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AOC says she supports men in women's sports because she's a "girl's girl"
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (AOC), the U.S. representative for New York's 14th congressional district, just said one of the most asinine things you'll ever hear from a politician. She, as the vast majority of Democrats have, came out in support of "trans rights" and men in women's sports. That shouldn't shock anyone, but her reasoning behind that support is so absurdly ridiculous and nonsensical, it'll inevitably cause your hand to hit your face.
While speaking at More Perfect University, a progressive campus program launched in April 2026 by the advocacy media nonprofit More Perfect Union to combat Turning Point USA, AOC, sitting next to Maine Senate candidate Troy Jackson, received a question from a male student who identifies as a female.
"I am a transgender student at the University of Southern Maine," the student started. The student articulated feeling "abandoned" by the Democrat party and claimed that liberals seem to believe that trans-identifying people our a "losing issue" and "it's not worth defending us." The student then asked for AOC's thoughts.
"They're wrong," AOC said.
After a 30-second word salad, AOC stated, "What's so important for everyone to understand is that the moment you try to compromise the rights of a trans person in America, you compromise the rights of everyone citizen in America."
Goodness gracious. Let's breakdown how insane that statement is:
AOC is essentially saying if you are against men's "rights" to compete in women's sports and invade women's spaces, you're against the rights of every American citizen. If you're against men stealing women's trophies and opportunities, if you're against men injuring women on the court, field, and any field of play, if you're against full-intact males changing in the same locker room as women...you're against the rights of all Americans. Insanity.
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I could go further on what she may consider "trans rights" and how that affects boys and girls medically with gender reassignment surgery and other atrocities, but I'll stick mostly to the sports lane in this piece.
By the way, that statement from AOC received a massive, auditorium-wide applause.
After AOC went on a lengthy diatribe about The Right's fixation on the trans issue and how many conservatives just don't understand the gender conversation happening in our country, she claimed:
"Our basic rights shouldn't have to matter. [Rights] don't matter who you are, what you do. You have those rights guaranteed by being an American citizen. Point blank. Period."
Again, thunderous applause for another nonsensical, false statement.
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No, Ms. Representative. It is not a "right" for males to compete in women's sports and use women's restrooms/locker rooms because they simply identify as the opposite sex.
In America, we have the right to "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness." The United States of America was founded on the principle that individual rights do not come from government. Those rights come from God. Government exists to protect those rights.
This woman couldn't point to one place in the Bill of Rights, the Constitution, or the Declaration of Independence that proves her claim that males have the right to compete in women's sports or use women's restrooms. Our Founding Fathers would've laughed AOC out of the room if she argued for this in their presence.
"On a deeper level, I want us all to understand what they (Republicans) are doing," AOC continued. "The billions of dollars and the enormous amount of energy that The Right is putting and focusing on trans Americans, when you actually zoom out, trans Americans are about 1% of the population, perhaps less than 1%."
AOC was then corrected by the trans-identifying student, who raised three fingers to represent that they believe trans-identifying Americans represent 3% of the population.
WASHINGTON STATE'S HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS LEAGUE PUTS ONUS FOR TRANS ATHLETE CONTROVERSY ON STATE LAWS
AOC, citing that surveys of Republicans, after seeing political ads focused on transgenderism, start to believe trans-identifying people make up 40% of the population, which is another asinine claim, then said this:
"When they (The Right) want to focus on trans girls in sports, it's not just about trans girls in sports. It's about girls, all girls."
AOC then claimed The Right's agenda is "attacking Title IX."
"Title IX is the federal protection for all gender equality and all women to be protected," AOC claimed.
No, it's not. Why? You're using deceptive language in order to manipulate the conversation and the American people, AOC.
Title IX should strictly protect biological sex (male & female) as originally understood in 1972. AOC uses the term "gender" because that has become an all-encompassing term for anyone who identifies as a woman. What the Left has tried to do, especially under former President Biden, was to change the language of Title IX to include gender identity and sexual orientation, which would have opened the floodgates for men in women's sports.
This is pure gaslighting. Politicians like AOC are the ones actually "attacking Title IX". Republicans are the ones protecting it.
After laughably trying to equate the Cornell 7 case, where a group of male students have been accused of drugging and raping a female student, to "attacks" on trans women (men) through Title IX by Trump and the Republicans, AOC made another definitive statement about women's sports.
"Understand, when they attack trans girls in sports, they're also attacking all women's ability to stand up against their abusers, their rapists, and their assaulters on campuses across America."
Just think about how anti-woman this whole stance is.
Rape, abuse, and assault of women are terrible things. They should be dealt with harshly and condemned. Comparing the administration's fight to protect women and women's spaces from males to rape, is utterly disgusting and actually devalues those atrocities and crimes against actual women.
AOC is simply using false equivalencies to paint Trump, Republicans, conservatives, and even many of the registered Democrats and independents who rallied for Sophie Cunningham across the country this WNBA season, as evil.
Banning males from women's sports is not the same, or even in the same universe, as rape.
Here's where AOC made her most absurd, nonsensical, brain-dead claim of the night in regards to men in women's sports.
"I support the rights of trans women because I'm a girls girl."
Read that again.
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AOC just literally said she supports the rights of males identifying as females to compete in women's sports because I'm a female who genuinely supports, uplifts, and advocates for other women.
I just lost brain cells typing that out.
As one X user said, "This is like saying, 'I agree that 2+2=5 because I'm a mathy mathematician'."
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To think that this woman could be the Democrat nominee for president in 2028 shows just how far our education system, political system, and country has fallen.
AOC ended her lengthy response by stating, "What we're not going to do is shred our Constitution, kill Title IX, and defund all of our healthcare, just to attack 3% of the U.S. population."
I'd invite AOC to try to say this nonsense to the girls' cross-country team and their parents of Camas High School, and other girls who have had to compete against a boy this season. I would love to see her try to tell the brave girls who walked off the course in protest that their act was an "attack" on the transgender community that is on par with the rape and assault of women.
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Washington’s upcoming vote on Initiative 638, is a November ballot measure that seeks to restrict K-12 public school athletic categories strictly by biological sex at birth. Let's pray these girls' sports and spaces are protected.
Shame on you, AOC.
‘Can’t trust Amy Acton’: Viral ad distracts from what’s really at stake in critical race, GOP strategist says
An ad earlier this week from Ohio gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy sparked outrage from both sides of the aisle, but a political strategist in the state says that the record of his opponent, former health director Amy Acton, is what ultimately makes the difference in the race.
The ad features Acton’s estranged mother, Donna Arthur, accusing her daughter of lying about her childhood and questioning her fitness to serve as governor. Acton responded by saying she and her brother were removed from their mother’s custody after her stepfather was accused of sexually abusing her, and Ramaswamy was quickly blasted by Democrats and some Republicans over the ad, which he has defended and spent millions to run over the next couple of weeks.
The controversy over the ad went viral on social media and was even commented on by President Donald Trump, who strongly defended Ramaswamy. Ohio attorney and political strategist Mehek Cooke told Fox News Digital that Acton’s record is what should be under the microscope, not the ad.
"I think that we have to really shift from Vivek's recent ad into the most important question for Ohioans is, who do you want governing the state of Ohio? We clearly can't trust Amy Acton, and she has a record of that," Cooke told Fox News Digital.
RAMASWAMY TORCHES DEM RIVAL OVER 'OUTRAGEOUS' COVID-19 CLAIM: 'SPEWING LIES'
Acton’s record involves controversies both professionally and personally, many of which have been focused on by ads in the state of Ohio.
Acton served as health director under Republican Gov. Mike DeWine during the first months of COVID-19, when Ohio closed schools, shuttered bars and restaurants, restricted businesses and imposed a statewide stay-at-home order.
She also signed orders restricting nursing-home visitors, closing senior centers and adult daycare facilities, limiting mass gatherings and closing gyms and personal-service businesses before leaving the position amid pushback for the negative impact the lockdowns had.
'GENERATION COVID' EXPLORES THE LASTING TOLL OF PANDEMIC-ERA SCHOOL CLOSURES
"She worked as a health director for Mike DeWine and left after masking our children, shutting down our state, and yes, Mike DeWine's name is on those orders, but at the end of the day, it was Amy Acton's signature," Cooke said. "And she's the one who pushed for locking down our kids. I don't ever want to hire somebody who quits on the state during a pandemic. I can't imagine if she had another meltdown, whether it was managing our state budget or anything else. So people don't trust Amy."
Acton’s handling of nursing homes has also drawn criticism in pro-Ramswamy advertisements on the airwaves. Ohio imposed a broad visitor ban at nursing homes and similar facilities in March 2020, separating residents from family members during the early months of the pandemic.
The Ohio Department of Health was later sued over its refusal to release facility-level COVID-19 death data. An Ohio appeals court ruled that the department violated the state’s public-records law by refusing to provide information about nursing-home deaths.
‘COVID 2.0’: LAWMAKERS PUSH BACK ON SWEEPING HEALTH 'POLICE POWER' IN KEY BATTLEGROUND STATE
The ruling involved the health department as an agency and did not establish that Acton personally ordered the records to be withheld. However, critics have continued to argue that the controversy raises questions about transparency during her tenure.
Acton’s closure orders also became the subject of litigation from Ohio gyms. In the Rock House Fitness case, a court described the state’s actions as "arbitrary, unreasonable, and oppressive," though subsequent legal proceedings and changes to the state’s orders complicated the dispute.
More recently, five current and former state-government workers told the Washington Examiner that Acton was sometimes absent from pandemic strategy meetings and emotionally volatile while leading the state’s response. One source alleged that she was found curled up on the floor before an emergency meeting, while another said she was seen crying in a bathroom.
A separate 2019 police report has also become a campaign issue. Bexley police responded to Acton’s home after a reported domestic dispute involving her husband. According to reporting based on the police report, Acton’s daughter told police that Acton had been drinking, throwing things and breaking glass. The report also said Acton pulled a mirror from a wall, shattering it.
No one was injured and no charges were filed. Acton’s campaign described the episode as a normal marital argument and disputed claims that it demonstrated alcohol abuse. Acton has called broader accusations that she is an alcoholic or drug addict "lies" and "a complete fabrication."
Cooke explained that supporting law enforcement will be a critical attribute the next governor needs and that Acton has shown she is weak in that area, pointing to an Acton comment that appeared to compare ICE agents to the KKK and tying Acton to the "defund the police" ideology popular with socialist candidates across the country.
"There are people coming out there wearing masks, with all the gear on," Acton said earlier this year during a City Club of Cleveland forum. "We don’t even know who they are. They’re just showing up. Does this not feel like the Ku Klux Klan to anyone?"
While Ramaswamy has faced blowback for using Acton’s mother in an ad, the race had already gotten personal and tied to family, with Acton’s side running ads invoking Ramaswamy’s mother.
"They have run an attack ad on Vivek Ramaswamy's mother and the failure of an Alzheimer's drug, they started attacking family first and I think politics is brutal," Cooke said. "This is a contact sport in terms of anything in your closet. It all goes, but the difference is Vivek actually comes and addresses questions. He talks to people. He explains whether it was his businesses or anything else that he has conducted for the betterment of our economy and Ohioans. Amy continues to hide."
With 11 days until voters decide who will be the next governor of Ohio, Acton has not yet agreed to debate Ramaswamy, which Cooke says is because she can’t articulate the complicated issues.
"They're trying this Joe Biden strategy of hide in the basement, play the victim card, and it's not going to work," Cooke said.
"Amy will never get on a stage because the truth is she doesn't know what she stands for, she's going to have policies written for her by Democratic socialists that are running her party today, and right now, the plan is, let's hide."
Cooke recounted a recent visit to a doctor, who politically identifies as an Independent, where Ramaswamy’s ad came up and described a response that suggests the ad is not as damaging to Ramaswamy as being portrayed in the media.
"He said, ‘I don't care about what's in the ad,’" Cooke explained. "‘I care about her integrity. And the problem is, what does she stand for? I know what Vivek stands for. I have no idea what she stands for.’"
Fox News polling, conducted before the ad fallout, shows a tight race with likely voters favoring Acton over Ramaswamy by 50% to 48%.
Cheap Android phones found with malware already installed
Buying a cheap smartphone can feel like a smart move. After all, why spend hundreds more when a phone promises a big screen, decent cameras and all the Android apps you use every day? But what if that bargain phone came with a hidden surprise that was already hiding inside the device when you bought it?
Security researchers at Bitdefender have uncovered a malware campaign called Midnight Mimosa that infects certain low-cost Android devices before their owners even turn them on.
The malicious software hides inside the phone's firmware, giving attackers powerful access that ordinary apps never receive. Even more concerning, researchers found related malicious apps on Google Play. And this problem has reached the United States.
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ANDROID MALWARE CAN STEAL YOUR PIN AND BANK LOGINS
Most smartphone security advice starts with being careful about what you download. That makes sense when a malicious app tricks you into installing it. Midnight Mimosa changes that equation because the infection can arrive with the phone itself. According to Bitdefender's investigation, the malware was discovered on low-cost, multi-brand Android devices built around MediaTek chipsets. Researchers found malicious applications embedded in the system software, where they could operate with elevated privileges.
These privileges allow the malware to install additional apps without permission, remove existing applications and grant sensitive access to other software. It can also download and execute new code from remote servers. The researchers identified several versions hiding behind innocent-looking Android package names, including com.android.system.lite, com.android.sys.prot and com.android.sys.gmsprot.
To most phone owners, those names would look like technical components that belong there. That's exactly what makes the scheme so difficult to spot. And because the malicious software lives in the system partition, a normal uninstall won't remove the underlying infection.
Bitdefender says it observed Midnight Mimosa on thousands of unique devices across more than 150 countries over approximately two years. Mexico, France and Italy had the highest observed numbers, followed by the United States, Germany, Brazil and Spain. Researchers also observed infected devices reporting model names associated with Doogee's S200 X and Cubot's KINGKONG X. However, the findings do not establish that every phone sold under those names is affected. Some devices in the campaign use misleading or counterfeit model identifiers, making it difficult to identify infections based on a phone's reported name alone.
Another part of the investigation uncovered devices pretending to be expensive smartphones. Some reported names resembling Samsung Galaxy flagship models, while others imitated Apple's iPhone naming. In other words, a phone advertised as a premium Samsung or Apple device might actually contain inexpensive Android hardware running modified software.
Researchers found that some counterfeit devices even reported legitimate-looking Samsung model identifiers. That makes checking the model name alone an unreliable way to confirm authenticity. The investigation also identified firmware signed with certificates associated with Shenzhen Zediel, a Chinese device manufacturer. However, Bitdefender emphasized that this does not establish that the company created the malware or knew about its presence. Exactly where the malicious code entered the manufacturing and distribution process remains unknown.
You might expect malware this powerful to steal passwords immediately or display obvious warnings. Instead, Midnight Mimosa appears primarily designed to generate money for its operators while staying out of sight. One way it earns money is through advertising fraud. The malicious system component silently installs apps that look like weather tools, app lockers and other everyday utilities.
Those apps can display legitimate advertisements in hidden windows or generate clicks without the owner touching the screen. Advertisers may end up paying for activity that never came from a real person. Bitdefender identified at least 32 unique disguised applications involved in the broader operation. The malware can also repeatedly install and remove these apps, making them harder to notice during a casual check of the phone.
The advertising fraud is only part of the story. Researchers also discovered software that can turn infected phones into residential proxy servers. Here's what that means. Someone operating the malware could route internet traffic through your phone's connection. To websites and online services, that traffic may appear to come from your home or mobile network rather than the person actually controlling it.
Such connections can be valuable to cybercriminals because they help conceal where online activity originates. The same infrastructure could potentially support larger botnet operations or distributed denial-of-service attacks. Bitdefender confirmed that the malware contained the technology needed to turn infected phones into residential proxy servers. However, the researchers later clarified that one server they reached was actually a sinkhole, a system used to intercept malicious communications. Their testing did not demonstrate active traffic being relayed through the infected device. The underlying capability remains concerning because it could allow operators to route traffic through a phone owner's connection.
AI MALWARE CAN REWRITE ITSELF TO EVADE DETECTION
One particularly troubling finding involves how Midnight Mimosa avoids security checks. Before installing certain malicious apps, Midnight Mimosa temporarily disables the Google Play Store app. Bitdefender believes this helps the malware avoid detection by Google Play Protect during installation. Once the process finishes, the malware re-enables the Store, reducing the chances that the phone owner will notice anything unusual. The process happens without the phone owner's involvement.
Some versions also manipulate Android's installer records to make applications appear to have come from Google Play, even when the malware installed them directly. So a quick look at where an app supposedly originated may not tell the whole story.
Wavrge, App Icon DIY, Audify, QR Pocket, All Deleted Messages Recovery, WeatherGo, CoolWeather, Daily Weather, Lock & Hide, QuickText Extractor, NoteMaster, Tap to Translate and Tasky. These apps offered functions such as weather forecasts, QR scanning, message recovery and audio editing. However, researchers found that they could also generate unwanted advertising activity, including displaying ads outside their normal interfaces. Unlike the malware embedded in phone firmware, these Google Play apps lacked the elevated system privileges needed to silently install other applications. The apps were associated with 13 different signing certificates and at least two developer accounts, identified as fivedev and CPS Developer.
Are these apps still on Google Play? Checks of the Google Play listings for all 13 apps found that none were available for download. However, it remains unclear whether Google removed the apps or their developers withdrew them. CyberGuy reached out to Google for comment but did not receive a response before our deadline.
What should you do if you recognize one? Check your Android phone's installed apps. If you find one of these applications, verify that its package identifier matches the one listed in Bitdefender's report before uninstalling it. Different apps can share similar names. Even when an app disappears from Google Play, it can remain installed on your phone. The findings show why downloading an app from an official store doesn't automatically guarantee its safety.
The findings also connect with complaints posted by some Doogee and Cubot smartphone owners on the XDA forums. Users described suspicious system applications that reappeared after attempts to remove them. One Doogee Fire 3 Max owner reported that an official firmware update introduced the infection. According to that account, reverting to an older firmware version removed the problem, while reinstalling the newer update brought it back.
Other forum participants reported that subsequent firmware updates resolved their infections. However, Bitdefender identified one of the suspicious packages discussed in the forum, com.android.non.szcz, as belonging to the same malware family. That creates a frustrating situation for owners. A software update is normally something I encourage people to install for better security. But when the firmware itself is compromised, the source and integrity of the update become especially important.
The most effective protection starts before you buy a device. However, there are useful precautions if you already own an inexpensive Android phone or suspect something unusual is happening.
Be especially careful with unusually cheap smartphones advertised as premium models. Counterfeit devices can copy familiar names and appearances while using entirely different hardware. Choose established retailers and authorized sellers when possible. Check the manufacturer's official website to confirm that the model exists and matches the advertised specifications. An extremely low price deserves a closer look, especially when the seller provides limited information about software updates or warranty support.
ANTI-SCAM SETTINGS ON IPHONE, PIXEL AND GALAXY YOU SHOULD CHECK
Before trusting an unfamiliar Android phone, check whether Google recognizes it as a certified device. Play Protect certification indicates that a device has met Google's compatibility requirements. However, certification alone cannot guarantee that its firmware is free of malware.
Here's how to check:
If your phone says Device is not certified, contact the manufacturer or seller to investigate. An uncertified device does not automatically mean it contains malware, but it deserves additional scrutiny.
Google Play Protect is Android's built-in malware protection. It scans apps for harmful behavior and can warn you about or remove known threats. However, it is not 100% effective at detecting every malicious app, especially malware hidden deep within a phone's system software.
To check it, open the Google Play Store > your profile picture > Play Protect > Settings. Make sure Scan apps with Play Protect is enabled. Then return to the Play Protect screen to check for harmful apps. A clean scan is reassuring, but it does not guarantee your phone is free of malware, particularly if the infection is embedded in its firmware. That's why we also recommend strong antivirus software as an additional layer of protection.
Strong antivirus software adds another layer of protection by monitoring suspicious behavior and detecting threats that may go unnoticed. In fact, Bitdefender's investigation began when its behavioral detection technology flagged an unusual system component. This shows why monitoring how apps behave can help uncover threats that traditional scans might miss. However, even strong antivirus software may detect malicious firmware without having the permissions needed to remove it. Get my picks for the best 2026 antivirus protection winners for your Windows, Mac, Android and iOS devices at CyberGuy.com.
Open Settings > Apps > See all apps or the equivalent app list on your Android device. Look for applications you don't recognize, especially ones requesting unusual access.
Next, review Settings > Security & privacy > Privacy controls > Permission manager, where available. Check permissions such as SMS access and other sensitive capabilities. Accessibility and notification access may have their own settings pages.
Menu names vary by manufacturer and Android version. Be cautious about unfamiliar apps with extensive permissions. However, don't randomly disable legitimate Android system components because their technical names look strange.
An infected phone may show signs such as unexplained mobile data usage, excessive background activity, unexpected advertisements or apps appearing without your permission. Check Settings > Network & internet > SIMs > App data usage, or your manufacturer's equivalent, to investigate unusual data consumption. These symptoms can have harmless explanations, and Midnight Mimosa may operate without obvious warning signs. Treat unexpected activity as a reason to investigate rather than proof of infection.
Install updates supplied through your manufacturer's verified support channels. However, if you suspect the device firmware itself is infected, contact the manufacturer before attempting a repair. A factory reset generally removes personal data and user-installed apps. It does not necessarily replace compromised software stored in the system partition.
Bitdefender says removing Midnight Mimosa's privileged component may require firmware-level cleanup or specialized tools such as Android Debug Bridge. For most people, manually modifying system firmware introduces additional risks. If the manufacturer cannot provide a verified clean firmware image, replacing the device may be the safest practical option.
If you believe your phone has been compromised, use a separate trusted device to change important passwords, starting with your primary email and financial accounts. Review recent account activity and enable multifactor authentication where available. Consider using an authenticator app or passkeys on a trusted device rather than relying exclusively on SMS codes.
Bitdefender identified sensitive capabilities in the malware, including potential access to notifications and SMS messages. The researchers did not observe every capability being actively exploited, so account compromise should not be assumed without evidence. Nevertheless, protecting important accounts is a sensible precaution when you can no longer trust the phone's operating system.
I've always liked the idea of getting more for less, especially when it comes to technology. You shouldn't have to spend flagship-phone money to get a device that works reliably. But this investigation exposes a problem that deserves far more attention from the companies making and selling inexpensive smartphones. When malware arrives embedded in the firmware, the owner has very little control. You can be careful about downloads, check permissions and follow security advice, yet still end up with a compromised device straight out of the box. What concerns me most is the possibility that your phone could be quietly earning money for someone else while using a connection you pay for. And if removing the infection requires specialized firmware work, the burden lands on the person who bought the device. Manufacturers and marketplaces need to take greater responsibility for verifying the software that ships on the products they sell. A low price should never mean accepting hidden software that puts your privacy and security at risk.
Would you pay more for a smartphone from a manufacturer you trust, or do you think companies selling budget phones should be held legally responsible when malware comes preinstalled? Let us know by writing to us at CyberGuy.com.
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Did Texas use artificial intelligence to call fourth-down play against Florida? Longhorns AD clarifies report
On the same day that the University of Texas athletic department announced a brand new artificial intelligence lab on its campus called the 'Bevo Lab', some fans are wondering if Steve Sarkisian is using AI to call plays on offense.
The situation in Austin around what's taking place within the football program has been interesting, to say the least.
Whether it's the offensive scheme that comes from head coach Steve Sarkisian or the underwhelming play from quarterback Arch Manning, this has all led to frustration from Texas fans after consecutive losses to unranked teams.
On Friday, the school announced that is has created a state-of-the-art facility on campus that brings artificial intelligence to the forefront of decision making and daily activities that consume the life of an athletic staff.
A brand new 25,000-square-foot AI lab will now be the home to some of the more innovative decisions that coaches are making to better help serve their teams at Texas.
Now, with the help of Google, the school has started producing different mechanisms to help with this new era of college athletics, which includes how to deal with revenue-sharing and roster building.
But, when it comes to calling plays for the Longhorns football team, the new venture into artificial intelligence seems to have caused a stir on Friday morning thanks to a report from the Austin-American Statesman.
"In the fourth quarter of last week's game against Florida at Royal-Memorial Stadium, the Longhorns put the new initiative to use," the report said. "Down 20-17 and facing a fourth-and-2, Texas needed a spark. So, coach Steve Sarkisian and his staff turned to their new artificial intelligence data analytics platform, Bevo Lab.
"While the Longhorns ultimately failed to convert after quarterback Arch Manning lost three yards on the play, Del Conte said the moment was a pivotal embrace of the new tech."
Well, it didn’t take long for Texas fans to scramble across social media thinking that Steve Sarkisian fired up the AI platform and asked which play to run like the head coach was playing a game of EA Sports College Football 2026.
STEVE SARKISIAN FACES BRUTAL ARCH MANNING DECISION AS TEXAS’ SEASON BEGINS TO SLIP AWAY AMID LOSSES
As you would expect, fans were all over the place with their comments, wondering what else could go wrong this season after a very long three-week stretch of contemplating what it would mean if Texas did not make the CFP this year with Arch Manning and a very expensive roster.
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You can rest easy though, Longhorns.
Athletic Director Chris Del Conte must have heard about the ruckus this morning amid their grand announcement regarding AI, because it took only around an hour for him to clarify what the report was trying to insinuate.
"Texas AD Chris Del Conte clarified a published article which said that the decision to go for it on 4th and 2 against Florida last week was based on Bevo Lab analysis," Del Conte told Bobby Burton.
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"To the contrary, Del Conte said he gave it as an example of what it could suggest, not of what it actually did."
Sure, Steve Sarkisian and his football staff are receiving help from AI when it comes to putting together daily activities, just like the rest of us that live in the corporate world.
But no, I don't imagine the Longhorns head coach is telling Arch Manning what to run on fourth down based off what prompt the Texas staff was inserting into AI chat along the sidelines with a critical game on the line.
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I know things are tense in Austin right now, but everyone needs to take a very deep breath before the Longhorns face Ole Miss on Saturday night.
AI play-calling might be the least of their worries if Arch Manning and this Texas offense cannot put it together against the Rebels.
Gunmen kill 7 at Christian church in Jordan in what king calls act of terrorism
Multiple gunmen opened fire and killed at least seven people Friday at a church in Jordan in what the country's leader is calling a "terrorist attack."
The shooting, which also left 34 injured, erupted during a funeral at a Greek Orthodox church in Karak, about 110 miles south of the capital, Amman. Karak is home to a minority Christian population.
"The terrorist attack against Karak will be met with the harshest retaliation. Those who delude themselves into thinking that they can divide Jordanians with their bullets have no chance in the face of our unity," King Abdullah II wrote on X.
"All Jordanians, from north to south, are partners in land and fate, and nothing stands between them. Our deepest condolences to the families of the martyrs and we wish a speedy recovery to those injured," he added. "Every Jordanian life is precious, and we will strike with an iron fist against those who dare to threaten our nation."
TWO SUSPECTED GUNMEN DEAD, TWO IDF SOLDIERS KILLED IN WEST BANK SHOOTING
Images broadcast on Jordanian state television showed two gunmen who appear to be holding pistols approaching the church and firing shots, according to The Associated Press.
A third man who appeared to be holding a semiautomatic rifle then appeared and opened fire, and all three then ran toward the church.
A government statement said that the attack was "carried out by unknown assailants" but didn't say whether any gunmen were captured or killed. It noted that "investigations are underway at full speed."
In 2016, gunmen ambushed police in a series of attacks in Karak, including at a Crusader castle popular with tourists, killing 10 people, including seven officers, and wounding dozens. Jordanian security forces killed those gunmen after a long standoff.
Jordan’s director of public security, Maj. Gen. Obeidallah Maaytah, said at a news conference that 27 of the wounded in Friday’s shooting were still being treated.
In a statement, Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein said he called his Jordanian counterpart and "affirmed Iraq’s solidarity with Jordan in the face of terrorism."
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
EXCLUSIVE: Rhode Island school district accused of hiding kids' gender transitions from parents
FIRST ON FOX: A conservative legal group is calling on the Trump administration to investigate a Rhode Island school district over a policy that allegedly allows school officials to facilitate students' gender transitions behind their parents' backs, accusing the district of violating multiple federal civil rights laws.
America First Legal (AFL) filed a formal complaint Tuesday with the Justice Department and Department of Education targeting Westerly Public Schools in Westerly, Rhode Island, over a transgender student policy adopted in 2017.
"Westerly Public Schools' policy blatantly violates federal law, tramples on parents' rights, and embraces radical gender ideology," Ian Prior, senior counsel at America First Legal, told Fox News Digital in a statement. "Male students claiming to be female receive every privilege while actual female students are shoved aside. AFL is calling on the Department of Justice and the Department of Education to step in and hold WPS accountable."
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The complaint from America First Legal alleges that Westerly Public Schools' transgender student policy, adopted in 2017, allows school officials to facilitate students' gender transitions, including changes to names, pronouns and school records, without parental notification or consent. The group also alleges the policy permits students to use bathrooms, locker rooms and participate in sports based on their gender identity rather than biological sex, while requiring students who object to seek separate accommodations.
The policy defines "Gender Identity" as "a person's deeply held sense or psychological knowledge of their own gender. One's gender identity can be the same or different than the gender assigned at birth. Most people have a gender identity that matches their assigned gender at birth. For some, however, their gender identity is different from their assigned gender."
The guidance for secondary students reads, "Generally, notification to a student's parent(s)/guardian(s) about their gender identity, expression, or transition is unnecessary, as they are already aware and supportive. However, some transgender students do not want their parents to know about their transgender status. These situations must be addressed on a case-by-case basis and require schools to balance the goal of supporting the student with the desire that parents be kept informed about their children."
It continues, "In these circumstances, school administration should ask the superintendent for direction on how to proceed. If the administration determines that notifying the family carries risks for the student, it should work closely with the student to assess the degree to which, if any, the family will be involved in the process and must consider the age, health, well-being and safety of the student."
America First Legal alleges the district's policy violates multiple federal laws, including the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), by withholding information about students' gender transitions from parents, and the Protection of Pupil Rights Amendment (PPRA), by allowing certain student evaluations without parental consent.
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The group also argues the policy violates Title IX by permitting students to use bathrooms, locker rooms and participate in sports based on gender identity rather than biological sex, potentially compromising female students' privacy, safety and athletic opportunities, and is urging the Trump administration to investigate the district, require changes to its policies and ensure compliance with federal law, including parental notification requirements.
The complaint marks the latest effort by America First Legal to challenge school policies it argues infringe on parental rights. The group previously developed resources in 2022 to help parents use the Protection of Pupil Rights Amendment (PPRA) to hold schools accountable. AFL pointed to a recent Trump administration lawsuit against Kansas City Public Schools in Kansas over allegations involving undisclosed student gender transitions and violations of FERPA and the PPRA, saying it is seeking a similar outcome in Westerly.
The Department of Education told Fox News Digital that it does not confirm complaints.
A spokesperson for the Department of Justice told Fox News Digital in a statement that, "The Department has received the complaint and will review it. As a matter of policy, the Department does not confirm or deny the existence of investigations. The Justice Department is committed to enforcing Title IX and to protecting the fundamental right of parents to direct the upbringing and education of their children."
Fox News Digital reached out to Westerly Public Schools for comment.
Federal judge kicked off 'botch job' anti-DEI case after stunning appeals court rebuke
A federal judge was removed from a challenge to Mississippi's anti-DEI law after the Fifth Circuit blasted his handling of the case as a "botch job," pointing to orders riddled with factual errors, an apparent AI-hallucinated case citation and faulty applications of Supreme Court precedent.
In an opinion penned by Judge Jerry Smith, a Reagan appointee, the appeals court vacated Reagan-appointed Judge Henry Wingate's preliminary injunction blocking the law and ordered the case reassigned to a different judge — an "extraordinary" and "rarely invoked" move.
"This district judge carelessly exercised his Article III power by issuing sloppy edicts based on falsehoods and fabrications," Smith wrote, adding that "the district court—or perhaps, being charitable, its AI agent—ignored and manipulated governing law, apparently to satisfy a policy agenda."
The controversy surrounding Wingate’s handling of the case began with serious errors in a temporary restraining order he issued in July after a group of teachers, parents and students sued, arguing that a Mississippi state law restricting DEI-related practices in public schools and universities violated the First and Fourteenth Amendments.
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Wingate replaced the order just two days later after Mississippi officials flagged major factual errors, including 11 individuals and organizations identified as plaintiffs who were never a part of the case, two officials incorrectly named as defendants and unsupported claims that three schools had already canceled DEI programs because of the law.
The original TRO also cited purported declarations from four people who did not appear anywhere in the record and "may not even exist," according to the Fifth Circuit. It also attributed language to the bill that does not appear in the law, including references to "race or sex stereotyping," "race or sex scapegoating," "critical race theory" and "institutional bias."
"We are grateful—and, indeed, lucky—that the defendants provided a copy of the original TRO as an exhibit in their July 28 motion, ECF 58-1, given that Judge Wingate kept it from public view," Smith wrote.
Even the corrected TRO contained errors, including a citation to a nonexistent case that the Fifth Circuit called "an apparent AI hallucination." Wingate cited the purported case while discussing the relationship between temporary restraining orders and preliminary injunctions, leading Smith to conclude that the fabricated citation was "arguably part of the shoddy reasoning of the preliminary injunction, too."
Wingate later acknowledged that a law clerk had used artificial intelligence to assist in drafting the TRO, following accusations of AI use surfacing publicly. Wingate said the errors were "clerical" and did not affect the court’s "core legal reasoning or the ultimate judgment on the merits."
The Fifth Circuit pushed back on that explanation, questioning "how so many mistaken facts could not at least marginally ‘affect’ ‘core legal reasoning’ or support for the judgment on the merits."
The Fifth Circuit found major flaws in Wingate’s legal reasoning, accusing the judge of misinterpreting Supreme Court rulings on free speech challenges, exceeding the limits of court injunctions and mishandling legal protections for government and public-employee speech.
The panel zeroed in on the Supreme Court’s 2024 decision in Moody v. NetChoice, which sets a two-step test for courts considering First Amendment challenges seeking to strike down a law entirely.
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Under the Moody analysis, a court can strike down an entire law on First Amendment grounds only if its unconstitutional applications substantially outweigh its constitutional ones. The appeals court took issue with Wingate describing the Moody framework as "supposedly" required.
"That Judge Wingate twice refers to the Moody framework as ‘supposedly’ required calls into question whether he even tried in good faith to follow the law," Smith wrote.
"The district court’s laxity in observing the binding authority of the Supreme Court is yet another reason to doom the preliminary injunction," Smith continued.
The appeals court also faulted Wingate for his reasoning in granting preliminary relief, pointing to his ruling that the court "should pause when faced with an unsettled area with such dire possible consequences."
"That gets the entire law of injunctive relief completely backwards," Smith wrote.
"A preliminary injunction cannot stand just because there is a possibility of success on the merits," Smith continued.
The appeals court also accused Wingate of misreading the Supreme Court's 2025 decision in Trump v. CASA, which limits judges from issuing orders that go beyond what is needed to protect the people who filed the lawsuit.
Wingate cited CASA in concluding that injunctions like the one before him "should be all-or-nothing renditions."
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"That is almost exactly the opposite of what CASA says," Smith wrote. "The quoted portion was the Supreme Court’s cautioning against overbroad relief and urging judges to tailor relief to what is absolutely necessary and nothing more."
The Fifth Circuit sent the case back to the Southern District of Mississippi, where a new judge will consider it.
Longtime ESPN host launches into angry tirade at New York Times, calling them 'gutless motherf------'
Longtime ESPN host Michael Wilbon unleashed an expletive-laced rant against The New York Times on Wednesday, blasting the paper over its treatment of sports writers.
While appearing on "The Dan Le Batard Show," host Dan Le Batard pointed out that The New York Times was the only major publication that did not allow its sports writers to appear on Wilbon's ESPN show "Pardon the Interruption."
Wilbon, who began his career in print journalism and spent decades at The Washington Post before joining ESPN full-time in 2010, accused the Times of abandoning the sports writing industry.
"They bailed," Wilbon said. "They were the first to bail. F--- The New York Times. I work for a better section anyway. You think I wouldn’t take a section with Tom Boswell and Dave Kindred and Tony Kornheiser and Sally Jenkins and David Remnick and David Aldridge and J.A. Adande — and I’m skipping a whole generation of people — Barry Lorge, the greatest tennis writer of all time? Half those people went to television.
"F--- The New York Times, which bailed on our profession. It bailed. It took the sports section away. Gutless motherf------!"
Fox News Digital reached out to The New York Times for comment. ESPN declined to comment.
Wilbon was likely referring to The New York Times announcing in 2023 that it would be closing its internal sports department and instead focus on covering teams and games through The Athletic, which it acquired one year earlier.
Though there were no layoffs from the acquisition, the sports department at the Times had grown smaller and smaller in the years prior to the purchase. The desk eventually lost its stand-alone section in the daily print edition, and local teams were no longer guaranteed an assigned beat reporter.
New York Times staffers have since petitioned to have The Athletic staffers join their union.
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"The Times bought a separate company; they then disbanded their own sports desk and now uses that company as their sports department," New York Times senior editor Jim Luttrell told Fox News Digital in May.
"They’re doing the same work that all the other journalists here do that the sports journalists did here before. There is no reason they shouldn’t be in the union."
Why the Hawks are a rare NBA road favorite worth backing against the rebuilding Hornets
The NBA is just a few days old and we've already seen two teams blow 20-point leads. That happens more often than you'd probably imagine, and this year I'm making a point to live bet on the team that is losing big. Last night the 76ers looked awful, but they came back in the second half of the game and covered the short spread. I'm sure it will happen somewhere today as well. There are a ton of great games to choose from, but I've got my eye on the Hawks and Hornets game.
The Atlanta Hawks are one of the teams that have a bit of excitement behind them coming into this year. They revamped their roster quite a bit over the past few years, but now it seems like they have decided to build their team around Jalen Johnson. It also helps that they have two really good defenders - Nickeil Alexander-Walker and Dyson Daniels. The team moved on from Trae Young last year, who was a facilitator and scorer for them, but also a parking cone on defense, and it never seemed like the team worked with him.
This team is now a little more athletic and younger, but still grounded with a couple of key veterans like CJ McCollum. In their opening game against the Magic, I was most impressed with their shot selection. As a team, they shot 50% from the field and 40% from deep. You really can't expect that to happen consistently, but they did create the good shots. Defensively, they really weren't impressive. They still gave up 125 points to the Magic, which is a lot for an Orlando team that isn't known for being offensively efficient.
The Charlotte Hornets remain one of those teams that I really can't understand. They have been terrible for years, and the one time they sniffed success, they decided it was time to trade away their (arguably) best player. They sent LaMelo Ball over to the Timberwolves, but that's probably because they have Coby White, and they seem to want to invest in Kon Knueppel. Unfortunately for them, Knueppel is out with an injury right now, so the team is missing a major player.
In their first game, they unveiled their new-look roster and beat the Brooklyn Nets on the road. This team is comprised of multiple role players, but right now, their biggest semblance of a star is Brandon Miller. No offense to Miller, but if he is responsible for leading the team for multiple games, you're probably asking for trouble. I do think the Hornets are going to be hovering around the play-in positioning for the postseason, but I really don't think they've improved from last year.
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I really don't enjoy taking favorites on the road in the NBA. Role players don't play as well on the road as they do at home, but in this one, I'm willing to make an exception. The Hawks are the better team, have a better offense, and I think they should win this one. They do play at home tomorrow, against a tougher opponent, so this could be a trap spot, but I'm going to take them on the moneyline at -135. I do think they know how to win, and I think the Hornets are trying to figure things out.
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For more sports betting information and plays, follow David on X/Twitter: @futureprez2024
Rebecca Gayheart watched Eric Dane fight for time with daughters during ‘heartbreaking’ final months
As Eric Dane faced the final moments of his life, his family fought to hold on to every precious moment.
Rebecca Gayheart, who remained close to Dane after they separated in 2018, opened up about his final months battling amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), the toll it took on their two daughters and how she's keeping his memory alive.
Dane died Feb. 19, less than a year after publicly revealing his ALS diagnosis.
"We tried to be present through all of our fear and frustration and uncertainty," Gayheart told People of the family's last months together. "It was truly an exhausting and heartbreaking experience, but it also showed us his extraordinary strength every day, and that was really wonderful for the girls and myself to witness."
While Gayheart tried to remain strong for Dane as they searched for answers about his worsening symptoms ahead of his diagnosis, she admitted nothing could have prepared her for the news that he had ALS.
"I went into my closet and closed the door," she told the outlet. "I was always telling him, ‘You’re going to be okay, we’re going to figure this out.’ But that day was like a punch in the gut. It took my breath away."
As Gayheart and Dane struggled to come to terms with the diagnosis themselves, they faced another challenge: explaining the news to their two young daughters.
"They had so many questions, it still felt like it wasn’t real," she said. "And their father let them know that he wanted to try to spend as much time as possible with them."
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Dane began seeing symptoms of ALS in early 2024.
"I’m eating sushi with my kids, and suddenly I can’t work the chopsticks with my right hand," he wrote in his memoir, according to People. "My hand tingles, and then my fingers feel numb. Some kind of weird nerve thing, I think. I shake it off. I’m probably texting too much. Three weeks later, it happens again, only worse. I can’t grip the chopsticks at all."
The emotional impact of Dane's diagnosis was something the actor also addressed in his own words.
"[Rebecca and I] were married for 14 years, grew apart, filed for divorce, but never got around to signing the papers. We’ve since stayed close, co-parenting, going on vacations as a family, spending time together, and now we talk every day," Dane wrote. "I say to Rebecca on the phone, ‘It’s what we feared.’"
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"I don’t remember a single word I said after that," he recalled. "I remember only feeling a violent impact, like getting the wind knocked out of me, and Rebecca wailing on the other end of the phone, and then I really lose it, and my sobs make my body shudder, and I hear her words pouring out amid her tears, ‘I’m here, we’ll fight this together, I’m not going anywhere.’"
Gayheart and Dane married in Las Vegas on Oct. 29, 2004, and welcomed two daughters, Billie, born in March 2010, and Georgia, born in December 2011. The two shared a love story that lasted more than two decades, despite years of separation.
After his death, Gayheart revealed the moments she misses the most now that Dane is gone.
"After the kids downloaded me on their day, I’d call him and be like, ‘Oh my God, there’s a boy that likes Georgia.’ Or when Billie got her driver’s license, I wanted to call him so badly because that was something he was really excited about," she told People.
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If she could talk to him now, Gayheart said she would want Dane to know how much his strength meant to their family and how deeply he was loved.
"I’d say that I’m proud of him, that we all love him so much, and I hope he really felt that," the "Urban Legend" star said.
As she and their daughters navigate life without Dane, Gayheart said she's determined to honor his legacy by protecting their girls and ensuring their father's memory remains a constant presence in their lives.
"I’m going to look after these girls and protect them with everything in my body and soul. And we’re not going to let people forget him."