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ESPN is reportedly preventing the College Football Playoff from expanding to 24 teams
The College Football Playoff was supposed to provide some certainty in a sport that, for too long, based its rewards on unreliable polls. And to the extent that there's no debate over the team crowned as national champions, it's worked.
But if there's one thing fans have learned over the last few years, it's that little in modern college football is certain. And after one round of expansion, from four teams to 12, there's now more discussion and debate over the next round of growth.
Some, including many fans, are happy leaving the field at 12. The SEC, arguably the most powerful conference, wants to move to 16, while maximizing the number of at-large teams. That would, in their view, allow for more teams to reach the field based on strength of schedule instead of conference affiliation. Strength of schedule=more SEC teams, the thinking goes.
Then there's the Big Ten, Big 12, ACC, and independent Notre Dame.
INSIDE THE FIGHT: NIL ARMS RACE FUELING NEW PUSH FOR COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFF EXPANSION
This week, several reports confirmed that the majority of power conferences and the Irish want a 24-team playoff field. While that number has been met with justified skepticism from most fans, there's apparently plenty of support within the sport.
Big 12 Commissioner Brett Yormark told On3 that 24 is their strong preference.
"We like 24, we want 24," he said. "There are too many teams getting left out and 24 teams provides the type of access that is warranted. That being said, we need to do the work around the economics around a 24-team format and make sure we address any unintended consequences."
HERE'S WHY THE COACHES ASSOCIATION'S 24-TEAM COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFF COULD RUIN THE SPORT
ACC Commissioner Jim Phillips said much the same thing at his conference's media days this week.
"Our desire with the coaches and the ADs is 24," Phillips said. "When you’re leaving national championship-contending teams out of the playoff, you don’t have the right number. We lived through it, we suffered through it with Florida State, when the field was four.
"I know other schools have suffered for it. Notre Dame was a CFP worthy team last year and you saw what happened to the last team that got invited with Miami."
That aligns with what the Big Ten and Commissioner Tony Petitti proposed in initial discussions after the end of the 2025-2026 season. So if the Big Ten, the Big 12, the ACC and Notre Dame, essentially four of the five most important voices in college football all agree on 24 teams, why hasn't it already happened?
Reportedly, mostly because of ESPN.
"ESPN’s made it clear, they want it to stay at 12 or 14, but no more than 16," Phillips added on Wednesday.
What? ESPN? A broadcaster has that much power over the playoff format for an entire sport?
There are some reasons why ESPN would want the playoff to stay where it is, or not expand too widely. Mainly that they own the rights up to a 14-team field, meaning they'd be forced to open up bidding on any additional playoff games. Ironically, for fans that dislike ESPN's perceived level of control over college football, it's that exact level of control that could stop a potentially unpopular 24-team format.
The SEC also has an important voice in the room, and Commissioner Greg Sankey already reaffirmed recently that he believes a 16-team expansion is better.
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"That focus hasn’t changed," Sankey explained Monday at a media meeting in Alabama. "We’re open to the conversation, but there are a lot of ideas out there that have to be supported with analysis and information, not speculation."
The incentives here are obvious. The ACC and Big 12 believe that a larger field will give them more opportunities in a new landscape dominated by the Big Ten and SEC. The Big Ten thinks 24 teams would bring in more revenue and the opportunity to host more home playoff games. Notre Dame has realized that, as teams optimize their schedules to make the playoff instead of play tougher non-conference opponents, it'll be a struggle for them to compete with the strength of the Big Ten or SEC resumes and reach the top 12 each year.
Meanwhile, the SEC wants 16 teams with as few auto bids as possible in the hopes of putting half their conference in the field each year. Thereby reinforcing their view that they're the premier conference in the sport. And half the conference isn't an exaggeration, considering Sankey's prior remarks.
Where this ends up is anyone's guess, but it's hard to see ESPN winning out in the long run relative to the power of those other conferences.
US lifts costly visa bond requirement for some World Cup travelers, Trump administration says
Citizens of a select group of countries who have purchased tickets to this summer’s World Cup matches in the U.S. will no longer be required to provide thousands of dollars in visa bonds to enter the country and attend the tournament.
On Wednesday, the State Department confirmed the Trump administration is waiving a prior mandate requiring visitors from Algeria, Cape Verde, Ivory Coast, Senegal and Tunisia to post visa bonds of up to $15,000 to enter the U.S.
The department imposed the bond requirement last year for countries it said had high rates of visa overstays and other security concerns as part of a broader immigration crackdown. Travelers from at least 50 countries are subject to the bond requirement, but the five aforementioned nations' teams have qualified for this year’s World Cup.
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World Cup team players, coaches and some staff already had been exempt from the bond requirement as part of the administration’s orders to prioritize the processing of visas for the tournament.
STATE DEPT TO START ROLLING OUT FIFA PASS FOR FOREIGN SOCCER FANS LOOKING TO ATTEND WORLD CUP IN US
"The United States is excited to organize the biggest and best FIFA World Cup in history," Assistant Secretary of State for Consular Affairs Mora Namdar said. "We are waiving visa bonds for qualified fans who bought World Cup tickets" and opted in to the FIFA Pass system that allows expedited visa appointments as of April 15.
In its own statement, FIFA said the announcement shows "our ongoing collaboration with the U.S. government and the White House task force for the FIFA World Cup to deliver a successful, record-breaking and unforgettable global event" and thanked the administration for the partnership.
However, the administration has barred travelers from Iran and Haiti, though World Cup players, coaches and other support personnel are exempt. Travelers from the Ivory Coast and Senegal face partial restrictions under an expanded version of that travel ban, even without the visa bond exemption.
The World Cup begins June 11 and is co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico.
Some measures from the administration prompted Amnesty International and dozens of U.S. civil and human rights groups to issue a "World Cup travel advisory" that warns travelers about the climate in the U.S.
In a report this month, the main advocacy group for U.S. hotels blamed visa barriers and other geopolitical issues for "significantly suppressing international demand," leading to hotel bookings for the soccer tournament that are far below what had initially been anticipated.
As of early April, the number of World Cup fans affected by the bond requirement was believed to be relatively small, perhaps only about 250 people, according to U.S. officials who were not authorized to comment publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity. But they said that number was changing rapidly as more people buy tickets and some with tickets opt against traveling.
FIFA had requested the waiver, which had to be approved by the State Department and the Department of Homeland Security, officials said.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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Iran says its small subs deployed to Strait of Hormuz as expert explains threat: ‘Vulnerable to detection’
Iran says it has deployed small submarines to act as an "invisible guardian" of the Strait of Hormuz amid a series of rejected peace deals between Tehran and the U.S., according to reports.
The deployment claim came as analysts said that although the Iranian Ghadir-class mini-subs could threaten U.S. naval forces, the vessels’ limited range, firepower and endurance would blunt any real strategic impact.
The submarine deployment was highlighted by Bloomberg and first reported by the semi-official Tasnim News Agency.
Rear Admiral Shahram Irani, commander of Iran’s navy, said that his forces deployed its light submarine, referred to as the "dolphins of the Persian Gulf," according to the Iranian state media outlet.
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It also comes as Tehran seeks to reinforce its control over the strait, now defining it as a far larger zone, Reuters reported.
"Time would be limited, probably a couple of days at the most," defense analyst Tom Shugart told Fox News Digital about the Iranian vessel deployment.
The retired U.S. Navy submarine warfare officer also said the small diesel-electric submarines face fundamental operational constraints.
"If they run their diesel engines to snorkel and recharge batteries, that could generate sound that could be detected," Shugart said.
"Their snorkel mast projecting from the water could be detected by radars on patrol aircraft or helicopters," Shugart added.
The submarines are said to be designed for shallow waters like the Strait of Hormuz and can operate quietly for limited periods on battery power.
"While they may be able to sit on the bottom for a while and operate somewhat quietly on their batteries for a while, they have no air-independent propulsion system (AIP) like more modern diesel-electric submarines," Shugart said before adding that they’ll, "eventually have to come up and snorkel. This will make them more vulnerable to detection and destruction."
INSIDE IRAN’S MILITARY: MISSILES, MILITIAS AND A FORCE BUILT FOR SURVIVAL
The IRGC Navy is said to be the sole operator of this class of submarine, all of which serve in the Southern Fleet.
"Any remaining Ghadirs, if they exist and are actually deployed, may be able to lay mines and may be able to threaten merchant ships," Shugart warned.
"But I don’t see them as a serious threat to U.S. Navy warships — and certainly not to U.S. submarines," he said.
"But I can say for sure that I wouldn’t want to go out on one in the current environment."
HORMUZ CHOKE POINT PERSISTS AS IRAN HALTS OIL TRAFFIC DESPITE TRUMP CEASEFIRE
The U.S. Navy confirmed May 10 that a U.S. Navy Ohio-class nuclear-armed submarine had arrived in Gibraltar.
"The port visit demonstrates U.S. capability, flexibility and continuing commitment to its NATO allies," U.S. Sixth Fleet Public Affairs said in a statement.
"Ohio-class ballistic missile submarines are undetectable launch platforms for submarine-launched ballistic missiles, providing the U.S. with its most survivable leg of the nuclear triad," it added.
Meanwhile, Shugart’s remarks came as the Strait of Hormuz remains effectively closed, with commercial tanker traffic largely choked off amid ongoing military activity and the continued U.S. blockade of Iranian ports.
The United Arab Emirates and South Korea reported new strikes on stranded vessels Wednesday, while the IRGC increased its fast-attack craft activity, according to reports.
President Donald Trump has maintained Iran’s navy is "completely obliterated."
The Pentagon did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.
Tech entrepreneur flees Washington due to companies being 'villainized'
A prominent Washington tech entrepreneur is joining the growing exodus of business leaders fleeing the Evergreen State, citing a "dramatic" shift in the state’s tax climate following the passage of a controversial new "millionaire tax."
Jesse Proudman, the founder and CTO of the privacy-focused generative AI platform Venice.ai, told Fox News Digital on Tuesday that the state he once called a "startup sanctuary" has become increasingly hostile to the very people who fuel its economy.
"I started three companies here in the state. I have been an entrepreneur my whole life here," Proudman said. "The business climate when I started my first company was very entrepreneurial-friendly, and the startup community was looked upon as a contributing member of the city. Over the last number of years, that has changed dramatically."
Proudman, who previously founded the private cloud company Blue Box and the crypto-investing platform Makara, is now serving as a spokesperson for Let’s Go Washington. The political committee is currently spearheading a massive signature-gathering effort to repeal the tax measure before it can take root.
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The tax, pushed through by the Democratic-controlled legislature during the 2026 session and signed into law by Gov. Bob Ferguson in March, imposes a 9.9% levy on annual income exceeding $1 million. While it is set to take effect on Jan. 1, 2028—with the first payments due in 2029—the mere threat of its implementation is already shifting the state’s demographics.
"We have until July 2nd to gather about 325,000 signatures to put this on the November ballot," said Hallie Herzberg, Director of Communications for Let's Go Washington. "The people deserve the right to vote on this. It’s already driving businesses, employers, and families out of the state."
The move marks a seismic shift for Washington, which has historically been one of only a handful of states with no personal income tax. However, the legal ground shifted in 2023 when the state’s Supreme Court upheld a 7% capital gains tax, effectively opening the door for broader income-based levies that critics argue violate the state constitution’s requirement that property (which includes income) be taxed at a uniform rate.
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State Sen. Jamie Pedersen (D-Seattle), the Senate Majority Leader and the bill's primary sponsor, has dismissed concerns of "tax flight."
"The reality is the millionaire tax is not likely to result in businesses leaving," Pedersen told a local FOX affiliate following the bill’s signing. He later told Fox News Digital that there is "no evidence" that high earners will migrate to lower-tax jurisdictions like Florida or Texas.
Data from the Association of Washington Business (AWB) suggests otherwise. A recent survey reported by The Center Square found that 44% of business leaders in the state are considering moving their personal residences elsewhere. Furthermore, Washington businesses reported they are now more than twice as likely to expand outside the state than within it.
For Proudman, the decision has already been made. He plans to relocate his life and business interests to Austin, Texas.
"It's no longer a friendly place to conduct business," Proudman said. "Startup companies are being villainized. With the passing of this tax, we have looked at alternative places to move, and we'll probably end up in Austin."
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Proudman warned that while the tax is currently branded as a "millionaire’s tax" to gain public favor, the long-term economic consequences will eventually hit middle-class residents as the tax base shrinks.
"They are targeting a very highly mobile cohort of the population," Proudman argued. "When those folks leave, this will become a tax on everybody. The voters are unwittingly creating an incredibly worse tax situation for themselves. Washington is already the 45th worst state from a tax point of view. This is a constitutionally illegal tax that ultimately will apply to everyone."
Sen. Pedersen’s office did not respond to Fox News Digital's latest request for comment.
Jeff Probst's defiant message to 'Survivor 50' critics over Zac Brown backlash: 'I've also got a backbone'
Jeff Probst isn't afraid to "outwit, outplay, outlast" fans, but also recognized that the tribe has spoken out against "Survivor 50."
The longtime, Emmy Award-winning host took qualms with superfans spinning a narrative that the show's once ruthless narrative has softened over the years.
"We experiment with all kinds of new ideas, and we tried to usher in the most unpredictability we’ve ever had," Probst told Variety.
'SURVIVOR' RETURNS FOR MILESTONE 50TH SEASON WITH ALL-STAR CAST INCLUDING 'WHITE LOTUS' CREATOR
"Whether or not you like the season is subjective, but it’s not that something didn’t work. We’ve made bad choices in the past. I just don’t think we did in 50."
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Of the myriad new additions to the evolving series, "Survivor" enlisted the help of a celebrity panel — including Jimmy Fallon, Billie Eilish, MrBeast and Zac Brown — to collaborate on new twists for the show.
Fan-favorite contestant Cirie Fields was taken aback by seeing the "Country Fried" singer — who is also a close Probst friend — appear on the island in Fiji during Season 50.
"We’re in a bubble. So to walk out on the beach and see Zac Brown standing in front of me, it’s like, 'How did you get in?'" she said.
"We’ve never had someone from the outside come be a part of this. That let me know that Season 50 was about to be off the rails. Mind-blowing things that would never happen in the 'Survivor' of old are happening on Season 50."
Brown's guest spot became a hot topic on social media after viewers watched the country singer spearfishing to feed immunity challenge winners and then playing them music while they ate.
Additionally, Brown appeared in a number of individual confessionals and received more air time than a few contestants.
Legendary "Survivor" winner Parvati Shallow also criticized Brown's appearance, and noted, "They showed [Brown] catching the fish, and then they didn't show Ozzy catching one."
In hindsight, Probst wouldn't change much about Brown's visit, but admitted that the country star could have impacted the game instead of serving as a reward.
"It’s fascinating to me that a couple of people, most of them either former players or people who will never play, criticize the show, and it gets momentum," he said.
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"I tell anyone who wants to listen: If that’s your goal, to somehow impact our point of view, it will fail. We trust what we’re doing. If you think we’re going to re-edit because you thought there was too much Zac Brown, you’ve not been reading interviews with me."
He added, "I couldn’t be more serious. I love 'Survivor.' I love joy. I love fans. I’ve also got a backbone. It’s gonna take more than that to knock me over."
Probst, 64, began hosting "Survivor" at its inception in 2000. One decade into hosting the popular competition show, Probst became disillusioned by the audience's desire to revel in conflict.
"I didn’t like the stories we were telling, and I was losing my joy of the format, therefore my joy of the job, therefore my joy of life," Probst said.
"I didn’t want vitriol and who can be the meanest, most spiteful person."
At one point, he tried to quit, but was met with resistance by executive producer Mark Burnett after confessing he was "done" with the gig.
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It was Burnett who recognized that Probst likely needed some time off, in addition to more responsibility on the back end of the show.
"CBS was initially horrified. They didn’t want stars to be given showrunner status," Probst said. "But I was so argumentative and sure that it was the right thing to do that I convinced them."
"It was the best move I’ve made in my career."
While recognizing the cultural impact, Burnett admitted that playing "Survivor" is similar to a "management training test."
"If someone works for you, can you fire them and have them shake your hand after?" Burnett wondered.
"At 'Survivor,' you’re voting people out — firing them every week — then you’re asking the very people you fired to give you $1 million. That’s a tricky thing to do."
First clade I mpox case confirmed in Connecticut after patient traveled to Western Europe
A case of clade I mpox — a more virulent version of the virus that causes monkeypox, according to the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) — has been confirmed in the U.S., as global health officials also monitor newly reported hantavirus cases in Europe.
The Connecticut Department of Public Health (CDPH) said Wednesday that the state’s first identified case of clade I mpox was detected in a person who recently traveled to Western Europe, where officials continue to monitor infectious disease activity.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has also reported new hantavirus cases in Spain and France, drawing attention to the rare but potentially severe disease, which can cause serious respiratory complications in humans.
Hantavirus is typically spread through contact with infected rodents and can lead to severe respiratory illness, though cases remain rare, according to the WHO.
While health officials said the mpox case "does not pose a risk to the general public," they still encourage those who may be at risk to receive the JYNNEOS vaccine.
NEW MPOX STRAIN CONFIRMED IN US STATE FOR FIRST TIME
Mpox symptoms can include fever, swollen lymph nodes and a characteristic rash, according to CDC.
"Mpox hasn't gone away, and we want people to be protected, especially as many in our community prepare for travel, festivals, and gatherings this summer," CDPH Commissioner Dr. Manisha Juthani said in the release.
"The vaccine is safe, effective and widely available. Completing the two-dose series is the best way to protect yourself and your partners."
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Clade I and clade II mpox are genetically distinct forms of the virus with key differences in severity and geographic origin, according to the CDC and the WHO.
Clade I, historically identified in Central Africa, has been linked to more severe illness and higher mortality rates, with cases often involving more widespread rashes and complications.
Clade II, which has circulated primarily in West Africa, is generally associated with milder disease and drove the global outbreak beginning in 2022, when most patients experienced less severe symptoms and lower hospitalization and death rates, according to the WHO.
The CDC and WHO say distinguishing between the two clades helps guide risk assessments, particularly as international travel increases.
Margaret Cho blames Trump and ICE for missing out on hit HBO Max series
Actress and comedian Margaret Cho blamed President Donald Trump and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for missing out on a role in the hit HBO Max series "Heated Rivalry."
"Last year, I got a pilot script for a show that I really loved, but it shot in Canada," Cho told the "I Never Liked You" podcast last week. "And I was so scared because I’m so vocal about hating ICE and hating this administration. I was like, I will get detained at the border and I will be put in ICE detention if I go."
Cho confirmed that the series was the 2025 sports romance show about two professional hockey players played by Connor Storrie and Hudson Williams who form a romantic bond while playing for rival teams.
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She added that she has since become a fan of the show and the woman who played her part. Cho also suggested she is looking to potentially appear in its second season.
"I've watched it. I've hosted some rewatch parties, and I'm like it kills me, like it kills me because of Trump," Cho said.
Fox News Digital reached out to HBO and ICE for comment.
Cho has been among many celebrities who have attacked Trump in the past, calling him "abhorrent" in 2015.
Earlier this year, Cho recalled being asked to appear on Trump's show "The Apprentice" because Trump was reportedly "a fan" of her comedy, which she found "weird."
"I was asked several times to be on it, season after season, and they kept saying, 'Well, Donald Trump really loves you. Please come on,'" Cho said in March. "I just had a bad feeling about it, because I did go on one of the challenges because my friend Cyndi Lauper was competing one year, and so she did something at a diner, so I went, and I helped out."
She continued, "I was at the diner, and so I was part of an episode, but I never actually was a contestant, but I was asked several times because Donald Trump was a fan."
Which teams have the most valuable college football rosters heading into 2026 season?
The new era of college football based around name, image and likeness payments has changed how rosters are built and which programs can compete at the top.
The Indiana Hoosiers came out of nowhere in 2024, reaching the College Football Playoff in Curt Cignetti's first year as head coach. Then, with some help on the NIL front, they brought in Fernando Mendoza through the transfer portal. Mendoza went on to win the Heisman Trophy, and the Hoosiers went 16-0 and won the National Championship. Just a few months after Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian said undefeated teams were a thing of the past.
There are plenty of other examples: Texas Tech, with the support of billionaire Cody Campbell, built up one of the top defenses in the country and reached the playoff. NIL can dramatically change a program's fortunes overnight.
Spending more money on players can't guarantee anything. But there's a much stronger likelihood that more expensive rosters will generally lead to higher-quality teams. So as we rapidly approach the start of the 2026 college football season, looking at estimates of NIL spending by team carries a significant amount of weight. Which teams will dominate their conferences and make a run at the playoff? Or which may have to hope they've spent their money wisely, even if it's a lower overall number?
INSIDE THE FIGHT: NIL ARMS RACE FUELING NEW PUSH FOR COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFF EXPANSION
An organization called "College Front Office" has been compiling estimated NIL valuations for 68 teams in the Power 4 conferences, with the ultimate goal of determining which team has the most valuable roster in the sport. And, wouldn't you know it, there are plenty of playoff and SEC teams near the top of the list. Here's how the top 15 looks, per their estimates.
It's important to note that these are based on valuations of the players on the roster and not necessarily what these teams and their collectives actually spent on NIL. But valuations are likely closely correlated to real-world spending, and the results bear that out.
WHICH TEAMS HAVE THE TOUGHEST STRENGTH OF SCHEDULE HEADING INTO COLLEGE FOOTBALL SEASON?
There are several obvious takeaways here, primarily that it's no surprise Texas, Miami and Ohio State are leading the way. The Longhorns have Arch Manning, one of the most valuable NIL players in the sport, and were widely viewed as the most expensive team in college football in 2025 as well. Miami's another example of a program that rebuilt itself quickly after committing to spending more. The Hurricanes were just a few plays away from winning the National Championship game themselves, and beat Texas A&M in a road game, Ohio State and then Ole Miss in the playoff just to advance to the final.
Another takeaway? The SEC and Big Ten are dominant, with 12 of the top 15 teams from those two conferences. Miami is the lone ACC team; Texas Tech is once again one of the top teams and the only Big 12 program on the list. And Notre Dame, with this level of talent and the schedule they have, looks to be a near guarantee to reach the 12-team field.
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Interestingly, Indiana is not listed in the top 15, despite coming off a National Championship win. Will that matter, or can the Hoosiers and Curt Cignetti rely on getting the most out of the talent they have? Lane Kiffin, too, has spent this offseason talking about the project he's facing at LSU, but the talent he has on the roster is, at least by these estimates, clearly playoff caliber.
Then there are two other programs that have a high-dollar-figure roster with little to show for it thus far: USC and Michigan.
Every other team on this list has either made the playoff over the last two years, or in LSU's case, hired a new head coach who led his previous team to the playoff in the last two years. Michigan's Bryce Underwood is a sophomore and looking to build on an up-and-down freshman year and also has a new head coach. USC is at a pivotal point in Lincoln Riley's tenure, with a roster that's now finally capable of competing against other playoff-caliber teams.
Again, money can't buy everything, but the success rate of these programs in reaching the playoff indicates some level of connection. Or can Indiana be the exception once again? Yet again, we're heading for a fascinating college football season.
Morgan Wallen fan goes viral kicking a phone out of someone's hand as she's being escorted out in handcuffs
Move over Romper Stomper. There's a new woman who went viral at a Morgan Wallen concert that the internet has fallen in love with.
She hasn’t been given a clever nickname as far as I know, but she has racked up millions of views across the internet. She did so with a perfectly executed kick that sent another fan's phone flying.
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The kick came as she was walking down the stairs in handcuffs with a police officer holding her arm. The details of how she ended up in that position in the first place aren’t known.
All we can go on is the video footage that has captivated social media. In it, we see her coming up empty on an initial kick attempt over a railing and across the aisle from where she's standing.
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That failed attempt didn’t keep her from trying again. As the officer continues to escort her down the stairs, she notices that someone within kicking reach is recording her, and without hesitation she lets her boot fly.
Making contact with the phone and sending it sailing through the air had to feel pretty good after her first kick attempt came up empty. Whiskey Riff reports that the viral moment took place over the weekend at Wallen's concert at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Aside from comments asking for details about how she ended up in cuffs in the first place, the comment section was overwhelmingly supportive of her kick, earning her a lot of fans.
I don't blame anyone for pulling out their phone when they see something out of the ordinary at a concert, but you do so at your own risk. You could be taking video of someone who can impressively still throw a kick while walking down stairs in handcuffs with their hands behind their back.
AG aims to retry Alex Murdaugh ‘quickly’; both sides enter courtroom chess match with each other’s game plans
South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson says his office will move quickly to retry Alex Murdaugh after the state Supreme Court threw out the disgraced lawyer’s murder convictions, stressing prosecutors still believe they can secure a guilty verdict.
"The Supreme Court, in its order today, basically laid the blame on this reversal on the shoulders of former Colton County Clerk of Court Rebecca [Becky] Hill, and it was her conduct that has led to this decision today, not the conduct of anyone else," Wilson told Fox News Digital.
Wilson said the Palmetto State plans to retry Murdaugh and will push for a speedy trial as prosecutors evaluate next steps.
ALEX MURDAUGH'S DOUBLE MURDER CONVICTION UNANIMOUSLY OVERTURNED BY SOUTH CAROLINA SUPREME COURT
"We are disappointed in the court’s decision. We respect this court, we respect the members of the court, but we strongly disagree with their reasoning," Wilson told Fox News’ Martha MacCallum on "The Story."
The South Carolina Supreme Court vacated Murdaugh’s 2023 convictions in the killings of his wife, Maggie, and son, Paul, ruling that misconduct by former Colleton County Clerk Becky Hill tainted the jury process.
At issue were allegations that Hill made improper comments to jurors during the trial, conduct the court said created a risk of influencing the verdict.
MURDAUGH COURT CLERK BECKY HILL RELEASED ON BOND AFTER ARREST ON PERJURY, MISCONDUCT CHARGES
The comments included jurors saying "that Hill told the jurors not to be fooled by the evidence Murdaugh's defense presented. They're going to say things that will try to confuse you. Don't let them confuse you or convince you or throw you off."
Wilson said prosecutors were not aware of the clerk’s conduct during the trial.
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"No, we obviously weren’t aware of any of this conduct until after. Obviously, it had occurred," he told MacCallum. "We never defended her conduct. We just believe that it wasn’t enough to warrant a reversal."
MURDAUGH LAWYER ‘CAUTIOUSLY OPTIMISTIC’ COURT CLERK’S MISCONDUCT COULD PAVE WAY FOR NEW TRIAL
WATCH: South Carolina AG on overturned Murdaugh conviction: ‘We have time to try him again’
Retrying the high-profile case will come with challenges, but Wilson said his office still has most of the original team in place and a clear road map from the first trial.
"So, we had the benefit of having a road map for our case that we developed three years ago. Obviously, the defense knows what our trial strategy was. We know what their trial strategy is. And, so, it will be a different kind of trial because both sides have seen the hands we have to play," he told Fox News Digital.
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The attorney general said multiple legal options remain under consideration, including potential appeals.
"The state has 15 days on whether or not we want to petition the state Supreme Court for reconsideration of their decision. And we have up to 90 days to petition the U.S. Supreme Court to take this case up on appeal. All options, all legal options, are on the table," Wilson said.
"But, regardless, it is my intention right now, assuming that nothing changes, to retry this case as quickly and expeditiously as possible. That is our goal."
Wilson said his office is aiming to bring the case back to court within the next year, though he admitted that timeline is not guaranteed.
"Look, I'm being aspirational when I say this, but we would like to try to get this case up before January 2027. That would be our goal," he said.
Murdaugh, 54, was convicted of gunning down his wife, Maggie, and son, Paul, at the family’s hunting estate in 2021. The case exposed a web of lies, including Murdaugh’s opioid addiction and millions in stolen client funds.
Despite the legal win, Murdaugh will not be walking free. He remains behind bars serving lengthy sentences for a string of financial crimes that cemented his fall from power.
For his financial crimes, Murdaugh was sentenced in state court to 27 years in prison after pleading guilty to 22 counts, including money laundering and breach of trust. In federal court, he was sentenced to 40 years for conspiracy to commit wire fraud and bank fraud, which he is serving concurrently with his state time.