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Google Fast Pair flaw lets hackers hijack headphones
Google designed Fast Pair to make Bluetooth connections fast and effortless. One tap replaces menus, codes and manual pairing. That convenience now comes with serious risk. Security researchers at KU Leuven uncovered flaws in Google's Fast Pair protocol that allows silent device takeovers. They named the attack method WhisperPair. An attacker nearby can connect to headphones, earbuds or speakers without the owner knowing. In some cases, the attacker can also track the user's location. Even more concerning, victims do not need to use Android or own any Google products. iPhone users are also affected.
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APPLE WARNS MILLIONS OF IPHONES ARE EXPOSED TO ATTACK
Fast Pair works by broadcasting a device's identity to nearby phones and computers. That shortcut speeds up pairing. Researchers found that many devices ignore a key rule. They still accept new pairings while already connected. That opens the door to abuse.
Within Bluetooth range, an attacker can silently pair with a device in about 10 to 15 seconds. Once connected, they can interrupt calls, inject audio or activate microphones. The attack does not require specialized hardware and can be carried out using a standard phone, laptop, or low-cost device like a Raspberry Pi. According to the researchers, the attacker effectively becomes the device owner.
The researchers tested 17 Fast Pair compatible devices from major brands, including Sony, Jabra, JBL, Marshall, Xiaomi, Nothing, OnePlus, Soundcore, Logitech and Google. Most of these products passed Google certification testing. That detail raises uncomfortable questions about how security checks are performed.
Some affected models create an even bigger privacy issue. Certain Google and Sony devices integrate with Find Hub, which uses nearby devices to estimate location. If a headset has never been linked to a Google account, an attacker can claim it first. That allows continuous tracking of the user's movements. If the victim later receives a tracking alert, it may appear to reference their own device. That makes the warning easy to dismiss as an error.
GOOGLE NEST STILL SENDS DATA AFTER REMOTE CONTROL CUTOFF, RESEARCHER FINDS
There is another problem most users never consider. Headphones and speakers require firmware updates. Those updates usually arrive through brand-specific apps that many people never install. If you never download the app, you never see the update. That means vulnerable devices could remain exposed for months or even years.
The only way to fix this vulnerability is by installing a software update issued by the device manufacturer. While many companies have released patches, updates may not yet be available for every affected model. Users should check directly with the manufacturer to confirm whether a security update exists for their specific device.
Bluetooth itself was not the problem. The flaw lives in the convenience layer built on top of it. Fast Pair prioritized speed over strict ownership enforcement. Researchers argue that pairing should require cryptographic proof of ownership. Without it, convenience features become attack surfaces. Security and ease of use do not have to conflict. But they must be designed together.
Google says it has been working with researchers to address the WhisperPair vulnerabilities and began sending recommended patches to headphone manufacturers in early September. Google also confirmed that its own Pixel headphones are now patched.
In a statement to CyberGuy, a Google spokesperson said, "We appreciate collaborating with security researchers through our Vulnerability Rewards Program, which helps keep our users safe. We worked with these researchers to fix these vulnerabilities, and we have not seen evidence of any exploitation outside of this report's lab setting. As a best security practice, we recommend users check their headphones for the latest firmware updates. We are constantly evaluating and enhancing Fast Pair and Find Hub security."
Google says the core issue stemmed from some accessory makers not fully following the Fast Pair specification. That specification requires accessories to accept pairing requests only when a user has intentionally placed the device into pairing mode. According to Google, failures to enforce that rule contributed to the audio and microphone risks identified by the researchers.
To reduce the risk going forward, Google says it updated its Fast Pair Validator and certification requirements to explicitly test whether devices properly enforce pairing mode checks. Google also says it provided accessory partners with fixes intended to fully resolve all related issues once applied.
On the location tracking side, Google says it rolled out a server-side fix that prevents accessories from being silently enrolled into the Find Hub network if they have never been paired with an Android device. According to the company, this change addresses the Find Hub tracking risk in that specific scenario across all devices, including Google's own accessories.
Researchers, however, have raised questions about how quickly patches reach users and how much visibility Google has into real-world abuse that does not involve Google hardware. They also argue that weaknesses in certification allowed flawed implementations to reach the market at scale, suggesting broader systemic issues.
For now, both Google and the researchers agree on one key point. Users must install manufacturer firmware updates to be protected, and availability may vary by device and brand.
SMART HOME HACKING FEARS: WHAT’S REAL AND WHAT’S HYPE
You cannot disable Fast Pair entirely, but you can lower your exposure.
If you use a Bluetooth accessory that supports Google Fast Pair, including wireless earbuds, headphones or speakers, you may be affected. The researchers created a public lookup tool that lets you search for your specific device model and see whether it is vulnerable. Checking your device is a simple first step before deciding what actions to take. Visit whisperpair.eu/vulnerable-devices to see if your device is on the list.
Install the official app from your headphone or speaker manufacturer. Check for firmware updates and apply them promptly.
Pair new devices in private spaces. Avoid pairing in airports, cafés or gyms where strangers are nearby.
Unexpected audio interruptions, strange sounds or dropped connections are warning signs. A factory reset can remove unauthorized pairings, but it does not fix the underlying vulnerability. A firmware update is still required.
Bluetooth only needs to be on during active use. Turning off Bluetooth when not in use limits exposure, but it does not eliminate the underlying risk if the device remains unpatched.
Always factory reset used headphones or speakers before pairing them. This removes hidden links and account associations.
Investigate Find Hub or Apple tracking alerts, even if they appear to reference your own device.
Install operating system updates promptly. Platform patches can block exploit paths even when accessories lag behind.
WhisperPair shows how small shortcuts can lead to large privacy failures. Headphones feel harmless. Yet they contain microphones, radios and software that need care and updates. Ignoring them leaves a blind spot that attackers are happy to exploit. Staying secure now means paying attention to the devices you once took for granted.
Should companies be allowed to prioritize fast pairing over cryptographic proof of device ownership? Let us know by writing to us at Cyberguy.com
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American Culture Quiz: Test yourself on airport architecture and Olympic outlooks
The American Culture Quiz is a weekly test of our unique national traits, trends, history and people — including current events and the sights and sounds of the United States.
This week's quiz highlights airport architecture, Olympic outlooks and much more.
Can you get all 8 questions right?
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JOSH HAMMER: Case against Israel cheapens the word 'genocide'
The horrific regime slaughter in Iran and President Trump’s aggressive campaign to acquire Greenland have resulted in the neglect of a major case now underway at the International Court of Justice (ICJ).
The ICJ last week began hearings brought by Gambia against Myanmar alleging genocide against the Rohingya people—about 1.4 million of whom live in Myanmar. Several other states have intervened in support of Gambia, which has presented the court with evidence it contends proves that Myanmar’s military forces committed a genocide against the Rohingya population. Myanmar vehemently denies the allegation.
While this case does not concern Israel directly, the ICJ’s determinations may have major ramifications for the case Israel is now defending at the tribunal against South Africa.
This is especially true since one of the judges hand-picked by Gambia to sit on its ICJ panel is South African national Navi Pillay. That would be the same Navi Pillay who recently rushed to publish a report accusing Israel of genocide before retiring as head of the UN Human Rights Council commission of inquiry—a panel widely criticized for its flagrant institutional bias against Israel and the anti-Semitic remarks of its members.
‘UNPRECEDENTED’ ANTISEMITISM PANEL TACKLES SURGING NATIONAL ISSUE
In reality, South Africa’s ICJ case against Israel is riddled with flaws. It is also pushing to redefine a term that been held sacrosanct since the end of the World War II.
The term "genocide" was coined by Raphael Lemkin, a Holocaust survivor who in 1944 strived for its incorporation into modern international law. That occurred in 1948 via the UN Genocide Convention.
The prohibition on genocide is considered a jus cogens norm—that is, a non-derogable rule accepted by all of the first-world community with no exceptions. The definition of "genocide" requires no law degree to understand, and it should never, ever be politicized.
WESTERN LEADERS MUST CONFRONT ISLAMIST-INSPIRED ANTISEMITIC VIOLENCE BEFORE IT TARGETS EVERYONE
For a genocide to take place under Geneva, there must be acts committed "with intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnic, racial, or religious group." The phrase "intent" here is of paramount importance.
South Africa’s pending case before the ICJ alleges Israeli intent to destroy the Palestinian-Arab population of Gaza. Israel, by contrast, (correctly) maintains that its recent actions in Gaza have been a just and proper military response to the war of annihilationist jihad and unspeakable atrocities launched against it by the Hamas terrorist organization on Oct. 7, 2023.
Israel’s "intent" is to free Gaza from Hamas, to return hostages abducted and held by Hamas, and to ensure Hamas has no future role in Gaza and cannot undertake another October 7-style massacre. It repeatedly offered to end the war if Hamas laid down its arms and released all hostages.
ANTISEMITIC THREATS ESCALATE NATIONWIDE AS PROTESTERS CALL FOR REPEAT OF OCT 7 MASSACRE
Hamas, on the other hand, has shown a complete disregard for human life and has openly stated that its sacrifice of Gazan civilians is a cynical strategic necessity to turn public opinion against Israel. It has for years embedded military infrastructure within Gazan civilian infrastructure—schools, hospitals, UN facilities, mosques, and children’s bedrooms. Israel has waged a defensive campaign in one of the most complex operational environments of any modern war.
At the same time, it has worked with states and NGOs to allow and facilitate extensive amounts of humanitarian aid, rebuilt water supplies, coordinated the vaccination of young Gazans against polio, and helped coordinate and approve the evacuation of those in need of urgent medical care.
Israel repeatedly provides advanced warnings of impending military strikes and has held off strikes where intelligence of nearby civilians has come to light. For a fighting party to so often relinquish the element of surprise to reduce harm to the local civilian population of its enemy is extraordinary.
MORNING GLORY: 2026 SHOULD BE YEAR ANTISEMITISM BECOMES UNACCEPTABLE IN AMERICA AGAIN
None of this constitutes a "genocide"—and clearly shows the lack of any intent by Israel to destroy the local Palestinian-Arab population in Gaza.
Nonetheless, since South Africa brought its case before the ICJ, numerous groups and states have leapt at the opportunity to join in on the anti-Israel campaign. This has ranged from tendentious so-called online genocide scholars to anti-Semitic mobs to deeply politicized NGOs. Amnesty International, for instance, shamelessly waited more than two years before publishing a report focusing on Hamas’ crimes on Oct. 7, while straining to remind readers of its slanderous accusation of genocide made against Israel a year prior.
Together, they have all been involved in a campaign to redefine the term "genocide" to suit their narrative—all while ignoring the reality of Hamas’ own Nazi-esque barbarism.
The politically motivated efforts to undermine the concept should be of grave concern to us all. If successful, it will result in the ICJ’s further self-discrediting as an institution of political point scoring, rather than meaningful justice.
Israel has legitimately responded to genocidal attacks by a terrorist organization that has repeatedly called for its entire annihilation and the murder of all global Jewry—something it broadcast live to the world on Oct. 7, 2023.
The term "genocide" is one too important to be cheapened. Those pushing for its redefinition must be stopped in their tracks.
For young TPUSA faith event attendees, Minnesota church storming is a sacred line crossed
RIVERSIDE, Calif. — Attendees at the Turning Point USA "Make Heaven Crowded" tour kickoff in Riverside, California, called the act of storming into churches "disgusting."
This comes after anti-ICE agitators stormed a church in Minneapolis during a service on Sunday. Dozens of agitators burst into the Cities Church sanctuary roughly halfway through the service, attendees of the church told Fox News Digital.
Attendees shared their reactions with Fox News Digital. Brooklyn said when this happens, the agitators should be thrown out immediately.
"I don't think that it's right to be protesting negativity in churches. When you're in church, you're supposed to be there to be closer to God and to be on your walk with faith. And I think protesting is super negative and if you're going to protest, go do it somewhere else with the other negative people because that's just not a place to do it."
ANTI-ICE MINNESOTA CHURCH PROTESTER DENIES PROTESTERS 'RUSHED' THE SERVICE DESPITE PREVIOUS COMMENTS
Joey did not hold back and called it "downright disgusting."
"I think if you're here to say what you want to say or stand on the side of the road with a sign. Go ahead and do that."
However, Joey said he doesn't agree with bringing violence and agitation to a church.
"All we're trying to do is to share the gospel and to give that message to people," he said.
Kaitlyn said the church storming was upsetting to hear, "because it is a place of worship," and churches ought to be respected.
GABBARD SLAMS DEMOCRATS' 'HOSTILITY TOWARDS GOD,' CONDEMNS ANTI-ICE AGITATORS WHO STORMED CHURCH
Maddie said, although freedom of speech is important, it is important to have respect for one another.
"Respect for others no matter what their religion is or what they believe. I think that even as Christians, we're called to do that as well to respect other people's religion."
Tatum said protests should be done elsewhere: "It's very disturbing in the churches, just go somewhere else."
Bella Rocha said, "God is the center of all, and I think that that can be kind of the agreeing factor with everybody who has different opinions and different ways of living."
Federal authorities have arrested two anti-ICE agitators after a mob stormed a church service in St. Paul, Minnesota, Attorney General Pam Bondi announced Thursday.
Bondi named Nekima Levy Armstrong, Chauntyll Louisa Allen and William Kelly as the suspects.
TPUSA ATTENDEES WORRY OVER ‘DIVISION’ AND ‘DARKNESS’ AS NEW MAKE HEAVEN CROWDED TOUR KICKS OFF
William Kelly, one of the anti-U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agitators who disrupted a service at Cities Church in Saint Paul, Minn., on Sunday, has been arrested.
"A THIRD subject has now been arrested connected to targeting Cities Church in Minneapolis Sunday. William Kelly is now in custody," FBI Director Kash Patel declared in a Thursday post on X.
Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem noted in a post, "William Kelly is being charged with conspiracy to deprive rights, a federal crime, for his involvement in the St. Paul church riots."
"William Kelly is now in custody," U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi noted in a Thursday post on X.
"Our nation was settled and founded by people fleeing religious persecution. Religious freedom is the bedrock of this country. We will protect our pastors. We will protect our churches. We will protect Americans of faith," she noted in the post.
Kelly had said days earlier in a video, "Come and get me Pam Bondi, you f-----' traitorous b----."
The Make Heaven Crowded tour has 28 listed events across the United States, eight of them with confirmed dates.
Speakers and influencers at the event included Christian influencer Bryce Crawford, pastors Greg Laurie and Lucas Miles and "Girls Gone Bible" podcast hosts Angela Halili and Arielle Reitsma.
Fox News' Anders Hagstrom and Alex Nitzberg contributed to this report.
Baltimore bloodshed drops as law-and-order push targets repeat criminals
Baltimore recorded a sharp drop in homicides in 2025, continuing a multi-year decline that city prosecutors say is the result of tough on crime policing of repeat violent offenders.
According to statistics provided by the Baltimore City State’s Attorney’s Office, homicides fell to 134 in 2025, down from 202 in 2024, 263 in 2023 and 334 in 2022.
"You know, when I came into this office, we'd had eight consecutive years of 300 plus murders," Baltimore City State’s Attorney Ivan Bates told Fox News Digital. "The only way you're going to focus on violent crime in Baltimore City is you must put repeat violent offenders in prison."
"When we were sworn in, we said, ‘If you’re a repeat violent offender, bring a toothbrush.’ That was the message we sent – meaning we’re going to send you to jail," he said.
MURDER RATE DROPS TO LOWEST LEVEL SINCE 1900 ACROSS MAJOR US CITIES NATIONWIDE
Bates, who took office in January 2023, said his administration shifted the office’s approach to enforcing mandatory minimum sentences for repeat offenders, which he says was inconsistently applied previously.
State data show that in 2022, police arrested 1,577 repeat violent offenders. Of those, 869 were convicted, but only 267, or 31%, were sentenced.
Under Bates, the percentage of repeat offenders sentenced has risen sharply: 58% in 2023, 69% in 2024 and 65% in 2025.
"This year alone, out of the 1,160 repeat violent offenders, 682 were found guilty of that offense. We sent 443 of them to prison," Bates said. "That's 65% of them."
Maryland law allows prosecutors to seek a five-year mandatory prison sentence without parole for repeat offenders found in possession of illegal firearms. Bates said that enforcing state law has been central to his office’s strategy to
"That means it's a small group of individuals in Baltimore who are robbing, shooting and killing individuals," he said. "By finding them guilty, they're now removed from the community for a minimum of five years without the possibility of parole."
Police arrests of repeat gun offenders have declined over the same period, according to the data: 1,294 arrests in 2023, 1,246 in 2024, and 1,160 in 2025. Bates said that shows that there are few repeat offenders still on the streets.
"That tells me that we've been taking the repeat violent offenders off the streets," he said.
TRUMP DECLARES VICTORY IN DEM-RUN CITY DESPITE ‘EXTRAORDINARY RESISTANCE’ FROM SANCTUARY POLITICIANS
In addition to sentencing changes, Bates pointed to increased cooperation with federal agencies, including the FBI, DEA, ATF and neighboring Baltimore County.
Through the city’s Group Violence Reduction Strategy (GVRS) and through partnering with the federal government to disrupt drug trade within the city.
"The silent partner has really also been the federal authorities," he said. "We're able to take down large drug organizations in a manner and a way we haven't been able to do."
Bates also credits rebuilding the State’s Attorney’s Office, which he said had been understaffed when he took office.
"When I came into office in 2023, we only had 140 lawyers," he said. "Our office went from 140 prosecutors to 200 prosecutors."
While national crime rates have declined in recent years, Bates said Baltimore’s drop has outpaced national trends, though he cautioned that the gains could be temporary without investment in re-entry programs.
"If we do not do the hard work of investing and giving individuals an opportunity in an exit lane to get out of the criminal life, we can see that type of behavior rearing its head," he said.
Bates said his office is working with state leaders on programs aimed at repeat offenders returning from prison but acknowledged that prosecutors alone cannot address recidivism.
"I'm here on behalf of the victim. The victim, the victim, the victim," Bates said. "There are some people that must go to jail and some of them need to be in jail the rest of their natural born lives."
"My job as the state's attorney is to stand up for the victims and make sure our community is safe as possible," he said.
FOLLOW THE FOX TRUE CRIME TEAM ON X
Despite the citywide decline, Baltimore’s entertainment districts, including Federal Hill, have continued to experience shootings.
Police expert Jason Johnson told WBFF, "Obviously, homicides and non-fatal shootings are down, which is fantastic. But that leaves us with some of these crimes that are just as likely to drive people out of the city or dismay people from even visiting the city."
Baltimore is not the only city seeing a decrease in homicides, with murder rates falling across cities in the U.S. in 2025.
The Council on Criminal Justice (CCJ) report weighed crime statistics from 40 cities that have reported monthly data for the past eight years. It found 11 of 13 crime categories dropped in 2025 compared to 2024. Nine of them dropped by 10% or more, including homicides, which saw a 21% drop.
"President Trump promised to bring back Law and Order to the United States of America," White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt wrote on X Thursday morning, along with a chart from the Council on Criminal Justice showing the country saw its lowest homicide rate since 1900. "This is what happens when you have a President who fully mobilizes federal law enforcement to arrest violent criminals and the worst of the worst illegal aliens."
Fox News Digital's Julia Bonavita and Michael Ruiz contributed to this report.
Judge blocks Trump admin from 'destroying or altering' evidence in deadly Minneapolis shooting
A federal judge in Minnesota has blocked the Trump administration from "destroying or altering evidence" related to a deadly shooting involving a Border Patrol agent in Minneapolis on Saturday.
The ruling came after the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office and the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension filed a lawsuit Saturday to prevent the destruction of evidence in the shooting death of Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old Minneapolis resident killed by a Border Patrol agent during an immigration enforcement operation.
According to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Pretti approached Border Patrol agents armed with a 9 mm pistol and "violently resisted" when they attempted to disarm him.
The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota, names DHS, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) and U.S. Border Control, as well as Attorney General Pam Bondi, as defendants.
The groups, represented by the Minnesota Attorney General’s Office, said the litigation is accompanied by a motion for a temporary restraining order that asks the court to immediately prevent the defendants from destroying any evidence related to the shooting.
In granting the temporary injunction, Judge Eric Tostrud wrote that federal officials and those acting on their behalf cannot destroy evidence taken from the scene of the south Minneapolis shooting or now in their exclusive custody, which state authorities say they were previously barred from inspecting.
Tostrud scheduled a hearing Monday to review the order.
"As I said earlier today, I will not rest, my team will not rest, until we have done everything in our power, everything within our authority, to achieve transparency and accountability," Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty said in a statement. "Our office has jurisdiction to review this matter for potential criminal conduct by the federal agents involved and we will do so."
Moriarty added that the lawsuit is just one of the actions her office is taking "to ensure that a thorough and transparent investigation can be completed at the state level."
In announcing the litigation, Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison asserted that "federal agents are not above the law and Alex Pretti is certainly not beneath it."
"A full, impartial, and transparent investigation into his fatal shooting at the hands of DHS agents is non-negotiable," he said in a statement. "Minnesota law enforcement is currently carrying out such an investigation, and it is essential that the evidence collected by federal agents is preserved and turned over to state officials. Today’s lawsuit aims to bar the federal government from destroying or tampering with any of the evidence they have collected."
Ellison added that "justice will be done."
Fox News Digital reached out to the White House, the Department of Homeland Security and the Justice Department for comment.
In a separate statement, Ellison said he shares "intense grief and anger" that Pretti was shot and killed during the Trump administration's Operation Metro Surge.
APPEALS COURT HANDS TRUMP ADMIN 'VICTORY' IN MINNESOTA ICE FORCE RESTRICTIONS CASE
He said his office will argue in court Monday to end "this illegal and unconstitutional occupation of our cities and the terror and violence it's inflicting."
The Department of Homeland Security said it is leading the investigation into the shooting.
Pretti was a U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs ICU nurse. Though medics immediately delivered aid, Pretti was pronounced dead at the scene.
Fox News Digital's Alexandra Koch contributed to this report.
New Democratic group pushes fresh faces as party's brand sinks to historic lows
Democrats are rolling out The Bench — a new political group pushing a crop of rising star candidates aiming to remake the party.
The organization, which was formally launched earlier this month by a handful of campaign veterans, says its mission is to spend resources to build a bench full of candidates which they highlight as "the future of the Democratic Party."
The launch of the new group comes as Democrats aim to win back House and Senate majorities in this year's midterm elections, but as the party also suffers from historically low favorability and approval ratings.
The party in power in Washington, D.C., which this year is clearly the GOP, normally faces stiff political headwinds in the midterm elections. And the latest national polls indicate that President Donald Trump's approval ratings remain well underwater, fueled in part by Americans' continued deep concerns over persistent inflation.
DEMOCRATS EYE NARROW AND UPHILL PATH TO SENATE MAJORITY
But Democrats have their own polling problems, with a slew of surveys dating back a year indicating the party's brand hitting historic lows.
The Bench, in a statement, says the candidates they're backing "can help us repair our brand, they are best positioned to win general election races and hold onto seats."
The group plans to provide these candidates "with the tools, strategy, and support to run serious, solutions-focused campaigns that challenge the status quo, connect with voters, and deliver real results for the people they serve."
CALL TO DUTY: IN BATTLE FOR HOUSE, REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS LOOKING TO VETERANS
The group, which includes well-known Democratic operative and strategist Lis Smith and communications specialist Andrew Mamo, has been working for months to recruit and build up three Senate candidates and a dozen House contenders.
The Senate candidates are Michigan state Senate Majority Whip Mallory McMorrow, Texas state lawmaker and Presbyterian seminarian James Talarico, and Iowa state Rep. Josh Turek, a Paralympian wheelchair basketball player.
In House races, the group is backing are Jamie Ager in North Carolina's 11th Congressional District, Shannon Bird in Colorado's 8th District, Bob Brooks in Pennsylvania's 7th District, Cait Conley in New York's 17th District, and Mike Cortese in Tennessee's 5th District.
The list also includes Sam Forstag in Montana's 1st District, Sarah Trone Garriott in Iowa's 3rd District, Matt Maasdam in Michigan's 7th District, Darren McAuley in Florida's 15th District, Denise Blaya Powell in Nebraska's 2nd CDDistrictand Bobby Pulidio in Texas' 15th District.
And this week, the group backed Nancy Lacore in South Carolina's 1st District. Lacore, a 35-year military veteran who served as a Navy helicopter pilot and later as chief of the Navy Reserve, a 60,000-person force, was removed from her post last August by War Secretary Pete Hegseth.
The group notes that the candidates they're supporting range from progressives to centrists.
"These candidates aren’t united by ideology, but by a willingness to break from Democratic defaults, speak honestly to their communities, and compete seriously in places the party has too often written off," the group said.
But Mike Marinella, spokesman for the National Republican Congressional Committee, told Fox News Digital, "The Democrat Party is a broken brand, and they're stitching it together with deeply radical candidates. They’re too woke for the working class, too weak to get anything done, and too lost to get out of the wilderness."
Smart pill confirms when medication is swallowed
Remembering to take medication sounds simple. However, missed doses put people at serious health risk every day. Because of that, engineers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) have designed a pill that confirms when someone swallows it. As a result, doctors could track treatment more accurately, and patients could stay on schedule more easily. At the same time, the pill safely breaks down inside the body, which helps reduce long-term risk.
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FDA CLEARS FIRST AT-HOME BRAIN DEVICE FOR DEPRESSION
The new system fits inside existing pill capsules. It uses a tiny, biodegradable radio-frequency antenna made from zinc and cellulose. These materials already have strong safety records in medicine. Here is what happens step by step:
This entire process happens within about 10 minutes. An external receiver, potentially built into a wearable device, detects the signal from up to two feet away.
Previous smart pill designs relied on components that stayed intact as they passed through the digestive system. That raised concerns about long-term safety. The MIT team took a different approach. Nearly all parts of the antenna break down in the stomach within days. Only a tiny off-the-shelf RF chip remains, and it passes naturally through the body. According to lead researcher Mehmet Girayhan Say, the goal is clear. The system avoids long-term buildup while still reliably confirming that a pill was taken.
This smart pill is not meant for every prescription. Instead, it targets situations where missing medication can be dangerous. Potential beneficiaries include:
For these patients, adherence can mean the difference between recovery and serious complications.
BREAKTHROUGH DEVICE PROMISES TO DETECT GLUCOSE WITHOUT NEEDLES
Senior author Giovanni Traverso emphasizes that the focus is on patient health. The aim is to support people, not police them. The research team published its findings in Nature Communications and plans further preclinical testing. Human trials are expected next as the technology moves closer to real-world use. This research received funding from Novo Nordisk, MIT Department of Mechanical Engineering, Brigham and Women's Hospital Division of Gastroenterology and the U.S. Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health.
Patients failing to take medicine as prescribed contribute to hundreds of thousands of preventable deaths each year. It also adds billions of dollars to health care costs. This problem hits hardest when patients must take treatment consistently over long periods. That includes people who have received organ transplants, patients with tuberculosis and those managing complex neurological conditions. For these groups, missing doses can have life-altering consequences.
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If you or a loved one relies on critical medication, this kind of technology could add an extra layer of safety. It may reduce guesswork for doctors and ease pressure on patients who manage complex treatment plans. At the same time, it raises important questions about privacy, consent and how medical data is shared. Any future rollout will need strong safeguards to protect patients.
For now, until this technology becomes available, you can still stay on track by using the built-in tools on your phone. We break down the best ways to track your meds on iPhone and Android in our step-by-step guide.
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Think your devices and data are truly protected? Take this quick quiz to see where your digital habits stand. From passwords to Wi-Fi settings, you’ll get a personalized breakdown of what you’re doing right and what needs improvement. Take my Quiz here: Cyberguy.com
A pill that confirms it was swallowed may sound futuristic, but it addresses a very real problem. By combining simple materials with smart engineering, MIT researchers created a tool that could save lives without lingering in the body. As testing continues, this approach could reshape how medicine is monitored and delivered.
Would you be comfortable taking a pill that reports when you swallow it if it meant better health outcomes? Let us know by writing to us at Cyberguy.com
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GOP Sen. Cassidy breaks with Trump over deadly shooting by Border Patrol agent in Minneapolis
Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La., called for a full investigation after a federal agent fatally shot a man who was allegedly armed in Minneapolis on Saturday, calling the incident "incredibly disturbing."
Cassidy joined a chorus of Democratic lawmakers raising questions following the shooting death of 37-year-old Minneapolis resident Alex J. Pretti, who was killed by a Border Patrol agent on Saturday. Pretti allegedly confronted officers during a Department of Homeland Security operation in south Minneapolis and was carrying a gun, according to the agency.
"The events in Minneapolis are incredibly disturbing," Cassidy said in a post on X. "The credibility of ICE and DHS are at stake. There must be a full joint federal and state investigation."
Cassidy added that "we can trust the American people with the truth."
The Louisiana Republican's comments were seemingly at odds with members of his party, including President Donald Trump, who said in a post on Truth Social following the shooting that federal agents "had to protect themselves" because of the lack of support from local police in Minneapolis.
"This is the gunman’s gun, loaded (with two additional full magazines!), and ready to go—What is that all about? Where are the local Police? Why weren’t they allowed to protect ICE Officers?" Trump wrote in the post. "The Mayor and the Governor called them off? It is stated that many of these Police were not allowed to do their job, that ICE had to protect themselves—Not an easy thing to do!"
Last week, Trump pledged his endorsement for U.S. Rep. Julia Letlow if she entered the GOP primary in Louisiana, challenging Cassidy, who has served in the U.S. Senate since 2015. Letlow launched her Senate bid days later.
Cassidy was one of the Senate Republicans who voted to convict Trump after the House impeached him in 2021. The Senate vote ultimately fell short of the threshold required to convict Trump.
Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said during a news conference Saturday that the incident occurred while DHS officers carried out "targeted operations" in Minneapolis against an illegal immigrant with a violent criminal history.
"An individual approached U.S. Border Patrol officers with a 9-millimeter semi-automatic handgun," Noem said, adding that agents attempted to disarm him.
"The officers attempted to disarm this individual, but the armed suspect reacted violently," Noem said. "Fearing for his life and for the lives of his fellow officers around him, an agent fired defensive shots."
BLOCKING ICE COOPERATION FUELED MINNESOTA UNREST, OFFICIALS WARN AS VIRGINIA REVERSES COURSE
Noem said Pretti had "two magazines with ammunition in them that held dozens of rounds" and no identification, adding that "this looks like a situation where an individual arrived at the scene to inflict maximum damage on individuals and to kill law enforcement."
She said DHS is investigating the shooting "just like we do all other officer-involved shootings," adding that additional details would be forthcoming.
Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., said during a news conference Saturday that "we need ICE out of Minnesota," while placing blame on the Trump administration.
"I have personally warned them that there would be more deaths, that more of this would happen," she said. "And clearly they're not listening. So, we ask people around the country to talk to their Republican representatives to make clear that this is not the America that is ours. This has got to stop."
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt responded to Klobuchar's comments in an X post Saturday, saying federal agents should not be removed from Minnesota.
"We need dangerous criminal illegal aliens out of Minnesota. The Democrats have their priorities completely upside down. They will not keep the American people safe," she wrote.
In his own post, Vice President JD Vance blamed "far left agitators" for the recent unrest in Minneapolis.
"This level of engineered chaos is unique to Minneapolis," he posted on X Saturday evening. "It is the direct consequence of far left agitators, working with local authorities."
Fox News Digital reached out to the Department of Homeland Security and the White House for comment.
Fox News Digital's Jasmine Baehr and Alex Nitzberg contributed to this report.
DHS says illegal immigrant accused of throwing rock at New Jersey school bus, injuring young girl
A New Jersey man accused of injuring a young girl by throwing a baseball-sized rock at a school bus is in the country illegally, according to federal officials.
Hernando Garcia-Morales, 40, of Palisades Park, faces multiple charges in connection with a Jan. 7 motor vehicle incident on the northbound New Jersey Turnpike, the New Jersey State Police said.
The third-grade children were traveling back to Yeshivat Noam Jewish day school in Paramus after a class trip to the Liberty Science Center when a large rock smashed through the bus window, the school previously told Fox News Digital.
An 8-year-old girl suffered a skull fracture after being struck by the rock and was forced to have surgery, officials said.
Garcia-Morales was arrested on Jan. 9 by New Jersey Turnpike State Police for aggravated assault, resisting arrest and possession of a weapon. The Bogota Police Department also charged him with aggravated assault, criminal trespassing defiant, criminal trespassing peering, and criminal mischief damage property.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced Saturday that U.S. Customs and Immigration Enforcement (ICE) has issued an arrest detainer against Hernando Garcia-Morales, claiming he is a criminal illegal immigrant from Mexico.
DHS told Fox News Digital that Garcia-Morales has a history of violence and is in the country illegally, but said he has not been deported because of New Jersey’s sanctuary immigration policies.
"Violently targeting a school bus full of children is extremely wicked and heinous," DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said in a statement. "Hernando Garcia-Morales should have never been in this country, let alone released after multiple arrests into New Jersey communities."
SHERIFF SLAMS LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES FOR RELEASING ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT WHO ALLEGEDLY HIT OHIO NURSE
"ICE has lodged an arrest detainer against this monster, and we hope New Jersey’s sanctuary politicians will help us keep him off American streets for good," McLaughlin added.
DHS said it does not know when or where Garcia-Morales illegally entered the country, but noted he has a criminal history spanning two decades.
He was arrested in 2006 for possession of a weapon and theft, according to The New York Post, and was arrested for burglary in 2023 after allegedly entering a building in Hackensack, New Jersey. Those charges were not pursued, the outlet reported, but Garcia-Morales was arrested the next day in Hackensack and charged with giving false information and attempted burglary.
The Municipal Court of Hackensack downgraded the charges on Sept. 20, 2023, leaving Garcia-Morales with a 30-day jail sentence and a $905 fine for disorderly conduct.
Authorities told Yeshivat Noam Jewish day school officials that Garcia-Morales confessed to the specific incident on the New Jersey Turnpike, as well as several other rock-throwing incidents in the area, the school said.
A superior court judge ruled on Jan. 16 that Garcia-Morales would remain in Bergen County jail until the case is resolved, according to The Post.
The Justice Department announced last year it was suing four New Jersey cities, accusing local officials of obstructing federal law and undermining efforts to enforce immigration laws through their sanctuary city policies.
Fox News Digital's Louis Casiano contributed to this report.