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California billionaire Tom Steyer defends trans athletes in high school sports as governor's race heats up
California gubernatorial candidate Tom Steyer defended transgender athletes competing in high school sports in a podcast posted on Sunday, arguing that excluding transgendered youth from athletics would worsen the emotional and mental health struggles many already face.
"I’m totally in favor of trans athletes in high school," Steyer told "I've Had It" podcast host Jennifer Welch.
"When you understand the vulnerability, the stress, the danger of being a trans kid, and you understand almost half of them try to commit suicide, then you think, 'We’re gonna punish those kids, we’re gonna cut them off from team sport.' It’s like, no we’re not."
Steyer made similar remarks when speaking to CBS Los Angeles but also branded dissidents for perpetuating a "right-wing attempt" to smear transgender individuals.
"To be clear, this is not some huge epidemic," he said. "This is a right-wing attempt to victimize and villainize already vulnerable and desperate people, and my heart completely goes out to the people who are so sad, feel so rejected, and so unaccepted that half of them would try to kill themselves."
Steyer is among a crowded field of Democrats vying to retain party control of the governorship once incumbent Gov. Gavin Newsom's term expires.
Former U.S. Rep. Katie Porter, San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan, former HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra, former California State Assembly Speaker Antonio Villaraigosa, former California State Controller Betty Yee and California State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond complete the list.
The remaining Democratic candidates echoed parts of Steyer’s position, with Porter arguing that youth sports are intended to build character and teamwork rather than simply determine who is best.
Becerra, when pressed on existing state law allowing students to participate in activities based on gender identity, urged that officials continue to protect certain classes in accordance with the law.
PETE BUTTIGIEG DOUBLES-DOWN ON QUESTIONING FAIRNESS OF TRANS ATHLETES IN WOMEN'S SPORTS
Others offered more nuanced responses.
Mahan initially blasted those who use the issue as a "political lightning rod" to "score political points," but noted he could recognize unfairness if a biological male were playing soccer against his young daughter.
"That would be a conversation we would have, and I can imagine it being unfair," he said.
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"But I also think that we are allowing ourselves to devolve into using that as a litmus test that is actually about demonizing difference, dividing people, scoring political points, and I'm just not going to be a governor who allows vulnerable people to be a punching bag," he said.
Villaraigosa dismissed the debate as a "non-issue," but said he opposes discrimination while stating his personal belief that biological males who have undergone puberty should not compete in women’s sports.
Yee stressed the need to identify ways to promote fairness while ensuring everyone is included, while Thurmond took a more definitive approach in supporting transgender athletes.
Republicans Steve Hilton and Chad Bianco, meanwhile, support overturning existing legislation that enables the practice.
If you or someone you know is having thoughts of suicide, please contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255).
Why scammers target veterans and how to fight back
This Memorial Day, while the rest of the country pauses to honor the fallen, scammers are doing something else entirely. They're running searches.
They're pulling military records. Cross-referencing VA enrollment data. Mapping disability ratings. And building detailed profiles on the men and women who served this country, then using that information to steal from them.
It's not a side hustle. It's an industry. And veterans, because of the very nature of their service, are uniquely exposed to it. Here's exactly what's happening and what you can do to stop it.
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META MEDICARE SCAM ADS TARGETING SENIORS FACE SCRUTINY
Most people don't realize how much information military service generates and how much of it is semi-public.
When you serve, your records include:
Much of this sits in federal databases, discharge paperwork, and public-facing records that data brokers have learned to scrape, package, and resell. The result: before a scammer ever picks up the phone, they already know more about a veteran than most of the veteran's neighbors do.
If you've served in the U.S. military, you have a DD-214. It's your Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, and it contains nearly everything a fraudster could want.
Full name. Social Security number (on older forms). Dates of service. Character of discharge. Job specialty codes. Awards and decorations. Last duty station.
The DD-214 is required for veterans' benefits, employment, and housing applications. That means millions of veterans have submitted it to dozens of agencies, employers, and financial institutions over the years.
It also means copies of it can be sitting in more databases than most veterans ever imagined. Data brokers don't need to hack anything. They pull from public records requests, digitized government filings, and third-party aggregators. Once your DD-214 data is in the broker ecosystem, it gets bought, sold, and refreshed, appearing on people-search sites you've never heard of. And scammers buy it for a few dollars.
The numbers are devastating. According to the Federal Trade Commission's 2024 Consumer Sentinel Network Data Book, military consumers, including veterans, service members and their families, reported $584 million in fraud losses in 2024. That is up nearly 25% from the year before. Veterans and retirees reported the largest share of those losses, at $419 million. The median fraud loss for veterans was $700, which was higher than the $497 median across all FTC complaints.
AARP's 2025 research adds another troubling layer. It found that 27% of veterans, or more than 5 million people, have lost money to fraud. It also found that 39% of veterans have received solicitations from someone claiming to be from the VA or another government agency, and 28% believe their veteran status made them a target.
The VA has also warned that scammers are increasingly targeting veterans because of their government benefits and personal information. These scams often include government impostors, direct deposit fraud, phishing, identity theft, payment redirection and social media scams.
The takeaway is clear: this problem is getting worse, not better. Veterans are not being targeted randomly. Scammers know many have benefits, official records and a long-standing trust relationship with the VA. That makes a fake VA call or benefits message feel more believable, especially when the scammer already has pieces of personal information.
Here's what the process actually looks like from a scammer's perspective.
It starts exactly where it starts with any target. They type your name into Spokeo, BeenVerified, Whitepages, or any of dozens of similar sites.
Within seconds, they see your age, home address, phone numbers, and the names of your relatives. For veterans, some profiles also surface military affiliation pulled from public records, LinkedIn, local news coverage of VA events, or obituaries.
That confirms you're the right person. That's the seed.
VA benefit enrollment information isn't entirely private. Mailing addresses tied to VA correspondence, enrollment in VA healthcare, and participation in VA community programs generate public footprints.
Data brokers specifically package "military consumer" and "veterans" audience segments and sell them to marketers and, as federal prosecutors have proven, sometimes directly to fraudsters.
A scammer who buys one of these lists knows they're calling a veteran. They know roughly what branch. In some cases, they know the disability rating category.
Data broker profiles don't stop at you. They include your spouse, your adult children, and your elderly parents.
For veterans, this matters enormously. Many older veterans live alone. Their spouses may be named beneficiaries on pension and survivor benefit plans. A scammer mapping your profile is also identifying your most vulnerable family members and their contact information.
This is where veteran scams get more personal. Scammers often build their pitch around military benefits.
A veteran with VA disability enrollment may get a fake "benefits upgrade" call. An older veteran with pension income may be targeted by a pension-poaching scheme. A recently discharged veteran may get targeted with a fake GI Bill or education offer.
That is what makes these scams so dangerous. The caller may already know enough to sound official. They do not guess. They target.
Here are the scams hitting veterans hardest right now, and the red flags that should make you pause before sharing personal or financial information.
This is one of the most common scams targeting veterans.
A caller claims to be from the Department of Veterans Affairs. They may say your benefits are being reviewed, upgraded or suspended. Then they ask you to "verify" your information.
They may ask for your Social Security number, bank account details or date of birth. In many cases, they already have some of that information. They just need you to confirm the rest.
The VA does not call veterans out of the blue to ask for personal information. If you receive this kind of call, hang up. Then call the VA directly.
The DOJ charged a nationwide fraud ring that used VA impersonation calls to steal more than $7.6 million from veterans across 20 states. Prosecutors said the ring used purchased data lists to find targets. They also used scripts designed to sound like official government outreach.
TURNING 65? MONTH-BY-MONTH PLAN TO PROTECT YOURSELF
This one is slower and more sophisticated, plus it costs veterans far more.
A "financial advisor" or "veterans benefits consultant" contacts you (often through mail or a community event) and offers to help you maximize your VA pension or Aid and Attendance benefits. They charge upfront fees, sometimes $5,000 to $20,000, for "restructuring" your assets to qualify for benefits you may already be entitled to for free.
In many cases, the restructuring involves transferring assets in ways that trigger Medicaid penalties or leave veterans financially stranded.
The VA explicitly prohibits charging fees to help veterans file claims. Anyone who charges you for this service is, at a minimum, violating federal law and often committing outright fraud.
Veterans leaving the military can become prime targets for fraudulent schools. These schools may promise fast training, job placement or help using GI Bill benefits.
A May 2025 report from Veterans Education Success showed how serious the problem can get. In Texas, the Retail Ready Career Center defrauded the VA of $72 million in GI Bill funds. Its CEO was sentenced to nearly 20 years in prison.
In Georgia, House of Prayer Bible College ran a $22 million fraud scheme against the VA for 11 years. Investigators said the school kept operating even after internal reports raised serious concerns.
In both cases, VA oversight failures allowed the fraud to continue for years. The lesson is simple. Predatory schools actively target veterans, and the safety nets have real holes.
If someone offers to help you "maximize" your GI Bill benefits for a fee, walk away. Then contact the VA directly before sharing any personal information.
A caller tells you the VA has approved you for a new grant, a cost-of-living adjustment, or a benefit you haven't been receiving. To release the funds, they need your bank account information to "direct deposit" the payment.
There is no unclaimed VA grant that requires you to provide banking information to a caller. This is a bank account takeover scam dressed in patriotic language.
I know what you are thinking, "But I never signed up for any data broker sites." You didn't have to. Military records are public records. Property filings are public records. Court documents are public records. Your address on a VA mailing list can be pulled from localized government databases. Your social media profiles, even those you haven't updated in years, are constantly indexed and scraped.
And the VA, like most government agencies, shares data with contractor systems that have their own security vulnerabilities. Once your information enters the data broker ecosystem, it gets bought and sold dozens of times legally. It appears on people-search sites, marketing lists, and "military consumer" segments sold directly to telemarketers and, as we've seen in federal prosecutions, to fraudsters. The only way to fight this is to actively remove your information.
You cannot stop every scammer from trying, but you can make it much harder for them to use your personal information against you.
Go to Spokeo.com, BeenVerified.com, Whitepages.com or even Google and type your name. See exactly what a scammer sees before they call. Pay attention to whether your address, relatives' names, and phone numbers are listed. That's your starting point.
Every major data broker is legally required to honor removal requests. The problem is that there are hundreds of them. Each one has its own opt-out process, and many re-list your information over time.
You can remove your information manually by visiting each data broker's opt-out page. Start with the big people-search sites, then check again every few months to see whether your name, address, phone number or relatives have reappeared.
You can also use a reputable data removal service to handle the process for you. These services send removal requests to data brokers on your behalf and keep monitoring for reappearing listings.
That ongoing protection matters for families, too. The scam that starts with a search of your name can quickly turn into a call to an elderly parent or a text to an adult child. Protecting yourself helps, but protecting your household gives scammers fewer ways in.
You can also run a free exposure scan online to see where your personal information appears. Results often show whether your address, phone number, relatives or other details are already circulating on people-search sites.
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
The VA does not call you out of the blue to confirm your information, upgrade your benefits, or release a grant. If you get this call, hang up and call the VA directly at 1-800-827-1000.
If your bank still uses "mother's maiden name," "city of birth," or "branch of military service" as verification questions, those answers are probably on a data broker site right now. Switch to nonsense answers only you'd know and store them in a password manager.
Tell your family members that if anyone claims to be you in an emergency, you have a word that proves it. Scammers use panic to bypass critical thinking. A simple code word breaks that spell.
Report VA impersonation to the VA OIG at 1-800-488-8244. Report pension scams and fake benefits calls to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. Your report helps investigators build cases against active fraud rings.
YOUR 401(K) IS THE NEW IDENTITY THEFT TARGET
The people who served this country deserve better than to spend their retirement watching out for criminals. Military discharge records, VA enrollment details and disability information can expose veterans in ways many families never realize. Scammers use that data to sound believable. They impersonate the VA, push fake benefit upgrades and run pension-poaching schemes that can drain savings fast. The VA will not call out of the blue to ask for personal information or banking details. If a call feels urgent, threatening or too good to be true, hang up. Then contact the VA directly. Removing your information from data broker sites can help reduce your exposure. However, it needs ongoing attention because personal details often reappear. That protection can matter even more for elderly relatives, spouses and family members who scammers may contact next. You served. You held up your end. Make sure the data economy does not turn that service into an opening for fraud. Search your name today. See what is out there. Then take steps to remove it. This Memorial Day, one of the best ways to honor veterans is to help make it harder for scammers to target them.
Should the VA, data brokers and lawmakers be doing more to keep veterans from becoming easy targets for scammers? Let us know by writing to us at Cyberguy.com.
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LaGuardia Airport AI hologram answers traveler questions
Airports can feel like a maze when you are rushing to a gate, hunting for baggage claim or trying to find a lounge before boarding. Now, LaGuardia Airport's Terminal B wants to make that all feel a little less stressful with a life-sized AI hologram named Bridget.
Bridget can hold a real conversation with you. She can answer questions about gates, shops, baggage claim and VIP lounges. She can also give you step-by-step directions using real-time terminal maps.
That could be a welcome change if you have ever wandered through an airport looking for what you need. The bigger question is whether you would actually want help from a hologram when a real person may be just a few steps away.
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AI LAYOFFS MAY BE BACKFIRING ON COMPANIES
Bridget is a hyper-realistic AI hologram now located near the Terminal B Food Hall at LaGuardia Airport in New York. The technology comes from a collaboration between Proto, the hologram hardware company, and Holomedia's AI Concierge Wayfinder platform.
Together, the system lets travelers ask natural questions instead of searching through signs or tapping through an app.
Right now, Bridget speaks English and Spanish. More languages are expected later. The kiosk also includes on-screen subtitles, high-contrast displays and a physical interface positioned for wheelchair accessibility. LaGuardia Gateway Partners, which manages Terminal B, says more units are planned across both concourses.
LaGuardia Gateway Partners frames Bridget as extra help for travelers rather than a replacement for human workers. The idea is to support the guest experience team during busy periods, especially when staff members are already helping other passengers.
"At Terminal B, our North Star has always been to provide an exceptional guest experience through a unique blend of innovation and world-class hospitality," said Suzette Noble, Chief Executive Officer of LaGuardia Gateway Partners. "The introduction of the interactive AI hologram aligns perfectly with this vision, allowing us to leverage next-generation technology to meet the evolving needs of our travelers. By providing an additional layer of intelligent, multilingual support, we are ensuring that every guest who passes through our terminal enjoys a seamless and stress-free journey."
So, in other words, you can just walk up, ask where to go and get directions without digging through your phone.
Bridget can answer common airport questions that usually send travelers searching for a sign, app or employee. Travelers can ask for directions to gates, shops, lounges and baggage claim. The system can also provide live mapping and step-by-step guidance around the terminal.
In a company-provided video, Bridget guides a traveler to Gate 19 with turn-by-turn directions and then offers a QR code so the traveler can take the directions with them.
That could help during peak travel days, when lines get longer and airport workers have less time to answer the same questions over and over.
David Nussbaum, founder of Proto Hologram, says the technology extends human support rather than replacing it.
"Communication with humans will always be the best way to help travelers find their way, and for the first time in any airport, AI-powered interactive hologram avatars extend the reach of the human guest experience ambassadors," said Nussbaum. "Proto Hologram and Holomedia's digital helpers can guide and advise travelers in ways that feel natural and intuitive."
META AI LAUNCHES PRIVATE INCOGNITO CHAT
LaGuardia isn’t the only airport experimenting with AI holograms. Miami International Airport announced its own AI-powered holographic assistants about three weeks earlier. Miami's system includes four conversational AI holograms developed with Hypervsn, Satisfi Labs and Mappedin.
Miami's setup has been described as supporting 40 languages. It also connects with the airport's website chatbot and WhatsApp assistant. That means you could start a question before you arrive and continue getting help once you are at the airport. Miami's approach shows how other airports are also testing AI tools to help passengers move through terminals with less confusion.
That depends on how airports use them. A well-placed hologram that answers simple questions could make travel smoother. A confusing AI kiosk that gives vague answers could become one more thing travelers ignore. The best version of this technology helps people quickly and then gets out of the way. It should support airport staff, not replace the human help travelers still need when flights change, bags go missing, or plans fall apart.
Glenn E. Smith, Spatial Computing XP Architect at Holomedia, says airports are looking for technology that improves operations while creating more personalized journeys.
"As passenger expectations evolve, airports are increasingly seeking technologies that not only improve operational efficiency, but also create memorable, frictionless, and personalized journeys," said Smith.
That is a pretty big promise. However, travelers will judge it by a much simpler standard: Did it answer my question and help me get where I needed to go?
For travelers, this could be helpful if the technology works well. Anyone who has walked the wrong way through an airport knows how stressful that can feel. A conversational kiosk could make it easier to find a gate, locate baggage claim or get to a lounge without hunting through signs. It may also help travelers who prefer spoken directions or need accessibility features like captions and a lower physical interface.
Still, AI airport assistants need to earn trust. Travelers will want clear answers, accurate directions and easy access to a real person when the technology gets confused.
There is also the privacy question. Bridget appears focused on wayfinding and guest service. But airports are also testing AI tools that connect with biometrics, mobile apps and passenger data. That broader shift deserves close attention.
Your phone holds your email, passwords, photos, banking apps and personal data. In this free, live online class, Kurt the CyberGuy will walk you step by step through simple phone security fixes you can do in real time. You’ll learn how to improve your privacy settings, spot the latest phone scams, use trusted security tools and walk away with a simple checklist to stay protected. Register here: CyberGuyLive.com
AI DATA CENTERS MAY SOON RIDE OCEAN WAVES
Bridget gives LaGuardia's Terminal B a new way to help you find your way through a busy airport. If it works well, it could answer the simple questions that often create the most stress, like where to find your gate, your bags or the nearest lounge. Still, this story is bigger than one hologram in New York. Miami and other airports are also testing AI tools that could change how you get help before and during a trip. Some tools may look like friendly digital people. Others may live inside apps, websites or airport systems you never see. The real test is whether this technology makes travel feel easier. Because when you are late for a flight or trying to find your bag, you probably care less about how impressive it looks and more about whether it actually helps.
Would you rather get airport help from a human worker, a life-sized AI hologram or a smart system running quietly in the background? Let us know by writing to us at Cyberguy.com
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Trump calls on Arab nations to sign Abraham Accords
President Donald Trump is pressuring Muslim-majority nations to join the Abraham Accords if they want to participate in a developing Iran agreement, according to multiple reports.
The Abraham Accords are a series of agreements aimed at normalizing diplomatic relations between Israel and several Arab and Muslim-majority nations.
PRESIDENT TRUMP SAYS DEAL WITH IRAN IS 'LARGELY NEGOTIATED'
Trump said Saturday that he urged Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Egypt, Pakistan, Turkey and Jordan to normalize relations with Israel during a phone call with regional leaders.
"I stated that, after all the work done by the United States to try and pull this very complex puzzle together, it should be mandatory that all of these Countries, at a minimum, simultaneously, sign onto the Abraham Accords," Trump wrote on Truth Social.
TRUMP SAYS MORE NATIONS LINING UP TO JOIN ABRAHAM ACCORDS AFTER KAZAKHSTAN
The president also said he planned to speak with the leaders of the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain.
The UAE and Bahrain became the first two nations to sign the accords in 2020.
Trump also floated the idea that Iran could eventually become part of the Abraham Accords.
US MILITARY IS 'IRON SHIELD' PROTECTING AMERICAN BASES, LIVES FROM IRAN PROXIES: HEGSETH
"In speaking to numerous of the Great Leaders mentioned above, they would be honored, as soon as our Document is signed, to have the Islamic Republic of Iran as part of the Abraham Accords. Wow, now that would be something special," Trump wrote on Truth Social.
U.S. and Israeli officials do not expect the UAE to move forward on the issue until after Israel’s elections in September.
Adam Copeland, Christian Cage snap 25-year drought, win AEW Tag Team Championship at Double or Nothing
Adam Copeland and Christian Cage ended a 25-year drought of tag team titles on Sunday when they forced Dax Harwood and Cash Wheeler to quit in their match for the AEW Tag Team Championship at Double or Nothing.
Cope and Cage and FTR battled in a brutal match that saw ladders, tools and even a flaming table be used. As the match got more and more brutal, none of the four men in the ring were immediately going to quit. Cage had his arm smashed multiple times, Wheeler had a piece of his nose nearly taken off and barbed wire scraped the skin of each competitor.
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Stokely Hathaway, the voice behind FTR, got involved in the match as well. But Beth Copeland, formerly known as Beth Phoenix, made a surprise appearance to even the odds. But she was taken out before she could make an immediate impact.
Harwood, meanwhile, set up a table and poured lighter fluid on it. He then set the table on fire as Wheeler got ready to spear Beth Copeland through it. However, Hathaway was pulled in front of Wheeler at the last second and he was speared through the table instead.
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Adam Copeland and Cage went to work on Harwood immediately after, tying him up like a pretzel in multiple submission maneuvers. Beth Copeland found a spiked bat and handed it to her husband, who added to Harwood’s misery.
Harwood said the dreaded words, "I quit." It gave Copeland and Cage the titles.
Copeland and Cage are a legendary tag team, who won tag team titles seven times in WWE. But since they each joined AEW, nether had been able to get any kind of gold. But more than 25 years later, they are back on top of the tag team division.
The last time they were tag team champions was back in April 2001. They won the titles at WrestleMania X-7 in a tables, ladders and chairs match but lost it to Kane and The Undertaker just 16 days later.
Pope Leo warns AI risks becoming tool of 'domination, exclusion and death' in new encyclical
Pope Leo unveiled the Vatican’s new encyclical, "Magnifica Humanitas," warning that artificial intelligence risks becoming a tool of "domination, exclusion and death" unless governments and institutions place moral limits on the rapidly developing technology.
The Vatican is formally entering the global debate over artificial intelligence as governments and tech companies race to develop increasingly powerful AI systems with limited international regulation.
The pontiff invoked Pope Leo XIII’s 1891 encyclical "Rerum Novarum," which addressed worker exploitation during the Industrial Revolution, arguing that AI represents a similarly transformative moment threatening human dignity.
"Today we find ourselves facing a transformation of similar magnitude, with perhaps even greater consequences," the Pope said.
UN REVISITS 'KILLER ROBOT' REGULATIONS AS CONCERNS ABOUT AI-CONTROLLED WEAPONS GROW
The pope warned about increasingly autonomous weapons systems that are beyond meaningful human control. He also said AI systems could block access to healthcare, employment and security because of biased data. He compared AI governance to nuclear arms control.
"Like nuclear energy, it must be at the service of all and of the common good," he said.
AI layoffs may be backfiring on companies
The pope said disarming AI alone is not enough and called on governments and institutions to "build" systems rooted in trust and human dignity. Recalling devastating floods in Peru, he said rebuilding means restoring trust and hope.
WHY A CLASSICAL EDUCATION MAY BE THE KEY TO HUMANITY’S FUTURE IN THE AI ERA
The pope also laid out the church’s broader argument about humanity and technology.
"The person bears within him- or herself a freedom, an interiority and a vocation to love and worship that no machine can replace," he said.
The Vatican is attempting to insert moral theology into a largely secular technological arms race.
"Stay awake," the pope urged, warning humanity not to surrender moral judgment to machines.
Cruise buffet guests face surprise charges for taking food back to cabins
A cruise line is warning guests not to bring buffet food into their rooms — and threatening them with fines if they do.
Costa Cruises recently informed guests they could face a €60 cleaning fee — close to $70 — for taking buffet food back to their cabins, according to the cruise blog Crew Center.
The cruise line, a subsidiary of Carnival Corporation, told Fox News Digital that "guest safety and well-being are our top priority."
HOTEL BUFFET CRASHERS CAUGHT ON CAMERA LOADING UP PLATES, WALKING OUT WITHOUT PAYING
"On a limited number of specific sailings, onboard communication was shared as a preventive and deterrent measure, in line with our existing policies, to encourage guests to [have] responsible behavior," said a Costa Cruises spokesperson.
"Costa Cruises remains committed to ensuring a high-quality, safe and enjoyable experience for all guests on board."
The letter said only room service staff trained in sanitation and hygiene procedures are permitted to transport and deliver food to guest cabins, Crew Center reported.
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"All food must be consumed exclusively in designated dining areas," the blog reported.
Costa Cruises, which is based in Genoa, Italy, offers sailings through the Mediterranean, Caribbean and South America.
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Cruise passengers debated the policy in response to a post by the unrealcruises Instagram account.
"I don't blame the cruise line for implementing certain rules. One thing I hate to see is plates [and] cups in the hallways by room doors. If you bring them there, [carry] them back or just eat in eating areas!" one commenter said.
"I don’t blame [the cruise line] ... if you’re gonna go get food from the buffet, bring the dirty plates back to the buffet. I mean try to have some class," another person said.
A third commenter disagreed, saying, "Zero chance I’d pay that fine. Make breakfast in bed for my wife every morning by bringing food back. Who cares where you eat the included food."
"We love to take our food and coffee to enjoy on our quiet balcony," another person said.
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Yet another chimed in, "Cruise lines have enough problems without having more charges."
Country star steps away from music to focus on himself after fame took a toll
Country star Jake Worthington is stepping away from the spotlight.
On Friday, the 30-year-old musician — who first rose to fame while competing on "The Voice" in 2014 — took to social media to announce his hiatus from country music.
"I live a life as my heroes did, but that life gotten ahold of me," Worthington wrote on Instagram. "I love my family, my friends and my fans too much to let it take over me. I need to take some time to work on myself for my wife and daughter."
"I promise I will come back even better," Worthington concluded. "God bless country music."
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Famous friends were quick to offer their support.
"This takes a lot of courage. Proud of you!" Carly Pearce commented.
CARLY PEARCE KNEW HER MARRIAGE WAS A MISTAKE ON HER WEDDING NIGHT AND 'BLEW UP MY LIFE TO GET OUT'
"La you bro!" Dierks Bentley added.
"You’re a beautiful soul brother," another fan quipped. "And your voice is forever. Do what you have to in order to sustain longevity. For yourself and your family. All of us will be here when you’re ready. Listening to the gifts you’ve already left us."
Worthington isn't the only country star to take a break from the hustle and bustle of the entertainment industry.
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Earlier this year, country star Chase Rice announced his plans to step away from tour life.
"Alright everybody, I wasn't sure whether I was gonna talk about this or not but here we are. I've been touring for 13 years and I've lived a dream far greater than I could've ever expected," Rice wrote in Instagram post in January.
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"This isn't a goodbye thing or anything like that to be clear upfront, although it may feel like that, but I'm exhausted," he said.
"I haven't been able to be myself on stage in quite a while and really enjoy music and why I got into it in the first place," he wrote, adding, "I love songs, I love living them, hearing stories from other people, and figuring out how to put that life into music."
Rice admitted life on the road had taken a major toll on him — both physically and mentally.
"After 13 years it's finally beat me up to the point where I need to step away for a while," he admitted. "I need to go live life so that I have more real experiences to write down."
He added, "I won't be touring this year and it wasn't even really a decision, it was something I know that I just have to do for myself," he said, calling the hiatus a major moment in his personal life. "A lot of artists do this all the time, but it's new for me so it's kind of a big deal in my life."
Thekla weaves her way to AEW Double or Nothing win, retaining women's championship
All Elite Wrestling (AEW) women’s world champion Thekla seemingly had the odds stacked against her going into a four-way dance with her title on the line at Double or Nothing on Sunday.
Thekla squared off against Jamie Hayter, Kris Statlander and Hikaru Shida for the title. And quickly, her opponents jumped her as soon as the bell rang. The thinking was to keep the "Toxic Spider" in her own web while the other three tried to get the upper hand on each other.
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Statlander and Shida were more aligned with each other than Hayter was with anyone else. It didn’t last too long, though. Shida hit Statlander with a kendo stick to break up a pin attempt. Statlander and Shida then came to blows after Shida slapped her tag team partner across the face.
Thekla would not be deterred. Despite being pushed out of the match a few times, she bided her time until the right moment to strike. Hayter and Shida were outside of the ring and collided as they each tried to hit a double clothesline on each other.
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It was Thekla’s moment to shine with Statlander in the ring alone. Statlander was dazed and confused when Thekla nailed her with a nasty stomp. She pinned Statlander for the win to retain the AEW Women’s World Championship.
The Austrian-born AEW star won the title from Statlander on "Dynamite" in February. She’s since made six successful title defenses.
What’s next for Thekla is unclear. She suggested in the post-show scrum that she’s keeping a close eye on the Owen Hart Women’s Tournament and picked her Triangle of Madness teammate Skye Blue to win it.
Celtics guard Jaylen Brown challenges ESPN's Stephen A Smith to a debate at Harvard or MIT
Boston Celtics star Jaylen Brown has challenged ESPN talking head Stephen A. Smith to a live debate. Yes, this is an actual headline in 2026.
At first, the feud between Brown and Smith was pretty funny. The two took jabs at one another across various media platforms, including television, X (formerly Twitter), and Twitch.
It seemed a little fake, given Smith's propensity for getting into beefs with famous NBA players. The feuds often feel performative, but seem to drive public attention to Smith. He's previously quarreled with LeBron James, Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, Russell Westbrook and Draymond Green.
This one started because Smith appeared on ESPN's "First Take" and criticized Brown for calling the 2025-26 season his "favorite" even though the Celtics lost in the first round of the playoffs to the Philadelphia 76ers. Not only did they lose, but the second-seeded Celtics blew a 3-1 series lead against the seventh-seeded 76ers.
Brown fired back, Smith fired back, Brown fired back, Smith fired back, and on and on it went.
For those who thought it was over, you are very wrong. Brown decided to throw down one final challenge. On a recent Twitch stream, Brown brought up his feud with Smith, again.
"Listen, I'm not even really focused on Stephen A.," Brown said, according to Celtics Wire. "I'm really focused on the industry that he represents. Obviously I have my quarrels with Stephen A, but I also have my quarrels with the industry in itself. Stephen A. is the face of the industry and his willingness to serve his higher ups is a major cause for concern, and it's caused frustration, but it ain't even really about him."
Then, Brown proceeded to challenge Smith to a live debate.
"Why don't we have a live audience debate, traditional media versus us athletes? And let's do a live debate in front of a live streamed audience at a mutual location like a Harvard or MIT and let's talk about it. Let's see who come out on top. Should be easy. Should be a piece of cake," Brown snarkily added.
Brown even had some suggestions of where the debate could be held.
"Mainstream traditional media versus the athlete. Let's set it up. Harvard, MIT, live and let's see who comes out on top. You know where to find me. We know where to contact my team. Let's set up a live debate at a mutual location and let's talk about it. Traditional vs. untraditional. Mainstream media vs. the dumb jock. Let's see who comes out on top," Brown concluded.
Honestly, with the current state of elite universities like MIT and Harvard, a debate between an NBA star and an NBA analyst seems perfect.
But what exactly would the two debate? That part was never made clear.
And that's perhaps the funniest aspect of the whole thing. When I was growing up, people challenged each other to fight. Have a problem with someone? Fine, settle it "outside." It's fascinating that challenging someone to debate is seemingly much more common in these public feuds than physical altercations.
Perhaps that means society is evolving and people are using their words instead of their fists. As for this actual debate between Smith and Brown, it probably won't happen.
But if it does, yeah, I'll watch. And so will you.