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Jim Banks, GOP lawmakers rally behind DOJ probe into alleged CCP-linked funding network
FIRST ON FOX: Top members of Congress are supporting a federal grand jury investigation into alleged financial crimes committed by Neville Roy Singham, tied to his funding of socialist, communist and Marxist organizations.
According to a Fox News Digital investigation, Singham has funneled $278 million into the broad network of nonprofits since 2017. As reported, Acting U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche authorized a grand jury in Manhattan to issue subpoenas as part of a probe of Singham's financial network. The investigation was launched by U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton for the Southern District of New York, one of the country's most powerful districts for federal prosecutions. Singham hasn’t responded to repeated requests for comment that Fox News Digital has sent him over the past several months.
"Neville Singham is a traitor to our country. He has ties to the CCP," Sen. Jim Banks, R-Indiana, told Fox News Digital. "He is an American citizen, but all of his loyalties lie with the Chinese Communist Party. And when you begin to untangle the web of his massive fortune and his philanthropic activities, the money that he sends to left-wing groups in America, and not just groups that espouse ideologies, but espouse violence."
DOJ LAUNCHES GRAND JURY PROBE INTO MARXIST MOGUL NEVILLE ROY SINGHAM'S FUNDING OF LEFTIST GROUPS
Last April, Banks sounded the alarm about the Singham network, calling on former Attorney General Pam Bondi to investigate CodePink, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that has received funds from Singham. Co-founded by Singham’s wife, Jodie Evans, CodePink hasn’t responded to repeated requests for comment. Neither has Evans.
Earlier this year, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent traveled to New York City for a meeting with Goldman Sachs Chairman and CEO David Solomon, and sources told Fox News Digital that Bessent gave a blunt ultimatum to Solomon.
Bessent told Solomon that Goldman Sachs could face scrutiny for alleged conspiracy in the funneling of the Singham money and urged Solomon to cooperate with federal investigators.
PROBE INTO 'SUBVERSIVE' ANTI-AI SINGHAM NETWORK IS 'ENORMOUS,' FORMER TREASURY ADVISOR SAYS
A person familiar with the meeting told Fox News Digital that the discussion wasn't contentious and that Solomon readily agreed to pledge his cooperation with the Justice Department investigation. A spokesperson for the bank said "all distributions from Mr. Singham’s donor-advised fund were made to legal nonprofits, as determined by the IRS. There have been no distributions from the account since August 2023, and it was closed in early 2024."
Banks serves on the Senate Banking Committee, which is responsible for bank oversight and regulation. The Indiana senator explained that Goldman’s cooperation is welcome news, but that Wall Street should be more cautious about working with individuals tied to "our biggest enemy."
"It sounds like Goldman wants to put this to bed," Banks explained. "They want to do their part to help the investigation. But Wall Street should know that you can't get away with helping our biggest enemy. You can't get away with helping the Chinese Communist Party through money funneled through tech billionaires like Neville Singham. You will be held accountable for that."
In his letter to Bondi, Banks also raised concerns about CodePink potentially violating the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA). The law requires individuals or entities acting as agents of foreign principals to register as foreign agents and publicly disclose their finances and relationships.
"CodePink has clearly become an agent of CCP influence in the United States. Despite activities and funding so blatant that even the New York Times acknowledged the organization’s activities ‘usually require’ groups to register under FARA, Code Pink has not registered with the DOJ," the letter read.
A number of lawmakers weighed in on news of the DOJ’s recent grand jury probe of Singham’s finances, including Rep. Pat Fallon (R-Texas), who is running for chairman of the House Oversight Committee.
Fallon recently announced his run with Fox News Digital and said at the time that holding accountable nonprofits aligned with the CCP and tied to Singham would be one of his priorities if he secured the chairmanship.
"Far-left NGOs are the means by which U.S. adversaries like communist China work to undermine our country," Fallon told Fox News Digital on Tuesday. "Groups like CodePink, which Singham has funded, openly spew CCP propaganda. Their objective is to spark division, resentment and unrest."
"My colleagues and I on the House Oversight Committee have been committed to dismantling the dark network of communist NGOs, which is why we sent a letter to the DOJ earlier this year urging them to expose these groups for what they really are. We cannot stop until we put an end to the communist threat facing our Republic here at home."
House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Jason Smith, R-Mo., who launched an investigation into the Singham nonprofit network last year, took to social media to say the grand jury investigation is overdue.
"It’s about time he is brought to justice and he is held accountable for his ties to the CCP," Smith said on X. For years, critics like Smith have alleged that Singham has used the generous tax status awarded to tax-exempt nonprofit organizations to fund left-wing chaos in streets across the country.
A Fox News Digital investigation uncovered a video that showed Singham calling for a "new world order' promoted by Chinese President Xi Jinping and the Chinese Communist Party during the "Global South Academic Forum," in Beijing last year.
Singham has funneled millions into a network of nonprofits that regularly mobilize agitators for demonstrations across the country, including anti-ICE protests and anti-Israel protests.
His financial contributions, which were routed through Goldman Sachs Donor Advised Philanthropy Fund For Wealth Management Inc., include an estimated $22.44 million to People's Forum Inc., a hub for far-left activity in Manhattan, and at least $223 million and other forms of support into a global network of organizations.
Serena Williams drops Wimbledon comeback match to 20-year-old Maya Joint after four-year absence
Serena Williams fought hard but ultimately lost in her first singles match since 2022 on Tuesday at Wimbledon, falling to 20-year-old Australian Maya Joint, 6-3, 6-7 (6), 6-3, in the first round on Centre Court.
There's a common axiom in sports that "Father Time is undefeated" and that rang true in London on Tuesday night.
Williams, 44, had not played a singles match since the 2022 U.S. Open, when she lost to Ajla Tomljanovic in the third round in what many believed would be the final match of her legendary career.
Instead, nearly four years later, she walked back onto the grass at the All England Club.
And not just any court.
Centre Court.
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The same court where Williams won seven of her 23 Grand Slam singles titles, an Olympic gold medal and authored some of the most dominant moments of the modern women's tennis era.
This one, obviously, was different.
Williams entered Wimbledon as a wild card and with far more questions than expectations.
How much tennis did she still have in her legs?
Could her serve still carry her through pressure games?
Could one of the greatest competitors in sports history summon enough of the old Serena to make this more than a ceremonial comeback?
For a while, the answer looked complicated.
Joint, the 87th-ranked women's player in the world, came out sharp and took the opening set 6-3. After the set got to 3-3, with each player holding each of her first three serves, Joint won the next three games, breaking Serena once to take the first set.
It was a reminder that nostalgia does not win tennis matches, especially at Wimbledon, where the grass can punish even small dips in movement and timing.
But Williams’ fought back in the second set.
Despite being broken in the first game and falling down 3-1, Williams eventually forced a tiebreak. The 20-year-old Australian had match point with a 6-5 lead in the tiebreak, but Williams won the next three points to square the match.
Williams came out strong in the third set, getting the first break to take a 2-1 lead. But that's when it seemed that Williams' age started to become a bigger factor.
Her daughters, Olympia and Adira, were in attendance, along with her husband Alexis Ohanian and sister Venus Williams. Venus is also scheduled to team with Serena in doubles at Wimbledon, giving the tournament another Williams sisters moment after years of uncertainty over whether fans would ever see that again.
Williams has spent most of the past four years away from the tour after saying in 2022 that she was "evolving away" from tennis. She never fully closed the door, though.
She won Wimbledon singles titles in 2002, 2003, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2015 and 2016. She reached four other Wimbledon finals. She and Venus also built one of the great doubles partnerships in tennis history, including six Wimbledon women’s doubles titles together.
So when Williams accepted a wild card into the singles draw, it immediately became one of the biggest stories of the tournament.
That’s the power of Serena.
Even after nearly four years without a singles match, even at 44, even with no real evidence that she could contend at a Grand Slam again, her presence changed the feel of the draw.
Unfortunately for Williams, she did not get the storybook result Tuesday, but this was never going to be judged like an ordinary first-round loss.
Not really.
Yes, Williams is out of the singles draw after losing to a woman less than half her age. But the fact that she even took the court is a story in and of itself.
Now comes the obvious question.
Was this just a Wimbledon one-off, or was it the first step toward one more run in New York?
The U.S. Open main draw begins Aug. 30, and if Williams wants another singles swing this summer, Flushing Meadows would be the obvious place to do it. That’s where she played her last singles match before this comeback. That’s where American tennis fans believed they said goodbye to her in 2022.
Maybe they did.
Maybe they didn’t.
Either way, Serena Williams taking the court at a Grand Slam tournament is good for tennis, particularly in the United States.
And if Tuesday was any indication, plenty of people would show up to watch her try it again.
California couple says moving company doubled their price and is now holding belongings 'for ransom': report
A couple looking to leave California said their moving company is holding their belongings hostage after allegedly doubling the agreed-upon price.
Roughly one month has passed since John Nelson and his wife, who were relocating from Oceanside to North Carolina, encountered what they described as a troubling experience at the end of May, according to CBS 8.
The couple initially signed a contract with a moving broker for just over $16,000 for a full-service move and paid a $7,000 deposit upfront, the outlet reported.
However, on moving day, the company allegedly increased the cost to $32,000, claiming the couple had more belongings than originally estimated.
While Nelson ultimately agreed to move forward to avoid losing his deposit, he later alleged that the company attempted to charge another round of additional fees upon delivery.
According to the couple, the company attempted to deliver their belongings on June 3 — one week before the date Nelson said they would be available to receive them, CBS 8 reported.
The failed delivery attempt allegedly led the contractors to issue an additional redelivery fee, according to the report.
AMERICAN DRIVERS WARNED ABOUT RED FLAGS TO AVOID ‘PREDATORY TOWING’ TARGETING MOTORISTS ACROSS US
"They’ve got $30,000 and they’ve got our stuff… and they’re basically holding it for ransom," Nelson said.
"When you move, it’s an exciting thing...you never expect for somebody to take your stuff and not deliver it," he added.
Nelson also claimed the initial delivery attempt may have been staged to pressure the couple into paying additional charges, alleging that the moving truck captured on video did not appear to be the same vehicle used to load their belongings.
"I think they just pulled up an empty truck to stage a charade," he said.
"As far as I’m concerned, they’ve got stolen property that’s crossed state lines," Nelson added.
Nelson and his wife reportedly filed police reports in both Oceanside and their new city in North Carolina.
Complaints were also filed with the Better Business Bureau (BBB), a dispute-resolution service that helps consumers address issues with companies, the outlet said.
According to CBS 8, the broker has received 280 complaints with the BBB over the past three years.
The broker reportedly disputed the couple’s claims but said it was working to find a resolution.
Los Angeles Clippers finally give up on Kawhi Leonard, send former Finals MVP back to Toronto Raptors
The Kawhi Leonard era is over in Los Angeles.
According to NBA insider Shams Charania, the Clippers are finalizing a blockbuster trade that will send the two-time Finals MVP back to the Toronto Raptors, closing the book on an era defined by lofty expectations and limited postseason success.
The Raptors will part with forward Brandon Ingram, guard Gradey Dick, two future first-round picks, a first-round pick swap and two second-round picks.
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The deal represents a major swing for Toronto and a reset for Los Angeles. Leonard returns to the country where he led the Raptors to the 2019 NBA championship, while the Clippers move on from an era that never produced an NBA Finals appearance despite owner Steve Ballmer's massive investment in the franchise.
When the Clippers acquired Leonard in 2019, they were expected to become title contenders. Instead, the next seven seasons were defined by injuries and postseason frustration.
The Clippers won just three playoff series during Leonard's tenure. Chronic knee injuries and repeated playoff absences prevented the franchise from reaching its potential, culminating in Tuesday's huge trade.
The gamble shows Toronto is looking to catch lightning in a bottle for a second time.
Leonard remains under contract through 2027 and is set to earn more than $50 million next season. According to reports, he also hopes to sign a two-year, $126.1 million extension that would allow him to finish his career in Canada.
At the very least, pairing Leonard with the ascending Scottie Barnes makes the Raptors one of the Eastern Conference's most intriguing contenders.
Send us your thoughts: alejandro.avila@outkick.com / Follow along on X: @alejandroaveela
Raskin tells Lawler to 'get the hell out' during contentious hearing
A tense hearing on sanctuary city policies devolved Tuesday into a shouting match between Reps. Mike Lawler, R-N.Y., and Jamie Raskin, D-Md., who accused each other of not caring about the deaths of Americans at the hands of illegal immigrants or anti-ICE protesters killed by federal agents.
During a House Judiciary Committee hearing on sanctuary policies, Lawler scolded some of his colleagues, accusing them of apathy regarding the deaths of Laken Riley and Sheridan Gorman—two women allegedly killed by illegal immigrants in separate incidents.
However, he noted their voicing of outrage over the deaths of Renee Good and Alex Pretti, two anti-ICE agitators who were shot and killed by federal agents while allegedly interfering in law enforcement operations in Minnesota earlier this year.
"So while some of my colleagues may not want to hear the truth, the same outrage you feel about Renee Good and Alex Pretti, you should feel about Sheridan Gorman and Laken Riley and every Angel family in this country," Lawler said.
"I do feel that outrage. You do not," Raskin shouted in response.
"You do not, because if you did, you would not support sanctuary jurisdictions. You should be ashamed of yourself. You should be ashamed of yourself, Jamie. You're a disgrace," Lawler replied.
RASKIN ACTS CLUELESS WHEN PRESSED ON DEMOCRATS' ANTI-TRUMP RHETORIC FOLLOWING WHCD SHOOTING
"Do you feel the outrage of Renee Good and Alex Pretti?" Raskin asked. "You don't belong on this committee. You should get the hell out of here!"
Lawler noted that he wrote a Jan. 27 New York Times op-ed about Good and Pretti's deaths.
"The deaths of Renee Good and Alex Pretti in Minneapolis this month were tragic and preventable. No matter where you stand on immigration enforcement, the shootings show that what the country has been doing is not working," Lawler wrote in the piece.
"Agents from Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Customs and Border Protection are conducting forceful operations in American communities," he added. "They should reassess their current tactics."
Raskin has voiced strong support for sanctuary policies, which shield illegal aliens—even those arrested and convicted of crimes—from federal immigration authorities. He has frequently defended sanctuary policies against federal overreach, emphasizing that compelling local police to enforce federal immigration law is unconstitutional.
Jordan Spieth says gambling is fueling rowdy golf crowds and wants the sport to address it soon
It's safe to say that Jordan Spieth wants sports fandom to go back to the way it used to be.
Ahead of the John Deere Classic at TPC Deere Run in Illinois, Spieth was asked if he felt golf crowds were getting rowdier in the wake of Wyndham Clark's treatment at the U.S. Open, and Spieth blamed a lot of it on gambling.
"I do think that betting in golf is something that's going to have to be tackled here soon," Spieth said, unprovoked.
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"I don't know how much of, say, the Wyndham scenario was the fact that it was enticing to bet the field versus Wyndham on Sunday in a legalized betting state, and you could have had people out there that are essentially, you know, have $100 to $10,000, depending on who it is, on the field versus somebody else.
"In golf it's tricky because you could actually impact the outcome if you wanted to. It may not last very long, but you could impact a shot if you wanted to. I don't know of another sport that you could impact as a fan like you can golf. So I don't know how much that's having to do with it, if it's different than it used to be."
XANDER SCHAUFFELE DISCUSSES 'PASSIONATE' NEW YORK GOLF FANS AFTER RYDER CUP, WYNDHAM CLARK VITRIOL
Spieth said that fan vitriol is not "a crazy new thing," but most of it now "has to do with betting, and that is in the last five years."
It should be known that Spieth was once an ambassador for FanDuel.
Clark's jeers came at Shinnecock Hills in the Hamptons, roughly 60 miles away from Bethpage Black, where fans became the subject of controversy during the Ryder Cup. It prompted Golf Channel's Eamon Lynch to call Long Island fans a "stain" on golf who did not deserve another major golf event in their area.
Sports gambling has been legalized in 39 states since 2018 — only Nevada had allowed it prior. Thirty-two of those states, including Illinois, allow online betting.
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Evel Knievel's most legendary stunts retold in exclusive new Fox Nation documentary
When it comes to death-defying stunts, Evel Knievel was one of a kind. The trailblazing motorcycle-riding daredevil defied the odds during the 1960s and 1970s, becoming an American icon. This summer, longtime fans and curious viewers alike can uncover the infamy and inspiration behind the legend.
"Evel: America's Daredevil" is a brand-new documentary streaming exclusively on Fox Nation. Hosted by sportswriter Mike O'Hara, the show chronicles Knievel's ascension to stardom, starting with his Montana childhood and working in the copper mines. From there, the show highlights his historic motorcycle stunt career — including his infamous attempts to jump the Caesars Palace fountains in Las Vegas and the Snake River Canyon in Idaho.
TOM CRUISE PERFORMED UNFORGETTABLE OLYMPICS STUNT WITHOUT PAY, INSISTED ON NO STUNT DOUBLE
As shown in the special, Knievel himself scoffed at the idea that fear of his stunts would ever hold him back. When a reporter once asked whether he expected to die during one of his otherworldly feats, he replied, "I'm Evel Knievel, honey. I'm not supposed to be afraid."
The special features iconic interviews from Knievel's heyday, and expert analysis from Fox News personalities, television executives, and even exclusive commentary from the stuntman's granddaughter, Krysten.
"Evel was the most recognizable guy on two wheels," comedian Adam Carolla said in the special.
Olympic athlete and motocross competitor Colby Raha praised Knievel as vastly influential to a generation of children, explaining that while adults watched the stunts, it was younger Americans that fueled his popularity. "They see the superhero thing, and they're inspired — just a great role model," he said.
Fox News host Jesse Watters emphasized Knievel's ability to rally the nation around his jaw-dropping feats, praising his persistence in attempting new tricks despite often crashing and sustaining severe injuries.
"Getting the whole country's attention on you for an absolutely ludicrous jump, and many of the times crashing, but then doing it again and again—that's resilience," Watters said. "That's the American spirit. Get knocked down, get right back up."
FLYING MOTORCYCLE ZOOMS AT 124 MPH WITHOUT TOUCHING THE GROUND
The riveting new Fox Nation special is not the only way to relive Knievel's legend this summer. The Evel Knievel Experience in Las Vegas is now open, offering an immersive, unique attraction to show visitors some of the stuntman's full story and the most famous motorcycles, jumpsuits, and other artifacts that defined his extraordinary life.
"We all wanted to be Evel Knievel," FOX Business host Dagen McDowell said. "It was America, it was daring, and it was fun as hell."
FOX Nation programs are viewable on demand and from your mobile device app but only for FOX Nation subscribers. Go to FOX Nation to start a free trial and watch the extensive library from your favorite FOX Nation personalities.
Blue Jackets head coach says he's as shocked as anyone about Zach Werenski wanting out of Columbus
NHL free agency gets underway on Wednesday, but this has been a weird offseason in that there seems to be more talk about players who have asked for trades than we are about players about to hit the open market.
One of the most shocking of these is Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Zach Werenski, who told GM Don Waddell he wants out just weeks after locking up the Norris Trophy as the top blueliner in the NHL.
In fact, it was such a surprise that even his head coach was blindsided by the request.
"I’m as shocked as anyone that these came up," Bowness said, per The Athletic. "I mean, at the end of the year meetings, we looked each other in the eye and had great meetings and gave each other a hug leaving, and all that.
"So everything was good. So when all of this broke, I was shocked and caught off-guard like everyone else."
Werenski — whose current deal runs through 2027-28 — wasn't the only player who wanted out. Forward Kirill Marchenko also told the team he wants a change of scenery.
Still, it was a major surprise.
Sure, the end of the Blue Jackets' season was an unmitigated disaster, and that final stretch of the season is why they whiffed on the postseason. It happens, and they owned it.
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But the rest of the season looked pretty promising, and the fiery post-regular-season message from Bowness probably should've had players fired up.
Maybe not, for at least two of them.
And, while it's never a good look to have a player wanting out like this, especially after they win a Norris Trophy, at least that accolade increases Werenski's trade value.
If the Jackets can strike a deal, they should be getting a pretty hefty haul in return, because a D-man of Werenski's caliber is not always easy to come by.
American soccer is repeating the same mistakes the WNBA continues to make with Caitlin Clark
When the United States men's national team takes the field for its Round of 32 match at the World Cup on Wednesday against Bosnia and Herzegovina, the country should be having one of those rare, uncomplicated sports moments.
The flags are out, the bars are packed and the casual fans are in.
This is what American soccer has wanted forever, right?
UNITED STATES SHATTERS WORLD CUP VIEWERSHIP RECORD IN FIRST MATCH VS PARAGUAY IN LOS ANGELES
It begged for more people treating a USMNT game like a national event instead of something only for soccer diehards who have spent years insisting everyone else just doesn't understand "the beautiful game."
Well, congratulations.
America cares.
And some of American soccer's gatekeepers don't seem very happy about it.
Sound familiar?
It should, because the WNBA is going through the same thing with Caitlin Clark.
For years, the WNBA asked the country for more attention, more coverage, more respect and more casual sports fans. Then Clark showed up and delivered all of it almost overnight.
She brought Iowa fans, men, women, families and gamblers. She made the WNBA a topic on sports debate shows and news programs. She helped convince people who had never watched a WNBA regular-season game in their entire lives to give the league a chance.
Essentially, she brought the mainstream.
And a lot of people started acting like someone had opened the wrong door. That included players in the league, team owners, coaches and media members.
Hell, just this week talking head Emmanuel Acho actually said out loud that the WNBA "would be better off without Caitlin Clark." There have been a lot of terrible takes about Clark's impact on the league. That one was, without question, the worst.
But Acho's comments sound a lot like what we're hearing from some members of the soccer media.
It's not that the WNBA and the USMNT are the same. Obviously, they aren't.
However, both exposed the same gatekeeping instinct from certain types of people.
For years, the WNBA and members of the American soccer media claimed they wanted, and deserved, growth. But that's not the whole truth. What they really want is approved growth. Growth from the right people, with the right politics and using the right language.
The WNBA wanted new fans until Clark brought the "wrong" fans.
Now American soccer is learning what happens when the "wrong" Americans show up for the World Cup.
The USMNT's first knockout game should be a dream moment for the sport in this country. Not only is Team USA into the second stage of soccer's biggest event, but the Americans are favored to advance to the Round of 16. And this is all happening on U.S. soil.
This is the kind of moment that turns casual fans into real fans. Just look at the impact Team USA hockey’s Olympic gold medal had on the sport in the United States. The 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs boasted some of its best television ratings in history.
Yet, the same people who begged for this opportunity for years suddenly want to police the moment.
The Guardian made that very clear with its ridiculous piece on Fox's World Cup coverage, framing Thierry Henry vs. Alexi Lalas as "the World Cup's most compelling battle," while calling Henry a "French aristocrat" and Lalas an "all-American idiot."
The article labeled Lalas a "MAGA hack" and argued that Fox's loud, patriotic, American approach to covering the tournament clashed with what soccer supposedly is in the United States.
And what is soccer in the United States, according to The Guardian?
A sport for "migrants, urban liberals" and people "too scrawny" for other American sports.
Translation: soccer belongs to them.
Not to you.
Not to the casual fan or the Fox viewer. And certainly not to the American who hears the national anthem and feels pride in the country instead of disgust.
And The Guardian wasn't alone.
USA Today columnist Nancy Armour wrote before the tournament that the United States had "already lost" the World Cup because of its "greed and hostility."
MS NOW turned a Department of Homeland Security post celebrating the USMNT into another immigration and nationalism lecture. The Athletic asked who, exactly, this World Cup is for.
This is the same attitude the WNBA exposed during the Caitlin Clark explosion.
The league wanted relevance. It wanted to be discussed like a major American sport.
Clark brought exactly that.
And suddenly everyone discovered that major American sports discourse is loud, tribal and impossible to control.
Were there bad actors in the Clark conversation? Of course.
Every fan base has idiots and every popular athlete attracts trolls. There are always going to be people who say dumb things online and should probably touch a little more grass.
Nobody has to defend that.
But too many media members and league-adjacent voices took the worst people online and tried to use them to discredit the entire new audience.
Clark fans weren't just passionate. They were toxic.
Now American soccer is facing a version of the same test.
The USMNT's World Cup run is bringing in people who don't usually watch soccer. Some of them won't know all the rules. Some of them won't know most of the players.
They'll just know the United States is playing and they'll want the United States to win.
That's enough.
Or at least it should be.
But gatekeepers hate that because it means they lose control of the room.
The Independent ran an article with the headline, "Are you rooting against the US at the World Cup? You’re not alone."
It included this line: "Sports have a way of fueling nationalistic passions, and I fully expect plenty of people who don’t care much about soccer to channel their patriotic sentiments into the tournament."
See what we mean?
The sport no longer belongs only to the people who were there when nobody else cared. The league no longer belongs only to the (very few) fans who watched before Clark arrived. The national team no longer belongs only to the people who understand "soccer culture."
That's what mainstream popularity does: gives everyone a "seat at the table." Isn't that what the left is always asking for in every other context?
The NFL doesn't get to choose its fans. Neither does college football, the NBA or Major League Baseball.
If American soccer wants to be mainstream, it doesn't get to choose either.
Neither does the WNBA.
The Caitlin Clark boom should have been treated as a victory for the WNBA. She proved there was an audience for women's basketball when the right star came along. She proved people would watch, buy merchandise and care enough to argue.
THIS IS THE USA'S ROADMAP TO WINNING THE WORLD CUP NOW THAT THEY'VE MADE THE KNOCKOUT ROUND
American soccer should see the USMNT's World Cup moment the same way.
If casual fans are showing up for group stage games, good.
If people are chanting "USA!" too much, good.
If they call it soccer, good.
If they watch Fox News or vote Republican, good.
That means the sport reached people outside the bubble.
Isn't that what everyone said they wanted?
USPS worker arrested after alleged mass shooting threat against Texas Pride event, FBI says
A United States Postal Service (USPS) employee was arrested Sunday after threatening on social media to commit a mass shooting at a Pride parade in Texas, the FBI announced on Monday.
Michael Thompson, who resides in Clovis, New Mexico, was taken into custody after authorities received a tip regarding a threat to conduct a mass casualty attack at a Pride event in Lubbock, Texas.
"This weekend’s arrest out of Lubbock, Texas, is the best of this FBI and our law enforcement partners in action—yet again stopping a potentially deadly attack thanks to brilliant execution from our teams and partners," said FBI Director Kash Patel. "Our agents, intel teams, and state and local partners out of Texas acted decisively and stopped him before he could act."
Thompson admitted to making and subsequently deleting the social media posts, authorities said. He also identified himself as a USPS employee. Fox News Digital has reached out to the USPS for comment.
FORMER NORTH CAROLINA POLICE OFFICER ACCUSED OF THREATENING MASS SHOOTING AT NEW ORLEANS FESTIVAL
Authorities said they recovered four firearms from Thompson's residence. He is legally prohibited from owning firearms due to a prior felony domestic violence conviction, according to the FBI.
Thompson is charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm as well as transmitting threatening interstate communications.
"More lives saved thanks to good cops being cops," Patel added.
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Investigators continued to interview Thompson on Monday, and he was expected to make his initial court appearance later that day.
Lubbock hosted its LubbockPRIDE festival over the weekend without incident, according to local reports.
"Yesterday was filled with so much love, fun, and community, and we couldn’t have asked for a better celebration," organizers wrote on Facebook following the event. "Thank you to everyone who came out and made it so special!"
In a separate incident in Brunswick, Georgia, a man was arrested earlier this month after police said he threatened to attack attendees at a local LGBTQ+ Pride event. Christopher Waller, 25, was charged with making terroristic threats stemming from comments posted in a local Facebook group on June 9.