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David Ellison breaks silence on Paramount-WBD merger fight, CNN insiders don’t buy ‘lip service’ about network
Paramount CEO David Ellison believes that opposition to his planned Warner Bros. merger isn’t truly about market share but rather whether he "can be trusted as a steward of Warner’s CNN."
Unfortunately for Ellison, much of the distrust is coming from inside the house.
In a striking New York Times guest essay published on Tuesday, Ellison wrote that others have attempted to tell his story while he remained silent because the head of a news organization "shouldn’t put a finger on the scale," but he wouldn’t remain silent any longer.
The essay quickly spread through CNN, where concerned staffers attempted to read between the lines to see if it offered a glimmer of hope. One CNN employee flatly rejected the notion that Ellison’s essay will ease tensions, while CNN chief media analyst Brian Stelter called it "remarkable."
CNN STAFFERS SEE PARAMOUNT MERGER AS 'INEVITABLE' DESPITE LEGAL BATTLE DELAYING ELLISON TAKEOVER
Ellison’s Paramount is attempting to build a media empire of historic proportions by acquiring Warner Bros. Discovery for $111 billion. The European Union and the U.S. Justice Department have each signed off on the deal, with the final roadblocks coming from an antitrust lawsuit led by California Attorney General Rob Bonta and a suit from the Writers Guild of America. Paramount recently agreed to delay the deal until next year while the lawsuits play out in court.
"The states claim this deal will give one company too much influence over theatrical releases and cable operators, while the W.G.A. argues that our combined market power will hurt writers. Both suits imagine a Hollywood that no longer exists — an industry ruled by a handful of legacy studios," Ellison wrote.
Ellison noted that "a combined Paramount-Warner would account for less than 20 percent" of the time Americans spend watching television and "just 18 percent" of the domestic box office over the past 12 months.
"Those are not the numbers of a company that can dictate what audiences watch or what writers get paid," Ellison wrote.
"I believe this fight is not really about market share," Ellison continued. "The issue is whether I can be trusted as a steward of Warner’s CNN. There has been speculation about my politics, my loyalties, my intentions."
CNN has been plagued with morale issues ahead of the looming merger, as the network has seen multiple leadership changes in recent memory and there is widespread concern about the direction of the network under Ellison. Some staffers are anxious about job security, while others are frightened that Bari Weiss, Ellison's handpicked editor-in-chief of CBS News who irks liberals throughout the media industry, would take on an oversight position at CNN.
Ellison has previously publicly vowed that CNN will maintain its editorial independence, but skeptics don’t seem to take his promise at face value. Critics of Weiss and Ellison have accused them of bending the knee to Trump and trying to curry favor with his administration, but the high-powered mogul continues to insist that is not the case.
"I have regularly voted for candidates of both parties; I hold some views that would be called conservative and others that would be called liberal, just like most Americans; and when it comes to our news operations, I do not aspire to lead these companies to bend their newsrooms to my views. I believe that news should be based on facts and truth," Ellison wrote.
"Great news organizations like CNN and CBS News are here to tell it straight down the middle," he added. "That requires newsrooms that reflect the whole world, not one side of it. And it requires independence."
Ellison wrote that CNN journalists would "continue to answer to the facts and to all the people they serve — not to any party or cause," once he takes control.
PARAMOUNT-WBD MERGER ON HOLD AFTER JUDGE GRANTS TEMPORARY RESTRAINING ORDER
Ellison, the son of billionaire Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison, then noted that only 28 percent of Americans trust the news, citing a recent Gallup study.
"The temptation is to say the problem lies elsewhere. Our obligation is to look inward and say: We can do better. We are in a moment when Americans trust few institutions, but journalists haven’t always helped their case by refusing to engage with critiques," Ellison wrote. "Trust can’t be argued back, but it can be earned back — story by story, day by day."
A veteran CNN staffer suggested that Ellison’s essay won’t exactly lift spirits.
"I don't think it will calm the nerves of anyone at CNN! No one is worried about his politics, we're worried that he doesn't have any affection for the role of journalism," the staffer told Fox News Digital.
"And as much as he paid lip service in this piece to those concerns, we don't really have to guess at what he'd do — his moves at CBS have reflected the opposite," they continued. "A disregard for independent storytelling, holding powerful people accountable, and investing in journalists and journalism, as executed by his hire, Bari Weiss."
CNN declined comment when reached by Fox News Digital.
A former CNN producer, who isn't a fan of the direction the network has swung in recent years, doesn’t believe the essay will go over well with ex-colleagues.
"David Ellison is making clear that under his leadership, CNN and CBS News must stop ‘refusing to engage’ with critics of their liberal bias and ‘look inward.’ He probably didn’t realize that he’s kicking a hornet’s nest," the ex-CNN producer said.
"The folks at CNN and CBS News view any challenge to their biased, disconnected and badly produced programming as a violation of their free speech rights, and they’re coming at David and Bari with everything they’ve got," the source continued. "David is going to have to burn both places down before he can fix them."
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CBS News did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Trump offers Iran ‘last chance’ deal as repeated pauses fail to end war
President Donald Trump is warning Iran that it has one last chance to make a deal, even as Tehran denies the negotiations Trump says persuaded him to hold off on a major U.S. attack.
The clash has left the status of the diplomatic effort unclear. Trump says indirect talks could reopen the Strait of Hormuz and eventually address Iran’s nuclear program, while Tehran acknowledges only limited discussions with Oman and has not publicly embraced the broader deal Trump has described.
"There’s certainly an element of posturing involved," Ali Vaez, deputy program director for the Middle East at International Crisis Group, told Fox News Digital. "While there are no ‘talks’ in the sense of U.S. and Iranian officials sitting at the same venue exchanging proposals and counter-offers, engagement appears ongoing."
Trump said diplomacy persuaded him to call off a planned attack on Iran that he described as the biggest since World War II. Over the weekend, he said Iran and several Middle Eastern countries had asked for more time to finalize an agreement reopening Hormuz and addressing Tehran’s nuclear program.
TRUMP WARNS IRAN FIGHTING ISN'T OVER AS HE VOWS US WILL 'WIN' AS TALKS FADE
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei said, however, that Tehran was neither holding talks with the United States nor expecting an American delegation. He described the Oman discussions as a bilateral effort to establish a temporary shipping corridor through the Strait.
Trump, in response, accused Iran’s leadership of being "unbelievably duplicitous."
"They ask for a meeting, some would say ‘beg,’ talks begin, with more scheduled in the immediate future, and they say, openly and proudly, that they’re not having any discussions," Trump wrote Monday on Truth Social.
Later that afternoon, Trump called the talks Iran’s "last chance" to avoid an escalation in U.S. strikes. He said negotiators would first seek to reopen the Strait, then turn to Tehran’s nuclear program.
"The first phase is the opening of the straits. The second phase will be the denuclearization," Trump said in the Oval Office. "And that will take a little while."
Trump said reporters could learn more about the negotiations "today or tomorrow." Iran has not publicly endorsed either phase of his plan.
Saudi Arabia and other Gulf allies have urged Trump to hold off on the planned attack, fearing more Iranian reprisals against their territory. Jonathan Schanzer, executive director of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, said those concerns have complicated Trump’s next move.
"He’d like to be able to walk away with a win. The Iranians are not allowing him to do that," Schanzer told Fox News Digital. "There is not a clear path ahead for him at this moment."
A June memorandum also opened with promises of a broader settlement. The United States and Iran signed it to halt fighting, lift the U.S. blockade and reopen the Strait.
Shipping became the first test of the June memorandum, and it quickly exposed how far apart Washington and Tehran remained. Each side had its own plan for restoring commercial traffic through the Strait. When U.S. officials accused Iran of firing on commercial vessels days later, American strikes followed. Tehran said Washington had tried to force through a new shipping arrangement without its consent.
Negotiators never bridged that divide. Trump declared the ceasefire over in early July and expanded the U.S. air campaign. Iran answered with missile and drone attacks on American positions and regional partners.
That fighting set up another, shorter pause at the end of the month. Trump said mediators had asked the U.S. to hold fire, an arrangement Iran said it would match. Within days, Iranian missiles targeted U.S. forces in Jordan and the conflict spread again.
Brief breaks have become a feature of the conflict, which Schanzer described as a "ceasefire war."
"It is a war that is punctuated by short bouts of calm, only to see conflict return," Schanzer said.
Even if Oman succeeds in opening a temporary route, it would settle only the immediate question of how ships move through the Strait. Trump wants that step to lead into negotiations over Iran’s nuclear program, a sequence Tehran has yet to publicly embrace. As long as Iran can still threaten traffic and Washington can maintain its blockade and prepare further strikes, each side may decide it can wait the other out rather than make the concessions needed to end the war.
"Fundamentally, both sides know that the status quo is a recipe for continued military and economic attrition without a clear endgame," Vaez said.
Reporter's Notebook: Inside the Senate showdown over Trump's push to scrap August recess
"Should I stay or should I go now? If I go there will be trouble. And if I stay it will be double." – The Clash
The words "schedule" and "Congress" don’t always mesh.
But the formal Senate schedule has long had senators taking off at the end of this week until early September for the customary "August recess."
Only thing is, President Trump and some conservatives pushing for approval of the SAVE America Act don’t want the Senate to beg off. They assert that the Senate should remain in session until it passes the bill, which requires proof of citizenship to vote.
"I think there’s nothing more important than they pass the SAVE America Act. I think they should stay," said President Trump. "They do what they want. But I think they should stay."
SEN RICK SCOTT: AMERICANS WORK FIVE DAYS A WEEK, WHY CAN’T THE SENATE?
The Senate has already defeated two efforts to adopt the SAVE America Act. So there’s not an obvious pathway to alter those previous outcomes. Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., has rebuffed the President’s demands to stay in session.
"I don’t think having a Congress sitting around here for the month of August and quorum calls or having to vote on Democrat amendments is probably a good use of anybody's time," said Thune.
There’s tension between the South Dakota Republican and the President over the Senate’s legislative realities. Thune may be Majority Leader. But Thune believes the President bears responsibility for changing some minds on Capitol Hill.
"We have in the past suggested to he and his team to come up here and visit with some of my Republican colleagues," said Thune. "Now if he can change the facts and start moving some of those senators who are noes into yesses, then we have a different conversation. But that's just the reality."
As always, it’s about the math. And the SAVE America Act lacks the votes.
"I know Sen. Thune says the votes aren't there. I'm not saying he's wrong. I'm just saying people change their mind sometimes," argued Sen. John Kennedy, R-La.
But it doesn’t look like there will even be a vote on that, unless something ripens quickly.
That’s where Sens. Mike Lee, R-Utah, Ted Cruz, R-Texas, Roger Marshall, R-Kas, Rick Scott, R-Fla., and others have suggested the Senate shouldn’t go on break unless they pass the bill.
So what happens next?
Let’s say we get to Friday night. The Senate has taken its final vote of the summer. Maybe to confirm Todd Blanche as Attorney General. Perhaps the measure named after late Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., which sanctions Russia. The Senate is ready to finish until mid-September. In recent years, the Senate has not voted on a resolution to go out of session for weeks on end. That’s where SAVE America Act proponents would attempt to block such an effort. But its immaterial since there is no vote.
In the not too distant past, the House and Senate often approved "adjournment resolutions." But not right now. Such a plan must align with the wishes of the House of Representatives. Article I, Section 6 of the Constitution bars either body for adjourning for more than three days "without the Consent of the other." The House isn’t around to approve an adjournment resolution. It’s been out of session for a couple of weeks now. Moreover, it’s not clear that the House could adopt an adjournment resolution.
So, under the Constitution, each body must - at a minimum - hold a brief "pro forma" session where lawmakers convene for just a few seconds and then immediately gavel out. That meets the Constitutional requirement.
But there’s the rub.
When the Senate wraps up, Thune or one of his lieutenants would usually go to the floor and ask "unanimous consent" that the Senate meet on a series of Mondays and Thursdays or Tuesdays and Fridays between now and September. These are the "pro forma" sessions, convening at three-day intervals. But if Lee or someone wants to object, they’re stuck. The Senate can’t green light the set of pro formas. The Senate must have buy-in of all 100 senators.
REPUBLICAN SAYS TRUMP'S TOP ELECTION PRIORITY 'DEAD' IN SENATE AS GOP FRACTURES AHEAD OF MIDTERMS
But an objection in this case hardly blocks the recess or compels debate – let alone a vote or passage – on the SAVE America Act.
If Thune or his designee can’t get unanimous consent, the only option they have is to move to meet again the next day. Let’s say 9 a.m. ET. If someone objects to the time, it will meet at noon et under the Senate’s default protocols.
That said, this is where someone could force what might constitute the de facto "vote to go on recess." A Republican senator might demand a vote on the Senate adjourning for the day on Friday and meeting on Saturday. This is not a vote to "go on recess." But it’s the closest someone can engineer a possible vote related to Senate action.
A motion to adjourn is not debatable on the floor. But it is amendable. Someone could offer another option about when the Senate should meet. But that’s about it.
On this hypothetical Saturday session, it’s possible that Thune could simply get recognition and ask for the Senate to adjourn for the day again. One of those pushing the SAVE America Act doesn’t even get recognized to speak. However, if Thune is gracious and is willing to allow someone to have their say, they could get the floor and hold it as long as they want.
Note that doing so does not constitute a filibuster. Filibusters are efforts by senators to stop something. In this case, advocates of the SAVE America Act are trying to start something. So no filibuster. This would just be a really long speech. But Thune might not let it come to that. And even though they’ve chattered about it a lot, the strongest advocates of the SAVE America Act have not taken advantage of their prerogatives as senators and gone down to hold the floor at length.
Keep in mind that SAVE America Act advocates could potentially do this and push for recognition on the floor on all subsequent days during the August recess. Thune could block them from speaking because the order of the day is to convene and adjourn during a pro forma session. And if the SAVE America Act faction were to push for a vote, all it takes is another senator to block them on the floor.
One might ask the question about whether the SAVE America Act group might demand a "live" quorum call (where all senators must report to the floor for attendance) or even the more extreme motion of "instructing the Sergeant at Arms to arrest" absent senators and bring them to the floor. Well, this works at cross purposes during August. The reason? The Senate doesn’t have a quorum. In the old days, the Senate took quorum calls to establish if enough senators present were present to do business. It violates the Constitution to conduct business without a quorum present.
The SAVE America Act coalition may prove that there aren’t enough senators in Washington to conduct business. That helps make their point. But it also forces the Senate to adjourn because it can’t operate without a quorum.
WATCH: DEMOCRATS ADMIT WHEN THEY'D ELIMINATE THE FILIBUSTER AS SAVE ACT FIGHT HEATS UP
These gambits might not achieve the legislative goal of passing the SAVE America Act. But there are other benefits for SAVE America Act advocates. A series of lengthy speeches could potentially delay the recess. These Republican senators could argue that they are willing to stay and debate the SAVE America Act while their colleagues fled Washington for summer. Such a maneuver would focus attention on the issue. It would draw a contrast between senators willing to fight for the issue and those who went home. The effort might impress President Trump. And such a maneuver could show divides between them and Thune – who the President often chastises.
But pass the SAVE America Act? It’s not going to do that. And some Republican senators emphasize the importance of taking a few weeks off so their colleagues can campaign.
"The worst case scenario is for us is to stay all the way through and then we lose the Senate in the days ahead," said Sen. James Lankford, R-Okla., on Fox. "Then President Trump is dealing with all the impeachment crazy all over again."
Remaining in Washington for the next five weeks would pull the most vulnerable GOP senator off the trail, Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine.
Collins was crystal clear when pressed by yours truly whether she would campaign and miss her first roll call vote since entering the Senate in 1997.
"I don’t miss votes," said an emphatic Collins.
So don’t expect the Senate to forgo the recess at the end of the week.
In fact, a decision by the Senate to go on recess may even work to the political advantage of those pushing for the SAVE America Act. They can then rail against Thune’s leadership and their colleagues for not passing the bill. Again, they don’t score the legislative outcome. But they sure rack up some political points.
This is why those philosopher kings who comprise the band the The Clash may have been on to something. If the Senate stays, Republicans can’t pass the SAVE America Act. But if they go, certain GOP senators can rabble rouse.
There’s trouble whether senators stay or go.
Falcons' Bijan Robinson becomes highest-paid running back in NFL history with massive contract: report
Atlanta Falcons superstar running back Bijan Robinson is used to making history on the field and has now reportedly done it off the field.
The Falcons and Robinson agreed to a three-year, $75 million contract extension on Tuesday, making him the highest-paid running back in NFL history, according to ESPN. The 24-year-old’s contract includes $37 million guaranteed at signing, with $51 million of the overall deal guaranteed.
Robinson had been present at the team’s facility but was "holding in" while waiting for a new contract and not practicing in team drills.
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The Falcons drafted Robinson with the No. 8 overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft out of Texas, and the Tucson, Arizona, native immediately became one of the best running backs in the NFL.
Robinson, who has not missed a game in his three-year career, became the centerpiece of the Falcons’ offense as a rookie. In 17 games, he ran for 976 yards and four touchdowns while catching 58 passes for 487 yards and four touchdowns.
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In 2024, his second season, he elevated his game to another level. Robinson ran for 1,456 yards and 14 touchdowns while catching 61 passes for 431 yards and one touchdown.
Last season, Robinson led the league in scrimmage yards as he continued in his role as the engine of the Falcons’ offense. The superstar running back ran for 1,478 yards with seven rushing touchdowns while catching 79 passes for 820 yards and four receiving touchdowns. Robinson made the Pro Bowl in each of the last two seasons.
Robinson is the third offensive weapon the team has extended this offseason. The Falcons signed star wide receiver Drake London to a four-year, $141 million contract extension and tight end Kyle Pitts to a three-year, $54 million contract extension in June.
Robinson will not be the last top running back to get paid, as Detroit Lions star running back Jahmyr Gibbs is also "holding in" for a new contract.
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Chicago White Sox lead American League Central but face a red-hot Boston Red Sox team Tuesday
With the trade deadline passing Monday, we are officially on playoff watch for teams. Every game from here on will take on a bit more intensity and importance. We know a few teams have dropped out of the race after the trades that took place. Others bolstered their roster, and we have two of them that are going all in, taking each other on today as the White Sox face the Red Sox.
It is the start of August, and the Chicago White Sox are leading the American League Central. Now, before you put a reservation down for some playoff tickets, keep in mind that the Tigers were leading the division to start August last year, and they were heavy favorites to win it. The problem is that the Guardians were lurking, had a spectacular September, and took down the AL Central. The Tigers still made the postseason, but it feels like we will get two Wild Card teams from the American League East, so the safest path for the White Sox is to win the division.
They did add to the team at the trade deadline, and that should instill a bit more confidence in the roster. Their rotation will now have a couple of dependable guys. Davis Martin is one of those guys, but he is approaching the most innings he's pitched in a year. He is 9-5 with a 3.62 ERA and a 1.26 WHIP. He struggled in July after a mixed bag of results in June, so you do need to wonder if his success is fading. The White Sox went 1-4 in his starts in July, and he allowed 16 earned runs in 24 innings. One of those games was against the Red Sox where he allowed five earned runs in four innings.
RED SOX COME BACK FROM THE DEAD, MOVE INTO POSTSEASON CONTENTION WITH REMARKABLE 14-GAME WIN STREAK
The Boston Red Sox made arguably the most shocking move of the trade deadline, by acquiring Adley Rutschman from the Baltimore Orioles. The Red Sox were 32-46 on June 24. Since that point, they've gone 28-5. They have had three separate five-game or more winning streaks in that stretch, including one they are on right now. They just swept the Dodgers, arguably the best team in baseball. Can this level of winning be sustained for two more months? Unlikely, but it is impressive nonetheless.
Tuesday they send Patrick Sandoval to the hill in hopes of making it six games in a row. For the year, Sandoval only has four starts under his belt and carries a 3.32 ERA and a 1.58 WHIP. None of his starts have been ugly or bad by any means. He did allow four earned runs against the Rays, but the other three saw him allow two or fewer. He faced the White Sox in the first start of his season and went 4.1 innings and allowed just one earned run on five hits.
It is hard to pick against the Red Sox with how hot as they've been. I have faded them in a couple of spots, but it didn't work out. The additions from the deadline should rejuvenate both of these teams as well. I think we should take the hotter team today, and I think we also need to start fading Martin. He will probably still have some good starts left, but he has struggled lately. He also didn't have a great June. His arm might just be getting tired. I'll take Sandoval and the Red Sox on the moneyline tonight.
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Dave Rubin warns Trump has less than 3 months to push agenda before midterm elections
Despite having two and a half years left in office, President Donald Trump may have only three months to effectively implement his agenda, podcaster Dave Rubin said on Tuesday's episode of "Hang Out with Sean Hannity."
Rubin said Trump is likely to face hurdles beyond the typical challenges of policymaking if Democrats gain ground in Congress as a result of this year's midterm elections.
"If [Republicans] lose the House, [President Trump] is going to get hung up in impeachment," Rubin said.
"He'll be impeached, but he probably won't be removed from office. They're not going to get enough votes in the Senate one way or another."
Still, Rubin contended, the Make America Great Again movement faces an existential threat as its leader's time in the Oval Office draws to a close.
"The point is that the process to end these last 10 years of MAGA and everything that has happened since 2015 will begin," he said.
The emboldening of the "crazies on the left" isn't the only threat, he added. Infighting among conservatives is going to "go completely bananas."
GOP CIVIL WAR ERUPTS OVER TRUMP'S LATEST AGENDA PUSH AS KEY REPUBLICANS THREATEN TO SINK MEGABILL
"It's going to be like rats jumping from a ship, and then you're going to have all these people leaving Trump and trying to pick up the pieces. It's going to be complete chaos."
Meanwhile, in Washington, D.C., Republicans are sounding the alarm that Trump’s demand to cancel the August recess could cost the GOP seats in the midterms, as vulnerable incumbents say they need to be home campaigning and connecting with constituents, not stuck on Capitol Hill.
"The Rubin Report" host acknowledged it was clichéd to claim the upcoming midterms would be "the most important election of all time," but said he does not see "how it could possibly be more important than it is right now."
"We are on the edge of handing the keys to the castle to people who are telling us they want to burn the castle down."
Fox News Digital's Alex Miller contributed to this report.
Arizona man allegedly paralyzed by Nancy Guthrie sheriff's deputies after alleged swatting call demands $176M
An Arizona man who says a "swatting" call ended with deputies' bullets leaving him partially paralyzed is now demanding $176 million from the Pima County Sheriff's Department.
Axeel Melendez, 24, and his mother, Carmen Melendez, recently filed a notice of claim against the Pima County Sheriff's Office and Sheriff Chris Nanos, signaling their intent to sue, according to Arizona Public Media.
Dev Sethi, who is representing Melendez, told the outlet that the man and his mother were swatted, prompting a massive law enforcement response at their house. Swatting is a criminal prank where individuals place fake calls to 911 for a specific location with the goal of getting a law enforcement response to that location.
ROMANIAN NATIONAL LEARNS FATE FOR SWATTING US OFFICIALS, INCLUDING MEMBERS OF CONGRESS, JUDGES
"Our justice system recognizes the dignity of a human life and the importance of the completeness of your body. Axeel’s health, his independence, his ability to earn a living, his sense of security, that’s all been stolen away from him," Sethi said.
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Someone impersonating Melendez initially called 311, a non-emergency number, on April 10 and said his father shot his sister, giving the address for Melendez.
NANCY GUTHRIE RANSOM DEMANDS RELEASED BY PIMA COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT IN BID TO IDENTIFY SENDER
"This morning of the April 10 call has many red flags and hallmarks of it being a fake call, including…this call came into 311. Nobody reporting an emergency calls 311," Sethi said.
Sethi said the call was made from an out of state area code and added the caller didn't pronounce Melendez's first name correctly.
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Melendez received a threatening message from a hacker who stole his personal information during an online video game and demanded a ransom to return his accounts and passwords, his attorney said, even threatening to report him to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement because of his Hispanic name.
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After the threat, Melendez called 911 and shared his concerns about a possible swatting incident and was allegedly reassured there are safeguards.
"He tells a 911 operator all of this and she essentially downplays it and says, ‘Don’t worry, that’s not how it works. They can’t just call 911 and have the SWAT team show up at your house," Sethi said.
According to the attorney, Pima County deputies allegedly ignored a warning that Melendez's address was a known possible swatting target, stating that she approached the home with a mindset to "treat it like it’s real until it’s not real."
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Believing an intruder was breaking in, Melendez grabbed his family's legally owned handgun and took cover behind his bedroom door as deputies smashed through the window, according to the claim. The deputies then allegedly opened fire.
Melendez says he was hit in his right thigh and left shoulder, which left him with a spinal court injury in addition to broken ribs and a broken leg.
"He did everything we teach our kids to do. When you’re in danger, when somebody’s threatening you, what’s the first thing we tell all of our children? Call the police," Sethi said. "Axeel is a vulnerable young man, his life has been upended. He has real present needs and we’ve given them an opportunity to do the right thing and resolve the case, but the ball is wholly in their courts."
Battlefield robots open new front in innovation war with major US adversary
FIRST ON FOX: The U.S. Army is teaming up with an artificial intelligence (AI) company to build an AI "brain" for military robots that can think, understand their surroundings and continue missions even after losing contact with human operators as the race for AI dominance intensifies.
Working with the Army Research Laboratory, defense AI company EdgeRunner AI has developed an onboard AI system that allows military robots to function in the battlefield without relying on cloud computing or an internet connection in environments where connectivity is lost.
"We like to think of robots as the next frontier of AI," EdgeRunner AI founder and CEO Tyler Saltsman told Fox News Digital.
"Think of them as a very far-out edge device, kind of like a cell phone, a tablet or a laptop. But now what we can do is we can put a brain, or a neural network, right on that robot so that robots can have context when they're on a mission helping the warfighter."
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The partnership comes as the U.S. and China race to integrate AI into their militaries, with both countries viewing AI as critical to maintaining a technological edge in future conflicts.
Saltsman said it's important for the U.S. to stay ahead in the global AI race, calling China's dominance in drone manufacturing "problematic."
"Whether or not China's ahead of us is debatable, but if China is, it's not by much," he said.
Saltsman said today's AI is "too generalized," which is why his company is developing technology built for specific military missions.
"Warfighters don't need 19th-century poetry," he said. "They need specific intelligence to his or her occupation in order to make better decisions in the heat of battle and that can increase the probability of winning the fight."
Working alongside aerial drones, the AI is designed to help robots "problem solve through different routes" while detecting explosives, carrying ammunition, scouting routes and reporting enemy activity.
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"As you combine them together, you get a much better clarity of the battlefield and increased situational awareness," he said.
When communications are cut off, Saltsman said the military will need autonomous systems that can continue making decisions on their own.
"You can have a human pilot that controls the ground robot or the drone in the air," he said. "But then if they were to be jammed by a radar jammer and lose connectivity, then the neural network on that robot can still continue the mission and still aid the warfighter."
Saltsman argued the military "can't rely on internet access in war," warning that depending on systems like SpaceX's Starlink could add a "risk" to missions.
"The problem with Starlink is if you use it, you're effectively showing the enemy where you are, so you might as well be wearing a beacon on you saying, 'Hey, here's where I'm located,'" he said.
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Pointing to the Russia-Ukraine war, Saltsman said the success of drones has sparked a new push for autonomous ground robots.
"As drones have become ubiquitous, now ground robots are like the next thing and then eventually humanoid robots so robots that move and look like humans," he said.
Despite the push to advance military AI, Saltsman said safety can't take a back seat and that the technology is built using "transparent" datasets to "understand the biases" of the AI.
"That's another thing that differentiates us," he said. "One of the problems is how to use AI safely, how to put guardrails around it and how to understand it."
While the technology remains in the "development phase," Saltsman said the breakthrough gives robots the ability to understand what they see, not just detect it.
"You can put computer vision models on robots so they can see, but if they don't understand the context of what they're seeing, they're not useful and that's what we're solving for."
Illegal immigrant suspect charged in crash that killed police officer and his girlfriend
The woman charged in the drunken driving crash that killed an off-duty Connecticut police officer and his longtime girlfriend last month is in the U.S. illegally, federal authorities said Monday, as U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) urged state officials not to release her if she is freed from custody.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) confirmed to Fox News Digital that ICE lodged a detainer against Melissa Esperanza Ramirez-Romero, 27, days after the Stamford woman was arrested in connection with the July 13 head-on crash that killed Bridgeport Police Officer Cooper Whiteside, 38, and Brittany Islami, 34.
"Melissa Esperanza Ramirez-Romero is a criminal illegal alien with charges for Vehicular Manslaughter and DUI. On July 26, 2026, ICE lodged a detainer against her," a DHS spokesperson told Fox News Digital.
ICE URGES NORTH CAROLINA TO KEEP ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT CHARGED IN TRIPLE-FATAL HIT-AND-RUN BEHIND BARS
In a post on X, DHS wrote that "an illegal alien KILLED A COP in Danbury, Connecticut" and urged Connecticut's "sanctuary politicians" to cooperate with ICE and ensure Ramirez is not released back into the community.
Ramirez-Romero is charged with two counts of second-degree manslaughter with a motor vehicle, operating under the influence, traveling unreasonably fast and failure to drive in the proper lane.
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Danbury police said the crash happened around 2:45 a.m. July 13 on Sugar Hollow Road, where a Jeep Compass collided head-on with a Harley-Davidson motorcycle.
Officers found Whiteside of Danbury and his passenger, Islami of New Milford, dead at the scene. Ramirez-Romero was taken to Danbury Hospital with serious injuries.
ICE LODGES DETAINER FOR ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT ACCUSED OF TRYING TO DISARM VIRGINIA POLICE OFFICER
Whiteside, a Danbury native who dreamed of becoming a police officer since childhood, graduated third in his police academy class and served with the Bridgeport Police Department for two years before he was killed.
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The department mourned Whiteside's death the day after the crash, saying he "served with selfless dedication" while extending its condolences to his family and loved ones.
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"Rest easy, brother," the department wrote. "We'll take it from here."
The DHS announcement came as Connecticut officials worked to correct false claims that Ramirez-Romero had been registered to vote.
HOUSE PANEL DEMANDS CLASSIFIED BRIEFINGS ON NONCITIZEN VOTING, ALLEGED CHINESE ELECTION INTERFERENCE
Connecticut Secretary of State Stephanie Thomas said in a video that Ramirez-Romero has never been registered to vote in Connecticut and that an innocent U.S. citizen with the same name was mistakenly identified online, leading to death threats against the unrelated woman.
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"The defendant charged in connection with the July 13 crash that killed an off-duty Bridgeport police officer is not and has never been registered to vote in Connecticut," Thomas said. "The voter registration record circulating online belongs to a different person entirely. Another Melissa Ramirez, a United States citizen who lives in New Britain, is legally registered to vote in Connecticut."
Danbury police also warned that multiple people with similar names had been mistakenly identified online and urged the public to verify information before sharing it.
Ramirez-Romero remained held on a $500,000 bond pending her next court appearance.
Post-trade deadline futures bets worth taking on the World Series and division winners
The trade deadline is now behind us, and we had a flurry of deals yesterday. As a sports bettor, it is important to pay attention to this information. Not only does it signify that some teams are going to start (or further continue) tanking. It also means we probably need to reevaluate the teams and even some of our future positions. I don't normally look at a ton of baseball futures because it takes too long for them to pay off, but there might be some opportunity for us to grab value on some bets before the season ends.
The Los Angeles Dodgers are still the overwhelming favorites to win the World Series. They are +160 to win it now. Can you imagine having to face Tarik Skubal, then Yoshinobu Yamamoto, then Blake Snell, then Tyler Glasnow, then Shohei Ohtani as a rotation in a seven-game series? It is rather absurd. However, there is no value remaining at +160. The Red Sox were major players at the deadline, but they didn't get much better in their rotation. I just don't see the pitching to get it done. The Chicago Cubs at 15:1 might actually have what it takes to get past the Dodgers. They just so happen to play each other tonight, with Skubal's debut coming. The Cubs added Kevin Gausman and Clay Holmes to their rotation, and that should - as long as they don't suffer more injuries - give them solid enough pitching to navigate a lot of series. Another National League team that I like is the Padres at +7500.
The Padres did not fold as some people expected. Instead, they went out and addressed their starting pitching needs. They were able to get Robbie Ray (a former Cy Young winner), and they also grabbed Casey Mize from the Tigers. Their hitting has been down, but you would think some of their guys will come back to their normal averages. At this value, I think you have to take them. The Phillies at +1800 added a guy in Luis Arraez who will be on base, and Zack Wheeler and Christopher Sanchez give them a chance against anyone.
In the American League, I like the Mariners, who addressed their biggest need by acquiring Taylor Ward from the Orioles. They are at +2200 and should have the best rotation in the playoffs, but they need to make it there first. The Rays are +1300 and one of the best teams in baseball. They will have a great 1-2 punch in Shane McClanahan and Freddy Peralta.
Fellow writer, Geoff Clark, took the Angels to be the worst team in baseball this season before the year began. He got them at +2200, so he has excellent value. They are now +145 to have the fewest wins, and they have two fewer than anyone in baseball. They traded away a lot of guys, kept their young talent, and acquired guys that could actually help later. I think even at +145 you're looking at a good ticket. The only issue is that the Angels play in the worst division in baseball while the Rockies play in one of the better ones. The Athletics have just two more wins than the Angels and are also tanking. Assuming both play their division down the stretch, the Rockies (+135) could lose more games.
The Rays are -120 to win the American League East with a 3.5 game lead over the Yankees and 5.5 over the Red Sox. If you're going to take someone in this division, take one of them at plus money. The Red Sox have been the hottest team in baseball for about a month now, and are +475.
I really like the Guardians to win the AL Central at +200. They are three games behind a good, but very young White Sox team. Chicago added some key pieces, especially Luis Castillo. However, the Guardians also traded for some good additions like Foster Griffin. The Guardians seemingly do this every year. I like them to take the division even with the Twins also chasing.
The Mariners still have the best team in the division on paper and are now +180 to win the division. Their rotation is easily the best, and Ward might push their offense into a gear they've been missing this season. Give me the Mariners.
There really aren't any divisions worth talking about in the National League. The Braves, Brewers, and Dodgers are all massive favorites. The Brewers are the only one that I could see slipping, but I don't think it is worth a bet.
For me, I'll put in a bet on the Cubs at +1500 to win the World Series, the Padres at +7500, and the Mariners at +2200. I'll also take the Guardians and Mariners to win their divisions. The trade deadline is done, but our betting on baseball has a long way to go!
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For more sports betting information and plays, follow David on X/Twitter: @futureprez2024