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Oklahoma-based Southwest Airlines flight attendant found dead in Hawaii, police investigating
An Oklahoma-based Southwest Airlines flight attendant was found dead outside her hotel in Hawaii.
A spokesperson for the Honolulu Police Department told Fox News Digital that an unattended death investigation was launched for 50-year-old Jenny Lupton, whose family says fell off the 24th floor of her hotel in Honolulu, Hawaii.
According to News9, Lupton's family was told by the Honolulu Department of the Medical Examiner that she fell from her balcony off the 24th floor, as she was staying at the Hilton Hawaiian Village in Waikiki.
Tresa Lupton, Jenny's sister, said the flight attendant went out with her co-workers.
CARNIVAL CRUISE SHIP PASSENGER DIES AFTER FALLING FROM BALCONY – FBI INVESTIGATES HIGH-SEAS HORROR
"She just went out with one of her flight attendant friends, and they danced and had a good time," said Tresa Lupton. "She had gotten a tattoo while she was there."
Tresa Lupton said her sister was in Hawaii due to work and planned to stay for a few days before returning to Oklahoma.
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According to Lupton's family, hotel security told them that police are reviewing over 70 cameras that were in the area. Police aren't sure if anyone witnessed the fall.
Tresa Lupton said she's traveling to Hawaii to search for her sister, saying "the timeline doesn’t make sense, and we are afraid that maybe there was foul play."
The Honolulu Police Department said it won't be releasing more information until its investigation is complete.
Fox News Digital has reached out to Southwest Airlines and Hilton Hawaiian Village in Waikiki.
Manhunt for Massachusetts woman ends with grim discovery week after police officer husband found dead at home
The body of a woman believed to be Karen Solomon, the missing wife of a veteran Worcester, Massachusetts, police officer found dead last week, was discovered in city woods Monday with a handgun nearby, authorities said.
Worcester police said two employees at Fairlawn Rehabilitation Hospital reported finding a deceased person in the woods near the facility at approximately 12:40 p.m.
"Upon further examination, we believe this person to be Karen Solomon," police said during a Monday news conference at Worcester police headquarters, stressing that the identification remains preliminary.
Investigators also recovered a handgun near the body, authorities said.
SPECIAL FORCES VET ACCUSED OF TRYING TO KILL WIFE FOUND DEAD, ENDING MASSIVE TENNESSEE MANHUNT
The discovery came nearly a week after Solomon, 58, vanished following the death of her husband, Worcester Police Officer Kurt Solomon.
Police had been searching the Coes Pond area near Fairlawn Rehabilitation Hospital and had previously searched the same area on Aug. 20.
Karen Solomon had been sought since Kurt Solomon was found dead inside a Wildwood Avenue residence on Aug. 18.
Police responded to the residence at about 5:28 a.m. after receiving a report of a person down and found the off-duty Worcester police officer dead inside, authorities said. His cause and manner of death have not been released.
ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT SUSPECT CHARGED IN CRASH THAT KILLED POLICE OFFICER AND HIS GIRLFRIEND
Authorities initially said Karen Solomon was a suspect they wanted to question about what happened inside the home.
Worcester police later released surveillance video and photographs of her as the search stretched into multiple days, warning the public that she was believed to be armed and dangerous.
The department said Solomon was last seen in pajama shorts and a tank top walking toward Westcott Street. A police spokesperson told Fox News Digital last week that she was still believed to be armed and the case remained a "very active investigation."
SUSPECTS IN DEADLY CONNECTICUT HOME INVASION ARRESTED IN ATTACK THAT ROCKED BEACH TOWN
Police have disclosed few details about what happened inside the residence, citing the ongoing investigation and domestic violence-related restrictions.
Public records reviewed by The Associated Press show Kurt and Karen Solomon co-owned the Wildwood Avenue residence. Kurt Solomon also identified Karen Solomon as his wife in a 2016 bankruptcy filing, according to the AP.
The New England Police Benevolent Association identified Kurt Solomon as a 31-year veteran of the Worcester Police Department and remembered him as an "incredibly dependable officer, colleague and friend."
"Thirty-one years of service represents an extraordinary commitment to a community and to the profession of law enforcement," the association said. "Officer Kurt Solomon answered that call for more than three decades, and his service, friendship and dedication will not be forgotten."
Trump inauguration pastor says Dearborn Christians 'afraid' to speak out in Muslim-majority city
A Detroit pastor who delivered a prayer at President Donald Trump’s inauguration says Christians in Muslim-majority Dearborn, Michigan, have privately told him they are afraid to publicly express their faith, while accusing local officials of giving Muslim residents preferential treatment under a "two-tiered justice system."
"Right now, the city officials in Dearborn specifically, they are giving Muslims preferential treatment," Lorenzo Sewell, senior pastor of 180 Church in Detroit, told Fox News Digital in an interview Monday.
"Now, how do I know that?" Sewell asked. "This is how I know that. Being a Black man in the city of Detroit, we go to Dearborn. We know that the police know how to enact justice in Dearborn. They know how to pull you over. They know that if they catch you shoplifting, we've had Black women that tried to elude the police and lost their lives in the city of Dearborn."
GOP LAWMAKERS URGE SUPREME COURT TO STRENGTHEN FIRST AMENDMENT PROTECTIONS FOR STREET PREACHERS
"So, as a Black man that has grown up around Arabs my entire life, I know that the Dearborn police can enact justice," he continued. "So, when someone is being assaulted and nothing happens, when someone's being assaulted and the police choose to look the other way, you can see clearly a two-tiered justice system."
"So, the city council, instead of them renouncing Sharia law, they are actually upholding Sharia law," Sewell added.
Sewell recently went viral following remarks he gave at a Dearborn town hall where he said, "America, we have lost this city. This is a city that is no longer up under American laws; we are up under Sharia law. We will not have it anymore."
FORT WORTH PRINCIPAL PICK FACES BACKLASH, INVESTIGATION OVER SOCIAL MEDIA POSTS DEFENDING SHARIA LAW
CBS News reported last Wednesday that Dearborn police said they made 22 arrests following the "Christian Crusader March," led by conservative activist Jake Lang. Sewell attended the march, which took place near a regularly scheduled Dearborn City Council meeting where he later delivered his viral remarks.
In a statement, Dearborn Police Chief Issa Shahin said, "Our officers met a challenging and rapidly evolving situation with the professionalism this community expects, keeping everyone safe, protecting the constitutional rights of those who came to be heard, and allowing the City Council to complete its business. I could not be prouder of them."
DOJ WEIGHS CIVIL RIGHTS PROBE INTO FORT WORTH POLICE OVER ALLEGED FIRST AMENDMENT VIOLATIONS
Sewell told Fox News Digital he is concerned about the growing presence of what he called Sharia law practices in the community.
"One of the examples that I see of Sharia law happening right here in the metro Detroit … in the city of Hamtramck, you are allowed right now to sacrifice animals, literally," Sewell said. "Number two, halal meat. If you go to a public school, you are literally eating meat that's sacrificed to idols, because, according to Sharia law, that's what — that's a lawful meat."
"And I believe the most concerning to me is the call to prayer," he added. "There is no other place in the world that you can go and tell that country, although you are a majority Christian country, you can't go anywhere else in the nation and tell that country they have to change the way they express their religious beliefs."
In January 2023, the Hamtramck City Council voted to allow animal sacrifice, and the website for Dearborn Public Schools says, "Dearborn Public Schools ensures all meats served in our schools are certified Halal."
The certificate for the halal meat, partially in Arabic, reads in part, "We certify that the food processing facility of Saad Wholesale, Inc. in Detroit, MI, USA has been inspected and approved by our Islamic organization for processing, packing, and labeling of Halal Meat & Poultry Products by applying our procedures according to the Islamic Rites."
"I see the city council upholding Sharia law through things like the call to prayer, through things like halal meat, through having more Arab writing than they do actually English, by having the chief of police talk more about protecting the rules of Islam and Islamic leaders instead of protecting the rights of all Americans," Sewell continued.
"So you can see clearly when someone speaks freely, they can be attacked, and it'd be justified," he added. "I can give you a clear example. My wife had her life threatened. We had the guy's number, we had his address, we had everything, and the lieutenant did absolutely nothing. So, that's how you can see a two-tier justice system."
He also claimed that Christians in the area feel afraid to express their faith.
"Since I went viral, I've had Dearborn Christians come out from the north, south, east, and west, and they're afraid," Sewell said. "I want you to think about this for a moment, America. Think about being in a Christian nation, being afraid to talk about Christ. I want you to just think about that for a moment."
"I'm having people say, 'I'm with you, but I'm afraid to say it,'" he continued. "'I'm with you, but I'm afraid to be by you.' 'I'm with you —' This is how we know we are in a two-tiered system because, in a Christian nation, we're afraid to be Christians."
TRUMP DOJ EXPANDS RELIGIOUS LIBERTY PROTECTIONS AFTER MAJOR SUPREME COURT RULINGS
Dearborn city council president Mike Sareini told Fox News Digital that the pastor’s claims are false.
"The City of Dearborn is an American city governed by the U.S. Constitution, the laws of the State of Michigan, and the City of Dearborn Charter," Sareini said. "Those laws apply equally to every resident, regardless of religion or background. Everyone is treated the same."
"There is no evidence of preferential treatment for any religious group. These accusations are unfounded, and I challenge anyone to present evidence otherwise," Sareini continued.
"Dearborn is home to approximately 30 churches and 10 mosques," he added. "Most recently, pastors from throughout Dearborn spoke at a press conference and publicly confirmed that people of different faiths live together peacefully in Dearborn, without the conflict being alleged."
Fox News Digital reached out to Dearborn mayor Abdullah Hammoud and the Dearborn Police Department for comment but did not immediately receive a response.
With one month left, American League teams are heading towards an embarrassing, historic low
There's a widespread assumption that parity is the greatest achievement any sports league can have. Nobody wants to see elite teams dominate, year in and year out, the thinking goes.
This appreciation for parity is frequently referenced as one of the explanations for the NFL's total and complete ratings domination. Though this parity is curiously never impacted by the fact that Patrick Mahomes or Tom Brady has won the Super Bowl in seven of the last 12 years, despite Brady having retired three years ago.
Still, if parity is what fans want, boy should they love the American League standings in 2026.
DESPITE COMPLAINTS ABOUT OTHER SPORTS, THE NFL HAS BECOME THE MOST PREDICTABLE LEAGUE IN AMERICA
We're barreling toward September and the end of the 2026 regular season, with most teams having just 30–32 games remaining on their schedules. And this year's AL, particularly the AL West, is on track to make a historic, embarrassing, type of history.
Since the founding of Major League Baseball, there's never been a team in a full season to reach the postseason with a losing record. Yet with, again, just over a month's worth of games remaining, there are only four teams in the AL with a winning record. Three of them are in the same division. It gets worse.
Not one team in the American League West has a winning record, with the Houston Astros and Texas Rangers both tied at 65-66. The Seattle Mariners, who both bought and sold at the trade deadline, are in third place at 62-69. They've been outscored by 61 runs this year. Seven games under .500. Surely eliminated from postseason contention, right?
Not exactly. Somehow, the Mariners are just three games back of both first place in their division and the third wild card spot. Then there's the rest of the AL.
DODGERS REPORTEDLY ACQUIRE ACE TARIK SKUBAL FROM TIGERS IN TRADE THAT STIRS UP MLB WORLD
The Cleveland Guardians are 65-66, and currently in the third wild card spot, tied with the Rangers. The Toronto Blue Jays, having a disappointing season after coming within two outs of winning the World Series in 2025, are just 1.5 games back despite a 64-68 record.
Then there's the Detroit Tigers, who gave up on their season and traded Tarik Skubal to the Dodgers, are only 3.5 games back, despite a 61-69 record. Impressively, even the 58-74 Kansas City Royals are "only" 7.5 games out of a wild card spot after winning eight in a row.
Running away with the best record in the AL is poor, downtrodden, small market Tampa Bay Rays, at 77-53, but between the fourth best record, the low payroll Chicago White Sox at 68-62, and the Tigers in 12th, the winning percentage gap is just five percentage points. Nine teams in the AL are projected to finish with between 77-83 wins. You want parity? Boy has baseball delivered parity.
11 teams in the AL have at least a 12% chance of reaching the playoffs, per Fangraphs. The Mariners have a 35% chance of reaching the playoffs with their current record sitting at 62-69. Hilariously, again, per Fangraphs, the Astros have a 16% chance of clinching a first-round bye with a losing record. Oh, and they just mutually agreed to part ways with their general manager, Dana Brown, because the team has been so underwhelming this year.
Meanwhile, in the National League, 10 of the 15 teams have a positive run differential, with the St. Louis Cardinals just behind at -2.
So why has this happened? Partially, it's a result of AL teams and owners putting profits ahead of building the best possible roster. Mid to small market teams in the NL have been more committed to higher salaries and more talent, like the Arizona Diamondbacks and San Diego Padres. Even when organizations, like the Blue Jays, have committed to trying to win, disappointing seasons from star players like Vladimir Guerrero Jr. have led to underwhelming records.
All these elements have combined to create a scenario where we could go from not a single team making the playoffs with a losing record in a full season, to multiple teams making it in the same season. Wild. And embarrassing.
But that all highlights the underlying truth about modern baseball: the gaps between teams just aren't that big. Yes, the Dodgers have vacuumed up talent. They also just went 2-11 against the Red Sox, Cubs, and Brewers. Advancements in pitch design, creation, and data has compressed the gulf between the best pitchers in baseball and the middle class.
Teaching starters to go max effort on every pitch, combined with the ease of finding fireballing relievers, has made run prevention easier to come by. Those factors have created this remarkable level of parity. Funny timing as the league and its owners look to lock players out in a few months over concerns about "competitive balance.
Schiff attack on Trump’s DC IndyCar race backfires after driver points out contradiction
Sen. Adam Schiff’s latest attack on President Donald Trump was challenged by an IndyCar veteran who pushed back on the California Democrat's charge that the commander-in-chief was wasting taxpayer funds for his own "self-aggrandizing."
Schiff criticized Trump for ordering the Washington race by executive order and accused the president of using the motorsports "spectacle" to distract Americans from higher costs and policy failures.
"While you struggle with the cost of gas, Trump offers you the spectacle of an IndyCar race hoping you will not notice," Schiff said Sunday.
START YOUR ENGINES: HERE IS YOUR CRASH COURSE ON THE INDYCAR FREEDOM 250 GRAND PRIX WEEKEND
"More taxpayer money spent on his self-aggrandizing distractions. And you get higher taxes and higher costs," he added, although major automotive firm Penske said it bankrolled the event.
Schiff posted the criticism on X alongside video of Trump waving the green flag as FOX Sports announcer Leigh Diffey got the race underway.
Race fans and other critics lambasted Schiff’s comments, including IndyCar driver Graham Rahal, who reminded the California Democrat that the race was privately funded and argued it benefited government coffers because thousands of spectators traveled to Washington and spent money.
"No, no, Adam. He wanted you to notice and bask in the pride of being American, watch great racing and patriotism on display," Rahal responded on X.
DRIVERS JOSEF NEWGARDEN AND KYLE KIRKWOOD TALK INDYCAR'S 'ONCE-IN-A-LIFETIME' FREEDOM 250 GRAND PRIX
"Not only that, this was privately funded, not government although it drove thousands of folks to the DC area that have never been. That’s economic impact for you," said Rahal, who finished 13th in the event. His father, Bobby Rahal, is a well-known motorsports driver and executive.
Rahal also argued that the event brought visitors to Washington who might not otherwise have seen the nation’s capital.
"And guess what, hundreds of thousands of Americans, blue & red, as well as fans from all over the world loved the Freedom250."
"What kind of loser posts this?" added Breitbart editor Joel Pollak. "People had fun."
KYLE KIRKWOOD HANGS ON TO WIN FREEDOM 250 GRAND PRIX IN WASHINGTON
As Rahal noted, Penske Corporation picked up most of the race tab. The automotive and logistics company, based in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, and Reading, Pennsylvania, is led by Roger Penske, who also owns the Team Penske racing organization with drivers in NASCAR and IndyCar.
When Washington’s NBC affiliate interviewed Penske President Bud Denker at the track and asked who was paying for the Freedom250, Denker responded: "We are."
TRUMP SHOWCASES RAW AMERICAN MUSCLE IN PREVIEW OF FIRST-OF-ITS KIND AMERICA 250 GRAND PRIX
"When I say vast, the only part we're not paying is, we're raising some revenue by having sponsors with the suites I'm building [along the course]," Denker told the outlet, adding it was not intended to be a "break-even" venture.
Penske did not cover every expense. Security was handled by local and federal law enforcement, including through federal funding provided to Washington for major events, according to the NBC station.
RACER STING RAY ROBB GEARS UP FOR FREEDOM 250 GRAND PRIX: 'THIS IS MORE THAN JUST AN INDYCAR EVENT'
The White House also fired back at Schiff, saying the Democrat put his personal animus ahead of the American people.
"It’s a complete disgrace that Pencil-Neck Adam Schiff is willing to trash the United States of America during its historic 250th birthday celebrations simply because he hates President Trump," said White House spokesman Davis Ingle.
"The great people of California deserve better," Ingle said.
Former electronics executive Sam Antar also responded to the senator, saying the lawmaker "apparently didn’t bother checking who actually paid for the race before blaming Trump for ‘more taxpayer money spent’."
"Schiff saw Trump, started typing, and skipped the part where you check the facts first. That’s how you end up volunteering for your own Community Note," Antar said.
Conservative commentator "Bad Hombre" replied by posting an image of then-President Joe Biden posing with attendees at a White House lawn gala featuring transgender and LGBT activists.
"The race was privately funded by Penske/IndyCar, pencil neck," Hombre said.
"But now that we’re on the topic of taxpayer-funded events, why were you cool with forcing taxpayers to spend $1.3 million on this?"
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Trump has shown support for American motorsports, praising his friendship with Penske, becoming the first president since Ronald Reagan to attend a Daytona 500 and hosting several NASCAR drivers and the circuit's former CEO, Brian France, at campaign rallies.
Fox News Digital reached out to Rahal and Schiff for further comment.
Vance's decade-old ‘great regrets’ resurfaces as El-Sayed’s jab at second lady comes back to bite him
A decade before Michigan Democratic Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed appeared to question how JD Vance’s grandfather would have regarded Usha Vance, the vice president wrote that one of his "great regrets" was that his grandparents never got to meet his wife.
"Last, but certainly not least, is my darling wife, Usha," Vance wrote in 2016 in the acknowledgments of his memoir "Hillbilly Elegy." He added, "… though it is one of the great regrets of my life that Mamaw and Papaw never met her, it is the source of my greatest joy that I did."
The passage was cited repeatedly on social media over the weekend as conservatives dragged the Michigan Senate candidate over his swipe at second lady Usha Vance. The controversy comes as El-Sayed fights for Michigan’s open U.S. Senate seat against Republican Mike Rogers, putting the Democrat’s rhetoric under a brighter spotlight as the high-stakes general election takes shape.
VANCE UNLOADS ON EL-SAYED OVER SHARIA REMARKS: ‘THAT’S NOT MY GRANDPA’S DEMOCRATIC PARTY’
El-Sayed invoked Vance’s family after the vice president criticized his past comments about Sharia law at an Ohio rally this month, arguing that the Michigan Democrat represented a version of the party his grandfather — whom Vance called "Papaw" — would not have recognized.
"So do we think JD is taking Usha with him back in time to meet Papaw, or no…" El-Sayed said, a remark critics called racist and interpreted as an insinuation that Papaw would not have accepted Usha because of her Indian heritage.
Critics were quick to call out El-Sayed, with many questioning his attitude toward women and others pointing to Vance’s book.
"Why does Abdulrahman Mohamed El-Sayed just assume that all White midwestern grandparents are racist?" asked Rep. Brandon Gill, R-Texas.
"El-Sayed is an absolute vile, abhorrent, PIG. Usha Vance is a beloved figure in our country and in my opinion Vice President Vance's most powerful secret weapon," said Meghan McCain. "Women in America truly love her – attack her at your own peril democrat psychopaths. It will backfire."
"If you’re a rural White American living in Michigan, just remember El-Sayed believes you’re a racist," said commentator Ryan Girdusky.
"You are a racist creep," said journalist Emily Schrader in response to El-Sayed's post.
Fox News Digital reached out to El-Sayed and the Vance family for comment.
"Hillbilly Elegy," published in 2016, chronicled Vance’s upbringing in Middletown, Ohio, and his family’s Appalachian roots in Kentucky, with his grandparents — whom he called "Mamaw" and "Papaw" — playing central roles in the memoir and his childhood.
Fox News Digital's Peter D'Abrosca contributed to this report.
Shaquille O'Neal goes feral hog hunting in East Texas darkness: 'I am the nightvision'
It's a bad day to be a feral hog. At least when Shaquille O'Neal is around.
The 7-foot-1 NBA legend spent a night hunting hogs in East Texas last week with the crew behind Texas_NightHunter. And according to Shaq, he didn't need much help locating his target.
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"I smell pigs," O'Neal says into the camera while standing in the darkness. "Some people need nightvision. I am the nightvision."
Moments later, Shaq fires his gun before eventually walking over to a hog on the ground and finishing it off.
CONTENT WARNING: The video below contains graphic footage of a hog being shot and killed.
For the record, we at OutKick OutDoors do not condone the no-look discharge of a firearm under any circumstances. Please do not do that.
The hunt took place near Paris, Texas, according to a Facebook post highlighting O'Neal's outing. He joined East Texas native Matthew Prescott and other members of the local crew, which has previously taken notable guests — including two-time Super Bowl champion Torrey Smith — out hunting.
And while Shaq stalking pigs in the dark makes for entertaining content, knocking down feral hogs in Texas is also doing landowners a favor.
A very, very big favor.
Texas has the largest feral hog population in the United States, with millions of the invasive animals roaming the state. Texas A&M AgriLife has reported that feral hogs cause more than $670 million in annual agricultural losses, while landowners spend an additional estimated $130 million or more each year trying to control them and repair the damage they leave behind.
The animals tear up crops, pastures, fences, roads and waterways, damage habitat used by native wildlife and can carry diseases capable of affecting livestock, wildlife and humans.
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They're also notoriously difficult to control.
Feral hogs reproduce quickly, have few natural predators and have dramatically expanded their range. Texas A&M researchers have previously estimated that roughly two-thirds of a population would need to be removed annually for several consecutive years just to keep the numbers from growing.
So Texas isn't exactly worried about hunters like Shaq taking too many.
There are no closed seasons or bag limits for feral hogs on private property, and a hunting license is not required when hunters have landowner authorization. The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department even specifically promotes nighttime hog hunting, noting that the animals become increasingly nocturnal during the hot summer months.
This also wasn't O'Neal's first rodeo — or "Shaqfari," as he calls it.
Hunting has been a longtime hobby for the four-time NBA champion. Over the years, O'Neal has hunted everything from waterfowl to wild boar and goats. He even devoted a section of his 2001 autobiography, "Shaq Talks Back," to his hunting adventures.
And if there were ever any question about whether a Hall of Fame big man belongs in the wilderness, O'Neal also tested that theory back in 2016 when he joined survivalist Bear Grylls for an episode of "Running Wild." Shaq trekked through the Adirondacks, climbed a massive rock face and spent the night sleeping outside in the woods.
So this wasn't some celebrity photo-op where Shaq showed up, held a rifle and went home.
The man just really loves a Shaqfari.
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State Department blasts back at 'rogue judge' who overturned aggressive visa crackdown
FIRST ON FOX: The State Department tore into the "rogue judge" who overturned its freeze on immigrant visas from 75 countries after she blasted the administration’s legal rationale as "an exercise in Orwellian logic."
"American taxpayer-funded public benefits belong to Americans," State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott told Fox News Digital. "President Trump has made clear that immigrants must be financially self-sufficient to protect these public benefits for American citizens."
"This rogue judge's misguided opinion wrongfully undermines the longstanding legal authority of the Secretary of State. We will keep fighting for commonsense visa policies that put America First."
U.S. District Judge Jeannette Vargas ruled Friday that the State Department could not force consular officers to deny immigrant visas to otherwise eligible applicants solely because they are nationals of one of the 75 countries covered by the policy.
BIDEN JUDGE OVERRULED ON KEY TRUMP IMMIGRATION POLICY
Vargas, a Biden appointee who joined the Southern District of New York bench in November 2024, previously spent more than two decades as a federal prosecutor in Manhattan. She earned her undergraduate degree from Harvard University and a law degree from Yale, then clerked for future Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor on the Second Circuit.
Earlier this year, Vargas temporarily blocked Department of Government Efficiency personnel from accessing sensitive Treasury payment systems, citing privacy and cybersecurity concerns. But she later narrowed that order and allowed vetted and trained DOGE employees to access the systems.
Vargas found that Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s directive required officers to deny visas even after determining an applicant was not barred under any existing provision of immigration law. She vacated the policy and visa refusals based solely on the directive, sending those cases back for further consideration.
TRUMP ADMINISTRATION ORDERS GREEN CARD APPLICANTS TO LEAVE THE US, APPLY FROM THEIR HOME COUNTRIES
The Immigration and Nationality Act allows consular officers to deny immigrant visas to applicants they determine are likely to become a "public charge," meaning dependent on government assistance. Consular officers are supposed to make that assessment on an individual basis.
The Trump administration has revived a more expansive approach to that screening, directing officers to weigh factors including an applicant’s age, health, finances, English proficiency and potential need for long-term medical care.
But Vargas found that the State Department went beyond that individualized review when it directed officers to refuse immigrant visas to otherwise eligible applicants from the 75 countries simply because of their nationality.
Fox News Digital first reported in January that the State Department would pause immigrant visa issuances to citizens of 75 countries, including Somalia, Afghanistan, Brazil, Nigeria, Russia and Iran, while it reassessed screening procedures meant to identify applicants likely to become a public charge.
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The policy did not apply to tourist or other nonimmigrant visas. Affected applicants could still submit applications and attend interviews, but consular officers were directed to refuse immigrant visas under the pause.
The ruling does not require the State Department to issue visas to any particular applicant. Consular officers may still deny a visa based on an individualized public-charge finding or another statutory ground of inadmissibility.
Deshaun Watson says 'emotions got the best of me' after ripping Cleveland Browns fans for booing
It turns out Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson doesn't feel so great about the idea of playing "17 away games" after all, so he opened his press conference on Monday addressing his comments aimed at the team's fans and offered something of an apology.
Sort of.
Probably more an explanation.
DESHAUN WATSON FIRES BACK AT BROWNS FANS AFTER HE'S BOOED AT HOME
Whatever it was, once Watson was selected the team's starting quarterback on Monday morning, he got the message that ripping the fan base is not such a good idea – even if they booed him before, during and after he played in Saturday's preseason game.
"First off, I want to address the comments from Saturday after the game," Watson said to begin his presser. "I think just human nature and myself being very emotional, putting a lot of time these last two years to get back, spend time in this facility, in the city, meeting a lot of different people in the community, I thought I was going to get a little different response.
"But I think my emotions got the best of me, and my comments weren’t intended to go at any of the fans around the city, because there’s been a lot of great fans that have been supporting me."
Waiting for the apology.
"And I know the frustration. This organization put a lot of investment into getting me back in ’22, and things haven’t been going the right direction that we thought it would. A lot of injuries, a lot of time off, and not putting my best football and my best foot forward.
"So, again, I understand the frustration, I understand everything that goes into that."
BROWNS PICK DESHAUN WATSON AS THEIR STARTING QB DESPITE BOOING INCIDENT
Yeah, this an explanation. Not an apology for saying the fans had gotten "personal," and made him feel some sort of way about their reactions, which he deemed "disrespectful."
"I feel like I get more love on road games than I do at home games," Watson said at one point on Saturday. "So, if it is my [starting job] ... maybe it’s 17 away games, then."
To be clear: Browns fans have not embraced Watson for a number of reasons. He came to the team with a history of lawsuits tied to sexual abuse claims by nearly two dozen massage therapists in Houston.
He was suspended by the NFL 11 games and fined after he reached a settlement with those therapists as part of civil court proceedings.
Then Watson injured his shoulder in 2023, forcing him to miss 11 games. He tore his Achilles tendon in 2024, forcing him to miss 10 games. And he tore the same tendon again in 2025, forcing him to miss the entire season.
All this by a player who cost the Browns six draft picks in trade, including three first-rounders, and a fully guaranteed $230 million contract.
So, excuse the Dawg Pound if it took a big doodie on Watson by booing him on Saturday.
"Moving forward, I just want to focus on football, making sure that I’m putting the best product out there, having the best ability because I thrive off the energy," Watson said. "I thrive off the energy of the fans, I thrive off the energy of the community, I thrive off all that stuff.
"...I want to make sure I put the best product out there for the team, for the organization, and for the city, so we can put [out] a lot of wins, and celebrate, and put Cleveland on the map."
Sophie Cunningham throws on a backless top and overtakes Caitlin Clark, Trump waves the flag & Gruden's back!
'Nightcaps' is a daily column that catches you up on the biggest sports, news and culture stories you may have missed while pretending to do work at your desk. It runs Monday–Friday on OutKick.com.
Listen ... Just listen.
You hear it? You smell it? Really listen closely ...
It's officially college football week. We've made it. It's our first real game week since January. Really, it's our first one since December. I don't want to hear a single word about "It's only Week Zero!"
Hogwash. Last I checked, we're getting a noon ESPN game featuring Bill Belichick on Saturday. That ain't Week 0. That's football.
We're back. We've made it. Last Saturday was our last Saturday without college football until 2027. Time to lock it in, boys and girls. Move over, WNBA, the real #content machine is back ...
... But first, welcome to a Monday Nightcaps — the one where Sophie Cunningham stuns in a backless halter top and then surpasses Caitlin Clark in social media followers.
What a day! Oh yeah. Something else happened in the WNBA last night. Honestly, I just don't feel like getting into it today. I'm tired. It's football season. I'm gonna sit this one out (sort of).
What else? I've got Trump angering the left by waving the green flag along the streets of D.C., Deshaun Watson somehow survived his asinine postgame presser to become the Browns' starter today (sorry, Cleveland fans), and Jon Gruden was BACK in the booth over the weekend.
And buddy, he was incredible. Here's an idea, CBS: Maybe pair him with Jim Nantz. Just a thought.
OK, let's get rolling. I've inexplicably got a fantasy football draft tonight even though it's Aug. 24. Unreal.
Grab you a waffle for National Waffle Day, and settle in for a Monday 'Cap!
Big day in the world of fast food, or whatever it is you consider Chick-fil-A. Is it fast food? It's a step above, for sure, but I don't know what I'd call it.
Anyway, they're rolling out their big Chicken & Waffles AND S'mores Milkshake today to coincide with National Waffle Day. Gives me a stomach ache just thinking about it, but I reckon it'll be good. Lord knows it'll be an absolute pleasure ordering it.
I maintain that there is no better food service business on the planet than Chick-fil-A. They are just incredible.
Anyway, let me know if you pop on over to one today and try it out. I don't see myself indulging any time soon given it's 110 degrees in Florida right now and Chicken & Waffles sounds just horrible, but I'm curious to hear your thoughts.
OK, now that the important stuff is out of the way, let's get this class started with Sophie Cunningham going with the backless top on social media before last night's game, and then surpassing Caitlin Clark in a big way when the dust settled:
That number says 4 million, folks. Why is that big? It now puts Sophie in second place in terms of follower count in all of the WNBA, ahead of Caitlin Clark.
Angel Reese is No. 1, for those wondering. She has over 5 million. Fair is fair, and I have to be fair to Angel here. The data says she's still No. 1. Kudos to her.
As for Sophie Cunningham, it's pretty clear she's a rocket ship right now in terms of popularity. The minority hates her, but don't be fooled, they are the minority. The data says she's a few months away from taking over the top spot in the WNBA. It's only a matter of time.
And when that happens, we can really start to laugh at people like this:
"The moment the league didn’t discipline Sophie Cunningham for her transphobic comments, they set the table for almost all of this political discourse and nastiness towards the trans community. Her conduct has objectively been detrimental to the league."
That's a real person, by the way. Chris Williamson is an "Emmy-nominated" sportscaster, per his X bio (which also features a picture of Angel Reese as the header).
Hilarious.
Again, let's quickly go back and see what those "transphobic" comments were in the original ESPN story:
"I got a lot of negative feedback about me hating trans. And I’m like, ‘I never once said that.’ I think that I am here to extend love. But I also think with that love is truth, being honest. And I want to protect young girls in a locker room, or young girls in sport who shouldn’t have to go against biological men."
That's it! Those are the transphobic comments! These people are the best. They're just the best. I can't get enough.
Speaking of delusional liberals, let's check in with Adam Schiff, who had a meltdown yesterday because Donald Trump waved the green flag for the IndyCar race in DC:
"While you struggle with the cost of gas, Trump offers you the spectacle of an IndyCar race hoping you will not notice," Shifty Schiff posted on Elon's X. "More taxpayer money spent on his self-aggrandizing distractions. And you get higher taxes and higher costs."
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Hey, Shifty, cool it. Can we just enjoy some Freedom 250 racing action in peace, pal? It's a Sunday. We don't need to be serious every single day of the week. It's OK to give it a rest on a Sunday.
Looking at you, WNBA.
OK, let's rapid-fire this Monday class into a big Monday night of drafting an auction draft that I am 0% prepared for because it was sprung on me last night. Should end well!
First up? How about the NUTS on the Browns declaring Deshaun Watson QB1 after he took a blowtorch to the fanbase over the weekend?
That last one is the thing that really sticks out to me. Deshaun Watson isn't a good QB anymore. It's been YEARS since he was actually good at football. Years. And I was a huge Watson guy out of college.
But he's just genuinely bad at football now. Mix in just some ridiculous shots at a fanbase that has every single right in the world to despise him, and it's bonkers to me that they'd still name his the starter for Week 1.
Granted, Shedeur Sanders is no better at football, but at least he'd buy you a little grace with the fans.
I feel bad for old OutKick (and Nightcaps!) writer, Anthony Farris. I still talk to Anthony every day. He's hanging in there.
And by that, I mean he's miserable.
Next? You know who isn't miserable? Jon Gruden. How great was it to have Gruden back in the booth this weekend?
Nobody could break down a play better than Gruden back in the old MNF days. He was elite. One of one. Clearly, he still has the fastball. Lordy, I missed him.
Hey, CBS — I found your Romo replacement. Easiest call in the history of time.
You're welcome!
Now, let's go have a big week.
Is Week 0 the real start of the season? Email me at Zach.Dean@OutKick.com.