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Who is Turkey's Erdoğan? How NATO's most unpredictable leader keeps reinventing himself
As President Donald Trump heads to Ankara, Turkey, for the upcoming NATO summit, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan is again at the center of alliance politics.
Trump has praised Erdoğan as "a friend" and "a respected leader," underscoring a relationship that could shape defense talks between Washington and Turkey, including Turkey’s long-running effort to restore deeper military cooperation.
The moment highlights the remarkable position Erdoğan occupies today: Once regarded as one of NATO’s most troublesome allies after taking delivery of the Russian S-400 missile defense system in 2019, Turkey has become increasingly difficult for the alliance to sideline as the war in Ukraine drags on, instability grips the Middle East and the Black Sea grows more strategic.
For many, however, Erdoğan remains an enigma. Rather than being driven by a fixed worldview, experts argue, Erdoğan repeatedly has reinvented himself politically, adopting whichever ideology best serves his overriding objective: remaining in power.
Erdoğan has ruled Turkey for more than two decades, evolving from an Istanbul mayor with Islamist roots into a pro-European reformer, then a nationalist strongman, and now a pivotal NATO power broker courted by Trump.
To supporters, he restored Turkey's global stature. To critics, he hollowed out its democracy while jailing rivals, journalists and activists. But Erdoğan's most defining trait, experts say, may be less ideology than survival.
Is he an Islamist? A nationalist? A Western ally? A Russian partner? An authoritarian?
Perhaps the most important thing to understand about Erdoğan is that he has been all of those things — at different moments, according to Gönül Tol, founding director of the Middle East Institute's Turkey Program and author of "Erdoğan's War: A Strongman's Struggle at Home and in Syria."
"He's not an ideological man," Tol told Fox News Digital. "He's very pragmatic, first and foremost a populist."
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Erdoğan’s roots lie in Turkey’s Islamist political movement. Educated at an Imam Hatip religious school, he entered politics through National Outlook, a right-wing Islamist movement founded by Necmettin Erbakan, and eventually became mayor of Istanbul as a member of Erbakan’s Welfare Party.
But after founding the AKP, or Justice and Development Party, in 2001, Erdoğan abandoned the Islamist label, presenting himself instead as a "conservative democrat" committed to economic reform and closer ties with Europe — a shift that experts say marked the first of several political reinventions.
When Erdoğan and his Justice and Development Party first swept to power in 2002, Turkey was seeking membership in the European Union, military influence over politics was shrinking, and Erdoğan promised democratic reforms, economic modernization and closer ties with the West.
Many liberals and centrists initially supported him.
"He often said, 'I'm not an Islamist anymore. I'm a conservative democrat,'" Tol said. "And that brand really served him well."
Those early years transformed both Turkey's economy and Erdoğan's popularity.
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After consolidating power, Erdoğan began another political transformation.
Following the Arab Spring in 2011, he increasingly portrayed himself as a champion of political Islam, backing Islamist movements across the Middle East while presenting himself domestically as the defender of Turkey's conservative religious majority.
"He wanted to inject more Islam into public life, into education," Tol said. "He was using this more Islamist narrative ... the goal was always to acquire more power."
That anti-Western turn went beyond rhetoric.
In 2016, Erdoğan accused the U.S.-led coalition of supporting terrorist groups in Syria, including ISIS and Kurdish militias that Turkey considers terrorist organizations— an allegation the State Department dismissed as "ludicrous," according to Reuters.
His increasingly vocal support for Hamas and sharp criticism of Israel became defining features of his foreign policy.
"The perpetrators of the massacre and the destruction taking place in Gaza are those providing unlimited support for Israel," Erdoğan said in 2023, adding that Israel's attacks and those backing them amounted to "murder and mental illness," according to Reuters.
Tol cautions against viewing those positions alone as evidence that Erdoğan remains primarily motivated by Islamism.
"Anti-Israel sentiment cuts across ideological lines in Turkey," she said, arguing that Erdoğan's foreign policy has consistently reflected political calculation more than religious doctrine.
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As Turkey's economy slowed and regional ambitions faltered, Erdoğan pivoted once again.
He embraced Turkish nationalism, built alliances with hardline nationalist parties and cultivated the image of an indispensable strongman capable of restoring Turkey's historical influence.
Supporters credit him with transforming Turkey into a regional power.
"He does have genuine support," Tol said, estimating his support at roughly 35%.
Some supporters depend on government assistance and patronage networks built under his rule. Others believe Erdoğan restored dignity to conservative religious Turks who long felt marginalized by the country's secular establishment.
Still others view his increasingly assertive foreign policy as proof Turkey has reclaimed its place on the world stage.
"They think, 'We have become a world-class nation,'" Tol said. "'Everyone is praising our president. Turkey is a big player.'"
While Erdoğan continues to command a loyal political base, critics say the price has been Turkey's democratic institutions.
Authorities increasingly have used courts and criminal investigations to sideline political opponents, including Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu, whose arrest earlier in 2026 triggered nationwide demonstrations, according to Human Rights Watch.
The organization says the government has intensified efforts to weaken Turkey's main opposition party despite its strong performance in the 2024 municipal elections.
Today, Erdoğan finds himself in another political transformation.
After years of anti-Western rhetoric and disputes with Washington, Turkey has worked to repair relations with the United States and Europe.
That rhetoric was once central to Erdoğan's posture.
He accused the U.S.-led coalition in Syria of supporting terrorist groups, blasted Washington's sanctions over Turkey's purchase of the Russian S-400 missile defense system, calling them a "hostile attack" on Turkey's sovereign rights and defense industry, and repeatedly accused Western governments of enabling Israel's war in Gaza.
The shift comes as Turkey's strategic importance has grown dramatically.
The S-400 purchase remains at the center of one of the biggest unresolved disputes between Washington and Ankara. After Turkey took delivery of the Russian system in 2019, the U.S. expelled Turkey from the F-35 fighter jet program and later imposed sanctions on Turkey's defense procurement agency.
Former U.S. Ambassador to Turkey James Jeffrey recently told Fox News Digital that restoring Turkey to the F-35 program remains far more complicated than other defense deals because operating the Russian-made S-400 alongside America's most advanced stealth fighter could expose sensitive U.S. technology.
"The F-35 is a different issue," Jeffrey said, arguing that the problem is technical, not merely political.
Turkey controls the Bosporus and Dardanelles, fields NATO's second-largest military and plays a critical role in the Black Sea following Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
Jeffrey said that Turkey has been "essential to Ukraine staying in the fight," pointing to Turkey's enforcement of the Montreux Convention, a 1936 treaty that gives Turkey control over naval passage through the Bosporus and Dardanelles straits, its early delivery of Bayraktar drones to Ukraine, and its role as a mediator between Kyiv and Moscow.
"You can't contain Russia in the Black Sea without Turkey," Jeffrey said.
For Tol, however, Erdoğan's latest embrace of NATO is simply another example of his political flexibility.
"There was a time when he was very anti-Western, very critical of NATO, very critical of the United States," she said.
"And now look at him."
Human Rights Watch argues Erdoğan has used Turkey's growing importance to NATO as political cover while expanding pressure on journalists, activists and opposition figures.
Freedom House says Erdoğan has become "increasingly authoritarian" over the past decade, consolidating power through constitutional changes and the imprisonment of political opponents, independent journalists and civil society figures.
Turkey's prisons held more than 420,000 inmates — far exceeding their official capacity of roughly 304,000, according to a June 2026 report citing Turkish Justice Ministry figures.
NATO allies have grown quieter on Turkey's rights record as Ankara's strategic value has risen, Reuters reported ahead of the summit, with former U.S. Ambassador David Satterfield saying it remains important for the West to speak publicly about the "degradation of democratic institutions in Turkey."
Tol believes Erdoğan's domestic agenda can be understood through a single principle.
"Everything is designed to keep him in power," she said. "Beyond that, I don't see a binding ideology that brings together all his policies."
As Trump heads to Turkey, that may be the key to understanding one of NATO's most consequential — and unpredictable — leaders.
Fox News Digital reached out to the Turkish government for comment.
Fox News Digital's Morgan Phillips and Reuters contributed to this report.
Carrie Underwood doesn't skip leg day, spicy Sophie Cunningham & why Trump's World Cup meddling is a win-win
What a loaded weekend. Lordy, I don't even know where to begin!
America's 250th. Fourth of July. Trump vs. FIFA. The Marlins did something downright unacceptable yesterday afternoon. NASCAR last night. USA soccer tonight.
Holiday shmoliday! The news-cycle doesn't sleep just because the calendar says it's supposed to, and she certainly didn't sleep this weekend.
Let's dive in.
Welcome to a Monday Nightcaps — the one where Carrie Underwood shows America she doesn't skip leg day during a patriotic performance at the John Deere Classic.
What else? I've got fallout from Trump's phone call to FIFA, including why I think the move was such a no-brainer, Sophie Cunningham's perfect response to the WNBA nonsense, and this Marlins manager should be fired TODAY after what he pulled Sunday afternoon.
Seriously. This got buried in the FIFA news-of-the-day, but it deserves some attention. And now, it'll get it!
Grab you any beer for tonight's game (as long as it's not Anheuser-Busch!) and settle in for a Monday 'Cap!
Normally, I love AB. Duh. If you've been in this class long enough, you know I'm a Busch Light purist.
(Although, I will admit that I bought a sixer of Coors Banquet this weekend because it just felt right).
That being said ... all bets are off tonight. It's USA vs. Belgium. Anheuser-Busch InBev (AB InBev) is headquartered in Leuven, Belgium. True story. Can't have that tonight. Like Trump, I know nothing about soccer. Nothing. Nada. Don't pretend to.
But I know our fellas need all the support they can get, and if that means a small, one-day boycott of AB, then I'm happy to do it.
It's called making sacrifices, Libs. Look it up!
Now, speaking of the Libs and Trump and tonight's game ... let's check in with Donald J. Trump, who has, amazingly, made himself the center of attention:
Incredible. Just when you start to think he's lost his fastball, he paints the corners with 99. How does he do it?
"I think the referee’s call was horrible and nobody talks about that. They talk about the red card like it’s fine. The referee’s decision to red card, I didn’t know what the hell a red card was and when I found out I said, ‘You gotta be kidding.’… I said, ‘Wow, that’s a lot of power, that’s terrible.’ And then I looked at his past and it wasn’t so great."
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM
Look, this was such a win-win for Trump politically. Let's just be honest. There really is no bad outcome from him interfering in FIFA and World Cup matters. None.
Scenario A: USA wins tonight, Trump continues to be praised, and probably shows up at the next game and gets a massive standing ovation in what would be the most-watched broadcast of the year. The left implodes.
Scenario B: USA loses tonight, and the fake-Americans on the left show their true colors by cheering on Belgium because they can't stand the thought of siding with Trump on anything. The Republicans use all the fake-outrage to their advantage leading up to the 2026 midterms.
Scenario C: Trump's sudden involvement pulls his core fanbase into the World Cup because they don't care otherwise, and further galvanizes the country.
This one is already happening, by the way, because I've spent 500 words writing about SOCCER on a Monday in July.
And for those of you who don't think a Democrat would ever go against the US of A, buddy, think AGAIN:
Incredible. Just imagine, for a second, waking up in the morning and doing something like that on the weekend of America's 250th birthday? These people are NUTS. Truly unhinged.
The TDS (Trump Derangement Syndrome) is OFF THE CHARTS right now. Again, it's a win-win for him. Easiest call ever, frankly. What a birthday weekend!
OK, let's move it along, because we've all got a game to gear up for in a few hours.
I know most of you missed it, but I will not let Marlins manager Clayton McCullough off the hook for this nonsense he pulled yesterday by pulling a pitcher in the middle of a PERFECT GAME:
Just ridiculous. What happened to the game we all loved? Pulling a pitcher in the middle of a perfect game is indefensible. Do you know how rare perfect games are? This wasn't a no-hitter. Those are a dime a dozen at this point.
But perfect games almost never happen. In fact, there have only been 24 official perfect games in MLB history. Twenty-four! Baseball has been around for a century, give or take. It's really been around for much longer, but we'll just go back 100 years to make it a nice, round number.
In that time, we've only seen 24 (!!!) perfect games. And Clayton McCullough robbed us of a chance to see No. 25. Fans were furious. Players, I would hope, ARE furious.
And guess what? The Marlins nearly BLEW it! They barely won the game:
Just pathetic. McCullough, by the way, had this to say after the game:
"Going into this game, 90-plus a batter was a pitch count that I felt comfortable with him coming back off the time on the IL, and us looking to play beyond the regular season," he said. "Eury's going to be an important part of that.
"There was a part of my heartstrings pulling at his opportunity to keep on going, but I have to think about Eury, one, and our organization, our team, and what's best moving forward to give us a chance to continue to win games. So I made more of a calculated decision with where he was with the pitch count to take him out."
Bologna. It wasn't like he was at 120 pitches! He was at 90. That's peanuts. This wasn't his first game back off the IL. This was his third. At the very least, you let him go back out there and take it one batter at a time. What if he gets through the next inning in 10 pitches?
Indefensible. Make Baseball Great Again!
OK, two quickies on the way out. First? You didn't think we'd go a day without WNBA drama, did you? As per usual, Sophie Cunningham has the correct take on all the whining from Alyssa Thomas about internet trolls:
"At the end of the day, you're in an entertainment business, that's when mental toughness comes in. If you're gonna live by praise, you're gonna die by the hate. I think that's on the individual person to have mental toughness.
"Some people can deal with it, some people can't. And I think you can see the ones who can't. And unfortunately there are some who can't, and it's not beneficial to them."
Amen. Thank you, Sophie. All this whining about online hate and fans being mean and blah, blah, blah. It's nonsense. The WNBA isn't reinventing the wheel here. This isn't the first time athletes have ever had to deal with mean fans, or online trolls, or idiots behind a keyboard.
This has been happening FOREVER! I'm not saying it's right. It's not. I'm saying if you're really "upset" about it, you need to get thicker skin and toughen up.
That's what Sophie is saying, too, by the way. Her statement may have been a little more buttoned-up, but we both arrived at the same destination.
Once again, she nailed it.
OK, that's it for today. What a weekend. What a start to the week! I think we're in for a special night.
Take us home, Carrie Underwood!
OutKick Nightcaps is a daily column set to run Monday through Friday at 4 p.m. (roughly, we’re not robots).
Any way this turns out bad for Trump? Email me at Zach.Dean@OutKick.com.
Media figures melt down over Trump involvement with FIFA as US star Folarin Balogun set to play
Many journalists, political correspondents and pundits have expressed outrage that President Donald Trump pressed FIFA on the plight of USA World Cup star Folarin Balogun ahead of Monday’s showdown with Belgium.
Balogun received a red card during the U.S. win over Bosnia and Herzegovina last week for stepping on the ankle of a defender while trying to corral a ball. The controversial card — which mandated Balogun miss the rest of the game and the next game as well — was issued after a VAR review, and amid the uproar, a source told Fox News that Trump called FIFA President Gianni Infantino and asked that FIFA review the play. On Sunday, the reversal was announced and the typical one-game suspension was nullified.
Trump Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnik and White House task force leader Andrew Giuliani put together a team of lawyers outside the White House to challenge the use of slow-motion replay to give Balogun the red card, according to OutKick founder and Fox News contributor Clay Travis.
Infantino said in a statement Monday that he spoke with Trump and noted that "FIFA’s judicial bodies are independent" and "operate autonomously, apply the FIFA Disciplinary Code, and decide cases based on the applicable regulations and the specific facts before them." The media onslaught was at full tilt by then, however.
BANNED FORMER FIFA PRESIDENT CRITICIZES ORGANIZATION'S DECISION ON FOLARIN BALOGUN
"Morning Joe" co-host Jon Lemire expressed concern that "karma" would come back to haunt the United States team.
"This certainly helps the U.S. on the field, but the karma is bad. The karma is very bad… This U.S. run so far has been magical. This decision may help us extend it, but suddenly the feeling is a little bit off," Lemire said.
"I think the president has misunderstood the beautiful game, part of it is that you don’t always get the call you want. There’s real disappointment. There’s the hope that kills you. This is part of the beauty of soccer. And the point is that you have to triumph over what are often perceived to be unfair calls," Washington Post columnist Kate Andrews said on MS NOW.
Former MSNBC host Keith Olbermann responded, "So the World Cup is fixed? Got it."
FIFA DISMISSES BELGIUM APPEAL OVER DECISION ON USA'S FOLARIN BALOGUN
"Totally normal and not corrupt or dodgy or biased at all," journalist Mehdi Hasan sarcastically wrote to caption a report that Trump called Infantino.
New York Times columnist Nicholas Kristof declared, "This will appear to the world as favoritism and as FIFA bowing to political influence. If the U.S. wins, I fear that much of the world will see it as a win with an asterisk and as Trump’s America making its own rules even in the sports world."
ABC News contributor Donna Brazile wrote, "Terrible decision to involve the White House into this. Just horrible."
Others focused on Balogun being a birthright citizen.
"The irony of Trump calling FIFA to overturn a red card for Balogun because he knows the U.S. can’t win without Balogun, who only qualifies for the U.S. team because of birthright citizenship, which Trump just tried to overturn," journalist Julia Loffe wrote.
ZERO BS. JUST DAKICH. TAKE THE DON'T @ ME PODCAST ON THE ROAD. DOWNLOAD NOW!
Radio host Courtney Theriault added, "Donald Trump calling FIFA to overturn the suspension of noted birthright citizen Folarin Balogun the same week SCOTUS rules against him on eliminating birthright citizenship is peak Trump."
"Possible corruption and cheating aside, hilarious that the Trump administration were allegedly pushing hard to reinstate a player who is a literal birthright citizen. His pregnant mother gave birth to him on a visit because the airline wouldn’t let her board her return flight," Hasan wrote.
Many others took to social media with thoughts:
Trump told reporters Monday he didn't tell FIFA to do anything and said he didn't believe the red card was the proper call.
"I didn’t tell him what to do. I don’t believe he made the decision. I think it was a committee that made the decision, and they made the right decision because, No. 1, it wasn’t a foul, and you want to see a game with your best players," he said.
A win on Monday would send the U.S. to the World Cup quarterfinals for the first time since 2002.
Fox News Digital’s Ryan Gaydos contributed to this report.
Explosive sexual assault allegation rocks Platner campaign ahead of key deadline in crucial Senate race
Rumors are swirling on social media about the future of Democratic Maine Senate candidate Graham Platner after several of his events were canceled and a report from Politico accused the candidate of sexual assault ahead of a key deadline in the race.
Maine resident Jenny Racicot, 41, told Politico over the course of three interviews that Platner forced her to have sex five years ago, a claim that Platner denied in the story. Additionally, the report says that a man Raciot dated afterward confirmed she had told him about the incident, which was also corroborated by emails between Racicot and her therapist.
"I remember him grabbing my pelvis and being really forceful of me," Racicot told the outlet about the incident, which allegedly took place while the two were intoxicated. "I remember the specific moment where I thought to myself, like, ‘This is no longer my choice.’"
In a statement to Politico, Platner said, "These allegations are troubling, serious, and false. Any accusation of non-consensual behavior is categorically untrue."
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Over the last few days, multiple Platner events over the 4th of July holiday weekend and Monday were canceled without an official explanation or comment from the campaign, Bangor Daily News reported on Monday, other than one event organizer saying that an event in Gorman was canceled due to Platner "not feeling well."
The news of the canceled events led conservative outlets and pundits to speculate whether there is an underlying reason for the cancellations.
"Graham Platner cancels MULTIPLE scheduled town hall events as progressive allies tease another scandal is about to hit his campaign," the Maine Wire news outlet posted on X. "Augusta town hall for last night - CANCELED Gorham town hall tonight - CANCELED Sanford town hall tonight - CANCELED. There are no other upcoming events listed on his FB page, or on Mobilize."
"Graham Platner no-showed Fourth of July celebrations across Maine," the National Republican Senatorial Committee posted on X in response to the Maine Wire post. "Now, he's canceling everything else. We wouldn't want to be seen in public either… "
"A well-placed source told us that Graham Platner is dropping out of the Maine Senate race this week," the Washington Reporter posted on X. "Note that Platner has yet to release his Q2 fundraising totals, a sign he may have underperformed expectations. "
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Fox News Digital reached out to the Platner campaign for comment on both the canceled events and the Politico report.
In addition to the online rumors, predictions on the online prediction market Polymarket surged over the weekend, with users betting that Platner would drop out before the midterms.
Platner has been at the center of multiple controversies since launching his campaign, including infidelity, alleged physical abuse of an ex-girlfriend, a Nazi-linked tattoo, disparaging comments about the military, referring to himself as a "communist", scrutiny over his working-class bonafides, and a variety of inflammatory posts on a deleted Reddit account.
Despite the controversies, Platner has held a polling lead on incumbent Republican Sen. Susan Collins, although a recent Fox News Poll showed only 44% of respondents believing he has "good character" while 47% said he is "too extreme" for the state.
Now that Platner has won the Democratic primary, the next key date is 5 p.m. on Monday, July 13. Under Maine law, if Platner formally withdraws as the Democratic nominee by that deadline, the Maine Democratic Party can replace him on the general election ballot by selecting a new nominee through its party process, with the replacement required to be chosen by July 27.
If he remains the nominee past the July 13 deadline, the party generally loses its ability to substitute another candidate through the normal replacement process, except in limited circumstances defined under state law.
Walker Buehler targets home-field rebound as San Diego Padres host Arizona Diamondbacks in .500 showdown
We were able to steal a win yesterday in the Twins vs. Yankees game. It was a fairly nerve-wracking game because I took the under. The Twins ended up scoring six runs, and then the Yankees scored one late to get it to seven runs. Luckily, we were able to get the bullpen to close the doors. I am hopeful we can keep this luck on our side as we've snuck in a few close calls lately. Tonight, we get a new series between the Diamondbacks and the Padres.
With a win tonight, the Arizona Diamondbacks will be back to .500 at 45-45. They have been bad on the road, struggling to a 17-25 road record. I think that Arizona has done a very good job on offense this season, despite trading away quite a few players over the past year. They still have a lot of talent on the roster, but the question has to be asked if they are going to make more trades soon. Ketel Marte is a guy who has had his name floating around the trade rumors quite a bit. He could be a good addition to most playoff teams. However, if the Diamondbacks want to go the other way, they can add pitching to try to improve on their team's 4.28 ERA.
Even if the Diamondbacks add Tarik Skubal, which isn't likely, they would still be a very long shot to make the postseason via the division. They have a better chance at getting one of the three Wild Card spots. Today's starter is Brandon Pfaadt, who is not in the same realm as Skubal (but, then again, who is). For the season, Pfaadt has bounced between the bullpen and the rotation. This is just his fifth start of the season, but he is coming off a start against the Giants. He went 5.1 innings, allowed three hits, and just one solo homer. He faced the Padres earlier in the season and went three innings, allowing four earned runs.
The San Diego Padres are in an identical spot to the Diamondbacks. With a win here, they will get back to .500 for the season. The Padres have to be one of the most frustrating teams in baseball. On paper, they should be one of the most elite clubs in baseball. They have a ton of talented hitters and a few reliable arms, but for whatever reason, it seems like every season is a struggle. Perhaps it is a lack of power from some key guys like Fernando Tatis Jr. and Xander Bogaerts. Maybe it is that Manny Machado is batting .189. There could be a chance that all three of those guys return to their normal production and propel the Padres to another postseason appearance.
In order to do that, they will need help from their pitching staff. One of the main guys that they will lean on is today's starter, Walker Buehler. For the year, Buehler is 5-4 with a 4.61 ERA and a 1.38 WHIP. He has been a better pitcher at home than he has on the road, though. When pitching in San Diego, he has thrown to a 3.13 ERA. He had a great June, but his first July start, he was rocked. He allowed nine earned runs on seven hits over four innings. He has to be looking to get back on the mound and rebound from that rough outing. He hasn't faced the Diamondbacks this season.
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Over his career, Pfaadt has allowed Padres hitters to bat .258 against him with four homers and 18 RBIs. I mentioned Machado's struggles this season, but he is hitting .368 against Pfaadt. Bogaerts is hitting just .167 against him. Jake Cronenworth is another one who might be worth adding to your daily lineups or prop bets, as he is hitting .409 against Pfaadt. Buehler has been much better against the Diamondbacks hitters, holding them to a .194 average over 98 at-bats. Pavin Smith has been particularly bad, going 1-for-15 against him.
Smith isn't plus money for the night, so I'll avoid that prop. For the actual game, I'm planning to play the Padres at -124. I think Buehler will rebound from his horrendous last start. I also think his history, coupled with his home performances, give San Diego the edge in this game. Give me the Padres -124.
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For more sports betting information and plays, follow David on X/Twitter: @futureprez2024
Pence commends Trump for winning freedom of Beijing's Zion Church pastor Ezra Jin from Chinese detention
Former Vice President Mike Pence publicly praised President Donald Trump on Monday for successfully securing the release of pastor Ezra Jin Mingri, a prominent underground Christian leader detained by Chinese authorities.
In a post on X, Pence said Trump "should be commended" for raising the case directly with Chinese President Xi Jinping during a state visit to Beijing, adding it was "Truly Treasure in Heaven to see this godly man of faith set free."
Pence also called on Beijing to release jailed Hong Kong activist Jimmy Lai, adding, "#FreeJimmyLai."
Jin, the leader of Beijing's unregistered Zion Church, was detained in October along with 17 other church leaders.
He safely arrived in Los Angeles to reunite with his family, less than two months after Trump pressed Xi on his detention, according to Frances Hui of the Committee for Freedom in Hong Kong Foundation.
PRESIDENT TRUMP MUST PUT AMERICAN HOSTAGES FIRST IN HIGH-STAKES BEIJING SUMMIT
In a statement to the Associated Press, Jin’s family thanked Trump and acknowledged the swift release would not have been possible without Xi's intervention.
Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla., took to X to thank Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, echoing Pence’s call for Lai’s release.
"Great news! Thank you @POTUS and @SecRubio for your leadership in securing Pastor Ezra Jin’s freedom," Scott wrote in the post. "Still, we cannot stop fighting to hold COMMUNIST CHINA accountable for ALL of their crimes."
"My friend Jimmy Lai remains unjustly imprisoned simply because he stood up for freedom," Scott continued. "Jimmy Lai is 78 with diabetes and has been in solitary confinement for YEARS. I will never stop fighting for Jimmy Lai and I won’t give up until Jimmy is out of prison."
Socialist Mayor Katie Wilson silent amid protests over ‘human dumping ground’ ahead of US World Cup match
Seattle socialist mayor Katie Wilson is facing protests ahead of today’s U.S. World Cup match in her city as members of the local Chinese and Vietnamese communities are accusing her of abandoning their neighborhoods to crime and open air drug dealing.
One organizer went so far as to accuse progressive Wilson of treating Seattle’s Chinatown International District (CID) as a "human dumping ground" for homeless and drug addicts.
While Seattle has hosted some of the World Cup’s biggest matches, including today’s U.S. versus Belgium match, residents and business owners in the CID and "Little Saigon" say their neighborhoods are missing out on the economic benefits due to safety concerns leading people to avoid the area, according to local outlet KIRO 7.
Business owners are reporting a significant decline in foot traffic and business despite being less than a mile from Lumen Field. As frustrations mount, many are blaming Wilson’s leadership and taking to the streets to protest against her in front of World Cup crowds.
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At one rally, Gary Lee, a CID advocate, said into a microphone, "Wilson claims to be an advocate for marginalized communities of color, but all she did was turn the CID into a human dumping ground and we’ve had enough," KIRO 7 reported.
In an interview with the outlet, Lee said, "When I look at the TV, I see that the waterfront is jampacked, Pioneer Square is jampacked. When I go over to Chinatown, it’s just like dead."
"I hate to say it, but it feels like a ghost town," he said of the CID.
Fox News Digital reached out to Wilson for comment, however the mayor did not respond by the time of publication.
When CID residents started venting their frustrations, Wilson responded, "We’ve definitely seen, like, a lot of energy was put into trying to make sure that as visitors are coming, they are, you know, venturing out of that downtown corridor."
In a statement sent to KIRO 7, Wilson’s office said that "crime and disorder issues in the CID have gone unaddressed for far too long. We continue to work with the CID community to address their concerns and ensure it is a safe, active, and vibrant neighborhood."
Meanwhile, Fox 13 Seattle reported that community activist and former city council member Tanya Woo said many businesses in the district are seeing a 10-20% decline in sales.
Woo called on community members to join her in walking to the stadium area on Monday to "personally invite fans to eat, shop, and experience the Chinatown-International District."
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"Many businesses in the Chinatown-International District are reporting sales declines compared to this time last year. Although thousands of FIFA fans are coming to Seattle, our neighborhood has largely become a rideshare pickup and drop-off zone," she wrote.
In another post, Woo wrote, "Seattle’s Chinatown International District should be benefiting from the FIFA World Cup, not being left behind."
Chicago officers wounded in traffic stop shootout as holiday weekend leaves 3 dead, 16 injured
Two Chicago police officers were shot during a struggle with an armed suspect over the Fourth of July weekend as separate shootings across the city left three people dead and at least 16 others wounded, according to preliminary police figures.
The Chicago Police Department said 34-year-old Malik Wrightsell was charged with attempted first-degree murder, aggravated battery of a peace officer, aggravated assault of a peace officer, unlawful possession of a firearm, unlawful possession of a weapon by a repeat felony offender and several other offenses in connection with one shooting.
The officers were conducting a traffic stop in Chicago's South Chicago neighborhood just before 5 p.m. Friday when Wrightsell fled on foot, police said. Officers pursued him into the 7900 block of South Chappel Avenue, where he allegedly resisted as they attempted to take him into custody.
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During the struggle, police said Wrightsell pulled out a handgun and fired, striking one officer in the abdomen. The officer's ballistic vest stopped the bullet before returning fire and striking Wrightsell.
A second officer also was shot in the arm during the confrontation, with that officer's ballistic vest also stopping the bullet. Responding officers rendered aid to both officers and Wrightsell before all three were transported to area hospitals. Police also recovered a firearm at the scene.
Both officers were listed in good condition. Wrightsell was transported to Northwestern Memorial Hospital in critical condition.
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The shooting was one of 11 shooting incidents recorded across Chicago between 6 p.m. Friday and 11:59 p.m. Sunday, preliminary Chicago Police Department figures provided to Fox News Digital show. The incidents left 16 people shot and three people dead.
Citing Chicago police, FOX 32 Chicago reported that six people between the ages of 17 and 20 were wounded in a mass shooting on the city's West Side early Sunday.
About 10 minutes earlier, a 17-year-old girl was critically wounded in a separate shooting nearby. The station also reported that a 33-year-old man was fatally shot on the West Side, while a 31-year-old man was critically wounded after being found shot inside a home Sunday afternoon.
Several other shootings and stabbings were reported across the city over the holiday weekend.
The preliminary figures marked a sharp decline from the Fourth of July holiday weekend in 2025, when Chicago recorded 32 shootings involving 44 victims, including nine fatalities, FOX 32 Chicago reported.
The Civilian Office of Police Accountability is investigating the officer-involved shooting.
'The View' host supports Trump appealing to FIFA on controversial red card
"The View" co-host Alyssa Farah Griffin defended President Donald Trump on Monday for intervening in FIFA's handling of U.S. soccer star Folarin Balogun's red card suspension, after Trump confirmed he asked FIFA President Gianni Infantino to review the call ahead of the United States' World Cup match against Belgium.
Griffin, a former Trump White House communications aide who has become a frequent critic of the president, said she approved of the alleged favor because it helped the U.S. team.
"The one Trump corruption I agree with is the red card if we are going to get into FIFA," she said.
"If you’re going to call in a favor, do it so that you can get one of the greatest players back on," Griffin continued. "It should have been a yellow card, suspend him for a bit."
However, fellow co-host Sunny Hostin accused Trump of "corruption," claiming he had personally pushed FIFA to let Balogun play despite the red card.
"Which means you’re supposed to be suspended for the next game and Trump made a call to FIFA and said can he still play and FIFA said, ‘Sure, we’re going to abandon all of our rules for a World Cup and let them play,’" Hostin said.
Hostin, who said earlier in the show she had just returned from a vacation to Spain, claimed Europeans had been raising concerns to her about corruption in the U.S.
"Europeans – because I was in Spain at the time – Europeans are saying things like I can’t believe America is so corrupt," Hostin said. "I’m like have you met the Trump administration? Have you met where we are right now?"
Fox News Digital reached out to the White House for comment, but did not immediately receive a response.
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Griffin then noted Balogun's eligibility to play for the U.S. national team came through birthright citizenship.
"And that player, by the way, is eligible to be playing on the U.S. team because of birthright citizenship," Griffin said. "Which is incredible and it’s great."
"Correct," Hostin agreed.
Comedian Michelle Buteau, who joined the panel as a guest co-host Monday, said she was not surprised by the FIFA controversy because she argued it reflected Trump’s broader approach to rules.
"We can’t be surprised that he’s like, trying to break the rules, because the way you do one thing is the way you do everything and that’s what he does, he breaks the rules," she said.
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Trump discussed the call during a White House event on Monday, saying he spoke with FIFA President Gianni Infantino and asked the governing body to take another look at Balogun’s suspension.
"So yes, I asked for a review by FIFA," Trump said.
Trump said he believed the red card decision against Balogun was wrong and argued the play did not warrant the punishment.
"It was very unfair," Trump said. "It wasn’t a foul."
"FIFA’s judicial bodies are independent," Infantino said in a statement. "They operate autonomously, apply the FIFA Disciplinary Code, and decide cases based on the applicable regulations and the specific facts before them. Their independence is essential to the credibility and integrity of football, and this must always be respected."
"Yes, I regularly discuss matters related to the FIFA World Cup with the President of the United States, and on this matter, I did receive a call from President Donald Trump, just as I receive calls from heads of state, government officials, football stakeholders and business executives from around the world on many different issues," he added.
"During our conversation, I explained that there was an ongoing legal process involving FIFA’s independent judicial bodies and that the case would be decided in due course by the competent bodies. That is how FIFA’s system works, and it is a principle that I will always uphold," Infantino concluded.
Florida man reveals bizarre trick that won Key lime pie-eating championship without using his hands
A Florida man who finally captured the title at the World Famous Key Lime Pie Eating Championship said his winning strategy came down to eliminating the biggest obstacle first: the whipped cream.
Florida Keys resident Kevin Renly, 62, claimed victory at the annual Fourth of July competition in Key West after devouring a whipped cream-topped 9-inch Key lime pie in 59.6 seconds — all without using his hands.
Contestants were required to eat the pies without using their hands, though goggles and dive masks were allowed.
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After finishing runner-up in 2024 and 2025, Renly said he spent time refining his approach before this year's competition.
"You didn't have to eat the cream. So, I figured, 'How am I going to get rid of the cream real fast?'" Renly told Fox News Digital. "So that's what I figured out. I take my shirt off and dive into it, pull up and the whipped cream is on my chest."
Once the topping was out of the way, Renly flipped the pie upside down to tackle what he considered the toughest part.
"How are you going to eat the crust? That's the worst part, because it was just so dry," he said. "No problem. We'll just flip it upside down and eat it that way."
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Held as part of the five-day Key Lime Festival, the competition is Key West's tropical twist on Nathan's Famous Fourth of July Hot Dog Eating Contest. It drew hundreds of spectators as 25 contestants plunged face-first into whipped cream-covered pies.
Renly, who co-owns Southernmost Bees with his wife, Julie, joked after this year's victory that the "third time's the charm." He had previously referred to himself as the "first loser" after consecutive second-place finishes.
The win carried extra meaning because the contest fell on the wedding anniversary he shares with his wife.
"I didn't want to go home and tell her I'd lost again," Renly said after the competition.
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He said his motivation also extended beyond personal bragging rights.
He wanted to keep the championship trophy in the Florida Keys.
"I sat there watching and thought, 'Wait a minute. All these people come [from] out of town and they take this trophy home,'" he told Fox News Digital. "This trophy needs to stay here locally, so some locals have got to keep it here."
Key lime pie was designated as Florida's official pie in 2006.
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The iconic dessert is traditionally made with Key lime juice, sweetened condensed milk and egg yolks in a graham cracker crust topped with whipped cream or meringue.
Now that he's won, Renly already has his sights set on making history.
"No one's ever repeated for a win," he said. "Now I've got a new goal — to be the first repeat."