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NASCAR legend Tony Stewart's return to the Truck Series ends early with big crash at Talladega
For the second race this season, NASCAR great Tony Stewart hopped into a Craftsman Truck Series truck, but fans unfortunately didn’t get much time to see Smoke doing his thing at Talladega Superspeedway.
Back in February, Stewart made his return to NASCAR competition when he drove the No. 25 Ram 1500 for Kaulig Racing.
That ended with a crash 39 laps into the race, so Stewart was surely hoping — and fans certainly were too — that he would make it the full race distance.
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Unfortunately, his time on track was even shorter.
The race got off to a good start for Stewart. He qualified 29th, but was able to gain 11 positions in the first 15 laps.
But on lap 17, Stewart Friesen lost control of his No. 52 Toyota Tundra on the backstretch, which caused a big, nine-car wreck.
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That was it for Stewart, which is a real shame for a few reasons. First of all, it sure seems like that truck of his had some potential, given how many positions he picked up early. Secondly, fans didn't get to see as much of the NASCAR Hall of Famer back on track.
Welp. You got 17 laps.
Hey, that is the reality of superspeedway racing. You need a good helping of luck to go along with that quick truck.
"Yeah, it’s just a racing deal," Stewart said, per the Associated Press. "That’s part of it. Stewart (Friesen) couldn’t go anywhere. He had an issue, and he’s stuck in the middle. So he was doing the best he could to hang onto it, and just everybody around him got caught up in it."
Well, maybe we'll get to see Stewart back in the Truck Series at some point next season. There aren't any concrete plans, but he's certainly due for some good luck.
The race win ended up going to Spire Motorsports' Sammy Smith, who managed to take the checkered flag in overtime. It was Smith's first career Truck Series win and came the same day that it was announced that he will compete full-time for Tricon Garage next season.
McMahon plans to 'fire' herself from a job, striving to show Congress that the Department of Ed is not needed
U.S. Education Secretary Linda McMahon doubled down on closing the Department of Education (ED) as planned to demonstrate to Congress that the federal agency she leads is no longer necessary.
"Signing these interagency agreements means, in fact, that the Department of Education is contracting with these agencies to perform the functions that they've been given," McMahon told Fox News Digital.
"The first big block of work was transferred over to the Department of Labor."
Throughout his 2024 presidential campaign, Donald Trump promised to eliminate the ED, later signing an executive order directing his administration to begin dismantling the agency.
As part of that effort, the Department of Labor (DOL) is taking on a major role in the day-to-day administration of adult education, family literacy and career and technical education (CTE) programs under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) and the Perkins Act.
While Labor manages operational duties, the Department of Education retains statutory responsibilities and oversight while shifting services to states and grant recipients.
"It started first with CTE — Career and Technical Education — then K–12 and finally higher education as well," McMahon said.
McMahon explained that she wants to show lawmakers that federal support for students won't falter without a standalone Cabinet department.
"I've asked Congress with this proof of concept in these interagency agreements: 'Let me prove to you that it works,'" she said.
"Ultimately, Congress has to vote if we do close the Department of Education, and if I, in fact, am able to fire myself. Hopefully, they will vote [for it], because I believe the outcome will be better for students, and that is the goal. That is certainly the president's goal."
The agency took another major step by partnering with the Department of the Treasury, which agreed to take over key operations related to federal student loans and collections on defaulted debt.
The student loan partnership with Treasury and the workforce initiative with DOL are part of a broader series of interagency agreements. According to Department of Education officials, the goal is to demonstrate a "proof of concept" to Congress that essential federal education functions and funding flows can be successfully reallocated across executive branch agencies without disruption.
"I call it my proof of concept to show Congress that it works, that the money still gets to schools and to students where they need it," McMahon told Fox News Digital.
"Some of the programs in the Department of Education were being duplicated in other agencies or handled better elsewhere," McMahon added. "So, let's be efficient. Let's make sure the money gets where it needs to go, let's measure that by student outcomes and let's hold teachers and administrators accountable for what they're doing."
Andrew Gillen, a higher education policy research fellow at the Cato Institute, told Fox News Digital that shifting major core duties like student loans and formula grants marks a substantial change from previous interagency agreements, which historically focused on minor administrative support.
McMahon previously argued during the government shutdown that the ED acts primarily as a pass-through entity for federal money, contending that its day-to-day functions are nonessential.
"Congress appropriates the funds. The funds come through the Department of Education, and some of that funding still goes to other agencies to get to students and schools," McMahon told Fox News Digital.
"Primarily, the money was passed through the Department of Education to then get to the states and local authorities for education."
ED announced earlier this year that the agency moved out of the Lyndon B. Johnson Department of Education building so the Department of Energy could move in by August. The move is what the officials call "a prudent step to save hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars and further reduce the federal education bureaucracy."
The Trump administration is also seeking to reduce the department's footprint by returning more power to the states.
The ED launched a new process allowing states to seek greater flexibility in using federal education funds and reducing administrative burdens. Iowa became the first state to participate in the effort.
The Department of Education sent states a letter in July 2025 encouraging them to apply for the waiver, which would give state education officials more discretion over federal dollars and reduce compliance costs.
Tyler Robinson hearing ends without trial date set, prompting fiery plea from Erika Kirk's lawyer
PROVO, Utah — Tyler Robinson, the 23-year-old Utah man accused of assassinating Charlie Kirk at a Turning Point USA event last year, still doesn't have a trial date after a Utah judge listened to oral arguments from both sides — and a lawyer for Kirk's widow — about how much time they think they'll need and when they'd like to start.
Robinson, wearing a light gray suit, uncuffed and unshackled, did not address the court. He spoke quietly with attorneys Richard Novak, Kathy Nester and Staci Visser during breaks, at one point handing Visser a note.
Judge Tony Graf Jr. said he had planned to set a trial date at the end of the hearing but needed more time after questioning both sides about their expected timelines and commitments in previously scheduled trials on other cases.
Jeffrey Neiman, an attorney for Kirk's widow, Erika, pleaded with the court to speed things up. Robinson did not enter a plea until last month, nearly a year after being charged.
"Every day of delay adds to uncertainty, invites speculation, and that erodes confidence in this system," Neiman said at one point.
The roughly three-hour hearing saw several interruptions due to technical difficulty with WebEx, with Robinson defense attorney Michael Burt and an attorney for Kirk's parents, Robert and Kathy, attending remotely.
Utah County prosecutors had floated Jan. 31, 2028, as their preferred trial date but said they could be ready in October 2027.
TYLER ROBINSON TO FACE TRIAL IN CHARLIE KIRK ASSASSINATION AS JUDGE KEEPS DEATH PENALTY ON TABLE
Visser said that pretrial litigation "builds upon itself," and given that there are over 31,000 pieces of discovery and "8 million" artifacts of digital evidence, they will need time to file motions to compel, file subpoenas, etc.
"Discovery review is foundational," she said. "It impacts everything else."
As a result, she said, the state’s proposed January 2028 trial is "not practical."
The defense had asked for a "soft target" date in the third quarter of 2029, citing large amounts of discovery and other trial preparations — as well as trial commitments in other cases. Among those, one directly conflicted with the prosecution's desired start date, a federal racketeering case defense attorney Novak has scheduled for Jan. 10, 2028.
Both sides agreed that setting a trial that would run through the holidays could put potential jurors and witnesses in a bind.
ERIKA KIRK PENS ESSAY ON GRIEF AS READERS GAIN INSIGHTS INTO WRENCHING PAST YEAR
"Justice delayed this long stops being justice for the Kirk family," Neiman said.
Neiman noted that only about 5% of federal cases actually make it to trial and said the Kirk family would be happy to write to the federal judge and ask for the January trial to be rescheduled to clear up Robinson's defense attorney.
Under Utah's state constitution, victims and their representatives have a right to a speedy resolution to their case. Erika Kirk is the court's designated victim's representative.
Novak told the court that trial's start date had been "set in stone" and argued against rushing things along in the case against Robinson.
"The reality is rushing to trial does not lead to closure, it does not lead to finality, it leads to mistakes," he said.
UTAH PROSECUTORS ASK JUDGE TO SHUT DOWN DELAY TACTICS IN CHARLIE KIRK ASSASSINATION CASE
Graf expressed concern that if he does not set a date soon, additional conflicts could arise.
Neiman, who is primarily a criminal defense attorney, has repeatedly asked the court to speed things up.
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"Time is the defense’s best ally," he said. "It’s their best friend."
He also noted that regardless of when the trial takes place, Charlie Kirk won't be able to spend Christmas with his family.
"Your honor, if you set it, it will happen," Neiman said. "Set it, please."
Graf set the next hearing for Monday, Nov. 9 at 1 p.m. MT, when he said he would read his ruling.
Vanessa Trump 'finally cancer-free,' she says after health battle in emotional video with daughter Kai
Vanessa Trump revealed she is now cancer-free after battling breast cancer, sharing the emotional health update in a new video with her daughter, Kai Trump, months after publicly announcing her diagnosis.
The 19-year-old granddaughter of President Donald Trump shared a preview of the conversation on Instagram during Breast Cancer Awareness Month, revealing that her mother, who's the ex-wife of Donald Trump Jr., was diagnosed in April.
"And my mom was diagnosed with breast cancer in April, so we thought we'd share her story and how she was diagnosed, how she overcame it," Kai said in the video.
To finish the social clip, Vanessa shared the news that she is now cancer-free.
"And it came back clear, so I'm finally cancer-free," Vanessa said.
"Love you!" Kai responded.
The video also features Fox News medical contributor Dr. Nicole Saphier, who discusses the importance of breast cancer awareness and early detection.
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"It feels different for everyone," Saphier said. "The reason I like social media talking about breast cancer is because it's reminding people that it is common."
In her Instagram caption, Kai said she sat down with her mother and Saphier to discuss Vanessa's cancer journey, prevention and early detection. She also announced that the full conversation would be released on YouTube the following day.
Vanessa, the mother of five, first revealed her breast cancer diagnosis in May.
"I've recently been diagnosed with breast cancer," Vanessa wrote at the time. "While this isn't news anyone expects, I'm working closely with my medical team on a treatment plan."
She revealed that doctors had performed a procedure earlier that week and thanked her family for their support.
"I am staying focused and hopeful while surrounded by the love and support of my family, my kids, and those closest to me," she wrote.
The announcement prompted support from Ivanka Trump, who wrote, "Praying for your continued strength and a swift recovery. Love you mama."
In June, Vanessa said she was recovering from surgery and preparing to begin the second stage of treatment, Fox News Digital reported.
Kai later opened up about the emotional experience in an August interview with Fox News Digital, shortly after beginning her freshman year at the University of Miami.
"There was definitely, there was a lot of crying in, like, the week leading up," Kai said of the days before leaving for college. "We would just be driving, and then we'd just start crying together."
At the time, Kai said her mother was improving after treatment.
"My mom, she's doing a lot better," she said. "Kind of after treatment, she wasn't feeling very good. Just like how treatment will make you feel … but she's getting a lot better now."
Kai described the extra time she spent with her mother over the summer as a "blessing in disguise."
"I was able to spend extra time with her that I would normally probably spend on the golf course," Kai said. "It was nice to spend those extra hours with her throughout the day before going to college."
Now, months after Vanessa first revealed her diagnosis and Kai described their emotional summer together, the mother and daughter are sharing a hopeful new chapter.
Fox News Digital's Sophia Compton and Paulina Dedaj contributed to this reporting.
Wrestling legend Ric Flair, 77, rushed to Tampa hospital after fall outside bar, head injuries: report
Pro wrestling legend Ric Flair was reportedly rushed to a Florida hospital after falling outside a bar.
According to TMZ, Flair was at a Tampa bar when he walked outside and fell, injuring his face and possibly suffering a concussion.
TMZ says Flair cut his head and eye, which was bleeding, and was loaded into an ambulance.
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The reported fall came hours after Flair announced that he would be unable to attend a scheduled appearance in Seattle due to a blood clot in his leg.
"My Doctors Have Limited My Travel To 3–4 Hours. Seattle Falls Outside That Range, And As Disappointed As I Am, I Have To Put My Health And Recovery First. Blood Clots Are Extremely Serious And Can Be Life-Threatening," Flair said on X. "We Have Seen This Recently With Jalen Hurts And The Complications Involving Blood Clots In His Lungs. It Is A Reminder That This Is Not Something To Take Lightly, And I Must Follow Medical Advice."
Flair said he is slated to have surgery on the affected vein, "[w]hich My Doctors Expect Will Allow Me To Be Cleared For More Travel Afterward."
"Please Know This Decision Was Not Made Lightly. I Am Truly Sorry For The Inconvenience And Disappointment, And I Am Incredibly Grateful For Your Patience, Understanding, And Continued Support. I Look Forward To Getting Healthy And Seeing You All Down The Road. Thank You For The Love And Support," Flair added.
Tampa Fire Rescue told OutKick and Fox News Digital that it responded to a fall outside the establishment, and an adult male was taken to a local hospital — the department did not name Flair, saying they could not "provide any patient particulars due to HIPPA guidelines."
Flair, 77, has battled health and alcohol issues over the years.
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Flair has been in and out of wrestling for the last few years. His so-called "Last Match" took place in 2022 — a tag-team match with his then-son-in-law, the wrestler known as Andrade, against Jeff Jarrett and Jay Lethal. He later revealed he passed out twice during the match.
Flair made his All Elite Wrestling debut in 2023 and was a brief part of Sting’s final professional match at AEW Revolution, where Sting and Darby Allin took on the Young Bucks.
He was a World Championship Wrestling world heavyweight champion eight times, a National Wrestling Alliance world heavyweight champion nine times and a WWE champion twice during his career.
The WWE inducted Flair into its Hall of Fame in 2008 as a singles wrestler and as a member of the Four Horsemen in 2012.
Rubio urges Cubans to work with CIA to bring political change to communist-run island
Secretary of State Marco Rubio urged Cubans seeking political change Friday to discreetly cooperate with the CIA as President Donald Trump separately floated sending Rubio to the communist-run island to negotiate a deal.
"To those who seek to create positive change in Cuba - now is the time," Rubio wrote in a post on X.
"The disappointment of failed promises, corruption, and the privileged lives of only a few; seize this opportunity to create the change you desire through a discrete partnership with the CIA."
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Rubio's message explicitly encouraged Cubans to work with the U.S. intelligence agency but did not identify a specific operation or explain what such cooperation would involve.
Rubio, the son of Cuban immigrants, has long advocated for a tougher U.S. approach toward the Cuban government.
The former Florida senator has been a prominent critic of the communist leadership in Havana and opposed efforts to normalize relations without political reforms.
Trump, meanwhile, raised the possibility of U.S. ships stopping near Cuba while discussing Iran during a midterm rally in Fort Myers, Florida, Friday.
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"Don't worry. We'll take care of Cuba on our way back from Iran with it. We'll do a little stopover now. We'll do a little stopover," Trump told the crowd.
"Actually, what we're going to do with Cuba is we're going to come back from Iran. Those beautiful ships will pass Cuba. We'll have one of them stop about 50 yards off the coast. They'll raise up their hands."
Trump then suggested Rubio could handle negotiations with the communist-run island.
"And then we're going to send Marco Rubio in to finish up the deal. We'll have Marco. Marco. We don't even have to stop. We could just put him in there and he'll figure it out. He's a great guy."
Trump did not provide details about any proposed agreement with Cuba or indicate whether his remarks reflected an actual military or diplomatic plan.
Fox News Digital reached out to the CIA, State Department, White House and Cuban Embassy in Washington, D.C., for comment.
Trump says NFL 'could've probably postponed' Paris game as France protests stretch police thin
President Donald Trump is skeptical about the National Football League continuing to hold its first-ever game in Paris amid protests.
The Pittsburgh Steelers and New Orleans Saints are still set to kick off Sunday despite the civil unrest and a Paris Saint-Germain soccer game the same day being postponed.
Paris police requested a postponement of the PSG game because police and security resources are stretched thin due to mass protests, ongoing civil unrest and France's first NFL game happening in the region, per multiple reports.
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The NFL said in a reply to an email from OutKick and Fox News Digital that the PSG game did not impact any potential decision to move the Steelers-Saints game. However, Trump said the NFL "could've probably postponed that match."
"It's looking like tomorrow is going to be a bad day in France, so you worry about it. I would've said the NFL could've probably postponed that match... France is really in trouble," Trump told reporters on Friday.
Trump then took a shot at Democratic policies.
"That's what happens when you go left. That's what happens when you allow unlimited numbers of people into your country from very unfriendly countries."
The NFL has insisted multiple times this week that Sunday's game in France will be safe to play and safe for fans to attend amid civil unrest. However, the Steelers canceled a fan event in the area.
According to a league source, the topics discussed at the two-hour gathering included security for the game, the readiness of the Stade de France, where the game is to be played and the growth of flag football in France.
Organizers of the Paris protest told the Associated Press that an administrative court overturned a protest ban issued by police after they challenged it. The Paris prefecture previously said the ban was necessary, given the risk of street violence after groups of masked youth clashed with officers, looted shops and torched cars over the weekend.
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The organizers signed a police document stating that the protest would remain stationary due to the risk of violence.
Earlier this week, Dani Watt, the wife of Steelers defensive end TJ Watt, questioned publicly why the game has not been moved.
"Tell me how this one makes sense???" Watt posted.
The NFL on Thursday told OutKick that its own NFL Fan House event scheduled for Friday and Saturday remains as scheduled.
"It's happening," a league spokesman said.
On Wednesday, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said he would attend the game and had spoken with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio in recent days about moving forward with it.
Rubio told OutKick that the American embassy in France believes the game "will be fine."
OutKick's Armando Salguero contributed to this report.
ESPN posts propagandistic headline about Trump, LeBron and national anthem
NBA star LeBron James was shown practicing his golf swing during the playing of the United States national anthem before his 76ers debut on Tuesday. Later in the week, President Donald Trump called James' conduct a "TOTAL DISGRACE" on social media.
The story itself is quite simple. James practiced his golf swing during "The Star-Spangled Banner." Trump criticized him for it. And yet, the headline writers at ESPN apparently didn't see it quite as clearly.
According to ESPN.com on Thursday, "Trump criticizes LeBron James for not standing still during the national anthem."
Take a look:
Here's the full clip of James during the national anthem:
Describing what James did as merely "not standing still" is an awfully charitable characterization. He wasn't shifting his feet or adjusting his uniform. He was practicing his golf swing while the national anthem played.
The framing minimizes the conduct at the center of the controversy. ESPN suggested James' behavior was innocuous and Trump's criticism was excessive.
That was the point. ESPN must feel it has an obligation to protect James. The headline writers must have also agreed James was wrong. Otherwise, there would be no reason to sanitize it as James merely failing to "stand still."
At least athletes who kneel during the anthem generally claim that they are doing so as a form of protest. James offered no such explanation. He simply sought to make a mockery of the anthem.
It also wasn't the first time. James was caught practicing his swing during the national anthem on Christmas Day last year.
There’s something cringe about a star American athlete who previously criticized NBA executive Daryl Morey for supporting Hong Kong protesters now behaving this way during the U.S. national anthem.
At this stage of his career, the NBA also has to ask how much James still benefits its brand.
James turns 42 in December. He has averaged 15 points per game through his first two games this season and, unsurprisingly at his age, is a shell of his former self.
His basketball legacy is secure. James is one of the greatest players in NBA history. But he has become a net negative through his declining play and consistently anti-American messaging.
Vance receives warm reception during Bengals visit despite negative media portrayal: source
The narrative on social media that Vice President JD Vance was ignored by multiple Cincinnati Bengals players at a recent team practice apparently does not reflect what actually unfolded that day, a source with knowledge of the visit told OutKick.
A recent video shared online showed Vance and his family outside the team's locker room on Thursday as the team walked back in. The video, that did not have clear audio of the interaction, showed Bengals tight end Drew Sample stop to shake the vice president's hand as other players walked by.
But footage obtained by OutKick portrayed a different story, including a handshake with an enthusiastic Bengals head coach Zac Taylor. The video also captured audio and appeared to show Vance chopping it up with players and other staffers.
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"Seeing how the media works is actually pretty crazy. The players, staff, and Vice President Vance and his son all had a great time at practice," the source told OutKick exclusively. "All of these negative tweets and articles are completely detached from the reality of how well the visit went."
Initial reaction to the video shared on social described the interaction as Vance getting "snubbed" by the team.
"This is what TOTAL HUMILIATION looks like: JD Vance attempted to greet Cincinnati Bengals players in the locker room and got snubbed and ghosted by every single player except one," one person wrote on X.
"JD Vance walked into the Bengals locker room looking for a photo-op, and the players gave him the cold shoulder he deserves," another person wrote, adding that the team didn't want to be used for"political theater."
But the source told OutKick that Vance and his son were warmly received when visiting the facility with no planned media engagement. A photo obtained by OutKick showed the vice president and his family playing catch on the field. The source added that defensive lineman Dexter Lawrence approached the vice president and had conversation with him during the visit.
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Vance, an Ohio native, is a longtime Bengals fan, growing up roughly an hour outside of Cincinnati. He has a home in Cincinnati’s East Walnut Hills neighborhood.
Vance toured the team's locker room, shook hands with several players, coach Zac Taylor and others, and came away with a football. It is unclear if Vance brought the ball to be autographed or the club gave it to him as a memento.
Quarterback Joe Burrow said he "did not" talk to Vance.
"He came with everybody and left with swiftness and efficiency before the end of practice, so I didn't get to," Burrow told reporters earlier this week.
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Vance was in town to deliver a speech at the FBI's Cincinnati Field Office and then hold a campaign rally at the Sharonville Convention Center.
OutKick's Armando Salguero contributed to this report.
Fox News Entertainment newsletter: Harry risks 'lobbing a grenade' at William; Kate brings back Diana's tiara
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