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New York gubernatorial candidate urges 9/11 attendees to turn away from Mamdani during ceremony
Bruce Blakeman, the Republican candidate in New York's gubernatorial race, said Wednesday that attendees at this year's Sept. 11 memorial ceremony should turn their backs on New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani if he attends.
"I would equate this to a wake. You don't go to a wake if you're not welcome," Blakeman, whose nephew was killed in the South Tower on Sept. 11, 2001, and who currently serves as Nassau County executive, told reporters.
"I think it's completely appropriate if family members ask him not to come, but if he does come, I think there's a respectful and peaceful way to protest that and I would suggest that people turn their back on the mayor," he said.
FIREFIGHTER BROTHER OF 9/11 VICTIM INCENSED BY 'RADICAL' MUSLIMS WINNING KEY DEM PRIMARIES
Blakeman argued Mamdani's refusal to condemn the phrase "globalize the intifada" should disqualify him from attending the ceremony marking the 25th anniversary of the terrorist attacks.
"He's not welcome there because he has yet to say anything in opposition to the global intifada. As a matter of fact, it seems like he supports that phrase, which is part of the reason why we had the tragedy we had on 9/11," Blakeman said.
Mamdani's office did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Fox News Digital.
The mayor has said he still plans to attend the ceremony.
9/11 FAMILIES PUSH TO BAN MAMDANI FROM 25TH ANNIVERSARY REMEMBRANCE OVER 'HOSTILE' RECORD
"I will proudly honor the families, the survivors, the first responders forever impacted by that horrific terror attack by standing alongside them at this year's 9/11 commemoration — reaffirming that we will never forget the solemn day..." Mamdani said last week.
His comments came after relatives of Sept. 11 victims launched a petition urging the National September 11 Memorial & Museum to bar Mamdani from attending the ceremony in Lower Manhattan.
"Concerns have been raised about Mr. Mamdani's public positions, associations, and responses to rhetoric that many perceive as hostile to these shared values," the Change.org petition states.
"Given these concerns, we respectfully ask that the organizers carefully consider whether Mr. Mamdani's participation would align with the intention of the ceremony and the expectations of the families most directly affected by the tragedy."
JEWISH LEADERS FAULT MAMDANI RHETORIC AS UPPER WEST SIDE STABBING, HATE CRIME PROBE CONTINUES
A spokesperson for the 9/11 Memorial & Museum previously told Fox News Digital that the organization has "intentionally worked to keep the commemoration free of politics because remembering those we lost on 9/11 should never be a partisan issue."
"Government officials from across the political spectrum, including every sitting president, governor, and mayor since 9/11, have attended the ceremony simply to bear witness — they do not deliver remarks and are asked to remain in a designated area," the spokesperson added.
Former New York Gov. George Pataki was also asked Wednesday whether Mamdani should attend the ceremony.
"It's my nature to be inclusive, and that is my instinct, but Sept. 11 is different. So, I may have comments on that," Pataki said, according to the New York Post.
Fox News Digital's Charles Creitz contributed to this report.
Florida man allegedly attacked sister with machete while she was sleeping next to toddler daughter
A Florida man is accused of slashing his sister with a machete while she was sleeping in bed next to her 1-year-old daughter, according to officials.
Ruben Altidore, 36, repeatedly hacked at his sister in her bedroom in an unsuccessful attempt to kill her on Monday in Margate, which is located about 40 miles north of Miami, according to an arrest report per WPLG.
"Oh my God, why aren’t you dead yet?" he shouted during the attack, according to the arrest report.
Altidore was arrested on Monday in connection with the attack. He was charged with attempted felony murder, aggravated child abuse and violation of probation, according to jail records.
BELOVED TEACHER KILLED AS SHE SLEPT, DAUGHTER STABBED IN ATTACK AS MOTIVE REMAINS UNCLEAR: DA
His sister survived the attack but suffered serious injuries.
She suffered a 10-inch wound that reached the bone on the back of her right thigh, a four-inch laceration to the back of her right hand with the possible amputation of at least four fingers, a near amputation of her left index finger and thumb and a cut to her left palm with a near amputation of her left thumb, according to investigators.
The victim’s 1-year-old daughter was found after the attack lying in the bed covered in blood, though investigators said the child was not injured.
The woman eventually managed to escape and ran to a neighbor for help, WPLG reported, adding that her piercing screams were captured on home surveillance video.
MAN FACING FEDERAL CHARGES AFTER ATLANTA TRAIN PASSENGER STABBED ABOUT 20 TIMES, FBI INVESTIGATING
"My [brother] is trying to kill me," the woman reportedly screamed as investigators arrived at the scene, according to the police report.
A cousin of the victim also told investigators that Altidore attacked his sister with a machete, and a neighbor reported hearing the victim screaming after she ran outside following the attack.
"She ran to the middle of the street and then ran to my front door where she was asking for help," neighbor Luis Pereria told WPLG. "Apparently she was sleeping when this all happened. I was just baffled by it. How can you do that?"
Investigators found a large amount of blood inside the victim’s bedroom that was tracked into the hallway, to a bathroom door and outside the home.
A machete sheath was discovered in the kitchen, and a machete was found under a bed with what appeared to be "red smudges," investigators said.
Altidore was taken to the Broward County Main Jail and is being held without bond.
A motive for the attack remains unclear at this time.
Retired NFL standout Roddy White suggests Ryan Clark's outspokenness may have played role in ESPN exit
ESPN’s latest round of layoffs last week included former NFL players-turned-TV analysts Ryan Clark and Cam Newton, as well as reporter Tom Pelissero, who had joined the company from NFL Network. Clark’s exit drew particular attention after more than a decade with the network.
The moves come as ESPN prepares for one of its most significant NFL coverage seasons yet, a run that will culminate with the network’s first Super Bowl broadcast.
Front Office Sports reported that former All-Pro wide receiver Steve Smith is expected to have an expanded role on ESPN studio programming. ESPN confirmed Monday that Jason McCourty will join "Monday Night Countdown," appearing to step into the opening created by Ryan Clark’s layoff. McCourty joined ESPN in 2024 and is now exclusive to the network after leaving his CBS game analyst role earlier this year.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM
Former NFL wide receiver Roddy White is among the latest sports figures to weigh in. White, who faced Clark during their playing careers, said Clark’s abrupt ESPN exit stood out because of how highly he regarded the former analyst’s work.
"I think Ryan Clark is exceptional at his job," he said. "It's unfortunate that he got released by ESPN because he is so good at what he does. Usually, guys who are that good don't lose their jobs."
White also pointed to Clark’s outspokenness on issues beyond football, suggesting it may have been a factor in the separation.
"Clark speaks up on a lot of issues outside of football. He is always standing up for the Black community and being on our side. I think this, and his opinionated nature, may have cost him his job because ESPN, as a network, doesn't want people touching on politics and community-related topics. They just want everything to be sports-related."
5 OPTIONS TO REPLACE RYAN CLARK ON ESPN'S SUPER BOWL HALFTIME SHOW
White finished his 11-year career with the Atlanta Falcons with 10,863 regular-season receiving yards.
Clark had been one of ESPN’s more visible NFL voices, regularly appearing on "NFL Live," "First Take," "Get Up" and "SportsCenter." In 2023, at the 44th Annual Sports Emmy Awards, he took home the Sports Emmy in the Outstanding Personality/Studio Analyst category for his work across ESPN platforms.
Clark had also been a fixture on the "Countdown" desk alongside Scott Van Pelt since 2023. His layoff, however, drew added scrutiny because it reportedly happened during an "NFL Live" broadcast, prompting questions about how the network handled the move.
In 2021, Clark launched "The Pivot Podcast" with former NFL players Fred Taylor and Channing Crowder. He has also hosted "Inside the NFL" since 2023.
Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.
Trump blasts Democratic socialist candidate as 'full of s---' and Dems are skipping socialism 'for communism'
President Donald Trump escalated his attacks on Michigan Democratic Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed Wednesday, singling out the progressive candidate as "full of s---" while arguing Democrats are embracing communism.
The remarks came hours after El-Sayed narrowly defeated Rep. Haley Stevens in Michigan's Democrat Senate primary, winning by less than one percentage point after The Associated Press called the race early Wednesday.
He will face Republican Mike Rogers in November for the Senate seat being vacated by retiring Sen. Gary Peters.
Trump devoted several minutes of his Las Vegas speech to attacking democratic socialist candidates, arguing they are advancing communist ideas and calling communism "the greatest threat" facing the United States.
SOCIALIST SURGE: FAR-LEFT DEMOCRATS TEST NATIONAL PLAYBOOK AFTER BLUE-CITY PRIMARY SHOCKS
"These people are dangerous and frankly, they are lunatics. They're crazy, and we can't let them get into office," Trump said. "Communism is the greatest threat to our country in its history, including even World War One, World War Two, Pearl Harbor, 9/11. I think it's the greatest threat."
The White House later amplified that portion of Trump's remarks on social media, posting simply: "Communism is the greatest threat to our country."
Trump mocked what he said communist policies would mean for Americans.
"Would you like a free house? We'll take one from your neighbor. Would you like free rent? We'll take it from whoever. We'll take your building away from the landlord," Trump said. "What they don't say, and what Republicans should say, is that at the end of the year, you'll have nothing but death, squalor, poverty. You'll have a life of hell."
LIZ PEEK: MICHIGAN CAN STOP THE SOCIALIST FEVER RAGE — OR WATCH IT SWALLOW THE SENATE
The president pointed to Venezuela as an example of what he said happens when communist policies take hold.
"Look at Venezuela, where it was such a rich country 20 years ago," Trump said. "Every time this has happened, you go through squalor ... filth, crime, death, destruction, embarrassment. You lose your home. You lose your apartment."
Trump then singled out El-Sayed by name, drawing one of the loudest reactions of the night.
"When I watch Abdul, he's full of s---," Trump said.
2026 MIDTERMS STATE OF PLAY: KEY RACES UNFOLD AS STEVENS, EL-SAYED BATTLE IN MICHIGAN
El-Sayed's victory gives Democrats a progressive nominee in one of the country's most closely watched Senate races. Backed by Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., El-Sayed campaigned on Medicare for All, getting money out of politics and ending U.S. military aid to Israel.
He has described himself as a capitalist and has distanced himself from the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), though Republicans have frequently tied him to the broader democratic socialist movement.
Trump later returned to a familiar theme from the second term of his presidency.
"If you remember, during my State of the Union speech, I made a very strong statement. I said that America will never be a socialist country," Trump said. "I was right."
The president argued Democrats now want to move beyond socialism.
TRUMP HAILS AMERICA AS 'MOST EXCEPTIONAL NATION EVER TO EXIST' IN MOUNT RUSHMORE SPEECH
"What I didn't say is what they're trying to do. They want to skip socialism. They want to go right down to the bottom of the barrel. That's communism," Trump said. "They want it to be a communist country. We're not letting them have it as a communist country, not even for a minute."
Trump closed by vowing to defeat what he called the Democrat Party's leftward movement.
"Together we will defeat communism, socialism and Marxism in America once and for all," Trump said. "It's defeated. It's going to go down. It always goes down."
The White House and El-Sayed's campaign did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's requests for comment.
Fox News Digital's Andrew Mark Miller, Kiera McDonald, and Robert Schmad contributed to this reporting.
Crowded Russian beach descends into chaos after alleged Ukrainian drone incident kills 7, including 4 children
Vacationers were sent scrambling for safety Monday after a projectile struck a crowded beach in a Russian Black Sea resort town, killing seven people, including four children, and injuring dozens more, officials said.
Video footage captured the incident in the village of Arkhipo-Osipovka near Gelendzhik, where the beach was packed with visitors at the time of the strike.
The Russian Mission in Geneva said in a post on X that the "bloody attack" was carried out by a drone launched by Ukraine, accusing Kyiv of targeting civilians.
UKRAINE LAUNCHES WHAT APPEARS TO BE ONE OF ITS LARGEST DRONE ATTACKS AGAINST RUSSIA: REPORT
"The attack targeted civilian infrastructure. Emergency and special services are working at the crash site," regional Gov. Veniamin Kondratyev said in a post on Telegram.
"What happened today is a targeted attack by the Kyiv regime against civilians who have no connection to the military infrastructure. This cynical and inhumane terrorist attack against children cannot be justified."
UKRAINE UNLEASHES MORE THAN 400 DRONES NEAR MOSCOW IN ONE OF WAR'S BIGGEST ATTACKS
Andriy Kovalenko, an officer with Ukraine’s Defense Forces, disputed Russia’s account, saying the deaths were directly caused by Russian air defenses that intercepted a drone, sending debris onto the beach.
"Russian air defense shot down a drone over people lying on the beach," Kovalenko said on Telegram.
In the video, sounds resembling gunfire were heard just seconds before a drone struck the beach, causing a fireball explosion that sent bystanders screaming. As the gunfire was heard, the drone appeared to veer sharply before diving toward the beach.
Preliminary Russian reports also found that several of the deaths were caused by "falling drone debris," Kondratyev said.
ZELENSKYY SAYS PUTIN 'LOST THE INITIATIVE' AS UKRAINE'S TECH INDUSTRY RESHAPES THE WAR
In another Telegram post, Kovalenko indicated that Ukraine uses its weapons against Russian military-industrial infrastructure to affect Moscow’s ability to finance the war.
He further accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of creating an "illusion" that Russia would remain safe from the war by downplaying daily explosions as falling debris, limiting air raid warnings, and positioning air defenses near populated areas such as the Black Sea resort.
"Putin deliberately killed these people. Because if he had not started the war and struck Ukraine, they would be alive," Kovalenko said.
"It was Putin, his air defense, who killed these Russians. His decisions in response to their decisions launched a chain of death for Russians."
Florida man accused of cutting off diver's air supply in fight over coveted lobster diving spot
A battle over a lobster diving spot off the Florida coast allegedly escalated into an underwater nightmare after a man was accused of shutting off another diver's air supply, a confrontation that landed him behind bars on an attempted murder charge.
Michael Joseph Simpson, 51, surrendered Tuesday to the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center in Miami-Dade County, where he was booked Tuesday evening on an attempted murder charge, according to Miami-Dade jail records. His bond was set at $10,000.
According to Local 10 News, the incident occurred shortly after 7 a.m. on July 29 about a half-mile east of Fisher Island during Florida's annual lobster mini season.
Citing the arrest affidavit, Law&Crime reported that Simpson allegedly approached another boat at a high rate of speed and circled the vessel several times before anchoring about 10 feet away.
FLORIDA MAN ARRESTED FOR DUI AFTER TROOPERS ALLEGEDLY FIND 34 OPEN ALCOHOL CONTAINERS IN VEHICLE
Investigators say the confrontation began after Simpson claimed the group was diving in "his spot" and warned that a larger boat was on its way before it arrived and anchored nearby.
Authorities allege Simpson then threatened to turn off the surface-supplied air system providing oxygen to an 18-year-old diver searching for lobsters. Investigators say Simpson jumped into the water and intentionally shut off the unit.
As the confrontation unfolded, witnesses yelled, "We have a diver down there you a--hole!" according to the arrest affidavit cited by Law&Crime.
The diver's boat owner jumped into the water and pulled him to the surface. The diver was gasping for air and appeared disoriented but was not injured, Local 10 reported.
FLORIDA MAN GIVES AN INCREDIBLE INTERVIEW ABOUT HOW HE FOUGHT OFF AN ALLIGATOR WITH A FISHING POLE
Investigators allege Simpson left before deputies arrived. After authorities identified him as the suspect, Simpson voluntarily surrendered Tuesday, according to Local 10.
Simpson's attorney, Howard Srebnick, strongly denied the allegations in a statement to Fox News Digital, arguing investigators ignored evidence and witnesses he says support his client's account.
Srebnick said Simpson was diving from his own boat with friends and his two young children and "never disabled anyone's diving equipment."
Srebnick said video shows one of the accusers becoming entangled in the Brownie's Third Lung air system while Simpson "was nowhere near it."
AMERICAN TOURIST ATTACKED BY SHARK IN VACATION HOT SPOT
He also disputed investigators' allegation that Simpson fled, saying his client instead idled his boat away from the immediate area to avoid escalating the confrontation before cooperating with responding Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission officers and providing a statement.
Srebnick said numerous eyewitnesses aboard two separate boats corroborated Simpson's version of events and criticized the Miami-Dade Sheriff's Office for arresting his client before interviewing what he described as exculpatory witnesses.
"We are optimistic that the State Attorney's Office, after reviewing the video and interviewing all the eyewitnesses, will dismiss the charges, clear his name, and restore the reputation he has spent a lifetime building," Srebnick said.
Fox News Digital has reached out to the Miami-Dade Sheriff's Office for additional comment.
Bodycam video shows Canadian woman allegedly giving false name before deputies discovered 12 fake IDs
Police body camera video shows the moments Florida deputies arrested a Canadian woman after she allegedly gave a false name during a traffic stop and investigators discovered 12 fraudulent identification cards in her vehicle.
Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister released the July 29 bodycam footage showing deputies stopping a vehicle in Tampa because its taillights and tag lights were not working.
The driver, Bryce Swanson, 28, initially identified herself as "Brianna Valenzuela" and initially told deputies she had a driver's license but did not have it with her, according to authorities.
SEMITRUCK DRIVER IN DEADLY INTERSTATE CRASH FRAUDULENTLY OBTAINED LICENSE, CITIZENSHIP: OFFICIALS
"Swanson told deputies she did not have an ID and had never possessed a valid driver's license, after initially claiming she did," Chronister wrote on X. "A search of her vehicle revealed 12 driver's licenses with her picture, but different names and dates of birth."
According to authorities, Swanson is a Canadian national who overstayed her visa.
The body camera footage shows a deputy questioning Swanson about her identity after she said she was visiting Florida from New York in a rental vehicle.
"I live in New York," Swanson said. "I'm here in Florida literally just visiting friends and stuff right now."
The deputy pointed out she did not have any New York identification.
"Your story's not making a lot of sense to me, right?" the deputy said. "You say you live in New York, but you don't have any ID in New York."
When the deputy again asked how she could live in New York without any identification, Swanson replied, "I've never had a driver's license or anything like that."
Deputies then searched the vehicle and found what investigators described as numerous fraudulent identification cards.
MAN FLEEING ICE OFFICERS IN FLORIDA IS STRUCK AND KILLED BY TRACTOR-TRAILER, POLICE SAY
"All these are fake," one deputy said in the video before placing Swanson under arrest.
Swanson was booked into the Orient Road Jail and charged with driving without a valid driver's license and providing a false name to a law enforcement officer.
She is being held without bond because of an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detainer, according to jail records.
Fox News Digital has reached out to ICE for comment.
Federal judge acknowledges Supreme Court ruling clearing path for Trump to end Haiti TPS
President Donald Trump on Wednesday notched a major immigration victory after a federal judge acknowledged that the court order blocking the administration from ending temporary protected status (TPS) for hundreds of thousands of Haitians is no longer in effect after the Supreme Court's ruling in Mullin v. Doe.
The ruling marks the culmination of a yearslong legal battle over the Biden administration's expansion of Haiti's TPS designation and delivers a significant immigration victory for Trump, who repeatedly campaigned on ending the Biden administration's expanded TPS protections for Haitians.
The issue became a centerpiece of the 2024 election after Trump and running mate JD Vance blamed the Biden administration's Haiti TPS policies for the influx of Haitian migrants into Springfield, Ohio, where residents raised concerns about traffic safety, strained public services and cultural clashes.
BLUE STATE LEADERS ERUPT AFTER SUPREME COURT’S DECISION ENDING TPS PROTECTIONS FOR HAITIANS, SYRIANS
The controversy later exploded onto the national stage after Trump referenced residents' claims that migrants were taking ducks and geese from parks and eating household pets.
The White House did not respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment by publication time.
U.S. District Judge Ana Reyes wrote Wednesday that her earlier order staying the Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) termination of Haiti's TPS designation "is no longer in effect" after the Supreme Court's decision and the D.C. Circuit's subsequent mandate.
While the underlying lawsuit will continue, the administration is no longer barred by the injunction from moving forward with ending TPS protections for an estimated 330,000 to 350,000 Haitians living in the U.S.
The remaining litigation centers on whether the administration acted with unconstitutional racial animus in terminating the designation.
LIBERAL COURT STUNS WITH RULING THAT HANDS TRUMP MAJOR IMMIGRATION WIN
The Supreme Court ruled in June that the TPS statute bars judicial review of the administration's non-constitutional decisions to terminate TPS designations and found the plaintiffs' equal protection challenge was unlikely to succeed. The court reversed the lower courts and remanded the case for further proceedings.
DHS General Counsel James Percival pushed back on reports suggesting Wednesday's order itself ended Haiti's TPS designation, arguing the protections effectively expired when the Supreme Court's mandate was issued July 27 and that Reyes' order merely acknowledged that legal reality.
"Haiti TPS ended when the Supreme Court mandate issued on July 27," Percival wrote on X. "I will give Judge Reyes kudos though for taking the L with grace and not doing something bonkers like many of her colleagues."
Haiti first received TPS after the country's devastating 2010 earthquake, but the designation remained in place for 16 years through multiple administrations. The Biden administration later expanded and extended protections for hundreds of thousands of Haitians already living in the U.S.
MORE THAN 100 HAITIAN IMMIGRANTS WITH VIOLENT OFFENSE AND SEX CRIME CONVICTIONS DEPORTED: DHS
After reviewing conditions in Haiti, former DHS Secretary Kristi Noem determined the country no longer met the statutory requirements for TPS and announced the administration's decision to terminate the designation, arguing the humanitarian program had been extended well beyond its intended temporary purpose. The move triggered the legal challenge that ultimately reached the Supreme Court.
After the SCOTUS decision, the DHS announced Haiti's TPS designation would be terminated, effective July 27, and that employment authorization documents issued under the designation were no longer valid. The department instructed employers to reverify the work authorization of affected employees.
The State Department maintains a Level 4 "Do Not Travel" advisory for Haiti because of widespread gang violence, kidnappings and civil unrest.
Fox News Digital's Danielle Wallace and Michael Lee contributed to this report.
Fauci's HHS iPhone turned over to Senate investigators as contempt vote looms
Fox News Digital has confirmed that a key investigative panel in the Senate has obtained Dr. Anthony Fauci’s pandemic-era cellphone.
The cellphone was transferred from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to the Senate Homeland Security Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations chaired by Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wis.
A spokesperson for the senator told Fox News Digital the subcommittee "obtained a copy of Dr. Fauci’s iPhone that was used during his time at HHS."
Whether the panel has access to the phone remains unclear.
RAND PAUL SEEKS CONTEMPT CHARGES AFTER FAUCI INVOKES FIFTH AMENDMENT MORE THAN 100 TIMES
The committee’s procurement of the phone, first reported by The Wall Street Journal, comes as the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee readies to decide whether to hold Fauci in contempt of Congress. It also follows the HHS' move to dump over 1,000 pages of Fauci's personal diary to the panel just days before the blockbuster hearing.
The hearing, slated for Thursday morning, comes after the panel’s chair, Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., subpoenaed Fauci to testify on his alleged role in funding "risky" gain-of-function research in Wuhan, China, where the COVID-19 virus originated.
A source close to Paul's office told Fox News Digital that the lawmaker is also in possession of the phone.
Last week’s testimony was meant to serve as the climatic duel between Fauci and Paul, who has demanded Fauci be thrown into prison for his role in the nation’s pandemic policy and alleged lies to Congress.
But it didn’t turn out that way.
TOP 5 MOMENTS FROM FAUCI'S HEARING: PAUL BOOTS LAWYER, MORENO ERUPTS AS CONTEMPT VOTE LOOMS
Fauci, on advice from his lawyers, opted to plead the Fifth Amendment out of concern about self-incrimination before a panel that he charged was designed to ensnare him.
"Although it pains me to do so because of the respect I have for the legislative branch of government and my decades-long record of cooperating with Congress under the advice of my attorneys, I will invoke my right under the Fifth Amendment of the Constitution to refrain from answering your questions," Fauci said.
What ensued was Republicans on the panel peppering Fauci with questions probing his involvement in an alleged lab leak that led to the virus’ rapid spread to what day of the week it was. Democrats charged that his decision to activate his constitutional rights was the right call given Paul and his colleagues' determination to catch him in a lie.
WATCH: RAND PAUL SAYS THERE'S ONE THING AMERICANS HAVE NEVER HEARD FROM FAUCI
And it culminated in Paul vowing that Fauci would face consequences for declining to comment and questioning whether his pardon from former President Joe Biden could protect him.
"I think there's another legal question that the courts may have to decide upon, and that is whether or not a presidential pardon offers you complete immunity," Paul said at the time.
Fox News Digital did not immediately receive comment from HHS on Fauci’s pandemic-era iPhone.
Dodgers ruin baseball with sixth straight loss, get swept for second consecutive series by Chicago Cubs
Discussion on baseball-related social media over the last week has focused on one topic, and one topic only: the Los Angeles Dodgers.
The Dodgers, back-to-back World Series champions, entered the weekend leading up to the Major League Baseball trade deadline with several major question marks, despite their massive payroll. Starter Blake Snell remained injured, with just three innings pitched in 2026 after only 61 innings in 2025. Tyler Glasnow was also sidelined with a back injury after throwing only 39.2 innings earlier in the season. Emmett Sheehan, after a breakout 2025, had struggled mightily in recent starts, and the injuries had forced LA to turn to journeyman Eric Lauer.
So they did what any team trying to win a World Series should do, and made their roster better. Instead of hoping for the best, LA's front office traded Zyhir Hope, River Ryan, and Brady Smith to the Tigers for defending AL Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal. This set off a firestorm of anger, outrage, hatred, and conspiracy theories, as well as wailing and gnashing of teeth from commentators and fans who demanded that owners lock players out to pocket more money, or acted as though this marked the end of baseball.
LOS ANGELES DODGERS TRADE FOR TARIK SKUBAL HIGHLIGHTS MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL'S MASSIVE PROBLEM
Why? Because the Dodgers were now simply too good to be beaten. No team could compete with their combination of talent and depth. The season, and postseason, were effectively over.
And as if part of some divine plan, the Dodgers chose this very week to demonstrate to fans, those commentators, and the "ruining baseball" casuals why they're all hopelessly wrong. LA hosted the Red Sox at Dodger Stadium late last week, and were promptly swept by a surging Boston team. They allowed six straight runs in the late innings of game one to lose 9-4, managed just two runs on 10 hits in a 3-2 loss in game two, then gave up four home runs in game three to lost 8-4.
After that loss, they flew to Chicago to face the Cubs, another team on a hot streak in recent weeks. After jumping out to a 3-0 first inning lead in game one, starter Justin Wrobleski gave up four home runs, leading to a 10-5 blowout loss.
Skubal made his Dodgers debut on Tuesday afternoon, going six innings and allowing just two runs with six strikeouts. The Dodgers lost 5-1, with just a solo home run from Kyle Tucker to show from their vaunted, unbeatable offense.
TARIK SKUBAL'S DODGERS DEBUT ENDS IN DECISIVE 5-1 LOSS TO CUBS AS LA DROPS FIFTH STRAIGHT GAME
Then, on Wednesday, the Dodgers got a leadoff home run from Shohei Ohtani and proceeded to allow seven straight runs to the Chicago offense. Two homers from Pete Crow-Armstrong and a parade of hits from the bottom of the Cubs lineup made it 7-1 heading into the eighth inning. The Dodgers, to their credit, displayed a modicum of fight, putting up five runs in the inning, but came up short in a 7-6 loss.
Six straight losses. Just two wins in their last eight games. LA also fell to 8-13 in their last 21 games, and has yet to win in August. The best case scenario would be a win on Friday, meaning they'd have gone more than a week without a win. Should the Arizona Diamondbacks beat the San Diego Padres later Wednesday evening, their once insurmountable 14-game lead over second place will drop to eight games. Ahead of a weekend series between the Diamondbacks and Dodgers in Phoenix.
Over their last six games, the unbeatable LA juggernaut has been outscored 42-22 by the opposition. While they once had a stranglehold on the first overall seed in the National League and the first round bye, they're now several games behind the Milwaukee Brewers and could fall behind the Atlanta Braves into the third seed, should Atlanta hold their lead against the Miami Marlins.
Which means that were the season to end today, the Dodgers would be playing in a wild card series. Ruining baseball indeed.
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Again, this is the problem with that talking point. Are the Dodgers better than the Cubs or Red Sox? Sure, probably. But over the course of an entire season, 162 games, the gap in winning percentage between those teams might be as little as 5%. Meanwhile, in the NFL, the Patriots and Seahawks won 82.4% of their games in 2025. The Chiefs won 88% of their games in 2024. The gap between teams in baseball, despite the lack of a salary cap, is much smaller than in most other sports. Which is why the best team frequently wins the Super Bowl, and doesn't always, or even often, win the World Series in baseball.
Instead of acknowledging this, the Skubal trade has given rise to conspiracy theories from Brewers fans that the Tigers took the Dodgers offer because of some type of hypothetical collusion. Or something. Even though the Tigers wanted MLB-ready controllable starting pitching, which the Dodgers offered, and the Brewers reportedly didn't. It's given rise to many within and outside baseball demanding a salary cap, which will have little impact on the outcome of the games, but a tremendous impact on the ability of owners to pocket more profits.
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And it's made many ignore that for all their talent, the Dodgers have plenty of flaws too. Kyle Tucker has been a tremendous disappointment, having the worst offensive season of his career. Mookie Betts has been a well-below-average hitter this year. Edwin Diaz has allowed nine runs in 8.2 innings. Yes, Snell and Glasnow are expected to return soon, but are frequently injured and no guarantee to stay healthy. Roki Sasaki has been wildly inconsistent. Their bullpen has been among baseball's worst for the past month.
Does this mean LA won't win the World Series? No. But it does demonstrate that nothing in baseball is a foregone conclusion. That there's no way to predict outcomes in a postseason series in August. And that acting as though LA is unbeatable or ruining baseball is as wrong and delusional as believing owners care about the "health" of the game or anything but higher profits.