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Madison Beer gets new skin while Justin Herbert sinks to 0-2, Aaron Rodgers' ex lashes out & NFL or college?
'Nightcaps' is a daily column that catches you up on the biggest sports, news and culture stories you may have missed while pretending to do work at your desk. It runs Monday-Friday on OutKick.com.
Over the hump and safely onto the other side of the week. Our long, 72-hour nightmare without football is over. Thank goodness.
Thursday night football tonight. College games tonight, tomorrow and Saturday. NFL back at it on Sunday.
We've also got the Presidents Cup starting today, although nobody really cares about this one, and the final weekend of MLB regular season baseball. That's right.
TEAM USA GOLFERS WELCOME TRUMP’S EXPECTED PRESIDENTS CUP VISIT, SHARE PRIDE IN REPRESENTING AMERICA
The MLB playoffs start in less than a week. Red Sox-Yankees in the Bronx for a 3-game Wild Card series? How lucky are we?
Best time of year, folks. Let's dig in.
Welcome to a Thursday Nightcaps — the one where Justin Herbert's fiancee, Madison Beer, gets some new skin while Justin tries to figure out how to beat the Bills in Buffalo on Sunday.
You'll see.
AARON RODGERS’ FAMOUS EXES FROM SHAILENE WOODLEY TO THE ROMANCE THAT SENT HIM INTO A 'TAILSPIN'
What else? I've got another one of Aaron Rodgers' ex-girlfriends stuffing him in a locker, some old reader mail from last weekend that I need to clear out, and I fear the new John Madden movie may just be the worst movie of all time.
The trailer dropped today, and folks — it's a humdinger. I thought it was fake.
It was not.
OK, grab you a controller and some pizza rolls, and settle in for a Thursday 'Cap!
Look, it's slow out there today. It's weird, given the time of year we're in, but it's just a slow news day. So, we're gonna keep this class short and to the point, because A) there's football on in a few hours, and B) I have a new water pump to install so I can use the toilet without dumping a gallon of water in the back each time.
Yep. I woke up this morning to the absolute worst noise of all time ... silence.
I went to take my morning pee, flushed, started to walk away, and then stopped. I didn't hear anything. No refilling. No noise from the back. No slow leak that's been annoying me for a year now.
Just silence.
I went to fill up the coffee maker ... and nothing came out. The worst feeling in the world. I went outside, checked on the water tanks, and the silence was equally deafening. The pump, which started to fade back in May, had finally breathed its last breathe.
So, our house has been water-less all day. I've got a new one en route as we speak. Until then, if it's yellow, let it mellow!
OK, let's use some virtual water and cleanse ourselves with Madison Beer becoming a new video game character while Justin Herbert tries to simply get a win:
Just a tough scene here for Justin Herbert. The Chargers have been horrendous through two games this season, and that's coming from a miserable Dolphins fan.
Herbert has been awful. Mike McDaniel's offense has been awful. And now, they get to go to Buffalo and face the best team in the NFL.
Meanwhile, Herbert's new fiancee is out there modeling her tail off, and getting featured in a video game.
Yes, for those who don't know (all of you, I assume), a Fortnite "skin" is basically just what your character can look like in the game. So, essentially, gamers can shoot people as a bikini-clad Madison Beer for the next few weeks ... if you're into that sort of thing.
Different worlds.
OK, let's keep this train rolling and check in on this new John Madden movie. The final trailer dropped today ahead of the release in a few weeks, and I've gotta say ...
I think this one is in big trouble:
It's just bad, right? This has nothing to do with Nicholas Cage, by the way. I love Nick. I think he's great. The two National Treasure movies are my childhood. PEAK cinema.
But the Madden voice is horrible. Truly horrible. And what is Shane Gillis doing here? Why is he in this? Is it supposed to be a comedy? I was so confused.
Maybe it'll be good. It won't be, but maybe!
OK, let's rapid-fire this Thursday class into a big night of football (and hopefully water!). First up? Remember earlier this month when Aaron Rodgers called out most of his exes, including Danica Patrick?
Well, another former lover — Milwaukee Bucks Heiress Mallory Edens — has decided to clap back:
"My ex is currently on a press tour talking about how he never loved anyone he dated after 2017. Unfortunately for him, I am also on a press tour, for a movie inspired by how down bad I was. Really exciting time for competing narratives!!"
Get him, Mal! Rodgers and Eden dated, briefly, back in 2022. It never really evolved into anything serious, but apparently, it left enough of a mark for Mallory to clap back at Aaron four years later.
For those who missed it, here's what Rodgers said earlier this month:
"No one cares what they have to say until they say my name. I dated two women who nobody gives a f--- about unless they drop my name — and they like to say their version of the history of what actually happened."
Rodgers never mentioned Mallory Edens, but he surely name-dropped Danica, calling her "depressed" and saying she had no interest in having sex.
Seems like Mallory got off easy, if you ask me!
Next? Let's empty the mailbox on the way out.
On Monday, I asked a simple question: Which do you prefer? NFL or college? It all stemmed from last weekend's Saturday-Sunday slate, which I thought was clearly dominated by college football.
From Jim A:
"I speak from experience. College over NFL any day, any time.
We had Browns season tickets from 1980-2024, and Buckeyes season tickets from 1987-2009. Over those years, I missed maybe six Ohio State home games and probably 20 Browns games. Both teams had ups and downs (mostly downs for the Browns) but Ohio State was always a much better, and much more fun atmosphere. I can say the same after having been to games at Ann Arbor, South Bend, and East Lansing.
College offers more excitement, more pageantry, more history, more fun, and fewer bitter people (granted, Browns fans have every right to be bitter). I could easily sit on my couch starting at 9A for GameDay, and not leave the house until the west coast games were over after midnight. Sunday? I’d rather blow leaves or go to the grocery store."
And, from Gary B:
"College football is better then the NFL mainly because of the rabid fan base and loud stadiums. It doesn't matter if the game means nothing. Ohio State/ Michigan, Alabama/Auburn the stadium is packed and loud. There are states that don't have an NFL team but they all have college teams. It's football on a more personal level."
Yeah, I think I have to agree with both Jim and Gary here. I don't imagine this weekend's slate of games is gonna change my mind much, either.
Have you SEEN Saturday's slate of SEC football games? Lordy. What a wonderful time of year.
OK, that's it for today. Good work, everyone. Good class. I have a water pump to go install.
On the way out, here's another reason the NFL is inferior to college football ...
Absolutely pathetic. What are we doing here?
See you tomorrow.
Trump FDA pick repeatedly sidesteps Sanders' universal healthcare demands in heated clash
Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., repeatedly pressed President Donald Trump's pick to lead the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to endorse universal healthcare as a "human right" Thursday, growing frustrated as the nominee declined to give him the yes-or-no answer he sought.
Dr. Heidi Overton, a physician who completed her residency at Johns Hopkins in Baltimore before joining the America First Policy Institute, faced off with the Vermont independent as she seeks to replace Dr. Marty Makary, who resigned earlier this year amid disagreement with the Trump administration over flavored vapes.
"Do you happen to believe that healthcare is a human right that should be available to every man, woman and child in our country?" Sanders pressed, arguing that the U.S. is the only major country not to guarantee healthcare and that thousands die because of a lack of access and affordability.
TRUMP TO NOMINATE DR HEIDI OVERTON AS NEXT FDA COMMISSIONER
Overton replied that access to healthcare is important and said she looks forward to carrying out policies and responsibilities "vested from Congress" to the FDA.
Sanders said Overton was not answering his question and tried again.
"I live 50 miles away from the Canadian border," said Sanders, who hails from Burlington. "Somehow, everybody in that country can go to a doctor."
Overton said she understands the importance of access to care and believes in getting patients the "best care possible."
Sanders then moved on, saying he was running out of time.
He then pressed Overton on whether President Donald Trump was truthful when he said the U.S. had gone from paying the world's highest prescription drug prices to the lowest.
IF TRUMP WANTS TO LOWER DRUG PRICES, HIS OBVIOUS FREE-RIDING TARGETS ARE OUTSIDE THE US
The nominee replied that 89% of branded drugs are covered by agreements to lower prices for U.S. consumers.
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"The most-favored nation policies have dropped prices and, right now, CPI says that for the first time in 60 years, prescription drug prices have gone down by 3%," Overton said, citing a framework championed by Trump. Sanders disputed what led to the decline.
"Yeah, which may have something to do with the legislation that we passed several years ago," he said.
The broader debate over Medicare-for-all and other government-run healthcare proposals is also playing out ahead of November’s midterm elections.
Lindsey Vonn hard launches new relationship in her bikini, Tinder date ghosted abroad & dating after marriage
It's the final Thursday of September, somehow, and there's love in the air everywhere you turn. Is it the dip in temperature that the arrival of fall has brought to some and promises to bring to others?
That could account for some of it, but not all. We're getting this week's True Romance started with the hard launch of Lindsey Vonn's new relationship.
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The Olympic gold medalist didn’t do so bundled up in a sweater.
Like the professional that she is, the 41-year-old used a summer recap complete with her in a bikini to reveal that she has a special someone.
Ladies and gentlemen, this is how it's done.
So who is this special someone?
He's fellow skier Matthieu Bailet, reports People. The 30-year-old is a French World Cup alpine ski racer who was rumored to be getting to know Vonn back in May.
I'd say, by the looks of things and the ever important Instagram official label that can now be handed out, that they've gotten to know one another.
That's getting fall off on the right foot if you ask me.
Go follow True Romance on Twitter and Facebook and keep sending your emails here: sean.joseph@outkick.com (anonymously if you prefer).
Now it can't all be skimpy bikinis, hands on waists, and posing for the important kissing picture that's going to let everyone know you're an item. That's not how real life works.
Sometimes you're a content creator who moves to a party island with your boyfriend hoping to find romance, and it doesn’t quite work out according to the plan. Sometimes you swing and keep missing.
That's the case for Jade Vow, 27, who showed up with her open relationship to Ayia Napa, Cyprus. The move has been a disappointment for her and her 40-year-old boyfriend.
"When we first moved here, we had quite high hopes because it’s a party area with lots of tourists coming and going. We thought it would be perfect for our style of dating but it’s such a small island, and news travels fast so it’s not been quite what we expected," she said, reports The Sun.
"The holidaymakers who come to this part of the island are not the kind of people I want to talk to. We get a certain type of Brit – the freshly turned 18-year-olds who are messy, drunk and disrespectful."
Could Jade get some action from those messy drunks? Of course. But that's not why she came to the island. She wants to be swept off her feet by someone random at a club. That's what she's after.
"Ideally, the hottest outcome would be going out, finding a random person in a club and bringing them home. That’s what we’re aiming for," she said.
"There still has to be attraction. Being in an open relationship doesn’t mean I’m fair game or that I’ll sleep with anyone."
That doesn't seem to be what the locals are all about. They're out on boring quests looking for marriage material.
I say never give up. There has to be that special random person out there at the club looking for someone to take them home. That person is out there for everyone. You have to keep searching.
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We came in extremely hot with that Lindsey Vonn news. I don't want to go back-to-back with stories of romance that hasn’t worked out yet, but this isn't about me. I have to do my best to level this out.
So that takes us to a passionate woman who the NY Post says is "haunted by the ghost of her romantic past."
That ghost is in the form of a guy she met on a dating app. She thought after a few days in bed with him that she might have met the one. He, it turns out, didn’t see the same in her.
The British man she met on Tinder and then in person in San Francisco, where she fell for him, ended up ghosting her after she flew out to London hoping to spend several weeks in Europe with him.
"I was crying, gutted. I planned this six-week European trip, and he was certainly the inspiration for it, but it was such a waste of money," the 37-year-old professional personal assistant told The Post.
"I booked all these honeymoon-style, non-refundable Airbnbs—one on a hillside in Florence, Italy, another on a beach in Greece. I booked flights. I bought train tickets This was the last sliver of hope I had left from being a little girl. I thought I was finally getting my big, magical romance."
That's not what ended up taking place. Her "Tinder Romeo" welcomed her to his apartment in London, then left her there. He apparently had other plans that didn’t involve spending time with her.
That left her, as it would have anyone, wondering if she'd ever find love. If this guy on Tinder who lives in another country isn't who she was supposed to be with, how is anyone the person she's supposed to be with?
She's still on dating apps, good for her, but has a new outlook. An outlook one would hope didn’t turn a few days spent with a Tinder date into a magical European vacation of romance.
Honestly, that could have been anyone of us. We could have just as easily been swept up in the moment. I don't fault her for that part of it. The planning out the rest of their lives together was perhaps a bit much.
She's in a good spot if you ask me. She's full of doubt about finding love. She was ghosted by a Tinder date abroad. Now's the time in those terrible made-for-TV movies that she's going to find Mr. Right.
She's not interested. She'll initially resist before realizing he's not going to do what this guy on a dating app once did to her. So, he's not from London and it isn't as magical as she expected. It will work. He'll make it work.
You're married. You're not planning to ever have to date again, but what if you do find yourself on the free agent market? What's an immediate dealbreaker?
It's fascinating to me to see some of these dealbreakers. Are not being enthusiastically affectionate and lying by omission really dealbreakers?
Come on. I suppose you also want someone who is financially responsible too? And pulls their own weight in the household. These are the dealbreakers of those who would prefer to die alone.
Sean,
Terri Gibbs - Somebody's knockin'
Thanks!
Brad S
-------------
That's it. A solid way to end September. We lifted up right at the last minute and avoided catastrophe. That's how we roll each and every week.
Keep those song of the week suggestions coming and anything else you want to send my way.
As always, you can reach me, anonymously if you prefer, at sean.joseph@outkick.com. Go follow along on Twitter and Facebook.
Donald Trump adds political stakes, anticipation and potential sideline chaos to Texas-Tennessee showdown
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — There was already enough anticipation surrounding the upcoming showdown between No. 1 Texas and No. 14 Tennessee at Neyland Stadium this weekend.
Now, with President Donald Trump planning to attend Saturday’s high-stakes SEC matchup, both teams will have to prepare for circumstances beyond their control.
This will be Trump’s third college football game in the past two years. He attended the 2026 College Football Playoff National Championship between Miami and Indiana, as well as the 2024 matchup between Georgia and Alabama in Tuscaloosa while campaigning for re-election.
TRUMP TO ATTEND TEXAS VS TENNESSEE IN HIGH-STAKES COLLEGE FOOTBALL SHOWDOWN
On Saturday, the president will most likely come down a popular highway after landing at Tyson McGhee Airport in Knoxville, then make his way to Neyland Stadium, creating a chaotic experience for fans trying to enter the game for this premier matchup.
Yes, there will be a lot of traffic, with the University of Tennessee police department already issuing a warning to fans that they should expect heavy delays while getting onto campus.
Also, in an effort to speed up the process of getting into the actual stadium, the school has announced that gates will open an hour early in hopes of getting everyone to their seats in time for kickoff.
On Friday afternoon, the Secret Service will take control of Neyland Stadium in preparation for Trump's arrival.
What I will say, for those that are curious about the whole process, is just enjoy the madness that is coming. I don't care which side of the aisle you are on, it's not everyday that the President of the United States is attending the same football game as you.
There will also surely be an Air Force One flyover around Neyland Stadium at some point.
And sure, there will be folks at home who laugh about the pictures coming from Tennessee's campus that show a large bottleneck of traffic outside the stadium. But, once again, having been a part of three college football games with the president in attendance, it's not as bad as some want to make it out to be from a congestion standpoint.
As for the teams involved, there is one minor detail that could cause a few problems during the game.
When asked on Thursday about any type of effects that will be presented when Donald Trump is inside Neyland Stadium on Saturday afternoon, Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian pointed out one minor inconvenience.
"Anytime the president changes locations within the stadium, they cut all communication. They cut your headsets in terms of coach to player communication. So you have to plan for that," Sarkisian noted.
Yes, this is actually a thing.
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During the 2026 CFP title game between Indiana and Miami, there were a few instances where communication was scrambled, with more of a white noise coming through the headsets along both sidelines.
No, this wasn’t a major ordeal during the game, with both teams adapting during the moments in which communication ceased for a few seconds, but the concern is still valid.
Either way, both Tennessee and Texas will adapt, and it shouldn’t be an issue that forces a coach to call a timeout.
Well, if he arrives after kickoff like was the case during the 2024 Alabama versus Georgia game, that won't be the case.
But, ESPN is moving its show to the field of Neyland Stadium during their final hour on Saturday.
Now, with the 'Protect College Sports Act' passing all procedural votes on Thursday, it's looking as though the bill will be voted on by Monday. There is still a small chance it is taken up for a vote on Friday, but it's looking more like this will take place after the weekend.
Seeing that the President has played a big part in getting this off the ground, with Senators Ted Cruz and Maria Cantwell leading the bipartisan bill, I would have to imagine there will be some sort of conversation had with the network.
If not, potentially an interview that takes place during the game itself is not out of the question.
The President isn’t showing up for this highly-anticipated game just to enjoy college football, even though he does love the sport.
This is the perfect time for those pushing this legislation to pass through the Senate and onto the House to get the final endorsement from the President.
It was already going to be a rowdy afternoon in Tennessee, but Donald Trump appearing at Neyland Stadium has obviously upped the stakes a bit from a political standpoint.
But, no offense, the most popular person in the stadium on Saturday afternoon will be the Sheriff himself, Peyton Manning, who will be in attendance to watch his nephew Arch Manning square off against his beloved Tennessee Vols.
Backlash erupts over Hasan Piker’s upcoming speaking engagement at Cornell
Controversial Twitch streamer Hasan Piker has yet to take the podium at Cornell University, but he's already facing sharp backlash from critics who say his presence reflects deeper issues at the core of campus culture.
The event, which is part of the "Students Not Bombs" campaign, is being hosted on Sept. 24 by the university's chapters of Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP), Young Democratic Socialists of America (YDSA) and Jewish Voice for Peace (JVP).
Piker has a history of making controversial remarks, and famously said that America "deserved" 9/11, a statement that he later walked back and apologized for. He is also a vocal critic of Israel and U.S. foreign policy.
WHO IS HASAN PIKER? MEET THE FAR-LEFT STREAMER WHO IS STIRRING UP CONTROVERSY AND DIVIDING DEMOCRATS
Critics have already spoken out against the event, with the university's Hillel calling Piker's commentary "repulsive" in a statement posted to social media.
"The university is a place to learn, to argue, to explore, and to debate. Mr. Piker's views, however, go against our values as Americans and Jews, and his hateful, antisemitic rhetoric is repulsive," Grinspoon Hillel at Cornell said in a statement.
For William Jacobson, a clinical professor and director of the Securities Law Clinic at Cornell Law School, Piker's appearance on campus is not a one-off event, rather it represents what he calls a "campaign of intimidation."
"It's not really surprising to me that the anti-Israel groups on campus have invited as incendiary a speaker as Hasan Piker. In fact, it's very much in keeping with the tactics of intimidation that they've been doing really as long as I've been at Cornell — which is approaching 19 years — but which has ramped up dramatically after October 7," Jacobson told Fox News Digital.
JEWISH CAMPUS LIFE AT A ‘CROSSING POINT’ AS STUDENTS WEIGH ANTISEMITISM RISKS, NEW REPORT SHOWS
Jacobson cited past incidents in which conservative speakers faced disruptions, such as former U.S. senator from Pennsylvania and presidential candidate Rick Santorum, Tea Party movement co-founder Michael Johns and Ann Coulter, who is a Cornell alumna.
In 2016, Santorum was heckled during an event at the university. He said that the protests at the Cornell event were demonstrating "liberal intolerance," The Cornell Daily Sun reported.
The event with Johns in 2017 was made private on the advice of the Cornell University Police Department, according to The Cornell Daily Sun. Jacobson recalled that, despite the event being private, protesters found out where Johns was speaking and "banged on the doors."
In 2022, Coulter was forced to end her event early after several attendees protested, eight of whom were removed from the room, the outlet also reported. The student newspaper noted that when Coulter returned to the university in 2024, she did not face the same amount of disruption, but one faculty member was arrested for disorderly behavior.
Cornell University did not respond to inquiries addressing Jacobson's specific comments. But in a statement to Fox News Digital regarding the controversy surrounding Piker's event, a university spokesperson emphasized that student-hosted speakers do not carry the institution's official endorsement.
"Guest speakers invited by student groups undergo a thorough review to ensure an event can be hosted safely. They are not subject to an approval process around content," the university spokesperson said. "The use of spaces by student groups does not represent an endorsement or approval of, or agreement with the theme of the event or the speech of its participants. As with any event, Cornell will respond appropriately to any reports of discrimination, incitement, or disruption."
CAMPUS ANTISEMITISM EXTENDS BEYOND STUDENT PROTESTS AND INTO CLASSROOMS, ADL WARNS
While Cornell University maintains that all student groups have the ability to host speakers, Jacobson argues that even the coverage surrounding the events creates a distorted narrative on campus.
Jacobson criticized The Cornell Daily Sun's framing of Piker's event, saying the student newspaper's characterization of the controversial Twitch streamer as a "left-wing political commentator" was overly generous.
"'The Cornell Sun' has depicted Hasan Piker as just merely a left-wing activist, and we all know that that's not what he is. He's beyond left-wing. He's incendiary," Jacobson said.
"To describe him in that superficial way like The Cornell Sun [sic] did, really, I think, does a disservice to its readers, because somebody just reading that wouldn't understand why is this even controversial. And unfortunately, that's something I've seen The Cornell Sun [sic] do repeatedly with regard to the anti-Israel movement on campus — they always tone it down."
When reached for comment on Jacobson's characterization of their coverage, The Cornell Daily Sun told Fox News Digital, "We appreciate the concern, and we understand that this visit matters deeply to many people in our community. A headline can only say so much, which is why we hope readers will look to our full coverage."
"Our initial article discusses the controversy surrounding Mr. Piker, including his statement that 'America deserved 9/11' and his recent comments regarding Israel and American Jews. We have since published a second article sharing statements from Jewish student organizations on campus, along with further remarks by Mr. Piker and reactions from students ahead of his visit," the statement read.
The student newspaper said it would "continue to report on" Piker's event and the response on campus, adding, "We truly care about getting this story right, and about making sure the students most affected by it are heard in our coverage."
HASAN PIKER ADMITS HE HAS 'DIALED DOWN' HIS OPINIONS AFTER PUBLIC AND DEMOCRATIC BACKLASH
Jacobson emphasized that he was not calling for the event with Piker to be canceled, rather he was hoping it would start a dialogue about escalating political polarization on campus.
"In some sense, I am glad they invited him, because maybe now we can have an honest conversation on campus about how poisonous the movement is that is bringing him to campus. That's the conversation we need to have, not 'should we kick them off, should we block them,'" Jacobson told Fox News Digital.
Fox News Digital reached out to Piker and the "Students Not Bombs" Cornell campaign for comment but did not immediately receive a response.
Is everyone bricking their phone to stop doomscrolling?
There is a funny twist to the anti-FOMO craze. Now people are worried they may be missing out on the latest way to spend less time on their phones. You may have heard people talking about "bricking" their phones. Thankfully, they are not destroying them. A $59 product called Brick is getting attention because it lets you temporarily block distracting apps and websites, creating a physical barrier between you and whatever keeps sucking you back into your screen. I understand the appeal. If you have ever picked up your phone to check one text and resurfaced 40 minutes later wondering why you were watching a stranger remodel a bathroom, you know how quickly a quick check can turn into a scroll.
Still, my first reaction is this: before you buy another piece of technology to keep you away from technology, use the controls already sitting inside the phone you paid for. Apple has expanded Screen Time in iOS 27. Android already has some useful Digital Wellbeing controls. A few simple changes can also make distracting apps a little harder to reach and help break that automatic urge to grab your phone.
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CAN TECH REALLY GET YOU OFF YOUR PHONE AND INTO REAL LIFE?
This trend is tapping into something much bigger than one gadget. Pew Research Center surveyed 9,750 U.S. adults from May 26 through June 1, 2026. It found 53% say they spend too much time on their smartphone. Among adults ages 18 to 29, that jumps to 70%. It stands at 64% among adults ages 30 to 49, then drops to 49% among people 50 to 64 and 25% among those 65 and older. Here is another number that grabbed me: 26% of U.S. adults say they use their smartphone almost constantly. Among adults under 30, that rises to 42%. A third of adults ages 30 to 49 say the same. Think about that phrase for a second. Almost constantly. Phones help us navigate, communicate and get an incredible amount done. I certainly would not want to give mine up. The problem begins when useful turns into automatic and you find yourself opening the same app without even remembering why you picked up the phone.
Awareness is already turning into action. Pew found 45% of U.S. adults tried to cut back on smartphone use during the previous 12 months. Among adults under 50, the figure reaches 58%. Yet among people who tried cutting back, only a quarter said they were extremely or very successful. That gap tells you a lot. Knowing you want to use your phone less and actually putting it down are two different things. The problem with willpower is that your phone is always right there, and the apps fighting for your attention are only a tap away. Teens are noticing the pull too. Pew found 45% of teens say they spend too much time on social media. Forty-four percent say they have cut back on social media use, and an identical share say they have cut back on smartphone use.
The effects can follow you right into bed. Pew found 62% of adults under 30 say their smartphone hurts the amount of sleep they get. Across U.S. adults overall, 41% say their phone hurts their sleep while only 5% say it helps. I suspect plenty of us know how that happens. The phone goes on the nightstand. You check one last thing, then another notification arrives. Before long, your bedtime has moved. That is why I think the bigger lesson in this trend is making distracting apps a little harder to reach. If opening an app takes more effort, you get a moment to decide whether you really want to go there.
TOO MUCH SCREEN TIME MAY TRIGGER LASTING BRAIN DELAYS, TOP HEALTH OFFICIAL WARNS
Brick takes that idea and turns it into something physical. First, you choose which apps or websites you want to block and create different modes inside the Brick app. To start a session, tap your phone against the physical Brick. Another option lets you begin remotely by pressing and holding the virtual Brick in the app for five seconds. Getting back into those blocked apps usually requires another tap against the physical Brick. That is the part I find interesting. Leave the Brick downstairs while you work upstairs, and your easy way back into those distracting apps is suddenly in another room.
The device currently costs $59 and supports iPhones running iOS 17 or later and Android devices running Android 12 or later. Head to CyberGuy.com to get 10% off the Brick with our link. One Brick can also work with multiple phones. Meanwhile, Strict Mode makes common workarounds harder, including deleting the Brick app or changing certain settings during a session. If you lose the device or cannot reach it, you get five Emergency Unbricks. I like the thinking behind it. Sometimes a physical barrier can work better than another warning on the same screen you are trying to stop staring at. Still, I would try the free controls already built into your phone before spending $59.
PHONE-FREE RESTAURANTS ARE TRENDING ACROSS THE US
Apple documents new Time Allowances and Screen Time Schedules in iOS 27. Apple also says all of your Apple devices need version 27 or later to use the latest Screen Time features across devices. If you do not see those newer options on your iPhone, App Limits and Downtime still give you useful ways to cut down on distracting apps.
Go to: Settings → Screen Time → App Limits → Add Limit
Choose the app category you want to control. You can also tap a category to select a specific app instead. Tap Next, choose how much time you want to allow each day, then tap Done. For example, you could give yourself 30 minutes of Instagram or put a daily limit on your entire social networking category. It is a simple way to decide how much time you want to give an app before you are already deep into the scroll.
If certain times of day are your weak spot, Downtime can help.
Go to: Settings → Screen Time → Downtime → Scheduled
Choose Every Day or Customize Days, then set when you want Downtime to start and end. During Downtime, most apps and notifications are restricted, while phone calls and apps you choose to allow remain available. You can also turn on Block at Downtime if you want the limit to be harder to ignore.
OPINION: WE GREW UP BEFORE SCREENS TOOK OVER. OUR KIDS DESERVE THAT CHANCE TOO
You can decide which apps stay available by going to: Settings → Screen Time → Always Allowed
That way, you can keep apps you genuinely need available without leaving every distracting app within easy reach.
Before setting any limits, spend a minute looking at where your time actually goes.
Go to: Settings → Screen Time → Daily Average
Tap Day or Week to see your usage. Scroll down to see Pickups and Notifications too. That pickup number may tell you even more than your total screen time. Maybe you spend only a few minutes at a time in an app but reach for your phone 80 times throughout the day. That tells me your challenge may be the habit of grabbing the device rather than one particular app. Start with whatever surprises you most.
Notifications can undo all your good intentions, and you do not need Apple Intelligence to quiet them.
Go to: Settings → Focus
Choose a Focus such as Do Not Disturb, Personal, Sleep or Work. From there, you can decide which people and apps are allowed to interrupt you. You can also add a schedule, so Focus turns on automatically during the parts of your day when you want fewer distractions.
This gets at something Screen Time alone cannot fix. Sometimes you did not decide to pick up the phone. The phone asked you to. Cutting down those invitations may be one of the easiest ways to stop checking it so often.
Android phones include Digital Wellbeing tools that can show you how much time you spend in apps, how often you open them and how many notifications they send. Exact menu names can vary between Pixel and Samsung Galaxy phones.
Go to: Settings → Digital Wellbeing
Tap the chart to see your screen time, how often you open apps and how many notifications you receive.
Set app timers
Go to: Settings → Digital Wellbeing → App timers
Next to the app you want to limit, tap Set timer , choose how much time you want to allow and tap OK . When your time runs out, the app closes and its icon dims. The timer resets at midnight.
Use Focus mode
Go to: Settings → Digital Wellbeing → Focus mode
Choose the apps you want to pause. While Focus mode is on, you cannot use those apps and their notifications stop. Tap Turn on now to start it immediately or Set a schedule to have it turn on automatically.
Set app timers
Go to: Settings → Digital Wellbeing → App timers
Tap Apps and app categories , then choose the apps or categories you want to control. Tap Add schedule , choose the days and amount of time you want to allow, then tap Save . Menu wording can vary slightly by Galaxy model and software version.
On current Pixel phones, you can also protect app limits with a separate PIN.
Go to: Settings → Digital Wellbeing → App limits → App limits PIN
Turn on PIN for app time limits , unlock your phone, then create and confirm a four-digit PIN. This adds another step before you can change a limit on impulse.
On Google Pixel
Go to: Settings → Digital Wellbeing → Bedtime mode → Bedtime routine
Choose when Bedtime mode should turn on. You can use a schedule or have it activate while your phone is charging during certain hours. You can also customize options including Grayscale, Keep the screen dark, Dim the wallpaper and Dark theme .
On Samsung Galaxy
Samsung handles this through Sleep mode .
Go to: Settings → Modes and Routines → Sleep
Tap When to start this mode, choose Sleep schedule , then set your usual sleep and wake times. Tap Save and then Done . You can also turn on options including Do not disturb, Grayscale and Dark mode while Sleep mode is active.
You do not need to overhaul your habits overnight. Start with your biggest distractions and make them a little harder to reach.
Check Screen Time on iPhone or Digital Wellbeing on Android. Look for the apps taking the biggest bite out of your day and how often you pick up or unlock your phone. Do not try to fix everything at once. Start with the biggest problem.
Every alert is another invitation to look at your screen. Keep the notifications that deserve immediate attention. Silence the ones that are simply trying to bring you back into an app.
Create your limits while you are thinking clearly instead of after you have already disappeared down a feed. Use App Limits and Downtime on iPhone or App timers and Focus mode on Android.
Move your worst offenders off the Home Screen. Log out when you finish. If you have to search for an app and sign back in, that gives you a little time to ask yourself whether you actually wanted to open it. You are creating your own speed bump.
Leave it somewhere else during dinner. Put it out of reach while you work. Charge it away from the bed. This may sound almost too simple, but sometimes distance works better than another setting buried inside a menu.
Try the free tools first. If you continually override every limit, delete every timer or find yourself reaching for the same apps anyway, then consider something stricter. That might be a stronger software blocker or a physical device such as Brick. By then, you will know exactly what problem you are paying to solve.
Here is what gets me about this whole trend. We have reached a point where people are buying a piece of technology whose job is to keep them away from another piece of technology. That says something. I love what my phone can do. I do not want a dumb phone, and I certainly do not want to throw my smartphone in a drawer. What I want is to be the one deciding when I use it instead of reacting every time an app decides it wants me back. That is why I would start with what you already have. iPhone gives you App Limits, Downtime and Focus. Android gives you app timers and Focus mode. Your phone can also tell you exactly where your time went. Use that information. If those free controls work, you saved yourself $59. If you blow through every limit you create, Brick or another stronger blocker suddenly has a purpose beyond joining a wellness craze. For me, the real test is pretty simple: when you pick up your phone, did you decide to do it or did your phone decide for you?
If you could get back one hour of the time you spend on your phone every day, what would you do with it instead? Let us know by writing to us at CyberGuy.com.
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Foreign leader on Putin’s doorstep sounds alarm over Iran fueling Moscow’s war machine
UNITED NATIONS — Latvian President Edgars Rinkēvičs warned Wednesday that military cooperation between Russia and Iran poses a growing security concern, telling Fox News Digital in an on-camera interview that Iranian drone technology has helped Moscow wage war in Ukraine as Latvia prepares to contribute to a U.S.-led effort in the Strait of Hormuz.
Speaking on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly, Rinkēvičs said Latvia, a country of approximately 1.84 million and still a core member of NATO's eastern flank, has already made the political decision to send military specialists to support international operations in the Middle East in response to President Donald Trump's request for European assistance.
"Yes, I am concerned. Actually, we have already seen Iran helping Russia a lot, especially at the very beginning of Russia's aggression against Ukraine," Rinkēvičs said when asked about the growing cooperation between Moscow and Tehran.
PUTIN AND IRAN 'NEED EACH OTHER DESPERATELY,' EXPERT SAYS, AS RUSSIA VOICES SUPPORT FOR REGIME
"The first drones Iranian made, or Iranian-designed drones, were used by Russia. Now Russians are actually modernizing them, making completely new technologies. But, actually, the design is still Iranian."
Earlier this week, Fox News Digital revealed documents obtained from the Russian Foreign Ministry detailing a roadmap between Russia and Iran for cooperation between 2024-2026 in multiple fields, including nuclear, finance and aviation, as well as infrastructure.
Asked whether Europe should take a more active role in countering Iran's military activities and respond to Trump's call for support, Rinkēvičs confirmed that Latvia has already taken steps toward joining an international effort in the Strait of Hormuz.
BATTLE-TESTED ZELENSKYY SOUNDS CHILLING ALARM ON WHERE PUTIN’S WAR COULD HEAD NEXT
"From our side, we have already made a parliamentary decision. That our EOD (explosive ordnance disposal) diver specialists could be sent to the Strait of Hormuz or to the Middle East to help out the United States, the coalition that is being formed," he said.
Rinkēvičs said Latvia hopes military activities will give way to a political solution and the restoration of global energy supplies, while expressing skepticism about the prospects for negotiations with Tehran and Moscow.
"It's very, very difficult to have diplomacy with Iran. It's very difficult with Russia," he said.
Turning to the security situation in Europe, Rinkēvičs said Latvia does not see evidence of an imminent Russian military invasion despite growing concerns about Moscow's intentions toward NATO's eastern flank.
"If Russia were able to attack us ... that would have happened already," he said. "The Russian military is not the same as it used to be back in 2022. Remember they tried to take Kyiv in three days. They are still trying to take some certain small pieces of Ukrainian territory 4½ years after the full-fledged."
IRAN’S DRONE HUNT ESCALATES AS TEHRAN TARGETS US SPY TECH TO EXPOSE BATTLEFIELD SECRETS
Explaining the immediate threat to Latvia comes instead from sabotage, cyberattacks and information campaigns, which he described as intensifying, adding that European leaders face the difficult task of preparing their populations for potential threats without creating unnecessary panic.
Rinkēvičs also warned that NATO must accelerate its adaptation to the rapidly changing nature of warfare, particularly the growing role of drones and missile technology.
While traditional military equipment, including tanks and armored personnel carriers, remains essential, the president said the war in Ukraine has demonstrated how quickly new technologies are transforming the battlefield.
The president welcomed increased NATO defense spending, crediting Trump's push for greater investment, but cautioned that additional funding alone would not resolve the alliance's military readiness challenges.
"You have money, but not always you can buy the stuff immediately, or at least you can order things. And they are delivered soon enough," he said.
Rinkēvičs said he plans to meet with U.S. defense companies during his visit to the U.S., saying, "When it comes to the U.S. support, let me just say that the United States does an amazing job already. We do have U.S. troops, not big numbers, but I think sufficient numbers are now stationed in our airbase in Lielvārde.
"U.S. presence in the Baltics is very important, and we are working with our U.S. partners about further rotations."
EXCLUSIVE: DHS Secretary Mullin slams sanctuary politicians as attacks on ICE officers skyrocket
FIRST ON FOX: Assaults against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers have steadily increased in recent months by 1,649% with many incidents fueled by opposition to the Trump administration's crackdown on illegal immigration.
There were 647 assaults against ICE personnel from Jan. 20, 2025, through Sept. 20, 2026, compared to just 37 under the Biden administration from Jan. 20, 2021, to Sept. 20, 2022, according to the Department of Homeland Security.
"The brave men and women of ICE, who are simply enforcing the laws mandated by Congress and protecting the American people, are under attack every single day. Since President Trump unleashed ICE to do their jobs, assaults against them have risen by more than 1,600% in the first year and a half of the administration," said DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin.
HEROIC ICE OFFICERS, STAFF MEMBER OPEN UP ON GROWING DANGERS: ‘AM I GOING TO DIE?'
Mullin blamed the backlash against ICE on "vicious lies" being spread by "sanctuary politicians and their foot soldiers who are involved in anti-ICE riots and other acts of violence."
"DHS is calling on these sanctuary politicians to stop attacking federal law enforcement, stop putting the needs of illegal aliens ahead of the safety of American citizens, and to start working with us to make America safe again," he added.
DEMOCRAT COMPARES ICE TO 'DOMESTIC TERRORISTS' AS 111 HOUSE DEMS DEMAND TEXAS DETENTION CENTER CLOSE
DHS cited examples of mainly Democratic elected officials accusing ICE of terrorizing communities and threatening public safety despite the agency arresting many individuals with criminal records that include convictions for murder, child sex crimes, terrorism and drug trafficking, among others.
Some congressional lawmakers have called for the abolition of the agency, while others have compared ICE to "the SS" and "the Gestapo," the two primary and most feared instruments of terror, surveillance and control in Nazi Germany. Rep. Jasmine Crockett, D-Texas, likened the agency to "slave patrols" that were "disappearing people based on their skin color."
In addition, some anti-ICE protesters have brandished weapons at officers, made threats, thrown objects and impeded law enforcement operations, DHS said. In October 2025, Eduardo Aguilar, an illegal immigrant from Mexico living in Dallas, Texas, was arrested after allegedly posting a video on TikTok in Spanish soliciting the murder of ICE personnel.
DEM RHODE ISLAND LAWMAKER THREATENS ICE: 'YOUR DAY OF RECKONING WILL COME M----- F------'
In July 2025, a group of anti-ICE protesters opened fire on ICE officers at the Prairieland Detention Center in Alvarado, Texas, wounding a law enforcement officer. Eight suspects tied to that case were sentenced in June to prison terms ranging from 30 to 100 years.
In June 2025, Gabriel Hurtado-Cariaco, a member of the Tren de Aragua gang in Bellevue, Nebraska, was accused of throwing an ICE agent to the ground, slamming her head into the pavement, ripping off her body armor and making repeated physical violent contact during an attempted arrest, authorities said.
The agent sustained serious injuries to her head and arm and was taken to the University of Nebraska Medical Center for treatment. Hurtado-Cariaco was charged with attempted murder.
PORTLAND MAN SENTENCED TO 30 MONTHS IN PRISON FOR THROWING ROCK AT ICE OFFICER DURING PROTEST
Others have allegedly attacked ICE officers with rocks, Molotov cocktails and various other objects, officials said.
The backlash against ICE has intensified amid the Trump administration's targeting of illegal immigrants with criminal records and those with final removal orders.
Many Democratic-run jurisdictions have beefed up their sanctuary policies to prevent cooperation between local law enforcement and federal immigration authorities.
Dems shamed as DHS brings ICE shooting receipts after politician called ICE officers ‘liars with masks’
The Department of Homeland Security called out dozens of Democrats and members of the media for "spreading lies" about a recent ICE officer-involved shooting in Austin, while a former agency director suggested the political response may be by design.
Wilber Rafael Garces Perez, a 28-year-old Venezuelan national whom DHS says is an illegal immigrant in the U.S., was shot by an ICE agent during a chase Sunday. Perez was arrested and taken to a nearby hospital, where he was treated and listed in stable condition. The shooting has prompted protests in Austin and criticism from Democrats.
On Tuesday, more than 100 Democratic members of Congress signed a letter demanding Perez’s release and saying he "is not receiving the care he needs in detention" and "still has the bullet lodged in his body."
In a separate statement, Rep. Joaquin Castro, D-Texas, said "despite losing movement on his left side and having a bullet lodged next to his spine, ICE has forced Wilber Rafael Garcés Pérez out of the hospital and back to the South Texas ICE Processing Center." Rep. Greg Casar, D-Texas, called ICE "liars with masks" and demanded the agency leave Austin.
In response, DHS posted on X that "sanctuary politicians and the media wasted no time in spreading lies" and that "no amount of smears and false narratives will slow down ICE from doing its job to arrest illegal aliens from our communities."
DHS called the claim that ICE refused to remove the bullet from Perez’s body "false." The agency said ICE "does not and would not advise, nor be the authority on, a medical procedure for an illegal alien at a hospital." Addressing reports that Perez was denied pain medication and made to sleep on the floor, DHS said Perez is "receiving medical care around the clock, including pain medication," and that after being released from the hospital, he slept on a bed a few hours after arriving at ICE’s detention facility.
The agency also disputed statements from Perez’s lawyer that Perez entered the country legally and has a work permit. DHS said he "entered the country illegally under the Biden Administration" and "had no valid work permit, had no protective status, and had a final order of removal from a Department of Justice (DOJ) Immigration Judge."
DHS said ICE "will not be slowing down nor leaving Austin."
"DHS is tasked with enforcing the laws passed by Congress. We do not pick and choose which laws to enforce or where to enforce them. We will continue to enforce our nation’s laws," the agency said.
Former acting ICE Director Jonathan Fahey, who served toward the end of President Donald Trump’s first term, suggested some of the political pushback was by design.
"The irony of it all is, with these ICE incidents, it's not just coincidental that the Democrats are against ICE performing their function of enforcing immigration laws… they don't want them actually doing their jobs," Fahey said in an interview with Fox News Digital.
"They try to build these situations up to try to get negative attention toward ICE and more political pressure on them and advance their political agenda."
Fahey suggested the Democratic Party’s "whole goal" is an open Mexican border and mass amnesty. He argued that Democrats’ response to the Austin incident shows they do not want what he considers responsible enforcement, but no enforcement.
"They seem to have doubled down on [the 'mass amnesty' agenda] after the 2024 election, which in some respects is surprising," he said. "My opinion is their motive is… for the people here open the border because they think that will help them electorally currently and in the future – and all the other stuff is just noise to help achieve that."
Asked about Casar’s demands that DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin "preserve every piece of evidence," suspend the agent in question and brief Congress, Fahey said it would be irresponsible for DHS to brief Congress before the investigation is complete.
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"That's mostly going to be a distraction," he said. "Congress wants to exercise oversight over this particular instance. I think the more appropriate thing would be after DHS has concluded their investigation [for] all of that [to be] done. I don't think the secretary would have any issue preserving evidence. I think they'll be doing that anyway."
"I don't think that's a concern. But turning stuff over for hearing this early seems premature at the least," he said.
4 GOP senators rebel against Trump on Iran war, vote with Dems to rein in authority
Despite voter fury and rising fuel prices, most Republican senators stayed the course with President Donald Trump and his war on Iran in a vote Thursday.
Though vulnerable Republicans on the campaign trail broke with Trump earlier this week, calling for an "immediate end" to the war, lawmakers on the Hill stuck with him and defeated another attempt by Democrats to rein in his war authorities as the conflict nears the eight-month mark.
Still, there was a group of rebellious Republicans who had consistently voted with Democrats, including Sens. Susan Collins, R-Maine, Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, Rand Paul, R-Ky. New blood was added this time with Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C.
REPUBLICANS BREAK WITH TRUMP TO REBUKE IRAN WAR — BUT IT WON'T CHANGE POLICY
Tillis, who is retiring at the end of the year, argued his decision to vote for the latest war powers resolution came after the administration again blew past a 60-day deadline to involve Congress.
"We know the resolution's not gonna pass, but it is important to start saying, ‘We deserve an update. You better start treating — Congress can be an assistance with this war effort, if you inform us,’" Tillis said.
To Tillis’ point, the resolution that failed in the Senate, which passed in the House with seven Republican defectors, would have headed to the president’s desk, where it likely would have been vetoed. And without a veto-proof majority, the effort wouldn't have teeth legally. However, it will hurt on the airwaves in the ads to come.
GOP CRACKS WIDEN OVER IRAN WAR AS VULNERABLE CANDIDATES BREAK WITH TRUMP, DEMAND ITS END
Thursday’s vote comes as Republicans are getting an earful about the war, particularly over skyrocketing gas and diesel prices, on the campaign trail. Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., acknowledged that fuel prices are a growing issue for Americans.
"Well, I think people are, there's voter fatigue with high gas prices and high diesel prices in my part of the world," Thune said.
"So, that's a frustration, it's an economic frustration, and that's why, again, I hope the administration is laser-focused on trying to get the [Strait of Hormuz] open, get the shipping lights opened up, and help out with that global energy supply, because that ultimately will get prices down," he continued.
Three vulnerable Republicans running for toss-up seats this week, Rep. Ashley Hinson, R-Iowa, former Rep. Mike Rogers in Michigan, and Sen. Jon Husted, R-Ohio, all requested that the fighting come to an "immediate end" as the war grows in unpopularity with their voters.
Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., who has acted as the self-anointed traffic cop for the deluge of Democratic war powers resolutions over the last several months, diagnosed the defections as a by-product of reports that U.S. bombs had fallen on an Iranian school and that diesel costs are "going up and up and up."
"They are listening to their constituents. They should [have] listened to them before now, because their constituents were saying, ‘Don't get into this thing,’" Kaine said. "But they're finally listening to them. And nothing makes you listen as much as an election staring you in the face."
But Trump isn’t swayed by the effects that the conflict could have on the midterm elections as the GOP fights to keep power in Congress.
"The Republican Party is running, and I'll be helping them, but I am not running," Trump told reporters this week. "I gave absolutely no credence and will not give credence to the election when it comes to Iran. It doesn't even enter my mind. The only thing that does is that Iran will never have a nuclear weapon."