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Nick Reiner losing powerhouse defense attorney may come down to money, experts say
Nick Reiner's powerhouse defense lawyer, Alan Jackson, had "no choice" but to withdraw from the case Wednesday during what was supposed to be Nick's first arraignment of the year.
Jackson cited circumstances beyond his and Nick's control as to why he abruptly stepped down from defending Nick against the double murder charges in the stabbing deaths of Rob Reiner and wife Michele Singer Reiner.
"Circumstances beyond our control, but more importantly, circumstances beyond Nick's control have dictated that," Jackson said during a press conference outside the courthouse. "Sadly, it's made it impossible for us to continue our representation of Nick. I'm legally, and I'm ethically prohibited from explaining all the reasons why."
Criminal defense attorney and Fox News contributor Joshua Ritter believed that Jackson's hasty withdrawal from the case indicated money issues.
NICK REINER LOSES ATTORNEY ALAN JACKSON IN PARENTS' MURDER CASE
"It sounds like it was simply a mutual parting over a lack of ability to retain a private attorney and, therefore, his only option was that he was left with a public defender," Ritter told Fox News Digital.
Outside the courthouse, Jackson remained adamant that Nick was "not guilty" of murdering his parents.
"We've investigated this matter top to bottom, back to front," Jackson said. "What we've learned – and you can take this to the bank – is that pursuant to the laws of this state, pursuant to the law in California, Nick Reiner is not guilty of murder."
Jackson arrived at the Reiner home less than 24 hours after the couple's bodies were discovered. Soon after, he signed on to represent Nick.
Jackson famously defended Karen Read, who was accused of hitting her boyfriend, Boston police officer John O'Keefe, with her car and leaving him to die during a snowstorm. She maintained her innocence throughout two criminal trials, the first ending in a hung jury, before ultimately being found not guilty of murder and manslaughter in the second.
"Sometimes, in these situations, you have to kind of move quickly if you want a lawyer at that first hearing because you only have 48 hours before they're brought into court," Ritter said. "So it's not entirely uncommon that attorneys and clients may come to an agreement on paper, but not exactly the transfer of funds before an attorney will appear in court."
Seth J. Zuckerman, celebrity criminal defense attorney and founder of Zuckerman Legal Group, and former NYC prosecutor, told Fox News Digital, "It is likely that whoever paid the initial retainer on Nick Reiner’s behalf is unwilling to continue to fund the defense. There may be other issues at play, but we will never know, as Jackson has an ethical responsibility not to disclose."
Zuckerman noted the three reasons a criminal defense attorney would step down from a case, which included financial issues, conflict of interest or conflict with the client on strategy.
ROB REINER, WIFE MICHELE'S MURDER CASE LIKELY HINGES ON SON'S MENTAL COMPETENCY: EXPERTS
"If Jackson is claiming circumstances beyond Nick’s control have dictated his withdrawal, then we can rule out number three," Zuckerman said.
Former federal prosecutor Neama Rahmani agreed that money – or the lack thereof – was most likely the reason Jackson stepped down.
"In the business, we say Mr. Green didn’t show up. Nick can’t pay Jackson. It would be a seven-figure retainer, and he doesn’t have the money. If he did, why would he be living in his parents’ guest house? Maybe his siblings considered paying Jackson but changed their mind."
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He added, "The other possibility is that they disagreed on case strategy. But then another private retained attorney would substitute in and not the public defender’s office. Nick has a chance, but not a good one. Jackson or a public defender will have the same problems with the case."
Rahmani also explained how under California's slayer rule, a child who kills their parents cannot inherit from their estate.
"That means they can't take under a will, trust, life insurance, or act as any other kind of beneficiary," Rahmani said. "The law presumes the killer predeceased their parents. A murder conviction in criminal court is enough to trigger the rule. A probate judge can also apply it. Nontraditional assets like intellectual property may be held in separate LLCs or trusts, by the analysis is the same. The murderous heir won't inherit as a matter of law."
The 32-year-old was charged in December with two counts of first-degree murder, and faces a maximum sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole or the death penalty. He remains in custody at the Twin Towers Correctional Facility after formally being charged with two counts of first-degree murder in the stabbing deaths of his parents.
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Kimberly Greene, the deputy public defender assigned to the case, spoke briefly with Nick Wednesday morning. "He was understanding that there was going to be a change in counsel," she said. "We haven't had any in-depth conversations."
Ritter insisted that the public defender's office is "well qualified" to handle Nick's case.
"They handle these types of cases all the time, and they also have the resources to hire … they have investigators who can work on their behalf," Ritter said. "I'm not trying to take anything away from whatever representation Alan Jackson may have done on his behalf, but I don't think that this is somehow devastating to his chances."
A spokesman 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."
Fox News Digital's Christina Dugan Ramirez contributed to this report.
Vance says Crockett 'doesn't know what she's talking about' on Venezuela Maduro operation
Vice President JD Vance fired back at Rep. Jasmine Crockett, D-Texas, for criticizing the Trump administration's successful operation that captured Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, over the weekend.
"Jasmine Crockett, of all people, has the least amount of room to talk on this stuff. She doesn't know what she's talking about," Vance told "Jesse Watters Primetime" on Wednesday.
"As the president said, you couldn't have a worse spokesperson, a person with less knowledge about world affairs. It's telling that she's the person speaking for the Democrats on this issue."
During an appearance on "The View" on Monday, Crockett sharply criticized President Donald Trump, likening him to Maduro and accusing him of undermining democratic norms.
MADURO ARREST SENDS 'CLEAR MESSAGE' TO DRUG CARTELS, ALLIES AND US RIVALS, RETIRED ADMIRAL SAYS
"As we sit here on Jan. 6, I do want to be clear, somebody else was trying to be a Maduro of the United States. Somebody else wanted to do the exact same thing. The difference is Maduro was successful. I also want to point out that we now in the state of Texas and around this country are enduring this ridiculous redistricting scheme. Again, because he [Trump] doesn’t really believe in free and fair elections," she said during the show.
Crockett also argued that Trump’s strikes in Venezuela were out of self-interest rather than for the benefit of the Venezuelan people. She framed the operation – namely the overnight capture of Maduro – as effectively a kidnapping, warning that Americans would be outraged if another country acted the same way toward U.S. leaders.
"This ain’t about Venezuelans. I get that there are people that don’t like the leader. But guess what, there are a lot of people that don’t like our leader," she said.
JOHNSON INSISTS US 'NOT AT WAR' AFTER CLOSED-DOOR VENEZUELA BRIEFING DIVIDES LAWMAKERS
"And regardless, somebody coming into the United States and grabbing our leader in the middle of the night and killing people in this country, I’m sure everybody would be outraged at them doing it that way."
Vance pushed back on that characterization, defending the operation as lawful and justified.
"We engaged in a law enforcement action. We had a legitimate indictment from Maduro for narco-terrorism, for weapons smuggling and weapons trafficking, and we went in with the best military in the world, we got our guy, he's going to stand trial," Vance said.
"By the way, he is given the full due process rights that are entitled to anybody who's in the United States. I think he's going to go away. He's going to be found guilty. That's not a kidnapping, that's a law-enforcement operation."
Fox News' Hanna Panreck contributed to this report.
Hackers abuse Google Cloud to send trusted phishing emails
Cybercriminals have found a clever new way to get phishing emails straight into inboxes.
Instead of spoofing brands, they are abusing real cloud tools that people already trust. Security researchers say attackers recently hijacked a legitimate email feature inside Google Cloud.
The result was thousands of phishing messages that looked and felt like normal Google notifications. Many slipped past spam filters with ease.
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At the center of the campaign was Google Cloud Application Integration. This service allows businesses to send automated email notifications from workflows they build. Attackers exploited the Send Email task inside that system. Because the messages came from a real Google address, they appeared authentic to both users and security tools.
According to Check Point, a global cybersecurity firm that tracks and analyzes large-scale threat campaigns, the emails were sent from a legitimate Google-owned address and closely matched Google's notification style. Fonts, wording, and layout all looked familiar. Over a two-week period in December 2025, attackers sent more than 9,000 phishing emails targeting roughly 3,200 organizations across the U.S., Europe, Canada, Asia Pacific, and Latin America.
MALICIOUS CHROME EXTENSIONS CAUGHT STEALING SENSITIVE DATA
The messages looked like routine workplace alerts. Some claimed you had received a voicemail. Others said you were granted access to a shared document, like a Q4 file. That sense of normalcy lowered suspicion. Many people are used to seeing these exact messages every day. Even more concerning, the emails bypassed common protections like SPF and DMARC because they were sent through Google-owned infrastructure. To email systems, nothing looked fake.
The attack did not stop at the email. Once a victim clicked the link, they were sent to a page hosted on storage.cloud.google.com. That added another layer of trust. From there, the link redirected again to googleusercontent.com. Next came a fake CAPTCHA or image check. This step blocked automated security scanners while letting real users continue. After passing that screen, victims landed on a fake Microsoft login page hosted on a non-Microsoft domain. Any credentials entered there were captured by the attackers.
Check Point says the campaign focused heavily on industries that rely on automated alerts and shared documents. That included manufacturing, technology, finance, professional services, and retail. Other sectors like healthcare, education, government, energy, travel and media were also targeted. These environments see constant permission requests and file-sharing notices, which made the lures feel routine.
"We have blocked several phishing campaigns involving the misuse of an email notification feature within Google Cloud Application Integration," a Google spokesperson told Cyberguy. "Importantly, this activity stemmed from the abuse of a workflow automation tool, not a compromise of Google’s infrastructure. While we have implemented protections to defend users against this specific attack, we encourage continued caution as malicious actors frequently attempt to spoof trusted brands. We are taking additional steps to prevent further misuse."
The incident demonstrates how attackers can weaponize legitimate cloud automation tools without resorting to traditional spoofing.
Phishing emails are getting harder to spot, especially when attackers abuse real cloud platforms like Google Cloud. These steps help reduce risk when emails look familiar and legitimate.
Attackers rely on urgency. Messages about voicemails, shared files or permission changes are designed to make you click fast. Pause before taking action. Ask yourself whether you were actually expecting that alert. If not, verify it another way.
Always hover over links to preview the destination domain. In this campaign, links jumped across multiple trusted-looking Google domains before landing on a fake login page. If the final destination does not match the service asking you to sign in, close the page immediately.
Shared document alerts are a favorite lure because they feel routine at work. If an email claims you were granted access to a file you do not recognize, do not click directly from the message. Instead, open your browser and sign in to Google Drive or OneDrive manually to check for new files.
Password managers can be a strong last line of defense. They will not autofill credentials on fake Microsoft or Google login pages hosted on non-official domains. If your password manager refuses to fill in a login, that is a red flag worth paying attention to.
Next, see if your email has been exposed in past breaches. Our #1 password manager (see Cyberguy.com/Passwords) pick includes a built-in breach scanner that checks whether your email address or passwords have appeared in known leaks. If you discover a match, immediately change any reused passwords and secure those accounts with new, unique credentials.
Check out the best expert-reviewed password managers of 2025 at Cyberguy.com.
NEW GOOGLE AI MAKES ROBOTS SMARTER WITHOUT THE CLOUD
Modern antivirus tools do more than scan files. Many now detect malicious links, fake CAPTCHA pages, and credential harvesting sites in real time. Strong antivirus software can block phishing pages even after a click, which matters in multi-stage attacks like this one.
The best way to safeguard yourself from malicious links that install malware, potentially accessing your private information, is to have strong antivirus software installed on all your devices. This protection can also alert you to phishing emails and ransomware scams, keeping your personal information and digital assets safe.
Get my picks for the best 2025 antivirus protection winners for your Windows, Mac, Android & iOS devices at Cyberguy.com.
Phishing campaigns often succeed because attackers already know your email, employer or role. That information is commonly pulled from data broker sites. A data removal service helps remove your personal information from these databases, making it harder for attackers to craft convincing, targeted emails.
While no service can guarantee the complete removal of your data from the internet, a data removal service is really a smart choice. They aren't cheap, and neither is your privacy. These services do all the work for you by actively monitoring and systematically erasing your personal information from hundreds of websites. It's what gives me peace of mind and has proven to be the most effective way to erase your personal data from the internet. By limiting the information available, you reduce the risk of scammers cross-referencing data from breaches with information they might find on the dark web, making it harder for them to target you.
Check out my top picks for data removal services and get a free scan to find out if your personal information is already out on the web by visiting Cyberguy.com.
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Even if attackers steal your password, two-factor authentication (2FA) can stop them from accessing your account. Use app-based authentication or hardware keys when possible, especially for work email, cloud storage, and Microsoft accounts.
If something feels off, report it. Flag suspicious Google or Microsoft alerts to your IT or security team so they can warn others. Early reporting can stop a phishing campaign before it spreads further inside an organization.
This campaign highlights a growing shift in phishing tactics. Attackers no longer need to fake brands when they can abuse trusted cloud services directly. As automation becomes more common, security awareness matters more than ever. Even familiar emails deserve a second look, especially when they push urgency or ask for credentials.
If a phishing email comes from a real Google address, how confident are you that you would spot it before clicking? Let us know by writing to us at Cyberguy.com.
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Lindsey Graham says Trump backs Russia sanctions bill
President Donald Trump is in favor of a Senate bill to impose new sanctions on Russia, Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., said Wednesday.
Graham made the statement after meeting with Trump, saying the Senate could vote on the legislation "hopefully as early as next week." A bipartisan group of senators has been drafting the suite of sanctions and negotiating to secure White House support for months.
"After a very productive meeting today with President Trump on a variety of issues, he greenlit the bipartisan Russia sanctions bill that I have been working on for months with Senator [Richard] Blumenthal and many others," Graham said Wednesday.
"Ukraine is making concessions for peace and Putin is all talk, continuing to kill the innocent," he added.
The bill seeks to dry up funding for Russia's war machine, both by targeting Russian industries as well as other countries that purchase Russian oil, such as China and India.
Agreement on the bill came just as U.S. forces on Wednesday seized two sanctioned tankers in the Atlantic Ocean. The first was the Russian-flagged Marinera oil tanker in the North Atlantic Sea, while the second was the M/T Sophia, in the Caribbean.
The North Atlantic Sea seizure comes after the Wall Street Journal reported on Tuesday that Russia had sent a submarine and other naval assets to escort the tanker.
'IRREGULAR' ARMED GUARDS ABOARD RUSSIAN SHADOW TANKERS ALARM NORDIC-BALTIC GOVERNMENTS
The vessel had spent more than two weeks attempting to slip past U.S. enforcement efforts targeting sanctioned oil shipments near Venezuela, the outlet reported.
"The blockade of sanctioned and illicit Venezuelan oil remains in FULL EFFECT — anywhere in the world," said Secretary of War Pete Hegseth after the tanker was seized.
Trump announced a blockade of all sanctioned oil tankers going in and out of Venezuela in mid-December.
‘GHOST SHIPS’ FERRYING ILLICIT OIL HAVE SAILED INTO TRUMP’S CROSSHAIRS
Meanwhile, U.S. forces say the M/T Sophia was conducting "illicit activities" in the Caribbean and is being escorted by the U.S. Coast Guard to the United States for "final disposition."
"Through Operation Southern Spear, the Department of War is unwavering in its mission to crush illicit activity in the Western Hemisphere. We will defend our Homeland and restore security and strength across the Americas," said SOUTHCOM.
U.S. Navy SEALs flown by the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment ("Night Stalkers") seized the sanctioned Marinera tanker, previously named Bella 1, between Iceland and Britain, officials told Fox News.
Fox News' Ashley Carnahan and Lucas Tomlinson contributed to this report.
Top Dems silent after trans athlete they backed in SCOTUS case is accused of sexual harassment, intimidation
In November, 130 congressional Democrats signed an amicus brief supporting two transgender athletes who are plaintiffs in a pair of lawsuits that the U.S. Supreme Court is reviewing. The lawsuits challenged and blocked state laws in Idaho and West Virginia that banned biological males from women’s and girls’ sports. Supreme Court justices are set to review the cases, beginning with oral arguments on Jan. 13.
One of the plaintiffs in those cases, a transgender teen in West Virginia, has been accused of allegedly sexually harassing a former female teammate and using intimidation tactics against a female opponent, Fox News Digital reported Tuesday.
Fox News Digital has reached out to offices of some Democrats who signed the brief asking if they stand behind their signatures, in light of the allegations. Fox News Digital has not received any responses.
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House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffires, D-N.Y.; Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y.; Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass.; Rep. Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif.; Sen. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., Rep. Jasmine Crockett, D-Texas.; Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn.; Sen. Tammy Baldwin, D-Wis.; Sen. Alex Padilla, D-Calif.; Rep. Pete Aguilar, D-Calif.; Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore.; Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash.; Sen. Mazie Hirono, D-Hawaii, Sen. Edward Markey, D-Mass., and Sen. Jeff Merkely, D-Ore., are among the lawmakers who signed the amicus brief and have not responded to Fox News Digital's request for comment.
The 130-member coalition has come under scrutiny on social media since the allegations came to light.
Erika Donalds, the wife of Rep. Byron Donalds, R-Fla., named all 130 of the members in an X post on Tuesday, citing the allegations.
The conservative advocacy group, The American Principles Project, similarly condemned the 130 members amid the recent allegations, in an X post Tuesday.
"130 Congressional Democrats are urging SCOTUS to side with male athletes in a legal battle over men in women’s sports. One male athlete at the center of the case is accused of sexually harassing and intimidating his female teammates in the locker room. Why does the Left continue to die on this hill?" the organization wrote.
The amicus brief urged the Supreme Court justices to side with the two transgender plaintiffs, arguing, "Categorical bans—such as the bans in West Virginia and Idaho—undermine those protections and the ability of transgender students to be part of their school community."
Hirono wrote in a November announcement of the brief, "All students deserve equal access to opportunity in schools—whether in the classroom, on the playing field, or in other settings. No student should be discriminated against based on who they are.
"A categorical ban on transgender students participating in sports not only harms these students, but also subjects women and girls to harassment and discrimination, and leads to the policing of children’s bodies. This contradicts the very purpose of Title IX: ending discrimination in federally-funded education programs. These bans are blatant discrimination, and the Court should say so."
Two West Virginia female students and their families came forward with the allegations against one of the trans plaintiffs ahead of oral arguments for the case next week. The trans athlete is represented by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU). Fox News Digital is not disclosing the name of the trans athlete because the individual is a minor.
'SAVE WOMEN'S SPORTS' 2025 CULTURE WAR TIMELINE — THE YEAR THE TIDES TURNED
Bridgeport High School female student Adaleia Cross, who is a former track and field teammate of the trans athlete when the two were at Bridgeport Middle School, alleges the trans athlete made comments to her that constituted sexual harassment in the girls' locker room. Cross, who is one year older than the trans athlete, said she quit the track and field team at Bridgeport High School last year as a sophomore to avoid sharing a locker room again with the trans athlete once that athlete reached high school.
Cross' mother, Abby, told Fox News Digital what the trans athlete allegedly said to her daughter when they shared the girls' locker room during the 2022-23 school year. Adaleia was in eighth grade, and the trans athlete was in seventh.
"When Adaleia first told us, she told us that [the trans athlete] was telling her and other girls ‘s--- my d---,’" Abby Cross alleged. "[The trans athlete] was saying to her, coming up and saying to her, ‘I’m going to stick my d--- in your p---- and also in your a--.' At different times [the trans athlete] was saying these things to her."
The mother said the comments were reported to the school.
The ACLU has responded to the Cross family's allegations.
"Our client and her mother deny these allegations and the school district investigated the allegations reported to the school by A.C. and found them to be unsubstantiated. We remain committed to defending the rights of all students under Title IX, including the right to a safe and inclusive learning environment free from harassment and discrimination," read an ACLU statement provided to Fox News Digital.
The Cross family's attorneys at Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF) have responded to the ACLU's statement.
"Our client has sworn under oath and under penalty of perjury in numerous cases about the events that took place between her and the male athlete. As a result of the situation, [Cross] had to step away from the sport she loved entirely and sacrifice a key element of her school experience to protect herself," read an ADF statement provided to Fox News Digital.
ADF is also representing the state of West Virginia against the trans athlete in the case that is set to be reviewed by the Supreme Court.
The ACLU has not responded to the ADF's response.
The Cross family said when they reported the alleged harassment to the school, nothing was done to reprimand the trans athlete, to their knowledge.
"They told me they would do a full investigation into what I told them," Adaleia said. "And then, all of a sudden, it was like nothing else was happening, it was done, and it seemed like they thought nothing of it because they didn't talk to us about it at all, they just left it there and didn't tell us anything else, so it just made it seemed like, yup it's done."
Her father, Holden Cross said, "We received no response from the school after filing the report."
Fox News Digital made repeated requests to the ACLU and the Harrison County School District, which oversees Bridgeport Middle School and Bridgeport High School, seeking documentation related to the school’s investigation and clarification on whether an investigation occurred and, if so, why only the Cross family was not notified of the results. Those requests have not been met.
Meanwhile, former Lincoln Middle School girls' track and field runner Emmy Salerno alleges the trans athlete used "intimidation tactics" against her after Salerno refused to compete against the trans athlete during an event in the 2024 spring season.
Salerno's protest came on April 18, 2024, when she and the trans athlete were in eighth grade. Salerno, along with four other girls, refused to compete in the girls' shot put competition that day at a local meet. Salerno claims her team was disqualified from the following meet, and then began to face intimidating stares from the trans athlete at public events.
"After we stepped out, it was an immediate personality change. He didn't want to talk to me. He just wanted to stare at me, and just stare down," Salerno told Fox News Digital.
Salerno has also provided Fox News Digital a screenshot of a Snapchat post, which appeared to be sent by the trans athlete, showing a photo of Salerno with a caption that reads, "Reminder that she has more testosterone than me."
Salerno said there was an incident where the trans athlete followed her while they were at a local basketball game, making intimidating stares, and Salerno was concerned the trans athlete would try to "fight" her.
"At the basketball game when he just followed me everywhere, I kind of felt like, ‘Is he gonna try to fight me?’" Salerno said. "'Is he going to try and sneak up behind me and punch me?'"
Salerno and her father say they believe the stares, following patterns and social media posts were "intimidation tactics," and there have been "lingering discomforts" stemming from the situation.
"I've always tried to avoid him everywhere I went," Salerno added.
The ACLU has not responded to Fox News Digital's request for a response to Salerno's allegations.
Salerno said she avoided competing against the trans athlete the following season, but rather than making a public protest, she simply told her coach to not include her in the lineup for the meets against the trans athlete to avoid penalty to the team.
Salerno claims she has also heard other girls in the community speak about the sexual harassment allegations made by Cross against the trans athlete. Salerno said she herself has never been in a locker room or bathroom with the trans athlete.
"Around track season, it gets more talked about," Salerno said of the sexual harassment allegations. "I heard through my school, people were talking about it."
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Christian author confesses years-long extramarital affair, declaring he 'disqualified' himself from ministry
Christian author Philip Yancey, who has been married for more than five decades, confessed to engaging in a multi-year affair, telling Christianity Today in a statement that he had "disqualified" himself from ministry.
Yancey did not mince words or seek to defend the affair — he acknowledged the sinfulness of his behavior and the devastating consequences of his actions.
"To my great shame, I confess that for eight years I willfully engaged in a sinful affair with a married woman. My conduct defied everything that I believe about marriage. It was also totally inconsistent with my faith and my writings and caused deep pain for her husband and both of our families. I will not share further details out of respect for the other family," he noted in the statement, according to the outlet.
CHRISTIANS TARGETED IN SYSTEMATIC KIDNAPPING CAMPAIGN IN NIGERIA BY JIHADI HERDSMEN, EXPERTS SAY
"I have confessed my sin before God and my wife, and have committed myself to a professional counseling and accountability program. I have failed morally and spiritually, and I grieve over the devastation I have caused. I realize that my actions will disillusion readers who have previously trusted in my writing. Worst of all, my sin has brought dishonor to God. I am filled with remorse and repentance, and I have nothing to stand on except God’s mercy and grace," he noted, according to the outlet.
"I am now focused on rebuilding trust and restoring my marriage of 55 years. Having disqualified myself from Christian ministry, I am therefore retiring from writing, speaking, and social media. Instead, I need to spend my remaining years living up to the words I have already written. I pray for God’s grace and forgiveness — as well as yours — and for healing in the lives of those I’ve wounded," Yancey wrote in the emailed statement, according to Christianity Today.
He also supplied the outlet with a statement from his wife.
In the statement, Janet Yancey noted that in the face of this "trauma and devastation" she does not plan to break her "marriage vow," and she asked for people to pray for her and her husband.
"I, Janet Yancey, am speaking from a place of trauma and devastation that only people who have lived through betrayal can understand. Yet I made a sacred and binding marriage vow 55½ years ago, and I will not break that promise. I accept and understand that God through Jesus has paid for and forgiven the sins of the world, including Philip’s. God grant me the grace to forgive also, despite my unfathomable trauma. Please pray for us," she said in the statement, according to the outlet.
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In a 2023 piece about being diagnosed with Parkinson's disease, Yancey wrote, "I have an omnicompetent wife of 52 years who takes my health and well-being as a personal challenge."
"Sixteen years ago, when I lay strapped to a backboard with a broken neck after an auto accident, Janet drove through a blizzard to retrieve me. Already she was mentally redesigning our house in case she needed to prepare for life with a paralytic. She shows that same selfless, fierce loyalty now, even as she faces the potentially demanding role of caregiving," he wrote in the piece.
From Mr Irrelevant to generational wealth, Brock Purdy wants to use his lifestyle for good
Less than four years ago, Brock Purdy was the last pick of the NFL Draft and living with his roommates while fighting just to stay on the San Francisco 49ers' active roster. Today, he is battling for his second Super Bowl appearance in three seasons.
In his rookie season, he made just under $800,000. After a megadeal signed last May, that number increased to more than $41 million.
It is a different lifestyle for Purdy than when he was initially drafted, but he wants to make sure he uses it for good.
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"I think over the first couple of years, it was a good transition just in terms of, you know, I had my roommates and everything, and then I got married and slowly, just, I was playing more, obviously, as a starting quarterback for the 49ers. So I was just able to, in a sense, ease my way into the whole role," Purdy said in a recent interview with Fox News Digital.
"But more than anything, I've had some really good people in my life to remind me of keeping life simple, not buying into the flashy kind of lifestyle or anything and just keeping my life simple so that I can go out in the field and do what I've always done and play ball, keep my mind clean clear. So, it's been a good transition, but I want to use my role and platform to love people, serve people, and, you know, not just crave it for myself kind of thing. So that's just where I'm at. That's how I view it."
Part of how Purdy is doing that is by helping fans win a Toyota Sequoia, his "favorite" Toyota, during the playoffs, where fans can predict a play during Sunday night's game between the Los Angeles Chargers and New England Patriots. If the prediction is correct, you will be entered for a chance to win the car.
Partnering with Toyota, Purdy said, is a "special" occasion, as he was also able to surprise fans with gifts during the holiday season.
"Just for what Toyota and myself, what we stand for, to be able to partner up and then be able to give back to our community, especially the 49er fans and with the veterans and children with pediatric illnesses in need. To help out them and their families was pretty cool, man. Very thankful that I partnered with Toyota and we were able to do something like that."
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Jennette McCurdy admits Hollywood rewards dishonesty, calls industry ‘horrifying’
Jennette McCurdy admitted the hardest part of returning to Hollywood isn’t the work itself, but realizing dishonesty is rewarded in the industry.
While promoting her latest projects, McCurdy reflected on the stark contrast between writing and producing for television. The former child star described an industry culture that often prizes strategy over sincerity, calling the political maneuvering "challenging" to navigate as she works to turn her bestselling memoir, "I'm Glad My Mom Died," into a TV show.
"It's really interesting because, for writing, you're really rewarded for being truthful," McCurdy said during an episode of "Call Her Daddy." "And, you know, I'm show running and… executive producing ['I'm Glad My Mom Died']. And producing, you're kind of rewarded for not being truthful. So it's a lot of like, OK, how can we tell this person one thing but kind of do another? I won't lie, it's been challenging navigating the politics of it. And I feel much more connected to my books. Like I'm so, so much more excited about talking about ‘Half His Age,’ because that's something that's 100% what I have chosen. That's 100% every decision that was made in the process of this is something that I believe in and something that I support and something that I love."
"There's no games involved," she added. "There's no chess match involved. It's just, 'Hey, here's my heart. Take it or leave it.'"
McCurdy added that "it's horrifying" having an inside look at the film and TV industry.
The now 33-year-old actress' 2022 memoir, "I'm Glad My Mom Died," is being made into a TV show starring Jennifer Aniston as her mom. She wrote the book after unpacking her childhood trauma in the wake of her mother's death. Debra McCurdy died in 2013 after battling cancer.
In her memoir, McCurdy revealed she had been pushed into acting by her mother at a young age. The actress and author got her start as a child star and became well known for starring in the Nickelodeon series "iCarly" and "Sam & Cat," which also starred Ariana Grande.
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According to McCurdy, she struggled with eating disorders and anxiety tied to her mother's manipulation.
She detailed during the "Call Her Daddy" appearance her mom's reaction when McCurdy attempted to broach the subject of quitting acting.
"There was one time when I had tried to bring it up to my mom and said like, 'I really, I don't wanna act anymore.' I was in the car, we were in our old Ford Windstar on the 101, and she really instantly went into that kind of — the mood switch that was really, really common to her. Where it was, "What? No, you're gonna break mommy's heart. What? No, you're so good. This is our chance, this is our chance, this is our family's chance.'"
"And it's, I mean, it's hysterics, it's that, but it's like tears pouring down the cheek screaming like really, really hysterical response."
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McCurdy explained she didn't feel supported by her mom.
"I felt that… it was… if I'm being a character, then it's, 'Oh my God, you're Josie, and you're so good at being Josie. You're so good at being this character.'"
"But it wasn't, 'What's going on with Jennette? Are you OK? Seems like you were dealing with a lot of pressure. How can I help?'"
US may be involved in Venezuela for years, Trump says
President Donald Trump predicted that U.S. involvement with Venezuela could be a years-long venture, rather than a short-term one.
In the early hours of Saturday, U.S. forces arrested dictator Nicolás Maduro in a daring overnight operation. Trump announced the move in a Truth Social post, saying that Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, had been "captured and flown out of the country" after the U.S. "carried out a large-scale strike against Venezuela."
Following the operation in Venezuela, Trump said the U.S. would "run" the South American nation, without going into details about what that would entail.
"We’re going to run the country until such time as we can do a safe, proper and judicious transition," Trump said.
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The president told The New York Times on Wednesday that he anticipated the U.S. would be running Venezuela and extracting oil from its reserves for years following the historic operation that ended with the arrest of Maduro. The deposition of Maduro sparked conversations about control over Venezuela's oil. Venezuela holds more than 300 billion barrels of proven oil reserves, nearly quadruple those of the U.S.
Trump announced on Tuesday that Venezuela would be turning over between 30 million and 50 million barrels of "high-quality," sanctioned oil to the U.S. He said the oil will be sold at market price, and he will control the proceeds to ensure it is "used to benefit the people of Venezuela and the United States!" The president also added that the oil would be transported directly to unloading docks in the U.S. via storage ships.
When asked by the Times about how long the U.S. would retain political oversight of Venezuela, Trump said it would be "much longer" than six months or even a year, though he did not give a specific timeline. Additionally, Trump told the Times that the interim Venezuelan government — which is full of Maduro loyalists — was "giving us everything that we feel is necessary."
When speaking with the Times, the president did not explain why the U.S. recognized Maduro's vice president Delcy Rodríguez as Venezuela’s new leader instead of backing opposition leader and Nobel Peace Prize winner María Corina Machado. The Times reported that Trump said Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Rodríguez speak "all the time."
"I will tell you that we are in constant communication with her and the administration," Trump told the Times.
Notably, Trump did not give a timeline for when Venezuela would hold elections.
The Times pointed out that from the late 1950s until Hugo Chavez took power in 1999, Venezuela had a history of democratic elections. After Chavez died in 2013, Maduro took his place and eventually won the subsequent election. He ruled Venezuela until he was deposed on Jan. 3, 2026.
New Girl Scout cookie debuts in highly anticipated lineup for American neighborhoods everywhere
Girl Scout cookie season is ramping up again — and there's a new cookie in town.
The Girl Scouts of the USA officially launched its newest offering, Exploremores, on Tuesday.
Exploremores are the newest addition to the highly anticipated lineup that returns to neighborhoods nationwide each year.
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Hundreds of thousands of Girl Scouts across the country will soon be hitting the pavement as the seasonal tradition gets underway.
Here's what to know.
The sandwich cookies have "chocolate, marshmallow and almond flavored crème," according to the organization's website.
The rocky road-inspired cookies were first announced in September. Their taste is similar to two other offerings that have been discontinued: S'mores and Toast-Yay!
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S'mores, introduced in 2017, were "crunchy graham sandwich cookies with chocolate and marshmallow filling," according to the Girl Scouts.
Toast-Yay! debuted in 2021 and had a "French toast flavor" with icing.
After the announcement, some people expressed disappointment with the idea of Exploremores.
"I'm not impressed by the newest cookie. Taking away one marshmallow cookie to replace it [with] another marshmallow cookie seems [counterintuitive]," one person wrote on a Reddit page dedicated to Girl Scout topics.
"Another chocolate cookie. Meh," another said.
Others, however, said they were looking forward to trying the new offering.
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"It's beautiful," a Redditor said.
"I want to try it," a mother wrote. "I showed my daughter, and she was super excited about them."
Exploremores join a list of 11 other cookies that Girl Scouts will sell door-to-door, at booths and online.
Other cookies available for purchase include Adventurefuls, Caramel Chocolate Chip, Caramel deLites (or Samoas) and Do-si-dos (or Peanut Butter Sandwiches).
The Girl Scouts will also be selling Lemonades, Lemon-Ups and Peanut Butter Patties (or Tagalongs).
Thin Mints, Toffee-tastic and Trefoils are also available for purchase.
There is no set price for cookies, as each troop decides their own — but boxes are expected to sell for about $6 each.
"Profits from every Girl Scout cookie purchase stay local, helping Girl Scouts in your area test their limits, try new things and grow confidence that will take them far," Girl Scouts of the USA says on its website.
"Your support truly changes lives and makes the world a better place."
A Girl Scouts of the USA spokesperson told Fox News Digital that prices can range from $5 to $7.
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"The net proceeds from Girl Scout cookie sales stay local, with the originating council and troop, to fund enriching activities and amazing experiences for girls year-round — like field trips, community projects, outdoor adventures and more," the spokesperson said.
Girl Scout cookie season typically runs through April.
Fox News Digital's Deirdre Bardolf contributed reporting.