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Big Tech is through harming our children. This is our time to fight back
For years, America treated the internet like a free speech "Wild West," assuming the online world should operate with almost no guardrails. Because of this, our nation has operated under two dangerous assumptions about Big Tech: that platforms should be free to publish virtually anything without accountability, and that tech companies should be allowed to design their platforms however they want because "users can always leave."
Courts, parents and state legislatures are now rejecting both ideas in real time.
We are facing the consequences of applying a totally hands-off philosophy to the digital world. As Jonathan Haidt documents in his book, "The Anxious Generation," rates of anxiety, depression, self-harm, loneliness and suicide among teens, especially girls, skyrocketed after smartphones and social media became dominant around 2012.
Teen girls’ rates of major depressive episodes nearly doubled in the following decade, while emergency room visits for self-harm surged. Parents have been carefully monitoring their children’s physical world, but not their digital activity.
The result is what Haidt describes as children becoming "overprotected in the real world and underprotected online," with less independence offline but unlimited exposure to things like pornography, sexual predators, comparison and the like.
But America’s hands-off approach toward Big Tech did not stop with online content. We also embraced the idea that if consumers dislike how a product functions, they should simply find another one. Don’t like how a platform operates? Leave. Don’t like shadow-banning or manipulative algorithms? Use a different app. But courts and juries across the country are increasingly showing those assumptions are not absolute.
Earlier this year, a California jury ordered Meta and YouTube to pay $3 million to a family over the harm caused by their addictive platforms. A jury in New Mexico also ordered Meta to pay $375 million in civil penalties for misleading and endangering young users. Just days ago, Meta settled a major lawsuit with a Kentucky school district over addiction and mental health concerns. In my home state, Attorney General Marty Jackley has joined the fight against Big Tech, arguing Meta "needs to be held accountable for its actions."
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These legal fights are showing a clear result: private companies do not have a free-market excuse to build and sell whatever they want. The internet is not a free-for-all where free speech is the only value and consent is the only requirement.
So, what can we actually do to rein in Big Tech and protect the next generation?
We as parents need to take a hard look at what we are giving our children access to. In "The Tech Exit," author Clare Morrell gives examples of the detrimental effects of screen time, and gives practical advice for how families can try a 30-day digital "fast."
WHY PARENTS MAY WANT TO DELAY SMARTPHONES FOR KIDS
Her advice comes as a helpful guide for parents who have read "The Anxious Generation," and are wanting to build a better childhood for their kids. Things like delaying smartphones until children are older, putting stronger safeguards in place and creating healthier boundaries around technology use can go a long way.
While the primary responsibility for stewarding childhood falls on families, state and federal governments also have a role to play. It’s not the responsibility of individual families to make sure that billion-dollar tech companies are following the law, that’s where the government steps in.
Lawmakers should advance protections like the App Store Accountability Act (ASAA). The idea is simple: tech companies should not be entering into legal agreements directly with children.
The legislation would require app stores to verify age, ensure companies contract with parents instead of minors, and require honest age ratings so families actually know what kids are downloading. It would also strengthen enforcement of COPPA, the federal law that prohibits companies from collecting personal data from children under 13 without parental consent and has already been backed by more than 170 pro-family organizations nationwide.
In addition, Congress should pass legislation like the Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA), championed by Tennessee Republican Sen. Marsha Blackburn and South Dakota’s Majority Leader John Thune. The legislation would take a major step forward in protecting young eyes online through a few key safeguards.
Mandatory default settings would automatically enable safety protections rather than requiring parents to find them and turn them on themselves. The legislation would also include addiction prevention measures, which allow parents to turn off manipulative design features and algorithms.
And, KOSA would provide a more streamlined process for identifying and reporting harmful content. Ultimately, the sexualized chatbots should be included in these important discussions as well.
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Protections like these should be considered in the new digital age, but we must not forget an aphorism from centuries past: "the government closest to the people serves the people best."
Congress was poised to get this concept wrong during the recent artificial intelligence fight, where a moratorium on state action was being considered. Thankfully, the moratorium was rejected and states are still able to act.
As debates over legislative actions continue, Congress should avoid any attempts by Big Tech to include similar moratoriums. The federal government can take decisive action while allowing state legislatures to enact customized policies for their states.
Taking steps like these is the best way to protect our kids from the predatory actions of Big Tech and empower parents to build a childhood filled with the real-world connection that kids deserve.
FBI leading push to uncover truth about mystery objects near US nuclear facilities, filmmaker says
The FBI is taking the lead in a federal push to uncover the truth about Unidentified Aerial Phenomena (UAPs), according to documentary filmmaker Dan Farah.
Speaking on "Jesse Watters Primetime," the director of the documentary "The Age of Disclosure" revealed that while President Donald Trump has pushed to declassify information regarding these objects, some agencies and military officials have actively stonewalled the process.
"One federal agency has emerged in the last couple months as the one taking this the most seriously and aggressively pursuing the truth, and working with the White House, and that's the FBI," Farah said on Friday.
"As they wrap their arms around this more and make it a huge priority for the bureau, I think we're going to see a lot of learnings and disclosure come out of that. They're certainly leading the charge right now," he added.
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Farah discussed Trump’s February directive to federal agencies ordering them to identify and declassify evidence related to UAPs and nonhuman intelligent life.
He claims that in the months since, agencies and certain branches of the military have "either refused to engage or they just played dumb and acted like they didn't know what evidence existed."
Farah noted that in the past, career bureaucrats have opted to simply "wait out" elected officials. However, an internal tug-of-war is underway, with the FBI utilizing its agents to "aggressively" pursue answers.
EXPLOSIVE NEW DOCUMENTARY PROBES '80-YEAR GLOBAL COVERUP' OF UFO SECRETS
"The Age of Disclosure" features interviews with intelligence officials and government insiders discussing UFOs and an alleged decades-long cover-up. The film features high-profile officials, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who raised concerns about unidentified objects flying over nuclear sites.
"We’ve had repeated instances of something operating in the airspace over restricted nuclear facilities and it's not ours and we don't know whose it is," Rubio said in the clip. "That alone, just that statement alone, deserves inquiry, deserves attention, deserves focus."
Farah echoed Rubio’s sentiments, saying the lack of information about objects flying above these sensitive sites is a national security threat.
DECLASSIFIED APOLLO MOON DOCS DESCRIBE UNEXPLAINED MYSTERIES, UFO LIGHTS 'LIKE THE FOURTH OF JULY'
"No matter who's controlling these UAP, that's a problem. And as Rubio said in the film, we know they're not ours and we don't believe they're an adversary’s," Farah said. "We currently have no idea who's controlling them, what their intentions are and what their plans are in the future."
Earlier this month, the Trump administration released a batch of files on UAPs as part of its effort to boost transparency on the subject. Among the files were details from the Apollo 12 and Apollo 17 space missions, including images of oddly shaped objects captured on film.
In February, Trump posted about his directive to agencies to begin the disclosure process for information related to UAPs and extraterrestrial life. Trump wrote on Truth Social:
"Based on the tremendous interest shown, I will be directing the Secretary of War, and other relevant Departments and Agencies, to begin the process of identifying and releasing Government files related to alien and extraterrestrial life, unidentified aerial phenomena (UAP), and unidentified flying objects (UFOs), and any and all other information connected to these highly complex, but extremely interesting and important, matters. GOD BLESS AMERICA!"
Anti-cartel hardliner channels Trump in bid to end Colombia's leftist era in pivotal election
A hardline, law-and-order candidate who promises to dismantle drug cartels and reset Colombia’s security doctrine is gaining traction with voters as Colombians vote in Sunday's presidential election.
As the world’s largest cocaine producer and a long-standing U.S. security partner, Colombia’s internal policies directly affect narcotics flows, migration dynamics and regional stability.
Analysts believe a shift in Bogotá’s leadership could reshape cooperation with Washington on drug interdiction, intelligence sharing and counter-cartel operations — issues that remain central to U.S. domestic and foreign policy.
Abelardo De La Espriella, a businessman and successful defense attorney, has emerged as a leading candidate on the right with a platform focused on aggressive counternarcotics enforcement, institutional reform and a decisive break from current leftist President Gustavo Petro’s negotiation-based approach with armed rebel groups.
TRUMP’S WAR ON DRUGS STOPS AT MEXICAN BORDER — FOR NOW
The 47-year-old, nicknamed ‘The Tiger,' recently told the Associated Press, "The only peace process I believe in is one imposed by the force of arms and the laws of the republic. Under my government, any bandit who resists will be eliminated as appropriate, and if he submits, we will imprison him in a mega prison so he can pay his debt to justice as they should."
His rise mirrors a regional pattern seen with leaders like Javier Milei, Nayib Bukele and José Antonio Kast figures who have built political momentum around security-first agendas and voter frustration with crime and economic instability.
According to an Associated Press report, polls say De La Espriella is likely to fight it out with leftist candidate Iván Cepeda, who is from the same party as President Gustavo Petro, and center-right candidate Paloma Valencia. There are 14 candidates on the ballot.
Valencia’s campaign is backed by most of the nation’s traditional parties and by economists who are concerned about the growing levels of debt under the Petro administration and want Colombia to return to more orthodox policies, the Associated Press reported.
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Valencia told Fox News Digital, "As president of Colombia, we will restore a strategic, close, and trustworthy relationship with the United States, based on mutual respect and the defense of our national interests. We will strengthen cooperation in security, intelligence, military training, and the fight against transnational crime; areas in which the alliance between our two countries has been essential to Colombia’s stability. We will also work to ensure that Colombia plays an active role in the Shield of the Americas and contributes to regional leadership in defense and security. "
She added, "The United States will continue to be a key partner for economic growth, investment, and job creation, as well as a vital ally for the millions of Colombians who live there. Colombia will also stand alongside the United States in defending freedom and democracy across the hemisphere, supporting efforts to restore liberty in Cuba and to help Venezuela return to a democratic path. Our relationship will be defined by trust, cooperation, and the pursuit of tangible benefits for Colombia and its citizens."
Critics say leftist candidate Iván Cepeda, represents a continuation and potential expansion of the leftist policies associated with Petro. Cepeda supports dialogue with armed groups, rural reform and a reform of Colombia’s traditional security framework, placing greater emphasis on social investment.
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Camilo Guzmán, executive director of Libertank, told Fox News Digital that Sunday’s election will likely result in a runoff between Cepeda and De La Espriella. "Abelardo earned that ticket by reading the room better than anyone else in the opposition. He offered catharsis, speaking directly to Colombian voters' indignation toward the traditional political class and the establishment.
"Where center-right Senator Paloma Valencia offered competence and continuity with the Uribe tradition, he said, De La Espriella’s message "is built on a hard line on security," Guzman added. "Ending Petro's failed ‘total peace’ policy that emboldened guerrillas and cartels, going after narco-trafficking with full force, and rebuilding the counter-narcotics alliance with Washington that Petro spent four years dismantling."
Analysts say the outcome for the U.S. carries significant strategic weight. A De La Espriella administration could align more closely with Washington’s traditional counternarcotics priorities, potentially strengthening bilateral cooperation at a time when synthetic drug flows and organized crime networks are expanding across the hemisphere.
Beyond bilateral relations, the election is being closely watched as a potential inflection point for Latin America. A De La Espriella or Valencia win would reinforce the momentum of security-focused leadership seen in parts of the region, while a Cepeda presidency would signal continuity for Petro’s policies.
José Manuel Restrepo, candidate for vice president on the ticket with De La Espriella talked exclusively to Fox News Digital. "The relationship between Colombia and the United States needs to be recovered and rebuilt, and this starts with a sound security policy to combat drug trafficking. It will be crucial to move beyond the current deteriorated relationship, in which we lost the historic bilateral, bicameral, bipartisan, and multisectoral relationship with our primary trading and investment partner."
He continued, "To strengthen it, we must seize the opportunity for Colombia to become the United States' best possible ally in the restoration of democracy in Venezuela. Leveraging this relationship with the United States, we can play a major role in investing in food, hygiene products and basic needs from Colombia to Venezuela. This would, among other things, give a new direction to the relationship with the United States, creating new opportunities that benefit Colombia…Under our administration, the relationship with the United States would be strengthened and revitalized.
Guzman noted that "De La Espriella's anti-establishment posture is not a libertarian agenda. His economic program leans on price controls, interest-rate subsidies, and import substitution, closer to old-school Latin American populism than to Bukele's pro-investment turn, and a world away from Milei's free-market project. Whether the economic program that comes with it creates new instability south of the border is the open question."
Analyst, entrepreneur and son of a former president Jerónimo Uribe said the stakes could not be clearer in Sunday's presidential race. "The elections in Colombia are not between the left and the right. They are between a communist model propped up by drug traffickers and a model that defends democracy and freedom," he told Fox News Digital.
Representatives for Cepeda did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Fox News Digital.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
American Culture Quiz: Test yourself on fast-food flashbacks and Hollywood hurdles
The American Culture Quiz is a weekly test of our unique national traits, trends, history and people — including current events and the sights and sounds of the United States.
This week's quiz highlights fast-food flashbacks, Hollywood hurdles — and a whole lot more.
Can you get all 8 questions right?
Give it a try and see how you do!
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To try your hand at more quizzes from Fox News Digital, click here.
Also, to take our latest News Quiz — published every Friday — click here.
Secretly filmed UFO doc reveals insider video as officials release new alien records: 'Something is imminent'
A new, secretly filmed documentary profiling one of the most prominent names in the UFO disclosure movement has crash-landed at the height of the federal government’s release of unclassified documents pertaining to otherworldly encounters.
"Sleeping Dog," directed by Michael Lazovsky, follows prominent investigative journalist Jeremy Corbell throughout his decades-long efforts regarding unidentified anomalous phenomena (UAP) transparency.
Corbell has served as a key figure in the disclosure movement by platforming UAP whistleblowers and facilitating Congressional hearings to bring attention to the topic, with the documentary focusing primarily on his efforts to implore federal officials to release classified information regarding UFOs to the American public.
"There are machines, there are craft of unknown origin that fly with impunity in our restricted airspace, and our government has been assessing this as a national threat for decades," Corbell told "The Sunday Briefing" earlier this month. "The jig is up. People now know UAP are real."
EXPLOSIVE NEW DOCUMENTARY PROBES '80-YEAR GLOBAL COVERUP' OF UFO SECRETS
The documentary — which was filmed in secret over the span of several years — also reveals previously unreleased footage from Corbell’s investigations and includes interviews from several prominent names in the movement, including astronaut Edgar Mitchell, David Grusch and George Knapp.
"[Corbell] revealed a bunch of videos that he had access to that ended up being a part of the Department of War's UAP file drop — which was fascinating. So he's in the know," Josh Golembeske, senior director of production at Gaia and guest host of the series "Cosmic Disclosure," told Fox News Digital.
Corbell has spent 14 years compiling UAP-related secrets at a time when information surrounding the phenomenon has been met with public skepticism and government pushback.
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The result of his efforts has been far-reaching, with experts pointing to a newfound sense of legitimacy toward UAP footage and documentation.
"The evidence is overwhelming that we’re being visited," Golembeske said. "There’s been a lid put on it."
"We have all this information, but I think it's more about the information coming to light finally," he added.
TOP DEM APPLAUDS TRUMP UFO FILES RELEASE IN RARE SHOW OF SUPPORT
The film comes on the heels of President Donald Trump’s push for federal transparency pertaining to UAPs, with a second batch of declassified documents released by the Department of War last week.
"There's been a long push from the public and behind the scenes to get to this moment," Golembeske said. "That push also leaked into the [Trump] administration. So now this administration is more open to it."
While Golembeske has long advocated for full federal transparency, he believes that the current method of controlled information releases by officials is the best way to acclimate the public to news of UAP discoveries and sightings.
"I think this is a slow drip disclosure, and you could argue it's compassionate disclosure," Golembeske told Fox News Digital. "This is actually how I would do it, because I know that people are going to be shocked and I wouldn't just drop everything on them."
WATCH: American public ‘can handle’ truth about UAPs, whistleblower says
However, Golembeske cautions against officials using the releases to negatively portray the possibility of alien life, potentially skewing the public perception of otherworldly beings and technology.
"I like what I'm seeing now, but I worry about a fear-based disclosure versus a hope-based disclosure," Golembeske said. "Part of my mission here and part of my mission at Gaia is to empower the evolution of consciousness – and all the evidence suggests there is nothing to fear."
In light of the renewed interest in UAP disclosure and discovery – along with high-profile documentary releases, such as "Sleeping Dog" – Golembeske remains optimistic that the narrative surrounding UFOs will continue to gain traction nationwide.
"I wouldn't have said this five years ago, but it feels like something is imminent," Golembeske told Fox News Digital. "It does feel like we're building towards a moment and the genie can't be put back in the bottle – I think it's gone too far."
Fox News Digital reached out to Corbell and the film's distributor, Falcon Scout Media, for comment.
New Orleans hosts first stop of Sail 250 as fleet begins East Coast Journey
NEW ORLEANS — The sounds of ship horns and ceremonial salutes echoed across the New Orleans waterfront this week as the city marked the first stop of Sail 250, a nationwide celebration marking America’s 250th anniversary.
Tall ships and military vessels from around the world docked along the Mississippi River as part of the months-long maritime celebration, offering the public a look inside ships that are rarely open to visitors.
Among them is the USCGC Eagle. It’s known as "America’s Tall Ship," a 295-foot training vessel and the only active square-rigger in U.S. government service.
Stepping aboard the Eagle feels like stepping back in time.
With 23 sails, six miles of rigging and roughly 150 Coast Guard trainees on board, life aboard the ship still runs the old-fashioned way. Cadets climb towering masts, work the rigging by hand and train high above the deck while learning the fundamentals of seamanship.
VETERANS TURN WAS STORIES INTO MUSIC AT KENNEDY CENTER
Below deck sits another reminder of America’s history, a newspaper printing of the Declaration of Independence.
"Back then, the best technology was the newspaper broadside, a single printed page," said Seth Kaller, an expert in historical documents. "What people needed to hear, to be able to read, is the text of the Declaration of Independence. And this is how somebody in 1776 would have experienced the Declaration of Independence."
The Eagle serves as a training ground for future Coast Guard officers, teaching leadership, teamwork and technical seamanship skills.
"And for 80 years, since 1946, this ship has sailed with the future officers of the United States Coast Guard," said Capt. Christopher Ensley, commanding officer of the USCGC Eagle. "Teaching leadership, teamwork, technical skills like seamanship and navigation and frankly, getting them salty, getting them ready to serve at sea."
AMERICA’S DEBT TO THE FALLEN STILL REMAINS
That training eventually leads to ships like the USCGC Mohawk, where Coast Guard crews carry out modern-day missions ranging from migrant interdictions to drug enforcement operations.
"We have two small boats on board that we pretty much use on a daily basis and that help us do all of our missions that we can’t quite accomplish just on a larger boat," said Ensign Riley Thorburn aboard the Mohawk.
But Sail 250 is not just showcasing history. It's also highlighting modern military life at sea.
Docked nearby is the USS Kearsarge, an amphibious assault ship home to nearly 3,000 sailors and Marines during deployment, including about 1,250 sailors and 1,800 Marines. Inside, the ship functions like a floating city, with pilots, flight crews, cooks, doctors and firefighters all working around the clock while deployed around the world.
"Every sailor is a firefighter to a certain extent," said Damage Controlman Allison Anutta during a firefighting demonstration aboard the Kearsarge.
Fox News embedded with sailors and Marines during the ship’s journey into New Orleans, getting a firsthand look at daily life, including suiting up in firefighting gear used during emergency response drills.
The ship’s firefighting capability is part of a broader mission set that extends far beyond combat operations. The Kearsarge can be configured to carry around eight F-35 aircraft depending on mission requirements and supports a wide range of deployments, from humanitarian response to combat readiness.
Onboard is also a 39-person Fleet Surgical Team responsible for stabilizing and treating patients at sea.
"We are a microcosm of the American population," said Cmdr. Timothy Brooks, senior medical officer aboard the ship. "All the chronic health issues that happen in America are also over here… and so we're doing everything we can to maintain just good general health."
Other crew members described the versatility and pride of their roles.
"We rescue, we protect, and we deliver, on a moment’s notice anywhere in the world," Naval Air Crewman Bryan Morch explained.
The arrival in New Orleans also featured ceremonial moments, including a 21-gun salute and the sound of ship horns echoing along the Mississippi River as the fleet marked the start of the national celebration.
For Marines aboard the ship, the mission is rooted in service and sacrifice.
"Greater love is no man than he who would lay his life down for a friend," U.S. Marine Grace Shneider quoted from the book of John in the Bible. "When I think of the military, that’s what I think of."
As America approaches its 250th anniversary, crew members said they view their work as part of a continuing legacy of service and history.
"Anybody who wants to raise the right hand to serve the country… they can’t help but appreciate the history of great things that have gone before," Cmdr. Brooks said.
The Sail 250 fleet will continue its journey up the East Coast with upcoming stops in Norfolk, Baltimore, New York and Boston as celebrations continue nationwide.
AB Hernandez closes high school career with 2 California state titles amid ongoing controversy
The party's over.
Transgender athlete AB Hernandez finished one of the most highly-publicized high school sports careers in modern history on Saturday night at the California track and field state championship, winning two titles and sharing podium spots with female competitors.
Hernandez took first place in the girls' high jump and triple jump, and third place in the long jump. Last year, Hernandez won the triple jump and high jump state championships and finished second in the long jump.
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And again this year, Hernandez shared every podium appearance alongside the female competitor who finished one spot behind the athlete. The California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) reimplemented the same pilot program used at last year's championships, awarding podium recognition to every girl who finished directly behind Hernandez.
At Saturday's girls' high jump podium ceremony, Hernandez's final podium appearance of the night, multiple girls shared podium spots, leaving one side of the podium completely empty.
Images of Hernandez sharing podium spots with female opponents became an infamous viral point of debate over the last two weeks leading up to the finals, after the CIF's controversial policy change.
The policy came under intense scrutiny from women's sports activists and even Hernandez's supporters, including the athlete's mother, after it was re-implemented three weeks ago at the CIF Southern Section finals.
The images fueled a heated political debate over trans athletes in women's sports that has followed Hernandez's high school career since the 2024-2025 school year.
The political overshadow of Hernandez's high school career reached its climax during championship weekend, with the athlete appearing in a video with Democrat California gubernatorial candidate Tom Steyer on the morning of the CIF championship preliminary round on Friday. Later that day, Republican gubernatorial candidate Steve Hilton headlined a rally outside the preliminary advocating for the protection of girls' sports.
Then on Saturday, a press conference, organized by the local California LGBTQ advocacy groups Pride at the Pier and Rainbow Families Action, took place outside the CIF state championship, and police were summoned as Hernandez supporters engaged in a war of words with "Save Girls Sports" activists.
Hernandez's mother, Nereyda Hernandez, and other LGBTQ activists spoke in support of the trans athlete.
Near the end of the press conference, a group of "Save Girls Sports" activists showed up and engaged in a heated verbal confrontation with participants in the LGBTQ press conference.
Clovis Police Department vehicles were parked in the vicinity, and multiple officers came to oversee the confrontation when the shouting began.
Eventually, the confrontation dissipated without any direct intervention by police.
Hernandez went on to win two state titles later that night, bouncing back from the loss in the long jump to dominate the high jump and long jump. The athlete competed in both events simultaneously, running back and forth between the two events as one of the only athletes to compete in both.
Now, with Hernandez's high school career over, California is left with an ongoing conflict over the issue of biological males in girls' sports.
The U.S. Department of Justice is currently suing education agencies in the state for its policies that allow trans athletes to compete against females, and Hernandez's school district, Jurupa Unified School District, is under investigation by the Department of Education.
California's gubernatorial primary is also just days away, with the issue of transgender athletes in girls' sports emerging as a prominent campaign topic as Hilton seeks to secure a spot in the general election later this year.
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Karen Bass appears to liken Spencer Pratt to Trump amid tightening LA mayoral race
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass and her challengers spent the final weekend before Election Day crisscrossing the city as a surprisingly competitive mayoral race heads toward a likely runoff.
Bass, who is seeking a second term, is up against former reality star Spencer Pratt and city council member Nithya Raman in Tuesday’s primary election.
Recent polling has shown a competitive race as no candidate is expected to receive more than 50% of the vote. The top two finishers would then advance to a November runoff.
On Saturday, Bass — who is backed by high-profile Democrats, including former Vice President Kamala Harris and California Gov. Gavin Newsom — stopped at Yosemite Recreation Center in Eagle Rock.
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She was seen serving tacos while wearing an apron bearing the slogan "Common Sense and Carne Asada."
During an Instagram livestream Saturday, Bass also took aim at Pratt.
"You have a failed reality TV star who wants to be famous," she said while speaking with two actresses before appearing to reference President Donald Trump. "We know what it means if you put somebody who is a reality TV star in a seat of power."
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Pratt spent part of Saturday criticizing Raman on X, including attacking her recent campaign advertisements.
In a video posted to Instagram, Raman pointed to a recent poll and urged supporters to vote.
"After millions of dollars of spending against us, we are still here and we are still competitive," she said.
KAREN BASS GRILLED OVER BROKEN HOMELESSNESS PROMISE, BLAMES BUREAUCRACY FOR SLOWED PROGRESS
Pratt, who is best known for his role on "The Hills," has gained attention in the race by criticizing Bass over the response to the January 2025 wildfires that destroyed thousands of structures, including his Pacific Palisades home.
He has also sharply criticized Bass over homelessness, drug addiction and crime.
Pratt has gained momentum in recent weeks and secured endorsements from fellow reality television personalities, actors, musicians and media figures.
Still, Pratt — a registered Republican — faces significant challenges in a city where Democratic candidates have historically dominated local elections.
Fox News Digital's Adam Pack, Kiera McDonald and Andrew Mark Miller, along with The Associated Press, contributed to this report.
Hasan Piker defends pro-communist, anti-ICE Singham network activists as 'wonderful people'
As he navigated the crowds in an impromptu appearance at a protest outside the Delaney Hall ICE detention facility, Marxist political influencer Hasan Piker defended figures in the pro-China activist network funded by American Marxist tech millionaire Neville Roy Singham as "wonderful people," while dismissing scrutiny surrounding his Cuba trip.
Asked about reporting on Singham's network and its connections to far-left activism, Piker said there is "this environment of suspicion" surrounding Singham and his activities, taking a "sinister shape," but they are "totally above board and totally legal."
In recent months, many agitators from the Singham network have fueled, coordinated and organized fiery protests against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in Minneapolis, New York City, Los Angeles, New Jersey and elsewhere.
The remarks by Piker are noteworthy because the online influencer isn't just a livestreamer on the Twitch platform. With millions of mostly young followers across Twitch, YouTube and social media platforms, he has emerged as one of the most influential — and polarizing — figures on the American left, regularly mobilizing support for candidates and causes aligned with the Democratic Socialists of America. Piker wore a baseball cap emblazoned with the group's logo.
Piker has used his platforms to interview, promote and campaign alongside candidates backed by Democratic Socialists of America, helping introduce them to younger voters who consume political content online. His audience reach has made him a significant force in Democratic politics, giving him the ability to shape narratives and drive grassroots enthusiasm for candidates running on socialist and anti-establishment platforms.
As reported, Singham is an American Marxist tech tycoon who has pumped $285 million since 2017 into a network of nonprofits that have organized and coordinated divisive anti-American street protests, such as the one unfolding in New Jersey.
"I don't have any personal contact with Roy Singham or any of these other people," Piker said, in response to questions from Fox News Digital. "I mean, I know some of these people. They're wonderful people in general. They're activists....None of it is actually hidden or illegal in any way, shape or form."
The remarks come as federal investigators have expanded scrutiny of activists involved in travel to communist Cuba, including organizations and individuals linked to the broader network of nonprofits and advocacy groups that have received funding from Singham and his wife, Code Pink co-founder Jodie Evans.
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As reported exclusively by Fox News Digital last Saturday, the Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) sent Piker and CodePink an administrative subpoena as part of an investigation into a March convoy to Cuba. Piker claimed he hadn't personally received any legal notice.
"Fox News Digital says I have a subpoena, but I have yet to be served one," Piker said. "So I don't even know what's going on. It kind of feels like you guys have more insight into what the federal government's doing than I do, and I'm supposed to be subpoenaed."
Piker's comments follow disclosures by CodePink co-founder Medea Benjamin that Evans received the query via an email that initially landed in a spam folder.
"We heard this on Fox News, that there was this subpoena out," Benjamin said in an interview shared publicly by BreakThrough News, another nonprofit that Singham has funded. "I was going outside my front door looking around for somebody to serve me. And it turns out that it was an email that was sent to Code Pink co-founder Jodie Evans, and it was so unofficial that it landed in our spam box."
As reported, the Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control sent investigative letters seeking financial, logistical and communications documents about the March convoy. The Office of Foreign Assets Control administers and enforces U.S. sanctions programs, including restrictions governing financial transactions and certain travel-related activities involving Cuba.
Fox News Digital has reported that the March 2026 convoy to Cuba involved a transnational network of activists organized by another Singham-funded group, the People's Forum, and a nonprofit, Progressive International, both with close ties to the communist regime in Cuba.
DAVID MARCUS: HASAN PIKER, USEFUL IDIOT FASHIONISTAS WANT TO MAKE AMERICA INTO COMMIE CUBA
The activists are protesting U.S. sanctions on the communist island. Piker participated in the trip alongside members of Code Pink and a network of 145 organizations, according to a Fox News Digital investigation.
Piker framed the investigation as part of a broader effort by the Trump administration to target political activists and protesters, arguing that scrutiny of Cuba travel conflicted with Trump's campaign promises to defend free speech.
"I feel like there are a lot of people who believed in that message, and now he's betrayed that message," Piker said.
Piker told Fox News Digital that he welcomed a debate with Fox News host Sean Hannity.
Piker, who was born in New Brunswick, New Jersey, was visiting his home state from his $2 million home in West Hollywood, California, canvassing at a Saturday rally in Trenton for a controversial candidate, Adam Hamamy, endorsed by Democratic Socialists of America in his race for the U.S. Congress.
The New York Times published a profile on Saturday, noting the candidate's "ties to a militant cleric." Piker defended Hamamy.
Last week, on a livestream on the Twitch platform where he talked for about six hours nonstop, the influencer dismissed concerns about his connections to organizations involved in the Cuba convoy, while acknowledging that Singham finances a network of left-wing nonprofits engaged in "political advocacy" and "a lot of political movements."
Critics have argued the network functions as a coordinated activist infrastructure advancing pro-communist causes, including support for Cuba, China and other authoritarian governments opposed to U.S. foreign policy.
As Fox News Digital asked Piker about concerns related to malign foreign influence from China, including at far-left activist events such as the anti-ICE protest unfolding around him, Piker walked away without answering the question.
Piker has polarized people in many communities, including among leftists and Democrats.
An activist shouted, "Get out of here," as Piker walked away, punctuating his derision with, "Dog abuser," a reference to allegations Piker trained his dog, Kaya, with a shock collar.
Piker has denied the allegations.
Fox News Digital's Alex Koch contributed to this report.
PSG Champions League victory causes chaos in Paris, with 45 arrested and fires set across city
At least 45 people were arrested in Paris on Saturday after celebrations over Paris Saint-Germain’s Champions League victory descended into chaos, with fires set, businesses vandalized and crowds clashing with police.
Police detained dozens of people as crowds gathered across the French capital following PSG's victory.
Large crowds gathered near the Arc de Triomphe after the match, with some fans setting off flares and blaring car horns, according to reports from The Associated Press.
Police worked to contain thousands of people gathered along the Champs-Élysées.
According to authorities, a group of individuals attempted to storm a police station in the French capital late Saturday.
The Paris police prefecture said some people vandalized shops, set fires and torched vehicles during the unrest.
A bakery and a restaurant were damaged during the disturbances, police said.
HUNDREDS OF MIGRANTS EVICTED FROM PARIS THEATER AFTER SQUATTING THERE FOR MONTHS
Authorities also said a crowd briefly blocked the main ring road surrounding the city before police dispersed the gathering.
One police officer was injured, according to police.
As of 10 p.m. local time, police had arrested at least 45 people.
Celebrations erupted across Paris after PSG defeated Arsenal in a dramatic Champions League final, securing one of the club’s biggest achievements on the European stage.
Violent celebrations also followed PSG's previous Champions League triumph. After the club won the title last year, 201 people were injured in Paris and more than 500 arrests were made across France.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.