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DR MARC SIEGEL: Twenty-five years after 9/11, the deadly health crisis is still claiming lives
When the alerts came on September 11, 2001, I first made sure my kids were safe and then headed to home base, which for me was that concrete lifesaver – Bellevue Hospital. I helped empty the hospital where I had trained, triaging patients to other facilities in preparation for World Trade Center survivors. Then we waited for hours for survivors who never came.
A few days later I visited the disaster site, and when I arrived, I was handed an N95 mask. I made my way through the rubble, very aware that I was in the presence of potentially toxic chemicals and fumes. It was a bright, sunny day, but there was still a film in the air.
With all due respect to New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, who is claiming the public was lied to and has released 170,000 documents related to the attacks to supposedly verify a coverup, I have a simple response.
MAMDANI DROPS MASSIVE 9/11 RECORDS TROVE AS OLD CLAIMS ABOUT GROUND ZERO COME UNDER FIRE
We knew.
We knew there were potentially serious health risks.
We knew the molten debris and toxins were a problem. We knew that there would be health risks and consequences from the terror attacks for generations to come, not only for first responders—heroes who put their lives on the line to try to save the few people they could—but also for survivors and the people who lived in the surrounding New York City neighborhoods.
REPORTER’S NOTEBOOK: 9/11 IS JUST A HISTORY CHAPTER FOR A NEW GENERATION OF AMERICANS
Over the years, I have treated many patients with health consequences from direct exposure, from gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) to asthma, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and cancer. Many have come to me who simply lived in the neighborhood and were rightfully worried that their symptoms could be connected to that exposure.
I have shared patients with the well-designed and executed World Trade Center Health Program, which has helped monitor my patients with CT scans of the chest and other screening tools.
Over the years, it has become clearer that increased cancer rates have been tied directly to the toxins released into the air that fateful day. The Northwell WTC Health Program has revealed that 57,000 cancer cases have been linked to 9/11 toxic debris. Cases have jumped 75% from 2023 to 2025 alone. There has been a twofold increase in lung cancer in just five years. Skin, prostate, breast, and thyroid cancers, as well as lymphomas, are the most common.
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Monitoring continues, and the trends continue to increase. More than 9,000 people have died from health-related effects of 9/11, far more than died in the attacks themselves.
As I have written previously, the American psyche was punctured on 9/11 in a way that changed us forever. Here in New York, in some ways we are stronger, but we are also more fearful. The physical and emotional impact of that day lingers today.
We knew about these risks, though the extent of the impact was far greater than anyone realized at the time, whether patient, doctor, or public health official.
How could we know? We could only predict, screen, and treat.
Trump set to honor 9/11 victims and first responders at Pentagon and more top headlines
1. Trump set to honor 9/11 victims and first responders at Pentagon
2. Trump issues blunt midterm warning as GOP convention wraps
3. Charlie Kirk supporters return to site of assassination one year later
DISRUPTOR DEPORTED — Vance shuts down heckler waving foreign flag with savage one-liner during GOP speech. Continue reading …
KEEP THE FAITH — 9/11 'last survivor' reveals mysterious encounter after 27 hours buried beneath rubble. Continue reading …
PLOT PUSHBACK — Lindsay Clancy's lawyer reveals how she feels about ex Patrick as theories fly. Continue reading …
SOLEMN STANDOFF — Zohran Mamdani won’t heed 9/11 families’ call to skip Ground Zero memorial. Continue reading …
STOLEN BONDS — 9/11 call haunts daughter 25 years later as she turns grief into help. Continue reading …
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MAJORITY ON THE LINE — GOP powerhouse launches big-money Texas push to boost Ken Paxton in key Senate race. Continue reading …
A POLITICAL REBUKE — Ontario premier urges voters to hold Trump accountable over trade war in midterms. Continue reading …
PRIMETIME SMACKDOWN — Vance declares Democrats ‘party of hatred,’ says party has moved beyond big government. Continue reading …
WIDENING THE NET — US adds Los Tiguerones to list of Latin American terrorist organizations. Continue reading …
STORYTIME POLITICS — Ms Rachel defends Mamdani amid 9/11 memorial controversy. Continue reading …
SPINE CHECK — Democratic rep removes posts attacking ABC for avoiding Kimmel interview with Talarico. Continue reading …
OUTRAGE MACHINE — Netflix defends post conservatives claim targets Charlie Kirk on death anniversary. Continue reading …
MUTUAL ADMIRATION — Megan Rapinoe claims rise of women's sports has led to 'regression' of 'equal rights'. Continue reading …
FRANK SILLER — Everyone else was running away on 9/11. My brother ran toward the Twin Towers. Continue reading …
JOHN ONDRASIK — What 9/11 taught us about courage, unity and the price of freedom. Continue reading …
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DIRTY LAUNDRY — Aaron Rodgers claims Shailene Woodley made a stunning confession after their split. Continue reading …
STACK ATTACK — Wendy's 9-patty monster burger resurfaces with a $30 price tag and 3,000 calories. Continue reading …
JAMMED UP — Popular California chain files for bankruptcy after 36 years in business. Continue reading …
DIGITAL'S NEWS QUIZ – Who quit his job and predicted an AI apocalypse? What was Nike's major setback? Take the quiz here …
Hosted by Bill Hemmer live from the National September 11 Memorial & Museum, the series finale of Fox News Rewind: 9/11 brings together distinguished guests and museum leaders to reflect on 25 years of healing, resilience, and honor. Plus, don't miss exclusive video content as we look at how America carries the mantle of remembrance to future generations. Listen now and watch exclusive video content here…
'Ruthless' dives into the historic Midterm Convention with Trump’s biggest moments. Check it out ...
'The Riley Gaines Show' remembers one year since Charlie Kirk.
Catch the new episode at 10am ET ...
What’s it looking like in your neighborhood? Continue reading…
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NFL allows stolen land acknowledgement disguised as a welcoming ceremony before Australia game
The most off-putting thing about the NFL asking two teams to fly 16 hours to the other side of the world and play a key division rivalry game in Australia the first week of the season was the league agreeing to give the performative antics of some lady named Aunty Joy Murphy Wandin a stage during its pregame ceremony.
Aunty Joy, as she is affectionately called by her followers, which include people in the Australian government, is an Indigenous Australian and Senior Wurundjeri elder of the Kulin Alliance, Victoria.
And what that title means is that she is often tasked with giving the traditional Welcome to Country greeting at many Melbourne, Australia events.
Except a welcome to country greeting from Aunty Joy isn't actually a welcome. It's a stolen land acknowledgement lecture during which she makes it clear that the land the visitors are on doesn't belong to White Australians.
It belongs to whatever Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander that first inhabited the land thousands of years ago. It was 60,000 years ago, if you believe Aunty Joy's speech at the Melbourne Cricket Ground before Thursday's game.
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And the obvious question one might ask is why the NFL would accept this narrative being part of what was otherwise a solemn and respectful 9/11 pregame memorial featuring both Americans and Australians?
Why make the Netflix audience at home, not to mention the teams standing on the sidelines waiting for kickoff, listen to this stolen land gibberish?
And, let there be no doubt, it was gibberish meant to finger-wag and lecture Whitey.
During her history lesson disguised as a welcome, Aunty Joy thanked the NFL and both participating teams. She thanked the San Francisco 49ers and the Los Angeles Chargers, um, Rams.
That's right, the stolen land acknowledgement lady initially thanked the wrong Los Angeles team that wasn't present and has actually moved in to the Rams' home market after departing San Diego.
"Kulin Nation and neighboring islands … We pay our respects to your culture and heritage and those watching at home," Wandin said. "And we also thank the National Football League for bringing the San Francisco 49ers and the Los Angeles Char-Rams to 'Naarm to celebrate their first-ever flag session for this season."
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Naarm, by the way, is the Indigenous name for Melbourne. Except Aunty Joy doesn't use that name – kind of like the Soviets didn't use St. Petersburg so they called it Leningrad.
"We hope that everyone enjoys themselves," she continued. "We also hope that you have enjoyed our celebration of honoring 60,000 years of our culture, and we thank all of our community who have been involved.
"We are known as the Manangan people, and I'll take this leaf on behalf of our community, the Wurundjeri Woiwurrung, and our neighboring islands."
That's when Aunty Joy plucked a leaf from a dying plant she was holding and symbolically offered it up like some pagan ritual.
"Accepting this gift means that you are welcome to everything from the tops of the trees to the roots of the earth," she said. "Wominjeka, Wurundjeri Baluk, and on my father's land, we sincerely hope you have a wonderful time here at the MCG. Wominjeka. Welcome."
Stolen land acknowledgements are apparently a thing in Australia because the people who own the land now apparently feel guilty that the people who owned it thousands of years ago no longer do.
Well, they don't feel that guilty because nobody is offering to give their land back. But they want you to feel guilty, anyway. So, yes, all performative.
What makes this strange is the NFL's collaboration. Look, it's one thing to visit historical locales and participate in cultural events in the weeks or days leading up to an international game.
But once the gameday lights go hot, nobody tunes in to hear white people get portrayed as usurpers.
And if the NFL wants to hear that, perhaps it should hold such presentations at its league office in Manhattan. You know, the New York borough settlers purchased from natives and nobody is giving back.
A generation cannot remember 9/11. We have a duty to make sure they learn
After the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, this country made an enduring promise to "Never Forget."
It was a promise made by those of us who witnessed the attacks. Twenty-five years later, it is now a promise we must pass down to those born since 9/11.
More than 100 million Americans are too young to remember 9/11. They know 9/11 as a moment in history books rather than a day that began with clear skies that were soon darkened by smoke and fear.
AMERICA’S HEARTLAND COMES FACE-TO-FACE WITH 9/11 HISTORY AS 25TH ANNIVERSARY NEARS
These 100 million Americans are not all children. They are now firefighters and police officers. They are enlisted service members and officers carrying out missions reshaped by the 9/11 attacks. They are parents, neighbors and volunteers. And a great many of them now stand in classrooms as teachers and role models for our youth.
To put this in perspective, students starting high school this fall were born over a decade after the attacks. They might also be taught by someone too young to remember 9/11 or who wasn't even born yet.
9/11 MUSEUM CEO REFLECTS ON LASTING IMPACT OF TERROR ATTACKS AS AMERICA MARKS 250TH BIRTHDAY
A quarter-century on, that is the challenge before this country, and it is addressed by the work we do every day at the National September 11 Memorial & Museum: making sure the promise to never forget does not fade.
Since the museum opened in 2014, more than 28 million visitors have passed through its doors. Increasingly, they come to learn what happened here because they didn't live through it themselves.
Inside, visitors see the names, faces and stories of the 2,977 victims. They see the things people carried that morning, like business cards and wallets. They take in the scale of the twisted steel from the towers. And they learn about what happened from the stories and firsthand accounts of people there that day.
They also experience the spirit of Sept. 12 and learn how our city, country and world came together in ways big and small in the aftermath of tragedy. Neighbors raised flags in solidarity. Volunteers came to Ground Zero to help any way they could. Schoolchildren visited their local firehouses. On Sept. 12, 2001, and afterward, we witnessed some of the very best of our country's resilience, caring and patriotism. People from more than 90 countries were killed, and people came from all over the world to help.
MASSIVE PIECE OF 9/11 HISTORY MAKES STUNNING 10,500-MILE JOURNEY ACROSS AMERICA
But we know not everyone can come to us in Lower Manhattan to see these artifacts, hear these stories and experience the memorial and museum.
That is why we at the 9/11 Memorial & Museum are committed to bringing the legacy of Sept. 11 to students everywhere. We have developed student workshops, online programs, lesson plans and professional development opportunities to ensure educators are empowered and equipped to teach this subject.
9/11 STEEL BEAM ARRIVES AT FLORIDA SCHOOL WHERE BUSH LEARNED AMERICA WAS UNDER ATTACK
Every summer, teachers come to Lower Manhattan from across the country to spend a few days with us. They walk the museum floor, hear firsthand accounts and interact with experts. Many of them were in school that morning and some weren't born yet. They come because they know a textbook won't be enough when they stand in front of a classroom in September. They go home with the essential resources and a better sense of how to teach something that is still lived history.
This year, as we commemorate the 25th anniversary of the attacks, we encourage you to take time to learn about 9/11 and to share stories of hope and community that are part of its legacy. It's our duty to educate future generations and help them understand not only the scope of that tragic day but also the acts of service, compassion and courage that it inspired.
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If you're a teacher and aren't sure where to start, visit our website to find the tools to help. If you're a student, join our Anniversary Digital Learning Experience, ask questions and listen to those who lived through this day, whether that's family, neighbors or recorded videos and interviews.
Twenty-five years ago, we promised to never forget. Teaching and learning are the only ways we can fulfill that promise now.
Denis Leary says firefighters’ darkest days after 9/11 helped bring hit show ‘Rescue Me’ to life
Denis Leary saw grief and laughter collide inside FDNY firehouses in the devastating aftermath of 9/11 – an emotional whiplash that ultimately helped inspire "Rescue Me."
That collision of heartbreak and humor would become central to "Rescue Me," with Leary drawing from the firefighters he knew and the raw moments he witnessed inside their firehouses in the months after 9/11.
"A lot of the guys I knew that had survived, I was spending time with them and in their firehouses as they were digging through The Pile in the fall right after 9/11," he told the New York Post. "We were witnessing the grief that they were going through."
TWENTY-FIVE YEARS LATER, HOLLYWOOD IS GIVING 9/11 THE SILENT TREATMENT, AND IT’S MAKING US LESS SAFE
The original idea Leary was working on with writer Peter Tolan was about a firefighter killed in the line of duty, but one moment changed his mind completely.
"It was literally in the blink of an eye," he explained. "We went from watching a guy come up from downtown from ‘the pile’ – they had found a friend, a piece of a friend, and so he was just overwhelmed with grief. I mean, he could barely talk."
"Watching him trying to fight to talk in that firehouse kitchen was a very tough experience to watch," Leary recalled. "Maybe 20 minutes later… all of us were laughing about something."
That moment – moving from crushing grief to laughter in a matter of minutes – helped Leary envision what "Rescue Me" could become.
MICHAEL KEATON SAYS 9/11 FILM ‘WORTH’ IS ABOUT EMPATHY
"We’re going to make a show where people are on the edge of their seat watching an action sequence involving fire," Leary told the outlet. "And then the next minute they’re crying because they’re so sad, and then the minute after that, they’re laughing their a--es off."
"Rescue Me" stars Leary as Tommy Gavin, a veteran New York City firefighter struggling with alcoholism, family turmoil and survivor’s guilt in the aftermath of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. The supporting cast includes Andrea Roth, Michael Lombardi, Steven Pasquale, Daniel Sunjata, John Scurti and Jack McGee.
Leary and Tolan didn't have to hunt for information. FDNY members and firefighting consultants gave the show's creators plenty of real-life firehouse stories to draw from.
"We had so much information on a daily basis, not just comedically, I’m talking about dramatically," Leary said. "All the ideas for our fires came basically from experiences those guys had."
Feedback from younger firefighters was overwhelmingly positive before the show's launch, according to Leary. "They said, ‘You got it. You totally nailed it.'"
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Leary had been playing a game of pick-up ice hockey on the fateful day 25 years ago.
He watched an "endless flow" of dust-covered corporate workers fleeing uptown New York City for hours from the West Side Highway.
"They turned the rink into a morgue, and they lined up all the ambulances," he recalled.
Leary added, "The sound of the buildings … it’s almost like it goes into your bones."
Leary had experienced the bond between firefighters firsthand years earlier, after his cousin and close friend Jeremiah Lucey was killed alongside five other Worcester firefighters in a 1999 warehouse fire. He recalled FDNY friends traveling to Massachusetts to help search the ruins.
The actor launched the Leary Firefighters Foundation in 2000, shortly before the 9/11 attacks took the lives of many FDNY firefighters and friends of Leary.
"I knew I was going to hear about firefighter friends of mine from the FDNY that didn’t make it," Leary recalled. "But the next day, to hear that 'Ace' Bailey had died in the thing as well, we were just like, ‘That is crazy.’ I mean, it’s insanity."
The acclaimed firefighter drama premiered on FX on July 21, 2004, and ran for seven seasons, ending in September 2011.
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The show's blend of tragedy and dark humor may have resonated with audiences, but Leary recalled that not everyone in Hollywood believed comedy had a place in a post-9/11 world.
"I remember a network executive saying to me at the time or a movie executive saying this is going to alter the way people feel about comedies," Leary said during an appearance on Joy Behar's show in 2011. "And I was like, 'What are you talking about? They're going to need to laugh more than ever. If anything, they are going to be looking to laugh.' And he was full of fear."
Reflecting on the series alongside Leary at the 9/11 Memorial & Museum in 2024, Tolan – co-creator of the show – acknowledged the weight of building a television series around a tragedy that remained deeply personal for so many.
"When you know that, you always have to sort of be vigilant to how far am I going and is it too soon to do this? And I'm not going to say that we were hugely careful because there are elements of the show that are raucous – that are just inappropriately funny," Tolan said. "But that's the human experience."
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"That is what happens, that is the most pure essence of how people move forward in their lives – is at a certain point, they're able to laugh," he added. "Not about the event, but about how they're dealing with the event and how they are responding to it."
Throughout its run, "Rescue Me" explored the friendships and conflicts inside the firehouse while showing how its characters coped with grief, family struggles and the everyday risks that come with their profession.
WWE star Nattie zeroes in on AAA women's title shot at Triplemania 34
WWE star Nattie has a tall task in front of her on Friday night.
She battles three opponents in a fight to become the No. 1 contender for the AAA Reina de Reinas Championship at Triplemania 34 Night 1 in Las Vegas. It will be Nattie taking on Faby Apache, La Hiedra and Roxanne Perez in a fatal four-way match.
For pro wrestling fans tuning into AAA for the first time, Faby Apache and La Hiedra are two professional wrestlers tearing it up in Mexico. They will be new to the audience tuning into the slate of matches for Night 1, but have a deep history of Lucha Libre in their lineages.
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"They’re both students of the game," Nattie explained in an interview with OutKick Dropkick. "They’ve been born and raised into this. They’re both second- and third-generation wrestlers, which in WWE, for the females, there’s myself, there’s Charlotte Flair, there’s Stephanie McMahon … there’s only a few in North America or the world that are third generation but in Mexico, with Faby, Faby’s mom was a wrestler, her dad was a wrestler, her sister was a wrestler, it’s a family tradition for her. And same with La Hiedra. She comes from a long lineage of wrestling.
"But you also have Roxy, who is a member of the Judgment Day. For me, coming into this match, and we didn’t have a very long build, but here’s the thing, for this type of match, it’s women coming together from every area of the world. So, you got Faby and La Hiedra and they’ve never wrestled formally in WWE, at least not to my knowledge, in a WWE ring. They’ve always worked in AAA. Now, I know there’s this partnership with AAA and WWE, but it’s still foreign in the sense that we’re still building it. We’re still coming together. And you have Roxy, who this will be her debut in AAA. So, she’s excited. I know she’s been wanting to come to AAA for a minute."
Nattie is dead set on going for championship gold. She’s looking to prove herself even more as the "Lowkey Legend" and get back an opportunity to win a women’s championship.
"Then, you have myself and last year, I really did some great work as ‘Lowkey Legend’ at Triplemania, actually," she said. "I love working with AAA. I love doing their shows. The crowds are insane. But I will say, this isn’t about me liking the girls or disliking the girls. Every woman that’s in this No. 1 contender’s match, we’re in this match to tear each other’s heads off because it’s about proving who deserves this spot to get gold.
"Like I said, I love and respect Faby, I respect La Hiedra and I respect Roxy. They’ve all worked to earn their spot. But it’s not about me liking them. It’s about me proving I should have gold. That I should have at least one more run at championship gold in WWE. We’re all fighting for that spot. We’re all fighting for recognition. We’re coming from every corner of the world to get that."
It’s going to take more than just desire for Nattie to win.
She acknowledged she’s going to have to scratch, claw and kick her opponents to climb to the top of the women’s roster in AAA and get a title shot. If she wins, she’ll get the opportunity at Worlds Collide at the end of the month.
Flammer holds the title right now, but she will have her hands full with La Catalina on Night 2, which takes place Sunday night in Mexico City.
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"It’s going to take me scratching, clawing and kicking their heads in," Nattie said. "I’ll do it in a very nice, polite ‘Lowkey Legend’ way. But it’s about us out-wrestling each other. It’s about us hitting each other hard. That’s what I love about AAA. I remember last year, I was in the ring with Faby and Flammer and I remember coming back after the match and Undertaker watching me throw these punches at Faby and ‘Taker was watching in Gorilla and he was like, ‘Man, I’ve never seen a girl throw a punch like that. And I said to him, this ‘Lowkey Legend’ is different. She’s fighting for everything she felt she should’ve had for 20 years.
"For me, it’s not just about feeling overlooked. I was telling Bully Ray, the other day he was like, ‘Why do you feel the need that you need to keep on proving yourself over and over and over again?’ I fight to do everything. I never have rested on my laurels. ‘Oh, I have seven Guinness World Records. Oh, I was in five Money in the Bank ladder matches,’ or ‘Oh, I was in the most WrestleMania matches of any woman in WWE.’ I never rest on all these accomplishments because I believe, as long as you’re doing it, the rent is due every single day.
"I look at someone like Rey Mysterio who is (51), and Rey is in the best shape of his life and I watched him on ‘Raw’ and I was saying to my husband, T.J., I was like, ‘the rent is due.’ Rey isn’t resting on all of these things that he’s done. Rey is going in and doing the best work of his career. And he didn’t win the match but when I watched that match on ‘Raw’ last week, I was like, ‘Man, he is moving like he’s 18.’ That’s what I want to do. I want to go in there and prove that I’m not resting on the fact that some people may say I had a legendary career. I gotta prove myself every single match that I have, every single moment that I have. That’s why I fought to do NXT. To show that I can test this character against any woman from any promotion at any point in the world anywhere in the world. With Faby, La Hiedra and Roxanne, there’s no better woman to test the character against than these women at AAA in Vegas at a sold-out show."
It will be the second consecutive Triplemania for Nattie.
Last year, she was in a triple-threat match for the Reina de Reinas Championship against Flammer and Faby Apache. Flammer came out on top.
Son who lost father in 9/11 attacks shares powerful lessons 25 years later: ‘I’m still here’
As the nation marks 25 years since Sept. 11, 2001, the weight of the loss of loved ones still looms.
Podcaster David Ferrugio, author of the new book "You're Not Dead Yet," joined Fox News Digital to discuss how his own grief persists 25 years after 9/11.
The host of the "DEAD Talks" podcast lost his father, David Frances Ferrugio, who worked at the World Trade Center, in the 9/11 terrorist attacks.
Ferrugio, who was 12 years old and living in New Jersey at the time, recalls watching television footage of the towers collapsing and "breaking down."
"It was like a dividing moment in my memory and my life, because I was one person on September 11th and then on September 12th. It was a whole new reality I walked into, which inspired what I'm doing."
After years of internalizing his emotions, Ferrugio discovered the power of sharing stories of grief. On his podcast, he invites guests to discuss their own experiences with death and loss.
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"Eventually, I got comfortable expressing myself and learning the importance of just sharing [my] story and telling people how I feel and opening up," he said.
Drawing from his own experiences, Ferrugio shares several lessons that have helped him navigate grief.
Although discussions of grief can be difficult, even decades after a traumatic event like 9/11, Ferrugio said "embracing the uncomfortable" and talking it out is "an important piece of this complex puzzle."
Sharing stories of loss can provide emotional release while also helping others feel less alone, he noted, adding that he's seen firsthand how those conversations can make a difference.
"Even when I have my days of just not feeling it, I'm reminded by the people who reach out and the way they share their story ... how much it is impacting so many people."
Finding a sense of community can be especially meaningful at a time when so many people are experiencing loneliness, whether they're grieving or not, Ferrugio added.
AMERICANS BORN ON 9/11 MARK 25 YEARS WITH ACTS OF SERVICE, TRADING PERSONAL CELEBRATION FOR HONOR
"I've learned so much through the eyes of others, and I think the storytelling is just so vital."
Fear of judgment often keeps people from sharing their stories, even though doing so can bring a sense of "liberation," according to Ferrugio.
More than two decades after the attacks, Ferrugio shared that his mental health has improved after putting in "a lot of effort," including shifting his perspective on life and death.
"Life and death are the same coin, just two different sides – and there's a thin veil between them," he said.
"It’s completely shifted the way I live my life through seeing what other people are going through ... understanding the pain people are experiencing, how they manage it ... how they reframe it, and understanding that as alone as this life can feel, we're not as alone as we think."
Grief can reshape how people approach life, Ferrugio said, encouraging them to be more present, embrace the full range of emotions and give themselves grace, even during life's most difficult times.
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"Ultimately, all these conversations I've had are conversations about grief, but they're really conversations about how we can live this life."
When painful emotions or a wave of grief start to roll in, Ferrugio's go-to technique is to allow himself to feel it and "breathe it out."
"A lot of breath work works wonders for me," he said. "A deep breath is going to do more for you than you think."
Along with breath work, Ferrugio said exercising and spending time in nature have helped calm his nervous system, noting that what works best varies from person to person.
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"We forget to look inward, and we all have that intuition and that guttural feeling – we have to trust what we're saying to ourselves," he said. "What feels good? Does this feel like it's working?"
According to Ferrugio, it’s important to allow for moments of joy, even during times of grief.
"Give yourself permission to feel moments of levity, to feel moments of joy, even if it is for five seconds … just take those moments and cherish them, because the contrast of the joy and pain exists for a reason."
"It's not easy to feel however you feel, but it takes a lot of effort and discomfort to try to step out of that … Whatever we go through in life, it's an ebb and flow, and sometimes both are happening at the same time."
On the 25th anniversary of 9/11, Ferrugio acknowledged that the pain of losing his father remains.
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"For anyone else who's been part of that day, I just hope they look back at the days they've gone through and see that they're still here," he said. "You're still with us, and you’re still grinding, you're showing up for the people in your life."
"It's important to zoom out and realize, ‘I've done this for 25 years, and I'm still here.’"
Sophie Cunningham launches new podcast after previous co-host shared opposing views on trans athletes
Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham has returned to podcasting with a new co-host after her previous partner publicly shared an opposing position to Cunningham on the topic of transgender athletes in women’s sports.
Cunningham launched "No Hesitation" alongside prominent basketball trainer Drew Hanlen on Thursday. The program replaces "Show Me Something," the podcast she previously hosted with "Summer House" personality West Wilson.
"Show Me Something" stopped releasing episodes this summer. Its social media accounts and YouTube channel have since been rebranded under the "No Hesitation" name. Neither Cunningham, Wilson nor The Volume has publicly said the disagreement over transgender athletes caused the change or formally explained Wilson’s departure.
Wilson publicly shared his opposing view on the trans athlete issue, shortly after an ESPN profile reported her belief that women’s sports should remain reserved for biological females.
Wilson called transgender participation in American sports a "borderline non-existent issue" and accused conservatives, politicians, athletes and news organizations of portraying transgender people as a disproportionate threat.
Cunningham, meanwhile, stood by her position.
"I said what I said. I think it’s common sense," she told reporters in July. "I think I’ll always believe in that. It’s really important to protect children, and that’s little girls who are also involved in that category."
Cunningham has repeatedly said she does not hate transgender people and believes there is room to love everyone. However, she has also maintained that the rights, safety and opportunities of biological women must be protected.
Cunningham and Hanlen did not discuss Wilson or the transgender-athlete dispute during the debut episode of "No Hesitation." Instead, Cunningham introduced the new show as a place for candid basketball discussions.
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"I just felt like there was not a podcast or really any social media out there that gave you real, honest truth about basketball and strictly basketball," Cunningham said.
Hanlen acknowledged the political attention Cunningham has attracted and suggested the public often receives a distorted impression of her.
"People think you’re like some troll and make statements, but really it’s 99% of the time people ask you a question, you answer, you give your opinion, and then people blow it up and act like you made a big political statement," Hanlen said.
"Stop asking me questions if you don’t want the truth," Cunningham responded.
The conversation later turned to the way the WNBA and its players are covered. Cunningham said media attention and award voting can be driven by popularity and politics instead of on-court performance.
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"I think it’s very political," Cunningham said. "I think there’s a lot of people who are really, really great who don’t get the credit because maybe they don’t have the popularity or they don’t have the platform."
"I don’t know if there’s voting fatigue," she added. "I just don’t know how accurate the voting is at times."
Cunningham also agreed with Hanlen’s contention that WNBA media members frequently prioritize subjects other than basketball.
"I think you kind of hit it when you said the WNBA media pretty much covers everything but basketball," Cunningham said.
She later called on WNBA reporters to emphasize the league’s players and their achievements.
"Now it’s on the WNBA media to actually tell the good stories, to tell the positive stories, to actually talk about basketball and how freaking awesome our league is playing this year," Cunningham said. "History is being made this year."
Cunningham’s position echoed comments she made during the controversy over transgender participation. She said in August that she wanted to "get back to basketball" and argued the sport was being played at its highest level. ESPN reported at the time that rallies and counterprotests had followed the Fever on the road after her initial comments.
The debut episode also featured Cunningham’s blunt assessment of Caitlin Clark’s influence on the league.
Hanlen compared Clark’s effect on women’s basketball to the transformative impact Michael Jordan and Tiger Woods had on their sports. Cunningham said the effect should be obvious, even if other stars also contributed to the WNBA’s growth.
"I should not get in trouble for knowing the obvious," Cunningham said. "That doesn’t mean there wasn’t greatness before her."
"The talent has always, always been there," she added. "But now, us players, we just have the platform and the eyes, and companies want to be a part of something great and something that is growing."
Cunningham also offered a list of priorities for the WNBA’s next commissioner. Cathy Engelbert recently announced that she will retire at the end of 2026 after seven years leading the league. The WNBA credited Engelbert with overseeing major increases in attendance, viewership, franchise valuations and media revenue. The league also noted that it is expanding from 12 teams to 18 by 2030.
Cunningham said the next commissioner’s first priority should be ensuring every franchise has an adequate practice facility.
"There are teams in the WNBA — which, this is, we are the best league in the entire world — that there are people practicing at, like, YMCAs," Cunningham said. "They’re sharing a court by a curtain when there’s, like, YMCA youth camps going on one side and a team practicing on the other. Is that not insane? A couple teams don’t even have a weight room."
Cunningham said some owners were being "very cheap" and failing to provide professional players with appropriate resources.
"That should be the bare freaking minimum," she said.
She also called for a commissioner who communicates directly with players, remains firm under pressure and can unite a politically divided league.
"They need to be bold. They need to be confident," Cunningham said. "We’re not always going to agree, but I think there’s a level of respect that you can have and just being a human, being friendly and nice. I think that’s a really good start."
Cunningham said "No Hesitation" will continue focusing on film study, strategy and the personalities driving professional basketball. The program is scheduled to release new episodes each Thursday.
Monstrous Wendy's burger returns, daring customers to devour 9 patties in 9 minutes
A long-extinct Wendy's burger has returned from the fast-food grave, packing a whopping 3,000 calories and costing nearly $30.
A franchise in Edmund, Oklahoma, was recently spotted with a sign out front advertising the T-Rex burger challenge, which awards participants who finish the towering nine-patty cheeseburger with all the fixings in nine minutes with a T-shirt and a special prize, Allrecipes reported.
The burger costs $29.99, according to the sign, which was posted on Reddit in early September. "Think you can take down the T-Rex? Prove it," it boasts.
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Reddit users were divided over the monster menu item.
"Gross. Dumb," one commenter said bluntly.
"The prize is high cholesterol and clogged arteries," another said. Others joked that it's a recipe for a "heart attack."
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"Dave Thomas is rolling over in his grave," someone else added, referring to the chain's founder.
Others, however, were up for the challenge, claiming they could "destroy" the stacked burger.
"Pretty decent deal actually," another person chimed in.
Lauren Manaker, a dietitian in South Carolina, told Fox News Digital that indulging in "a novelty burger like this is less about everyday nutrition and more about the experience."
"One very large, highly processed meal can pack a lot of sodium, saturated fat and calories into a short sitting, which may leave some people feeling uncomfortable afterward, especially if they eat it quickly," she said. "If someone wants to try it for fun, I'd encourage sharing it, slowing down and balancing the rest of the day with plenty of water, fruits, vegetables and other satisfying foods."
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An employee at the Edmond, Oklahoma, location told Fox News Digital that the promotion is expected to run at restaurants across the state starting Sept. 10. The special prize, he hinted, includes a voucher for a free meal, adding that the challenge does not require participants to finish the fries and drink that accompany the burger.
The burger has a history that dates back to the mid-2000s, according to multiple reports. The burger originally appeared in an issue of Sports Illustrated as a joke, leading some people to try ordering it at the fast-food restaurant.
In response, a location in the Canadian city of Brandon, Manitoba, started offering it. The burger eventually went viral, grabbing the attention of corporate, which put a stop to it, Eater reported in 2013.
"For obvious reasons, Wendy's of Brandon neither condones nor promotes the idea of anyone consuming a nine-patty hamburger in one sitting," an employee of the franchise said at the time, according to Food & Wine.
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Yet the burger managed to live on as a secret menu hack, according to social media users: Order a Dave's Triple and customize it with six extra patties to get the T-Rex — without any prize at the end.
Fox News Digital reached out to Wendy's corporate headquarters in Ohio for additional comment.
Fox News Digital's News Quiz: September 11, 2026
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