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Sunken royal palace with Cleopatra link yields rare find tied to long-lost wonder of ancient world
Archaeologists recently announced the discovery of an ancient ring in a submerged harbor linked to Cleopatra — and it sheds light on a long-lost wonder of the ancient world.
The discovery was made in the submerged royal harbor of Alexandria, Egypt, and announced this month by the European Institute for Underwater Archaeology.
The ring — called a "perfect object" by an expert in the field — was found at the site of a royal palace on the submerged island of Antirhodos, part of Alexandria's ancient royal quarters linked to Cleopatra VII, Mark Antony and Julius Caesar.
7,000-YEAR-OLD BONES UNCOVERED AT CONSTRUCTION SITE IN STARTLING FIND
The bronze ring depicts the Lighthouse of Alexandria, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, officials said.
The ring is the first known signet ring — a type of ring used to stamp seals — featuring the landmark.
Built in the third century B.C., the lighthouse guided ships for centuries before earthquakes destroyed it over several centuries — with its final collapse occurring around the 14th century.
The age of the ring is unclear, but it "features iconography similar to that found on some 2nd century A.D. coins," the Oct. 7 release said.
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Pictures released by officials show a small, weathered ring with a rough, gold-colored surface and a faint engraving of the ancient lighthouse.
Franck Goddio, president of the European Institute for Underwater Archaeology and leader of the excavation team, emphasized the significance of where the ring was found.
"The discovery of the ring-signet is even more important as it has been excavated in the legendary palace of the Island of Antirhodos, that once was a center of power," Goddio said in a press release.
DIVERS UNCOVER ANCIENT TREASURES LINKED TO ROMAN GIANT WHO HELPED SHAPE AMERICAN HISTORY
The underwater excavation is "really kind of painstaking work," Alexandra F. Morris, an ancient history lecturer at Queen's University Belfast, told Fox News Digital.
"Everything has to be found, recorded and lifted by divers," she said.
The palace, which Cleopatra may have once used, could have later served as administrative offices, possibly overseeing operations at the Lighthouse of Alexandria, Morris said.
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"This could be a representation of that," she said, referring to the ring's possible connection to the lighthouse's administration.
While she cautioned that the age of the ring remains unknown, as it could date to either the Ptolemaic or Roman period, Morris said the artifact highlights the lighthouse's importance to the ancient city.
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"This lighthouse has now been shrunk down to sit on someone's finger and used to sign official paperwork," she said.
"It's basically showing that the lighthouse became the symbol of Alexandria, long after it was built."
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Beyond its historical significance, Morris said the ring could also help make Alexandria's underwater history more accessible to the public.
"I think this ring is really interesting because it provides us potentially with something [through] replicas or models that people can actually hold, as the city is so hard to access because it is underwater," said Morris, a museum professional.
"It's kind of a perfect object for touch-based displays, including for blind and low-vision visitors or people interested in the site."
Arizona man threatened with arrest for preaching at holiday festival files lawsuit
An Arizona street evangelist is suing the city of Tucson and challenging an event policy barring religious speech after police officers threatened to arrest him for discussing Jesus at an annual holiday festival.
David Hoffman has been evangelizing at public events for over a decade and views large public gatherings as crucial to his Christian ministry.
"What we do is we share the gospel with people that are most likely never going to go into a church, and we go to events and places where there's not already a Christian witness, and we have conversations," he told Fox News Digital.
For nearly ten years, Hoffman regularly attended Tuscon's Winterhaven Festival of Lights, a free holiday event where thousands of visitors walk through a residential neighborhood to view light displays. But during the December 2025 festival, Hoffman said city police officers barred him from sharing his faith and threatened him with criminal trespassing charges under new event rules.
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"Upon entering the event, we were told that we can't have any kind of religious expression," Hoffman told Fox News Digital. "They said that you can be there to participate in looking at the lights. But the moment, you know, we tried to talk to somebody or give out a gospel tract, that would lead to a violation of what they were enforcing."
According to a federal lawsuit filed on Hoffman’s behalf by First Liberty Institute, the city of Tucson adopted an event solicitation policy last year prohibiting "religious, political, or issue-based leafleting" with signs posted at entrances relaying these prohibitions and warning that violators could face removal and trespassing charges enforced by Tucson police.
When Hoffman attempted to speak with attendees, officers approached Hoffman and said he could not be inside "doing the preaching." When Hoffman asked if his volume was an issue, an officer explained that "it's the sending of your message, which is one of the prohibited rules," according to the complaint.
The officer went on to tell Hoffman that asking someone if they would like to discuss Jesus amounted to "sermonizing," adding that "once you start sermonizing, that becomes a problem," according to the complaint.
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"At one point, Hoffman is stopped by a couple of police," First Liberty legal counsel Garrett Bell told Fox News Digital. "And he says, 'Well, what if someone comes up to me and asks me, how can I be saved? Can I respond to them?' And the officers told him, 'No, if you want to have that conversation with them, you're going to have to step outside the perimeter of the event.'"
According to the complaint, officers and an event organizer told Hoffman the speech restrictions were city policy established in response to past complaints. After repeated warnings, four uniformed Tucson police officers escorted Hoffman out of the festival under threat of arrest.
Officers told him he could preach in a designated "free expression zone" outside the festival perimeter, according to the complaint.
"When I saw it, it kind of looked like a cage because they had these barricades set up, and they said, 'You can be in that corner over there,'" Hoffman said. "And it felt kind of, just really, it felt funny because it's like, you know, putting the Christians over kind of in this specific area."
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First Liberty alleges the barricaded zone was set up alongside a busy street which made engaging in conversations with people passing by impractical.
The legal group says commercial food vendors, live performers, and 15-passenger "pedal pub" party bikes playing amplified music were permitted throughout the festival area.
In December 2025, First Liberty sent a demand letter to Tucson on Hoffman's behalf, warning the city that its policy was unconstitutional, but the group said it received no response. First Liberty filed a complaint against the city this week, alleging the policy violates Hoffman's First Amendment rights to free speech and the free exercise of religion, the Fourteenth Amendment's Due Process Clause and the Arizona Constitution.
The complaint asks for preliminary and permanent injunctive relief to allow Hoffman to share the gospel at this year's event, and a declaratory judgment that the policy is unconstitutional.
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"This event is happening on city streets and city sidewalks, and in constitutional law, those areas, along with, say, a public park, offer the most constitutional protection of any location you can be at," Bell said.
He also argued that the city's policy singles out religious viewpoints. "You can talk about the weather. You can talk about the Arizona Cardinals or the U of A Wildcats, but you can't talk about religion," he added.
"Censoring a Christian message during a public Christmas event is malicious, unconstitutional, and absurd," Nate Kellum, senior counsel at First Liberty, said in a statement. "A public street festival is just that – a public space where citizens can visit, walk around, and converse with each other about different ideas. The government cannot ban only religious messages."
The complaint names the city of Tucson and Tucson PD officers Matt Alexander and William Leonard, in their individual capacities, as defendants.
The city of Tucson said it does not comment on pending litigation.
The Tucson PD did not immediately return Fox News Digital's request for comment.
Poison drummer Rikki Rockett recorded messages for his kids as cancer threatened to take his tongue
Poison drummer Rikki Rockett was staring down a terrifying possibility as he battled cancer: Doctors might have to remove his tongue.
After chemotherapy and radiation failed to stop the disease, the rocker began recording messages for his young children so they could remember the sound of his voice.
"I was recording pieces of information for my kids so they could watch it, because the next step was to cut my tongue out if they had to," Rockett (born Richard Allan Ream) told Fox News Digital. "And I wanted them to know what I sounded like and my advice to them growing up, and I wanted them to hear it from me. I wanted them to understand what I was, what I thought I was or would become."
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Rockett, whose weight dropped to 161 pounds during treatment, said the possibility of losing his tongue left him fearing he might not survive much longer.
"I would've most likely had a feeding tube," he said. "I don't think I would've lived much longer. It would've added another year or two. Some people do make it. Some people get all of that done and live for a long time. But I think a lot of times, with the way it was going with me, I don't think I would've survived, quite honestly."
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Now 65, Rockett says he has been free of cancer for a decade. His memoir, "Ghost Notes: My Life in Poison," chronicles his rise to stardom during the decadent '80s and his grueling health battle.
WATCH: POISON DRUMMER RIKKI ROCKETT RECALLS HEARTBREAKING CANCER BATTLE
In 2015, Rockett said he and his family developed sore throats. They were all prescribed antibiotics, but while everyone else recovered, his symptoms persisted.
Rockett returned to the doctor, who examined his nose and throat with a scope. During the examination, the doctor spotted something suspicious.
"I don't know if it's cancer, but it's suspicious, and we got to do a biopsy," Rockett recalled his doctor telling him. "My life changed at that very second."
According to the Head and Neck Cancer Alliance, Rockett was diagnosed with HPV-related throat cancer in 2015. The disease affected the base of his tongue.
According to his memoir, Rockett had experienced a sore throat and a swollen lymph node for more than a month. It hurt every time he swallowed. After doctors diagnosed him with cancer, he received radiation and chemotherapy.
"Before long, I couldn't eat solid food anymore," he wrote. "My weight dropped dramatically because all I could manage was soup, shakes and water. Eventually, I couldn't eat or drink anything at all."
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Rockett wrote: "I've got throat cancer. At its worst, I struggle to swallow even a gulp of water. This morning, my son had to watch tears running down my cheeks as I tried to eat a spoonful of soup. He looked terrified."
Rockett told Fox News Digital that he eventually "wound up in stage 4." For three months, he received radiation five days a week, along with chemotherapy weekly, but he said the treatment failed. Doctors then discussed removing his tongue, according to Rockett.
Rockett was terrified. In his memoir, he wrote that he believed he had only a "40 or 50 percent chance of living." But he refused to give up.
"Even with all the treatment, it still didn't work," he recalled. "So then I got on an experimental drug combination at UC San Diego Moores Cancer Center, and it worked incredibly well. It's one of those things where, if it works, it's amazing. If it doesn't, you kind of go, 'Wow, maybe I wasted my time.' So I had to roll the dice. And I did. And when I rolled it, thankfully, it came out in my favor."
According to UC San Diego Health, Rockett participated in a clinical trial involving a combination of two drugs: pembrolizumab (Keytruda) and epacadostat. Rockett was declared free of throat cancer in July 2016.
The treatment took a toll. At one point, Rockett's tongue swelled so much that he feared he might choke. Soon, however, a scan offered hope.
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"The crazy thing was that my first PET scan showed that 90 percent of the cancer was already gone," Rockett wrote. "And by the second PET scan, it was all gone. It was as if the angels had come down and blessed me. I mean, it was unbelievable."
Rockett wrote that his doctor seemed just as surprised by the results but explained that treatment needed to continue to reduce the risk of the cancer returning.
But Rockett's health challenges were far from over.
"Some eight months into the process, nothing was coming up, but I was getting high white blood cell counts," Rockett wrote.
"So, they got concerned about that, and to cut a long story short, I wound up with something called CML, chronic myeloid leukemia, and it’s a predisposition thing. It’s a translocation between BCR-ABL, the chromosomes. You’re prone to it if, like me, you have the Philadelphia chromosome. Of course, it absolutely freaked me out. I mean, I just went through one cancer, and now I was facing another one."
Chronic myeloid leukemia is a type of blood cancer often associated with an acquired genetic abnormality known as the Philadelphia chromosome.
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"The hematologist, however, took everything in stride, and when we met, she was super calm," he wrote. "She told me, ‘You picked the best leukemia you could. It’s very treatable, and sometimes curable.’ Dr. Jaimeson would be my doctor for the very long foreseeable future, and I was blessed to have her."
"So, all that happened was that she put me on new medication, which I’m still on. It has some nasty side effects, but the best side effect is that CML has been 100 percent in remission! Zero detection for a number of years now! There must be a reason why I’m still here, I think to this day."
Looking back, Rockett told Fox News Digital his medical team "actually saved my life."
Rockett still lives with the lasting effects of his treatment. But a decade after his throat cancer battle, he's focused less on what the disease took from him and more on what he lived to see — his children growing up.
"Sometimes my voice gets rough, or I get dry," he said. "I get very dry because my salivary glands got toasted with the radiation. But I’m cancer-free, and I’ve been cancer free for 10 years."
Rockett has no plans to slow down. He's been keeping busy performing with his band, Rockett Mafia.
"I’m not out of gas yet," he said with a smile. "I still got stuff to do. And I love playing because I want my kids to see me, and they have. They’ve been to some Poison concerts. I wanted them to see me, and they did. I got that wish."
For Rockett, beating cancer meant getting the time he once feared he wouldn’t have. And he's not wasting a single second, he insisted.
"A big part of it was fighting for my kids," he reflected. "There’s no question that was a big chunk of my fight."
Hailey Ostrom hits golf course in middle of her 31 days of Halloween costumes, Veronika Rajek is back & meat
Golfer Hailey Ostrom will never be accused of being unable to multitask. Not when she has multiple defenses of summer in a bikini armed with her golf club under her belt.
And not when she's hitting the golf course out in Arizona in the middle of her 31 days of Halloween costumes either. Which, unlike Paige Spiranac, I'm happy to report she is still doing.
I put my Big J suspenders on for this one.
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I thought I remembered seeing Hailey's Halloween announcement earlier this month, but I wanted to confirm that it was indeed from this year after seeing her smashing golf balls on an Arizona course.
Sometimes you get wrapped up in things and your focus turns toward other types of content. I wouldn’t go as far as saying that I doubted Hailey Ostrom's ability to multitask.
That didn’t happen. I thought perhaps she could have shifted her focus, as it appears Paige has done.
Now to be fair to Paige, she did hit the golf course recently in an interesting Willy Wonka Halloween costume. However, her annual 31 days of churning out Halloween costumes appears to have come to an end.
Hailey, and yes, I do ignore the Boston Red Sox fandom because I can separate the art from the artist, kicked off her 31 days of Halloween with a classic Velma from Scooby-Doo themed costume.
Last week was a rough week for the Top 25. This week was more of the same. While technically another rough week for the Top 25, the Top 10, had it particularly rough.
Following in the footsteps of Texas last week, the new No. 1 Georgia was bitten by the apparent curse of the top spot. The Bulldogs were beaten at home by unranked Auburn 27-24. They weren’t the only team to lose for the first time this season.
No. 2 Notre Dame lost to No. 8 BYU on the road. No. 5 Indiana was inches away from a potential win over No. 4 Ohio State at home, but ended up losing for the first time in almost two years.
No. 6 Alabama lost for the second time this season. They couldn’t get the job done on the road against No. 14 Tennessee. Another team who added a second loss to their record was No. 7 Texas.
That's two in a row for the Longhorns to unranked opponents as Florida went into Austin on Saturday and left with a 27-24 win. Back-to-back losses to unranked teams is a work of art to someone like me with a team that may not win another game all season.
There were a couple of positives mixes in there for the Top 10, but who really wants to be ranked No. 1 right now after two straight losses to unranked opponents?
COLLEGE FOOTBALL FACES ANOTHER CLOCK CONTROVERSY AFTER BYU UPSETS NOTRE DAME
- CF Cornhusker 🌽 in Kansas writes:
Homebrew Bill,
The Huskers loss to Indiana was indeed a heartbreaker. One field goal away from taking the Hoosiers into OT, where who knows what might have happened. Nebraska put a scare into the Hoosiers and came away with a quality loss. Not much comfort but I'm sure your grilled pork chops did the trick. Cheer up, Bill, there’s always the hated Ohio State.
(A win against the Buckeyes would make my year!!!)
Hope you have a pièce de résistance ready for the grill for the OSU game.
- Chris writes:
The Championship Drought Continues as October Magic Deserts the Yankees Again- https://www.wsj.com/sports/baseball/new-york-yankees-aaron-judge-rays-9d177a49?st=ee6q8n&reflink=desktopwebshare_permalink
SeanJo
How could I miss this? It's a slightly less miserable version of my childhood, which came during their last championship drought, and included multiple losing seasons.
This drought doesn’t have the losing seasons, as far as the records are concerned, and miserable teams. Yet the result is the same.
Over the last several seasons, they continue to make the same mistakes. I'm not expecting anything different as long as the same people are running things.
- Johnny L writes:
As a 30 year veteran of tailgating in the south parking lot at Soldier Field, (82-12) it was my unfortunate honor, to figure out a proper tribute, this Sunday, for the passing of one of footballs most iconic figures. Iron Mike Ditka. Mike loved his steak, so there was really only one answer.
The king of steaks. Porterhouse at 700 degrees, and a few ears of BAcorn on the side.
A Camacho Triple Maduro Robusto for desert (optional).
Happy trails coach. Thanks for the Super Bowl.
SeanJo
You nailed the tribute to Da Coach. Honoring the legend with your meat is the only way to truly pay your respects. Steak is a perfect choice as is BAcorn, which I've never had before and now must try.
It looks like it all went well. RIP Iron Mike Dikta.
-------------------------
That's it for this Sunday. We have another London game this morning, which, as much as I love football, needs to end. We don’t need games or teams overseas.
My Panthers have a big opportunity ahead of them in Philadelphia against a wounded Eagles team. I think this is a game they can and need to win. We'll see if they can keep the offense rolling coming off of a bye.
I'm off next Sunday on a family trip. I'll see everyone when I get back. Keep the emails with and without your meat in them coming. I'll put them aside for when I return.
The inbox is open at sean.joseph@outkick.com. Go follow me on Twitter and over on Instagram and feel free to slide into the DMs.
The one lesson every parent should teach their child after the Bend school shooting
Three children and a teacher were killed on Oct. 15 at Silver Rail Elementary School in Bend, Oregon, just 20 minutes from our home in central Oregon. Four precious lives were stolen, leaving families facing a grief no parent, spouse, or loved one should ever have to endure. Children who should be coming home to their families will never walk through those doors again. A teacher who devoted a life to educating and caring for children is gone.
Among the critically injured is 7-year-old Saylor, a child who had previously been honored in Bend as a "Sparrow" through a program that supports children facing serious medical challenges. Already familiar with adversity, she is now fighting for her life after being shot in the face. Our hearts break for Saylor and for all the other victims of this devastating violence.
Our community and our nation are in mourning.
As an anti-bullying specialist and expert witness, I've witnessed more than 20,000 students around the world publicly apologize for bullying and related behavior. Some of these apologies have helped prevent students from harming themselves or others.
We don't know the motives of the 16-year-old shooter. We don't know whether he was bullied at Silver Rail or any other school. But this tragedy raises questions about a destructive pattern that requires entire communities—not just teachers and schools—to confront bullying. After all, bullying is a cultural problem, not merely a "school problem."
The Secret Service's report, "Protecting America's Schools," examined 41 targeted school attacks. Among the 35 attackers whose backgrounds were analyzed—all male—80% had experienced bullying. For 57%, that bullying was persistent.
There is no evidence at this point that bullying played any role in the Silver Rail attack. But research into past targeted school attacks shows why bullying remains one of the behaviors communities should take seriously.
Each time our nation reels from another school shooting, a dangerous misunderstanding is often treated as fact: The shooter must be severely mentally ill. Yet most people with severe mental illness are not violent. Equating psychiatric diagnoses with dangerousness stigmatizes people who need care and distracts from the specific behaviors that should concern us.
Having worked with countless targets of bullying for more than 25 years, I've witnessed how persistent abuse can leave children emotionally inflamed. Some turn their pain inward, while others express it outwardly through anger, aggression and sometimes violence. Too many are expected to endure a level of persistent abuse that no adult would tolerate.
Telling a child to ignore cruelty is not intervention. Admonishing a child to "turn the other cheek" in the face of relentless abuse is one of the most tortured applications of Scripture. Requiring an apology without checking whether the abuse has stopped is not accountability. Moving the targeted child to another classroom or school—an all-too-common practice—while leaving the aggressor unchecked only deepens the injustice and resentment.
POLICE DISPTACH AUDIO RELEASED AFTER OREGON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL SHOOTING
Students need trustworthy adults and clear reporting options, including anonymous reporting. They also need protection against retaliation. When reporting makes life worse, children learn to remain silent precisely when adults most need information.
What most people don't understand is that bystanders possess the greatest potential power in the theater of bullying. Bullies often seek an audience, and that audience can either reward their cruelty through laughter, encouragement, or silence—or help stop it through courageous action. When witnesses intervene safely, they can shift the balance of power in favor of the targeted child.
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To help break the connection between persistent bullying and the risk of school violence, we need a national commitment that begins at the dinner table. We must expand our family values to include a simple pledge: When our children witness bullying, they will take at least one of three actions:
1. Comfort the targeted child afterward.
2. Report—not tattle—what they saw or heard.
3. Intervene directly, when safe, using assertive but nonviolent words.
Have this conversation with your family today.
Because right now, while adults cry, mourn, and thank God their own children are safe, thousands of other children are carrying emotionally inflamed hearts. They, too, are precious to God. Compassionate bystander intervention can help ease their suffering, reminding them that the cruelty they endure is undeserved, that they are not defined by it, and that they are loved.
We won't stop every school shooting. But we can stop complacency. That begins when we teach our children that witnessing bullying carries a responsibility to act safely and compassionately.
Bullying does not have to be an ordinary part of growing up. And standing against it should become an ordinary part of raising our children.
The nine key races that will decide who controls the Senate, and where they stand
Democrats have expanded their once-narrow path to reclaiming the Senate majority with just over two weeks until Election Day, but they'll need to win several competitive races to take control of the chamber.
If Democrats ride a massive blue wave in the midterm elections, they could end up with 52 or even 53 seats in the next Senate. But if Republicans out-perform the polls, they could hold their majority, which currently stands at 53-47.
Here's a look at the current battlefield and both parties' routes to securing a Senate majority in the midterms.
The latest Power Rankings point to Democrats and Republicans each taking 47 seats in the midterms, leaving six races rated as true toss-ups. Additionally, three races are rated as leaners — one step shy of a toss-up. These nine showdowns will likely determine whether the Democrats make a net gain of four seats to win control of the Senate or if the GOP holds the majority.
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"Nine races will determine control of the Senate, and on the polling alone, you could call any of them toss-ups," said Remy Numa, a Fox News contributor who steers the network's Power Rankings.
The GOP is fighting political history, as the party in power in Washington has traditionally lost seats during midterm election years. Republicans also face a challenging political climate fueled by persistent inflation Americans see at the grocery store, high gas prices tied to what polls show is an unpopular war with Iran and President Donald Trump's increasingly negative approval ratings.
With Republicans controlling the seats in six of the nine competitive races in the Power Rankings, the GOP is playing more defense than the Democrats.
The six toss-up states are Alaska, where Sen. Dan Sullivan is seeking re-election against Democratic challenger and former Rep. Mary Peltola; Iowa, where Rep. Ashley Hinson is trying to keep retiring Sen. Joni Ernst's seat in GOP hands against Democratic state Rep. Josh Turek; and Maine, where longtime Republican Sen. Susan Collins is running for re-election against former state Senate President Troy Jackson, the Democratic challenger.
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Also on the list is Ohio, where appointed GOP Sen. Jon Husted is running to serve the final two years of the term won in 2022 by now-Vice President JD Vance. He's facing former longtime Democratic Sen. Sherrod Brown. And in Texas, state Attorney General Ken Paxton is battling Democratic state Rep. James Talarico in the race to succeed longtime GOP Sen. John Cornyn, who was ousted by Paxton in a bitter Republican primary.
Democrats are playing defense in Michigan, the sixth toss-up, where nominee Abdul El-Sayed is trying to keep party control of retiring Democratic Sen. Gary Peters' seat, as he faces former GOP Rep. Mike Rogers.
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Democrats are also on defense in New Hampshire, where Rep. Chris Pappas is aiming to keep retiring Sen. Jeanne Shaheen's seat blue against former GOP Sen. John E. Sununu. The Power Rankings rate the race "Lean Democrat."
It's a similar story in Minnesota, where Democratic Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan is trying to keep retiring Sen. Tina Smith's seat in party hands.
But the Power Rankings this past week shifted the race in the blue-leaning state toward the GOP, from Likely Democrat to Lean Democrat, as Republican nominee Michele Tafoya appears to gain traction.
DEMOCRACY ’26: STAY UP TO DATE WITH THE FOX NEWS ELECTION HUB
Meanwhile, the GOP is on defense in red-leaning Kansas, where Republican Sen. Roger Marshall faces a difficult re-election fight against Democratic challenger Adam Hamilton, a pastor. The Power Rankings rate the race Lean Republican.
Numa, pointing to Kansas, Minnesota and New Hampshire, said that "the voter profiles and histories of those states are keeping them at 'Lean D' and 'Lean R' on the forecast, but this map has expanded, and with the exception of the North Star State, mostly into red territory."
Meanwhile, two states are now pretty much off the table for the GOP.
Georgia was a top Republican target when the 2026 cycle began, but Democratic Sen. Jon Ossoff holds a solid lead over GOP challenger Rep. Mike Collins in the southeastern battleground. Republican outside groups have cut their spending significantly in Georgia, and the Fox News Power Rankings rate the race as Likely Democrat.
In neighboring North Carolina, Republicans appear to have conceded the seat held by retiring GOP Sen. Thom Tillis. Republican groups have pulled the plug on spending on behalf of GOP nominee Mike Whatley, who trails former Gov. Roy Cooper, the Democratic nominee, in polling. The Fox News Power Rankings also rate this race as Likely Democrat.
The Democrats win the majority if they run the table by holding Georgia, Michigan, Minnesota and New Hampshire, and flip North Carolina as well as at least three of the five GOP-controlled toss-up states.
"Senate Democrats are in the strongest position yet to win the majority – with multiple paths to flip GOP-held seats and growing momentum across the map," Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand of New York, the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee chair, touted in a recent statement.
Conversely, Republicans would keep control of the chamber by holding at least three of the toss-ups where they're playing defense. A 50-50 Senate would remain in GOP hands, thanks to the tie-breaking vote of Vice President JD Vance.
Gillibrand's counterpart, National Republican Senatorial Committee Chair Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina, remains optimistic.
"I think it's going very well for us," Scott said Thursday in an interview on Fox News "America Reports." "The momentum, frankly, is with us, not against us."
The GOP majority could be bolstered if the party goes on offense. While chances of Sununu flipping New Hampshire appear to be receding, Republicans are optimistic Rogers can top El-Sayed in Michigan. Trump is expected to hold a rally with Rogers in the Great Lakes battleground later this month.
Meanwhile, Scott has his eyes on a flip in Minnesota.
"Michele Tafoya is running a very independent campaign, lots of traction," he told Fox News. "I think we close that gap. And if there's an October surprise, Minnesota goes Republican."
William Shatner finds answer to 'What the f--- is heavy metal?' after forming new band at 95
William Shatner is showing no signs of slowing down as he prepares to front a heavy metal band at age 95.
In addition to his decades-long career as an actor, Shatner is also an accomplished musician, who has released 11 studio albums encompassing a wide range of genres including spoken word, rock, progressive rock, Christmas and country releases.
During an interview with Fox News Digital, Shatner, who recently partnered with over-the-counter hearing aid maker Audien Hearing for a new campaign, shared his reaction when his music label Cleopatra Records first approached him earlier this year about making a heavy metal album.
WILLIAM SHATNER SAYS HE'S 'TAKING CARE OF BUSINESS' AT 95: 'THE LEAST OF ALL I WANT DO IS DIE'
"I said, ‘What the f--- is heavy metal?’" the "Star Trek" icon recalled.
"And that's the title of the album, ‘What the F is Heavy Metal,’" Shatner added.
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Shatner told Fox News Digital that he teamed up with his longtime creative collaborator and friend, author Robert Sharenow, for the project. The two previously worked together on five albums featuring autobiographical lyrics and spoken-word performances.
"So we wrote six songs for the album," Shatner said. "And I laid down my track."
WATCH: WILLIAM SHATNER, 95, ANSWERS ‘WHAT THE F--- IS HEAVY METAL?' WITH NEW ALBUM
In addition to six original songs, Shatner said that "What the F is Heavy Metal" will feature covers with contributions from more than 50 musicians,
"We've got one number in the album that's gonna be out in the wintertime called ‘What the F is Heavy Metal,’" Shatner said. "All of a sudden, 50, I'm told 50 heavy metal musicians all volunteer to be on this album."
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The musicians included Queen's Brian May, who performed a guitar solo for one of the album's tracks titled "Rage." Shatner explained that "Rage" features the famous line "Rage, rage against the dying of the light" from the 1951 poem "Do not go gentle into that good night," written by Welsh poet Dylan Thomas.
While speaking with Fox News Digital, Shatner recalled that he was later invited to perform at Riot Fest, an annual three-day punk rock music festival held at Douglass Park in Chicago, Illinois. In a July social media post, the organizers of Riot Fest announced that Shatner would debut his heavy metal band The *uckers at the festival, noting that they had tried to book him for over a decade.
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The "Boston Legal" alum said that his label tapped five musicians to form his new heavy metal band. The all-star rock and heavy metal lineup includes guitarists Marcus Nand and Britt Lightning, bassist Phil Soussan and drummer Fred Aching.
"They put together a group of fabulous musicians," Shatner said. "We call ourselves The *uckers for, you know, ‘What the f--- is heavy metal.’'"
The band made its live debut in Chicago on Sept. 19 and performed at Riot Fest the following day. The *uckers played original songs including "Rage," "Sky" and "One Fear" alongside covers of Ozzy Osbourne's "Crazy Train," Motörhead's "Ace of Spades," and Metallica's "Enter Sandman."
"We went to Riot Fest … and was a huge success, huge," Shatner recalled. "They were cheering and the reviews and the people…so it proved to me the viability of ‘What the F is Heavy Metal.'"
After performing with The *uckers and making his heavy metal album, Shatner said he has an answer to his original question.
"It is the beat of life," he said. "It is such an energetic way of doing music. It enlivens your life. It stirs you up. It makes you pay attention."
WATCH: WILLIAM SHATNER SAYS HEAVY METAL ‘ENLIVENS’ HIS LIFE AS HE FRONTS BAND AT 95
Shatner explained that his approach to heavy metal extends beyond the music itself. For the album, he said he incorporated fresh takes on the lyrics of several classic songs, including Metallica’s "Enter Sandman," which he believes contains darker themes beneath its familiar melody.
"I've reinterpreted even the cover songs," he said.
Shatner said his version of "Enter Sandman" focuses on the sinister implications of the song’s lyrics rather than treating the Sandman as a harmless bedtime figure.
"It's a total reinterpretation of the Sandman," he said. "It is amazing."
While Shatner is embracing the volume of heavy metal, the project also connects to a more personal issue. The actor is partnering with Audien Hearing on a campaign about hearing health after experiencing tinnitus and hearing loss himself.
Shatner recalled that his hearing challenges began decades ago on the set of "Star Trek." During the filming of an explosion scene featuring him alongside his co-star Leonard Nimoy, the stage doors were accidentally left closed, preventing the blast from dissipating properly.
He told Fox News Digital that the two actors were taken to a doctor after their ears began ringing. Shatner said that he did not immediately realize that the noise had become permanent. The Canada native recalled that while walking on the beach one day, he noticed that the hiss of the retreating waves never completely disappeared.
"I heard the hiss, but the hiss never went away," he said. "It was always hissing."
Shatner said he eventually learned to live with the tinnitus through a process known as habituation. He also estimated that he has lost roughly 20% to 30% of his hearing and said hearing aids have helped him rediscover everyday sounds.
"The dog claws on the floor, the creak of this rocking chair — all the panoply of sounds that go to make up the richness of the world around us, we’re using hearing," he said.
Shatner's hearing challenges have not stopped him from playing heavy metal. However, he said the loud music can temporarily intensify the tinnitus, which he noticed after performing at Riot Fest.
"Now I'm fitted with earphones, right? And the sound would have been blasting in anyway, but it's heavy metal sound," he said. "I'm blasting in on my tinnitus."
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"So there is this noise," Shatner continued. "Either I'm going to perform with the noise or I'm not going to perform."
"And my tinnitus is just coming back down now," he added. "It was hissing so loudly being subjected to that sound."
WATCH: WILLIAM SHATNER SAYS HE PERFORMED THROUGH ‘LOUD’ TINNITUS DURING HEAVY-METAL DEBUT AT 95
Despite the challenges that come with performing through tinnitus, Shatner said he is moving ahead with the album. He told Fox News Digital that the tracks have already been recorded, but he plans to listen to the completed music and determine whether he needs to make any changes to his performance.
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"In effect, the album has been made, but I'm going in a week or two to listen to it to see how much of an adjustment in my performance I need to do with these musicians, who are playing in an area that I really don't know," he said.
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"I want to see if my performance needs to be adjusted to their tempo and their meaning of the heavy metal," Shatner continued. "So that's what's going to happen."
"This is going to be a major thing in heavy metal," he added. "'What the F Is Heavy Metal,'" with 50 of the greatest people, including Brian May, on the album."
Former NFL QB Sean Salisbury wants officials to face postgame questions just like players and coaches
NFL players and coaches have to answer questions after games, usually while they're still angry about whatever went wrong. Former NFL quarterback Sean Salisbury wants officials getting that same treatment when they're the ones who made the mistake.
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"I want to know what they saw on the field immediately after the game, when their emotions were up, just like the players and coaches," Salisbury told OutKick.
We talked about missed calls, but also about the recent confrontations between officials and players. Watching some of those exchanges, I wondered why the people responsible for keeping things under control were getting so worked up themselves.
"It's like officials are instigating certain situations," Salisbury said.
Salisbury doesn't want to wait for somebody at the league office to explain a missed call the next day. He wants to hear from the person who made the decision, while the game is still fresh.
The NFL has what's called a pool interview process where reporters covering a game can request an explanation of a particular call. A designated pool reporter asks the questions, and a transcript of the answers is distributed to the rest of the media. That's where some of the referee explanations you read in game stories come from.
But I'd like to see officials take questions on camera after games as routinely as players and coaches do. If a quarterback has to talk about why he threw a crucial fourth-quarter interception, or a coach has to face a grilling about a questionable fourth-down decision, then a referee can explain why he missed an obvious call.
Salisbury repeatedly expressed respect for the job officials do. But he's frustrated by mistakes he believes should be obvious without somebody needing to slow down a replay and draw circles on the screen.
"You can't miss the ones that the naked eye can see," he said. "You just can't. That's their gig."
He also wondered whether replay has made some officials more hesitant to make a call themselves. Salisbury described it as a "security blanket," suggesting that knowing there's another opportunity to get something right can affect the initial decision.
Salisbury pointed to the NFL’s recent suspensions of two officials as an example of the league holding them accountable. On Oct. 5, it suspended line judge Jeff Seeman for two games and referee Adrian Hill for one following separate Week 4 confrontations with players.
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Seeman was caught on video appearing to yell "F–k you" at Cardinals tight end Trey McBride during Arizona's game against the Giants. Hill yelled at Vikings linebacker Eric Wilson after Wilson was accidentally knocked into him during Minnesota's game against Miami. Wilson later said Hill accepted his apology and explanation.
During our conversation, Salisbury said officials are held to a higher standard. I told him I'd describe it a little differently.
Players should be held to a high standard, too. They're on television in front of millions of people and they make a lot of money to play football. But an official has a different responsibility when an argument starts, because he's supposed to be the person who can settle it.
I umpire high school baseball during the spring, and I've had plenty of parents chirp at me about calls. Do people say things that get under your skin? Of course. I don't get to start cursing at them because I've decided I've heard enough.
Dealing with that frustration is part of the job I agreed to do.
That's why I don't find "officials are human" to be much of an explanation for these confrontations. Sure, they're human. So am I. Being annoyed doesn't relieve you of the responsibility to keep your own emotions out of the game.
Salisbury agreed with that distinction.
"Your job is not there to pour gasoline," he said.
He said the best officials know how to settle a confrontation before it gets worse. Sometimes that means calming a player down, and sometimes it means being firm. Either way, the official has to keep the game moving without turning a disagreement into something personal.
And getting into it with a player can follow an official long after that particular argument ends. Salisbury pointed out that the next disputed call might then look personal to the team that was just arguing with him.
"You start to think, well, if you miss a call later on against the team, well, he had it in for us," he said.
Salisbury also brought up gambling and the conspiracy theories that come with disputed calls. Fans who think an official just cost them a winning bet are already going to question what happened. Watching that official get into a shouting match with a player gives them something else to point to.
I'd much rather hear the official explain what he saw than spend the next day watching people guess at his motives. Put him on camera after the game, while the coach is still answering questions about the loss. And if the official got it wrong, he can say that, too.
"We hold players accountable. I think officials need to be held accountable," Salisbury said.
Human vs. ChatGPT NFL Week 6 betting picks: AI goes all-in on totals after another weekly win
OK, this is getting annoying.
ChatGPT beat me in NFL betting for the second straight week, going 3-2 while I finished 2-3. The robot added 0.94 units to its total, while I gave back 1.26. It also won our only head-to-head matchup, backing San Francisco while I took Seattle. That's three straight losses for me in games where we picked opposite sides.
Apparently, telling the robot I was proud of it last week was a mistake. Now it has confidence.
Before GPT gets too excited, though, I'm still the only one making money this season. I'm sitting at 13-11-1 and +1.26 units, while the machine is 11-14 and down 3.87 units. Yes, my lead is shrinking. No, I don't particularly want to talk about that.
What I would like to talk about is the Eagles covering as my latest "plug your nose and hit place bet" pick. Apparently, the bets I hate making are the ones I should be making more often (4-0 this year). There's probably a lesson in there somewhere, but knowing me, I'll ignore it.
Anyway, we've both got five more picks for Week 6. Let's see if I can give humanity something to celebrate again.
Both of us get five selections from the same odds board, with a maximum price of -120.
The stakes are adjusted so every winning bet produces one unit of profit. For example, -110 requires risking 1.10 units, while +110 requires 0.91 units. A push returns the stake and counts as zero units.
Odds were captured Thursday at 8 p.m. ET.
Before we get to the Week 6 picks, let’s review last week.
The Eagles coasted to an easy cover in a game where they never trailed by more than 7 and would have won the game outright if not for Nick Sirianni's terrible late-game decision-making. Basically, my Sunday peaked before the early-afternoon games started and never really got better.
I was way wrong about the Saints offense, as Tyler Shough threw for 96 yards in the loss. And I was even more wrong about the Patriots, who matched the entire 45-point total on their own. I stand by the Seahawks pick, and I’m still mad about Mike Macdonald calling an outside zone run from Seattle’s own 4-yard line with 18 seconds left in the first half. George Holani fumbled, and San Francisco recovered in the end zone.
GPT nailed Thursday Night Football as the nine-point underdog Bucs went into Dallas and upset the Cowboys. But it whiffed badly on the Raiders, who lost by 28. Yes, it got me on the 49ers-Seahawks bet, and I'm still mad about that fumble recovery in the end zone to close the first half.
Not to keep tooting GPT's horn, but since its abysmal 2-8 start (including 0-5 in Week 1), the robot is now 9-6 over the past three weeks.
DAN: 13-11-1, +1.26 units
GPT: 11-14, -3.87 units
Chicago Bears at Atlanta Falcons, Sunday at 1 p.m. ET
Dan’s analysis:
I just think this total is too high. Caleb Williams is back, but I think he's going to be cautious coming off his hamstring injury and not use his legs as much. I also think the Bears staff wants to keep him healthy by establishing the run early and often. The Falcons have been putting up points since Michael Penix Jr. returned from injury, but I think their offense is due for a step back. I can see both teams running the ball a ton and keeping the clock moving, so I'll take the under.
GPT’s analysis:
The high total and both teams’ rushing production give your under a credible foundation. Chicago has also converted just 42.9% of its red-zone trips into touchdowns, making an efficient shootout less dependable. My concern is the defensive personnel: Chicago is missing Montez Sweat, Dayo Odeyingbo and T.J. Edwards, while Atlanta’s cornerback injuries give the Bears a favorable passing matchup. Those absences create scoring opportunities on both sides. I see the under argument, but the competing injury effects kept this outside my five.
Los Angeles Chargers at Kansas City Chiefs, Sunday at 4:25 p.m. ET
Dan’s analysis:
This is the official "Dan Z.’s Plug Your Nose and Hit 'Place Bet' Bet of the Week" (that's trademarked and don't you dare try to steal it from me). I just can't quit the Chargers. I refuse to believe that a team led by Justin Herbert is completely incapable of scoring points. Also, the Chiefs are 4-0 and a team the public generally likes to bet. So, I'll fade the likely public money and back the Chargers (again), even though it's going to feel terrible hitting that "place bet" button.
GPT’s analysis:
Getting more than a touchdown is the strongest argument for Los Angeles, especially with a defense performing better than its 0-5 record suggests. Kansas City is also missing Rashee Rice and Josh Simmons. My concern is the Chargers’ depleted offensive line and turnover problems against a rested Chiefs team. Stalled possessions and short fields could help Kansas City build separation without consistently beating that defense. I prefer under 41.5, but your +7.5 still cashes in a 24–17 Chiefs victory. The hook makes this considerably more appealing than +7.
Buffalo Bills at Las Vegas Raiders, Sunday at 4:25 p.m. ET
Dan’s analysis:
I’m not sure if I can have two "plug your nose" picks in one week, but this is another one that could easily qualify (I mean I make the rules so I can whatever I want, but I digress). Basically, I've decided I'm just fading the best teams in the NFL this week (this theme isn't done). The Raiders came out firing at 3-0 before suffering a heartbreaking loss against the Chiefs in Week 4 and then getting boatraced by the Patriots in Week 5. But this is more about the Bills. Buffalo is coming off a thrilling overtime win over the Los Angeles Rams on Monday Night Football. It's tough to recover on a short week after an overtime game. Plus, the Bills are playing back-to-back games out west in the Pacific Time Zone. I think Las Vegas can keep this close enough to cover.
GPT’s analysis:
Buffalo’s vulnerable pass defense gives Kirk Cousins and Brock Bowers a route to keeping Las Vegas competitive. The Bills are also coming off a Monday night overtime game, strengthening the home underdog’s case. My hesitation is Las Vegas’ defense, which allows 140.6 rushing yards per game and faces Josh Allen and James Cook. Buffalo could score efficiently without needing its questionable receivers at full strength. I prefer over 53.5, which can cash whether the Raiders keep this close or Buffalo creates separation.
Dallas Cowboys at Green Bay Packers, Sunday Night Football
Dan’s analysis:
In all honesty, this is all about fading public perception. Dallas is coming off an ugly Thursday Night Football loss to a previously winless Tampa Bay team starting rookie quarterback Jalon Daniels. On the other side, the Packers smashed a shorthanded Chicago Bears team. Basically, everyone thinks the Cowboys are bad and the Packers are good. The answer lies somewhere in the middle, so I'll take the plus money with Dallas because I think they're going to win this game.
GPT’s analysis:
Dallas’ productive offense and three extra rest days offer the best case for your pick. Green Bay has also lost defensive tackles Javon Hargrave and Jonathan Ford to injured reserve, creating an opportunity for the Cowboys’ running game. My concern is Dallas’ defense, which ranks last in EPA allowed per play. Jordan Love and Green Bay’s receivers have a favorable matchup at home. The Cowboys can win this, but their defensive problems make the outright victory difficult to trust. I lean Green Bay -1, although neither side made my five.
Washington Commanders at San Francisco 49ers, Monday Night Football
Dan’s analysis:
I told you I was fading the best teams in the NFL this week, and this one certainly qualifies. Yes, San Francisco is coming off a big win over Seattle, but it was not the team's best performance. The 49ers turned the ball over three times and committed 8 penalties for 70 yards. They really only won because the Seahawks somehow managed to play worse (including one of the most puzzling coaching decisions of the year by Mike Macdonald). Washington is coming off a brutal tie against the Giants (a game that somehow had even worse coaching) and, yes, the overtime hurts. But the Commanders have an extra day to recover, which helps. I'm a big Jayden Daniels believer and I think the team is going to be motivated by last week's debacle. Motivated enough to keep it within a touchdown, at least.
GPT’s analysis:
Getting 7.5 gives Washington valuable protection against a seven-point loss. Jayden Daniels’ mobility provides a way to sustain drives, and San Francisco is without Deebo Samuel while Mike Evans and Christian Kirk remain questionable. My concern is Washington’s defense, which has allowed 95 second-half points through five games. Brock Purdy’s efficient offense is positioned to exploit that weakness as the game progresses. The hook helps, but Washington’s defensive inconsistency and the absence of leading rusher Jacory Croskey-Merritt kept this outside my five.
For full transparency, I used GPT-6.1 Sol, and set the thinking effort to Ultra (highest available). Then, I fed it the OddsChecker board as it appeared Thursday at 8 p.m. ET and gave it the following prompt:
"Pick your five best bets for Week 6 based on the odds provided. No bet can be priced worse than -120. Review every spread, total and moneyline that falls within those parameters and determine whether it belongs among your five picks. Explain exactly why you’re selecting each of the five bets. Also explain exactly why you’re passing on the eligible bets you don’t select. Use at least 10 different sources for each game so you have a broad understanding of everything surrounding each game. Before delivering the results, do a fact-check and ensure that everything is correct."
After nearly 10 minutes of thinking, here’s what it came up with:
Carolina Panthers at Philadelphia Eagles, Sunday at 1 p.m. ET
GPT’s analysis:
Carolina averages 30.3 points per game, while Tanner McKee gets DeVonta Smith and Dontayvion Wicks available against a Panthers defense missing both starting cornerbacks. Philadelphia’s offensive-line injuries and Saquon Barkley’s absence are the biggest concerns, but 39 doesn’t require a shootout. Carolina’s productive passing game can supply much of the scoring, and McKee has enough receiving help to contribute. I prefer the over to laying three with the Panthers because it can cash regardless of which team wins.
GPT’s projected score: Panthers 24, Eagles 17
Dan’s analysis:
Not gonna lie, I kind of love this pick. It's like GPT is taking a page out of my playbook: fade the obvious bets. I have to think the public is going to actually like the UNDER because of the Eagles losing Jalen Hurts, but the team's offense is actually returning several key players. Tanner McKee is capable enough to lead the Eagles to at least 20 points and if he does, I think this game probably does go OVER.
Tennessee Titans at Indianapolis Colts, Sunday at 1 p.m. ET
GPT’s analysis:
Tennessee has managed just 58 points in five games, and both Cam Ward and Daniel Jones average 5.8 yards per attempt. The Titans also allow only 3.54 yards per rush, giving them a way to limit Jonathan Taylor and force Indianapolis to rely on its struggling passing game. Tyler Warren’s questionable status adds receiving uncertainty. Indianapolis’ poor defense is the biggest concern, but 44.5 leaves room for Tennessee to improve without producing a high-scoring game. I prefer the under to trusting either offense against the spread.
GPT’s projected score: Colts 24, Titans 16
Dan’s analysis:
I don't have a lot to say here. The Titans offense has been abysmal and the Colts aren't lighting up the scoreboard. Plus, divisional games tend to be lower-scoring and more tightly contested. So, I guess I kinda like this bet?
New York Jets at New England Patriots, Sunday at 1 p.m. ET
GPT’s analysis:
New York averages 18.6 points and will be without Breece Hall, Adonai Mitchell and Dylan Parham, leaving an already limited offense with fewer options. Christian Gonzalez’s return helps New England contain Garrett Wilson, while the Jets’ pass rush presents a challenge for Drake Maye. A.J. Brown’s return and Maye’s effectiveness against blitzes are the strongest opposing arguments. Still, 43.5 offers room for a Patriots victory without another offensive outburst. I prefer the total to choosing which team covers the seven-point spread.
GPT’s projected score: Patriots 23, Jets 17
Dan’s analysis:
I mean, following my logic from the previous GPT under, I guess I kinda like this one too? The Patriots put up a ton of points the past two weeks, but their offense couldn't do anything in Weeks 1-3. The Jets are... the Jets. They haven't scored more than 24 points in a game this season and the Patriots defense is pretty good.
Buffalo Bills at Las Vegas Raiders, Sunday at 4:25 p.m. ET
GPT’s analysis:
Buffalo averages 32.8 points and faces a Las Vegas defense allowing 140.6 rushing yards per game, giving Josh Allen and James Cook a favorable matchup. The Raiders have their own scoring route through Kirk Cousins and Brock Bowers against Buffalo’s vulnerable pass defense. Buffalo’s questionable receivers and short turnaround after Monday’s overtime game are concerns. However, both defenses allow more than 25 points per game, and the indoor venue removes weather disruption. I prefer the over to needing Buffalo to create separation.
GPT’s projected score: Bills 31, Raiders 27
Dan’s analysis:
This total is way too high for me to back the over. Not loving this pick, GPT.
Los Angeles Chargers at Kansas City Chiefs, Sunday at 4:25 p.m. ET
GPT’s analysis:
Los Angeles averages 16.8 points and has a depleted offensive line, making consistent touchdown drives difficult to expect. The Chargers’ defense has played considerably better, giving them a way to limit Kansas City’s scoring. The Chiefs will also be without Rashee Rice and left tackle Josh Simmons. Kansas City’s explosive running game and the Chargers’ turnover problems are the main risks. Still, 41.5 allows a 24–17 game to cash. The offensive limitations and potential defensive resistance make this my fifth selection.
GPT’s projected score: Chiefs 24, Chargers 13
Dan’s analysis:
I like this because if this game goes under the total, it makes it more likely that the Chargers will cover the 7½-point spread. I also tend to think this is going to be a lower-scoring game, so I don't hate GPT's play here. But it's pretty crazy that GPT is going all-in on totals this week. The robot has been OK on totals this season (4-3), so maybe this is a smart move. I guess we'll see.
OK, that's it for Week 6! Check back next week to see whether GPT can beat me in three straight weeks or if the human is due to remind AI that our brains are still superior.
Trump tries different approach with Russia to bring Americans relief amid ongoing war with Ukraine
President Donald Trump is easing some of the economic pressure on Russia in hopes of bringing Vladimir Putin closer to a peace deal — a gamble that will test whether economic incentives can move Moscow where years of sanctions have not.
The administration's decision to temporarily ease restrictions on Russian diesel has drawn opposition from Republicans on Capitol Hill and skepticism over whether the move will meaningfully lower prices for Americans.
Meanwhile, Russia has offered few public signs of concessions in return.
Six Republican senators joined Democrats this week in urging Trump to reverse the decision, while five House Republicans signed a separate bipartisan letter Thursday seeking to revoke the Treasury authorization.
The resistance comes as Washington approaches an Oct. 18, 2026, deadline to begin implementing a sweeping new sanctions law Congress overwhelmingly approved to increase economic pressure on Russia.
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The administration argues that allowing Russian diesel back onto global markets could help bring down prices for American consumers while demonstrating the economic benefits Russia could gain through improved relations with the United States.
Trump has defended the agreement as a way to add supply to a global diesel market strained by high prices, stressing that the Russian fuel does not necessarily need to come state side to benefit American consumers.
"That's a diesel deal that's going to be released into the world for the world market because the world market suffers with high prices," Trump told reporters Tuesday.
But energy analysts have questioned whether the volumes involved would meaningfully affect prices. Russia, meanwhile, continued striking Ukrainian energy infrastructure after Trump declared an immediate energy ceasefire Sunday.
John Hardie, deputy director of the Russia Program at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, argued the diesel agreement would make more sense as part of a reciprocal deal under which Moscow and Kyiv both stopped attacking energy infrastructure.
"The Ukrainians could stomach it if it were part of a mutual energy truce where both Russia and Ukraine don't strike each other's infrastructure," Hardie told Fox News Digital.
Instead, Hardie said, Trump pressed Ukraine to halt its refinery strikes without securing the same restraint from Putin.
"The better solution is to go back to the Kremlin and try to get that two-way solution," he said.
Trump announced the diesel agreement Oct. 9 after a phone call with Putin, saying Russia would immediately supply more than 300,000 metric tons of diesel to the "American and Global Marketplace," followed by another 500,000 tons in November, 1 million tons shortly thereafter and eventually another 3 million tons depending on the condition of its refineries.
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Treasury issued General License 135 the same day, temporarily authorizing transactions involving Russian-origin diesel through April 7, 2027.
The diesel dispute has become part of a broader strain between Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Trump has repeatedly pressed Kyiv to halt refinery attacks, while Zelenskyy has criticized the diesel deal and accused Russia of ignoring Trump's energy ceasefire. Ukraine resumed attacks on Russian oil infrastructure this week after saying Moscow had failed to observe the pause.
Russia, meanwhile, has intensified attacks on Ukraine's energy system as winter approaches. A major missile and drone attack Wednesday damaged dozens of energy facilities and left hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians without power, according to Ukrainian officials.
The White House says the deal serves two purposes: adding supply to global fuel markets and showing Moscow some of the economic benefits that could come with improved relations.
Trump envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner discussed the agreement with Ukrainian officials as part of an effort to revive peace negotiations, Reuters reported. One person briefed on the talks said the deal could help "soften" Moscow's position by signaling that Trump remains open to doing business with Russia.
But analysts question how much genuinely new diesel Russia can provide.
"The amount of diesel Russia can provide would be a drop in the bucket compared to global demand," Masha Kotkin, a fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, told S&P Global.
"If you are asking about US diesel prices, I don't think it's going to make a difference," she said.
Sergey Vakulenko, a senior fellow at the Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center and former Russian oil executive, similarly cautioned against treating the roughly $7 billion value of the diesel contemplated under the agreement as new revenue for Moscow, noting that Russia was already exporting substantial quantities despite Western sanctions.
He estimated the sanctions relief could instead benefit Russian exporters by roughly $30 to $40 per ton through better commercial terms and lower shipping costs — tens of millions of dollars per month, only part of which would reach the Russian state through taxes.
At the same time, Ukrainian strikes have sharply constrained Russia's ability to increase supply. Vakulenko said Russian diesel available for export fell from roughly 3 million tons per month in April to about 325,000 tons in September, leaving both Russia's additional financial benefit and the deal's potential impact on global prices more limited than the headline figures suggest.
Hardie said signs of division between Washington and Kyiv could encourage Putin to increase military pressure rather than compromise.
"That message of irresolution and of division between Washington and Kyiv only encourages Putin to intensify military pressure, kind of seeing that opportunity," Hardie said.
He said the administration had previously presented sanctions relief and renewed economic ties as benefits Russia could unlock through a negotiated settlement. Offering some of those benefits beforehand, he warned, could undermine that incentive.
"It'll lead Putin to kind of digging his heels in on maximalist demands," Hardie said.
The debate comes as Congress is moving in the opposite direction.
Trump signed the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act into law Sept. 18, giving the administration new authorities to target Russian officials, financial institutions and entities helping sustain the war. Its first 30-day implementation deadline arrives Oct. 18.
Six Republican senators — Thom Tillis, Susan Collins, Alan Armstrong, Lisa Murkowski, Mitch McConnell and John Cornyn — joined six Democrats Tuesday in calling on Trump to rescind the diesel agreement and implement the new sanctions law.
The senators acknowledged the need to bring down energy costs but argued the Russian diesel would have a "negligible impact" on prices while generating additional revenue for Moscow.
A separate bipartisan group of 22 House lawmakers called on Trump Thursday to revoke the diesel authorization and fully implement the Graham law.
The White House has stood by the agreement, arguing Trump's priority is lowering costs for Americans while continuing to pursue an end to the war.
Hardie questioned whether economic incentives would carry enough weight to change Putin's calculations.
"Putin cares much more at this point about Ukraine and his legacy, and this broader kind of cocktail of grievances that led him to this war than he does about, you know, clearly Russia's GDP or well-being, or else he never would have done this in the first place," Hardie said.
The diesel agreement now puts Trump's theory of leverage to an early test: whether giving Putin a glimpse of the economic benefits available through improved relations can draw him toward a settlement, or whether Moscow will see easing pressure before a ceasefire as a reason to hold out for more.