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Mamdani shrugs off Democratic Party concerns over his 'Abolish ICE' push
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani encouraged his fellow Democrats to embrace rather than dismiss the "Abolish ICE" message like he had during an interview on Saturday.
Mamdani brought up his perspective on Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) while being asked on MS NOW's "The Weekend" about his thoughts on the ongoing protests outside the ICE facility known as Delaney Hall in Newark, New Jersey.
He remarked that the conditions inside Delaney Hall helped fuel his continued desire to abolish the agency.
MAMDANI TELLS ‘THE VIEW’ HE FAVORS ABOLISHING ICE
"This is partially why I have put forward a vision alongside so many others to say that ICE should be abolished, that there is no way to reform this kind of cruelty that we’re seeing endemic in the way that immigration is being enforced across the country," Mamdani said.
He continued, "When it comes to our city, we are proud of our sanctuary city policies. We are proud of the policies we’ve put forward and also the executive orders we’ve put forward to ensure that every single agency is complying with those policies."
"What do you say to people who say language, and the Democrats in D.C. who say language like 'Abolish ICE' are unhelpful for the political health of the Democratic Party?" MS NOW host Eugene Daniels asked.
HOMAN SAYS NYC MAYOR MAMDANI 'MADE IT CLEAR HE'S NOT GOING TO WORK WITH ICE' ON IMMIGRATION
"I think we’ve listened to them before, and look where we are," Mamdani said. "I think it’s time to develop a new vision for this party, one that is unflinching in its beliefs and also uncompromising in its principles."
Daniels followed by asking how left-wing Democrats like Mamdani can reach out to people beyond their party. Mamdani responded that he would do so "by delivering."
"There’s a lot of talk about the debate and what we have an opportunity to do here in New York City is to deliver on that vision. You know, two people can argue all they want, but when you show somebody the ability to deliver free child care for 200 two-year-olds this year, 12,000 two-year-olds next year, every two-year-old by the end of four years. It showcases what we’re fighting for and why we believe so deeply in it," Mamdani said.
DEMOCRATS WORRY 'ABOLISH ICE' SLOGAN WILL BACKFIRE POLITICALLY LIKE 'DEFUND THE POLICE' DID
Fox News Digital reached out to ICE for comment.
Mamdani has been a vocal critic of ICE enforcement within his city, pushing back against the Trump administration's immigration efforts throughout the country.
"We're making clear that no one is above the law in this city, that everyone has to follow the rule of law," Mamdani said in March. "I have made clear to the president, both in our private conversations and our public conversations, about the fact that I believe that ICE is a rogue agency."
In February, Mamdani issued an executive order preventing local law enforcement from working with ICE officers regarding immigration enforcement without a judicial warrant.
Video captures fireworks exploding from burning trailer that shut down Interstate 75
A trailer loaded with fireworks erupted in flames along a Tennessee interstate Saturday night, sending pyrotechnics shooting across the roadway and forcing authorities to temporarily shut down traffic as emergency crews responded.
Video shared by the Chattanooga Fire Department shows fireworks launching into the air and exploding in multiple directions as flames engulfed the trailer on Interstate 75 northbound near the Ooltewah exit.
"Chattanooga Fire, Tri-Comm, and law enforcement enforcement responded to a vehicle fire on I-75NB past the Ooltewah exit Saturday night," the department said in a Facebook post. "It involved fireworks that were going off in different directions, endangering drivers."
Despite the chaotic scene, no injuries were reported.
Tri-Community Volunteer Fire Department said the trailer was loaded with fireworks and that all of them became involved in the blaze, triggering explosions throughout the incident.
As a precaution, authorities temporarily shut down both northbound and southbound lanes of Interstate 75 while firefighters worked to extinguish the fire. Tri-Community said emergency vehicles traveled northbound in the southbound lanes and used the route to shuttle water to crews battling the flames.
TRUCK CARRYING 44,000 POUNDS OF CHICKPEAS CATCHES FIRE IN DEATH VALLEY
A Chattanooga Fire Department spokesperson told Fox News Digital the incident occurred outside the city limits and that Tri-Community Volunteer Fire Department served as the lead agency, while Chattanooga crews responded under a mutual aid agreement to assist at the scene.
The spokesperson said the southbound side of the interstate reopened relatively quickly, while northbound lanes remained closed as crews monitored hot spots and later cleared the burned trailer from the roadway.
Dramatic video from the scene shows fireworks rocketing into the night sky before exploding over the interstate as traffic sat stopped a safe distance from the blaze. Firefighters can also be seen deploying hoses while the trailer remained engulfed in flames.
Authorities have not released additional information about what caused the fire.
One photo provided to Fox News Digital shows the blaze involved a large enclosed trailer carrying the fireworks.
Federal lawsuit seeks to block UFC Freedom 250 from being held on the White House South Lawn
Two Virginia residents are trying to put UFC Freedom 250 in a rear-naked choke before fight night.
A federal lawsuit filed against the National Park Service and the Department of the Interior seeks an emergency injunction to stop the UFC event scheduled for the White House South Lawn.
According to the lawsuit, organizers ignored federal permitting rules, skipped environmental reviews and triggered conflict-of-interest concerns.
Because apparently even a UFC octagon on the White House lawn has to clear environmental hurdles.
UFC SAYS IT WON’T PROFIT FROM WHITE HOUSE EVENT THAT COULD COST 'UPWARDS OF $60M'
The event is being promoted as part of America's 250th birthday celebration and, yes, the plan is to stage a UFC card on the White House lawn. According to the lawsuit, the problems start with hosting the fights in front of the executive mansion.
The plaintiffs argue the White House South Lawn and nearby federal property are subject to strict rules that generally prohibit commercial structures and private sporting events without environmental review and congressional approval.
Organizers have reportedly relied on a special exemption tied to America's 250th anniversary celebrations.
The lawsuit argues UFC Freedom 250 is really a private, for-profit sporting event involving the UFC, broadcasters, sponsors and advertisers rather than a legitimate government-run celebration.
The complaint alleges the event could financially benefit President Trump and several of his associates, including UFC CEO Dana White and Paramount-Skydance CEO David Ellison.
It also points to Trump's reported purchase of up to $50,000 worth of stock in TKO Group Holdings, the publicly traded parent company of the UFC.
Court filings argue that the event has less to do with commemorating American independence and more with promoting the UFC brand and celebrating Trump's 80th birthday.
The White House has already pushed back on the lawsuit, calling it an attempt to derail a properly permitted celebration.
The UFC has not publicly commented.
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Multiple people stabbed near Penn Station, leaving one seriously injured as investigation continues
Six people were stabbed near New York City's Penn Station on Sunday evening, leaving one person seriously injured before authorities apprehended a suspect, officials said.
The FDNY told Fox News that emergency crews responded to West 33rd Street and Seventh Avenue at 7:02 p.m. after receiving reports that a person had stabbed multiple people.
According to FDNY, six civilians were injured, including one person who suffered serious injuries, two who sustained moderate injuries and three who suffered minor injuries.
Five victims were transported to Bellevue Hospital, including the seriously injured victim and two people with moderate injuries. A sixth victim with minor injuries was transported to NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center.
UNIONS THAT PARALYZED NEW YORK COMMUTE OVER PAY SPENT MILLIONS ON LUXURY TRAVEL, FILINGS SHOW
Amtrak Police, which is leading the investigation, said a suspect has been taken into custody.
"Earlier this afternoon, Amtrak Police responded to a reported stabbing at New York Penn Station," Amtrak said in a statement. "The suspect has been apprehended and an investigation is underway."
NY GOVERNOR BLAMED FOR 'LACK OF LEADERSHIP' AS RAILROAD STRIKE DISRUPTS MORE THAN 300,000 COMMUTERS
The New York Police Department referred inquiries about the incident to Amtrak Police, which is leading the investigation.
The circumstances surrounding the stabbings were not immediately clear, and authorities have not released information about a possible suspect or motive.
The incident occurred during a busy period for New York City's transportation network, with large crowds moving through Penn Station as the New York Knicks continue their NBA Finals run and visitors arrive in the city ahead of FIFA World Cup events scheduled in the region.
This is a developing story.
Disney's Star Wars relaunch crumbles as 'Mandalorian and Grogu' crashes at the box office
It's almost becoming repetitive at this point. A Star Wars-related property has disappointed relative to pre-release expectations.
Seven years after the release of "The Rise of Skywalker," Disney and Lucasfilm hoped that they could relaunch the all-important franchise with "The Mandalorian and Grogu." And in doing so, once again revealed that they understand very little about the audience they're trying to serve.
When "The Force Awakens" hit theaters under the leadership of then-Lucasfilm head Kathleen Kennedy, it was a tremendous financial success. While hardly reinventing the wheel creatively, it at least provided a solid foundation for the franchise to build from. But the ensuing releases in the "main" trilogy within the Star Wars universe saw progressively diminishing returns as it became clear the studio had no cohesive plan or sense of what audiences love, or loved, about the series.
Classic heroes like Luke Skywalker or Han Solo were undermined at every opportunity. "The Last Jedi" incorporated a bizarre class and political storyline that had little relevance to the plot within that individual movie, and was swiftly discarded as a plot within the trilogy afterward. The "plan," such as it was, was to make audiences care about the leads simply because they existed. It didn't work.
DISNEY'S FIRST 'STAR WARS' MOVIE IN SEVEN YEARS IS TRACKING TO BE YET ANOTHER MASSIVE DISAPPOINTMENT
Fast forward to 2026, and Disney's apparent hope for the Star Wars series was that their streaming service would provide a building block for theatrical releases. "The Mandalorian" was popular in its first season as a novel, "western" style episodic adventure. That momentum quickly fizzled, but with few other options, they rushed a cobbled-together story into theaters anyway.
Not only has it failed, the latest box office returns show how far Disney and Lucasfilm have to go to regain audiences' trust.
The opening weekend of "The Mandalorian and Grogu," despite coming around the long Memorial Day holiday, was underwhelming at just $80 million. Then, the film saw a catastrophic 70% drop in its second weekend in theaters to $24.4 million.
Well, the news didn't get any better this past weekend. If anything, it got worse. Sunday's estimate is that "Mandalorian" will bring in around $10 million or just under, all but cementing the end of its run in the domestic theatrical box office. And leading to catastrophic financial losses for Disney.
With its production budget and marketing costs factored in, "The Mandalorian" needed to bring in $450-500 million to break even. And as its box office continues to dwindle, it currently sits at just $293 million globally. Thanks in large part to the woeful $155 million total from U.S. theaters.
The picture gets much worse when comparing against previous Star Wars films and adjusting for inflation. Here's the list of recent releases in the franchise, and where "Mandalorian" ranks at the domestic box office.
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"Solo" was viewed as such a flop that it ended plans for a standalone trilogy focused on Han Solo. "Mandalorian" is tracking to come up $70-80 million below it, adjusted for inflation. There's no other way to put it, that's a failure.
"Mandalorian" might not have been "political," or specifically divisive, though of course, star Pedro Pascal has worked hard to be divisive on his own. It's that the cumulative effect of their choices has grown over the years to the point where audiences simply don't care anymore.
Disney and the Kathleen Kennedy version of Lucasfilm managed to lose the trust of viewers despite having ownership of the most successful and popular film franchise in Hollywood history. Books will be written about this. Film school classes will be taught about this. And it was completely avoidable, had they simply focused on quality, story, plot and character growth instead of fulfilling every stereotype imaginable. Now they stand to lose $100+ million on a Star Wars movie. You have to hand it to them, it's impressive, if nothing else.
Platner-backer Ro Khanna insists there's 'no evidence of violence' in newest allegations
Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., asserted that there was "no evidence of violence" among the allegations against Maine Democratic Senate candidate Graham Platner from the New York Times.
"My view is that, even according to the New York Times piece, they said there was no harm, no injury," Khanna said on CBS' "Face the Nation" Sunday. "There was toxicity, and there was verbal intimidation, which I condemn, but Graham has made it clear that there was no evidence of violence. That, to me, is a red line."
Host Margaret Brennan pointed out that one of Platner's ex-girlfriends, Lyndsey Fifield, accused Platner of forcibly pulling her out of a taxi by the wrist as well as grabbing her by the shoulders. Brennan asked Khanna whether he believed this claim.
HOW MUCH BAGGAGE WILL DEMOCRATS ACCEPT FROM MAINE'S GRAHAM PLATNER?
"Yes, and I don’t think our side should be attacking her, and I appreciate her courage for coming forward. I know some people are saying she’s a Republican. I think it is irrelevant," Khanna said.
He added, "I believe her. I think Graham acted shamefully, and he acted, as the New York Times described it as a toxic relationship. It is shameful. It is ugly. It happened in a dark period of his life, and the Maine voters that I met said they don’t like it. They knew that he had these chapters. They are willing to extend him grace and redemption and they’re focused now on what he’s running for, but I do not think we should be attacking her."
MAHER WARNS DEMOCRATS HAVE 'ANOTHER SEX, CREEP PROBLEM’ WITH PLATNER CITING MISCONDUCT ALLEGATIONS
Fox News Digital reached out to Khanna for comment.
Fifield also recounted another incident when Platner reportedly pushed her into a bedroom and held the door shut. She later was able to leave after falling asleep and waking after some time had passed, according to the New York Times.
The New York Times report was the latest in a long series of controversies surrounding the presumptive Democratic nominee for the Maine Senate seat. Prior to its release, Platner was criticized for his since-covered tattoo resembling a Nazi symbol, controversial Reddit posts and sending explicit messages to women while being married.
GRAHAM PLATNER DENIES DAMNING NEW REPORT ALLEGING ABUSE AS 'SIMPLY NOT TRUE'
Despite the mounting controversies, Khanna has repeatedly defended and rallied with Platner in support of his campaign, claiming "he found peace, and he is ashamed of that period."
"To me, that suggests someone taking accountability and improving their lives, and we need that redemption in this country. And I agree with a lot of his economic policies, that we should be taxing the billionaires, we should be focusing on the working class," Khanna said.
NYC cancels Knicks NBA Finals watch party over Trump visit as MSG fires back
The Knicks are two wins away from a championship, MSG is preparing for its biggest game in three decades and New York City just canceled the party.
As the Knicks prepare to host the San Antonio Spurs for Game 3 of the NBA Finals on Monday night with a 2-0 series lead, thousands of ticketless fans hoping to pack the Plaza33 outdoor watch party just learned there will be no party at all.
The NYPD claims the party is off due to security for President Donald Trump's visit and its massive Secret Service footprint.
In a battle of press releases obtained by Fox News Digital, the NYPD released this statement:
"There will be no watch parties outside of Madison Square Garden for Game 3 only. This was done fully in coordination with the Secret Service because of the presidential visit. We expect watch parties at Madison Square Garden to resume for Game 4."
MSG pushed back, saying the permit was denied by local city officials, not because Trump was attending.
TRUMP EXPECTED TO ATTEND KNICKS-SPURS NBA FINALS GAME 3 AT MADISON SQUARE GARDEN
"The permit for the Plaza33 Game 3 watch party was denied by the City's permitting office in consultation with the NYPD," Madison Square Garden's statement read. "However, the White House will confirm that this is not about the President. We understand NYPD Commissioner Tisch is planning additional street closures around Madison Square Garden."
City Hall and the NYPD point to Trump's appearance as the reason for the shutdown rather than take ownership of the additional street closures themselves.
Socialist Mayor Zohran Mamdani is also slated to attend, though he reportedly won't be sitting anywhere near Trump.
Friday's watch party got a little rowdy. When you combine a 27-year championship drought with too many overpriced IPAs, Bing Bong energy is bound to spill onto 7th Avenue.
Still, scrapping the outdoor gathering feels like an overreach by a city government that loves to micromanage. Instead of letting the streets bleed orange and blue outside the arena, fans are being told to scatter to local bars or Central Park.
The bureaucrats killed the party, but if the Knicks go up 3-0, no amount of Manhattan barricades can contain the celebration.
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Josh Hart calls Finals ticket prices at Madison Square Garden 'ridiculous' as fans priced out before Game 3
The NBA Finals are returning to Madison Square Garden for the first time in 27 years, and ticket prices, as well as the team’s success thus far against the San Antonio Spurs, have been a hot topic.
But one player in the starting five believes it’s "ridiculous" to see thousands being spent on a single ticket to get into "The Mecca."
Josh Hart spoke to reporters before Game 3 tips off on Monday night in The Garden, where he was asked about the ticket prices for Games 3 and 4 scheduled this week.
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"I kind of wish the ticket prices weren’t as crazy as they are," Hart replied.
"I feel like a lot of people who have been waiting for this moment for a very long time unfortunately aren’t able to get into the building. "The cheapest ticket $7,000, $8,000. That’s ridiculous."
Tickets soared after the Knicks held on to beat the Spurs, 105-104, to push their series lead to 2-0 heading into Game 3. Over the weekend, the get-in price on secondary ticket markets was as high as $10,000.
The tickets have since gone down, and some are pointing to the fact that President Donald Trump plans to attend Game 3. There will be enhanced security measures and heavy restrictions on what fans can bring inside the arena, with the Knicks saying in a statement that they should be arriving at The Garden around two hours before tip-off as to "allow additional time for screening and entry."
Screening could be similar to that of a TSA line at an airport.
Trump was also asked about the ticket prices over the weekend, and his response was much different than Hart’s own.
"They can watch it on television," Trump told reporters on Air Force One on Friday after being asked about the tickets to the game he’s expected to attend.
"It’s sorta semi-free to watch it on television. That’s the way life goes," he added.
Monday night would mark yet another major sporting event Trump has been to since he was sworn in for his second term in office. He was at the Super Bowl in New Orleans two NFL seasons ago, while also attending the Daytona 500 and Ryder Cup.
For the Knicks, there is the possibility of a sweep in the best-of-seven series as they continue to match up with the Spurs in their building this time. Game 4 would be a potential championship-clinching tilt, and the ticket prices have also matched the moment.
The get-in price, per Gametime, is $10,097 as of Sunday night, and the maximum is $110,964.
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver even commented on the Finals ticket prices, calling it "frustrating" that more people can’t afford to attend. But as a businessman at heart, Silver understands that the market is soaring considering the history at stake for the Knicks.
Either way, players like Hart, Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns are not focused on who will be in the building, even if the president of the United States is sitting courtside. They’ve been stoic in their responses despite their current 13-game win streak, understanding the "Job’s not finished," as the late, great Kobe Bryant famously said when he was up 2-0 with the Los Angeles Lakers in a previous Finals against the Orlando Magic in 2009.
The Lakers didn’t end up sweeping Orlando, but they finished the series in five games.
The Spurs, meanwhile, are hoping to make this series much longer than the Magic did 17 years ago. Victor Wembanyama and the Spurs will tip off against the Knicks at 8:30 p.m. ET on Monday night.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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Hezbollah's secret 'kill, wound and maim' bomb network exposed as Israel strikes Beirut
Israel launched retaliatory airstrikes on sites it described as Hezbollah command centers in Beirut's southern suburbs Sunday, hours after Israeli officials said Hezbollah fired rockets into northern Israel. Hezbollah did not immediately claim responsibility.
The escalation came days after the U.S., Israel and Lebanon announced a renewed conditional ceasefire framework requiring Hezbollah to halt fire and withdraw from parts of southern Lebanon. It also followed the release of IDF footage that Israel said showed troops dismantling a Hezbollah explosives facility, where an outside expert said components appeared consistent with anti-personnel shrapnel devices designed to wound or kill people on foot.
The strikes mark a major cross-border escalation days after the U.S., Israel and Lebanon announced a renewed conditional ceasefire framework requiring Hezbollah to halt fire and withdraw from parts of southern Lebanon.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office announced the military action was direct retaliation for the group's violation earlier in the day.
HEZBOLLAH FIRES BARRAGE OF ROCKETS INTO ISRAEL AFTER IDF TARGETS HEZBOLLAH COMMAND CENTERS IN BEIRUT
Concurrently, footage released by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) showed troops locating and dismantling a hidden, booby-trapped explosives warehouse.
The multipurpose assembly hub appeared to contain materials that could be used in makeshift shrapnel and propane tanks to create a distributed, lethal network.
Nick Reese, an adjunct professor at NYU’s Center for Global Affairs and a former U.S. national security adviser, told Fox News Digital that the captured weapons cache suggests a deliberate emphasis on personnel casualties, which could be military or civilian targets.
"Given the current situation, they probably targeted more military personnel. Shrapnel bombs are intended to hurt and kill people on foot," Reese said.
"The video cuts between the IDF entering the building and showing the contents. It's at this moment that they probably cleared any booby traps," Reese added. "It would be standard practice to look for and disable any booby traps in a facility like this before going inside and before filming anything."
"It's possible the booby traps could be using shrapnel methods, but I can't see evidence of that in the video. It shows what appears to be a shrapnel bomb, but it is not hidden so likely not a booby trap unless the IDF disarmed it off camera," he said.
HEZBOLLAH ‘HUMAN SHIELD’ STRATEGY BEHIND LEBANON AMBUSH, BOMB DETONATION - MACRON DRAWN IN
Among the items found in the raid was a container filled with nails and other sharp objects, which Reese noted are specific indicators of anti-personnel targeting.
"This video shows what appears to be a container with nails or other sharp implements in it," Reese noted. "This is likely for creating shrapnel bombs intended to kill, wound, and maim targets."
"Such devices are both effective and cause significant fear among the population, which was likely the intent," Reese continued. "The method is not particularly sophisticated but shows that they were targeting humans, not simply hardware or infrastructure."
"Making shrapnel bombs also tends to be cheap, easily concealed, and effective, especially against personnel. These types of bombs would likely have been in significant use."
"The video shows a variety of materials that could have been used to create bombs, from makeshift shrapnel to what appears to be a propane tank," Reese explained.
"These components would be used for very different purposes, so the location seems to have been a central general-purpose explosives-making facility."
"Propane tanks would be used for larger targets like tanks or buildings, while shrapnel would be used against infantry or in public places," Reese said.
US, ISRAEL ANNOUNCE TARGETED KILLINGS OF TERROR LEADERS IN SYRIA AND LEBANON
The dismantling of the factory follows a high-profile decapitation strike against the leadership running these hidden networks.
The IDF announced Friday that an airstrike in Lebanon killed Hezbollah’s chief explosives engineer, Abed Harb, the commander of Hezbollah’s engineering unit, after he "attempted to harm" Israeli soldiers.
The military said Harb was a veteran commander responsible for "numerous attacks against IDF soldiers" over the decades.
When considering the expertise required to manage such operations, Reese observed: "Over a 20-year career, this is difficult to say. Given Iran's well-known funding and support to Hezbollah and its experience fighting the Israelis in multiple conflicts, he likely had a mix of internal and external training combined with combat experience."
"Harb was targeted as part of an effort to disrupt Hezbollah's war-making infrastructure and limit its ability to continue to plan and execute large bombing operations against the IDF and civilian targets."
"The loss of Abed Harb by Hezbollah is not just a loss of leadership but of institutional knowledge," Reese added.
"His two decades of battlefield experience were significant to Hezbollah not only because of his bomb-making abilities but because of how he understood the IDF, Hezbollah, and the junior ranks.
"As a member of Hezbollah since 2006, Harb likely had significant skills in making and disguising bombs over a 20-year career, which will be a blow to Hezbollah's operational capabilities and infrastructure," Reese said.
Mayim Bialik details 'nightmare' after one injection of GLP-1 drug led to weeks of debilitating side effects
Mayim Bialik is speaking out candidly about a severe reaction she says she experienced after taking a GLP-1 medication, revealing that a single low-dose injection led to weeks of debilitating gastrointestinal symptoms.
In an essay that she penned for The Free Press titled "My GLP-1 Nightmare," the 50-year-old actress admitted that she had grappled with body image issues since she was a teenager but emphasized that weight loss was not her primary reason for taking the medication.
"I went on a weight-loss drug because a doctor told me it might help ease symptoms I’ve struggled with for basically my entire adult life," "The Big Bang Theory" star explained.
Bialik revealed that she had been diagnosed with the autoimmune disorder Grave's disease at age 23.
WEIGHT-LOSS DOCTOR SHARES HOW GLP-1S COULD REWIRE BODY AGAINST DISEASE
She wrote that in the 25 years that followed, she experienced unexplained symptoms including "full-body rashes and welts, severe histamine reactions to foods and smells, palpitations, hourly wake-ups for an entire year, crying jags alternating with crippling depression."
The former "Jeopardy" host recalled that she went on to receive a series of diagnoses including connective tissue disease, mast cell activation syndrome (MCAS), Sjögren’s syndrome and dysautonomia.
"But each was really just a label for a larger breakdown that no single specialist could quite explain," Bialik wrote.
Bialik shared that a few months ago, she decided to take a GLP-1 on the advice of three different doctors, who suggested the medication because "the drugs have shown promise in reducing the systemic inflammation that drives autoimmune conditions."
Bialik recalled that she had already tried several treatments that had proved unsuccessful at alleviating her symptoms. She wrote she was hopeful that taking a GLP-1 could be the "magic cure," but the experience quickly took an unexpected turn.
"I took one shot of the lowest dose of a synthetic GLP-1, and to say I had an adverse reaction would be somewhat of an understatement," she said. "Explosive, uncontrollable diarrhea. Sulfur burps so violent they left me afraid to open my mouth in public. Sneezing attacks every time I tried to eat or drink—which apparently has a name, snatiation."
"Cramping. Bloating. Full-body aching, as though I had the flu," she continued. "And an inability to keep down even small sips of water without sprinting to the bathroom with yet more explosive diarrhea. More than three times, I didn’t make it."
POPULAR WEIGHT-LOSS MEDICATIONS LINKED TO HIDDEN SIDE EFFECTS, STUDY FINDS
Bialik recalled that she struggled to hold down food or water and the ordeal left her so dehydrated she needed IV fluids.
"For the first two [days], I ate maybe one cup of rice and half a banana," she said. "Also some broth, which promptly left my body. I couldn’t even keep electrolyte drinks down."
"Everything exited with a rage that left me weak and debilitated," Bialik continued. "I was in constant contact with my prescribing doctor throughout — and when I couldn’t keep even a sip of water down, a nurse came to my home to administer IV fluids"
Bialik said she was surprised by how unfazed her medical providers seemed by her reaction to the medication, recalling that they told her severe side effects were not uncommon.
She wrote that she later discovered gastrointestinal symptoms, including nausea, vomiting and diarrhea, are among the most commonly reported side effects of GLP-1 medications.
According to the Mayo Clinic, gastrointestinal side effects associated with GLP-1 medications are well documented and often occur when patients first start treatment or increase their dosage.
While Bialik described a severe reaction, the Mayo Clinic notes that side effects can vary widely in severity, and many patients experience symptoms that are mild to moderate and improve over time.
Bialik recalled that she spent days attempting to manage her symptoms but could not find relief.
"On day three, I started antidiarrheal medication, which gave me just enough reprieve to eat toast and applesauce," she wrote. "As soon as it wore off, though, the siege resumed as if it never stopped. I took more antidiarrheals and rode that seesaw for days, trying to coax my body back to homeostasis."
"And yet, in the depth of my misery — my exhausted body, my aching joints, another pair of ruined underwear — a piercing, devastating thought occurred to me: At least you might lose some weight," she remembered.
The actress wrote that her ordeal resurfaced her years of body image struggles, revealing how Hollywood's emphasis on thinness and social media's beauty standards contributed to feelings of shame and a "disordered relationship with food."
Bialik, who rose to fame as a child star on the hit show "Blossom," recalled that she began gaining weight as a teenager after being prescribed medication to manage her moods, and she had developed a "deep sense of shame around my body" by the time she was a working actress in her 40s.
The Emmy Award nominee admitted that her body image issues were exacerbated after perimenopause caused her to gain 20 pounds that she has been unable to lose.
"Even when I was too sick to stand, drink water, or think straight, I was still chasing that dragon," Bialik admitted.
Bialik wrote that she ultimately decided to discontinue taking the GLP-1 and gave her "remaining hundreds of dollars of shots" to a friend. She wrote that she "would not blame anyone for pushing through side effects far worse than mine" for the weight loss that had previously eluded them.
"But my body made its position clear, and I had learned, after decades of overriding it, to finally listen," she said.
Bialik wrote that the experience offered insight into the daily struggles endured by those with chronic gastrointestinal illnesses.
"After the jab, I couldn’t leave the house for the better part of a week. When I had to go somewhere, I loaded up on antidiarrheals and avoided eating or drinking for hours beforehand," she said.
"There are people who often live in shame of their gastrointestinal challenges, who seem vague when they cancel plans, who disappear from events without explanation," Bialik continued. "I now recognize the deep pain and embarrassment that comes from a body that betrays you in ways you can’t explain to other people at a dinner party."
She explained that she "finally went to see a gastroenterologist" after weeks of dealing with continued symptoms following her single injection.
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Bialik said that her gastroenterologist told her that "while my reaction was dramatic, it was not unusual."
"These medications, he said, are extremely disruptive to the body and should not be used outside of a specific, regulated set of serious medical reasons — namely, life-compromising obesity and its related health consequences," Bialik wrote. "I did not meet that bar. He told me to expect a full month of alternating diarrhea and constipation, hopefully at decreasing frequency."
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Bialik explained that he also informed her that other medications she was taking could also be causing her gut health problems.
"I left his office feeling validated — a real doctor confirming I was not a freak, that the medication really had done this to me — and trepidatious that there was more to deal with in the coming weeks," she wrote.
"And then, on my way out, I caught a glimpse of my reflection, and I did not recoil," Bialik continued. "I did not see under my first chin that second chin on which I had been fixating for months — because it wasn’t there."
"My cheekbones were visible. I gazed for a moment, flashed a Mona Lisa smile, and headed to the parking lot, stopping briefly to hike up my skirt, which had started to sag at my hips ever so slightly."