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Tennessee inmate convicted of murder escapes from prison, manhunt underway: Officials
A manhunt is underway for a Tennessee inmate serving a life sentence for murder after he escaped from prison.
The Tennessee Department of Correction said that Jacob Allen Morley, 28, escaped the Northwest Correctional Complex in Tiptonville, Tennessee on Sunday. He was sentenced to life in prison after being convicted in 2025 of murdering Cody Birchfield three years earlier.
Prison staff discovered Morley was unaccounted for around 11:30 p.m. Sunday and immediately conducted an emergency count and search of the facility, according to a Tennessee Department of Correction statement given to Fox News Digital.
'AMERICA'S MOST WANTED' FUGITIVE CAPTURED ON SAILBOAT OFF NJ COAST AFTER 20 YEARS ON THE RUN
Security video showed Morley breaching a fence while still wearing prison clothing.
Morley is described as 5 feet, 11 inches tall and weighing 240 pounds, with brown hair and green eyes. The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation said he should be "considered dangerous," adding Morley is now on the state's most wanted list.
MANHUNT TARGETS ‘ARMED AND DANGEROUS’ MURDER SUSPECT NOW ON STATE’S MOST WANTED LIST
In addition to the first-degree murder conviction, he was also found guilty of burglary, vandalism, tampering with evidence and evading arrest.
Federal and state law enforcement is assisting to help find Morley, according to officials.
Birchfield disappeared in early February 2022 after he was last seen in Elizabethton, Tennessee. According to WJHL, investigators from the Carter County Sheriff's Office saw indications that a "violent crime" had occurred inside his house.
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On March 2, 2022, Morley was arrested after a police chase that went to the North Carolina state line. After the arrest, Birchfield's body was found underneath Morley's home.
Morley's former girlfriend, Landree Sheperd, testified at Morley's trial and claimed that the defendant said at one point that "he f—ing killed him."
People with information about Morley's whereabouts are encouraged to contact 844-832-3463.
Trump isn't done overhauling the White House — and his next move could hit the media where it works
President Donald Trump is considering giving the White House press corps the boot from its longtime briefing room — and has another use in mind for the space that doesn't involve the swimming pool he insists was never on the table.
Trump said Sunday he is thinking about relocating reporters to make room for other White House needs, a day after suggesting the press could be moved to a "less obnoxious location."
"I am not building a swimming pool in the White House Briefing Room, and never had any intention of doing so," Trump wrote on Truth Social. "I am thinking about moving the Press, and putting them in a different location, but I will use that location for very badly needed space."
The president’s comments come after The New York Times reported on Oct. 20 that Trump had discussed replacing the White House’s James S. Brady Press Briefing Room with an indoor swimming pool.
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When reached for additional comment, the White House referred Fox News Digital to Trump's Sunday Truth Social post.
In a separate Truth Social post published Saturday, Trump shot down reports he planned to build a swimming pool, insisting he would never consider doing "such a stupid thing."
"There is a Fake News report out there that I am going to remove the White House Press Room and bring back the old Swimming Pool, which lies directly underneath," Trump wrote in the social media post. "Although I may move the Fake News to a less obnoxious location, the old swimming pool will never be brought back."
TRUMP THREATENS TO ADD NY TIMES' 'TREASONOUS' IRAN WAR COVERAGE TO $15B DEFAMATION LAWSUIT
The White House’s indoor swimming pool opened on June 2, 1933, following a New York Daily News campaign to raise funds for a pool for President Franklin D. Roosevelt, who had polio and regularly swam in therapy pools at his Hyde Park home or at a rehabilitation center in Warm Springs, Georgia, according to the White House Historical Association.
To meet the growing demand for television news, President Richard M. Nixon later arranged for a press briefing room to be constructed above the old pool.
TRUMP BYPASSES MEDIA GATEKEEPERS AS GOV SANDERS REVEALS LEGACY OUTLETS ARE LOSING THEIR GRIP
Trump touted the ongoing renovations to the White House during a rally in Florida last Friday, saying his administration is "building some beautiful things." He also personally paid to install two 88-foot-tall flagpoles at the White House last July.
Democratic Party leaders and left-leaning media personalities have blasted Trump over various renovations on Pennsylvania Avenue, most notably in October 2025 when ground was broken for the new White House ballroom.
Michael Douglas doesn't 'feel bad' about affair revelations from 'before Catherine'
Michael Douglas gave a cheeky response when asked how his wife, Catherine Zeta-Jones, had reacted to his new tell-all, "One Helluva Ride."
The 82-year-old actor's new memoir, published Oct. 6, contained revelations about his life, including his secret affairs with his former co-stars Kathleen Turner and Jeanne Tripplehorn, as well as his past cocaine use and struggles with addiction.
During an appearance on the "Happy, Sad, Confused" podcast on the day of the book's release, host Josh Horowitz asked Douglas whether Zeta-Jones, 57, knew "everything" that he revealed in the book.
MICHAEL DOUGLAS GETS EXPLICIT ABOUT HOW HE FILMED SEX SCENES BEFORE INTIMACY COORDINATORS
"I'll be home to ask her because she just got the book two days ago. I told her this was all, as I say, B.C., before Catherine," Douglas said in the interview, which was published on Oct. 19.
"And you know, we have a 25-year age difference, so I'm looking at some of these films, like with Kathleen, and Catherine would have been seven years old," he joked.
"I don't feel bad," Douglas added. "I think she understands."
In "One Helluva Ride," Douglas confirmed that he and Turner, 72, had an affair in 1983 while filming the hit 1984 romantic adventure movie "Romancing the Stone," a rumor they denied for over 40 years.
At the time, Douglas was legally married to Diandra Luker, with whom he shares son Cameron, though he said in his memoir that they were separated when production on the film began, and they were both having extramarital affairs.
Douglas recalled that he and Turner continued to deny rumors that they were romantically involved during production of the sequel and even years later when they reunited on "The Kominsky Method."
The two told the public that while they "had amazing chemistry" and were "both tempted," they never acted on their feelings.
"The truth is that during the production of ‘Romancing the Stone,' Kathleen and I fell hard for each other and began a relationship," he wrote. "It wasn’t a fly-by night affair; it grew naturally from how closely we were working together, how much pressure we were under, how much we respected and cared for one another, and how attracted we were to each other. Like every other guy in the world at the time, I was knocked sideways by Kathleen."
PHIL COLLINS GETS FRANK ON MARRIAGE FAILURES AND LIFE REGRETS: 'I REGRET MY MARRIAGES FALLING APART'
He noted that he and Turner kept their affair a secret for 40 years to protect Luker and Cameron. Douglas wrote that the two decided to end their relationship after Luker visited them on set with Cameron "and made it clear to her [Turner] that we were still married."
After reports circulated about Douglas' admission, Turner said in a statement to People, "Good heavens, what a fuss about something 40 years ago! I love Michael, and I look forward to enjoying the book."
SHARON STONE SAYS SHE 'NEARLY DIED' AFTER 'BASIC INSTINCT' OPENED THE DOOR TO HOLLYWOOD'S DARK SIDE
Douglas also disclosed that he and Tripplehorn, 63, who was almost 20 years his junior, had an affair during the filming of their 1992 movie, "Basic Instinct."
"The truth is, I fell very hard for Jeanne despite our nearly 20-year age difference," he wrote. "In fact, I was ready to officially leave my wife for Jeanne. I was crazy about her."
Douglas recalled that his "relationship with Jeanne lasted through production," but that they "went our separate ways" once production ended.
"But I will always think of her as an amazing actress and a truly terrific woman that I was very fortunate to spend time with," he added.
'CADDYSHACK' STAR MICHAEL O'KEEFE CLAIMS COCAINE WAS BUDGETED ON SET, ADMITS FILMING SCENES HIGH
Douglas maintained that he and Luker were still separated at the time. Luker filed for divorce in 1995, and their split was finalized in 2000.
Tripplehorn has not publicly commented on Douglas' memoir, though the actor previously said she approved of him including their relationship in the book. During an interview with Page Six, Douglas said, "I talked to her before I put it in the book," adding that "she was fine" with it.
The memoir also explored Douglas’ struggles with substance abuse, his complicated relationship with his late father, Kirk Douglas, and Cameron’s battle with addiction.
Zeta-Jones previously confirmed that she had not yet read "One Helluva Ride" during an Oct. 8 appearance on "Today."
"As much as I love my husband, when I’m tired at night, I have no intention of reading about him. At all," she joked.
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The Oscar winner cited her exhausting schedule, having just wrapped up seven months of filming the third season of her Netflix series "Wednesday" in Dublin, while also working on her new Prime Video show "Kill Jackie" in London and traveling to Bilbao, Spain, before her press tour.
"But everyone else should [read it]," Zeta-Jones told the audience. "The book is called ‘One Helluva Ride,’ and I think everyone should hold on to their cowboy hats, because I think it is."
During a subsequent appearance on "Jimmy Kimmel Live!," Douglas was asked if it "was for the best" that Zeta-Jones had not read his memoir.
"Oh, yeah," Douglas quipped.
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In an Oct. 7 interview with Page Six, Douglas confirmed that he had already "talked" to Zeta-Jones about the book and expressed his confidence that she would be "very understanding."
Douglas first fell head over heels for Zeta-Jones when she caught his eye in the 1998 movie "The Mask of Zorro." He went on to meet Zeta-Jones at the Deauville Film Festival in France. At the time, Zeta-Jones was aware of his reputation as a Hollywood womanizer and wary of starting a relationship with him.
In his memoir, Douglas recalled that Zeta-Jones demanded monogamy, and he called five other women that day to end their relationships before committing to her.
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The couple, who share the same birthday, Sept. 25, though 25 years apart, became engaged in December 1999 and tied the knot in November 2000. Douglas and Zeta-Jones, who are parents to son Dylan, 26, and daughter Carys, 23, separated in 2013 before reconciling eight months later in 2014.
In "One Helluva Ride," Douglas wrote candidly about their separation and shared that he never gave up hope that they would reconcile.
"I love Catherine in a way that I have never loved any other woman," he wrote. "She's my wife, my best friend, and my life partner. I could never lose her."
JJ McCarthy opting not to wear eyeblack in Giants win over Texans likely linked to his hatred for Ohio State
JJ McCarthy led the New York Giants to an overtime win over the Houston Texans on Sunday in what was his first start under center for his new team, and did so in a unique fashion, literally.
McCarthy took the field in Houston without wearing any eyeblack on his face. Typically, a player choosing not to wear eyeblack for a game wouldn't be newsworthy, with most folks not even picking up on the change, but there is both history and quite the story involving McCarthy and the eyeblack in this scenario.
McCarthy has worn a hefty amount of eyeblack throughout his career, even dating back to his high school playing days at IMG Academy, and did the same throughout his three seasons playing at Michigan. There was a notable exception to the look during his time with the Wolverines, however, as he never wore the eyeblack when they were taking on Ohio State.
OHIO STATE MOVES SENIOR DAY AWAY FROM MICHIGAN GAME IN AN EFFORT TO REMOVE 'DISTRACTIONS'
As a football player at Michigan, McCarthy simply had to dislike Ohio State, but his hatred for the Wolverines' biggest rival ran a lot deeper.
The former first-round pick was offered by the Buckeyes out of high school, but while reflecting on the recruiting process, he told The Athletic in 2019 that he felt like he was misled by Ohio State head coach Ryan Day about what his plans were for the quarterback room.
Quarterback Quinn Ewers, the top-ranked recruit of the 2021 class, ended up at Ohio State along with four-star signal caller Kyle McCord.
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McCarthy chose to take his talents to Ann Arbor and went a perfect 3-0 against the Buckeyes during his time at Michigan, making sure Day "could see his face after he kicked his a - -," according to his quarterback coach at Michigan.
McCarthy is on record stating that he used to "love" the Buckeyes, but wanted to "kill them" after his recruiting process and landing at Michigan.
As for McCarthy ditching the eyeblack for Sunday's matchup against the Texans, it's safe to assume it had everything to do with the quarterback on the other sideline, CJ Stroud, who attended Ohio State. The no-eyeblack look could not have been just some coincidence.
Stroud never beat Michigan in his two starts against the Wolverines, and he's still winless against a McCarthy-led squad after Sunday's contest.
Democrats far less likely than Republicans to prioritize patriotism as key value, poll finds
Democrats are far less likely than Republicans to prioritize patriotism as a core value the nation needs, marking the single widest partisan divide in a new survey examining the country’s values.
According to a Gallup and With Honor survey released Sunday, 46% of Republicans ranked patriotism among the top three values the nation needs most, compared with just 6% of Democrats – a 40-percentage-point difference that dwarfs every other ideological disagreement in the poll.
"Democrats are far more likely to say the country needs equality, fairness and kindness, while Republicans are far more likely to say the country needs responsibility and patriotism," according to Gallup.
ONLY 27% OF DEMOCRATS WILL DISPLAY AMERICAN FLAG ON JULY 4: POLL
Overall, Americans view honesty (34%), responsibility (32%) and integrity (31%) as the values most urgently needed. Beneath that surface, though, the parties see starkly different remedies for what is most needed in the nation.
STUNNINGLY LOW PERCENTAGE OF ADULTS IN US THINK AMERICA STANDS ABOVE EVERY OTHER NATION: POLL
Republicans place the highest priority on patriotism (46%), followed by responsibility (41%) and honesty (38%). Democrats as a whole valued equality highest (44%), followed by fairness (34%) and honesty (32%).
DEMS PUT ON BLAST OVER POLL THAT SHOWS RECORD-LOW PATRIOTISM IN US: 'TEAR OUR SOCIETY APART'
Independents land between both sides, most frequently selecting honesty (34%), responsibility (32%) and integrity (31%), with only 15% selecting patriotism.
Despite the large disparity between Democrats and Republicans on the value of patriotism, it was one of the most selected values that participants said they believed was shared by most Americans regardless of their political leanings. When given a list of 12 choices, 32% said they believed most Americans shared patriotism as a value, trailing only freedom at 38%.
Those 12 values were: freedom, patriotism, service, kindness, respect, equality, fairness, responsibility, integrity, courage, honesty and humility. More than three-quarters of Americans (76%) believed people shared at least one of those values regardless of politics, while 59% said at least two, and 46% said at least three.
INDEPENDENT VOTERS AREN’T PICKING A POLITICAL TEAM, THEY JUST FEEL PICKED ON
Beyond patriotism, the second-largest partisan divide emerged around equality, chosen by 44% of Democrats compared to just 10% of Republicans – a 34-point spread. Fairness similarly split the electorate, chosen by 34% of Democrats versus 15% of Republicans.
The findings also reveal an age divide that mirrors the political split. Adults aged 65 and older are nearly three times as likely as adults aged 18-39 to say the nation needs more patriotism (32% vs. 12%).
Despite the deep differences in priorities, the survey revealed broad consensus on political tolerance. Nearly eight in 10 Americans (79%) – including 84% of Democrats, 81% of independents and 72% of Republicans – said respecting different values matters more than sharing the same ones. Additionally, 70% of respondents said elected leaders must be willing to compromise across party lines, even at personal political cost.
"Perhaps, then, the ultimate shared value is that Americans agree to disagree," the Gallup analysis concluded.
The survey was conducted May 12–22 among a nationally representative panel of more than 3,000 U.S. adults.
LA mayoral hopeful Nithya Raman calls herself both a 'capitalist' and 'democratic socialist'
Los Angeles mayoral candidate Nithya Raman declared herself both a capitalist and a democratic socialist during an interview Friday, raising questions about her political ideology as the Democratic Socialists of America considers challenging her endorsement from the organization just days before the election.
Raman, a Los Angeles city councilwoman and DSA member challenging incumbent Mayor Karen Bass, defended the two labels when Michaelson pressed her about capitalism and the organization's political positions.
"I am a capitalist, and I'm also a democratic socialist," she told CNN's Elex Michaelson. "I want the city to work and when the government is doing its job, it needs to work really effectively, and we need to make sure capitalism works without harm to workers, without worker exploitation, without exploitation of poor people. That's what I'm going to focus on."
Los Angeles County Republican Party Chair Roxanne Hoge criticized Raman's remarks in a statement to Fox News Digital, questioning how the mayoral hopeful could embrace capitalism while maintaining ties to an organization that advocates replacing it.
"It's no surprise that Nithya Raman is confused by two mutually exclusive concepts. Perhaps she was in a fugue state when she agreed to co-govern with the DSA who proudly proclaim their desire to expropriate private property and to abolish the police," Hoge said.
The Los Angeles Times reported Saturday that DSA national leadership was considering action against the Los Angeles chapter's endorsement of Raman over accusations she doesn't fully support the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement targeting Israel. At a forum last month, according to the LA Times, Raman referred to BDS as a "legitimate form of peaceful protest" without explicitly saying she supports the movement.
Lisa Cusack, president of the Don't LA My Burbank PAC, criticized Raman's affiliation with the Democratic Socialists of America, pointing to the organization's communist roots and its current political program advocating greater worker control over private industries.
"The founder of DSA-LA, Dorothy Rea Healey, was a longtime leader of the California Communist Party in California," she told Fox News Digital. "Her autobiography is titled: 'A Life in the American Communist Party.' The current Democrat Socialist Program for Los Angeles states, 'Capitalists extract massive profits by stealing the surplus value of working-class labor.'"
She claimed the program's mantra involves organizing to rebuild worker militancy, expanding union density, dismantling the gig economy, and asserting democratic worker control over municipal and private industries.
"This is who Nithya Raman will be expected to co-govern with. When people tell you who they are, believe them," Hoge said.
'DSA JIHADI': LA MAYORAL CANDIDATE TORCHED AFTER DEFENDING 'GENOCIDE' COMMENT DURING JEWISH FORUM
Raman's remarks contrasted with the DSA's official description of democratic socialism, which calls for replacing capitalism with an economic system in which workers exercise greater control over businesses and major industries.
The organization explicitly rejects capitalism in its explanation of its political philosophy.
"Capitalism is a system designed by the owning class to exploit the rest of us for their own profit. We must replace it with democratic socialism, a system where ordinary people have a real voice in our workplaces, neighborhoods, and society," the DSA states on its website.
DNC CHAIR KEN MARTIN DEFENDS 'BIG TENT' STRATEGY WHEN PRESSED ON DEMOCRATIC SOCIALISTS
Raman's latest comments also marked a change from how she answered the same question during a July interview with Michaelson. At the time, she declined to directly identify herself as a capitalist, instead emphasizing the existing economic system and the responsibilities of local government.
When Michaelson asked whether she considered herself a capitalist, Raman acknowledged the economic structure under which Los Angeles operates.
"You know, we are in a capitalist system. It's a city government," Raman said.
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Michaelson also asked Raman whether she supported abolishing police departments, prisons or the U.S. Senate. She rejected all three proposals. When Michaelson pressed her on how she reconciled her political affiliations with those disagreements, Raman defended the ideological diversity within the organization.
"I don't, you know, I think democratic socialism is a big tent," she said. "The DSA is a big tent organization, and I'm in part of that tent and I think a lot of Angelenos are in that tent with me."
Fox News Digital reached out to the DSA, Raman and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass for comment, but did not immediately receive a response.
Trump's brutal Truth Social attack on Bill Maher after dinner sparks confusion online
President Donald Trump set social media ablaze on Sunday night with a lengthy Truth Social post slamming HBO host Bill Maher on the heels of a recent dinner between the two of them, leaving onlookers baffled at the sudden about-face.
Trump hosted Maher for dinner at the White House earlier this month, marking the second time they have dined together. Afterward, Trump told reporters that the HBO comedian was "great," and that it "was a very informative dinner," but the president changed his tune on Sunday night.
"Let’s talk about this COMPLETE AND TOTAL LOSER, Bill Maher. He’s got a Low Rated Show on equally Low Rated HBO, which was once, long ago, a Network of Quality and Excitement — But that’s all gone. It’s not 'HOT' anymore!" Trump wrote.
Trump also described his past relationship with Maher's "Club Random" show producer Chuck LaBella from his days on NBC's "The Apprentice," claiming that LaBella would frequently encourage Trump to appear on Maher's show.
BILL MAHER CLAIMS DONALD TRUMP FELT 'BETRAYED' BY HIM WITH 'SILLY' FEUD AFTER CORDIAL 2025 DINNER
"When I became President, I agreed to meet, after the first one, and the last one, but never agreed to do his show, which he wants me to do, DESPARATELY [sic] — It won’t happen! When I have watched the show, which isn’t often, it always ends with dishonesty, about me at least, but, who cares?" Trump wrote.
He described LaBella and singer Kid Rock arguing in favor of inviting Maher to the White House for a meeting in what ultimately became their April 2025 dinner, though Trump claimed Maher "invited himself."
The president also wrote that Maher was in worse condition during their more recent meal.
"Also, I wanted to tell Bill that he’s a major POTHEAD. He’s got to stop, it’s very bad for his health. He looked like hell this time. Bill was drunk and had alcohol in his hand as he walked through the White House. Stephen A. Smith and Kid Rock came along with him. Overall, I thought it was a good meeting. It didn’t last four hours, it lasted two hours, maybe less, and everybody was happy. We have the timestamps. I learned nothing, and felt it was a waste of time," Trump wrote.
Trump claimed that since their second dinner, Maher's show has become "worse" than before and implored Maher and his team not to reach out to him again in the near future.
TRUMP HOSTED A DINNER WITH – WAIT FOR IT – STEPHEN A SMITH, KID ROCK AND BILL MAHER
"There were so many other falsehoods Bill spewed, but I won’t waste time in FACT CHECKING him. He isn’t worth it. Bill: Don’t call anymore. It’s useless, and tell Chuck LaBella not to call so much, and say how much you love 'TRUMP,' and want to get together, because you’re a hopeless guy, who is just trying to cater to your small group of 'fans.' You’re also a coward who is afraid to tell the truth about how well our Country is running because of your few 'fans,' and how badly the Dumocrats have done, almost destroying the U.S.A.," Trump wrote.
He concluded, "You’re not transformative, you’re a Loser! I never watched your show much, but I will never watch it again, because it is nothing more than FAKE NEWS that America, and the World, is unfortunately subjected to."
When reached for comment, the White House pointed Fox News Digital back to Trump's Truth Social Post. Maher did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
It was the longest post Trump has ever sent, according to CNN.
Comedian Tim Young — the Heritage Foundation’s media fellow — feels there is only one explanation for the 1,300-plus word takedown.
"I watched Bill Maher’s show this weekend and can’t figure out what set off Trump more than usual. Maher always regularly criticizes Trump," Young told Fox News Digital.
"Maybe it’s that Trump watched a full episode for once because Karoline Leavitt was on and realized just how much Maher criticizes him," Young continued. "That’s the only thing I can think happened. The president was friendly and didn’t realize just how much Maher takes cracks at him because he has never seen a full episode until now."
Many others took to social media with thoughts on the lengthy post, with supporters basking in the takedown. Some pointed out that Trump casually noted he might move the press to a different location, while others were irked the president would spend so much time bashing a television host.
Maher has previously defended meeting with Trump against liberal critics during the opening monologue of his HBO show "Real Time."
"You know what? F--- you. I like these dinners," Maher said Friday.
"You can hate me for it, but I’m not a liar. Trump was gracious and measured," Maher said. "And why isn’t that in other settings? I don’t know, and I can’t answer, and it’s not my place to answer. I’m just telling you what I saw, and I wasn’t high."
GORDON SONDLAND: France is burning, Europe's broke, and the revolution it really needs isn't violent
Europe is in the streets. From Paris to Brussels, Milan to Lisbon, hundreds of thousands of citizens are protesting rising living costs, stagnant wages, unaffordable housing and deteriorating public services. In France, demonstrations have descended into burning barricades, looted businesses, and attacks on public buildings. Elsewhere, students, workers and frustrated families are demanding that their governments deliver the prosperity and security they have long promised. Most protesters are peaceful, but the unrest reflects a growing anxiety that Europe’s economic and social model is no longer delivering.
The immediate grievances vary, but the underlying problem is more profound: too many European economies have become better at protecting yesterday’s arrangements than creating tomorrow’s opportunities. Excessive regulation, rigid labor structures, fragmented capital markets, and slow decision-making constrain the growth necessary to sustain Europe’s generous social promises. Europe has not run out of talent. It has made it unnecessarily difficult for talent to flourish.
Having served as the U.S. ambassador to the EU, I have heard this firsthand from executives running the American operations of major European companies, particularly in Silicon Valley. Their message is remarkably consistent: they simply cannot innovate in Europe the way they can in the United States. These are Europeans describing the limitations of their own economic environment. They come to America because our ecosystem allows them to move faster, attract capital, take risks, recruit talent, and turn promising ideas into commercially successful businesses.
FROM ARRESTS TO CRACKDOWNS, HOW EUROPE’S LEADERS ARE RESPONDING AS PROTESTS ROCK THE CONTINENT
Think about the implications. Europe has extraordinary universities, brilliant engineers, world-class scientists, and sophisticated corporations. Yet many of those same corporations look to America when they want to push the boundaries of innovation. The problem is not imagination. It is an economic and regulatory structure that too often suffocates imagination before it can become commercial reality.
There is another uncomfortable dimension to Europe’s predicament. For decades, the United States provided the military security umbrella under which European governments could devote comparatively modest resources to their own defense. While American taxpayers financed enormous military capabilities, many European countries concentrated more of their resources on generous pensions, health care, social benefits, and other domestic priorities.
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Imagine if European governments had been required to spend 4% or 5% of GDP on defense throughout the past three decades. Would their social safety nets look anything like they do today? Perhaps Europeans would still have chosen extensive benefits, shorter workweeks and lengthy vacations. But those arrangements would have required far more difficult fiscal choices involving taxes, borrowing, spending and economic growth.
American military power did not create Europe’s welfare state, but it helped make that welfare state easier to afford.
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The American security guarantee may also have distorted European perceptions of the threats themselves. When someone else bears much of the cost of protecting you, it becomes easier to discount the danger. Why acknowledge the full threat posed by Russia if doing so means telling voters they must sacrifice cherished benefits to purchase tanks, aircraft and missiles? Far easier for Europeans to conclude that Washington is exaggerating the danger, let America spend the money, and enjoy another three-hour lunch.
Poland and the Baltic states have generally viewed Russia differently. But across much of Western Europe, American protection made strategic complacency easier to sustain.
Now the defense bill is coming due. President Trump has pressed NATO allies to assume greater responsibility for their own security, and European governments have committed to substantially higher defense spending. Those commitments arrive just as their economies struggle to generate the growth necessary to finance them.
FROM ARRESTS TO CRACKDOWNS, HOW EUROPE’S LEADERS ARE RESPONDING AS PROTESTS ROCK THE CONTINENT
Europe needs an immediate regulatory reset, more integrated capital markets, flexible labor arrangements, faster permitting, affordable energy and an environment in which entrepreneurs can build global companies without crossing the Atlantic. Estonia’s digital government, Denmark’s labor flexibility, Ireland’s technology investment and Poland’s industrial development offer useful examples. What Europe lacks is not another commission or another report. It needs political leaders willing to confront the bureaucracies, vested interests and institutional inertia that prevent meaningful reform.
Which brings us to America.
We have our own protests, riots, economic inequalities, political dysfunction, and government bureaucracy. We are far from perfect, and we should never pretend otherwise. Millions of Americans struggle with housing costs, health care, education, and the fear that their children may not enjoy the opportunities they once expected. We have communities that feel abandoned, institutions that have lost public trust and political divisions that sometimes seem impossible to bridge.
But America’s greatest strength has never been perfection. It is our extraordinary capacity for reinvention.
Our system is built around the possibility of constant change. We experiment, fail, learn, improve and try again. Yesterday’s conventional wisdom becomes tomorrow’s obsolete business model. New companies challenge established giants. New technologies disrupt entire industries. Every generation has the opportunity to create something that did not exist before.
That process can be messy, disruptive, and sometimes deeply unfair. But it creates something indispensable to a successful society: the belief that tomorrow can be better than today, and that individuals have the power to help make it so.
This is the essential difference between American economic dynamism and the more rigid structures that constrain much of Europe. Our system does not guarantee success. It preserves the possibility of extraordinary success, and it gives people repeated opportunities to pursue it.
Critics of American wealth inequality frequently point to our growing number of billionaires, and perhaps someday a trillionaire, as evidence of a system gone wrong. But the mere existence of extraordinary fortunes misses a fundamental point. The question is not simply how much wealth the richest American has accumulated. It is whether the next American, starting with little more than an idea, talent and determination, has a genuine opportunity to build something extraordinary.
I want to wake up every morning believing the sky is the limit. I want every American to have that same opportunity. Not a government-imposed ceiling on ambition, not a predetermined limit on success, and not a tax system designed to punish exceptional achievement simply because it is exceptional.
Why take the risk, invest the capital, work the extra hours or pursue the seemingly impossible if government has already decided how much success is enough?
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None of this means ignoring inequality. An economy in which wealth and power become permanently concentrated, established businesses suppress competition and children born into poverty have little realistic prospect of advancement would betray the very principles that make American capitalism work. Government has an essential role in enforcing the rule of law, protecting competition, providing education, maintaining a functioning safety net and ensuring that opportunity is not reserved for those who already possess wealth or influence.
But there is an enormous difference between government creating the conditions for opportunity and government attempting to dictate economic outcomes.
America should respond to Europe’s difficulties with neither arrogance nor indifference. A prosperous, innovative and militarily capable Europe is essential to our own security and economic interests. We should encourage European reform, welcome European investment and insist that our allies assume a greater share of their defense responsibilities.
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At home, however, we must be careful not to import the very economic rigidities Europe is struggling to escape. We should resist the temptation to address every imperfection with another layer of regulation, another barrier to investment or another policy that makes entrepreneurship less rewarding.
We should instead ask a simpler question of every major economic policy: Does this make it easier or harder for Americans to work, invest, innovate, start businesses, change careers and recover from failure?
And we must make sure that the promise of advancement remains credible. That means better schools, affordable housing, competitive markets, access to capital, effective public institutions and opportunities extending far beyond a handful of prosperous technology centers.
America’s protests remind us that economic growth alone cannot sustain public confidence if too many citizens believe the system is closed to them. Peaceful dissent must be protected, violence must be rejected and legitimate grievances must be addressed. A dynamic economy cannot remain politically stable if large portions of its population lose faith in their ability to participate in its success.
The answer to inequality is not to suppress exceptional outcomes. It is to prevent inequality from becoming permanent exclusion.
The American dream was never a guarantee that everyone would become wealthy. It was the conviction that nobody’s future had to be dictated by the circumstances of their birth.
The measure of a successful society is not how effectively it limits the fortunes of those at the top, but how convincingly it keeps the door open for those who aspire to join them.
Europe’s unrest should serve as a warning about what happens when expectations grow faster than the economy’s capacity to fulfill them, and when political institutions become better at protecting yesterday’s arrangements than creating tomorrow’s opportunities.
America’s greatest asset is not the wealth it has already accumulated. It is the wealth, discoveries, industries and opportunities that have yet to be created.
Europe needs to rediscover economic possibility. America needs to protect it.
Mom of 2 who died rescuing sons during Bahamas snorkeling trip is identified
A 36-year-old mother on a family snorkeling excursion in the Bahamas recently died while trying to save her two sons from a strong current, authorities said.
The victim was identified as Leanne Gregory, 36, of Nottinghamshire, England, according to The Telegraph.
The drowning, which took place on North Bimini Island, was announced by Bahamian authorities last Tuesday.
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The Royal Bahamas Police Force said that around 10 a.m. Tuesday, officers at the Alice Town Police Station were alerted to an unresponsive woman at the North Bimini Ferry Dock.
The woman had been snorkeling with her husband and two sons when a "strong current" swept the children away, according to the statement.
"In an attempt to rescue her sons, the woman was also swept away," police said in a statement.
"She was later rescued and transported to the ferry dock, where CPR was reportedly administered."
Both children survived the incident, according to The Telegraph.
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By the time officers arrived, they were told the woman had been transported to a clinic and pronounced dead by a local doctor "despite efforts to save her life," the report added.
Authorities added that foul play "is not suspected at this time."
"An autopsy will be conducted to assist in determining the exact cause of death," the report added.
In a Facebook tribute, Gregory's husband, Nathan, called his wife of 22 years his "childhood sweetheart" and "soulmate," according to the BBC.
The outlet reported that on a GoFundMe page, he said she held onto one of their sons until he was rescued, but she "didn't have the energy to save herself."
"My boys had to witness something nobody should ever have to see of any age, but they know [their mom] died an absolute hero," Nathan Gregory said.
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In an interview with The Telegraph, Gregory's mother-in-law, Kim Jones, said her son had tried to give Gregory the "kiss of life" in an effort to revive her.
"It is devastating," said Jones. "They can both swim, they’re good swimmers, but the current was too strong."
Jones added, "They were in difficulty, and she went out to rescue them. But the waters were too rough and choppy for her."
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Gregory had reportedly loved traveling to Florida and the Caribbean, Jones said, and had been on a two-week vacation at the time of the drowning.
Gregory's mother-in-law told The Telegraph the couple were school sweethearts who had been together for over 20 years.
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"She was the best mom in the world, just brilliant — a lovely woman who would do anything for anyone," said Jones. "It’s all such a shock ... I cannot imagine how my son will be feeling."
Gregory's death is among several recent vacation tragedies.
In August, a Minnesota pastor died after suffering a severe spinal cord injury when he fell into a pool aboard a cruise ship in Italy while celebrating his son's wedding.
Earlier in October, a Brazilian university official was killed by falling roofing material while touring a historic Frank Lloyd Wright landmark in Arizona.
Elon Musk vows to give every US child SpaceX stock
You probably don't expect Elon Musk to show up in your child's investment portfolio. But that's exactly what could happen next year. The billionaire behind SpaceX has made a remarkable promise. He says he'll give one share of his space company to every kid in America.
We're talking about a potential giveaway worth more than $10 billion. Free SpaceX stock for kids sounds appealing, especially when you're thinking about your child's financial future. But before you start looking for a way to sign up, there are some pretty important details Musk has yet to explain.
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Musk recently announced on X that he plans to give one of his SpaceX shares to every kid in America in 2027. "Next year, I will give one of my SpaceX shares to every kid in America. This will be the first of many," Musk wrote.
That's a sweeping commitment. SpaceX, which went public in June 2026, operates the Starlink satellite internet network and develops rockets for commercial spaceflight. Now Musk wants millions of American children to own a tiny piece of the company. The promise has already attracted attention because of its enormous potential cost. However, Musk hasn't provided a detailed plan explaining how the shares would reach families or which children would qualify.
For perspective, SpaceX shares closed at $147.49 on Oct. 23. There are just over 72 million Americans under age 18. Using that closing price, giving every one of them a share would cost approximately $10.6 billion. For a family with two eligible children, that could mean roughly $295 worth of SpaceX stock based on the Oct. 23 valuation. Of course, that amount could change considerably by 2027. Stock prices rise and fall, and owning a single share offers no guarantee of future profits. Still, there's something intriguing about the idea of a child becoming an investor before graduating from high school. If SpaceX continues to grow, that share could become more valuable over time. On the other hand, families could also watch its value decline.
The timing is especially interesting. Just one day before Musk made his announcement, artificial intelligence company Anthropic revealed a major philanthropic commitment of its own. The company behind Claude AI announced plans to commit 5% of its shares to a new Anthropic Public Benefit Fund, subject to stockholder approval. The fund could support nonprofit organizations or provide direct financial assistance to certain populations, including workers affected by AI-driven economic changes. The company also described a structure that could increase its contribution as its valuation grows, subject to future board decisions.
Musk responded to Anthropic's announcement by recommending that companies give shares directly to the public. He then followed up with his own pledge involving SpaceX. This exchange raises an interesting question about the enormous wealth accumulating around AI. As technology companies become increasingly valuable, executives are facing greater scrutiny over how that wealth should benefit the public.
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Under the Trump Accounts program, the Treasury Department began automatically enrolling eligible children in tax-advantaged investment accounts on Oct. 1. Parents or guardians must still claim and activate those accounts before managing them. A separate federal pilot program provides a one-time $1,000 contribution for qualifying U.S. citizen children born between Jan. 1, 2025 and Dec. 31, 2028. Families must make an election to receive that contribution.
SpaceX President and Chief Operating Officer Gwynne Shotwell and her husband, Robert Shotwell, previously pledged to donate one SpaceX share to the Trump Account of each of more than 2 million children. Their contribution targets children ages 11 to 17 in areas with lower-than-average household incomes, with additional emphasis on communities near their home in central Texas.
New Treasury regulations that took effect Sept. 30 also allow qualifying donations of publicly traded company shares into Trump Accounts. Under those rules, donated shares generally must be held for five years or until the account's special growth period ends, whichever comes first. Musk's proposal could potentially use this system, but he has not publicly explained the exact distribution process. That's an important unanswered question because Trump Accounts have established eligibility requirements and investment rules. Musk's announcement appears to cover a much broader population of children, although he has yet to define exactly who qualifies.
A pledge this large naturally comes with logistical challenges. For starters, Musk hasn't clarified whether every child under 18 would qualify or whether the giveaway would be limited to U.S. citizens. It is also unclear how children would receive their shares.
If the giveaway uses Trump Accounts, families would need to understand how eligibility and account requirements apply. If Musk chooses another distribution method, parents may need some type of custodial account to hold stock for a minor. But Musk has not identified a specific process for families to claim his promised shares.
There are also financial questions. Would families face any tax consequences? Could children sell their shares immediately, or would restrictions apply? And when during 2027 would the transfers happen? For now, there's no confirmed application process for Musk's nationwide pledge. Parents should be cautious of anyone claiming otherwise.
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If you have children or grandchildren, this is certainly a development worth following. A free share of SpaceX could introduce young people to investing and give them a financial interest in a company developing space technology. But I'd encourage parents to be patient. Musk has not announced an official enrollment process for his proposed giveaway. That means you should be especially suspicious of websites or social media messages claiming you can already register your children for free SpaceX stock.
We have previously reported on scams using Elon Musk's name to promote questionable products. A high-profile stock giveaway could provide another opportunity for impersonators to target families. Avoid sharing your child's Social Security number, financial information or other sensitive details with anyone promoting an unverified giveaway. For legitimate information about Trump Accounts, visit the IRS website at irs.gov/trumpaccounts directly. That official program already has an established enrollment process, but signing up for a Trump Account does not guarantee your child will receive a share from Musk's pledge. If SpaceX eventually announces a formal process, review the eligibility requirements and any account restrictions before participating.
I've seen Elon Musk make some pretty ambitious promises over the years, but offering a piece of SpaceX to every child in America is certainly an attention-grabber. What interests me most is the idea of giving young people an ownership stake in a company helping shape the future of space exploration. There could be real financial value in that over time. Still, I want to see the details before getting too excited. A promise involving billions of dollars and millions of children deserves a clear explanation of how it will work. I also find the timing fascinating. With Anthropic making its own massive commitment to public benefit, we're beginning to see tech billionaires debate who should share in the wealth their companies create. I'll be watching to see whether Musk follows through and how much of that wealth actually reaches American families.
Would you trust Elon Musk to give your child a financial head start, or do you think billionaires should do more than promise shares on social media? Let us know by writing to us at CyberGuy.com.
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