Fox News Latest Headlines
Democratic strategist James Carville says the late Lindsey Graham's career was 'defined by duplicity'
Veteran Democratic strategist James Carville said Wednesday that while he takes no joy in the late Senator Lindsay Graham’s death, he will remember his career as one of "duplicity."
"Let's give him all the credit in the world. He was one of the [Bill Clinton] impeachment managers. Remember the great moral titan Henry Hyde and that whole crowd. And yeah, he was a little bit more than just for impeachment. He was the most aggressive," Carville said.
"I knew him. He could be personable, but I don't think the man has had a... sorry, I don't want anybody to get sick or die, that's not it," Carville said. "But I think his political career is mostly defined by duplicity. Just my own view."
Graham, 71, died Saturday night from an an aortic dissection due to arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease. The news stunned Washington, as Graham was one of the body's most active members and was even scheduled to appear on NBC's "Meet the Press" Sunday morning.
The reaction to Graham’s death, as one of the most vocal and visible Republican senators, has sparked headlines as people share hot takes about his career.
"He was a character," co-host Al Hunt said. "Somewhat controversial, different stages of his life. I first met him right after he won the House seat in 1994, and I felt he was different than most southern Republicans back then, 30-some years ago. Young, kind of funny."
Hunt recalled that Graham was a close ally of John McCain in terms of policy, and managed to be witty and funny to the point he himself chose him for the John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Committee when told to find somebody "smart and fun."
"Then as McCain was dying, he turned to a new leader, a new guru because he always wanted to be a player, and that was Donald Trump," Hunt recalled. And I think his influence was exaggerated, but he was a very constructive force on Ukraine and a very, very bad influence on the war in Iran and actually on his policy towards Israel."
TRUMP'S FIERCEST GOP CRITIC BECAME HIS MOST INFLUENTIAL VOICE ON WAR AND PEACE
He concluded, "I just think Lindsey Graham was a force in American politics for 30-some years and, like most people, if you get too close to Trump, you get soiled."
Carville offered a harsher assessment, but nonetheless acknowledged how personable he could be.
Graham served in the House of Representatives from 1995 to 2003 and was a key figure in the impeachment trial of Carville's old boss, former President Bill Clinton.
Graham was elected to the U.S. Senate in 2002 and re-elected three more times; he was seeking a fifth term in 2026 when he died.
Rubio's call to combat global funders of far-left terrorism could put Singham in crosshairs
Secretary Marco Rubio’s call for global cooperation to combat far-left political terrorism could implicate Neville Roy Singham, a Marxist nonprofit financier who is currently facing a federal grand jury probe in New York.
Singham, a 72-year-old American who sold his tech company for $785 million in 2017 and now lives in Shanghai, is known to fund pro-Chinese Communist Party groups that operate in the U.S. He has funneled $278 million into the broad network of nonprofits since 2017, according to a Fox News Digital investigation. These groups regularly organize and participate in anti-ICE, anti-Israel and pro-Iran demonstrations.
At a State Department summit held in Washington, D.C., Thursday, Rubio urged more than 60 countries to treat far-left global terrorism as a counterterrorism priority.
DOJ LAUNCHES GRAND JURY PROBE INTO MARXIST MOGUL NEVILLE ROY SINGHAM'S FUNDING OF LEFTIST GROUPS
"For far too long, however, our counterterrorism doctrine has had a blind spot – a blind spot when it comes to extremist violence from the political left, Rubio said. "Even today, the very idea that far-left terrorism could be a serious threat is treated as a right-wing fever dream, or worse, as a dangerous fascist conspiracy."
Rubio noted that networks are coordinating across multiple countries, providing training instructions and using encrypted communication to facilitate unrest. He said that international cooperation is critical to disrupting the financing of dangerous organizations, and that some are working with hostile foreign states.
Rubio did not mention Singham by name and State Department officials did not respond to a request for comment.
Singham’s web of nonprofits are known to promote communist and Marxist ideals on social media platforms and on the ground at demonstrations across the country. Code Pink, which was co-founded by Singham’s wife, Jodie Evans, regularly protests in the U.S. Capitol, confronting lawmakers and openly admits that "China is Not Our Enemy."
RUBIO PUTS ENTIRE WORLD ON NOTICE AGAINST RISE OF 'POISONOUS' FAR-LEFT TERROR 'MASKED AS EQUALITY'
Rubio mentioned the dangerous influence Marxist beliefs can have when tied to acts of terrorism. He said the left often seems to excuse violence carried out by its own extremists.
"A bomb planted by a neo-Nazi group was a nefarious and murderous act of evil," Rubio said. "But a bomb planted by a Marxist revolutionary – well, that’s just merely a tragic excess of idealism. Perhaps its means were misplaced or overzealous, but its ends were virtuous and just. That’s the implication of how they treat it."
Congress has also taken note of Singham’s activities. House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Jason Smith, R-Mo., launched an investigation into the Singham nonprofit network last year, and members in the upper chamber are also sounding the alarm on Singham’s ties to China.
"Chinese-funded, anti-American billionaires like Neville Roy Singham are instigating far-left chaos across our country," Sen. Jim Banks, R-Ind., told Fox News Digital. "This needs to stop, and Secretary Rubio is rightly taking action to confront this transnational scourge head-on."
INTEL EXPERT SAYS SINGHAM NETWORK IS MORE THAN A NONPROFIT SCANDAL—IT'S A SECURITY THREAT
Last month, Fox News Digital reported that the Department of Justice has launched a grand jury investigation into alleged financial crimes. Singham hasn’t responded to repeated requests for comment from Fox News Digital.
According to sources familiar with the matter, the grand jury in Manhattan has issued subpoenas as part of a probe launched by U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York Jay Clayton for the Southern District of New York, one of the country's most powerful districts for federal prosecutions. Acting U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche authorized the investigation as the Trump administration seeks to crack down on fraud, money laundering and other financial crimes in the multibillion-dollar nonprofit industry.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent met privately with Goldman Sachs Chairman and CEO David Solomon in New York earlier this year, where, according to sources familiar with the discussion, he warned that the firm could come under scrutiny over its alleged role in the movement of funds tied to Singham.
During the meeting, Bessent encouraged Solomon to fully cooperate with the Justice Department's investigation, telling him that Goldman Sachs' handling of the Singham-linked funds could become part of the federal probe should they choose not to cooperate.
A source with knowledge of the conversation told Fox News Digital that the exchange was cordial, and that Solomon indicated Goldman Sachs would aid investigators.
"All distributions from Mr. Singham's donor-advised fund were made to legal nonprofits, as determined by the IRS," a Treasury spokesperson said. "There have been no distributions from the account since August 2023, and it was closed in early 2024."
Reds' moneyline pick offers value against Rockies despite Brady Singer's road ERA
Baseball can be very humbling at times, not just for sports bettors but also for the teams.
Each team tends to win about a third of its games, lose a third, and then make the difference in its season with the remaining third. I come back to that idea a lot as I put together bets, because some are very streaky, others are consistent, and some are wild, where you can't tell which third they are lumping into at the time. I'm hoping not to get humbled and find the right spot for this game between the Cincinnati Reds and the Colorado Rockies.
The Reds may be in one of their worst moments of the season. They are 43-52 for the year, and that has to be frustrating considering they started the year strong and have had some really nice stretches. They were 20-11 going into May; since then, they've gone 23-41. That's obviously a really tough portion of the year, but perhaps that's the stretch where they are losing the majority of the games. They were better at the All-Star break last season and made the postseason, but perhaps they can make a run this year. This is not a team that should be losing two of every three games for the remainder of the year.
Looking to get them back on track to start the second half of the year is Brady Singer. For the year, Singer is 3-9 with a 4.72 ERA and a 1.47 WHIP. Those aren't overly strong numbers, and he has struggled to a 6.75 road ERA, but Singer is a fairly reliable starter. He is also pitching the best baseball of his season with just 12 earned runs allowed over his past 38.2 innings in June and July. He hasn't faced the Rockies this season, but collectively, the team is 11-for-49 against him.
The Rockies are not a team that I talk about a lot. They are a club that hasn't been relevant in years, and I think we are unlikely to see them be relevant any time soon. They don't have a ton of young talent, and they don't have a chance of signing big-name free agent pitchers. They are 20 games under .500, but I suppose ownership can be happy they didn't spend a boatload of money on their team to end up in the same spot like the New York Mets have.
Stray bullets for the Mets aside, this is not a very good team, but as they've been in other seasons, they have been about .500 at home.
Looking to get them closer to that mark is their starter Gabriel Hughes. We haven't seen much of Hughes, but he has done fairly well in his outings. He doesn't have a win or loss on his record, but owns a 3.00 ERA and a 1.00 WHIP. He did make one appearance at Coors Field this season, and went three innings, allowing two hits, one walk, and striking out one hitter while allowing no runs. He has never faced the Reds before.
I think we are getting a bit of value here on the Reds. I'm not really sure what to expect out of Hughes, which does make this a tougher game to predict. I normally avoid the younger guys, but I think the Reds are undervalued right now. Singer hasn't looked great when you look at his full season, but recently, he does look solid.
PADRES VS ROYALS PITCHING MATCHUP FAVORS THE UNDER 10.5 AS THE SECOND-HALF OF THE MLB SEASON STARTS
I'm going to back the Reds on the moneyline in tonight's game. The Rockies are better at home, but this is more me trying to back the Reds lineup, Singer on the mound lately, and fade a guy who hasn't had a ton of experience. Give me Cincinnati at -105 for tonight's game.
For more sports betting information and plays, follow David on X/Twitter: @futureprez2024
Darline Graham considering running for full a Senate term as memorial services set for Lindsey Graham: report
Darline Graham has privately expressed interest in running for a full Senate term, a report said, as memorial services have been announced for her late brother Lindsey Graham.
Three people familiar with the deliberations told The Associated Press that Darline Graham has started having conversations about a potential campaign. She was appointed to fulfill the remainder of her brother’s term on Monday by South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster and was sworn in on Tuesday.
The filing period for a special primary runs from July 21 to July 28, and the primary is scheduled for Aug. 11. Several other noteworthy politicians — including Reps. Russell Fry, Nancy Mace and Ralph Norman, as well as Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette — have been eyeing a run, the AP also reported.
Meanwhile, the late Graham’s communications director said Friday that the late senator's "life and legacy" will be celebrated on Tuesday, July 28, in Washington, D.C., and on Wednesday, July 29, in Columbia and Pickens County, South Carolina.
Darline Graham is the first female senator from the Palmetto State and the first sister ever appointed to the upper chamber.
LINDSEY GRAHAM'S FINAL ACT REVERBERATES IN SENATE AS SISTER IS URGED TO 'KEEP PEDALING'
"Lindsey has always been there for me, and now I will be there for him," Darline Graham said during her appointment ceremony this week. "My brother was the most amazing person, outstanding leader and just a genuinely good man."
She is expected to act as a caretaker for the seat, finishing off the remainder of Lindsey Graham’s term through January.
Lindsey Graham died Saturday at age 71.
A statement released by Graham's office on Sunday cited preliminary findings from the District of Columbia's Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, identifying the cause of death as an aortic dissection due to arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease.
Fox News Digital’s Melissa Rudy, Alex Miller and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Truth Social plan to sell early access to Trump posts ‘makes me want to puke,’ CNBC reporter fumes
CNBC senior economics reporter Steve Liesman blasted Trump Media & Technology Group's new Truth API on Friday, arguing that selling financial firms faster access to potentially market-moving Truth Social posts from President Donald Trump undermined the government's efforts to distribute sensitive economic information fairly.
"For me, this announcement by the president makes me want to puke, literally puke," Liesman told MS NOW anchor Stephanie Ruhle.
In a statement to Fox News Digital, a Truth Social spokesperson dismissed Liesman's criticism.
"It’s ill-informed at best," the spokesperson said. "Financial firms routinely pay for these types of feeds from social media platforms, including X and Reddit."
WHITE HOUSE CONDEMNS STAFFER ACCUSED OF BETTING ON TRUMP SPEECH AS A 'DISGRACE'
"It’s milliseconds sooner. The reason for that is because we’re closing the latency gap for financial services firms that put a premium on immediate access."
Liesman said the plan was among the most troubling developments he had encountered because federal agencies work to release major economic reports to the public simultaneously.
"It is one of the most upsetting things I have ever heard," Liesman said.
Ruhle questioned whether the proposed service could create opportunities for investors to profit from information unavailable to people who did not pay for the data feed.
WHITE HOUSE CONDEMNS STAFFER ACCUSED OF BETTING ON TRUMP SPEECH AS A 'DISGRACE'
"Is this insider trading or is it just another grift?" Ruhle asked.
Dan Nathan, co-founder of RiskReversal and a CNBC "Fast Money" contributor, said the time advantage would matter more to professional traders than long-term investors because algorithmic and high-frequency trading systems react to information almost instantly.
"So milliseconds make a lot. They mean a whole heck of a lot, right?" Nathan said. "So I don’t think this really matters much for investors as far as their ability to transact in the market. It’s very important for traders."
Ruhle countered that the controversy extended beyond its immediate effect on investors because Trump's family could financially benefit from selling faster access to posts issued by the president.
WHITE HOUSE CONDEMNS STAFFER ACCUSED OF BETTING ON TRUMP SPEECH AS A 'DISGRACE'
CLICK HERE FOR MORE COVERAGE OF MEDIA AND CULTURE
"The fact that our White House, our president is engaging in this and making a buck off of it." Ruhle said. "We’re barely hearing from the biggest names on Wall Street."
Trump Media announced Thursday that Truth API would begin serving institutional customers Aug. 1. The company said it had already signed customers and was continuing to onboard additional partners. Pricing was not disclosed.
"Markets already move on Truth Social posts," interim CEO Kevin McGurn said. "As adoption grows, we expect Truth API to become a meaningful, ongoing source of revenue for the company, creating lasting value for shareholders."
DOUG SCHOEN: Trump put 2026 election officials on notice. Now he needs a clear agenda
Perhaps the most important point that President Donald Trump made in his White House address on Thursday night was that we need to be vigilant about foreign involvement and intrusion in our election process. While the president specifically singled out Russia, China, Iran and North Korea, I would argue that our concern must be global.
Yes, of course, the president’s allegations about the People’s Republic of China not only need to be taken seriously; they need to be followed up on — by law enforcement and both chambers of Congress. Indeed, the issue is not only whether foreign actors were able to rig the outcome of an election, but also whether malign actors, wherever they come from, attempted to intrude upon or influence a process that must remain sacrosanct.
What the president’s speech did not accomplish — nor, I believe, was that its main goal — was to influence the outcome of the midterm elections through a sustained policy argument. He did speak at the beginning of his address about economic growth, lower inflation and a stock market that has hit record highs. But there was no sustained argument about affordability, nor did he present any clear evidence that the war in Iran would be over soon.
'SHADOW GOVERNMENT': TRUMP CLAIMS INTEL COMMUNITY BRAGGED ABOUT HIDING CHINESE MEDDLING
What he did do was put election officials around the country on notice that the 2026 midterms would face close scrutiny and that he would personally hold them accountable.
The challenge for the president now is to develop a narrative for the midterms that underscores Republican successes domestically and internationally and argues that the Democratic Party, particularly its socialist wing, is unable to meaningfully improve American life.
DEMOCRATS’ MIDTERM PUSH CLOUDED BY INFIGHTING OVER PARTY KEEPING 2024 AUTOPSY UNDER WRAPS
One other point is worth noting: We are experiencing a profound crisis of confidence in our system of government. Voters in both parties have less confidence in our leaders and in our ability to meaningfully address the problems facing society.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE FOX NEWS OPINION
I very much hope the president and congressional leaders will address, on a bipartisan basis, affordability, our challenges overseas and, most importantly, our responsibility as a nation to serve as a beacon of freedom and liberty in the world.
At this point in our politics, Republicans have yet to offer a compelling agenda. But as a Democratic strategist, I would make a profound mistake if I failed to acknowledge that my party remains divided, polarized and without an affirmative agenda of its own.
Hopefully, the next five months will bring competing agendas from both parties, as well as greater bipartisanship in Congress. But I wouldn’t bet on it.
Texas dentist accused of fatal mistakes after 4-year-old dies during dental procedure
A Texas dentist has been arrested after investigators found a 4-year-old girl died from a toxic dose of an opioid following what was supposed to be a routine dental procedure, with officials alleging the child's distress went unrecognized until it was too late.
Dr. Chrishelle Hemphill, 48, was arrested Wednesday and is charged with recklessly causing serious bodily injury to a child, a second-degree felony, after investigators claimed her actions during an April 1 dental procedure resulted in the death of Aithana Rodríguez-Arriaga, 4.
Police said months of interviews with witnesses, medical experts and state dental investigators led to her recent arrest.
STEPDAD ACCUSED OF SEX ASSAULT AS COPS WIDEN PROBE INTO GIRL’S LETHAL BENADRYL INGREDIENT DOSE
Jail records reviewed by Fox News Digital show Hemphill was booked into jail Wednesday afternoon before being released on a $10,000 surety bond.
According to the Fort Worth Police Department, firefighters responded to Cuddle Kids Dental after staff reported the 4-year-old had become unresponsive following the procedure. She was taken to a nearby hospital, where she was pronounced dead.
🚨 Know something we should investigate?
📩 stepheny.price@fox.com
📸 IG: @fndstephprice
🎥 X: @StephenyPrice
Your tip could lead to our next story.
"The Crimes Against Children Unit (CACU) began an investigation into this case," police said in a statement provided to Fox News Digital. "Upon their findings, it was determined by the investigators that an offense had occurred and that the doctor that was performing the procedure on the victim was responsible."
According to an arrest warrant affidavit obtained by Fox News Digital, Aithana's mother told investigators she felt rushed into signing paperwork before the procedure and watched as Hemphill handed her daughter a cup containing liquid medication, encouraging her to drink it before she was taken into the treatment room.
Aithana's mother said she was not allowed to remain with her daughter during the procedure.
About an hour later, she was brought back into the room and found her daughter unresponsive while Hemphill attempted to wake her with a popsicle, according to investigators. Emergency crews were then called.
The tragic case has since prompted police to encourage parents to advocate for their children during medical procedures.
"The last thing you would expect as a parent," Fort Worth Police Department spokesperson Brad Perez told affiliate FOX 4 Dallas.
DAYCARE OPERATOR ARRESTED AFTER 3-YEAR-OLD WAS LEFT UNCONSCIOUS IN POOL FOR 20 MINUTES, DIED
"The one thing I would suggest is, if you feel like you want to be there when your child is having a procedure, insist on that," Perez told the outlet. "I believe this mother wanted to check on the child but was unable to do so as the procedure occurred. Perhaps the mother could have seen signs that the doctor did not at the time."
The Tarrant County Medical Examiner later ruled Aithana's death an accident caused by meperidine toxicity, according to records obtained by Fox News Digital.
The arrest affidavit alleges the 4-year-old had 793 ng/mL of meperidine in her system — a level investigators say medical experts believed would have been toxic even for an adult.
As detectives dug deeper into the case, they consulted with the Texas State Board of Dental Examiners, reviewed the board's investigation and sought opinions from outside medical specialists.
According to the affidavit, Aithana received chloral hydrate, hydroxyzine and meperidine in addition to nitrous oxide gas. While each medication individually fell within recommended limits, investigators allege Hemphill failed to account for the powerful combined effect of the drugs.
Police also allege Hemphill failed to recognize signs that Aithana was slipping into respiratory distress and administered flumazenil, which reverses benzodiazepines, instead of naloxone (Narcan), the medication used to counter opioid overdoses.
The affidavit notes no benzodiazepines were found in the girl's system.
MATTHEW PERRY'S ASSISTANT SENTENCED TO PRISON AS FAMILY REVEALS HEARTBREAKING BETRAYAL
Investigators also cited findings from a board-certified anesthesiologist, who concluded Aithana was not properly monitored during the critical recovery period after sedation and that the emergency response failed to address opioid-induced respiratory depression.
Perez told FOX 4 that Hemphill had no prior disciplinary actions and that her dental license remained active with the Texas State Board of Dental Examiners at the time of her arrest.
The investigation uncovered additional concerns inside the dental office. According to court documents, investigators found syringes containing leftover medication that staff allegedly intended to save for future patients, as well as confusion over where Narcan was kept during the emergency.
"Throughout this investigation I have learned from Hemphill's own statements, her staff's statements and from medical professionals, that there was evident neglect on Hemphill's part that led to Aithana's death," a detective wrote in the arrest affidavit.
For Aithana's family, the arrest comes more than three months after they lost what a GoFundMe describes as a "beautiful 4-year-old girl, filled with life and kindness" whose presence "always lit up a room."
"She was sweet, loving, and touched the lives of all who knew her," the fundraiser says.
It adds that donations will help cover funeral expenses, support her grieving parents and bring Aithana home to Mexico for burial.
She is survived by her parents, an older sister and a younger sister.
The Tarrant County District Attorney's Office confirmed to Fox News Digital that Fort Worth police submitted the case Wednesday and that prosecutors are currently reviewing it.
Fox News Digital has reached out to Hemphill's attorney and the Texas State Board of Dental Examiners for comment.
Wildfire smoke is invading more than 20 states — doctors reveal who should worry most
Canadian wildfire smoke is drifting across parts of the U.S., prompting doctors to warn that even healthy people may face risks from prolonged exposure to polluted air.
More than 180 wildfires are burning in Ontario alone, while nearly 850 are active across Canada, sending smoke into the Midwest and Northeast, according to NASA.
More than 20 states have been affected, prompting widespread air quality alerts from the Upper Midwest to the East Coast.
DOCTORS WARN YOUR 'STOMACH BUG' MAY ACTUALLY BE A PARASITE THAT'S HARDER TO DETECT
The greatest concern comes from fine particulate matter (PM2.5), which is about 30 times smaller than the width of a human hair. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), these microscopic particles can penetrate deep into the lungs and even enter the bloodstream.
"The main concern is fine particle pollution, known as PM2.5," Dr. Fernando Safdie, director of endoluminal and airway surgery and a lung cancer specialist in Miami Beach, Florida, told Fox News Digital. "These particles are small enough to get deep into the lungs, and the smallest can pass into the bloodstream."
"Smoke also carries irritant gases," he added. "That combination is what triggers symptoms."
IS LETTUCE STILL SAFE TO EAT AMID TACO BELL ILLNESS PROBE? DOCTORS ANSWER
The EPA considers an Air Quality Index (AQI) above 100 unhealthy for sensitive groups, while levels above 150 are unhealthy for everyone.
The most common effect of wildfire smoke is irritation to the respiratory system.
"Most people notice burning or watery eyes, scratchy throat, runny nose or coughing," said Safdie.
"It can progress to chest tightness, shortness of breath, wheezing, headaches, fatigue and a faster heartbeat."
For anyone with asthma, COPD or chronic bronchitis, smoke can set off a flare or make existing symptoms noticeably worse, the doctor cautioned.
Wildfire smoke can also strain the cardiovascular system, according to the American Heart Association. It has been linked to increased emergency room visits for ischemic heart disease, irregular heart rhythm, heart failure, pulmonary embolism and stroke.
THINK YOUR CORTISOL IS TOO HIGH? EXPERT REVEALS THE TRUTH BEHIND VIRAL WELLNESS CRAZE
Short-term exposure to wildfire-related fine particulate matter can also worsen heart failure and contribute to premature death, the EPA notes.
Studies have linked long-term exposure to an increased risk of premature death, chronic heart and lung disease, lung cancer, cognitive decline and dementia, as well as pregnancy complications such as preterm birth and low birth weight, according to the EPA and recent research.
Children are at the highest risk because their lungs are still developing and they breathe more air for their body size, according to Safdie.
Older adults, pregnant women, and and anyone with a heart or lung condition, such as asthma, COPD or heart disease, are also especially vulnerable. Other high-risk groups include those with compromised immune systems and chronic kidney failure, the doctor said.
"Outdoor workers are exposed simply because of where they spend the day," Safdie added.
The doctor emphasized that outdoor air quality dangers may not always be visible.
"When you don't see the fires, you could still be exposed to the smoke and breathing that highly polluted air," he told Fox News Digital.
TEST YOURSELF WITH OUR LATEST LIFESTYLE QUIZ
The CDC and EPA shared the following protective measures to prevent smoke-related health risks.
Monitor air quality. Check air quality at AirNow.gov before spending time outdoors. Sensitive groups should limit outdoor activity when AQI exceeds 100, and everyone should reduce exposure at levels of 150 and higher.
Stay indoors when smoke levels are high. Keep windows and doors closed. If using air conditioning or central HVAC, set the system to recirculate to reduce the amount of smoky outdoor air entering the home.
Clean indoor air. Run a portable air purifier with a HEPA filter or use a highest-efficiency filter. Experts also recommend avoiding activities that worsen indoor air pollution, such as burning candles, smoking, frying food or vacuuming while smoke levels remain elevated.
CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR HEALTH NEWSLETTER
Wear an N95 respirator if necessary. If you must spend time outside when smoke levels are high, a well-fitting N95 respirator can filter out most harmful fine particles.
Reduce strenuous outdoor activity. Heavy exercise causes people to breathe faster and deeper, increasing the amount of fine particulate matter that reaches the lungs. Consider moving workouts indoors until air quality improves, experts advise.
"Don’t tough it out if breathing is genuinely hard," Safdie advised. "Get medical care if you have shortness of breath that doesn’t ease with rest, a cough that won’t settle, wheezing, chest tightness, dizziness or heart palpitations."
Those who have asthma or COPD should follow their doctor-provided action plan.
"Don’t wait if your rescue inhaler isn’t doing the job," Safdie said. "Call 911 for severe difficulty breathing, chest pain or confusion. When in doubt, get checked."
CLICK HERE FOR MORE HEALTH STORIES
Although short-term exposure is unlikely to cause long-term damage, "very intense" exposure can generate chronic issues, he said.
"For example, firefighters who are in the eye of the problem should definitely be very well-protected with the appropriate equipment, because the concentration of the smoke and the PM25 particles will be extremely high and could cause chronic problems," Safdie said.
"But for the general population, it is unlikely that they will have such an exposure. I think that it would be more of an acute problem."
White House dishes out new election security jab over Olive Garden's pasta pass ID policy
After a popular Italian restaurant chain dished out an online response to a curious diner about its new unlimited pasta pass, politically-minded social media users, including those at the top of the food chain, are taking a stand.
Olive Garden took to X on Wednesday to promote its new deal, which offers customers the chance purchase a "Never Ending Pasta Pass" for $100 plus tax, giving the first 10,000 people to purchase their pass 13 weeks of unlimited pasta.
A user posed a question to the iconic American restaurant chain, asking whether they could purchase the unlimited pasta pass and share it with their family.
WATCH: ELISSA SLOTKIN SAYS SAVE AMERICA ACT WOULD MAKE IT 'HARD FOR ANY DEMOCRAT' TO WIN AN ELECTION
"No. The Never-Ending Pasta Pass is only for use by the Passholder whose name is printed on the Pass," Olive Garden replied. "Passes are personalized and non-transferable."
"Passholders must present a valid photo I.D. along with the Pass at the time of ordering," the chain instructed from its X account.
Immediately, the political right seized the the opportunity to prove a point — that Olive Garden appears more strict about its unlimited pasta promotion than Democrat-run states are about voting. The timely post comes as Trump continues to push for what would be a signature legislative victory — the SAVE Act — which, if passed, would require photo identification to vote. It has faced fierce pushback from the left-wing, who have argued against requiring proof of identity to cast a ballot in elections.
"Olive Garden takes their Pasta Pass security more seriously than Democrats take election security," White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson told Fox News Digital. "It’s sad but true."
"The SAVE America Act is a commonsense police, supported by the vast majority of Americans, that will secure our elections for generations to come. The only people opposed seem to be Democrats in Congress… I wonder why?" she added.
WATCH: MCCARTHY SAYS TRUMP WILL USE 'EVERYTHING HE CAN' TO FORCE SENATE ACTION ON SAVE AMERICA ACT
The social media post quickly caused an online feeding frenzy.
"PUT OLIVE GARDEN IN CHARGE OF OUR ELECTIONS!!!" one popular X account quipped.
"I hope you understand that this is extremely discriminatory towards minorities and married women," one user said, parroting talking points that the political left has used in opposition of the SAVE Act.
MEMPHIS PIZZA JOINT SPARKS BACKLASH AFTER OWNER REFUSES TO SERVE NATIONAL GUARD TROOPS
Another user also mockingly used the common parlance of the political left in response to Olive Garden's strict policy.
"I’m sorry, but this sounds incredibly racist to me, a requirement ID and some sort of proof of being a passholder will negatively affect marginalized communities ability to access Olive Garden," wrote the sarcastic user. "Do better Olive Garden."
"Are you saying that if photo ID is not presented, it could lead to cheating the system?" another social media user asked.
"Good grief, Olive Garden is more secure than our elections," said yet another.
Since Republicans in the House of Representatives passed the SAVE Act in February, the bill has faced major obstruction by Democrats in the Senate, as the conservative lawmakers don't have the 60 votes required to overcome a filibuster.
Earlier this week, SAVE Act language was attached to a State Department appropriations bill in a creative attempt to pass the law.
WATCH: Minnesota fraud scandal takes absurd new twist as veteran blows whistle
EXCLUSIVE: Navy veteran and GOP Senate candidate Adam Schwarze is blowing the whistle on new voter fraud evidence uncovered in the state of Minnesota.
What tipped him off? The state says that he voted in person at the polls in the 2012 presidential election. The only problem is that Schwarze says that "it was physically impossible for that to occur."
Schwarze said that at the time he was nearly 2,000 miles away in the California mountains attending BUD/S, the Navy’s elite training course for SEALs. In fact, Schwarze recalled "I got my a-- beat" specifically for not voting.
"All the instructors, the morning after the election, we woke up, Obama won the election, and they said, ‘Who didn't do their absentee voting?’ And of course it was like a gotcha, none of the SEAL candidates had gone to do their absentee voting. We were all in SEAL training, right? So, they beat the snot out of us for three hours."
TRUMP ELECTION INTEGRITY PUSH EXPOSES MASSIVE AMOUNT OF DEAD PEOPLE ON NORTH CAROLINA VOTER ROLLS
Despite this, Minnesota state records reviewed by Fox News Digital indicate Schwarze voted in 2012. The records, however, do not say who he supposedly cast a ballot for. This has led Schwarze to raise serious voter fraud questions in the already-scandal-ridden state and ask if it happened to him, how many others have "voted" without knowing it.
Minnesota does not require ID to vote, something that Schwarze believes would have made it easy to vote under his name in 2012. He was completely oblivious to this fraud against him until he launched his Senate campaign.
After a reporter fact-checked him for saying he had only ever voted for President Donald Trump, he was shocked to find that records on the Minnesota Department of State's website indeed indicate he voted in person in 2012. Further, records indicate an unknown person registered him to vote the day of the 2009 Minneapolis mayoral election, which was the city’s first election using ranked choice voting. His voter registration became active the day after the 2009 Minneapolis mayoral election.
In response to Fox News Digital's request for clarification on Schwarze's voting record, a spokesperson for the office of Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon simply said that "Minnesota’s election system is governed by extensive state and federal laws to ensure it is honest, secure, and accurate."
"Minnesotans fundamentally trust our election system, which is why we are consistently number one in voter turnout," the spokesperson said, adding that "In 2026, Minnesota ranked #1 by Election Data and Science Lab at the MIT on the Election Performance Index is a non-partisan, biennial survey and analysis comparing election administration policy and performance across the country."
The spokesperson encouraged "anyone who wants to learn more about the election security measures in Minnesota" to visit the state's election security webpage.
The website also asserts that "Minnesota elections are the envy of the nation," and states, "We are proud of our strong voter turnout, laws that ensure access to the ballot, robust security measures, and the transparency that's an essential part of maintaining trust in the system."
Meanwhile, Schwarze believes that this shows that "just like the fraud goes back decades, so does the voter integrity issues."
Schwarze commissioned as a Navy officer in May 2012. He was sent to Naval Amphibious Base Coronado for training the next month. Fox News Digital reviewed a copy of Schwarze’s BUD/S orders, which show his report date for the roughly six-month course as June 12, putting his graduation from the course in December.
Come November, when the presidential election took place, Schwarze said: "I was on a mountain in Mount Laguna, California."
"It was physically impossible for that [vote] to occur," he said.
This comes after Minnesota has been rocked by a widespread Medicaid fraud scandal that was uncovered earlier this year and potentially amounted to billions of stolen tax dollars. Minnesota’s top leaders, including Democratic Gov. Tim Walz and Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan, who is also running for the U.S. Senate, have been criticized nationwide for having allowed the fraud to spiral out of control during their watch.
To Schwarze, the tax and election fraud go hand in hand.
"The fraud of your tax dollars is not happening in a vacuum. It's connected to other forms of fraud, like election integrity," he said. "Just like the fraud is an iceberg, the tax fraud, once we start rolling that iceberg over, we don't know how big it gets until we fully investigate it."
"We just don't know how deep this goes," he continued.
EXPOSED DOCS REVEAL WHY TIM WALZ BOARD AWARDED REPEAT CHILD RAPIST PARDON: ‘NO FUTURE’
Since he discovered his mysterious vote, Schwarze said that his requests to state officials for more information have yet to be fulfilled. He said he does not even know who he is marked as having voted for.
"This clearly shows that we have an election integrity issue in our state," he said. "So, let’s solve the problem. Let's open up the voting log: [Minnesota Secretary of State] Steve Simon, Tim Walz, Peggy Flanagan, Keith Ellison. Let's have same-day voting in person with paper … with an ID; the American citizens want that as well. That's my plea."
"I've fought my entire life for the United States of America. I fought for democracy all over the world," he continued. "And one of the pillars and foundational principles of democracy is free, fair and transparent elections, and we don't have any of those things right now in the United States of America."
Fox News Digital reached out to Walz, Flanagan, Simon and Ellison for comment.