Fox News Latest Headlines
Sophie Cunningham sees support surge after star puts career on line for girls' sports
Riley Gaines praised WNBA star Sophie Cunningham on Friday, calling her a rare voice of courage for speaking out against biological men competing in women's sports despite competing in what Gaines called the "most woke league of all time."
Gaines, a former NCAA swimmer and host of "The Riley Gaines Show," applauded Cunningham's refusal to back down on protecting female locker rooms and called her the "first current high-level female athlete" in a professional league to take such a stance.
"It's easy to say that men aren't women and men shouldn't play in women's sports. I'm here to tell you, if you're in Sophie Cunningham's position, it's not easy to say that. It's incredibly difficult. It requires immense courage," Gaines said.
"If you're Sophie Cunningham playing in the WNBA, which is like the most woke league of all time in the history of ever, it takes immense courage to say exactly what she did. And it makes her really the first current high-level female athlete playing in a professional league that has said this."
Earlier this week, Cunningham revealed her stance on transgender athletes competing in women’s sports, telling ESPN, "I got a lot of negative feedback about me hating trans. And I'm like, 'I never once said that.'"
"I think that I am here to extend love. But I also think with that love is truth, being honest. And I want to protect young girls in a locker room, or young girls in sports who shouldn't have to go against biological men," Cunningham said.
SOPHIE CUNNINGHAM SENDS MESSAGE TO HER HATERS AFTER SAYING MEN DON'T BELONG IN WOMEN'S SPORTS
Since her comments surfaced, Cunningham has received support online from various Republican lawmakers and advocates for women's sports, including Sens. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, and Eric Schmitt. R-Mo.
Gaines said she doesn't believe Cunningham is in it for the praise, noting that her opinion could actually cost the Indiana Fever star opportunities.
"And to be very clear, I don't think Sophie is doing or saying what she does because she wants fame," Gaines said.
"I'll put myself in her shoes. You have to imagine that she was concerned that she would lose opportunities. Maybe still she's even concerned about that. But she said it, and she stood by it because she thinks that's the right and the moral and the just thing to do," she added.
Jennifer Sey, the CEO of pro-women's sportswear brand XX-XY Athletics, revealed to Fox News Digital that she wants to sign Cunningham to the brand, calling her the "perfect person for us."
"It’s not just that she’s a fantastic athlete, and she's a currently competing professional athlete," Sey said. "She’s just got such an incredible personality. She's fun, and she's funny, and she's tough, and she says what she thinks, and that's what we're all about."
CLICK HERE FOR MORE COVERAGE OF MEDIA AND CULTURE
Sey revealed that she first connected with Cunningham after XX-XY Athletics released its "Dear Nike" ad in October 2024. The ad challenged the sportswear giant to take a public stand against biological males competing in women's sports and generated more than 10 million views.
According to Sey, Cunningham liked and commented on the original ad, then sent her a private direct message on social media praising it. But Sey said she did not see the message for months because it landed in a folder for messages from accounts she did not follow.
Fox News’s Jackson Thompson contributed to this report.
Sammy Hagar buries decades-long feud with David Lee Roth after tour dates are axed
David Lee Roth's summer comeback has hit an unexpected roadblock.
Several of the former Van Halen frontman's scheduled tour dates were abruptly canceled, prompting fans to wonder what caused the shake-up.
As news of the cancellations spread, Sammy Hagar wasted no time reaching out publicly to his longtime Van Halen counterpart with an emotional message of support.
SAMMY HAGAR ADMITS HE WOULDN’T BE AS ‘LEGENDARY’ WITHOUT VAN HALEN
"Hey Dave, Sammy here. I just got a call from Michael Anthony as I'm sitting down having my favorite cocktail, and I don't have to tell you what this is," Hagar said, smiling as he held up his signature margarita, "about your tour getting canceled."
"And I want to say from the bottom of my heart, I'm sorry. I hope you're well. I hope there's not a physical problem."
Shows in Colorado, Iowa, Kentucky and Illinois have all been canceled. No reason has been announced.
Only Roth's July dates have been scrapped. His five shows scheduled for August and September are currently still available for purchase through Ticketmaster, while his Aug. 7 performance in Sturgis, South Dakota, remains listed on his official website.
LIKE WHAT YOU’RE READING? CLICK HERE FOR MORE ENTERTAINMENT NEWS
"Honestly, Mike and I love the fact that you've been out there doing it, supporting the greatest band in the world that we were both part of," Hagar said. "And, yeah, I'm really sorry. That's f---ed up. Supporting what we did in this band to keep this music alive."
He also reflected on the chemistry that made Van Halen one of rock's defining acts.
"You and I, Mikey, Al, Ed, cannot be replaced."
JON BON JOVI ABRUPTLY ENDS MADISON SQUARE GARDEN SHOW AFTER HEALTH SETBACK
Hagar then encouraged Roth to return whenever he's ready.
"So, when you're ready to carry on, you go, brother. Mike and I support you."
Hagar extended an open invitation for Roth to join him and Michael Anthony during their Las Vegas residency this September.
"Come to Vegas for the residency in September. Come on, join us. Sing a couple songs, MC the damn show. Come out and just do what the f--- you do, which is pretty damn entertaining."
He closed the video with a heartfelt sendoff.
"Anyway, hope you're well. I really do. God bless, brother."
CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE ENTERTAINMENT NEWSLETTER
Hagar doubled down on the sentiment in the caption accompanying the video, writing:
"I'm looking rough, but who cares I'm serious with this post. I hope the news about Dave is not AI!!!!! if it is, my post is still coming from my heart and soul. It is so important that this music carry on especially with the AI music out there. those of us that can still go out and play. should do it as long as they can physically and emotionally carry that torch. @vanhalen was, should be, and hopefully always will be real live music, not just for our fans, but for the future fans of real rock music."
The public support marked a notable turn for the two rock icons, whose relationship has long been defined by competition.
After Roth exited Van Halen in 1985, Hagar stepped in as the band's new frontman alongside Eddie Van Halen, Alex Van Halen and Michael Anthony. Hagar remained with the group until 1996 and later returned from 2003 to 2005. Roth reclaimed the mic full-time in 2006, remaining with Van Halen until the band's final chapter in 2020.
Though they each defined different eras of Van Halen, Hagar and Roth spent decades trading public jabs. They briefly joined forces for the 2002 "Song for Song, The Heavyweight Champs of Rock and Roll" tour, but the truce was short-lived as their rivalry quickly reignited.
The canceled dates mark another twist in Roth's return to live performance after he stunned fans by announcing his retirement in 2021.
"I am throwing in the shoes. I'm retiring," he told the Las Vegas Review-Journal. "This is the first, and only, official announcement."
His planned farewell Las Vegas residency was later scrapped amid COVID-19-related circumstances, but Roth ultimately returned to the stage in 2025 and continued to perform into 2026.
He has not publicly addressed the canceled dates or responded to Hagar's invitation.
Fox News Digital reached out to Roth and Hagar for comment.
George Michael struggled with 'eternal conflict' over fame, Wham! bandmate Andrew Ridgeley says
George Michael captivated millions with his chart-topping hits and powerhouse vocals, but according to his Wham! bandmate, Andrew Ridgeley, the global superstar never truly embraced life in the spotlight.
In an exclusive interview with Fox News Digital, Ridgeley reflected on Michael's complicated relationship with fame ahead of the release of the documentary "WHAM! 10 Days In China," describing it as "an eternal conflict."
"He didn't want to be a star… in the sense of constantly projecting himself," Ridgeley said. "George Michael was a character that he created in order for him to fulfill his artistic destiny as a songwriter and a singer and a musician."
GEORGE MICHAEL DIED WORTH $128M, BUT FRIENDS SAY HE SECRETLY GAVE AWAY MILLIONS FOR DECADES: AUTHOR
Ridgeley continued, "But he wanted to live his life as Yog, you know, rather than as George Michael. There was always that conflict for him, and it was an eternal conflict, and one that he never fully resolved."
Known affectionately to friends as "Yog," Michael spent decades balancing worldwide fame with an intensely private personal life, a struggle Ridgeley believes many fans never fully understood.
"I don't think... he was misunderstood," Ridgeley explained. "People weren't appraised of all the facts for a long time. You know, and he was a very, very private man."
If there was one thing audiences underestimated, Ridgeley said, it wasn't Michael's personality — it was the magnitude of his talent.
WATCH: WHAM! BAND MEMBER ANDREW RIDGELEY REVEALS WHAT FANS NEVER UNDERSTOOD ABOUT GEORGE MICHAEL
"People probably didn't understand the depth of his talent for a long time," he said. "That is bewildering and has always been bewildering... If there's any misunderstanding, it was over the sheer scale of his talent."
The reflections are featured as part of "WHAM! 10 Days In China," a new documentary that revisits the duo's landmark 1985 concerts in Beijing and Guangzhou, which made Wham! the first Western pop group to perform in China.
Drawing from newly restored archival footage, previously unseen material, and firsthand interviews, the movie explores the band's groundbreaking visit while examining its cultural impact decades later.
Looking back more than 40 years after the historic performances, Ridgeley said one of the documentary's biggest revelations was finally uncovering the lasting legacy of the trip.
WATCH: WHAM! BAND MEMBER ANDREW RIDGELEY REVEALS THE UNTOLD STORY BEHIND THEIR TRIP TO CHINA IN 1985
OZZY OSBOURNE'S LEGENDARY FINAL PERFORMANCE RAISED A STAGGERING $190M FOR WORTHY CAUSES
"This is a retrospective which reveals as much as we possibly could about why we went, what we did, who were there and its legacy," Ridgeley told Fox News Digital.
"And its legacy was the most important aspect for me to try and discover because we knew nothing of it. The legacy in China remained unknown."
Although Michael famously criticized the band's first performance in China, Ridgeley said he wasn't surprised by his late friend's reaction.
CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE ENTERTAINMENT NEWSLETTER
"That wouldn't have been the first time he described a show as effing horrible," Ridgeley said with a laugh. "He didn't mince his words."
"I understood perfectly well why he felt that way," he continued. "But... in hindsight, and as we discovered as part of this film, the legacy and the impact that those shows had on some people, especially, was life-changing."
LIKE WHAT YOU’RE READING? CLICK HERE FOR MORE ENTERTAINMENT NEWS
Michael died on Christmas Day in 2016 at age 53, but Ridgeley believes the singer would be deeply moved by the enduring admiration fans continue to show nearly a decade later.
"I think he would be very flattered by the depth of feeling that is held for him by how his memory has been honored, how his talent is recognized, how he is fêted and adored," Ridgeley said.
"I think that that would have been very special to him, and he would have been very humbled by it."
"WHAM! 10 Days In China" premieres in theaters for a one-day-only release on July 28.
Trump speaks out on Bryson DeChambeau's controversial two-stroke penalty at The Open: 'Tough call'
Bryson DeChambeau was given a controversial two-stroke penalty at The Open last week, and President Donald Trump said it was a "tough call."
DeChambeau reportedly wanted to reach out to Trump for assistance after the LIV Golf star was engaged in a heated exchange with rules officials at The Open. The president didn’t intervene but sympathized with DeChambeau when asked about it this week.
"I thought the Bryson call was a tough call," Trump told reporters in the Oval Office on Friday.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM
"I saw him walking around. I see a lot of people there walking around looking for their ball in weeds. Okay. But I've been watching that, so, you know, I thought it was a tough call against him."
On the fifth hole during DeChambeau’s second round at The Open, he appeared to be walking through the weeds, stomping on the rough behind him and causing it to lie flat for his swing out of the rough. Following the round, he went back out to the high fescue and pleaded his case to rules officials, but to no avail.
After getting involved with FIFA suspending Folarin Balogun’s red card for the USMNT’s Round of 16 matchup against Belgium, and now with DeChambeau reaching out, Trump was asked if there was precedent for someone in his position to become a fixer for athletes.
ZERO BS. JUST DAKICH. TAKE THE DON'T @ ME PODCAST ON THE ROAD. DOWNLOAD NOW!
"Well, it's not a fixer. You mean being a judge," Trump said.
Trump compared DeChambeau’s situation with Balgoun’s and said the red card being suspended by FIFA worked out "brilliantly."
"I thought the red card was a very tough call, and it worked out brilliantly. Look, supposing that they didn't let him play and we lost, everyone would have been angry, right? The way it was that they lost with their best player. Now everyone's happy, including Belgium. Of course, they lost the next game, so they might not that happy, either.
"But it worked out great. (Gianni Infantino) did a good job in making that call. All I did, I asked for a review. I thought that call was not a good call."
While Balogun was able to play, the USMNT lost 4-1 to Belgium, ending their World Cup run in the Round of 16.
As for DeChambeau, he remained in the hunt despite the two-stroke penalty until he triple-bogeyed the 11th hole in the final round on Sunday, effectively taking him out of contention.
DeChambeau finished 4 under for The Open, tied for 14th. The Open was the lone major championship at which DeChambeau made the cut this season.
Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.
Detroit developer cites 'substantial taxes' as reason big blue cities like NYC are in trouble
America’s once-iconic industrial hub is primed for an economic comeback as major metropolitan areas continue to bleed residents to lower-tax states, a prominent Michigan developer told Fox News Digital.
Rodney Lockwood, Board Chairman of the Mackinac Center for Public Policy, warned that high-tax cities like New York City, Los Angeles, and San Francisco are facing serious structural trouble.
"I think we have to look at both sides: what is not working, and then what will work," Lockwood said. "Right now, socialists are on the march, and Zohran Mamdani in New York is perhaps the best example of that. They're winning races, and their answer is always the same: more taxes and more free stuff."
Lockwood’s comments come as progressive-led cities nationwide—including New York, Chicago, Boston, and Los Angeles—struggle with taxpayer flight driven by high state and local taxes, lingering crime concerns, and an astronomical cost of living. A new study by the National Taxpayers Union Foundation (NTUF), released April 7, 2026, confirmed that taxpayers are fleeing high-tax environments for more fiscally friendly states.
While Texas and Florida remain the top targets, states like North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee are also seeing record gains. Notably, the NTUF "Migration in Minutes" metric found that Texas surpassed Florida in 2022 as the state gaining a new taxpayer most frequently — one every 4 minutes and 40 seconds.
"I sort of see it as a case of suicidal envy," Lockwood explained. "Belle Isle would be on the opposite side of that equation. We would have a taxation system aligned with the best of human characteristics. If you want people to work for the income and dignity of it, don't tax work—so there’d be no local income tax. If we want people to come, invest, and produce the tools of productivity, don't tax investments."
AMERICA'S TOP DESTINATION FOR NEW TAXPAYERS IS QUIETLY GETTING POORER, IRS DATA REVEALS
Lockwood is championing a proposal to transform Detroit’s Belle Isle into a self-governing "Freedom City" aimed at setting a new blueprint for urban revival nationwide.
First developed as a public park in the late 19th century, Belle Isle spans 982 acres in the Detroit River—making it roughly 140 acres larger than New York City’s Central Park. While the city owns the land, it is currently leased to the State of Michigan and operated as a state park under a 30-year agreement signed in 2013.
DAVID MARCUS: IN BOOMING DETROIT, VOTERS SKEPTICAL OF SOCIALISM SNAKE OIL
Under Lockwood’s proposal, private investors would purchase or lease the island from Detroit to build a mixed-use residential, retail, and commercial district. The goal is to generate massive economic activity and private-sector jobs for a city recovering from decades of population loss.
Lockwood pointed to recent polling by Michigan pollster Steve Mitchell indicating strong interest in bold economic solutions, with 68% of likely Detroit voters and 51% of voters statewide approving the concept of special economic freedom zones.
Detroit's economic trajectory highlights the stark reality of post-war urban decline, Lockwood noted.
"We're trying to restore it back to being the world-class city it once was," Lockwood said. "Back in 1950, it was the world's richest city. Today, it ranks among the poorest in the United States. We've gone from 1.85 million people down to around 600,000."
Lockwood believes the island represents a vastly underutilized asset ideal for conversion into a tax-friendly special economic zone designed to draw global capital. His vision projects a permanent population of 50,000 residents across 20,000 households—all built without relying on taxpayer dollars.
The "Freedom City" concept, supported by free-market advocates at the Mackinac Center, hinges on courting private venture capital through light-touch regulation and a growth-oriented tax framework.
Lockwood pointed to long-standing socioeconomic challenges across the Motor City as evidence that conventional municipal governance has failed.
"Detroit is stuck," Lockwood asserted. "Its population has struggled to rebound, and it faces a looming fiscal issue. COVID-era federal relief funds sustained municipal budgets for a few years, but that money is exhausted."
Lockwood argues that transforming Belle Isle could provide the spark needed to revitalize the entire region.
"What Belle Isle would do with 50,000 residents and $50 billion in private investment is attract an entrepreneurial class," Lockwood said. "These are business leaders looking to take proven concepts and expand into the heart of the world's largest economy."
Super Bowl champion Jordan Devey dead at 38 by suicide
This story discusses suicide. If you or someone you know is having thoughts of suicide, please contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988 or 1-800-273-TALK (8255).
A Super Bowl champion is dead after dying by suicide, the former NFL player's family confirmed on Thursday.
Jordan Devey, who won a Super Bowl with the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XLIX, died by suicide, the family announced in a GoFundMe campaign posted this week.
The post said the suicide left "his family to navigate an incredibly difficult and heartbreaking time."
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM
The former offensive lineman had recently been coaching at Eagle High School in Idaho. The GoFundMe said Devey "was a cherished member of the Eagle community, known for his unwavering dedication to serving others."
"He was a devoted husband to Linsey and a loving father to their four children. Jordan spent countless hours volunteering as a coach for his own children’s teams and for the athletes at Eagle High School, where he was deeply loved by the players who saw him as a mentor, role model, and friend. His commitment to uplifting those around him extended far beyond sports, as he faithfully served in his church, offering support, counsel, and friendship to anyone in need," the GoFundMe read.
Devey's date of death is not known, but his widow posted to Instagram earlier this week on what would have been their 15th wedding anniversary.
"We have filled the walls of our homes and hearts with countless memories, joys, struggles, and triumphs. We brought 4 beautiful children into this world that have your eyes, freckles, and compassion. You were our hero and our hearts ache in your absence. We love you. We miss you. And as you said in your last words to me, 'we’ll talk soon,' Linsey wrote, alongside photos of herself by his bedside in the hospital and another from their wedding.
Devey had not posted on Instagram since June 1.
After playing at Memphis, Devey began his NFL career on the Baltimore Ravens practice squad before being picked up by the Patriots in 2014, starting six games and winning the Super Bowl. He then had stints with the San Francisco 49ers, Kansas City Chiefs, the Oakland/Las Vegas Raiders, and the Buffalo Bills. He started 21 of his 44 games.
Devey is the only player in NFL history to block for Tom Brady, Patrick Mahomes, and Josh Allen.
Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.
Maine Democrats crown Troy Jackson as Platner replacement as fresh scrutiny clouds Senate reset
BANGOR, Maine - Maine Democrats on Saturday quickly coronated Troy Jackson as their party's Senate nominee — following this month's spectacular implosion of ex-candidate Graham Platner — in the high-stakes Senate showdown with longtime Republican Sen. Susan Collins.
Jackson, a former state Senate president, was elected in a landslide at the Maine Democratic Party's nominating convention in Bangor. He was on a glide path to the nomination after winning the vast majority of the voting delegates chosen last weekend by Democrats in the northern New England state's 16 counties.
Jackson's top rivals in the race to replace Platner backed him after dropping out of the race the past few days, leaving only one long-shot candidate for delegates to also consider at the convention. He defeated Saundra Pelletier, a pharmaceutical company CEO, by a 566-5 margin in Saturday's vote.
The Senate race in Maine, where Collins is the only GOP incumbent running for re-election in a state President Donald Trump lost in the 2024 election, is one of roughly a dozen midterm showdowns across the country that will determine if Republicans hold onto their slim majority or if the Democrats win back control of the chamber.
WHO'S UP AND WHO'S DOWN: CHECK OUT THE FOX NEWS POWER RANKINGS ON THE MIDTERM ELECTIONS
"Are you ready to defeat Susan Collins? Well, then let's unite this party. Let's build the largest working class movement Maine has ever seen. And let's win this fight," Jackson, a fifth-generation logger from the remote northern tip of Maine and a one-time conservative Republican who became a Democrat over two decades ago, said in convention speech just ahead of the delegate vote.
While Jackson quickly raised over $1 million for his burgeoning Senate campaign and coalesced party support, there are some potential warning signs.
Following reports this past week digging into Jackson's alleged temper and workplace conduct, reported claims of mortgage improprieties as well as other potential liabilities including his past strict anti-abortion stance, there are concerns by some in the party that following the Platner implosion, Democrats have landed another unvetted nominee.
"This is a bit of a rocket vetting process," a Democratic strategist who works on Senate races, who asked to remain anonymous to speak more freely, told Fox News Digital. "Maine Democrats have seemingly made their choice and they're just going to have to ride with it."
A veteran Democratic consultant who also asked for anonymity said that "it's very clear that Democrats should not be looking to Maine to flip the Senate."
"The good news is that we have upset opportunities in places like Texas, Iowa, and Alaska," added the consultant, who works with centrist Democratic Senate candidates.
Platner, a military combat veteran and oyster farmer who was backed by progressive champion and Independent Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont soon after he launched his bid last August, saw his campaign quickly catch fire. Two-term Democratic Gov. Janet Mills, who was heavily recruited by longtime Democratic Senate leader Sen. Chuck Schumer to run for the Senate, suspended her campaign this spring after trailing Platner in fundraising and in the polls.
But even as Platner steamrolled the Democratic establishment and crushed the competition last month in Maine's primary to capture the nomination, he had already been forced on defense in the wake of a slew of scandals.
Platner dropped out earlier this month, amid calls from top Democrats in Maine and across the country to immediately exit the race following an explosive report containing an allegation of rape from a woman he previously dated. Platner denied the report but stepped aside.
Jackson, who unsuccessfully ran for the Democratic gubernatorial nomination, campaigned alongside Platner during the primary. And he quickly made the case that he was the best equipped candidate to grab the mantle of the progressive and populist movement that had backed Platner.
Similar to Platner, Jackson is running on a platform aimed at working-class voters. He backs raising taxes on billionaires, the universal healthcare system known as "Medicare-for-all," abolishing U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and he opposes military aid to Israel at a time that Democrats are increasingly divided on support for America's longtime Middle East ally.
DEMOCRACY ’26: STAY UP TO DATE WITH THE FOX NEWS ELECTION HUB
Jackson, who also had Sanders' support as he ran for governor, is currently backed in his Senate campaign by Our Revolution, the group born in 2016 out of Sanders' first presidential campaign.
Rep. Ro Khanna of California, a leading progressive in the House and a potential 2028 Democratic presidential contender, was a top Platner backer. Khanna quickly moved his support to Jackson in this month's sprint to succeed Platner.
And Jackson enjoys strong support from labor unions in Maine. The labor backing, along with support from Platner’s former allies, helped Jackson capture the overwhelming majority of county-selected delegates last weekend.
The 500 delegates chosen last weekend, along with 101 selected by the state party, voted in Saturday's convention.
Republicans argued that Democrats stacked the deck to back Jackson as Platner's replacement.
"This coronation is proof that Democrats are willing to shove socialism down the throats of Maine voters, even if it means spitting in the face of Democracy to do it. Troy Jackson is a Platner apologist, a radical Bernie Bro, and a walking red flag displaying all the warning signs of the early days of the Platner campaign," Republican National Committee spokesperson Kristen Cianci charged in a statement to Fox News Digital.
Cianci called Collins "a proven leader with unimpeachable character."
Collins, as she runs for a sixth six-year term in the Senate, is facing a rough political climate for Republicans, amid GOP President Donald Trump's underwater approval ratings, persistent inflation and what polls indicate is an unpopular war with Iran.
SIGN UP TO GET THE POLITICS NEWSLETTER
The senator, known as a moderate Republican who at times has voted against Trump, last month received bipartisan praise after reaching a milestone by casting her 10,000th consecutive Senate vote.
But Democrats are taking aim at Collins over her comments that she didn't regret her 2018 vote to confirm Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh, despite his crucial vote four years later to overturn the landmark Roe v. Wade abortion ruling.
And following the fatal shooting in Maine earlier this month involving federal immigration agents, Democrats heavily criticized the Senate Appropriations Committee chair for her support for ICE funding.
But Collins has a history of defeating the Democrats' efforts to oust her from the Senate.
Six years ago, she trailed Democratic challenger Sara Gideon, the then-Maine House speaker, but the senator ended up winning re-election by nearly 9 points .
The Senate showdown in Maine is expected to be competitive, combustible, and expensive, with outside groups on both sides spending big bucks to run ads.
The first Fox News Power Rankings of the 2026 midterms, which gauge the competitiveness of elections using data, reporting and analysis, were released this week. And they rank the showdown in Maine as a toss-up.
Meanwhile, a Pine Tree Poll conducted in recent days by the University of New Hampshire Survey Center indicated Jackson with a slight three-point edge over Collins, right at the edge of the margin of error, among likely general election voters in Maine.
Test your pop culture: From Hollywood to the Heartland
The Pop Culture Quiz is your weekly test of what’s making headlines and breaking the Internet, from the Heartland to Hollywood.
This week's quiz spotlights celebrity vacations and big transformations.
Can you get all 5 questions right?
For more Entertainment articles, visit www.foxnews.com/entertainment
To try your hand at more quizzes from Fox News Digital, click here.
CNN commentator gives Trump credit for attending WHCA dinner before blasting his speech as 'mean and small'
CNN commentator Van Jones offered words of unlikely praise to President Donald Trump amid his attendance at the rescheduled White House Correspondents Association (WHCA) Dinner.
During the network’s coverage of the event, anchor John Berman noted to viewers that the journalists’ awards would be handed out before Trump took to the podium to deliver his speech — a schedule change that was not in effect on April 25 when the dinner was originally planned.
"The president was going to speak first, then the awards. So he could have left, in theory, if he wanted to," Berman said before tossing to Jones. "This time, he’s going to have to sit through and watch awards being given to reporters who report on him, maybe in ways he doesn’t like. One wonders how he might feel about that."
Jones replied by pointing out that Trump should receive recognition for remaining to watch journalists who often provide coverage that disagrees with his administration.
"You really do have to give President Trump credit tonight," Jones said. "I mean, we were saying he was going to basically do his thing and run away."
"He’s not running away," Jones added. "He’s going to be there. And maybe someone will have the courage to speak up [against him]. Maybe they won’t. But he’s putting himself in harm’s way in that regard."
TRUMP SPARES NO ONE AT WHCA DINNER, TAKING AIM AT DEMS, PRESS AND HIS OWN CABINET
Fox News Digital reached out to the White House for comment.
The dinner was rescheduled from its April 25 date after a gunman stormed the security perimeter and fired a shot in an attempt to assassinate the president.
Following Trump’s remarks at the event, in which he poked fun at members of the press while candidly addressing his relationship with the media, Jones offered a harsh rebuke to the president’s comments.
"I think the worst thing you can say is that it just wasn’t funny at all," Jones said. "It just wasn’t funny. It was mean and small. But you can be mean and small and funny. This was mean and small and not funny."
Jones went on to criticize Trump’s topic choice at the annual gala, and instead suggested the president should have touched upon political issues while addressing attendees.
"And he didn’t talk about any American, besides himself and his enemies," Jones continued. "There are people at home who can’t figure out how to pay for gas. There are people at home who worry about their nephew who’s serving overseas.
WATCH: Trump makes playful jab at Peter Doocy during WHCA Dinner
"There’s people at home who have real problems, who would love to see somebody reflect their reality and maybe make fun of some of their enemies, some of their problems. He missed the entire opportunity to talk to those people."
Last week, the CNN correspondent and longtime progressive Democrat appeared to distance himself from far-left activists gaining traction within his own party.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE COVERAGE OF MEDIA AND CULTURE
"Yes, we want our Democratic Party to be a big tent. But we don’t need 'party poopers.’ So STOP pooping in the punch bowl — and telling us the turds are ice cubes," Jones said on X.
In the same post, Jones condemned the platform held by Democratic Socialist of America (DSA) activists, and warned that their positions on Hamas, prisons and immigration risk further dividing the Democratic Party.
"Supporting Hamas is not progressive. 'No police, no prisons, no borders' is not progressive. Celebrating the murder of Israeli civilians is not progressive. These ideas are REGRESSIVE," Jones said.
He went on to argue the difference between both "progressive" and "regressive" platforms within the party.
"On the other hand, if everybody could see a doctor when they got sick, get a good, free education and breathe clean air — would that represent progress? Yes. Those are PROGRESSIVE ideas," Jones added. "They are NOT the same thing. And the difference matters."
Bret Michaels hospitalized after 7-day medical ordeal left him playing through 'intense' pain
Bret Michaels is sharing a health update with his fans after opening up about his issue with a kidney stone last weekend.
The 63-year-old musician took to Facebook on Wednesday, July 22, to share with his followers that he is in recovery following a procedure to remove a kidney stone that would not pass on its own.
"On this #WisdomWednesday , the first thing I learned is complete gratitude for the frontline workers, doctors and nurses who this week have recently taken care of me, as the kidney stone (after almost 7 days of waiting it out) would not pass," he wrote. "The pain became intense but, as usual, I played through Charleston WV, Grantville PA and a special private show at Fairchild AFB in Spokane for veterans, active duty and their families."
The morning after playing the third concert in which he pushed through the pain, Michaels was admitted to the hospital because "the pain became too much when the stone would not pass."
JON BON JOVI ABRUPTLY ENDS MADISON SQUARE GARDEN SHOW AFTER HEALTH SETBACK
He then assured his followers that "the operation has been done and is complete & I’m out of post-op recovery" and that he hopes to be back on his feet as soon as possible.
"I’m doing everything within my power to feel better and continue playing great shows for great fans when I’ve got a complete clean bill of health," he said. "Just want to say on this #WisdomWednesday that I am wise enough to know how important family, friends, fans, doctors and nurses play such a vital role in our everyday health."
In the photo shared on Facebook, the "Talk Dirty to Me" singer is seen lying in a hospital bed in an all-black outfit and a baseball cap on, as he is connected to monitors.
"Also just know, they eventually forced me out of my clothes & into a hospital gown lol as I had gone straight from the show to the hospital," he joked.
LIKE WHAT YOU'RE READING? CLICK HERE FOR MORE ENTERTAINMENT NEWS
Fans of the rock star were quick to wish him a speedy recovery in the comments section, with one writing, "Can’t keep a good man down brother. Keep on keeping on," while another added, "Glad you’re doing better, brother. Sending prayers and love."
He first shared that he was experiencing pain and discomfort because of the kidney stone following his show at Fairchild AFB in Spokane, writing on Instagram on July 19 that "the kidney stone was kicking my butt at the end of the show, but we weren’t gonna stop til we had nothing but a good time!"
CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE ENTERTAINMENT NEWSLETTER
Michaels recently made headlines when he shared his thoughts on his 26-year-old daughter, Raine, selling feet pics on a site called FeetFinder during an episode of "Calabasas Confidential" in June.
"I think FeetFinder's a brilliant, brilliant decision," he told her, according to People, after she asked him what he thought of the idea.
In addition to Raine, Michaels also shares 21-year-old Jorja with his longtime partner, Kristi Lynn Gibson.