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OpenAI tightens AI rules for teens but concerns remain
OpenAI says it is taking stronger steps to protect teens using its chatbot. Recently, the company updated its behavior guidelines for users under 18 and released new AI literacy tools for parents and teens. The move comes as pressure mounts across the tech industry. Lawmakers, educators, and child safety advocates want proof that AI companies can protect young users. Several recent tragedies have raised serious questions about the role AI chatbots may play in teen mental health. While the updates sound promising, many experts say the real test will be how these rules work in practice.
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THIRD-PARTY BREACH EXPOSES CHATGPT ACCOUNT DETAILS
OpenAI's updated Model Spec builds on existing safety limits and applies to teen users ages 13 to 17. It continues to block sexual content involving minors and discourages self-harm, delusions, and manic behavior. For teens, the rules go further. The models must avoid immersive romantic roleplay, first-person intimacy, and violent or sexual roleplay, even when non-graphic. They must use extra caution when discussing body image and eating behaviors. When safety risks appear, the chatbot should prioritize protection over user autonomy. It should also avoid giving advice that helps teens hide risky behavior from caregivers. These limits apply even if a prompt is framed as fictional, historical, or educational.
OpenAI says its approach to teen users follows four core principles:
The company also shared examples of the chatbot refusing requests like romantic roleplay or extreme appearance changes.
WHY PARENTS MAY WANT TO DELAY SMARTPHONES FOR KIDS
Gen Z users are among the most active chatbot users today. Many rely on AI for homework help, creative projects, and emotional support. OpenAI's recent deal with Disney could draw even more young users to the platform. That growing popularity has also brought scrutiny. Recently, attorneys general from 42 states urged major tech companies to add stronger safeguards for children and vulnerable users. At the federal level, proposed legislation could go even further. Some lawmakers want to block minors from using AI chatbots entirely.
Despite the updates, many experts remain cautious. One major concern is engagement. Advocates argue chatbots often encourage prolonged interaction, which can become addictive for teens. Refusing certain requests could help break that cycle. Still, critics warn that examples in policy documents are not proof of consistent behavior. Past versions of the Model Spec banned excessive agreeableness, yet models continued mirroring users in harmful ways. Some experts link this behavior to what they call AI psychosis, where chatbots reinforce distorted thinking instead of challenging it.
In one widely reported case, a teenager who later died by suicide spent months interacting with a chatbot. Conversation logs showed repeated mirroring and validation of distress. Internal systems flagged hundreds of messages related to self-harm. Yet the interactions continued. Former safety researchers later explained that earlier moderation systems reviewed content after the fact rather than in real time. That allowed harmful conversations to continue unchecked. OpenAI says it now uses real-time classifiers across text, images, and audio. When systems detect serious risk, trained reviewers may step in, and parents may be notified.
Some advocates praise OpenAI for publicly sharing its under-18 guidelines. Many tech companies do not offer that level of transparency. Still, experts stress that written rules are not enough. What matters is how the system behaves during real conversations with vulnerable users. Without independent measurement and clear enforcement data, critics say these updates remain promises rather than proof.
OpenAI says parents play a key role in helping teens use AI responsibly. The company stresses that tools alone are not enough. Active guidance matters most.
OpenAI encourages regular conversations between parents and teens about how AI fits into daily life. These discussions should focus on responsible use and critical thinking. Parents are urged to remind teens that AI responses are not facts and can be wrong.
OpenAI provides parental controls that let adults manage how teens interact with AI tools. These tools can limit features and add oversight. The company says safeguards are designed to reduce exposure to higher-risk topics and unsafe interactions. Here are the steps OpenAI recommends parents take.
OpenAI says healthy use matters as much as content safety. To support balance, the company has added break reminders during long sessions. Parents are encouraged to watch for signs of overuse and step in when needed.
OpenAI emphasizes that AI should never replace real relationships. Teens should be encouraged to turn to family, friends, or professionals when they feel stressed or overwhelmed. The company says human support remains essential.
Parents should make clear that AI can help with schoolwork or creativity. It should not become a primary source of emotional support.
Parents are encouraged to ask what teens use AI for, when they use it, and how it makes them feel. These conversations can reveal unhealthy patterns early.
Experts advise parents to look for increased isolation, emotional reliance on AI, or treating chatbot responses as authority. These can signal unhealthy dependence.
Many specialists recommend keeping phones and laptops out of bedrooms overnight. Reducing late-night AI use can help protect sleep and mental health.
If a teen shows signs of distress, parents should involve trusted adults or professionals. AI safety tools cannot replace real-world care.
WHEN AI CHEATS: THE HIDDEN DANGERS OF REWARD HACKING
Parents and teens should enable multi-factor authentication (MFA) on teen AI accounts whenever it is available. OpenAI allows users to turn on multi-factor authentication for ChatGPT accounts.
To enable it, go to OpenAI.com and sign in. Scroll down and click the profile icon, then select Settings and choose Security. From there, turn on multi-factor authentication (MFA). You will then be given two options. One option uses an authenticator app, which generates one-time codes during login. Another option sends 6-digit verification codes by text message through SMS or WhatsApp, depending on the country code. Enabling multi-factor authentication adds an extra layer of protection beyond a password and helps reduce the risk of unauthorized access to teen accounts.
Also, consider adding a strong antivirus software that can help block malicious links, fake downloads, and other threats teens may encounter while using AI tools. This adds an extra layer of protection beyond any single app or platform. Using strong antivirus protection and two-factor authentication together helps reduce the risk of account takeovers that could expose teens to unsafe content or impersonation risks.
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OpenAI's updated teen safety rules show the company is taking growing concerns seriously. Clearer limits, stronger safeguards, and more transparency are steps in the right direction. Still, policies on paper are not the same as behavior in real conversations. For teens who rely on AI every day, what matters most is how these systems respond in moments of stress, confusion, or vulnerability. That is where trust is built or lost. For parents, this moment calls for balance. AI tools can be helpful and creative. They also require guidance, boundaries, and supervision. No set of controls can replace real conversations or human support. As AI becomes more embedded in our everyday lives, the focus must stay on outcomes, not intentions. Protecting teens will depend on consistent enforcement, independent oversight, and active family involvement.
Should teens ever rely on AI for emotional support, or should those conversations always stay human? Let us know by writing to us at Cyberguy.com
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We need to face the truth about Putin if we want lasting peace in Ukraine
Sunday’s meeting between Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy produced no dramatic announcements, sweeping declarations or signed peace deal. That outcome should surprise no one. After nearly four years of war, diplomacy was never going to turn on a single press conference or photo opportunity.
President Trump himself struck a measured tone afterward, saying, "I think we’ll get it done," while acknowledging that the effort "can go poorly." Zelenskyy, for his part, described the talks as constructive and serious, emphasizing that Ukraine remains committed to a just peace that ensures long-term security. Both statements point to the same reality: the process is underway, but the hard decisions lie ahead.
Still, the meeting mattered.
‘ONLY TRUMP CAN STOP RUSSIA’: MILLIONS FACE FREEZING WINTER, UKRAINE ENERGY EXECUTIVE WARNS
According to reporting by Reuters and The Wall Street Journal, the purpose of the Trump–Zelenskyy talks was not to finalize peace, but to close gaps on a developing framework — often described as a 20-point plan — before Trump engages directly with Russian President Vladimir Putin. That framework emphasizes Ukrainian sovereignty, enforcement mechanisms and security guarantees, while leaving the most sensitive issues — territory and the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant — unresolved.
In other words, diplomacy has entered a more serious phase. Not because peace is imminent, but because exhaustion is universal. Ukraine continues to suffer devastating losses. Russia bleeds manpower and treasure. Europe is strained under economic and security pressures. The United States faces growing global instability from Eastern Europe to the Middle East to the Indo-Pacific. Fatigue does not guarantee peace — but it creates political space for it.
Cautious optimism is therefore justified. But optimism without realism would be dangerous.
The central question hanging over Sunday’s meeting is not whether a framework exists — it does — but whether it is built on a false assumption that still dominates much Western thinking: that Vladimir Putin is a rational actor who can be satisfied with partial concessions. The record suggests otherwise.
US OFFICIALS TOUT PROGRESS IN TALKS TO REACH 'LASTING AND DURABLE PEACE' BETWEEN UKRAINE, RUSSIA
Since the invasion began, Putin has responded to compromise with escalation, to restraint with expansion, and to negotiations with continued violence. Even as peace efforts accelerated this week, Russia continued launching missile and drone strikes across Ukraine — a fact confirmed by media outlets. Those attacks are not random. They are signals. Either Putin intends to continue the war outright, or he is deliberately shaping the diplomatic environment by force — creating urgency, fear and pressure for Ukrainian concessions.
In either case, the implication is clear: Putin will not stop unless he is forced to stop — or unless he is given everything he is demanding.
That reality should sober any discussion of "land for peace." Territorial concessions dominate headlines because maps are tangible and emotionally charged. But land is not the decisive variable. Security is.
Multiple outlets have reported that Ukraine is seeking what officials describe as "Article 5–like" security guarantees — binding commitments from the United States and its allies to respond to future Russian aggression. Zelenskyy has even indicated openness to halting Ukraine’s NATO membership bid if such guarantees are credible. That alone underscores how existential this question is for Kyiv.
Ukraine has learned the hard way that vague assurances are worthless. The 1994 Budapest Memorandum did not stop Russia. Previous ceasefires did not stop Russia. Agreements without enforcement did not stop Russia. Any peace that trades Ukrainian territory for promises without teeth is not peace — it is a pause before the next assault.
Security guarantees must therefore be specific, automatic and enforceable. Clear triggers. Defined responses. Real consequences. Not committees that deliberate while missiles fall. Not sanctions that require months of political wrangling to reassemble. Reuters has reported that the draft framework under discussion includes monitoring mechanisms and penalties for violations — an encouraging sign, if they are implemented seriously.
TRUMP, ZELENSKYY SAY UKRAINE PEACE DEAL CLOSE BUT 'THORNY ISSUES' REMAIN AFTER FLORIDA TALKS
This is where President Trump’s role becomes decisive.
Trump possesses leverage that few leaders do, precisely because he is willing to combine pressure with negotiation. He can tighten sanctions enforcement and close evasion pathways that blunt existing measures. He can impose snap-back penalties that activate immediately upon violation. He can maintain military assistance sufficient to raise the cost of renewed Russian offensives. And he can offer a conditional off-ramp — economic relief or diplomatic reengagement — only after verified compliance.
The objective is not to persuade Putin of Western goodwill. It is to change his cost calculus.
ZELENSKYY ENCOURAGED BY 'VERY GOOD' CHRISTMAS TALKS WITH US
Putin has repeatedly shown that he will absorb pain — economic, military, diplomatic — if he believes time and fear are on his side. What he has not shown is a willingness to retreat in the face of strength. Any peace framework that fails to account for that pattern risks collapsing the moment attention shifts elsewhere.
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Europe should be watching closely. This war is not solely about Ukraine. It is a test of whether borders in Europe can once again be changed by force. A settlement that assumes Putin can be "managed" through compromise alone will not stabilize the continent; it will invite the next crisis. History is unkind to illusions of restraint when dealing with expansionist regimes.
The most realistic takeaway from Sunday’s meeting is this: diplomacy has not failed — but neither has it yet proven itself. Alignment between Washington and Kyiv is a necessary first step, not a sufficient one. If President Trump proceeds to speak with Putin armed with a unified framework, clear red lines and credible enforcement tools, then this effort has a chance.
If not — if peace is pursued without strength, enforcement and clarity — then Sunday’s meeting will be remembered not as the beginning of the end, but as another moment when the West mistook words for power.
Peace remains possible. But only if we abandon the comforting fiction that Vladimir Putin can be satisfied with half-measures — and build an agreement that makes renewed aggression unmistakably costly.
Inside the Trump-Musk split: How America’s most powerful bromance imploded into the biggest breakup of 2025
Back on Inauguration Day, few in Washington would have believed that the highly publicized friendship between President Donald Trump and Elon Musk would implode before the year’s end.
No political partnership burned brighter or fizzled faster than Trump and Musk’s in 2025. What began as a joint crusade to cut federal spending through the newly minted Department of Government Efficiency quickly devolved into a public falling out that unfolded in a full-blown social media feud.
As 2025 comes to a close, here's a look back at the biggest political breakup of the year.
MUSK, TRUMP COME TOGETHER AT CHARLIE KIRK MEMORIAL
The 2024 presidential campaign was the driving force for the high-profile partnership that ensued.
‘GONE TOO FAR’: GOP LAWMAKERS RALLY AROUND TRUMP AFTER MUSK RAISES EPSTEIN ALLEGATIONS
After the first Trump assassination attempt at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, on July 13, 2024, Musk endorsed Trump in an X post. Musk went on to donate more than $200 million to Trump's presidential campaign through his super PAC, America PAC.
While the two appeared together for a virtual town hall that August, the X owner and Tesla CEO made his first public appearance with Trump on Oct. 5, as the soon-to-be president returned to Butler three months after the shooting and one month before Election Day.
Musk was jumping for joy as he joined Trump on stage.
After Trump won the 2024 presidential election, Musk was appointed to lead the Department of Government Efficiency.
On stage in Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, Florida, after winning the election, Trump said of Musk, "A star is born!"
Two weeks after the election, Trump and his family attended the SpaceX "Starship" launch with Musk.
Trump made DOGE official on Inauguration Day by signing an executive order to cut waste, fraud and abuse in the federal government with a mandate to modernize "Federal technology and software to maximize governmental efficiency and productivity."
Musk joined fellow tech moguls Jeff Bezos, Tim Cook and Mark Zuckerberg for Trump's inauguration.
As the Trump administration got settled, DOGE got to work pursuing Musk’s ambitious goal of cutting up to $2 trillion from the federal budget.
As of Oct. 2025, DOGE has saved approximately $214 billion through a combination of asset sales, contract or lease cancellations, fraud and improper payment deletions, grant cancellations, interest savings, programmatic changes, regulatory savings and workforce reductions, according to the DOGE website.
When tens of thousands of federal workers were laid off, protests began erupting across the United States, rejecting Musk's leadership and Trump's sweeping, second-term agenda.
Amid growing discontent directed at Musk and DOGE, Tesla stocks began seeing a drop earlier this year.
Meanwhile, Musk's political involvement prompted push back from protesters. Tesla vehicles, charging stations and dealerships were targeted in a string of vandalism attacks.
In a show of support for Musk, Trump turned the White House South Lawn into a Tesla showroom and bought a red Tesla Model S.
"He's built this great company, and he shouldn't be penalized, because he's a patriot," Trump said.
By May, Musk began paring back his hours leading the controversial agency.
According to the Office of Government Ethics, "special government employees" like Musk can work for the federal government no more than 130 days a year, which in Musk's case was May 30.
On his last day at DOGE, Musk joined Trump in the Oval Office for a press conference celebrating the billionaire's legacy.
Soon after Musk left the White House, Trump and Musk had their "big, beautiful" breakup, fueled by congressional negotiations for Trump's One Big Beautiful Bill.
"I’m sorry, but I just can’t stand it anymore," Musk said in a post on June 3. "This massive, outrageous, pork-filled Congressional spending bill is a disgusting abomination. Shame on those who voted for it: you know you did wrong. You know it."
Trump's megabill included tax cuts, green energy spending cuts and Medicaid reform, but fiscal conservatives, like Musk, argued it didn't do enough to reduce the nation's $38 trillion debt crisis.
Trump told reporters he was "very disappointed" in Musk's criticism of his marquee megabill.
"Elon and I had a great relationship. I don’t know if we will anymore," Trump said.
Musk then fired back on X, arguing that, "Without me, Trump would have lost the election, Dems would control the House and the Republicans would be 51-49 in the Senate."
The Tesla CEO urged Trump to "keep the EV/solar incentives cuts in the bill."
After Musk fired off several posts on X, Trump started firing back on his own social media platform, writing on Truth Social that Musk was "wearing thin" and claiming that he asked Musk to leave the White House.
"I took away his EV Mandate that forced everyone to buy Electric Cars that nobody else wanted (that he knew for months I was going to do!), and he just went CRAZY!" Trump said.
The president then threatened to "terminate Elon's Government Subsidies and Contracts."
Musk fired back with a "really big bomb," accusing Trump of being "in the Epstein files."
"This is an unfortunate episode from Elon, who is unhappy with the One Big Beautiful Bill because it does not include the policies he wanted. The President is focused on passing this historic piece of legislation and making our country great again," White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said in response.
Congress narrowly passed Trump's One Big Beautiful Bill by a self-imposed July 4 deadline.
Ahead of its final passage, Musk renewed his criticism of the reconciliation bill on social media.
In response, Trump threatened to use DOGE to investigate Musk's government subsidies for his companies.
Months later, Trump and Musk reunited to honor the conservative activist Charlie Kirk, who was assassinated during a Turing Point USA event in Orem, Utah, on Sept. 10.
Trump and Musk were spotted shaking hands at Kirk's memorial service in a box at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona.
"For Charlie," Musk later responded to the photo on X.
Aboard Air Force One on Oct. 27, Trump seemed to bury the hatchet when asked about Musk.
"During Charlie's beautiful tribute, Elon came over. It's good with Elon. I like Elon. I have always liked Elon. Elon's good," Trump said.
When asked if he had spoken to Musk since Kirk's memorial, Trump said the two have spoken "on and off, a little bit, very little, nothing much."
"Look, he's a nice guy, and he's a very capable guy. I have always liked him. He had a bad spell. He had a bad period. He had a bad moment. Stupid moment in his life. Very stupid. I'm sure he'd tell you that, but I like Elon, and I suspect I will always like him," Trump added.
On Nov. 18, Musk attended a White House dinner as Trump hosted Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
The dust seemed to settle on Trump and Musk's "big, beautiful" breakup as 2025 came to a close.
FOX Business’ Edward Lawrence asked Trump during a cabinet meeting on Dec. 2 whether Musk was "back in [his] circle of friends" after their falling-out.
"Well, I really don't know. I mean, I like Elon a lot," Trump responded.
Musk did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's comment request.
Fox News Digital's Emma Colton contributed to this report.
5 celebrities who went public with alarming health diagnoses in 2025
Chronic and fatal diseases do not choose favorites, as many celebrities faced health scares in 2025.
From cancer diagnoses to neurological complications, below are five celebrity health battles that stood out this year.
Kim Kardashian was diagnosed with a brain aneurysm after undergoing a brain scan with psychiatrist Dr. Daniel Amen of Amen Clinics.
KIM KARDASHIAN'S BRAIN ANEURYSM SCARE: DOCTORS REVEAL WARNING SIGNS TO NEVER IGNORE
The 45-year-old reality TV star revealed in a November 2025 episode of "The Kardashians" that the doctor found "holes" in her brain stemming from a potential aneurysm.
"So, what the holes mean is low activity," Amen said in the episode. "The front part of your brain is less active than it should be. With your frontal lobes as they work now, it would be harder to manage stress."
ERIC DANE VOWS TO 'FIGHT TO THE LAST BREATH' IN ONGOING ALS BATTLE
"It could be the chronic stress that you've been under, trying to think about taking the boards in a couple months and studying 10 hours a day, not to mention all the other things that go on in your life," he went on. "But we have to make it better."
At the time of filming, Kardashian was gearing up to take the California bar exam. She later revealed she did not pass.
"Full House" star Dave Coulier announced the return of cancer, just months after declaring he was cancer-free.
The comedian, 66, was diagnosed with stage 3 non-Hodgkin lymphoma in 2024. He then announced his recovery in March after six months of chemotherapy.
TONGUE CANCER WARNING SIGNS HIGHLIGHTED AFTER 'FULL HOUSE' STAR'S DIAGNOSIS
But in October, Coulier reported a second diagnosis of HPV-related oropharyngeal tongue cancer, reportedly with no warning signs.
"To go through chemotherapy and feel that relief of ‘Whoa, it’s gone,’ and then to get a test that says, ‘Well, now you’ve got another kind of cancer’ ... it’s a shock to the system," Coulier shared on "Today."
The confirmed early-stage P16 carcinoma was "totally unrelated" to the non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma and is mostly likely linked to the presence of long-term HPV, he added.
BILLY JOEL DIAGNOSED WITH BRAIN CONDITION – WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT HIS TREATMENT OPTIONS
"They said it could stem from having an HPV virus up to 30 years ago," he said. "A lot of people carry the HPV virus, but they said mine activated and turned into a carcinoma."
"We found it early enough where it’s very treatable. ... It’s got a 90% curability rate."
"Grey’s Anatomy" alum Eric Dane has been battling ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, this year.
Dane announced his diagnosis to People in April 2025, noting his gratitude for the support of his "loving family" and the ability to return to the set of HBO’s "Euphoria."
The actor opened up about his developing condition with "Good Morning America," telling host Diane Sawyer that he only has function in one arm.
REBECCA GAYHEART ADMITS RELATIONSHIP WITH ERIC DANE IS 'SUPER COMPLICATED' AS HE BATTLES ALS
He also shared that he’s "very hopeful" and willing to go to extreme lengths to combat the neurodegenerative disease.
"I don't think this is the end of my story," he said in the same interview. "And whether it is or it isn't, I'm gonna carry that idea with me."
Dane was later hospitalized during the night of the Emmy Awards in September, after an ALS-related fall led to "getting stiches put in my head," he told The Washington Post.
6 THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT PANCREATIC CANCER AFTER FORMER SENATOR’S DIAGNOSIS
Dane’s ex-wife and caretaker, actress Rebecca Gayheart, penned an essay that was recently published in The Cut, revealing that Dane has "24/7 nurses" and is receiving round-the-clock care.
Billy Joel, 76, was diagnosed with a rare brain condition in May 2025, which led to the cancellation of his scheduled concerts.
The five-time Grammy winner announced that he has normal pressure hydrocephalus, which occurs when cerebrospinal fluid builds up inside or around the brain.
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"This condition has been exacerbated by recent concert performances, leading to problems with hearing, vision and balance," stated an announcement on Joel’s website.
"Under his doctor’s instructions, Billy is undergoing specific physical therapy and has been advised to refrain from performing during this recovery period."
In July, Joel joined Bill Maher’s podcast "Club Random with Bill Maher," during which he reported his health is "being worked on."
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"I feel fine," he said. "My balance sucks. It’s like being on a boat … It used to be called water on the brain. Now it’s called hydrocephalus — normal pressure hydrocephalus."
"I feel good," he went on. "They keep referring to what I have as a brain disorder, so it sounds a lot worse than what I’m feeling."
In August, celebrity chef Gordan Ramsay revealed that he had a basal cell carcinoma, a type of skin cancer, removed from his face.
Ramsay, 58, shared two photos to Instagram post-procedure, one showing a large bandage placed beneath his ear and the other displaying a row of stitches.
"Please don’t forget your sunscreen this weekend," he warned in the post. "I promise you it’s not a face lift! I’d need a refund…"
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Fox News Digital’s Stephanie Giang-Pounon, Christina Dugan Ramirez, Melissa Rudy and Emily Trainham contributed to this report.
Unearthed video allegedly shows rampant Minnesota fraud and more top headlines
1. Unearthed video allegedly shows rampant Minnesota fraud
2. Sealed transcript released in alleged Charlie Kirk shooting plot
3. Ukrainian president hints at compromise on disputed lands
MONEY MYSTERY – Minnesota daycare manager responds to viral video alleging fraud scheme. Continue reading …
RECORDS LOCKED – Reiner murder case takes dark turn as court blocks access to death reports. Continue reading …
STOLEN MILLIONS – Illegal immigrants nabbed in massive $14M gift card scheme targeting shoppers. Continue reading …
MANHUNT ON – GOP governor appointee gunned down in border city as suspect remains at large. Continue reading …
FAMILY TRAGEDY – NASCAR star Denny Hamlin's father dies in house fire as mother suffers burns. Continue reading …
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'CLEAR INDICATION' – Eric Adams says Biden DOJ used 'lawfare' against him, compares treatment to Trump. Continue reading …
HISTORIC FIRST – Netanyahu breaks tradition to award Trump first-ever Israel Prize for non-Israeli. Continue reading …
ADAPT OR DIE – Trump administration puts UN on notice with $2B aid pledge and reform demands. Continue reading …
MAJOR BLOW – Hamas says five leaders killed including ‘masked spokesperson.’ Continue reading …
2025 LOOKBACK – Matthew Dowd fired by MSNBC after bizarre Charlie Kirk commentary. Continue reading …
UNDER FIRE – 'Stranger Things' fans review-bomb 'woke' coming-out scene in show's final season. Continue reading …
WHO'S TO SAY – Late-night host addresses potential 2028 presidential run. Continue reading …
‘SAD THING’ – Somali Minnesotans being 'scapegoated' in fraud investigation, NYT writer claims. Continue reading …
KELLY LOEFFLER – Vast network of Somali nonprofits ripped off Minnesota’s welfare state. Continue reading …
LIZ PEEK – Five unforgettable lessons we all learned in 2025, but some Democrats still didn’t. Continue reading …
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‘GOLDEN’ GETAWAY – Top 5 visa destinations that elitists flocked to in 2025 for residency. Continue reading …
COMMON COURTESY – Viral video divides passengers about handling TSA security bins or not after screening. Continue reading …
AMERICAN CULTURE QUIZ – Test yourself on fast-food favorites and celebrity confessions. Take the quiz here …
CRITICAL CONDITIONS – Celebrities who went public with alarming health diagnoses in 2025. Continue reading …
HOLIDAY HEARTBREAK – Traveler can't believe she's denied boarding for two reasons. See video ...
VOLODYMYR ZELENSKYY – President Trump is trying to bring about peace. See video …
ERIC ADAMS – Zohran Mamdani must build his team and live by the team he chooses. See video …
Tune in for the latest on the Trump administration’s emerging Ukraine peace plan. Check it out ...
What's it looking like in your neighborhood? Continue reading…
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2025 lookback: Matthew Dowd fired by MSNBC after bizarre Charlie Kirk commentary
An unusual media saga unfolded in 2025 when MSNBC fired political analyst Matthew Dowd in September for suggesting "hateful" rhetoric from Turning Point USA co-founder Charlie Kirk led to his own assassination.
Kirk, a leading conservative activist and top ally of President Donald Trump, died at the age of 31 after he was shot while holding an event on the campus of Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah. In a stunning moment, Dowd suggested that Kirk’s assassination was caused by a chain reaction from his "hateful words" against various groups.
Dowd said Kirk has been "one of the most divisive, especially divisive younger figures in this, who is constantly sort of pushing this sort of hate speech or sort of aimed at certain groups. And I always go back to, hateful thoughts lead to hateful words, which then lead to hateful actions."
MSNBC FIRES ANALYST MATTHEW DOWD FOR 'UNACCEPTABLE' COMMENTS ABOUT CHARLIE KIRK
"I think that’s the environment we’re in, that the people just — you can’t stop with these sort of awful thoughts you have, and then saying these awful words, and not expect awful actions to take place. And that's the unfortunate environment we're in," he added.
Before the news that Kirk had died, Dowd also told host Katy Tur, "We don’t know any of the full details of this yet. We don’t know if this was a supporter shooting their gun off in celebration."
MSNBC, which has since been rebranded as MS NOW, publicly condemned Dowd's comments before he was officially terminated.
"During our breaking news coverage of the shooting of Charlie Kirk, Matthew Dowd made comments that were inappropriate, insensitive and unacceptable," MS NOW President Rebecca Kutler said in a statement. "We apologize for his statements, as has he. There is no place for violence in America, political or otherwise."
Dowd's comments were widely condemned in the wake of the tragic shooting, with numerous figures calling for his termination. White House staffers were even enraged by Dowd's comments.
"They are scumbags. They need to look inward and realize they are hurting this nation with their awful rhetoric," a senior Trump administration official told Fox News Digital in reaction to the MSNBC segment.
CHARLIE KIRK ROSE TO BECOME CONSERVATIVE POWERHOUSE, TRANSFORMATIVE CAMPUS FIGURE
Dowd, who joined MSNBC in 2022 after a long stint at ABC News, tried to backtrack on the liberal social media platform Bluesky.
"On an earlier appearance on MSNBC I was asked a question on the environment we are in. I apologize for my tone and words. Let me be clear, I in no way intended for my comments to blame Kirk for this horrendous attack. Let us all come together and condemn violence of any kind," Dowd wrote.
Dowd, a Democrat who was formerly a Republican strategist and an independent, is one of the most rabidly anti-GOP voices on cable news. He made a failed bid for the Democratic nomination for Texas lieutenant governor in 2021. Since ABC News showed him the door, Dowd has since launched a Substack and has defended his remarks.
"At MSNBC I have made nearly 1,000 appearances, speaking on a diverse range of topics and always consistently condemned gun violence and political violence of any kind no matter where it came from. This past Wednesday I was asked to come on to talk about a range of topics, and as I was about to go on air, breaking news happened of gun shots being fired at a Kirk event in Utah," Dowd wrote in a Substack post.
COMCAST EXECUTIVES SCOLD STAFFERS TO ‘DO BETTER’ OVER MSNBC COVERAGE OF CHARLIE KIRK ASSASSINATION
"Keep in mind when the anchor came to me to comment on the ‘national environment,’ the only thing known at the time was shots were fired and there was no reporting yet that Kirk was the target or had been shot at," he continued. "I said in the moment that we needed to get the facts because we have no idea what this could be and that it could easily be someone firing a gun in the air to celebrate the event. Remember Kirk is a diehard advocate of the 2nd amendment."
Dowd added: "I said my now legendary line ‘hateful thoughts lead to hateful words which ultimately lead to hateful actions.’ I thought to myself how could anyone disagree with this. I guess I was naïve… the Right-Wing media mob ginned up, went after me on a plethora of platforms, and MSNBC reacted to that mob."
These crimes exposed America's deepest fractures and kept millions glued to their screens
The most gripping crime stories of 2025 weren’t just about suspects and victims — they were about free speech, terrorism, trust in the justice system and safety in places once considered secure.
The crimes that drew the most attention this year revealed deep fractures in United States society but kept millions of Americans riveted to their news feeds and social media.
From politically-motivated assassinations to high-profile trials garnering round-the-clock true crime coverage, these cases shaped the national conversation over the past 12 months.
ANDREW MCCARTHY: PROSECUTING CHARLIE KIRK'S ALLEGED KILLER IN THE SOCIAL MEDIA AGE
Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk visited Utah Valley University in Orem on Sept. 10 as part of a campus speaking tour in which he planned to promote free speech and debate hot-button topics.
But 20 minutes into his appearance, a sniper's bullet struck him in the neck, killing him.
"It's just one of those moments that is so shocking to your system and yet it's going to change everything and this is going to be a moment that we're going to think back upon and talk about for years and years to come," said Joshua Ritter, a Los Angeles defense attorney and Fox News contributor. "How shocking it was that it took place in public, and the video of his assassination lives on the internet forever now, in such stark violence. And then to realize that it was entirely motivated because of what this man stood for and how people disagree with that really brings a level of disturbing awareness of how divided we still are as a country."
Suspected assassin Tyler Robinson was arrested days later in his hometown in southern Utah, hundreds of miles away.
Kirk made a career out of engaging people who disagreed with him. According to prosecutors, Robinson sent text messages to his lover allegedly admitting he "had enough of his hatred" and left a note declaring, "I had the opportunity to take out Charlie Kirk, and I'm going to take it."
An ISIS-inspired attack on New Year's revelers in New Orleans killed 14 people and underscored the ongoing threat of Islamist extremism.
SURVEILLANCE VIDEO SHOWS BRYAN KOHBERGER'S CAR ROARING AWAY AFTER IDAHO STUDENT MURDERS
Authorities said the suspect was motivated by radical propaganda.
Video shows he flew a black ISIS flag from the back of his rented pickup truck as he sped down Bourbon Street, slamming into pedestrians in the early morning hours of Jan. 1 — reviving fears that global terror networks continue to inspire lone actors to carry out violence on American soil.
Shamsud-Din Jabbar, a 42-year-old Texan blamed for the attack, died in a shootout with police. Months later, authorities in Iraq revealed they had arrested an ISIS member accused of inciting Jabbar to commit the murders.
BROWN UNIVERSITY WAS ‘SOFT TARGET’ FOR SHOOTER WHO REMAINS AT LARGE, CRIMINAL PROFILER SAYS
By pleading guilty, Bryan Kohberger avoided the potential death penalty and a public trial that could have exposed new details about the home invasion murders of four University of Idaho students, three of whom were asleep when he attacked them with a knife on Nov. 13, 2022.
The move brought closure for some of the victims’ families, but others were outraged that prosecutors didn't take him to trial and seek capital punishment.
BROWN UNIVERSITY SHOOTING: TIMELINE OF TERROR THAT LEFT 2 DEAD, 9 INJURED
The deal spared his life but secured the highest possible punishment aside from the death penalty — four consecutive sentences of life without parole, plus another 10 years.
However, he was not required to explain himself under the terms of the deal, leaving questions about a motive unanswered.
"The Bryan Kohberger case stands out because it's literally the embodiment of every parent's nightmare," said Ritter, who is a father himself. "You send your children off to college hoping they're gonna be safe, and even when you do everything to put them in a safe environment, some absolute maniac can sneak into their home in the middle of the night and kill them in an apparently random attack."
Karen Read’s second murder trial reopened one of the most divisive and closely watched legal battles in recent memory. She had fervent supporters, who believed her defense's theory that she had been framed, as well as outspoken critics, who noted that no one but her has been accused by any law enforcement agency of killing John O'Keefe.
"The Karen Read case was about far more than a tragic death outside a Boston-area home," said Royal Oakes, a Los Angeles-based attorney who played a key role in a judge's decision to allow cameras in the courtroom during OJ Simpson's murder trial in the 1990s. "It became a referendum on police credibility, investigative integrity and whether a defendant can get a fair trial when law enforcement itself is accused of circling the wagons."
EVIDENCE SHOWS DEADLY BROWN, MIT SHOOTINGS MAY BE LINKED, SOURCES SAY: REPORT
With new jurors, renewed scrutiny and sloppy police work, the retrial appeared to put the investigation itself on trial alongside Read.
"The case exploded nationally because it blended true crime with institutional distrust," Oakes said. "The defense didn’t just argue reasonable doubt — they argued a cover-up. That turns a homicide trial into a broader test of public faith in the justice system."
Her first trial, which ended with a hung jury, led to disciplinary action against Massachusetts State Police homicide investigators, an independent review of the local police department and the firing of the lead detective.
The second time around, Read was acquitted of all homicide-related charges in the death of her Boston police officer boyfriend, O'Keefe, and sentenced to a year of probation for drunken driving.
"Karen Read’s trial mattered because it illustrated a growing trend: juries are increasingly skeptical of law enforcement narratives," Oakes said. "This case will be cited for years as an example of institutional doubt in criminal prosecutions."
While Jeffrey Epstein died in 2019 and Luigi Mangione is accused of killing UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson last year, both names continued to dominate headlines in 2025.
EX-FBI AGENT TURNED UVU PROFESSOR BREAKS DOWN THE EVIDENCE TRAIL TYLER ROBINSON LEFT FOR DETECTIVES
Each case fueled broader debates about power, privilege and accountability — for different reasons.
Epstein, who was accused of sex trafficking and victimizing hundreds of women and girls for himself and his rich and powerful friends, has only one convicted accomplice, his former lover Ghislaine Maxwell. She is still fighting her conviction from inside a Texas prison camp.
Mangione, on the other hand, is accused of killing Thompson to send a message about what his supporters see as corruption in the U.S. health insurance industry.
ALLEGED CHARLIE KIRK ASSASSIN TYLER ROBINSON TO MAKE FIRST IN-PERSON COURT APPEARANCE
Mangione has pleaded not guilty to a slew of charges in New York, Pennsylvania and at the federal level. None of his cases have gone to trial yet.
Claudio Manuel Neves-Valente, a 48-year-old Portuguese national with a green card, killed two Brown University students and injured nine more during a finals week study session, according to police in Providence, Rhode Island.
Then he drove 50 miles away to the home of a leading nuclear physicist who worked at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and gunned him down inside two days later, federal prosecutors said.
Neves-Valente had briefly attended Brown in the early 2000s and went to the same Portuguese college as Nuno Loureiro before that, but a motive remains unclear. Police found him dead of a self-inflicted gunshot wound in a storage unit in New Hampshire on Dec. 18.
The violence reignited debate over security, surveillance and whether open campuses are prepared for modern threats.
Looking back at the sports gambling controversies throughout 2025, with NBA and MLB investigations leading way
Over the years, as sports gambling has become more of a norm, lines have been crossed.
In 2023, several NFL players were suspended for multiple games for violating the league's gambling policy. Later that year, Iowa and Iowa State athletes were punished. A year later, Shohei Ohtani found himself in controversy after millions of dollars under his name were paid for gambling debts. Ultimately, the FBI found it was his former interpreter, Ippei Mizuhara, stealing his money to pay off his own losses.
That April, NBA player Jontay Porter was permanently banned from the NBA after withdrawing early from games to get out from under large gambling debts so he and his co-conspirators could win bets on his performance.
But this year, the FBI's involvement grew as higher-profile athletes were accused of serious wrongdoing.
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Arguably the largest takedown was of three NBA figures tied to an investigation with La Cosa Nostra. Terry Rozier, Chauncey Billups and Damon Jones were all arrested in October and charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and money laundering.
Rozier was placed on leave and under investigation by the NBA in February, stemming from a game in 2023 in which he played less than 10 minutes for the Charlotte Hornets. Rozier is alleged to have told a childhood friend, Deniro Laster, that he would take himself out of a game early, citing an injury so Laster could place wagers based on the information.
Neither Hornets officials nor betting companies were made aware of Rozier's plan, according to the indictment, and Rozier was not listed on the team's injury report. Laster allegedly sold that information to other co-conspirators, and numerous people placed wagers totaling roughly $200,000 on Rozier's "under" prop bets to hit in both parlay and straight wagers. After Rozier played just nine minutes and never returned, the bets won. Rozier and Laster counted cash winnings at Rozier's home in Charlotte roughly a week later, the indictment says.
Billups, the Portland Trail Blazers head coach, and Jones, a former player and coach, are alleged to have knowingly participated in rigged poker games. Billups and Jones were allegedly dubbed as "face cards," which an indictment stated were "members of the Cheating Teams and received a portion of the criminal proceeds in exchange for their participation in the scheme." The scheme resulted in victims losing at least $7.15 million, dating back to April 2019, according to the Department of Justice.
Billups is not listed in the sports betting scandal that led to the arrest of Rozier. However, the DOJ mentioned a Trail Blazers–Chicago Bulls matchup on March 24, 2023, the day after Rozier's alleged wrongdoings, in which a co-conspirator, "an NBA coach at the time," allegedly told a longtime friend, who is also a defendant in the rigged poker scheme, that the Blazers would be "tanking" that night for a better draft pick and would sit some of the team's best players. The resting of the players had not yet been public information. The team's top four scorers, including Damian Lillard, all did not play that night, as other co-conspirators allegedly wagered more than $100,000 total against Portland. The "co-conspirator" in question is listed as a former NBA player whose career spanned from "approximately 1997 through 2014" and "an NBA coach since at least 2021." Only Billups fits that criterion.
Jones is alleged to have told someone close to him that a "prominent" player on the Lakers would not play on Feb. 9, 2023, before the information was public and told the person to make a "big bet" on their opponent. The DOJ says the player was eventually ruled out with a lower-body injury — ESPN has reported that the player in question is LeBron James, who was ruled out with an ankle injury. The game in question took place two days after James scored 38 points to become the NBA's all-time leading scorer. Jones also allegedly gave apparent inside information about another "one of the Lakers' best players" 11 months later regarding an injury that was likely to affect his performance, which ultimately backfired as the player "performed well" and the Lakers won.
The three figures have all pleaded not guilty, while Rozier and Billups remain on administrative leave.
Weeks later, the FBI announced the arrests of Cleveland Guardians pitchers Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz, who were placed on leave by Major League Baseball over the summer.
Officials said in an indictment that, from May 2023 to June 2025, Clase agreed with one co-conspirator to "throw specific pitches in certain MLB games" so that the bettors they were allegedly partnered with "would profit from illegal wagers made based on that inside information." Ortiz allegedly joined the scheme in June 2025.
SPORTS TEAMS THAT WERE CROWNED CHAMPIONS IN 2025
The indictment said Clase conferred with one bettor to throw a ball on the first pitch of an at-bat when he was brought into games in relief. The indictment pointed to instances in specific games, including May 19, 2023, vs. the New York Mets; June 2, 2023, vs. the Minnesota Twins; and June 7, 2023, vs. the Boston Red Sox.
Clase allegedly began to request and receive bribes and kickback payments for agreeing to throw the specific pitches in April, according to the indictment. In one instance, Clase allegedly used his phone in the middle of a game to coordinate with a bettor on a pitch he would throw. Bettors allegedly won $400,000 from betting platforms on pitches thrown by Clase between 2023 and 2025.
When Ortiz allegedly joined the scheme, the indictment said he agreed to throw balls over strikes on certain pitches in exchange for bribes or kickbacks. He allegedly agreed to throw a ball on June 15, against the Seattle Mariners for around $5,000 in his first pitch in the second inning. The indictment said Ortiz agreed to throw a ball on June 27, against the St. Louis Cardinals for $7,000 in his first pitch of the third inning.
The FBI also busted an illegal sports betting ring allegedly operated by Joseph M. "Little Joe" Perna, identified as a member of the Lucchese crime family, in New Jersey, in which two of the 14 arrested were former NCAA wrestlers. Both former wrestlers were charged with racketeering in the first degree, money laundering by promoting in the first degree, conspiracy in the second degree, promoting gambling by bookmaking in the third degree, and possession of gambling records in the third degree.
MLB aannounced in February that it had fired longtime umpire Pat Hoberg for sharing his legal sports gambling accounts with a friend who bet on baseball games and intentionally deleting electronic messages pertinent to the league’s investigation. The league opened up a probe into Hoberg last February after a sportsbook brought it to the attention of officials.
The league said that while the probe didn’t uncover evidence he personally bet on baseball or manipulated games, MLB senior vice president Michael Hill recommended on May 24 that Hoberg be fired. Hoberg didn’t umpire last season. MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred upheld Hill's decision.
In September, three Division I college basketball players, Mykell Robinson, Steven Vasquez and Jalen Weaver, were permanently banned from the NCAA for allegedly betting on their own games. The NCAA declared the three players bet on each other's games and/or provided information that enabled others to do so during the 2024-25 regular season and that two of them even manipulated their performances to ensure certain bets were won.
Thirty-nine states, Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico currently have some form of legalized sports gambling. So, it's hard to imagine that we've seen anything but the tip of the iceberg.
Fox News' Ryan Gaydos and Jackson Thompson contributed to this report.
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Top 5 'golden' visa destinations that elitists eyed for residency in 2025
So-called "golden" visas enjoyed a boom in popularity among America’s wealthiest over the past year.
Mo Bennis, an associate vice president at Arton Capital, a global financial advisory and consultancy firm, told Fox News Digital that many Americans realized these special visas represent "the ultimate insurance policy against uncertainty."
Bennis shared the top five destinations his firm observed people flocking to throughout 2025 — here are details.
PARADISE TRAVEL DESTINATION SEE 'GOLDEN' VISA BOOM, ROLLS OUT BRAND NEW OFFERING
Portugal’s LXL Ventures Fund offers a five-year residence-by-investment program for non-EU nationals.
The special visa allows people to live, work and study in Portugal, along with enjoying visa-free travel across the Schengen Area.
"Portugal continues to be the benchmark for golden visas. Even with longer processing timelines, it remains one of the most effortless ways to secure EU residency," said Bennis, "particularly through fund-based options with minimal physical presence requirements. For many investors, the long-term citizenship pathway far outweighs any short-term hurdles."
LATEST GULF STATE LAUNCHES 'GOLDEN RESIDENCY' PROGRAM TO LURE WEALTHY AMERICANS
Visas require only an average of seven days per year spent in Portugal, per the program.
Lisbon-based Vida Capital saw a 571% increase in traffic from the U.S. in the first half of 2025 compared to the first half of 2024, Forbes reported.
Greece "clearly" has been a breakout "golden" visa story of 2025, said Bennis.
"Lower entry thresholds, faster processing and a straightforward real estate route have made it especially attractive to investors who want clarity, speed and lifestyle in one package," said Bennis.
Greece offers a two-tier system with a minimum real estate investment of about $600,000 in high-demand areas such as Athens and about $300,000 for most other regions, according to the law.
"Golden" visa holders can travel visa free across the Schengen Area.
AMERICA'S ELITE LEAD BOOM OF ‘GOLDEN' VISA APPLICATIONS TO VACATION DESTINATION
Bennis said the "UAE has firmly established itself as the leading non-European alternative."
He added, "Many high-net-worth individuals are prioritizing long-term residency, tax efficiency and stability over passports, and the UAE golden visa delivers all three with exceptional speed."
There is a 0% income tax imposed on corporations and employees in the UAE.
To qualify for the UAE golden visa as an investor, you must make a substantial financial investment — such as placing at least $545,000 in a UAE fund or business, or holding an ownership share of similar value in a company.
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The visa lasts for 10 years.
Arton Capital’s Passport Index ranked the UAE as the most stable, providing freedom of mobility.
"Malta continues to attract families looking for a premium and legally robust EU residency," said Bennis.
"One of its strongest advantages is the flexibility to include adult children as dependents, which is increasingly important for multi-generational planning."
Visa holders must either purchase a property for at least about $410,000 in Malta, or rent a property for about $14,000 per year in Malta.
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The property must be held for at least five years, and the person must make a direct contribution to the government of Malta of about $68,000 if renting or about $33,000 if purchasing.
"As 2025 winds down and attention turns to 2026, Botswana stands out as a clear signal of Africa’s rise as a strategic destination," said Bennis.
While the Botswana government does not publish a fixed minimum investment amount, those interested must prove a real business investment.
"While the impact citizenship program is expected to open in Q1 of 2026, interest has already exceeded 1,000 applicants, with U.S. nationals now the largest group," Bennis added.
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"Investors are drawn by political stability, strong governance and the appeal of being early in a credible, well-structured program."
LIZ PEEK: Five unforgettable lessons we all learned in 2025, but some Democrats still didn’t
Americans — celebrate 2025! The year we found out that Democrats have been wrong about nearly everything and that common-sense Americans were right all along.
Think that’s an exaggeration? Consider:
Climate alarmism is dead. It turns out we need oil and gas;
LET'S TEACH OUR KIDS WHY AMERICA IS WORTH FIGHTING FOR
Perhaps the most consequential change of 2025 was the long-overdue realization that climate alarmism is possibly more dangerous than climate change. When even billionaire Bill Gates, long-time climate crusader, hangs up his spikes, something profound has shifted. Gates recently wrote a memo admitting climate change "will not lead to humanity’s demise;" the welcome dose of realism from one of the world’s richest human beings comes only a year after he penned a book entitled "How to Avoid a Climate Disaster."
Look how blue state officials are running pell-mell away from climate mandates that have driven electricity costs higher and infuriated voters.
Exhibit one is New York Democrat Gov. Kathy Hochul, who recently lifted the damaging de facto ban on natural gas pipeline construction imposed by her predecessor, former Gov. Andrew Cuomo.
DEFINING FAIR PLAY: WHY SWING-STATE DEMOCRATS ARE OUT OF STEP ON PROTECTING WOMEN’S SPORTS
After clinging to Cuomo’s disastrous climate agenda for years and watching New York’s electricity rates soar to 40% above the national average, Hochul approved key permits for the Williams Northeast Supply Enhancement (NESE) natural gas pipeline in November, infuriating climate warriors. Hochul said energy needs and grid reliability dictated the change. For a woman who wants to outlaw gas stoves, it was quite an about-face.
Both Gates and Hochul are in step with the corporate community, which has quietly abandoned environmental goals, as the need for power to fuel AI data banks reigns supreme. The reality is that trillions of dollars of investment in renewable fuels has barely reduced demand for oil, gas and coal.
Also, the cost to western nations of suffocating their economies to reduce carbon emissions has become too high, especially since China, India and other developing nations are today’s biggest emitters and abide by no such regulations. As Gates wrote, the emphasis needs to be on improving lives – both here and around the world – not blindly trying to curb fossil fuels.
HIGH-RANKING DEMOCRATS ADMIT TO KNOWINGLY ABANDONING WOMEN
Under President Joe Biden, Democrats spent trillions of dollars unnecessarily, boosting our deficits relative to the economy to levels never before seen except during major wars. The gusher of cash not only fed decades-high inflation, it also opened the door to mammoth fraud, with hundreds of billions of taxpayer dollars going missing.
More recently, the nation has discovered a still-developing scandal where the Somali community in Minnesota allegedly stole as much as $9 billion in funds meant to feed hungry children and house the homeless.
Democrats (and sometimes Republicans) hope to attract voters by doling out money; they know that if citizens become dependent on lavish handouts, they will vote to keep the good times rolling.
But someone has to pay for free stuff; that poor sod is the taxpayer, who eventually rebels. As blue states jack taxes higher to feed their welfare machines, they bleed businesses and residents who flee to lower-tax locales like Florida and Texas. Bottom line, Big Government does not work. Never has, never will.
Early on, President Donald Trump reversed what he called the "illegal and immoral" DEI programs that Biden had required be implemented in every corner of the federal government. Biden’s executive order, "Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities Through the Federal Government" demanded nearly every federal agency — including air traffic control and the military — submit "Equity Action Plans," which led to "immense public waste and shameful discrimination."
Inspired by the president’s pushback against the virtue-signaling programs, corporations, aware that such efforts divide their employees and stoke resentment, quietly let DEI fall by the wayside.
In February, Accenture’s CEO wrote a memo to staff indicating the huge professional services firm was shelving its DEI program since it had "largely achieved its goals" and "we are and always have been a meritocracy." Dozens of companies, including Pepsico, Disney, Blackrock, McDonald's, Ford, Walmart and others, followed suit.
In 2016, Harvard Business School published a report on "Why Diversity Programs Fail", revealing that decades of mandated diversity efforts had made little progress because, studies showed, "force-feeding can activate bias rather than stamp it out." That remains the case today.
You would think it obvious that putting more cops on the beat brings down crime. But leftists in the U.S. insist, based on ideology rather than common sense or evidence, that law enforcement is the problem and not the cure.
THE FAR LEFT HAVE TAKEN CONTROL OF THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY PLATFORM, AND IT’S TURNING VOTERS OFF
Trump deployed the National Guard to the streets of D.C., and they became safer. Hochul activated the National Guard to protect New York’s subways, and, not surprisingly, they became less dangerous. This is not rocket science.
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Allowing young people to permanently change their gender is an atrocity that has blessedly been outlawed in much of Europe and is now restricted in 27 states. Because there remains a group in the U.S. weirdly dedicated to promoting this heinous activity, activists continue to push for its legality. They are suing to overturn the Supreme Court’s ruling in United States v. Skrmetti that a Tennessee law banning gender-affirming care did not constitute sex-based discrimination and did not violate the U.S. Constitution.
The left is adamant that underage kids, often without the knowledge of their parents, should be able to mutilate their own bodies and permanently destroy their reproductive capabilities. It is hard to imagine a crueler campaign.
Happily, common sense prevailed on these five issues during 2025. Let us hope that 2026 continues the trend, perhaps delivering wisdom on the recklessness of open borders and the disgrace of our public education system and the complicit teachers unions.
Meanwhile, we have much to celebrate!