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Trump reveals Maduro 'would like to talk' as military options on table for Venezuela and more top headlines
1. Trump reveals Maduro 'would like to talk' as military options on the table for Venezuela.
2. Human trafficking soars in blue city as gangs, highways fuel ‘perfect storm.’
3. Zelenskyy embroiled in 'golden toilet' scandal as allies accused in $100M scheme.
ORDER RESCINDED – FAA gives major update about flights nationwide ahead of Thanksgiving. Continue reading …
MAD SCIENCE – Twisted Ivy League experiment's link to genius teen who turned into the Unabomber. Continue reading …
MIDNIGHT MADNESS – Former NFL captain offers stark NYC warning after Jets player is wounded in shooting. Continue reading …
BILL SHOCK – Blue city residents being 'taxed for prosperity' as bills soar with little return. Continue reading …
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‘TRAITOR TO OUR COUNTRY’ – Trump escalates feud with Marjorie Taylor Greene. Continue reading …
'RIGHT THE WRONGS' – VA to restore education benefits eligibility to veterans ousted under Biden-era COVID vaccine mandate. Continue reading …
RISING TENSIONS – Rubio moves against Maduro's 'narco-terrorists' with powerful new terror designation. Continue reading …
EYES SHUT – Biden policy blamed as US troops left ‘blind’ in terror-ridden West Africa. Continue reading …
NOT HAVING IT – Chuck Schumer becomes top target from media personalities amid shutdown fallout. Continue reading …
'I’M SORRY' – Marjorie Taylor Greene apologizes for taking part in 'toxic politics' after Trump attacks. Continue reading …
ROUND TWO – Socialist wave reaches West Coast as Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass gets a Mamdani-like challenger. Continue reading …
FUELING THE FIRE – Hunter Biden urges Democrat to 'turn the temperature up' when pressed on extremism. Continue reading …
NEWT GINGRICH – The simplest way to make American life affordable again. Continue reading …
MYKAYLA SKINNER – I’m an Olympic silver medal winner. It’s about time Olympics protected female athletes. Continue reading …
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VOLCANIC VAULT – Ancient snack bar hides Egyptian secret buried for nearly 2,000 years. Continue reading …
AMERICAN CULTURE QUIZ – Test yourself on gridiron glory and presidential pastimes. Take the quiz here …
HIDDEN GEM – 'Effortless escape' crowned Europe's top getaway — and it's not Paris or Rome. Continue reading …
HOLIDAY HEALTH – Smartest tips to take this season. See video …
PRESIDENT TRUMP – We're talking with some Democrats on Americans buying their own health insurance. See video …
BYRON YORK – Democrats have a fundamental divide they can't solve. See video …
Tune in to the FOX NEWS RUNDOWN PODCAST for a breakdown of the renewed fight over healthcare as Republicans push for reforms ahead of the 2026 midterms. Check it out ...
What's it looking like in your neighborhood? Continue reading…
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Seattle's socialist mayor may be 'less constrained' than Mamdani, Washington Post warns
The Washington Post suggested Seattle's Mayor-elect Katie Wilson may be even worse than New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani in its latest editorial published Sunday.
"With much of the country fixated on New York's decision to elect as mayor a socialist with little experience, it was easy to miss the news that Seattle has done the same," the Post editorial board wrote. "Voters from coast to coast will now get to witness two real-time experiments in radical governance."
Wilson is a democratic socialist candidate who defeated Seattle's incumbent Mayor Bruce Harrell in the race last week. Like Mamdani, she has openly campaigned on progressive ideas such as government-run grocery stores, despite their "record of failure," the Post noted.
Though Mamdani and Wilson's goals are similar, the Post noted that Wilson may have a higher chance of achieving them based on having a more progressive city council and city attorney.
"Wilson may be less constrained than Mamdani. Fellow progressives also toppled the incumbent president of the Seattle City Council and the city attorney while picking up two other seats," the Post editorial board wrote. "Only two of the seven council members have served more than one term. There are not many silver linings here, except that the country may be able to more quickly see the failures of their policies — which could prevent voters in other cities from falling for socialism."
The Post also mocked Wilson's promise of filling her cabinet with people from "Black, Indigenous, Asian and Pacific Islander, Latinx/Hispanic, and People of Color communities as well as that of women, immigrants and refugees, 2SLGBTQIA+ communities."
"We're sure 2SLGBTQIA+ Americans everywhere shed tears of joy, but it doesn't matter who she appoints if they're implementing policies that will make Seattle poorer and less safe," the board concluded.
Fox News Digital reached out to Wilson's campaign for comment but did not immediately receive a response.
The Washington Post editorial board frequently criticized Mamdani's socialist policies leading up to the New York City election earlier this month.
"He suggests rerunning a long list of failed social policy experiments more worthy of a late-night bull session at Bowdoin College than a serious political platform," the board wrote on Nov. 3.
The Post also warned New York readers about Mamdani's rise to fame after his primary victory in June.
"New Yorkers should be worried that he would lead Gotham back to the bad old days of civic dysfunction, and Democrats should fear that he will discredit their next generation of party leaders, almost all of whom are better than this democratic socialist," the Post wrote.
Stephen A. Smith calls out AOC, Schumer, and Newsom for avoiding his show
Podcast host Stephen A. Smith claimed that high-profile Democrats like Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and California Gov. Gavin Newsom have been ignoring invitations to appear on his show.
During his show on Friday, Smith addressed the backlash he's received from close friends over his critiques of Democratic politicians like Texas Rep. Jasmine Crockett.
He stood by his comments and claimed that he had invited several Democrats, like Crockett, AOC and Newsom, along with Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, to appear on his show, only to be met with silence.
STEPHEN A SMITH BLASTS 'SHAMEFUL' CRITICS OF HIS JASMINE CROCKETT COMMENTS
"Jasmine Crockett has been on this air — invited on this show for four months," Smith said. "AOC has been invited on this show for four months. Gavin Newsom has been invited on this show longer than that. Props to Hakeem Jeffries. He’s a friend of the show, always welcome on here. I like that man. I respect him. Chuck Schumer has been invited on this show. Hasn’t shown up. Where they at?"
He added, "Every single Republican I have asked to show up on this show has either said yes, or that they’re coming. Not the Dems. Why?"
STEPHEN A. SMITH CALLS OUT DEMS LIKE AOC AND JASMINE CROCKETT AS BAD LOOK FOR FACE OF THE PARTY
Fox News Digital reached out to Crockett, Ocasio-Cortez, Newsom, Jeffries and Schumer's offices for comment.
Of those he referenced, Jeffries was the only Democrat who appeared on his show recently after being interviewed by him in October. However, in the past month, Smith has interviewed other Democrats such as Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker, Pennsylvania Rep. Madeleine Dean, Delaware Gov. Matt Meyer, former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo and New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani.
Regarding Republicans, Smith recently interviewed Ohio Rep. Jim Jordan and House Speaker Mike Johnson earlier this month. He also spoke to Texas Rep. Chip Roy in October.
Smith has drawn criticism from other folks in the media after he called out Crockett last month for focusing on what he considered performative politics over helping her constituents.
He later posted a video apologizing to Crockett.
Trump continues hammering MTG after she labels his attacks 'a dog whistle to dangerous radicals'
President Donald Trump blasted Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene in a Sunday Truth Social post, calling her a "Traitor" to the United States after the Georgia Republican described the president's prior broadsides against her as "a dog whistle to dangerous radicals."
"Wacky Marjorie ‘Traitor’ Brown (Remember, Green turns to Brown where there is ROT involved!) is working overtime to try and portray herself as a victim when, in actuality, she is the cause of all of her own problems. The fact is, nobody cares about this Traitor to our Country!" the president asserted.
The president has repeatedly targeted Greene in recent Truth Social posts, but the congresswoman has been pushing back against the president's attacks.
MARJORIE GREENE SAYS TRUMP'S ‘TRAITOR’ LABEL COULD PUT HER LIFE IN DANGER
"The hoax pizza deliveries have started now, to my house and my family members. Update: we also received a pipe bomb threat on my construction companies office building. President Trump’s unwarranted and vicious attacks against me were a dog whistle to dangerous radicals that could lead to serious attacks on me and my family," she declared in part of a Sunday post on X, before the president later blasted her again in the Truth Social post.
"I am not a traitor. However, when the President of the United States irresponsibly calls a Member of Congress of his own party, traitor, he is signaling what must be done to a traitor. I fought harder than anyone to help President Trump get elected and I support his administration and the promises we made on the campaign," she asserted in another part of the post.
In a post on Friday, Trump floated the possibility of backing a primary challenger against Greene.
MARJORIE TAYLOR GREENE SAYS SHE HOPES TO ‘MAKE UP’ WITH TRUMP AMID ONGOING FEUD
"I am withdrawing my support and Endorsement of ‘Congresswoman’ Marjorie Taylor Greene, of the Great State of Georgia," the president declared in part of the post. "I understand that wonderful, Conservative people are thinking about primarying Marjorie in her District of Georgia, that they too are fed up with her and her antics and, if the right person runs, they will have my Complete and Unyielding Support."
In a post on Saturday, he blasted her as a "RINO," an acronym which stands for Republican in name only.
MARJORIE TAYLOR GREENE APOLOGIZES FOR TAKING PART IN ‘TOXIC POLITICS’ AMID TRUMP ATTACKS
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In another Truth Social post on Saturday, he declared, "Marjorie ‘Traitor’ Green is a disgrace to our GREAT REPUBLICAN PARTY!"
VA to restore education benefits eligibility to veterans ousted under Biden-era COVID vaccine mandate
EXCLUSIVE – A major policy shift could restore education benefits to thousands of veterans who were separated from military service for refusing the COVID vaccine during the Biden administration, according to The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).
The move follows President Donald Trump’s January executive order — Executive Order 14184 – Reinstating Service Members Discharged Under the Military’s COVID Vaccination Mandate.
This directed federal agencies to identify service members affected by the former vaccine requirement and to take steps to reinstate or restore certain benefits.
In response, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth went on to instruct military departments to facilitate discharge upgrades for those who were involuntarily separated because they declined the COVID vaccine and received a characterization of service that affected their benefits.
According to the VA, more than 8,000 service members were separated after Biden's Department of Defense implemented the vaccination mandate.
Over half reportedly received discharges classified as less than fully honorable, a status that can limit eligibility for education benefits under the GI Bill.
After conducting initial reviews, the Department of War found that 899 veterans from this group now meet eligibility requirements for GI Bill benefits as a result of their upgraded discharge status.
Officials said the number could grow as more cases are reviewed under the guidelines set by Trump's executive order.
NEARLY 37,000 VA EMPLOYEES FURLOUGHED OR WORKING WITHOUT PAY AMID GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN
In September, the VA began notifying veterans whose discharges had already been upgraded, telling them that they may now qualify for education assistance.
The agency is now urging any veteran discharged for refusing the vaccine to apply for a discharge review and, if upgraded, to submit an application for GI Bill benefits.
"The Biden administration’s COVID mandates upended the lives and livelihoods of thousands of service members and veterans," VA Secretary Doug Collins said in a statement provided to Fox News Digital.
WHY AI MATTERS FOR EVERY VETERAN
"We are proud to help implement President Trump’s executive order and make these Veterans whole again."
Hegseth also offered support for the effort and said the reinstatement of benefits is an important step toward rebuilding trust among those affected.
"One of the most atrocious attacks on our military by the previous administration was the discharging and targeting of perfectly healthy warfighters who refused to take an experimental vaccine implemented by an illegal mandate," he said.
"We must never let that happen again, and we must also right the wrongs of the past in order to restore trust," he added. "We at the Department of War and the VA are grateful for President Trump's Executive Order reinstating GI Bill benefits for those veterans who were targeted for refusing the illegal COVID-19 vaccine mandate."
Veterans seeking more information on discharge upgrades or GI Bill eligibility can contact the VA or their respective military department’s review board.
Chuck Schumer becomes top target from media personalities amid shutdown fallout
Although the longest government shutdown in American history has come to an end, those in the media have not let up on their criticisms of Senate Minority Leader Sen. Chuck Schumer's handling of the situation.
Media personalities, from late-night comedians to former White House aides, have come out in opposition to Schumer after eight Senate Democratic caucus members broke with their party leaders and signaled the beginning of the end of the longest shutdown in the nation's history.
Schumer and the Democratic caucus had demanded throughout the shutdown that they would only vote to reopen the government if they received an ironclad deal on expiring Obamacare subsidies.
DAVID AXELROD SAYS CHUCK SCHUMER IS 'IN BIGGER TROUBLE' AFTER GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN TURMOIL
But that deal never materialized. Instead, the eight senators took the offer that Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., has made since the beginning — a guarantee to vote on legislation that would deal with the subsidies.
Following Sunday’s vote to reopen the government, numerous media figures had strong words for Schumer:
Former Obama advisor David Axelrod told a CNN panel last week he believes Schumer is "in bigger trouble" within his own party following the end of the government shutdown.
CNN host Anderson Cooper asked Axelrod whether Schumer "could be in trouble" with the "left flank" of the Democratic Party after members of his caucus voted alongside Republicans to reopen the government.
"I think he's been in trouble — I think he is in bigger trouble now," Axelrod responded. "My guess is that he won’t be leader of the party in 2027 after this election, unless something really surprising happens."
DEMOCRATS, LEFT EMPTY-HANDED IN SHUTDOWN, TURN FURY ON SCHUMER
On Tuesday’s episode of MSNBC’s "The Briefing," host Jen Psaki wondered "what happened" to Schumer after his caucus accepted Thune’s deal to reopen the government.
During the show, Psaki played a video showing Schumer discussing the shutdown in early October. The Democratic senator said at the time that Republicans were "hellbent on taking healthcare away from 60 million people," adding, "Democrats have three words for this: No f---ing way. It’s literally life or death."
"That guy was fiery. There was ominous music. He swore. I mean, there was a lot in that video. What happened to that guy? And of course, Democrats had every reason to feel like they were in a good position to keep up the fight. I mean for a range of reasons," Psaki said after the video, pointing to NBC News polling that found more voters blamed Republicans for the shutdown than Democrats.
"And that was before Democrats absolutely cleaned the clocks of Republicans all across the country [on Election Day 2025]. Signaling that voters were behind their efforts to stand up to this administration," she added.
"Late Night" host Seth Meyers criticized Democrats throughout his show the day after the shutdown vote, questioning why they thought it was time to "cave" to President Donald Trump.
"Democrats have finally backed Trump into a corner. Polls showed voters were on their side. And then just when it seemed like they'd finally turn the tables, they buckled," he said.
Meyers specifically called out Schumer, who had insisted just a week earlier that Democrats were not giving up the "fight."
"But that’s what you’re doing. You’re giving up the fight. You can’t wave a white flag in one hand that says, 'I give up,' while in the other hand waving a smaller white flag that says, 'until next time,'" Meyers said, reacting to Schumer's remarks.
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Meyers touted the protests against the Trump administration, the president's low poll numbers and Democrats' election victories, saying, "So naturally, Senate Democrats looked at all that and said, 'Now is the time to cave.'"
Echoing Meyers' criticism of Democratic Senate leadership, late-night host Jimmy Kimmel blasted Schumer and the senators who, in his opinion, "caved" to Republicans.
"At his age, it’s incredible that Chuck Schumer is still able to bend over so far. Chuck Schumer is basically every parent who tells their kid, 'That’s it, no more iPad!' And the next thing you know, you got Roblox at the dinner table. This was such a big cave, by the Democrats, Bruce Wayne offered to buy it," Kimmel said last week.
"The View" co-host Sunny Hostin did not mince words when she went after Schumer the day after the shutdown vote, asserting that his days as Democratic leader are "over."
Hostin told the panel that she wanted an "opposition party" that would take a stand against the Trump administration, arguing that "the Democrats caved" and "let down the American people." She also mentioned that she has "absolutely no faith" that Republicans would come to the negotiating table in good faith.
"Shame on you the first time. You do it twice, three times, four times, shame on me. Shame on the Democrats for even believing that the Republicans will, you know, even vote on it," Hostin said.
"So the bottom line is, the Democrats went into, after a blue wave, the American people saying, 'We do want [an] opposition.' The working people want the Democratic Party to fight for them. And now, they just caved and surrendered. I think Chuck Schumer — his days are over. And if he cannot keep his caucus together, he needs to go. He needs to be replaced," she added.
Fox News Digital reached out to Schumer's office for comment.
Fox News' Hanna Panreck contributed to this report.
Ancient snack bar hides Egyptian secret buried for nearly 2,000 years
Archaeologists recently unveiled an Egyptian vase inside what was once a fast-food kitchen in Pompeii.
In a Nov. 6 Facebook post, the Pompeii Archaeological Park said the ceramic situla, or vase, was found in the Thermopolium in Regio V, an ancient snack bar.
"The glazed vessel, usually found in the Vesuvian area as a prized decorative object in gardens or representative spaces, was evidently reused here as a kitchen container," officials said.
ARCHAEOLOGISTS UNCOVER 1,600-YEAR-OLD WINE FACTORY HIDDEN NEAR ANCIENT MOUNTAIN CASTLE
"Ongoing restoration analysis may eventually reveal what it once held."
The Thermopolium was destroyed with the rest of Pompeii when Mount Vesuvius erupted in 79 AD.
Though the excavation took place in 2023, officials didn't announce the find until this month.
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Archaeologists also uncovered other fascinating details about the Thermopolium, including its service areas and a modest upstairs apartment where the shopkeepers once lived.
"In the ground-floor kitchen, cooking tools [such as] mortars and pans and numerous wine amphorae of Mediterranean origin were found still in place," the translated post added.
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Park director Gabriel Zuchtriegel said the vase reflects the good taste of the owners, even in a "lower-class" establishment.
"We see here a certain creativity in decorating both sacred and everyday spaces — that is, the household altar and the kitchen — using objects that reflect the permeability and mobility of tastes, styles and likely also religious ideas within the Roman Empire," Zuchtriegel said.
"And we see this phenomenon not at an elite level, but in the backroom of a popina, a street food outlet of Pompeii — in other words, at a middle- or lower-class level of local society, which nonetheless played a key role in promoting Eastern cultural and religious forms, including Egyptian cults and, later, Christianity."
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Officials also described the situla as a "testament to the commercial and cultural exchanges that characterized Pompeii."
In recent months, the Pompeii Archaeological Park has unveiled other fascinating archaeology-related developments.
This summer, an ancient garden in Pompeii was reconstructed with thousands of historically accurate plants.
Earlier in the spring, officials revealed new details about a family's fight for survival when Vesuvius erupted.
Prince William shatters royal parenting rules after painful childhood: experts
Prince William is protecting his children after enduring pain and drama in his past.
The claim was made by multiple royal experts after Brazilian TV host Luciano Huck interviewed the Prince of Wales during his trip to Brazil for the Earthshot Prize awards.
During the conversation, the heir to the British throne shared that he and his wife, Kate Middleton, spoke openly with Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis about her cancer diagnosis and treatment.
"Hiding stuff from them doesn’t work," said the 43-year-old.
Royal experts told Fox News Digital they aren’t surprised that William is rewriting the royal rulebook — raising his children with honesty and unity.
"A young Prince William carried the burden of his parents’ unhappy and destructive relationship," British broadcaster and photographer Helena Chard explained.
WATCH: KING CHARLES GAVE THIS WARNING TO PRINCE WILLIAM ABOUT MARRIAGE: AUTHOR
"Their relationship had broken down and, as a result, Prince William and Prince Harry — but more so, William — felt sad and helpless and, I imagine, insecure. Prince William and Princess Catherine are working hard to keep their children abreast of everything."
"They do not want their children hearing what could be devastating news from anyone else," Chard shared. "They are right in the way they handle their affairs in an age-appropriate manner. They are bringing up a strong, resilient, self-assured and respectful young family, which bodes well for the future of the monarchy."
In 2024, both the king, 76, and Kate, 43, were diagnosed with cancer. William, who acknowledged that every family has its own "challenges," said, "I think it is very individual and sort of moment-dependent as to how you deal with those problems."
The prince noted that he and Kate "chose to communicate a lot more with our children."
"Now, that has its good things and its bad things," William explained. "Sometimes you feel you’re oversharing with the children — you probably shouldn’t. But most of the time, hiding stuff from them doesn’t work."
William noted that it’s important for them as a family to be open with each other so that the children aren’t left feeling "anxious" about unanswered questions.
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"There are a lot more questions when there are no answers," he said. "But it is always a balancing act — every parent knows that. It’s, ‘How much do I say? What do I say? When do I say?’ There’s no manual for being a parent — you’ve just got to go with it, a bit of instinct."
Chard said that William, even as he prepares to be king someday, has always been determined to give his children "balanced, happy and healthy lives" while in the public eye.
"He is aware that parents need to be open with their children, no matter how sad and upsetting the situation may be," she said. "It builds trust, respect and self-esteem."
Royal expert Richard Fitzwilliams told Fox News Digital that the past has taught William many lessons about family. Growing up, he witnessed the public breakdown of his parents’ marriage. In 1995, his mother, Princess Diana, appeared on "Panorama" and famously declared, "There were three of us in this marriage, so it was a bit crowded," referring to her husband’s infidelity.
"William’s attitude has been influenced by his childhood and the public nature of the war between his parents, especially the ‘Panorama’ debacle," Fitzwilliams claimed.
"William was aghast at what his mother had done when he was at Eton. He was also affected by her tragic death in a very different way than Harry. From the start, he has tried to bring his children up as normally as possible. He is also fiercely protective of their privacy."
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"We knew that he and Catherine had decided to share the news that she had cancer appropriately," said Fitzwilliams. "It would not have been possible to hide it anyway, and, since the king was also a sufferer, the difficulties of two senior royals fighting it at the same time were considerable, especially given the enormous scrutiny to which the monarchy is subjected."
"The purpose of sharing this was to offer a guide to others in a similar situation," Fitzwilliams continued. "The way that Catherine has handled her illness — communicating with moving and uniquely intimate videos — has been truly amazing. They have clearly worked out a plan in circumstances that are ‘brutal,’ as William has said."
And like many parents, William isn’t in a hurry to watch his children grow up. He’s savoring the small, ordinary moments that make them feel like a normal family.
William admitted to Huck that it’s "really hard" to protect his children from the harms of social media and the internet.
"Our children don’t have phones," he said. "I think when George moves on to secondary school, then maybe he might have a phone that has no internet access. And to be honest, it’s getting to the point where it’s becoming a little bit of a tense issue. But I think he understands why."
"We communicate why we don’t think it’s right," William continued. "And again, I think it’s the internet access I have a problem with. I think children can access too much stuff they don’t need to see online, and so having a phone and text message, the old sort of 'brick phone' as they call them, I think that’s fine."
William even joked that he was like a "taxi driver" for his kids. He brings them to their playdates and sports games and tag-teams with Kate on school drop-offs and pick-ups.
"Prince William’s forthright approach is no doubt derived from his wish to avoid the obfuscation prevalent in his childhood, which resulted in even more pain and royal dramas," said British royals expert Hilary Fordwich.
Charles and Diana separated in 1992. Their divorce wasn’t finalized until 1996, a year before Diana’s sudden death at age 36.
"William sees facing adversity as a family together, as a ‘normal family,’" said Fordwich.
"It’s of paramount importance to him. Having openness with his children is a far better way to build trust, develop emotional resilience and forge family unity. He seeks to answer all the issues his children raise, welcoming their curiosity and questions, ensuring that they feel included and united as a family."
When Kate announced her cancer diagnosis, the princess noted that she and William took time to "explain everything to their children" before she went public. Kate completed her treatment in September 2024 before announcing she was in remission early this year.
During a recent appearance on Eugene Levy’s series, "The Reluctant Traveler," William admitted that 2024 was the "hardest year" he’s ever experienced.
"Everyone has their own coping mechanisms for these sorts of things, and children are constantly learning and adapting," said William.
"We try to make sure we give them the security and the safety that they need. And we’re a very open family, so we talk about things that bother us, and things that trouble us, but you never quite know the knock-on effects that it can have. And so, it’s just important to be there for each other and to kind of reassure the children that everything is OK."
Human trafficking soars in blue city as gangs, highways fuel ‘perfect storm’ of child exploitation: experts
A startling rise in human trafficking cases throughout one of the nation’s most populous states is putting both experts and parents on alert, with data indicating that criminals are targeting children in unprecedented numbers.
North Carolina is ranked ninth in the country for human trafficking, according to data from the National Human Trafficking Hotline. In 2024, the state identified 301 cases of human trafficking involving 580 victims, the Hotline indicated.
These cases involve instances of sex trafficking, labor trafficking and additional types of exploitation that may not be specified or remain unknown, according to the Hotline. In North Carolina, data indicates that in 2024, there were 145 reported cases of sex trafficking, 73 cases of labor trafficking and 38 cases of both sex and labor trafficking.
Hannah Arrowood, executive director of Present Age Ministries, spearheads a partnership with the Charlotte Metro Human Trafficking Task Force in an attempt to understand and combat the rise in cases.
BLUE CITY'S HOMICIDE INCREASE 'FLASHING RED WARNING LIGHT' TO SOFT-ON-CRIME EXPERIMENT: EXPERT
"It really is kind of like a perfect storm," Arrowood told Fox News Digital. "There are a lot of variables. One of the things that we have to know is that trafficking happens everywhere. It happens in every city and every town, whether you're rural [or in a] city – it really doesn't matter. But for Charlotte, one thing is that we have a lot of factors that attract demand."
The eye-watering number of cases is best explained by North Carolina’s sweeping interstate highway system, high demand for inexpensive labor throughout its agricultural industry and increased amount of gang activity, experts said.
"Part of the reason why Charlotte is such a huge trafficking hub is because of the highway system," Toby Braun, founder of American Special Investigative Group, told Fox News Digital. "A lot of these traffickers are running victims and may start in South Florida. From South Florida, they go to Atlanta, and from Atlanta, they pass through Charlotte. Oftentimes there, they may put them in safe houses."
GOP URGES DEMOCRAT GOVERNOR TO DEPLOY NATIONAL GUARD TO CHARLOTTE AS CRIME SURGES
According to Braun, victims will then be transported to other major cities throughout the country – like New York or Houston – after passing through Charlotte.
"Charlotte is kind of like a central hub, or an epicenter," Braun said. "For the most part, it’s kind of a pit stop."
The number of Charlotte residents falling victim to trafficking can partially be attributed to the prevalence of gang activity within the city, with criminal organizations maintaining a firm grip on the area’s network, according to experts.
"The Bloods have a huge stronghold in human trafficking," Braun said. "They're one of the primary organized crime groups responsible for trafficking [in Charlotte]. For the most part, these are criminal networks. And that also makes it tougher, because of the kind of resources that they have and the ability to traffic people around, hide them in places and really stay undetected."
While many victims can be from out of state, Arrowood emphasizes that many of the individuals being trafficked are coming from within the Charlotte area, with perpetrators targeting school-aged children within the city.
According to data from the Charlotte Metro Human Trafficking Task Force, 48% of trafficking cases in 2024 involved minors aged 15 or younger.
CHARLOTTE’S ‘PRO-CRIME’ POLICIES UNDER FIRE AS CAREER CRIMINAL CHARGED WITH KILLING COMMUTER: EXPERT
From 2020 to 2024, Charlotte saw a 76% increase in reported cases of minor trafficking, according to the task force.
"We do see every ethnicity affected – every socioeconomic class," Arrowood said. "The pathway or grooming might look different if someone has housing insecurity or food insecurity, versus living in a middle-to-upper class, two-parent home, right? The method might look different, the coercion might look different, but we do see it across the board."
Of the reported cases, residence-based commercial sex and domestic work were the leading venues for sex and labor trafficking, respectively. Additionally, 214 victims were female, 63 were men, and four included gender minorities, according to the Hotline.
CHARLOTTE TEEN ARRESTED 111 TIMES IN 2 YEARS STILL WALKING FREE IN SOFT-ON-CRIME BLUE CITY: POLICE
In 2024, data provided by the task force revealed that authorities identified 106 minors within the Charlotte area who were confirmed or suspected victims of trafficking. The number is primarily attributed to criminals using newer, more creative methods to recruit their victims.
"The primary way is through online [platforms]," Arrowood said. "They are connecting in some way or somehow, whether it's through social media, a gaming app, [or] through a dating app. Then there usually is a meet in-person, right? We call it digital grooming. They're grooming them, building trust – a lot of times they're presenting as boyfriend, so [victims] are thinking they're in a relationship with this person."
However, due to the nature of trafficking crimes, most cases go unreported. Arrowood also points to a backlog of cases piling up for local law enforcement, who may not have the resources needed to fully investigate each case.
"Agencies are just always at limited capacity in terms of the amount of work, or the amount of people and manpower they have to manage the amount of referrals that are coming in," Arrowood told Fox News Digital.
The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department declined Fox News Digital’s request for an interview and request for comment.
As the city continues to see a startling rise in trafficking throughout the area, particularly involving minors, Braun urges parents to take steps to keep their children safe.
"People think that these traffickers are these monsters – and they are," Braun said. "They can be boyfriends or classmates. We've seen cases with coaches and people that you would never really expect, and I think that's what makes them dangerous – the fact that they can be individuals that are hiding in plain sight."
Democrats are losing AI because of a big messaging problem
Democrats in Washington are losing the AI conversation. Not because they are wrong about AI's risks, but because they have failed to offer Americans a vision for the economic transformation ahead. While they focus on managing problems, others are defining what comes next. One side is talking about building the future, the other about constraining it.
In November, at Nvidia's GTC conference in Washington, hundreds of technologists and business leaders celebrated a great American success story: Jensen Huang and the company he co-founded. The speakers praised President Donald Trump for his administration's approach to AI. Many in the audience saw an administration that's for removing barriers, enabling scale and improving American competitiveness.
This should be a wake-up call for Democrats, who have failed to seize the opportunity so far to speak not only to AI's risks, but to its potential for broad economic transformation. Democrats have asked plenty of questions about AI’s safety, its biases and its effect on the job market.
But so far, Democrats have treated these as separate problems to manage rather than as pieces of a larger question: how do we shape this transformation so it creates opportunity for everyone, not just profits for a few? That's the conversation Americans deserve.
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The elite consensus in Washington focuses on one goal: optimize America's AI capabilities as a whole. A recent Foreign Affairs essay by former Biden administration officials captures the "grand bargain" between government and industry: more infrastructure and capacity for big companies. Workers, communities and startups beyond the frontier are afterthoughts. Build first, assume prosperity trickles down later. It's a familiar strategy that hasn't delivered before. Republicans mostly embrace this framework as well, but Republican populists smartly recognize its shortcomings.
What this means going forward: Large companies positioned to capture trillions. Worker displacement a problem to solve later. Communities provide land, energy, and water without guarantees they'll share in prosperity. The Biden administration's 2023 executive order was comprehensive on safety testing but said little about prosperity, workers or communities.
Past waves of automation left communities hollowed out and workers without pathways forward. Innovation rarely distributes opportunity without deliberate efforts to strengthen workers, communities and local economies.
Recent polling in swing states shows AI sentiment declining as workers connect the technology to job insecurity. We all lose. Not to China, but to ourselves. The skepticism crosses ideological lines. On the far right, former Trump chief strategist Steve Bannon warned earlier this year that entry-level jobs will be destroyed. On the far left, Democratic Socialists see AI as another vehicle for corporate power. Both responses cede the possibility that AI could distribute opportunity rather than concentrate wealth.
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An alternative vision would optimize for the flourishing of American Davids: our workers, families and innovative startups. Large companies' long-term success depends on this foundation too. It's not about slowing down. The capital is moving fast regardless. The question is whether we structure that rapid deployment to create broadly shared prosperity or concentrated extraction. Aimless speed creates the political backlash that actually threatens progress. Speed with a plan creates sustainable advancement.
We've done this before. Land grant universities gave communities stakes in research and education. Rural electrification co-ops gave farmers ownership, not just access. The GI Bill gave veterans leverage to build fulfilling careers, not just short-term compensation. Alaska's Permanent Fund gives every resident dividends from oil extraction on public lands.
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Now imagine: National block grants enabling states to create public compute for startups and regional economies. Worker transition funds that workers control, not programs they endure. Equity stakes when companies profit from public infrastructure give communities ownership of their future. Third party assurance markets to accelerate responsible innovation at scale. These are ideas to prompt discussion with the American people. This moment calls for a national project worthy of American ingenuity.
Democrats have a long history with this thinking. Rural electrification and railroad policy ensured broad access. Today, Arizona Democratic Sen. Mark Kelly's "AI for America" proposal represents the kind of bigger vision we should debate.
Aimless speed creates the political backlash that actually threatens progress. Speed with a plan creates sustainable advancement. New technology alone is good. But it's even better when paired with policy and market approaches that emphasize economic security, opportunity and dignity for the American people.
Democrats are flat-footed. Anxiety is rising among populists on the right and left. The urgent question now is whether either party will challenge the elite consensus that treats the impacts of economic transformation on workers, communities and startups as either imaginary or problems to solve later.
This moment demands a vision that accounts for all Americans, our workers, communities and startup entrepreneurs most especially.