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Asian nation with 1,500-year-old imperial line insists only men can become emperor in policy revision
Japan’s Parliament voted Friday to enshrine male-only succession for the imperial throne, part of a monarchy that traces its origins back roughly 1,500 years.
Lawmakers did so by revising an Imperial House Law dating back to the 1800s, despite warnings from experts that limiting succession to men in the paternal line will hasten the decline of Japan’s shrinking and aging imperial family, according to the Associated Press.
To address the dwindling number of eligible heirs, the revisions allow distant male relatives to be adopted into the imperial family to father future successors. However, strict rules remain in place limiting the throne to men with royal blood. The changes also allow princesses to retain their royal status after marrying commoners.
The new rules passed by Parliament come as many Japanese had been calling for Princess Aiko, Emperor Naruhito’s 24-year-old daughter, to be allowed to succeed him — now an impossibility.
IN ATTEMPT TO CONNECT WITH YOUNG PEOPLE, JAPAN'S ROYAL FAMILY DEBUTS ON INSTAGRAM
"The emperor is a symbolic figure, and I don’t see why women cannot serve in the role," Junichiro Tsujimaru, a 78-year-old sushi chain founder, told the AP.
Under current law, the 66-year-old emperor's younger brother is next in line. After that, his 19-year-old nephew, Prince Hisahito, will inherit the throne, and then the emperor's 90-year-old uncle.
Hisahito is the only boy to be born in four decades, and only five of the 16 adults in the imperial family are men.
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and other conservatives say the male bloodline is the source of the emperor's authority and legitimacy.
SHINZO ABE POSTHUMOUSLY GIFTED HONORS, NOBILITY BY IMPERIAL FAMILY HE DEVOUTLY SUPPORTED
"It’s a declaration to prevent female monarchs … and to defend the male-lineage at all costs," Hideya Kawanishi, a Nagoya University expert on monarchy, told the AP. "They cannot say it’s male chauvinism, so they call it tradition."
Chizuko Ueno, a prominent feminist and sociologist, recently suggested it was ironic that Japan's first female prime minister was the one to ensure male-only succession.
Ueno said the new rules "treat male royals as stallions and put female royals under pressure as ‘childbearing machines’ to produce male offspring."
Japan has had eight empresses descended from the male line in its centuries-long history as a hereditary monarchy. The last woman to reign was Empress Go-Sakuramachi, who sat on the throne from 1762 until 1771, when she abdicated in favor of her nephew.
Female eligibility for the throne was first eliminated in 1890 under the original Imperial House Law.
That change was carried over into the modern Imperial House Law, enacted in 1947, the same year Japan’s new constitution stripped the emperor of governing authority after the country’s defeat in World War II.
Like Britain’s royal family, Japan’s imperial family remains an important national symbol.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Sophie Cunningham manages to anger both the left and right with a simple social media post
Sophie Cunningham has done something far more impressive than anything she's ever done on a basketball court.
The Indiana Fever star has managed to upset both the left and the right with one single social media post.
That's right.
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It's almost impossible to do nowadays given how polarizing every issue is. We're all so black and white in 2026. You're either far-left, or far-right. No in-between. No middle ground. No fence-sitting.
So, when you manage to anger both parties with one simple question, you know you've really found the sweet spot.
And that's exactly what Sophie Cunningham did Thursday evening when she took to X and simply asked, "so how do we save our farm land and stop all these dumb data centers?"
Chaos:
Boom! That's it. That's the post that had everyone all fired up over on Elon's app yesterday. So simple, yet so divisive.
That single tweet has over 8 million views, over 4,000 retweets and a staggering 6,000 comments. It is, easily, Sophie Cunningham's most viral post — which is saying something given she is the WNBA's biggest start next to Caitlin Clark.
Again, the impressive thing is how it angered both liberals AND conservatives alike, which shows just how truly dumb this whole AI era is. God, we're stupid.
Let's check in on some of the reaction:
You see? The reactions are all over the place, and all across the board. You've got "Project Liberal" mad at her. You've got Stephen Miller mad at her. You've got regular folks mad at her.
And none of them really say why they're mad, because, truthfully, nobody can really explain a data center. Myself included, by the way.
Data centers are sort of like "the cloud" for iPhones. Can anyone here really explain where something goes in your phone when it's sent to iCloud? No. Of course not. Nobody knows what that is, but we still use it.
That's what data centers are right now. Are they really that bad for us? Do they really take up space? Are they spying on us? Are they destroying our water? I have no clue. None. Zero.
Sophie Cunningham seems to think they're building them on our great farmland(s). Again, I have no clue if that's true. It probably is, to a degree.
Regardless, Sophie has the internet in a tizzy right now, and it's all because of one simple post that really tapped into the existing divides between rural America, Big Tech influence, government subsidies, and environmental priorities.
And that, folks, is how you keep America on our toes during the dog days of summer.
Well done, Sophie.
PS: some folks commented and said the way to save the farms is to get rid of the golf courses.
I don't think so. Not on my watch. That'll start a second Civil War.
1,740-year-old Roman coin bearing emperor's name found as England rail dig reveals clues
A railway project has opened an unexpected window into Roman Britain after archaeologists uncovered a rare coin and other artifacts dating back nearly 2,000 years.
The discoveries, made in Bedfordshire and Cambridgeshire in the United Kingdom, were announced by East West Rail on July 1.
Construction workers are currently restoring and building rail links between Oxford and Cambridge, and as part of that work, archaeologists are excavating trenches across southern England.
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One of the discoveries was a coin dating back roughly 1,740 years.
The artifact carries the name of Roman Emperor Carausius, a naval commander who was in charge of a Roman fleet based in the English Channel.
Pictures released by East West Rail show the Roman coin appearing in excellent condition after spending centuries underground.
Archaeologists expected to uncover ancient remains along the route, but there have been "a few surprises" that geophysical surveys did not initially detect, said Mike Court, historic environment lead at East West Rail.
TREASURE HUNTERS RECOVER RARE SILVER BAR FROM LEGENDARY SHIPWRECK OFF FLORIDA KEYS
"Geophysical survey doesn’t generally show finds, cremations or burials, so these are often unexpected when they appear in the trenches," Court told Fox News Digital.
"Despite being armed with all of that knowledge going into the trenching, it is still exciting when discoveries are made — and so far, after over 1,000 trenches, we are starting to get some really interesting results."
Court said the coins were discovered alongside evidence of Roman settlement and farming activity, rather than as isolated finds.
"These sites comprise numerous features, such as pits, ditches and postholes, cut into the natural ground," he said.
HIDDEN UNDERGROUND CHAMBER REVEALED BENEATH HOME OF LEGENDARY ROMAN EMPEROR
"The fills of these features may contain pottery, which help us date the features and the site."
The fills are "where we often find the coins through metal detecting," he added.
What makes the coin "particularly interesting," Court said, is that it bears the name of Roman Emperor Carausius. That provides valuable dating evidence for archaeologists.
Court said the excavations uncovered evidence spanning hundreds of years of history, with finds dating from the Iron Age through the Roman period.
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"We know from other projects nearby that this part of Britain has a rich archaeological landscape, and we weren't disappointed," he said.
"By the time we [are] finished, we expect to find archaeology from most, if not all, periods of British history and prehistory."
All the artifacts provide a rare, tangible link to the people who lived at the site millennia ago, Court noted.
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"Maybe the most compelling thing about these objects is not their association with emperors and historic events, but [their] connection to ordinary people," he said.
"Each coin was once carried by an individual living in Roman Britain. ... Through chance and circumstance, the coin remained buried until its rediscovery by East West Rail's archaeological survey team centuries later."
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With plans to dig around 6,000 trenches, Court added that archaeologists expect to uncover many more significant discoveries along the route.
"We are confident that we’ll uncover additional major sites over the next two years of our trenching program," he said.
"As we progress through the evaluation, we will get a better understanding of the sites we’ve excavated and their importance."
Every controversy surrounding Christopher Nolan's 'The Odyssey' from casting to costumes
Christopher Nolan's highly-anticipated adaptation of ancient Greek poet Homer's epic "The Odyssey" has sparked debate for months before audiences even had the chance to see it.
From criticism over casting choices and historical accuracy to backlash over the 55-year-old Oscar-winning director's own comments dismissing critics, the fantasy action-adventure has found itself at the center of multiple controversies ahead of its theatrical debut.
With a production budget of $250 million and marketing costs totaling an estimated $125 million, "The Odyssey" is one of the most expensive R-rated movies ever made. Box office analysts have estimated that the film will have to gross over $700 million globally to turn a profit for its studio, Universal.
While "The Odyssey's" controversies have dominated social media and entertainment news headlines, brand experts and box office analysts told Fox News Digital they do not expect the pre-release scrutiny to derail the movie's commercial prospects, with some arguing that it could have the opposite effect.
Here's a look at everything Nolan has taken heat for ahead of "The Odyssey's" release.
"The Odyssey" features a star-studded cast including Matt Damon, Robert Pattinson, Anne Hathaway, Zendaya, Tom Holland, Charlize Theron, Jon Bernthal and Lupita Nyong’o.
Despite its lineup of A-listers and many previous awards recipients, Nolan faced backlash over several casting decisions.
Much of the criticism came from his choice to cast Nyong'o as Helen of Troy, as Homer describes the character as having "white arms" in the poem. Social media users have pointed out that Nyong'o's African roots and darker complexion contradict the poet's description of the character.
Nolan also faced scrutiny over his decision to cast transgender actor Elliot Page as Sinon, a great warrior who fought alongside Odysseus during the Trojan War, as well as rapper Travis Scott, who plays a Greek bard (oral storyteller). Others have taken issue with the fact that no actors of Greek or Mediterranean descent were cast in the film.
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While weighing in on the backlash, PR expert Sarah Schmidt pointed out that the controversy had generated significant publicity for the movie ahead of its release.
"There is a lot of noise around this film, but in this case, noise isn’t a bad thing," the president of the PR firm Interdepence told Fox News Digital. "People are talking about the film before it’s even out, which is almost always a win."
"If this was about a personal scandal that is one thing, but this ‘controversy’ is about creative choice, casting, dialogue, and design," she continued. "And this type of historical edit is not unprecedented. Look at ‘Hamilton,’ which reimagined history and cast in an unexpected way. It told a story and became a national phenomenon. The people declaring online that they will not buy a ticket because of the casting or the costumes were probably never the audience to begin with."
"Outrage is cheap," she added. "Movie tickets these days are not. And I'm betting that people will still go and buy them."
For her part, Nyong'o has mostly brushed off the criticism and expressed support for Nolan's artistic vision. During an interview with Elle for the magazine's May cover issue, the 43-year-old actress, who won a best supporting actress Oscar for her performance in 2013's "12 Years a Slave," described "The Odyssey" as "a mythological story.""I’m very supportive of Chris’ intention with it and with the version of this story that he is telling," Nyong'o said. "Our cast is representative of the world. I’m not spending my time thinking of a defense. The criticism will exist whether I engage with it or not."
"It’s quite something to be a part of 'The Odyssey,' because it is so grand," she added. "It spans worlds. So that’s why the cast is what it is. We’re occupying the epic narrative of our time."
Page and Scott have not publicly responded to the backlash over their roles. However, Nolan has addressed his casting decisions in interviews leading up to the film's release.
Nolan told Time magazine in May he cast Scott because he wanted to pay tribute to "the idea that this story has been handed down as oral poetry, which is analogous to rap."
While speaking with Rolling Stone earlier this week, Nolan praised Page, who previously starred in the director's 2010 movie "Inception."
"It was really thrilling to work with Elliot again," Nolan said. "I felt with his character in ‘The Odyssey,’ he brings something really special to it. Because, in a way, you’re looking to put a face on certain elements of what Odysseus has done, what that means for the world as a whole. You’re looking to put a face on the tragedy of war. And I think he did an incredible job."
"The Odyssey" has also drawn criticism from historians, archaeologists and fans who have argued that some of film's design choices are inconsistent with the Mycenaean period, which serves as the backdrop for Homer's epic.
The Mycenaean period, which is also known as the Late Bronze Age, lasted from approximately 1600 B.C. to 1100 B.C. in Greece. Critics have pointed to a number of alleged historical inaccuracies, including armor they argued resembles medieval designs rather than Mycenaean-era equipment, ships some have said appear more Viking than Greek, and costumes and weapons that they claimed are inconsistent with archaeological evidence from the Bronze Age.
However, Ryan McCormick, co-founder of Goldman McCormick PR, told Fox News Digital that debates over historical accuracy are unlikely to deter most moviegoers.
"If a person has a moral apprehension about supporting a film due to someone's misconduct, it can definitely have an impact on its commercial success," McCormick said. "I don't think that a majority of people are going to be turned away because ‘The Odyssey’ apparently has some historical inaccuracies."
Meanwhile, Nolan has defended the creative choices, saying that filmmakers simply do not know enough about the Mycenaean period to recreate it with absolute certainty.
"The archaeological record of Mycenaean times is very fragmentary," he said. "A lot of what people think of as historical knowledge of that era is informed and intelligent speculation, but it is speculation."
"When you create a movie you have to create an entire and consistent world," he continued. "You're engaged in your own version of this speculation, your own commitment to the world-building."
Nolan has also explained that some production decisions were made due to the logistics of filming the epic, including the use of the Norwegian Viking ship Draken.
"We needed something wooden-hulled, built with ancient technology that could be out there in open ocean water, in giant swells, and the Draken has crossed the Atlantic," Nolan said during a July interview with the Los Angeles Times.
"We shot like it was a documentary," he continued. "The actors learned how to sail and how to row and the boat’s 26-man crew were dressed as extras and incorporated into the movie."
Nolan has also previously noted that Homer himself is believed to have lived roughly 400 years after the events of "The Odyssey" and said that the historical gap informed his approach to the film's design.
"The oldest depictions of Homeric characters tend to be depicted in the manner of people living in Homer’s time," he told Time magazine in May. "So there’s a pretty strong case there for portraying things that way because that’s the way the first audience received the story."
Beyond casting and historical accuracy, some fans also took issue with "The Odyssey's" contemporary dialogue and use of American accents.
After trailers for the film were released, critics on social media questioned why characters in an adaptation of Homer's epic used modern expressions such as "Dad" while actors including Damon, who played Odysseus, and Holland, who portrayed his son Telemachus, spoke with American accents.
Nolan also defended that creative choice, explained that he intentionally chose to use dialogue and language that he believed would resonate with contemporary audiences. The director said that his priority was finding "language that has emotional not intellectual meaning to people."
"I was maybe being naïve, it might bite me on the a--, but I wanted an earthy narrative," Nolan said. "To me it was a no-brainer."
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McCormick told Fox News Digital that the online reaction to any of the film's historical deviations may not be representative of the broader audience.
"I think there is a disconnect," he said. "Social media tends to amplify the voices of people who are passionate. It may not reflect what the pulse of the masses."
Nolan recently drew backlash after dismissing criticism of the movie as "irrelevant" during an interview.
"Comes with the territory," he told The Telegraph earlier this week. The outlet described him as "grinning serenely" before "lifting his cup and saucer and taking a theatrical sip."
"But look, these conversations that happen before people see the film — they’re always irrelevant, because no one having them knows what the film actually is yet," Nolan added.
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The director told The Telegraph that the reception so far for "The Odyssey" is similar to the concerns he faced while working on his "Batman" trilogy, explaining that when he started with "Batman Begins," a variety of artists had been creating and depicting the character for decades, "and a lot of freighted thoughts were out there about what he represents."
"And what I learned over my time on that trilogy," he continued, "is you can’t worry about any of that at all. What you have to do is honor the original text by interpreting it in the strongest way you personally can."
The director said, "In the end, fans of the property — even when we were doing something that was not what they would have done — enjoyed the sincerity of the attempt to put as good a version of it on screen as we could," adding that he hopes audiences can reach a similar conclusion with "The Odyssey."
Doug Eldridge, founder of Achilles PR, said Nolan's response was largely justified but could have been delivered more diplomatically.
"Objectively speaking, it’s a valid response," he told Fox News Digital. "But as my mom used to say, ‘It’s not what you say, but how you say it.’ In other words, Nolan could’ve added some finesse to an otherwise factually accurate answer. A better way to phrase it would have been to acknowledge the concern among fans, but that you trust their fears will be allayed once they’ve seen the finished product."
However, Schmidt viewed Nolan's response differently, arguing that his remarks were consistent with the reputation he has built as a filmmaker.
"Nolan calling the criticism irrelevant is on brand, and he has earned the right to wave off the haters," she said. "The movie isn't even out yet and the early reviews are already strong. Nolan is a film icon who produces blockbusters. Trends bend to him, not the other way around."
"The Odyssey" is projected for a massive opening weekend when it premieres in theaters on Friday. Industry box office tracking services predict that the movie will make between $85 million and $105 million domestically, with a global launch well surpassing $200 million. The film is expected to outperform Nolan's last blockbuster "Oppenheimer" across all opening weekend metrics, positioning it to become the director’s largest non-superhero debut ever.
Nolan's films have grossed a combined total of over $6 billion at the worldwide box office across his 12 theatrical releases.
The experts who spoke with Fox News Digital largely agreed that the movie's controversies and Nolan's remarks were unlikely to affect "The Odyssey's" box office performance.
"Historically, controversy surrounding a movie usually has zero impact on a film’s box office potential," Paul Dergarabedian, Head of Marketplace Trends for Rentrak, said.
He continued, "In fact, controversy, as amplified by the social media platform, only serves to heighten awareness, curiosity and raises the FOMO factor considerably, likely boosting not harming ’The Odyssey’s' box office potential."
McCormick concurred, telling Fox News Digital, "The contention is keeping the film's name in the media (likely even boosting its profile) and if people are talking about it (or even arguing about it), it's a great thing."
Squad Dem in the hot seat after spending spree at luxury hotels: 'Champagne socialist'
FIRST ON FOX: A far-left "Squad" Democrat is facing scrutiny after spending thousands of dollars in donor cash at lavish hotels nearly 2,000 miles away from her home district, a Fox News Digital review of FEC records found.
"Squad" Rep. Ilhan Omar’s, D-Minn., campaign dropped over $6K on high-end hotels and private transportation between April and June, including payments to a Ritz-Carlton resort in Palm Springs, a hotel with sweeping views from the Hollywood Sign to downtown Los Angeles, and a luxury stay in the heart of Times Square, the congresswoman's latest financial filings show.
The payments, covering April 1 through June 30, included $2,131.90 to W New York in Times Square, $1,613.23 to The Godfrey Hotel Hollywood, $1,143 to Blacklane Transportation, $926.80 to Ace Hotel & Swim Club Palm Springs and $682.41 to the Ritz-Carlton Rancho Mirage, according to Federal Election Commission (FEC) filings.
Overall, the campaign reported more than $28,000 in travel expenses and more than $23,000 in food, beverage and catering expenses during the three-month filing period.
The Ritz-Carlton Rancho Mirage bills itself as a luxury Palm Springs resort overlooking the Coachella Valley and San Jacinto Mountains, with an exclusive Club Lounge, dedicated concierge service, spa, salon, fitness center, main pool, adults-only Vista Pool and whirlpool.
Meanwhile, the Godfrey Hotel Hollywood promotes a rooftop pool and lounge with sweeping views from the Hollywood Sign to downtown Los Angeles. Ace Hotel & Swim Club Palm Springs describes itself as a boutique desert hotel with two pools, a stargazing deck, a nightclub, a spa and rooms with vinyl turntables and "organic mattresses," and W New York in Times Square advertises panoramic city views, suites, a cocktail bar with DJ sets, in-room dining and on-property restaurants.
Blacklane, the luxury transportation service Omar paid for in Q2, markets itself as a professional chauffeur service with business and first-class vehicle options, including Mercedes, BMW, Audi and Cadillac models. Her campaign has previously spent over $5,000 on the car service since joined Congress.
Fox News Digital reached out to Omar's representatives for comment but did not hear back in time for publication.
"Ilhan Omar is just another champagne socialist who wines and dines at luxury resorts while supporting policies that would make her constituents live in squalor," Natalie Baldassarre, the national press secretary at the Republican National Committee, told Fox News Digital.
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Omar is not the only high-profile democratic socialist to face scrutiny over campaign spending. Fox News Digital previously reported that Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s campaign spent more than $53,000 on luxury hotels in 2025, including spending on a venue rental at a Bad Bunny concert in Puerto Rico, even as critics accused her of hypocrisy over her rhetoric on gentrification and working-class politics.
More recently, Michigan Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed, a far-left socialist, has come under fire for similar "champagne socialism" accusations after his tax returns showed his income was 10 times the median income in his state.
The spending scrutiny for Omar comes as she is already facing renewed scrutiny over her finances. Fox News Digital previously reported that Omar revised a disclosure that had listed millions of dollars in assets tied to her and her husband down to, at most, $125,000,
Her campaign has also previously faced questions over millions of dollars paid to her husband Tim Mynett’s consulting firm during the 2020 cycle.
Texas Dem's claim about abuse victim's family unravels after relatives say they're 'tired of being used'
Democratic Senate candidate James Talarico is facing blowback after the family of a child sex abuse victim whose case he invoked publicly contradicted his claim and said they are "tired of being used" in the election.
Talarico held a news conference July 9 outside the office of his Senate opponent, Texas Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton, at which he accused Paxton of giving an "Epstein-style sweetheart deal" to former Waco, Texas, attorney Adam Hoffman.
Pressed by reporters on whether he had personally spoken to the victim’s family, Talarico answered, "Our team has been in contact."
However, Melissa Dieterich, a friend and spokesperson for the family, publicly disputed Talarico's assertion that his team had been in contact. Dieterich posted a "note from the victim's family" on Facebook, which said, "We have not given any statement to Talarico. We have not spoke to him."
Dieterich further noted that the family is "tired of being used in this election" and "we are tired of lies being told by both Paxton & Talarico, tired of the divide and just tired."
In response to a comment on her post saying, "I have yet to see any politician NOT use this case as a talking piece," Dieterich wrote, "Right, but someone said they have spoke to the victims (sic) mom and this and that and it isn’t true."
"That isn’t cool," she wrote.
After Dieterich's post, JT Ennis, a spokesperson for Talarico's campaign, told Fox News Digital, "This family has gone through hell. They have experienced something unimaginable and deserve respect."
Ennis explained that Talarico's team "facilitated outreach to offer our support and ensure the family has a way to get in touch at any time, for any reason."
"Elected officials on both sides of the aisle have called out this plea deal," he said. "The judge presiding over the case has called out this plea deal. James is calling out this plea deal and demanding justice to stop this from happening again."
Hoffman originally was charged with continuous sexual abuse of a young child.
Earlier in 2026, Paxton’s office negotiated a plea agreement in which Hoffman pleaded guilty to indecent assault and displaying harmful material to a minor. He was sentenced to 60 days in the McLennan County Jail and was released after 29 days.
The deal was reached after a Waco, Texas, jury failed to reach a unanimous decision in 2025, resulting in a mistrial.
Assistant attorneys general in Paxton’s office have said the deal was a "difficult decision" and "was made entirely in the best interest of the child involved," according to Spectrum News.
The victim's mother initially agreed to the plea agreement but later changed her mind, Fox 44 reported. The outlet reported a statement from the mother accusing the judge, police and Paxton of having "bent the system."
"They made sure my son was in the room when they raised the plea deal — knowing he didn’t want to testify again — and they used that against him. They pushed the deal through with or without our approval. That is not justice. That is manipulation," the mother claimed, adding, "Paxton’s office gave Hoffman a sweetheart deal. That is corruption."
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In a separate post, Dieterich said that what that victim "went through is awful and the way our court systems handle victims in these cases needs to change." She added, "We are hoping to change laws when the legislators are back in session so this doesn’t happen to another victim!"
At his news conference, Talarico likened the plea deal to the prosecution of Jeffrey Epstein.
He said that his public information request to release the "Hoffman files" was denied by Paxton’s office. He emphasized that "the victim’s mother called this a corrupt deal," adding, "We should listen to the victim and their family."
"We don’t need any more pedophile protectors in our government," Talarico said at the press conference. "Adam Hoffman was a well-connected lawyer who abused an eight-year-old boy. He should be spending his life in prison … He didn’t even have to register as a sex offender in Texas; that’s how good this Epstein-style deal was."
"Ken Paxton should have to answer questions about this sweetheart deal," he emphasized.
Fox News Digital reached out to Paxton’s campaign for comment.
A spokesperson for Paxton’s campaign told Spectrum News that his office has "already released information on this, but … the bottom line is that we stand with the child victim, who in this case did not wish to testify again and be forced into the same room as his abuser."
The spokesperson added that "Talarico cares more about turning a child victim into a political pawn than the truth" and that "every time James Talarico chooses to bring this case up he is intentionally re-traumatizing the child victim for personal gain."
Fox News Digital reached out to Dieterich for additional comment.
Bills star Dion Dawkins explains why Josh Allen 'absolutely sucks' to play with – in a good way
Dion Dawkins is entering Year 10 as the left tackle for the Buffalo Bills, but more importantly, his ninth campaign protecting quarterback Josh Allen’s blind spot.
But Dawkins’ job description isn’t your quintessential left tackle "block-anything-that-tries-to-enter-your-pocket" situation. Allen, the 2025 NFL MVP, is the cause of that.
Allen is making highlight-reel plays by the week with his ability to keep plays that should result in a sack alive, scrambling his way around the field, sometimes running sideline to sideline, just to pick up positive yardage.
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It’s thankless most of the time, but Dawkins and his linemates are running around trying to help Allen at the same time. So, how exactly does Dawkins feel heading into his ninth year with Allen as the man under center?
"People think playing for Josh Allen is the best thing in the world – it f---ing sucks. All right? It absolutely sucks," Dawkins told Fox News Digital at Fanatics Fest after riding through an off-road obstacle course outside the Javits Center in New York City as part of Polaris’ and Call of Duty’s activation for the fan event.
Obviously, Dawkins is being very sarcastic here, but that’s the type of relationship these two share. It’s more than just being teammates – it’s a brotherhood.
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Dawkins, older by two years, has the role of protective big brother, which also means cracking jokes.
"Josh is here and there and you gotta know where he is at all times," he continued. "But the best thing about having Josh, when you’ve played with him for so long – not that I birthed Josh. But I birthed Josh. I was in there with Tyrod Taylor and then here comes Josh. So, me knowing how Josh moves and how he flows, it’s been great.
"It’s a gift and a curse because you don’t know where he is. But what I always say, it’s more of a gift than a curse. Sometimes, you don’t know where he is, but Josh will get you out of trouble more than we’ll get him in, and I appreciate him."
The entire city of Buffalo appreciates the hustle, determination, and at times, acrobatics that Allen needs to do the things he’s known for on the football field.
At the same time, Dawkins is one of the best in the NFL at what he does, which makes Allen’s life much easier. Dawkins earned his fifth straight Pro Bowl last year, though he’ll tell you like the rest of the Bills’ roster: they’re not satisfied until the Vince Lombardi Trophy is in hand.
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To make that happen, the combination of Allen and Dawkins are paramount – even if the latter can’t stand the extra cardio the former makes him put in.
Hitting the road with Polaris and Call of Duty
Right across the street from the Javits Center, Polaris, the American automobile manufacturer, and Call of Duty Modern Warfare 4 created an off-road obstacle course that Fanatics Fest attendees could navigate throughout the four-day event this weekend.
Dawkins got a first taste of the experience in a Polaris RZR, which will be featured in the latest edition of the video game franchise when it comes out in October.
Dawkins, an automobile aficionado himself, loved every second of the obstacle course, and even let out a shriek when the driver floored it over a hill at the end.
"If there was just a longer stretch, we really would’ve went flying," Dawkins said, laughing.
The experience was one that had Dawkins itching to get into his own vehicle.
"I already told them I need three of these because we can all be in the woods in Buffalo at Big Indian going crazy," Dawkins said. "It holds and grabs so well – no problem. I just want to see it through the puddles, ponds and when it gets real wet and real soft on the ground underneath. Click the four-wheel drive and get that thing moving."
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China dismisses Trump election interference accusations as 'entirely fabricated,' threatens countermeasures
China pushed back Friday after President Donald Trump accused Beijing of "working to influence the results" of the 2020 presidential election, describing his accusation as "entirely fabricated."
Trump said in a primetime speech Thursday night that "in mid 2018, China was working to influence the results of the U.S. midterm elections and later the results of the 2020 presidential election itself."
Trump said in a primetime speech Thursday night that newly released documents "show CIA reporting explicitly stated, and I quote, in mid 2018, the Chinese Communist Party's policy was to leverage all domestic and foreign elements that were opposed to the U.S. president in an effort to reduce the U.S. president's votes and make him resign or prevent his reelection."
"The reason they wanted me to lose is because they knew I was wise to them," Trump added, while also accusing members of the U.S. intelligence community of operating a "shadow government" to allegedly conceal evidence of China’s efforts to influence U.S. elections.
China’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian on Friday said "the relevant allegations by the U.S. are entirely fabricated and aimed at vilifying China."
"We have no interest in interfering in US elections and have never done so," Jian said.
'SHADOW GOVERNMENT': TRUMP CLAIMS INTEL COMMUNITY BRAGGED ABOUT HIDING CHINESE MEDDLING
Asked whether this might affect the expected visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping to the U.S. in September, the spokesperson replied: "As I just said, we urge the U.S. to stop making an issue of China in its elections and do something conducive to China-U.S. relations."
Trump did not claim China changed votes or altered election results. Instead, he argued Beijing engaged in an influence campaign aimed at shaping U.S. public perceptions.
Trump said intelligence officials kept significant reporting out of his presidential briefings and highlighted an email in which a National Security Agency analyst allegedly wrote, "We have deliberately massaged our one pending [presidential daily brief] to avoid any direct links to the election."
"Those responsible for sounding the alarm instead kept the information secret and hidden," Trump claimed. "They did not disclose (it) to me as president or to anyone else."
Trump used the disclosures to press Congress to pass the SAVE America Act, casting the newly released intelligence as evidence that lawmakers must tighten federal election rules before the midterms.
SENATE FACES 'COME-TO-JESUS' MOMENT ON TRUMP'S ELECTION PRIORITY UNDER GOP'S NEW PLAN
The SAVE America Act passed the House in February but stalled in the Senate in March, when a 53–47 vote fell short of the 60 votes needed to advance it. Trump urged Americans to call their senators and representatives and demand its passage "without delay."
The Trump administration also announced Thursday it will drastically shorten visas for foreign journalists in the U.S. to 240 days, down from years, and cut those for Chinese journalists to only 90 days.
China's Foreign Ministry called the decision "discriminatory" and said it would affect the work of Chinese media in the U.S.
"China urges the U.S. to immediately revoke its discriminatory policies targeting Chinese journalists and effectively safeguard their lawful rights and interests in the U.S.," Jian said during a daily briefing in Beijing.
He added that "China reserves the right to take reciprocal countermeasures."
Fox News Digital’s Morgan Phillips and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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GOP civil war erupts over Trump's latest agenda push as key Republicans threaten to sink megabill
House GOP leaders are scrambling to approve a sprawling budget reconciliation package packed with defense and election integrity priorities, but Republican lawmakers in both chambers are pouring cold water on the process.
The intraparty skepticism, including concerns over the lack of spending offsets, is throwing the ambitious timeline into doubt. And the move to attach the SAVE America Act to the process has already turned off some of its GOP opponents.
"If we keep on layering layers of complexity, like another bogus attempt at the SAVE Act, then we're never gonna get it done," Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., said.
When asked if it included the legislation if he would vote "no," Tillis said, "Absolutely."
SENATE FACES 'COME-TO-JESUS' MOMENT ON TRUMP'S ELECTION PRIORITY UNDER GOP'S NEW PLAN
"And I'll slow other things down, too," the retiring senator said. "It's a waste of time. It's an exercise of futility, and those are the only positive things I can think of to say about it."
Still, House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., has voiced confidence that both chambers can approve a budget blueprint — the first step in the complex reconciliation process — before lawmakers leave Washington for the August recess. The House Budget Committee advanced the budget plan Thursday, teeing up floor consideration as soon as next week.
But across the building, Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., said that Johnson’s assurance was, "news to me."
Thune acknowledged the desire to push both defense funding and the SAVE America Act through the party line process, but warned of consequences that could appear along the way.
"Again, the question is $60 billion worth the risk of putting something like that on the floor, and all the other harm that could potentially come from that," Thune said.
The truncated timeline comes as the House is expected to leave for August recess by the end of next week, while the Senate will depart Washington, D.C., the first week of August. Some in the upper chamber argue that lawmakers shouldn’t go home if their work isn’t done.
"If we don’t get this done, we’re gonna to — I think we’re gonna have to stay," Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla., told Fox News Digital.
The Trump administration is also providing backup to reconciliation 3.0’s proponents.
The White House sent an internal memo to Hill offices Thursday expressing support for House Republicans’ $95 billion budget framework, which would allocate $73 billion in defense and intelligence funding among other provisions in a forthcoming bill.
"Congress must pass this budget resolution—without modification—immediately," the document said in part.
Several Republicans told Fox News Digital they believe that will be a tough sell.
TRUMP'S VOTER ID BILL CATCHES UNLIKELY BREAK AS MCCONNELL REMAINS SIDELINED
California Rep. Kevin Kiley, an independent who caucuses with Republicans, told Fox News Digital he is "skeptical" about a third reconciliation bill.
Kiley said he is concerned that the $73 billion in defense funding could be spent with little congressional oversight.
"This is really our opportunity here for the House to assert itself when it comes to directing the resolution of this conflict on acceptable terms," the California lawmaker said, referring to the war with Iran.
Kiley also said he opposes the budget reconciliation process because it intentionally cuts out Democrats from negotiations and said lawmakers should be relying on the normal appropriations process.
He voted against Republicans’ $72 billion immigration enforcement funding package earlier this year in part because the measure lacked buy-in from Democrats.
Fiscal hawks in both chambers have griped that the budget blueprint does not direct Congress to cut any spending — a move that would almost certainly increase budget deficits and contribute to the national debt.
"I think you got to pay for it," Rep. Eric Burlison, R-Mo., told reporters Thursday.
The lack of spending offsets was met with a cold reception in the upper chamber as well.
"Our national debt is a runaway train. The next reconciliation bill should be fully paid for," Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La., who lost re-election to a Trump-backed challenger, wrote on social media Thursday.
Burlison also said he does not support Republicans' strategy of using a $10 billion funding pool to distribute grants to incentivize states to implement elements of the SAVE America Act, including citizenship verification and voter ID requirements.
He added that he could be convinced to vote for the budget framework if GOP leaders are able to force Democratic-led states to implement those provisions.
"To me, it's not worth it if it's weak language," he continued. "You have huge incentives in Obamacare, and you still have 11 states that rejected hundreds of millions of dollars to expand Medicaid. So it's nothing for states … if we're going to just throw a few million bucks their way."
Complicating matters is whether Trump would even sign a reconciliation bill that didn’t include the entirety of the SAVE America Act, given how much he has pushed Republicans to pass the whole thing.
"I know, I know," Thune told Fox News Digital. "That's a good question. If you get the answer, let me know."