Fox News Latest Headlines
MICHAEL RUIZ: Tyler Robinson judge to give long-awaited trial date ruling in assassination of Charlie Kirk
PROVO, Utah — The judge overseeing the case against accused assassin Tyler Robinson will announce his ruling Monday after prosecutors and defense attorneys sought dramatically different start times for the trial of a man accused of gunning down Charlie Kirk last year.
Robinson, 22, is accused of assassinating the 31-year-old Kirk at Utah Valley University on Sept. 10, 2025, during a Turning Point USA event at Utah Valley University in Orem by shooting him with a .30-06 hunting rifle from a rooftop on the other side of the campus courtyard.
The sides are years apart on when they want the trial to begin.
Utah County prosecutors have asked in court documents and oral arguments for Jan. 31, 2028, as their preferred trial date but said they could be ready in October 2027. Robinson's defense team has proposed late 2029 as a "soft target" trial date.
TYLER ROBINSON HEARING ENDS WITHOUT TRIAL DATE SET, PROMPTING FIERY PLEA FROM ERIKA KIRK'S LAWYER
Staci Visser, one of Robinson's defense lawyers, said at a hearing in October that the state's timeline is "not practical" due to large amounts of discovery.
"Discovery review is foundational," she said. "It impacts everything else."
MICHAEL RUIZ: TYLER ROBINSON BLAMES TRUMP POST IN PUSH FOR CAMERA BAN
The court is also attempting to work with both sides to avoid setting a date that conflicts with previously scheduled trials they have in other cases.
One directly conflicted with the prosecution's desired start date, a federal racketeering case defense attorney Richard Novak has scheduled for Jan. 10, 2028.
"The reality is rushing to trial does not lead to closure. It does not lead to finality. It leads to mistakes," he said at a hearing on Oct. 23.
Both sides agreed that setting a trial earlier, which would be interrupted for a break during the holidays, could put potential jurors and witnesses in a bind.
The case's pace has even attracted criticism from President Donald Trump, who wrote on the Truth Social platform that the judge was doing "a terrible job" moving things along.
UTAH PROSECUTORS ASK JUDGE TO SHUT DOWN DELAY TACTICS IN CHARLIE KIRK ASSASSINATION CASE
"This case should be tried within a month, not three years — and it should be over with," Trump wrote. "The judge is desecrating the memory of the Great Charlie Kirk, while taking forever to ask questions that people already know the answer to. The whole Country is mocking him and our 'Legal' System. JUSTICE FOR CHARLIE!"
Robinson's lawyers used the president's post to argue that news cameras should be kicked out of the courtroom. Judge Tony Graf Jr. denied the request, as he has done several times previously.
"He's very slow — he's very deliberate on making decisions," Donna Rotunno, a criminal defense attorney and Fox News contributor, told "Fox & Friends" Monday. "I do hope he sets a trial date. The only reason he wouldn't is if he says there are too many motions that are still outstanding and we need to get through those first."
Rotunno expects the judge's ultimate decision to come back sometime between the two sides' requests.
LISTEN TO THE NEW 'CRIME & JUSTICE WITH DONNA ROTUNNO' PODCAST
"Justice delayed this long stops being justice for the Kirk family," Jeffrey Neiman, an attorney for Kirk's widow, Erika, told the court at the Oct. 23 hearing.
CHARLIE KIRK'S FAMILY COMES FACE TO FACE WITH ACCUSED ASSASSIN FOR FIRST TIME
Robinson did not enter a plea until last month, nearly a year after being charged.
"Your honor, if you set [a trial date], it will happen," Neiman said. "Set it, please."
The hearing kicks off at 3 p.m. ET.
Bears' Caleb Williams unbothered despite four interceptions in narrow win: 'I’ll never not throw the ball'
Caleb Williams and the Chicago Bears may have pulled off a narrow victory against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday night, but the turnover disparity in the box score is something that shouldn’t go unnoticed.
Williams threw four interceptions in the 27-24 win to go along with his two touchdown passes. Three of his interceptions came in the second quarter. He now has eight touchdown passes and five interceptions through six games for the Bears this season.
THE CRAIG CARTON SHOW–UNFILTERED, UNAPOLOGETIC AND UNMISSABLE. DOWNLOAD HIS DAILY PODCAST NOW!
The idea that a top NFL quarterback needs to be smarter with the football isn’t really the hottest take someone could make. The Bears are on a four-game winning streak and appear poised to take the lead in the hotly contested NFC North. But that notion didn’t seem to come up during his postgame press conference.
Williams vowed that he will continue to throw the ball down the field until he can’t anymore – even if it means throwing "100 picks" in one game.
"I’mma throw ‘til I can’t throw anymore," he said. "That’s how I live. I work my tail off to be in this position. I’ll never not throw the ball. I could throw 100 picks in one game. If it comes down to it, I’m going to throw that pass that I threw to Colston (Loveland) or if it’s a tighter window, I’m going to rip it in there. That’s how I grew up. That’s what I am. I don’t get gun-shy. That’s not me. That’s not my identity. And with that, I’m gonna keep ripping it, keep ripping it. Coach calls it, it’s time to go make a play. Go through my reads. If it’s not there, check it down. If the shot’s there, take it.
"They did a great job, offensive line, right there on that last one to Colston. Colston ran a great route, ended up being wide open. They got confused with the tempo plus the motions and then from there, like I said, ran a great route, protect the football and got down."
CLICK HERE FOR MORE OUTKICK SPORTS COVERAGE
NFL fans love the big throw when it works and don’t appreciate enough when a quarterback checks the ball down to a running back in the flat or takes a sack instead of wildly throwing balls into double or triple coverage. NFL teams feel the opposite, especially as the season heads into the winter months when the playoffs get closer.
Williams and the Bears cannot afford costly turnovers. The team came away unscathed as the four interceptions led to just a field goal from the Buccaneers.
With every team in the division having at least six wins this season, games are going to be tighter and better decisions are going to be made. Chicago’s two losses came within the division – against the Minnesota Vikings and the Green Bay Packers.
Chicago still has two games against the Detroit Lions on its schedule plus one-game each against the Packers and Vikings. The turnover bug historically haunts quarterbacks who are not careful. Being gun-shy is one thing and being able to know when a window to a prospective receiver is closed is another.
The division is extremely close at this point of the season and the Bears cannot afford stupid turnovers to bury them when the time comes.
From abandoned cars on dark roads to unexplained knocks, Reddit's scariest stories deliver
Some pretty scary stories are going viral on Reddit.
As the loyal readers know, I am a big fan of diving down deep Reddit rabbit holes for one very simple reason:
You never know what kind of chaos, information or situation you might find unraveling.
It's truly one of the last remaining places on the internet that is the wild west, and that includes a crazy thread going viral.
While doing some Big J journalism on Monday morning, I stumbled across a thread titled, "What’s the scariest/creepiest thing that has happened to you?"
You're not going to need to convince me of much to smash click on a thread with that title.
SERIAL KILLER'S EX-WIFE SLEPT BESIDE MURDERER FOR 8 YEARS, NEVER SUSPECTED HIS DEADLY DOUBLE LIFE
Check out some of the answers below, and then we'll dive in:
Certainly a handful of terrifying stories. There are two for me that have always stood out in my mind, and I believe I've shared them publicly before. The first involved a walkie-talkie I had in my bedroom as a kid living in rural Wisconsin. One random night, it got active with some chatter and the chatter was a blood-curdling scream that was unlike anything I'd ever heard before. It was absolutely terrifying, and decades later, I have never been able to figure out what happened or who was on the other end of the two-way radio. It sounded like something demonic mixed with pure death.
The second – equally scary for different reasons – involved another late night in rural Wisconsin. Without getting into details of the layout of the house, I was downstairs when I started hearing movement outside a window. Everything suddenly went dead silent. So quiet that it was a little bit unsettling. That changed in an instant. There was a massive bang on the exterior of the house. I bolted up the stairs and saw my dad already in the hallway. He'd heard the same sound and was up to figure out what was going on.
SIGN UP FOR THE DAILY OUTKICK NEWSLETTER
The weirdest thing about the situation is that upon investigating, there was literally no signs of anything. Nothing. Not an ounce of evidence that anything was out of place, no damage to the house, no clear signs of anyone there and nothing else to suggest there was a clear answer for what had happened. I still think about that event from time to time. Beyond weird and creepy.
Do you have a crazy story that was creepy or scary? Let me know at David.Hookstead@outkick.com.
NYC ICE chief fires back at far-left politicians seeking to abolish agency: 'Change the law'
New York City's top immigration enforcement official has a blunt message for far-left politicians demanding the abolition of ICE: Change the law instead of demonizing federal agents who put their lives on the line enforcing it.
Kenneth Genalo, who leads ICE's Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) in New York City, issued the challenge during an exclusive interview with Fox News Digital, taking aim at elected officials who have increasingly called to dismantle the agency.
"If you don't like the job we're doing and the priorities and the people that we're targeting, change the law," Genalo said. "Congressional people, senators, representatives. Change the law, don't demonize ICE for doing the job that you empowered us to do."
The remarks came during a recent Fox News Digital ride-along with ICE in Brooklyn, where agents arrested two men, including one facing a pending felony sexual abuse charge, and another who had served seven years in prison for assault, according to ICE.
INSIDE ICE'S HIGH-STAKES RAIDS TARGETING ILLEGAL MIGRANTS IN NYC AS CHIEF RIPS SANCTUARY LAWS
Genalo's rebuke comes amid a widening campaign to abolish ICE and increasingly heated rhetoric directed at federal immigration agents.
In July, no less than 143 New York elected officials, including 31 of the city's 51 Council members, signed a letter urging congressional Democrats to dismantle the agency, accusing ICE of widespread abuses and portraying it as a threat to public safety and democracy.
The signatories argued that ICE could no longer be reformed and urged congressional Democrats to defund and dismantle it. They also cited the fatal shootings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti by federal immigration enforcement officers in Minneapolis as evidence of what they described as the agency's disregard for public safety.
Among the signatories was newly elected New York Democrat Claire Valdez, who has also made abolishing ICE part of her congressional platform. New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., have also separately called for dismantling the agency.
Genalo blamed inflammatory political rhetoric for emboldening anti-ICE protesters and escalating tensions during enforcement operations.
He questioned why activists would interfere with arrests without knowing the criminal histories of those being targeted, pointing to an operation during the Brooklyn ride-along in which protesters disrupted ICE agents attempting to apprehend an Ecuadorian national facing child sexual abuse charges, according to ICE.
"Why would you protest that we're trying to arrest this individual?" he asked.
For Genalo, the increasingly hostile rhetoric overlooks the people behind the badges — officers enforcing laws enacted by Congress while confronting potentially dangerous suspects and protesters.
"We're mothers, we're fathers, we are brothers, we have sisters, sons and daughters, and we're doing our job," he said.
The Brooklyn-born, 34-year law enforcement veteran argued that politicians were vilifying agents for carrying out their duties, even as restrictions on local cooperation force ICE to pursue suspects on public streets rather than take them into custody in secure jails.
Genalo said such encounters expose officers, suspects and bystanders to dangers that could be avoided through cooperation with local authorities.
During the Brooklyn ride-along, Genalo said both men arrested had previously been in local custody but were released despite ICE detainer requests.
Genalo's concerns about the breakdown in cooperation drew on his experience responding to one of the darkest days in New York's history.
The veteran official recalled being deployed to ground zero after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, warning that New York was forgetting lessons about the importance of cooperation between federal and local law enforcement.
"I go back to 9/11, I do it all the time because I was there, I was deployed, SRT, I was down at ground zero," he recalled.
He cited the 9/11 Commission's findings about failures in cooperation and intelligence sharing, drawing a parallel to the restrictions ICE faces today.
"We should be standing arm-in-arm with our NYPD brethren, helping the city," Genalo said, recalling a time when ICE worked more closely with local authorities.
The agency once maintained a dedicated unit at Rikers Island that reviewed the immigration status of foreign-born inmates before their release, Genalo said. Agents took more than 100 people a week into federal custody through the arrangement, which he blamed former Mayor Bill de Blasio for ending.
Genalo said former Mayor Eric Adams later tried to restore cooperation, but faced City Council restrictions.
The political confrontation with ICE has since intensified under Mamdani.
On Nov. 2, Mamdani threatened legal action over ICE's alleged unauthorized use of city-owned parking lots in a letter addressed directly to Genalo and other federal officials.
Genalo had criticized the mayor's efforts to discourage private businesses from allowing ICE agents to use their parking facilities during the Fox News Digital interview, four days before the letter was issued.
DHS rejected the mayor's position in a statement to Fox News Digital on Saturday.
"Mayor Mamdani should be grateful to our brave law enforcement officers for cleaning up the streets of NYC since he won’t. Luckily, no terminated parking will stop ICE from deporting criminal illegal aliens to make New York safe again," a DHS spokesperson said. "We need New York to cooperate with our officers and stop RELEASING criminals from their jails into New York’s neighborhoods. Seven of the 10 safest cities in America cooperate with ICE."
DHS also provided Fox News Digital with examples of migrants it identified as public safety threats arrested in New York City, including individuals it said had convictions for sexual assault, weapons offenses and robbery.
The confrontation with ICE has also extended to the state level.
On Nov. 6, Gov. Kathy Hochul and Attorney General Letitia James reminded local governments of a Nov. 25 deadline to terminate agreements allowing their facilities to hold people solely for federal civil immigration detention under the Local Cops, Local Crimes Act.
Genalo criticized the legislation, arguing that it would extend restrictions on ICE cooperation beyond New York City to the rest of the state.
He also challenged city leaders to put cooperation with ICE on the ballot and let New Yorkers decide for themselves — a demand that takes on added significance given the 31 City Council members who signed the abolition letter.
But Genalo said the City Council had refused to put the question before voters.
"The City Council voted no, they didn't want to do that. I wonder why," he said.
For Genalo, the growing political opposition reflects what he described as a fundamental misunderstanding of ICE's mission and the officers carrying it out.
He argued that immigration enforcement has continued under successive administrations, but the rhetoric directed at agents has become increasingly hostile, with politicians and the media vilifying officers rather than acknowledging the work they do.
"They don't realize the ramifications that their verbiage has," Genalo said.
"But instead we're getting demonized by politicians, by congressional people, by mayors, by governors, by the media."
Michigan hired Kyle Whittingham to fix its mess. Instead, he’s created an even bigger one with Wolverines
At some point, a school just has to admit that a situation is not working. Unfortunately, that doesn’t mean the Wolverines situation is going to get better any time soon.
For Michigan, one has to wonder if it would be better for the athletic department to take a hard look at the optics surrounding head coach Kyle Whittingham and chalk this one up as a loss.
Following the dismissal of former head coach Sherrone Moore, athletic director Warde Manuel thought he had struck gold by hiring the former Utah coach to takeover a program that has seen more controversy over the past few years than some schools experience in a decade.
But, after Michigan put together another abysmal performance in the 15-6 loss to Michigan State over the weekend, it's obvious that this ship in Ann Arbor is rudderless and also burning cash by the day.
Through the entire process of actually hiring Whittingham, the thought by many within a group of donors helping put together the finances needed to compete in the Big Ten was that hiring an outside-the-box candidate was the way in which this Wolverine ship could be steadied.
Now, they are just waiting to see how much of the iceberg they actually hit before seasons end.
Looking back, the signs have been there since the day this legendary coach took the podium in Ann Arbor to be introduced to Wolverine fans who were just excited for something different.
The carefree attitude of Whittingham towards some of Michigan's biggest rivals is one thing. Sure, it's going to take someone a few minutes to understand that magnitude of games against teams like Michigan State, or what the Paul Bunyon Trophy represents.
MICHIGAN'S NEW HEAD COACH POURS COLD WATER ON OHIO STATE RIVALRY: 'HATE IS A STRONG WORD'
In saying that, it would take the average college football fan around five minutes to understand the importance of a game against Ohio State.
And no, I'm not implying Whittingham doesn’t grasp how big a game this is for Michigan fans every year. He's just a very good coach that has spent the majority of his career not having to worry about such things, especially coaching in Utah.
So, how would Whittingham keep his team motivated for these final three games of the season, with nothing left to play for besides pride, and beating the Buckeyes?
"It's my job as a coach to rally them back up and get them ready to compete for these last three games. ... I don't know, are there any more trophies in these last three games? I don't think there's any more trophies. Anyway.."
My goodness, you thought Michigan fans were upset following the loss to Michigan State? You should see the replies to this quote on social media.
The nonchalant attitude has clearly not sat well with those same boosters who are funding this expensive roster, led by quarterback Bryce Underwood's contract that has paid him over $7 million since he arrived on campus.
Besides how inept this offense has looked in his first season as head coach, the play-calling and handling of the quarterback position has been an even worse look for Whittingham.
But again, this is not just on the former Utah coach. Everyone involved in the hiring of Kyle Whittingham should feel some sort of responsibility for this mess.
Following the loss to Michigan State, Kyle Whittingham made it a point to say that he was not planning on making any changes to the offensive staff, most notably coordinator Jason Beck.
The highest-paid assistant coach in the country had clearly not meshed with his playmakers, and it showed on the field with the decision-making around the quarterback position.
Just over 14 hours later, the Michigan football program announced they would be moving on from OC Jason Beck, even though Whittingham had put up a fight for him on Sunday morning.
The question from those within the football building was centered around who actually made the call to fire Beck?
Was it the head coach who was hired to lead this program or the folks who are paying the expensive bills that come with a Big Ten roster trying to compete for a national title.
"The results have not matched our desired outcome, and I felt that a change in leadership was required for our offense," Whittingham said in a statement. "We need to put our offensive players and the entire team in the best possible position to be successful."
That statement did not match with how Whittingham described the situation on Saturday night. It's also not lost on those who follow the program on a daily basis that there has been a disconnect between the reality of what is happening in Ann Arbor within the minds of boosters and fans compared to the words coming from the head coach.
So, is it really that surprising Michigan decided it was time to put tape on the current hole in the ship?
Right now, the university is currently looking an a school president and an athletic director to take over for Warde Manuel once he officially retires from his position.
Oh, if the school even wanted to fire Whittingham and admit they were wrong, it would owe the head coach around $24 million to do so. What do you think the odds of that happening are?
Remember, Michigan still has to raise enough capital outside of the revenue-sharing cap to fund a roster that will compete for a Big Ten title next season.
Yes, a new hire will inherit the mess that was left by Manuel and those surrounding the Wolverines athletic department that just had its basketball team cutting down the nets under former coach Dusty May.
THE CRAIG CARTON SHOW–UNFILTERED, UNAPOLOGETIC AND UNMISSABLE. DOWNLOAD HIS DAILY PODCAST NOW!
If you look hard enough, and it doesn’t take much, you will notice the trend of dysfunction that Michigan fans have had to deal with over the years. And, I shouldn’t have to remind you that this is the same football program that won a national championship just three years ago.
Now, you have a head coach who has, unbeknownst to him, created a massive divide between himself and a fan base looking for some kind of normalcy in the complicated world of college athletics.
And, they are expecting these same fans and donors to get excited about the future under a head coach who has essentially admitted multiple times he doesn’t quite understand the magnitude of a game against Ohio State to finish the regular season.
Clearly, the Wolverines have a whole bunch of problems in front of themselves right now.
Or as we like to call it from afar: a random Monday
Blades Brown makes a historic arrival, Bryson DeChambeau tosses up a word salad, and Jon Rahm's statement win
The stereotype is true: Gen Zers have no patience whatsoever. Blades Brown, born in 2007 (!), needed all of 22 starts on the PGA Tour to earn his maiden victory. All he had to do was shoot a final-round 63 and then make back-to-back birdies in a playoff to win the Worldwide Technology Championship in Mexico. You know, a pretty typical day at the office for a 19-year-old.
On the other side of the world, Jon Rahm made his first start since announcing his exit from LIV Golf over in Abu Dhabi, and it's safe to say that playing with a clear mind has its benefits. The Spaniard found the winner's circle and held off the likes of Rory McIlroy and Tyrrell Hatton in the process.
The golf world was served a rather robust word salad from Bryson DeChambeau on Sunday, shortly before NFL games kicked off, which cannot be a coincidence, regarding LIV Golf shutting down. While DeChambeau may have successfully portrayed his emotions, the statement was nothing but disingenuous filler, which actually serves as a pretty great representation of what LIV Golf was.
Welcome to Par Talk, a weekly read to get you caught up on all the happenings that took place in professional golf that you should know. Be sure to follow Mark on X @itismarkharris or email him at mark.harris@outkick.com.
I think we can officially say that Blades Brown's decision to turn professional while still only a junior in high school was the correct call.
The Nashville native became the youngest PGA Tour winner in 95 years after beating Ben James in what was a two-hole playoff in Mexico. Charles Kocsis still holds the record that may never be beaten as the youngest winner ever on Tour after winning the 1931 Michigan Open at 18 years old.
Just as nothing about a 19-year-old winning on Tour is normal, neither was Brown's final round. He began Sunday seven shots back of the lead, but after playing his opening 10 holes at 5-under and with James making the turn at 1-over for the day, the door was open, and Brown sprinted through it.
SIGN UP FOR THE DAILY OUTKICK NEWSLETTER
Fully aware that he needed a special back nine to have a chance, Brown shot 5-under, which felt like it was going to be enough to get the job done in regulation. The 23-year-old James, however, had different plans and made an eagle on the 72nd hole to force a playoff between two of the top up-and-coming players on Tour.
James gifted Brown on the second playoff hole with a missed six-foot birdie putt before the teenager buried his five-footer for birdie to finish the job. Brown, who is so young he wasn't even close to being born during Tiger Woods' prime, gave a mention to The Big Cat after pulling off the comeback.
"I just go back to 5-year-old Blades that was watching the TV and watching Tiger Woods and all those great players win major championships, and to think that I’m now in a similar spot with having won a PGA Tour event is mind-blowing," he explained.
Brown earned his PGA Tour card earlier this year by finishing inside the Top 20 on the Korn Ferry Tour Points List. Now, with his victory, he has a full two-year exemption and invitations to both the PGA Championship and Players Championship in 2027.
It turns out that Jon Rahm can still play golf.
Back in September, the Spaniard teed it up in the BMW PGA Championship on the DP World Tour in the midst of what we can now call the final breaths of both his stint on LIV Golf and the circuit as a whole. He finished 138th out of 138 players that week.
Fast forward to this weekend, one month after his decision was made public that he was leaving LIV, and he stepped into the winner's circle in the penultimate event on the DP World Tour calendar for his first non-LIV victory since the 2023 Masters.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE OUTKICK SPORTS COVERAGE
Rahm, like the majority of former LIV players, plans to play the 2027 season on the DP World Tour, and picking up a victory just before the 2026 campaign closes is a nice boost looking towards the new year.
It's also worth mentioning that Rahm's win in Abu Dhabi came just a few weeks after his wife, Kelley, gave birth to their fourth child. The hundreds of millions of dollars he made from LIV Golf help the operation back home, but winning golf tournaments with four kids ranging from newborn to five years old is an accomplishment, no matter the number of commas in the bank account.
"In Spain, they have a saying: a newborn comes with bread under the arm; they come bearing gifts," Rahm said, according to The Mirror, after securing his win. "Another child is another gift, and luckily that's come true almost every time for me. There's something to say about the happiness that our family feels once we've had a child, and my performance showed it."
DeChambeau broke his silence on LIV Golf shutting its doors by issuing a statement on Sunday that hit every PR-friendly note imaginable.
Here are a few highlights (lowlights) from his farewell letter to LIV. Spoiler alert: he's really, really going to miss team golf.
"I believed this game could reach more people, in more places, in a new way. I still believe that. And I gave it everything I had to keep team golf alive."
"I still believe in team golf. It may look different in the future, but I still believe it's essential to growing the game."
"Arnold Palmer said no player is bigger than the game, and I want to acknowledge that, along the way, I've said some things that didn't help. Whatever comes next, I'll approach it with humility and respect for the people who carried this game long before me."
"My passion has been to grow this game. That's still the goal. Thank you for sticking with me. Together we can all grow this great game we love."
RORY MCILROY DEFENDS SCOTTIE SCHEFFLER AMID LAZY CRITICISMS ABOUT WORLD NO 1'S NON-GLOBAL SCHEDULE
THE CRAIG CARTON SHOW–UNFILTERED, UNAPOLOGETIC AND UNMISSABLE. DOWNLOAD HIS DAILY PODCAST NOW!
Oddly enough, DeChambeau's statement did not make mention of money or the generational wealth he accrued during his stint with LIV Golf.
On a serious note, DeChambeau was never, and likely will never, be completely transparent that he, like every other player who joined LIV, did so for the payday.
Yes, everyone with a pulse understands that money was the first, second, and third most important factor behind each player's move to the breakaway circuit, but the players who have admitted as such have managed to portray at least some form of honesty and decency.
As for what's next for DeChambeau, he only mentioned that he'd be teeing it up at the Nedbank Golf Challenge in South Africa in early December. If he's looking to compete on the DP World Tour, he has to commit by Nov. 15.
If he doesn't go that route, it's likely we'll be living in a world where DeChambeau fully leans into his YouTube channel and turns up at the four major championships while waiting on the PGA Tour to extend another olive branch.
TED JENKIN: Europe is burning because people can't pay their bills. America should pay attention
In 1789, angry French citizens didn't have Facebook, Instagram or TikTok to complain about the cost of living. They had pitchforks. And torches.
When bread prices became unbearable, thousands of women marched on the Palace of Versailles, demanding answers from King Louis XVI. They weren't marching because the stock market was down.
They were marching because they couldn't afford to feed their families.
GORDON SONDLAND: FRANCE IS BURNING, EUROPE'S BROKE, AND THE REVOLUTION IT REALLY NEEDS ISN'T VIOLENT
More than 230 years later, France is once again witnessing angry crowds in the streets. Italy has seen tens of thousands of workers and students protesting over wages, housing and living costs.
The circumstances are different. The frustration sounds remarkably familiar. People are working, collecting paychecks and wondering why they still can't afford their lives.
MELONI CONDEMNS ‘GANGS OF THUGS’ AFTER PROTESTS TURNED VIOLENT ACROSS ITALY
And America had better pay attention.
Politicians love talking about economic growth, unemployment rates and inflation statistics. But here's a little secret. Most Americans don't wake up in the morning wondering what happened to GDP.
They wonder whether they can afford groceries, pay the electric bill and make their mortgage payment. And there's an enormous difference between what economists call a healthy economy and what families experience at their kitchen tables.
MEHEK COOKE: REPUBLICANS FAILED THE AFFORDABILITY TEST. THIS IS HOW TO WIN VOTERS BACK
Inflation might fall from 8% to 3%. Wonderful. That doesn't mean your $200 grocery bill goes back to $150. It means prices are generally rising more slowly. Your paycheck may have increased, but so have your insurance premiums, property taxes, utilities and rent.
The result? You can earn more money and still feel poorer.
EJ ANTONI: OVERSEAS WARS PUT AFFORDABILITY ON HOLD, BUT THAT’S ONLY TEMPORARY
France has experienced protests over living costs, public services and government finances. Italy has seen workers and students march over wages, housing affordability and their economic futures. Not every protest is about household bills, and most demonstrators aren't rioters.
THOUSANDS FLOOD BRUSSELS STREETS AS ANTI-AUSTERITY PROTESTS ERUPT INTO CLASHES WITH POLICE
But the financial frustration deserves attention.
When people believe working hard no longer guarantees a reasonable standard of living, something changes. They stop believing the economic promises. They stop trusting the statistics.
DEMOCRATS SAY THEY'LL MAKE LIFE AFFORDABLE. YOUR WALLET MAY DISAGREE
And eventually, some take their anger into the streets.
Financial stress doesn't disappear just because a government says inflation is under control.
AMERICANS SAY THEY'RE BROKE. SO WHY CAN'T THEY STOP SPENDING SO MUCH?
Think about the financial pressure facing an American family today. A young couple wants to buy their first home but can't save a down payment fast enough to keep up with housing costs. Parents earn decent salaries but struggle with childcare, groceries, the cost of college and health insurance. Retirees on fixed incomes watch property taxes and insurance premiums eat into their savings and Social Security checks.
Meanwhile, credit cards become the emergency fund. Buy now, pay later becomes the family budgeting strategy. And everyone wonders why they feel financially exhausted.
Here's the problem.
You can't build long-term financial stability when every paycheck is already spoken for.
France's fiscal troubles illustrate another uncomfortable reality. When governments accumulate enormous debt, interest payments compete with spending on services and other priorities.
America has now crossed $40 trillion in federal debt.
That doesn't mean the United States is about to experience the French Revolution. But it does mean Washington has less room to respond to future economic shocks without difficult decisions about borrowing, taxes and spending. And households ultimately live with the consequences of those decisions.
Here's what I'd like every politician in America to answer. After a family pays for housing, food, transportation, healthcare and utilities, how much money is actually left?
Not how much their wages increased on paper. Not whether inflation came down two percentage points. How much is left?
Because that remaining money determines whether families can save, invest, take a vacation or handle an emergency without going into debt.
If we want to improve affordability, we need more housing, stronger opportunities for wage growth, competitive markets and fiscal discipline. And families need to understand where their money is going before debt becomes their only option.
In 1789, the French marched on Versailles demanding bread. Today, families across Europe are demanding economic security. Americans are asking many of the same questions.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE FOX NEWS OPINION
The lesson of history isn't that every financial crisis ends with pitchforks and torches. It's that when ordinary people can no longer afford ordinary lives, their frustration doesn't stay at the kitchen table forever.
Washington should pay attention before the streets start delivering the economic report.
NASCAR's most turbulent season in decades ends with a familiar champ, Sophie Cunningham and more storm clouds
Monday Morning Pit-Stop is a weekly NASCAR column that runs on OutKick.com and Fox News Digital. If you're looking for a normal NASCAR recap, go check out insufferable ESPN ... assuming they still know NASCAR exists.
And now, we rest.
Just like that, the 2026 NASCAR season is in the rear-view. It's done. Kaput. Finished. One minute you're taking the green flag in Daytona, and the next Kyle Larson is taking the checkered flag in Miami as a three-time Cup champion.
Well, technically, Ryan Blaney took the checkers yesterday, but you know what I mean.
Congrats to Larson, by the way. He's a worthy champion. Today, though, we're going to debrief. Not fully, because it was a long season, but we do need to address a few things. So does NASCAR.
This was, in my estimation, the most turbulent season since 2001 ... for obvious reasons.
Steve O'Donnell spoke over the weekend in his first real State of the Sport since taking over for Steve Phelps in January, and then Jim France in April. He hit on a lot of topics. Some good. Some bad.
HAS NASCAR LOST THE SOUTH? EX-DRIVER UNLOADS AFTER SEEING "100,000 EMPTY SEATS"
NASCAR has a lot of issues right now, folks. A lot. O'Donnell addressed some of it. There's a lot more meat on the bone, though, so we'll get into it.
What else? I've got a genuine question about yesterday's Championship race, and — yes — more TV ratings talk.
I took last week off, but fair is fair, and I simply have to step in after the Martinsville numbers. They were not great. I fear Miami won't be much better.
Lord knows I hope I'm wrong, but I'm queasy, folks.
Four tires, enough fuel to get us through this offseason, and maybe a bigger trophy case for Kyle Larson after yesterday ... Monday Morning Pit-Stop — the 'If The Championship Is Decided Before The Championship, Is The Championship Still Worth Watching?' edition — is LIVE!
"They've declared it. We got it."
"Like, it's done? OK. That was a little anticlimactic, but that's cool."
That's how Kyle Larson won his third Cup championship yesterday at Homestead. It came at the end of the first stage, where Larson's fourth-place finish was enough to clinch the title.
Serious question, folks. And I'm being 100% genuine here ...
Do y'all like that? I know that was a major topic last offseason. The playoffs. NASCAR needed to ditch the playoffs and the elimination races and the drama because it was a "gimmick" and created illegitimate champions.
So, NASCAR went back to the old Chase format. The win-and-in stuff was done. The elimination races were done. The four-driver championship race was done.
Instead, we got a championship weekend where Kyle Larson had it pretty much wrapped up before the race even began, and then officially clinched it 45 minutes into the event.
Larson himself called it anticlimactic, and that's what yesterday was. Anticlimactic. Those aren't my words! That came from the champ himself.
Everyone complained last year about the playoff. Everyone wanted this.
So, I'm genuinely asking ... was that better? Or, does NASCAR need to get back in the workshop?
Personally, I'd like to see some sort of middle ground. I know I'm probably in the minority, but I don't care. I'm not saying we need the old format, but I'd like to see some tweaks.
Here's my issue ...
Why would anyone have tuned into that race yesterday? Why? NASCAR had a CHAMPIONSHIP race, and I can't think of a reason for anyone to have flipped over from NFL to watch it. Not one.
There was no drama. There were no stakes. The winner was decided before the green even dropped, and it became official 50 laps later. This would be like the NFL spotting a team a 35-0 lead going into the Super Bowl.
Why would folks watch?
"But Zach, this is how they did it back in the good old days, and it worked!"
Correct. It did work ... in 1996. But a lot has changed in 30 years. A LOT has changed.
The media landscape has changed. NASCAR's popularity has changed. The personalities within the sport have changed. The car has changed.
We, the consumer, have changed. We're the biggest change, if I'm being honest. Us. Humans.
Thirty years ago, there were four channels, and NASCAR was always on the big one on Sundays. There were one or two football games to watch every Sunday. There was no RedZone. There was no NFL Ticket. There was no fantasy football or legal sports gambling.
There was Dale Earnhardt, Jeff Gordon and NASCAR. So, yes, folks were going to watch no matter what. That's not the case anymore.
You HAVE to give folks a reason to watch, especially when you're going up against the NFL. That's a battle NASCAR won 30 years ago. Nobody is winning that battle in 2026.
You've got to give folks a reason to turn the channel to your championship race. You at least have to give them a reason to watch your version of the playoffs.
There was no reason yesterday — and it was good race! The final few laps were excellent. Homestead delivered.
The hardcore NASCAR fan watched, of course. Duh. But the casual sports fan who follows NASCAR but also has a five-player parlay going in the 1 p.m. slate of NFL games?
He ain't turning the channel. That's what NASCAR has to figure out this offseason.
And by "NASCAR," I mean Steve O'Donnell. He spoke to the media over the weekend to A) wrap up the season, and B) look ahead to next year.
He spoke for a while. He answered a lot of questions. I bought some of it. I didn't buy all of it.
Here's a quick snapshot:
Obviously, Steve spoke for a while. We don't have time to dive into everything today because we're running short on time, but those are three things that really stood out to me.
I still maintain that NASCAR's TV audience is in big trouble. That's just my opinion. The numbers back that up. Last week's race at Martinsville (1.9 million) was the lowest-rated Cup race on broadcast TV ... ever.
Ever.
That's a problem. I know NASCAR has said that Nielsen's way of reporting numbers has changed, and I get that. There is some truth to it.
But the number is still the number, and the number was not good.
O'Donnell did say they're going to "look" into going up against the NFL in the fall. Not sure what that means, but that's a great starting point.
As for the car ... I'm not sure O'Donnell did himself any favors with fans by saying the short-track product was "at its highest level possibly from positivity from our fans." That's just simply not true. I know NASCAR fans are generally negative people, but he's getting obliterated online over that one.
That's a tough sell, especially coming off Martinsville.
The big positive for NASCAR heading into the offseason? Track attendance was up 5% in total this year, and 12% amongst kids (12 and under). Social media impressions, according to O'Donnell, were up 34%.
Those are good signs. Those are important metrics, and good ones to have in the green.
See? It's not all bad! I promise.
OK, I want to hear from you now. I know — I'll probably regret it, but I'm nothing if not a man of the people.
What do YOU want to see addressed over these next three months? Let me know! Zach.Dean@OutKick.com.
Congrats to Kyle Larson on another title. Congrats to NASCAR on navigating what was, easily, the toughest season since 2001. It was no small feat.
The shortest offseason in all of sports has begun, folks. We've got 104 days until Daytona.
Take us into winter, Sophie Cunningham!
Russell Brand sentenced after rape, sexual assault convictions in UK
Russell Brand has been sentenced to 10 years and six months in prison for rape and sexual assault.
During sentencing on Monday, Judge Mr. Justice Joel Bennathan said Brand had demonstrated a "casual and arrogant disregard" for women’s right to refuse his sexual advances.
"About 20 years ago, Russell Brand, you were becoming famous," Bennathan said. "You were clever — and in many people’s eyes, funny and charismatic. You had also become a sexual predator."
The judge described one of Brand’s sexual assaults as "outrageous and possibly laddish, but also a criminal offense," adding that Brand’s behavior reflected his belief that "fame meant you could act how you liked, when you liked, unhindered by the rules by which decent people live."
RUSSELL BRAND FOUND GUILTY OF ONE COUNT OF RAPE AND THREE COUNTS OF SEXUAL ASSAULT
Bennathan also said Brand’s conduct showed a "casual arrogant disregard of anyone’s right to say no," and emphasized that women retain the right to refuse sexual contact "wherever they go, indeed whatever they drink."
The judge said the victims suffered "profound and lasting" consequences, including trauma, humiliation, addiction and difficulty trusting others. He also praised the women for their "determination and bravery" after they endured Brand's assertions that they had lied about the encounters or consented to them.
Bennathan said he considered Brand’s lack of significant prior convictions, the 17 years that had passed since the offenses and his work helping people struggling with addiction. However, he said good character and exemplary conduct should not normally be given significant weight in cases involving serious sexual offenses.
Last week, Brand was found guilty of one count of rape and three counts of sexual assault in the U.K. He denied the charges and was acquitted of two additional rape charges and one count of attempted indecent assault.
He was immediately taken into custody following the verdict, according to the BBC.
Brand, 51, was accused of three counts of rape, three counts of sexual assault and one count of attempted indecent assault involving six women between 1999 and 2009.
One woman he was convicted of sexually assaulting gave an impact statement during Monday's proceedings, while three others submitted written statements to the prosecutor.
"For many years as his star was rising it was impossible to escape seeing him all over the media, being celebrated for his disgusting behavior against women like it was all a joke," she said. "There were many times I felt visibly sick at the sight of him parading around thinking he can get away with anything."
The woman spoke out of view of the courtroom to preserve her identity.
Prosecutor Riel Karmy-Jones read statements by the other three women. Brand was convicted of sexually assaulting the first woman at a London radio station in 2005.
"Since the sexual assault ... Russell Brand has managed to move on and even forget," she wrote. "Over the years, hearing his voice on television, on social media or seeing his image made me jump."
According to Sky News, Brand acknowledged that he had been "reckless" and used his fame to pursue sexual relationships, but insisted that the encounters were consensual. He also told the jury that consent was "fundamental, essential and necessary."
Brand has denied forcing any of the women to engage in sexual activity against their will.
LIKE WHAT YOU'RE READING? CLICK HERE FOR MORE ENTERTAINMENT NEWS
Prosecutors alleged that Brand committed the offenses against six women over a 10-year period. The women testified in court about alleged encounters at a hotel, a bar, a radio station, a workplace and Brand’s home.
According to a Metropolitan Police press release, detectives began investigating Brand after allegations were made public by U.K. media outlets Channel 4 and The Sunday Times in September 2023.
GET ENTERTAINMENT SCOOP DELIVERED RIGHT TO YOUR EMAIL BY CLICKING HERE
The outlets launched a joint investigation into the allegations, resulting in a lengthy article on the Times' website, as well as an episode of Channel 4's documentary series, "Dispatches," called "Russell Brand: In Plain Sight." Both contained a number of anonymous complaints, with women accusing Brand of physical and emotional abuse and bullying, as well as some instances of sexual assault.
PUT YOUR ENTERTAINMENT KNOWLEDGE TO THE TEST AND SEE HOW YOU SCORE
Police video released Thursday, Nov. 5 and obtained by Fox News Digital shows Brand defending his sexual history during questioning by London's Metropolitan Police.
During a December 2023 interview, Brand sat alongside his attorney and read a lengthy prepared statement to detectives, insisting that his past sexual encounters were consensual.
"As I’ve repeatedly stated publicly … I led a very promiscuous life in the past, which I’ve spent years openly denouncing. I’ve never engaged in nonconsensual sexual activity," Brand said.
Brand also criticized a September 2023 media investigation that brought allegations against him into the public spotlight.
He described the reporting as "defamatory and fictitious," suggesting that consensual encounters had been "invented or reimagined" as sexual misconduct.
WATCH: RUSSELL BRAND POLICE INTERVIEW FOOTAGE RELEASED AFTER RAPE CONVICTION
In a video posted to X last year, Brand thanked his fans for messages of support, then criticized the British government and legal system before addressing the charges directly.
He said that he "was a fool before I lived in the light of the Lord. I was a drug addict, a sex addict and an imbecile, but what I never was was a rapist. I've never engaged in nonconsensual activity. I pray that you can see that by looking in my eyes."
Brand added, "Of course, I'm now going to have the opportunity to defend these charges in court, and I'm incredibly grateful for that."
Fox News Digital's Janelle Ash and Stephanie Giang-Paunon contributed to this report.
Trump-aligned Mississippi auditor launches governor bid, vows to dismantle 'good ol' boys' club'
FIRST ON FOX: Mississippi State Auditor Shad White, who says his office uncovered more than $75 million in stolen or misspent taxpayer funds over eight years, told Fox News Digital that he is launching a bid for governor to take on corruption and political insiders in the Magnolia State.
White, a veteran of Operation Epic Fury in Iran and supporter of President Donald Trump, pledged to restore accountability and transparency to the state government, vowing to use findings from his office's audits to eliminate wasteful contracts, sweetheart deals and unnecessary spending.
"There might be two parties in Jackson, but there's only one good ol' boys' club," White, a captain in the state's National Guard, told Fox News Digital. "They tried to ban my office from even looking for government waste. As governor, I'm shutting the whole rotten system down."
"The reason I'm running is because we absolutely have to cut down on the fraud and corruption plaguing Mississippi," White continued. "People are hurting right now. What we unfortunately have here in Mississippi is a lack of political courage."
White, who served overseas with the Mississippi National Guard in 2026, drew comparisons between the courage he witnessed among service members and what he described as a lack of political courage among Mississippi's elected officials.
"What I saw overseas was courage. The people of Mississippi would be much better off if our politicians had one-tenth of the courage the members I served with overseas had," White said.
Earlier this year, White's office reported to The Daily Signal that it uncovered more than $10.5 million in Medicaid benefits provided to illegal immigrants in Mississippi.
According to his office, the auditor has uncovered and tracked massive public fraud, centering on over $77 million in misspent Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) welfare funds as part of a broader enforcement record that includes $75 million recovered and $115 million in financial demands issued across multiple investigations.
RAMASWAMY: MEDICAID FRAUD RAISES HEALTHCARE COSTS FOR HARDWORKING OHIOANS
White pledged to continue cracking down on government waste and improper spending, and he outlined an economic agenda centered on reducing taxes and easing the financial burden on Mississippi families.
'FIRE EVERY COMMISSIONER': MINNESOTA GOP NOMINEE VOWS SWEEPING PURGE OVER FRAUD
"Mississippi families are getting squeezed at the grocery store, for their car tags, and every time the property tax bill shows up," White said. "Meanwhile, the insiders are getting richer and richer. We're going to take the money they've wasted and give it back to the people who earned it. We will cut your grocery tax, cut the car tax, and freeze your property taxes. Our families need relief, and when I'm governor, they're going to get it."
White enters a gubernatorial field that includes Attorney General Lynn Fitch, Agriculture and Commerce Commissioner Andy Gipson, former state House Speaker Philip Gunn and former Democratic Senate primary candidate Priscilla W. Till.
The candidates are seeking to succeed Republican Gov. Tate Reeves, who took office in 2020 and is barred by term limits from seeking a third consecutive term in 2027.
White also pledged to prioritize the state's military families and veterans, citing his own experience serving overseas.
"I know what veterans go through about how hard it is to leave your family, how difficult it is to fight for the benefits that you have been promised by the government. So as governor of Mississippi, I want to fight for the men and women every single day," White told Fox News Digital.
White argued that his military experience would also give him a unique perspective as commander in chief of the Mississippi National Guard, a responsibility held by the state's governor.
The Mississippi gubernatorial election is scheduled for November 2027.