Fox News Latest Headlines
Police rescue 60 cats and kittens from abandoned sailboat off Washington beach after 6-day operation
An abandoned sailboat off a Washington beach was home to an unexpected crew: 60 cats and kittens, many of them some frightened and malnourished.
The Tacoma Police Department said the unusual rescue began Aug. 6 when its Marine Services Unit responded to reports of an abandoned 40-foot sailboat in the waters off Owen Beach.
Officers initially discovered more than 30 cats and kittens living in unsafe conditions aboard the vessel, with many appearing frightened and malnourished. Marine Services began coordinating with Animal Control and the department's Forensics Unit to safely remove the animals.
What initially appeared to be a rescue involving more than 30 cats eventually grew to 60 over the course of a rescue effort spanning six days.
"That's a wrap! The final cat is off the boat. Fur real this time!" police wrote. "Final cat count: 60!"
Police said Animal Control was "as certain as they can be that all cats have officially disembarked."
"That's all for meow!" the department joked online.
Despite believing all 60 cats had been rescued, police said they would continue making trips to the boat this week as a precaution.
HERO SHEEPDOG BECOMES UNLIKELY RESCUE PARTNER AFTER UNEXPECTED MOVE AIDS FIRST RESPONDERS
"While we believe we have safely removed all of the cats from the boat, as any cat owner knows, cats are exceptionally good at hiding," police said. "Because there is always a possibility that a cat may remain onboard, our work isn't quite finished."
The department said the additional searches would be conducted under the authority of a search warrant.
Police said Marine Services has also begun the process of having the legally registered vessel moved.
Authorities asked people visiting Owen Beach or boating nearby to notify Animal Control if they spot another cat aboard the vessel, while warning members of the public not to attempt their own rescues.
"We know many animal lovers in our community want to help, and we appreciate the concern for these cats," police said. "However, this remains an active criminal case. Our teams are working hard to protect the animals while also protecting the integrity of the investigation."
"PLEASE DO NOT BOARD THE VESSEL unless you are the legal owner," police added.
The warning followed an incident in which private cat rescue trapper Camille Sutherland told KING 5 she boarded the vessel overnight and captured two cats, which she took to the Humane Society.
Sutherland told the outlet she was trying to help and believed authorities were taking too long to rescue the animals.
Police told KING 5 that the unauthorized boarding complicated their investigation into the vessel's owner.
Police have not announced any arrests or charges in connection with the case.
More than 40 of the 60 rescued cats were taken to the Humane Society for Tacoma & Pierce County, while the remaining animals were placed in foster homes in the area, according to KING 5.
Dallas-Fort Worth airport to install Islamic foot wash stations inside bathrooms
Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport will install Islamic foot wash stations inside bathrooms at the facility, according to the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation.
The project was officially registered with Texas regulators on July 31, according to documents detailing the project.
The installation of the Wudu ablution stations is expected to be complete by the end of the year.
"Project consists of adding Ablution stations to existing concourse level restrooms in Terminal D, one Men's ablution station in existing men's restroom and one Women's ablution station in the existing women's restroom," the project details read.
TRAVELERS CLASH AFTER TSA SHARES SURPRISING GUIDANCE ABOUT AIRPORT ETIQUETTE
It is privately funded and expected to cost around $300,000, the documents state.
The updates aim to prevent water on standard restroom floors and protect sink counters.
Similar low-level basins and interfaith spaces already exist at other major international airport hubs across the U.S., including Chicago O'Hare.
Some conservatives were outraged online over the project plan, while others urged people to take a more measured approach, noting that the new stations are not about pushing any ideology.
"People are freaking out over foot-washing stations at DFW, but let’s look at the actual facts before jumping to conclusions. This isn't about pushing an ideology—it's basic airport management," conservative activist Ryan Fournier wrote on social media.
"Safety & Plumbing: People washing their feet in standard bathroom sinks creates soaked, slippery floors and breaks the counters. Low-level wudu basins keep the restrooms dry and safe for everyone," he continued.
"Standard Infrastructure: DFW is one of the busiest travel hubs on the planet. Major U.S. airports like Chicago O'Hare and Indianapolis have had these and interfaith rooms for years to handle international traffic cleanly," Fournier added.
FLIGHT CANCELED AFTER TODDLER REFUSED TO BUCKLE SEAT BELT, STRANDING PASSENGERS OVERNIGHT
Fournier said the addition is "just about keeping the bathrooms clean and preventing people from slipping on wet tiles. Plain and simple."
Fox News Digital reached out to the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation, Gov. Greg Abbott's office and Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport for comment.
Jemele Hill claims to know what DiJonai Carrington meant with 'White privilege' post, so what was it?
The WNBA doesn't always get attention for the right reasons. In fact, these days, it's increasingly for the wrong ones.
Perhaps no other WNBA incident in recent months has generated as much attention as DiJonai Carrington's, shall we say, aggressive foul on Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham.
Carrington clotheslined Cunningham, leaving her with a bloody mouth. The foul was upgraded to a flagrant 2, resulting in Carrington's immediate ejection.
That was bad enough, especially considering it came against Cunningham, who's become public enemy number one in the WNBA for saying that males shouldn't compete in women's sports. But Carrington made it worse when she posted "White privilege" on social media after the game, then tagged the Indiana Fever.
Most took that to mean that Carrington was implying that she was ejected because her foul came against a White player. Essentially, that she was only assessed a harsher foul because of her race, and obviously, Cunningham's.
Despite the immediate backlash to Carrington's post, the WNBA has remained essentially silent about it. Though Carrington herself addressed it by... referring to her educational background?
"I’ve never once claimed that the assessment of the foul was White privilege (that was your assumption)," she posted on X, in reply to Emmanuel Acho. "Try exercising your critical thinking skills, I know you studied psych.
"Furthermore, I’m the LAST thing from ignorant or asinine when it comes to speaking on 'White privilege,' do ya research on that one. I actually went to school, one of the top universities might I add, to educate myself on this exact subject," Carrington added. "I would never use that term as a rhetorical weapon knowing the historical and social weight it holds without having the proper evidence to substantiate it."
DIJONAI CARRINGTON RESPONDS TO 'WHITE PRIVILEGE' POST, BUT LEAVES MEANING OF IT STILL UNCLEAR
As of late Wednesday evening, she has not yet provided the "proper evidence" to substantiate her claims. Nor is it clear what she meant by "White privilege" in this instance, if it wasn't referring to the ejection resulting from the foul.
Well, it's not clear to us mere mortals. But it is apparently clear to sports analyst Jemele Hill.
Hill posted on X Monday afternoon, also in response to Acho's criticism of Carrington, that it was always "pretty clear" to her that Carrington "wasn't talking about the foul."
Many have responded to Hill in the two days since and asked, since it was so clear, what Carrington had meant by White privilege, if it wasn't the foul. Acho himself asked. In fact, OutKick also reached out to Hill directly for an explanation. Since it was "pretty clear" what Carrington meant, could she tell the rest of us, so we can understand?
Stunningly, there's been no response.
Well, not entirely. Hill did respond to one post on X by again repeating that she knows what Carrington meant, then not saying what Carrington meant.
"I knew exactly what she meant, especially since Sophie Cunningham wasn’t assessed a technical for her reaction when other players have been," she posted.
ZERO BS. JUST DAKICH. TAKE THE DON'T @ ME PODCAST ON THE ROAD. DOWNLOAD NOW!
There are a few problems with this, however. Carrington said that the foul wasn't the reason for her post. Yet, if she was upset about Cunningham not getting a technical, that would also be... associated with the foul. Hill's interpretation, too, seems to be also associated with the foul, somehow, someway, since her only comment on it was connecting it to Cunningham.
The other problem is that the referees addressed that exact question after the game. Official Maj Forsberg was asked by pool reporters why they didn't give Cunningham a technical, and she responded, "After Cunningham was flagrantly fouled, we deemed her reaction to the severity of the contact to be acceptable."
That makes sense. Cunningham was hit so hard she was bleeding from the mouth. Any competitive athlete would react with some level of anger and frustration after contact like that. Is the implication then that it's "White privilege" to not get a technical in that situation? Because if that's the case, why not just say that, as inaccurate as it is? Not to mention that Carrington would almost certainly have reacted the same way, had the roles been reversed, and she'd be justified in doing so.
A quick look at the WNBA's technical foul leaders also highlights just how ridiculous that claim would be. Caitlin Clark is tied, funnily enough, with Angel Reese atop the league with seven technical fouls apiece. Clark actually received an eighth after accidentally bumping into an official, but the league later rescinded it. Cunningham has three technical fouls this season, while Carrington has just one.
Is it the case here that refs don't give out technicals to White players on the Indiana Fever? Because that's obviously not true, and it doesn't take a Stanford education to look that up.
Whatever she supposedly meant remains a mystery. One that apparently Jemele Hill could solve for us, if she were only willing to do so. For some mysterious reason, she isn't.
Clueless WNBA attacks 'bad-faith' fans who don't want biological men ruining women's sports
The WNBA convened a task force to figure out what a woman is, emerged without an answer, scheduled more meetings to keep figuring it out, then scolded everyone else for the "hate and vitriol" surrounding the debate.
On Wednesday, the WNBA finally offered an update on its progress.
Turns out, the answer is more meetings.
WNBPA ISSUES STATEMENT EMBRACING DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION AMID TRANS ATHLETE DEBATE IN WOMEN'S SPORTS
"Today's meeting covered a wide range of topics, including ongoing discussions on transgender athletes and the continued hate and vitriol directed at players online. We will continue to engage all league stakeholders in the coming weeks and months. We will approach these important conversations thoughtfully and in alignment with the values of our league. There are no immediate eligibility matters affecting the WNBA, and we strongly denounce the bad-faith efforts to use these topics to demean or marginalize others."
The WNBA took the corporate escape hatch. Dodge the question, scold the critics and kick the can down the road.
Somewhere in all these meetings is WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert, who runs a women's league that still can't settle on who qualifies as a woman. Quite the predicament.
The loophole gets a lot more complicated to ignore when ex-NBA players Enes Kanter Freedom and Royce White declared for the 2027 WNBA Draft just to expose it.
The league's own CBA says "only players who are women are eligible to play in the WNBA." Pretty straightforward. Except there's one small problem: nowhere in the 400-plus-page agreement does the WNBA define what a woman is.
While executives spin their wheels in meetings, women willing to defend the purpose of women's sports are left to stand alone. Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham has publicly supported keeping women's sports and locker rooms for biological females.
Then, after Chicago Sky guard DiJonai Carrington was ejected for a Flagrant 2 foul for striking Cunningham across the head, Carrington went to social media and posted "WHITE PRIVILEGE @indianafever."
Fever coach Stephanie White eventually called the hit "egregious," but only after criticism mounted over her initial silence. When she addressed the controversy, much of her response focused on the "online community" and condemning "hate," "fear-mongering" and "divisiveness."
THE WNBA HAS LIMITED OPTIONS AFTER TWO MEN DECLARED FOR THE DRAFT, AND THOSE OPTIONS AREN'T GREAT
That's the recurring problem. Cunningham stands up for female competition, absorbs the backlash and gets hammered on the court, while the people running women's basketball seem more comfortable policing the tone of the debate than standing behind women raising uncomfortable questions.
Meanwhile, global sports bodies like World Aquatics, World Athletics and the UCI have established firm, biological eligibility standards. The WNBA remains stuck in an endless loop of listening sessions, stakeholder engagement and sanitized PR statements. Eventually, the league has to decide what it exists to protect. Stalling with PR spin won't alter basic biology.
If the WNBA continues to run meetings instead of making decisions, and lecture critics instead of standing up for women willing to speak, it won't be long before an eligibility disaster makes the decision for them.
OutKick reached out to the WNBA for comment/explanation on what defines a woman. We have not received a response.
Send us your thoughts: alejandro.avila@outkick.com / Follow along on X: @alejandroaveela
Rubio rejects RFK's 'crazy' diet, jokes Pop-Tarts are 'one of the great American innovations'
Secretary of State Marco Rubio jokingly proclaimed his love of Pop-Tarts while rejecting Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s diet during an interview with podcast host Katie Miller on Tuesday.
Rubio appeared with his wife, Jeanette, on "The Katie Miller Podcast", during which Miller asked his thoughts about Kennedy's reported diet of "red meat and fermented vegetables."
"This is a crazy diet," Rubio said in jest. "This is a diet that consists of eating sauerkraut and meat. Now you understand, like, this is not a sustainable thing ... He has to travel with coolers of sauerkraut! I'm not going to travel the world with a cooler full of sauerkraut. It's ridiculous. I can't do it."
HOW MARCO RUBIO IS RIDING LAUGHTER AND MEMES TO SOCIAL MEDIA DOMINANCE
During the exchange, Rubio clarified that he was in favor of Kennedy's "MAHA," or "Make America Healthy Again" movement, though his wife pushed back, claiming that he eats Pop-Tarts.
"No, I don't eat Pop-Tarts every day," Rubio said.
"You eat sweets," Jeanette said.
"The Pop-Tart is one of the great American innovations in the history of the world, if you think about it. It comes in this beautiful foil package," Rubio joked.
"He eats all the things you should not be eating. Like every single thing," Jeanette insisted.
Fox News Digital reached out to the HHS secretary and Mars Inc., the company that owns Pop-Tarts, for comment but did not immediately receive a response.
Rubio has been considered a potential 2028 presidential candidate to succeed President Donald Trump. In a recent New Hampshire poll, Rubio was only 10 points behind Vice President JD Vance in a hypothetical match-up.
In addition to being a presidential contender, Rubio was also the subject of a viral internet meme featuring him sitting on an Oval Office couch during Trump's meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in 2025.
RUBIO REFLECTS ON REMARKABLE POLITICAL JOURNEY FROM TRUMP CRITIC TO TRUSTED CABINET MEMBER
Rubio finally addressed the viral image in an interview on Fox News' "My View with Lara Trump" last month.
"The meme thing, it was interesting because when it first came out, I hated that picture," Rubio said. "Because what happened is in that couch, if you don’t have a pillow behind your back, you kind of sink. So, I looked at the picture; I said, ‘Oh, this is terrible,’ I looked like whatever. And then it turned into this other thing. And it was fine, and it’s funny."
"I don’t really follow it very closely, but people have shown me pictures out there," he added. "We have a good friend here that works at the White House, Dan Scavino, made a nice board for me. And even since he made that board, we had to update it, so — of all the different pictures. So that stuff is funny."
Convicted rapist who preyed on women at America's top party school faces reckoning after courthouse dash
A former UC Santa Barbara student convicted of raping and sexually assaulting multiple women will spend at least three decades behind bars, capping a yearslong prosecution involving disturbing allegations of sexual violence at one of America's top party schools.
Arian Eteghaei, 24, was sentenced to 30 years to life in California state prison after a jury found him guilty of forcible rape and forcible sexual penetration, but not before authorities say he made a brazen run for freedom, bolting from courthouse custody moments after his conviction.
His sentencing comes amid renewed scrutiny over sexual violence at UC Santa Barbara, which has been ranked the nation's top party school by Niche for the past two years.
Eteghaei's case adds to those concerns. He was also convicted of misdemeanor domestic violence, while jurors found true a special allegation that the sexual offenses were committed against more than one victim.
AMERICA'S TOP PARTY COLLEGE HIT BY ANOTHER SEX ATTACK WEEKS AFTER BRUTAL CAMPUS RAPE CASE
"This case would not have been possible without the extraordinary courage of the victims who came forward and participated in a long and difficult legal process," Santa Barbara County District Attorney John T. Savrnoch said. "Their strength and willingness to testify allowed the truth to be heard and ultimately allowed the defendant to be held accountable for the serious harm he caused."
Authorities say Eteghaei escaped by force while in custody on Jan. 16, the same day the jury returned its verdict.
The alleged escape landed Eteghaei another felony case, with prosecutors charging him in March with one count of escape by force.
STUDENTS AT TOP PARTY COLLEGE ON EDGE AFTER RAPE, STRANGULATION REPORTED IN CAMPUS HOUSING
Eteghaei's sexual assault prosecution stretched back years and centered on crimes committed while he was a student at UC Santa Barbara.
"This case required years of persistence, careful investigation, and tremendous support for the victims," Savrnoch said. "The collective work of this team exemplifies the commitment of law enforcement, prosecutors, investigators, and victim advocates to seeking justice for survivors of sexual violence."
Campus crime data previously reviewed by Fox News Digital show more than 100 reported rapes between 2022 and 2024, while two separate sexual assault reports this spring and summer prompted campus-wide warnings and heightened concerns about student safety.
In June, UC Santa Barbara police issued a campus-wide Timely Warning after a woman reported being stalked and groped in broad daylight near Tierra De Fortuna Park.
RIDESHARE DRIVER ARRESTED IN ALLEGED SCHEME TARGETING IVY LEAGUE STUDENTS FOR SEX: PROSECUTORS
Police said the woman was walking along a paved access road on UCSB's West Campus around 11:30 a.m. June 24, when a man riding a bicycle passed her before circling back multiple times over the next 15 minutes.
During the first two encounters, police said the man stopped to ask her questions. On the third pass, investigators said he approached the woman from behind, groped her and fled toward nearby Tierra De Fortuna Park.
The incident marked the second Timely Warning issued by UCSB police in under two months.
In May, an 18-year-old freshman reported she was raped and strangled after meeting a man at a fraternity party before returning to her dorm at Tropicana Gardens in Isla Vista.
FORMER UCLA GYNECOLOGIST SENTENCED AFTER PLEADING GUILTY TO SEXUALLY ASSAULTING PATIENTS AT SCHOOL
Days after the attack, the survivor's family, through attorney Tyrone Maho, publicly appealed for witnesses to come forward, saying anyone who attended the fraternity party or was near Tropicana Gardens on the night of May 9 could hold critical information.
The family also urged the university's chancellor to ask the Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Office to take over the investigation, arguing that the unidentified attacker remained "a potential threat to our community," while expressing gratitude for the work already done by UC Santa Barbara police.
The attack prompted a candlelight vigil where students gathered to support the survivor and raise concerns about campus safety.
UC Santa Barbara has been ranked the nation's top party school by Niche for the past two years.
Campus crime data previously reviewed by Fox News Digital showed the university recorded more than 100 reported rapes between 2022 and 2024, according to its Annual Security and Fire Safety Reports.
The reports also showed increases in other reported crimes in recent years, including weapons arrests and burglaries.
In a statement previously provided to Fox News Digital following the May attack, UC Santa Barbara police said federal law limits what officials can disclose about active investigations, but emphasized that reports of crimes on university property are fully investigated by sworn officers.
The department said it remained in direct contact with the survivor's family and works closely with the Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Office and District Attorney's Office when appropriate.
Fox News Digital reached out to the UCSB for comment, but did not immediately receive a response.
Fox News Digital's Kelsie Cairns contributed to this report.
Composer of 'Halo' video games says he was disinvited from convention event for being a Republican politician
Republican congressional candidate and Grammy-nominated composer Marty O'Donnell spoke to Fox News Digital on Wednesday about how he was disinvited from a reunion with his fellow creators of the "Halo" video game series for comments made on the campaign trail.
On Tuesday, O’Donnell shared a screenshot of an email he received from his booker who handles his event appearances, informing him he had been uninvited from a reunion of his fellow "Halo" creators at a pop culture convention, saying, "The promoter for SacAnime has shared that his LGBTQ staff does not feel comfortable if you attend the event. Based on your recently reported statements of the political campaign, they have rescinded their invitation to not cause any further staff upset."
"I’m very disappointed that SacAnime has disinvited me from a Halo 25 reunion at their conference next month. If you thought we defeated Cancel Culture in 2024, guess again!" O’Donnell responded in a tweet.
O’Donnell spent decades creating some of the most iconic music in video game history. He has since thrown his hat in the ring as the Trump-backed Republican nominee to represent Nevada's 3rd Congressional District. O’Donnell shared a statement about the incident with Fox News Digital on Wednesday.
GAMING-WORLD VETERAN WHO RIPPED ‘WOKE’ CULTURE SCORES TRUMP-BACKED BATTLEGROUND PRIMARY WIN
"In January, I was invited to attend a Halo reunion at SacAnime over Labor Day weekend in Sacramento, CA. I was excited to attend with so many stars, including Jen Taylor and Steve Down[e]s, to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Halo with all of our fans. They even asked me to record a video promoting my attendance two weeks ago," he recalled.
"After SacAnime made numerous announcements of my attendance over this last weekend, I was told I was being disinvited because I called Marxism an existential threat. They have removed me from their website and deleted all their posts on social media promoting my appearance," O'Donnell continued.
"My existential threat comment has been twisted a lot by my political opponents over the last few weeks and anyone who saw the video knows that to be true," he added. "That is why I know it’s not why I have been pulled from SacAnime. I was pulled because I am a Republican candidate for office."
"Funny enough, SacAnime’s decision proves my point. Silencing the opposition is a key component of Marxism and that is one reason why Marxism is an existential threat to our country," O’Donnell said. "I genuinely believed we had put an end to Cancel Culture after the 2024 election, but that was just the end to what AOC called ‘Woke 1’ earlier this week. Woke 2 is here, and it is just as eager to silence and destroy conservatives as Woke 1."
"Unfortunately for them, I can’t be silenced. I will continue to use my voice to speak out against the threats our country faces, especially from Marxists who seek to destroy the United States," he concluded.
‘HALO’ VIDEO GAME MUSIC COMPOSER AIMS TO REARRANGE WASHINGTON
The comment that appeared to have caused the firestorm was when he condemned the rise of Marxism and identity politics, noting that this coalition seems to be between groups that share little in common aside from a common enemy.
"Talk about an existential threat, this is where we are right now," he said during an appearance on The WDW Pro Show. "We are on the cliff looking down into the abyss. And the abyss is Marxism, it’s anti-Western philosophy. There’s a weird alliance of all these groups who like to pretend they’re oppressed. The LGBTQ+ people, the Islamists, the Marxists, they’re all together now, acting like they’re all together on the same side. They’re not on the same side."
"Islam and communism do not mix at all," he said. "They'll be partners for a while in order to overthrow the West."
CLICK HERE FOR MORE COVERAGE OF MEDIA AND CULTURE
Fox News Digital contacted the SacAnime convention in northern California for comment but did not immediately receive a response.
Birth order linked to 150 health conditions in study of 10 million American siblings
Whether someone is the older or younger sibling may be linked to certain health outcomes later in life, according to a massive new study.
Analyzing medical data from 10 million U.S. siblings over two decades, researchers from the University of Chicago and Columbia University found links suggesting that birth order may be connected to specific long-term health risks.
Researchers examined 569 disease categories across families and among siblings, identifying 150 conditions that were significantly associated with birth order.
LONGER LIVES, WORSE HEALTH? SCIENTISTS UNCOVER TROUBLING TREND ACROSS GENERATIONS
First-born children showed a higher likelihood of neurodevelopmental and psychiatric diagnoses, including autism, ADHD, Tourette's and OCD, as well as immune-allergic conditions like food allergies.
Second-born children were statistically more prone to migraines, shingles, substance use disorders and gastrointestinal issues like gastritis.
Discussing the findings on "Fox & Friends," Dr. Marc Siegel, senior medical analyst for Fox News, noted the value of such a wide-scale study.
"I love this study because it opens a lot of questions more than it gives answers, but I think I have some answers," the doctor said.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE HEALTH STORIES
Regarding the heightened prevalence of ADHD among first-borns, Siegel offered his own hypothesis about parental behavior.
"My theory, they get more stimuli. The parents are like hovering over them, helicoptering them ... and they don't know where to look," he said.
TEST YOURSELF WITH OUR LATEST LIFESTYLE QUIZ
Addressing the disparities in allergic conditions, Siegel pointed to early environmental exposure, stating, "I think it's because the firstborn's immune system hasn't seen the environment before. And if it's not set properly, you get an allergy."
Siegel also touched on biological and psychological factors when evaluating differences between siblings.
"I think the womb changes after you have your first child, and the second child gets a womb that's already been used. So therefore, it's more set for it," he said.
CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR HEALTH NEWSLETTER
Regarding the higher rate of substance use disorders among second-born children, Siegel suggested emotional drivers, saying, "it may be the same idea: 'I want attention. I'm looking for attention. I wanna do something to get a rise out of you.'"
While the research highlights patterns across a large population, the study comes with limitations.
The findings demonstrate correlations rather than direct causation, meaning the trends don't necessarily stem from physiological changes, early microbial exposures or social dynamics.
Additionally, the data relies on commercial health insurance claims, which can reflect differences in diagnosis, healthcare-seeking behavior and parental attention rather than true biological functions alone.
Factors such as the age of parents between births and varying age gaps between siblings also complicate these associations. Ultimately, researchers emphasized that birth order serves as a modest population-level risk marker rather than a definitive health predictor.
The research was published in the journal Nature Health.
Los Angeles Lakers buyer, ex-Disney chief Bob Iger once said rooting for team was 'not in my DNA'
The Los Angeles Lakers just sold for $12.5 billion to an ownership group that includes a guy who once openly admitted he couldn't bring himself to root for them.
Former Disney CEO Bob Iger teamed up with Josh Kushner to buy the Lakers, which is a pretty wild turn for a guy who spent decades sitting courtside rooting for their little brother, the Clippers.
When news of the Lakers sale broke Wednesday, fans quickly resurfaced Iger's old comments about why he could never root for the team.
Back in January 2021, Iger explained his Lakers problem during an appearance on The Old Man and the Three podcast, hosted by none other than current Lakers head coach JJ Redick. Iger told Redick why, after moving to California in 2000, he simply couldn't bring himself to root for the Lakers.
"I couldn't root for the Lakers very easily," Iger told Redick. "It just was not in my DNA."
Iger explained that growing up a New York Knicks fan made backing the Lakers an absolute non-starter.
Instead, he adopted the Clippers to get his basketball fix. His other reason for picking the Clippers over LA's powerhouse was even simpler: price.
Iger explicitly told Redick that "their seats were a lot cheaper than the Lakers."
The man who just helped buy the Lakers for $12.5 billion originally chose the Clippers because the tickets were cheaper. Iger once said rooting for the purple and gold wasn't in his DNA.
Now he owns a piece of the franchise.
The timing of the blockbuster deal is where things get even more interesting. Billionaire Mark Walter agreed to buy the Buss family's controlling stake in June 2025 at a roughly $10 billion valuation. Just 14 months later, he's flipping the Lakers for $12.5 billion.
That lightning-fast turnaround comes as Walter's business empire reportedly faces federal scrutiny, including questions surrounding billions of dollars in private-credit investments. There's no evidence the investigation forced the sale — or that Walter suddenly needed cash — but unloading the Lakers barely a year after buying them certainly makes the timing interesting.
As for Iger, he clearly has the resources to help purchase the franchise. But for a guy who once said rooting for the Lakers wasn't in his DNA, becoming one of their owners is one hell of a plot twist.
Send us your thoughts: alejandro.avila@outkick.com / Follow along on X: @alejandroaveela
Deshaun Watson, Shedeur Sanders give Browns a preseason quarterback battle worth watching
The NFL preseason is generally a tough sell. Fans are excited that football is back, sure, but then the starters play a series or two, and a bunch of guys who aren't going to make the roster finish the game.
But the Cleveland Browns just gave us two reasons to pay attention to their first two preseason games.
RAIDERS' NO. 1 PICK FERNANDO MENDOZA WILL GET 'PLENTY OF EXPERIENCE' IN PRESEASON DEBUT THURSDAY
Head coach Todd Monken informed his quarterbacks Wednesday afternoon that Deshaun Watson will start Cleveland's preseason opener Saturday in Chicago against the Bears. Monken also plans to start Shedeur Sanders in the Browns' second preseason game, at home against the Buffalo Bills on Aug. 22.
Now we're talking.
Monken said the plan is for Watson and Sanders to play roughly a half apiece against Chicago, then flip the order the following week against Buffalo.
Cleveland has spent the offseason treating its quarterback job like an actual competition, and Monken has backed that up with how he's handled practice. Watson and Sanders have alternated days working with the first-team offense during training camp after both received opportunities with the starters during the spring.
But preseason football is where that competition finally becomes something the rest of us can actually evaluate.
Watson gets the first crack, and his start against Chicago carries plenty of weight even if Monken isn't ready to call anyone QB1. Watson hasn't appeared in an NFL game since rupturing his Achilles in October 2024. He later needed a second surgery after re-rupturing the tendon and didn't play at all last season.
So, watching Watson take an actual snap against an opposing defense is going to be a little more interesting than the standard August opener.
The Browns don't just need to know whether Watson can operate Monken's offense. They need to see whether he still resembles an NFL starting quarterback after nearly two years without playing in a game. He's obviously not the player the Browns traded three first-round picks to obtain in March 2022.
Watson led the NFL in passing yards in 2020, then didn't play at all in 2021 after requesting a trade. During that time, dozens of massage therapists accused him of sexual misconduct, further complicating his situation in Houston. The final two civil lawsuits tied to those allegations were dismissed earlier this year.
None of it stopped the Browns from trading for Watson in what might be the worst trade in NFL history. The 30-year-old quarterback has started 19 games in the past four seasons, compiling a 9-10 record.
Cleveland doesn't need Watson to be the guy who was considered one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL. They just need him to prove he can still be a competent QB.
Then there's the 24-year-old Sanders, who slid to the Browns in the fifth round of the 2025 NFL Draft. Sanders wasn't even the first quarterback drafted by the Browns; that was Dillon Gabriel in the third round. Gabriel is still on the roster and technically part of the team's competition to be the starter, but appears to be behind Watson and Sanders. They also drafted Taylen Green in the sixth round of the 2026 NFL Draft.
BROWNS DRAFT ANOTHER QUARTERBACK, MAKING SHEDEUR SANDERS' STARTING JOB EVEN LESS SECURE
Unlike Watson, Sanders has recent game tape, and plenty of it. The second-year QB appeared in eight games as a rookie and started seven, throwing for 1,400 yards, seven touchdowns and 10 interceptions. There were flashes of promise, most notably a 364-yard, three-touchdown performance against Tennessee, but there were also the mistakes you'd expect from a young quarterback trying to figure out the NFL.
That's what makes this battle so intriguing. Not only is Sanders technically the incumbent, but he comes with a ton of hype thanks to his bravado and last name. He's already started meaningful NFL games, showed enough to make the Browns curious about what comes next and has now had a full offseason under a new head coach to make his case.
Usually, there's an obvious answer to a QB "competition" and teams just go through the motions. But this feels like a true battle for the starting gig. Giving Watson and Sanders their own preseason starts makes it pretty clear Monken wants to see both guys in game action with the first-team offense.
More importantly, Cleveland has created something that's usually missing from August football: stakes that people actually care about.
Nobody is going to remember who wins Browns-Bears on Saturday. Nobody should. But if Watson looks sharp, moves well and pushes the ball downfield, that's meaningful. If he looks tentative or rusty after such a long layoff, that's meaningful too.
The same applies to Sanders against Buffalo. He'll get a home crowd that already knows him, and every good throw is going to add fuel to the idea that he should be Cleveland's starter now and into the future. Every bad decision will be a reminder that his rookie season was uneven for a reason.
Monken doesn't have to name a regular-season starter after either game. In fact, he probably shouldn't unless someone makes the decision obvious.
Cleveland still has a third preseason game against New England on Aug. 27, so there's room to keep evaluating before the real games begin. And if Monken really wants to mess with everyone, he could even throw Gabriel a start in that contest.
For now, Watson gets Chicago. Sanders gets Buffalo. And for two Saturdays, Cleveland's quarterback competition becomes one of the most interesting things the NFL preseason has to offer.