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Belgium 'considering all possible options' after FIFA clears Team USA's Folarin Balogun
Belgium is crying foul after FIFA cleared USMNT star Folarin Balogun before Monday's World Cup Round of 16 showdown in Seattle.
The Royal Belgian Football Association released a statement on the overturned suspension, saying they were "stunned by FIFA's decision to declare suspended American player Folarin Balogun eligible to play," arguing the ruling violates both the FIFA Disciplinary Code and World Cup regulations.
The federation concluded by saying it is "considering all possible options" to protect "the legitimate rights of all participating teams and preserve the fundamental principles of fair play."
FIFA MAKES FINAL RULING ON US SOCCER STAR FOLARIN BALOGUN'S CONTROVERSIAL RED CARD SUSPENSION
FIFA, however, wasn't persuaded.
"Pursuant to article 27 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code, the application of the automatic suspension of American player Folarin Balogun is suspended for a probationary period of one (1) year," the FIFA Disciplinary Committee said in an official statement.
The ruling means Balogun, who was sent off against Bosnia and Herzegovina, is eligible to face Belgium on Monday night.
USA WORLD CUP STAR CALLS LACK OF APPEAL PROCESS FOR TEAMMATE'S RED CARD 'BOGUS'
President Trump celebrated the ruling on Truth Social, thanking FIFA "for doing what was right, and reversing a great injustice!" Trump also praised Balogun's reinstatement and predicted a strong performance from the Americans against Belgium.
It's not hard to see why Belgium wanted Balogun sidelined. The American striker leads the United States with three goals this tournament.
Balogun scored against Bosnia and Herzegovina before being shown a red card in the 64th minute after a VAR review upgraded the challenge.
FORMER TEAM USA STAR WANTS TO SEE RED CARD RULE CHANGE AFTER FOLARIN BALOGUN CONTROVERSY
The dismissal immediately sparked debate among fans and pundits, many of whom believed the punishment was overly harsh.
The U.S. learned of FIFA's decision while arriving for Sunday morning training in the Seattle area.
Belgium enters Monday's Round of 16 match ranked No. 9 in the FIFA World Rankings after handing the United States a 5-2 loss in a March friendly.
But World Cup knockout soccer is a different animal.
Come kickoff Monday night in Seattle, Balogun will be exactly where Belgium hoped he wouldn't be: on the field.
"The Royal Belgian Football Association (RBFA) is stunned by FIFA's decision to declare suspended American player Folarin Balogun eligible to play in the United States-Belgium match scheduled for Monday, July 6 at 5 p.m. (Seattle time).
"FIFA bases its decision on article 27 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code. This provision states that the FIFA Disciplinary Committee may decide to suspend the application of a previously imposed disciplinary sanction.
"However, article 66.4 of the same FIFA Disciplinary Code clearly provides that a red card (sending-off) automatically results in a suspension for the team's next match, as has been the case for all red cards shown earlier during this FIFA World Cup.
"Moreover, and independently of the above, this decision directly contradicts the provisions of the FIFA World Cup 2026 Regulations, as set out in article 10.5:
"'If a player or team official is sent off as a result of a direct or indirect red card (second caution), he will be automatically suspended for his team's next match. In addition, further sanctions may be imposed.'
"The automatic nature of such a suspension was also explicitly reaffirmed in FIFA World Cup 2026 circular no. 16, which was distributed to all participating member associations on May 12, 2026.
"This rule is reiterated at every FIFA World Cup 2026 match coordination meeting before each game and appears in all workshop presentations dedicated to the FIFA World Cup 2026.
"In order to safeguard the legitimate rights of all participating teams and preserve the fundamental principles of fair play in our sport, both during this FIFA World Cup and in future editions of the tournament, the RBFA is considering all possible options."
Send us your thoughts: alejandro.avila@outkick.com / Follow along on X: @alejandroaveela
Trump called FIFA president to review Folarin Balogun's red card ahead of USA-Belgium match, source says
President Donald Trump intervened in Folarin Balogun’s red card controversy in the World Cup, calling FIFA president Gianni Infantino to ask for a review of the controversial decision in the Round of 32 win against Bosnia and Herzegovina, a source confirmed to Fox News.
It’s unknown what exactly Trump said to Infantino, who the 45th and 47th president has called a "great leader in sports" and a friend.
The USMNT striker, who has three goals in this World Cup including one prior to his red card in the Round of 32 match, has been cleared to play in a stunning twist of events.
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The Athletic, which first reported Balogun’s playing status on Sunday, noted that part of FIFA’s disciplinary code stated, "the judicial body may decide to fully or partially suspend the implementation of a disciplinary measure."
"If the person benefiting from a suspended sanction commits another infringement of a similar nature and gravity during the probationary period, the suspension shall be revoked by the judicial body and the sanction enforced without prejudice to any additional sanction imposed for the new infringement," the rule added.
FIFA MAKES FINAL RULING ON US SOCCER STAR FOLARIN BALOGUN'S CONTROVERSIAL RED CARD SUSPENSION
FIFA confirmed Balogun’s suspension was for a probationary period of one year.
"We accept the decision of the Disciplinary Committee and are pleased that Folarin Balogun is eligible to compete tomorrow," U.S. Soccer said. "Our full attention is focused on the Round of 16 match against Belgium in Seattle, and we look forward to the continued support of our amazing fans."
Meanwhile, Belgium, which narrowly escaped Senegal in the Round of 32, was "astonished" by FIFA’s decision to allow Balogun the right to play on Monday night. The Royal Belgian Football Association said it will be " investigating all potential options" to reverse this decision on Balogun.
Team USA manager Mauricio Pochettino and his staff were thinking about how to replace Balogun atop their formation, but now that has all changed, allowing them to run out their regular starting XI against a formidable Belgium squad.
While the USMNT will hope to beat Belgium, and other opponents moving forward, Trump and Infantino will be together at New York/New Jersey Stadium on July 19 for the World Cup Final. Just as they did last year at the FIFA Club World Cup Final, Trump will hand out the World Cup trophy to the winning team’s captain on the field, which Infantino said on " Fox & Friends."
If the USMNT takes down Belgium on Monday night, they would just be the second team in the country’s history to reach the quarterfinals. They would also face the winner of Portugal and Spain if they can take care of Belgium first.
Fox News’ Ryan Gaydos contributed to this report.
Paige Spiranac insists 'great cans' aren't AI after Fourth of July post called into question
When the Fourth of July rolls around, you can count on Paige Spiranac to deliver. Whether it's showing hot dogs who's boss or slipping into patriotic swimwear of various styles, she's there.
This year she kept the tradition going and it shouldn’t surprise anyone. She's built an entire social media brand on her consistency, her authenticity, and her creativity.
Her "Happy 4th of July!" message arrived as expected Saturday afternoon. What wasn't expected is that the image's authenticity would be called into question.
NELLY KORDA ROCKS USA SOCCER JERSEY ON COURSE AT US WOMEN'S OPEN, DELIVERS PATRIOTIC MESSAGE
That transpired shortly after Paige posted it. Doubt crept into the mind of at least one person who called out the golf influencer for using AI.
The image included in the Fourth of July post features her wearing a patriotic bikini while standing in front of a background that isn't real.
"Paige you’re better than AI!," the person questioning the image wrote. "Still, great cans."
ZERO BS. JUST DAKICH. TAKE THE DON’T @ ME PODCAST ON THE ROAD. DOWNLOAD NOW!
The image, according to Paige, isn’t the product of AI and those cans featured in the string bikini are all hers. What people are seeing is the magic of a calendar photo shoot and the work of a graphic designer.
"Not AI. This image was from my 2026 calendar," Paige responded. "We shot it in studio and then a graphic designer made the background."
The explanation was good enough to erase any doubt from the mind of the person who had made the AI claim. They replied, "Forgive me!! You look spectacular!!!!"
Still there are those who aren't going to buy it. Paige isn’t worried about them. She addressed it and moved on.
She has golf content to make and more important concerns to address than what people believe is AI and what they believe isn't. It's always something. Before AI, it was filters and Photoshop.
Some people choose to be miserable. For everyone else, happy Fourth of July from Paige Spiranac. Mark your calendars and we'll do it again next year.
Trump's bold prediction for historic UFC White House fight revealed in new Fox Nation documentary
The UFC Freedom 250 event made history as the first professional sporting event held on the White House lawn. Now for the first time, mixed martial arts fans can uncover how the Trump administration and event organizers helped put on the star-studded event.
"UFC Fight House: The Making of the Biggest Fight in History" is a two-part documentary now streaming on Fox Nation. The episodic event details the intense planning and logistics behind how the White House pulled off hosting the big fight, including the construction of 'the Claw,' which held seating for thousands of attendees.
New, exclusive commentary features UFC President and CEO Dana White and President Donald Trump, alongside many of his prominent allies. White compared the idea of the event to a Hollywood film, reflecting on the significance of what he and his team pulled off.
TRUMP SHOWS RENDERINGS FOR UFC WHITE HOUSE EVENT: 'GREATEST SHOW ON EARTH'
"You just couldn't write a better script than this," White said. "If you scripted this out like a movie, this is a documentary of what really happened. If this were a script of a movie, you'd call bullsh-- on a hundred things that happened; it's pretty amazing. You could never imagine that this would happen. You could never imagine that we would be asked to do an event at the White House."
"When President Trump tells you, 'Let's do something,' and you agree to it, now we have to deliver," he continued. "There isn't anything we can't do. You saw the idea of what we wanted to do. Now this is the reality."
Nine long months was what it took to host the premier sporting event of America's 250th anniversary. But Trump said in the documentary that the UFC Freedom 250's legacy could last much longer than just one of many Independence Days.
FEDERAL LAWSUIT SEEKS TO BLOCK UFC FREEDOM 250 FROM BEING HELD ON THE WHITE HOUSE SOUTH LAWN
"I think this is going to go down as one of the greatest sporting events and maybe one of the greatest events ever," he said.
The UFC Freedom 250's viewership numbers seemed to match the organizers' lofty ambitions. UFC announced its total global viewership for the event was an estimated 34 million people, making it one of the most-watched events in the sport's history. Paramount+ reported that 17 million viewers alone watched the event on their platform across the United States and Latin America, solidifying the event as a groundbreaking success.
White revealed his more personal reasons for holding the UFC event at the White House, citing the country's history of fighting dating all the way back to the Revolutionary War.
"Americans have been fighting since day one, since the birth of America," White said. "We fought to get independence and to build this country. It started with a fight. So to have a fight on the White House lawn on the 250th birthday of America, no other sport would make sense."
TRUMP MARKS 80TH BIRTHDAY WITH PATRIOTIC UFC FREEDOM 250 SPECTACLE ON WHITE HOUSE SOUTH LAWN
Fox Nation also takes viewers inside the mind of UFC executive producer Craig Borsari, the "architect" of the Freedom 250's production. Borsari in the documentary is seen at one point calmly sipping his morning coffee but clarified that outside those peaceful moments, preparing for the massive White House event was a constant rush of energy.
"When I'm enjoying my cup of coffee, the rest of my day is anything but that," he said. "When you plan for an event of this magnitude, you kind of get that adrenaline rush. You want the adrenaline; you want that nervous kind of tension a little bit because it keeps you sharp. It keeps the team seeking out all the opportunities to make this event an incredible one."
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Burgum clashes with CNN host, blasts media for questioning vandalism of Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool
Interior Secretary Doug Burgum clashed with CNN's Dana Bash on Sunday over damage to the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool in Washington, D.C., saying officials can prove vandals cut the newly installed liner after she questioned whether the Trump administration’s renovation work had failed ahead of the Fourth of July celebration.
Bash asked Burgum whether he was "100% sure" vandalism caused the damage and whether he could prove it.
"Absolutely you can," Burgum said. "And as we drain it, we’ve got all the photographs we can see."
FORMER US OLYMPIAN DAVID HEARN INDICTED IN ALLEGED REFLECTING POOL VANDALISM
Bash pressed Burgum on whether officials had photographs of "a person or people cutting a 300 or 350 ft gash" in the bottom of the pool.
"Dana, I’m not sure why you and others in the media think that you want to keep trying to question… this is an industrial liner," Burgum said.
Burgum said the material installed in the pool was not paint, comparing it to the sprayed-on liner used in pickup truck beds.
"Every farmer and rancher in America that’s had their pickup liner lined by this sprayed-on liner knows that you literally, literally, it would never just like peel off or fall off," Burgum said. "This is like a strong material, and it’s the size of eight football fields."
Burgum said the pattern of the damage showed it had been deliberately cut.
"The only way you can end up with actual slices in one spot and not the other is that someone physically cut it," Burgum said.
The secretary said the pool itself had been fixed after leaking tens of thousands of gallons of water per day.
"The pool itself, it’s not leaking," Burgum said. "It was leaking 45,000 gallons a day. It’s finally been fixed by President Trump and the American flag blue is working perfectly."
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Burgum said the broader issue was the condition of the nation’s capital before the renovation work.
"The real scandal is about the fact that the state of our capital was in such total disrepair," Burgum said. "No one was reporting about the pro-Hamas graffiti."
Bash noted that the Reflecting Pool was closed during the Fourth of July celebration.
"It was closed because it’s surrounded by fireworks," Burgum said. "It’s closed every year on the Fourth of July."
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Burgum said the fencing around the pool was tied to the fireworks display and would come down afterward.
"You can’t have people around fireworks when they’re being set up," Burgum said. "The fence was there because of the fireworks."
Bash also asked whether President Donald Trump’s motorcade could have damaged the coating when it crossed the pool in May.
"No," Burgum said. "He didn’t take the Beast. We were driving in a… Cadillac Escalade."
Burgum said the administration would use the same company to repair the damage rather than seek new bids.
"We’ll use the same company because they did a fantastic job," Burgum said. "Thankfully, the vandalism was small. It was bad. I mean it could cost tens of thousands of dollars to repair."
The Associated Press reported Sunday that Burgum said the pool would have to be at least partially drained in the coming week and that repairs would not be opened to new contractors. The report claimed Green Water Solutions received a $1.7 million contract for a water-purification system, while Atlantic Industrial Coatings received a $14.7 million contract to repaint and waterproof the pool’s concrete floor.
Rob Reiner's final role draws fierce criticism 6 months after legendary director's tragic death
Rob Reiner's final on-screen appearance in Larry David's latest HBO comedy provoked online criticism.
A once vocal critic of the current administration, the late director's surprise cameo in "Life, Larry and the Pursuit of Unhappiness: An Almost History of America," was considered Reiner's "last laugh" against President Donald Trump, director Jeff Schaffer told Variety.
"It’s coming out on Fourth of July weekend, and if it in any way spoils a sad octogenarian’s weekend, then oh well," Schaffer told the outlet.
Social media users quickly criticized the posthumous cameo and its political framing nearly six months after Rob and wife Michele Reiner were found dead inside their Brentwood home.
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"Pretty sure Reiner would have preferred to be alive instead of getting the 'last laugh' here," one user wrote, while another quipped: "I'm going to go ahead and say that he definitively did not get the last laugh."
"Sorry but if your son stabs you and your wife to death there are no 'last laughs,'" another user wrote. "That’s basically as bad a thing as could possibly happen. I know we’re 11 years into this now and you haven’t figured it out yet but you really don’t need to do this stuff anymore."
Another X user noted, "The man and his wife were murdered by their son. He spent his last years on our planet obsessing over Trump and believing every media lie he was told. There isn’t a last laugh to be had. It was a tragic end."
While portraying George Washington in the historical comedy, Reiner declares he will not seek a third term in office and proposes Congress pursue a constitutional amendment prohibiting presidential power.
David, dressed in colonial attire, asked, "Well, what if there’s some a------ in office, some narcissistic p---- who doesn’t follow the Constitution?"
NICK REINER LOSING POWERHOUSE DEFENSE ATTORNEY MAY COME DOWN TO MONEY, EXPERTS SAY
Reiner stressed the importance of a peaceful transfer of power before David interjects, "He could use the presidency to enrich himself and his family. He could send troops into American cities to terrorize and even kill American citizens, all to distract from the fact that he’s friends with a pedophile!"
Fellow Trump antagonist Jimmy Kimmel made a surprise appearance and offered, "Are you suggesting that the president would taketh the time to challenge anyone who dare make fun of him? As if he were a big baby?"
As the colonists argue among themselves, Reiner notes, "We're f---ed" before an In Memoriam card honored the late "Princess Bride" director.
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The sketch was reportedly filmed on Nov. 13, nearly one month before Reiner's son, Nick Reiner, allegedly killed his parents.
Los Angeles Fire Department officials responded to a Brentwood-area home at around 3:30 p.m. on Dec. 14, where two bodies were discovered. Officials later confirmed the bodies to be of Rob and his wife, Michele.
Nick quickly became a person of interest and was taken into custody the night of Dec. 14. He was formally charged two days later with two counts of first-degree murder with a special circumstance of multiple murders.
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Nick pleaded not guilty during his Feb. 23 arraignment. A spokesperson for the Reiner family told Fox News Digital, "They have the utmost trust in the legal process and will not comment further on matters related to the legal proceedings."
Last month, Nick demanded access to his $1.5 million trust fund after he was allegedly blocked from a massive payout that would have funded his decision to hire top-notch celebrity attorney Alan Jackson.
According to court documents obtained by Fox News Digital, the trustees' alleged refusal to release money forced Nick into using a court-appointed public defender despite Jackson's firm already devoting substantial resources to his defense.
Nick is facing a maximum sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole or the death penalty after being charged with two counts of first-degree murder.
White House representatives did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment about Reiner's cameo.
Fox News Digital's Lauryn Overhultz contributed to this report.
'Supergirl' suffers catastrophic 73% drop in, gets obliterated at box office by patriotic 'Young Washington'
James Gunn was supposed to revamp and revitalize DC Studios at Warner Bros. The director of "Guardians of the Galaxy" would, in theory, bring the type of overarching creative vision that Kevin Feige had so successfully demonstrated at Marvel Studios.
Two movies into Gunn's vision of DC Studios, it's safe to say that this reboot has been an unmitigated failure.
The 2025 edition of "Superman" was, at best, a moderate success. While hardly the type of franchise-changing success the studio and Gunn hoped for, box office results and reviews were acceptable, if not a bit underwhelming. Thanks in some part to Gunn's bewildering decision to tell audiences that the film was about politics, calling the Superman character an "immigrant."
But the real test for Gunn's reboot and the power of the DC Studios brand was the follow-up film, "Supergirl," starring Milly Alcock. And boy has it failed the test.
Alcock spent most of the press campaign making herself as unlikeable as possible, insulting potential moviegoers, bizarrely claiming that audiences felt "ownership" of her body, then doubling down after the inevitable backlash. The trailers looked awful, with a predictably sloppy anti-hero feel, atrocious visual effects, and an uninteresting plot and villain.
Still, as recently as May, hopes were that "Supergirl" could make as much as $65 million in its opening weekend. In actuality? It made just over $37 million.
NEW STREAMING DATA PAINTS SHOCKINGLY GRIM PICTURE FOR DISNEY'S AWFUL "STAR WARS" SEQUELS
With an estimated production budget of around $175 million, and a massive marketing campaign that likely cost Warner Bros. at least $100 million, the film needed to reach at least $450-500 million globally to break even. That opening weekend, and an anemic international debut, meant it was tracking towards a significant loss. The only hope? That positive word of mouth would overcome the apathy towards the film's plot and the off-putting remarks from Alcock.
Well, we now have the second weekend box office data, and not only did word of mouth not help "Supergirl," it may have destroyed it.
Friday grosses dropped an astonishing 80.4% from opening day on June 26 to just $3.6 million. Saturday estimates are for just $2.6 million, another 77% drop, despite the Independence Day holiday. All told, it's a remarkable 74% drop from the first weekend to the second. Total domestic gross for "Supergirl" now sits at just $58.4 million. On a $275 million production, from a major studio, with a massive marketing campaign, and the creative backing of James Gunn.
If the third weekend has a similar fall, grosses would plummet to just $2.49 million. For an entire weekend. A film that needed to make $200 million+ at US theaters to break even may not even reach $80 million. And considering the woeful international numbers, it's going to cost Warner Bros. hundreds of millions in losses.
For context, "Young Washington," a patriotic film about George Washington's early life and military service from Angel Studios, carried just a $20 million budget. It made an estimated $21 million in its first weekend, per tracking site The Numbers. Playing in just 2,700 theaters, that's a $7,721 per theater average. "Supergirl?" Just $2,665. That's what happens when your star insults moviegoers or goes off on tangents about the characters's sexuality.
Unsurprisingly, "Young Washington" has received middling reviews from critics, but has an exceptional 92% positive audience score. With word of mouth that positive, could "Young Washington," a little-known, barely marketed film with a low budget, outgross "Supergirl" at the domestic box office when all is said and done?
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If Hollywood had a shred of intelligence, awareness, and objectivity, it would realize the message they're getting. Nobody wanted a "Supergirl" movie, particularly not the one they made. Women weren't interested, as is typically the case with superhero films, and men were either put off by Alcock's divisive comments, or apathetic after seeing the underwhelming trailers.
Meanwhile, "Young Washington" has been a tremendous success, because outside of the powerful progressive echo chamber in the entertainment industry, there is still an enormous appetite for stories about the United States, its founding, and prominent historical figures.
Lazy, uninteresting stories made by people who obviously despise their audiences is a recipe for disaster. That's exactly what "Supergirl" is, a disaster. All while the polar opposite film is tracking towards being a massive financial success. Gunn started his tenure at DC off with an unforced error, then backed it up by losing his studio as much as $200 million on a vanity project. Between Star Wars and DC, it's hard to believe that two massive franchises are in such dire straits. But that's modern Hollywood for you.
Michigan Democrat Mallory McMorrow drops out of Senate race weeks before primary
Mallory McMorrow announced Sunday that she is suspending her campaign for the U.S. Senate in battleground Michigan.
The Michigan state senator's decision leaves her party's primary as a two-way race between moderate Rep. Haley Stevens, who is backed by longtime Senate Democratic leader Sen. Chuck Schumer and the establishment, and former Wayne County Health Department Director Abdul El-Sayed, a left wing candidate endorsed by progressive champions Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York
McMorrow's name will remain on the ballot for the Aug. 4 primary as ballots have already been printed and distributed to absentee voters, according to Bridge Michigan.
The eventual Democratic nominee will face off in the midterms with former Republican Rep. Mike Rogers, who is on a glide path to the GOP nomination, in a crucial midterm race to succeed retiring Sen. Gary Peters, a Democrat.
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The seat is a top Republican target and is a must hold for the Democrats as they aim to win back the Senate majority from the GOP, which currently controls the chamber 53-47. The leading nonpartisan political handicappers rate the Senate race in Michigan as a toss-up.
In a video posted on X announcing her decision, McMorrow did not provide a specific reason for ending her campaign. She instead thanked her staff and supporters for helping build what she described as a campaign powered by small-dollar donations and no corporate PAC money.
But McMorrow, who has seen her national profile expand in recent years and was running as a progressive in an ideological space between El-Sayed and Stevens, suspended her campaign amid faltering polling numbers and fundraising that weren't keeping face with her two main rivals.
McMorrow also pledged to fully support whichever Democrat wins the primary and faces off with Rogers, who is running for the Senate for a second straight cycle and lost in 2024 to now-Sen. Elissa Slotkin by a razor-thin margin.
"So here's what we do next. Every day through November 3rd. We win this Senate seat and send Mike Rogers back to Florida for good," she said. "Whoever wins this primary on August 4th will have my full support."
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Following McMorrow's announcement, Stevens praised her fellow Democrat by calling her an "important voice" for policies that benefit Michigan families.
Stevens then argued that she is the strongest Democratic candidate to win the primary and defeat Rogers in November.
"As we enter the final month of the primary election, I'm excited to continue to make my case to Michiganders why I'm the strongest Democrat to defeat Mike Rogers this November, lower costs, protect manufacturing jobs, and stand up to Trump's abuses of power."
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In his statement, El-Sayed praised McMorrow for having the "courage" to challenge what he described as a rigged political system, accusing Democratic Party insiders of spending millions to influence the primary. While he did not name specific groups, the remarks appeared to reference corporate PACs and party leaders such as Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., who has endorsed Stevens.
He then invited McMorrow’s supporters to join his progressive movement to combat big money in politics and defeat the political establishment.
"Throughout this campaign, Senator McMorrow showed what it looks like to fight back against politics that rigs the system against too many of us. While we have policy disagreements, I never questioned whether Senator McMorrow would fight for a better America for my daughters and hers," he said.
"The same party insiders she had the courage to challenge have been bullying anyone who opposes their chosen candidate. After spending $30 million to drown Senator McMorrow and me out, they’re now spending even more to attack me. It’s everything we are standing up against."
"I welcome her supporters to our movement to stand up against money in politics, to put money back in pockets, and pass Medicare for All. We cannot allow the establishment to decide our nominee for us."
El-Sayed, who, if elected would make history as the nation's first Muslim senator, is an epidemiologist who unsuccessfully ran for governor as an insurgent candidate in 2018. He has made support for "Medicare-for-all" a major component of his campaign.
El-Sayed also calls for abolishing ICE, and he's a vocal critic of Israel in its war with Hamas. He has characterized Israel's actions in Gaza as "genocide" against Palestinians. And El-Sayed, who served as a top surrogate on Sanders' 2020 presidential campaign, has also vowed not to accept PAC donations.
Schumer and the party establishment view Stevens as more electable than El-Sayed, who has sparked controversy with his past comments. They worry that El-Sayed as the party's nominee would jeopardize the Democrat-controlled Senate seat by pushing the party too far to the left in a state that President Donald Trump carried two years ago.
Meanwhile, Stevens has been backed by millions in super PAC spending, including big bucks from Israel-aligned groups.
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The National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC), in a statement reacting to McMorrow's move, pointed to the burgeoning battle between the far left and the establishment for the future of the Democratic Party.
"Bernie Sanders’ radical socialist flank is completely taking over the Democrat Party. It is now up to Chuck Schumer to combat Abdul El-Sayed’s clear momentum and get Haley Stevens over the finish line in their messy primary," NRSC Regional Press Secretary Samantha Cantrell argued in a statement.
Greg Manz, the Michigan GOP senior communications adviser, said in a statement that "Michigan’s Senate Democrat primary has shifted from a three-car pileup to a head-on collision."
NYPD detective, children shot in separate Brooklyn shootings over holiday weekend
A New York City police detective and four children were among those wounded in separate Brooklyn shootings over a violent Fourth of July holiday weekend.
New York Police Department Detective Robert Karroll of the Sex Offender Monitoring Unit was shot in the back of his ballistic vest during an encounter with an armed 18-year-old in Crown Heights early Sunday morning, NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch confirmed at a news conference hours later.
Karroll was taken to Kings County Hospital and is expected to make a full recovery. A second officer suffered contusions to the face and shoulder during the incident.
Detectives' Endowment Association President Scott Munro denounced the spate of violence.
"This has to stop," he said at a Sunday morning news conference. "Three weeks ago we had a detective shot – in the same hospital. This has the stop. Our members are out there day and night hours and hours protecting the people of the city of New York doing a job that they took an oath to take and they need to be respected and thank God this detective is going home."
He sighed relief that "we're not planning a funeral today."
Tisch said officers assigned to a mobile field force detail were parked in an unmarked police vehicle near Nostrand Avenue and St. Johns Place around 4:14 a.m. ET when a person approached the car.
"Given the lack of body-worn camera in this incident, the circumstances of the approach are still unclear," Tisch said, adding the shooting happened "quickly and unexpectedly."
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That shooting came hours after four children were injured in Coney Island, where at least eight people were shot.
The victims included two men, two women and four children, ages 14, 12, 7 and 6. All were taken to hospitals. Seven were listed in stable condition, while a 21-year-old woman was in critical condition, police said.
In the shooting of the officers, Tisch said officers got out of the vehicle and tried to engage the armed suspect before three officers fired their weapons. The suspect was not struck, she said. The police vehicle had ballistic damage, including bullet holes in the front and rear windshields and on the passenger side.
After a foot chase, the suspect was apprehended several blocks away near Rogers Avenue and Union Street. Tisch said he resisted arrest and refused to be handcuffed before officers deployed a taser and took him into custody. A SAR 9mm firearm was recovered.
"I'm relieved that the officer, Detective Robert Karroll, was wearing a bulletproof vest and was not seriously injured as a result of it," New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani said at the news conference, relieved at the survival of "a husband and father of three children."
Tisch said the officers had been reassigned to the area shortly before midnight as part of the department’s Fourth of July violence reduction plan targeting ongoing crew violence.
Investigators were canvassing nearby businesses for surveillance footage because there was no body-camera video of the shooting itself.
Reuters contributed to this report.
How a 93-year-old soccer referee credits wartime rations and discipline for his longevity
At 93, sprightly referee Frank Foster is still brandishing red and yellow cards and running the field three times a week for his local soccer association.
Having taken charge of around 5,500 matches over a 46-year officiating career, the great-grandfather credits his longevity and match-day stamina to a lifetime of healthy habits and a foundational diet, news agency SWNS reported.
Foster puts his remarkable fitness down to the strict wartime rations he was fed as a teenager, noting that it ensured he grew up eating "healthy food" rather than "sweets and cakes."
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Decades later, his game-day preparation is still fueled by wholesome nutrition, always starting with a morning bowl of oatmeal, cereal or marmalade on toast to give him the energy to last the full 90 minutes.
The meal keeps him active enough to referee men's, women's and children's games, a hobby he jokes he will never blow the final whistle on.
His sharp mind and authoritative presence on the field are just as strong as his physical endurance.
A military veteran who aced his referee exam in 1980 with a 98% score, Foster relies on old-school discipline to keep matches under control, SWNS reported.
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He believes modern elite officials are too "soft" and allow player antics to ruin the sport. To maintain order and keep players from acting out, he lays down strict ground rules before kickoff. He has no patience for intimidation or theatrical diving. "Those who go down like they have been shot, well, I would just book them," he said.
He is equally uncompromising when squads try to crowd him on the field.
"I wouldn't let them surround me at all," Foster told SWNS.
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"I would say to the players, 'Stay where you are,' and 'If you move one more inch, I will give you a yellow card.' You need to stamp your authority and let them know who is in control."
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He also avoids the modern stress of video-reviewing plays, which he believes creates unnecessary "aggression and disappointment" over microscopic offside calls, adding, "I think it spoils the game."
"Sometimes it is only the player's toe that is offside — it is ridiculous."
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Foster says he "never thought" he’d still be doing this at age 93, but he makes the most of that gift.
He keeps his kit freshly washed, making sure it is "neat and tidy" for when he gets on that field.
Foster, of South Yorkshire, England, also scrubs his black Adidas boots after every game, making sure they are "nice and clean" for his next match.