Fox News Latest Headlines
Dave McGinnis, former Cardinals head coach and beloved Titans assistant, dead at 74
Dave McGinnis, a former Arizona Cardinals head coach and Tennessee Titans assistant coach, died on Monday. He was 74.
The Titans announced the death of McGinnis, who died after being hospitalized for an illness in early March. The Titans’ news release said that he passed away at Ascension St. Thomas Midtown Hospital with his family by his side.
"My heart aches with the loss of Coach Mac, who was so much more than a coach and broadcaster – he was family," Titans owner Amy Adams Strunk said in a statement.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM
Cardinals owner Michael Bidwell also released a statement on McGinnis.
"As Dave often said, he was a ‘ball coach’ through and through, and no one ever filled that role with more passion, enthusiasm and charisma," Bidwell said. "Coach Mac truly loved the game and everything – and everyone – associated with it, especially his players. He was one of a kind and will be greatly missed."
McGinnis found himself in an interim head coaching role during the 2000 season with the Cardinals, the team for which he served as defensive coordinator in 1996. He was retained in the head coaching post from 2001-03.
KIM WOOD, NFL'S FIRST FULL-TIME STRENGTH COACH AND WEIGHT-TRAINING PIONEER, DEAD AT 80
In 57 career games, McGinnis went 17-40 with the Cardinals, ultimately being fired after a 4-12 season in 2003.
After he was fired, McGinnis landed with the Titans as a linebackers coach under head coach Jeff Fisher. He would become a mainstay in Nashville, holding that role and eventually being promoted to assistant head coach until 2011.
"Coach Mac gave so much of himself to this organization over the years, and his passion, loyalty and love for the Titans never wavered," Strunk added. "He cared deeply about the people around him, and that kindness and authenticity left a lasting impact on everyone who knew him. He held a very special place in our family, and his presence in our lives and within this franchise will never be forgotten. We will miss him dearly, and we will always be grateful for the legacy he leaves behind."
McGinnis’s coaching career began in 1973 when he was an assistant with TCU. He also held posts with Indiana State, Missouri and Kansas State until the 1986 season when he broke into the NFL with the Chicago Bears.
McGinnis served as linebackers coach for Chicago from 1986-95 before getting a promotion with the Cardinals. He also held roles with the St. Louis/Los Angeles Rams before leaving coach after the 2016 campaign.
McGinnis returned to Nashville to join Titans Radio in 2017, where he served as a color announcer for games.
"I love Dave McGinnis, and I don't know that I've met anybody who was created for football, and a football life, more than Coach Mac," said Burke Nihill, president and CEO of the Titans. "He just loved the game. Obviously, he played it for a long time and coached it for longer, and with everything he has done for us over the years as color commentator and a Titans personality. He lived such a special football life. He was such a special guy.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.
Lena Dunham says her dad didn’t want to be seen voting with her in Obama election
Lena Dunham recalls her own father not wanting to be seen at the voting booths with her during the 2012 Barack Obama versus Mitt Romney election.
On "The Interview" podcast, Dunham recalled that once she began receiving hate online, it affected even her personal relationships.
"I remember there was a day, and this is not in the book, where I was going to vote with my father. And I had been campaigning for Obama. It was 2012. And I remember he said, 'I don't know if I wanna go vote with Lena Dunham,'" she recalled.
"And I was like my father thinks going to vote with me is going to signal something," Dunham continued.
The actress and producer said that her father is her "best friend in the world," so him wanting to not be seen with her in public was the moment she understood "something was going on here."
In 2012, Dunham faced offline drama for her HBO series, "Girls," which she wrote and starred in. At the time, viewers were unhappy with the lack of racial inclusivity and the economic privilege that was highlighted in the show that aired for five years.
CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE ENTERTAINMENT NEWSLETTER
Speaking on the New York Times' podcast, Dunham believes the negativity she received from the series stemmed from people disliking her as a person.
"I'm going to say something that's going to sound like a cop out. And I don't, but I can only phrase it this way. I have annoyed people since I was so small. Like, I was an annoying kid," she said.
Dunham believes that, paired with the intense female sexuality on the show, led to unhappy viewers.
LIKE WHAT YOU’RE READING? CLICK HERE FOR MORE ENTERTAINMENT NEWS
Just before "Girls" premiered in 2012, old racially insensitive tweets that Dunham wrote resurfaced.
Over the years, Dunham has found herself in several controversies. Dunham compared producer Judd Apatow’s "obsession" with the rape allegations against Bill Cosby to an obsession with the Holocaust. She compared online hate from blogs to domestic violence, and she compared President Donald Trump to Dylann Roof, the man who murdered nine black churchgoers in Charleston, South Carolina, in 2015 because of their race.
'Smart decision': Swalwell's resignation spurs praise from both parties after bombshell allegations emerge
Rep. Eric Swalwell, D-Calif., announced he was planning to resign from Congress following sexual misconduct allegations, leading top Senate Democrats like Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., to praise the decision.
Meanwhile, Republicans are questioning how much top Democrats knew before the final ball dropped Monday with Swalwell's resignation, which came just days after he suspended his California gubernatorial campaign.
Swalwell said Monday that he was "deeply sorry" to his family, staff and constituents for his "mistakes," but stood headstrong in calling the sexual misconduct and abuse allegations against him "false."
"I am aware of efforts to bring an immediate expulsion vote against me and other members," Swalwell said in his announcement. "Expelling anyone from Congress without due process, within days of an allegation being made, is wrong. But, it's also wrong for my constituents to have me distracted from my duties. Therefore, I plan to resign my seat in Congress."
"It was a good decision," added Sen. Peter Welch, D-Vt., when asked about Swalwell's resignation. "You don't have to be a rocket science to figure that out. It's terrible – what has been alleged."
Sen. Alex Padilla, D-Calif., reportedly told CNN that he thought Swalwell made the right decision.
Swalwell's decision to resign keeps Democrats from having to vote on a contentious resolution to expel Swalwell, which was expected to happen if he had not resigned.
"With a criminal investigation in the works, the move will avoid the need to answer questions immediately in an ethics investigation that might present legal dangers," George Washington University professor and Fox News legal analyst Jonathan Turley pointed out. "Few defense attorneys would relish a client responding to an open-ended ethics investigation when the outcome seems likely expulsion."
When asked whether she had requested Swalwell resign, Pelosi reportedly responded, "Oh, I think that was his decision. I think it's a smart decision to make," according to Politico.
Furthermore, when asked whether she had any previous idea about the sexual misconduct allegations, Pelosi responded, "none whatsoever," Politico also noted. Sen. Ruben Gallego, D-Ariz., a longtime friend and colleague of Arizona who faced heat for defending him, said minutes before Swalwell's resignation that he "had no knowledge of the allegations of assault, harassment, and predatory behavior against Eric Swalwell."
Warren, who ran against Swalwell during the pairs' bids for the presidency, said she is "glad that [Swalwell] will be gone," adding that "people who are in positions of power and authority over others need to be held accountable when they take advantage of that position."
Within an hour after Swalwell's announcement that he would resign, one of Swalwell's colleagues in the House of Representatives, Rep. Tony Gonzalez, R-Texas, followed suit and announced he was resigning as well amid sexual misconduct allegations.
"There is a season for everything and God has a plan for us all. When Congress returns tomorrow, I will file my retirement from office. It has been my privilege to serve the great people of Texas," Gonzales said.
Gonzalez last month said he would not run for reelection, so it is uncertain what may change. If Gonzalez and Swalwell left tomorrow, the slim margin in the House between Republicans and Democrats would not change.
Republican reactions to Swalwell's resignation Monday mirrored the praise from Democrats. Republican frontrunner in the California gubernatorial race, Steve Hilton, also slammed "career politicians" for letting Swalwell "get away with it."
"Of course Eric Swalwell had to drop out of the California governor's race. The question is, why was he ever in it, knowing he had all this going on?" Hilton told Fox News Digital.
"First smart thing he’s done," said Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C., who added that Gonzales "needs to follow his lead" right before he actually did.
"Eric, you did the right thing by resigning. However, don’t you dare say there weren’t grounds for your expulsion, because there absolutely were," Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, R-Fla., said after Swalwell's announcement he would be resigning. "He made the correct decision, but there still needs to be a full-fledged criminal investigation. Based on what I’m hearing, he may go to jail."
Other Republicans questioned how much Democrats knew before the allegations of sexual misconduct became public against Swalwell.
"The mainstream media doesn’t attack a Democrat unless it helps a separate Democrat. It’s axiomatic. The Swalwell episode proves that in technicolor," John Ashbrook, a co-host of the "Ruthless" podcast told Fox News Digital. "If he wasn’t jeopardizing their party’s ability to hold the California Governor’s mansion, none of them would have said a word."
"Eric Swalwell should've been removed from Congress long ago, yet Democrats rallied around him over and over even after it was shown he was compromised by a Chinese spy," added Republican strategist Mark Bednar, who has worked for former Speaker Kevin McCarthy and current Transportation Secretary and former Congressman Sean Duffy. "The real questions for Democrats close to him are what did they know, when did they know it, and will they question then-Speaker Pelosi's judgment regarding Swalwell’s committee assignments?"
Hilton echoed Bednar's questions about how much top Democrats knew.
"Machine politicians and unions that endorsed Swalwell and threw money at him — they knew about his past. It was an open secret on Capitol Hill and Sacramento. Nancy Pelosi, Adam Schiff, the teacher unions, SEIU — they are all totally full of it with their fake outrage and condemnation," Hilton told Fox News Digital. "California is ruled by a corrupt Democrat elite that is collapsing into chaos, sleaze and scandal. That's why the Swalwell stand-ins that they send to run against me in the general election, whether it's Katie Porter or Tom Steyer, will be no better."
Los Angeles hotel industry 'struggling' under wage mandate signed by Mayor Karen Bass, new survey finds
Hotels in Los Angeles, California are struggling, a new report from industry researchers claimed in a new report.
"Hotels are struggling to keep up with rising operating costs coupled with falling demand," the American Hotel and Lodging Association (AHLA) researchers said last week.
According to AHLA, the city’s minimum wage mandate and other policies led to increased "costs without flexibility to reflect market conditions and demand levels."
A phased-in minimum wage hike in Los Angeles mandated up to $30 per hour for airport and hotel workers. The law was signed into law last year by Mayor Karen Bass, mandating that their hourly wage must be raised by $2.50 each year until they reach $30 in 2028.
DAVID SPADE WONDERS IF HOLLYWOOD CAN RECOVER ITS MOVIE INDUSTRY AS PEOPLE FLEE LOS ANGELES
The AHLA is the largest hotel association in America, representing more than 30,000 members from all segments of the industry nationwide. Its methodology stated it was a "member survey of Los Angeles hotel operators and owners" that featured "16 questions in multiple-choice, select-all-that-apply, and ranking formats."
The report claimed that the policies led to reduced hiring and cuts in labor hours. Other issues that arose included delayed or canceled hotel investment and development, reduced airline operations and restaurant closures.
"The report finds that hotels across Los Angeles are facing increasing financial and operational pressure as rising labor and operating costs outpace revenue growth, noting that development is slowing, investment is shifting to other markets, and some hotels have closed or delayed expansion plans," the report stated.
The report found that none of the members believe Los Angeles is a favorable environment to make investments and 80% said that the city is not a good place for long-term hotel investment. Almost all the members surveyed said that rolling back the regulations would make the city’s market more attractive.
TAX AND RUN: HOW NY AND CALIFORNIA ARE BLEEDING PEOPLE AND PROSPERITY
AHLA said that hotels are the backbone of Los Angeles’ tourism economy, investing millions of dollars in the city every year.
"Los Angeles hotels generate $12.5 billion in annual economic activity, support nearly 64,000 jobs, and produce more than $1.1 billion in state and local tax revenue that funds essential public services," according to the report.
This isn't the first time the AHLA has released a report showing adverse effects of the minimum wage mandate after Bass signed it into law. The AHLA previously commissioned another study that found hotels have eliminated or expect to eliminate 6% of positions, roughly 650 jobs, since the Hotel Worker Minimum Wage Ordinance took effect in September.
The Los Angeles City Council and Mayor Bass' office did not respond to Fox News Digital's requests for comment.
US military kills 2 suspected cartel operatives in latest Eastern Pacific lethal strike, SOUTHCOM says
The U.S. military carried out another lethal strike targeting suspected cartel operatives in the Eastern Pacific on Monday, killing two individuals believed to be involved in narcotics trafficking, according to U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM).
"Applying total systemic friction on the cartels," SOUTHCOM said in a post on X. "On April 13, at the direction of #SOUTHCOM commander Gen. Francis L. Donovan, Joint Task Force Southern Spear conducted a lethal kinetic strike on a vessel operated by Designated Terrorist Organizations.
"Intelligence confirmed the vessel was transiting along known narco-trafficking routes in the Eastern Pacific and was engaged in narco-trafficking operations," the post continued. "Two male narco-terrorists were killed during this action. No U.S. military forces were harmed."
The strike comes two days after SOUTHCOM conducted similar operations against two other suspected vessels operated by designated groups.
US, ECUADOR LAUNCH JOINT OPERATIONS TARGETING NARCO-TERROR GROUPS: SOUTHCOM
Officials said intelligence confirmed those vessels were traveling along known drug trafficking routes in the Eastern Pacific and were actively engaged in narcotics operations.
Two men were killed in the first strike and three in the second, while one individual survived the initial attack.
SOUTHCOM said it immediately called on the U.S. Coast Guard to conduct search and rescue operations for the lone survivor. No U.S. forces were injured in either operation.
The operations are part of a broader U.S. military effort to disrupt cartel-linked trafficking networks at sea, with officials increasingly describing such groups using terrorism-related designations.
The strikes were carried out under Joint Task Force Southern Spear, an ongoing mission focused on targeting transnational criminal organizations operating along key maritime drug routes in the region.
The Eastern Pacific remains a major corridor for narcotics trafficking, where cartels frequently rely on small, fast-moving vessels to transport drugs north toward the U.S. and Central America.
US KILLS 11 IN 3 STRIKES ON ALLEGED DRUG-RUNNING BOATS
The use of the term "Designated Terrorist Organizations" reflects a more aggressive posture by the Trump administration, which has expanded the use of military force against suspected narcotics traffickers beyond traditional law enforcement approaches.
SOUTHCOM has not released additional details about the identities of those killed or the specific groups involved.
The command is responsible for military operations in Central and South America and the Caribbean, including counter-narcotics missions aimed at disrupting drug trafficking networks that threaten U.S. interests.
The U.S. has carried out dozens of strikes on suspected drug-smuggling vessels in recent months as part of a broader campaign to dismantle cartel-linked trafficking operations and increase pressure on transnational criminal organizations.
Fox News Digital's Alex Nitzberg contributed to this report.
Ro Khanna confronted by voter on California immigration policies in Jubilee appearance
Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., faced off with a speaker identified as "Marien" during a Jubilee debate on Sunday, where the two debated immigration policy, public safety, and accountability for elites tied to the Jeffrey Epstein scandal.
Marien framed her concerns around personal safety and government priorities, arguing Democratic policies pose a great threat to everyday Americans.
"My frustration is as a regular everyday American citizen, I feel that I am more likely to be harmed by Democratic policies such as open borders," Marien said.
The exchange reflected a broader debate over immigration enforcement, crime, and policy priorities, with Khanna advocating reform alongside border security as critics pointed to gaps in California’s approach.
ANGEL MOM, GOP BLAME SPANBERGER AFTER ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT WITH 30 ARRESTS CHARGED IN KILLING
"In your state, something like 4,600 or so illegal migrants that had criminal records were re-released from jail," Marien said. "So when we're talking about harming Americans, when we're talking about children potentially being harmed, when we're looking into child trafficking, we have to acknowledge that illegal migration is the biggest funnel for child trafficking."
Khanna responded by reiterating his position on border security while shifting focus toward enforcement priorities.
"I’m for secure borders," Khanna said. "We have been for a secure border."
The debate also touched on differing perceptions of enforcement in California, with Marien rejecting Khanna’s characterization of Democratic positions.
"No one in California can say that they’re for a secure border," Marien said.
DEMOCRATS HAMMER ICE FOR ARRESTING 2 AT SAN FRANCISCO AIRPORT
At another point, Khanna said he was opposed to ICE "putting terror in communities."
"I feel comfortable with ICE… I’m not terrorized by them," Marien said.
The conversation expanded beyond immigration to include accountability standards in cases tied to Epstein, as both participants debated how allegations should be handled.
Marien stressed the importance of due process and a high evidentiary standard before punishment.
"I am very much pro any abuser being in jail, but I'm also pro the complete burden of proof," Marien said.
Swalwell's 'best friend' in Congress turns on him after bombshell allegations torpedo his political career
One of Rep. Eric Swalwell's, D-Calif., closest friends in Congress is putting distance between himself and the lawmaker, contending he had no idea about the bombshell accusations of sexual assault that have surfaced against the former gubernatorial candidate.
"I want to be clear: I had no knowledge of the allegations of assault, harassment, and predatory behavior against Eric Swalwell," Sen. Ruben Gallego, D-Ariz., said in a statement.
"The women who have come forward have shown courage," he continued. "They deserve to be believed, to be supported, and to see justice served."
HOUSE REPUBLICAN PLANS MOTION TO OUST SWALWELL FROM CONGRESS AMID SEXUAL ASSAULT ALLEGATIONS
Gallego's turn on Swalwell came just minutes before the lawmaker announced his resignation from Congress.
He already pulled his endorsement of Swalwell’s now-defunct bid for governor shortly after the bombshell San Francisco Chronicle report was published, and said the lawmaker was "no longer fit to be a member of Congress" and supported the push to expel him from the lower chamber.
It’s the culmination of a swift about-face for Gallego, who has signaled a desire for a 2028 presidential bid and was once described by Swalwell as his "best friend in the world."
The pair have been friends since Gallego’s time in the House and both came under fire for photos that surfaced of the duo riding shirtless on camels in Qatar as part of a private trip in 2021. And just days ago, Gallego defended Swalwell online.
PELOSI, CALIFORNIA DEMS SLAM SWALWELL OVER BOMBSHELL SEXUAL ASSAULT ALLEGATIONS: 'INDEFENSIBLE'
"When you are in first place, is when they target you," Gallego said on X. "Eric is a fighter and he will win the Governors race."
Now, Gallego said he doesn’t know his once close friend.
"I trusted someone who I believed was a friend, but it is now clear that he is not the person I thought I knew," Gallego said.
ERIC SWALWELL EXITS CALIFORNIA GOVERNOR RACE APOLOGIZING FOR PAST JUDGMENT WHILE DENYING CLAIMS
Swalwell resigned from the House Monday night after ending his gubernatorial campaign in California, a move that was spurred by the San Francisco Chronicle's report that detailed allegations of sexual assault against him.
He currently faces allegations of sexual assault and misconduct from a former staffer and three other women.
In the House, Swalwell faced pressure from his colleagues to resign. That comes as the House Ethics Committee launched a probe against him and a campaign to expel him, and others, from the chamber was gaining steam.
"I am aware of efforts to bring an immediate expulsion vote against me and other members. Expelling anyone in Congress without due process, within days of an allegation being made, is wrong," Swalwell said in a statement. "But it's also wrong for my constituents to have me distracted from my duties. Therefore, I plan to resign my seat in Congress."
Dick Vitale announces fifth cancer diagnosis as biopsy confirms melanoma in his lung and liver cavity
College basketball legendary broadcaster Dick Vitale announced he is battling cancer yet again.
The 86-year-old announced Monday that a biopsy confirmed he has melanoma in his lung and liver cavity, and he is immediately beginning immunotherapy to combat it.
This is the fifth time Vitale has been diagnosed with cancer, and melanoma is one he has had before.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM
"I’ve beaten melanoma," Vitale said in a statement released by ESPN. "I’ve beaten lymphoma. I’ve beaten vocal-cord cancer. I’ve beaten lymph-node cancer. I’m 4 for 4 and I’m fully confident I’m going to make it 5 for 5."
Vitale made a separate social media post on Monday, where he said he had gone through days of testing, which included scans, MRIs, bloodwork and the biopsy to confirm what doctors believed was cancer yet again.
ESPN STAR RIPS ICONIC COLLEGE BASKETBALL TEAM WITH $22M ROSTER FOR DISAPPOINTING SEASON
"I obviously did not get the report today that I was hoping for when my oncologist called," Vitale said. "Now at least I know what I face."
"Dickie V" is one of the most established broadcasters in American sports, providing countless memorable calls through his natural enthusiasm for the game and moments on the hardwood.
Vitale’s impact on college basketball dates to ESPN’s launch in 1979, and he’s close to five decades in the sport with a contract with the "Worldwide Leader" going through the 2027-28 season.
However, health issues arose in 2021 when he was diagnosed with melanoma for the first time. Lymphoma followed, and then he needed chemotherapy and radiation treatments for his vocal cord cancer.
In 2024, he required surgery to remove cancerous lymph nodes from his neck, and Vitale’s iconic voice could not be heard as he was unable to speak for a time after the vocal cord surgery.
But like the other four diagnoses, Vitale remains optimistic and in good spirits, saying he feels "fantastic" and ready to take on yet another battle.
"At 86 years young, I’ve lived a hell of a life, and I’m more motivated than ever to raise money for kids battling cancer," Vitale said.
The New Jersey native spent time coaching at Garfield High School before taking over his alma mater, East Rutherford High School, where he led teams to two New Jersey state titles.
Vitale went on to coach as an assistant at Rutgers before heading to the University of Detroit as their head coach. He remained in the Michigan city to coach its Pistons from 1978-79.
Once he was done coaching the Pistons, Vitale joined ESPN, calling its first-ever college basketball game in 1979, a game where DePaul beat Wisconsin.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.
Alec Baldwin admits he 'doesn’t want to work anymore' after 'Rust' shooting death: 'I want to retire'
Alec Baldwin reflected on his future in the film industry nearly five years after the tragic, on-set death of "Rust" cinematographer Halyna Hutchins.
In July 2024, a Santa Fe judge dismissed the involuntary manslaughter case against Baldwin, 68, for the fatal shooting after ruling that the prosecution concealed evidence from his legal team.
The "30 Rock" actor admitted the "painful" situation changed his entire outlook on his career.
ALEC BALDWIN'S WIFE TURNS TO INSTAGRAM AFTER $20M HAMPTONS HOME SITS UNSOLD FOR YEARS
"We had this incident, this tragedy, in New Mexico, where Halyna Hutchins was killed on the set of the film, and that was unspeakably difficult to deal with," he said on an episode of The Hollywood Reporter's Awards Chatter podcast.
"Because of the situation in New Mexico, which was very painful, I wound up staying home a lot. I was home with my kids for three-and-a-half years — I hardly worked at all — and that’s just changing now."
While Baldwin admitted he's going to "go off and do a bunch of things" now, he also became comfortable playing house with his family.
CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE ENTERTAINMENT NEWSLETTER
"I was home and I got used to it, and I don’t want to leave my house anymore," Baldwin confessed.
"I don’t. I don’t want to work anymore. I don’t. I really don’t. I want to retire and stay home with my kids."
LIKE WHAT YOU’RE READING? CLICK HERE FOR MORE ENTERTAINMENT NEWS
Alec discharged a gun on the set of "Rust" in New Mexico on Oct. 21, 2021, killing Hutchins and injuring director Joel Souza. Assistant director Dave Halls had told the actor that the gun was a "cold gun," meaning it was unloaded or "not hot," after armorer Hannah Gutierrez Reed had placed the gun on a cart on set.
Gutierrez Reed was convicted of loading a live round into a revolver, which Baldwin fired, killing Hutchins and wounding director Joel Souza.
In July 2024, Hilaria wept alongside her husband when a Santa Fe judge dismissed the involuntary manslaughter case against Alec after ruling that the prosecution had concealed evidence from his legal team.
The couple have seven children together: Carmen Gabriela Rafael Thomas, Leonardo Ángel Charles, Romeo Alejandro David, Eduardo Pao Lucas, María Lucía Victoria, and Ilaria Catalina Irena, 2.
Alec was previously married to model Kim Basinger, and the former couple have one daughter together, Ireland.
JD Vance says the ball is 'in Iran’s court' after Pakistan peace talks stall
Vice President JD Vance said Iran holds the deciding hand in what comes next in the Middle East conflict, while rejecting reports that recent peace talks in Pakistan ended in failure.
Vance’s remarks come after his weekend trip to Pakistan for face-to-face negotiations with Iranian officials – talks that reports suggested produced no breakthrough.
"The ball is very much in their court," Vance told "Special Report" anchor Bret Baier on Monday. "You ask what happens next, I think the Iranians are going to determine what happens next."
Vance said there were "good conversations" during the weekend talks that helped clarify U.S. priorities, including the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial international oil route.
ROBERT MAGINNIS: WHY ISLAMABAD TALKS WERE ALWAYS DOOMED TO FAIL
"I wouldn't just say that things went wrong. I also think things went right. We made a lot of progress," he said.
"They moved in our direction, which is why I think we would say that we had some good signs, but they didn't move far enough."
Vance told Fox News that the Pakistan peace talks ultimately ended because Iranian negotiators were unable to finalize a deal, adding that the discussions revealed insights into who holds decision-making authority in Tehran.
PAKISTANI GENERAL SAYS IRAN DIPLOMACY STILL 'ALIVE, DESPITE US BLOCKADE, FAILED TALKS
"We acquired some knowledge about how the Iranians are negotiating, and this is ultimately why we left Pakistan," he said.
"What we figured out is that they were unable, I think — the team that was there, was unable to cut a deal," he explained. "They had to go back to Tehran, either from the supreme leader or somebody else, and actually get approval to the terms that we had set."
Meanwhile, President Donald Trump instituted a naval blockade of all Iranian ports Monday, following weeks of tensions in which Iran barred U.S. vessels from passing through the Strait of Hormuz.
"What they [Iranians] have done is engage in this act of economic terrorism against the entire world. They’ve basically threatened any ship that's moving through the Straits of Hormuz. Well, as the President of the United States showed, two can play at that game," Vance said.
U.S. navy ships have been ordered to identify and flag any Iran-affiliated vessels traveling through the Strait of Hormuz.
Vance said that given the United States’ ceasefire agreement, he expects Iran to fully reopen the critical trade route, but admitted that it was a goal point that Iranians "tried to move" during the Pakistan talks.
VANCE WARNS IRAN WILL 'FIND OUT' TRUMP IS 'NOT ONE TO MESS AROUND' IF CEASEFIRE DEAL FALLS APART
"We've stopped bombing the country. What we expect the Iranians to give up is a full reopening of the Straits of Hormuz," the vice president told Fox News.
The administration’s strategy to target Iranian ships marks an intensification of its pressure campaign to force Iran into reopening the Strait of Hormuz – this time, by strangling Iran’s ability to transport its own oil.
"If the Iranians are gonna try to engage in economic terrorism, we're gonna abide by a simple principle that no Iranian ships are getting out either," Vance said. "We know that's a big deal to them. We know it applies additional economic leverage."
TRUMP’S IRAN CEASEFIRE ROCKED WITHIN HOURS AMID REPORTED MISSILE, DRONE ATTACKS
Vance said the United States still maintains the upper hand, even as the next move rests with Iran.
"We have the military advantage," the vice president said. "We now have additional economic pressure that we're applying on them through the blockade that we've imposed on their oil coming out of the Straits of Hormuz."
"We have a lot of cards. We have the leverage, and we're going to see what the Iranians do with that," he continued.
Vance also addressed reports that he was skeptical of Trump’s move to launch a war on Iran alongside Israel.
"I give my advice to the President of the United States, and we all do. And I expect that when I give advice to the President of the United States that it's going to be private because the president should rely on his senior advisors without them running to the media."
"What I will say, Bret, is that I 100% agree with the president on the fact that Iran can't have a nuclear weapon."