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Disney's Star Wars relaunch crumbles as 'Mandalorian and Grogu' crashes at the box office
It's almost becoming repetitive at this point. A Star Wars-related property has disappointed relative to pre-release expectations.
Seven years after the release of "The Rise of Skywalker," Disney and Lucasfilm hoped that they could relaunch the all-important franchise with "The Mandalorian and Grogu." And in doing so, once again revealed that they understand very little about the audience they're trying to serve.
When "The Force Awakens" hit theaters under the leadership of then-Lucasfilm head Kathleen Kennedy, it was a tremendous financial success. While hardly reinventing the wheel creatively, it at least provided a solid foundation for the franchise to build from. But the ensuing releases in the "main" trilogy within the Star Wars universe saw progressively diminishing returns as it became clear the studio had no cohesive plan or sense of what audiences love, or loved, about the series.
Classic heroes like Luke Skywalker or Han Solo were undermined at every opportunity. "The Last Jedi" incorporated a bizarre class and political storyline that had little relevance to the plot within that individual movie, and was swiftly discarded as a plot within the trilogy afterward. The "plan," such as it was, was to make audiences care about the leads simply because they existed. It didn't work.
DISNEY'S FIRST 'STAR WARS' MOVIE IN SEVEN YEARS IS TRACKING TO BE YET ANOTHER MASSIVE DISAPPOINTMENT
Fast forward to 2026, and Disney's apparent hope for the Star Wars series was that their streaming service would provide a building block for theatrical releases. "The Mandalorian" was popular in its first season as a novel, "western" style episodic adventure. That momentum quickly fizzled, but with few other options, they rushed a cobbled-together story into theaters anyway.
Not only has it failed, the latest box office returns show how far Disney and Lucasfilm have to go to regain audiences' trust.
The opening weekend of "The Mandalorian and Grogu," despite coming around the long Memorial Day holiday, was underwhelming at just $80 million. Then, the film saw a catastrophic 70% drop in its second weekend in theaters to $24.4 million.
Well, the news didn't get any better this past weekend. If anything, it got worse. Sunday's estimate is that "Mandalorian" will bring in around $10 million or just under, all but cementing the end of its run in the domestic theatrical box office. And leading to catastrophic financial losses for Disney.
With its production budget and marketing costs factored in, "The Mandalorian" needed to bring in $450-500 million to break even. And as its box office continues to dwindle, it currently sits at just $293 million globally. Thanks in large part to the woeful $155 million total from U.S. theaters.
The picture gets much worse when comparing against previous Star Wars films and adjusting for inflation. Here's the list of recent releases in the franchise, and where "Mandalorian" ranks at the domestic box office.
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"Solo" was viewed as such a flop that it ended plans for a standalone trilogy focused on Han Solo. "Mandalorian" is tracking to come up $70-80 million below it, adjusted for inflation. There's no other way to put it, that's a failure.
"Mandalorian" might not have been "political," or specifically divisive, though of course, star Pedro Pascal has worked hard to be divisive on his own. It's that the cumulative effect of their choices has grown over the years to the point where audiences simply don't care anymore.
Disney and the Kathleen Kennedy version of Lucasfilm managed to lose the trust of viewers despite having ownership of the most successful and popular film franchise in Hollywood history. Books will be written about this. Film school classes will be taught about this. And it was completely avoidable, had they simply focused on quality, story, plot and character growth instead of fulfilling every stereotype imaginable. Now they stand to lose $100+ million on a Star Wars movie. You have to hand it to them, it's impressive, if nothing else.
Platner-backer Ro Khanna insists there's 'no evidence of violence' in newest allegations
Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., asserted that there was "no evidence of violence" among the allegations against Maine Democratic Senate candidate Graham Platner from the New York Times.
"My view is that, even according to the New York Times piece, they said there was no harm, no injury," Khanna said on CBS' "Face the Nation" Sunday. "There was toxicity, and there was verbal intimidation, which I condemn, but Graham has made it clear that there was no evidence of violence. That, to me, is a red line."
Host Margaret Brennan pointed out that one of Platner's ex-girlfriends, Lyndsey Fifield, accused Platner of forcibly pulling her out of a taxi by the wrist as well as grabbing her by the shoulders. Brennan asked Khanna whether he believed this claim.
HOW MUCH BAGGAGE WILL DEMOCRATS ACCEPT FROM MAINE'S GRAHAM PLATNER?
"Yes, and I don’t think our side should be attacking her, and I appreciate her courage for coming forward. I know some people are saying she’s a Republican. I think it is irrelevant," Khanna said.
He added, "I believe her. I think Graham acted shamefully, and he acted, as the New York Times described it as a toxic relationship. It is shameful. It is ugly. It happened in a dark period of his life, and the Maine voters that I met said they don’t like it. They knew that he had these chapters. They are willing to extend him grace and redemption and they’re focused now on what he’s running for, but I do not think we should be attacking her."
MAHER WARNS DEMOCRATS HAVE 'ANOTHER SEX, CREEP PROBLEM’ WITH PLATNER CITING MISCONDUCT ALLEGATIONS
Fox News Digital reached out to Khanna for comment.
Fifield also recounted another incident when Platner reportedly pushed her into a bedroom and held the door shut. She later was able to leave after falling asleep and waking after some time had passed, according to the New York Times.
The New York Times report was the latest in a long series of controversies surrounding the presumptive Democratic nominee for the Maine Senate seat. Prior to its release, Platner was criticized for his since-covered tattoo resembling a Nazi symbol, controversial Reddit posts and sending explicit messages to women while being married.
GRAHAM PLATNER DENIES DAMNING NEW REPORT ALLEGING ABUSE AS 'SIMPLY NOT TRUE'
Despite the mounting controversies, Khanna has repeatedly defended and rallied with Platner in support of his campaign, claiming "he found peace, and he is ashamed of that period."
"To me, that suggests someone taking accountability and improving their lives, and we need that redemption in this country. And I agree with a lot of his economic policies, that we should be taxing the billionaires, we should be focusing on the working class," Khanna said.
NYC cancels Knicks NBA Finals watch party over Trump visit as MSG fires back
The Knicks are two wins away from a championship, MSG is preparing for its biggest game in three decades and New York City just canceled the party.
As the Knicks prepare to host the San Antonio Spurs for Game 3 of the NBA Finals on Monday night with a 2-0 series lead, thousands of ticketless fans hoping to pack the Plaza33 outdoor watch party just learned there will be no party at all.
The NYPD claims the party is off due to security for President Donald Trump's visit and its massive Secret Service footprint.
In a battle of press releases obtained by Fox News Digital, the NYPD released this statement:
"There will be no watch parties outside of Madison Square Garden for Game 3 only. This was done fully in coordination with the Secret Service because of the presidential visit. We expect watch parties at Madison Square Garden to resume for Game 4."
MSG pushed back, saying the permit was denied by local city officials, not because Trump was attending.
TRUMP EXPECTED TO ATTEND KNICKS-SPURS NBA FINALS GAME 3 AT MADISON SQUARE GARDEN
"The permit for the Plaza33 Game 3 watch party was denied by the City's permitting office in consultation with the NYPD," Madison Square Garden's statement read. "However, the White House will confirm that this is not about the President. We understand NYPD Commissioner Tisch is planning additional street closures around Madison Square Garden."
City Hall and the NYPD point to Trump's appearance as the reason for the shutdown rather than take ownership of the additional street closures themselves.
Socialist Mayor Zohran Mamdani is also slated to attend, though he reportedly won't be sitting anywhere near Trump.
Friday's watch party got a little rowdy. When you combine a 27-year championship drought with too many overpriced IPAs, Bing Bong energy is bound to spill onto 7th Avenue.
Still, scrapping the outdoor gathering feels like an overreach by a city government that loves to micromanage. Instead of letting the streets bleed orange and blue outside the arena, fans are being told to scatter to local bars or Central Park.
The bureaucrats killed the party, but if the Knicks go up 3-0, no amount of Manhattan barricades can contain the celebration.
Send us your thoughts: alejandro.avila@outkick.com / Follow along on X: @alejandroaveela
Josh Hart calls Finals ticket prices at Madison Square Garden 'ridiculous' as fans priced out before Game 3
The NBA Finals are returning to Madison Square Garden for the first time in 27 years, and ticket prices, as well as the team’s success thus far against the San Antonio Spurs, have been a hot topic.
But one player in the starting five believes it’s "ridiculous" to see thousands being spent on a single ticket to get into "The Mecca."
Josh Hart spoke to reporters before Game 3 tips off on Monday night in The Garden, where he was asked about the ticket prices for Games 3 and 4 scheduled this week.
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"I kind of wish the ticket prices weren’t as crazy as they are," Hart replied.
"I feel like a lot of people who have been waiting for this moment for a very long time unfortunately aren’t able to get into the building. "The cheapest ticket $7,000, $8,000. That’s ridiculous."
Tickets soared after the Knicks held on to beat the Spurs, 105-104, to push their series lead to 2-0 heading into Game 3. Over the weekend, the get-in price on secondary ticket markets was as high as $10,000.
The tickets have since gone down, and some are pointing to the fact that President Donald Trump plans to attend Game 3. There will be enhanced security measures and heavy restrictions on what fans can bring inside the arena, with the Knicks saying in a statement that they should be arriving at The Garden around two hours before tip-off as to "allow additional time for screening and entry."
Screening could be similar to that of a TSA line at an airport.
Trump was also asked about the ticket prices over the weekend, and his response was much different than Hart’s own.
"They can watch it on television," Trump told reporters on Air Force One on Friday after being asked about the tickets to the game he’s expected to attend.
"It’s sorta semi-free to watch it on television. That’s the way life goes," he added.
Monday night would mark yet another major sporting event Trump has been to since he was sworn in for his second term in office. He was at the Super Bowl in New Orleans two NFL seasons ago, while also attending the Daytona 500 and Ryder Cup.
For the Knicks, there is the possibility of a sweep in the best-of-seven series as they continue to match up with the Spurs in their building this time. Game 4 would be a potential championship-clinching tilt, and the ticket prices have also matched the moment.
The get-in price, per Gametime, is $10,097 as of Sunday night, and the maximum is $110,964.
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver even commented on the Finals ticket prices, calling it "frustrating" that more people can’t afford to attend. But as a businessman at heart, Silver understands that the market is soaring considering the history at stake for the Knicks.
Either way, players like Hart, Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns are not focused on who will be in the building, even if the president of the United States is sitting courtside. They’ve been stoic in their responses despite their current 13-game win streak, understanding the "Job’s not finished," as the late, great Kobe Bryant famously said when he was up 2-0 with the Los Angeles Lakers in a previous Finals against the Orlando Magic in 2009.
The Lakers didn’t end up sweeping Orlando, but they finished the series in five games.
The Spurs, meanwhile, are hoping to make this series much longer than the Magic did 17 years ago. Victor Wembanyama and the Spurs will tip off against the Knicks at 8:30 p.m. ET on Monday night.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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Hezbollah's secret 'kill, wound and maim' bomb network exposed as Israel strikes Beirut
Israel launched retaliatory airstrikes on sites it described as Hezbollah command centers in Beirut's southern suburbs Sunday, hours after Israeli officials said Hezbollah fired rockets into northern Israel. Hezbollah did not immediately claim responsibility.
The escalation came days after the U.S., Israel and Lebanon announced a renewed conditional ceasefire framework requiring Hezbollah to halt fire and withdraw from parts of southern Lebanon. It also followed the release of IDF footage that Israel said showed troops dismantling a Hezbollah explosives facility, where an outside expert said components appeared consistent with anti-personnel shrapnel devices designed to wound or kill people on foot.
The strikes mark a major cross-border escalation days after the U.S., Israel and Lebanon announced a renewed conditional ceasefire framework requiring Hezbollah to halt fire and withdraw from parts of southern Lebanon.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office announced the military action was direct retaliation for the group's violation earlier in the day.
HEZBOLLAH FIRES BARRAGE OF ROCKETS INTO ISRAEL AFTER IDF TARGETS HEZBOLLAH COMMAND CENTERS IN BEIRUT
Concurrently, footage released by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) showed troops locating and dismantling a hidden, booby-trapped explosives warehouse.
The multipurpose assembly hub appeared to contain materials that could be used in makeshift shrapnel and propane tanks to create a distributed, lethal network.
Nick Reese, an adjunct professor at NYU’s Center for Global Affairs and a former U.S. national security adviser, told Fox News Digital that the captured weapons cache suggests a deliberate emphasis on personnel casualties, which could be military or civilian targets.
"Given the current situation, they probably targeted more military personnel. Shrapnel bombs are intended to hurt and kill people on foot," Reese said.
"The video cuts between the IDF entering the building and showing the contents. It's at this moment that they probably cleared any booby traps," Reese added. "It would be standard practice to look for and disable any booby traps in a facility like this before going inside and before filming anything."
"It's possible the booby traps could be using shrapnel methods, but I can't see evidence of that in the video. It shows what appears to be a shrapnel bomb, but it is not hidden so likely not a booby trap unless the IDF disarmed it off camera," he said.
HEZBOLLAH ‘HUMAN SHIELD’ STRATEGY BEHIND LEBANON AMBUSH, BOMB DETONATION - MACRON DRAWN IN
Among the items found in the raid was a container filled with nails and other sharp objects, which Reese noted are specific indicators of anti-personnel targeting.
"This video shows what appears to be a container with nails or other sharp implements in it," Reese noted. "This is likely for creating shrapnel bombs intended to kill, wound, and maim targets."
"Such devices are both effective and cause significant fear among the population, which was likely the intent," Reese continued. "The method is not particularly sophisticated but shows that they were targeting humans, not simply hardware or infrastructure."
"Making shrapnel bombs also tends to be cheap, easily concealed, and effective, especially against personnel. These types of bombs would likely have been in significant use."
"The video shows a variety of materials that could have been used to create bombs, from makeshift shrapnel to what appears to be a propane tank," Reese explained.
"These components would be used for very different purposes, so the location seems to have been a central general-purpose explosives-making facility."
"Propane tanks would be used for larger targets like tanks or buildings, while shrapnel would be used against infantry or in public places," Reese said.
US, ISRAEL ANNOUNCE TARGETED KILLINGS OF TERROR LEADERS IN SYRIA AND LEBANON
The dismantling of the factory follows a high-profile decapitation strike against the leadership running these hidden networks.
The IDF announced Friday that an airstrike in Lebanon killed Hezbollah’s chief explosives engineer, Abed Harb, the commander of Hezbollah’s engineering unit, after he "attempted to harm" Israeli soldiers.
The military said Harb was a veteran commander responsible for "numerous attacks against IDF soldiers" over the decades.
When considering the expertise required to manage such operations, Reese observed: "Over a 20-year career, this is difficult to say. Given Iran's well-known funding and support to Hezbollah and its experience fighting the Israelis in multiple conflicts, he likely had a mix of internal and external training combined with combat experience."
"Harb was targeted as part of an effort to disrupt Hezbollah's war-making infrastructure and limit its ability to continue to plan and execute large bombing operations against the IDF and civilian targets."
"The loss of Abed Harb by Hezbollah is not just a loss of leadership but of institutional knowledge," Reese added.
"His two decades of battlefield experience were significant to Hezbollah not only because of his bomb-making abilities but because of how he understood the IDF, Hezbollah, and the junior ranks.
"As a member of Hezbollah since 2006, Harb likely had significant skills in making and disguising bombs over a 20-year career, which will be a blow to Hezbollah's operational capabilities and infrastructure," Reese said.
Mayim Bialik details 'nightmare' after one injection of GLP-1 drug led to weeks of debilitating side effects
Mayim Bialik is speaking out candidly about a severe reaction she says she experienced after taking a GLP-1 medication, revealing that a single low-dose injection led to weeks of debilitating gastrointestinal symptoms.
In an essay that she penned for The Free Press titled "My GLP-1 Nightmare," the 50-year-old actress admitted that she had grappled with body image issues since she was a teenager but emphasized that weight loss was not her primary reason for taking the medication.
"I went on a weight-loss drug because a doctor told me it might help ease symptoms I’ve struggled with for basically my entire adult life," "The Big Bang Theory" star explained.
Bialik revealed that she had been diagnosed with the autoimmune disorder Grave's disease at age 23.
WEIGHT-LOSS DOCTOR SHARES HOW GLP-1S COULD REWIRE BODY AGAINST DISEASE
She wrote that in the 25 years that followed, she experienced unexplained symptoms including "full-body rashes and welts, severe histamine reactions to foods and smells, palpitations, hourly wake-ups for an entire year, crying jags alternating with crippling depression."
The former "Jeopardy" host recalled that she went on to receive a series of diagnoses including connective tissue disease, mast cell activation syndrome (MCAS), Sjögren’s syndrome and dysautonomia.
"But each was really just a label for a larger breakdown that no single specialist could quite explain," Bialik wrote.
Bialik shared that a few months ago, she decided to take a GLP-1 on the advice of three different doctors, who suggested the medication because "the drugs have shown promise in reducing the systemic inflammation that drives autoimmune conditions."
Bialik recalled that she had already tried several treatments that had proved unsuccessful at alleviating her symptoms. She wrote she was hopeful that taking a GLP-1 could be the "magic cure," but the experience quickly took an unexpected turn.
"I took one shot of the lowest dose of a synthetic GLP-1, and to say I had an adverse reaction would be somewhat of an understatement," she said. "Explosive, uncontrollable diarrhea. Sulfur burps so violent they left me afraid to open my mouth in public. Sneezing attacks every time I tried to eat or drink—which apparently has a name, snatiation."
"Cramping. Bloating. Full-body aching, as though I had the flu," she continued. "And an inability to keep down even small sips of water without sprinting to the bathroom with yet more explosive diarrhea. More than three times, I didn’t make it."
POPULAR WEIGHT-LOSS MEDICATIONS LINKED TO HIDDEN SIDE EFFECTS, STUDY FINDS
Bialik recalled that she struggled to hold down food or water and the ordeal left her so dehydrated she needed IV fluids.
"For the first two [days], I ate maybe one cup of rice and half a banana," she said. "Also some broth, which promptly left my body. I couldn’t even keep electrolyte drinks down."
"Everything exited with a rage that left me weak and debilitated," Bialik continued. "I was in constant contact with my prescribing doctor throughout — and when I couldn’t keep even a sip of water down, a nurse came to my home to administer IV fluids"
Bialik said she was surprised by how unfazed her medical providers seemed by her reaction to the medication, recalling that they told her severe side effects were not uncommon.
She wrote that she later discovered gastrointestinal symptoms, including nausea, vomiting and diarrhea, are among the most commonly reported side effects of GLP-1 medications.
According to the Mayo Clinic, gastrointestinal side effects associated with GLP-1 medications are well documented and often occur when patients first start treatment or increase their dosage.
While Bialik described a severe reaction, the Mayo Clinic notes that side effects can vary widely in severity, and many patients experience symptoms that are mild to moderate and improve over time.
Bialik recalled that she spent days attempting to manage her symptoms but could not find relief.
"On day three, I started antidiarrheal medication, which gave me just enough reprieve to eat toast and applesauce," she wrote. "As soon as it wore off, though, the siege resumed as if it never stopped. I took more antidiarrheals and rode that seesaw for days, trying to coax my body back to homeostasis."
"And yet, in the depth of my misery — my exhausted body, my aching joints, another pair of ruined underwear — a piercing, devastating thought occurred to me: At least you might lose some weight," she remembered.
The actress wrote that her ordeal resurfaced her years of body image struggles, revealing how Hollywood's emphasis on thinness and social media's beauty standards contributed to feelings of shame and a "disordered relationship with food."
Bialik, who rose to fame as a child star on the hit show "Blossom," recalled that she began gaining weight as a teenager after being prescribed medication to manage her moods, and she had developed a "deep sense of shame around my body" by the time she was a working actress in her 40s.
The Emmy Award nominee admitted that her body image issues were exacerbated after perimenopause caused her to gain 20 pounds that she has been unable to lose.
"Even when I was too sick to stand, drink water, or think straight, I was still chasing that dragon," Bialik admitted.
Bialik wrote that she ultimately decided to discontinue taking the GLP-1 and gave her "remaining hundreds of dollars of shots" to a friend. She wrote that she "would not blame anyone for pushing through side effects far worse than mine" for the weight loss that had previously eluded them.
"But my body made its position clear, and I had learned, after decades of overriding it, to finally listen," she said.
Bialik wrote that the experience offered insight into the daily struggles endured by those with chronic gastrointestinal illnesses.
"After the jab, I couldn’t leave the house for the better part of a week. When I had to go somewhere, I loaded up on antidiarrheals and avoided eating or drinking for hours beforehand," she said.
"There are people who often live in shame of their gastrointestinal challenges, who seem vague when they cancel plans, who disappear from events without explanation," Bialik continued. "I now recognize the deep pain and embarrassment that comes from a body that betrays you in ways you can’t explain to other people at a dinner party."
She explained that she "finally went to see a gastroenterologist" after weeks of dealing with continued symptoms following her single injection.
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Bialik said that her gastroenterologist told her that "while my reaction was dramatic, it was not unusual."
"These medications, he said, are extremely disruptive to the body and should not be used outside of a specific, regulated set of serious medical reasons — namely, life-compromising obesity and its related health consequences," Bialik wrote. "I did not meet that bar. He told me to expect a full month of alternating diarrhea and constipation, hopefully at decreasing frequency."
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Bialik explained that he also informed her that other medications she was taking could also be causing her gut health problems.
"I left his office feeling validated — a real doctor confirming I was not a freak, that the medication really had done this to me — and trepidatious that there was more to deal with in the coming weeks," she wrote.
"And then, on my way out, I caught a glimpse of my reflection, and I did not recoil," Bialik continued. "I did not see under my first chin that second chin on which I had been fixating for months — because it wasn’t there."
"My cheekbones were visible. I gazed for a moment, flashed a Mona Lisa smile, and headed to the parking lot, stopping briefly to hike up my skirt, which had started to sag at my hips ever so slightly."
Scott Pelley says CBS News is ‘on fire’ after Bari Weiss takeover and ‘60 Minutes’ bloodbath
Former "60 Minutes" correspondent Scott Pelley accused CBS News leadership of political bias and incompetence in his first sit-down interview since he was fired from the network last week after clashing with new management.
Pelley told The New York Times' Lulu Garcia-Navarro that he hoped Paramount leadership would intervene after recent upheaval at the long-running newsmagazine.
"Right now, CBS News is on fire," Pelley said.
Pelley, who spent 37 years at CBS News, said the turmoil began after CBS dismissed several senior "60 Minutes" staffers and installed tech journalist Nick Bilton as the program’s new executive producer under CBS News editor-in-chief Bari Weiss.
Pelley described the staff cuts as a "Black Thursday massacre" and said employees were left without a clear explanation.
"This is our entire senior staff," Pelley said. "Tanya Simon, our boss, she’s the first woman ever to be executive producer of ‘60 Minutes.’ And she concluded this season with a growth in our audience of 9%, which is unheard-of in broadcast television, and a growth of our online presence of 190%."
Pelley said he canceled a planned trip with his wife to attend Bilton's first staff meeting, where he objected to Bilton reading remarks from his phone after the firings.
Pelley claimed he felt obligated to speak because he was the senior person in the room.
CBS NEWS FIRES '60 MINUTES' CORRESPONDENTS, TOP PRODUCER IN SWEEPING SHAKEUP OF STORIED PROGRAM
"I felt that somebody had to stand up not just for the broadcast but for the people," Pelley said.
Pelley also accused Weiss of interfering in a February "60 Minutes" story about protests in Minneapolis against an ICE crackdown. He said Weiss asked for changes after the story had already been approved by top editors and after the show’s Sunday deadline.
He said one requested change involved how the broadcast described the death of Renee Good.
"The video showed that the officer wasn’t standing in front of the car, and she wasn’t driving toward him, but that’s what the president said about that, and that’s the way she wanted it described," Pelley said.
BARI WEISS ADDRESSES SCOTT PELLEY FIRING IN CBS NEWS STAFF CALL, SAYS ITS THE ‘PATH THAT HE CHOSE’
Pelley said he rejected the changes after reviewing the footage with producers and an editor.
"There was a thumb on the scale for the president’s version of events that I felt was a level of political influence that I had never seen in 37 years at CBS News," Pelley said.
He said his larger concern was the lack of television experience among CBS News' leadership, particularly Bari Weiss.
"Television’s not her thing," Pelley said of Weiss. "This is like somebody walking up to me and saying, ‘There’s a 747; there are 400 people on it; we need you to fly it to Paris.’ I’m going to decline because I don’t have a clue."
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CBS News denied Pelley’s characterization of Weiss’ involvement in the Minneapolis story.
"In an email, Bari made four points in the course of editorial back-and-forth," a CBS News spokesperson told The Times. "They had no political motivation and were proposed solely to make the piece as strong, fair, and accurate as possible."
The network also denied Pelley's broader allegation that Weiss was acting on behalf of the Trump administration.
"There is no credible argument to suggest Ms. Weiss was ‘putting a thumb on the scale on behalf of the administration’ in any instance over the past seven months," a CBS News spokesperson said.
Fox News Digital reached out to CBS for comment, but did not immediately hear back.
Iran admits extraordinary new detail in Khamenei strike, Trump offered 'way out': expert
New details from Iran’s top diplomat about the strike that killed Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei provide some of the clearest evidence yet of the precision and strategy behind the joint U.S.-Israeli operation that launched Operation Epic Fury, counterterrorism experts said Sunday.
The account, revealed by Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi in a new television interview, also highlights what analysts describe as a defining feature of President Donald Trump’s national security doctrine: using a decapitation strike against a hostile regime while simultaneously creating an off-ramp to end the conflict.
"Well, the building we were sitting in was targeted, but the wing we were in remained intact while the other wing of the building was destroyed," Araghchi said in an interview that aired June 4 on the Lebanon-based, Hezbollah-backed Al Mayadeen television network.
While Araghchi survived the Feb. 28 strike because he was in a different wing of Khamenei's compound when the attack occurred, he went on to detail how Khamenei was in his office and how others survived.
BEFORE-AND-AFTER SATELLITE IMAGERY OFFERS A RARE LOOK AT DAMAGE INSIDE IRAN
Reviewing the original segment, counterterrorism expert Dr. Omar Mohammed told Fox News Digital that Araghchi’s account confirms the operation targeted a specific section of the complex rather than flattening the entire site.
"In the Arabic version, Araghchi says he was in a different wing of the compound, briefing another official, and his wing survived while the leader’s office was destroyed," Mohammed explained.
Araghchi also told the interviewer that he had an appointment that day with an official at the compound regarding the Geneva negotiations and that, based on the usual workflow, Khamenei "had to be present in his office."
Mohammed, director of the Antisemitism Research Initiative at the Program on Extremism at George Washington University, added that if Araghchi’s account is accurate, this was Iran's glaring acknowledgment of U.S. strategic capabilities.
"They did not flatten a building; they took one wing and left the one next to it standing. That is President Trump’s whole doctrine in a single strike — he does not want a war of occupation, he wants to show the United States can reach the center of a hostile regime with precision and then offer it a way out," Mohammed said.
DOZENS OF TOP IRANIAN REGIME OFFICIALS, SUPREME LEADER KILLED IN ISRAELI STRIKES
The daylight strike on elder Khamenei’s compound was carried out by Israeli jets targeting the site with 30 precision munitions alongside Sparrow air-launched ballistic missiles.
Military officials confirmed that a precise strike sequence killed Khamenei, 86, alongside Defense Minister Amir Nasirzadeh, IRGC Commander Mohammed Pakpour and multiple top security leaders.
Trump confirmed U.S. involvement in Khamenei’s killing in a post on social media at the time.
"He was unable to avoid our intelligence and highly sophisticated tracking systems, and, working closely with Israel, there was not a thing he or the other leaders killed alongside him could do," the president wrote.
"Iran was handed the clearest message an adversary can get — we can reach your leader in his own office, and here is the off-ramp," Mohammed noted. "A rational state takes the exit. Tehran did the opposite. It fired on Israel, killed a civilian in Bahrain, struck Kuwait, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, and closed the Strait of Hormuz, setting off a global energy crisis. The surgical strike was American. The months-long war that followed was Iran's choice."
Following the leadership transition, Ali Khamenei's son, Mojtaba Khamenei, became Iran's new supreme leader.
IRAN’S NEW SUPREME LEADER IS ‘HIS FATHER ON STEROIDS,’ EXPERTS WARN OF HARDLINE RULE
He has since been involved in back-channel discussions with the U.S. while maintaining a confrontational public stance.
"In Arabic, Araghchi calls the new leader ‘the young Khamenei in place of the elderly Khamenei.’ That is the language of a monarchy, not a republic of clerics," Mohammed observed. "They are rewriting the theology on air to fit a son who lacks the religious rank, who was wounded in the same strike and who then vanished for weeks. A revolution that came to power by ending a monarchy is handing the throne from father to son."
"The real story is not that Iran is strong," Mohammed continued. "It was shown the precision of American power and the door was held open, and it chose to widen the war instead."
All 12 victims stable after shooting near festival as Toledo police pursue multiple leads
Toledo, Ohio police said Monday that all 12 victims wounded in a mass shooting near the Ohio city's annual Old West End Festival are now in stable condition as investigators continue searching for those responsible.
Authorities said the victims, who range in age from 14 to 61, continue to improve after Saturday's shooting, which investigators believe involved at least two gunmen who were likely firing at each other. Police have not identified a motive or released suspect descriptions as the investigation remains ongoing.
"Investigators continue to make progress and are following multiple leads in connection with Saturday's shooting near the Old West End Festival," police said in a post on X. "At this time, all 12 victims are reported to be in stable condition and continue to improve."
"The Toledo Police Department appreciates the assistance and cooperation received thus far," the department added, noting that no arrests had been made.
MULTIPLE PEOPLE SHOT NEAR FESTIVAL IN TOLEDO, OHIO; MANHUNT FOR SUSPECT UNDERWAY
Police encouraged anyone with information who has not yet spoken with investigators to call or text Crime Stoppers at 419-255-1111, adding that tipsters may remain anonymous.
The Toledo Police Department said officers responded around 5:37 p.m. Saturday to a report of a shooting near Delaware Avenue and Glenwood Avenue, close to the Old West End Festival.
Upon arrival, officers discovered multiple victims suffering from gunshot wounds, police said.
GUNMAN REMAINS AT LARGE AFTER SHOOTING FIVE PEOPLE AT CONNECTICUT MALL
Deputy Chief Joseph Heffernan said during a news conference that investigators believe at least two gunmen were involved in the shooting.
"They were probably shooting at each other," Heffernan said.
Heffernan lamented that the shooting disrupted a longtime community tradition.
AT LEAST 1 DEAD, 10 SHOT DURING SOUTH CAROLINA JUNETEENTH EVENT NEAR VETERANS' CENTER
"It's just a shame, you know, a few people, for whatever reason, going through their heads, decide to disrupt something that has been a beloved community event for many, many, many years," Heffernan said.
"We had the security in place, just so that something like this wouldn't happen and unfortunately, best laid plans, it happened anyway," he added.
Investigative Lt. Dan Gerken described the violence as unprecedented for the annual festival.
SHOOTING DURING PARTY AT OKLAHOMA'S ARCADIA LAKE LEAVES AT LEAST 10 WOUNDED, POLICE SAY
"As far as violence, this is over the top," Gerken said.
Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine said he was confident investigators would identify those responsible for what he described as a "senseless" crime.
"I am deeply concerned about the situation in Toledo tonight," read the Republican governor’s post. "Summer festivals should be safe spaces for families to spend time together without fear of violence."
MASS SHOOTING NEAR INDIANA UNIVERSITY INJURES 9, NO ARRESTS MADE YET
"Fran and I are praying for everyone impacted by the incident at the Old West End Festival, and we are confident that law enforcement will locate the suspects involved in this senseless crime," he added.
Toledo Mayor Wade Kapszukiewicz also expressed confidence the city would recover from the violence.
"Toledo has faced more adversity over the years than most cities, and our citizens always rally together and pull through," the mayor wrote on X. "This will be no exception."
The mayor said Americans "should never shrug our shoulders" or accept such violence "as the price of living in a free society."
"Toledo is resilient & it will emerge stronger because of the unity we show in this moment – and because of the brave men & women of @Toledo_PD & @ToledoFire, whose swift actions today saved lives. Let’s pray for them tonight as we also pray for our city and country," he wrote.
Fox News Digital's Stephen Sorace and Michael Sinkewicz contributed to this report.
Steve Hilton blasts Democrats for making California unaffordable after 16 years of unchecked power
California Republican Steve Hilton blamed Democrats Sunday for turning the Golden State into a place where residents can no longer afford to live. He blamed soaring costs, crushing taxes and government dysfunction for driving families and businesses out of the state.
"California today is what you get when Democrats get everything they want," Hilton told "Fox & Friends Weekend."
Pointing to high taxes and rampant homelessness, Hilton criticized the Democratic-controlled state legislature, executive leadership and state Supreme Court, highlighting their claimed failure to resolve some of the state's most pressing concerns.
"They've had 16 years to show us that their ideas can work, and they've had nothing stopping them," he said.
"They've had all the statewide offices. They have had both chambers of the state legislature with a two-thirds majority. They can literally pass anything they want. They run all the big cities, all the big counties. They had the state Supreme Court, 6-1 Democrat majority, and yet still they can't do it," he added.
Hilton's frustrations come as he attempts to upend the Democratic Party's stronghold in the state.
Votes are still being counted in the governor's race, with early indicators suggesting Hilton could secure the second spot on November's ballot, facing Democrat Xavier Becerra.
Billionaire Democrat Tom Steyer currently sits in third place.
Hilton said he is confident he will secure the second spot for the November runoff, telling Fox News that Californians are "desperate for change" and he is prepared to deliver.
"People look at California and think, 'How's a Republican going to win?' Actually, I'm very confident we can win once I'm officially in the top two, and I think that is gonna happen," he said. "I think there's no way realistically that Tom Steyer, the billionaire climate fanatic, is going to catch up. I've been leading for most of the last three days, right up until last night. It's still incredibly close, me and Xavier Becerra. I'm very confident I'll be there in the final."