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World leaders gather to honor Lindsey Graham and more top headlines
1. World leaders gather to honor Lindsey Graham
2. RFK Jr says he is traumatized by Dr Fauci's lies
3. Mamdani sparks fears after doxing NYC property owners
SPIN DOCTOR — Fauci claimed he wasn't responsible for lockdowns. Explosive diary posts say different. Continue reading …
WORDS HAVE WEIGHT — Mamdani in hot seat after museum chair issues challenge that brings nothing but silence. Continue reading …
'ANGUISH' — Father of slain kids recalls wife's 'big spiral' in gut-wrenching testimony. Continue reading …
CHART CHAMP — Best US state crowned in annual rankings — who's on top and where your state ranks. Continue reading …
RIVETING RESCUE — Teen lifeguard hailed after video captures him battling monster waves to save boy. Continue reading …
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SECOND WIND — Soros network rebuilds progressive prosecutor push after string of election losses. Continue reading …
'SERIOUS SEXISM' — El-Sayed explains ‘ogre on a pike’ remark after getting torched by his own party. Continue reading …
'BE CAREFUL' — Biden's classified docs narrative crumbles amid release of ghostwriter tapes. Continue reading …
SECURITY WATCH — Senate clears path for Trump's top spy as fight over anti-terror powers drags on. Continue reading …
CURTAIN CALL — Woman says manager heard 'I'm trans' and just walked away during swim meet. Continue reading …
WHAT'S UP, DOC? — Fauci's diary reveals COVID czar had chummy relationship with media figures. Continue reading …
ANOTHER SHOT — Judge gives Trump's legal team chance go amend $15B defamation lawsuit against NYT. Continue reading …
CANDOR TRAP — Netflix VP sues after opening up at vulnerability session got him canned. Continue reading …
SEN TIM SCOTT — Lindsey Graham was a patriot, a statesman and my dear friend. Continue reading …
LIZ PEEK — Trump is starving the machine that creates America's socialist revolutionaries. Continue reading …
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BLAST FROM THE PAST — Chili's redesign brings back red booths, nostalgia for ribs and quirky décor. Continue reading …
REST THE RIGHT WAY — Nike's latest partnership leads to first-of-its-kind athlete recovery slide. Continue reading …
LABOR LIFT — Company makes $200K AI bet to boost plumbers, electricians nationwide. Continue reading …
AMERICAN CULTURE QUIZ — Test yourself on costly cities, Trump tee times and more. Continue reading …
Tune in as Tristan Harris, co-founder of the Center for Humane Technology, explains how an OpenAI model under testing hacked into another AI platform. Check it out ...
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Kash Patel's attorney rejects The Atlantic's effort to dismiss defamation lawsuit, vows 'accountability'
The attorney for FBI Director Kash Patel fired back at The Atlantic on Monday over its effort to dismiss his defamation lawsuit against the magazine.
Patel filed a $250 million suit in April accusing The Atlantic and its staff writer Sarah Fitzpatrick of publishing a "defamatory hit piece," outlining claims of drunken behavior as the FBI chief, which he has denied.
The Atlantic both filed a motion to dismiss the suit and a motion to stay discovery on Monday "except Touhy requests" in the U.S. District Court for Washington, D.C. Touhy requests seek "any official information for litigation purposes, including witnesses and documents, when the Government is not a party to the litigation," according to a definition shared by Social Security Administration's Office of the Inspector General.
"It’s truly incredible that The Atlantic wants one-sided discovery so that it can shield its own so-called 'sources' while being able to rummage through government documents unimpeded," Patel's attorney Jesse Binnall told Fox News Digital. "This again shows that they are afraid of the truth and believe they are above the law."
"We intend to prove them wrong and bring accountability to the fake news," Binnall added.
FBI DIRECTOR KASH PATEL VOWS TO TAKE THE ATLANTIC TO COURT OVER 'DEFAMATORY' REPORT
The filing said Patel "brings this defamation action against The Atlantic for publishing an undeniably newsworthy article about his job performance that he finds politically inconvenient." It also calls out the FBI director's other defamation lawsuits against other outlets, claiming he "sends an ominous message to the press: publishing reporting that he does not like comes at a high cost," adding, "These tactics strike at the very foundation of the First Amendment."
"The Motion to Dismiss filed today by The Atlantic explains why this lawsuit is meritless and should be dismissed as a matter of law," The Atlantic editor-in-chief Jeffrey Goldberg said in a statement. "We are simultaneously asking the court to permit us to begin seeking factual discovery from the FBI and the Department of Justice – including documents and depositions of key individuals – that is appropriate given the allegations in this matter."
Goldberg continued, "If Director Patel did not want to face this process, he should not have filed this suit. These legal filings are consistent with the promise I made to our staff and to our readers in May: we will defend The Atlantic and its staff vigorously; we will not be intimidated by acts of politically motivated retaliation; we will continue to cover the FBI professionally, fairly, and thoroughly; and we will continue to practice journalism in the public interest."
The FBI's rapid response team on X issued a statement slamming The Atlantic for "propagating false narratives because it has zero interest in any form of real journalism" and that it "adds no value to society except as the leading slop rag of the day."
The Atlantic's story, "The FBI Director is MIA," outlined several serious allegations, including instances of erratic behavior, "excessive drinking" and "unexplained absences."
The first claim alleged Patel had a "freak-out" over a tech issue in April when attempting to log into a computer system, believing he was being fired by President Donald Trump after Attorney General Pam Bondi's ouster and had to prepare an announcement. The Atlantic cited nine unnamed sources familiar with the alleged incident.
"But Patel, according to multiple current officials, as well as former officials who have stayed close to him, is deeply concerned that his job is in jeopardy. He has good reasons to think so — including some having to do with what witnesses described to me as bouts of excessive drinking," Fitzpatrick told readers before citing past reports of rumors that Patel was also on the chopping block.
"The IT-lockout episode is emblematic of Patel’s tumultuous tenure as director of the FBI: He is erratic, suspicious of others, and prone to jumping to conclusions before he has necessary evidence, according to the more than two dozen people I interviewed about Patel’s conduct, including current and former FBI officials, staff at law-enforcement and intelligence agencies, hospitality-industry workers, members of Congress, political operatives, lobbyists, and former advisers," Fitzpatrick wrote.
HOUSE DEMOCRATS DEMAND KASH PATEL TAKE ALCOHOL TEST UNDER PENALTY OF PERJURY AFTER ATLANTIC REPORT
The report alleged that Patel has a pattern of "conspicuous inebriation" and that "he is known to drink to the point of obvious intoxication" in spots in Washington, D.C., and Las Vegas. The report also alleged that early in his tenure, some meetings and briefings had to be pushed to later in the day as a "result of his alcohol-fueled nights."
"On multiple occasions in the past year, members of his security detail had difficulty waking Patel because he was seemingly intoxicated, according to information supplied to Justice Department and White House officials," the report alleged.
Unnamed sources also speculated whether Patel's alcohol consumption played a role in his social media posts that shared inaccurate information about active law enforcement investigations, including what he had written after Charlie Kirk's assassination before suspect Tyler Robinson turned himself in last September.
The FBI forcefully pushed back against the report, and multiple members of the Trump administration, including White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt and acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, expressed their support for Patel.
"Print it, all false, I’ll see you in court — bring your checkbook," Patel told The Atlantic in a statement included in the report.
What your internet provider, websites and advertisers see
Most people assume that if they are not posting on social media or sharing personal information online, they are staying relatively private. Unfortunately, that isn't how today's internet works.
Every time you browse the web, multiple companies can collect information about you. Your internet provider can monitor certain parts of your online activity, websites can gather data about your visits and advertising companies can use tracking tools to build profiles based on your browsing habits.
The good news? Knowing what others can see is the first step toward protecting your privacy.
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Your internet service provider, or ISP, acts as the middleman between your devices and the internet. Every website you visit and every online service you use passes through its network.
If you are not using a VPN, your ISP can generally see which websites you are connecting to, when you are online, how much data you are using and your approximate location based on your IP address. Encrypted websites, which begin with "https://," help prevent your provider from reading the contents of most web pages or messages. However, your ISP can still often see that you connected to a certain website in the first place. That information alone can reveal a lot about your interests, routines and habits.
Even if you never create an account, some websites can still learn quite a bit about your visit. They can identify your IP address, estimate your location, determine what device and browser you are using and record which pages you viewed.
Some websites also use analytics tools, tracking pixels and advertising scripts to understand how visitors interact with their pages. These tools can show what links you clicked, how long you stayed and which content got your attention.
In some cases, this information may also be shared with advertising or analytics companies. That is one reason you may see ads that seem closely connected to something you recently searched for, viewed or clicked.
ARE APPLE DEVICES SPYING? WHAT YOUR IPHONE TRACKS
Private browsing tabs, also known as incognito mode in some browsers, can be useful. They help prevent your browser from saving your local browsing history after you close the window.
However, private browsing does not make you invisible online. Websites can still see your visit while you are on their pages. Your internet provider can still see many of the sites you connect to. If you are using a work, school or public network, the network owner may also be able to monitor certain activity.
Private browsing is better thought of as a local privacy tool. It helps hide activity from someone else using the same device later, but it does not fully hide you from websites, advertisers or your internet provider while you are online.
How to reduce what others can see
You cannot eliminate online tracking entirely, but you can make it harder for companies to collect information about you. Start by reviewing your browser's privacy settings. Turn off unnecessary website permissions, such as location, microphone and camera access for sites that do not need them. Consider using a privacy-focused browser or search engine that collects less personal data.
You can also check out these 11 easy ways to protect your online privacy for more ways to limit online tracking. You should also limit how much personal information you share online. The more details you provide across websites, apps and accounts, the easier it becomes for companies to connect your activity. Most importantly, consider using a VPN.
A VPN, or virtual private network, encrypts your internet traffic before it leaves your device. Instead of your internet provider seeing which websites you are connecting to, it sees an encrypted connection to the VPN server. That makes it much harder for your ISP to build a browsing profile based on your online activity.
A VPN can also help protect your information on public Wi-Fi networks and mask your IP address from websites, advertisers and other third parties. However, a VPN does not stop every type of online tracking. Websites may still recognize you when you log in to an account, use the same browser or share personal details.
A solid VPN makes this process easier by offering apps for computers, smartphones, tablets, smart TVs and routers. That allows you to protect multiple devices with one account.
For the best VPN software, see my expert review of the best VPNs for browsing the web privately on your Windows, Mac, Android and iOS devices at CyberGuy.com.
WHAT A SCAMMER SEES THE MOMENT THEY GOOGLE YOUR NAME
The next time you go online, remember these steps:
The internet is built around data, and several companies can collect information every time you browse. Internet providers can see where you are connecting, websites can monitor visits and advertising companies can use tracking tools to build profiles over time. You cannot disappear completely, but you can reduce what others learn about you. A few privacy-minded habits, combined with a trusted VPN, can help you take back more control of your online activity.
When was the last time you checked what your browser, apps or internet provider can see about you? Let us know by writing to us at CyberGuy.com.
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Monica Lewinsky's Lindsey Graham tribute draws criticism and praise for placing people over party: expert
Monica Lewinsky's tribute to Lindsey Graham following his death sparked interest across the aisles, not only for her respectful candor, but also served as a reminder of the late senator's impact on history.
Lewinsky, 53, paid her respects to the late South Carolina senator shortly after his death earlier this month, and gave followers insight on their decades-long connection.
Her non-partisan testimonial drew criticism online, but experts believed that her tribute was an authentic gesture which reflected her personal philosophy of people over party.
Graham, who died July 11 after what his office described was a "brief and sudden illness," was one of the Republican party's most influential voices with more than three decades of service.
His death prompted thousands of tributes, including one poignant message from the former White House intern.
MONICA LEWINSKY SAYS BILL CLINTON ‘ESCAPED A LOT MORE THAN I DID’ AFTER WHITE HOUSE SCANDAL
"I've disagreed with many (many) of Lindsey Graham’s choices and beliefs, but he was also — as one of the house managers on the '98 impeachment — the one who worked tirelessly to prove there was a smear campaign against me from inside the WH," Lewinsky posted on X shortly after his death.
When X users took umbrage with the homage, Lewinsky was quick to remind followers that her experience was "healing" after years of trauma from the Clinton scandal.
"Come on. He did not do it for you. The man was evil," one user wrote.
Lewinsky fired back, "I know he didn’t do it for me. i didn’t whitewash his history. but those actions were healing for me (and my family)… thanks for sharing your opinion."
SEN. LINDSEY GRAHAM DEAD AT 71 AFTER 'BRIEF AND SUDDEN' ILLNESS, OFFICE SAYS
Adrienne Uthe, founder of Kronus Communications, exclusively told Fox News Digital that Lewinsky's tribute "fits her clearly identified personal philosophy to a tee."
"She's not suddenly a Lindsey Graham fan — she's just honest enough to say he did one thing that mattered to her and she's not going to let political disagreement erase that," Uthe said. "It works in her favor and it's the kind of nuance that actually means something."
Uthe noted that Lewinsky's post was "nonchalant, direct, and completely unpolished in the best way."
"There's no performance to it — it reads like: 'Hey, he wasn't perfect, I disagreed with most of what he did, but he did this one thing for me and I appreciated it.' That's it. It's classy, and it's a stand-up thing to highlight in someone's death."
Lewinsky was 21 years old when she began an unpaid internship at the White House in July 1995. She turned 22 that summer, and her sexual relationship with former President Bill Clinton, who was 49 at the time, began in November 1995.
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It was only after she confided in a Pentagon co-worker, Linda Tripp – who secretly recorded their conversations, which were then used in Paula Jones' sexual harassment lawsuit against Clinton – when the affair became public fodder.
During a January 1998 White House news conference, Clinton famously denied the affair, and stated, "I did not have sexual relations with that woman, Miss Lewinsky," and Lewinsky subsequently went into hiding due to public humiliation.
Graham was one of the 13 House members appointed to Clinton's impeachment trial, where he not only blasted the former president for lying under oath, but also argued to restore "honor and integrity to the office."
"You don’t even have to be convicted of a crime to lose your job in this constitutional republic if this body determines that your conduct as a public official is clearly out of bounds in your role," he said on the floor in January 1999.
"Impeachment is not about punishment. Impeachment is about cleansing the office. Impeachment is about restoring honor and integrity to the office."
The impeachment trial against the 42nd president began in January 1999 and ended Feb. 12. While Clinton was impeached by the house, he was acquitted of perjury and obstruction of justice charges.
Holly Baird, crisis management expert and founder of The Source PR, told Fox News Digital that Lewinsky's tribute made it clear that her appreciation for the late senator was limited to specific circumstances and "should not be interpreted as agreement with his broader political positions."
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"Lewinsky's advocacy has centered on fairness, empathy, and the lasting impact of public treatment," Baird said. "Acknowledging someone she disagreed with politically for treating her fairly is consistent with those broader themes and reflects the principles she has consistently emphasized throughout her public life."
She added, "The statement reflects the idea that personal gratitude and political disagreement can coexist."
Former White House spokesperson Alexandra LaManna, noted how Lewinsky has dedicated her life to "turning one of the most public personal humiliations in modern history into something that has helped countless other people feel seen."
"By speaking openly about her own experience, she has helped change the way we think about public shaming, power imbalances, and being defined by the worst moment of your life," LaManna said.
"So when she thanks Lindsey Graham for standing up for her at a time when almost no one else did, it doesn't read as politics – it reads as someone recognizing decency where she found it, even in a complicated story."
Shortly after Graham's death, his sister, Sen. Darline Graham, R-S.C., was appointed to temporarily fill her brother's seat. She later announced on Fox News that she will enter next month’s special primary election to run for a full term in the Senate.
Is drinking every day alcoholism? Experts explain where culture and addiction collide
A clip from Ed Sheeran's appearance on "The Louis Theroux Podcast" has recently resurfaced on social media, sparking renewed debate over differences between British and American attitudes toward alcohol.
"Americans call something ‘alcoholism’ that Brits simply call ‘culture.’ Maybe one or two pints at the end of a workday," the singer said during the 2025 podcast.
"On a Friday you’ll have 6 pints and a bottle of wine. It’s not alcoholism to drink every day here … It’s just the culture."
NIGHTLY GLASS OF WINE MAY NOT BE AS HARMLESS AS MANY PEOPLE THINK, STUDY SUGGESTS
Americans and Britons consume similar amounts of alcohol overall, with the average adult drinking about 9.7 liters of pure alcohol per year, according to the World Health Organization.
Drinking patterns — such as how often people drink, how much they consume in a single sitting and social attitudes toward alcohol — can differ even when overall consumption is similar, according to public health experts.
In the U.K., pubs are commonly regarded as community gathering places, with alcohol representing a routine part of social life for many people. In the U.S., attitudes toward drinking tend to vary more widely by region, religion and social norms, experts say.
Jessica Steinman, chief clinical officer at No Matter What Recovery in Los Angeles, noted that British and American cultures have always been very different, and that includes alcohol consumption.
DRINKING ALCOHOL MAY INFLUENCE CRAVINGS FOR CERTAIN FOODS IN A SURPRISING WAY, STUDY SUGGESTS
"Americans can’t legally drink until 21, and it is frowned upon to do so before that age," she told Fox News Digital. "In England, there is less stigma and restrictions around alcohol, which changes how people view it and drink it."
"Regardless of where anyone lives and regardless of their culture, when alcohol or substances start negatively affecting someone’s life or when someone cannot control the levels of alcohol they drink, then it is a problem," Steinman said.
"When drinking gets in the way of a job, school or relationships — or when people start numbing out from difficult feelings or escaping their problems through alcohol — it isn’t just cultural drinking, it’s an addiction."
Steinman said she's concerned that people with alcohol use disorder may dismiss or justify their drinking as a normal part of their local culture, making them less likely to recognize it as a problem and seek help.
Chris Tuell, Ed.D., clinical director of addiction services at Lindner Center of HOPE and associate professor at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, reiterated that Sheeran’s comments highlight how culture influences people’s perceptions of alcohol.
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"What is considered ‘normal’ in one country may seem excessive in another," he told Fox News Digital. "In parts of the U.K., Ireland, Germany, Australia or even parts of the U.S., drinking is woven into sporting events, celebrations, work gatherings and family traditions."
Tuell noted, however, that culture does not determine whether someone has alcohol use disorder (AUD).
"The fact that something is common does not automatically make it healthy — the same principle applies to alcohol," he told Fox News Digital. "A person may live in a culture where drinking every evening is expected. Another person may rarely drink because their culture discourages alcohol altogether. Neither person's cultural background alone tells us whether alcohol is helping or hurting them."
Two people can drink exactly the same amount each week while having completely different outcomes, according to Tuell.
"One person may drink socially, maintain healthy relationships, perform well at work and easily choose not to drink when needed," he said. "Another person drinking the exact same amount may experience worsening anxiety, strained relationships, poor sleep, financial problems, declining health and an inability to stop."
Whether someone drinks every day, only on weekends or only at celebrations is only part of the picture, the expert noted.
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Tuell recommends paying close attention to the following important patterns that can potentially indicate alcohol use disorder.
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"Ultimately, AUD is measured less by how much a person drinks and more by how much alcohol has begun to take from their life," Tuell said.
"That perspective moves us beyond stereotypes and cultural expectations. It replaces judgment with curiosity, stigma with understanding, and shame with the opportunity for honest self-reflection and meaningful change."
One of the greatest barriers to recognizing a drinking problem is comparison, according to the expert — as people might say things like "everyone I know drinks this much" or "my family drinks every day."
"Those comparisons can be misleading," Tuell said. "Imagine someone saying, ‘everyone in my family has high blood pressure.’ That doesn't make untreated hypertension healthy. Likewise, widespread drinking doesn't eliminate the possibility that alcohol is causing harm."
Anyone experiencing symptoms of alcohol use disorder should consult a healthcare provider for evaluation and guidance.
First on Fox: Trump DOJ reaches settlement with pro-life protester targeted by Biden admin
A Christian father of 11 has reached a settlement with the Department of Justice after facing up to 10 years in prison for protesting at a Tennessee abortion clinic in March 2021.
Paul Vaughn was convicted of violating the FACE Act, a federal law that prohibits "threats of force, obstruction or inflict property damage intended to interfere with reproductive health care services."
The 1994 law was used by former President Joe Biden's Justice Department to aggressively prosecute pro-life activists following the overturning of Roe v. Wade in June 2022.
Two days after he was charged, federal agents raided Vaughn's home at gunpoint, according to his attorneys at the Thomas More Society, and arrested him in front of his wife and children.
The Biden DOJ also added a felony conspiracy charge carrying up to 10.5 years in prison.
Vaughn pursued legal action against the Justice Department over his prosecution. He shared first with Fox News Digital that he recently reached a seven-figure settlement with the government agency.
Vaughn said the settlement has brought much-needed closure to his family after living through a traumatic, multiyear ordeal stemming from the "egregious deeds of the Biden DOJ."
"Obviously, money doesn't equate justice, and there's not a true sense of justice in the settlement, but it is an acknowledgment of wrong, and it is something to help make up for the time lost," he told Fox News Digital.
Vaughn said seven of his eleven children — ranging from 18 months old to 18 years old — were home at the time of his arrest, and that three of his children were "basically held at gunpoint" by an agent in the yard during the encounter. He added that his 5-year-old continues to express anxiety due to what happened.
TRUMP DOJ FIRES PROSECUTORS TIED TO FACE ACT CASES AFTER REPORT ALLEGES BIAS AND MISCONDUCT
"God's been gracious to us and has helped us through this process. But there's still a lot of unknowns of how does this impact a child's life, going into their adult years," Vaughn said.
Vaughn expressed gratitude to the Thomas More Society, the supporters who prayed for his family, and President Donald Trump's administration for taking steps to address his case.
He encouraged other people of faith to remain courageous regardless of who's in office, noting that "the threat of good and evil runs right through the heart of every man."
In January 2025, Trump pardoned Vaughn and 23 other pro-life protesters convicted under the FACE Act by the Biden administration Department of Justice. The move coincided with the annual March for Life demonstration in Washington, D.C.
Around the same time, the Department of Justice issued a memorandum outlining new charging policies for the federal law. Under the new guidance, future abortion-related FACE Act prosecutions and civil actions are permitted only under extraordinary circumstances or cases presenting severe aggravating factors, such as death, serious bodily harm, or major property damage, the memo from the Associate Attorney General said.
"We've never seen anything like that," Thomas More Society attorney Steve Crampton told Fox News Digital, calling the policy shift an extraordinary move.
Crampton added that he hopes the settlement "is a step toward restoring some faith in the system, faith in the rule of law actually being respected by federal law enforcement agencies."
"What was done to Paul and his family was a profound injustice, and we are grateful that this settlement acknowledges that," Crampton said. "We also commend the Trump Department of Justice for having the courage to look at what its predecessor did, call it what it was—an abuse of power—and change course. No American should ever again have to fear an FBI raid for praying and offering hope to women in need."
Fox News Digital reached out to the Department of Justice and representatives for Joe Biden for comment but did not immediately hear back.
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The resolution follows a similar settlement reached by another pro-life activist, Mark Houck.
Houck received a seven-figure settlement from the Trump DOJ after filing a lawsuit over his 2022 arrest. He sought restitution for what he called "a faulty investigation" and "excessive force" after a SWAT team of around 25 people arrested him in front of his children at his home on Sept. 23, 2022, allegedly with guns drawn, on charges he had violated the FACE Act.
The shocking details of his arrest spurred criticism from conservatives that the Justice Department was targeting pro-life activists.
Video shows Iowa road rage suspect surrender after police order him to drop gun
Dramatic video captured the moment Des Moines police confronted an armed road rage suspect after officers said he threatened to shoot the occupants of another vehicle following a minor crash.
Officers responded around 2:30 p.m. Friday after receiving reports that one of the drivers involved in a crash in Des Moines was pointing a handgun at another driver, according to police.
Police identified the suspect as 43-year-old Bradley Ratkovich.
Investigators said evidence, including witness statements and video recordings, indicates Ratkovich got out of his vehicle after the crash and pointed a Glock 9mm handgun at the 18-year-old driver of the other vehicle and his 16-year-old female passenger. Police said Ratkovich also threatened to "shoot."
Video shared on X by witness Joshua Barzon appears to show Ratkovich standing in front of the occupied sedan while pointing a handgun toward the occupants.
As sirens approach, a Des Moines police cruiser pulls up and an officer immediately exits the passenger side with his weapon drawn.
CALIFORNIA DEPUTIES USE MAGNET-EQUIPPED DRONE TO DISARM KNIFE-WIELDING SEX OFFENDER HIDDEN IN GARAGE
"Put the gun down," the officer yells.
Ratkovich then places the handgun on the ground.
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"Step back! Get back. Put both hands on top of your head now," the officer continues as a second officer exits the patrol vehicle. The officers then move in and take Ratkovich into custody without incident.
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As the confrontation unfolded, Barzon can be heard urging the suspect to back down.
"Don't do it. Relax, bro," Barzon says before later telling the suspect to return to his vehicle.
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Barzon later described the encounter in a post on X.
"Road rage almost turned deadly today in my area of Des Moines," he wrote. "A man pulled a gun on another driver at the same intersection I stop at on my commute from work. Thankfully the cops intervened before it was too late. Be careful out there."
Police said Ratkovich was taken to a local hospital for a medical evaluation before being booked into the Polk County Jail.
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He was charged with two counts of assault while displaying a dangerous weapon, two counts of first-degree harassment and one count of being a person ineligible to carry dangerous weapons.
Court records show Ratkovich pleaded not guilty and waived a preliminary hearing. A judge set his bond at $12,000 cash. He is scheduled to appear in court on Aug. 4, with arraignment set for Sept. 9.
Ratkovich's attorney, Kent Balduchi, disputed investigators' characterization of the incident, telling Fox News Digital his client acted in self-defense after being rear-ended while stopped at an intersection.
According to Balduchi, Ratkovich and his son were injured in the crash, and Ratkovich instructed his son to call police before getting out to exchange information with the other driver.
Balduchi said the other driver became aggressive after admitting he did not have insurance and then attempted to leave the scene. As the vehicle moved toward Ratkovich, his client stepped backward, drew his firearm and ordered the driver to stop because he feared he was about to be struck.
"No shots. No erratic or out of control behavior by Ratkovich," Balduchi said. "Mr. Ratkovich did not display or draw his firearm until he felt endangered. We will file a notice of self-defense."
Balduchi also said the other driver had been cited about three weeks before the incident for allegedly driving without a valid driver's license and liability insurance, adding there was no indication those issues had been resolved before the crash.
The crash investigation remains ongoing as investigators await traffic camera footage, police said.
"Traffic crashes can be stressful, but introducing a firearm into a disagreement dramatically increases the risk of violence," the department said in a statement. "If you're involved in a crash, call 911 for police and medical help if needed, remain at the scene, and allow the responding officers to handle the situation safely."
Fauci privately took credit for COVID-19 lockdowns despite public denial, newly exposed diary entries reveal
Despite denying on multiple occasions during and after the COVID-19 pandemic that he personally recommended lockdowns, excerpts revealed from Dr. Anthony Fauci's private diary prove a clear contradiction.
In a March 15, 2020, entry in the diary, which begins with "BIG DAY!" written in red letters, Fauci, then the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease (NIAID) recalled a striking conversation he had with then-New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio.
"I spoke with Bill de Blasio (Mayor – NYC) and convinced him based on what I was saying publicly and my conversation tonight to close the NYC schools (he had already decided based on what I was saying on TV)," Fauci revealed in his private notes.
FAUCI'S NEWLY RELEASED COVID DIARIES REVEAL BIZARRE FIXATION ON FAME AS PANDEMIC DEATHS MOUNTED
"I had a similar call with Ann O’Leary, the [Chief of Staff] of Gov. Gavin Newsom of California," this particular entry went on. "Ann said that based on my TV appearances today and yesterday, the Governor has decided to close the schools in California as well as the bars and restaurants."
But seven months later, on an Oct. 16, 2022 interview with ABC News' Jonathan Karl, Fauci denied any involvement in inspiring lockdowns.
"Let's go back and look at the transcript. We said we should try as best as we possibly can to keep the children in school," Fauci said. "Nobody plays that clip."
"They always come back and say, 'Fauci was responsible for shutting schools down.' I had nothing to do [with it]!" he insisted at the time.
In 2022 he told The Hill that he "didn't recommend locking anything down," clearly going against his own privately recorded entries.
In January 9, 2024, years after the end of lockdowns ended, Fauci testified the same thing before the House Oversight Committee.
"I did not close the schools," he said, according to the hearing transcript. And it became the widespread situation where I became a political target."
Fauci recommended to government leaders lockdown measures besides just closing schools, which he would also later deny.
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In the March 15, 2020, diary entry, Fauci, once the nation's leading infectious disease expert, said he directed de Blasio to close the city's bars.
"I went on to tell him he should close the bars and restaurants in NYC. He said that he would base this on my recommendation," Fauci wrote.
Five days later, he said he told the mayor to close all of New York City.
"Also, had phone call with Major de Blasio who wants to go to 'shelter in place for the entire city.['] He is asking my advice since Gov. Cuomo is pushing back. I advised DeBlasio [sic] to go ahead and do it. I will try to speak with Cuomo," the entry said.
On March 29, 2020, Fauci recounted a tense meeting with President Donald Trump, who he described as "incorrigible."
The goal of the meeting was to get the president to extend lockdowns after the initial "15 days to stop the spread" period, which began on March 16 of 2020 — about a month after the first case of COVID-19 was recorded in the U.S.
"At the end of the day it was a good outcome since we convinced him to go with 30 day (sic) instead of ending the mitigation prematurely, which I feel would be a disaster," Fauci said.
In a November 28, 2020, diary entry, he recalled lending support to a Los Angeles County health official who wanted to lock the county down.
"Got call last night from Mark Ghaly (Deputy Director for Community Health for the LA County Dept of Health Services). He has called me several times for advice," the diary says. "Frantic call saying that they are surging in LA County and very soon hospital beds will be overrun. He wants to do a 3 weeks shutdown of the city to 'stop the surge' and wants my support since there is a large pushback to locking down. I agreed to support him."
But again in 2022, when he joined The Hill's "Rising" podcast, Fauci denied responsibility for lockdowns.
"Well, you know, again, first of all, I didn't recommend locking anything down," he claimed. "You're asking me questions. You're talking about the CDC is the public health agency that uses their epidemiologists and their science-based approach to make recommendations..."
Despite his own denials, Fauci himself told CBS news in the midst of the 2020 chaos that he was behind the lockdowns.
"When it became clear that we had community spread in the country, with a few cases of community spread — this was way before there was a major explosion like we saw in the northeastern corridor driven by New York City metropolitan area — I recommended to the president that we shut the country down," he said on Oct. 7, 2020.
Washington mother says she found adult male showering in women's locker room during children's swim meet
A Washington mother says she encountered an adult male showering in a women's locker room while children were attending a swim meet at a local recreation center, prompting renewed debate over policies governing access to sex-segregated facilities.
"Right before my daughter's first race, I went into the women's locker room to use the restroom," Maria Varchetto, whose daughter was participating in a swim meet at Seattle-area Lynnwood Recreation Center, told Fox News Digital in a statement.
"The locker room is set up like most public locker rooms, with an open shower area and two private shower stalls that have curtains. I know these showers well because my daughter uses them regularly," she said. "The curtains are too narrow for the width of the shower opening, and even when they are pulled closed, they often slide back open on both sides with movement or from the water hitting them."
"As I walked toward the back of the locker room where the restrooms are located, I saw what appeared to be an adult male's exposed, erect penis through the gap in one of the shower curtains," Varchetto continued. "The exposure was not something I was looking for — it was simply visible as I walked by, and it immediately caught my attention. I was shocked and unsure how to respond, so I continued to the restroom."
The incident occurred at the Lynnwood Recreation Center on July 12 in suburban Seattle during Varchetto's daughter's swim meet.
"When I came out, I saw a mother and her young daughter washing their hands at the sink," Varchetto said. "As I walked toward the exit, the person's genitals were again plainly visible from the walkway. At that point, I decided I needed to say something. I said, 'Excuse me, this is the women's locker room.'"
The person did not respond.
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Varchetto said she took up the issue with the front desk to inform them that there was a male showering in the female locker room.
Management then went into the women’s locker room and addressed the man.
"The manager addressed the individual and said, 'Excuse me, are you confused? This is the women's locker room.' The individual responded only with, "I'm trans.'"
LOUDOUN COUNTY PARENTS NOT 'SATISFIED' AFTER SCHOOL OFFICIALS TESTIFY ON TRANSGENDER POLICIES
Varchetto said the manager left after the exchange.
"My family loves the Lynnwood Recreation Center, but after this experience, I no longer feel comfortable allowing my daughter to use the women's locker room by herself," Varchetto said.
"If I'm not with her, I ask her to use one of the family locker rooms instead," she added. "She has told me she feels guilty doing that because there are only a handful of family locker rooms, and families with small children are often waiting to use them."
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Nathan MacDonald, manager of communications and public affairs for the City of Lynnwood, told Fox News Digital in a statement, "On Sunday, July 12th, our Lynnwood Recreation Center staff received a complaint that a self-identifying trans woman was using a shower stall inside the women’s locker room. We can confirm that the complaint was filed and that our staff conferred with both parties."
"Our Recreation Center facilities comply with Washington Administrative Code 162-32-060, which requires all entities to allow individuals to use gender-segregated facilities, including locker rooms and dressing rooms, that correspond with their gender expression or gender identity," MacDonald continued.
"Since the incident, our facilities team has installed new full-sized shower curtains in the locker rooms and is exploring other modifications to our shower facilities to ensure the privacy of all our Recreation Center patrons," he added.
Fox News Digital reached out to the Lynnwood Recreation Center for comment but did not immediately receive a response.
Soros network rebuilds progressive prosecutor push after string of election losses
The Soros family has pumped more than $1 million into political action committees (PACs) dedicated to electing progressive prosecutors this election cycle, campaign finance documents show.
While some predicted that Soros-backed district attorneys would become a thing of the past after sustaining a string of defeats between 2022 and 2024, records suggest that the liberal family is giving their criminal justice reform crusade another go. Democracy PAC, now run by George Soros’s son Alex, pumped roughly $1.7 million into the federal and non-federal arms of the Justice & Public Safety PAC between March 2025 and April 2026, according to public records.
The renewed spending signals that the Soros network is rebuilding its effort to shape local criminal justice policy ahead of the 2026 elections, despite a voter backlash that removed or replaced dozens of prosecutors linked to its funding.
By directing significant resources to Justice & Public Safety PAC, the family is positioning the group to again influence races where decisions on bail, charging and sentencing can drastically reshape public safety.
The Soros family, led for decades by billionaire investor and philanthropist George Soros, has spent heavily on charitable foundations and political committees to advance liberal candidates and human rights worldwide, including efforts to make society more equitable through criminal justice reform and other initiatives. The elder Soros transferred control of the family’s roughly $25 billion philanthropic and political network to his son Alex in 2023.
Justice & Public Safety PAC is the organization responsible for providing financial backing to a number of prosecutors who have since become infamous in conservative circles, according to Influence Watch. Among these are former Alameda County, California, District Attorney Pamela Price, former Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascon, Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner, former St. Louis Circuit Attorney Kim Gardner and former Cook County, Illinois, State Attorney Kim Foxx.
Critics charge that these prosecutors fail to incarcerate dangerous members of society, leading to increased crime. Supporters, meanwhile, maintain that addressing the root causes of crime, such as poverty and inequality, will stop offenses before they occur and that harsh punishments for criminals incentivizes recidivism.
Gascon, for one, attracted criticism for ordering his prosecutors not to pursue many sentencing enhancements, which can result in criminals being put away for longer, and for drastically reducing the number of misdemeanors tried by his office, according to the Los Angeles Times. He faced significant internal dissent as crime rates climbed, with rank-and-file prosecutors voting nearly unanimously to support a recall effort against him, Politico reported.
Krasner, meanwhile, has been denounced for presiding over a historic homicide spike in his city while he reduced prosecutions.
These controversies were not without consequences for Soros-backed prosecutors.
Of the 25 district attorneys with links to Soros that appeared on the ballot in 2024, 12 were either defeated or recalled, including Gascon. Sean Kennedy, the Law Enforcement Legal Defense Fund’s policy director, told Fox News Digital at the time that, of the 75 Soros-linked prosecutors his organization had identified since 2022, 50 had either left office or been replaced with more moderate officials.
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Justice & Public Safety backed a progressive prosecutor in Virginia’s 2025 election, providing some potential insight into the kinds of candidates it will bankroll as Election Day 2026 approaches.
The committee spent six figures backing the candidacy of Norfolk Commonwealth Attorney Ramin Fatehi, campaign finance records show. Conservatives criticized Fatehi over his opposition to cash bail, his resistance to prosecuting crimes like shoplifting and his participation in a coalition of prosecutors aiming to prosecute federal immigration agents.
"The old-fashioned view about public safety was not taking into account externalities. It was focused on the idea of crime as an evil unto itself," Fatehi said in a 2021 interview. "Where I part ways is in recognizing that crime is a symptom. It’s a symptom of structural racism, of systematic community disinvestment, of redlining, unequal school policy, the lack of jobs, lack of transportation, a lack of opportunities, intergenerational barriers to wealth building, the disinvestment in the treatment of the mentally ill."
Soros himself similarly argued in a 2022 essay that progressive prosecutors can improve public safety by using resources to address the root causes of crime rather than resorting to jailing criminals for long periods of time. Supporting his claim, he wrote that "black people in the U.S. are five times as likely to be sent to jail as white people," which is "an injustice that undermines our democracy."
The Soros family has other sources of cash available to fund its political goals ahead of 2026, including the Open Society Foundation, a 501(c)(4) advocacy group that brought in nearly $160 million in 2024, according to tax documents.
The Open Society Foundation, the Soros family’s philanthropy, did not respond to a request for comment when reached by Fox News Digital Monday.