Fox News Latest Headlines
Trump shares letter from Yankees legend George Steinbrenner, urging him to run for president
President Donald Trump on Sunday shared a letter from the deceased New York Yankees owner George Steinbrenner, urging the real estate mogul to run for office years before his first term.
The letter was dated Feb. 23, 1989, from the Yankees’ office in Tampa, Florida, and addressed to the Trump Organization in New York.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM
"Saw you on Morton Downey the other night," the letter read. "He is a friend, and I watch his show regularly.
"You were great! You tell it like it is. It is like I said to Stephen, you should run for President some day and get the whole damn thing straightened out. You were tremendous on the show."
Trump and Steinbrenner had a close relationship when "the Boss" died in 2010. Trump remembered Steinbrenner fondly.
IOC CHIEF LAMENTS 'DISTRACTING' NEWS CYCLE AHEAD OF 2026 WINTER OLYMPICS
"George was the boss, and he was a great guy," he told EXTRA TV at the time. "More than anything, George Steinbrenner knew how to win. There was no one like him."
Trump added, "He had such a big heart, was someone who'd take care of people. He had a strong heart. I always said, George will never really be appreciated 'til we no longer have him."
The president appeared at a Yankees game on Sept. 11, 2025, and met with players before first pitch.
He watched the game near current team owner Hal Steinbrenner and team president Randy Levine.
Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.
Democratic Maine Senate candidate Graham Platner confronted by MS NOW host about tattoo controversy
Democratic Maine Senate candidate Graham Platner was confronted about his controversial tattoo during an interview on MS NOW on Saturday.
MS NOW's Elise Jordan pressed Platner on a CNN KFile investigation that alleged he previously acknowledged the meaning of his tattoo — identified as the "3rd Panzer," a Nazi military unit linked to concentration camps — despite publicly claiming he was unaware of its significance. Jordan cited Reddit posts that appeared to show Platner discussing and justifying the symbol, saying they conflicted with his account.
"Could you respond to the KFiles, CNN, the big investigation they did that said you did know the meaning of your tattoo — the ‘3rd Panzer,’ the unit that ran the concentration camps?" Jordan asked. "Pretty notorious. You know, like if you’re going to have a Nazi tattoo, it’s like, basically, the worst one you could have. But you said you didn’t know what it was. But then they have all of this documentation of you on Reddit talking about what it is and somehow justifying it."
Platner denied the allegation, calling it "fundamentally not true." He said the tattoo was intended to be a skull-and-crossbones symbol representing his Marine Corps service, which he got while deployed in Croatia with fellow Marines.
REPUBLICAN LAWMAKER DIRECTS INVESTIGATION AFTER SWASTIKA VANDALISM DISCOVERED IN DC OFFICE
"I went ashore in Croatia with a bunch of other Marines. We were machine gunners. We’d served two deployments together, and we wanted to get a skull and crossbones together to represent our time in the Marine Corps. That’s what we got," Platner said.
Platner said he was later cleared by the State Department to protect the ambassador for Afghanistan and was screened for "hate and gang-related tattoos."
"I’ve been taking my shirt off for 17 years, in front of my family, in front of friends at the gym, all the – it’s never once came up," Platner said. "Not until this."
Platner's campaign shared a video with the "Pod Save America" podcast in October that showed Platner lip-syncing to Miley Cyrus' "Wrecking Ball" at his brother's wedding about a decade ago. In the video, Platner is shirtless and appears to have a skull tattoo on his chest that resembles the Totenkopf, a symbol used by Adolf Hitler’s SS.
Jordan pressed Platner about a Reddit thread in which he commented on the Totenkopf emblem.
SENATE DEM CANDIDATE WHO WROTE HE 'BECAME A COMMUNIST' NOW SAYS HE WAS JOKING'
Platner said his comments were not about his tattoo, but about Marine Corps scout snipers, noting the imagery was once common within that community.
"The Marine Corps cracked down on it, rightfully so, because it’s not a good look. And scout snipers don’t get that today. But when I was in the Marine Corps, it was popular among scout snipers," he said.
CNN's KFile reported in October that the Democratic Senate candidate's comments on Reddit, in addition to an interview with an acquaintance of Platner, contradicted his original claim that he only recently learned about the tattoo's ties to Nazism.
During an interview with the "Pod Save America" podcast in October, Platner said he was not a secret Nazi.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE COVERAGE OF MEDIA AND CULTURE
"I am not a secret Nazi," Platner said. "Actually, if you read through my Reddit comments, I think you can pretty much figure out where I stand on Nazism and racism in general. I'd say a lifelong opponent."
Platner also identified himself as a "communist" in years-old Reddit posts. The Democratic Senate candidate said it was merely "internet s---posting."
Members of the Democratic Party regularly compare President Donald Trump's administration, specifically their deportation efforts, to Nazi Germany.
Many have compared ICE agents to Nazis. Late-night host Stephen Colbert suggested during his show last week that ICE agents might be worse than Nazis because Nazis were willing to show their faces.
Fox News' Lindsay Kornick contributed to this report.
Mavericks coach Jason Kidd unleashes expletive-filled defense of Cooper Flagg usage during press conference
Dallas Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd unleashed some fury when questioned about his usage of No. 1 overall pick Cooper Flagg following a 111-107 loss to the Houston Rockets on Saturday night.
Some expletives were thrown out in the process.
Throughout the season, Flagg, the Duke standout who was the consensus top pick when the Mavericks won the NBA Draft Lottery, has been used as a point guard in Kidd’s system rather than forward. Flagg, standing at 6-foot-9, does have the handles to run the offense, but many believe his natural position is forward.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM
When questioned about the criticism Kidd has gotten from those who believe he is using Flagg wrong, he didn’t hold back.
"I don’t give a s--- about the criticism. Criticism? That’s your opinion. You guys write that bulls---," Kidd said during his post-game press conference. "That’s not — I’ve done this. I’ve played this game. I’ve played it at a very high level. I know what the f--- I’m doing."
A 10-time All-Star and six-time All-NBA point guard, Kidd is a Hall of Famer who needs no introduction in basketball circles.
COOPER FLAGG MAKES NBA HISTORY AS MAVERICKS FALL TO JAZZ
Kidd’s also been coaching for quite some time since his playing days, leading the Brooklyn Nets and Milwaukee Bucks in a head coach role before taking over the Mavericks, the team he played eight of his 19 years for, before the 2021-22 season.
Given his history in the NBA, Kidd knows criticism can come from all angles, but he continued to bash the media in his post-game rant.
"I don’t give a f--- what you guys write," he said. "Because you guys have never played the game. And so, I build players. So, I know what the f--- I’m doing. So, to take criticism, it only makes me better. Because if I wasn’t doing it right, you guys wouldn’t be poking holes in what I’ve done."
Kidd refused to answer any questions after that, storming off back to the locker room after the tough loss.
Flagg struggled to begin his NBA career, though he seems to be acclimated now. He’s averaged 19.8 points, 6.6 rebounds and 4.1 assists across his first 45 games with the Mavericks this season, setting himself up for possible Rookie of the Year recognition.
But, despite having recent performances of 49 points and a 34-point, 12-rebound double-double, the Mavericks have lost four straight games. Dallas is currently 11th in the Western Conference with a 19-30 record.
Injuries have plagued the Mavericks, though, especially for Kyrie Irving, the team’s usual starting point guard who is still recovering from a torn ACL. Kidd has had to use Flagg and D’Angelo Russell in the position as they hope Irving can return this season.
Anthony Davis, the biggest part of the blockbuster Luka Doncic trade to the Los Angeles Lakers last season, also has been sidelined for numerous injuries this season.
Flagg’s development will continue to have a microscope on it moving forward, where Kidd clearly believes he’s doing the right thing by the new face of the franchise.
Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.
Catherine O'Hara discovered rare medical condition during routine doctor visit with husband over 20 years ago
Catherine O'Hara was diagnosed with a rare medical condition before her death.
During a Virtual Happy Hour with Kathryn Hall in 2020, O'Hara — who died on Jan. 30 at age 71 — opened up about her dextrocardia situs inversus diagnosis and explained how she discovered the condition much later in life.
Dextrocardia is a rare congenital (present at birth) heart defect in which the heart is positioned on the right side of the chest instead of its normal position on the left side. Dextrocardia on its own does not usually cause problems, but it tends to occur with other conditions that can have serious effects on the heart, lungs and other vital organs, according to Johns Hopkins Medicine. The condition can also cause other organs to be on the opposite side of the body.
It is unknown if dextrocardia situs inversus contributed to O'Hara's death.
'HOME ALONE' STAR CATHERINE O'HARA DEAD AT 71
"I'm a freak, yeah!" said O'Hara, who learned about her diagnosis more than 20 years ago while visiting the doctor with her husband Bo Welch.
"I love Western medicine, I just don’t want to be a part of it. But I had to get a TB test when our youngest was in co-op nursery school and I went to my husband’s doctor, and he said let’s do some baseline tests, and one of them was an EKG," she explained.
CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE ENTERTAINMENT NEWSLETTER
"He calls us into his office and says, 'You're the first one I've met!'" O'Hara said of the doctor revealing her diagnosis. "I don't even know the name, because I don't want to know the name. Something cardio-inversus. And then dextrocardia and something-inversus. People are going to think I'm so ignorant not to know this, but I kind of don't want to know. Because I didn't know before that."
"I'm one of seven kids," O'Hara continued. "My parents were already gone, had left the world by that time. Never heard anything about this with anyone else. We're driving home, and I think, 'I wonder about my other siblings, if they know where their hearts are.'"
"When the doctor told us that my heart was on the right side and my organs were flipped, my husband immediately said, 'No, her head's on backwards,'" she recalled.
O'Hara died after a "brief illness."
"Prolific multi-award-winning actress, writer, and comedian Catherine O’Hara died today at her home in Los Angeles following a brief illness," her reps confirmed to Fox News Digital.
The Los Angeles Fire Department also confirmed to Fox News Digital that first responders were dispatched to O'Hara's Brentwood home at approximately 5 a.m. on Friday. She was transported to a local hospital, where she was listed in serious condition. The beloved actress was pronounced dead several hours later.
Fox News Digital's Stephanie Giang-Paunon contributed to this post.
US ambassador to NATO warns the 'ball' is in Iran's 'court' as Trump confirms negotiations taking place
U.S. Ambassador to NATO Matt Whitaker said President Donald Trump has made clear demands of Iran, and that what happens next will be up to Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, as an American naval fleet patrols the region. He added that Trump "won’t wait forever" for his ultimatum to be met.
"The president has been very clear on Iran... you can't have a nuclear weapon, and you need to stop killing protesters in your streets," NATO Ambassador Matt Whitaker said Saturday on "The Big Weekend Show."
"That's a pretty clear red line."
TRUMP SAYS IRAN ALREADY HAS US TERMS AS MILITARY STRIKE CLOCK TICKS
Whitaker described the "armada that is sitting off the coast of Iran" as both a show of strength and an "off ramp." He said the Iranians "could de-escalate very easily and simply" by abandoning nuclear ambitions and halting the suppression of protests.
"We'll see. The ball is in their court," he said. "But you know, President Trump is not going to be forever patient on this."
He emphasized that Trump's aim was not to destabilize Iran amid reports that the president may be considering military action.
Trump said Saturday he believes Tehran is negotiating "seriously" with the U.S., and that he hopes an "acceptable" deal can be brokered.
On Sunday, however, the speaker of Iran’s parliament said the Islamic Republic now considers all European Union militaries to be terrorist groups after the bloc declared the country’s paramilitary Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps a terror group over its crackdown on nationwide protests.
This action has created concern that Iran might strike U.S. NATO allies should America attack again, following Operation Midnight Hammer, which targeted Iranian nuclear facilities in June.
Fox News Digital's Michael Sinkewicz contributed to this report.
NYPD officers save choking 2-year-old boy, bodycam video shows
A rookie NYPD officer is being hailed as a hero after saving the life of a 2-year-old boy who was choking just weeks after coming to the rescue of another choking baby.
Officer Freddy Cerpa and his partner, Officer Megan Ficken, responded on Jan. 16 to a 911 call involving an unconscious 2-year-old boy who was choking in the Bronx.
Body camera video captured the tense moments as officers worked to clear the child’s airway.
The boy soon showed signs of life. The child, who had been choking on mucus, was taken to Jacobi Hospital as a precaution and is doing well, police said.
"Just weeks after saving an infant who was choking, Officer Freddy Cerpa once again stepped in to help save the life of a 2-year-old child in distress — a powerful reminder that New York’s Finest are always ready when seconds matter most," the New York City Police Foundation said in a social media post.
CALIFORNIA TODDLER FALLS OUT OF MOVING CAR, MOTHER CHARGED
Cerpa told WABC-TV that his experience helping to save a 1-year-old girl in December helped with the latest rescue call.
"The first one was definitely surreal," Cerpa told the outlet of the first rescue. "But in my opinion, this one is all Officer Ficken, and she was there first. I was just glad I was able to assist her."
Fetterman tells Philadelphia DA to 'lighten up, Francis' after heated ICE remarks
Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., told District Attorney of Philadelphia Larry Krasner to "lighten up" on Sunday after Krasner came after him during a CNN interview.
"He really ought to lighten up, Francis," Fetterman told Fox News host Jacqui Heinrich, in an apparent reference to the 1981 comedy "Stripes."
"A lot of the tough talk coming out of his office, that's just pandering to people," he continued.
Last week, Krasner compared ICE agents to Nazis.
FETTERMAN DEMANDS TRUMP FIRE NOEM AFTER DEADLY MINNESOTA SHOOTINGS
"This is a small bunch of wannabe Nazis, that's what they are, in a country of 350 million. We outnumber them," Krasner said Tuesday in Philadelphia. "If we have to hunt you down the way they hunted down Nazis for decades, we will find your identities, we will find you, we will achieve justice."
Krasner then appeared on CNN and called Fetterman "the favorite Democratic senator of Donald Trump," claiming he "has completely sold out the principles on which he ran for office."
SEN JOHN FETTERMAN CALLS FOR DEMOCRATS TO 'RESIST' ADVOCACY OF 'EXTREME' STANCES LIKE ABOLISHING ICE
DHS PUNCHES BACK AT MOULTON FOR 'INCITING RIOTERS' WITH 'GROSS' ICE REMARKS
"What [Fetterman] has been doing for quite some time, for whatever reason, and we all know there may be a few reasons, is completely unacceptable for anyone who actually believes in democracy and who actually believes in the rule of law," Krasner said.
Fetterman expressed support for deporting criminal migrants and securing the U.S. border, acknowledging that he and Krasner do not agree on every issue.
"But I'm not going to criticize or attack him," the senator said, adding, "Regardless, that's a hard rule for anyone — don't compare anyone to Nazis."
Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, who has been calling out antisemitism on both sides of the political aisle, similarly condemned Krasner's remarks.
"That kind of rhetoric is unacceptable, it is abhorrent, and it is wrong — period, hard stop, end of sentence," the governor told Fox News chief political anchor Bret Baier.
Fox News Digital's Nora Moriarty contributed to this report.
IOC chief laments 'distracting' news cycle ahead of 2026 Winter Olympics
International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Kirsty Coventry lamented the major news stories that have consumed the world ahead of the 2026 Winter Olympics.
Coventry faced questions over the controversy about Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations in the U.S. and the Jeffrey Epstein files being released as she talked to reporters on Sunday with the opening of the Milan Cortina Games days away.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM
While she tried to deflect, Coventry did say it was "sad" that the stories were taking attention away from the Olympics.
"I think anything that is distracting from these Games is sad, right? But we’ve learned over the many years… there’s always been something that has taken the lead, leading up to the Games," she said. "Whether it has been Zika, COVID, there has always been something.
"But what is keeping my faith alive is that when that opening ceremony happens and those athletes start competing, suddenly the world remembers the magic and the spirit that the Games have and they get to suddenly remember what’s actually important and they get to be inspired and so we’re really looking forward to that."
LA OLYMPICS CHIEF RESPONDS AFTER EMAILS WITH GHISLAINE MAXWELL EMERGE IN EPSTEIN FILES
Coventry faced questions about ICE as the federal agents were set to be used to help security for the U.S. delegation – which caused protests in Italy.
"From all the information that we have and I believe that the U.S. authorities, as the other authorities, have made all the clarifications needed, so from our side that’s not for us to further comment on that part of the security. But we’re really looking forward to the games," Coventry said of ICE.
On Saturday, a new batch of emails in the Epstein case showed correspondence between Los Angeles Olympic organizing committee chair Casey Wasserman and Epstein’s one-time girlfriend Ghislane Maxwell. The exchange occurred in 2003.
"We didn’t discuss it yesterday and I believe Mr. Wasserman has put out his statement and we now have nothing further to add," she said.
Coventry added that the focus has been on Milan Cortina.
The Winter Olympics begin Friday with the opening ceremony.
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.
Meningitis cases rise in major Midwestern city, prompting public health alert
Chicago health officials are warning residents to be alert for symptoms of meningococcal disease after several recent infections were reported in adults across the city.
Seven cases of Neisseria meningitidis infections have been identified since mid-January, according to the Chicago Department of Public Health.
Two people have died as a result of the infection, the department said.
FLU BY STATE: WHERE THIS SEASON’S HIGHLY CONTAGIOUS VARIANT IS SPREADING THE MOST
Health officials have traced close contacts for all confirmed cases and provided preventive antibiotics to those who may have been exposed.
Meningococcal disease is caused by Neisseria meningitidis, a type of bacteria that can infect the bloodstream or the lining of the brain and spinal cord, according to Cleveland Clinic.
Transmission occurs through saliva and mucus during close or prolonged contact, such as sharing drinks, kissing, or being exposed to coughs and sneezes.
CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR LIFESTYLE NEWSLETTER
While cases remain relatively rare, meningococcal disease continues to pose a serious public health risk nationwide.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported 503 confirmed and probable cases in the U.S. in 2024, based on preliminary data.
Symptoms of meningococcal disease can include fever, headache, nausea and vomiting, diarrhea, sensitivity to light, a stiff neck, and a skin rash that may appear as dark spots or bruising, per Cleveland Clinic.
Other signs may include confusion, irritability, difficulty walking, joint or muscle pain, and loss of appetite.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE LIFESTYLE STORIES
"Chicago sees up to 10 to 15 meningococcal infections each year, typically concentrated around the winter months," the department noted.
The disease most often affects seniors as well as adolescents and young adults, Chicago health officials said.
To reduce risk, state guidelines recommend getting the meningococcal vaccine beginning at ages 11 or 12, with a booster dose at 16.
TEST YOURSELF WITH OUR LATEST LIFESTYLE QUIZ
Meningococcal disease is treated with antibiotics, and doctors often begin immediate treatment if the illness is suspected because it can progress rapidly, Cleveland Clinic stated.
Patients with severe cases may also need additional treatments such as IV fluids, oxygen, blood pressure medications, or surgery to treat damaged tissue.
Anyone who develops symptoms or believes they may have been exposed is urged to seek medical care promptly. Health experts stress that early treatment is critical.
Government shutdowns may be fewer, but they’re increasingly disruptive
At 12:01 a.m. ET on Friday, the federal government entered its first shutdown of the new year,
Shutdowns aren't a new phenomenon in Washington, D.C., but they've slowed in their frequency since the turn of the century. Even so, rising partisan rancor, energized political bases and congressional gridlock have contributed to longer, more disruptive shutdowns in recent decades.
SENATE REPUBLICANS PUSH FOR HOUSE GOP REBELLION AGAINST FUNDING PACKAGE, VOTER ID LEGISLATION
Since 1976, the U.S. government has experienced 22 shutdowns. All shutdowns are unique in why they happen, and typically, the party that thrusts the government into a closure doesn't win the policy dispute at its core.
The most recent one, the longest in U.S. history, happened because of a funding dispute over Obamacare enhanced premium subsidies. Senate Democrats, led by Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., demanded that Republicans negotiate or outright extend the subsidies, which eventually expired last month.
That closure, which saw every federal agency shut down, lasted 43 days.
HOUSE DEMOCRATS MUTINY SCHUMER’S DEAL WITH WHITE HOUSE, THREATENING LONGER SHUTDOWN
Before that, the previous shutdown lasted 34 days, from December 2018 to January 2019, and was triggered over President Donald Trump's proposed border wall. At the time, Schumer and then-incoming House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., refused to give Trump more money to build his wall along the Southern border.
He walked away from that then-record-shattering shutdown without the funding.
This current shutdown, which just entered its second day on Sunday, is an outlier of sorts. Trump and Schumer agreed on a funding deal that stripped out the controversial Department of Homeland Security spending bill and replaced it with a short-term, two-week funding extension.
That deal advanced out of the Senate on Friday, despite grumbling from both sides of the aisle.
Its survival in the House is an open question, given heavy resistance among House Republicans who are demanding some policy wins, like the inclusion of voter ID legislation into the bill.