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Carrie Underwood's return to 'Sunday Night Football' sends internet into a frenzy
Carrie Underwood is set to return as the voice of the "Sunday Night Football" opening anthem, an announcement that has drawn varied reactions from NFL and country music fans alike.
NBC announced this week that the country superstar will return for her 14th consecutive season to perform the iconic "Waiting All Day for Sunday Night" opening for SNF. The new opener debuts Sept. 13 ahead of the Dallas Cowboys' matchup against the New York Giants.
The announcement was met with plenty of excitement from fans who have come to associate Underwood with Sunday nights.
"YAYYY!!! Now when will she perform the halftime show!?!? She deserves it and would have the BEST show!" one user commented on Instagram.
"Well done! Make her the Superbowl halftime show. Add some class and respect after last year's blunder," another added.
"One of my Favorite parts of SNF!!!," one fan quipped.
But not everyone was focused on celebrating the eight-time Grammy winner's return. Instead, several commenters began campaigning for rising country singer Ella Langley, suggesting the "Choosin' Texas" singer should eventually take over the role.
"Can We get a @ellalangleymusic Sunday Night Football Anthem đ¤ˇđťââď¸ Just a thought," one follower wrote.
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"Time to pass it on. Let Ella sing it," another wrote.
"Its time for a change. We need more diverse lineup," another comment read.
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Underwood first took over NBC's "Sunday Night Football" opening in 2013 after Faith Hill's departure. More than a decade later, she's become one of the most recognizable faces â and voices â associated with the NFL's primetime broadcasts.
This year's show opener will feature a refreshed production and a more rock-inspired feel.
According to NBC, the sequence includes scenes filmed inside a recording studio, an intimate music venue and a packed stadium, continuing what Underwood described as her "rock star fever dream."
Burrito debate rips open GOP civil war on affordability: âWe will lose, and deserve itâ
A debate over whether a burrito should cost $20 has ignited a Republican civil war over affordability and the partyâs appeal to younger voters ahead of the midterm elections.
The clash began Wednesday when Turning Point USA spokesman Andrew Kolvet shared a college studentâs complaint that basic purchases have become prohibitively expensive.
"ââOne of our TPUSA college students gave me his take on affordability: âA burrito shouldnât cost $20,â" he posted to X on Wednesday. "Yeah, a lot of this is a hangover from Covid and Biden-era inflation, but the lived experience is the same: It just feels like basic things cost too much."
Fiscal conservatives took the position that food is generally affordable if one cooks for themselves and that purchasing a $20 burrito should be considered an occasional luxury. Those aligned with the populist wing of the GOP, meanwhile, argued that traditional conservatives are out of touch with the youth and that the Republican Party faces electoral peril unless it can meaningfully address affordability concerns.
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"Just hearing about this dumb $20 burrito debate so just thought Iâd make the losers on social media angry before going to bed," Rep. Dan Crenshaw wrote on Wednesday night. "Stop whining, get a job, eat Ramen like the rest of us did in college, on a budget with 4 roommates. The market doesnât care what you think something âshouldâ cost."
RealClearInvestigations senior writer Mark Hemingway, however, said that such an approach to affordability concerns could prove toxic to the GOP.
'IT'S A MESS': GOP TURNS ON HOUSE CONSERVATIVES AS VOTER ID BLOCKADE STALLS TRUMP'S AGENDA
"Andrew [Kolvet] is absolutely right about this, and pundits deflecting because you can cook at home cheaper are not helping," he said. "Eating a burrito once in a while should not be an aspirational lifestyle, for crying out loud."
"The comments saying stick to the dining hall or buy microwaveable burritos are missing the ENTIRE point," Defense of Freedom Institute spokeswoman Angela Morabito said. "If the Right's âsolutionâ to the affordability crisis is telling people to eat worse food, we will lose, and we will deserve it."
Chipotle burritos generally run between about $9 and $12 depending on location, with cheaper restaurants, such as Taco Bell, offering more affordable options. Some fiscal conservatives also pointed out that young people can save money by preparing meals at home.
"A burrito only costs $20 when you buy it on Door Dash because youâre too lazy to walk over to Chipotle or Taco Bell (where you can get one for $3.99)," Fox News contributor Marc Thiessen wrote in response to a populist arguing that the GOP could surrender ground to socialists by not addressing affordability. "When I graduated I lived on ramen noodles, had two roommates, and worked two jobs. I didnât whine about affordability, I worked hard so I could one day afford a better life."
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Vice President JD Vance then added to the debate, responding to Thiessen.
"I'm surprised to hear Mark say this. If you've ever met him in person, it's quite obvious the man has never missed a burrito," the vice president wrote.
Bradley Devlin, politics editor at the Daily Signal, claimed that some involved in the burrito discourse were ignorant of financial sacrifices he says are quite common among young people.
"The Burrito Discourse has exposed that so people with thoughts on the youths have not spoken to one in years," he wrote. "They do not expect to live off delivered food from bespoke restaurants and live on their own. I donât know a single 20 something who lives on their own right now. Having a college degree and two jobs is around the highest itâs ever been. âThe college premiumâ has dried up."
Others responded to the debate in jest.
"I don't care for burritos," Daily Wire host Michael Knowles posted.
Republican senators file amendment to stop college sports bill from overriding state women's sports laws
Three Republican senators filed an amendment Thursday aimed at preventing the Protect College Sports Act from overriding state laws that bar biological males from competing in womenâs athletics.
Sens. Josh Hawley of Missouri, Jim Banks of Indiana and Tommy Tuberville of Alabama are trying to close what they see as a loophole in the Protect College Sports Act.
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As currently written, the bill would override certain state laws dealing with college athlete eligibility. The senators are concerned that could include laws in Missouri, Indiana and other states that prohibit biological males from competing on womenâs college teams.
Their amendment would make clear that those state protections remain in effect. It specifically says the billâs federal preemption provision would not apply to any state or local law that "prohibits biological men from playing in womenâs sports."
"Biological men should never be allowed in womenâs sports or womenâs locker rooms," Hawley said in a statement. "Weâve got to make sure state laws protecting women stand."
The Protect College Sports Act is primarily intended to establish national standards governing name, image and likeness (NIL) compensation, athlete eligibility and other major issues facing college athletics. However, critics warn that its broad protections for the NCAA and its eligibility rules could have unintended consequences for womenâs sports.
Hawley raised the issue publicly on Wednesday.
"Iâve reviewed the current draft of the Senate NIL bill, and I am very concerned it PREEMPTS Missouriâs law banning men in womenâs sports," Hawley wrote on X. "This is what @Riley_Gaines_ has been saying. Big, big problem."
Banks said he could not support legislation that supersedes Indianaâs existing protections for female athletes.
"Indiana has one of the strongest laws in the country that keeps biological men from competing in womenâs sports," Banks said. "As the father of three daughters, I canât support any legislation that would preempt Indianaâs law. This amendment would make sure the Protect College Sports Act protects female athletes."
Tuberville called the protection of womenâs athletics "the civil rights issue of our time."
"Democrats have proven again and again they donât give a rip about protecting women from mentally ill men who wake up one day and decide to dress up like a girl," Tuberville said. "Iâm proud to stand with Senators Hawley and Banks in introducing this commonsense amendment to protect millions of female student athletes."
The amendment addresses one of two major objections womenâs sports advocates have raised about the bill.
The first is that the legislation could preempt state laws that establish sex-based eligibility requirements for womenâs athletic teams. The amendment filed by Hawley, Banks and Tuberville is designed to ensure those state laws remain enforceable.
The second concern involves language critics believe could insulate the NCAA from liability over its own eligibility decisions, including in lawsuits brought under Title IX.
An op-ed supplied by the Independent Council on Womenâs Sports (ICONS) argued that the legislationâs exemption is broad enough to "shield the NCAA from liability for past and future eligibility decisions that violate Title IX." The organization is helping finance federal lawsuits against the NCAA and other college sports organizations on behalf of female athletes, including Riley Gaines and former San Jose State volleyball player Brooke Slusser.
Gaines shared the op-ed on X.
"Really great piece on how the Protect College Sports Act prevents the NCAA from being held legally accountable for Title IX violations," Gaines wrote. "Athletes should be able to fight the @NCAA when their rights are violated !!!"
The amendmentâs text is focused specifically on protecting state and local laws from preemption. It does not explicitly address the separate argument that NCAA eligibility decisions could be protected from certain challenges under federal law.
Supporters of the overall legislation say a national framework is necessary to stabilize college athletics, protect athletesâ NIL rights and establish uniform rules governing compensation, scholarships, healthcare and eligibility.
Sen. Maria Cantwell, one of the leading supporters of the bill, argued that it would actually protect roster opportunities for womenâs and Olympic sports.
"We need to stabilize the arms race," Cantwell said. "Athletes should have a federal law granting them the ability to earn compensation for their name, image, and likeness, and a federal law protecting their scholarships and healthcare."
But Hawley, Banks and Tuberville are making clear that any broader effort to regulate college sports must not come at the expense of state protections for female athletes.
Whether their amendment is adopted could now become a significant factor in determining whether the Protect College Sports Act earns enough Republican support to advance.
'Fake' moderate Talarico's Texas surge tests Paxton in fight to hold crucial GOP Senate seat
EXCLUSIVE: As Democrats salivate over an elusive statewide victory in Texas, Republican Senate candidate Ken Paxton says he is undeterred by recent polling showing his Democratic opponent James Talarico holding a slim lead.
Democrats believe this is their moment to finally flip Texas blue after decades of frustrated efforts. Such an upset would be devastating for the GOPâs chances of retaining a Senate majority. Speaking with Fox News Digital after a rally in Houston, Paxton said Talaricoâs current lead is "not surprising" given "we were three months behind" after his primary runoff with incumbent Sen. John Cornyn.
"He had three months to fundraise. So, he's been spending $2 million a week to gain that advance," Paxton said. Despite this, Paxton, who currently serves as Texasâ attorney general, said that, come Election Day, he is confident Texans will reject the "real James Talarico" when they hear about his record. Talarico, a state Democratic lawmaker, has a history of controversial statements, including previously asserting that "God is nonbinary," that there are six sexes, and calling it "existential" to reduce meat consumption to fight climate change.
"I do not believe a poll that tells me that, âWe don't care what he believes. We don't care that he voted for a state income tax. We don't care that he wanted to trans children. We don't care that he's against the oil and gas industry. We don't care that he voted against every border security bill,â" Paxton continued. "I don't believe a poll that says Texans don't care about those issues. I've done enough polling; I've been in this long enough that that's just not true."
This comes as both candidates continue to crisscross the Lone Star State to get their message out to voters.
A recent Fox News poll of Texas voters showed Talarico with a within-margin-of-error lead in the race, 51% to 48%. Talarico held a slightly wider lead among extremely motivated and extremely interested voters, 53% to 47%, according to the poll. Critically, the Fox News poll found that 59% of Texas voters indicated they are concerned about Paxtonâs character while just 47% indicated they are concerned about Talarico being "too extreme" for Texas.
Paxton accused Talarico of "trying to mislead people about who he is" by masking a far-left "socialist" agenda while running as a moderate. He said Talarico has "changed all his positions on pick an issue, whether it's boys in girlsâ sports, or meat, or trans-ing kids."
"All of his positions suddenly changed for the general election [but] we have his votes, and we have his words, and those will be out," he said.
Fox News Digital reached out to the Talarico campaign for comment and did not receive a response before publication.
While he acknowledged that many Texas voters have not heard his messaging on Talaricoâs controversial views, he pointed out during his rally that Talarico has been aided by an influx of cash from out of state, particularly California.
Fox News Digital reported in June that donors from outside Texas accounted for roughly 50% of the funds Talarico received during the final stretch of the first quarter of 2026. During the same time period, Paxton, meanwhile, received about 25% of his cash from outside the state.
Still, the fundraising difference is stark. The Texas Tribune reported in late July that the latest quarterly Federal Election Commission filings show Talarico outraised Paxton by a more than three-to-one margin, $31.6 million to $9.3 million.
Paxton, however, appeared unbothered by all of this, pointing to how Talarico has had the advantage of several months to focus his attacks. While polling suggests the Texas GOP remains divided after the particularly messy Senate primary, Paxton said, "Primaries are like that for Democrats and Republicans" and "we are coming together."
TALARICO TOUTS TEXAS ROOTS AS OUT-OF-STATE CASH POWERS SENATE CAMPAIGN
As he travels the state, he said he will continue highlighting the "stark difference" between him and Talarico. Meanwhile, the attorney general said he will be keeping his pitch focused on affordability and cutting regulations.
"We know that Texans need help; we know that Americans need help. That's why I'm suggesting, and what I'm proposing is a first-time homebuyersâ $50,000 tax deduction, I'm proposing a $25,000 a year deduction for medical expenses including insurance premiums for everyone in the family. The child tax credit being doubled, the Trump accounts being continued. And then a $5,000 healthy living deduction so that you can pay for gym expenses and nutrition programs, sports activities, and even doctor-prescribed GLP-1," he said.
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"We're still three months out," Paxton continued. "And I know that when we put our resources together, when we get there, we will be able to highlight things and once the voters know the real James Talarico, not the fake one that's running right now⌠people will get to decide for themselves."
"Do we want a socialist Democrat in Texas?" he asked. "I think the answer is going to be absolutely not."
Thousands of migrants remain in Spanish territory after border rush, death toll hits about 100: Ceuta official
Between 3,000 and 5,000 migrants remain in Ceuta after hordes of mostly military-aged men rushed into the Spanish enclave from Morocco late last month, Ceuta's president said Thursday.
While speaking from a video call during an extraordinary session of the European Parliament's Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs, Ceuta President Juan Jesus Vivas also revealed around 100 people died during the surge.
Authorities estimate roughly 80,000 migrants rushed into the territory within a 48-hour period in late July.
Vivas called the border crisis an "invasion" and "one of the most difficult moments in the recent history of our city."
"According to the Dictionary of the Royal Spanish Academy, an 'invasion' should be understood in its second definition as the abnormal or irregular occupation of a specific place," Vivas said, according to a Fox News Digital translation of his remarks, which he gave in Spanish.
AT LEAST 72 DEAD AMID MASS MIGRANT RUSH TO STORM SPANISH ENCLAVE OF CEUTA SPARKING BORDER CRISIS
"That is precisely what occurred on July 30 and 31, when approximately 80,000 people â equivalent to the entire population of Ceuta â stormed into our city. This characterization, moreover, aligns with the statement made by the President of the Government of Spain, who on Friday the 31st, during his visit to Ceuta, stated that we were facing an attack, a violation of Spain's territorial integrity," Vivas continued.
Echoing previous claims from Spain's leftist President Pedro SĂĄnchez and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, Vivas acknowledged roughly 75,000 of the migrants had returned to Morocco but added "under no circumstances does it allow us to claim that our city has returned to normal."
"Ceuta has not returned to normal because between 3,000 and 5,000 people who entered during those fateful days of July 30 and 31 still remain," Vivas said. "The reception centers for adult and minor migrants are in a state of collapse, turning the influx into a major humanitarian emergency."
"Added to this are disruptions to public order and a high risk to public safety," he continued. "Furthermore, the morale of Ceuta's residents is severely affected. Our population feels sad, helpless, uneasy, fearful, and worried â and with good reason. It is inevitable to wonder whether this will happen again, and if that next time will be the definitive plunge into the abyss, causing us to cease being what we are: Spain and Europe. It has been exposed to the world that we are extraordinarily vulnerable, and that our security and integrity are in the hands of a third country, Morocco, which does not recognize our sovereignty."
He then proposed a set of actions authorities should take to return the city to normal. The proposals included expelling the remaining Moroccan migrants, provisioning more resources for the city's migrant facilities, and the implementation of a new economic model which he called on to be "More Spain and More Europe."
"We serve a society that has forged its character through courage to endure and the ability to overcome adversity. We are confident it will do so again, though I emphasize that the requested support from European authorities remains indispensable. Thank you very much," Vivas concluded.
Following the border rush between July 30â31, SĂĄnchez called the incident "an attack, a violation of the territorial integrity of Spain."
Fox News Digital contacted the governments of Spain and Ceuta for additional comment.
Charles Barkley declined Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift's wedding invitation for a simple reason
Charles Barkley declined an invitation to the wedding everyone wanted to attend: Travis Kelce and Taylor Swiftâs.
Why? The NBA legendâs reasoning is very simple. He doesnât go to weddings.
"I donât go to weddings. I love Travis. Him and Jason are great friends of mine. I got a lot of love and respect â Iâve only met Taylor one time, sheâs an awesome person from a distance, and Iâm happy for them. But Iâm like, âNah, Iâm gonna politely decline,â" Barkley said during a recent appearance on Barstool Sportsâ "Pardon My Take."
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"Because I love both of those guys, Jason and Travis, a lot. I got a lotta love and respect for them, but like, nah, Iâm not going to that zoo."
When asked by host Dan Katz, better known as "Big Cat," why he doesnât attend weddings, Barkley said he doesnât want to overshadow the bride on her day.
"Thatâs the brideâs special day, let her enjoy herself," Barkley said. "Itâs your special day."
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"I want her to have all the shine."
Roughly 1,000 people attended Kelce and Swiftâs wedding at Madison Square Garden on July 3. Yet despite the surreal setting and a star-studded guest list, Barkley chose not to attend.
In addition to not attending weddings, Barkley does not attend funerals either. The Basketball Hall of Famer said he will only attend a funeral if itâs somebody special.
"If somebody is really special, Iâll make an exception. But Iâm not going to somebody who is a casual friend of mineâs funeral. They donât know Iâm there, they're dead."
"If somebody is special to me, I will go. But I donât really want to go and see somebody who I like, last time I saw them they was dead."
Barkley played in the NBA for 16 seasons and was an 11-time All-Star. He won the MVP in the 1992-93 season. He currently is a basketball analyst on "Inside the NBA."
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Socialist victories show Dems' descent down 'deadly path of communism,' Johnson warns
House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., is arguing that Democrats are descending a dark path as a socialist insurgency on the left continues to notch victories against the party's establishment.
Republicans on the campaign trail have seized on the raging civil war within the Democratic Party, warning that a recent slate of wins by candidates linked to the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) is pushing one of the United States' two main political parties much further left than the vast majority of Americans are comfortable with.
"Right now, it's a contrast election for everybody," Johnson said during a campaign stop in Arizona. "They've got to make a decision that they want to continue with common sense, growth and opportunity, or they want to go to this dark down, dangerous, deadly road of communism."
DEMOCRATS TARGET MORE GOP HOUSE SEATS AFTER SOCIALIST VICTORIES ROCK LEFT-WING PRIMARIES
He said it was a choice "between common sense and crazy."
Johnson and other House GOP leaders are crisscrossing the country visiting districts represented by vulnerable Republican lawmakers and other areas where the GOP believes it has a shot of winning in November.
The Louisiana Republican made a similar pitch earlier this week during a town hall for Rep. Andy Ogles, R-Tenn., who is facing a well-connected and well-funded primary opponent on Thursday night.
"Could we've imagined even 10 years ago, if somebody told us that on the two hundred and fiftieth anniversary of the greatest nation in the history of the world, in the midterm, in the fall of 2026, we'd be in a contest to determine whether we're going to maintain our constitutional republic â the greatest nation in history â or go down this dark, dangerous, deadly road to communism?" Johnson said.
2026 MIDTERMS STATE OF PLAY: KEY RACES UNFOLD AS STEVENS, EL-SAYED BATTLE IN MICHIGAN
It's likely going to be a line the speaker often uses during his appearances ahead of the midterms, with Republicans writ large seeing a boon in the far-left candidates toppling establishment Democrats.
The left's socialist insurgency scored significant wins earlier this week when Dr. Abdul El-Sayed beat out establishment-backed Rep. Haley Stevens, D-Mich., for the Democratic nomination for Michigan's open Senate seat.
Elsewhere in the state, Sunrise Movement co-founder William Lawrence defeated former U.S. ambassador to Ukraine Bridget Brink for the Democratic nomination to face Rep. Tom Barrett, R-Mich., in what will be one of the most closely watched battleground races of November.
Among the DSA's policy positions is a call for eliminating the U.S. Senate and extending voting rights to noncitizens and felons on a national level.
Republicans are fighting an uphill battle to defy decades of political convention to keep and even expand their razor-thin majority in the House, but GOP leaders are betting on more far-left victories to give their party a better shot.
Your blood pressure cuff may expose your health data
Every morning, you strap on the cuff, press the button and watch the number pop up on your phone. It feels private. It feels like it is just between you and your app. That sense of privacy can be misleading.
Depending on the app and your settings, that reading, along with your glucose numbers, weight and medication schedule, may be stored in the cloud or shared with service providers. FTC cases show that some health apps have also disclosed sensitive information to advertising and analytics companies. Separately, data brokers market health-related profiles that scammers could exploit.
Here's what may be happening behind the screen of your health app and how to limit the exposure.
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ARE INSURANCE APPS WATCHING YOU?
Here's the assumption almost everyone makes: "My health data is protected. Isn't that what HIPAA is for?" Often, no.
HIPAA generally protects health information held by covered healthcare providers, health plans and their business associates. A consumer app you choose independently often falls outside HIPAA. However, an app may come under HIPAA when it handles protected health information on behalf of a covered provider or health plan.
Apps outside HIPAA do not operate without any rules. Many may still fall under the FTC's Health Breach Notification Rule, state consumer health laws and general protections against unfair or deceptive business practices.
Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La., introduced the Health Information Privacy Reform Act. The proposal would extend HIPAA-like privacy, security and breach-notification standards to some health information held outside the traditional HIPAA system. It would also require plain-language warnings before certain technologies begin generating wellness data that HIPAA does not protect.
As of today, the proposal remains introduced and has not become law. That means the same blood sugar reading can receive different legal protections depending on who holds it and why.
You would think a company that builds a blood pressure app would only use your numbers to track your blood pressure. Federal regulators have repeatedly found otherwise.
These were not obscure apps built by scammers. They were mainstream health services, and regulators alleged that the sharing happened through ordinary advertising and analytics tools running in the background.
That does not mean every blood pressure app behaves the same way. However, it gives you a strong reason to check what your own app collects, where it stores the information and which companies receive it.
ARE APPLE DEVICES SPYING? WHAT YOUR IPHONE TRACKS
Here's the part that should genuinely unsettle you. A Duke University researcher contacted 37 data brokers as a prospective buyer. Twenty-six responded, and 11 were willing and able to sell mental health data. Some advertised information tied to depression, anxiety and other conditions, along with demographic details. One broker advertised names and postal addresses connected to specific conditions. Prices ranged from $275 for aggregated counts to annual licensing fees of $75,000 or more.
This problem reaches beyond mental health, as data brokers can collect and sell many forms of health-related information. The FTC has documented data broker categories related to pregnancy, diabetes, high cholesterol and other potentially sensitive health interests.
In a final order issued in December 2025, California's privacy regulator fined Datamasters $45,000 for failing to register as a data broker. The order said the company bought and resold contact lists tied to sensitive conditions.
Those lists included 435,245 postal addresses associated with Alzheimer's disease, more than 2.3 million associated with blindness or visual impairment, 133,142 associated with addiction and 857,449 associated with bladder-control issues. California's enforcement chief warned that reselling lists connected to Alzheimer's disease could enable targeting that goes far beyond ordinary advertising.
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Put yourself in a scammer's shoes for a second. Random cold-calling is a numbers game. Most people hang up. However, a list of people associated with diabetes or high blood pressure could help a scammer choose a much more convincing lie, including fake Medicare and healthcare offers.
A caller claims to be from Medicare or a diabetes association and offers free glucose meters or test strips. All they need is your Medicare number "to process the shipment." Federal health officials have warned about callers impersonating Medicare, Social Security or diabetes organizations while offering free glucose meters, test strips and other supplies. The supplies may never arrive, or someone may fraudulently bill Medicare using your information.
A caller could reference your blood pressure or diabetes like a nurse checking in, then pivot to a plan that supposedly covers exactly what you need. Knowing a real detail about your health does not prove the caller represents Medicare, your doctor or an insurance company.
Ads, emails or calls may push treatments or supplements connected to a condition associated with your profile. Their timing may make the offer feel personal, but that does not make the medical claim or the seller legitimate. A scammer does not need to hack your phone to personalize a pitch. Health-related information can come from commercial profiles, public records, online activity, data breaches or other sources. A medically segmented list could help a caller make a fraudulent offer sound far more believable.
You do not have to. That is what makes this so hard to see coming. Your blood pressure app, glucose monitor and smart scale can each add information to a larger profile, depending on the service, its partners and the settings you enable. Data brokers may also compile property records, voter files, online activity and information purchased from other companies. Once information enters this ecosystem, companies may buy, resell, combine and refresh it across data broker and people-search services you have never heard of.
Not every app behaves the same way. Some provide stronger privacy controls than others. Features, settings and company practices can change, so review the current privacy notices for every service you use.
Connected OMRON monitors can transfer readings to the OMRON Connect app through Bluetooth, where you can upload, store and share your heart health history. Data handling may depend on your device, permissions and connected services, so review OMRON's current privacy notices before syncing.
Certain Dexcom products fall under HIPAA when Dexcom or a healthcare provider supplies them as insurance-reimbursable products in the United States. Other Dexcom websites, support programs and services may process information outside that HIPAA-covered context. Dexcom also provides opt-outs for certain data sales, sharing and targeted advertising under applicable state laws.
Withings says it does not share health information with advertising partners. It may share some non-health personal information to deliver tailored advertising, and information can sync with outside apps or partners when you authorize a connection.
Google committed not to use health and wellness information collected from Fitbit devices for Google Ads and to keep that information in a separate data silo. That commitment came through regulatory conditions attached to Google's Fitbit acquisition, so continue reviewing current Fitbit and Google privacy controls.
If you choose pharmacy or coupon features, Medisafe says your personal information may be disclosed to partner pharmacies or coupon companies. Those companies will then handle the information under their own privacy practices.
Your device encrypts Health information, and iCloud uses end-to-end encryption when you enable the required account protections. In addition, Apple prohibits apps from using HealthKit data for advertising. You decide which outside apps can read or write individual categories of Health information.
The takeaway is that you have more control than you might think, but you need to go into the settings and use it.
Here's a simple step-by-step guide to increasing your privacy when using health apps.
iPhone: Go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Tracking, then turn off Allow Apps to Request to Track. Next, go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Apple Advertising and turn off Personalized Ads.
Android: Go to Settings > Google > All services > Ads > Ads privacy. From there, you can turn off ad topics, app-suggested ads and ad measurement. Some devices also provide an option to delete the advertising ID. Menu names can vary by phone.
These settings limit certain forms of advertising and cross-app tracking. They do not stop every app from collecting information you enter directly or using other identifiers allowed under its privacy policy.
Open the account or privacy settings in each health app you use. Switch off anything labeled marketing, ad personalization or third-party sharing. Disconnect any linked apps you do not actively use.
Check for links labeled "Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information," "Your Privacy Choices" or something similar. Covered businesses must provide these controls under laws such as California's CCPA when they sell or share personal information as the law defines those terms. Your available rights may depend on where you live. An opt-out can restrict certain data practices, but it does not guarantee that all of your information will remain with the company.
Medicare does not make unsolicited calls offering free medical supplies in exchange for your Medicare or financial information. If a caller references a specific health condition, the detail may have come from a commercial profile, public record, data breach or another source. Do not assume the caller is legitimate simply because they know something about you. Never confirm personal or Medicare information during an unexpected call.
Turning off tracking in your apps can help reduce future collection, but it does not remove information that companies have already gathered, shared or sold. That data may already appear across dozens or even hundreds of broker and people-search sites.
You can submit removal requests yourself, but the process takes time. Each site has its own opt-out steps, and you may need to repeat them because your information can reappear months later.
A reputable data removal service can handle much of that work for you. These services send opt-out requests to data brokers, monitor for reappearing information and submit new removal requests when needed.
No service can erase every trace of your information online, but ongoing removal can reduce how much personal data is available to advertisers, scammers and identity thieves.
Check out my top picks for data removal services and get a free scan to find out if your personal information is already out on the web by visiting Cyberguy.com
Your health app may not receive the same HIPAA protections as your doctor's office. FTC cases show that some major health platforms disclosed sensitive information to advertising and analytics companies, while data brokers market profiles connected to health conditions. Scammers could use details like these to make Medicare, pharmacy and supplement pitches sound more believable. Turn off tracking and sharing where possible, and use available deletion or opt-out requests for information companies have already collected.
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US says North Korea missile launch poses no immediate threat, 'consulting closely' with allies
U.S. Indo-Pacific Command vowed Thursday that the U.S. "remains committed to the defense of the U.S. homeland and our allies in the region" after North Korea test-fired a ballistic missile.
The launch of the short-range ballistic missile unfolded ahead of large-scale, annual exercises to be conducted by the U.S. and South Korean militaries later this month. South Koreaâs Joint Chiefs of Staff said a projectile from North Korea's eastern Wonsan area was detected around 5 p.m. local time.
"We are aware of the missile launch and are consulting closely with our allies and partners. Based on current assessments, this event does not pose an immediate threat to U.S. personnel or territory, or to our allies," U.S. Indo-Pacific Command said in a statement.
"The United States remains committed to the defense of the U.S. homeland and our allies in the region," it added.
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South Korea's military bolstered its surveillance posture and is closely coordinating with the U.S. and Japan in the wake of the event, according to South Koreaâs Joint Chiefs of Staff.
Japanese Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi said the missile landed in the waters off North Korea's east coast and that there were no reports that the weapon reached Japanese territory.
Koizumi added that North Korea's repeated missile launches pose a threat to Japan and the region and that Tokyo lodged a protest to Pyongyang through their embassies in Beijing. South Korea's presidential national security council called the North Korean launch "a provocation" that violates U.N. Security Council resolutions and urged the North to stop it.
It was North Korea's first ballistic missile launch since late June, when it tested a tactical ballistic missile with a "special mission" warhead and other weapons. After watching the testing activities, leader Kim Jong Un said at the time that the military needed to bolster its "deadly and destructive offensive posture."
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South Korean and U.S. officials haven't yet released details about this year's Ulchi Freedom Shield joint exercise, but the drills are typically held in the latter half of August.
"This annual exercise aims to build understanding between Combined Forces Command, United States Forces Korea, the United Nations Command, and ROK Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS), ROK government agency, ensuring their ability to fortify the combined defense posture and enhance Alliance response capabilities against a spectrum of security threats," United States Forces Korea said about the exercises on its website.
"It will feature live, virtual, constructive and field-based training, engaging personnel from the various military services," it added.
U.S. and South Korean officials say the training is defensive in nature, but North Korea says the maneuvers are a practice invasion and often responds with missile tests, according to The Associated Press.
Fox News' Liz Friden and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Loophole forcing release of detained illegal immigrants targeted by Senate GOP
FIRST ON FOX: Senate Republicans are pushing to close a decades-old immigration loophole they say was heavily abused by the Biden administration.
The effort, led by Sen. Katie Britt, R-Ala., would prevent detained illegal immigrants from being released back into the U.S. in the event that their home countries would not accept their return.
Britt told Fox News Digital that her bill, the Keeping Our Communities Safe Act, would cinch tight the loophole that was created in 2001 when the Supreme Court ruled that illegal immigrants could be released from detention after six months if no country accepted them for deportation.
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"Ultimately, we want to create pathways for these people to go back to the country they came from," Britt said. "But just because we can't get a country to comply does not mean that that person should get to roam free in the United States of America."
"They should be there in detention until we're able to find them a pathway back to their country," she continued. "So this loophole was obviously exploited a great deal in the Biden administration, and what we're doing is making sure that we are putting forth legislation that closes it once and for all."
Over two decades ago, the court ruling limited the federal governmentâs authority to detain illegal immigrants and instilled a time frame that a noncitizen could remain detained.
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Once that six-month period has elapsed and there is no likelihood of removal, the government is tasked with presenting evidence that removal is still likely and on the table. But if they canât, the detainee has to be released under supervision.
Brittâs bill targets two sections of the Immigration and Nationality Act, a 1950s-era law that has undergirded the nationâs immigration laws for decades, to expand the Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) authority to detain criminal aliens, deny bonds to criminal aliens, and generally limit the availability of bonds unless an illegal immigrant can establish by clear and convincing evidence that theyâre not a flight risk or a risk to another person or the community.
It would also allow for extensions of detention in a number of cases, including in cases where an alien is a threat to national security or has committed an aggravated felony or violent crime.
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The bill has been circulating in Congress since 2011. Britt also tried to get it passed during the Biden administration.
The legislation has 11 Senate Republicans on board as co-sponsors, including Sens. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala., Kevin Cramer, R-N.D., Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, Ted Cruz, R-Texas, Deb Fischer, R-Neb., Cindy Hyde-Smith, R-Miss., Roger Marshall, R-Kan., Jim Risch, R-Idaho, and Mike Rounds, R-S.D.
"Joe Biden and Kamala Harris allowed millions of illegals to INVADE our country â and now law-abiding Americans are paying the price," Tuberville said in a statement to Fox News Digital. "We need to do everything we can to deport every single one of these criminals."