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New HBO superhero show faces 'woke' criticism for reframing classic hero lore around racial privilege
HBO’s new superhero series, "Lanterns," drew criticism from some viewers who accused the studio of overhauling a beloved character’s origin story to focus on modern racial discourse and privilege.
Episode 3, "OutKast," reframes the franchise's traditional emphasis on "fearlessness" through the experience of a Black man in America, prompting some critics to accuse the show of sacrificing classic comic book lore for social justice commentary.
In DC Comics lore, Green Lanterns are intergalactic peacekeepers chosen by alien power rings that seek out individuals with the innate ability to overcome fear. In "Lanterns," that standard is reframed as an unfair burden when applied to Stewart.
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"Do you know the differences in race on Earth?" Stewart's mother, Bernadette, asks an alien Guardian of the Universe who has taken the form of an older White woman. "Do you understand how unfair it is to ask a Black man in America if he’s afraid?
"We are terrified daily of persecution and still show up, sometimes better than everyone around us," Bernadette adds. "Even in space, y’all don’t consider us."
Rather than being chosen as an adult for his ability to overcome fear, Stewart is conditioned by his parents from infancy in "Lanterns" to wield the ring through hyper-precise perfection. Some viewers accused the show of replacing the hero’s traditional emphasis on individual willpower with a lesson on racial privilege.
"Lanterns" co-creator Damon Lindelof also created HBO’s 2019 superhero series "Watchmen," which similarly drew criticism over its focus on American racial politics.
But not everyone online objected to the changes.
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"Lanterns is fantastic. And for those inevitably crying that they ruined GL by going ‘woke,’ you obviously never read O’Neil & Adams’ Green Lantern/Green Arrow run," filmmaker and comic book writer Steven DeKnight, who previously worked on "Daredevil," wrote on X.
The character John Stewart debuted in 1971 as one of DC’s first Black superheroes. He was portrayed as a civil rights advocate who challenged authorities in Detroit and as a fearless leader whose willpower earned him the Green Lantern ring.
Critics argue that "Lanterns" alters that characterization by making Stewart’s childhood conditioning, rather than his natural willpower, central to his selection.
"Lanterns" writer and co-executive producer Vanessa Baden Kelly addressed the character’s comic origins and accusations that the show had gone "woke" in an interview with TheWrap.
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"I stumbled across some people calling the show ‘woke,’ and there were people putting panels in the reactions and the comments, and they were panels from the 1970s John Stewart," Baden Kelly said.
"Him calling people ‘Whitey’ or him opposing wars, and I’m like, ‘Oh my God.’ I read a bunch, but I couldn’t read all of it, and you’re just like, that’s right, just keep it in the front of your mind — that this is who John Stewart’s always been," she added.
In the same article, J. Alphonse Nicholson, who plays the hero's father, John Stewart Sr., in flashbacks, discussed the show’s portrayal of racial dynamics.
"I’m just grateful that the writing room put this into the script," Nicholson told TheWrap. "How can you expect this African American man in this world … to be fearless? It really raises a lot of questions on who has the privilege to move through life without thinking about those things, even in the fictional world."
Nicholson also linked the show to the 2024 presidential election during an appearance on pop culture creator Fantastic Frankey’s podcast, arguing the country is experiencing the consequences of "not trusting a Black woman."
"Could you imagine where we would be right now if Kamala got up in there, dog? Could you imagine how we would’ve been? It’d be a lot different, right? So we’re experiencing the consequences of not trusting a Black woman," Nicholson said in the clip, connecting the show’s themes of heroism to Harris’ 2024 candidacy.
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"And now we have this show in a way that can [kind of] tell you how great it could be. How great of a superhero we can create and have if you trust a Black woman."
Entertainment critic Christian Toto argued the creative choices in "Lanterns" reflect a broader trend in modern-day entertainment.
"Today's Hollywood screenwriters care little about canon or fidelity to the source material," Christian Toto, host of "The Hollywood in Toto Podcast," told Fox News Digital. "They love injecting modern culture war battles into storylines, even when they don't mesh with the material or present themselves as awkward and unnecessary."
Toto argued that the show’s dialogue risks alienating audiences despite what he described as "strong ratings."
"That's precisely what's happening with the show so far. Make no mistake. This is overtly woke in nature. The scribes are jamming social justice arguments into the dialogue in ways that feel inauthentic to the time period in question. Even worse? The on-the-nose dialogue takes us out of the story," Toto said.
"The pushback was inevitable. Audiences sense this kind of clunky woke storytelling a mile away. And many are exhausted by it. Yet the series is getting strong ratings to date, so general audiences are so interested in the comic book characters they'll often look past the woke detours. At least for now."
Fox News Digital reached out to Warner Bros. Discovery but did not immediately hear back.
Trump names Adam Telle acting secretary of the Army following Dan Driscoll's resignation
President Donald Trump on Thursday announced he was appointing Adam Telle, assistant secretary of the Army for Civil Works, as acting secretary of the Army.
"I am pleased to announce that Adam Telle, the current Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works, will become Acting Secretary of the Army, effective immediately," Trump posted on Truth Social.
"He is a Great Patriot, who is respected by all."
He made the announcement after Army Secretary Dan Driscoll submitted his resignation to the president earlier this week.
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Telle, who was nominated by Trump and confirmed by the Senate in 2025, oversees the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' Civil Works program, where his responsibilities include flood and storm protection, commercial waterways and Clean Water Act permitting.
Previously, Telle served as chief of staff to Sen. Bill Hagerty, R-Tenn., and was Trump's chief liaison to the Senate during the president's first administration, when he led the White House Office of Legislative Affairs' Senate team.
Before that, Telle served on the Senate Appropriations Committee subcommittee responsible for overseeing the Department of Homeland Security's budget. He also spent 10 years in the office of former Sen. Thad Cochran, R-Miss., where he served as deputy chief of staff, legislative director and the senator's top national security staffer.
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Telle is viewed as having strong relationships with senators on Capitol Hill, which could prove important as the administration works to confirm Army nominees stalled in the Senate.
The appointment fills a key leadership vacancy atop the nation's largest military branch.
Driscoll's exit came after he reportedly butted heads with Secretary of War Pete Hegseth over the Army's transformation and readiness, including Driscoll's belief that Hegseth had hindered those efforts, Fox News Digital previously reported.
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The outgoing Army secretary said Wednesday would be his "last full day" in the position, adding that serving under Trump and Hegseth had been "the honor of a lifetime."
"I had the privilege of working with them to modernize and accelerate how the Army mans, trains, and equips the most lethal fighting force on the face of the earth," Driscoll said in a statement posted on X.
"We could not have made the progress we did without the support of Secretary Hegseth," he continued. "I am forever grateful to President Trump for the opportunity to once again serve my country."
Fox News Digital's Ashley J. DiMella and Fox News' Jennifer Griffin contributed to this report.
Popular pantry staple could get you stopped at airport security under little-known TSA rule
Travelers may want to take a second look at what they're packing for their next flight after the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) reminded passengers that one common food item is subject to its liquids rule.
The TSA recently took to X to remind travelers that, yes, peanut butter is considered a liquid when going through airport security.
"Peanut butter is a liquid... we said what we said... this time with receipts," the agency wrote.
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The TSA included a screenshot of a Google AI Overview explaining why peanut butter can be classified a liquid.
Under TSA rules, liquids, gels and aerosols in carry-on bags must be in containers of 3.4 ounces or fewer and fit inside a quart-sized bag, according to the TSA website.
Larger quantities can be packed in checked luggage.
Gary Leff, a Texas-based travel industry expert and author of the blog "View From the Wing," told Fox News Digital the consistency of peanut butter is what puts it under the liquids rule.
"You can't bring peanut butter, [as] the TSA considers that to be a liquid because it conforms to the shape of its container rather than retaining its shape on its own," Leff said.
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That doesn't mean travelers have to stop bringing food through security altogether.
"There are more things you can bring through security than you might even realize," Leff said.
He suggested travelers consider eating before heading to the airport or try packing foods that are allowed through security, particularly because airport dining can be expensive and options may be limited.
"Wherever you go that's not the airport is going to have better food at the same price," Leff said.
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Fox News Digital reached out to the TSA for comment.
The TSA's classification has sparked debate among travelers online, with some questioning whether the popular spread should really count as a liquid.
"I would invite TSA to drink a pint of peanut butter, then," one Reddit user joked.
"So make your sandwich first," another commenter said, offering a simple workaround for travelers hoping to bring the spread along.
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Fox News Digital previously reported on another TSA reminder that sparked debate among travelers after the agency weighed in on an unusual airport practice.
In July, the TSA suggested travelers could bring hammocks to airports during long layovers, writing on social media, "Nobody said you couldn't bring a hammock to the airport."
The agency advised travelers to check with individual airports before setting up a hammock because rules about where they can be used vary by airport.
The suggestion divided travelers online.
Some said hammocks are disruptive in crowded terminals, while others embraced the idea as a way to get comfortable during long waits.
Excavation set to begin on Trump administration's 250-foot triumphal arch amid legal battle
Excavation work will begin over the next two weeks on a site where the Trump administration plans to build a tall memorial arch in Washington, D.C., a project that faces a lawsuit from opponents who argue the project will disrupt nearby historic sight lines.
Interior Secretary Doug Burgum announced Thursday that work would start on the Great Triumphal Arch and Military Observation Deck, which will be located on Columbia Island, standing between the Lincoln Memorial and Arlington National Cemetery.
"This will be one of the Great Pieces of American Architecture, honoring the history and significance of Arlington Cemetery and befitting the most powerful Capital in the World," Burgum wrote on X, along with mock-ups of the towering 250-foot arch.
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The images showed a white arch with gold detail, with "ONE NATION UNDER GOD" written on top. A gold Lady Liberty-like figure with wings and a torch stands above, as well as gold eagles with their wings spread outward.
The project faces opposition from three veterans and an architectural historian who argued that "congressional authorization is necessary and lacking for this project," said Nicolas Sansone, an attorney with the Public Citizen Litigation Group representing the plaintiffs.
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"We believe that construction cannot and should not proceed apace, and we are prepared to inform the court that it needs to, at this juncture, step in," Sansone told The Associated Press.
A 24-page report released last month by the National Park Service backs the idea for the arch.
However, the report noted that the project would have "direct and indirect adverse effects on the sight lines of historic properties."
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In a series of posts on X, Burgum defended the project, saying the idea for a monument goes back decades. He cited attempts by past Congresses and old reports about discussions of the construction of a memorial.
The secretary noted that more than 70 cities, including Athens, London, Madrid, New Delhi, Paris and Rome showcase arches.
"Interestingly, Washington, DC, is the only major Western capital without an arch," Burgum wrote. "Now after 125 years of waiting, the most powerful capital in the world will be the home of the most spectacular and beautiful arch of them all!"
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Fox News Digital has reached out to the Interior Department and the Public Citizen Litigation Group.
The arch is one of several projects undertaken by the Trump administration, including the renaming of the Kennedy Center, a new White House ballroom and the refurbishing of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
GOP candidate gets busted allegedly trying to plant drugs on his political rival
A Republican candidate for the Missouri state House is facing federal drug charges after newly unsealed court documents revealed an alleged plot to frame his political opponent by planting cocaine and prescription pills in her purse.
Thomas Christopher Ross, 37, made his initial court appearance Thursday in U.S. District Court for the Western District of Missouri in Springfield, where he faced one count of conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance.
According to the Justice Department (DOJ), Ross conspired with his former campaign manager to stash narcotics among the personal property of his Republican rival, Louise Secker, ahead of the state's August primary.
But, according to an unsealed FBI affidavit, the campaign manager reportedly flipped on Ross and wore a wire to catch him in a sting operation.
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"The circumstances of his arrest are serious and deeply troubling," said Peter Kinder, chairman of the Missouri Republican Party, after news of Ross's arrest.
"Being the Republican nominee for public office carries with it a responsibility to the voters, the community and the principles our party represents. ... Given the seriousness of the situation, I believe the right course of action is clear."
Kinder called on Ross to drop out of the race after he just narrowly won the Republican nomination for Missouri's state House of Representatives District 161 earlier this month by just a handful of votes against Secker to advance to the November general election against Democrat Aaron Metzger. Under Missouri election law, Ross has until Sept. 8 to voluntarily withdraw his name from the November general election ballot.
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"The American people deserve confidence in an electoral process that has served our nation for generations," Matthew Price, U.S. attorney for the Western District of Missouri, said in a Justice Department press release published Thursday.
"Candidates are expected to conduct their campaigns with integrity, honesty and respect for their opponents, allowing voters to make informed decisions without fear of misinformation or undue influence."
The DOJ said it was contacted July 30 by the Joplin Police Department (JPD) regarding claims of public corruption after Ross' campaign manager told JPD about the conspiracy to plant cocaine and an Adderall pill, both Schedule II narcotics, among Secker's belongings.
The staffer said he was asked by Ross to plant a baggie of cocaine and a prescription amphetamine pill, both given to him by Ross, inside Secker's purse or car. The Justice Department added that the drugs were meant to be planted while Ross was out of town.
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According to a probable cause affidavit, the following day, July 31, the campaign staffer wore a wire during an encounter at Ross' home, KOLR-TV reported.
The outlet said court records showed how the campaign manager told Ross he still had "the bag and addies" and asked whether Ross still wanted the drugs planted on his opponent.
Ross reportedly responded in the affirmative, according to court documents, and the pair also sent numerous text messages discussing the conspiracy that Ross suggested "would be extreme egg on the face" of Secker.
Screenshots of text messages suggest Ross and the former campaign manager discussed the plot as early as May 31, local outlet KCUR-FM of Kansas City added.
Fox News Digital reached out to Ross for comment but did not hear back in time for publication.
Jennifer Aniston, boyfriend Jim Curtis’ chemistry shines as she reveals ‘deep fear’ during interview
Jennifer Aniston and boyfriend Jim Curtis’ chemistry was on full display Wednesday evening when the "Friends" star interviewed the wellness coach about his new book.
While the 57-year-old kept it professional as she questioned him about his life and how he came to write his self-help guide, "The Book of Possibility," their connection was undeniable.
The "Friends" star later revealed that she was overcoming a "very deep, deep fear of public speaking" by interviewing him.
"You’d never know it," Curtis told her.
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The actress started out the 30-minute interview by reminiscing about how she used to go to gym class in the building where they were sitting, the 92nd Street Y in New York City, and play dodgeball, which wasn’t her favorite thing, since she wasn’t "sporty."
"So, it was me just knowing that I was going to go into — it was dodgeball, the huge red balls — and I’d just walk into the room, and there’s no, like, yard. It’s a building, so you just have to run for dear life, cover for dear life. Stand as far back into a corner as you possibly can. So, it’s quite a full-circle moment to be back here with you, speaking of dodging balls."
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She continued to laughter, "So, I’m so excited to be here talking about ‘The Book of Possibility.’ Have I completely embarrassed you?"
"No, not yet. We’re still on track here," he laughed. "First question, please."
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Aniston prefaced her first question by saying, "I know a lot about you," then asked the transformational coach about his journey to becoming the person he is now.
While discussing his earlier work on Wall Street carrying boxes around the New York Stock Exchange, Curtis said he began to feel accepted by the coworkers who would tease him by yelling "Run, Forrest, Run!" a reference to "Forrest Gump."
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"It was the first time that I ever felt really accepted, because if they were making fun of me, I was truly accepted."
"Really?" she asked.
"Yes, please don’t adopt that," he replied.
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Later, Curtis became emotional while discussing his "ultimate low" when he was in a hospital in severe pain struggling to get a diagnosis that made him realize "it’s time to change." Aniston also became emotional and teared up.
"What a beautiful story," she said, having to clear her throat. "Thank you so much for sharing that. And, also, you reached this point where you’re met with two roads, and you definitely went with the road less traveled in your case."
At the end of the interview, Curtis praised Aniston for her "fantastic" questions, adding that they "kind of" went over them before but not too much.
"I didn’t ask you one question that was prepared," the actress deadpanned. "I don’t know what you’re talking about."
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After the interview, Curtis surprised Aniston by springing some questions on her from the audience.
"Just relax, these won’t be very painful," he teased.
Once Aniston answered the questions about the possibilities she’s choosing, her best advice and how she handles stress — "Deep breaths and meditation" — the couple stood and hugged and shared a chaste kiss.
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After Aniston left the stage, Curtis urged the audience to take "reckless abandon" and cheer for her as loudly as they could so she would consider taking part in another event.
The couple, who have been linked for over a year now, often keep their relationship private, although they have opened up about it in the past.
And the star shared a recent photo dump on Instagram of her summer that included a photo of her blowing a kiss to the camera with Curtis in the background.
Cavaliers star Donovan Mitchell reveals how booze helped fuel his legendary 71-point game
There are certain sports where I think it’s widely believed, if not accepted as a cold, hard fact, that alcohol can improve performance.
Hasn't everyone's golf game improved with a little swing oil?
However, I didn't think basketball was one of the sports, at least not until Cleveland Cavaliers star Donovan Mitchell revealed that he dropped a cool 71 points back in 2023 with a little help from grandpa's old cough medicine.
Back on January 2, 2023, Mitchell and the Cavs took on the Chicago Bulls.
The two teams ended up in an overtime thriller that the Cavs won 145-134, with Mitchell dropping a career-high 71 in the process.
"We played them on New Year’s Eve," Mitchell recalled on the "Cousins" podcast hosted by NBA greats Vince Carter and Tracy McGrady. "Then we had New Year’s in Cleveland. Then we played the next day. Now I will say this. I’ve never drank before a game in my life. It was New Year’s. So I did have a drink — a few drinks — the night before the game."
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Hey, many a beer leaguer has done that very thing. In fact, like I said, certain sports benefit from a few pops. Bowling is one, perhaps darts.
Hell, I've always argued that part of playing cornhole well is having a beer in your hand for balance.
"Never done that in my career," Mitchell said. "Haven’t done it since. So I tell people like that was probably what, you know, allowed me to have the night I had."
Mitchell is a professional because if that had happened to most of us, we would’ve thought, "Wait, if a few drinks equal 71 points, then it only makes sense that after many drinks I could be holding up a piece of paper with '100' written on it after the game."
Of course, that's not usually how it works...
...or is it?
Will Ospreay's era as AEW champion begins, learns he'll have title defense at All Out: 'I am the standard now'
Will Ospreay found out quickly who his first All Elite Wrestling (AEW) World Championship title defense was going to be against.
The "Aerial Assassin" started AEW "Dynamite" on Wednesday with an impassioned promo, calling his All In opponent Kenny Omega "the best wrestler in the world" for the last 10 years and "still is."
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"I think about the people that have held this belt before," he said. "Chris Jericho, ‘Hangman’ Page, Jon Moxley, Kenny Omega, Bryan Danielson, Swerve Strickland … and I have to pinch myself a little bit. These guys were once-upon-a-time my heroes. I would watch them on TV. … These guys are my heroes and now the reality is, I’m amongst all of them. I worked hard for this, mate. All my idols, they’re now my rivals.
"I’m one of these guys that struggle to be able to say that I’m the guy. I haven’t got that much confidence in me. But then I look down at this belt and you can all look at it through your screens, bruv, I am the standard now. I am the Billy goat. I am the best in the world. I am your AEW world champion. And if anyone is going to take it from me, you’re going to need to walk through the same fire that I went through and I will see you at the end of the line, bruv."
Ospreay was later thrust into a 10-man tag team match with Andrade El Idolo, Callum Newman, Francesco Akira and Henare against Gabe Kidd, Bishop Kaun, Ricochet, Toa Liona and Clark Connors. Ospreay’s team won but the beat down was on afterward.
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Kidd was about to hit Ospreay with a chair when Moxley stepped into the ring to take it away from him. Technically, Kidd and Connors are aligned with Moxley’s faction, The Death Riders. But Moxley has clearly shown he has a soft spot for Ospreay. Moxley helped Ospreay strengthen his body after he recovered from a neck injury. He also handed Ospreay the Union Jack before Ospreay stepped onto the stage at All In.
As Moxley stared down Ospreay, he handed him his world title back. The crowd then got ramped into a frenzy. The video board featured what was coming next for Ospreay and Moxley.
A match at All Out on Sept. 26 for the AEW World Championship.
Andrade has a guaranteed title shot lined up as well, though it’s unclear when he will embark on that journey. Andrade won the Casino Gauntlet match to earn the right for a title match.
For now, Ospreay and Moxley will battle it out at the end of the month.
Stephen A Smith warns Hasan Piker will ‘contaminate’ Democrats in the midterms, ‘come back to haunt them’
ESPN personality Stephen A. Smith warned Thursday that far-left streamer Hasan Piker could become a general election liability for Democrats, telling Politico host Dasha Burns during "The Conversation with Dasha Burns" that Piker's influence could hurt the party beyond its progressive base and give Republicans ammunition against candidates who embrace him.
Smith said he believed Piker’s growing political footprint would ultimately hurt Democrats.
"It's a negative because I think, over the long haul, from a general populist perspective, it's going to contaminate the electorate on the left side of the aisle," he said. "It's going to come back to haunt them."
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The Republican National Committee (RNC) has already sought to turn Piker's relationship with Democratic candidates into a broader indictment of the party. RNC national press secretary Natalie Baldassarre told Fox News Digital in August that Democrats were refusing to confront Piker's influence as Michigan Democratic Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed faced scrutiny over campaigning with the streamer.
"El-Sayed is a terrorist sympathizer and an America-hating socialist," Baldassarre said. "His refusal to distance himself from Hamas-hugging radicals like Hasan Piker reaffirms his true allegiance is to terrorist groups, not America.
"Democrats' refusal to disavow this clown shows they either share his poisonous ideology or they're too cowardly to confront it."
Smith's warnings came as Piker's role in Democratic politics has become an issue in one of the country's most consequential Senate races. A recent Fox News poll of Michigan registered voters found Republican nominee Mike Rogers leading El-Sayed 51% to 47%, within the margin of sampling error. While 98% of self-described Democratic Socialists of America supporters backed El-Sayed, his support dropped to 69% among non-DSA Democrats and independents.
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El-Sayed previously explained directly to Smith why he has resisted pressure to disavow Piker, who has supported him and appeared alongside him during the campaign.
"What I'm saying is there are 3 million people who listen to Hasan," El-Sayed said. "I want to offer them a pathway into an electoral movement where, rather than sit outside of the electoral system, they see a pathway around the things that they agree with that he says that I agree with and a pathway that disavows the things that I disagree with. And, so, it's important."
Smith summarized El-Sayed's strategy as an effort to win over Piker's audience rather than an endorsement of the streamer personally.
"So, you're not thinking about him. You’re not thinking about him. You’re thinking about the 3 million people that support him, and you're trying to get those votes. That's what you're saying?" Smith said.
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El-Sayed confirmed Smith’s characterization.
"Exactly," he said.
Fox News Digital reported last week that El-Sayed attempted to put distance between his campaign and Piker after the streamer faced backlash over comments about American Jews and Israel. Piker endorsed El-Sayed and appeared at multiple campaign events, including his primary night gathering.
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Piker has faced years of controversy over political rhetoric, including his 2019 declaration that "America deserved 9/11," which he later retracted, and more recent remarks involving Israel and American Jews.
Fox News Digital reached out to Piker, the DNC and the RNC for comment but did not immediately receive responses.
California girls’ sports advocates vow fight after judge tosses trans athlete case: 'Far from over'
Advocates for girls' sports vowed to keep fighting after a federal judge dismissed a Department of Justice lawsuit challenging California policies that allow biological male athletes to compete on girls' school sports teams.
A DOJ spokesperson told Fox News Digital the administration remains committed to enforcing President Donald Trump’s policy barring biological males from girls’ sports despite the setback and is considering an appeal.
"We are disappointed by the Court’s order, and remain committed to enforcing President Trump’s agenda preventing boys from playing in girls’ sports," the spokesperson said. "We are evaluating our options for appeal."
Sophia Lorey, California Family Council outreach director and a former college soccer player who organized "Save Girls' Sports" demonstrations in California, told Fox News Digital that the ruling did not resolve what she called the central Title IX dispute.
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"California should not mistake a courtroom technicality for a victory," she said. "The judge did not rule that allowing males into girls’ sports is fair, lawful, or consistent with Title IX. This case was dismissed on a technical issue without ever deciding the fundamental question at the heart of this fight."
The court avoided the underlying debate over biological fairness entirely. Instead, U.S. District Judge Cynthia Valenzuela grounded her decision in administrative funding rules, finding that the federal government failed to give California explicit prior notice before threatening to pull $44 billion in education funds.
The Justice Department sued the California Department of Education (CADOE) and California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) in July 2025, alleging their transgender athlete policies discriminated against female athletes.
"I hope to see this decision appealed, but regardless, this fight is far from over," Lorey continued. "California lawmakers have the power right now to protect female athletes. A courtroom technicality does not erase biological sex, and it does not make discrimination against girls acceptable. We will not stop until CA girls are protected…California girls are still paying the price, losing medals, opportunities, roster spots, and privacy while state leaders prioritize gender identity over biological reality."
Sonja Shaw, a candidate for California superintendent of public instruction who has been involved in filing federal civil rights complaints over transgender athlete policies, also sharply criticized the dismissal.
"Parents in California are no strangers to this fight, or to these underhanded tactics. We stood up to Gavin Newsom and the CIF when they decided girls’ sports and girls’ locker rooms were political fodder," she said. "A Biden-appointed judge just tossed out a case that should have protected female athletes, and she did it after the Supreme Court already ruled that states can keep women’s teams as a safe space for biological females. That is a political choice dressed up as law, and it is the girls who get robbed."
"This fight is not going away, and neither am I," Shaw continued. "I am not backing down because an activist judge in a kangaroo court dismissed a case. This is a hill we are willing to die on. We will keep fighting for fairness, safety, privacy and the future of female athletes. California parents have been told 'no' before, and we refused to quit then. We’re not quitting now. We will keep standing, we will keep fighting, and we will keep protecting our girls."
SUPREME COURT MAKES RULING ON TRANS ATHLETES IN WOMEN'S SPORTS
The California Interscholastic Federation declined to weigh in on the court’s dismissal when reached by Fox News Digital on Thursday.
"The CIF does not comment on legal matters," CIF Director of Media Rebecca Brutlag said.
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The California Department of Education also declined to address the substance of the ruling when reached by Fox News Digital on Thursday, citing the ongoing legal proceedings.
"The California Department of Education cannot comment on pending litigation," a CDE spokesperson said.
The legal fight intensified after transgender Jurupa Valley High School athlete AB Hernandez won girls’ events at California’s state track championships, prompting federal scrutiny and changes by the CIF intended to preserve qualifying and podium positions for biological female athletes.
Fox News Digital reached out to the White House for comment, but did not immediately receive a response.
OutKick's Alejandro Avila contributed to this report.