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Forget corruption: From Graham Platner to Ken Paxton, both parties embrace the politics of hypocrisy
Imagine, for a moment, that Graham Platner was a Republican.
The Democrats would be going nuclear, declaring him a horrible human being.
He’s utterly unfit for office, they would shout, sexting other women while he was married.
How could he represent Maine in the Senate, they would say, when he was sporting a Nazi tattoo?
WATCH: MAINE VOTERS DIVIDED ON PLATNER AS SCANDALS SHADOW DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY
Look at the New York Times, which found three women who say he physically manhandled them and made them extremely uncomfortable.
How could the Republicans even dream that he could win an election?
But of course, Platner is a Democrat – a very liberal Democrat – so it’s okay. They are glossing over all the garbage that’s come out and playing up his military record.
Sheer, unadulterated hypocrisy.
NYT PANEL DEBATES WHETHER GRAHAM PLATNER IS A ‘DIRTBAG’ OR DEMOCRATS’ ANSWER TO TRUMP-ERA POLITICS
Now in fairness, a few Democrats have raised questions about Platner’s checkered past and expressed doubts about his candidacy.
But what was he thinking, running for office with an oyster boat full of baggage? (He doesn’t really make any money from oysters but it fits his salt-of-the-earth image.)
This race is getting huge national attention because the Dems need to flip a state like Maine if they’re going to have a serious shot at taking control of the Senate.
It was a huge miscalculation for Platner to think he could run for the Senate and just wall off part of his life, other than to say he drank heavily, battled depression and PTSD after combat duty, but has put that part of his life behind him.
Platner, 41, joined the Marines after high school and did three combat tours in Iraq and one in Afghanistan.
Platner does have a natural charisma that has drawn potential voters to his side. And all most Democrats care about at this point is whether he can oust veteran Republican senator Susan Collins.
I blame the press for showing up too late. Journalists loved covering a rough-edged character far more interesting than the standard-issue suit-and-tie lawyer who looks like he was conjured up in a consultant’s office.
By the time the scandals erupted, tomorrow’s Maine primary was practically upon us.
Remember, Maine’s low-key, 78-year-old governor, Janet Mills, was supposed to be the nominee. But she suspended her campaign after falling way behind, though her name remains on the ballot.
Platner appears not to be telling the truth about the Nazi tattoo. One of the ex-girlfriends who spoke to the Times, Lyndsey Fifeld, said he told her this was "my Totenkopf," a German word for death’s head.
Platner has dismissed her account because she has worked with conservative groups and GOP campaigns, which Fifeld says is irrelevant.
While Platner never hit her, according to Fifeld’s account, he "regularly grabbed her by the shoulders — sometimes hard enough to leave marks — and, on one occasion, yanked her out of a cab by her wrist after an argument when she wanted to stay in the car." In another incident, she says, "he twisted her arm behind her back, shoved her into a bedroom and held the door closed from the other side so she couldn’t get out, telling her to remain there until she was ‘calm.’" – and fell asleep. "It hurt," she said.
What’s more, Fifeld says, Platner would fantasize about killing people he deemed a threat, and told her he would rape them because rape is about power. In a 2016 diary entry, Fifeld called Platner "the most toxic, literally abusive man on earth who destroyed my life."
Another former girlfriend, Jenny Racicot, said Platner "does not respect women" and that his behavior was "reckless" and "unsettling," adding that he once showed up drunk after she told him not to come over. (Some other exes said they had a good relationship.)
Such liberal lawmakers as Elizabeth Warren and Ro Khanna have campaigned with Platner, although Khanna called his past behavior "misogynistic" and said he should apologize to the women.
In an interview with MSNOW’s Chris Hayes, Platner said "anything alleging physicality, anything alleging that I knew what my tattoo was, these are the statements of someone who’s politically motivated."
Platner is constantly dropping F-bombs in public. Maybe Maine voters will decide they don’t care about past misconduct and will focus on Platner’s populist agenda, including higher wages and better health care. But clearly, his liberal allies would sing a much different tune if he was a Republican.
Now neither party has a monopoly on selective outrage. Republicans got nervous after Ken Paxton won the Senate nomination in Texas, with President Trump’s endorsement, defeating incumbent senator John Cornyn.
To say that the state attorney general, who will face Democrat James Talarico, has a scandal-scarred history is a wild understatement.
Paxton was impeached by the Texas House, although the Senate did not convict him, after top aides reported him to the FBI for abusing his office to aid an Austin donor and real estate developer. But DOJ dropped the probe.
He reached a settlement over federal charges of health care fraud. And his soon-to-be ex-wife has accused him of adultery.
But hey, winning is the name of the game. The Texas GOP deleted posts about Paxton’s "lies" as soon as he became the nominee.
A few prominent Republicans have abandoned Paxton, such as former Fort Worth mayor Betsy Price, who called him "corrupt and immoral."
But in the reddest of red states, which hasn’t elected a statewide Democrat in 40 years, the alternative is unthinkable.
The National Republican Campaign Committee didn’t even mention Paxton on the night of the primary, focusing on attacking Talarico instead.
KEN PAXTON DEFEATS JOHN CORNYN IN TEXAS GOP SENATE RUNOFF, AP PROJECTS
Senate Majority Leader John Thune, who backed Cornyn, said in a radio interview that "obviously we are making the pivot." Paxton is "all-in, ready to go for the fall election, already on the phone raising money and all the things you’re going to have to do to be successful…Losing is not an option when it comes to the state of Texas."
Now flip the script. If Paxton was a Democrat, these same Texas Republicans would be screaming about how bribery, fraud, impeachment and adultery renders him totally unqualified for the Senate.
They would be wringing their hands about what an embarrassment he would be to the Lone Star State.
That’s utter hypocrisy as well. They don’t want to lose the seat. Period.
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Some Republicans may hold their nose and support Paxton, but many others could just stay home.
Maybe the old standards have melted away. After all, Donald Trump survived about a thousand scandals and still managed to win a second term.
The final takeaway: Politicians will tolerate just about anything in their own battered candidate while expressing sheer disgust at the opposing candidate, if that’s what it takes to win. And that’s yet another reason why Americans hate politics.
US adversaries China, North Korea strengthening ties as Xi, Kim set to begin talks
A pair of U.S. adversaries — China and North Korea — appear to be strengthening relations, with Chinese President Xi Jinping's arrival in Pyongyang on Monday for a rare state visit.
This is Xi's first trip to North Korea in seven years, and experts say the visit is likely aimed at reasserting China’s unique influence over North Korea in exchange for providing economic and political benefits.
Xi is scheduled to meet North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in what will be their first summit since September, when they met in Beijing after viewing a military parade alongside Russian President Vladimir Putin and other foreign leaders.
No specific agenda has been mentioned, but foreign experts predict the meeting to have a significant impact on bilateral ties and more, as both sides seek to fully restore their traditional alliance amid separate disputes with the U.S. government.
Xi’s trip comes after his back-to-back summits with U.S. President Donald Trump and Putin in Beijing last month. Xi plans to meet Trump again for a U.S. visit in September.
China has, for years, been North Korea's economic lifeline and primary diplomatic backer. China has refrained from fully enforcing U.N. sanctions on North Korea and sent clandestine aid to support its impoverished neighbor.
This year marks 65 years since the two nations signed a mutual defense treaty.
Despite this, there have been questions about their ties in recent years, as North Korea has prioritized cooperation with Russia by supplying troops and weapons to support its war against Ukraine and received economic and military assistance from Moscow in return.
Experts warn that restoring China's exclusive influence over North Korea would give Xi leverage with Trump, who has repeatedly expressed his wish to restart diplomacy with Kim.
Analysts said Xi would likely offer Kim economic aid packages such as shipments of rice and fertilizers, a resumption of Chinese group tourism to North Korea and joint economic projects.
Xi may also avoid the issue of denuclearization of North Korea, which wants to achieve international recognition as a nuclear weapons state, as a way to call for lifting of U.N. sanctions on North Korea, according to experts.
After last month’s summit between Trump and Xi, the U.S. government said the two leaders affirmed their shared goal to denuclearize North Korea.
But China only said the leaders spoke about the nuclear issue on the Korean Peninsula. Kim’s sister and senior official Kim Yo Jong dismissed the readout of the meeting as "false information."
Last week, Kim unveiled a new plant to produce nuclear ingredients and pledged to bolster the country’s nuclear forces "at an exponential rate." He also said he is seeking to speed up efforts to build a nuclear-armed navy.
On Sunday, Kim Yo Jong described a U.S. plan for the denuclearization of North Korea as an "escapist and anachronistic dream."
Kim Jong Un has dismissed U.S. and South Korean offers for talks as he focuses on enlarging and modernizing his nuclear arsenal. The North Korean leader in September urged the U.S. to withdraw its demand for North Korea to denuclearize as a precondition for resuming diplomacy.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Karmelo Anthony trial consumed by race and self-defense, but hidden hurdle could be key: expert
As testimony in the Karmelo Anthony murder trial resumes Monday, one Texas attorney says the case could ultimately turn less on the fatal confrontation itself and more on how jurors interpret questions of self-defense, race, any prior interactions between the teens and even the unique culture of high school track meets.
Anthony, who is accused of fatally stabbing fellow student Austin Metcalf during a confrontation at a Texas track meet last year, has pleaded not guilty and is arguing he acted in self-defense. The closely watched trial began last week amid intense public scrutiny and debate surrounding the case.
Prosecutors rested their case on Saturday after calling 21 witnesses. Anthony's defense moved for a directed verdict, but the judge denied the motion. His team called three witnesses Saturday, with testimony resuming Monday.
Larry Taylor, a former Texas prosecutor and longtime criminal defense attorney, told Fox News Digital that jurors will be tasked with evaluating far more than the physical evidence.
WITNESSES IN KARMELO ANTHONY MURDER TRIAL CONFIRM AUSTIN METCALF'S WORDS IMMEDIATELY AFTER ATTACK
"When it comes down to an issue like this, I'm pretty sure the guys are looking at, OK, what was the situation? Was he really in danger? Was he really fearful? Why did he have a knife? Why didn't he just get up and leave?" Taylor said.
Taylor noted that Texas self-defense laws could become a critical factor at trial.
"Did Karmelo really have a duty or obligation to retreat if he was being attacked?" he said. "It's happening in Texas. Are we not a stand-your-ground state?"
The attorney also suggested race could become an unavoidable topic throughout the proceedings, particularly given the intense public debate surrounding the case.
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"We would be fooling ourselves if we said that certain areas of our state or certain cities were not more prone to be reactive ... especially when you have the polarization of black and white," Taylor said.
Taylor further predicted that jury selection — which included no Black jurors — could face scrutiny if the defense believes Black jurors were improperly excluded from the panel, potentially setting up future appellate challenges.
AMERICA STILL CAN'T PUT DOWN THE RACE CARD. AND IT'S THE SHAME OF OUR NATION
Beyond the legal arguments, Taylor said jurors may need to be educated on something far more basic: how high school track meets actually work.
A longtime track coach who said he competed in the sport in college, Taylor pushed back on suggestions that athletes from rival schools would not know one another or interact regularly.
"I've been coaching track for 30 years. I ran track in college and it is extremely common for people to develop relationships with people from other schools that they compete against," he said.
According to Taylor, understanding those dynamics could become important if attorneys seek to establish whether Anthony and the Metcalf brothers had prior interactions before the fatal encounter. Taylor said track meets often last for hours, with athletes from different schools spending significant time around one another throughout the day.
SURVEILLANCE VIDEO SHOWS FATAL STABBING OF AUSTIN METCALF AT TEXAS TRACK MEET, OFFICIALS SAY
"I think probably four or five, if not more, of the jurors have no idea what happens at a track meet," Taylor said.
Taylor also pushed back on claims that athletes from competing schools would have had little reason to know one another, arguing that friendships and familiarity across teams are commonplace.
He further suggested that any potential prior interactions between Anthony and the Metcalf brothers could become relevant if introduced at trial.
Another question likely to be scrutinized by jurors is why Anthony allegedly had a knife at the track meet. Taylor said that issue cannot simply be assumed away and will require explanation from the defense.
"That is going to have to be explained for this jury," he said.
Taylor noted that athletes sometimes carry small knives or tools to cut athletic tape, work on equipment or manage track spikes, though he stressed that Anthony's specific reason for possessing the knife would need to be established through testimony and evidence.
The attorney also pushed back on criticism surrounding fundraising efforts for Anthony's legal defense, including a fund that has raised more than $624,000 for his defense. While the defendant's supporters have raised significant sums through online fundraising platforms, Taylor argued that mounting a vigorous defense in a serious felony case requires substantial resources.
"He is fighting literally for his life," Taylor said, noting that expert witnesses, investigators and trial preparation can quickly become costly.
As both sides prepare for another week of testimony, Taylor believes the case remains difficult to predict.
"It's a box of chocolates," he said. "You are absolutely not sure what you're going to get."
Sharon Stone says 'Euphoria' should be shown in 'every high school' and required viewing for parents
Sharon Stone said that HBO's controversial show "Euphoria" should be shown in America’s high schools and that parents "should have to see it."
During a conversation with Keke Palmer for Variety's "Actors on Actors" series, the 68-year-old actress, who joined the cast of "Euphoria" for its recently concluded third and final season, heaped praise on the show, which has drawn criticism for its graphic depictions of sex, drug use and violence.
"I think it’s the greatest show on television," the "Basic Instinct" star said.
"Euphoria," which premiered in 2019, centered on a group of high school students confronting the challenges of adolescence, but by the third season, the story jumped forward several years and follows them as young adults.
SYDNEY SWEENEY WRANGLES PYTHON NEARLY NUDE IN 'EUPHORIA' AS FANS BLAST 'SNOOZE FEST' SEASON
Stone noted the "Euphoria's" audience has watched the characters grow up and confront the increasingly serious consequences of their actions. She explained that she related to the show's portrayals of addiction and drug culture due to her own family experience.
"We’ve met these kids," Stone said. "We’ve seen them turn into young adults. We’ve seen them turn into full-on drug dealers. And I’ve gone through it in my family."
Stone recalled her brother Michael Stone's involvement with the drug trade, which led to his incarceration at the maximum security prison Attica Correctional Facility in New York.
CARA DELEVINGNE ADMITS SHE USED PARTY DRUG GHB DAILY BEFORE TERRIFYING SEIZURES FORCED HER SOBER
The Oscar nominee shared that she cried after watching the first episode of "Euphoria," saying that she believes it is an honest reflection of real issues that high school students face.
"'Euphoria' is so relevant," she said. "I believe it should be shown in every high school, and I think all the parents should have to see it. As a mom, I love it."
"Well, what I love is it gives you the opportunity to have conversations," Palmer, 32, said. "I think sometimes people stop at the surface of 'No, it's too much sex. It's too much sex, it's too much sex.' That's the point."
SYDNEY SWEENEY WALKS 'DELICATE LINE' AS 'EUPHORIA' SEX SCENES OVERSHADOW HER TALENT: EXPERT
As a mother of three, Stone said the show shines a light on issues many parents would rather not acknowledge.
"'My kid wouldn’t do that.' It’s like, really? Do you know? And does your kid tell you who is like that that's next to them?" she asked. "Because it's who's next to you too that matters."
Though Stone argued that "Euphoria" should be viewed by students and parents alike, the show's creator Sam Levinson and stars have repeatedly cautioned that the series, which is rated TV-MA, should not be watched by younger audiences due to explicit themes and graphic content.
SYDNEY SWEENEY FANS BEG 'EUPHORIA' TO END THE 'HUMILIATION RITUAL' AFTER SHOCKING NEW CASSIE SCENE
When the first season aired in 2019, Levinson, 41, and Zendaya, 29, who starred as a Rue Bennett, disputed that the show was intended to be viewed by younger teens.
"I hope it creates a certain dialogue between parents and their kids," Levinson told IndieWire. "I don’t think this is a show for people under 17, but…"
"But if your parent wants to have a conversation about it, that’s good," Zendaya added.
SYDNEY SWEENEY SAYS SHE'S 'USED TO' BEING SEXUALIZED SINCE HER BREAKOUT 'EUPHORIA' ROLE
"Or if you’re going to watch it anyway, and you have a feeling your kid is going to watch it anyway, then it might be good to have a conversation with them," Levinson said.
During a 2019 interview with The Guardian, Zendaya also addressed concerns around younger audiences watching the show.
"I think the important thing to acknowledge is the show is about teenagers and not necessary for teenagers, which I think people can misinterpret," she said.
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"It’s very important to us that the only teenagers watching it are 18 and older, with parental guidance if you’re any younger than that," Zendaya added. "That’s important to all of us, because this show is hard to watch sometimes."
However, Zendaya told the outlet that the content depicted in "Euphoria" was "not really" shocking to her.
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""I think it’s only shocking if it’s not your experience," she said. "Just because it didn’t happen to you doesn’t mean it’s not happening every day, all the time, it’s just certain people will be able to understand it a little bit more than others. Someone’s going to connect to it and whoever needs to see it, will see it."
Ahead of the second season premiere, Zendaya, who won two Emmy Awards for her performance as Rue, took to social media to reiterate that "Euphoria" is for "mature audiences."
"This season, maybe even more so than the last, is deeply emotional and deals with subject matter that can be triggering and difficult to watch," she told her fans in an Instagram post.
"Please only watch it if you feel comfortable," she said. "Take care of yourself and know that either way you are still loved and I can still feel your support."
Ketel Marte frustrating Diamondbacks by opting to take days off with trade deadline looming: report
Arizona Diamondbacks All-Star second baseman Ketel Marte has reportedly been frustrating people within the organization with the MLB trade deadline looming.
Marte, a switch-hitter with power from both sides of the plate, is someone Arizona has tried to trade this past winter despite his talent and six-year extension that kicked in this season.
But USA TODAY reported Marte "continues to frustrate segments of the organization by opting to take days off." Most recently, Marte decided to sit for last week’s game against the Los Angeles Dodgers, where superstar Shohei Ohtani was pitching, and he then proceeded to hit a walk-off home run the next day for the D-Backs.
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The reason for Marte missing the game last Wednesday was a mixture of his decision as well as the second baseman dealing with lower-back and hamstring ailments, per Arizona Sports. Marte didn’t want to risk any further injury.
"We’re all human, and we all need a day here and there," Marte said through a translator following the walk-off homer he hit on Thursday’s game.
This also isn’t new for Marte, who created some tension in the clubhouse due to absences and off-day requests near the All-Star break. It was reported that Marte’s teammates didn’t appreciate trying to time his off-days, leading to an apology later on.
With Marte being involved in trade rumors in the past, they will certainly pick up with MLB’s trade deadline scheduled for Aug. 3 this year. It’s later than usual, but with teams dealing with injuries as well as trying to bolster their lineups, rotations and bullpens, players with Marte’s talent will surely lead to calls to those in the Arizona front office.
Marte should be sold at a high price, if at all, given he is under contract through the 2030 campaign at a relatively low price after signing his six-year, $116.5 million contract. He also has a player option for the 2031 season, where he will be age 37.
While second base is his usual spot on the field, Marte has played shortstop as well as center field in his 12-year career. The Dominican Republic product has earned three All-Star nods, including each of the past two seasons.
This year, Marte is slashing .250/.304/.450 with a .754 OPS — the lowest mark since his 2022 campaign in Arizona (.727). He has hit 11 homers, driven in 37 runs and scored 37 times across 60 games.
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Raman overtakes Spencer Pratt in razor-thin race, AP count shows, but race remains uncalled
Los Angeles City Council member Nithya Raman has overtaken reality television star Spencer Pratt in the latest Associated Press vote count, although the outlet has not called the race.
Pratt, a Republican, had led earlier in the day, but the latest tally now shows Raman, a Democrat, ahead by more than 3,000 votes, or about 0.4 percentage points, in the officially nonpartisan mayoral race.
Incumbent Mayor Karen Bass, a Democrat, has already advanced to a runoff as she seeks a second term. She is now waiting for the candidate she will face in the runoff, as AP has not yet called a second candidate to advance.
CALIFORNIA’S SLUGGISH VOTE COUNTING RIPPED ACROSS THE POLITICAL SPECTRUM: 'EXTREMELY EMBARRASSING'
In Los Angeles’ nonpartisan mayoral election, if no candidate wins a majority in the primary, the top two vote-getters advance to the November runoff.
Los Angeles County continues to count ballots postmarked on or before Election Day and received by June 9, drawing the attention of the Republican National Committee. County officials must complete final official results by July 2, and the secretary of state will certify results by July 10.
California’s vote count often extends beyond Election Day because every active registered voter receives a mail ballot, ballots postmarked by Election Day may arrive up to seven days later, and election workers must verify signatures and process late-arriving ballots.
WATCH: LEFT-WING LA MAYOR FACES REALITY TV CHALLENGER’S BLUNT TAKEDOWNS IN HEATED MAYORAL DEBATE
"The California primary ended on June 2, 2026; yet California is still counting ballots," the RNC website tracker counting the seconds since polls closed reads.
"The state’s election system is a complete joke. The RNC is tracking every hour it takes California to finish the count," it added.
Pratt and other Republicans have decried the ongoing ballot count in the race. Election officials and voting experts have said California’s extended count is largely driven by state mail ballot rules, signature verification and the processing of late-arriving ballots.
"The question to the rest of the world is what happened to California elections? Well, I'll tell you, it's Gavin Newsom," McCarthy told Fox News' "Sunday Morning Futures." "When Gavin Newsom was elected governor of California, you knew who was elected in a day to two days. Now it takes more than weeks, almost a month."
"Why did we get here?" McCarthy continued. "Gavin changed a number of election laws in which you want to see is what did he do and why did he cause it?"
Fox News' Eric Mack contributed to this report.
Mamdani shrugs off Democratic Party concerns over his 'Abolish ICE' push
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani encouraged his fellow Democrats to embrace rather than dismiss the "Abolish ICE" message like he had during an interview on Saturday.
Mamdani brought up his perspective on Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) while being asked on MS NOW's "The Weekend" about his thoughts on the ongoing protests outside the ICE facility known as Delaney Hall in Newark, New Jersey.
He remarked that the conditions inside Delaney Hall helped fuel his continued desire to abolish the agency.
MAMDANI TELLS ‘THE VIEW’ HE FAVORS ABOLISHING ICE
"This is partially why I have put forward a vision alongside so many others to say that ICE should be abolished, that there is no way to reform this kind of cruelty that we’re seeing endemic in the way that immigration is being enforced across the country," Mamdani said.
He continued, "When it comes to our city, we are proud of our sanctuary city policies. We are proud of the policies we’ve put forward and also the executive orders we’ve put forward to ensure that every single agency is complying with those policies."
"What do you say to people who say language, and the Democrats in D.C. who say language like 'Abolish ICE' are unhelpful for the political health of the Democratic Party?" MS NOW host Eugene Daniels asked.
HOMAN SAYS NYC MAYOR MAMDANI 'MADE IT CLEAR HE'S NOT GOING TO WORK WITH ICE' ON IMMIGRATION
"I think we’ve listened to them before, and look where we are," Mamdani said. "I think it’s time to develop a new vision for this party, one that is unflinching in its beliefs and also uncompromising in its principles."
Daniels followed by asking how left-wing Democrats like Mamdani can reach out to people beyond their party. Mamdani responded that he would do so "by delivering."
"There’s a lot of talk about the debate and what we have an opportunity to do here in New York City is to deliver on that vision. You know, two people can argue all they want, but when you show somebody the ability to deliver free child care for 200 two-year-olds this year, 12,000 two-year-olds next year, every two-year-old by the end of four years. It showcases what we’re fighting for and why we believe so deeply in it," Mamdani said.
DEMOCRATS WORRY 'ABOLISH ICE' SLOGAN WILL BACKFIRE POLITICALLY LIKE 'DEFUND THE POLICE' DID
Fox News Digital reached out to ICE for comment.
Mamdani has been a vocal critic of ICE enforcement within his city, pushing back against the Trump administration's immigration efforts throughout the country.
"We're making clear that no one is above the law in this city, that everyone has to follow the rule of law," Mamdani said in March. "I have made clear to the president, both in our private conversations and our public conversations, about the fact that I believe that ICE is a rogue agency."
In February, Mamdani issued an executive order preventing local law enforcement from working with ICE officers regarding immigration enforcement without a judicial warrant.
Video captures fireworks exploding from burning trailer that shut down Interstate 75
A trailer loaded with fireworks erupted in flames along a Tennessee interstate Saturday night, sending pyrotechnics shooting across the roadway and forcing authorities to temporarily shut down traffic as emergency crews responded.
Video shared by the Chattanooga Fire Department shows fireworks launching into the air and exploding in multiple directions as flames engulfed the trailer on Interstate 75 northbound near the Ooltewah exit.
"Chattanooga Fire, Tri-Comm, and law enforcement enforcement responded to a vehicle fire on I-75NB past the Ooltewah exit Saturday night," the department said in a Facebook post. "It involved fireworks that were going off in different directions, endangering drivers."
Despite the chaotic scene, no injuries were reported.
Tri-Community Volunteer Fire Department said the trailer was loaded with fireworks and that all of them became involved in the blaze, triggering explosions throughout the incident.
As a precaution, authorities temporarily shut down both northbound and southbound lanes of Interstate 75 while firefighters worked to extinguish the fire. Tri-Community said emergency vehicles traveled northbound in the southbound lanes and used the route to shuttle water to crews battling the flames.
TRUCK CARRYING 44,000 POUNDS OF CHICKPEAS CATCHES FIRE IN DEATH VALLEY
A Chattanooga Fire Department spokesperson told Fox News Digital the incident occurred outside the city limits and that Tri-Community Volunteer Fire Department served as the lead agency, while Chattanooga crews responded under a mutual aid agreement to assist at the scene.
The spokesperson said the southbound side of the interstate reopened relatively quickly, while northbound lanes remained closed as crews monitored hot spots and later cleared the burned trailer from the roadway.
Dramatic video from the scene shows fireworks rocketing into the night sky before exploding over the interstate as traffic sat stopped a safe distance from the blaze. Firefighters can also be seen deploying hoses while the trailer remained engulfed in flames.
Authorities have not released additional information about what caused the fire.
One photo provided to Fox News Digital shows the blaze involved a large enclosed trailer carrying the fireworks.
Federal lawsuit seeks to block UFC Freedom 250 from being held on the White House South Lawn
Two Virginia residents are trying to put UFC Freedom 250 in a rear-naked choke before fight night.
A federal lawsuit filed against the National Park Service and the Department of the Interior seeks an emergency injunction to stop the UFC event scheduled for the White House South Lawn.
According to the lawsuit, organizers ignored federal permitting rules, skipped environmental reviews and triggered conflict-of-interest concerns.
Because apparently even a UFC octagon on the White House lawn has to clear environmental hurdles.
UFC SAYS IT WON’T PROFIT FROM WHITE HOUSE EVENT THAT COULD COST 'UPWARDS OF $60M'
The event is being promoted as part of America's 250th birthday celebration and, yes, the plan is to stage a UFC card on the White House lawn. According to the lawsuit, the problems start with hosting the fights in front of the executive mansion.
The plaintiffs argue the White House South Lawn and nearby federal property are subject to strict rules that generally prohibit commercial structures and private sporting events without environmental review and congressional approval.
Organizers have reportedly relied on a special exemption tied to America's 250th anniversary celebrations.
The lawsuit argues UFC Freedom 250 is really a private, for-profit sporting event involving the UFC, broadcasters, sponsors and advertisers rather than a legitimate government-run celebration.
The complaint alleges the event could financially benefit President Trump and several of his associates, including UFC CEO Dana White and Paramount-Skydance CEO David Ellison.
It also points to Trump's reported purchase of up to $50,000 worth of stock in TKO Group Holdings, the publicly traded parent company of the UFC.
Court filings argue that the event has less to do with commemorating American independence and more with promoting the UFC brand and celebrating Trump's 80th birthday.
The White House has already pushed back on the lawsuit, calling it an attempt to derail a properly permitted celebration.
The UFC has not publicly commented.
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Multiple people stabbed near Penn Station, leaving one seriously injured as investigation continues
A suspect is in custody after multiple people were stabbed near New York City's Penn Station on Sunday evening, leaving one person seriously injured, officials said.
The FDNY told Fox News that emergency crews responded to West 33rd Street and Seventh Avenue at 7:02 p.m. after receiving reports that a person had stabbed multiple people.
According to FDNY, six civilians were injured, including one person who suffered serious injuries, two who sustained moderate injuries and three who suffered minor injuries.
Five patients were transported to Bellevue Hospital, including the seriously injured victim and two people with moderate injuries. A sixth patient with minor injuries was transported to NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center.
Amtrak Police, which is leading the investigation, said a suspect has been taken into custody.
"Earlier this afternoon, Amtrak Police responded to a reported stabbing at New York Penn Station," Amtrak said in a statement. "The suspect has been apprehended and an investigation is underway."
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The New York Police Department referred inquiries about the incident to Amtrak Police, which is leading the investigation.
The circumstances surrounding the stabbings were not immediately clear, and authorities have not released information about a possible suspect or motive.
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani said he has been briefed on the "horrific stabbing."
"My heart is with everyone who was injured, their loved ones, and all those shaken by this unacceptable violence. I’m wishing each of the victims a full and speedy recovery," he wrote on X.
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"I’m grateful to the Amtrak Police Department and the first responders who acted quickly to apprehend the suspect and provide emergency care," the mayor continued.
Mamdani said there are currently no impacts to Amtrak service and that his administration is in contact with Amtrak officials as they investigate the stabbing.
The incident occurred during a busy period for New York City's transportation network, with large crowds moving through Penn Station as the New York Knicks continue their NBA Finals run and visitors arrive in the city ahead of FIFA World Cup events scheduled in the region.
This is a developing story.