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DAVID MARCUS: Passing the Save America Act to save Cornyn is a fair deal
The most important thing to know about this week’s primary results in Texas is that nearly 60% of Republican voters told sitting Sen. John Cornyn that they do not want him returning to Washington, and it will take more than an endorsement from President Donald Trump to change that.
On Thursday, Cornyn’s opponent, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, made an interesting offer to avoid an ugly and costly runoff election in May. Put simply, if the Senate approves the Save America Act, requiring voter ID and proof of citizenship to vite in federal elections, then Paxton will drop out.
It is an elegant solution that had been suggested by some commentators, including myself, once it became clear that neither Cornyn nor Paxton had cleared the 50% hurdle to avoid a runoff, and it would save Trump from having to swoop in and make an endorsement.
The president said Friday that he would make a decision on who to endorse "fairly shortly," but added that he wants "the full and complete Save America Act" passed, the first time he explicitly connected the two.
The offer to Senate GOP leadership, desperate to hang on to their old buddy, seems to be, "You pass the Save America Act, and I’ll save John Cornyn." And even Paxton is on board.
This solution is a perfect one, specifically because the Save America Act is a microcosm of everything that frustrated GOP voters hate about the Republican establishment that runs the Senate. It polls at 70-80% approval, and yet it can’t get passed.
Why did 60% of Republicans send this stinging message to Cornyn and the GOP on Tuesday? Because, for all their big talk, men like Majority Leader John Thune and his inner circle of exceedingly careful lawmakers can’t get anything done, even when it's something as popular as Santa Claus.
KEN PAXTON BELIEVES HE'LL CRUSH 'FAKE JOHN CORNYN' EVEN WITHOUT A TRUMP ENDORSEMENT
Tellingly, over the weekend leading up to Tuesday’s election in the Lone Star State, the most prominent ads on TV were not for any particular candidate, but rather a pro-Save America Act spot that broke down exactly how senators, like Cornyn, could vote to protect U.S. elections.
I heard about the issue directly from voters, including one man from El Paso who told me, "If they can’t pass things that 80% of us want, then what is the point of all this?"
If Cornyn wants to regain the trust of the Texas GOP voters who rejected him on Tuesday, there would be no better way to start than to champion, and even whip for the Save America Act.
HARDLINE CONSERVATIVES DOUBLE DOWN TO SAVE THE SAVE ACT
Cornyn, and all of the Rinosuars of the upper chamber need to show they are not just going to sit around doing nothing for another six years.
The Save America Act is actually so popular that it could potentially get the vote of at least one Democrat.
Pennsylvania Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., told me on Thursday, when asked if he could support using the standing filibuster to pass the bill with a simple majority, "GOP is greedy on it. Make it simple: legit ID to vote for any federal elections." He went on to suggest Wisconsin’s law as a model and said, "If that did happen, I would support it."
ONLY ONE HOUSE DEM VOTED IN FAVOR OF VOTER ID, PROOF OF CITIZENSHIP IN US ELECTIONS
In fact, Fetterman argues such changes would "flip the narrative into the Dem’s lap," forcing them to tell 80% of Americans their position is "outlandish," or "Jim Crow."
The point here is that when something is as popular as voter ID is, there is simply no excuse for not getting it, or some version of it, across the finish line.
It is hard to describe how demoralizing it is for GOP voters, especially in deep red states, when controlling the Senate feels meaningless.
GOP WARNS DEMOCRATS USING DHS SHUTDOWN TO STALL SENATE VOTER ID PUSH
Since Tuesday’s lackluster results, in which Cornyn, to be fair, did better than many expected him to, his campaign has been in full attack mode against Paxton, making an argument that only Cornyn is electable. It's not enough.
When 60% of your own party’s voters want to send you packing you have to listen to them and find out why. It is not sufficient for Cornyn to simply cross his arms and say it's me or James "God is non-binary" Talarico.
Sometimes in life, a rebuke can be a good thing in the long run, a wake up call. And Cornyn certainly got one of those this week.
If Cornyn wants to keep his seat, he needs to grab the bull by the longhorns and get something done, show the voters he isn’t just along for the ride. And there could be no better accomplishment than to help secure our nation’s elections.
It is time for Cornyn to lead, to earn his seat, not to fall backwards into it with a Trump endorsement. Passing the Save America Act is the best and most important way he could do it.
Paul Newman and Jimmy Buffett among elites named in alleged secretive Bohemian Club membership list
A newly circulated list purporting to show the 2023 membership list of the Bohemian Club includes several A-list celebs.
Paul Newman, Jimmy Buffett, Clint Black and Eric Church were named on the list obtained by an independent journalist.
If authentic, the 2023 list provides a rare snapshot of who might be a part of one of the country's most exclusive networks.
'MEMBERS ONLY: PALM BEACH' STAR SLAMS ‘NASTY’ RUMORS THAT SHE'S BEING KICKED OUT OF MAR-A-LAGO
Independent journalist Daniel Boguslaw published the list he allegedly got from a member online, and the list was confirmed by another alleged member to the San Francisco Standard.
"I went to this person’s office for a week straight," Boguslaw told the outlet about his strategy to obtain the ultra-secret membership list.
The San Francisco Standard was able to reach an unnamed member, who confirmed the list was real.
Newman’s inclusion, despite his death in 2008, suggests the list may reference former members or historical records.
Fox News Digital has reached out to the celebrities mentioned for comment.
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The Bohemian Grove is a private, 2,700-acre compound located in Sonoma County. The Bohemian Club, which meets in a San Francisco clubhouse, hosts a two-week private retreat at the property, according to the New York Post.
The recently revealed membership list from 2023 features around 2,200 names of business executives, high-profile politicians, actors and musicians.
The list is divided into categories, with a number of members falling under each one.
A Bohemian Club spokesperson told the San Francisco Standard the club does not keep member lists due to the nature of the secret society.
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The Bohemian Club was allegedly founded in San Francisco in 1872 by a group of journalists, artists and musicians who sought a place to gather and celebrate the arts.
Over time, the club seemingly expanded to include prominent business leaders and public officials, gradually shifting from a primarily artistic circle to a broader network of influential figures.
Its annual summer encampment at Bohemian Grove in Sonoma County reportedly began in the late 19th century and evolved into the private retreat known today.
What's healthier to drink: cold or hot water? Here's what an expert says
A viral wellness trend asks a simple question — is warm or cold water healthier? — but the science behind it is more nuanced.
Previous research shows that food and beverage temperature has a measurable effect on things like anxiety and gut discomfort.
One of the most long-standing health claims is that ice-cold water boosts calorie burn by forcing the body to heat it up. While this is grounded in science, the actual impact may be minimal.
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Ultimately, experts say, the health impact of water temperature depends on the goal — weight loss, athletic performance, digestion or comfort.
"As per research, in the 90 minutes after consuming cold or room temperature water, energy expenditure increases minimally by 2.9% (cold water) and 2.3% (room temperature)," Tanya Freirich, a registered dietitian and diabetes expert in North Carolina, told Fox News Digital.
While the body does expend energy to warm up cold water, Freirich noted that it’s "not significant enough to make it worthwhile" for weight loss. Hot water doesn’t exactly melt fat, however, she added.
For those looking to lose or manage weight, Freirich suggests focusing on "how much" rather than "how cold." She pointed to research involving overweight women who added an extra 1.5 liters of water to their daily intake. Over eight weeks, the participants saw measurable weight loss.
YOUR BEDROOM TEMPERATURE COULD BE PUTTING YOUR HEART IN SERIOUS DANGER, STUDY WARNS
"The extra water may suppress the appetite or may play a part in energy production and expenditure," Freirich said. The temperature of drinking water should not affect how well the body utilizes nutrients, she added, noting that more research is needed.
For those exercising in heat and humidity, the goal should be to rehydrate without excessive fluid loss through sweat. Research on thermoregulation suggests there is an ideal water temperature for athletes.
While drinking water can trigger sweating as the body regulates its temperature, 60.8 degrees Fahrenheit was associated with the least amount of perspiration.
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"Cool, but not cold," Freirich emphasized. Drinking water in this specific range helps the body rehydrate efficiently without causing gastrointestinal distress.
There are several reasons someone might opt for warm water, including its effect on relaxation and digestion. Studies have found that warmer liquids can accelerate gastric emptying, effectively waking up the gut.
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The benefits may be mental as well. Freirich points to research showing that hot black tea leads to lower levels of cortisol — the body’s primary stress hormone — and greater subjective relaxation after stressful tasks.
Freirich warns that very cold water can cause difficulty for those with swallowing disorders, or can trigger migraines and "brain freeze" in people with sensitive nerves.
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Furthermore, those with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) may find that ice-cold drinks trigger digestive discomfort.
Ultimately, the best temperature is the one that encourages people to drink, the dietitian said. The general recommendation for adults is to consume seven to eight glasses of water per day.
"Most importantly, it is important for everyone to stay adequately hydrated," Freirich said.
Iran warns European countries will be 'legitimate targets' if they join conflict
An Iranian official warned that any European countries that enter the conflict against Iran will become "legitimate targets" for Tehran’s retaliation.
Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister Majid Takht-Ravanchi made the remark to France24 as Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Saturday apologized to neighboring countries that have been attacked by the regime.
"We have already informed the Europeans and everybody else that they should be careful not to be involved in this war of aggression against Iran," Takht-Ravanchi told the network. "If they help, I'm not trying to name any country, but if any country joins in the aggression against Iran, joins America and Israel in the aggression against Iran, definitely they will be also the legitimate targets for Iranian retaliation."
"This war has imposed on us, and we will continue to defend ourselves to the best of our abilities," he added. "We have an obligation to defend our people and that is what exactly we are doing."
GULF STATES INTERCEPT HUNDREDS OF IRANIAN MISSILES AND DRONES, ISSUE JOINT CONDEMNATION WITH US
Takht-Ravanchi also claimed Iran was "negotiating in good faith" in talks with the U.S. about its nuclear program, before America launched Operation Epic Fury and Israel began Operation Roaring Lion on Feb. 28.
"We are sincere. We are sincere in our endeavor to arrive at a peaceful conclusion of this issue," he told France24.
AFTER THE STRIKES, HOW WOULD THE US SECURE IRAN'S ENRICHED URANIUM?
Pezeshkian said Saturday that any future attacks coming out of Iran would only be in response to attacks against the country.
"I should apologize to the neighboring countries that were attacked by Iran, on my own behalf," he said, according to The Associated Press. "From now on, they should not attack neighboring countries or fire missiles at them, unless we are attacked by those countries. I think we should solve this through diplomacy."
Pezeshkian made the apology during a prerecorded televised speech on Saturday after Iran launched repeated strikes on Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Oman.
Despite the vow, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Ministry of Defense said on Saturday that the country's air defense systems intercepted 16 ballistic missiles, 15 of which were destroyed while one fell into the sea.
Fox News Digital’s Elizabeth Pritchett and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
CEO of Olympic-styled sporting event that allows enhancements ready to put negative connotations to bed
With the Olympics over, it is not out of the realm of possibility that some dirty work went on behind the scenes — there were rumors about male ski jumpers potentially inflating their private parts for better hang time. In the Enhanced Games, though, as counterintuitive as it may sound, there is no such thing.
The Enhanced Games have long been labeled the "Steroid Olympics" by critics. The event doesn't have its name by accident, as performance-enhancements will be allowed.
However, CEO Max Martin believes that such an event actually champions fairness, honesty and, most importantly, safety.
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"I would say the biggest [misconception] is that athletes are putting their health at risk with what they're doing, and they're just doing it for the money. It's actually quite the opposite," Martin said in a recent interview with Fox News Digital.
"Saying that enhancements are dangerous, in some circumstances, is true, yes. It can be completely abusive — too high of dosing, bad drug-on-drug interaction, because it's unsupervised and unmonitored, that can be very dangerous, yes. But that is exactly what we stand against and exactly what we'll be able to circumvent by being transparent and allowing it in a regulated environment."
So, how do they do that?
Well, Enhanced doctors have gone, and will continue to go, through every athlete's data and let the athlete know what they should and can, and what they should not and cannot, take. That means, yes, it's not as easy as someone getting more enhancements simply if they want it. Some athletes, Martin said, even had to stop taking specific substances because they were not approved by Enhanced’s doctors.
"And why is it unapproved? Because we haven't found out yet in research, whether it is safe or not," Martin said.
That's part of why Martin believes his event may actually be safer than the Olympics.
"[They] take substances that are not well-researched, that we don't know well, that are newly developed. We have no data on how these substances actually do in your system. And then, secondly, by taking additional drugs like a masking agent to hide what you're taking in the first place, that's super dangerous," Martin said. "If you take it out into the open and you allow athletes to utilize regulated and improved substances, where you know very, very well the safety profiles, the benefit profiles, and you monitor them constantly and over time, then you know if something went sideways. Because we monitor the athletes so well, we notice immediately."
"What current testing systems are focused on is punitive drug testing. They are only focused on whether an athlete is cheating or not. What they're not focused on is whether an athlete is healthy and safe to compete," he continued. "Some of our guys didn't even have health coverage, and they're competing on the highest international level, winning medals for their countries. They're not even health-insured. And so that's really the problem."
"Athletes are willing to do whatever it is to win. What we need to do, and are obsessed with, is making sure that every athlete that goes into competition is healthy and safe to compete."
Part of the protocol is also making sure athletes are taking what makes sense for them and their sport. Australian swimmer James Magnussen won't be taking the same enhancements as, say, a powerlifter.
"The enhancements, what they're doing is they're not pumping (Magnussen) up to be a bodybuilder. What they're doing is they're very, very targeted to who he is as an individual and to what he specifically is training for. And that allows him to just become better," Martin said, adding that the enhancements are more so "icing on the cake and fine-tuning," rather than the main product.
Enhanced is also paying its athletes quite the prize money — $250,000 for winners, $250,000 for the rest of the pack, and $1 million to anyone who breaks a world record. Perhaps not coincidentally, World Aquatics said it would begin to give Olympic winners $50,000 in 2024.
"I think they did that because they know that we're going to start paying athletes well, and athletes will evaluate that. They're scared. It’s a beautiful thing. That's the positive impact we're already having, and I think there will be more in terms of positive impact that we can inspire other sporting institutions to do that in the future," Martin said.
One athlete who will be competing at Enhanced is Hafþor Juius Bjornsson, better known as "The Mountain" from "Game of Thrones," or more simply, "Thor." With 32 international Strongman titles, the 6-foot-9, 400-plus-pound behemoth will attempt to break his own deadlift world record of 1,124 pounds for a grand prize himself.
Thor is in lockstep with Martin on the safety of the event.
"What I like about what the enhancement is doing is they check athletes first. They have us do a massive heart check, they take results, we get blood drawn, and we do all these tests, and we check our body to see if we are healthy enough to participate. Once that is done, we get the green light. Throughout the course of our training, we see doctors, and it's really like, I feel in a lot better position now than I was doing it on my own," Björnsson told Fox News Digital. "Like, I feel like I'm in good hands with Enhanced. They're really caring, and they really want to make sure that I'm healthy first and foremost, you know? So it's good. I'm really stoked and excited for the opportunity to be with Enhanced and to have the opportunity to break the record with Enhanced."
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Throughout the event, there will be nothing to hide. As Martin said, "It's a fair game," even for the small number of athletes choosing not to be enhanced, because it is fully "transparent."
"These athletes, they know what they're up against, you know? They have the same opportunities to utilize the same access to the medical program..." Martin said. "So many athletes have explained to me that they came in second, and they thought, ‘You know what, the first guy was cheating, but they didn't catch him.’ And that's the worst feeling you can have, because you stay within the rules, you do everything that you can to become the best, someone else is taking a cheating approach to it, wins, doesn't get caught, it's the worst feeling in the world.
"If you come in second at the Enhanced Games and you're not enhanced, you’re very proud of your performance, because you're like, ‘OK, this guy chose to do something I didn't want to do myself, but I know that within what I chose to do, I'm the freaking best.’ And that's what gives so many athletes like this excitement about being in the games, because it's an open competition, a transparent competition."
And yes, Martin "absolutely" believes any world records set would be legitimate, even if they are not officially recognized.
"There are studies that show that 43% of Olympians take banned substances, but 1% gets caught. That questions, for me, every record that there is, every performance that there is, because on average, every other athlete cheats," Martin said.
Last year, Greek swimmer Kristian Gkolomeev swam a 50-meter freestyle in 20.89 seconds, the fastest ever, with the benefit of performance-enhancing drugs (an enhanced Magnussen failed). While most may deem it illegitimate, Martin takes pride in knowing that Gkolomeev does not have to hide how he got there — unlike athletes such as Marion Jones, Ben Johnson, Tim Montgomery and numerous others.
"Kristian Gkolomeev is the only human being, that was ever able to travel the distance of 50 meters in water in 20.89 seconds. That's just the fact, whether you treat this as an official word record under World Aquatics regulations or whether you treat it as an official word record under Enhanced Games regulations, the fact is, no other human being was ever able to do that. Full stop."
Is he OK if people think Gkolomeev's accomplishment is not legit?
"Of course."
Unorthodox? Certainly. Eventually the norm? Possibly.
"People can make their opinion on whether they like it or not, but the notion that this is a steroid Olympics where everyone's just going to be shot up with some random drugs, it's just completely wrong," Martin said.
"After May 24, I think the world is going to have a much different perspective."
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'Hoppers' Review: Jon Hamm, Meryl Streep elevate Pixar's run-of-the-mill beaver adventure
It's difficult to avoid the reality that Pixar has been in a rut. The house that built "Toy Story" and "Finding Nemo" hasn't had a home run original since 2017's "Coco," which is why the Disney-owned studio falls back on tried and true franchise favorites like 2024's "Inside Out 2" and the forthcoming "Toy Story 5."
That's not to say that Pixar should only stick with sequels because they're safe box office hits. Pixar should be taking creative risks that gave us beloved characters like Woody, WALL-E and The Incredibles.
But Pixar plays it very safe with its latest film "Hoppers."
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Messy-haired 19-year-old animal lover Mabel (Piper Curda) is taking it upon herself to preserve the glade behind her late grandmother's house outside of Beaverton — it was essentially her dying wish — even though wildlife had already deserted it. Except Mayor Jerry (Jon Hamm) plans on building a beltway through that precious plot of land. Like I said, Pixar's playing it safe with the generic "save nature from greedy politician" storyline.
She learns from her college professor Dr. Sam (Kathy Najimy) that only a keystone species like the beaver can restore the glade to its former glory. After failing to lure beavers to the glade, Mabel stumbles upon Dr. Sam's secret project in which she's able to transport the human mind into a robotic animal in order to observe wildlife, something she calls "hoppers." If that too sounds familiar, that's because it's essentially the plot to "Avatar," which Mabel herself cheekily acknowledges.
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Mabel, rebellious in nature, goes rogue and hijacks the beaver robot and escapes into the wilderness to find other beavers. She quickly discovers that she can understand all the animals around her and must adapt to the "pond rules."
Beaver Mabel eventually meets actual beaver George (Bobby Moynihan), the overly cheery king of the mammals. She hopes to convince George and the rest of the Great Animal Council, made up by the Bird King (Isiah Whitlock Jr.), the Fish Queen (Ego Nwodim), the Reptile Queens (Nichole Sakura), the Amphibian King (Steve Purcell) as well as the Insect Queen and her son (Meryl Streep and Dave Franco), to rally together to stop Mayor Jerry from destroying the glade.
The cast of critters are predictably fun and adorable like any other Disney film, but the standout character is actually Mayor Jerry. Despite the rather mundane plot, "Hoppers" refrains from the trope of depicting the politician as evil. He's likable, goofy and truly seems to be acting in what Beaverton residents want without having malicious motivations. And Hamm really hams it up with his performance.
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"Hoppers" marks the feature debut of director Daniel Chong, whose animation credits include "Cars 2," "Inside Out," "Bolt" and "The Lorax." Screenwriter Jesse Andrew was previously credited for co-writing Pixar's underappreciated COVID-era release "Luca," as well as writing the brilliant 2015 coming-of-age dramedy "Me and Earl and the Dying Girl."
And a note for the super fans: There are two post-credit scenes for you to check out.
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"Hoppers" will keep the kids happy and has enough for parents to enjoy, but it doesn't reach the excellence of Pixar's most iconic films known for their originality, which "Hoppers" certainly lacks. This beaver adventure can easily be saved for a Disney+ watch later on.
"Hoppers" is rated PG for action/peril, some scary images and mild language.
Vocal anti-Trump Dem reveals which industry is trying to oust him from House seat: 'I was a target'
Rep. Al Green, D-Texas, who has repeatedly tried to impeach President Trump and has been thrown out of Trump's State of the Union addresses multiple times, spoke on camera with Fox News Digital about the results of his recent primary election that resulted in a runoff.
Green cited $1.5 million in spending against his campaign by the crypto-industry as a major driver behind the closeness of his race.
"They made it clear that I was a target, and they had a fake poll that showed that they were going to win by some large margin. I think, actually, they called a victory party last night assuming that it was over. Of course, I and others knew that it would be a runoff," Green said the day after his primary this past week.
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At the same time, Green also slammed his opponent, former Harris County Attorney-turned-Texas Congressman Christian Menefee, over his alleged lack of experience and failure to show up for votes early in his congressional career. Texas's redistricting changes pitted the two incumbents against each other in the 18th Congressional District race they have been battling in.
Green told Fox News Digital that he wanted to have a debate immediately with Menefee ahead of the runoff election.
"I'm challenging Mr. Menefee to a debate. I think we should have a debate right away," Green said. "But I also challenge him to come to work. In his first month in Congress, after having sworn that he was going to come here and represent the people and vote, you know, the 18th Congressional District has been about an absence of a vote, so having sworn to do this, within his first month he missed a week, an entire week without voting."
Green bragged that in 20 years he has made over 97% of his votes in Congress. He also alleged that Menefee was not present at a classified briefing on Iran.
When asked if he was concerned his objections to Trump may be a factor that could cost him his race, the longtime Texas Democrat doubled down, saying he would do it "again and again and again."
"If it cost me an election, I would do it," Green continued. "I just think that this president is a racist. I hope you pick that up. Yeah, he's a racist ad we have to challenge him. We shouldn't have a racist in the White House."
BROADCAST BIAS: From 'without evidence' to war panic, the media target Trump and America
In his second term, President Donald Trump has been more aggressive in attacking America’s enemies than he was in his first term. But whenever this commander in chief approves military action, the broadcast networks reflexively attack it and seek to undermine the effort. This certainly happened when America and Israel took military action against Iran on Feb. 28.
One sickening impulse is the networks offering a propaganda platform to the enemy, as they did repeatedly with Iran’s foreign minister, Abbas Aragchi. On ABC’s "This Week," Sen. James Lankford, R-Okla., called host George Stephanopoulos out for it when the host repeated the Iranian line that the American attack was "unprovoked." Lankford began by quipping, "I would hope that Iranian TV is carrying Marco Rubio today, the same as you all just carried the Iranian foreign minister today."
It’s obvious that it’s more controversial within these liberal networks to provide a platform for Trump than to interview a Baghdad Bob–like figure in the decapitated theocracy in Iran.
TRUMP SAYS US 'DOING VERY WELL' IN IRAN NEARLY 1 WEEK INTO JOINT ACTION AGAINST TEHRAN
On Monday morning, an ABC White House correspondent broke out the "without evidence" line against the president. Trump "has yet to make a robust case for war to explain why Iran presented an imminent threat to the U.S." and has "insisted, without evidence, that a rebuild of their nuclear program was happening fast."
NBC chief foreign correspondent Richard Engel claimed Trump justified the military actions on the basis of "a theoretical threat ... that if, in the future, Iran were to expand its ballistic missile program, it could threaten the United States. … He was talking about a theoretical future threat, and the rest was past grievances from the Iraq War."
The Trump administration has made the case that the theocracy in Iran has been at war with the United States since it took American hostages in 1979. That argument is dismissed as "past grievances." Iran’s campaign of killing American soldiers in Iraq with roadside bombs, which was downplayed in real time, is now just "past grievances."
Then there’s the theme of economic blowback. On Tuesday night, ABC’s "World News Tonight" anchor David Muir warned, in his typically clipped verbiage, "Amid this war with Iran, the Strait of Hormuz essentially shut down where 20% of the world’s oil passes through. Tonight the stock market plunging, oil and gas prices already up. The Dow plunging more than 1,200 points today before clawing back some of its losses."
ABC News reporter Elizabeth Schultze echoed the gloom: "Tonight, growing fears of prolonged war sending the stock market tumbling and oil prices surging." Then, on the same broadcast, came the cherry-picked "analysts," who warned that "higher energy prices will ripple across the economy." Economist Ryan Sweet argued, "The consumer can't catch a break. So you’re going to see it in food prices, you’re going to see it in air fares. Overall, inflation is going to perk up a little bit over the next couple of months."
Notice how neatly this matches the Democratic argument about affordability in a midterm election year. The dark clouds forever hang over everything Trump does. The "news" is manufactured to keep the bad weather rolling indefinitely.
The networks also reported polling results to insist the president launched an "unpopular war." On Thursday’s "Today" show, guest host Hoda Kotb touted, "A new NBC News poll shows that most voters, 52 percent, say the U.S. should not have taken military action against Iran." The numbers — 41% backing the war, 52% against — pretty closely match the current polling on President Trump’s approval rating. The broadcast networks are pushing the idea that this could hurt Republicans in the midterm elections.
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This week, the "PBS News Hour" turned to a contributor in Iran, Reza Sayah, who has pushed the Iranian regime's perspective.
On Monday, he announced, "Just keep in mind, from Tehran's point of view, there's no trust. This is the second time they're in the middle of negotiations. Without warning, they have been under attack. … So they're projecting resilience, toughness."
On Tuesday, PBS anchor Amna Nawaz asked if there was an uprising afoot. Sayah wasn’t having it: "Obviously, when the death of the Supreme Leader was announced, there were pockets of celebrations throughout the country. But millions of others came out to mourn his death."
Without discussing the recent murders of thousands of Iranian protesters, Sayah added that there was "no sign of any mass protests, mass uprising, and no indication of an organized opposition with a clear leader. If, in the coming days, it so happens that people come out, it is very likely that armed security forces are going to be waiting for them."
These networks love to pose as the saviors of democracy in America, but they’re not coming across as favoring democracy in Islamic countries. They warn of "Christian nationalism" on the rise in America but have no problem with Islamic nationalism in Iran. They have compared Trump to Hitler, while ignoring the Iranian regime’s Holocaust deniers who want to end the nation of Israel.
There’s a reason so many Americans have tuned these networks out.
Driver accused of attempting to mow down cop during street takeover strolls free hours later on $3K bond
A North Carolina woman accused of striking a police officer with her car during a street takeover was released on a $3,000 bond just hours after her arrest — a decision law enforcement leaders say sends a troubling message.
Tanaezah Michelle Austin, 25, faces a felony charge of assault with a deadly weapon on a government official in connection with the early Sunday morning incident in northwest Charlotte.
According to an arrest affidavit, officers responded around 3:25 a.m. to reports of vehicles doing donuts in a commercial parking lot. When officers attempted to break up what police described as a street takeover, one officer approached a black Kia Optima that was attempting to leave.
The affidavit states the driver initially stopped as the officer walked in front of the vehicle. But as he moved toward the driver’s side, the driver "began to accelerate rapidly" and struck him, causing him to roll over the hood.
VIOLENT REPEAT OFFENDER ACCUSED IN CHARLOTTE KNIFE ATTACK WAS FREE DESPITE DECADE-LONG RAP SHEET
Police say the officer was in full uniform and giving verbal commands to stop before he was hit, and was standing directly in front of the vehicle where he "could be clearly seen by the driver."
The officer was transported to a hospital and treated for minor injuries.
Viral posts show the altercation, with some asking, "What is happening in Charlotte?"
Court records show Austin was arrested March 2 and released later that day after posting a $3,000 secured bond. A probable cause hearing is scheduled for March 24.
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The bond amount has sparked outrage among law enforcement leaders.
"These are among the worst of the worst incidents that we have to deal with in Charlotte," said Dan Redford, president of the Charlotte Fraternal Order of Police. "To see a $3,000 bond for an offender, regardless of whether she has a criminal history or not, when the intent to flee was clearly there, is pathetic."
Redford said the suspect fled the scene and was later located by officers. He added that decisions like this can impact officer morale.
"It’s very frustrating," Redford said. "There are laws on the books that are supposed to protect law enforcement officers from these heinous attacks. When officers see this treated like just another incident, it makes them question whether they’re truly supported — especially by members of the criminal justice system."
Randy Sutton, a retired police lieutenant and founder of The Wounded Blue, an organization that advocates for injured law enforcement officers, said the bond decision reflects broader systemic concerns.
"When I hear about someone being released on a $3,000 bond for running over a police officer on video, it boggles my mind," Sutton said. "In reality, that means she may have only had to put up about $300. She ran over a cop, and she walked out."
Sutton described street takeovers as "mob situations" that can quickly turn deadly.
"This wasn’t an accident," he said. "She saw him, he was communicating with her, and then she just gunned the car toward him. This could have been a fatal encounter."
He added that using a vehicle to strike an officer constitutes deadly force.
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"If you try to run over a police officer, they have every justification to use deadly force to protect themselves," Sutton said.
U.S. Rep. Mark Harris, R-N.C., also criticized the bond decision.
"Running over a police officer is of the highest level of evil," Harris said in a statement. "It’s also a complete slap in the face for our brave law enforcement to see these kinds of criminals allowed right back on the streets. When is Charlotte going to end the crime cycle? When are magistrates going to keep bad guys behind bars? Enough is enough!"
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Republican U.S. Senate candidate Michael Whatley also weighed in, blaming what he described as soft-on-crime policies in Charlotte and across the state.
Whatley said those policies threaten law enforcement officers and public safety, arguing that criminals belong behind bars and pledging to continue backing law enforcement.
The Mecklenburg County District Attorney’s Office declined to comment on the case, citing North Carolina Rules of Professional Conduct that prohibit prosecutors from making out-of-court statements on pending cases.
Court records show Austin previously faced misdemeanor marijuana and paraphernalia charges in 2025. Those charges were later dismissed.
Mediterranean chef touts 'liquid gold' in pantry for heart health and weight-loss benefits
In a world of complicated diet rules and trending weight-loss drugs, one Mediterranean cooking expert says the answer could already be in your pantry.
"Extra virgin olive oil — we call it our liquid gold, and I can't live without it," said Suzy Karadsheh, founder of The Mediterranean Dish brand and website.
"It's the one thing that I reach for all the time, and it's one of the main reasons the Mediterranean diet is really good for heart health. You make that one swap, and you start using extra virgin oil for your fat, and you've just upgraded your diet by a lot, simply because you went from maybe saturated fats or something more processed to this liquid gold."
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Karadsheh grew up along the Mediterranean coast of Egypt and is now based in the Atlanta area. She's the author of two New York Times bestselling cookbooks and the founder of a curated line of Mediterranean pantry staples. Her cooking centers on vegetables, legumes, whole grains, fish and healthy fats — especially olive oil.
"People used to comment on how much olive oil I'm putting on top of my salad," she said. "I would always say, 'One day, one day, you'll know.'"
Rich in polyphenols and other beneficial compounds, olive oil can support overall health and promote fullness, she told Fox News Digital in an interview.
Some people in wellness circles have gone further, calling olive oil a "natural GLP-1" — referencing glucagon-like peptide-1, a gut hormone that helps regulate blood sugar, slow digestion and promote fullness.
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GLP-1 is the same hormone targeted by popular weight-loss drugs such as Ozempic and Wegovy.
"I'm not making any claims that that's the case, but I'm just saying that people are starting to catch on to the fact that healthier fats are helpful to you, because otherwise you may be trying to fill up from other sources and reaching for those ultra-processed snacks throughout the day," Karadsheh said.
GLP-1 is naturally released in the gut after meals and stimulates insulin while reducing glucagon, helping to regulate blood sugar.
The hormone also slows digestion, enhancing satiety, according to a 2021 review published in the International Journal of Molecular Sciences.
Certain nutrients — including protein, fiber and long-chain fatty acids — can stimulate GLP-1 release. Human studies cited in that review found that meals rich in olive oil produced higher post-meal GLP-1 responses than butter-rich meals, suggesting unsaturated fats, such as olive oil, may stimulate the hormone more effectively than saturated fats.
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Earlier animal research, including a 2005 study published in Endocrine, found that rats fed an olive oil–enriched diet had higher GLP-1 levels and improved glucose tolerance.
But experts caution against overstating any comparison to prescription GLP-1 drugs.
"The olive oil–GLP-1 connection is real but routinely overstated," said Dr. John La Puma, a California-based board-certified internist, professionally trained chef and author of the upcoming book "Indoor Epidemic."
"Olive oil GLP-1 release lasts minutes to hours, versus days for the drugs."
La Puma added that several human studies show meals with olive oil and avocado produce greater releases of GLP-1 and peptide YY (PYY), another hormone that helps signal fullness, than meals high in solid fats. He cautions against reducing complex biology to a single ingredient.
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"Calling any single food a 'natural GLP-1' misleads people," he said. "What people can do is build environments — a food environment, a movement environment, a light environment — where their biology works the way it evolved to work. We need to fix the environment that broke people's biology in the first place."
Joseph Zucchi, a New Hampshire–based physician assistant who specializes in obesity medicine, agreed there is "a small kernel of truth" to the olive oil claim, but the effect is short-lived.
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"Certain foods, including fats like olive oil, can stimulate the body to release GLP-1 after a meal," he said. "But the body's own GLP-1 is extremely short-lived. It circulates for about one to two minutes before it is broken down."
GLP-1 medications, meanwhile, are engineered to remain active in the body for up to a week.
"A brief dietary GLP-1 signal after a meal simply does not produce the same sustained effect," Zucchi said. He noted that olive oil still plays an important role in metabolic health when it replaces saturated or ultra-processed fats.
That idea of replacement is exactly where Karadsheh says people should focus.
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"A little bit more olive oil on your salad makes it that much more of a meal," she said. "I actually need the fat in order to stay satisfied for longer."
She even takes a shot of olive oil every morning, she said. Still, she agrees that making healthy swaps and pairing it with a balanced diet are where the real impact lies.
"It's not about eliminating," she said. "It's about upgrading."