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'Jon & Kate Plus 8' reality star's tell-all memoir follows years of abuse allegations
Jon and Kate Gosselin have faced public scrutiny for nearly 20 years after starring on a reality show focused on their unique family dynamic with their twin daughters and sextuplets.
TLC aired "Jon & Kate Plus 8" from 2007-09, when the former couple divorced. One year later, the show was rebranded as "Kate Plus 8," which focused on her life following the split, and ran until 2017.
In the years since the show went off the air, the family have faced a number of controversies. Last month, Collin Gosselin announced a tell-all memoir was in the works detailing years of alleged abuse at the hands of his mother.
Jon and Kate – who have twins Mady and Cara and sextuplets Hannah, Leah, Alexis, Joel, Aaden and Collin — announced their divorce in a broadcast episode of the show.
"Over the course of this weekend, Jon’s activities have left me no choice but to file legal procedures in order to protect myself and our children," Kate said in a statement, according to People.
KATE GOSSELIN CALLED A 'MONSTER' IN SOCIAL MEDIA COMMENTS AFTER SON COLLIN ANNOUNCES MEMOIR
"While there are reasons why it was appropriate and necessary for me to initiate this proceeding, I do not wish to discuss those reasons at this time in the hope that all issues will be resolved amicably between Jon and myself. As always, my first priority remains our children."
In his own statement, Jon said, "This afternoon, Kate filed for divorce. Our kids are still my No. 1 priority. I love them and want to make sure they stay happy, healthy and safe. My job is being the best, most supportive and loving father that I can be to my kids, and not being married to Kate doesn’t change that."
Years later, Collin, 22, admitted he was estranged from his mother, a relationship which was severed after he was allegedly diagnosed with a behavioral disorder and, at 12 years old, Kate sent him to the Fairmount Behavioral Health System — a psychiatric hospital located in Philadelphia.
KATE GOSSELIN ADMITS TO UNHEALTHY COPING MECHANISMS AFTER HER KIDS LEFT FOR COLLEGE
"I was not able, with my own resources here, to meet his needs," Kate said during an episode of "Kate Plus 8." Meanwhile, "Kate Plus 8" continued to air with the seven other children. Jon claimed he didn't know that Collin had been sent to a behavioral institute until he was eating lunch with the kids one day and Collin was absent.
At the time, Kate had full custody of the children and insisted she didn't have to tell Jon where Collin was because of a court order.
Collin claimed that his mother institutionalized him in order to "protect her reputation."
"I didn’t know what was going on," he told Entertainment Tonight about being sent away when he was 12 years old. "I didn’t know where I was going. I told all my family this … That was the most scared I’ve probably ever been in my life."
Collin added, "After being there, I didn't have a relationship with her. Even before [being] there, I don't think we had much of a relationship, and I think that just kept tearing it even more down."
He said that the pressure of his family being on reality television impacted his estrangement from his mother and siblings.
"I want to believe it was because of TV and what being in the public eye does to a family. I think it tore us apart," he told the outlet. "It gave us less time to actually be together as a family [and] more time to be in the public eye."
Collin and Hannah began living with Jon in 2018, where Jon admitted that while Collin went "no contact" with his siblings, Hannah was still speaking with her mother.
"There’s no contact between Collin and his other siblings," he said on the "First Class Fatherhood" podcast. "There’s contact between Hannah and the other siblings. So the problem right now is we have parent alienation and sibling alienation."
Two years ago, Collin told The Sun that his mother had placed him in a "room multiple times" when he was a child and "zip-tied my hands and feet together and bolt locked the door, turned the lights off and had cameras there just watching me."
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Kate's attorney previously denied the abuse allegations against the former reality star.
"She never wants to comment because she always knows that this gets taken out of context," Richard Puleo told Fox News Digital at the time. "She doesn't want to comment. Doesn’t need to. The record speaks for itself."
"The facts belie the truth," he continued. "Whatever took place, the ones that are truthful are the ones that took place … She has no comment because it’s not going to change the past. And I don’t believe she intentionally harmed any of her children in any way, shape or form."
Collin recently revealed his tell-all was set for an October release, and featured an image from his childhood with his mother covering his mouth with her hand.
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"For a long time, I wasn’t sure I’d ever tell this story.
Growing up, millions of people watched my life on television," he wrote.
"People felt like they knew me. They knew my family. They watched me grow up. But there was so much they never saw.
For years, I kept those experiences to myself. Some because I was afraid. Some because I didn’t think anyone would believe me. And some because I just wasn’t ready."
Collin added, "Writing this book forced me to revisit some of the hardest moments of my life, but it also gave me something I’ve been searching for for a long time: my voice.
This isn’t the story people think they know. It’s the story I’ve lived."
TNA Wrestling's KC Navarro 'got back in record time' after knee injury, highlights upcoming Lockdown event
KC Navarro is among the rising talents on the Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA) roster and has been in the championship conversation since he returned from a serious knee injury.
Navarro was out for several months recovering from a torn ACL he suffered last year. He told Fox News Digital in a recent interview he was feeling good and that his match against A.J. Francis was the first time he felt back to his true self.
COMPLETE PRO WRESTLING COVERAGE ON FOX NEWS DIGITAL
"I'm doing great. If you were to ask me when I first came back, I was definitely a little nervous, which everybody kind of told me, hey, when you come back from an ACL your first year, you're going to kind of be like, ‘ah.’ But I think by the time I wrestled A.J. Francis in the street fight was the first time I really felt like myself," he said. "And then when I wrestled (Mustafa) Ali for the international title, I was like, ‘Oh, yeah. I'm definitely back.’ So, the confidence is back. I'm feeling great. I'm doing good.
"Shout out to Hospital for Special Surgery over in New York City. They took care of me. They got me back really quick. I got back in a record time of like eight months or so. Actually, I really got cleared in seven, but I returned to TV in eight. But I'm feeling really good. I'm feeling stronger, and I'm ready to do some amazing things now."
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Navarro has recently challenged for the X Division Championship and the International Championship and while both were in losing efforts, his prowess in the ring has pushed him forward toward a possible TNA World Championship shot against Nic Nemeth.
Nemeth defeated Mike Santana for the TNA world title at Slammiversary. Nemeth has seemingly ended his friendship with Navarro has he took his place at the top of TNA.
A possible match could be on the horizon when Lockdown takes place on Aug. 23 at the Credit Union Arena in Chicago. It will be the first Lockdown in more than 10 years.
"A lot of cage matches," he told Fox News Digital when asked what fans can expect from Lockdown. "It's going to be nuts. I think it's also going to be really cool because it was such a historic match in TNA.
"So, for it to be back, I think is very special and I think it's going to be a lot of people's first time in a cage. I know it's going to be my first time in a cage. I've never been in a cage. I think all the titles are going to be on the line as well, which is also really, really cool. And it's in Chicago, which is such a phenomenal wrestling city. So, I think the place is going to be loud. It's going to be jam-packed and it's going to be definitely must see for sure."
For now, Navarro continues to emerge as a main event player on "Impact."
He shared his reasons for why pro wrestling fans should keep tuning into the show on Thursday nights on AMC.
"Well, I think TNA is special because you got so many talents from so many different generations. You got people that are new, people that have been on the rise, that are up and coming that just never got a chance," Navarro said. "People that were at other places that never got a chance that finally be able to showcase who they really are.
"And then you got legends like the Hardys, Nic Nemth, Frankie Kazarian, guys that have done it and been to the top of their game. And we all get to work together to do such an amazing thing on such an amazing platform. And I feel like we don't really miss when it comes to shows and pay-per-views. I feel like we get new stories, something really fresh, that's not seen. And that's why I really think that people should continue to tune in."
Michigan Dem senator throws support behind candidate to replace him in contentious primary
Retiring Sen. Gary Peters, D-Mich., has abandoned his neutrality in Michigan's high-stakes Democratic Senate primary, backing U.S. Rep. Haley Stevens as party leaders rally to stop progressive rival Abdul El-Sayed from winning the nomination.
Peters, who is retiring after two terms in the Senate, announced the endorsement Monday, saying Stevens "will be ready on day one to fight for Michigan." The move reverses his position from late May, when he told The Associated Press he planned to stay neutral in the Aug. 4 primary.
Democrats are eager to keep the Michigan seat as they try to win back the Senate majority, and many party leaders have lined up behind Stevens, a four-term congresswoman they see as a stronger general election candidate.
Stevens has centered her campaign on manufacturing, jobs and Michigan's auto industry. El-Sayed, a former Michigan health director who has never held elected office, has run on a more progressive platform that includes Medicare for All and campaign finance reform. He has also made the war in Gaza a central issue in his campaign, highlighting a divide that has surfaced within the Democratic Party.
Peters' endorsement comes weeks after State Sen. Mallory McMorrow ended her campaign, leaving Stevens and El-Sayed as the only major Democratic candidates in the race.
"Senator Peters knows what it takes to win in Michigan, and he knows what Michigan needs from our next U.S. Senator: grit, effectiveness, hard work, and Michigan common sense," Stevens said in a statement. "I am honored to have his support."
Peters has won two Senate elections in Michigan and previously chaired the Senate Democrats' campaign committee during the 2022 and 2024 election cycles.
His endorsement follows similar backing for Stevens from Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., Sen. Ruben Gallego, D-Ariz., and Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto, D-Nev. El-Sayed has been endorsed by Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., and Sen. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md.
The campaign has become increasingly personal in recent weeks.
MICHIGAN SENATE HOPEFUL CALLS AIPAC DONATIONS 'LEGALIZED BRIBERY,' REMAINS SILENT ON OTHER DONATIONS
El-Sayed has criticized Stevens over tens of millions of dollars in outside spending supporting her campaign, including money from the American Israel Public Affairs Committee. Stevens has accused El-Sayed of refusing to release his personal financial records. During a July 7 debate, both candidates accused the other of running a negative campaign.
The Democratic nominee will likely face Republican Mike Rogers, a former Michigan congressman who is running unopposed for his party's nomination. It is expected to be among the nation's most expensive and closely watched Senate contests in November.
Michigan has taken on added importance for Democrats after turmoil erupted in another key Senate race in Maine, where Democratic nominee Graham Platner withdrew following a sexual assault allegation. The unexpected vacancy has complicated the party's efforts to challenge Republican Sen. Susan Collins, increasing the pressure to avoid setbacks in other battleground states such as Michigan.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Sophie Cunningham went from UFC 329 Octagon girl to torching the Las Vegas Aces in under 24 hours
Sophie Cunningham had never attended a UFC event before Saturday night. By the end of it, she had worked one.
The Indiana Fever guard made a surprise appearance as an Octagon girl at UFC 329 in Las Vegas, carrying the Round 1 card before the co-main event between Paddy Pimblett and Benoit Saint-Denis.
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Speaking to reporters Sunday, Cunningham explained how the last-minute cameo came together.
"Went to my first live fight last night, which was so cool," Cunningham said. "The whole experience overall was wonderful."
Cunningham said UFC CEO Dana White came over to say hello during the event, and she decided to throw an idea out there.
"Dana came over to say what’s up and I was like, ‘Hey, if you need a ring girl, let me know,’ and he’s like, ‘Alright, first round for the Paddy fight, that’s you,’" she said.
At first, Cunningham thought he was joking.
"I was like, ‘Yeah, hah,’ and he was like, ‘No, seriously,’ and I was like, ‘Oh, God,’" she said. "It was so much fun, though. It was a great environment."
There was no rehearsal, but Cunningham figured the job was simple enough.
"At the end of the day, you pull the card up and you turn left. Hopefully, I could do that," she said. "But the ring girls, actually, the real ones, they were helping me. It was fun. They were like, ‘You have to have a little personality, a little sass to it.’ It was a good time."
CAITLIN CLARK BREAKS WNBA RECORD AS FEVER HUMILIATE DEFENDING CHAMPION ACES IN LAS VEGAS
Personality and sass have never exactly been a problem for Sophie Cunningham.
And White returned the favor Sunday by showing up to the Fever-Aces game wearing a Sophie Cunningham shirt.
He picked a pretty good day to support his newest Octagon girl.
Indiana walloped the defending champion Aces, 109-75, and Cunningham came off the bench to score 20 points on 7-of-9 shooting. She also knocked down six of her seven attempts from beyond the arc, making more 3-pointers by herself than the entire Las Vegas roster.
Not a bad Vegas trip.
AEW star Chris Jericho brings Vietnamese pro wrestling to spotlight, highlighting sport's unifying force
Chris Jericho has stepped up to many challenges in his professional wrestling career, and, in some situations, had the odds stacked against him and succeeded time and time again.
The All Elite Wrestling (AEW) star recently brought a new set of challengers to the spotlight in a documentary he produced called "Vietslam." The film showcases the rise of Vietnam Pro Wrestling (VPW) and how pro wrestling fans from the Asian country were able to get their own company started to unify a population that was starved for the sport.
"Vietslam" follows how pro wrestling fans in the country were able to convince the Vietnamese government to allow the sport to be featured in the country, starting from almost nothing to building a rabid audience that only really watched WWE or AEW on TV.
"On ‘Talk is Jericho,’ I got a random request through an email from a pro wrestling group in Vietnam," Jericho explained to Fox News Digital in a recent interview. "And I'd done a few episodes about wrestling in different parts of the world, like China and the Inuit in northern, northern Canada areas, so I thought it'd be interesting to talk to the guys and when I talked to them, it was a Vietnamese guy called Rocky and a Canadian guy called Carrie who had moved to Vietnam, and they had kind of, against all odds, started a wrestling company. There wasn't wrestling in Vietnam. There wasn't even a wrestling ring in Vietnam and the government didn't even know what wrestling was because they had to get the permits because obviously it's a very strict government there.
"But they went and followed their dreams and followed the heart and followed the passion and started up a wrestling company in Vietnam that ended up becoming fairly successful. And I just thought, how interesting is this, not just from a humanity standpoint of these guys going and following this crazy dream, but also the fact that pro wrestling connects the cultures of the West and the East. We all love wrestling here. We know what it is. Most of the country, Japan and England and Ireland and Scotland, etc., etc., etc., but Vietnam, what even is Vietnam in 2026, you know, because I think we still equate it with the movies that we see about the war of your ‘Platoon’ and ‘Full Metal Jacket’ and those types of things. So, I thought, how interesting is it that pro wrestling is kind of the common denominator between our cultures. That is something that we can see eye to eye on. And that's kind of where the idea came to do a documentary about them."
Jericho said the formation of Vietnam Pro Wrestling and the hard work coupled with the amount of work that it took to even build a ring showcased the unifying aspect of the sport – something that goes way overlooked if anyone only knew about pro wrestling from seeing clips and talking points being debated on social media.
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While pro wrestling has a tendency to be tribalistic online, logging off for a bit could do a lot of people justice. "Vietslam" showed how the good-willed nature of people can bring people together, capitalizing on a kernel of an idea and turning it into something that everyone can connect with.
"But I kind of find that though, Ryan, is when you get off of social media, you realize that most fans aren't like that. Those are just the vocal minority that want to be tribalistic and want to be negative about everything and you can't really go on that," Jericho said. "So, I mean, yeah, once again, I'm sure there's people in Vietnam that that hate VPW and say, ‘This is nothing like American wrestling, this sucks,’ and it's like they have no idea the amount of hard work these guys put into even putting on a show. And it's the same for anybody. Anybody that's ever stepped in the ring, it's very hard to get in the ring and wrestle. It really is. The other night, once again, never mind the cut, but 102 degrees outside. I mean, anybody that's bitching about anything about wrestling, go do that and see how much you b----ing, right?
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"So, I that doesn't bother me. I just think what it really showed me and you know, this is a wrestling story, but it's so much more than that. It's really about the human desire to do great things and the fire that we all have inside to make something happen and going up going up against the government, man. I mean, this is not the United States where you and I can just, hey, let's put on a show tomorrow night. We rent an arena, we do it. It’s not like that there, It's a very strict socialist almost communist government in a lot of ways and you're not allowed to just do whatever you want."
Jericho explained that those involved with Vietnam Pro Wrestling had to convince the Vietnamese government that pro wrestling was more like a dance routine rather than a combat sport like MMA.
"So, they had to convince the government that what they were doing was a show, like a dance routine," he said. "So, if we can go to a dance studio where they do dance routines to put on a show, we should be able to have our own show because we're just doing a performance. And they're like, ‘Oh, OK. So, you're not actually going to, you know, you're not actually going to hurt each other.’ It's like, ‘Well, no, it's a show.’ And once the government understood that, they allowed them to do it.
"But I mean, these are just normal people going up against the government of Vietnam to get a permit to put on a wrestling show. That's pretty intricate, deep stuff that took a lot of time to make happen. So, all of these things was one of the reasons or all contributed to the reasons why I wanted to do this documentary because I just felt it was a great story to tell on so many different aspects."
Jericho added that to have some influence over the pro wrestling scene in the Asian country meant a lot to him and he was able to surprise some of the wrestlers and the fans involved with the promotion for one show.
"Yeah, it means a lot. When you hear World Wrestling Entertainment, WWE, and working there for so long, it really does go around the world," he told Fox News Digital. "And now with AEW as well, we're in 100 countries, too. So, you can just see that people watch and especially now, I mean, they can watch you on YouTube, they can watch you on Netflix or on this platform or that platform. It's not as hard to see. You don't have to wait ‘til Sunday night at 8 o’clock on your local channel to watch, but you can do that as well. So, it really, it really was humbling, I guess you'd say, and surreal when I did go to Vietnam and surprise Rocky and the rest of the wrestlers that were there, they went nuts. Like, they literally went nuts. It'd be like if, I don't know, if Mick Jagger walked through the door right now, you'd be like, what? They couldn't believe it because their dream had come true. And that's not just to meet me, but I kind of represented, I think, what WWE meant to them in that here comes Chris Jericho.
"And there were a lot of big Chris Jericho fans, too, but also the dream of pro wrestling. Like, we have now gotten enough of a name to where one of our heroes is here standing in front of us watching us wrestle. And that's a pretty cool feeling. They knew that there was a documentary being made, but they didn't know that I was there. And when we surprised them with that fact and then surprised the fans with that fact later on in the evening, it just kind of showed once again how universal pro wrestling is. It's not about a country. It's about a feeling and about a camaraderie that that we have as wrestling fans. It doesn't matter where you're from, you mentioned earlier what style, doesn't matter what style it is, doesn't matter what country it's in, pro wrestling is pro wrestling. And you can do it in a field in Africa, which we've seen. You can do it on dance mats in Vietnam, or you can do it in a stadium in the United States. But it all equates to the same thing of just loving the business and having this passion for it."
"Vietslam" will be released on Tuesday on Prime Video, Fandango, Hoopla and Local Now and Aug. 6 on Tubi.
What to know about the heart condition tied to Lindsey Graham's death and more top headlines
1. What to know about the condition tied to Lindsey Graham's death
2. Trump orders additional US strikes on Iran near Strait of Hormuz
3. Sam Neill, star of Jurassic Park, dies at age 78Â
HELL ON WHEELS — State trooper killed as fatal truck crashes expose licensing system concerns. Continue reading …
HEROIC CROWD — Naked man tried to kidnap 7-year-old from mother, stopped by bystanders during delayed police response: cops. Continue reading …
ON THE MEND — McConnell finally breaks silence and reveals what really put him in the hospital. Continue reading …
'HELD ME DOWN' — SJSU sends shocking response to request for docs on trans scandal coach's allegations. Continue reading …
CULTURE DIVIDE — Caitlin Clark controversy gets new layer as other White player faces different standard. Continue reading …
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NO 'MINOR THING' — Exposed docs reveal why Tim Walz board awarded repeat child rapist pardon: ‘No future’. Continue reading …
LEFTIST INSURRECTION — Meet the far-left insurgents waging war on the Democratic establishment in 2026 midterms. Continue reading …
ECONOMIC ALARM — Steve Forbes backs Trump's Mt. Rushmore warning on communism: 'He's right'. Continue reading …
POLITICAL BONDS — From 'disgrace' to 'family': Trump's remarkable journey with Lindsey Graham. Continue reading …
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ON THE RECORD — Michigan Senate hopeful Abdul El-Sayed fires back at CNN choosing to 'fixate' on 'defund the police' comments. Continue reading …
MEA CULPA — Ro Khanna regrets his past support of Graham Platner after latest sexual assault allegation. Continue reading …
ACCESS GRANTED — Trump accepts Jake Tapper interview invite, tells anchor he's trying to move CNN onto a ‘normal path’. Continue reading …
IDENTITY CRISIS — Dana White lights up UFC production staff for misidentifying boxing star Shakur Stevenson as an NBA player. Continue reading …
LISA DAFTARI — Lindsey Graham understood America's role in the world — and why it matters. Continue reading …
JONATHAN TURLEY — James Talarico cites 'well regulated' to defend gun control but leaves out a key word. Continue reading …
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MANNERS MATTER — Restaurant owner says dining room is 'not a playground' as etiquette experts weigh in on viral debate. Continue reading …
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INDY HEATS UP — Caitlin Clark breaks WNBA record as Fever humiliate defending champion Aces in Las Vegas. Continue reading …
AMERICAN CULTURE QUIZ – Test yourself on World Cup wins and burger breakthroughs. Take the quiz here …
Tune in as Washington mourns the sudden passing of South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham. Check it out ...
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Senate returns to packed agenda after Graham's death shrinks GOP margin
Nominations, renewed fighting in Iran, government funding and President Donald Trump's flagship election bill await the Senate as it returns this week.
The upper chamber is coming back after a more than two-week hiatus to sprint through the remainder of July and march into the first week of August. And priorities have piled up, be it over divisions between the aisles or within the Senate GOP.
Adding to the uphill climb is the sudden death of Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., meaning that Republicans will be down one key vote in their push to move Trump's agenda.Â
Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., will be put to the task of keeping his conference together, while Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and Democrats are likely to look for any fractures they can in the GOP’s unity to slow down Trump’s agenda.
TRUMP HOLDS WASHINGTON HOSTAGE OVER SAVE ACT AS MIDTERM CLOCK TICKS ON GOP CONTROL
But Trump has done his part to derail some aspects of his own agenda, much of it over his determination to force Republicans to pass his flagship election integrity legislation, the Safeguarding American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) America Act.
He already refused to sign a massive, bipartisan housing package in protest of the stalled legislation and now wants the GOP to attach the SAVE America Act to the perennial, must-pass National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which needs Democratic votes to pass. Adding the voter bill to the military funding authorization package would all but guarantee no Democrats would support it.
Republicans hope to begin the process on the NDAA in July and fear that trying to attach the SAVE America Act would just hand Schumer and Democrats leverage.
"We really empower the Democrats to have a reason to be able to stop stuff that otherwise they would probably have to vote for, whether it's the NDAA, whether it's an appropriations bill or whatever," Sen. Mike Rounds, R-S.D., told Fox News Digital.
TRUMP REFUSES TO SIGN BIPARTISAN HOUSING BILL IN PROTEST OVER SAVE ACT
"They found that this can be an Achilles heel for Republicans because, as soon as we attach it to any kind of bill, they know the votes aren't there because, at a 60-vote margin, they'll never get us the votes because they know how important it is to us," he continued.
One key priority left over from before Republicans left town is replacing acting Director of National Intelligence (DNI) Bill Pulte, whose appointment by Trump in June blew up Congress’ push to reauthorize one of the nation’s key anti-terrorism tools over calls from both sides of the aisle that he was unqualified for the position.
His replacement, Jay Clayton, will appear for his confirmation hearing before the Senate Intelligence Committee on Wednesday, weeks after Trump yanked his initial hearing and further threw into doubt lawmakers’ ability to reauthorize Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA).
Another Trump pick, acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, will also have his confirmation hearing this week. Blanche, like any nominee, made the rounds with lawmakers before the recess explaining his role in the president’s now-defunct anti-weaponization fund. Whether he survives the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing remains in the air, given some Republicans are skeptical of him. Among those is Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., who, for now, appears willing to support Blanche.
SENATE PUSH TO REAUTHORIZE NATION’S SPY POWERS STUMBLES OVER CONTROVERSIAL TRUMP DECISION
"I’m going to go through the nomination process. I have got a positive predisposition toward Blanche," Tillis told CNN.
Republicans are also eager to begin the government funding process and put to the test their fears that Democrats will again shut down the government for a political edge.
Rounds, a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, told Fox News Digital that he expected a handful of spending bills to make their way to the Senate floor during the July sprint.
Senate Democrats have told him they want to fund the government through appropriations, but fear that the Trump administration may withhold funding on some of their priorities. Whether they actually give Republicans the votes to pass the funding bills remains in the air.
"If they don't do that, then we'll know pretty well that the political side of the discussion is taking a priority for them," Rounds said. "And then we just as well start negotiating for a continuing resolution to get through the election and let the chips fall."
Another issue that could cause Democratic support for legislation to evaporate is the administration’s renewed strikes in Iran, which began last week over frustrations with ships being stymied by Iran in the Strait of Hormuz.
Several lawmakers on both sides of the aisle disliked Trump’s temporary agreement with Iran to continue negotiating a longer-lasting peace over the next two months, but welcomed the pause in fighting that came with it.
Trump nixed that last week.
"The Islamic Republic of Iran has asked us to continue ‘talks,’" he said on Truth Social. "We have agreed to do so, but the United States has stated to them, in no uncertain terms, that the Cease Fire is OVER!"
That will likely once again stoke Democrats’ continued push to rein in his war authorities in the region with even more votes on war powers resolutions in the coming weeks.
Lawmakers successfully passed a non-binding resolution to curb his authority in Iran, but fell short of pushing a full-blown war powers resolution to Trump’s desk.
"Congress voted against more war with Iran," Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., told Fox News Digital in a statement. "The U.S. should not be launching new strikes without congressional authorization and restarting a war that has raised gas prices, killed Americans, and hurt the economy. The U.S. and Iran must return to a ceasefire."
Forget politics. This is what I found helping Venezuelan quake victims
Before I traveled to Venezuela to help with earthquake relief, I carried certain expectations with me. I went to help with Operation Blessing, the humanitarian organization I'm privileged to lead. Like a lot of Americans, most of what I knew about Venezuela came from headlines.
Years of stories about political turmoil, economic collapse and government dysfunction had quietly shaped the picture in my mind. I expected to find a country running on "empty." I expected suspicion and a harsh welcome. What I actually found was something else entirely.
I found one of the most beautiful countries I've ever set foot in. And more than that, I found some of the most resilient, generous people I've ever had the privilege of meeting. In community after community, I watched neighbors care for neighbors while having almost nothing themselves.
US MILITARY DEPLOYS MTVRS, AIRLIFTS AID TO VENEZUELA FOLLOWING DEADLY EARTHQUAKES
Taxi drivers drove 10 hours just to volunteer on search-and-rescue teams at ground zero. Families who had lost their own homes showed up to help clear the rubble from someone else's. Churches threw open their doors, and their volunteers worked until 2 a.m. to hand out emergency supplies and tens of thousands of hot meals that we prepared in an industrial kitchen that we’d taken ownership over.
The first responders there weren't all outsiders; the vast majority were Venezuelans.
Watching all of this unfold forced me to sit with something harder. Before our team ever deployed, I heard from people who questioned whether Americans should help Venezuela at all, given its politics.
US UPDATES TRAVEL WARNING FOR QUAKE-HIT NATION, CITING DISASTER RISKS AND VIOLENT CRIME
Some suggested the government had brought these troubles on itself. Others simply couldn't untangle the humanitarian crisis from the political headlines. I understand those concerns, I do. But having stood among families who had lost everything, I can tell you with certainty that we have to separate politics from people.Â
The children sleeping outside because their homes collapsed didn't create their country's political problems. The parents combing through debris for family photographs aren't responsible for government policy. The volunteers giving up their own time to help strangers aren't asking anyone to endorse a political system. They're simply asking for compassion.
History is full of moments when Americans have extended a hand to people living under governments very different from our own. We've fed the hungry, cared for the sick and answered the call after disaster, because that's who we are, not because we approved of every government involved. Humanitarian aid has always been about people first. That's exactly what I witnessed in Venezuela.
What surprised me most wasn't the destruction, or even the resilience. It was the warmth. Everywhere we went, people thanked us for coming. They expressed a genuine affection for Americans. They had no interest in politics. They were simply grateful that someone cared enough to stand beside them in one of the darkest moments of their lives.
BOY, 2, PULLED ALIVE FROM RUBBLE SIX DAYS AFTER VENEZUELA'S DEVASTATING TWIN EARTHQUAKES
It reminded me that ordinary people around the world have far more in common than the nightly news would ever suggest. They love their children. They worry about their families. They celebrate with neighbors. They grieve together after tragedy. And when disaster strikes, so many of them instinctively reach out to help one another, even when they've suffered tremendous loss themselves.
I left Venezuela with a very different perspective than the one I brought with me. The headlines had prepared me to see a political story. What I found instead was a human one.
One conversation has stayed with me since I came home. I learned that some Venezuelans are still displaced from the 1999 Vargas tragedy, one of the deadliest natural disasters in the country's history. More than a quarter-century later, the effects of that catastrophe are still shaping lives today.
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It was a sobering reminder that while disasters make headlines for a few days or weeks, recovery is measured in years, sometimes in generations. The families hit by this latest earthquake are staring down that same long road. Once the cameras leave and the world's attention moves on, they'll still need safe places to live, schools to reopen, jobs to return and communities to rebuild.
We can't solve every challenge facing Venezuela. But we can decide not to forget its people. Whether you choose to volunteer, support your church's relief efforts, or give to a trusted humanitarian organization, your compassion can help make sure this tragedy doesn't become another forgotten chapter in a family's story.
Governments may divide us. Human suffering shouldn't. The people I met in Venezuela reminded me that hope is built one act of kindness at a time. And it's my prayer that we'll keep showing up for them long after the headlines fade.
Ancient gold ring unearthed at grave carries 2,000-year-old secret message
Archaeologists recently uncovered two gold rings at an ancient burial site in Thailand — one of them engraved with an intriguing message that dates back 2,000 years.
The rings were found at the Don Yai Thong archaeological site in the Phetchaburi Province in late June, The Associated Press reported.
Thailand's Fine Arts Department said the rings were buried alongside human bones.
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Located in western Thailand, Don Yai Thong is about 80 miles southwest of Bangkok and was only recently identified as an archaeological site.
Residents found fragments of ancient bronze drums in a rice field earlier this year, prompting archaeologists to excavate the site.
A picture of one ring shows a short inscription etched into its oval face, which experts believe is written in the ancient Indian Brahmi script.
Experts believe the script reads "pusarakhitasa," meaning "the one protected by Pushya."
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Pushya is a lunar constellation in ancient Indian astronomy long associated with good fortune and protection, suggesting the inscription may have been intended as a blessing.
The other gold ring is similarly well-preserved, but does not have any pattern.
Experts believe the rings' owner may have belonged to the Vaishya class, which was traditionally associated with merchants and traders in ancient India's caste system.
The rings are among a host of discoveries at the site, including eight human skeletons, bronze and gold jewelry, pottery and other artifacts.
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The grave goods suggest the deceased were members of society's upper class.
Research at the archaeological site will continue, officials said, and the excavation is expected to wrap up some time in July.
Eventually, the artifacts will be put on public display, the AP reported.
The discovery follows other archaeological excavations that have uncovered ancient gold treasures across the world.
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In February, Panamanian officials announced archaeologists had unearthed a more than 1,000-year-old tomb filled with gold artifacts, finely crafted ceramics and other funerary offerings at the El Caño archaeological site.
In May, Egyptian archaeologists uncovered a cache of ancient artifacts at the biblical city of Heliopolis, also known as On.
The Associated Press contributed reporting.
Apple and Google suppressed negative Graham Platner stories for months on their news platform, study finds
FIRST ON FOX — Apple and Google spent months suppressing negative news stories about the scandal-plagued Maine Democratic Senate candidate Graham Platner prior to his recent downfall, according to a new study obtained by Fox News Digital.
The Media Research Center (MRC), a conservative watchdog group, found that Apple News and Google News published zero stories between November of last year and May of this year about the various controversies that muddied Platner's Senate bid, including headlines about his Nazi tattoo and his offensive Reddit posts.
The MRC study said the blackout in coverage began after a poll released in late October suggested Platner was the most formidable Democrat to unseat Maine's incumbent Republican Sen. Susan Collins and that the blackout ended following The New York Times' May 30 report about Platner's sexting controversy.
According to the study, Apple News and Google News failed to promote "at least 112" news stories published by conservative-leaning outlets that scrutinized Platner during that November-May period.
MRC President David Bozell accused the tech platforms of having run a "protection racket" for Platner.
"For months, while Platner looked like the one Democrat who could beat Susan Collins, the two most powerful news apps in America buried scandal after scandal," Bozell said. "Then the polls turned, Platner became a liability, and suddenly the blackout ended. News judgment had nothing to do with it."
"Millions of smartphone users were denied the truth while Platner was politically useful and finally allowed to see it once he wasn’t," Bozell added.
NEW YORK TIMES UNDER SCRUTINY OVER GRAHAM PLATNER COVERAGE AS ACCUSERS SPEAK OUT AGAINST PAPER
Google firmly pushed back, suggesting the study "mistakes volume of news for bias" while dismissing the methodology and providing a link to "facts" about Google News.Â
"These claims are totally false and based on a completely flawed methodology. The study checked Google News once a day from a single account, ignoring the fact that Google News automatically updates throughout the day, and shows news personalized to your interests and location. You can also easily select sources you want to see more often in News and Search," a Google spokesperson told Fox News Digital.Â
Apple did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment.
Platner officially withdrew from the race on Friday after two of his exes came forward with sexual misconduct allegations against him, all of which he has firmly denied.
GRAHAM PLATNER'S MOST PROMINENT PRESS ALLIES ABANDON HIM AS RAPE ALLEGATION ROCKS MAINE SENATE RACE
Jennifer Racicot alleged in an interview with Politico that in 2021, Platner drunkenly entered her home uninvited and sexually assaulted her. Lyndsey Fifield claimed in an interview with The Washington Post that during her relationship with Platner between 2013–2015, he repeatedly removed his condom during sex without her knowledge nor consent, an action known as stealthing, which has been made illegal in multiple states.
Fifield previously alleged physical abuse from Platner, including an instance where he once "twisted her arm behind her back, shoved her into a bedroom and held the door closed from the other side so she couldn’t get out," according to an interview with the Times.
Despite all the controversies that have mounted over the past several months, it wasn't until after Racicot's interview with Politico that Democrats began pulling their support from Platner.
Platner, who overwhelmingly won the Democratic primary last month, said he plans to formally withdraw his name from the ballot on Monday, giving Maine Democrats a chance to replace him in hopes of defeating Collins in November.