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Illinois knocks off Iowa to reach Final Four after buzzer malfunction delay
For the first time in more than two decades, the Illinois men's basketball team will still be dancing when the Final Four tips off.
Iowa’s underdog run in the NCAA Tournament ended Saturday with a 71-59 loss to a dominant Illinois team. Before Illinois could cut down the nets at Houston’s Toyota Center, a buzzer malfunction caused a loud, roughly 10-minute delay.
The buzzer initially sounded signaling the end of a media timeout with just under eight minutes remaining in the first half. The horn continued blaring for about another seven minutes.
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Players stood on the court ready to play for a couple of minutes before both teams started to warm up as the buzzer continued to sound.
It was finally silenced, to cheers from the crowd, but then the main scoreboard and video screen that hangs over the middle of the court went dark.
The game ultimately resumed with the big scoreboard still off. Two smaller scoreboards at each end of the arena were working.
Freshman guard Keaton Wagler scored 25 points to help secure Illinois' first Final Four berth since 2005.
This will be the sixth overall trip to the Final Four for Illinois, which has never won a national title. The Fighting Illini will face either Duke or UConn next week in Indianapolis.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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Slain college student’s mother vows ‘fight for justice’ after illegal immigrant charged in Chicago killing
The mother of slain college student Sheridan Gorman is speaking out, vowing a "fight for justice" after the 18-year-old was allegedly murdered by an illegal immigrant earlier this month in Chicago.
Jessica Gorman delivered emotional remarks Saturday at a vigil in Yorktown Heights, New York, honoring her daughter, a Loyola University Chicago freshman whose life was cut short in what authorities describe as a sudden, violent attack.
"I want to say this gently, but honestly, as a mom. I'm angry," Jessica Gorman said. "I'm like completely heartbroken, and we are going to fight for justice for our sweet Sheridan, and we're going to fight for change."
While acknowledging that "not everyone" will see the situation the same way, Jessica Gorman underscored what she described as a universal truth shared by parents.
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"At the heart of all of this, we all want the same thing — for your children and for ours to be safe, to be protected, and to come home," Jessica Gorman said. "Because, at the end of the day, that's what this is all about. All of our kids, every single one of them, protecting them, loving them, showing up for them. And that is how we honor her."
Sheridan Gorman, a New York native, was killed at around 1:06 a.m. March 19 while with friends near a pier in Chicago’s Rogers Park neighborhood.
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Officials allege Jose Medina-Medina, 25, an illegal immigrant from Venezuela, fired one shot at the Loyola University Chicago student, killing her.
Gorman was reportedly only a few months away from completing her freshman year.
Medina-Medina was apprehended by the U.S. Border Patrol on May 9, 2023, and was released into the U.S. under the Biden administration, according to the Department of Homeland Security.
At the vigil, the family’s attorney, Thomas Tripodianos, warned against what he described as growing complacency about public safety.
"If we accept this, even silently, then we are accepting a reality where young people are not as safe as they should be. And that is not acceptable," Tripodianos said. "And there must be justice. Real justice."
Family members and friends also shared memories of Sheridan, remembering her impact on those around her.
"Sheridan, you are deeply loved at Loyola," Steven Betancourt, director of campus ministry at Loyola University Chicago, said. "You are deeply missed, and you will live on in the lives you touched and forever changed."
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The Gorman family has sharply criticized Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson and Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker, arguing that their daughter’s death "demands accountability."
"She was doing something entirely normal — walking near her campus with friends. She should be here," the Gorman family said regarding comments by Johnson.
The suspect appeared in court Friday and was ordered to remain in custody, according to FOX 32 Chicago.
He faces multiple charges, including first-degree murder, attempted first-degree murder, aggravated assault and unlawful possession of a gun.
Fox News Digital's Adam Sabes contributed to this report.
Stephen A Smith says there is 'no excuse' for 'biological men' competing in women's sports
Outspoken ESPN star Stephen A. Smith took a clear position in the ongoing debate about transgender athletes' participation in girls and women's sports.
"Biological men should not be competing against biological girls in sports, period," Smith said during an appearance on "Real Time with Bill Maher" after the Olympics' policy on transgender women was mentioned.
"What about protecting the young ladies? Young ladies going up against biological men — biological men — there is no excuse for that."
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Smith then mentioned former University of Pennsylvania swimmer Lia Thomas.
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"Lia Thomas, for example, was a male, and he was ranked over 400th in the world. … And then he became a she. … And No. 1. Well … does it really take an Einstein to realize that there’s something wrong with that picture?"
Smith has previously spoken about his views on transgender athletes in girls and women’s sports, including during a February 2025 Radio Row interview ahead of that year's Super Bowl.
"So, that’s how I look at it. LGBTQ rights and all that stuff, I’m in full support of that, but when transgender athletes — men — are transitioning to women and they’re competing in female sports, that’s a different animal to me," he said.
"That’s not just about LGBTQ rights. That’s about preying on the rights of females out there everywhere who were born female, and they’re at a decided disadvantage."
Those comments from Smith surfaced around the same time in 2025 when President Donald Trump signed the "Keeping Men Out of Women's Sports" executive order, which directed federal agencies to interpret Title IX based on biological sex at birth.
The NCAA complied with Trump’s executive order and changed its policy.
Fox News' Ryan Gaydos contributed to this report.
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New study reveals most stressed US states, and they aren't where you'd expect
Americans hoping to unwind on their next trip may want to think twice about where they’re headed.
A comparison of all 50 states using 40 indicators of stress — including work, money, family and health factors — found that densely populated states with major metro areas did not top the list, according to a new WalletHub study.
Instead, states across the South and southwest ranked among the most stressed overall.
Louisiana ranks as the most stressed state in the country for 2026, followed by Kentucky, New Mexico, West Virginia and Arkansas, WalletHub found. Rounding out the top 10 were Nevada, Oklahoma, Oregon, Mississippi and Alabama.
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The results may come as a surprise to travelers who might expect New York or Illinois to top the list. Instead, both states ranked lower, with New York at No. 18 and Illinois at No. 30.
Experts say the findings indicate that stress isn’t just tied to fast-paced city life but is often linked to broader economic and health challenges.
"Where we live can shape how much stress we experience," Cassandra D. Chaney, a professor at LSU who studies family stress, said in a WalletHub news release.
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"These realities remind us that stress is not simply an individual problem," she added. "Broader social and economic environments play a powerful role in shaping daily stressors."
In Louisiana, factors such as high poverty rates, limited access to health care and mental health services and job insecurity contribute to elevated stress levels, Chaney noted.
About 16% of residents skipped medical care due to cost, and the state ranks among the worst for poor mental health and depression while also having relatively few psychologists per capita, according to the report. It also recorded the eighth-highest average unemployment rate last year and the lowest job security of any state.
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Kentucky, meanwhile, faces significant financial strain, with one of the highest bankruptcy rates and among the lowest median credit scores in the country.
"New Mexico … faces high crime rates, financial hardship and significant family instability," Chaney added. "Nevada experiences high unemployment and bankruptcy rates, contributing to financial stress among residents."
For travelers to popular destinations such as Nevada (No. 6) and California (No. 12), the data suggests daily life may differ from the experience visitors see.
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Meanwhile, some of the least stressed states may offer clues for those seeking a more relaxing getaway.
South Dakota ranked as the least stressed state, followed by Utah, Minnesota, New Hampshire and Vermont, according to the report. These states tend to perform better in areas such as economic stability, health care access and work-life balance.
They also report higher rates of adequate sleep, an often overlooked factor tied to lower stress levels, according to the report.
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Rounding out the top 10 least stressed states were Hawaii, Virginia, Wisconsin, Kansas and North Carolina.
Experts note that stress is influenced by multiple factors and can vary by individual.
"While we cannot eliminate stress completely, we can become more intentional about how we manage it," Chaney said.
Chip Lupo, an analyst at WalletHub, added in a statement, "There are plenty of small ways to manage stress, from staying active and pursuing hobbies to taking time off work and seeking help from a mental health professional."
The analysis compared all 50 states across four key categories — work, money, family and health and safety — using 40 weighted metrics and data from sources including the U.S. Census Bureau, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Nate Smith admits he threw a drink at Morgan Wallen on stage, calling him 'a very forgiving person'
Nate Smith got a little too comfortable while performing on stage with fellow country star Morgan Wallen.
During a recent interview with Billboard News, the 40-year-old musician said one of the things he learned about the "Last Night" singer while on tour with him is that "he's a very forgiving person."
"One of the nights during the tour, I may have thrown a drink at him on stage. I might have done that. I might have done that," he admitted. "I might have. And I thought I was trying to be funny, and it wasn't funny. And Morgan forgave me. He forgave me."
The singer admitted Wallen "should have kicked me off the tour," but the two of them laughed about it on FaceTime together.
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He explained that, after apologizing, Wallen said he understood, telling him, "Man, I probably would have done the same thing, or I've done the same thing."
"He's a very forgiving person. He has a lot of grace. He's a good man," Smith said. "He's a good man. He's a great guy. Literally a whole cup. A whole cup. I thought I was the funniest guy in the world."
After the incident, Smith recalls getting "a lot of phone calls" and that "nobody was happy" about what he did on stage.
"Morgan, if you're listening, I love you," Smith added. "I'm still really sorry about that. Thank you for not pranking me back, by the way. You made me think you were going to the entire tour and you didn't. You held back because you're a man who walks in grace. Thank you, sir."
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Wallen has had a rocky road since becoming a country music superstar. The "Whiskey Glasses" singer was arrested and charged in April 2024 with reckless endangerment and disorderly conduct in Tennessee after throwing a chair off a rooftop bar in Nashville that landed near police officers.
In April 2025, Wallen addressed the incident during an interview on Theo Von's "Last Weekend" podcast, saying he hasn't been to a bar "since the last time I was in a bar that everybody knows about."
He also discussed the downside of fame, explaining, "There’s parts of [fame] that I don’t like."
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"It’s not ideal to go everywhere, and even if you don’t get bothered, you were on edge the whole time because you thought you might," he said. "There’s things that you just don’t do. There’s just things you don’t do anymore.
"I can go be with my buddies. I’m in the middle of nowhere. I can be at ease," he added. "I cannot stress out. You just find ways to supplement it, I think, you know?"
Hormone therapy boosts weight loss drug results by 35% in women, study finds
For women struggling with weight gain after menopause, a new study suggests that adding hormone therapy to a popular obesity drug may lead to greater weight loss.
Postmenopausal women lost about 35% more weight when using menopausal hormone therapy alongside tirzepatide — a GLP-1-based, Food and Drug Administration-approved drug for the overweight and obese — compared to those taking the drug alone, according to a Mayo Clinic study.
The findings, published in February in The Lancet Obstetrics, Gynaecology, & Women's Health, highlight a possible new strategy for addressing weight gain after menopause, when hormonal shifts can increase the risk of obesity, cardiovascular disease and Type 2 diabetes.
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"This study provides important insights for developing more effective and personalized strategies for managing cardiometabolic risk in postmenopausal women," Dr. Regina Castaneda, the study’s first author, said in a statement.
Researchers analyzed 120 postmenopausal women who were overweight or obese who took tirzepatide for at least 12 months, including 40 who also used hormone therapy and 80 who did not.
Hormone therapy is commonly used to treat menopause symptoms like hot flashes and night sweats, while tirzepatide helps regulate appetite and blood sugar.
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Women in the hormone therapy group lost an average of 19.2% of their body weight, compared to 14.0% in the non-hormone group — about 35% greater relative weight loss — with more women reaching significant weight-loss thresholds, according to the study.
Despite the results, researchers emphasized that the study was observational and cannot prove cause and effect.
"Because this was not a randomized trial, we cannot say hormone therapy caused additional weight loss," said Dr. Maria Daniela Hurtado Andrade, an endocrinologist at Mayo Clinic and senior author of the study.
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Outside experts agree that the findings must be interpreted cautiously.
"As with all observational studies, we need to interpret this study with a grain of salt," Dr. Gillian Goddard, a board-certified endocrinologist, told Fox News Digital.
Goddard, who is also an adjunct assistant professor of medicine at the NYU Grossman School of Medicine, noted that the findings show a link but do not prove that hormone therapy, which usually includes estrogen, directly caused the additional weight loss.
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"There may be important differences between the two groups," she added. "For one thing, the group taking estrogen may be healthier than the groups that didn't take estrogen. … Healthier people are more likely to eat a healthy diet and exercise in addition to taking tirzepatide. That could lead to more weight loss."
Symptom relief from the therapy may have also improved sleep and well-being, making it easier for the group to maintain diet and exercise routines, Hurtado Andrade noted.
Researchers also pointed to a possible biological explanation. Preclinical data suggest estrogen may enhance the appetite-suppressing effects of GLP-1-based medications like tirzepatide, according to the study.
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Goddard said that theory is plausible but unproven.
"The other possibility is that estrogen interacts with tirzepatide in some way that makes it more potent," she said. "We will need randomized studies to get a better handle on that."
As for safety, experts say using the two together appears safe for most women. However, hormone therapy is not recommended for all patients, especially those with a history of certain cancers, blood clots or other underlying health risks, according to the Mayo Clinic.
Researchers say future randomized trials will aim to confirm the findings and explore whether the combination also improves broader cardiometabolic health outcomes, according to the study.
"If confirmed, this work could speed the development and adoption of new, evidence-based strategies to reduce this risk for millions of postmenopausal women navigating this life stage," Hurtado Andrade said.
Fox News Digital has reached out to the study authors for comment.
Far-left California congressional candidate clashes with Trump supporters in heated exchange
Far-left congressional candidate Shonique Williams confronted supporters of President Donald Trump at Cerritos College this week.
Video shows a heated exchange in a campus free speech area involving Republican congressional candidate Dennis Feitosa, students, activists and political organizers.
"I will not be silent while people are being harmed in our communities. Because silence is complicity," Williams wrote in a caption accompanying the footage. "Supporting genocide, caging, terrorism or harm against anyone is white supremacy. Period."
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The confrontation comes as political activism intensifies on college campuses ahead of the 2026 election cycle, with candidates increasingly engaging voters in public forums.
"These are my constituents. This is my community. I will defend them," Williams wrote, describing those present as "MAGA, TPUSA, Trump supporters, and white supremacists."
Williams is a Democrat running for the U.S. House in California District 41.
As the exchange unfolded, Williams directed personal remarks at individuals gathered in the free speech area, focusing on their appearance and political views while recording the interaction.
"You have like three teeth in your mouth," she said. "Don’t all Trump supporters look the same?"
Williams also escalated her accusations during the confrontation, repeatedly alleging that those she was addressing supported serious crimes, while continuing to film and narrate the encounter.
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"You support people that rape kids," Williams said. "That’s a White supremacist. We do not support that."
At several points, the exchange grew more heated, with both sides talking over one another as tensions rose in the crowd.
"I will beat your motherf----- a--," Williams said. "Don’t walk up on me."
Other participants challenged her assertions and attempted to respond, with one asking, "Why can’t we have a different opinion than you?" as the discussion turned to broader political disagreements.
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Williams also engaged directly with a young Black man who expressed support for Trump.
"As a young Black woman, it is my responsibility to educate him," Williams said. "We cannot support anybody’s genocide. We cannot support anybody being caged."
Throughout the video, Williams continued recording individuals and describing their presence on campus, asserting that students believed those gathered were affiliated with extremist views.
"I just want to come get your faces on camera because there is a belief amongst students here that you guys are from a White supremacist organization," she said.
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In response to the incident, congressional candidate Dennis Feitosa emphasized a different approach, focusing on policy and constituent concerns rather than confrontational exchanges.
"I’m focused on having serious conversations about policy and improving the lives of people in Glendale, Burbank, Hollywood and Pasadena," Feitosa told Fox News Digital. "Political discourse should be about solutions."
In a subsequent Instagram response, Williams broadened her criticism beyond the campus confrontation, describing what she sees as a wider political landscape shaped by extremism.
"Democrats have right-wing extremists, racists, pedophiles, bigots, and white supremacists dominating our politics for too long," she wrote. "That ends now."
She also outlined how she intends to approach political opposition if elected, adding, "I am here to fight in Congress, legislatively, verbally, and if it comes down to it, physically," adding groups like "MAGA, TPUSA, the modern KKK, will not get a free pass while I am in office."
Fox News Digital reached out to Williams for comment.
Fans are demanding these 10 vanished ’80s and ’90s snacks return to store shelves
From lunchbox staples to after-school treats, some of the most iconic snacks of the 1980s, ’90s and early 2000s have disappeared from store shelves but not from memory.
Fans are still talking about their nostalgic favorites decades later, from frozen treats to tangy candies and quirky fruit snacks. Many were discontinued due to shifting tastes, corporate shakeups or recipe changes, while others have briefly returned or inspired copycats.
Recent roundups, including one from the Fast Food Club, have revisited some of the most beloved discontinued snacks. Here are 10 fans still want back.
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Launched in 1992, Planters PB Crisps, peanut-shaped cookies with a crunchy shell and a creamy peanut butter center, remain one of the most requested discontinued snacks online.
"PB Crisps were an utterly delectable mid-90s snack food," a website solely dedicated to bringing the snack back says. "After being discontinued for many years, there still isn't a comparable snack."
These bite-size versions of the classic candy bar tapped into the early ’90s "mini" candy trend, while "The Simpsons" marketing boosted their popularity among younger fans.
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Butterfinger BB’s were discontinued in 2006 due to production issues, briefly returned as Butterfinger Bites in 2009, and were later reformulated again after Ferrero acquired the brand in 2018, according to reports.
Altoids Sours, launched by Wrigley in the early 2000s, were packaged in distinctive metal tins and delivered an intense tartness before turning sweet. Discontinued around 2010 due to declining sales, they became a cult favorite with a strong resale market, modern knockoffs and lasting social media buzz.
"I used to eat them so much that my tongue would get raw from the citric acid … and I would still eat one more," one Reddit user commented in a thread about nostalgia.
These frozen treats offered a creamy, pudding-like texture with chocolate and vanilla swirls that made them a staple of childhood summers and one of the most-missed desserts of the 1980s and 1990s, according to reports.
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They were discontinued after corporate changes, and fans now recreate them at home using instant pudding mix.
These shortbread cookies hid rich, gooey fillings such as fudge and peanut butter, serving as an early example of the "hidden filling" cookie concept that helped set them apart from competitors.
Shaped like Pringles, these thin slices of chocolate stood out from traditional candy bars and came in flavors like Almond Joy and York Peppermint Patties.
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"Man, I can still taste the texture of these," a commenter wrote in the subreddit r/nostalgia.
The treat fizzled out because consumers weren’t sold on the concept of too little chocolate and too much packaging, according to Mashed.
The Doritos flavor combined savory, smoky and tomato-heavy notes, giving the chips a salsa-like taste. Commercials in 1989 featured Jay Leno pitching the chips as "something different," using his signature humor to highlight the bold flavor.
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They were discontinued after a short run, however, though they are frequently cited as one of the most-missed Doritos flavors.
Planters Cheez Balls, first introduced in 1981, became a fan favorite thanks to their light, cheesy crunch and iconic blue canister but were discontinued in 2006 after Kraft streamlined its snack lineup. Their cult following never faded, and years of fan demand helped bring them back in 2018 in classic-style packaging, though many still chase the original formula.
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"There is just no other product like it, and I’ve tried them all," someone said in a subreddit dedicated to the 1980s. "One of the best snacks of all time."
These paw-shaped snacks, inspired by Cheetos mascot Chester Cheetah, featured the same signature cheesy coating as classic Cheetos, with a playful design that made them especially fun — albeit messy — to eat.
Cheetos Paws have returned periodically in limited releases in the 2010s and 2020s, often driven by nostalgia marketing.
Introduced by General Mills’ in the late 1980s, these shark-shaped gummies were known for their unique texture and the rare "Great White" piece. But recipe changes tied to removing artificial colors and flavors altered the taste and texture and eliminated the iconic Great White, disappointing fans, according to Sporked.
"The bite-through on those things were exquisite," recalled one person commented in a 1990s subreddit.
DAVID MARCUS: Hasan Piker, useful idiot fashionistas want to make America into commie Cuba
A group of American far-left, communism-loving influencers and fashionistas descended upon the island nation of Cuba last week in what they called an aid mission, but it was actually just a sad and ridiculous photo op.
The entire episode would be hilarious if it were not for the horrendous suffering of the Cuban people under the brutal Castro regime, which, for some reason, this wealthy gaggle of morons is hellbent on perpetuating.
Among this gathering of useful idiots was the daughter of newly minted millionaire Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., Isra, who was wearing a T-shirt that said "Welcome to Minneapolis" and showed the skyline ablaze as in the deadly George Floyd riots.
Isra’s mom owes everything she has, including fancy wineries apparently, to America and capitalism, but there she was, cosplaying revolutionary and spitting in the face of the average American.
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The belle of the ball, by far, however was podcaster and noted dog enthusiast Hasan Piker, who may actually be the leading public intellectual of the Democratic Party these days. He did not disappoint.
Much was made of Piker’s $1,300 eyeglasses and expensive fancy shirts, but those poor unwashed Cubans need something to aspire to, right? Or at least to worship.
Here’s what this loon had to say about millions of Cubans living without electricity while he and his fellow partygoers, such as the Irish musical act Kneecap, stayed in a five-star, generator-powered hotel:
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"There are rolling blackouts that take place throughout the day, every day, all around the country. But today is a beautiful day out here. People are partying. People are partying in the f---ing streets. I don’t know if it’s an island mindset."
Hoo boy.
Piker also informed his audience that the bad Cubans had moved to Miami and that the good Cubans had stayed on the island, remaining humble servants of the Castros.
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Piker, a dear friend of the Islamo-Marxist mayor of New York City Zohran Mamdani, is also a classic Jew hater.
You don’t have to take my word for it, here is what Rep. Ritchie Torres, D-N.Y., wrote on the topic:
"Mr. Piker has demonized Orthodox Jews as ‘inbred’ and has dehumanized a Jewish man as a ‘bloodthirsty pig dog.' … Mr. Piker has all but exposed himself as an apologist for the sexual violence and savage rapes of Oct. 7."
While Torres and other Democrats like Pennsylvania Sen. John Fetterman have remained steadfast friends of Israel, it is Piker and his antisemitic ilk who are in the ascendency at the DNC.
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This month, Piker will appear at a rally for a congressional contender in Michigan, and it is every bit the same as far-right Holocaust doubter Nick Fuentes appearing beside a mainstream GOP candidate, but that never happens.
In some ways, Cuba is the perfect example of what Piker, Omar and Mamdani seek to make America into. We can all be happy poor people without electricity enjoying the "island life," while, obviously, they get millions of dollars for having come up with the idea.
The Trump administration, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio heading the effort, is seeking to free the Cuban people from a criminal regime, and, frankly, to bring the island nation into the 21st century.
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The potential of Cuba and its people, once the boot of the Catros lifts from their throats, is limitless. But for Piker and Omar, such success would be a fatal blow to their dreams of toppling America.
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You see, while every sane and rational person seeks to make Cuba more like the United States, free, flourishing and, well, … lit, Piker’s pack of commies want America to become more like Cuba.
As the midterms approach, it is vital for Republicans to make clear that Piker is not an outlier in the Democratic Party anymore. Hell, he probably has more real influence than House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries at this point.
No, the Democrats are now the party of Piker, the party of Omar and the party of Mamdani far more than they are the party of Torres or Fetterman.
So, the question on the table between the two parties is pretty clear: Should we make Cuba great again, or should we make America Cuba?
Zelenskyy offers cutting-edge drone defense to Gulf allies as Ukraine seeks missile support
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is turning battlefield innovation into bargaining power, offering Ukraine's anti-drone systems to Middle Eastern allies, while seeking more air-defense support as the war with Russia drags into its fourth year.
Zelenskyy met Friday in Abu Dhabi with United Arab Emirates (UAE) President Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, and the two discussed an agreement by which Ukraine would provide its cutting-edge counter-drone technology in exchange for ballistic missile support and financial aid.
In a wide-ranging interview with Fox News after the meeting, Zelenskyy detailed how Ukraine’s battlefield innovations, namely its anti-Russian drone systems, are influencing defense partnerships worldwide.
"We have, for example, drone interceptors. We have [a] system of electronic warfare and a lot of things. All these jointly work in one system. This is what we have [that] nobody has," Zelenskyy told Fox News correspondent Matt Finn in Abu Dhabi.
Ukraine is now sharing elements of that system with at least four Persian Gulf nations — the UAE, Qatar, Jordan and Saudi Arabia — as they confront growing threats from Iran’s drone capabilities.
But Zelenskyy emphasized the partnership must be reciprocal. Ukraine continues to face a "big deficit" of critical air defense weapons, particularly PAC-3 Patriot missiles used to intercept ballistic threats.
"We are ready to help Middle East countries with our expertise and with our knowledge, and we hope … that they can help with anti-ballistic missiles," Zelenskyy said.
Ukraine has already signed 10-year defense agreements with Saudi Arabia and Qatar, with a similar deal with the UAE expected soon, according to the AP.
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Zelenskyy also warned that increasing U.S. military focus on the Middle East amid escalating tensions with Iran and the ongoing "Operation Epic Fury" could slow the flow of weapons to Ukraine.
He claimed Russia is already strengthening Iran’s military by sharing drone technology, including Shahed "kamikaze" drones, as well as battlefield tactics developed during the war.
"Russia will share all they know about this war. … They’re already sharing with Iranians," Zelenskyy said.
While he stopped short of confirming missile transfers, Zelenskyy suggested Moscow has a strategic interest in prolonging instability in the Middle East to divert U.S. attention away from Ukraine.
"This is what they do," Zelenskyy said.
On the battlefield, Zelenskyy reiterated that Ukraine will not cede territory in the contested Donbas region, arguing it would weaken defenses, damage troop morale and displace tens of thousands of civilians.
"I think their morale will decrease," Zelenskyy said.
He also urged the Trump administration not to lose sight of Ukraine while addressing Middle East tensions.
AS UKRAINE WAR DRAGS ON, TRUMP HITS PUTIN BY SQUEEZING RUSSIA’S PROXIES
More than 270 Russian drones struck Ukraine overnight Friday, leaving at least five people dead, Ukrainian officials said Saturday, according to AP.
"I hope that President Trump … will find a way to end this war with pressure on the Iranian regime, and I hope that also they will not forget about … the war of Russia against Ukraine," Zelenskyy said.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.