, FRIEND SAYS
Hamlett did not elaborate on how she reached that conclusion but said she has been limited in what she can publicly discuss.
"As a mother, it's taking longer than I would anticipate, but that's what the Coast Guard told me to say. That's all I'm saying," she said.
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The U.S. Coast Guard Investigative Service declined to comment on Hamlett's claims, telling Fox News Digital, "We cannot comment on ongoing investigation."
Fox News Digital also reached out to Brian Hooker's attorney for comment but did not immediately receive a response.
Hamlett's comments come after U.S. Coast Guard investigators traveled to the Bahamas last month to conduct dive searches in the Sea of Abaco and land searches with the assistance of a cadaver dog in an effort to locate Lynette.
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Investigators also returned to the United States with the dinghy Lynette was last known to be on. It is expected to undergo further forensic examination for potential evidence.
WATCH: Renewed search for Lynette Hooker being treated as homicide
Brian Hooker initially told investigators he and his wife were on a nighttime boat ride when Lynette fell from a small dinghy and was swept away.
According to authorities, Brian said he was forced to paddle back to shore because Lynette was carrying the dinghy's ignition key when she went overboard.
After Lynette disappeared, Brian said in a Facebook post that he was "heartbroken."
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"I am heartbroken over the recent boat accident in unpredictable seas and high winds that caused my beloved Lynette to fall from our small dinghy near Elbow Cay in the Bahamas," he wrote.
"Despite desperate attempts to reach her, the winds and currents drove us further apart. We continue to search for her, and that is my sole focus."
After being questioned and released by Bahamian authorities, Brian Hooker returned to the United States and has not been seen or heard from publicly.
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He has not been charged with a crime or accused of wrongdoing.
WATCH: Dana White drops 2028 hints while raving about his favorite Trump cabinet secretary
Political heavyweight Dana White, whose endorsement of President Donald Trump was instrumental in his 2024 victory, is now hinting that he may jump back into presidential politics in 2028 because he has "become really close" with Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
This comes as White’s UFC announced a rare "sports diplomacy" partnership with the State Department this week. White and Rubio signed a memorandum of understanding establishing the partnership last month, according to a UFC statement. The league said that as part of the agreement, UFC athletes and coaches will serve as "sports ambassadors" for young athletes around the world through the State Department’s Sports Envoy Program.
White was explicitly asked by OutKick’s Tomi Lahren, whether there are any leaders he is looking at for 2028, to which he responded, "It’s funny, As I was, leading up to the White House fight, doing all this media, you know, a lot of the left media was saying to me, ‘So, you’re out of politics after this, right?’ And I can’t remember who it was that I said it to but … I said, ‘I’ve become really close to Rubio.’ We’ve become really close."
"People are asking me if I’m going to get out of politics when the president leaves and I just said, ‘I’ve become very close to Rubio.’ He and I have become friends," he emphasized.
White said that Rubio "is a great guy, I like him," adding, "He’s smart, I like the way he handles himself."
He also said, "I’ve met his sons, and I like his kids and, you know, so, never say never."
Pressed on whether Rubio is his official pick to succeed Trump as president, White clarified, "I’m not saying I’m picking." He noted that he also likes Vice President JD Vance, who, alongside Rubio, is a rumored 2028 presidential frontrunner.
"JD is a great guy too," said White, adding, "It’s a tricky situation, and I don’t know enough about politics to even comment on that, but, yeah, I don’t know, but it’s not a bad thing to have two strong candidates."
Rubio and Vance are the two Republicans most discussed as possible successors to Trump. While Rubio ran for president in 2016, he has expressed support for Vance, calling him a "close friend" and saying the vice president "would be a great nominee if he decides he wants to do that."
VIRAL MARCO RUBIO CLIP ON HIS VISION FOR AMERICA SPARKS MORE 2028 SPECULATION
Though White stopped short of issuing a full-throated endorsement of Rubio, his partnership with the State Department through UFC underscores the high regard he appears to have for the secretary.
This is the first time the UFC has entered into such a partnership with the State Department. The NFL, which entered into a similar agreement in January, is the only other major sports organization to have signed such a formal agreement with the department.
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UFC Chief Operating Officer Lawrence Epstein said the league is "thrilled" about the partnership. He said it would allow the State Department and UFC to "work together to build bridges through community engagement."
"We're excited to join this program, led by Secretary Rubio, as UFC is a truly global organization with athletes representing 75 countries. We can't wait to get started later this year," said Epstein.
In turn, Rubio spoke very highly of the UFC, saying it "has become a global phenomenon by embracing values that resonate far beyond the Octagon: excellence, discipline, opportunity, and meritocracy."
The secretary said the State Department is "proud" to launch the sports diplomacy partnership with UFC and to "continue growing the sport of MMA."
OutKick's Dan Dakich rips Big 12 commissioner over his antics at press conference: 'F--- you'
Big 12 commissioner Brett Yormark is officially in the crosshairs of OutKick's Dan Dakich after a stunt the commish pulled this week.
During a contentious interaction between Yormark and Texas Tech media personality Sean Dillon, the commissioner seemed to get irritated by a question presented by Dillon to the point where the conference honcho told Dillon to "stand up" and ask the question again.
"Stand up. Ask that question again, and I'm going to give you the answer I want to give you," Yormark said.
Say what?
Dakich, who isn't known to side with Big Js very often, couldn't believe what he was hearing out of the commissioner.
"These guys stand there like they're kings. Stand up! F--k you. I got a mic. I got a question," the host of "Don't @ Me" said during Wednesday's show. Keep in mind that Yormark is a 59-year-old Indiana grad. If Dan comes out with this strong of a take on a fellow IU guy, you know there's something cooking here.
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"You ain't worth standing up. Don't answer the question. What are these guys? These guys are pasty white dudes that never played a sport in their life, politic their way through the athletic administration world. And now they're king? What? That is absolutely disgusting to me."
What did Dillon ask that was so preposterous that Yormark needed him to stand up?
Dillon asked a rambling question that started off with mention of the Big 12 banning the act of tossing tortillas during Tech games, a tradition that had gone on for 35 years. Then, he pivoted to Oklahoma State's tradition of slamming paddles into the padded walls at games. Ultimately, he got around to asking about quarterback Brendan Sorsby and how the Big 12 sued Tech while Sorsby's connection to Cincinnati hasn't brought heat on the Bearcats.
Yormark seemed to blow his fuse when Dillon questioned the league's commitment to supporting all schools. We're talking some real minutiae here. None of this matters, guys.
What matters here is that Dakich sided with a credentialed member of the media. Hell has officially frozen over. Even Dan's sworn enemies noticed. We're talking a rare moment in OutKick history right here. Mark it down.