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DAVID MARCUS: As the nation bickers, small-town America still loves a parade
Like many small towns in Appalachia, this place is a liberal blue spec in a conservative red county. So I was curious to see if this hamlet could pull off an "America 250" parade that would really bring the entire community together.
Amid the buzz, the flags and patriotic T-shirts, I found Melinda Kelleher, the Main Street manager who was heavily involved with the planning. When I started to ask if that was a challenge in these divisive times, I couldn’t even end my sentence before she answered, "Yes."
But the town tackled this challenge, Kelleher told me.
"We wanted an event that could really bring the community together," she said, adding that there has been a revitalization of downtown Cumberland. "We have had 30 new shops open."
Kelleher mentioned Thursday and Saturday night events all through the summer meant to bring in not just county locals, but travelers from all over America, and the beautiful foothills town is certainly worth a trip.
There was real and deserved pride in her voice as we looked out over the throng, which included a man in his 70s named Al Fieldstein, a former government employee and quite competent amateur historian, I discovered.
Al told me "President Benjamin Harrison walked this parade route to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Allegheny County in 1889, and I remember the parades here when I was kid, seeing the World War I veterans," he said, glancing skyward. "They're all gone now."
Near our feet, young children played, awaiting the parade. I pointed down at them and said, "That was you, once."
I asked him what Cumberland’s place is in this 250-year history of our country, and he said, "We had the first national road, the first railroads. We have always been a crossroads for America."
But politics was not completely absent from the festivities. Terry, a retired lifelong resident and committed liberal, told me, "It's complicated with that man in the White House."
Terry did say, "I’m glad to be here, though, I really do love this place."
On the other side of the political spectrum, I talked to Jalen Grimm, a student at Frostburg University, who is affiliated with Turning Point USA and had a booth set up on the route.
I asked Grimm what message they were trying to send, and she said, "Just that we love America. We have buttons and pocket constitutions for people, and some stuff for Charlie," referring to the late TPUSA founder Charlie Kirk."
I asked her if it was tricky starting a conservative group at a college these days.
"I was nervous at first, but it's been great," she said. "We haven’t had many issues."
Not long after these chats with the celebrating throng, the distant sounds of drums got closer as the announcer marked the start of the parade. With bands and Army vehicles and the mayor tossing candy from a float, everything felt exactly like it should, maybe, like it used to.
These kinds of moments and this kind of spirit is still prevalent in America, more so than I think most people realize. Often, it is the Main Street managers like Kelleher, far from the national spotlight, who can thread this needle and bring people together.
It is also these tiny towns like Cumberland and Frostburg that instill their own patriotism, because even the people I meet there who aren’t particularly proud of their country at the moment, are furiously proud of their small piece of it.
It is very much like O. Henry's story, "The Cosmopolitan," most of which consists of a sophisticated man of the world at a bar, telling the author how silly it is to have national pride. Yet, at the end, the dandy ends up in a fistfight when someone insults his little town in Maine.
The America 250 parade in Cumberland, and the thousands of versions taking place from sea to sea are a real reason for optimism. Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro has refused to allow his commonwealth to participate in the America’s State Fair in Washington, but on the local level, things appear far less petty.
Do yourself a favor: If you have a small town throwing a shindig for America’s big birthday, go check it out, go be a part of it, forget for a while the anger and fury of national politics and just listen to the band, eat the funnel cake and love America.
Mercury coach claims Alyssa Thomas suspension was based on 'social media screenshots' after Caitlin Clark foul
Alyssa Thomas' thug-like play, punching Caitlin Clark in the throat and kneeing her in the groin, is indefensible. The league thought so, and so does the sane general public, who saw the WNBA’s biggest star mugged on the court like she was the victim of some schoolyard bullying. That didn’t stop Phoenix Mercury Head Coach Nate Tibbetts from defending Alyssa Thomas and attempting to throw the league office under the bus for their decision to suspend her for one game.
Prior to the Mercury’s game on Saturday against the WNBA’s newest expansion team, the Toronto Tempo, Tibbetts took the podium to address the suspension. "First off, the Mercury organization would like to let AT know that she is 100% supported." He didn’t mince words from the start. He wanted the media and public to know that he, his players and the organization stand behind Thomas' unsportsmanlike actions.
Tibbetts then aimed to provide a defense of the 13-year veteran through a supposed positive league-wide reputation saying, "People in this league know who AT is. She’s a competitor. She’s a winner. And she’s tough."
WNBA SUSPENDS ALYSSA THOMAS FOR 'RECKLESSLY' HITTING CAITLIN CLARK IN THROAT DURING SCRAMBLE
Most importantly, he addressed the claim that Thomas cheap-shotted Clark, which fans and Fever Head Coach Stephanie White have presented since their game on Wednesday: "The one thing she is not, is cheap." He then added, "I respect Steph White. I got to know her through USA basketball. I respect her as a coach and as a person. I understand her sticking up for Caitlin in this situation. But, to say that we had two cheapshots in that game, to me, is ridiculous."
Tibbetts then directly addressed his "disappointment with the suspension process" and the "leaders in the W." Tibbetts staked the bold claim that "This was not a thorough investigation," while explaining that he was upset that neither he, Alyssa Thomas, nor the security team were interviewed or asked to give their thoughts on the situation.
This is an odd thing to be upset about. It’s as if talking to a biased party of Thomas’ peers would provide any beneficial assistance in the league’s decision. "The people involved were not questioned at all," Tibbetts stated. The video evidence of the flagrant foul speaks for itself. If I understand him correctly, it sounds as if he was expecting to be a part of the decision process, which is laughable.
As Tibbetts was wrapping up his almost three-minute rant, he made sure to take a shot at fans defending Caitlin Clark online, seemingly making the claim that the social media noise surrounding the play led to Thomas’ suspension. "I’m a part of the referee task force," Tibbetts said. "The goal is to clean up our game, but I do think it’s important not to rely on social media screenshots. This is a slippery slope."
CAITLIN CLARK TALKS 'PRIVILEGE' BEING WHITE WNBA PLAYER, DENIES FEELING TARGETED BECAUSE OF HER RACE
This is where the anti–Caitlin Clark bias that we've seen from many of the Mercury's players and coaches over the past few days became clear. Tibbetts said, almost smugly, "Let's don't base [calls] on generational talent, fan base involvement, All-Star-level players. Let's don't base it on... white players or black players."
There it is. In my view, that's gaslighting. He appears to be implying — without offering evidence — that Caitlin Clark receives favorable treatment because she is a generational talent with a massive fan base and because she is white. At the same time, his comments could be interpreted as suggesting that Thomas's suspension may have been influenced by the fact that she is Black.
That's how I interpret his statement, and it echoes arguments I've heard from commentators such as Jemele Hill and Monica McNutt since Clark entered the league. In my opinion, it relies on racial insinuation rather than evidence.
Tibbetts ended his statement saying, "Even if the roles were reversed in this situation, make the storyline, the storyline, and the suspension the same."
The fact that so many of Thomas's teammates, along with the Mercury's associate head coach and head coach, have shown unwavering support for a blatantly unsportsmanlike play against the league's biggest star suggests they aren't viewing the incident objectively. They seem unwilling to acknowledge that a play like this — regardless of the player involved — warrants a suspension. Furthermore, the fact that Caitlin Clark has been assessed or been the target of flagrant fouls at such a high rate should be a cause for concern. It's something the league should address, call out and punish appropriately.
This felt a lot like what we’ve seen from Democrats over the last decade trying to downplay crime and lawlessness in our cities across the country. It’s disingenuous argumentation that devalues legitimate issues that need addressing and accountability.
The Indiana Fever take on the Los Angeles Sparks on Saturday night at 8 p.m. ET without their superstar Caitlin Clark, who is out with a back injury sustained in their matchup against the Mercury.
Heather Graham sizzles in white bikini during South of France getaway
Heather Graham turned her work trip into a bikini-filled vacation.
The 56-year-old actress took to Instagram to share a series of photos from her recent trip to France with her boyfriend, Michele Civetta, and her group of friends, which included a few photos of her in a white bikini.
"Flew to the South of France to work on @thewhitelotus and turned it into a vacation with @mcivetta @ninabergman @debrajfisher ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️," she captioned the post. "The beach is so beautiful at Cap d’Ail."
In the photos, the actress is posing in a white bikini and brown sunglasses, as she sits on the shore with the ocean and cliffs visible behind her.
Other photos show her sitting on a lounge chair with her friends, with Civetta at various locations throughout the city, her and her friends sightseeing, picturesque views of the ocean and the food she ate.
"Still gorgeous ❤️❤️," one fan wrote in the comments section. Another added, "You stay 29 forever stunning," while a third chimed in with, "How do you never age?!"
While on the trip, Graham also celebrated the success of two of her films, sharing screenshots of the two projects on streaming services.
"It was fun to see @theywillkillyoumovie debut at #1 on @hbo and Flowers in the Attic trending at #2 on @netflix 🎉," she wrote in the caption, later adding, "Sending summer love 💕."
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During an interview with Us Weekly in March, Graham spoke about how she maintains her youthful appearance, telling the outlet that while she's "never had an actual operation where they’re cutting my face open," she has tried a series of other things, including "microneedling, Botox… and a bunch of lasery things."
She explained that as she got older her approach to wellness and beauty has become about balance, adding she has stayed away from any invasive plastic surgery because she doesn't "want to look freaky" and that her "goal is to look natural."
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"I feel like some people get facelifts and they just kind of end up looking like… I mean, there are people that get it, and it’s good. But I just don’t want to be one of those people that got it and look freaky," she said. "But I don’t know if [when] I got older, I wouldn’t completely rule out. Who knows, in the future."
When it comes to aging, Graham told Retreat Magazine in June 2025 that "what matters most is how you feel inside."
She explained that what is important is not what others think about you, adding, "If you feel good about yourself, no one can take that away from you," and that you should just "decide that you're hot and enjoy your life."
"I don't drink or do drugs, and I get a lot of sleep," she said. "Eating healthy makes me feel good. I like cooking for myself and other people. And I love it when people cook for me. Basically, I like eating! Also, I do affirmations. I think they are very powerful. I work on strengthening my inner loving parent muscle, so I can be supportive and loving to myself. One of my affirmations is: ‘This is the best time of my life.’"
Two 14-year-olds flee MTA officers, remain missing after vanishing from New Jersey train station
Police are searching for two boys who vanished from a New Jersey train station on Friday and were last spotted in Connecticut.
Montville Township Police Department Chief Andrew Caggiano told Fox News Digital that Brayden Morrissey, 14, Dominic Diliberto, 14, and William Connolly, 17, disappeared from the Denville Train Station at about 5:30 p.m. local time Friday.
Caggiano said the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) later spotted the three teens at a train station in Stamford, Connecticut.
MTA officers took Connolly into protective custody and the two 14-year-olds fled, Caggiano told Fox News Digital on Saturday.
FBI RESCUES MISSING AUTISTIC TEEN AFTER TWO DAYS LOST IN FRIGID WILDERNESS
He said the boys appear to have left on their own accord.
Morrissey was last seen wearing a green hoodie, dark sweatpants and white sneakers, according to the police department. Diliberto was last seen wearing black clothing.
Authorities are urging any agency that makes contact with the boys to call Montville Township immediately.
Montville Township is a suburban community in Morris County, about 30 miles west of New York City.
It sits along Interstate 287, just north of Parsippany and east of Boonton, making it part of the greater New York metropolitan area.
This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.
Knicks hand Mamdani-backed candidate cease and desist letter for using team's logo in campaign: report
A New York Senate candidate who has been backed by New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has reportedly been issued a cease-and-desist letter by the New York Knicks for using the championship team's logo as part of her campaign.
Promotional stickers read, "I voted for Aber Kawas," using the Knicks logo, with the team's name replaced with "Kawas."
According to the New York Post, the Knicks demanded that the campaign "immediately remove all promotional materials incorporating Knicks Intellectual Property, including but not limited to the unauthorized Advertisements, and cease any further use of Knicks Intellectual Property."
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"Neither the Knicks nor NBA [Properties] have authorized the Campaign to use Knicks Intellectual Property in any way, including the Unauthorized Advertisements, which are likely to mislead the public into believing that the Campaign is affiliated with, sponsored or endorsed by, or in some way connected with the Knicks," Brian N. Warner, senior vice president and head of legal for Madison Square Garden Sports, said in the letter, according to the outlet.
"The Campaign’s activities in this regard constitute, among other things, trademark infringement, trademark dilution, false advertising, false association, and unfair competition."
The Knicks and Mamdani have had beef that began last year when Mamdani's mayoral campaign also used the Knicks logo in a similar fashion to Kawas. Mamdani was given a cease-and-desist letter, and the Knicks made it clear they were not endorsing anyone in the race, which Mamdani won.
The White House then used the Knicks logo in a post shortly after last year's election to say, "Trump Is Your President." The Knicks reached out to the White House, which then removed the post.
NYC CANCELS KNICKS NBA FINALS WATCH PARTY OVER TRUMP VISIT AS MSG FIRES BACK
Knicks owner James Dolan and Mamdani also had a back-and-forth earlier this month about Knicks watch parties during the team's championship run. The two came face-to-face at the championship celebration last week at City Hall, when Mamdani name-dropped Knicks legend-turned-Dolan rival Charles Oakley during a reminiscent speech about the Knicks, while Dolan took one final parting shot at the mayor and stiffed him in a photo op.
"I don't need your vote. I don't need to quote to you what happened. If you're real Knick fans you know it already," Dolan said.
Dolan did announce that the Knicks would go to the White House to visit President Donald Trump, who attended Game 3 of the NBA Finals. The Knicks would be the first NBA team to visit Trump.
Kawas, the Muslim daughter of illegal immigrants, is now the Democrat nominee for New York's Senate District 12 and is also a socialist. She recently came under fire for rejecting the notion that Muslim Americans need to apologize for 9/11, an attack "a couple of people did."
"I’ve always been outspoken about the wrongful scapegoating of Muslim Americans, both before and after 9/11, and in this interview I was speaking about the harmful notion that Muslims should have to apologize for an act of violence they have nothing to do with," Kawas told Fox News Digital Thursday morning.
Fox News' Peter D'Abrosca contributed to this report.
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James Carville says socialist Democrat shouldn't be in the party, calls her views 'a bridge too far'
Veteran Democratic strategist James Carville is sounding the alarm regarding one of New York City’s congressional primary winners, calling her socialist views a "bridge too far."
In an interview with Fox News’ Kayleigh McEnany on "Saturday in America," Carville blasted Darializa Avila Chevalier just days after her upset victory over incumbent Representative Adriano Espaillat in the Big Apple’s 13th congressional District.
"I don't think that the congressional Democrats should seat her as a member of the Democratic Party — she actually describes herself as a democratic socialist," Carville said. "I don't have anything in common with someone that says that they're against interracial dating or doesn't want to have any incarceration for convicted felons."
Carville argued that, if elected, Democrats should allow Chevalier, who was backed by New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, to serve as a democratic socialist — instead of absorbing her into the party.
"You can't kick her out of Congress, she was voted [in]," Carville said. "But she doesn't have to be in a Democratic caucus."
He then pointed to the wide definition of socialism throughout the United States and other countries, adding that he is more aligned with the traditional side of the Democratic Party.
"These are the kind of Democrats that I want to help and be a part of the same party," Carville said. "I don't have anything in common with Ms. Chevalier, and I really don't want to be in the same party she's in."
The veteran strategist added that Chevalier’s strident views could be a bit too far left for the majority of the party.
"I just can't see how she can be part of the same coalition that we're all part of. And I understand that in a coalition, you have to have a lot of slack in your line because not everybody's going to agree with me."
"But this is a bridge too far. That's the only way I can put it — and a bridge I don't want to cross. I think a lot of Democrats feel the same way that I do."
MAMDANI STANDS BY FELLOW SOCIALIST CANDIDATE DESPITE RESURFACED FAR-LEFT, ANTI-AMERICAN POSTS
McEnany went on to point to several previous incidents in which Chevalier has recently come under fire — including now-deleted social media posts in which she blasted former President Joe Biden and said she used the American flag as a napkin to wipe her hands.
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"It's wild," Carville told McEnany. "You don't need to convince me. That's one thing that you and I are in the same place, I promise you."
Carville also pointed to several congressional Democrats — including Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa. — who have spoken out to say they are not aligned with Chevalier’s views or those of other Democratic socialist candidates.
"I think the Democrats need to stand up and say, ‘This is not who we are. We do not determine who you can date or not date. That is your own business,’ Carville said, pointing to Chevalier’s past remarks against interracial relationships.
"That's not my business. That’s never been any of my business, it’s certainly not now," he added. " And I just think that that's not why most people are Democrats. We're Democrats because we don't hate anybody."
Fox News Digital reached out to Avila Chevalier for comment.
Drag Queen invited to Baltimore Orioles Pride Night takes a shot at the Trump Administration
The Orioles, like too many teams in Major League Baseball, go all out for Pride Night.
They spelled out "PRIDE" on the iconic brick wall of Baltimore & Ohio Warehouse at Camden Yards, best known for featuring Cal Ripken Jr.’s record breaking consecutive games played streak. They painted the Orioles "O" logo in progressive Pride rainbow colors behind home plate. Even furries made an appearance at the ballpark on Friday night as they took on the Washington Nationals.
Arguably the most controversial decision was inviting a drag queen, Heidi N Closet, a drag queen from Season 12 of "RuPaul's Drag Race," to be the celebrity splasher at the most child- and family-friendly section of the ballpark, The Bird Bath. What he had to say about the Trump administration made this even worse, though.
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While speaking with Baltimore Banner Sports, Closet took a shot at some of the Trump administration's policy decisions and statements regarding the LGBTQ community. While responding to the question of, "[Why is it] so important to host an LGBTQ+ Pride Night?," he said, "Especially during this administration, we’ve seen how so many things have been rolled back: DEI and so many different things. And we’ve seen companies step away from the queer community. It’s beautiful to see an organization like the Orioles say, "No, we’re going to continue standing with them," even when it was so easy to turn your back."
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Imagine thinking that keeping men out of women's sports, and fighting to stop employers from hiring based on race or sexual identity instead of merit, is bad. Yikes.
The funny and ironic thing is that Major League Baseball has also rolled back DEI initiatives in response to the federal government crackdown. It has scaled back visible DEI branding and reviewed and modified some program language and structure.
As the Trump administration has argued for its actions regarding DEI, the policies protect equal opportunity and enforce existing civil rights laws through a "colorblind" approach.
As for protecting women’s sports, Trump signed an executive order in 2025 titled "Keeping Men Out of Women’s Sports," which directs federal agencies to enforce Title IX by rightfully defining "sex" as biological sex, so men and boys are banned from competing in female sports. The White House has said, "In recent years, many educational institutions and athletic associations have allowed men to compete in women’s sports. This is demeaning, unfair, and dangerous to women and girls, and denies women and girls the equal opportunity to participate and excel in competitive sports."
This is what happens when you are constantly in a victim mindset. You believe the world needs to revolve around you and your minority community of activists that fight for preferential treatment.
The Orioles have made a big mistake, in my opinion, promoting someone who is pushing for policies that are clearly anti-woman while being clearly politically divisive.
Winnipeg Jets general manager says team is 'listening' to trade offers for Olympic hero Connor Hellebuyck
This has been one of the more unusual early NHL offseasons. Instead of the focus being on free agency, a lot of the attention has been on star players looking to move on from their current organizations.
Ottawa has already shipped Brady Tkachuk to Florida. Meanwhile, Dylan Larkin has asked out of Detroit, and Zach Werenski's future in Columbus seems up in the air.
Potentially the biggest name that could be on the move is Winnipeg Jets goalie and Team USA Olympic hero Connor Hellebuyck. Now, the team's GM has confirmed that they are at least listening to offers from any potential trade partners.
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"Certainly, as an organization, we're going to listen," Jets general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff said, per NHL.com. "Everyone saw (Hellebuyck’s) press conference at the end of the year; he was passionate. Certainly, in our exit meetings, we had some frank conversations as well, but again, what happens in those meetings certainly stays private."
Hellebuyck is under contract until 2031 and carries an $8.5 million cap hit, which means that any trade partner would have to give up quite a bit.
But, it's not every day a team can bring in a generational number-one goaltender with three Vezina Trophies on his resume, so it would probably be worth it.
The Jets took a huge step backward this season by completely missing the playoffs after winning the Presidents' Trophy the season before.
This led to some critical remarks from the soon-to-be Medal of Freedom recipient at his end-of-the-year media availability.
"Complacency is not going to get us moving forward, so something has got to happen," he said. "...A lot of times, that’s all you can ask (of teammates) — give your all every single night. As a teammate, I can really rally behind that and really cherish those moments with those guys. But to just put that same product on the ice, I don’t think it worked for a reason."
There was a flurry of moves during the NHL Draft on Friday night, and it makes you wonder if some teams that could take a swing at Hellebuyck but are up against the salary cap — like Vegas or Florida — could be putting ducks in a row to make an offer.
Jeffries welcomes Democratic Socialists into the fold as critics warn party is revealing 'exactly who it is'
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries publicly embraced a new crop of congressional nominees Saturday, including three Democratic Socialists of America-backed candidates whose primary victories have fueled fresh debate over the Democratic Party's leftward shift ahead of the 2026 midterms.
The powerful New York lawmaker's post highlights the challenge facing the top House Democrat as he works to unite his party ahead of the general election. If Democrats take back the House in November, Jeffries is expected to become the next speaker. That means he'll likely be leading a Democratic caucus with more self-described Democratic Socialists than ever before. So far, more than a dozen Democratic Socialists of America-backed candidates have won or advanced in primaries across the country this election cycle.
In a post on X, Jeffries wrote, "Congratulations to our Democratic nominees," before listing the party's congressional candidates from across New York. Among those recognized were Brad Lander, Claire Valdez and Darializa Avila Chevalier, all of whom are affiliated with or backed by the Democratic Socialists of America and secured victories in closely watched Democratic primaries last week.
"From public servants to union organizers to community activists, the path is different but the work is the same," Jeffries wrote. "We must decisively address the affordability crisis and crush far-right extremism!"
Lander, Chevalier and Valdez all received backing from New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, whose endorsements helped cement the growing influence of the Democratic Party's progressive wing in New York politics. Lander and Chevalier defeated Jeffries-endorsed incumbents Reps. Dan Goldman and Adriano Espaillat in their respective Democratic primaries. Jeffries did not endorse in the race won by Claire Valdez, which was an open seat.
Now, as Democrats turn their attention to the general election, he appears to be rallying behind the party's nominees as they try to win back the House in November.
The socialist candidates have also faced scrutiny over resurfaced social media posts, support for defunding the police and anti-Israel rhetoric, positions that have put them at odds with many in the Democratic Party.
Chevalier has faced scrutiny over resurfaced social media posts, including one in which she called to "literally abolish the border."
She has also faced renewed scrutiny over past social media posts targeting leading Democrats, including calling former President Joe Biden a "war criminal," attacking former Vice President Kamala Harris and rebuking Sen. Bernie Sanders over Israel.
Like Chevalier, Valdez and Lander, who is Jewish, share her sentiment that Israel is committing "genocide" in Gaza.
LIBERAL MS NOW WRITER CALLS MAMDANI PRIMARY SWEEP A 'GENUINELY SCARY NIGHT FOR NEW YORK CITY JEWS'
Jeffries' decision to publicly congratulate the three nominees quickly drew criticism.
The Republican Jewish Coalition blasted Jeffries' congratulatory message, warning Jewish voters that these candidates are not the Democrat "fringe" but the new faces of the party.
"To Jewish Democrats: your party is telling you EXACTLY who it is," the Coalition wrote. "These future members of Congress, who @hakeemjeffries is welcoming with open arms, want to: Abolish prisons and borders. Defund the police. Downplay 9/11," rattling off other serious controversies stemming from the candidates.
Jamie Metzl, a former National Security Council and State Department official and lifelong Democrat, blasted Jeffries for congratulating the nominees.
"When I first read this post, I assumed it was from a spoof account. I am deeply concerned that it appears to be all too real," Metzl wrote. "To welcome these nominees without acknowledging and criticizing their self-declared sympathies for U.S.-designated terrorist organizations, their calls to abolish the police, their stated desire to dismantle Western civilization, and their blatant anti-Americanism is to sacrifice the core principles of the Democratic Party."
Metzl accused Jeffries of putting his bid to become House speaker ahead of the Democratic Party's principles.
"I understand your ambition to become Speaker should Democrats retake the House, but you should not sacrifice the principles of our party to advance your own political aspirations," Metzl wrote.
Democratic leadership has been in the hot seat this week facing questions from the media about how to reconcile support for the New York slate of socialist candidates, particularly after Valdez's supporters were seen shouting "you’re next" at a television screen showing Jeffries on Tuesday night.
"They're gonna eat you next Congressman - and replace you with one of their own," conservative commentator Meghan McCain posted on X.
"This is funny," conservative commentator Robby Starbuck posted on X. "Hakeem still doesn’t realize that the communists are going to eat him alive. Clearly not a student of history. Bless his heart."
In a CNN appearance on Friday, Jeffries said, "I think that what happens in a handful of primaries in one of the bluest cities in the country is not in any way indicative of what needs to happen in November, where we need to reelect every single frontline Member, common sense Democrats, authentically committed to making life better for the American people, opposing these extreme Republicans who have been nothing but a reckless rubber stamp for Donald Trump's agenda."
"And at the same period of time, make sure that we flip red seats blue, including in New York-17, where we have a combat veteran, incredibly patriotic American Cait Conley, who came out of a primary on Tuesday as well and is an incredibly strong candidate. She will defeat Mike Lawler in New York in November."
Bedbug warning puts summer travelers on alert as top U.S. hot spots are revealed
A new report ranks which U.S. cities and states appear to carry the highest risk for travelers encountering bedbugs.
Bedbugs are small insects that feed on blood. They’re about the size of an apple seed, Zachary DeVries, associate professor of urban entomology at the University of Kentucky, told Fox News Digital.
"Bedbugs live in close proximity to humans or animals and like to be where we sleep or rest – beds, couches, nearby furniture, etc.," he said.
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A report published by casino.ca ranked Michigan as the state with the highest bedbug risk, with estimated odds of 1 in 57 of encountering the pests there. Warren, Michigan, is America’s top bedbug hot-spot city, the publication said.
Ohio was the second-most likely state for people to encounter bedbugs, while Maryland came in as the third riskiest. Pennsylvania and Wisconsin were four and five on the list, respectively.
After Warren, North Las Vegas, NV and Madison, WI were the top bedbug hot-spot cities, according to the report.
Hawaii was the state where travelers are least likely to encounter bedbugs, followed by Oregon.
Casino.ca said it combined the latest bedbug rankings from Orkin and Terminix with TripAdvisor hotel reviews from the three largest cities in every state. It also analyzed low-rated reviews mentioning bedbugs, treatment data and social-media posts to estimate encounter risk.
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While such reports "make for fun reads," DeVries cautioned against putting too much stock in them.
"The main problem I have with these [rankings] is they make it seem like urban areas have all the bedbug problems, but from some recent work we’ve done and anecdotal reports, we know bedbugs can show up anywhere – urban, suburban or rural," he said.
"In fact, while people are more packed together in urban areas and thus more likely to bump into bedbugs, those living in rural areas may have less access to good pest control services and thus may find it more difficult to get rid of bedbugs."
This recent report represents areas where big companies have a stronger presence and doesn't necessarily reflect the problem across the U.S. evenly, DeVries added.
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Dini Miller, professor of urban pest management at Virginia Tech University, told Fox News Digital that places tend to get attention for bedbugs when people are visiting and looking for them.
"You wouldn't believe how many different media companies got ahold of me when it was Paris Fashion Week," she said, adding that a similar trend may be happening now because of the the World Cup.
Miller theorized that Warren, MI, not a well-known tourist destination, may have topped the list because people are visiting family this summer, encountering bedbugs in their homes and possibly taking them back to hotels.
Bedbugs are more likely to be found in apartment complexes and people’s homes than in hotels, the experts said. The elderly are particularly prone to infestations, Miller said, because their diminished immune responses and other health challenges often make them less aware of the bites.
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"Hotels are much more conscientious about looking for bedbugs because they don't want to end up on the Bed Bug Registry," said Miller.
They also change bedding often, she said, and washing linens is effective at killing bedbugs.
It’s important to look for live or dead bugs and fecal stains, which will appear as small dots, DeVries said.
"When traveling, it’s good to be alert and check your bed," he said. "Check along the seams and behind the headboard and on adjacent furniture. No need to spend tons of time searching, but a quick look can go a long way to preventing them from coming home with you."
Miller travels constantly for her work and stays in hotels all over the world several times each month. She also visits people’s homes that are infested with bedbugs and said she has never in 20 years brought a bedbug home.
BEDBUG NIGHTMARE SPREADING ACROSS SOUTH AS CASES SURGE IN MULTIPLE STATES
She advises, as a precaution, using a sticky roller on clothes and upholstery to check for bugs. Check the bottom of shoes, too. She tells social workers who regularly visit homes infested with bedbugs to bring their own folding chair and carry their belongings in a plastic tub with a snapping lid.
Miller said a bedbug or two likely won’t result in an infestation, unless it’s a pregnant female. Putting fabric in the dryer on high heat for about half an hour is usually enough to kill bedbugs.
In some cases, though, people may need to employ professionals to eradicate bedbugs.
"Bedbugs are a part of life now," DeVries said. "Given the difficulty in getting rid of them and the harm they can cause, it’s worth being proactive when traveling and when living in multi-family housing.
"That said, don’t let bedbugs run your life. The only true way to never get bedbugs is to live in isolation, but then you miss out on all the fun things out there. While bedbugs can be scary, they are still just an insect, and we have many effective ways to get rid of them."