Fox News Latest Headlines
ESPN announcer mistakenly calls Ole Miss star by name of late LSU player
Greg McElroy had an unfortunate slip of the tongue during his College Football Playoff broadcast Thursday night.
McElroy was the color commentator for the Sugar Bowl between Ole Miss and Georgia, which saw Ole Miss kick a game-winning field goal in the final seconds.
Long before that, though, McElroy tried to give kudos to Rebels running back Kewan Lacy, but called him by the wrong name.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM
"Love the way Kyren Lacy runs," McElroy said before correcting himself.
Kyren Lacy was a former LSU wide receiver who died by suicide last year amid a legal battle stemming from a crash that killed a 78-year-old man in December 2024. He was accused of driving recklessly — speeding and passing in a no-passing zone — when a motorist swerved to avoid Lacy and crashed into another vehicle.
Police said "numerous witnesses" told responding officers that Kyren Lacy’s driving caused the crash. Lacy had been charged with negligent homicide, felony hit-and-run with death, and reckless operation of a vehicle.
Kyren Lacy transferred to LSU in 2022. He had his best season in 2024, when he recorded 58 catches for 866 yards and nine touchdowns and likely would have been an NFL Draft pick.
Kewan Lacy helped Ole Miss to the College Football Playoff semifinal, running for 93 yards and two touchdowns on 22 carries.
The Rebels will face No. 10 Miami in the semifinal, with the winner advancing to play No. 1 Indiana or No. 5 Oregon.
Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.
6 longevity rules experts follow for healthier aging in 2026
PILLARS OF HEALTH — 6 tips to extend longevity in the new year, according to experts
WEIGHT-LOSS WAVE — Oprah and other high-profile celebrities revealed dramatic transformations in 2025
DOSING DOUBTS — Older Americans are quitting GLP-1 weight-loss drugs for 4 key reasons
SIGN UP FOR OUR HEALTH NEWSLETTER
BRAIN BALANCE — Alzheimer’s disease could be reversed by boosting critical chemical
HEALTH SPOTLIGHT — 5 celebrities who went public with alarming medical diagnoses in 2025
NATURAL REMEDY — Traditional Brazilian plant shows unexpected strength against arthritis
'90210' star Ian Ziering allegedly used celebrity status to dodge blame in 2023 street fight: lawsuit
Ian Ziering now faces a civil lawsuit stemming from a 2023 New Year’s Eve street clash in Hollywood.
Jacob Hernandez, a Los Angeles motorbike rider, sued the "Beverly Hills, 90210" star, alleging Ziering shoved him off his bike during a traffic encounter two years ago. Hernandez sued Ziering over battery, assault, intentional infliction of emotional distress, malicious prosecution and negligence, according to the complaint filed Dec. 29 and obtained by Fox News Digital.
Hernandez claimed Ziering used his celebrity status to falsely portray himself as the victim in the incident. He stated that Ziering's alleged false claims led to his arrest and incarceration plus lasting mental and physical harm.
According to the complaint, Hernandez was riding a mini-motorbike when traffic congestion forced him to stop between two cars. Ziering allegedly exited his vehicle without provocation and forcefully shoved Hernandez twice, knocking him into a female friend and onto the pavement. The confrontation caused a melee afterward, which was caught on video.
LAPD MAKES ARRESTS IN ALLEGED ASSAULT OF '90210' STAR IAN ZIERING MONTHS LATER
The Los Angeles Police Department's Hollywood and Metropolitan divisions arrested two people they claimed were involved in a Dec. 31, 2023 assault.
"The confrontation began between the victim and one of the minibike riders over possible damage to his vehicle," a press release shared by LAPD and obtained by Fox News Digital said at the time. "Three to four additional minibike riders jumped in and assaulted the motorist."
Video obtained by TMZ in 2023 showed Ziering's vehicle surrounded by multiple riders on mini-motorized bikes on Hollywood Boulevard before the actor got out of his car. The actor was then seen swinging at one of the bikers whose motorbike was parked directly in front of his car.
The video showed four people throwing punches at Ziering before he darted back across the street with the group following him.
LIKE WHAT YOU’RE READING? CLICK HERE FOR MORE ENTERTAINMENT NEWS
Hernandez and Angie Teresa Guizar were then identified as the suspects in custody. Hernandez was charged with felony vandalism, while Guizar was charged with assault with a deadly weapon.
According to Hernandez's complaint, the charges were later dropped.
CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE ENTERTAINMENT NEWSLETTER
In his complaint, Hernandez claimed Ziering knowingly lied to law enforcement to avoid his own culpability, resulting in his wrongful arrest and incarceration.
"Defendant is a celebrity, having been on a successful television show in the nineteen nineties. Defendant used this celebrity status and privilege to go to the media. Defendant went on several news outlets and gave multiple interviews and provided statements as to the events that transpired," the complaint read. "Not one time did Defendant state that he pushed Plaintiff or that Defendant is the one that started the physical interaction," the court documents read.
"Defendant never told the truth about his role in these events. Defendant is a celebrity and means. Defendant used that societal position to gain access to the media, and omitted the truth of the events, instead, lying and stating repeatedly that he was the one that was attacked. He further repeated this false statement on his Instagram account, which has approximately 650,000 followers, claiming he was attacked by the Plaintiff and his friends. He stated on his Instagram account that he was simply protecting himself but never stated he started the altercation."
Fox News Digital reached out to a representative for Ziering for comment on the allegations.
These House mavericks defied their own parties more than anyone else in 2025
Party-line votes still dominate the House of Representatives, but a small group of lawmakers regularly break ranks — defying leadership, reshaping close outcomes and exposing the fault lines inside both parties.
Based on voting data from the 119th Congress, the following list includes the members who voted against the tide the most in 2025, from well-known mavericks to low-profile lawmakers whose dissent surprised even Capitol Hill insiders.
HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS ON THE HILL: 'FIGHTING' IN THE HOUSE REPUBLICAN 'FAMILY'
Although Rep. Eric Burlison, R-Mo., is tied for 10th place with Rep. Eli Crane, R-Ariz., and Rep. Laura Gillen, D-N.Y., his entry on this list is arguably more surprising. Unlike the other two who have reputations for breaking ranks, the mild-mannered Republican largely focuses on policy and isn’t known for an eagerness to step out of line.
And yet his 46 votes against a majority of Republicans put his dissent rate last year at a top-ten 13.8%.
In 2025, Burlison diverged from the bulk of his party whenever legislation came up that would increase regulation or add burdens to federal workloads. He also voted in favor of many amendments that ultimately went unadopted — many of which were proposed by similarly conservative colleagues.
Once chairman of the rebel-filled House Freedom Caucus, Rep. Andy Biggs, R-Ariz., is known for his strong stances on issues like immigration, the size of government and fiscal accountability. He has voted against the majority of Republicans on 48 votes last year, or 14.2% of the time.
Like many of the Republicans in the top 10, Biggs has voted against measures that have passed with broad bipartisan support, but that lost the backing of more conservative wings of the party.
Early in the year, he was one of five lawmakers to vote against the Federal Disaster Assistance Coordination Act, a bill that would require the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to conduct a working group and submit a report to Congress on how the agency can streamline its grant information.
While Chip Roy, R-Texas, isn’t the chairman of the House Freedom Caucus, he often acts as its messaging rudder. The group is known for a willingness to toe the party line on issues like the size of government and government spending.
Few members in the group are as influential in their messaging as Roy. He has voted against the majority of his party on 53 occasions, accounting for 15.7% of the votes he took last year.
He has consistently voted against bills that would increase the size of government, such as the Secure Rural Schools Reauthorization Act. He was one of only five votes against a bill that provided additional funding to counties containing federal land.
Roy will not pursue re-election to the House in 2026 and will instead run for Texas attorney general.
Rep. Adam Gray, D-Calif., holds a seat in one of the most competitive districts in the country. In 2024, he won election to Congress by just 187 votes — less than one percentage point more than Republican incumbent Rep. John Duarte, R-Calif.
He has voted against a majority of Democrats on 60 occasions, accounting for 18.4% of his votes cast in the 119th Congress. That led him to vote with Republicans on several largely party-line votes.
On one such recent occasion, he joined with Republicans to reopen the government after a record-breaking 43-day shutdown — one of just six Democrats to cross the aisle to do so.
MODERATE DEMOCRATS PUSH BACK AS PROGRESSIVES MOVE TO OUST JEFFRIES, CLARK OVER TRUMP STRATEGY
Rep. Vicente Gonzalez, D-Texas, faced tight election odds in 2024. In that race, he narrowly won in a 51.3%-48.7% victory over Rep. Mayra Flores, R-Texas.
In the 119th Congress, Gonzalez has broken with Democrats on 65 occasions, accounting for 19.76% of his total. On the final day of the 2025 session alone, Gonzalez voted with Republicans and against the bulk of his party eight times — including in favor of three amendments offered by Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas.
Notably, Gonzalez helped Republicans pass the Laken Riley Act in January, a bill that empowered the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to more easily detain illegal immigrants arrested for burglary, theft, larceny or shoplifting.
Just one day later, Gonzalez voted present on the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act, a piece of legislation that would extend protections for children who survive an attempted abortion.
Rep. Don Davis, D-N.C., voted against a majority of his party on 70 occasions in the 119th Congress, amounting to 20.3% of all his votes cast and putting him within the top five members in the House most likely to break with party leadership.
Davis has joined Republicans on several notable votes, including a motion to dismiss an impeachment resolution against President Donald Trump in early December — an effort spearheaded by Rep. Al Green, D-Texas. He also voted alongside Republicans to reopen the government during its record-breaking shutdown and joined a group of 11 Democrats to pass the Stop Illegal Entry Act — a bill that increases criminal penalties for illegal immigrants who commit a felony or reenter the U.S. after being deported.
Like many of the other Democrats on the top 10 list, Davis narrowly won election in 2024. He beat out Republican challenger Laurie Buckhout by just 1.7%.
One of the most well-known dissenters in Congress, Rep. Jared Golden, D-Maine, has crossed the aisle on a wide range of issues.
Golden’s 72 votes against a majority of Democrats make up 20.8% of his votes in the 119th Congress. He voted alongside 23 other Democrats to pass a congressional disapproval of Rep. Chuy Garcia, D-Ill., and he voted with Republicans to end the government shutdown.
Most notably, Golden was the lone Democrat to help Republicans pass a year-long funding bill back in March.
Golden announced he would not pursue re-election in 2026, citing a climate of increasing political polarization. He last won election in 2024 by just 0.6% of the vote.
Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., is perhaps the most visible Republican dissenter in the House. His willingness to break with the party on high-profile issues like government spending, transparency and accountability has garnered him national recognition.
Most recently, the political maverick spearheaded efforts to pass the Epstein Files Transparency Act — a bill that compelled the Department of Justice (DOJ) to release all its documentation on disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein, who died in 2019 while incarcerated.
He has voted against a majority of Republicans on 73 occasions or 22.3% of the time in the 119th Congress and was just one of two Republicans to oppose the final passage of Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act.
A relatively quiet member who represents a highly competitive district, Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, D-Wash., is the second most likely member to buck the party trend on any given vote in the 119th Congress. Last year, she voted 77 times against the majority of Democrats, accounting for 22.5% of her record in the first session.
Gluesenkamp Perez narrowly won re-election in 2024 in a 51.7%-47.9% victory over Republican Joe Kent.
Recently, she joined Republicans in a vote to condemn the horrors of socialism, voted to advance an annual defense bill that sets the priorities for the country’s military, was one of 10 Democrats to support the censure of Rep. Al Green, D-Texas, and helped pass the immigration-focused Laken Riley Act.
Most recently, Gluesenkamp Perez drew the ire of many of her fellow Democrats for leading an effort to rebuke fellow Democrat Chuy Garcia, D-Texas, after he effectively prevented a Democratic primary by announcing his retirement at a filing deadline.
HOUSE GOP TENSIONS ERUPT AFTER MODERATE REPUBLICANS' OBAMACARE 'BETRAYAL'
In 2025, no member was more likely to break with his own party than Rep. Henry Cuellar, D-Texas.
His whopping 83 votes against a majority of Democrats put him solidly atop a list of the other rebels, political mavericks and party dissenters in the 119th Congress — accounting for nearly a quarter of every vote he’s cast this year at 24.1%.
Cuellar faced questions earlier in 2025 about whether he would consider a party switch as his political future hung in the balance. Cuellar faced an indictment from the DOJ for allegedly accepting bribes and acting as a foreign agent.
The Trump administration granted the embattled lawmaker a pardon in early December. Moments after receiving his pardon, Cuellar filed for re-election as a Democrat.
Despite his voting record, Cuellar faced the least competitive election of any Democrat on the top 10 list. He last won re-election in 2024 in a 52.8%-47.2% win over Republican challenger Jay Furman, accounting for a 5.5% margin of victory.
Witnesses give harrowing accounts of New Year's horror that erupted due to Swiss ski resort bar fire
Eyewitnesses have been recounting the nightmare they saw after a fiery blaze erupted at a bar in Switzerland leaving dozens dead and others wounded earlier this week.
"I thought my little brother was inside so I came and tried to break the window to help people to exit, and after that I went in," a man, aged 18, said, according to the BBC. "I saw people burning... I found people burning from head to foot, no clothes anymore," he recalled, noting, "It was very shocking."
The man's brother was not harmed, the outlet reported.
"I went in this bar every day this week — the day I didn't go, it burned," he noted, according to the outlet.
An individual named Daniella was heading home with her husband from a dinner when she witnessed some of the horror, the BBC reported.
OFFICIALS RACE TO IDENTIFY MOSTLY YOUNG VICTIMS OF DEADLY SWISS ALPS BAR FIRE
"People were running in all directions, screaming and crying. I saw several people being carried out on stretchers," she told the outlet. "A young man came up to me and said he'd seen hell — things he would never forget. And then I just froze."
Gianni Campolo, 19, headed to the bar to assist first responders after getting a call from a friend who escaped the fire, according to the Associated Press.
AT LEAST 40 DEAD IN FIRE AT SWISS ALPS BAR DURING NEW YEAR'S CELEBRATIONS, POLICE SAY
"I have seen horror, and I don’t know what else would be worse than this," Campolo informed TF1, according to the AP.
Ferdinand Du Beaudiez, a 19-year-old who escaped from the fire in the bar, said that he went back in to look for his brother, his girlfriend and others, said he "couldn't think to let them stay in the fire when I was alive outside."
He said the first time he headed back in, he found a person "laying in the stairs" who "was completely burned, clothes were burned" — he explained that he could not tell if the individual was a man or a woman. He "slid" the person "on the ground, and he was being taken care of, um, outside … " the survivor recalled.
MASSIVE BLAZE ENGULFS HISTORIC NEW ENGLAND WHARF; FIREFIGHTERS RACE TO CONTAIN FLAMES
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
The second time he headed back in, he experienced "more smoke," and he "could breathe less," he said, explaining he "went in, couldn't see anything and went straight out."
He eventually found his girlfriend, who told him where his brother was.
Lamar Jackson confirms he'll start for Ravens in must-win AFC North finale against Steelers
Lamar Jackson will be back in the driver’s seat this Sunday as the Baltimore Ravens face the Pittsburgh Steelers in a win-or-go-home season finale.
The veteran quarterback missed the Ravens’ Week 17 matchup against the Green Bay Packers because of a back injury, and until his press conference with reporters on Thursday, there was serious doubt about whether he would play in the game that will determine the AFC North title.
"A hundred percent," Jackson told reporters when asked if he would start in Pittsburgh on Sunday. "I'm going to be out there."
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM
"I feel great right now."
Jackson did not play in last weekend’s game, but he returned to practice on Wednesday. He has not been through a full week of practice since early November and has missed four games this season, the first three because of a hamstring issue.
STEELERS' AARON RODGERS KEEPS RETIREMENT OPTIONS OPEN AHEAD OF MUST-WIN RAVENS GAME
"I never quit on my team before. I never quit anything to be honest with you," Jackson continued. "I don't know where that noise came from."
With a 41-24 win at Green Bay and the Cleveland Browns’ 13-6 win over the Steelers, the Ravens have a shot at making the playoffs. A loss would send them packing. The same is true for Pittsburgh.
The Steelers host the Ravens Sunday night at 8:20 p.m. ET.
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.
Idaho education funding restored after 'rooting out DEI,' State Department reveals
The Idaho Department of Education announced that federal funding has been restored to its community schools after previously being accused of pushing diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI).
A statement from the Idaho department revealed that nearly $30 million had been frozen from a federal grant that was previously awarded to the United Way of Treasure Valley in 2023. The grant was intended to run through 2028 and provide funding to 65 schools.
The United Way of Treasure Valley was originally told last month that the federal government would be ending the grant early, citing concerns about language in the original document. This led to U.S. Sens. Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, and Jim Risch, R-Idaho, writing a letter to the U.S. Department of Education on behalf of United Way of Treasure Valley for an appeal to the decision.
UNIVERSITY PRESIDENTS ADMIT COLLEGES 'LOST THEIR MISSION' AS TRUMP PUSHES EDUCATION OVERHAUL
Although the appeal was initially rejected, the Idaho Department of Education announced that the federal government has since reversed course.
"Idaho has long been a leader in rooting out DEI in our education system," Idaho Gov. Brad Little said in a statement. "I was pleased to learn the U.S. Department of Education restored Idaho’s grant funding after recognizing the work we have done to eliminate DEI in our programs. The decision confirms these funds were not being used to promote DEI initiatives."
In a separate statement, Idaho Superintendent of Public Instruction Debbie Critchfield applauded the United Way of Treasure Valley for its continued advocacy and the U.S. Department of Education for its continued support.
"This decision affirms that Community Schools are both effective and fully aligned with federal and state law, and that they reflect the values Idaho families care about most—strong schools and strong families," Critchfield said. "I’m grateful to the U.S. Department of Education for engaging in a thorough review and for continuing to support this essential program."
THREE MORE STATES JOIN TREND OF PASSING UNIVERSAL SCHOOL CHOICE
When reached for comment by Fox News Digital, a representative for the U.S. Department of Education said, "We can confirm that the Department reinstated Idaho’s grant after they removed illegal and harmful DEI from their application that had been approved under the Biden Administration. This is a direct result of the Trump Administration evaluating every taxpayer dollar that is going out the door from ED. We are ensuring dollars are spent on meaningful learning, not divisive ideologies."
While eliminating DEI in education has been a priority of the Trump administration, Idaho has pushed back on diversity programs in education prior to President Donald Trump taking office.
In December 2024, the Idaho Board of Education unanimously agreed on a resolution that Idaho universities cannot "require specific structures or activities related to DEI."
Oregon residents sue Homeland Security after tear gas used on anti-ICE protesters
An affordable housing nonprofit and group of nearby residents filed a lawsuit against the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), asking the court to "preclude" the agency from deploying tear gas and chemical or smoke-related munitions that were affecting nearby homes in Oregon.
The suit comes amid months of clashes between DHS agents and anti-immigration-enforcement groups, including Antifa, outside an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility near Interstate 5, where illegal immigrants have been detained and processed.
The Gray’s Landing houses involved in the suit — which was brought by REACH Community Development and supported by the progressive groups Democracy Forward and Protect Democracy — lies kitty-corner to the ICE facility on the Willamette River.
In the filing, the plaintiffs called DHS’ actions "shocking" and asked the court to ban immigration enforcement agents from using chlorobenzalmalononitrile (CS gas/"tear gas") and other crowd control tools "unless the use of such munitions is necessary to protect against an imminent and concrete threat to the lives of federal officers or other persons."
The suit claims officers have deployed pepper balls, CS gas and the like "toward and around" the low-income housing complex "repeatedly when faced with no violence from protesters or imminent risk of harm."
The nearby residents claimed to have suffered acute respiratory distress, ocular burning sensations and post-traumatic stress disorder episodes due to ICE’s forceful enforcement strategies.
ICE ACCUSES DEM LAWMAKER OF JOINING 'RIOTING CROWD' IN ARIZONA, INTERFERING IN MASS ARREST
"The government causing poisonous gas and chemicals to enter plaintiffs’ bodies violates their right to bodily integrity, which the Supreme Court has long recognized as a component of the right to liberty," the suit claimed.
REACH CEO Margaret Salazar said that as a residential community, Gray’s Landing houses families, senior citizens, veterans and handicapped people who are "repeatedly exposed to chemical agents."
"Children are coughing indoors, seniors are struggling to breathe, and daily life has become a source of stress and fear."
TRUMP ADMIN SUES ILLINOIS GOV. PRITZKER OVER LAWS SHIELDING MIGRANTS FROM COURTHOUSE ARRESTS
Democracy Forward leader Skye Perryman added that chemicals being used by the feds are also discouraging protesters from "using their voices."
"Federal officers know that poison is flooding apartments where families live, where children sleep, and where seniors and veterans seek safety—and they keep using them anyway, fully aware of the severe harm they cause. There is no legal or moral justification for this use of force–it is a profound abuse of power and violates the U.S. Constitution. We are in court to stop it."
Daniel Jacobson, an attorney for the plaintiffs, said in a statement the government is "poisoning" residents.
President Donald Trump previously tried to deploy Oregon National Guard troops to quell springtime unrest in Portland, while Oregon sits among the top five states with the largest year-to-year increase in ICE arrests according to the Salem Reporter.
More than 660 people have been arrested by the feds there in 2025.
After Trump indicated during the summer that DHS would be asked to focus on certain problem areas of the country, Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek remarked, "I don’t take kindly to the fact that the federal administration is picking on particular cities."
DHS TORCHES 'BAMBOOZLED' DEMS FOR CALLING ICE CRACKDOWN ‘VICIOUS LIES’
In November, Sen. Jeffrey Merkley, D-Ore., slammed the administration for "disturbing" raids he said are "terrorizing our communities" and allegedly detaining people "solely" based on race.
"Trump is using ICE to stoke fear and uncertainty in our communities, shredding our Constitution in the process," Merkley claimed.
Rep. Suzanne Bonamici, another Oregon Democrat representing Tillamook and part of Portland, led a letter to DHS Secretary Kristi Noem demanding information on the types of irritants and munitions being used against protesters.
"More than a dozen advocates outside the facility have reported unprovoked attacks by Homeland Security police and FPS officers," she claimed in the October missive, which was also signed by Merkley, Sen. Ron Wyden, and Rep. Maxine Dexter.
Fox News Digital reached out to the DHS for comment. While the agency did not directly respond for comment, Secretary Kristi Noem said in a recent statement that she will seek prosecution for all who doxx ICE agents.
"These criminals are taking the side of vicious cartels and human traffickers. We won't allow it in America," she said, as the agency appeared to defend its use-of-force tactics, citing the Portland facility being "under siege" for some time.
"Rioters have attacked law enforcement officials, destroyed federal property, and have posted death threats at the facility. Outside of the facility, graffiti on the sidewalk reads ‘Kill Your Masters’," the agency said in a July statement.
"Across the country, federal law enforcement has come under attack. Gunmen opened fire on Border Patrol and ICE officers in Texas over the Fourth of July weekend on two separate occasions, seriously wounding two," the statement added.
Denise Austin, 68, still fits into her iconic ’80s leotards and reveals her daily fitness habit
At age 68, Denise Austin is still able to fit into the same leotards and swimsuits she wore more than 30 years ago.
The fitness guru and founder of Fit Over 50 magazine continues to spill her secrets for lasting weight loss through her popular fitness app. On the platform, she provides signature workouts, wellness plans and words of encouragement.
The mother of two told Fox News Digital that she posts her then-and-now photos not to boast but to remind her followers that real, long-term results come from showing up every single day.
JANE SEYMOUR MAINTAINS THE SAME SIZE SINCE AGE 17 WITHOUT CRAZY DIETS
"I saved all of my leotards from back in the day, from the ‘80s and ‘90s, which I used to wear on my videos and on my TV show," she laughed. "I’m so happy I kept them all because [my daughter] Katie loves to wear them. My other daughter, Kelly, loves to wear them too."
"It’s a testament to me being 68 now and keeping it up," said Austin. "That’s all it takes, keeping it up, keeping up with your workouts. And to me, I think it’s a really cool thing. It’s nostalgic for me, and it shows me that if you do start exercising, it does matter and you’ll feel good. And it’s all about feeling good for me."
WATCH: DENISE AUSTIN SHARES THE SIMPLE HABITS THAT KEEP HER FIT AT 68
"I want to feel healthy," she continued. "If you have money, it doesn’t matter if you don’t have good health. And no matter who you are, you just have to do something for yourself. Did you know that just standing up burns more calories than sitting down? So I tell people to get up throughout the day. If you’re on your phone, walk and talk while you’re on the phone. The more you move, the better it is for your circulation, which also helps your whole body."
Austin hosted the No. 1 exercise show on television for 24 years. She has sold more than 25 million fitness tapes and DVDs, making her one of the most successful home-workout creators of all time.
According to the star, she works out 30 minutes a day, every day. She prioritizes exercising in the morning to get it done immediately. Austin pointed out that it gives her energy for the rest of the day.
But her exercise routine doesn’t end once the sun rises.
"Throughout the day, I have these little squeezing-in exercises that you can do anywhere," she explained. "Like right now, wherever you are, pull in your abdominals and tighten up the tummy muscles. Keep the abdominal muscles tight for five seconds. That’s equal to one sit-up. So you could be doing isometric exercises throughout the day. If you’re standing in line at the grocery store, squeeze your buttocks."
"If you don’t squeeze it, no one else will," she said with a grin.
CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE ENTERTAINMENT NEWSLETTER
The one workout Austin never skips — and urges everyone else to embrace — is simple: walking.
"Walking works," she stressed. "It really shows results. You can walk off your weight. I tell everyone to start with a 20-minute walk. Go around the block, see how fast you can go.
"Do two blocks next week. Always increase it. Ultimately, it’s best to do a 30-minute walk. Then you work in your heart, you’re burning fat, you’re seeing a difference in your weight loss. Thirty minutes is science-backed. You will see a difference if you do it regularly, at least three days a week. You have to do it three days a week."
"I try to walk almost every single day," she said. "I love to get out and walk. It’s great for your mind. It helps your mood, it improves your attitude, and you just feel better. And when I walk with my daughters, they talk more, they share more. You just feel free when you’re out walking."
Austin advised that if you want to boost your walking routine, add some stretching when you’re home and even dedicate five minutes to weights.
"Then you’ll have a complete cardio workout," she said. "Heart disease is the number one killer for us women. Exercising is so great for you. And of course, conditioning your muscles helps with stretching for flexibility.
LIKE WHAT YOU’RE READING? CLICK HERE FOR MORE ENTERTAINMENT NEWS
"I have some days when I dedicate myself to stretching. Other days are for walking. Some days are for weights. So if you can line up your week with all three components of a well-balanced workout, it really makes a difference. You’ll lose inches, tighten up your tummy, and you’ll just feel so much better."
At age 65, Austin walked the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit runway show in Miami. She still calls it the "thrill of my life." Austin was accompanied by her daughter Katie, an SI Swimsuit model and fitness influencer.
"I was 65 in a bikini!" she said. "I really did watch a lot of calories for two weeks. They just told me two weeks before my walk. So, I only had two weeks to prepare. I didn’t do chips and guacamole for two weeks. I didn’t do my red wine. I just really ate as well as I could for two weeks. But that was a once-in-a-lifetime situation. I don’t do that anymore. I enjoy my wine and food, and it’s a part of my life."
In addition to staying active, Austin emphasized the importance of clean eating centered on fresh, whole foods. She prefers preparing meals at home, but when she and her husband head out for a date night, they keep things balanced by sharing a dish or dessert.
WATCH: DENISE AUSTIN SAYS FITNESS IS KEY EVEN WITH WEIGHT-LOSS SHOTS
"Food is medicine — the right foods," said Austin. "It’s a part of taking care of your body. And portions do matter. When you’re out grocery shopping, make sure you read the labels. I’m not into a lot of ingredients, things you can’t pronounce. I prefer lots of fruits and vegetables. I have avocado in the morning with my eggs. I like to have cottage cheese now with some chia seeds on top and blueberries.
"If you could shop in the perimeter of the grocery store, that’s usually the healthiest foods, from produce to healthy meats," she noted. "And I’m a big believer in balance. I have good carbohydrates, fruits and vegetables. I make sure I have protein in every meal. Protein, as you age, is so important. And I’m a real believer in fiber and drinking plenty of water."
It’s never too late to start or try again, she insisted.
"If you haven’t exercised in a long time, and let’s just say you’re 68, like me, the best thing that I would tell everybody is to start small but start now. This is where your health can go either way. You can join my program, go to the gym or just go for a walk. It doesn’t matter. Just make a plan."
University of Oklahoma teaching assistant fired after flunking Christian student files appeal with school
A University of Oklahoma graduate teaching assistant who was fired after flunking a Christian student who cited the Bible in an essay, causing a national uproar, is appealing the school's decision.
Brittany Stewart, a self-employed and self-described civil rights lawyer, said she is representing William "Mel" Curth, who assessed student Samantha Fulnecky a zero out of 25 on an assignment about gender norms.
"Today, my client, Mel Curth, submitted her appeal of the University's Institutional Equity Office finding that she engaged in arbitrary and capricious grading of a student's assignment in violation of that student's religious liberty," Stewart said on Bluesky earlier this week.
"Ms. Curth fully denies that she engaged in any discriminatory behavior," the statement continues. "It is her position that the investigation was flawed, failed to consider all possible motives and issues, and that new evidence has come to light that undermines the investigation's conclusion."
Stewart did not specify what the new evidence is.
For the assignment, Curth, who uses she/they pronouns, asked students to read a short paper called, "Relations Among Gender Typicality, Peer Relations, and Mental Health During Early Adolescence," which discusses results of a study about gender norms among middle schoolers and the social ramifications children may face if they don't conform to gender norms.
The students were instructed to provide a "thoughtful discussion of some aspect of the article."
Fulnecky, a junior at the school, responded by saying she thought gender norms should not be viewed as stereotypes. She cited Genesis, the first book of the Bible, in which God created men and women equally, but with separate purposes.
"Gender roles and tendencies should not be considered 'stereotypes,'" Fulnecky wrote in her essay. "Women naturally want to do womanly things because God created us with those womanly desires in our hearts. The same goes for men. God created men in the image of His courage and strength, and He created women in the image of His beauty. He intentionally created women differently than men and we should live our lives with that in mind."
She later described the normalization of non-binary gender as "demonic."
Curth took exception to Fulnecky's response.
"Please note that I am not deducting points because you have certain beliefs, but instead I am deducting point [sic] for you posting a reaction paper that does not answer the questions for this assignment, contradicts itself, heavily uses personal ideology over empirical evidence in a scientific class, and is at times offensive," Curth's explanation for the grade said, later adding that the essay was "offensive" and claiming that science backs the idea that "gender is neither binary nor fixed."
There were three grading criteria, according to Fulnecky, who said none of those criteria listed empirical evidence as a requirement.
"Does the paper show a clear tie-in to the assigned article?" was the first, worth up to 10 out of the assignment's 25 total points.
"Does the paper present a thoughtful reaction or response to the article, rather than a summary?" was the second, also worth up to 10 points.
"Is the paper clearly written?" was the last criterion, worth up to five points.
Fulnecky filed an official religious discrimination complaint with the school after receiving the zero grade, and Curth was put on administrative leave pending an investigation.
On Dec. 22, the University of Oklahoma released a statement saying Curth had been fired.
"Based on an examination of the graduate teaching assistant’s prior grading standards and patterns, as well as the graduate teaching assistant’s own statements related to this matter, it was determined that the graduate teaching assistant was arbitrary in the grading of this specific paper," the school said. "The graduate teaching assistant will no longer have instructional duties at the University."
Stewart said in her statement that Fulnecky had an ulterior political motive for challenging the grade, and slammed the university for making public statements while she said Curth is bound by "confidentiality rules."
"Rather than engaging in discrimination, Mel Curth has been the target of a political movement that seeks to silence and/or oust LGBTQ people from academia," Stewart's statement concludes. "Ms. Curth will continue to fight back against these harmful allegations."
Fox News Digital reached out to Stewart and the University of Oklahoma for comment.