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Breaking down the United States' path to the 2026 FIFA World Cup final as knockout play nears
The USMNT is flying high as Group D winners. Winning their first two games was historic. The nation is oozing with patriotism and ready to ride this wave all the way to the World Cup Final, but the road just got a little tougher after Belgium’s big win on Friday. Now it’s time to break down the USA’s path to what would be their first World Cup Final appearance in history.
USA opens the knockout stage on July 1 in Santa Clara, California, against Bosnia and Herzegovina, a third-place finisher from Group B. It’s a very favorable match-up to kick things off in the win-or-go-home stage.
In case you were wondering how and why we’re playing Bosnia, the matchup came from FIFA’s third-place pairing system. The 2026 World Cup features 48 teams, the knockout stage includes not only the 12 group winners and 12 runners-up, but also the eight best third-place finishers. Before the tournament, FIFA created a chart with 495 possible combinations that determines which third-place teams face each group winner based on which groups those teams come from. Once the group stage ended, Bosnia and Herzegovina was the third-place team assigned to the United States' spot in the bracket, making it the USMNT's Round of 32 opponent. *Queue ‘The More You Know’ music*
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Looking ahead to the Round of 16, the U.S. would likely face Belgium on July 6 in Seattle. Belgium won Group G and, notably, entered the tournament ranked ninth in the FIFA/Coca-Cola Men's World Ranking. Their exact Round of 32 opponent is still unknown and could include teams like South Korea, Senegal, Algeria, or Austria.
Importantly, Belgium already beat the U.S. 5–2 in a March friendly, making it an extra intriguing rematch of sorts. The bracket was also shaped by Group B tiebreakers — Belgium and Egypt both finished on five points, but Belgium advanced with a better goal differential.
Obviously, USA would’ve preferred Egypt. Belgium is a dangerous team with real knockout power. The red, white and blue will need to play their best game to make it to the quarterfinals.
If the USMNT were to match its 2002 run and reach the quarterfinals, a likely opponent waiting there is Spain and superstar Lamine Yamal, the Group H winners. Spain is already the only team locked into that side of the bracket, and they open the knockout stage on July 2 against the Group J runner-up, which will either be Algeria or Austria.
In Spain's half of the bracket, the Round of 32 matchups in Groups K and L could produce additional strong contenders. The most likely runners-up appear to be Colombia or Portugal from Group K, and Croatia or Ghana from Group L, depending on final group results with England still potentially influencing outcomes depending on their final match on Saturday.
Because of that structure, the quarterfinal path is shaping up to be extremely difficult for the United States. If the U.S. makes it that far, a July 10 match in Los Angeles could realistically be against Spain, Colombia or Portugal — any of which would represent the toughest test of their tournament run.
In short: If the U.S. reaches the final eight, they’re very likely staring at a European or South American heavyweight (especially Spain or Portugal). Making this stage would be a feat within itself, but we’re not here for pats on the backs, good tries and participation trophies.
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The USMNT has only reached a World Cup semifinal once before, back in 1930, during the first-ever tournament when just 13 teams competed. While the format was very different then, it still stands as the deepest run in U.S. men’s World Cup history.
In the expanded 2026 format, reaching the semifinals would require winning three straight knockout matches, which would likely involve defeating multiple elite national teams along the way, as I mentioned.
If the U.S. made it this far, the semifinal would be played on July 14 at AT&T Stadium (Dallas Stadium) in Arlington. Potential opponents from the other side of the bracket include some of the strongest teams in world soccer, including France and Germany, which have combined to win six World Cup titles. Other possible challengers include the Netherlands, a three-time World Cup runner-up that eliminated the U.S. in 2022, as well as Paraguay, Sweden, Morocco, and Canada.
In short: a semifinal run would almost certainly require the U.S. to beat at least one or more global powers, making it the toughest and most historic stretch in program history. We’re talking about a "Miracle 2.0" type of run here.
If the USMNT were to reach the World Cup Final, it would be held July 19 at MetLife Stadium, renamed New York New Jersey Stadium by FIFA for the tournament. This would represent the most significant moment in the history of American soccer, especially as a home final in front of a national crowd and global spotlight.
However, the path on the other side of the bracket is stacked with traditional powers. Brazil (five-time champions), Argentina (three-time winners and reigning champions) and Mexico are already confirmed in that half of the draw. England and Portugal could also join them depending on how the final group-stage results shake out.
In other words, a potential U.S. final would almost certainly come against one of the sport’s historic giants, making the entire knockout path one of the most difficult runs in World Cup history.
So I have one question: "Do you believe in miracles?!"
Scott Eastwood credits his famous father's work ethic for making him aware of 'bulls---' in the film industry
Scott Eastwood is reflecting on what it was like to grow up with a super famous parent.
During a recent interview on "The Joe Rogan Experience," the 40-year-old actor shared how his father, Clint Eastwood, protected him and his siblings from fame, and how his experiences visiting his dad on set shaped how he views the industry today.
"I've seen some behavior in this business that is shocking. That would not go in other industries," he said, with Rogan adding that since they are the star of the project, some actors feel they can treat others however they want.
Scott then added that his father never acted that way, and that his philosophy was always "put your boots on [and], go to work, man."
MATTHEW MCCONAUGHEY FLED TO PERU TO FIGHT ‘DEMONS’ AFTER EARLY FAME
"I think I was lucky in some ways because I got to see it growing up and got to see like how it's bulls---," he said of certain behaviors on modern movie sets.
While Eastwood said he got a peek at bad behavior on set when he was younger and visiting his iconic dad on set, the "Wrath of Man" star said his father "did a really good job of protecting" him and his siblings from the pitfalls that come with child stardom.
He brought it up after he and Rogan began talking about child stars who found fame at a really young age, saying, "you get stunted in your growth" when you get famous too young.
"I mean, kudos to my dad, cause he did a really good job of protecting us from that and very private," he said. "We didn't live in LA, we we lived in Carmel. It was a very...as normal as it could be, in the sense that he was like, 'No, you just you need to be a normal child and learn how the world works.'"
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While his father didn't want his kids to pursue an acting career as children, Scott went on to become a successful actor as an adult, starring in films such as "Regretting You," "Fury," "Suicide Squad" and others.
When discussing his acting process, Scott shared that he and his dad are both not into method acting, saying he treats acting "as a job" and that he isn't "one of these crazy psychos" that stay in character during the duration of filming the project.
"My dad was never like that," he said. "He was like, it's a job. Like go to work, do the best you can, put in the reps, make sure you know your s--- and you come prepared, and you have something interesting, but leave it at the door."
In his new movie, "Lucky Strike," Scott portrays a soldier who finds himself trapped behind enemy lines following the Battle of the Bulge fought between the United States and Germany during World War II.
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He then must walk through 20 miles of German-occupied territory to get to safety, with just his backpack and a radio.
"You know, it's the only war that, you know, everybody knew there was a common enemy to the world," he told NPR in June about WWII. "There was, you know, evil being done, and it was a fight for justice. You know, other wars, I think there's a lot of ambiguity. There's a lot of, ‘were we supposed to be there,’ [and] ‘why are we doing this?’ But that war, I think, resonates with most because it's so clear, right and wrong."
Taylor Swift, Travis Kelce wedding buzz grows as Stevie Nicks and Tim McGraw are tapped to perform: report
The wedding buzz surrounding Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce is reaching full-blown spectacle status, as their big day may double as one of the most star-studded events in modern pop culture.
Music legends Stevie Nicks and Tim McGraw are set to perform at what insiders are calling a "Wedding-palooza" reportedly planned at Madison Square Garden, according to Page Six.
Swift’s first Billboard hit at age 16 was titled "Tim McGraw," making the rumored booking feel almost scripted for fans dissecting every detail.
The "Bejeweled" singer, known for embedding "Easter egg" clues into her public appearances, may have already hinted at the celebration.
TAYLOR SWIFT, TRAVIS KELCE NUPTIALS CALLED A 'ROYAL WEDDING' BY NFL PALS DROPPING MAJOR TIMING HINTS
She recently wore a shirt reading "Stevie Knicks" to Game 4 of the NBA Finals at MSG on June 10 — a moment now being re-examined through the lens of wedding speculation to her fans, known as Swifties.
"I've heard Taylor invited so many people it's going to be bigger than the Met Gala," a source told the media outlet.
"I think it's possible it's already happened," another source noted, fueling speculation the couple may have already exchanged vows.
In Nashville — where Swift relocated at age 14 to pursue her music career — speculation has only intensified.
"There's going to be multiple performances" at the reported Friday MSG event, sources said. Some even floated the possibility of a surprise appearance by Paul McCartney, who previously shared the stage with Swift during the "Saturday Night Live" 40th anniversary celebration in 2015.
Meanwhile, Kelce’s father has added fuel to the wedding frenzy.
"I am super excited," Ed Kelce told Fox 29 Philadelphia. "She is a sweetheart. That is truly the girl next door."
He also previously described how Kelce proposed, saying:
"He got her out there, they were about to go out to dinner, and he said, 'Let's go out and have a glass of wine.' ... They got out there, and that's when he asked her, and it was beautiful," he told News 5 Cleveland. "They started FaceTiming me and their mother and her folks to make sure everybody knew. So, to see them together is great."
TAYLOR SWIFT AND NFL STAR TRAVIS KELCE ARE ENGAGED AFTER 2 YEARS TOGETHER
The couple first sparked dating rumors in 2023 after Kelce admitted on his podcast, "New Heights," that he tried — and failed — to give Swift a friendship bracelet during her Eras Tour stop in Kansas City. Swift later began attending Chiefs games, confirming the romance in the public eye.
After two years of dating, the pair reportedly announced their engagement in August 2025.
The New York Times reported that a permit was filed to close streets around Madison Square Garden from July 2 through July 4, alongside additional arrangements suggesting a multi-day private event. Another filing indicated space for a canopy or tent setup outside the venue, and hotel reservations for Kansas City Chiefs players were reportedly made at the Marriott Marquis in Times Square.
A city official told the outlet Madison Square Garden is prepared to host wedding festivities on July 3. Amtrak Police were also reportedly informed of expected activity tied to the wedding weekend.
The clearest signal yet may come from the rumored structure itself: a split-level celebration, with an intimate 100-person kickoff gathering followed by a second, full-scale takeover of Madison Square Garden expected to host more than 1,000 guests.
Fox News Digital has reached out to reps for Swift, Nicks, McGraw and McCartney.
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Despite a confirmed wedding date announcement, Swift has previously been known for her grand gestures and elaborate events.
She once joked that "anyone I've ever talked to" could end up on the guest list, telling Graham Norton she prefers bigger weddings because "the only stressful weddings" are the ones where trimming the list becomes impossible.
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Swift is also known for her lavish annual celebrations.
Her Rhode Island Fourth of July "Taymerica" gatherings became their own pop culture chapter — a celebrity-heavy, flag-waving, red, white and blue excess event.
Kelce, meanwhile, has been hinting at the scale in his own way.
On his podcast, he joked, "Don't make my friends have to choose whether or not they have to sell their tickets that week," a nod that now reads differently and may signal strategic wedding planning that avoids conflicting with his football schedule.
For now, neither Swift nor Kelce has publicly announced an official wedding date. Still, the venue permits, celebrity performance rumors and reported planning have fueled intense speculation surrounding the couple's wedding.
Fox News Digital's Lauryn Overhultz and the Associated Press contributed to this report.
The Chicago Bears are getting a Hallmark movie, and here's a very good idea for the plot
After the Kansas City Chiefs and Buffalo Bills got their turn in the Hallmark movie spotlight, the Chicago Bears will be hitting the big screen.
Or whatever size TV you have in your house, because it will be on cable.
The movie will be called "Holiday Touchdown: A Bears Love Story," and production is set to begin this summer.
Now, whenever I hear about this, I always wonder, "What the hell could the plot be?"
Luckily, I minored in screenwriting in college, so I’ve put together a treatment of what I think would be a really kickass Bears Hallmark movie.
Sorry, I mean "kick-butt"... it’s Hallmark Channel.
...
The opening titles are shown over drone footage of Chicago with the song "25 or 6 to 4" by Chicago playing over it, for obvious reasons. If that's too expensive, let's just record it ourselves, make one of the notes a little sharp, and call it a day.
Chandra Ditka (no relation) is a high-powered ad executive who lives in Chicago. She finds football barbaric and has no time for it because she is so focused on work. Her dad, Richard "Dick" Ditka, always asks her to go to Bears games with him, but she’s so busy coming up with ad campaigns that she always turns him down.
One day, not long before Christmas, she’s waiting in line for an Italian beef sandwich — which she does every day — when she meets a very handsome fella by the name of Brad Bearman.
The two hit it off because they realized they like their Italian beefs the same way (dry with gravy on the side, sweet and hot peppers) and agreed to go out sometime.
On their first date, they go stare at that stupid bean statue for a couple of hours, until Brad says, "This sucks, we should go to the Bears game tomorrow. They play the Packers."
Chandra likes Brad and doesn’t want to offend him by saying she’s not into football, so she reluctantly agrees.
The next day, before the game, she meets up with her quirky friend, Janice. They go to shops on Michigan Avenue, and we see a shopping montage where she tries on a bunch of jerseys and hat combinations, with Janice shaking her head "no" each time.
That night, Brad picks her up for the game, and Chandra walks out of her apartment wearing a DJ Moore jersey, which she says she just bought for the occasion. He realizes that this means she bought it on sale because he got traded and starts to suspect that she’s a poser.
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They take an Uber to the game, and the whole way there, Chandra is answering emails about her new ad campaign for a new kind of DUDE wipes called DUDE Wipes For Her (people love product placement, and the DUDE Wipe folks will be down for this), while Brad rants about how much he hates the Packers.
This is because they’re division rivals, but also because his parents were killed by a mugger in a Packers hat while leaving the opera when he was a kid (yes, like Batman; it’s a fun little easter egg).
They arrive at Soldier Field and get to their seats when Chandra realizes she’s sitting in the same row as her dad, who is there by himself.
She doesn’t want her dad to see that she finally decided to go to a game, but it wasn’t with him, so she has to put on wacky disguises every time he gets up to pee (which is a lot; he should probably go get that checked out). One time, she takes a guy dressed as Bill Swerski’s of "Bill Swerski’s Super Fans" fame’s mustache and wears it.
Despite the situation with her dad, Chandra and Brad are having a good time at the game and really hitting it off, even though at one point he got into a shouting match with a guy wearing a cheesehead, and she has to cool it so security doesn’t get called, and he should put his shirt back on.
They agree to see each other again, right as the Bears kick a go-ahead field goal with under a minute to play. Brad starts yelling at the cheesehead guy again.
Her dad, who missed the field goal because he was peeing, comes back to his seat and asks Brad and Chandra what happened, and realizes it's his daughter.
She apologizes profusely for not going to the game with him and going with a date instead.
Her dad is fine with it and tells her that she’s in her early forties and "time ain’t slowin’ down," so it makes more sense for her to go with some dude instead of him. He also said he likes going by himself because the extra seat means he can stretch out and doesn’t have someone yammering in his ear the whole time.
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Chandra says that maybe next home game she’ll put work aside and catch the game with her dad, but he says, "Did you hear what I just said. I like watching by myself."
She admits that’s fair and just orders him some Bears junk off of Amazon for Christmas.
She and Brad decide to continue going to games together (until the Bears move to Indiana; they don’t want to drive that far), and their relationship begins to flourish as they leave the stadium for a late-night deep-dish pizza (even though Brad is a tavern-style guy; there has to be a give-and-take in this relationship).
The End (or it could say, "The End?" so that everyone watching is like, "Whoa, maybe there will be a sequel?!)
Sophie Cunningham says players are 'targeting' Caitlin Clark, mocks DeWanna Bonner amid pointing meme
Indiana Fever fan-favorite Sophie Cunningham made a blunt statement about Caitlin Clark's treatment in the WNBA by opposing players and referees on Saturday. The sports world is in an uproar after Phoenix Mercury star Alyssa Thomas punched Clark in the throat after a game on Wednesday, and referees did not call a foul.
Cunningham also spoke about her recent viral exchange with Mercury star DeWanna Bonner, saying Bonner was "losing her s---" because of how mad Cunningham's now-famous pointing gesture was making Bonner.
Cunningham first insisted players are "targeting" Clark.
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"You see the videos of literally kneeing and cheapshotting [Clark] in the throat... they're definitely targeting her and the league and the refs do nothing to protect her," Cunningham said on her podcast Saturday.
Cunningham also said she and her Fever teammates did not realize what Thomas had done to Clark, in real time.
"During real time last night, I did not see that happen," Cunningham said. "None of our team saw it happen because I promise you if we would have seen that happen, we would have had her back."
"Unfortunately, this type of [expletive] happens every single game to her and the league and the refs do absolutely nothing about it," Cunningham added.
Cunningham has also become a viral figure for a separate moment from the Fever-Mercury chaos, when she repeatedly pointed during an exchange with officials and Bonner on Wednesday.
The clip quickly became one of the WNBA’s biggest memes of the week, with Cunningham joking on the podcast that her technical foul was "the weakest thing I’ve ever seen in my life" and explaining that she "didn’t say a word" while "all I was doing was literally pointing."
WNBA GRAPHIC OMITTING CAITLIN CLARK SHOWS IDENTITY POLITICS STILL COME FIRST
"I couldn't help myself. I could not. She was losing her s--- and all I was doing was literally pointing," Cunningham said.
Cunningham also ripped the league’s promotion of Clark, criticizing the WNBA for leaving Clark off a commemorative league graphic while including Cunningham herself.
"It is a joke. It is a joke," Cunningham said. "And this is why Kathy and the WNBA is getting lit up on social media because you are leaving out a generational [player], the best player to ever go through WNBA on this roster."
Cunningham added that the league should be doing more to market Clark and other Fever players.
"If they were smart they would market this [expletive] out of some of us. They don't," Cunningham said. "That should be Caitlin. That should be Kelsey Mitchell. That should be Aaliyah Boston. Like, why are we putting random players on there? I'm one of them...
"What we do makes no sense... Even the people they put on the commercials, like they could, if they're really trying to make money, they are going to put people out there that first of all people want to see, that people are going to bring attention to, and they just don't. They just don't. I don't know what they think when all that happens."
Creating the definitive Mount Rushmore of Pixar movies from a parents' viewing perspective
My two-year-old son stayed home from daycare with a fever, and because I had important work stuff to do like entertain you lot with articles about World Cup soccer and video games, a lot of his day was spent watching some of his favorite movies to ensure he wouldn't burn the house down.
If you're a parent, you're aware that not all kids' movies are created equal, and because we have to watch the same five or six things in my household ad nauseam, it's nice when you can enjoy them almost as much as your kid.
No one has a higher success rate in that regard than Pixar, and luckily for me, my kid is a fiend for any movie made by the Disney animation studio.
As an ode to the creators of some of my son's favorite pieces of entertainment, I wanted to offer my Mt. Rushmore of Pixar movies from the perspective of a parent who has to sit through a good number of them multiple times a week.
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These are four movies that (almost) never get old, so let's dive in.
It's a buddy comedy mixed with a mystery movie combined with a heartfelt story about the importance of friendship, how could you not love "Monsters, Inc.?"
The story of Mike and Sully trying to break the all-time scare record at Monsters Incorporated before accidentally stumbling upon a company-wide conspiracy makes for a great story in its own right, but when you throw in the adorable Boo and her friendship with Sully, it takes the film to another level.
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Bonus points for the theme of ingenuity in the face of necessity, as Mike and Sully discover that children's laughter is more powerful than their fear.
It's a great lesson for the little ones that there is always another way.
The voice acting is incredible and the humor from a parents' perspective is what makes this one easier to swallow when you're seeing it for the sixth time in a month, and for that, I am eternally thankful.
Who knew Disney had such an individualistic story about the moral responsibility of excellence in them?
"The Incredibles" is such a great allegory for not hiding who you are and being proud of your gifts, and it isn't shy about this either.
The main character, Bob Parr (aka Mr. Incredible), is constantly extolling the virtues of superheroes while the villain, Syndrome, is some nerd who wants everyone to have powers so "no one is special."
PIXAR STAFF REPORTEDLY 'DEEPLY SADDENED' LGBTQ ELEMENTS WERE CUT FROM STUDIO'S LATEST FILM, 'ELIO'
It's heavy-handed but in the best way possible.
"The Incredibles" has action and unique animation to keep the kids engaged but the central messaging and humor is something that can entertain even the most cynical parents.
This movie is a personal favorite of mine and belongs squarely on this Mt. Rushmore.
This one is a little personal.
"Finding Nemo" used to be another decent Disney movie to me, but then my son came along, and the story about a father doing everything in his power to save his little boy hits so deep that it's almost indescribable.
Marlin being an overbearing dad is somewhat relatable, especially in the modern day of everything being dangerous for kids, but it's also great to see his evolution from nervous to confident thanks to his experiences.
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It isn't all emotional impact, either, as the movie has plenty of light-hearted humor to make sure this one isn't too heavy at all times.
Incredibly quotable and with a surprisingly tight runtime, "Finding Nemo" is a masterpiece of a kids' film that is re-watchable no matter how many times your child forces you to put it on for them.
I fought this for so long, but I can't fight it any longer.
I still think the original "Toy Story" is more enjoyable, personally -- and maybe that's just nostalgia speaking -- but "Toy Story 2" is the better film in almost every aspect.
The adventure is more grand, the animation is cleaner without being too "antiseptic," and the introduction of more characters and locations without bogging the story down make this the perfect sequel.
I can't find any holes in it.
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The emotional beats are incredible but don't linger for too long and the humor is great for both kids and parents.
I would also be remiss if I didn't talk about the stellar voice acting, spearheaded by Tim Allen's Buzz Lightyear and Tom Hanks' Woody, who really bring their two characters to life.
It might be the George Washington of this particular Mt. Rushmore, and I'm not just saying that because it's my son's favorite movie.
They don't make 'em like this anymore (looking at you, "Toy Story 5").
NY AG hopeful blasts Letitia James as Medicaid fraud recoveries collapse: 'She's not doing the job'
Republican New York attorney general candidate Saritha Komatireddy is making Medicaid fraud a centerpiece of her campaign, charging that prosecutions have sharply declined under Attorney General Letitia James.
Cracking down on Medicaid fraud has become a flashpoint issue in the country after investigators uncovered billions of dollars in alleged fraud tied to public assistance programs in Minnesota. The scandal pushed the Trump administration to make cracking down on fraud a higher priority, with Vice President JD Vance leading a federal effort. Now, Republican candidates in races across the country, including New York's attorney general contest, are calling for states to do more to prosecute Medicaid fraud and recover taxpayer money.
In an interview with Fox News Digital, Komatireddy accused James of failing to aggressively pursue Medicaid fraud, saying taxpayers could be losing out on hundreds of millions of dollars in recoveries.
"They're totally failing to prosecute Medicaid fraud, and you can look at that based solely on the record of Letitia James and her Democratic predecessors," Komatireddy said. "This is not a partisan issue."
NEW YORK REPUBLICANS CALL FOR INDEPENDENT FRAUD INVESTIGATION FOLLOWING MINNESOTA REVELATIONS
Komatireddy's said Medicaid fraud recoveries have plummeted under James, falling from $168 million in 2019, her first year in office, to just $31 million in 2024, according to data from New York Attorney General's annual reports.
Before James took office, New York attorneys general routinely posted some of the nation's largest Medicaid fraud recoveries. Under Eliot Spitzer, the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit recovered $243.6 million in 2006. Andrew Cuomo's office then recovered $113.8 million in 2007, $263.5 million in 2008 and more than $283 million in 2009, totaling more than $660 million during his first three years as attorney general. And Cuomo's successor, Eric Schneiderman, recovered more than $335 million in 2012 — the second-highest annual total in the unit's history and its highest recovery in seven years.
"Even her Democratic predecessors used to bring in $200 to $300 million per year in fraudulent proceeds," Komatireddy said. "When Tish James comes into office, it goes down to $20 to $30 million per year. According to her own year-end reports, she's just decided not to do that part of the job."
ALEX BERENSON: MINNESOTA WAS ONLY THE BEGINNING: NEW YORK'S MEDICAID GRIFT IS FAR WORSE
As New York recovers less money from Medicaid fraud each year under James, the state's spending on the fraud recovery program has increased, from about $45 million in fiscal 2020 to $70 million in 2025.
"It used to be the case the New York Attorney General's office would get around 100 criminal convictions a year, holding people who are stealing from Medicaid accountable," Komatireddy said. "Under Tish James, that number is very low. There's one year where she got eight criminal convictions."
New York's handling of Medicaid fraud has also caught the attention of the federal government. Earlier this year, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz sent Gov. Kathy Hochul a letter asking for more information about how the state screens providers and fights fraud. Oz said the review is meant to help protect Medicaid beneficiaries and maintain public confidence in the program. New York was one of only three states — along with California and Minnesota — to receive the letter.
READ: DR. OZ PUTS ALL 50 GOVERNORS ON NOTICE OVER BILLIONS LOST TO MEDICAID FRAUD
Komatireddy said reduced enforcement ultimately costs New Yorkers by increasing healthcare spending and reducing funds available for other state priorities.
"It's New Yorkers who pay the price, because when people steal from Medicaid, that increases our healthcare costs," she said. "When we are just letting a billion dollars go out the door over the course of her term, that's money that we could be getting back as taxpayers."
Instead, Komatireddy said lawmakers are forced to seek additional revenue from taxpayers.
"The folks in Albany keep thinking of new ways to take more money away from taxpayers," she said. "If you had an attorney general who actually prosecuted fraud properly, you wouldn't have to worry about a tax hike."
Komatireddy pledged to strengthen the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit by adding 20 criminal prosecutors.
Komatireddy, a former federal prosecutor who spent more than a decade in the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of New York and later served as chief of staff at the Drug Enforcement Administration, has framed the race as a choice between a career law enforcement prosecutor and an inept incumbent.
"Like I said, we have to actually just do the job of attorney general," Henry said. "That job involves prosecuting crime and fraud."
The New York Attorney General's Office did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment.
Red Bull's Max Verstappen suffers big crash in controversial Austrian Grand Prix qualifying
The Austrian Grand Prix at the Red Bull Ring is a home race for Red Bull Racing, and a quasi-home race for the team's superstar Max Verstappen.
However, his weekend is not getting off to a great start after a massive crash in qualifying.
The crash sparked a controversial end to qualifying that saw Mercedes' George Russell claim pole position.
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Verstappen made it into Q3, the final round of qualifying, with a gutsy strategy call, and that gave Verstappen a shot at starting up front in Sunday's race.
However, he was giving it everything he had on his final lap when the Dutchman lost the rear of his car on entry into Turn 9, the circuit's penultimate corner, a quick-flick, high-speed right-hander.
He skidded off through the gravel and made heavy contact with the barrier.
The four-time champ commented that the car had felt loose on that lap, but what was really interesting was that his engine, er, Gianpiero Lambiase, said something about a "delay on the rear wing," which seems to imply that the team's flipping rear wing didn't close in time, leaving Verstappen without enough downforce to get through the corner.
But, while the crash was dramatic in itself, it created more drama. That's because the Ferraris and Mercedes were battling for pole, with the Ferraris up front and Charles Leclerc on conditional pole.
Verstappen's crash at the final pair of corners brought out yellow flags, which Mercedes' Kimi Antonelli erroneously thought were double-waved yellow flags and aborted his lap.
However, his teammate George Russell — who must have been on the lap of his life — noticed that it was just a single yellow and lifted through the yellows.
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Despite that, he still put down a lap fast enough for pole.
There were complaints from drivers, including Antonelli, about Russell improving his time under yellows, but the stewards decided not to investigate, and the results held.
Russell will start from pole alongside Leclerc, with Lewis Hamilton behind in P3 alongside Antonelli in P4.
Verstappen's first lap was fast enough that, barring any grid penalties for parts that could need to be replaced on his car, he will start P5.
Larry David bristled at some of Barack Obama's creative notes on new comedy collaboration, director says
Comedian Larry David was reportedly reluctant to take orders from former President Barack Obama as the pair were filming their new HBO series — marking perhaps the first time the leader of the free world was critiqued on his comedic timing.
Speaking with Variety, the director of "Life, Larry and the Pursuit of Unhappiness," a new HBO series from Barack and Michelle Obama’s Higher Ground Productions, detailed how the "Curb Your Enthusiasm" creator found himself butting heads with the former commander in chief.
"[Obama] gave a few notes about something, and Larry went, ‘Yeah, yeah, yeah, we got it," Jeff Schaffer told the outlet.
According to Schaffer, Obama retorted with a callback to his time in the White House.
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"I spent half an hour talking about how funny everything is. I give you one note, and you get into a defensive crouch," Obama reportedly told David, adding, "When I was in the Oval Office, I took advice and listened to my advisers, and I was the president of the United States."
David, in his comedic fashion, reportedly gave a lighthearted response, saying, "Yeah, but I’m the president of this."
Schaffer also reportedly joked about the possibility of Obama invoking his executive power while on set of the show.
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"Using a presidential veto to get more money would have been amazing," Schaffer told Variety. "I wish I’d thought of that. ‘The president needs an extra three days of shooting. He demands it.’ We should have done that."
Fox News Digital reached out to Obama and HBO for comment regarding the series.
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"Life, Larry and the Pursuit of Unhappiness" is billed as a sketch comedy miniseries that celebrates the country’s 250th birthday by poking fun at events throughout United States history.
Starring David, several high profile actors and political leaders — such as Obama, Lin Manuel Miranda and John Hamm — make rotating appearances throughout the series.
Both David and the former president have maintained a longstanding friendship leading up to the show’s release, with Obama poking fun at the 78-year-old comic in a promotional video for the series.
"[I’ve] sat across the table from some of the world’s most difficult leaders and wrestled with some of the globe’s most intractable problems," Obama said, adding, "nothing has prepared me for working with Larry David."
Oregon school counselor faces backlash over 'chosen family' book for youths
An Oregon high school counselor is facing criticism after a children's book she authored about "chosen family" resurfaced online, with critics arguing it encourages children to prioritize chosen family over their biological relatives if they don't feel accepted at home.
The book, "A Kids Book About Chosen Family" by Madi Bourdon, a high school counselor at Milwaukie High School & Academy of the Arts, is intended for 5–9 year-olds, according to its Amazon listing.
It is about the concept of "chosen family," which the book’s description explains as "people who love, see, and support you for being your truest self. There are lots of people who can be a part of your chosen family, and you get to pick who makes you feel the safest and bravest."
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"This book is just the invitation to discuss the importance of finding your people, those who see and love you for you, biological or not," Bourdon said in a video clip shared Thursday by the X account, Libs of TikTok.
The re-shared clip sparked criticism from conservative accounts on X, including allegations that the book encourages children to distance themselves from parents who reject their gender identity.
"Members of one’s biological family are not always the people who are family in the ways that matter," Bourdon continued in the clip. "Given the tidal wave of legislation aimed at the erasure of underrepresented communities being passed across the country, not to mention the hateful rhetoric being normalized every day against marginalized communities, I wanted to highlight how during this time of what feels like very intense division that chosen families can offer a unique alternative."
In the video clip, Bourdon’s background features what appears to be a Pride flag and a "Black Lives Matter" sign displaying a Black power fist, along with other posters and illustrations.
The post by Libs of TikTok with the reshared clip read, "Meet Oregon High school counselor [Madi] Bourdon. She wrote a kid’s book about ‘chosen family’ which tells kids they can cut off their parents and find a new family if their parents aren’t ‘accepting’ of their gender identity."
In a Wednesday post on X, Jennifer McWilliams, co-founder of Courage Is A Habit, wrote, "Listen to Madi promote her book, ‘A Book About Chosen Family.’ It is a book that teaches children the ‘definition of family.’ Madi believes children should choose their family & the family they were born to is NOT more important than a ‘Chosen Family.’"
In a statement to Fox News Digital, a spokesperson for Milwaukie High School & Academy of the Arts said, "As a general matter, the school district does not comment on the private activities of individuals, nor does it have any involvement in books authored or published by private individuals in their personal capacity."